Leadoff with Lee 8.13.14

-Tuesday's Indians/Diamondbacks game was postponed and will continue the game today at 4:05 PM in a traditional double header. The second game will be at it's regularly scheduled time of 7:05 PM.

-The sale of the Los Angeles Clippers to former Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer, was completed Tuesday. The sale was reportedly worth $2 billion dollars. Donald Sterling, who was found mentally incapacitated, will appeal the sale of the team. Sterling was banned from the NBA for life after audio recordings were heard of him making racist remarks which promoted the sale of the team. Doc Rivers threatened to resign as head coach if ownership did not change. Also, the Clippers would be hard pressed to sign any free agents, regardless of race, which would have hurt the team and league.

-As I reported on Monday, reports surfaced yesterday that the Cleveland Cavaliers will play in Miami on Christmas Day. The time isn't yet known, but the NBA schedules will be released at 6pm today. The NBA and ABC are pushing for a 5pm start time, which is the prime slot for the NBA's biggest game on Christmas Day. It will probably happen.

-The Browns signed QB Rex Grossman and waived QB Tyler Thigpen yesterday. Grossman played for offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Washington and with the Houston Texans. I have heard a few rumblings coming from some of my peers in Houston, but I think they are speaking from the "if I was the owner" point of view.

-Josh Gordon was back on the bike as we wait to hear if he won his appeal. Just remember, Gordon and his lawyers may sue the NFL and request a temporary restraining order against the league. If granted, he will be eligible to play. Keep your eyes and ears open folks, this is just the beginning.

-Mike Pettine says he plans to have his starting QB set prior to game 3 of the preseason. So that means Johnny Manziel has to really woo the coaches if he wants to be the opening day starter. The Monday night game with the Redskins will determine who's going too be the man, as both QBs will see time with the other starters.

-I don't talk high school sports at all on here, but this needed to be discussed. The Steubenville school system and football coach have agreed to let convicted rapist Ma'lik Richmond back into school and back on the team. Now my thoughts or writings may not express everyone who represents the Triple Threat Podcast or @triple3xthreat on Twitter. And I understand and respect that. But this kid did his time in jail or juvie jail and was released. Everyone deserves a second chance. For one, you can't deny the kid his education. Secondly, if he was accepted as a student of the school, he is eligible to partake in all school activities. If he was to be denied, I'm sure his parents would have sued the district. And did the district want to face a lawsuit and pay lawyers? Nahh... they did the right thing. But if you would like to hear what Tim Stried, a representative from the Ohio High School Athletic Association, had to say here you go: Tim Stried Says OHSAA Is “Appalled” By Steubenville’s Actions, Decision To Allow Student Back on Team

-I guess Dallas Cowboys CB Orlando Scandrick was on vacation popping Molly. I wonder if he was sweating, whoooo!

Leadoff with Lee 5.1.14

-Over the past few days the sports story that everyone has been talking about is Donald Sterling vs. The NBA. Or should I say Donald Sterling vs. The World. I have heard people make the statements, being outraged that Sterling is being forced to sell the L.A. Clippers about comments he made in the privacy of his own home. The problem is he is just a one of 29 other owners which has it's own governing body and by-laws. Sterling's comments fall under conduct that is detrimental to the league. And under this by-law, he has agreed to not make such comments in which he did. Now you may ask how can the league force him to sell his team? It's going to take a 3/4 majority vote to oust him as owner and from preliminary opinion, he will lose the vote 29-0. If Donald Sterling refuses to accept any offers or bids for the Clippers, the NBA has the right to take ownership of the team and sell it to an appropriate bidder/bidders and or management group. What about the minority owners of the Clippers? They will receive fair compensation once the sale of the team is complete.

Who wants to buy the Clippers? The following names have been floated around as heading a management group. P.Diddy, Dr. Dre, Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and even Oprah Winfrey. Do you see a common theme with people I mentioned? They are all minorities. To think, how shitty Donald Sterling must feel to have to sell his team to a minority. Do I feel bad for Sterling? Hell no! He is going to sell his team for over $1 billion dollars, when he only paid $12 million for the team in 1981. Who do I feel bad for? I feel bad about the players who played for him, Doc Rivers and his coaching staff, the front office personal, the Clippers organization as a whole, the city of Los Angeles, America's youth and last but not least, my OWN kids. Yes my kids are half black and half white and this is 2014. They, nor anyone should have to deal or experience racism. You are entitled to your opinion about people regardless if they are black, white, gay or straight, dog or cat. But if you are a public figure like Donald Sterling, you deserve everything you are about to lose. But I will leave you with this, "EITHER LOVE ME OR LEAVE ME ALONE".
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-The San Antonio Spurs take a 3-2 lead over the Dallas Mavericks with a 109-103 victory. The Mavs Vince Carter has been on fire, looking like he's in his 2001 Toronto Raptors form, scoring 28 points points. Dirk Nowitzski added 26 points and 15 rebounds for Dallas. San Antonio had a great overall team game. With 5 players in double digits, led by Manu Ginobli with 23 points. Tiago Splitter had 16 points and 12 boards. Tim Duncan added his piece by scoring 15 points with 8 rebounds. A critical Game 6 in Dallas is coming up for the Mavs, as they look to hang in this years playoffs on Friday.

-The Toronto Raptors narrowly escaped Game 5 with a win over the Brooklyn Nets, 115-113. The Nets put up 44 points in the 4th quarter, but could not complete the comeback victory. Kyle Lowry had a great game, dropping in 36 points. DeMar DeRozen added in 23. Joe Johnson led the Nets with 30 points. This series heads back to Brooklyn for Game 6 on Friday with the Nets trying to stave off elimination.

-Behind 21 points from Jeremy Lin, 20 from Chandler Parsons and 22 points and 14 boards from Dwight Howard, the Rockets will see another day. Houston edged out the Portland Trail Blazers 108-98 in Game 5. Wesley Matthews had 27 and Damian Lillard chipped in 26 for the Blazers. Game 6 will be Friday in Portland.

-The Angels defeated and swept the Tribe yesterday 7-1, losing their 6th game in a row. The Indians have only scored 13 runs in their last 6 games. The Indians had 3 hits in the final game with the Angels and also had 1 error. The Tribe seem out matched in the first month of this season. It's a matter of time when Tribe manager Terry Francona makes a change in the starting lineup as well as shake up the pitching rotation. The Indians don't want to repeat last years efforts and squeak into the playoffs with only 10 games remaining in the season.