Archive for June, 2020

Zimmerman & Desmond Opting Out Of MLB Season, Tim Tebow On Mets Roster, Emoni Bates Commits To Michigan State

BASEBALL

Major League Baseball finally agreed on a 60-game season, but many players have announced they will opt-out for the year due to Coronavirus concerns and social unrest issues. Among the players opting-out are Washington Nationals first baseman Ryan Zimmerman who stated he won’t play because of his newborn baby and his mother (who has multiple sclerosis), and Colorado Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond who cited concerns for his family’s health as well as racism, sexism, homophobia, labor wars, and cheating scandals.

In other baseball news, the New York Mets are offering up a spot on their roster to minor league outfielder (and former NFL quarterback) Tim Tebow.

BASKETBALL

The #1 high school basketball recruit in the country for the class of 2022, Emoni Bates, committed to Michigan State. Bates had scholarship offers from Duke, Michigan, Florida State, Georgia, DePaul, and Kentucky but chose Michigan State for their loyalty. Michigan State recruited him in 7th grade, while Duke extended an offer to him in 8th grade. As a sophomore, Bates became the youngest player to become the Gatorade National Player of the Year. Other superstars winning this award include Chris Webber, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Greg Oden, Bradley Beal, Jabari Parker, Andrew Wiggins, Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, Jayston Tatum, RJ Barrett, and James Wiseman.

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Cam Newton Signs With New England, Patriots Fined $1.1 Mill For Illegal Filming

FOOTBALL

Big news reverberated in the NFL on Sunday night when seemingly out of nowhere the New England Patriots signed quarterback Cam Newton. The former NFL MVP signed a one-year performance-based incentive contract worth a maximum of $7.5 million. Newton is 31 years old and has suffered some injuries in the last few years. He was released in March by the Carolina Panthers (where he was selected with the #1 pick in 2011). The Patriots are hoping Cam can ignite the team after having lost their powerhouse superstar quarterback Tom Brady to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Waiting in the wings to get his start at QB with the Pats is Jarrett Stidham (selected with the 133rd overall pick in 2019).

In other Patriots news, the team has been penalized $1.1 million and a 3rd round pick in next year’s NFL draft for illegally filming a 2019 Cincinnati Bengals/Cleveland Browns game. The film crew is also banned from filming any games this season.

 

 

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Another Buyer For Mets, Pro Football Hall Of Fame Game & NYC Marathon Canceled, Jenkins Says Football Non Essential

BASEBALL

The Reuben brothers have emerged as another potential buyer of the New York Mets. According to reports David and Simon Reuben, who made their money in real estate, are interested in the Mets as part of an opportunity for development surrounding Citi Field.

FOOTBALL

The NFL canceled the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 6th and postponed the enshrinement ceremony scheduled for August 8th. The Cowboys and Steelers will play in the 2021 Hall of Fame Game, and the enshrinement ceremony will now take place in 2021 as well.

The NFL still plans to start the season in September, but the New Orleans Saints Malcolm Jenkins isn’t convinced it’s a good idea. He said, “The NBA is a lot different than the NFL. They can actually quarantine all of their players, or whoever is going to participate, whereas we have over 2,000 players; and even more coaches and staff who can’t do that. So we end up being on this trust system — the honor system — where we just have to hope that guys are social distancing and things like that, and that puts all of us at risk. That’s not only us as players, and whoever’s in the building(s), but when we go home to families.

“I have parents that I don’t want to get sick. I think until we get to the point where we have protocols in place, and until we get to a place as a country where we feel safe doing it — we have to understand that football is a non-essential business. We don’t need to do it. So the risk has to be eliminated before we — before I would feel comfortable with going back.”

If the season does get underway, NFL teams are discussing a plan to use seats closest to the field to display advertisements in an attempt to make up for lost revenue.

MARATHON

The New York City and Berlin marathons were canceled due to concerns over COVID-19.

 

 

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Baseball Will Return, FBI Says Noose Not Hate Crime, NFL Allows Cities To Determine Fans, No Bradley For Lakers

BASEBALL

The Major League Baseball Players Union officially approved the imposed 60-game season, so it looks like we’ll have a baseball season after all. July 1st will mark the start of “spring” training with opening day on July 24th.

NASCAR

The FBI announced there was no hate crime against Bubba Wallace at Talladega over the weekend where a noose was found in Wallace’s garage. The investigators reported the noose had been in the garage since last October where it was used as a garage door pull. In addition, the report claimed that no one could have known Wallace would be assigned to that particular garage. Wallace commented on the report saying,  “The image that I have, that I have seen, of what was hanging in my garage is not a garage loop. I’ve been racing all of my life, we’ve raced out of hundreds of garages that have never had garage pulls like that… It was a noose. Whether it was tied in 2019 or whatever, it was a noose. It wasn’t directed at me, but someone tied a noose. It is a noose.”

FOOTBALL

According to reports, the NFL might allow individual teams and cities to determine how many fans will be allowed in the stadium. The NFL appears determined to allow fans to avoid losing billions in revenue. It’s estimated that the NFL could lose $3 billion if the season is played in empty stadiums.

BASKETBALL

The Los Angeles Lakers Avery Bradley announced he will not play when the NBA season resumes at Disney World. According to ESPN, Bradley is concerned about his family’s health particularly his six-year-old son who has a history of respiratory illnesses.

For those players reporting to Orlando, the NBA will have ring data monitors (called Oura rings) which can potentially access COVID-19 through heart rate and heart rate variability.

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MLB Imposed Season, NASCAR Shows Solidarity With Bubba Wallace

BASEBALL

After months of trying to agree on a deal to start the Major League Baseball season, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred announced the league is imposing a 60-game season with no expanded playoffs. The imposed season asks players to report to camp on July 1st with opening day the weekend of July 24-26th. The players have until 5:00 pm today to respond to the league.

NASCAR

The NASCAR community rallied behind Bubba Wallace in a show of solidarity for the horrendous noose incident that took place over the weekend. The drivers, pit crew, and others pushed Wallace’s #43 car to the front of pit row prior to the Geico 500 at Talledega on Monday.  Wallace said it was emotional and meaningful and teared up saying,  “Sorry for not wearing my mask but I wanted to show whoever it was that you’re not going to take away my smile… The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to witness in my life from all the supporters from drivers from crew members, from everybody here, the badass fan base, thank you guys for coming out here… This is truly incredible and I’m proud to be a part of this sport”

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Tiz the Law Wins Belmont, Horrific Racist Incident At Talladega

HORSE RACING

Tiz the Law ran away from the competition in a decisive win at the Belmont Stakes on Saturday. Tiz the Law, the fourth New York-bred horse to win the Belmont, was the heavy favorite having won four of his first five races. Roger Sofer, a part-owner of Tiz the Law, described the race saying, “It was great. Our (horse) just looked clear as can be. And once we got in the gate I was just hoping that we got out strong. … When we were sitting third or fourth I just kept saying, ‘I love where we are.’ ” Next up in this non-traditional Triple Crown series is the Kentucky Derby on September 5th and the Preakness Stakes on October 3rd.

NASCAR

A horrible event took place at Talladega on Sunday when a noose was found in Bubba Wallace’s garage during the Geico 500. NASCAR is launching an investigation and issued a statement saying, “Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team. We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act. We have launched an immediate investigation and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport. As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”

Wallace, NASCAR’s only black driver, also issued a statement saying, “Today’s despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society. … As my mother told me today, ‘They are just trying to scare you.’ This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.”

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NCAA Football Approved, MLB’s Latest Proposals, Belmont Stakes Saturday, NBA Honors Juneteenth

FOOTBALL

The NCAA approved a schedule to start the 2020 season on time. The six-week calendar will begin in mid-July, and teams will be required to practice for four weeks before playing their first game.

BASEBALL

MLB owners submitted another proposal attempting to start the season on July 19th or 20th and allowing for a 60-game season and a 16-game postseason. The players countered with their own proposal for a 70-game season with prorated salaries based on the number of games played (including $50 million in playoff bonuses). It’s important to note that in the 60-game scenario, the Washington Nationals (World Series champions last year) would not have made the playoffs last season.

HORSE RACING

The Triple Crown series begins on Saturday with the Belmont Stakes. The Belmont is typically the third leg of the Triple Crown (with the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness legs one and two), but with COVID-19 precautions, the Derby will be run on September 5th and the Preakness on October 3rd. The Belmont is the longest of the races, but for the horses not used to running such long distances at the start of the season, they will now run 1 1/8 miles instead of 1 1/2 miles. Tune in at 5:42 pm ET, broadcast on NBC.

BASKETBALL

For the first time in league history, the NBA has given employees paid time off for Juneteenth. The NBA said it wanted to give employees a chance to reflect on black history and racial injustice.

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NBA’s Plan For Season With Disney Style Entertainment, Irving Wants A New League

BASKETBALL

The NBA released a detailed report of how they plan to restart the season. The document is extensive and lays out health protocols, logistics, and even entertainment for the players and personnel.

As for the team’s entertainment options, Disney will be providing outdoor concerts, private movie screenings, ping pong, lawn games, golf, and lounges equipped with video games, barbers, manicurists, and pedicurists. Disney also plans to allow the teams special access to Disney parks and attractions.

Here are some of the important dates:

June 24th: Deadline for the players to inform their teams if they plan to return and play the remainder of the season

July 31st-October 13th: NBA games will begin. After the first round of playoffs end, each of the remaining eight teams can reserve 15-17 hotel room for their guests

Kyrie Irving has become vocal about boycotting the remainder of the NBA season in order to focus on racial issues. He even proposed the idea of the players starting their own league. In a conference call with over 80 players, Irving said, “I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. … Something smells a little fishy. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are targeted as black men every day we wake up.”

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WNBA Returns, Roger Goodell Encouraging Teams To Sign Kaepernick, MLB Drama Continues, Harris/Blitzer Stake In Steelers

BASKETBALL

According to reports, the WNBA will have a 22-game regular season starting in late July and with games held at the IMG Academy in Florida. Players are set to earn 100% of their salaries even though they will only play 22 games instead of the full 36-game schedule.

FOOTBALL

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told ESPN that he “supports and encourages” teams to sign the 32-year old former San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick hasn’t played since 2016 when he became famous for kneeling during the national anthem in a sign of protest against racial injustice and police brutality. In the interview, Goodell said, “Well, listen, if he wants to resume his career in the NFL, then obviously it’s gonna take a team to make that decision. But I welcome that, support a club making that decision and encourage them to do that.” He went on to say, “If his efforts are not on the field but continuing to work in this space, we welcome him to that table and to help us. … I hope we’re at a point now where everybody’s committed to making long-term, sustainable change.”

BASEBALL

The drama in the negotiations about Major League Baseball returning continues. On Monday, just five days after guaranteeing the baseball season would happen, commissioner Rob Manfred said he was “not confident” there would be a season at all.

OTHER

Josh Harris and David Blitzer, owners of the Philadelphia 76er and New Jersey Devils, acquired a stake of less than 5% in the Pittsburgh Steelers. The franchise has recently been valued at $2.8 billion. It’s also been reported the duo is exploring a bid for the New York Mets.

 

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Kyrie Irving Wants To Boycott Season To Focus On Racism, ESPN All-Time Low

BASKETBALL

The NBA plans to restart the season this summer in Florida at the Disney Complex. Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving made a plea to boycott the rest of the season to focus on getting rid of systemic racism. Irving expressed his concern that sports would be a “distraction” and doesn’t want to “distract from the more important Black Lives Matter agenda”. Seventy-four percent of NBA players are black. Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers responded on Instagram saying,  “I love Kyrie’s passion towards helping this movement. It’s admirable and inspiring. I’m with it… but in the right way and not at the cost of the whole NBA and players careers.” According to ESPN, NBA players could lose $1.2 billion in salary this season if they don’t play.

Speaking of ESPN, in the entire history of the network (41 years), the ratings have never been this low. According to Outkick, “the network, which has become more left wing than MSNBC and CNN combined over the past several weeks, has completely abandoned sports coverage. The result? Viewers, many of whom were willing to watch the channel even during a pandemic disaster with limited sports to consume, have abandoned it in droves.”

 

 

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