The Battle for the NL West
If you’re going to San Francisco this Labor Day weekend, prepare for an epic battle for NL West supremacy between the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With records of 85-49 (the best in baseball), the rivals are tied for first in the division. They have played each other 16 times thus far this season, with the series at an even split. The run total in those 16 games? 68-68.
The Giants began the week with a 2.5 game lead over the Dodgers, but lost three of four to the Milwaukee Brewers, while the Dodgers swept the Atlanta Braves. It all begins Friday night at 6:45 pm PST at Oracle Park, and when I say I can’t wait, I mean that in the most literal sense.
Jamison Crowder
With their first game of the 2021 season just over a week away, the New York Jets may be without Jamison Crowder, as the wide receiver has tested positive for COVID-19, as reported by NFL Media. In addition, Crowder has been dealing with a groin injury, so his status was already unknown.
If he is vaccinated, Crowder will need to test negative two times, one day apart, to return. If he’s not, then he will be out a minimum of 10 days.
The Jets open their season on Sept. 12 in Carolina when they take on the Panthers at 1:00 pm EST.
NBA Trade Alert
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Brooklyn Nets are trading DeAndre Jordan, four future-second round picks and $5.78 million to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya.
Also from Wojnarowski, the Pistons want to work on a buyout for Jordan. The picks sent will be Brooklyn’s own 2022 and 2027 second-round picks, a 2024 from the Washington Wizards and a 2025 from the Golden State Warriors.
And last, but not least, from Wojnarowski, the Nets are signing LaMarcus Aldridge to a one-year, $2.6 million deal. Aldridge recently retired due to heart concerns but has been medically cleared to play.
Ahkello Witherspoon to the Steelers
When you need an NFL corner, who you gonna call? Apparently the Seattle Seahawks so you can acquire CB Ahkello Witherspoon. At least – as first reported by NFL Network – that’s what the Pittsburgh Steelers did. The Seahawks get a 2023 fifth-round draft pick in exchange for the cornerback.
Witherspoon, who was drafted in 2017 by the San Francisco 49ers, signed a one-year, $4 million dollar deal with the Seahawks earlier this year, but became a trade candidate when D.J. Reed moved from right to left cornerback. They got him moving side-to-side…but I digress.
In four seasons with San Francisco, Witherspoon recorded 116 tackles and had four interceptions and 24 passes defended.
David Patten
Former NFL wide receiver David Patten passed away on Thursday after a motorcycle crash in South Carolina. Patten played for in the NFL for 12 years and won three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots.
In a statement, Patriots owner Robert Kraft said of Patten: “I am heartbroken by the news of David’s passing. He was a devout Christian who followed his passion following his football career and founded his own ministry. David transitioned from an undersized and understated wide receiver to a powerful and passionate preacher. In New England, he will always be remembered as a three-time Super Bowl Champion…Our sincerest sympathies are with his wife, Galiena, his family, and all who are mourning David’s tragic and untimely death.”
We send our thoughts and prayers to the Patten family.