Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/23/2025

For some the greatest annual weekend in basketball if not sports is the opening two rounds of the NCAA tournament.  Between Men's and Women's, you get 96 of the eventual 126 games played (even excluding the play in games).  And there will be close games and buzzer beaters.  The University of Maryland had both in a thrilling victory over the Colorado State Rams.  Freshman Derik Queen capped off a team-leading 17-point performance with the shot of his life, with 3.6 seconds to play, taking the inbound step and some monster steps for the banker on the win.  Game over.  You just can't do it better than that.  Queen was a constant force for the favored and 4 seeded Terps over the season averaging 16.2 points and 9 boards per game while shooting over 50% from the field.  The future NBA big man hopes to carry his teams hopes to a deeper tournament run and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/16/2025

It's March, and Madness is in the air as the major conference championships wound down in both men's and women's college basketball with top programs taking trophies and the high seeds to go with them.  A number one seed was taken by Florida, who dominated the SEC Championship Tournament to take the title.  In a landscape of one and done's and transfers, it was a senior that paced the Gators to the title.  Walter Clayton Jr. In his second year for Florida, Clayton Jr. provides the leadership needed as well as the points.  Averaging 21 points per game, to go with 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals per game all against ranked opponents because that's how the SEC is.  With a record 14 teams in the NCAA tournament, Clayton Jr. netted tournament MVP honors and will be heard from over the next two, maybe three weeks.  Walter Clayton Jr. is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/9/2025

In advance of the NCAA March Madness, the NBA has a week of epic games and performances.  One stood out as a stat line never been done before.  Two-time prior Sportsman of the Week winner Nikola Jokic doubled down on a triple double, or a 30-20-20.  Technically a 31-21-22 in a 140-127 overtime win against the Phoenix Suns.  Incredible involvement across the board (or scoring on, passing to, and clearing the boards).  While the game included overtime, the numbers are unreal for 45 minutes of action.  So that's 2 points every 3 minutes.  And a rebound AND assist 4x every 9 minutes.  Scoring.  And passing.  And rebounding.  Suddenly Jokic and the Nuggets are right there as a team of concern for frontrunners like Oklahoma City and Los Angeles as they seek their second title in 3 years.  If they do it, you know the Serbian Assassin will be the one to make it happen.  The Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week.

Editors Note: With his third Sportsman of the Week, Jokic ties fifteen others for most recognized in this Blog history.  He's the sixteenth in the club (nobody has won four).

First Recognition (2/9/20)

Second recognition (6/18/23)

Sportsman of the Week Ending 3/2/2025

In a bit of a lull between early year NFL action and Australian Open, but before March Madness, Golf majors we get a few ordinary time candidates for Sportsman of the Week.  The NBA is in full swing just past the All-Star Break and hitting a long stretch of great playoff jockeying.  Our Sportsman of the Week is from a team that is surging toward a playoff berth in a major market.  Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is stepping up as the leader to take them to a title for the first time since 1973.  And their first Eastern Conference Title since 1999.  Brunson averaged over 29 PPG, with 5 RPG and 6+ APG. Leader.  Three wins against two strong playoff contenders, the Knicks may peak at the right time and if they do, they'll need our Sportsman of the Week to lead them to a title!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 2/23/2025

In what turned out to be the most exciting sports competition so far of 2025, the 4 Nations Face Off Hockey Tournament was a smash hit by any measure.  Endless action.  Physical (despite it being an "exhibition").  Dropped glove fights at face off just to set the tone.  Non-hockey fans drawn in to see what happens next.  And Canada and the United States renewing a decades old "rivalry" in huge games, which is tough to call it that when Canada has always been so dominant to their little brothers to the South.  Well Little Brother got in the first lick, beating Canada in pool play in a 3-1 regulation decision, which put Canada in a must win in their final game of pool play to even make the finals.  Well they did that, defeating a scrappy Finland team 5-3, in a game in which a comfortable 4-0 lead got to 4-3 late.  Then in the finals, it was a heavyweight fight.  Canada struck first.  The United States got in two power punches to push them to a 2-1 lead.  Then Canada tied it last in the second period to go to sudden death overtime after a scoreless third.  And die did the United States at the stick of Connor McDavid.  McDavid pumped a wrister past American goalie (and fellow namesake) Connor Hellebuyck in what was more or less a defensive goof as McDavid was abandoned 15 feet from Hellebuyck with nobody in between.  Game.  Over.  McDavid also had a goal and assist in the Finland tilt, earning second star in that game, and top star in the 4 Nations Final.  McDavid is an elite player and thrust the dagger into the hopes of Team USA.  He is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 2/16/2025

Spring sports are in full swing and the surging interest in women's basketball is palpable.  After a banner Spring 2024 with Caitlin Clark (2x Sportswoman of the Week) and Angel Reese bringing the most exciting college basketball season in history, followed by an amazing Women's Olympics Gold Medal performance by Team USA, a new star has emerged on the college scene.  Vanderbilt true freshman Mikayla Blakes is rewriting the record books.  The guard is a scoring machine, tallying 55 points in a big overtime victory against Auburn (erasing a double-digit deficit).  This broke her own 53-point record earlier in the season.  Both are SEC single game records regardless of class, and we're talking about a conference with superstars from Tennessee and South Carolina over the years.  Only 19 and still growing into her body, the future is bright.  And she continues to excite young female athletes (and sports fans in general) about where the sport is going.  Mikayla Blakes is the Longhorndave Sportswoman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 2/9/2025

Super Bowl Licks (LIX) did not disappoint for action what it did lack in competitiveness.  In one of the more expected competitive in terms of pregame point spread unfolded as a blowout as the Philadelphia Eagles won their second Super Bowl in eight years (and well ever) in denying the Kansas City Chiefs the coveted "Three Peat" (let me know where to send a trademark check to Pat Riley).  The story of the game was the dominance by the Eagles defensive line led by Josh Sweat, who tormented future Hall of Famer and 3-time Super Bowl Champion Quarterback Patrick Mahomes II.  A part of 3 sacks (2.5 total), throw in six tackles, including 2 tackles for loss.  Overall the Eagles sacked Mahomes six times.  But it was his pressure and his defensive line colleagues that kept Mahomes II from ever being comfortable and leading to two back breaking interceptions and a strip fumble.  Each was right when you might think the Chiefs could make a run.  Defense won the game and defense, wins the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 2/2/2025

In a major North American team sport most rare on the Blog we turn to hockey and the NHL for this week's Sportsman.  The Buffalo Sabres have been in hockey misery for 25 years ever since the "No Goal" controversy in 1999 without a finals appearance since.  But maybe they've got hope this year or in the future.  Tage Thompson had an epic week for the Sabres, with eight points in 3 games, including a hat trick and most importantly, three Sabres wins including two against teams currently in playoff position.  Maybe showing signs of hope?  Although Thompson took a shot to the head in the last game and maybe out.  Sometimes luck just isn't on your side.  But Thompson may be a building block for the future, but today he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 1/26/2025

The Blog always likes an underdog winner of a big tournament and last week delivered.  American Madison Keys threw the world of women's tennis on its ear in an improbable at least, impossible at best run to win her first Grand Slam Tournament.  The 29-year-old took on the best, beating four of the Top 10 seeds on her run to the title, including defeating top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the finals and second seed Iga Swiatek in the semifinals.  The 19-seed didn't have it easy, going 3 sets in all but two of her seven matches. It was just her tenth tournament win of her career, although second in a row below the equator so bettors may have had a forecast.  However, at age 29, she became the second oldest to ever win the Aussie Open, further adding to the improbability.  What a win for Keys, forever a Grand Slam Champion and the Sportswoman of the Week!

Editors Note: Last week there was no Sportsperson of the Week due to personal travel.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/12/2025

What a fun weekend for football. For five straight days, we had two College Football semifinal tilts both of which went down to the fourth quarter (somehow the best teams advancing eventually produce great games).  Then three days of the Wild Card Round of the NFL Playoffs.  Not as competitive.  But the latter cemented a future Hall of Famer's status as a big game player and may be the reason his team wins its first Super Bowl in 12 years.  Baltimore Ravens Derrick Henry may have finally found a team to take him to his first Super Bowl appearance.  Or maybe more he'll be taking them.  Henry pounded the Pittsburgh Steelers defense for 186 yards and 26 carries, well over 7 YPC.  Add two TD.  And broke their spirit in a 28-14 win.  Not his first spirit broken.  His presence also opens up lanes for former and probable MVP Lamar Jackson.  You can't guard both.  And they have tight ends.  And a defense.  How do you stop the Ravens?  The Buffalo Bills will try, but Derrick Henry is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week.

This is Henry's third Sportsman of the Week nod, tied for most all time: 

January 7, 2018

November 15, 2015