Sports

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

Scribe:  N. Tru Bass

Email:  ntb@thethinkering.com

Johanna Quass is 91 years old, she entered her first gymnastics competition she entered was in 1934.   She was recently in competition in Berlin, her favorite apparatus are the parallel bars and she performed to the appreciation of the crowd. 

She recently said, “I practice gymnastics only twice per week, but every day I do an hour of some sport or exercise—usually swimming or a walk,”​ Quass says. “If you stick with it you can definitely carry on at a high age.”

The Guinness Book of World Records certified the Nonagenarian as the world’s oldest gymnasts five years ago.  She is still active.  She has been awarded 11 SENIOR German national gymnastic titles, both before and after unification.  The former Physical education teacher has been an athlete since age 9.  She promised to stay active and is encouraging others to do the same. 

Scribe:  Lucy Osbourne

Email:  lucy@thethinkering.com

The Pittsburgh Penguins close out the Nashville Predators 2-0 in game six of the finals to become the NHL Champions for the second consecutive year.  The Penguins are the first team in nearly two decades to be back-to-back champions. 

The Penguins ended the series 4-2, to win the cup. 

The Detroit Red Wings took home Lord Stanley’s cup in both 1986 and 1987.  Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby was born in 1987, the year Wayne Gretzky sauntered around the rink with the sacred cup. 

The Predators went down in a valiant fight after streaking 9-1 at home, the predators fell after playing 25 post season games. Not a bad playoff run for a team whom no one expected to make it past the first round. 

2017, the Penguins are the last team standing, standing tall with a well-deserved Stanley Cup.  

Scribe:  Lucy Osbourne

Email:  lucy@thethinkering.com

The Golden State Warriors faced a difficult and disappointing finals in 2016, pulling away from the Cleveland Cavaliers team 3-1 and then losing that advantage and losing the championship banner by a single game losing 3 straight. 

One year later the Dubs are 3-0 in the Finals and 15-0 in the post season becoming the first team in NBA history to go Undefeated in the playoffs they are again defying the odds.  The west coast team could easily with a single game walk away from the playoffs 16-0, setting the league on its ear. 

On Friday night in Cleveland the Warriors will attempt to set that record and celebrate a championship and revenge from last year’s defeat. 

While the previous games in the 2017 Finals have been competitive, the final score rarely looks like it.