Wellllll, Game 1 of Warriors-Cavaliers did not go to plan. That's fine. It's a lot easier to beat LarBon Jim, the Kang, in one game than it is four over the course of seven.
LeBron James is 1-7 in NBA Finals Game 1s in his career pic.twitter.com/pODiMHJEpw
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 2, 2017
Though Ohio lives to fight another day, it's refreshing to know our governor has her constituents' back by providing a rallying cry:
Rihanna: "it doesn't matter, bitch", as she passes Cavs locker room. pic.twitter.com/6DJDBL25Gj
— Tony Zarrella (@TonyZ19) June 2, 2017
ICYMI:
- Four-star DE Andrew Chatfield committed to Ohio State last night.
- In Chatfield, the local team landed one of the most versatile athletes in the country.
- Heat Check: Ohio State has the No. 2 class of 2018 and two top 50 prospects are set to announce in join.
- Keith Byars, Jim Otis, and Chris Ward nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame.
- Help put a life-size statue of Woody Hayes in his hometown of Newcomerstown, Ohio.
Word of the Day: Souse.
AUBURN ON SOME BULLSHIT. Ohio State made a run for four-star DT Antwuan Jackson in 2015-16. For whatever reason, Jackson chose to enroll at Auburn instead.
But after one season at Alabama's second most famous football school, Jackson is looking to move to greener pastures. Unfortunately, he can't land at Ohio State because the NCAA's draconian transfer laws allow schools to block grown men from making certain decisions about their life.
From thestate.com:
Jackson said he doesn’t know what he’ll do if his appeal is denied. Going to junior college for a season is on the table as well as schools in other Power 5 Conferences like the Big 10, Big 12 or ACC.
“My question was: Why are they blocking Ohio State for no reason?” Jackson said. “They just put Ohio State on there for no reason. My question to them is why are they blocking me from a Big Ten school when they don’t have anything to do with Big Ten schools? Why didn’t they block me from Michigan or Indiana or any other Big Ten school? Why would they do that immediately?”
Also included in that list: Any SEC school, Clemson, Mercer, and Georgia Southern. (Auburn apparently couldn't beat Mercer or Georgia Southern this fall if Jackson transferred there.)
But this is another example of the NCAA's ham-fisted policies when it comes to players. Coaches can leave in the dead of night for a sack of money. Yet when it comes to players controlling their destiny, you get things like Bill Snyder rambling about why it's actually good his school banned a player from transferring to 35 other schools:
Bill Snyder goes on a dissertation about the decision to deny Corey Sutton the opportunity to transfer. @KCTV5 #KState #KstateFB pic.twitter.com/qTUkfnb7bO
— Andrew Carter (@Andrew__Carter) June 2, 2017
For guys that get paid millions of dollars to coach football teams, they seem insecure about their ability to win if a menial player transfers to another school. Somehow that's gross professionalization of an amateur sport while their ballooning salaries are not.
Let's move on before I take my shirt off.
SLOB SPRING CLEANING. Three offensive position groups face scrutiny from fans this season: Wide receivers, the line, and J.T. Barrett.
Of the Slobs, the right guard spot is the most volatile. Demetrius Knox looked to separate himself during spring yet missed the end of spring practice due to the always ominous "academic issues."
That leaves the door open for guys like Matt Burrell.
From Kyle Morgan of theozone.net:
The void at Right Guard will be heavily contested throughout Fall camp and one that could even fluctuate as the season rolls along. Redshirt Sophomore Matthew Burrell used a solid Spring to propel himself into the conversation, and displayed a well-rounded skill set in April’s Spring Game. Burrell uses good hand timing and placement, as well as the ability to independently use his arms and legs to anchor versus opponents. Furthermore, Matthew uses good lateral agility and footwork to match defenders in pass protection and is most successful when he utilizes good pad level at the point of contact. This is something Burrell will have to execute consistently if he hopes to win the starting spot.
Burrell is a guy I really liked when he committed. Coaches identified him as a "must-have" prospect of the now-maligned 2015 class. Billy Price raved about the growth of Burrell this spring.
If he transfers that into the summer, he could make be Ohio State's starting right guard when it kicks off its 2017 season on Aug. 31 against Indiana in Bloomington.
TALENTED #TEEN COMMITS. Here's a thing to watch tonight: Four-star 2018 linebacker Teradja Mitchell will announce his collegiate commitment at 7 p.m. from the confines of Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School in Virginia Beach.
It's a fight between the local team and the Florida State Honey Barbecue Chickens.
Florida State is obviously the favorite, but my three wise cats say otherwise. Pick your GIFs accordingly, folks.
And for those uninitiated to Mitchell's powers, here's why he's one of the top high school inside linebackers in the country:
ZEKE JUDGMENT SOON. It looks like the NFL's 12-month investigation into allegations of Ezekiel Elliott domestically abusing his then-girlfriend will be complete before the 2017 season kicks off in September.
From dallasnews.com:
Sources confirm that representatives for the Cowboys running back and the NFL Players Association have turned over phone records and other documents to the league. Those acquainted with the process view this as one of the final steps on the way to a resolution, one that should come before the regular season begins.
The league’s investigation into allegations of domestic violence by Elliott is now in its 12th month. Commissioner Roger Goodell has publicly stated there’s no timetable, that the process is driven by the need to be thorough “and to come to the right conclusion.’’
Politics and public perception has more to do with this prolonged investigation than exhaustive due diligence. A league that didn’t take the issue of domestic abuse seriously enough for too long needs to assure the public it now does.
Please remember: I did not type that third paragraph. Those opinions are not mine.
THIS AUTHOR MUST HAVE A LOT OF SEX. Alright, which one of ya'll broke this author's fragile heart and prevented them from living a fulfilled life in the cradle of civilization?
Ohio State, famous for its "shattering mediocrity." (From a book I didn't like and don't recommend.) pic.twitter.com/efNIksnNZl
— Kaitlin Fochesato (@KaitFochesato) June 1, 2017
Columbus: Not for the weak at heart.
THOSE WMDs. The best sportswriting advice I ever received... A visit to the robot factory in Ohio... Gregg Allman's over there... Sequence of Juno Spacecraft's close approach to Jupiter... Vietnam Veterans Memorial founder: Wall almost never got built... The joy of fax.
