By Sonny Jones
On paper, the Houston Astros easily should win the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. It could be a sweep or maybe the 87-win Phillies will win once against the 106-win Astros.
On paper, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, led by seven-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady, should have blasted the woeful Carolina Panthers last Sunday instead of losing 21-3.
On paper, the Los Angeles Lakers, with a roster that includes LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook, should not have started the season 0-4 and missed the NBA playoffs last season.
On paper, in college football this season, Georgia Southern shouldn’t have beaten Nebraska, Marshall shouldn’t have beaten Notre Dame and Appalachian State shouldn’t have won at Texas A&M.
On paper, results can be determined.
Fortunately, in sports, the game is not played on paper and is played on a field, court, pitch, course or whatever else there might be. It’s why we watch and why we’re fans.
Thank goodness.
• The East Bladen boys’ soccer team was ranked No. 30 in Wednesday morning’s Ratings Percentage Index. The top 32 make the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs. The Eagles end the regular season Wednesday against No. 15 St. Pauls. A win would be nice, but still think East Bladen will slip in. Playoff pairings will be announced Friday.
• Southeastern Athletic Conference champion Midway has advanced to the third round of the state volleyball playoffs. The Raiders defeated Pittsboro Seaforth 3-1 on Tuesday and will host Nash Central on Thursday. In the other half of the bracket, Whiteville will be at home against Bartlett Yancey on Thursday. The winners will play Saturday in the fourth round.
WEDNESDAY’S PICK TO CLICK
Julius Randle will have a double-double to lift the New York Knicks past the injury-riddled Charlotte Hornets.
TUESDAY’S PICK: Devin Booker scores 40-plus as Phoenix knocks off Golden State in an early-season NBA showdown. RESULTS: Booker had a game-high 34 points and added 7 assists and 3 steals as the Sun won 134-105.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
• 2018 — The longest World Series game by both innings and time; LA Dodgers beat the Boston Red Sox, 3-2 in the 18th inning (7 hours, 20 minutes) in Game 3 at Dodger Stadium with a Max Muncy walk-off home run.
POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY
• NHL: NY Rangers at NY Islanders, 7:30 p.m., TNT
• NBA: Brooklyn at Milwaukee, 7:45 p.m., ESPN, ESPN2
• NHL: Tampa Bay at Anaheim, 10 p.m., TNT
• NBA: LA Lakers at Denver, 10:05 p.m., ESPN
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.
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