Sports

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Saturday night was an exciting evening for combat sports fans.  UFC 214 featured a rematch of Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier which was a competitive bout until the third round when jones went high with a round kick to the head of Cormier that disoriented the light heavyweight champion.  Jones then went in hard with a flying knee attempt as the champion went down to the canvas where the new light heavyweight champion began to ground and pound and in seconds it was clear Cormier could not respond.  Big John McCarthy called the fight after no response to the barrage of punches coming down on him from John Jones. 

The former champion responded kindly, on Sunday sending both referee John McCarthy and Jones Jones messages of thanks and apology.   

Scribe: N. Tru Bass

Email: ntb@thethinkering.com

If you are a fan of combat sports, this is the quarter for you. With the anticipated battle of Boxing vs. MMA in the Mayweather vs. Conner bout scheduled for 26 August and the entrée. The appetizer has to be the the Cormier vs Jones battle that has been put off more than twice, but scheduled again on Saturday.

Cormier said in a recent interview, “This is the biggest fight,” he continued. “If you’re a sports fan, a fan of combat, you’ve got Jon and I and you’ve got Floyd [Mayweather] and Conor [McGregor] and then you’ve got [Gennady] Golovkin and Canelo [Alvarez]. How could it be better?

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

This has been an interesting off season for the National Basketball Association.   In the latest player salvo, with talks of Kyrie Irving leaving the second best team in the league LeBron James has stated the he will not waive his no-trade clause for any teams for the upcoming season.  Basically saying that he is committed to the team until next years $ 35.6 million player option for the 2018-2019 season. 

The only three players who now have no-trade clauses are Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James.  These players all could elect to challenge unrestricted free agency before next season. 

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

British Heavyweight Boxing Champion Anthony Joshua drops by boxing legend Floyd Mayweather’s Boxing Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday as he makes an attempt to get on the Mayweather vs Conner undercard. 

The boxer met with another heavyweight boxer Marcellus Williams while hanging out in Vegas.  He too pictures with fans and talked boxing.   The two champions met back in May when Joshua began to jockey for position on the 26 August undercard saying, “get me on the undercard! and continued, That’s legendary shit, that fight will go (down) in history.”

The fight is scheduled to be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Mayweather’s adopted hometown.   

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Major League Baseball held it annual All Star Game on Tuesday, but the game is not the story.  The Atlanta Braves racing phenomenon, “The Freeze” is a super athletic character that gives a chosen fan a huge head start and races him down and always beats him to the finish line to further entertain the rest of the Crowd. 

Until last night. 

“The Freeze” could not catch the fleet footed fan. 

On interesting writer suggested whomever beats The Freeze should have to race him in a head to head race.   And if he is again successful he should get the privilege and responsibility of the suit. 

Its impressive to see this guy run down very fast running fans, but I have to admit it was equally fun to see The Atlanta Braves, The Freeze lose one. 

What do you think?  

The Freeze in Better Times

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Rumors of Boxer Floyd Mayweather signing on to the Connor McGregor fight for financial reasons have bounced around the news room for months. 

According to recent reports the boxer filed a Tax Court petition on 5 July asking the IRS to allow him special circumstance to pay the tax bill after the upcoming mega fight with the UFC standout.   Weeks ago it was announced that Mayweather and McGregor had made a financial agreement and locked a date of 26 August for the super event. 

It is not known how much Mayweather owes the feds, but the IRS is saying even if Mayweather had to sell property or take out a loan he has the resources to pay now. 

In 2015 the welterweight boxer made around $220 million from his most profitable bout versus Manny Pacquiao on 2 May 2015, he is again expected to bring home a similar pay day with the upcoming bout. 

Scribe:  Samuel Otis

Email:  samuel@thethinkering.com

When there was just talk of a Mayweather vs. McConnor fight there was interest.  When the fight was announced Mayweather was a decided favorite with the betting line standing at -2250.  Since then the line has changed to +550. For McGregor according to recent reports which says (wager $100. To win $550.)

The line is moving with betters expecting a huge upset against a ring rusty Mayweather.   Those people close to boxing are not so dreamy. 

Boxers and boxer pundits will bet on Mayweather, but MMA folk could easily see it another way.  Mayweather will certainly bet on himself and will likely win.  He has amassed a 49-0, win/loss record for a reason. 

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

For those of us who live and work in the tristate area and are New York Knick fans we breathe a collective sigh of relief this morning as news of Phil Jackson is no longer President of the Knicks.  I have an earworm that I share with many people that I have spoken with this morning.   It’s the song from the musical the Wizard of Oz, you remember the one, “Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead.”

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:   ntb@thethinkering.com

The most talked about NBA draftee by far is the number two pick, fingered by the Los Angeles Lakers.  He wasn’t the most talked about because of his basketball prowess, but because he was simply the most popular person coming out of a one and done university deal. 

Lonzo Ball, was catapulted into the American psyche with the help of his very vocal father LaVar Ball, who claimed with both men in their prime, he would defeat Michael Jordan in a one-on-one.    The Ball family has become the Ball merchandising team, selling t-shirts, shoes and apparel. 

Script:  Lucy Osbourne

Email:  lucy@thethinkering.com

Tomorrow is the big day for basketball fans.  The 2017 NBA Draft will announce the top players of the new season.  According to mock drafts, which most are saying the same thing Markelle Fultz is expected to go 1-1, with Lonzo Ball, expected to go to his hometown team the Los Angeles Lakers 1-2.  There has been a lot of talk surrounding Ball with his marketing guru father promising to make his baller sons an item. 

2017 NBA mock draft

SEC Country 2017 NBA Draft mock draft