HomeSPORTSFive for Five: The Five Sports Stories You Need to Know

Five for Five: The Five Sports Stories You Need to Know

By JOSH HELLER
Staff Writer

1. Draft Stories Aplenty Two Days Away

Going into Thursday’s NFL Draft, the storylines keep flowing as teams and fans alike begin to question everything that can unfold that night, and the effects it might have for years to come.

Starting at first-overall, there has been a strong belief around the league that the Browns will select defensive end Myles Garrett out of Texas A&M. But, as the clock ticks down, some reports have emerged that the Browns are seriously considering selecting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

Trubisky, who started for just one season in North Carolina, threw for about 4,750 yards and 41 touchdowns in his 31 career games over three years.

If the Browns really want Trubisky, they will most likely have to take him at number-one, and not wait until pick 12, as the 49ers and Bears both also like Trubisky. If the Browns do select Trubisky, this will be their third quarterback selected in the first round since 2007, following Brady Quinn in 2007, Brandon Weeden in 2012 and Johnny Manziel in 2014.

Another big story to unfold just two days out involves former Florida defensive end Caleb Brantley. Brantley, who was expected to be selected in the late-first/early-second round, was charged last Friday with misdemeanor battery. Brantley allegedly knocked a woman unconscious in early April.

Brantley is not the first draft prospect to be accused of striking a woman. Oklahoma star running back Joe Mixon, one of the most talented running backs in college football, has fallen off or even been removed from many teams’ draft boards due to character concerns off the field. He also struck a woman back in 2014, and recently settled in court. Mixon was also suspended one game by the school after a parking ticket citation this past season.

Mixon could still be a potential late-round flier, but any team would be taking a huge risk in drafting him, and Brantley could be going down a similar path.

2. Bumgarner to DL After Dirt Bike Accident

Following a dirt bike accident late last week, Giants’ star pitcher Madison Bumgarner was placed on the 10-day disabled list, and could miss two months or more.

Bumgarner was riding a dirt bike in Denver during the team’s off-day on Thursday. He suffered bruised ribs and two sprains in his throwing shoulder, his left.

Bumgarner was sent to a local hospital and was put under observation, but was released on Friday.

The Giants have not said how long they expect to be without their ace, but some reports around the MLB have said the injury is being considered serious, and it could take more than two months for Bumgarner’s injuries to heal.

The Giants, off to the worst start in the N.L. West, also announced they will re-evaluate Bumgarner next week. The Giants’ will need all hands on deck in Bumgarner’s absence, as they currently sit bottom-ten in both runs scored and team ERA.

3. Griffin Out for the Playoffs

As if becoming NBA champions wasn’t hard enough, the Clippers will now have to try and do it without star big-man Blake Griffin.

In the first half of Game 3, Griffin injured his right big toe and did not return to the game. The injury happened when he stepped on teammate Marreese Speights while backpedaling. Griffin stayed in the game for a little while, while limping, but eventually left.

The Clippers went on to win that game, and after a #### win in Game 4 on Sunday, the series stands at ###. Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers said that surgery is a possibility for Griffin.

Griffin missed 18 straight games earlier this season after having right knee surgery. The 28-year-old former first-overall pick last played a full season in 2013-14.

In the three seasons since, Griffin has appeared in 67, 35 and 61 regular season games, respectively.

In Griffin’s absence, the Clippers will lean on Speights and Luc Mbah a Moute to play more minutes, and hopefully shut down the Jazz, led by center Rudy Gobert and forward Gordon Hayward.

4. Big Names Looking to Purchase Marlins

As team owner Jeffrey Loria looks to sell the Miami Marlins, a few groups led by some big names could be looking to purchase the team.

One of the frontrunners to buy the Marlins is led by Tagg Romney, son of Mitt, and former Braves’ pitcher and Hall of Famer Tom Glavine.

In addition, some reports have come out that Yankees’ legend Derek Jeter is looking to team up with former Florida governor Jeb Bush to make a bid for the team.

There was some inkling that Loria had a deal in place to sell the Marlins for $1.6 billion to Joshua Kushner, brother of Jared, who serves as a senior advisor for his father-in-law, President Trump. However, Joshua Kushner apparently did have not the assets to buy the team for that much, and reports that Loria could be named U.S. Ambassador to France further complicated the matter.

Glavine and Jeter’s teams aren’t the only ones interested, as there are reportedly others paying attention to the proceedings. This could be an issue that doesn’t go away soon, but when former players of these calibers are involved in discussions, money definitely should not be an issue.

5. Kovalchuk Looking to Return to the NHL

After playing in the KHL in Russia for the past four seasons, former Devils’ star Ilya Kovalchuk is looking to make an NHL return.

In the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, Kovalchuk played 36 games for the KHL’s SKA St. Petersburg, and 37 games for the Devils, after the lockout ended.

After that season ended, Kovalchuk retired from the NHL so he could return to the KHL and play there.

When he retired, the former first-overall pick was in the third year of a whopping 15-year deal he signed with the Devils, worth $6.66 million per season.

In 2016-17, Kovalchuk scored 78 points in 60 games, second in the KHL. He also helped lead his team to a Gagarin Cup title, the KHL’s equivalent to the Stanley Cup.

Reports are that Kovalchuk, now 34, wants to return to North America. But, since he retired mid-contract, his rights remain in New Jersey. So, if Kovalchuk wants to play for the Devils, there are no issues.

But, if he doesn’t, and the Devils don’t want him, he could play anywhere else in the league; there just needs to be approval from every team GM. This may sound difficult, but an easy way around this is if the Devils simply trade Kovalchuk’s contract rights to another team, which is not uncommonly done in such situations.

With the Kovalchuk saga alongside the upcoming Vegas expansion draft, hockey fans are in for a fun offseason.

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