NBA players, Sean “Diddy” Combs and others stand behind NFL players; Brooklyn Nets Players look forward to new season; Time for safety nets at MLB stadiums

WHAT'S POPPIN'

Donald Trump Uses NFL to Boost his Ratings

Donald Trump injected himself into the NFL players’ protest against rogue police officers killing innocent Black men. Trump said at a campaign rally in Alabama that owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem and that fans should consider walking out in protest “when somebody disrespects our flag.” Trump’s comments touched off a firestorm.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell didn’t hesitate to give Trump serious pushback, stating:

“Divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect for the NFL, our great game and all of our players.”

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association tweeted: “We will never back down. We no longer can afford to stick to sports.”

A good number of NFL players took exception to Trump attempting to deny their US Constitutional right to free speech, and being called “sons of bitches”. NBA players and others are standing up, even Sean “Diddy” Combs commented.

Donald Trump Disinvites Golden State Warriors

Speaking of Donald Trump, he rescinded his invitation to the Golden State Warriors to visit the White House because Stephen Curry was hesitating and ultimately decided he did not want to go. “Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!,” Trump tweeted. Based on the current climate, the UNC Men’s Basketball team decided its players won’t be visiting the White House either.

Carmelo Anthony Has Left the Building

It took a minute, but a deal that worked for all the parties involved finally got done. Carmelo Anthony is no longer a player for the New York Knicks; he is now signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Anthony joins Russell Westbrook, Paul George, and company.

QUICK HITS

• Aaron Hernandez’s attorney says the late football player had extreme CTE and his suing the NFL and the New England Patriots on behalf of his daughter
• Floyd Mayweather told TMZ Sports that he has yet to cash his checks from the Pacquiao and McGregor fights.
• Carmelo Anthony set up a relief fund for Puerto Rico and he pledged 50 thousand dollars.
• The New York Yankees clinched a wild card playoff spot.

OTHER TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE

Is it time for Major League Baseball to install safety nets at its stadiums

Will fans ever forgive Kevin Durant for his fake Twitter account?

Brooklyn Nets Media Day 2017

With Carmelo Anthony gone, the face of the Knicks is now Kristaps Porzingas

OFF TOPIC

Co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records and Jay-Z’s business partner, Damon “Dame” Dash, is currently selling his coveted sneaker collection on eBay. Hosted on Shoezeum’s eBay shop, the collection is packed with some of the most coveted items from what many would consider to be the golden years of sneaker culture.

VIDEO: NY Mets manager, Terry Collins, appears to be on the hot seat

Lately, the NY Mets' record is not living up to the public's expectations.

Some of the New York Mets' lack of production and wins are due to injury, and some say is because of managerial decision-making.

Consequently, NY Mets manager Terry Collins is on the hot seat.

Closer Jeurys Familia blows game in the ninth inning

New York Mets reached a one-game National League wildcard playoff against the San Francisco Giants.

All the Mets had to do was win one game to go one to the multiple game playoffs, the NL Division Series. Instead, the Mets lost to the Giants 3-0, at Citi Field.

So, no chance for a World Series appearance in 2016.

How did it happen?

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard, aka Thor, pitched seven shutout innings.

Syndergaard was so good, he pitched two hits and striking out a postseason career-high 10 batters.

And, what did closer Jeurys Familia do with a 0-0 tie game?

Familia gave up a three-run home run in the top of the ninth to San Francisco Giants third baseman Conor Gillaspie, and that was all she wrote.

Well, there’s always next year.

We salute the Met’s 2016 season and look forward 2017.

Can the Cubs go all the way to the World Series?

In the AL, both Texas and Boston are on the verge of being swept.

Meanwhile, the Cubs and Nationals have jumped out to early leads in the NL playoffs.

With the Cubs being the heavy favorite, will this finally be their year?

VIDEO: Jason Schott gives his predictions for the 2nd half of the Major League Baseball season for the Mets and Yankees

Do you agree with Jason Schott's report?

We are at the midway point in the Major League Baseball season and here’s my report card on the Mets and the Yankees thus far, and how I see these teams going forward.

WATCH VIDEO: Commissioner Goodell and Cameron Maybin in 411 Dog House

The young guns of The What's The 411Sports team are discussing who's in the dog house this week. Bianca Peart put NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in the 411 Doghouse for suspending Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice for only two games for a domestic violence charge.

Greg Alcala put Cameron Maybin of the San Diego Padres in the dog house for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy.

The New Face of New York Baseball

Now that New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter has retired, who will be the face of New York baseball? Will it be Matt Harvey, Masahiro Tanaka, Curtis Granderson, CC Sabathia, Didi Gregorius, or minor league baseball player, Aaron Judge?

Major League Baseball is entering a new era. Former MLB Commissioner Allan Huber "Bud" Selig has exited the stage and entering the spotlight is Rob Manfred. Today, the newly minted MLB Commissioner Manfred wrote a letter to Major League Baseball fans.

Here is Major League Baseball Commissioner Manfred in his own words:

Dear Fans:

On the night of August 14, 2014, I left a Baltimore hotel after being elected Commissioner of Baseball. As I began to reply to the overwhelming number of congratulatory messages coming in, it hit me that I'd just been entrusted to protect the integrity of our National Pastime and to set a course that allows this great game to continue to flourish -- now and in the years to come. Needless to say, I was deeply honored by the trust the owners placed in me.

Today is my first day as Commissioner, and I am incredibly excited to get to work. I am grateful to Commissioner Selig for his expertise and friendship. His leadership set a direction that led to historic success.

The mission before us is clear: To honor the game's history while welcoming new people to our great sport -- people who will one day pass their love of baseball down through the generations. That is what our parents and grandparents did for us, and it is what we are doing for our own children. Baseball is a game firmly rooted in childhood experiences, and its vitality and growth rely heavily on giving young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to play and watch baseball.

This notion that baseball is the game of children is central to my core goals as Commissioner. Maybe that is because my own Little League experience in upstate Rome, New York was such an important part of my childhood. I will never forget my intense dedication to that club and to my teammates -- each of whom I can still name to this day -- and being part of a perfect game.

My top priority is to bring more people into our game -- at all levels and from all communities. Specifically, I plan to make the game more accessible to those in underserved areas, especially in the urban areas where fields and infrastructure are harder to find. Giving more kids the opportunity to play will inspire a new generation to fall in love with baseball just as we did when we were kids. Expanding Little League, RBI and other youth baseball programs will also help sustain a steady and wide talent pool from which our clubs can draw great players and create lifelong fans.

As Commissioner, I will draw closer connections between youth baseball and MLB. I want to inspire children's interest in baseball and help parents and coaches foster that passion. In the coming years, MLB will work with college, high school, amateur and youth baseball programs to help grow our game and to ensure that the best players and talent have the opportunity to pursue their dreams. I call it "One Baseball" -- a partnership between all professional and amateur groups involved in our game.
Our children can look at MLB today and find a wave of new stars worthy of emulating both on and off the field. Players like Andrew McCutchen, Buster Posey, Giancarlo Stanton and Mike Trout and aces Madison Bumgarner,Felix Hernandez and Clayton Kershaw have powerful stories to tell -- and MLB will tell them across every platform. We will continue to internationalize our game and to celebrate the fact that we have the most diverse rosters in the world. Our mission is to build upon this recent success by creating opportunities for the next wave of baseball talent. We also must continue to nurture inclusive environments for all the contributors to our game and our loyal fans.

Another priority for me is to continue to modernize the game without interfering with its history and traditions. Last season's expanded instant replay improved the game's quality and addressed concerns shared by fans and players. We made a dramatic change without altering the game's fundamentals. I look forward to tapping into the power of technology to consider additional advancements that will continue to heighten the excitement of the game, improve the pace of play and attract more young people to the game.
The Major League Clubs have bestowed an extraordinary opportunity upon me. My pledge is to work every single day to honor their faith in me and your love of this game.
Sincerely,

Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
Commissioner of Baseball

MLB pitchers and catchers start reporting to Spring 2015 training on February 19, woo-hoo!!!

The Collaborative Effort Makes Her Spirit Sing

Excited about the success of Major League Baseball's Diversity Summit 2014, Wendy Lewis, Vice President of Diversity and Strategic Alliances, told What's The 411Sports host, Glenn Gilliam, that the collaborative effort "makes her spirit sing." Ms. Lewis receives great support and enthusiasm from Commissioner Allan "Bud" Selig, Jonathan Mariner and MLB's 30 baseball clubs in the execution of the MLB Diversity Summit.

This is MLB's third diversity summit. It is however, the first in New York City and it opened on Jackie Robinson Day. The Jackie Robinson family will attend a ceremony on the second day of the summit. In addition to Sharon and Rachel Robinson, members of Mr. Nelson Mandela's family will also be in attendance at Yankees Stadium for the ceremony on the second day of the summit.

MLB has taken the lead on diversity and inclusion in sports and has given diversity and inclusion consultation to the other major sports. However, Ms. Lewis knows that the other sports will do things their way and perhaps, one day they will all do something together.

Major League Baseball is different; it does have a special calling.

"We have the legacy," Ms. Lewis stated. "We have the DNA of Jackie Robinson so I think we have an extra source of responsibility here".

Given the legacy of Jackie Robinson, it is disturbing to many that baseball now has the lowest number of African-American players of the top three major sports leagues: baseball, basketball, and football.

Addressing the dearth of African-American MLB players, Commissioner Selig in April 2013, launched the On-field Diversity Task Force to design ways improve the African-American player pipeline.

Major League Baseball is also a big supporter of the Negro League Baseball museum.

Ms. Lewis joined MLB Commissioner's office after spending eight seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

View Video Interview with Ms. Wendy Lewis

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