Sports: Basketball African League Quarterfinals Are Ready To Go.

 

AS Sale's Terrell Stoglin made his presence felt through group play.
(c)ESPN

Eight Countries. Eight Teams. One Champion.

The inaugural Basketball African League Playoffs will be under way tomorrow at 5:30 PM CT as F.A.P (Cameroon) takes on Zamalek (Egypt) in the Quarterfinals.

Zamalek has been paced by the Point Guard play of Walter Hodge who has provided patience, good reads and leadership during their undefeated run.

Walter Hodge's 15-point performance for @ZSCOfficial earned him the @visitrwanda_now Player of the Game award #theBAL pic.twitter.com/XAoWVPGT6X

— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 23, 2021

Hodge's play has resulted in well run sets, tempo establishment and steady production. As he has been one of the best players at the BAL so far the second game of tomorrow's playoff action should also be a treat as the 9:00 PM CT game features AS Sale (Morocco) against Petro De Luanda (Angola).

The guard play the night cap will be tremendous as Luanda's Antwan Scott and Carlos Morais attempt to stifle the brilliance of Terrell Stoglin, who became the first player to hit the 40 point mark in BAL history.

4⃣0⃣ POINTS, most of #theBAL so far!
Terrell Stoglin is the @visitrwanda_now Player of the Game #theBAL pic.twitter.com/WQlGahTr4h

— Basketball Africa League (@theBAL) May 20, 2021

With a wave of recent criticism coming his way after he made comments about J. Cole's play in the league, Stoglin looks to channel all energy into postseason success. Guard play is always vital with the new state of basketball worldwide and this 3 vs 6 seeded match-up should result in fireworks.

Sports News: The Historic Start of Patrick Mahomes' Career Continues

 

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes helped his team book a ticket Super Bowl LV.

(c) USA Today

Patrick Mahomes is only 25 years old. His first 3 years as a Starting Quarterback has been legendary.

• Super Bowl champion & MVP
• 2 AFC Championships
• 50 Touchdowns in his 2nd season
• Largest Contract in league history
• First-Team All-Pro QB
• 3x Pro Bowler

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Cristiano Ronaldo Scores 100th & 101st International Goal For Portugal

 

Cristiano Ronaldo continues his high level of play at 35 years old.

(c) BBC

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th & 101st international goal in the 2-0 win over with Sweden.⁣
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The 35-year-old is the second man in history to reach the milestone.⁣
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Ronaldo is now 8 goals away from the all-time international record of 109 goals set by retired Iranian legend Ali Daei.⁣

Check out all of his 101 goals for Portugal including last night's.

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Kylian Mbappe Tests Positive For Coronavirus

 

Kylian Mbappe

(c) CNN

Young superstar forward Kylian Mbappe has been forced to return home from the national team after testing positive for the coronavirus.⁣
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Mbappe will miss France's Nations League game against Croatia and Paris Saint-Germain's season opener.⁣
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This comes after seven PSG players tested positive last week including Brazilian forward Neymar⁣.

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Everton Signs Midfielder James Rodriguez From Real Madrid

 

James Rodriguez 

(c) Goal

Everton have signed the attacking midfielder from Real Madrid for £22m.⁣
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Rodriguez, 29, has signed a two-year deal with an option for a third season. ⁣
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He is reunited with Carlo Ancelotti for the third time, having played under him at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.⁣

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NBA: Boston Takes Game 2 As Tatum Scores 32; Nuggets Overcome 3-1 Deficit To Win Game 7 vs Utah

 

(c) Euro Hoops

The Boston Celtics are rolling in the Eastern Conference Semis against the defending champion Toronto Raptors. Led by Jayson Tatum's 34 points coupled by a Marcus Smart barrage of six 3-pointers and Kemba Walker's ability to close out games, the C's took a 2-0 in the best of seven series. 

Toronto was spearheaded by five players scoring in double digit figures including the continued high-level playoff play by Fred Van Fleet. 

In the Nightcap, the Denver Nuggets dug themselves out of a 3-1 hole to defeat the Utah Jazz in an entertaining and explosive seven game series that featured extraordinarily high-level guard action from Jamal Murray and Donovan Mitchell.

In each game, both teams combined nearly averaged 235 points per outing but Game 7 proved to be an old-fashion slug-fest with the final score being 80-78 in the Nuggets favor.

Denver will now prepare for their match-up against the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals which begins on Thursday.

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NBA: Giannis Antetokounmpo Named 2019-2020 Defensive Player of the Year

 

Antetokounmpo is now in a select class of players that have won both MVP & DPOY.

(c) ESPN

After finishing second in voting last year, Milwaukee Bucks Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is officially the 2019-2020 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

The "Greek Freak" is also the favorite to repeat as the 2019-2020 NBA Most Valuable Player. He is now the fifth player to win both awards joining Kevin Garnett, Hakeem Olajuwon, Michael Jordan and David Robinson. Sidney Moncrief is the only other Bucks player to win the award as he took home the hardware in back to back seasons during the early 1980's.

Watch Giannis talk about how defense is a team effort after accepting his award.

After thanking his family and coaches, @Giannis_An34 gets choked up talking about how DPOY is a team award.

"I believe that defense is building trust and effort. We trust one another, we care about one another, we believe in one another."

What a leader.

(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/laO7KRGvzz

— Stephen Watson (@WISN_Watson) August 25, 2020

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Lionel Messi Wants Out of Barcelona

 

Messi has listed Manchester City as his preferred destination, according to reports.

(c) New York Times

Six-time Ballon d'Or winner, Lionel Messi has now sent a letter to Barcelona notifying the club that he intends to leave the squad.

Messi made his first debut with the senior team in 2004 and has helped them win 4 UEFA Champions League titles and 10 La Liga titles. He has been with the club since 2000 after being signed as a 13 year old. 

Former teammate and now retired legend Carles Puyol said on Twitter. "Respect and admiration. All my support, friend."

This comes after Barca was humilated by Bayern Munich 8-2 in the Champions League Quarter Finals.

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Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. Announces Being Cancer Free After February Diagnosis

 

Ripken's 2132 consectuive games played is the most in MLB history/

(c) USA Today

Retired Balitmore Orioles Shortstop Cal Ripken Jr. announced that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February and says he is now fully healthy and cancer-free after having surgery in March followed by treatment.

According to MLB.com, Ripken said, "The surgery couldn't have gone better. The outcome couldn't have gone better, and I have resumed everything I was doing before. It's been a pretty miraculous few months."

He also urged people to go through with health checkups saying, "Sometimes we as guys avoid that or think we'll go to the doctor when we need to. I thought maybe my story, as lucky as it is, could encourage or bring the awareness. You should get checked. You should go to the doctors. You should do all the things necessary to catch this early."  

Ripken earned a host of awards during his 20-year playing career with the Orioles including World Series Champion, two-time American League MVP, AL Rookie of the Year and played in 19 All-Star games. In 1995, he passed Lou Gehrig's 56 year old record of most consecutive games played.

He will turn 60 on the August 24th.

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Big 12 Conference Announces Fall Sports Will Continue

 

The Big 12 plan to have a college football champion in December.

(c) Bleacher Report

In a statement, the Big 12 Conference have said its schools will start playing their conference games in late September, under a schedule that's been reduced due to the coronavirus.⁣
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"Our student-athletes want to compete, and it is the Board's collective opinion that sports can be conducted safely and in concert with the best interests of their well-being," said Big 12 Board of Directors chair Victor Boschini.⁣
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For high contact sports like football, volleyball and soccer, players will be tested three times a week.⁣
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The conference is also hoping to hold it's championship game in December.⁣

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PSG Beat Atalanta With Two Late Goals; Head To UCL SEMIS

 

Paris Saint-Germain are two wins away from winning UCL trophy.

(c) Goal

PSG are on to the Champions League semifinal after Marquinhos and Eric Choupo-Moting scored in the dying minutes to give the club a 2-1 win against the Cinderella squad, Atalanta.⁣

Star forward Kylian Mbappe was able to return to action as a substitute after suffering an ankle injury on July 24.

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Pac-12 & Big Ten Conferences Shutdown College Football For The Fall

 

The Rose Bowl's annual Pac-12/Big Ten Match-up is in jeopardy this season.

(c) USA Today

The 2019-2020 College Football season will no longer include the Pac-12 and the Big Ten from August to December.

Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren said, "As time progressed and after hours of discussion with our Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee, it became abundantly clear that there was too much uncertainty regarding potential medical risks to allow our student-athletes to compete this fall."

On the west coast after Pac-12 football players started the #WeAreUnited movement in an effort to improve the conditions, health and financial situations for the conference during these uncertain times for college athletics, the athletes responded to the decision.

"It is obvious that the Pac-12 was woefully unprepared to protect college athlete safety in response to COVID-19 and could not address the basic and essential safety demands made by #WeAreUnited," the statement read. 

They went on  to say, "After haphazardly trying to place the health of college athletics in jeopardy by having a season without safety mandates, the Pac-12 has now abruptly canceled the season with no transfarance and no communication with the college athletes impacted. The Pac-12's failures have made it clear that the time for change is now. The system is broken. College athletes deserve and need a real voice in the form of a players association."

The Big 12 announced that they intend to play this fall. The SEC and ACC are yet to declare their intentions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

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Portland Trail Blazers' Damian Lillard Scores 61 Points In Vital Victory Over Dallas Mavericks

 

Lillard's 3rd 60-point game this season for the Blazers was a dominant display.

(c) Sky Sports

A late 3-pointer that bounced off the rim, suspended into the air and somehow found itself going through the basket was the shot that gave Damian Lillard his 61st point that vaulted the Blazers to a 134-131 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

"Put some respect on my f****ing name", he proclaimed numerous times as teammates and coaches congratulated him.

This moment also showcased a player who understood the importance of the victory as it granted them complete possession of the Western Conference's 8th and final seed with one more game to go before the playoffs begin.

Lillard joins Wilt Chamberlain as the only two players with three 60-point games in one season.

The Blazers are 5-2 in the NBA restart bubble and as his backcourt partner CJ McCollum is dealing with a lower back fracture, they will get one day of rest before taking on Brooklyn in the finale.

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Nigeria's 1996 Olympic Football Coach Says He Never Received Gold Medal

 

Jo Benfrere coached the Nigerian national team on two separate occasions.

(c) BBC

According to Goal.com, Nigeria's 1996 Gold Medal winning coach  Jo Benfrere has never been given his medal in the last 24 years.

Nigeria beat powerhouses Brazil and Argentina in the semi-finals and finals of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games to claim Gold after being far from favorites to win.

"I have not been given the Olympic gold medal we won in 1996. After we celebrated our victory over Argentina at the final, I was prevented from climbing the podium to receive my medal.They said mine was not available. I was annoyed and refused to return with the team to Nigeria. I went to Holland instead.It's unfair that after bringing glory to Nigeria, I was denied my rewards."

He also said he was promised property from the Nigeria's Federal Government.

The BBC said Benfrere demanded a salary of $30,000 a month when he returned to coach Nigeria in 1999 after going to Qatar for 2 years.

Benfrere coached the Super Eagles to the African Cup of Nations Final in 2000 where they lost to Cameroon.

He last managed Chinese club Boading Yingli Yitong F.C in 2017.

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College Football and Fall Sports Most Likely Cancelled After Power 5 Conference Meeting

 

Many players have already opted out of the 2020 College Football season.

(c) ESPN

After an emergency conference call meeting with the heads of the Division 1 Power 5 conference over the weekend, the College Football Season and Fall Sports will most likely be canceled due to increasing concerns of the coronavirus.⁣

⁣“It’s gotten to a critical stage ... I think all of us will be meeting with our boards in the coming days. We have work to do that is no fun,” one conference commissioner told Sports Illustrated Sunday.⁣
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The Mid-American Conference postponed fall sports and the Big Ten followed with an announcement that it was pausing its scheduled progression to full-pads football practices.⁣
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A source told Sports Illustrated “I think by the end of the week the fall sports will be postponed in all conferences.”⁣

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Carmelo Anthony Rises To No.15 On The NBA All Time Scoring List

 

Anthony has helped the Trail Blazers immensely after being signed this season.

(c) NBC Sports

The Portland Trail Blazers star passed Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce for 15th on the NBA's all-time scoring list during last night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers.⁣
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Next up on the list is Tim Duncan, who scored 26,496 points during his outstanding career with the San Antonio Spurs.⁣

His friend and basketball legend took to Twitter to congratulate him. 

Carmelo Anthony is one of 5 players in NBA history to average 20 points per game in their first 14 seasons.

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Kevin Durant Nabs $1 Million Incentive Bonus Despite Not Playing This Year As Nets Make Playoffs

 

Kevin Durant will be 32 years old at the start of the 2020-2021 NBA season.

(c) Forbes

With the Brooklyn Nets officially clinching the playoffs on Friday, Kevin Durant has earned a $1 million incentive bonus despite not appearing in a single game for the Nets this season.⁣
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This is in addition to the $37.2 million base salary Durant is receiving this year as he continues to recover from an Achilles tear sustained in last year’s NBA Finals.⁣

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Manchester City Cruise To UCL Quarter-Final Win Over Real Madrid; Sterling Scores 100th Goal

 

Sterling celebrates 100th career goal with Gabriel Jesus & Phil Foden.

(c) Goal

Manchester City are heading to the Quarter-finals following their 2-1 victory over Madrid in yesterday's Champions League 2nd leg match.⁣
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Goals were scored by Raheem Sterling & Gabriel Jesus while Karim Benzema netted the lone goal for Madrid.⁣
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Sterling also reached a personal milestone with 100 goals for City after 5 seasons with the club.⁣

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Robin van Persie Returns To Childhood Club Feyenoord as Coach

 

Van Persie played with Feyenoord from 1999-2001.

(c) Diario AS

Robin van Persie, 37, who spent his final season as a player with the Dutch club in 2018-19 will now work under manager Dick Advocaat to help the forwards.⁣
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"It is not an official position so it's hard for me to give it a title," said the former Netherlands international.⁣
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Van Persie went on to say, "It's a win-win. I'll find out here whether I like doing this and help the staff a bit."⁣

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