Monthly Archives: April 2022

Each week during the 2021-22 NBA season, we will take a deeper dive into some of the leagues biggest storylines in an attempt to determine whether the trends are based more in fact or fiction moving forward.

[ Last time on Fact or Fiction: The Phoenix Suns are championship favorites ]

We are approaching the two-month mark since the Philadelphia 76ers traded Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden. Simmons has not yet played for the Nets, and somehow we are left wondering if the Sixers would take a mulligan on the trade.

Harden is not the same top-three MVP candidate he was for four straight seasons from 2016-20, when his general manager informed us, "It's just factual that James Harden is a better scorer than Michael Jordan."

That same executive, Daryl Morey, left Houston for Philadelphia in 2020, spent his first two seasons with the 76ers trying to reunite with Harden and succeeded at this year's trade deadline. Morey either ignored Harden's production in the meantime or felt confident the 10-time All-Star was sandbagging the rest of us.

From 2016-20, 28.4 of Harden's league-leading 32.4 points per game (55.4 effective field-goal percentage) came inside of 8 feet, on pull-up 3-pointers or at the free-throw line. He was a one-man offense, spending possessions breaking down his defender off the dribble, looking for a step into a layup or out to a jumper.

Losing a step is a bigger deal when one in either direction was your signature.

Harden's points from inside of 8 feet, pull-up 3s and free throws are down to 19.5 per game (49.6 eFG%) this season. Of the 294 players who have attempted at least 200 shots inside of 8 feet, Harden's 48.8% success rate ranks 273rd, right between Devonte' Graham and Dennis Smith Jr. Among the 72 players who have attempted at least 100 pull-up 3s, Harden's 33.7% shooting ranks 39th. His free throws, which had risen to 11.8 per game in 2019-20 the most by a guard since Jordan's 11.9 in 1986-87, are down to 8.3.

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Where once Harden was a historic foul-drawing machine and an exceptional scoring guard at high volume from both beyond the arc and at the rim, he is now a mere mortal at getting to the free-throw line, a below-average shooter from distance and a poor finisher around the basket. That combination is a slippery slope.

One-time NBA MVP James Harden is limping into a pivotal postseason. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Harden's first three games with the Sixers were encouraging, if you were one who held out hope his statistical decline was the result of his disinterest in playing for the Rockets and Nets. He averaged a 26.7 points (on 60/41/91 shooting splits), 7.3 rebounds and 12 assists in a trio of wins. Since then, his averages have dipped to 20-7-10 on 36/30/89 splits over his last 16 games. Philadelphia's only victory against a top-five seed in the Eastern Conference during that span came when Harden rested against the Miami Heat.

In two recent games against the Toronto Raptors, the Sixers' first-round opponent if the playoffs started today, Harden combined for 30 points on 8-for-24 shooting from the field (1 for 8 from 3-point range). Philadelphia lost both games when the gap between peak Harden and this version was all the difference.

First, it was a right hamstring strain at the end of last season that slowed him at the start of this regular season. Now, it is left hamstring tightness that has slowed at the end of it. Sixers coach Doc Rivers suggested in late March that Harden still needed three weeks to "be there at 100%." We will see if he can flip a switch in the playoffs, but history tells us he has had a hard time doing that even when healthy.

There is a chance that Harden is feeling the effects at age 32 of being so durable for the first 11 years of his career. He has twice led the league in minutes and did not miss more than 10 games in a season until last year. Harden's decline begs the question of why he is averaging 37.2 minutes per game third in the NBA behind Toronto's Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam when his performance is said to be injury-related. Harden's 32,579 career minutes fall in the range of when superstars of years past have called it careers.

Harden's former Rockets teammate Chris Paul suffered a similar hamstring injury in the 2018 playoffs, limped through the next season and amounted to a salary dump at the end of his tenure in Houston. He adopted a plant-based diet and has enjoyed a career resurgence ever since, rejoining the All-NBA elite.

Chances of Harden embracing a similar lifestyle change seem slim, given his response to adversity in Houston and Brooklyn. He is a regular on the NBA's traveling nightlife scene, and he has shown up to his past two training camps out of shape. The party has not stopped as he recovers from his latest injury.

It would be fascinating to know what the communication was like between Morey and Harden over the last two years. Did Morey blindly trust that Harden's late arrival to Houston last season and his two-week hiatus from Brooklyn were just blatant attempts to force breakups and not indicative of a broader issue? Or was Harden in his ear, dismissing the mounting injuries, reminding him of what was and what could be again?

Barring a drastic turnaround, the Sixers will not survive the Eastern Conference playoff gauntlet and maybe not even the first round, not with this edition of Harden and the absence of the depth they dealt to get him.

Whether or not Morey regrets trading for Harden already, the deal is done. He can not reset the clock on a less expensive CJ McCollum deal or wait on better offers for Simmons and significantly more assets in the offseason. Morey must now decide whether Harden is worth the massive contract he will seek this summer.

There are questions about how and why the paperwork to pick up Harden's $47.4 million was not filed on time. Answers vary, depending on who you ask. Harden has indicated he plans to stay in Philadelphia. There is some speculation that he could decline his option, allowing Morey to create cap room for a third star in a shallow free-agency market, and then re-sign for a lower annual salary. That would be a first for Harden and requires an awful lot of trust in a player who reportedly broke his word to re-sign in Brooklyn.

Fool me once and all that.

Harden is eligible for a four-year extension that would pay him more than $60 million at age 37 in 2026-27. Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix recently reported that some within the Sixers organization are "wary" of giving Harden that contract, which if you are not wary of that deal, you have not been paying attention. Tying the remainder of Joel Embiid's prime to an overindulged Harden could eventually cost them Embiid.

Only, the Sixers have invested significantly in Harden already. Simmons held value, however far it had fallen, as did Curry and both first-round picks, the second of which outlasts Embiid's recent extension. As soon as Harden signs his next contract, he becomes near-impossible to trade, based on the money alone. If his performance this season is any indication of what to expect, his contract would easily be the NBA's worst.

Pay Harden if you believe he can win a title, but there is mounting evidence that Harden cannot achieve in Philadelphia what eluded him in his Houston prime no matter how extraordinary Embiid has been.

If the end result of trading an All-NBA player, one of the league's best shooters, a quality backup center and two first-rounders is an albatross contract, you lost the trade, regardless of what becomes of Simmons. The entire of point of waiting to deal Simmons was to ensure the Sixers extracted maximum value, and Morey convinced himself Harden was the missing championship piece, only they are still a long shot in the East.

Executives always face an internal battle between analytics and relationships. We will find out how much Morey values both, and the future of the Sixers will hang in the balance of the decision between them.

Determination: Fact

Ben Rohrbach is a staff writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rohrbach_ben@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @brohrbach

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NBA Fact or Fiction: The James Harden conundrum - Yahoo Sports

Talk of a looming recession is rampant around the globe, and now a major U.S. bank has issued its own dire forecast for the global economy.

Its been over a month since Russia invaded Ukraine, leading to an unforeseen and prolonged fallout for the global economy. Combined with an inflation problem that was already spiking the prices of virtually every commodity, global institutions have begun ringing the alarm bells that we are on the brink of a long-anticipated recession.

In an investment strategy report sent to clients on Thursday, Bank of America analysts warned that inflation always precedes recessions and that tighter monetary policies being put in place to control surging prices make a recession shock very likely.

Inflation has been the bane of the U.S. economy for months, and rates have hit new highs since the war began. The annual inflation rate jumped to 7.9% in February, the highest its been in four decades, and the latest forecasts suggest Marchs rate could reach 8.5%, according to investment bank UBS. Such a rate would be the highest since 1981.

The Federal Reserve has been laser-focused on the problem for months, and the central bank began hiking interest rates weeks ago in an effort to temper demand and counter runaway inflation.

Higher interest rates have led to an inversion of the so-called yield curve, which means that short-term yields have suddenly become much more attractive than the traditionally higher long-term ones. A surge in short-term yields is an indicator that investors believe the immediate future of the market is better than the long-term view.

BofA analysts say this inversion is a sign that a recession is nigh.

Yield curves always steepen as recessions begin, the report read.

BofA has joined a chorus of financial institutions warning about the likelihood of an immediate recession.

Market-watchers have cautioned that an economic slowdown is the reasonable outcome to assume, given current low unemployment numbers in the U.S. and rising inflation rates. And a growing list of billionaires, global investors, and Wall Street personalities have expressed more and more certainty that the trends we are seeing point to one clear conclusion: A recession is close.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com

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Recession shock: Bank of America is the latest major institution to deliver a grim warning for the future - Yahoo Finance

U.S. first-time unemployment claims fell much more than expected last week to reach the lowest level since 1968, with the rate of new layoffs and firings staying low compared to pre-pandemic averages.

The Labor Department released its latest weekly jobless claims report Thursday at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here were the main metrics from the print, compared to consensus estimates compiled by Bloomberg:

Initial jobless claims, week ended April 2: 166,000 vs. 200,000 expected and a revised 171,0000 during prior week

Continuing claims, week ended March 26: 1.523 millionvs. 1.302 million expected and a revised 1.506 million during prior week

The number of new claims filed last week marked the least in more than five decades and represented a third consecutive week that new claims were below 200,000. The prior week's new claims were also markedly downwardly revised to 171,000, from the 202,000 previously reported for the end of March. Prior to the pandemic, new claims were averaging around 218,000 per week throughout 2019.

Some of the volatility in the most recent weekly jobless claims data likely reflects a change in the way the Labor Department adjusted the figures to account for seasonal factors. Starting in Thursday's report, the Labor Department returned to using "multiplicative" seasonal adjustment factors for the data. Over the course of the pandemic, the Labor Department had been using "additive" seasonal adjustment factors, which help smooth out large shifts in the data as had been the case with the anomalous spikes in jobless claims that took place during the early wave of lockdowns in 2020.

"In times of relative economic stability, the multiplicative option is generally preferred over the additive option," the Labor Department said Thursday. "However, in the presence of a large level shift in a time series, multiplicative seasonal adjustment factors can result in systematic over- or under-adjustment of the series; in such cases, additive seasonal adjustment factors are preferred since they tend to track seasonal fluctuations more accurately in the series and have smaller revisions."

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Even with the revisions, however, the underlying trend in the data still reflects an incredibly tight labor market, according to many economists.

"The trend is flattening, at an extraordinarily low level," Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, wrote in an email Thursday morning.

"The new data show that the downward trend has been steadier since the fading of the Covid Delta wave, but it is now slowing. Claims cannot fall to zero; some firms struggle even at the peak of booms," he added. "Still, the clear message here is that the bar for layoffs is very high, given the extreme tightness of the labor market."

Continuing claims, which track the total number of individuals claiming unemployment benefits across regular state programs, also unexpectedly rose in the latest report following a marked upward revision to the prior week's data. These came in at 1.523 million, rising from the upwardly revised 1.506 million continuing claims from the prior week, which were upwardly revised from the 1.307 million previously reported.

The latest weekly jobless claims data comes on the heels of another solid monthly jobs report from the Labor Department, which showed a significant rise in hirings and a drop in the jobless rate to a near 50-year low. Non-farm payrolls grew by 431,000 in March, while the unemployment rate improved by a greater-than-expected margin to 3.6%. And as of last month, the U.S. labor market was just about 1.6 million payrolls short of its pre-pandemic levels.

"No wonder inflation is out of control, the labor market is at full employment where the costs go up astronomically for companies to bring new workers in to run the factories and work the cash registers across the country," Chris Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS, wrote in a note earlier this week. "The cost of living crisis is aided and abetted by the worst labor shortage that America has ever faced. Waiting for more workers to join the labor force and 'participate' in order to bring down wages and inflation is a pipe dream."

The strong labor market has also emboldened the Federal Reserve to press ahead with more monetary policy tightening, including more aggressive interest rate hikes and balance sheet reduction process starting in the near-term. Earlier this week, Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard said it was "of paramount importance" to get inflation down, further reinforcing the central bank was committed to focusing monetary policy efforts on bringing down prices rather than optimizing for further employment growth in an already tight labor market.

"The labor market appears to be moving past the pandemic, rapidly closing in on a complete recovery," Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote in a note. "Even as the labor market is tight, suggesting optimism about economic conditions, a four-decade high in prices is tempering expectations."

"Even as consumer balance sheets are healthy and virus concerns are facing, there are downside risks that could weigh on household and economic activity more broadly going forward," she added.

Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @emily_mcck

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Jobless claims: Another 166,000 Americans filed new claims last week - Yahoo Finance

Floyd Mayweather is ready to get back in the ring.

Mayweather will take part in an eight-round exhibition match against Dangerous Don Moore next month in Dubai, according to TMZ Sports.

The actual fight itself is going to be held on a helicopter landing pad at the Burj Al Arab hotel.

Mayweeather hasnt stepped into a ring since he took on YouTuber Logan Paul in an exhibition last June. That fight went the distance, and no winner was called.

Mayweathers last official bout came in 2017 against Conor McGregor. The 45-year-old knocked McGregor out in the 10th round of that bout in Las Vegas, which officially gave him a perfect 50-0 record. The bout was one of the highest grossing boxing events in history.

While it wont count, the fight on May 14 is sure to draw plenty of attention. Moore, 42, hasnt fought since 2013 when he beat Reymundo Hernandes, which brought his all-time record to 18-0-1. Its unclear how the fight will be judged, or if a winner will be declared.

Those two arent the only big names on the card. Former UFC champion Anderson Silva is set to get back in the ring to take on Bruno Machado. Former boxing champion Badou Jack is also reportedly on the card, though its unclear who he will fight.

Floyd Mayweather will fight in an exhibition bout in Dubai next month. (Jasen Vinlove/USA Today)

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Report: Floyd Mayweather to fight Don Moore in exhibition bout in Dubai - Yahoo Sports

Combination of Discovery and WarnerMedia Creates Warner Bros. Discovery, Global Leader in Entertainment and Streaming

Warner Bros. Discovery to Begin Trading on the Nasdaq as "WBD" on Monday, April 11

NEW YORK & DALLAS, April 08, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today Discovery, Inc. and AT&T Inc.* (NYSE:T) announced that they have closed their transaction to combine the WarnerMedia business with Discovery. The combination creates a premier standalone global media and entertainment company, Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc., which will begin trading on the Nasdaq with the start of trading on Monday, April 11, under the new ticker symbol "WBD."

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220408005578/en/

Warner Bros. Discovery will create and distribute the worlds most differentiated and complete portfolio of content, brands and franchises across television, film and streaming. The new company combines WarnerMedias premium entertainment, sports and news assets with Discoverys leading non-fiction and international entertainment and sports businesses, including Discovery Channel, discovery+, Warner Bros. Entertainment, CNN, CNN+, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, TLC, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others.

"Todays announcement marks an exciting milestone not just for Warner Bros. Discovery but for our shareholders, our distributors, our advertisers, our creative partners and, most importantly, consumers globally," said David Zaslav, Warner Bros. Discovery chief executive officer. "With our collective assets and diversified business model, Warner Bros. Discovery offers the most differentiated and complete portfolio of content across film, television and streaming. We are confident that we can bring more choice to consumers around the globe while fostering creativity and creating value for shareholders. I cant wait for both teams to come together to make Warner Bros. Discovery the best place for impactful storytelling."

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"We are at the dawn of a new age of connectivity, and today marks the beginning of a new era for AT&T," said John Stankey, AT&T chief executive officer. "With the close of this transaction, we expect to invest at record levels in our growth areas of 5G and fiber, where we have strong momentum, while we work to become Americas best broadband company. At the same time, well sharpen our focus on returns to shareholders. We expect to invest for growth, strengthen our balance sheet and reduce our debt, all while continuing to pay an attractive dividend that puts us among the top dividend paying stocks in America.

"In WarnerMedia, Discovery inherits a talented and innovative team and a dynamic growing and global company that is well positioned to lead the transformation thats taking place across media and entertainment, direct-to-consumer distribution and technology. The combination of the two companies will strengthen WarnerMedias established and leading position in media and streaming. And our shareholders will now have a significant stake in Warner Bros. Discovery and its future successes. We look forward to seeing what the WBD team accomplishes with these industry-leading assets."

Under terms of the agreement, which was structured as a Reverse Morris Trust transaction, at close AT&T received $40.4 billion in cash and WarnerMedias retention of certain debt. Additionally, shareholders of AT&T received 0.241917 shares of WBD for each share of AT&T common stock they held at close. As a result, AT&T shareholders received 1.7 billion shares of WBD, representing 71% of WBD shares on a fully diluted basis. Discoverys existing shareholders own the remainder of the new company. In addition to their new shares of WBD common stock, AT&T shareholders continue to hold the same number of shares of AT&T common stock they held immediately prior to close.

About DISCOVERY

Discovery, Inc. (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is a global leader in real life entertainment, serving a passionate audience of superfans around the world with content that inspires, informs and entertains. Discovery delivers over 8,000 hours of original programming each year and has category leadership across deeply loved content genres around the world. Available in 220 countries and territories and nearly 50 languages, Discovery is a platform innovator, reaching viewers on all screens, including TV Everywhere products such as the GO portfolio of apps; direct-to-consumer streaming services such as discovery+, Food Network Kitchen and MotorTrend OnDemand; digital-first and social content from Group Nine Media; a landmark natural history and factual content partnership with the BBC; and a strategic alliance with PGA TOUR to create the international home of golf. Discoverys portfolio of premium brands includes Discovery Channel, HGTV, Food Network, TLC, Investigation Discovery, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, and the multi-platform JV with Chip and Joanna Gaines, Magnolia Network, as well as OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network in the U.S., Discovery Kids in Latin America, and Eurosport, the leading provider of locally relevant, premium sports and Home of the Olympic Games across Europe. For more information, please visit corporate.discovery.com and follow @DiscoveryIncTV across social platforms.

About Warner Bros. Discovery

Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the worlds most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, CNN+, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, Investigation Discovery, TLC, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies and others. For more information, please visit http://www.wbd.com.

*About AT&T

We help more than 100 million U.S. families, friends and neighbors connect in meaningful ways every day. From the first phone call 140+ years ago to our 5G wireless and multi-gig internet offerings today, we @ATT innovate to improve lives. For more information about AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T), please visit us at about.att.com. Investors can learn more at investors.att.com.

AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc. Additional information is available at about.att.com. 2022 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

2022 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T and the Globe logo are registered trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property.

Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this communication, including any financial estimates and statements as to the expected timing, completion and effects of the transaction between AT&T, Magallanes, Inc. ("Spinco"), and Discovery constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These estimates and statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. Such estimates and statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the transaction, including future financial and operating results, the combined Spinco and Discovery companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the management of AT&T and Discovery and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of our control. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements are the following: risks that the anticipated tax treatment of the transaction is not obtained; risks related to litigation brought in connection with the transaction; the risk that the integration of Discovery and Spinco being more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected; risks related to financial community and rating agency perceptions of each of AT&T and Discovery and its business, operations, financial condition and the industry in which it operates; risks related to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the merger; failure to realize the benefits expected from the merger; effects of the announcement, pendency or completion of the merger on the ability of AT&T, Spinco or Discovery to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel and maintain relationships with their suppliers, and on their operating results and businesses generally; and risks related to the potential impact of general economic, political and market factors on the companies or the transaction. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic may give rise to risks that are currently unknown or amplify the risks associated with the foregoing factors.

These risks, as well as other risks associated with the transaction, are more fully discussed in the proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Discovery with the SEC in connection with the transaction, the registration statement on Form 10 filed by Spinco with the SEC in connection with the transaction and the information statement made available to AT&Ts shareholders in connection with the transaction. Discussions of additional risks and uncertainties are contained in AT&Ts and Discoverys filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Neither AT&T nor Discovery is under any obligation, and each expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Persons reading this announcement are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220408005578/en/

Contacts

Fletcher CookAT&T Inc.Phone: (214) 912-8541Email: fletcher.cook@att.com

Brittany SiwaldAT&T Inc.Phone: (214) 202-6630Email: brittany.a.siwald@att.com

Warner Bros. DiscoveryNathaniel BrownNathaniel_Brown@discovery.com

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Discovery and AT&T Close WarnerMedia Transaction - Yahoo Finance

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell offered a harrowing view of how much NFL teams will tolerate if a player is productive. Campbell said he coached a player with the Miami Dolphins who "came in every day just reeking of alcohol," according to Dave Birkett of the Michigan Free Press.

That was just fine, according to Campbell, because that player produced and loved football. Campbell may not have intended his story to read this way, but it paints a distressing picture.

Campbell described the player, who is not named, as "probably on a bender." But since that player didn't have any missed assignments, the team was fine with that. Campbell went so far as to say, "You'll find a way to make that guy work." He quickly tried to couch that statement, saying the Lions aren't necessarily looking for guys like that.

It should not come as a major surprise NFL teams are willing to tolerate certain off-the-field issues if a player puts up numbers on Sunday. Antonio Brown received multiple chances despite a rape allegation, an arrest and a history of burning bridges with multiple NFL teams. He wouldn't get those opportunities in another line of work, but NFL teams keep bringing him in because he can catch touchdowns.

Brown is far from the first player to stay in the league despite off-the-field troubles. Ben Roethlisberger will likely be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame despite being accused of sexual assault early in his career. Tyreek Hill signed one of the richest contracts ever by a wide receiver after being arrested for domestic abuse and child abuse. Deshaun Watson just inked a $230 million deal after facing 22 counts of sexual misconduct.

There is a difference between struggling with an alcohol issue and being accused of sexual assault, it should be noted. Neither issue seems to matter when it comes to the NFL if a player can produce. Campbell did not give any indication the Dolphins tried to help the player.

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None of this comes as a surprise, but it's still a depressing reminder of the nature of the league. Meaningful change will only come when those in power decide this attitude is no longer acceptable in the NFL.

Campbell's story illustrates the league has a long way to go before that happens.

Dan Campbell says a player on the Dolphins came to work reeking of alcohol. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

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Dan Campbell says player on Dolphins 'came in every day just reeking of alcohol' - Yahoo Sports

As we inch closer to the 2022 NFL Draft, lets take a spin around the state of the running back position to see which teams have the greatest need at the position.

One thing is pretty clear coming out of this exercise: There arent many potential smash landing spots for the incoming rookies.

They're not shocking here, considering their entire roster is mostly a mess but the Texans have the weakest running back room by a country mile. Marlon Mack and Rex Burkhead currently hold the top-two spots on the depth chart.

Thats not going to work.

If the Texans spend a high-equity pick one a running back theres a strong chance they could moonwalk into a ton of Year 1 volume. We'll just have to weigh that volume against a likely uninspiring offensive environment.

Arthur Smith unlocking the best of Cordarrelle Patterson was a beautiful albeit random development from last season. It was smart of both sides to extend their marriage after his contract ended in March. Still, the Falcons could stand to add someone to take base-down work from Patterson and free him up as a pass-catcher/slasher. Thats what we should be rooting for from a fantasy football efficiency perspective, at least. Mike Davis didnt cut it in that role.

If the Bills spend a Round 1 or 2 pick at running back that player will rocket up every fantasy ranking list. Its clear after Buffalo was this close to coaxing J.D. McKissic up north for decent money that it's hunting for a receiving type back to juice up its passing game.

Someone like Breece Hall would be quite fun. If the right guy doesnt fall to them, they can get by with another season of Devin Singletary, who ended the Bills' regular season and postseason run on a hot streak.

The Bills could be looking for someone like Breece Hall in the NFL draft. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

The Seahawks rewarded Rashaad Pennys strong finish to 2021 with a one-year deal. Hes far from a reliable presence at this stage and Chris Carson is a massive medical question mark. Dont be shocked if a rookie joins the mix at the end of the month with a harrowing camp battle to follow.

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The Jets can probably afford to stand pat with Michael Carter, who climbed to the top of the depth chart at certain points of his rookie season. Hes a solid runner who has passing game chops. Carter averaged 4.4 yards per carry and handled 55 targets in 14 games. The Jets have so many other areas to worry about but it wouldnt be a total shock if they add another exciting young back simply because the depth behind Carter is not ideal. Tevin Coleman doesnt move the needle at this point and Ty Johnson isnt an imposing presence.

Urban Meyer curiously spent a Round 1 pick on a running back who, after spending most of his offseason being deployed at positions besides running back, suffered a season-ending injury before Week 1. Doug Pederson sounds excited to use Travis Ettiene but he certainly doesnt have the same vision for the player as Meyer.

Despite Meyers attempts to shelve him, James Robinson has been one of the all-time finds as an undrafted back. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles at the close of last season. Jacksonville is a sneaky candidate to add a running back with a relatively consequential pick again.

The Cardinals opened up the wallet to reward James Conner for his big season after playing well under a one-year deal last season. We know Conner is an injury risk and with Chase Edmonds fleeing the nest for Miami, Arizona should be in the market for a complement. If someone is added on Day 2 or early Day 3, keep an eye on that player as a high-upside later-round fantasy draft pick as soon as this year.

The Ravens have J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards returning from 2021 preseason ACL tears. They could add depth but, when healthy, thats a nice tandem.

Chuba Hubbard didnt impress in his relief duty for Christian McCaffrey as a rookie. But the Panthers have a bevy of needs and a lack of resources. Cant see more than a pick in the final few rounds being spent at running back.

Austin Ekeler had his best season with 20 combined scores. Hes a perfect figurehead for this backfield and there are some guys who can rotate in behind him.

If Mike McDaniel brings the 49ers way with him to Miami, some Day 3 draft pick will be running ahead of free-agent adds Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds by Week 1.

On a serious note, that level of a draft pick is all we should expect them to add here.

Mark Ingram gave the team some punch behind Alvin Kamara in his return to the club last October. Kamara has some off-field troubles to deal with this offseason but New Orleans isnt a candidate to add a significant back.

The Eagles retained Boston Scott, who always fills in nicely for them when called upon. Starter Miles Sanders is still in place despite not scoring a touchdown in 2021.

Well see how much Deebo Samuel plays in the backfield this season. Not counting his role, Elijah Mitchell was one hell of a find for this team as a rookie. Theoretically, Trey Sermon still holds a roster spot for the 49ers.

The Titans certainly didnt enjoy riding the vagabond running back carousel during life without Derrick Henry last season. The running game is such a huge part of their identity. Youd think theyd want to add an above-average backup to the mix as Henry ages.

The Titans experienced life without Derrick Henry last season. Expect them to upgrade the depth behind him. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

There are some whispers Washington wasnt totally happy with Antonio Gibson last year amid fumbles and constant injuries. Still, he has immense promise as a starter so its tough to envision them adding more than light depth. J.D. McKissic has returned to reprise his role as an obvious passing down back.

Starter David Montgomery is a rock-solid three-down player and the Bears hit on Khalil Herbert as a rookie last year. Herbert rushed for 344 yards on 78 carries over a four-game injury absence for Montgomery. This is one of the few positions Chicago can feel good about, entering 2022.

Joe Mixon is one of the top-10 backs in the NFL right now and is coming off a strong season. His college backfield mate, Samaje Perine, has emerged as a solid pro-level compliment to Mixon. Even Chris Evans flashed a bit in the passing game last season.

The Browns have the NFLs most stacked backfield with Nick Chubb leading the way at RB1. If any team wanted to boost their own running back stable via trade, Cleveland would probably get the first call. DErnest Johnson showed he can play last year and could be a reasonable, cheap trade target or even step into Kareem Hunts role if the veteran is dealt instead. Odds are the Browns bring all three onto the Week 1 roster.

The Cowboys are still tied to Ezekiel Elliott and his albatross contract. He was good in fantasy last year before suffering a PCL injury and is still a solid player overall. Backup Tony Pollard remains an intriguing change-of-pace option.

Second-year runner Javonte Williams is going to be everyones favorite breakout pick this year provided Melvin Gordon doesnt re-sign. Even if he does, Williams is an explosive talent ready to take the next step. Reserve back Mike Boone is a passable No. 2 guy if Gordon isnt brought back.

We know DAndre Swift can ball we just need him to play for a full 17-game season this year. Swift caught 62 passes in 13 games last year and he could easily clear 80 in 2022. Jamaal Williams is the type of unsexy but solid back that coaches absolutely love. Some of the guys like Craig Reynolds, Godwin Igwebuike and Jermar Jefferson have flashed a bit too.

You can easily make the case that Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon are one of the top-three running back duos in the NFL right now. The real question is how the work will be distributed between the two of them this season.

Jonathan Taylor is a mega-star and Nyheim Hines is a fantastic and underrated role player in this offense. Enough said.

The Chiefs arent exactly great at running back but dont really have a need to add a player with a significant draft asset. Ronald Jones and Clyde Edwards-Helaire will spend 2022 forming one of the weirdest backfield tandems in recent memory. Both players have their strengths but have been NFL letdowns and dont really complement each other. The Chiefs can get by with this for now.

The Raiders have plenty of guys in their backfield. Josh Jacobs is at least a solid starter and Kenyan Drake is a useful guy too, even if the previous Raiders brass seemed to have no plan for him despite paying him big money. Keep an eye out for Brandon Bolden as a utility man after he made the move from New England to Vegas with Josh McDaniels.

We certainly didnt get the best version of Cam Akers in the Super Bowl run but it was a minor miracle he was even playing. He should be ready to roll as the RB1 in this backfield and backup Darrell Henderson is a starting-level running back himself.

Fantasy gamers know that Alexander Mattison is a locked-in RB1 any time starter Dalvin Cook a very good player misses time. The Vikings are set here.

The Patriots retained long-time favorite James White to work as the passing down back and have a pair of strong early down bangers in Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris. This is a position of strength for New England.

The team seemed open to dealing Saquon Barkley this offseason had the right offer come along. That should tell you they think they can get better, and certainly cheaper, at running back. Some depth competition will at least be considered to go along with veteran Matt Breida, who followed Brian Daboll from Buffalo.

You could argue the Steelers could add some juice behind Najee Harris but the guy basically never leaves the field. He played more than 80 percent of the snaps in 12 games last year. Pittsburgh needs to add some bulk up front if they want their run game to be high-quality.

The grand return of Tom Brady got Leonard Fournette back into the fold after a dynamic season for the Bucs. The former fifth-overall pick has emerged as a target magnet out of the backfield and is a solid rusher. Keyshawn Vaughn looks ready to assume the minor change of pace gig Ronald Jones left behind.

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NFL Draft: Which teams need the most running back help and why? - Yahoo Sports

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Amid a technology sector under scrutiny and a pandemic throwing up disruptions, the Yahoo team has been growing its footprint and has its eye on further growth.

Led by Pual Sigaloff, the Australia and New Zealand team has 150 members in its offices across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, and Auckland. Following Sigaloffs recent promotion to vice president, head of APAC, he brings the Taiwan, Singapore, India, Japan, and South East Asia offices under his leadership.

Yahoo is all about our people, Sigaloff says.

Theyre the lifeblood of our business. Over the past year weve really doubled down on investing in our team and its paid off. Despite the corona-coaster of the past two years, weve seen unprecedented growth - 55% year-on-year in 2021 alone.

Sigaloff first joined the business in 2014, working then as commercial director when it was known as Yahoo7. Since then, the company has been through multiple iterations, most recently being sold to private equity firm Apollo Global Management last year.

Pual Sigaloff

Amid these changes, the team has been steadily growing its business. Sigaloff credits much of this growth to the digitisation across the media landscape.

Clients have been really attracted to our simple omni-channel platform that enables them to easily turn campaigns on/off, measure impact across channels, target in a privacy-safe way and access inventory from connected TV, digital out-of-home, native, audio and more all in one place, Sigaloff says.

This remains a big focus for us this year.

On the publishing side weve also seen growth across all our brands including Yahoo News, Yahoo Sport, Yahoo Lifestyle and Yahoo Finance. This is testament to Simon Wheelers great work and the outstanding capability of our content teams - well be continuing to strengthen this in 2022.

Wheeler, is one of the business recent promotions, taking on the senior director of content role for Australia, New Zealand, and South East Asia early last year. The company also recently promoted Julia Edwards to sales director for NSW.However, Sigaloff says he has been faced with challenges while growing the team.

The biggest challenge has probably been the growing pains as I like to call them, he says.

Our business has grown so quickly over the past few years that theres been a few side effects we need to address: hiring new staff during an industry-wide talent shortage, operationalisation of new business, and maintaining our high standards of positive customer experience.

Yahoo, which returned to its purple roots in a 2019 rebrand, offers client publishing and tech platforms. Its publishing brands include Yahoo, TechCrunch, Aol, and Engadget, alongside its business solutions including Yahoo Ad Tech, Yahoo Search, and Edgecast.

Looking into the future, Sigaloff says the business will focus on growing its consumer audiences, increasing revenue, and building partnerships.

Sigaloff adds there will be continual investment in the people, with a focus on social impact and engaging with employees in a purposeful way.

Were always focusing on our positive impact on the world, society and people, he says.

This is a personal passion of mine and for many within the business so were constantly seeking new ways to integrate social responsibility even further into each teams DNA.

One initiative has been its remote work policy, with staff free to use the office space as needed. The company also has introduced a Work from Anywhere policy which allows employees to work abroad for up to 30 days a year.

Theres the obvious benefits like flexibility, no commute, personal comfort and preferences, and more time to do the things you love (exercise, family time, sailing), he says.

But the more understated benefits Ive noticed include higher productivity as people lead more balanced lives, plus a general shift towards greater empathy. Weve gone through so much together and as a result its really changed the way we do business. Were now human and helpful in every interaction.

To address the challenges with finding the right staff, Sigaloff says Yahoo has been investing in training programs.Were doing our bit to resolve this through upskilling and education, he says.

Yahoo Academy, for example, is a free educational two-day workshop to support up-and-coming talent. Our online masterclasses within that are open to the entire industry and share soft skills to accelerate careers.

Our Decoded series is another example, bringing together the best minds in the industry to discuss the hottest topics. Forget the sales pitch, this is all about broadening your knowledge and finding answers to the big problems.

Beyond technical skills, were doing our bit to weave more purpose into everyones roles. All our employees are encouraged to volunteer and incorporate UnLtd and its charity partners into their day-to-day.

With the right team set in place, Sigaloff will be ruthlessly prioritising its avenues for growth. He is also mindful of the challenges ahead for the broader industry, particularly changes around user privacy.

Looking to 2022 and beyond, there are some headwinds facing the industry but as a cornerstone internet company, Yahoo is well placed to solve these, he says.

A key one will be data headwinds - browser changes impacting cookies, increased privacy regulation and legislation, consent and the flow on impact to targeting. Our identity solutions are tried and tested and already helping numerous advertisers.

Another one is omnichannel - the digital ecosystem is growing. Traditionally, it was just display, video and native but as media becomes digitised this now includes connected TV, digital out-of-home, audio, etc. These changes can be frightening and complex, so through our adtech we help advertisers navigate this.

And finally, measurement - quantifying and measuring impact can be a minefield but Yahoos platform makes it simple and available in real time.

Simon Wheeler, senior director of content AUNZ and SEAWhat does a typical day look like for you?I dont have a typical day as such, but it will often start with a read of local and global headlines. With the increasing international scope of my role, I have calls with New York colleagues before checking in with my AU and SEA teams. In between, my day can range from content strategy meetings, new partnership updates, deep dives into our audience numbers and trends and then, my favourite, filling in reports.

What do you love most aboutyour role?I enjoy the multi-market nature of my job. I also enjoy the strategic nature of my role and the opportunity to step away and think about how we can grow that little bit more. We have some of the smartest digital content minds in the country and I enjoy working with them to identify opportunities, create and implement plans and (hopefully) see the numbers reflect were on the right track. This might be a particular content topic thats resonating, the teams might be trying a new social or search tactic, or success on a platform like TikTok or YouTube.

Any key goals for 2022 at Yahoo?Ive tried to keep it simple for 2022. Well be focusing on attracting more users to our sites and encouraging those users to spend more time with us, more often.Again, keeping it simple, were doing this through quality content - stories and video - that we know our audience wants. Were serving it to them where they already are, on the Yahoo network, but also on platforms like social, search and TikTok, for example.

John McNerney, director of platforms AUNZWhats an issue youre focusedon now?What the removal of cookies and Identifier For Advertisers will mean for our industry. I spend a lot of my time educating partners and clients on how planning, forecasting, activation and measurement of their campaigns will soon change. Advanced TV is a big focus area within this context. Using linear Automatic Content Recognition data, were helping advertisers finally measure audience reach and frequency across offline and online TV consumption.

What does a typical day look like for you?A run or ocean swim, a coffee and a skim of the global media and economy news before 8am US calls. After this its another coffee, a review of yesterdays revenue, product releases and then meetings, meetings and more meetings. First with internal teams, then with partners and clients on strategy, planning and progress updates. My role is all about commercialising Yahoos demand and supply side platforms so keeping a finger on the pulse with industry regulation, policy, innovation and market dynamics is essential.

What do you love most aboutyour role?No day is ever the same. Theres always a new industry challenge or solution were working on to help our partners. Working at Yahoo - which prides itself on people-first culture and a human and helpful ethos - makes the job meaningful no matter what the day throws up. Whether its rolling out new technological or creative innovations, partnering with clients to test industry-leading solutions or giving back to the community through our charity partners, I take pride in the fact my role provides positive value to our clients business and wider community.

Rachel Page, general manager sales AUNZWhats the biggest challengein your role?Its definitely staying across everything. Our people, our clients, our products, the industry - theyre all constantly changing. Theres never a dull moment and I love the pace and the diversity of my role. But the biggest challenge is definitely juggling it all and making sure I dont drop a ball. The struggle of constantly thinking about what or who have I missed is very real.

Whats your favourite partof your role?Hands down its the people - theres so much energy and talent. The pandemic blurred the line between professional and personal and Ive really enjoyed dialling back to a more human and helpful approach. I love bringing people together to connect and collaborate and, of course, celebrate the wins.

How has Yahoo evolved since you first joined in 2017?Where to start! So much has happened in that time - a joint venture split and several name changes just to name a few big events. But weve kept all the best bits and never stopped evolving and critiquing our products and culture. Being inducted into the UnLtd Hall of Good and awarded MFAs Media Partner of the Year really sums it all up. Were in a great spot in terms of business growth, client and team sentiment and purpose. And weve certainly got no plans to stop this momentum.

Zoe Cocker, head of innovation and Yahoo Creative Studios AUNZHow would you describe your role?Non-stop! I lead a team that captures human attention in interesting ways using the latest tech. I work at the intersection between creativity and technology, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved digitally. What this looks like day-to-day: One day I might be working on an NFT project or strategising virtual worlds on game engines. On another it could be designing augmented reality campaigns or even creating Yahoo Finance Investor bootcamps.

Whats the biggest challenge in your role now?A large part of my role is driving innovation for Yahoo and our clients. Were in a really unique position as one of the internets founding figures. We have so much knowledge combined with a background in 5G technology (having previously been owned by Verizon). Add to this backing by Apollo to charge full speed ahead into the future of immersive technology, and its a bountiful opportunity were presented with. But this space changes daily. No one is 100% sure what the metaverse will look like. Staying relevant in a constantly evolving industry is an ongoing challenge but its a challenge I thrive on!

What attracted you to Yahoo?Quite simply, great people. I started at Yahoo in the UK back in 2014. I was poached by a former boss who I had so much love and respect for. Initially, he was the number one reason. Then came the benefits of working for a global powerhouse as I now find myself living and working in Sydney. The country where I live may have changed, but I still find myself surrounded by incredible people who are smart, talented and most importantly, are changemakers. My world is constantly evolving and I rely on people around me to keep me honest, grounded and to inspire me.

Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au

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Meet the Team: Navigating changes at Yahoo - AdNews

DETROIT Cade Cunningham carries himself like a new-age NBA player, but doesnt necessarily play like one. To paraphrase soul star Erykah Badu, hes an analog star in a digital world which could make it hard to examine his Rookie of the Year candidacy.

He doesnt overwhelm the game physically, but applies force in selective moments. Theres a sophistication and polish to his game that feels more mature than raw, giving off the feeling hes closer to his ceiling than his draftmates.

And hes come on strong in the last four months after a slow start exacerbated by an ankle injury that forced him to miss training camp and the first week of the season on a team that couldnt afford but so many in the second year of a rebuild.

Still, hes managed to make believers across the board and had his share of clutch moments that present a morsel of his potential. More importantly, on a team full of young ones trying to put their stamp on the league and secure their individual futures, Cunningham emerged as the undisputed leader for the Detroit Pistons present and future.

Cunningham, Clevelands Evan Mobley and Torontos Scottie Barnes each has a compelling case to win the award. Mobley has been steady, particularly on defense where most rookies usually struggle and gives off vibes of a young Tim Duncan. Barnes is an all-everything wing who plays bigger than his 6-foot-9 frame, and like Cunningham, has taken a leap after the All-Star break.

Cunninghams March put him on par with Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson as the only rookies to average 22 points, five rebounds and seven assists in a month. His best stretches occurred in wins against Cleveland and Toronto and red-hot Boston after the All-Star break, which doesnt feel coincidental.

Whos favored often depends on proximity, or preference considering there is no guideline for the award. Cunningham plays the leagues toughest and deepest position and had the strongest finish. But there are logical reasons for Mobley and Barnes, as well even as Mobley rebounds from a late-March ankle injury.

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A large portion of the argument for Mobley and Barnes stems from foundations laid upon their arrival. Clevelands subtle roster improvements were capped off by drafting Mobley, his versatility enabling them to play bigger on the wings to compensate for the lack of girth down low. Luckily for Mobley, he wasnt overexposed having to play center because of Jarrett Allens presence a perfect situation for a perfect player.

Barnes has been amazing, as has Mobley with no qualifiers. Playing on a team with the bones of a champion preserved eases the burden of having to be the focal point, or franchise player carrying everything on broader-by-the-day shoulders. It also means the margin for error is thinner for both compared to Cunningham, with playoff positioning changing by the day in an ber-competitive Eastern Conference.

History could wind up saying all three are in the perfect positions, practically and figuratively able to thrive in their respective environments and cultures.

For Cunningham, the mental stamina required to help resurrect a proud franchise in need of a face to marry itself not a parched franchise, but a starving one that has largely been on the outside looking inside the NBAs talent boom of the last decade feels beyond the pale for the normal teenager or even the exceptional 20-year-old.

He has it. Some guys have that it gene. They can get it done in crucial situations and hes done it his whole career, Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. The moment is never too big for him. Thats how he produces and isnt afraid of the moment. You feel comfortable with the ball in his hands.

Cunningham understands the big picture as well as the smaller ones, seemingly aware of how to balance assertiveness and leadership without turning off his teammates.

Taking responsibility early, even when its not your fault, is sometimes hard, Mavs coach and former co-Rookie of the Year Jason Kidd told Yahoo Sports. Because players want to know that you are going to help protect them or help them. And so you can take that responsibility early and know that your teammates trust you, then things tend to run really, really smooth for yourself. Youve got to fail first and accept that in front of everyone. Then everyone will understand youre the real deal.

Casey said Cunningham has done exactly that.

He mans up on the film and takes what I get on his ass in the film sessions, My bad coach, Casey said. He always owns up to his mistakes. Hes not full of excuses. He accepts responsibility. Hes a real leader. Guys know bull from the real. In the huddles he'll say, Were not rebounding, were not defending. Im not defending. Hes the first to point it out.

How much should winning play into this award? By most voting standards, winning is often the tiebreaker or even main criteria. Theres a fine line between making winning plays on a losing team and just putting up numbers for a squad with no expectations. External factors seem to dictate winning more than one persons presence, in most cases.

He cant control were in a rebuild, that we have so many second-year guys starting and playing big minutes, Casey told Yahoo Sports. We dont have two All-Stars the way Toronto and Cleveland has. Its not his fault. Hopefully people dont judge him on that, because at some point well be in those positions and hes really gonna shine.

Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham has proven himself to be the future of the franchise. (Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

The notable single-season turnarounds in NBA history are easily explained. The 1979-80 Boston Celtics went from 29 wins to 61 after drafting Larry Bird, who waited a year after being drafted to stay one more season at Indiana State.

David Robinson was drafted by the Spurs in 1987 but had to fulfill a naval commitment for the next two years, coming over as a 24-year-old rookie. The result was 56 wins after 21. And the most recent example was tied to the same franchise, the Spurs getting Tim Duncan in the 1997 draft after a disastrous year with Robinson out with injuries.

Duncan steps in with a still-stellar Robinson back from the mend and a 36-win turnaround ensues.

All are on the short list of the games greatest players, and all won Rookie of the Year, but those situations are often the exception and not the rule.

In the year Kidd tied for the award, he shared it with Grant Hill in 1995. Hills Pistons won 28 games an eight-game improvement from the year before compared to Kidd spearheading a 23-win burst from 13 in 1994.

No matter who won the award then, it was obvious that Hill was coming. So is Cunningham.

The only thing keeping him from being the best player on the floor against the desperate Brooklyn Nets was Kevin Durant pulling a 41-point masterpiece, offsetting Cunninghams 34-point, six-assist showing that had Durant singing his praises for a second time this season.

Two days later, Cunningham was the most important player in a 102-95 comeback win over the Philadelphia 76ers with another 27 points and six assists helping withstand a 37-point, 15-rebound force of destruction from Joel Embiid.

The Nets were clinging to play-in positioning while the 76ers entered the evening very much within striking distance of the second seed in the East a win meaning much more to them than a Pistons team clearly positioning for what they hope is their last year in the lottery for the foreseeable future.

Two games dont make a case, of course. But Cunninghams second go-round with NBA competition seemed to foretell the type of future hell have: 18.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.1 assists since Jan. 1.

Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers warned his players Cunningham wasnt the same player they saw in his third professional game, when he hit just 4 of 17 shots, grinding his way to an 18-point, 10-rebound outing.

Just watching him in the Brooklyn game, he controlled it. The patience, his confidence, his confidence in his shot down the stretch, Rivers said. And the biggest thing, you see it in the other players. You have to separate yourself if you want to be great, like if youre a young guy, you cant come in and blend in, because then why would you guys follow that? You know, and early on he hadnt separated himself. Now its clear.

Slightly built, his force is more subtle magnetism, more competitive fire in selective moments than a burning inferno for 48. When it snaps, it can catch his teammates off-guard but it lights up an arena indicating a sense of timing that goes beyond just playing, or even playing winning basketball.

The smoothness to his game eclipses how he reads, how he moves and what he even feels. He understands the importance of the award while also playing proper perspective for a franchise that hasnt won a playoff game since 2008 the last time they were a postseason mainstay.

I think my teammates are kinda looking at that race a little bit, too, he said. Im not really too worried about that race, as much as you know, getting the building blocks and, and getting the foundation right for next year for the Pistons. But Im gonna keep working. I think I deserve the award. But at the end of the day, its a trophy.

Continued here:

Cade Cunningham is the Pistons' future, whether or not he wins Rookie of the Year - Yahoo Sports

One way of discussing MLBs 21st-century aesthetic evolution goes like this: Say a baseball-loving Rip Van Winkle who fell asleep in the 1990s emerged from their slumber and started watching games again. How long would it take them to identify whats changed? What would they spot first?

Would it be the strikeouts? The homers? The lack of stolen bases and complete games? Would they instantly lament the waning number of balls in play? Or would they exult in the superior athleticism and the triple-digit velocity? Invariably, this scenario is invoked to stoke the Baseball is Dying panic a compelling but misguided buzz that hovers over this sport like that rain cloud hovers over poor Charlie Brown.

For the first time in a long time, the baseball worlds tiresome self-consciousness got flipped on its head Thursday.

After months in the wilderness of labor strife and a week in a necessary post-lockout delay, opening day finally arrived. There were only seven games played on the first day of a new year that feels newer than any in the sports recent history, but MLB barreled ahead into noticeably novel territory on several fronts.

Within the first few hours of action, it made Rip Van Winkles of us all. This baseball was not the baseball we saw in 2021.

There are new rules, a new playoff format, new broadcasts, new stars, new ways of paying the new stars and an overarching, notably different proclivity toward trying something, anything, new.

MLB returned for a long-awaited opening day. Can you spot what's different about baseball in 2022? (AP Photo/Matt York)

A fan who plunged back into MLB with the season-opening matchup between the National Leagues Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs saw a designated hitter lead off the bottom of the first. Much to the chagrin of some traditionalists, the universal DH is here the canary in the coal mine that, for all our sakes, will hopefully be the most tortured rules debate in the sports history.

Something else was different about that same at-bat, though. Brewers catcher Omar Narvaez wasnt flashing fingers to communicate with reigning NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes. The signs so infamously stolen by the Houston Astros in 2017 had vanished. Instead, Narvaez was using a device on his wrist like a remote control crossed with a quarterbacks cheat sheet to send the call to a tiny transmitter in Burnes hat. One button for the type of pitch, one button for the location.

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The technology, known as PitchCom, came together remarkably quickly. MLB started publicly discussing the idea of wearable devices to avert sign stealing two offseasons ago. It started testing devices last spring. Then, this springs more widespread testing went so well the league announced it would be available for use in regular season games, and several teams took the option to deploy it on opening day.

A couple hours later, the Kansas City Royals slotted superb prospect Bobby Witt Jr., making his major-league debut, into their lineup in the No. 2 hole. Still seeking his first hit, he found himself at the plate with the go-ahead run on base in the eighth inning. He roped a double down the left-field line as the Kauffman Stadium crowd chanted Bobby, Bobby, Bobby.

In what wound up being the only nationally televised game of the day, Cincinnati Reds first baseman and newly minted TikTok star Joey Votto donned a microphone during the game against the Atlanta Braves. Votto proceeded to ask Ozzie Albies, during a stay on first base, whether Votto should get a diamond tooth.

Some tricky problems do have solutions within reach, if we allow ourselves to chase them. Star players can reveal their personalities for themselves, if equipped with microphones on major networks. The hitter who can win you the game is right there, you just have to bring him to the majors. The signs that have been stolen can be beamed to the pitchers hat without a chance for the opposition to intercept them.

So much of MLBs recent history is wrapped up in friction between the owners and the players they have squeezed financially; between the twisted, sweaty palms of fans fretting that the game is straying off course in this way or that.

On opening day of MLBs Season of New, it was unbelievably refreshing to sit back and just absorb how baseball was different.

The new collective bargaining agreement MLB and the union struck to end the lockout was present in a lot of ways on Thursday. In addition to the DH and the expanded postseason hopes, new stipulations and incentives around young talents may have contributed to more prospects like Witt making opening day rosters and beginning their careers with the pomp and circumstance they deserve. (Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez and Detroit Tigers slugger Spencer Torkelson will join that club Friday.)

More generally, the CBA threw open the door for PitchCom-esque solutions (or at least ideas) to be rolled out on the field with far shorter periods of unofficial public comment. If commissioner Rob Manfred and the team owners can work with players even a little bit more gracefully than in recent years, the interplay of ideas and feedback could produce significant, positive developments for the leagues on-field integrity and entertainment value.

With former Red Sox and Cubs GM Theo Epstein installed as a sort of czar overseeing a sweeping gameplay recalibration, MLB could install automated strike zones, limitations on the defensive shift, a pitch clock and many, many other changes in coming seasons.

You need not be gung-ho about all of those pursuits Im not, personally to appreciate forthright experimentation and decisiveness. If were going to worry about a tweak to the sport, lets draw it up and see what it looks like, within reason. No one realistically worried that tossing Madison Bumgarners very occasionally useful bat on the scrap heap of history would be the straw that broke a fragile camels back. The same held true for the silly automatic runner in extra innings. And it will hold true for eliminating catchers neon-painted nails, putting games on streaming services and selling advertising on uniforms.

Will every experiment prove a positive? Almost certainly not! But if opening day drove home anything, its that being the Rip Van Winkle who gets to experience the rush of rediscovering our favorite sport sure beats the paralysis of worrying about what well see.

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MLB is finally back. Did you notice what was different about baseball on opening day? - Yahoo Sports