It appears that free agent Caleb Love will beat the odds and make the Portland Trail Blazers’ opening day roster this week. Love, Arizona’s leading scorer the last two seasons, was given a thorough audition in the Blazers’ four exhibition games, averaging 18 minutes and 12.8 points per game. He is likely to fill the vacancy left by injured shooting guard Scoot Henderson, who is out another month. One ex-Wildcat who won’t open the season on an active NBA roster is Indiana Pacers point guard T.J. McConnell. He pulled a hamstring muscle and might not be able to play until December.
– Few people in major league baseball have been on and off the job market more than Arizona’s 1982 team captain Pat Roessler. Last week, the New York Yankees relieved Roessler, part of Arizona’s 1980 NCAA championship team, from his duties as the Yankees’ assistant hitting coach. Over the last 20 years, Roessler has been hired/fired by the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds. Unless he elects to retire — Roessler is 65 — he shouldn’t be out of work for long.
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Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs the ball during the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Atlanta.
– Salpointe grad Bijan Robinson has been so successful in two-plus seasons with the Atlanta Falcons that he is now starring in Colgate toothpaste TV commercials. Robinson, third in the NFL in rushing this season, now has 2,916 career rushing yards. How good is that? He is about to pass his great uncle, former Marana High and UA running back Paul Robinson, the 1969 AFC Rookie of the Year, who had 2,941 yards in his career. Bijan also seems likely to surpass the highest NFL rushing total by a Tucsonan. Amphi’s Mario Bates gained 3,048 yards in seven seasons after his Arizona State career. Bijan was a Pro Bowl selection last year, who also has 1,256 receiving yards in his brief NFL career.
– Why recruiting is so hard to predict: Former Salpointe pass rusher Elijah Rushing, a 5-star recruit from the Class of 2023 who flipped his commitment to Arizona and enrolled at Oregon, has made one tackle for the Ducks this season. He has not played in three games. A year ago, he played in four games but did not make a tackle. Another elite Arizona recruit who signed with Oregon, quarterback Luke Moga of Phoenix Sunnyslope High, turned down an offer to play at Arizona and has attempted five passes in two Oregon games this season. Moga is the son of former Sabino High all-city running back Chris Moga, who once rushed for 296 yards in a 1985 game for the Sabercats. Chris Moga went on to play for Kentucky in the late 1980s.
