![[SPORTS] USYK KNOCKS OUT BELLEW IN 8TH-ROUND TO DEFEND TITLES](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8510-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 11, 2018 | SPORTS
Usyk Takes Down Tough Bellew In Manchester
Oleksandr Usyk knew when the fight was agreed to that his talkative adversary would try to get into his head with gamesmanship ahead of their title clash.
Bellew failed to ignite a different persona out of the undefeated champion, and on Saturday night it was business as usual in Manchester.
Oleksandr Usyk (16-0, 12 KOs) defeated Tony Bellew (30-3-1, 20 KOs) by 8th-Round KO on Saturday night at the Manchester Arena to defend his cruiserweight belts.
The Ukrainian Usyk was challenged at times by the 35-year-old Bellew, who ended his brief retirement to fight the cruiserweight stalwart.
But in the end, it was Usyk who turned the tide in the fight before putting him away for good with a brutal left-cross in the eighth that sent Bellew to the mat with his head bouncing off the canvas.
Surgical with his timing and precision on the offensive side and hard to hit on the defensive, the southpaw Usyk was in true form after somewhat of a slow start in this much celebrated and anticipated matchup.
Usyk, who continues his strong roll, has done all he can at the cruiserweight weight class and knowing that, he plans to make a move to heavyweight in the near future.
How about a showdown with Anthony Joshua while he’s at it?
What are your thoughts on Oleksandr Usyk’s knockout victory in Manchester? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] JIMMY BUTLER TRADED TO PHILADELPHIA 76ERS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8509-2.jpg?resize=1000%2C600&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 11, 2018 | SPORTS
Jimmy Butler/T’Wolves Saga Is Over
When the Minnesota Timberwolves acquired Jimmy Butler from the Chicago Bulls during the 2017 NBA Draft, Tom Thibodeau and the rest of the organization had hoped Butler could be a key to bringing winning basketball back to the city.
Instead, the Minnesota Timberwolves a year later are moving on from the frustrated star in a move that was all but imminent.
The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to terms on a trade that will send Jimmy Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers in return for Robert Covington and Dario Saric.
Butler demanded a trade back in the beginning of August, a request not surprising given his shattered relationship on the court with Minnesota’s players that included Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins and supposedly the front office.
The two-way star refused to sign a max contract extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves this past offseason, a blow to the Timberwolves franchise that still tried to be persistent in the face of Butler’s chaos and controversy that has engulfed the team since the beginning of training camp.
A tirade thrown in his first practice with the team during training camp and a willingness to be a distraction for the team proved to be his final images for a Minnesota Timberwolves team that is now 4-9 on the season with an 0-8 record on the road.
The Philadelphia 76ers have begun the season slow at 8-5, but now figure to elevate closer to the elite of the Eastern Conference.
With a team that already features a ready-made superstar in Joel Embiid and a talented and potentially transcendent player in Ben Simmons who is beyond his years from a mental standpoint, the gap on paper is no longer a wide one from the likes of the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics and now Milwaukee Bucks.
Butler’s first game with the team will be on Monday when the Philadelphia 76ers visit South Beach to take on the Miami Heat.
What are your thoughts on Jimmy Butler being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] LEVERT PLAYS HERO AGAIN AS NETS SURVIVE CHALLENGE IN DENVER](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8507.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 10, 2018 | SPORTS
Nets Hand Denver First Home Loss
After waltzing through a rather painless matchup with the Phoenix Suns in the desert on Wednesday night, a far more formidable challenge awaited the Brooklyn Nets as they continued their four-game West coast swing.
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Denver Nuggets 112-110 on Friday night at the Pepsi Center to win their third consecutive game.
Caris LeVert wanted the shot, and he got it. The third-year guard sunk a go-ahead, game-winning basket with 0.3 seconds remaining in the game as Brooklyn sent the Nuggets to back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
LeVert finished with 17 points, five assists, one steal and one block in the Nets huge road victory in the Mile-High City.
It’s the second game-winning shot for LeVert this season, who hit a game-winner vs the New York Knicks back in Brooklyn’s home opener in a 107-105 win at the Barclays Center.
D’Angelo Russell would score a team-high 23 points while recording five assists, four rebounds and two steals. He also scored seven points in the fourth quarter.
Operating by committee with five players once again reaching double figures, the Brooklyn Nets were steady on offense and tough on defense as they continued to grind their way to victory.
The Nets owned a 14-point lead in this game early in the first half and were in control for the half before the Nuggets made a second half push to make it a tight affair.
Nikola Jokic was a one-man wrecking crew against the Brooklyn Nets as he took second-year center Jarrett Allen to school for much of the game.
Typically a passer as he came in averaging a team-high 7.4 assists, the Denver big man played with a chip on his shoulder as he scored 37 points while grabbing 21 rebounds, making up for Denver getting less than efficient production from their starting guards Jamal Murray and Gary Harris.
The game was nearly lost at the free throw line by the Brooklyn Nets as the Denver Nuggets attempted 20 free throws in the fourth quarter while the Nets had a stretch of two empty trips at the free throw line with the game hanging in the balance late.
The Denver Nuggets out-rebounded the Brooklyn Nets 54-42 while holding them to 40.9 percent shooting from the field, but it would not be enough as the Nets edge in 3-point shooting and playmaking late proved to be the difference.
DeMarre Carroll made his season debut for the Nets after missing the first 11 games of the season with an ankle injury.
In his return, Carroll gave Brooklyn a boost off the bench defensively while scoring nine points in 14 minutes.
Offensive balance is what coach Kenny Atkinson preaches, and he got that tonight along with his team being able to defend everyone except Nikola Jokic on the night.
While Jarrett Allen took his lumps from the Serbian, the second-year big man finished with a season-high 18 points to go along with nine rebounds while tying his career-high with five blocks.
A big victory to be sure vs a Denver team that came in 9-2 and 6-0 at home, it’s a further confidence booster for Brooklyn, who continue to show they can play with just about every team they’ve faced this season.
The Brooklyn Nets (6-6) only won three games in a row once last year, evidence that this is a much improved team in 2018 as they got back to .500.
The Brooklyn Nets will continue their road trip with a visit to Oracle Arena to face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday night.
What are your thoughts on the Brooklyn Nets victory in Denver on Friday night? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] GORDON HAYWARD BOOED IN RETURN TO UTAH](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8501-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 10, 2018 | SPORTS
Fans Give Gordon Hayward An Ear Full In Long Awaited Return
Due to an unfortunate injury that ended his season minutes into the Celtics first game last year, Gordon Hayward’s return to the place he once called home was put on hold.
The Jazz are doing just fine these days, but fans in Salt Lake City weren’t in the mood to allow Gordon Hayward’s redemption story cloud his heartbreaking decision to leave them last year.
Jazz fans booed the All-Star forward at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Friday night when he was being introduced before the game.
Hayward, smiling, seemed to embrace the boos and expected them as he continued to work his way back from a devastating leg injury.
There was no tribute video to speak of, as Jazz players like Rudy Gobert were outspoken about Gordon Hayward’s departure that appeared to blindside the entire team and organization.
https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1061089481120342016/photo/1
Gordon Hayward was drafted with the ninth pick in the 2010 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. He would spend seven seasons in Utah before deciding to leave in free agency to join the Boston Celtics in July 2017.
Hayward is averaging 9.9 PPG, his lowest scoring average since his rookie year when he averaged 5.4 PPG off the bench for the Utah Jazz.
What are your thoughts on Utah fans booing Gordon Hayward?
![[SPORTS] TWINS’ JOE MAUER RETIRES AFTER 15 SEASONS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/img_8500-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Nov 10, 2018 | SPORTS
Face of Twins Franchise Retires After Battling Years of Injuries And Setbacks
Joe Mauer was born to be a Minnesota Twin, and he’ll leave the game and city that’s always been home to him as one.
The long-time Minnesota Twin retired after 15 seasons, all with the Minnesota Twins, on Friday.
Mauer made his announcement in a letter to fans that was released by the Twins. The letter will be released in both The Minneapolis Star-Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press this Sunday.
“After much consideration I have decided to retire from playing baseball,” Mauer wrote in the letter. “The decision came down to my health and my family. The risk of concussion is always there, and I was reminded of that this season after missing over 30 games as a result of diving for a foul ball.
“Thank you, Minnesota Twins, and thank you, fans, for making my career as special and memorable as it was. Because of you I can leave the game I love with a full and grateful heart.”
Mauer’s crowning moment in his career came when he won the 2009 AL MVP. During that season, Joe Mauer led the MLB in hitting with a .365 batting average while hitting a career-high 28 home runs and 96 RBIs.
The Minneapolis -bred Mauer finished his career with six All-Star appearances, three Gold Glove awards, and three batting titles. He also finishes his career with 2,123 career hits, first all-time in Minnesota Twins franchise history.
What are your thoughts on Joe Mauer’s MLB career? Leave your comments below!
