Page 26 - Florida Sentinel 2-2-18

Sports
Blake Griffin May Have To Change His Jersey Number With Pistons
Blake Griffin was traded on Monday from the L.A. Clippers to the Detroit Pis- tons. Griffin has worn #32 his entire career, however, that might have to change.
The Detroit Pistons will be welcoming Blake Griffin to the franchise following Mon- day’s trade, but there may be one hurdle.
Griffin wore jersey number 32 his entire career with the Los Angeles Clippers. Richard Hamilton, who wore jersey number 32 during his career with the Pistons, just had his jersey retired by the team last year.
Problem?
Hamilton led the Pistons in scoring eight seasons and helped the team win a champi- onship. He certainly earned his jersey retirement from the team.
Had Griffin already been on the team and wearing No. 32 before the retirement, the team likely would have let him keep wearing it and then not give it to anyone else. But since he’s com- ing to the team with the jersey already retired, some sort of deal will probably need to be worked out if Griffin wants to continue wearing the number.
He’s not the only one who has an issue. Brice Johnson wore number 11 with the Clip- pers, but that was Isiah Thomas’ number and has been retired by the Pistons. He’s not the superstar that Griffin is, so he’ll almost certainly have to change numbers.
Most feel, Griffin and the Pistons worked out a deal for him to continue wearing 32, if that’s what he wants to do. But things could get complicated if Rip decides to pull a Paul Pierce.
O. J. Simpson Wants Ron Goldman’s Dad To Stop Suing Him
The family of Ron Goldman has stayed in the forefront since his murder due to their constant vigil to make O. J. Simpson literally pay for his murder.
Super Bowl LII will be the 52nd Super Bowl and the 48th modern-era National Football League champi- onship game.
Halftime show: Justin Timberlake
Date: February 4, 2018, 6:30 PM EST
Location: U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN Stadium: U.S. Bank Stadium
Eagles Open As Biggest Super Bowl Underdogs Since 2009
The Philadelphia Eagles are the biggest Super Bowl underdogs since 2009 when the Arizona Cardinals were seven-point underdogs to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.
The Westgate SuperBook in Las Vegas on Sunday in- stalled the Eagles as 5.5-point underdogs to the New Eng- land Patriots for Super Bowl LII.
Other sportsbooks went higher. The Wynn opened at New England minus-6.5, and Caesars Palace and Station Casinos each made the Patri- ots minus-6.
William Hill's Nevada book went a touch lower, with New England opening as a 5- point favorite. The Super Bowl over/under was set at 47.5.
The Patriots will be look- ing for their second straight Super Bowl title and third in
the past four seasons when they take on the Eagles in Minneapolis.
The betting favorite has won 33 of the previous 51 Super Bowls.
New England reached its 10th Super Bowl with a come- back win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Champi- onship Game. New England erased a 10-point deficit with nine minutes to play and beat the Jaguars 24-20.
The Eagles hammered the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game to get back to the Super Bowl for the third time and first since fac- ing the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX.
The Patriots kicked off the season as the consensus Super Bowl favorites with odds around 5-2 and remained the team to beat at Las Vegas sportsbooks for the majority of the season.
O. J. Simpson wants Fred Goldman to end his never-ending legal battle against him and stop dragging him into court every time he suspects O. J. is making a little money.
According to court docu- ments obtained by The Blast, Simpson claims that Gold- man is trying to take him to court over “rumored” deals he has made.
Simpson’s lawyers say Simpson “wishes to readjust to civilian life and family life” but claims that Ron Gold- man and his attorney “are in- tent on shattering that.”
O. J. claims Goldman “use unconfirmed stories from news outlets” and “drags” him into court “every time there is a mere vague allegation involv- ing Mr. Simpson’s commer- cial exploitation of himself.
White Tennis Player Says: ‘At Least I Know My Dad’ To NC AT&T Opponent
Spencer Brown was suspended from the team after com- ment to John Wilson, IV went viral. The team coach was also suspended.
Another day, another white college student showing their ignorance with racist remarks.
A college men's tennis player and the team coach have been suspended indefi- nitely after the white player told his Black opponent "at least I know my dad" during a match on Sunday.
Appalachian State Univer- sity suspended Spencer Brown after his opponent, John Wilson, IV, a fresh- man at the historically black North Carolina A&T Univer- sity, tweeted that the comment was made during their NCAA Division I match.
"Their coach responded by saying, 'we have a Black guy on
our team.' Black Twitter, do ya thing," Wilson posted that night.
The tweet quickly went viral.
On Monday, Appalachian State said it immediately sus- pended Brown because he "engaged in behavior that was derogatory and offensive."
"We have reached out to the #NCAT to convey our apologies on behalf of Ap- palachian athletics and the university for the conduct for this member of the team," the school stated.
The university's athletics department later said it had also suspended Coach Bob Lake after further review.
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