Month: May 2024

The Edmonton Oilers beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in Game 7 on Monday night at Rogers Arena to win the series, and advance to the Western Conference final.

Edmonton scored three times in the second period, with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scoring a goal and an assist, goals from Zach Hyman and Cody Cecik, and two assists from Evan Bouchard, while Stuart Skinner finished with 15 saves to secure the win against Vancouver.

Edmonton now returns to the conference finals for the second time in three years. Game 1 against the Dallas Stars is set to take place in Dallas on Thursday night.

Editorial credit: CESM I Studio / Shutterstock.com

MLB has opened an investigation on Monday into allegations that former Los Angeles Angels infielder and current Atlanta Braves minor leaguer David Fletcher placed bets with Mathew Bowyer, the illegal bookmaker at the center of the Ippei Mizuhara scandal. Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani’s friend and longtime interpreter, is alleged to have stolen over $16 million from Ohtani to cover his gambling debts; Ohtani and Fletcher were teammates with the Angels from 2018-23, and are said to be close friends.  Meanwhile Mizuhara entered a not guilty plea earlier this week as he negotiates a plea deal with prosecutors; he is facing up to 33 years in prison for bank fraud, among other charges.

ESPN reported Friday that Fletcher, 29, who is currently playing for the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, bet on sports — but not baseball — with Mathew Bowyer, the Southern California bookmaker who took wagers from Mizuhara. Fletcher’s friend Colby Schultz, a former Kansas City Royals minor leaguer, also bet with Bowyer and wagered on baseball, including on Angels games that Fletcher played in while he was on the team, according to sources.

MLB source said that ‘government cooperation will be crucial in a case like this where we don’t have evidence,” with MLB investigators planning to interview with Fletcher at some point (though he has the right to refuse cooperation if he can claim he could be the subject of a criminal investigation). MLB sources have said that if a player bets illegally on sports other than baseball, it’s likely they would receive a fine rather than a suspension. Players and team personnel are forbidden from betting on baseball, even legally, and can face up to a lifetime ban if they do so. Any baseball-related discipline, including a lifetime ban, is up to the discretion of commissioner Rob Manfred.

Fletcher, a career .276/.323/.358 hitter, signed a five-year extension worth $26 million in April 2021, however the Angels traded him to the Braves in a salary dump trade this past offseason, who then proceeded to place Fletcher on waivers, where he went unclaimed.

Editorial credit: Conor P. Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com

The Indiana Pacers defeated the NY Knicks 130-109 in Game 7 of their second round playoff series, and will now advance to Eastern Conference finals.

Tyrese Haliburton led the Pacers with 26 points, six assists, and four rebounds, while Pascal Siakam scored 20 points. The Knicks’ star guard Jalen Brunson exited the game after suffering a fractured hand halfway through the third quarter, and while New York’s Donte DiVincenzo led the Knicks with 39 points, and Alec Burks contributed another 26, it wasn’t enough to ward off the dominating performance from Indiana.

The Pacers will meet the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday.

**
The Minnesota Timberwolves rallied to beat the reigning champions Denver Nuggets in Game 7 on Sunday night, wining with a score of 98-90 to advance to the Western Conference Finals. The Timberwolves made NBA history to become the first team to win a Game 7 after being down 15+ at the half.

The Nuggets blew a 20-point, second-half lead as the Timberwolves went on a 21-3 run in the third quarter, and ended the frame on a 28-9 advantage to make it a one-point game going to the fourth quarter. Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points and 11 rebounds, with Anthony Edwards adding 16 points on 6-of-24 shooting, and Rudy Gobert adding 13 points and nine rebounds to help bring the Timberwolves back to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 20 years.

Minnesota will face the Dallas Mavericks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday, May 22.

Editorial credit: Aligator Pro / Shutterstock.com

All-Pro running back David Johnson announced his retirement after eight NFL seasons on Sunday via Instagram.

Johnson wrote in his post: “Who would have thought this kid would be the first pro athlete to come out of small town Clinton, IA. Chasing a dream when all but 2 D1AA college coaches thought I was good enough for a scholarship. I am blessed and very appreciative of the Cardinals drafting me in the 3rd round and I started my NFL career hitting the ground running (literally)! 2 games in, getting my uniform and cleats put in the Pro football Hall of Fame in Canton. There’s been highs and lows, but I’ve felt very fortunate and honored by the people who’ve supported me along this journey. The relationships and brotherhoods I’ve formed with so many of my dawgs will never be forgotten. I’m going to miss the locker room, dining hall, and before meeting vibes. Guys from different backgrounds, ethnicities, struggles, and countries just talking about all aspects of life………..and of course joking around. When it’s all said and done, I really hope I impacted at least 1 person on and off the field in a positive way. I hope I was able to pay it forward, from the countless people who guided and taught me the right way to go about business, and giving back with integrity and a humble demeanor! And to the numerous coaches who sharpened my skills in playing this sport. I am forever grateful of you, truly! Lastly, I would not have been able to do any of this without Gods good grace! He did it all so a kid who didn’t have much, was given a chance to do what most can’t. I’m looking forward to my next career path in life. I don’t know exactly what that will be, but I hope it will bring me the same passion, excitement, and love as football did! ”

Johnson, who last played in a regular-season game in 2022 for the New Orleans Saints, amassed 6,876 yards from scrimmage and 58 touchdowns in eight seasons. He was drafted in the third round (No. 86 overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft by then-Cardinals general manager Steve Keim; and two games into his pro career, Johnson’s jersey and cleats were sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, after he became the first player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and kickoff return touchdown within the first two games of a career.

Johnson played five seasons in Arizona before he was traded to the Houston Texans as part of the DeAndre Hopkins trade in 2020, where he remained for two seasons before appearing in five games for the Saints in 2022. He finishes his career with 4,071 yards rushing and 2,805 yards receiving — of his 58 touchdowns, 39 came rushing, 18 receiving and one on a kickoff return. He had 33 rushing touchdowns with the Cardinals, tied for third in franchise history.

Editorial credit: April Visuals / Shutterstock.com