Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/28/2023

Memorial Day weekend was packed with sports action highlighted by a (scheduled) triple header of auto racing on Sunday.  The cornerstone in the United States at least is The Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis 500.  The cornerstone of the Indycar series, it's circled on racing fans calendars a year in advance.  This year's race was clutch to the end, albeit a bit choppy.  Josef Newgarden passed 2022 Champion Marcus Ericsson on the final Green Lap and eased to victory.  After three red flags in the final sequence allowed one green lap to go, Newgarden did not miss on the opportunity.  It is the American's first Indy 500 victory in his distinguished career and he will remember the kissing of the bricks at The Brickyard for a lifetime.  Newgarden is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/21/2023

The month of May is a syzygy of sports not the least of which is golf and specifically, the second major of the year.  The Professional Golf Association Championship.  This year fighting some tough weather through the weekend, with Sunday clearing up for a beautiful day of golf at the highest level and a crowded leader board.  While a familiar former three-time Sportsman of the Week won the Wanamaker Trophy (that being Brooks Koepka), it was a player more like the rest of us who stole the show with his level of play.  Golf Pro Michael Block was already a fan favorite as the only Pro to make the cut and surge into Sunday.  Not only that, he was hovering around the Top 20 eventually finishing 15th.  But it was his shot on the Par 3 15th hole that sent the crowd into a frenzy.  The 46-year-old hit a 7-iron and dunked it straight into the hole.  Not even believing it, he turned to his playing partner Rory McIlroy (also former Sportsman of the Week) who was high fiving him like no tomorrow.  Love a sports where your competitors cheer your success and love our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/14/2023

The Stanley Cup Playoffs sets the stage for the Conference Finals and non-traditional markets are basking in upsetting the longer tenured teams.  Nobody should be surprised that the Las Vegas Golden Knights find themselves in the Conference Finals for the third time in their six years of history.  In a street fight with the offense laden Edmonton Oilers, it was the Golden Knights who emerged victorious in six games to set up a shot at their first Stanley Cup.  One of the primary reasons they find themselves, Jonathan Marchessault.  In critical four game stretch of the week, Marchessault dominated in two wins resulting in a 3-1 week and a 4-2 series win for Vegas.  In Game 3, Marchessault netted the first two critical goals to thrust the Golden Knights back from a 1-0 deficit to a 5-1 victory.  In Game 6, he got a natural hat trick in the second period to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead on their way to series victory.  In their 4-3 victory in Game 5, he assisted 3 of the team's four goals.  Marchessault and the Golden Knights are on a mission to bring home Lord Stanley, and I would not doubt that our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week can do it!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 5/7/2023

In the peakiest of season for sports, the Kentucky Derby was a keystone must see event and it did not disappoint.  The field was in flux in the days before Derby Day as an unprecedented number of horses were scratched.  Coming into the weekend, Forte was a clear favorite.  As "My Old Kentucy Home" echoed over Churchill Downs, it was wide open with several favorites.  However, none of the shortest odds won.  Instead, Mage.  A simple name, but stout horse stole the show ridden by Javier Castellano.  Mage was about 10th place as the horses came 5 wide through the final turn but never looked back.  Ran down every contender.  Castellano was patient then ran an amazing line to cut through the field and use his horse's speed to win the race.  Great job but an amazing jockey, our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week! 

Sportsman of the Week Ending 4/30/2023

The Stanley Cup playoffs are beloved for the absolute battle to win every game and series and throwing regular season records out the window.  None of that matra came into play more than the first round series in which the Florida Panthers upset the Boston Bruins in an epic Game 7 to make the second round.  But that's not any old Boston Bruins.  But the most successful regular season NHL team of all time, Presidents Trophy winning Boston Bruins.  After exerting their talent and will in the first four games against the Panthers going up 3-1, the Bruins looked poised to ease into the second round.  Not so fast.  The Panthers battled in Bean Town to steal away a Game 5 victory and take the Bruins back south.  Always a red flag.  Now at home, if they win Game 6, they suddenly put the Bruins in panic mode in Game 7.  And that happened.  And in Game 7, it was Carter Verhaeghe that sealed their fate.  He scored the overtime goal to the shock of the home crowd and the Bruins were done.  It wasn't just that game, Verhaeghe netted 3 assists in the pivotal Game 5 overtime win on the road (including the dime on the game winner) and another helper in Game 6 in what was an easy win.  Verhaeghe was the man in the middle of one of the greatest comebacks and upsets in Stanley Cup Playoff history and is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!