Duke University is on a roll in the NCAA tournament after advancing to another Final Four. In Coach K’s last year, he’s looking to go out Peyton Manning-style, with a championship and a parade in Durham, North Carolina.
One of the main reasons for this amazing run is star forward Paolo Banchero. Banchero will be a top-three pick in the 2022 NBA draft and is also looking to add a national title to his early résumé. A résumé that could eventually place him among the greatest hoops players of all time if he can lead Duke to the promised land.
Banchero scored a game-high 22 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, including 3-for-4 from three-point range, to lead Duke over Texas Tech in an Elite Eight matchup on Thursday. Then he followed that performance with 16 points, seven boards and three assists as Duke defeated Arkansas 78-73 on Saturday to advance to the Final Four in New Orleans.
Coach K raved about the potential greatness of Banchero.
“Paolo did a couple of things tonight that he has never done in his life, and he did it instinctually,’’ Krzyzewski told reporters after the victory over Texas Tech. “He just wanted to win so badly, and it was so beautiful to see. You watch the tape and just see: It’s like when great players just go. They just go, and the moment and the need take them to a place that a great player would love to be in, and that’s where he was.”
But right now Banchero can only debate about the GOATs. A dream come true would be for Banchero to one day be the subject of this debate. He currently has to be content causing waves with his opinions on which player inspired him the most.
In a now-viral video, the Duke Blue Devils star can be seen explaining who the GOAT is to him.
“LeBron James, ’cause he’s the greatest all-around player, like, ever, like, there’s nobody even close,” said Banchero, who was born in 2002, just one year after LeBron entered the league. “People say Kevin Durant better, Kobe better. Kevin Durant don’t do nothing better than LeBron besides shoot. Kobe, he don’t do nothing better than LeBron besides shoot. So, LeBron is the GOAT.”
this is why Paolo Banchero is the #1 pick in the draft pic.twitter.com/FzItcANO0q
— † (@HoodiHachimura) March 20, 2022
With a similar bag to LeBron in terms of wing scoring and playmaking, it is easy to see why Lebron is a favorite of Banchero’s. Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and greats of the past will have to cut the young Banchero some slack.
In his first year at Duke, the 6-foot-10 prospect averaged 17 points per game, three assists per game, and seven rebounds per game while shooting 47 percent from the field and 33 percent from three. He tries to be a do-it-all player for his team and naturally accepts his scoring role as well, a trait he shares with LeBron.
Now, as compelling of an argument as Paolo makes, the Seattle native seems to have a huge fan in James himself. This is evinced by LeBron reposting Paolo Banchero on social media, and giving him a shoutout after a great freshman debut against Kentucky in November 2021.
In this picture of Banchero on the cover of SLAM magazine, he had some of LeBron’s shoes on. James retweeted the pic and said “AND BY THE WAY HE SO TOUGH,” also saying “SEATTLE GOT ANOTHER ONE.”
Paolo was ecstatic about receiving recognition and admiration from LeBron, who is one of his favorite players. This is every hooper’s dream, and not everyone gets their dreams fulfilled.
Properly done. Paolo Banchero in the LeBron 11 and the Air Jordan III for his first SLAM cover. https://t.co/OkAZHH3HCW pic.twitter.com/ZnkaqGqm9I
— SLAM Kicks (@SLAMKicks) November 10, 2021
While the LeBron lovefest was front and center for Paolo, the backlash to his comments were as well.
In a few replies under the twitter post there were comments such as:
“Jus coz u can hoop don’t mean you know hoop”, and “boy gone get cooked by KD and change this statement”.
Paol wasn’t worried about the retorts, because he is also a fan of the game, tweeting:
“no way bron put me on tha story man sorry but y’all gotta let me be a fan for a second 😭 that’s my goat fr 🤞🏽”
Banchero is a talented player who has future star written all over him, and his next stop is the Final Four against archrival UNC on April 2. There’s no better way for a Duke player to cement his legacy than to beat Carolina for a chance to play for a national title.
It’s almost written in the stars.
Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers will honor slain rapper Young Dolph by naming its entrance tunnel after the self-proclaimed “King of Memphis.”
The tunnel at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium will now be called the “Paper Route Tunnel,” in honor of the Paper Route Empire founder and CEO.
Rap and sports have a unique connection, and this is no different. Dolph pulled up on the Tigers for their 28-7 homecoming win over SWAC foe Alabama State. He then partook in a postgame celebration for the ages in the Tigers locker room.
Young Dolph stopped by the locker room after Jackson State’s homecoming win today @DeionSanders @21standprime pic.twitter.com/vCjtqo2HoA
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 17, 2021
Dolph’s attendance at JSU’s homecoming was one of the rapper’s final public appearances, before he was shot and killed in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, in November.
Dolph Shot And Killed In Memphis
Dolph was ambushed and shot to death as he bought cookies at a bakery he frequented. According to findings from the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center, Dolph, born Adolph Thornton Jr., was shot 22 times in the hail of gunfire, in his left chest, left abdomen, right chin, right neck, right shoulder, both arms and multiple times in his back.
News of the attack spread fast, as many sent out well-wishes to Dolph and his family. Deion Sanders sent a special message to family of the rapper:
“I hope to God these rumors ain’t true about my friend, my brother and a man dear to my sons. Lord help us as a people to stop the hate, the violence and the hopelessness. When we realize we matter others will as well. Lord help us right now.”
Dolph’s death sent shock waves through the rap, sports and entertainment world. The senseless killing took away another Black man, who was a father, fiancé, son, brother, nephew and community philanthropist.
In a speech to his team after Dolph’s death, Sanders talked candidly about his fallen friend.
“We lost a warrior today, man. We lost a true dog. We lost someone’s father, someone’s son, someone’s man, someone’s friend, some of y’all’s homie in Young Dolph, man. The game right here of life is real, man. Not everyone’s happy about your success. Not everyone’s happy about your come-up. Not everyone’s happy about your prosperity and how you walk, talk — even you carry yourself. Even what we’re going here. Not everyone’s happy about that.
“So understand your environment and who you’re around and be cautious and be careful about that, man. Don’t take nothing and nothing around for granted. We lost a good man today, man. I knew him personally. Who had so much love and compassion — and the way he came in and embraced all y’all and treated y’all like was homies, man. So let’s have a small moment of silence.”
Tigers (@GoJSUTigersFB) QB Shedeur Sanders (@ShedeurSanders) played in cleats in the #SoulBowl that featured the late rapper Young Dolph who was shot and killed in Memphis on Wednesday. pic.twitter.com/ZBUIxyPWdJ
— Wilton C. Jackson II (@WiltonReports) November 20, 2021
Sanders And JSU Dedicated Season To Dolph
Sanders repeatedly stated the admiration he, his sons and team had for Young Dolph. In wake of his death, the team dedicated the remainder of the season to him. They didn’t disappoint either. Under the direction of Sanders and playing with a purpose beyond wins and losses the Tigers embarked on a historic season.
The program won its first SWAC title since 2007, posted its first-ever 11-win season and had an appearance in its first Celebration Bowl.
Sanders was named the Eddie Robinson Award winner given annually to the top coach in FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), and son Shedeur was named the Jerry Rice Award winner, given annually to the top freshman in FCS. During the magical run the team had its share of stars stop down in Jackson.
Dolph was one of those many stars, as the connection with rap music and sports continues to resonate.
When Mike Krzyzewski announced the 2021 season would be his final one stalking the sidelines in Durham, many in the basketball community wondered if his Blue Devils could send him out the way the UCLA Bruins sent the “Wizard of Westwood,” aka John Wooden, out to end his illustrious coaching career — with a championship.
The Blue Devils won what many considered a watered-down ACC, and because of that, ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg said he didn’t expect Coach K’s final NCAA tourney run to end well. These comments came following Duke being blown out in the ACC championship game by underdog Virginia Tech.
‘I Don’t See It Going Well’ |Seth Greenberg Doesn’t Think Duke Can Retire Coach K With NCAA Title
“I just feel so good about my guys,” said Coach K after Saturday’s victory over the Razorbacks. “In this tournament my team has just played such good basketball, and in pressure situations. I mean, they were a close team before the NCAAs, but during these last four games they have been terrific. I’m so proud of you guys and happy for you. You crossed the bridge, man, and we beat an outstanding team.
Arkansas plays outstanding defense. At the start of the game they knocked us back. We responded pretty well. Then in the start of the second half, I thought they took control of the game, and we were not playing well, but they were making us not play well, and it got down to five.
At that timeout our guys really organized offensively. We scored on four or five straight.”
Coach K will make Final Four appearance number 1️⃣3️⃣ for his career!
That passes John Wooden for the most in men's D1 history 📚🐐 pic.twitter.com/XJr4AsXuB6
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) March 27, 2022
The Blue Devils began to really gel in their last three games. They trailed by five points to Michigan State but finished the game on a 18-6 run to win 83-76. In that game they used the bruising but nimble Banchero on every late-game possession, and he paid dividends. He either exploited the mismatch or found an open teammate when they doubled.
Duke then proceeded to knock off two of the best defensive teams in the nation in No. 1 Texas Tech and No. 9 Arkansas. They did it with crisp passing, shot-making, and a concerted effort to play through Banchero, who’s likely to be the No.1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
He and junior center Mark Williams, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, have given Coach K a real defensive wall around the rim.
The Blue Devils have the look to cut down the nets in New Orleans. Their roster has its roles defined, and with their size, talent and leadership they have a great shot at winning it all. Coach K couldn’t ask for a better ending so far and regardless of the outcome he’s gotten a chance to coach at the highest level in the sport at least one more game. His fashionable farewell has already been solidified.
Boxing deserves an apology.
For the past few years, the fans have criticized the sport for not making the fights the world clamors to see. However, the game has taken the corrective measures, aside from generation-defining fights that need a little more politicizing to create, like Errol Spence Jr. versus Terence Crawford.
With significant announcements recently across multiple divisions, boxing has not only redeemed itself but is preparing for pivotal moments in the sport.
While the world is clamoring for Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford to settle who the best welterweight is, that debate might finally be settled in April.
Yordenis Ugàs moved up to welterweight and only has one loss as a welterweight to Shawn Porter for his first title shot in the division. He won a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and retired Manny Pacquiao en route to Spence.
Although the more well-known Spence lost in the quarterfinals of the 2012 London Olympics, he is still undefeated, holds the IBF and WBC belts, and is undoubtedly the juggernaut of the division. However, the fight is more about welterweight supremacy than a Spence versus Crawford bout, where Crawford became an undisputed champion at light-welterweight.
Now the two will fight for the WBC, WBA & IBF Welterweight World Championship unification and determine who will fight Crawford to become undisputed.
Tyson Fury is part of the British boxers faction that has rejuvenated the heavyweight division. Not since Lennox Lewis has Britain had this much hype around its heavyweights, and Dillian Whyte is also a member of this boxing fraternity.
While Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk fight for the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles, Fury is putting his WBC and The Ring title on the line in an All-British war of power punchers.
Canelo Alvarez is the man in boxing. Ever since he lost his only fight to Floyd Mayweather Jr., a torch was passed, and Alvarez hasn’t been disappointing.
After winning multiple world championships in four weight classes, Canelo is the first boxer in history to become the undisputed champion at super middleweight. After winning the WBO light heavyweight title against Sergey Kovalev in 2019, Alvarez now seeks another title taking on undefeated Russian WBA (Super) light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol.
Canelo is chasing greatness and stopping at nothing to achieve it.
Jermell Charlo and Brian Castaño will once again seek to become the first undisputed 154-pound champion in the four-belt era and just the third overall undisputed champion when they meet in a rematch of their 2021 classic.
Charlo is one half of the scintillating twins who have brought their Lions Only mentality to the big leagues. Being undisputed is every boxer’s dream, and this fight will create one at light middleweight.
Although this fight might spell the swan song of Gervonta Davis from Mayweather Promotions, he is fighting his stablemate in Rolando Romero.
Tank and Rolly do not like each other, and for Davis it is about crushing an annoyance that believes he is beatable. For Romero, it is about jumping into the stratosphere with a win over one of the game’s current top draws.
The bad blood and trash talk between the two has been entertaining thus far. Coupled with the fact that it is all under the bright lights that only Mayweather can provide, it makes this one of the most exciting fights of the year.
Now that the Brooklyn Nets have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant available their championship hopes seem possible again. This season will be a tough, but with Durant committed on paper through the 2025-26 season and Ben Simmons through the 2024-25 season, all that remains is locking up Irving, who starts the final season of his current contract this fall. Should the Nets be thinking about extending their mercurial superstar?
“I think for me, it has always been about being comfortable, loving where I’m at, and I love it here,” Irving said last week. “Once that summertime hits, I know we’ll have some conversations. But there’s no way I can leave my man [Kevin Durant] anywhere.”
Irving began the season refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine that all of his teammates took. As such he could not play in home games at the Barclays Center due to the New York City vaccine mandate. At the time the Nets said they would not have him as a part-time player.
The omicron wave hit in late fall and early winter and the Nets relented, allowed Irving to play part-time in away games. Naturally the questions persisted, how long would this last? Could the team deal with constant change, etc.
On Sunday, for the first time this season, Irving was eligible to play home games. NYC Mayor Eric Adams officially adjusted the private sector vaccine mandate to make unvaccinated players eligible for home games last week.
When Irving and Durant share the floor it is sublime. Irving’s ability to score from anywhere on the court with the highest efficiency is a thing of beauty. Why wouldn’t the Nets want to lock up one of the most skilled players to ever set foot in the NBA?
Because he’s Kyrie Irving …
Long before vaccine mandates, Irving championed himself as a “free thinker.” Someone intellectually curious who isn’t afraid to challenge convention. But that has revealed itself in “the Earth is flat” fiasco and his unwillingness to accept proven epidemiology and science from experts, all because he saw some videos on YouTube that present a different viewpoint.
Irving seems to have things away from basketball that weigh on his mind constantly. To be fair, that’s totally OK. He is allowed to have interests and hobbies away from the court. This isn’t his entire life.
But if you are in the business of building a championship-contending team. You need people 100 percent committed to the goal. Everyone in the boat rowing in the same direction.
Last season Irving missed 11 days and seven games for personal reasons. Everyone is allowed to deal with personal things however they see fit. The problem is, in a team sport like basketball when your stated goal is a championship, your individual decisions impact the entire franchise. Particularly when you are a player of Irving’s caliber.
But let’s leave out vaccine mandates and time off for personal reasons. In 11 NBA seasons, Irving has played 70+ games three times. Those were all in Cleveland before he turned 25.
If you had the chance to sign an unavailable at best and unreliable at worst 29-year old 26 point, six assist per game player at an eFG% of 57 and TS% of 61 to a five year $246 million deal would you do it?
That’s the question Nets general manager Sean Marks is wrestling with.
Irving is a basketball savant, and artist and a scientist on the hardwood. But how many games will the Nets be getting of that unique genius? Can they count on him playing a full season without interruption?
When he and Durant signed on in 2019 they said they wanted to win and build something sustainable in Brooklyn. A sentiment Irving echoed recently.
“As we build, as you see me playing with some guys I’ve had some relationships with in the past, and this is the recipe for success: when you have guys that you’ve known for a while, young guys that are willing to listen, and then a front office that’s willing to do what’s necessary in order to build this thing for the long run,” Irving said. “So that’s the mindset. And that’s where I’m at.”
In order to win championships and build a sustainable franchise you need to be both very good and lucky. It is extremely hard to do, which is why most teams fail. Some things, no matter how hard you try or plan, are just out of your control. But there are things within a team’s control, and choosing to extend Irving is one of them.
Antonio Brown is known to telegraph his ambitions through social media, so you should take them seriously when he posts random statements.
Brown took to Twitter and started angling for a gig with the newly revamped Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland Antonio Browns
C-A-B
— AB (@AB84) March 18, 2022
“Cleveland Antonio Browns. C-A-B”
“Take the Browns to SuperBowl. Not ToiletBowl”
Take the Browns to SuperBowl
Not ToiletBowl
— AB (@AB84) March 18, 2022
The post came on the same day that rumors began to swirl that Watson was traded to the Browns for a blockbuster deal.
According to reports, the Browns reportedly gave Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract for five years. Watson reportedly will receive a $45 million signing bonus and his 2022 seasonal base salary of $1 million.
It is now the most significant guarantee in NFL history.
Many NFL teams inquired about Watson, especially after a Harris County, Texas, grand jury declined to indict him on criminal charges. According to multiple reports, the Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, and Carolina Panthers were also reportedly in the running.
However, since Brown dramatically left the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reports of teams checking for him during the offseason haven’t been many.
During Brown’s recent appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, the free agent floated the possibility of signing with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. The Cleveland Browns acquired Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper for a 2022 fifth-round draft pick and an exchange of 2022 sixth-rounders.
“The plan is to get back to the game. Maybe Jerry Jones is thinking it’s sexy that I’m putting out all this motivation and hard work and energy,” said Brown. “Maybe he will want to harness that energy.”
Brown’s departure from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played out in front of the world live on television. Brown had what many considered a meltdown, tearing off his uniform and tossing it to the fans while walking off the field during a Bucs game against the New York Jets.
Everyone from Tom Brady to sports desk talking heads issued a diagnosis of mental illness without anyone asking Brown what was wrong with him. Some blamed CTE damage on what they perceived as Brown’s inability to control himself.
However, for Brown, the Buccaneers issue came down to a lack of respect that Bucs head coach Bruce Arians had for him. The two spend time together on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“You [former teammate Ryan Clark] and I know how Arians used to treat me,” Brown said on “The Pivot” this month. “You and I know that Bruce Arians said that A.B. isn’t smart enough to play the ‘X’ position. You and I know that Ben Roethlisberger had to say enough is enough and tell Bruce Arians that we have to play this guy. The public doesn’t know that.”
The Cleveland Browns have been putting the pieces together to rebrand their franchise and betting on Deshaun Watson to reverse their woes from the Baker Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. era.
Having Antonio Brown as an additional weapon has never been a bad idea on the football field until the fateful in-play walk-off in New Jersey.
Will he manifest a slot and help the Browns make it to Super Bowl contention? Only time will tell, but with Brown, all business is always boomin’.
As we enter the stretch run of the NBA regular season with 10 games to go, Scottie Barnes leads The Shadow League NBA Rookie Meter 21.
No. 1: Scottie Barnes — Toronto Raptors (Forward)
The Raptors shocked everyone and took Barnes over Jalen Suggs (Magic), with the No. 4 pick in the draft. And since Day One, head coach Nick Nurse has likened his unique skill set to teammates Pascal Siakim and OG Anunoby; long, rangy players who bring it nightly on both ends.
What’s scary is Barnes has a higher ceiling than both. The former FSU Seminole is averaging 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game over his last 13 games.
For the season the budding star is averaging a 16/8/4 slash line on 49 percent shooting.
No. 2: Evan Mobley — Cleveland Cavaliers (F/C)
The Rookie of the Year race is down to two candidates in the aforementioned Barnes and Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley. Nurse had high praise for both players but believes Barnes should hold the slight edge. Cleveland had started to come back to earth after a blazing first half of the season. The young Cavs are 4-6 in their past 10 games and have dropped to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. Toronto, meanwhile, is 8-2 over its past 10 games and has elevated to the sixth seed in the East.
“One hundred percent, one hundred percent he should,” Nurse said last week to Raptors beat reporter Aaron Rose about whether Barnes should win ROY over Mobley. “I think it’s a helluva race, Mobley’s been unbelievable. I think Scottie’s been as unbelievable, especially lately. He’s been a real force.”
Mobley is arguably the best rookie two-way big the league has seen in a while. His ability to score on one end, set up teammates and anchor the defense on the other end is impactful. That aspect of his skill set is reminiscent of Lakers superstar forward Anthony Davis as a rookie in New Orleans.
Mobley had a bout with COVID-19 that hindered his play for a while, but he’s since picked it up again, to the tune of 16.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 blocks over his last 39 games.
For the season he’s averaging a 15/8/3/2 slash line this season.
Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch spoke highly of Mobley.
“He seems to really have good instincts, certainly defensively. He unfolds. He’s super-long. And offensively, he’s got a nice touch, and you can see a ton of upside there as well to develop.”
No. 3: Cade Cunningham — Detroit Pistons (Guard)
The Pistons’ dynamic two-way star has been pretty good all season. Inconsistency aside, he’s filled up the box score nightly for the rebuilding guys from the Motor City. After missing training camp and the beginning of the regular season, Cunningham has been in catch-up mode as it pertains to the ROY award. His play over the past five weeks has been absolutely stellar, as he’s averaged 22.0 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game.
Next season is going to be different.@PriorityHealth | @Dreamville_33 pic.twitter.com/KvgaTVOCGs
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 26, 2022
In a 122-101 victory over the Hawks on Wednesday, Cunningham became the second rookie since 1996-97 (play-by-play era) to play at least 35 minutes in a game and finish with a plus-minus of +40 or better. He joined Dwyane Wade, who in 2004 was +40 in 37 minutes of action.
For the season, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick is averaging 17.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.5 assists.
No. 4: Franz Wagner — Orlando Magic (Guard)
Wagner has been a breath of fresh air for a rebuilding Magic team which has shown some life in recent weeks. The rookie was highly effective in a win over the Golden State Warriors this past week that didn’t sit well with Warriors player Draymond Green.
Wagner has been consistent all season, scoring in double figures in 59 of the team’s 72 games. In the last two months he’s shooting 40 percent from three, while increasing his rebounding and assists. He’s even gotten better defensively, especially his pick-and-roll defense.
flotation device 💧
13 PTS for Franz Wagner pic.twitter.com/EMLZZb0bdh
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) March 26, 2022
Wagner has boasted a solid slashline of 15.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists on 46 percent from the field and 36 percent from three this season.
No. 5: Jonathan Kuminga — Golden State Warriors (F)
Kuminga continues to give the Warriors a real jolt, as he’s once again coming off the bench with the return of Draymond Green. With Green sidelined for over 30 games this season, Kuminga filled in admirably.
The 19-year-old former G-League Ignite star possesses freakish athleticism. During Green’s absence he averaged 15 points and five rebounds per game. He also showed some touch from deep, hitting 37 percent of this three-point attempts.
This season, Kuminga is averaging 10 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 35 percent from three.
There may be trouble in paradise within the Mayweather Promotions camp as boxing star Gervonta “Tank” Davis announced that his contract is up with the company on Twitter.
Davis was responding to a Twitter user who chided the young champion for fighting Rolando “Rolly” Romero next. Many believe the fight is beneath Davis’ caliber when the lightweight division is stacked with talent.
“Ok @Gervontaa. I’ve gave you a lot of sh*t about Mayweather promotions keeping you in house,” Twitter user Markus Payton posted. “Seems like you’re starting to see it. Dont let them ruin what could be a fantastic career if you took some chances. You have talent. Show it.”
Ok @Gervontaa I've gave you a lot of shit about Mayweather promotions keeping you in house. Seems like you're starting to see it. Dont let them ruin what could be a fantastic career if you took some chances. You have talent. Show it
— Markus Payton (@markp2020) March 24, 2022
In response, Davis gave a mic drop moment.
“My contract up that’s why they want me to fight this clown so bad,” Davis posted.
Davis was supposed to fight Romero back on Dec. 5 in a Showtime pay-per-view bout for his WBA lightweight strap. However, the fight would not come to fruition when revelations of sexual assault allegations against Rolly were revealed, and he was removed from the card.
Instead, little-known Isaac Cruz replaced him and went the distance with Davis. Now Romero has been exonerated of the allegations, and no charges were actually filed. The two will face off on May 28 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
However, Davis fighting the lesser-known Romero, a Mayweather Promotions fighter, seemed more of a business move for the company than a steppingstone for Davis’ growing successful career.
“Nothing lasts forever,” Mayweather said recently to FightHype. “I will always love Tank. I like him, love him, look at him like a son. He has to do what’s best for him. I feel like I’ve done a great job thus far, I mean, just building him and putting him in good fights, great fights. He’s steady growing, he’s steady learning and I’m proud of him.”
The revelation opens up old wounds between Mayweather and Davis.
In 2018, it seemed that the relationship between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Gervonta “Tank” Davis was on the rocks. Through Twitter, Davis seemed frustrated with Mayweather’s energy as his boss and mentor.
Davis turned heads during the lead-up to the Jesus Cuellar title fight last April. He switched up his training from the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas to Kevin Cunningham’s Camp Cunningham Gym in South Florida. The change was to train with noted Mayweather boxing “frenemy” Adrien “The Problem” Broner.
Mayweather also wasn’t as visible with Tank as he had been during the Liam Walsh fight in 2017.
Tank also lashed out at Mayweather on social media back in 2018, posting, “Floyd called me broke in our text convo yesterday…it motivated me!”
Still, Tank is the lifeblood of Mayweather Promotions now that “Money” has officially retired. He is a bona fide star under Mayweather’s tutelage, and his knockout power is now legendary.
Ironically, many former superstar boxers turned promoters have friction with their protégés. Most recently, Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya and his former pupil Saùl “Canelo” Alvarez.
In 2018, Alvarez signed a $365 million deal for 11 fights licensed by subscription streaming service DAZN. However, COVID-19, plus other matchmaking factors, delayed Canelo’s activity and he decided to pivot.
Alvarez filed a suit against Golden Boy Promotions, replete with 11 complaints, including breach of contract, negligent interference, and fraud.
Since then, Canelo has been a free agent with his Canelo Promotions, partnering with everyone from Premier Boxing Champions to Matchroom Sport to keep racking up wins and belts.
With Tank already a promoter with his GTD Promotions, only time will tell if he stays with the house that made him “money” or move from the Mayweather camp to control his destiny.
Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway’s career as a coach of his alma mater, the University of Memphis, is in question as he is now facing major NCAA violations.
According to reports, the University of Memphis is accused of violating numerous NCAA rules, with Coach Penny being the solely named individual.
The Notice of Allegations (NOA) sent to the President of the University of Memphis was published online with Penny’s name, although the document was highly redacted, so it is unclear if others are named.
According to reports, the NCAA issued seven allegations, with four considered Level I violations. Two allegations are considered Level II, while the last allegation was part of the redaction.
The Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP) alerted U of M of the allegations. IARP “is responsible for reviewing select complex infractions cases in Division I” according to their website.
https://twitter.com/Trash_Muse/status/1507778994955030529?s=20&t=05JnZk9zEDQ2HDGL_ohEzA
“The University of Memphis is not permitted to comment due to the ongoing IARP process,” an unnamed school spokesman said to The Daily Memphian.
“The case presents alleged infractions involving the University of Memphis [redacted] that are overcharged and combined with non-violations, accusations involving a separate sport [football] that has been not been charged, information UM self-reported and pandemic-related events over which the parties had no control,” the school said in its response to the allegations.
“The facts do not demonstrate a lack of institutional control, a failure to monitor, a failure to cooperate or a lack of [redacted] responsibility.”
The investigation follows the recruitment of former No. 1 recruit and former Tigers center James Wiseman.
Wiseman went to Memphis East High School as a transfer, where Hardaway coached him for his first year. As a consensus five-star recruit, he was ranked No. 1 in the 2019 class.
However, Wiseman allegedly received $11,500 from Coach Hardaway when Hardaway was his high school coach. Eventually, the NCAA ruled Wiseman was ineligible, even though the money was reported to be used to help Wiseman’s family’s moving expenses from Nashville to Memphis.
According to reports, the NCAA considered Hardaway a booster after donating money to his alma mater in 2008. The funds to Wiseman’s family were deemed a violation of the NCAA bylaws.
Hardaway signed on as Memphis’ coach in March 2018, with Wiseman committing that November. That’s when things became even more complicated.
Wiseman suited up for his first game during the 2019-2020 season and ultimately hired attorneys who granted a restraining order that allowed him to continue playing while the NCAA attempted to issue a 12-game suspension.
Memphis also declined to sit Wiseman, and he was able to play two additional games before finally being suspended and mandated to repay the $11,500 as a donation to charity.
Ultimately, Wiseman only played in three total games with Memphis. He left in December 2019 and was selected as the No. 2 overall pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2020 NBA draft.
Wiseman has been ruled out for the 2022 season rehabilitating his right knee from a meniscus repair that he had in April 2021.
The university is essentially charged with a lack of institutional control, and Hardaway sits at the storm’s center.
The Clippers have always been second fiddle to the L.A. Lakers, and for the better part of their franchise’s history, they’ve been mainly irrelevant and the butt of jokes for years. They didn’t make many power moves in the NBA before the arrival of Doc Rivers as coach on June 25, 2013, and the future Hall of Fame coach’s belief is that his signing made the Los Angeles Clippers a “favorable destination”.
Rivers, in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, opened up about his time with the Clippers, and how he felt about the franchise and what he did there, and what he means to them.
“Listen, I was with this organization for [seven] years,” Rivers said on Wednesday. “But a lot happened in that [seven] years. I left [the organization] a place of destination.” That was his first take on the Clippers and his relationship, and he took a trip to the past and the Clippers’ state as a franchise when he took over the reins in 2013. “We were the laughingstock,” he said. “No one wanted to play for the Clippers. We heard all of that. If there’s a free-agent war versus the Lakers, don’t try.” Rivers finished.
Rivers holds a lot of credit for successfully rebuilding and rebranding that Clippers franchise, and with his stature as one of the greatest coaches in all of basketball, he definitely came in with the respect of the team’s superstar talent such as Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and Chauncey Billups. He also was instrumental in the acquisition of Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George.
Doc’s 1307 career wins is good for 10th all time. He’s a championship-winning coach, having won his only coaching championship with Boston in 2008. He was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2000 and is a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary 15 Greatest Coaches in NBA History. He’s a highly decorated coach and can turn any team he is leading into a contender, which is exactly what he did in Los Angeles.
What Doc Rivers did with those Clippers teams in the 2010s was incredible, and they are one of the most iconic teams assembled.
The “Lob City” Clippers were one of the most captivating teams to never capture that elusive championship. They were a high-flying act, with tons of amazing offense that mainly centered on forward Blake Griffin and center Deandre Jordan, who both lived above the rim. The entire operation was orchestrated by CP3, who remains one of the greatest floor generals to play the game.
This was a modern-day showtime in L.A., but it was finally the Clippers making the jaw-dropping plays with immaculate use of the alley-oop play. With CP3 as the leader of the team, these Clippers were always contenders and were always a threat to go to the Finals every year, but ill-timed injuries were always an impediment. The championship window closed when they eventually started running into Durant’s OKC Thunder. The Clippers were also victims of the early Warriors dynasty.
Los Angeles Clippers Collapse Prove They Can’t Get Right, Ever
Unfortunately, the Clippers could never reach the top of the NBA, and Chris Paul was traded to the Rockets in 2017, while Blake Griffin was eventually traded to the Detroit Pistons in 2018, ending the Lob City era.
Doc Rivers’ time in Los Angeles was fruitful, and he definitely did the landscape work for the Clippers to be a premiere destination now. The Clippers also have their own arena on deck and have been neck and neck with the Lakers since LeBron’s arrival.
Rivers has moved on to another team featuring several stars and hopes to lead the Philadelphia 76 ers to the NBA title. His time in L.A. will be remembered as iconic, and he will eventually get his flowers for his contributions to the Clippers brand.
After all, Doc might sound a bit cocky, but he definitely made it cool to be a Clippers fan.
On an NFL roster, each position has multiple players that are expected to be able perform to the requirements of a starting player, but when it comes to the quarterback position it has been taboo for teams to carry multiple starters.
Terry Bradshaw just called the Carolina two quarterback system “stupid”.
— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 19, 2021
First and foremost, there is a difference between having two capable quarterbacks on the roster and an actual two-quarterback system. A system will alternate quarterbacks during a game depending on momentum, while having a competent backup, which is like an insurance policy.
Running the system will never work in the NFL, but carrying multiple starters could become a trend in the coming years. The rules are protecting quarterbacks better than ever. They now are almost untouchable, which leads to them playing into their late 30s. And in some cases (Tom Brady) their 40s.
Older quarterbacks are playing longer. At the same time, young quarterbacks are more prepared to play right away because of the coaching they are receiving from a young age nowadays.
The top-5 quarterbacks 👀 pic.twitter.com/v0djFBmi3d
— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) March 18, 2022
There is currently a 17-game regular season, and there are speculations that the ultimate goal is to have an 18-game regular season. Football is one of the most physical sports, so the addition of more games increases the chances of injury.
In football, a team’s morale hinges on the quarterback. If an injury sidelines their starter for weeks, then a team could lose their shot at the playoffs. Carrying the second quarterback keeps teams in playoff contention and the starter is able to sit out another week to fully recover.
The past season we saw how this unfolded with the Cleveland Browns. Baker Mayfield suffered an injury and felt rushed to return after unproductive backup Nick Mullens lost to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 15. Cleveland ended up going 1-3 in their last four games and missed out on the playoffs.
The Ravens were rolling with Jackson at QB, and then Jackson was carted off the field with an ankle injury during the team’s Week 14 loss to the Browns and didn’t play again. With his departure, the Ravens’ playoff hopes also went out the door. Backup Tyler Huntley was serviceable, but he’s not a starter.
Tom Brady is the ultimate standard for the quarterback position. He will be 45 years old at the start of the 2022 season and never wants to miss a snap. Football has gotten easier for Brady because his pre-snap preparation allows for him to know what will happen before he receives the snap.
This shapes up as a perfect opportunity for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because they could draft a quarterback to sit behind Brady. Any team with a quarterback in his late 30s should be drafting a quarterback to learn behind a veteran.
The knowledge Brady could pass down to a quarterback-in-waiting could be more valuable than any coaching a young quarterback would ever receive. The strategy has proved to work in recent years, which started back in New England when Belichick would draft a QB every other year.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s experience as Brady’s backup allowed him to be prepared for his opportunity. Brady was obviously not ready to give up the keys, so Garoppolo was traded to the San Francisco 49ers. He led the Niners to the Super Bowl and was back in the NFC Championship last season.
#49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo on learning behind Tom Brady during the two Super Bowl runs. 👇🏽 pic.twitter.com/Tc82LcxC17
— Jose Sanchez III (@JSanchezFN) January 23, 2020
Other franchises may have a young quarterback ready to play immediately. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson took the league by storm and were putting up video game-like numbers. Their ability to do a little bit of everything adds a new dynamic to quarterback play.
These young quarterbacks are entering the league more ready than ever because football has become a year-long sport. High school quarterbacks have their own trainers now and attend 7v7 camps during the offseason. These QBs can transition easier since the NFL is replicating the style of play of college where there are more RPO’s and spread concepts.
There can only be 32 NFL starting quarterbacks, although with the development and protection quarterbacks are receiving, teams are shifting toward having two capable starters as an an insurance policy to ensure their Super Bowl hopes stay alive no matter the circumstance.
Colby “Chaos” Covington and Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal’s saga had taken many twists and turns, even up this week when Masvidal ran up on Covington in a swanky Miami restaurant and put the paws on him.
However, the fallout was swift and varied by perspective. From law enforcement’s vantage point, Masvidal committed a criminal act and was subsequently arrested and charged with aggravated battery causing great bodily harm. In Dade County, Florida, the charges are a second-degree felony if convicted.
Eventually, Masvidal surrendered himself to local authorities and was booked before his release on bond.
Former and current UFC fighters are taking sides in this very personal beef, with one former champion who had the highest-profile beef in UFC history weighing in.
Khabib, “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov, is comfortably retired as the former undefeated UFC lightweight champion, and he dished on the altercation between Masvidal and Covington.
“If you are stranger than someone inside the octagon, it does not mean that you an insult his children,” Khabib said on Twitter. “No one has the right to insult someone’s family. Once you have gone down this path, then be ready to back up your words.”
Masvidal alluded in a social media video that he came for Covington in the streets because he talked about his children. The video felt like an admission of guilt for many and a justifiable reason to exact rough justice for others.
“You were attacked by (a) professional fighter, the same as you are, your own size, and you go press charges against the police?” Khabib continued.
“I think all welterweights should refuse to fight Colby, just don’t accept fights with him, let him sit without a fight, without a fight, it will probably significantly affect him and all fighters who even think of insulting families, who is provoking the fighters to look for someone in restaurants to deal with him.”
Back in 2018, after securing a fourth-round neck crank to finish Conor McGregor at UFC 229 and keep his lightweight title, Nurmagomedov flew across the Octagon cage to attack a McGregor teammate.
It was the culmination of months of bullying where McGregor insulted Khabib’s Islamic marital traditions, like his wife wearing a hijab, calling her a “towel.”
McGregor also attacked a vehicle holding Khabib for transport in the belly of the Barclays Center after he and a McGregor teammate had an incident at the host hotel back in April 2018 during a media day for UFC 223.
Khabib would only fight twice more after defeating McGregor before retiring after the death of his father-trainer. However, his morality and strict code of respect have been ubiquitous for his brand. For Khabib, there are sports, and then there is real life, and McGregor blurred the line to sell tickets and pay-per-views.
With Covington and Masvidal suffering a similar fate where the in-cage action has spilled into real-life consequences, Khabib sees it as Covington crossing a very real boundary.
Aside from scolding Covington for pressing charges against a fellow professional fighter, he is urging all in the division to refuse to fight the UFC’s latest heel to send a message about what is and isn’t acceptable in combat sports.
The war against Ukraine has shown the patriotism of the country’s boxers as many have gone home or stayed to defend against Russia.
It has stopped some high-level fight opportunities for certain Ukrainian boxers, like Vasiliy Lomachenko. The former three-weight class world champion has rejected a title fight with George “Ferocious” Kambosos to stay the course and fight Russians in Ukraine.
“Loma” is currently part of a regiment in Ukraine providing border security detail. He is part of a contingent of Ukrainian current professional boxers and former boxers that have sacrificed their careers to defend their country.
"That's how I will help my country more" 🇺🇦
Oleksandr Usyk explains why he has decided to prepare for a rematch with Anthony Joshua 🥊 pic.twitter.com/vghl9ZYGMc
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 25, 2022
However, current unified heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk recently confirmed that he decided to take the rematch with Anthony Joshua.
The champ announced in a 42-second video on his Instagram page.
The Ukrainian star returned to his home nation to help defend against the Russian invasion, but Usyk is now set to continue his boxing career.
“Good evening, everyone. I’ve decided to start preparing for a rematch with Anthony Joshua.
“Dear friends, many of my friends and close ones called me and supported me in this. Haters, I wish you well and wish you happiness, joy, and peace.
“Everything will be with God’s blessing. Everything will be Ukraine. Wishing everyone well.”
The Ukrainian star returned to his home nation to help defend against the Russian invasion. The images have been iconic of former champions like Vitali Klitschko holding the line wearing fatigues and a high-powered rifle.
However, now Usyk is ready to continue his boxing career.
The 35-year-old undefeated Ukrainian stated that the support of his friends and family gave him the countenance to resume his boxing career to help the image of Ukrainians.
“That’s how I will help my country more, and it’s better than being in territorial defense and running around Kyiv with a machine gun.”
In a new era of sports entertainment, this is the first time in history the major and minor players of an entire country’s boxing community have put down the gloves and picked up the guns.
British boxing sensation Anthony Joshua had a rematch clause in his contract for their first bout, which resulted in him losing his belts in a unanimous decision loss at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last September.
At first, attempts were made on Usyk’s side to put on the fight hold while he engaged in the defense of his country. However, Joshua began to float the idea of potential new opponents, including Deontay Wilder, Otto Wallin, and more.
Usyk then decided not to lose the world’s attention with a fight against Joshua and now is back in action. The heavyweight division is still the most visible in boxing, especially on the heels of the trilogy fights between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder.
Lol ok … I’ve shared this ring with most people you see in the heavyweight division today! I boxed Otto wallin twice as youngsters & I boxed joe and stopped him in 1 round. I’d do the same thing today! Ain’t nothing changed. https://t.co/L3dYMJFD8L
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) March 9, 2022
Usyk captured the IBF, WBA (super), and WBO heavyweight titles in September 2021. Usyk put on an almost flawless performance in London’s now-former champ’s backyard to dethrone Joshua. The judges saw Usyk win clearly via a unanimous decision with 117-111, 116-112, and 115-113.
Joshua followed a faulty game plan where he attempted to outbox Usyk. The naturally bigger man, Joshua, didn’t use his weight to pin Usyk and deliver body blows or dirty box. Instead, he stood toe-to-toe with a superior boxer and got outboxed handily to lose his titles.
The heavyweight division is now a race towards undisputed with Tyson Fury, who holds the WBC title, versus Dillian Whyte. The winner of that bout will hopefully fight the winner of the Usyk vs. Joshua fight and keep the heavyweight division on top.
Jake Paul is coming back to the ring. “The Problem Child” took to his Instagram to announce, “August, I’m back, baby. Let’s get it.” He predicted a win posting “6-0 coming soon” in the caption box.
Paul is currently 5-0 after knocking out Tyron Woodley last December. He has made a name for himself in combat sports after knocking out all his opponents and calling out professional athletes and boxers.
From an initial trepidation from the boxing community at the main event status of a former YouTube-turned-sports entertainment athlete, Paul has been relentless in pursuit of pugilistic relevance.
He has floated his wish list of fights, which include outlandish names for his budding pedigree. Paul targets current undisputed super middleweight champion, Saúl “Canelo” Alvarez, iconic heavyweight Mike Tyson, former UFC double champion Conor McGregor, and Floyd “Money” Mayweather.
Ironically, Mayweather had an exhibition match against older brother Logan Paul.
However, Canelo Alvarez is preparing for a May 7 fight against Dmitry Bivol for his WBA (Super) light heavyweight championship. Additionally, Conor McGregor has stated that he wants his next fight to be at welterweight against current UFC champion Kamaru “The Nigerian Nightmare” Usman.
Paul has a deal with Showtime Sports for his Most Valuable Promotions, which departs from his recent overtures to the mixed martial arts business.
While he has trolled UFC fighters like McGregor and Nick and Nate Diaz mercilessly on social media, some fighters are getting tired of his proclamations.
Enter former UFC flyweight GOAT Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. The current ONE Fighting Championship fighter challenged Paul to enter MMA and keep that same boxing energy.
“If Jake Paul thinks he’s so f***ing bad at boxing and all that stuff, hats off. You’re 3-0, 4-0 as a boxer,” said Johnson to MMA Junkie. “Do f***ing mixed martial arts. I did an interview the other day, and I was like, ‘Everybody is worried about fighting this person; let’s see how much money I can make from this person.’
“I was like, ‘Just do mixed martial arts.’ You think you’re that great, just do it. If I thought I was a badass boxer, I would be like, ‘Let me just box.’ Even when they offered this fight to me, it’s Rodtang. I was like, ‘I’ll fight in muay Thai.’
Paul has posted pictures of himself as a young wrestler to showcase that he has the foundation for mixed martial arts. However, aside from asking Dana White for a fight in the UFC against McGregor or Jorge Masvidal, Paul hasn’t tried to take any amateur MMA fights or a pro bout in a regional organization.
“I don’t give a f**k. What’s the worst thing that could happen? I get knocked out? OK. I go back home, train, get ready for the next one. If I win, what’s going to happen? I go home, go get ready for the next one. So, for me, I could say I did it; I tried.
“As you get older, you find that you don’t knock people for trying. For me, when someone is like, ‘Ah, blah, blah, blah, you MMA guys suck.’ It’s like, ‘Then come do it.’ If you’re successful, good job. You lose, you tried it.”
Paul is an anomaly in combat sports, and although he is becoming ubiquitous in boxing, only time will tell if he takes the MMA challenge.
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green said if LeBron James is passing the all-time scoring record and the Warriors have a game, he would go to LeBron’s game and witness history.
FS1 talking head Nick Wright, a noted LeBron stan, took it a step further. Wright thinks there should be no other games and all NBA eyes should be locked on the King. What should the NBA do when LeBron passes Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the all-time scoring mark?
“I have no problem with Draymond saying he’d skip a Warriors game to watch LeBron break the scoring record. It’s going to be one of the biggest moments in NBA history. … When LeBron’s a game away, cancel all the other games and have all of NBA royalty there.”
"I have no problem with Draymond saying he'd skip a Warriors game to watch LeBron break the scoring record. It's going to be one of the biggest moments in NBA history. … When LeBron's a game away, cancel all the other games & have all of NBA royalty there." — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/7qM015OjoF
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) March 25, 2022
Abdul-Jabbar has been the league’s all-time scoring leader since 1984. That’s 38 years. He finished his career with 38,387 points. It’s certainly a hallowed mark.
But does the casual fan know that number? Do diehard NBA fans know that was the all-time scoring mark?
Basketball’s records don’t lend themselves to capture fan imagination the way baseball all time numbers do. If you say 56, every sports fan knows that’s the all-time hitting streak by Joe DiMaggio.
Depending on where you land on the PED issues. You know what the numbers 762 or 755 mean. Or the numbers 73 or 61.
Let’s look at what the league did when Steph Curry became the all-time three-point leader. By the way did anyone know what the mark held by Ray Allen was? 2,974. That number doesn’t quite sit in your mind the way baseball numbers do.
For that game Allen was in the house, and the man in third place at the time, Reggie Miller, was on the TNT broadcast for the game. Miller is now fourth, since passed by James Harden.
It’s highly unlikely that commissioner Adam Silver will cancel all other games. Now what might be possible is, the NBA schedule makers could try and guess when Bron will pass Abdul-Jabbar and make sure all those games are on national TV on a doubleheader night. A TNT Thursday night game where his Lakers game and one other game are the only ones on the schedule. Or an ABC Saturday night primetime game.
At least if it’s a night on national TV you can try to plan to have Abdul-Jabbar in the house and other NBA luminaries.
While the moment will be cool and the game will pause for applause, recognition, etc., by the next day nobody will remember the number. All-time scoring, steals or assists numbers just don’t register.
Despite a poor Lakers season, LeBron has played well individually and when he passed Karl Malone to move into second place, he was asked about passing Abdul-Jabbar.
“I will not allow myself to think about it. I’ve always just played the game the way I’ve been playing it over the years, and these things have just happened organically by just going out and playing the game the right way. Hope to accomplish that at some point in my career, but I won’t think about it too much,” James said.
Brittney Griner’s detention in Russia should be one of the biggest news story in America during the conflict with Ukraine. However, former WNBA great Lisa Leslie explained why demurring to discuss her situation in the news is totally by design.
The two-time WNBA champion, three-time WNBA MVP, and a four-time Olympic gold medalist stopped by the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast on Friday, March 25, to illuminate the precautions Leslie and the other athletes have taken during this critical time for Griner.
“So what we were told, and again, this is all sort of passed along through hearsay; what we were told was to not make a big fuss about it so that they could not use her as a pawn, so to speak, in this situation in the war,” said Leslie on the podcast.
“So to make it like it’s not that important, or don’t make it like ‘Free Brittney’ and we start this campaign, and then it becomes something that they can use.
“That’s what we were told, and I don’t want to say who said that, but it’s been kind of spreading through the women’s basketball world.”
Local authorities detained the decorated WNBA player after vape cartridges allegedly filled with hashish oil were discovered in her luggage.
Griner was returning to Russia as a player for UMMC Ekaterinburg. The Russian league’s season started and went on a two-week break for the FIBA World Cup qualifying tournaments in early February.
Early in the ordeal, Cherelle Griner, Brittney’s wife, took to Instagram to ask for the family’s privacy.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me regarding my wife’s safe return from Russia. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated,” she wrote.
“I love my wife wholeheartedly, so this message comes during one of the weakest moments of my life. I understand that many of you have grown to love BG over the years and have concerns and want details. Please honor our privacy as we continue to work on getting my wife home safely.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin has waged war on Ukraine, the tension between the country and America has escalated. Griner’s detention comes as President Joe Biden has issued economic sanctions against Russia and has provided aid and safe haven to Ukrainians.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made threatening statements as the war progresses, some directed towards Americans and Griner has been facing serious time in prison.
According to reports, officials from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow recently visited Griner, finding her to be “in good condition” per U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price.
“The consular officer who visited with Brittney Griner was able to verify that she is doing as well as can be expected under these very difficult circumstances.
“We will continue to work very closely with her legal team, with her broader network, to see to it that she is treated fairly and that her rights are respected,” Price continued.
For Leslie, this is new territory, and the support she would generally show to mobilize efforts around the problem had to become a strategy of omission.
“It’s heartbreaking for all of us; that’s the feelings of it,” Leslie continued. “I mean we want to do more, and you think ‘should we all use our social media platform and get behind it or not. This is the first time we’re in a situation you don’t know what to do.
“We, I talk with Dawn Staley and people that I’m close with; I mean we talk about it daily. We’re just like, ‘Dang, what’s she doing now? You think they cut off her hair? You think she has a bed long enough for her to fit in? You think she’s in the room; we’ve had full-on conversations about it. I’m like her parents got to be sick.”
Longtime NFL official Wayne Mackie died Thursday night at the age of 62, the NFL announced. Mackie was a head linesman in the league from 2007 through 2016, and he became the NFL’s vice president of officiating evaluation and development in 2017. Commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement about Mackie’s passing:
“It is with a heavy heart that I share the tragic passing of a treasured member of our NFL family. Wayne Mackie unexpectedly passed last night while in Florida. He leaves behind his wife, Tonya, and three daughters.
“In the last two decades, Wayne solidified his standing as a highly-respected on-field game official, serving as a head linesman at Super Bowl 50 and officiating in two conference championship games during his NFL career. Wayne entered the NFL in 2007, and spent 10 years establishing himself as one of the League’s top officials at his position. Though his on-field officiating career ended in 2016, Wayne joined the NFL’s officiating department in 2017 and has continued to impart his expertise on the next generation of NFL officials through training and development.
“Wayne was passionate about the NFL and spent each day making a positive impact on all of us individually and contributing to our collective success. Those who had the pleasure of knowing Wayne will forever remember his kindness, generosity and the genuine spirit he brought to all aspects of his life.”
In his role as vice president of officiating evaluation and development, Mackie was responsible for devising the rules exam that officials are required to take every week, and he scheduled the officials’ game assignments.
Being responsible for a group of people that are the most heavily criticized in sports is no easy job. But Mackie strived for perfection with his team and was pleased when excellence was achieved. Still, the challenges of being an NFL referee and communicating decisions isn’t easy.
“The difficult part of the job is to get everyone on the same page when we convey information to the staff on how plays should be officiated and to get the officials to understand the message being conveyed as opposed to whether or not a downgrade was given on a particular play,” Mackie said in 2019. “The key is consistency. The more consistent we are as evaluators with the messaging, the more consistent the game will be called on the field.”
Mackie grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and played high school football. He attended an NFL officiating clinic in the historically Black Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference at North Carolina A&T in 1995 and began his journey towards becoming an NFL official.
Mackie started officiating at the Pop Warner level, sandlot leagues and high school junior varsity. He eventually moved up to varsity games, then NCAA Division II and Division III games in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference.
He officiated in the MEAC from 1997-2000 and in the Atlantic 10 Conference from 2000-2001. Then he joined the Big East Conference from 2002-2006 and officiated in the Arena League from 2002-2006. He was in NFL Europe from 2003-2005, before entering the NFL in 2007.
Mackie officiated eight playoff games during his 10 seasons on the field, including two conference title games. He was the head linesman for Super Bowl 50, a Denver Broncos victory over the Carolina Panthers.
The Tyreek Hill blockbuster trade to the Miami Dolphins came from out of nowhere. It was mentioned that he and the Chiefs were at an impasse on an extension on Tuesday and by Wednesday he was in South Beach.
With Davante Adams resetting the wide receiver market, K.C. decided against trying to sign Hill to an extension. The move could have varying ramifications for both franchises, and especially the two signal callers, Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa.
According to FS1 personality Skip Bayless the trade could affect both quarterbacks’ careers in different ways:
Tyreek Hill traded from Chiefs to Dolphins, @RealSkipBayless reacts:
"Both Tua and Mahomes are about to get exposed to different degrees. Mahomes will get exposed a little bit, but this will be career-threatening for Tua." pic.twitter.com/E1FyxkMLM6
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) March 24, 2022
“I believe both these quarterbacks are about to get exposed to different degrees. Mahomes, I’ll say a little bit and Tua a whole lot. It’s going to be career-threatening for Tua because, all of a sudden, he’s on the hot seat in the National Football League. They have done everything they could. They have opened the checkbooks. They have broken the bank.”
“They can’t do much more than they just did to make Tua a success.”
GM Chris Grier also added running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert via free agency. Grier then shored up the offensive line by adding tackle Terron Armstead, a three-time Pro Bowl participant and former All-Pro.
And if Tua falters, the Fins have journeyman Teddy Bridgewater waiting in the wings to fill the void.
Tua heads into 2022 with no excuses. He either proves he belongs or he’s out in South Beach. Tagovailoa hasn’t seen this type of weaponry since his days in Tuscaloosa when he had the likes of Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs and Najee Harris.
Mahomes Faces Pressure To Sustain
For Mahomes it’s simple. How do I play without a guy who’s made the game easy for me since my first start in 2018, by taking so much coverage every down? While he still has Kelce, he and the Chiefs brain trust have to know teams will now focus their defensive game plan to stop him.
And of course, they’ll say all the right things, but no one in football does what Hill does better; create explosive plays. Since Mahomes became the starter, Hill has been on the field for 146 of his 179 touchdown passes.
That’s nearly 80 percent. But he has Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy, who know how to create offense, and find other ways for him to be successful. Adding an X-factor in former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was a solid move in anticipation of Hill leaving.
Dolphins Also Did This To Help New Coach Mike McDaniel Succeed
Since the questionable firing of Brian Flores, the Dolphins have been under the microscope. They then hired Niners offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and they’re going to do all they can to make sure he’s successful, especially with how things ended with Flores’ discrimination lawsuit.
McDaniel is supposed to be the next big thing as far offensive minds go in the league, and he received a glowing recommendation from his former boss Kyle Shahahan. The fact that McDaniel was even hired over other qualified candidates is mind-boggling, considering he’s never called a play. But Miami considers him a can’t-miss offensive guru and are going the extra mile to make him comfortable and competitive.
Both QBs will have high expectations, but we’ve seen how great Mahomes is already. Now we need to see the accurate, smooth passing of Tua that we witnessed for three seasons under Nick Saban at Alabama, disproving the rumblings that injuries suffered late in his college career have stunted his growth and lessened his physical advantages.
Juwan Howard and the Michigan Wolverines saw their season come to an end on Thursday in San Antonio in the Sweet 16 with a tough 63-55 loss to the Villanova Wildcats. In many ways the young Wolverines overachieved this season and showed great resiliency amidst a storm.
That storm involved head coach Howard who was suspended for the final five games after he got into an altercation with a Wisconsin assistant about a month ago.
“I Thought It Was Time To Protect Myself” | Juwan Howard Puts Hands On Wisconsin Assistant Coach
Following the unfortunate incident many called for Howard to be fired, but LeBron James didn’t see it that way and reached out to his former NBA teammate in Miami to let him know he had his support. For Howard that meant a lot, considering he didn’t know if he’d get to keep his dream job of leading his alma mater.
Howard talked about that at length on the “Rich Eisen Show.”
“Bron has been one of my biggest supporters. When I was out for those two weeks, he reached out to me and let me know how much he supports me and how he wants me to come out and be a better person for this. That meant so much, man, just to know that your brother is cheering you on and supporting you through tough times.”
Bron, Wade Have Always Supported Howard
This isn’t the first time Bron has shown his support for Howard as it pertains to him and Michigan. In 2019, when Howard was up for the position James and Dwyane Wade both thought he was the best man for the job. The three won back-to-back titles together as members of the 2012 and 2013 Miami Heat.
As reports spread of the Howard hire, James and Wade tweeted their approval and excitement.
Man WHAT!!!!?? Absolutely the right choice and i hope it becomes a done deal ASAP!! One of my favorite people I’ve ever met at the age of 16 and been around since then. 🙏🏾 https://t.co/hdmF60odnm
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 22, 2019
Bron’s Support Was Icing On The Cake: Fab Five Reconnects During Tourney
The support from James was amazing and vital. But for Howard’s former Fab Five teammates Chris Webber, Jalen Rose and Ray Jackson to show up for the first two rounds of the NCAA Tourney was euphoric.
A truly nostalgic moment for thousands of college basketball fans. With only Jimmy King missing, the four former Wolverines rekindled old memories and celebrated Howard’s two upsets over Colorado State and Tennessee.
After years of strife brought on by Webber lying to a grand jury and not owning up to his transgressions, everything is peaches and cream in Ann Arbor.
32 Years Since Michigan’s “Fab Five” Big Dance Debut: Chris Webber Reflects On Their Cultural Impact
Webber’s indiscretions as a young college student included receiving impermissible benefits from a well-known booster while at Michigan and then refusing to pay that booster back once Webber struck NBA millions as the second overall pick of the 1992 NBA draft.
The school fired head coach Steve Fisher and erased everything the Fab Five accomplished, including taking the two national runner-up banners out of Crisler Arena.
An overwhelmed Howard told The Athletic about his former teammates’ support.
“It was a beautiful moment to be here and to be with guys that I’ve been in the trenches with, Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson,” Howard told the Atlantic.
“To see them out here supporting this team and taking time from their schedules, away from their families, it means a lot. I will never forget this day, and I appreciate all the support. They have been behind the scenes, been in my corner since Day One.”
Howard is one of the better coaches in college basketball and after finishing with the third-ranked recruiting class in 2021 he currently has the eighth-ranked class of 2022.
Expect to see Michigan back in the Sweet 16 next season with aspirations to travel deeper into the NCAA tournament.
Juwan Howard and Chris Webber celebrating after the Michigan win. #FabFive
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) March 20, 2022
A key decision influencing Michigan’s preseason rankings is the return of center Hunter Dickinson who has the option of turning pro or running it back for his junior season.
He tested the draft waters last season and decided to return to Ann Arbor after not hearing what he wanted from NBA scouts.
The belief is he will forgo his remaining eligibility and turn pro this time around, especially after showing marked improvement on the offensive end of the floor.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson addressed the media on Friday, one day after a second grand jury in Texas declined to bring sexual misconduct charges against him. Watson said he understands the seriousness of the allegations levied against him but maintains he never assaulted any woman.
“I’ve never done the things that these people are alleging,” said Watson.
Deshaun Watson to reporters in Cleveland: “I understand these allegations are serious. I never assaulted any woman. I've never disrespected any woman. I was raised to be genuine and to respect everyone around me….
“I’ve never done the things that these people are alleging.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 25, 2022
The Browns acquired Watson from the Houston Texans last week for three first-round picks and three other draft selections. The Browns also gave Watson a new five-year contract worth $230 million guaranteed, the most guaranteed money on a single contract in NFL history by $80 million.
Since the criminal charges have been dropped Watson will not be facing any prison time. The civil suits are still pending, but based on his comments to the media on Friday, it doesn’t appear he plans on settling with any of the complainants.
Watson’s lawyer Rusty Hardin has said that any sexual acts that occurred during massage appointments were consensual.
“We are thrilled that the Brazoria County grand jury cleared Deshaun Watson of the one remaining criminal allegation,” Hardin said in a statement Thursday. “We’ve known all along what people who learn the facts also know — Deshaun committed no crimes.”
While Watson won’t face any criminal charges or prison time, the NFL could still to choose to suspend him at the conclusion of their investigation. He could face a minimum six-game suspension if it is found that he violated the league’s code of conduct policy.
According to multiple reports Watson’s new deal is structured so that he will make roughly $1 million in his base salary for 2022. So if he is suspended for violating the code of conduct policy related to sexual assault, he would lose less than $60,000 per game in salary.
What will be interesting is, if at the conclusion of league’s investigation it’s determined that Watson violated the league’s code of conduct policy. How is it the league uncovered something that the Browns didn’t during their “comprehensive evaluation process”?
Nobody should be surprised if that turns out to be the case. The Browns don’t care about anything except making money and winning games. All they needed to trade for him was the guarantee that he would avoid jail. Thirteen other teams were reportedly interested in acquiring Watson.
The size of Watson’s deal and the fact that its 100 percent guaranteed is also a reflection of the scarcity that exists at the position. Watson is perhaps the third-best quarterback in his division? Maybe the fifth- or sixth-best in the conference?
But if you have a shot at a 26-year-old three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, you have to do it, right?
We’ve seen this play from the NFL playbook before. There will be initial noise around Watson at training camp and in the preseason. If the league comes back with nothing, it will be business as usual.
If he’s suspended the noise will drag on through the suspension and for the first few weeks following his return. But if it’s one thing fans and NFL media have proved over the years, is that once the games are here that’s all they care about.
