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Many people still can’t fathom how a “nobody” can become one of the most popular and respected athletes in the majors but Noah Seth Syndergaard did just that. Syndergaard, also known as, “Thor,” is an American professional baseball player who is a starting pitcher for the New York Mets. And he already became an All-Star in just his second year with the Mets in 2016. He also has 440 MLB strikeouts since joining with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015.

Noah Syndergaard Net Worth 2018: $1 million

Since Syndergaard returned to the pitching rotation, he signed a one-year deal (’18-’19 season) with the New York Mets for $2.98 million.

Early Years

He was born in Mansfield, Texas on August 29, 1992. Syndergaard attended Mansfield Legacy High School and during his junior year, he hit a growth spurt. But Syndergaard’s aspirations went even beyond baseball, to playing basketball. After high school, he began his college baseball career at Dallas Baptist University, the only university to offer him a college-based scholarship to play baseball. If there is something that Syndergaard throws, like no other pitcher, it’s his perceived velocity that poses a physical threat to the batter.

2010-2014

Syndergaard’s professional career began in 2010 with the Toronto Blue Jays, as he was the 38th athlete to be selected in the 2010 MLB draft. Upon joining the team, he received a $600,000 signing bonus.

In 2011, “Thor” made his minor-league debut on the mound for the Bluefield Blue Jays of the Rookie-level Appalachian League. He pitched alongside prospects Justin Nicolino and Aaron Sanchez, who were also top-notch players.

In 2012, Syndergaard was traded to the New York Mets and was ranked as the team’s third-best prospect in his first season with the organization. Ahead of Syndergaard in the rankings were Travis d’Arnaud and Zack Wheeler.

In 2013, it was a big year for him. He began the season with the St. Lucie Mets of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League and was later named an FSL All-Star. After that, he was promoted to the Binghamton Mets of the Class AA Eastern League in late June before playing in the 2013 All-Star Futures Game.

In 2014, his last year in the minors, Syndergaard pitched for the Las Vegas 51s of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, where he led the league in strikeouts (145).

2015-2018

In 2015, Syndergaard’s dreams to one day become an MLB pitcher came true. On May 12, he made his start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field but struggled to pick up the win. However, he earned his first strikeout in just the first inning. Two weeks later, he hit his first solo home-run of his career against the Philadelphia Phillies. As the season ended, Syndergaard was given his golden opportunity to not only pitch in the playoffs but in the World Series against the Kansas City Royals in Game 3, earning the victory.

In 2016, he went down in the history books with the New York Mets. He became the first Mets pitcher to homer twice in a game since Walt Terrell did on August 6, 1983. That year, he was also named the National League Player of the Week for the second time in his career.

In 2017, Syndergaard made his first Opening Day start for the Mets. However, April 30, was his last day pitching due to a torn lat muscle in his right arm, and wouldn’t take the mound again till September 23 against the Washington Nationals.

In 2018, he once again started for the Mets. He is off to an amazing start (2-0), with 22 strikeouts, and only four walks in the three games he started.

Noah Syndergaard Hazing The Phillie Phanatic Is A+ Entertainment

Youtube.com/Warner Bros.

I have never met someone who didn’t love The Rock. He’s a positive role model and family man with an Instagram feed full of motivation, but he’s had some ups and downs when it comes to the box office. The Rock currently has thirteen projects in the works and Rampage is set to hit theaters this Friday, April 13, 2018. There is no quit in this dude.

Let’s check out the lifetime gross of the top 10 Dwayne Johnson flicks!

#1: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Youtube.com/Sony

Gross: $403,680,925

This timely reboot became the highest grossing film from Sony, even beating out the Spider-man trilogy. According to Sony:

Four high school kids discover an old video game console and are drawn into the game’s jungle setting, literally becoming the adult avatars they chose. What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji – you must survive it. To beat the game and return to the real world, they’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, discover what Alan Parrish left 20 years ago, and change the way they think about themselves – or they’ll be stuck in the game forever.

#2: Furious 7

Youtube.com/Fast & Furious

Gross: $353,007,020

An emotional farewell film to Paul Walker, this addition to the Fast & Furious world brought all the action and all the heart to the big screen. Universal Studios official description:

After defeating international terrorist Owen Shaw, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and the rest of the crew have separated to return to more normal lives. However, Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), Owen’s older brother, is thirsty for revenge. A slick government agent offers to help Dom and company take care of Shaw in exchange for their help in rescuing a kidnapped computer hacker who has developed a powerful surveillance program.

#3: Moana

Youtube.com/Disney

Gross: $248,757,044

This is pretty much the animated role of a lifetime for The Rock. Taking up the role of Maui, the fallen demigod to help a young girl fulfill her quest in discovering who she is, The Rock is a perfect fit for a strong yet sensitive guiding figure. According to Disney:

An adventurous teenager sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana meets the once-mighty demigod Maui, who guides her in her quest to become a master way-finder. Together they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds. Along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she always sought: her own identity.

#4: Fast & Furious 6

Youtube.com/Fast & Furious

Gross: $238,679,850

Another action/thriller entry in the Fast & Furious universe where The Rock portrays Agent Hobbs on the hunt for a violent driving crew but can only take them down with the help of Dom and the team. Universal Studios official description:

Since Dom (Vin Diesel) and Brian’s (Paul Walker) heist in Rio left them and their crew very rich people, they’ve scattered across the globe; however, they must still live as fugitives, unable to return home to their families. Meanwhile, Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) has been tracking a gang of lethally skilled mercenary drivers whose second-in-command is someone Dom knows. Unable to take them down himself, Hobbs asks Dom and his crew for help in exchange for full pardons for everyone.

#5: The Fate of the Furious

Youtube.com/Fast & Furious

Gross: $226,008,385

The final entry in the Fast & Furious sage, Universal Studios official description:

With Dom and Letty married, Brian and Mia retired and the rest of the crew exonerated, the globe-trotting team has found some semblance of a normal life. They soon face an unexpected challenge when a mysterious woman named Cipher forces Dom to betray them all. Now, they must unite to bring home the man who made them a family and stop Cipher from unleashing chaos.

#6: Fast Five

Youtube.com/Universal

Gross: $209,837,675

The Rock takes on the role of Hobbs, investigating the driving crew, desperate to find them and hold them accountable for their crimes. Universal Studios official description:

Ever since ex-cop Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and Mia Torretto (Jordana Brewster) broke her brother Dom (Vin Diesel) out of custody, they’ve traveled border to border to evade authorities. In Rio de Janeiro, they must do one final job before they can gain their freedom for good. Assembling their elite team of car racers, Brian and Dom know they must confront the corrupt businessman who wants them dead, before the federal agent (Dwayne Johnson) on their trail finds them.

#7: San Andreas

Youtube.com/Warner Bros.

Gross: $155,190,832

Per the official synopsis from Warner Bros:

A seemingly ideal day turns disastrous when California’s notorious San Andreas fault triggers a devastating, magnitude 9 earthquake, the largest in recorded history. As the Earth cracks open and buildings start to crumble, Ray Gaines (Dwayne Johnson), an LAFD search-and-rescue helicopter pilot, must navigate the destruction from Los Angeles to San Francisco to bring his estranged wife (Carla Gugino) and their only daughter (Alexandra Daddario) to safety.

#8: Get Smart

Youtube.com/Warner Bros.

Gross: $130,319,208

Per the official synopsis from Warner Bros:

When members of the nefarious crime syndicate KAOS attack the U.S. spy agency Control, the Chief (Alan Arkin) has to promote his eager analyst Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) to field agent. Smart, partnered with veteran Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), blends inexperience, enthusiasm and ineptitude as he works to thwart a world-domination plot hatched by the wily KAOS chief, Siegfried (Terence Stamp).

#9: Central Intelligence

Youtube.com/Warner Bros.

Gross: $127,440,871

A high school misfit turned CIA agent, The Rock teams up with pal Kevin Hart for this hilarious buddy comedy about friendship and trust that obviously has plenty of action. Per Warner Bros:

Bullied as a teen for being overweight, Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson) shows up to his high school reunion looking fit and muscular. While there, he finds Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart), a fast-talking accountant who misses his glory days as a popular athlete. Stone is now a lethal CIA agent who needs Calvin’s number skills to help him save the compromised U.S. spy satellite system. Together, the former classmates encounter shootouts, espionage and double-crosses while trying to prevent worldwide chaos.

#10: G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Youtube.com

Gross: $122,523,060

The second film in the G.I. Joe series, The Rock survives an attack from one of their own. The handful of Joe’s to make it out alive join forces to take out the threat once and for all. According to Paramount Pictures:

In the continuing adventures of the G.I. Joe team, Duke (Channing Tatum), second-in-command Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), and the rest of the Joes (D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee) face a two-fold threat. Not only is their mortal enemy COBRA rearing its ugly head again, but there is also a threat from within the U.S. government: There might be an impostor in the White House. Meanwhile, Snake Eyes (Ray Park) is on a search for inner peace but learns that his nemesis, Storm Shadow, is still alive.

Dwayne Johnson is the ultimate action hero and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Dwayne Johnson Net Worth 2018: How Much Is The Rock Worth

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With Barcelona’s past history and key-player Lionel Messi, it was predicted that Barcelona would easily win against Roma and advance to the semi-finals of this year’s UEFA Champions League. Barcelona and Roma had previously versed one another in the Champions League back in November 2015 where Barcelona walked away with a 6-1 win. However, this time the results were very different.

Throughout the season, Messi had missed enough games where people were starting to raise their eyebrows, especially when he was absent from matches against Spain and Italy. It then came out the forward had been trying to work through a hamstring injury. Regardless that the damage was said to be minor, it was obviously a consistent struggle for Messi.

In late March, he looked to be getting back into the swing of things, and despite not starting, he made an appearance in the match against Sevilla. At halftime, Sevilla had a 2-0 lead over Barcelona, but once Messi was substituted in, the tone of the game shifted. The match ended in a 2-2 tie with one of those goals from Messi.

For the Champions League quarter-final against Roma, Barcelona was counting on Messi to play. After all, he is the club’s top scorer with 42 goals. So on April 2, for the first leg match against Roma, Barcelona with the addition of Messi, celebrated a 4-1 victory. It was only expected that Barcelona would dominate the second-leg game. Unfortunately, the club suffered a shocking 3-0 loss against Roma yesterday.

Their elimination from the Champions League comes as a surprise to many, and now fingers are pointed at Messi. Since he’s such a dominant player for Barcelona, if he plays poorly, the whole team is affected. Call it the Domino Effect or call it the Messi Effect, whichever you prefer, but in this most recent game, Messi did not perform to his usual standards, and the match results demonstrate this.

It’s a hard loss for Barcelona, one that has undoubtedly stunned the Messi-led team. Nonetheless, his home country of Argentina celebrates. His supporters are happy because now this will give him a chance to relax before the World Cup in June. His body has undergone a lot of stress so with this rest he can focus on improving his physical state and hopefully put his hamstring injury to bed. The defeat is a disappointing one for Messi, but maybe it was actually a blessing in disguise.

China Bans Tattoos In Pro Soccer: This Is Why You Should Care

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It goes without saying that Rachel Bush is easily one of the hottest Instagram models in the world and literally the hottest MILF on the entire third rock from the sun. At just 20-years-old, Bush has not only already had an adorable baby girl but has somehow come out of it looking ten thousand times better than she did before. That takes some serious hard work and dedication (and also some decent genes).

Also, maybe I’m a little too woke on this one, but Jordan Poyer had a career (borderline Pro Bowl) year after he got with Rachel. That has to mean something, right? I know I’d be lifting a little harder and running a little faster if that was my girl — you gotta stay in peak, tip-top shop to keep that 15/10 around. As a Jets fan, I can’t say I love the Bills new safety looking like a steal, but if he’s cool with Rachel Bush, he’s cool with me — super hard not to at least respect the dude.

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With one more night remaining in the 2017-2018 NBA regular season, there remain several important loose ends untied. Teams will battle it out for playoff positioning, and, somewhat incredibly, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets will meet by sheer luck for the final spot in the Western Conference.

This is the game everyone is talking about. A play-in game for a spot in the NBA Playoffs. Both teams have a 46-35 record and can be expected to be somewhat disappointed to be in this spot, tough conference competition aside. The Timberwolves entered the season with sky-high expectations after the additions of Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague partnered with celebrated head coach Tom Thibodeau and young stars Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins.

Many expected the up-and-coming Wolves to take a jump defensively with defensive wiz Thibs at the helm, but they have instead been near the bottom of the league in stopping teams from scoring, 27th in Defensive rating according to Basketball-Reference, a disappointment given all the talent they have and Thibs reputation. Instead, the Wolves have won on Offense, relying on their talented core to get buckets. When leading scorer Butler went down in late February with a right meniscus injury, it was incumbent on Towns and the others to pick up the slack and keep the team afloat until his return a couple games ago, which they were able to do reasonably well.

The Nuggets have needed a six-game winning streak to get to the point they are at today. Like the Wolves, the Nuggets are a team that struggles on defense but are loaded with offensive talent. They have six players who average double digits in scoring and a seventh in Trey Lyles who averages 9.9 PPG. There is so much evenly spread talent on this team that it is hard to pick the best player, though Nikola Jokic, who has built upon a break out 2017 season to become the leagues best passing big man, Paul Millsap, who signed in free agency over the summer, Gary Harris and Jamal Murray are all strong contenders.

If the Nuggets do go on to win tonight, their first round match-up with the Houston Rockets will be something of a showcase for this overlooked team about whom most of the country does not know.

The Nuggets and Timberwolves will face off tonight at 8 Eastern Time. The game can be found on NBA League Pass.

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The California bombshell Claire Kirksey is the girlfriend of QB Sam Darnold. She is from Huntington Beach, California and attends Long Beach State.

Darnold’s career at USC was a successful one throwing for 7229 yards with 57 TD. He is a projected top-10 pick and by most a top-5 pick in the 2018 NFL draft. 

Hey, I’m an April fools baby as well, I guess she must’ve forgotten to wish me a happy birthday. It’s understandable though wouldn’t want to make Sam jealous before he gets paid in the NFL.

NFL Draft 2018 Mock: Top 10 Quarterback Prospects

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The first round of the NFL Draft takes place on April 26th, and mock drafts are all the rage. Everyone thinks that they know who’s going where, even though no one knows what will go down on draft night. With that being said, let’s take a look at the ideal fits for some of the top prospects in this draft class.

Saquon Barkley- Cleveland Browns

Plain and simple, Barkley is the best player in the draft. The Browns are hungry for talent, and Barkley would be a huge help for this team. The Browns are destined to draft a young quarterback, and while whoever they pick probably won’t start on Day 1, Barkley is the type of player that can take pressure off of any quarterback. Also, even though the Browns lost superstar left tackle, Joe Thomas, their offensive line is quietly very good and would be an excellent help for Barkley.

Josh Allen- Cleveland Browns

There is a lot of debate over where Josh Allen is going to go and how good he can be, but Cleveland is the perfect system for him. Allen has the arm strength to throw the ball a mile, but his mechanics aren’t quite right yet. If the Browns pick him, he would have the ability to sit behind Tyrod Taylor for a year before taking the reins. In 5 or 10 years, if Allen is handled the right way, we could be talking about him as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Bradley Chubb- Indianapolis Colts

Going back for his senior season was one of the best things Chubb could have done for his stock. He’s drawn several comparisons to last year’s first overall pick, Myles Garrett, and rightfully so. Chubb is a big strong guy with an incredible arsenal of pass rush moves. The Colts have been linked to him for a long time, and most Colts fans will immediately think of Dwight Freeney when they watch him play.

Quenton Nelson- Chicago Bears

The Bears are looking to protect their young quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. They loaded up on pass catchers in free agency, grabbing Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton. Jordan Howard is an impressive young running back, and Nelson would be a huge help for him too. Nelson is arguably the best guard prospect to come out of college in a long time and would be perfect for a team looking to protect the future of their franchise.

Minkah Fitzpatrick- Oakland Raiders

This is a classic Al Davis pick, who valued speed over anything else. Why not take Fitzpatrick here and pair him up with hard-hitting Karl Joseph in the secondary? If Gareon Conley can develop, the Raiders could be forming their own Legion of Boom. Fitzpatrick reminds some scouts of Earl Thomas with his elite range and ball skills.

Vita Vea- Los Angeles Chargers

Vea is an incredibly rare prospect, it’s almost impossible to find guys weighing 350 pounds that show the athleticism that Vea has. He also has the talent to make offensive linemen afraid to block him. Now put this guy on a line with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, with the secondary the Chargers have, and they would lead the league in sacks.

Isaiah Oliver-New England Patriots

The Patriots lost Super Bowl hero and Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler to free agency, but Isaiah Oliver would make Patriots fans forget about everything Butler did on the field outside of his Super Bowl winning interception. Oliver is a big, strong cornerback with insanely long arms. He would fit right in on the Patriots defense and would be a great option to pair up with Stephon Gilmore on the other side, who is a very similar player.

NFL Draft 2018: Date, Time, Location & Must-See Details

NFL Draft 2018 Mock: Top 10 Underrated Prospects

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After the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that claimed 17 lives back in February impacted the nation, many young people throughout the country have taken action to take a stand when it comes to gun violence. In recent news, one teenage girl, Lane Murdock, has organized the National School Walkout which will take place on April 20, the anniversary of an older tragedy, the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado, in which two student gunmen claimed the lives of 12 students and a teacher.

What is the April National School Walkout?

As mentioned above, the event will take place on April 20. The walkout will begin at 10 A.M. local time for participants throughout the country. Participants will then stay outside and partake in 13 seconds of silence, in honor of the 13 victims of the Columbine shooting; in this way, the event will be similar to the National School Walkout that was organized last month in honor of the victims of the Stoneman Douglas shooting.

At this time, it is also believed that thousands of students will take part in the event. At this time, it is believed that over 2,000 events are registered across the country, with at least one in each state and other events in foreign countries.

Inspired by the National School Walkout that took place back in March, Murdock organized the event with three of her classmates, one of whom was identified as Grant Yuan, who issued the following statement with ABC News to explain the event more in-depth, adding that the walkout is only the start:

“This walkout isn’t the end — it’s kind of a start, actually. We’ve rolled out a chapter-based organization to capture the momentum of the walkout, to capture that raw energy as it kind of reaches this peak. And focus it and allow it to carry the movement on until November [midterm elections].”

“Students enrolled in their local chapters will plan the walkouts and follow through with the walkouts and then transition into a school club type organization — not necessarily sanctioned by the school.”

“Then the chapter-based organizations will meet regulatory to: A. Get young people who are eligible to vote [by this November] registered. And B. Get young people interested in politics and remove any sense of fear or apprehension from it, or just general confusion, and to raise political awareness.”

Who is Lane Murdock?

Murdock is is a 16-year-old sophomore at Ridgefield High School in Connecticut.

When describing how the issues impacting the country inspired her to start the event, Murdock also issued the following statements with ABC News:

“This is a problem that needs to be addressed longer than 17 minutes.”

“As a student who can’t vote, you don’t have a lot of power. But what you have that’s powerful is your voice, your thoughts, but also your attendance. And leaving for longer than 17 minutes, leaving and breaking up that schedule that all American students have every day is how you get people to pay attention.”

“We live in a kind of desensitized country…After reflecting on my own lack of emotion, seeing how wrong our country is, the fact that this keeps on happening. I felt so helpless. I knew I needed to do something.”

“I started to think to myself, ‘What can I do to change the narrative? But also, ‘What can I do to give people who maybe don’t have as much time on their hands as I do, to give them that power?’”

“This will not be a day off…This is something [organizers and participants] should be proud of because they are putting themselves in the narrative and they are changing it to one that is proactive.”

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The 2018 NBA playoffs kickoff this Saturday, April 14, with fours series. In the West, we’ll start the day with San Antonio playing visitor to last year’s champion Golden State (3 pm, ABC), and end the day with Portland hosting New Orleans (10:30 pm, ESPN). In the Eastern Conference, favorite Toronto will take on Washington (5:30 pm, ESPN), and Philly will host the new 6 seed Miami (8 pm, ESPN).

On Sunday, April 15, the remaining four series will open, featuring LeBron’s Cavs taking on Victor Oladipo and the Pacers, and the only 60-win team, Rockets, hosting the young and flashy Timberwolves.

These opening series could last as long as 15 days, with potential game 7s scheduled as late as April 29. Check out the full first-round schedule and viewing details for each team below.

First Round NBA Playoffs Schedule & TV Channel:

(All times Eastern; * If necessary)

Eastern Conference

(1) Toronto Raptors vs. (8) Washington Wizards

Game 1: Sat. April 14 Washington at Toronto. 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Tue. April 17 Washington at Toronto, 7 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: Fri. April 20 Toronto at Washington, 8 p.m., ESPN2
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Toronto at Washington, 6 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Washington at Toronto, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Toronto at Washington, TBD
*Game 7: Wed. April 25 Washington at Toronto, TBD

(2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Milwaukee Bucks

Game 1: Sun. April 15 Milwaukee at Boston, 1 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Tue, April 17 Milwaukee at Boston, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Fri. April 20 Boston at Milwaukee, 9:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Boston at Milwaukee, 1 p.m., ABC
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 Milwaukee at Boston, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Boston at Milwaukee, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 Milwaukee at Boston, TNT

(3) Philadelphia 76ers vs. (6) Miami Heat

Game 1: Sat. April 14 Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Mon. April 16 Miami at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thu. April 19 Philadelphia at Miami, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sat. April 21 Philadelphia at Miami, 2:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 Miami at Philadelphia, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Philadelphia at Miami, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 Miami at Philadelphia, TNT

(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (5) Indiana Pacers

Game 1: Sun. April 15 Indiana at Cleveland, 3:30 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Wed. April 18 Indiana at Cleveland, 7 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Fri. April 20 Cleveland at Indiana, 7 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Cleveland at Indiana, 8:30 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Indiana at Cleveland, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Cleveland at Indiana, TBD
*Game 7: Sun. April 29 Indiana at Cleveland, TBD

Western Conference

(1) Houston Rockets vs. (8) Minnesota Timberwolves

Game 1: Sun. April 15 Minnesota at Houston, 9 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Wed. April 18 Minnesota at Houston, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Sat. April 21 Houston at Minnesota, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Mon. April 23 Houston at Minnesota, 8 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Minnesota at Houston, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Houston at Minnesota, TBD
*Game 7: Sun. April 29 Minnesota at Houston, TBD

(2) Golden State Warriors vs. (7) San Antonio Spurs

Game 1: Sat. April 14 San Antonio at Golden State, 3 p.m., ABC
Game 2: Mon. April 16 San Antonio at Golden State, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thu. April 19 Golden State at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m., TNT
Game 4: Sun. April 22 Golden State at San Antonio, 3:30 p.m., ABC
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 San Antonio at Golden State, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Golden State at San Antonio, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 San Antonio at Golden State, TNT

(3) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (6) New Orleans Pelicans

Game 1: Sat. April 14 New Orleans at Portland, 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 2: Tue. April 17 New Orleans at Portland, 10:30 p.m., TNT
Game 3: Thu. April 19 Portland at New Orleans, 9 p.m., NBA TV
Game 4: Sat. April 21 Portland at New Orleans, 5 p.m., TNT
*Game 5: Tue. April 24 New Orleans at Portland, TBD
*Game 6: Thu. April 26 Portland at New Orleans, TBD
*Game 7: Sat. April 28 New Orleans at Portland,TNT

(4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Utah Jazz

Game 1: Sun. April 15 Utah at Oklahoma City, 6:30 p.m., TNT
Game 2: Wed. April 18 Utah at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m., NBA TV
Game 3: Sat. April 21 Oklahoma City at Utah, 10 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: Mon. April 23 Oklahoma City at Utah, 10:30 p.m. TNT
*Game 5: Wed. April 25 Utah at Oklahoma City, TBD
*Game 6: Fri. April 27 Oklahoma City at Utah, TBD
*Game 7: Sun. April 29 Utah at Oklahoma City, TBD

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This week, the National Football League released the 2018 NFL preseason schedule, giving fans something to look forward to as we anxiously await the return of football to our televisions. The preseason will officially kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 2 when the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens face off in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

The 2018 preseason will feature 65 games, including eight that will be nationally televised.

Among the teams that will be featured on national TV are the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Washington Redskins.

The full 2018 NFL preseason schedule can be seen below, with the nationally televised games in bold:

Biggest NFL Draft Busts: Top 10 Worst No. 1 Picks In History

Hall of Fame Game (Canton, OH.)

• Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Ravens (NBC, 8 p.m.), Thursday, Aug. 2

WEEK 1: August 9-13

• Los Angeles Chargers vs. Arizona Cardinals
• Los Angeles Rams vs. Baltimore Ravens
• Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills
• Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals
• Minnesota Vikings vs. Denver Broncos
• Tennessee Titans vs. Green Bay Packers
• New Orleans Saints vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• Houston Texans vs. Kansas City Chiefs
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Miami Dolphins
• Washington Redskins vs. New England Patriots
• Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants
• Atlanta Falcons vs. New York Jets
• Detroit Lions vs. Oakland Raiders
• Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles
• Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers
• Indianapolis Colts vs. Seattle Seahawks

WEEK 2: August 16-20

• Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons
• Miami Dolphins vs. Carolina Panthers
• Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns
• Cincinnati Bengals vs. Dallas Cowboys
• Chicago Bears vs. Denver Broncos
• New York Giants vs.Detroit Lions
• Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers
• San Francisco 49ers vs. Houston Texans
• Baltimore Ravens vs. Indianapolis Colts (ESPN, Aug. 20)
• Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers
• Oakland Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams
• Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings
• Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots
• Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Tennessee Titans
• New York Jets vs. Washington Redskins (ESPN, Aug. 16)

WEEK 3: August 23-26

• Cincinnati Bengals vs. Buffalo Bills (FOX, Aug. 26)
• New England Patriots vs. Carolina Panthers
• Kansas City Chiefs vs. Chicago Bears
• Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns (FOX, Aug. 23)
• Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys (NBC, Aug. 26)
• San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts
• Atlanta Falcons vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
• New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Chargers (CBS, Aug. 25)
• Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Rams
• Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins
• Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings
• New York Giants vs. New York Jets
• Green Bay Packers vs. Oakland Raiders
• Tennessee Titans vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CBS, Aug. 24)
• Denver Broncos vs. Washington Redskins

WEEK 4: August 30-31

• Denver Broncos vs. Arizona Cardinals
• Miami Dolphins vs. Atlanta Falcons
• Washington Redskins vs. Baltimore Ravens
• Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
• Indianapolis Colts vs. Cincinnati Bengals
• Cleveland Browns vs. Detroit Lions
• Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans
• Green Bay Packers vs. Kansas City Chiefs
• Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
• New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
• New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles
• Carolina Panthers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• Los Angeles Chargers vs. San Francisco 49ers
• Oakland Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks
• Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans

NFL Draft Hats 2018: First Look At New Era Caps For Draft Day

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Zana Muno is QB Josh Rosen’s girlfriend from UCLA. Rosen will most likely be a top 10 pick in the 2018 NFL draft and will have a beautiful girl on his arm when doing it. Muno is a student at UCLA, where she and Rosen met.

Rosen is not the only athlete in this relationship. Muno is a very accomplished volleyball player for UCLA. She was named AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention for the 2017 volleyball season. She is a defensive specialist for the Bruins, leading the team in digs per set. During her freshman season, she was named to the PAC 12 All-freshman team.

According to her player page at UCLA Muno is from Torrence, California where she was born into a very athletic family. Her mother Kimberly Muno was a golfer and her father Lawrence Muno played collegiate football. Zana’s older brother JJ attended UC Santa Barbara, where he became an accomplished baseball player. JJ was part of the Santa Barbara team that competed in the 2016 College World Series. JJ was then selected by the Chicago White Sox in the MLB draft.

Zana Muno attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. She became a three-sport athlete at the school, competing in volleyball, soccer, and track. Volleyball would eventually become the sport she focused on. Muno collected many accolades during her high school career, among them are the 2013 Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year and a Class of 2015 National Top 50 Junior recruit.

Other accomplishments include representing the USA in China for the 2014 Youth Olympics. Also, Muno was named PAC-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2016.

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Josh Rosen hasn’t always made great decisions during his time at UCLA which has led to some concerns pertaining to his draft stock in the NFL, but in the girlfriend department, he definitely did alright. Rosen has been linked to several teams at the top of the draft order including, the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Denver Broncos.

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Mike Pompeo is an American businessman turned politician, who biggest claim to fame appears to be his multiple nominations from U.S. President Donald Trump into his administration, including as both CIA Director and later United States Secretary of State. Let’s take a look at his career over the years, starting with his net worth.

Mike Pompeo Net Worth: $500,000

Mike Pompeo’s net worth is expected to be around $500,000. At the time of becoming a nominee for the Trump administration, he was actually considered one of the least wealthy potential members. Let’s take a look at his career over the years, just to see how he came so far in his life.

The Early Years

Pompeo is a native of Orange, California, graduating from Los Amigos High School, moving on to graduate first in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. For around five years, Pompeo went on to serve in the United States Army as an Armor Branch Cavalry Officer, eventually rising to the rank of Captain, later serving as a United States Cavalry officer who patrolled the Iron Curtain and served in the Gulf War. In 1994, he obtained a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, where he was also worked with Harvard Law Review; upon graduation, he worked as a lawyer for Williams & Connolly.

1998-2009

In 1998, Pompeo moved to Wichita is start his business career, after he and three friends from West Point, took over three local aircraft part makers companies and one in St. Louis, ultimately renaming it Thayer Aerospace; by 2006, he sold his interest in Thayer to Highland Capital Management. Around this time, he also became president of Sentry International.

2010-Present

In 2010, Pompeo was elected to the Kansas Republican primary for the 4th District Congressional seat. He later proved successful in his reelection bid two years later. Pompeo would repeat this trend for the 2014 and 2016 general elections. By late 2016, President-elect Donald Trump announced that he would nominate Pompeo to be the CIA Director, and he was confirmed by the United States Senate at the start of the following year. By 2018, Trump announced his plan to nominate Pompeo as the new United States Secretary of State, effectively taking the place of Rex Tillerson.

Johnson County Sheriff’s Office

Iowa City Police have arrested an Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity brother for allegedly stealing from his fraternity’s bank account. Drew W. Rominger, 25, has been accused of taking $20,839.33 from the Alpha Chi Sigma Fraternity bank account while he was treasurer.

Between Aug. 2016 and July 2017, Rominger allegedly made 73 suspicious cash withdrawals by ATM and check from the Fraternity’s bank account. The police complaint said the ATM withdrawals came from the fraternity’s debit card, and all check withdrawals were signed by Rominger.

via Iowa City Press-Citizen

Police say Rominger claimed he was drawing money to pay the fraternity’s bills, but the utility records for the fraternity during that time sow multiple late fees and non-payments.

The Alpha Chi Sigma: Alpha Theta Chapter website says it is a co-ed chemistry fraternity at the University of Iowa. Rominger is still listed as the house treasurer online.

Rominger has been charged with first degree theft, a Class C felony. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Philip Roper: Full Story & Must-See Details

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No one is doing better right now than QB Baker Mayfield. He just came off one of the most efficient seasons as a QB in college football history, won the Heisman Trophy, and is shooting up draft boards. But, forget all that, his girlfriend Emily Wilkson, just wow. I would expect nothing less from the man, the myth, the legend Baker Mayfield.

Those must’ve been the moves that got the beautiful Emily Wilkinson.

Mayfield had a long time girlfriend while in college, but naturally, he graduated from the college girls and got himself an NFL type girl. Wilkinson is an Instagram model who has over 118K followers, and according to her Instagram, she is a patient coordinator at Galanis Plastic Surgery.  Her brother Sam Wilkinson is a social media star as well previously gaining fame through the app Vine.

Find yourself a girl who supports you like Wilkinson supports Mayfield while he plays Fortnite.

Mayfield has been doing his best to repair his somewhat damaged reputation that has caused some concern among NFL executives, and what better way to clean up your act than having a smokeshow like Emily Wilkinson by your side.

Mayfield has been linked to multiple teams as potential draft landing spots. Among them are the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Br0wns, and Buffalo Bills.

People can argue whether Mayfield is the best QB in the draft, what they can’t argue is who has the hottest girlfriend among the top QB prospects, that spot is solely owned by Baker. Kids wanna be him, dad’s wish their sons were him, women go nuts for him.

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Four East Carolina University students were arrested at a fraternity off-campus when authorities with a search warrant raided the house. The arrests happened Tuesday, April 10, at the Phi Kappa Tau house after a three-week investigation by a drug task force in Greenville, SC.

The officers seized 2,500 bars of Xanax and two shotguns at the house. Authorities also said marijuana was being sold from the house.

The national organization of Phi Kappa Tau suspended operations at its ECU chapter pending further investigation. The university is also reviewing the actions of the students involved.

The raid was just the latest trouble involving fraternities at ECU. Three other fraternities at the university have been shut down this year after hazing and alcohol violations. The actions were taken by the national organizations of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Delta Chi.

The four students arrested at the PKT house were:

Grant Swanner, 20
• PWISD Sch IV (3 Counts)
• Maintain Dwelling (3 Counts)
• Poss of alcohol underage
• Poss of Drug paraphernalia

Nolan Leonard, 19
• PWISD Sch IV
• Maintain Dwelling
• Poss of up to 1/2 oz of marijuana
• Poss drug paraphernalia

Jordan Kowalski, 20
• PWISD Marijuana
• Maintain Dwelling

William Carter, 20
• Poss Drug paraphernalia
• Poss alcohol under 21

Sigma Alpha Epsilon At ECU Shut Down For Hazing

Two ECU Frats Shut Down Due To Hazing & Alcohol Investigation

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The lack of diversity in the English Premier League is pretty apparent when it comes to Asian representation in the sport. It’s been an issue that has been overlooked for years and still continues to be. Of course, there are a notable few such as Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur, Neil Taylor of Aston Villa and former Fulham and Bradford City defender Zesh Rehman. Overall though, the number is low. Let’s look at three reasons why this is the case.

Lack of Role Models

Younger Asian players struggle to picture themselves playing the game professionally because there are not many Asian players, coaches, or trainers at such a high level. This, therefore, distances the younger players from the game and results in a continuous deficit of pro-Asian players. With more involvement of British Asian players in soccer, comes more connections and education.

If soccer becomes more popular among Asians, then these players will have more opportunities to enter the game at a more advanced play. If a young Asian boy loves the game, is good at the game, and wants to pursue the game but no other Asians in his town play nor does he see many Asian pro players on television, then most likely he’s not going to carry out his dream.

Racial Abuse

It’s no secret that racism has been present throughout soccer history. We all remember Barcelona’s, Dani Alves. In a 2014 match against Villarreal, a Villarreal fan threw a banana onto the field. Alves responded by calmly eating the banana and then continuing on with the game. Fear of racial abuse is a genuine reality for many minority players, including Asians. Whether it be in the locker room or on the field, many Asian players are nervous to place themselves in situations like these where they could be victims of racism.

Stereotypes and Cultural Differences

With the stereotype that Asians do not play soccer, many Asian players have stories where coaches have told them to try other sports such as cricket. There have been cases where soccer coaches have refused to watch or recruit Asian players under the assumption that they are physically weaker. For those players who do play professionally, there are distinct cultural differences. For example, in terms of socializing with the team, drinking is most likely involved, and for a Muslim player, this creates a barrier. He has to respect his culture while maintaining respect from his teammates.

Currently, Kashif Siddiqi is hoping to change the way Asians are perceived in soccer. The former Northampton Town defender set up the Kashif Siddiqi Foundation with the sole mission to extend soccer to underrepresented communities. He also started the Altus League which is comprised of youth teams primarily from East London and Bradford. With over 70 teenagers involved, Siddiqi is looking to establish a movement in which Asian players will be given equal opportunity to enter the sport.

10 Celebrities Who Could Have Been Soccer Stars

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Nicki Minaj is making a comeback after quite a long layoff with not just one, but two whole new songs dropping on Thursday, one of which is called “Barbie Tingz,” and we have everything you need to listen to the song right here and now!

What can we expect from ‘Barbie Tingz?’

“Barbie Tingz” will be released alongside another song, “Chun-Li.” Now, Minaj hasn’t had an album released since 2014’s The Pinkprint but she’s appeared on other songs in the interval, such as collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert (“The Way Life Goes”) or Migos’ Quavo on “She for Keeps” from Quality Control’s “Control the Streets Vol. 1” compilation.

In addition, Minaj released two promotional images released for the songs on Twitter; for the “Barbie Tings” artwork, Minaj is seen wearing an opulent ballgown, think Versailles with a little Scarlett O’Hara mixed in, surrounded by four other women, all wearing full-facial masks. It’s probably a play on them being dolls, what with Barbie being in the title and all, but you’ll have to listen to the song to find out.

“Barbie Tingz” will come out 10 A.M PST and 1 P.M. EST. Here’s what you need to do to listen to the song. Also, don’t forget we have details on how to listen to “Chun-Li,” too. You can also vote for your favorite of the two songs! More information is available at the bottom of the page!

‘Barbie Tingz’ Viewing Details

Single: ‘Barbie Tingz’
Artist: Nicki Minaj
Release Date: April 12, 2018
Release Time: 10 A.M. PST, 1 P.M. EST

Stream ‘Barbie Tingz’ on Spotify

You can stream the album via Spotify. Stream Golden on Spotify or listen to the entire album below.

Listen To ‘Barbie Tingz’ on Apple Music

You can listen to the album via iTunes.

Watch ‘Barbie Tingz’ on YouTube!

Don’t forget to vote!

LISTEN: Nicki Minaj 'Chun-Li' Stream & Download: New Single

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Nicki Minaj is making a comeback after quite a long layoff with not just one, but two whole new songs dropping on Thursday, one of which is called “Chun-Li,” and we have everything you need to listen to the song right here and now!

What can we expect from ‘Chun-Li?’

“Barbie Tingz” will be released alongside another song, “Barbie Tingz.” Now, Minaj hasn’t had an album released since 2014’s The Pinkprint but she’s appeared on other songs in the interval, such as collaborations with Lil Uzi Vert (“The Way Life Goes”) or Migos’ Quavo on “She for Keeps” from Quality Control’s “Control the Streets Vol. 1” compilation.

In addition, Minaj released two promotional images released for the songs on Twitter; for the “Chun-Li” artwork, Minaj is seen wearing her hair in buns, with a bikini and a fur jacket. It’s believed that the song is named in favor of the character from the popular Street Fighter games, likely as a reflection of female empowerment, with Minaj possibly dressed like her own version of the same character in the artwork.

“Chun-Li” will come out 10 A.M PST and 1 P.M. EST. Here’s what you need to do to listen to the song. Also, don’t forget we have details on how to listen to “Barbie Tingz,” too. You can also vote for your favorite of the two songs! More information is available at the bottom of the page!

‘Chun-Li’ Viewing Details

Single: ‘Chun-Li’
Artist: Nicki Minaj
Release Date: April 12, 2018
Release Time: 10 A.M. PST, 1 P.M. EST

Stream ‘Chun-Li’ on Spotify

You can stream the album via Spotify. Stream Golden on Spotify or listen to the entire album below.

Listen To ‘Chun-Li’ on Apple Music

You can listen to the album via iTunes.

Don’t forget to vote!

LISTEN: Nicki Minaj 'Barbie Tingz' Stream & Download: New Single

Ever since his first appearance at the end of  2012’s Avengers, Thanos has been a subject of much speculation. What were his goals? What would his role be in future MCU films? Is he after the Infinity Gauntlet for the same reason in the comics or have his goals been altered to better fit the universe of the movie?

Six years later and two weeks before Avengers: Infinity War comes out we finally have some answers courtesy of the Russo Bro’s, the film’s directors. Their interview with Telegraph India revealed some details about the Mad Titan’s tragic pass and the shockingly, if arguably, altruistic plan to save the future that pits him against Earth’s mightiest heroes.

What we do for Love

In the comics Thanos only has one true love: Death. This is both figurative and quite literal; the Titan is so enamored with killing and so proficient at causing mass carnage in his wake that he attracted the attention of an ancient being, the anthropomorphized concept ‘Lady Death’. For Thanos, this is love at first sight and results in him stepping up his kill count in the hopes of winning his Lady’s heart.

His desire for Death’s love, along with a more typical lust for power, is what drives him to seek out and eventually obtain the Infinity Gauntlet and use it to eliminate half the universe’s population. Death remains mostly indifferent to his actions (incidentally, she is much more attracted to the unkillable mercenary Deadpool and even Wolverine at times), which results in more and more demonstrations of Thanos’s power against the many heroes and beings who seek to stop him until the unhinged Titan loses the Gauntlet and very nearly, his mind.

Fight for the Future

Most fans suspected that Thanos’s being driven by literal love for Death is both too dark and too ‘comic book’ to have a place in the Avengers movie. Some believed that Thor: Ragnarok’s Hela (Cate Blanchett), the Norse Goddess of Death could be the object of Thanos’s affections instead. But according to the Russo’s the Titan is driven not by love but by his dark past and fears for the future:

“He’s from a planet called Titan. Many years prior to the film his planet was experiencing a cataclysmic shift. They were running out of resources, and they were overpopulated. Thanos made a recommendation that they exterminate half the population randomly in order to save the rest of the population. Of course, the Titans rejected his notion, branded him a mad man, exiled him, and the planet ended up dying. So he has taken it upon himself to go planet-by-planet throughout the universe and wipe out half of the population of each planet as a way to correct the planet and bring it back into balance.”

Thanos now seeks out the Gauntlet to be more efficient and complete the depopulation plan in seconds rather than years.

This misguided plan and backstory, which is reminiscent of both Superman and Star Trek’s Captain Kirk’s backstories, shows an unexpectedly ‘noble’ side of the Titan. His genocidal plans stem not from selfish pleasure and desire for love but from a desire to save the universe from what he believes is inevitable overpopulation and extinction.

By changing both Thanos’s backstory and motivations the Russo’s have followed the tradition of the MCU in creating a complex and morally grey villain. While his goal for depopulation is despicable to us and to the Avengers, in the mind Thanos and probably many of his followers it is he who is the hero, the only one who can save the future.

Fans can see who will prevail when Avengers: Infinity War arrives in theaters on April 27th.

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'Avengers: Infinity War' Cast: Meet The Full Cast

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If you seriously believed on the morning of April 1 that Russell Westbrook wouldn’t grab 76 rebounds over the final five games of the 2017-18 season, congratulations: you played yourself. And Russell is happy to have helped embarrass you. If instead of embarrassed you feel entitled, reassuring yourself with something like “triple-doubles are meaningless” or “he’s stat-padding”, Russ doesn’t give a f**k. Why not? He’s officially averaged a triple-double for the second consecutive season.

In 2017, Russell Westbrook joined the most exclusive of NBA clubs when he managed against all odds to average a triple-double–31.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 10.4 assists, to be precise–over 81 regular season games. Only Oscar Robertson had achieved such a feat, 55 years prior. In April of that year, Westbrook’s swan song was breaking Robertson’s record for triple-doubles in a single season, 41, with 42 of his own. Endorsed by the Big O himself, a new triple-double royal was born. Fast forward: in March 2018, Westbrook became the fourth player in league history to accumulate 100 career triple-doubles, joining the ranks of Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138), and Jason Kidd (107). As of April 12, 2018, Westbrook sits at 105. Kidd can kiss his placement on that list goodbye. Magic isn’t safe either. Whether Russ can break yet another unattainable record set by the Big O though, we’ll have to wait and see. If so, the King’s crown is his. For now, we must marvel at the greatness of the Prince.

When partner-in-crime of eight years Kevin Durant left Oklahoma City in free agency in July 2016, Westbrook understood that if he didn’t want the Thunder to fall out of championship contention and into the hell of lottery ping-pong balls, he’d have to change something about his game. No one quite envisioned him dragging a bunch of misfits (literally–see Victor Oladipo today) into the playoffs, and certainly not a soul predicted he’d do it by simultaneously leading the league in scoring, handing out better than 10 assists a night, and averaging more rebounds than most 7-footers. Russ may have desperately needed help, but he’d never have admitted it.

It’s not like Russ was a stranger to triple-doubles: he’d racked up 37 in his first eight seasons, including 18 in his final season with Durant. But becoming the center of OKC’s offense unleashed him. He set an NBA record for usage rate, carrying the scoring burden and becoming a crunch time maestro. At the same time, Russ put trust in his teammates; while he was on the floor, 57.2% of his teammates’ made field goals were directly assisted by him, while the other 42.8% were usually his own. Soliciting rebounds in order to facilitate fast-break offense was just another part of his game–he’ll tell you time and again that he isn’t “stat-padding”. This is just how he plays.

Russell took MVP honors in 2017 despite leading his team to fewer than 50 wins, frustrating traditionalists who didn’t think Westbrook’s statistical anomalies merited the league’s greatest individual honor. Questioning Russell’s value to the Oklahoma City Thunder was a virtually indefensible task–without him, they were a glorified G-League team. But Russell’s value to the NBA itself was ballooning at a time when many had all but relinquished the 2017 Larry O’Brien Trophy to the Golden State Warriors the previous July.

Westbrook’s narrative was on his side, and so was Kevin Durant’s: Durant, betraying Westbrook, also managed to ruin the NBA by joining up with Golden State; Westbrook, scorned ex, decided not just to extract revenge, but to turn the entire league on its head. A perfect foil: Russ was crowned MVP and NBA sweetheart, but was gentlemen-swept out of the first round of the playoffs; KD–branded a snake, a cupcake, a traitor–bounced back from what looked like a derailing knee injury that some grotesquely found karma in, led the Warriors to a 16-1 title run, and was elected Finals MVP. In their first season apart, Westbrook and Durant revamped their games, their identities, and their futures without the other. Each had the best season of his career, affirming Durant’s choice to leave and Westbrook’s choice to not take it lightly.

Russ plays hard. He plays friendless, save for Spalding. He doesn’t give into exhaustion. He doesn’t show pain. He’d play the full 48 minutes if he was allowed to. But let’s be realistic: it isn’t sustainable. If Westbrook is ever going to make a run at an NBA title, he can’t do it surrounded by flaky shooters and with Steven Adams as his co-headliner. So in the 2017 offseason, Thunder GM Sam Presti rewarded Westbrook for his plight by acquiring Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. Help was on its way.

Surrounded once again by All-Stars, Westbrook didn’t necessarily need to repeat 2016-17. But as the OK3 continually underperformed, Russ gradually kicked back into gear, emulating the style of his MVP year without completely overshadowing George and Anthony. 26 triple-doubles down the stretch of the season isn’t as marvelous a figure as 42, but on its own, it is a glowing bastion of Westbrook’s evolution.

On April 9, in the Thunder’s penultimate regular season game in Miami, the prospect of Russell finishing a second consecutive season averaging a triple-double looked bleak. While he was leading the NBA in assists and had all but solidified an average of 10+ on the season, the rebounding category remained a question mark. Two nights earlier in Houston, Westbrook had just seven boards. For a point guard like Damian Lillard or Jrue Holiday or literally anyone else, seven rebounds in a game would be a huge achievement. But for Westbrook? Essentially a disappointment. He’d need 34 total over the last two games of the season–games he should probably not even play in, to be honest, in case of an untimely freak injury–in order to secure a season-long average of 10 rebounds. But with about 17 seconds left in the first half in Miami, Westbrook was pulling down his ninth rebound of the game. He was doing it.

Westbrook would finish the Miami game with 18 rebounds. Picture this: the other, taller four members of OKC’s starting lineup finished with a combined total of 15. Looking ahead to game #82, there should have been no question that Russ would go for at least 16 and little doubt that his teammates would help him out. Anything less would have gone entirely against Westbrook’s motto: Why not? And we know Russ is a man of his word.

On April 11, Russell Westbrook pulled no punches when questioned about the validity of his statistics. Not only does Russell notoriously not give a crap about stats–“I just play“–he finds it equal parts hilarious, annoying, and pointless to accuse him of “stat-padding”. Speaking to the media before OKC’s regular-season finale, Westbrook made it clear: “I’m tired of hearing the same old ‘rebound this, stealing rebounds’, all this s**t. I take pride in what I do … I get the ball faster than somebody else gets to it. That’s just what it is. If you don’t want it, I’m gonna get it. Simple as that.” While Russ wouldn’t go as far as to call out those whom his friend Kevin Durant might call “blog boys“, he isn’t here to bend and break to the criticisms of talking heads and NBA Twitter. It’s hard to argue with him when he says, “if people could get 20 rebounds every night, they would. If people could f**king get 15 rebounds, they would”, echoing Pat Riley’s sentiment of “no rebounds, no rings”. By noon, Russ had set the tone for the night ahead.

That night, Chesapeake Energy Arena was almost as ready as Russell himself. Westbrook addressed his home crowd prior to tipoff, thanking them for a season of patient support; he then diverted attention to friend, mentor, and the franchise’s longest-tenured player, Nick Collison, who is expected to retire after a decade and a half of service to the NBA. This would be Russ’s most selfless act all night.

At halftime, Russ had one point and 11 rebounds, having spent the first half hurdling Steven Adams and the entire Grizzlies roster for loose balls. He was a rebound vacuum early in the third quarter, and sure enough, it took just 22 minutes of playing time for Westbrook to swallow the coveted 16th. Assisted by block-outs from henchmen George and Anthony. Russ achieved the previously impossible. Refs stopped play and he was treated to a standing ovation while OKC led Memphis by 21. But Russ wasn’t done, of course: he took down 20 total rebounds, supplanting a previous career-high of 19. He also dished out 19 assists: six went to Paul George, who ended up with a 40-point game that has gone virtually unnoticed despite the relieving importance of his getting over a shooting slump at precisely the right time. Russ came up just shy on what would have been a legendary 20-20 game. He scored six points in the blowout win.

Russell Westbrook is a phenomenon. His playing style is far from beautiful, but it is something to behold. He’s taken the concept of something as momentous and salaciously desired as a triple-double and normalized it. Westbrook is effortlessly above-average in at least three statistical basketball categories in every single game that he plays, and most players would kill for this–some have even killed their own reputations for just a shot at it. The Triple-Double Prince is changing the game, screaming to anyone who listens that it’s pointless to box yourself in so long as you can box someone out for that extra rebound, outlet pass, and assisted fast-break dunk. Westbrook maintains in every interview that he is blessed, and because of him, so are we. Thank you, Russ.

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