Archive for July, 2016

Le’Veon Bell And Others Substance Abuse Suspensions, Putin Claims Olympics Not As Competitive Without Russians

NFL

With the NFL season just around the corner, some teams are feeling the pressure of starting the season without some of their stars.  We keep hearing of players failing their drug tests with a minimum of a 4 game suspension as punishment. As reported earlier this week, the Cleveland Browns’ Josh Gordon was suspended for the entire 2015 season and will miss the first 4 games of this season for failing a drug test. The Cowboys’ defensive ends Randy Gregory and DeMarcus Lawrence will also miss the first 4 games (possibly more for Gregory) for failing the NFL’s substance abuse policy. And recently reported, Steelers’ Running Back, Le’Veon Bell will likely miss the first 4 games of the season for failing to show up for multiple drug tests. Bell claims he didn’t know about the tests because he changed his phone number. Many are also criticizing the NFL  for what drugs they test. The NFL’s substance abuse policy includes testing for Marijuana which, according to defenders of the substance,  is legal is some states and isn’t as addictive as pain killers or performance enhancing drugs.  It’s unlikely the NFL’s drug policies will change anytime soon so players should take these tests seriously.

OLYMPICS

Putin 2Speaking of doping, many Russian athletes won’t be competing in next week’s Olympics and, according to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, the quality of the games will be greatly diminished. He said “‘athletes will’ understand that the quality of their medals will be different, because it’s one thing to defeat an equal, strong opponent, and quite another – to compete with obviously weaker opponents. Such victory has a very different taste or maybe bad taste.”

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Ryan Fitzpatrick Signs With Jets, Chapman’s Impressive Cubs’ Debut

NFL

Ryan FitzpatrickThe month long stalemate between the New York Jets and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is finally over. With their deadline approaching, the Jets offered Fitzpatrick $12 million for one year fully guaranteed deal. Fitzpatrick missed the offseason but coaches believe he’ll be ready by opening day. Geno Smith will remain Fitzpatrick’s backup.

MLB

There was no chance the Chicago Cubs were going to lose to the White Sox in Wednesday nights 8-1 route, but the sell-out crowd didn’t leave the stadium as they saw newly acquired reliever Aroldis Chapman about to step on the mound. The fans were not disappointed with Chapman’s debut. He took out the next 3 batters with fastballs clocked at 101, 102, and 103 mph. Chapman is considered one of the best closers in baseball but the Cubs were criticized for making the trade with the Yankees. Chapman was accused of domestic abuse back in October of 2015. No arrests or charges were brought against him but he was suspended for 30 games as fired 8 gunshots in his garage the night of the incident and police were summoned to his home.

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RG3 Projected Browns’ Starter, Stoudemire Retires As Knick, Tyler Johnson Throws Up, Olympic Village Toilet Problem

NFL

Luck & RG3 2According to reports from the Cleveland Browns camp, quarterback Robert Griffin III (RG3) will be the Team’s starter. RG3 sat out all of last season when he was with the Washington Redskins but his talent clearly makes him the logical starter if he can stay healthy and, according to Coach Hue Jackson”humble”. Griffin won the Heisman trophy in 2011 while at Baylor University and was chosen #2 in the 2012 NFL draft (Colts QB Andrew Luck was drafted #1). Fun fact, Griffin graduated Baylor in three years with a 3.67 GPA in political science and had started his masters degree a year before entering the draft.

NBA

Amar’e Stoudemire signed a non-guaranteed contract with the New York Knicks so he could immediately announce his retirement. At 33 years old, Amar’e could still decide to decide to play overseas in China or for Hapoel Jerusalem (a team he co-owns).

In other signing news, the Miami Heat signed 24 year old Guard Tyler Johnson to a $50 Million contract extension.  It’s good to know Johnson did not take the news lightly. According to Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel, Johnson said, “I threw up a couple of times when I heard the number go out there. I was in shock.”

OLYMPICS

On August 5th, the Rio Olympics will officially begin but with only 11 days to go, many athletes are refusing to move into the Olympic Village. Their complaints sound legitimate. Apparently the toilets are overflowing, the pipes are leaking and the floors are dirty. These conditions are part of a long list of Rio problems.

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Josh Gordon And Tom Brady To Meet Oct. 9th, Michael Jordan Speaks Up

NFL

The Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots matchup on October 9th looks to be a big day in the NFL. Not only is the 9th the first game Patriots’ QB Tom Brady can play after his suspension for Deflategate, but it’s also the first game Josh Gordon (the Browns’ WR) will play after his 4 game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell wrote to Gordon with encouragement, “As we discussed at our [July 19] meeting, as Commissioner, I want nothing more than to see you turn your circumstances around and succeed.”

NBA

Michael JordanMichael Jordan’s critics used to complain he was more concerned about selling his merchandise than taking stands on social and political issues. His apolitical reputation makes his recent statement regarding race relations that much more significant. He wrote on ESPN’s The Undefeated,  “I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers.” In addition to speaking out, he’s making a $1 million contribution to both the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the Institute for Community-Police Relations.

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Griffey Jr And Piazza Inducted Into Hall Of Fame, Sale Cut Team’s Uniforms, Team USA Tough To Beat

MLB

Griffey Jr & Mike PiazzaMike Piazza and Ken Griffey Jr were inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. The two superstars had very different paths to baseball greatness. Griffey Jr, was drafted #1 by the Seattle Mariners and became a prolific home run hitter. He ended his career with 630 home runs and 10 golden glove awards.  As the son of an All-Star, Griffey was expected to be great, but fellow Hall of Famer, Mike Piazza followed a very different path.  Piazza wasn’t taken until the 62nd round and very few believed he’d ever make it in the big leagues. As Piazza stated, “He had unique challenges, being a first-round pick. I had a unique challenge, being a last-round pick. There was pressure on him; there was pressure on me. Maybe a little different, or maybe nuanced a different way.” Griffey is the first Seattle Mariner to be induced into the Hall of Fame and Piazza is only the second New York Met to be inducted.

In other (odd) baseball news, the Chicago White Sox pitcher, Chris Sale cut (using using a scissors) the Team’s throwback jerseys before the weekend game against the Detroit Tigers. He apparently didn’t like the look of them. Not surprisingly, he’s been suspended for 5 games.

OLYMPICS

A few NBA superstars (including Curry, Lebron, Griffin and Harden) passed on going to the Olympics but Team USA will be tough to beat. They’ve completely destroyed every team on their exhibition tour and even when Kevin Durant and Draymond Green were booed in Los Angeles before a warm-up game with China, the players and Team weren’t fazed.

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UFC Twitter Fight, All-Star Weekend Relocated For HB2, Ray Rice Will Donate Salary

UFC

Ultimate Fighting Championship President, Dana White, is not too happy with ESPN analyst Darren Rovell for making fun  of the whopping $4 billion sale of UFC to William Morris and IMG. Over twitter the two went at it with Rovell starting the fight by asking if it was too late for the sale to fall through considering UFC’s main stars have been accused of using performance enhancing drugs. White then responded by calling Rovell some not so nice names. Fun times!

NBA

Bruce SpringsteinThe NBA announced its All-Star weekend will relocate from Charlotte, NC to another city due to the controversy over the HB2 law, which states that people need to use restrooms according to the sex they were assigned at birth versus the sex they identify with.  Many public figures went on record expressing their views, which may have led to the NBA decision. Mike Krzyzewski, legendary coach of Duke’s basketball program stated, “It’s an embarrassing bill,” Many celebrities including Bruce Springsteen and Ringo Starr  have also expressed disappointment in the law by cancelling shows in NC.

NFL

Ray Rice, former running back for the Baltimore Ravens before his suspension for domestic violence, said he’d donate his salary to charity if he was signed by an NFL team for the 2016 season. He said, “Me donating my salary is something that’ll be from the heart for me. I only want to play football so I can end it the right way for my kids and for the people that really believed in me.” So far no word on a team taking him up on this but stay tuned.

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Linsanity In Brooklyn, Ezekiel Jersey Top Seller, Manziel Hits Wedding Guest, Kershaw’s Back

NBA

The Brooklyn Nets hope Jeremy Lin releases his “Linsanity” on the Team next year for a 3 year $36 million contract. Lin admitted his 11 game run (averaging 24 points and 9 assists) while the New York Knicks were considering releasing him was exciting. He now says he doesn’t want to be thought of as a phenomenon. He just wants to contribute to the Nets and help them rebuild.

NFL

Ezekiel ElliottFormer Ohio State running back and 4th pick in the draft, Ezekiel Elliott, won’t play in an NFL game until September but his jersey his selling off the shelves. Elliott’s #21 Dallas Cowboys jersey is the best selling item in the league.

Former Cleveland Brown QB Johnny Manziel can’t seem to stay out of the news. First there was his odd instagram post announcing he was getting help and would be back soon, then over the weekend in Hawaii, he punched a guest in the face at his friend’s wedding. If he does “come back”, at this rate it looks as if it won’t be on a football field.

MLB

Dave Roberts, the Los Angeles Dodger’s manager, created a panic this week by announcing his star pitcher and many would argue the best pitcher in the League, Clayton Kershaw, was perhaps having a setback in his recovery from a herniated disk. Roberts indicated “surgery is more of a possibility” but didn’t say whether that would be this year or next or down the road at some point. Roberts’ comment has created a huge buzz around the League speculating on whether Kershaw will be out for the season.

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Tiger Woods Out For Year, Computer Chips In Footballs, Big 12 Expanding

GOLF

Tiger WoodsTiger Woods recently withdrew from the PGA Championship and stated he will not play a major tournament for the rest of the 2015/16 season. Woods is recovering from back surgery, in fact 3 back surgeries in the past two years. The PGA Championship begins July 28th in Springfield, NJ.

 

NFL

The NFL is planning to insert special chips in to footballs during pre-season and Thursday night games to access whether the League should eventually narrow the goal posts. Kickers made 84.5% of their field goals last season (which is A LOT) and the NFL presumably wants to see if narrowing the goal posts will make field goals more competitive.

 

NCAA

The Big 12 Conference in College Sports has actually been made up of only 10 schools since 2012 when 4 institutions jumped ship (Nebraska, Texas A&M, Missouri, and Colorado) and 2 schools (TCU and West Virginia) joined. Now, the Conference is looking to expand and a number of schools are interested in joining. The decision to add more schools to the mix is not as easy as it sounds as the criteria comes down to whether the schools will bring a certain level of competition and add profitable media markets

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Correa Prison Term For Hacking, Russian Olympic Doping, Speaker Ryan Waves Terrible Towel

MLB

Chris Correa, the former scouting director for the St. Louis Cardinals was sentenced to prison for 4 years for hacking the Houston Astros computer system in order to gain access to players information and pending trade talks. Correa plead guilty and is seemingly the only one who will be disciplined but there’s still talk of Major League Baseball fining or taking a draft pick away from the Cardinals down the road if they discover any other collaborations.

OLYMPICS

The World Anti-doping agency accused Russia of authorizing doping of its athletes on a massive scale. 20 sports were included in the report and many are insisting all Russian athletes be excluded from the Olympic games. It seems unlikely there will be a blanket ban on all sports but certain athletes and teams will be under intense scrutiny.

NFL

Terrible TowelDie hard sports fans take the love of their team to great lengths and doing anything that seemingly disrespects their team can be problematic. So when Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (and devoted Green Bay Packer fan) innocently waved a “terrible towel”, an important symbol to Pittsburgh Steeler fans in front of the Pennsylvania delegates at the Republican Convention, he took a calculated risk of offending his Packers. He did predict a Packers/Steelers Super Bowl, however, so it appears he appeased any Packer whom he may have offended.

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Deflategate Over, Stenson Wins Open

NFL

Tom BradyThe Deflategate saga appears to finally be over. Tom Brady wrote on Facebook he’s not going to appeal to the NFL and will serve his 4 game suspension. He will miss the Arizona Cardinals game as well as Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans and the Buffalo Bills.

Tom Brady

via facebook

I’m very grateful for the overwhelming support I’ve received from Mr. Kraft, the Kraft family, coach Belichick, my coaches and teammates, the NFLPA, my agents, my loving family and most of all, our fans. It has been a challenging 18 months and I have made the difficult decision to no longer proceed with the legal process. I’m going to work hard to be the best player I can be for the New England Patriots and I look forward to having the opportunity to return to the field this fall.

GOLF

In a memorable day of gold, Henrik Stenson beat out Phil Mickelson at Troon. Stenson shot a final round of 63, tied for the best final round ever. At 40 years old, this is Stenson’s first major win.

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