Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/28/2025

The first major conference matchup week in college football unfolded in the last weekend in September and it did not disappoint.  In the New Conference Order, suddenly a matchup between Illinois and Southern California is (1) a conference matchup and (2) one between ranked teams.  And on national TV, the Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer took over.  Altmyer struck early, was efficient, and finished the game.  He ended 20-26 with 328 yards on such limited attempts.  And two TDs in a thrilling 34-32 victory.  And no interceptions.  And he was efficient with his legs on five carries and tack on another touchdown.  Oh and, he caught a TD pass.  Talk about doing it all.  Altmyer answered the critics after a tough loss and has positioned Illinois with their conference title fate in front of them.  Luke Altmyer is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/21/2025

In a busy time in the sports world, the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo, Japan, featured incredible athletes on a big stage a year after the Paris Olympics. Perhaps the biggest star is the Swedish Pole Vaulter who has quickly demonstrated he's the best in history.  Mondo Duplantis set a World Record with a 6.3m vault, beating his previous record of 6.16m by a good margin.  He's set a World Record now 14 times.  The Swede has won the last two Olympics and doesn't seem to be slowing down.  Certain to be one of the greatest field athletes in history, he's the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/14/2025

Despite criticism of scheduling, the first three weeks of the NCAA College Football Season has had a number of big games with ranked teams coming down to the end.  The Texas A&M Aggies took a step up in the national landscape with a huge win on the road against a Top Ten team.  In what many consider the most hallowed college football grounds in South Bend, Indiana.  Marcel Reed, who emerged midway through the 2024 season with a big win against LSU, did it again against the Fighting Irish.  This time accounting for nearly 400 yards on his own (360 passing, 37 running) and two TDs.  His most clutch play was the deciding fourth down and 11 yards do or die.  Reed did.  Notre Dame died.  Big win for the Aggies as they try and show they're contenders for the SEC.  Marcel Reed is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 9/7/2025

What an NFL Opening Weekend with thrilling games and new story lines emerging.  The biggest game of the weekend was on Sunday Night Football as in a huge playoff matchup the Baltimore Ravens traveled to the Buffalo Bills in the last season opener in the venerable Bills stadium.  The game did not disappoint.  As the two best players in football navigated their teams up and down the field for 81 points.  The reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen fed off the moment for an amazing fourth quarter scoring three touchdowns and a field goal, including 16 unanswered in the last four minutes for a thrilling victory before a sellout, yet not all seats full crowd for fans who left.  Allen had 394 yards passing, 2 TD throwing, 2 TD running in the 41-40 victory.  Will this be the Bills year?  Allen will be the one to take them there, the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

This is Josh Allen's second Sportsman of the Week.

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/31/2025

College Football kicked off a huge Labor Day Weekend and the United States Open (of Tennis) is in full swing but we're back to baseball for our honors this week.  For the third time this season, a four home run game has been achieved.  Most ever.  This time, by home run machine Kyle Schwarber.  Schwarber is one of the great power hitters in the current era and did not disappoint against the rival Atlanta Braves.  The Wearing the classic powder blue uniforms, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger hit a HR in the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 7th inning against the Atlanta Braves collecting 9 RBI along the way, which is a good month for many players.  Wherever he plays he produces and his teams make postseason runs.  He is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/24/2025

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.  No more.  The best player to never win a PGA event has won one and it was the literal Tour Championship.  Tommy Fleetwood had too many runners up to count, including Majors.  Including recent events.  Playing the best golf on the tour by a duffer not named Scottie.  This week.  He did it.  Finished three shots clear of the field and an elite field at that only the 30 best that qualified.  Nobody nailed an impossible putt against him.  He didn't get the shanks on the last couple of holes.  Closed.  With ease.  By all counts one of the best gentlemen and sportsmen on the tour, and now the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 8/17/2025

I took a week pause but we are back at it.  Like it or not, Baseball is the only game in town at the moment, be it Major Leagues or Little League.  We turn to the Big Apple as one of the city's biggest stars shined.  Francisco Lindor did all he could to keep the New York Mets in the National League East race.  Lindor put up Little League numbers this week, going 14-25 with 4 HR, 3 2B, 8 runs, 7 RBI.  And stole a couple of bases.  The Mets are likely tagged for the postseason as a Wild Card and may spoil some bigger winners teams.  If they do, it will be a result of the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportswoman of the Week Ending 8/3/2025

Summer sports abound, we turn our attention to the swimming pool and one of the, if not the greatest American swimmer in history.  Katie Ledecky continues to assault the swimming record books fending of younger challengers now as she approaches 30 years old.  At the 800m distance there is no question.  She has not lost a major race at the distance since 2012.  She hasn't left the last four Olympics with fewer than five medals.  American legend and the Longhorndave Sportswoman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/27/2025

As the late summer sports season rolls around, Major League Baseball begins to take center stage for the All-Star Game, Hall of Fame Weekend, Trade Deadline, and the Pennant Race.  And rookie players emerging.  The Athletics rookie Nick Kurtz became the first rookie in major league baseball to hit a record-tying four home runs in a game against perennial power Houston Astros blowing them out 15-3.  Kurtz tore into two additional hits as well, going six for six, scoring six times, with 8 RBI like it was a Little League Game.  Maybe this is a turned corner for the Athletics as they try and rebuild, but with rookies like Kurtz it may not be too long.  Nick Kurtz is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 7/20/2025

The Tour de France remains one of the most visually appealing sports events of the summer and a favorite of this Blog.  The scenes of 150+ cyclists going through the French countryside by small town churches and museums along with 4 hours of action and strategy every day.  However, it's usually settled in the big mountains of the Pyrenees or Alps and 2025 was no different.  And a familiar face dominated.  Tadej Pogačar is making a case for best ever in the sport and on his way to his third General Classification victory in Le Tour well before the age of 27.  Pogačar's biggest threat has been 2022-23 winner Jonas Vingegaard but it's been no match.  Stage 12 is where he made it happen, going one on one with Vingegaard and just crushing him to take over the Maillot Jaune probably for good.  It should be noted, Vingegaard beat the rest of the field, but Pogačar put his stamp on it. Stage 13 to leave no doubt, he won the Time Trial as well.  Maybe the Slovenian will crack in the Alps but not likely.  Tadej Pogačar is poised for his third Tour de France win on the Champs Elysees on Sunday and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!