Kobe Bryant perishes along with daughter and seven others in LA helicopter crash

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

ap file photo : In this April 16, 2016 photo with the Bryant family left to right Vanessa, Kobe, Natalia, and Gianna before the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz game at Staples Center in Los Angeles

By Jeremy Kahn

Everybody who knows me knows that I love the University of Michigan Wolverines; because, my family is from the State of Michigan and over a dozen of my family members have degrees from the Ann Arbor campus.

Well, that Is one love in sports I have, but my other love is the Los Angeles Lakers and it is because, I was born and raised in the Los Angeles area.

Today is the hardest day for Lakers fans all over the world; because, of the passing of Kobe Bryant at the age of 41.

Bryant, who was born in Philadelphia, but grew up in Italy, as his father Joe Jellybean Bryant continued his career in that country.

After the elder Bryant retired, the family returned to the Philadelphia area and the legend of Kobe began, when he was in high school at Lower Merion High School.

Bryant skipped college, and was drafted 13th in the 1996 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets and was immediately traded to the Lakers in exchange for Vlade Divac.

That same summer, the Lakers signed Shaquille ONeal to a long-term contract and the Lakers had their next dynamic duo.

In the summer of 1997, Michelle Richardson and I had the opportunity to meet Bryant on a couple of occasions and somewhere I have his autograph along with Tracy McGrady.

In their fourth year that the duo of Bryant and ONeal were together, they won the first of three straight NBA Championships after defeating the Indiana Pacers in six games.

The next season, the Lakers went an amazing 15-1 on their way to their second NBA title over the Philadelphia 76ers and as fate would have it, the Lakers clinched the championship in Bryants hometown of Philadelphia, much to the dismay of Philadelphians.

Bryant and ONeal would another title in 2002, but after the 2004 loss to the Detroit Pistons, the duo would split up, as ONeal was traded to the Miami Heat.

It would be another four years before the Lakers would return to the NBA Finals and after losing to their long-time rivals, the Boston Celtics, they would come back to win back-to-back NBA titles to give Bryant five NBA Championships, along with an NBA MVP and back-to-back NBA Finals MVPs in 2009 and 2010.

Father time began to show on the body of Bryant, as near the end of the 2012-2013 NBA season, Bryant would tear his left Achilles Tendon against the Golden State Warriors.
Bryant would return to the court after the 2013-2014 season began, but he broke the lateral tibial plateau in his left knee. He would play in just six games that season.

The following season, Bryant suffered an injury to his shoulder, as he tore the rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

On November 29, 2015, Bryant announced his retirement and the 2015-2016 season would be his last.

There was last Black Mamba moment to come, as Bryant scored 60 points in his last game of his NBA career against the Utah Jazz. The 60 points are the most by a player in their final game in NBA history.

Bryant would win an Academy Award for his Short Film Dear Basketball, at the 2018 Academy Awards.

Today is a tragic day for members of Lakers Nation all over the world, as Bryant, his 13-year daughter Gianna along with seven others perished in a helicopter crash near Calabasas, California, not too far from my hometown of Canoga Park.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his wife Vanessa, his three surviving daughters, his parents and his sister.

NHL podcast with Daniel Dullum: Will Hertl’s All Star success inspire downtrodden Sharks in second half; Why Ovechkin and Crosby stayed away from All Star game; plus more

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

mercurynews.com photo: Tomas Hertl (48) of the Pacific Division representing the San Jose Sharks waves to the fans at the Enterprise Center in St Louis

On the NHL podcast with Daniel:

#1 When someone like Pacific Division’s Tomas Hertl comes from out of nowhere and hits four goals in the NHL All Star could that inspire an already down San Jose Sharks team coming into the second half of the season?

#2 Taking a look at the three on three format of the All Star game is that still an exciting attraction or does it take away from the tradition of hockey and should the NHL go back to the five on five in the All Star game.

#3 Sydney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, Mark Fluery of the Vegas Knights all were missing from the All Star game, Crosby just came off an long injury and Ovechkin opted to take the All Star break off.

#4 Daniel talk about some of the top teams in the NHL who are vying for the playoffs like the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lighting, Washington Capitals, and Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference and in the Western Conference St Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Vancouver Canucks, and Edmonton Oilers.

#5 Daniel address some of the top three goal scorers in the NHL this season, from the Boston Bruins David Pastrnik 37, from the Capitals Alex Ovechikin 34, and Austin Matthews from the Toronto Maple Leafs with 34.

Daniel does the NHL podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Reign take down Barracuda with late goal in the third period in 3-1 victory

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

sjbarracuda.com photo

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif- The third period has been a period of woe for the San Jose Barracuda this season. It proved to be that once again as the Onatrio Reign scored three unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes for a 3-1 victory over their Pacific Division rival on Saturday evening at SAP Center.

The two teams are going in opposite directions heading into the All-Star break. Ontario is riding a three-game winning streak. While San Jose has dropped their past three games.

San Jose (14-22-1-2) drew first blood in the first ten minutes of the first period. Sasha Chmelevski scored an unassisted goal at the 7:47 mark for his eighth goal of the season.

The Reign outshot the Barracuda 12-10 in the opening frame as they had the only power play opportunity but weren’t able to cash in.

The second period was scoreless as San Jose controlled play in the middle frame as they outshot Ontario 13-9 while killing two penalties in the period.

Ontario (20-18-4-1) started their comeback early in the third period. Paul LaDue scored his fifth goal of the season at the 3:22 mark. Sheldon Rempal recorded his 12th assist on the season.

San Jose had a chance to regain the lead when Brett Sutter went into the sinbin at the 12:38 mark for slashing. However the Reign penalty kill, led by Reign goalie Matthew Villalta, was successful killing off Sutter’s penalty.

Ontario scored the game winning goal with 1:08 left in the game when Sutter set up Tobias Bjornfot who snapped a wrist shot past ‘Cuda goalie Zachary Sawchenko for his third goal of the season.

Matt Luff iced the game for Ontario with an empty net goal with 20 seconds left to seal the deal for the Reign. Mikey Anderson was credited with an assist on Luff’s fifth goal of the season.

Villata (4-3-1) made 30 saves on 31 shots to earn his fourth win of the season. Sawchenko (3-2-1) finished with 28 saves on 30 shots in suffering the defeat.

GAME NOTES: San Jose was 0-for-3 on the power play. Ontario was also 0-for-3.

The three stars of the game were 1) Bjornfot  2) Chmelevski  3) LaDue

The announced attendance was 5,718.

UP NEXT: The Barracuda return after the All-Star break on Friday 1/31 as they travel down to San Diego to take on the Gulls at 7:00pm at Pachenga Arena.

Sharks’ Hertl bags five goals as Pacific wins NHL All-Star 3-on-3 crown; scores five goals total in two games

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from nbcsports.com Tomas Hertl (48) of the Pacific Division and San Jose Shark wasn’t on the NHL All Star radar he was a replacement for the Sharks Logan Couture who got inured. Hertl scored five goals on Saturday night

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, January 25, 2020

San Jose’s Tomas Hertl wasn’t selected as the most valuable player of the 2020 NHL All-Star 3-on-3 competition at Entrprise Center in St. Louis, but he deserved to be in the conversation.

Hertl scored five goals on the night — four in the Pacific Division’s 10-5 semifinal win over the Central Division — and one more in the Pacific’s 5-4 winner-take-all victory over the Atlantic Division.

The Pacific team gets to divvy up the $1 million winner’s prize.

Hertl was a replacement player for the All-Star competition, replacing injured Sharks teammate Logan Couture. His fourth goal was the final round game-winner, assisted by Edmonton Oilers Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid.

Hertl scored three of his goals in the second half against the Central Division, all against goalie Connor Hellebuyck of Winnipeg.

MVP honors went to David Pastrnak of Boston, who collected six points on four goals and two assists. Pastrnak received a car for his efforts. He and Ottawa’s Anthony Duclair each had a hat trick in the Atlantic Division’s 9-5 win over the Metropolitan Division in the East semifinal.

Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, who grew up in St. Louis, scored two goals and added two assists.

Prior to the 3-on-3 games, 11-year-old Blues fan Laila Anderson had the honor of introducing the St. Louis players — Jordan Binnington, Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron and Alex Pietrangelo.

Former Blues players and Hockey Hall of Fame members Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hull served as honorary coaches.

As part of the festivities, Green Day performed, with F-bomb laced vocals from Billie Joe Armstrong. Seven-second delay took care of the editing for the NBC television audience.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Athletics Pitcher Frankie Montas, Exclusive Interview

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

2020 Topps baseball card of Oakland A’s pitcher Frankie Montas

Athletics Pitcher Frankie Montas, Exclusive Interview

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND– In a overcast day/afternoon, but without rain,as thousands of fans visited and mingled with A’s players during the 2020 A’s Fanfest at Jack London Square young Danay García, Special Events Assistant for the A’s brought to our kiosk at The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame, A’s starting pitcher Frankie Montas.

Frankie ended his 2019 season with a 9-2 record with a 2.63 earned run average in 16 games he started. Smiling and followed by a bunch of fans with ball and pen in hand they were lining-up to get this autograph, he sat next to me as he signed for roughly 20 to 30 minutes, once in a while standing up to pose with fans in selfies as well as group/family shots.

Montas dropped by with his wife Nicolette and son Michael. The young Dominican hurler seems very happy posing with fans signing one autograph after another. I conducted the interview in Spanish and here it is translated. Montas pitched this winter for the Leones del Escogido or Escogido Lions) in the Dominican Republic professional baseball league.

He said he pitched a little bit more this season. That makes sense because he only started basically half of the 2019 for the Athletics. I didn’t wanted to dwell on why he was suspended that was not the main goal, specially at this time in history when baseball is under heavy scrutiny because of the sign-stealing scandal. This is not the place anyway, this was a Fanfest, where positivism was in the air. The last thing I wanted to ask him was about his suspension and I did not.

Montas is about 6 feet 2 inches tall,at 240 pounds with a strong powerful right arm.

Q: Welcome to Oakland. Ready for Spring Training?

A: “Yes, I am happy to be here, and ready to go to Arizona”

Q:You live in Arizona, so basically you are going back home.

A: Absolutely,should be fun…and I am really looking forward this season.

Q. Do you consider yourself a fastball pitcher (you throw around 97 mph).?

A: Yes, I do, that is my best pitch, but I can also come at a hitter with other pitches, but yes, I think you can consider me a “power pitcher”.

ThIs will be his sixth season in the major leagues and fourth with the A’s,the Dominican pitcher will be 27 years of age next month. During his abbreviated 2019 season,he recorded 103 strike-outs in 96 innings of labor and was on a pace to win 18 to 20 and throw over 200 strike outs.

Q: Many people (including me) like to know, which player is the toughest for you to get out.

A: Joe Mauer of Minnesota, I cannot get him out. Mauer has played 15 years with the Twins and is the only catcher in MLB history to win three batting titles. The veteran has been a tough out for many pitchers, last week in a ceremony at Target Field,the Twins retired his famous number 7..

Q: Now that you have been in the majors for a few years, what is the one thing that has impressed you the most?

A: The discipline here, everything is done professionally,we have a schedule for everything, the speed of the game is another thing..

Q: Oakland Coliseum is the most spacious MLB park, with all kinds of foul territory,that benefits pitchers. Aside from here in Oakland,which parks are the favorites for you to pitch, favorites for you, not necessarily because you can get more outs,but because you like those places.

A: Kansas City…Anaheim and Houston, I would say those three.

Q:Luis Rojas was just named the new manager of the New York Mets, a fellow Dominican one of the sons of Felipe Alou, your opinion?

A; Great, I know him, he is a great guy, happy for that.

Photos and selfies all over the place with the very affable Frankie Montas,as his wife and son patiently waited on the sidelines, he was just getting to the end of his signing duties at our kiosk. We also took some pictures, he signed a few Topps baseball Cards for The Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum, which someday (hopeful sooner than later) we’ll have a place inside the proposed new A’s Ballpark at Howard Terminal.

My last question.

Q:When you were a little boy like this kid that was taking a picture with you here. Who was your idol?

A; :”Pedro Martínez” Not surprisingly from a young pitcher to name the great Dominican Hall of Famer Martínez

The Oakland Athletics pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to their Spring Training home February 12.

We shook hands,as I told him,next time we talk will be at Mesa, during Spring Training. which he said Okay!

Good Luck Frankie!

NHL All Star Game podcast with Matt Harrington: All Star 3 on 3 hockey creates more offense; creates more room for players

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

nypost.com photo: The New York Islanders Mathew Barzal wins the fastest skater during the NHL All Star Game skill competition during this weekend’s events in St Louis who is hosting the game

On the NHL All Star Game podcast with Matt:

#1 The All Star Game format is in effect three games makes for a long afternoon how has the format been working since it’s inception now in it’s fifth season

#2 Is the three on three format really a scorers delight as stated by nhl.com?

#3 The NHL says that there’s more three on three hockey being played right now is that something that the NHL would like to adopt?

#4 With three on three it does create more offense and the puck isn’t tied up as much, will it result in more scoring?

#5 Will the NHL ever go back to the old East vs. West format five on five or is three on three hockey with three 20 minute games here to stay?

Matt does the NHL podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL All Star Game podcast with Mary Lisa Walsh: Rating the NHL All Star players

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

theathletic.com file photo: The Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby (88) celebrates a goal against the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Arena on Tuesday Jan 14th in a 7-2 win. The Penguins defeated the Red Wings on Saturday Jan 18th 2-1.

On the NHL All Star Game podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 After Sydney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins came back from his injury he scored three goals in three games for the Pens showing he didn’t miss a step.

#2 The Washington Capitals Alex Ovechkin is sitting out this All Star game in St Louis, Ovechkin has sat out past All Star games resulting in a one game suspension and a fine. Which alright with Ovechkin whose really after some All Star break rest and relaxation

#3 The Edmonton Oilers Conner McDavid is making his fourth All Star appearance McDavid has played in 27 goals, 49 assists, in 76 games.

#4 The Washington Capitals also will be represented by right winger TJ Oshie so far this season having a marvelous campaign with 18 goals, 16 assists, for 34 points.

#5 The San Jose Sharks will be represented by Tomas Hertl with 15 goals, 20 assists, and 35 points scored. Hertl is replacing the injured Logan Couture.

Mary Lisa does the San Jose Sharks podcasts each Saturday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

The Kings play defense and beat the Bulls 98-81 on Friday in Chicago

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment

By Charlie O. Mallonee @Charlieo1320

The long national nightmare is over for “Sacramento Proud” as their team’s six-game losing streak has come to an end in Chicago. The Kings (16-29) downed the Bulls 98-81 on Friday night at the United Center.

The last time the Kings won a basketball game was on January 7th in Phoenix. Those 16 days between wins seemed like an eternity for Sacramento fans.

A major change to the starting lineup

Sometimes a coach must shake things up to in order to get his team’s attention. In this case, Kings head coach – Luke Walton – made a change to his starting lineup. Guard Buddy Hield has been in a shooting slump, so Walton took Hield out of the starting rotation and replaced him with Bogdan Bogdanovic who has been the Kings sixth man all season.

Moving a starter to the bench is always dangerous because a coach never knows how the player will react. In this case, the lineup moves worked.

Hield took the change in stride

In reality, Hield did more than take things in stride – he thrived. Hield led the Kings in scoring by putting up 21 points in the game. He shot 7-for-12 overall and hit 5 of 9 from behind the 3-point line. Hield also grabbed eight rebounds.

After the game, Kings head coach Luke Walton was full of praise for Hield for his play and his reaction to his change in the rotation.

The key to the win was defense

This was the second game this season that the Kings held their opponent to under 90 points. The Kings are 2-0 in those games.

Sacramento held Chicago to just 39.2% (31-for-79) shooting overall and the Bulls hit only 8 of 37 (21.6%) from 3-point range.

The Kings caused the Bulls (17-30) to turn the ball over 21 times which resulted in 16 Sacramento points.

The Bulls largest lead of the game was three points.

Top performers

Leading scorers

  • Buddy Hield was the Kings leading scorer with 21 points
  • Zach LaVine led the Bulls scoring attack with 21 points

The Glass cleaners

  • Cristiano Felicio of the Bulls was the game’s leading rebounder with nine
  • Buddy Hield led the Kings with eight rebounds

Dropping dimes

  • De’Aaron Fox was the game’s assist leader with seven dimes
  • Kris Dunn led the Bulls with six assists

Up next

The Kings travel to the Twin Cities where they will play the Timberwolves on Monday night.

The Bulls will play in Cleveland on Saturday night.

 

 

 

Warriors improved play still lose to Pacers 129-118

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

The Utah Jazz’ Rudy Gobert (27) and the Golden State Warriors Willie Cauley-Stein (2) scramble under the basket for the loose ball at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri Jan 24th

By Jerry Feitelberg

San Francisco- The Golden State Warriors hosted the Indiana Pacers at the Chase Center Friday night. The Warriors were hoping to rebound after being blown out by the Utah Jazz Wednesday night.

The Warriors played with a lot of energy. They moved the ball well as they recorded 31 assists. They shot 49% from the floor, and they made 19 threes. It was not enough as they turned the ball over 20 times, and Indiana put 33 points on the board as a result of the Warriors sloppy play.

The Pacers, who average about 27 three-point attempts per game. Knocked down 17 in 28 tries Friday night. The Pacers like to make a lot of two-point buckets, and Friday night’s game was no exception. They shot 57% from the floor to beat the Warriors 129-118.

The Warriors got off to a good start early in the first quarter. They led 22-16 about halfway through the first period. The Pacers got their offense going, and they went on a 13-0 run to lead 29-22. The Pacers finished the first quarter leading 35-30.

The Pacers played well as they increased the lead to 50-38. The Pacers defense held the Warriors scoreless for over three minutes in the period. The Warriors continued to turn the ball over, and the Pacers capitalized on the Warriors miscues.

The Pacers finished the first half with a 16-point advantage 67-51. D’Angelo Russell led the W’s with 16. Marquese Chriss was the only other Warrior in double figures with 10. The Pacers’ T.J.Warren led his team with 21. Doug McDermott coming off the bench knocked down 15, and he helped propel the Pacers to the 16-point advantage.

The Warriors turned things around in the third period. D’Angelo Russell made several threes, and the Warriors went on a 14-2 run to cut the deficit to six points as they trailed 80-74. The Pacers regrouped and were able to finish the third period leading by 98-86.

In the fourth quarter, The Warriors continued to make threes. Jordan Poole made two consecutive threes to make it 110-103. The Pacers refused to fold. They went up by thirteen 121-108. The Warriors went on a 7-0 run to trail 121-115. The Pacers were not fazed, and they went on to win 129-118.

Game Notes and Stats- The Warriors announced that they have traded center Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks for a second-round draft choice. The Mavs needed to replace former Stanford star, Dwight Powell. Powell suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon injury. He will miss the rest of the season and part of the 2020-21 season, too.

With the loss, the Warriors drop to 10-37. Indiana won its eighth game out of the last ten played. They are 30-16 and are within two games of being in second place in the Eastern Conference. They will be in the playoffs. Malcolm Brogdon did not play due to an injury, and the Pacers’ Victor Oladipo is close to returning to action.

The W’s were led by D’Angelo Russell’s 37 points. Russell was nine for 13 from behind the three-point arc. Glenn Robinson had 18. Chriss finished with 13. Alec Burks had 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Draymond Green recorded a double-double with ten points, six boards, and 11 assists. Jordan Poole, Omari Spellman, And Eric Paschall each added nine.

T.J.Warren had 33 for Indiana, Doug McDermott finished with 24, Jeremy Lamb and Damontas Sabonis each had 16. Sabonis pulled down ten rebounds to record a double-double. Aaron Holiday had 12. His brother Justin, a former Warrior, contributed eight to help the Pacers win.

The Warriors go on the road for the next two weeks. They meet the Philadelphia Sixers Tuesday night. Thursday they are in Boston, Saturday they play the Cavaliers. They go to Washington and Brooklyn before returning home to face the Lakers on February 8th.