NBA Draft
We have a draft this week. We love the draft. You know this.
Here's something else you should know: The most meaningful picks this year will be outside the top three or the top five.
Let's explore.
Let's start with a couple of thoughts. First, we all agree that Deandre Ayton, who could be a more skilled Andre Drummond, will be the first pick. The next two almost assuredly will be Euro playmaker Luka Doncic and Michigan State freshman Jaren Jackson.
Then there's the bigs Mo Bamba and Marvin Bagley III, who could very well be the best player in the draft.
The next mix is anyone's guess and features three boom-or-bust players who could very well swing the future look of this draft.
Where Trae Young, Collin Sexton and Michael Porter Jr. go will be picks that are closely followed and likely will shape the winners and losers from Thursday's process down the road.
Of that three, we like Sexton the best. The other SEC freshman we are highly interested in seeing where he winds up is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who became Kentucky's best player.
As for the most interesting pick Thursday night, it has to be the No. 8 selection that belongs to Cleveland.
If you view it as the key part of the Kyrie Irving trade, it becomes big.
If you view it as the key part to keeping LeBron James, it becomes even bigger.
If you you view it as the pay part of a potential trade to San Antonio for a particularly unhappy superstar, it becomes possibly the biggest move of the offseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James (23) drives past Boston Celtics' Al Horford (42), from Dominican Republic, in the first half of Game 4 of the NBA basketball Eastern Conference finals, Monday, May 21, 2018, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)Speaking of that
OK, we are not getting into this, but it's one of the biggest stories swirling around sports these days.
Where will LeBron play?
Truth be told, count me out on that speculation.
There are a lot of layers to that.
And we're OK with whatever decision he makes.
We do think the recent report from Brian Windhorst that the James camp is trying to find reasons to stay with the Cavs, but unless they make at least two moves - the No. 8 pick and another addition - these Cavs are not a title contender.
And they likely are not the favorites in the East, no matter how good LeBron is now and next year.
FILE - In this May 8, 2012, file photo, ESPN radio hosts Mike Greenberg, left, and Mike Golic throw out first pitches before a baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox in Cleveland. The network announced Tuesday, May 16, 2017, that Greenberg would be leaving the longtime morning radio show he co-hosts with Golic to host a new morning TV show on ESPN TV that will premier Jan. 1. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan, File) Get Up or get out
We have admitted that we watch "Get Up" on a regular basis. In fact, we are watching it now as we finish the 5-at-10.
We are becoming part of a smaller fraternity of folks who fit that demographic.
The extremely expensive new ESPN venture has generated no shortage of ink and opinion.
Mike Greenberg, Jalen Rose and Michelle Beadle are making $15 million a year. The new studio in NYC is pricey. It's an expensive operation for sure.
It also was met with the initial backlash because Greenie's exit destroyed Mike & Mike, the most popular - and profitable - sports radio show in the country.
That's the back story. The next chapter is how long can ESPN afford to bite the ratings bullet that has become "Get Up."
Last Friday the show got 196,000 viewers and has topped 300,000 viewers only 12 times in its first 55 broadcasts.
By comparison, there were 15 other ESPN programs on last Friday that had bigger audiences, including seven versions of SportsCenter.
You have to wonder how much longer the four-letter network will be willing to put that many resources into a show that ranked 94th overall on Friday and had fewer viewers than something called Morning Express with Robin Meade on some channel called Headline News that is a spinoff channel of CNN.
Former NFL player Terrell Owens watches play between Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, and Angelique Kerber, of Germany, during the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)This and that
- Terrell Owens dropped a 4.43 40 time on Monday. He's 44. Maybe a comeback to the league is why he made the awful decision to skip the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
- Speaking of T.O., apparently the Atlanta Falcons are "uneasy" about Julio Jones working with T.O.
- Here's some details about Paulina Gretzky thinking beau Dustin Johnson had won the U.S. Open after his putt on the 72nd hole. So you're telling us he's not overly interested in her acute golfing mind, huh?
- TFP ace sports columnist Mark Wiedmer is coming around on the Braves and their the playoff chances.
- Puma is serious about getting back into the basketball shoes and merchandise BID-ness. Here's more.
Today's questions
True or false, you've owned a pair of Pumas.
True or false, Get Up will make it to football season.
True or false, the Cavs will trade the No. 8 pick.
Feel free to bounce bace some T or Fs too.
On this day, June 19, in 1991 Pablo Escobar surrendered.
In 2000 Tiger won the U.S. Open by 15 shots. he finished at 12 under, meaning he was playing a similar course as we saw last weekend only he was at 12 under and everyone else was at 3 over or worse.
In 1846, the first officially recognized baseball game was played. The NY Nines beat the Knickerbockers 23-1.
Paula Abdul is 56 today. She is easily the most famous former professional cheerleader, right?
Lou Gehrig was born on this day in 1903. Gehrig had 100 RBIs and 100 runs scored in 13 seasons.
Also, Moe Howard of Three Stooges fame was born on this day.
Rushmore of Moe. Go, and be creative.