https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYNmRGXB8vQ&t=4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYNmRGXB8vQ&t=4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYNmRGXB8vQ&t=4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYNmRGXB8vQ&t=4s
Check out Table Talk with Michelle on all podcast platforms under WUFO POWER PODCAST
https://anchor.fm/powufo/episodes/Table-Talk-with-Michelle-Ep1-e1i5ut3
By: Nina Cray
Adreian Payne, former Michigan State star from Dayton, Ohio, was shot on Monday, May 9th, 2022. He was taken to the hospital, but pronounced dead, according to a statement released by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
The statement said that police responded to a shooting at 1:37am Monday morning, and that the shooter — a man identified as Lawrence Dority — remained on the scene and was later arrested for first-degree murder charges.
Payne was the No. 15 selection overall in the 2014 NBA draft and started his career with the Atlanta Hawks. He also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic & overseas with a Greek league called Panathinaikos.
Payne was a great college athlete prior to his NBA career – he scored a postseason record 41 points and was one of just ten Michigan State players to score 1,200 career points and have 700 career rebounds.
One of the most notable aspects of Payne’s college career was his friendship with 8-year-old cancer patient Lacey Holsworth.
Payne helped Lacey cut the nets after a Big Ten Title for MSU in Indianapolis.
Their friendship was one of the highlights of Payne’s senior season and made national story headlines during the 2014 NCAA tournament.
Unfortunately, Lacey passed just over a week after the Spartans season ended due to neuroblastoma complications. Just two months before Payne became a first-round pick in the NBA.
Sources:
Lounsberry, Matthew. May 9th, 2022. Spartan Nation. “Former Michigan State basketball star Adreian Payne shot and killed at age 31.” <https://www.si.com/college/michiganstate/basketball/michigan-state-spartans-basketball-star-adreian-payne-shot-and-killed-in-florida-050922>
Solari, Chris. May 9th, 2022. Detroit Free Press. “Adrien Payne, former Michigan State basketball star, shot and killed Monday at age 31.” <https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/michigan-state/spartans/2022/05/09/adreian-payne-dies-obituary/9702652002/>
By: Nina Cray
Recent reports have been circulating in regard to the injury Khris Middleton received during a loss in game 2 of the first-round series against the Bulls.
The consensus? Middleton, with a grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee, is not expected to play in the series against the Boston Celtics. If Milwaukee can eliminate the Celtics, we may not see Middleton in the Eastern Conference Finals either.
The defending-champion Bucks lost the game where the injury occurred, but eliminated the Bulls by winning the next three, sealing their spot in the series with the Celtics on Wednesday April 27th with a 116-100 victory.
Middleton was a critical component of the Buck’s success this season, as well as an integral part of their Championship win in last year’s finals.
Bucks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer has been utilizing the depth of the Bucks roster with players like Grayson Allen stepping up – he should continue to see increased playing time.
Budenholzer said they miss Khris, but they are capable of competing because of the depth their roster has.
“…I don’t think anybody underestimates how important, how effective he is for us. But while we don’t have him, we have to be our best all up and down the roster.”
Milwaukee is tied (1-1) with the Boston Celtics now, their next game — game 3 of the series — being Saturday, May 7th at 3:30PM.
Sources:
Herbert, James. April 28th, 2022. CBS Sports. Khris Middleton injury update: Bucks star to miss Celtics series with Grade 2 MCL sprain, per report. <https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/khris-middleton-injury-update-bucks-star-to-miss-celtics-series-with-grade-2-mcl-sprain-per-report/>
Wells, Adam. April 28th, 2022. Bleacher Report. Report: Bucks’ Khris Middleton Set to Miss Entire Celtics Series with Knee Injury.
By: Nina Cray
Charlotte Hornets general manager, Mitch Kupchak, announced head coach James Borrego has been dismissed from his position on Monday April 22nd, 2022.
Borrego, 44, was with the Hornets for four seasons and ends his overall career with them 138-163.
There is speculation that this decision stems from Hornet losses in play-in games to end the 2021-22 season, which marks the 2nd consecutive season the Hornets have lost their first play-in game as the 10th seed.
Despite his dismissal, the Hornets staff wish him well.
“Beyond his work as a coach, he is a tremendous person. I wish him and his family the best in the future. These decisions are always difficult…” said general manager Mitch Kupchak.
They begin the search for a new head coach immediately, and both the staff and young core of Hornets players are excited for the program’s future.
Sources:
Bontempts, Tim. 2022, April 22. ESPN. “Charlotte Hornets fire coach James Borrego after four seasons.” <https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33785263/charlotte-hornets-firing-coach-james-borrego-four-seasons-sources-say>
Alexander, Jonathan. 2022, April 22. The Charlotte Observer. “Hornets fire head coach James Borrego with two years left on contract, sources say” <https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/charlotte-hornets/article260663752.html>
By: Nina Cray
As the weather starts to heat up and the NBA playoffs progress, the professional sports world starts gearing up for the next tipoff: the WNBA.
With training camps and preseason games already underway, the official tipoff for the season will be held on Friday, May 6th where eight of the WNBA’s twelve teams will see action. The remaining four teams will tipoff the following day, Saturday May 7th, 2022.
The schedule for Friday’s games will be action-packed and showcase talents from stars like former WNBA MVPs Candace Parker and Nneka Ogwumike (Chicago Sky vs. LA Sparks) and WNBA career scoring leader Diana Taurasi when they host the Aces (Phoenix Mercury vs. Las Vegas Aces).
Opening night will also feature the Seattle Storm vs. the Minnesota Lynx and the Washington Mystics vs. the Indiana Fever – who is arguably the winner of this season’s WNBA draft haul with four picks from the 1st round of candidates.
This season, each team has an expanded regular season schedule and all-time-high 36 games per team.
The 26th season follows the historic 25th season – which was the most-watched since 2008 and set record-breaking numbers for merchandise sales and social media engagement.
The teams sitting at the top of the preseason power rankings currently are the reigning WNBA champions the Chicago Sky at No. 1, Connecticut Suns at No. 2 and Seattle Storm at No. 3.
Sources:
WNBA. 2021. DEC 9. “2022 WNBA Regular Season Tips Off May 6th.”
<https://www.wnba.com/news/2022-wnba-regular-season-tips-off-may-6th/>
Galligan, Rachel. 2022, April 25. Just Women’s Sports. “WNBA 2022 PreSeason Power Rankings: Sky, Sun Early Title Favorites”
<https://justwomenssports.com/wnba-preseason-power-rankings-chicago-sky-connecticut-sun/>
By: Nina Cray
With the WNBA season approaching, fans, WNBA staff and players alike have been pondering the future and safe return of seven-time WNBA All-Star and gold medalist Brittney Griner.
The Russian Federal Customs Service has been holding Griner since February 2022 after claiming they found vape cartridges with hash oil – a marijuana concentrate – in her luggage. The current charges against Griner have a hefty penalty – up to 10 years in prison.
Griner, known as “BG” to her friends and teammates, was detained during a time of political tension surrounding events between Russia and Ukraine – a reason many WNBA were leaving the country.
Nobody misses her energy as much as her close friends, teammates and head coach Vanessa Nygaard from the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.
Sophie Cunningham, a guard for the Mercury, says it’s more than just basketball. “We just want her to be well as a human being,” she said.
Griner’s detainment also sparks a conversation about WNBA player salaries – many players go to countries like Russia during the offseason to play and earn nearly four times as much as they would have if they remained in the United States.
Griner’s detainment has recently been extended until May 19th but was visited by a U.S. Embassy Official in March who said Griner was in good condition, considering the circumstances.
Sources
Greer, Jordan. 2022, MARCH. “Brittney Griner detainment, explained: Why Russia is holding Phoenix Mercury star in custody and how WNBA has reacted.”
McCarriston, Shanna. 2022, MARCH. “Brittney Griner detained in Russia: Brianna Stewart, Angel McCoughtry break silence on situation.”
Gaydos, Ryan. 2022, APRIL. “Brittney Griner’s detention weighs heavily on teammates as season approaches: ‘We miss her like crazy.’”
<https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brittney-griner-detention-concerns-teammates>
Florida Gator expect to compete for No.2 cornerback spot
Bills GM Brandon Beane needed a cornerback wanted a cornerback and got a cornerback. “we’ll all sleep good tonight. “said Beane. John Warrow of the Associated Press asked Beane how big of a need was obtaining a cornerback. “He was sitting out there and we just really felt that he would be a great fit in our defense.” Beane replied.
Elam 6’2 190 lbs had 6 interceptions and 26 pass breakups during his 3 year career at Florida. As a Sophomore, Elam earned 1st Team All-Southeastern Conference honors and was a Jim Thorpe semifinalist. As A Freshman he was named to the Freshman All-SEC Team in 5 starts he totaled 3 interceptions but appeared in all 13 games to also pick up Academic honors.
Elam comes from a football family with NFL pedigree. His father Abram played at Notre Dame and Kent State before his 7 year NFL career . His uncle Matt was drafted in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens. “He understands that in order to get anything he wants, he has to work for it,” Abe Elam said.
This was my pick from the beginning at a need and where the Bills where selecting from, this was the best pick. Now Elam can learn from one of the best back end groups in the league with Tre’Davious White, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde and Taron Johnson.
Let’s see what Day 2 brings as the Bills pick No. 57 in the 2nd Round and No.89 in the 3rd Round.
–Muki Hawkins