Archive for September, 2018

Rams Jared Goff Has Big Night, CC Sabathia Loses $500K

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LA Rams quarterback Jared Goff had a big night in an offensive battle against the Minnesota Vikings in Thursday Night Football. Goff posted 465 yards and 5 touchdowns while Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins had 400 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams defense made the difference in the exciting shootout and came out with a 38-31 victory. The Rams become only the 10th team in the Super Bowl era to post 30 points in each of their first four wins.

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New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia only had to last 7 innings on Thursday to make an extra $500,000. He had an incentive in his 2018 contract to make an extra half a million dollars if he completed 155 innings, and heading into Thursday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, he had 148 innings under his belt. In the bottom of the 6th, the Yankees were up a comfortable 11-0 when Sabathia took the mound and threw a ball at Jesus Sucre in apparent retaliation for an errant throw at one of his teammates earlier in the game. Sabathia was ejected from the game and therefore lost out on the $500k.  Marc Carig from The Athletic summed it up best when he tweeted, “Holy cow. CC smoked Sucre and cost himself a half million dollars, got ejected from the game, then appeared to grab his crotch while facing the Rays dugout. That’s one of the most bad ass things I’ve ever seen on a ballfield. And one day, when CC Sabathia is done playing, it will be Exhibit A when people ask why he was a beloved teammate.”

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Jacob deGrom Adds Milestone, NBA Plans For Women, Matthews Leaves Post And Let Go

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New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom added another milestone on his quest for the coveted NL Cy Young Award. In a win over the Atlanta Braves, and his last showing of the regular season, deGrom pitched his 1,000th career strikeout and lowered his ERA to 1.70. After the game he said, “I’m really excited with how the night went. I had the goal to get to that tonight. It was a lot cooler to get my 1,000th strikeout on my last pitch of the year than my first batter next year.”

With the regular season winding down, the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs are the two latest teams to clinch playoff spots. For the list of teams already heading to the post season, click here.

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver wrote a memo and explained to the teams his plan to have more women visible in the League in positions of leadership. To kick off the initiative, the League hosted its Inaugural Women’s Leadership Forum and plans to have more events over the next few months.

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Tenessee Titans receiver Rishard Matthews has reportedly been let go by the team after leaving an instagram message early Wednesday morning saying, “When Daddy’s home for good. That is unless someone calls him to get off the couch.” Matthews led the team in receiving until he suffered a knee injury and missed training camp. No word on where he’ll end up.

 

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Scherzer Records 300 Strikeouts, LeBron Practices Patience, Kremer And Storm Make History

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With 10 strikeouts Tuesday night, the Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer recorded 300 strikeouts in a season, making him only the 17th pitcher in Major League Baseball history to accomplish this feat. After this impressive accomplishment, Scherzer increases his chances of competing against Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets and Aaron Nola of the Philadelphia Phillies for the coveted NL Cy Young Award.

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LeBron James had his first practice with his new team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and according to reports, all eyes and ears were on coach Luke Walton and not James. Everyone was anxious to get started on the season, although Lonzo Ball was still recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee, but they spoke about their need for patience. James said, “I got to bring in the approach I get from home. When you have three kids, you have to be patient. I’m not calling these guys kids; they’re young men here, and some of these men have families as well. But you learn that you have to be patient and you have to gauge everyone individually very different to get the most out of them.”

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Andrea Kremer and Hannah Storm will make history on Thursday night when they become the first females to call an NFL game. Amazon Prime Video will air the two announcing the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings game. Kremer has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for her stellar career reporting on games, and Storm has distinguished herself as an ESPN anchor. According to Storm, “I can’t imagine embarking upon this new role with anyone better than Andrea. A lifelong friend with Pro Football Hall of Fame credentials, she is the perfect partner. Together we’re looking forward to offering a new option for Prime members on Thursday nights and I’m excited to get to work!”

 

 

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Fitzmagic Stalled, Roethlisberger Gives Steelers Win, Tua Tagovailoa Heisman Buzz

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Tampa Bay’s backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick caused a stir in his first two games of the season (throwing for a consecutive 4 touchdowns), but he couldn’t sustain the hype after a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Monday night football.  “Fitzmagic” may be over after he threw for 3 interceptions in the first half (which wasn’t completely his fault as he didn’t get much protection from his offensive line). Fitzpatrick rallied in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a strong performance from the Steelers, particularly quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger threw for over 300 yards (his 56th 300 yard game of his career) and three touchdowns.   Steelers 30, Buccaneers 27.

In college football news,  it’s no suprise that after another impressive game (five touchdowns against Texas A&M), Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has the media buzzing about his early lead in the race for the most prestigious award in college football, the Heisman Trophy. After this week, the weekly USA Today Network Heisman survey has Tua ranked as a solid #1 choice with Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins following up a distant second. There’s still many more games to play though, and anything can happen.

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Tiger Woods Finally Wins, Gurley Hates TNF, Garoppolo Injury, Clay Matthews Says League Is Soft

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After a five year drought, Tiger Woods finally won his first tournament! At 42 years old, Woods suffered back and nerve pain and underwent four surgeries over the last few years. At one point last year he was ranked as low as  1,199th. Woods was swarmed by fans after the final round and told reporters, “I appreciate it a little bit more than I did because I don’t take it for granted that I’m going to have another decade, two decades in my future of playing golf at this level. It means a lot more to me now in that sense because I didn’t know if I’d ever be out here playing again, doing this again.”

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The NFL has been criticized over the years for adding Thursday night games to an already grueling scheduele. Players hate the short week, and LA Rams running back Todd Gurley is no exception. In the locker room after their 35-23 win over the LA Chargers and anticipating their matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday, Gurley said, “it’s probably the dumbest thing ever. But, whatever, we’ve got a game and Minnesota’s got a game as well. So, we’ve both got to show up and play.”

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo might be out for the season with an ACL injury. With 5 minutes left to play in the game, Garoppolo fell to the ground after taking an awkward step. Garoppolo was supposed to be the future of the franchise, so losing him for the season will be a blow to the team.

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews got called for his third roughing the passer penalty this season. After the game, where the Packers lost to the Washington Redskins 31-17, Matthews vented his frustration and said, “Unfortunately this league’s going in a direction I think a lot of people don’t like. I think they’re getting soft. The only thing hard about this league is the fines they levy down on guys like me who play the game hard.”

 

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Browns Finally Win! Kaepernick Receives Harvard Honor

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The Cleveland Browns finally snapped their losing streak and won a game! Down two touchdowns to the New York Jets on Thursday night football, rookie Baker Mayfield (the #1 pick in the 2018 draft) came off the bench, ignited the offense, and led the team to victory. Browns’ running back Carlos Hyde had many reasons to celebrate. He rushed for two touchdowns then rushed to the hospital for the birth of his baby boy. Fans all around the city celebrated the Browns first win since December 24th, 2016 with free beer thanks to the Bud Light promotion which automatically opened vending machines all around the city. Browns 21, Jets 17.

Colin Kaepernick will receive Harvard University’s highest honor in African and American studies, the W.E.B. Du Bois medal. The medal recipients are recognized for  “their contributions to African and African American culture and the life of the mind.” Past recipients have include Muhammad Ali and Maya Angelou.

 

 

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Cuban Donates $10Mill, Vontae Explains Retirement, Gordon At Patriots, Dodger’s Puig On Fire

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The NBA held an internal investigation into “sexual harassment charges and improper workplace conduct” against the Dallas Mavericks organization over the last 20 years. According to the NBA, “investigators concluded that Mavericks’ management was ineffective, including a lack of compliance and internal controls, and that these shortcomings permitted the growth of an environment in which acts of misconduct and the individuals who committed them could flourish.” Mark Cuban, the owner of the Mavericks, responded by announcing he’ll donate $10 million to “organizations that are committed to supporting the leadership and development of women in the sports industry and combating domestic violence.” He also stated, “I’m just sorry I didn’t see it. I’m just sorry I didn’t recognize it.”

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Last weekend Buffalo Bills cornerback Vontae Davis (younger brother of Washington Redskins tight end Vernon Davis) went into the locker room at halftime of the teams’s loss to the Chargers and abruptly retired. His teammates were outraged, the media was baffled, and fans were furious. A few days later, Davis explained his sudden move to ESPN’s The Undefeated and said, “I went to the bench after that series and it just hit me. I don’t belong on that field anymore.” The 30 year old went on to say, “I left everything the league wanted me to be, playing for my teammates while injured, the gladiator mentality, it all just popped. And when it popped, I just wanted to leave it all behind. So that’s why I don’t care what people say. That experience was personal and not meant for anyone else to understand. It was me cold turkey leaving behind an identity that I carried with me for so long.”

Former Cleveland Brown Josh Gordon appeared at the New England Patriots practice on Wednesday, although coach Bill Belichick still won’t confirm Gordon is officially part of the team claiming the terms haven’t been completed. And, assuming Gordon is “officially” on the team by the weekend, there’s no word on whether Gordon will be healthy enough to play. Gordon tore his hamstring last weekend on a promotional shoot for a brand he’s promoting. The incident was seemingly the last straw for the Browns as they’ve had issues with Gordon in the past.

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The Los Angeles Dodger’s Yasiel Puig has been on fire hitting his sixth home run in 18 at bats. Puig’s performance has boosted the Dodgers to a 2 1/2 game advantage in the National League West.

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Josh Gordon Traded To Patriots, Dropkicks, Kickers Fired, Hall Of Famers Demands

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The Cleveland Browns traded troubled wide receiver Josh Gordon to the New England Patriots for a 2019 fifth-round draft pick. At 27 years old, Gordon is still considered a solid receiver but has suffered from substance abuse the past four years. The Browns stuck with him, but according to reports the team did not “trust” him anymore after showing up to practice on Saturday with an injured hamstring which occurred while shooting a promotional video at the stadium for a line of clothing he’s promoting.

If you were watching the Chicago Bears/Seattle Seahawks Monday night football game, you might have noticed a few unusual kicks. It wasn’t your imagination, Seahawk rookie punter Michael Dickson dropkicked a kickoff and onside kick. The dropkick was fashionable 100 years ago before the shape of the football changed to make it more aerodynamic. As for the rest of the game, Chicago’s Khalil Mack (traded by the Oakland Raiders) provided most of the highlights as he brought pressure on Seahawk quarterback Russell Wilson and caused turnovers. Khalil leads the NFL in sacks (10 this season so far). Chicago 24, Seattle 17.

After a day of unprecedented missed kicks, the Minnesota Vikings cut Daniel Carlson (who missed three field goals on Sunday) and the Cleveland Browns cut Zane Gonzalez (who missed two field goals and two extra points on Sunday).

In other football news, a group of NFL Hall of Famers sent a letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell saying they wouldn’t attend the Hall of Fame ceremony unless they were given a list of demands. According to ESPN Arash Markazi “Pro Football Hall of Famers said they would not attend the annual hall of fame induction ceremony until they received health insurance and an annual salary that included a share of league revenue.” The Hall of Famers who signed the letter are: Marcus Allen, Mel Blount, Derrick Brooks, Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, Richard Dent, Carl Eller, Marshall Faulk, Mike Haynes, Rickey Jackson, Ronnie Lott, Curtis Martin, Joe Namath, John Randle, Jerry Rice, Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Jackie Smith, Lawrence Taylor, Kurt Warner and Sarah White, the widow of Reggie White.

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19 Missed Kicks In Week 2, Browns & Vikings Bad Kicking Days, Davis Retires At Halftime, Fitzpatrick Channels McGregor

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In week two of the NFL, we saw 19 missed field goals and point after touchdowns. Nineteen misses in one day!  In one particular matchup, the Cleveland Browns had an opportunity to finally win a game, but their kicker Zane Gonzalez (who had already missed an extra point earlier in the game and who heartbreakingly missed a game-winning field goal last week), missed again. To add insult to injury, Gonzalez had a chance to tie the game a few plays later but missed a field goal, and the New Orleans Saints took the win. The Browns haven’t won a game since December 24th, 2016. Saints 21, Browns 18.

As depressing as the day was for Zane, the Minnesota Vikings rookie Daniel Carlson’s day was worse. Carlson missed all three field goals including two in overtime which could have given the Vikings a win over the Green Bay Packers. The Green Bay Packers might have won the game in regulation play (instead of tying in overtime) if it wasn’t for a confusing roughing the passer call on Packer’s linebacker Clay Matthews that negated a potentially game-ending interception by Packers’ cornerback Jaire Alexander. According to Matthews, “You see how it changed the game. I know there’s an emphasis on protecting quarterbacks, but it’s gotten out of control.” Vikings 29, Packers 29.

One of the oddest occurrences during the day on Sunday was when Buffalo Bills cornerback Vontae Davis played in the first half of the game, went into the locker room at halftime and retired from football.  It’s Vontae’s 10th season in the NFL and first with the Bills. After the game, Bills’ Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander reacted by saying he’s never seen anything like it and called it “disrespectful”.

Backup Tampa Bay quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick looks like he’s having a blast on the field and off. With another week of throwing for 400 yards and 4 touchdowns, Fitzpatrick became the first quarterback in franchise history with 4 TDs in consecutive games. During the press conference after the win over the Philadelphia Eagles, Fitzpatrick dressed up as mixed martial artist Conor McGregor amusing his teammates and reporters. When asked about his getup, he said, “The chest hair is mine”.

 

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Bengals Start 2-0, Gronk/Ramsey Matchup To Watch, Wright Will Take Field

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With their win on Thursday night, the Cincinnati Bengals quieted their critics by taking down an AFC rival and posting a 2-0 start to the season. Quarterback Andy Dalton found receiver A.J. Green for three touchdowns (with Dalton throwing 4 TD’s in all).  The Ravens fought back, but it wasn’t enough and the Bengals won 34-23.

One matchup to watch this weekend features New England Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski against Jacksonville Jaguars’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey. This game should be particularly entertaining as Ramsey said in an ESPN interview a month ago “I don’t think Gronk’s good. Let me say — I don’t think Gronk is as great as people think he is.” When asked recently about these comments, Gronk said, “I feel like that talking right there, going out preparing and showing what we can do Sunday is louder than just talking trash all week. It makes it fun, though.” Yes, it should be fun, tune in Sunday 4:25 pm ET.

BASEBALL

The NY Mets announced they will activate their third baseman and captain, David Wright on September 25th, and he will play during the Mets final home game on September 29th. Wright has been fighting off injuries since May of 2016. In the press conference announcing his return to the field and implying he’ll retire afterward, Wright said, “playing baseball is ‘debilitating’ to his health and that ‘there’s not going to be an improvement’ in the problems that have cost him so much time.” Wright then told his teammates, “it’s truly been an honor to take the field with you, and serve as your captain. To the fans, words can’t address my gratitude.”

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