Tag: sports news

Saturday Hockey News with Miguel

By Miguel Mike Medina

Vegas Golden Knights won Game 4 at home, 4-3. The Oilers had a solid first period. Conor McDavid put the Oilers on the board to start the game. He had two goals in this game. Vegas Golden Knights answer back to tie the game. Zach Hyman scored a power-play goal to put the Oilers back on top in the first 2-1. But then I’m the second period, and it got things murky for the Oilers. The Golden Knights scored three goals. They scored three goals in 1:29 was the fastest in the playoffs for the Golden Knights history. 

Jack Eichel was the key player in the game. He had three points (2 goals, one assist). Adin Hill made 32 saves for the Golden Knights. They lead the series 3-2. The Oilers are one loss away from elimination. 

Can the Oilers push this series to a Game 7? It’s possible, especially since Game 6 will be in Edmonton. This series is destined to go to a Game 7. We have two outstanding teams that are playing physical hockey and have depth on their roster. 

Toronto Maple Leafs ended their season in a heartbreak fashion. We hope their season did not have to end on their home floor, but it did. When William Nylander tied the game in the third period, it seemed as if momentum shifted towards Toronto. We thought they might have a chance to extend the series to Game 6. Nick Cousins ended those plans for Toronto. He scored the overtime goal for the Florida Panthers to send them to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1996. The Panthers won 3-2, and their opponent will be the Carolina Hurricanes. Is this the end for the Toronto Maple Leafs Core Four? 

Phil Jackson Speaking the Uncomfortable Truth

Former NBA head coach Phil Jackson is making headlines. The “Zen Master” believes politics should be kept out of sports. He also states that he stopped watching basketball since the 2020 bubble in Orlando, Florida, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackson is not feeling the politics and slogans that players are wearing, such as “Black Lives Matter,” “Equality,” and the list goes on.

Jackson won two championships as a player with the New York Knicks. He won 11 rings as a head coach with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers. He also served as the president of the New York Knicks in 2014 but mutually parted ways with the team in 2017. 

Jackson is getting a lot of heat from social media and former players for his comments. I’ll never forget when Scottie Pippen called Phil Jackson a “racist” because he drew the play for Toni Kukoc instead of him during a playoff game against the Knicks in the 1994 NBA Playoffs. Pippen left the bench due to Phil’s decision. 

I agree with Phil Jackson that politics should not get involved in Sports. It’s doing more harm than good. It’s going way too extreme. Commissioner Adam Silver looks pretty soft, and I don’t see him as aggressive as the late David Stern was. People want to watch sports to be entertained and to get away and forget about problems. It’s one of the reasons why sports fans like myself fell in love with Sports. 

Unfortunately, we are getting to the point where Sports are becoming unwatchable to a certain degree. Sports owners and people in the front office, like the NBA, need to be firm and need to have more guts to stop the foolishness. Yes, there are real-life problems. Yes, we shouldn’t ignore them, but athletes are not politicians. Again, ATHLETES ARE NOT POLITICIANS!!! 

If athletes want to make a difference, leave the league and run for office. 

Dan Reeves Dead at 77

Dan Reeves, who appeared in nine Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, died at his home in Atlanta on Saturday. He was 77.

Reeves began his 38-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys when they signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1965. He thrived once team injuries gave him a chance to play as a running back, and over his eight-year career, he totaled 1,990 rushing yards, 1,693 receiving yards, and 42 touchdowns.

Reeves is one of only ten coaches to have won at least 190 regular-season games in his career, and he guided two teams — the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons — to the Super Bowl and was the head coach of the New York Giants for four seasons.

Reeves is one of only nine coaches in NFL history with 200 total wins.

Travis Hunter Commits to Jackson State

Travis Hunter announces that he has committed to play for Jackson State.

Jackson State head coach Deion Sanders, has pulled off arguably the biggest recruiting surprise. Sanders is an alumni and former star of Florida State.

Hunter had Florida State, Georgia and Auburn hats in front of him but chose Jackson State. Sanders and Hunter together can make something special with this program.

Adrian Peterson is back in the NFL

36-year-old Adrian Peterson is back in the NFL, this time with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks (3-8) are last in the NFC West. Adding Peterson could potentially boost their chances of earning statement wins in their final six games.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll wanted Peterson at USC, but it all came to full circle because Carroll finally got Peterson to play for him. Better late than never.

Blue Jays Sign Jose Berrios To Seven-Year Extension

The Blue Jays have signed an extension with star right-hander Jose Berrios, covering the 2022-2028 seasons, pending a physical. He will be guaranteed $131 mil over the length of the deal. Berrios will opt-out after the fifth year of the deal and has limited no-trade protection.

At July’s trade deadline, the 27-year-old was acquired from the Twins, set to reach free agency after the 2022 season. Instead, the Blue Jays will keep him around for an extended stay, hoping that he anchors their rotation well into the future. This extension runs through 2028, which will be his age-34 season.

Before that trade, Berrios had spent his entire career in the Twins organization since they selected him in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft.

Berrios could be a solid No. 2 starter for the Blue Jays. We don’t know what will happen with Robbie Ray; therefore, the Jays needed to wine and dine Berrios. Jays have the offense, but they need pitching to win titles. Blue Jays need to start focusing more on the pitching aspect this offseason.

Red Wings Shut Down Oilers

The Detroit Red Wings took on the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night. The Red Wings performance in the first half had many of us surprised.

Red Wings jumped early in the game and had a 3-0 lead over an outstanding team like Edmonton. Red Wings left wing Vladislav Namestnikov scored the first two goals of the game. Red Wings defenseman Maritz Seider scored a goal on an empty net to give the Red Wings a 4-2 lead, which turned out to be the final score. Seider should be a contender to win the Calder trophy and could be a future Norris Trophy winner.

Edmonton had a chance to win the game if they didn’t play so lousy in the first half.

Red Wings are looking pretty impressive so far this season. They have a 3-game winning streak, improving to 7-5.

Rangers’ Rollercoaster in Canada

New York Rangers have been having a rollercoaster during their road trip in Canada. The Rangers were embarrassed by the Calgary Flames, losing 6-0. Rangers have also lost twice in overtime, to Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers.

The Rangers’ schedule is about to get lighter in the coming weeks, with three of their four games played at home. Regardless, the Rangers can’t make any excuses. They need to beat those teams from Canada. The Rangers have a 6-3 record in the season. Rangers will take on the red hot, undefeated Florida Panthers in the garden tonight at 7pm.

Sports Throwback Thursday: 1991 NLCS Braves vs. Pirates

Welcome to Sports Throwback Thursday! Today’s edition belongs to the 1991 National League Championship Series Game 7 between the Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates. Pirates twenty-game winner John Smiley went against Braves’ John Smoltz.

The 1991 Pittsburgh Pirates were the most talented team compared to 1990 and 1992. I believe Jim Leyland said this in an interview. Pirates had talented players like the Killer Bees (Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla) and centerfielder Andy Van Slyke.

Unfortunately for the Pirates, there would be no celebration in Pittsburgh that night. John Smoltz shut out the Pirates offense and got some run support from Brian Hunter.

After Atlanta had gone 26+2⁄3 innings without scoring, the Pirates themselves went the final 22+1⁄3 innings without scoring. That streak would reach 30 innings before José Lind snapped it with a home run in the eighth inning of Game 1 in the 1992 NLCS.

Avery won the Series MVP award. The Braves starter did not allow a run, giving up nine hits and walking four while striking out 17.

The Atlanta Braves were in last place the year before. Braves made their first World Series appearance since 1958 and first since moving to Atlanta in 1966. Braves would go on to lose to the Minnesota Twins in the World Series in 7 games.

Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves would face each other in an NLCS rematch the following year. Pirates were three outs away from advancing to the World Series but lost in a heartbreaking Game 7 as the Braves rallied to score three runs in the bottom of the 9th inning.

Pirates wouldn’t make the playoffs again until 2013.