Split Decision 5.4.15: Mayweather vs. Pacquiao #MayPac

By @jddiantis

Saturday night had two winners, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. And although I can sit here and say that the rest of us were the losers the biggest loser of last night was the sport of boxing. Last night boxing had its two biggest stars fighting the fight that the world wanted to see (albeit five years ago). It had an opportunity to rekindle the flame that once burned in this country for the sweet science. Instead, two of the greatest fighters of their time poured a bucket of water over that flame.

So why are Mayweather AND Pacquiao winners? They cashed in the largest pay checks in boxing history.  Perhaps the lack of action in last nights fight was due to the both of them focusing more about their newly swollen bank accounts then swelling the their opponents face. In a night that saw Leo Santa Cruz LAND over 400 punches in ten rounds of action, Mayweather and Pacquiao both THREW just over 400 punches in a full twelve rounds.

For Mayweather it was a typical Floyd; a very accurate defensive puncher too quick to get hit. Although they threw about the same amount of punches, Floyd landed many more. For Pacquiao it was a different story. The usual aggressor got out punched, and when he was throwing he was mostly missing. He said after the fight he thought he was winning the fight. It's tough to say what he felt in the ring but I have a hard time believing he really thought he was winning that fight. He also said he had a shoulder injury and that they wouldn't allow him to have an anti-inflammatory shot for it before the fight. I can't say one way or the other if Pac-man’s shoulder was hurting, but I also don't think it would have mattered.

For those looking for a breakdown of the fight, here it goes. Personally I scored it 118-110 Mayweather, ten rounds to two. Floyd controlled the pace and was comfortable giving Pacquiao the center of the ring as he danced on the outside. There were times when Pacquiao pressed the action and forced Mayweather against the ropes. But those exchanges were few and far between. Mayweather was comfortable with the pace of the fight although his dad wasn't. His corner was very vocal about wanting Floyd to push the pace and be more aggressive but Mayweather said after the fight that he knew Pacquiao was dangerous and he felt he was in control, and he was.

My highlight of Saturday night was good libations and better company. At the end of the day these two fighters had an opportunity to repay the sport that has made them ridiculously wealthy. Boxing needed this fight to match the hype that made it the most lucrative showdown in history. Last night had millions of losers, but the biggest loser was the sport of boxing.

TV Tonight 4.28

By @nevaRWilliams

NBA PLAYOFFS
Mavericks @ Rockets, Game 5, Rockets Lead 3-1 (TNT, 8pm)
Spurs @ Clippers, Game 5, Tied at 2-2 (TNT, 10:30pm)

MLB
Royals @ Indians (STO, 6pm)
White Sox @ Orioles OR Rays @ Yankees (MLB Network, 7pm)
Giants @ Dodgers OR Astros @ Padres (MLB Network, 10pm)

BOXING
Sportscenter Special: Mayweather/Pacquiao (ESPN, 8pm)

FOOTBALL
2015 Draft Academy, Pro Days (ESPN, 7pm)
Sportscenter Special: GMs Roundtable (ESPN 2, 8pm)
Sportscenter Special: Gruden & Kiper's Draft Preview (ESPN, 9pm)
======

The Flash (The CW, 8pm)
The Voice (NBC, 8pm)
Dancing With The Stars, 10th Anniversary Special (ABC, 8pm)
Hell's Kitchen (FOX, 8pm)
NCIS (CBS, 8pm)
Billy & Billie (Audience, 8pm)

Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC, 9pm)
iZombie (The CW, 9pm)
Undateable (NBC, 9pm)
New Girl (FOX, 9pm)
NCIS: New Orleans (CBS, 9pm)
One Big Happy (NBC, 9:30pm)
Weird Loners (FOX, 9:30pm)

Finding Carter (MTV, 10pm)
Chicago Fire (NBC, 10pm)
20/20, "Captive: A Journey of Survival and Hope"; Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus (ABC, 10pm)
Person Of Interest (CBS, 10pm)
Chopped (Food Network, 10pm)
Tosh.0 (Comedy Central, 10pm)
Inside Amy Schumer (Comedy Central, 10:30pm)
Girl Code (MTV, 11pm)

Leadoff with Lee 2.27.15 #AdrianPeterson #DezBryant #Browns #CBJ #EarlLloyd

By @cleeverizon

- A judge had overturned the NFL's ruling and reinstated Adrian Peterson Thursday afternoon. Within a hour of the ruling, the NFL has appealed the court decision and will keep open the option to go through the CBA appeal process too.  In the meantime, Peterson has returned to exempt list. Peterson could be traded to another team as soon as March 10.

- The Dallas Cowboys are expected to franchise wide receiver Dez Bryant if a long term deal can't be reached. But a alleged video tape has emerged between Bryant and his girlfriend in a Wal-Mart parking lot. Dallas police have said they have no video of what took place in the parking lot. But I have found out that ESPN has footage and is ready to roll with the package as soon as new infotainment is available. I do find it strange that a Cowboys owned media group was the first source to report this. But here is the police report. You be the judge. 

- Yesterday morning it seemed as if the Buffalo Bills were negotiating a contract for free agent quarterback Josh McCown . As of late last night, league sources indicated that the Browns are still in the fold to sign him. McCown is expected to make a decision sometime Friday.

- Buster Skrine is expected to command anywhere from about $5 to $7 million dollars a year in free agency. The Browns are interested in resigning the cornerback. Skrine will wait until March 10th when free agency starts to determine what his actual market value is . As a restricted free agent the Browns can match any offer made to him by any other team.

- The Falcons have released RB Steven Jackson, the move will save the Falcons 3.7m against the salary cap this season. Since the emergence of quarterback Matt Ryan, Jackson wasn't relied upon as the number one back as he was in St.Louis. Jackson should be able to make it to someone's training camp. But the question is, does he have what it takes to return to the fantasy football dominance he once had?  

- The Columbus Blue Jackets traded forward Nathan Horton to Toronto for forward David Clarkson. Clarkson, 30, signed a 7-year, $36.75 million contract with Toronto in 2013, but hasn't become the impact player that they expected. Horton, 29, has been on the Jackets non-roster injury list for most of the season with a threatening back injury.

- The Florida Panthers acquired Jaromir Jagr from the New Jersey Devils for two draft picks, one in 2015 and one in 2016. Jagr has 11 goals and 18 assists in 57 games for New Jersey this season. Jagr is sixth in NHL history with 716 gores, seventh with 1,068 assists and fifth with 1,784 points in 1,530 career regular season games. Over his 22 years in the NHL, he has played for Pittsburgh, Washington, New York Rangers, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston and New Jersey.

- The winner of the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight on May 2 will be given a new belt. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman says he would like it "to have emeralds or platinum." If boxers are allowed to keep the belt, I would just retire after the fight.

- Finally and sadly, NBA pioneer and first African-American to play in the NBA Earl Lloyd died Thursday at the age of 86. Lloyd came into the league in 1950 for the Washington Capitals, debuting before Sweetwater Clifton and Chuck Cooper. Along with helping the Syracuse Nationals win the 1955 NBA title, Lloyd averaged 8.4 points and 6.4 rebounds in 560 games played, over nine season with Washington, Syracuse and Detroit. He served in the U.S. Army during the 1951-52 season, and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003 as a contributor. Thank you Earl Lloyd for EVERYTHING you have done.

Leadoff with Lee 2.22.15 #ChrisBosh #Perkins #Cowboys #MarshawnLynch

By @cleeverizon

- Miami Heat All-Star forward Chris Bosh will miss the rest of the season with blood clots on his lungs. Bosh was admitted into a Miami hospital after meeting with a doctor Thursday night. His initial test proved to be inconclusive. Further testing took place and showed clots on his lungs. He will be treated with blood thinners for pulmonary embolism. Here is a great article by Alex Kennedy about his experience and the Cavaliers own Anderson Varejao.

- Kendrick Perkins will officially become a Cavalier tomorrow! Perkins accepted the buyout from the Utah Jazz after being traded there on Thursday and with the encouragement from LeBron James, agreed to sign with the Cavs. I can see Perkins help spell Timofey Mozgov and will provide extra depth to the Cavs frontline.

- NASCAR Sprint driver Kurt Busch has been suspended indefinitely for smashing his ex-girlfriend Patricia Driscoll's head against the wall of his home on September 26, 2014 at Dover International Speedway. Busch appealed his suspension but the ruling was upheld.  He will continue to peruse his return to racing by exhausting every avenue possible. I don't know much about racing but is he really suspended forever or just for a season?

- The Seattle Seahawks have offered running back Marshawn Lynch a contract extension that will pay him $11-$12 million the first year, and $9 million in years two and three. Lynch's agent, Doug Hendrickson, has said the framework of the contract are close but no deal has been reached. The reports of Marshawn Lynch, approaching 29 in April, possibly retiring may have some truth to it, but I can't see Lynch turning down that money. Even though the circumstances are different, Jim Brown retired at 29.

- Vikings running back Adrian Peterson reportedly requested or demanded to be traded to the Dallas Cowboys. Peterson may be feeling uneasy with the organization following his child abuse case. Dallas would be an ideal location, considering the uncertainty of the future of DeMarco Murray. But before any trade can be made, Peterson needs to be reinstated by the NFL. Peterson was in Minneapolis on Feb. 6 for a hearing in federal court, as the NFL Players Association sued the league in hopes of gaining Peterson's immediate reinstatement. But unless Judge David Doty rules in the NFLPA's favor, Peterson cannot be reinstated until April 15.

- In a fight that will either be billed as 5 years in the making or 5 years to late. Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Paciao is official.

Mayweather announced the fight with Pacquiao via selfie app Shots. With the SD (standard definition) pay-per-view going for $89.95 and HD format going for $99.95, this fight is expected to generated $400 million dollars. While both boxers are expected to make over $100 million apiece, the purse will be split 60-40 with Mayweather claiming the majority. This will be the highest grossing boxing match in history. Floyd Mayweather's record is 47-0, 26 K.O and Pacquiao is 57-5-2, 38 K.O

- Major League Baseball announced Friday their ideas for the pace of play rule changes to help speed up the game. The average baseball game lasts 3 hours and 8 minutes,with most games starting between 7:05pm-7:10. MLB experimented with the speed up rules in the Arizona Fall League and it was found successful in shortening games.

1. Managers must challenge replays from dugout.
2. Batters must keep one foot in box unless an established exception occurs
3. Play to resumes promptly once broadcast returns from commercial break.

Full details on rule changes can be found HERE.

I'm totally for anything to speed up the game of baseball. The Cleveland Indians are also experimenting starting games at 6:05pm in April and May. Hopefully this increases attendance for the early season games, while allowing parents to take their kids to weekday games during the school year.