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.

From La La Land To Motown

January 30, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

The Los Angeles Clippers are throwing in the towel.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before….

Monday night, despite being just 1/2 of a game out of the playoffs, the Clippers drew a line in the sand by trading Blake Griffin to Motown:

Detroit Pistons Get: Blake Griffin, Brice Johnson, and Willie Reed

Los Angeles Clippers Get: Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a top-4 protected 2018 1st round pick, and a 2019 2nd round pick

It begs the age-old question: Should a franchise always compete to make the playoffs, even if it means spending eternity in mediocrity??

**We know which side of the fence Kristaps Porzingis falls on, as he expects the New York Knicks to be buyers at the trade deadline. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! When you’re done laughing, please, read on….

If the Clippers held on to Blake Griffin, they might have made the playoffs this season. Only to have the pleasure of being trounced by the Golden State Warriors in the 1st round. Griffin would have undoubtedly gotten hurt along the way. And the Clippers would have been back to the drawing board — again. Instead, the Clippers made a SMART decision, and received a solid ROI (return on investment). Bradley is an expiring contract, Harris is a solid, relatively cheap player who becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2019, and draft picks never hurt.

While Griffin is one of the most talented players in the NBA, he’s a hospital visit waiting to happen. Over the past 3 seasons, he’s averaged just 54.3 games per year. And this season, has already missed 16 of 49 games. You can’t dunk on people from the infirmary. Plus, he signed a 5-year, $171 million contract this past July. Over time, that contract will resemble a burden rather than a blessing.

Gather around conspiracy theorists….

Some believe this is the 1st of multiple moves to open up salary cap space for Lebron James. Yes, the Lebron James sweepstakes could be in full effect again next year. But to tear your roster apart for a ‘pipe dream’ is foolish. Expect the Clippers to continue their roster purge prior to the trade deadline (February 8th @ 3:00 P.M EST).

As for the other 29 teams, absolutely nothing has transpired. The New Orleans Pelicans, however, are actively seeking a deal to bolster their frontcourt after losing DeMarcus Cousins to a ruptured Achilles Friday night. Side note: Paul George will replace Cousins on the All-Star Team.

IF Blake Griffin should ever stay healthy, he should land on many All-Star Teams.

Welcome to the Weak-Eastern Conference Blake….

Who won the Blake Griffin trade?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

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I’m The Greatest — No, I’m The Greatest!!

January 29, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 3 Comments

I am the greatest athlete of this generation.

No, not me. There are 4 gentlemen who’d have a legitimate argument if they said that aloud, and 3 of them were in action Sunday. The 4th, is preparing to launch himself to an unprecedented level of greatness this coming Sunday….

1.) Roger Federer

2.) Tiger Woods

3.) Lebron James

4.) Tom Brady

Roger Federer

The accomplishments of Roger Federer, at 36 years, 173 days old, are like nothing we’ve seen before. After experiencing a Grand Slam title drought of 18, Federer has now won 3 of the past 5 (2 Australian Opens and 1 Wimbledon). That’s just flat out ridiculous.

Did I mention Federer is old?! 36, in men’s professional tennis, is ancient. In fact, upon winning the Australian Open, Federer became the 2nd oldest man to win a Grand Slam (Ken Rosewall – 1972 Australian Open). Still not impressed?! The only 2 sets Federer lost the entire tournament were against Marin Cilic on Sunday. Federer would drop the 2nd and 4th sets, forcing a sudden-death, 5th set for the Australian Open Title. Federer, steam rolled, winning 6-1. And with every Grand Slam victory, Federer continues to break his own record. He’s now won 20 Grand Slams.

The question isn’t if he’ll win #21, but when??

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is back!! For real this time. Playing in his 1st PGA Tour event in a year, and just his 5th in 2-and-a-half years, Tiger Woods impressed. He didn’t win the tournament, nor will he win a tournament anytime soon, but he made the cut and played through the weekend.

He finished 23rd (-3), playing 4 consecutive rounds without injury (which should be Tiger Wood’s main focus). So, while he won’t compete with Jason Day and Alex Noren in Monday’s playoff of the Farmers Insurance Open, Tiger Woods should have a smile on his face.

He should also spend his free time at the driving range, because he hit a career low 17 of 56 fairways (30%), including 3 of 14 on Saturday. No, I can’t shoot 3-under over 4 consecutive rounds, but I can hit more than 3 fairways.

Lebron James

Lebron James went about his business Sunday:

25 points, 8 rebounds, 14 assists, and 1 steal in 38 minutes.

The Cleveland Cavaliers won 121-104 over the Detroit Pistons. As crazy as this sounds, the Cavaliers can use every win they can get. At 29-19 on the season, they are currently the 3-seed in the Eastern Conference, however, they’re closer to the 7-seed than the 2-seed. This also sounds crazy, but another NBA Championship would do Lebron James’ legacy wonders.

As talented and accomplished as he is, Lebron is chasing a ghost. And ghosts tend to be hard to catch. As with every all-time great, I will never doubt Lebron James. Not until the clock hits double-zero and his team is on the wrong side of history.

Tom Brady

Tom Brady doesn’t often land on the wrong side of history. I don’t foresee that changing this coming Sunday. As Nick Foles continues to figure out how he got here, Tom Brady sleeps soundly. Super Bowl Sunday has become as regular an occurrence for Tom Brady, as a trip to the food store is for you and I.

With his (12) stitches removed, Brady is set to capture his 6th Super Bowl Ring. And like Roger Federer, will look to break his own record. When 2nd place is so distant, I guess you become your only competition.

Who is the greatest athlete of this generation?? Tell me in the comment section below.

A Thursday For The Ages!!

January 26, 2018January 26, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Sports is the gift that keeps on giving.

Just 24 hours ago, headlines remained quiet, still, virtually unchanged. Then Thursday happened.

Who Doesn’t Love A Reboot??

The XFL is making a comeback. Yes, you read that right. Vince McMahon, WWE Founder, says a drama free, gimmick free, criminal free XFL is making a comeback. In 2020, Vince McMahon will re-launch an 8-team league, designed to play a 10-week schedule. McMahon is looking into a combination of large and medium-sized markets.

McMahon is individually funding this project and will have complete control over the league and all 8 teams. Initial funding is estimated at $100 million dollars. Coincidentally, McMahon just sold $100 million in WWE stock….

While McMahon clearly stated there will be no criminals in his league, he’s taking a hard stance on many hot-button issues. No personal or political stances will be tolerated in the XFL. Ratings magnets will no longer get the nod over other players. The best players will be put on the field, and they will be paid more when they win. And McMahon plans to run faster games. A 2-hour limit is McMahon’s plan.

Essentially, he’s trying to capitalize on every shortcoming of the NFL.

I give it 2 years this time….

“I’ll Take KD!!”

Thursday, All-Star Captains, Lebron James and Stephen Curry, “secretly” selected their teams. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the order players were picked, so for the love of God, put this thing on TV next year!!!!

Here’s how it probably went down:

Team Lebron Team Curry

1st pick: Kevin Durant 2nd pick: James Harden

3rd pick: Anthony Davis 4th pick: Giannis Antetokounmpo

5th pick: Demarcus Cousins 6th pick: Joel Embiid

7th pick: Kyrie Irving 8th pick: Karl Anthony-Towns

9th pick: Russell Westbrook 10th pick: DeMar DeRozan

11th pick: John Wall 12th pick: Jimmy Butler

13th pick: Kristaps Porzingis 14th pick: Klay Thompson

15th pick: LaMarcus Aldridge 16th pick: Al Horford

17th pick: Kevin Love 18th pick: Damian Lillard

19th pick: Victor Oladipo 20th pick: Draymond Green

21st pick: Bradley Beal 22nd pick: Kyle Lowry

Lebron clearly won the draft. Once you get past the 5th pick, you have to wonder what was going through Stephen Curry’s mind. Picking either Towns, Embiid, Butler, or DeRozan over Cousins, Westbrook, or Irving makes my head spin in a way that feels fairly dangerous. Despite only having 5 Western All-Stars, expect Team Lebron to win 189-179.

Father Time Is Still Waiting

Roger Federer may or may not be human. His accomplishments, at 36, on a tennis court, are nothing short of astonishing. After defeating Hyeon Chung (6-1, 5-2, ret.), Federer has reached his 7th Australian Open Final. Once again, he has NOT dropped a single set en route to the finals. THAT IS INSANE!!

While mere mortals retire due to injury, and potential heat stroke, Federer dabs single beads of sweat from his brow and moves to the next point. His mental game is unparalleled, and his physical talent is 2nd to none. Federer will try to take down #6 ranked, Marin Cilic, in the finals for his 6th Australian Open.

Words simply can not explain the unprecedented nature Federer continues to succeed at the advanced age of 36. It’s like ‘Dog Years’. 36 in ‘Tennis Years’ is 66 in ‘Basketball Years’.

Brewers Are Busy Little Beavers

The Milwaukee Brewers were very busy on Thursday. They made a trade. And they signed the biggest free agent contract of the offseason — so far. Both put the Brewers in the conversation for best outfield in MLB.

The Trade

Brewers Get: OF Christian Yelich

Marlins Get: OF Lewis Brinson, INF Isan Diaz, OF Monte Harrison, and P Jordan Yamamoto

The Signing

They signed OF Lorenzo Cain, to a 5-year, $80 million contract. Until JD Martinez signs on the dotted-line, Cain stands as the highest paid free agent of the offseason.

The Brewers now have a surplus of outfielders, so expect either Domingo Santana, Keon Broxton, or Brett Phillips to be on the move.

Wow Thursday. You didn’t exactly leave room for improvement for Friday….

What was the biggest story from Thursday?? Will you watch the XFL?? Spill it in the comment section below.

MLB Hall Of Fame Grows By 4

January 25, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

It’s the highest honor a professional athlete can receive. It’s the culmination of a life’s work. It’s validation.

The greatness of 4 individuals was recognized Wednesday evening, as they were elected to the MLB Hall of Fame:

Chipper Jones, Vladimir Guerrero, Jim Thome, and Trevor Hoffman.

This Hall of Fame class is strong, with 4 players being elected for just the 4th time (1947, 1955, 2015).

Chipper Jones, 3B/OF, Atlanta Braves (1993-2012 – 97.2%)

Chipper Jones played his entire 19-year career with the Atlanta Braves. As a switch-hitting third baseman and outfielder, Jones was part of the Braves’ dynasty that won 14 consecutive NL East Division Titles. Mets fans know what I’m talking about.

Jones’ career was filled with numerous accolades, including 8 All-Star Game appearances, 1 MVP, and 1 World Series. Jones ranks 3rd all-time in home runs by a switch hitter. As the #1 overall pick in the 1990 draft, Jones lived up to expectations, finishing 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting in 1995 (Hideo Nomo). Consistency and longevity could have been his nicknames, as he drove in at least 100 runs 9 times and hit at least 20 homes runs 14 times.

Check out his stats here.

Few are more deserving than Chipper Jones, and he can now smile knowing he’s been immortalized amongst the greatest to ever play the game.

Vladimir Guerrero, OF/DH, Montreal Expos/Los Angeles Angels (1996-2011 – 92.9%)

Has there ever been a scarier hitter?? No, he’s not the best hitter of all-time, but his ability to hit ANY pitch made him one of the toughest outs in MLB history. I once saw Vlad hit a homerun off of 1 knee. Vlad possessed a rare power, batting average combination. He hit over .300 in 14 of his 16 seasons, hit 25 home runs 12 times, and drove in 100 runs 10 times. I’m still trying to figure out how he didn’t make it in on his 1st ballot….

Check out his stats here.

Vlad also had the best arm I’ve ever seen. When you can throw the ball from the right field wall to home plate, on a fly, off your back foot, you have a GREAT arm!!

Jim Thome, 1B/3B/DH, Cleveland Indians (1991-2012 – 89.8%)

Jim Thome had 1 job, and he did it VERY well. His job was to hit the ball over the wall. He did that 612 times (8th all-time). That’s a lot of times!!

Allow me to put that into perspective. Thome hit at least 40 homes runs 6 times. Only 8 players have hit 40 home runs more times than Thome. And his slugging percentage (.554) ranks 23rd all-time.

Check out his stats here.

Oddly, Thome wore 6 different jerseys throughout his 22-year career. Thome, along with Jones, became a 1st ballot Hall of Famer Wednesday evening.

Trevor Hoffman, RP, San Diego Padres (1993-2010 – 79.9%)

Trevor Hoffman is in elite company. He’s just the 6th reliever to be elected to the Hall of Fame. While he ranks 2nd all-time in saves (behind the almighty Mariano Rivera), he is a controversial selection for Cooperstown. Hoffman was known for 2 things: his strikeout ability, and his propensity to blow big games.

Check out his stats here.

Hoffman’s shortcomings won’t show up all over a stat sheet, but I don’t think he’s worthy of the Hall of Fame. It should be the Hall of Great, not the Hall of Very Good.

Do you agree with the Hall of Fame selections?? Is Trevor Hoffman a Hall of Famer?? Tell me everything you think in the comment section below.

It’s Snubbing Season!!

January 24, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

I don’t like getting snubbed.

I can’t imagine Paul George does either.

As the NBA All-Star Team Reserves were announced Tuesday, George was the most glaring omission. Each conference is comprised of 12 players, 5 starters and 7 reserves.

Starters are determined by 3 voting groups:

Fans: 50%

Players: 25%

Media: 25%

Reserves are selected by NBA coaches. And this year, rather than play East Vs. West, a playground style, pick-up game will ensue. Each conference’s top vote-getter (as per the fans), will be named “Captain”. The inaugural captains are Lebron James and Stephen Curry. They will then alternate selecting players (Lebron has 1st pick) no matter their conference.

**NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, decided not to televise the selection process, as he doesn’t want to hurt the last pick’s feelings….

(Hurt their feelings?? Are we in 2nd grade?!?! These are grown men, being paid millions to play the game of basketball, and you’re worried about their feelings over the All-Star Game?!?! Talk about a money making opportunity being flushed down the toilet!!)

Instead, Lebron and Curry’s selections will be revealed on Thursday @ 7:00 P.M. EST on TNT.

While I like the idea of “choosing up teams”, they only got this half-way right.

If you’re going to choose teams, regardless of conference, why would the voting process remain separated by conference????

All-Star voting should simply be the top-24 players in the NBA. Here are the teams, as presently constructed:

Eastern Conference:

Starter: Kyrie Irving, G, Boston Celtics
Starter: DeMar DeRozan, G, Toronto Raptors
Starter: LeBron James, F, Cleveland Cavaliers (Captain)
Starter: Giannis Antetokounmpo, F, Milwaukee Bucks
Starter: Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
Reserve: Kyle Lowry, G, Toronto Raptors
Reserve: Bradley Beal, G, Washington Wizards
Reserve: John Wall, G, Washington Wizards
Reserve: Victor Oladipo, G, Indiana Pacers
Reserve: Kevin Love, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Reserve: Kristaps Porzingis, F, New York Knicks
Reserve: Al Horford, C, Boston Celtics

Western Conference:

Starter: Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors (Captain)
Starter: James Harden, G, Houston Rockets
Starter: Kevin Durant, F, Golden State Warriors
Starter: Anthony Davis, F, New Orleans Pelicans
Starter: DeMarcus Cousins, C, New Orleans Pelicans
Reserve: Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers
Reserve: Klay Thompson, G, Golden State Warriors
Reserve: Jimmy Butler, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
Reserve: Russell Westbrook, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
Reserve: LaMarcus Aldridge, F, San Antonio Spurs
Reserve: Draymond Green, F, Golden State Warriors
Reserve: Karl-Anthony Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

If you say someone needs to be in, someone needs to be out….

Paul George is more deserving than Kristaps Porzingis. I love that the Knicks will be represented at All-Star Weekend, but Kristaps Porzingis DOES NOT deserve to be an All-Star. George is also more deserving than Kyle Lowry, Lamarcus Aldridge, Draymond Green, Kevin Love, and Klay Thompson. These players are having outstanding seasons, but they’re not having the season George is having.

Here are George’s stats:

20.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.1 steals, 43.6 FG%, 42.2 3-point%, and 80.9 FT%

Don’t forget, George is also adjusting to life as the 2nd option, for the 1st time, in Oklahoma City. Oh, and George is the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year.

Should Paul George be an All-Star?? Tell me in the comment section below.

The NBA Has Multiple Personalities

January 23, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Monday had it all.

The good. The bad. And the ugly.

An NBA season is often filled with more storylines than your Grandma’s soap opera. And this year, is no different. Monday exposed the many faces of the NBA.

The Good

Demarcus Cousins accomplished something that hasn’t been done since 1972. Just 46 years ago, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posted a game with at least 40 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. “Boogie” followed in “Cap’s” footsteps Monday night, posting 44 points, 24 rebounds, 10 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block.

What was the most impressive part?? Cousins’ historic performance fueled an epic comeback late in the 4th quarter — duh! With just 5:06 remaining in the game, the New Orleans Pelicans trailed the Chicago Bulls by 17 points. Cousins scored 9 of the Pelicans’ final 23 points, forcing overtime (114-114). Oh yeah, Anthony Davis fouled out in the 1st overtime, so Cousins singlehandedly won this game. Cousins went on to score 7 of their 10 points in double overtime, sealing a 132-128 victory over the Bulls.

The Bad

75. 75 points. It’s hard to score 75 points in an NBA game. But the Washington Wizards figured out a way. The Wizards (26-21), currently the 5-seed in the Eastern Conference, fell to the lowly Dallas Mavericks Monday night, 98-75. The Mavericks hold the 2nd worst record in the Western Conference (16-31).

Believe it or not, 75 points is not a season-low for the Wizards. They scored just 69 points against the Utah Jazz last month. As for Monday, the Wizards had just 2 players in double figures (Beal 18, Wall 11). You may want to shield your eyes before I rattle off their horrid shooting stats:

They shot 30.6% from the field, 21.9% from 3-point range, and 59.3% from the free throw line. Yikes!!

The Ugly

Do you know what you shouldn’t do?? You shouldn’t fire the head coach your superstar player really likes. At the very least, you should consult your franchise building block before making a major decision. The Milwaukee Bucks circumvented that conversation with Giannis Antetokounmpo and fired head coach, Jason Kidd, Monday. I’m not saying Kidd didn’t deserve to be fired. I’m not saying Kidd was doing a great job. But, I know Antetokounmpo liked Jason Kidd — a lot.

Upon hearing the Bucks were going to fire his head coach, Antetokounmpo called Kidd. Antetokounmpo simply asked, “What can I do? I’ll call the owners. I’ll call my agent.”

That doesn’t sound like a player who’s on board with his organization’s decision.

I’m not one to pander to a superstar’s every whim, but keep my 23-year old, superstar, top-10 player happy would top my to-do-list. I’m just sayin’.

Is Demarcus Cousins’ performance the best of the year?? Why was Jason Kidd fired?? Post your thoughts in the comment section below.

All Roads Lead To The Super Bowl

January 22, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Many different paths often lead to the same place. For some, that place is familiar. For others, it’s folklore. That place is the Super Bowl. To understand how the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles’ paths led to Super Bowl LII, we must look to Championship Sunday: 1 part same old story, 1 part shock and awe….

What Else Is New?!

No Gronk, no problem.

The New England Patriots deserve praise. Hell, they deserve their own holiday on the calendar. What the Patriots continue to do, against the toughest of odds, is incredible. The Jets fan inside dies a little bit every time I compliment the Patriots.

Tom Brady received stitches on his throwing hand just days prior to the AFC Championship. It didn’t matter. The Patriots were down 14-3 in the 1st half. It didn’t matter. The Patriots lost Rob Gronkowski (concussion) for the game just before halftime. It didn’t matter. The Patriots were down 10 points, with 9 minutes to play. It didn’t matter. No matter the adversity, they persevere.

In any significant Patriots’ victory, there’s always a play that stands out. A play you can point to, and say, there it is, NOW they’re going to win. Most teams wouldn’t understand. 3rd & 18, down 10, with 10:49 to play, Brady connected with Danny Amendola for a 1st down (21 yards). It sounds simple, but it embodies the Patriots’ spirit. This is why scoring a game-winning touchdown, with 2:10 to play, is not as dramatic as it sounds. A Patriots’ victory was never in doubt.

The Jaguars, however, deserve credit (sort of). They played a near perfect 1st half, carrying a 14-10 lead into the locker room. The offensive play calling was perfect, easy throws for Blake Bortles and plenty of rushing attempts. Bortles impressed, completing 17 of 23 passes (73.9%) in the 1st half. But then, Bortles turned back into a pumpkin, going 6 for 13 (46.1%) in the 2nd half. And that, as they say, was all she wrote.

With their 24-20 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New England Patriots will play in their 8th Super Bowl in the last 17 years (10th appearance in their history). They’ll look to win back-to-back Super Bowls for the 1st time since 2004, when they defeated the Eagles (24-21). For New England, the cast of characters are practically the same. As for Philadelphia, it’s a lifetime ago.

I Did Not See That Coming!!

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the NFC Championship as underdogs. They left as champions. Despite being underdogs in consecutive games, the Eagles have overcome. Doubt. Injury. Public perception. They overcame it all and find themselves in their 3rd Super Bowl in franchise history.

If you tried to adjust your television set during yesterday’s game, you weren’t the only one. I thought there was a Tom Brady sighting in both games too. Yes, Nick Foles played that good of a game. Foles, who finished with 352 yards passing and 3 touchdowns, tore up a stringent, Vikings defense. This was a Vikings defense who ranked top-5 in nearly every statistical category during the regular season.

After a dramatic win over the Saints in the Divisional Round, it appeared the Vikings were simply happy to be here.

The Vikings marched down the field on the opening drive for a touchdown. Then continued to force a punt on the Eagles’ 1st possession. The city of Philadelphia was probably collectively hurling things at their TVs. But after an interception returned for a touchdown, it was all Eagles. With 14:10 left to play, the Eagles took a 38-7 lead, and I, turned off my TV.

Did you doubt the Patriots yesterday?? Did Nick Foles play the best game of his career?? Tell me the truth in the comment section below.

Jets’ Wide Receiver Arrested For 2nd Time — In 8 Months

January 19, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

Robby Anderson, New York Jets wide receiver, is having a rough year. This morning in South Florida, Anderson was arrested for the 2nd time in 8 months. This time he’s facing 9 charges, including fleeing police, resisting an officer (with the siren on), harming a public servant, and 6 other traffic related charges. Allegedly Anderson was driving 105 mph in a 45 mph zone. Anderson’s previous arrest occurred in May of 2017 when he resisted arrest at a Music Festival. His trial for the 1st arrest is scheduled to begin on March 19th.

Despite Anderson’s on-field improvement, catching 63 balls for 941 yards and 7 touchdowns, it seems he has a lot of maturing to do. As an undrafted, 2nd year receiver, Anderson has overachieved in his short time in the NFL. If Anderson can’t control his off-field behavior, his short time in the NFL may be permanent.

A New York Jets’ spokesman had little to say on the matter, “We are aware of the situation, but this is a pending legal matter and we will have no further comment.”

Check back for updates on this story.

Welcome To Tom Brady’s Playground (Aka Championship Sunday)

January 19, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

tom brady 2

And then there were 4.

Wellllll, there’s really only 1, but technically 4 teams can still win the Super Bowl. With just 2 days left until Championship Sunday, final preparations are being made by 3 guys still trying to figure out how they arrived at this moment — and Tom Brady. Blake Bortles, Nick Foles, and Case Keenum are living proof you can ride someone else’s coattails to the promised land.

(3) Jacksonville Jaguars @ (1) New England Patriots – 3:05 P.M. EST (CBS)

All those who were excited to watch the Steelers take on the Patriots, we have an excellent consolation prize for you….

Blake Bortles.

No, you can’t return your prize!

Blake Bortles is getting ready to play in the biggest game of his life. Hopefully he bought his coaching staff, defense, and running game something nice, for without them Bortles wouldn’t be in the NFL anymore, let alone in the AFC Championship. The question this Sunday is:

Can this Jaguars defense follow the “beat Tom Brady blueprint”??

Listen, the Patriots are not losing, at home, to the Jaguars. But, if, and that’s a big IF, they lose, it’ll be under very specific conditions.

Here are the conditions (all of the below must happen):

1.) The Jaguars must sack Tom Brady at least 5 times

2.) The Jaguars must intercept Tom Brady at least once

3.) The Jaguars’ defense must score at least 7 points

4.) Blake Bortles must throw 0 interceptions

If the world finds itself in an alternate universe on Sunday, and ALL of these things occur, Blake Bortles will play in a Super Bowl.

Until then, I’ll confidently pick Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the Patriots to play in their 8th Super Bowl in the past 17 years. And for all my gullible fans, Tom Brady IS NOT HURT!! His hand is fine. This is a typical, very simple, Belichick mind game. We’ve been watching this same channel for nearly 2 decades now.

Prediction: Patriots 30, Jaguars 20

(2) Minnesota Vikings @ (1) Philadelphia Eagles – 6:40 P.M. EST (FOX)

The Minnesota Vikings are still riding high after the most dramatic playoff victory in NFL history. The question is:

Will that help or hurt them come Sunday??

The Vikings are looking to become the 1st team in NFL history to host a Super Bowl. But first, they must escape from a hostile Philadelphia environment with a victory. This is a very even matchup. Both teams play very solid defense. Both teams have an above average rushing attack. And both teams are well coached.

While both quarterbacks aren’t being confused with MVP candidates anytime soon, it’s safe to say the Vikings have an advantage under center. The Vikings also have the edge on defense, as this is as good a defense as the NFL has seen since the Seattle Seahawks “Legion of Boom”. The Eagles’ home field advantage offsets all of the above, making this game a “pick ’em” in my mind. Sit back, relax, and enjoy another tight one.

Prediction: Vikings 20, Eagles 19

Final Thought: Why the hell do these games have to start so late?!?! What, because it’s Championship Weekend, the games need to be played at “special” times?!?! I don’t understand. It’s Sunday. I’ve been watching football games at 1:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. EST all year. Why must I stay awake until 11:00 P.M. to watch this game?!?!

On that note, enjoy the games!!

Who do you think will play in the Super Bowl?? Post your prediction in the comment section below.

“It’s So Damn Hot. Milk Was A Bad Choice!!”

January 18, 2018 ~ Dave Ettinger ~ 1 Comment

australian open heat

It’s Summer!!

Okay, maybe not here in New York, where we’re currently experiencing a blistering 19°. But it’s like that expression, “It’s five o’ clock somewhere.” It’s currently Summer in Earth’s southern hemisphere.

This isn’t your ordinary Summer, as Australia is taking the brunt of an extreme heatwave. This has made playing conditions at the Australian Open difficult. There’s the understatement of the century. Temperatures on Wednesday in Melbourne reached 104°. Walking, talking, and breathing is difficult in temperatures over 100°. Imagine having to play a 3-hour tennis match….

Novak Djokovic Vs. Gael Monfils

Gael Monfils, pictured above, had the daunting task of facing Novak Djokovic in the 2nd round. After taking the 1st set, 6-4, off Djokovic, Monfils wilted in the sun. He dropped the next 3 sets, 3-6, 1-6, 3-6. Monfils, who was visibly effected by the heat had this to say after the match, “It was tough to breathe. Yeah, I think it was the hardest match I’ve played. I got super dizzy. I think I had a heat stroke on the court for about 40 minutes.”

Stan Wawrinka Vs. Tennys Sandgren

Tennys just capped off the biggest win of his career. Yes, his real name is Tennys. Moments ago, he took down 9th ranked, Stan Wawrinka, in straight sets (6-2, 6-1, 6-4). Tennys, from Tennessee (you can’t make this stuff up), is ranked 97th in the world. Wawrinka, playing in his 1st tournament since his knee surgery in August, didn’t stand a chance against Tennys. The match lasted just 1 hour and 29 minutes.

Upsets Running Wild

The 2nd round hasn’t been kind to the Women’s Draw. Wednesday saw 5 of the top-25 women get upset. Wednesday’s most notable ousting was 3rd ranked, Garbine Muguruza, falling to Su-Wei Hsieh (7-6, 6-4), the 88th ranked player in the world. With Venus Williams losing early on, and Serena Williams not playing due to health concerns, the Women’s Draw is as open as I can remember. Or, maybe Simona Halep, the #1 ranked woman in the world, will have her way with the Australian Open.

Roger Federer

Roger Federer is currently in action. His match, against 53rd ranked, Jan-Lennard Struff, has moved to the 3rd set. Federer took the first 2 sets, 6-4, and currently trails 4-5 in the 3rd set. Federer, at 36, continues to defy logic, father time, and medicine. The question is, does he have enough left in the tank to win another Grand Slam?? I don’t know. But I will never doubt Roger Federer.

15-Year Old Phenom

There is a 15-year old taking the Australian Open by storm. Marta Kostyuk, of the Ukraine is ranked 521st in the world. In her 1st Grand Slam appearance, she has advanced to the 3rd round, becoming the youngest player to reach the 3rd round of the Australian Open since Martina Hingis in 1996. She’ll take on 4th ranked, Elina Svitolina, on Friday at 12:00 A.M. EST.

Oh yeah, it’s going to get even hotter on Friday, with temperatures expected to top out at 108°. Stay tuned to see if play is halted by officials due to unsafe court conditions.

Would you play tennis in 108° weather?? Post your feelings in the comment section below.

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