R.G.'s Weekly Sports ReCap: Saturday 6/22 - Friday 6/28

Notable happenings in the sports world this past week:

NHL: The Chicago Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup championship in four years by defeating the Boston Bruins in six games. Blackhawks' winger Patrick Kane was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the postseason....Head coach hire - John Tortorella, Vancouver Canucks....2K13 Postseason Awards: Hart Trophy (League MVP) - Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals; Calder Trophy (Top Rookie) - Jonathan Huberdeau, Florida Panthers; Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender) - Sergei Bobrovsky, Columbus Blue Jackets.

NBA: In the NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected forward Anthony Bennett out of UNLV as the overall number one pick, and in the process made history by becoming the first Canadian native ever to be selected number one. Indiana guard Victor Oladipo (Orlando Magic), Georgetown forward Otto Porter, Jr. (Washington Wizards), Indiana center/forward Cody Zeller (Charlotte Bobcats) and Maryland center Alex Len (Phoenix Suns) round out the top five picks.....In a blockbuster move, the Boston Celtics traded future Hall-of-Famers Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, along with veteran sharpshooting guard Jason Terry to the Brooklyn Nets for forwards Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Reggie Evans and Keith Bogans, and guard MarShon Brooks. The Celtics also received future 1st-round draft picks from Brooklyn in the big trade....The Philadelphia 76ers shipped young All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday to the New Orleans Pelicans for the number six overall pick - center Nerlens Noel out of Kentucky....Head coach hires - Brian Shaw, Denver Nuggets; Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers. (via trade with the Boston Celtics, who in return will receive a first-round pick in 2K15)

Pro Tennis: Championship competition at Wimbledon began with recent French Open winner and fifth-ranked Rafael Nadal getting upset in the first round in straight sets by 135th-ranked Steve Darcis of Belgium....Defending Wimbledon champ and third-ranked Roger Federer was also upset in shocking fashion in the second round by 113th-ranked Ukrainian upstart Sergiy Stakhovsky....Third-ranked Maria Sharapova was also eliminated early, losing to 131st-ranked Michelle Larcher De Brito....No. 1-ranked Serena Williams is lookin gto defend her Wimbledon crown from a year ago, while on the men's side, top-ranked Serbian Novak Djokovic seeks to add yet another major championship trophy to his impressive resume' thus far in his pro career.

NFL: After much speculation and a thorough investigation by Law Enforcement officials, promising young New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was convicted of 1st Degree Murder in the shooting death of 27-year-old Olin Lloyd, Hernandez, 23, recently signed a five-year, $40M contract extension and was released by the team just before his arrest.

MLB: New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira will miss the remainder of the regular season with a nagging right wrist injury.

WNBA: Players of the Week (Monday 6/17 - Sunday 6/23)....Eastern Conference - F Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream; Western Conference - F Glory Johnson, Tulsa Shock.

Pro Boxing: Adrien Broner won the WBA welterweight title by defeating Paulie Malignaggi by way of a split decision in front of the home crowd at the Barclays Center in downtown Brooklyn, New York. Broner remains undeafeated at 27-0 with 22 KOs.

Women's Pro Golf: The Women's U.S. Open got underway at the Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, Long Island, New York. South Korean star Inbee Park comes into the major tournament as the World No.1-ranked player.

R.G.'s Weekly Sports ReCap: Saturday 6/15 - Friday 6/21

 

Notable happenings in the sports world this past week:

NBA: The Miami Heat became world champions for the second year in a row - defeating the San Antonio Spurs in an epic and dramatic seven-game NBA Finals series. Forward LeBron James led the way for the Heat with 37 points and 12 rebounds in the Game 7 clincher, and repeated as the Finals MVP.

NHL: As of Friday, 6/21, the Stanley Cup Finals matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins are all even at two apiece, with Game 5 taking place in Chicago at the United Center on Saturday night, 6/22....New head coaching hire: Alain Vigneault, New York Rangers....NHL Coach of the Year - Paul MacLean, Ottawa Senators.

Pro Golf: 32-year-old Englishman Justin Rose won the U.S. Open at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania - the first major title of his career. Phil Mickelson finished as a runner-up in the Open for the sixth time.

MLB: As of Friday 6/21, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis is having a monster, MVP-caliber first half of the season with a league-leading 27 home runs. Davis is also the top overall vote-getter for this year's All-Star Game, which will take place in July at Citi Field in New York City....Detroit Tigers starting right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer is a perfect 10-0 to start the season as of Friday 6/21.

NFL: Former New York Giants/Jets Pro Bowl punter and football broadcaster Dave Jennings passed away at the age of 61 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease.

WNBA: Players of the Week (Monday 6/10 - Sunday 6/16)....Eastern Conference - F Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream; Western Conference - G Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury....New York Liberty veteran shooting guard Katie Smith became the second all-time leading scorer in league history, surpassing Basketball Hall-of-Famer Lisa Leslie on the list. Seattle Storm forward and future Hall-of-Famer Tina Thompson is No. 1 on the all-time list, and announced that this her 17th year will be her last as a player.

*Rap music artist/entrepreneur Shawn 'Jay-Z' Carter is now certified as a sports agent to represent players from the NBA and Major League Baseball. Carter recently launched 'Roc Nation Sports' and celebrated the 10th anniversary of his popular sports lounge '40/40 Club' in New York City.

R.G.'s Weekly Sports ReCap: Saturday 6/8 - Friday 6/14

 

Notable happenings in the sports world this past week:

NBA: The NBA Finals got underway between the defending champion Miami Heat and the San Antonio Spurs....As of Friday, 6/14, the series is deadlocked at two games apiece, with Game 5 taking place on Sunday night 6/16 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas....Head coaching hires - Jason Kidd, Brooklyn Nets; Maurice Cheeks, Detroit Pistons.

NHL: The 2K13 Stanley Cup Finals began between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Boston Bruins - the first 'Original Six' championship matchup since 1979, when the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens faced off....As of Friday, 6/14, the 'Hawks hold a 1-0 series. Game 2 is on Saturday night 6/15 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois....The Pittsburgh Penguins re-sign All-Star and reigning league MVP Evgeni Malkin to an eight-year, $76M contract extension.

Pro Tennis: 31-year-old and top-ranked Serena Williams ousted Maria Sharapova to win the French Open - the 16th Grand Slam title of her career....On the men's side, Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeated fellow countryman David Ferrer and made history by winning his eighth career French Open championship - the 12th major title of his career.

NFL: Much-maligned and scrutinized free agent quarterback Tim Tebow signs a two-year deal with the New England Patriots....The New York Giants sign their All-Pro wide receiver Victor Cruz to a one-year, $2,879M tender. Cruz is hoping for a huge pay raise if his 2K13 season is yet another productive one for Big Blue.

Horse Racing: Palace Malice won the 145th running of the Belmont Stakes. Preakness winner Oxbow took second place and Kentucky Derby winner Orb placed third.

Pro Golf: The PGA Tour's second major tournament - The U.S. Open - got underway for the men at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania....As of Friday 6/14, both Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel are tied atop the leaderboard at one under-par. Tiger Woods is in the hunt at three over-par - four shots behind Mickelson and Horschel....In women's action, Inbee Park of South Korea won her second major tournament of the year by capturing the LPGA Championship in Pittsford, New York. Park also won the Kraft Nabisco title back in early April.

 

WNBA: Players of the Week....Eastern Conference - G Ivory Latta, Washington Mystics; Western Conference - F Rebekkah Brunson, Minnesota Lynx....President Barack Obama invited the defending champion Indiana Fever to the White House in honor of their victory over the Minnesota Lynx in the 2K12 WNBA Finals.

Q.and.A with legendary Reggae/Pop/Soul recording artist PATRA

 

With hit songs during the 1990 era such as 'Romantic Call,' 'Worker Man,' 'Queen of the Pack' and her sexy remake of the Grace Jones classic 'Pull Up To The Bumper,' Patra is beyond ready to reclaim her spot in the music game here in 2K13 with the release of her new single 'Sweet Reggae Music.' The very talented and eternally beautiful Queen Patra took timeout for her very busy schedule to briefly chat with Yours Truly.

RG: Hey Patra! Where have you been hiding for all these years? (LOL)

Patra: It's been an amazing time off for me. All I wanted was to be in control of my career and I had to fight for it, and in the end, I WON! I am so happy to be back for my beautiful fans around the world! :)

RG: You've put out some incredible music in your career. How amazing is it for you to be back in the game here in 2K13?

Patra: Well, I condsider this to be the continuation since I really didn't miss anything....It was more important to save my soul, if anything, and with my upcoming album, my fans will be pleased with what they will hear!

RG: What keeps you passionate about creating good music?

Patra: Love and good vibes. Culture is very important to have that....Jamaica and the world! :)

RG: What are your thoughts on the current state of Dancehall Reggae music from an overall creative standpoint?

Patra: Well personally, I don't consider myself to be a Dancehall artist, but Dancehall will always have its place....It's the vibe of the people, plus it's good for 'whining.' LOL....I need everyone to check out my new single called 'Sweet Reggae Music' which is out now. REGGAE MUSIC IS HERE TO STAY!

RG: What other new projects can we anticipate from you here in 2K13 and beyond?

Patra: My upcoming album will be called, 'PATRA - THE CONTINUATION'....It means I never left, and I don't have to catch up to anything! :)

RG: What's the best piece of advice you can give to a musically talented young lady who has aspirations to be successful in today's music industry?

Patra: They should always be wary of the vampires that sneak up in the dark, but never give up on your dream(s)....Just be prepared for anything, be sure of what you want to be, and most of all, ALWAYS BE PROFESSIONAL!

RG: Are you currently signed to a major label or are you are doing your thing on the independent level?

Patra: I have LGN Entertainment operating in Florida. Steve Lane - who is the CEO - is my partner in this venture. We have been through a lot, but this is 'Go' time, so the fans will not be disappointed when they hear 'Sweet Reggae Music' and the rest of my upcoming album.

RG: What keeps you so sexy from both inside and from the outside?

Patra: To me, sexiness is a habit. However, it's more important to have a clean heart and always be a 'real' person, and I will always be that type of person!

www.twitter.com/RealQueenPatra
www.facebook.com/QueenPatra
www.facebook.com/OfficialPatraPage (Fan page)

R.G.'s Weekly Sports ReCap: Saturday 6/1 - Friday 6/7

 

Notable happenings in the sports world this past week:

NBA: The Miami Heat edged out the Indiana Pacers in seven games to capture their third consecutive Eastern Conference title and make yet another return trip to the NBA Finals against Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs. As of Friday 6/7, the Spurs hold a 1-0 lead in the series after their 92-88 victory on the road. Duncan led the way with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. Tony Parker scored 21 points and committed zero turnovers. LeBron James produced a triple-double in the Game 1 loss for Miami with 18 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists. Game 2 is Sunday night 6/9 in Miami....Future Hall-of-Famers Jason Kidd and Grant Hill both announced their retirements from the game after 19 seasons....Head coach firing: George Karl, Denver Nuggets.

NHL: The Boston Bruins swept the prohibitive favorite Pittsburgh Penguins in four games to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in three years. They now await the winner of the Chicago Blackhawks-Los Angeles Kings series. As of Friday 6/7, the Hawks have a commanding 3-1 series lead over the defending world champions, and can clinch the West title Saturday night 6/8 on their home ice.

Pro Tennis: No.1-ranked Serena Williams advanced to the French Open final for the first time since winning it all 11 years ago, and will face last year's champion Maria Sharapova on Saturday 6/8. Williams is going for her 16th career major title. On the men's side, third-ranked Rafael Nadal defeated No.1 Novak Djokovic in the semis to advance to the final against fellow Spaniard and fourth-ranked David Ferrer on Sunday 6/9. Nadal will go for his ninth career championship on clay at Roland Garros.

MLB: The league is looking to suspend notable players such as Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun if it is found true that they indeed used performance-enhancing drugs through Anthony Bosch and his Biogenesis clinic down in Florida....As of Friday 6/7, the St. Louis Cardinals owns the league's best record at 40-21.

WNBA: Players of the Week (Friday 5/24 - Sunday 6/2)....Eastern Conference - F Angel McCoughtry, Atlanta Dream; Western Conference - F Candace Parker, Los Angeles Sparks....As of Friday 6/7, the Atlanta Dream (4-0) and Minnesota Lynx (2-0) are the lone undefeated teams early on. With high expectations this season, the Phoenix Mercury are off to a surprising 0-3 start going into their matchup against the reigning champion Indiana Fever on the road on Saturday 6/8. 

My Mini Q.and.A. with the legendary 'Triple Threat Diva' MELBA MOORE

The Date: Thursday 2/9/2K12
The Locale: Carnegie Hall, New York City.
The Event: A Tribute To The Music of MOTOWN

RG: Why isn't 'timeless' music being crafted now compared to year's past?

MM: I don't think you can tell what today's music is going to be until 20-30 years from now. Every generation says 'Oh, that's Dance music - that ain't gonna last,' and they ended up being wrong! (Laughs) Because today's music is fun, it seems frivolous and it's usually geared towards the young people.

RG: Where do you see the legacy of the artists that are coming up now as far as the R&B/Soul music genre?

MM: I think the legacy of today's artists will be great because we've gone way much further in terms of how to market and promote compared to year's past. Music is ART, so it's always going to reflect, even if you don't meet the soul of the people. And that's going to continue to evolve and just define the era that the music was created in. There is going to be a legacy with the talented artists in the current climate of R&B/Soul music because we have to have it, and America is one of the nations that is blessed to always be creating something!

www.MelbaMoore.com
*'Follow' MELBA MOORE on Facebook.

R.G.'s Weekly Sports ReCap: Saturday 5/25 - Friday 5/31

 

Notable happenings in the sports world this past week:

NBA: The San Antonio Spurs swept the Memphis Grizzlies in four games to claim the Western conference title and advance on to the Finals against either the defending world champion Miami Heat or the Indiana Pacers. As of Friday, 5/31, the Heat has a 3-2 series lead over Indy and can wrap up their third consecutive Eastern conference championship with a win on the road on Saturday, 6/1....Head coach firing: Vinny Del Negro, Los Angeles Clippers....Head coach hirings: Jeff Hornacek, Phoenix Suns; Steve Clifford, Charlotte Bobcats; Mike Budenholzer, Atlanta Hawks; Mike Malone, Sacramento Kings; Larry Drew, Milwaukee Bucks.

NHL: The Stanley Cup playoffs have now reached the conference final round, with the Boston Bruins set to face the Pittsburgh Penguins in the East, and the defending champion Los Angeles Kings will take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the West. Both 'best-of-seven' series begin on Saturday, 6/1....Head coach firing: John Tortorella, New York Rangers.

Pro Tennis: The French Open got underway with seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams getting eliminated in the first round by 40th-ranked Urszula Radwanska of Poland. Her sister Serena comes into the tournament as the No.1-ranked women's player, and Serbian phenomenon Novak Djokovic holds the No. 1 spot on the men's side. Spaniard Rafael Nadal is looking to win his eighth career French Open title.

WNBA: This years number-one overall draft pick Brittany Griner made her season debut with the Phoenix Mercury at home against fellow rookie sensation Elena Della Donne and the on-the-rise Chicago Sky. Griner scored 17 points and 8 rebounds, and became the first WNBA player to dunk twice in a game, which both occured in the fourth quarter. Della Donne scored 22 points in her debut and All-Star guard Epiphanny Prince poured in a game-high 26 points in a 102-80 rout by the Sky over Phoenix.

Auto Racing: Brazilian Tony Kanaan wins his first-ever Indianapolis 500 championship....In NASCAR, Kevin Harvick took the checkered flag to win the Coca-Cola 600 in North Carolina.