The USFL started with a bang at their opening night game several weeks ago with the Birmingham Stallions and the New Jersey Generals battling it out to the end in a well-fought game. The USFL save their best game for the end in the inaugural title game that featured the Philadelphia Stars and the Birmingham Stallions in an epic game with several lead changes late in the game. The dominoes fell for the USFL as they concluded the regular season after a simple ten-week season. Other Spring leagues had failed to complete their regular season as the American Alliance Football League ran out of cash flow. The pandemic wiped out the XFL in 2020 where they only made it to the mid-point of their season. The USFL created their own bubble with all their regular season action being played in Birmingham, Alabama. The top 4 teams standing at the end would move on to play the post-season games in Canton, Ohio on Tom Benson Field. The first round action of the USFL playoffs was not too shabby. The Stars knocked off the Generals in a close one. Then the Stallions shook off the New Orleans Breakers in the 4th quarter to move on. Last Sunday’s championship featured the top offense of the Philadelphia Stars against one of the best defenses in the league, which the Birmingham, Stallions have.

It was the USFL night when the stands were packed with fans. Great weather on Independence weekend. The Stallions would end up prevailing in a 33-30 shoot out in a game where both teams lost their starting quarterbacks. J’Mar Smith was 10-18, 131 passing yards with one touchdown pass for the Stallions as he had Birmingham up 20-9 at the half. Smith would leave the game in the second possession of the second half for the Stallions due to dealing with cramps and an injury to his midsection. Case Cookus, the best quarterback in the USFL, was having a great game, but took some big hits. He just kept getting up and leading the Stars down the field. In one hit, Cookus was asked about his teeth after and he said, “I got my wedding coming up in a couple of days… didn’t want my fiancee to kill me.”

Case Cookus in the 4th quarter hit his wide receiver Devin Gray for a touchdown strike to give the Stars the lead. Cookus also completed a two point conversion to his other wide receiver, Jordan Suell, who had a big night with a couple of scores as well. Cookus would end his night going 17-29 with 222 passing yards with three touchdown passes. Cookus night ended after being sacked by a Stallion defensive lineman, Dondrea Tillman. On the play, Cookus’ ankle bent the wrong way as he was carted off the field. The Stars suddenly did align up for this Philadelphia team.

THE REPLACEMENTS

The replacements did not fare well for each team. Both replacements were able to put points on the board but made mistakes. Stallions back-up Alex McGough, who was Birmingham’s starting quarterback week one, went 7-10 for 77 yards with 1 touchdown pass and interception. McGough did better than the Stars replacement K.J Costello who went 5-9 45 yards with a pick six late in the game to Stallions linebacker Scooby Wright who took it in for the score.

Costello would then lead a drive quickly down the field for the Stars and throw a touchdown strike to give the Stars life once again. Costello would then throw his second interception of the game and the Stallions would escape with the first reboot USFL championship.

RUNNING BACKS

BO KNOWS

Former University of Alabama running back Bo Scarborough looked like Bo Jackson from the game at Tecmo Bowl as he had a big night on the ground for the Stallions.

Scarborough, a likely candidate to be picked up by an NFL team, had 13 carries for 135 yards including a 70 yard scamper and a touchdown.

Former Notre Dame running back, Dexter Williams, played well in his first action of the year. Williams just signed with the Philadelphia Stars on June 29th as he had 8 carries for 29 yards with 4 catches for 73 yards. Just like riding a bike.

MVP HONORS

Victor Bolden Jr. gets the MVP award of the first USFL Championship. Boden Jr. had six grabs for 64 yards with a key receiving touchdown to help the Stallions win this one. . Bolden Jr. played a big role on special teams in the return game setting up the Stallions with good field position.

CONCLUSION

The Stallions and the Generals were by far the two best teams in the USFL during regular season. The Stars’ second half of regular season took off when the team had no choice other than to go with their second string quarterback, Case Cookus. Cookus turned out to be the best quarterback in the entire league. Stars went on to beat the Generals and almost took down the Stallions in the championship. Stallions showed they were the best regular season team in the USFL during their first season. Some would say the Stallions had the home field advantage as their games had the crowd in the bubble of Birmingham. Stallions showed they could win on the road and had the following of fans that showed up in Canton to watch them in the post-season then win it all. The Stallions had a solid team on both sides of the ball for which you have to give head coach Skip Holtz, son of legendary Lou Holtz, some credit in his first season coaching professional football which he seemed to really enjoy.

During the 1980’s, the first USFL Championship featured the Philadelphia Stars and the Michigan Panthers. Panthers won that one in a close one. The reboot of the USFL has the Stars losing the first championship, but this time to the Stallions. So yes, history has kind of repeated itself. After the first season in the 1980’s of the USFL, fans were excited for a second season. The USFL reborn has already said they are in for a second season as TV ratings were satisfactory. The one thing the reboot of the USFL has going for them that the 1980’s had to deal with, was listening to former owner of the Generals, Donald Trump, sway the league in the wrong direction. I know the USFL is not the NFL. The games were good throughout the regular season and the playoffs. The competition was not watered down. The inaugural USFL championship, I have to put on my list as one of the better title games in winner takes it all. Like to see a smaller city like Birmingham win a title. I will be looking forward to the second season of the USFL in 2023.

The Russian dictator, Vladimir Putin, will stoop to any level in his quest to take over the country of Ukraine. Even use innocent pawns to extract what the devil wants. In mid-February, the Russian officials arrested 31-year-old Brittney Griner, who is a professional basketball player for the WNBA. She was arrested at Shermetyevo international airport near Moscow as her luggage contained vape cartridges filled with hashish oil. Yes Mary Jane, marijuana, pot. some call it the wacky tobacco. These days most of the world’s marijuana laws, if broken, can be compared to a parking ticket. Tell me how much I owe, I’ll pay you, and we’ll be on our way. Not in Putin’s mind as Griner is still incarcerated & now has 6 more months pending the outcome of her trial. Griner was arrested 4 months ago. On July 1st, Griner will have to change her sneakers from the basketball courts to the kangaroo court that the Russian authorities have to offer. It’s their own version of a PR stunt for Putin’s propaganda as he brainwashes his own people.

Brittney Griner is a Texan native from the city of Houston who played her college ball at Baylor University. Griner then was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA where she had played 9 professional seasons for the team that drafted her. Griner has played in 254 professional basketball games where she averages 17.7 points per game, and 7.6 rebounds while dishing out 1.8 assists per game. Griner has even played for her country, the good ole USA where she is 2x gold metal winner. Griner now might feel different about her country for leaving her to rot away in a Russian prison cell on trumped up charges by the evil Putin and his Communist ways of thinking.

The U.S Department has even classified the arrest of Griner made by the Russian authorities as her being wrongfully detained. The WNBA and dozens of Civil and Human rights organizations have demanded President Joe Biden and his sidekick, Kamala Harris, make a deal to get Griner released. What is the hold up as Russian leaders and the White house have had prisoner swaps a numerous amount of times? Putin’s mind set is he thinks Brittney Griner is the golden goose to get back Russian arms dealer, Viktor Bout. He is serving 25 years in the U.S for selling arms to a Colombian terrorist group. Bout may be compared to the Cobra Organization’s henchman, Destro, in the GI JOE movie. Just a thug selling weapons to the highest bidder.

Seems kind of an unfair deal: a woman basketball player for a guy that gives bad people the tools to kill innocent people. Just another guy in Vladimir Putin’s circle jerk.

Many people have chimed in on the horrible situation Brittney Griner is in. Griner could face another ten years in a Russian prison cell if she is found guilty by this kangaroo court. What are the Russian people thinking about cases like this? Who run the courts over there? Many Russian citizens probably fear for their lives and have to go along with whatever Vladimir Putin puts out there. Some teammates of Griner have argued if it was Shaquille O’Neal being held against his will by the Russian authorities, he would already be home. Sports commentator Keith Olbermann had his own idea for how to get Griner out. The United States should arrest NHL Russian Superstar Alex Ovechin of the Washington Capitals & put him behind bars for ten years. No way he’d break Wayne Gretzky’s goal record doing hard time. Ovechin is a friend of Putin’s. No way we want to stoop to Putin’s level and have history repeat itself. The horrific rounding up of innocent American Japanese and German citizens to place them in concentration camps like they did in World War II. We’d rather launch a rocket right at Putin’s fat head. Hopefully the White House can put their pea-brains together and find a way a solution to get Brittney Griner released. Russian prison for ten more years means Griner’s basketball career, her livelihood is over. I’d rather take my chances playing Russian Roulette for my own release than wait on Joey Biden to do something. Some say we should not even be involved in NATO and avoid conflict with Russia. Until the red scum take your son or daughter hostage, as they want Alaska back in the deal, you will play the two-sided coin wondering why we let it get this far. We already let this get too far as Griner has been staring at the same walls for the last several months in her concrete cell.

It did not surprise me the Chicago Blackhawks would bypass some of the bigger experienced names available to take over the head coach duties. Guys with the experience with a track record of success as a head coach in the NHL, may not want to take the mess the Blackhawks have made for themselves with their current roster. Plus, the Blackhawks being exposed for the Kyle Beach cover-up for letting a sexual predator in Brad Aldrich go about his business without a care in the world. The Blackhawks have cleaned house with anybody linked to that off-the-ice scandal. The Wirtz family still owns the franchise that is at another fork in the road taking the side road that leads to the huge slide going down in the game of Chutes and Ladders. Perhaps a bigger name would want to be paid a King’s ransom for the job they are expected to do that may involve a bulldozer and wrecking ball. Once again the Chicago’s sports landscape has to settle for door number 3 or maybe 8 or 9 of a flea bag motel with no cleaning service available. Blackhawks hired Luke Richardson, a 53-year-old native of Ottawa to be the franchise’s 40th head coach of all-time.

Who the hell is Luke Richardson? Richardson is a former defenseman who played in the NHL for 21 seasons with six teams. Richardson was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987, number 7 overall. Besides the Leafs, Richardson played for the Oilers, Flyers, Blue Jackets, and the Senators from where he retired and hung up the skates for good. Richardson scored 35 goals in his career, dishing out 166 assists in 1,417 games in the NHL. Richardson played in 69 playoff games as well during his long career as a player. After Richardson retired, he found a spot on the Senators staff in 2008-09. Richardson would eventually slide into the head coach role of the Senators’ AHL affiliate. Richardson would take on the role of head coach for the Binghamton Senators from 2012-16. Richardson would then head back to the NHL as he became an assistant on the New York Islanders staff & then moved on to the Montreal Canadians. In Montreal, it’s Richardson who took over the coaching duties for the Canadians when Dominique Ducharme tested positive for Covid. Richardson took over the team for 6 games during the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs and helped the team continue their magical run as the Canadians made their first Stanley Cup since 1993.

Kyle Davidson shook off the interim tag for the Blackhawks general manager’s job as he now is a permanent fixture after the team axed Stan Bowman for his ties in the cover-up. Davidson’s hire of Luke Richardson means the interim tag is off Derek King, as his duties for the Blackhawks had come to an end. Derek King went 27-33-10 after replacing another bad hire as head coach, Jeremy Colliton, who had the Blackhawks off to one of their worst starts in franchise history when shit hit the fan with the cover up.

Kyle Davidson is preaching patience as this may take a few seasons to get the roster to be competitive again and skating in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Davidson says his new guy, Richardson, checks all the boxes with a calm, cool, & collected voice that demands respect in the locker room. Hard work pays off for a team that wants to show up every night and play hard while gelling together. Looks like Richardson will have a long leash to play with while Davidson will have to make decisions about some key players. What can the Blackhawks get for the Cat? Alex DeBrincat, a young proven offensive force, should get you some pieces back in trade. Is this the farewell tour of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, who will be reaching their mid 30’s and are on their final year in their contract? Will Kane and Toews play out the entire season wearing the Indian head sweater? Will Kane and Toews lift their trade clause and let Davidson find them a new home on another team? Kane may net you something big in a trade. Toews may not get you much the way he’s been on the down side of his career, but the Captain still can bring value to a team fighting to make the playoffs. Overall we will see some bad hockey at the United Center for the next few seasons. You can never buy into what the Blackhawks are selling. Like dealing with a guy trying to unload snake oil on you. The judge and jury of this Richardson move will have to take a “wait and see” approach. See how players respond to his coaching scheme. A positive thing about this hire is Richardson was a scrappy type of defenseman who has worn the Captain C on some of the teams he played for. Does that mean he is a good coach? Most of these coaches hired after a natural disaster never last through the full rebuild. We do know this Luke is not a Jedi master because he would be somewhere else leading a team to the promised land.

Empty stadium with a shiny piece of hardware… very USFL-like. USFL does what no other Spring football league has done in some time. Finish regular season. That means Summertime post-season play which means something when it comes to the gridiron. The USFL games have moved on from the state of Alabama where they played all regular season games. Post-season in the USFL will be played in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Hall of Fame field. Canton is the home of the Football Hall of Fame.

First round features two division championship games. The winners go on to meet in the USFL Championship for all the marbles. As the peanut gallery, we will throw in our two cents into the ring and predict each game in each division championship. We even went back in the past and dug out some dirt on the original USFL league in the 1980’s to see if any history will repeat itself.

GHOSTS FROM THE USFL PAST

Many times, history does repeat itself. In the current USFL, the Philadelphia Stars, New Jersey Generals, Birmingham Stallions, and the New Orleans Breakers have made the post-season. The Breakers are the only team from the original 80’s league that never played in post-season while the Stallions, Stars and the Generals all have played more than one post-season game in the original.

Breakers originated in Boston, Portland, and New Orleans in the original league.

BREAKERS POST-SEASON RECORD: 0-0

The original Generals were owned by Donald Trump!!! Trump did not make the USFL great.

GENERALS POST-SEASON RECORD: 0-2

Generals lost both post-season games they played in to the Stars.

The Stallions were able to get out of the first round when they made the post-season.

STALLIONS POST-SEASON RECORD: 2-2

Stallions are yet another team for whom both losses came from the Stars.

The Stars played in Philadelphia and Baltimore during the first stint of the USFL.

STARS POST-SEASON RECORD: 7-1

Stars made every championship, winning two out of the three played in the original league. The Stars’ only loss came from Michigan in the very first USFL championship game.

GAME #1.

#1. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (9-1) VERSUS #2. PHILADELPHIA STARS (6-4)

Regular season play: Generals 2-0 Stars

ADVANTAGES:

Quarterback: Stars

Offense: Stars

Defense: Generals

Coaching: Generals

THE GENERALS

The Generals are the hottest team in the league winning 9 straight.

Generals defense has allowed the fewest points in the division.

Generals offense produced the most yards per game in the entire USFL at 349.4.

Generals ground attack averages 160.9 yards per game.

Generals defense only allows a stingy 18.2 points per game.

THE STARS

The Stars are the highest scoring offense in the playoffs who average 26.2 points per game.

Case Cookus in six starts has completed 62.5% of his passes with 12 touchdown strikes to only 5 interceptions.

The Stars defense is one the best at forcing turnovers.

What will doom each team?

Generals: Head coach Mike Riley has had dueling quarterbacks most of the year. If both De’Andre Johnson and Luis Perez are available, Riley could pick the wrong one to take the most snaps.

Stars: The Stars have the worst defense out of all the teams in post-season. If the Stars defense can not get the key turnover, it could be a bloodbath.

PREDICTION: GENERALS 25-17 STARS

Mike Riley won coach of the year leading these Generals to 9 straight. Look for Riley to make his mark in the playoffs and he will be king of Spring football leagues. I like the two-headed monster at running back for the Generals with Trey Williams and Darius Walker in the back field. The Stars defense may try to stop the run, but that leaves the USFL MVP wide receiver, Kavante Turpin, to make a big play in the passing game.

Turpin had 44 catches & 540 yards with 4 touchdowns. Case Cookus is the best quarterback in the league, but struggled a little at the end of regular season. It’s very hard to get that hot hand once again. Generals are well-balanced and will move on.

GAME #2.

#1. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (9-1) VERSUS NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (6-4)

Regular season play: Stallions 2-0 Breakers

ADVANTAGES:

Quarterbacks: Stallions

Offense: Stallions

Defense: Breakers

Coaching: Stallions

THE STALLIONS

The Stallions have the top scoring offense in the South Division.

The Stallions defense hold opponents to only 16.9 points per game which is second best in the entire USFL.

The Stallions can kill the quarterback, which they are the best in the league at with 27 sacks.

THE BREAKERS

The Breakers have the best defense in the entire league holding teams to a stingy 16.4 points per game.

Kyle Sloter is ranked number two in the league in passing yards.

The Breakers have the lowest scoring offense in the post-season only averaging 19.6 points per game.

What will doom each team?

Stallions: Not having home field advantage. Stallions played every game at home as the entire USFL played every game in Birmingham Alabama creating their own bubble. Playoffs will be in Canton, Ohio.

Breakers: Mistakes by Kyle Sloter who is second in the league in interceptions.

PREDICTION: BREAKERS 17-14 STALLIONS

This game will be a defensive struggle. DeMarquise Gates may be the best defensive guy on the field as he racked up 62 tackles with 6.5 sacks for the Stallions. I think the Breakers defense was the best with a slew of guys that can put the Denver Boot on any opposing offense. Stallions were very sloppy down the stretch. I think not having the fans will haunt this team whether they may travel.

The Stallions routine will be out of whack. When Kyle Sloter was right, the Breakers had glimpses of the best team in the league. Kyle Sloter has played through multiple injuries. Look for the quarterback to have a solid game and help his team move on.

The Warriors franchise collected their 7th NBA championship with their win over the Boston Celtics. The first two Warriors Championships were won when the franchise started in Philadelphia. When Warriors arrived on the west coast and became the Golden State Warriors, it was way before Stephen Curry was even born. The Golden State Warriors had a special team in the 1974-75 season where they were the underdogs in the 1975 NBA championship versus a heavy favorite Washington Bullets team. The Warriors were led by the great Rick Barry as they humiliated the Bullets sweeping them under the rug in 4 games.

The Warriors were then non-relevant for decades as they were one of the bottom feeders of the NBA for most of those years. Then Stephen Curry was drafted by the Warriors and Golden State added other pieces to surround the former Davidson College hero. Golden State becomes a dynasty of the NBA world winning 4 Champions in the last 8 seasons. Curry joins the likes of Lebron James and Shaquille O’Neal with 4 rings. With one more championship, at the age of 34 Curry can join guys like Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan. Curry would rather be more Duncan-like than Lebron James, the fake king of the NBA, when it’s finally time to hang up the spikes for good.

Stephen Curry could easily have 5 rings already if the Golden State Warriors had not blown that series versus Lebron James in his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Golden State was up 3 games to 1 on the King’s Cavaliers. Cleveland would rally and win their first NBA championship of all-time in 2016. Let’s not forget the Warriors beat the Cavaliers in 2015 to win their first championship of the four, tagging Lebron James yet with another championship loss. The King James is 4-6 all-time in the NBA Finals while Stephen Curry is 4-1 all-time. Curry has played his entire career with the Warriors. While Lebron James has created dream teams with other superstars around the league to help him get to the finals. Some would say that Curry teamed up with Kevin Durant for a few seasons as Golden State collected two more championships. Curry would win without Durant as he did it this season, and the very first one this dynasty got in 2015.

I always liked the way Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs went about his basketball business. Duncan came in his rookie season and helped David Robinson win his first ever NBA championship; a superstar who was going to be linked with guys with no rings such as Karl Malone and Charles Barkley. Robinson retired from the game and Tim Duncan became the face of San Antonio basketball. Duncan would go on and win four more titles, all in a Spurs uniform, where he played his entire career. The Spurs knew what they had, drafted well, and put guys around Duncan. When it comes to the Warriors dynasty, it’s the guys they have around Curry that help this team maintain their winning ways. Curry’s splash brother Klay Thompson has been a part of all 4 championships, just like Draymond Green’s defense. Duncan had Manu Ginobili for years who made the Spurs deadly with that 1-2 punch. Michael Jordan needed Scottie Pippen back when the Bulls won six titles. It does not matter, and the former Bulls teammates continue to throw poop at each other with the airing of the Last Dance and Pippen’s book which told his side of things. Lebron James has to find another superstar every few years through Facebook or he tries recruiting them on the court to work with him.

Stephen Curry is a man of action. How he leads his play on the court says it all. Curry definitely is more Tim Duncan-like as the locker room fights for guys like this. Curry finally got the MVP honors for the NBA finals for his play versus the Celtics. The team win is the most important rather than some individual trophy. Curry’s resume in his NBA career has some powerful stuff as he is an 8x all-star, 8x all-NBA selection and add in the 2x scoring leader. Lebron James is decorated like a 5 star general for what he has done in the NBA so far. When it all comes down to it, both James and Curry now have one number in common which is 4 rings which equals 4 championships. The Golden State Warriors will be gearing up for their fifth adventure next season. While Lebron James and his Lakers had an awful season not even making the post-season. James will be busy trying to recruit free agents. Perhaps maybe a reunion with Kyrie Irving with which their relationship went south very quickly after they won a championship together. Curry has trust in his coach, Steve Kerr, and the Warriors front office for improvements for next season by draft or free agency. Davidson just retired Curry’s number as we all remember when that small college went deep into the March Madness tournament and made it all the way to the elite 8. Stephen Curry and Davidson were David versus Goliath in all those big college basketball programs. Curry still is David while he knocks down three pointers like a sharp shooter on the floor. Curry is like Tim Duncan working hard on your own game. Then bringing that hard work play to the team while everyone comes together to play the game as a team. It’s the right way to slay the rest of the league, which all of them have some kind Goliath in the back court. Curry will never need a Lebron James. James will need a Curry if he wants to earn his 5th.

Looks like the USFL is going to go the distance and do what the XFL or the AAF in the last few years could not do, and conclude regular season play. The USFL playoff picture is cemented in before the final week of action kicks off.

Yes, Jim Mora’s former team, the Stars, are in. The Stallions are no longer perfect. You will be spitting teeth after you read this edition of the USFL power rankings. For the final week of the 2022 USFL Power Rankings we are going from bottom to top. Save the best for last.

THE BAD HALF OF THE LEAGUE

#8.

PITTSBURGH MAULERS (1-8) The hit on Maulers wide receiver Isiah Hennie last week versus the Stars, explains Pittsburgh’s entire season.

The Maulers have been the red-headed step child this year, everyone’s doormat. Isiah Hennie spitting out his tooth after the collision. Maulers could have won their second game of the season last week versus the Stars. The Stars’ Ahmed Dixon came waltzing in through the turnstile Maulers offensive line and pretty much took the hand-off himself, forcing a fumble as Philadelphia gets the ball back late in the game. Maulers could have closed this game out with a win. Stars then score a touchdown to steal the game away. All the trick plays the Maulers used to muster up those 16 points, now the team playbook looks light versus the Panthers in the last game of the season. It’s a game they could coin the toilet bowl of the USFL.

#7.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS (1-8) Jeff Fisher makes more noise in the NFL than the USFL this week. Fisher chimed in on the Washington Commander soap opera between Head Coach Ron Rivera and his Defensive Coach Jack Del Rio. From the peanut gallery Fisher told his former teammate Ron Rivera to shut up.

Jack Del Rio made some comments about the Capital uprising with the trials going on. Rivera rubbed his Defensive Coordinator’s nose in it like a dog pooping on the rug. Fisher was basically saying leave politics out of the game. Fisher’s Panthers played well and almost derailed the hottest team in the USFL, the Generals, blowing a lead late in this contest. Generals knocked out Panthers Quarterback Josh Love late in the game as Michigan suddenly became stone walled.

In the loss, it wasted a great performance out of Wide Receiver Joe Walker who had 7 catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers.

#6.

TAMPA BAY BANDITS (4-5) Bandits playoff hopes were crushed in a loss to the Breakers last week. If the Bandits would have won, they would be alive & still kicking in week ten action with hopes to sneak through the back door of the USFL post-season. Bandits only muster up 6 points versus the Breakers. Which was more than their first meeting, when these two teams met it was three points in a rout by the Breakers. Jordan Ta’amu was the top quarterback in the XFL in 2020. Many thought the Bandits would be one of the top teams in the league. Playoffs hopes on the line and Ta’amu can’t even even pass for 100 yards. Bandits won all their games against the worst teams in the league.

If I was a Bandits fan, I would not want Todd Haley in my city during Spring Break or any time of the year in 2023 when teams will play in their own cities. Haley and Maulers Head Coach Kirby Wilson should be fired at the end of year one of the USFL. The Bandits offense was dreadful. Haley’s coaching decisions are the same word… DREADFUL!!!

#5.

HOUSTON GAMBLERS (2-7) The old saying, “A day late and a dollar short,” explains the Houston Gamblers season. Gamblers upset the undefeated Stallions last Sunday. I’m not shocked. The Gamblers have a ton of talent on their roster and can probably beat anybody in this league on any given Sunday. The Gamblers problem is they could not close out games. They had blown the lead in multiple games during the regular season. Beating the Stallions came down to the Gamblers’ bend but don’t break defense. Gamblers were out-gained by the Stallions in this one with 329 yards to 129 yards. Gamblers only had 29 yards on the ground. Gamblers won this game despite having their second string quarterback under center. The Gamblers defense made the plays to stall long Stallion drives where they got nothing in return.

Return man Jo Jo Ward had a 58 yard kick off return that set up a field goal as Gamblers Special teams played a big part in giving the Stallions their first blemish of the season.

THE GOOD HALF

#4.

PHILADELPHIA STARS (6-3) The Philadelphia Stars for the last few weeks looked like a scary team to deal with in the post-season as their offense was rising high. Stars had nothing to play for in week 9 as they had their spot in playoffs cemented. I think fans would have liked to see a little more as starting quarterback Case Cookus did not look good against a bad Mauler team. Cookus did not play in the second half as the team will rest him for the post-season. Stars defense, which is a concern going into post-season, played well and Ahmed Dixon made the defensive play that turned the game around for the Stars.

Dixon forced the fumble as Maulers were looking to close out the game. The Stars offense took over and scored the winning touchdown. Stars defense is not best unit in the league, but find a way to make an important play in every game to help turn things around. Maulers scored all of their points from special teams last Sunday night versus the Stars.

#3.

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (6-3) The Breakers’ win over the Bandits clinched the final playoff spot for the upcoming USFL post-season. Kyle Sloter looked horrible early on in last week’s contest by causing two turnovers for the Breakers. Sloter was benched. Breakers found a burst of energy from their back up quarterback, Zack Smith.

Smith orchestrated a key drive using his legs most of the time and then slings a perfect pass to the Breakers Tight End, Sal Cannella, for a touchdown. Sloter did return in the second half. Breakers defense as usual came up big. The Breakers to me have all the components to be the best team in the league. Kyle Sloter has to play a clean game. Sloter leads the league with turnovers. When Sloter plays well with that great Breaker defense, they will be hard to beat.

#2

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (8-1) Stallions season will not be perfect after all as they suffered their first loss of the season by the Houston Gamblers. Last few weeks, the Stallions to me have been bored and trying some different things they usually don’t do. I thought the Stallions originally were going to finish the regular season perfect with the way they were going with the home crowd always behind them. I thought when the USFL moved their playoff games to Canton, Ohio leaving Alabama for the first time, the Stallions were going to falter not having their fans. Maybe this loss by the Gamblers is what the Stallions need at this time. Get the eye of the tiger back.

Stallions need a little pep in their step before post-season.

#1.

NEW JERSEY GENERALS (8-1) Meanwhile……

Head Coach Mike Riley’s team, the Generals, are the hottest team in the league winning 8 straight only losing a close one on opening night to the Stallions in the first game. Riley was in the stands watching the other games after his team took care of the Panthers last week in the first game of week 9. Riley was scouting the other teams and sharpening up his play book like Freddie Krueger with his claws.

Who will be Mike Riley’s starting quarterback in post-season?

This is interesting because Riley used both Luis Perez and De’Andre Johnson in a platoon situation earlier this season. Then Johnson took over as the starting quarterback for several weeks until he got injured. That left the starting duties lately going to Perez. Johnson is back & healthy. Does Riley go with the two-headed monster? Platooning quarterbacks in the post-season can be a challenge. It will be interesting to see who QB number one will be.

Stallion fans are very excited their team is heading for post-season. The USFL playoffs will be played in Canton, Ohio. Which team will have the most fans in Ohio since Birmingham has had the home field advantage all year? Week 8 power rankings show not much movement, but we have a clearer picture of the playoffs. The Maulers’ hammers are broken.

Week 8 USFL power rankings will be a promising good read.

#1.

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (7-0) (SAME) The Stallions clinched a playoff spot as they remain unbeaten with still the best record in the USFL. When you’re the top dog of the league and playing the last place Mauler team, you tinker with a few things. The Stallions got their back up quarterback involved in the offense. Alex McGough is lined up as receiver. McGough is a jack of all trades & master of none. Bobby Holly scored on a 52 yard fake punt that gave the Stallions the lead.

The Stallions have been using the wish bone offense with three running backs lined up in the back field in some of their goal line packages. Fine tuning the playoff playbook.

#2.

NEW JERSEY GENERALS (6-1) (SAME) The Generals were actually the first team to clinch a post-season spot with their win over the Bandits. Generals have won 6 in a row. In a game that the Generals dominated as the score would tell it was a close game. Generals defense creating turnovers as they picked off Jordan Ta’amu three times and stopped the Bandits in the red zone in the last minute of the game. Shalom Luani, best safety in the league, had two interceptions for New Jersey.

#3.

NEW ORELANS BREAKERS (5-2) (SAME) The Breakers had quite the scare playing a bad Panther team but survived in overtime against them. Sooner or later, one of these bottom dwellers will beat one of these top teams in the USFL. Kyle Sloter, who is the best quarterback in the USFL, was able to drive his team down the field and force overtime, thus setting the New Orleans kicker up with a manageable kick to tie the game. Breakers would finally put away the Panthers in the extra frame.

#4.

PHILADELPHIA STARS (4-3) (SAME) The Philadelphia Stars will be a scary team in the playoffs with their high powered offense. The Stars defensive unit is one of the worst in the league. If that unit could make a few plays, this team could be scary. Stars put 35 points on Houston last week. The Stars scored 22 points in the second half. Stars have a great running game. The aerial game has a slew of players that contribute, as Case Cookus spreads the ball around very nicely.

Tight end Bug Howard caught his 4th touchdown pass of the year. Theo’s friend on the Bill Cosby show went by the nick name, “Cockroach.”

Insects names do well into the adult stages of life. Wide Receiver Jordan Suell has caught 23 balls for 246 yards & leads the Stars in receiving.

#5.

TAMPA BAY BANDITS (3-4) (SAME) The Bandits have lost two straight weeks by one score. Todd Haley’s offense may have the best quarterback in the league on paper. Todd Haley, mastermind of offensive strategies, has forgotten something very important in rule one when it comes to Offense 101. Protect your quarterback.

Bandits quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has been sacked 15 times. Ta’amu is the second best ranking quarterback in the entire USFL, but he’s running scared most of the time.

Ta’amu leads the league in interceptions and he threw three of them last week in a tight game versus the Generals. The Bandits have to hope they can win all their remaining games and get help if they want to make post-season.

#6.

HOUSTON GAMBLERS (1-6) (SAME) Donald Payne Jr. was the Defensive Player of the Week with two interceptions, one he ran into for a score.

Getting an individual award like Donald Payne Jr. did get from a great game is wonderful, but once again the team gave up 35 points to the Stars. Another second half collapse by this Houston team during which they gave up 22 points to the Stars with the lead. Houston could easily be 6-1 or 5-2, & at least have some kind of winning record. The tale of two halves is when they give up the game late. I will say the Gamblers are the best 1-6 team in the league, if that helps any.

#7.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS (1-6) (UP 1 SPOT) The Panthers salvaged one of the Maulers’ quarterbacks.

Looks like Jeff Fisher goes garbage picking at night dressed up as Batman. The Panthers are using Josh Love and the team played a solid game versus the Breakers only to lose in overtime. The Maulers quarterback situation looks to be the worst. Reggie Corbin is having a solid year as he gained 108 yards on the ground versus the Breakers. Corbin is number two in the league in rushing yards.

#8.

PITTSBURGH MAULERS (1-6) (DOWN 1 SPOT) Kirby Wilson is the worst coach in the USFL. The story about Wilson cutting a running back over choosing pizza over chicken salad, does not seem far fetched. Wilson is heard with the live mikes in the USFL on the television coverage just berating his starting quarterback, Vad Lee. Eventually Lee would be taken out of the game for Roland Rivers, another quarterback who the team signed off the street, days prior.

The Maulers were still in the game as well when Wilson inserts Rivers, the 4th quarterback used by Pittsburgh this year. Maulers had their first touchdown in the first quarter last week and first lead all year. Maulers won their only game in the last second of regulation versus the Gamblers. Wasted effort by the Maulers as their running back was averaging 6.7 yards a carry in the first half, while the kicker drilled a 60 yard field goal. Maulers are the Bad News Bears of the league with all the bad quarterbacks they’ve been parading behind center.

Remember the days of Joe Sakic leading the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup Finals? Will the Lightning move on to defend their Stanley cup to seek a three peat? Is Connor McDavid the best player remaining? The Rangers keep finding a way. We are down to 4 teams left in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. Last round we went 2-2 in our predictions of each series. Round 1 we did very well going 5-3. We have a 7-5 record in the playoffs, which is not impressive. We are winning!!!

Let’s throw some more darts at the board and see who we’ve got meeting up in the Stanley Cup Finals.

WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

COLORADO AVALANCHE VERSUS EDMONTON OILERS

The Colorado Avalanche have the best record in the Western conference and are a series away from getting back to the Stanley Cup Finals. Meanwhile Connor McDavid is performing like the best hockey player on the ice throughout these playoffs. Remember those Wayne Gretzky-led Oiler teams he carried on his back?

Can Connor McDavid carry this Oiler team on his back to the Cup Finals?

LAST ROUND: Colorado dropped an Avalanche on St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, knocking him out of the series.

Binnington was playing very well before his injury as Colorado would move on to the championship round. Oilers were able to upend the Calgary Flames, an archrival in the Canadian world.

Connor McDavid Robin is Leon Draisaitl and this Edmonton line has been tearing it up with 26 points in 12 games in the post-season. The Oilers even let a Joker in the Batcave.

Evander Kane, the most hated man in hockey, has 12 goals for the Edmonton Oilers this post-season which give this team a potent offense. Then Mike Smith, a 40 year net-minder, has a .927 save percentage during this Edmonton run.

The Colorado Avalanche record is the best in the league remaining because they have 7 out of the 50 best players in the NHL according to ESPN. Let’s mention the Connor McDavid on Colorado, who goes by the name Nathan Mackinnon.

I like the Avalanche to finish this thing up strong and make the finals. I think Edmonton has played over their heads till now and are due for a let down. Colorado’s Cale Makar will make his stand on defense to fluster the McDavid line. Does Edmonton have anyone that can control or stop the Avalanche’s second deadly line with Nazem Kadri skating circles around teams? Kadri would be on most teams in the NHL top lines.

PREDICTION: AVALANCHE IN 6 GAMES

EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VERSUS NEW YORK RANGERS

This is an interesting match up that features the Rangers, an original six team who play in the biggest city in North America. Then you have the city of Tampa Bay known as a town of losers when it comes to their professional sports landscape. Suddenly the Lightning seem to be knocking on the door for a three peat in the hockey world as Tampa Bay is collecting titles in sports like a kid collecting baseball cards.

LAST ROUND: Lightning swept away the Panthers with ease winning the Florida State battle.

The Rangers have been playing the spoiler role in their first two series. The Rangers have overcome two deficits in each series. Rangers found a way to come back and knock the Penguins out in round one. Then doing the same thing to the Hurricanes in round two.

Last time the Lightning lost a playoff series, was back in Spring 2019. Lightning have won ten playoff series in a row while collecting two Cups. Lightning could be the first team to 3 peat since those Islander teams in the 1980’s.

Can Artemi Panarin be the difference maker in this series for the Rangers? Panarin signed with the Rangers for big money. Now it is time to show why you are worth all that money.

Rangers have some play makers on this roster that can make this series interesting. All-star defenseman Adam Fox. Mika Zibanecad can light the lamp. Can Igor Shesterkin keep a well balanced offense intact in front of the net for the rangers?

Lightning have been like thunder in this round with the experience this team has. I can not go against them until some team knocks them out. I just don’t think the Rangers can win a seven game series versus the Lightning. I think the Lightning is a well-balanced team with a deep roster of talent just oozing out. Lightning have the best goalie on the planet right now in Andrei Vasilevskiy as he has stopped 211 shots out of 218 so far in playoffs which equals out to a .968 save percentage. Did we mention Vasilevskiy has been in net for Tampa Bay in the last two Stanley Cup runs?

PREDICTION: LIGHTNING IN SIX GAMES

The Generals salute the Gamblers in a walk-off score.

Week Seven Power Rankings have some movement but not much. Stallions are still king of the hill. The Maulers were a disappointment. Panthers are looking at another guy behind center for the stretch of the season. Has the Stars win locked down a playoff spot? We have another edition of the USFL Power Rankings enjoy.

#1.

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (6-0) (SAME) The Stallions start the second half of the the return of the USFL in grand fashion with a blow-out win over the Panthers to remain perfect for the season. The Stallions showcase another weapon they have at their disposal. BO KNOWS ???

Not the great Bo Jackson Raiders running back blasting off his six shooters every time he hit pay dirt. The Stallions have another Bo. A local yokel Bo, former University of Alabama running back.

Bo Scarborough… the name just sounds like a bruising running back. Scarborough was picked up a few weeks back by the Stallions. Last weekend, Scarborough rushed for 105 yards on the ground that included a 28 yard touchdown to put the game on ice for the Stallions.

#2.

NEW JERSEY GENERALS (5-1) (SAME) The Generals have now won 5 games in a row and are still the second hottest team in the league. Most of the season the Generals have been using duel pianos at the quarterback position. Generals head coach Mike Riley made a decision to go with D’Andre Johnson as the main guy behind center. Johnson would not last the game versus the Gamblers. This is why Riley is genius-like, because no worries the Generals have Luis Perez who has experience and plenty of reps this season.

Luis Perez eventually would lead the Generals back into the game. Then Perez would engineer a winning drive at the end of regulation to keep the Generals winning streak alive and well coming into week 7. Perez and Johnson are probably the best 1 & 2 combo behind center in the entire USFL. Remember the Generals drafted a guy named Ben Holmes who never even sniffed the field and eventually was released.

#3.

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (4-2) (SAME) The Breakers recipe for winning games depends on if Kyle Sloter does not turn over the ball and when the Breakers score a touchdown on the defense. Both things happened with the win over the Maulers last week.

Corner-back Ike Brown had the longest pick six of the year, a 97 yard return touchdown of the Maulers. The Breakers have assembled a top notch defense. I like former Iowa State defensive lineman Kamillo Tongamoa. Tongamoa is a monster that clogs the middle of the line for the Breakers.

Tongamoa put pressure on opposing teams’ offensive lines as caves in the middle of the quarterback enforcers. Tongamoa has two sacks with nine tackles so far for the Breakers.

#4.

PHILADELPHIA STARS (3-3) (UP 1 SPOT) The Stars won the middle of the road bowl by winning the shootout versus the Tampa Bay Bandits last weekend. Running back Matt Colburn II had the hat trick in rushing touchdowns for the Stars.

Colburn II now had 4 total rushing touchdowns this season in a Stars uniform. Case Cookus is now 2-1 as the starting quarterback filling in for the injured Bryan Scott. Both quarterbacks Scott and Cookus have thrown 5 passing touchdowns behind center for the Stars. Stars have a high powered offense and could be a scary team in round one of the playoffs. Stars are second in the North chasing the Generals who they will not catch. Behind the Stars, in the North Standings in the USFL, is a pair of 1-5 teams. Great chances to lock up the second seed in the North.

#5.

TAMPA BAY BANDITS (3-3) (DOWN 1 SPOT) The Bandits lost to the Stars last week in a shootout. In a game that has these two teams now at 500. Bandits feast off teams with losing records and the Stars had a 2-3 record coming in. Now the Bandits are in the bottom 4 of the league instead of the top 4. Bandits playoff hopes may be shredded as they have a match up with the Generals this weekend.

Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu led a rally late versus the Stars, but the Bandits fell short in a close one. Bandits can’t overcome all the turnovers so they keep shooting themselves in the foot each weekend.

#6.

HOUSTON GAMBLERS (1-5) (UP 1 SPOT) This is even though the Gamblers lost last week to another walk off home run style heart breaking loss this time to the Generals in the last seconds of the game.

Even though they lost to the Maulers a week prior, I still moved them up a spot because the record should be way better. The Gamblers have played way better than the Maulers the entire year. You wonder if head coach of the Gamblers, Kevin Sumlin, is jinxed. If someone actually has the hex on him or the Gamblers in general. The best way to describe the Houston Gambler season is the movie Hamburger Hill. It’s about a United States platoon trying to take a hill from the enemy.

Above and before they try to take the hill, things are loose. Team is focused. Then the platoon find their way to the top of the hill like the Gamblers about to win the game late in the 4th quarter only to be shell-shocked.

I’m sure the Gamblers will find a way to beat someone before the season ends. Just don’t gamble any money on it.

#7.

PITTSBURGH MAULERS (1-5) (DOWN 1 SPOT) I had the Maulers out of the basement and up two spots in the power rankings with their first win over the Gamblers two weeks ago.

Last weekend the Maulers did the swing their hammer like the mighty Thor. The Maulers were back to their old ways. Dormant offense most of the game with a spurt late. Same defense that shows up like the offense in spurts of the game. I was raving about the new Mauler quarterback Vad Lee who did well when thrown into the action after just signing him off the streets.

Lee would throw a pick six and with the live feed you can hear the quarterback complaining about his wide receiver to head coach Kirby Wilson. The receiver has been there all year and Lee just has arrived on the scene the last two weeks. As quarterback, you’re the leader so take the blame on the poorly thrown ball. It’s your job to take responsibility as a leader of the team. Later Lee would throw a touchdown pass to that same Receiver he was sore about, but by accident as the ball was intended for another target and Baily Gaither would make a nice catch on ball sailing away. Gaither is the same guy who caught the winning touchdown versus the Gamblers.

#8.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS (1-5) (SAME) Shea Patterson, this season, has completed 59.6% of his passes behind center for the Panthers while passing for 973 yards with a QB rating of 112.4. Patterson has rushed for a pair of touchdowns with 171 yards using his legs. Patterson has thrown 4 touchdown passes. Decent numbers some will say as a quarterback in a Spring league. Patterson was the number one pick overall in the USFL draft which has led to one victory. The turnovers are the problem for Patterson who has 5 interceptions and three fumble recoveries.

The former Michigan Wolverine was cut by the Panthers this week. Many things have doomed the Panthers & the quarterback play overall has to be tops of the list. Another man’s junk is another man’s treasure as the Panthers will most likely turn to Josh Love who the Maulers tossed aside like an old shoe. Panthers show Josh some love by plucking him off the curb on garbage night.

When I first read that the New York Islanders fired their head coach, Barry Trotz, the lamp was lit in my head with thoughts about how the Chicago Blackhawks should ponce on a guy that suddenly became available. Derek King still has the label of interim coach on his title so you know the Blackhawks are kicking the tires on a new leader. In a year that dark clouds smothered the United Center, and are still lingering today, where the organization was exposed for the cover up Kyle Beach saga. Resulting in a slew of heads chopped off at the neck that were legends from the years that the Blackhawks hoisted three Cups. A stain that will need years of gasoline using a wire brush to scrape off the humiliation when the cat came out of the bag. Then to see the product on the ice perform poorly during the entire season; an organization at the crossroads with two of their best superstars that help win those three cups. The Indian sweater is at rock bottom once again right before the dynasty was created. When the Blackhawks were lower than pond scum sharing the worst franchise title with the LA Clippers out of the 4 main sports leagues. The Blackhawks need a guy that can bring toughness back to a team that needs direction and leadership, both of which Trotz can provide.

Barry Trotz is 59 years old and has been head coach in the NHL for 15 seasons. Trotz has been with three organizations starting with Nashville, then he went on to Washington, and then finally moving on to take the job with the Islanders. In 15 seasons behind the bench, Trotz has the 3rd most wins in NHL history as a head coach. Trotz has a regular season record of 914-670-60 which is a .567 winning percentage. Trotz won a Stanley Cup in Washington in 2018. It was the first and only cup the Capitals have ever won. In 4 seasons in New York, Trotz had a record of 152-102-34 as he fixed the Islanders who were one of the worst defensive teams in the league when he came in and turned them into one of the best in the league. In 2021, Trotz had the Islanders only one game away from making the finals. This year the Islanders went 37-35-10 under Trotz leadership and missed the playoffs for the first time out of his 4 year tenure. Not sure you can fault Trotz for missing the playoffs when the team started off poorly due to a five week road trip to start the season off while the team waited for their new arena to finish being built. The Islanders would then have a slew of injuries with some Covid issues, so you can chalk it up missing the playoffs as one of those bad luck seasons. Some organizations don’t care for any kind of excuses even when things are out of your hands and he was let go as the Islanders want a new voice for their team next season.

The Blackhawks have major problems on the ice and off the ice. The new General Manager was a busy guy at the trade deadline trying to trade away some mistakes that Stan Bowman made last off-season getting rid of them to other teams. The Blackhawks off the ice are still dealing with the after shocks of the Kyle Beach saga as they let a sexual predator walk out of their building with a recommendation for a new job even though they knew this guy was a sick twisted person. Then there’s the hoof and mouth disease the Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz had at a town hall meeting. It was held because the team had to try and get themselves out in front of this Kyle Beach cluster bomb. The meeting resulted in even darker clouds. Now the Blackhawks have restructured their front office and named Kyle Davidson the new General Manager taking the interim tag off his work. Davidson’s first move when he was named interim GM was getting rid of yesterday’s garbage in head coach Jeremy Colliton. Derek King then took over because he was on Colliton’s staff and the best available. Now Davidson could really get the regime off to a great start and hire Barry Trotz.

I don’t know if Barry Trotz would even take the Blackhawks’ phone call, especially if he does not want to take on a project. Bringing in Trotz could give Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews one last shot to build something around these two guys. Stan Bowman has tried to assemble guys around Kane and Toews for years since the dynasty ran out of gas, and has failed miserable. Bringing in Trotz would force the Blackhawks to build a solid defense around Kane and Toews. When the Blackhawks were winning Cups, some of those teams’ defense were not that good as the goalie bailed the team out again and again with the team’s high powered offense. Trotz would bring discipline right from the start. Especially, a team handcuffed by the salary cap would need to depend on younger talent. Trotz teams play an aggressive style of hockey as his players go out and hit people and crash the boards with authority. Toews is a much better player when he plays an aggressive style of hockey. Opposing teams would think before they hit a guy like Kane because they know somebody may be closer than they think in their rear view mirror. Trotz would bring a winning environment back to the United Center. Trotz has won in every place he has been. If the Blackhawks gave him the time and the players, I think Trotz can build a team that would make the post-season every year. Winning on the ice would help some of the dark clouds still lingering over the United Center turn into rainbows and unicorns. Eventually all those skeletons that came out of the closet could then be forgotten and placed back under the house in hopes no one lets them out again. Winning seems to always cure all.