Former Pacer and current NBA superstar Paul George has gone back to Orange County California the place of his birth by signing with the LA Clippers. The Clippers were George’s team as he was growing up. He went to their games and rooted for them. He was a fan. So now he is a hometown hero.
The Clippers also signed Kawhi Leonard so now they are a legitimate threat in the NBA West. Last weekend’s free agency period broke early Saturday morning and saw some of the league’s top talent fly to some big market teams and possibly change the balance of power in the NBA. The Brooklyn Nets could emerge as the NBA East’s new super team.
The Indy Star’s Greg Doyel has written a very insightful article on how all this may affect the NBA in general and the Pacers in particular. If you are a basketball fan I urge you to read it. In the meantime we in Indy are praying for a full recovery by Victor Oladipo from a very serious injury!
USA Women take the FIFA Crown-Again
The USA Women’s Soccer team won its 4th world title by taking the Netherlands national team 2-0 in the final game. Head Coach Jill Ellis has turned the team into a well oiled machine that can work as a a single unit or have a player step up in a given situation. Right now the team and the players are working on a new contract, which, among other things, should provide some financial parity between the men and the women. It’s not like the women haven’t earned it.
New American Women Stars at Wimbledon
If you want to emerge as a star in women’s tennis, Wimbledon is certainly the venue to do it. Fifteen year old Cori “Coco” Gauff caught the attention of the sports world by beating Serena Williams and going on a run that made her a hero in the U.S. and the world. She possesses that combination of youth, beauty, and talent that wins the hearts of fans and she will only get better.
Twenty-nine year old Pittsburgh native Allison Riske beat number 1 seeded Ashleigh Barty to eliminate Barty from the title game against Serena Williams. Riske was ranked 55th, illustrating the old adage “Never Give Up. Never Stop Trying.”
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