This week saw the tragedy of 21 people losing their lives and 17 others injured in a school shooting in Texas. How can the powers that be prevent these devastating events from happening again? The most urgent issue to address is how to keep kids (and teachers) safe in schools, and politics need to be kept out of it. Are politicians like Greg Abbott going about it the wrong way?

Ray Liotta, one of the stars of Goodfellas and memorable in his role as Shoeless Joe Jackson in Field of Dreams, passed away in his sleep at age 67. He was in the Dominican Republic filming a movie, and the cause of death has yet to be determined. Did Covid have anything to do with it?

Bronny James, son of LeBron James, has just signed a $90M, seven-year deal with Adidas. Coming out of high school with this in place, will he be eligible for college sports, or is it a pathway straight to the pros?

UCLA has a lot more talent than most people think, with quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson coming back for another year. Was the contract extension given to Chip Kelly in hopes that he would be able to catch lightning in a bottle this season? Can they be a top 25 team again?

The NFL is considering dropping the Pro Bowl. Does it draw high-profile players anymore? Is it still a relevant game?

This season, the NBA Playoffs are just a shadow of what they used to be. Are there too many injuries to contend with?

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