Strong showing in Women’s March Madness, Wilkins sighting, NFL newscycle, more…

Paige Bueckers. Caitlin Clark and JuJu Watkins were on my television screen on Saturday. How about you? Yes, I watched the Arizona men work through a stubborn Dayton squad to advance to the Sweet 16, but the Women’s Tournament was of far more interest and intrigue. I coached my daughters in youth hoops. I was the original play-by-play voice of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury. My friend Charli Turner-Thorne once offered me the chance to be a guest coach for an Arizona State vs UCLA game. I watched Clark in two television commercials during men’s games today. This may not seem like much to you, but Saturday was a big deal for someone invested in women’s sports! Back in my Valley radio days(or dayz) former Arizona Republic columnist Paola Boivin was a weekly radio. On one occasion, the morning after her appearance,  someone in the building asked why I would have a woman on to talk sports. Let’s say my response wasn’t something I would repeat in church or around children. Ann Meyers-Drysdale is a frequent analyst on Suns broadcasts, who has seen the growth of the Women’s Tournament, but told me a few weeks back on the show, “The NCAA is still probably NOT in compliance with Title 1X in not just basketball, but we just keep fighting we know that a lot of people that are in a position of power that make those decisions on what they are going to air.” Yes, I watched both Bueckers and Clark on ABC. It is not ESPNU or ESPN2, but it is on the leading network. That is something that I’ve never seen. It’s something that mothers and fathers of daughters can point towards.  What a great time for these young ladies!…

Quick hits 

Tommy Lloyd did what he was supposed to do over the weekend. If I’m to believe my Arizona friends, anything short of cutting down the nets in Glendale is a failed season. That’s not how I see it, but the Bear Down crowd in my circles has an expectation that hasn’t been met since 1997. Good showing, on to LA…

Former Arizona State Sun Devil QB Manny Wilkins is still playing ball. Wilkins made the season-opening roster for the XFL St. Louis Battlehawks. GM Dave Boller(former Arizona State assistant during the Marmie, Snyder era’s) told me via text, “Manny had a great offseason and brings a unique skill set”.  Two other Sun Devils made the team, T.J. Pesefea and Dohnavan West.

NFL owners are sorting through 17 potential rule changes at their annual meetings starting today in Orlando. 17!! I’m sure the wall of talking heads will dissect each one as a segment and call it a week. I can’t wait to have dudes on a patch of fake grass wearing nice suits(without the jackets on) screaming about how a team should be allowed an extra challenge if they successfully challenge a call earlier in the game. Yep, it’s coming. Click…