J-Speaks: Another World Series For Red Sox

They Boston Red Sox were not only the best team in the American League during the 2018 regular season but the best in all of Major League Baseball with 108 wins. They took that same dominance into the postseason knocking off the rival New York Yankees in American League Divisional Series 3-1 and the Houston Astros in the American Championship Series 4-1. In fitting fashion, “The Sox” would cap their epic season with a solid performance in Hollywood that was a complete team effort.

The American League East champion Red Sox (108-54) won their fourth World Series crown since 2004 with a 5-1 win at the Los Angeles Dodgers (92-71), who were taken down in the World Series for the second straight October in their own house.

The Red Sox finished their great season behind World Series MVP Steve Pearce, who the American League champs acquired from the Division rival Toronto Blue Jays in June had three home runs in a shade under than 24 hours. His third shot into bleachers of Dodgers’ Stadium, a two-run homer off the home team’s ace Clayton Kershaw’s sixth pitch.

The life-long Red Sox fan, who had seven runs batted in the final 11 innings of the series said to ABC News’ Kayna Whitworth after the win, “This has been the funnest year of my life.”

His father echoed those same thoughts to Whitworth that it was not only special to see his son in a Red Sox uniform in the World Series but to watch him win series MVP was a dream come true.

The Red Sox put some distance between themselves and the Dodgers in the seventh inning thanks to a solo homer by JD Martinez.

“Everybody wants to step up. Everybody wants to be, you know the guy and stuff like that. I feel like when you get to this point you don’t even care who hits the home run. Who gets the hit,” the Red Sox outfielder said after the game to ABC News’ Kayna Whitworth. “As long as someone does it and your able to just get the win.”

Red Sox pitcher David Price who has had his struggles in his postseason career had complete control on the mound pitching a seven-inning gem as he retired 14 Dodger hitters, five of which by strikeouts.

The 33-year-old Price, a Cy Young Award recipient in 2012 has had a lot of success during the regular season in his 10-year career, only to flame out during the postseason with a 0-9 mark before defeating Houston Astros top pitcher Justin Verlander in the Game 5 clincher of the ALCS.

Price’s victory on Sunday was his third straight in as many starts and he became the first pitcher to beat a Cy Young winner in the last game of a League Championship Series and the World Series in the same season. Not bad for a guy who at one time wanted to quit baseball when he was at Vanderbilt.

“I don’t think about that day really ever,” Price who won his second game in the series said to Whitworth after the win. “It was a lapse in judgment on my part and my family and coach [Tim] Corbin, and my inner circle really rallied around me at that time.”

Perhaps the most grateful Red Sox on this night was lead off hitter and centerfielder Mookie Betts, who also hit a solo homer in the seventh inning gave the visitors some breathing room. Those heroics in Game 5 by Betts were equaled by what he did off the field during this World Series.

After the Red Sox 4-2 win versus the Dodgers in Game 2 last Wednesday that put them up 2-0 Betts along with another man were spotted by a VIP host for night clubs in the Boston, MA area saw handing out trays of food to homeless people outside Boston Public Library.

The act of kindness was done with no fanfare-no media cameras and once Betts accomplished his good deed he walked off into the night once people began leaving the nearby nightspot.

“Me and my family take pride in with the blessings that we have and giving and blessing other people,” Betts said to Whitworth.

That same feeling of gratitude is what Red Sox fans felt as they packed Kenmore Square was packed with individuals singing the famed song played during the 8^th inning at Fenway Park “Sweet Caroline,” the 1969 hit by Neil Diamond.

On Sunday night, the Boston Red Sox won their ninth title in franchise history, their fourth in 15 years. Those nine titles tie the Oakland Athletics for third-most in MLB history. The St. Louis Cardinals are second with 11 championships and the hated rivals of the Red Sox the New York Yankees are first all-time with 27.

Behind a 7-1 mark on the road and a 10-0 mark in the postseason when scoring first, the Boston Red Sox won their ninth title overall, with four coming in the last 15 seasons, tying the Oakland Athletics for third most in MLB history trailing the St. Louis Cardinals (11) and the hated rival New York Yankees (27).

It was a complete team effort led by standout performances by newcomer Steve Pearce, JD Martinez, David Price and Mookie Betts. They all played a role and never took the shine away from their teammate during their moments in the sun. That act of selflessness is why the Red Sox are champions again and will celebrate with their fans in a championship parade on Halloween morning on Wednesday at 11 a.m. 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 10/8/17 www.boston.com story, “How ‘Sweet Caroline’ Became Fenway’s Beloved (and Detested) Ballpark Anthem,” by Kevin Slane; 10/26/18 https://boston.cbslocal.com story, “Mookie Betts Quietly Delivered Food to Homeless After Game 2 World Series Win,” by Paul Burton; 10/29/18 7 a.m. edition of ABC News’ “Good Morning America,” with Robin Roberts, Ginger Zee, George Stephanopoulos, Cecilia Vega, and Adrienne Bankert, with report from Kayna Whitworth; 10/30/18 www.sbnation.com story, “Red Sox Parade 2018: Date, Time, Route, and Other Details About the World Series Celebration;” www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameid=381028119; https://vucommodores.com/coaches.aspx?rc=14; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Price_(baseball); and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_World_Series.

J-Speaks: Brees' Up the NFL's All-Time Mark for Passing Yards and Touchdowns

Who are the best quarterbacks in the National Football League today? Some say it’s Tom Brady of the five-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. Others say it is Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers. One player who might not be getting the kind of national recognition as the other two is the signal caller in the “Big Easy,” who in two of the last three weeks has risen up the all-time record books. 

In the Saints 43-19 win versus the Washington Redskins (4-2) on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football,” future Hall of Famer Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints first surpassed  Hall of Fame signal caller Brett Favre (71,838) for the No. 2 spot on the all-time passing yards list with a with a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josh Hill that capped a 13-play 75-yard drive in the second quarter. 

He moved into No. 1 passing fellow future Hall of Famer and New Orleans native Peyton Manning, the son of former Saints QB and Hall of Famer Archie Manning with a 62-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Tre’Quan Smith in the second quarter made him the all-time leader in passing yards in NFL history with 72,103 when the night concluded. 

“First and fore most we wanted to get the win,” Brees, who went 26 for 29 passing for 363 yards and three touchdowns said to Scott Van Pelt on ESPN’s “Sportscenter with Scott Van Pelt” after the win. “This was obviously a stressful week in preparation for this because I really wanted everyone’s mind to be on playing this game one play at a time and finding a way to win this game.” 

“Just knowing this could be a tight game all the way through and here lingers this record. At what point does this happen if it does? Does it break the momentum and just all those things?” 

“So, you just mentally try to prepare yourself but at the end of the day it was just great execution. Focusing on winning the game and if it happens it happens. I don’t think you could’ve drawn it up any better.” 

It did get better two weeks later when the Saints when the NFL’s top scoring offense overtook the top scoring defense as the NFC South leaders  at 4-1 won at the Baltimore Ravens 24-23 on Sunday afternoon as Brees with the a one-yard scoring pass to veteran tight end Benjamin Watson in the second quarter became joined Manning, Favre and Brady as the only players in NFL history to throw 500 touch down passes or more. Brees with a five-yard TD pass to wideout Michael Thomas late in the fourth quarter gave him 501 for his career. 

“It’s a significant benchmark, yet you’re in the middle of the game and you’re not really paying attention to it,” Saints head coach Sean Payton said of his QB’s trek up the NFL record books, where his passing yard mark now stands at 72,315. “I think more importantly, it’s the final team he needed to beat.” 

It was indeed as Brees, who went 22 for 32 for 212 yards passing and those two scores beat the Ravens for the first time in five career tries as ironically enough joined Favre and Manning as the only quarterbacks to defeat all 32 teams in the NFL. There was a point in time that Brees making it atop the NFL’s all-time list for passing yards and passing touchdowns was not possible. 

When Brees was selected by the San Diego Chargers, now Los Angeles Chargers at No. 32 in the 2001 NFL Draft all that the former Purdue Boilermaker wanted was to become a starting quarterback. 

He not only became a starter for the lightning bolts, Brees became the guy that the organization hoped would lead them to a Super Bowl one day. 

That all changed in 2005 finale when the Austin, TX native injured his throwing shoulder in Week 17 versus their AFC West rival the Denver Broncos. 

The Chargers already had Brees air parent Philip Rivers waiting in the wings and just like that Brees was looking for a new opportunity elsewhere. 

Some doctors though after checking out Brees’ shoulder according to a report from MNF’s sideline reporter Lisa Salters during the Redskins versus Saints contest gave him a 25 percent chance of coming back from. 

Just Brees was broken so was the city of New Orleans, LA as it was trying to fight its way back from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina months prior. 

Together the Saints and Brees heeled each other as he signed with the team on a six-year $60 million deal. Brees helped lead the Saints to victory 23-3 in the first home game following the Hurricane at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on “Monday Night Football” versus their NFC South rivals the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 1, 2006. 

That victory, one of 10 the Saints had that season, taking the NFC South was only the start of things for Brees, Coach Payton and the Saints as they made it to their first NFC Championship Game appearance that same season. They lose that at the Chicago Bears. 

Three seasons later Brees and the Saints would beat the Favre led Minnesota Vikings in the NFC title game and then to victory in Super Bowl XLIV over Manning and the Indianapolis Colts, which was dubbed “The Miracle in Miami” 31-17. 

“There are so many people that are responsible for this,” Brees said of what he has done as the leader of the Saints from his teammates, the front office to the fans of the “Big Easy.” 

“I just hope they all know where my heart is and its with them. I wouldn’t want to play for any other coach. He’s one of the main guys that I wake up everyday saying, ‘I want to prove him right. Still, 13 years later for taking that chance on me.’”

That chance turned the Saints not only into one of the best offenses in the NFL the past 13 years but a consistent winner that had a real shot of making the playoffs. It turned Brees from a guy many questioned if he could have a decent career into a sure fire first ballot Hall of Famer, who on “Monday Night Football” versus the Falcons on Dec. 26, 2011 broke Hall of Fame signal caller Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins all-time single season passing record as Brees finished with 5,476. Manning would surpass that mark by one yard at 5,477 two seasons later with the Broncos. 

The black and gold jersey and cleats Brees wore on that night went to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH. 

When Brees set the all-time passing mark, he handed the game ball to Hall of Fame President and CEO David Baker and for sure that white black and gold jersey and cleats he set the record in were taken as well to be put on display in the Hall of Fame. 

As the 73,000 fans were showing their love to Brees after he set another NFL all-time mark, he hugged his three sons and said to them for those watching on television to hear through the “Monday Night Mic,” “Hey boys, how about that? How about that? Hey, I love you guys so much. You can accomplish anything if you’re willing to work for it right? I love you boys so much.” 

After greeting his family and receiving hugs and congratulations from his teammates on the field, Brees went over the sidelines to hug Coach Payton, which was followed by the signal caller getting him mind back to the task at hand by saying, “Let’s go win the game now.” 

“Monday Night Football” play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore said while the record was taking place that when Drew Brees first signed with the Saints 12 seasons back that “they desperately needed a hero and he needed to be one.” 

He not only became a hero on the field, he in his own way became the savior of that part of Louisiana. 

Beyond just setting the completion record in NFL history with 6,392 and counting. Breaking the all-time mark for consecutive games with a touchdown pass, surpassing late great Hall of Famer Johnny Unitas at on Oct. 7, 2012 versus ironically enough the Chargers at 47, which would end at 54 straight contests. The highest single-season completion percentage that he set at 71.2 percent in 2011, while having the highest career completion percentage in league history with 67.2. The most 5,000-yard passing seasons with five and now the the all-time mark for passing yards in NFL history, while joining the 500-touchdown club Drew Brees has become winner both on and off the gridiron.  

More than anything, the past 18 seasons we have seen him go from an unknown into not just a well-known football player but into a proud loving person who cherishes his head coach in Sean Payton, his teammates and above all his wife of 16 years, who he met in college Brittany and their four children sons Baylen, Bowen, Callen, and daughter Rylen. 

They were right there, along with owner Gayle Benson, the wife of the late great owner Tom Benson who passed away on Mar. 15 at the age of 90 for this historic moment were on the field for that historic moment. 

There are many players who only make it into the Hall of Fame when they are voted in. Brees because of the records he has achieved already has a place in the Hall of Fame and when that will make it even more special for the player who took that enormous chip he had on his shoulder from his college days to injuring his throwing shoulder 13 years back when and made himself into a player that will enshrined in Canton, OH when his playing days are done, which seems like it will not be anytime soon. 

“We we’re happy for him. We all had tears in our eyes for him and watching him share it with his family made it that much more special,” “NFL Today” on CBS studio analyst and co-host of Showtime’s “Inside the NFL” Boomer Esiason said about the feelings he, former NFL players and former teammates had for Brees. 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 10/8/18 8 p.m. edition of ESPN’s “Monday Night Kickoff,” engineered by GMC; 10/8/18 8:15 p.m. ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” contest between Washington Redskins and New Orleans Saints with Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Anthony “Booger” McFarland, and Lisa Salters; 10/9/18 9 p.m. edition of Showtime’s “Inside the NFL,” with James Brown, Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, Ray Lewis, and Steve Smith, Sr.; 10/21/18 7 p.m. edition of “Football Night in America” on NBC with Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Mike Florio; www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/2580/drew-brees; www.espn.com/nfl/recap?gameid=401030384; www.espn.com/nfl/game/_/gameid/401030384; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Super_Bowl_champions; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_New_Orleans_Saints_season; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drew_Brees.  

J-Speaks: All-Star Forward Blake Griffin's Career Night

When the Detroit Pistons traded for All-Star Blake Griffin last January, he was a player that came in with a lot to prove. Things did not go well for himself in terms of lifting the team back into the playoff picture. His historic performance on Tuesday night showed that the work and focus he put in this off-season really has paid off and that he has every intention of getting the boys from the “Motor City” back into the postseason. 

In the Pistons (3-0) 133-132 overtime win versus the Philadelphia 76ers (2-2), Griffin, a five-time All-Star posted a career-high 50 points with 14 rebounds and six assists, going 20 for 35 from the field, including 5 for 10 from three-point range. 

How good was Griffin’s performance in front of the home fans at Little Caesars Arena? He became the first player in Pistons’ franchise history with a 50-plus point, 10-plus rebound, 5-plus assists performance. Griffin’s point total was the seventh-best for a single-game in franchise history.

This is a franchise that has had Hall of Famers Isiah Thomas, Dave Bing, recent inductee Grant Hill and Bob Lanier, Joe Dumars, and Bill Laimbeer to name a few to play in Detroit, MI. 

Griffin also became the first Piston to score 50 points since Richard “Rip” Hamilton did it back on Dec. 27, 2006 when he scored 51 in a triple-overtime loss to the New York Knicks. 

He became just the fifth player in franchise history to reach the half century mark in scoring, joining the aforementioned Hamilton, George Yardley, who scored 51 points on Jan. 15, 1958 and then 52 points on Feb. 4, 1958; Bing, who scored 54 on Feb. 21, 1971; Kelly Tripucka, who scored 56 on Jan. 29, 1983 and Jerry Stackhouse put up a single-game franchise record 57 back on Apr. 3, 2001.  

What made this night even more special is that when Griffin was called upon to put the Pistons back on the high side of the scoreboard in the final seconds of the extra period, he delivered as he connected on a driving layup with 05.6 seconds left to tie the score. He was also fouled and finished off the three-point play that would end up being the game-winner. 

“It was just a read and Coach [Dwane] Casey said, ‘I want you to make a call,’ and like I said he drew up a great play,” Griffin, said to FOX Sports Detroit’s Johnny Kane after the win. “We were fortunate enough to get to the basket. Got the ‘And One’ and get out of here with a win.”

He added about that eventual game-clinching free throw, which put him at 5 for 11 from the charity stripe on the evening, “I had to make up for missing six straight free throws at the beginning of the game. So, I’m going to ice and get to the free throw line.” 

The other thing that this game did for Griffin personally is remind people how good this five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA Second Team selection and 2011 Rookie of the Year was in his first nine-and-a-half years with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

A big reason for that is the last four seasons have seen Griffin have to deal with injuries that have shelved him for a total of 107 games. 

By not rehabbing this past off-season, Griffin got a chance to really work on his game, while also being able to develop some serious cohesion with fellow All-Star teammate Andre Drummond, lead guard Reggie Jackson and the rest of the squad in training camp earlier this fall under new head coach in Casey and his coaching staff. 

Cohesion that has helped the Pistons pull out off victories in their first three games versus the Brooklyn Nets (1-2) 103-100 on opening night on Oct. 17; by 118-116 score at the Chicago Bulls (0-3) three nights later and as mentioned in overtime versus the Sixers.   

Along with Griffin’s stellar performance on Tuesday night, Jackson chipped in with 23 points, while his understudy Ishmael “Ish” Smith scored 21 points on 9 for 12 from the field and starting shooting guard Reggie Bullock had 17. 

“These guys have made it easy from Day One,” Griffin said to NBATV’s Kristen Ledlow, Thomas, and Hill after the game. “The way they like embraced me right away I felt nothing but love, and it’s been that way from everybody on down the line.” 

One thing particularly that Coach Casey has done to really evolve the Pistons offense attack early on this season is putting the ball in Griffin’s hand, especially when he is isolated at the top of the circle in the half court. 

On this night, Griffin was decisive whether it was to attack the basket, making jumpers, especially from three-point range or making plays for others. Griffin was especially decisive on the previously mentioned eventual game-winning three-point where he faked the hand-off and drove to the hole for the field goal and drew the foul from Sixers’ forward Robert Covington, who had 16 points and eight rebounds on the evening. 

Griffin said to Ledlow, Thomas and Hill that he and Coach Casey have been solid so far communication wise of the kind of things that he and the team is capable of on both ends of the court. 

“They done an unbelievable job of giving us exactly what we need and giving us encouragement and trying to clean up the mistakes as we go,” Griffin said to Ledlow, Thomas and Hill about the relationship between the Casey and his coaching staff and the players. 

He added, “Our team has bought in and you know in Game 3 has bought in. So, we just got to keep it that way and keep moving forward.” 

Griffin’s big night overshadowed a spectacular performance from Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid, who had 33 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three block shots. Veteran guard JJ Redick had 30 points off the bench, with six boards and six assists, going 6 for 15 from three-point range. 

Embiid was such a thorn in the Pistons side on Tuesday night that with 40.8 seconds left in regulation, he baited Drummond, who had 14 points, 16 rebounds, three steals and two blocks on the night into his second technical leading to his ejection.

As much of a statement game this was individually for Griffin, this was an even bigger statement game for the Pistons, who are 3-0 for the first time since 2015-16, which is also the last time they made the postseason losing to their next opponent on the 2018-19 slate the Cleveland Cavaliers. Though that contest will not feature the greatest thorn in the side of the other 14 teams in the Eastern Conference the last eight seasons in four-time Kia MVP LeBron James as he took his talents to Hollywood joining the Los Angeles Lakers this past summer. 

Griffin said that the East has many talented teams and while the Pistons do not feel “snubbed” about not being in the conversation in the wide-open Conference with James gone, they feel like they have a lot work to do to get to that point of being a team that is talked about as a serious playoff team, which they have missed out on in three of the past four seasons under former head coach and executive Stan Van Gundy. 

“We don’t want to get too high with the highs or too low with the lows,” Griffin said. “So, we’ll got back to the drawing board. Clean up some mistakes and get ready for our next one.” 

On Tuesday night Blake Griffin reminded the entire basketball world of what kind of player he is capable of being when healthy. The Pistons showed the basketball world under their new head coach in Dwane Casey that they are capable of competing toe-to-toe with a top team in the 76ers and can beat them. 

The question for them as they move forward is can they keep this up? Can the Pistons have this same kind of enthusiasm and focus for the rest of the season? 

Griffin and the team said that their goal was to make the playoffs this spring and to also be a team that the city of Detroit can be proud of. Performances like the one Griffin had on Tuesday night got the attention of the fans in the arena on Tuesday night and for sure those that watched on television.  

“The whole city of Detroit has been unbelievable,” Griffin said Ledlow, Thomas, and Hill of the support he has received since being dealt to the “Motor City” back in late January. “So, when you play in a city like this, these people care about sports and there very knowledgeable. They know when teams are playing hard and that’s what we want to give them. A team that plays hard every night.” 

“We may not win every game but if we come out, and actually give them something to be proud of this city will get behind us.” 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 10/23/18 7 p.m. contest Philadelphia 76ers versus Detroit Pistons via FOX Sports Detroit with George Blaha, Gregory Kelser and Johnny Kane via NBATV; 10/23/18 9:30 p.m. NBATV Postgame Show with Kristen Ledlow, Isiah Thomas, and Grant Hill; 10/23/18 6:30 a.m. edition of NBATV’s “Gametime,” presented by Kia with Matt Winer, Isiah Thomas, and Grant Hill; www.nba.com/games/20181023/PHIDET#/recap/boxscore; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Griffin.

J-Speaks: Historic Performance By Hawks' Rookie Guard

Ever since the Atlanta Hawks traded for the draft rights to guard Rayford Trae Young, the No. 5 overall pick out of the University of Oklahoma in June’s draft from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for guard Luka Doncic, the No. 3 overall pick, there were a lot of critics pouring cold water on Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk for that decision. Well at least for one game, Young showed that he will be a major reason the Hawks rise back to prominence. 

In the Hawks (1-2) 133-111 at the Cleveland Cavaliers (0-3) on Sunday night, Young had the best game of his early NBA career with 35 points and 11 assists on 13 for 23 shooting, including 6 for 14 from three-point range. 

How good was the leader in scoring and assists during the 2017-18 NCAA performance that night at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, OH to start this week, he was the first rookie to have a stat line that incredible since the player his game is most compared to in two-time Kia MVP of the now defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors Stephen Curry, who did it twice in his rookie season of 2009-10. He also joined Curry and recent Hall of Fame inductee Jason Kidd as the only rookies in league history with at least 35 points, 10 assists and six made three-pointers. 

He had 36 points and 13 assists in leading the Warriors to a 132-102 win versus the Los Angeles Clippers on Feb. 10 that year. A month later, he had 35 points and 10 assists in the Warriors 117-90 loss at the Orlando Magic on Mar. 3.

To bring into clearer context what happened on Sunday night into greater context, according to www.basketball-reference.com, Young became just the 11^th rookie in NBA history have achieved that kind of stat line for a single game. That list includes Hall of Famers Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Michael Jordan, who did it twice; recent inductee Jason Kidd; Oscar Robertson, who accomplished that feet 11 times in the 1960-61 season; Jerry West, the logo himself; and Elgin Baylor; Geoff Petrie; former Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Milwaukee Bucks’ guard Sherman Douglas and future Hall of Famer LeBron James.   

“It’s special, I mean for me,” Young said after the win to NBATV’s Chris Miles, WNBA champion Candace Parker and Greg Anthony after the win. “But I know I didn’t do this all by myself. My teammates did a great job coming out and of making shots for me. Making big plays on both ends.”

Those teammates include his starting backcourt mate Kent Bazemore, who had 23 points, going 4 for 8 from three-point range. Rookie big man Omari Spellman had 17 points going 4 for 8 from distance, while starting center Alex Len had 16 points, 11 rebounds and four block shots. Starting forward Taurean Prince had 14 points with six boards and DeAndre’ Bembry had 13 points off the bench hitting three triples. 

After falling behind 34-24 after the first period at the Cavaliers and trailing by as many as 22, the Hawks outscored the Cavs on their home floor 109-77 over the next two quarters, which consisted of scoring 40 and 41 points in the second and fourth quarters respectably. 

The Hawks set a franchise record making 22 threes in 47 tries, including 10 connections in the fourth period on their way to shooting 49.0 percent from the floor on the night. Young made all six of his threes on the night in the second period going 6 for 7 scoring 18 points. 

As a team, the Hawks had 32 assists on their 48 made field goals and turned 18 Cavs turnovers into 23 points. Young to go along with his 11 assists committed just one turnover.   

While it may seem crazy to compare one year of collegiate experience to a future Hall of Famers and in the case of Curry and two-time league MVP and three-time NBA champ, this is the world we live in today. 

Fair or unfair, when you are an undersized lead guard, with the ability to hit threes from the other side of Lake Erie like Young did on Sunday night, observers and sometimes your critics are going to mentioned you in the same breath as Curry. 

In the case of Young, those parallels got only stronger when Schlenk, former executive with the Warriors as mentioned traded for him on draft night on June 21 with the Mavericks for Doncic, the Slovenian sensation and an additional First-Round pick. 

While comparisons like that may bother some young players coming into the league, Young seems to not only be unphased by it but has embraced it. 

He not only has patterned his game after Curry’s ability to make shots from long distance but the amazing ball handling ability of Boston Celtics’ All-Star guard Kyrie Irving and of All-Star and 2007 NBA Finals MVP now of the Charlotte Hornets Tony Parker’s uncanny ability to make shots around the basket. Perhaps the one player that Young really wants to emulate his game after is two-time Kia MVP and recent Hall of Fame inductee Steve Nash. 

To prepare for his rookie season, Young worked out with Parker as he focused on making everyone in his corner and not in his corner a believer. 

“The main thing focusing and coming into this year was building up my strength. Being prepared and ready from Day One,” he said. “That was my main focus was how I can prepare myself to be able to impact this game from Day One.” 

Young also said during his preparation that he worked with the best trainers and that he picked up things from real pros like Parker, Nash, and Houston Rockets’ nine-time All-Star lead guard Chris Paul. 

It also helps to have a head coach like Lloyd Pierce, who the Hawks hired in the off-season that has cut his teeth as a longtime assistant with the Warriors and Cavaliers the last five seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers in developing the likes of first time All-Star and 2017-18 Kia Defensive Player of the Year candidate Joel Embiid and the 2017-18 Kia Rookie of the Year in Ben Simmons into the players they are today. Young has said that Pierce has been a tremendous help to him already. 

That budding relationship Young said goes back to when he first worked out for the Hawks during the pre-draft process where he got tidbits that Pierce gave to Nash, who he has known since they were collegiate teammates at the University of Santa Clara back in the middle of the 1990s. His coaching staff consists of former Cavs assistants in Melvin Hunt and Chris Jent. 

“I pick his brain as much as I can. He’s taught me so much already,” Young said of Coach Pierce, who got his first head coaching win against a team that hired him back in 2007. “I can’t to continue to learn from him.” 

Just 24 hours prior to the 35-point performance Young had, the highest scoring output for the 2018-19 rookie class so far this season, Doncic scored 26 points in helping the Mavericks (2-1) to a 140-136 win versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (2-2) last Saturday night. 

The two will face in the first meeting of what looks like of many scrutinized, over analyzed tilts as the Hawks face off against the Mavericks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA on Wednesday night.  

Young said to Miles that he watches NBA hoops like an other fan, whether they are diehard or casual but said and he saw what that Doncic did last Saturday night but said that he is in a great situation just like him. 

“I know I’m going to get compared to him throughout my whole career because of the trade but I don’t see why it can’t be great for both situations,” he said. “I think that’s what happened here but although some people may think different.” 

Trae Young’s performance to start this week at the four-time reigning Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers was a welcoming showing for a guy who flashed some of what he did during NBA Summer League, which came in just his third NBA game. 

With the prospect of a rough season ahead for the Hawks who are in the early stages of rebuilding their team into a perennial playoff contender and hopefully a team in the conversation of becoming NBA champions one day, it is foolish to anoint Young as the second coming of a game-changing player. He just turned 20 years old after all on Sept. 19.  

One thing that Young did with his performance was impress Doncic, who said on Twitter @luka7doncic with high-handed and fire emojis, “Congrats bro!” 

If both players are great as Tas Melas said on the Monday night edition of NBATV’s “The Starters” about the fan bases for both the Mavericks and Hawks, “We’re all winners if they’re both going to be very good.”

“The more they develop their games, the less we talk about the comparison to each other.” 

While having to prove his naysayers wrong has sharpened Young’s approach to be a great player, it has not taken away from the fact that he is living out his dream of not just playing in the National Basketball Association but being the startling lead guard on the Hawks as well as a player they are counting on to lead them to serious success in the future. 

“I definitely hear everything people say, things like that. But all I do is control what I can control and that’s preparing every single day as hard as I can with my teammates. Whether it’s with them or without them in the gyms late at night and just preparing,” he said. 

“My job is to just have fun and play the game the right way and I think I have done that all the way up to now and I’m going to continue to do that throughout my career.”

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 10/21/18 8:30 p.m. edition of NBATV’s “Pregame Show,” presented by Autotrader with Chris Miles, Candace Parker, and Greg Anthony; www.nba.com/games/20181021/ATLCLE#/boxscore/recap/matchup; 10/22/18 www.nba.com story, “About Last Night: Trae Young Breaks Out,” by Dan McCarney; 10/22/18 6 p.m. edition NBATV’s “The Starters,” with Tas Melas, J.E. Skeets, Leigh Ellis, and Trey Kerby; www.espn.com/nba/matchup?gameid=401070718; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trae_Young.

J-Speaks: New Dudes for NBA Teams Celebrating Anniversaries in 2018-19

For the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakers, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic, the 2017-18 season was a tough one as they missed out on making the postseason. They hope to be amongst the postseason this spring, while the Timberwolves and Jazz hope to make it back in consecutive seasons in the loaded Western Conference as they will be dawning new on-court threads as they honor their past in 2018-19. 

Each of these eight squads in one degree or another unveiled new-look Classic Edition uniforms, while also unveiling their logos and court designs for the 2018-19 NBA campaign. 

For the Lakers, who hope to end their longest playoff drought in franchise history at five with the addition of four-time Kia MVP LeBron James, they will do so it in uniforms that pay homage to the franchise’s “Showtime” era from the 1980s—led by Hall of Fame lead guard and now President of Basketball Operations Earvin “Magic” Johnson, with fellow Hall of Famers James Worthy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Byron Scott, Michael Cooper and Mychal Thompson and head coach Pat Riley, now President of the Miami Heat made eight appearance in the NBA Finals and won five Larry O’Brien trophies. 

The uniforms will feature updated numbers, which will have a vertical drop shadow, along with a neckline that will be rounded with the colors of purple, white and gold for their icon uniforms. 

Their Association uniforms will be in white with the team’s nickname name and jersey numbers in purple and gold with the Nike insignia and team’s sponsor “Wish” being in purple on the left and right chest plate respectably and the neckline being in white, purple, and gold. 

The team’s purple Statement jerseys will feature the addition of a black side panel, with the team’s nickname and the player’s jersey number in gold and the Nike insignia and “Wish” symbol in white.  

The Grizzlies’ newly re-designed jerseys and floor design at the FedEX Forum was inspired from the city’s famous Beale Street. 

The team’s Icon uniforms will be Beale Street midnight blue with a Beale Street blue v-shaped neckline. Two Beale Street blue side panels lines with a Beale Street midnight blue line in the middle gold line on the side. The team’s nickname and the player’s jersey number in Beale Street blue, with the Nike insignia in white and the team’s sponsor FedEx in white and orange on the left and right side of the jersey chest plate respectably.

The Grizzlies’ Association uniforms will be in white, with the city’s name in Beale Street Blue with a coating of midnight blue on the outside. The player’s jersey number in midnight blue with inside coating of Beale Street blue. The V-Neck coloring in midnight blue and the side panels also in midnight blue, with a line of Beale Street blue on the outside. The Nike insignia will be in midnight blue, with the team’s sponsor in purple and orange on the left and right chest plate. 

The Statement Edition uniforms will be in Beale Street blue with the nickname and jersey number being a midnight blue with inside being Beale Street blue. The V-Neck will be a combination of Beale Street and midnight blue with gold on the outside. The Nike insignia in midnight blue and the team sponsor being in clear white for “Fed” and the “Ex” being in chalk line white on the left and right chest plate.   

In a statement from Grizzlies.com, “The evolved wordmark and numbering system represents a more progressive and modernized take on its predecessor, while maintain and deepening the connection to the Beale Street neon-inspired inline.”

In celebration of their 50^th season in “The Association,” the Nuggets will pay homage to their past while looking ahead to their future as they try for their first appearance in the postseason in a handful of years. 

The team’s switched from their team colors from baby blue and sunshine yellow that marked the team since 2003-04 to a midnight blue, sunshine yellow, Flatiron red and skyline blue color scheme. That scheme beside representing their new logo will represent their new uniforms, which were unveiled on June 6, while also revealing that their home court at Pepsi Center which Nuggets’ president Josh Kroenke describe the unveiling is “Evolve.”

He added, “And I think that’s what we’re doing as a franchise. I think we’re evolving into something new and something exciting. I think our younger players in particular, this is something they can build and call their own, this type of identity.” 

The Nuggets said goodbye to their baby blue and sunshine yellow color scheme that they have dawned since the 2003-04 campaigned and replaced it with the scheme of midnight blue, sunshine yellow and Flatirons red, and skyline blue. 

The Icon uniforms will be in midnight blue, with the city name in sunshine yellow, with a Flatiron red coating. The players jersey number will be in white with a Flatiron red coating. The Nike insignia and the company sponsor Western Union will be in sunshine yellow. The shorts will be in midnight blue with the waistband in white and midnight blue, with the team symbol of two axe picks and a basketball in a combination of midnight blue and white. 

The Association jerseys for the Nuggets will be in white with the team’s nickname in burgundy with a sunshine yellow outside coating. The player’s jersey number will be in midnight blue with a sunshine yellow outside trim. The Nike insignia will be burgundy and the Western Union insignia in midnight blue on the left and right chest plate. 

The Nuggets’ Statement uniforms for 2018-19 in honoring the “Mile High City” with the city of Colorado’s nickname being right in the center of the jersey. The player’s number in sunshine yellow. The collar being in circular burgundy. The Nike insignia in white and the team’s sponsor in sunshine yellow on the left and right of the chest plate of the jersey. 

In honor of their 30^th season, the Orlando Magic will be bringing back the pinstriped light blue jerseys that turned heads during their heyday back in the middle of the 1990s for select games during this season. 

The team will celebrate their 30^th season with a new logo that pays homage to co-founders Pat Williams and Jimmy Hewitt who convinced the NBA expansion committee to award Orlando, FL an expansion franchise. That dream became a reality on Apr. 22, 1987. 

Since Orlando, FL was granted their expansion franchise on Apr. 22, 1987, the Magic have won five division title; reached the playoffs 14 times, making three Eastern Conference Finals appearances, two appearances in The Finals (1995, 2009) and watched the likes of O’Neal, Hardaway, Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, and Howard leave their mark for the “Blue and White.” 

Over the years, numerous print and electronic news articles and blogs tabbed the Magic’s alternate road uniforms that they dawned from 1994-98 as some of the most fashionable in sports’ history.

During that two-year period when they were led by Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway; sharp shooters Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott and power forward Horace Grant. 

Having Magic legends such as the previously mentioned O’Neal, Hardaway, Anderson, Grant, Scott, and Darrell Armstrong wearing them played a role as well. 

The Magic in the first two seasons of where they dawned those alternate road threads authored the third highest and best mark for wins in a single regular season with 57 and 60 games respectably in the 1994-95 and 1995-96 regular season. They reached The Finals in 1995, where the Houston Rockets, led by Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler swept them 4-0. 

One year later, they reached the Eastern Conference Finals where they were also given the broom by the Chicago Bulls and the Hall of Fame quartet Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman and head coach Phil Jackson 4-0.  

“The Orlando Magic are thrilled to celebrate 30 years of Pure Magic with all our fans and the great City of Orlando,” CEO Alex Martins said on Aug. 8. 

“The team’s history and identity is deeply rooted in this city and the Central Florida region. We want to thank all our fans for all of their support and making all these great Magic memories and moments possible. We look to sharing this celebration with them.” 

The Classic Edition jerseys has a few modern changes like the “Orlando” script on the front features a silver star in place of the “a.” Unlike 24 years ago, these classic jerseys will feature the Nike and Disney logos on the right and left sides of the chest plate respectably, and the classic “Magic” logo with the “a” being replaced as well with a silver star will be splashed in the middle of the waistband of the shorts, that will also feature that eye catching same silver star on each side of the player’s shorts. 

Like the Magic, the Timberwolves entered the NBA on Apr. 22, 1987 but did not officially begin playing until the 1989-90 season. 

To celebrate their 30^th season as a franchise, the teams that calls the “Twin Cities” home will be bringing back an updated version of the black road uniforms from their glory days when they were a perennial playoff participant from the late 1990s to the early-to-mid 2000s. 

The memories of future Hall of Famer, and current NBA on TNT analyst via “Area 21” Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Latrell Sprewell, Madison Square Garden network studio analyst for the New York Knicks Wally Szczerbiak, Sam Cassell, NBATV studio analyst Sam Mitchell, and others will sure return for that team’s fans of the squads longest-tenured uniform that was dawned from 1996-2008. 

The T’Wolves made the postseason eight straight seasons, winning 50-plus games on four occasions, including a franchise record 58 in 2003-04. They made their only appearance in the Western Conference Finals that year where they lost to the Lakers in six games. It also represented their last postseason appearance prior to last spring where they ended the longest active playoff drought at 13.  

The primary color of those uniforms were black, with the team’s nickname and player’s jersey number proudly across the chest in white, with a blue and gray coating on the outside. The uniform was also complimented with the symbol to the environment of Minnesota green trees on the waistband of the shorts; the outline of the left and right sleeves, the neckline of the jersey.  

The updated version will this time around feature the Nike symbol on both the left chest plate of the jersey and on the left side of the shorts, and the symbol of the team’s sponsor of Fitbit on the right chest plate of the jersey. The left side of the shorts will have the face of the team’s old logo the Timberwolf with the front of the right side having in capital letters combined with a T and M with a outside covering of gray. 

To pay homage to their fifth decade in the “ATL,” the Atlanta, who moved from St. Louis, MO after the 1968-69 season Hawks will be wearing a new Hardwood Classics uniform, a powdered blue and red-trimmed ones that was famously worn by Lou Hudson for only one season in 1968. 

The Hawks will also feature two new home-court floor designs that were a part of the $192.5 million renovation of the newly named State Farm Arena. 

The formerly named Georgia Dome will feature the first continuous 360-degreee video screen in the league A re-designed concourse that will have up-to-date sightlines, a barbershop overlooking the court, a courtside bar and much more.

The State Farm Arena will feature an NBA first, Fan-Friendly Concessions Pricing, where through the use of technology and new design features fans attending Hawks games, concerts and other shows will be able to enjoy fresh food like hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, bottled water, pizza for at very low prices of $1.00 to $5.00. 

Also, new concessions menu will feature menu items that range from exclusive creations from Executive Chief Joe Schafer and other local partners to fan favorites. 

These new amenities and attractions will be a welcome sight for Hawks fans as their front office of general manager Travis Schlenk and principal owner Antony Ressler rebuild the product on the hardwood that had their streak of 10 straight playoff appearances snapped a season ago.

“At the core of the transformation of Philips Arena has always been creating a state-of-the-art venue that allows us to listen and serve our fans with an amazing experienced tailored to their lifestyle and means,” Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club and Philips CEO Steve Koonin said back in July or bringing the kind of experience Atlanta Braves fans have at their ball park Mercedes-Benz Stadium. 

“The undeniable success of Fan First pricing at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the incredible experience of The Masters set terrific precedents and built demand from our fan to add value menu pricing that compliments the wide assortment of premium food options introduced by our Executive Chef Joe Schafer. We are thrilled to respond to our fans in this way and will continue listening to the fans to enhance their experience.” 

The Jazz have called Salt Lake City, UT home since the 1979-80 season after spending the previous five seasons in New Orleans, LA. Since their move, the Jazz have become one of the most stable franchise in the league reaching the playoffs 27 times in their first 40 seasons, including 20 straight from 1983-2003. 

To celebrate these great 40 decades of hitting the right tune from the mid-1980s and early 1990s, the team will be sporting their purple uniforms from the squads led by the Hall of Fame duo of John Stockton/Karl Malone and their Hall of Fame head coach Jerry Sloan squads that were amongst the best in the Western Conference, winning 50-plus games in the regular season seven times in an eight-year stretch from 1989-96. 

Those Classic Edition road uniforms that featured the original team logo in gold and white on the front chest of the jersey and the original J-Note logo placed on the front left leg of the shorts. 

What will be different about these throwback uniforms is they will have the Nike insignia on the left chest plate of the jersey and the left upper part of the shorts and the team’s sponsor 5 For the Fight on the right chest plate of the jersey.

“These classic jerseys are an instant visual connection to our rich and storied past in the state of Utah,” Jazz senior vice president of marketing Bart Sharp said in a statement earlier this month. “Our 40^th season celebration is a natural time to reflect on the past and all we have shared together with the fans of Utah, but it’s also an opportunity to look ahead to what is undoubtedly an exciting time for this franchise and the entire state.” 

A future that will led by last season’s Kia Rookie of the Year runner-up and future star Donovan Mitchell; reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year in center Rudy Gobert; No. 1 draft choice Grayson Allen and ever improving lead guard in Ricky Rubio. 

It was three decades ago that the city of Charlotte, NC was introduced to NBA basketball. In dedication to their 30^th season, the Hornets will celebrate by bringing back a new white edition to their classic uniforms for eight home games this season. 

Like the teal versions they wore a few times during the 2017-18 season, this new uniform throws back to the original style dawned by the Hornets from 1988-97. 

The Hornets will sport these throw backs uniforms during their series of “Classic Nights” at Spectrum Center during the 2018-19 season where the team will honor past franchise greats like Glen Rice, Larry Johnson, and Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues some of the greats to that dawned the “White and Teal,” while also giving away bobbleheads and T-Shirts during those nights. The team will also celebrate longtime play-by-play man Steve Martin.

Another part of the celebration will be the busting out of their classic court for those “Classic Night” games during the 2018-19 season. The design of the court used at the former Charlotte Coliseum from 1995-97, featuring the classic Hornets logo, basketballs at the foul line and a teal pattern within the paint. 

“There’s going to be a lot of nostalgia,” Hornets president, vice chairman, alternate governor and minority owner Fred Whitfield said on Wednesday night. “Looking back on the last 30 years of the Hornets organization. All the great things that the prior organization did in our community both on the court and out in the community.” 

“It’s just going to be fun to bring a lot of the former players back. Celebrate their legacies… It’s just going to be a lot of fun to look back at the history but also to look ahead.” 

The 2018-19 NBA season shaped up to be one that we will all remember and the chance for the fans the Lakers, Hornets, Jazz, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Nuggets, Magic, and Hawks to give their fans a chance to celebrate the great legacies and the players that authored treasurable memories, while also looking forward to the future will make it even more memorable.  

Information and quotations are courtesy of 8/8/18 https://www.nba.com/magic story, “Orlando Magic Unveil 30 Years of Pure Magic,” by John Denton; 10/11/18 www.nba.com story “Lakers, Grizzlies, Nuggets Boast New Duds for 2018-19,” by Jeff Case; 10/11/18 www.nba.com story “NBA Arena, Court Updates for 2018-19,” by Jon Hartzell; 10/17/18 6:30 p.m. edition of FOX Sports’ “Hornets Live,” presented by Momentum Mazda with Ashley Shahahmadi, Stephanie Ready, Eric Collins and Dell Curry; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denver_Nuggets; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Minnesota_Timberwolves_seasons; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Utah_Jazz_seasons; and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memphis_Grizzlies

J-Speaks: "Rip City Loses" Tranformational Owner

He was a transformational figure in the business world, as a philanthropist and in professional sports. He got a perfect score on his SAT and got into Washington State University. After two years he dropped out to work as a programmer for a company called Honeywell in Boston, MA near Harvard University where he convinced a fellow Pacific Northwest native to start a tech revolution that has become a major part of our world. Earlier this week, the nation and the Pacific Northwest suddenly said goodbye to a man who showed how you can change the world with a great idea, a foundation of people who share your vision and have the integrity to never be bigger than those you are surrounded by. 

On Monday Paul Gardner Allen, the longtime owner of the National Football League’s (NFL) Seattle Seahawks; the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Portland Trail Blazers and the Major League Soccer’s (MLS) Seattle Sounders passed away after complications of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He was 65 years old. 

Allen who began the computer revolution as the co-found of Microsoft with former Harvard student Bill Gates was diagnosed with Stage 1-A Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1982, that was successfully treated through radiation therapy and a bone marrow transplant for several months as well as through a bone marrow transplant. His non-Hodgkin’s was diagnosed nine years ago, which was also treated successfully until it resurfaced earlier this month. Allen was never married and had no children. 

“My brother was a remarkable individual on every level,” Jody Allen, Paul’s sister said via a press release. “While most knew Paul Allen as a technologist and philanthropist, for us he was a much-loved brother and uncle, and an exceptional friend.”

“Paul’s family and friends were blessed to experience his wit, warmth, his generosity and deep concern. For all the demands on his schedule, there was always time for family and friends. At this time of loss and grief for us-and so many others-we are profoundly grateful for the care and concern he demonstrated every day.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Allen was a “valued voice” that helped “The Association” expand and strengthen its footprints across the globe. 

He added in a press release about the 30-year owner of the Trail Blazers “Paul Allen was the ultimate trail blazer-in business, philanthropy and in sports.” 

“As one of the longest-tenured owners in the NBA, Paul brought a sense of discovery and vision to every league matter large and small. He was generous with his time on committee work, and his expertise helped lay the foundation for the league’s growth internationally and our embrace of new technologies. He was a valued voice who challenged assumptions and conventional wisdom and one we will deeply miss as we start a new season without him. Our condolences go to his family, friends and the entire Trail Blazers organization.”

Born on Jan. 21, 1953 in Seattle, WA, Allen attended a private school in the Pacific Northwest where he be-friended a gentleman by the name of Bill Gates, whom he a common enthusiasm for computers. 

The two would turn that enthusiasm into a programming language interpreter called “BASIC,” which would eventually become “Microsoft” and began a computer revolution that not only made Allen and Gates billionaires a thousand times over, but eventually connected all of us to the point that we a computer to do everything from purchasing the basic of life like food and clothes; sending a message via text or e-mail and even connect or re-connect with people we had not spoken to in years. 

To bring the kind of impact Allen had on cyberspace into context, he had a hand in ESPN as nearly a quarter of a century ago his company Starwave designed and ran the original ESPN.com website. He and his M Slade team certainly can take a great deal of pride in as he has seen the “World Wide Leader in Sports” digital presence grow over the years. 

“Allen was only 65 years old when he died but we were lucky to have him as long as we did. The entire NBA community mourns his passing,” host of ESPN’s “NBA: The Jump” Rachel Nichols said on Tuesday.  

Allen would go on to become one of the greatest business men on the planet creating Vulcan Inc. which oversaw his diverse business activities and philanthropic efforts-from his ownership of the Trail Blazers and Seahawks to his conservation projects like the Great Elephant Census and business ventures like the Seattle Cinerama. 

In 1988, Allen purchased the Trail Blazers from California real estate developer Larry Weinberg for $70 million. Under Allen, the Trail Blazers held a 56.2 winning percentage, making the postseason 19 times, with and two appearances in the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls in five and six games respectably. 

Prior to their season opener on Thursday night versus four-time Kia MVP LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on TNT, the edge of the court was painted PGA with a Rose and all the players wore patches with the same letters on their jerseys that they will do for the remainder of this season in honor of their owner. 

He was instrumental in the development and funding to build the team’s current home court the Moda Center, that opened in the 1995-96 season. Allen purchased the formerly named Rose Garden on Apr. 2, 2007 and stated that this was a major milestone and a positive step for the franchise, which according to Forbes in 2015 was ranked No. 12 of the 30 NBA squads at a value of $940 million. 

To honor Allen, three-time All-Star lead guard and First Team All-NBA selection for 2017-18 Damian Lillard before tip-off of Thursday night’s tilt versus the Lakers sported custom made sneakers that had a guitar on the front of the shoe with “RIP Paul Allen” on the side. 

NBA on TNT sideline reporter Kristen Ledlow in a report during the game said that Lillard, the shoes were designed by Kickstradomis Customs. 

Before the game, Ledlow spoke with the creator Salvador Amezcua who Lillard reach out to one day prior to the start of the Trail Blazers season to communicate the vision and inspiration of the design that he wore on Thursday night, which took just a couple of hours to complete the customization. The shoes were shipped overnight to Lillard in time for their tilt versus the Lakers. The design of the shoe was an homage to Allen’s life and love of music, which was why there was the electric guitar on the front top of his shoes. 

Lillard via Instagram @Dame_Lillard said on Monday, “At a loss for words. RIP to a great man…much love and respect!”  

His backcourt mate CJ McCollum via twitter @CJMcCollum said, “You made the world a better place and changed the life trajectory of so many. Deepest condolences to your family and loved ones.”

Former Trail Blazer, now San Antonio Spurs’ All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge said of his former boss via twitter @aldridge_12, “Paul Allen will never be forgotten. He was a great owner, an amazing leader, and a truly wonderful person. I’m forever grateful that we got to share so many great moments together. His passion and dedication will be deeply missed. My heart goes out to his family and friends.” 

In 1996 Allen dipped his toe into the pro sports landscape again when he purchased the Seahawks from former owner Ken Behring, who threatened to move the team to Southern California. Just like he vowed to keep the Trail Blazers in Portland, OR despite the market size of the city.

“I’m not sure anybody else in this community would have done what [Allen] did,” former Seahawks minority owner Herman Sarkowsky told The Seattle Times back then about Allen’s move. 

To bring into context the impact Allen had on this NFL franchise, the Seahawks had only made the playoffs just four times in 20 seasons. After purchasing the squad, the Seahawks reached the postseason 12 times in 21 seasons, reaching the Super Bowl three times and capturing the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl XLVIII versus Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos on Feb. 2, 2014, defeating them 43-8. 

As of August 2014, Forbes, which has called the fan base of the Seahawks one of the “rabid in the NFL” valued at $1.33 billion dollars. 

As involved as Allen was in his business endeavors as a sports owner and business titan, he always made time to give back not just his money but his time. 

Eight years ago, Allen pledged when he passed, he would donate a majority of his fortune to philanthropic causes when he became signatory of “The Giving Pledge. 

Since the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, which was established to administer a portion of his philanthropic contributions, more than $2 billion has gone towards the advancements of science, technology, education, wildlife conservation, the arts and community service. More than $494 million of that money has gone to over 1,500 nonprofits.  

The computer revolution produced three giant names in Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Paul Allen. All three dropped out of college and all three changed the world we live in. Above all, this trio showed us how you can super wealthy, super smart and super involved in making the world a better place. Also, that you can be super humble and show that everyone that works for you has value. That their voice and ideas should be at least heard and if it is good enough listen to. 

On Monday, the professional sports world and the business world lost a legend who showed us that having faith in something, putting in the work to make it a reality and bringing in people who respect and will put in the work to make that vision a reality makes us all better. Paul Allen was one of a kind and it will not be the same not to see him at courtside at the Moda Center for Trail Blazer games or at Century Link Field where the Seahawks play. 

“It was always sort of startling to me to be at Portland Trail Blazers game, particularly in the playoffs and you could look over and see Paul Allen, and it’s just jolting” longtime sports columnist and co-host of ESPN’s “Pardon the Interruption” Michael Wilbon said on Tuesday. 

 “Someone who meant this much to so many different cultures, subcultures in America, in the world would be sitting there courtside at a game.”

Information and quotations are courtesy of 10/15/18 www.nba.com story “Long-time Portland Trail Blazers Owner Paul Allen Dies at 65;” 10/16/18 3 p.m. edition of “NBA: The Jump” on ESPN with Rachel Nichols; 10/16/18 5:30 p.m. edition of “Pardon the Interruption” on ESPN with Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon; 10/16/18 7 p.m. edition of TNT’s “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal; 10/18/18 10:30 p.m. contest between the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Portland Trail Blazers on TNT’s Premiere Week, presented by Autotrader with Marv Albert, Chris Webber and Kristen Ledlow; 10/16/18 9 p.m. edition of Showtime's "Inside the NFL" with James Brown, Boomer Esiason, Phil Simms, and Ray Lewis; www.nba.com/games/20181018/LALPOR#/recap by Anne E. Peterson, sports writer of “The Associated Press;” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Allen; and https://m.facebook.com/Kickstradomiscustomz.