By Nunnie Robinson, Westside Gazette Sports Editor
   April annually is a most exciting, intriguing month for avid sports fans. Any sport of your preference is either in  playoff mode such as basketball and hockey,  in full swing like baseball, soccer, and golf or seeking to win coveted NCAA championships in track & field, gymnastics, volleyball and baseball. Rhetorically speaking, what NFL phenomenon takes center stage on this  Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin? Timeâs up! The NFL draft, the most analyzed, thoroughly dissected, anticipated event sans the Super Bowl, brings enormous publicity for the league in the offseason. Former amateur athletes, depending on NIL compensation, anticipating being drafted in the first round, have been thoroughly vetted during and after the season, via NFL combines, and/or  individual sessions by scouts in an attempt to solidify or improve their draft status where millions can be gained or lost.
The one player that I feel has been unfairly scrutinized is Shedeur Sanders, Colorado Buffalo  quarterback but more importantly Deionâs son. It just appears that tv analyst are accentuating every physical weakness or defect which might negatively impact his draft status  similar to Lamar Jackson, the last quarterback drafted in the first round in 2018. The only qb worthy of being drafted ahead of Lamar, based on his pro career, was Josh Allen. Nobody thought Lamar to be a capable enough passer to succeed. We know how thatâs turned out. With Shedeur, his size, arm strength, average athleticism, and penchant for holding ball too long are constant points of contention and criticism. He, like other quarterbacks with questionable athletic ability such as Tom Brady, have, can and will be an excellent pro quarterback in the right situation and with the right  team. Suddenly, as the draft nears, Ole Missâ Jaxson Dart and Louisvilleâs Tyler Shough, have passed Sanders as the projected second qb chosen following the Titanâs selection of Cam Ward. The Giants have the third pick but have never drafted a Black quarterback in the first round and will probably pass on Sanders, perhaps choosing Penn St. pass rusher Abdul Carter with that their pick. Cleveland, with the second pick, will undoubtedly choose Heisman Trophy winner  Travis Hunter. Other projected first round top picks: Patriots- LSU OT Will Campbell, Jaguars- Michigan DT Mason Graham, Raiders -Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, Jets – Missouri OT Armand Membou, Panthers – Georgia OLB Jaylon Walker, Saints -Penn State TE Tyler Warren, and Bears – Ohio State OT Josh Simmons round out the top team. My take: Sheudeur is going to make an NFL team proud.
In the NBA, Dallasâ GM, Nico Harrison, who has taken the heat for the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers for Anthony Davis, should move on and desist in further comments because to do so is simply counterproductive. Conjecture- if Kyrie Irvin and A D had remained healthy, the Mavs could be vying for a  championship as last year. It didnât happen and there is a distinct possibility that the Lakers could be joining the Mavs in playoff elimination pool if they donât play better against the Anthony Edwards led Timberwolves. It may take 3-5 years to determine the success or failure of the trade or which team benefited the most. Besides, much of the vitriol spewed toward Nico is racially motivated no matter what anyone says.  Just think about the America we live in today.
The one truism associated with our Miami Heat is that they are going to compete, leaving it all on the court. Winning two play in games to even qualify for the playoffs left the Heat faced with the daunting task of competing against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the number one seed in the loaded east. The future, however, Â is encouraging.
Finally, our defending NHL Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers face the always challenging Tampa Bay Lightning on the road as they begin their defense of the Cup. Though injuries to key players like Mathew Tkchuck and suspensions have limited the teamâs potential to repeat as champions, rest assured that the Panthers will give a  superior effort whenever they hit the ice.
The Marlins, though in a  rebuilding year, have enjoyed a better, more successful year than anticipated. Letâs just pray rebuilding ends with this group.
In womenâs gymnastics Oklahoma claimed its seventh program title at 2025 NCAA womenâs gymnastics national championships. The Sooners scored 198.0125 points, outpacing UCLA, Missouri and Utah in the championships final.
