Conor McGregor continues his losing streak in and out of the cage - (Police Mug Shot photo)

Shohei Ohtani rocked July he was the winning pitcher in Major League Baseballs All Star Game. He also established a record…. - (hj_west from USA - photo) OHTANI FEVER - Shohei That Is

Malika Andrews a refreshing new face in the NBA place

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN MAGIC JOHNSON & PHAL SAMPHORS

SPORTS NOTES - JULY SPORTS WAS BUSTING OUT ALL OVER

James Loving/National Radio Text Service

During normal time July is the slowest month for sports journalism. With COVID taking center stager there have been numerous adjustments that changed league schedules, particularly the NBA. Unfortunately Conor McGregor began the month with an unsportsmanlike behavior display. The Los Angeles Angels Shohei Ohtani was the star of the month with his All Star Game performance and generosity. ESPN was taken to task regarding their assignments of their journalists to primo events that brought Rachael Nichols and RACISM accusations into play… - NBA's ALL TIME BEST PLAYERS 1st and 2nd TEAMS

Wednesday August 11, 2021

SOME GOOD SOME BAD INCIDENTS

For sports journalism July is usually a slow month. The reason is that being most sports except baseball are on a break. This year the COVID FACTOR made a difference with the NBA playoffs that usually end in May were extended to July. One irony is the league played only a 72 game schedule down from 82. The result was the Milwaukee Bucks won their first title in a half a century by taking out the Phoenix Suns that have yet to ever win a title.

Mixed Martial Arts made its presence roar in July when the UFC's bad boy Conor McGregor broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier. After Poirier's win in the main event of UFC 264 on July 10 in Las Vegas, Khabib Nurmagomedov tweeted, in part, "Good always defeats evil."

That comment from the resigned UFC Lightweight Champion reflects his dislike for the Irishman with a rationale reason. On April 5, 2018, during promotional appearances for UFC 223, McGregor and a group of about twenty others were let into the Barclays Center by credentialed members of his promotional team. They attempted to confront Nurmagomedov, who was on the bus leaving the arena with "red corner" fighters for UFC 223 on it, such as Rose Namajunas, Al Iaquinta, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Ray Borg, and Michael Chiesa.

McGregor ran up alongside the slowly moving bus and then ran past it to grab a metal dolly and threw at the bus's window, before trying to throw other objects in the vicinity. Chiesa and Borg were injured by the shattered glass and sent to hospital. They were soon removed from the card on the advice of the NYSAC and the UFC's medical team. Lobov was also pulled from his fight for his involvement in the dispute.

That culminated in Nurmagomedov later winning their fight. While McGregor was laying on the canvas the Russian jumped over the ropes to attack member of McGregor's camp.

Prior to the fight McGregor is unquestionably the biggest attraction in UFC history along with the now retired Ronda Rousey. He's had an operation on his broken leg and now brags that he has an implant in his leg made of titanium. It's as if he thinks that this will make him stronger and it will be a weapon in future fights.

Since making millions fighting and losing a boxing match to Floyd Mayweather he has gone off the rails. It seems that his success and wealth has gone to his head and he's lost the plot. He went from rage to riches and often is seen with several Rolls Royce's in the background of video interviews done with him. At this point it's as if he's selling SIZZLE MINUS the STEAK.

Apparently McGregor has confused showmanship with being uncouth and ignorant. He lacks respect for others by degrading ones nationality, family and religion. He's currently in a rage stage and is revealing himself for who he truly is. What that might be… is up to you.

MLB

Hey, hey, what can you say, as the cheer goes for the Los Angeles Angels sensation Shohei Ohtani? The Japanese phenom made an impressive in the season All-Star game by becoming the first two way player to compete and competing in the home run derby.

Ohtani did well in the Home Run Derby as he took the Washington's Juan Soto to a playoff before losing out. His overall All Star Game experience resulted in Ohtani pitching a no hit, scoreless first inning -- including a fastball that sizzled at 100 mph -- and wound up the victor as the AL beat the National League 5-2. He went 0-for-2 at the plate.

When we first reported about his talent in May he had only 7 home runs and was 3rd in the top HR hitters. Now he leads the league with 37 HR's and is 4th in RBI's (runs batted in) with 82. Think about it… should he reach hitting 50 HR's and 100 RBI's this season what could be in store for the sensations financial future.

Following the game Ohtani donated his $150,000 winnings from the Home Run Derby to members of the Los Angeles Angels' support staff. The recipients of his generosity included clubhouse staff, trainers and members of the media relations department.

NBA

On July 6, 2021, Malika Andrews was announced as ABC's sideline reporter for the NBA Finals coverage, taking over for Rachel Nichols, who was removed after audio of Nichols disparaging the network's promotion of analyst Maria Taylor as the primary host of the Finals was released.

The controversy is centered on leaked audio of Nichols, who is white, suggesting that Taylor, who is black, rose to her position at ESPN because of a diversity effort rather than her merits. Nichols, seemingly unaware that she failed to turn off a video camera, made the comments in the NBA bubble in 2020, upset that Taylor was hosting the network's NBA Finals pregame coverage instead of her.

There was a lot of controversy regarding this move but both sides received support. Nichols is an excellent journalist who has been around a long time. The now 49-year-old reporter is Jewish and has a number of projects that she is currently involved in. Sports Illustrated has called Nichols "the country's most impactful and prominent female sports journalist."

The 26-year-old Andrews is of Jewish descent through her mother and had a Bat Mitzvah in 2008. Andrews is relatively new to the business. In 2020, she was one of first reporters to enter the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the completion of the 2019-20 NBA season in the Bubble. Andrews led the 2020 NBA draft telecast with virtual interviews of the top draftees which she also did this season.

In 2021, Andrews was nominated for an Emmy in the Emerging On-Air Talent category. Andrews has also been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for her work as ESPN's only black female NBA reporter.

Not to take anything away from Nichols, the change is refreshing since Andrews is a new face for the viewers and has a great personality. You can tell she's feeling her way through learning the league and being familiar with the players she interviews. It also takes a while for players to be familiar and comfortable with journalists. The bottom line change is good for the growth of young journalists and Andrews is a nice change of scenery.

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