by Nick Brower | Feb 23, 2018 | SPORTS
Documents obtained by Yahoo! gave the public their first glance into an FBI investigation into possible corruption in college basketball. These documents centered around former NBA agent Andy Miller and his agency ASM Sports. It is reported that the FBI has information, including paperwork, detailing cash payments, and travel and entertainment expenses that were covered for recruits and then college athletes. More than 20 Division I programs are cited in the investigation including household names such as Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State. At least 25 players are named in the reported documents including current players Miles Bridges of MSU, Duke’s Wendell Carter and Collin Sexton from Alabama. Also cited are two lottery picks from last year’s NBA draft, Dennis Smith Jr. and Markelle Fultz. NCAA president Mark Emmert said, ”These allegations, if true, point to systematic failures that must be fixed and fixed now if we want college sports in America,” in a statement this morning.
I don’t think anyone thought that the NCAA was completely pure. If you thought this wasn’t happening anywhere in the country, you’re just naive. The startling part of this report is the scope of the corruption. The documents released implement some of the most successful programs of recent history. And this is just one part of the FBI investigation. There is more to come and most likely more bad news. The fallout will be interesting to see. With Louisville having just lost their 2013 National Championship in the wake of their own recruitment scandal, we could see more titles taken away. The teams mentioned in the report have been Final Four regulars and if it comes out that they competed with players who should have been ineligible, those wins could be vacated. It is also interesting to see what happens with players currently playing. Miles Bridges was a preseason favorite for the Wooden award and now his season could be done. This will definitely be a story to watch as it continues to unfold.
by Nick Brower | Feb 22, 2018 | SPORTS
Team USA won a thriller late last night over Canada 3-2 in a shootout to take the gold medal. This puts the US back on top after watching the Canadians dominate the sport for 20 years. This win fittingly came on the eve of the famed “Miracle on Ice’ game which saw the US mens team upset the Soviet Union in the gold medal game of the 1980 games in Lake Placid, New York. The two hockey superpowers battled all night in a back and forth game that was justly decided by a shootout. Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson scored what would be the decisive shootout attempt with an amazing back and forth deke she called the “”Oops, I Did It Again”. Maddie Rooney saved the following Canadian attempt and the celebration started. Many members of this team had watched the Canadians celebrate the same way from the ice in Sochi after the last Olympic tournament and that only made the celebration sweeter. This has been a phenomenal rivalry over the last few decades and seeing the American women finally come out on top was an amazing feeling. Well done, ladies, way to kick some ass.
by Nick Brower | Feb 22, 2018 | SPORTS
Just days after J.D. Martinez signed with Boston, Arizona found his replacement. Steven Souza Jr. is headed to Arizona in the three team deal that sent Brandon Drury to New York, with Tampa receiving prospects. Souza Jr. is slotted to be the everyday right fielder for Arizona. He will probably also be given the role of protecting Paul Goldschmitt in the D-backs lineup. And just like that Arizona fills both holes left by Martinez with one smart move. No one, including the D-backs, is expecting Souza Jr. to put up Martinez-like numbers, but he is a more productive hitter than meets the eye. Souza Jr. had a good year last season despite hitting .239. He smacked 30 home runs and drove in 78 runs for a below average offensive club. Expect that production to go up as he’ll be centered in a better lineup and have more RBI opportunities. Arizona faithful should expect Souza Jr. to fit in well and be a good piece for a ball club that will be a serious contender this season.
by Nick Brower | Feb 22, 2018 | SPORTS
The NBA kicks off its second half tonight with a full slate of games. Teams are rested and ready to go following the All-Star break. Here are a few storylines to watch as the second half unfolds.
Cav’s Chemistry: Any team with Lebron has a chance we all know that. But with such a huge roster overhaul at the deadline there are many questions to be answered. Ty Lue and the Cavs will have to use the second half wisely to figure out playing time and roles and get all these new pieces meshing. They’ll need to be firing on all cylinders to compete with the heavy hitters out west.
Jazz Development: Can the Jazz keep the ball rolling after ending the first half on fire? If so, it’ll be on the back of there defense which has been one of the best in the league so far. If they can stay hot they’ll make a serious push for one of the lower playoff seeds.
Who Will Host the Fourth Eastern Conference opening series?: The top three spots re all but locked up in the East. Toronto, Cleveland and Boston will be 1,2,3 one way or another. The fourth spot is still up for grabs. Only three and half games separate Washington in fourth from the eighth place Heat. Getting into that fourth seed and avoiding the top three teams in the first round would be huge for all those contending for it.
Middle of The West: The Western Conference has a similar outlook. Houston and Golden State are 9 games out in front of the Spurs who sit in third but the rest of the race is jam-packed. Only three games separate third and eighth, and the Jazz are only four and a half games back of third in 10th. New Orleans is still holding onto eighth currently but it will be difficult for them keep pace with Boogie Cousins out. That leaves six teams battling for playoff seeding and a chance at winning a first round series. All of them will be looking to avoid Houston and Golden State.
by Nick Brower | Feb 22, 2018 | SPORTS
News broke early Thursday that Corey Dickerson was headed to the Pirates. Pittsburgh will be sending pitcher Daniel Hudson, minor league infielder Tristan Gray and cash to Tampa Bay in exchange for the all-star outfielder. This is a great move for Pittsburgh as Dickerson will be a more than serviceable replacement for Andrew McCutchen. With Starlin Marte moving to center field, Dickerson will fit in beautifully in right. The ballpark also suits the power hitting lefty. Dickerson hit 27 home runs and 33 doubles for the Rays last season and these numbers should go up once Corey gets a look at that short right field porch at PNC. As for Tampa, this move basically ends the Rays’ season. Now that both Longoria and Dickerson are gone this lineup is disgraceful and doesn’t stand a chance in a division with Boston and the Yankees. The Rays are officially in full rebuild mode and I wouldn’t be surprised if Chris Archer and Kevin Kiermaier as are there way out soon as well. Strap in for a tough year Rays’ faithful.
