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NBA Sports Desk: Christmas Round-Up

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston forward Jayson Tatum posted his fifth straight 30-point game, leading the Boston Celtics with 41 en route to a 139-118 Christmas Day win over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown (29 points) combined for 70 points in a game for the eighth time in their careers. Tatum added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals as Boston won back-to-back games.

Derrick White, Grant Williams and Al Horford also scored in double figures, helping Boston shoot 19 of 39 from 3-point range. Marcus Smart handed out eight assists.

Giannis Antetokounmpo had a team-high 27 points, while Jrue Holiday finished with 23, Brook Lopez scored 16 and Massachusetts native Pat Connaughton added 15 on four 3-pointers in Milwaukee’s third straight loss.

Nuggets 128, Suns 125 (OT)

Nikola Jokic had 41 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists, Aaron Gordon added 28 points and 13 rebounds and host Denver beat Phoenix in overtime.

Jamal Murray scored 26 points for the Nuggets, who have won four straight. Denver trailed by eight midway through the final period before rallying.

Landry Shamet tied his career high with 31 points for Phoenix, which lost its third game in a row. Deandre Ayton had 22 points and 16 rebounds and Chris Paul amassed 17 points and 16 assists, but Devin Booker exited due to a groin injury in the first quarter.

76ers 119, Knicks 112

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid had 35 points and eight rebounds, James Harden added 29 points and 13 assists and Philadelphia defeated host New York at Madison Square Garden..

Georges Niang contributed 16 points and De’Anthony Melton had 15 for the Sixers, who won their eighth in a row without injured guard Tyrese Maxey.

Julius Randle led the Knicks with 35 points and eight rebounds while Jalen Brunson added 23 points and 11 assists. Brunson went to the locker room with 3:59 left in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury and sat out the remainder of the game on the bench.

Mavericks 124, Lakers 115

Luka Doncic scored 32 points, grabbed nine rebounds and dished out nine assists, and Dallas outscored visiting Los Angeles by 30 points in the third quarter to take control in a Christmas Day win.

The Lakers held a 54-43 lead at halftime behind LeBron James’ strong start, but they gave up a season-high 51 points to the Mavericks in a pivotal third quarter. James went on to finish with 38 points, six rebounds and five assists.

Christian Wood had 30 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals, and Tim Hardaway Jr. shot 6 of 14 from beyond the arc en route to 26 points for the Mavericks.

Warriors 123, Grizzlies 109

Jordan Poole bombed in a team-high 32 points before getting ejected and the short-handed Golden State Warriors outgunned the foul-plagued Memphis Grizzlies 123-109 on Sunday in San Francisco in a highly anticipated rematch of the Western Conference semifinals.

Playing without Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins, the Warriors still managed to outscore the Grizzlies 54-27 from 3-point range en route to their 13th home win in 15 attempts this season.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | October 23

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They’re playing basketball (to the beat y’all)

We love that basketball (yeah)

They’re playing basketball (uh huh, uh huh)

We love that basketball

– Kurtis Blow

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The basketball season was 1968-69 and the New Jersey Americans relocated to Long Island to become the New York Nets of the American Basketball Association, a rival league to the heralded National Basketball Association.

The year ahead was going to be great for New York sports fans. The New York Jets, behind the guarantee provided by quarterback “Broadway” Joe Namath upset the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. It was the victory that put the then-rival American Football Conference (AFC) on par with the National Football Conference (NFC) and it made the National Football League (NFL) the most popular sports property in the United States.

As that Summer of ‘69 turned to Fall, the Miracle Mets, behind the pitching of Jerry Koosman (two World Series wins, including the series clincher) backed by Hall of Famer Tom “Terrific” Seaver and Gary Gentry, defeated the heavily favored Baltimore Orioles in five games to take the first Series victory in franchise history. Donn Clendenon, Cleon Jones and improbable offensive might of everyone from 2B Al Weisto reserve catcher J.C. Martin provided key hits while incredible defensive plays by center fielder Tommie Agee and right fielder Ron Swoboda made the Mets – Amazin’ and sent NYC and the Borough of Queens and most Long Islanders into a frenzy.

A flip of the calendar brought yet another championship to New York when the New York Knicks of the NBA defeated the LA Lakers and Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylorand Jerry West in a memorable seven-game series. While Willis Reed and his gutsy Game 7 return to action after seriously injuring his knee in Game 5, grabbed the headlines and Walt Frazier’s 36-point, 19-assist, 7-rebound performance went somewhat unnoticed because of Reed’s return.

Those championships were almost too much for a 10-year old to handle. But this (then) 10-year old harkens back to December 19, 1968 as the day the championship was solidified. It was the day Knicks GM Eddie Donovan had the guts to trade All-Star center Walt “Bells” Bellamy, and guard Howard “Butch” Komives, to the Detroit Pistons for eight time NBA All-Star power forward Dave DeBusschere.

Hit “The Open Man” became the Knicks’ mantra and, in fact, was the title of DeBusschere’s book chronicling the season day-by-day. It’s simple philosophy, honed by Knicks Coach Red Hozman was the perfect offense to deploy for the ‘69-’73 Knicks.

With Knicks tickets tough to come by in suburban Long Island me and my basketball-loving’ family would get our hardwood fix with regular attendance at (nearly) all St. John’s University home games. We attended dozens of Island Trees H.S. basketball games where both of my oder brothers played and then 100% of the Holy Trinity H.S.games from 1973 to 1977 and beyond as coach Bob McKillop and Matt Doherty hung banner after banner at HT.

All the while, the ABA Nets were our mainstay. After head coach York Larese flamed-out, the Nets recruited Little Louie Carnesseca away from his post at St. Johns, along with trusty assistant John Kresse (who gave me my college tour at St. John’s). The great Rick Barry was on the Nets, along with former Johnnies Joe DuPre and Sonny Dove. Bill Melchioni held down the point, while Laverne Tart was the shooting guard. The bigmen included Jim Ard, Manny Leaks, and another young Johnnie who made playoff appearances as much as the Kardashians appear in the Super Market tabloids.

Suffice to say, a good game of hoops was available every night of the week and we took advantage of that fact growing up. And it changed for the better when the Nets acquired Julius “Dr, J.” Erving who was at the height of his career.

At one point in 1977, an interview with Nets head coach Kevin Loughery and an intro to his then-assistant, Rod Thorn, began a life-long friendship as they led the Nets to titles in 1974 and 1976 over formidable ABA clubs from Kentucky (Artis Gilmore and Dan Issel), Denver’s (David Thompson), and Indiana Pacers’ big (Mel Daniels), just to name a few. Thorn would eventually join the NBA league office as the head of Basketball Operations and the so-called Dean of Discipline.

All-in-all, a pretty good apprenticeship in the sports of basketball and one that turned into a career come December 1980 when this columnist began a 26+ year career at the NBA league office, working under Commissioners Larry O’Brien and David Stern.

In the early ‘80s, the NBA league office was like Camelot. It was just a matter of time – and some hard work – to build the global platform and stage the game for the way its played today by the World’s Greatest Athletes.

THE NBA TODAY: It’s quite early for any meaningful  predictions for the on-going 2022-23 NBA season, but that won’t stop us from doing the very first Power Rankings” of the NBA season. Truth be told, the real power ratings are Post NBA All-Star Break.

Here’s a look at the Top 8 from each conference:

EAST:

  1. Milwaukee Bucks
  2. Boston Celtics
  3. Toronto Raptors
  4. Washington Wizards
  5. Brooklyn Nets
  6. Miami Heat
  7. Philadelphia 76ers
  8. Detroit Pistons

WEST:

  1. Golden State Warriors
  2. New Orleans Pelicans
  3. Memphis Grizzlies
  4. Houston Rockets
  5. Denver Nuggets
  6. LA Clippers
  7. Phoenix Suns
  8. Dallas Mavericks.

Check back in mid-December for a more educated prediction.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The Cleveland Charge selected Sam Merrill (6-4, 205, Utah State) with the first overall pick of the 2022-23 NBA G League Draft on Saturday afternoon, which was held virtually. The Wisconsin Herd selected Joe Wieskamp with the second overall selection, while the Greensboro Swarm selected Aaron Wheelerwith the third pick.

RATINGS GAME: The NBA on Tuesday saw its best opening night doubleheader viewership since 2017, as TNT averaged 3.3 million viewers for 76ers- Celtics and Lakers- Warriors.

TID-BITS: I can figure out who is pouring more money into the economy – legal inquiries on Camp Lujeane, the folks funding CrytoLef hack campaign or Big Pharma selling every drug manufactured under the sun. … Coach Jim Calhoun will be the special guest Sunday, October 30, at Lavietes Pavilion. when Harvard hosts its annual fantasy day for Friends of Harvard, and local coaches. Basketball Hall of Famer and New England native, Calhoun, won three NCAA Division I men’s basketball championships as the head coach of the University of Connecticut. With over 900 NCAA victories (917-397), Coach Calhoun has extensive experience across all three divisions of NCAA athletics. Coach Calhoun will share his depth of perspective with our community, and we would be thrilled if you can attend! In addition to hearing Coach Calhoun speak, you will also be able to watch a Harvard Basketball practice and receive lunch as part of the day’s events. Harvard head coach Tommy Amaker will be running the show. … Tickets go on sale Monday, October 24, 2022 for the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. This year’s conference is on March 3 – 4th, 2023 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston.

For a full subscription to our Sunday Notebook, “While We’re Young (Ideas)” please see: CLICK HERE

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Sept. 11

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Sunshine daydream

Walking in the tall trees

Going where the wind goes

Blooming like a red rose

Breathing more freely

Ride out singing, I’ll walk you in the morning sunshine

Sunshine daydream

Sunshine daydream

Walking in the sunshine

– Music by Bob Weir, Words by Robert Hunter and Bob Weir

The Foundation of the Basketball Hall of Fame = Family

By TERRY LYONS

UNCASVILLE – Dreams can be both wonderful or frightening. To the contrary – daydreams are delightful, like walking in the sunshine or walking through the woods as sunshine drips through the trees to the point where you can see the beams of light breaking through.

Picture yourself as a child growing up in Bahía Blanca (White Bay), Argentina, a city of 300,000 southwest of Buenos Aires and the futbol crazy country. While the masses are happily playing their favorite game, you’ve taken a road less travelled, following your family ties to the sport of basketball.
Manu Ginobili (Getty Images)

You dream of making the local pro team – Club Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca – maybe hitting the winning shot in the Asociación Bahiense de Básquetbol local league. Your first stop, however, is with Andino Sport Club of La Rioja in the 1995–96 season. Your dream might now travel as far as making the Argentine national team and competing in the Suda-America world qualifiers, or the Olympic Games or the FIBA Worlds.

You’ve heard of the National Basketball Association and have watched a few highlight tapes, maybe the NBA Finals but your dreams are realistic. You don’t go so far as to daydream about winning an Olympic Gold Medal or an NBA Championship. You’ve never even heard of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts – the birthplace of the game.

The game, like the song, takes you where the wind blows.

After two years with your local pro team, in 1998 you make your way to Europe to play for Reggio Calabria in Italy where the magnolia and palms are as wonderful as you’ve ever seen. Instead of the Atlantic Ocean views of Bahía Blanca, you’re playing ball at the tip of the toe of italy, ready to drop-kick the futbol, still prevalent over the basketball, right through the uprights to the Island of Sicily.

You’ve made it big, but the daydreams continue.

It’s off to the EuroLeague and in the year 2000, you sign with Virtus Bologna, a championship contender in Italy’s Lega A and in the EuroLeague.

Now, the dreams are so good you feel as though you can sell them, they’re all coming true, in two-year cycles, as in 2002, after San Antonio Spurs coach Greg Popovich and team GM R.C. Buford have seen you play dozens of times, including a first glimpse in 1998-99 when you played for Reggio Calabria while their Spurs were competing in the McDonald’s Championship in Milan. The Spurs laid claim with a second round NBA draft selection in 1999, the 57th overall pick of the NBA Draft.

It’s off to San Antonio where you’ll meet the son of a guy from Chicago who played some ball at Loyola Chicago and in France became a TV commentator for the NBA on FR-1. As the sport goes global, you realize you’ll join forces with a kid named Tony Parker, Jr., born to a model in Bruges, Belgium and brought up by a basketball-loving Dad to play with a taller kid named Tim Duncan who grew up in the U.S. Virgin Islands and played some college ball at Wake Forest. There will be an Admiral in your dreams. His name is David Robinson who played his ball for Navy, sat-out a couple years and then was joined by Duncan.

Daydreams often include good fortune and you’re about to experience it.

Meanwhile, when you start to count your blessings, you realize that your original group of players from Argentina toiled on the courts for 18 years, all together and good enough to win the gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. You and your buds upset the great American teams at the 2002 Worlds and again in Athens. The top row of the podium awaited as your Spurs teammate stood, annoyed, on the bronze medal level while your Spurs coach, Coach “Pop,” watch from the sidelines assisting Larry Brown in his agony of defeat.

Your name is Manu Ginobili and to a great extent, all your dreams came true. Except, you never-ever dreamt of being inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. Ginobili also became only the second player, joining Bill Bradley, to win an NBA title, a Euroleague Championship and an Olympic gold medal.

Argentina’s win in Athens was the greatest basketball accomplishment ever, but this weekend, Manu Ginobili’s induction to the HoopHall is a solid No. 2 moment and all of Argentina, all of San Antonio, all of Bologna and all of Reggio Calabria will celebrate his success. They were all along for the ride – the dream of dreams – and through Manu’s outgoing personality, his game and his simple smile welcomed all of his many fans around the world onboard. Even Charles Barkley loved SCREAMING his name.

GINOBILI! – a Hall of Famer and rightfully so.

BREAKING NEWS: The USA AmeriCup team lost Saturday in the semifinals to Argentina, 82-73 at the 2022 FIBA AmeriCup tournament at Geraldo Arena in Recife, Brazil. Since 1992, Team USA had won 10 of their previous 12 matchups.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: While Ginobili headlined a large and diverse Class of 2022 for the Basketball Hall, all enshrined Saturday evening, there were others honored on Friday night when the powers-that-be, the trustees of Dr. Naismith’s joint in Springfield, drove down CT-Route 2 to the land of the Mohegan Sun in basketball-crazy Connecticut. … The new Hall of Famers were quizzed by the media and later presented with their Hall jackets while honors were bestowed upon others, such as College Basketball Coach Reggie Minton, former coach at Dartmouth and Air Force and the longtime head of the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches). … Additionally, the Hall honored early African-America pioneers, and Manny Jackson Basketball Human Spirit award winners who, in turn, were paying tribute to the work of Hall of Famer in Coach John McClendon and his foundation.

The evening took a turn to the skies for the final honoree. Surprisingly, the great Charles Barkley, Hall of Fame player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and even better commentator for Turner Sports, asked for the honor to introduce Dick Ebersol, former Chairman of NBC, architect of NBC’s longtime partnership and coverage of the Olympic Games and the man behind the glorious years of the NBA on NBC.

Barkley began his remarks, delivered in a speedy six minutes, with special thanks to all of the black players who played ahead of him and did the “heavy lifting” in terms of fighting racial bias and paving the way for the players of today. He also recognized Sue Bird and Silvia Fowles who are both retiring from the WNBA this season after illustrious careers on the college and pro level. Then, Charles got serious.

“I want to thank every Hall of Famer and every contributor who is in this thing tonight because we are a family,” said Barkley. “We all do something that’s important to the game, whether you play the game, talk about it on radio or TV or newspapers. We’re all part of the same family, so a thank you to everybody who plays a part in it.

“So why am I here now,” asked Barkley, proposing the question to a packed auditorium and to himself. “Dick Ebersol, I love you,” said Charles as he drifted into a slight tangent.

(Hall of Fame Coach) “Rudy Tomjanovich, I always have to say thank-you because my last couple years in Houston, Rudy treated me great. I couldn’t “Play Dead” but Rudy treated me GREAT. And, the reason I knew I couldn’t “Play Dead” was because Dick Ebersol came up to me and said, ‘Hey, what are you going to do after you retire? I think you should go into television.”

“I was like, ‘Damn, I thought I could still play,’ and clearly, I couldn’t.

“He said, ‘I think you should really think about going into television,’ but I said, ‘I don’t really know what I’m going to do when I retire.’ He said, let’s get together and we did, but he said, ‘I think you’re going to be in trouble all the time because you’re honest, but I think you’re going to be good on television.’

“People say they want to hear the truth but they really don’t want that,” noted Ebersol at the time. “They want to hear that they’re team is great and their favorite player is great. That’s all the fans want.”

“I said, ‘I’m gonna come work for you.’ I’m going to NBC.”

But then, there was a change of heart.

Barkley explained in detail, “A friend of mine, Michael Jackson (then an exec with Turner Sports just out of Georgetown) said he needed a favor. ‘I need you to meet with the people at Turner.’

I said, ‘Mike, I’m going to go work with the people at NBC.’

He said, “Just do me a favor. It’ll make me look good that I could get Charles Barkley to come down and interview at Turner.”

“So I go down, and we end up smoking cigars and drinking,” explained Barkley, adding, “I know that’s gonna shock y’all. About 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning, I’m telling them about what my game-plan is, what I want to do on television. I want to talk about social issues and everything.”

“They said, ‘You can do whatever you want.’

“So I called my agent at 2:30 in the morning and said, ‘I got a problem. I think I want to sign with Turner. They were really awesome tonight. NBC just does the games on weekends, I think I want to sign with Turner.”

My agent says, ‘Think about it and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

“I go to bed but woke-up about three hours later and said, ‘You know, I can’t sleep, I’m so nervous.’

He said, “What do you want to do?”

“I want to sign with Turner,” recalled Barkley. “And, my agent said, ‘Do you want me to call Mr. Ebersol?”

I said, “I’ve got to be a man and do it, and this is the reason I’m here tonight and why I love this guy,” Barkley cut to the chase, as Ebersol’s wife, Susan Saint James began to tear-up with emotion at Ebersol’s side while Barkley’s voice quivered.

“Mr Ebersol, can I talk to you? I need to really talk to you, I’ve got something going on.”

“I want to thank-you for talking me into going into television, and I don’t know how to say this, but I think I’m going to go to Turner.

“You know what he said to me? He said, ‘Charles, I think you’re going to be great on television. Those guys at Turner are awesome and if you ever need me, just pick-up the phone.’”

“I was … I had cried, getting ready to make that call,” recalled Barkley. “When he said that to me, it just lifted such a weight off my shoulders. So, I want to thank you for making me feel better because I was so devastated. You are the reason I’m in television and television has been great.

“I love working with Turner. I love Ernie (Johnson), Kenny (Smith) and Shaq (O’Neal), but it’s all because of you.”

NBA ON NBC/DICK EBERSOL DRILLED THE GAME-WINNER: “Nothing is more important to me in the whole world than relationships, said Dick Ebersol as he began his speech accepting the Curt Gowdy Transformative Media award Friday night. “Relationships with your own family, relationships with the people you work with or the people you go to school with.

“Then you meet people who don’t exactly fit in the mold and you’re blown away by them and you stick at it – over and over again – and then you come to a night like tonight and this awesome human being gets up here and says all these wonderful things.

“I know we have people here from all over the world of basketball, but I want to say, as a resident of Connecticut, how proud I am of the basketball fans of this State. This State, along with Tennessee, has made women’s basketball the icon it is in all sports in America, and you’re all to be congratulated and thanks for all the passion you’ve brought in supporting these Connecticut teams.

“I also would like to talk about two of the people I miss most in the world and I want to talk about both of them for just a little while,” said Ebersol. “One was Bill Russell who was a great, great, great friend. A year ago, he was up here on this stage and I was watching at home, on television, in Litchfield, Connecticut.

“I think now, this giant, this man who set the standard for how African-American athletes in this country would be treated. He stopped at nothing to keep pushing it and pushing it. He encouraged so many other athletes whether they were still in college or others who followed in his footsteps.

“We were just at his funeral, and I feel fortunate to have been there because it was such a small gathering, but here tonight, I’d like everyone in this room to stand-up for five seconds and salute William Felton Russell.

“The other person I’d like to talk about, I’m sure many of you in this room are aware of his legend, his unbelievable imagination and as much as anybody in the professional game, has shaped-up what has made the NBA second only to the National Football League. Five years ago, maybe ten years ago, that, too, might have been unimaginable, except to David Stern.

“I’d like to ask everyone to stand again for David Stern who made our sport the highlight of American sport.”

“There are so many others to say thank you too, in my family, in this glorious State, in these United States of America, but let me send you home tonight by saying thank you for supporting this great game the way you do, from pee-wee to high school to college and to all the people, many seated over here, who coach these young people to become the champions they are, not only on the court but how they become great examples for the youth of our country.”

LEGENDS OF SPORTS: The previously featured Legend of Sports podcast (LOS) has been on a slight hiatus this summer but was at the Basketball Hall of Fame activities to compile a wealth of big time guests. Click below for a sampling:

LOS on KOBE

LAY-UPS, JUMP SHOTS AND SUGGESTION BOXES: The Halls of Fame of the three major American sports need to work together to make August “Hall of Fame Month.” … The month could begin with the sport of Baseball paying tribute to their class of Hall of Famers in Cooperstown, NY on the first weekend of the month. … From there, the National Football League can host the first exhibition game of the year and conduct ceremonies for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on the second weekend of the month. … Passing the baton for the third weekend of the month, the legends of basketball would gather in Springfield, Mass for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame induction, before they head-off to the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut for some golf and additional festivities. … The Hockey Hall of Fame has traditionally conducted their induction in November at the Hockey Hall in Toronto.

BLUE RIBBON: College basketball fans, don’t let too much time pass in ordering this year’s edition of the Blue Ribbon College Yearbook. While the hard copy edition is at the printer and will be ready to ship in about a month, you can order the digital edition at blueribbonyearbook.com

NBA, Players Team-Up with Sorare

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The National Basketball Association and its Players Association (NBPA) together with Sorare struck a multiyear partnership that makes Sorare the Official NFT Fantasy Partner of the NBA. Sorare will launch the first officially licensed, free-to-play digital collectible-based fantasy basketball game, which will be released this fall for the NBA’s 2022-23 season.

The game will provide fans a new opportunity to interact with the league and compete through a unique fantasy gaming experience that offers users the ability to create a lineup of NFT-based digital collectibles representing their favorite players and teams to earn points based on the real-life performance of NBA players. As part of the partnership, Sorare will have the rights to utilize official NBA league and team logos across its products.

“Our partnership with Sorare will give NBA fans an entirely new way to engage with our teams and players,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “With Sorare’s emerging NFT fantasy platform, we see significant opportunities to broaden our community of fans and grow NBA basketball around the world.”

“Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the world and we are excited to bring fans even closer to their favorite teams and players through Sorare: NBA,” said Nicholas Julia, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Sorare. “The NBA has been at the forefront of digital experiences and collectibles and our game gives basketball fans the ultimate sports entertainment experience, where they can play like a general manager, own their game, and foster real-world connections.”

“Sorare has built an innovative gaming experience that creates a whole new way for fans worldwide to interact with and learn more about our players,” said Tamika Tremaglio, NBPA Executive Director. “We are very excited about this partnership and the effect Sorare will have on the growth of the players and the game globally.”

The new gameplay experience builds upon Sorare’s two million registered users across 185 countries, including markets across Europe and Asia where the company is seeing rapid growth in its soccer game. The partnership marks Sorare’s third with a U.S. sports league, cementing the company’s expansion in America.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 21

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – For the Commissioners of sports, the best days are presenting MVP Awards, Championship Trophies celebrations, paying tribute to retiring legends or welcoming a new crop of rookies into the league at the annual Draft. The worst of days involve labor strife, work stoppages, enforcing the rules and – ultimately – suspending a player (or administrator) for a significant number of games or for LIFE.

At the NBA, players like Ron Artest (a.k.a Metta World Peace; Metta Sandiford-Artest) were suspended for fighting or conduct detrimental to the NBA for 86 games, Latrell Sprewell (68), GS minority team owner Mark Stevens (65). Others, repeat offenders of the NBA /NBA Players anti-drug program were tossed for life. Included were John Drew, Chris Washburn, Roy Tarpley, Richard Dumas and others who were able to re-apply after significant suspensions (Micheal Ray Richardson, Lewis Lloyd and Mitchell Wiggins), among others.

Donald Sterling, the disgraced team owner and Board of Governor of the Los Angeles Clippers, was banned for life and docked $2.5 million by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for Sterling’s racist remarks and conduct.

There were others, of course, mostly for on-court transgressions such as LA Lakers’ Kermit Washington’s punch of Houston Rockets’ star and Hall of Fame coach Rudy Tomjanovich that cost Rudy T his Dec ‘77-Spring ‘78 season while Washington served a then-astronomical 26-game suspension.

The National Football League faced a significantly different and certainly more catastrophic issue with the case of former Houston Texans and current Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. The talented QB was suspended for 11 NFL games this week, five more games than Sue Robinson, a disciplinary counsel had determined on August 1.

Watson was previously accused of multiple sexual assaults and other inappropriate conduct during massage therapy sessions in lawsuits filed by 25 different women. The lawsuits alleged that from March 2020 to March 2021, while Watson was a member of the Texans, he allegedly sexually abused each woman. One of the 25 lawsuits was dropped after a judge’s ruling in April 2021 that the plaintiffs needed to amend their petitions to disclose their names. Two other women filed criminal complaints against Watson but did not sue him.

Watson settled or agreed to settle all but one of the remaining lawsuits, which remains pending. In July, the Texans reached settlements with 30 women who made claims or were prepared to make them against the NFL organization for what attorney Tony Buzbee called its alleged “enabling” of Watson’s behavior, according to ESPN.

Where does it fall, now? Watson was fined $5 million and is suspended by the NFL for a mere 11 games, ranging from August 30th to November 28th, 2022. Watson will be available to play for Cleveland when the Browns coincidentally play against the Texans in Week 13 of the upcoming NFL season.

What length of suspension would’ve been more appropriate?

The NFL and its Commissioner, Roger Goodell, might take matters into its own hands, instead of the joint and impartial arbitrator assigned by the players and the league.

Regardless, an 11 game suspension for each of the 25 cases would not have been extreme. The issue is not player safety on the field, nor drug/substance abuse off the field, not breaking the law by speeding in a car not other crimes that are addressed by the appropriate authorities and legal system, State-by-State.

TWENTY-FIVE cases of sexual assault – all credible – seem to show for a significant amount of smoke where there was fire. Yet, all the while, Watson claimed his innocence, right down to this week’s 11-game settlement well short of a true “verdict.”

“I’ll continue to stand on my innocence, just because you know settlements, and things like that happen doesn’t mean that a person is guilty for anything,” Watson said. “I feel like a person has an opportunity to stand on his innocence and prove that, and we proved that from a legal side, and just going to continue to push forward as an individual and as a person.”

Will he eventually speak on his own behalf and tell the full story?

“That’s definitely the plan, that’s definitely the goal,” said Watson. “I feel like through the whole process I’ve been trying to tell my side of the story. But a lot of people just didn’t pay a lot of attention to it.”

What left?

Watson has to comply with and overall evaluation and treatment recommendations of a third-party behavioral expert to be fully reinstated, sources told ESPN.

“Deshaun has committed to doing the hard work on himself that is necessary for his return to the NFL,” Goodell said in a prepared NFL statement. “This settlement requires compliance with a professional evaluation and treatment plan, a significant fine, and a more substantial suspension. We are grateful to Judge Robinson and Peter Harvey for their efforts in addressing these matters, which laid the foundation for reaching this conclusion.”

Robinson, an independent arbiter jointly appointed by the league and players’ union, made the first ruling on August 1 while Harvey was a former New Jersey attorney general whom Goodell appointed to oversee the NFL’s appeal, as the league sought a more significant determination than the six games.

From the Brown’s stand-point, franchise co-owners Dee and Jimmy Haslem focused on a player’s right to a “second chances” and counseling.

I think in this country, and hopefully in the world, people deserve second chances. I really think that,” Jimmy Haslem said. “Is he never supposed to play again? Is he never supposed to be a part of society? Does he get no chance to rehabilitate himself? That is what we are going to do. … We think people deserve a second chance. … That does not mean we do not have empathy for people affected and we will continue to do so, but we strongly believe, strongly believe that people deserve a second chance; we believe Deshaun Watson deserves a second chance.”

No argument there, but maybe the second chance should be multiplied times the 25 cases and the result would be a minimum 50-to-275 game suspension and a (25 x $5m = $125 million) fine to be subtracted from the $230 million fully guaranteed contract with Cleveland.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: It’s a B$G week in Boston as the 20th WEEI Radio/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon begins this Tuesday, August 23, originating from Fenway Park. Since 2002, the charitable radio-tele-thon raised $62 million for cancer treatment and research, with The JIMMY Fund and Dana-Farber the key. To learn more, visit www.JimmyFund.org. … The telethon begins Tuesday at 6am (ET) and fans can tune in to WEEI-FM and NESN throughout the 36-hour broadcast to hear stories of courage and hope from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute patients, doctors, nurses, and supporters.

Even though the Red Sox were on the road, Fenway Park was ‘hoppin’ this week, hosting concerts on four consecutive nights: Bad Bunny On Thursday, Lady Gaga Friday, Imagine Dragons on Saturday, and comedian Bill Burr on Sunday, all to sold-out crowds. Burr is the first comedian ever to headline a gig at Fenway. … The Red Sox are off Monday before returning home for a brief six-game home stand, starting Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays.

TID-BITS: As the PGA Tour playoffs come to a close this week at the annual TOUR Championship at East Lake in Atlanta, the publication of our sister-missive PGA Tour Brunch will come to a close until the first week of January 2023. It’s a great time to sign-up to secure a gift for your golf-loving friends, as all issues from 2022 are archived for reference. … We’ve had a good look at the national college football polls, where the usual suspects (Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and Clemson) are atop the crop. How about the Atlantic Coast Conference, home of the Boston College Eagles?

Atlantic (first place votes)

  1. Clemson (111)
  2. North Carolina State (44)
  3. Wake Forest (6)
  4. Louisville
  5. Florida State (2)
  6. Boston College (1)

Coastal

  1. Miami (98)
  2. Pitt (38)
  3. North Carolina (18)
  4. Virginia (6)
  5. Virginia Tech (3)
  6. Georgia Tech (1)
  7. Duke – 220

Overall Champion

  1. Clemson – 103
  2. NC State – 38
  3. Miami – 8
  4. Wake Forest – 4
  5. Pitt – 3
  6. Virginia – 3
  7. Florida State – 2
  8. North Carolina – 2
  9. Boston College – 1

Conclusion: One voter likes Boston College a lot while over 100 media members like perennial champion Clemson. … Five ACC teams are among the National Top 25. They are: Clemson, NC State, Miami, Pittsburgh and Wake Forest. … B1G Ten match-up Nebraska at Northwestern kick-off the schedule in Dublin (Ireland, not Ohio) on August 27th at 12:30pm (ET) on FOX.

 

NBA MUSIC: Frequent readers of this weekly column will recognized the constant attempt to merge great sports stories with appropriate musical selections, whether they be classic rock songs, artists or other genres.

This week, the two will become one with an attempt to match great NBA players with the legendary artists, musicians or bands they might represent. We’ll call it “The NBA Match Game.” Here it goes and the NBA player(s) and artists are listed in no particular order:

Bill Russell = Elvis

George Mikan = The Beatles

Magic Johnson = The Rolling Stones

Wilt Chamberlain = Stevie Wonder

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar = Tom Petty (while Earvin Johnson, James Worthy, Byron Scott, Silk Wilkes, and so many others were The Heartbreakers

Bob Cousy = Bob Dylan

Connie Hawkins = Led Zeppelin

Larry Bird = Eric Clapton … we passed on “The Byrds”

Elgin Baylor = James Brown

Bob Pettit = The Who

“Pistol” Pete Maravich = Ray Charles

John Havlicek = The Big Bopper

Satch Sanders = Miles Davis

Jerry West = The Beach Boys

Oscar Robertson = Marvin Gaye

Julius “Dr J” Erving = Jimi Hendrix

Michael Jordan = Prince

Earl “The Pearl” Monroe = Sly and the Family Stone

David Thompson = Bob Marley

George Gervin = Bruce Hornsby

Bill Walton = Grateful Dead

Jerry Sloan = Johnny Cash

Dan Issel = America (Horse with No Name)

Carol Blazejowski = Madonna

Sheryl Swoopes = Aretha Franklin

Lisa Leslie = Diana Ross

Diana Taurasi = Lady Gaga

Sue Bird = Adele

Dawn Staley = Heart

Shaquille O’Neal = The Ramones

Allen Iverson = Bubba-Chuck Berry

Scottie Pippen = Muddy Waters

Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas, John Salley, Bill Limber, Rick Mahorn – The Cars

Chris Mullin = U2

Hakeem Olajuwon = Smokey Robinson

David Robinson = Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (song)

Karl Malone and John Stockton = Simon and Garfunkel

Manu Ginobili = Carlos Santana

Pau Gasol = Enrique Iglesias

Artis Gilmore = Chicago (Big Band sound of the ‘70s)

Bob Lanier = Crosby, Stills & Nash

Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Ray Allen = The Allman Brothers Band

LeBron James = Jay Z

Steph Curry = The Clash

Run T-M-C (Tim (Hardaway/Mitch Richmond/Chris Mullin) = Run DMC

Nate Thurmond and Al Attles = Pink Floyd/The Wall – (Gilmour/Waters)

Dennis Rodman = Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam

Charles Barkley = Michael Jackson/Thriller

Kobe Bryant = Buddy Holly

Draymond Green = The Talking Heads

Steve Nash = Neil Young

Dan Majerle or Danny Ainge, with Walter Bellamy – Steely Dan

Tim Duncan = Jimmy Cliff

’69-70 Knicks = The Band

Marvin Barnes = Jim Morrison and the Doors

Webb Wilder = Gerald Govan (Wear glasses if you need ‘em)

Max Zaslofsky = ZZ Top

David Stern = Bruce Springsteen/a.k.a. “The Boss”

Rod Thorn = The Police

NOTE: Undoubtedly, there are hundreds, maybe thousands, more NBA player and musical artist(s) match-ups that can be added. Please feel free to submit others that come to mind. Either use the comments section or text/DM or email.

NBA to Retire “No. 6” for Bill Russell

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The NBA is not waiting until the annual All-Star Weekend to honor the late, great Bill Russell.

The National Basketball Association and National Basketball Players Association will immediately pay tribute to the life and legacy of 11-time NBA champion and civil rights pioneer by permanently retiring his uniform No. 6, throughout the league.  The iconic Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer will be the first player to have his number retired across the NBA.

“Bill Russell’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.  “Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized.”

“This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game,” said NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio.  “Bill’s actions on and off the court throughout the course of his life helped to shape generations of players for the better and for that, we are forever grateful.  We are proud to continue the celebration of his life and legacy alongside the league.”

In addition to retiring Russell’s number, the NBA will pay tribute to the Boston Celtics’ legend throughout the 2022-23 season.  All NBA players will wear a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys, and every NBA court will display a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer’s table.  The Celtics, for whom Russell played his entire career and coached, will have a separate and unique recognition for him on their uniforms, to be announced soon.

Russell’s jersey number, which he wore for his entire 13-season career from 1956-69, will not be issued again by any NBA team to any player.  Players who currently wear No. 6 will be grandfathered.

Regarded as the ultimate winner and model teammate, Russell transformed the game with his dominant defense and graceful athleticism at the center position.  He won a record 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, which followed back-to-back national championships at the University of San Francisco (1955 and 1956) and a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team (1956).  Russell, who led Boston to eight consecutive NBA championships from 1959-66, was so synonymous with success that the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was named for him in 2009.

His myriad accomplishments included five NBA Most Valuable Player awards, 12 NBA All-Star selections and 11 All-NBA Team honors.  Russell was named to all four NBA anniversary teams (25th, 35th, 50th and 75th) and inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.  A four-time NBA rebounding champion, he ranks second in league history in total rebounds (21,620) and rebounds per game (22.5) in the regular season.  The Celtics retired his No. 6 jersey in 1972.

Russell’s impact on the NBA extended far beyond his playing achievements.  In 1966, he was hired by the Celtics as the first Black head coach in the history of the NBA and major U.S. professional sports.  As a player-head coach, he guided Boston to back-to-back NBA championships in 1968 and 1969.

During and after his extraordinary basketball career, Russell passionately advocated for the values of equality, respect and inclusion.  He marched for civil rights with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was steadfast in his belief that all people should be treated with dignity.  Russell was awarded the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his athletic feats and lifelong commitment to social justice.

USA Basketball can not retire uniform No. 6, as FIBA rules call for only uniform number 4-15 be utilized.

Ignite Join Whole Lotta Knights in Vegas

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NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official League News Release) – With three Top 10 NBA Draft picks in the last two seasons – the most by any program in that span – NBA G League Ignite looks to continue building on its success with a state-of-the-art new home in Henderson, Nev. Ignite will begin playing its home games at The Dollar Loan Center in 2022-23, NBA G League President said.

Operated by the Foley Entertainment Group, the Dollar Loan Center is a multi-purpose facility that opened in March 2022 and seats more than 5,000 people. It is also home to the American Hockey League affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights – the Henderson Silver Knights – and the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Foley Entertainment Group, The Dollar Loan Center and the City of Henderson to create a new home for Ignite in a first-class facility near one of the world’s premiere sports and entertainment destinations,” Abdur-Rahim said. “With avid sports fans in the Las Vegas area who have quickly embraced their hockey, football and WNBA teams, we can’t wait for NBA G League Ignite to showcase its future NBA stars and exciting brand of basketball.”

The move to Henderson marks the beginning of a multi-year partnership between the NBA G League, Foley Entertainment Group and the City of Henderson. After training in Walnut Creek, Calif. and playing in Las Vegas in 2021-22, Ignite will relocate to Henderson full-time.

“NBA G League Ignite is another elite professional sports organization that we are thrilled to bring to the Henderson community and The Dollar Loan Center,” said Foley Entertainment Group CEO Kerry Bubolz. “These future NBA stars will get a first-class home and we know our fans will enjoy seeing such talented players in an intimate, family-friendly arena.”

Fans can place season-ticket deposits now for Ignite’s home schedule at The Dollar Loan Center.  The Dollar Loan Center is an all-new multi-purpose venue in Henderson, NV, just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip, featuring a 5,567 fixed seating capacity for hockey and indoor football. A product of a public-private partnership between the City of Henderson and a group of investors led by Bill Foley, The Dollar Loan Center opened in March 2022 and is operated by the Foley Entertainment Group. The Dollar Loan Center is the home of the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights, the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, the Big West Basketball Championships, the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, the Craggy Range Sports Bar & Grill and The Saddlery team store. For the latest news and information on The Dollar Loan Center visit thedollarloancenter.com and follow the arena on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Celtics Make Roster Moves

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BOSTON – As expected, the Boston Celtics re-signed reserve forward Sam Hauser and reserve 7-2 center Luke Kornet. Boston was pleasantly surprised to have Kornet return to the club. “We are thrilled that Luke chose to come back,” noted Celtics President of Basketball Operations, Brad Stevens. “Luke is a skilled big who can play off the roll and is a good rim protector on defense. On top of that, he’s always added value as the consummate pro who puts team above self.”

The Celtics also signed 2022 second round draft pick J.D. Davison to a two-way contract in time to have him participate in the annual NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. A 19-year old out of Alabama, Davison (6-3, 195), competed in 33 games (six starts) as a freshman in 2021-22, averaging 8.5 points on 46.3% shooting (30.1% 3-PT), 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.0 steals in 25.8 minutes. He made the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team.

In a final transaction before the NBA Summer League began, the Celtics confirmed what was widely reported on NBA Draft night and made public their acquisition of guard Malcolm Brogdon from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for reserve center Daniel Theis, guard/forward Aaron Nesmith, forwards Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan, shooting guard Nik Stauskas and a conditional 2023 first round draft choice.

Legendary NBA Official Hugh Evans, 78

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SPRINGFIELD – The family of the late Hugh Evans, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the NBA announced the passing of Evans, legendary NBA referee at the age of 78. Mr. Evans was set to be enshrined as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame along with the class of 2022 in September.

“The NBA mourns the loss of Hugh Evans, one of the league’s most accomplished referees and a 2022 Basketball Hall of Fame inductee,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in a statement on Twitter. “Hugh officiated more than 2,000 games, including 35 NBA Finals games. We send our condolences to his wife, Cathy, and all his loved ones.”

“The Basketball Hall of Fame family mourns the loss and celebrates the life of Hugh Evans,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “Hugh was a trailblazer; in 1972, he became the first NBA Official from an HBCU, coming from North Carolina A&T University. He was also known for holding himself and other Officials to the highest standard. The game is in a better place for having had him involved as an Official and later as a Supervisor of Officials for 30 years.”

Evans served as an NBA official for 28 consecutive years (1973-2001), tallying over 2,000 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four NBA All-Star Games. In 1972, Evans became the first NBA official from an HBCU. Following his on-court officiating career, Evans worked as the NBA Assistant Supervisor of Officials (2001-03). He was a recipient of the Each One Teach One Community Service Award and was enshrined in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame.

TLs Sunday Sports Notes | July 3

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The precision of the NBA’s annual Salary Cap communique comes in like and announcement from the man who’s Gotta Make the Donuts! NBA teams, players and their agents await the new guiding numbers like an investor awaiting advice from E.F. Hutton.

While We’re Young (Ideas) is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

The National Basketball Association announced that the Salary Cap has been set at $123.655 million for the 2022-23 season. The tax level for the 2022-23 season is $150.267 million.

The Salary Cap and tax level go into effect at 12:01am (ET) on Friday, July 1. Teams were permitted to begin negotiating with free agents today at 6:00pm (ET) — six hours prior to the start of the league’s “moratorium period.” The moratorium period ends at 12 noon (ET) on Wednesday, July 6.

The minimum team salary, which is set at 90% of the Salary Cap, is $111.290 million for the 2022-23 season.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement provides for three different mid-level exceptions depending on a team’s salary level. The non-taxpayer mid-level for the 2022-23 season is $10.490 million, the taxpayer mid-level is $6.479 million, and the mid-level for a team with room under the Salary Cap is $5.401 million.

“Damn the global pandemic, full speed ahead,” one could read between the lines of a communique sent to teams and media as the NBA geared-up for its summer season of Free Agent signings, trades, Summer League and zero rest for the weary. Summer is when the rosters of champions are molded or disassembled, depending on which way the club execs believe their fortune is destined.

College coaches across the land are just beginning to feel the same pain. The NCAA Transfer Portal is just a hint, an inkling of what pro General Managers and Player Personnel Directors experience every July 1st.

The most frequent comment, “It’s the Wild, Wild West.”

The news of BIG negotiations and hand-shake on deals began to flow, mostly reported by annual free agent news Woj 💣 by the hand of ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and his merry band of newsmakers.

The biggest? Certainly the Minnesota Timberwolves mortgaging their future by trading four unprotected No. 1 picks from the Wolves in 2023, 2025 and 2027, and a Top-5 protected pick in 2029. (The NBA CBA forbids teams from trading consecutive No. 1 picks, thus the odd numbered year picks being conveyed to Utah). The deal also calls for the Timberwolves to send Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Walker Kessler, Jarred Vanderbilt and Leandro Bolmaro to the Jazz for center Rudy Gobert.

For Boston, the reports have the Indiana Pacers shipping guard Malcolm Brogdon to the Boston Celtics for veteran center Daniel Theis, prospect Aaron Nesmith and a 2023 first-round pick. The Celtics will include Nik Stauskas, Malik Fitts and Juwan Morgan in the deal thus Boston securing their playmaker and No. 1 point guard.

That move will allow Boston to slide Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart to the two-guard slot, play superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown upfront with a combo of Robert Williams III and Al Horford at center. If Boston wants to “go big” with both Williams and Horford in the lineup together, Brogdon will be the Sixth Man and change of pace off the bench. Regardless, the move helps Boston better manage the minutes played for the oft-injured Williams and the aging Horford, although reserve Theis will be missed.

The Celtics have reportedly lined-up Italy’s Danilo Gallinari for a two-year deal to improve their long-range shooting and open the floor up for Tatum and Brown. Gallinari has a long resume in the NBA dating back to 2008.

While trades and player movement are the highlight of early July in the NBA, players re-signing with their own teams provides significant headlines, especially in the smaller market teams who retain their players. That seems to be the case with reports of the following players staying put at “megadeals” or “supermax” contracts and/or extensions:

  • Ja Morant staying with Memphis
  • Devin Booker with a supermax in Phoenix
  • Zion Williamson signing a five-year extension at $193m in New Orleans
  • Karl-Anthony Towns with a four-year, $224m deal to stay in Minnesota
  • MVP Nikola Jokic re-signing in Denver

The offense-defense combo of Towns and Gobert in Minnesota will be interesting and the need for strong rim protection in the NBA being the object of the game for the Timberwolves.

Of course free agency is often defined by the act of a player declining his option and putting his talents out for any team (with cap space) to acquire. That was the case as the New York Knicks targeted and reportedly have a deal for former Dallas guard Jalen Brunson, son of Rick.

And, Washington’s Bradley Beal opted-out of his last contract year but then resigned a max deal with the Wizards while Philadelphia’s James Hardenwill reportedly take a cut from the $47.4m he had on the books for his final year and sign a longer-term deal with the 76ers, allowing more cap space freedom for the team to sign others.

While reigning NBA champion Golden State retained the services of Kevon Looney, they’ve reportedly lost free agents Gary Payton II to Portland and Nemanja Bjelica who will return to play in Europe.

Phoenix free agent center Deandre Ayton still on the market with no reported deal in place.

There are dozens of other players signing, re-signing and calling the moving vans. More player news is on the horizon with some deals to be officially announced on July 6th when the moratorium ends.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: While you might see some of the prominent reporters and TV anchors grabbing a vacation day or two around the USA summer holiday of 4th of July, that’s not the case here at While We’re Young (Ideas). At CBS News, Major Garrett stepped in for Norah O’Donnell on Friday night while Bill Ritter and Liz Cho took time off (along with most local No. 1 TV anchors across the country), and Sade Baderinwa filled in nicely at the anchor chair for WABC-TV 7 New York. … By the way, did you know that Liz Cho is married to former ESPN, GMA reporter Josh Elliott? … The point being, we’re on the job here with a bevy full of notes to keep you occupied and provoke some thoughts on the 4th of July weekend. … Starting-off the thought-provoking vibes of this week’s holiday camp column, you must watch with amazement the way Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs just RULES the 4th of July holiday, in a way the NFL dominates every Thanksgiving Day! Yes, Joey Chestnut has become a household name because of his competitive eating skills. The 6-foot, 230-pound Chestnut was not always a hot dog man and did not always win when he chowed down. In 2005, the San Jose State product began his rookie season on the Deep Fried Asparagus tour, winning his first contest by consuming 6.3 lbs. of asparagus in 11 minutes, 30 seconds. That same year, he entered the Nathan’s Hot Dog fray only to finish third behind the formidable Takeru Kobayashi with Sonya Thomas getting the silver. Chestnut is a 14-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion (2007–2014, 2016–2021) but has dabbled in a number of other eating contests, one more disgusting than the next. Here are a few:

  • 2005: Chestnut ate 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes at the Arizona State Fair.
  • 2006: Chestnut ate 45 bratwurst sausages in ten minutes in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
  • 2007: Chestnut ate 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, becoming a Wing Bowl champion in Philadelphia.
  • 2008: Chestnut ate 241 wings in 30 minutes at the Wing Bowl XVI in Philadelphia, but was bested by rival Kobayashi (337 in 2011).
  • 2008: He ate 78 matzo balls during Kenny & Ziggy’s World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship in Houston, Texas.
  • 2008: Chestnut went psuedo-international and devoured 231 gyoza, setting a new world record at the Gyoza Eating Championship in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
  • 2009: Chestnut ate Iguana’s Burritozilla, a five lb (2.3 kg), 17-inch burrito in three minutes, ten seconds.
  • 2010: Chestnut, really going worldwide, won the Shrimp Wontons eating contest in Singapore. Chestnut ate 380 wontons in eight minutes.
  • 2010: Close to home for Bostonians, the local Boston syndicated TV show, Phantom Gourmet, stepped up and hosted a Pizza-eating contest. Chestnut won the Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition by eating 37 slices in ten minutes.
  • 2011-12: Saw some small bits of controversy but Chestnut ate on and also graduated from San Jose State.
  • 2012: Chestnut won the Third Annual Smoke’s Poutinerie World Poutine Eating Championships in Toronto, Ontario by consuming 19 boxes (9.5 lb [4.3 kg]) of poutine in ten minutes (Poutine is a combo of French Fries and Cheese Curds, topped with brown gravy which originated in Quebec City.
  • 2012: All the while, Chestnut was hard at work chowing down his mainstay hot dogs and buns (HDB for those in the industry).
  • 2013: Chestnut successfully defended his title at Nathan’s 98th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York. He beat his own world record of 68 by consuming 69 HDB in ten minutes.
  • 2014-2020: Chestnut had his ups and downs, winning, losing, redeeming himself with super-human performances.
  • 2021: Chestnut won his 14th title at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, a new record.

While records show competitive food eating contests involving everything from Pulled Pork to hard-boiled eggs to Fish Tacos to Glazed Donuts to Boysenberry pie, the one contest West End Johnnie’s of Boston is ready to host is the World Meatball Contest.

Said contest would never be a disgusting, jam meat balls in your mouth display of gluttony. Instead, it would be done in a much more classy style with knife and fork and white napkins adorning the contestants. The judgements would NOT be on the number of meatballs consumed, but rather the taste and excellence of the meatballs themselves. Respectable restaurants and delis from Brooklyn, Little Italy, the North End of Boston, Chicago, Philly and Baltimore (a great Little Italy there) might come to Boston in October for the festivities. There would be singles, doubles and mixed doubles tastings, paired with the perfect white wine for warm-ups and red wine during the competitions. Interested sponsors, CLICK HERE.

TENNIS ANYONE? – Gordon Ernst, the former head tennis coach at Georgetown University was sentenced Friday to more than two years in prison for taking over $3 million in bribes to help wealthy families game admissions for their applicants to the school. Ernst received the harshest punishment yet administered in the national college-admissions scandal that exposed the access mechanisms to elite colleges and universities, noting how vulnerable the system is to corruption. The scandal which went on from 2011-1018 and which Federal prosecutors described a scheme in which a college consultant in California, William “Rick” Singer, offered wealthy parents, including many celebrity families, access to schools that might decline most applicants, thus assisting would-be students to cheat on admissions tests while bribing coaches and others to label applicants as coveted recruits, even though they might not have even played the sports. This week, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani sentenced Ernst to 30 months in prison and two years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served at home. He was ordered to forfeit $3,435,053.

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