The man that pushes the Chelsea buttons is owner Todd Boehly - (Eric van den Brulle photo)

Chelsea sack manager Thomas Tuchel - (Sandro Halank - photo) Chelsea sack manager Thomas Tuchel

Graham Potter has been announced as the new head coach of Chelsea - (Chelsea FC - photo) Graham Potter new head coach of Chelsea

LeBron James - (NBA - photo)   Shohei Ohtani - (MLB - photo)

Tom Sestak draws a bead on Len Dawson in 1964 - (photo Buffalo Courier-Express)

SPORTS NOTES - THE WEEK THAT WAS SHOCKING in SPORTS

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

In a week that the sporting world was filled with chaos and changes within 100 days new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly exercised his mite by sacking manager Thomas Tuchel. Graham Potter was almost immediately his replacement - The NBA issued penalties on Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver for his inappropriate conduct with his employees BUT… the LA Lakers LeBron James complains that the punishment isn't enough - Will the LA Angels super talent Shohei Ohtani be up for sale? Remembering NFL great Len Dawson - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Wednesday September 14, 2022 - (Update Thursday September 15, 2022)

THE SPORTS CHAOS GAME

Other than the passing of Queen Elizabeth last week was one of the most shocking in the world of sports. The sacking of Chelsea's manager Thomas Tuchel. Managers are usually fired when they can't win or they lost support of the squad. In Tuchel's case last season he led the team to the Champions League title. It was only their second Champions league title in their history.

Tuchel was sacked as manager on September 7. This is not a case of what have you done for me lately. This is not a situation of the decision being business and not personal but as the follow up news rolls out, it reeks of this is personal.

Tuchel was dismissed following a Champions League 1-0 defeat at Dinamo Zagreb. Since the backlash of Russia invading the Ukraine Chelsea's previous Russian owner Roman Abramovich was forced to sell. The new owner is American Todd Boehly is an investor who also has co owner of the Major League baseballs (MLB) Los Angeles Dodgers and the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks.

A club statement read: "On behalf of everyone at Chelsea FC, the club would like to place on record its gratitude to Thomas and his staff for all their efforts during their time with the club. Thomas will rightly have a place in Chelsea's history after winning the Champions League, the Super Cup and Club World Cup in his time here.

The dismissal came 100 days after Boehly bought the club. He invested heavily in transfer fees amounting to £250 million on nine players including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a 33-year-old striker with whom Tuchel had a previously close working relationship at Borussia Dortmund.

RT reported that Chelsea will pay Brighton £22 million ($25.5 million) in total to see Potter appointed, which is a believed to be world record fee in football for a manager. The sum consists of £20 million ($23.1 million) for Potter and a further £2 million ($2.31 million) for him to bring his five-man backroom team to Stamford Bridge.

Some reports note that Boehly wanted to purchase the disgruntled Manchester United striker Christiano Ronaldo but Tuchel said he wouldn't fit his system. The commitment to improve the team was there but the clash of heads and disagreements while being in 6th place made a difference.

"I didn't see it coming, obviously I was in the wrong movie," Tuchel told reporters. "I thought that the last game helped us. I thought the team was prepared, I thought we know what this is all about.

Within hours Tuchel was replaced by Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter. At the time Potters squad was in 4th place with a 4-1-1 record to Chelsea's 3-1-2. A noticeable difference was defense and goal difference.

Brighton & Hove Albion was a plus 6 with 11 goals for to 5 against for a plus 6. Chelsea had 8 goals for to 9 against for a minus 1 result.

Potter's overall managerial record is not as impressive as Tuchel's. Potter has managed 435 games in his career. He has 190 wins with 117 draws and 128 losses for a 43.7 winning percentage.

Tuchel has managed 552 games with 314 wins, 114 draws and 124 losses resulting in a 56.9 winning percentage. Basically the math and experience doesn't compute (make sense).

The three subjects are close in age. Tuchel is 49, Boehly 48 and Potter 47. Apparently the decision was based on they agreed to disagree.

Tuchel has a fiery temper. Boehly comes off as a no nonsense type while Potter is an enigma considering his limited experience in the big time lime light. It all adds up to wait and see what happens. Can Potter be the answer to have the right chemistry for Boehly and Chelsea? Stay tuned…

Opinions are just that, opinions. At times some things are said that perk up the ears. The Lakers LeBron James has been outspoken during the twilight of his career. James post a tweet regarding the punishment Phoenix Suns primary owner Robert Saver was dealt regarding inappropriate conduct with his employees.

James tweeted: I love this league and I deeply respect our leadership. But this isn't right. There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don't matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it. 5:54 AM · Sep 15, 2022 - LeBron James @KingJames

Hey…. Whuss-sup? The King (as he identifies himself) has spoken!

MLB… SAY WHAT!

When there was a few days remaining prior to the MLB's trade deadline a pundit was saying Shohei Ohtani would be traded. A comment like that almost gave me a heart attack. SAY WHAT?

Ohtani is THE BEST PLAYER IN BASEBALL! Yes there are players that are better hitters and pitchers but the reality is HE IS GOOD AT BOTH AND IMPROVING in both areas.

Prior to the return of Mike Trout, Ohtani was the team's best hitter and pitcher. He led in most categories. As the season progresses his home run hitting has progressed. Most recently he led the team with 33 home runs. When Trout came of the injured list and went on a home run spree to reach 34.

Ohtani led the team with 13 pitching wins. The reigning AL MVP became the first player in major league history to hit 30 home runs and record 10 pitching wins in the same season.

The question is WHY would anyone trade a super star? Why would a team make the same mistake that the Boston Red Sox did in trading Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees?

His current team the Los Angeles Angels has had a nightmare season. They can't get it together and it seems they lack a strong positive attitude. Trout and Ohtani are the only bright spots on the team.

With all of that being digested it came out the owner wants to sell the team. The problem is the team has made some costly and expensive signings. That lends itself to reveal that the problem is the front office. . They bought older expensive players that haven't played much or produced due to being injured.

With that unstable franchise situation the owner may want to bail himself out of a bad financial situation. It is feasible that Ohtani could be traded for the owners bail out money. The other scenario is when Ohtani's contract runs out he could be worth a $50 million A YEAR contract.

It's a no brainer Ohtani's production can't be matched by any player. If he says healthy he has the talent that could make him one of the greatest players EVER in league history. Stay tuned…

REMEMBERING LEN DAWSON

The passing of Len Dawson was sad to hear. It's strange when you've met someone only one time it is a memory that is ever lasting. That was my experience when I saw Dawson in the then LA Raiders press box. For some reason I've always been attentive to Dawson's career since he played college ball at Purdue University. I used him as my queterback in an electric football game competition.

Back in the day that was as close as it got in relating to NFL players and their stats. That was what is now implemented in fantasy football leagues.

Although he was working as an analyst for the Kansas City Chiefs Dawson was more than willing to do an interview with me about his experience playing in the FIRST SUPER Bowl and losing to the Green Bay Packers losing 35-10. He then led the team to return and winning Super Bowl IV, against the Minnesota Vikings 23-10 for which he won the game's MVP award.

Dawson was one of the most upbeat and positive professional athletes of any sport that I have ever interviewed. It's weird I've often thought of him since that time throughout my life. He is a person that brings a smile to your face.

At the time the American Football League which he was in was viewed as unworthy of competing. Dawson said one thing that brings him to mind often when I watch the Kansas City Chiefs.

In his description of his he said a classic comment and something that will stay with me forever… "THEY CALLED US THE MICKEY MOUSE LEAGUE."

With that said it was the title of the column I wrote about the experience. There are some athletes that think they walk on water. Len Dawson had his feet firmly on the ground. RIP LEN DAWSON.

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