New Orleans Pelicans: 23-year-old Bryce Dejean-Jones shot dead in Dallas...

2016 MLB Top 10 Power Rankings

New Orleans Pelicans: 23-year-old Bryce Dejean-Jones shot dead in Dallas apartment

The NBA family has lost a young player to a violent crime on Saturday morning in Dallas. NBA rookie guard Bryce Dejean-Jones of the New Orleans Pelicans, was fatally shot after breaking down doors to a Dallas apartment. The intruder was met by a resident who retrieved his handgun and called out to no avail. Next, he would go on to take the fatal shot.

Dejean-Jones was struck in the abdomen and ran out the complex where he would then collapse. The young man was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Dejean-Jones’ agent, Scott Nichols spoke with CNN and said that “he was at the wrong place at the wrong time”. I definitely have an issue with that statement, because nobody told Dejean-Jones to kick down apartment doors in search of his young daughter’s mother; which happened to be the wrong apartment at that. 

A child should never be put in the middle, and used against the other parent, as in this case reported by sources. These actions allegedly had him in a rage and high emotion. More details are still being gathered, on what made Dejean-Jones kick down an apartment door that was claimed to be his estranged girlfriend’s home. 

Violence is never the answer, regardless of the circumstances in front of you. I’ve been reading many of the comments out there on social media and in the news, and they’re calling Dejean-Jones a thug that should’ve been killed. That’s unfair to say at the same token, because we weren’t there and don’t know the full story as of yet. It’s easy to give an opinion when it’s not you in the situation. However, sports figures aren’t immune to violence and/or prosecution. Having money is one thing, but understanding the law is another.

So let’s be mindful and respect this young man’s family in this tragic loss. But I can understand the other side, where as a resident of your own home, you need to protect yourself and family from intruders. 

This was a 23-year-old young man with a bright future. He had recently signed a three-year, $2 million deal with the Pelicans. Dejean-Jones played college basketball at USC, UNLV and Iowa State respectively. He then went undrafted in 2015. Just a sad story altogether.

2016 MLB Top 10 Power Rankings

 

1. Chicago Cubs: 33-14
2. San Francisco Giants: 31-20
3. New York Mets: 28-20
4. Seattle Mariners: 28-20
5. Boston Red Sox: 29-20
6. Pittsburgh Pirates: 28-20
7. Washington Nationals: 29-21
8. Texas Rangers: 28-21
9. Baltimore Orioles: 27-20
10. Kansas City Royals: 26-22

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2016 MLB Top 10 Power Rankings

1. Chicago Cubs: 29-13
2. Washington Nationals: 27-17
3. Boston Red Sox: 27-17
4. Seattle Mariners: 26-17
5. Baltimore Orioles: 26-16
6. San Francisco Giants: 27-19
7. Chicago White Sox: 26-18
8. New York Mets: 25-18
9. Texas Rangers: 25-19
10. Philadelphia Phillies: 25-19

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Jeff Hornacek makes shockwaves across the NBA world

San Francisco 49ers: Can Colin Kaepernick revive his career?

San Francisco 49ers: Can Colin Kaepernick revive his career?

Once upon a time, San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick was dubbed the next great quarterback in the NFL. In his 2012 coming out season, Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl and was just one play shy of returning back for redemption in his next season.

Currently, Kaepernick has become a pariah in the organization. In this year’s offseason, it was widely publicized that the Niners were looking to move Kaepernick to the Denver Broncos, however, that trade didn’t fall through. That showed Kaepernick that the 49ers didn’t want anything to do with him and his guaranteed $11.9 million. The team didn’t believe Kaepernick was the future quarterback of this team.

The past two seasons hasn’t been easy on anyone in the organization, and especially for Colin Kaepernick. The once talented offensive and defensive super team with former head coach Jim Harbaugh at the helm, are now just a depleted roster that looks physically and emotionally beat down.

Last season, the former brass knuckled Jim Harbaugh ran to coach the University of Michigan. Harbaugh must’ve seen the writing on the wall that his team wasn’t going to be a championship contender after a two-year deep playoff run with Kaepernick. Could you blame a guy that’s looking out for himself and his legacy; you can’t. 

Kaepernick is still a young quarterback that has many years to play at a high level. People need to understand that Kaepernick is a mobile quarterback that has a hell of an arm. He definitely has a place in the NFL. Even if it’s not with the 49ers.

What some people don’t realize is that, your numbers can be inflated depending on the system you’re playing in. We saw that with Kaepernick the previous seasons with coach Harbaugh. The 49ers’ had a strong offensive line that protected their gem, and that propelled Kaepernick in the pocket, to make the short, and at times long pass to receivers.

Newly 49ers’ head coach Chip Kelly, will be looking to shake things up as he brings a set of skills that few coaches carry. Kelly loves to have a quarterback that’s athletic, can run the ball, and that has great timing and accuracy. We’ll just have to see how things play out this coming NFL season with Kaepernick and Kelly side by side. But first, Kaepernick needs to fight for the starting quarterback position, as it’s not set in stone that he’ll be the starter.

In all, the Niners are going to be a terrible team, but Kelly is known to turn things around fast. But with the lack of talent I wouldn’t bet my house on it.

Jeff Hornacek makes shockwaves across the NBA world

The biggest surprise and news across the NBA this week, has been the presumed hiring of Jeff Hornacek with the New York Knicks. Nobody across basketball seen this coming, as Knicks President Phil Jackson has made it very clear that he only wants a coach that he knows, and that will run his outdated triangle offense; fair or unfair.

So now, this will put all the speculations to rest if Jackson would hand out interim head coach and friend Kurt Rambis a multi-year deal. The question stands, what happens next for Ramis and will he stay with the organization or just completely pack it up? I think that Jackson will have something planned for him that will keep him close. We all know that Ramis doesn’t have any viable options out there in the NBA to coach a team.

Hornacek was a gunner for the Utah Jazz in the 90’s with Karl Malone and John Stockton, where he would go on to win two NBA Western Conference titles. Previously Hornacek was the head coach for the offensively fast-paced Phoenix Suns that were loaded with great point guards in Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas. Hornacek would later be fired after only two seasons. 

The hiring of Jeff Hornacek was a stunner for Knicks fans and anyone that follows basketball. Some people are even asking can he even coach. That’s totally a valid question because he wasn’t successful in Phoenix, and the league only got to see a small portion of his work.

Jackson seemed to be in love with the idea of hiring Hornacek for some time now, and sources have come out and said he’s been Phil’s main target to fill the vacancy. With the Hornacek hiring, this will give the organization and fans some hope in landing a premium point guard in free agency this summer. 

All eyes right now are on Rajon Rondo filling the talentless point guard position for the Knicks. Rondo’s connection with former high school teammate Carmelo Anthony may also help bringing him to New York. They both played together at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. But whatever happens Hornacek will bring a free flowing offense that New York hasn’t seen since Mike D’Antoni.