DraftKings Sportsbook changing sports betting landscape

DraftKings Sportsbook is making sports betting more accessible and available than ever before.

DraftKings Sportsbook, which launched in New Jersey following the state's decision to legalize sports betting, is revolutionizing the sports gambling landscape. Users have a plethora of options at their fingertips on their mobile device and personal computer. With real-time updated lines for virtually any type of bet in any sport you can imagine,  DraftKings is broadening their appeal from the hardcore to recreational sports gambler. On the mobile interface, you have a selection of leagues and games to choose from. You can then select a specific game/match and be presented with an endless amount of bets related to the event. This is available pre-game, and then continues with the live-betting options. On other platforms, you typically have to wait until a commercial, quarter or halftime break in order to place a live wager. With DraftKings, you can bet on the action as it's unfolding. If you think Tom Brady is going to throw a touchdown pass on the current drive, that's available. If you believe Jacob DeGrom is going to throw a strike on the next pitch, you'll be able to take a stake. Serena Williams fan? You can bet on if she's going to win or lose the next point in her match. DraftKings is giving users the ability to have skin in the game in every potential way possible. The mobile interface is set up so that users can see everything right in front of them. You have your popular events with all of their available lines on the home page, the ability to search for any other game/match you may want to take action on and your bet-slip and profile all right in front of you. In addition to the live-betting interface, there are a ton of futures and parlay options as well. The main difference to traditional sports betting that DraftKings has implemented is the ability to cash out your bet at any point in time while the action is live. This option has made this form of sports gambling feel more like stock trading. For example, say last night you took the Seattle Seahawks +4.5 vs. the Chicago Bears before the start of the game (yes, I did), and realized throughout the game that your bet wasn't looking promising. You now have the option to cash out, at a lower rate if the action is not going well, prior to the end of your wager. If you laid $50 on Seattle to cover the points and you saw that they were fighting up hill and a cover wasn't likely, DraftKings will give you the option to settle your bet at say, $28? So, you retain $28 as opposed to losing the entire $50. This is very similar to stock trading, as you can get out of a position if you don't like where the game (or company in stocks) is trending. In addition, this option is not only available with traditional money line action, but also parlays. If, for example, you have a three-team NBA parlay in play, and you've hit on the first two legs of the bet, you have the option to cash out at a lower pay out if you choose. So, it would become a two-team parlay payout versus three, but if for whatever reason you don't want the third game in play, you can get out beforehand. This is a new feature to the sports betting world. Another feature DraftKings is using to entice users is they will match your first bet after registering up to $200. So, they are looking to attract users by offering free matching first-time bets. There have been some reviews and complaints about the lines on DraftKings, but I have not found them to be that different than other interfaces thus far. The only downside to widespread accessibility is that if you aren't in New Jersey you cannot use the book. You need to live in or be in N.J. in order to bet with DraftKings, since the legislation was only passed in the Garden State. So, head on over to Jersey and experience all that DraftKings Sportsbook has to offer.  

Novak rediscovers himself with Wimbledon triumph

Novak Djokovic looked like his old self as he reclaimed the Wimbledon title on Sunday.

The mental toughness was back. The competitive edge and intensity that set him apart from the rest was on full display. Serbia's Novak Djokovic clawed and fought his way to a 13th major title and 4th Wimbledon crown on Sunday, regaining his top level that saw him dominate much of the field from 2011-2016. He has slowly built his confidence back throughout the season, showing signs of his former self during the clay court swing and finally putting it all together on the grandest stage of them all. The beginning of the season was riddled with surprising early losses to lesser competition where Djokovic looked like a shell of himself out on the court. He looked defeated, dejected and lacking confidence in his mental and physical abilities. Djokovic has endured some scrutiny and personal issues outside of tennis in the last couple of years that have detracted him from continuing on the successful path he was on. Combine that with a nagging elbow injury that required an adjustment in his serve motion and a surgery in February, along with a carousel of coaching and changes to his team and you have someone that was more lost in his career and personal life than he had ever been. His focus and appreciation for the sport that has given him everything may have suffered, but it was proven to be temporary over the past couple of weeks. In the third round versus hometown favorite Kyle Edmund, Djokovic found himself down a set with the crowd against him. Earlier in the year, he may not have had the mental fortitude to dig deep and turn that match around, but this time he was able to call upon that strength that had been such a big part of his reign as World No. 1 and come back to defeat Edmund and advance. Throughout the Championships, he showed a combination of climbing out of tough situations with the incredible movement and defensive skills that were a staple of his game for so long. Djokovic had both the mental and physical aspects of his game working for him at his highest level in two years, and regained the form that saw him sit atop the men's game for five years. All of this came to fruition in his semifinal victory over his biggest rival, Rafael Nadal, which saw both men playing at their highest level for 5 hours and 15 minutes over the course of two days. It was a back and forth affair with momentum swings that required both men to persevere and deal with adversity. Eventually, Djokovic was able to survive the titanic battle and prevail 10-8 in the fifth and deciding set. Coming through this test and securing the biggest win he's had in some time gave him the necessary self-belief to dismantle a less than 100 percent Kevin Anderson in Sunday's final. Djokovic was able to find himself again during this year's Wimbledon, which, at 31 years of age, leaves him with plenty of time to continue to build and get back to the top of the game.

No Djoke for Novak

Former World No. 1 and 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is looking for answers.

The struggles continue for the former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. A man who once embodied physical and mental fortitude is left searching for answers after his latest questionable performance in his second round defeat at the BNP Paribas Open at the hands of little known qualifier Taro Daniel. Djokovic continued to look un-Djokovic like as he sprayed 58 unforced errors and went away tamely in the third set against his much less experienced opponent. Novak played as if it was his 'first match on tour' as he quoted in the press conference following his defeat. He looked unsure of himself, was not sharp with his shot selections and faded away in the third set to someone he would have beaten routinely two or three years ago. Djokovic has been battling an elbow/arm injury for some time now, as he has had to change his service motion and was forced to miss the second half of 2017. Six weeks ago he had surgery to try and repair the damage, but the pain and discomfort are still lingering and hurting him while he is out on the court competing. He has been wearing a sleeve on his arm to protect and support the injury and has been forced to shorten and abbreviate his serve motion to avoid further pain and damage. His serve, while never his strongest shot, was a solid, reliable shot that has turned into him just getting the point started and not being able to do much damage. In addition to his physical ailments, Djokovic does not have the tiger within him that was so much a part of his dominant years from 2011-2016. His mental fortitude and belief in himself in the biggest moments against his main rivals was what saw him usurp both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in 2011 and begin his reign as World No. 1. Once he cleared that hurdle, Novak was the best player in the world for roughly five years. Now, his priorities in life have changed. He is a father and husband in addition to being a world-class tennis player. Before those responsibilities entered his life and he was able to dedicate and focus on his career 110%, we saw what Djokovic was capable of. Some believed it was the best level they had ever seen and was redefining the way the sport was played with incredible speed and defensive skills. Truth be told, Djokovic has not been himself since he captured his first and lone French Open title in 2016. This was a major goal of his throughout his career, and when he finally achieved it by beating Andy Murray in the final, it seemed as if he had an internal letdown. The last year and a half or so have been filled with missed time, injuries, poor performances (by his standards), an overall drop in level of play and what seems to be a lack of day in and day out commitment to the sport that has given him everything. While Novak has been searching for answers, Nadal and Federer have risen above him once again and become the two dominant players on tour that they were prior to Djokovic's ascension. While he is still only 30 years of age, a relatively middle age for professional men's players nowadays, it seems as though Djokovic poured everything he had into a five year stretch and is now on his last legs. The wear and tear of today's game combined with his brutally physical style of play may have taken too much of a toll on the Serbian for him to overcome at this stage of his career. A former 8-time Grand Slam champion who has been working with Novak since last year's French Open may be able to help him, but even his impact has yet to come to fruition. American Andre Agassi had similar struggles to Djokovic around the same stage of his career, and managed to come back and put together a very impressive post-30 patch of play. Agassi returned to No. 1 and captured another Grand Slam after going through a severe rough patch. It will be interesting to see if Djokovic can rededicate himself the way he needs to in order to regain his top level, or will the once ultra competitive Serb fade away without a fight? It is hard to believe that one of the greatest players ever will not be able to turn it around with seemingly enough years left to do so, but with new priorities and focuses in addition to tennis it may be too late to get back to the mountain top. 

A Ride to Remember

Former New York Rangers' Captain Ryan McDonagh is headed to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

With the inevitable rebuild of the New York Rangers coming to fruition in the past couple of weeks, one of the most central pieces of the team has been sent to the top team in the NHL. Defenseman and ex-captain Ryan McDonagh is heading to the Tampa Bay Lightning and reuniting with former teammate and defense partner Dan Girardi. The two men have gone to battle together in a Rangers' uniform for well over one hundred playoff games and for what seems like an eternity of regular seasons. Now, they look to achieve the one goal they could not accomplish with New York in a Lightning uniform; lifting Lord Stanley's Cup. McDonagh has been one of the most important pieces of the Rangers' puzzle the last handful of years, outside of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, and his departure is solidifying the fact that the run with what's been the core group of players the last five plus years is coming to an end. Forward's Rick Nash and J.T. Miller were traded as well, as Nash went to the rival Boston Bruins and Miller was sent with McDonagh to Tampa Bay. The Rangers are entering a period that they have not been in for a long time. They have been a perennial contender for over a decade and have only missed the postseason once since the 2005-06 season. They have won the President's Trophy, reached the Eastern Conference Final on three separate occasions and the Stanley Cup Final once in 2014. But throughout that time, they were not able to finish the job and win the Stanley Cup. Which, despite a host of amazing wins and great memories, is the fact that people will remember about this group. It's unfortunate to see all of these familiar faces leaving Madison Square Garden, but the way this up-and-down, lackluster season has gone this change was only a matter of time. The team's management knows they need to trade, rebuild and stockpile draft picks in order to go through the necessary process to eventually return to a place where they can legitimately contend again. This leaves the face of the franchise, Henrik Lundqvist, in a position where he knows that he will most likely not win a Cup with the Rangers. This is a tough pill to swallow for a man who's poured everything he has had into an organization that came up just short of reaching their ultimate goal.

It's tough not to reminisce when one of your favorite teams goes into a rebuilding phase. I was fortunate enough to go through all the emotions and ups and downs as a passionate fan, including being at some of the best playoff wins and losses from 2012-2016.  I saw forward Carl Hagelin's game winning goal to clinch the series against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Five in overtime in the 2015 playoffs. I also saw the Washington Capitals win Game One of the 2015 Eastern Conference Semifinals in agonizing fashion when forward Alex Ovechkin made a ridiculous pass skating behind the net to Joel Ward who buried it for the game-winner with one second left in the third period. There is nothing like Madison Square Garden after a win like the one against Pittsburgh nor the loss versus the Capitals. The highs and lows, the great playoff runs and the memories made, despite not achieving the ultimate goal will stick with me for a lifetime. Hopefully the Rangers can get back to the final stage in the future and capture the Cup, but now is a time to appreciate a group of players who gave their all to bring a title to some of the most passionate fans in the NHL.

Federer Flying High

Roger Federer has reached a milestone no other man has achieved by winning his 20th major title at the Australian Open on Sunday.

At 36 years young, Roger Federer continues to be like a fine wine and get better with age. He became the only man in men's professional tennis history to win an unprecedented 20 major championships. His sixth Australian Open crown was met with a stern test from new World No. 3 Marin Cilic, as he needed a decisive fifth set to claim the trophy. Unlike last year's triumph at the Australian Open, Federer was the clear favorite in 2018 and played exactly like it. He did not drop a set in his first six contests en route to the final against Cilic, but was met with a stern test from his Croatian rival. In a tournament that saw many top players exit relatively early, Federer stayed the course and played at the high level he's capable of throughout a two-week grand slam. Cilic would not go away without a fight as Federer looked to be in complete control after a dominant first set. Federer admitted to getting nervous in the second set tiebreak and, in turn, the match became very competitive. Federer was up a break in the fourth set, leading two sets to one, and seemingly looked as if he was going to close it out. Cilic had other ideas as he caught fire with his big groundstrokes and wrestled his way to a fourth set victory to push it to the fifth. Like all great champions in their respective sports manage to do, Federer put his foot on the gas in crunch time and saved four break points in his opening service game of the fifth, and was then able to eventually run away with it in the end. Unlike last year's final against Rafael Nadal, Federer did not fall behind in the fifth set only to fight back. He managed to weather Cilic's storm and take control of matters shortly after. With his sixth Australian Open title and twentieth major, Federer is continuing to cement his legacy as the greatest men's professional tennis player and one of the greatest athletes of all-time. His level of play does not seem to be slowing down, and it doesn't appear that will be affected even by the host of young talent currently on the tour. If he manages to stay healthy and feel confident on the court, we should continue to see this level from Federer for at least a couple more years. But then again, there are so many factors that go into an individual sport that you never know when something can change. For now, it's a pleasure to watch greatness continue to unfold.

Top 5 Federer Shots of 2017

The Top 5 Shots of Roger Federer's 2017 season..enjoy

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Lighting up the Laver Cup

The Inaugural edition of the Laver Cup, which saw the best players from Team Europe face off against the best players from Team World, was an incredible three-day event in Prague, Czech Republic that was treated like anything but an exhibition by the players and coaches involved. In an event developed by and named after the great Australian tennis legend, Rod Laver, the new Ryder Cup of tennis is sure to continue to be a hallmark on the calendar for years to come. Only a couple of weeks after the end of the year's final major, the majority of the top twenty players in the world came to together to challenge each other in a team-oriented format that saw high-quality, pressure-packed singles and doubles matches the entire weekend. Team Europe was led by the top two players in the world, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, along with top ten players Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic and hometown Czech Tomas Berdych. Team World was represented with a great deal of youth in USA's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, Australia's Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis and 18-year old Canadian Denis Shapavalov. Veteran Americans John Isner and Wimbledon semifinalist Sam Querrey were also a part of Team World. The scoring format was first team to reach thirteen points wins the tie. The point value for each victory increased each day, as the first day wins were worth one point, the second day valued at two and the decisive third day three points. In a combination of doubles pairings, young guns versus All-Time greats and familiar opponents going toe-to-toe, the weekend came down to the final singles match on Sunday. With Team World's John Isner having played one of his most complete matches of his career , taking down World No. 1 and recent U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal in a comprehensive straight set performance, the score sat at 12-9 in favor of Team Europe. The final match placed Team Europe's Roger Federer against Team World's Nick Kyrgios in a hotly contested match between All-Time great and flashy, unpredicatable young gun. With their previous encounter in 2017 going the distance in the Miami Open semifinals in April, this was sure to be filled with a ton of intensity and will to win. The 2017 Laver Cup was on the line, and both men brought their highest level in the abbreviated singles format. Kyrgios got an early break and captured the first set, 6-4. Federer increased his intensity and level of play in the second set, with his teammates encouraging and bringing the energy throughout the set. Federer ended up wrestling the second set from his opponent in a tough tiebreak, 7-6(5) and evened things up. The two would then battle in a drawn out super tiebreak, first to ten points by a two-point margin, filled with winners and drawn out rallies that had both their teammates and the crowd on the edge of their seats. Kyrgios eventually held a match point at 9-8 in the super tiebreak after hitting a forehand that just dipped into the corner on the line. Federer proved to be the cool customer he always is in tight situations as he forced Kyrgios to play and the young Australian made three consecutive errors to seal the Laver Cup for Team Europe. Federer jumped up and down and his teammates stormed the court, while Kyrgios was left in disbelief that he had come up short. Although the event does not count towards player's rankings, all of the men involved took the weekend very seriously. The second-annual 2018 Laver Cup will take place next fall in Chicago at the world-famous United Center, and based on this year's success will surely draw a large crowd in one of America's greatest sports cities. You can get a sense of what the atmosphere was like in the video above, which offers different camera angles, players mic'd up and fan reactions during the deciding Federer-Kyrgios match. 

Knicks end the Melodrama

Former Knicks' All-Star small forward Carmelo Anthony is headed to Oklahoma City to join forces with fellow All-Stars Russell Westbrook and Paul George.

When the not-surprising news of the Knicks trading their All-Star franchise player Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder surfaced on Saturday, I looked at my phone when the Bleacher Report alert popped up and read the little blurb. It was just a simple, 'Knicks trade Carmelo Anthony to Thunder for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a 2018 second round pick.' And in that moment I thought about all of the money that the Knicks have wasted over the years on a combination of star players and management who didn't pan out. Not that any of these people had bad intentions or were not giving it their all to make the Knicks a better franchise, but how much money these individuals have made off of an organization that has become the laughingstock of the NBA. Anthony and former team President Phil Jackson were just two of the long list of people who have come into the Knicks' organization and made a fortune off of a franchise desperately looking for answers. In Anthony's seven years in a Knicks' uniform, the team made the playoffs three seasons and won one playoff series. Sure, there were great moments, such as Anthony's 62-point game in 2014 when he set the franchise record for points scored in a single game. The playoff series victory in 2013 against the Celtics was filled with intensity, trash-talk and energy Madison Square Garden hadn't seen in many years. But, for the maximum contract Anthony signed after the Knicks picked up his existing deal from Denver in the middle of the 2010 season after the trade, there were a lot more head-scratching moments than jump-out-of-your seat ones. In his time in New York, Anthony was never surrounded by a talented enough group to really make a serious run at a title. He shared the court with some talented players over the years, namely Amar'e Stoudemire, J.R. Smith and Kristaps Porzingis, but it was never really enough be a threat in the Eastern Conference. Anthony was under constant criticism during his time in New York for his playing style and ability to be the leader the Knicks needed. He didn't allow for Phil Jackson's triangle offense to come to fruition, as his need to dominate the ball on the floor overshadowed the team's offensive game plans. He tried to be a mentor to the franchises' 2015 Draft Pick, Porzingis, and it showed at times in their relationship on the court. Porzingis alluded to Anthony's leadership qualities and how he guided him during his first two seasons in the NBA. While Anthony was without question the face of the franchise for the past seven years, how do we as Knicks' fans look back on his time with the team? Do we appreciate the good moments or do we focus on the failures and continued frustration? Personally, although I believe Anthony meant well and did what he could as one person and player, I find it hard to look back on his tenure with the Knicks as a positive period. The Knicks' organization and management did not do enough to surround him with the talent and personnel he needed to really thrive, but isn't an alleged superstar supposed to be able to carry a franchise and do more than just win one playoff series in seven seasons? It is hard to put the blame of the franchise's demise on one person, but the reality of the way things work nowadays Anthony will surely take the brunt of the blame for the team's lack of success during his time as a Knick. Now, the Knicks are one of the younger teams in the NBA trying to figure out the direction of their franchise, hoping that 22-year old Porzingis can be the one to lead them where they need to go. Anthony is now 33-years old and seeking a championship in the back-half of his career, and hoping that his new regime in Oklahoma City is ready to make the astronomical step of taking down the defending champion Golden State Warriors on their way to an NBA title. The two sides have officially parted ways, and although ultimately didn't achieve what they wanted while together, maybe can get on the right path and achieve their goals while apart.

Two of a Kind

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal's 2017 seasons on the ATP World Tour have more than cemented their legacies as the two greatest male professional tennis players of all-time.

With World No. 1 Rafael Nadal capturing his third United States Open Men's Singles title, and sixteenth overall Grand Slam title on Sunday, both he and World No. 2 Roger Federer have firmly cemented themselves as the two greatest men's professional tennis players of all-time. Prior to the start of 2017, there were serious question marks for the two greats. Federer had missed the last six months of the 2016 season due to a recurring knee injury that occurred during the 2016 Australian Open, and Nadal hadn't won a major title since the 2014 French Open and had also struggled with injuries and his confidence level on court. Well, as the 2017 season reaches its last stretch, we have certainly learned a great deal about these two men. Both Federer and Nadal have an unrivaled passion for their craft, as they have shown their desire and hunger to win by coming back in their most impressive fashions this year. After all of these two have accomplished over such a long period of time on tour, their desire and inability to settle for mediocrity has seen them return to the top of the game after many critics questioned whether they'd ever lift another major trophy again. While their two greatest rivals, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, have had an incredibly tough 2017 by their standards, riddled with injuries and low confidence, Federer and Nadal have shined above everyone else in a similar fashion to a decade or so ago. Only this time, it's much more impressive. Federer turned 36 in August and Nadal turned 31 in June, which previously had been ages associated with entering the twilight of a player's career. This has not proven to be the case with these two legends who have cleaned up the four Grand Slam tournaments this season, in addition to a handful of other big Masters 1000 titles. Federer began 2017 by surprising everyone in his run to the Australian Open crown, defeating Nadal in a five-set marathon in the final. Nadal followed up Federer's early hard court dominance (Federer also captured the prestigious Indian Wells and Miami trophies) by controlling the clay court season and winning his whopping tenth French Open championship without dropping a set. Federer then returned to his favorite court and surface, and mowed through the field in a similar fashion to Nadal at the French Open to capture his eighth Wimbledon crown. There were some question marks for both heading into the year's final major, as they had struggled with some slight injuries and form prior to the U.S. Open. Federer struggled at the U.S. Open and ultimately fell to in-form 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, which yet again ruined another potential Federer-Nadal matchup in Flushing Meadows. Nadal was aided by Federer's defeat and a less-than-stellar field in New York, and scrapped and fought his way to a third U.S. Open title. Seeing what these two have done on court during 2017 is almost beyond belief and we should appreciate what is happening right now. Federer and Nadal are not only the two greatest players ever in their respective sport, but are two of the greatest athletes of all-time.  Let's appreciate them while they are still healthy and able to compete and play at this incredible level, because there will be a massive void in the sport once they are both retired.

Roger Mows the Lawn

Roger Federer continues to cement his status as the greatest men's professional tennis player of All-Time with his record setting 8th career Wimbledon title.

In a truly remarkable display over the two weeks at Wimbledon, Roger Federer captured his record-setting 8th Wimbledon title that continued his incredible 2017 campaign. In a display of dominance similar to his greatest rival Rafael Nadal's a few weeks prior at the French Open, Federer rolled through the field without dropping a set. He became the first man in 41 years, since Bjorn Borg in 1976, to win Wimbledon without dropping a set. Yes, he was aided by Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic defeats, but was still handed a tough draw as he dispatched Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic in consecutive matches. All of those players have reached the Wimbledon final in their careers, with the exception of Dimitrov who reached the semifinals in 2014. So to say Federer did not have to earn his crown would be an unfair statement to make to the 8-time champion. At 35 years young, soon to be 36, Federer is compiling perhaps his most impressive season on tour, which is ridiculous to think about, considering from 2004-07 he collected three Grand Slams per year and finished the year number one in the ATP rankings each season. Now, a decade later, in his mid-30s, he has made a resurgence to dominance perhaps more impressive than when he was in his mid-20s. The efficiency in which he plays, especially on a quicker grass court surface, is devastating to challengers. He is so crisp on his own service games, rarely getting broken and not giving opponents many opportunities throughout a match. His backhand has been the major difference this season, as he is extremely confident with a shot that had previously been targeted by his main rivals. Federer has captured 5 titles this season, including two Grand Slams and two Masters 1000 trophies. It is looking as if he and Nadal will be battling it out for the world number one ranking, as Murray and Djokovic continue to underperform by their standards. Federer is showing when experience, wisdom and talent are combined as an athlete, the level that can be reached. Counterparts in other sports, such as NFL Quarterback Tom Brady of the New England Patriots, are at similar stages of their careers. These great champions are in the back end of their careers, but are collecting championships and not leaving much room for new winners. The best athletes in their respective sports all combine continuous hard work over an extended period of time, top tier talent, passion and love for the game and a burning desire to win and be the best. Federer, after all that he has achieved in men's tennis, still loves the game, the competition and winning more than he ever has. While many would like to see some new faces start challenging the top of the men's game, we have to realize and appreciate what we are witnessing now and not take it for granted. Once Federer and Nadal are gone from the game, there will be a major hole to fill. So, let's continue to enjoy them on the court while they are still out there competing and playing at the highest level. Hopefully, in a month and half from now we will finally get the elusive US Open matchup that has somehow escaped these two greats throughout their illustrious careers. Rafa and Roger, in a final in the Big Apple, would be one for the ages.

The Warriors Reap the Benefits

Golden State's monster off-season acquisition proved to be the difference in the 2017 NBA Finals, as Kevin Durant took home the Finals MVP Award.

Despite his herculean effort in the 2017 NBA Finals, Cleveland's LeBron James couldn't carry his Cavaliers to a second consecutive championship season. James was magnificent in the Finals, as he became the first player in history to average a triple-double in every game of the NBA Finals. James finished the series averaging an outstanding 33.6 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in five games, but was simply beaten by the 'super-team' that is the Golden State Warriors. LeBron said that he has never been a part of a 'super-team,' which raised some eyebrows, considering his move to the Miami Heat to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh back in 2010 was arguably the start of that whole phenomenon. While James has played on some incredibly talented rosters during his career, it is tough to find a team that can compare to the Warriors' talent level. With Durant, former MVP Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green all in the starting lineup, it is borderline unfair to ask another team to get the best of them in a seven-game series. Cleveland easily has the second most talented roster in the NBA, but even they couldn't muster more than one game against the champions. The first two games were decidedly one-sided, but the Cavaliers were not able to close out Game 3, where the Warriors finished on an 11-0 run to seal the victory that pretty much wrapped up the series. Durant hit the dagger in that particular game, where he nailed a three pointer from the left wing to put Golden State up for good in the closing moments. The Finals MVP became only the sixth player ever to post 30+ point games in each game of the Finals, and his 35.2 points per game were 10th most in Finals history. The 'Slim Reaper' captured his first NBA championship and Finals MVP trophy as his off-season move from Oklahoma City to Oakland proved to be the best decision of his career thus far. The Warriors are firmly the team to beat in the NBA, as it is hard to see anyone being able to compete with them if they are able to keep their current roster in tact. It will be interesting to see if there will be any major moves or changes this off-season to the current landscape of the association. Teams will have to draft well and find a way to capitalize in free agency in order to disrupt the current hierarchy. It doesn't appear anyone will be taking Cleveland's spot as the top team in the East for the next handful of years, and with the Warriors' core players in their primes, the same can be said in the West. While this year's story-line of Durant going to Golden State was compelling, the NBA is going to want challengers to the two top teams going forward. We've had three consecutive years of Cavaliers-Warriors Finals, and, while the rivalry is compelling, this was probably the most boring and predictable playoffs we've had in awhile. Some team needs to shake things up in order for things to become interesting again, as a fourth consecutive year of Cavaliers-Warriors is looking pretty certain as of now.

The Joke of the Century

The highly anticipated bout between legendary boxer Floyd 'Money' Mayweather and MMA champion Conor McGregor is set to take center-stage August 26th in Las Vegas.

Remember a couple of years ago when Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao finally entered the ring after years of build up and anticipation? We were all treated with a less-than-stellar, pitty-pat fight that was as predictable as the sky being blue, as Mayweather defeated his competitor by decision in a bout that was much more about the preliminary trash-talk and lead-in than the actual fight. Now, fast forward a couple of years and we are in a similar boat, except worse. After a year of negotiations and meaningless trash-talk, Mayweather and McGregor are slated to box on August 26th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Money May is expected to net approximately $100 million dollars from the fight, while McGregor will pull in somewhere around $75 million because of his UFC contract obligations. Between sponsorships, Pay-Per-View, ticketing and betting totals, the fight is going to be the largest grossing event in the history of either sport. Mayweather, the undefeated boxer who hasn't been in the ring since September 2015 when he unanimously defeated Andre Berto, will take on the two-weight UFC champion McGregor who hasn't boxed since he was 16 years old. It is a complete money-making event that will deepen the already massive pockets of both men involved. Mayweather would never have agreed to fight McGregor with UFC rules, so ,therefore, McGregor is at a decided disadvantage having to box instead of the fighting style he is accustomed to. This in and of itself is a reason why this fight should have no bearing on either man's career. You are taking two men from a separate sport and asking them to fight in one man's sport. This is like asking Tom Brady to beat LeBron James in a one-on-one pickup basketball game. Not much intrigue, right? Yes, people will pay the $100 Pay-Per-View fee and buy tickets to go to the 'event' (because that's what it is), but it will be purely out of curiosity and nothing more. Mayweather is already a heavy odds-maker's favorite at a -900 money line, with McGregor sitting as a heavy underdog at +600. There is and will be no intrigue and suspense in a couple of months time as these two get in the ring, as Mayweather will defeat McGregor by decision in his sport. He is arguably the best defensive boxer of all-time, and will utilize his quickness and foot-speed to outfox McGregor. McGregor will not be able to use his feet, take-downs or any type of submissions, therefore he will fall mercy to the rules of a sport he does not compete in. Money May will move to 50-0 and pass Rocky Marciano on the All-Time victories list, but with a major asterisk next to his name. So, yes, many will watch the fight out of pure curiosity, but they should title this bout as 'The Joke of the Century.'

Rafa Regains his Throne

Spain's Rafael Nadal captured his 10th French Open Men's Singles title with a straight sets demolition over 2015
Champion Stan Wawrinka.

Champ10n. With an incredibly dominant two weeks at his favorite major, Rafael Nadal slaughtered his way through the field to capture his 10th Roland Garros title, 15th overall Grand Slam and climbed back to his highest ranking since 2014 of No. 2 in the world. This was Nadal's first major championship in three years, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in a tough four-set final at Roland Garros. His 15th Grand Slam puts him second All-Time behind Roger Federer (18), as he broke his tie with the best American player of All-Time, Pete Sampras. Nadal was incredibly dominant, arguably more dominant than ever before at the French Open, as he did not surrender a single set and didn't allow any opponent to win more than four games in any set in seven matches. In the semifinals he routinely dismissed young gun Dominic Thiem, who had beaten him just a couple weeks earlier in Rome. He followed that up with an equally punishing display of physical clay court tennis against 2015 Champion Stan Wawrinka, who was slightly fatigued after his marathon semifinal victory against World No. 1 Andy Murray. It is incredible to see the Mallorca native playing at this level after going through a couple of less-than-stellar seasons, by his standards, on tour. He has accomplished everything he set out to do in professional tennis, and he is potentially playing his best tennis right now at age 31. This season, Nadal and Federer are showing why they are the two greatest players of All-Time. After all their success over the years, they are regaining their form as the two best players in the world in 2017, which not many would have predicted a year ago with Djokovic and Murray having seemingly established themselves as the two players to beat on tour. Now, Murray and Djokovic are struggling with their form, and Nadal and Federer have won virtually every big tournament this season. With the clay court season behind us, we now look ahead to the grass where Federer will return to the court and look to capture his 8th Wimbledon crown. It will be interesting to see if Nadal can continue his top notch form as he prepares for the quick surface change. For now, he will surely enjoy and savor this French Open title as he continues to add trophies to his incredible professional career.

A Warrior Revenge

For the third consecutive year, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will tangle for the NBA Championship.

Ah, we meet again. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will look to settle the score for a third consecutive season when the 2017 NBA Finals begin tomorrow night at 9pm on ABC. The Warriors and Cavaliers have brutally crushed their opponents throughout the postseason, losing a combined one game along the way. The two heavyweights of the NBA will bring their incredible star powered lineups to the hardwood in a tussle of who's creating the current dynasty in the association. The Warriors have been looking forward to this rematch all season, as the sting of their blown 3-1 lead in last season's Finals surely hasn't worn off. They did their part in rushing to this matchup, going 12-0 against the Western Conference in the playoffs. The Cavaliers didn't face much more competition, as they have posted a 12-1 record thus far. The major addition to this compelling rivalry is Warriors' All-Star forward Kevin Durant, who was acquired in free agency in the offseason. His addition to an already loaded roster, may be what gets Golden State over the hump and some revenge on their rivals this time around. The Cavaliers have made some solid mid-season additions, acquiring three-point specialist Kyle Korver in a trade with Atlanta, as well as signing veteran point guard Deron Williams. With all the offensive firepower and shooters in this series, it will surely be entertaining and high scoring. Individual match ups will also take center stage with some of the best players at their respective positions going toe-to-toe. Now, I know the playoffs have been lackluster for fans thus far, but this series will not disappoint. The blowouts and mismatches for the last month and a half will be quickly forgotten when this series tips off. When you essentially have an All-Star game taking place each game for potentially seven games, it will be hard to not be glued to the TV for the duration of the series. Commissioner Adam Silver has said that he doesn't like the fact that the league only has two teams currently running the show without much competition. While that is a valid point, let's all sit back and enjoy these two teams going at it for the championship. This could turn out to be a series for the ages, with so many compelling story lines and talent on the court. I'll take the Warriors to enact revenge on their 3-1 blown series lead last season, and take out the Cavaliers in a thrilling seven game battle that will go down as one of the best NBA Finals in history.

Overtime Overload

The first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs saw a record-setting 18 overtime games.

The opening round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs were filled with drama and exciting overtime finishes. Although no series went seven games, there were a record-setting 18 games that needed extra time to decide a winner out of the 42 played in total. Four out of the six games played in the Ottawa Senators-Boston Bruins series and five out of the six games played in the Washington Capitals-Toronto Maple Leafs series needed extra time. That's a ton of closely contested, drama-filled games for just the opening round. This speaks to how close the standings and comparable levels of teams were throughout the regular season. A mere eight points separated the Atlantic Division champion Montreal Canadiens from the second wild card Maple Leafs. Four teams, the Capitals, Penguins, Blue Jackets and Rangers, tallied more than 100 points in the regular season. Only three points separated the Chicago Blackhawks from the Minnesota Wild in the Central Division, and two points differentiated the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division. We had surprising results, such as the upstart Nashville Predators sweeping the ever-dominant Blackhawks. The inexperienced Oilers also took out the more seasoned San Jose Sharks in a tough six-game tussle. The Eastern Conference featured battles of some familiar foes, as the Rangers outlasted the Canadiens in six, hard fought games, the Senators edged the Bruins in similar fashion and the Capitals survived a scare from a young, hungry Maple Leafs bunch led by rookie star Auston Matthews. The second round is sure to see some more rugged, hard fought series. The Penguins and Capitals will battle it out in a duel between arguably the league's two best players in Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The big, physical Ducks will take on an Edmonton team with nothing to lose, led by young gun Connor McDavid. We may not see as many overtime games as the opening round, but we're sure to get a couple of seven-game series in the next round. As hockey fans, we hope this continues as the best teams fight for the chance to get to the Stanley Cup Final.

Roger's Resurgence

Switzerland's Roger Federer continues to cement his status as the greatest men's tennis player of All-Time.

Roger Federer is putting together an incredible start to his 2017 campaign on the ATP World Tour, collecting his 18th major title down under at the Australian Open, capturing back-to-back Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami and soaring from No. 17 to No. 4 in the latest Emirates ATP Rankings. The 35-year old recovered from an injury-riddled 2016 where he missed the entire second half of the season, and has utilized a few new wrinkles in his already complete game to turn the tables on his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal. Federer has won the last four meetings against Nadal, three coming this year in Australia, Indian Wells and Miami, improving his overall record against the Spaniard to 14-23. Previously in their rivalry, Nadal has been able to exploit Federer's weaker one-handed backhand by pressuring him with high, heavy topspin forehands. This has been the trademark pattern, especially on clay, that has seen Nadal control the matchup over the years. This season, however, Federer is not giving up his position on the baseline and is taking his backhand early. This is not allowing Nadal, and others, to gain control of the rally and take advantage of Federer's "weaker" wing. He is taking time away from his opponents, and using his backhand as a weapon to complement his already explosive forehand. This key change, combined with his strong serving and aggressive net approaches, has seen Federer dominate the field this season. He has been able to do this with World Numbers' 1 and 2, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic,  struggling with their form and missing time due to injuries. He will surely be tested even more when they return hungry to regain their form at the top of the men's game. The resurgence of the Federer-Nadal rivalry has been the main storyline this season a couple of months into the year, and it is incredible to see that these two All-Time greats are still competing at such a high level on the biggest stages against one another. With the clay court season just around the corner, Nadal will surely look to regain his dominance on the dirt. It will be interesting, and even more impressive, to see if Federer can continue this incredible form on the clay courts, his weakest surface. In addition to the Federer-Nadal rivalry taking center-stage once again, Australian young gun Nick Kyrgios continues to be a polarizing figure in the game. His brash attitude and overly aggressive style of play, while rubbing some people the wrong way, is exactly what men's tennis needs. Kyrgios is the outlaw on tour, and owns it completely. Regardless of his antics, he is a captivating player that will constantly have media attention and storylines surrounding him. If he can mature a little bit more, he could start collecting major championships in the near future. With all the intrigue, rivalries and high level of play going on out on the court, the 2017 season is shaping up to be one to remember.






Marsh Madness

The New York Giants signed WR Brandon Marshall to a 2-year, $12 million dollar deal yesterday.

The New York Giants have vaulted their already impressive receiving corps to new heights with the signing of ex-Jet WR Brandon Marshall. Big Blue signed Marshall to a 2-year, $12 million dollar deal yesterday, that does more than replace diminished slot receiver Victor Cruz. The trio of WR Odell Beckham Jr., Marshall and second-year stud Sterling Shepard, will surely be one of, if not the most explosive unit in the NFL. Giants' QB Eli Manning will have no shortage of options in the passing game, but it will come down to players' execution and second-year Head Coach Ben McAdoo's play calling that will determine the level of success of the Giants' offense. Despite not having a poor statistical season, Manning and the Giants' passing attack was not nearly as explosive as it was in the previous two seasons when McAdoo was the offensive coordinator. Manning was allowed to stretch the field much more, and hit big plays through the air down the field. In 2016, the Giants ran much more of a controlled, short passing game, which in turn did not lead to many big plays or points. Beckham Jr. was 6th in the NFL in Yards After Catch (YAC) with 524, which means the majority of his (and the Giants) big plays through the air were short completions with Beckham's speed and athleticism taking over thereafter. The Giants' offense was not very successful in many facets, but the lack of a running game hurt their ability to take shots down the field. The Giants averaged 88.2 rushing yards per game in 2016 (ranked 29th in the NFL), and substituted short passing combinations for their lack of a running attack. This, in turn, became the norm for their offensive possessions, and were forced into many third and long situations. Adding a receiver of the caliber of Marshall, who has compiled eight 1,000+ yard seasons, along with four 10+ touchdown seasons, should allow McAdoo more freedom in his play calling. Marshall and Beckham Jr. will arguably be the top WR duo in the NFL, but if Big Blue cannot establish some semblance of a running game, it will be very tough for them to greatly improve upon their offensive output in 2016. RB Paul Perkins showed some nice speed and versatility late in the season, but without the presence of a true number one option, the Giants will struggle to find a balanced attack as they did last season. Regardless of the outcome, adding a player of Marshall's caliber to an already impressive WR group will definitely make Big Blue something to keep our eyes on all season.

Crosby vs. Gretzky

With Penguins' forward Sidney Crosby on the verge of his 1,000th career NHL point, it begs the question of where he belongs on the pecking order of All-Time greats.

When the Penguins play host to the visiting Winnipeg Jets tonight, it will be another opportunity for their superstar forward to cement his place among the All-Time NHL greats with his 1,000th career point. Crosby earned his 999th career point Tuesday night with an assist in the Penguins' 4-0 shutout over the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year old has tallied an impressive 30 goals and 31 assists in 49 games played this season, and will be looking to become the 86th player to record 1,000 points in NHL history. Although it seems 'Sid the Kid' has been around forever, he presumably has a good amount of time left out on the ice at 29 years of age. Despite the fact that he has had a rather injury plagued career and his fare share of concussion issues, Crosby doesn't seem to be slowing down as one of the NHL's elite forwards when he's healthy. Having already lifted the Stanley Cup twice in his career he will surely be looking to build on his already profound success. The Penguins are in the thick of a hotly contested Metropolitan Division race, with the Rangers and Blue Jackets all separated by two points. The Capitals have been on a tear winning six in a row, sitting atop the division with 84 points. Crosby will look to blow past the 1,000 point mark and continue to lead his extremely skilled group towards another possible Stanley Cup berth. 

With Crosby sure to hit this significant milestone tonight or in the near future, I took a look at his career statistics compared to the undoubted greatest player of All-Time, Wayne Gretzky. While Crosby's career stats are impressive, it is truly amazing to see the remarkable numbers Gretzky put up in his career, especially in the mid-1980's with the Edmonton Oilers. Crosby has not played many full NHL seasons, so that is a factor in the comparison as well. Gretzky's best years in Edmonton spanned throughout the early to mid 1980's, and then on with the Los Angeles Kings in the late 80's and early 90's. A few years in the 80's really stand out and are almost unthinkable. In arguably the best regular season ever, Gretzky scored 92 goals and tallied 120 assists in 1981-82 in 80 games played. He followed that up with another three seasons of 200+ point totals in the 1980's. Despite that being maybe the best individual season ever, it is still not his highest point total in his career. In 1985-86, Gretzky scored 52 goals and tallied 163 assists in 80 games played. Gretzky's numbers during these years are something that no man will probably ever come close to repeating. His numbers began to taper off as he got later in his career, but they were still more than respectable. Now, looking at Crosby's seasons in comparison, the Penguins' forward's best season came in 2006-07, where he scored 36 goals and tallied 84 assists for 120 points in 79 games played. Gretzky matched his career high point total in assists alone in the 1981-82 season. Crosby has had five seasons in his career where he's notched over 100 total points, where Gretzky has had four seasons with over 200 points. While Crosby is considered one of the best players in this generation, he still does not even come close to Gretzky's all-time numbers. So, while he is on-track to join an elite club, I think we have to recognize how no one will ever replicate what Wayne Gretzky did. Crosby will be placed among the conversation of the greats, but Gretzky is in a league of his own. 

Stan the Man Stands Tall

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka fought off World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to claim his first U.S. Open championship.

2016 U.S. Open Champion Stan Wawrinka had to earn every bit of his $3.5 million dollar prize money check in order to capture his 3rd career major title. Having endured almost 22 hours on-court during the two-week championship, saving a match point in the third round against Daniel Evans and overcoming the best player in the world in the final, Wawrinka proved that he is the current iron man of tennis. Since the beginning of 2014, Wawrinka has captured three Grand Slams and has elevated himself from underachiever to potential first ballot Hall of Famer. He has overcome Djokovic in two of the major finals, something few have been able to do in recent years. Even more impressively, he has shown he can physically and mentally outlast the world's best on the biggest stages of the sport. Possessing the world's most dominant one-handed backhand, combined with a much improved forehand and powerful serve, he has the weaponry to unsettle and beat anyone in the world. At 31, you can say it's a little late for a player's prime, but the way tennis has been evolving, 30 has become the new 20. It's not unreasonable to think that Wawrinka can keep up this current level of play for another four to five years. He credits his coach, former player Magnus Norman, with being the main difference in instilling the confidence and belief in himself and his game that he previously lacked. Wawrinka's now signature "point to the head" (pictured above) is a signal to his coach after he wins a big point during a match, which shows how far he's come mentally and the belief he has in the crucial moments. He has emerged from compatriot Roger Federer's shadow late in his career, and is certainly carving out an All-Time great career for himself. With the year's final Grand Slam in the books, it's hard to say who is the clear No. 1 heading into 2017, despite the rankings.

Steph and LeBron do battle in the 2016 NBA Finals

The NBA's top two superstars are set to lead their teams in the 2016 Finals.

The rematch is set. Steph Curry will lead the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors against LeBron James and a healthy Cleveland Cavaliers group in this year's Finals. The top two players in the association will once again duke it out for the title, but this year appears to be a much more evenly matched series. Last year, James single-handedly pushed the Warriors to six games without his top two guns by his side in Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. Now, with a healthy Irving and Love, along with key contributors such as J.R. Smith, James figures to have his group primed for a victory this time around. Having said that, it will be interesting to see which team comes out with more energy to start the series. The Cavaliers wrapped up their Eastern Conference Final against the Raptors last Friday, while the Warriors had to expend a ton of energy to be only the third team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit in the Conference Finals by taking out the talented Thunder. Cleveland has an impressive 12-2 record this postseason, albeit against lesser competition, and their health will be key in their ability to push Golden State to the limit. Curry and the Warriors will be looking to cap off the best regular season in NBA history, with 73 victories, and become the first back-to-back champions since James accomplished that feat with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. With the Warriors' home crowd to surely be a factor to begin the series, and their core three players of Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green firing on all cylinders, it will be tough for Cleveland to even steal one game at Oracle Arena. If the Cavaliers can come out with fresh legs and manage to win Game One to automatically put a ton of pressure on the Warriors to secure Game Two, the odds will surely swing in favor of James' squad. The Cavaliers' ability to defend the three ball and Curry's dribble penetration will be a key element in the outcome of this series. Cleveland will surely try to slow the pace down and make it more of a half-court game, but that will be a tough task against these Warriors. Last year's Finals were captivating in their own right, but this year's sequel figures to be a popcorn series for fans.