Sports With Brandon: Summer Olympics. MLB news, NBA Off-season and what ifs ?

The Young and The Restless

This years summer Olympics has had a lot of hear warming stories. Kayla Harrison's hardships during her teenage years and her new feat at winning a gold medal. Michael Phelps's winning his record setting 20th and 21st medal after a dismal beginning and Ranomi Kromowidjojo's epic strides for the Dutch swimming team have created much buzz in the sports world but the two most prolific stars in this years Olympics are two girls who are under the age 18. Meet 16 year old gymnast Gabrielle Douglas and 17 year old swimmer Missy Franklin. These two ladies set records in their respective sport. Gabrielle Douglas claimed her all-around crown making her a American Icon overnight. She has a special gift. The way she accelerates and her acrobatic motion and landings makes the competition look so easy. I admit I wasn't into gymnastics prior to last week but the moves Douglas performed on the center stage were very defining. The style and grace she performed blew away from her competition at ease. Nicknamed the "Flying Squirrel" Douglas has became an instant sensation in the London summer Olympics. Look out for Douglas to score big endorsements and more media coverage in the latter stages of the summer. As an African-American gymnast she may also start a trend by having more Black women performing gymnastics in the next few years to come. Missy Franklin scored gold in the 200 meter backstroke too earning high praise from fans and media outlets world wide. Franklin and Kate Ledecky have both garnered respect for their efforts in achieving gold medals in a sport were many girl's under the age of 18 would accomplish. Does youth beat experience? who knows, but fresh legs of both swimmers have left their opponents in the dust finishing with astonishing times in all relays. The next few days will be more exciting as we see them again. Good luck to the ladies and hope all goes well................ GO U.S.A.

Men's Olympic

I'm not even gonna discuss yesterday's blow out win vs. Nigeria. Kobe and Melo put on a show helping the men's USA team to shatter the Olympic records of points scored in a game man-handling the Nigerian men's team 156-73. SMH embarrassing I can see the look on Hakeem Olajuwon's face after that ass-kicking

MLB

Hollywood Bombers

The LA Dodgers are looking to run-away with the NL West after acquiring 3B. Hanley Ramirez, OF, Shane Victorino and SP. Joe Blanton. I like their moves it gives them a good chance at furthering the distance on San Francisco to clinch the NL West. They have the tools they need to make the run. Ramirez has been coming alive of late, Dee Gordon expected to return from injury can give the front batting order of the Dodgers a big spike with RBI machines Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier knocking in runs. The pitching has been decent but picking up Joe Blanton can strengthen the starting rotation. 8-9 with a 4.59 ERA may not be the best but a change of scenery for Blanton may let him pitch effectively in the later parts of the season. I expect the Dodgers to win the NL West and be serious contenders in the NL.

Hanley Ramirez

Josh Hamilton Struggles.

After a hot start of the season Texas Ranger's slugger Josh Hamilton has free-fallen from a possible AL MVP candidate to a 2004 struggle of Jason Giambi. Batting just .177 in July that was the worst slump in Hamilton's career. I know its hard for him knowing he dealt with serious issues in the past and now to have the media on his back is not a good look. I think he'll rebound, but there may be something behind the struggles of Hamilton. The Rangers are supportive of Hamilton and Im sure there can be a solution to his problems. He has to start coming alive because his Rangers have serious competition with Oakland and Anaheim out west.

Upton Accomplishment

Fun fact brothers B.J. and Justin Upton hit their 100th career homeruns on the same night sweeeeeeet.

NFL.

Pre-Season ball start next week Im amped lets go Raiders. My superbowl predictions ............... I have none lol Week 6 I promise.

Player Hatred

Have you ever hated a player on your favorite team soooo much you were happy they left? Its strange to see that but not for Washington DC. fans. Wizards PF Andray Blatche was recently amnestied after I horrible year with the team posting career lows in every category. He made some headlines earlier in the season when he told Wizard fans to "Shut up" after they criticized him after a lost, his work ethic was questioned and was seen partying in a Virginia nightclub after a Wizards loss. The Wizards have been one of the league's worst team and at times embarrassing to watch. Blatche was in the middle of all of it. Twitter posts negatively portrayed Blatche seeing 6x's more negative tweets than positive. When word got to DC fans that the Wiz released Andray Blatche, it was music to their ears. It was funny to me seeing that I never saw fans hate a player that bad. One tweet even said Blatche was a cancer to the team and city. One fan was happy Blatche was shot by an assailant in 2005. It was rude but wow how much can you hate one guy? Weeeeeell Wiz fans are happy and Blatche on the other hand is not a happy camper showing little to no NBA teams interested insigning him. He should take his career more seriously if he gets another opportunity than being in the club every night instead.

Fun Facts.

The St Louis Blues and Buffalo Bills are the only 2 sporting franchises that have made it to the championship more than 3 consecutive times and lost all 3 times or more......... Dubious honors

The 1996-1997 Phoenix Suns is the only team in NBA history to lose 10 straight games and win 10 straight in the same season.

Ken Norton Jr. is the first NFL player to win 3 consecutive rings and he did it with 2 franchises Cowboys and 49ers.

Famous What ifs?

Have you ever wondered how things would be if someone did not leave the sport so soon, or a tragedy that would never have happened? I wonder too. Its interesting because we can have arguments and never really know the real outcome of it. Its fun to entertain but it also makes you think.

What if Houston selected Michael Jordan first overall

Would MJ been the greatest?
Would He and Ralph Sampson create a dynasty?
Would Houston win multiple championships with Jordan?
Would you think MJ would have been a bust?

What if Portland drafted MJ?
Would he be the Sam Bowie, Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas injury curse?
Would the Drexler-Jordan duo be better than Pippen-Jordan?
Would Portland win multiple titles and beat the show-time Lakers in the late 80's?

What if Reggie Lewis and Len Bias lived?
Would the Celtics had over 20 titles by now?
Would the success of the Celtics carry over to the 90's
Would Bias have a hall-of-fame career?
Would Lewis become the Larry Bird's successor in Boston?

What if Michael Jordan missed the GW shot vs Cleveland in 89?
Would the Cavs have won the series?
Would this been a big blow to MJ's beginning legacy?

What if the Sonics didn't trade Pippen to Chicago on draft night?
Would Jordan be as successful without Pippen?
Would the Bulls even win a ring if Pippen was not there?
Would the Bulls been a legendary team in the 90's?

What if Charlotte kept Kobe on draft night?
Would he be as successful as he is now?
Would the Lakers have won championships if he wasn't traded.
Would Kobe been a forgotten cause?
Would Kobe beat out Glen Rice in 97?

We may never know but I ask those questions myself

Fun Stuff
The NBA-Off-Season is a period where NBA players seek new changes in teams and salaries. But in the past 10 years the NBA off-season have became a art box for many NBA players in the league. Tattoos are a big part of American culture and there have been numerous players getting tatted during the off-season. Come November you may see more players with more ink. Lets look at the most tatted players in the league