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Archives for June 26, 2017

MLB Game Scout: Twins at Sox

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Minnesota at Boston
When: 7:10 PM ET, Monday, June 26, 2017
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts
Preview for Digital Sports Desk by Gracenote

BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox have had multiple opportunities to move up in the standings over the last two weeks but seem to be stuck in neutral. The Red Sox will try to pull out of a brief slide and turn the momentum back in a positive direction when they host the surging Minnesota Twins in the opener of a four-game series on Monday.

Boston Red Sox v Philadelphia Phillies

Starting pitcher Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 15, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

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Boston dropped six of its last 10 games, including two of three to the Los Angeles Angels to begin the seven-game homestand, and remains in a virtual first-place tie with the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Red Sox managed a total of five runs in losses on Saturday and Sunday, going a combined 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position while leaving 11 men on base. The Twins went through their own funk recently that put their position atop the AL Central in jeopardy but pulled out of it with wins in five of six, including a three-game sweep at Cleveland over the weekend in which they outscored the rival Indians 13-2 to retake first place. Minnesota will try to keep the stellar pitching performances coming behind Jose Berrios on Monday while Boston counters with ace Chris Sale.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSN North (Minnesota), NESN (Boston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jose Berrios (7-1, 2.67 ERA) vs. Red Sox LH Chris Sale (9-3, 2.85)

Berrios is establishing himself as one of the best young starters in the AL and is enjoying a streak of four straight wins. The 23-year-old went eight innings in each of his last two starts while allowing a total of four runs and striking out 14 with two walks. Berrios is making his first career start against the Red Sox and is 4-0 with a 2.84 ERA in four road starts.

Sale leads the majors with 146 strikeouts and punched out 10 over 8 1/3 innings in a win at Kansas City on Tuesday. The Florida native has issued just 19 walks in 107 1/3 innings but surrendered a pair of home runs against the Royals to snap a stretch of three straight outings without a long ball. Sale struck out 10 in six innings and got plenty of support in a win at Minnesota on May 7 that ended up a 17-6 final in favor of Boston.

WALK-OFFS

1. Red Sox LHP David Price has a cracked fingernail on his pitching hand but is expected to make his next start.

2. Minnesota 1B Joe Mauer is 7-for-14 over the last four games.

3. Boston RF Mookie Betts is 3-for-24 over his last six contests.

NBA Awards: All-Rookie Team

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NEW YORK – (Staff report from Official News Release) – Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon and Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric have been unanimously selected to the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie First Team, the NBA announced today.  Both players received all 100 First Team votes from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Milwaukee Bucks v Boston Celtics

NBA All-Rookie team member Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks drives against Isaiah Thomas #4 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden on March 29, 2017 in Boston, (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

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Joining Brogdon and Saric on the First Team are 76ers center Joel Embiid (171 points, 82 First Team votes), Sacramento Kings guard Buddy Hield (154 points, 63 First Team votes) and New York Knicks center Willy Hernangomez (128 points, 44 First Team votes).

Brogdon, Saric and Embiid are the three finalists for the 2016-17 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Award.  The winner will be announced tonight during the inaugural NBA Awards, which will be televised live by TNT at 9 p.m. ET.

This season marks the first time since the annual honor was first presented 54 years ago that the NBA All-Rookie First Team includes four international players: Saric (Croatia), Embiid (Cameroon), Hield (Bahamas) and Hernangomez (Spain).  The previous record was three international players on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

The NBA All-Rookie Second Team consists of Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (123 points, 34 First Team votes), Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (106 points, 24 First Team votes), Phoenix Suns forward Marquese Chriss (91 points, 20 First Team votes), Los Angeles Lakers forward Brandon Ingram (83 points, 11 First Team votes) and Dallas Mavericks guard Yogi Ferrell (63 points, 7 First Team votes).

The voting panel was asked to select five players for the First Team and five players for the Second Team at any position.  Two points were awarded for First Team votes and one point for Second Team votes.

Brogdon led rookies in assists (4.2 apg) and steals (1.12 spg) and ranked second in three-point field goal percentage (40.4) and free throw percentage (86.5).  He was also third in field goal percentage (45.7) and fourth in scoring (10.2 ppg).  A second-round pick (36th overall) in NBA Draft 2016 presented by State Farm, Brogdon became the first Bucks rookie ever to record a regular-season triple-double when he posted 15 points and career highs of 12 assists and 11 rebounds against the Chicago Bulls on Dec. 31, 2016.

Represented by Saric and Embiid, the 76ers are the first team with multiple players on the NBA All-Rookie First Team since 2008.  Saric was the second-leading scorer (12.8 ppg) and third-leading rebounder (6.3 rpg) among rookies, raising his averages to 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds over the last 30 of his 81 games.  Embiid averaged rookie bests of 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.45 blocks in 31 games.

Hield paced rookies in three-pointers made (148), ranked third in scoring (10.6 ppg) and finished fourth in three-point field goal percentage (39.1).  In 25 games with Sacramento after being acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Pelicans on Feb. 20, Hield averaged 15.1 points and 4.1 rebounds and shot 48.0 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Hernangomez topped first-year players in field goal percentage (52.9) and double-doubles (11) to go with 8.2 points and 7.0 rebounds (second among rookies).  After Embiid won the first three Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month awards of the season and Saric was honored with the next two, Hernangomez earned the accolade in April behind averages of 12.5 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Below are the voting totals for the 2016-17 NBA All-Rookie Teams:

Other players receiving votes, with point totals (first-place votes in parentheses): Rodney McGruder, Miami, 61 (7); Caris LeVert, Brooklyn, 36 (2); Domantas Sabonis, Oklahoma City, 19 (4); Tyler Ulis, Phoenix, 10 (1); Patrick McCaw, Golden State, 8; Skal Labissiere, Sacramento, 7 (1); Kris Dunn, Minnesota, 5; Juancho Hernangomez, Denver, 5; Taurean Prince, Atlanta, 5; Isaiah Whitehead, Brooklyn, 5; Alex Abrines, Oklahoma City, 4; Davis Bertans, San Antonio, 3; Dejounte Murray, San Antonio, 3; Thon Maker, Milwaukee, 3; Andrew Harrison, Memphis, 2; Fred VanVleet, Toronto, 1; Dragan Bender, Phoenix, 1; DeAndre’ Bembry, Atlanta, 1; Jakob Poeltl, Toronto, 1; Malcolm Delaney, Atlanta, 1.

NBA Awards: All-Defensive Team

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NEW YORK – (Staff report from Official News Release) – Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard – the three finalists for the 2016-17 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award – lead the 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced .

2017 NBA Finals - Game Five

Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors reacts late in the game in his teams 129-120 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 2017 NBA Finals at ORACLE Arena on June 12, 2017 in Oakland, California.  (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

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Green (198 points, 99 First Team votes), Gobert (196 points, 97 First Team votes) and Leonard (192 points, 93 First Team votes) were overwhelming choices for the First Team, as selected by a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters.

The three players are vying for the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, with the winner announced tonight during the inaugural NBA Awards live on TNT (9 p.m. ET). Leonard earned the honor in each of the last two seasons, while Green finished second both times.

The 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive First Team also features guards Chris Paul of the LA Clippers (140 points, 61 First Team votes) and Patrick Beverley of the Houston Rockets (110 points, 38 First Team votes). Paul was named to the First Team for the sixth consecutive season and the seventh time overall. Beverley, a 2013-14 NBA All-Defensive Second Team choice, was selected to the First Team for the first time.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of guards Tony Allen of the Memphis Grizzlies (80 points, 17 First Team votes) and Danny Green of the Spurs (68 points, 21 First Team votes), center Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans (58 points) and forwards Andre Roberson of the Oklahoma City Thunder (53 points, 3 First Team votes) and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks (35 points, 7 First Team votes).

Players were awarded two points for each First Team vote and one point for each Second Team vote. Voters were asked to select two guards, two forwards and one center for each team, choosing players at the position they play regularly. Players who received votes at multiple positions were slotted at the position where they received the most votes.

Green, who led the NBA in steals (2.03 spg) and became the first player in Warriors history to record at least 150 steals and 100 blocked shots in a season, made the NBA All-Defensive First Team for the third season in a row. Leonard was also selected to the First Team for the third straight year, while Gobert earned his first nod after leading the NBA in blocks (2.64 bpg). Behind their respective Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year finalists, San Antonio (first), Golden State (second) and Utah (third) posted the NBA’s three best defensive ratings during the regular season.

Below are the voting results for the 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive Teams:
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in parentheses): Avery Bradley, Boston, 46 (12); Klay Thompson, Golden State, 45 (16); John Wall, Washington, 38 (14); DeAndre Jordan, LA Clippers, 35 (1); Paul Millsap, Atlanta, 35; Hassan Whiteside, Miami, 25 (1); Marcus Smart, Boston, 21 (5); Jimmy Butler, Chicago, 18; LeBron James, Cleveland, 12 (1); Robert Covington, Philadelphia, 11 (2); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 10 (5); Paul George, Indiana, 7; Kevin Durant, Golden State, 6; Dwight Howard, Atlanta, 6 (1); Mike Conley, Memphis, 5 (1); Jae Crowder, Boston, 5; Jrue Holiday, New Orleans, 5; Wesley Matthews, Dallas, 4 (2); Stephen Curry, Golden State, 3; Andre Iguodala, Golden State, 3 (1); Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Charlotte, 3; Ricky Rubio, Minnesota, 3; P.J. Tucker, Toronto, 3; Trevor Ariza, Houston, 2; Nicolas Batum, Charlotte, 2; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 2; Eric Gordon, Houston, 2 (1); Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota, 2 (1); Steven Adams, Oklahoma City, 1; LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio, 1; Al-Farouq Aminu, Portland, 1; Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Detroit, 1; George Hill, Utah, 1; Serge Ibaka, Toronto, 1; Damian Lillard, Portland, 1; Luc Mbah a Moute, LA Clippers, 1; Austin Rivers, LA Clippers, 1; Isaiah Thomas, Boston, 1; Cody Zeller, Charlotte, 1.

Sports Biz: ReKTGlobal Expands eSports Ops with New Ventures

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NEW YORK –  (Staff Report from Official News release) – ReKTGlobal, a fast-growing business authority in esports and competitive gaming, announced an expansion of its business with the official launch of three new ventures; ReKTVenues, ReKTLive and ReKTMedia.

eSports World Convention (ESWC) : Day One At Porte De Versailles In Paris

PARIS, FRANCE: E-Sports player competes a video game at the eSports World Convention (ESWC) in Paris, France (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images).

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These new ventures are designed to help bridge the gap between the multi-billion-dollar business of traditional sports and the burgeoning new biz of esports and competitive gaming. The new extensions will meet the growing demand of existing businesses in professional sports and entertainment, from teams and venues to brands and media companies, looking to expand and attract millennials and gamers. They will help companies interested in creating authentic media content for esports fans, and festival and convention producers who want to bring unique esports experiences to their events.

ReKTGlobal was launched in September, 2016 and less than a year later, its new additions of ReKTVenues, ReKTLive and ReKTMedia will strive to bring esports to its full potential and build on the company’s existing brands including esports careers platform ReKTJobs, consultancy ReKTAgency and collegiate esports connector ReKTUniversity.

“My vision is that every city will have an esports venue and every professional sports team will have an esports strategy,” said founder Amish Shah.

“ReKTGlobal has the solutions to help them navigate through the ecosystem,” continued Shah, an early investor in the esports space with Gameco, the “First Video Game Slot Machine,” professional esports Team EnVyUs and Drone Racing League before finding the sweet spot of esports infrastructure building with ReKTGlobal.

“We view ReKTGlobal as a Rising Tide to Lift all Ships; an infrastructure business in support of the esports and broader gaming marketplaces,” said co-founder and CEO David Bialek. “ReKTGlobal will make it easy for anyone to enjoy, participate or work in esports anytime and anywhere.”

The parent company’s new corporate website, www.rektglobal.com, provides a hub for esports solutions from corporate consultation and creative services, to community-based events, content and programs for professional sports and mixed purpose venues, as well as job placement and university scholarship matching.

The ReKTGlobal executive team includes founder, Shah, also a founding partner of venture capital firm SierraMaya360, who was joined in 2017 by co-founders Bialek, a 25-year sports marketing veteran and Sports Business Journal 40 Under 40 recipient; Christopher J. Steele and Christopher Golden of Sterling Select, a venture development and investment platform affiliated with Sterling Equities; and Counsel Charles Baker, a top sports, media and entertainment attorney.

“We at Sterling Select, considered partnering with Amish in his investment in Team EnVyUs in early 2016 but ultimately decided it was too nascent and unchartered at the time,” said managing partner Christopher J. Steele. “However, when Amish came to me and shared his vision for ReKTGlobal and esports infrastructure, I determined that it was a better fit for the Select platform. Given the estimates of the growth of the industry, Select’s sees ReKTGlobal as being in the right space, at the right time with the right team, which we are excited to be an integral part of as co-founders.”

“Esports is one of the fast-growing parts of our industry,” said Baker. “I am excited to be part of a group that knows how to develop esports correctly and for the long-term benefit of the players and fans.”

Sterling Equities in in ownership of the New York Mets baseball club.

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