Jose Mourinho seen here in Moscow in 2008 appears to be in great health - (http://www.soccer.ru/gallery/4087 - photo)

From the above photo taken in 2008 to this taken in 2020 @ UEFA Champions League Achtel finale, RB Leipzig - Tottenham Hotspur it's obvious stress has taken its toll on Jose Mourinho - (Steffen Prößdorf - photo)

Chris Webber goes up to block the Portland Trailblazers Rasheed Wallace - (NBA photo)

For Hall of Fame player Dominique Wilkins the route through the lane did not have a welcome mat as it does in today's game - (Maxi Basket photo)

The UFC has a new hottie that could be the replacement for the then sexy Ronda Rousey and her name is Tracy Cortez

SPORTS NOTES - WAS JOSE MOURINHO SABOTAGED?

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

The fall of the once great Special One. Is his bloom off his rose permanently? - The so called NEW NBA is getting some notice by some of the great former players that played when the game was basketball and not today's fashion show of neon shoes, wild hair styles and selfish play - The UFC's new Hottie - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS TEAM

Friday, April 30, 2021

THE ONCE MIGHTY MOURINHO HAS FALLEN

Go figure…Jose Mourinho was sacked the same day as the formation of the Super League was announced that included his then Tottenham Hotspur charges after 17 months in charge.

The Super League was also to include Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool. As it turned out fans went ballistic and the new league was canceled or one might say put on hold. The timing of the sacking and a new league almost simultaneously raised questions why was the special one not included in the move to the new league after all he has a championship CV?

Yes there is no question that Mourinho's time at Tottenham has been frustrating and the side has not been as productive as many would like. His resume is crammed with achievements which include:

Former record holder for most points achieved in a Premier League season (95 points)

Youngest manager to reach 100 Champions League games (49 years 12 days)

Most games unbeaten at home in the Premier League (77)

Fewest goals conceded in a Premier League season (15 goals)

Longest football unbeaten home run by a manager (9 years)

Most Champions League titles with different clubs (two)

During the second decade of this 21st Century started well for Mourinho. During his time at Real Madrid from May 31, 2010 to June 1, 2013 while managing 178 games, 128 wins, 28 draws and 22 losses for a 71.91 his winning percentage was his highest of his career. Real Madrid reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for three consecutive years under Mourinho's management but failed to win the title.

His relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo became difficult because, according to Mourinho, the player "maybe thinks that he knows everything and that the coach cannot improve him anymore", so was unwilling to accept constructive criticism.

It was this relationship that is seared in my mind since I can't forget that prior to a game waiting to be announced, Ronaldo standing at the exit of the tunnel who turned around and motioned to Mourinho who was behind him a few feet away standing on the steps to come forward and stand with him. Mourinho motioned NO. It was at that point that it appeared the wheels were coming off of the Special One's chariot.

Following the 2013 Copa del Rey final loss to Atlético Madrid on 17 May, Mourinho called the 2012-13 season "the worst of my career". Three days later, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez announced Mourinho would leave the club at the end of the season by "mutual agreement", a year after signing a contract extension to 2016.

The two moved on their separate ways Ronaldo to Italy and Mourinho returning to England and Chelsea. Mourinho led the squad to the Premiere League title in 2015 but had more player relationship problems, this time Diego Costa was the villain.

Mourinho's bloom seemed to be off his rose as his subsequent stints with Chelsea (58.82), Manchester United (58.33) and Tottenham (51.16) are the worst winning percentages since his second stint as a manager of União de Leiria where he had a 45.00 winning percentage.

The stress has not been kind to one of the best managers of all time. Since 2010 he has lost most of his wavy locks and is almost bald. Yes age has a lot to do with that scenario but in this case his stress and feuds with players has taken his toll. The question is after some time for reflection can the Special One rebound and revive his career? We miss his humorous quips and fiery comments. Stay tuned…

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NBA BITES

Yes the term bites can be interpreted in a negative way so we'll leave it up to you. While functioning as a television analyst former NBA star Chris Webber pointed out that a player took 23 dribbles to get his shot. I confirm the observation since it points out selfishness and a lack of team play.

Webber went on to add that back in the day during his time as a player he was coached to take no more than THREE DRIBBLES. Again I concur since back in my day the three dribble rule applied. We were coached you must do something with the ball i.e. shoot or pass.

Webber was no slouch. In 1994 Webber as a member of the Golden State Warriors became the first rookie in NBA history to total over 1,000 points (1,333), 500 rebounds (694), 250 assists (272), 150 blocks (164) and 75 steals (93), was named the NBA Rookie of the Year.

During another game involving the Atlanta Hawks former Hawk super star and Hall of Fame player Dominique Wilkins mentioned, while being a TV analyst, that it appears that the defense was waving a matadors cape inviting players to drive down the lane for FREE ACCESS to the basket.

This has been one of my pet peeves in what is referred to as TODAY'S NBA GAME. Basically it comes down to a lack of discipline and coaching while disrespecting the game as it was meant to be played for the sake of ENTERTAINMENT... NOT BASKETBALL.

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UFC HOTTIE

Whoa what did I see? While watching the UFC fights there appeared to be an attractive fighter that COULD FIGHT. The lady had a righteous body and an attitude. She seemed to be performing not fighting when her opponent Justine Kish was getting the best o her. Miss body quickly got it together and started ripping into her opponent and eventually won a split decision victory.

Miss Hottie is 27-year-old Tracy Cortez who has a 9-1 record and hasn't lost since her first fight in 2017. With the UFC lacking a super star talent in the spirit of Ronda Rousey or Connor McGregor Cortez could be the next big thing providing she doesn't burn herself out with promoting herself on social media.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

April 30, 1956 The Boston Celtics traded “Easy” Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to St. Louis for the Hawks’ # 1 draft pick, which they used to select Bill Russell.

April 30, 1971 The Milwaukee Bucks, led by young Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and veteran Oscar Robertson, beat the Baltimore Bullets 118-106 to complete a four-game sweep of the NBA Finals, capturing the franchise’s only NBA Championship.

April 30, 1975 Larry O’Brien was named the third commissioner of the NBA, succeeding J. Walter Kennedy.

April 30, 1988 Sleepy Floyd scored 42 points and Hakeem Olajuwon added 41 as Houston downed Dallas 119-108 in Game 2 of their Western Conference First Round series, marking only the second time in NBA Playoff history that teammates surpassed 40 points in a game.

April 30, 2002 Seattle SuperSonics guard Gary Payton became only the second player in league history to be named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times. Payton joined the Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan as the only nine-time members of the All-Defensive First Team. Jordan was named to the squad nine times as a member of the Chicago Bulls.

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