NBA -OFFSEASON UPDATES AND FREE AGENCY

This off season  has been a very interesting off season, from the free agency, to big named players being waived because of cap space. One of the biggest names that has been discussed this off season, is Dwight Howard, we now know that Howard will be playing for the Houston Rockets next season. Another big name  that had been discussed this off season was Metta World Peace (Ron Artest) who played for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. World Peace, will now headed to New York, to add to the knicks talent and will help them win a title in the 2013-2014 season. Along with these big names, we had some minor names that made a name for themselves this past post season. Mike Miller of the Miami Heat. Miller helped the Miami Heat get to the 2012-2013 finals this past season, being a key offensive three pointer shooter for the Heat. Miller is reported to have signed a deal on July 25th with his former team the Memphis Grizzlies . Miller played for the Memphis Grizzlies 2003-2008 before joining the Miami Heat in 2009, which he would go on to help the Miami heat win two titles. This past post season, we also saw another break out star in the post season, by the name of D.J Augustin. Augustin's contract with the pacers had ended after this season, and the pacers had no interest in resigning the defensive specialist. Augustin backed up George Hill in the playoffs this past season , and helped the pacers make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. Augustin next season will be taking his talents to the Toronto Raptors, where he will back up guard Kyle Lowry. On July 23rd we also learned that break out playoff star Nate Robinson of the Chicago Bulls will no longer be returning back to the bulls. When  the bulls team was beginning to fall apart in the playoffs because there team leadership etc, Nate Robinson stepped up and became a leader for the bulls teams. Even at times, Robinson would be very ill during games, (once pukeing through the entire game because of the flu), but would find a way to help the team get to the eastern conference semi finals with out the key line up. Robinson signed a two year dill with the Denver Nuggets worth up to 4.1 million over two years.

NBA UPDATES/ HEADLINES / FREE AGENCY

There has been a lot of off season free agency deals that have went on in the past few days. One of the notable off season stars that has went another route this off-season  is Carlos Delfino. Delfino was a break out star in the NBA playoffs this season, when he made his post season day bue with the Houston Rockets. Delfino was reported to have made a final deal with Milwaukee Bucks, that would pay him 6.5 million over two seasons, sending the former guard to Milwaukee. Another off season shock, is guard Mike Miller. Miller was waived this past week , because of amnesty provision, ahead of the Tuesday dead line. The heat next season would reportedly, be saving 17 million dollars, by this waive.  Miller's agent reportedly is reaching out to other teams to try to get a deal done in the coming days. We will see in the coming weeks , where the former heat guard will be playing next season. Also, there is a update on the landing spot of Metta World Peace. World Peace reportedly Monday said "He wanted to win", so he signed a contract with the knicks on Tuesday. The deal is reportedly two years, with the first year guaranteed. World Peace will be receiving 1.6 million guaranteed this season, and he will have a player option for next season. The lakers still have to pay World Peace 7.3 million dollars , because of his previous contract with the lakers. The knicks are also dealing with troubles of there own this season. Former sixth man of the year, and knicks guard J.R. Smith under went surgery this past week because of a tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee. Smith is expected to be out 3 to 4 months, which would make the guard available around mid October.

MLB ALLSTAR GAME

Last night we got to see the most anticipated MLB match up of the season. The 84th MLB baseball All-star game took place last night, and we got to see the top players in the league show off there talents and show why they were chosen to be part of the American and National teams . The first three innings of the game both teams would get off to a slow start, with both teams coming up empty. Fourth inning the nationals would come up empty, but the Americans would make the first runs of the game. Bautista would hit a sacrifice fly ball to center field, helping Cabrera score, making the score at the bottom of the fourth 1-0.  Fifth inning the nationals would come up empty once again, but the Americans would sore to greater heights, making a crucial run. Hardy would hit a ground ball to second, helping Jones score, making the score at the bottom of the fifth 2-0. Sixth inning the nationals would come up short again., while Americans would begin to grow momentum, going on to score again in the sixth , with Kipnis hitting a double to left field, helping Perez score. At the bottom of the sixth the americans would be leading 3-0. Neither team would score the rest of the game. The Americans would go on to win it, shutting out nationals 3-0.

NBA free agency/ off season

This past week has been a adventure and roll coaster in the NBA. From the NBA draft, to the NBA free agency period for various players in the league, this has started off as a very interesting off season. Various players that were caught  by the free agency period, were lakers players Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace. Dwight Howard had left the lakers organization for various reasons this offseason, and late last week he had announced, that he would be joining the Houston rockets. Howard would go on to sign on July 13, 2013,  a 4 year 88 million dollar contract with the rockets. Howard believed that between him and James Harden, they would be able to lead the Rockets to a NBA title , this coming up season. Metta World Peace has had his struggles in the past days, since getting cut from the Los Angeles lakers. Sources close to World Peace, said that he is wanting to join the Knicks, but they aren't sure if a deal with the knicks is being put together. We should know in the coming days what is happening with this situtation. Another key player in this offseason was guard for the Milwaukee bucks Monta Ellis. Ellis has debated all offseason, where he could end up next season, but he finally settled with a deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Ellis signed a three year deal worth 25 million dollars. Another guard that is also headed to Dallas to work along side Ellis is Jose Calderon who also signed for a four year deal 29 million. This year the mavericks are trying to put together another championship roster, so that they could head back to the NBA finals this season. Also during this offseason the spurs have had various players that they have re signed including players Manu Ginobili and Tiago Splitter who signed a deal for four years 36 million dollars. Another big free agent this off season was Andrew Bynum. Bynum has had his troubles since leaving the lakers, but this past week Bynum signed a 2 year worth 24 million with the Cleveland cavaliers. Sources say that the cavaliers, are trying to get a great enough team together, so that next season, when Lebron James, becomes a free agent, he can go back to the cavaliers. But this a assumption, we don't know where he will go in 2014, and if he will even leave the Heat.
(These are just a few of the big stories this offseason in the NBA )

NBA FREE AGENCY / TRADE UPDATE

Since the NBA draft ,last week there have been a lot of trades and trade talk that has occurred, with draft picks and free agency. Today we found out that the Golden State warriors would be acquiring , free agent Andre lguodala on a four year deal 48 million dollars, and sending a few players from the warriors in a trade to the Utah Jazz. The next big free agency deal that was determined today was the destination of star center Dwight Howard. USA today would report that Howard would be joining the Houston Rockets. We would later find out that Rockets current center Omar Asik would be in trade talks with the rockets trading Omar to the Atlanta Hawks for free agent Josh Smith. All of these deals haven't been finalized, and won't be able to be finalized until wednesday July 10th.

MLB TUESDAY (Updates and analysis)

Yesterday, in the world of baseball we saw a very important star returning back to the baseball field. Yesterday, we got to see a returning star hit the field since his hip surgery in January, Alex Rodriguez had his struggles since, not being able to play this regular season, but he was hopeing after this game he could return back to the Yankees and be ready to play in 3 to 4 weeks. (July 22nd). Rodriguez for the next 4 weeks will be playing with the South Carolina River Dogs and last night, he show cased how his performance will help the Yankees win he returns to the team. Last night Rodriguez would go hit less in two at bats during his first game coming off of surgery in January.
Along with this surprising news there were a lot of interesting match-ups on the Major League end of baseball. Since the Major League All-star Game is just a few days away, every team and every player is/was trying make there last strides before the all-star break. The first match-up of the evening were the NEW YORK YANKEES vs MINNESOTA TWINS . The Yankees came into this game with a record of 43-39. The twins came into this game with a record of 36-43. The first and second inning both teams would come up empty . Third inning the Yankees would come up short, but the twins would take full advantage . Mauer of the twins would hit a single to right field, helping Hicks score. At the bottom of the third the twins would be up 1-0. Fourth inning both teams would come up short once again, not being able to score any runs. Fifth inning the twins would come up short, but the Yankees would try to make a run. Gonzalez of the Yankees would hit a double to right field helping Overbay and Adams score. On the following play Suzuki would hit a infield single to the pitcher, helping Gonzalez make another run for the Yankees. By the bottom of the fifth the game had turned around for the Yankees and they would be up 3-1. Sixth inning both teams would come up empty. Seventh inning the twins would come up empty, but the Yankees would come up big, extending there lead. Gonzalez of the Yankees would hit a single to right field, helping Adams score. Later in the inning Cano of the Yankees would hit a home run to right field helping Gonzalez and Suzuki score. At the bottom of the seventh inning the Yankees were dominating, out scoring the twins 7-1. Eighth inning both teams would come up short once again. Ninth inning the Yankees would come up short, opening the door up for the twins to make a come back. Dozier of the twins would make a very important hit to left field helping Arcia and Hicks make runs home for the twins. At the bottom of the ninth the Yankees would be up 7-3, which would prove that the Yankees 5th and 7th inning performance, was to much for the twins. The Yankees would go on to win it 7-3.

U.S. WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TRIALS

In the world of swimming, we saw that United States dominated at the Olympics in 2012. We also saw that the U.S.'s only completion, the Europeans were also being challenged by a new dominator in the World of swimming. The Chinese and Japananese, last summer at the Olympic games, they were beginning to make there mark, drawing the attention from other nations such as ourselves. Particuarly on the womens side , for the Chinese. As we fast forward to this year, which is another big year for all nations for swimming and sports.This year is a World Championship year and the World Championships for swimming will be taking place in Barcelona, Spain.
This past week the U.S. Trails for the World Championships for swimming took place. We got to see some returning stars and we also had to say goodbye to some stars, who brought a lot of recognition to the sport. In the world of swimming the biggest face that represented the sport for past 10 years was Michael Phelps. As we knew, he would not be returning to the sport any more after the Olympic Games in 2012. It was hard to say goodbye to him, but we got to see some new break away stars beginning to evolve.
The First race that was a break out race for a dominate swimmer was Missy Franklin. Missy Franklin would continue to dominate, such as she did at the Olympics last year, taking away another U.S. title in the 200 free style and 100 back stroke to name a few. Other returning stars at the U.S. World Championship trials was Katie Ledecky. Ledecky was 15 at the Olympics last year, and won the womens 800 meter and 1500 meter free style at the 2012 Olympics. Ledecky would continue to dominate at the World Championship trials as well. Ledecky would win the womens 1500 meter free style in 15.47.21, making her the fastest person on the womens side in 2013. She would continue her dominance in the meet, by winning the womens 800 free style in a commanding fashion. Ledecky would win the 800 free in a time of 8.22. Ledecky would have the fastest 50 meter split of the day to finish her 800 meter free in a time of 29.1. On the mens side we also had some returning stars. Ryan Lochte, had a tremendous amount of pressure on him last year, because of the 2008 Olympics, but after beating Michael Phelps in one of his IM's he began to grow confidence. This year we would see how he would perform without his biggest motivation, "beating Michael Phelps". In the World Championship trials this time around, we saw how Dominating Ryan Lochte was. Lochte would win the 200 IM, in a time of 1.55, just to name one of the races he dominated in. Also on the men's end we had a interesting finish in the 50 meter free style. There were a lot of dominating swimmers in this race, that had been dominate for at least the past 8 years, such as swimmer Cullen Jones . Cullen Jones has had his struggles through the past few years, but he made the U.S. Olympic team for the free style relay in 2012. Jones wanted to continue to make a comeback , by making this World Championship team. In the World Championship trials Nathan Adrian would come out very powerful ,and would go on to win it with a time of 21.47. In this race the United States would have 4 of the best times this year, with five swimmers swimming under 22 seconds. On the women's end of 50 meter free style, we had little bit of a different story. The United States on the women's end of the 50 meter free style wasn't a dominate at the Olympic Games last summer so it was a race anyone could win at the Trials. Natalie Coughlin, had her struggles this past year, with not making a single team for the Olympics last summer, but she wanted to prove to everyone why she was still a dominate swimmer in the sport. In this race we also meet, a break out star from Houston, Texas Simone Manuel. Manuel had already made the team before this race for the 400 meter free style relay. In the race, Natalie Coughlin would go on to win it with a time of 24.97. Simone Manuel would go on to win second, with a time of 25.01.
This year should be another interesting year for U.S. swimmers. We will be able to see on July 17th how the U.S. swimmers stack up against other nations swimmers.