![[SPORTS] DERRICK HENRY COMES ALIVE IN CAREER NIGHT VS JAGUARS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/img_8830-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Dec 7, 2018 | SPORTS
Move Over Beastmode!
When Derrick Henry got past another wave of defenders trying to impede him from yet another touchdown, his eyes nearly jumped out of his head as he galloped to the end zone with Titans fans in the stadium cheering him on.
An electric night that he’ll never forget, the Tennessee Titans saw Henry’s potential turn into actual results.
Derrick Henry rushed for 238 yards with four touchdowns as he guided the playoff hopeful Tennessee Titans pound their divisional rival Jacksonville Jaguars 30-9 at Nissan Stadium on Thursday night.
It was a record breaking night for Henry, who set franchise records with his 238 rushing yards and four touchdown runs as the Tennessee Titans improved to 7-6.
Henry tied Tony Dorsett’s NFL-record long 99-yard touchdown on the first play of Tennessee’s third offensive drive to give Tennessee a 13-2 second quarter lead.
The running back stiff-armed several defenders on his way home for a touchdown run that will make the highlight reels from now until the end of the season
The six-foot-three, 247-pound running back plowed through and ran past Jacksonville defenders all night long, displaying the physical gifts and talent that helped him win the Heisman Trophy Award in his college days at Alabama.
In his third season in the NFL, Henry has not made the leap to being a full-time, every down back like the Tennessee Titans franchise would’ve hoped.
Entering tonight, the 24-year-old running back had only 474 rushing yards on the season, averaging 3.7 yards per carry a season after compiling 744 rushing yards and averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
Thursday night represented a breakout performance out of nowhere for Henry, as he only had two 100-yard games in the regular-season prior.
He had a huge performance in the Tennessee Titans AFC Wildcard 22-21 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs last season when he totaled 191 yards at Arrowhead. That out of nowhere showing represented Derrick Henry at his absolute best in the NFL up until tonight’s amazing performance.
He’s dealt with sharing carries with DeMarco Murray over his first two seasons and the Titans added Dion Lewis — who led the New England Patriots with 896 rushing yards last season — this past offseason, a move by default that cut into Henry’s workload.
Lewis entered the game with seven more carries this season than Henry despite averaging less rushing yards than him. Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans have put an emphasis on trying to run the ball with more success over these final four games of the season.
After tonight, the only question is does Henry begin to outpace Dion Lewis in the backfield and finally finds consistency as a feature back in the NFL?
The Tennessee Titans are hopeful that becomes a reality.
What are your thoughts on Derrick Henry’s huge night? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] IRVING, CELTICS ROUT KNICKS IN BOSTON](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/img_8828.jpg?resize=978%2C652&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Dec 7, 2018 | SPORTS
Knicks Can’t Make It Two Straight In Beantown
The New York Knicks stunned the NBA world when they handed the Boston Celtics a unexpected loss to end a six-game losing streak last month in Boston.
Since then the Celtics have been rolling, and the New York Knicks couldn’t become an exception to that when they visited Beantown for the second time in two weeks.
The Boston Celtics cruised past the New York Knicks 128-100 on Thursday night at the TD Garden Arena to win their fourth straight.
Kyrie Irving (22 points), Al Horford (19 points, 12 rebounds), and Jayson Tatum (17 points) combined to score 58 points as they avenged their previous loss to New York.
Jaylen Brown was strong off the bench for Boston, scoring 21 points in his first game back from a back injury.
The New York Knicks were dominated on the fast break by Boston, who used their considerable advantage in that department to pull away from them in the second half.
Boston outscored New York 26-4 in fastbreak points through the first three quarters and trailed 99-84 heading into the fourth.
In a solid effort, David Fizdale’s team made baskets but couldn’t get stops as they were relegated to chasing the Celtics for much of the night.
Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a team-high 22 points, hitting six 3-pointers for the New York Knicks in minutes of action.
Enes Kanter recorded another double-double as he finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds vs. Boston.
The young guys had a tough night for the Knicks as Kevin Knox, Alonzo Trier and Damyean Dotson combined to shoot 7 for 28 from the field.
Of the games the Knicks could (and will certainly) lose throughout this 2018-19 season, a Thursday night loss in one of two visits to Boston is not the worst thing in the world.
Games such as these are to see talent development continue to take form, and unfortunately we didn’t see much of it on Thursday.
The Knicks could’ve used a boost from Trey Burke, who scored 29 points, 11 assists and six rebounds in New York’s 117-109 win over Boston in November.
The New York Knicks will host the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden looking to snap their two-game skid.
What are your takeaways from tonight’s game? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] GEORGE, THUNDER RALLY IN FOURTH; NETS SKID AT 8](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/img_8821-1.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Dec 6, 2018 | SPORTS
Paul George’s Huge Night Ends Brooklyn’s In Devastation
D’Angelo Russell and the skidding Brooklyn Nets came into Wednesday night in a hole that no one but themselves can dig them out of.
Getting it going from downtown while taking advantage of a mostly sloppy offensive performance by the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Brooklyn Nets appeared well on their way to ending their skid.
And then Paul George told them otherwise.
The Oklahoma City Thunder shocked the Brooklyn Nets 114-112 on Wednesday night at the Barclays Center to move Brooklyn’s slide to eight games.
Paul George hit a game-winning 3-pointer with 3.1 seconds remaining in the game to help Oklahoma City erase what was once a 23-point second half deficit.
George dominated with a season-high 47 points while adding 15 rebounds. 25 of his 47 points came in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma City outscored Brooklyn 39-19 in the period.
The Thunder forward overshadowed a milestone night for Russell Westbrook, who passed former Net Jason Kidd on the all-time triple doubles list with his 108th triple double of his career on Wednesday night.
Westbrook finished the game with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 17 assists in 40 minutes vs. the Brooklyn Nets.
It was once again a finger nibbler for Brooklyn trying to hold a late lead in the fourth quarter that was once a 20-point lead in the opening minutes of the fourth period.
For some reason, the team’s offense goes into the tank when it matters most as players start trying to take matters into their own hands, playing hero ball and forcing unnecessary shots.
Defensively, it’s hard to knock Brooklyn allowing Paul George to do what he did. Kenny Atkinson knows better than most that superstar caliber players like George are capable of scoring nights and hot shooting like what we all saw on Wednesday night.
The problems for Brooklyn, however, are on the offensive end, which gets away from what worked through three quarters. It also doesn’t help allowing 17 offensive rebounds to a team trying to battle back into a game.
The Nets, who fell to 8-18, got off to a virtuoso start against Oklahoma City, taking a commanding 62-46 lead into the half thanks to a strong second quarter performance.
But as has been the case in a number of defeats during this season, Brooklyn couldn’t carry their energy, effort and execution for four quarters.
Allen Crabbe scored a team-high 22 points, hitting all seven of his field goals from downtown.
Six Brooklyn Nets reached double figures on the night, with four coming in the starting lineup.
With yet another loss, the Brooklyn Nets remain winless at home vs. Western Conference foes this season, falling to 0-8.
The Brooklyn Nets will look to snap their eight-game losing streak on Friday night as they welcome a tough challenge in the Toronto Raptors.
What has been ailing the Nets the most during this current losing streak? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] UFC 231 MAIN CARD/PRELIMS PREDICTIONS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/img_8817-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Dec 6, 2018 | SPORTS
UFC Featherweight Title Collision Could Be A Barnburner
UFC 231: Holloway-Ortega
The UFC returns back to Canada live on PPV this Saturday with two huge title fights.
In a highly anticipated showdown, No. 1 ranked featherweight contender Brian Ortega will put his undefeated record on the line when he challenges UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway in the main event of UFC 231 at the Scotiabank Arena.
The co-headliner will be a UFC women’s flyweight title fight between No. 1 ranked flyweight contender Valentina Shevchenko and former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Before then, we’ll dive into the two title fights as well as predict the rest of the main card and prelims.
Let’s get started!
Max Holloway (-130) vs Brian Ortega (EVEN)
This fight was cancelled back in July when the two were scheduled to face off in the co-main event of UFC 226.
It marked the third time Max Holloway pulled out of a fight in 2018 and it will mark a year since he’s been inside the octagon.
While Holloway has put together a run of dominance in the featherweight division since losing to Conor McGregor ages ago, one has to wonder if “Blessed” will show some rust.
Max Holloway (19-3, 15-3 UFC) won the UFC featherweight title in June of last year by 3rd-Round TKO over long-time featherweight king Jose Aldo at UFC 212 in Brazil. He went on to do it again last December in Detroit, but has not fought since.
This is a terrible opponent to have rust against, as Brian Ortega might be the scariest Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in the sport right now.
Ortega (14-0, 6-0 UFC) last competed on March 3rd at UFC 222 when he stunned Frankie Edgar with a 1st-Round TKO victory on short notice. That victory further showed the diversity in Ortega’s game, something that could lead to a fire fight between he and Holloway.
As great as Max Holloway has been, there’s something special about Brian Ortega and his pursuit of the UFC featherweight title seems more like destiny for him. Max Holloway has only been finished once in his UFC career, a submission loss to Dustin Poirer in his UFC debut.
He’ll be submitted once again here after Ortega takes advantage of Holloway getting too creative with his striking.
Prediction: Brian Ortega By Round 3 Submission
Valentina Shevchenko (-360) vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk (+270)
When Valentina Shevchenko (15-3, 4-2 UFC) and Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-2, 9-2 UFC) lock horns on Saturday night, it won’t be the first time these twon have met in combat. Valentina Shevchenko holds three wins over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in kickboxing competition.
That may play a psychological role in this one, but Jedrzejczyk taking this fight shows that she believes in her ability to win this fight now that its inside of the octagon. Between the two, Shevchenko is the better wrestler, but Jedrzejczyk showed in her last fight vs. Tecia Torres she can do that, and she’s all also improved in her takedown defense from her first fight with Claudia Gadhela.
This fight will likely be on the feet throughout, and I have to give the edge to Shevchenko due to her countering ability. Jedrzejczyk’s boxing and jab should provide some interesting moments in her quest for history, but with Shevchenko’s excellence in fighting with range and in the pocket, she’ll fulfill her dreams of becoming a UFC world champion.
Prediction: Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision
Jimi Manuwa (+175) vs Thiago Santos (-225)
A rescheduled bout that was set to be a main event a few months ago in Brazil, Manuwa has the punching power to cause Santos trouble that others have.
In his first fight at 205 pounds, however, Santos looked as good as he’s looked in years in a dazzling display vs. Eryk Anders, a fight in which he forced Anders body to quit as he won by 3rd-Round TKO.
Can Manuwa close the distance without taking punishment? That’s the question for this fight, and while it’s a toss up, I’ll take the Englishman here.
Prediction: Jimi Manuwa by Round 2 TKO
Gunnar Nelson (-140) vs Alex Oliveira (+110)
Cowboy Oliveira is one of the most exciting guys in the sport because he promises violence one way or another. We all remember his classic war with Yancy Meideros last year (Can we get a rematch of that fight?) when they blew the roof off of Little Caesars Arena in the Motor City.
He faces a fighter in Gunnar Nelson who will look to get this fight to the ground as quickly as possible. Oliveira has underrated Jiu-Jitsu, but when it comes to positional grappling, there’s few in the welterweight division who can handle Nelson’s.
Coming off a knockout loss, Nelson also needs to prove to himself he can win on the feet against a dangerous striker in Oliveira.
Prediction: Gunnar Nelson by Round 2 submission
Hakeem Dawodu (-185) vs Kyle Bochniak (+150)
This is supposed to be a showcase fight for Hakeem Dawodu in his homeland of Canada, who even with a loss in his UFC debut to Danny Henry projects to be a top prospect in the featherweight division. He gets a stiff test in Kyle Bochniak, who has no fear in getting hit.
The last part of that line is most important, because Dawodu will certainly be wary of that if Bochniak tries to turn this fight into a ugly one in close quarters. Bochniak’s chin is real, and if Zabit Magomedsharipov couldn’t put him away with what he hit him with, Dawodu certainly won’t.
But he’ll still win.
Prediction: Hakeem Dawodu by unanimous decision
UFC 231 Prelims
Claudia Gadhela vs Nina Ansaroff
Prediction: Claudia Gadhela by unanimous decision
Katlyn Chookagian vs Jessica Eye
Prediction: Katlyn Chookagian by unanimous decision
Eryk Anders vs Elias Theodorou
Prediction: Elias Theodorou by unanimous decision
Oliver Aubin-Mercier vs Gilbert Burns
Prediction: Oliver Aubin-Mercier by Round 2 submission
Aleksandar Rakic vs Devin Clark
Prediction: Devin Clark by Round 2 TKO
Brad Katona vs Matthew Lopez
Prediction: Brad Katona by Round 1 submission
Chad Laprise vs Douglas Lima
Prediction: Douglas Lima by Round 3 TKO
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs Jesse Ronson
Prediction: Carlos Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision
What are your thoughts ahead of UFC 231? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] GOLDSCHMIDT TRADED TO ST. LOUIS CARDINALS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/img_8818-1.jpg?resize=656%2C369&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Dec 6, 2018 | SPORTS
Former Diamondbacks First Baseman On The Move
Coming up short of a playoff birth in 2018, the St. Louis Cardinals made a splash here at the beginning of the winter that strongly announces their intentions to contend in 2019.
The St. Louis Cardinals acquired All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt from the Arizona Diamondbacks in a multiplayer deal on Wednesday.
The Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange will receive Luke Weaver, Carson Kelly and Andy Young. In addition to that, the Diamondbacks will also receive a 2019 Competitive Balance Round B draft pick from the St Louis.
Goldschmidt, one of the MLB’s premier sluggers, bolsters a Cardinals lineup that took off in the second half of the season after the team fired World Series winning manager Mike Matheny.
The 31-year-old slugger has been named an All-Star in each of the past six seasons. This past season he batted .290 with 33 home runs, 83 RBIs, and 35 doubles. He also walked 90 times, finishing with a .922 OPS, which ranked third in the National League.
The St. Louis Cardinals went 88-74 last season, finishing in third place behind the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Team president John Mozeliak and the Cardinals front office believe this move will improve St. Louis’ offense, which finished tied for 10th in runs scored with 759 runs.
Goldschmidt leaves the Arizona Diamondbacks franchise as one of it’s best ever players. Since 2012, he’s been one of the best hitters in the MLB and has a good glove at first base. He ranks sixth in home runs (201), third in RBIs (684) and 3rd in OBP (.400).
He is set to be a free agent following the 2019 season in which he is scheduled to make $14.5 million.
What are your thoughts on the St. Louis Cardinals adding Goldy? Leave your comments below!
