What were the Raiders thinking?

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today for the memorial service… to the Raiders’ 2018 playoff chances.

As you likely have heard by now, the Raiders traded Khalil Mack and two beans (2020 2nd and conditional 5th in 2020) for a bag of beans (2019 1st & 6th, 2020 1st & 3rd). I hope this resembles Jack and the Beanstalk more than a child’s book where the patriarch sells the farm for practically nothing.

This has the potential to be a good trade for both teams, if the Raiders hit on their draft picks that they’ve just acquired. Mack alone to the Bears was worth three 1st rounders. The Bears are not a playoff team, even with Mack, but the Raiders went from a boss to a janitor real fast.

In memory of the Oakland Raiders’ 2018 playoff chances, the NFL family requests donations to the New York ...

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Morality (or lack thereof) but on who’s part?

Domestic violence is never an acceptable occurrence, and those who engage in it should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Those that cover it up should also be punished but to a lesser extent

Let’s face it, “The cover-up is worse than the crime” is merely a myth. It is known as being an accessory after the fact, which calls for more leinent punishment. The justice system subscribes to this theory. If Perpetrator A hits Victim B, A goes to jail. If Coach C knew about it for years and doesn’t do diddley squat, C is fired. However, if C reported it to his boss, Athletic Director D and D does nothing, then D takes the fall and C gets disciplined only lightly, like a multi-game suspension.

To be fair, we don’t know if B is telling the truth...

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2018 NBA Finals

Armageddon is here in the NBA, the good (King James (LeBron James)) vs. the evil (The Golden State Warriors). This is an example of genuine greatness vs. manufactured greatness. LeBron is the GOAT. The Warriors have four Hall of Famers all on the same team, whereas the Cleveland Cavaliers have just one guy (LeBron) who is a perennial All-star. I hope David slays Goliath in the NBA Finals. LeBron is David and the Warriors are Goliath. But the odds are against him. I say Warriors in six.

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Kaep, we have a problem

There are injustices throughout our world but in sports the greatest injustice is that Colin Kaepernick still is not on an NFL roster as of the time of this writing. Yes, he knelt for the national anthem. Yes, he wore socks that depicted police officers as pigs. My message to NFL executives is “Get over it.” It’s been a year and the man has every right to have a career in the NFL. He is better than most starting QBs in the league.

As someone who has seen people of his own race supress people of Colin Kaepernick’s race for more than three centuries, allow me to say that these injustices have to end or else we all will suffer very severely for a very long time...

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Differences of the types of Greatness

Tom Brady. LeBron James. Two examples of authentic greatness. 8 Super Bowl appearances. 8 NBA Finals appearances. Who did the two each have around him? Nobody.

Stephen Curry. Kevin Durant. Draymond Green. Klay Thompson. All Golden State Warriors at the same time. This group is the epitome of manufactured greatness, meaning they didn’t have to work hard because, as the old adage goes, “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” That is used by those with a rather weak ideology.

To be the best, you gotta beat the best. Don’t join forces with the champs just because you can’t beat them in the championship round. Joining a title holder who won the title two seasons prior is gutless, because they really don’t need you to win the championship...

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NFL (or a street fight), anyone?

On Monday, December 4, 2017, a football game was held in Cincinnati between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. It featured multiple personal fouls, injuries, suspendable offenses, but, most damning, a player who may never walk again.

For the Shazier hit that paralyzed him from the waist down, he committed the cardinal sin of tackling/hitting: He had his head down on impact. Key thing to consider.

As for the nature, being masculine is OK. Being too much of that is a problem. Football is and embodies masculinity. The overmasculinity of teams like the Steelers and Bengals is toxic masculinity, while being smarter in hitting/tackling is acceptable masculinity.

Course of action: Implement a rule that if a player lowers his head to hit someone, that player is to be ejected...

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Aaron Hernandez, CTE, and drug abuse

Earlier this year Aaron Hernandez hung himself from a prison window. Fast forward to last week where it was discovered that he had the second most severe case of CTE, a degenerative brain disease, caused by repeated severe blows to the head. But did Aaron Hernandez actually have CTE?

He was allegedly, a frequent drug user. I heard from two different sources that Mr. Hernandez did drugs like marijuana and angel dust, or PCP. Could they have contributed to his brain’s decadence?

We still do not know about whether or not it was CTE that claimed the life of Aaron Hernandez. His rampant drug use, allegedly, likely was the main factor and, contrary to popular opinion, not CTE. So what can be done to combat this?

Two things can be done to marginalize the number of cases like Aaron Hernandez...

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2017 NFL Predictions

It’s that time again. Welcome to the Broadie Report’s 2017 NFL Picks. These picks were made regardless of injury or suspension that will occur in the future. That means suspensions for Ezekiel Elliott and Vontaze Burfict will be considered in these picks. So will the torn ACL for Julian Edleman.

So, without further ado, here are my picks:

Division Winners

AFC East: New England

AFC South: Indianapolis

AFC North: Pittsburgh

AFC West: Oakland

NFC East: NY Giants

NFC South: Tampa Bay

NFC North: Green Bay

NFC West: Seattle

Wild Cards:

AFC: Kansas City, Houston

NFC: Dallas, Washington

AFC Champion: New England

NFC Champion: Green Bay

Super Bowl LII Winner: New England

First Pick in the 2018 NFL Draft: Los Angeles Rams

MVP: Derek Carr

Coach of the Year: Mike McCarthy

Follow me at @Brendan_B81 o...

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Much better showing… From Lonzo, but not the Lakers

Lonzo Ball’s second showing was much better in Summer League, but not even a triple-double could save the Los Angeles Lakers from their pathetic defense as they fall to the Boston Celtics 86-81 in Las Vegas on Saturday evening.

Let’s be clear, the Lakers will make the playoffs this season. They will learn not to put in a terrible effort on defense. I know they only have rookies and second year players on the summer league squad, however, I want to see the team play harder on defense. The turnovers are also a major red flag right now. I fully expect these things to be rectified by the start of the regular season.

Lonzo is the epitome of a transcendent talent and smarts. It rubs off on the rest of the team. I thought offensively the team played well, like the Houston Rockets...

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Lonzo’s First Night

Lonzo Ball wasn’t really balling tonight as the Lakers get defeated by the Clippers in Summer League’s opening night.

Ball had 5 assists and 5 points and shot mostly bricks tonight. Can’t expect everything from a rookie first night on the job. I expect Ball to be overwhelmed the opening night of the ’17-18 season, but he will come along very nicely. I expect the Lakers to be the eight seed in the Western Conference and Lonzo Ball, LaVar Ball’s son, to win Rookie of the Year.

 

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