 Article by: Harrison Weaver  The year is 2009, and the Orlando Magic are matched up against the LA Lakers in the NBA Finals with Dwight Howard, an unstoppable force in the paint as the face of the franchise. With an assertive offensive post game and a dominant defensive presence down low, Dwight was a monster. Nicknamed ‘Superman’ for his super entertaining appearance in the 2008 Dunk Contest when he came out onto the court wearing a Superman shirt and a red cape for a high-flying, superhero slam. He was one of the elite players in the league to idolize. Growing up, I’ve always loved playing NBA 2K, and I remember in NBA 2K12, the game that was released for the year leading up into Dwight’s free agency, I would clear out my team’s roster on association mode so I could have cap space to sign Dwight Howard. My point to all of this is that just earlier for this decade, Dwight Howard was one of the best players in the NBA. It’s so bizarre, because after 2011, Dwight Howard, without any serious injuries, without any kind of resistance, slowly drifted into basketball irrelevance. He began to develop shoulder and back issues near the end of his stint with Orlando, which got a little worse with LA, but then even after he recovered, he was never the same again. He went from being an NBA superstar to a journeyman, spending time in Orlando, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, and Memphis (who acquired him this offseason in exchange for CJ Miles in order to save cap space). The aggression, the post dominance, it hasn’t been anywhere to be seen ever since he left Houston. On top of that, he’s become known for being a distraction on majority of the teams he’s been a part of. He’s clashed with management, he clashes with coaches, and he’s clashed with fellow players. The legendary Kobe Bryant has accused him of being too soft. He’s even had some off-court drama within the past season regarding his sexuality. Combine declining on-court performance with constant issues off the court, D12 has become and unwanted commodity. However, despite all of these issues, Howard, now 33 years old in his 16th season, will get himself another chance for redemption in LA. On Monday, Dwight Howard signed a one-year, non-guaranteed contract with LA after being bought out by Memphis and then clearing the league’s waiver wire. According to league sources, the non-guaranteed part means that if Dwight Howard causes any substantial distractions to the team, he will be released. After only playing in nine games last season as a result of spinal surgery in his lower back, sources close to Howard have said that he is back to 100%. The Lakers had an opening at the center position after newly signed DeMarcus Cousins tore his ACL during a workout in Las Vegas two weeks ago. Since then, the Lakers have had their eye on Howard as well as Joakim Noah. Word is that through improved conditioning and winning over the likes of LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers decided to go with Howard for the reunion, just six years after he left LA for Houston, all while taking less money to do so. Will Lakers fans welcome him with open arms? Will they boo him? I’m not sure. Ever since he departed LA, he has been relatively unwelcome in the Staples Center. However, he now bears the purple and gold again which could reset all of the animosity between him and the fan base. While D12 is no longer at his 22 points, 14.5 rebounds mark that he was at during his peak, he still averaged 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game during his last full season, which was 2 years ago in Charlotte. He’s not somebody who can spread the floor, make flashy passes, or match up with modern perimeter players, but he still crashes the glass and can still get those assertive buckets in the paint. He might not be anywhere near the perfect stereotype of the modern NBA center, but he still does things that make him valuable. In my opinion, if he can stay healthy and refrain from being a distraction, Dwight Howard still has the strength and skill to be a valuable piece of this Lakers team. If not, this could be the beginning of the end for Superman. To keep up with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports! 
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 Article by: Justin Imler  Andrew Luck’s shocking retirement announcement wasn’t the only major news in the NFL on Saturday night. Even though it took center stage, and rightfully so, a key offensive player for a top tier AFC threat is officially out for the 2019-2020 season. That player is Lamar Miller, the starting RB for the Houston Texans. Miller went down hard with a leg injury in their third preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday night, in which Miller instantly fumbled the ball upon impact, going right to his leg to hold it in pain. That right there was a clear indicator the injury wasn’t something he was going to walk off. The injury became official on Sunday that Miller’s injury was indeed a torn ACL, sidelining the RB for the upcoming season. Now even though no one is considering Lamar Miller to be a top tier RB in the league, he’s still the best the Texans had at the position. The Texans are coming off of an AFC South title in 2018, however they got upset by their division rival, the Indianapolis Colts, in the Wild Card round. The Texans are still a very talented team looking for a bounce back season this time around behind their star QB/WR duo in Desean Watson and Deandre Hopkins. The loss of Lamar Miller is a big hit, but all hope is not lost. The Texans did trade for Cleveland RB Duke Johnson II earlier this month. Johnson has never been the sole workhorse since entering the league, but he’s proven to be a talented back, especially with his pass catching abilities. Other RBs on the roster right now include Buddy Howell and Josh Ferguson, among others, which I don’t think anyone outside of Houston has ever heard of. Now for the obvious question, will Duke Johnson II be the guy the Texans lean on come week 1, or will they make a move to beef up the position? The big name that’s coming up after this injury is Chargers’ RB Melvin Gordon, who is currently in a hold out for a new contract. Personally, I don’t think this trade would actually happen, but the Texans do have the cap space to potentially sign Gordon to a deal he’s requesting if they’d be interested. This is a major topic that Kevin and I will be going into on our next podcast episode that’s dropping tomorrow night (Wednesday, August 28th). Be sure to check that out to see our opinions on the future of the Houston Texans! To keep up with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!   Article by: Zach Henley  College football is coming back once again and so is respected Coach Les Miles. After a 2-year hiatus, the 2007 National Champion coach is back with a different kind of team this time around. In November 2018, The Kansas Jayhawks signed Miles to a 5-year, $13.8 million contract. Over the last 10 seasons, Kansas is 18-90 and went 0-12 in 2015. Along with their poor record, they also went through 3 different coaches and have yet to find stability. The hiring of Les Miles is a good sign for Kansas fans, as they finally think they have found stability and potential success with their new star head coach. From 2010-2016, Miles went 67-19 and was ranked in every year but one in 2014. The return of Les Miles is not only good for Kansas and himself, but its also good for college football in general. Miles was very popular and has hall of fame potential and could potentially boost the return of a very storied college football team. Miles is known for his very surprising and controversial calls, which gets fans excited and helps make the team more exciting to watch. Although these plays do not always work in Miles’ favor, the risk is worth taking considering Kansas hasn’t achieved a winning record since 2008, along with a 1-46 road record. Overall the end outcome of this hiring is to bring success and happier fans back to Lawrence. Miles has the skills, ability and resume to help that goal. Now it’ll be tough road, considering they are in one of the powerhouse conferences, the Big 12. To achieve success, Miles is going to have to beat some tough rivals. This list includes Missouri, Kansas State, and Nebraska. In my opinion, in about 2 years, Miles will achieve these goals and bring success back to Kansas. Not necessarily the championship, but some big bowl games could be in the future for the Jayhawks. To keep with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!   Article by: Pete Caceci  Per Adam Schefter at ESPN, the Indianapolis Colts franchise QB Andrew Luck has announced his retirement from the NFL. After making his decision, Luck sent out a message that ended speculation, “It’s been four years of this injury-rehab cycle… I can’t live the life I want to live moving forward… I feel quite exhausted and quite tired.” Since then, fans from all over have been divided over the sudden dismissal and are wondering what his next move will be. Andrew Luck was the first-round pick in the 2012 Draft as a replacement to Peyton Manning, who at that point was being released by the team after suffering injuries that severely limited his playing. After taking the starting position, Luck would lead his team to 11 victories, the record for rookie quarterbacks drafted first overall. He would also break the record for most passing yards in a season by a rookie, throwing 205 to bring his season total to 4,183. The organization then gave complete trust to the young QB, as he led his team from a 2-14 record from the season before, to reaching the playoffs. Following his phenomenal start in the league, Luck would repeat his winning records as a starter for the next two seasons. In the 2014 season, he led the league in touchdowns with 40, and had a career high of 4,761 passing yards. Unfortunately, his “luck” (no pun intended) would soon run out. In the 2015 season, Luck would miss the first two games of the season with an injured shoulder. After returning to the team he would be injured again during a game and would miss the rest of the season. This stopped the Colts from making the playoffs that season with an 8-8 record. Fortunes did not shine on Luck in 2016, as he would go 8-7 as a starter, despite throwing 4,240 yards and 31 touchdowns. He would then have another surgery on his shoulder that had been lingering around for quite some time. The healing process for the injured shoulder would halt Andrew Luck’s return for the 2017 season, forcing the Colts to use newly acquired QB Jacoby Brissett as the starter. On November 2, the Colts ruled Luck out entirely for that season. This would severely impact the player’s confidence in both himself and the organization, as many in the sports media had begun to call him an injury-prone player. Despite the odds facing against him, Andrew Luck would return at the beginning of the 2018 season and would lead the team to a winning record of 10-6. He would throw for 4,593 yards and 39 touchdowns, something that he had not accomplished for some time. The league would recognize this triumphant return by giving Luck the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Upon entering the 2019 season, Luck would find himself in a great spot for being a deep playoff contender. With great offensive weapons like Marlon Mack, Eric Ebron, and T.Y. Hilton, along with having coach Frank Reich at the helm, the organization was ranked among the top five teams in the league. Now, it seems that may be a pipedream. Luck has been hampered by many injuries over the course of his career, but the franchise QB was on the rise and was sure to take his team back to the Super Bowl. I was never a big fan of the Colts, but Andrew Luck always seemed like he was the one player who never got a shot at the top. I was hoping now with this great supporting cast that he would tear up the AFC, especially the Patriots. Personally, I believe his wounds over the years and having the leading position for a great team have greatly intimidated him. Everyone knows that football is a grueling sport, and those who last longer in the league typically end up with more injuries that follow for years to come. For only being in the league for seven years, his injuries are nothing to look away from. From what I also know, the man has just married and is expecting a child soon, so it seems he wants to be able to also spend more time with his new family. On the other hand though, I can understand the animosity that he is getting from the fanbase, as a great starting QB just ditched them right before the season began. He honestly could have made the decision a little bit earlier to allow the Colts the ability to move on smoothly. All in all, I wish Andrew Luck and his family the best of luck. This decision was not an easy one to make, and was undoubtedly one of the most controversial in NFL history.  To keep up with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!  Article by: Harrison Weaver  Here we go college football fans; the wait is over. College football is officially back as of tomorrow night! #8 Florida faces off against the U at 7PM on ESPN in what could possibly be our first upset alert of the season. The official NCAA Football preseason rankings were released earlier this week and so we get our final look at where the voters are placing each team heading into the season. I will drop those rankings below so you can all look, find where your team is. I know this is exciting, I feel the same way. We’ve been waiting months for some college football action and it’s finally back. So I want you to read these rankings over, take a minute to digest and compose yourselves, and then we’re going to get into my reaction towards them. 1. Clemson 2. Alabama 3. Georgia 4. Oklahoma 5. Ohio State 6. LSU 7. Michigan 8. Florida 9. Notre Dame 10. Texas 11. Oregon 12. Texas A&M 13. Washington 14. Utah 15. Penn State 16. Auburn 17. UCF 18. Michigan State 19. Wisconsin 20. Iowa 21. Iowa State 22. Syracuse 23. Washington State 24. Nebraska 25. Stanford Alright so now that you’ve had a moment to look, we can react. Let’s glance at some cool statistics that lie within the rankings.
As I wrote in my college football preview, there are a couple of outsider teams in this year’s rankings that I really like. First off, Nebraska. After one of the most impressive 4-8 seasons ever seen (they lost 5 games by 5 points or less last season, meaning they were very close to be a bowl team), Nebraska is poised for a turn-around. After another season to mold the program the way he wants, Scott Frost will have a better developed squad and a leader in QB Adrian Martinez who can turn some heads this season. Syracuse is another team that I really believe will have a strong season. With a well-balanced roster, weapons at the skill positions, and a strong season to build off, Syracuse could be the perfect team to challenge and maybe, just maybe, dethrone Clemson in the ACC Atlantic Division. To avoid redundancy, you can read about the rest of my dark horse picks in my Ultimate College Football Preview article by simply clicking the hyperlink. All in all, the rankings seem very appropriate to me in terms of how each team performed last season and their expectations for this coming season. I do have a couple of bold predictions, though:
So there you have it folks, some of my insight and bold predictions for this college football season. The long wait for college football is over, it’s time for big matchups, College Gameday, tailgating, upsets, beautiful fall football days, and everything else we love about the football season.   Article by: Justin Imler  https://media.wfaa.com/assets/WFAA/images/7c314078-d271-47ce-82ba-eb089f5574e4/7c314078-d271-47ce-82ba-eb089f5574e4_750x422.jpg We have more news in the Ezekiel Elliot saga, and the running back is not happy. As we all know, the all-pro has been holding out from training camp and preseason action in hopes of getting a new contract, most likely involving record breaking numbers. Even though most people within the organization and the media expect Zeke to be back for the start of the regular season, Dallas can’t wait around. They’ve had several preseason games so far and Tony Pollard, the running back presumably to be the starting role in Elliot’s absence, made his presence known against the LA Rams Saturday. Pollard has been playing great football for the Cowboys so far this preseason, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Pollard also capped off a 51-yard drive Saturday with a 14-yard touchdown in their 14-10 win. After the game, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addressed the media and was asked about Zeke’s status right now, to which Jones responded, “Zeke who?”. Obviously, this quick comment was meant to be humorous, and trying to show that the team has faith in Pollard, especially after seeing how well he’s been playing as of late, but not everyone saw the humor in Jones’ comment. Elliot’s agent Rocky Arceneaux told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen Monday, “I didn’t think it was funny and neither did Zeke – we actually thought it was disrespectful.” This is certainly not a comment the Cowboys organization, nor their fans, wanted to wake up to this morning. As of right now, it is still a waiting game between the Cowboys and Elliot, but these comments clearly don’t help either side, and if I’m a part of the Cowboys organization, I would be feeling a little more nervous about this whole situation than I would have a few days ago. In my opinion, this Dallas team revolves around Zeke being on the field. I really like some of their young playmakers on defense and think that side of the ball has improved tremendously the past few seasons, but let’s face it, this team needs Zeke on the field if they want to move the ball down the field. I personally have never been a huge believer in Dak, and nothing’s changed there. I think he’s a slightly above average starting QB who won’t win you big games on his own. Can Pollard fill Zeke’s shoes? Come on, of course not. Is he playing well in the preseason? Absolutely. Will he be able to make plays if Zeke is absent come week 1? Sure, but Zeke is worlds ahead of a guy like Pollard, and Dallas will need him in the lineup sooner rather than later if they want to have a chance at a Super Bowl in the 2019-2020 season.   Article by: Zachary Henley  Throughout the history of the MLB, there have always been spectacular battles that always lead to mind boggling stats. Each race has its own specialty, From Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s home run race to even teams such as the Yankees and Red Sox. This year’s race is to potentially be baseball’s best player.
This season, Trout has some competition for the label of best player, but Trout is doing what he always does and that’s just playing excellent baseball. So far this season, Trout has a .298 batting average, with 41 home runs and 96 RBI’s. His 41 home runs are currently tied for his personal best and his strikeout rate is lower than his previous seasons. Trout is putting together yet another MVP-caliber season and will probably win it for the third time.
In his first season with the Brewers, Yelich won the MVP award with the stat line of 36 home runs, 110 RBI’s and an amazing .326 batting average. The MVP helped the Brew Crew advance to the NLCS and eventually lose to rookie Cody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers. This season, Yelich just picked up from where he left off, with hitting .335, 41 home runs and tallying 89 RBI’s. Yelich and the Brewers have some work to do if they want to make it to the playoffs, but that shouldn’t be too hard with Yelich leading the team.
Bellinger has been in the MVP race with Yelich all season long and there are no questions why. The Dodgers are one of the best teams in baseball and Cody is putting up some great numbers. So far, he has 42 home runs, with 97 RBI’s and has a .317 batting average. The best part about Bellinger is that he is only 23 years old and has an amazing future ahead of him. To keep up with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!   Article by: Pete Caceci  The Phillies pitching staff has gone through more than enough problems this season, and unfortunately it may get even worse. Starting pitcher Jake Arrieta has been revealed to be undergoing season ending surgery on his elbow, due to a bone spur that came to light in early July. To add to this list, other Phillies pitcher David Robertson will be missing the rest of this season and most of the 2020 year as well after having Tommy John surgery this past Thursday. The news was released by Phillies insider Jim Salisbury on twitter yesterday.  Robertson was recently acquired from the Yankees on a two-year, $23 million deal in January. Since then, the 34-year-old relief pitcher has pitched about 7 innings total going 0-1 and having an ERA of 5.40. Phillies fans will unfortunately remember this guy when he walked in the winning run against the Nationals back in April. He injured his arm not long after the defeat and has been forgotten until now. It is unfortunate that this happened, as Robertson was extremely healthy throughout his career, making at least 60 appearances on the mound in the previous nine seasons. “Obviously, I’ve had those thoughts,” Robertson told reporters of the possibility his career could be over, as the Phillies have had plans to move on without him. Arrieta is having one of the worst seasons of his entire MLB career; through 17 starts, he is currently 8-8 with a 4.43 ERA. Ever since he arrived to the Phillies in 2018 for a 3-year $75 million deal, the 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner has not been able to reclaim those same statistics. As for highlights, there really has not been anything for Jake to lean on except for a dust up with Mets third baseman Todd Frazier. Since meeting with the team early last week over the status of the injury, rumors have begun to spread within the organization that Arrieta has been considering retirement. Hopefully, this recuperation will help build Arrieta’s confidence and allow him to redeem himself come next season. As much as these two players have not really made a difference for this team, we need everyone that we can get. The Phillies are currently 3rd in the NL East and are tied for third in the Wild Card spot with the Brewers. Both pitcher’s experience could be used to mentor the lackluster staff that we currently have in times under pressure. Every game at this point counts, and if the Phillies do not make the postseason this year, we may see a lot of coaching staff go as well as players who are not performing to their usual talents. The chopping block is also approaching Arrieta and Robertson, and if I were them, I would be sweating. To keep up with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!   Article by: Harrison Weaver  https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/styles/marquee_large_2x/public/2019/08/12/nba.jpg?itok=k-csVjlx Alright NBA Fans. We did it. We made it through a wild offseason, and the NBA landscape looks absolutely nothing like it has the past four or five years. We saw the craziest free agency of all time with numerous superstars going to new teams. You know what that means then? This upcoming season is going to be full of new rivalries, revenge games, and all new superstar combinations. The NBA just released the 2019-2020 schedule on Monday, and so we finally get a look at when we’ll get to see all these intriguing matchups. Opening Night is coming up on Tuesday night, October 22nd. So with that in mind, I’m going to highlight a lot of the fun matchups you can look forward to this upcoming NBA season. Opening Night (October 22nd) Opening Night we get two awesome matchups. The first is New Orleans at Toronto, in which Zion will finally be on full display for the NBA world to see and we’ll also get to see the Raptors lift their championship banner. Everyone has been waiting to see Zion in real NBA action after a minor injury to his knee in Summer League which led to the Pelicans benching him for the remainder of summer league play. It will be very intriguing to see how this young New Orleans team plays together. On the other side of the matchup, it will be our first look at the Kawhi Leonard-less Raptors and how the rest of the guys can step up to try to be a contender again this year. The other matchup on opening night is the first chapter in perhaps what is now the NBA’s best rivalry. After sharing a city and an arena since the birth of the LA Clippers, the Clippers and Lakers are finally both two of the best teams in the league at the same time. LeBron and AD versus Kawhi and Paul George will be on showcase for the first time on Opening Night, and you can expect this to be a fun one as these two teams will be battling it out all season long. Christmas Day I want each of you readers to imagine this (if you’re a reader who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, I apologize, but for the sake of this exercise, imagine you have the day from school or work, and you have a full day to relax with friends and family). Alright, now close your eyes and imagine. You wake up on Christmas morning, snow is falling. You’re sitting around the Christmas tree with your loved ones, exchanging gifts while you sip on some hot chocolate. You spend the morning watching your favorite classic Christmas movies and relaxing until it’s time to go about your Christmas day plans. Then all the sudden, its noon, and the best part of Christmas has finally arrived…. it’s time for tip-off between the Celtics and Raptors. You tell your family you’re sick from drinking too much egg nog and you need to stay home, when in fact, you’ve really just been counting down the hours until you can watch Boston versus Toronto, Philly versus Milwaukee, Rockets versus Warriors, Clippers versus Lakers, and Pelicans versus Nuggets. That’s right! We get every one of those matchups on Christmas Day. For you sports bettors out there, those are a lot of almost even lines which will make for an exciting day. The Sixers versus Bucks matchup will be the first matchup between the top two teams in the East, and a likely preview of the Eastern Conference Finals. The Clippers and Lakers will be another installment in the LA rivalry. The old rivalry of the former two best teams in the West between the Rockets and Warriors will be sure to offer lots of fun offensive explosion. All-in-all NBA fans, Christmas Day will offer five excellent matchups for you tune into. Revenge Games
  Article by: Justin Imler  https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2019/08/12/a503e1b7-f0e0-444b-9fd1-9a3a09b5bff6/thumbnail/1200x675/5093e18822729dd48a0b4847e00c7c63/antonio-brown-raiders.jpg No, this title is not clickbait, Antonio Brown has literally threatened retirement if he is not able to use his old style of helmet, in place of the new style that recently became mandatory starting this season. The drama surrounding Brown is back into full swing, even though he has yet to have an official training camp practice with his new team the Oakland Raiders. Antonio Brown has completely been away and out of contact with the team for a little over a week now according to reports. He’s been off seeing several different specialists to get opinions on his frostbitten feet. Yes, you heard me right. Before the helmet drama, it was announced that Brown has been sidelined due to severe frostbite on the bottoms of his feet due to wearing improper footwear in a cryotherapy machine. The details are unknown, as to how long Brown would be out for, but now the Raiders have even bigger problems. Long story short, Brown is refusing to wear the new NFL mandated helmets and is requesting to wear his old style of helmet he’s been wearing his entire nine-year NFL career. Brown’s reason for this request is apparently due to the new style of helmet obstructing his vision when running routes and catching the football. Brown first knew that this was taking effect back in May, when the one-year grace period for the new helmets was eliminated, which meant that everyone would be required to wear them starting in 2019. It seems that Brown and his team have been attempting to fight this ever since, and unsurprisingly, have failed. Now we obviously don’t know if Brown will actually retire from football, but what we do know is that the NFL will not make an exception to make sure he stays in the league. The NFL is clearly bigger than one player, and the last thing the league is going to do is roll over and let one egotistical wide receiver make demand after demand. At this point, I’m starting to feel bad for the Oakland Raiders. They’ve been the next team to take on the drama show that is Antonio Brown. Back in March, when they acquired Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers, some said they got a bargain for the all-pro WR by only giving up a 3rd and a 5th round pick in this year’s draft. However, looking at the situation now, the drama and distraction that is Antonio Brown hasn’t gone away since joining his new team, it’s seemingly gotten worse. As a Steelers fan, I’m more than happy that he’s someone else’s problem, but I know what it’s like to have that sort of distraction on your football team, and it is not fun. Update: News broke out early this morning that Antonio Brown had officially lost his grievance with the NFL (shocker) and will be required to wear the new style of helmet for the foreseeable future. With this news also came an instagram post from Brown confirming that the all pro wideout will not be retiring, and is looking forward to joining his teammates on the field as soon as possible. Brown was seen at the Raiders' practice in street clothes today with his agent Drew Rosenhaus. Brown's full Instagram post yesterday read: "While I disagree with the arbitrator's decision, I'm working on getting back to full health and looking forward to rejoining my teammates on the field. I'm excited about this season, appreciate all the concerns about my feet! #AlwaysAFight #Represent #itsbiggerthanme" Feel free to follow my personal twitter account (@imler05) where I’ve been focusing a lot of my content on NFL/Steelers specific news, updates, and opinions. Also check out @HeatedSports_on Instagram and Twitter for all things Heated Sports!   https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F1145388895%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale Article by: Zach Henley  https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fspecials-images.forbesimg.com%2Fdam%2Fimageserve%2F1145388895%2F960x0.jpg%3Ffit%3Dscale Legends like Carl Yastrzemski, Vladimir Guerrero, Craig Biggio and Danta Bichette all made their marks in the game of baseball. Decades later, their own counterparts are looking to do the same. 1. Mike Yastrzemski Mike Yastrzemski made his major league debut on May 25, 2019 for the San Francisco Giants. He went hitless but scored a run in the team’s loss against the Diamondbacks. Through August 12, 2019, the rookie has 12 home runs along with 38 RBI’s. 6 days later, the rookie tallied his first home run of his career. Mike Yastrzemski is the grandson of former Boston Red Socks great, Carl Yastrzemski. Mike has already passed his grandfather in their rookie home run totals and his stats now show potential to be a consistent player for years to come. 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Free swinging Vladimir Guerrero started his career in Canada just like his son. Guerrero Jr. has started his career with the Toronto Blue Jays and has shown why he deserves all the hype that's surrounded him. After a somewhat slow start to his career, Vlad Jr. connected for his first home run of his career against the Giants. In the same game, he hit his second career home run and showed the league that he was here, and here to stay. In July, it was announced that Vlad Jr. would participate in the Home Run Derby. After setting the record for most home runs hit in the derby, he would lose to Mets rookie Pete Alonso. Vlad has shown that he his just like his father and looks to become the same type of player. 3. Cavan Biggio Cavan Biggio is the son of hall famer Craig Biggio. Shortly after Guerrero Jr. made his debut, Biggio was called up and made his debut on May 24, 2019. His first hit didn’t come until 2 days later against the San Diego Padres. Later that game, he tallied his first big league home run. Biggio was selected in the 5th round of the 2016 draft. After great years in the minors, including Eastern League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player, Biggio has shown that he has the talent to become an all star and make a name for his self in the game's highest level. 4. Bo Bichette Bo Bichette has already broken records in his short time in the majors. Through August 6th, he became the first player to record 10 extra base hits within his first 9 games. He also became just the third player to record a double in 8 straight games while setting the Blue Jays record for the most hits by a rookie in his first 10 games. He also had an 11-game hit streak which also set the record in Blue Jays history. Although these names might bring back some old memories, these guys are a part of the new generation of talent in the MLB. These guys might have legendary last names, but they're here to write their own story, and prove that they can play on baseball's biggest stage.   Article by: Pete Caceci  Last week, the Phillies have filed suit against firm Harrison/Erickson, Inc. over who controlled the rights to the famous mascot, the Philadelphia Phanatic. The company has stated that if the Phillies do not pay a certain amount for a new contract worth “millions of dollars”, then they will pull the mascot out of the organization’s hands and make it a separate entity. Separate entity meaning the character can be anywhere at any time without any restriction and not wear any team logo. Supposedly this problem has been ongoing for many years, but unfortunately both sides have reached a standstill and will not budge unless the other caves. The character was created by former-Vice President of the Jim Henson company (creator of The Muppets) Bonnie Erickson. From there the mascot made its first appearance on April 25, 1978 and has stayed with the team since. The suit alleges that Erickson and her husband Wayde Harrison were given more than $200,000 in construction and licensing costs to create the mascot, which allowed the Phillies to have the rights for five years. The deal was then further negotiated in 1984, paying the couple another $215,000. Since then, the Phillies have said that the 1984 agreement granted the team perpetual rights to the Phanatic. Currently, Erickson and Harrison are trying to use Section 203 of the Copyright Act to regain control of their creation. It states creators can terminate a rights agreement, even if it has been granted in perpetuity — so long as certain prerequisites are met. The right to terminate this agreement cannot be done until after 35 years after the agreement, or in this case 35 years after 1984, which makes 2019 the first year H/E can try to gain control. The Phillies have responded by saying that they were told unless the team stops using the Phanatic by June 15, 2020, they will be in breach of copyright and taken to court. Here is what we know about the threefold argument the Phillies are planning to use against H/E:
If the Phillies should win in this potential lawsuit, then they will bar H/E from terminating the rights agreement, ban them from suing the team in the future, and issue a permanent injunction barring them from selling the Phanatic to another team. This should scare any Philly-based fan, as this iconic character is considered by many to be the best mascot of all time. To lose the face of an organization, when the team is not really doing that well in general, would create a major panic. I can speak for any person that the Phanatic is something the Phillies should never lose. He is such a major accomplishment for revitalizing the mascot industry and for being an authentic idea in general. If the Phillies were somehow not able to pay the amount that H/E want in a new contract, then I myself would hand over money. This character is more than just a mascot as it draws families to the stadium, visits countless schools for different charities, and brightens every spirit when it walks by. I do not know anyone that does not like the Philadelphia Phanatic, and honestly, I do not believe I ever will. This mascot is doing more for the city than any politician or sports player, so the Phillies should pay now, or face disastrous consequences. To keep up with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!   Article by: Kevin Eagleson  After one week of pre-season play one of the league's best players, Ezekiel Elliot, continues to holdout in pursuit of a new contract. Elliot is undoubtedly one of, if not the best running backs in football, however the Ohio State product still has two years remaining on his rookie contract. ‘Zeke’ wants to be paid now, but the decision is ultimately up to the Dallas Cowboys organization, who has more leverage in negotiations than people think. Here is why “America’s Team” should make the right decision, and trade Ezekiel Elliot. As previously stated, Zeke is one of the league’s best backs. Since being drafted, the first rounder has led the league in rushing two of three years. In fact, the only year he was not rushing leader was 2017 where Elliot served a six-game suspension. What is even more impressive was upon his return that year, he led the league in yards per game (98), so one could assume Zeke was on pace to lead the league in rushing once again. The numbers do not lie, Elliot is one of the most productive players in the NFL, and a major component of the Cowboys’ offense who simply cannot be replaced… to a degree. The Cowboys have an above-average quarterback leading an improving passing attack and one of the best offensive lines in football. There is no question they could plug in almost anyone at running back and they would be productive. That ‘anyone’ would be Tony Pollard, rookie running back out of Memphis who Dallas used a fourth-round pick on and has been receiving praise so far out of training camp. Pollard is not the same caliber back as Elliot, and never will be, however he may very well provide a better value for the Cowboy’s organization moving forward. Running back is a brutal position. These guys come out every week and get tackled more than anyone else on the field. The brutality of the position is why so many running backs seek long term deals with guaranteed money, but the problem is that teams do not always value running backs enough to grant them massive extensions. Unlike all other positions, running backs are in their prime right out of college, and can have an immediate impact. By the time their rookie contract is up, they are likely on the wrong side of 25 and looking for a big deal. Teams will often let their running back walk and look to the draft for their younger, more affordable replacement, simply because they value paying other positions over running backs. The Cowboys though are in a tough situation. The team is young and talented, with a promising future, but with that comes many players entering their prime looking for big contracts. Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper will likely be paid this year, and both guys will almost certainly be a top-five highest paid player at their relative position. Then the Cowboys have some of their key defensive players such as Byron Jones and Jaylon Smith edging towards new deals as well. These four players massively contribute to the Cowboys success on both sides of the ball and are all arguably play more important positions than running back. Dallas should make the right call and prioritize those four players over their star back. That is not even to mention players like Randall Cobb, La’el Collins and Robert Quinn, who have near-ending contracts as well. These three are much less likely to be re-signed but could potentially have a significant impact should the Cowboys bring them back. If Dallas resigns Zeke, they will simply be unable to afford the contracts of their other stars. The Cowboys have an amazing opportunity to avoid entering a lucrative running back contract and receive some serious capital in return if they trade Ezekiel Elliot. There will certainly be a market for the two-time rushing leader (likely from a team with a young quarterback and significant cap space), and it is no stretch to assume they could receive a first-round pick in return. It is certainly not an easy decision for Dallas, as Elliot is a fan-favorite and the face of the franchise, however the opportunity to receive a first-round pick for their running back (who do not forget, is a complete headache off the field) and avoid trapping themselves in a ridiculous contract is too good to pass up. The Cowboys are good. Even without Elliot, they can seriously compete this year, while also being very well setup for the future. To keep up with all things sports, be sure to keep it here at Heated Sports!   Article by: Harrison Weaver  https://cdn.nba.net/nba-drupal-prod/styles/landscape/s3/2019-02/GettyImages-3061387.jpg?itok=_YeC9zVk Everybody loves a good retirement tour. They bring out some of the most nostalgic, powerful sporting moments you will ever see. Remember back in 2016 when Kobe Bryant dropped 60 points against the Jazz in the final game of his career? In a jam-packed Staples Center, Kobe brought the Lakers back from a late 8-point deficit with some of his magical Kobe shots to win the game, just like we used to see in his prime. Last season, we got to witness the Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki send-off tours. In a truly special final game at American Airlines Arena for Dwayne Wade, he managed to blow the game wide open with a trio of back to back to back three-point shots as he finished with one last 30-point game. In Dirk’s final game, we got to witness a few of his trademark fade-away shots to send him riding off into the sunset. The former all-time leader in three-pointers made, Reggie Miller, had an incredible but less joyous final game as his final game was Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in which his Pacers lost to the Pistons despite Miller scoring 27 points with 4 three-pointers. There’s nothing like that standing crowd ovation as a retiring superstar is substituted for a final time out of the game. Whether they’re a home or away player, receiving that appreciation for everything they have provided the league with over the span of their career is something else. This year, we will be getting another extra-special retirement tour. The 2019-2020 NBA season will be Vinsanity’s turn. The timeless wonder, 42-year-old Vince Carter is set to play his final season as a member of the Atlanta Hawks. In case you were wondering how effective he can still be for this young Hawks team, let me fill you in on some of his numbers for last season, his 21st. He averaged 7.4 points per game on almost 39% shooting from deep. He played in 76 games and started 9 of them while averaging 17.5 minutes in those games. Oh, and he threw down 15 dunks last season too. That’s all at 41 years old, sometimes playing against competition literally HALF his age. It’s a true testament to the graceful shapeshifting career that Vince Carter has led. Coming into the league out of the University of North Carolina, Carter was a vicious attacker of the rim. He would charge into the paint and destroy anyone in his way, producing some of the most jaw-dropping dunks the league has ever seen. Upon being drafted by the Golden State Warriors and then being traded to the Toronto Raptors, he went on to win Rookie of the Year in 1999 and then won the crown of Slam Dunk Champion in 2000 with his memorable between the legs high-flying windmill jam and a whole handful of other superhuman slams. He continued on this superstar path all the way through his prime, consistently putting up PPG in the mid-20’s with his killer mix of his rim-attacking ferocity and three-point shooting. After 7 and a half years of mildly successful seasons with the Raptors, Vinsanity was traded to the New Jersey Nets to be paired with Jason Kidd and Richard Jefferson. His tenure with the Nets marked the beginning of Vince Carter’s playoff misfortune. In his first season in New Jersey, Jason Kidd was returning from surgery and Richard Jefferson had to get a season-ending surgery, which ultimately led to a playoff sweep at the hands of the Heat. That Nets team would never be the same again, but that doesn’t mean Carter stopped balling out. On December 12th, 2005, he tied his career high scoring performance with 51 points against the rival Heat, who the Nets would eventually lose to again in the playoffs the same season. The unraveling would only get worse for the Nets, and Vince would be traded to the Orlando Magic on draft night after the 2008-2009 season in which the Magic lost to the LA Lakers in the Finals. Of course, this would once again highlight the missed timing with Vince Carter and playoff success. Missing out on the Nets back to back Finals appearances, and again missing out on the Magic’s Finals appearance. By this point VC was 33 years old and no longer the same rim-attacker he used to be. However, he transformed himself into a new brand of player, just as he has in every phase of his career. He focused on really honing in his perimeter game and used it as a tool to preserve his status as an elite player. It’s something Vince has done so elegantly and is such a big part of why he is still in the league today at 42 years old. In February of 2010, his first season with the Magic, he dropped 48 points against the Hornets to prove that he still had the ability to flip the switch when need be. The Magic made it the whole way back to the Conference Finals, Vince Carter’s first, with a chance to earn another spot in the NBA Finals. Unfortunately, they were matched up against the Big 3 from Boston and fell short in six games. The very next season, the Magic got off to a slow 12-9 start and traded Carter the Phoenix Suns, which also did not pan out despite the presence of Steve Nash as the Suns missed out on the playoffs. Take a wild guess what happened the season before? The previous season, the Suns still had Amar’e Stoudemire and made the Western Conference Finals. It was time for another new scene for Vinsanity, so he took his talents to the Dallas Mavericks on a 3-year deal to join an aging core, but a team that was still a playoff threat. By this point, Carter was 35 years old and no longer much of a rim-attacker. Instead, he was now deadly from behind the arc and had really mastered his savvy perimeter game. His first year in Dallas featured a first-round elimination at the hands of OKC, and it was the 2012 lockout season. It was his third season in Dallas in which VC was able to conjure up a little magic. The Mavs won 49 games, enough for an 8-seed in the West. They then faced the San Antonio Spurs dynasty. The Mavericks were able to send the series back to Dallas tied up 1-1, which was relatively unexpected. Game 3 was a nail-biter. With the Mavs down 108-106 with 1.7 seconds left, inbounding from their own wing, guess who came sneaking out of an inbound set to flash himself open in the corner? Vince Freaking Carter. He pulled up the shot from the corner with Manu Ginobili right in his face and fading away he absolutely splashed the three to win the game 109-108 and send the crowd into a frenzy. Instead of a game-winning drive to the paint, or electrifying dunk, this time it was a finely aged Vince Carter flexing his perimeter game to give the NBA another jaw-dropping, memorable Vince Carter moment. The Mavs would go on to lose the series in 7 games, but it was yet another spectacle provided by Vinsanity. At 38 years old, VC signed with the Grit N’ Grind Memphis Grizzlies on the back end of the run with the core of Conley, Gasol, and Randolph. Still able to average about 16 minutes per game, Vince was able to provide a high-IQ veteran presence to add to the excellent Memphis chemistry. No longer much of a scoring threat, Carter was still able to conjure up some clutch shots and hit three’s where need be. In his first year with Memphis, the Grizzlies made it to the second round where they forced the eventual NBA Champion Golden State Warriors to 6 games and lost after a hard effort. The following season, the Grizzlies went 42-40 and got swept in the first round by the Spurs. The following season at 40 years old, Carter averaged 24.6 minutes and 8 PPG for the Grizzlies, an extremely impressive load for a player of that age. He even provided for 10 dunks that season. Truly defying age, Carter continued to find ways to contribute on the floor. Fast forward two seasons, one season in Sacramento and one season in Atlanta, VC will be returning for a 22nd season, the only player to ever do that. The Hawks offered to have him back, and he has taken that offer. He will turn 43 in January, which will make him the 3rd oldest player in modern NBA history behind Kevin Willis, who played until he was 44 years and 224 days old and Robert Parish who played until he was 43 years and 254 days old. It’s unlikely that Vinsanity will be much of a scoring threat this season for the Hawks, but he has proven throughout the course of his career that no matter what his age is, he deserves a spot on the floor. His ability to transform his game to the condition of his body, his basketball IQ, his team-first attitude, are all qualities that have preserved him as a valuable player. Especially on a young Hawks roster with a lot of talented players who could use the knowledge, teaching, and veteran presence Vince brings to an organization. However, don’t be surprised if VC gets up and slams down a few dunks this year. Don’t be surprised if he hits a buzzer beater three, in fact don’t be surprised by anything. He may be the oldest player in the league, and his body may limit him, but he still has that magic. It’s in his basketball DNA. This will be one of the most fun retirement tours we have seen in the NBA. After all, he is Vinsanity. Expect the unexpected.   Article by: Justin Imler  https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/7ae085ff01db44bfbe9d9e163f1e6c5d/960x0.jpg?fit=scale This was about as close to a buzzer beater that we'll ever see in baseball. The Houston Astros waited until the very last second of the 2019 Trade Deadline to make their statement that one World Series title wasn’t enough, and they are out for more in 2019. Last Wednesday the Astros took the MLB world by surprise when news broke out that they had acquired starring pitcher Zack Greinke from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Rumors were circling around what ended up being a fairly boring deadline, that several teams were still in play to acquire starting pitching. The most common team and pitcher in those conversations were the New York Yankees, and Giants’ starting pitcher and postseason legend Madison Bumgardner. However, the Yankees, remained completely quiet, and Bumgardner is still in San Francisco. Greinke’s name was circled in the mix here and there, but I don’t think anyone can say confidently that they saw this move coming. Instead, it is the other American League powerhouse that made a major move right as time expired, and now, the Astros seem to be the clear favorite to win the World Series. Here’s how the blockbuster trade looked for both sides: Houston: - SP Zack Greinke - $24 million towards Greinke’s contract Arizona: - Four minor league prospects 1. 1B Seth Beer 2. RHP J.B. Bukauskas 3. RHP Corbin Martin 4. INF/OF Josh Rojas When you look at where both franchises currently stand, this deal really seems to benefit both sides tremendously. The Astros are clearly in win-now mode. Coming off a 2017 World Series championship and having one of the most talented overall rosters in all of baseball signed for the next several years, they’re ready to add another title to their name in 2019, and an established starting pitcher in Greinke will surely help them obtain that goal. The Diamondbacks on the other hand are stuck. They’ve been finishing around the .500 mark for the last several seasons, and if they want to take that next step, it might be time to start a minor rebuild. This deal pretty much confirms that plan, in acquiring several talented prospects, and alleviating themselves from the remaining $53 million of Greinke’s hefty contract. Greinke is obviously a very talented pitcher, and a nice asset to have in your rotation (10-4, 2.90 ERA this season), but Greinke alone isn’t going to get Arizona where they want to go. Now let’s look ahead at the remainder of the 2019 season. The Houston Astros now have the best 3-man rotation in the league in Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole, and Zack Greinke. Also add Wade Miley into mix at the #4 spot, who the Astros like a lot, and has been pitching very well as of late (9-4 3.06 ERA). This rotation is set to carry this Astros team to a World Series birth in October and bring home their second title in three years. Not to toot my own horn too much, but the Astros were my World Series pick before the season began, and I’m confident in that pick now more than ever. The Astros’ biggest competition this season will be the LA Dodgers, who have an equally balanced and talented lineup. As of right now, these two teams are tied for the best record in baseball, and if I had to guess, I’d say we are going to have a 2017 World Series rematch in just a couple months, and I can’t wait.   Article by: Zach Henley  https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/76ClXkTUM6i-KE9AqfWbmQbzCZY=/0x0:5472x3648/1200x800/filters:focal(2299x1387:3173x2261)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/60023829/usa_today_10868646.0.jpg After Saturday night’s win, the Phillies decided to option third baseman Maikel Franco to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Along with the demotion, the team has activated utility player Brad Miller from the IL. Franco, 26, is hitting .231 with 15 home runs and 47 RBI’s. The move comes after the Phillies beat the visiting Chicago White Sox. Franco overall went 1-3 with a single. Philadelphia is currently third in the NL East, tied with the Washington Nationals and 7 games back from the division leading Atlanta Braves. Franco has proven that he has the power, averaging 25 home runs and 86 RBI’s. The Achilles heel for the third baseman is the average. Last season, Franco had a career high .277 and tallied 22 home runs and 68 RBI’s (min. 100 AB). In my opinion, this is a smart move for the team and their potential playoff push. Franco has been struggling all season, and after a promising start hitting in the 8th spot, he’s been disappointing. With this move, a couple of scenarios happen. Scott Kingery gets the chance to play every day and he’s been very consistent all year. With his demotion, Franco can work on hitting and changing his stance or swing in time for the playoffs. One other area the team needs to focus on is the pitching. Aside from Aaron Nola and Jake Arrieta, the last three starters in the rotation are all up in the air. Nick Pivetta should stay in the bullpen with Vince Velasquez, and the team needs to work on finding a consistent third starter and finding a closer that can be reliable. Along with free agency, the team needs to break the bank a little more and try to shoot for Gerrit Cole. The starter is going to be 29 and has a good second half of his career left. The state of the Phillies is still in the air, as it always is, and the team needs to focus on finding ways to win down the stretch and and hopefully squeak into the playoffs and attempt to do some damage.   Article by: Pete Caceci  Three days ago, the Philadelphia Sixers unveiled a new throwback jersey for the upcoming 2019-20 season. The jersey design was used during half of the 1970-71 season, back when Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham was leading the team to victory. "We thought it was really cool and fun and timely, where we could honor the past — and particularly Billy Cunningham," Sixers President Chris Heck told press following the announcement. "He's obviously a legend in Philadelphia, not only being a world-champion player, but also a world-champion coach and a Hall of Famer who has his own statue and his number retired with us at the Sixers. So it was a nice opportunity to give a tip of the hat to Billy C." The 1970-71 season was known for redemption after losing key players like Wilt Chamberlain to the Lakers in the previous offseason. The team finished 47-35, which placed them 2nd in the Atlantic Division and 3rd overall in the Eastern Conference. Despite making it into the playoffs, the team was vanquished in seven games against the Baltimore Bullets in the Conference Semifinals. Billy Cunningham proved his worth further to the team by taking the reins as Captain and improving his personal game by being elected to the All-Star game as well as being named to the All-NBA First Team. This jersey has been in the works since 2016, when the Sixers were trying to bring back several retro-style uniforms. The “Classic” will now be included as one of five uniforms in the catalog, which will consist of the “Icon” (standard blue), the “Association” (standard white), the “Statement” (red with Sixers on the chest), and the “City Edition” (gray with white stars). A rumor has been thrown out to the public that this new jersey might in fact be worn for the season opener, which is certainly a great idea. 11 other teams will also be unveiling a throwback for the upcoming season, but to which teams are doing it is still unknown. Being a retro fanatic, I love it when big-name teams like the Sixers take the time to bring back iconic jerseys. It allows hardcore fans to learn more about their team’s history and the players that fans back then looked up to. Rarely do teams in general take part in a project like this, as it may be awhile before we get to see another classic look. Judging by the way that the players seem to enjoy it, and how the fans have been up in arms in support, this jersey may in fact stay for years to come.  Article by: Kevin Eagleson  https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AIRX2jxHAcyecvixRiZqjh2Ppis=/0x0:3290x2303/1200x800/filters:focal(1217x783:1743x1309)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64025271/usa_today_11998950.0.jpg The headlines this NFL offseason have been all about superstars holding out for new contracts. On August 31st, the first holdout was resolved as New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas received the new deal he was looking for. After holding out for nearly a week of training camp, the Saints extended Thomas to a five-year deal worth up to $100 million (with $61 million guaranteed). This new deal makes Thomas the highest paid receiver in NFL history, and he is worth every penny to the Saints. It's no secret the window is closing for forty-year-old quarterback Drew Brees to win his second Super Bowl. Brees is currently surrounded by one of the best rosters he has every played with, and the team has made back-to-back playoff runs over the past two seasons. After seeming to be just one play away from advancing, the team was devastated by the Minneapolis Miracle in 2018 and then a horrific no-call by the referees last season. New Orleans has a chance to make this season different and perhaps even reach the Super Bowl, but this would not be possible without Michael Thomas. Thomas is a physical 6'3 receiver who boasts some of the best hands in the league. Since entering the league in 2016, he has been nothing short of unstoppable, setting the NFL record for most receptions in a player's first three seasons. Drew Brees' favorite target has been an absolute problem for opposing defenses and has even been dubbed the name "can't guard Mike". Mike is coming off his best season yet, where he was named a first-team All-Pro and racked up 1,405 receiving yards off 125 receptions. Thomas is by far the most talented receiver on the Saints roster, and besides him there are no other proven wide outs for Brees to throw too. New Orleans had almost no option but to pay their star receiver in order to compete this season. The contract could be considered a win-win for both sides as Thomas got paid, and the Saints locked up their record-setting star. Mike is still only 25 years-old and his five-year contract almost guarantees Drew Brees will have Thomas to throw to for the rest of his career. The Saints will be a major threat in the NFC this year, and their number one receiver is a big reason why.  |
