![[SPORTS] CHEERLEADERS FIGHT BACK](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/nfl-cheerleaders-.jpg?resize=275%2C183&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 10, 2018 | SPORTS
Cheerleaders are finally fighting back and exposing the decade long unfair treatment they have experienced over time from the NFL.
According to Vanity Fair, these allegations have come into the light after marketing plans, created in the 1970’s, are created to, as they put it, “sell sex on the sidelines”. For many years cheerleaders have been exploited and manipulated in order to be more appealing to the male viewer. A former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, Debbie Kepley, states that when you are a cheerleader for the NFL, they own you. She also states that ” Even though they wanted you to be a representative of the Cowboys, you were still just an accessory—a sideline accessory. It’s like being a Miss America—you will do anything they say to be a part of all of the glitz, the glamour, the cameras, the excitement and hope. That’s where they take advantage of people”.
Allegations from cheerleaders across a number of NFL teams have surfaced bringing to light the terrible working conditions many of these women have been subjected to. Five former cheerleaders from the Redskins state that the team forced them to pose topless in front of fans in Costa Rica after confiscating their passports. Another cheerleader from the New Orleans Saints sued the team after she was wrongfully terminated for posting a picture on Instagram. Six former cheerleaders from the Houston Texans recently filed a federal sex discrimination suit against the team, stating that they were paid less than the states minimum wage. All while being body shamed from their coach.
These conditions are not only sexist and misogynistic but also a form of discrimination. These women have become role models to many young girls around the world and should be treated with more respect from the NFL. Comment down below what you think about the NFL’s terrible treatment towards its cheerleaders.
![[SPORTS] TIMELY HITTING AND SHUTDOWN PITCHING SEND RED SOX TO ALCS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8127-1-3.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 10, 2018 | SPORTS
Red Sox End The Yankees Season In The Bronx
Just as was the case 14 years ago in their last playoff matchup, the visual of the Boston Red Sox celebrating in Yankee Stadium in the postseason would take shape again on Tuesday night.
The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees 4-3 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium in Game 4 of the ALDS to win the series 3-1 to advance to the ALCS.
Boston expected a much more competitive game than they had the previous night when they crushed the Yankees 16-1, handing them their worst playoff defeat in franchise history.
It was nearly given away by their closer Craig Kimbrel in the ninth, but a great throw from third baseman Eduardo Nunez and a fantastic stretch and catch at first base by Steve Pearce for the final out allowed Boston to escape New York with a series win.
Coming to New York tied 1-1 after dropping Game 2, Boston winning one game to send it back to Boston for a possible Game 5 was a goal, but not the only one.
The Red Sox wanted to end the Yankees season on Tuesday on New York’s home field, sending them packing as well as a stern message about the future between MLB’s super powers.
After a hit by pitch and single by Steve Pearce to begin the third inning, Boston would have the first scoring opportunity between the two teams in Game 4 and they would capitalize.
A J.D. Martinez fly ball to center field would give the Boston Red Sox a 1-0 lead vs their AL East rivals.
The lead would grow with two outs as Ian Kinsler and Eduardo Nunez would drive in RBIs each to extend the lead to 3-0 and have the Yankees bullpen stirring.
In what was arguably his last start in a New York Yankees uniform, CC Sabathia’s inability to limit the damage in the third put the Yankees, facing elimination, in a inevitable position.
New York would fail to answer, and just as was the case in Game 3, Boston continued to build on their lead.
With Zach Britton in for CC Sabathia yo begin the fourth, Red Sox catcher Christian Vasquez would blast a home run to opposite field to make it a 4-0 lead.
A anxious and perplexed Yankee Stadium crowd, much like Game 3, watched on in stunned and silent as they watched their biggest rivals pile on runs in this win or go home game.
Rick Porcello, who pitched in Game 1 of the ALDS out of the bullpen, took the mound for the Boston Red Sox in Game 4.
Porcello would lean on the groundball to stymie the Yankees offense over five innings of one-run ball as he would deliver with a strong showing.
The key to the start for the 29-year-old was efficiency as the former AL Cy Young winner would throw 48 of his 65 pitches on the night for strikes.
After getting a runner in scoring position with one out but failing to score in the fourth, New York would finally get a run off Rick Porcello after a RBI sacrifice fly by Brett Gardner with one out in the fifth.
Porcello would throw 26 pitches in the inning, leading to Alex Cora going to his bullpen a little earlier than usual.
The Yankees bullpen would keep the Red Sox offense at bay but the Yankees, trying to fight through unproductive at-bats, failed to provide the boom that they had all season during their record-breaking HR season.
Boston’s bullpen, seen as a liability earlier in the series, cruised through innings vs New York’s lifeless offense as Yankee Stadium had turned into something resembling a morgue not and not a Major League Baseball stadium.
Six outs away from a ALCS birth, Alex Cora would make quite the move for the eighth inning as ace left-hander Chris Sale — who started Game 1 — would take the mound in the eighth as Boston looked to sink the Yankees.
Sale would put together a 1-2-3 inning for the Boston Red Sox has he capped the inning with a knee buckling slider to center fielder Aaron Hicks for a strikeout.
After Yankees’ closer Aroldis Chapman breezed through the ninth inning, the stage was set for a dramatic bottom of the ninth.
Craig Kimbrel, on to get the save for the Red Sox, would find a way to wake up a Yankee Stadium crowd that sat on their hands for most of the game.
Kimbrel would walk Aaron Judge on four pitches to begin the inning. He would follow that by allowing a single by Didi Gregorious.
The Red Sox hard throwing closer would recover to strikeout Giancarlo Stanton to get the first out of the ninth but would walk Luke Voit in four pitches to load the bases before hitting Neil Walker with a pitch to make it a 4-2 game.
Gary Sanchez, who would bat after Walker, would work the count to 3-2 before hitting a fly ball to left fieldfor a RBI sacrifice fly to make it a 4-3 game.
With hearts pounding on both sides, Kimbrel would escape the inning with a groundball by Gleyber Torres to third base as Eduardo Nunez would throw out Torres and secure Boston’s ALCS birth.
It wasn’t easy, and nor would anyone in the Red Sox clubhouse expect it to be, but Boston is on its way to the next round vs the defending champion Houston Astros.
You can hear the ‘Fire Boone’ angry mob in New York City picking up steam after a bitter end to what the Yankees had hoped would be a championship season.
While this painful defeat to end what at times was a dominant season for the Yankees that resulted in 100 wins, New York’s counterparts were just the better team at the end of the day.
New York’s worrisome starting pitching woes would always be their undoing. Last year’s prized in-season trade acquisition Sonny Gray resembled nothing like the pitcher Oakland had for his first few seasons.
That was a gamble, but Aaron Boone and the Yankees had hoped for at the very least a solid middle of the rotation starter in Gray, who would fall well short of expectations.
Think about, New York started a 38-year-old CC Sabathia in a do-or-die Game 4 vs the MLB’s highest scoring offense from this past season.
If that doesn’t tell you about New York’s shortcomings in the rotation this season, nothing will.
The offense, which blew a number of their opportunities while watching Boston make the most of there’s, particularly in Games 1, 3 and 4, is just as responsible for the ALDS result as the starting pitching.
The New York Yankees would hit 4-for-26 with RISP while leaving a whooping 28 men on base vs the Boston Red Sox in the series.
The journey ends for the Yankees on a sour note as their road to avenge the stinging season-ending loss to Boston will have to wait until next season.
For the Red Sox, it’s a satisfying ALDS series victory that highlighted Boston’s strengths and weaknesses.
They will face the most formidable postseason foe they could draw in the Houston Astros, who don’t mind starting a series on the road after finishing with the MLB’s best road record for a second straight regular-season.
Houston’s dominance in their starting rotation and their bullpen goes hand and hand with one of the MLB’s most dangerous offensive teams that can catch fire late in games as we saw in the ALDS vs Cleveland.
How will Boston counteract the many problems Houston poses for them, particularly their pitching?
We may be in for an amazing ALCS as it’s a rematch of last season’s ALDS that Houston won 3-1.
What are your thoughts on the Boston Red Sox advancing to the ALCS? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] DANIEL CORMIER AND DERRICK LEWIS TO HEADLINE UFC 230](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8126.jpg?resize=1000%2C666&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 9, 2018 | SPORTS
UFC Heavyweight Title Fight Will Main Event MSG Event
The UFC is going with another choice for its UFC 230 main event, and its big.
Daniel Cormier will defend his UFC heavyweight title vs Derrick Lewis at UFC 230 on November 3rd in New York.
The fight was announced by UFC president Dana White on Tuesday and Daniel Cormier would later confirm the fight was official.
The UFC announced last week that Valentina Shevchenko and Sijara Eubanks would headline the Madison Square Garden event next month for the vacant UFC women’s flyweight title.
That fight is now off the table with today’s news and a previously scheduled title tilt between Shevchenko and Joanna Jedrzejczyk has been rebooked for UFC 231 on December 8th in Toronto, according to White.
Daniel Cormier (21-1, 10-1 UFC) last fought in July at UFC 226 when he knocked out Stipe Miocic in the first round to win the UFC heavyweight title.
With the win he became just the second fighter in UFC history to win another world title while holding another simultaneously.
He also holds the UFC light heavyweight title, but in recent interviews has said he expects to be stripped of the title by the UFC.
Derrick Lewis (21-5, 12-3 UFC) is coming off a come-from-behind 3rd-Round KO victory over Alexander Volkov at UFC 229. ‘The Black Beast’ rallied in the final minute of the third round to finish the Russian in stunning and dramatic fashion.
Lewis come back victory netted him a performance bonus and his post-fight theatrics and interview made him a internet sensation.
It was Lewis’ 9th victory in his last 10 UFC appearances, making him one of the hottest fighters in a division short on contenders.
The heavy hitter has picked up 10 KO victories in his UFC career, tied with Cain Velasquez for the most in UFC history. The Houston native looks to takes aim at the champ champ next month in the quickest turnaround of his career.
It’s a matchup that early on MMA Ratings views heavily in Daniel Cormier’s favor as Cormier has opened as a sizable favorite at -800 over Derrick Lewis (+575).
What are your thoughts on Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis headlining UFC 230? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] NEW YORK GIANTS OPEN AS 3 POINT UNDERDOGS VS PHILADELPHIA EAGLES](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8123-1.jpg?resize=1000%2C600&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 9, 2018 | SPORTS
Giants Looking For First Win At Home In NFC East Battle vs Philadelphia
A strong performance by the Giants on the road and a skidding Eagles team isn’t enough to sway Vegas to the G-Men side.
The New York Giants are listed as +3 underdogs by the Las Vegas Sportsbook for this Thursday’s home game at MetLife Stadium vs the Philadelphia Eagles.
The New York Giants (1-4) are coming off a stunning 33-31 loss to the Carolina Panthers on the road. The Giants climbed back from a early 14-point deficit, scoring with a little over a minute left in the game on a Saquon Barkley touchdown reception to make it a 31-30 game.
Carolina would be kept from attempting a manageable field goal to win the game, but 63 yards was enough as Panthers’ kicker Graham Gano drilled the game-winning kick as time expired.
The Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) are struggling as well as they are coming off a 23-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings at home. Philadelphia fell behind 20-3 in the third quarter but would rally late, but that rally would fall short.
The Eagles have lost three out of their last four games and have not scored 24 points in a game this season, something they accomplished 12 times during the regular-season last year.
The last time these two teams met was back in Week 15 last year as the Philadelphia Eagles clipped the Giants 34-29 at MetLife Stadium. Nick Foles would lead the Eagles with 237 passing yards and 4 TDs. Eli Manning finished the game with 437 passing yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT.
What are your thoughts on the Giants Week 6 matchup? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] NEW YORK JETS OPEN AS 2.5 POINT FAVORITES VS INDIANAPOLIS COLTS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8125-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 9, 2018 | SPORTS
Jets Looking To Continue Momentum At Home vs Luck’s Colts
Gang Green is looking for their first winning streak of 2018, and Vegas likes them to do so by the slimmest of margins.
The New York Jets are listed as a -2.5 point favorite by the Las Vegas Sportsbook vs the Indianapolis Colts at MetLife Stadium this Sunday.
The New York Jets (2-3) ended their two-game skid with a 34-16 victory over the Denver Broncos as running back Isaiah Crowell led the way with 219 rushing yards.
Crowell broke the New York Jets’ franchise record for single-game rushing yards and the Jets got a bounce back performance from their defense.
The Indianapolis Colts (1-4) are coming off their third consecutive loss to the New England Patriots last Thursday night as they fell 38-24 at Gillette Stadium.
The Colts are banged up on defense, and it showed in their inability to stop the Patriots at all in their Week 5 loss as they benefited mostly from mistakes to keep New England from parading into the endzone on each drive.
These two teams last met on December 5th, 2016 as the Indianapolis Colts would embarrass Gang Green 41-10 at MetLife Stadium.
Andrew Luck would torch the Jets defense for 278 passing yards and 4 TDs as the Jets painfully experimented with Bryce Petty at quarterback (11-for-25, 135 passing yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs).
… At least Robby Anderson caught a touchdown pass.
What are your thoughts on the New York Jets Week 6 matchup? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] NFL WEEK 6 POWER RANKINGS: BENGALS RISE, EAGLES FALL](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_8121-1-3.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 9, 2018 | SPORTS
Bengals Crack The Top 10 After Strong Start
Week 5 of the NFL season can best be summed at as history making and history breaking.
Drew Brees broke Peyton Manning’s all-time passing yards record on Monday night vs the Washington Redskins. The prolific quarterback did it in with a 62-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith, who just may be yet another weapon for this high-scoring offense.
Tom Brady would join a exclusive club as he tossed his 500th career touchdown to Josh Gordon of all people on a prayer to the endzone as Gordon out positioned two Colts defensive backs on a ball slightly under thrown.
For the first time in NFL history, four rookie quarterbacks won in the same week. There’s also Adam Thielen’s record five consecutive 100-yard games, single game rushing records and more that were set in a memorable Week 5.
With that said, here are my NFL Week 6 power rankings.
1. Los Angeles Rams (5-0)
The Los Angeles Rams are probably disappointed in their offensive performance in Week 5. The Rams turned the ball over two times, went 3-for-9 on 3rd down, but it wasn’t all bad for Los Angeles who piled up 468 total yards of offense and 33 points.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (5-0)
Kansas City’s much maligned defense stepped up to the challenge vs the Jacksonville Jaguars, shutting them down. While the offense wasn’t as explosive, they still reeled off 23 points and yards in the victory to remain unbeaten.
3. New Orleans Saints (4-1)
The New Orleans Saints Week 5 victory will be overshadowed by Drew Brees’ record breaking night, but give some credit to the defense, who held the Washington Redskins to 289 total yards in their best performance of the season.
4. New England Patriots (3-2)
Rob Gronkowski has been awfully quiet since Week 1. Ever since going for 123 receiving yards and 1 TD vs the Texans, Gronkowski has 16 receptions for 185 receiving yards and no touchdowns. It’s tied for the second longest drought for Gronkowski in his career in terms of games without a touchdown reception.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2)
Blake Bortles through five games has been either really good, really average, and last Sunday as we saw really awful as he turned the ball over five times vs a Chiefs defense that ranked near last in the NFL in a ugly 30-14 loss.
6. Chicago Bears (3-1)
It was a bye week for the first place Chicago Bears, who will come out of their bye week to face a suddenly reeling Miami Dolphins team that has lost their last two games by a combined 48 points.
7. Carolina Panthers (3-1)
The Carolina Panthers survived a real scare at home coming off a bye week as their defense surrendered 31 points to a struggling Giants offense.
The Panthers 31 points allowed at home are the most they’ve allowed since a 34-13 loss at home to the New Orleans Saints in Week 3 last season.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (4-1)
The Cincinnati Bengals sure do know how to score in the fourth quarter.
Marvin Lewis’ team would outscore the Miami Dolphins 24-0 in the fourth quarter last Sunday in a 27-17 win. Cincinnati has scored 56 points in the fourth quarter this season.
9. Baltimore Ravens (3-2)
Baltimore’s offense had a miserable day vs the Cleveland Browns last Sunday. The Ravens 4-for-16 performance on third down figured heavily into a 12-9 overtime loss for the Ravens last Sunday in Cleveland.
10. Los Angeles Chargers (3-2)
The Los Angeles Chargers turned in their best performance of the season to this point with a 26-10 win over the Oakland Raiders last Sunday.
The defense would hold Oakland to 289 total yards and 41 rushing yards as defensive end Melvin Ingram got to Derek Carr for one of three sacks for Los Angeles.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-3)
Philadelphia lost their first game at home with Carson Wentz under center for the first time since December 11th, 2016. The quarterback for that game? The same one who beat them last Sunday, Kirk Cousins.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2-1)
Antonio Brown recorded his first 100-yard receiving game of the season to go along with 2 TDs in the Steelers 41-17 rout, but it was James Connor who stole the show.
Connor would total 185 yards from scrimmage with 2 TDs in the Steelers victory, giving him his second such game this season doing such.
13. Minnesota Vikings (2-2-1)
The Minnesota Vikings defense had looked unrecognizable since Week 2, but they returned to form in a stellar victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in a NFC Championship Rematch.
Minnesota’s defense would hold the Eagles to 2-for-9 on third down and score a defensive touchdown vs Philadelphia.
14. Green Bay Packers (2-2-1)
The Green Bay Packers turned the ball over three times offensively in a 31-23 loss, but five missed kicks by Mason Crosby were the story for Mike McCarthy’s team. Mason Crosby is the first kicker since 1997 to miss four field goals and a extra point in attempt in the same game.
15. Tennessee Titans (3-2)
Tennessee’s propensity to play in close games caught up with them in a last-second lost to the Buffalo Bills. The offense was stagnated by an anemic performance from Marcus Mariota, who finished with 129 passing yards and 1 INT.
16. Washington Redskins (2-2)
The Washington Redskins looked like a team that had a little too much fun during their bye week … Or they just aren’t very good. Having allowed the second fewest points in the NFL coming into Week 5 at 14.7 PPG, Jay Gruden’s team was exposed on national television in their first true test.
17. Miami Dolphins (3-2)
The Miami Dolphins are not explosive enough or productive enough to have Ryan Tannehill go out and turn the ball over like he did in the fourth quarter of Miami’s 27-17 loss. A 3-0 start looks like it happened years ago after losing their last two games by a combined 48 points.
18. Cleveland Browns (2-2-1)
The Cleveland Browns offense did just enough to squeak out a victory over the Baltimore Ravens last week. Baker Mayfield’s 342 passing yards vs the Baltimore Ravens are the most ever by a Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback.
19. Dallas Cowboys (2-3)
Dallas’ offense looked lost without a less than Ezekiel Elliot (20 carries, 54 rushing yards) like performance vs the Houston Texans last Sunday. Dak Prescott leading receiver in a OT loss to Houston was tight-end Geoff Swaim with 3 catches for 55 receiving yards, not a recipe for success
20. Seattle Seahawks (2-3)
The Seattle Seahawks impressed many with their strong effort vs the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday, but it’s still a loss for Pete Carroll’s team. Russell Wilson won’t complain about 21 pass attempts if Seattle is running for 190 rushing yards every game.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-2)
The Buccaneers had a bye week and will face a 1-4 Atlanta Falcons in Week 6 — buoyed by injuries — that has completely fallen apart on the defensive side of the ball.
22. Detroit Lions (2-3)
The Detroit Lions are playing good football since their 48-17 Week 1 shellacking at the hands of the New York Jets. Matthew Stafford has thrown 9 TDs to only 1 INT since throwing four of them in Week 1.
23. Atlanta Falcons (1-4)
Atlanta’s offense was held in check vs the Pittsburgh Steelers and Julio Jones continues his strange hiatus from the endzone. Since November 13th, 2016, Jones has four touchdown receptions and has zero to begin the 2018 season.
24. Houston Texans (2-3)
The Houston Texans two victories have come in overtime this season. DeAndre Hopkins has 594 receiving yards through five games as he’s on pace to top his career-high set back in his third season of 1,512 receiving yards.
25. New York Jets (2-3)
When the New York Jets win, they dominate. The New York Jets are outscoring their opponents 82-33.
That’ll continue if they keep getting 200 rushing yards from Isaiah Crowell, who rushed for a New York Jets franchise-record 219 rushing yards last Sunday in a 34-16 win vs the Denver Broncos.
26. Denver Broncos (2-3)
Denver’s defense is no longer elite despite having two rocks along their defense in Von Miller and Chris Harris Jr. still in the fold. Speaking of Von Miller, the star outside linebacker has zero sacks over his last three games.
27. Buffalo Bills (2-3)
The Buffalo Bills defense since the second half of Week 2 has come to life after giving up 75 points over their first six quarters. Buffalo has surrendered only 40 points over their last 14 quarters of play.
28. Oakland Raiders (1-4)
The Oakland Raiders offense is strange. Despite their quarterback Derek Carr completing 71.3 percent of his passes, Carr has an NFL-high 8 interceptions this season.
29. New York Giants (1-4)
The New York Giants offense finally broke through in a game they needed to win to avoid a 1-4 start. Unfortunately, they have bad luck when it comes to losing on improbable field goals.
Graham Gano’s 63-yard field goal is the second time in as many years New York has lost on a 60+ yard field goal as Jake Elliot hit a 61-yard field goal last season to beat New York.
30. Indianapolis Colts (1-4)
The Indianapolis Colts have been within seven points in the fourth quarter in each of their four losses this season but they were mostly dominated vs a New England Patriots team that gifted them two second half turnovers.
31. San Francisco 49ers (1-4)
A 28-18 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at home changes the positive environment around the team following a close loss vs the Los Angeles Chargers. It’s hard to win a game when the offense turns the ball over five times.
32. Arizona Cardinals (1-4)
Arizona’s defense has played well enough to win each of their last three games, but they’ll take a win over the 49ers. Josh Rosen threw the first of what Cardinals fans hope is the start of many touchdown passes in his career.
What are your thoughts on this Week’s power rankings? Leave your comments below!
