We saw it all in a couple of hours span on Wednesday..and I have thoughts on all of it:

PADRES..The darkest moment in AJ Preller’s run as General Manager, this (23-3) Cubs 8-home run-record setting win against the faltering Friars starting pitching staff.  It sure looks like ‘Rock Bottom’, as Manny Machado would call it.  A 5-game losing streak now, having given up 54-runs in those 5-losses.  The collective starting rotation, in this skid, have lasted just 20-innings…given up 29-runs…allowed 44-baserunners and served up 8HRs.  As bad as I have ever seen a San Diego starting rotation.

USA SOCCER…Going where they have never been before, the Round of 16-at the World Cup.  Relentless, explosive speed, toughness.  Captain America-Christian Pulisic is so dangerous, but his work on the pitch creates huge pockets for Fo Balogun, Malike Tillman and others to run to.  A relentless roster playing at both ends of the pitch.  Next up-star studded Belgium, next Monday.  The collective talent is greater than the individual players thanks to Mario Pochettino.

LAKERS..Day 1-of free agency brought a delivery of new players to the LA roster, all this hours after LeBron James said he was leaving.  On comes big center Walker Kessler from Utah.  Some offense.  Lots of rebounds.  Good passer.  Then a run of shooters on short term contracts, led by Quentin Grimes of the Sixers, Collin Sexton of the Bulls and a Toronto 3-point guy Sandro Mamukelashvil.  Hate to see G-Marcus Smart depart.  It will be a different team.

KING JAMES..Hate to see LeBron leave and hate to see him bashed by some of the media.  That was a pretty prolific 8-year run, but the failures to get more than 1-ring are not so much him, but the failure of Rob Pelinka to go get the right players almost on a year by year basis.  Great players in every market have input on deals, but the GM has to get the right fit.  Has not happened in LA.

CLIPPERS…Sure looks like a rebuild now that Kawhi has left to go collect more money from Toronto, where he won a ring, and then promptly left.  To be determined, what the NBA decides on the Salary Cap violations probe, and what kind of rebuild and how long in LA.  What a disappointment, as hard as they worked, all the players they brought in, never getting to the ‘Western Conference finals.  Again, a bunch of the media don’t have nice things to say about Kawhi as he leaves LA.

BOSTON..What a shocker, the trade of Jaylen Brown to the 76ers  for an aging Paul George and 4-draft picks.  Jayson Tatum is left behind and losing is about to set in.

NHL FREE AGENCY…Some first day, 116-players changed teams and there were 7-trades too.  Big news with goalies moving.  Toronto continued its spending spree-getting Sergei Bobrovsky.  The Oilers will try Frederik Andersen-of Carolina-between the pipes.  The Rangers send goal scorer Vince Trocheck to Utah.  San Jose, striving to be the Best in the West, deals for Edmonton blueliner Darnell Nurse

KINGS-DUCKS…Don’t know that I agree with anything either did.  Anaheim has shed so many veteran players, just don’t think plugging in young minor leaguers makes up for the loss of 4-guys on the blueline.  And getting an oft-injured Laurent Brossoit in goal doesn’t make sense either.The Kings must think Corey Perry has gas left in the tank, but their short term rentals won’t be difference makers either.

Interesting Wednesday.  Wild day.  Lots of stories.  Lots of reaction too.  And more to come.

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