Members of the U.S. swim team gathered on Friday for an inspiring moment of unity and patriotism.
Swimmers for both the men’s and women’s swim teams were unable to attend the Opening Ceremony for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo on Friday due to their competitions taking place the next day. Instead, they found an alternative.
Members of Team USA swimming gathered in a circle and sang “America the Beautiful” before joining together and chanting “USA! USA!”
Take a look at the video:
The Olympics are a time for unity, competition, and pride. Nothing conveys that message better than seeing a video like that.
If Aaron Rodgers is going to retire to avoid playing for the Green Bay Packers in 2021, he will have done so despite doing his full offseason routine.
According to a report from ESPN, Rodgers has done the same offseason regiment as he has for the bulk of the last ten years despite the speculation surrounding his future. The quarterback followed Proactive Sports Performance, a program which typically lasts up to seven weeks and includes work in the weight room, on sand dunes, and on the field.
Proactive Sports Performance confirmed to ESPN Saturday that Rodgers is “working and he’s ready” for the NFL season.
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to what this actually means. It certainly works with what Rodgers and Davante Adams posted on social media recently. It also seems unlikely that Rodgers would follow such an intensive program if retirement speculation was true, but this entire affair has been extremely unpredictable. At the very least, it’s a slight reason for optimism among Packers fans.
Trade rumors began to heat up around Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer on Saturday. They only intensified when he was abruptly scratched from his scheduled start less than three hours before first pitch.
The Nationals were quick to clarify that Scherzer was not scratched because of any impending trade. Instead, the Nationals’ ace had right triceps soreness, which flared up in the batting cage on Tuesday and didn’t subside enough for him to make his start. Scherzer told reporters that he was confident he would miss only one turn through the rotation.
The late scratch came on the same day that it was reported that the Nationals were willing to listen to offers for Scherzer. As awkward as it is, it appears that this was all coincidental. That said, with the trade deadline six days away, one has to wonder if Scherzer has already made his final appearance in a Washington uniform.
Scherzer, who turns 37 on Tuesday, has posted a 2.83 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 105 innings so far this season.
Former Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen has had enough of Yermin Mercedes’ attitude.
Mercedes, a catcher for the White Sox, caused a stir this week when he seemingly announced his retirement on Instagram before ultimately backtracking and apologizing. The attitude hasn’t gone down well with Guillen, who tore into Mercedes. Guillen referred to Mercedes as a “fat boy who eats hamburgers,” said he was “lucky” to get his shot in the majors, and criticized his attitude.
That’s about as brutal as it gets. Mercedes got off to a hot start, but the 28-year-old slumped in May before being sent down. His tenure was also marked by public criticism from Tony La Russa over Mercedes’ decision to swing 3-0 against a position player during a blowout.
This is par for the course from Guillen, at the very least. He might even dislike Mercedes even more than he couldn’t stand one particular player he managed with the White Sox.
Photo: Dirk DBQ/Flickr via CC-BY 2.0
Bradley Beal could be eyeing an opportunity to join a team that he lost to in the play-in tournament.
Bleacher Report’s Jason Dumas reported Saturday that the Boston Celtics would be a preferred destination for Beal if he requests a trade from the Washington Wizards. Dumas adds that Jayson Tatum is Beal’s longtime friend and that the Celtics would give him the chance to compete for a title.
The three-time All-Star Beal is under contract for $34.5 million next season with a player option for 2022-23. Dumas’ report comes amid rumors that Beal is considering a trade request prior to next week’s draft.
Boston would likely have to include Jaylen Brown in any potential move just to match salary. But Beal and Tatum were two of the league’s top 10 scorers this past year. They are also notably close and are both natives of St. Louis. That gives the Celtics incentive to try to make a blockbuster happen.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Za’Darius Smith briefly had some fans worried based on some tweets he sent Friday about needing a realtor. Though Smith assured fans there was nothing to be worried about, a new report suggests otherwise.
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, Smith is believed to be unhappy that the Packers converted much of his 2021 salary into a guaranteed payment, which pushed his 2022 cap number above $28 million. Smith is also said to be unhappy that the Packers did not pay his $14.76 million guarantee in full in March, instead resorting to weekly payments.
Smith is aware that the restructuring makes it likely he will be cut or traded before 2022 unless he signs an extension, which is unlikely to happen. Smith has fired his agent, and is believed to want either a longer commitment or to be moved. In retrospect, the tweets he sent Friday that he later made light of may have been a hint after all.
The 28-year-old Smith is entering his third season with the Packers. He’s been a star for them since arriving, collecting 26 sacks over two seasons with the team, leading to a pair of Pro Bowl selections.
Spicy P may be becoming Swapped P this offseason.
Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer reported this week that Toronto Raptors big Pascal Siakam is considered available for trade around the NBA. Fischer adds that Toronto is exploring all trade avenues ahead of next week’s draft.
The 27-year-old Siakam would seem like an untouchable. He led the team with 21.4 points per game last season and has been their primary offensive threat ever since Kawhi Leonard left Toronto. Siakam also has three years and $106.3 million left on his contract with the Raptors.
Granted, Siakam, who was an All-Star in 2020, has already been mentioned in connection with one interesting trade scenario. Moving Siakam would likely signal a commitment to a full-scale rebuild on Toronto’s part but probably cannot be ruled out.
The timing of Michael Thomas’ offseason ankle surgery raised some eyebrows. It may also have the New Orleans Saints somewhat annoyed with their star receiver.
According to Nick Underhill of NewOrleansFootball.com, Thomas saw a specialist about his ankle after the 2020 season ended, and was told that rehab might be enough to heal the ankle. Thomas was told to come back in roughly a month to see if surgery would be necessary, but Thomas never returned for the second appointment.
In June, when Thomas arrived for offseason workouts, the Saints realized his ankle was still in bad shape and told him to get the surgery. Instead of undergoing the procedure early in the offseason, which would have allowed him to be ready for the start of the season, Thomas will now miss at least the start of the season as he recovers.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk added context to Underhill’s reported timeline. Florio suggested that assuming the report is true, there’s a “very good chance” Thomas has angered the Saints by dragging out the process. Florio also pointed out that Thomas and the Saints had issues last season, and his name was coming up in trade rumors as recently as January.
The 28-year-old wide receiver signed a five-year extension with the Saints in 2019. His status may be worth watching as he works his way back from injury, especially if there are lingering bad feelings between himself and the organization.
Bradley Beal has been loyal to the Washington Wizards for his entire career, but that loyalty may be reaching its breaking point.
According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, Beal is considering requesting a trade prior to the NBA Draft. A source describes the situation as “fluid,” but that there is a very real chance that Beal may want out.
Beal has been loyal to the Wizards and has made clear that he would be inclined to stay with the franchise as long as it is poised to contend. However, there is some belief that the lack of clarity on both his and Russell Westbrook’s long-term futures may be impacting Beal’s thinking. In addition, trade rumors continue to pop up surrounding Westbrook, suggesting that the guard may be on his way out of Washington after one season.
Beal would not have a list of preferred trade destinations if he did ask to be moved. However, contenders such as Boston, Golden State, Miami, and Philadelphia would be attractive destinations. The Celtics in particular could pair Beal with close friend Jayson Tatum, though they might have to part with Jaylen Brown to get the Wizards’ attention.
As recently as February, Beal seemed very reluctant to even consider forcing his way out of Washington. Things can change quickly in the NBA, however, and if Beal is not convinced by the Wizards’ long-term future, he may feel he has no choice.
The 28-year-old Beal averaged 31.3 points per game, narrowly losing the league scoring title to Stephen Curry.
The Washington Nationals may be moving toward selling at the trade deadline, and that could mean one of the league’s best starters is on the market.
According to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, the Nationals have begun discussing pitcher Max Scherzer in trade talks. While the team is studying scenarios in which it might add, they’re also seven games back in the NL East. That factor is making a Scherzer trade appear “quite possible.”
As Heyman notes, Scherzer has veto power over any trade. That’s important because it will force the Nationals to consult with him on potential destinations, and gives Scherzer plenty of leverage. It’s been indicated that Scherzer will have a major request for any team that wants to trade for him, though it’s certainly possible that his camp was bluffing. If the Nationals really are out of it, it’s hard to imagine Scherzer opting against moving to a contender if the opportunity is given to him.
The 36-year-old Scherzer is fresh off starting the All-Star Game. His 2.83 ERA ranks tenth in the National League, and he’s third in the NL with 142 strikeouts. He’s in the final season of his contract, which is the key reason why the Nationals may be willing to listen to offers.
