May 12, 2021

Mechelle VoepelESPN.com

New LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey's choice to present her for Naismith Hall of Fame induction this weekend couldn't do it. But she got a heck of a substitute: Michael Jordan.

Mulkey said she had hoped her former coach and boss at Louisiana Tech, Leon Barmore, could do it. However, he has been dealing with illness and couldn't travel.

It's required that presenters be Hall of Famers themselves.

"So I said, 'How about we just ask someone who is already going to be there?'" Mulkey said Wednesday. "And they just casually said, 'Michael Jordan is doing it for Kobe Bryant.' Well, Michael and I were in the Olympics together, and so they asked him. And he said, 'Sure, I'll do that.' I'm so thankful he agreed to do it and was so gracious."

Mulkey will be one of nine inductees, which on the women's side also includes former Tennessee, Indiana Fever and USA Basketball star player Tamika Catchings, and longtime Bentley coach Barbara Stevens. This is the class of 2020, but the induction was delayed to this year by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony will be at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, and will be televised on ESPN from 5:30 to 8 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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Mulkey has had a whirlwind past few weeks, as she left Baylor after 21 seasons and three national championships as head coach. This weekend will be a chance for her to talk to Jordan again about the summer of '84, when both the U.S. men's and women's basketball teams won gold in the Los Angeles Olympics.

Jordan had been drafted by the NBA's Bulls earlier that summer, and Mulkey had finished her college career at Louisiana Tech. Mulkey said after the Olympics ended in August, the U.S. medalists visited the White House and toured various U.S. cities.

"I've got so many pictures of that time," Mulkey said. "The Southland Corporation got like three planes to take all the medal-winning U.S. athletes on a tour, and it was a blast. We had a ticker-tape parade in New York City, we went to Dallas for another parade. We're talking Olympians like Evander Holyfield, Mary Lou Retton, Rowdy Gaines.

"One of the most vivid memories I have with Michael Jordan is when we were getting ready to walk into the opening ceremony. I mean, just think of those Olympic basketball teams."

Along with Jordan, the men's squad included players such as Patrick Ewing, Sam Perkins, Chris Mullin, Wayman Tisdale and Joe Kleine. They were coached by Bob Knight. Among the women's players, along with Mulkey, were Cheryl Miller, Anne Donovan, Teresa Edwards, Pam McGee and Lynette Woodard. The coach was Pat Summitt.

Catchings, of course, would have loved it if her former Lady Vols coach Summitt could have been her presenter this weekend. The two won an NCAA title together in 1998, Catchings' freshman season at Tennessee. Summitt died in 2016 of early onset dementia. So Catchings will have two presenters: former NBA player Alonzo Mourning, and former WNBA player and current South Carolina women's coach Dawn Staley.

A five-time WNBA defensive player of the year, Catchings said she was always inspired by Mourning's defense. And Catchings, who is now the Fever's general manager, recalls the 1996 Olympic women's basketball team, which Staley played on, as being a big inspiration for her as a high school player. Catchings would go on to play in four Olympics herself, including as Staley's teammate in 2004.

"My father played in the NBA for 11 years, but outside of my house, Zo was my first role model," said Catchings, who won the 2011 WNBA MVP award and the 2012 league title. "It was just the way that he played the game. It was the same way that I play.

"With Dawn, I've talked a lot about just what her impact has been for me from a leadership standpoint. Being a leader on that 2004 Olympic team, watching her navigate that, really helped me develop into a leader here with the Fever and eventually the Olympic team."

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Kim Mulkey 'thankful' to have Michael Jordan as Hall of Fame presenter, reminisces on 1984 Olympics together - ESPN

Jan 19, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; East quarterback Jordan Taamu (10) of Mississippi looks to pass during the second quarter against the West at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

One year ago around this same time, the K.C. Chiefs took a flyer on Jordan Taamu, a promising young quarterback hoping to make the leap to the NFL by way of the XFL after finishing his career at Ole Miss. This offseason, his Chiefs days are now behind him after a few attempts to remain with the club and now hes hoping to turn garner more attention with the Washington Football Team by participating in the teams rookie minicamp this weekend.

Taamu originally landed an NFL gig after going undrafted back in 2019 with the Houston Texans. However, he failed to make the active roster and within months, the XFL came calling as an upstart league offering chances to prospects just like Taamu. He became the starter for the St. Louis Battlehawks, but the league went under before it even finished its first season. However, based on his body of work there, the Chiefs signed him to a contract.

While his intriguing skill set as a mobile quarterback made some fans hope hed stick around, Taamu could never turn the corner in K.C. He originally landed on the practice squad after last years training camp, but was placed on the COVID-19 list and then released. He landed a short stint with the Detroit Lions by December, but it wasnt long before he was back in K.C. on a reserve/futures deal.

Earlier this month, the Chiefs released Taamu and brought in Shane Buechele, a rookie free agent out of SMU, which made it clear the Chiefs were trimming the competition for any developmental QB role between Buechele and Anthony Gordon.

Taamu cleared waivers but earned an invite from Washington, which is where hes hoping to perform well enough to earn a longer look. The good news for Taamu is that some competition in Stephen Montez isnt in minicamp as expected, so hell have the coaches to himself.

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Former KC KChiefs quarterback Jordan Taamu tries to impress Washington - Arrowhead Addict

This week's AT&T Byron Nelson is a home game for the Texan, who made his TOUR debut at the event in 2010 as a 16-year-old. Spieth has roared back into form in 2021, with five top-5 finishes already this season, including a win at the Valero Texas Open.

Events based in Texas usually provide testing conditions due to the volatile weather, with the wind often playing a part in the Lone Star State.

According to Spieth, the added greenside spin with the new Pro V1x should be helpful should the wind pick up at TPC Craig Ranch this week.

When you get into some trouble with some windy, tough golf courses, and you've got to hit these shots to short sided hole locations, to be able to have that extra spin around the greens will be really nice, he said.

The three time major champion has been out of action since the Masters with the break allowing Spieth the opportunity to get accustomed to the new ball. After some thorough testing sessions, he believes the new addition to his bag will also provide added consistency in his scoring clubs.

It was really like three days of hitting balls in different conditions into the wind, downwind, trying to get a nice day in there too, where you kind of dont have to fight any, he added. And then hitting shots around the greens, being comfortable with that feel which was easier. If you can get a little more spin, thats only going to make things better.

But really in those kind of three-quarter wedge shots, a lot of different kind of wedge control shots with the scoring clubs, I was looking at How different does it feel? Am I getting any that are problematic? I like to play my wedges lower. And so just having a little bit of that extra spin I think is going to make it even more consistent.

Though Spieth has an excellent record in his home state, winning twice, he is still looking for his first title at the AT&T Byron Nelson.

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Jordan Spieth makes first ball switch in four years to new Pro V1x - pgatour.com

Throughout Aaron Rodgers career with the Green Bay Packers, the backup quarterbacks that have come and gone have kept the revolving door spinning. The names are largely forgettable; ones that dont pop to mind right away.

In large part, this tends to be the life of a backup quarterback in the NFL. In the snap of a finger, though, the backup quarterback can become the biggest hero or the scapegoat if a starter goes down. Every team would love to have a really solid backup option, but the reality is there arent that many to go around. The Packers have largely had uneventful backups on their roster. Thats why the Blake Bortles signing makes things all the more interesting in the land of cheese.

Brett Hundley, DeShone Kizer, Graham Harrell, Tim Boyle, Joe Callahan, Scott Tolzien.

Those are the names that have largely backed up Rodgers throughout his career. Most of them are late-round picks. Some of them are undrafted altogether. The most notable backup was probably Matt Flynn, drafted in the seventh round in 2008. Flynn had one really good start against the Detroit Lions in a meaningless Week 17 game in 2012 that earned him a fat paycheck from the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason.

It never worked out because Seattle drafted some guy named Russell Wilson.

Boyle is gone and had been Rodgers backup for a couple of years. They have Jordan Love. They couldve signed a rookie for the third spot if they had no concerns. The Rodgers fiasco has Brian Gutekunst and Mark Murphyconsidering that Rodgers may stand firm on his current decision, thus leading them to the Bortles signing.

All of this is what makes the Bortles signing all the more fascinating. Yes, the Packers needed another arm for camp, especially if Rodgers opts to be absent. But Green Bay couldve gone out and signed some undrafted free agent or scooped up another no-name guy looking for just an opportunity.

Instead, they went with a guy who was a five-year starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars. And while he didnt drive winning in their run to the AFC Championship, he was the starter at the time.

Theres the obvious familiarity with Nathaniel Hackett, Green Bays current offensive coordinator who was also the offensive coordinator for the Jaguars when Bortles was there. But this move might signal something else. The Packers may be hedging a bit here or at least ensuring a backup plan if things dont shift back around between them and Rodgers. In any other year without this Rodgers drama, theres just no realistic likelihood that the Packers wouldve gone out and signed Bortles.

Bortles brings legitimate starting NFL experience to the table, something the Packers rarely ever have in their backup quarterbacks. He brings knowledge of multiple schemes to the table, having been with many teams. The backup is usually a young quarterback who watches and learns. Signing Bortles is vastly different from their usual method.

Those who dont want to read into this will use the crutch that Bortles has the experience of working with Hackett in Jacksonville. And thats all fine and true, but the Packers havent even gone that route in the past. Its long been a franchise that pushes its chips in on Rodgers staying healthy, and if he gets injured, start planning for next year.

Of course, this is the case for a lot of teams. But some make an effort for an established veteran who isnt quite a starter to be their No. 2.

The longer the Rodgers-Packers dilemma drags out, the more chaotic and uneasy things will become.

Theres no doubt that the Packers front office dug this hole themselves as they try to pile the dirt back on top. They had opportunities to give Rodgers an extension this offseason and apparently bluffed. While it doesnt all stem from that according to reports, its a part of it. And as a result, Green Bay is left trying to put the pieces of the puzzle back together when all the pieces may not be there.

The Bortles signing may be something. It may be nothing. The BOAT jokes and Bortles track record will be the large discussion points as most want to make fun of the idea that the Packers signed the former third-overall pick.

What cant be dismissed is that Bortles signing by Green Bay is outside the box of what they normally do at the position, and it may be a sign that Gutekunst and Murphy realized they may need someone whos been around the block at the position next year just in case No. 12 doesnt return.

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The Bortles Signing is More About Jordan Love Than It Is About Aaron Rodgers - Zone Coverage

Jordan Clarkson scores 33 points as Jazz head into playoffs as top seed in the NBA

by: Dana Greene

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Sunday, May 16, 2021. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

SACRAMENTO (ABC4 Sports) For the first time in franchise history, the Utah Jazz have the outright best record in the NBA.

The Jazz clinched the #1 overall seed in the NBA Playoffs, pulling away from the Sacramento Kings in the final game of the regular season Sunday night, 121-99. A loss would have dropped the Jazz to the second seed behind Phoenix.

Jordan Clarkson scored 33 points, while Bojan Bogdanovic added 18 points, as the Jazz overcame an early 12-point deficit to dominate the Kings.

Utah (52-20) will open the playoffs next weekend against the 8th seed, which will be determined in the play-in tournament.

I want all of all of us to enjoy this moment, said head coach Quin Snyder. I feel like if we do that, appreciate the regular season, and I think that transitions us to the mindset we need to have to try to play well in the playoffs.

Rudy Gobert added 13 points and 16 rebounds, while Mike Conley had 11 points, six rebounds and nine assists in his second game back from a hamstring injury.

This is the third time the Jazz have been the number one seed in the Western Conference. But unlike in 1996-97 and 1997-78, this is the first time the Jazz have owned the NBAs best record outright.

Obviously, this is not our main goal, Gobert said. Our main goal is to get the championship. But we still have to enjoy this moment and be proud of the year and the work that we put in this year.

Now comes the waiting game. Utah awaits one of the surviving teams from the play-in games that begin Tuesday and end Friday.

In the Western Conference theres not going to be anybody you want to play, Conley said. Everybodys capable. Well just have to see how it goes.

Utah led by 15 at halftime and continued to pull away in the second half. Bogdanovich scored nine points and dunked off a bounce pass from Royce ONeal, while Clarkson added a pair of 3s as part of a 20-4 run in the third quarter. ONeals 3-pointer later pushed Utahs lead to 90-61.

Clarkson sank three free throws midway through the fourth to make it 113-87.

Its definitely a great feeling because we know we put a lot into it, Clarkson said. It started in the bubble (last year) and then through this year with guys going out, guys coming back, everybody staying tough and going through it. Weve got bigger goals. Were trying to play big-time in the playoffs and do something special.

Conley, limited to 16 minutes against Oklahoma City on Friday in his return from a right hamstring injury, got the Jazz going after they sputtered early. He had 11 points with three 3s and seven assists to help Utah to a 64-49 lead.

I was just telling the guys, this doesnt happen every so often where youre the #1 seed, Conley said. The number one team in the whole NBA in the regular season. So enjoy the moment that were in right now today, tonight and tomorrow, we get to think about the playoffs, so were just excited to be in this position.

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Jazz clinch #1 overall seed with 121-99 victory over Sacramento - ABC 4

WEST JORDAN, Utah A 16-year-old was arrested Monday in connection to a shooting in West Jordan that left another teen dead Sunday night.

The 19-year-old victim, identified as Caesar Manenche, suffered gunshot wounds and later died of his injuries.

The shooting happened at the intersection of 7800 S and Redwood Rd.

According to West Jordan officials, the 16-year-old had an on-going feud with Manenche. Witnesses reported seeing two vehicles racing when gunshots came from a gray Chrysler 300 with a low profile and tinted windows.

In a post to social media by the City of West Jordan, the suspect is a "documented gang member."

The shooting was a targeted act and police are looking to see if additional parties were involved.

Police kept the intersection closed for several hours as they conducted the initial investigation.

"When we arrived, we found that one of the drivers of the vehicle had sustained gunshot wounds. Found shell casings and bullet holes that supported him being shot. He was transported to the hospital in serious condition and we're just starting the investigation into what we anticipate may be a homicide investigation," said West Jordan Deputy Chief Jeremy Robertson.

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Victim identified, 16-year-old arrested in fatal West Jordan shooting - fox13now.com

Former Oregon Duck Jordan Bell is on the move.

And it looks like the move is back to a familiar place for the 26-year-old NBA player.

On Saturday, The Athletics Shams Charania reported that the Golden State Warriors will be bringing back Bell to the Bay Area by converting two-way forward Juan Toscano- Anderson into a standard NBA contract.

Back in 2017, the Golden State Warriors traded for Bell from the Chicago Bulls for cash considerations and was a large part of helping the Warriors win the championship in that same year.

Since then, he has been all around the league. Playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies andG-League affiliate Erie Bayhawks.

Bell last played for the Washington Wizards signing a 10-day contract in mid-April. He averaged 2.8 ppg, 3.8 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.6 BPG and 0.6 SPG.

The move for the Warriors makes sense, as they will be trying to make run in the play-in tournament with the playoffs coming up.

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Former Duck Jordan Bell returns to the Warriors - NBC Sports

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. The University of Alabama men's basketball team could get a key contributor back into the lineup very soon.

Forward Jordan Bruner, who tore his meniscus on Jan. 12 against Kentucky, is not the brink of returning to action according to coach Nate Oats.

Before his injury, the Yale transfer was averaging 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds in 13 appearances.

In the game before he suffered the knee issue, he dropped a season-high 20 points and added seven rebounds, three steals and one block in a 94-90 win on the road versus Auburn.

"He is close," Oats told the media via Zoom on Friday afternoon. "He would have been playing already but he had a setback a couple of weeks ago. He's back to where he is shooting this week and he's been able to go through some drills. I think we are going to have some guys warm up tomorrow and see how they feel and go through walkthroughs. We were hoping we could have him back by the Arkansas game.

"It's close. It's very close. He's been in a lot more drills in the last couple days of practice. Up until this week, he hadn't been able to do anything outside of some spot shooting, free throws and some stationary ball-handling. They are amping everything up now. He's close to where he could be back.

"I think it would be great to get him back. He was playing great. I don't know if he can come back and play at the same level when he left but he should be pretty good, I would think."

Oats also noted that the week-long break in between the Crimson Tide's two most recent games has "rested and rejuvenated" the team after Thursday's postponement against Texas A&M.

"When that game got canceled it wasn't the worst thing for us," Oats added. "Herb Jones is still not 100 percent and that gave him a game off. Bruner is still recovering. If that game gets tacked on at the end, hopefully he's close to 100 percent by then... It gives us time to get healed up."

Alabama will face Vanderbilt on Saturday at noon inside Coleman Coliseum and it will be televised on SEC Network. Seven Crimson Tide players will be honored after the game for Senior Day.

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Alabama Basketball's Jordan Bruner On the Brink of Returning to Action: "He's Close" - Bama Maven

The Jordan boys basketball team is being challenged in its first season in the Wright County Conference.

The Hubmen endured a stretch where it lost five straight league games after a 4-1 start. But the losing skid was snapped Feb. 17 with a 50-43 home win over Delano, getting 10 points apiece from sophomore Mack Schmidt and senior Reagan Koch.

Jordan won the Minnesota River Conference title last year with a 13-1 mark. The WCC is a bigger step up for the program this season.

"This is a very good conference and there is never a night off," Jordan coach Matt Urbanek said. "I think every team in the conference is capable of beating every other team. That makes it fun, and it will also help to prepare us for the playoffs.

"Our goal is to continually improve throughout the season and play our best basketball in the postseason," Urbanek added. "Our conference schedule will certainly help us with that."

The Hubmen will end the regular season March 12 with a league game at Hutchinson. The Tigers won 84-82 over Jordan in the first meeting between the two teams Feb. 16.

Last winter, back on March 13, Jordan was all set to take on Waseca in the Section 2AA championship, but the Minnesota State High School League ended the winter sports season the morning of the title game due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Waseca looks to be the team to beat again this season. The Bluejays are ranked No. 1 in the state.

The Section 2AA tournament will start March 16. The title game is set for March 26.

State quarterfinal play for boys basketball will be March 30-31, followed by the semifinals April 6-8 and the title games for all four classes April 9-10. The Target Center in Minneapolis has been tentatively set as the venue.

Jordan made the state field in 2018, finishing sixth.

Meanwhile, in the loss to Hutchinson, Koch led the Hubmen with 32 points. Junior Isaac Young finished with 18 points, while senior Jojo Kloeppel and junior Owen Montreuil were also in double figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively.

Jordan also lost 85-73 at home to Orono Feb. 12. Koch again led the way with a season-high 33 points. He leads the team at 20.1 points per game.

Young scored 16 points for the Jordan in the loss, while Kloeppel finished with 11 points and Montreuil added 10.

"We've been very competitive in every game," Urbanek said. "We feel like we are right there. In the last few games we have been hurt by a big run from our opponents in each of those games.

"We need to play with more consistency and be able to stop those runs when they start," Urbanek added. "Overall, our players are confident and they've brought a great attitude every day."

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Hubmen trying the meet the challenges in the new conference - SW News Media

Jordan Spieth has flipped the script.

Instead of a weekly update on his shocking descent down the official world rankings the past three years, Spieth has turned the page and become a daily occupant of the front page of the leaderboard the past three weeks.

With his second consecutive 3-under-par 68, the former world No. 1 and three-time major champion continued his crawl out of the abyss and moved into contention Friday in the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club.

In search of his first win since the 2017 British Open at Royal Birkdale, the winner of 11 PGA Tour titles sat in a tie for fourth when he signed his card, six shots behind leader Sam Burns.

All in all, very pleased with the ballstriking today, Spieth said. I feel like today it was almost the highest score I could have shot and its really a good sign for things to come.

After looking lost at times since midway through 2018, Spieth has now broken par in nine of his last 10 rounds and is 38 under in the stretch. He took at least a share of the 54-hole lead into his past two tournaments and finished in a tie for fourth in the Waste Management Phoenix Open and in a tie for third in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He looks more comfortable over the ball, more confident striding down the fairways. The two-way miss hasnt been his unwelcomed and painful 15th club for three weeks now. After falling to as low as 92nd in the world rankings, hes now 62nd with a bullet.

I made a couple iffy driver swings, but I actually drove the ball really, really well today until No.9, said Spieth, who despite hitting just 46 percent of his fairways in regulation, has hit 78 percent of his greens in regulation. My ballstriking was really solid and my bogeys came from, you know, just being in the wrong place on 18, which can happen, and missed about a sixfooter.

Obviously Sam had some success on the greens and everywhere else, but its not like you can go chase people on this golf course. So Im happy with where Im at, but just eliminate a couple of the kind of minor mistakes here and there and try to keep clean cards on the weekend and let the rest of it take care of itself.

Genesis Invitational:Leaderboard|Photos|Tee times, TV info

Despite his uptick in form, Spieth has not changed his expectations.

No, and they shouldnt ever no matter what, he said. Im trying to just get better every single day, have everything feel better each day and be able to be kind of outwardly focused versus kind of swing oriented. The more I can shift that direction and eventually to where it can be 100 percent that way, the better off Ill be. Im in good shape. Just try and get myself close to the lead by the end of tomorrow, that will be the goal.

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Jordan Spieth turning in another star performance at Genesis Invitational in shadow of Hollywood - usatoday.com

Roy Williams, the longtime North Carolina mens basketball coach, knows a thing or two about the level of competition Michael Jordan brings to any kind of contest.

On Wednesday, Jordans 58th birthday, Williams, who was an assistant coach at North Carolina when Jordan played college basketball there from 1981-84, appeared in a video filmed at Pinehurst Resort in which he talked about Jordans game on the golf course as opposed to his game on the basketball court.

Most of Williamss observations had to do with Jordans penchant for chatter as opposed to his actual shot-making.

With Pinehursts iconic Putter Boy figure at his right elbow and the practice putting green and clubhouse in the background, Williams was asked a simple question for the short clip shared on Pinehursts Twitter account: Whats a round of golf like with Michael?

Its just competitive and the only thing he ever did that was better than playing basketball was talking. And so you better be on his team or hes going to talk you to death. He can hit it a long way, got a great touch, he hits it a long way sideways every now and then, but you better be able to stand up for the lip because hes going to talk you to death.

Many, many stories of Jordan golf bets and talk have emerged through the years, and perhaps none greater than this tale of Jordan taunting PGA Tour player Dominic Bozzelli at Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Florida.

It takes some focus, it seems, to tee it up with Jordan.

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North Carolina coach Roy Williams on a round of golf with Michael Jordan: 'You better be able to stand up for the lip' - usatoday.com

The Utah Jazz already know coach Quin Snyder will be on hand at the NBA All-Star festivities on March 7, as head coach of the Western Conference team.

The question is, which Jazz players will join him in Atlanta?

While Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert werent named to the starting lineup when the league unveiled the All-Star starters Thursday, both are expected to earn their second All-Star invites. The All-Star reserves will be named on Tuesday.

Point guard Mike Conley is seen as another All-Star option from the Jazz, who currently sport the NBAs best record.

Charles Barkley, the former 11-time All-Star who now works on the NBA on TNT crew, threw another Utah player into the ring for consideration: guard Jordan Clarkson.

Hes been the best bench player in the NBA this year. Theyve got the best record in the NBA, Barkley said of Clarkson on Thursday. Hes been fantastic this year. Thats why I got him on my list.

Clarkson posted a season-high 40-point effort in the teams win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. Hes averaging a career-best 18.2 points per game as the teams valuable sixth man.

Mitchell was left out of the starting lineup, as he finished fourth in All-Star voting among Western Conference guards with the fourth-most fan and media votes and the fifth-most player votes.

He trailed starters Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic, as well as Damian Lillard. The other Western Conference starters include LeBron James, Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard.

Barkley also advocated for Mitchell to be a starter during the TNT broadcast. Mitchell has averaged 24.2 points and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting 43% from the field heading into the teams game Friday against the Clippers.

No disrespect to anybody, but this kid has been the best player on the best team in the NBA, and its unfortunate hes not starting, Barkley said of Mitchell.

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Utah Jazz: Why Charles Barkley thinks Jordan Clarkson is an All-Star - Deseret News

Among basketball fans, Michael Jordan is still spoken of with great reverence; even if you think LeBron James has taken the top spot in the GOAT rankings, its impossible not to respect all that he accomplished on the hardwood. It seems that MJs agent, however, needed to be reminded of that from time to time.

According to Michael Jordan, he once had trouble getting a word in during a dinner meeting with David Falk. Everything changed, though, once His Airness started ordering the most expensive wine on the menu.

RELATED: President Barack Obama Reveals Who He Thinks Is the NBA GOAT: Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

Even though its been almost 20 years since Michael Jordan suited up for an NBA game, no one will forget his exploits anytime soon. Its still worth noting, though, just how impressive His Airness was.

Although he infamously failed to make his high schools varsity basketball team at the first attempt, Jordans career only went up from there. By the time he graduated, MJ had become a McDonalds All-American; he then headed to the University of North Carolina, won an NCAA title as a freshman, and grew into a star.

Once in the NBA, Jordan only continued to strut his stuff. While the Detroit Pistons proved to be an early roadblock, His Airness greatness eventually shown through. He won six championships in two separate three-peats, earned five NBA MVP awards, and took home virtually every individual honor imaginable.

On the back of that basketball success, Jordan became a massive pop-cultural presence. Hes incredibly famous, worth more than $1 billion, and stands tall in the collective memory of sports fans everywhere.

RELATED: Michael Jordan Is Worth $1.6 Billion, but He Was Known to Spit on an Entire Tray of Cinnamon Rolls Just to Avoid Sharing

Michael Jordan wasnt just an incredible talent, though. He was also a ruthless competitor who you didnt want to cross.

MJ stoked his inner fire as a boy, battling against his brother, Larry. As he grew up, that fire didnt dissipate; if anything, it got stronger.

During Jordans time in the NBA, he proved to be a ruthless trash-talker. No one, whether they were a teammate, fan, or opponent, was safe from MJs wrath. Some men, like Steve Kerr, even absorbed a punch from His Airness.

Even away from the court, MJ needed to win. If you took the top spot away from him, he was going to take it personally.

RELATED: Michael Jordan Pulled the Ultimate Power Move When LeBron James Threatened His GOAT Status

During his time in the NBA, Michael Jordan made plenty of opponents pay the price for crossing him. Even his agent, David Falk, it seems, wasnt safe from occasionally feeling MJs wrath.

We had a dinner meeting, and I couldnt get a word in, Jordan explained during a 2005 interview with Cigar Aficionado. The meal was on his company bill. Anytime he orders wine, or orders anything, he checks the price. But that night, he was taking time out from what we were talking about to make sure about the price.

Eventually, Jordan had enough and decided to use Falks concern about the price of dinner against him.

So now I say, Give me the most expensive wine, and hes picking up the tab, Jordan continued. Then, I say, Every time you interrupt what were talking about, Im going to order another bottle. When I started ordering the 61s, I quieted him right down, and we got through the conversation. That is a true story.

Whether youre playing basketball or having dinner with Michael Jordan, you can cross him at your own risk.

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Michael Jordan Once Used the Most Expensive Wine on the Menu to Teach His Agent a Lesson About Respect - Sportscasting

Trinity football has a new coach headed into the 2021 season: Jordan Hill. The Steel-High alum won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks and has since returned to the midstate as a high school coach.

Hill had been an assistant coach with Cumberland Valley for the 2020 season.

Hill was an all-state player his senior season with the Rollers and helped Steel-High to the Class A State Championship that season. He went on to play for Penn State from 2009-12. He was first-team All-Big Ten in 2012.

Seattle drafted Hill in the third-round of the 2013 NFL Draft with the 87th-overall pick. Hill and the Seahawks won a Super Bowl in his first season.

Seattle released Hill in 2016. He then played for Washington, Jacksonville and Detroit before retiring after the 2017 season.

He recorded 50 tackles and seven sacks in his NFL career.

Former Trinity Todd Ryan announced his departure from the program to PennLive in January. Ryan was with the team for five seasons, and recorded a 6-21 record as head coach.

abc27 is awaiting comment from Trinity High School and Hill.

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Trinity hires Super Bowl Champion Jordan Hill as head football coach - ABC27

When it was all over, Donovan Mitchell sprinted at Jordan Clarkson, a pair of water bottles in his hand, and doused the Utah Jazzs sixth man.

That was as close as anyone came to cooling down Clarkson on Monday night at Vivint Arena.

The Jazz guard torched the nets, scoring 40 points to help his team beat the Philadelphia 76ers 134-123.

The Sixers were the best team in the East as of Monday night, but they couldnt handle the Wests best, as the Jazz (23-5) reeled off their eighth win in a row.

The biggest thing for me is them believing in me, Clarkson said. Letting me be myself and embracing me just plays a role in who I am. That gives me confidence. Those guys always come over to the bench and tell me to keep shooting, even when Im having an off night, even when Im hot. Theyre telling me to shoot the ball no matter what.

Donovan Mitchell had 24 points. Joe Ingles scored 20. And three Jazzmen finished with 11 points.

Phillys Ben Simmons had 42 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in the loss.

Even with All-Star center Joel Embiid getting a late scratch because of a back issue, the Sixers jumped out to an early lead in Salt Lake City. Philly led 24-10 midway through the opening quarter.

Behind 19 points and five assists from Simmons, the Sixers shot 72.7 percent from the field and scored 22 points in the paint in the period.

At the beginning of the game, he had too much space in transition, Jazz head coach Quin Snyder said. Tonight he attacked the rim early. He felt the game. We had to get back and show him more of a crowd and make it harder for him to see a drive, to deter him.

The hot hands of Clarkson and Georges Niang kept Utah within arms reach. Clarkson went 4-for-5 from deep in the first quarter while Niang went 2-for-2.

When Jordan came in with the performance he had, weve seen that obviously beforebut that was another level, Snyder said. I thought he kept us in the game.

The Jazz kept clawing their way back. And when Bogdanovic converted a wild and-one bucket midway through the second, the Jazz had their first lead, a 57-55 advantage.

Despite shooting just 2-for-11 from deep in the second, the Jazz took a 72-66 lead into the locker room at halftime. Clarkson had 19 at the break.

The Jazzs sixth man stayed hot in the second half. His 13 points in the third helped the Jazz build their first double-digit lead and take a 106-94 advantage into the final quarter.

Hes not bashful and we dont want him to be, Snyder said of Clarkson.

Simmons kept the Sixers close, leading an 10-0 charge in the opening minutes of the fourth.

But Clarkson and the Jazz would not be deterred en route to their 19th win in the last 20 games, answering with big play after big play.

Clarkson scored eight more points in the fourth, finishing just two points shy of his career high.

Royce ONeale crashed into the scorers table during a defensive stand and then sank two clutch 3-pointers. Rudy Gobert denied Dwight Howard at the rim on one end and then rocked his own rim on the other.

Philly played great, Snyder said. It took us making some big plays at the end of the game.

The Jazz will hit the road for a pair of games against the L.A. Clippers. Tipoff is set for Wednesday at 8 p.m.

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Jordan Clarkson drops 40 to lead the Utah Jazz past the Philadelphia 76ers - UtahJazz.com

BJ Armstrong was one of the best shooters Michael Jordan ever had alongside him in a Bulls uniform. He narrates his impressions of MJ.

Armstrong was among the leagues premier 3-point shooters at a time when it was still a developing art form. Individual players like Steph, Dame or Harden bomb more 3-pointers than entire 90s teams.

However, Armstrong also brought a clutch mindset and steely defensive resolve with his offense. In his best years, Armstrong was a crucial member of the Bulls rotation during their first 3-peat.

Also Read: LeBron James wished Michael Jordan a happy birthday before he won a single ring, 9 years ago: Happy birthday to my idol

In his appearance on The Last Dance, Armstrong had a ton to say about MJ. Specifically, Armstrong was in awe of Jordans ability to put previous disappointments aside:

Theres Michael and then theres the rest of us. Michael just didnt have a memory. He had the shortest memory of anyone Ive ever seen.

Whether he made the shot or missed the shot he had already moved on to the next play. He had an amazing capacity to just be in the moment.

I always used to joke with him, Do you even remember what you did yesterday? He always used to say, B.J. the score is still 0-0. That was always his thing. He just stayed neutral to every situation and it was a great quality to have and one that I just picked up over the years playing alongside him.

Also Read: If your best shooter is 7 feet tall, you f***in suck: Charles Barkley with the NSFW rant about big men who play away from the basket

Hes a very unique personality, unlike anyone Ive seen. And thats because he only really had one goal and that was to win. He wasnt very complex, he didnt play because he wanted glory.

He didnt play because he wanted to be the greatest player, or because he wanted to be the hero. MJ didnt play because he wanted to score the most points. He just wanted to win. All the other things really didnt matter to him.

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"Michael Jordan has the shortest memory I've ever seen": BJ Armstrong, former Bulls teammate of MJ, was in... - The Sportsrush

Only two weeks shy of 2021, the Jordan 6 Rings has received a sizable confidence boost. In the past month alone, the silhouette has surfaced multiple times: the first a striking nod to the Aqua AJ8, the next a motorsports-inspired black and white, and the most current a reinterpretation of the iconic Bred colorway.

The latter, though, isnt quite as straightforward as any of the aforementioned. While the silhouette would typically reflect its inspiration near exactly, the pair here opts for a shade marginally distinct, one thats more pink than the Bulls-reminiscent reds often employed. Everything from the patent leather mudguard to the lace lock and chenille fixtures are hued the same, contrasting that of the black neutrals used along the rest of the mesh upper.

Grab an official look at these here and expect to find them at Nike.com likely within the coming months.

In other news, the Nike Kyrie 7 Rayguns is releasing first thing this January.

Where to Buy

Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.

Mens: $170Style Code: 322992-060

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The Jordan 6 Rings Reverses The Classic Bred - Sneaker News

For the release of the past few inline Jordan flagships, the brand has consistently offered Guo Ailun his very own set of PEs. And, clad in white and blue, the Air Jordan 35 is poised to keep to tradition, its now officially revealed Morpho colorway a tribute to the Chinese athlete.

Far more straightforward relative to the basketball stars past creations, the AJ35 speaks mostly by way of its color, sprinkling brighter, cool toned accents atop a frame balanced by white at its mudguard and black along its lace unit as well as its collar. On-theme blues, then, quickly steal the spotlight, dotting atop the strings and dressing much of the tooling, Eclipse Plate, and side profile. Whats more, a bit of iridescent paneling can be found spaces above, its Jumpman branding loosely complementing that of the Chinese text at the heels hangtag.

Grab a detailed look at these here and expect them to release in China on December 24th.

Where to Buy

Make sure to follow @kicksfinder for live tweets during the release date.

Mens: $180Style Code: CZ8153-100

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Official Images Of The Air Jordan 35 Morpho - Sneaker News

Christmas arrived a bit early this year for NBA legend Ray Allen after Jordan Brand gifted him a special pair of Air Jordans.

Allen shared a new iteration of the unreleased Air Jordan 1 Switch on Instagram yesterday. Unfortunately for sneaker fans, this colorway wont be releasing to the public.

This version of NBA icon Michael Jordans first signature shoe is presented in a simple black and white color scheme and features a zipper underneath the ankle collar that allows the wearer to rock the shoe as a high or a low top. It is equipped with various ankle collars and shoelaces sporting several color options including red, blue, orange and yellow. Capping off the look is a matching white midsole and a black rubber outsole.

The shoe comes packaged with a card featuring a special message from the Jordan Sports Marketing Team as reads, As 2020 comes to a close, our team wants to express our gratitude and appreciation to you for being a part of our Jordan Brand Family. 2020 will be a year that is hard to forget. Throughout this year each of you have shown resilience, strength and courage to adapt and continue to represent Jordan Brand with unrelenting commitment.

At the time of publication, a release date for the Air Jordan 1 Switch has not yet been announced.

In related Air Jordan news, a new sneaker collaboration between Clot and Jordan Brand is reportedly in the works after a first look at their upcoming Air Jordan 14 Low surfaced on social media.

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Ray Allen Shows Off the Air Jordan 1 Switch on Instagram but This Pair Is an Exclusive Player Edition - Yahoo Lifestyle

Probably the most notable thing to come out of Jim Rutherfords media session on Monday was the way he talked up AHL addition Jordan Nolan.

Rutherford was complimentary of Nolans game, and confirmed that he will be in camp and will have an opportunity to earn an NHL contract.

Said Rutherford: We will bring an American League contract to camp. That will be Jordan Nolan. We like this player. We will see how camp goes. At any time, we can flip his American League deal to an NHL contract. He brings a dimension to his game that is important for teams.

So what do we make of this? Is it just typical preseason hot-air to leave the door open for a veteran? Or is seeing him in a Penguins uniform something that is a legit possibility of happening this season?

The thing that sticks out to me a little is the brings a dimension that is important to teams line, because, well, it has been a reoccurring theme for the Penguins the past couple of offseasons to bring more of a sandpaper and grit element to the roster. It has not really worked out well.

It is not really a huge surprise that the Penguins are leaving no stone unturned when it comes to their forward depth because it is one of the big unanswered questions heading into the season. There are a lot of bodies there, but not really a lot of guarantees. Especially offensively.

So lets talk about Nolan and if he has a spot here.

At first glance, it is difficult to see it.

Nolan did not play a single game in the NHL this past season, and since the start of the 2018-19 season has played in just 14 games. When he has played, he has not really made much of an impact. No offense, his possession numbers have been bad relative to his teammates, and he really does not solve the biggest need the Penguins have for their third-and-fourth lines. Someone to provide a spark offensively.

When everybody is healthy they already have a pretty strong collection of defensive forwards in those spots. Is Nolan a defensive upgrade over Teddy Blueger, Brandon Tanev, or a healthy Zach Aston-Reese? Or Evan Rodrigues, Mark Jankowski, or Colton Sceviour for that matter? We know he is not going to outscore any of them, and if he is not a defensive upgrade (and I am not sure that he is) then what is the point?

There is nothing wrong with players that provide physicality and rattle some cages from time to time. But there has to be something else there along with it to make it all worth it. Some kind of an offensive impact, or a shutdown presence, or an ability to drive possession. You can not just add grit for the sake of grit. My fear is that this would be grit for the sake of grit.

Having said that, the fact the Penguins have so many forwards on the roster right now that it is going to be awfully difficult for Nolan to crack this lineup. Especially with no preseason games to make a case for himself. Instead, I see this as a contingency plan, and the safety net of a body with NHL experience, for what could be a strange season full of uncertainty. You hate to think about it, but you have to prepare for the possibility that you are going to be missing players at some point this season and perhaps multiple players, even for an extended period of time due to illness or injury. The former could absolutely be an issue at some point given the numbers around the country. We also know the latter always seems to be an issue for this team.

That is what I see Nolan is here for. In case they need to fill a roster. Because from a hockey standpoint his only potential role is as a bottom-six forward, and almost certainly a fourth-liner. When it comes to the bottom-six there are at least eight or nine forwards that are starting the season ahead of him for one of those spots.

Realistically speaking it is an organizational depth move, and Rutherfords comments strike me as him just talking up a player they added to the organization with the understanding that they might need him. Whether or not they could have signed a better potential option for that role and that spot is certainly a debate worth having. But in the end I think the only way we see Nolan playing in an NHL game for Pittsburgh is if a lot of people are out of the lineup for one reason or another. There is just no actual hockey reason for it to happen otherwise.

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Will we see Jordan Nolan in the Penguins lineup this season? - PensBurgh