The Dugout – Snakes In The Grass & Scenes From The Top
Sacramento… What is Happening!?
Ok, here’s the sequence of events. Rumours emerge that coach George Karl is actively trying ot trade away the Kings’ franchise player, DeMarcus Cousins. Then Boogie puts out this cryptic tweet about snakes in the grass.
Then the team’s vice president Vlade Divac basically came out and said that Cousins is untouchable, denying any interest in the thought or ever having had that conversation with Karl. Boogie’s been through five coaches in five seasons in the NBA and is practically begging for some stability, but he’s also been a tough task for those coaches with his temperament and all that.
And then new reports emerge that Rudy Gay is on the trading block because the Kings wanna free up the cap space to go after Rajon Rondo. Not only that but a few of the top draft prospects (the Kings pick ninth) have refused to work out for the team. Not what you’d class as ideal, all that.
Also, how’s this for a conspiracy theory, five separate unrelated tweets all by players who notoriously fell out with George Karl, all based on the same obscure idiom:
If Boogie doesn’t like snakes, then you can probably rule out the Black Mamba-infested LA Lakers as a potential destination.
More Scenes From Within the GSW Title Celebrations
- In keeping with the Splash Bros spirit, Steph Curry dropped his beer on his way to the team bus, spilling it and shattering it on the concrete.
- Some dude at the restaurant they went to afterwards jokingly offered an unlit cigar to 2 year old Riley Curry. She firmly declined it.
- Harrison Barnes drank the first drops of alcohol in his life during the revelries.
- But nobody could break Andre Iguodala’s sobriety, despite the peer pressures.
- Klay Thompson led a rousing rendition of “We Are The Champions” in the locker room.
- Draymond Green got up on his chair and sparked a sing along at the restaurant.
- There was a parade.
- And there was a trip to Vegas.
- Which Iggy spilled the beans about on Kimmel.
The Scherzenator Returns
Fresh off an incredible one-hitter last week, Washington’s Max Scherzer backed that up with a no-no that might have back-ended the greatest consecutive starts in baseball history.
Despite the brilliance of the no-hitter however, it may have also been the most bittersweet one in history as he was an out away from a perfect game before clipping Jose Tabata on the elbow for his first and only baserunner. And it was controversial, you’d better believe it. The argument is that Tabata leaned in on the pitch, which he probably did, an unethical move maybe but also not exactly illegal. Call it gamesmanship.
One hit given up in 18 innings. 26 strikeouts. Hell, the dude had two hits himself at the plate during those games, more than he gave up! He’s the first player in over 70 years to allow one or fewer hits in combined, consecutive complete game starts.
Scherzer has some competition in the Number One Pitching Ace On The Planet stakes though, the Chicago White Sox’s Chris Sale has extended his streak of consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts to six games (tied for the fifth longest streak ever) and his last five starts have all seen him smoke by at least 12 hitters which is tied for the all-time record.
In other pitching ace news, it sounds like Cole Hamels may finally be freed from the purgatory of playing for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels has a no-trade clause and is signed through 2019. He’s willing to waive that clause (though it only counts for 20 teams) but will cost a fair dollar or two. As things stand, the Texas Rangers are in advanced talks. The Red Sox and Yankees would also be keen.
A Reminder
The NBA Draft is on Friday. Take a sickie and enjoy it. Expect plenty of trading up and down this year.
The ‘New Look’ Clippers
You’ve probably read that phrase more than a couple tiems this week. The LA Clippers are turning another page in the existentialist novel that is their existence by unveiling a new logo.
The uniforms are changing too, as are several of the players. But not the GM, he’s locked in. the press release calls it a ‘new brand identity’, which is different from a ‘brand new identity’, but with plenty of crossover. Steve Ballmer is happy, as always.
As for actual basketball stuff, it’s now pretty widely believed that Paul Pierce will join the Clips to reunite with Doc Rivers for the final stint of his career. It also sounds like Dwyane Wade, who accidentally referred to his time in Miami in the past tense while guest announcing on telly at the NBA Finals, has some interest in the Clippers too. Except money is a problem for the Clippers as basically any room they made with trading Barnes & Hawes came back the other way with Lance Stephenson’s contract. The salary cap is also the main reason that Wade probably won’t link up with LeBron again in Cleveland. A lot depends on if DeAndre Jordan comes back or not, and if not they may have bigger shoes to fill. Trading Jamal Crawford’s contract ($5.7m for one more season) may be an option too. Wilson Chandler in return, perhaps?
Terrelle Pryor Is A WR Now
Good for him. Beats being a crappy QB at least. But he’s got plenty of work to do in order to actually find himself catching passes for the Cleveland Browns in the regular season, although the path is a little shorter thanks to Josh Gordon’s suspension and Miles Austin’s FA departure.
Speaking of Cleveland
Tom Brady Dances Exactly Like You’d Expect
Bill Simmons Gets Revenge (In Cartoon Form)
That from Cleo Dog Productions. Quality stuff.
On the Simmons front, we haven’t heard much from him recently since his ESPN firing, but it sounds like there’s no shortage of interest in Boston’s most vocal Celtics fan. The Hollywood Reporter ran a piece on HBO’s changing market approach this week that included a reported play at Simmons that sounds fantastic for all parties involved. He might get a talk show, imagine that!
Silly Stuff
Bryce Harper’s a baseballing maestro but he’s got a long way to go before he can match Blake Griffin’s commercial talents.
Iggy’s Boy
"This kid is amazing. Although I don't celebrate many holidays, he sculpted this Larry O'Brien Championship trophy back in April in art class. Saved it..."
Iggy Power Rankings
- Iggy Pop
- Andre Iguodala
- Iggy Azalea
Quote of the Week:
"When I watch some of these playoff games, and I look at what's being run out there, as what people call an offense, it's really quite remarkable to see how far our game has fallen from a team game. Four guys stand around watching one guy dribble a basketball.
I watch LeBron James, for example. He might [travel] every other time he catches the basketball if he's off the ball. He catches the ball, moves both his feet. You see it happen all the time. There's no structure, there's no discipline, there's no 'How do we play this game' type of attitude. And it goes all the way through the game. To the point where now guys don't screen -- they push guys off with their hands."
Phil Jackson thinks the NBA is getting far to individualised and he even gets a cheeky dig in at LeBron. No LBJ to NYK, then.
Good Week:
Alex Rodriguez (New York Yankees) – The A-Rod rehabilitation train rolls on. He smoked a home run in his first at bat against the Tigers the other day for his 3000th career MLB hit. Something only 29 men have ever achieved. And he was just the third to hit a homer for his 3k, the last being his ol’ buddy Derek Jeter.
Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox) – Count it as an unbeaten 10 game hitting streak. Betts has been slaying recently, with 21 hits in 39 at bats, 10 of those being extra-base hits. Plus 8 RBI and 9 runs. Twice in that time he came within a hit of the cycle. Top work, son.
Slamson the Lion – Look, the Sacramento Kings deserve some happy news too amidst the turmoil. For the second year running, their mascot Slamson has taken home the MVP trophy at the annual Mascot Games in Florida. For what that’s worth.
Bad Week:
Pablo Sandoval (Boston Red Sox) – The Panda got in trouble this week for liking Instagram posts while in the bathroom during a game. Silly boy.
Brett Cecil (Toronto Blue Jays) – Dropped as the closer for the Jays, probably something to do with his 5.96 season ERA and the 10 earned runs he’s copped in his last five games.
Washington R**skins – It sounds like the growing unease with the use of the confederate flag is gonna have some spillover onto the ‘Skins name debacle. With a Supreme Court ruling deeming that the state of Texas is not legally required to offer state licence plates bearing the confederate flag – as has been assumed the case in the past. By ruling that such a move doesn’t infringe on the freedom of speech of pro-flaggers, it’s believed that the case of those offended by the R**skins name has been considerably strengthened by precedent. Those defending the flag say it is historic and monumental and that it represents the lives of those soldiers who went to battle under it, detractors say it’s racist. Sounds veeery similar to the Washington Pro Football Team situation, right?
Player of the Week:
Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals) – For reasons deemed too important to relegate to the bottom of the page. Unsurprisingly he was the National League Player of the Week.