By MATTHEW WOODS
Staff Writer
1. Gregory Tests Positive
Perhaps one of the brightest young talents entering the 2015 NFL draft, Randy Gregory’s draft stock took a bit of a fall this past week as news broke that he failed a drug test at the NFL Combine.
Gregory was notified last week that he had failed a drug test by a considerable margin after testing positive for marijuana.
“I blame myself,” Gregory said in response to his positive test.
The potential top-10 pick has had a history with marijuana dating back to his early high school days, and he was nearly kicked off the team at Nebraska after testing positive twice in a span of four months in early 2014.
The defensive end and outside linebacker notified all 29 teams he interviewed with at the combine of his past history with marijuana and said that it was an issue at one point, but that it no longer will be.
“It [marijuana] could end my career,” Gregory said.
Gregory has now been taken under the mentorship of former New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards, who hopes to steer the young prospect in the right direction as he heads into the NFL.
2. Sharper Sentenced
Former NFL safety Darren Sharper’s sentencing in a four-state sexual assault scandal began last Thursday as the former NFL playerer was sentenced to nine years in a federal prison for his crimes in the state of Nevada. Sharper pleaded guilty in three of the four states thus far for aggravated sexual assault and rape.
The details of Sharper’s crimes were released early in the trial process as he was accused of drugging and raping women in California, as well as sexually assaulting women in Louisiana, Arizona, and Nevada.
Sharper faces 20 years in the state of California, where he will be sentenced in June, in addition to the nine years in Arizona.
The fact of the matter is that there is no just amount of time that Sharper deserves to be in prison for, because anything other than life is too short. Sharper knew what he was doing and kept doing it, perhaps thinking that his image would get him out of the situation.
Sharper’s former teammate with the New Orleans Saints, Scott Fujita, who is a father as well, explained his displeasure with the nine-year federal prison sentence.
“Serving nine years is an absolute shame. It’s way too short.”
Sharper was a member of the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl-winning team back in 2010. He also spent a large portion of his career with the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings.
3. Hunter’s Heroics
As if a No. 14 seed upsetting a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament was not enough, the story behind Georgia State’s upset over Baylor is not your average Cinderella story. Georgia State is led by junior R.J. Hunter, whose father, Ron, is the head coach.
During their win over the Baylor Bears, Hunter was struggling up until the last few minutes. During the last three minutes of the game, Hunter scored 12 of the team’s final 15 points which helped them erase a 13-point deficit to beat Baylor 57-56 in the round-of-64 in the NCAA tournament. Hunter hit the game-winning 3-pointer that put the Panthers in the lead with only seconds remaining.
As R.J. Hunter’s shot swished through the net, Ron Hunter fell to the ground after having to sit in a chair the entire game, to due tearing his Achilles tendon celebrating the team’s conference tournament championship. As Hunter fell to the ground, he broke his cast open. Hunter went to have his foot re-cast the next day before their next game against Xavier, which they went on to lose.
This was ultimately one of the brightest points of the tournament, as a father got to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with his son. Ron Hunter expressed how proud he was as a father during his postgame press conference.
“I’ll be honest with you, it’s been the greatest week of my life and the greatest time I’ve ever had as a father,” Ron Hunter said.
R.J. Hunter is expected to enter the NBA draft, while his father remains as the coach for Georgia State, even though many think he will part ways if his son goes pro.
This story is one that we don’t see often and it surely is something that will tug on your heartstrings. Hopefully the rest of this tournament and future tournaments have stories like this one.
4. Durant Sidelined For Season
One of the best basketball players on the planet looks to be out for a long time. Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant has been shut down for the season after complications with his surgically-repaired right foot. The decision was made after weeks of discussions with the team and his doctors.
The Thunder remain in the last playoff spot in the Western conference and will now be without one of their superstars for the remainder of this season, and perhaps longer. Durant will undergo his third surgery on his right foot since October, when it was discovered that he had a Jones fracture which required surgery.
This latest surgery will require Durant to be out for at least four to six months. Considering rehab, though, it could be closer to eight or nine months.
“All of our thoughts are with him,” Thunder head coach Scott Brooks said. “It’s not about us, it’s about him.”
The Thunder will now rely on point guard and MVP candidate Russell Westbrook to carry the load and lead the Thunder to the playoffs. Westbrook is the owner of nine triple-doubles this season.
The question now is whether or not Durant will be a member of the Thunder in the future, as many reports have surfaced of the Thunder trying to trade him and his willingness to test the free agent market.
5. A-Rod to Be Tested Frequently
Alex Rodriguez’ history of using performing-enhancing substances has the MLB in a bit of bind when it comes to drug testing. The MLB has made it a priority to frequently test Rodriguez for performance-enhancing substances upon his return from a season-long suspension for his involvement with the Miami, Florida steroid clinic, Biogenesis.
Newly appointed commissioner Rob Manfred explained that Rodriguez will be tested, like all other players who have a history with PEDs.
“He’ll be tested exactly like every other player who has violated the program,” Manfred said. “The program requires more frequent testing for players coming back after a suspension.”
Thus far in spring training, Rodriguez has dazzled with the bat, impressing many, including Yankees general manager Brian Cashman.
Rodriguez is expected to make the team and mainly play the role of designated hitter for the Yankees, while he may also spend time at first and third base.
