COURIER PHOTOGRAPHER MARLON MARTIN SNAPPED THIS PHOTO OF AARON RODGERS AS HE PARTICIPATED IN THE STEELERS’ MANDATORY MINICAMP, JUNE 10, ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
The 50-year anniversary celebration of the nationally recognized Connie Hawkins Pro/Am Summer Basketball League recorded a triple-double at Dave & Buster’s in Homestead on June 7 with legends, former great college and pro players…and the fans! A complete wrap-up for you in a future “Overtime” column.
:09—To absolutely no one’s surprise, OKC bounced back fast and hard, beating the Indiana Pacers, 123-107 on June 8. The second game of the best-of-seven was played at the home base of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Paycom Center, located in downtown Oklahoma City. A sellout crowd of 18,000 plus continued to give evidence that it’s the toughest and loudest gym in America to play in.
:08—Although the faces in the crowd included some of the world’s top celebs such as Shaquille “The Big Diesel” O’Neal, aka “Shaq Daddy”, aka “The Big Aristotle,” aka “The Big Leprechaun” just to name a few…along with online streamer Kai Cenat, Creed Humphrey – Kansas City Chiefs Center, Chris Paul I and II, Dwight Howard, and Coach John Calipari, the real stars shined bright on the court especially for OKC! Shai Gilgeous Alexander, aka “SGA” led the Thunder with 34 points. He got great support from Alex Caruso with 20 points and Aaron Wiggins with 18 points. On the Pacers side, Tyrese Haliburton only notched 17 points and teammate Myles Turner had 16.
:07—FYI, SGA became one of only three players in NBA history to win the MVP award and post 10 or more games with at least 30 points and four assists in the same season.
:06—Needless to say, most of Western Pa., if not all, are pulling for Pittsburgh native T. J. McConnell to bring home yet more gold for the famed McConnell basketball family. T. J. scored 11 points in 18 minutes including a “3,” going 5-7 from the field including 3 rebounds and 6 assists! I would say the Pittsburgh native and Arizona University grad is doing his part. Truly basketball royalty here in W. PA, no family is more deserving. I would like to say this would be the icing on the cake…but there are more McConnells coming!
:05—When once asked how she would handle the proverbial storm that comes with being a world champion and star-studded personality, Coco Gauff said, “No worries, I am the storm!” And evidence of that was seen on June 7 as she won the French Open, becoming the first American since Serena Williams did it in 2015. She did it by defeating top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka in three sets.
:04—Oh yea, there’s this. The NHL Stanley Cup final IS STILL currently underway with the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers playing in a Cup rematch, and as of June 10, Florida leads the series, 2-1.
:03—Aaron Rodgers signed a one year deal to play quarterback with your Pittsburgh Steelers for a reported $13.6 million for one year. That includes $10 million guaranteed and reaches $19.5 million with incentives. And like I’ve been telling “THE FEW, THE PROUD AND THE COMPLAINERS,” unless you have someone better than a 4-time NFL MVP and a bona fide first ballot Hall of Famer, please stop thinking and hating and just wait. After he throws the first touchdown, you won’t care where he sleeps, who he sleeps with, or who he talks to in his sleep. And if you want to talk about strange behavior…you do remember the late, great Ernie “Fats” Holmes was shooting at a state police helicopter while rollin’ down the highway! And please, please, please don’t act like you’ve forgotten the crazy one, aka Antonio Brown?!?!–Mic drop!
:02—It’s too early to really say, but the Pirates look to be a better team than when they had recently fired Coach Derek Shelton. Call it what you want, call it new energy, call it a new voice in your ear, for that matter call it John Shaft . . . wait, what! “A rose by any other name is still a rose.”
:01—In closing, and it will be from now on, you have to fight the power, fight the power, fight the power . . . fight the power that be! Let’s all continue to fight for what’s right!
:00—GAME OVER.
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