Sports

Scribe: N. Tru Bass

Email: ntb@thethinkering.com

The final meeting between two generational giants in the game of professional basketball was a good one.  Kobe Bryant and LeBron James presented an impressive offensive show with Bryant scoring 26 and James leaving with 24 and the win as the Cavs defeat the Lakers 120-108. 

Thursday night’s game was vintage Kobe, reminiscent of a 30-year-old Kobe.  Drop steps, fall aways and three pointers provided offensive elements of a nice farewell game against the strongest player in the game today, a storybook ending in a fairytale career. 

After the game Bryant said, "It was just fun." 

For the past nine seasons either Bryant or James have played in the NBA finals, but interestingly, not at the same time. 

D’angelo Russell, the up and coming superstar rookie chipped in 24 as the agile Kyrie Irving knocked down 26 in the winning effort.    

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: Samuel@thethinkering.com

Cruz is back for 2016 with the New York Giants after agreeing to a salary cut.  Victor Cruz the flamboyant Wide Receiver has been sidelined since tearing his right patellar tendon midway the 2014-2015 season. 

Cruz has reportedly agreed to a base salary of $1.3 million, with potential to raise that to $5.5 million if playing incentives are met for 2016.  The Giant responded on social media saying, “Once a Giant always a Giant. See you in September. @ New York, New York.”

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: Samuel@thethinkering.com

The New York Jets had a few bright spots during the 2015-2016 season and one of those was running back Chris Ivory.  He is not expected to return to NY for another season. 

The Jacksonville Jaguars are rumored to have agreed to a multiyear deal worth more than $6 million annually.  The RB had an impressive season rushing for more than 1,000 yards, seven touchdowns and averaged more than 4 yards per carry for the green and white.   After his sixth season he made his first Pro Bowl appearance solidifying his dominance in the backfield. 

He is expected to finalize the deal on Wednesday. 

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: Samuel@thethinkering.com

Maria Sharapova has been caught doping.  The tennis star confessed she failed the Australian Open drug test in a news presser on Monday.  She also admitted she took the drug Meldonium for 10 years, but said it was prescribed by a doctor and was not on the banned list ten years ago. 

Due to a rules change at the top of 2016, the substance became illegal for her sport.  She said her family has a history of diabetes and she has a magnesium deficiency.  Sports authorities have long believed Eastern European and Russian athletes have used the drug to boost endurance and aid in recovery. 

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: Samuel@thethinkering.com 

The team with the penultimate worse record in the NBA defeated the defending world champion Golden State Warriors on Sunday in a blowout 112-95.  The sensational game was the biggest underdog win in the history of the league. 

The Lakers boast a .203 winning percentage with just 13 wins and 51 losses in one of the worst seasons in Los Angeles history. 

Jordan Clarkson knocked down 25-points and boisterous D’Angelo Russell drops 21 in the Cinderella contest. 

The World champion Warriors shot just 13 percent from the arch.  Steph Curry left with 18 points and the other splash brother scored 15 in a losing effort.  The Warriors continue to have the best record in the league at 55-6 on the season.

Coach Steve Kerr said after the game, "We got what we deserved."

Scribe: Samuel Otis

Email: Samuel@thethinkering.com

Less than 24-hours after Carmelo had war like words with a Knicks fan, he issued an apology.   The statement said, Carmelo Anthony should not have responded to a heckling fan.  Anthony has consistently said all he did was tell a frustrated fan to direct his issues with the under .500 team to the team’s owner James Dolan. 

Anthony said of the apologetic statement, "It was a collaborative effort, though. We sat down and we talked about it. Everybody thought it was a good idea to send that apology."  But, when asked directly whose idea it was to issue an apology he responded, "It was Mr. Dolan's decision."

On Tuesday night the Knicks were in the process of losing yet another game a fan; sick of the losing, sitting near the Knicks bench let the team know how he felt about the franchise. 

Scribe: Lucy Osbourne

Email: lucy@thethinkering.com

Michael Jordan has been listed as the 486th richest person in the United States.  He made the Forbes list this year with a net worth of $1.4 billon, and climbed the rankings from number 1741 to 1577 richest in the world. 

A few of Jordan’s investments include the Charlotte Hornets NBA basketball franchise.  His relationship with Nike generates $2 billion annually on the Jordan Brand.  After being accused of not doing enough in the Black community he said, “I make shoes for white suburban kids, not the poor black kids. That would be like opening a restaurant for people without stomachs.”  Nike currently owns 90% of the U.S. shoe market. 

Gatorade, Hanes and Upper Deck are a few other endorsement deals during and since his storied NBA career.  He owns seven restaurants and a car dealership. 

Michael Jordan Forbes Designation

Scribe: N. Tru Bass

Email: ntb@thethinkering.com

The Knicks had a disappointing night vs the Trailblazers who handed the New York team an “L” on Tuesday night – 104 - 85.  Boo’s rang out from the crowd as Damion Lillard put on a scoring clinic knocking down 30 points. 

Carmelo Anthony express frustration as the crowd chanted “We want Jim-mer.” The Knicks have lost 15 games in the last 18 contest.  After the devastating loss, Anthony got into a war of words with a fan and in a post-game interview he said, “He kept calling my name, saying you guys [stink], you guys [stink],” Anthony said. “He’s calling me and telling me he’s never coming to another game and we [stink]. I just don’t want to hear that.”

The New York team falls to 25-37 for the season.

Scribe: N. Tru Bass

Email: ntb@thethinkering.com

The Cleveland Cavaliers upgrade as they overcome a determined Indiana Pacers team Monday night, 100-96.  Kyrie Irving knocked down 22 points and six dimes.  Media pundit Stephen A. Smith said Irving was unhappy in Cleveland.  Here is what Kyrie had to say about that, "For me, all that other stuff, what everyone is going to say, they're going to pick one player, it's going to change every single week. When they think that we're down and out, they're going to choose one player, so, for me it has no effect on my life or what's going on. It's all about winning and winning a championship for Cleveland."

While much attention is on the dynamic Golden State Warrior team, Cleveland tops the Eastern Conference in wins for the season and is likely to surpass 70 wins for the season. 

Scribe: Lucy Osbourne

Email: lucy@thethinkering.com

Basketball lovers of all generations have made a judgement on the defending world champions the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry over the past two seasons.  As the professional game changed, players got bigger and bigger in every position; it was natural to think the era of the 6’3” guard was passé. 

Arm chair criticizing is nothing new to the game of basketball – all the greats have been subjected to living room judgements.  The current warrior team is no exception.  Respect or no respect this 2015-2016 Golden State team is an amazing ensemble of talent and synergy.