By MATTHEW WOODS
Staff Writer
1. Boeheim And Syracuse Appeal
The recently-sanctioned Syracuse Orange basketball team, along with their head coach, Jim Boeheim, have decided to appeal the consequences handed down on them by the NCAA.
Boeheim made his first public statements regarding the sanctions on Thursday, the same day as the start of the NCAA tournament.
“The sanctions handed down by the NCAA were unduly harsh,” said Boeheim. A five-person panel will hear the appeal.
The details of the sanctions have finally emerged as well. Syracuse is being disciplined for a variety of violations, none more important than the academic fraud committed by members of the support staff.
The staff accessed and sent emails from student-athletes’ accounts, providing professors with required coursework in order to keep the athletes eligible.
The majority of the academic issue surrounded former center Fab Melo, after he was ruled ineligible for the NCAA tournament back in 2012.
The sanctions also involve the basketball staff encouraging student-athletes to develop relationships with boosters. Five student-athletes received over $8,000 worth of improper benefits while volunteering at the local YMCA. The basketball coaches were paid for appearances as well; since it was not reported properly to the NCAA, the coaches receiving money were also in violation.
The sanctions handed down include a loss of 12 scholarships over the next four years, as well as 108 vacated wins and a suspension of Boeheim for the first nine ACC games next season.
2. Steve Nash Retires
One of the greatest point guards in NBA history decided to call it a career on Saturday. Former Mavericks, Suns, and Lakers point guard Steve Nash officially retired from the NBA after numerous injuries had limited his time on the court.
A two-time MVP, Nash will end his 19-year career with the third-most assists in NBA history, and has solidified himself as a surefire Hall of Famer in the near future. Nash is also the most accurate free-throw shooter in NBA history at an impressive 90.4 percent.
Nash had signed a three-year deal with the Lakers after being traded by the Phoenix Suns in 2012, but due to a number of injuries he only played in 65 out of a possible 164 games with the Lakers.
Nash will immediately go down as one of the best point guards in NBA history, as for nine consecutive seasons he led the number-one offense in the NBA. Though his career may not have ended the way he would have liked, Nash’s legacy in the NBA is one which will be remembered for a long time.
3. Borland’s Shocking Retirement
Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland sent a statement to the safety issue within the NFL with his surprising retirement after just one season in the NFL.
The former third-round draft pick of the 49ers in last year’s draft, Borland says that he is retiring due to the fear of brain-related injuries. At only 24, Borland came to the decision to retire after consulting with family, friends, and researchers who specialize in brain-related injuries.
Borland has received nothing but support from a number of NFL players around the league. Borland will be paying the 49ers three-quarters of the bonus he earned with the club.
This shockwave is a reminder that concussions and brain injuries are a major concern in the NFL.
4. Tourney Upsets
The NCAA tournament is in full swing, and this year we have seen a number of unpredictable upsets. The first day of the tournament was marked by a couple of No. 14 seeds pulling off an unlikely upset over a pair of strong No. 3 seeds.
The first upset involved third-seeded Iowa State being upended by No. 14 seeded University of Alabama Birmingham 60-59. Iowa State was stunned as UAB maintained a lead for the majority of the game until the teams went back and forth as the game was winding down. After an Iowa State 3-point attempt fell short, the buzzer sounded, and the tournament was officially off with a bang.
The second of the two monumental upsets on day one involved No. 14 seeded Georgia State defeating the Baylor Bears 57-56. Georgia State was led by junior guard R.J. Hunter, who scored 12 of the team’s 15 points in their comeback as the team scored the last 13 points of the game.
Hunter’s father, Ron, is the head coach of the team, and fell to the floor in disbelief when his son hit the game-winning 3-pointer with only seconds left.
That was only day one of the tournament, and with Villanova being the first No. 1 seed ousted from the tournament by North Carolina State, who knows what other upsets may be waiting?
5. Tiger Booted From Videogame Cover
The immensely popular “PGA Tour” franchise from EA Sports has a new face. Rory McIlroy has taken over the reins from Tiger Woods as the cover boy and namesake of the videogame franchise.
EA announced their new partnership with McIlroy via Twitter in a shocking reveal of the new cover of the game. EA ended their longtime partnership with Tiger Woods back in 2013, after he had graced the cover since 1998.
“Rory McIlroy PGA Tour” will be available on XBOX One and PlayStation 4 this spring.
