Ben Simmons was traded from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Brooklyn Nets, and even though he had a relatively good first game, he was not well-received by fans when returning to play against his former team in the City of Brotherly Love. He has had some trouble with his jump shots throughout his career, but did the cold reception from fans have a psychological effect on his performance?

Mick Cronin’s UCLA Bruins lost two games last week in Las Vegas, and it doesn’t help matters that he appears to berate his players from the sidelines instead of explaining the reasoning behind calling certain plays. Is he continually trying to outthink the other team instead of using his best players, like Jaylen Clark, to the greatest advantage? Does that prevent the team from getting over the hump and closer to the championship?

In the NFL, coach Sean McVay of the Rams is also experiencing issues in outthinking the opponent, and the Rams are the only team that hasn’t had a 100-yard rusher this season. Will they be able to repeat last season’s Super Bowl-winning formula, or was it a one-time capturing of lightning in a bottle?

Art calls it a cornucopia of Thanksgiving football between the pro and college games this weekend. The NFL has three big games ahead on Thanksgiving Day, with Dallas vs. Giants, Buffalo vs. Detroit, and Minnesota vs. Patriots all vying for shots at spots in the playoffs.

In college contention, USC has a long-standing feud with Notre Dame – will it be a high-scoring game? Could Caleb Williams be a shoo-in for the Heismann if USC emerges victorious? There’s the Egg Bowl to look forward to, with Mississippi facing down Mississippi State, and it’s also the big college football rivalry weekend with a smorgasbord of long-standing fan favorites ahead. LSU is playing Georgia, Ohio St. battles Michigan, UCLA is up against Cal, South Carolina opposes Clemson, Baylor squares off with Texas, and Arizona is pitted against ASU. What more could a football fan ask for?

Email Fred and Art with questions and comments at sportsfred@aol.com