Due to the Coronavirus, the NBA had to quickly correct course and figure out a new way of doing things. Over the past few months, they have been breaking their backs getting some new formats figured out and yesterday, the team owners voted on a proposal that they mostly all agreed with. Essentially, 22 teams will be headed to Orlando and it should make for a fun and interesting time.
Today, the National Basketball Players Association had its representatives vote on the proposal to see if the players were in agreement with the league. As expected, the vote passed which means the league and players will now embark on negotiations for all of the minute details that are involved.
"The Board of Player Representatives of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) has approved further negotiations with the NBA on a 22-team return to play scenario to restart the 2019-20 NBA season," the statement read. "Various details remain to be negotiated and the acceptance of the scenario would still require that all parties reach agreement on all issues relevant to resuming play."
If you're an NBA fan, this week has been incredibly productive and you should be excited about what's coming in the not-so-distant future. The NBA is back.
Dallas Cowboys Issue Powerful Statement On Social Injustice
The Dallas Cowboys are looking to have difficult conversations about race relations.
Ever since the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the police, the entire country has been trying to have productive conversations about race relations in the United States. Systemic racism is still extremely prevalent and police brutality is a perfect example of how that continues to manifest. Athletes around the country have been uniting to talk about these hard subjects and now, the Dallas Cowboys are speaking out in a powerful new video.
The 2-minute clip below showcases various members of the Cowboys, including Dak Prescott, speaking on the racism they have faced over the years and how they hope to educate those around them. During this video, you even see members of the Dallas police force taking to people of color and engaging in a productive dialog about how to better patrol their communities. Clearly, the team is trying to bring all sides together for the greater good.
The Cowboys have been known to engage in these issues in the past although sometimes they receive criticism. For instance, owner Jerry Jones was very much against kneeling for the National Anthem although he eventually partook in such a protest while locking arms with his players.
Hopefully, the dialog created by teams like the Cowboys goes a long way.
KD & Kyrie Irving’s Injury Status Updated Ahead Of NBA Return
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have both been suffering from injuries this season.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are both superstar players and they are both under contract with the Brooklyn Nets. KD hasn’t played a single game this season due to an Achilles injury while Kyrie has been struggling with his shoulder. Prior to the Coronavirus-imposed NBA shutdown, Irving had to have surgery on his shoulder and his status this season has been up in the air ever since.
With the prolonged break, there have been rumors that KD could find himself back on the court this season. According to NetsDaily, this simply isn’t the case. As it stands, there is no chance of seeing Durant back on the court this year. However, Irving is a much different story. The Nets and Kyrie have yet to confirm anything but there is still a slight chance of seeing him on the court when the playoffs start.
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The Nets have struggled at times this season but are still sitting in seventh place in the Eastern Conference which means they would make the playoffs should the postseason start today. If they do get Kyrie back, they will have much more of a fighting chance against some of the higher seeds like Toronto or even the Bucks should they fall back to eighth.
Stay tuned for updates regarding the NBA season as we will be sure to bring them to you.
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Shannon Sharpe Goes In On Jake Fromm For Racist Statement
Shannon Sharpe had a lot to say about Jake Fromm's recent faux-pas.
Shannon Sharpe isn't shy to speak out when something bothers him and recently, he was given a perfect reason to voice his frustrations. Of course, with the death of George Floyd in mind, many are currently speaking out on racial injustice and how the system is working against black and brown people. Sharpe has been vocal about his feelings when it comes to this topic and with the latest news regarding Buffalo Bills QB Jake Fromm, he had extra reasons to be rightfully upset.
For those who don't know, leaked text messages showed Fromm speaking to his friend about guns and how only "elite white people" should have them. Fromm has since issued an apology but that didn't stop Sharpe from speaking his mind. As he explains in the video below, Fromm's comments are textbook racism and display a white person who believes he is owed something because of the color of his skin.
Sharpe went on to say that he never felt as though he was better than anybody based on race and that he always preferred to show how good he was based on his talent on the field. As for Fromm, Sharpe isn't sure what will happen to him and he certainly isn't sure whether or not he will get the trust of his teammates back.
Stephen A. Smith Praises LeBron James For Political Tweets
Stephen A. Smith made some great points about LeBron James today.
There is a lot of political unrest in the United States right now following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police. Anti-police brutality and anti-racial injustice protests have been going on all throughout the United States and many athletes have been vocal about what is happening throughout the nation. LeBron James has always strived to be at the forefront of many of these political discussions and with Floyd it has been no exception.
Today on ESPN's First Take, Stephen A. Smith spoke in favor of LeBron James and defended him from all of the people out there urging him to "shut up and dribble." As Smith noted, LeBron has one of the biggest platforms in the entire world and he is right to use it however he pleases. Not to mention, Smith sees LeBron as a role model who has done little wrong throughout his 17-year career.
Smith thinks it's great when athletes speak out and he himself has always been a supporter of political causes. Throughout this moment in history, Smith has spoken out against police brutality and is letting it be known that cops need to be disciplined for getting out of line with the good people of this country.
Smith and LeBron are both using their platforms for good which means it shouldn't be surprising that they are supportive of each other. Hopefully, their message is able to make a real difference.
Massive Kobe Bryant Mural Goes Up In Bosnia And Herzegovina
Kobe Bryant has received yet another heartfelt tribute in the wake of his death.
Kobe Bryant's passing is still something that is hard to believe. It has been over four months since the helicopter accident that claimed his life and people still can't wrap their heads around how one of basketball's biggest legends was taken away from us way too soon. In the wake of his death, there have been numerous tributes all over the world including artful murals that depict Kobe in a heavenly light.
The latest of these murals to be resurrected was recently completed in Bosnia And Herzegovina and it is believed that this is the largest Kobe mural in all of Europe as it is 19 feet tall and 39 feet wide. The creators of the mural spoke to the Srpska Times about why they created the mural and as they explain, it's because Kobe was a hero to them.
“Kobe Bryant was one of my role models and when we heard that he tragically lost his life, we came up with the idea to pay tribute to him,” one man said. “That is how we made a mural on the wall of the school next to which we spent time on the playground.”
As the months go by, we will certainly be seeing even more murals go up in Kobe's honor and we can't wait to see all of them.
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LeBron James Reacts To Elderly Man Being Shoved By Police
LeBron James has had enough of the police brutality going on.
Police brutality has been ramping up all throughout the United States in light of the protests combatting, you guessed it, police brutality. Various videos have been going viral which showcase the sheer brutality in which some cops are operating, seemingly for no reason at all. Perhaps the best example of this needless violence was showcased in a now-viral video that depicts a Buffalo police officer shoving an elderly man to the ground, causing him to bleed from his ear.
In the video, none of the cops try to help the man although eventually, some National Guard members came and called an ambulance. LeBron James saw this clip floating around the internet and immediately spoke up, noting just how sad the state of affairs in the United States is.
Per LeBron:
"And I heard they put out a statement that he supposedly tripped and fell down. Man What!!!!! Don’t make no damn sense people. Don’t matter what color your skin is if you’re not angry seeing this you’re part of the problem too!"
LeBron has been very vocal about police brutality over the last week and we're sure he will continue to use his platform for good. What is happening right now is disgusting and it's important for high-profile people to call out these harmful power structures.
Zion Williamson Receives Big Victory In Improper Benefits Lawsuit
Zion Williamson is currently in a legal battle with his former agent.
For the last couple of months, New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson has been in a legal battle with his former agent Gina Ford. Ford is suing Zion for wrongful termination of their contract and to gain leverage in the lawsuit, Ford has resorted to some pretty nefarious tactics. For instance, she recently served the courts a request to have Zion answer questions and effectively admit that he allegedly took “improper benefits” to attend Duke and wear Nike shoes.
Well, Zion recently received a big win in this case as according to the New York Post, the judge has sided with Zion and his legal team who recently filed a motion to block Ford’s request. Essentially, there is now a “stay and paused” order which means Williamson is in the clear for the moment. Ford’s legal counsel now has ten days to request an overturning of this ruling.
Tom Pennington/Getty Images
If Zion were to take the stand here, Duke basketball and the entire NCAA could be in a lot of trouble. The NCAA has notoriously harsh rules about accepting gifts and considering Zion’s talent and stature, it would be a horrendous look for Duke if it was revealed they were giving him gifts.
Stay tuned for updates on this story as we will be sure to give them to you.
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Dana White Reveals When The First "Fight Island" Bout Will Be
Dana White has some big plans for the UFC's future.
Dana White has had some pretty revolutionary ideas as president of the UFC. Over the years, White has been able to build the UFC into an enterprise that is worth billions of dollars and is beloved by many. Some of the UFC's fighters have quickly become international superstars and if there is anyone who knows how to market the sport, it would have to be White.
Amid the Coronavirus pandemic, White decided to take matters into his own hands and purchased a private island where he could host international fights. The whole initiative is being called "Fight Island" as still in the process of being set up. Today, White spoke to "Pardon My Take" on Barstool Sports and revealed some very pertinent information. As it turns out, the first fight on "Fight Island" will go down on July 11th.
White refuses to say where the island is located although he promised to come through with some new images in the not so distant future. White also noted that there is a lot of pressure for him to deliver and that he hopes people enjoy the show he's about to put on.
Meanwhile, Amanda Nunes will be highlighting UFC 250 this upcoming weekend which just goes to show how clutch the UFC has been throughout this recent sports drought.
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NFL Players Want League To Admit It Was Wrong About Peaceful Protests
NFL Players including Odell Beckham Jr., Michael Thomas, and Patrick Mahomes came together with a few demands for the league.
Professional football players recently banded together to help create a viral video. Some of the NFL's most championed players spoke directly to the league when they asked the NFL to openly condemn racism, stand on the side of Black Lives Matter, and admit that they were wrong in silencing players, including Colin Kaepernick, who called for peaceful protests. While the league hasn't directly answered the requests of its black players just yet, they have issued a statement regarding the recent political climate without mentioning George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, or police brutality.
Rob Carr / Staff / Getty Images
"This is a time of self-reflection for all – the NFL is no exception. We stand with the black community because Black Lives Matter," the NFL wrote on their Instagram page. "Through Inspire Change, the NFL, Players and our partners have supported programs and initiatives throughout the country to address systemic racism. We will continue using our platform to challenge the injustice around us."
They added that to date, they've already "donated $44 million to support hundreds of worthy organizations." Additionally, "This year, we are committing an additional $20 million to these causes and we will accelerate efforts to highlight their critical work. We know that we can and need to do more." Players and fans are waiting to see if they'll respond to the viral clip. Check it all out below.