EL BARRIO, EL BRONX – So the dog days of summer have descended upon us and there is not much we can do. It is getting hotter, muggier and the outfits of the girlies are getting shorter. Alas, there is not much to look forward to in the sports world. The main news going around is off the field stuff unless you want to talk about the Yankees and Mets. Since the rest of the staff does that the other days of the week, let’s venture away from the diamond. Today, we will discuss the NBA Draft, the NHL Draft and Sepp Blatter.
NBA Draft: So the NBA draft happened and some things went to script. Karl-Anthony Towns was the first pick of the draft (Minnesota Timberwolves). The 76ers drafted another center (for the third year in a row if you’re keeping track). Finally, the Knicks made another head-scratching pick by taking Latvian Forward Kristaps Porzingis. It was just such an “ugh!” moment as a Knicks fan. Flashbacks of Freidric Wise and Maciej Lampe went through loads of Knicks fans’ heads. Picking a European player is so hit or miss, and this kid has a high-ceiling but is a project. To his credit, the kid is excited to be in New York and excited to have access to a world-class gym and training, which he wasn’t getting while playing as a pro in Spain. Apparently, Carmelo Anthony is not happy with the picking of a project player. You get the feeling that both Mello and Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson would not have signed each other, if not for the influence of owner, James Dolan.
NHL Draft: As I type this, the NHL Draft is getting ready to begin. The NHL Draft is actually interesting since I actually give a damn about the NY Rangers as opposed to the Knicks. It seems that after stinking it up all season, the Buffalo Sabres lost the lottery and will have to pick second. This is of note because the #1 pick is a kid considered the next big thing, like Gretzky and Crosby big. The kid is Connor McDavid and he will be selected by the Edmonton Oilers, who have the #1 pick for the fifth straight year (and you thought the Knicks were bad). The Sabres will pick Jack Eichel, the other kid who is a sure bet to be great but not as fantastic as McDavid. So the other news is that the Rangers don’t have a first-round pick because of the … say it with me now…. THE TONY DUKE TRADE!! However, it looks like the Rangers are trying to trade up and get a first-round pick. They are shopping around back-up goalie Cam Talbot, who was the team MVP last season after filling in for “King” Henrik Lundquist. It is likely that Talbot will go to Edmonton, in exchange the Rangers will get the 16th pick or the Rangers may send Talbot to Vancouver. By the time this article is posted, we hope to hear they have secured a deal and great pick.
Sepp Blatter: So, the FIFA President has said, “What retirement!?!” The move was so impressive mafia bosses all over the world stood up and clapped their hands. According to a report, “The 79-year-old Swiss was thought to have ended his 17-year reign on 2 June amid claims of corruption in world football’s governing body. A FIFA statement confirmed a report in Swiss newspaper Blick, which said Blatter told a party: ‘I did not resign, I put myself and my office in the hands of the FIFA congress.’ ” That’s gangster. You have to be impressed with the sheer nerve and unfazed bravado of the man despite being such a horrible human being.
That’s it for now, come back tomorrow for Cheesy Bruin!
