Archive for July, 2020

LeSean McCoy A Buccaneer, Jazz & Lakers Win In NBA First Night

FOOTBALL

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are serious about helping out their new quarterback Tom Brady. According to ESPN, the team signed veteran running back LeSean McCoy to a one-year deal.

BASKETBALL

Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert, the first NBA player to test positive for COVID-19, scored the first and last points as the Jazz beat the New Orleans Pelicans 106-104 on Thursday night. In a puzzling coaching decision, the Pelicans benched their star player Zion Williamson for the final 7 minutes of play. He played a total of 15 minutes and scored 13 points in his team’s loss.

In the second game of the night, LeBron James finished big for the LA Lakers and helped them pull off a 103-101 win over the LA Clippers.

 

Share
No comments

NBA Returns, Notre Dame Part Of ACC This Year

BASKETBALL

The NBA returns tonight. As of now, there are no known outbreaks in the Disney bubble, so if all continues to go well, the NBA will plan for a 10-week continuation of the season. Here’s how it will work: The 22 teams quarantining in Orlando will play eight “seeding games” in the next two weeks. The seeding games count toward the team’s regular-season standing, and whichever teams are in the top seven in each conference at the end of two weeks will then earn a playoff berth. The eighth playoff seed must be more than four games ahead of the ninth seed, or there will be a play-in-series. Here’s the lineup for tonight: Jazz vs. Pelican at 6:30 pm, Clippers vs. Lakers at 9:00 pm, and Indians vs. Twins at 9:00 pm.

FOOTBALL

For the first time in its 132-year history, Notre Dame will be a member of a conference. The ACC announced its 10 conference game schedule which includes Notre Dame joining the conference for one year and playing a full ACC schedule. The first game is slated for September 7th. The SEC and Big 12 are expected to announce their new schedules soon.

 

 

Share
No comments

Marlins Season Suspended, Mahomes Joining Royals Ownership Group, 6 Pats Opt-Out Season

BASEBALL

After 15 players and two staff members of the Miami Marlins tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few days, Major League Baseball suspended the team’s season. With a shortened 60-game schedule, it’s unclear how the Marlins (and their opponents) will make up the missed games.

FOOTBALL

Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes is on a roll in Kansas City. Not only did he sign a $503 million contract extension with the Chiefs a few weeks ago, but on Tuesday the Kansas City Royals announced Mahomes will be joining their ownership group.

Mahomes grew up with baseball. His father was an MLB pitcher for 11 seasons, and Mahomes was a 37th-round pick in the 2014 draft.

In other NFL news, six New England Patriots players (Hightower, Cannon, Chung, Bolden, Vitale, and Toran) have chosen to opt-out of the NFL season due to Coronavirus concerns.

 

Share
No comments

Marlins Players Test Positive And Could Jeopardize Season, Dr. Fauci Trading Cards Hit Record High

BASEBALL

Just a few days into the baseball season and we’re already having issues. The Miami Marlins had to postpone their home-opener on Monday night because at least 14 players tested positive for COVID-19. Over the weekend, a few players had tested positive, but instead of postponing their matchup against the Phillies on Sunday, they decided via a group text chat to play. According to MLB’s operation manual, the teams have the ability to decide what to do if there are multiple positive results.

No one knows what this means for the rest of the teams and for the rest of the MLB season. It’s possible these players will quarantine, and there won’t be any major outbreaks. It’s also possible, however, that other teams could have been infected by the Marlins players, and the season could be compromised.

According to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred, “I don’t put this in the nightmare category. It’s not a positive thing, but I don’t see it as a nightmare. … That’s why we have the expanded rosters. That’s why we have the pool of additional players.”

Unlike the NBA and MLS, major league baseball rejected the idea of playing in a “bubble” (where, as of now, there are no reported cases). The NFL also rejected the idea of playing in a quarantine “bubble” so will be paying close attention to how this all develops.
In other baseball news, baseball card manufacturer Topps set a record for selling over 50,000 limited edition trading cards featuring Dr. Anthony Fauci (who threw out the ceremonial first pitch last week to kick off the MLB season).

 

Share
No comments

Cespedes Hits HR As DH, Verlander’s Forearm Strain, Jamal Adams A Seahawk, Together Mode In NBA, Lou Williams Quarantined After Strip Club

BASEBALL

On Friday, the New York Mets Yoenis Cespedes became the first designated hitter in Major League Baseball to hit a home run in a regular-season game between two National League Teams. The new designated hitter rule allows players like Cespedes, who have suffered injuries, to perform during this shortened season.

There was a buzz over the weekend about the Houston Astros Justin Verlander missing the rest of the season due to a forearm strain, but Verlander weighed in and said he would be back.

FOOTBALL

The Seattle Seahawks picked up safety Jamal Adams and a 2022 fourth-round pick from the New York Jets in exchange for safety Bradley McDougald and a 2021 first-round and third-round pick as well as a 2022 first-rounder. Adams hasn’t been shy about wanting to leave the Jets, so it didn’t come as much of a surprise that the Jets unloaded him prior to the beginning of the season.

BASKETBALL

The NBA is getting creative in bringing the fan experience to the arena. They are experimenting with allowing fans to virtually appear and interact with each other at upcoming games. They will be using Microsoft Team’s new together mode” which will allow fans to feel like they are participating. “Together Mode uses AI segmentation technology to digitally place participants in a shared background, making it feel like you’re sitting in the same room with everyone else in the meeting or class.”

The NBA is also working with its broadcast partners to use more camera angles to enhance the at-home viewing experience.

Los Angeles Clippers Lou Williams will need to quarantine for 10 days inside the Disney bubble. He left the bubble for a funeral (which would have required a 4-day quarantine), but then photos of him at a strip club with rapper Jack Harlow appeared on social media getting Williams in trouble. Williams will miss two seeding games and forfeit up to $150,000 in salary.

 

Share
No comments

Yankees Prevail In Rain Delayed Debut, Dr. Anthony Fauci’s First Pitch, Mookie Betts Kneels, MLB Expanded Postseason, Washington Football Team, Tyson Out Of Retirement

BASEBALL

Major League Baseball kicked off the season Thursday night with a matchup between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals. Of course, this is 202o so the debut of North American live sports didn’t go smoothly. Before the game, Nationals star Juan Soto tested positive for COVID-19, but even though he was with teammates earlier in the week, the game did not get called off. Then, a massive rainstorm hit causing the game to wrap up after only five innings. The Yankees recorded a 4-1 win.

Dr. Anthony Fauci threw out the first pitch at the Yankees game and it was a bit off-center. With everything he has going on, it’s doubtful he had time to practice, so let’s give him kudos for his attempt.

In the second game of the night, the Los Angeles Dodgers put away the San Francisco Giants 8-1. Mookie Betts made his debut for the Dodgers, but no one was talking about his hitting. Betts made his statement by kneeling during the National Anthem, while most of the team stood.

In an announcement prior to the first pitch, Major League Baseball announced they are expanding the number of teams competing in the postseason from 10 to 16.

FOOTBALL

After officially scrapping the name Redskins, Washington announced its new name will be the “Washington Football Team” for the 2020 season. The colors will remain the same, and the logo on the helmets will be replaced by a gold player number decal.

BOXING

Mike Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, will come out of retirement to take on four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr. in a fight scheduled for September 12th.

 

Share
1 comment

MLB Season Starts, Mookie Betts Signs Huge Deal, Rookie Bol Bol Makes Splash

BASEBALL

The Major League Baseball season starts tonight, marking the first North American major sports league to play since the pandemic shut down the world. Tonight’s matchup features:

  • 7 pm ET: Yankees (Cole) at Nationals (Scherzer)
  • 10 pm ET: Giants (Cueto) at Dodgers (Kershaw)

For the full MLB schedule click here.

Mookie Betts signed a huge deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. His 12-year contract extension worth $365 million is the second-largest in Major League Baseball history. Only Mike Trout’s 12-year $430 million contract with the Los Angles Angels ranks higher.

BASKETBALL

Denver Nuggets rookie Bol Bol (son of NBA player Manute Bol) made a splash in his on-court debut, a scrimmage over the Washington Wizards. The 7-foot 2 Bol Bol finished the game with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and six blocks.

 

 

 

Share
1 comment

Natalie Portman Among Group To Buy Soccer Franchise, NFL Preseason Cancelled, CFL Deems Eskimos Offensive, Garnett Or Vikings Owner Could Buy Timberwolves

SOCCER

Natalie Portman, Serena Williams, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Abby Wambach are among the actresses and athletes joining together to add a National Women’s Soccer League franchise in Los Angeles for the 2022 season. The ownership group includes venture capitalist Kara Nortman, OUYA founder Julie Uhrman, and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. The new team will reveal its official name later in the year, but for now, will be called WFC LA/Angel City.

FOOTBALL

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have reportedly agreed to cancel all preseason games in hopes of starting the season without any COVID-19 issues.

The Canadian Football League’s Edmonton Eskimos have decided to change their name after determining the name was offensive to indigenous groups in North America. The team will be known as the Edmonton Football Team or EE Football Team until they choose a new name.

BASKETBALL

According to reports, former NBA superstar Kevin Garnett and Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf are among a handful of candidates looking to purchase the Minnesota Timberwolves.

 

 

.

Share
No comments

CA HS Football Postponed, Dr. Anthony Fauci Throwing First Pitch For Nationals, Giants Manager Kneels During Anthem

FOOTBALL

The California Interscholastic Federation announced it is postponing the high school football (and other fall sports) season. The earliest we’ll see fall sports in the state will be December 2020 or January 2021.

BASEBALL

Dr. Anthony Fauci will throw out the first pitch on for the Washington Nationals on Opening Day, July 23rd. The defending World Series champions will host the New York Yankees. The Nationals explained their pick by stating,  “Dr. Fauci has been a true champion for our country during the Covid-19 pandemic and throughout his distinguished career, so it is only fitting that we honor him as we kick off the 2020 season and defend our World Series Championship title.”

San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler became the first Major League Baseball manager to kneel during the national anthem when he took a knee prior to the team’s exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. Many other players and personnel joined him.

 

Share
No comments

NFL Players Concerned About Logistics Of Season, LeBron’s Rookie Card $1.845 Mill

FOOTBALL

Some influential NFL players are not satisfied with the logistics of how the League is planning to start the season. Training camps are expected to open this week, and the players are concerned about the lack of information on what’s been put in place to maintain health and safety standards. Under the collective bargaining agreement, the league can impose report dates, and the teams can fine players if they refuse to show up. Some notable stars took to twitter. Here’s a sampling of what they said,

Drew Brees: “We need football! We need sports! We need hope! The NFL’s unwillingness to follow the recommendations of their own medical experts will prevent that. If the NFL doesn’t do their part to keep players healthy, there is no football in 2020. It’s that simple. Get it done, NFL.”

Patrick Mahomes: “Getting ready to report this week hoping the NFL will come to agreement with the safe and right protocols so we can feel protected playing the sport we love”

Clemson’s star quarterback Trevor Lawrence proposed to his girlfriend Marissa Mowry at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Lawrence led the Tigers to back-to-back College Football Playoffs where he helped them beat Alabama for the Championship in his freshman year and led them to an undefeated season in his sophomore year (where they ended up losing to LSU in the championship). Lawrence and Mowry have been dating since high school.

BASKETBALL

LeBron James set yet another record when his rookie card sold for $1.845 million, the most money ever paid for a basketball card at an auction.

Share
No comments

Next Page »