The Olympics are the highlight of each year and the Tokyo 2020 Games are set to be the biggest in history. The start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was marked by the lighting of the cauldron at the new National Stadium and saw the ceremony kick off in grand style, with Naomi Osaka—the first Japanese athlete to win a Grand Slam singles title—lighting the Olympic flame.
Naomi Osaka breezed through the singles draw at the US Open this year, beating Serena Williams on her way to the title. She then backed up her impressive showing on the court by winning the Australian Open, becoming the first Japanese woman to win the tournament.
The opening ceremony of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was held on Sunday, September 24, and it was a grand affair, to say the least. In Japan, the ceremony is always broadcast live and is considered a national holiday, and is usually pretty festive. The event, which was held in a stadium in the Olympic park in Tokyo’s downtown area, was attended by 46,000 people, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who re-lit the Olympic flame himself.
On Friday, the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics started in a mostly empty stadium, as coronavirus infections in the host city reached a six-month high. To avoid the spread of COVID-19, contestants’ friends and family were prohibited from attending the ceremony in person.
Naomi Osaka, a tennis player, ignited the cauldron on a peak modeled like Mount Fuji, bringing the flame’s journey from Greece to Japan to a close. The four-time Grand Slam champion dipped the flame in the cauldron to signal the Games’ official opening, and fireworks erupted in the sky.
Naomi Osaka of Japan reacts after lighting the flame during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, July 23, 2021. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Following a spectacular fireworks display, the inaugural ceremony took on a more solemn tone. A minute of silence was observed at the start for those who died as a result of the epidemic, as well as for members of the Israeli Olympic team who were killed during the 1972 Munich Games.
The actions honoring Japanese culture and history were straightforward and straightforward. In the backdrop, a white pyramid representing Mount Fuji remains.
In line with Olympic tradition, Greece was the first country to enter the stadium in the parade of nations. Representatives from the refugee team were present. Japan, as the host nation, was the latest to arrive. The American team was placed third to last.
Athletes from the United States of America walk during the opening ceremony of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, July 23, 2021. AP Photo/David J. Phillip
After filing into the stadium, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach addressed the athletes, saying, “You had to overcome tremendous difficulties on your Olympic journey.”
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“You didn’t know when you’d be able to train again during the epidemic… You have no idea whether or not this tournament would ever take place. You had a hard time. You stuck it out. You were never one to give up. And now, you’re realizing your Olympic goal “he said
This year, an additional line was added to the Olympic slogan, making it read: “Faster, higher, stronger — together.”
21 pictures from the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics
“The epidemic separated us,” Bach said. “To maintain a safe space between us. To keep our distance, even from our loved ones. Because of the split, the tunnel was very dark. But today, wherever you are in the globe, we are united in experiencing this moment. For everyone of us, the Olympic flame helps this light shine brighter “he said
A select group of officials and dignitaries, including US first lady Jill Biden, were allowed to observe from the stands. The Associated Press reported that hundreds of fans and supporters gathered outside the Olympic Village gates, waving at vehicles with Olympic emblems or individuals with Olympic credentials.
Other masses, on the other hand, assembled in Tokyo to oppose the Games.
Anti-Olympic protesters gather outside the National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, where the Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremony was held on Friday, July 23, 2021. Kantaro Komiya / Associated Press
On Friday, dozens of protesters shouted “cancel the Olympics” and “go to hell, IOC” across the city. Despite safeguards, there are concerns that the incident may exacerbate the coronavirus epidemic in Japan.
Aside from the epidemic, the opening ceremony’s grandeur was marred by the dismissal of the event’s creative director. Kentaro Kobayashi was fired on Thursday after a video surfaced of him making a Holocaust joke.
The Tokyo games kicked off with an opening ceremony that was more uplifting and patriotic (if that’s the right word) than ever before: the Japanese people are celebrating, the athletes are there to support them, and the hopes of a country that has never won the Olympic gold medal are high. The Olympics are not only a chance for the Japanese to make up for its lost years, but also a chance for the world to see how much the country has changed.. Read more about japan opening ceremony review and let us know what you think.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there an Opening Ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics?
Yes, there was an Opening Ceremony for the Tokyo Olympics.
Did Naomi Osaka light the Olympic torch?
Yes, Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic torch.
Who lit the cauldron 2021?
The cauldron was lit by the Hogwarts Sorting Hat in 2021.
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With the passage of the School Safety and Security Act of 2000, California law now requires all students, teachers, and school personnel to wear a face mask at all times when on school property (effective September 1, 2001). This applies to both public and private schools. However, the law does not cover private schools that have “permanent facilities.”
In the past year, the San Bernardino school board has levied a new policy that prohibits students from wearing masks during school dances and other events. The new rule is worrisome, especially considering the recent outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus.
The AUSD School Board just voted in 4 new Board Members, 2 from each board district. First up, Victor Flores (District 1) and Janeth Marquez (District 6) were elected to the board.
Parents are overwhelmingly in favor of “freeing our children.”
ATASCADERO — ATASCADERO — ATASCADERO — On Thursday, July 22, at 11 a.m., the Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) conducted a special School Board of Trustees meeting.
The meeting’s goal was to provide information about the existing limitations that would be imposed on students who want to return to traditional education next month. In addition to in-person audience members and letters sent in by parents, public feedback was received in the form of in-person audience members and letters sent in by parents.
The oath of allegiance and a minute of silence kicked off the open session. Following that, board President George Shoemaker said that there was no information to disclose from closed session. He then went on to describe the meeting’s objective, which was to deliver an informative item and allow for public comment. The board decided 7-0 to go forward with oral communications.
We’re going to get through this together, Atascadero
Superintendent Tom Butler next delivered his report, praising the summer school program and reporting on the “good progress” being made on both the B building removal and the tennis courts.
The Trustees voted 7-0 to accept the minutes from the June 29 meeting and then proceeded on to administrative matters, including the modification of the AUSD plan for school reopening in response to COVID-19.
Superintendent Butler emphasized that today’s meeting was just for informational purposes, and that in a future board meeting, “the board will need to consider voting and approving a plan exactly like the one that’s here today” prior to the start of school.
“One of the things I’ve been emphasizing is that the trustees…and our staff—we’re the educational agency for this district, and our backgrounds are in education,” Butler said. Clearly, we aren’t the local health department. I’d want to make sure there’s some clarification… The California Department of Public Health, which is responsible for the health of our state’s people, will then branch out into county departments of public health. It’s from there that you hear the mask’s mandates.”
Butler then reminded the audience that AUSD is also an employer, which requires adherence to CalOSHA regulations. He also notified the public that the San Luis Obispo (SLO) Department of Public Health has re-enforced the mask requirement, which requires all children and employees in a school environment to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status. This is true for both public and private schools. In an outside environment, such as before school, lunch, recess, passing periods, sports, and after-school events, masks will be optional.
Butler said that vaccinations are not needed for kids and employees at this time, and that the district does not collect vaccination records. He then added a proviso, stating that a San Luis Obispo County Department of Public Health worker may approach someone and inquire about their vaccination status if they are actively engaged in contact tracing.
“Now it’s up to that person whether or not they want to reveal it,” Butler added. “That is their own business, but in a contact tracing situation, you might hear individuals being questioned about it.”
Butler added, “To establish the tone for the school year, we’re going to be completely open—a full school day, full class size… All extracurricular and co-curricular activities will resume in full force, and we are delighted to welcome them back.”
Butler then urged residents to talk to the SLO County Department of Public Health, County Supervisors, and Elected State Officials about their thoughts and views. He said that the trustees are debating a resolution that may be presented at the next board meeting, in which the board would issue a public statement to a board of public authorities. The resolution would argue that SLO County’s health indicators, rather than state-wide data, should be used to open our schools safely.
Ray Buban, a trustee, raised the subject of lawsuit protection. Butler replied by citing legal counsel’s recommendation to follow the rules set out by the public health department. “If we follow the basic health standards set by health experts, we will be less likely to be sued if anything goes wrong.”
Mary Kay Mills, a trustee, then inquired about the newly published state guidelines, which seemed to imply that each district would have the choice of requiring masks or not.
Butler described this as “very false information, to be honest.” In a K-12 school environment, the masks are still necessary. The degree of local authority that the districts have is in enforcing it… Is it going to be a problem for the students? Are there any processes in place? How will we connect with parents if they send their children to school without wearing a mask?”
Butler proposed a “caring” strategy in which parents would be contacted and offered alternatives such as remote learning, independent study, and homeschooling.
Trustee Mills pressed further, asking, “so like myself, if Cayden doesn’t attend school this year because she’s required to wear a mask, then is ACE Academy an option?” Butler affirmed that virtual learning would be an option in this case.
“Should we start with the mask mandate, and then as time goes on…they remove the mask mandate?” asked Trustee Corrinne Kuhnle. “If you are a parent who has enrolled your child in the virtual program, or ACE Academy, how difficult would it be for them to return to the classroom after they’ve started?”
Butler replied, “It won’t be tough for our parents.” “It may take a little shifting, but we want to be as responsive as possible at that time. We’d want to do it in a timely manner so that we may respond quickly.”
Trustee Buban then reminded parents that a doctor may give a letter of exemption from the mask requirement for kids on Page 9, number E of the plan.
“What are the repercussions to the district, apart from litigation, if we don’t obey the mask mandate?” Buban continued.
“There are certain financing sources that are conditional on following the rules and having a board-approved plan,” Butler said. and some of them are worth millions of dollars, so they would be at danger of being lost.”
Stacey Phillips, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, then read aloud the board’s communications, all of which related to the mask requirement. Nine letters were read aloud. Seven of the letters were in support of mask requirements, while two were in favor of allowing all families to choose their own masks.
Finally, audience members talked on the mask requirement. Fourteen people stepped out, all of whom favored personal choice when it came to masks. The importance of following science and data rather than government regulation, the negative impact of masks on children’s physical and mental health, big tech’s censorship of accurate and pertinent information, and a conflict of interest in the source of funding for one of the policy-making agencies were among the major themes.
Pfizer funds the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). That’s all there is to know about it. Every choice you make today, just like the AAP, is based on money. We’ve just heard about the money thus far. When will you begin to be concerned about the children’s well-being?” Jennifer Grainger, Chair of Moms4Liberty’s SLO Chapter, agreed. “We are certain that they are not at danger of contracting COVID. “You’re advocating creating other diseases in children, causing lifelong mental health problems in children over a 0.0003 mortality rate in children.”
The emergence of practical ideas suggested by audience members was perhaps the most encouraging thing for parents dealing with a dearth of educational choices. Parents have put up tutoring trailers to help homeschooling families, and Moms4Liberty is working on a mask-free full-time school for the autumn. Grainger claims that they have found financial sources, instructors, and churches ready to assist make this a reality because they “no longer want to participate in the abuse.”
Parent Kim Paul’s appeal to “let our kids free” probably best summed up the mood of the public response.
The meeting was adjourned after all public comments had been heard. The next AUSD Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3.
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There seems to be a new controversy in Monterey County recently, one that involves the wearing of masks at public school campuses. The issue stems from claims that some students wear masks to conceal their identities from teachers, peers, and administrators. Some wear them out of fashion, others because they claim it helps them stay safe from bullying.. Read more about alvord unified school district schools and let us know what you think.
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After a heated argument broke out between Tarek and Christina on-set of Flip or Flop’s episode last week, it soon became clear that the couple’s relationship is in terrible trouble .
Things got ugly on the set of Flip or Flop: Home Improvement this week, when Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack got into a dispute over a choice the reality star made about the layout of their home. El Moussa wanted the kitchen to be bigger, and the show’s producers wanted it to be smaller, and the fight that ensued resulted in the couple walking off set. According to TMZ , the fight started when the reality star wanted his kitchen redesigned, which producers didn’t accept, but the disagreement turned physical on set when El Moussa slapped Haack.
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Following an on-set confrontation with her “Flip or Flop” co-star and ex-husband, Tarek El Moussa, Christina Haack is making it plain that she is the boss.
According to People, on July 22, the presenter of “Christina on the Coast” shared a series of Instagram Stories that seemed to show her shooting sans El Moussa. “All right, well, it’s looking great,” Haack says in one footage. So, since Tarek isn’t here, I propose that we continue the tile all the way to the back of the vanity.” Throughout the footage, crew workers can be heard saying, “You’re the boss.”
Her Instagram Stories come after TMZ said that El Moussa had a “verbal rant” at his ex-wife when she signaled she was ready to start filming.
For the most up-to-date breaking news, rumors, and information, like the Heavy on HGTV Facebook page!
He claimed to be “winning” and likened Haack to his “Selling Sunset” fiancée, Heather Rae Young, according to their sources.
Fans believe Haack addressed the issue discreetly on Instagram when she posted a picture of herself with her new lover Joshua Hall.
The 38-year-old captioned the photo, “Ride or Die.” “Some individuals are fortunate enough to get forever the first time, but no one should feel bad about things not working out, and no one knows what happens on behind closed doors – keep that in mind before passing judgment and making assumptions… yet this woman/mama is still fortunate enough to be chosen by this man.”
This is not an uncommon occurrence for the former couple, who had a daughter Taylor and a son Brayden, according to TMZ. According to the source, the two would sometimes shoot separately.
After lashing out on set, El Moussa is’super remorseful.’
El Moussa seems to have some regrets.
“They did get into a disagreement,” a source told People. Tarek has apologized profusely for his actions. They’re exes who share a past, children, and a job, but they’re not friends outside of coparenting.”
The ex-couple is now shooting season 10 of “Flip or Flop.” While it’s unclear if these new conflicts are symptomatic of a bigger problem, El Moussa recently indicated that the series’ conclusion is approaching.
“When it comes to ‘Flip or Flop,’ I’m not sure whether it’s going to continue,” he told The List in May. I think I will have a house-flipping program in some form; if it’s called “Flip or Flop,” that would be fantastic. If not, there’s a chance it’s something else.”
After a “rough week,” Haack’s daughter surprised her with breakfast in bed.
On Instagram, Haack revealed a lovely surprise from her daughter, saying that Taylor surprised her with breakfast in bed. She shared a picture of Taylor holding a meal tray.
The HGTV personality said, “My lovely daughter knew I was having a hard week so she surprised me and brought me breakfast in bed.” “And I must add, she has a good understanding of my lifestyle choices.”
Hudson, the HGTV star’s kid, is shared with her second husband, Ant Anstead.
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Tarek El Moussa and Christina Haack of HGTV’s Flip or Flop are being accused of fighting again, and this time the fighting escalated into a full-on physical altercation. El Moussa was quoted as saying that he has a “Hollywood temper,” and that while he never meant to hurt his wife, he did. He also told TMZ that he is not going to change his behavior, even though it could cost him his TV show.. Read more about christina haack and joshua hall and let us know what you think.
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Ezekiel Elliott’s offseason work has already started to pay dividends – and not just because he looks leaner and meaner than he did last season.
Last year, the Dallas Cowboys were embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers. They were down 24-6 in the 3rd quarter and ended up losing 42-24. Things were so bad that head coach Jason Garrett was fired on the Monday after the game. This is where Ezekiel Elliott comes in. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015 and many analysts think he could be even more valuable in 2016.
Ezekiel Elliott has been working this offseason to get in better shape, as everyone knows. The running back’s summer workouts are paying off, and the latest evidence of that is in a video of him showing off his lower body at the Cowboys’ camp in Oxnard, California. As you can see, the Cowboys’ #21 has a much lower body fat percentage this offseason, which isn’t a surprise since the Ohio State product spent time working on his core and cardiovascular fitness.. Read more about ezekiel elliott training 2021 and let us know what you think.
OXNARD (California) — End of the defense As Ezekiel Elliott, the Dallas Cowboys’ rushing back, took a handoff, Tarell Basham was in prime position for the tackle for loss. Basham was there for a while, and then he wasn’t.
During the Cowboys’ first training camp session of 2021, Elliott altered direction, got up to full speed, and burst loose to the left side of the field for a big gain.
Elliott may not have made that decision a year ago, and possibly not even two years ago.
It’s too early to predict what would have occurred in a game or even a fully padded training camp session, but we’re seeing a different Elliott here.
He’s slimmer now, weighing in at 218 pounds for the first time since his rookie year at Ohio State in 2013. And, perhaps most importantly, he is driven by his less-than-stellar 2020 season, in which he rushed for a career-low 979 yards and those who doubt his ability to remain the NFL’s best running back. Elliott led the league in running with 1,434 yards on 304 carries only three years ago during the 2018 season.
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“You have to go through the lows to appreciate the highs,” Elliott remarked. “I experienced some lows last year, so I’m looking forward to some highs this year.”
During the Cowboys’ 6-10 season in 2020, the 26-year-old didn’t have many highs. After quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending ankle injury, and tackles Tyrel Smith (two games) and La’el Collins missed most or all of the season due to injuries, life was tough. Zack Martin, an All-Pro guard, missed six games due to a concussion and calf injury.
Elliott was dealing with hamstring and calf issues that restricted his practice time.
“The most important thing for Zeke, and I’ve known him from his first day here, is to just be himself. He’ll seize the chances that come his way “Mike McCarthy, the coach of the Dallas Cowboys, said. “I understand his statistics aren’t [what they were] last year compared to previous years and the bar he set for himself, but he does so much more for us than simply run the football. On the field, production is unaffected. With the chance, the production will be there.”
Elliott began his effort to reclaim his form by contacting Josh Hicks, a Dallas-based trainer who had worked with Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette before to the 2020 season. Elliott talked with Fournette, who set up a text message line between Hicks and Elliott. Soon after the talks started, the trainer and the Cowboys running back were at Prescott’s backyard turf field for their first exercise of the offseason.
The majority of Hicks’ workouts with Elliott took place at neighboring SMU, but they also worked out on the fields of several local high schools.
“He didn’t say what he wanted to work on or how he wanted it done, but let me put it this way: most bigger running backs, my main focus is maintaining that for them while still getting them to move and stay elusive as if they were a smaller back,” said Hicks, who played running back for Purdue for a brief time. “We have a feeling they’re going to drive someone over. We know they’ll drop their shoulder and get the extra yards. Accomplish they, however, have the lateral explosiveness to do what smaller backs can? If you can combine that, it’s a lethal combination.”
Hicks, who also works with Denver Broncos running back Melvin Gordon III, sets up his exercises to simulate game scenarios. He utilizes trash cans instead of tacklers, throwing them one way or the other and forcing Elliott to cut in a new direction while keeping his knees high.
“He picks it up quickly,” Hicks added. “He’ll figure it out, and we’ll be on our way. I’m not claiming that it’s scientific. It’s simply a game of football. You’ve got people who can play football and move well, and you’ve got men who can play football but don’t move as well as they should, but are still excellent athletes. You put everything together, practice it again and over, and make it repetitive, which quickly activates your quick-twitch muscles. That’s how the “cut on a dime” came about.”
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“He picks it up quickly,” Hicks added. “He’ll figure it out, and we’ll be on our way. I’m not claiming that it’s scientific. It’s simply a game of football. You’ve got people who can play football and move well, and you’ve got men who can play football but don’t move as well as they should, but are still excellent athletes. You put everything together, practice it again and over, and make it repetitive, which quickly activates your quick-twitch muscles. That’s how the “cut on a dime” came about.”
Last season, Elliott only had two rushes of 20 yards or more, a career low. He recorded two games of 100 yards, which was also a career low. He carried the ball an average of 4 yards per carry, a career low.
“Definitely short-area quickness,” Elliott replied when asked what Hicks has done the most to assist him. “When you look at Josh, he’s around 5-7 years old. He’s a lot smaller than me, has [a] lot shorter legs than me, and is a lot more shifty, so I look at my game and see what I need to work on, and that’s sort of playing to his game’s strengths. It was simply a matter of becoming better at my shortcomings when I went to work with him.”
Because Hicks is a no-nonsense trainer, the hour-long sessions were always tough. Elliott is unconcerned about his $90 million deal or his three Pro Bowl appearances.
“I don’t care who you are, I mean, I speak to everyone,” Hicks said. “I’ll let you know if you’re making a mistake. If it’s bad, it’s bad. If you’re slow, I’ll tell you that. If something isn’t right, it isn’t right. But make sure you complete the exercise because we’ll come back and I’ll correct you. I’m not going to sugarcoat anything because, at the end of the day, it’s my name on the line. I can’t sit here and say, “That’s good,” when it clearly isn’t. I’m afraid I won’t be able to accomplish it.”
While the majority of the work between Elliott and Hicks was completed prior to the start of the Cowboys’ offseason program, they met a few times in the week leading up to training camp in California. Consider it a last tune-up before the season begins.
“I went into the lab and improved,” Elliott said.
Ezekiel Elliott’s offseason work ethic may be showing up as early as the first practice, as ESPN’s Todd Archer reports the Cowboys running back is already putting in work before the season begins.. Read more about zeke elliott and let us know what you think.
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Jim Harbaugh was born in Los Angeles, but raised in the suburbs of Chile. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1984, and it wasn’t until he was 25 that he moved to the United States to play football. Along with playing quarterback for the Ducks, he also played a lot of basketball and baseball, and he also ran track in college. He was raised in a very athletic family, however, and was on his way to becoming an Olympian at the time when he decided to forgo his collegiate eligibility and move to the U.S. to play football.
This fall, Angulo, a 20 year old lineman from Chile, will be on his way to training camp for the National Football League, the world’s richest and most-watched professional football league.
In no particular order, here are six of my favorite things about playing in the NFL:
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — Learning a new sport at the age of 25 doesn’t seem so daunting after moving alone to a foreign country with NBA dreams at the age of 14, learning the language piecemeal after the school you were attending closed down, and surviving on day-old donuts for two or three days and $50 a month from your parents.
Tight end with the Washington Redskins Sammis Reyes understands how difficult it is to learn football. He’s not afraid of anything.
“I don’t believe I’d have the courage to accomplish what I’m doing without those experiences,” Reyes said. “Nothing compares to what I’ve already gone through. I’ll never back down from a task.”
After seeing Reyes work out at Florida’s pro day, Washington signed him to a three-year contract in April. Washington’s coaches admit that he still has a long way to go before he can play in the NFL. However, they admire his stature (6-foot-7, 240 pounds). As part of the NFL’s International Pathway Program, Reyes has been training at IMG Academy in Florida. They’re well aware that he’s a work in progress.
Washington coach Ron Rivera said, “He’s got a great talent set and the proper kind of mentality to want to try and accomplish it.”
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Other NFL tight ends have made the transition from basketball to football, including Antonio Gates (retired), Jimmy Graham (Chicago Bears), and Mo Alie-Cox (Indianapolis Colts), to mention a few. Graham took part as a graduate student at the University of Miami. As a high school student, Reyes played it for a week.
At the age of 14, he moved from Santiago, Chile to Florida to play high school basketball. He played three years of Division I basketball, two of them at Tulane, where he averaged 0.8 points per game in 32 games from 2016 to 2017. He played minimally for one season at Loyola University of New Orleans. Reaching the doorway of an NFL roster, on the other hand, is a triumph. Reyes’ previous experiences on a winding road have helped him prepare for the tough job that awaits him at training camp.
“At 14, no one is ready to leave home,” he remarked. “My narrative turned out to be a good one, and I was able to sort it out, but there were numerous moments when I could have taken a different path.”
‘I was trying not to weep,’ she says.
Reyes’ parents found it difficult to let him go. His father, Daniel, was 16 when he left his home in Chillan, Chile to play basketball in another city approximately 30 years ago. He, too, had gone through a lot, having been reared by his grandparents on a shoestring budget. On October 19, 1995, Daniel Reyes was 21 years old when his son was born.
Sammis Reyes aspired to play in the NBA, but his basketball career at Tulane was short-lived. Getty Images/Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire
“[His life] made him feel at ease,” Sammis said. “‘I made it through this, and so can my kid.”
But it meant saying goodbye to his video gaming friend and their park hoop games on weekends. It meant skipping family vacations.
“It was difficult not having my closest buddy with me,” Daniel stated in a videoconference conversation with ESPN in June via his son.
The most difficult aspect, he claimed, happened at the airport when Sammis first flew to Florida. Daniel said he wanted to portray strength for his kid, but his emotions were at odds.
Daniel said, “I was trying not to weep.”
Sammis would fall down while learning to walk, and Daniel would tell him about it. Sammis was forced to stand up on his own by his father. As Sammis got older, she learned more lessons like these. They bolstered him.
“One of the things that scares me is receiving a call one day saying something bad has occurred to my family,” Sammis added. “But I was unconcerned. I simply sat there sobbing. I was upset since I didn’t know when I’d see my parents or friends again. However, I was prepared.”
Developing the ability to survive
Sammis wasn’t prepared for this: Westlake Prep, in south Florida, had shuttered within three to four months of his arrival. He had been living with another Chilean guy, but he had gone to junior college. Reyes, then 14, was soon the last person to live at the school’s apartment complex, with his former coaches checking up on him every week or so for four to five months. Reyes was on his own, surviving on his parents’ $50 a month, his own street smarts, and, ultimately, the kindness of strangers.
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“I had to figure it out the rest of the time,” he said. “My protein shakes were always purchased from a shop. Then I had to decide out what to eat next. Other times, I was fortunate enough to make a friend and be asked to dinner. I often skipped breakfast, forcing me to rush to the train station and then have lunch. What should I have for lunch if I only have three dollars? It was a day by day process.”
Every few days about 8 p.m., he’d go to a doughnut shop near his apartment and purchase a dozen or more donuts for $1 or a quarter that the owner would have thrown away. The chocolate glazed is his favorite.
“When you have a choice between a dozen doughnuts and a can of beans, you have to choose the donuts. I’d be able to feed myself for the next two to three days “Sammis said. “I’m no longer able to consume doughnuts. I’m not even sure I can see them.”
He spent approximately six months getting used to speaking English. He’d scribble down every phrase he heard, writing it out phonetically. He’d then look up the term in the dictionary to see if he could locate it.
“It was a matter of survival for me,” he said. “You must have the courage to put yourself in circumstances where you must learn fast.”
His parents were completely unaware of his difficulties. They would go months without speaking since he didn’t have a phone or a computer. They’d connect through Facebook or he’d borrow a friend’s phone and purchase a $10 phone card for a 30-minute chat from a petrol station. His parents would use YouTube to watch his games.
Sammis confessed that he hasn’t told his parents about all of the bad things that have happened to him.
After graduating from Tulane, Sammis Reyes, center, was all smiles with his parents, Daniel and Rossana. He didn’t inform them about his difficulties in the United States. “I had to remain silent; I had to suffer in order to shine afterwards,” he said. Sammis Reyes provided the image.
“I wanted to inform them, but I didn’t want to risk losing my opportunity of being here,” he said. “My mother would have called my father and instructed him to come get me. For me, it would have been the end of it. I had to keep my mouth shut; I had to endure in order to shine afterwards.”
“I would have probably done the same thing,” Daniel stated on the video conversation via his kid.
As part of an exchange with the Westlake coaches, Sammis began working with another coach, Roosevelt Gray, before the school closed. Gray worked with a few of their players as a coach. When Gray first saw Sammis, he said to himself, “This man is a football player.” Many people feel the same way when they meet Sammis.
Gray would drive him home after each daily session, stop at McDonald’s, and purchase him $5 worth of food.
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“‘Whoa, five dollars off the dollar menu?’ I exclaimed. That’s incredible!” Sammis remarked.
Gray remarked, “He gulped up the meal.” “He eats hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and fish sandwiches like there’s no tomorrow. It was insane. I couldn’t do it because I couldn’t afford it… I suggested that I go out and get him some food.”
Gray questioned Sammis about his predicament. Gray then utilized his local contacts to assist him get funds for meals, groceries, and even shoes; sometimes it was $50, and other times it was $100. Gray eventually linked Sammis with Steve Rifkind, whose son Alex was Sammis’ age and played on the same AAU team as Sammis. Sammis was accepted to St. Andrews, a residential school in Boca Raton, Florida, thanks to Rifkind’s assistance.
“I moved from the lowest to the finest school,” Reyes said. “I need to become used to dealing with children whose parents are all CEOs. To school, some men drive BMWs and Mercedes. Every day, I dress in the same clothing for school. It was obvious that I didn’t belong in that place.”
Sammis was detained by immigration authorities at Miami International Airport after coming home from Chile as a sophomore — he flew home once a year, frequently paid for by the Rifkinds, so he could play for the national team — as was common. He said that the wait lasted 12 hours since he didn’t have a fixed address while at the boarding school.
Sammis couldn’t reach his ride since he didn’t have a phone. Sammis dashed to the railway station after being freed, jumped the bar with two large bags, and dashed to the platform.
Just when the final train of the night was about to depart.
Sammis went outside, located a Wendy’s with a still-open drive-through, and ordered two burgers on foot. He ate his dinner behind a drugstore, then slept on the ground with two towels and some of his clothing as a cushion. He dozed off.
Sammis said he walked at least 10 kilometers to school on the sidewalk the following day, sweaty and without a shirt on, carrying two bags, before being discovered and picked up by someone who worked in the school’s library.
He laughed as he remarked, “That one was difficult.”
Washington’s coaches are well-versed in tight end play. Sammis Reyes is a work in progress, but his potential excites them. USA Today Sports/Scott Taetsch
Rifkind withdrew his son, Alex, and Sammis from school two days later after speaking with Sammis’ parents, and enrolled them at North Broward Prep. Sammis, who was 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds at the time, moved in with the family and regards Rifkind as a second father and Alex as a brother.
After hearing from instructors in a variety of sports, as well as Steve Rifkind, that he should play football, Sammis decided to give it a try. During the spring of his junior year, he practiced with the North Broward team.
Sammis was playing defensive end in a practice with coaches from Central Florida, Florida Atlantic, and Pitt in attendance. Sammis made a play as a backside end, according to North Broward coach Roland Nottage, by chasing to make a tackle “he was never trained to do… he did stuff on innate intuition.” The college coaches were high-fiving each other, Rifkind remembered.
Sammis informed Rifkind the following day that he no longer wanted to play football. His ambition was to play in the NBA. It resulted in a huge brawl, according to Rifkind, who told Sammis he might be a first-round selection in football. It didn’t make a difference. Sammis was a great basketball player for North Broward, averaging 24.5 points and 13.2 rebounds per game, and he claimed he had 25 Division I offers before choosing Hawaii.
Sammis departed Hawaii when the coach that recruited him was dismissed, sat out a year due to an ACL tear, reappeared at Palm Beach State for a season, and then landed to Tulane still dreaming of the NBA.
“I couldn’t do anything,” Rifkind said.
“I was obsessed with basketball and wanted to play in the NBA,” Sammis stated. “I would have been disappointed if I hadn’t given it my best… But, when it came to athletics, I made a huge error by not listening to counsel when I was younger. I would have been three to four years into the [NFL] and would have a greater understanding of the game.”
Having faith in oneself
After going this far in a foreign nation, Reyes survived because, as virtually everyone around him stated, he trusted himself. It was also tough since he was caught in the between of two worlds: His parents had no prior experience dealing with the problems he encountered in the United States, and those who lived here couldn’t connect to his difficulties.
Alex Rifkind stated, “It certainly took a toll on him at times.” “His father had back issues, his parents were in financial trouble, and the idea that he couldn’t be there was hurting him even after he moved in with us. I was aware that he was homesick. He was still a 16-year-old child, no matter how tall or powerful he was.”
Nicole Kotler, Sammis’ fiancée, whom he met at North Broward, said, “He was able to realize, ‘I can do this; I’ve come this far, what else can stop me?’ by finding things out as he went along and failing at times but also succeeding. And if it does, I can deal with it.’ He is constantly emphasizing the need of taking a new path…. He disliked having to depend on others.”
Sammis was ready for a new challenge when he went into Justin Kavanaugh’s athletic training center in Ashburn, Virginia in January 2020. Reyes persuaded Kavanaugh to coach the Edmunds brothers, Trey (Pittsburgh Steelers running back) and Tremaine (Buffalo Bills linebacker), on the same day he was teaching the Edmunds brothers. Seeing Reyes maintain his improvised exercises throughout the epidemic taught Kavanaugh a lot about him.
“You tell him what you want him to accomplish, and he’ll find out how to get there,” Kavanaugh remarked. “He doesn’t perceive roadblocks; he recognizes that they are a part of life.”
Sammis would go to the gym from 6 a.m. until noon, then bring meals to Door Dash for lunch. He’d go back to the gym for additional work before going home to deliver meals. He’d seen his father, who was formerly a security guard at the US Embassy in Chile and is now an insurance adjustor, work 24- or 36-hour hours for years. After Nicole questions him, Sammis now writes out plays on the three white boards in their flat.
“There aren’t many opportunities where I come from,” Sammis remarked. “There are a lot of drugs, violence, and other things I don’t want to be around. If I had remained in Chile, I may have spent more time among such items. I came here to participate in athletics. A very different way of living.”
It was a strange week in sports with the tragedy in Orlando and the NFL’s decision to suspend or cut players over domestic violence incidents. All this came at a time when the NFL is trying to get its image back to being seen as a family-friendly sport.. Read more about sammis reyes nfl draft projection and let us know what you think.
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Football season is just around the corner so it’s time to start thinking about your fantasy football team. There are a bunch of variables that can affect your chances. You can’t control the weather, injuries, or other unforeseen factors; but there are things you can do to maximize your chances. Here are some helpful tips to help you win your draft.
The Seattle Seahawks are a team to be reckoned with and the strength of this offensive line is often overlooked. At inside linebacker, Bobby Wagner is a superb run defender, one of the best at his position in the NFL. And at wide receiver, Doug Baldwin is a top-flight target and he’s only 26 years old. The Seahawks’ defense is their strength and is the only team in the league that has given up fewer than 20 points per game and fewer than 300 yards per game. The defense is very underrated and it is the reason they are a Super Bowl contender.
With the Seattle Seahawks in the midst of a rebuild, the 2021 NFL season is likely to be a very different one for the team than the one many fans are expecting to see this year. As the team transitions to a younger and more diverse group of players, the possible outcomes for the Seahawks are endless. The team could surprise with a solid season, or it could finish with the worst record in the league. The only thing that is certain is that the 2021 Seattle Seahawks will be a lot different than the one fans are accustomed to seeing on Sundays.
Russell Wilson, the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks, has a lot riding on the upcoming 2021-22 NFL season.
Following their NFC Wild Card elimination at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, the Seahawks failed to live up to expectations in a season when many expected them to make a long playoff run in the NFC. Wilson had probably one of his worst postseason games, completing just 40.7 percent of his throws and posting a 72.1 passer rating.
Russell Wilson’s Fantasy Prospects for 2021:
The Seahawks did not make any significant offensive changes this offseason, but they did pick D’Wayne Eskridge, a former Western Michigan wide receiver, in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Many supporters’ wishes were fulfilled when Seattle signed former Rams passing game coach Shane Waldron to assume the position of offensive coordinator.
The Seahawks are basically doing all they can to maximize Wilson’s peak years. And if his 2020 season is any indicator of what the Seahawks should expect this year, the seven-time Pro Bowler will have another outstanding season.
Fantasy Football Stats for 2020
Russell Wilson’s Seattle Seahawks season in 2020 was a story of two halves.
Wilson had a blistering start to the season, with 14 throwing touchdowns in the first three games for the Seahawks. In each of these three games, he scored 30+ fantasy points, cementing his status as an early NFL MVP favorite.
Wilson’s MVP hopes, however, were crushed as the season proceeded owing to his lackluster performance. For starters, he has failed to throw for 250 yards in each of his past four games. His fantasy point totals were a source of concern for many fans late in the season, as the Seahawks star scored 20 points or more in just two of his last seven games.
In the grand scheme of things, Wilson had a fantastic fantasy season. In terms of passing yards (4,212), passing touchdowns (40), and passer rating, he was in the top ten (105.1).
Wilson was the sixth-best quarterback in the NFL last season in terms of fantasy points, with 359.78. Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills led this leaderboard with 395.06 fantasy points in his first breakthrough season.
Wilson’s effectiveness with play-action-designed plays aided him in putting together such a memorable season. Last year, he accumulated 1,038 throwing yards on play-action plays. He was just unpredictable for defensive front sevens, from his quickness in the pocket to his ability as a passer on the run.
Fantasy Forecasts for 2021
Russell Wilson is one of the most difficult quarterbacks to forecast since fans never know which version of him they will see throughout the course of the season. Wilson has the ability to perform like an MVP-caliber quarterback one night and then struggle as a downfield thrower the next.
Wilson is expected to score 315.02 fantasy points this season, according to ESPN’s fantasy predictions, which is a significant decrease from last season.
Wilson’s success this season may be determined in part by how well he gets along with new Seahawks offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Waldron was especially instrumental in the Rams’ effective passing attack during Jared Goff’s breakout season in 2018, when the former No. 1 overall selection set career highs in passing yards (4,688) and passing touchdowns (six) (32).
Waldron will now lead a Seahawks offense that took less chances last season than it did this year. Last season, the Seahawks used 10 personnel (4 WR) 18 times under now-former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, which was down from 90 times in the previous season.
The shouts of “let Russ cook” will undoubtedly be heard throughout the next season, and it will be interesting to see whether Waldron will allow Wilson to do so. Wilson has the wide receivers to open up the passing game further downfield, particularly with DK Metcalf continuing to develop as a route runner in the open field.
Position in the Rankings
It’s a fair bet that quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs will be among the top quarterbacks chosen in fantasy football drafts during the next month.
From there, it’s a risk to predict where quarterbacks like Russell Wilson rank. Wilson is projected to finish sixth among quarterbacks in total fantasy points for the 2017 season, with Josh Allen leading the group with 375.46.
Still, there are a number of quarterbacks in the league who might have a breakout season this year. For example, Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers and Justin Herbert of the Cincinnati Bengals may be on the brink of building on their promising rookie seasons with Pro Bowl-caliber seasons.
Wilson, on the other hand, has what it takes to crack the top three fantasy quarterback rankings. Expect the Seahawks quarterback to finish the season with at least 4,000 passing yards and 40 total touchdowns, giving the club a fighting shot in the unpredictable NFC.
The Seattle Seahawks will be defending their NFC Championship title in 2021 with the help of a returning nucleus of key players like Russell Wilson and Earl Thomas. In addition, the team is set to bring in some big names in the draft and free agency to help bolster the roster. With that being said, the Seahawks will not be as competitive in 2021 as they were in 2020.. Read more about seahawks roster moves 2020 and let us know what you think.
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In case you’ve never heard of him, Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the world, and he will likely be voted NBA MVP this season.
Even though the Detroit Pistons beat the Bucks 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals, Milwaukee fans shouldn’t be too upset. Without Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks would be a shell of their former selves. One of the key reasons the Bucks won was Giannis and his ability to put his team on his back and make his teammates better. Giannis has always been one of the best and most talented players in the league but without him, this team would never have been able to be as good as they were this year. Without him, Milwaukee would have never been able to win the NBA Championship.
The Bucks have the pieces to win a championship. They have a franchise centerpiece in the form of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and a slew of talented young players like Bogdan Bogdanovic, Thon Maker, and Malcolm Brogdon. They also have one of the best coaches in the game in Mike Budenholzer, who has helped shape Giannis into the superstar he is today. The Bucks have been a team on the rise for the past several years, and they finally appear to be primed to make a run at a title.. Read more about who won the nba finals 2021 and let us know what you think.
The Milwaukee Bucks made an incredible comeback in the NBA Finals, winning four games in a row to win their first title in 50 years. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a Hall of Famer, was the man who lifted the trophy the last time the Bucks won the title. After a long season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and a group of tough riders have taken home the title.
While the Phoenix Suns deserve credit for reaching the Finals and having a fantastic season, the Bucks were the superior team in the Finals on both sides of the court. The Bucks are on top of the NBA world for five major reasons, with festivities set to begin in Milwaukee over the coming several days. Here are the five most important elements that helped the Bucks overcome a 2-0 deficit and win the 2021 Finals in a remarkable and surprising fashion.
5. Mike Budenholzer Modifications
Monty Williams, the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, was making headlines by guiding a youthful club to the NBA Finals out of nowhere. Throughout the playoffs, Monty made crucial changes and relied on his leader Chris Paul to be his extension on the floor. However, experienced coach Mike Budenholzer dethroned him in the Finals. Budenholzer has been scrutinized for the last two seasons because the Bucks have never been able to reach their playoff objectives. Mike Budenholzer would very certainly have been fired if the Bucks had not won the series this playoffs.
That demonstrates the unjust character of professional sports, where a victory or a defeat may result in a guy losing his job. But he’s been fantastic for Milwaukee in recent years, strengthening the club and making it one of the greatest in the world. Budenholzer was the ultimate motivator in the Finals, believing in Giannis and even Khris Middleton to make the big plays. He made sure Jrue Holiday accompanied Chris Paul wherever he went, and it was part of the coaching staff’s directive to play tight defense and trust Middleton in crunch time. Monty Williams is a fantastic coach with a bright future, but Mike Budenholzer’s time has come.
4. Phoenix Was unable to complete the transaction
Phoenix missed numerous opportunities to put their foot on Milwaukee’s throat in this series, despite being up 2-0 and having one of the best point guards in NBA history on their team. They had a chance in Game 3 but were blasted away by 20 points thanks to Devin Booker’s dreadful 10-point effort. In Game 4, they had another opportunity, but Chris Paul was a shadow of his former self, and Middleton scored 40 points to tie the series. Phoenix had a good chance to win Game 5, but Chris Paul was sloppy with the ball at times, and even a 40-point performance by Booker wasn’t enough to put the series back on track.
It was all but over when Phoenix lost Game 5. The Suns had a limited chance of defeating the Bucks in Milwaukee, particularly because the Bucks were riding high. Phoenix had a fantastic season and has some outstanding players on their roster, but they were unable to seal the deal. This is mostly due to the fact that Phoenix has a young coach, young players, and a long road ahead of them to get to the next level as a club. They’ll get there eventually, but the Suns were defeated by the Bucks’ roster and coaching staff’s expertise.
3. The Bucks’ front office made smart moves to position the team for success.
The Milwaukee Bucks organization is now one of the best-run in the world. Since Giannis came as a superstar, the management has been hell-bent on creating a championship challenger, gradually improving the squad over the last several years. For one thing, they strengthened their core by thinking that Giannis and Middleton can win as a team. Despite being an above-average rebounder for his stature and a fantastic shot-blocker who can spread the floor, they made Brook Lopez a full-time starter. They even established a team-wide precedent for defensive lockdown, which is an extension of their coaching staff.
But this year’s summer and trade deadline transactions provided them the push they needed to go over the hump. Even if Jrue Holiday’s offense was erratic, the Bucks would not be able to win without his defense and effort. Holiday’s signing to a max contract had many people scratching their heads, but he showed his value by playing lockdown defense, hustling for loose balls, and performing the hard work. The additions of veterans PJ Tucker and Bobby Portis enhanced the team’s defense and tenacity, putting them in a position to fight on defense at all times.
2. The Co-Stars Appeared in Force
Jrue Holiday was outstanding on defense and never missed a play, even when his shot wasn’t falling. His effort and confidence in himself as a two-way player made him essential to the Bucks, who were desperate for a third star to help them go over the hump. Holiday earned every cent he received for his playoff efforts and deserves all of the praise in the world. Khris Middleton, on the other hand, was near-perfect as a sidekick.
Middleton had a fantastic playoffs, scoring 23.9 points per game on 34.5 percent three-point shooting. Even when he was having a bad game, he remained active and was a great defender. Middleton’s self-assurance, on the other hand, was inspiring. He was so good that many commentators dubbed him the team’s “Batman” because he hit so many crucial shots to give his teammates breathing space. His disputed jump jumper with 59.6 seconds remaining to put the Bucks up six points was another example of his outstanding performance. Jrue Holiday was flawless in his position, and Middleton was crucial for his team, enabling the greatest player on the planet to shine.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo Is The World’s Best Player
When everything is said and done, the greatest player in the world is usually the reason his or her team wins the title. That was the situation for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA’s greatest two-way player. Giannis has received a lot of flak over the last two years, whether it was for his inability to shoot consistently from three or for his ridiculously lengthy free-throw routines. But, regardless of what anybody thinks, Giannis was the Bucks’ greatest player and the reason Milwaukee has been a championship contender for the last several years. Giannis possesses the height and athleticism of no other player in the game today, and he has improved his game every season because to the talents he was given.
Giannis has progressed from Most Improved Player to 2-time MVP and Defensive Player of the Year, establishing himself as one of the all-time greats at his position. The Greek Freak’s potential is limitless at just 26 years old. In Game 6, Giannis was near-perfect, hitting 17-19 free throws and dominating on both ends of the court. Every season, he kept his head down and went to work, never letting the criticism get to him. Even when some said he should leave Milwaukee and triumph somewhere, he promised the Bucks franchise that he would win a championship, and he did. Giannis has already won his first Finals MVP Award and first NBA championship, cementing his position in the Hall of Fame, and we are looking at one of the best forwards to ever play the game.
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“I Could’ve Gone To A Superteam… But This Is The Hard Way To Do It, And This Is The Way We Did It,” Giannis Antetokounmpo says.
“People tell me I can’t make free throws, but I made my free throws tonight…” Giannis Antetokounmpo responds to Chris Paul: “People tell me I can’t make free throws, but I made my free throws tonight…”
“I’m Out Now,” Giannis Antetokounmpo jokingly demands after Milwaukee wins the NBA Championship.
“I’m A Freaking Champion,” Giannis Antetokounmpo says on Instagram Live as he celebrates his championship.
After winning his first NBA title, Giannis Antetokounmpo sends a message of hope to the world: “My Mom was selling stuff on the street, and now I’m sitting here at the top of the world.”
The Bucks have the best player in the world, plain and simple. Giannis Antetokounmpo is not just the best player in the NBA, he is the best player in the world, and I can confidently say that he is the best player in any sport in the world. He is the best pure point guard in the world, the best pure scorer in the world, the best rebounder, the best passer and the best defender. If you don’t believe me, then I suggest you listen to some of the Bucks’ games over the last few years. Giannis is a special talent, and if he continues to improve, he will be a superstar that wins a title or two.. Read more about who won the nba finals mvp 2021 and let us know what you think.
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Simone Biles is a two-time Olympic medalist and one of the few female gymnasts to ever win individual all-around titles at three Olympics. She has also dominated her sport for years, winning the 2014 and 2016 world championships and the 2013 and 2015 U.S. championships. However, going into the 2016 Rio Olympics, Biles wasn’t expected to make the team.
The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have come to a close with the victory of the United States, Team USA, in women’s gymnastics. The United States’ Simone Biles earned her third gold medal of the Olympics, winning the floor exercise in front of a home crowd. Biles also earned silver medals in the vault and balance beam, and bronze in the uneven bars.
Simone Biles, a 17-year-old gymnast, who is currently competing in the Rio Olympics has been making quite a splash in the Olympic gymnastics world.. Read more about us women’s gymnastics team members 2021 and let us know what you think.
Tokyo time is 3:34 p.m. on July 25.
Important Updates:
1:45 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
1:45 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Is Biles the reason the US has such a stronghold?
At 11:57 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:57 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Why six Americans will not compete in the all-around final due to the two-per-country rule.
10:53 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
10:53 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
Queen, Billie Eilish, and a bunch of extremely loud music
9:03 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
9:03 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
In the United States, here’s how to watch.
9:03 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
9:03 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
Who’s who in American politics.
9:01 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
9:01 p.m. ET, July 24, 2021
What is the scoring system and how does it work?
2:27 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
2:27 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
The uneven bars caused Sanne Wevers of the Netherlands to fall. She can perform a layout Hindorff, which involves stretching out her body over the high bar and then turning half-turning to hang in a mixed L-grip. If she had attempted the very difficult skill here, it would have been named after her. Her most powerful event, beam, is yet to come.
2:25 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
2:25 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Larisa Iordache nailed the most of her beam routine, with the exception of a wobble on a tricky back handspring to full twist back handspring, but then fell on the dismount and seemed to be in discomfort. We knew she was dealing with an ankle issue going into this, but it’s still heartbreaking to watch.
2:22 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
2:22 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
No one on the US team has been as steady and reliable as Jordan Chiles this year, not even Simone Biles. She’s the gymnast the United States can rely on.
2:19 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
2:19 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Great floor routine by Sunisa Lee, who could win silver to Simone Biles in the all-around. She’s the most graceful dancer on this year’s team and makes every move look so easy.
2:18 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
2:18 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Sarah Jantzi, Grace McCallum’s coach, is here, and although you may not know her, she has had a significant impact on the sport in the past six years. She was the coach who came out in the Lawrence G. Nassar sexual abuse case as a whistleblower.
2:14 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
2:14 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Grace McCallum’s first tumbling pass is well out of bounds, but that’s to be expected from a first-time Olympian. Nerves and adrenaline galore!
2:06 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
2:06 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
The United States, of course, is the major attraction in this section, which is the third of five. However, there are 11 individual gymnasts from nations who did not qualify complete teams for the Games, as well as the Dutch team (headed by Sanne Wevers, the defending Olympic champion on the balance beam). Filipa Martins of Portugal, who excels on bars, and Larisa Iordache of Romania, who hopes to qualify for the beam final, are among them.
1:59 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
1:59 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Some background for those who may have woken up to see the United States or who will just watch the Americans compete in the qualifying. As we enter the third section, the Russians are in front of the competition with a total score of 171.629, while Angelina Melnikova of Russia presently has the best all-around score (57.132). To put things in perspective, the Americans qualified for the team event at the most recent world championships with a score of 174.205.
1:45 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
1:45 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Biles tries such difficult moves that she may fall and yet win a competition. Credit… The New York Times/Chang W. Lee
Yes, but there’s also a no.
Simone Biles does so tough gymnastics that she may fall and yet win a competition. Look for her to launch a strong Yurchenko double pike vault — which will be named after her if she completes it during the Games — and toss a double tuck with three twists on the floor at some point during the competition. She is the only woman who has ever won a tournament with these abilities.
Despite the fact that a team without Biles would almost likely score worse, they would still win gold. According to Spencer Barnes, presenter of the gymnastics podcast Gymcastic, the Americans could have up to four falls and still win a “hit” meet against all other teams.
Since 2011, the United States has won the team event at every Olympic and world competition.
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1:30 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
1:30 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
In June, Jade Carey competed in the US Olympic trials. Credit… Associated Press/Jeff Roberson
The American gymnast Jade Carey might — we’re hedging here because it would be risky — debut a floor exercise skill that even Simone Biles has not attempted in competition: a triple-twisting double layout. It would be the hardest tumbling pass ever performed by a woman.
Carey would do a roundoff and a sequence of back handsprings before performing two back flips and three twists as part of the boundary-pushing skill. Carey’s triple-double on the floor is comparable to Biles’s amazing triple-double, but instead of tucking her knees towards her chest, she compounds the difficulty by maintaining her torso upright. Carey caught the pass while practicing at the recent US championships, while her father and coach, Brian Carey, looked on. Biles “walked past and said congratulations and that’s amazing,” according to NBC analyst Tim Daggett.
Carey played it cautious during podium training on Thursday, opting for a still-tough Moors routine (a double-twisting double layout). She finished with a strong front layout that led to a tucked double-double.
The triple-double layout will be named after her if she lands it in either the qualifying or the floor exercise final – assuming she advances to that event.
Carey, 21, is also a medal contender on vault, having finished second in the event at both the 2017 and 2019 global championships. She, like her fellow Arizonan MyKayla Skinner, is not competing in the team competition. She qualified for the Olympics by competing in a multi-year World Cup series.
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1:24 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
1:24 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
A penalty like that lost the United States the bronze medal in the team competition at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. Because an alternative, Rhonda Faehn, was standing on the platform when Kelly Garrison competed on the uneven bars, the US was docked 0.5 points. (Faehn had moved a springboard away, which she was permitted to do, but she subsequently failed to take the necessary step off the platform.) East Germany won the bronze medal by 0.3 points.
1:31 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
1:31 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Jennifer Gadirova, according to the official results, violated the warmup time restriction, resulting in a 0.3-point penalty from Britain’s team total. It’s fortunate for Britain that this occurred during qualifying rather than the team finals, when gold are decided by tenths of a point.
1:14 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
1:14 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
China successfully claimed that the complexity of Lu Yufei’s floor routine was not adequately accounted for by the judges. Credit… Getty Images/Lionel Bonaventure/Agence France-Presse
The two-per-country rule, which stipulates that each Olympic gymnastics final may only include two gymnasts from the same country, is always a source of drama and sorrow for the top-scoring countries. There was a little something more today.
When China’s Lu Yufei completed her final routine of the night, the floor exercise, she earned a surprisingly low score of 12.466, putting her in third place among the Chinese women’s all-around totals, behind Tang Xijing and Zhang Jin. Lu, China’s incumbent national champion, seemed to be a tenth of a point away from qualifying for the all-around final.
China, on the other hand, disputed her score and filed an investigation. This is something that countries may do if they feel a gymnast was not given enough credit for the difficulty of a routine. (Execution scores are unassailable.) Lu’s routine was re-evaluated by the judges, and her score was raised by two tenths, to 12.666, taking her from third to second place among the Chinese women and excluding Zhang from the all-around final.
Because her colleagues Angelina Melnikova and Vladislava Urazova finished ahead of her, the reigning European all-around champion Viktoria Listunova of Russia will miss the final due to the two-per-country rule. In addition, since Melnikova and Anastasia Iliankova scored better on the uneven bars, Listunova and Urazova will miss the final.
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12:50 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:50 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
On the floor, China successfully disputed Lu Yufei’s score. As a result of the increase, Zhang Jin will now miss the all-around final due to the two-per-country rule.
12:47 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:47 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
With the second subdivision completed, Russia has a commanding 5-point lead over China in the team competition: 171.629 to 166.663. These totals don’t important since they’ll both comfortably qualify for the team final, but they do offer us an idea of how the nations could stack up in the finals.
12:46 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:46 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Subdivisions 3 through 5 will, of course, include the United States and many other nations.
12:46 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:46 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Another two-per-country casualty: Chinese national champion Lu Yufei will also miss the all-around. By less than a tenth of a point, she is in third position among Chinese gymnasts.
12:40 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:40 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Lilia Akhaimova lost her balance and went off the balance beam. Because this is a qualifying round rather than a final, Russia gets to discard their lowest score on each apparatus, so it shouldn’t be an issue.
12:40 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:40 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
In the close battle for the eight places in the uneven bars final, Angelina Melnikova and Anastasia Iliankova are virtually likely to advance. So far today, Iliankova has the highest score of 14.966. Due to the two-per-country rule, two additional Russians, Viktoria Listunova and Vladislava Urazova, will not be able to compete for an individual bars medal despite outscoring China’s Fan Yilin (14.600). Sunisa Lee of the United States and Nina Derwael of Belgium are expected to give Melnikova and Iliankova a tough fight. Lee possesses one of the world’s most challenging bars routines.
12:39 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:39 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Because to the two-per-country rule, Viktoria Listunova, the reigning European all-around champion, will miss both the all-around and bars finals. In the all-around, Angelina Melnikova and Vladislava Urazova are ahead of her, while on bars, Anastasia Iliankova and Melnikova are ahead of her.
12:21 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:21 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Guan Chenchen’s score on beam has finally arrived after a lengthy wait: 14.933. This puts her six tenths ahead of Tang Xijing, China’s second-best beam performer.
12:18 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:18 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Nothing is certain until all five sections are completed, but Guan Chenchen, who is competing for China as an individual, has a fantastic beam routine that gives her in a strong position to reach the beam final, where she would be a major medal candidate.
12:07 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:07 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
The US women’s gymnastics team posed with Oksana Chusovitina, who has been competing in the sport since 1982, on a recent day in Tokyo. Simone Biles’ son was born when she was just two years old.
Uzbekistan’s Chusovitina, 46, is participating in her seventh Olympics. Since 1952, the United States has fielded its oldest women’s gymnastics squad. The median age is 20.8 years.
The sport looks a lot different now than it did decades ago, when 14- and 15-year-olds were routinely earning gold. It has something to do with rules. Women have had to be 16 or older in the Olympic year since 2000. Since then, the point system has evolved many times, and it currently rewards a wide range of abilities that undoubtedly increase with time and muscle. Take Biles’ Yurchenko double pike, for example. A female would have a tough time generating the necessary power to do the task correctly and securely.
While many past American teams included adults (Annia Hatch, for example, was 26 at the 2004 Olympics), it seems that more Americans are now competing long into adulthood.
The average age of the German squad is 26, with the oldest player being 32. Simona Castro is a 32-year-old Chilean woman. Italy’s Vanessa Ferrari is 30 years old. Sanne and Lieke Wevers, Dutch twins, are almost 30 years old.
Many of these athletes, like Biles, test their personal boundaries. Sanne Wevers, the 2016 Olympic beam champion, has introduced the world’s most challenging uneven bars element.
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12:01 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
12:01 a.m. ET, July 25, 2021
Alice Kinsella of the United Kingdom is having a bad day. She just fell completely out of bounds on the floor on one of her tumbling passes, resulting in a 0.3-point penalty, and she goes back to the sidelines shaking her head.
Credit… Getty Images/Francois Nel
At 11:57 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:57 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Jordan Chiles may be impacted by the rule that only two gymnasts from each nation are allowed to compete in each final. Credit… The New York Times/Chang W. Lee
When it comes to gymnastics talent, the United States is so rich that the phrase “the United States is so rich that” has become a cliché.
The United States has such depth that it could send its “B squad” to the Olympics and win gold. The United States has such depth that all six of its gymnasts have a chance to compete in the all-around final in Tokyo.
The two-per-country rule advises, “Not so fast on that final one.”
The regulation stipulates that only two gymnasts from each nation are allowed to compete in each final. Even if all six Americans qualify among the top 24 all-arounders, which is a distinct possibility, only two will advance.
The idea is to prevent countries with lots of money from monopolizing the finals. A gymnast training without the mats, foam-block pits and other equipment that help gymnasts from affluent countries work safely toward world-class skills is unlikely to reach the same level. But if she qualifies for an Olympic final, that can bring attention and resources to her country’s future athletes.
In reality, though, this isn’t always the case. The regulation prevented gymnasts from the United States, Japan, Russia, and Brazil out of the all-around final at the 2016 Olympics, allowing gymnasts from France, Germany, and Italy to compete. Gymnasts from low-resource nations who advanced to the finals, such as Jessica López of Venezuela (all-around and bars) and Dipa Karmakar of India (vault), qualified regardless of the rule.
This year, the regulation will apply to Suni Lee or Jordan Chiles of the United States, who might both win silver or bronze in the all-around, but only one of them will be allowed to compete for the slot reserved for an American who isn’t named Simone Biles. In the absence of the restriction, the other three Americans — Grace McCallum, Jade Carey, and MyKayla Skinner — would almost certainly reach the final, but not medal.
Viktoria Listunova, Angelina Melnikova, and Vladislava Urazova, all Russian gymnasts, are in a similar position, fighting for two places in the all-around. China will be impacted as well, but the gymnasts who aren’t competing — potentially Tang Xijing and Ou Yushan if their colleagues Zhang Jin and Lu Yufei finish higher — aren’t likely to be medal contenders.
The regulation also applies to the finals of the apparatus. Expect a struggle among the Americans on vault and floor, with Carey, Chiles, and Skinner vying for the non-Biles slot. Urazova, Melnikova, Listunova, and Anastasia Iliankova, four Russians, will compete for two places in the bars. China’s Ou, Lu, and Guan Chenchen may accomplish the same on beam.
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At 11:55 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:55 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Viktoria Listunova’s bars performance was very challenging, culminating in an unique quadruple-twisting double back dismount. She struggled with leg form in the air, but she landed safely.
At 11:53 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:53 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
On vault, the Russians had a strong rotation, scoring 43.832 as a team, compared to China’s 42.366. The Russians had a.500 advantage at the midway mark. The 4 inch wide balancing beam will be used by both teams. The Chinese are renowned for their strength on that apparatus, whereas the Russians have struggled in previous tournaments.
At 11:52 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:52 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Fan Yilin, competing as an individual for China, nailed her very difficult bars performance with just a tiny step on the dismount. She won global gold on bars in 2015 and 2017 and hopes to qualify for the finals here as well.
At 11:50 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:50 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Russia will compete on bars next, followed by China on beam. Both of them are under a lot of pressure, both in terms of the team score and qualifying for individual finals. For example, Russia has four gymnasts in contention for two places in the bars finals.
At 11:38 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:38 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Ou Yushan had to push her way back up to a handstand after finishing one bars skill in a near-dead hang. Although China already has a couple of great bar routines from other gymnasts, the lack of momentum will be a detriment.
At 11:35 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:35 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
On each apparatus, four gymnasts compete for each nation, with the lowest score dropping out. Three gymnasts compete on each event in the team finals, and all three scores count. If Kinsella’s colleagues succeed, Britain’s bars and beam scores will be lowered.
At 11:34 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:34 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Alice Kinsella of the United Kingdom fell on both the uneven bars and the balance beam, ending her chances of qualifying for the all-around final. She stood on the sidelines with her head in her hands after her beam performance. Her teammates were under pressure to hit as a result of her mistakes.
At 11:31 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:31 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Tang Xijing of China has a fantastic bars routine. Regarding the pirouettes: Many of the Chinese gymnasts’ feats are performed in “eagle grip,” which is very difficult. Imagine you’re holding a bar in front of you, and you’re trying to grasp it underhand with your hands turned in the _wrong_ way.
At 11:28 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:28 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
If you need a refresher, we offer a guide on uneven bars abilities here.
At 11:28 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:28 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Jennifer and Jessica Gadirova of the United Kingdom are the second of three pairs of twins participating today in this category. The first subdivision featured Alice and Asia D’Amato of Italy, while the third will feature Lieke and Sanne Wevers of the Netherlands.
At 11:27 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:27 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
China is now competing on the bars, a discipline in which its gymnasts have thrived for decades. You’ll see that they have a distinct style, with complex and challenging pirouetting abilities.
At 11:20 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:20 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
The Russian gymnasts compete under the banner of the “Russian Olympic Committee.” Because Russia was barred from the Olympics due to its state-sponsored doping program, the squad cannot be referred to as “Russia.” Russian flags and anthems are also prohibited.
At 11:18 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:18 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
On the uneven bars, the British team is competing. Bars world silver medallist Becky Downie, who was left off the British team after a contentious decision by British Gymnastics, is suspiciously absent from the roster. Becky and her sister Ellie came up about the mental and physical abuse they received on the national team. Becky’s Olympic place may have been jeopardized as a result of her outspokenness, the sisters speculate.
At 11:18 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:18 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Elena Gerasimova stands out from her Russian colleagues by wearing a sleeveless purple leotard. Jade Carey and MyKayla Skinner of the United States will compete as individuals later today. Their scores will not be added to the team totals, but they will be eligible to compete for individual medals.
At 11:17 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:17 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
China got off to a good start on vault, but that isn’t where it will win or lose the tournament. The team’s finest events are bars and beam, both of which will be held shortly.
At 11:14 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:14 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
A fun fact about the Russian team: its coaches chose Listunova, Melnikova, and Urazova early in the process, then had two additional gymnasts, Lilia Akhaimova and Elena Gerasimova, fight for the final place on the team and the right to participate as an individual athlete for weeks. Akhaimova was victorious.
At 11:12 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:12 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At the 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics trials, Honey performed on a vault. Credit… The New York Times/Chang W. Lee
Viewers watching NBC’s tape-delayed coverage of men’s gymnastics may have spotted honey bottles near the parallel bars as the ladies competed in Tokyo.
Men utilize honey to hold the bars by squeezing it into their palms, rubbing their hands together, and then dusting both hands with chalk before grabbing them.
Women who do not compete on the parallel bars, on the other hand, seldom use honey. However, on the uneven bars, stickiness is beneficial, so they spray water and put chalk on the bars, as well as wearing leather grips, for greater stability.
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At 11:10 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:10 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
Viktoria Listunova, who is just 16, has a strong floor routine to begin. She would not have been eligible for the Olympics if they had been held last year as scheduled. This year, she won the all-around in the European Championships.
At 11:10 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
At 11:10 p.m. ET on July 24, 2021,
One word of caution: don’t put too much stock in early rankings. Neither Russia nor China are putting their finest equipment in place.
Simone Biles has set a new world record for most points scored in a single gymnastics routine, and she is currently leading Team USA in the women’s all-around competition. The 19-year-old is an Olympic gold medalist, and the first woman to win back-to-back Olympic individual all-around titles. Biles is only the third U.S. woman to win the all-around title at two Olympics, and she is the first to do so in a non-boycotted Games.. Read more about what events did simone biles qualify for and let us know what you think.
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This article broadly covered the following related topics:
us women’s gymnastics team members 2021
2021 olympics women’s gymnastics qualifying results
In this article, we’ll take a look at those who have been drafted with the most top picks by each NBA franchise, taken in the NBA Draft, and see what their records are after just their first year. We’ll take a look at the players who have had the most success in the NBA, as well as the ones that had the most success among their own franchise.
For years now, the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers have been the two most consistent teams in the NBA; they are almost always among the league’s best teams. They are also the two most consistently bad teams at drafting talent – as you’ll see in this article, they are the two franchises with the worst records in picking up NBA players.
This summer’s NBA draft was a historic one, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Chicago Bulls making selections that may never be surpassed. Cleveland, of course, used the #1 pick to draft the game’s reigning most valuable player, Kristaps Porzingis, who proved to be worthy of the honor. However, the Bulls were able to come away with another star player, who many believe will be the league’s best player in the coming years.. Read more about best players from every nba draft and let us know what you think.
For each of the 30 NBA clubs, the NBA Draft is an exciting time of year. It allows each club to acquire young and bright prospects in the hopes of developing them into potential impact players. Front offices looking for anything more than a rotating piece are looking for something towards the top. Instead, they’re hoping to discover a franchise-changing player who can lead them to many titles in the future.
In the past, being drafted first didn’t necessarily guarantee you got what you wanted. In the history of the draft, we’ve seen everything from championship players to failures. In this league, we’ve even seen players chosen at No. 60 (the final selection) become All-Stars.
With that said, several players have led the club to many titles. Their brilliance was cemented by their jersey hanging in the rafters, where they will be remembered for the rest of the team’s history. For those reasons, these are the best draft selections in the history of each club.
Bob Pettit, Atlanta Hawks
(No. 2 overall pick in the 1954 NBA Draft)
You have to go back to when the franchise was based in Milwaukee. In 1954, Pettit was selected with the No. 2 overall picks and he became the key face of the franchise after the Hawks moved to St. Louis. From 1954-1965, Pettit became the best player to ever throw on a Hawks uniform.
Pettit would have won the NBA Finals MVP title if trophies were handed out back then, particularly after hitting 50 points in the Hawks’ 110-109 series-clinching win in Game 6 in 1958. Atlanta hasn’t won a title in a long time. Pettit has two regular-season MVPs (1956, 1959), 11 All-Star appearances, and ten All-NBA First Team honors to his credit.
Larry Bird, Boston Celtics
(Number 6 pick in the 1978 NBA Draft)
Image courtesy of Getty Images
When you first saw Bird’s unathletic physique, you may not believe he was one of the best players of all time. Larry Legend has left a legacy like this. Bird averaged 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals in 12 years with Boston. He is the first player in NBA history to win three MVP awards in a row (1984-1986).
Bird was a three-time NBA champion and two-time NBA Finals MVP. With the game on the line, no opposition team wanted Bird to have the ball in his hands. While his attitude may have come off as haughty to some, Bird earned his way up from a reputation for making the most difficult shots from wherever on the floor.
Buck Williams of the Brooklyn Nets
(No. 3 overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft)
Williams was the third overall pick in the NBA Draft in 1981, behind two Olympic teammates. Williams had a great career from 1981 to 1989, and when he retired, he was the franchise’s all-time points leader, a record that was only broken by Brook Lopez by four points. Williams has the most games played and total rebounds in the franchise.
Williams established himself as one of the greatest power forwards in the NBA during his eight seasons in New Jersey. He was named to three All-Star teams and four All-Defensive teams throughout his career. He was among the top three rebounders in the NBA in six of his eight seasons.
Kemba Walker of the Charlotte Hornets
(Number 9 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft)
Muggsy Bogues and Alonzo Mourning are strong candidates, but the honor must go to Kemba Walker. For the time being, Walker is the greatest shooter the Hornets have ever had. Walker was the team’s all-time leading scorer when he departed at the age of 29. In addition, he leads the league in field goals and three-point field goals. He is second in the league in assists and third in steals.
In his final season, Walker made the All-NBA Third Team, while recording three straight All-Star appearances from 2017-2019. Walker should have offered a max contract, but the Hornets elected to go a different path. Had Walker stayed for another five years, he would have put together some records that likely would have never been broken.
Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls
(Number 3 pick in the 1984 NBA Draft)
Jordan felt he had much to prove when he was chosen third overall. While Hakeem Olajuwon was a good selection at No. 1 in 1984, Jordan is not just the finest player the Bulls have ever chosen, but the best player in NBA history. From championships to memorable plays, the GOAT has been a presence in the world of basketball.
Jordan has six titles, a perfect 6-0 record in the NBA Finals, and six NBA Finals MVPs on his résumé. It doesn’t get much better than completing two three-peats. Scottie Pippen, Artis Gilmore, and Derrick Rose have all been apologized to.
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers
(First overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft)
Outside of blocks, LeBron holds every significant record in Cleveland, but the local boy will always be remembered for guiding the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA championship in 2016. When LeBron was drafted in 2003, he transformed the Cavaliers from laughingstock to championship contender almost quickly. Before he returned, those four years had been the lowest of lows when he departed in 2010.
When he returned, he gave the club four consecutive trips to the NBA Finals. During his time with the Cavaliers, the team was fortunate enough to make five visits to the NBA Finals. There are still teams hoping to make the NBA Finals for the first time, but LeBron made sure it occurred many times in his home state.
Jason Kidd, Dallas Mavericks
(No. 2 overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft)
Dirk Nowitzki was never selected by the Mavericks. The Milwaukee Bucks chose Nowitzki in 1998 and then traded him to the Mavericks along with Steve Nash. As a result, we are unable to choose Nowitzki since he was not a first-round selection. If Luka Doncic stays in Dallas for another ten years, he’ll have this position all to himself, but for now, Jason Kidd, another terrific guard, gets the nod.
Kidd earned ten All-Star selections throughout his career and was a member of the 2011 NBA championship squad when he returned as a role player. Kidd was an excellent backup guard from 2008 to 2012, when he was in the later stages of his career. He led the league in assists five times during his peak and was named to nine All-Defensive teams.
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
(No. 41 overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft)
The two best players to ever play for the Nuggets, Alex English and Dan Issel, arrived to Denver in their latter years after being selected by separate clubs. Carmelo Anthony might be argued, but he only guided the club to one Conference Finals trip. Nikola Jokic is without a doubt the greatest draft choice the Nuggets have ever had, based on playoff and regular-season performance.
After being selected in the second round, Jokic is also the biggest steal in NBA history. This year’s MVP was awarded to Jokic by the league. He is considered as the all-time best passing center. In addition, he had guided the Nuggets to the Conference Finals. Give it time, and one day we could be talking about Jokic and the Nuggets in the NBA Finals.
Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons
(1981, No. 2 Pick)
Image courtesy of Getty Images
There’s a strong argument to be made for Ben Wallace or Joe Dumars, but it has to go to Thomas in the end. Thomas, who was drafted second overall in 1981, was a key part of the “Bad Boys” in the 1980s. In 1989 and 1990, he led the Pistons to back-to-back NBA championships. He still holds the record for most points, assists, and steals.
Thomas may be the greatest Pistons player of all time, but he also spent his entire career with the club. He’ll go down in history as one of the greatest 6-foot-1 players to ever play professional basketball.
Wilt Chamberlain, Golden State Warriors
(1959, Territorial Pick)
If we’re being precise, Chamberlain was chosen with a territorial selection by the Warriors. A territorial selection was a kind of special draft choice utilized by the Basketball Association of America in 1949, and then maintained by the National Basketball Association in 1950 when the league changed its name. NBA clubs took turns choosing collegiate basketball players in the draft. The league was attempting to increase popularity at the time, and this enabled clubs choose famous athletes in their region to join their squad.
The Warriors were still headquartered in Philadelphia at the time, but they were allowed to pick Chamberlain out of Kansas. Chamberlain’s NBA career has been well-documented. He is the all-time greatest rebounder and holds numerous NBA records that will almost certainly never be broken. Steph Curry is the obvious choice if we want to base this on actual draft selections, which weren’t introduced until 1966.
Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets
(First overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft)
With the exception of one season, Olajuwon spent his entire career with the Houston Rockets. When it comes to professional achievements, you name it, he’s done everything. In 1994 and 1995, he led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships. He was a 12-time All-Star, two-time Finals MVP, and two-time regular-season MVP.
Olajuwon holds the franchise scoring, rebounding, steals, and block records. Some may argue that James Harden or Moses Malone were the greatest Rockets to ever play. The Rockets never selected them, despite the fact that they are excellent players.
Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers
(Number 11 overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft)
Miller played from his debut season to 2005 after being selected No. 11 overall in the 1987 NBA Draft. Miller retired as the all-time leader in three-point field goals in basketball. Reggie Miller, the pioneer of what has become three-point specialists, came before the likes of Ray Allen and Steph Curry.
Miller was a five-time All-Star, but it seems like there could have been more. In the 1990s, he helped the Indiana Pacers reach the Conference Finals, but he couldn’t beat Michael Jordan. In any case, he is one of the greatest players to ever be chosen outside of the top ten.
Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers
(First overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft)
He went on to earn Rookie of the Year despite missing his first season in the league after being selected first overall. Griffin has made five All-Star appearances and is the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He is one of just two players in NBA history to score over 10,000 points in a career while simultaneously ranking in the top five in rebounds and steals.
Griffin, who is most known for his appearances on “Lob City,” won the 2011 Slam Dunk Contest. His thunderous dunks entertained the crowd and drew media attention to the opposing team in the Los Angeles region.
Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers
(First overall pick in the 1979 NBA Draft)
Someone is going to be dissatisfied here no matter what. To begin, it should be noted that the Lakers did not select Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or Shaquill O’Neal. Despite popular belief, neither was Kobe Bryant, who was chosen by the Charlotte Hornets, thus we are unable to utilize him due to a technicality.
Magic Johnson, who won five titles and three Finals MVPs in the 1980s, is the only genuine surviving draft selection. Due to an HIV diagnosis, Johnson’s career was also cut short. Who knows whether Johnson could have stolen a few titles away from Michael Jordan if he hadn’t been ill.
Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
(Number 4 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft)
(Image courtesy of 94wip.radio.com)
Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol are two of Memphis’ best players. The issue with this award is that Gasol was not picked by the Grizzlies in the first place. He was selected by the Lakers, who then traded his rights to the Grizzlies for his brother Pau Gasol the next year. Conley, the club’s all-time top scorer, is therefore worthy of the title of greatest draft choice in franchise history.
Conley also holds the record for most assists, steals, and three-point field goals in NBA history. Despite the fact that Conley never made an All-Star appearance, he was rewarded with a five-year, $153 million deal in 2017, which at the time was the most expensive contract in NBA history. Conley is now pursuing a championship, although he may retire as a member of the Griz in the future.
Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat
(Number 5 pick in the 2003 NBA Draft)
When it comes to this discussion, there isn’t much to discuss. LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Shaquille O’Neal are among the franchise’s all-time greats, yet they were either signed or moved. Wade was the original GOAT, chosen fifth overall in 2003, behind James and Bosh.
Wade delivered the best results he could. He was named MVP of the NBA Finals in 2006. Then he assisted in the recruitment of James and Bosh to Miami, where the Heat went on to win the NBA championship in 2012 and 2013. Wade took on a new role alongside James, but his only goal was to win. He accepted less money and competed like a Hall of Famer, earning the title of best Heat player of all time.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Milwaukee Bucks
(First overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft)
This is a tough discussion with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Giannis won back-to-back MVPs in 2019 and 2020. He won the Defensive Player of the Year. He led the team to the Conference Finals a few years back. He could have left and been paid just as much money with a major market. Instead, he stayed, unlike Kareem. He delivered on his promise to the city. His 50-point game makes him just one of seven players to ever record a performance like that in the NBA Finals, while his Finals MVP will cement his legacy in Milwaukee sports history.
Despite his brief time with the Bucks, Abdul-Jabbar guided them to their first NBA title in 1971. After joining the Lakers, he completed his career with six titles. Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time scoring leader and has earned three regular-season MVP awards. It would be enough to propel Giannis up if he could lead Milwaukee to another title.
Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
(No. 5 overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft)
Jordan Johnson/NBAE/Getty Images/Jordan Johnson/NBAE/Getty Images/Jordan Johnson/NBAE/Getty Images
This is a fact that cannot be disputed. Outside of Garnett, Kevin Love is the only other player who has made Minnesota relevant in the past 20 years. When Garnett was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the club made a playoff push each season. Since departing in 2007, the club has only made one trip in the playoffs.
Garnett has the all-time scoring, rebounding, assist, steal, and block records. In 2004, he earned the regular season MVP and led the club to their first and only trip in the Conference Finals. In a Minnesota jersey, no player has ever spoken trash or played the game like Garnett.
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans
(First overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft)
Credit: USA TODAY Sports/Derick E. Hingle
The Pelicans were climbing the Western Conference rankings and had a chance to win the No. 2 overall seed if DeMarcus Cousins had not been injured in 2018. Davis could still be in New Orleans today if the Pelicans had made a long playoff run. Davis devoted all he had to the city of New Orleans even if it didn’t happen.
Davis ultimately won an NBA championship in 2020, beating out Chris Paul and David West. Apart from that, Davis leads the team in points, rebounds, and blocks. When he was 26 years old, he quit the squad. That’s some serious skill right there.
Patrick Ewing, New York Knicks
(First overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft)
Ewing averaged 22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game across 15 seasons. Those figures scream dominance. In an era when centers were the way of the game, he was the Knicks’ go-to option in the post. His years were the greatest for the Knicks franchise outside of their title-winning seasons in the 1970s, both in terms of individual achievement and team success.
After going two years without making the playoffs, the Knicks have now made the playoffs 13 times in a row. The Knicks have reached the playoffs twice since the mid-2000s. The Knicks were one game away from winning the NBA title in 1994. The squad returned to the NBA Finals in 1999. Their huge guy in the center was a major component of their success.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder
(No. 2 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft)
Habit of Shooting Hoops
Which of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, or James Harden do you prefer? We could speak about Gary Payton if we go back to the Seattle days. Instead, the award goes to Durant, who played a key role in keeping Oklahoma City basketball relevant when the club relocated from Seattle.
After just four years in Oklahoma City, Durant won a scoring championship, was named regular-season MVP, and led the Thunder reach the NBA Finals in 2012. Durant ultimately won two championships and two Finals MVPs, while Westbrook averaged a triple-double and earned an MVP in 2017, and Harden won three scoring crowns. The others have yet to get their first ring.
Shaquille O’Neal, Orlando Magic
(First overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft)
While Dwight Howard led the Magic to the NBA Finals in 2009, Shaq remains the superior overall player when it comes to career accomplishments. In 1995, Shaq led the Magic to their first-ever NBA Finals appearance, averaging 25.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. When comparing the two center awards, Shaq contributed just as much to the Orlando Magic as Howard.
What people forget about Shaq’s participation in the Finals is that he was just 22 years old at the time. Shaq won four titles between the Lakers and the Heat in the end, but he also made a young expansion club prominent during the Michael Jordan era.
Allen Iverson, Philadelphia 76ers
(First overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft)
(Image courtesy of EssentiallySports)
We can’t go with the current club leader in rebounds, who also has over 18,000 career points, due to a technicality that the 76ers never selected Dolph Schayes. In a career that spanned 1958 to 1973, Hal Greer amassed 21,586 points. In 1967, he led the 76ers to a championship, and his jersey was ultimately retired by the club.
Despite these two outstanding players, Allen Iverson is the best player Philadelphia has ever selected. Iverson became the No. 2 career scorer, earned an MVP in 2001, and led the club to its final NBA Finals trip after being drafted first overall in 1996. Despite being classified at 6-foot-0, the four-time scoring champion was an immediate threat.
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
(Number 15 overall pick in the 1996 NBA Draft)
(Image courtesy of Bleacher Report)
Nash was the No. 15 overall selection in 1996 and went on to become a Suns icon. He spent six years with the Dallas Mavericks after playing with the Suns from 1996 to 1998. He returned, winning back-to-back MVP awards in 2004 and 2005, and leading the Suns to playoff contention and a trip to the Conference Finals.
Fans in the Phoenix region clung to memories of the high-octane offense of the 2000s before Chris Paul and Devin Booker arrived. Nash, who led the league in assists five times during his career, all with the Suns, was in charge of the offense.
Clyde Drexler, Portland Trail Blazers
(Number 14 pick in the 1983 NBA Draft)
Bill Walton deserves credit for leading Portland to their lone title in 1977, when he was voted Finals MVP after averaging 18.5 points, 19.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 3.2 blocks. However, in the long run, the award should belong to Drexler, who was selected 14th overall in 1983.
Drexler holds the record for most points and steals. Until LaMarcus Aldridge shattered his record, he was the all-time leader in rebounds. Drexler did go on to win an NBA title, but it was with the Rockets. We might be talking about Damian Lillard in this position in a few years.
Oscar Robertson, Sacramento Kings
Territorial Pick (Territorial Pick, 1960)
Robertson was a territorial draft choice when the Kings were known as the Cincinnati Royals, as previously stated. Robertson attended the University of Cincinnati, making him an excellent choice. Robertson rose to prominence in the NBA, where he won a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1971.
For the Royals in 1961, Robertson averaged a triple-double throughout the regular season. Until Russell Westbrook in 2017, he was the only player to ever achieve that accomplishment. Robertson was a member of the Cincinnati Reds from 1960 to 1970, appearing in three All-Star Games and winning three All-Star Game MVP awards.
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
(First overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft)
When it comes to this subject, the Spurs should be the most talked-about team. David Robinson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Kawhi Leonard were all selected by the club. Tim Duncan, on the other hand, deserves to be named the greatest draft choice of all time.
Duncan was a member of the Spurs from 1997 to 2016, winning five titles. Duncan earned three Finals MVPs, 15 All-Star appearances and All-NBA honors, as well as two regular-season MVP awards. For 20 years, he was the heart and soul of San Antonio, where he turned a small market team into the NBA’s talk of the town.
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors
(Number 9 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft)
DeMar DeRozan was the driving force behind the Raptors’ ascension to the top of the Eastern Conference from 2013 to 2018. Before their championship run in 2019, they had five straight playoff appearances, a club record, as well as their first-ever participation in the Conference Finals.
DeRozan averaged 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game over his nine seasons with the Raptors. He never won a title with them, but he will go down in history as the best player Toronto ever selected.
Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz
(Number 13 pick in the 1985 NBA Draft)
(Image courtesy of Sporting News)
Despite the fact that he never won a title with the Jazz, he did take the club to two NBA Finals in a row in 1997 and 1998, losing both times to Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. Malone put up a strong performance in the NBA Finals, averaging 24.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He averaged 25.0 points per game on 51.6 percent shooting throughout his 19-year career, which helped him finish second all-time in scoring.
The runner-up in this category, John Stockton, teamed up with Malone to create a dangerous combination. Malone, on the other hand, was the driving force behind the team, earning two MVP awards (1997 and 1999) and making 14 All-Star appearances. While his lack of championship success is difficult to accept as a Jazz fan, it does not negate all he has achieved throughout his career.
Wes Unseld, Washington Wizards
(No. 2 overall pick in the 1968 NBA Draft)
Consider the tremendous potential that Washington has had in recent years. Gilbert Arenas had a lot of promise. John Wall was seen as a possible MVP contender. Bradley Beal came close to winning the scoring championship. All of these superstars, though, have fallen short in the playoffs, where Washington hasn’t reached the NBA Finals since Wes Unseld Srheyday. .’s
Unseld was not your traditional big-time superstar, averaging 10.8 points per game in 13 years. With that said, he contributed in other ways, averaging 14.0 rebounds per game. In his first five seasons in the NBA, his lowest season total was 15.9. Standing at 6-foot-7, Unseld went onto win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same season in 1968-1969, averaging 13.8 points and 18.2 rebounds for the Baltimore Bullets. Once the Bullets relocated to Washington, he helped the team win their lone championship in 1979, where he won Finals MVP.
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The Washington Wizards are already a playoff team, and they’re just one piece away from being title contenders. That’s the thinking of at least one team executive, who believes the Wizards could land LeBron James if they can swing a trade with the Boston Celtics for All-Star wing Bradley Beal.
Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal have been inseparable since the latter entered the NBA in 2013. The two have played on the same team since their rookie seasons, and have (literally) grown up together. There is no question that the two players have a strong bond, and it is probably safe to assume that there is some genuine affection between the players as well.
Bradley Beal is 21 years old and an NBA All-Star, yet he remains on the trade block. Beal, who has been averaging 18.0 points per game, has been a long-term member of the Washington Wizards and has a player option for the 2018-19 campaign. This year, he’s averaging career-bests in points (20.0), rebounds (3.7), assists (2.0) and steals (1.2).. Read more about bradley beal trade and let us know what you think.
Getty Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (left) & Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (right).
If you haven’t heard, the Bradley Beal sweepstakes may be coming soon. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Washington Wizards All-Star guard may seek a trade before the draft on Thursday night. The Boston Celtics are reported to be on his short list of clubs he “would enjoy joining” if he does so.
According to Fischer’s colleague, Jason Dumas, not only would Beal “welcome” a relocation to Beantown, but it could even be at the top of his list of favorite locations.
If Brad Beal decides to pursue a trade, Boston would be the ideal destination for him to play alongside old buddy Jayson Tatum and contend for a title.
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Tatum Reacts to Rumors of a Beal Trade
Of course, the Beal-Tatum connection has been widely chronicled in recent months, with the two openly expressing their desire to play together in an NBA game longer than a 48-minute All-Star exhibition game. They were just denied the chance to compete for gold in the Tokyo Olympics together when Beal underwent COVID procedure, which Tatum admits “upset” him.
That said, before Beal’s Team USA departure, the Celtics star was likely able to wear his recruitment cap a few times. Tatum doesn’t seem to be planning on switching off his hat anytime soon.
Tatum had no qualms about where he’d like Beal to play hoops next season, as caught by Tim Sheils of Banner Town, USA. On an Instagram post about Beal’s possible trade request, the Celtics center responded with a clover emoji. Take a look at this:
Tatum & Beal’s ‘Special Relationship’
Despite growing up only five minutes apart and attending the same high school — Chaminade College Prep in Creve Coeur, MO — the five-year age difference between Beal and Tatum prevented the two from ever playing together. Regardless, the now-28-year-old Beal served as a mentor in Tatum’s life early on, and their connection has since evolved and developed into something the Wizards player would characterize as “special.”
During a Team USA news conference, Beal remarked of playing with Tatum, “Even from growing up, we’ve never been on the same squad, ever; in pick-up, we’ve never been on the same team.” “This is a thrilling opportunity for both of us. I’m ecstatic about his progress and can’t wait to see him, as well as myself and everyone else, on the world stage. We have a fantastic staff, but Jayson and I have a particular bond, and I’m looking forward to it; it’ll be thrilling. Getting the gold is the ultimate goal.”
Not only would Beal joining up with Tatum in Boston be a fantastic narrative, but it would also provide an infusion of skill and scoring ability to a Celtics squad that struggled last season, ending the regular season with a.500 record. Beal has established himself as one of the league’s top scorers, scoring more than 30 points per game in back-to-back seasons and ending as the NBA’s second-leading scorer.
However, if Beal requests a trade out of Washington, the Celtics are not a sure thing to obtain him. On the trade market, such a skill should surely attract a slew of prospective buyers. According to Fischer, the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Philadelphia 76ers are all thought to be in play. If the anticipated timetable of Beal’s possible request holds true, expect that list to grow dramatically in the following days.
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