Denver gets it done in Mile-High with the Gentleman's Sweep-
Big shout out to the Denver Nuggets Franchise bringing another shiny trophy 5,280 feet up- up- up above all the NBA Competition! The pressure’s on the Rockies now to see if they can figure out the best advantage of incoming baseball teams to their hit-friendly field (the last professional league in Denver without a world championship). The question now looming will be if the NBA mile-high team can retain their big-inside offense along with hovering defense for upcoming seasons. The landscape in the NBA is swiftly turning heads between trades, the draft, and free-agency. Two big moves come to mind. San Antonio will quickly come up as a threat in the upcoming 2023-2024 playoff conversations after drafting 19 year-old French 7’4” athletic phenom Victor Wembanyama. He’s definitely the most coordinated and dynamic tall-man shooter the NBA has seen, ever! With the support of past big men Tim Duncan and David Robinson, Popovich and the Spurs are ready for a resurgence of significance of being a contending team disrupting the power rankings in the Western Conference.
Another move giving everyone pause out of the West is the Golden State Warriors. Right before the NBA draft earlier this month, Draymond Green expressed to the Warriors front office that he would be flexing free agency options meeting with other teams with his agent, Rich Paul. Immediately following his announcement, Golden State Warriors new GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. pulled quite the first move (and message to Green) early in his tenure trading Monte Poole to the Washington Wizzards, and acquiring veteran guard CP3, aka Chris Paul and later round draft picks. This move clears room for the Warriors to offer (or a counter offer) Draymond Green a top tier contract. Draymond did comment following the bold trade expressing his continued interest in speaking with other NBA teams; most likely a move to increase his contract amount that will come from the Warriors. I do not expect the split of Golden State’s core three players, knowing they continue to strive for another championship. What’s more contradictory, is the Warriors Ground welcoming CP3 into the fold with open arms after hazing him for so long on the court with opposing teams. Chris Paul will be one of the oldest players taking the floor for the Warriors at 38, as well as a reputation of being injury prone. With free agency opening up on June 30th, there were a few whirlwind moves, along with rumors ‘Heating Up’ regarding the potential of Damian Lillard being traded to the Miami Heat in a potential multi-team deal, moving Tyler Herro off Miami’s roster to acquire ‘Dime’ Lillard. Draymond scored a 4 year-$100 million deal (with three years guaranteed); DiVencenzo signed with the New York Knicks; Derrick Rose lands in Memphis (as being the mentor for the youngest player roster looking for common sense guidance); Sebonis signs mega-deal staying with the Kings. The upcoming NBA season will be an adjustment and potential wild card of what squad comes out on top!
Will Las Vegas Raise another trophy for sin city?
Following the Las Vegas Aces winning the 2022 WNBA Championship, NHL’s Las Vegas Knights got the line transitions right to raise the most storied and heaviest piece of hardware among major leagues and tournaments, Lord Stanley's Cup after only six years as a franchise. A sport born on the frozen lakes of Canada has come a long way with teams competing in a desert and beach front to drink bubbly champagne, errr sudsy lagers from Lord Stanley’s silver bowl! This begs the question on other professional franchises that have relocated, and will be relocating to the high stakes glitzy city just a four hour ride from another shiny metropolis of Hollywood. The Las Vegas Raiders haven’t sniffed a Super Bowl in nearly twenty years (the infamous tuck fumble fiasco in a New England blizzard). Will having Brady as a part-owner, and the sparkle of Jimmy G help them navigate closer to a successful playoff run? There’s another Oaktown product headed to Las Vegas, the Athletics and the outlying question is if the owner will actually place a competitive product on the diamond? Right now, their team salary, at 33 million dollars is the lowest of all 30 Major League Baseball teams. Actually there are 11 major league players making more salary annually than the whole Athletics roster. There have been pushes from Oakland fans with reverse boycotts (that means packing the stadium, versus staying away) and a clear message requesting the league to force the Athletics owner to SELL the team. Unfortunately, with all the efforts, the Las Vegas legislation has approved public funding for a 30,000 capacity Stadium where the flamingo used to stand all but clinching the Athletics move to Las Vegas. Will the stingy owner build a winning team in Vegas to bring another World Series Championship to the beleaguered franchise that has suffered tough times since 1989?! I’m highly piqued and entertained at the Nevada desert destination investors capitalizing on America’s professional leagues to draw in betting and fans.
Race for the National League West heating up!
If you asked me in May, even the beginning of June if the San Francisco Giants had a sliver of a chance to contend for the NL West title, I would have spit out my margarita and peed my pants laughing. Well, it appears the joke may be on me with a plate of crow on order! Farhan’s finds (with a little sprinkle of pixie sparkles) have been called up and are performing extraordinarily beyond any Giants fans expectations. Between Casey Schmitt, Patrick Bailey, Luis Matos, Camilo Doval, Thairo Estrada, along with the numerous acquisitions and signings for the field and bullpen are beginning to produce and build a motivational can-do, next-man-up chemistry in the clubhouse resulting into impressive offense and defense production on the field, no matter how many times we want to scoff or doubt the positive and inclusive dynamics of the GM and nature of the manager, Gabe Kapler. The millenial formula that has been receiving criticism left and right for the last three years may possibly coming to fruiting in 2023. Following a back-to-back sweep of the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers (the preseason contenders for the NL West), San Francisco finds themselves within two games of the leading Arizona Diamondbacks coming up on the midseason All-Star break. Will Farhan and Gabe break the ol’ adage even-year hopes and make a World Series run for fans and players seeking affirmation of their talent and finding a home to show off what the world didn’t realize what was possible! The team deemed in 2010 as, ‘Lightning in a Bottle’ just may have sparked a resurgence on the MLB scene.
The Return of Formula One to the United States
For the first time in history Formuly One has returned to the United States in enthusiastic momentum where for the first time in Formula One history, there are three stops on the Grand Prix tour happening inside the United States, with two being incredible road coarses created by the cities of Miami and Las Vegas! I am absolutely ecstatic that US fans will be able to experience what I’ve always felt as the premiere auto sport in the world. I’m hoping it can spark interest of young aspiring speed cart demons to dream bigger than IRL or NASCAR, and seek skill, fame and fortune in a racing circuit that can give them not only world fame, to include diversity, challenges, engineering and physics! Right now on the Formula One circuit has been the lowest representation in decades of american drivers and only one mediocre team, HAAS 1. I, and hopefully other corporations, hoping the extended exposure of the Formula One schedule in America will spark interest on both sides of drivers and teams to join the elite luxurious world circuit.
Summer and Women’s World Cup, Gold Cup…
Okay, Okay… So it’s ‘off season’ for ‘American Football’... That doesn’t mean there isn’t futbol happening this Summer around the world! There’s two significant world tournaments happening and about to happen for your viewing pleasure! And if I were you, I would tune in! The women’s FIFA World Cup is about to kick off in July, and the North, Central and South America tournament for the Gold Cup is happening as I’m typing! The rivals, the hopefuls and everyone in between vying to advance out of the group stage in hopes for that Gold Cup title! After a shaky early start of Mexico versus Haiti with a nil-nil tie at half, Mexico came back in the second half to dominate with a 4-1 victory. The US continues to attempt to prove their worth with lackluster wins of 2-0 versus Canada, a 1-1 ties versus Jamaica, and a thrilling dominant performance versus Trinidad and Tobago, 6-0. We all see the writing on the wall. The hopes is to see a final between Mexico and USA for the Gold Cup! Hopefully both teams can come through for fan around the world hoping for this result!
Alternative Sports to Watch through the Summer awaiting your next fantasy football draft party-
We all know majority of the sports landscape crawling across the good ol’ stars and stripes of ‘Merica’ has been addicted to their national phenom tough guy feat of football. Fans of the national league that’s stolen Sundays away from God has a lag time between mid-February and August to figure out where to spend their leisure time (where they’d usually be in the grind of the hikes between teams…) on the sports landscape. Well, Here-Yee! Here-Yee! I am here to promote the multi-tiered spectacle of sports opportunities around the world. We have rolled into July, where there are two premier championships beginning their run towards wearing the final yellow jersey riding into Paris under the Arc De Triomphe riding along such sites as the Champ Elysees, and playing a championship match on the infamous manicured grass courts following a breakfast of strawberries and cream. Le Tour de France, the most grueling 21-day road race meandering through the highest peaks of the Alps begins at the end of June/beginning of July and truly shows the definition of grit, endurance, and team strategy. As the sun finally blesses the Isles of the UK, the storied turf tournament, almost as old as current time, begins on July 3rd, Wimbledon. Venus Williams will be strapping on her tennies for a 23rd tournament to face one of the top seeds, Elina Svitolina. The US Tennis field is finally showing some life and promise on the men’s and women’s sides with the likes of Coco Gaugh, Frances Tiago and Taylor Fritz seeking to make a deep run, dreaming of perfection to reach the final match on Wembledon’s Centre Court. Other sports broadcasts coming you way is WNBA heating up at mid-season with the defending Vegas Aces on a tear with only one loss as of July 1st; Nascar, IRL and Formula One are going strong weekend in and weekend out. The Open Championship (the fourth major in PGA) taking place in Liverpool; the match games between Steph Curry, Klay Thompson against Travis Kelce and Patrick Maholmes; the little league World Series will be coming your way soon! Of course, there’s America’s original past time, baseball happening on a nightly basis, be it major league or the minors around a hometown nearby. Flex your sports game and watch something new!
Coming Soon (before NFL preseason)!!! Breakdown of all NFL franchises leading up to fantasy drafts, and the 2023-2024 NFL Season! Who will rise to top? Who will be the surprise team of the season? Who’s going to flop worse than a catfish thrown on a dock from the mud?!!! We are all waiting with baited breath (Okay, maybe some of us… Not I my friend… Not I…)!
