![[SPORTS] GUILTY VERDICT REACHED IN ADIDAS PAY-FOR-PLAY TRIAL](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8321-1-1.jpg?resize=750%2C500&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 24, 2018 | SPORTS
College Hoops Turned Upside Down Following Trial
A New York jury convicted the three defendants accused of pay-for-play schemes on Wednesday in a Federal court.
Among those convicted were Adidas employee James Gatto, former Adidas consultant Merl Code and Christian Dawkins, a former runner for NBA agent Andy Miller
The three defendants were on trial for using money to convince high-profile basketball recruits to attend Kansas, Louisville and NC State.
The three convicted were accused of felony charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud by paying money from Adidas to the families of recruits to ensure they signed with the Adidas-sponsored schools listed below, as well as the popular sneaker company once they made the jump to the NBA.
The jury found Gatto guilty on all three of his counts, while Code and Dawkins were found guilty on two counts.
The ruling marks the end of a three-week trial as U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan set the sentencing for March 5th for Gatto, Code, and Dawkins.
During the trial, an attorney for James Gatto accused Kansas coach Bill Self and Rick Pitino of knowing of the payments to their recruits.
With the college basketball season around the corner, Bill Self has revealed that Silvio De Sousa — a current Jayhawks player who has been said to have $20,000 given to him — will not play in the Kansas Jayhawks upcoming exhibition game.
It’s been long thought that this has always been a case for college stars having money slipped to them under the table by companies like Adidas as well as from coaches looking to recruit them.
Certainly this is just another chapter in a ugly saga that in all likelihood is far from over.
What are your thoughts on today’s court ruling? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] DAMON HARRISON TRADED TO LIONS FOR DRAFT PICK](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8319-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 24, 2018 | SPORTS
‘Snacks’ Harrison Shipped To Motor City In Trade
With the trade deadline coming next Wednesday, the New York Giants are letting it be known to teams around the NFL they’re looking for suitors.
The New York Giants continued their roster makeover by trading away Damon Harrison to the Detroit Lions for a draft pick on Wednesday afternoon.
The New York Giants will receive the Detroit Lions 2019 fifth-round draft pick in return for the Giants former defensive tackle.
Damon Harrison, one of the Giants better defensive players and notable run stuffer, represents the second trade in as many days for the G-Men.
Harrison was under contract for the next two seasons for the Giants as he was signed to a five-year/$46 million contract back in 2016 as a free agent from the New York Jets.
Many will call it a firesale, I’ll call it a necessary direction for a team that’s destined to be picking in the top five during the 2019 NFL Draft next April.
The New York Giants season went down in flames when Graham Gano booted that 63-yard field goal to beat the Giants back in Week 5 and since then the team has looked angry and defeated.
If there’s anything more that needs to be said it’s this: Start Adrian Peterson this week in your fantasy leagues and enjoy the numbers that come with it.
What are your thoughts on the Giants trading away Damon Harrison? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] ELI APPLE TRADED TO SAINTS FOR DRAFT PICKS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8318-2.jpg?resize=728%2C486&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 24, 2018 | SPORTS
Giants Part With Inconsistent Cornerback
The New York Giants traded former 2016 first-round pick Eli Apple to the New Orleans Saints for a pair of draft picks on Tuesday afternoon.
The New York Giants will receive a 2019 fourth-round pick and seventh-round pick for the former Ohio State alum.
Apple had struggled in his two-plus seasons for Big Blue, giving up big plays and penalties along the way.
He was looked at as the best available cornerback during the 2016 NFL Draft, but the Giants, who had hoped he could be an answer for a secondary now led by Pro Bowler Landon Collins, lost faith in the 23-year-old corner.
While Apple showed flashes, the Giants likely felt it was time to move away from the cornerback who appeared to be an unpopular member in the Giants locker room.
Just last season Giants safety Landon Collins made some startling remarks near the end of the 2017 regular-season as he labeled Eli Apple a “cancer”.
“There is only one corner who needs to grow up and we all know who that is,” Collins said during a radio interview last December. “That would be the only person I would change out of our secondary group. Besides, the other two guys, [Rodgers-Cromartie] and [Janoris Jenkins], I love those two guys. They play hard. They love what they do. That first pick…he’s a cancer.”
For the Giants, there aren’t enough players right now who should be shipped out.
What are your thoughts on Eli Apple being traded? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] RONDAE HOLLIS-JEFFERSON SET TO MAKE SEASON DEBUT VS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8316.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 24, 2018 | SPORTS
Nets Forward To Return To Action
Coach Kenny Atkinson and the Nets will be happy to get the return of one of their best all-around players.
Brooklyn Nets’ forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will make his season debut on Wednesday night vs the Cleveland Cavaliers after missing the first three games of the season.
Hollis-Jefferson has dealt with a hip injury suffered three months ago in China, but ultimately was held out due to the birth of his son, Rylen Hollis-Jefferson.
A versatile fourth-year forward out of Arizona, the Nets will get back a much-needed player who completes the Nets starting lineup.
Hollis-Jefferson has seen a huge jump in scoring in each of his first three seasons in the NBA with him going from 8.7 PPG to 13.9 PPG last season.
A strong defender and rebounder and sometimes surprising passer, the Nets hope their talented 23-year-old forward can spark a Nets team looking to secure their first road win of the season tonight.
What are your thoughts on Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s return? Leave your comments below below!
![[SPORTS] STEPHEN A. SMITH OPENS UP ON RAJON RONDO’S CLAIMS ABOUT CHRIS PAUL](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8315-1-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 24, 2018 | SPORTS
Smith On Rondo: He Does Have A Point
Stephen A. Smith won’t exalt Rajon Rondo a day after Rondo claimed not to have spit on Chris Paul, but he will come this aid about his comments about Chris Paul as a teammate.
Stephen A. Smith expressed on Wednesday morning that Rajon Rondo’s comments about Chris Paul in the aftermath of their brawl on Saturday night during the Rockets-Lakers game are valid.
“He does have a point that there are people that feel that way about Chris Paul,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “There are teammates who have not particularly liked him in New Orleans (and) in L.A. We know, we’ve heard a lot about the Austin Rivers thing and how he felt about Austin Rivers or vice versa.
“Obviously Doc Rivers, you could tell that he had some ill feelings towards Chris Paul to some degree because he believes and a lot of them believe within the Clippers organization that Chris Paul led the Rockets players] trying to get into the Clippers locker room last year.
“Now I was told that Chris Paul was one of those people that tried to stop it, along with James Harden, but there are members within the Clippers organization that says no way in hell is that true. Chris Paul actually led that type of revolt.
“And you saw how aloof Doc Rivers was about it when he was asked about it, so you have that issue going on. I know of referees who have said to me personally that they think that Chris Paul is a dirty player because he does little slick things.”
Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis, who played four seasons with Rajon Rondo and a season plus with Chris Paul, gave his thoughts on Tuesday in a post on Instagram.
On Tuesday Lakers guard Rajon Rondo tried to defend himself from allegations that he spit on Rockets guard Chris Paul which prompted the two to start exchanging punches with one another.
“This is the only time I’m going to address this,” Rondo told ESPN on Tuesday. “I had a mouthpiece in my mouth and I [was] exasperated because I was about to tell him to ‘get the [expletive] out of here.’
“Look at my body language [in the video]. My hands on my hips. I turn away for a second. Look at Eric [Gordon] and Melo [Carmelo Anthony] in the video. If they saw me spit, they would have turned their face up or something. They had no reaction.”
After chiming on on the situation that led to him receiving a three-game suspension, Rondo went out of his way to try to tear down what he felt was an unfair reputation Paul — who was suspended for two games — had built for himself.
“Of course, the NBA went with his side because I got three games and he got two,” Rondo told ESPN. “Everyone wants to believe Chris Paul is a good guy. They don’t know he’s a horrible teammate. They don’t know how he treats people. Look at what he did last year when he was in L.A.; trying to get to the Clippers’ locker room. They don’t want to believe he’s capable of taunting and igniting an incident.”
Also suspended in the brawl that broke out in Saturday’s game was Brandon Ingram, who was suspended four games for pushing James Harden out of frustration over a foul call, going after an official and throwing a punch at Chris Paul that missed.
The Los Angeles Lakers will have the services of their starting point guard on Saturday when the Lakers visit the San Antonio Spurs.
Los Angeles is 0-3 to begin the season and will look for their first win of the season on Wednesday night vs the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena.
Do you believe Chris Paul is a bad teammate? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] GIANTS OPEN AS 1-POINT UNDERDOGS AT HOME VS WASHINGTON REDSKINS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8313-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 24, 2018 | SPORTS
Giants Home Woes Expected To Continue
The New York Giants look like a lost cause seven weeks into the NFL season as they have once again began the season 1-6. That’s enough to make Las Vegas give Washington a slight edge going into a second consecutive NFC East battle in Week 8.
The New York Giants are listed as +1 underdogs by the Las Vegas Sportsbook vs the Washington Redskins at MetLife Stadium this Sunday.
The New York Giants (1-6) are coming off a 23-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The New York Giants offense once again was mirred by poor execution and a lack of plays down the field as they failed to take advantage of a solid defensive effort from the defense.
The loss marked the fourth consecutive loss for the New York Giants, who now will return home looking to win their first home game of the season and first since New Years Eve last season.
The Washington Redskins (4-2) are coming off a nail-biting 20-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field which marked their second straight win of the season.
Adrian Peterson led the way on offense with 99 rushing yards as the Redskins relied on their defense to get the victory in what was mostly a defensive struggle in Landover, Maryland.
Ryan Kerrigan’s strip-sack that led directly to a fumble recovery touchdown late in the fourth quarter was the difference as the Dallas Cowboys missed field goal as time expired allowed Washington to escape with the win.
The last time these two teams met was back in Week 17 of last year on New Year’s Eve as the New York Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 18-10 as the Giants feasted off three interceptions by then Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins and got a strong performance out of running back Orleans Darkwa (154 rushing yards, 1 TD).
What are your thoughts on the New York Giants Week 8 matchup? Leave your comments below!
