FOOTBALL

The NFL suspended Dallas Cowboys’ star running back Ezekiel Elliott for six games without pay for domestic violence abuses. The NFL came under intense scrutiny a few years ago for not imposing stricter punishments for violating personal conduct policies, especially in the case of Ray Rice.  The NFL now has new, stricter guidelines and a six game suspension is the minimum requirement. Elliott is the highest profile player to receive this punishment. According to the NFL, his case uncovered “multiple instances of physical violence” against his former girlfriend. The NFL Players Association plans to review the decision and Elliott said he’ll appeal.

Katie Sowers is expected to be hired by the SF 49ers, making her the second female assistant coach in NFL history. Sowers completed an internship this summer in the Bill Walsh NFL Diversity Coaching Fellowship then posted on Facebook she accepted a full time position under Niners coach Kyle Shanahan.

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The controversial LaVar Ball was all bluster and no substance when he lost a shooting contest against rapper/actor Ice Cube during Ice Cube’s BIG3 event.  This probably wouldn’t be much of a story if it wasn’t for the fact LaVar claimed he could beat the great Michael Jordan in his heyday (with one hand tied behind his back).  It sounded as if the entire arena was happy Ball lost.

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While discussing the recent study of brain damage in football players, former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason spoke about the dangers on his radio show and said he believes he likely has CTE and would be most players have it. He said, “The more we learn about our brains, the better it is for the guys who are playing today. The good news for the guys who are playing today, especially those who are playing for a long period of time, is they get paid a hell of a lot more money than we did. They have much better benefits and retirement benefits than we do.”

The New York Jets top receiver Quincy Enunwa will miss the entire season with a neck injury. He was expected to take on a big role for the team this year (with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker gone), but now the team’s prospects look even bleaker than they did before.

BASEBALL

If you watch closely, you can see New York Mets’ pitcher Noah Syndergaard’s arm in a cameo Sunday night on “Game of Thrones“.  Syndergaard plays a Lannister soldier who throws a deadly spear.

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The Golden State Warriors’ Zaza Pachulia is back in his hometown, the Republic of Georgia, celebrating his team’s NBA title win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. On the trip, he received the “Order of Honor, which is given for outstanding personal contribution to the building of the independent government.”

BASEBALL

Washington Nationals pitcher and reining National League Cy Young Award winner, Max Scherzer, hit his first career home run then had to leave the game with a neck spasm. He said he slept on his pillow the wrong way so was unable to pitch, but oddly it helped him hit his home run. He said, “I couldn’t pull my head out, I had to stay locked in, that actually gave me a better swing. That’s the reason why I hit a home run.” Nationals lost the game 7-6 against Miami.

In a crazy game in Boston Tuesday night, Christian Vazquez capped off a close game against the Cleveland Indians with a walk-off three-run home run. The game was back and forth all night with some stunning plays including when the Indians center fielder Austin Jackson leapt over a wall to prevent a home-run. With the win, the Red Sox move to a half-game ahead of the NY Yankees for first place in the American League East.

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It’s been reported Beyonce might be interested in buying a share of the Houston Rockets. Beyonce is a Houston native and loves basketball, but since her husband Jay-Z owns a sports agency, buying into a team may be a conflict of interest.

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The Los Angeles Chargers can’t seem to catch a break. Last season, the team was riddled with injuries, and this season may not be starting so well either. Their 1st round draft pick (at #7), Mike Williams, has a herniated disk and may need surgery. He’s had two epidurals so far and if he responds well, he may not need surgery, but as of now, he’s not expected to play during training camp.

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The Championship Golden State Warriors’ Finals MVP, Kevin Durant, is planning a busy and fulfilling summer. He is heading to India where he’s on a mission to promote basketball. He plans to donate 2 basketball courts in New Delhi as well as coaching a youth clinic for 5000 male and female players via the NBA Academy India,”an elite basketball training center for the top male and female prospects in India.”

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Rapper turned actor Ice Cube ventured into the world of basketball with his new 3-on-3 summer basketball league, called Big3, comprised of former NBA players. The format is unusual with games played to 60 points (but at team has to win by 2). The 10 game season can be seen Monday nights on Fox and culminates on August 26th with a championship in Las Vegas. The players are vying for a percentage of revenue based on their team’s standing at the end of the season. For all the rules, check out Ice Cube’s animated video.

Tune in Monday night the 26th at 9:00 pm est on TNT for the much anticipated NBA Awards show. After an action packed season, we’ll finally find out who gets the accolades for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man etc. The NBA used to unceremoniously announce their season winners during the playoffs, but now they’ve decided to host a live star-studded  event to entertain their growing legion of fans. Here are some of the finalists:

MVP: Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden
Coach of the Year: Mike D’Antoni, Gregg Popovich, Erik Spoelstra
Rookie of the Year: Malcolm Brogdon, Joel Embiid, Dario Saric
Most Improved Player: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic
Defensive Player of the Year: Rudy Gobert, Draymond Green, Kawhi Leonard
Sixth Man: Andre Iguodala, Eric Gordon, Lou Williams

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The NCAA suspended Louisville basketball legend Rick Pitino for five games for failing to monitor an escort scandal involving recruited athletes. The school may have to forfeit their 2013 championship as well as their winning record during the time the “sex-for recruits scandal” took place. The story came out in 2015 when Katina Powell wrote a book about Louisville’s basketball program claiming she was paid to provide women (including her daughters) to entertain the recruits.

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Interest in American football is growing rapidly in Israel, and the arrival this week of a group of Hall Famers certainly made a splash. New England Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft and the President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, David Baker are leading the delegation which includes Joe Montana, Roger Staubach, Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis, Chris Carter, Joe Green, Bruce Smith and Jerome Bettis. 18 Hall of Famers embarked on the weeklong trip to the Holy Land called “Touchdown in Israel II-We are All Patriots”.  Kraft told the Associated Press, “I love football. I love Israel. I love America. I think kids in America would die to have this group of players come and view them. The game of football teaches you lessons in life that nothing else does.”

(photo credit:ALLON SINAI)

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The University of Maryland President, Wallace Loh, commented recently on NCAA’s  3 year investigation of the University of North Carolina for an academic scandal. Loh said, “For the things that happened in North Carolina, it’s abysmal. I would think that this would lead to the implementation of the death penalty by the NCAA. But I’m not in charge of that.” The NCAA investigation is looking into over 3000 (mostly student athletes) from UNC taking “no-show” classes and getting good grades. No word on when the investigation will conclude or what the consequences could be.

Newly retired Dallas QB Tony Romo suited up and hung out on the bench with the Dallas Mavericks in their Tuesday night game against the Denver Nuggets. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wanted to sign Romo to a one-day contract so Romo could come off the bench and play in the game, but NBA Commissioner Adam Sliver wouldn’t allow it. Romo made some shots with the team during warmups and couldn’t have looked happier!

BASEBALL

Yoenis Cespedes and the NY Mets had a great night Tuesday when Cespedes belted in three home runs, becoming the only player in franchise history to have two three home-run games (the first was in August of 2015). The Mets came away with a big 14-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

BASEBALL

Tim Tebow mesmerized the crowd with a 2-run homer in his first official at-bat in the minor leagues. The former Heisman trophy winner and NFL QB, Tebow is playing for the Mets’ A team in hopes of making it to the Majors. Tebow hasn’t played baseball since high school, but has been working hard with a great attitude and fans are certainly behind him.

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LaVar Ball is making news again. Two weeks after UCLA (his son Lonzo’s team) lost in the NCAA Sweet 16 round, he told the Orange County Register, “Realistically you can’t win no championship with three white guys because the foot speed is too slow.” Lonzo is projected to go high in the NBA draft, but some are worried about LaVar’s influence and outspokenness.

GOLF

Unfortunately current #1 player Dustin Johnson is missing The Masters due to a freakish accident on Wednesday. He was walking down the stairs, slipped and landed on his back. It looked like he might actually tee-off yesterday, but then felt too stiff in his back to compete so at the last minute withdrew from the tournament.

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March Madness is officially over, and North Carolina is the 2017 National Champions! The North Carolina vs Gonzaga matchup stayed close until the final seconds where the players were on the ground scrambling over possession of the ball. North Carolina’s Kennedy Meeks was awarded the ball, but apparently the ref missed the fact that Meeks had his hand out of bounds thereby giving Gonzaga possession of the ball. With 26 seconds to go and down by one point, that call could have made a difference. The Tar Heels were devastated last year when they lost in a buzzer-beater to Villanova.  They redeemed themselves this year, and with a 71-65 win, North Carolina marks its 6th National Championship. Congratulations to North Carolina and Congratulations to Joel Barry II for earning the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament. For a recap of all the highs and lows of the tournament, watch the “One Shining Moment” video (a montage posted at the end of every tournament for the last 30 years).

Georgetown University hired NBA Hall of Famer, Patrick Ewing, as their new Head Coach.  Ewing played 4 years for Georgetown and reports he’s happy to return to his alma mater.

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Tony Romo will be released from the Dallas Cowboys and will reportedly leave football to pursue broadcasting opportunities.

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It was bound to happen eventually and on Friday it did. The mighty UConn women’s basketball team finally lost. After an historic 111 win streak, UConn lost to Mississippi State in an exciting buzzer beater sending Mississippi State to the Finals. On Sunday, South Carolina ended Missisissippi State’s euphoria with a big 67-55 win to bring home the NCAA Title. All eyes were on South Carolina’s coach Dawn Staley as the NCAA Title eluded her when she was a college player. It was also South Carolina’s first NCAA Title. Congrats.

In the men’s Final Four tourney, #1 Gonzaga beat South Carolina on Saturday and #1 North Carolina beat Oregon. The two #1’s will face each other Monday night in the NCAA Finals. This is Gonzaga’s first appearance ever in a National Title Game. The excitement starts at 9:20 pm tonight.

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In an odd twist over the weekend, 22 year old Lexi Thompson lost her 3 shot lead in the ANA Inspiration tournament on Sunday after a TV viewer sent in a video complaint showing her misplace a ball by 1 inch on the 17th green.  On Sunday, officials approached Thompson with the news that she was penalized 2 points for the misplaced ball and another 2 point stroke penalty for improperly signing her scorecard. Incredibly, she didn’t let the news rattle her, but it wasn’t enough for her to win. Social media erupted with fans expressing their outrage that a TV viewer could weigh in and change the course of a tournament. Even Tiger Woods wrote on Twitter, “Viewers at home should not be officials wearing stripes.”