In this episode of What's The 411Sports, hosts Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald are talking about the moves the Cleveland Cavaliers made at the NBA trade deadline; Damian Lillard hitting 50 points in 29 minutes, and should he sit or continue to play until the end of the game; the Top 5 prospects for NBA MVP consideration; Isaiah Thomas says he got his powers back; Paul Pierce celebrated in Boston; the state of the Brooklyn Nets and NY Knicks; Tim Tebow is back with the NY Mets; the New York Yankees acquire Russell Wilson; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell wants R&B singer, SZA, to be his Valentine; and will the XFL get off the ground?
The What’s The 411Sports Photo of the Week is a photo of Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie shaking hands with his former teammate Trevor Booker who was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
During media day at NFL Super Bowl XLVIII, Kam Chancellor, strong safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League, explained the genesis of the Legion of Boom to What’s The 411Sports correspondent Andrew Rosario.
It became a moniker to describe the brotherhood of the defensive team to stick together, play for each other, and level the boom on their opponents.
“At what point did you realize that you had something special and you knew you could make it to the Super Bowl,” asked Rosario.
“The first time we actually got together as a group and went through training camp OTAs,” Chancellor responded. “That’s the first time I really looked at the unit and looked at every player and was like man, everybody in this group is good. Everybody in this group could be a starter. Everybody prepares like a starter, and it shows when a guy goes down, the next guy steps up and does an amazing job.”
“And when you see Russell Wilson walk on to the field, with his 5’7”, 5’8” frame, are you saying to yourself, is that our quarterback?" Rosario asked.
“No, when I first seen (sic) him, he definitely gave me a different impression,” laughed Chancellor. “I seen (sic) a leader, it was something about him, you see like a leader in him, his poise, he’s always poised, he never looks like he’s pressured or in trouble or duress. You know that’s the one thing I admired about him and he just remains the same way all the time.”
During an interview with CBS This Morning, Gisele Bundchen, wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, stated that her husband has suffered concussions over the years as recently as 2016. Eyebrows were raised after this declaration because Tom Brady was never listed on any of the injury reports as having any type of head trauma. The NFL confirmed this and planned to contact the Players Association to collect more information. Did the Patriots cover up injuries to Tom Brady, their star quarterback? Could we find more cases like this in the NFL?
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll publicly stated that Colin Kaepernick is being considered as an option for a backup quarterback to Russell Wilson. While no final decision has been made, Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett said that Seattle would be the perfect place for Kaepernick. Would Seattle be an ideal place for Kaepernick? Still, without a football home and in lieu of the recent signings of other quarterbacks, does this further the notion that Kaepernick is being blackballed?
A Spurs fan is suing the Golden State Warriors' center Zaza Pachulia and the Warriors organization alleging that Pachulia's play against San Antonio Spur star Kawhi Leonard which caused an ankle injury that left the Spurs without their star for the remainder of the game. Some believe the injury allowed the Warriors to mount a comeback which propelled them to victory. The suit states that Pachulia's play “devastated the quality of the Spurs' chances of being competitive" and diminished "the value of the tickets purchased by plaintiff subsequent to their purchase." Does this fan have a point and do you think this case would move forward?
Certain members of the media have responsibility for selecting the All-NBA teams and the NBA MVP selection. Indiana Pacers guard Paul George was left off all of the All-NBA team designation and LeBron James is number four on the MVP list. Who are these media people and what are they thinking? Should decisions related to players’ compensation be in the hands of the media?
Will the Los Angeles Lakers and Magic Johnson have the magic to get the second pick in the 2017 NBA Draft? Is it a given that the Lakers will select Lonzo Ball with the second overall pick?
LaVar Ball vs Kristine Leahy- Never one to shy away from controversy, LaVar Ball, father of NBA prospect Lonzo Ball, once again finds himself in the middle of a media firestorm after an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. During the interview, Ball refused to speak to Cowherd's cohost Kristine Leahy except to tell her to stay in her lane and to reiterate that he would only address Colin Cowherd. Leahy has since gone on record to state that she has received death threats as a result of the on-air altercation. Do you believe Cowherd’s reason for not addressing Lavar Ball’s sexist behavior?
We are another step closer to a Mayweather/McGregor fight. UFC President Dana White declared that UFC fighter Conor McGregor's side of the deal is done and White is currently working with Mayweather's team on the remaining terms. Is this fight going to happen?
Congratulations to Rondae Hollis-Jefferson; his alma mater The Chester Community Charter School, named its gym The Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Gymnasium in his honor. Speaking of the Nets, what can the team do to upgrade its roster for next season? Meanwhile, what are some names or positions that Phil Jackson should be thinking about as the Knicks prepare for the draft?
Nearly every week, we put someone on the bench, and this week, Mike McDonald puts Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Pillar on the bench for using a homophobic slur against Atlanta Braves pitcher Jason Motte. Pillar apologized profusely, but the Blue Jays still suspended Pillar for two games. Pillar will forfeit approximately $6,066 of his $555,000 salary, with the money donated to charity.
This past week was Mother’s Day and Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, posted a sweet Mother’s Day note on Instagram to his wife, Ciara, and rapper Future’s fans came for Wilson’s head and fans of Wilson and Ciara clapped back.
Here’s what Russell Wilson's note said:
“Nothing better than spending time with you. You are an amazing mom & I'm so grateful I get to spend the rest of my life with you & raising our kids. I love you! #HappyMothersDay Weekend my love. @Ciara
People objected to Wilson saying “our kids.”
Should Wilson have not said, “our”?
Are those who objected to Wilson stating “our kids” out of line?
We are into the Conference Finals round of the NBA Playoffs, and before we talk about where we are right now, let's step back a minute and ask what happened to Houston Rockets guard James Harden. The MVP candidate gave an atrocious effort in Game 6 and an elimination game against the Spurs. Are we being too hard on Harden or is all of the criticism warranted?
The NBA playoffs are now down to four teams. What can we expect in the NBA Eastern and Western Conference Finals?
The three shoe giants, Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour, did not offer a shoe deal to NBA prospect Lonzo Ball. Ball's father, LaVar Ball, vowed to have a Lonzo Ball sneaker made. He succeeded and the ZO2 Primer hit the open market to the tune of $495. While some balked at the price, LaVar tweeted “If you can’t afford the ZO2s, you’re NOT a BIG BALLER!”
Will the shoe be a flop? Will people be on the LaVar train if his son Lonzo Ball turns out to be a “Bog Baller” in the NBA?
This past week was Mother’s Day and Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, posted a sweet Mother’s Day note on Instagram to his wife, Ciara, and rapper Future’s fans came for Wilson’s head and fans of Wilson and Ciara clapped back. Here’s what the note said:
“Nothing better than spending time with you. You are an amazing mom & I'm so grateful I get to spend the rest of my life with you & raising our kids. I love you! #HappyMothersDay Weekend my love. @Ciara
People objected to Wilson saying “our kids.” Should Wilson have not said, “our”? Are those who objected to Wilson stating “our kids” out of line?
Nikolai Jackson from our social media team delivered another new car video from the New York International Auto Show and this time it’s from Volkswagen.
The Yankees retired future Baseball Hall of Famer shortstop Derek Jeter’s No. 2.
The Matt Harvey apology tour was in full effect this past week.
As if things couldn't get any worse for the NY Mets' pitching staff, the club announced that closer Jeurys Familia would be out of the lineup due to an anterior blood clot in his right shoulder.
Doctors say that Familia should be able to throw again in six weeks with a return to competition in about 3-4 months.
Jeremy Lin, the Nets guard, made some headlines recently when he mentioned that the racial slurs he heard in college were much worse than what he has had to deal with while playing in the NBA.
In view of the Brooklyn Nets guard, Jeremy Lin’s, story about the racism that he encountered in college, I am putting the NCAA and the NCAA's referees on the bench for allowing known racism to persist on the court and within the association.
When referees and coaches know that someone is being racially profiled, they have a responsibility to quash the activity.
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll publicly stated that Colin Kaepernick is being considered as an option for a backup quarterback to Russell Wilson.
While no final decision has been made, Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Bennett said that Seattle would be the perfect place for Kaepernick.
Still, without a football home and in view of the recent signings of other quarterbacks, does this further the notion that Kaepernick is being blackballed?
VIDEO: NBA Draftee Larry Nance Jr. deletes tweet; New York Islanders Select First Chinese Born Player in 6th Round of Draft; and On the Bench: ESPN for giving Caitlyn Jenner Arthur Ashe Award
In this episode of What's The 411Sports, host Glenn Gilliam is leading the discussion with reporters Jason Schott, and Naomi Grey about the:
• 2015 NBA Draft
• U.S. Women's National Soccer Team Beats China in Quarter Finals
• NYC Football Club and Red Bulls Square Off
• New York Liberty
• Andong Song; and a whole lot more.
Bleacher Report is out with its list of Top Quarterbacks of 2014. This list is absolutely crazy.
Out of the top 50, Geno Smith is 47th behind a ton of QBs who have no business being on the list in front of him. An even bigger joke is putting Russell Wilson in the #5 spot behind Andrew Luck in 4th, who has won absolutely nothing.
In this 35th episode of What's The 411Sports, we show off our new set and have a jam-packed discussion about:
Serena Williams
American Pharoah
The FIFA Scandal
The New York Liberty
David Wright of the New York Mets
Bleacher reports list of the 50 Greatest Quarterbacks
Brittney Griner and Glory Johnson's Marriage Annulment
Lewis Hamilton's Win of the Canadian Formula 1 Race
In the Dog House are: Brandon Spikes; FIF; and Brian Matusz
The NFL lifted Adrian Peterson’s suspension; however, Peterson doesn’t want to go back to Minnesota. Dallas and Oakland are signaling that they are ready to snatch Peterson up. The Seattle Seahawks general manager, John Schneider, seems to have lost his mind. He’s signaling that he would let Russell Wilson walk if the price to keep him is too high. Former New England Patriot tight end Aaron Hernandez was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on April 15.