Sports

Scribe:  Samuel Otis
Email:  samuel@thethinkering.com

LaVar Ball and the Big Baller Brand are making waves in the basketball world.  The entrepreneurial explorer announced he would open a Junior Basketball Association paying players to play until they qualify for the NBA. 

He hopes to find 80 players to fill 10 teams that will play in NBA arenas in Dallas, Atlanta, New York and Atlanta.  He spoke with a television sports station recently saying, "This is giving guys a chance to get a jump start on their career, to be seen by pro scouts and we're going to pay them because someone has got to pay these kids."

While Universities enjoy the talents of the young men who play, in exchange they receive tuition and scholarships, while the schools make millions on attendance and television rights.  

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: samuel@thethinkeirng.com

In the world of sports there are a few things to discuss such as Kobe Bryant having two jerseys retired on Monday night. Many consider bryant one of the best to ever play the game and is certainly a first ballot Hall of Famer. He was accepted into the legends category on Monday night as the entire basketball world watched. 

Kobe Bean Bryant entered teh NBA and the rife old age of 17. The 6 ft 6 small forward played with the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 seasons. He is a five time NBA Champion, a two time scoring champion and a 18 time All star. 

Both the number 8 and 24 were hung in the rafters of the Staple Center to honor a long and successful career. He once scored 81 points in a single game and averaged 24.9 over a career. Well done Kobe Bryant, you are an example of a life well lived

Scribe: Lucy Osbourne

Email: lucy@thethinkering.com

Former NFL Players and current team owners Jerry Richardson of the Carolina Panthers has announced that he would be selling the franchise amid allegations of abuse in the work place.

No only is Richardson accused of making sexually suggestive comments and requesting foot rubs, he has settled at least four complaints. According to new reports at least four former panthers employees received significant monetary compensations due to inappropriate workplace conduct and comments.

The agreements came with non disclosure agreements, preventing employees from discussing the incident. On the condition of anonymity former employees made a running joke of the owners sexually suggestive language. In one report it was said about Richardson's actions, “He was the boss. It was [viewed] more of a creepy-old-man thing than a threat.”

Scribe: Lucy Osbourne

Email: lucy@thethinkering.com

As many American expected, LaVar Ball says, Trump did absolutely nothing to help with his son and three other UCLA Basketball players being released and charges of shoplifting dropped in China. 

He[Ball] said on Friday, "What was he over there for? Don't tell me nothing. Everybody wants to make it seem like he helped me out."

Trump bragged last week that he spoke with President Xi Jingping of China about the case and asked for thank yous form the players. They gave it. 

The students were accused of stealing sunglasses from a high end department store in China. In social media lying Trump said, 'Do you think the three UCLA Basketball Players will say thank you President Trump?' he tweeted. 'They were headed for 10 years in jail!'[SIC]

This would not be the presidents first time lying an it certainly won't be his last. 

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.