Feb 12, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant (12) during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Ja Morant is known for having one of the highest vertical leaps in the NBA, and he needs every inch of it when going up against his newest teammate Zach Edey.
A surreal photo of the Memphis Grizzlies star Morant attempting to defend Edey in practice went viral this week. It showed Morant jumping as high as he could to try to contest an Edey shot in the paint (with Edey barely off the ground himself).
Take a look at the picture (which was originally posted by photographer Shot By Nie).
The two-time All-Star Morant is just 6-foot-2 to Edey’s 7-foot-4. Morant cracked a hilarious joke about Edey’s height after the Grizzlies drafted him in June, and now he is witnessing Edey’s superhuman size firsthand.
Interestingly enough, Morant and Edey do not even have the biggest height difference on the Memphis roster. That title belongs to Edey and another Grizzlies player whom he recently posed for a priceless photoshoot with.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had an unwelcomed guest in their dugout during Game 2 of their NLCS against the New York Mets on Monday.
Brent Honeywell pitched the fifth and sixth innings for the Dodgers in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium. As the 29-year-old reliever headed toward the dugout steps following his first inning of work, he realized there was a slithering reptile on the top step.
Honeywell pointed down to the top step and stopped before heading down the steps and into the dugout:
A staff member was able to grab the skinny snake using a towel and carried it away.
How did a snake get there? What was it doing in the Dodgers’ dugout? Was it an electronic snake sent by the Mets to steal some signs and special information? We need answers!
Apr 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; The Los Angeles Lakers logo at center court during game three of the 2023 NBA playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers may be going bargain-hunting on the trade market.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reports Monday that the Lakers have expressed trade interest in center Nick Richards of the Charlotte Hornets. Siegel notes that the Lakers are among several NBA teams that have inquired about the 26-year-old Richards.
This news comes after Shams Charania of ESPN reported last week that the Lakers were looking at making an upgrade to their center position.
The seven-footer Richards has developed a reputation as an underrated energy piece. He averaged 9.7 points and 8.0 rebounds per game last season for Charlotte and also blocks shots with his 7-foot-4 wingspan. Richards is really effective around the rim too, posting an elite 69.1 field goal percentage in 2023-24.
With Richards under contract for just $5 million this season and $5 million next season, the Lakers may just have something to work with there. With Jaxson Hayes having his limitations at center and Jarred Vanderbilt and Christian Wood both sidelined with injuries to start the new season, the need at the 5 for the Lakers is pretty pressing. Richards should also come much cheaper than this other center the Lakers are eyeing in that division.
Lakers fans, show everyone who runs LA with this great T-shirt. It makes a perfect gift for you or a friend. You can buy it here.
Jul 11, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; FOX Sports analyst Alex Rodriguez talks before before the 2023 MLB All Star Game at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Alex Rodriguez may have inadvertently jinxed the New York Yankees with some comments he made about their playoff matchup.
Following Game 1 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium Sunday, FOX’s MLB crew was discussing the upcoming ALCS between the Yankees and Cleveland Guardians. Analysts Derek Jeter and Rodriguez, both former Yankees All-Stars, said the matchup was a favorable one for the Yankees.
“You never have an easy road to the World Series. But if the Yankees could pick and choose their opponents, I think they got the two that they would pick and choose,” Jeter said. “Because of the success that they’ve had against the AL Central.”
The Yankees went 5-2 against the Royals in the regular season and 4-2 against the Guardians. Additionally, they were 6-0 against the Twins, 5-1 against the White Sox and 4-2 against the Tigers. Altogether, the Yankees had a .774 winning percentage against the AL Central in the 2024 regular season.
Rodriguez went ahead and said what Jeter implied.
“You don’t have to say it; I’ll say it. They have an easy road to the World Series. It’s never easy, right? But this is the clearest path in 20 years,” Rodriguez said.
Here is the video clip, which you can bet the Guardians will be using for motivation:
The Yankees won the AL East and had the best record in the AL at 94-68. In the ALDS, they faced an 86-76 Kansas City Royals team and won the series in four games. Now they will face the Guardians, who went 92-69 in the regular season, which was the second-best mark in the AL.
Maybe that won’t be such an easy matchup for the Yankees, who haven’t been to the World Series since winning it all in 2009. The Bronx Bombers have lost in the ALCS five times since then.
Feb 1, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; The NFL shield logo is seen at midfield at SoFi Stadium. Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals will be played on Feb. 13, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
A football legend’s son is set to make his NFL debut on Monday night.
The Buffalo Bills announced on Monday that they have elevated Frank Gore Jr. from their practice squad to the 53-man roster. Gore will be active for Buffalo’s “Monday Night Football” game against the New York Jets.
Gore, the son of former NFL running back Frank Gore, signed with the Bills as an undrafted free agent in April. He was a star at Southern Mississippi, where he rushed for 4,022 yards and had 692 receiving yards across four seasons. He scored 30 total touchdowns.
The elder Gore, who is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, made the Pro Bowl five times and was an All-Pro once. He finished his career with 16,000 rushing yards, which ranks third on the NFL’s all-time list. While Goreās best years came with the San Francisco 49ers, he played one year for Buffalo near the end of his career in 2019.
Gore Jr. was very impressive in the preseason with 163 yards and a touchdown on 33 attempts, giving him a robust 4.94 yards a carry. It was somewhat of a surprise when the Bills cut him and later re-signed him to their practice squad.
Gore’s father had a great reaction when the young running back went undrafted in April, and you know Frank Sr. will be watching proudly on Monday night.
Jan. 4, 2011; New Orleans, LA, USA; ESPN logo prior to the 2011 Sugar Bowl between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Ohio State Buckeyes at the Louisiana Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN seems to be zeroing in on their successor for JJ Redick.
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported on Monday that ex-NBA forward Richard Jefferson has emerged as an early leading candidate to replace Redick on ESPN’s lead NBA national television broadcast team. The spot, alongside Mike Breen and Doris Burke in the booth, has been vacant ever since Redick agreed to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer.
The 44-year-old Jefferson, a former NBA champion and one-time 20-point-per-game scorer, would be a strong choice. He has worked for ESPN as an analyst since 2019 and has been already been on the call for national game broadcasts as part of ESPN’s No. 2 NBA team with Ryan Ruocco. Jefferson is generally well-regarded for his enthusiasm, relaxed style, and funny lines.
In the summer, it looked like ESPN was considering a few other basketball names (including a surprise candidate) for the job vacated by Redick. But now it appears that Jefferson, who has also gained media prominence through his popular “Road Trippin'” podcast, holds the pole position.
Apr 13, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) returns to the dugout after seven perfect innings against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Clayton Kershaw removed any doubt about his future plans Monday as he confirmed that he will return for at least one more season.
In an appearance on FOX’s NLCS pregame show, Kershaw said he plans to “give it a go” next year despite dealing with more injury issues in 2024.
“I had some tough luck with my foot this year, but I want to make use of the surgery. I don’t want to have surgery and then shut it down,” Kershaw said. “I’m going to come back next year and give it a go and see how it goes.”
Kershaw battled a toe injury down the stretch that ultimately required surgery, forcing the Dodgers to rule him out for the playoffs. He made seven starts before going down for the year, posting a 4.50 ERA in 30 innings of work.
Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers before the start of the season and has a $5 million player option for 2025. Based on these comments, he intends to exercise that.
Dodgers fans! Show everyone who runs LA with this great shirt. You can buy it here.
The New York Mets got off to a hot start against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ band of relievers during Game 2 of the NLCS between the teams at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif., on Monday.
Francisco Lindor got the Mets on the board with a solo home run in the first inning off Ryan Brasier, who opened the game for LA. Then in the second, the Mets torched Landon Knack, who allowed five hits and three walks.
The Mets had two outs and runners on second and third. Rather than face Lindor again, they issued an intentional walk, which brough Mark Vientos to the plate with the bases loaded. Vientos made the Dodgers pay and blasted a grand slam to right-center field to make it 6-0.
The grand slam quieted the crowd and punctuated a 5-run second inning for the visitors.
The Mets lost the first game of the series 9-0 but quickly turned around to return the favor to the Dodgers on Monday. They won the game 7-3 to tie the series at 1.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) fixes his head band Saturday, July 29, 2023, during Colts Training Back Together Weekend at Grand Park in Westfield. Credit: Grace Hollars/IndyStar/ USA TODAY NETWORK
The Indianapolis Colts have looked better on offense with Joe Flacco under center than they did with Anthony Richardson earlier in the year, but there is not going to be a quarterback controversy going forward.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters on Monday that Richardson will start against the Miami Dolphins in Week 7 as long as the second-year quarterback does not suffer a setback with his hip injury.
“I think he’ll be ready to go,” Steichen said.
Flacco took over for Richardson after Richardson suffered a hip injury in Week 5. Flacco played extremely well in relief of the former Florida star and led the Colts to a 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The following week, Flacco played like a Pro Bowl quarterback. He went 33/44 for 359 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions in a 37-34 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Flacco played well enough to win again on Sunday, when he finished 22/38 for 189 yards, 2 touchdowns an an interception in a 20-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
In total, Flacco has 716 yards, 7 touchdowns and just 1 interception across three games. The Colts are 2-1 with Flacco, as he played the majority of Week 5. Before he got hurt, Richardson threw 3 touchdowns compared to 6 interceptions in three-plus games. The Colts were 1-2 in those games.
There is no question Indy’s offense has been sharper with the 39-year-old Flacco under center. Despite that, Steichen has maintained that Richardson is not in danger of losing his starting job. Even if an argument can be made that Flacco gives the Colts their best chance to win, the team is fully committed to Richardson as their franchise quarterback.
Oct 1, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Former Houston Texans player J.J. Watt speaks to the crowd after being inducted into the Texans Ring of Honor during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions lost star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson for the season on Sunday to a gruesome leg injury. Some of the team’s fans decided to try to recruit some replacements, and one focus of their attention was JJ Watt.
In a post on X Monday, Watt acknowledged that he had heard from more than a few Lions fans who encouraged him to come out of retirement to fill in for Hutchinson for the rest of the season. While the former Defensive Player of the Year had nothing but nice things to say about the Lions and their fans, he made it clear that returning to the NFL is not something he is interested in.
“This morning I poured a cup of coffee and took a walk by the lake with my wife & son before breakfast,” Watt wrote. “I’m very much enjoying this phase of life.”
Watt’s name still comes up when people discuss potential NFL comebacks. At age 35, he is still theoretically young enough to play, and he has demonstrated that he is certainly staying in shape. At times, he has also dropped hints that he might entertain a comeback under the right circumstances.
The flipside of this is that Watt has not played in the NFL since 2022. Plus, despite the occasional comment, he has not shown any real interest in a comeback, and he has a pretty solid gig with CBS as a studio analyst. The Lions will clearly have to look elsewhere to try to make up some of Hutchinson’s production.
