allsportsfan

Tag: cleveland

  • 3 Bold Predictions for the 2025-26 NFL Season.

    Graphic featuring the text 'NFL BOLD PREDICTIONS' with a football motif and a logo in the corner.

    The 2025-26 NFL season is finally upon us. It was an off-season of holdouts, especially at the wide receiver position. Khalil Shakir (BUF), Rashod Bateman (BAL), Courtland Sutton (DEN), Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (CIN), and Terry McLaurin (WASH), all got contract extensions.

    Most recently, the biggest off-season move was made when the Dallas Cowboys traded star DE/OLB Micah Parson to the Green Bay Packers for two 1st round picks and DT Kenny Clark.

    It was a top heavy draft, with the Cleveland Browns making a surprise move. Trading the #2 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #5 pick and their 1st round pick next season.

    The Jaguars took CB/WR Travis Hunter from Colorado, and the Browns ended up taking DT Mason Graham from Michigan (see previous article on my thoughts on this trade and pick).

    With so much movement in the offseason, here are my 3 bold predictions for the season.

    1) New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll will be fired during the season.

    New York Giants logo with a distressed blue and gray background.

    Daboll has a 19-33-1 career record through his first three seasons as a head coach. He does have a veteran quarterback in Russell Wilson, and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has looked good through camp and preseason.

    The early season schedule is tough. Opening with games at Washington, at Dallas, home against Kansas City, and home against Los Angelos Chargers, all in the first four games of the season. He cannot afford to start 0-4, or even 1-3.

    They get the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on Weeks 8 and 10. I can easily see them being 0-8, and he gets the boot midseason.

    2) Trevor Lawrence will throw for over 4,000 yards this season.

    A football player in a blue jersey with the number 16, wearing a black helmet and celebrating passionately on the field.

    Lawrence only played in 10 games last season. With two 1st round draft picks at the wide receiver position in second year wideout Brian Thomas Jr (87 catches, 1,282 yards, and 10 TDs), and Heisman Trophy winner, rookie Travis Hunter (171 catches, 2,167 yards, and 24 TDs, in 2 seasons at Colorado).

    New offensive coordinator Liam Coen had Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield in the Top 3 last season. I fully expect him to scheme up ways to make Trevor successful this season.

    3) Both Browns rookie players DT Mason Graham and LB Carson Schwesinger will finish in the Top 5 for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

    Two Cleveland Browns players practicing on a football field during training camp. One player, wearing jersey number 94, is sprinting while the other, in jersey number 49, is holding a football and running drills.

    The Browns defense under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is stout. Of course, with former DPOTY Myles Garrett commanding double and triple teams, this will leave Mason Graham with 1 on 1 matchups against interior lineman. With his aggression, strong hands, and agility, he’ll win those matchups consistently.

    With Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out this season with a possible career ending neck injury (news I broke first before Mary Kay or ESPN), Carson Schwesinger has the speed to run sideline to sideline, and has incredible instincts to sniff out the football.

    With Garrett and Graham rushing the passer, and CB Denzel Ward locking down one half of the field, Carson will make double digit tackles every single game.

    Write it down. Bookmark it. My 3 bold predictions.

    An array of NFL team logos displayed in circular designs, featuring teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, and others against a light background.

    – by Sean McKenzie.

    Stats courtesy of…..NFL.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, wallpapers, WKBN, drroto.

    Subscribe, follow, like, and leave a comment.

  • Cleveland Browns Training Camp.

    Cleveland Browns logo featuring an orange helmet on a brown and orange background.

    Training Camp has concluded for the 2025-26 Cleveland Browns team.

    Like many before, it leaves us with more questions than answers.

    Injuries have limited the reps for former first round pick quarterback Kenny Pickett and rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel. They are battling for the starting quarterback position with long time veteran and former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and fellow rookie Sheduer Sanders.

    Cleveland Browns players gather during training camp, discussing positions and strategies on the field.

    Who is going to start at the most important position in the sport? Your guess is as good as mine.

    The arrest of rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on July 12th for battery, leaves him open to not even making the team. It also gave four-year veteran Jerome Ford more snaps with the first team. Rookie Dylan Sampson had some nice moments in camp, and is (at this point) the backup, with Pierre Strong Jr third string. If Judkins is signed and makes the team, Strong will either be put on the practice squad or outright cut.

    Cleveland Browns player Jerome Ford running with a football during a game.

    Outside of Jerry Jeudy, the battle for the #2 WR position is wide open. The staff had hopes that Cedric Tillman would make some noise, but he hasn’t. It’s been reclamation project Diontae Johnson and Jamari Thrash making the plays.

    Cleveland Browns player running with the football during a game.

    We know that Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku is going to ball out, but it’s been rookie Harold Fannin Jr, that has been catching everything in his orbit. Multiple sources told me, that he’s been a Top 5 overall performer in camp. He’s going to create mismatches against linebackers and has the speed to play in the slot too.

    A coach gives instructions to a player during a training camp session for the Cleveland Browns.

    The starting offensive line is already set with Jones, Bitonio, Pocic, Teller, and Conklin. Former Ohio State player and backup center Luke Wypler has performed well. Hopefully, he’ll stay healthy. The most intriguing person offensive lineman Tevin Jenkins. The coaching staff has played him all over the line in training camp. With the health issues that plague Jones and Conklin, he’s going to play at tackle this season.

    You can count on the interior of the offensive line with Pro Bowlers Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller manning the guard spots. Center Ethan Pocic is underrated and has performed well as the starter. It’s the tackle spot that has the most questions.

    Cleveland Browns player wearing jersey number 75, standing on the practice field with a smile during training camp.

    The defensive line is led, of course, by all-world, all-universe, and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett. He didn’t do much at training camp, but let’s but truthful…. we don’t him to. Defense tackle Maliek Collins was getting constant pressure, and Browns first round pick defensive tackle Mason Graham performed well. The spot opposite of Garrett is still wide open. It’s between Isaiah McGuire and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. The latter of the two, played better two sources at camp told me.

    Cleveland Browns player smiling while sitting during training camp.

    I was the first to report way back in January, that starting linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s neck injury was career threating, well before Mary Kay Cabot or anyone else was talking about it. He’s not playing this season. Second round pick Carson Schwesinger has had an absolutely dominate training camp. My sources inside have told me that he IS going to be wearing the “green dot” for the defense.

    Two Cleveland Browns players discussing strategies during training camp, wearing practice jerseys and helmets.

    The secondary took a big blow with the season ending injury to starting corner Martin Emerson Jr. Pro Bowler Denzel Ward as usual made plays all camp long and is a stalwart, but who is going to play opposite of him? Will defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz keep corner Greg Newsome in the slot or move him outside? Do the Browns really want Tony Brown manning the outside? The safety position seems set with Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman. The depth behind them is lacking and training camp didn’t show much promise either.

    Cleveland Browns player wearing a brown and orange uniform stands in the snow during a game.

    Dustin Hopkins is going to get one last chance to rebound from a truly terrible season kicking, after signing an extension. Punter Corey Bojorquez continues to do great. It’s looking like wide receiver Deandre Carter is leading on kick and punt return duties, but the Browns have been snake bitten at that position since Josh Cribbs left.

    A Cleveland Browns punter executing a kick during a game, with teammates positioned nearby in a crowded stadium.

    The Browns first preseason game of the year is on Friday, August 8th at 7:00 PM (EST) on NFL Network.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Follow me on X (Twitter) @JoeAmerican6771 and allsportsfancom.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, thelandondemand, yahoosports, brownsnation, beaconjournal, cleveland.com, athlonsports, usatoday.

  • Shedeur Sanders Signs Rookie Contract, LB Warner Signs Big Contract, NHL Referee Gets Stitches, and more.

    NFL NEWS.

    Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders throwing a football during practice.

    Cleveland Browns 5th round quarterback Shedeur Sanders has signed his rookie contract.

    It is a 4-year, $4.6 million dollar deal. with a $447,380 signing bonus.

    I’m not going to talk about his “slide” in the draft. I’ve already done an article on that, plus we all know that story, it’s been beaten to death.

    I’m “on the record” with my prediction that Sanders will be QB2 when the season starts.

    San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner in action during a game, wearing a red jersey with the number 54 and looking toward the opposing team's player.

    The San Francisco 49ers have made LB Fred Warner the highest paid “off ball” linebacker in the NFL.

    They came to terms on a 3-year, $63 million dollar contract extension, with $56 million dollars guaranteed. This new deal keeps Warner the red and gold through the 2029 season.

    The linebacker had 131 total tackles, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 INTs last season, all of which earned him his 4th All-Pro appearance and 3rd straight.

    NHL NEWS.

    NHL referee Chris Rooney receiving medical attention after an injury during a playoff game, with players and staff assisting.

    Veteran NHL referee Chris Rooney received stitches Sunday night after taking a high stick to the face by Panthers Defenseman Niko Mikkola, during the 2nd period of the Maple Leafs/Panthers pivotal Game 7.

    Medical personnel from both teams attended to him, and a stretcher was brought out; however, he refused and skated off the rink under his own power.

    Rooney hopes to return to resume duties during these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

    MLB SCORES.

    Collage of Major League Baseball team logos on a colored background.

    Guardians\Twins game was suspended in the 4th inning due to rain. Twins were up 2-1. Game resumes tonight at 6:10 PM (EST).

    Marlins beat the Cubs 8-7.

    Reds win 7-1 over the Pirates.

    Red Sox beat the Mets 3-1.

    Diamondbacks get the win over the Dodgers 9-5.

    The Cardinals beat the surging Tigers 11-4.

    Question of the day – What is your favorite sport to watch?

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB.

    Photos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, profootballnetwork, PFF, and SI.

  • NFL News, NBA and NHL Conference Finals Set, MLB Pitcher Test Positive, Scores, and more.

    An artistic collage of NFL team helmets arranged in a circular pattern around the NFL logo set against a colorful background.

    NFL NEWS.

    The San Francisco 49ers have signed their starting quarterback Brock Purdy to a 5-year $265 million dollar contract extension, including $181 million dollars guaranteed. The new contract runs through the 2030 season.

    Purdy made a total of $2.6 million in his first three seasons combined, now he’ll have an average salary of $53 million dollars, which is $2.9 million per week.

    The old saying “He who laughs last, laughs the hardest”. Well, Purdy who is known as “Mr. Irrelvant” for being the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is laughing all the way to the bank.

    In his career, Purdy has completed 67.5% of his passes, for 9,518 yards, with 64 TDs and 27 INTs.

    NBA PLAYOFFS.

    An infographic displaying the NBA playoff bracket for the current season, featuring matchups between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies, Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers, and Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.

    The NBA Conference Finals are now set.

    The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder will take on the #6 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the West.

    The Thunder and Wolves split the season series 2-2.

    Game 1 is Tuesday night, in Oklahoma City, at 8:30 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    The #3 seeded New York Knicks will take on the #4 seeded Indiana Pacers in the East.

    The Knicks got the season series 2-1.

    This is a great nostalgia feel for me. Brings back memories of the Knicks-Pacers rivalry games in the 90’s.

    Game 1 is Wednesday night, in New York, at 8:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

    NHL playoff bracket showing matchups for the Conference Finals, including teams like the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, and more.

    The Conference Finals for the Stanley Cup are now finally set.

    In the West, the C2 Dallas Stars will take on the P3 Edmonton Oilers.

    Game 1 is Wednesday night, in Dallas, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    In the East, the A3 Florida Panthers will take on the very rested M2 Carolina Hurricanes.

    Game 1 is Tuesday night, in Charlotte, at 8:00 PM (EST), on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    MLB SCORES AND NEWS.

    Philadelphia Phillies P Joe Alvarado has been suspended by Major League Baseball for the next 80 games, after testing positive exogenous testosterone, which is a performance-enhacing drug.

    Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Joe Alvarado wearing a grey uniform with red accents, holding a baseball glove and looking upwards, in a stadium setting.

    The suspension is effective immediately and also disqualifies him from being eligible to play in the postseason, if the Phillies make the playoffs.

    Alvarado will not appeal the suspension.

    My Aunt Chris’ teams continue to beat mine in 2025, as her Cincinnati Reds complete the weekend sweep against my Cleveland Guardians with a 3-1 win yesterday afternoon.

    The Milwaukee Brewers ended the Minnesota Twins 13-game winning streak with a 5-2 win.

    The Cubs sweep the White Sox with a 6-2 win.

    The Yankees take two out of three from the Mets in the Subway Series, as they get the 8-2 victory last night.

    OTHER NEWS.

    The PWHL’s (Professional Women’s Hockey League) Walter Cup Finals are set.

    The Ottawa Charge will take on the defending champion Minnesota Frost.

    I’m very much looking forward to this series. Both teams have good goalie tandems and strong forward lines.

    Two female hockey players competing on the ice, one in a red jersey and the other in a white and purple jersey, with a focus on their intense gameplay and teamwork.

    Women’s hockey doesn’t get enough love or credit.

    Game 1 is Tuesday night, at TD Place in Ottawa, at 7:00 PM (EST), on TSN and RDS for Canada, and on FanDuel Sports Newtwork North and YouTube for America.

    Prediction – I love that Ottawa has made it here, it’s good for the city and the fans, but Minnesota has been here before.

    Frost forwards Kendall Coyne-Schofield (12G-12A-24P) and Taylor Heise (8G-14A-22P) just always seem to be around the puck in the big moments this season. The Frost also have a big edge on the Powerplay and Penalty Kill.

    I’m taking Minnesota to repeat as Walter Cup Champions winning in 4 games.

    A female hockey player in a white jersey with purple accents joyfully holds up a championship trophy above her head, celebrating a victory in front of a cheering crowd.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NBA, NHL, MLB, NWHL, NFL.

    Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, bleacherreport, totalprosports, kare11, chicagotribune.

  • Cleveland Browns 2025 Regular Season Breakdown.

    Cleveland Browns football helmet logo on an orange and brown background with bulldog graphics.

    The Cleveland Browns 2025 season schedule was released on Wednesday night.

    Looking at the scheduled, I noticed a few things first, before I started getting into the X’s and the O’s, as well as the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.

    • For the 1st time since 2017, the Browns are taking part in the International Series. Cleveland travels to London, England to take on my friend Nick’s, Minnesota Vikings in a very early morning Week 5 matchup. Game starts at 9:30 AM (EST) on NFL Network.
    • The Browns do not have a “primetime game” this season. In fact, Cleveland only has 3 games, that do not start in the 1 PM window (Weeks 5, 11, and 12).
    • Cleveland’s farthest distance to travel is only to Las Vegas to play the Raiders in Week 12 (2,076 miles).

    The schedule is very balanced for the Browns this season. There is only 1 “back-to-back” road game trip (Weeks 8 and 10), however, Cleveland has their Bye week between those two games (Week 9).

    Graphic of the Cleveland Browns 2025 season schedule, featuring game dates, opponents, and kickoff times.

    A potentially great thing for the Browns, is that 4 of their final 6 games are at home. If Cleveland somehow, some way, finds themselves in the playoff hunt, homefield advantage is always nice to have.

    The Browns open the 2025 season at home against division and in-state rival Cincinnati. Cleveland has not won a season opener at home since 2014 (against the Saints).

    Cleveland REALLY needs to get that win in Week 1, as their next 5 straight games, are against teams that made the playoffs last season (Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, Pittsburgh).

    Having that Bye week smack dab in the middle of the season again, is a nice break for Cleveland.

    In Weeks 12, 13, and 14, the Browns play teams that finished in last place within their own divisions, in the Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and the Tennessee Titans.

    Cleveland finishes the regular season with back-to-back divisional games. Week 17 against the Steelers is the final home game of the season, while Week 18 is once again, against the Bengals, this time in Cincinnati.

    The #1 question on every Browns fans mind, is about who the starting quarterback will be. Veterans Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are paired along 2 rookies, in Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

    The answer is, there is no answer right now. They plan to let them all fight it out. Personally, I think Joe Flacco will start the season, with Shedeur Sanders as QB2, and Gabriel as the 3rd stringer. I believe Pickett will end up being traded before the regular season starts.

    The over/under win projection sits at 4.5 games right now; after coming off of a dismal 3-14 season in 2024. I think the Browns can beat that mark.

    My first response upon seeing the 2025 schedule was the Browns can win at least 6 games, Cincinnati, Minnesota, New England, New York Jets, San Francisco, and Tennessee.

    Question – What do you think about the Browns schedule and how many games do you think they can win???

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL and Cleveland Browns.

    Pictures and videos courtesy of…..wallpapercave, Cleveland Browns, and YouTube.

  • NFL Schedule Released, Wolves Return, Celtics Still Alive, Oilers Punch, And So Much More.

    Image showcasing the 2025 NFL schedule release featuring player images and game matchups.

    NFL NEWS.

    The NFL released its’ full schedule for all 32 teams last night. The regular season kicks off on September 4th, when the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles take on their hated division rival, the Dallas Cowboys.

    I’ll be writing up articles on my Cleveland Browns schedule and on the best games of the upcoming season, in the following days, so stay tuned.

    For the full list, every game, for every team, including your favorite team, go to…… http://nfl.com

    NBA PLAYOFFS.

    A visual representation of the NBA playoff bracket, showing matchups including the Thunder vs. Grizzlies, Nuggets vs. Clippers, Lakers vs. Timberwolves, and Rockets vs. Warriors, along with the Eastern Conference matchups featuring Cavaliers, Heat, Pacers, Bucks, Knicks, Pistons, Celtics, and Magic.

    The #6 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves are returning to the Western Conference Finals, after defeating the #7 seeded Golden State Warriors 121-110 last night, to win the series 4-1, in front of their home fans.

    The Timberwolves shot 62.8% from the field last night, as all 5 starters scored in double digits. Full game highlights below.

    PF led the team in points last night with 29. He tied for the lead in rebounds with C Rudy Gobert, as both had 8. SG Anthony Edwards led the team with 12 assists.

    They now await the winner of the Thunder-Nuggets series.

    The #2 seeded Boston Celtics are still alive, after defeating the #3 New York Knicks 127-102 to make it a 3-2 series. Full game highlights above.

    It was a do or die game for the Celtics at home, and the shots finally started falling for the defending NBA Champions. Boston shot 52.4% from the field last night, making 44.9% from 3.

    PG Derrick White led the team with 34 points. Backup C Luke Kornet came off the bench and led the team in rebounds with 9. Star SG Jaylen Brown in assists with 12, and added 26 points as well.

    Game 6 is Friday night, in New York, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

    A graphic displaying the NHL playoff bracket, featuring team logos and seeding information on a colorful background.

    The P3 Edmonton Oilers have punched their ticket to the Western Conference Finals for the 2nd straight season, with a 1-0 overtime victory against the P1 Vegas Golden Knights, to win the series 4-1.

    Oilers RW Kasperi Kapanen scored the game winning goal in a mad scramble in front the net, at 7:19 of the overtime period.

    Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner got his 2nd straight Stanley Cup Playoffs shutout, stopping all 24 shots he faced. Game winning shot below.

    The Oilers will face the winner of the series between the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars.

    MLB SCORES.

    The Phillies and Cardinals split their double header yesterday. PHI won the first game 2-1, while STL won the second game 14-7.

    The Twins swept their double header against the Orioles, 6-3 and 8-6.

    The Brewers finally get a win over the Guardians 9-5.

    Yankees beat the Mariners 3-2.

    Tiger beat the Red Sox 6-5.

    The Dodgers win 9-3 over the Athletics.

    The Pirates, once again, beat the Mets, winning 4-0.

    Question of the day – Are you going to attend any NFL games this season???

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Subscribe, follow, like, and comment.

    Follow me on X(Twitter)….. @JoeAmerican6771 and @allsportsfancom

    Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and bleacherreport.

    Pictures and videos courtesy of…..bleacherreport and YouTube.

  • #1 Seed Eliminated, Superstar Player Has Surgery, NFL Schedule Releases, Coach Involved in Sexual Assault Scandal Hired, and so much more.

    A graphic illustrating the NBA playoffs bracket, showing the teams and matchups, including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers.

    NBA FINALS PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.

    My #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers have officially been eliminated from the NBA Finals Playoffs, losing to the #4 seeded Indiana Pacers 4-1, with a 114-105 loss last night.

    The injury bug finally got his teeth into the Cavaliers at the worst possible time. Superstar SG Donovan Mitchell with an ankle injury, PF Evan Mobley, SF De’Andre Hunter, all missed time in this series.

    The shots just weren’t falling for the Cavaliers in this series. The momentum that came from winning 60+ games in the regular season and sweeping the Miami Heat, just didn’t follow them into the 2nd round.

    The Pacers budding stars played their best this series. PG Tyrese Haliburton and PF Pascal Siakam stepped up when it was needed throughout this series. Full game highlights below.

    PG Tyrese Haliburton led the team with 31 points and 8 assists, while SF Aaron Nesmith brought in 13 rebounds.

    The Pacers await the winner between the #2 seeded Boston Celtics and the #3 seeded New York Knicks.

    The Knicks lead that series 3-1.

    The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets 112-105 last night, to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

    PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 31 points and 7 assists. F Jalen Williams led the team with 8 rebounds.

    Nuggets C Nikola Jokic had a big night in a losing effort, scoring 44 points, bringing in 15 rebounds, and 5 assists. Full game highlights below.

    Game 6 is Thursday night, in Denver, at 8:30 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    Boston Celtics superstar SF Jayson Tatum had surgery to repair a torn left Achilles tendon yesterday.

    He suffered the injury late in the 4th quarter of the Celtics Game 4 loss to the Knicks on Monday.

    No timetable has been given for his return.

    NFL NEWS.

    The NFL released the schedule for their international games this upcoming season.

    NFL International Games 2025 schedule overview with matchups and locations including São Paulo, Dublin, London, Berlin, and Madrid.

    The Minnesota Vikings have 2 games overseas this upcoming season, including one against my Cleveland Browns on October 5th.

    My fellow LabRoomFam and close friend Nick, might have to put another wager on that game. I won the last bet on 10/3/21, when the Browns beat the Vikings 14-7 in Minnesota.

    Games will be played in England, Ireland, Spain, Germany, and Brazil.

    The full schedule release will be tonight at 8:00 PM (EST) on NFL Network.

    NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.

    NHL playoff bracket showing matchups and team rankings for the tournament.

    The C2 Dallas Stars defeated the C1 Winnipeg Jets last night 3-1, to take a big 3-1 lead in the series.

    Stars C Mikael Granlund got his first career playoff hat trick, scoring goals in all 3 periods, including 2 of them on the powerplay.

    Stars goalie Jake Gettinger stopped 31 of the 32 shots he faced.

    See all 3 goals below.

    Game 5 is Thursday night, in Winnipeg, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    The Anaheim Ducks have hired Joel Quenneville as their new head coach.

    The 66-year-old is 2nd in NHL history with a record of 969-572-150, in stints with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers.

    He’s been out of the league since October 27th, 2021, when he was fired by Florida Panthers, after he covered up evidence, of sexual assault on former Blackhawks player Kyle Beach, by then video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010.

    A man with a white mustache stands speaking to reporters, surrounded by microphones and smartphones, with a sports team logo in the background.

    My personal opinion is that this is a disgusting move. Quenneville deserves to be banned from coaching at any level, in any league, anywhere in the world.

    It’s a disgrace to victims of sexual assault of both sexes everywhere. He knowingly covered up evidence and misled law enforcement and NHL investigators.

    I’m ashamed of the NHL for even allowing this to happen. It puts a dark pall on what has been a very exciting Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.

    MLB SCORES AND NEWS.

    MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred removed all-time hits leader Pete Rose, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, and others from the leagues permanently ineligible list.

    They had all been banned from anything MLB related for admitting to gambling and in Jacksons’ case “fixing” the 1919 World Series.

    They will now all be eligible for the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

    A baseball player wearing a red cap and jacket, looking serious while glancing over his shoulder against a blurred background.

    In my personal opinion, lifting the ban on Pete Rose in long overdue. He never lost games on purpose. Lifting the ban on “Shoeless” Joe Jackson is a disgrace to the game of baseball and all sports. He and others intentially rigged the 1919 World Series. There should never, ever be a place of forgiveness in any sport, for that.

    Guardians beat the Brewers 2-0.

    The Detroit Tigers continue to surprise everyone, as they beat the Boston Red Sox 10-9.

    The Mariners beat the Yankees 2-1, in extra innings (11).

    The Dodgers get smoked by the Athletics 11-1.

    A Seattle Mariners player celebrating joyfully on the field, wearing a Mariners uniform and a teal headband, with fans cheering in the background.

    Question of the day – Do agree that Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson’s bans deserve to be lifted???

    Drop a comment telling me why or why not.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and information courtesy of…..NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, ESPN, bleacherreport, MSN.

    Pictures and videos courtesy of…..NFL, SI, MLB, MSN, bleacherreport, and YouTube.

  • Knicks are One Game Away, Draft Lottery Winner, Commanding Series Leads, Chiefs Superfan Gets Prison Time, and more.

    NBA PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.

    The #3 seeded New York Knicks are now 1 win away from their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance is 25 years; with a 121-113 victory over the #2 seeded Boston Celtics. Full game highlights above.

    PG Jalen Brunson continued to show the world why he’s the leader of this team, with 39 points and 12 assists. C Karl Anthony-Towns had 11 rebounds.

    Celtics star SF Jayson Tatum left the game in the 4th quarter with a lower right leg injury. He is expected to get an MRI sometime today.

    Game 5 is Wednesday night, in Boston, at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    The #6 seeded Minnesota Timberwolves beat the #7 seeded Golden State Warriors 117-100 last night, to take a 3-1 series lead. Full game highlights above.

    A 17-0 run by the Timberwolves in the third quarter, gave them a 20-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The Warriors simply couldn’t catch up, especially without their superstar PG Stephen Curry.

    PF Julius Randle led the team with 31 points. PF Jaden McDaniels pulled in 13 rebounds, and C Rudy Gobert had 6 assists.

    Game 5 is also on Wednesday night, in Minnesota, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    The Dallas Mavericks will have the #1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The Mavericks had a lowly 1.8% chance of winning the lottery.

    It is widely expected that they will select Duke F Cooper Flagg with the pick. Flagg averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game at Duke last season.

    The 2025 NBA Draft is on June 25th, from the Barclay’s Center in New York, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN and ABC.

    NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

    The P3 Edmonton Oilers defeated the P1 Vegas Golden Knights 3-0, to take a 3-1 series lead. Full game highlights above.

    Oilers backup goalie Stuart Skinner stopped all 23 shots he faced, to get his 7th career shutout. C Adam Henrique scored 2 goals for the Oilers. It was the first time since 2012 the Henrique scored multiple goals in a Stanley Cup Playoff game.

    Game 5 is Wednesday night, in Las Vegas, at 9:30 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    The M2 Carolina Hurricanes take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the M1 Washington Capitals, with a 5-2 victory last night. Full game highlights above.

    Both teams scored a combined 5 goals in a wild and fast paced 3rd period. Capitals superstar LW Alex Ovechkin got it to a 3-2 game when he connected on a powerplay goal. That was as close as they would get, as D Sean Walker and RW Andrei Svechnikov would add 2 more goals.

    Game 5 will be on Thursday night, in Washington DC, at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    MLB SCORES AND NEWS.

    An ambulance at T-Mobile Park where medical staff are attending to a player on a stretcher during a baseball game.

    Yankees 3B Oswaldo Cabrera was taken off the field by ambulance, with a brace on his left ankle, after suffering a gruesome injury in their 11-5 victory over the Mariners last night. He was batting .243 with 1 HR and 11 RBIs through 34 games this season.

    3B Evan Longoria will sign a 1-day contract with the Tampa Bay Rays and officially retire as a member of the team on June 7th.

    Longoria is the easily the greatest player in the franchise’s history. He was selected with the 3rd overall pick in the 2006 MLB Draft. He leads the team in GP (1,435), Home runs (261), RBIs (892), Runs (780), Extra Base Hits (618), and Walks (269).

    He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2008, as well as a 3 time All-Star. He won 3 Gold Glove Awards in 2009,2010, and 2017. He won the Silver Slugger Award in 2009.

    A man wearing a Tampa Bay Rays cap smiles broadly during a press conference, with a colorful MLB backdrop.

    Guardians beat the Brewers 5-0.

    The Tigers continue to win, blasting the Red Sox 14-2.

    Cubs beat the Marlins 5-2.

    Rockies win total stands at only 7, after losing to the Rangers 2-1.

    Mets win 4-3 over the Pirates.

    OTHER NEWS.

    Kansas City Chiefs “superfan” Xaviar Babudar, also known as “ChiefsAholic” was sentenced to 32 years in prison, in an Oklahoma Courtroom for bank robbery.

    Kansas City Chiefs mascot at a football stadium, holding a towel and dressed in team colors, with a bold overlay announcing news about a superfan's sentencing.

    Question of the day – Who is your favorite team mascot?

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB.

    Pictures and videos courtesy of…..thenationalherald, newsweek, wtsp, emporianews, and YouTube.

  • NFL News, New Champion, Legend Retires, Hall of Famer Announced, NBA Playoffs, Stanley Cup, and more.

    Grid of NFL team logos, including logos from various teams like the Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens, and Dallas Cowboys.

    NFL NEWS.

    Quarterback Derek Carr has decided to retire, after 11 seasons in the NFL. The former Raiders and Saints QB attended Fresno State and was the 36th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He finishes his career throwing for 41,245 yards, with 257 TDs and 112 INTs.

    Rookie mini camps were held over the weekend. Jaguars #2 pick WR/CB Travis Hunter took snaps on the offensive side of the ball. HC Liam Coen said that Hunter will get defensive reps next week. Browns #5 pick DT Mason Graham made headlines after he was caught vomiting on the field. HC Kevin Stefanski blew it off saying that he simply ate too much.

    MMA NEWS.

    Jack Della Maddalena (18-2) defeated Belal Muhammad (24-4) to become the new UFC Welterweight Champion, in an absolute slugfest. The judges gave Jack the UD win with scores of 48-47 (x2) and 49-46. Jack has now won 18 straight fights. His last lost coming way back in 2016.

    Some things just seem to stay the same. Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) defended her Women’s Flyweight Championship for a record 10th time, defeating Manon Fiorot (12-2) by UD. 48-47 (x3).

    Featherweight legend Jose Aldo (32-10), retired in the octagon after losing to Aiemann Zahabi (13-2).

    A muscular mixed martial artist wearing a UFC championship belt and a shirt with a photo of a woman, standing in front of a Brazilian flag.

    Former Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame later this year.

    Belfort (26-14) burst onto the scene when he won the UFC Heavyweight Tournament back in 1997, at only 19 years of age.

    In 2013, his legal use of testosterone-replacement therapy (TRT) became a worldwide sports controversy. The Nevada State Athletic Commission later banned TRT, from competition without medical proof of necessity.

    He holds career wins against legends Randy Couture, Wanderlei Silva, Rich Franklin, Luke Rockhold, Michael Bisping, and Dan Henderson.

    NBA Playoffs.

    Graphic displaying the NBA playoff bracket with team matchups and seedings.

    The #4 seeded Indiana Pacers defeated the #1 seeded Cleveland Cavaliers 129-109, to take a 3-1 series lead.

    PF Pascal Siakam led the team with 21 points. C Myles Turner had 7 rebounds, and PG T.J. McConnell had 8 assists.

    Game 6 is Tuesday night, in Cleveland at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets 92-87, to tie the series at 2-2.

    PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led with 25 points and 6 assists. C Isaiah Hartenstein had 14 rebounds to lead the team.

    Game 5 is also on Tuesday night, in Oklahoma City, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS.

    A graphic depicting the NHL playoff bracket, showcasing the matchups and seeds for the 2023 playoffs.

    The A3 and defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, defeated the A1 Toronto Maple Leafs 2-0, to tie the series at 2-2.

    Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky got his 5th career playoff shutout, stopping all 23 shots attempted.

    Tempers flared at the end of the game, when Maple Leafs C Max Domi (Pussycat Max, as I call him), landed his latest in a long career of cheap shots, this time on Panthers C Aleksander Barkov.

    Game 5 is Wednesday night, in Toronto, at 7:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    The C2 Dallas Stars defeated the C1 Winnepeg Jets 5-2, to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

    Stars RW Mikko Rantanen continues his incredible playoff run with another 3 points (1G/2A). Full game highlights below.

    Game 4 is Tuesday night, in Dallas, at 8:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    MLB NEWS.

    Phillies beat the Guardians 3-0.

    In a battle of division leaders, the Mets beat the Cubs 6-2.

    League leading Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks 8-1.

    Surprising Tigers lose to the Rangers 6-1.

    The Rockies actually win a game!!! Beating the Padres 9-3.

    OTHER NEWS.

    A digital bracket showcasing the results of the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs, displaying team logos, series scores, and results for various matchups in different divisions.

    Congratulations to my Aunt Chris’ as her Toledo Walleye defeated my Fort Wayne Komets 4 games to 2 and advance to the Western Conference Finals in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.

    Question of the day – Did your favorite team make the playoffs?

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NFL, NHL, MLB, ECHL, NBA, bleacherreport, UFC.

    Pictures and video courtesy of…..wallpapercave, UFC, ECHL, bleacherreport, and YouTube.

  • Knicks Do It Again, Thunder Reigns, Home Teams Hold Court, and so much more.

    A New York Knicks player celebrating a close victory against the Boston Celtics during an NBA playoff game.

    NBA PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.

    For the 2nd time in 2 games, the #3 seeded New York Knicks overcome a 20-point deficit to beat the defending NBA Champion and #2 seeded Boston Celtics. The 91-90 victory last night, gives them a big 2-0 series lead going back home to Madison Square Garden.

    The odds now heavily favor the Knicks, as 85.7% of teams who win the first 2 games on the road, end up taking the best of seven series.

    SG Josh Hart led the team in points with 23, but it was C Karl Anthony-Towns with his team leading 17 rebounds. Dominating the glass and not allowing those pesky second chance shots by Boston. PG Jalen Brunson led with 7 assists. Check out the final seconds of the game below.

    Game 3 is in New York, Saturday afternoon, at 3:30 PM (EST) on ABC.

    The #1 seeded Oklahoma City Thunder laid a 43-point butt whipping on the #4 seeded Denver Nuggets with a 149-106 victory at home.

    The Thunder set an NBA record, scoring 87 points in the first half alone. The shots just weren’t falling for the Nuggets last night, and the Thunder made 56.2% of their shots, including 44.4% from beyond the arch. Full game highlights of the record-breaking night below.

    PG Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the team with 34 points and assists with 8. PF Chet Holmgren had 11 rebounds.

    It was a big win for the Thunder as the series is now tied 1-1, going to Denver.

    Game 3 is Friday night, in Denver, at 10:00 PM (EST) on ESPN.

    Golden State Warriors superstar PG Stephen Curry has Grade 1 left hamstring strain, is slated to miss at least 2 games, if not more.

    Hamstring injuries are hard to recover from, as they can linger for weeks or months.

    NHL STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS AND NEWS.

    The A1 Toronto Maple Leafs take a big 2-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup Champion and A3 Florida Panthers with a 4-3 victory at home. Full game highlights below.

    Both teams got power play goals by Barkov (FLA) and Pacioretty (TOR) in the 1st period. Goals by Nylander and Domi, gave Toronto a 3-2 lead after 2 periods of play. Lundell scored at 5:33 of the 3rd to tie it at 3-3. Only 17 seconds later, Mitch Marner scored the eventual game winner at 5:50.

    Game 3 is Friday night, in Sunrise, FL, at 7:00 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    The C2 Dallas Stars steal Game 1 in Winnepeg from the C1 Winnepeg Jets with a 3-2 win, to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

    All 5 goals were scored in a wild and crazy 2nd period. Led by Stars RW Mikko Rantanen, who got his 2nd straight hat-trick. See all 3 goals below.

    Game 2 is Friday night, in Winnepeg, at 9:30 PM (EST) on TNT, truTV, and Max.

    The Utah Hockey Club in the NHL, now officially has a nickname and logo.

    They will be called, the Utah Mammoth.

    Logo of the NHL team Utah Mammoth featuring a stylized mammoth head and text 'UTAH MAMMOTH' against a dark mountain backdrop.

    It was a 13-month process, and they had over 850,000 ballots cast by fans to come up with the name and logo.

    It went through 4 rounds of “community voting” and this is the winner.

    MLB SCORES AND NEWS.

    The Guardians beat the Nationals 8-6.

    The Yankees get the 4-3 win over the Padres in extra innings.

    The Dodgers lay a beat down on the Marlins 10-1.

    The Pittsburgh Pirates lose their 7th straight game to the streaking St. Louis Cardinals 5-0.

    OTHER NEWS.

    My Aunt Chris’ Toledo Walleye defeated my Fort Wayne Komets in double overtime, to get the 3-2 win, and tie the series at 2-2 in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. Game highlights below.

    Game 5 is tonight, in Fort Wayne, IN. Puck drops at 7:35 PM (EST)

    Get out and support your local pro and semi-pro teams.

    – by Sean McKenzie

    Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN, NBA, NHL, MLB.

    Pictures and videos courtesy of…..YouTube, myhighplains, and the ChicagoSunTimes.