Author: Dave Ettinger

Dave is a Trending News Sports Writer for Athlon Sports, covering breaking and trending news across major sports, including NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, college football and basketball. With over 10 years of experience in sports media, Dave’s versatility extends to television, radio, and journalism. In addition to his role at Athlon Sports, Dave works in TV Production at ESPN, where he manages the production, editing, and processing of shows and events that re-air across ESPN's network of channels. Prior to joining ESPN, Dave served as an Executive Producer at WFAN and CBS Sports Radio, further solidifying his expertise in sports media. Dave earned his bachelor’s degree in Media Communications from SUNY College at Old Westbury, bringing both his education and extensive industry experience to his roles across various platforms.

When Did Everything Get So Awesome??

May 30, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

In case you hadn’t noticed….

The Stanley Cup Finals is in full swing — and it’s awesome.

There’s a lot of awesome flying around, below the radar, waiting to be consumed. The question is: Can you find it??

Stanley Cup Finals

The NHL will have itself a first-time Stanley Cup Champion; the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights or the Washington Capitals. But first, an epic battle to the death!! Or we’ll just play hockey….Either way. If game one is any indication of how this series is going to go, we’re in for a treat.

135 shot attempts. 52 saves. 10 goals (6-4). 1-0 Vegas.

A raucous crowd filled T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Monday. The towels started waving nearly 30-minutes prior to the drop of the puck, and they never stopped. Game one was fast-paced, competitive, and down right fun. For the first time in Stanley Cup Finals’ history, there were four lead changes in a single game. And after the Golden Knights took the lead on a Tomas Nosek goal with 10:16 to play, they never looked back.

But of course, this game didn’t pass by without controversy. With just over 14:00 to play, Tom Wilson lined up Jonathan Marchessault, in open-ice, with what many have deemed a dirty hit. You tell me….

Watch game two Wednesday @ 8:00 P.M. EST on NBCSN. You won’t be disappointed.

Yankees Win In Extras

Last time I checked, a win is a win. Although we put more import on games in August and September, games in May mean just as much. And when you’re the New York Yankees, they mean even more against your American League competition. That’s why today, is a good day for Yankee fans. After getting mowed down by Justin Verlander Monday, they bounced back Tuesday with a dramatic 6-5 victory (in 10 innings) over the Houston Astros.

The Astros carried a 5-3 lead to the bottom of the ninth inning. Miguel Andujar led off the inning with a walk. And after Gleyber Torres stuck out, Brett Gardner launched a 2-run, game-tying, home run (his 2nd of the game) to right centerfield. Yankee Stadium, erupted!!

And with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Andujar set the table again. This time, for a Gleyber Torres walk-off single. Check it out:

The French Open Is Happening

In case you hadn’t noticed….

The French Open is happening. It’s well under way, and it’s awesome.

Serena Williams won her 1st match, at a major, in 16 months, taking down Kristyna Pliskova 7-6, 6-4 Tuesday. She played a grand total of ZERO warm-up matches on clay, because, ya know, she’s Serena Williams. Her next opponent will be 17th seed, Ashleigh Barty.

While Serena’s comeback is impressive, this tournament is, and always has been, about Rafael Nadal. The 10-time French Open Champion improved to 80-2 in his favorite tournament, beating lucky loser, Simone Bolelli in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 7-6). Nadal will take on Guido Pella in the 2nd round.

Don’t be surprised if Nadal’s new title, come June 10th, is 11-time French Open Champion.

Did you notice all of this awesomeness?? Don’t lie to me in my comment section!!

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Since you LOVE my writing, follow me on twitter @DaveEttinger2 or like my page on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/DaveTalksSports. You can also Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: DaveTalksSports. Thanks for reading!! NOW GO TELL ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS!!

The Warriors Vs. The LeBrons: Part IV

May 29, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

It was ALWAYS going to be this way.

For those who jumped on the Celtics/Rockets’ bandwagon (you know who you are)….please hang your heads in shame NOW. Both “favorites” stared down a 3-2 series lead, giving themselves two chances to win one game. But neither, had a chance.

LeBron

Call it scrappy. Call it ugly. Call it whatever you want, LeBron James willed his scrap heap of teammates to another NBA Finals. His 9th to be exact (8th in a row). Game 7 resembled a different time in the NBA. A time when there was no shot clock. Because nothing screams awesome like an 8-6 victory.

The Cleveland LeBrons beat the Boston Celtics 87-79 in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

LeBron did what LeBron does: 35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists and 2 blocks

One of those blocks (as pictured above) was ridiculous!! While Terry Rozier has serious hops for a little guy, he should have thought twice before trying to throw the hammer down on LeBron. When a picture doesn’t do it justice, we go to the video tape:

If we’re being honest, and we always are, that was a foul. The refs clearly didn’t have the balls to blow their whistle there. Either way, all I can picture is Terry Rozier in a dark video room ALL SUMMER. There may be crying. And there may be a half empty bottle of scotch….

While the Celtics will be watching the NBA Finals from home, they’ll be back. Their core is too young, and too talented, to be kept down for too long. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s primes are going to coincide with the (eventual) decline of LeBron James. That bodes well for Celtics’ faithful.

The Warriors’ Dynasty

Again, those who thought the Golden State Warriors were going to be denied their 4th consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, are silly.

I don’t want to hear about Chris Paul’s injury. That’s NOT why the Warriors are representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. The Warriors are representing the Western Conference in the NBA Finals because the Rockets shot 7-for-44 from three-point range in Game 7.

7-FOR-44!!!!

That’s impressively bad.

Trevor Ariza won’t soon forget his Game 7. Ariza went 0-for-9 from three (0-for-12 overall). Eric Gordon’s 3-for-12, and James Harden’s 3-for-13 didn’t help either.

The Warriors’ core-four did what they do, combining for 90 points, in a 101-92 victory.

And now, they’ll take on the one-man band people call the Cleveland Cavaliers. This series is not going to be entertaining, or close. Each Warriors’ victory will be by an average of 20 points. LeBron automatically buys his team one victory. If he goes INSANE, he’ll grab a second win on his way out the door. But the LeBrons LITERALLY have NO CHANCE here.

Does LeBron stand a chance?? How many games will he win?? Post your crazy predictions in the comment section below.

Getting Out Of Your Own Way Is Harder Than It Looks

May 25, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

One does not simply beat the Golden State Warriors.

mordor

The Warriors….beat themselves.

The Warriors Backed Themselves Into A Corner

If I told you James Harden would go 0-for-11 from three-point range in Game 5, you’d tell me the Houston Rockets would lose by 20 points. Fear the beard in December, shave the beard in May.

By the way, it makes me happy that James Harden is the biggest choke artist in sports since Phil Mickelson….

phil mickelson So, I’m not sure what’s wrong with the Warriors. How, the best team the NBA has seen in 20 years, can beat their opponent by 41 points one night and lose to them twice over the next four days is beyond my brain power.

The Warriors’ depth has taken a slight hit with Andre Iguodala missing the past two games, but that shouldn’t keep the Warriors from beating the hapless Rockets. James Harden and Chris Paul shot a combined 11-for-40 Thursday night — and still won (98-94). That makes no sense.

For the 2nd consecutive game, the Warriors carried a lead into the 4th quarter. And for the 2nd consecutive game, they wilted down the stretch. Kevin Durant, the world’s 2nd best player (it’s not even that close), went 0-for-4 in the 4th quarter. Down 95-94, with under 50 seconds to play, the Warriors had, not one, but two chances to take the lead. Both failed. And then, with under 10 seconds left, Draymond Green fumbled away their last ditch effort.

Watch butterfingers:

That is the Warriors past two games in a nutshell. They’ll head home, down 3-2, looking to force a Game 7. LeBron James, and his band of misfits, will look to do the same.

Boston Celtics @ Cleveland LeBrons: Friday @ 8:30 P.M. EST on ESPN.

Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors: Saturday @ 9:00 P.M. EST on TNT.

The Islanders Did Something Smart?!

lou_lamoriello_isles-681x383

The New York Islanders, despite their recent history, made a smart decision Tuesday. They hired the ‘GM of all GMs’; Lou Lamoriello. Lamoriello, best known for turning the bottom feeding New Jersey Devils into a perennial powerhouse, will take the reigns for the Islanders.

This is brilliant.

While Lamoriello will technically be called ‘President of Hockey Operations’, he’ll be the GM, the President, the CEO, the Mom, and the Dad, all at once. You don’t hire the best to ever do it, and then NOT turn over full control.

Lamoriello spent 27 years as the Devils’ GM. In their 1st season, they had a winning record. They made the playoffs in 22-of-27 seasons. And they won three Stanley Cups in five appearances.

Decent….

This hire is GREAT for a multitude of reasons. No Islanders’ fan should be upset, this week. But this hire was made for one reason; SIGN JOHN TAVARES!!

tavares

Apparently, Tavares is “pleased” with the hire — as he should be. The question, however, remains: Will Tavares sign on the dotted line for the Islanders????

Still have confidence in a Warriors/LeBrons rematch?? Is hiring Lou Lamoriello the best decision the Islanders have ever made?? Spill your guts in the comment section below.

If 7 Isn’t Your Favorite Number….It Will Be!!

May 24, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

7.

It can mean so many things:

7 days of the week. Lucky 7. The 7 Dwarfs.

But when 7 and Game collide in the same sentence, the world is a better place.

Eastern Conference Finals (NHL style)

alex-ovechkin-052318-getty-ftrjpeg_7513g6pe4b50zgp6p6q1ian9

The Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning spoiled us with a Game 7 Wednesday night. The winner, would face the Las Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals. The loser, would get reacquainted with their couch.

It’s not often a game-winning goal is scored just 1:02 into a game. But Alex Ovechkin made sure of it. Check out his one-timed slap shot of beauty here:

Capitals’ goaltender, Braden Holtby, stood on his head for the 2nd consecutive game, posting another shutout, 4-0 (29 saves). The Capitals are heading to their 1st Stanley Cup Finals in 20 years, shedding the “choke artists” label one win at a time. The general public is now guaranteed a brand spankin’ new Stanley Cup Champion, as the Golden Knights continue their historical inaugural season.

The puck drops on the Stanley Cup Finals Monday @ 8:00 P.M. EST on NBC.

Eastern Conference Finals (NBA style)

Celtics-Beat-Cavs-96-83-in-Game-5-Lead-East-Finals-3-2-696x521

Stop me if I sound like a broken record….

LeBron James’ teammates SUCK!!!!

Oh, okay, I’ll stop.

It’s literally LeBron against the Boston Celtics. Now staring a 3-2 deficit in the face, LeBron MUST reach into his bag of tricks and pull out something amazing — again. If LeBron wants to see a Game 7, he’ll need to add to his list of 40-point playoff games.

Now, it’s hard to feel TOO bad for him, as he requested this band of losers:

J.R. Smith, Tristan Thompson, Kevin Love, Larry Nance Jr., Rodney Hood, Jordan Clarkson, and George Hill.

Outside of the occasional Kevin Love sighting, this is a REALLY BAD TEAM. Without LeBron, this is a 25-win team (at best).

The Celtics held serve (96-83), as both teams have done in this series, sending the series back to Cleveland. Last time I checked, you can’t win a basketball game with 83 points. Anyway, LeBron will do what he does, and will gift us another Game 7. And we all know what LeBron does in Game 7s….

Do you still have faith the Cleveland LeBrons will win this series?? If not, explain yourself!!

“You Blew IT!!!!”

May 23, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

The NBA is stupid.

How can you win by 41 points on Sunday, and lose by 3 points on Tuesday?! The answer SHOULD be, you can’t.

Warriors Collapse

Game four of the Western Conference Finals was played Tuesday night. With a 2-1 lead, the Golden State Warriors, at home, were looking to secure a commanding series lead. After jumping out to a 12-0 lead nearly halfway through the 1st quarter, that looked like a certainty. If only the Warriors knew the NBA gods were about to stuff them into a locker.

Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Klay Thompson collectively went ice cold. They shot a combined 23-for-63 from the field. That’s 36.5%. That’s not good.

Despite their lackluster performance, they returned to Warrior form, if only for 12 minutes. They scored 34 points in the 3rd quarter. Like I told you Monday, the Warriors should ©, ®, or ™ the 3rd quarter. However, when you score 30 points in the 2nd and 4th quarters combined, you don’t often win basketball games. 95-92, not Golden State.

Game five will be played in Houston on Thursday @ 9:00 P.M. EST on TNT. Expect a bounce back performance from Golden State.

Matt Harvey Sucks A Little Bit Less Than He Used To

Matt Harvey landed in the win column Tuesday.

Allow me to repeat myself: Matt Harvey landed in the WIN column Tuesday!!

This is the part when Mets fans throw things at their wall. Now, I know it’s been just three games, but Matt Harvey, all of a sudden, resembles a Major League pitcher….

(Insert Mets’ Fan Screaming Sound Here).

In eight appearances with the Mets, Harvey surrendered 21 runs in 27 innings.

In three appearances with the Reds, 4 runs in 14 innings.

Hmmmmm, very interesting.

Don’t get me wrong, Harvey’s not going to turn back into an ace, but his e.r.a. has dropped from 7.00 to 5.49 in just three starts. I’m just sayin’….this is the METS’ WAY.

But hey, at least they signed Jose Bautista….

Christian Hackenberg

From the Mets’ way to the Jets’ way.

Christian Hackenberg was drafted in the 2nd round (51st overall pick) out of Penn State in 2016. The Jets hoped Hackenberg could turn into a future star at the QB position. However, he never saw the field. This draft pick is an epic failure in the long list of epic failures for the New York Jets.

And now, Hackenberg has been shipped off to Oakland to compete for the backup QB job with the Raiders. Only the Jets know how to turn a 2nd round draft pick into a 7th round draft pick in two years.

Don’t make fun. That’s not easy to do.

How many games will it take the Warriors to win this series?? Do the Mets care about winning — at all?! Spill your guts in the comment section below.

Monday….It’s Not ALL Bad

May 22, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Monday.

The start of the week. The root of all evil — for some.

Hey, dummy, instead of hating Mondays, why don’t you embrace the awesomeness it often provides.

LeBron

Yes, I write about LeBron James a lot. See, it’s like when Michael Jordan was playing. Even though the Knicks fan in me hated MJ’s guts, I appreciated his greatness. I didn’t want him to retire (three times), but all careers come to an end. While I wish LeBron would don a Knicks’ uniform, and I don’t necessarily love him, I appreciate his greatness.

44 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals

He surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most field goals in postseason history.

And he’s just two games away from his 8th consecutive NBA Finals appearance.

Just another day at the office.

The Cleveland LeBrons jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. They won the 1st quarter 34-18, and despite losing each following quarter, never relinquished the lead. 111-102 brings the Eastern Conference Finals to 2-2, and the momentum has fully shifted to the LeBrons. The Celtics will be happy to return home, as they’re just 1-6 on the road in the playoffs.

I’ll stick with my original prediction: LeBrons in six.

There’s Nothing Better Than A Game 7

The Washington Capitals, the perennial disappointment, are looking to change history. Often lauded as Eastern Conference contenders, the Capitals repeatedly fail to live up to expectations. Prior to this season, the Capitals had lost in the 2nd round in three consecutive seasons. But Monday night, they forced a game 7, keeping their chance alive to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 20 years. Not since the ’97-’98 season have the Capitals played in the Finals (they were swept 4-0 by the Detroit Red Wings).

Behind the strong play of goaltender, Braden Holtby (24 saves), and right wing, TJ Oshie (2 goals), the Capitals took down the Tampa Bay Lightning 3-0. With the Cinderella story, Las Vegas Golden Knights, waiting on the other side, the Capitals would be seeking their first Stanley Cup. But first, they must handle their business, on the road, in game 7.

Clear your schedule, and watch game 7. There’s nothing better. Trust me.

Wednesday, May 23rd @ 8:00 P.M. EST on NBCSN.

Juan Soto Thinks Age Is Just A Number

I wonder what it’s like to be a Phenom. A 19-year old Phenom who jumped straight from Double-A to the Major Leagues overnight and hit a monster three-run home run in his 2nd ever MLB at-bat (1st pitch in 1st start).

World, Juan Soto. Juan Soto, world.

Naturally, since he plays for the Washington Nationals, Soto is already being compared to Bryce Harper. It’s fair, I guess, considering the list of 19-year olds to hit home runs in MLB history is rather short.

Soto is from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He’s currently the 15th ranked prospect in MLB. And he plays the outfield. Many expect Soto to have a long, fruitful career in the middle of the batting order. If he continues to show-off opposite field power, like this, he may very well do that….

Still hate Mondays?? After all the awesomeness I provided, you must explain yourself in the comment section below.

If You Were Looking For Close Games, You Came to The Wrong Place

May 21, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

It was only a matter of time.

Stephen Curry, with his three by his side, would not be held down forever.

LeBron James, and losing streaks, don’t often collide in the same sentence.

The Conference Finals are slowly, but surely, taking form. And soon (but not too soon), LeBrons Vs. Warriors Part IV will hit the big screen.

Well, that was close….

If you’re a Houston Rockets fan, and you turned off game three early, you didn’t miss much. There was no effort. No energy. No EPIC comeback. Instead, a 41-point drubbing.

Steph Curry led the way with 35 points, hitting 5-of-12 three pointers. After combining for 34 points, on 3-of-12 from three in games one and two, Curry found himself. His 18-point, 3rd quarter outburst reminded the world the Warriors have ownership rights over the 3rd quarter. If they were smart, they’d ©,®, or ™ the 3rd quarter.

Speaking of numbers:

41, 20, 16, 2

The Warriors, 41-point victory, 126-85, marked the largest playoff victory in Warriors’ franchise history.

Kevin Durant dropped 25 points Sunday, bringing his consecutive 20-point playoff game streak to 20.

Sunday’s victory was the Warriors’ 16th consecutive home, playoff win, breaking the Chicago Bulls (’90-’91) record.

And 2. The Warriors are just 2 victories away from their 4th consecutive NBA Finals.

Remember when you thought the Rockets had a chance in this series?! Silly you….

LeBron Brings Fanatics Down From The Ledge

LeBron James doesn’t lose three games in a row very often — especially in the Conference Finals.

Game three of the Eastern Conference Finals was played Saturday, after an inexplicable three consecutive days off. This was one of the more predictable outcomes in NBA Playoffs history. Anyone who thought the Boston Celtics were going to march into LeBron’s house, after three days off, and back LeBron into a corner, were sorely mistaken. Or they were really high on drugs. Either way.

The Cleveland LeBron’s handled their business, putting a 30-point whoopin’ on the Celtics, 116-86. There was a LeBron teammate sighting (extremely rare), as five other LeBrons put up double digits.

If only LeBron’s teammates were consistent. Think of the possibilities.

LeBron’s work isn’t done. Tuesday night he’ll even up the series at two. Somewhere in the 2nd half the momentum will shift, and the young Celtics will realize taking down LeBron isn’t as easy as it seemed.

How many games will it take for LeBron to win this series?? Will the Rockets win another game?? Post your predictions in the comment section below.

You Can’t Fix Stupid!!

May 18, 2018May 18, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

There’s a lot of STUPID running around.

It’s a good thing it’s not contagious….

Or is it?!

NBA Playoffs Schedule

This one makes my brain hurt.

The NBA Playoffs are in full swing. The Boston Celtics lead the Cleveland LeBrons 2-0, while the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are tied 1-1. While both series’ required a travel day after game two, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively, I didn’t realize they needed THREE TRAVEL DAYS!!!!

What are they doing, walking from Cleveland and Boston?!?!

That’s right, game two of the Celtics/LeBrons’ series was Tuesday. Game three is Saturday. The Warriors/Rockets’ series will follow suit, turning Wednesday into Sunday. Listen, I get it. The NBA Finals is a pre-determined date, so they want to spread out their off days rather than get stuck with a full week of radio silence. This also begs the question: Why MUST the NBA Finals be a pre-determined date??

If only there were simple solutions to simple problems….

Mets 9th Inning Delay

Common sense is rare nowadays.

The New York Mets hosted the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday afternoon despite steady rainfall — all game. MLB and the Umpire’s crew determined the conditions were playable.

This game shouldn’t have been played.

If player safety was an actual concern, MLB would have postponed this game along with the 1,900 other games that have been affected by weather conditions this season.

Fast forward to the 3rd inning. Zach Wheeler’s bat slipped out of his hands, traveling a healthy distance toward 1st base. The umpires then asked the grounds crew to spread a drying agent on the field, causing a 15-minute delay.

Hit the fast forward button again. We arrive at the bottom of the 9th inning, with two outs, and the Mets trailing 12-0. The umpires decide this was the RIGHT time for the grounds crew to spread more drying agent on the field!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?! In a 12-run game, and one out to go, why would anyone in their right mind think a 5-minute delay, to keep the players “safe”, is a good idea?!

You can’t make this stuff up.

Cleveland Browns Being Featured On Hard Knocks

The Cleveland Browns are the epitome of failure. They didn’t win a single game this past season. And only won one game the season before. Free agents don’t want to play for the Browns. Coaches don’t want to coach the Browns. And fans don’t want to watch the Browns. So, who was the genius who thought featuring the Cleveland Browns on HBO’s Hard Knocks would be a good idea?!?! I thought HBO was in the money making business….

I am NOT tuning in to HBO to watch the Cleveland Browns’ training camp. Yeah, maybe 15 people will tune in to watch Baker Mayfield, but the other 327,875,985 people in the United States will opt for a Netflix show, or golf, or watching paint dry. Because anything is better, for entertainment value, and your health, than watching the Cleveland Browns “play” football.

Dez Bryant Saying No To Money

Dez Bryant is an idiot.

After being cut by the Dallas Cowboys for sucking, Dez Bryant is unemployed. Bryant, once one of the most promising young wide receivers in the NFL, has wildly underperformed over the past three seasons. At just 29 years old, a one-year, single-digit contract would seem to be in his near future. However, he’s not smart enough to understand that.

I wonder what it’s like to look in the mirror and see platinum and gold, when reality is showing you sterling silver.

The only team to offer Bryant a contract is the Baltimore Ravens. The details of the offer haven’t been publicized, however, Bryant turned it down. Seeing as Bryant is known for his poor attitude, and his play has greatly diminished, his thought process is baffling.

NFL teams will put up with bad attitudes, and off the field troubles, IF the production on the field is there, but without the latter, Bryant may remain unemployed longer than expected.

Post something stupid in the comment section below.

Best. Week. EVER (For Everyone Except Robinson Cano)!!

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

When all four major sports collide, special things happen in the universe.

Special, this week, is an understatement.

MLB suspensions, a new Monday Night Football crew, NBA playoffs, NBA awards, and NHL playoffs. Could this week get any better?!

Robinson Cano Suspension

Everybody cheats. No revelation here, just simple fact. The professional athlete, by definition, seeks a competitive advantage. On the field or at home. Robinson Cano chose the latter. It was announced Tuesday that Cano had tested positive for the banned substance, furosemide. Furosemide is a diuretic, and MLB determined Cano used it as a masking agent and doled out an 80 game suspension. Cano has chosen not to appeal but made the following statement:

“Recently I learned that I tested positive for a substance called Furosemide, which is not a performance enhancing substance,” Cano said in a statement released by the MLB Players Association. “… For more than 15 years, playing professional baseball has been the greatest honor and privilege of my life. I would never do anything to cheat the rules of the game that I love, and after undergoing dozens of drug tests over more than a decade, I have never tested positive for a performance enhancing substance for the simple reason that I have never taken one.”

While Cano’s suspension will begin immediately, the timing of his “punishment” infuriates me to no end. Cano broke a bone in his right hand after being hit by a pitch this past Sunday. So, while Cano will lose $11.85 of his $24 million salary (boohoo!), he’ll have the privilege of serving his suspension from the DL. HOW DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?! Suspension time should not count during DL stints. That’s common sense!!

NBA Awards Finalists

The NBA announced the finalists for their prominent awards Wednesday. On Monday, June 25th, the NBA will host the ultimate money grab, award show in Los Angeles. They will announce the winners of the following awards:

MVP, Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Most Improved Player, and Sixth Man of the Year.

MVP: LeBron James (Cavaliers), James Harden (Rockets), Anthony Davis (Pelicans)

Rookie of the Year: Ben Simmons (76ers), Donovan Mitchell (Jazz), Jayson Tatum (Celtics)

Defensive Player of the Year: Davis (Pelicans), Joel Embiid (76ers), Rudy Gobert (Jazz)

Coach of the Year: Dwane Casey (Raptors), Quin Snyder (Jazz), Brad Stevens (Celtics)

Most Improved Player: Clint Capela (Rockets), Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets), Victor Oladipo (Pacers)

Sixth Man of the Year: Eric Gordon (Rockets), Lou Williams (Clippers), Fred VanVleet (Raptors)

Check back with DaveTalksSports.com to see my winners.

New MNF Crew

Monday Night Football is getting a much needed makeover. Fresh off retirement, Jason Witten (analyst) will headline the new MNF crew. He’ll be joined by Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Booger McFarland (field analyst), and Lisa Salters (sideline reporter).

No one knows if Witten will be any good, as he has ZERO broadcasting experience, but he’s well liked (he’s got that going for him). Joe Tessitore will be an ENORMOUS upgrade over the most monotone voice in sports, Sean McDonough. Lisa Salters, a consummate professional, will be a nice addition to a program in need of professionalism. As for Booger McFarland, your guess is as good as mine….

NHL Playoffs

Yes, hockey is still being played. Both conference finals stand at 2-1. Now is the time casual fans wonder into a bar, pretend they like hockey, and watch the Stanley Cup Finals. Let’s Go Vegas!!

What is your favorite major sport?? Tell me in the comment section below.

World 2, LeBron 0

May 16, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ Leave a comment

Tuesday night fixed my relationship….with my couch.

See, my couch and I haven’t been spending a lot of time together lately. Oh, I’ve been watching sports, just not from the comfort of my favorite a** groove. Life, as they say, is getting in the way (a beautiful thing). Well Tuesday, thunderstorm and all, brought rest, relaxation, and a historic triple-double to my living room.

LeBron

LeBron’s teammates suck!!

LeBron gives everything, every night. Unfortunately, with this cast of characters he calls teammates, it’s (too) often not enough. Now, you can blame LeBron for that too (if you hate him), and assume LeBron constructed this roster. But let’s pretend (just until the end of this article) the general manager isn’t a figurehead.

LeBron James recorded his 3rd postseason 40-point triple-double Tuesday night. That’s a record.

42 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, and 1 block wasn’t enough to steal home-court advantage from the Boston Celtics. Maybe it’s because LeBron and Kevin Love combined for 64 points, while their nine teammates combined for 30 points. If only there was video evidence of an “expert” crowning the Cavaliers ‘Champs of the East’ at the trade deadline….

(Watch the first two minutes)

If Stephen A. Smith mentioned Rodney Hood’s length, athleticism, and defensive ability one more time I would have puked everywhere.

Tuesday night’s game, in a nutshell:

The LeBrons had three players score in double digits. The Celtics had six.

LeBron taking a Jayson Tatum shoulder to the face didn’t help either….

It’s LeBron against the world. Plain and simple. JR Smith had one of his classic 0-7 games. Larry Nance Jr. didn’t score. And Jordan Clarkson didn’t even play. The result: 107-94, Celtics. 2-0, Celtics.

This series, by no means, is over. As a wise man once told me, “A playoff series doesn’t start until a home team loses a game.”

Mediocrity Is A Way Of Life

The NBA Draft Lottery was selected Tuesday night. My New York Knicks stayed put, in the ninth spot. Good, but not great. Even if they had the #1 pick, which went to the Phoenix Suns, they’d screw it up. The success of the Knicks is dependent on competent leadership, not high draft picks. As long as they’re devoid of the former, they’ll forever dominate the ninth pick in the draft.

Here is the complete list of the NBA Draft Lottery.

While the Suns are happy, they sported the league’s worst record, so they shot even-par Tuesday night. The big winner was the Sacramento Kings. The Kings, who finished tied for the sixth worst record, landed the #2 pick. Now, all they have to do is stay out of their own way.

Will the LeBrons still win this series?? Who should be the #1 pick in the NBA Draft?? Tell me in the comment section below.

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7.

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