Monthly Archives: August 2017

Patriots owner Robert Kraft gave Donald Trump a Super Bowl ring

Patriots owner Robert Kraft apparently didn’t believe a personalized jersey was a sufficient gift after his team became the first honored at the White House by President Donald Trump.

So Kraft had a Super Bowl ring delivered to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, too.

Patirots vice president of media relations Stacey James confirmed to media outlets Monday that Kraft gave Trump a ring — complete with the president’s name engraved on the side, according to the Boston Herald.

News of the gift first emerged via a Twitter exchange between former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci and a Patriots Reddit forum.

“What Colin Kaepernick did is try to bring awareness that this nation unfortunately has ignored for far too long,” Raymond told the Daily News. “And that’s the issue of racism in America and policing in America. We decided to gather here today because of the way he’s being railroaded for speaking the obvious truth.”

The rally drew a number of other community members wanting to support the quarterback. At the end of the event, all participants raised their fists and took a knee.

The eyes of the sports TV world will be on NBC on Thursday, Sept. 7 as the network televises the 2017 NFL regular-season opener between the Patriots and Chiefs. With the controversy surrounding Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest still raging, the network will televise the playing of the national anthem at Gillette Stadium.seahawks_007

Nike athlete Elena Delle Donne talked trash about Lonzo Ball’s Big Baller Brand shoes

Lonzo Ball kicked off his career with the Lakers on Friday night in the Las Vegas Summer League. His first ever play was an alley-oop to Brandon Ingram, but that didn’t stop Elena Delle Donne from voicing some thought on his non-Nike shoes.

Delle Donne has her own Hyperdunk shoe with Nike, while Lonzo Ball has his own shoe with Big Baller Brand that cost $495. You can’t really blame her for repping Nike so hard, I know that I would too. Especially since the Ball family has been against signing with any major shoe company.

Milan Michalek Limited Jersey Elena was traded to the Washington Mystics prior to the 2017 season and now has the Mystics in first place in the Eastern Conference while averaging 19 points and six rebounds per game. Go ahead and talk, Elena.

The NBA has already seen major shake-up with the Jimmy Butler trade to the Timberwolves on draft night, Chris Paul to the Rockets, and the stunning Paul George to Oklahoma City trade on the night before free agency. NBA free agency officially began on July 1 and more moves are sure to come.

The 2017 NBA free agent class is relatively shallow, with some mammoth names up high (including five 2016-17 NBA All-Stars), a few young blue chippers, and a metric ton of situational role players. Power forward and point guard are rather deep in this class, whereas there are few decent available centers or shooting guards.

Jimmy Hayes Limited Jersey Teams are going to have to get creative, in other words.

But this is yet another example of Ainge passing on the bird in hand for two in the bush. The Celtics reportedly wanted to pull off the double swoop of landing Gordon Hayward in free agency and George via trade. They pushed to snag Hayward first, under the assumption that George would still be there later and the Pacers would wait for their standing offer. Instead, they lost George to another team and may not land Hayward, either.

That these two fared well in a video game doesn’t change that. Sorry, everyone.

But this exercise is a decent reminder of how many good players there are in the NBA. No new team will ever get to pick a great player in an expansion draft, and this is a league driven by great players.
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But if the NBA only allows seven or eight protected players per team, there’s a chance for the new teams to build some depth. Every player on both of these fake teams is a legitimate NBA talent.

It’s not just happiness that flatlines when cartoonish levels of income enter the picture. The article’s data suggests that earning exorbitant sums of money can actually be a demotivating factor, or at least show out the people who lack that internal motivation. It makes great sense, when you think about it. Once you’ve reached an income that seems as if you’ll be set in perpetuity, you may be less concerned about effort, let alone self-improvement.

Well, if the paycheck doesn’t matter, what about the phenomenon of the contract year in the NBA? The league is lettered with examples of guys playing their best ball in years where that next contract is pending, right?

Elite Mens Ryan Kerrigan Jersey While a player may play a different brand of ball when he’s looking for his next deal, there are a lot of papers out there suggesting that they don’t necessarily play better, at least from the point of improving their stats. I found papers from some real geeks pushing their data in both directions, but was most compelled by a Claremont College senior thesis from Tyler Gaffaney, written in the same year as the Harvard article.

Gaffaney’s paper (43 pages, bring a light snack) breaks the issue down across several matrices, though only from a single season.

2017-18 Sacramento Kings preview: Life after DeMarcus Cousins feels kinda liberating

Limited Vladimir Tarasenko Jersey This is the seventh of Limited Upside’s 30 team previews leading up to next season. We’re bringing together representatives from all 30 SB Nation team sites and other team-specific experts from the SB Nation/Limited Upside community to gauge the temperature of the fan base heading into the season.
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It feels weird talking about the Kings without talking about DeMarcus Cousins Boogie 15, but it’s a new era and it’s time for everyone to move on. Tony Xypteras of Sactown Royalty and Kenny Caraway from the K.C.’s Corner podcast join me to preview the new era of the Kings.

Clinton was shot seven times, she said, her tone steady. Once in the back, and he was unarmed.

Flanagan uses her organization to help victims of police brutality and mothers fight for police accountability and reform. Kaepernick’s donation to the organization helped families travel to an annual event where the afflicted can vent about police violence.

As NFL teams reportedly try to make Kaepernick choose between protest and football, he’s shown, emphatically, that he can do both.

It is a calling, Flanagan said. It is something that was assigned. It is a task, a tedious task that was assigned to him by a higher power.

On a warm day in Manhattan last May, Kevin Livingston spent hours on a Midtown corner trying to get people in front of NFL headquarters to care about Kaepernick. It was one of several rallies Livingston organized nationwide to show support for the unemployed quarterback and demand his return to the NFL.

Livingston said the idea came together because everyday folk just want to protest for him. Kaepernick had donated to Livingston’s organization called 100 Suits.

Jets receiver is way too optimistic about the team’s WR corps

The New York Jets’ rough situation at wide receiver got worse earlier in August with news that Quincy Enunwa would miss the entire 2017 season with a neck injury. Then it sank further when Lucky Whitehead broke his foot in practice. But second-year wide receiver Charone Peake is convinced the team will be just fine.

“There definitely is a 1,000-yard receiver [on the team],” Peake told ESPN on Wednesday. “Could be more than one. There’s a lot of good receivers in that room.”

After parting ways with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker in the offseason, Enunwa is the only Jets receiver on the roster with more than 1,000 yards over his career. The next closest is Marquess Wilson, a former Bears receiver who tallied 777 yards in four seasons in Chicago before joining the Jets on a cheap contract in June.

Finishing a season with more than 1,000 receiving yards is no small feat. Even Enunwa’s breakout 2016 season ended with 857 yards.

Both Marshall and Decker finished with more than 1,000 yards in 2015, but those are the only times a Jets receiver has eclipsed the mark since 2007.

Darren McFadden, Alfred Morris, and Rod Smith got most of the carries in the first preseason game. That will likely be the case again after running back Ezekiel Elliott was handed a six-game suspension by the NFL on Friday. Elliott is appealing the suspension but can still participate in all preseason activities.

Defensively, rookies Taco Charlton and Chidobe Awuzie both got their feet wet but didn’t make much of an impact in their debut. They should get another shot to earn playing time Saturday night. Second-year linebacker Jaylon Smith, who missed his entire rookie season due to severe knee injures, will most likely sit out against the Rams. However, he is expected to make his debut this preseason.redskins_101_1a88549a616571c2-180x180

Ristolainen was assessed a five-minute major for interference and a game misconduct.

Following the game, Penguins coach Mike Sullivan revealed Guentzel suffered a concussion. The winger is expected to miss Thursday’s game against the Senators and is considered day to day. Before the injury, Guentzel carved out a role next to Sidney Crosby on Pittsburgh’s top line with 10 points in his last nine games.

Reactions to Ristolainen’s ejection were a mixed bag. Guentzel’s teammates called the hit dirty and reckless, but Ristolainen’s supporters felt he was in the process of completing the check and the collision was difficult to avoid.

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin, for one, has long vowed to play for Russia in Pyeongchang in 2018 regardless of the NHL’s stance on the matter, and team owner Ted Leonsis has said he wouldn’t stand in the player’s way.

The risk of injury is a key factor in the motivation to keep NHL players out of the games, particularly after Islanders captain John Tavares suffered a season-ending knee injury at Sochi in 2014.
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Words matter and Ryan Getzlaf’s words are offensive, You Can Play said in a statement following Getzlaf’s fine. No language considered homophobic belongs in sports. It’s not the language of role models. This is yet another opportunity to educate athletes, teams and fans.
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Once again, the NHL has an opportunity to educate athletes, teams, and fans with this situation in Dallas. With the draft, which has financial benefits for its host city, and is a celebration of wherever it’s being hosted, the NHL can leave little doubt where it stands on any issue pertaining to inclusion.

Freeman played third base in high school and for five games in rookie ball a decade ago in 2007.

Most of these scenarios are minor, and they step to the side to make way for Air Bud, but they’re some of my favorite parts of the franchise because they’re sincere. They make you feel for the characters and root for them, even when you know that everything will turn out OK.

These movies are not great, but I believe, after every silly thing I learned, that they’re worth checking out, even just to see how ludicrous they can be and imagine what it took to make them. If you ever find yourself on Netflix or Amazon, a mere click away from watching one Air Bud movie, now you know what to expect. Maybe you’ll end up liking it too.

While that might be a fake quote, this is some real information from the same article:

That means Freeman has a steep, steep learning curve. So steep. Incredibly steep. Consider that in the last decade, there have been 129 different players who have logged at least 100 games at third base in the majors. Of those players, 36 of them played fewer than 50 games at third in the minors.

Of those 36 players with limited third base experience in the minors, 35 of them played second base or shortstop. The only exception was Brandon Inge, who was primarily a catcher. He learned third base at the major league level. Even Josh Donaldson and Pablo Sandoval, who were primarily catchers, had more than 50 games at third in the minor leagues before they were called up.
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Stephen Tulloch Elite Jersey There are other exceptions to the middle-infield rule. Todd Frazier was primarily a left fielder in the minor leagues, but he still played more than 250 games in the infield before reaching the majors. Travis Shaw was primarily a first baseman, but he also had more than 100 games at third. Greg Dobbs was a first baseman, but he had more than 250 games at third.

MLB All-Star Game 2017 change: How is World Series home-field advantage now determined?

Former MLB commissioner Bud Selig faces the realization that the 2002 All-Star Game would end in a tie, prompting a decision that took a decade and a half to undo. Photo By Andy Lyons/Getty Images
This time it counts was the advertising mantra for many years of the MLB All-Star Game, but starting with the 2017 Midsummer Classic, this exhibition game is no longer tied to home-field advantage in the World Series.

In addition to Moncada, several top prospects are in Miami. The U.S. Team includes White Sox fireballer Michael Kopech, Colorado Rockies middle infielder Brendan Rodgers, and Cincinnati Reds third baseman Nick Senzel. The World Team includes New York Mets shortstop Amed Rosario, Washington Nationals outfielder Victor Robles, and Chicago Cubs outfielder Eloy Jimenez.
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Limited Womens Jonnu Smith Jersey Jimenez was rated as the No. 5 prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America just a few days ago. He joins Yoan Moncada in a stacked White Sox system that now looks like one of the best in MLB. Moncada, who was acquired as part of the Chris Sale trade last year, currently ranks as the No. 1 prospect in baseball.

Quintana is 28 and under contract with the White Sox through the 2020 season, making $7 million this season, $8.850 million next year, and team options for $10.5 million in 2019 and $11.5 million in 2020. He was an All-Star last year, striking out 181 in 208 innings and getting credit for a 3.20 ERA. He’s never had an ERA above 4 for a full season, but currently sits at 4.45 despite a spike in his strikeouts — mostly because his walk totals have also spiked. He may not be pitching like an ace this year, but he has a long track record of success and is under an extremely team-friendly contract, which likely appeals to the small-market Brewers.

Tramaine Brock decries ‘untrue’ police report after domestic violence charge dropped

Tramaine Brock apologized to his family and criticized the police in a statement released two days after a felony domestic violence charge against him was dropped due to lack of evidence.

In a statement sent to NFL Media Friday, the former 49ers cornerback denied any physical confrontation with the mother of his children. He initially was arrested April 6 after officers responding to a domestic violence report found a female with “visible injuries.” The 49ers released Brock the following day.

Of course, Bayless is an unabashed fan of America’s Team. His arguments are aimed squarely at Cowboys fans who think their team is being singled out -— and see the NFC East crown already slipping away to the Giants, Redskins or Eagles.

Bayless said he fully expects Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to sue Goodell for “abuse of power.”

Shannon Sharpe, noting Elliott’s checkered history, said he hopes the running back takes the suspension as a “wakeup call.”

Said Sharpe: “I told you he’s’s going down a dangerous road here. His head coach, his general manager, Jerry Jones? They’ll never, ever have a peaceful night’s sleep as long as he’s on their roster.”

No matter how good or bad Cincinnati is, they are a headache for the Ravens; they barely survived them at home last November when a loss would have all but killed their season. Traveling to London will be a new experience they need to navigate, especially without the bye following.

The obvious challenge is the Steelers, who were not a full strength when the Ravens beat them at home last season. A huge west coast trip for a tough Raiders game, and later in the month, a quick turnaround, a road game in Minnesota followed by a home Thursday nighter against the Dolphins. The Bears lurk, waiting to be overlooked.dolphins_127

Robot umps, electronic zone wouldn’t be saviors on balls and strikes

But let’s not confuse reluctance to automate with science denial. Technological advances such as PITCHf/x are a welcome part of the game. Not only do they lend better and more clear information to front offices and analysts, their study has no doubt helped umpires improve over the past decade.
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This technology has been integral to the improvement of the product on the field, and it’ll continue to change the game as advances are made in the years to come — even if robots calling balls and strikes is a long way off.

New York then went single, walk, single, single to make the lead 5-3 and earn the win in the opener of a three-game set that could go a long way in deciding the AL East.

Aroldis Chapman then made things interesting with three straight walks to start the ninth, but he was bailed out when Hicks nailed Eduardo Nunez trying to advance on a sacrifice fly which turned into a double play that all but ended the scoring threat.

The Yankees now get to run out Cy Young candidate Luis Severino for Saturday’s game and the Red Sox have to find a way to stop the momentum from this heartbreaking loss.

Game Mens Jean-Francois Jacques Jersey Carlos Carrasco was borderline flawless in a 5-0 Indians win over the Rays Friday. He took a no-hitter into the seventh and ended up throwing eight scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking two and striking out 10. Another starter in the AL East was a little unlucky but still awesome. Yes, Marcus Stroman gave up four runs in a 4-2 loss to the Pirates, but none of those runs were earned, and he gave up just four hits while walking one and striking out four. It may have been a loss but it was still a great start.