Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

This was an odd draft. It had been denigrated in many quarters. Those quarters are typically the ones that talk, almost constantly, about the top five picks. Those are the franchise defining players (one way or another), but they dont represent all that much of a draft class. When there is no clear star, or even potential star, in those top five picks, and no clear pecking order in which they should be picked, its A Bad Draft.

This draft was one that might make a team glad that a rare #1 pick hadnt settled on them. But what about later picks? There seemed to be rotation pieces, and starters, throughout the draft. This comes with the usual caveats regarding how many players actually make it from the later picks. The idea being outside the first few picks, odds arent great for many players sticking around long.

Id argue that those top picks might experience something like the same attrition if they werent freighted with franchise expectations, and tied to the jobs of various GMs and coaches. In a rational world, no one gives Wiggins the big contract he got, for example.

That aside, lets move off the top shelf of this draft for now (perhaps I can work up a Lamelo Ball slander piece). Its not that I think hes bad, just that I think the Ball family should be drafted closer to 20 than 2. But this ones different, right?

Anyhow, whats the Rockets week look like?

First, the Rockets hired an assistant coach from Australia-New Zealand NBL, Will Weaver, and look to sign his favorite player, JaeSean Tate. Jeremy Brener wrote him up here. If you are like me, and dont think too much of another NBL pick (no, not R.J. Hampton) compare their reels from Australia, and consider that this is the BEST they look. (Sure one is a kid, but the other is a street FA.) Tate is clearly quicker than almost anyone around him in that league. Hes a strong, fast, solidly-built, 64. Does that remind you of anyone? Could he be PJ Tuckers platoon? Tucker used to play around the basket more, too.

Then theres the oblique second rounder, Kenyon Martin Jr. The details of how the pick came to the Rockets are confusing, and if you want to believe it was a $4.6 million second rounder, fine. But the Rockets probably got a first round talent there. Theres absolutely nothing about Martin that suggests hes not an NBA level talent. His combine measurements prompted some to comment that he was the best athlete in the draft. He can hit the corner three, too. Its a funky shot, but its almost a set shot. If it becomes one, the pump fake and baseline drive is open. Like his dad, hes a constant physical menace. We dont know a lot, but a shot at a potentially top talent in the mid second is great value.

Finally theres undrafted signing Mason Jones. Hes an older pick, but one that could be a late bloomer. Hes a James Harden impersonator. No, really. He studied how James Harden attacks the basket and forces the defender to either concede the layup, or foul. Guess what? It worked. He had the highest FT rate in the NCAA, and one of the highest true shooting percentages. Hes a guy who started playing basketball late, shed pounds, and blossomed into a genuine menace in the NCAA. The odds are worse with older NCAA players, but this is just the sort of story to look for. This is a great interview with him.

Did the Rockets, against all expectations, get a wing, a shooting guard, and a big? They might have.

Also, some gratuitous Thunder slander, while everyone is gushing about their assets. When you can trade NBA players and picks to get The Serbian Zhou Qi #17, you pretty much are obligated to do so. To be fair, though, Zhou Qi is considerably more muscular, and played at higher levels.

No, no, Im sure hes Euro Durant. He must be, the Thunder picked him.

The week is probably just beginning for the Rockets, though. The start of FA should bring more news.

Link:
Rockets additions - The Dream Shake

Jordan Nwora is a 6-foot-7, 22-year-old wing who played three seasons at Louisville.(Photo: Jeremy Brevard / USA TODAY Sports)

If nothing else, the Milwaukee Bucks' selections in Wednesday night's NBA draft illustrated just how much they value outside shooting.

Both of their picks Jordan Nwora at No. 45 and Sam Merrill at No. 60 are among the elite shooters in this year's draft class and are both older prospects who should be capable of contributing right away off the bench. As a team constantly looking for shooting and trying to chase a championship this year, these additions seem like ideal fits.

Nwora isa 6-foot-7, 22-year-old wing who played three seasons at Louisville. He averaged 18.0 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 40.2% from long range in his final season with the Cardinals en route to earning consensusthird-team All-America honors. He particularly excels as a catch-and-shoot three-pointer shooter, a situation he may find himself playing a lot in Milwaukee as the recipient of kickout passes.

RELATED:Bucks' deal for Kings' Bogdan Bogdanovic in jeopardy

RELATED:Marquette's Markus Howard not drafted, gets Nuggets G League deal

RELATED:Anthony Edwards goes No. 1 in NBA draft to Minnesota Timberwolves

RELATED:NBA draft 2020 tracker: First-round analysis for each pick

RELATED:In NBA draft day trades, 76ers deal Al Horford to OKC, add Seth Curry

Outside of college, Nwora played for Nigeria in theFIBA World Cup qualifiers in June 2018, averaging 21.7 points, 8 rebounds and 2.7 assists over three games. His father, Alexander Nwora, is the coach of the Nigerian national team.

The Bucks acquired the 45thpick hours before the draftin a deal with the Orlando Magic.

The Magic sent the Bucks pick No. 45 in Wednesday's draft in exchange for two future second-round picks. Milwaukee will send a second-round pick received from Indiana in the Malcolm Brogdon trade in either 2022, 2023 or 2024. When that pick conveys depends on picks dealt in a separate deal between Indiana and Brooklyn.

The Bucks also will send their second-round pick to the Magic in 2026 to complete Wednesday's deal.

Sam Merrill, the oldest player in the draft at 24, was chosen by New Orleans but is expected to come to the Bucks as part of a not-yet-completed deal featuring Jrue Holiday.(Photo: Orlando Ramirez / USA TODAY Sports)

Merrill isn't officially headed to Milwaukee just yet, but this year's "Mr. Irrelevant" is expected to be part of the yet-to-be-completed trade between the Bucks and New Orleans Pelicans that will send Jrue Holiday to the Bucks. Merrill is a 6-foot-5 guard out of Utah State who, like Nwora, is regarded as one of the draft's elite outside shooters.

During his four years at Utah State, Merrill shot about 42% from three-point range on a high volume of shots. He averaged 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as a senior last season while making 41.0% of his three-pointers and hitting 89.3% of his free throws.

Unlike Nwora, though, Merrill is considered to be more than just a catch-and-shoot guy. Merrill can take a shot out of virtually any action and has a quick release to get it off, even in highly-contested situations.

At age 24, Merrill was the oldest player selected on Wednesday night. He took a two-year Mormon mission to Nicaragua before starting his collegiate career.

As is the case with most rookies, there are questions about how Nwora and Merrill will perform on defense. It doesn't help that they're only about a month away the start of the NBA season. Still, their shooting should be able to translate to the next level, which is likely what the Bucks are banking on.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.

Follow this link:
Bucks grab a pair of mature shooters in the second round of the NBA draft - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

10:21 PM ET

Tim BontempsESPN

Free-agent guard Joe Harris has agreed to a four-year, $75 million deal to return to the Brooklyn Nets, his agent, Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Harris, 29, averaged a career-high 14.5 points per game last season for Brooklyn while shooting 42.4% from 3-point range. His return -- along with the additions of Landry Shamet and Bruce Brown in trades earlier this week -- should help the Nets provide spacing for stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Signing Harris represents a massive financial commitment from Nets owner Joe Tsai. Brooklyn is now well into the luxury tax and still has a few open spots on its roster.

The 6-foot-6 guard resurrected his career in Brooklyn over the past four years, going from a castoff after a season-ending injury in his second year with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015-16 to one of the league's best 3-point shooters. Among 208 players to attempt at least 400 3-pointers since the start of 2017-18, only Seth Curry has a higher 3-point field goal percentage.

Harris' development helped the Nets recover following the 2013 trade for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce that left the team without control of its first-round pick for five years.

During that time, Brooklyn relied on finding underused talent to rebuild -- players such as Harris, Spencer Dinwiddie and D'Angelo Russell, who similarly resuscitated their careers.

The Nets' player-development success helped attract the attention of Durant and Irving, who signed with Brooklyn as free agents in the 2019 offseason.

Follow this link:
Agent - Joe Harris agrees to return to Nets on 4-year, $75 million deal - ESPN

The ballot for the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2021 has been revealed and former Boston Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino is among the new additions to the list of eligible candidates.

Victorino joins a crowded ballot of 25 former players, 11 of whom are joining the ballot for the first time this year. Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America who are eligible to vote are allowed to select up to 10 candidates on their ballot.

Eight of Victorinos 12 major league seasons were spent with the Philadelphia Phillies following a brief debut with the San Diego Padres. He spent the second half of the 2012 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers before coming to Boston for parts of three seasons and then wrapping up his career with a partial season with the Los Angeles Angels.

Victorino hit .275 with a .765 OPS, 108 home runs and 231 stolen bases in his 12-year career. He was a two-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove award winner, and a key contributor on a pair of World Series championship teams.

In three seasons with the Red Sox from 2013-2015, Victorino hit .282/.339/.418 with 18 home runs and 28 steals. He was a spark plug in the lineup who energized the club and established himself as a fan-favorite.

Victorino immortalized himself as a postseason hero with his 7th-inning grand slam in Game 6 of the 2013 ALCS against the Detroit Tigers. The game-winning blast over the Green Monster at Fenway Park sent the Red Sox to the World Series where Victorino would earn the second championship ring of his career.

Injuries limited Victorino to 30 games in 2014, paving the way for Mookie Betts to make his major league debut that year and steal the starting spot in right field.

Boston traded Victorino to the Angels at the 2015 deadline, allowing the veteran to finish his career with a contender. Los Angeles ultimately fell a game short of the Wild Card but they came a lot closer than a Red Sox team that finished in the AL East basement that year.

At least one player has been elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility in each of the last seven years but there are no sure-fire first-ballot additions this year. Most of the new additions could be one-and-done if they fail to receive at least five percent of votes to remain on the ballot next year.

Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez, and Curt Schilling are the other notable former Red Sox players who are holdovers on the ballot. All three are worthy based on their production but the former two stars have had their legacies tarnished by performance-enhancing drugs while the latter has cost himself votes with his combative relationship with the media members who vote for the Hall of Fame. It will be interesting to see if any of them make any progress on this years ballot.

Victorino doesnt have a Hall of Fame resume but with an underwhelming crop of first-time eligible players combined with several holdovers who remain in limbo due to their PED-tainted past, he might garner enough attention to squeeze over the threshold for staying on the ballot.

Want your voice heard? Join the BoSox Injection team!

He was never a serious MVP candidate but Victorinos multiple All-Star appearances, Gold Glove awards and postseason heroics warrant some consideration. Those who refuse to vote for the PED guys but still prefer to fill all 10 spots on their ballot could toss Victorino a vote.

Read more from the original source:
Former Red Sox outfielder among new additions to Hall of Fame ballot - BoSox Injection

By Jim Fenton| Brockton Enterprise

There is always plenty of hope in the air on the night when the NBA Draft takes place.

Young basketball players find homes to chase their dream of having a professional basketball career, and 30 teams have new additions to their rosters.

Sometimes, those draft connections work out, but a lot of other times, they dont.

The Celtics, who went into Wednesday nights draft with three first-round choices and one more in the second round, have had mixed results over the past 10 years when it comes to the draft.

In the first round, starting with Avery Bradley being picked in 2010, the Celtics have acquired seven players who made an impact in their rotation.

The second round, however, has produced very little help from the 14 players they have taken in the past 10 years.

The Celtics have six of their first-round selections on their roster, including Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart, Robert Williams, Grant Wiliams and Romeo Langford.

Two players from the second round Semi Ojeleye and Carsen Edwards are also on the roster while Tremont Waters appeared in 11 games and spent most of the season with the Maine Red Claws.

Tatum and Brown, both drafted No. 3 overall thanks to a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, are the players the Celtics are banking their future on.

Tatum, in line to sign a lucrative extension next month, made the All-NBA third team in his third season after averaging 23.4 points.

His is becoming one of the top offensive players in the league and appeared in the NBA All-Star Game last February.

Brown, who is signed through the 2023-24 season, averaged 20.3 points and continues to get better in every aspect of his game.

Smart was taken No. 6 in the 2014 draft and has developed into one of the best defensive players in the NBA.

Robert Williams has dealt with injuries through his first two seasons and played just 29 games this past year.

The Celtics are in need of an athletic big man and Williams could fill that role, but his inconsistency has held him back.

Langford, the No. 14 pick last year after one season at Indiana, showed some promise as a rookie but was sidetrack by injuries while Grant Williams looks like hell be a solid role player after his performance as a rookie.

As for the other first-rounders acquired by the Celtics since 2010, Bradley spent seven seasons in Boston before getting traded in a salary-cap move. He is now a free agent after opting out of the resumption of the season this past summer as a member of the champion Los Angeles Lakers.

In 2011, the Celtics drafted Providence Colleges MarShon Brooks in the first round, but via a trade, actually wound up with JaJuan Johnson of Purdue as their top rookie that year. Johnson played just 36 games for the Celtics and is now with Bayern Munich in Germany.

The two first-round picks in 2012 were Jared Sullinger, who averaged 11.1 points and 7.7 rebounds in 258 games over four seasons, and Fab Melo, who played six games and died at the age of 26.

Via a trade with the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics picked up Kelly Olynyk via the draft in 2013, and he was a quality role player for four seasons and now plays for the Miami Heat. Terry Rozier was a first-round pick in 2015, and after four seasons with the Celtics, signed a contract with the Charlotte Hornets.

The same draft that produced Brown in the first round also brought the Celtics Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic at Nos. 16 and 23. Yabusele is back playing in France after doing little in 74 games with the Celtics while Zizic was part of the Kyrie Irving-Isaiah Thomas trade and is now playing in Israel.

Since 2010, the players taken by the Celtics in the second round include Luke Harangody, ETwaun Moore, Kris Joseph, Jordan Mickey, Marcus Thornton, Deytona Davis, Demetrius Jackson, Providence Colleges Ben Bentil, Abdel Nader, Ojeleye, Kadeem Allen, Jabari Bird, Edwards and Waters.

Harangody appeared in 28 games for the Celtics before being shipped to the Cleveland Cavaliers in his rookie season while Moore got into 38 games as a rookie, his only season with the Celtics. Moore is still in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Joseph, who played six games with the Celtics, wound up with the Brooklyn Nets and was sent back to Boston as part of the trade involving Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce for the draft picks that netted Tatum and Brown.

Mickey got into 41 games over two seasons with the Celtics and is now playing in the EuroLeague while Thornton went to play in Australia after being drafted and is now playing in Germany.

Davis was traded away on draft night while Jackson played five games for the Celtics and is now on a team in Lithuania.

Bentil was waived at the end of his first training camp and played three games for the Mavericks. He was on the Panathinaikos team that won the Greek championship inthe 2019-20 season.

Nader got into 48 games for the Celtics and was recently part of the Chris Paul trade, joining the Phoenix Suns after being with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ojeleye has gotten minutes the past three seasons, Edwards received little playing time as a rookie while Waters was the NBA G-League rookie of the year.

Allen is now playing in France after getting into 18 games with the Celtics. Bird played 13 games for the Celtics, but he was arrested in 2018 for domestic abuse and kidnapping of a former girl friend, and has not played since.

Go here to read the rest:
Celtics have had mixed results in draft in prior years - Seacoastonline.com

Autoplay

Show Thumbnails

Show Captions

The United Soccer League is boom and bust. Expansion and contraction. Stunning growth tempered by frequent failures.

Since Louisville City FC joined Americas second-tier professional soccer league in 2015, expansion fees for the USLs championship level have soared from $1 million to $12 million with no sign of saturation.

A league comprised of 11 teams as recently as 2012 finished its 2020 season with 35 franchises, with new additions duein both 2021 and 2022.

By any tangible metric, this is a league that is heading in a pretty incredible direction, said USL vice president Ryan Madden. I think despite our relative youth, the future of our league has never been brighter.

Yet the USLs growth has coincided with collapse. Two of the leagues championship clubs Saint Louis FC and Reno 1868 went out of business within the last month. Two other teams Philadelphia Union II and Portland Timbers 2 have withdrawn from the USL, presumably to resurface in an anticipated Major League Soccer reserve league.

Though some of the USLs shrinkage is attributable to MLS awarding St. Louis a franchise in the top tier of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, and some is surely due to financial pressures exacerbated by COVID-19, soccers boom-and-bust cycle is nothing new. Since 2015, at least 22 USL championship teams have either folded, rebranded, relocated, gone on hiatus, left the USL entirely or dropped to a lower level.

If there has been a constant, it has been churn.

Theres a long history of lower-division soccer and thats been a tumultuous history, said Connor Tobin, an active player in USL League One who also serves on the USL Players Association executive committee. It speaks to the unique challenge that we have in the United States to build out the structure.

More: Louisville City FC's Ben Lundt named 2020 USL Championship's Goalkeeper of the Year

On a macro level, Americas soccer explosion is undeniable and seemingly inexorable. In 1967, the number of people playing soccer in the U.S. was estimated at 100,000. By 2015, it was 24.4 million.

As its participation rate has rocketed, so has the size of soccers audience. The USL reported a 500% rise in viewership for its games on ESPN+ in 2020, and a 39% increase in its social media following. Over the past five years, MLS expansion fees have jumped from $70 million to $325 million.

But while successful launches such as Louisville City FC underscore the broadening appeal and financial potential of the sport, the rush to get in on the ground floor has resulted in numerous casualties.

Including Louisvilles Lynn Family Stadium, the USL has opened three soccer-specific venues since 2019, with two more expected next year. Meanwhile, Reno 1868s failure to make progress on the facilities front has been blamed for the demise of that franchise. Bethlehem Steel FCs move and rebranding as Philadelphia Union II was prompted, at least in part, by the inadequate lighting at its Lehigh University home.

Build it and they will come. Dont build it and they are likely to leave.

Earlier: Rowdies spoil party with 2-1 win over LouCity in USL Eastern Conference Final

I do think there are clubs like ours that will continue to get stronger, LouCity coach John Hackworth said. But without a facility, I dont think Louisville City survives if they dont get out of (Louisville) Slugger (Field) at some point.

To maintain its second-tier sanctioning within U.S. Soccer, the USL championship league is required to operate 75% of its franchises in markets with at least 750,000 people, with a principal owner whose net worth is at least $20 million and a stadium that seats at least 5,000 spectators.

But because 11 of the remaining USL championship-level clubs are either owned by or affiliated with MLS teams, they tend to pursue different priorities than independent investors such as those of Louisville City. Their focus is on developing young players rather than upgrading facilities and chasing championships with veteran teams. Accordingly, as their costs and franchise values rise, some of them may follow the leads of the MLS-owned Philadelphia Union II and Portland Timbers 2 and head for the exits.

To some degree, a little bit of contraction is a solution, said LouCity chairman John Neace. I dont think theyve expanded too fast, but were reaching the point where a lot more expansion would not make sense at least in the Championship league.

Also: Racing Louisville FC selects Tobin Heath and Christen Press in NWSL Expansion Draft

Here, there could be conflict. Though the USL reportedly provided more than $5 million to its franchises to help cover the costs incurred because of COVID-19, it does not distribute expansion fees directly to its franchises. Its growth strategy, as chief operating officer Justin Papadakis outlined in a recent interview with The Athletic, allows for the addition of another eight or so independent clubs before membership is capped.

I definitely think theres growth that can occur, Tobin said. One of the things we want is that whatever growth happens, its stable growth. ... Its gut-wrenching every time you see a local community lose their football club.

Boom and bust can be a vicious cycle.

Tim Sullivan: 502-582-4650, tsullivan@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @TimSullivan714.

See original here:
The pandemic isn't the only reason for the constant churn facing the USL - Courier Journal

CHAPEL HILL As if five decades in the basketball coaching business, and a notorious competitive streak that extends to the golf course and craps table havent sharpened Roy Williams creativity for dispensing motivation, theres a new tool at his disposal.

After all these years, the nine Final Fours and three NCAA championships, Williams is coming off the only losing season in his long Hall of Fame career.

And the North Carolina team hes preparing now is being reminded of that dismal 14-19 experience, just the programs second losing record since 1962, with all the subtlety of a blast furnace when the mood strikes Williams.

Oh yeah, hes pissed, for sure, senior guard Andrew Platek said. I think whenever he chews us out in practice for making a mistake, he always mentions 14-19 and how its not going to happen again, and its not. Were going to do everything in our power to make sure it doesnt happen again, and not even come close to that. Were going to get back to winning.

Thats undoubtedly the expectation this season for the 16th-ranked Tar Heels, who open Nov. 25 against College of Charleston. Its not difficult to imagine North Carolina becoming one of college basketballs most improved teams, while perhaps challenging projected frontrunners Virginia and Duke in the Atlantic Coast Conference race.

North Carolina has restocked considerably with the addition of six freshmen, a recruiting class ranked as high as No. 2 nationally, joining a group of returnees that includes starters in forwards Garrison Brooks and Armando Bacot, and swingman Leaky Black.

Then there are the flames burning off the 70-year-old Williams, whose method of moving on to a better place involves recalling unpleasant parts of the recent past.

What positives did the coach take from last seasons injury-marred struggle, during which the typically up-tempo Tar Heels starved for shooting from the perimeter and bogged down to their slowest pace on offense in his tenure? Few other than the determination to turn that frustration into fuel for this season.

Im hungry, Williams said. I did not enjoy that. Its not something that was fun. So Im hopeful that the hunger and the motivation, our players will feel it the same way.

It was not a fun year for us. It was not a normal year that North Carolina has. It was the first losing season our entire staff has ever had. Im motivated because I did not enjoy it, and I think our returning players are motivated because they didnt enjoy it, also.

North Carolina has an acknowledged leader and potentially the ACCs top commodity in the senior Brooks he was the overwhelming choice as the leagues Preseason Player of the Year to go along with a wealth of big bodies to utilize around the basket and impact additions in the backcourt.

Highly regarded freshman Caleb Love, the Tar Heels top-rated recruit among their new arrivals, figures to run the team. Hes a lead guard with 6-foot-4 size and explosiveness. Combo guard RJ Davis, a 6-foot freshman billed as a natural scorer, should contribute immediately and step in to relieve Love at point guard on occasion.

Brooks called Davis the most surprising performer of the North Carolina freshmen during the preseason, and used its not even close for emphasis.

Im impressed with all the new guys, but I like RJ the most, Brooks said. RJs been great. Hes adapted really well, been pushing the ball really well, playing how Coach Williams expects his guards to play. He can get out there and score the ball the best of anybody.

The 6-10 Brooks delivered 16.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game last season and proved even better in ACC league play. He led the conference in scoring (18.8 points per game), while ranking second in rebounding (9.0 per game) and field goal percentage (shooting 53.5 percent).

Bacot, the 6-10 sophomore, started alongside Brooks during his inconsistent first season in college (9.6 points, 8.3 rebounds per game). The freshman duo of 6-11 DayRon Sharpe and 7-1 Walker Kessler provides North Carolina an ample supply of supersized options for mixing and matching in the frontcourt.

Platek already has described Sharpe as one of the best offensive rebounding bigs Ive seen in my time here. Williams has hinted that the Tar Heels even could slide Brooks to small forward some, given his shooting touch and mobility on defense.

The big guys can get to the board and rebound the ball and defend around the rim and score, Williams said of Sharpe and Kessler.

Freshman guards Puff Johnson and Kerwin Walton might be needed to contribute their 3-point capabilities in spot duty off the bench, along with Love and Davis in their more prominent roles. The junior Black (25.4-percent shooting) and Platek (22.8-percent shooting) were unreliable from beyond the arc last season.

In the ACC, only Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech made fewer 3s than North Carolinas 5.5 per game last season. The Tar Heels generated just 22.8 percent of their scoring from 3-point territory, ranking them 330th in that department out of the 353 college basketball teams competing in Division I.

Black said we have a lot of different weapons in assessing North Carolinas backcourt depth.

We all still feel everything we felt from last year, Black said. Every loss, buzzer beater, whatever the case may be, we still feel it to this day. Even if we have a great practice, we still feel the pain. I feel like were just going to take that fire into every game and make sure we dont have a season like we did last year.

Link:
Season preview: Angry and hungry, Roy Williams readies UNC basketball for return to form - Burlington Times News

By 6 p.m. tonight, the Rockies have some tough choices to make. Its the deadline for adding Rule 5 Draft eligible players to the 40-man roster. Players who signed professional contracts at age 18 or younger must be added to the 40-man roster within five seasons after signing the contract and those who were 19 years old or older must be added within four seasons. If a player is not added to the 40-man roster, then they are free to be picked up by another organization in the Rule 5 Draft, which is scheduled for Dec. 10.

One interesting curve ball in 2020 is that teams dont have a regular season to access. With the MLB instructional league under way in Arizona right now, at least there is a little info and scouting to be done, but, like everything else in 2020, much is an unknown frontier. Without any MiLB play this year, 2019 might mean more and organizations are left with a little more guessing and hoping (but, hey, that seems like the Rockies motto!). Some teams might look more within and keep salaries low as opposed to wading into the expensive free agent market. The coming downsizing of the MiLB also casts a lingering shadow on the futures and dreams of a lot of players. Its a lot of heavy stuff.

But, back to the Rockies roster. With the most recent additions to the Colorado 40-man roster, Scott Oberg, Peter Lambert, and David Dahl, who were all activated from the 45-day injured list, along with Ian Desmond, who was placed back on the roster after opting out of the 2020 season, the Rockies roster currently stands at 38. The Rockies currently have five players in the teams top 30 prospects who will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft if they are not added to the 40-man roster. Before the deadline, it seems like a good idea to take a closer look at the five prospects the Rockies have to consider adding or risk losing.

The Rockies drafted Welker in the fourth round (110th overall) of the 2016 draft. In his three seasons, Welker proved he could hit and was working his way up from Grand Junction in 2016 (.329/.366/.490), Single-A Asheville in 2017 (.350/.401/.500), Single-A-Advanced Lancaster in 2018 (.333/.383/.489). In 2019, he continued climbing the ladder to Double-A Hartford and started with a bang, hitting .356 in the month of April. Welker then struggled, missed two months with a shoulder injury, and then also didnt stand out in the Arizona Fall League.

Entering the 2020 season, Purple Row ranked Welker as the organizations No. 3 prospect. (behind only Brendan Rodgers and Ryan Rolison and ahead of others who saw big league action in 2020 like Sam Hilliard (5), Josh Fuentes (30), Ryan Castellani (14), Ashton Goudeau (13), Tommy Doyle (16), and Antonio Santos (20). Obviously, the Rockies currently have the best third baseman in the game, so the 23-year-old Welker doesnt have anywhere to go. However, Welker started playing some first base in for the Yard Goats and in the AFL, so that could give him more value. The Rockies currently are hoping Josh Fuentes can replicate his 2020 success in a full season, or that Ryan McMahon will be the consistent hitter we all want him to be and could take over at first or split time with Fuentes. With those unknowns, as well as Nolan Arenados uncertain future with the Rockies, Welker is a good backup player to have for the corners for the Rockies. If 2020 would have been a normal 162-game season, he just might have made his debut or at least gotten a solid year of Triple-A action, but instead he spent the year at the Rockies alternate training site. MLB.coms Thomas Harding reported that Welker will be protected with a roster spot.

Just after he turned 16 years old in 2016, Olivarez inked a deal with the Rockies, who compared his potential to Ubaldo Jimnez. From 2016-2019, he spent time developing in the Dominican Summer League each year before pitching in Grand Junction in 2019. He spent the first year as a reliever, but has shifted to a starter ever since. His fastball is already 93-95 mph and hes still growing and building strength that should add speed down the road. His breaking ball and changeup are also showing promise. He still needs to work on command, but faired decently in the Pioneer League, which isnt pitcher friendly. In 11 starts over 46 2/3 innings, the 20-year-old posted a 4.82 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP, striking out nearly 12 batters per nine innings. Olivarez was also listed No. 17 in the preseason 2020 Purple Row prospects (PuRP), but Purple Rows Jeff Aberle put him at No. 13 on his personal ballot because In a system that lacks starting pitcher depth like Colorados, Olivarez represents a hope for an impact pitcher (and from the left side to boot).

Olivarez is currently at the MLB instructional leagues in Arizona for the Rockies. His upside is huge, and the Rockies need lefties. Hes still young and has yet to test his stuff or resolve above the Rookie League level. Then again, he might just be too much promising to risk.

Montano was a $2 million signing in 2015 at age 17 and he proved to be a decent hitter with a lot of promise in his three DSL seasons. The left-handed hitting and right-handed throwing Venezuelan has decent speed and plays center field well. In his first season with Grand Junction in 2018, he hit .279/.338/.433 with 15 doubles, five homers, 21 walks, and 57 strikeouts in 62 games. He moved to Single-A Asheville in 2019, but couldnt capitalize and struck out 119 times in 454 at-bats while also slashing .218/.274/.344. After being ranked No. 21 in 2017, No. 15 in 2018, No. 22 in 2019 on PuRP list, he no longer made the top 30 in 2020. Montano, who is currently on the Triple-A Albuquerque roster, might be more like a backup outfielder at this point and is not a strong candidate for 40-man roster protection.

A first-round draft pick in 2016 (fourth overall), Pint promised to be a power pitcher at 6-foot-5 and hurling 100 mph in high school. Things havent quite gone to plan for Pint. Injuries caused him to miss most of 2018 and a big part of 2019, but even when hes been able to play, hes struggled with control. Pint posted an 8.66 ERA in Single-A Asheville in 2019 and was demoted to the bullpen where things didnt get much better for the now 23-year-old. If anyone needed a MiLB 2020 season to get back on track, it was Pint.

Interestingly enough, Pint is still ranked one spot ahead of Antonio Santos, who saw six innings of action over three games for the Rockies in 2020 and left with a 16.50 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, and .483 batting average against. Pint was ranked No. 22 in our PuRP list, with Aberle laying out Pints outlook perfectly: Pints potent arsenal (which includes a 102 mph, 75 grade fastball and multiple potential plus secondary offerings including a 70 grade curveball), if harnessed and polished, is that of a big league ace. His floor, given his struggles with command and two years mostly lost to injury, is that he never pitches a game above A ball. Pint, who has a spot on the Isotopes roster at the moment, is also currently in Arizona playing in the instructional leagues. Its clear Pint hasnt proved himself ready for the 40-man roster or as a temping steal for other teams.

In the five years since the Rockies signed Moya out of Panama in 2015, the now 21-year-old lefty has put on 60 pounds and grown an inch to fill out his 6-foot-5 frame, while also adding speed to his now 96 mph fastball. Hes still working on secondary pitches and has struggled with command, which caused him to move to the bullpen where he is doing better. For three years in the DSL (2016-18) Moyas ERA ranged from 3.58 to 5.58 to 5.18 with a WHIP around 1.50. In 2019, he joined the Grand Junction Rockies. In 29 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.99 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and struck out 43. He also walked 17 batters. If he can continue to develop his arsenal, then he could be a great addition to the bullpen someday a much needed left-handed arm but he hasnt even been to Single-A yet. Like Pint, Moya is a member of the Isotopes currently. Moya also joins Pint and Olivarez in the MLB instructional league in Arizona right now.

In the 2019 Rule 5 Draft, the Rockies werent involved in the Major League phase, but did lose five prospects while adding one in the minor league phases. The Rockies lost RHP Erick Julio to the Angels and RHP Eris Filpo to the Rangers in the first round. In the second round, the Rockies added Brewers RHP Michael Petersen (who is currently on the Albuquerque Triple-A roster), but also lost PHP Enrique Saldana to the Cardinals. In the third round, the Rockies lost two more prospects, outfielder Vance Vizcaino (Cubs) and RHP Jacob Bosiokovic (Cardinals).

Lost then found: Daniel Bards seven-year detour through baseballs wilderness | The Athletic ($)

If you have a few minutes, then each and every of the over 4,000 words in this feature is worth your time. Daniel Bards story is remarkable. He never imagined hed be able to pitch in a baseball game again. He got second, third, fourth, and more chances. He felt he was broken and lost his joy in the game. But then he did it. He coached, he learned, he rediscovered his form and his joy.

2020 has been a brutal year and the Rockies struggled as well. I think we all delighted in Bards comeback and the thrill of him being on the mound again and what that meant for him, for baseball, and for the Rockies, but to truly reflect on it after the season is over in the amount of depth and detail that Nick Groke lays out in retelling the tale is special. Treat yourself to this one. If you dont subscribe to The Athletic, this might be a reason to.

Colorado Rockies: How Robinson Canos 2021 suspension will impact the Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story sweepstakes | Rox Pile

Disappointment and relief. Those were my first two thoughts when I heard that Robinson Cano had tested positive again for PEDs, resulting in being suspended for the 2021 season. Its the same stomach punch when this happens to a star, one named after Jackie Robinson and was a very exciting player to watch in years past. Then came the relief because at least the Rockies didnt sign him or trade for him (not that the Rockies make big moves like that and second base isnt the most dire position at the moment). It wasnt a Jose Reyes-like moment. The Rockies front office deserves a lot of criticism for where the Rockies are at, but at least we arent in this mess.

But then, after reading Noah Yinglings take, a new feeling emerged: horror.

This development means the Mets, who Yingling points out is a team looking to spend money, now got $24 million back. On top of that, they are looking for a second baseman. The Mets have already been rumored to be interested in Nolan Arenado (who wouldnt be?), but this is the most fear-inducing line: instead of trading for Nolan Arenado or Trevor Story, if [the Mets] wanted to, they could try to trade for Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story.

This would be soul crushing, regardless of the haul the Rockies would get in return. It seems hard to imagine that Dick Monfort would allow this type of extreme move, which would clearly sound the rebuilding alarms for an organization that doesnt believe in rebuilds. But if Jeff Bridich is calling the shots and seemingly has no consequences, its hard to completely dismiss any scenarios. I just cant let my imagination go down that dark road too much though. Yingling closes with The chance that both are traded to the Mets is very slim but the chance that the Rockies could try to trade one of them to the Mets have definitely gone up.

1 untouchable player for each club | MLB.com

For the Rockies, its Antonio Senzatela. While I certainly want him to be a Rockie for a long time, especially after his 2020 performance, this isnt the most obvious choice. Writer Will Leach says hes actually third behind Story and Arenado, but since he sees both leaving the team sometime in the next year, he went with Senzatela. Even above Germn Mrquez. Interesting.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when youre commenting. Thanks!

Here is the original post:
Colorado Rockies news: What will the Rockies do with Rule 5 Draft roster deadline? - Purple Row

Men are more straight up and down, with or without beer bellies, she said. Instead, she has sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of pandemic masks, some from leftover shirt fabric, and, more ambitiously, is prepping a new, socially distanced venture an online store called Form Tailoring by Gormley & Gamble.

Completely Covid-proof, she said.

Richard Anderson, owner of a shop that bears his name, stuck to an in-person approach to sales in the months between lockdowns. He had designed a trio of casual blazers, and one afternoon, before he had to close his doors again, he modeled them in a mirror. They were identical in cut one button, peak lapels, slightly padded shoulders and sold in wool, suede and leather. The leather version was a shade of shiny, riotous red rarely seen on anything but fire trucks or Michael Jackson.

Well put it in the window and it brings them in, he said, eyeing himself in the leather. Weve done something similar before. A peacoat in an orange billiard cloth. No one bought it in the orange, but we put in the window and people bought it in blue and green.

Set in the upscale Mayfair neighborhood in Central London, Savile Row is a three-minute walk from Regent Street, one of the busiest shopping boulevards in Europe. Somehow it still feels separate and secluded, like a private club you might miss unless someone pointed out the entrance. Its a by-appointment destination that doesnt get a lot of foot traffic. Customers range from royals to mobsters, plus plenty of financiers.

I had this one customer, young guy, whose father brought him in, Mr. Carnera said. He insisted I make an inside pocket for his joints.

Raised in southeast London, Mr. Carnera skipped college to start an apprenticeship at Anderson & Sheppard that lasted for three and a half years. During that time, he worked solely on jackets, though his duties also included sweeping the floor, making tea and enduring practical jokes, like being sent on errands to buy button holes.

Continued here:
To Survive the Pandemic, Savile Row Cuts a Bespoke Strategy - The New York Times

If you are looking for co-op games to play on your shiny new PlayStation 5, you cannot go wrong with Overcooked! All You Can Eat. This edition packages the original game, its sequel, and all of that delicious add-on content to provide us a smorgasbord of entertainment.

Weve talked about this series in the past. The first Overcooked made it onto our Best PS4 Couch Co-op Games list. Overcooked 2 landed a 8.5/10 score here at PSLS when it debuted. Today I am going to review what is new in this jam-packed edition exclusive to the PS5 and tell you why you should be adding it to your library ASAP.

Two player Versus mode had us each controlling two chefs!

Two of the biggest additions in Overcooked! All You Can Eat are the new Arcade and Assist modes. Arcade allows you to quick play from any one of the settings in the collection. We took this mode for a spin using Sushi City as our desired arena. Each game randomized which level from that arena we would be tackling. For our first game we ran a regular co-op game. These play just like they do in story mode, but at the end of each game you will have to select an arena again. Versus mode is the other option here. We were two people playing Versus, which meant our stage was split into two and we each had two chefs to control. Switching between them with the L1 and R1 buttons and timing ingredient hand-offs and serving plates was challenging as heck, but still a lot of fun.

Are you playing with younger children, grandparents, or people who may not be as quick to pick up games of this speed? Turn on Assist Mode. Assist Mode increases the amount of time you have to complete a level. And the timer wont even start until you serve your first plate! While playing the Chinese New Year DLC with this mode on it felt like the level maybe even shifted a little slower than normal.

Turn on Assist Mode when you start a new Campaign

Accessibility has become increasingly more important these days. Team17 wants to make sure everyone can enjoy Overcooked. Theres a brand new font slider that lets you shrink or enlarge font from small to large, as well as a Dyslexia Friendly Font option. I upped my font size to medium; just because I sit fairly close to my television doesnt mean I want to put any extra strain on my eyes. Its also great for those of you playing on much larger screens or using projectors.

Everything in Overcooked! All You Can Eat can be played online. Yes, that includes the originalOvercooked. Even better news? Cross platform multiplayer is scheduled to come out in 2021. I cant wait to play everything all over again with friends who are a little too far away for couch co-op adventures and havent been able to upgrade consoles just yet.

The newly implemented online mode for the original Overcooked is a tad wonky. Ive noticed that there are times where either the game is lagging or some other issue is at play which makes the chefs bounce back from the counter. It doesnt seem to affect timers at all, just the positions of our chefs. This also happened when we played Arcade Versus. Right now I cant determine if this is a bug exclusive to the first game or not. My co-op partner and I didnt experience these issues in Overcooked 2 so perhaps this is just a side effect of online being added to Overcooked.

Check Extra Trimmings to find all of the add-on levels

Couch co-op is still the very best way to experience this zany, fast-paced restaurant game. The updated graphics are as sharp as a santoku if youre playing on a 4K television. Another huge bonus is trophy pop-ups have shifted to the upper right side of the screen. No more blocking the orders in the middle of the lunch rush! This is the co-op game to get alongside your PS5 if you love playing games with friends and family. So fire up those ovens and get chopping.

Overcooked All You Can Eat review code provided by publisher. Version 1.001 reviewed on PlayStation 5. For more information on scoring please see our Review Policy.

More:
Overcooked! All You Can Eat Review A Second Helping (PS5) - PlayStation LifeStyle