If it’s not a fall from grace then what is it ?
They were all set to dominate and over the past few seasons these athletes in their own way have shone and then somehow flamed out. While still highly paid in the ultra- competitive world of professional sports, it’s hard to justify some of the salaries now being paid within the NBA , NFL and MLB . Say what you will, but I’ve long maintained a sport that barely has the Nielsen’s Rating flickering is simply not worth my time and so it goes in the world of professional hockey, otherwise known as the NHL .
Slide show.
When Dez Bryant was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys before the start start of the 2010 NFL season , it was felt the wide receiver would be a game-changer for the franchise. Taken as the twenty-fourth pick overall in the 2010 NFL Draft , initially he lived up to the hoopla, but over the past three years there has been a tail-off in productivity , while being paid handsomely in return by the franchise. Dez Bryant has two more years left on a five-year $70 million contract, but it would appear the player believes he’s in line for a pay raise. My own believe is that neither team owner and de-facto general manager Jerry Jones is willing to offer a new deal to the always rambunctious Bryant. The player and his agent , RocNation Sports will certainly try to prove the Cowboys’ front office wrong , if the rumors are to believed , that he will be cut. He has a cap hit to Dallas which will be over $14,000,000 for this upcoming season. Only Antonio Brown and Larry Fitzgerald will be better paid as wide receivers within the NFL for 2018.
From my own standpoint based on 2017 and 2016 , Dez Bryant has done nothing to suggest he’s even remotely in the class of either of those two players. Bryant being cut by the Dallas Cowboys might not be as big a loss as some might believe it to be. If he falls by the wayside , then I expect a number of teams likely to show some interest , but I seriously doubt that he will be able to get a big multi-year deal of over $100 million .
I have to hand it to Derek Jeter , not only has he been throwing out the bath water , but he’s also made the kitchen sink and all of the wares will be gone, along with alienating the Miami Marlins’ fans. No sooner have he and his business partners assumed control of the franchise , having paid over $1 billion for the privilege of owning the ball-club. He is now stripping it down to all but it’s essential bare bones as a playing staff . Jeter and senior managing partner Bruce Sherman have promised that the Marlins will be competitive in 2018, but I can’t see that happening when the team’s payroll will be way under $90 million .
Derek Jeter right is seen here with Marlins’ co-owner Bruce Sherman.
In this day age within baseball, $90 million might get you across the finish line,but in no way will it make you a leader of the pack, much less a viable contender for the World Series. Assuming there are no more trades to be made , the Miami Marlins’ roster is one with some experience but no real veteran leaders among the squad. Don Mattingly returns for another season to manage the Marlins and it will be interesting to see how the team fares against their divisional rivals this season. Mattingly and the team will begin with their exhibition games as part of Spring Training. The opening game of their regular season will see them face off against the Chicago Cubs at Marlins Ballpark in Miami , Florida on the 29th March ,2018. In terms of the Marlins being able to get the better of Washington Nationals or any of their rivals within the National League , I think it’s pretty safe to say they face an uphill battle , while their Derek Jeter seems so optimistic about the team’s chances.
Do athletes really need to be told, don’t do drugs? Don’t get caught with drugs and surely make sure if you’re going to get caught , make sure you have a sound explanation for your situation. Esteban Loaiza a seasoned veteran within the game, now faces some serious legal charges within the judicial system. Having plead not guilty on the charges of possession and the distribution of more than 10 kilograms (twenty-two pounds) of cocaine, Loaiza if found guilty, could be facing as much as twenty-five years in a California State Prison. Suffice to say his days within the game of baseball are essentially over.
A two-time NL Cy Young Award winner , it should tell you something when a pitcher of Tim Lincecum’s status now finds himself on the outside looking in , hoping to find himself on a Major League roster prior to the beginning of Spring Training. When he was let go by the San Francisco Giants, many were astonished by those turn of events. He was a mainstay on the team and part of the success when they won three World Series’ crowns within the space of five years, between 2010 and 2015. Lincecum found himself with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016 and his role with the team somewhat understated . Having been invited to the Spring Training Camp of the Seattle Mariners , it will be interesting to see if Tim Lincecum can make his way unto their starting lineup for 2018. There is a great deal of depth to the starting rotation as well as middle relief , but Lincecum will certainly have to prove himself if he going to make it unto the team’s final roster. Injuries and inconsistency were the issues which plagued pitcher , which led to his dismissal with the San Francisco Giants and his performances with the Angels at best , were never up to the expectations sought by managerial staff of Mike Scioscia and the front office .
For the Seattle Mariners this will be a make or break season , because over the past five years things have not gone in their favor. This franchise has not been to the MLB postseason since 2001 when they made to the ALCS , only to fall to the New York Yankees losing 4-1 in the best of seven-game series . The likes of Felix Hernandez , Robinson Cano and others will have to be front and center , playing great baseball if the Mariners are to make a return the postseason. Seventeen years is a long drought for a ball-club where former greats Alex Rodriguez , Ken Griffey Jr and Edgar Martinez made their names. I can see the Mariners vying for the AL West division in 2018 where their stiffest challenge is likely to come from reigning World Series champions the Houston Astros . Seattle will begin their regular season schedule with a game against the Cleveland Indians .
Big splash in New York, when he was acquired by the New York Knicks , but no one within the front office knew what to do in order to complement the talents of Carmelo Anthony . At the time , it was thought the trade that brought him to the Knicks from the Denver Nuggets would be the stepping stone needed for Anthony to prove himself among the elite players within the NBA. Instead , he has now become an afterthought while barely contributing to his present team the Oklahoma City Thunder .
While the Oklahoma City Thunder are challenging within their division and there’s been a spirited run within the Western Conference . There is a belief had Carmelo been contributing more, the team would be in a much better position all-round.
Well he’s now on this third team inside of a year , having been traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Kyrie Irving as the Boston Celtics moved to get younger and more productive at the point guard position. Isiah Thomas’ stint in Cleveland barely lasted the first half of the season and now he’s with the Los Angeles Lakers , where he will be teamed up alongside Lonzo Ball in the Lakers’ back-court . This should prove to be very intriguing as the team looks to make a push for a playoff berth within the West Conference . The depth of talent is far greater than anything they faced last season and even with the belief that Luke Walton and the coaching staff can motivate the players, against the top teams in the conference , I just don’t think there isn’t enough talent at Walton’s disposal. When the team resumes its schedule , they will face the Dallas Mavericks in a home game on the 23rd February. This will mark the return of the league in the aftermath of the All Star Break .
It’s not often I choose to be political when it comes to sports, but in light of the venal attacks seen from politicians and their demeaning remarks about athletes. I believe there comes a time when you have to stand up and take note. America has become a legitimate cesspool of garbage, with much of it on display not only from the politicians but also media whores, notably from the right and left of the political aisle. We have seen the President Donald Trump with his ham-fisted portrayals of patriotism and well-orchestrated acts of compassion after the recent tragic events in Parkland , Florida. With that in mind, the comments recently made by Laura Ingraham , a doyenne of the Conservative arc of idiocy and racial bigotry. I can only surmise that Ingraham must feel that she’s the wife of a white slave owner from the Deep South , who likes to see her niggers slaves kept in place . Her comments about high profiled NBA stars LeBron James and Kevin Durant were not only demeaning, but it was clear that Ingraham simply didn’t care about what either of the players had to say concerning the social injustice being seen within the country at present.
Courtesy of New York Daily News
How Black America dispelled Laura Ingraham’s racist comments about LeBron James in a single weekend
By Carron J Phillips
In 1926, Carter G. Woodson started “Negro History Week,” today it is known and celebrated as Black History Month.
LeBron James (left) and Laura Ingraham
And this past weekend, multiple events took place that prove why Black History Month is still so necessary, because even when African-Americans have the shortest month of the year to celebrate our history and culture, we still have to deal with intolerance and ignorance.
You would think that asking America not to be racist for 28 days would be a simple task, but this past weekend proved that even in 2018 it’s a big favor to ask that of a country that once counted us as three-fifths of a human being.
Before last week, the only time I’d ever heard of Laura Ingraham was when she made headlines for appearing to give a Nazi salute at the end of her speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention in support of Donald Trump — which is why her infuriating words on Thursday about a video of LeBron James and Kevin Durant discussing Trump with ESPN’s Cari Champion shouldn’t have been a surprise when you think about it.
LeBron James responds to Laura Ingraham on Trump comments
By now, you know that Ingraham referred to James as a “dumb jock,” said his elocution skills were “barely intelligible” and “ungrammatical,” wrongly described a video segment as a podcast, falsely claimed that James attempted to leave high school early, and doesn’t think athletes should speak on politics — even though her network has had the likes of Joe Namath, Bobby Knight, Curt Schilling, and even Dog the Bounty Hunter come on air to discuss politics — and still refuses to believe the President makes racist comments.So, when Ingraham told James to “shut up and dribble,” it was just further proof that she views black athletes as nothing more than court jesters.
And for all of you who are still in shock and don’t understand how someone like James, who’s the best basketball player on the planet, could have the N-Word spray-painted on the front gate of his L.A. home last summer, Ingraham is a big reason why these things still happen.
After the incident, people immediately started to weigh in to defend James, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver and National Basketball Players Association Executive Director Michele Roberts quickly adding their names to the list.
Chris Long takes Laura Ingraham to task over LeBron gripe
“I’m incredibly proud of our players for using the platform they have as players in the NBA and on social media to speak out on issues that are important to them,” Silver said. “I was proud of LeBron and Kevin’s response to the comments that were made about them.”“Between LeBron’s 40 million followers and Kevin Durant’s 17 million followers on Twitter, Laura Ingraham has now introduced herself as intolerant and narrow-minded to 57 million people and the world,” Roberts added. “We stand with our players.”
Click on link to read in full .
LeBron James’ response to Laura Ingraham’s comments were insightful and very polite without taking aim directly as to the commentator’s racial biased overtones and comments. Needless to say , her supporters have suggested she said nothing out-of-place while , the players’ fans have voiced their concerns and thoughts via social media platforms of both James and Steph Curry .
Five decades ago Muhammad Ali , Tommie Smith and John Carlos were vilified by the press and nation at large for their outspokenness. Much of the criticism came from white America because they were simply afraid and in fear of anything a black man has to say. Circa 2018 and not much has changed other than the fact we now have a President who feasts off this divisiveness and racial bigotry , while Laura Ingraham is emboldened to carry on with that type of behavior and behind it all, as freedom of speech.
Simply chime in with your comments concerning the points raised within this article.
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Picture gallery. Click on image to see that picture along with the accompanying narrative.
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Tophatal's Blog 
Dez Bryant is no longer the player he once was and he’s not even the best wide receiver in the league.
NFL news and NFL transactions
Tophatal …………….
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Laura Ingraham needs to stay in her fu#king lane and remember the fact she’s never made a fu#king sacrifice in her life , much less done anything of note with her life other than being an outright racist bit#h.
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I’m sorry Derek Jeter, but you’re already blowing it with the Miami Marlins’ fans , along with any goodwill you thought had been made within the community. If you continue to carry on as you are , you will be treated no better than previous Marlins’ owners H D Wayne Huizenga and Jeffrey Loria . Two of the most unscrupulous and conniving owners who’ve ever been involved in the game of baseball as executives.
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There’s nothing to suggest the Los Angeles Lakers now have what it takes to actually earn an NBA Playoff berth , in spite of their standings within their division and conference .
Teams will resume the second half of the NBA schedule with games beginning on Thursday 22nd February , 2018. One of the most intriguing games on the schedule will see the New York Knicks taking on the Orlando Magic at the Amway Arena in Orlando , Florida .
NBA news
Los Angeles Lakers news
Tophatal ………………….
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Giancarlo Stanton joined Aaron Judge for batting practice. It could very well be a phenomenal season for the New York Yankees if both players were able to hit 40 homers apiece (each) . The Yankees will begin their Spring Training Schedule with a game against the Philadelphia Phillies on 1st March , 2018 . The opening game of their regular season will see this newly revamped team take on the Toronto Blue Jays in a game between AL East rivals as they will meet over nineteen times over the course of the season. New York’s payroll for this season is considerably lower than it has been over the last four seasons .
Giancarlo Stanton , left and his Yankees’ teammate Aaron Judge.
New York Yankees news
Tophatal ………….
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So there’s talk that the New York Mets believe that Tim Tebow is likely to play in the Majors this season for the team . At what point that might be would be very interesting . If he’s part of the Opening Day Lineup when the Mets are due to face the St Louis Cardinals . I am not so sure what Tebow can bring to the Mets based on his performances during 2017 within their Minor League System . If nothing else , I feel the Mets will have to play at a far greater level than seen in 2017 , when the team failed miserably in just about every facet of the game. Jose Reyes and Yoenis Cespedes will be among the highest paid players on the team’s roster for this upcoming season .
Tim Tebow of the Mets .
The New York Mets’ biggest challenge of the season will be how they fare against the Washington Nationals , perhaps the best team within the NL East . Bryce Harper will be the Mets’ go-to-guy for the season and will be interesting to see if he can replicate the form when he won the NLMVP .
The managerial staff of the Washington Nationals will be headed up by Dave Martinez as he begins his first season in charge of a Major League franchise. A great deal is expected of this manager by the front office and specifically general manager Mike Rizzo. The GM for his part knows that this might be the last season for the ball-club to make a push of winning their first World Series’ title. Recent postseason appearances have not been favorable for the franchise. The farthest they’ve have gone was to the 1981 NLCS game . They would fall to the Los Angeles Dodgers in that series .
Washington will begin their exhibition schedule on the 23rd February with a game against the Houston Astros , with their regular opening season game to be played against the Cincinnati Reds . This prove to be a very interesting contest as part of their regular season series .
Bryce Harper (pictured above) has chosen not to discuss his options concerning his long-term future with the Nationals but is clear the player and his agent have a vested interest in his getting the best possible contract for a player of his stature . Harper could become the highest paid player in baseball history with a deal in the range of $350 to $400 million , far outstripping the deal of Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees . Harper can become a free agent in 2019 alongside several high-profiled stars looking to become well-paid .
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I’m done with the Atlanta Braves as a fan of the franchise , having switched allegiance from the Miami Marlins , after the last set of maneuvers of former owner Jeffrey Loria . It’s bad enough that the new ownership led by Derek Jeter has now seen fit to gut the roster , believing that they can best operate on the cheap with a young an inexperienced lineup while being managed by Don Mattingly. In the case of the Braves , it has been the lack of foresight from the senior executives as well as the managerial staff over the past six seasons . They’ve consistently missed the mark with their drafting of prospects going as far back as 2010 . The fact that Atlanta hasn’t made the postseason since 2013 is even more disturbing considering the fact that during the early part of the last decade they were a constant performer under then manager Bobby Cox .
This season the Altanta Braves will head into 2018 with something of a revamped roster and managerial staff led by Brian Snitker. After last season’s disastrous state of affairs I was somewhat surprised to see Snitker’s return as a manager for the ball-club. He managed the team as if they were still young recruits learning the game , with no one actually being held accountable for their actions. I will be surprised if the Braves win more than seventy-five games this season , with their schedule beginning with their exhibition set of games before embarking on their regular season , with an Opening Day game against the Philadelphia Phillies a divisional rival within the NL East .
It’s hard to envisage which player on Atlanta’s roster will have an outstanding season for the franchise as they seek to have a successful year. The team’s best player last season was none other than Freddie Freeman and will have to lead this team by example. Freeman is now seen as the heir-apparent to Chipper Jones , a Hall of Fame inductee and former Braves’ great. .
Atlanta Braves news
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So Russell Wilson is now in training camp alongside his fellow teammates of the New York Yankees . Wilson might be hoping to get a leg up and make it to the Majors with the club, from my own standpoint it’s a risk that I believe the front office of the Seattle Seahawks would rather that he didn’t take . Other than Richard Sherman , the Superbowl winning quarterback is the most high-profiled and visible face of the franchise .
While I have no doubt that Russell Wilson can play baseball , this might be more about vanity than anything else. The New York Yankees have depth on the roster and even with their non roster invitees , there might not be room on the team for the NFL player even if newly introduced manager Brett Boone might feel otherwise. In all likelihood Wilson will get his chance to suit up for the Yankees in several of their Spring Training games and then should be excel , then there is the remote chance he could very find find himself on the roster for the start of the regular season . Boone in his first full season with the Yankees will have to prove himself to not only the fans , but clearly Brian Cashman as well as the Steinbrenner family, owners of baseball’s most successful franchise.
Without a World Series’ victory since 2009 , it has been almost a decade since the New York Yankees could claim to be world champions. With a star-laden team and a payroll to match , the expectations will be for this ball-club over the course of the season . Their meetings with their divisional rivals should prove to be very interesting especially against the Boston Red Sox . The first of their regular season meetings will take place on the April 10th at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts .
New York Yankees news
Tophatal …………..
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Injuries to several players on the Green Bay Packers’ roster most notably to Aaron Rodgers , simply hobbled the Packers for much of the season . With Rodgers missing from the lineup it led to one of the franchise’s worst seasons over the past decade. Not since 2008 have the Packers fared so badly in the NFL , which was the last season their Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre was a player with the franchise.
With Aaron Rodgers out the lineup for much of 2017 , it was left to Brett Hundley to lead the Green Bay Packers offense . During the off-season there will be several issues
which the Packers’ front office will have to address . The NFL Draft will be equally important as the issue of free agency acquisitions . Hundley’s baptism of fire , provided Mike McCarthy with some clues as to what he could expect from the player in the future.
The Green Bay Packers’ schedule should prove to be an interesting one beyond the contests against their divisional rivals within the NFC North . Personally , I’d like to see Aaron Rodgers and the Packers regain the form that made them one of the most feared franchises within the NFC over the past eight seasons.
Green Bay Packers news
Tophatal ………………………
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So after what was described as a moral boosting victory when they defeated the Boston Celtics , the best team in the Eastern Conference , the Cleveland Cavaliers fell back to earth with an inexplicable loss to the Washington Wizards who were without their point guard John Wall . Led by Bradley Beal , the Wizards simply outplayed the Cavaliers in just about every facet of the game on their way to an astonishing victory. LeBron James suggested that the Cavaliers showed a great deal of guts in the loss , but from my perspective even with a newly revamped roster this team is still a long way off from being a legitimate threat or one of the top four teams in the East with a chance of making it to conference finals and being the Eastern representative in this season’s NBA Finals .
Over their last eight games the Cavaliers have performed relevantly well but nowhere near the potential many believed they possessed at the start of the season .
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ next game will see them pitted against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Fedex Forum in Memphis Tennessee on 23rd February ,
2018 .
Cleveland Cavaliers’ news
Tophatal ………………….
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I will be really looking forward to see which of the nation’s top college running backs will be taken among those offensive players in the first round of the NFL Draft (2018) . There’s a great deal of hype going on at present , but I do feel the teams in need of productive players will have to position themselves accordingly to get that right pick , either by moving up or down in the Draft.
NFL news and NFL Draft
NFL transactions and 2018 projected cap space
for the teams .
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Well Spring Training has begun in Major League Baseball and it will be interesting to see how the teams fare during the exhibition season .
If there’s one franchise I know that will be a major disappointment this season then that team would have to be the Tampa Bay Rays ! Not just content with gutting the roster , the front office just seems to be completely devoid of a competitive spirit altogether . The explanations from the executives are repetitive as to the reasons why, the Rays have to cut their payroll and it dates back as far as 2010.
The Tampa Bay Rays will head into this season with one of the most inexperienced teams in all of baseball with no real proven leader on the roster. Bear in mind Evan Longoria a fan-favorite is no longer with the ball-club having been traded to the San Francisco Giants .
If the Tampa Bay Rays are to have a winning season then they will have to start winning right off the bat , winning games at a consistent pace throughout the season . The Tampa Bay Rays will begin their regular season schedule will have their Opening Game of the season where they will play the Boston Red Sox .
MLB news
Tampa Bay Rays news
Tophatal ……………
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A couple of things to address here.
#1 No doubt laure Ingraham was outta line by playing the elitist education card. BFD she was an Ivy Leaguer. Transparent racist.
#2 That alleged ‘hate’ spray paint on LBJ’s property was a myth and self-inflicted. Not one witness viewed the N-word painted. His kids are the likely pranksters.
#3 Don’t be surprised if Bryce Harper signs with the Phillies when he becomes a free agent.
#4 Dez Bryant is an over-hyped wide receiver playing a position that is also over-hyped. With the rules protecting the offense, good pass catchers are a dime a dozen. The valuable talent lies on the other side with dbacks and safeties i.e. Josh Norman and Richard Sherman.
#5 I not as high on Aaron Judge and the rest of the sports media are. Not too many guys his size made for baseball superstar status. The opposing hurlers caught on to his game in the the 2nd half last year.
#5 Oh, on Germany soccer? A real choke job versus the Russians in the hockey Gold Medal game. Russians tied the game in the last minute shorthanded and won it in OT. NBC might have to pass the hat around to recoup their losses for poor ratings.
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Ronbets
LBJ and the Cavaliers have a great deal to worry about. The roster may have gotten younger but they’re still going to be exposed. This team simply isn’t good enough to take on and beat the best that the West has to offer in the NBA playoffs.
Laura Ingraham is a shrill.
The Winter Olympics remain a bore and a complete waste of my time.
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Ronbets
With the acquisitions that Brian Cashman has been allowed to make , the New York Yankees are in a far better position to make a concerted challenge for AL East crown. If the pitching can remain consistent throughout much the season without their being any type of reliance on a relic such as CC Sabathia , then I think that they can fare well against their divisional rivals well as the rest of their opponents over the course of the season ! The addition of Giancarlo Stanton will make a considerable difference on so many levels .
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Ronbets
Your thoughts on the fallout in the relationship between Roger Goodell and Jerry Jones and the possible multi-million dollar fine that the league (NF) will impose against Jones?
Tophatal
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Typo on #5. Should read German hockey.
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Ronbets
Can’t see Bryce Harper signing with the Phillies and their committing $400 million to acquire him. Harper’s agent is Scott Boras.
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Philly is the MOST logical place for him. Citizen Bank Park is one of the smallest and friendliest to lefty pull hitters. The club has the nucleus of a strong youthful team and will have plenty of denaro$$. Ryan Howard was cut with a buyout. The young studs they have are currently under contract. With the right odds, you can bet on this. Super agent Boras doesn’t care what mint the $$ are printed. The Philly mint would do just fine.
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Ronbets
Bryce Harper wants to play for a legitimate contender and the Phillies are still a long way off from being that. If anything they’re no better than the third best team in the NL East .
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Tophat quote,”Bryce Harper wants to play for a legitimate contender and the Phillies are still a long way off from being that. If anything they’re no better than the third best team in the NL East .”
Third best team in the NL East?? Where have you been? Tophat, try the best team in the division omitting the team(Nats) he’s leaving. With an addition of Harper, Philly becomes the FAVORITE in the NL EAST.
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Ronbets
The Philadelphia Phillies were 66-96 last season placing them at the bottom of the NL East in 2017. You still suggesting they’re the best team in that division ? Their pitching and offense were monstrous last season nd you’re asking me where I’ve been ? Take a look at the standings , their standing for 2017 as well as the team stats and ask yourself if the acquisition of Bryce Harper will make that much of a difference ? I haven’t been drinking as much of the Kool-Aid as you appear to be.
Tophatal …….
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Tophat,
What u r failing to realize is the rest of the NLEast, omitting the Nats, was also WELL BELOW .500. Acquisition of Harper and solid youth nucleus would make them the best team in a weak NLEast along side the sliding Nats. I don’t usually drink Kool-Aid, but when I do it’s Candian Club. LOL
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Ronbets
It’s not happening . even with Bryce Harper on the team . There’s nothing to suggest they (Phillies) are capable of making at least a twenty to thirty game improvement to be good enough to win the division much less make it as a wildcard contender within the NL. Personally , I don’t think the managerial staff is good enough to take them to where they need to be ! Do you believe Gabe Kapler will be good enough to take the Phillies to a high finish in the NL East ?
The Nationals will still remain the team to beat and I don’t think their front office led by billionaire Ted Lerner will let Bryce Harper go without a hard fight.
I’m not into the Kool-Aid , but I have just started on a classic bottle of twelve-year old Scotch by Dewars. That along with some Sativa (weed/marijuana) and I’m set !!!!!
“Sativa” by Jhene Aiko & Rea Sremmurd
Tophatal …………….
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Watching that gave me flashbacks from the 70’s. Thailand R & R. A good thing.
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Ronbets
Can’t beat Thailand (Phuket) for some great R&R .
Tophatal
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Ronbets
Cleveland has problems and yesterday’s performance against the Spurs was proof of that fact.
http://www.nba.com/games/20180225/SASCLE/#/matchup
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The NBA is a long marathon. You can’t judge and convict a team on a one or two game performance.
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Ronbets
In the case of the Cleveland Cavaliers this was meant to be the team hyped to win it all in the East . This season we’ve seen the inconsistency from the players throughout much of the season . Since the 10th December the Cavaliers are .500 (16-16) , hardly what you’d expect of an alleged championship-caliber team.
Cleveland Cavaliers news
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So here I am looking forward to Spring Training . I no longer have a team that I am interested in supporting as the last two teams I showed some affinity for , have simply abandoned a winning principle . The Miami Marlins are under new ownership with Derek Jeter and Bruce Sherman heading up the ownership group . Jeter has already gained the wrath of the locals by shedding the roster and looking to have a team with a meager payroll . In the case of the Atlanta Braves , it would appear that the front office and
managerial staff are completely out a clue moving forward. With both of these ball-clubs in the NL East , I am not so sure the division will be anywhere as competitive as some might hope it to be . I will watch from afar , but I doubt there will be anything worthwhile to be seen from either of the two teams in question over the course of this season.
MLB news
Tophatal …………
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Let’s be candid there were several teams who were a major disappointment during the NFL season . Far be it for me to suggest , but with the Houston Texans their season was a farce to say the very least. Finishing 4-12 in spite of the claims of Jadeveon Clowney and the leadership of JJ Watt , this team fell way short of the fans’ expectations . Failure on this level was not only an eye opener, but it’s clear there are some serious issues for the Houston Texans over this off-season.
DeShaun Watson of the Houston Texans .
It will be interesting to see how the Houston Texans will fare during the NFL Draft and the choices they’re likely to make.
The issue that placed a dent in the Houston Texans’ season in 2017 was the loss of their rookie quarterback DeShaun Watson who played with a great deal of composure while on the field of play. This upcoming season the Texans’ schedule should prove to be an interesting one .
Houston Texans news
Tophatal …………………
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Tophat,
When you lose the two best impact players on your team(JJW&DWat) the staff deserves a ‘mulligan’. Not only the team but the weather crushed city.
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Ronbets
There’s no denying that fact and I expect the AFC South to be very competitive this upcoming season .
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Dejounte Murray it would appear has become Gregg Popovich’s first option at the point guard position for the San Antonio Spurs . Murrary was installed in the spot ahead of veteran Tony Parker . Parker for his part has accepted his role in coming off the bench for the team . Over their last eight games the Spurs have posted a paltry 2-6 in those contests .
In their most recent game , the San Antonio Spurs had their best result of the season as they downed the Cleveland Cavaliers on their way to a double digit victory. In their next scheduled contest the Spurs will face the New Orleans Pelicans in a home game against a Western Conference rival at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas .
San Antonio Spurs news
Tophatal ………..
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The situation between Jerry Jones the larger than life owner of the Dallas Cowboys and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell looks as if it has been damaged beyond repair.
It is widely being rumored that the league hierarchy will levy a multi-million dollar fine against the ubiquitous franchise owner for conduct unbecoming and detrimental to the league. This fine is believed to be in excess of $ 3 million. If this takes place, it would be the largest fine ever posted against an NFL franchise or executive.
Courtesy of the New York Times
Jerry Jones was an ardent admirer of Goodell after he succeeded Paul Tagliabue as the commissioner, but in recent years the relationship has soured due to Jones’ outspokenness and constant criticism of Roger Goodall. A great deal of that criticism has taken place within the print media as well as on the air via radio and television.
NFL news
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The Elliot fiasco put an irreparable rift between the two.
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Ronbets
That’s more than a riff between the two. It’s like a bro-mance that has ended on a sour note after both guys have found out they had a crush on the same chic , only to find out that one of them broke the golden rule and tagged the chic and then kept it a secret. This thing could end up being costly as I can see Jerry Jones fighting any fine imposed by Roger Goodell and the NFL by filing an appeal in the US Appellate Courts .
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I buy that. JJ has the ammo to take it to the high court. Little does the commish realize is that the NFL needs Jones more than himself.
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This could turn out to be embarrassing for both factions, more so possibly for the league hierarchy and team owners . Jerry Jones is someone, who I believe holds grudges and he will seek to make sure his opponents in this action, they will be embarrassed. Who knew that we’d now see Goodell and Robert Kraft on the same side of a legal action , given their testy relationship ?
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Over their last twelve games the Houston Rockets (47-13) have proven themselves to be one of the best teams in the league . The Rockets currently lead the Golden State Warriors by half-a-game for the best record in the entire NBA .
Led by James Harden and Chris Paul the Houston Rockets are one of the most powerful offensive teams in the NBA at this moment in time. Over their last twelve games the Rockets have been averaging 113.6 points per game , while posting a 12-0 record over that stretch for the best record in the league. Next up for the Rockets will be a game
against conference rivals the Los Angeles Clippers on the road in what should be a very good contest .
NBA news
This week’s NBA schedule
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The California State Athletic Commission has all but assured us that the former two-time UFC World Light Heavyweight champion Jon Jones is unlikely to make a return to the sport and the division which he completely dominated when he was at his very best. With the announcement rendered that Jones’ second positive test for a banned substance would not be overturned . It is now left to the state’s top athletics’ governing body to decide the fate of the MMA fighter. It is my belief that they will ban Jon Jones for not less than eighteen months, with a possibility he could face a much tougher penalty altogether.
UFC President Dana White must now know that the fans are unwilling to accept Jon Jones back into the fold. Two positive tests and not much contrition from Jon Jones has pretty much tainted his legacy within the UFC and the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Jones could very well be lured by Bellator to make a fresh start within their domain , but in all honesty the UFC has the more widely known talent and there’s a great deal more money to made there than with Bellator. What has been noticed within the UFC , are the now drastic drop-off in television viewership as well as their PPV live events. So much so, that UFC parent company WME has to be troubled by this as well as the fact many of their corporate partners have to be concerned by this all.
Dana White looks on as Jon Jones speaks to the convened press. Jones was fined $205,000 by the California State Athletic Commission , had his fighter’s license revoked for an indefinite period.
Outside of Jon Jones the sport’s most recognized fighter Conor McGregor seems to be on a long-term sabbatical , unlikely to return to the octagon or it could be the fact that having been exposed by Floyd Mayweather as a fraud. McGregor might be just too afraid to get back into the octagon and face a top-ranked challenger for his title. Dana White’s impatience is running thin with the Irishman and he is likely to be stripped outright of his Lightweight Title .
It has been over eighteen months since Conor McGregor was last in an octagon fighting an MMA opponent.
UFC news
UFC schedule
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The San Diego Padres’ fortunes in recent years , most notably since 2005 has not been a pleasant one at all . In that time the franchise has not won an NL West divisional crown or made the postseason since 2006 . Suffice to say this Ron Fowler owned franchise has become derelict and barely worth supporting . If there’s one thing we do know , it was that last season the Padres were a complete mess .
The San Diego Padres have begun their Spring Training schedule in earnest . San Diego will be in action today when they face the Los Angeles Dodgers at home . It will be interesting to see how this team , managed by Andy Green .
From my own perspective I don’t believe the San Diego Padres will be competitive at all this season . They will continue to struggle within the NL West while still being one of the minnows by way of their payroll . The Padres will be in for a rough time this season and their biggest obstacles could come against the likes of the Washington Nationals , Chicago Cubs , St Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. If they can have a winning records over those teams then there’s no reason to believe why they’re not capable of making it to the postseason in 2018.
San Diego Padres news
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Several games took place last night in the NBA and the standings now seem to be taking on a shape of their own . The Indiana Pacers are having an excellent season . Coached by Nate McMillan this team seems to have found a rhythm , with Victor Olidapo , perhaps the best player on the roster. Playing steady and conservative basketball the Pacers have been in contention within their division as well as the Eastern Conference.
In their last game the Indiana Pacers faced the Atlanta Hawks in a match-up of conference rivals within the East. Next up for the Pacers will be a game against the Milwaukee Bucks which will be played on the road. Oladipo , teammates Bojan Bogdanovic and Domantas Sarbonis have been very efficient for the Pacers over the course of the season .
With less than 20 games left on their schedule it will be interesting to see how the Indiana Pacers will fare.
Indiana Pacers news
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The excitement was so wondrous and then it came tumbling down. After years in the wilderness of having not made the NFL Postseason the Buffalo Bills made a long-awaited return . Fans were excited and expected great things , but alas , their foray was short-lived . While the team may well have performed admirably during the regular season , the expectation of a long postseason-run for the Bills was out of the question. There was no real veteran experience on the team and there definitely wasn’t a big-time game-changer or play-maker . The Bills’ head coach , Sean McDermott and the coaching staff must now assess the players and make some obvious changes if the Bills are to fare better next season.
The best performing player for the Buffalo Bills last season were running back LeSeason McCoy and his quarterback teammate Tyrod Taylor .
Heading into the off-season with so much to deal with , it will be interesting to see what decisions are taken by the front office and how they seek to deal with the cap and through the NFL Draft and any type of free agency acquisitions . Buffalo’s schedule for this upcoming season should prove to be an interesting .
Former Buffalo Bills’ great and now a Hall of Fame inductee Jim Kelly has recently announced the return of cancer , likely something the player will once again seek to fight. Kelly has meant so much to the franchise over the years , holding many of the Bills’ most revered records.
Buffalo Bills news
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Can Dave Roberts and the managerial staff of the Los Angeles Dodgers afford to make another wholly horrendous postseason appearance ? Still with among the highest paid teams in all of baseball there will be several players on the roster who will be earning in excess of $15 million for 2018.
The failings of the Los Angeles Dodgers were seen wholeheartedly with their performances during the 2017 postseason schedule . It was clear the pitching and offense was never what it should have been .
With Clayton Kershaw set to earn over $30 million in 2018, it will be interesting to how the multi-time Cy Young Award winner will fare this season . Kershaw has been the best pitcher on the Dodgers’ roster since 2010. He should have at least twenty-eight projected starts for 2018 .
Among the players on offense for the Dodgers it should prove to be interesting to see of Cody Bellinger and Cory Seager can lead the charge for the team once again. Dave Roberts and the team will begin their regular season with a game against the San Francisco Giants .
MLB standings preseason
MLB schedule 1st March 2018
Los Angeles Dodgers news
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Yu Darvish is now a member of the Chicago Cubs and with the projected starting lineup for their pitching rotation , this team on paper might be capable of being able to compete with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals as having one of the best pitching lineups in the National League .
With the Texas Rangers having failed so miserably to win games with Yu Darvish, while also competing in the AL West , he was seen as superfluous to their needs. A brief stint with the Dodgers proved to be short-lived , while much of the blame for their pitching woes during the postseason were somehow placed upon his shoulders. In fact it was simply a disastrous effort by the Dodgers’ pitchers through much of their postseason malaise. Dave Roberts manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers was as much to blame for this as were his players.
Theo Epstein Head of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs is an astute judge of talent and clearly he sees Yu Darvish as a vital cog for this pitching staff for the upcoming season of the Cubs. Darvish will get the chance to prove himself during Spring Training for the Cubs .
Yu Darvish (foreground) and Cubs’ executive Theo Epstein
Yu Darvish alongside teammates Jake Arrietta and Jon Lester are likely to be front-line starters for this Joe Maddon managed team , with each player possibly getting twenty to twenty-eight starts for the season. The Cubs will be in action today when they face the Los Angeles Angels . Their first game of the regular season , where their opponents will be the Miami Marlins . In what will likely be a very competitive NL Central , the Cubs will need to get off to very fast start in the first month of the season.
Chicago Cubs news
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With less than twenty games to go before the end of the season within the NBA . It has been pretty much a season of ups and downs for several of the teams . With a slew of games taking place over the weekend , beginning tonight with ten games on the docket , it will be interesting to see how the teams fare will fare.
Isiah Thomas seems to have given the Los Angeles Lakers a new found sense of purpose since his arrival from the Cleveland Cavaliers as the team mounts a serious challenge within the Western Conference . In the seven games played for the Lakers since his arrival , Thomas have averaged 15.4 points per game for the team.
Up next for the Los Angeles Lakers will be a game against the San Antonio Spurs . For the Spurs , their recent performances have left a lot to be desired with their be a great deal of inconsistency over the past two months . It is clear that the team does need to get back to winning ways
NBA news
NBA standings (conference)
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I’d like to think that this upcoming season the Milwaukee Brewers are capable of competing within the NL. Ryan Braun may no longer be the player he once was . The Brewers in recent years have seen their fortunes take something of a tailspin . Their last postseason appearance took place in 2011 . And for Braun in particular he has to regain the form that once made him one of the game’s most productive players .
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The San Antonio Spurs really have some troubles on their hands with injuries to Pau Gasol , LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard to contend with at present. Over their last nine games the Spurs have posted a 2-7 record in those contests. In their most recent match-up the Spurs faced the Los Angeles Lakers , conference rivals dropping that game in a four-point loss 116-112 . It’s safe to say Gregg Popovich will have to make some necessary adjustments to his starting Spurs’ line-up seeking to give him the best options possible moving forward .
Next up for the San Antonio Spurs will be a game against the Memphis Grizzlies before they take on the Golden State Warriors , another of their conference rivals within the West.
San Antonio Spurs news
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We’re several games into the MLB Spring Schedule . The New York Yankees along with their high-priced roster will be looking to boost moral when they take to the field tomorrow, Tuesday 6th March as they face the Detroit Tigers . Yankees’ slugger Giancarlo Stanton will be looking to recover from the team’s mediocre outing when they fell 9-1 in a lopsided loss to the Tampa Bay Rays . From my own perspective I see the Rays as nothing than afterthought this season within the AL . Rays’ manager Kevin Cash will have to prepare his team to play hard all season long as they embark on their arduous schedule . This is a very young team at its core with several young players installed to replace those who departed during the off-season.
The Tampa Bay Rays will be in action on Tuesday when they face the Boston Red Sox . Both of these AL East teams have a great deal to prove this upcoming season . However , if some teams are not in contention at or prior to the trade deadline then a number of those impending free agents could very well be on the move.
Free agency for 2019 could prove to be very crucial as several players will be looking to parlay their form in return for a substantial pay-day. However , if some teams are not in contention at or prior to the trade deadline then a number of those impending free agents could very well be on the move. One of those highly prized free agents is outfielder Manny Machado of the Baltimore Orioles . A perennial All Star for the ball-club it is widely believed that the front office might not be in a position to keep the player.
If Manny Machado is able to reproduce the form that has made him one of the best young players in the AL as well as all of baseball. Then he could be well on the way to signing one of the biggest contracts in recent history within the world of baseball. The Orioles’ managerial staff headed by Buck Showalter will be looking to guide this team into a deep postseason with the hopes of making it to the ALCS and beyond . It’s hope that Manny Machado can be as prolific and productive for the Baltimore Orioles this season . On the diamond for Tuesday , the Orioles will be in action against the Minnesota Twins . These two teams will meet each other seven times during 2018 .
MLB schedule 5th March and MLB news
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As we move closer to the NFL Draft , there appear to be numerous prognosticators out there making claims as to which player and position will be taken first overall . There seems to be no clear cut consensus as to who the top pick might be but it’s clear the Cleveland Browns will have to do something drastic given their issues of last season within the NFL . Having gone 0-16 , only the second team in NFL history to have lost all sixteen regular season games , joining the 2008 Detroit Lions . One can well understand the current predicament facing the franchise at this juncture. The Browns are clearly bereft of talent at various positions on the field of play. Cleveland’s front office and coaching staff appear to be equally incompetent in terms of their decision making for their player personnel and on-field decisions.
It will be interesting to see if the Cleveland Browns seek to make Oklahoma Sooners’ quarterback Baker Mayfield the top pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. If last season’s Draft was anything to go by, then it will be interesting to see what will happen with the sophomores .
Baker Mayfield at the NFL Combine
The Cleveland Browns will have a tough schedule as they embark upon competing within the AFC North . It will be also be interesting to see which players on the Browns’ roster will be kept and those will not be returning . Johnny Manziel and Robert Smith failed miserably during their tenure with Cleveland. The Browns’ struggles were on defense as well as offense . Rumors are running that wide receiver Jarvis Landry of the Miami Dolphins might be on the move . If acquired by the Browns that might aid b the team . but I doubt it will fully compensate what the Cleveland Browns are in need of .
Cleveland Browns news
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Over the last eleven games played in the NBA the team with the best record in the league has been the Houston Rockets who’ve posted an 11-0 record . The Rockets now have the best record in the league (win-percentage) . During those games the Rockets have averaged 114 points per game , while with a winning margin of 11.6 points and holding their opponents to under 120 points per game. In their last contest the Rockets faced the Oklahoma City Thunder with James Harden once again leading the way in scoring for Houston in the contest against the Thunder.
In actuality the victory for the Houston Rockets was their sixteenth consecutive victory dating back to the 27th January , 2018 . Next up for Harden and the Rockets will be a game against the Milwaukee Bucks in a contest which will be played on the road . Houston has a sizable lead within their division , Southwest and by the end of March could very well have sealed their division and possibly having obtained a playoff berth.
NBA news
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MLB games scheduled for today along with the standings for this exhibition season . At this point last season Spring Training had begun as teams sought to get into shape.
Ichiro Suzuki has signed and finalized what is thought to be a one-year deal where he will return to the Seattle Mariners . Ichiro as he is more commonly known played a large part of his career with the franchise before leaving to join the New York Yankees and then playing most recently for the Miami Marlins . It is believed the future Hall of Fame bound player will end his carer where many of his greatest exploits were recorded as a member of the Seattle Mariners.
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Several games took place last night within the NBA and the results provided very little movement within the standings. The Houston Rockets are the first team to 50 wins this season , while also having the best record in the league . Much of that acclaim comes down the partnership of James Harden and Chris Paul as teammates. Houston given its success will be looking for top-seed within the Western Conference and the likelihood of making it to the NBA Finals for the first time since the 1994-95 NBA Season when they defeated the Orlando Magic in the Finals with Hakeem Olajuwon being named Finals’ MVP in the series .
The remaining games on the Houston Rockets’ schedule should prove to be interesting . Houston has a fascinating match-up for their next contest when they face the Toronto Raptors , currently one of the best teams in the East.
While the Houston Rockets are setting new franchise records , teams at the
lower end of totem pole are having some serious problems. The Phoenix Suns as of the 7th March currently have the worst record in the NBA . It will be interesting to see what they’re capable of doing over their final sixteen games of the season . In their next contest the Suns are due to face the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 8th . The clash between the Suns’ Devin Booker and Russell Westbrook of the Thunder should prove to be very interesting .
NBA news
Houston Rockets news
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So in the aftermath of their inexplicable defeat at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles , the New England Patriots will certainly be looking to revamp their roster . With several impending free agents seeking to up their worth with the Patriots , it will be interesting to see the moves made by the front office headed by Bill Belichick and GM Nick Caserio . It was very clear that during last season the Patriots’ failings manifested themselves on defense with several players on the secondary not performing up to par.
During this off-season it’s widely believed Bill Belichick and Nick Caserio are prepared to make a big splash among the free agency market . If the rumors are to be believed , if Richard Sherman becomes available with the Seattle Seahawks unwilling to meet his asking price , then the Patriots could swoop in for the corner-back . There’s no denying Sherman is among the best defensive backs in the league and that is with all due respect to JJ Watt . As good as Watt is said to be , I believe Richard Sherman to be a far better player and leads by example . Watt has yet to truly prove himself where it matters the most , in a playoff game for the Houston Texans .
There is no doubt in my mind Richard Sherman would be a tremendous asset and addition to the roster of the New England Patriots , were he to be acquired by the team. Both he and Tom Brady have a health respect for each other and that is an undeniable fact.
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Things are now tightening up within the divisions and conferences of the NBA . At this point last season the teams were also trying to allay the fans’ worst fears . Some impressive figures have been put up by the players over their last ten games . With the continued speculation as to which players are likely top opt-out of their contracts to seek free agency . The continued belief appears to be that four-time League MVP LeBron James could very well make the decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers for the second time during his career with the franchise. Cleveland for its part has not met the expectations sought at this point of the season .
LeBron James could very well seek to join a number of players this off-season wishing for a max contract . Yet it is my belief he will make the decision to remain in Cleveland playing out the rest of his career for the franchise which drafted him as the number one overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft .
With under twenty games to be played to round out their regular season schedule the Cleveland Cavaliers will seek to solidify their position within the Central Division as well as the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers will be in action when they face the Los Angeles Clippers this Friday , 9th March, 2018.
NBA news
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Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has to be considered one of the best players at the position over the last twelve years. His play for the Arizona Cardinals has been outstanding ever since the first time he was in a uniform for the NFC West based franchise.
With a litany of injuries plaguing the team last season was a clear indication as to why the Cardinals failed miserably . Larry Fitzgerald was sidelined along with their veteran quarterback Carson Palmer also missing from the lineup through much of last season . The departure of Bruce Arians as the Head Coach of the team now leaves the franchise changing directions once again as Steve Wilks was brought in the succeed Arians .
It will be interesting to see what the Arizona Cardinals will seek to do concerning their free agents , cap availability as as they seek to bring in new players as well as
by way of the upcoming NFL Draft . Their upcoming regular season and preseason schedule should prove to be very interesting .
NFL news and NFL Combine news
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Just over three weeks before Opening Day takes place within the world of baseball . Most teams have acquired the players they’ve deemed fit to make their rosters complete. Many of the ball-clubs in question either lowered or increased their payroll capacity . The years when the Philadelphia Phillies were a dominant organization within baseball are now long gone . Ryan Howard , Cliff Lee and Roy Halliday are no longer the staple that Phillies’ fans come out in support of . Since 2011 the postseason appearances for the ball-club have become almost none existent with their most recent appearance coming in 2011.
In the seven years since their last postseason appearance the Philadelphia Phillies have been languid and left by the wayside . In 2017 the Phillies were simply one of the worst teams in the NL as well as the rest of baseball . This season under the managerial charge of Gabe Kepler , whose tutelage of a young and robust team will be thoroughly
tested over the course of this upcoming season starting with their Spring Training Schedule .
The Phillies are in action over this weekend beginning with a game this Friday where their opponent will be instate rivals the Pittsburgh Pirates . Their opening game of the regular season will pit them against the Pittsburgh Pirates on the road . I believe this will be a Phillies’ team quite capable of winning 70 to 80 games this upcoming season , but I doubt anything less than 83 victories will guarantee them a postseason berth in 2018.
Philadelphia Phillies news
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They remain one of the most admired franchises in NBA history and certainly one of the most beloved. Now while the Buss family has seen fit to bring in Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka to run of the Basketball Operations of the Los Angeles Lakers . Unless the team gets back to winning ways , while seeing a growth in players such as Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball , then there will be no way in hell that the Lakers will be able to land a marquee free agent . Among that list of desirables are LeBron James and Kevin Durant who can opt out of the final years of their respective contracts to sign max or near max deals with a new team. From my own perspective I believe Durant is unto a good thing with the Golden State Warriors having led the team to last season’s NBA Finals’ triumph, as they manhandled the Cleveland Cavaliers . While I do believe things of late have been a little more difficult for the Cavaliers and LeBron James. The expectations for the team would be that they would be dominating the Eastern Conference while having a clear path to the NBA Finals. Not so fast, as the Cavaliers are not even the best team in the conference this season and they have struggled against several of the top contenders within the East.
If things do fall apart then it would not be out the realms of a possibility that LeBron James would leave the franchise for the second time in his career. A lot of persuasion on the path of Kobe Altman , Dan Gilbert and in particular from head coach Tyronn Lue would have to be done in getting James to remain with the franchise for the rest of his career. His departure could very well lead to a financial debacle for the Cavaliers for a wide variety of reasons as the four-time League MVP remains by far their biggest asset.
NBA news
NBA free agents 2018 and free agents 2019
Salary cap (2018) and proposed cap for 2019
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Forget about Kirk Cousins being the most highly prized free agent this off-season, as things have changed with the Seattle Seahawks making the decision to release their perennial Pro Bowl defensive player Richard Sherman . Now while the saying to continues to be offense is the key to winning games , I also believe defenses are capable of doing that, especially when you have a player of Sherman’s caliber and leadership ability. Whatever the decision might have been within the front office of the Seahawks , this decision will have lasting ramifications for the franchise moving forward. Head coach Pete Carroll , his coaching staff and the general manager might well have felt the asking price to retain Richard Sherman was too high a price to pay while also seeking to keep a number of their free agents .
While I don’t believe there will be an all-out feeding frenzy for Richard Sherman , I do believe any team in search of a high velocity straight talking but extremely productive defensive player should consider the Pro Bowl caliber corner-back .
There are likely to be several interested teams interested in acquiring free agent corner-back Richard Sherman and it will be interesting to see which of those teams are willing to commit to him , while also seeking to keep cap availability .
Seattle Seahawks news
NFL transactions
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So who are the players in the running for this year’s League MVP Award within the NBA ? Last season it was something of a two-horse race between Russell Westbrook and James Harden . While both are once again having astonishing seasons along with four-time winner LeBron James . I do believe the award for this season is Harden’s to lose, but at the same time given the known idiocy of voters , I wouldn’t be surprise they favored James to win the award for a fifth time given their unabashed favoritism for the player.
James Harden has led the Houston Rockets to the best record in the NBA and it looks as if the Rockets will have their berth secured in the NBA Playoffs before anyone else in the league. Only one game separates the Rockets from the Golden State Warriors (51-15) at this stage of the season (10th March) . And with the teams having already met three times over the course of the season
to date .
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Some great games took place in the NBA over the course of the weekend with the players and teams performing with a great deal of assuredness. With less than fifteen games to be played by the majority of the teams going down the stretch of the regular season , it will be interesting to see which franchises will be capable of stepping up to the plate.
DeMar DeRozan and the Toronto Raptors have been on a tear as of late , giving everyone a reason to believe they might be the team best equipped to represent the Eastern Conference in this season’s NBA Finals . Next up for the Raptors will be a game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn New York . This match-up will take place on Tuesday 13th March , 2018 . I fully expect Rozan to go off against a Nets’ team which isn’t that competent on defense .
Toronto Raptors news
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The weekend’s games in Major League Baseball ended up with teams simply looking to find a rhythm as they move closer to the Opening Day Schedule. While there has been a great deal of off-season movement of players with several signing new deals , long and short-term . It remains to be seen which of those players and teams will rise to the occasion this season. The Chicago Cubs after something of a down year in 2017 , the front office seem to be paring down the team’s salary structure with the loss of free agents through attrition .
Theo Epstein the Head of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs has yet to reach an agreement with the team’s former Cy Young Award winning pitcher Jake Arrietta . It seems that the two sides have reached an impasse and there seems to be no clear signs that he will be re-signed by the ball-club. Arrietta and the Cubs were among the best pitching teams and rotations during 2017 . Arietta had a reasonable season for the Cubs , but I fear the issue with the organization is their unwillingness to set a precedent by paying him a salary commensurate with some of the top starting pitchers in the game. The contracts for players such as Clayton Kershaw and David Price have set the bar which now seems to have every ball-club encumbered.
There would be several teams interested in Jake Arrietta were he allowed to leave the Chicago Cubs as a free agent with teams such as the Boston Red Sox , Houston Astros , Los Angeles Dodgers , Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees , all likely to show a great deal of interest in the All Star pitching ace. Each , can afford him, given their value and profitability and the ever increasing revenues now within game .
The Chicago Cubs will begin their regular season schedule with a game to be played against the Miami Marlins , a team which I believe will struggle throughout much of the season .
Chicago Cubs news
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He’s been a
two-time winning Superbowl quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and during that time Ben Roethlisberger has laid the groundwork that will place him as another member of a franchise which is among the most successful in NFL history. Ben Roethlisberger along with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates were looking to parlay a season into something special .
Ben Roethlisberger (7) .
In having a successful season within the AFC North as well as the AFC , the Pittsburgh Steelers made it to the postseason which would culminate with a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round of the postseason. That loss exacerbated the situation and essentially proved a point, this Steelers’ roster was aging fast , with a number of the players there being unproductive. Veteran defender James Harrison was shipped off to the New England Patriots , where he’s likely to become something of a short-term bit player for the Patriots . Given Harrison’s age , I doubt that he will be returning to the Patriots for this upcoming season.
Mike Tomlin along with his coaching staff and the front office will have some tough decisions to make during this off-season as they seek to fortify the roster. Ben Roethlisberger has been with the Steelers since being drafted as a rookie during the 2004 NFL Draft . Fourteen years into his career and Roethlisberger has achieved a great deal with the franchise. If Pittsburgh is to succeed while the veteran quarterback looks to add to his resume’ , then Mike Tomlin will have to go that extra mile to provide the passer with the necessary tools to make this upcoming season a resounding success.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ issues last season had more to do with their defense than anything else. Defense has always been a hallmark of this franchise as their record has suggested over the years.
Pittsburgh Steelers news
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So veteran quarterback Drew Brees will remain with the New Orleans Saints for at least one more season , but if possible Micky Loomis as well as the entire front office would probably like for Brees to play for at least another two years or more. Brees’ career has been one of excellence with his having won a Superbowl , the sole victory for the Saints as a franchise.
Drew Brees has produced at a consistently high level over the years for the New Orleans Saints. This past season the NFC South was a very competitive division with only three teams were worthy of merit. Brees and the Saints sailed through their schedule posting a 11-5 record which they shared with the Carolina Panthers . The Atlanta Falcons(10-6) were a game behind within the division . Brees’ record against those teams within the division were on par with what you’d come to expect of one of the NFL’s best passers over the past ten years.
Moving forward the New Orleans Saints will have to begin looking at a player who will be able to take over the mantle from Drew Brees and become the possible future face of the franchise. His current back-up Chase Daniel has very little experience as a starter in regular or preseason games. From my own perspective , I believe that the coaching staff of Sean Payton are likely to take a quarterback in the third , fourth or fifth round of this upcoming NFL Draft .
This upcoming season , I believe the New Orleans Saints might be considered the best teams within the NFC South. They will have the balance and with the slight regression seen with both the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers , the division is theirs for the taking. With Jameis Winston leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , I don’t believe the team has anything to offer at all.
New Orleans Saints news
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