The Carolina Hurricanes jumped to a 3-0 lead, held off a New Jersey Devils rally to trim the lead to one goal before Carolina scored two goals late in the third period to clinch Game Four 5-2.
Nico Hischier and Timo Meier each scored for New Jersey in the second period.
The Devils now trail the series three games to one and are one game away from elimination, going into game five Tuesday in Raleigh.
Hell Raisers
1) The play that received the most attention was when Timo Meier ran into Carolina goaltender Fredrik Anderson and sent him from the game in the second period.
The play was reviewed for a possible major penalty on Meier, but it was determined that Meier was not at fault
2) Carolina has neutralized the Devils power play as the Devils were denied on both of their chances in game four.
New Jersey has not scored in twelve power-play opportunities in the series.
3) Jacob Markstrom played well, but he made one major mistake when he misplayed the puck in the third period.
After the puck trickled out of a scrum, Brent Burns shot the puck home for a 4-2 Carolina lead.
The Cleveland Cavaliers rolled into Miami looking to finish off the Miami Heat in four games.
And in game three, the Cavaliers accomplished half their goal with a dominating 124-87 victory in game three of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series.
Six Cavaliers finished with double-figures, led by Jarrett Allen's twenty-two and DeAndre Hunter's twenty-one.
Cleveland can complete the sweep Monday night in Miami.
Swashbucklings
1) It's hard to imagine, but the Cavaliers were this destructive on a bad shooting afternoon by Donovan Mitchell, who finished with thirteen points on four for fourteen shooting.
2) As a team, Cleveland shot fifty-three percent from the floor while Miami shot forty-two percent.
In basketball, if you have a ratio of eleven points in shooting percentage, most of the time, you win.
3) Earlier, Evan Mobley was announced as the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year.
I was surprised that Mobley won and not because he didn't deserve it, he did.
Usually, players need a year of nomination for such awards before they actually win them.
4) Excellent game from DeAndre Hunter off the bench with his 21 points on six of eight shooting.
Hunter's plus-minus for the game was a stunning plus thirty-four,
5) Cleveland outscored Miami 33-5 at one point in the first half, and you could see the air release from the Heat, they knew early this game was over.
6) All of this was achieved without Darius Garland, who sat out with a toe injury,
Smart move by Kenny Atkinson to get Garland 100 percent for the future and I would sit him Monday as well.
Well, Andrew Berry never fails to make me wonder with his draft decisions, and he's done so again when he traded the Browns ' sixth-round pick and flipped picks in round five with the Seattle Seahawks to take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
The trade ended the Browns draft with only seven new players, two quarterbacks, after drafting Sanders and Oregon passer Dillon Gabriel in Friday's third round.
Sanders had been regarded as a first-round selection and the second-best quarterback behind Cam Ward in the class, with many in the Cleveland media, most notably Browns beat writer Mary Kay Cabot, to be selected second overall.
Sanders threw for over four thousand yards last year with thirty-seven touchdowns against ten interceptions, completing seventy-four percent of his passes.
Sanders has a good arm, not a great one, and good athletic ability, but isn't the natural athlete that his father, Hall of Famer and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, was.
Colorado's offensive line was awful in the two seasons that Sanders played there, but he didn't help his protection as he often held onto the ball for far too long.
Sanders is more accurate throwing long than short.
I didn't want the Browns picking Shedeur Sanders in round one, but I didn't want them choosing any quarterback in round one.
What I question is the third-round choice of Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and then trading up for Sanders, even at the small cost of a sixth-round draft choice.
No one would have criticized Andrew Berry and the Browns had they used the late third-round pick they used on Dillon Gabriel on Shedeur Sanders, and most would have been complementing the Browns for landing Sanders in the third.
Instead, the Browns suddenly have two rookie quarterbacks, on fairly even draft status, and lost the chance to gain two other players who could have possibly helped the team.
Had the Browns drafted Sanders in round three rather than Gabriel, they could have had Sanders (the better prospect) and other players in rounds five and six.
Jason Lloyd of The Athletic writes that this feels like Gabriel was preferred by the front office, and Sanders was Jimmy Haslam's man.
That makes sense, but Jimmy Haslam loves Andrew Berry, and I can't imagine he wants Berry to fail, so if this becomes a problem, it will be a down-the-road problem, not a 2025 ailment.
I like the player, although I'm not convinced he's a sure thing, and I also liked the cost.
However, between the drafting of Dillon Gabriel and the trade-up for Shedeur Sanders, the Cleveland Browns' look is the same as always—silly, Nonsensical, Smarter than everyone else (although those are the teams that win), and out of Control.
The Cleveland Browns picked lower in the fourth round than originally expected as they flipped fourth-rounders in the Travis Hunter trade with Jacksonville.
In Tennessee running back, Dylan Sampson, the Browns landed a quality player who many draft boards rated as comparable to their second-round pick, Quinshon Judkins of Ohio State.
Sampson was named All-American and the SEC player of the year for the Volunteers, and he is the breakaway threat that Judkins is not.
Last season, Sampson rushed for 1,491 yards and tied for the national lead with twenty-two rushing touchdowns, both all-time records at Tennessee.
It's fair to consider the Browns drafting two running backs, but Sampson's skills (much like TreVeyon Henderson with Judkins at Ohio State) may complement those of Judkins, and he is talented enough to perhaps push aside incumbent Jerome Ford.
Sampson will run inside, but is a speed runner more than a power back, and he's not known for his receiving skills, but he can learn to be better in the passing game.
The Browns drafted a quality player and an explosive back who offers different strengths than Quinshon Judkins.
The question for me is this- the Browns have so many needs (wide receiver to name one) to address, why two running backs now?
Unless the answer is that the Browns are going all in on the ground game and plan on using Judkins, Sampson, and Jerome Ford as the offensive focal point.
If that's so, I understand it.
If that is not the game plan, then one back or the other may be a luxury that a bad team cannot afford.
A Dragnet version of the boxing challenge, as with the Browns draft, and playoffs from the Cavaliers and Devils, I forgot to send out the schedule until very late this week.
In the event that I do not receive Ramon's and Vince's picks in time. My picks will receive no points for the week due to my delay.
Middleweights 12 Rds
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
Ramon Malpica: Eubank Unanimous Decision TRS: Eubank KO 8 Vince Samano:
Light Heavyweights. 12 Rds
Anthony Yarde vs Lyndon Arthur
R.L: Yarde Unanimous Decision TRS: Yarde KO 6 V.S:
The New Jersey Devils needed a hero after losing a two-goal lead in the final period, as a defeat would drop them behind the visiting Carolina Hurricanes three games to none.
In the second overtime, the Devils would find that hero as defenseman Simon Nemec's shot brushed the shoulder of Carolina goaltender Frederik Andersen and kept on going into the net for a 3-2 New Jersey win.
The Devils' goals were scored by Nico Hischier (first period) and Dawson Mercer (third)
The win cut the Carolina lead in the series to two games to one, and the Devils will have a chance to tie the series at two on Sunday at the Rock in Newark.
Hell Raisers
1) The story is about Simon Nemec, who was scratched for the first game of the series but, due to injuries to Luke Hughes and Brendon Dillon, has played in the most recent two games.
Nemec scored the winning goal, of course, but also played well defensively and could be playing himself back into the team's plans after a season that saw him spend much of the year with AHL Utica.
2) The battered Devils did return Jonas Siegenthaler, who has missed much of the season.
Siegenthaler clearly isn't in top shape, and it's unfair to expect him to be, but I thought he played very well and give him credit for pushing himself to return in a situation where the Devils needed his return badly.
3) The surprising leader in ice time? Brian Dumoulin with a surprising thirty-six minutes!
I know the Devils are hurting on defense, but I didn't expect that!
4) Another strong game from Jacob Markstrom in net.
Markstrom's play has kept the Devils in this series, and his saves in the second period against the Hurricanes attack were excellent.
5) Can New Jersey win this series?
I'm still dubious. I thought the Devils would avoid a sweep at home with a split, and they have accomplished that.
Can they win game four? Perhaps, and if they do, all bets are off.
It wouldn't be an Andrew Berry draft without a choice that makes little sense, and with a late third-round pick acquired from the Buffalo Bills in mid-season for Amari Cooper, Berry did what most expect from him by selecting Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel.
Gabriel's numbers with Oregon cannot be argued, as he threw for over 3,800 yards, thirty touchdowns against only six interceptions, and completed almost seventy-three percent of his passes.
Gabriel also finished his career with 188 total touchdowns and 63 career starts ( at three schools: Central Florida, Oklahoma, and Oregon), which are Division I career records.
The problems? Gabriel lacks a strong arm, is small at 5'11, and with his six seasons of college football, will be old for a rookie as he will turn twenty-five during the season.
Plus, Gabriel's skills are more similar to those of DeShaun Watson, which the Browns have vowed to move away from in favor of Kevin Stefanski's preferred system.
When you look at the Browns' needs at wide receiver, which currently boasts Jerry Jeudy and a group with more questions than the Riddler, taking Gabriel simply doesn't make sense.
And if you absolutely HAD to have a quarterback, there were several still available who would have made more sense than Gabriel, such as Quinn Ewers of Texas, Kyle McCord of Syracuse, Will Howard of Ohio State, and, of course, Shedeur Sanders of Colorado.
No one loves their middle-round, weak-armed, smallish quarterbacks who are "winners" than the Browns- Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cody Kessler, etc.
My best guess is the "Ivies" like Berry (who took Gabriel and DTR) and his mentor Sashi Brown (Kessler) fall in love with these types in the interview process because they are smart guys with "winning" personalities, overrate their potential, and due to their need to have them- draft them too soon.
At least that's my theory because otherwise I have absolutely no idea why the Browns would spend a third-round pick on Dillon Gabriel.
I'll try to be back throughout the day with the Browns remaining choices, one each in rounds four, five, and six.
The Cleveland Browns used the first of their two third-round draft picks to grab Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin, a very intriguing player.
Fannin was the MAC player of the year in 2024 as the first tight end to ever win the award, and was named a consensus All-American.
Fannin finished the season with 117 catches for 1,555 yards and ten touchdowns for the Falcons, and wasn't a Group of Five bully as Fannin caught 19 passes for 282 yards in close road losses to Penn State and Texas A&M.
At 6'4 and 230 pounds, Fannin runs well, is a solid route runner, and catches the ball well, dropping only two passes in his three seasons with Bowling Green.
Fannin could use some work in the weight room, and his blocking could use refinement, but I really like the athletic skills of Harold Fannin and think that he will be the eventual replacement for David Njoku.
Using the second-round choice acquired from the Jacksonville Jaguars on the first day of the NFL Draft, the Cleveland Browns made a very popular choice with a fan base in need of one with the selection of Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins.
The six-foot, two-hundred-twenty-pound Judkins played only one season at Ohio State after transferring from Ole Miss, rushing for 1,060 yards and fourteen touchdowns for the national champions.
Judkins is a physical back who is unafraid of contact and runs hard between the tackles.
Judkins also caught twenty-two passes for the Buckeyes, so he's not a passing game liability.
Judkins may lack the breakaway speed of teammate TreVeyon Henderson (who was chosen two picks later by New England), but Judkins' power style matches better with the speedier Jerome Ford in the Browns backfield.
Cleveland needed a replacement for Nick Chubb, and in running style, there are some similarities to Chubb, so I'm a fan of this pick.
I was disappointed the Browns didn't take Marshall defensive end Mike Green, who wound up with Baltimore, with one of their second-round picks, but I have few complaints with Carson Schwesinger or Quinshon Judkins.
The Cleveland Browns opened the second round with the selection of UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger, which was mildly surprising but understandable considering the unknown status of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
A former walk-on for the Bruins, Schwesinger was the breakout star for UCLA in their first Big Ten season, earning All-Big Ten and All-American.
Schwesinger had never started a game entering the 2024 season but led the nation in tackles with 136 and solo tackles with 90.
At 6'2 and 225, which is a bit undersized, Schwesinger was an excellent special-teams player before 2024, and he's a very good athlete with top-notch tackling skills.
At his size and speed, there are comparisons to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and I can see the Browns wanting someone to fit the mold in the event that JOK's career is in question.
I'm not sure that I would have used this pick on Schwesinger, considering the other players available, but it isn't a terrible choice and I think that he can help the Browns linebackers, as early as this season.
Andrew Berry's questionable draft strategy has struck again. Berry decided to trade down rather than take one of the two elite talents in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Cleveland passed on Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, the much-lauded "Unicorn" who could make an impact at both wide receiver and cornerback, and Penn State's pass-rushing standout Abdul Carter to order to land Jacksonville's second round pick (giving Cleveland two of the first four picks in round two and another chance for Berry to trade down) Jacksonville's fourth rounder (126) and the biggest prize of all, Jacksonville's first rounder in 2026.
The first rounder next season could be used to improve draft position and give the Browns a chance to be in a position to add a quarterback in what appears to be a far better quarterback class.
The Browns sent the second overall pick, their fourth-rounder (104), and one of their many sixth-rounders (200) to Jacksonville, who quickly snared Travis Hunter.
The Browns then used Jacksonville's first-round pick to select Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham, the best defensive tackle in the draft.
The 6'3, 320-pound Graham finished 2024 with twenty-three solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three and a half sacks for Michigan.
Graham is strong, relentless against the run and pass, and a former wrestler, which I've always loved when looking at linemen on both sides of the football.
Dane Brugler (draft analyst for The Athletic) uses the term "leverage monster" for Graham, which is appropriate because Graham sheds blockers and can provide some interior pass rush, even if his three seasons produced only nine sacks.
Here's my take- the return for the second overall choice is pretty good.
Mason Graham is an excellent player, and while he's not the flashiest selection, I think it is a solid one in a draft that lacks elite, impact talent outside of Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter.
Granted, Andrew Berry appeared to have made an excellent deal based on the return from the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the trade has one flaw- it's still Andrew Berry making the selections.
You can own the first five picks in a draft and if the wrong guy is running your draft, it can be screwed up.
Travis Hunter is a special player with abilities on both sides of the ball that we may never see again, and would have made a bad and boring team more watchable.
Mason Graham will be a step-in starter and at number five in a draft that lacked flashier stars, I have zero problems taking Graham, other than the Browns (who have, as recently as 2022, thought that the defensive tackle position wasn't one worth investing big resources) have now used their top pick on defensive tackles (Graham and 2024 second rounder Mike Hall), which causes me to wonder why the philosophical change and what data caused this flip?
My issue isn't with Mason Graham, it's with Andrew Berry and how many in the Browns media tolerate this stuff.
Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who I like as a reporter, but is a bit of a Kool-Aid drinker toward Berry and the administration with tweeting during the draft about "Wheelin' and Dealin'" Andrew Berry like he's Dusty Rhodes preparing for a challenge of Tully Blanchard, when it's Berry's "Wheelin and Dealin" that's caused this mess in the first place!
The Browns have four picks on day two, two of the first four and have a chance to nab two quality players, players who could have easily selected in the first round such as Marshall defensive end Mike Green, who I think might be a better pure pass rusher than Abdul Carter, either Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, or Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden, players to help an offense in desperate need.
Knowing Andrew Berry and his philosophy, I'd be surprised if the Browns actually use both picks to accumulate more choices now and in 2026.
After all, it's better to have four mediocre players than one good one.
I will be working during the remainder of the draft, so my recaps of each Cleveland choice may be slower than usual, but I will post them as quickly as possible!
Donovan Mitchell's second-half play allowed the Cleveland Cavaliers to fight off the late charge of the Miami Heat and win game two of their Eastern Conference Quarter-Final series 121-112 in Cleveland.
Mitchell scored eight of his thirty points in the final three minutes to hold off the game effort of the Heat, who rallied back from a deficit as large as nineteen points.
Evan Mobley finished with twenty points and Darius Garland added nineteen to support the Cavaliers, who lead the series two games to zero.
Game three moves the series to Miami on Sunday afternoon.
Swashbucklings
1) Donovan Mitchell did what teams hope superstars do- step up in the clutch.
Mitchell scored seventeen points in the fourth quarter, eight in a row to pull away from Miami, who had closed within a possession of tying the game.
Mitchell drove to the basket, and Miami couldn't stop him.
Period.
2) Hats off to Miami, which trailed by nineteen points late in the third quarter and pushed Cleveland to the limit behind Tyler Herro.
Herro finished with thirty-three points to lead all scorers, and Herro almost matched Mitchell bucket for bucket down the stretch.
3) Evan Mobley didn't play well in game one, but he returned for game two with an excellent game,
Mobley finished with twenty points but held Bam Adebayo to only three field goals from the floor.
Mobley is a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year and would be a deserving winner.
4) The Cavaliers hit eleven three-point attempts in the second quarter, an NBA record for the playoffs.
5) Ty Jerome understandably cooled off after a great game one, scoring six points on two for eight shooting.
6) DeAndre Hunter took some slack from Jerome off the bench with twelve points.
I think Hunter will be a larger factor as the playoffs move forward.
The New Jersey Devils took a lead shortly into game two of their series against the Carolina Hurricanes, but couldn't sustain the lead as they wouldn't score again in the 3-1 defeat.
Jesper Bratt's first-period goal gave New Jersey the lead after one, but Carolina scored two goals in the second period, one a shorthanded tally to give Carolina all they needed.
Carolina scored an empty net in the final seconds to cement their win.
Game three is Friday night at the Rock in Newark.
I'm not sure how much (or if any) coverage I will have of game three, as I will be at work and have day two coverage of the Browns in the NFL Draft.
Hell Raisers
1) The Devils played with more energy in game two, but two plays will haunt the team leading into a must-win game three.
2) With Jacob Markstrom pulled from the net for an extra attacker, the Devils had a wide-open chance to tie the game, but Timo Meier never made contact on a bouncing puck.
Meier bangs that puck in, and we are off to overtime, with who knows what occurs afterward.
3) The other play that will haunt the Devils came early in the second period after the Hurricanes had tied the game.
Carolina's Sebastian Aho goes off the ice for slashing Cody Glass, with the Devils having a chance to grab control of the game by re-taking the lead.
Instead, Jordan Martinook zipped a shorthanded shot past Jacob Markstrom to give the Hurricanes a lead they would never relinquish.
4) For the second game in a row, Jacob Markstrom was very good in the net (25 saves), but Carolina's Fredrik Anderson was even better.
That's not an excuse. It's just a fact.
5) A team already missing Jack Hughes played game two without Luke Hughes and Brendon Dillon, and yet hung in the game to the very end.
That's the good news.
The bad news is that game two was available to be taken and flipped the series upside down with games three and four in Newark.
I can see the Devils winning one game at home, I'd be surprised if they won both.
The Cleveland Browns possess the second pick in Thursday's draft, and while the team and I appear to be leaning towards the unique talents of Colorado wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, there is one other player that I would be happy with should Andrew Berry decide to pass over Hunter.
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter is the one player that the Browns could select rather than Travis Hunter, and I wouldn't be disappointed.
Carter would be the pass rusher opposite Myles Garrett that the team seems to constantly seek and never truly finds.
Carter reminds some of former Penn State standout and current Dallas star Micah Parsons, and if Carter is close to Parsons, the Browns would have a star and a pass rush second to none from their defensive ends.
Cleveland has tried edge rushers/defensive ends in the draft before, and 2023 fourth-round choice Isaiah McGuire showed some signs late last season of perhaps hitting his stride.
I like other edge rushers as well, but it would take some luck to land them in the second round.
I'm a big fan of Marshall's Mike Green, who finished with seventeen sacks and played well against Ohio State, but Green may be off some draft boards due to some off-the-field questions from his time at Virginia.
Green's not the player against the run that Carter is, but as a pure pass rush,r Green may be a bit better than Carter, which says a lot!
Others of note are the Texas A&M duo of Sherman Stewart and Nic Scourton, the Ohio State pair of Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, and the player I like best of the group, Mykel Williams of Georgia.
In the late rounds, I was impressed with what I've seen from R.J. Oben of Notre Dame.
The Browns signed Maliek Collins to replace Dalvin Tomlinson at defensive tackle and the team hopes to have 2024 second round pick Michael Hall ready for the season after a late season knee injury.
Tyliek Willianns of Ohio State was more impressive in his career than Michael Hall had been, and his physical assets would make him a great addition.
Oregon's Derrick Harmon impressed me a great deal last season, as did Michigan's Kenneth Grant, who started beside the best DT in this draft, Mason Graham.
South Carolina's T.J. Sanders is in this class, and in the late rounds, I'd consider Howard Cross III of Notre Dame.
The Browns linebacker corps has a huge question with last season's breakout star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah extremely doubtful to start the season with a neck injury suffered last year, and he may miss the entire season.
Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush both return after solid seasons and Jerome Baker, an excellent tackler, was signed in free agency.
My favorite linebacker is Jalon Walker of Georgia, who reminds me a bit of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Walker could be available with the first pick of the second round, and despite other needs, I would have problems passing over him in that scenario.
I'd love to see Ohio State's Cody Simon as a day three pick who could develop as an inside linebacker and special-teams helper.
The cornerback position looked better entering last season than they do now.
Denzel Ward is a top notch corner but has struggled with concussions, Martin Emerson took a big step back last season, and rumors have been flying that Greg Newsome could be traded during the draft.
Travis Hunter would help this group if he were picked, and maybe the Browns could wait until the late rounds to add a new player to the group.
Hunter is my top cornerback with Michigan's Will Johnson and Texas's Jahdae Barron behind him.
Jacob Parrish of Kansas State has the type of athletic ability to start in the league, and in the middle rounds would be a great pick.
The Ohio State pair of Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock has day three appeal with Burke as a strong special-teams player.
Grant Delpit is entrenched at strong safety, but Cleveland has swung and missed twice with veteran free agents at free safety (John Johnson and Juan Thornhill), so they could go after a young safety in what appears to be a strong class.
Makali Starks of Georgia is the best of the bunch but is out of the Browns reach barring a trade.
Notre Dame's Xavier Watts intercepted thirteen passes in two seasons and brings the ball skills that Cleveland safeties never seem to have.
Iowa's Sebastian Castro, Ohio State's Lathan Ransom, and Penn State's Kevin Bowman are all solid day two players, and Bowman could slide a bit after missing much of the 2024 season with an injured ACL.
Late round considerations should be given to Penn State's Jaylen Reed, who always seems to be around the football.
Dustin Hopkins struggled at kicker last season, but do the Browns have the stomach to draft another kicker after the failings of Cade York in 2022?
If they do, Arizona's Tyler Loop is the best kicker in the draft.
Corey Bojorquez appears safe as a punter.
The Browns defense looks stronger than the offense entering the draft, but even so, they lack big-play performers other than Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward.
There are plenty of places that need help from this draft, so Andrew Berry has his work cut out for him.
The Cleveland Browns have the second overall selection in Thursday's NFL Draft, and the one mantra that I have followed from the end of the season is this: No quarterback with their first rounder.
I could be talked into picking Cam Ward if available, but no one else because I am not a fan of this crop of quarterbacks with a top two pick, and I think grabbing an overvalued quarterback for the sake of "taking a big swing" and passing over a potential impact player is short-sighted.
If the Browns decide to try to trade into the first round (price depending) or take a quarterback with their second-round pick at number thirty-three (the first pick in the round), I would be okay with it, if not overjoyed.
I would like the Browns to leave this draft with at least one quarterback, if not two, even if both would be picked on the final day.
The crop of players mentioned as a trade-up first-round pick, or second-round rounder would be somewhat acceptable, including Shedeur Sanders of Colorado, or Jakson Dart of Ole Miss.
Tyler Shough of Louisville is the hot name, but he is already twenty-six. Jalen Milroe of Alabama is a toolsy player who needs development, but he could cost the Browns their second rounder.
I like Quinn Ewers of Texas more than most. Will Howard of Ohio State might not be a starter, but he is the type that makes the league as a backup for ten years, and Syracuse's Kyle McCord has the tools to develop if a team has the time to work with him.
The Browns require a running back to replace the departed Nick Chubb, and I'm not a believer in Jerome Ford as their number one back.
Boise State's Ashton Jeanty is my favorite back, but he'll be long gone by the Browns' second-round choice.
I love each of the Ohio State running backs, TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, but it could take the second-round choice to land either, and the Browns may not be willing to invest that high in a running back.
Henderson is the faster and more explosive of the duo, Judkins the steadier and more powerful of the pair; either would be a great addition for Cleveland.
North Carolina's Omarion Hampton could be gone before the Browns second rounder, but several backs could be available in round three who could be starting backs for the Browns.
Power running Cam Skattebo of Arizona State would be a sledgehammer between the tackles and an asset in the passing game, and Iowa's Kaleb Johnson could step in as an immediate starter.
Texas's Jordon Blue and Tennessee's Dylan Sampson are home run hitters with elite speed out of the backfield, should the Browns want to add a speedier threat, but both may not be capable of carrying a heavy load.
Kansas's Devin Neal, Oklahoma State's Ollie Gordon, Oregon's Jordan James, and Texas Tech's Taji Brooks were all productive college backs who could do the same in the NFL and will be available on day three.
Colorado's Travis Hunter, the Heisman winner, is not only the best wide receiver in the draft, but also the best cornerback.
Hunter would be the type of playmaker that the Browns have lacked since their 1999 return, other than the comet-like run of Josh Gordon, and after playing on both sides of the ball at Colorado, Hunter could have an impact in Cleveland in the same manner.
Unless the Browns trade down, Travis Hunter would be my choice as the Browns selection with their first rounder.
In the unlikely event of a tradedown, Tetiroa McMillan of Arizona is the best receiver outside of Hunter, Matthew Golden of Texas would bring a deep threat aspect, and I think highly of Luther Burden of Missouri.
Emeka Egbuka lacks deep speed, but he catches everything, and coming out of the Ohio State system, he would be a plug-and-play receiver.
Iowa State's Jaylin Noel is a big-play receiver, and TCU's Jack Bech might be a player who slides a bit due to his workout numbers, only to surprise in the league.
Other interesting prospects: Oregon's Tez Johnson, Ole Miss's Andrew Watkins, and Central Florida's Kobe Hudson.
Cleveland needs a young tight end with David Njoku leaping in salary (from eleven to twenty-four million for 2026), and several who could be helpful on day two after the top tight end, Penn State's Tyler Warren, is expected to be gone.
Michigan's Colton Loveland could be a late first-rounder, but three tight ends could be available early in the third round whom I like.
LSU's Mason Taylor is more likely to go in the second round, but his ball-catching skills on an athletic 6'5 frame could make him a standout in the NFL.
The son of Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, Mason needs to improve in his blocking but otherwise could make an impact on the right team.
Miami's Elijah Arroyo missed close to two seasons due to injury, but when Arroyo was healthy in 2024, he showed elite-level skills.
Bowling Green's Harold Fannin dominated the MAC but played well in games against Texas A&M and Penn State, so he won't be a player who will be awed by the leap in competition from the Group of Five level.
In the later rounds, Iowa's Luke Lachey has appeal as Iowa has been a program that consistently lands tight ends in the NFL.
The Browns could address the offensive line as soon as the second round.
First round bust Jedrick Wills was allowed to leave in free agency, Dawand Jones is coming off a knee injury, and Jack Conklin, while productive has suffered injury problems in the past.
There isn't a standout tackle in this draft but several that could be first round picks and should one of this group survive to the Browns second round pick, that player could be a Brown.
LSU's Luke Campbell, Missouri's Armand Membou, Texas's Kelvin Banks, Ohio State's Josh Simmons, Oregon's Josh Conerly, and Minnesota's Alreontae Ersery comprise a group that any player that falls out of the first round could have a chance to start.
A day three sleeper might be Wisconsin's 6'7 Jack Nelson, who may need time to develop but on size and strength is worth a flyer.
The Browns also have issues at guard with Joel Bitonio unlikely to play after next season ,Wyatt Teller possibly making too much money (almost twenty million) to return for 2026 without a re-structuring, and 2024 third rounder Zac Zinter looked overwhelmed in his rookie season.
Ohio State's Donovan Jackson is my top guard in the draft and as he showed last season, Jackson could move to tackle when needed.
Alabama's Tyler Booker might be the pick of others as the guard and North Dakota State's Grey Zabel really impressed me at the Senior Bowl.
The Browns seem to be safe at center with veteran Ethan Pocic backed up by Luke Wypler.
I'm all in on Travis Hunter as the Browns first round choice and this team needs playmakers as other than Jerry Jeudy and maybe on his best day David Njoku, they don't have anyone that teams fear.
Next time, we will look at players of interest on the defensive side of the ball.
The Cleveland Browns added more depth to the secondary with the signing of veteran Nik Needham.
Needham has spent his entire career with the Dolphins after being signed as an unsigned free agent from UTEP in 2019, and played in two games for Miami last season after being released and re-signed.
Needham tore his Achilles in 2022 and has been on and off the Dolphins roster ever since.
Needham intercepted two passes in each of his first three seasons in the league but has not intercepted a pass since.
Needham is most effective as a slot corner, but could be used outside or at safety. But I'm not comfortable with Needham as more than a reserve or a temporary starter in situations caused by injuries.
The Cleveland Cavaliers backcourt took over the game from the Miami Heat as the Cavaliers grabbed a 121-100 win in game one of the Eastern Conference Quarter-Finals in Cleveland.
Donovan Mitchell scored thirty points to lead Cleveland's scoring and was aided by backcourt mate Darius Garland's twenty-seven and twenty-eight points from Ty Jerome off the bench.
Game two will take place on Wednesday.
Swashbucklings
1) The story was the sizzling shooting of Ty Jerome, who might have the best story of a team filled with them this season.
Jerome hit ten of fifteen shots, five of ten in three-pointers, grabbed five rebounds, and had three assists.
It's not bad for a guy who was signed almost as an afterthought in the off-season.
2) Donovan Mitchell's thirty points were the seventh consecutive game one which he finished with thirty or more points.
It seems like one of those stats someone dug up and wasn't thought of often, but it shows that Mitchell has gotten off to a good start in his playoff appearances.
3) The Cavaliers throughout the game led consistently from eight to twelve points, but Miami didn't allow that big run to stretch the lead out of control until the fourth quarter.
Miami made the playoffs when they became the first tenth seed to win two road games in the NBA's play-in tournament, and it's fair to consider how much wear they had on their legs after three games in five days.
4) Ty Jerome was the key in the fourth quarter when Cleveland locked up the win, scoring ten consecutive points during a 13-4 run.
5) Cleveland will need more offense from their big men in future games, as Jarrett Allen (12 pts) and Evan Mobley (9 pts) shot the ball only eighteen times between them.
Allen and Mobley must be more active on the offensive for the Cavaliers to thrive as the opponents become more varied and higher quality.
I haven't watched nearly as much hockey as I usually do, and I'll be the first to admit that my New Jersey Devils knowledge (from watching their games) is lacking compared to the past. But I've been following the team through other avenues throughout the season.
And while I will be writing about their playoff run, I'll have a unique perspective this postseason- for the first time, I will not be swayed (for good or bad) by regular season play.
The Devils traveled to Carolina to face the Hurricanes for the first two games of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final series.
The game was essentially over in the first three minutes when Carolina's Jalen Chatfield scored, and it was all Hurricanes from there in a 4-1 win.
Nico Hischier scored New Jersey's only goal in the second period.
Game two is back in Raleigh on Tuesday evening.
Hell Raisers
1) The Devils were not only outplayed, they were outmuscled by a much larger Carolina team.
New Jersey's conversion through the years has changed them to a smaller team that may not fit an easy label.
They aren't really finesse, yet they aren't a team that can push teams around either.
Size-wise, the Devils aren't big up front, and Carolina is.
2) New Jersey spent capital in the off-season to obtain Jacob Markstrom, and while the score looks bad, I thought Markstrom played fine for the most part.
New Jersey has problems in this series for several reasons, but Markstrom isn't one of them.
3) I know the team isn't full strength without Jack Hughes, and the team is an underdog against a talented Carolina team, which eliminated them in the playoffs two years ago, but they seemed less than energetic in defeat.
I also know I've missed a lot of games this season, but they look very soft to me.
4) An injury-riddled team may have lost two more players as Brendan Dillon and Cody Glass each left the game with injuries and did not return.
The injury to Glass is especially galling as it came on a slash from Jacob Markstrom, who attempted to whack Andrei Svechnikov and instead slashed Glass.
When it rains, it pours.
5) The Devils goal was a pretty one when Nico Hischier fired a puck on a four-on-four into the goal for the only one of the game.
Jesper Bratt put the puck exactly where it needed to be, and the breakaway was the only one I remember feeling positive about the offense.
6) Carolina outshot New Jersey 45-24, which makes Jacob Markstrom's game look even better.
7) This looks like a short series unless something changes, and I'm not sure the Devils are capable of that change.
Many Devils fans appear ready to sack general manager Tom Fitzgerald, and there may be some good points for that change.
My apologies again for not providing a preview for the boxing challenge, but we had an internet outage at work, and since I was there, I was unable to do more than a short Dragnet version Thursday night from home.
Unbeaten former Olympian Charles Conwell would have been my selection for boxing's high-risk and low-reward award winner for his talent and comparatively light paycheck for facing him.
Golden Boy Promotions has been keeping Conwell busy in hopes of moving him into a mandatory position to make a champion to defend against him. In a WBC eliminator, Conwell was on the verge of finally forcing a title match.
Jorge Perez was recruited as the likely foil for Conwell, and he seemed the safe choice, having lost four fights. With his career-best victory in his last fight, a decision over former contender Kudratillo Abdulakhorov, Perez would carry more weight for a Conwell win.
The fight was very close and hard-fought, but it seemed like Conwell was having an off night as the six-foot Perez caught Conwell coming in and cut Conwell in two places.
In the end, Perez had just enough to pull the major upset by split decision, with all scores at 115-113, two for Perez and one for Conwell.
Conwell will have to get back on the horse quickly to return to title contention, and Perez has now moved into that status.
A rematch would be welcomed, but I suspect Perez's team will quietly wait for an eventual chance at WBC and WBO champion Sebastian Fundora.
In England, Dalton Smith did everything but stop Mathieu Germain in a junior welterweight eliminator as Smith scored three knockdowns in a unanimous decision win that was tedious to watch.
The fault was more Germain's than Smith's as he fought to survive and did just that, while Smith tried to finish the fight, Germain lasted the twelve.
Scores of 119-105 and two of 117-107 for Smith.
I scored 118-106 for Smith.
Former featherweight champion Josh Warrington returned from a respite to win a unanimous decision over Asad Asif Khan in another less-than-inspiring pairing.
Warrington won by scores of 99-89, 99-90, and 97-91.
I scored 99-90 for Warrington, who Eddie Hearn spoke of looking for a bigger fight in his next outing, but I don't think Warrington has enough to beat anyone of status at this point in his career.
A two-time Oscar-winning actor (Best Actor in 1971 in The French Connection and Best Supporting Actor for 1992's Unforgiven), Hackman's career also included three Golden Globe victories and more memorable roles than you can care to list.
Hackman was brilliant as the heel sheriff in Unforgiven, Buck Barrow in 1968's Bonnie and Clyde, "Popeye Doyle" in two French Connection films, the lead in the original Poseidon Adventure, and "Lex Luthor" in the first two Superman films, to me, it is always "Coach Norman Dale" in Hoosiers as the Hackman performance of his career.
I've written about "Hoosiers" and my visit to Hoosier Gym.
Trachtenberg first found fame through various programs produced by Nickelodeon, including the feature role in a film based on the Harriet The Spy children's book series before being cast as "Dawn Summers," the younger sister of the title character "Buffy The Vampire Slayer".
Dawn was a polarizing character to fans of the show and wasn't always the most loved addition to the cast.
After Buffy concluded its seven-year run, Trachtenberg appeared often on television and film, most notably as the nemesis on the program "Gossip Girl":
The star of TV's "Dennis The Menace" from 1959-63, North would later star in the film and television show series "Maya" based on a teenager in Africa but would always be remembered first as "Dennis", which he would hilariously parody in the 1980s on the HBO series "Not Necessarily The News".
North would later do voice acting, including a role as the teenaged "Bamm-Bamm Rubble" on the 1970s animated "Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show".
Martindale was a rock and roll disc jockey in Memphis, Tennessee, before moving to Los Angeles as a popular radio star and transitioning into his better-known position- game show host.
Martindale hosted twenty game shows (second highest of all-time behind Bill Cullen) through the decades, getting his first success with "Gambit" on CBS, but his most recognizable show was the revival of "Tic Tac Dough" in 1978.
Martindale ended his role with the show in 1985.
Martindale continued hosting game shows, most notably with a surprising hit on Lifetime with "Debt" for two seasons. The show was canceled not for low ratings but for the wrong ratings, as the network tailored to women didn't want a show that was being watched by more men.
The Cleveland Browns added another contender to receive pass rush snaps opposite Myles Garrett for the 2025 season as the team announced the signing of Julian Okwara to compete for that spot.
Okwara spent last seasom with the Arizona Cardinals after playing for his first four seasons with the Detroit Lions, who drafted him in the third round in the 2020 draft from Notre Dame.
Okwara played in thirteen games for the Cardinals, starting one of those, and finished with ten solo tackles and one sack.
Okwara produced nine sacks in his four seasons with the Lions, five of those in the 2021 season for a career-high.
Okwara has never played more than thirteen games in a season, playing thirteen for the Lions in 2021 and the Cardinals last season.
At 6'4 and 250 pounds, Okwara has played his career as an edge rusher/stand up outside linebacker, so he will have to make some adjustments as a defensive end in the 4-3 defense preferred by Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
Okwara will contend with several players for playing time including Isaiah McGuire, who played well at the end of the season, Alex Wright returning from injury, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and free agent acquisition Joe Tyron-Shoyinka as well as any defensive ends from the draft.
Jaron "Boots" Ennis has seen his career shaded a bit after two fights forced upon him against Karen Chukhadzian by the IBF both lasted the distance, and rumors that Ennis turned down a fight against Vergil Ortiz at junior middleweight but those days may be past after a destructive breakdown of Eimantas Stanonis to add the WBA title to his welterweight belt collection.
Stanonis's retirement in his corner following the sixth round returned Ennis to his previous status. While Ennis wishes to face one of the remaining champions in the division (WBC's Mario Barrios and WBO's Brian Norman), neither appears to be in the class of Ennis.
A fight against Barrios would be a foregone conclusion, in my opinion, and a match against Norman, while interesting, Norman lacks the polish and experience to deal with the Philadelphian.
Stanonis pressed forward on Ennis and landed a few strong punches, and Ennis will need to improve his defense when he eventually moves to junior middleweight, but Ennis was stronger, quicker, and his bodywork paid off in the sixth when Stanonis was sent to one knee late in the round.
Stanonis's team ended the fight after the round, and while some thought that decision may have been a little premature, Ennis had taken the battle out of Stanonis and would have finished the fight in the rounds to come, so the team was looking after the safety and future of their man.
Boots is back at the top, and hopefully, a fight with Brian Norman (I see no way PBC puts Mario Barrios with Ennis) can be made quickly to unify three of the four titles in the welterweight division.
In the co-feature, former WBA featherweight champion Raymond Ford continued his career as a junior lightweight with an easy, unanimous decision win over Thomas Mattice.
Ford badly hurt Mattice in the opening round but was unable to finish him, which led to the next nine less than thrilling rounds.
All three judges (and myself) scored Ford the winner by the score of 100-90
The Cleveland Browns added an old face as the newest entrant into a muddled quarterback race that will clear in two weeks after the NFL Draft concludes.
One year after allowing Joe Flacco to leave via free agency to assuage the feelings of one DeShaun Watson. The Browns signed Flacco to a one-year agreement for four million dollars plus potential incentives.
Flacco spent last season in Indianapolis, playing eight games, starting six of them, and throwing twelve touchdown passes against seven interceptions for the Colts.
Flacco spent the latter half of the 2023 season leading the Browns to the playoffs before losing to the Houston Texans in the wild card round, throwing for over 1,600 yards and thirteen touchdowns in five starts, winning four of the five.
Flacco turned forty in January, so he isn't more than a patchwork fix for a year, and will join recently acquired Kenny Pickett as the only quarterbacks on the current roster.
The Browns are expected to select one, if not two, passers in the upcoming draft, so the QB room will most likely consist of Flacco, Pickett, and a rookie to be determined for the 2025 season.
The signing of Flacco is going to help a franchise in need of goodwill, as the return will be popular with the fan base, and it's proven that Flacco can succeed in the Kevin Stefanski offense, but even Flacco at his best throws a lot of interceptions and has been known to give the ball up when hit by the opposing pass rush, so this isn't a perfect signing.
However, Flacco isn't afraid to throw the ball downfield, which under a similar quarterback in Jameis Winston, Jerry Jeudy found the most success of his career, and David Njoku was very productive in Flacco's previous stint in Cleveland, so there are some positives to the signing and combined with the rumored selection of Colorado wide receiver Travis Hunter with the Browns second overall pick, the Browns could suddenly find themselves with receivers that can make big plays for a change!
It's a contract that won't choke the franchise like some (Watson) and isn't costly, so while this contract will not turn the Browns into instant contenders, it does give the team a chance to improve over an awful 2024.
That's pretty good for a team with the track record of the Cleveland Browns.
The boxing challenge is sparse this weekend, but the top bout is a big one with a unification fight that not only will leave the victor as the top fighter in the welterweight division but could see the winner emerge as a star capable of rising to higher weights for even bigger stakes.
Two welterweight titles will be unified (hopefully) on Saturday night in Atlantic City as Jaron "Boots" Ennis risks his IBF title against Eimantis Stanonis's WBA version of the championship.
Ennis's star has faded recently after two forced fights against Karen Chudhadhian. However, he's still a talented and unbeaten boxer who will finally face a top opponent willing to fight him.
Stanionis has fought only twice in the last three years, posting a split decision over Radhab Butaev and a unanimous decision over Gabriel Maestre. Much of his inactivity hasn't been Stanionis's fault, with three postponements against Vergil Ortiz.
This should be an entertaining battle with Sranionis ruggedly stomping forward against the longer, harder-punching Ennis.
The winner will stamp themselves as a star, and the loser will take a major step back to the world of contenders.
The co-feature will match former WBA featherweight champion Raymond Ford against Thomas Mattice at junior lightweight.
Ford, who won the title with a miracle final-round rush to knock out Otabek Kholmatov but lost it two months later to current champion Nick Ball by split decision, will be fighting for the second time since moving up in weight after the Ball loss.
Mattice has lost his biggest fights, including Isaac Cruz and Rocky Hernandez, and while he should make a good accounting of himself, he is a cut below the talented Ford.
Boxing Challenge
Unification WBA and IBF Welterweight Titles. 12 Rds
Eimantas Stanonis vs Jaron "Boots" Ennis
Ramon Malpica and Vince Samano: Ennis Unanimous Decision
Due to my time constraints (which I'll write about in the future), the boxing challenge will be more concise than normal.
Janibek Alimkhauly retained his IBF and WBO middleweight titles with a fifth round KO of Anauel Ngamissengue.
Alimkanuly landed a massive left hand that sent his challenger flying across the ring on his back. Ngamissengue barely beat the count, but his corner justifiably surrendered for their man.
Filip Hrgovic slugged out a unanimous decision in his Manchester, England heavyweight battle with Joe Joyce.
Both fighters landed and took heavy missiles that saw both fighters cut and bleeding throughout the match.
Hrgrovic won by scores of 98-92, 97-93, and 96-95; my score was for Hrgrovic at 97-93.
Tim Tszyu stopped Joey Spencer in the fourth round of Tszyu's comeback match in Australia.
Spencer tried hard but was overmatched by Tszyu, with Tszyu dishing out punishment along the ropes. Spencer's corner ended the bout.
In Las Vegas, Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez passed his first test with a unanimous decision over Guido Vianello in their heavyweight ten-rounder.
Torrez started fast and was aided by what I thought was a premature decision by the referee to deduct a point from Vianello in the second round for multiple holding violations.
As the fight moved into the second half, Vianello began to land his share against a tiring Torrez, but Torrez had built a lead too large to overcome.
Official cards for Torrez: 97-92 and 98-91 times two. My score was 97-92 for Torrez.
Lindolfo Delgado won a narrow majority decision in a crossroads junior welterweight battle.
Delgado built a lead, but Rodriguez began to hurt Delgado in the second half, and entering the final round, it was anyone's fight.
Rodriguez inexplicably gave away the final round, which was enough to give Delgado the win with two scores of 96-94 and another of 95-95, the same as mine.
Although the boxing weekend may not be filled with huge fights, five fights are of interest and have potential ramifications in various divisional pictures.
One championship is at stake this weekend as Janibek Alimkhanuly will defend his IBF and WBO middleweight titles in his home nation of Kazakhstan against Anauel Ngamissengue of the Congo, now fighting out of France.
If you've never heard of Ngamissengue, join the club.
He's unbeaten, but his last fight was in June against a fighter with a record of 12-32-2. Other than a 2023 majority decision win in an eight-rounder over 22-0 Fidor Czerkaszyn, there is nothing even mildly interesting about his opposition.
Alimkhanuly last fought in October, stopping Andrei Mikhailovich in nine rounds.
Former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tsyzu will take the first step in his comeback against Joey Spencer in a Prime offering from Australia.
Tszyu has lost two straight, the most recent a devastating humbling at the hands of IBF champion Bakhram Murtazaliev, who dropped Tszyu four times in three rounds.
Tszyu has the perfect foil to re-establish himself in Joey Spencer, a carefully moved PBC prospect that was pummelled in his first test by Jesus Ramos in a seven-round stoppage loss.
Should Tszyu win as expected, he is likely to face Keith Thurman in a match scheduled for 2024, but it was canceled due to an injury to Thurman.
DAZN and Queensbury have a solid heavyweight fight from the UK with two bangers in desperate need of a win as Filip Hrgovic meets Joe Joyce.
Hrgovic is a replacement for Dillian Whyte and is coming off his first career loss, losing to Daniel DuBois in the eighth round when the fight was stopped due to cuts around both eyes.
Had Hrgovic won that fight, he would have eventually been the IBF champion, as DuBois was elevated to that title after Oleksandr Usyk was stripped after his first match with Tyson Fury.
Joyce has lost three of his last four fights, his last loss being a decision to Derek Chisora last summer in a good action fight.
This pits two former amateur rivals against each other, and it should be another bout with plenty of heavy punches landed by both men, a common occurrence in a Joe Joyce affair.
ESPN+ and Top Rank finish the day with a heavyweight main event and a crossroads match at junior welterweight from Las Vegas.
The main event will see 2020 Olympic silver medalist Richard Torrez in his first test against Guido Vianello.
Torrez is an all-action fighter that is a bit small for the heavyweight division and I've wondered if he will have the size and strength against larger men in the division.
Vianello has two losses, but one was on cuts to journeyman Jonny Rice in a fight that Vianello was leading on the scorecards and a split decision to contender Efe Ajagba, which was extremely close. So Vianello brings a credible opponent for Torrez, and it's fair to wonder if Top Rank and Torrez have selected an opponent that the Olympian might not be ready for.
Unbeaten Lindolfo Delgado meets once-beaten Elvis Rodriguez in a junior welterweight pairing that could see the winner gaining position for a future title chance.
Delgado, a former Olympian, won all three of his 2024 fights, including a win over then-unbeaten Brian Flores and knocking out rugged Jackson Marinez.
Rodriguez has won six straight since his only loss, a majority decision to top contender Kenneth Sims in 2021.
The winner will move into title contention with a title eliminator in their immediate future.
Boxing Challenge
IBF and WBO Middleweight Titles. 12 Rds
Janibek Alimkhanuly vs Anauel Ngamissengue
Ramon Malpica: Alimkhanuly KO 8 TRS: Alimkhanuly KO 4 Vince Samano:
Junior Middleweights 10 Rds
Tim Tszyu vs Joey Spencer
R.L: Tszyu KO 7 TRS: Tsyzu KO 5
V.S.:
Heavyweights 12 Rds
Filip Hrgovic vs Joe Joyce
R.L: Joyce KO 6 TRS: Hrgovic KO 8 V.S.:
Heavyweights 10 Rds
Richard Torrez vs Guido Vianello
R.L: Torrez KO 6 TRS: Vianello Split Decision V.S:
Time to clean the inbox and post some articles that have piled up.
Awful Announcing writes of the San Francisco Giants announcing team of Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow's recent appearance on the Starkville podcast.
The duo, who I believe is the best pair in the game, discussed their health issues from recent years, how long they plan on continuing to call games, and how they plan on exiting the scene when the time arrives.
The Ring The Damn Bell blog writes of the downfall of the 1980s tag team "The New Breed".
Sean Royal and Chris Champion appeared to be on the horizon of becoming stars and champions before a car accident put the brakes on their rising career.
The momentum slowed after their return and soon after, the Breed were finished as a team.
The post talks to Sean Royal about the team, the accident, and how Royal tried to end the team before the comeback due to his bitterness towards Champion.
The Athletic writes of the Minnesota Timberwolves' decision to start veteran reserve Joe Ingles in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Ingles is the father of an autistic son who couldn't last more than a minute or two watching a game, but on the first night, he was able to watch the entire game. Ingles, who is a seldom-used reserve, didn't play.
The game against the Pelicans was the final game of the year for the Ingles family, who were returning to their home in Florida after the contest.
Coach Chris Finch decided to make sure Ingles would play by starting Ingles.
Ingles didn't score in six minutes of play, but Minnesota won, stopping a losing streak.
I'm not sure how many of you remember Pro Beach Hockey from 1998-2000, the made-for-television roller hockey league from ESPN, but Winnipeg Jets goaltender Chris Driedger's injury in 2022 led to Driedger discovering the PBH and developing a soon-to-be-released documentary on the league.
The league, originally conceived by the man who brought you the Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling, David McLane, was shown afternoons on ESPN after the season had been taped and featured a ball rather than a puck, ramps behind each net, a two point shot for goals shot from a certain distance and of course played on roller skates.
