As we know, former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL citing that NFL owners colluded to keep him out of the NFL for kneeling during the National Anthem.
However, some are saying that this case could be bigger than people realized. Various sources seem to think that not only could he end up getting his job back, but he could end up terminating the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement ahead of its scheduled 2021 expiration date:
Article 69, Section 2 of the CBA allows for the agreement to be terminated prematurely in the event of proof of collusion.
Under Article 17, Section 16(c) of the CBA, termination can arise from only one incident of collusion involving only one player if there is clear and convincing evidence of a violation.
It turns out Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones did not stand for the National Anthem during his first Cowboys game as an owner. Jones sat during the anthem with Liz Taylor, which prompted a fan to write this note:
“JEERS: To Jerry Jones and Liz Taylor, who were the only two people at last Sunday’s Cowboys-Redskins game not standing when the national anthem was played.
Riding out in a cart just before the anthem began was bad enough, but sitting while it was played was more than many of us could handle.
Jerry, please note that in Texas, we stand for the national anthem.
P.S.: Tom [Landry] always took off his hat.”
Lonzo Ball had a terrible regular season NBA debut against the L.A. Clippers, but he redeemed himself in his second regular-season NBA game against the Phoenix Suns.
Ball flirted with a triple-double, scoring 29 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and dishing out nine assists while drilling four or more 3-pointers in the process.
• Chris Long of the Philadelphia Eagles is donating entire salary to boost racial equality in education
• ESPN sportscaster Jemele Hill is back from suspension and she’s not mad at ESPN.
• Kevin Durant admits: “A couple years ago, I didn't really know how to play team defense that well. More and more, I'm learning about team defense and making multiple efforts.”
• In separate incidents, Pelicans’ DeMarcus Cousins and Celtics’ Kyrie Irving were both fined $25,000 for coarse language aimed at a fan
• The Sacramento Kings hired Jenny Boucek as assistant player development coach. Boucek is now the second active female assistant coach in the NBA, along with Becky Hammon of the San Antonio Spurs.
• And, the NY Liberty hired Katie Smith to be its new head coach
Speaking to USA Today, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan doubles down on his recent critique of Donald Trump overall, Trump’s attacks on people of color, and finally the league. Khan said:
“Let’s get real. The attacks on Muslims, the attacks on minorities, the attacks on Jews.
I think the NFL doesn’t even come close to that on the level of being offensive.
Here, it’s about money, or messing with — trying to soil a league or a brand that he’s jealous of.”
Khan goes on to respond to whether or not he regrets contributing to Trump’s inauguration fund.
“I have no regrets in life. This ugly, toxic side sours the whole experience.”
Nike is in its first year of a jersey deal with the NBA, and on opening night, arguably their biggest endorser — LeBron James — had his Nike jersey split down the middle of his back.
It might be taken as a fluke if it had only happened to LeBron.
However, in a preseason game, half the back of Lakers’ Tyler Ennis’ jersey had come apart.
Our Photo of the Week is a photo of LaVar Ball giving his son, Lonzo, some fatherly advice.
The NY Yankees could not get past the Houston Astros, so no trip to the World Series this season.
The Astros go on to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the MLB World Series. The first game is in Los Angeles tonight.
In the wake of Terry Collins exiting as NY Mets manager to work in the front office, the Mets signed Mickey Calloway as its new manager.
Calloway was a pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians and he received a warm welcome from Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
Calloway comes from a family that reveres baseball, he is named after Mickey Mantle and his brother Casey is named after Casey Stengel.
The Brooklyn Nets received another wake-up call during Game 1 of the regular NBA season when team leader Jeremy Lin went down with a ruptured tendon in his right knee. Lin had surgery to repair his ruptured patella tendon and will be out for the rest of the season.
Last week, we talked about how most NY Knicks fans were trying to reconcile in their minds that the Knicks are in rebuild mode and nothing says rebuild more when your team has yet to win a game.
Thus far, Kristaps Porzingas is performing well as the leader of the team, but the true measurement of leadership is how well Kristaps will be able to hold up under pressure from game losses.
With three consecutive losses so far, many Knicks fans are expressing their sorrow that Carmelo Anthony is no longer with the team. Anthony currently plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In a TMZ interview at LAX, comedian D.L. HUGHLEY said:
“The three most hated Black men in America are Barack Obama, Colin Kaepernick, and O.J.
And two of them never were accused of murder.
They hate Colin Kaepernick right now more than they hate O.J.”
In an interview with GQ magazine, Lebron James said he told his kids about the n-Word incident on their home in Brentwood, California. He used it as a teachable moment telling them:
“When y’all go out in public and y’all start driving or y’all start moving around, be respectful to cops, as much as you can.
When you get pulled over, call your mom or dad, put it on speakerphone, and put your phone underneath the seat. But be respectful the whole time.”
In What’s The 411Sports Episode 100, co-hosts Keisha Wilson, and Mike McDonald of What’s The 411Sports are talking about:
Roger Goodell’s meeting with NFL players and owners,
Michael Jordan;
NY Yankees’ push for the MLB World Series;
Ezekial Elliot is headed back to court;
Kijuana Nige outs cocaine-using Miami Dolphins line coach Chris Foerster, and more.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a letter to all 32 NFL club presidents and owners to put the National Anthem on the agenda for the NFL’s Fall Meeting.
Is Roger Goodell is up to the task of turning this issue around?
NBA icon Michael Jordan is not happy with the state of the NBA. He thinks the super team setup is hurtful and will get in the way of the NBA’s growth.
Is Michael Jordan delusional or does he have a point?
In an interview with Crain’s Chicago Business, Shahid "Shad" Khan, one of several NFL owners that donated one million dollars to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is calling out his NFL peers and Donald Trump. Khan said Trump is dividing Americans and conflating First Amendment rights with patriotism.
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekial Elliot is in limbo for now. A federal appeals court has lifted an injunction that blocked a six-game suspension for Dallas Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott. As expected, the NFL re-enacted its six-game punishment for Elliot over domestic violence allegations. However, the NFL Players Association has filed a petition with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals asking for a full review of Elliott's case.
Kyrie Irving loves Boston
Richard Sherman is a real-life Shermie doll for a little girl in hospital
As revenge over National Anthem protests, a Las Vegas-based model, Kijuana Nige, outs Miami Dolphins offensive line coach, Chris Foerster, who videotaped himself snorting cocaine in his office. Once the video became public Foerster and the Dolphins parted ways.
Nike is now the official apparel partner of the NBA.
At the NBA store in NYC, the NBA and Nike introduced the NBA “connected jerseys”.
This week in sports it’s all about the NY Yankees.
The Yankees are making a run against the Houston Astros to move on to get to the World Series.
The Brooklyn Nets received a wake-up call when they played their last preseason game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Sixers Joel Embiid exploited the Nets weakness on defense and on the frontcourt.
New York Knicks in Rebuild Mode
Most Knicks fans are trying to reconcile in their minds that the Knicks are in rebuild mode.
However, deep down inside, fans still want the Knicks to have a winning season.
If the Knicks have a losing season, is head coach Jeff Hornacek's job on the line?
For the second time during this preseason, the Brooklyn Nets have defeated the New York Knicks, and this time, at home at the Barclays Center on a Sunday evening. Yes, it is preseason, but for Nets fans a defeat of 117-83, sure looks good. Nets scoring was also music to the ears of Nets fans as it quieted Knicks fans in the arena each time the Nets put up more points on the scoreboard.
But, let’s be real here. The odds were in the Nets favor. Since the Nets landed in Brooklyn in 2012, the Brooklyn Nets regular season win record against the New York Knicks is 13 - 6.
Brooklyn Nets guard Jeremy Lin advised reporters to remember that although the Nets are playing as a cohesive unit and winning, which is a good thing, it is still preseason.
In the postgame presser, Lin discussed the Nets camaraderie and how players' unselfishness has helped the team's overall effort. Lin heaped praise on new teammate Allen Crabbe for scoring an impressive 11 points in six minutes. He also had good words for D'Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert with whom he spent a lot of time with over the past summer. Lin expects the Nets will make an improvement over last season because of the new additions to the team, younger players improved game, and unselfishness.
“I thought our defense was solid,” Atkinson stated. “I thought we were active. I think we turned them over a lot in the first half. That really started the ball rolling. Great activity, a lot of deflections, steals, high energy defensively, making some shots.”
“We can talk about the points, but I just like how he just makes a simpler play,” Atkinson said about Nets guard/forward Allen Crabbe. “If it’s not there, he’ll make the next pass to the open guy. There is no extra waste of movement. Yeah, of course, it’s great if the shots go in, but he is a really good all-around basketball player.”
D’Angelo Russell led all Nets scorers with 16 points and he credits the Nets scoring with playing as a team.
Other Nets scorers in double digits were Crabbe with 14 points, DeMarre Carroll and LeVert each had 12 points, Timofey Mozgov added 11 points, and Trevor Booker chipped in 10 points. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Quincy Acy each had a total of 8 rebounds. Assist leaders for the Nets were Russell and Lin.
Knicks leaders included Willy Hernangomez, who led all scorers with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 13 points, and Ramon Sessions scored 12 points and five assists.
New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek obviously was not happy with his team’s effort.
“Not moving the ball and the turnovers,” Hornacek said about what disappointed him about the Knicks effort. “We had a lot of turnovers the other night and that continued. They’re just soft passes. We’re not tough with the ball. We’re careless with it. I don’t know if they think guys aren’t going to reach up and try to deflect our passes or what. That was probably the biggest disappointment. I think our guys played hard. We did the wrong thing quite a bit tonight, in terms of the rotations. We have a lot of bumps and bruises, KP (Kristaps Porzingis) and Michael’s (Beasley) foot was bothering him to start the game. We need to get those guys back so we can get our regular rotation going.”
Next up, the Brooklyn Nets play the Philadelphia 76ers at Nassau Coliseum.
Now here’s a feel-good story about Brooklyn Nets, guard, Jeremy Lin.
During training camp, Jeremy Lin bought suits for his teammates. Lin bought suits for players, coaches, video coordinators, physical therapists, and security guards.
Abe Ndoye, who has been Lin’s tailor since he played in Houston, began the first of three days of training camp measuring and advising.
It turns out that providing new suits to rookie players may not be that unusual. Quincy Acy did something similar for his D-League teammates once he was acquired by the Nets and Kevin Garnett used to do it for rookies.
The Brooklyn Nets are back and Thursday night was the Nets’ first preseason home game for the NBA’s 2017-18 season. Playing the Miami Heat in front of a decent size crowd at the Barclays Center, the Nets showed its hometown fans that they are attempting to live up to its marketing slogan, #WeGoHard, as it crushed the Miami Heat 107-88.
And, for the answer to the question many Nets observers have been waiting for…how well will Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell play on the court?
So far, it looks pretty well. There were no obvious displays of ball hogging and side-eye looks. Lin, who had three fouls in the first quarter, scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting; while Russell struggled a bit only putting up nine points on 4-of-12 shooting with four turnovers.
In addition to Lin, other double-digit scorers included Sean Kilpatrick with 14 points, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Joe Harris chipped in 10 each.
Spencer Dinwiddie had a team-high six assists.
The Nets are still pushing the three-pointer, nailing 10-of-30 from behind the arc; even Timofey Mozgov hit a three-pointer and Quincy Acy, moving with the fast tempo offense, scored back-to-back threes in the first quarter.
Defensively, judging by tonight’s game, the Nets look like they are moving in a positive direction, scoring 27 points off turnovers and out-rebounding the Heat, 62-37. Hollis-Jefferson, DeMarre Carroll, Mozgov and Trevor Booker each had eight rebounds or just over 51 percent of the Nets’ rebounds.
The referees thought Booker was taking the #WeGoHard a little bit too literally and so, Booker was called for a Flagrant 1 foul in the first quarter.
Jarrett Allen, a rookie from the University Texas that the Nets picked up at No. 22 in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft, made his NBA debut grabbing five rebounds and a block heard around the arena.
There were a lot of things to like about the Nets tonight, here’s to pushing the envelope for the rest of the season.
#BrooklynProud.
NOTES:
NBA Media Day, a day when NBA players around the league are available to the media for interviews, is a sure signal for the start of the NBA season. And, today, it was “on and poppin’” at the Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Facility.
The Nets, at the start of this season, is a team where more than half of its players are new to the team. Despite a seemingly new team, there was familiarity in the air. Player exhibited the same type of camaraderie from last season, the one for all, and all for one, type of camaraderie. To a man, everyone spoke with sincerity about how well they all get along and that they can’t wait to get going, to get on the court. This type of mindset is a testament to the leadership of Nets general manager Sean Marks and Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson, who is known for player development.
Despite the kumbaya attitude coming from the Nets’ players, which is a good thing, the number one question on the minds of most reporters was how will Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell co-exist on the floor? Another common question was regarding the team’s Achilles heel, its ability to play defense.
Jeremy Lin on the Brooklyn Nets' Defensive Abilities
Although many reporters were focused on how Jeremy Lin and D’Angelo Russell will co-exist on the floor and what kind of teammate is D’Angelo Russell, this issue was not top-of-mind for Nets’ players. Most are focused on building on last season and demonstrating measurable improvement, more specifically holding each other accountable.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson on the Brooklyn Nets' Direction for 2017-18
Players also voiced their personal goals
Brooklyn Nets guard Caris LeVert expresses his personal goals for the 2017-18 NBA Season
There is no doubt that Nets players have all the right off-the-court qualities to start the season, the true testament will be how doggedly focused they will be when the going gets tough.
But, first, players have to get through training camp.
In this 96th episode of What's The 411Sports, hosts Keisha Wilson and Mike McDonald, are talking about how Sloane Stephens and Rafael Nadal slayed at the 2017 US OPEN, the Cavaliers, and Celtics trade of Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas, Danny Ainge getting thrown under the bus, Roger Goodell and the NFL on Ezekiel Elliott and Josh Brown, Seattle Seahawks' Michael Bennett's arrest by the Las Vegas police, the proposed sale of the Brooklyn Nets, the NY Yankees, Carmelo Anthony's outlook with the NY Knicks and his wife La La Anthony. Our Photo of the Week is Jeremy Lin and Caris Levert in Taiwan.
Congratulations are due to professional tennis players Sloane Stephens and Rafael Nadal on their grand slam wins at the 2017 US OPEN. Stephens beat Madison Keys 6-3, 6-0, to win the Women’s Final. And, on the men’s side, Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, beat South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to win the men’s US OPEN FINAL.
Kyrie Irving has left the building. Irving is now with the Boston Celtics in exchange for Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic, the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 pick by way of the Boston Celtics, and a 2020 pick from Boston.
The Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot can play for the Cowboys this season despite Roger Goodell handing down a six-game suspension to Elliot for domestic violence. The NFL Players Association took the NFL to court to get a Temporary Restraining Order over the process by which Goodell came to Elliot’s punishment, and won.
The NFL, after suspending former New York Giants kicker Josh Brown 1 Game for beating his wife, quietly suspended him for 6 games. The league reopened the investigation based on new info and has yet to release its findings. The NFL concluded there was a violation of its personal conduct policy and imposed a 6-game suspension which Brown accepted without appeal.
Michael Bennett had a run-in with Las Vegas police when he was leaving a night club. Bennett says that the officer told him he would "blow my f*cking head off"
Here’s a big contrast between the NBA and the NFL. Recently, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NBA Players Association executive director Michelle Roberts are encouraging players to speak out on social issues, stating to NBA players:
“None of us operates in a vacuum. Critical issues that affect our society also impact you directly. Fortunately, you are not only the world’s greatest basketball players — you have real power to make a difference in the world, and we want you know that the Players Association and the League are always available to help you figure out the most meaningful way to make that difference.”
Our Photo of the Week is a photo of Brooklyn Nets’ players Jeremy Lin and Caris LeVert in Taiwan.
Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov is ready to do a slow dance to sell the team. Initially, Prokhorov wanted to sell a minority stake in the team, but because of the pace, he is willing to sell up to 49 percent and the remaining 51 percent shortly thereafter. Sources say Prokhorov is encouraged by the sale of the Houston Rockets for $2.2 Billion.
Carmelo Anthony is still a member of the New York Knicks even though both the Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers have expressed interest in him. Additionally, the Knicks point guard situation isn’t knocking anyone’s socks off and the team is considering bringing in point guards Trey Burke and Jarrett Jack for training camp.
Right now, there is enough space between the Yankees and the Orioles for the Yanks to get a wildcard spot in the playoffs.
Now, let’s go off topic. New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony showed up unexpectedly at the launch of his estranged wife, La La Anthony’s, new denim line at Lord & Taylor in New York City. Carmelo proudly posted a photo of La La on Instagram.
The Brooklyn Nets have announced their 2017-18 regular season schedule which tips off Wednesday, October 18, at Indiana. The team will host its regular season home opener two days later on Friday, October 20, versus Orlando at Barclays Center.
Eighteen of the Nets’ 39 games at the Barclays Center are set to be played on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Brooklyn’s two remaining home games will be played in Mexico City as part of the NBA Mexico City Games 2017 on Wednesday, December 7, against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Friday, December 9, versus the Miami Heat.
The Nets will begin the New Year with a season-long five-game homestand, which spans 10 days, beginning Monday, January 1, versus Orlando and concluding Wednesday, January 10, against Detroit. The month of January features a season-high nine home contests.
The team will hit the road for four five-game trips during the upcoming season. The season slate also features 15 back-to-backs and 11 one-game road trips. The schedule will also treat fans to six afternoon home games in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Nets games will be broadcast regionally on the YES Network for the 16th consecutive season.
Season ticket memberships and partial plans are now on sale and can be purchased by calling 718-NETS-TIX or by logging onto brooklynnets.com/tickets.
Individual tickets for games at Barclays Center go on-sale on Thursday, August 17, at 10 a.m. and can be purchased at brooklynnets.com/tickets, ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX. Tickets can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center starting Friday, August 18, at noon. Presales are available at brooklynnets.com/tickets and ticketmaster.com beginning Tuesday, August 15, at 10 a.m.
The entire Nets 2017-18 schedule is attached and can also be found by logging onto brooklynnets.com/schedule.
The Brooklyn Nets have signed forward Jacob Wiley to a two-way contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not released.
Wiley (6’8”, 213) appeared in 34 games for Eastern Washington University last season (2016-17), recording averages of 20.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 34.3 minutes per contest while shooting 64.3 percent (265-of-412) from the field. He was named the Big Sky Conference Most Valuable Player and earned first team honors after finishing the season ranked first in the conference in field goal percentage, rebounding and blocked shots per game and sixth in scoring. The Newport, Wash., native was also named an honorable mention All-America selection by the Associated Press while ranking sixth in NCAA Division I basketball in field goal percentage and eighth in blocked shots per game.
Prior to suiting up for Eastern Washington, Wiley played two seasons (2014-16) for Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho and one season (2012-13) for the University of Montana. He most recently was a member of Brooklyn’s 2017 NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas.
NOTE: Per NBA rules, teams are permitted sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular season roster. A two-way player for the Nets will provide services primarily to the team’s NBA G League affiliate – the Long Island Nets – but can spend up to 45 days with Brooklyn, not including any time prior to the start of Long Island’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.
The Brooklyn Nets have signed guards Milton Doyle and Jeremy Senglin. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not released.
Doyle and Senglin were both members of Brooklyn’s 2017 NBA Summer League team in Las Vegas.
Doyle (6’4”, 180) joins the Nets after a four-year career (2013-17) at Loyola University Chicago. In 121 career games (98 starts), Doyle recorded averages of 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 30.4 minutes per contest. He became the first player in program history to earn All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team honors after averaging 15.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists in 32.6 minutes per game during his senior season, while scoring in double figures in all but one of his 32 games. The Chicago native also earned Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer and Freshman of the Year awards during his collegiate career and ended his tenure ranked eighth in school history in points (1,606) and fifth in assists (459).
Senglin (6’2”, 190), a native of Arlington, Texas, played four collegiate seasons (2013-17) for Weber State. In 124 career games (123 starts), he averaged 16.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 33.7 minutes per contest. He concluded his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer (2,078 points), as well as finishing second in career field goals made (665), third in assists (343), fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (.422) and eighth in steals (110). Senglin, who twice earned Big Sky All-Conference honors, scored in double figures in 104 of his 124 career games.