Lots of Basketball

GHS during the freshman game on Tuesday 

I love busy weeks of local sports. 

Some weeks are crazier than others. This week was both busy and crazy. 

Three overtime basketball games and a hockey game. 

It began with Ludlowe boys basketball's game on Tuesday at Greenwich. Greenwich won in overtime 47-43. 

You can read Dave Fierro's game story on his Greenwich Sports Beat site. 

Rob Adams, along with Sean Adams, decided to stop by, and it was good to see them, as always. 

Thanks to Rob for the photo of me doing the Ludlowe book. 

What do I do when there is no basketball? Find another game/event to go to. 

On Wednesday, it was over to Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport for hockey. The Fairfield (Ludlowe/Warde combined team) played Ridgefield in a rematch of last season's FCIAC Championship. 

After Ridgefield won the championship in overtime last year, Fairfield came away with a 2-0 victory. The Mustangs goals came from Charlie Swanson and Owen Gibbons. 

After a day of no games on Thursday (but still the normal work and basketball practice), it was back with a game on Friday. 

Ludlowe basketball hosted Norwalk. The game was back and forth, especially in the fourth quarter. The game would go to overtime, which remained tight before the Bears did enough to seal the victory. 

Finally, today. Ludlowe boys basketball would be back in action against Maloney of Meriden in a non-league game. 

This was the final of the three overtime games, as Maloney sent the game to the extra session with a banked in three-pointer. Ludlowe came out strong in overtime to secure the win and finish the week on a high note. 

Tate Mahoney led Ludlowe with 25 points, including four three-pointers. Ryan Torello added 13 of his own. Nine of the 13 came from the free throw line. 

It was a much needed victory for the Falcons after two tough losses earlier in the week. 

Now we rest and watch football. Another big week ahead. 

I love sports craziness.  

The Pack Will Be Back....In What Form?

Rodgers and Cobb walk off the field....For the last time? (AP Photo)

The Packers season came to an end on Sunday night with a loss to the Lions in the regular season finale. It was win and in the playoffs, lose and go home. Unfortunately, Green Bay came out on the short end of a 20-16 final score. 

As I wrote on social media last night, happy with the way the Packers battled this season, but disappointed with the end result, once again. No playoffs and now a lot of questions as the off-season begins. 

There have been some disappointing losses over the years, many ending in heartbreak. This was similar and felt like playoff game, even though it was technically a regular season game. 

There are many questions to be answered in the offseason, as there are most off-seasons. 

The biggest question, of course, is the future of Aaron Rodgers. 

Will he return? Will he retire? Will the Packers trade him? 

These questions will be answered, and hopefully soon. 

We've asked these questions the last couple of years, but there is something that feels different this year. 

Rodgers has been so good over the years, and he's still very good, but you can see he's lost something in terms of arm strength on some of his throws downfield. 

It sure looked last night like Rodgers had possibly played his last game in Lambeau Field. 

He wouldn't give his jersey to a member of the Lions, saying "I'm going to keep this one."

He also seemed to take in everything around him and then embrace and walk into the tunnel alongside Randall Cobb. 

I don't think he wants to retire. I personally think we are going to see him somewhere other than Green Bay, and that is going to hurt. 

Just like when Favre un-retired and went to the Jets and then the Vikings. It was weird and didn't feel right. 

The difference for me, is that I have seen Rodgers' entire career. The MVP's. The Super Bowl victory. The great wins. The brutal loses. 

For Favre, it was only the last three years in Green Bay that I really wanted, and then the three years, "elsewhere." 

It's not just Rodgers. Will Cobb be back? Will Mason Crosby be back? Just to name a few. So many others. 

If Rodgers is back, is Jordan Love gone? If Rodgers is gone, is Love the starter. 

So many questions. 

Let the waiting game begin. 

Good Football Sunday

Photo: Sunday Night Football on NBC/Facebook

2023 started off terrific on the sports front, as New Years Day was a great football Sunday. 

We are used to New Years Day being about college football, but this year, it was a full NFL day. Most of the college football was played on Friday or Saturday. 

Before I get to the NFL games of Sunday, let's touch on Saturday's games. 

Both College Football Playoff Semifinal games were terrific. Texas Christian University (TCU) defeated Michigan, while Georgia defeated Ohio State. Both were high-scoring, back-and-forth affairs. Two tremendous college football games, with UGA and OSU finishing just as the clock struck midnight and the calendar flipped from 2022 to 2023. 

TCU will face Georgia in the National Championship on January 9. Hopefully it's a good game with drama and may the best team win. 

Now to Sunday and the NFL. 

First, the Giants picked up a nice win over the Colts to clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2016. Daniel Jones was terrific with both his arm and his legs, and Landon Collins had a pick-six to help the cause in a 28-10 New York victory. 

The Giants will be the six seed in the NFC for the playoffs, no matter what happens next week. 

Then, the Browns beat the Commanders, which meant the Packers control their own destiny to make the playoffs. 

The Packers had the Vikings and the Lions left. Two divisional games that would not be easy. I felt like the tougher game would be Minnesota, so I was nervous for the 4:25 kickoff today. 

The Vikings got on the board first, but only with a field goal. From there, the Packers, led by their defense and special teams (yes, really!) dominated. 

Keisean Nixon had a 105-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and Darnell Savage had a pick-six, both in the first quarter. That was one of three interceptions Kirk Cousins would throw on the game. 

Green Bay won by a final score of 41-17, but it wasn't even that close, as Minnesota got two late touchdowns with the game out of reach and the backups in. 

Now it's win and in for the Packers next week as the host the Lions. With what Aaron Rodgers has done over the years, nothing surprises me. I think and hope they win, but I could very well see them losing, especially in heartbreaking fashion. That seems to be their mantra.