The World of Sports

New on Sports Illustrated: Dana White Responds to Jon Jones, Says Fighter 'Tarnished' His Own Name

<a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2020/05/31/dana-white-responds-jon-jones-tarnished-own-name-ufc">
UFC president Dana White responded to compensation disputes with Jon Jones, saying the fighter has "tarnished" his own reputation.
A verbal feud between UFC president Dana White and light heavyweight champion Jon Jones continued on Saturday.
On May 21, Jones tweeted that he was being
</a><a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1263606333254676481">denied increased compensation</a> for a potential heavyweight fight with Francis Ngannou. White and Jones have since exchanged words, with the UFC president responding to comments from Jones stating that his reputation is being tarnished.
"He can do whatever he wants," White said after <a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2020/05/31/ufc-fight-night-gilbert-burns-beats-tyrone-woodley">Saturday night's UFC event</a>. "He wants to sit out, fight, he can do whatever. He can say whatever he wants publicly. It's his God-given right in America. He can say whatever he wants. When he's ready to come back, he can. In one of his tweets, he said I tarnished his name. I tarnished you? You've done a very good job of tarnishing you."
Among a variety of charges during his UFC career, Jones most recently pled guilty to <a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2020/03/31/jon-jones-pleads-guilty-dwi">a second drunken driving offense in New Mexico</a> in March. 
Following White's comments, Jones <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1266999824248799234">took to Twitter</a> early Sunday morning and told White to "put your money where your mouth is and release me from that contract." Previously on Friday, he continued his compensation disputes. 
"Don't be a f---ing liar," Jones <a href="https://twitter.com/JonnyBones/status/1266480658039271424">wrote on Twitter</a>. "My reputation has already [taken] enough hits. I don't need this bulls--- Dana. I never asked for [Deontay Wilder] numbers. And how about since [Wilder] is making $30 million, we settle for half of that. Since you said I'm the [greatest of all time] and everything."
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White ensured on Saturday that he wants Jones to continue to compete in UFC, but under proper payment. In response, Jones has said he "simply asked for a Super fight and asked to be compensated for it."
"Being the greatest of all time doesn't mean you get $30 million. It's being able to sell," White <a href="https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/29247280/ufc-dana-white-says-jon-jones-tarnished-own-name">said</a>. "[Jones] said, 'I don't give a f--- what the numbers are. I want what I want.' That's not how life works."
Jones (26-1-0) has been regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time by White. He last participated in a bout on Feb. 8 at UFC 247 when he defended his light heavyweight title with a <a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2020/02/09/ufc-247-jones-reyes">unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes</a>.

New on Sports Illustrated: Dana White Responds to Jon Jones, Says Fighter 'Tarnished' His Own Name

UFC president Dana White responded to compensation disputes with Jon Jones, saying the fighter has "tarnished" his own reputation. A verbal feud between UFC president Dana White and light heavyweight…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Clippers HC Doc Rivers: 'Words Carry A Lot of Weight and Your Ballots Carry Even More'

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/31/doc-rivers-statement-protests-clippers">
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers issued a statement Sunday on the ongoing and widespread protests across the United States.
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers issued a statement Sunday on the ongoing and widespread protests across the United States:
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"My father was a 30-year veteran of the Chicago police department, and if he were still with us right now, he'd be hurt and outraged by the senseless acts of racial injustice that continue to plague our country," Rivers said. "Being black in America is tough. I've personally been called more racial slurs than I can count, been pulled over many times because of the color of my skin, and even had my home burned down.
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"The response we are seeing across the nation, to the murder of George Floyd, is decades in the making. Too often, people rush to judge the response, instead of the actions that prompted it. We have allowed too many tragedies to pass in vain. This isn't an African-American issue. This is a human issue. Our society must start getting comfortable with the uncomfortable conversation and do the right thing. Silence and inactivity are not acceptable anymore. Now is the time to speak. November is the time to vote. Your words carry a lot of weight and your ballots carry even more. The day has come to confront real problems, and be part of the solution."
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Rivers' comments come days removed from the death of Floyd, 46, who died Monday evening after being violently apprehended by a Minneapolis police officer.
Video of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck went viral earlier this week and sparked ongoing protests throughout the country.
On Friday, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was was seen on video kneeling on Floyd's neck, was arrested on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter. An investigation is ongoing regarding the other officers involved in Floyd's death.
Floyd's death
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/27/stephen-jackson-george-floyd-mourns-death-twin">has sparked a wave of reaction from other members of the sports world</a>. Among other reactions, on Saturday, Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to Atlanta, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/31/jaylen-brown-celtics-protest-nba">where he led a peaceful protest march in his home state.</a>
"We're raising awareness for some of the injustices that we've been seeing. It's not OK," Brown said.
"As a young person, you've got to listen to our perspective. Our voices need to be heard. I'm 23 years old. I don't know all of the answers. But I feel how everybody else is feeling, for sure. No question."
Many other athletes have shared an image of the Minneapolis Police Department's treatment of Floyd next to a photo of former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling in protest during the 2016 NFL season.
On Friday, Kaepernick's charitable arm, the Know Your Rights Camp, <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/05/29/colin-kaepernick-george-floyd-protests">launched an initiative to hire top defense lawyers for people arrested protesting police brutality in the Minneapolis area.</a>
<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/29/stephen-jackson-press-conference-george-floyd-death">Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who called Floyd his 'twin' also led a press conference in Minneapolis</a> on Friday regarding the death of Floyd.
Rivers is one of just six active African-American head coaches in the NBA.

New on Sports Illustrated: Clippers HC Doc Rivers: 'Words Carry A Lot of Weight and Your Ballots Carry Even More'

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers issued a statement Sunday on the ongoing and widespread protests across the United States. Clippers head coach Doc Rivers issued a statement Sunday on the ongoing and w…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Celtics' Jaylen Brown Leads Peaceful Protest in Atlanta, Says 'Our Voices Need to Be Heard'

<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/31/jaylen-brown-celtics-protest-nba">
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown led a peaceful protest march through Atlanta on Saturday, doing so after traveling by car from Boston to Georgia.
Celtics guard Jaylen Brown led a peaceful protest march through Atlanta on Saturday, doing so after traveling by car from Boston to Georgia.
"I drove 15 hours to get to Georgia, my community," said Brown, a native of nearby Marietta. "This is a peaceful protest. Being a celebrity, being an NBA player, don't exclude me from no conversations at all. First and foremost, I'm a black man and I'm a member of this community. ... We're raising awareness for some of the injustices that we've been seeing. It's not OK.
"As a young person, you've got to listen to our perspective. Our voices need to be heard. I'm 23 years old. I don't know all of the answers. But I feel how everybody else is feeling, for sure. No question."
Pacers guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward Justin Anderson, who is a member of the Nets' organization, also joined Brown.
Brown said Saturday night that three people were arrested at the peaceful protest he led and shared on social media that he was looking to gather information on those people who were arrested.
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The 23-year-old Brown also took to Instagram to share an image of himself holding a poster that read, "I can't breathe," echoing the words of Eric Garner, a man who was seen in 2014 being violently apprehended by a New York Police Department officer, as well as George Floyd, who uttered the same phrase last Monday as he was violently apprehended by a Minneapolis police officer. Both altercations were recorded in what became viral videos and both men died shortly after their respective incidents.
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Video of a Minneapolis police officer kneeling on Floyd's neck went viral earlier this week and sparked ongoing protests throughout the country.
On Friday, former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who was was seen on video kneeling on Floyd's neck, was arrested on charges of third-degree murder and manslaughter. An investigation is ongoing regarding the other officers involved in Floyd's death.
Brogdon, who is an Atlanta native, also spoke at the protest. 
"This is a moment. We have leverage right now," he said. "We have a moment in time. People are going to look back, our kids are going to look back at this and say, 'You were part of that.' I've got a grandfather that marched next to [Martin Luther King Jr.] in the '60s, and he was amazing. He would be proud to see us all here. We got to keep pushing forward."
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Both Brown and Brogdon are vice presidents on the leadership council for the National Basketball Players Association. 
Floyd's death <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/27/stephen-jackson-george-floyd-mourns-death-twin">has sparked a wave of reaction from other members of the sports world</a>. Many athletes' statements have shared an image of the Minneapolis Police Department's treatment of Floyd next to a photo of former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling in protest during the 2016 NFL season.
<a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/29/stephen-jackson-press-conference-george-floyd-death">Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, who called Floyd his, 'twin' also led a press conference in Minneapolis</a> on Friday regarding the death of Floyd.
"I’m here because they’re not gonna demean the character of George Floyd, my twin," he said. "I'm hurt, I'm angry, but I ain't scared."

New on Sports Illustrated: Celtics' Jaylen Brown Leads Peaceful Protest in Atlanta, Says 'Our Voices Need to Be Heard'

Celtics guard Jaylen Brown led a peaceful protest march through Atlanta on Saturday, doing so after traveling by car from Boston to Georgia. Celtics guard Jaylen Brown led a peaceful protest march th…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Gilbert Burns Caps Off UFC Fight Night With One-Sided Victory Against Tyrone Woodley

<a href="https://www.si.com/mma/2020/05/31/ufc-fight-night-gilbert-burns-beats-tyrone-woodley">
If you were waiting for a changing of the guard in the welterweight division, look no further than Gilbert Burns.
If you were waiting for a changing of the guard in the welterweight division, look no further than Gilbert Burns.
In his first UFC main event, Burns (19-3) was spectacular. He defeated Tyron Woodley (19-5-1) in a unanimous decision victory, dictating the pace of the entire five-round fight.
Burns’ striking was crisp from the start. He dropped Woodley with a right hand and right upper cut in the opening round, busting open a cut above Woodley’s left eye. Burns followed that up with heavy ground pressure, and Woodley looked overmatched after not fighting for the past 15 months.
The victory extends Burns’ win streak to six. Following the one-sided affair against Woodley, who was the top-ranked contender in the division entering the fight, Burns wants a shot at Kamaru Usman’s Welterweight Championship.
“I love the champ, my training partner Kamaru Usman, but I want to fight for the title,” said the 33-year-old Burns. “And I think I’m next.”
Taking place from the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada, the UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns card predominantly stands out for its shakeup in the welterweight division. It also signals the end of Woodley’s dominant run in UFC, as the 38-year-old is now out of title contention.
Woodley was fighting for his future in the UFC, but he simply could not sustain any offense. Following Burns’ explosive opening minute, the fight was never in doubt. The Brazilian-born Burns fits perfectly into the company’s future plans, as Brazil is a massive market for the UFC.
The opening bout pitted Mackenzie Dern against Hannah Cifers in a women’s strawweight fight. Dern (8-1) emerged victorious after locking on a tight knee bar in the first round, and Cifers (10-5) could not compete on the ground against such an elite jiu jitsu artist. Cifers is an incredible talented fighter, particularly in the standup, but as soon as the fight went to the ground, that marked a quick end to the contest.
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“I saw her weakness was the ground, so that was a perfect opportunity for my jiu jitsu,” said Dern. “That’s always my goal.”
Though Dern is still inexperienced in striking and overall MMA, the victory positions her right back where she was when left the Octagon to have a child. The UFC stands to gain a lot with Dern winning, and she has the potential to be the face of the division. Her victory was the first leg lock submission in UFC women’s history.
“That was always my specialty in the jiu jitsu world,” said Dern. “I’m happy I’m able to bring my jiu jitsu talent to the Octagon.”
The middle of the card featured two catchweight fights. The first was Roosevelt Roberts defeating Brok Weaver, who weighed in a pound-and-a-half over the lightweight limit. Roberts (10-1) dominated and earned a second-round submission with the rear naked choke, thoroughly outclassing Weaver (14-5).
“I just want a knockout,” said a smiling Roberts. “I knew a finish was going to happen, but everybody’s got at least one knockout, and I just want one. But don’t get me wrong, I’m very satisfied with this finish.”
At only 26 years old, Roberts should emerge as a significant player in the lightweight division.
“I was supposed to be a statistic,” said Roberts, who called out Matt Frevola following the victory. “People were telling me I was going to be dead or in jail by now. I feel very blessed to be on the biggest stage in MMA, doing this in front of thousands of people, making this happen.”
The second catchweight fight saw Billy Quarantillo defeat Spike Carlyle via unanimous decision. Quarantillo (14-2) struggled early, then narrowly edged out Carlyle (9-2) in an extremely close second round before dominating the third. Carlyle showed off his wrestling, but Quarantillo’s cardio played a deciding factor in the final round.
“We knew he was going to be super explosive, especially in the first round,” said Quarantillo, who now has a seven-fight win streak. “I could have done a better job weathering the storm, but I think it made it more exciting. He’s very dangerous, he’s got a lot of knockouts, and when he was on top, I was just making sure he didn’t land anything clean. I’ve weathered the storm before, and I was able to come back.
“Spike’s a tough guy and he was talking a lot of smack going into this fight. He told people it was going to be a massacre. Maybe he’ll learn from that.”
The lone heavyweight fight on the card pitted former World Series of Fighting champion Blagoy Ivanov against Augusto Sakai, a bout Sakai claimed by split decision.
The first two rounds belonged to Sakai (15-1-1) and his impressive array of leg kicks, but he committed an egregious fence grab in the third round while Ivanov (18-4, 1 NC) appeared to gaining control. That should have cost him a penalty, but incredibly, Sakai only received a warning for the infraction.
Even with the victory, Sakai still needs more quality wins to be propped up in the heavyweight division.
The fight world now turns its attention to next weekend’s UFC 250, which features a main event with Amanda Nunes putting her Women’s Featherweight title on the line against Felicia Spencer. But Saturday’s fights will have serious implications moving forward. Dern reintroduced herself to the women’s strawweight division, and Burns backed up all of his trash talk with a convincing victory against the former standard-setter of the entire welterweight division.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at <a href="mailto:JBarrasso@gmail.com">JBarrasso@gmail.com</a>. Follow him on Twitter @<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinBarrasso">JustinBarrasso</a>.

New on Sports Illustrated: Gilbert Burns Caps Off UFC Fight Night With One-Sided Victory Against Tyrone Woodley

If you were waiting for a changing of the guard in the welterweight division, look no further than Gilbert Burns. If you were waiting for a changing of the guard in the welterweight division, look no…

31 May 2020

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31 May 2020

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31 May 2020

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31 May 2020

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31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Ohio State Basketball Player Seth Towns Detained During George Floyd Rally

<a href="https://www.si.com/college/2020/05/31/ohio-state-basketball-seth-towns-detained-police-george-floyd-protest">
Towns, a graduate transfer from Harvard, was briefly detained but not arrested during a rally in Columbus.
Just one day after graduating from Harvard, Ohio State grad transfer Seth Towns was detained by local police while participating in a protest following the death of George Floyd.
"In a span of just 24 hours, I walked across a Harvard virtual graduation stage into the back of police van alongside other peaceful protestors-both of which I am equally proud of," Towns
</a><a href="https://twitter.com/seth_towns17/status/1266826532036718598">said in a tweet</a> Saturday afternoon.
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A <a href="https://twitter.com/11W/status/1266604744736485376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266604744736485376&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fmens-college-basketball%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F29245219%2Fbuckeyes-seth-towns-detained-police-george-floyd-rally">video of Towns being detained</a> was tweeted by Eleven Warriors, where Towns can be seen shouting "Say his name!" as others respond by shouting "George Floyd!"
Ohio State spokesman Dan Wallenberg said Towns was detained briefly but not arrested, <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/29245219/buckeyes-seth-towns-detained-police-george-floyd-rally%3Fplatform%3Damp">according to ESPN's Myron Medcalf</a>.
George Floyd's death at the hands of police officers in Minneapolis has <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/28/sports-world-reacts-to-george-floyds-death">sparked reaction across the sports world</a>, while many cities have <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2020/05/30/college-football-hall-of-fame-damaged-george-floyd-protest-atlanta">broken out in protest</a>.
In a <a href="https://twitter.com/OhioStateHoops/status/1266846442360012807">statement released Saturday</a>, Ohio State coach Chris Holtmann offered his support to Towns and his commitment to social justice.
"We fully support our players’ right to peacefully protest. In the time I’ve gotten to know Seth, it’s clear that he has a heart for social justice," Holtmann said. "As I said in my statement yesterday morning, we will continue to openly discuss this within our program. We pray for safety in our city, state, and around the country.”
Harvard coach Tommy Amaker commended Towns' actions in a <a href="https://twitter.com/HarvardMBB/status/1266766200241115136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266766200241115136&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fmens-college-basketball%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F29245219%2Fbuckeyes-seth-towns-detained-police-george-floyd-rally">statement released on Saturday</a>, saying, "I fully support, and am proud of, Seth in his continued fight for social justice, a cause that has been near and dear to his heart since he arrived on campus four years ago. We, as a program, always encourage our players in their efforts to stand up for their beliefs and for what is right.”
Towns missed the entire 2019-20 season due to a knee injury. In 58 career games at Harvard, he averaged 14.2 points, 5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 41.9% on 3-pointers.

New on Sports Illustrated: Ohio State Basketball Player Seth Towns Detained During George Floyd Rally

Towns, a graduate transfer from Harvard, was briefly detained but not arrested during a rally in Columbus. Just one day after graduating from Harvard, Ohio State grad transfer Seth Towns was detained…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Minnesota Twins Breakouts, Busts & Values: Byron Buxton & Jose Berrios On Cusp of Stardom

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2020/05/30/minnesota-twins-breakouts-busts-values-sleepers-buxton-berrios">
Although lacking a true superstar fantasy player, the Minnesota Twins' roster is packed with overachieving and dependable options. But that doesn't mean there aren't any guys on the cusp of something special.
Breakout: SP Jose Berrios
Over the previous three seasons, Berrios went 40-27 with a 3.80 ERA and 536 strikeouts over 538.1 innings.
In 2019, he broke the 200-inning barrier (200.1) for the first time in his career while showing improvement in his walk rate (2.3). Even with better command, his strikeout rate (8.8) regressed from 2018 (9.5) while still giving up too many home runs (26 – 1.2 per nine).
Berrios had success but didn’t dominate right-handed (.254) or left-handed (.247) batters. 
Over his first 22 starts, he posted a 2.80 ERA and 133 strikeouts over 141.2 innings before disaster struck on August 6th (nine runs and 13 baserunners over 5.2 innings). He allowed two runs or fewer in just three of his final ten starts, which led to a 5.83 ERA, 1.517 WHIP, and ten home runs over 58.2 innings.
His AFB (93.5) is trending backward while having about the same success with his four-seamer (.246 BAA), curveball (.241 BAA), and changeup (.244 BAA).
With an ADP of 82, fantasy owners will look to roster him as a backend SP2 or early SP3 depending on league size. His minor league resume (2.77 ERA and 628 Ks over 591.2 innings) points to upside while developing into a workhorse arm.
On the verge of being a fantasy ace if he regains in 2018 strikeout ability and repeats his start to last season. Almost a cheat SP1 for a fantasy owner that wants to build his offense early.
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Breakout: OF Byron Buxton
Over five seasons with the Twins, Buxton only hit .237 with 38 home runs, 145 RBI, and 60 steals over 1,250 at-bats. Last year he missed another 75 games, which came after seeing the field for only 28 contests in 2018.
In 2019, he did improve with runners on base (RBI rate – 19) while setting a career-high in his average hit rate (1.958).
For the first time in his career, Buxton made a strong move to the league average (21.5) in his strikeout rate (23.1 – 31.7 over his first 1,074 plate appearances in the majors).
His stats last year projected over 550 at-bats would come to 97 runs, 20 home runs, 93 RBI, and 28 stolen bases while seeing over 90 percent of his plate appearances hitting ninth in the batting order.
Buxton showed growth vs. lefties (.317 with three HRs and 11 RBI over 63 at-bats). His jump in power in 2019 came from a change in swing path (48.5 percent fly-ball rate – 41.9 in his career), but Buxton posted a lower HR/FB rate (10.1 – 11.2 in his career).
His missed playing time came from a left shoulder injury that required surgery in September. It’s been a long time since the Twins drafted him with the second overall pick in 2012. With an ADP of 156, fantasy owners expect growth in 2020. The key to his success and value is staying on the field for a full season. Getting close to a 20/20 player with higher upside if he improves in his approach. Buxton has the makings of a breakout player. 
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Value: SP Rich Hill
Hill started 2019 on the injured list with a left issue. Once he returned to the starting rotation in late April, he went 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA and 59 Ks over 52 innings despite allowing ten home runs.
A left forearm issue cost him about the final three and half of the season, which ultimately led to elbow surgery in late October. The Twins didn’t expect him to pitch over the first half of 2020, which led to him being only a flier in early drafts. The late start of 2020 season points to Hill being ready for the beginning of the year with the lights come on in July.
His ADP from March 1st until mid-May came in at 447 with one owner pricing drafting at pick 189.
Over the last five seasons, Hill went 39-19 with a 3.00 ERA and 517 strikeouts over 437.1 innings. His AFB (90.7) had a slight rebound in velocity with batter struggling to hit his four-seamer (.218 BAA) and his curveball (.225 BAA).
A change to the AL will hurt his stats for sure, but his arm does make sense based on where he should be drafted in 2020. Hill pitched over 135.2 innings only once in his career (2017 – 195.0), which isn’t a factor this year.
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Regression: C Mitch Garver
After the 2019 draft season, Garver was found in the free-agent pool in many leagues.
He started the year with a respectable first week (3-for-10 with two runs and two RBI over four of the seven games) before an attention-grabbing next six contests (.478 with eight runs, five HRs, and eight RBI over 23 at-bats).
Garver landed on the injured list in mid-May with an ankle injury, which came after a 10-for-33 stretch to start the month with four home runs and nine RBI over 33 at-bats.
The Twins gave him 56 starts over the final four months of the year, and he responded with follow-through in power (.254 with 22 HRs and 48 RBI over 232 at-bats). Garver creamed lefties (.321 with 12 HRs and 23 RBI over 106 at-bats). On the year, he never had over 65 at-bats or 15 games played in any month.
His walk rate (11.4) was a career-best, but he did have a high strikeout rate (24.2) compared to his minor league career (17.6).
Garver had the 12th-ranked hard-hit rate (50.0) in the majors while an explosive HR/FB rate (29.0). His success in power is well above his minor league resume (.270 with 51 HRs, 286 RBI, and 15 SBs over 1,828 at-bats), but he did flash more home runs in 2017 at AAA (.291 with 17 HRs and 45 RBI over 320 at-bats).
Garver has an ADP of 115 as the fourth catcher off the board. The Twins have three options behind the plate again in 2020.
Garver should earn more playing time, but his defense wasn’t an edge (8 passed balls, 30 wild pitches, and 84 percent success rate in steals) over 82 games at catcher.
His ceiling was expected to be only 400 at-bats unless he works his way to playing time at another position. I don’t expect a full-time starting job with regression in runs and power, which makes him overpriced for me.
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Deep Sleeper: OF Alex Kirilloff
Kirilloff appeared to be in the fast track to the majors after playing well in 2018 between A and High A (.348 with 75 runs, 20 HRs, 101 RBI, and four SBs over 512 at-bats). Last year his bat stalled at AA (.283 with nine HRs, 43 RBI, and seven SBs over 375 at-bats) while missing some time due to a wrist injury.
His K rate (16.1) was an edge with some work to do in his walk rate (6.5). The Twins selected him in the first round (15th overall) in the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft. This season he'll start the year at AAA with a chance to make the majors this summer.
Kirilloff missed all of 2017 with TJ surgery in his left elbow.
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READ MORE: <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/02/21/fantasy-baseball-minnesota-twins-team-outlook">2020 Minnesota Twins Fantasy Team Preview</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Minnesota Twins Breakouts, Busts & Values: Byron Buxton & Jose Berrios On Cusp of Stardom

Although lacking a true superstar fantasy player, the Minnesota Twins' roster is packed with overachieving and dependable options. But that doesn't mean there aren't any guys on the cusp of something…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Cam Newton Expected to 'Take His Time' in Signing With New Team

<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/05/30/cam-newton-expected-take-time-signing-new-team-free-agency">
Free-agent quarterback Cam Newton may reportedly wait to sign until teams are able to resume regular activities.
Free-agent quarterback Cam Newton is expected to "take his time" before he signs with a new team, according to
</a><a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29244716/source-market-cool-cam-newton-wait-sign-team">ESPN's Jeremy Fowler</a>. 
As the market has cooled in free agency over the past month, Newton may reportedly wait to make a decision on his next step. The former MVP may hold on signing until teams are able to resume regular activities amid the coronavirus pandemic, allowing suitors to assess his physical status and meet in-person, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29244716/source-market-cool-cam-newton-wait-sign-team">per Fowler</a>. 
Newton entered the free-agent market in March when he was <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/03/24/cam-newton-release-carolina-panthers">released from the Carolina Panthers</a>. He spent nine seasons <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/">with the team</a> after being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2011 and went on to become the second African-American quarterback to win MVP in NFL history, following Steve McNair, for the 2015 season.
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<a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29244716/source-market-cool-cam-newton-wait-sign-team">According to ESPN</a>, league sources are still unsure if Newton is open to taking a backup quarterback job. The 31-year-old is reportedly believed to have had discussions with the New England Patriots early during free agency, but nothing materialized, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29244716/source-market-cool-cam-newton-wait-sign-team">per ESPN</a>. 
Newton missed 14 games during the 2019 season with a Lisfranc injury in his left foot and <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/12/04/cam-newton-surgery-foot-injury-panthers">underwent surgery in December</a>. He <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/24/cam-newton-arthroscopic-surgery-right-shoulder-panthers">previously underwent surgery for a shoulder injury</a> that caused him to miss the final two games of the 2018 season. 
In March, Newton reportedly <a href="https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29244716/source-market-cool-cam-newton-wait-sign-team">passed a physical</a> with his shoulder and foot "checking out well." 
Newton has drawn interest from NFL teams in free agency, with the <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/news/seahawks-open-to-cam-newton-backing-up-russell-wilson">Seattle Seahawks reportedly being "open" to adding him as a backup</a> to Russell Wilson.

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: Cam Newton Expected to 'Take His Time' in Signing With New Team

Free-agent quarterback Cam Newton may reportedly wait to sign until teams are able to resume regular activities. Free-agent quarterback Cam Newton is expected to "take his time" before he signs with …

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Devin McCourty Shares Heartbreaking Post About Loss of His Daughter

<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/05/30/devin-mccourty-mourns-death-daughter">
"We are so heartbroken. We are devastated. We are speechless."
Patriots safety Devin McCourty and his wife Michelle shared the heartbreaking news Saturday that her pregnancy with their third child, Mia, resulted in a stillbirth.
Both Devin and Michelle McCourty posted her note on Instagram about their devastating Memorial Day weekend.
"My pregnancy had resulted in a stillbirth at almost 8 months of being pregnant—at exactly 31 weeks 2 days, when we found out that the baby girl growing inside me no longer had a heartbeat after being completely fine the week prior at my last doctor’s appointment. We are so heartbroken. We are devastated. We are speechless. We are angry. We are sad. We are confused. We are numb," Michelle McCourty wrote.
"I can't explain my thoughts in the moment. My faith has always been strong, but it definitely wavered. I was so angry. So sad. I had to call on my most faith-filled friends and support systems to help me deal with this reality. To not allow my anger and hurt to cause me to lose faith altogether."
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The couple has two children—their 3-year-old daughter Londyn and 2-year-old son Brayden. The family also asked for prayers and for their privacy to be respected during this difficult time.
"The mere thought of what happened causes instant bursts of tears at any time of day, and having to speak about it hurts tenfold," Michelle McCourty said.
"We do ask that you please push your prayers our way, especially towards our future, as that will be the hardest challenge moving forward. Pray for our healing. Pray for some closure."
Devin McCourty is entering his 11th season with the Patriots.
</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Devin McCourty Shares Heartbreaking Post About Loss of His Daughter

"We are so heartbroken. We are devastated. We are speechless." Patriots safety Devin McCourty and his wife Michelle shared the heartbreaking news Saturday that her pregnancy with their third child, M…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Chris Jericho Talks Feud With Mike Tyson, AEW Success and Stadium Stampede

<a href="https://www.si.com/wrestling/2020/05/30/chris-jericho-mike-tyson-aew">
Jericho discussed the excitement surrounding his Triple Whammy cruise, his ongoing story with Mike Tyson and last week’s Stadium Stampede match.
Once again, Chris Jericho is trending.
What’s old is new again in AEW, as Jericho had a must-see altercation with Mike Tyson this past Wednesday on Dynamite. The story is rich in pro wrestling, as Jericho demands an apology from an incident that occurred between them nine years ago in WWE. A master of his craft, Jericho’s segment with Tyson garnered massive attention and publicity, including an above the fold story in one of Portugal’s top sports sections.
Jericho also announced this week that his Rock ‘n’ Wrestling Rager at Sea will be back for a third cruise in February 2021, sailing from Miami to Grand Bahama Island with “Le Champion” serving as the master of ceremonies at sea.
Speaking with Sports Illustrated, Jericho discussed the excitement surrounding his Triple Whammy cruise, his ongoing story with Mike Tyson and the creativity and criticism surrounding last week’s Stadium Stampede match at Double or Nothing.
Justin Barrasso: Your fingerprints were all over the Mike Tyson altercation from this past week’s Dynamite. Was the finished product and ensuing media coverage best-case scenario for you, Tyson and AEW?
Chris Jericho: Tyson is so hot and popular right now, having him on our show is very much a coup. It just goes to show timing is everything. Had we done this a year ago, it wouldn’t have been the same.
It was very much a timely decision that paid off hugely with press coverage worldwide, with headlines from Chili to Portugal to Mexico to Italy to France, all about Mike Tyson appearing in AEW with Chris Jericho. It’s great for our company, it’s great for me and it’s great for Mike. It puts him right back in the spotlight, right where he wants to be.
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Barrasso: The week has been full of activity for you, including announcing that your third cruise, Triple Whammy, will set sail in 2021. What went into the decision for a third cruise?
Jericho: The second cruise was such a hit, we knew we had to do a third. Then the pandemic hit, and ‘cruise’ became a dirty word for a while. But we never wavered, and this isn’t a fool-hearty decision where we said we’d do this no matter what. Norwegian Cruise knows that their business is in trouble if they don’t do things properly and do them right. After much research and deliberation to make sure the boat is as safe as it can be, times a zillion, we decided to move forward.
When I say ‘we,’ I’m just a cog in the Norwegian Cruise lines, but I’m all for it. This is February, nine months from now. I think we’ll have a lot of things resolved by then. If not, then we’ll just postpone and do it later. But we have to at least plan for it. If October or November come around and everything’s cool, then it would be too late if we hadn’t planned. We’re going in optimistically, but also smartly.
And the reaction that we got is just off the charts. Our pre-sales are the same now that they were the last time, and we’re in the middle of a pandemic, so that’s insane to me. There are also a lot of people that don’t like the idea, and that’s fine, too. If you don’t like it, don’t come. If you like the idea, we’re going to make it the best vacation, like we have for the past two cruises. It’s completely safe, I’m taking my family, and putting together the lineup now is one of my favorite things to do. We’ve been working on this since the week after our last cruise ended, and we can’t wait to surprise people with all the talent we have coming on board.
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Barrasso: It’s always great to have something to look forward to. Why is February the right time?
Jericho: You’ve seen what we’ve been doing with AEW. We haven’t stopped putting on shows. I understand there are people that do not want to leave their house, and I appreciate that. We’re putting on a great AEW show every Wednesday for those at home, and people do need something to look forward to. February isn’t that far away, and this can be great. Now there are people who will never go on another cruise again, I get it. But there are also people who would go on a cruise tomorrow if they could. So it’s your choice. We feel it’s going to be above and beyond a great time. It’s a perfect way to put 2020 in our rearview mirror and continue to have fun as human beings.
Barrasso: The Tyson story and the cruise announcement have almost overshadowed your Stadium Stampede match.
There isn’t much you have yet to accomplish in wrestling, but up until last week, a Stadium Stampede match was one of them. I know there have been some criticism from viewers and voices throughout the business, but there was also so much to enjoy. Highlights included the finish, the bar fight, 100 yards of Northern Lights suplexes, your “That’ll move the chains” line—and even Hangman Page using the hard paint machine on you. Was there a particular highlight or a piece of the creative process that particularly resonated with you?
Jericho: That wasn’t so much a match as it was a short film. We wanted to make a spectacle. We knew that, and we wanted to go all the way with that.
In terms of criticism, I heard what Jim Cornette said and it really disappointed me. I’ve known Jim for 25 years, and now he doesn’t want to be friends with me because he didn’t like my match? That’s a very myopic statement. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. It’s that simple. Don’t say you to don’t want to be my friend anymore because you didn’t like it. I was really disappointed to hear that.
Wrestling has always had this element of humor to it. When I was growing up, I loved Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant, but I also loved Corporal Kirchner taking his zipline down into the middle of a pool and dropping into it. It’s entertainment all across the board, and that’s what we wanted to do with the Stadium Stampede match.
When we walked out on the field that Thursday, we had a completely empty football field with tens of thousands of empty seats, and that was it. We needed to be creative about what we wanted to do and where we wanted to go. We found the pool, the bar, then we asked for a mascot and cheerleaders.
When we were filming, there was a huge thunderstorm at 3 a.m. that stopped us from filming for an hour. That’s when we watched the rough edit, and I said, ‘Holy s---, this is great.’ When I walked out of there, after 30 years of being in the business, I said that was one of the best things I’d ever been involved in. And when we played it back and tightened it up with commentating, I was right. If you didn’t like it, that’s cool. But there are hundreds of thousands of people watching that loved it, and all of us in the match all felt the same. If you weren’t entertained by that, you have a problem. You might not like it for hardcore wrestling, and that’s fine. To me, it’s one of the best things I’ve ever done.
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Barrasso: This was designed to be a blowoff between factions, and I think it’s important to note that the Stadium Stampede match wasn’t a world title match. Had it been Cody Rhodes-Lance Archer in that match for the TNT title, or Jon Moxley-Brodie Lee for the world title, I could understand why people would have had a completely different perspective.
Jericho: Of course. It wasn’t a title match. That was the culmination of an eight-month story, dating back to the very first Dynamite episode with The Inner Circle beating up The Elite. Eight months later, this was our big blowoff, and it was one of the greatest spectacles of all-time.
Every heel got what was coming to him. Then the next night of TV we come back with a Pep Rally, here comes Mike Tyson and we’re right back on track. That’s what wrestling is all about.
Barrasso: It’s very hard to make people laugh, but you popping Jaxson de Ville’s head with a Judas Effect was incredibly funny.
Jericho: The reason why all that worked is because we played everything straight. That’s why it worked. I wasn’t going to make a joke of it when I saw the mascot. No, it’s ‘F--- you mascot. You’re in my way, and this is what you get.’ That is why our brand of humor works. You always play everything straight. We’re not in on our own jokes, and that’s why it’s funny.
Barrasso: And you followed up Stadium Stampede with the Tyson altercation, which reminds me of a very modern-age version of Roddy Piper and Mr. T. I know Tyson is not a stranger to pro wrestling, but he was always designed to be the special enforcer or the guy who dropped the heel with one knockout punch. What excites you most for a prolonged program with Tyson?
Jericho: What excites me most? A program with Mike. We didn’t have a script for Mike; we’re not giving him cues. He’s going to do what he wants, and you saw that on Wednesday night. There were guys in the ring that I didn’t even know were going to be in the ring. Mike wanted them to be in the ring, so OK. That’s Mike Tyson. He’s a loose cannon, he can go off at any time and he’s dangerous. I don’t care if he’s 53 or 33 or 23, he looks crazy and he is crazy. That’s why we love him.
I loved the concept of Piper-Mr. T, but the actual execution was not good. We’ll never do a boxer vs. wrestler. Either we’ll do a straight up boxing match—I’m not kidding. So what if I’m knocked out by Mike Tyson? I’ve been knocked out by worse—or we’ll do a street fight. Right now, the match is secondary to the pomp and circumstance that we will have in getting to the spectacle of the pay per view. That’s what wrestling is all about, it’s the story. People are so focused on the in-ring, which is great, but if there’s no story, there’s no match.
Whatever we decide to do, it’s the buildup that needs to be great. We don’t know what’s going to happen. We have ideas; his people have ideas. And if we’re able to work something out where Mike isn’t just the enforcer, and he’s in the match, then people won’t know what to expect. You’ll have two loose cannons, because I’m just as crazy as Tyson is, putting on a great performance for everybody that wants to see it.
Barrasso: Wednesday’s pep rally was another fun display for The Inner Circle. There is real chemistry among the group, and everyone is in a better position now across the wrestling realm than they were when the faction started.
At the beginning, Sammy Guevara wasn’t known nationally, Jake Hager needed a new coat of paint, and Santana and Ortiz had standout matches in Impact, but nothing quite on the level of live television every week on TNT. It’s now part of your legacy, too. Are you happy with the evolution of the group?
Jericho: Absolutely, times 10,000. When we put this together, there were different ideas about who should be in it, but we didn’t really know for sure what would work. I actually scouted Sammy for the company, but I didn’t really know Ortiz and Santana. I knew Hager from years ago and I was always a huge fan of his, but what was his mindset like? What was his attitude going to be?
We look cool together. You’ve got a tall, blonde, handsome killer that dresses like he’s going to a golf game. There’s Jericho, half game-show host, half rock star, there’s the muscle from Santana and Ortiz and a 26-year-old that is just a really cool 26-year-old kid.
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And everyone’s personalities have really come out. It’s like a rock and roll band with our chemistry. We’ve grown to respect and appreciate the relationship we have, and we share ideas. Look at ‘The Bubbly Bunch.’ That was a Santana idea that went through Hager, then kind of thrown around in a milkshake and poured out.
Find me another combination of chemistry and athletic ability that is better than The Inner Circle. The NWO was great. We’re better workers than them. DX is great. We’re better workers than they are. These guys are great. You said Hager needed a new coat of paint? We poured a whole bucket over him. There were points at Stadium Stampede where he looked like Andre The Giant.
Barrasso: The poem that Hager read on Wednesday’s Dynamite is the most charisma he has shown in his entire career.
Jericho: Let me tell you one better. That poem was his idea and he wrote it. He read it to us once before, just so we could see what it was, and then he read it in the ring. There was nobody writing a script or giving him that idea, he came up with that.
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The gifts we gave each other were the same thing. Sammy had the idea for the trophies, Santana and Ortiz had the idea for the gift baskets, Jake had the poem. Nobody forced us to rewrite the script or change it. That’s a reason we love AEW, that freedom.
We’re eight months into this storyline, and that’s a long time, but we’re still the top heels in the company just by doing what we’re doing. All of us came from other companies, but The Inner Circle is another example of an AEW creation that we made into top stars very quickly.
Barrasso: In terms of wrestling, what can people expect if they invest in the Triple Whammy cruise?
Jericho: Our plan is to do a live taping from the ship. Last year was a taped show, and this year, we want to go live. We don’t do house shows, and guys enjoyed working matches on the ship for four days. That’s almost like our own house show loop, and it’s where the guys get to have fun. Last time, Janela and Kazarian had a drink-off in the middle of the ring. We’re doing things you can’t do on TV, but you can on a cruise ship. The biggest difference this time is we want to take it live from the sea.
Justin Barrasso can be reached at <a href="mailto:JBarrasso@gmail.com">JBarrasso@gmail.com</a>. Follow him on Twitter @<a href="https://twitter.com/JustinBarrasso">JustinBarrasso</a>.

New on Sports Illustrated: Chris Jericho Talks Feud With Mike Tyson, AEW Success and Stadium Stampede

Jericho discussed the excitement surrounding his Triple Whammy cruise, his ongoing story with Mike Tyson and last week’s Stadium Stampede match. Once again, Chris Jericho is trending. What’s old is n…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Draft or Pass: Jorge Polanco A Strong Value Play With Speed Category Potential

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2020/05/30/jorge-polanco-value-adp-draft-pass">
With a minor improvement to his steals category, Polanco will challenge to perform as a high-end SS2. SI Fantasy expert Jaime Eisner is leaning towards growth.
The still-to-be-determined start of the 2020 MLB season has added an interesting wrinkle to fantasy baseball draft prep. We here at SI Fantasy want to provide you with the best information possible heading into your drafts in these unprecedented times.
Our "Draft or Pass" video series takes a closer look at a fantasy player that will be debated often leading up to fantasy drafts, in many cases, because of the delayed start to the season. Are our hosts targeting this player specifically? Are they avoiding him entirely?
Today's video focuses on Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco.
Draft or Pass at current ADP: 148.6 (SS21)?
Polanco broke out last season with 107 runs, 22 home runs, 79 RBI, 4 steals, and a .295 batting average. Going back a little further, he's been rock-solid since returning from his 80-game PED suspension in July of 2018. He finished 14th among all shortstops on ESPN's player rater last season and should be able to replicate his stats (aside from runs) in 2020, in prorated fashion. When the season starts, I expect Polanco to hit second, in front of Nelson Cruz and Josh Donaldson, in a potent Twins offense.
Diving into my preseason projections, I had Polanco down for 90 runs, 20 home runs, 80 RBI, 6 stolen bases, and a .280 batting average in 596 at-bats. That shows a slight dip in runs and batting average, but everything else pretty much stays the same.
Polanco's 90 runs ranked 11th among all SS-eligible players in my projections. His 20 HRs ranked 17th, his 80 RBI ranked 12th, and his .280 batting average ranked tied for 10th. Steals are a significant concern, especially since he flat-out stopped doing it in the second half of the season. Still, he can essentially compete with the SS1s in the other four categories at a price barely inside the Top 150. Polanco ranks as my No. 18 SS and No. 119 overall player.
READ MORE:
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/02/21/fantasy-baseball-minnesota-twins-team-outlook">2020 Minnesota Twins Fantasy Team Preview</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Draft or Pass: Jorge Polanco A Strong Value Play With Speed Category Potential

With a minor improvement to his steals category, Polanco will challenge to perform as a high-end SS2. SI Fantasy expert Jaime Eisner is leaning towards growth. The still-to-be-determined start of the…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Hall of Famer, Former Bronco Floyd Little Diagnosed With Cancer

<a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/05/30/hall-of-famer-former-bronco-floyd-little-diagnosed-cancer">
Denver Broncos and Syracuse legend Floyd Little has been diagnosed with a "treatable but aggressive form" of cancer.
Hall of Fame running back and Denver Broncos legend Floyd Little has been diagnosed with cancer,
</a><a href="https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2020/05/floyd-little-one-of-syracuse-footballs-legendary-44s-has-cancer-toughest-fight-of-his-life.html">former Syracuse teammate Pat Killorin said</a>. 
According to <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2020/05/floyd-little-one-of-syracuse-footballs-legendary-44s-has-cancer-toughest-fight-of-his-life.html">Syracuse.com</a>, Little is fighting a "treatable but aggressive form" of cancer. The Hall of Famer, 77, currently lives in Las Vegas with his wife, DeBorah. 
“No doubt it will be the toughest fight of his life," Killorin <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-floyd/">wrote</a>. "Although he has lived a full life admired and enjoyed by many, Floyd doesn’t believe he has yet written, with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the final play of his life.”
Little first made his mark on the football world at Syracuse University from 1964-66, where he was one of the program's legendary "44's." One of the most celebrated sports figures in Syracuse history, Little was a three-time All-American and finished his college career with 2,704 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns. 
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A bronze statue of Little stands outside Syracuse's football practice facility alongside the school's other legendary running backs Jim Brown and Ernie Davis. He has also been a recent common figure at games and community functions. 
“Jimmy Brown is the greatest back ever, but Floyd Little is right next to him, as far as I’m concerned, walking hand in hand down that football field,” Killorin <a href="https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2020/05/floyd-little-one-of-syracuse-footballs-legendary-44s-has-cancer-toughest-fight-of-his-life.html">said</a>.
Little went on to be drafted No. 6 overall by the Denver Broncos in 1967 and played all nine seasons of his professional career with the team. Earning the nickname, “The Franchise,” he became a five-time Pro-Bowler and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010. He is also part of the Broncos’ Ring of Honor.
Killorin is <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-floyd/">organizing a fundraiser</a> to assist with Little's medical expenses. The <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-floyd/">"Friends of Floyd" GoFundMe page</a>, which was started with the blessing of Little's family, has a goal of $250,000 and <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-floyd/">can be found here</a>.

New on Sports Illustrated: Hall of Famer, Former Bronco Floyd Little Diagnosed With Cancer

Denver Broncos and Syracuse legend Floyd Little has been diagnosed with a "treatable but aggressive form" of cancer. Hall of Fame running back and Denver Broncos legend Floyd Little has been diagnose…

31 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Weston McKennie Honors George Floyd With Special Message on His Armband

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/05/30/weston-mckennie-armband-george-floyd-schalke">
McKennie wore an armband that said "Justice for George" during Saturday's Schalke-Werder Bremen match.
USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie paid tribute to George Floyd—a black man who died Monday evening while being violently apprehended by Minneapolis police—with a special message on his armband Saturday.
McKennie sported an armband that said "Justice for George" during the Bundesliga match between Schalke and Werder Bremen. After the game, Schalke tweeted a photo of the midfielder wearing it and included the same message as a hashtag.
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McKennie, a Texas native like Floyd, also posted on social media after Schalke's 1–0 loss.
"To be able to use my platform to bring attention to a problem that has been going on to long feels good!!! We have to stand up for what we believe in and I believe that it is time that we are heard!"
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Floyd's death <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/28/sports-world-reacts-to-george-floyds-death">sparked many reactions</a> from athletes and the sports world. Former NBA player Stephen Jackson led a press conference in Minneapolis Friday, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/29/stephen-jackson-press-conference-george-floyd-death">speaking with raw emotion</a> about a man he affectionately called "my twin."
On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe also <a href="https://twitter.com/KMbappe/status/1266715058895290368">tweeted</a> the #JusticeForGeorge hashtag to show his support.

New on Sports Illustrated: Weston McKennie Honors George Floyd With Special Message on His Armband

McKennie wore an armband that said "Justice for George" during Saturday's Schalke-Werder Bremen match. USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie paid tribute to George Floyd—a black man who died Monday evenin…

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Draft or Pass: Le'Veon Bell is RB1 Talent With RB2 Price Tag

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2020/05/30/leveon-bell-draft-pass-adp-value">
2019 couldn't have gone much worse for New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell. That's why SI Fantasy expert Jaime Eisner sees value where everyone else sees decline.
It's never too early to start your fantasy football research, and we here at SI Fantasy want to provide you with the best information possible heading into your drafts. Our "Draft or Pass" video series takes a closer look at a fantasy player that will be debated often leading up to fantasy drafts. Are our hosts targeting this player specifically? Are they avoiding him entirely?
Today's video focuses on New York Jets running back Le' Veon Bell.
Draft or Pass at current ADP: 35.3 (RB17)?
The mighty have fallen after missing the entire 2018 season due to a contract dispute; then, Bell moved from the high-powered Pittsburgh Steelers offense to an Adam Gase-led offense in New York. However, the hate may be going a little too far on Bell, providing some upside opportunity.
Unless he decides to sit out another full season, we likely just saw the worst season Bell could reasonably have at this stage of his career if healthy. He was the RB15 in total points and RB17 in average points per game in PPR formats. I'm mindful, but not terribly concerned about the additions of Frank Gore in free agency and La'Michal Perine in the draft. Here's what Jets Country reporter
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/ny-jets-how-frank-gore-fits">Kristian Dyer had to say about how the backs fit in New York</a>:
"The Jets offense suddenly has two running backs with productive careers in Bell and Gore as well as a promising rookie prospect (Perine). For an offense that was second worst in the league last year in rushing, there is now considerably more talent behind Bell.
"This should lighten the load on Bell and keep him fresh. Gore also provides a mentoring component for Perine."
You're paying an RB2 price for RB1 talent with a high floor. It's been a couple of years, but let's remember why Bell was drafted a surefire first-rounder before his 2018 holdout. He'd be a better fit outside of New York, but you've got a solid RB2 who will get you about 15 fantasy points per game in the meantime. Sign me up for that around the third-fourth round turn.
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New on Sports Illustrated: Draft or Pass: Le'Veon Bell is RB1 Talent With RB2 Price Tag

2019 couldn't have gone much worse for New York Jets running back Le'Veon Bell. That's why SI Fantasy expert Jaime Eisner sees value where everyone else sees decline. It's never too early to start yo…

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Dolphins Coach Brian Flores Issues Powerful Message in Wake of George Floyd's Death

<a href="https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2020/05/30/coaches-players-speak-out-george-floyd-death">
Coaches and athletes across the NFL, NBA and other sports released statements Friday before another wave of protests swept the country in the wake of George' Floyd's death.
<h2>‘Honesty, Transparency, and Empathy’</h2>
"I lead a group of young men who have the potential to make a real impact in this world. My message to them and anyone else who wants to listen is that honesty, transparency, and empathy go a long way in bringing people together and making change. I hope that the tragedies of the last few weeks will open our hearts and minds to a better way of communicating and hopefully create that change."
That’s the final piece of a statement from
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/dolphins/news/brian-flores-statement-on-race-relations-getting-widespread-praise?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sinow&xid=socialflow_twitter_si">Miami Dolphins’ head coach Brian Flores on Friday afternoon</a>, hours before another wave of protests and riots swept across the country and four days after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Flores was one of several coaches and athletes across the NFL, college football and other American sports to release statements on Friday, among them: Michigan State head coach <a href="https://www.mlive.com/sports/2020/05/mel-tucker-calls-george-floyds-death-heartbreaking-asks-for-country-to-come-together.html">Mel Tucker</a>, Clemson quarterback <a href="https://twitter.com/Trevorlawrencee/status/1266455144868257799?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266455144868257799&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Fbrian-flores-athletes-react-george-floyd-death-minneapolis-riots%2F1kxoy2w6s4png1urcsfvclthjz">Trevor Lawrence</a>, tennis player <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/may/29/coco-gauff-stephen-jackson-george-floyd-reaction">Coco Gauff</a>, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback <a href="https://twitter.com/Joe_Burrow10/status/1266404689203146754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266404689203146754&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Fbrian-flores-athletes-react-george-floyd-death-minneapolis-riots%2F1kxoy2w6s4png1urcsfvclthjz">Joe Burrow</a>, San Diego Padres outfielder <a href="https://twitter.com/Taytram24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266446043547340801&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fnfl%2Fnews%2Fbrian-flores-athletes-react-george-floyd-death-minneapolis-riots%2F1kxoy2w6s4png1urcsfvclthjz">Taylor Trammell</a> and Minnesota head coach <a href="https://sports.yahoo.com/minnesota-coach-pj-fleck-george-floyds-death-was-indefensible-004508207.html">P.J. Fleck</a>.
<h2>Major Issues</h2>
"Unfortunately, considering all of the circumstances affecting the organization at this time, we have decided not to continue your $400 weekly stipend beyond May 31,” Oakland Athletics’ general manager <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/27/athletics-will-not-pay-minor-leaguers-rest-of-season">David Forst wrote in an e-mail last week</a> to the organization’s minor league players. “This was a difficult decision and it's one that comes at a time when a number of our full-time employees are also finding themselves either furloughed or facing a reduction in salary for the remainder of the season. For this, I am sorry."
The e-mail was made public a couple days before <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1265432930614198272">Jeff Passan reported</a> “hundreds of minor league baseball players were cut Thursday and hundreds more are expected to lose their jobs as the sport grapples with the near certainty that the minor league season will be canceled.”
Teams made the move to save a whopping $400 per player per week, an amount agreed to in late March. That agreement is set to expire on May 31, though several teams aren’t following in the steps of the Athletics, <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/05/28/mets-releasing-minor-league-players-to-cut-costs/">New York Mets</a>, and other teams in cutting minor-league players. As of Saturday morning, the <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/30/twins-royals-astros-reds-pay-minor-league-players-mlb">Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros</a> were among the teams refusing to cut minor leaguers.
“Understand this: The minor league players, the players you'll never know about, the players that never get out of rookie ball or High-A, those players have as much impact on the growth of our game than 10-year or 15-year veteran players," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said in a Friday conference call, <a href="https://twitter.com/alec_lewis/status/1266494727018479617?s=20">per The Athletic's Alec Lewis</a>. "They have as much opportunity to influence the growth of our game as those individuals who played for a long time because those individuals go back into their communities and teach the game, work in academies, are JUCO coaches, college coaches, scouts, coaches in pro baseball.”
In other baseball news, the MLBPA is now <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/30/mlbpa-seeking-mlb-financial-documents-counter-offer-2020-season?utm_medium=social&xid=socialflow_twitter_si&utm_campaign=sinow&utm_source=twitter.com">requesting the league’s financial records</a> that would “support the dubious financial distress claims the league has made.”
<h2>Worst CFB Firings</h2>
Tom Osborne wanted longtime assistant Frank Solich to inherit his football dynasty after the 1997 season. And if Nebraska didn't want Solich, Osborne wouldn't retire.
Nebraska's power brokers did want Solich, though the love didn't last long. Two years after winning 42 games in his first four seasons, a win total Osborne himself didn’t achieve until his ninth season, <a href="https://herosports.com/college-football/worst-coaching-firings-moves-changes-ahah">Solich was fired</a>. And Nebraska has never returned to that level of success.
<a href="https://herosports.com/college-football/worst-coaching-firings-moves-changes-ahah">What were the worst college football firings of the last 20 years?</a>
<h2>Odds & Ends</h2>
Texas football’s in-state talent <a href="https://herosports.com/college-football/texas-roster-recruiting-ahah">plummeted as the program imploded</a> … Everyone wants Bill Belichick’s <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/05/29/bill-belichick-dog-alaskan-klee-kai-demand-surge">dog breed after the NFL draft</a> … NBA owners are expected to approve Adam Silver’s <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/29/nba-owners-vote-plan-season-restart-july-31-orlando">plan to resume the season in Orlando on July 31</a> … NBA <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2894089-2020-nba-mock-draft-pro-comparisons-and-predictions-for-elite-guard-prospects">Mock Draft and pro comparisons</a> … A-Rod and J-Lo <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/30/alex-rodriguez-jennifer-lopez-mets-offer-bid">are working on a new bid for the Mets</a> … You can <a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/2020/05/boston-marathon-2020-virtual-date-details-registration?csp=trueanthem&taid=5ed22fd0b4f70100016320f0&utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter">run the Virtual Boston Marathon</a> … Roger Federer is the <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1266565950167449600?s=20">world’s highest-paid athlete this year</a> (and no American athlete is in the top four) … You can watch <a href="https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/b68494d0-0336-49a5-a7d0-60db26830d35/bucketId/13157">“Imperfect: The Roy Halladay” story on ESPN now</a>.
<h2>Olivia Culpo</h2>
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<h2>I don’t wanna play rugby</h2>
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<h2>New Trailers</h2>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rNATvJMPZaA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EtpRikYwu5o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vrUGIQ2ItE8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hp04bzD5bJI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<a href="https://twitter.com/Adoughty88">Follow me on Twitter</a>, check out my <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/high-motor/id1215507751?mt=2">podcast</a>, and bookmark this page to see <a href="https://www.si.com/tag/hot-clicks">previous editions of Hot Clicks</a> and find the newest edition every day. Visit our <a href="https://www.si.com/extra-mustard">Extra Mustard page</a> throughout each day for more offbeat sports stories.

New on Sports Illustrated: Dolphins Coach Brian Flores Issues Powerful Message in Wake of George Floyd's Death

Coaches and athletes across the NFL, NBA and other sports released statements Friday before another wave of protests swept the country in the wake of George' Floyd's death. ‘Honesty, Transparency, an…

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Shane "Just Throw Strikes" Bieber Remains Among the Fantasy Elite Thanks to His Next-Level Command

<a href="https://www.si.com/fantasy/2020/05/30/shane-bieber-remains-elite-command-stud">
Thanks to his next-level command of the strike zone, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber is a high-floor fantasy option with three great pitches in his repertoire.
Controlling WHIP should be your top priority when building an elite fantasy pitching staff. Cleveland Indians pitcher Shane Bieber delivers that in spades.
He came into 2019 with an incredible command of his pitches, which in turn led to his development into a legit ace arm. Last year, he led the American League with the lowest walk rate (1.7). This helped Bieber boost his strikeout rate (10.9) well above his minor league career average (8.4) and even the success he found in his rookie 2018 season (9.3).
Across three MiLB seasons, he posted a 16-6 record with a 2.24 ERA and 270 strikeouts over 277 innings. His best stat (which is unreal) coming into the majors was his 0.6 walk rate.
In 2019, Bieber made it very difficult for batters to draw contact (.230 BAA - .285 in 2018), although his home run rate was a touch high (1.3 per nine). He delivered near identical value against righties (.231) and lefties (.228) while posting an ERA under 3.70 every month. He gave up two runs or fewer in 22 of his 33 starts. Bieber’s HR/FB rate (12.1 in 2018 and 16.1 in 2019) was much higher than the minors (8.8 or lower in each season), so that’s a stat to watch moving forward. Bieber has an average velocity to his fastball (93.4) that is tough to hit (.229 BAA). Both his slider (.203 BAA) and curveball (.213 BAA) grade well while his show-me changeup (.309 BAA) requires improvement.
I don’t anticipate a repeat in his strikeouts, but he’ll continue to throw plenty of strikes. Look for his ERA to push below 3.00 and he will be in the mix for many wins since he pitches deeper in games because he can keep pitch counts low. Last season, he went into the seventh inning in 19 games, and five other starts went six innings. Bieber (ADP 32) has a strong floor and projects for 15 wins, 3.25 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 200 strikeouts.
READ MORE:
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/02/18/fantasy-baseball-cleveland-indians-team-outlook">2020 Cleveland Indians Fantasy Team Preview</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Shane "Just Throw Strikes" Bieber Remains Among the Fantasy Elite Thanks to His Next-Level Command

Thanks to his next-level command of the strike zone, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Shane Bieber is a high-floor fantasy option with three great pitches in his repertoire. Controlling WHIP should…

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: College Football Hall of Fame Damaged During Atlanta Protests

<a href="https://www.si.com/college/2020/05/30/college-football-hall-of-fame-damaged-george-floyd-protest-atlanta">
As protests broke out in Atlanta following the death of George Floyd, damage inflicted upon the College Football Hall of Fame was captured on social media.
Following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers on Monday, demonstrations have broken out across the country. As many marched the streets in Atlanta, protesters broke in windows at the downtown College Football Hall of Fame, according to a
</a><a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/protesters-damage-college-football-hall-fame-atlanta/p6bUKHwP0R6RaC5dRHM8lI/">report from Eric Stirgus of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution</a>.
Before law enforcement arrived on the scene, people were seen looting the building, per Stirgus' report. Several protesters reportedly threw trash cans and other objects through the building's exterior, and some ran inside to take items.
Blayne Alexander, a reporter for NBC News, took video of the damaged building:
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The $68 million facility opened in 2014 after relocating from South Bend, Ind.
Floyd's death has <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/28/sports-world-reacts-to-george-floyds-death">sparked many reactions</a> from the sports world. Former NBA player Stephen Jackson led a press conference in Minneapolis on Friday, <a href="https://www.si.com/nba/2020/05/29/stephen-jackson-press-conference-george-floyd-death">speaking with raw emotion</a> about a man he affectionately called "my twin."
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"I'm here because they're not gonna demean the character of George Floyd, my twin," Jackson said Friday. "A lot of times when police do things that they know that's wrong, the first thing they do is try to cover it up and bring up your background to make it seem like the bull---- that they did was worthy.
"When was murder ever worth it? But if it's a black man it's approved. You can't tell me when that man had his knee on my brother's neck, taking his life away with his hand in his pocket that his smirk on his face didn't say, 'I'm protected.'"
On Friday, Colin Kaepernick pledged to <a href="https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/05/29/colin-kaepernick-george-floyd-protests">pay for top defense lawyers</a> for people arrested protesting police brutality in the Minneapolis area through his charitable arm, the Know Your Rights Camp.

New on Sports Illustrated: College Football Hall of Fame Damaged During Atlanta Protests

As protests broke out in Atlanta following the death of George Floyd, damage inflicted upon the College Football Hall of Fame was captured on social media. Following the death of George Floyd at the …

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Twins, Royals, Astros and Reds to Pay Minor Leaguers for Entire Year, With No Releases

<a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/30/twins-royals-astros-reds-pay-minor-league-players-mlb">
After hundreds of minor league players were released Thursday, the Twins, Royals, Astros and Reds committed to paying their minor league players through the end of the year.
With teams across the league releasing minor league players in droves, the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals are bucking the trend by committing to paying all of their minor league players through the entire 2020 season, as reported by
</a><a href="https://twitter.com/JonHeyman/status/1266443169337663489">MLB Network's Jon Heyman</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffPassan/status/1266432316848713731">ESPN's Jeff Passan</a>.
Passan later reported that the Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros are also committing to pay their minor league players through the end of the season.
The Twins, Royals and Astros organizations will pay their minor leaguers their typical $400 weekly stipends through Aug. 31, which is when the minor league season would end, along with full benefits. The Reds will pay their players through Sept. 7.
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Passan reported <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29237251/minor-league-baseball-cuts-hundreds-players-amid-pandemic-sources-say">hundreds of minor league cuts on Thursday</a>, with more expected in the coming days and weeks. That a handful of teams are pledging to stand by their minor league systems is a welcomed surprise around the league.
The Twins have around 150 minor league players, <a href="https://www.startribune.com/twins-won-t-cut-minor-league-players-will-pay-them-for-full-season/570870982/?refresh=true">according to La Velle E. Neal III of The Star Tribune</a>.
"Understand this: The minor league players, the players you'll never know about, the players that never get out of rookie ball or High-A, those players have as much impact on the growth of our game than 10-year or 15-year veteran players," Royals general manager Dayton Moore said in a Friday conference call, <a href="https://twitter.com/alec_lewis/status/1266494727018479617">per The Athletic's Alec Lewis</a>. "They have as much opportunity to influence the growth of our game as those individuals who played for a long time because those individuals go back into their communities and teach the game, work in academies, are JUCO coaches, college coaches, scouts, coaches in pro baseball. 
"They're growing the game constantly because they're so passionate about it. So we felt it was really, really important not to release one minor league player during this time, a time we needed to stand behind them."

New on Sports Illustrated: Twins, Royals, Astros and Reds to Pay Minor Leaguers for Entire Year, With No Releases

After hundreds of minor league players were released Thursday, the Twins, Royals, Astros and Reds committed to paying their minor league players through the end of the year. With teams across the lea…

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: A-Rod, Jennifer Lopez Working on New Bid for Mets

<a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/30/alex-rodriguez-jennifer-lopez-mets-offer-bid">
Just weeks removed from reports that Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez were no longer interested in buying the Mets, the New York Post reported the two are working on a new bid for the team.
Just weeks
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/07/a-rod-mets-no-longer-interested">removed from reports that Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez were no longer interested</a> in buying the New York Mets, the New York Post's Thomas McEnery reported Friday evening that the two are working on a new bid to try and buy the franchise. 
Per the Post, Rodriguez and Lopez are now involved closely with very senior bankers at JPMorgan Chase on a new offer and are putting in "hundreds of millions" of their own money into a potential bid. 
The Post adds that the inclusion of SNY, the Mets' television network, in a potential sale is indicative of current owners, Fred and Jeff Wilpon, interest in selling the team. 
The Post <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/02/15/alex-rodriguez-emerges-suitor-potentially-buy-mets">first reported on Rodriguez's interest in the Mets in February.</a> He emerged as a potential buyer shortly after current New York minority owner Steve Cohen's bid to <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/02/06/mets-sale-steve-cohen-negotiations-snag-rob-manfred">purchase a majority stake in the team fell through.</a>
In January, it was <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2019/12/04/mets-sell-team-steve-cohen">announced</a> that the Wilpons were looking to sell a majority of the team, which they have controlled since 2002.
Despite the coronavirus pandemic halting almost all of the sports world, <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/03/28/new-york-mets-sale-continue">The Athletic's Daniel Kaplan reported in late March that</a> "sports investment bankers say that the team’s adviser, Allen & Co., was still calling around trying to drum up business." 
According to Forbes' most recent MLB valuations, the Mets are the sixth highest-valued franchise in MLB at $2.4 billion, up 4% from 2019.

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: A-Rod, Jennifer Lopez Working on New Bid for Mets

Just weeks removed from reports that Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez were no longer interested in buying the Mets, the New York Post reported the two are working on a new bid for the team. Just wee…

30 May 2020

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30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: MLBPA Wants to See League's Financial Documents Before Submitting Counter Offer

<a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/30/mlbpa-seeking-mlb-financial-documents-counter-offer-2020-season">
In a memo sent to players, the MLBPA reportedly wants to see financial documents from the league before it submits a counter offer.
In a memo sent to its players today, the MLB Players Association said it's still waiting to view financial records from MLB that "would support the dubious financial distress claims the league has made,"
</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1266511485263642624">according to The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal</a>.
Rosenthal also reports that the MLBPA is still weighing its options before submitting an official response to MLB's proposal, which has <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/26/mlb-proposal-pay-cuts-highest-paid-players">higher-paid players taking steeper pay cuts</a>. The MLBPA claims that the additional pay cuts would add up to more than $800 million. 
The league's proposal has drawn the ire from players, particularly Max Scherzer, who is a member of the players union's executive committee. On Thursday, Scherzer <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/28/max-scherzer-mlbpa-no-salary-cuts-mlb-negotiations-proposal-coronavirus">spoke out against the league's proposal on Twitter</a>, saying the players would not make any additional financial concessions.
"We have previously negotiated a pay cut in the version of prorated salaries," Scherzer said. "And there's no justification to accept a second pay cut based upon the current information the union has received."
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Despite the public strife, there is still a belief that a deal will ultimately get done. There will be a 2020 baseball season at some point, <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/28/baseball-players-association-rob-manfred">reports SI's Tom Verducci</a>, who spoke to a longtime club executive who has seen many labor disputes in the past.
"Are you kidding? Of course (the two sides will reach an agreement)," he said. "Of course they will. There will be a deal because the prospect of not getting a deal is unthinkable to both sides. It will happen because it has to happen."

New on Sports Illustrated: Report: MLBPA Wants to See League's Financial Documents Before Submitting Counter Offer

In a memo sent to players, the MLBPA reportedly wants to see financial documents from the league before it submits a counter offer. In a memo sent to its players today, the MLB Players Association sa…

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Return of Germany's Frauen-Bundesliga an Outlier for Women's Leagues in Europe

<a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/05/29/frauen-bundesliga-germany-return-womens-league-europe">
The Frauen-Bundesliga resumed Friday, while a number of its counterparts have already called off the season.
The Frauen-Bundesliga is an outlier in European soccer: a women’s league resuming during the coronavirus pandemic.
England and Spain have abandoned their seasons, even while the men’s leagues have plans to take to the field again in June.
Italy has also set a date to resume Serie A next month, but has left the fate of its women’s version hanging.
While government orders forced France to cancel all leagues, financial decisions in Europe’s other major footballing nations have seen female players miss out on playing again this season.
Regular testing of players for COVID-19 each week is required to create a safe training and playing environments, which racks up big costs.
The
</a><a href="https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/05/25/womens-super-league-season-canceled-england-fa-coronavirus">logistics and costs were prohibitive in England</a> — home to Europe’s only fully professional women’s competition and the world’s richest men’s league.
But the German Football League, which oversees the top two divisions of the men’s game, has reportedly provided nearly $2 million sourced from leading men’s clubs to fund testing and other coronavirus-related costs in the Frauen-Bundesliga.
Leader Wolfsburg will play Cologne and FFC Frankfurt will host Sand on Friday, ending a three-month shutdown.
What has proved problematic is the need for teams to quarantine for seven days before the first game of the restart.
“There are a lot of players who have jobs and who have to take vacation now for that,” Freiburg and Israel defender Sharon Beck told German regional broadcaster SWR. “It doesn’t really seems to me that it’s about looking after our health, and that instead it’s just about keeping the sponsors from bailing out.”
Hoffenheim women’s coach Jürgen Ehrmann won’t be in the stadium for Saturday’s game against Bayern Munich on Saturday, a match which could be crucial in the club’s pursuit of a Champions League spot. Ehrmann cannot take time out from his main job as a teacher.
“The students are heading into their final exams,” he said, “and the personnel cover at our school is already very thin because of the current situation.”
Last-place USV Jena is not sure all of its players will be released to enter quarantine.
The German league used to be based on proudly independent but often cash-strapped women’s-only clubs, but over recent years it’s been increasingly dominated by wealthy clubs like Bayern or Wolfsburg where men’s football is the main focus.
Most of the national team squad still plays at home, but it’s no longer rare for top players to consider moves abroad as more European nations become competitive and potentially more financially rewarding.
Teams in England and Spain won’t be in action again until next season.
Real Betis player Priscila Borja it was “shameful” that there wasn’t even a significant proposal to try to resume the women’s league. The Spanish football federation denied any discrimination, saying all decisions were made with everyone’s health in mind.
The Women’s Super League in England is run by the Football Association while the men’s Premier League is a separate, wealthier entity.
While Liverpool is closing in on winning Premier League, it faces relegation from WSL as it sits in last place.
Liverpool told the FA it could have funded the protocols required to play during the pandemic but that was not possible across the WSL, which has attracted record crowds this season after England reached the Women’s World Cup semifinals.
“These are difficult decisions, Liverpool manager Vicky Jepson said, “and it’s obviously disappointing that the season is to end in this way.”
Brighton manager Hope Powell accepts why resuming the WSL is not feasible.
“There are substantial losses across the game,” said Powell, a former England coach. “The cost to get the testing equipment, the personal protective equipment, the medical staff in place to support the women’s game and the protocols is a huge cost that nobody could have ever foreseen.”

New on Sports Illustrated: Return of Germany's Frauen-Bundesliga an Outlier for Women's Leagues in Europe

The Frauen-Bundesliga resumed Friday, while a number of its counterparts have already called off the season. The Frauen-Bundesliga is an outlier in European soccer: a women’s league resuming during t…

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Nothing Can Bring Down U.S. Olympian Chaunte Lowe

<a href="https://www.si.com/olympics/2020/05/29/chaunte-lowe-breast-cancer-olympics-tokyo-track-and-field">
From a battle with breast cancer to a global pandemic, 36-year-old mother of three Chaunte Lowe isn't letting any challenge or obstacle get in the way of making her fifth U.S. Olympic team.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Bald, beautiful and powerful, Chaunte Lowe sat on a podium here in late January and smiled radiantly at an NCAA convention audience. She projected confidence. She’d been diagnosed with breast cancer in the summer of 2019; she’d undergone a double mastectomy; she’d fought through chemotherapy; and none of that was going to stop her from making her fifth U.S. Olympic team as a high jumper come June.
It was an attitude we’d all aspire to have. But around the sport—and assuredly in a small corner of her own relentlessly optimistic mind—there were doubts.
Any 36-year-old athlete is fighting the tyranny of time, but what about a 36-year-old mother of three who is recovering from a body-ravaging disease? From chemo to Tokyo in less than a year seemed impossible.
Then the pandemic struck. Beyond the horrific loss of life globally and nationally, it also smashed a hole in the Olympic movement. Tokyo 2020 became Tokyo 2021, to the consternation of thousands of aspiring Olympians. Carefully laid plans were torn up. For many athletes, the timing could not have been worse.
For Lowe, the timing could not have been better.
“I needed every single day of that time to be able to train,” she said. “I’ve come back from pregnancy three times, so I know that it’s not impossible. I know I could have done it [in 2020], but it would have been a lot harder.”
<figure><img height="345" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTcyODkzMjIxODQyNjU4ODg3/chaunte-lowe-jumping.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
Nothing seems too hard for Lowe. The fact that she barely even blinked after her cancer diagnosis is consistent with her outlook on life, and the way she’s lived it since her youth.
Growing up in a troubled family in California, young Chaunte used to walk miles to church by herself. She said her mother was in the throes of addiction and her father was incarcerated. Bills went unpaid, and utilities were turned off. After staying for a while with an aunt, she went to live permanently with her grandmother.
Faith, she says, pulled her through a childhood fraught with peril. Her grandma went to church several times a week, and her uncle was the pastor at Riverside Faith Temple. That became her anchor.
Along the way, she came to realize she possessed a remarkable natural bounce, in both a literal and figurative sense. She could rise—above troubles and off the ground—in a way that other kids could not match. “I didn’t walk anywhere,” she said. “I jumped.” She jumped her way to a scholarship at Georgia Tech.
Lowe made her first Olympic team in 2004 as a 20-year-old sophomore at Tech. She retroactively won a bronze medal from the ’08 Olympics in Beijing, after later drug tests stripped the results of three competitors who finished ahead of her. She jumped an American outdoor record 2.05 meters in 2010 and an indoor record of 2.02 in 2012.
She won the world indoor championship in 2012 less than a year after giving birth to her second daughter, but finished sixth at the London Games. Between London and the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she finished fourth, Lowe gave birth to her third child and first son.
She wanted to keep going—and why not, given her consistent standing at the top of the American high-jumping community? Lowe set her sights on 2020 and Tokyo.
“Track and field, our data over the years shows that the average career is not that far off from the NFL or NBA—about three and a half or four years,” said USA Track & Field’s chief of sport performance. “Chaunte’s longevity has been remarkable. Even if she stopped in 2016, that’s a 12-year run at the highest level. Those are few and far between.”
<figure><img height="414" src="https://www.si.com/.image/c_fit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_620/MTcyODkzMjIxODQyNTkzMzUx/chaunte-lowe-wave.jpg" width="620" /></figure>
Then, in the summer of 2018, she felt a small lump in her breast. She informed her doctor, who ordered a mammogram but wrote off the lump as an inflamed lymph node—Lowe was too young and too fit for breast cancer. The doctor told her to check back when she reached age 40.
Months later, she felt the lump again and it seemed larger. She went to a different doctor and had another mammogram. That detected the mass, and it had grown significantly, which led to an immediate biopsy.
In June 2019, she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. For someone who never smoked or took drugs, ate a very healthy diet and maintained peak health, it was stunning and overwhelming news. At least for a few minutes.
“My first thought was, ‘I’m going to leave my kids without a mother,’” she recalled. “My second thought was, ‘There’s no way I’m leaving my kids without a mother.’”
That determination surprised no one in the track community. Fellow USATF Olympian Sonya Richards-Ross got a call from Lowe with the shocking news but found her tone to be resilient. And Richards-Ross leaped at the chance to offer support to her teammate and friend.
This was repayment of a kindness more than a decade earlier, while the two were competing at the Beijing Olympics. Richards-Ross had just finished third in the 400 meters, a dispiriting result for someone widely expected to win gold in the event. All medalists are expected to take a victory lap, even the disappointed ones, but Richards-Ross wasn’t sure she could make herself do it.
“It was probably one of my lowest moments in the sport,” Richards-Ross recalled. “I wanted to go hide. Chaunte came on the track and let me cry a minute on her shoulder, then she said, ‘Girl, go take this lap. Hold your head up and be proud.’ She helped me through that.
“When she called me and shared her diagnosis, I tried to give back to her what she gave me that day on the track in the Olympics.”
Lowe had the double mastectomy, then “attacked chemo,” in the words of her husband, Mario. “That’s the warrior side of her,” he said. “The scary part of the tests and the surgery is over, then it was, ‘OK, what does chemotherapy look like?’ “
It didn’t look like fun, and it felt worse. Lowe went through six treatments, one every three weeks, leaving her nauseous and exhausted for days at a time. But she vowed to do two things during that time: to share her grueling experience via social media to inspire others going through cancer recovery, and to keep working out as best she could.
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“There were some days all she could was rest,” Mario Lowe said. “Other days, she’d push along a walker. But then she would have days where she could go out and run.
“If there were tears because it was too hard, I’d just put my hand on her back and say, ‘This is just a season of life. Chemo is not forever.’”
Chaunte got through chemo, then got back to training. By that point, her fan base had grown substantially. Her story had been picked up by a number of non-sports outlets, and sponsors championed her cause, from Nike to Proctor & Gamble to Walgreen’s.
“I felt like I had to use my platform to make a difference,” Lowe said. “On a relay you run faster, because you’re running for your team. In this, I’m running for Team American Woman.”
<iframe width="320" height="320" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/B9fgv0VnXeY/embed" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Women everywhere—and plenty of men—were rooting for someone with a compelling personal story and a charismatic personality. She’s been in demand as a speaker, retained all her sponsors and has even picked up a new one in Olay.
“There is a joy, an effervescence, a love and a peace and a happiness in her,” Richards-Ross said. “You fall in love with her, right?”
At that NCAA Convention in January, Lowe was pleased with the progress of her cancer comeback. It had been an accelerated timetable and there was a lot still to prove in competition, but she was looking forward to the challenge of performing in the cauldron of pressure that is the U.S. Olympic Trials.
The pandemic changed all that, of course. The health risks were especially concerning for Lowe, given her potentially immune-compromised state after the chemo. For a while, that looked like the challenge that might finally be insurmountable.
“I started wearing a mask immediately,” she said. “It became increasingly evident that going to local gyms [and] public tracks was not something I could do.”
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With the help of her sponsors, she got a jumping pit for her backyard and converted the family garage into a weight room. The only difficulty has been finding an affordable (and in-stock) treadmill.
But when the Olympics were postponed to 2021, the pressure to find a way to safely train after overcoming cancer and while home-schooling her kids dissipated. She could slow down, recalibrate, regroup—and still do the home schooling. “God stopped the whole world so we can have this time together,” she told Jasmine (12), Aurora (nine) and M.J. (six).
If a 36-year-old mother of three isn’t too old to still be an elite high jumper, why not a 37-year-old mother of three? Who happens to be a cancer survivor?
“She has a passion,” Mahoney said. “She loves to jump and loves the sport. I have no doubt she will be back, and right now, the way the high jump stands, she’ll be in the mix for the Olympic team. That would make her story off the charts."
</a>

New on Sports Illustrated: Nothing Can Bring Down U.S. Olympian Chaunte Lowe

From a battle with breast cancer to a global pandemic, 36-year-old mother of three Chaunte Lowe isn't letting any challenge or obstacle get in the way of making her fifth U.S. Olympic team. ANAHEIM, …

30 May 2020

New on Sports Illustrated: Power 5 Commissioners Send Letter to Congress Asking for National NIL Policy

<a href="https://www.si.com/college/2020/05/29/power-5-commissioners-ask-congress-national-name-image-likeness-policy">
The NCAA has mulled adopting recommendations for student athletes to be paid for endorsement deals as early as 2021.
Power 5 league commissioners sent a three-page letter to Congress Friday asking for a national name, image and likeness policy to be implemented,
</a><a href="https://twitter.com/Brett_McMurphy/status/1266411058044035075">according to Stadium's Brett McMurphy</a>.
Stadium obtained a copy of the letter which supports legislation for a "single, national standard for NIL" that would preempt state laws and allow student athletes to be paid for endorsement deals from third parties.
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Last month, the <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2020/04/29/ncaa-name-image-likeness-changes-athletes-sponsorships">NCAA Board of Governors announced their support</a> for adopting recommendations from a NIL working group to allow student athletes to be paid for sponsorships and endorsement deals as early as the 2021–22 academic year.
As part of the recommendations, athletes can sell autographs and memorabilia and be paid for personal appearances. Athletes must disclose financial terms of their contracts to their athletic departments, as well as their relationship with the parties involved. If they fail to share the details of their agreement or relationships, it could affect their eligibility. The NCAA could also allow athletes to accept endorsement money from boosters, as long as it's not used by boosters to try to recruit players for their schools.
In the letter, the Power 5 commissioners asked Congress to take note of two steps in the pay-for-play system: universities cannot pay athletes for NIL and boosters must be kept out of the recruiting system.
"This will be best achieved by prohibiting boosters from engaging in NIL activity with student athletes that amounts to pay for play, and as well as requiring a term of academic progress before a student athlete can grant a NIL license."
The commissioners worry over various NIL rules being implemented at the state level, prompting their request for a national policy to be reached. The NCAA was forced to act more recently due to pressure from states over the issue. In September 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom <a href="https://www.si.com/college/2019/09/30/fair-pay-to-play-act-law-ncaa-california-pac-12">signed the Fair Pay to Play Act into law</a>. The Act, which doesn't go into effect until 2023, makes it illegal for California colleges to deny student athletes opportunities to gain compensation for the use of NIL. 
<a href="https://www.si.com/college/2019/10/02/tracking-ncaa-fair-play-image-likeness-laws">Multiple states have proposed similar bills</a> since, and a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/2020/03/09/florida-senate-approves-bill-college-athletes-compensation/5001076002/">bill in Florida could go into effect in July 2021</a> if signed by the governor. 
"We believe strongly that Congress should enact the framework for a clear national policy on NIL as soon as possible and not wait for the NCAA process to conclude before moving forward with a national legislative plan," the letter said. 
"We intend to work with the NCAA to shape those rules, but the Congressional process should move forward in the meantime. ...Time is of the essence."

New on Sports Illustrated: Power 5 Commissioners Send Letter to Congress Asking for National NIL Policy

The NCAA has mulled adopting recommendations for student athletes to be paid for endorsement deals as early as 2021. Power 5 league commissioners sent a three-page letter to Congress Friday asking fo…

30 May 2020

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