Know When To Walk Away
April 16, 2021By: Carlos Alvarez
Happy Friday!
We have a great weekend of sports ahead. The NBA, NHL, MLB, and MLS are all going to be in full swing. Hopefully you’ll watch as much sports as we will this weekend.
Letter Rip!
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TEAM NEWS
The Sportsletter’s primary writer and editor, Jeff Yoder, is out this week. We’ll return to the normal content schedule on Monday.
The Sportsletter
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NBA
LaMarcus Aldridge Announces Retirement
Photo: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images
The 7x All-Star Has Played His Final Game
Recently acquired Brooklyn Nets center LaMarcus Aldridge announced on Twitter that he is retiring, stating he is putting his health and family first after playing with an irregular heartbeat in a game against the Lakers last Saturday.
As the second pick in the 2006 NBA Draft out of Texas, Aldridge spent his first nine seasons with the Trail Blazers, where he established himself as one of the greatest midrange scorers of his generation. He then moved to the Spurs, where he played until he reached a contract buyout last month and subsequently signed with the Nets.
Aldridge finishes his 15-year career with over 1,000 regular season games played and averages of 19.4 points and 8.2 rebounds. Could a Hall of Fame induction be in his future?
Additional Storylines
NBA: NBA Players, Legends React to LaMarcus Aldridge’s Retirement
B/R: LaMarcus Aldridge’s Hall of Fame Case May Be Stronger Than You Think
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MLS
Season-Opening Preview
Photo: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images
Columbus Crew Look To Repeat
After winning their second MLS Cup last year, The Columbus Crew were able to improve over the offseason, adding Kevin Molino and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Although Kevin Molino will be out for the foreseeable future with a hamstring injury, this team will be scary at full force, and has a great chance of being the first back-to-back champs since the LA Galaxy in 2011-12.
An Emphasis On Youth
Just this week, the MLS announced the U22 initiative to push investing in upcoming new talent. Under this initiative, clubs are given three ‘U22’ spots on their roster, which allows them to sign players age 22 or younger to contracts that have a reduced impact on the budget. Doing this will result in an increased amount of young players in the league, and will hopefully lead to speedier development of upcoming prospects like Jesús Ferreira and Efrain Alvarez.
Austin FC Thrown Into The Trenches
The newest MLS expansion team, Austin FC, debuts this Saturday, against Los Angeles FC of all teams. While they made noise acquiring midfielder Tomás Pochettino and winger Cecilio Domínguez, it will be a true test going up against a title favorite like LAFC.
Preseason Power Rankings (Via MLS.com)
1) Columbus Crew SC
2) Los Angeles Football Club
3) Portland Timbers
4) Philadelphia Union
5) Minnesota United FC
6) New England Revolution
7) Orlando City SC
8) Seattle Sounders FC
9) Toronto FC
10) Atlanta United
11) Sporting Kansas City
12) FC Dallas
13) New York City FC
14) Colorado Rapids
15) Nashville SC
16) San Jose Earthquakes
17) New York Red Bulls
18) LA Galaxy
19) Chicago Fire FC
20) Inter Miami CF
21) Austin FC
22) Vancouver Whitecaps FC
23) D.C. United
24) Houston Dynamo FC
25) FC Cincinnati
26) Real Salt Lake
27) CF Montréal
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WNBA
WNBA Draft Recap
Photo: Elsa / Getty Images
Wings Make Out Like Bandits In Draft
The Dallas Wings stole the show in the WNBA’s virtual draft on Thursday, the league’s second online draft in two years. They made WNBA history by selecting at both the No.1 and No.2 spots back-to-back. On top of that, the Wings had another two picks in the first round, as they had the 5th and 13th selection as well. The team drafted Charli Collier, Awak Kuier, Chelsea Dungee, and Dana Evans at 1, 2, 5, and 13, respectively. Rounding out the top 3 of the draft was Arizona’s Aari McDonald, who was picked up by the Atlanta Dream.
Full Round 1 Results
Charli Collier (Dallas Wings)
Awak Kuier (Dallas Wings)
Aari McDonald (Atlanta Dream)
Kysre Gondrezick (Indiana Fever)
Chelsea Dungee (Dallas Wings)
Michaela Onyenwere (N.Y. Liberty)
Jasmine Walker (Los Angeles Sparks)
Shyla Heal (Chicago Sky)
Rennia Davis (Minnesota Lynx)
Stephanie Watts (L.A. Sparks)
Aaliyah Wilson (Seattle Storm)
Iliana Rupert (Las Vegas Aces)
Additional Storylines
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
️MLB: Braving It Out
The Atlanta Braves squeezed out a 7-6 win over the Miami Marlins in a hectic game with Dansby Swanson capping off the ninth inning for an exciting 4-2 roadtrip.
NBA: Jaylen Brown Erupts For 40 Points against Lakers
The Celtics continued their hot streak, defeating the Lakers 121-113. Jaylen Brown went off for 40 points on an absurd 17-20 from the field.
️SOCCER: Dominating 2nd Leg
An energized Arsenal team didn’t hold back, delivering a 4-0 loss to the Slavia Prague to stamp their tickets to the Europa semi-finals.
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THE STORYLINES
COVID can impact everyone, just ask Jayson Tatum
After being diagnosed with Covid-19 in January, Jayson Tatum has acknowledged long-lasting effects of the virus, including the requirement to use an inhaler before games – something he didn’t have to do pre-Covid. (Yahoo! Sports)
An Update on The Deshaun Watson Situation
In the latest development of the ugly situation, the twenty-two original women who had filed lawsuits against the Texans QB have agreed to surrender anonymity, agreeing to identify themselves in court. (ESPN)
️MLB Will Have Minor League Experiment With Moving Back Mound
In a continued effort to try and find ways to increase offense, the MLB is moving the mound back one foot for parts of the Atlantic Minor League season to see how it impacts the escalating strikeout rate (NBC Sports)
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THE HEADLINES
Kobe Bryant to Be Presented by Michael Jordan for 2020 Basketball Hall of Fame Class
(Bleacher Report)
Slavia Prague 0-4 Arsenal (1-5 on agg): Gunners reach Europa League semi-finals (BBC)
Fantasy Baseball 2021: Analysis of Luck So Far This Season
(Yahoo! Sports)
NFL Announces Tri-Exclusive Official Sports Betting Partners
(NFL)
It’s Early, but the Red-Hot Red Sox Are a Problem for Cold Yankees and AL East (Bleacher Report)
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️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Must-Watch List
It’s a pro sports weekend on overdrive. The NBA and NHL head down the home stretch of the regular season and into the playoff push. There’s a handful of MLB series worth the watch, and the MLS season kicks off. We’ll be back in your inbox on Monday. Enjoy!
NBA
Clippers at 76ers (Fri. 7:00 pm ET)
Knicks at Mavericks (Fri. 9:30 pm ET)
Jazz at Lakers (Sat. 4:30 pm ET)
Nets at Heat (Sun. 3:30 pm ET)
MLB
Braves-Cubs Series
Dodgers-Padres Series
Rays-Yankees Series
Cardinals-Phillies Series
NHL
Islanders at Bruins (Fri. 7:00 pm ET)
Panthers at Lightning (Sat. 7:00 pm ET)
Capitals at Bruins (Sun. Noon ET)
MLS
Houston vs. San Jose (Fri. 8:00 pm ET)
Seattle vs. Minnesota (Fri. 9:30 pm ET)
PGA Tour
RBC Heritage (All Weekend)
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