MLB Network has reportedly signed former MLB manager, executive and baseball analyst Bo Porter to a three-year deal to join the network and offer his decades of expertise to the midweek game, in studio and MLB Tonight coverage.
“I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to join the MLB Network Broadcast team,” Porter told The Shadow League on Thursday. “I look forward to sharing my 28-plus years of experience as a MLB player, coach, manager, executive and analyst while covering America’s favorite pastime on the number one network for baseball.”
Bo Porter Academy
Bo is a font of baseball knowledge and the founder of Bo Porter Academy, where 75 select minority baseball talents from across the country attend junior high and high school at the facility Porter has built to help develop the next generation of Black, educated baseball stars and positive, strong-minded contributors to society.
Porter has held numerous positions throughout baseball and understands the game from every perspective. He’s also the author of several books.
Running The Show
As a former Houston Astros manager, Porter purged the club’s losing culture in less than two seasons, was fired and never managed again. The former Astros skipper received countless texts, social media posts, and fan mail, congratulating him for laying the foundation, developing young talent and babysitting a dumpster fire during the 2013-14 seasons before the many jewels of the team’s farm system burst into World Series form by 2017.
With no immediate offers on the table for a young baseball mind who is known for team building and doing more with less, Bo remained in pro baseball, expanded the scope of his professional trajectory and has become a vessel transporting the game into the future.
Porter, 49, holds the prestigious position of MLB director of coaching development and has served as special assistant to GM and former third base/outfield and base running coach for the Atlanta Braves.
No.1 Baseball Network In The World
As one of four new talents on the network, Bo can speak to his experienced as a MLB player and one of a handful of Black managers in MLB history.
(Bo Porter/FB)
Bo is very active in MLB’s diversity programs which promote mental health and provide pro level tutelage and increased visibility and educational opportunities for minority student-athletes who play baseball.
As MLB’s director of coaching, Porter has an obligation to help provide minority athletes with the highest caliber of fundamental training and state of the art mentoring and facilities while working with Del Matthews, Tony Reagins, Jerry Manuel and the masterminds of the Breakthrough Series, Dream Series and Hank Aaron Invitational — all of MLB’s minority pipeline programs, which have helped increase the number of African-Americans drafted in the past half decade by more than 20 percent according to MLB PR.
READ: Homegrown Black Talent Dominated The 2019 MLB Draft – The Shadow League
Inspiring, educating, and nurturing future generations of ballplayers is Bo’s passion. If he’s not working in his field, he’s trying to even out the playing field for kids like him, who grew up in a single-mom home in Newark, New Jersey, played football and baseball at Iowa University and crafted a career that has elevated him to one of the most influential Black minds in the “business and development” of baseball.
His reach extends to the grassroots levels as well as the Founding President & CEO of Bo Porter’s Future All-Stars Baseball Development Academy in Rosharon, Texas. So everything he does in life is connected to baseball in a spiritual, healthy and productive way.
During spring training in 2018 he orchestrated and ran the MLB Players Association free agent camp. In 2019, he got a broadcast gig with the Washington Nationals on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), where he offered brilliant insight and personal perspective to the broadcast. Bo also has a familiarity with the players in the game and his contributions and in-studio energy was invaluable as the Nationals shocked the world and won the franchise’s first World Series title.
Porter’s media work also includes appearances on MLB Central and previous appearances on MLB Network.
As well as being the founder and EIC of CORE Magazine, a digital and print-on-demand magazine. CORE (Champions Of Real Excellence) offers engaging stories uniquely targeting a well-read, diverse audience of business owners, sports enthusiasts, forward-thinking leaders aspiring growth and those who want to make a difference in the lives of others through their philanthropic platforms.
Bo’s addition to the MLB Network rotation is a huge win for the channel, as he represents a large cross section of baseball fans and is a culture-driver and sound adviser to the future of baseball.
Russell Wilson was introduced as the new quarterback of the Denver Broncos this week. After a decade of sensational plays and clutch moments while carrying the Seattle Seahawks franchise to winning seasons, two Super Bowls and the franchise’s only Lombardi Trophy, Wilson hustled out of the Pacific Northwest and not only changed teams, but also changed conferences.
It’s a quick four-hour flight, certainly not the family upheaval that moving to the East Coast would have been.
"#BroncosCountry, let's ride."
👊 @DangeRussWilson pic.twitter.com/ptcSgevwFV
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) March 16, 2022
Wilson will take his talents to the AFC West, where football analyst Dan Orlovsky believes that with the addition of Wilson, the Broncos who face elite signal callers Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a season, now have the division’s best offense.
It’s a bold proclamation that expectedly met some pushback.
“It’s not only the Russell Wilson addition,” Orlovsky said Thursday on “First Take.” “It’s also Nathaniel Hackett, their head coach that comes from the Kyle Shanahan-Mike Shanahan-Matt Lefleur offensive tree. The talent in this division is fantastic on offense, but there’s only one scheme I know that when defenses force you to run the football you can.
“That’s the Denver Broncos with that run scheme. Javonte Williams is a fantastic young back, and they have two receivers on this offense who average for their young careers14 yards per catch. That’s Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy, and they did this with guys that are significantly lesser quarterbacks than Russell Wilson. “
Orlovsky set the bar high in Colorado for the uber-confident Wilson, who said, “My goal is to play 10 or 12 more years and hopefully win three, four more Super Bowls.”
As he enters the second chapter of a storied career, winning a second Super Bowl would put the future Hall of Famer in rarified standing among the 15 quarterbacks in NFL history with multiple titles (as starter or backup).
Mahomes, Eric Bieniemy and Andy Reid must be looking at “First Take” and wondering how they’ve dominated the NFL offensively over the past four seasons but have to take a back seat to Russell Wilson in his first season with a team that went 7-10 last year.
The “Russell Wilson Effect” is so polarizing that opinions surrounding the elite signal caller are often split, with analysts such as Ryan Clark downplaying the effectiveness of Wilson and refusing to list him among the game’s elite quarterbacks.
Then you have dudes like Orlovsky, who played the position, supporting the idea that Russ is an instant franchise rejuvenator and can take the Broncos from decent to damn good as he’s done his entire career in Seattle.
“I know David Carr and the Raiders offense is very good,” Orlovsky said. “And the Chiefs are who the Chiefs are with Patrick Mahomes. But when it comes to ability to do whatever is necessary according to what the defense is going to force you to do, only one offense can answer the question ‘yes we can,’ and that’s Denver.”
The underlying disrespect for Mahomes is just oozing through the television screen, at the same time it’s refreshing to hear an analyst present Wilson’s legacy in its proper perspective.
Wilson certainly could have picked a less-competitive destination to go to, but he previously said he wasn’t going to the East Coast, which eliminated the Washington Commanders, New York Giants, and Carolina Panthers from contention.
Let’s Ride! 🐎 @Broncos pic.twitter.com/co0QQR976R
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) March 16, 2022
Orlovsky’s co-host Stephen A. Smith almost fell out of his seat in disbelief, arguing that the Chargers and Kansas City have high-powered offenses with top-five quarterbacks and Russ and Denver are yet to hit the field.
Smith didn’t disagree with the fact that DangerRuss is a game-changer, but he thinks Orlovsky is spitting a bit of hyperbole. Even with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers, the Seattle offense was stagnant at times.
“That doesn’t necessarily automatically elevate them to the stratosphere that you’re trying to put them in,” Smith said.
We will just have to wait and see who is right. Passionate conversations such as these in the month of March is one of the many reasons why the NFL is a 365-day-a-year sport and most popular viewing pleasure for American sports fans.
Former Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce has an opinion about James Harden’s career, which is less than favorable.
“If I had a chance to play with the talent that Harden played with, I’d probably be walking out here with five championships,” Pierce said on the “No Chill” podcast with Gilbert Arenas.
Harden recently was involved in the trade between the Brooklyn Nets and the Philadelphia Sixers. It was the solution to the bad blood between the Sixers franchise and its former guard Ben Simmons.
The Truth x Agent Zero
2pm ET
👇👇👇https://t.co/SSUhYpyZAi pic.twitter.com/9kv61Nzt3I— Fubo Sports (@fuboSports) March 14, 2022
Pierce feels that Harden has been given all the tools, but his inability to reach the pinnacle of success in the league is perplexing.
“I mean, he done played with Chris Paul, (Russell) Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Kyrie Irving, and now you playing with (Joel); you played against-with all Hall of Famers, and that ain’t work yet,” Pierce continued.
Ouch.
Harden was the No. 3 pick in the 2009 NBA draft beginning his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. There he played with Durant and Westbrook before an unexpected trade to the Houston Rockets in 2012.
He was joined by Chris Paul in Houston and had his breakout NBA years in the Lone Star State. Although Harden did make it to the Western Conference Finals twice, his Houston tenure did not yield the coveted championship.
"If I played with the talent that [James] Harden played with, I'd be walking out of here with 5 championships." – @paulpierce34
😳😳😳
Watch the full clip here: https://t.co/QL31KEmbq2 pic.twitter.com/sISuvJuXgs— Fubo Sports (@fuboSports) March 14, 2022
“You know what it is. It’s different than when we played, because we played, and we had to adapt to different offenses,” said Gilbert Arenas during the podcast. “Because he’s never had to adapt, he don’t have the off-the-ball scoring.
“He don’t have those plays, he has the play: give me the ball at the top of the key, I’m going to play the ISO ball, I’m going to do that. That’s his scoring 99.9% of the time, so he don’t have balls that way; I’m backdooring, going to post, I’m going to catch it at the elbow; he don’t have off the ball scoring and don’t know how to do it so if the offense isn’t ran like that I don’t think he can actually play with it, so he’s going to always be unhappy.
“I don’t know if he’s ready to compromise his game and say, you know what, let me learn how to back door and come off downstream, and I think it’s too late for it.”
Harden has had some highlight-reel moments despite his lack of a championship. He scored at minimum 30 points in 32 consecutive games, second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 65 straight games.
During his 2016-17 season with the Rockets, Harden became the first NBA player to record two 50-point triple-double games, ironically later topped by Russell Westbrook. In 2018, he became the first player in NBA history to score 60 points while recording a triple-double.
However, how much of Pierce’s words are an indictment of Harden’s alleged inability to win big with an All-Star cast versus a veteran’s finger-wagging moment at a new era?
The Boston Celtics defeated the Golden State Warriors 110-88 on Wednesday night. But the talk during and following the game was the injury to Warriors’ MVP Stephen Curry. In the second quarter Celtics guard Marcus Smart dove for a loose ball while Curry was also chasing it. During the collision Curry injured his toe and missed the rest of the game. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was seen yelling at Smart after the play and postgame said it was a dangerous play.
Does Steph have a wood allergy? Then get on the GD floor! Helluva play @smart_MS3 pic.twitter.com/MoW0i8FTLR
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) March 17, 2022
“I thought it was a dangerous play,” Kerr said. “I thought Marcus dove into Steph, and that’s what I was upset about. A lot of respect for Marcus. He’s a hell of a player, a gamer, a competitor. I coached him in the World Cup a few summers ago. We talked after the game and we’re good. But I thought it was a dangerous play.”
Smart is a tough-minded, aggressive, physical player. That’s his superpower. Much the way Curry’s is his shooting ability. Smart goes hard every minute he’s in the game, and if there is a loose ball he is going to get on the floor to get that possession for his team.
That style of play can seem over-the-top to some or even dirty. But he’s not a dirty player.
“I saw the ball, I dove for the ball, trying to make a play,” Smart said. “Unfortunately that occurred. I’m sure I’m going to get called dirty. But I know who I am. … I play very hard and I leave everything on the court. … My teammates, my colleagues, they know I’m not a dirty player.”
Anytime a superstar player like Curry is injured on a play like what happened with Smart there is an overreaction. Superstars are not only vital to their teams, but the league. We never want to see them get injured.
Add in the fact that the play in question was caused by a hard-nosed player like Smart and that’s where the idea of “dirty” comes into play.
Kerr’s reaction was predictable and understandable in the heat of the moment. His star player is limping and didn’t return for the rest of the game. At once he saw the season’s championship goal flash before his eyes.
On the play itself you can see Smart locking in on the ball with tunnel vision. Curry similarly locked in but didn’t sacrifice his body to come up with the ball. That’s not a criticism, just a fact. Had Curry sold out for the loose ball first, Smart would’ve been called for a foul.
Curry’s teammate Draymond Green spoke about the play after the game and said he would expect Smart to make that play. But he stopped short of calling it dirty.
“I’d expect Marcus Smart to make that play. He plays hard,” Green said. “I can’t call that a dirty play. As unfortunate as it is … maybe unnecessary, but that’s the most I can call it. Unnecessary. But I can’t call it a dirty play. The ball is on the floor. At every level of basketball we are taught to dive on the floor and go after the ball. That’s what Marcus did. So I can’t call it a dirty play. I will say it was probably an unnecessary dive.”
Now the Warriors play the waiting game on Curry and when he can return from this injury. He had an MRI and X-ray, there was no fracture or major damage, according to Shams Charania.
Warriors star Stephen Curry has been diagnosed with a sprained ligament in left foot that will sideline him indefinitely, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. X-rays on the foot returned negative Wednesday night – meaning no fracture or major damage, a sigh of relief.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 17, 2022
But he will be out indefinitely and the Warriors title hopes are now riding on the health of Curry’s left foot.
For basketball fans, March Madness is arguably the greatest time of year, with 64 teams battling for three weekends until a champion is crowned. Round of 64, Round of 32, Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four and Final Two.
New Orleans is the host city for the sixth time and it’s been a place of many memorable moments. Expect the unexpected and watch your brackets go up in smoke.
But if you like that kind of emotional roller coaster, here are the five best bets to cut down the nets and have that “One Shining Moment” in New Orleans.
The Prohibitive Favorite: Gonzaga Bulldogs
The 2017 and 2021 national runner-up has been the groomsman a few times but never the groom. Last season was undoubtedly their year, but the Baylor Bears didn’t get the memo. Led by head coach Mark Few, who’s built a powerhouse in Spokane, Washington, the Zags believe this is the year to cut down the nets and take that elusive title back to “The Kennel.” With the dynamic front-court duo of Drew Timme and future top-three pick Chet Holmgren, the Zags have an identity and plenty of talent.
These three put on a show for the Zags against UCLA 🔥
⭐ Andrew Nembhard ▸ 24 Pts, 6 Ast
⭐ Chet Holmgren ▸ 15 Pts, 4 Blk
⭐ Drew Timme ▸ 18 Pts, 8 Reb pic.twitter.com/0hndI2IMlK— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 24, 2021
Rock Steady And Ready: Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats surprised all of college basketball with their meteoric rise from unranked to the No. 2 team in the country. The Cats won the Pac-12 regular season and conference tournament championship. They’re led by Conference Player of the Year Bennedict Mathurin, who went for 27 points and had his full two-way skill set on display in the team’s 84-76 win over the UCLA Bruins in the title game.
The loss of sniper Kerr Kriisa is huge, and without him the Wildcats could struggle to shoot from deep.
I’m a champ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gGvGLRcIew
— Bennedict Mathurin (@BennMathurin) March 13, 2022
Old Faithful: Kansas Jayhawks
The Jayhawks shared the regular season Big 12 title with Baylor, but then doubled up and won the Big 12 tourney. Now Bill Self’s group will look to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2018. It would be the fourth FF appearance for Kansas in the Bill Self era.
Led by First Team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year Ochai Agbaji, the Jayhawks are more than capable of winning six games to become champions. The play of Remy Martin will determine a lot for this team.
Remy Martin bringing that ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/ATvdLaOfvr
— Kansas Men’s Basketball (@KUHoops) March 14, 2022
Cal’s Crew Is Experienced: Kentucky Wildcats
For the first time in years John Calipari actually has an experienced roster capable of making a title run. So many times over the years the Wildcats have been talented but loaded with inexperienced one-and-done players. Not this season, as Cal hit the transfer portal to land star big man Oscar Schiebwe, who was named SEC Player of the Year, and knockdown shooter Kellen Grady.
Pearl’s Crew Can Go: Auburn Tigers
Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl is no stranger to the Final Four. He led the Tigers there in 2019. They were a foul call away from playing for the national title. This team was ranked No. 1 for a heavy stretch of the season and even had a 19-game winning streak. The regular season SEC champions are led by future NBA lottery pick and SEC Freshman of the Year Jabari Smith, a smooth-shooting 6-foot-10 freak of nature. The UNC transfer is the key to a deep run for the Tigers.
Other Potential World-Beaters
Duke Blue Devils – Coach K’s last hurrah
UCLA Bruins – Can Johnny Juzang repeat last year’s run?
Purdue Boilermakers – Jaden Ivey can carry them
Baylor Bears – Which James Akinjo shows up?
Tennessee Volunteers – A team built for March
The Baltimore Ravens organization is at a contract impasse with their talented dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson. He’s reportedly more focused on getting back to health than signing a new lucrative multi-year extension.
Jackson missed the final five games of the season with a nagging ankle injury and reportedly had other small injuries that he’s still healing from which occurred over the last two seasons.
Lamar Jackson with a few records tonight:
🏈Ties Dan Marino for most wins by an NFL QB before the age of 25
🏈Sets #Ravens franchise record for most passing yards in a game with 442 (4TDs & 0 INTs)
LJ8 is your early frontrunner for MVP. Not even up for debate @wjz pic.twitter.com/NxRE1Uryyi
— Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) October 12, 2021
ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark mentioned that he believes LJ8 is worthy of a $40 million-plus payday, especially considering Kirk Cousins, who has won much of nothing in Minnesota, just received a re-up of $35M to keep him under contract through 2023.
“He deserves to be in that 40-million plus crew. … I believe that’s what he needs to even walk on the grass in Baltimore.”
.@Realrclark25 wants to see Lamar Jackson get paid 💰
"He deserves to be in that 40 million-plus crew. … I believe that's what he needs to get to even walk on the grass in Baltimore." pic.twitter.com/VTDO6cebaD
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 24, 2022
He also stressed the importance of Jackson staying as healthy as he can this offseason, which includes not participating in any team activities until he’s inked that long-term deal, which provides that well-deserved security.
Jackson Is Said To Be Looking For Patrick Mahomes Type Deal: Somewhere In $250 Million Neighborhood
Jackson is said to be looking for a five-year, $250 million deal. He’s currently the 400th-highest-paid player in the league as he enters the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. That won’t last long.
Clark also said Jackson should accept nothing less than a five-year, $200 million deal. Last March, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year, $450 million deal ($45M per year).
While in August, Buffalo Bills signal caller Josh Allen got a contract for six years and $258 million, averaging $43M per year. Jackson’s importance to his squad is on par with both of those talented QBs, and he has more accolades than Allen.
AFC now has:
Patrick Mahomes
Josh Allen
Justin Herbert
Joe Burrow
Lamar Jackson
Russell WilsonGood luck to the teams who *don't* have one of those guys.
NFC, meanwhile, lost Tom Brady and Wilson in same offseason. Wide open.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) March 8, 2022
While Jackson didn’t have his best season last year, he’s already shown his value. And he had his team off to an 8-2 start. Then they collapsed without him. The fact that the team was competitive but couldn’t finish was proof of Jackson’s immense value to the Ravens organization. He has six comebacks and eight game-winning drives in his career.
He was named the second unanimous MVP in league history in 2019, following Brady in 2010. He’s also very dynamic, giving the Ravens a shot at making a run to Super Sunday each season he’s been under center.
In his career he has nearly 10,000 passing yards and over 3,600 rushing yards. Jackson is everything to a franchise devoid of top playmakers, and he’s shown a propensity to raise the level of play of those around him.
Ravens GM Wants To Get A Deal Done: Is He Waiting On Jackson?
GM Eric DeCosta has gone on record as saying he hopes to get a deal done with his star pupil as soon as possible. DeCosta knows there’s no way Jackson, whose mom is his agent, takes one snap without a new deal in hand.
In a recent interview with NFL.com, the well-respected decision-maker talked about wanting to sign Jackson to a long-term extension.
“Well I hope so, at some point, yeah, we will. We’ve discussed this at length and I’ve said this before: We will work at Lamar’s urgency. He and I have had ongoing discussions. We’ve talked fairly recently as well. He knows how to find me. I know how to find him. I was very happy to see him working out on the West Coast recently with some of our guys. That’s exciting. Something that we really think will help us this year be the best team we can be.
“He’s a guy that when we think about the Ravens, three, four, five years from now, we envision Lamar being a very, very big part of that team and definitely a player that can help us win Super Bowls.”
With Jackson not having a real agent, that could hurt him in negotiations. The Ravens probably wish they had old team president and two-time Super Bowl exec Ozzie Newsome in the fold to help facilitate the deal, but even without Mr. Magic, Baltimore is still one of the most standup, well-run organizations. So, the expectancy is a deal that suits both sides will get done.
Ray Lewis says Lamar Jackson’s long-term future in Baltimore is way bigger than football, so the money is the basics. “He carries the mantle,” Lewis said in an interview with Rich Eisen.
But the question the anxious “Charm City” Birds fans have is WHEN will Jackson ink his deal? Apparently, when Lamar and his mom hear a figure they like.
The latest monumental move for Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers football program, will occur in April when they’ll become the first HBCU program to have their annual spring game televised by ESPNU in what is a landmark move.
The game will take place on Sunday, April 24, at 5 P.M. on ESPNU.
Here’s what the HBCU trendsetter himself had to say about the huge move.
“Being the first HBCU to have our spring game nationally televised is a monumental leap in the right direction for Jackson State and all HBCUs. It’s time that we’re seen, heard and recognized.”
The coaches that had the biggest impact on @DeionSanders. pic.twitter.com/ToEGB4qPiY
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 11, 2022
Sanders Brought Visibility And Exposure: That In Turn Has Brought Talent
During the 2021 season, JSU had five of its games televised on ESPN networks. There was also a deal with Under Armour, which coincides with Barstool Sports. Then a deal with soft drink giant Pepsi to be the official supplier of the SWAC through 2023. None of this was happening until Sanders arrived at JSU.
Just an unreal rebuilding job by Deion Sanders.
Jackson State was 18-37 the 5 years prior to his arrival.
14-4 since, plus the first SWAC Championship since 2007@DeionSanders @21standprime pic.twitter.com/3HEYgO9GIJ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 5, 2021
Sanders doesn’t take the title of Ambassador lightly at all.
“I think we’ve done a wonderful job of getting the attention, but now that we’ve gotten the attention and focus we’ve got to make something happen,” Sanders told reports. “We’ve got to put pen to paper and not only be in the spotlight but we’ve got to make it happen. That’s what Pepsi’s done — they’ve taken the initiative to truly make it happen for not just here at Jackson State, but a multitude of HBCUs across the country.
“I’m happy to be the conduit, to be the ambassador of the SWAC and this wonderful partnership. I can’t even tell you how wonder and large this is for us.”
SWAC, with assist from Jackson State coach @DeionSanders, lands deal with @pepsi as part of racial equality initiative. @USATODAY https://t.co/YvaEsWCzbm
— SMAC Entertainment (@SMAC) April 5, 2021
The hiring of Coach Prime at Jackson State in September 2020 brought questions about his qualifications to coach a college football program. Having coached only in the high school ranks, many saw the move as a publicity stunt.
An HBCU hiring a Hall of Fame athlete to sell tickets, while providing visibility. Most also believed winning was the last thing on the list with the hire. They were oh so wrong, as Coach Prime has taken the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) by storm in his 18 months down in Jackson, Mississippi.
Since day one, Coach Prime has used his huge platform to enhance visibility and appeal for all HBCUs. He’s talked about making sure players look good, because if they look good they play good. New suits, new uniforms, multiple game helmets. There have been more HBCU football games on television than anyone can recall in the past.
In fact, Fox 5 (D.C.) news anchor Wisdom Martin, a JSU alum, spoke to that very phenomenon.
Sanders Has Been Busy Since His Arrival In Jackson: Major Moves In 18 Months
Sanders has been a busy man since he joined the SWAC as head coach of the JSU Tigers. He led the school to its first-ever 11-win season, first SWAC title in 14 years, and it’s first appearance in the Celebration Bowl, aka de facto Black College National Championship. All this while dealing with complications following toe surgery which caused him to have two toes amputated.
At one point, he was told by doctors he could lose his leg and possibly his life. But Sanders never fretted, as he persevered through that trying ordeal. For his efforts he was named the Eddie Robinson Award Winner, given annually to the top coach in FCS.
The awards keep rolling in for @GoJSUTigersFB and the Sanders family 🏈
🌟 Shedeur Sanders – Jerry Rice Award, the FCS Freshman of the Year. Sanders is the first HBCU player to win the award.
🌟 Deion Sanders – Eddie Robinson award, the FCS Coach of the Year pic.twitter.com/721wlvDCob
— Andscape (@andscape) December 14, 2021
Son Shedeur, his team’s quarterback, won the Jerry Rice Award, given annually to the top freshman in FCS. And Jackson State set a new FCS attendance record of more than 42,000 fans per game.
Sanders wasn’t done as he then went out and landed two top-50 recruits, including the nation’s No. 1 overall recruit in Travis Hunter, a dynamic cornerback and wide receiver who’s expected to play both ways for the Tigers as Sanders did during stints in his illustrious Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
Overall, Prime landed 14 transfers who are all expected to contribute next season.
THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE RECRUIT TRAVIS HUNTER JUST MADE HISTORY!!!!!!!! JACKSON STATE!!!!!!!!! @DeionSanders @JacksonStateU pic.twitter.com/WOXdqj2auy
— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) December 15, 2021
The city of Jackson, which struggled mightily throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, saw an increase in revenue from barely $16 million in 2019 to over $30 million in 2021.
Sanders was adamant about dominating, while bringing, exposure, visibility and revenue to HBCUs. Thus far he’s off to a great start of doing just that.
“Welcome to Game Theory,” Bomani Jones said on the debut episode of his new HBO show on March 13. “They done messed around and gave your boy a TV show.”
Yup. HBO done did it. They gave one of the most unique voices in sports media his own television show. But not just a show, the ability to craft and create it in his image. Jones is the executive producer and he has the HBO budget and machine behind him to hopefully allow this show to be around for a long time.
I interviewed Jones back in 2019 when he was co-host of ESPN’s “High Noon” with Pablo Torre. At the time Jones said the win was having a show, because the reality is not many people of color are given the opportunity to headline their own television show.
Bomani Jones & Pablo Torre Sign New Multi-Year Deals With ESPN
That still remains true and while Jones no doubt sees “Game Theory” as a win, you can tell he wants it to be so much more.
“I desperately want the show to work,” he says in an interview with GQ. “I want it to get picked up and get more seasons.”
Those of you familiar with Jones’ work on ESPN through his podcast “The Right Time with Bomani Jones” or his time as co-host of “Highly Questionable” recognize some familiar beats on “Game Theory.” He’s stated in interviews that he wants the new show to be an extension of the podcast, with the latitude and creativity a late-night HBO show allows.
Nothing encapsulated that more than his segment on retiring Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
“You know what you didn’t see in that video,” Jones quipped after a montage featuring white media members all over the age of 50 waxing poetic about the greatness of Coach K. “A lot of Black people over 35. We kind of hate that dude. We hate that he beat every team Black people loved.”
The real Coach K legacy critique on “Game Theory” is the extension of what Bo has been saying on his ESPN platforms about K and Duke for years. The unathletic, uber-white, short shorts wearing Duke teams and their incessant flopping has been a scourge on the game for decades.
That was the highlight of the 30-minute show. Other parts were a little more rough and perhaps didn’t land as intended.
For instance, Bo does have a sense of comedic timing, but it’s probably when he’s writing the jokes. I don’t know how much of the monologue and him sitting behind the desk is his writing, but the jokes seemed forced.
Then there was the sit-down interview with his ESPN colleague Stephen A. Smith. Maybe it was too short of an interview and they couldn’t get deep on anything, but that didn’t land well. Smith talking about his fame and how athletes better not try him? How’s that different from a “First Take” segment when he claps back at an athlete? It was just said at a lower volume.
Making television is hard. Making really good television is even harder. The bones of an excellent show are there. With Bo as the star anything is possible. He’s that talented, and the people working on the show appear to be as well. Like anything else, it will take reps and understanding workflows, strengths and weaknesses.
“The success is that we got here,” he says in an interview with GQ. “The stuff you get on top of that is gravy. The fact that this even happened in the first place, is a personal victory for me. I ain’t never sat in a meeting before this that I was in charge of. I’ve never been the person making decisions.”
Jake “The Problem Child” Paul is making waves as an athlete in the fight business, but his new nickname might become “The Matchmaker.”
Paul has been petitioning UFC President Dana White for a shot at former UFC champ-champ “The Notorious” Conor McGregor.
“Dana – Since you like me now, how about a 1 fight UFC deal to fight Conor,” Paul said on Twitter. “If I win, you agree to my UFC fighter pay and healthcare proposal. If I lose, I donate my entire purse to all UFC fighters who make less than $50K a fight and never mention UFC again. Deal?”
Dana – Since you like me now, how about a 1 fight UFC deal to fight Conor.
If I win, you agree to my UFC fighter pay and healthcare proposal.
If I lose I donate my entire purse to all UFC fighters who make less than $50K a fight and never mention UFC again
Deal?
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 12, 2022
Paul’s last fight was supposed to be against Tommy Fury, however, he rematched Tyron Woodley and knocked him out in the sixth round after Fury was injured.
He then swiftly said he was moving beyond Fury and started vying for a bout against boxing pound-for-pound king Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
But Alvarez already has his 2022 opponents picked out in Dimitry Bivol and Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin. Plus while he is on a quest to conquer as many weight divisions as possible, Paul isn’t on the hit list.
However, Paul has also become a fighter advocate who has torched UFC president Dana White for the disparities in fighter pay for the premier MMA organization.
Ironically, White appeared on Logan Paul’s podcast, ImPaulsive, and was inevitably asked will he make the match between McGregor and the younger Paul.
“Probably not, no,” laughed White. “I’m never completely closed off to anything,” White said. “I used to say that about things, but I don’t say that anymore because you never know. You never know what could happen.
“We have the most successful combat sports business of all time, and what we do here is completely different then what he and his brother are doing. I’m looking for the absolute best in the world, these guys who have trained their whole life, they fight in these smaller shows and then they make it to the UFC and we’ve put the best against the best.”
White added, “There’s a market for what these guys do, and there’s money to be made in it.”
10,000 retweets and I’ll make Elon Musk Vs. Putin boxing match happen
Undercard:
Kanye West Vs. Pete DavidsonMe Vs. Mcgregor In MMA
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 14, 2022
However, the fight isn’t feasible anyway, as White explained the weight classes were off, with McGregor fighting at 145, 155, and 170 pounds and Jake Paul fighting at 189-191, the cruiserweight level.
Paul is unfazed as he has put his promoter hat on and now is trying to book a fight between Kanye West against Pete Davidson.
My official @MostVpromotions offer for @kanyewest & Pete Davidson
I have $30m guaranteed for Kanye
And $30m guaranteed for Pete
+ PPV upside
Money will be put in escrow before
6 round boxing match
Let’s settle this beef like men, before the children get any more impacted
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 14, 2022
“My official @MostVpromotions offer for @kanyewest & Pete Davidson. I have $30m guaranteed for Kanye and $30m guaranteed for Pete + PPV upside. Money will be put in escrow before 6 round boxing match
“Let’s settle this beef like men, before the children get any more impacted.”
Paul is looking to capitalize on the Kanye West vs. Pete Davidson beef over Kim Kardashian, and in true troll form is attempting to jumpstart it into the pay-per-view sphere.
Although it is highly unlikely, Paul is shooting his shot around the pop culture field, and that means no holds will be barred.
Baseball is returning as the lockout is effectively canceled; however, superstar San Diego Padres player Fernando Tatis Jr. surprised his team with a reported broken wrist injury as spring training returns.
It is the third time in his four MLB seasons that he will miss time due to injury. The news is significant as Tatis signed a $340 million, 14-year extension with the team before the 2021 season.
Last December, Tatis Jr. was reportedly involved in a motorcycle crash in his native San Pedro de Macoris province in the Dominican Republic, an alleged incident both he and his father downplayed considerably.
Fernando Tatis Jr. fractured his wrist during the offseason, A.J. Preller said. He’s headed for a surgery that could come with a recovery time of up to three months.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) March 14, 2022
“He is fine, in perfect condition,″ said former major league infielder Fernando Tatis, Sr. to ESPN. “They treated him here; it’s not a big deal, just a fall; he scraped his knee and hands a little.″
At that time, Tatis’ father denied the news that his son was involved in a motorcycle accident.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is undergoing wrist surgery this morning.
— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) March 16, 2022
However, Padres chairman Peter Seidler is throwing his full support behind the star player primarily due to the amount they have invested in his career. Sunday’s X-rays revealed that he will have to miss up to three months of playing time. That’s not terrible news ,but it is disheartening for a young team with World Series aspirations.
“Most importantly, he’s committed to that,” Seidler said to MLB.com, “and I’m committed to supporting him in every way.”
Seidler spoke at Tuesday’s annual spring media conference, throwing his full support behind his young star. The Padres chairman believes the 23-year-old’s growth was imminent and would adapt accordingly.
Need Fernando Tatis Jr. to show up like this for his first game back pic.twitter.com/Ha6QW3HyBI
— Ben Porter (@Ben13Porter) March 14, 2022
The Padres are trying to gear up for an overhaul after a lackluster ending to the 2021 season. The front office executed certain moves like revamping the coaching staff, but Tatis Jr. was a major piece of a winning team strategy.
“If you’re going to fall off a cliff like we did last year, you may as well make it dramatic,” Seidler continued. “And we did. I think that was a once-in-a-century what I’ll call learning experience for all of us. It’s a fresh year. We’ve got a very, very good team, and we expect to be a force in the chase for the World Series.”
Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. fractured his wrist during the offseason and needs surgery that will sideline him up to three months, according to GM A.J. Preller. pic.twitter.com/rGxmSWPJlS
— ESPN (@espn) March 14, 2022
Last year Tatis Jr. had a shoulder injury that limited his season to 130 games. Although he avoided surgery, he missed additional playing time placed in health and safety protocols last May.
In late 2020, he suffered a back injury and went from being day-to-day to firm on the 60-day injured list. Also, in early 2019 a hamstring injury put him on the 10-Day injured list.
According to reports, Tatis Jr. received a $10 million signing bonus with a 2022 base salary of $5 million. His salary increases annually, leading towards an eventual average salary of over $24 million.
The Padres are not expected to pursue voiding Fernando Tatís Jr.’s contract, even though an injury sustained while operating a motorcycle could provide the basis for doing so. One major reason: The team values its long-term relationship with a superstar player. (1/5) @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) March 15, 2022
However, there are still questions surrounding if Tatis Jr. was in a motorcycle accident because it brings up the Jim Lonborg Clause.
In 1967, Boston Red Sox pitcher Jim Lonborg had a breakout season posting a 22-9 record and a 3.16 earned run average in 273.1 innings. He received an All-Star nod, Cy Young, and the American League MVP Award.
However, after a skiing trip in Lake Tahoe, Lonborg wiped out, tearing ligaments in his left knee and ultimately missed substantial time during the 1968 season. It led the owners to create the hazardous activities clause.
Fernando Tatis Jr.
July 2018: season-ending surgery (thumb)
August 2019: season-ending back injury
April 2021: left shoulder subluxation
July 2021: 2nd left shoulder subluxation (misses 32 games that season)
March 2022: fractured wrist (expected to miss a few months) pic.twitter.com/CkpRe2q5fU
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) March 14, 2022
Fortunately for Tatis Jr., his “accident” didn’t cause permanent damage to his career. Former Atlanta Braves superstar Ron Gant wasn’t that lucky.
Shortly after signing one of the richest contracts in Braves history in 1994, Gant broke his right leg in an ATV accident.
Gant’s right leg was mangled and a rod had to be put in to repair the compound fracture. It effectively ended his career.
“I was on dirt bike doing jumps and lost control and went off the course and my leg just wrapped around a tree,” Gant recalls. “Right when it happened, I knew I had messed my leg up and possibly would never play again. A million things ran through my mind as I lay in that hospital. The Braves made the right decision letting me go. They were able to get a lot of the money back because of the clause in the contract. It all worked out, but the thing I regretted was I wanted to be a Brave my entire career.”
Almost once a year from 1994-2006, high level athletes have been involved in near fatal motorcycle accidents, from former Pittsburgh Steeler QB Ben Rothleisberger to former Chicago Bulls guard Jason Williams.
The San Diego Padres are working to get past bad seasons. Now that Tatis Jr. is out for a few months, the organization has to decide if his decision-making and injury-prone tendencies will meet their goals. Good thing is he has over a decade to prove it. A lot of maturing undoubtedly will occur during that period.
ESPN’s Jay Bilas sent a tweet on Wednesday of his top 10 coaches in this year’s men’s NCAA college basketball tournament. The usual suspects were on the list. Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, Villanova’s Jay Wright, Kansas’ Bill Self, Michigan State’s Tom Izzo, and Kentucky’s John Calipari. Hard to argue those men. Twelve national titles and 32 Final Fours between them. But there were no Black coaches on Bilas’ list. Should there be?
So Kelvin Sampson, Ed Cooley, Rob Lanier, Rob Jones, Johnny Jones, Juwan Howard, Penny Hardaway, Shaka Smart, Shaheen Holloway, Mike Woodson, Hubert Davis, James Jones, Dedrique Taylor, Kevin Nickelberry, Drew Valentine…I mean no one was available for this list?!?…We see you!! https://t.co/FkKk0yeT9s pic.twitter.com/BwBDFOmySb
— Basketball Illustrated Reports (@BIReports) March 16, 2022
Let’s look at some of the other coaches Bilas included, and see if a case can be made for a Black head coach.
As College Basketball Returns, Black Head Coaches Are Missing At The Top
Auburn’s Bruce Pearl came in at No. 10. A good head coach who has won a Division II championship, won three conference tournaments and has been to a Final Four.
University of Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson has won six conference tournaments and has twice made an appearance in the Final Four.
Is Pearl definitively better than Sampson as a coach? Their accomplishments don’t suggest that is the case.
Tennessee’s Rick Barnes also made Bilas’ list. He’s made one Final Four appearance and won two conference tournaments.
Marquette head coach Shaka Smart has won an NIT and CBI championship, made a Final Four appearance, and won three conference tournaments.
Again, this doesn’t prove Smart is a better coach than Barnes. But their résumés look pretty even, if not slightly tilted in Smart’s favor.
There’s Providence’s Ed Cooley who wins with less talent than the men on Bilas’ list have. Indiana’s Mike Woodson who’s in the NCAA Tournament in his first year on the job, and he’s been a head coach in the NBA, leading the Knicks to the franchise’s last division title.
Or Florida State’s Leonard Hamilton who has led the Seminoles to eight NCAA tournament berths and won two conference tournaments in the past 14 seasons at a football school.
Michigan’s Juwan Howard has led the team to the NCAA tournament twice in just three seasons, including an Elite Eight.
The point is there are Black coaches that can coach too.
But that’s the thing about an individual’s top 10 list. There will always be a difference of opinion and personal preference.
There is no argument against any of the coaches in Bilas’ top six based on what they’ve accomplished. When you get down to the last four you can make a case for or against any of them. Personal preference.
Bilas’ list is a reflection of the state of college basketball and college sports as a whole. According to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES), in men’s Division I basketball, 24.3 percent of all head coaches are Black. But Black or African-American Division I men’s basketball student-athletes make up 52.8 percent of the student-athlete population.
The representation of Black or African Americans as head coaches for all sports in Division I did not show improvement and continued to be unacceptable in 2020 -2021. — TIDES
Until the representation of Black people changes at the top (administrative) levels of college athletics, there won’t be significant representation at the coaching level.
So every year when analysts like Bilas make their top-10 lists it will likely reflect the reality of the moment, that the representation of Black people is unacceptable.
You have to question the acumen of a guy like ESPN’s Sam Acho, who last month made a list of top NFL quarterbacks, didn’t include Patrick Mahomes, and then gave a lame excuse for the omission.
“People are gonna say what about Patrick Mahomes?” Acho said on the Feb. 17 episode of “First Take.”
“Where is he? And I get that. But the last time I saw Patrick Mahomes … he really was the reason they lost in the second half and in overtime against Cincinnati. That’s why at this moment in time, he’s not on my top five list.”
1. Patrick Mahomes – Kansas City Chiefs
Mahomes is on a trajectory that we haven’t seen as far as winning, stats and accolades go. He’s already won an MVP, Super Bowl MVP and been to two Super Sunday games, winning one. Mahomes has been the starter in Kansas City for four seasons and they’ve hosted the AFC Championship Game every season, going 2-2, with both losses coming in overtime.
MAHOMES TO KELCE.
THE @CHIEFS WIN THE GAME OF THE YEAR! #NFLPlayoffs #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/9eM2Ur15O0
— NFL (@NFL) January 24, 2022
The maestro is the main reason why the Chiefs are Super Bowl contenders every season. The former Texas Tech Raider has passed for 18,991 yards and 159 touchdowns in his career. Mahomes is 50-13 as a starting QB.
2. Deshaun Watson — Houston Texans (For Now)
Watson missed the entire 2021 season as he dealt with sexual misconduct allegations. But before that he led the entire NFL in passing yards in 2020 with 4,823 yards, 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.
Deshaun Watson’s career stats…
• 67.8 comp. %
• 14,539 passing yards
• 269.2 pass YPG, 8.3 YPA
• 104 pass TDs – 36 INTs
• 104.5 passer rating
• 1,677 rush yards
• 17 rush TDs pic.twitter.com/lfFY7xve4g— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) January 28, 2021
Watson led the Texans to two division titles in 2018 and 2019. The soon-to-be-traded signal caller instantly makes a team a playoff contender, and in some cases a Super Bowl contender.
For his career Watson has passed for 14,539 yards, 104 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. Watson’s career record is just 28-26, but he hasn’t had anywhere near the roster that Mahomes has had in K.C.
3. Russell Wilson — Denver Broncos
Seeing Wilson and the Denver Broncos is strange, but after two consecutive offseasons of rumored moves concerning the star signal caller, he was dealt to the Mile High City for a haul. The cerebral Wilson brings experience and winning to a Broncos team that has a great roster but was lacking elite talent at the game’s most important position. Wilson instantly changes that.
Boasting a career record of 104-53-1, Wilson has only endured one losing season in his career. That was this season, where he also missed the first games of his career due to injury. A fresh start for him and the Hawks was warranted. He’s passed for 37,059 yards, 292 touchdowns and just 87 interceptions over his illustrious soon-to-be Hall of Fame career.
Blockbuster: After weeks of negotiations, in one of the largest trades in NFL history, the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos have agreed to terms for a deal involving Super-Bowl winning QB Russell Wilson, sources tell ESPN.
Trade is pending a physical and Wilson’s approval. pic.twitter.com/oRFDV8Ehyx
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 8, 2022
4. Lamar Jackson — Baltimore Ravens
Jackson is the most dynamic playmaking signal caller of the group and maybe in the league. He won the Heisman in 2016 at Louisville, and three years later he was named the NFL’s second-ever unanimous MVP (Tom Brady 2010). But since taking the league by storm at the end of 2018 as a rookie, Jackson has seen a decline in his production.
The decline in play isn’t solely his fault. He’s currently due a massive contract extension, as he’s about to enter the fifth and final year of his rookie deal. Although he still struggles to consistently push the ball downfield with timing and accuracy, he’s extremely dangerous.
The speedy LJ8 has passed for 9,967 yards, 84 touchdowns (including a league-leading 36 in 2019) and 31 interceptions. He’s also shown that dual-threat ability that makes him such a difficult player to prepare for defensively, as he’s rushed for another 3,673 yards (including back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020) and 21 touchdowns. He’s 37-12 as a starter.
5. Kyle Murray — Arizona Cardinals
Since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2019, the diminutive Murray has been good early in the season, and not so good late. Sort of like his in-over-his-head coach Kliff Kingsbury. But Murray is a special talent capable of leading a team much farther than they’ve gone since he arrived.
The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner and 2019 NFL Rookie of the Year has had some moments for sure, but injuries to himself and key teammates have been crippling late in the season.
Murray went through a bit of a diva moment this offseason as he tried to secure a lucrative long-term deal prior to entering year 4 in the “Valley of the Sun.”
The maestro has passed for 11,480 yards, 70 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He’s also used his legs to rush for 1,786 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s 22-23-1 as a starter.
6. Dak Prescott — (Cowboys) Making $40 million per year, only trailing Mahomes in salary, he should be higher. Gotta play better against better opponents. Beating up on the NFC LEAST doesn’t qualify as being great.
7. Jameis Winston — (Free Agent ) There’s never been any questions about his ability. The 2015 No.1 overall pick has all the physical tools, and last season prior to injury he showed a newfound maturity. “Crablegs Winston” could be in the top five of this list next season if he comes back healthy and motivated.
8. Teddy Bridgewater — (Dolphins) A consummate pro who isn’t going to wow you with anything he does. But he’s always ready when his number is called. “Steady Teddy” will be a good backup for Tua Tagovailoa in Miami.
9. Justin Fields — (Bears) Physically gifted but spent his rookie season being badly coached. Now he gets a fresh slate with a new coaching staff and general manager. Has the tools to be special, but it’s between the ears first.
10. Tyrod Taylor — (Giants) The journeyman who’s capable of starting and playing at a pretty high level in spurts. He will back up Daniel Jones, and if “Danny Dimes” struggles the G-Men won’t hesitate to play Taylor.
The Duke Blue Devils have long been one of the flagship programs in college basketball. The program has risen to almost mythical heights under legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski, who’s in his final season on the sidelines after 42 years in Durham.
You can say Coach K’s coaching for his career, because his next loss will be his last game as head coach.
Hopes along Tobacco Road were that this version of the Blue Devils, led by freshman phenom Paolo Banchero, could send Coach K out on top by capturing his sixth national championship. ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg isn’t sold on that happening after watching the team over the past few weeks.
Stage is set. #SI6HTS #HereComesDuke 🕺 pic.twitter.com/iCyPx40cLE
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 14, 2022
The team lost Coach K’s final game at Cameron Indoor Stadium to archrival UNC by double-digits. Then they were blown out in the ACC Championship by the program the aforementioned Greenberg used to coach, the Virginia Tech Hokies.
Greenberg says he saw some alarming realities that don’t bode well for a deep tourney run for the talented but inexperienced Blue Devils, who start three freshmen, one sophomore and just one senior.
On a recent segment on ESPN’s Get Up, Greenberg talked about the 28-6 team, and he wasn’t too high on their chances of cutting down the nets in New Orleans.
.@SethOnHoops has thoughts on Duke men's basketball 😳
"I don't see [the NCAA tournament] going well [for Duke]. … They're not playing at a high level. … I don't like that they don't have an identity offensively or defensively." pic.twitter.com/7iuYYZaBMl
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 14, 2022
“I don’t see it going well. They’re not playing well. They’re not playing at a high level. If you look at the last three weeks or so — they haven’t played well. Why haven’t they played well? I don’t think they have an identity offensively. I’m not exactly sure where they want to get Paolo Banchero the ball. They don’t have any consistency in their half-court execution, and then defensively, they’re not turning people over.”
“Duke’s not playing at a high level and they’ve got Michigan State in front of them — obviously a terrific team in the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech is a hard team to play against — they keep you on the side — really physical and athletic. Obviously, Gonzaga is on top. I don’t like the way Duke is playing right now. I don’t like their identity offensively or defensively.”
Duke’s Youth And Coach K Retirement Is Added Pressure: Banchero Is So GOOD
It’s no secret that Coach K and Coach Cal at Kentucky have been the kings of the “one and done” era. Both have tasted success winning championships with the one-year five-star recruits. But they’ve also tasted more in-season struggles and early tournament exits as well.
This season is no different for Duke, who has six losses to the likes of Miami, Virginia, UNC, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Ohio State. What do those teams all have in common? They have upperclassmen playing vital roles for them. Experience does play a factor, and outside of two-way wing Wendell Moore Jr., the Blue Devils don’t have a lot of that.
Freshman Sensation Leads The Way: He’s No Carmelo Anthony
The Blue Devils are led by the aforementioned Banchero, a five-star recruit and possible No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.
He projects as a blend of former NBA stalwart bigs Chris Webber and David West, but is just scratching the surface with how good he can be. He fits today’s modern NBA game as the prototypical stretch 4. At 6 feet 10 and 250 pounds he can do it all, which is score from all three levels, with a post game, mid-post game and capable of stepping out to the three-point line with ease. He’s also a great passer out of the double-team. Point blank, he’s the Blue Devils’ hope at a long, deep tourney run.
Paolo Banchero was cooking last night.
🔥 18 PTS
🔥 11 REB
🔥 4 AST pic.twitter.com/XVL0qCyKiF— SLAM University (@slam_university) March 12, 2022
Coach K Knows This Is It: Can He Push The Right Buttons?
The Blue Devils are still finding out how good they can be, and that’s not a bad thing as they enter the tournament. However, Coach K knows that the finality of one March Madness loss leaves no room for error and no time for indecision.
“There’s no second chances for anybody — that’s what makes the tournament the best thing in sports,” Krzyzewski said this week. “If you don’t win, you’re out. There’s only one champion. There aren’t 20 different bowl games and stuff like that, and that’s why it’s so hard. It’s a gauntlet. It’s so hard to win. You just have to focus on what you’re doing with that specific opponent. I don’t want any of my guys having brackets and that — just focus on Friday, and hopefully we can do well and then whoever we could have an honor to play, focus on that team. Each game is really a championship game.”
No second chances. Every game is a championship game. 🐐🕺 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/ujAd4nyHeh
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) March 14, 2022
A GOAT Farewell
Coach K has won five national championships and made a record 12 Final Fours. If he has any hope of doing either in his last run, it’ll be on the back of Paolo Banchero.
Peak Duke is still super scary. As much pure talent as any team in the country. But to string together four or six wins in the tourney, you need all the intangibles, and it's hard to build that with such a young roster. This is perhaps the oldest college basketball has ever been
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) March 13, 2022
Don’t bet against Coach K. The odds were stacked against him in 2010 and they won the whole thing. The basketball gods will decide how he goes out in the end.
The Golden State Warriors’ big three of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green took the court together for the first time in more than 1,000 days on Monday night. What’s that saying about riding a bike? The Dubs looked impressive in their 126-112 victory over the Washington Wizards. But more important, there was a flow to the offense and a connectivity with the defense that had been missing since Green was sidelined with an injury in January. Now the Dubs are a legit threat to win the NBA title.
“Whether we’re the No. 2 seed or No. 3 seed, we’re going to win a championship,” Green told NBC Sports Bay Area after the game. “Don’t really matter. I called it months ago.”
Tough talk from the three-time champion. But he has every right to be confident in what the Dubs can do. They have the pedigree and have proved it on the biggest stage.
But his return is also vital to the play of Curry. For the Warriors to be legitimate title contenders, Curry has to play like he did over the first 20 games of the season, and closer to his MVP level.
Steph Curry's stats:
1) With Draymond (34 games)
2) Without Draymond (29 games)Nos. reflect the following:
– Steph having to handle most of the playmaking responsibilities w/o Dray lowered his scoring rate
– Lower usage w/o Dray
– *Slightly* better scoring efficiency w/o Dray pic.twitter.com/CIJp0spVx1— Joe Viray (@JoeVirayNBA) March 16, 2022
Curry is having one of his poorest seasons as it relates to efficiency with an eFG% of 55 and TS% of 61. His FG% is a career low 43 and his 3P% is also a career low at 38. He will need to be around his career averages for the Dubs to be elite.
Thompson will also have to regain his shooting tough. He is having his worst season in terms of efficiency at 51, 54 in eFG% and TS%, respectively.
FiveThirtyEight projects the Warriors to finish with the third seed in the Western Conference, with a 9 percent chance of making the Finals and a 3 percent chance of winning.
If the seeds hold, the Warriors would play the Denver Nuggets in round one. A Nuggets team with possibly the reigning two-time league MVP in Nikola Jokic and possibly Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Not an easy first-round matchup.
Assuming the seeds hold true to form they would play the Memphis Grizzlies in the conference semis. A Grizzlies team that beat the Warriors in the play-in tournament last season and are 2-1 against the Warriors this year.
The playoffs are the playoffs and the Warriors are who they are, but there’s not an easy road to the conference finals. Where they would likely face the Phoenix Suns.
The Warriors are ranked second in aNET rating, with the 11th-ranked offense and second-ranked defense in the league. They are legit. But the playoff margins are small, and they’ll have to be better in the critical moments.
History says they will. But remember, no championship team has that “it” or “clutch” factor until they actually win the championship. Before 2015 the Warriors didn’t have it. But then they found it. Before 2021 the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks didn’t have it, until they did.
Experience in these scenarios matter. But just like anything else, past performance isn’t necessarily indicative of future results.
Head coach Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers are back in the news. But this time it isn’t of the good variety, after announcing they were bowing out of the Southern Heritage Classic in February, effectively breaching the remaining three years on their contract with Tennessee State.
Less than two weeks after receiving blowback from the event organizers and Fred Jones, founder of the classic, Jackson State announced it had reached an agreement with the event organizers to play the game in 2022, and then be free to go on their merry way.
But now the Tigers and the SWAC are in deep litigation. The Summit Management Corp., which sponsors the game, is also hoping for an injunction to make JSU fulfill the final two years of the original agreement (2023 and 2024).
— Southern Heritage Classic (@ClassicMemphis) March 15, 2022
This comes on the heels of Sanders calling the game “a hustle” via the “Pardon My Take” podcast.
“It’s a hustle. We’re losing money tremendously,” Sanders insisted. “This particular classic you’re talking about, first of all, why would two colleges need a promoter? Your two colleges have ADs, why would you need a promoter, that’s No.1.?
“Secondly, I think the fee was like over 30 years, $6 million. That’s peanuts. So by the time you take seven buses for four bands, four buses for the players, couple buses for people, assistants, hotel accommodations, food, you’re out of that. That’s $180-200 grand, you’re out of that. So you didn’t make nothing. You really came up on a blank trip. We gotta stop that foolishness. The first thing we need to take care of as HBCUs is the business aspect of everything, and that’s something we’re changing right now. We’re taking care of business.”
Sanders took to Instagram and mentioned the event.
“SMC has paid JSU fees exceeding $6 million over the years, during many years when JSU was struggling financially. Over the years, TSU has won more games than JSU, but JSU has been better in recent years, and stronger financially. In 2021, JSU was nearly undefeated and won the SWAC championship.”
The football teams are responsible for their own travel, meals and lodging. SMC handles the remaining expenses incurred. The $350,000 payout isn’t adequate in the opinion of Sanders and JSU.
Why Deion Sanders said Jackson State football is leaving Southern Heritage Classic https://t.co/LoaFHVriVY via @memphisnews
— Southern Heritage Classic (@ClassicMemphis) February 24, 2022
Sanders Adamant About Doing What’s Best For JSU:
Since he became JSU head coach, Sanders has been adamant that he’s going to do whatever is in the best interest of Jackson State University. That means playing games that are meaningful not just from a pageantry and aura standpoint, but also participating in games that provide the revenue needed to keep the program on an upward trajectory and in good standing when it comes to recruiting.
Sanders and JSU obviously believe playing in the Southern Heritage Classic isn’t beneficial beyond 2022.
There’s a vicious rumor that MY @JacksonStateAD ASHLEY ROBINSON is The National A.D of the Doggone YEAR! @GoJSUTigers @GoJSUTigersFB Congratulations my brother please get back in there and Redo your contract because u should be the highest PAID A.D in the FCS ! #CoachPrime #Truth pic.twitter.com/k6Tn6MU2RG
— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) March 15, 2022
The SWAC unveiled a new classic, the SWAC Classic, which was set to begin this year having games played at legendary Legion Field, home of many Iron Bowl classics between Alabama and Auburn. The original rumor was JSU would play Arkansas Pine-Bluff in this new event of pageantry with all the bells and whistles. That will have to wait at least a year, and if SMC has its way, it could be three years. In other words, the suit amounts to what is being deemed as “wrongful interference with contractual relations.”
Sanders And JSU Are A Huge Draw: No Replacement School Could Bring That Type Of Visibility, Exposure And Revenue
It’s no secret that Sanders and JSU are the biggest draw in HBCU football and with that you get the raise in visibility, exposure and revenue. Last year’s Southern Heritage Classic returned with a bang following a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19. The announced crowd was over 46,000 for the game and well over 80,000 in the city of Memphis for the weekend. The game wasn’t much of a contest as Coach Prime’s Tigers handled Eddie George’s Tigers pretty easily (38-16).
But after a season of missing the game, it was an amazing scene to have it back.
TSU is currently in need of a jolt as they are marred in the fast-dying Ohio Valley Conference. This suit, although not directly filed by TSU, doesn’t bode well for them possibly joining the SWAC.
TSU and the SWAC have had a long-standing disconnect, and it began when they became the first HBCU to join a non-HBCU conference (OVC) in 1988, where they’ve been since.
It’s the end of an era, no matter if it happens this year or 2024. Since 1990, when the SHC began, it’s been Tennessee State vs Jackson State. The only times it wasn’t was in 1991 when Mississippi Valley State stepped in and 1993 when Grambling State played in it. The TSU version of the Tigers hold the all-time lead at (17-11) in the series.
If you are the principal owner or governor of an NBA franchise you’re not worried about paying your cellphone bill. But there are levels to this. Some NBA owners’ net worth significantly dwarfs others.
Los Angeles Clippers’ owner Steve Ballmer has a net worth of $90.2 billion. The former CEO of Microsoft was the company’s 30th employee back in 1980 and oversaw the company during a high-growth period. In 2014 he bought the Clippers for $2 billion.
Ballmer is the wealthiest owner by a wide margin. Who else is in the multi-billionaire club and who’s rich but nowhere close to wealthy?
Portland Trail Blazers owner Jody Allen’s net worth is reportedly $22 billion. Allen is the sister of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Upon Paul’s death in 2018 she assumed control over his estate, including the Trail Blazers and the Seattle Seahawks of the NFL.
Dan Gilbert’s Ventures Inevitably Hurt The Poor And Desperate
Cleveland Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert’s net worth is $20.8 billion. He co-founded what would become Quicken Loans, the largest mortgage lender in the U.S., in 1985 at 22 years old.
If you combined Gilbert and Allen’s net worth you’d still be $47.4 billion short of Ballmer.
If you’re net worth was $47.4B you could buy half the NBA franchises and still be worth roughly $2.4 billion.
Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera is the last member of the 11-digit club. The founder and CEO of wireless equipment maker Ubiquiti Networks has a net worth of $14.7 billion.
The 10-digit club is where the majority of NBA owners reside. Nineteen in total have net worths between $1-9 billion.
Denver Nuggets’ owner Ann Walton Kroenke and Brooklyn Nets’ owner Joe Tsai are the wealthiest of this crew.
Kroenke is not only an heiress to the Walmart fortune. Her husband Stan Kroenke is a self-made billionaire who is one of the largest single land owners in North America. Kroenke Sports & Entertainment is the holding company for Arsenal F.C., the Los Angeles Rams, and the Colorado Avalanche, in addition to the Nuggets.
Tsai is the vice chairman and co-founder of Alibaba Group. Think of Alibaba as China’s Amazon. Only Amazon does three times the annual revenue of Alibaba.
If Kroenke and Tsai combined their net worths it would still be less than Dan Gilbert’s.
One of the more interesting owners in the 10-digit club is the Houston Rockets’ Tilman Fertitta. He has a net worth of $5.6 billion. Fertitta also owns the Golden Nugget Casinos and Landry’s restaurant and entertainment company. Obviously a wealthy man, but not a very liquid one. That came to bear when he purchased the Rockets in 2017 for $2.2 billion.
Fertitta needed then-owner Les Alexander to loan him $275 million in order to complete his purchase of the Rockets, as he and his businesses had less than $300 million in cash when he began the process of purchasing the Rockets. Fertitta also assumed $175 million in debt as a part of the deal. Fertitta sold $1.42 billion in bonds, which led to the $1.75 billion in equity that was used to buy the Rockets.
Then there is the Fertitta family history, which is questionable …
Billionaire Bully: James Dolan Suing City Of Inglewood, Steve Ballmer
New York Knicks owner James Dolan’s net worth is estimated at $2 billion. He’s one of the least popular owners in all of sports. But he’s wealthy and he has a band! Don’t laugh. JD & The Straight Shot headline at Madison Square Garden …
What about the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers?
Their governors, Wyc Grousbeck and Jeanie Buss, respectively, are members of the nine digit club. Very rich, to be clear. But not in the billionaire class. If they combined their net worths, they’d be $100 million short of the billionaires club.
All these people have more money than they know what to do with, but there are levels to this.
The Cleveland Browns seem to be at a crossroads after a disappointing 2021 season in which they did not make the playoffs. There have been multiple reports about the Browns looking to bring in a veteran quarterback in or to trade current starter and former No. 1 overall pick, Baker Mayfield.
Baker says he’s not even sure what’s next but the tweet he sent out implies a departure.
With many uncertainties, here is where my head and heart is. pic.twitter.com/psipN96cmh
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) March 16, 2022
The Browns’ public pursuit of Watson is a glaring message to the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick in 2018. The team that drafted him no longer sees him as a franchise quarterback.
Cleveland meeting with Deshaun Watson so it should be a glorious day on Browns Twitter. pic.twitter.com/jHumD0u7GG
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) March 15, 2022
Mayfield’s journey with the Browns had a rocky start and many attribute that slow progress to the fact that he had a new head coach for three straight years. Having inconsistency at a key leadership position definitely didn’t help Baker find a rhythm or establish his own culture within the team.
During his rookie season he provided a much-needed spark for Cleveland after they fired their head coach Hue Jackson in the middle of another miserable season. Heading into year two, the Browns hired Freddie Kitchens as their head coach and made a splash trade to acquire Odell Beckham Jr., but Baker struggled to find any rhythm. During his second season he threw 22 touchdowns with 21 interceptions.
Things started to change in year three, when the Browns hired Kevin Stefanski. Stefanski not only brought in a new offensive scheme, but a change in culture. The new offense is run-centric, and it took a lot of pressure off Mayfield. This gave way to his best TD-to-INT ratio (26-8) and the Browns won their first playoff game since 1995.
Despite a successful first year, the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately league” and 2021 was not a great year for Cleveland. The Browns missed the playoffs in 2021 and struggled due to injuries on the offensive line, which led to Baker getting injured and missing games after being sacked the most in his career (43). The team also dealt with inner turmoil when superstar wide receiver Beckham Jr. had a public feud with Mayfield and voiced that he wanted to be traded or released.
Bottom line on Baker Mayfield: 2021 was a throwout. With his labrum, all the other offensive injuries, the OBJ saga… there’s NO way you can draw any conclusions from his performance. Zero. He gets 1 year to prove ‘18 & ‘20 Baker were the real Baker. End of story. #Browns
— Ed Greenberger (@EdGreenberger) March 10, 2022
Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry spoke with reporters at the NFL Combine and shared he still expects Mayfield to be the starting quarterback for the 2022 season. Berry did mention though he is always looking to improve the roster.
“We really do look at it like it’s an expansion team, and if we have opportunities to match resources with talent, we do want to continue to add talent to the roster and that applies to every position.”
Since then, Deshaun Watson’s legal troubles have subsided and the Browns are among the teams heavily vying for his services along with the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints.
Instead of signing Mayfield to a long-term contract last offseason, the Browns decided to only pick up his fifth-year option, and he will earn a fully guaranteed salary of $18.858 million in 2022. This is considered a team-friendly contract compared to other starting quarterback salaries, which does leave the door open for a possible trade.
And ANDREW BERRY STRIKES AGAIN!
This man is a legend! pic.twitter.com/2xcZOLH6AP
— 🟧🟫⬜️🟫🟧 (@CleBrownies2024) March 12, 2022
The Cleveland Browns drafted Mayfield in hopes they found their franchise quarterback for the next decade. But a short four years later, Cleveland does not seem sold on Baker. The 2022 season is going to be a prove-it year for Mayfield in hopes that he could earn a long-term deal with either the Browns or another franchise.
As for the Browns, their organizational structure is stable with Berry making personnel decisions and Stefanski leading the players, but without a franchise quarterback things could turn for the worse. As far as this franchise is concerned, they haven’t had nearly enough success yet to go back to the days of 1-15 and 0-16 records.
James Harden has been mired in a miserable slump for the Sixers over the past few games. He is one of the main pieces of this roster that allows the City of Brotherly Love to have Larry O’Brien aspirations.
But the biggest knock on Harden is that he sometimes doesn’t show up in the most important games, and that could be Philly’s downfall come playoff time.
But while Harden has been in a slump, Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey has been doing everything he can to help the Sixers win.
Outside of MVP candidate Joel Embiid, the Sixers have been very inconsistent as far as individual output from players. Harden is obviously going to benefit your team in terms of scoring and playmaking, but he’s not new to slumping at the wrong time, especially in crucial playoff situations.
Philly’s “Thirty-Five Million Dollar” man Tobias Harris has simply just been a strong role player and a fourth scoring option for them. The former Long Island Lutheran star is averaging just under 18 a game. While the rest of the team has been average, it’s Maxey who has flashed star potential, and in March we saw him average 18 as a reliable third wheel for the Sixers.
While you look at the immediate numbers you see Harden still putting up 23 points per game, to go along with over 10 assists per game, which is second in the league, and just under eight rebounds per game.
Harden has been mildly inefficient from the field since being acquired in the blockbuster trade with Brooklyn. He’s obviously still developing chemistry with his team and getting comfortable with Doc Rivers, who can be very demanding. The anti-Steve Nash.
After a celebrated arrival, Harden has shot under 40 percent from the field, 32 percent from three, and is averaging just over three turnovers a game in March.
Philly was finally able to see a different side of Harden recently, where against his former Brooklyn Nets, Harden shot 3-for-17 from the field and only put up 11 points in a blowout loss.
(James Harden/Instagram)
The following game, the Sixers barely get by lowly Orlando in an OT win. No thanks to Harden, who put up 26 points on 5-for-19 shooting while shooting 3-for-11 from deep.
Two highly disappointing games from Harden, who for the most part has been extremely good for the Sixers in his role as a primary playmaker, and a second-option scorer.
But what the numbers won’t show about Harden’s impact but is clearly evident from any angle you look is that he has been Mr. Miyagi to Tyrese Maxey, who has been balling out of his mind, averaging 19 ppg since The Beard landed.
Harden has encouraged Maxey to shoot more and to exploit his mismatches in the game when he feels like he has one. Maxey has clearly been the third scoring option for Philly, and he has accepted that role gracefully.
Maxey is a flamethrower and has shown the ability to get hot late in close games, which is something Philly is going to need, because down the line teams have shown the tendency to double- and triple-team Embiid late in the game, as well as double-teaming Harden on occasion.
Maxey is only 21 and may be the steal of that 2020 draft, as Philly took him with the 21st pick in the first-round.
Maxey is a young player who’s made incredible strides and is able to still put up the numbers he has next to Embiid and Harden, which is no small feat.
Rivers will be looking to involve Maxey in playoff time even more, and Maxey will be counted on to provide and compete with that same confidence that he is exerting right now.
A huge output from Maxey in the nationally televised playoffs will definitely catapult him into that next tier of players in the NBA.
No one expects Harden to be in a slump for the rest of the season; in fact Harden rebounded against the Nuggets on Monday, posting a near-24-point triple-double on 54 percent shooting, so he’s still an x-factor for this team, but it’s nice to have a young talent like Maxey stepping up when your best players are struggling.
That, in my opinion, is the epitome of team basketball, and the Sixers will be counting on that for a major playoff run that hopefully for them ends with them winning the NBA championship.
Philadelphia boxer Blair Cobbs has a lot to say about fellow welterweight Errol Spence Jr., and it is all shade.
“When I look at Spence’s eyes, I see a fighter that doesn’t have the true fighting spirit anymore,” said Blair Cobbs to FightHype and more during a media day for his March 19 fight on DAZN.
“Errol Spence had to face some demons outside of the ring with alcoholism and dealing with hurt,” Cobbs added.
Cobbs (15-0-1, 10 KOs) is facing Alexis Rocha (18-0-1, 12 KOs) in a 10-round scheduled bout. The fight is the co-feature on the Vergil Ortiz Jr. vs. Michael McKinson card on March 19 on DAZN at the USC Galen Center, Los Angeles.
“He’s afraid of Terence Crawford. What was the wait to make that fight for so long? He waited so long that he became devastated,” Cobbs continued about Spence.
“If you don’t do what’s right, you will be cursed, and guess what happened? We don’t see him fight for anything for a long time — one injury after the next.
“Car injury, this injury, eye injury. He missed the opportunity to beat Manny Pacquiao. What now? He’s a coward and I don’t respect cowards. He ruined boxing.”
Breaking 🚨
Blair Cobbs goes in on Errol Spence Jr & says: “Spence is a coward…he ruined boxing” 😳
Not going to lie..A lot of what he’s saying is true..#Boxing @ego_biggest @tbuie912 @iqnewz @RealRickGlaser1 @Ben78064636 pic.twitter.com/lPDez9TaYj
— AccordingToBoxing (@AccordToBoxing) March 11, 2022
Cobbs has also been giving his opinions on the fighters at the top of the 147-pound division; Spence is at the top of the list. WBC and IBF champion Errol Spence Jr and WBA titleholder Yordenis Ugas meet in a unification fight next month, and Cobbs can only see one winner in Texas.
“Ugas is going to end up winning that fight,” Cobbs told The DAZN Boxing Show.
That’s not all. Cobbs also had a lot to say about boxing’s reigning pound-for-pound king: Saul “Canelo” Alvarez.
“There are no thoughts on Canelo. Canelo is fighting easy fights that aren’t worth a damn thing, and it’s not worth my time,” continued Cobbs to Fighthype.
However, Spence heard the chatter and took to social media to give his thoughts on what he considers a “33-year-old prospect.”
“Y’all listening to a 33yr old prospect 😂😂😂😂 media has to stop being so thirsty for content N**** looks up to Ric flair,” said Errol Spence Jr on Twitter in responding to Blair Cobbs.
“& I read buddy backstory if I’m cursed wtf he thinks going on with him 🤡. 32 33 whatever lol.”
Cobbs’ nickname is “The Flair.” However, if this was a promo speech or how he really feels isn’t really known. What is known is that the gimmick is instantly recognizable in the fight business.
Like the WWE inspiration in Ric Flair, he ends his mic dropping statements with an obligatory “wooo!” even during training sessions.
He has held the WBC-NABF welterweight title since 2019, which is a minor belt. He has not fought anyone of relevance in the welterweight division yet, probably due to boxing politics.
In 2017, Cobbs signed to Golden Boy Promotions, the organization owned by Hall of Famers Oscar de la Hoya and Bernard Hopkins. However, all the top welterweights except Terence Crawford are signed to Premier Boxing Champions and advised by the promotional banner’s owner, Al Haymon.
He has been angling to fight fellow welterweight prospect Jaron “Boots” Enni,s but since he is also signed to Haymon and PBC, that seems unlikely.
Regardless of the gatekeepers that stop certain matches from being made, Cobbs is trying to boost his appeal with the scathing indictments. Only time will tell if he wins and politics will give him the fights he thinks he deserves.
The tennis world reacted to Naomi Osaka’s heckler moment at Indian Wells, and it wasn’t favorable to the community of mental health.
Fellow tennis players Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal were asked their opinions, and while supportive, they both echoed the sentiment that comes with the game.
“The easy answer for me is I feel terrible about what happened, that never should happen,” Nadal said post-match at the press conference at Indian Wells.
🗣️ "I feel very sorry for her but we are very lucky people."
Rafael Nadal says he empathizes with Naomi Osaka after she was reduced to tears by a heckler in the crowd following her Indian Wells exit but admits it's something tennis players should be ready for. pic.twitter.com/ctHKYlpwwo
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 15, 2022
Nadal defeated British star Dan Evans 7-5, 6-3.
This sets up a Round of 16 match-ups with either Reilly Opelka or Denis Shapovalov. The win continues an impressive start of 2022 for Nadal.
Nadal defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final, 2–6, 6–7, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5, to win the men’s singles tennis title at the 2022 Australian Open. It was his second Australian Open title and 21st major singles title overall.
The win surpassed the all-time record shared with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. However, Nadal was cautious of Osaka’s reaction to her detractors.
'Nothing is perfect in life', says Rafael Nadal on Naomi Osaka heckler incident#RafaelNadal𓃵
— Dais World ® (@world_dais) March 15, 2022
“Even if it is terrible to hear from that, we need to be prepared for that, no?
“At the same time, as we like a lot when the people are supporting, when something like this happens, we need to accept and move forward, no?
“We need to resist these kind of issues that can happen when you are exposed to the people, no?”
Nadal’s sentiment seems par for the course when it comes to fame and athletics on the top levels. But for Osaka, fame is an albatross that brings forth her insecurities and pressures as a high-level sports and marketing star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyEtmcJ76NU
Osaka was brought to tears at the tournament in the desert after a heckler called out, “Naomi, you suck.”
The action triggered Osaka, who has already been honest about her mental health journey since stopping Serena Williams’s bid for a 24th Grand Slam singles title in February 2020.
Osaka swept Williams 6-3, 6-4 in the Australian Open semifinals, her 20th consecutive match win. However, the windfall of success led to fame, which always brings some polarization.
When Osaka’s emotions spilled over after going down 0-3 in her second-round match last weekend, the tears flowed from the Haitian-Japanese star courtside.
Osaka tried an unconventional approach when she petitioned the chair umpire to address the fan and crowd over the microphone. Her request was immediately denied.
Although the 24-year-old resumed the match and excelled in the second set, Veronika Kudermetova was strong and won 6-0, 6-4.
Although Osaka has been exposed to heckling in the past, she said it felt different this time, perhaps because it was the site of the infamous incident against the Williams sisters.
Osaka said on court post-match that the incident was a harsh reminder of the Williams sister’s treatment at Indian Wells in 2001.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfy30yDE-bE
Venus withdrew from her semifinal against Serena with a knee injury, but the crowd wasn’t having it and booed Venus and her father Richard Williams when they took their seats to watch the final match. Richard reportedly was the target of racial slurs from the crowd.
Then 19-years-old with a Grand Slam title already to her name, Serena won the U.S. Open in 1999 and then Indian Wells.
In a “Red Table Talk” interview with Will Smith last year, Serena explained the trauma she experienced from the hecklers that led to a 14-year boycott.
“Talk about post-traumatic stress and mental anxiety,” Williams said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IPk01XQrSM
However, Williams returned to the event in 2015 following her 14-year boycott. Nadal feels the same but added that he wishes the best for her recovery.
“I understand that probably Naomi suffered a lot with these, probably kind of issues that she has, mental (health) issues. The only thing that I wish her is recover well from that and wish her all the very best.
“But the life, nothing is perfect in this life, no? We need to be ready for adversities.”
