[Sports] Barkley, Mayfield Bet on NFL Rookie of the Year

by Anthony Gabbianelli | Feb 1, 2019 | SPORTS

With the NFL season awards just around the corner, two heavily favored to win the Rookie of the Year Award placed a friendly bet on who would win.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley made public of a wager where whoever wins the Rookie of the Year honor would get a chain from the loser.

Barkley had one of the best seasons for a rookie running back ever, historically speaking. He was the only positive storyline for the Giants this season, rushing for a team rookie record of 1307 yards while breaking countless other team and league rookie rushing records.

Mayfield won the Cleveland Browns their first game in two years against the New York Jets early in the season in relief. He also won more games than really most Browns quarterbacks in the past so that another stand-out stat for him. Mayfield also threw for 3725 yards and 27 touchdowns this season.

There is no doubt that both players had tremendous seasons for their teams. I would give the edge to Barkley given the team he is around.  Mayfield has a lot of weapons around him that make him that much better, where Barkley makes himself better by reading where the defense is and making adjustments to his running game.

Who do you think is going to win the Rookie of the Year Award? Is there anyone else who should win the honor? Leave a comment below.

[Sports] Knicks Trade Porzingis to Mavs, Shocks NBA

by Anthony Gabbianelli | Feb 1, 2019 | SPORTS

If you weren’t fully convinced that the New York Knicks were in tank mode, this should do it for you.

In a trade that shocked the entire NBA, the Knicks traded their franchise player, Kristaps Porzingis, to the Dallas Mavericks in a seven-player deal.

Along with Porzingis, the Knicks also send Tim Hardaway Jr., Courtney Lee and Trey Burke to the Mavs for Dennis Smith Jr. DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews and two future first round picks.

The move, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, came after Porzingis had a meeting with Knicks management and left them with the impression that he wanted to be traded. Porzingis, like many Knicks fans at this point, doesn’t fully buy in to what the team is trying to do.

The Knicks get Jordan and Matthews in part of the trade. The two have expiring contracts that the team will eat for the remainder of the season. The real gem is Smith Jr., a young 2017 draft pick who the Knicks had eyed in their draft selection but went with Frank Ntilikina. Now they have both young stars to hopefully entice superstars to come play for them next season.

Outside of that, this trade baffles me. The Knicks were so keen about retaining who they drafted and keeping them long term, yet trade the only bright spot on the team away for cap space. The point was to clear space in order to sign two players to max contracts. If any superstar wants to play for the Knicks, I really don’t see what they see in the team. Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis are the biggest stars to be up for free agency this summer and I don’t think after this trade that any of these four players will end up in New York.

What do you think about the trade? Was it good or bad? Leave a comment below on what you think.

[Sports] Carmelo Watches Awful Knicks from the Stands

by Anthony Gabbianelli | Jan 28, 2019 | SPORTS

The New York Knicks lost again on Sunday to the Miami Heat by the score of 106-97. It’s nothing new that they lost, but they did lose in front of Carmelo Anthony.

Anthony came to Madison Square Garden to watch longtime friend Dwyane Wade play in his final season. It was fitting for Melo to watch it in the building he played in for seven seasons.

Anthony is currently a member of the Chicago Bulls after the Houston Rockets traded him away. Prior to that, he played with Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder after he was traded away by the Knicks two years ago. The Bulls are looking to waive or trade the 34-year-old star.

Melo does intend to play this season, and he does want to play at the Garden sometime soon. I don’t see any reason why the Knicks wouldn’t want him on the team again. The crowd gave Anthony a standing ovation when he was put on the JumboTron and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind him being back on the team, especially considering the season the Knicks are having. There is no real reason to go see a Knicks game other than see other teams trash the Knicks. Why not bring in a star like Melo to reel in some fans and give them a reason to come to the Garden again? What do you think about Melo not playing this season? Should the Knicks pick him up? Leave a comment below on what you think and why

[Sports] Mahomes, Adams win MVP Awards as AFC Beats NFC in Pro Bowl

by Anthony Gabbianelli | Jan 28, 2019 | SPORTS

It’s not quite the Super Bowl, but it’s the next best thing the NFL has to offer in the week before the big game.

The Pro Bowl, the NFL’s All-Star game, was played in Orlando, Florida as the AFC took down the NFC, 26-7. The Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New York Jets’ safety Jamal Adams took home game’s MVP awards.

The Pro Bowl had a lot to offer for fans attending the game and watching on TV. Mahomes threw for 156 yards on seven completions, including a 50-yard pass to Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen. Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey went on offense for a play and even caught himself a touchdown for the AFC. Allen had 95 total yards in the game with the next best player in the game being Chiefs fullback Anthony Sherman, who was three yards short of tying Allen. Adams broke up passes, intercepted a pass and got a sack for the AFC on defense, earning him the Defensive award.

That’s what the Pro Bowl is all about. Every All-Star game, whether its for the MLB, NHL, or NBA, has their star athletes play with and against each other. The NFL lets the players have fun though. There are skill competitions and a dodge ball tournament days before the game. In the game, it doesn’t matter what position you play. If you want to catch a pass but you’re a defensive lineman, you can go out there for a play or two; hell, you can even catch the game-winning touchdown pass for all you care!

Did you watch the Pro Bowl? What did you think of it? Leave a comment below with your thoughts on the game.

[Sports] Anthony Davis Wants Out of New Orleans

by Anthony Gabbianelli | Jan 28, 2019 | SPORTS

Sports in New Orleans is getting sadder and sadder as the weeks go on it seems. After the New Orleans Saints lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship game on Jan. 20, Bourbon Street has now been dealt another big blow, this time in the basketball spectrum.

Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans superstar, has told the organization that he is not looking for an extension and has requested to be traded to another team, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The news was broken by Davis’ agent, Rich Paul. The Pelicans are set to make an official statement sometime Monday. Davis is eligible to sign a maximum contract of 5-years, worth 240 million dollars.

So where can Davis land if he is traded before the Feb. 7 trade deadline? Throughout the season, the Los Angeles Lakers has been vocal about acquiring Davis. Lakers star Lebron James, wjo has the same agent as Davis, even spoke out earlier this season expressing interest in playing with Davis. So, the Lakers seem to be the most likely place for Davis to land, which considering the recent NFL game between LA and New Orleans, it would be heartbreaking for the fans there.

There’s also the Boston Celtics. While Davis can’t technically be traded there this season due to collective bargaining agreement rules and such because of Kyrie Irving’s contract and Davis’, they could agree to terms this season and finalize it on July 1, when Irving also becomes a free agent. Davis would fit well with either team, the Celtics and Lakers, and would make them championship contenders to rival the Golden State Warriors. There is another team Davis could go to and who could pay him.

The New York Knicks could make a splash this offseason with the amount of money they have to spend, and Davis could be one of those free agents if he is traded to New York. The Knicks would have to trade away a lot of their younger players and the first-round pick in this year’s draft, the same goes to the Lakers. Davis has expressed wanting to go to a team that would give him a chance to win, so maybe New York isn’t where he’s going. New York would be the surprise team in this whole Davis situation.

But what do you think Davis will land? Leave a comment below on where you think he’ll land and why.