![[SPORTS] LEBRON MAKES LOS ANGELES LAKERS DEBUT VS DENVER NUGGETS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_7980-4.jpg?resize=600%2C421&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 1, 2018 | SPORTS
The King Takes Court As Laker For First Time
San Diego may not have the same flare as Los Angeles, but it hosted royalty in the form of King James on Sunday night.
LeBron James made his Los Angeles Lakers debut on Sunday night vs the Denver Nuggets at the Valley View Casino Center.
Taking the court for the first time in his NBA career in a Lakers uniform, James made the most of his preseason exhibition.
The three-time NBA MVP was up to his usual old tricks. He got the night going with a nice no-look pass to Brandon Ingram for a dunk moments into the game.
James pulled up for a 3-pointer near the top of the key over Denver Nuggets’ guard Gary Harris as he buried his first 3-pointer less than two minutes into the contest.
For the most part, the 33 year-old veteran spent a large portion of his night trying to get a understanding and feel for his new teammates.
That’s something of upmost important to James when playing with a cast of new players. Picking up on tendencies and habits from his teammates which better prepare James to make the needed adjustments on the fly.
James finished the game with 9 points (2-for-6 FG), 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 15 minutes. He would not play in the second half.
James signed a four year/$154 million with the Los Angeles Lakers back in July as a free agent. It was greatly rumored well before the start of last season that the King had his eyes set on Hollywood, even buying a mansion in Los Angeles during the 2017-18 season which served as somewhat of a prelude.
This is the third team in LeBron James’ NBA career as he has spent his NBA career playing for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.
By signing LeBron James the Los Angeles Lakers immediately made themselves a playoff contender at the very least with four years likely designed around adding more star free agents.
James is enjoying what he’s seen from his teammates, particularly the ones in the starting five that are made up of inexperienced but talented young players.
In a interview following practice LeBron James said he was impressed with what he’s seen out of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma, describing them all as players having a hunger to get better each day.
The Los Angeles Lakers talent is real, but so are their many flaws that should test LeBron James who will begin this most intriguing journey out West.
James and the Lakers will use their five remaining preseason games as well as two more weeks during training camp to prepare for the 82-game journey that awaits them.
The Los Angeles Lakers open their season on the road vs the Portland Trail Blazers on October 18th.
What are your thoughts on the Los Angeles Lakers preseason game vs the Denver Nuggets? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] NFL WEEK 4 RECAP: MITCHELL TRUBISKY THROWS 6 TDS IN BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_7979-1-1.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 1, 2018 | SPORTS
Trubisky Roars Loud, OT Thrillers, Record Breaker
If you watched Week 4 of the NFL season and didn’t come away feeling like you just watched the best Sunday of the NFL season to this point, go get drug tested because you need a few more in you!
In Week 4 we saw the highest scoring game of the NFL season in a unlikely venue, a running back gain over 100 yards rushing on three carries, the Saints play defense (kinda??) and three overtime games that didn’t end in a tie.
That’s all to say like a excited kid with a new bike or a bunch of cartoon mice in a fictional headquarters typing on buttons out of panic in code red that Week 4 was f****** awesome and arguably one of the best Sundays in the NFL in recent memory.
Just when we thought we saw the best that Week 5 would have to offer last Thursday night in Los Angeles, seven games were decided by three points or less on a fantastic day of NFL action.
Not to keep flapping my gums, here is my recap of the Sunday that was in the NFL.
Mitchell Trubisky Has Coming Out Party vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Who the heck is that?
I’m referring to number 10 wearing a Chicago Bears jersey, who before the game seemed to make some agreement with the football gods to get Ryan’s ‘Fitzmagic’ for a day.
The 2017 number two overall pick has had a slower development than his other mates from the 2017 draft class that includes Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, but on Sunday vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he had a coming of age.
Trubisky torched the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense at a sold out Soldier Field for 5 touchdowns in the first half, a franchise record. He would finish the game with a career-high 354 passing yards and 6 TDs with a 154.3 Passer Rating.
The Chicago Bears (3-1) went on to romp the suddenly skidding Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-10 in their most impressive and dominating victory of the season.
The 24 year-old quarterback coming into today had only nine career touchdown passes in 15 NFL starts, causing some groans in the Windy City.
If today taught us anything, however, it’s that the talented quarterback has a bright future on a team that looks ready to take the next level into playoff contention in 2018.
Pats Bounce Back vs 3-0 Miami Dolphins
In the Brady/Belichick era, New England simply doesn’t lose three consecutive games.
Behind a strong performance on both sides of the ball, the New England Patriots dominated the Miami Dolphins in a emphatic 38-7 win at Gillette Stadium.
The Patriots coming into the game struggled on offense with only 36 points over their last 10 quarters and a defense allowing well over 50 percent of third downs to be converted against them.
In the first half they flipped the script on a Miami Dolphins team off to a surprising 3-0 start.
In the first half the New England Patriots offense out-gained the Miami Dolphins 272 to 75 and went 6-for-9 on third down, scoring 24 points in the process.
Miami’s offense was stuck in quicksand in the first half as they went 1-for-6 on third down. Miami trailing 10-0 in the second quarter would turn the ball over on a high snap resulting in a fumble recovery by New England.
Adding to their woes, Miami rushed for a grand total of 7 rushing yards vs a team that allowed 159 rushing yards a week ago.
New England (2-2) cruised in the second half, but a few developments to watch is the impact of Josh Gordon being on the field.
Gordon made his Patriots debut on Sunday and having him on the field seemingly opened things up for New England’s rushing attack, which had a season-high in rushing attempts (40) and rushing yards (175).
Rookie running back Sony Michel rushed the ball 25 times for 112 rushing yards and his first career touchdown. Meanwhile, always consistent pass catching running back James White in addition to recording a touchdown reception finished the game with 44 rushing yards and 1 TD.
Mistake Prone Browns Cough Up Lead In OT Thriller vs Oakland Raiders
The Cleveland Browns may have ended their drought of nearly two years without a win, but their inability to end another will have to wait.
The Oakland Raiders behind 437 passing yards and 3 TDs from Derek Carr outlasted the Cleveland Browns 45-42 on Sunday in overtime at the Oakland Coliseum.
The Cleveland Browns (1-2-1) squandered a 28-14 lead second half lead and imploded defensively as well as unraveled offensively thereafter.
Oakland erased Cleveland’s edge by scoring 17 unanswered, which included a 19-yard touchdown reception by Oakland Raiders’ wide receiver Jordy Nelson to give Oakland a 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland would regain the lead and then tack on another touchdown — a 41-yard run by running back Nick Chubb — to make it a 42-34 game with 4:20 to go.
This is a Browns defense that through three weeks has looked, dear I say, elite. They lost that moniker quickly after coughing up the lead, allowing Derek Carr and company to score and then tie the game on a 2-point conversion in 58 seconds.
Baker Mayfield — who made his first career start — had a up and down game that included his first two touchdown passes as well as four turnovers, one being a pick six.
Of Mayfield’s four turnovers, three of them led to or resulted in 21 Oakland Raiders points. That’s something that even Hue Jackson can’t put on his defense, which surrendered a season-high 565 total yards on Sunday.
It was a self-destruction that cant be pinned on a field goal kicker going south or the play of Tyrod Taylor.
This loss is on the Cleveland Browns entire team which Cleveland Browns fans are painfully all too familiar with by now.
Tennessee Titans Stun Philadelphia Eagles
The Tennessee Titans followed a statement in a divisional victory last week in Jacksonville with another at home vs the defending champs.
The Tennessee Titans stunned the Philadelphia Eagles 26-23 in overtime on Sunday at Nissan Stadium.
Tennessee Titans’ quarterback Marcus Mariota would find wide receiver Corey Davis for a 10-yard touchdown with five seconds to go in overtime.
Corey Davis, who didn’t record a touchdown last season in his rookie year, made a leaping grab over Eagles’ cornerback Avonte Maddox on a 3rd and goal to give the Titans a third consecutive victory.
The Tennessee Titans fought from a 17-3 deficit in the second half in regulation to take the lead at 20-17, but would allow Philadelphia to send the game into overtime 20-20.
Carson Wentz — who finished the game with 348 passing yards and 2 TDs — led the Philadelphia Eagles on a drive ending in a 37-yard field by kicker Jake Elliot to begin overtime.
After converting on a 4th and 15 play to keep the drive alive and having another converted due to defensive holding, Mike Vrabel would roll the dice on yet another fourth down.
Facing a 4th and 2 at the Eagles 32-yard line, the Tennessee Titans head coach –who initially elected to send out the field goal unit — would send his offense out where they would convert with a 17-yard reception by running back Dion Lewis which would position Tennessee for the game-winning score.
Marcus Mariota finished the game with 344 passing yards and 2 TDs to go along with a team-high 46 rushing yards.
The Tennessee Titans don’t win pretty, but the only stat that matters is 3-1 for a football team that believes their best football is yet to come.
Adam Vinatieri Passes Morten Anderson For All-Time Record In Field Goals Made
The NFL has a new record leader in field goal makes.
Adam Vinatieri passed Morten Anderson for the all-time record in points late in the second quarter with a 42-yard field goal that gave him 565 field goal makes.
Vinatieri came into the day tied with Morten Anderson at 565 field goals after he tied the legendary kicker with a 3-for-3 day vs the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3.
Undrafted out of South Dakota State University, Vinatieri’s NFL career started back in 1996 for the New England Patriots where he won three Super Bowl titles.
He is mostly remembered for his playoff heroics as a New England Patriot which first began when he hit impossible field goals — which included a game-winning field goal — vs the Oakland Raiders in the 2002 NFL playoffs in a snow blizzard as the Patriots upset the Oakland Raiders 16-13 in OT in the divisional round.
He continued his heroics by hitting game-winning field goals in Super Bowl 36 vs the St. Louis Rams and Super Bowl 38 vs the Carolina Panthers.
The 45-year old spent his first 10 seasons in New England before playing the next 13 in Indianapolis where he won his fourth Super Bowl title back in 2006.
Vinatieri has had 12 seasons where he’s connected on better than 85 percent of his field goals while hitting better than 90 percent of his field goals in 4 seasons.
Greatest kicker ever? At this juncture, that’s indisputable.
What are your thoughts on Sunday’s Week 4 action? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] JOEY PORTER TURNS INTO MEME AS STEELERS FALL BEHIND VS RAVENS](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/img_7977-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Oct 1, 2018 | SPORTS
The Struggle Is Real At Heinz Field
The Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a troublesome start vs their hated rivals that inspired some laughter.
After Baltimore Ravens running back Alex Collins scored on a wide open 3-yard touchdown reception to make it 14-0 early in the first quarter, Twitter was given a infamous moment to make fun of.
NBC’s production team got a close up of Pittsburgh Steelers’ outside linebackers coach Joey Porter and well, that was a bad idea for Steelers nation.
https://twitter.com/ftbeard_17/status/1046562482351890438
We’re praying for you Joey.
What was your favorite moment of Week 4? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] CUBS AND BREWERS BOTH WIN; SET FOR NL CENTRAL TITLE GAME MONDAY](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_7969-1.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Sep 30, 2018 | SPORTS
There Can Only Be One
162 games to determine the NL Central crown are not enough in 2018.
The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers are headed to a one-game playoff on Monday at Wrigley Field for the NL Central division title after both teams won on Sunday.
The Chicago Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 win at Wrigley Field on Sunday in a game in which they trailed 2-0 after the first inning.
The Cubs would break through in the third inning with four runs highlighted by utility man Ben Zobrist, who tripled to drive in a run and scored on a wild pitch.
Chicago would continue its strong roll by adding two more runs in the fifth courtesy of a two-run homer by catcher Wilson Contreras before adding runs late as the Cubs bullpen put together a strong effort in relief of Mike Montgomery.
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo would finish the game 4-for-4 with a RBI while scoring three of Chicago’s 10 runs.
Meanwhile the Milwaukee Brewers stayed red-hot as they won their seventh consecutive game on Sunday at Miller Park with a 11-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Gio Gonzalez gave the Milwaukee Brewers five innings of shutout ball in a strong effort at Miller Park.
Milwaukee would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before blowing the game open in the sixth and seventh innings with six runs that ballooned their lead to 10-0.
First baseman Jesus Aguilar led the way with a 2-for-5, 3 RBI day for the Milwaukee Brewers as he blasted his 35th home run of the season in the fourth inning.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who faded some in the month of August in their quest for the NL Central, have gone 23-8 over their last 31 games.
Their NL Central counter parts have done the complete opposite, stumbling over the final weeks of the season to a 15-17 mark that allowed Milwaukee back into contention for the NL Central.
Now after 162 games and tied with identical 95-67 marks, only one team is walking away with a division title and home field throughout the NL playoffs.
The loser will host the NL Wildcard game on Tuesday vs the loser of Monday’s NL West title game between the Los Angeles Dodgers or Colorado Rockies.
The winner of Monday’s NL Central title game will await the winner of the NL Wildcard game.
Who do you think will win Monday’s NL Central title game? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] DODGERS AND ROCKIES ROLL; WILL PLAY FOR NL WEST TITLE ON MONDAY](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_7970-1.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Sep 30, 2018 | SPORTS
163 Will Be The Way The West Was Won
Two offensive explosions by two teams fighting for the NL West mean that the 162-game marathon is not conclusive in determining a winner.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies are set for a NL West title game at Dodger Stadium on Monday after both teams emerged victorious on Monday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning the weekend a game behind the Colorado Rockies, completed a sweep of the San Francisco Giants on Sunday with a 15-0 blowout victory at AT&T Field.
The Los Angeles Dodgers jumped all over San Francisco Giants’ left-hander Andrew Sanchez, who they tagged for 6 ERs and sent packing after 2.1 IP.
A locked in Giants team made rounding the bases look fun on Sunday as they used an early outburst to lead 9-0 after three innings in a game that saw the Dodgers pound out 16 hits.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ left-gander Rich Hill was in playoff form, going seven dominant innings for the Dodgers where he allowed only two hits while striking out seven.
The Colorado Rockies would have a hitting parade of their own at Coors Field.
Behind a Charlie Blackmon cycle, the Colorado Rockies thumped the Washington Nationals 12-0 on Sunday.
The Colorado Rockies did their damage much later in the game, scoring eight runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings combined.
Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon went 4-for-5 with 3 RBIs in hitting for the cycle, the ninth in the 26-year history of the Colorado Rockies.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado would hit a pair of home runs for the Rockies as Colorado won for the ninth time in their last ten games.
The Los Angeles Dodgers appeared to have a strangle hold on the NL West title after sweeping the Colorado Rockies two weeks ago.
A hot streak from Bud Black’s Rockies along with Dave Roberts’ Dodgers stumbling has led to the two teams — both finishing at 91-71 — now needing one more game to determine how the NL West will be won.
The loser will be playing a road playoff game in the NL Wildcard game on Tuesday vs the loser of the Los Angeles Dodgers-Colorado Rockies NL West title tilt on Monday.
The winner will be playing the Atlanta Braves to begin the NLDS with home field advantage in the series.
Who do you think will win Monday’s NL West title game? Leave your comments below!
![[SPORTS] COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECAP: CLEMSON AVOIDS UPSET VS SYRACUSE](https://i0.wp.com/sloppyvinyl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/img_7951-1-1.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
by sloppyvinyl | Sep 30, 2018 | SPORTS
Top 5 Teams Pass Test To Stay Undefeated
What a Saturday of college football we had on Saturday. Two top 5 teams in the Clemson Tigers and Ohio State Buckeyes faced stiff test in their quest for a invitation to the college football playoff.
We had a Heisman trophy candidate have his strongest performance to date while a rising backup turned starter continued his strong showing in a big game.
Here’s my recap of the Saturday that was in college football!
#3 Clemson Lose Lawrence; Rally Late vs Syracuse
Just as was the case last season, the Syracuse Orange had the Clemson Tigers in the ropes.
Dino Babers team, much like they did in their 27-24 upset win last season, stifled Dabo Sweeney’s Tigers with suffocating defense.
The Orange owned a 16-7 halftime lead at Memorial Stadium begins a strong first half by senior quarterback Eric Dungy.
True freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence — making his first career start — left the game in the second quarter with a possible concussion after taking a big hit along the left sidelines on a scramble. Freshman quarterback Chase Brice replaced him in the quarter.
Brice would struggle early, throwing an interception in the third quarter, but it’s what he did late that’ll be remembered.
Trailing 23-20 late and facing a 4th and 6 from their own 48, Brice would find wide receiver Tee Higgins on a 20-yard completion.
The play helped keep the drive alive, allowing star running back Travis Etienne to score the game-winning touchdown with 41 seconds left to play as Clemson rallied from 10 points down in the fourth to win 27-23.
Etienne finished the game with a career-high 207 rushing yards on 27 carries with 3 TDs, also a career-high.
The concern now shifts to true freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was diagnosed with a concussion. Losing Lawrence — who replaced Kelly Bryant as starting quarterback — could be a huge blow for a Clemson team that has difficult competition awaiting them.
#4 Ohio State Win Wild One vs #9 Penn State
Ohio State Buckeyes’ sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins answered any questions about his ability to play in a hostile environment on the road vs a conference rival.
Haskins led the Buckeyes to a triumphant 27-26 come-from-behind win at State College vs the Penn State Nittany Lions on Saturday.
One of college football’s highest scoring teams would face resistance throughout vs James Franklin’s ball club.
Penn State’s defense limited Haskins and the Buckeyes to seven first half points as they led 13-7 at the half.
Behind senior quarterback Trace McSorley (286 passing yards, 2 TDs and 175 rushing yards), Penn State would respond to Ohio State’s second half surge by taking a 26-14 lead with eight minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
That is when Dwayne Haskins turned it on for Ohio State. On the ensuing possession he would find wide receiver Binjimen Victor down the field for a 47-yard touchdown to make it a 26-21 game.
Getting the ball back with 4:34 left to play, Haskins would lead a huge 8 play/96 yard drive that ended in a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver K.J. Hill with 2:03 left to play where they would hold onto to win 27-26.
In a incredible show of resilience from the offense, Urban Meyer’s team passed one of the biggest challenges they’ll face this season.
It’s a win that does a lot for the psych of the entire team moving forward.
Kyler Murray Puts Up Video Game Numbers In Still Water vs Baylor
Kyler Murray didn’t set his alarm clock and didn’t start on Saturday, but that didn’t stop the freshman phenom from putting on a clinic.
The Oklahoma Sooners quarterback put together his most impressive performance to date. Murray went 17-for-21 for 432 passing yards and 7 TDs (1 rushing) in the Sooners’ 66-33 victory on Saturday.
Murray averaged 20.6 yards per completion on a day in which he didn’t play on the Sooners first offensive possession of the game. Oklahoma punted only twice with Murray at quarterback in their offensive explosion.
Up next, a date with their bitter rivals across the pond in the Texas Longhorns, who have won four straight games after dropping their first game of the season.
Ian Book Shows He’s Forreal In Demolition vs Stanford
If last week still had people skeptical about junior quarterback Ian Book, this week put all of those skeptics to bed.
Behind Ian Book’s 278 passing yards and 4 TDs, Notre Dame defeated the Stanford Cardinal 38-17 on Saturday in a impressive performance at Notre Dame Stadium.
A week after accounting for five touchdowns in a 56-27 win at Wake Forest, Book continued to impress by picking apart one of the country’s top defensive teams.
Book and the Fighting Irish found themselves in a dog fight in the first three quarters as K.J. Costello and the Cardinal trailed 24-17 after three. It would be in the fourth however, where Ian Book and the Fighting Irish would pull away.
Book would throw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, with his last being a 35-yard touchdown to tight-end Alize Mack to put the game on ice with eight minutes left to play.
Notre Dame — who broke a three game losing streak to Stanford — now hold strong victories over Michigan and Stanford which will boost their place for a chance in the CFP.
They will visit Virginia Tech next week, who just last week were upset by Old Dominion in a shocking 49-35 loss.
What are your thoughts on Saturday’s action? Leave your comments below!
