Summer days might be heating up but sports provides us with an excellent way to break the ice.
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The Last Night’s Game Team
NBA (National Basketball Association)
Basketball is back! The NBA is the first of any of the four major professional sports leagues to announce its plan for a return to live sports. A 29-1 vote yesterday solidified the plan to send 22 teams to the ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, FL where they will wrap up the season. (The Portland Trailblazers were the only team to vote ‘no’ even though they’re one of the 22 teams in the running). The select teams are teams that were already playoff bound or within reach of a playoff spot when the season came to a halt on March 11. Games will start on July 31 and wrap up with a new league champion on October 12. HOOOORAY!
Overtime
Tennis superstar Coco Gauff may only be 16 years old but her powerful speech at a Black Lives Matter protest yesterday was wise beyond her years. In an emotional speech she talked about how her grandmother protested the same thing 50 years ago, stating "We must have the tough conversations with our friends….We must change now." SPREADING HOPE
Sideline stat
College football players have begun voluntary practices in preparation for the football season to begin in August. With the return to close proximity, COVID is raising its ugly head. Three players from Oklahoma State University have tested positive for the virus that one player contracted at a protest and five players at Alabama have met the same fate. As a standard practice across the sport, players will continue to be tested on a daily basis. There’s no word on what the football season will look like moving forward – fans, no fans, a reduced number of fans – so until then we’ll anxiously wait with our tailgate party hats on. DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH
Coaches’ corner
Protest across the globe have pushed for change, equality and justice. Doing his part, P.K. Subban of the New Jersey Devils (NHL - National Hockey League) used his platform to raise awareness to the GoFundMe page for Gianna, the 6-year-old daughter of George Floyd. Subban, along with fiancée Olympian Lindsey Vonn, donated $50,000 to the fund and the NHL matched his donation. He also asked for everyone to join the fight against injustice. STRONGER TOGETHER
What to watch
Saturday is ladies night for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). The main event on Saturday night features a fight between the current champion, Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer. Ever wonder what it’s like to be hit by a fighter as dominant as Nunes? A previous opponent described it as “getting hit and seeing like the stars and birds from the cartoons.” UMM NO THANKS
