Category: Articles

Sports Stingers: 18 May 20

Sport Stingers

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Wrestling

  • WWE and wrestler Drew Gulak parted ways. This is after Gulak lost his match to Daniel Bryan in the Intercontinental Championship tournament. 
  • Jinder Mahal is rumored to have a babyface run now that he’s back. He’s been absent due to recovering from a knee injury. While being interviewed he stated that his journey will be a hero’s journey.

 

Basketball

  • NBA.com is reporting that Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and the rest of the passengers in the crash all died instantly.  The Los Angeles County coroner reported that the victims had broken bones, dismembered body parts, and smelled of fuel. The report summarized that they all died from the blunt force trauma of the crash and not the subsequent injuries. Bryant and the others were heading to a tournament, but the helicopter flew into thick fog and they crashed, and when the pilot, Ara Zobayan, tried to clear it, the helicopter took a turn and crashed into the hills. They are reported to have crashed at 184 mph with the impact scattering the bodies and debris over the size of a football field. Bryant was found outside the wreckage, his daughter found on the ravine. For more on this sad story: https://www.nba.com/article/2020/05/16/autopsies-show-bryant-passengers-died-instantly
  • NBA teams started to reopen their gyms and allow players to work out. Kevin Love expressed how happy he was to return to the gym. There still isn’t any news on if the season will continue, but owners are working on a plan that may see players return, but with no fans in attendance. 

Football

  • Eagles center Jason Kelce believes Andre Dillard can take over at left tackle. Dillard is going into his second season and was drafted in hopes of taking over from Jason Peters. Peters is exploring free agency and it appears won’t be coming back. This is the first time since Peters arrived in Philly, that the Eagles had to worry about the position. The Eagles made it into the playoffs due to the Dallas Cowboys’ poor play in the last four weeks of the season.

Hockey

  • William Douglas, a writer for the NHL, hosts a blog called The Color of Hockey on the NHL site which covers people of color in the game of hockey.  In his most recent post, he talks about Reggie Millette.

 

Baseball

  • MLB.com has a feature article on the best moments in each ballpark’s history.

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-ballpark-best-moments

 

Digital Playdate Tips

Screen Shot 2020-05-14 at 5.18.00 PM

By Terrio Jenkins

I was talking to someone yesterday, and they told me how they feel they are becoming their child’s friend and less of a parent. I told her that instead of their child socializing with their friends only when their teacher does Zoom check-ins, that they and the other parents can arrange digital play dates.

Which brings me to my first pandemic SUGGESTIONS for playdates. Now, before I go into these, they are not proven. I’m not a parent. I was an elementary school teacher for three years and a teacher’s assistant for three years. The value of children socializing with each other is an important part of their education. During this unprecedented time, we have to remember that even if we are isolated, we have the means to stay connected than we ever had before.

Here are my suggestions:

  1. Digital Play Dates: Hey come on, you know, I know, we all know every child, who is fortunate, has some form of tablet or phone, even a computer. Set up digital play dates with Zoom or Facetime. Call the parent of your child’s friend and let them play video games on the phone while they talk through Zoom. Both parents can setup Twitch accounts that allow the children to stream their games to each other and talk to each other.
  2. Video Games can be Educational: STOP! I know you are already saying they play enough video games. I agree, but again, we are in unprecedented times. Video games would be a nice distraction for them from this pandemic. Remember, there is a host of educational games sites. Some are free and others have subscriptions, but they all offer subjects like math, language arts, science, and social studies. Check out EducationCity.com
  3. Active Play Dates: Since they can video conference with each other, they can still play with each other. They can work out, dance, do Tik-Toks. They are plenty of physical activity programs online such as GoNoodle. I’m sure your child already knows this site from school. This would be an awesome way for you and the other parent to connect with the children as you supervised them or if you are now teaching.

    Image is taken from https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-kids-chatting-image14446492
  4. Study/Work Groups: Yes, your children are receiving work from their teachers. Why not let your children work on assignments together? This will keep a social consistency that reminds them of being in school. Again, you have to coordinate with other parents, but this would do wonders for your child if they are starting to become bored with playing with themselves.
  5. Read Aloud: Book time(no pun intended) for them to read to each other using sites like Zoom. Again, this is another activity that we used in school to increase reading comprehension and fluency. Again, your children would love to do this because they are connecting with each other and it will remind them of their routines from school.

I hope those suggestions help you and your child. Let me know in the comments.

Be Terrific!

portfolio profileTerrio Jenkins is a multi-media writer and designer,. He has a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts from Fairleigh Dickinson University, an Associate of Applied Science in Graphic Design & Digital Media from Rowan College at Burlington County, and is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

Giannis Promotes Community

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The image is taken from greekreporter.com.  greekreporter.com

 

Reigning MVP Giannis Antentokounmpo has a heart that matches his talents. He believes in giving back to the community as his family struggled with finding food when he was younger. He revealed this during a video recorded by the NBA as part of its #ActsofCaring during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He talked about how there were community-based programs that helped low-income families. This made it important for him and his main motivation for helping community-based programs now.

You can view the video here

High School Basketball Prospects Changing College Paths

NCAA sports do not pay their student-athletes. A topic that has been up to debate the last few years. The argument that NCAA profits off its players, but players can be punished for making money off their talents. Arguments include that elite players already have a free scholarship. One of the sports that comes into question is basketball. Over the years, the NBA has put rules in place that players have to go to college for at least one year, before being drafted. Now, there are ways around this. Players can go play internationally, like LaMelo Ball. However, a new opportunity is presenting itself here in America.

The NBA G-League, formerly known as the D-League, before Gatorade became an official title sponsor. The G-League is now a minor league that farms athletes for NBA teams. The concept is similar to minor league baseball. The G-League has become more prominent in the last decade, with now every NBA team being affiliated with a G-League team. Contracts are around $30,000 to $40,000.

Jalen Green is the top high school recruit and the first to sign with the G-League. The image is taken from NBA.Com. All rights reserved to NBA.com.

However, that is being changed. The league can now offer up to $120,000 for select prospects. The prospects in question? The top high school players. Three of the top players in high school, who would have spent next year in the NCAA, before being drafted into the NBA, have decided to sign with the G-league.  Jalen Green, Isaiah Todd, and Daishen Nix have all signed with the G-League.

Todd had committed to Michigan. Nix was signed by UCLA. Both decided to negate their commitments to sign with the G-league. Nix is highly considered to be the top point guard for the 2021 draft after his one year NCAA eligibility. Todd is a big athletic power forward. Green is the cream of the crop. He is expected to be the number one draft pick in 2021.

This changes the landscape for players in basketball to become professionals and enter the NBA. Complaints about the huge turnover due to NCAA basketball players of elite talent going to the NBA after a year is ruining college basketball. Now, with the G-League offering higher contracts, college basketball might lose the opportunity to even signed elite high school players.

Duke’s coach Mike Krzyzewski was interviewed about it on NBA.Com. ““It’s affected our game,” Krzyzewski said. “Really, anybody can win. I’m not saying that’s bad. I’m saying that’s what happened. … If you look at this as a business, the amount of guys going (to the NBA), the amount of guys testing (the NBA waters), the amount of guys transferring, whoa. Whoa. It’s a lot. It’s a lot.”

Recently, the NCAA has decided to have each division write their own rules on how to allow college athletes to make money off their names and talents.  The president citing that times are different and they [NCAA] have to change with it. The NCAA will have to wait on each state legislature before moving forward with it, but this is a win for college athletes, who bring in millions for their schools. For college basketball, this is an important change that needs to happen as the rise of the G-League continues to become a threat.

Dear Kobe

 

I know, I may be late to reflect on the tragic passing of Kobe, his daughter Gigi, and the other passengers in this tragedy. I didn’t know what to feel, other than sadness for the families of the victims.

I can’t sit here and say I was a huge Kobe fan, but as a fan of the game, he is legendary. I will miss the competitive edge. I may not agree with his motivation tactics, but there is no denying that he was a winner, both as player and as father, husband, friend.

Thank you Kobe for the great memories, restoring the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, and most of all, being an example of pursing greatness. You affected many people and you will be missed.

#mambaforever #8 #24

 

Stories from NBA.com

https://www.nba.com/video/2020/01/28/20200128-inside-kobe-storys

Images and names of the victims

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/pictures-these-are-the-victims-in-the-kobe-bryant-helicopter-crash/2299204/

WWE Crown Jewel Results

Crown Jewel

Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez

Crowd booing Cain, pops for Brock? Cain is a striker, Lesnar s more a grappler. Cain kicks to the midsection and goes for the knockout. Brock puts Kimora on and wins by submission. He refuses to let go, Mysterio uses a chair and slings him out the ring. 10 years since his loss to Cain. Continues to hit chair shot. F-5 to Cain. Mysterio unleashed chair shots to Lesnar who retreats.

Promos from the Smackdown Tag Team Champions, The Revival and Raw Tag Team Champions, The Viking Raiders.

Tag Team Turmoil. A gauntlet match.

Roode and Zigler (who won the last one on Raw) vs the Lucha House Party (Gran Metalik and Dorado). Dorado with Lucha libra hits a stunner. Tag to Metalik tag team offense on Roode. Near fall. Back and forth with Roode and Zigle cutting off the ring. Hot tag to Metalik who launches offense on Roode. These are awesome changes. Roode distracts the referee as Zigler hits a superkick, followed by Roode hitting the Glorius DDT for the win.

Ryder and Hawkins come to the ring. Ryder hits rough rider on Zigler. Former tag team champions hit a double team move Zigle super kicks Hawkins and then Ryder. Roode holds Ryder for the Zig Zag. Roode wins.

Heavy machinery arrives. Roode and Zigler cut Tucker off for a while until a hot tag to Otis. In short order, they hit the trash compactor to eliminate Roode and Zigler.

New Day comes out and announcers talk about how Kofi is frustrated. Naiver Woods is recovering from surgery. Big E and Tucker go back and forth. Both tag in Otis and Kofi. Otis goes for the caterpillar for a near fall. Kofi counters double team and hits Trouble in Paradise. Tags in Big E who is duplexed by Tucker. Big E tags Kofi and they hit midnight hour to eliminate Heavy Machinery.

B-Team (bo Dallas and Curtis Axel former champions, come down.  Curtis and Bo work over Big E. Big E hit finisher to eliminate Axel.

The Revival. Dawson and Wilder single out Kofi. New Day goes back and forth, but New Day defeats Revival. After their loss, they attacked the New Day.

The OC runs out after the attack. Kofi fights out of the magic killer. Big E is back on the apron. The OC hits the magic killer to eliminate New Day.

The Viking Raiders walk to the ring. During the last turmoil match, both teams were disqualified. The match was long enough, but the OC hits magic killer to win the match becoming “The Best in the World” and one can assume that they will now have a shot at the Raw tag team championships.salt

Monsoon vs Cesaro. The match was entertaining as Moonsoor was over being from Saudi. The match went about 10 minutes with many near falls for Monsoor. Cesaro counters most of the high flying offense. Monsoor hits a moon-sault for the upset victory and cut a promo after the match.

Tyson Fury vs Braun Strowman, the match moved very slow as expected from heavyweights. Tyson did some wrestling moves. Braun hit his signature moves. Tyson knockouts Braun and wins by count-out.

AJ Styles defeated Humberto in a rematch from Raw. Styles was aggressive and there were plenty of near falls for Humberto. Humberto tweaked his leg and AJ tried to win by submission when he applied the calf crusher. Humberto reached the ropes and they went back and forth. Aj then hit the phenomenal forearm to win the match.

Natalya and Lacey will put on the first women’s match in Saudi. Natalya and Lacey both receive pops.  The crowd looks really happy.  Both women keep smiling in the match. Emotion must be overwhelming. The match receives awesome chants from the crowd, but the match is slow. Lacey counters sharpshooter and then sent to outside. Springboard dropkick to down Natalya from outside to inside the ring. The match started to pick up once Lacey went into character. Natalya wins by a sharpshooter. Afterward, both women embrace and cry in the ring.  Fans were really supportive and appreciative.

Team Hogan (Rusev, Ali, Shorty G, Roman Reigns, and Ricochet) and Team Flair (Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre, Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, Shinsuke Nakamura).

The crowd really pop for Nakamura, Orton, and Flair.  They also pop for Hogan, Rusev, and Reigns.   Heels work over Ali for a bit until he is able to tag Ricochet. Crowd chants NXT. The heels kept the referee distracted and tag Oron in. Ricochet makes a hot tag to Reigns who comes in and takes down Team Flair. Drive-by to Orton and Lashley.  Reigns hit an immortal leg drop on Corbin. Randy tags in and Reigns counters RKO with a superman punch. Everyone hits their finishers. Heels gang up on Reigns, but Rusev comes in and cleans house until he gets his hands on Lashly. Reigns superman punches Lashley and launches himself over the top onto Team Flair. Reigns pulled Orton into the ring and he counters with a kick into an RKO, but Reigns kicks out. Crowd chants for another RKO. He sets up for a punt. Faces take out Team flair as Reigns hits a spear on Orton for the win.

Universal Champion Seth Rollins and The Fiend Bray Wyatt had their rematch and again The Fiend no seller Rollins’ finishers. Rollins hit The Fiend with the sledgehammer twice, but The Fiend wouldn’t stay down. The fight went to the entrance ramp where The Fiend fell into a pit and was electrocuted. The Fiend emerged to put the radicle claw and sister Abigail to win the Universal championship.

For more head to WWE

 

NBA Suspends Embiid and Anthony-Towns

Last night altercation between Philadelphia 76ears Joel Embiid and Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl Anthony-Towns has led to both of them being suspended for their scuffle.

Embiid and Towns have been talking trash to one another for years on Twitter. Last night Embiid and Towns were caught together after a play and Towns took offense to Embiid’s hold. The two brawled to the ground before teammates and other officials broke them up. Towns, visibly angry, was escorted back to the bench while Embiid joked with teammates.

Both players will be suspended for two games.

Washington Nationals Win World Series

There are so many stories that surround this year’s World Series. For Washington, it’s their first World Series. They are also the first road team to win each road game. During the offseason, one of their franchise players, Bryce Harper, decided to leave and signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Houston Astros going for their second World Series in three years. They also finished as the top-seeded team in the league. Again, stories all around.

The most important story, though, has to be winning their first. They took the first two games in Houston. Houston fired back by winning three games in Washington, D.C. at Nationals Park.  With a 3-2 lead, Houston looked poised to take home their second World Series title in their third appearance. The Nationals wouldn’t let that happen.

The Nationals, complete underdogs in this match, came back to Minute-Maid Park in Houston to win game six with a score of 7-2 to tie the series. Then last night, they won 6-2. Keeping the scoring three runs in the seventh inning, one in the eighth inning, and two runs at the top of the ninth.

The Nationals, whose season was 12 games below .500, became the second team to do so after the 1914 Braves. They were the unlikely underdogs heading into the playoffs. They fought their way to the championship and gave it their all to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first time in their 51 year history.

 

 

Dwight Howard Pushes Lakers

Dwight Howard’s second tenure in Los Angeles is starting off good. After only playing nine games last year, there have been fears amongst fans and experts that he wouldn’t be a good backup.

When DeMarcus Cousins was sidelined with another season-long injury, the Lakers had to find a backup and decided to go along with Howard.

Two nights ago, form off the bench, Howard scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in his third game. During an interview, Howard echoed his outlook from when he was signed and the preseason. He was very team-focused and not boastful but content with his place on the team. If Howard produces numbers like that, which helped the Lakers surge for the win, he could be the difference-maker in the Battle of Los Angeles.

 

CW to Debut New Superman Show

The CW has enjoyed and welcomed the DC universe with it’s “Arrowverse.” Which all began with the hit show Arrow. Followed by Flash in 2014, Supergirl in 2015, Legends of Tomorrow in 2016, Black Lightning in 2018, and Batwoman in 2019. Superman made his appearance in Supergirl and according to We Got This Cover, the network is going into development and as of now has no premiere date.

Superman and Lois will revolve around one of the most famous comic book couples as parents.

The executive producer will be Todd Helbing, who also produces and writes The Flash. Comic book fans will be happy to know that Geoff Johns is also on board as part of the team.

Superman/Clark Kent will continue to be played by Tyler Hoechlin who debut as the iconic character in Supergirl. Elizabeth “Bitsie” Tulloch will play Lois Lane.

The show will be part of a new direction as the show that started the Arrowverse (DC Comics TV universe or CW universe) Arrow enters it’s last season.