Shohei Ohtani is... FREE AT LAST... To wear Dodger Blue - SUCHA DEAL!!!

Los Angeles Angels super star Shohei Ohtani who currently leads the Major Leagues in home runs (35) and in the top 3 in RBI's and strike outs as well as leading the Angels in six categories of hitting and pitching has his sights on being with a winning team and the Angels fail to qualify - (Mogam Kariya - Photo) STUPID ANGELS DON'T DESERVE OHTANI

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ON THIS DAY: April 12, 1958 Bob Pettit poured in 50 points as the St. Louis Hawks, who missed the championship by a whisker a year earlier, beat the Boston Celtics 110-109 in Game 6 of the 1958 NBA Finals to dethrone the Celtics as NBA champions - (The Sporting News Archives - photo) NBA's NEW SISSY BALL ERA

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Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN

THE CRUCIFIXION of KYRIE IRVING was excessive THE CRUCIFIXION of KYRIE IRVING

SPORTS NOTES - SHOHEI… KNOW HE… HAS A DEAL

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

The $700 million, 10-year deal is a win; win for both sides since his injury may not recover. Should that be the case the Dodgers will have the one way player they previously wanted and Ohtani will have to pursue his comparison, as a batter, with Babe Ruth. In reality he's taking a $28 million per season PAY CUT to make the deal work - THIS DAY IN THE NBA - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Saturday December 23, 2023

THE RIGHT STUFF - SUCHA DEAL!!!

The drama is over and the now ex LA Angel two-way player Shohei Ohtani is heading across town to the LA Dodgers. It appears that the Dodgers have changed their tune when in their past interest in the All-Star pitcher and slugger that they only wanted him to play one way.

Since he led the American League in home runs with 44 despite despite missing a month of play must have factored into their attitude change. The deal was made knowing that Ohtani may not be the player he was prior to the injury to his pitching arm.

On August 23, Ohtani was removed from his start against the Cincinnati Reds after 1? inning after experiencing what was initially reported as arm fatigue. It was later revealed that Ohtani would not pitch for the rest of the 2023 season and the 2024 season after suffering a ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow.

He finished his 2023 season on the mound with a 10-5 record, posting a 3.14 ERA and striking out 167 batters. On September 16, Ohtani was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an oblique strain. In 135 games as a hitter, he batted .304/.412/.654 with 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases.

The $700 million 10-year deal is strange but appears to be largely designed by Ohtani and his agent. This coming season the two-way player will have to only bat since he needs a year to recover from Tommy John surgery on his pitching arm. Should that be the case the Dodgers will have the one way player they previously wanted. Also Ohtani will have to pursue his comparison to Babe Ruth as a power hitter.

The deal will pay Ohtani ONLY $2 MILLION a year for 10 years with the remainder to be deferred. Ohtani will be paid $680 million in the 10 years that follow the deal, from 2034 to 2043. The Dodgers will also place an additional $44 million into an escrow account to fund the deferrals.

It's a win; win for both sides since his injury may not recover. In reality he's taking a $28 million PAY CUT to make the deal work. It also gives the Dodgers some mental relief should he not return to being the dominate pitcher that was having a 100 mph fast ball and as a pitcher being a dominate strike out threat.

With inflation being the devils advocate, in 10 years the remaining $680 million of his contract will most likely be worth half of what it is today.

The twist to this is in the American League he can play more games as a designated batter, The National League doesn't have such a rule. It would mean fewer times at bat for the slugger as a pinch hitter. He would have to play a position to get more than one at bat per game.

It's the second time he has had the surgery. He recovered his first surgery to have a successful pitching record. The first season, following the surgery, he pitched sparingly with pitch limitations and assignments being carefully spaced out. The second season following the surgery he had more assignments and his record improved.

The three time All-Star has proved his worth. In 2021 he was voted the league's MVP. This past season he was well on his way to finishing with a 15 win, 50 home run season.

In addition Ohtani and Ronald Acuna Jr. won the 2023 Hank Aaron Awards this month, presented by Major League Baseball to the most outstanding offensive performer in each league.

The pair also won Most Valuable Player awards last month in voting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Ohtani was the first two-time unanimous MVP.

He man with the big smile and apparent big heart got his wish to play in a warm weather climate. It's the location and climate that endeared him to playing with the Angels.

The Angels are the dumbest team in the league when they apparently took it for granted that they could sign him before he became a free agent simply because he liked his teammates and the weather.

As fate would have it the circumstances worked out for both parties. The Angels now have freed up his $30 million salary to make more STUPID signings. They have a history of paying huge salaries to players that repeatedly get injured and play about 1/3rd of the season yet collect their $30 million plus checks.

Another twist to this contract is Ohtani can opt out if owner Mark Walter or president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman are no longer involved with the team. The reason why has not been fully explained. It's obvious that he and his agent have good communications with these key individuals.

The most pertinent point is all parties got it done when other teams that were salivating to sign him are now out in the cold.

Circumstances have enabled Ohtani to be a FREE MAN, from a losing side with a losing and poor decision making front office. He can now sing… FREE AT LAST, FREE AT LAST; THANK GOD… I'M FREE AT LAST!

December 23, 1990 In a game that took 26 days to decide, the Boston Celtics downed the Atlanta Hawks 132-104 at the Garden. The game was originally scheduled to be played on November 28, but a wet playing surface, caused by condensation from the ice underneath the parquet floor, forced postponement of the game 90 seconds into the second quarter and the Celtics ahead 37-22.

December 23, 1992 Michael Jordan scored 57 points to lead Chicago over Washington 107-98, giving Bulls Coach Phil Jackson his 200th career victory, in an NBA record 270 games.

December 23, 1994 Dana Barros of Philadelphia began a streak of 58 games in which he sank at least one three-point field goal, breaking the NBA record for a single season previously held by Michael Adams at 43.

December 23, 1997 Hall of Famer Les Harrison, who led the Rochester Royals to the NBA Championship in 1951 as owner, general manager and coach, died at the age of 93.

December 23, 1997 Chicago's Phil Jackson recorded his 500th victory as an NBA coach, reaching the mark in his 682nd game, faster than any other coach in NBA history.

December 23, 1999 The Philadelphia 76ers are selected to host NBA All-Star 2002, the NBA announced. NBA All-Star 2002 will include the 51st NBA All-Star Game, the events of NBA All-Star Saturday, the NBA TeamUp Celebration and the NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by Fleer. NBA All-Star 2002 will be held February 8-10, 2002. The First Union Center, which opened during the 1996-97 season, will host the NBA All-Star Game and the events of NBA All-Star Saturday, while the Pennsylvania Convention Center will play host to the NBA All-Star Jam Session. The city of Philadelphia and the 76ers were originally scheduled to host the 1999 NBA All-Star Weekend, which was cancelled due to a league work stoppage. This will mark the fourth time the NBA All-Star Game will be held in the city of Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Warriors hosted the game in 1960 at Convention Hall, where 10,421 turned out to see the East top the West, 125-115, behind 25 points from Wilt Chamberlain.