Sports

Scribe: N. Tru Bass

Email: ntb@thethinkering.com

UCLA has been in the news cycle and remains there as two of their players who traveled to Alibaba, China for their season opener has broken the law. LiAngelo Ball, Jalen Hill and Cody Riley remain in Hangzhou, China after being accused of stealing from a local mall.

The three players didn’ t participate in the game that was scheduled from Saturday after reports of several players shoplifting from a Louis Vuitton store near the teams hotel hit the wire. The storied school defeated Georgia Tech in Shanghai 63-60 in a competitive contest. The team returned to the US on Saturday night.

A team representative and two of the players remain in China awaiting the outcome of the legal incident. LiAngelo’s father Lavar also stayed behind to await resolution.

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: samuel@thethinkering.com

Martellus Bennett has been cut from the Green Bay Packers after being accused of failing to disclose a medical condition designation. 

Ted Thompson General Manager said on Wednesday after Packers practice. The Packers are expected to file a grievance to reclaimn the $4.2 million in remaining prorated signing bonus money. 

The 31-year-old Bennett is now subject to waivers, the remaining teams have until the close of business on Thursday to submit a claim on him, if not he becomes a free agent. 

We have not covered a lot of NFL recently, I have personally not covered the game due to the foul taste in my mouth after the owners pushing against a protest to shout out about unarmed Americans being shot and killed by police officers based on their race. 

I'm not loving the NFL.

Scribe: Lucy Osbourne

Email: lucy@thethinkering.com

Sports expert, Max Kellerman says Eli Manning quit on his team during the blowout loss in Week 9 versus the Los Angeles Rams. 

For months I and others with the Thinkering have said the problem with the New York Football Giants is the quarterback, Eli Manning. Finally others are seeing what we have seen all along. Its unfortunate head coach Bob McAdoo will be looking for a job by the end of the season, becoming a causality to the poor job done by Manning. 

The 1 and 7 Giants have conceded to a lost 2017-2018 season. The only positive that can be stated about the qb and this team is that the rugged Manning is set to start his 208th consecutive regular season game against the Niners, which will tie him with his older brother Peyton manning for the second most by a quarterback in NFL history. 

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: samuel@thethinkering.com

Lonzo Ball has promised a new rise of Showtime, well, his father Lavar Ball has made the promise for him. So, far like it or loathe it, he [Lavar] has been right on point with his predictions of his son's basketball acumen and career prognosis. The Los Angeles Lakers were not expected to be a playoff team in what is being considered a team building year, but has achieved, a 5-5 record in the first ten games of the 2017-2018 season. 

Scribe:  Samuel Otis

Email:  samuel@thethinkering.com

Miami Hurricanes has announced tight end Michael Irvin Jr. has been suspended indefinitely.   In a teleconference Coach Mark Richt said Irvin Jr. "just hasn't done what's he's supposed to do off the field and until he does, we won't let him play,"

The young Irving was not on the sidelines for last weekend’s Syracuse win.  This is his second public flap with the team.  Late last season he was accused of violation team rules and was sidelined.  He is the son of Hall of Famer and former Hurricane Michael Irving Sr.  

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Last week I stopped watching ESPN altogether, I didn’t have any appreciation to the way Jemele Hill was treated by the network.  Without having any plan to, I also didn’t watch a single football game this week.  Now, to put this in perspective, I haven’t missed a day of ESPN since I was 16-17-years-old and I’m a diehard Giants fan. 

Bigger than all that, I want justice for everyone.  Not, just those people that I can identify with, but everyone.  The apparent Colin Kaepernick blackballing is unfair and it is not right. 

Scribe: N. Tru Bass

Email: ntb@thethinkering.com

Donald Trump intends not only to run the country with an oligarchical iron fist, but apparently he intends to control as many corporations as he can as well. Last year Colin Kaepermnick sat during the national anthem in protest of you unarmed Americans being assassinated by police with no prosecution of the actions.

Trump said recently that any player who doesn’t stand for the National Anthem should be fired. Last week Roger Goodell the NFL commissioner said that he expects all players to stand. Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys said every player that doesn’t stand will not play. It sounds like to me Trump has the owners jumping through hoops to satisfy his urges. They(owners) are basically grabbing the Pus*y of the players, proving that they are the supreme rulers.

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

As the NFL football Giants continue their losing ways in my opinion due to a weak quarterback misery continues.  This week the big news is star Odell Beckham, Jrs ankle finally collapsed ending his season without a new contract.   The rallied for a new contract through the top of the season to no avail, the team turned a deaf ear to his request. 

MetLife Stadium was an unusual place on Sunday as the Giants fall to 0-5 on the season.  Last season the team finished 11-5 winning a playoff bid in the process. 

Scribe:  Samuel Otis

Email:  samuel@thethinkering.com

The New York football Giants have opened the2016-2017 season with zero wins through four games.  After completing a defensive overhaul two years ago, The Giants are still trying to figure it out. 

Falling to 0-4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-23 again deflating the Giants fan base.   Seemingly, the single bright spot is Odell Beckham, Jr. who has been demanding a pay raise. And that raise has fallen on deaf ears. 

On paper the Giants appear to be a division leader but in reality is struggling to get a W and at this point are willing to participate on the wheel of fortune to get one.   Big Blue seems to have lost their identity.  Not only are the fans deflated the team is too. 

Scribe:  Samuel Otis

Email:  samuel@thethinkering.com

Back to back as the Minnesota Lynx force the LA Sparks to a decisive Game five.   Reminiscent of last year’s meeting at the Staples Center, the 80-69 win sends the series back to Minnesota for Wednesday night’s finally.

Candace Parker made her presences known on both ends of the floor as expected she walked away with 11 points.  While the Lynx Sylvia Fowles chipped in 22 for a banner night that went her way.  Maya Moore knocked down 16 Points and two steals.   6 foot 2, forward, Rebekkah Brunson had a nice game with 18 on the night. 

Lindsay Whalen made the night long for the Sparks with 8 assists. 

The Lynx played clean outside/in basketball, locking down the lane and put backs in flow made the difference.  Minnesota is trying for its fourth title in seven years.  The next game is Wednesday night at Williams Arena at 8 p.m. Eastern.