Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Edmonton and Toronto hosting NHL Stanley Cup; Wild’s Dumba takes a knee during anthem; plus more

Wild defenseman Matt Dumba, appearing on behalf of the NHL and the Hockey Diversity Alliance, took a knee during the U.S. national anthem before Saturday’s game between the Oilers and Blackhawks. Fellow Black players Malcolm Subban JASON FRANSON • THE CANADIAN PRESS VIA AP

On Headline Sports podcast with Daniel:

1 NHL Stanley Cup tournament is underway in Edmonton and Toronto; Wild’s Matt Dumba kneels during anthem after giving anti-racism speech

2 Increasing Covid-19 concerns for MLB

3 NBA: Thunder players all kneel during the anthem despite threat from Oklahoma lawmaker

4 Clippers sink 25 3-pointers against Pelicans

5 NCAA: Pac-12 unveils 12-game football schedule, Big-10 can’t begin fall football activities until conference deems it safe

6 NFL: Lions reportedly place Matthew Stafford on COVID-19 reserve list; Jets LB C.J. Mosley opts out of 2020 season

Join Daniel for Headline Sports each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Kings hoping to rebound against Magic Sunday night; Took tough loss on Friday

Richaun Holmes of the Sacramento Kings shown here against the Denver Nuggets earlier in the season, played 18 minutes of scrimmage against the Los Angeles Clippers this week  is looking for some minutes against the Orlando Magic Sunday night in Orlando in the second of eight regular season games (sactownroyalty.com file photo)

On the Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The restart season tips off tonight in the bubble at ESPN Wide World of Sports Arena in Orlando at 5pm Pacific on Sunday with the Sacramento Kings back in action to face the Orlando Magic.

#2 The Kings are well rested are favored to win this contest talk about some of the key players who will be participating in these last final eight games, De’Aaron Fox leads the team in points per game with 20, Nemanja Bjelica rebounds with 6.4, Fox also led the team in assists and steal and Bjelica led with blocks.

#3 What makes the oddsmakers like the Kings in this one was it the way the Kings finished before the shutdown or who they have on their roster and how head coach Luke Walton has been able to have success with the ball distribution and set the defense.

#4 One of the important community projects that is very important to the Kings during Black Lives Matters is the Kings All Star Dream Award as Kings Chief Operating Officer Martina Kolokotronis said that has “tremendous impact on our community fighting for increased access to education and resources, equity and social justice,” honoring young people and families in the Sacramento community.

#5 Jeremiah some are asking if the Kings Richaun Holmes will be getting some minutes he got 18 minutes in scrimmage against the Los Angeles Clippers do you see him getting maybe 25 minutes plus on Sunday night? He is coming off a ten day quarantine in his hotel room after leaving the bubble during the team’s stay in Orlando earlier.

Join Jeremiah every other Saturday for Kings basketball and other great podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Sacramento Kings game wrap: Kings get their bubble burst in re-start season opener 129-120

(@NBCSKings photo) The Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox (5) who lays one in had 29 points for Friday night but it wasn’t enough as the San Antonio Spurs took the first game of the eight game re-start season at ESPN World Wide of Sports Arena in Orlando

By Barbara Mason

As the NBA at long last opened their 2019-2020 season we saw something that is making history and we are all here to witness it. Against all odds there is a change brewing across this nation and across the world. Watching entire teams, coaches, trainers all kneeling during the national anthem is a sight that few of us will ever forget.

The fight for equality is alive and we are all causing “good trouble” to quote the late Congressman, activist and American hero John Lewis. This is such a powerful image as each of these teams open their seasons and it will continue to impact throughout the regular season and into the playoffs.

The Sacramento Kings took on the San Antonio Spurs in a must win game. Every game is crucial for the Kings as they vie for the eighth playoff spot. The only lead that the Kings had in the first quarter was a three point lead while the Spurs at one time held a 16 point lead. At the end of the first quarter San Antonio led 43-30. The Kings De’Aaron Fox led the scoring in the opening quarter with 11 points.

The Kings would pull closer in the second quarter. Fox had remained silent and at 8:26 into the quarter the Kings trailed by seven points 49-42. Harrison Barnes had seven points through 1 1/2 quarters. The bench had turned in ten points as the Kings continued to nip at the heels of the Spurs pulling closer as the quarter wore on.

Fox would finish the first half with an impressive 20 points. The Kings had taken the slimmest of leads 65-64 erasing the 13 point deficit in the first quarter. Both teams had two players in double digits in the first half; Fox and Nemanja Bjelica for the Kings and Derrick White and Dejounte Murray for the Spurs. A nice performance off the bench for 11 points was the Spurs small forward Rudy Gay. The Kings would have every opportunity to extend their lead going into the third quarter.

The third quarter could not have been closer. Both teams would trade leads by a single point in the final minutes of the quarter. The Spurs had pulled ahead as the teams headed into the fourth quarter leading 96-92. Fox finished the quarter with 30 points with four Kings in double digits and Bazemore leading with seven rebounds. The Spurs had five players in double digits and impressive defense.

The fourth quarter was another tug of war much like the third. In the later minutes of this game the two teams were tied much of the time. With under four minutes left in the game the two teams were tied at 112.

The final score was 129-120 with the Kings falling to the Spurs. Despite Fox having a 39 point game the Kings were unable to get past the San Antonio. With the Grizzlies losing to Portland, Sacramento had a great opportunity to make up some ground but it just wasn’t to be. In an eight game season losing is not an option. Sunday the Kings will take on the Magic: tipoff at 3:00 pm.

Headline Sports podcast with Barbara Mason: NBA reporting no new cases of Covid; NFL reports 70 new cases will it put a doubt on the season?

The NBA and WNBA are both playing in the bubble at the ESPN Walt Disney Sports Complex in Orlando. The NBA has reported no cases of Coronavirus as the regular season restarts on Fri Jul 31st (Los Angeles Times file photo)

On Headline pod with Barbara:

#1 Barbara you had just gone over some of the statistics regarding Covid-19 cases in the NBA and there have been zero cases and it’s got to give the players and employees at the ESPN Walt Disney World Sports Arena a piece of mind.

#2 As for the NFL where there is no planned bubble there have been a reported 72 cases of Covid and talk of cutting pre season to just zero games down from the original four pre season games.

#3 The Oakland A’s played host to the San Francisco Giants at an empty Oakland Coliseum even though it’s a pre season game how much does it mean to Bay Area fans to have the games getting underway as of Monday.

#4 Talk about the regular season games that will be getting started for the Giants as they head to Los Angeles after tonight’s pre season match up against the A’s at Oracle Park.

#5 The A’s host the Los Angles Angels in the first of four games which opens up the regular season on Friday night at Oakland Coliseum. The Angels always loaded with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. Trout had doubts that he would play this season where is he on the 2020 regular season right now?

Barbara Mason does Headline Sports each Tuesday night at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Walton expects Fox to recover from ankle injury by Jul 31 restart date

The Sacramento Kings De’Aaron Fox (5) says he’s ready and anxious to get back in the line up on July 31st at the Walt Disney World bubble. Fox has suffered two ankle injuries this season (sactownroyalty.com file photo)

Headline Sports podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 Jeremiah the Sacramento Kings restart the season on Friday July 31st at the Walt Disney World bubble in Orlando that’s almost two weeks of recovery for De’Aaron Fox who is suffering a mild to moderate ankle injury.

#2 It’s bad enough as the Kings now have four players sidelined with Coronavirus issues with Harrison Barnes being the latest King to contract the disease. None of the four Kings players are suffering symptoms and are waiting to test negative before returning back. The Kings Alex Len who had C-9 has been cleared to come back and should be in the line up for the game on the 31st.

#3 How creative does head coach Luke Walton have to be now with his line up with players out Corona and De’Aaron out with the ankle?

#4 Fox you may recall missed 17 games before the shutdown with a grade 3 sprain. The sprain caused a complete detachment of the ligament requiring 10-12 weeks on the injury list.

#5 After much time off Fox has to be anxious to get back in the line up after the two ankle injuries will he be up to the task to help the team out in this last eight game stretch?

Join Charlie O every other Saturday for the Kings podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary podcast: Sports under Siege?

TNT’s Charles Barkley says that the whole conversation of “social injustices have become a circus” (NBC Sports file photo)

Sports under Siege?

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

In this unusual year of 2020 for weeks, the news/tease was that the Washington Redskins were about to change their logo/name of Redskins. While that has not happened yet, the biggest news from the Washington franchise was not their logo, but 15 ex-women employees claiming sexual harassment.

The NFL never seems to run out of scandals, a lot of them with absolutely nothing to do with play on the field. All kinds of surveys have shown that the NFL fans are not looking forward to more political demonstrations, but that seems to be inevitable. It would be interesting to see fan reaction and television audiences (if they ever play this year), the jury still out, but the NFL, as I said before seems to be making more news outside the field than on the field; and that is obviously not good. There is one thing for sure for fans, Roger Goodell is the most hated Commissioner in Sports.

MLB: The season is on schedule to begin their shortened version next Thursday July 23, when the Yankees face the Nationals on a nationally televised game on FOX and the Giants at LA Dodgers. The Oakland A’s open the 24th at home against the Los Angeles Angels. Every day players show they are positive for corona virus and earlier this week eleven (11) umpires opted out of the season, for personal reasons. With one week left until the start of the season, MVP Mike Trout has not made a decision if he is going to play or opt out.

But there is nothing normal about this baseball season. Yasiel Puig was to sign with the Braves but it never happened because it was contingent with his testing negative on a Covid-19 test, he tested positive. Yasiel, still a Free Agent. For baseball 2020 is as weird as ever, and I will not be surprised if there is more to come, because surprises now are expected.

All teams will play in empty stadiums. Some teams will pipe crowd noise into the park, traveling is limited to inter-divisional in each league as well against the opposite league. The players and owners through their negotiators ‘struck out’ of a deal to begin the season as scheduled back in March. MLB recently released their schedule for the 2021 season, maybe in a ‘spin’ to make everything look normal. But there is nothing normal about this season.

NBA: Is to reopen on July 30th, after a hiatus on March 11 because of the pandemic. A total of 22 teams returning to play. The league will allow players to wear jerseys with social justice messages, in collaboration with Nike the league apparel sponsor. Not everybody agrees with this. Hall of Fame player Charles Barkley said (quote) “racial injustice issues are turning into a circus.” About the legitimacy of a shortened season, Barkley added” “if everybody is healthy that is fine, but if everybody is sick with the virus and the Sacramento Kings or the New York Knicks win the championship, you know damn right it is tainted”.

The teams will play in Orlando, Florida at Disney World. The Golden State Warriors did not make it this season.

NHL. They plan to return to the ice with 24 teams competing for the Stanley Cup. Beginning with the best of five series, round robin games in two hub cities on August 1. The San José Sharks did not make this season. It seems that among all the four top pro-leagues in the country the NHL has been the most “quiet” during these turbulent times.

MLS: Already began their season.They are scoring goals. The San Jose Earthquakes have not lost a game yet they are 1-0-1 after their latest victory last Wednesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-3. They now face the Chicago Fire in the bubble at Disney World on Sunday.

Stay well and stay tuned.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for the Oakland A’s on 1010 KIQI San Francisco and at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Headline Sports podcast with Tony Renteria: Barnes fourth Kings player with Corona; Kings Fox out 7-10 days after injuring ankle in practice

Sacramento Kings forward Harrison Barnes said he tested positive for Covid-19 before the team headed to Orlando, and now is following protocol. Photo: AP

Tony on Headlines podcast:

#1 The Sacramento Kings assistant coach Roy Rana says he’s comfortable being at the bubble in Orlando he said upon arrival that everything has gone smooth and he’s things aren’t bad at all. Florida is leading three other countries in the world in Coronvirus cases.

#2 Rana was asked that about safety at the bubble and said there was some semblance of anxiety but after a while the players, coaches, Kings employees settled down and are ready to get down to business.

#3 The Kings might get a new life in these last six regular season games which starts out against the San Antonio Spurs Fri Jul 30th. The Kings started the season with injuries to their key players D’Aaron Fox and Marvin Bagley but hope to get a shot at the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference.

#4 The Kings reported on Wednesday that they have a fourth player Harrison Barnes who has come down with Coronavirus. Barnes tweeted that he’s quarantined and is abiding by the NBA’s shelter in place protocol in the Sacramento. Buddy Hield, Alex Len and Jabari Parker are the other Kings players who have tested positive.

#5 Kings head coach Luke Walton said that it’s been a tough four months off but the team is looking forward to getting on the floor and making things happen. Walton said he’s preparing the team and some critics say this might very well be the Kings best chance to get into the playoffs when other teams might be rusty coming back.

Join Tony for Headline Sports every other Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Jessica Kwong: NBA players to wear social justice jerseys; Harden and Westbrook strong tandum for Houston; plus more

Lonzo Ball of the New Orleans Pelicans plans to wear “Equality” or “Black Lives Matter” on his jersey for social justice message when NBA players return for practices and games (sports.yahoo.com file photo)

On Headline Sports with Jessica Kwong:

#1 NBA players will be wearing bubble jerseys with their selected social justice message on it which includes the Utah Jazz’ Rudy Gobert and the Portland Trailblazers CJ McCollum and seven more players.

#2 The messages are expected to replace the last names of the jersey in a movement that has grown stronger each day since the murder of George Floyd that sparked the social justice movement.

#3 James Harden of the Houston Rockets had to be happy when the Rockets acquired Russell Westbrook that helped compliment the team and Harden and Westbrook could launch the team once the playoffs start.

#4 The Brooklyn Nets have two players who have tested positive for Coronvirus Taurean Prince and Spencer Dinwiddie. The Nets have four open roster spots as they head to Orlando for the bubble.

#5 The New York Knicks have expressed interest in the Phoenix Suns Devin Booker. The hang up is Booker’s long contract agreement with the Suns at $158 million dollars and four years left thats a long time left on his contract and the Knicks may not want to be on the hook for that amount. They do like Booker’s stats at 22.3 points career and 20 points game average in his second year in the NBA.

Join Jessica every other Thursday for Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Sacramento Kings beat report: Lawsuit filed against officers for putting knee on trespasser at Golden One Ctr killing him

Golden One Center home of the Sacramento Kings; security camera still: Video from cameras at Golden One Center in Sacramento show Mario Matthews pinned to the floor by six police and security officers on the morning of July 2, 2019. One of the security officers put a knee on Matthews killing him which triggered a lawsuit by the Matthews family

By Charlie O

SACRAMENTO–Three Sacramento Police officers and three security guards at Golden One Center home of the Sacramento Kings pinned down a man who entered into the arena around 3 AM on the morning of July 2, 2019 in a lawsuit saying that the six officers unreasonably restrained Mario Matthews and killed him.

Matthews entered a propped door and actually got onto the floor of Golden One and started dancing and moving erratically and had to be escorted out to a hallway area where officers restrained and detained Matthews. It was at that point where Matthews was slammed to the floor in the Golden One hallway where one of the private guards put a knee on Matthews cutting off his breathing.

Matthews family filed a lawsuit saying that while during the restraint the guard put his knee on Matthews and were using unnecessary forced and he became unresponsive. Matthews was rushed to the hospital where he never regained consciousness. The amount of the lawsuit was not disclosed and what law firm is representing the Matthews family.

The lawsuit stated the Matthews family is holding the security officers and their company responsible, Golden One Center, Sacramento Police and the City of Sacramento. The lawsuit goes onto say Matthews, “needlessly died because he was unreasonably restrained by the combined efforts of three private security guards and three Sacramento Police Department officers.”

The Sacramento City Attorney’s office said they have received the lawsuit and are looking into the matter. The entire detainment of Matthews from handcuffing to his handling to putting a knee on his neck was video taped by in house security cameras at Golden One Center.

Charlie O is a beat writer for Sacramento Kings basketball and does Headline Sports at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Headline Sports podcast with Daniel Dullum: Redskins and Indians will eventually have to change the names; Push to get Landis name off MVP Award by players; plus more

mlb image: The American League Kenesaw Mountain Landis Award, some players have requested that the Landis name be removed from the award because Landis refused to integrate MLB

Daniel on Headlines pod:

1 What’s in a name? Redskins and Indians feeling pressure to rebrand themselves

2 Past MLB MVPs would like to see Kenesaw Mountain Landis’s name removed from the award

3 Dodgers pitcher David Price won’t play this season because of coronavirus; he’s not alone

4 Covid-19 issues in the NBA, Heat and Clippers shut down practice facility, Lakers and Pelicans assistants skipping NBA restart

5 RIP Gay Culverhouse, advocate for retired NFL players dealing with CTE

6 Multiple players on the St Louis Blues have tested positive for Coronavirus and practice on Friday was canceled. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the Blues had taken all the safety steps necessary.

Daniel Dullum does Headlines Sports podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com