Seawanhaka Sports Rundown - October 23, 2023

BY: JOE SIMILE / CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Grizzlies’ Center Steven Adams to Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

Steven Adams (4) of the Memphis Grizzlies pictured above (Getty's Images)

Fan favorite center Steven Adams is set to undergo surgery that will sideline him for the upcoming season. Adams was injured in January diving for a loose ball during a game against the Phoenix Suns, injuring the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The Grizzlies said that “non-operative rehabilitation did not resolve ongoing knee instability”.

Adams is one of the premiere rebounders in the NBA, especially on the offensive end. He has been top 7 in offensive rebounding in 6 of the last 7 seasons, and is 2nd among active players in offensive rebound percentage (ninth all time). Losing Adams is an additional blow to an already shorthanded Grizzlies team, who will be without star guard Ja Morant, who is serving a 25 game suspension, as well as forward Brandon Clarke who suffered an achilles injury.

Bill Belichick Records 300th Career Win

New England Patriots coach, Bill Belichick, pictured above. Photo via Chris Unger/ Getty Images

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick earned his 300th career win in the regular season after his underdog team defeated the Buffalo Bills.

The 71 year old coach became the third coach in NFL history to record 300 career wins. The all-time leader is longtime Dolphins coach Don Shula, who achieved an undefeated season in 1972. The other member of the club is “Papa Bear'' George Halas, who coached the Bears for 40 years, and had an undefeated regular season in 1934.

With this week's win, the Patriots snap a three game losing streak which featured the two worst losses of Belichick’s career - A 38-3 loss to the Cowboys and a 34-0 loss to the Saints in weeks 4 and 5 respectively. The win came shortly after NFL Network reported that Belichick signed a multiyear extension with the Patriots.

Aces Defeat Liberty in WNBA Finals

The Las Vegas Aces celebrating their championship win Photo via David Dow/NBAE Via Getty

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the New York Liberty in the WNBA Finals, winning the series in 4 games. The Aces have become the first back-to-back WNBA champions in over 20 years, since the Los Angeles Sparks did so in 2001-2002.

These past two seasons were Head Coach Becky Hammon’s first as a head coach in the WNBA. She currently holds an all time regular season win percentage of .789, after a 26-10 season in 2022, and a shocking 34-6 record this season. Star big A’ja Wilson won the Finals MVP, adding to her already historic resume

Coyotes Defenseman Travis Dermott First NHL Player to Defy Pride Tape Ban

Travis Dermont (3) of the Arizona Coyotes pictured above Photo via Zac BonDurant/Getty Images

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Travis Dermott became the first NHL player to openly defy the NHL’s ban on Pride Tape after he used it during the team’s home opener Saturday night.

Earlier this month, the NHL issued a memo to teams stating that the use of the rainbow-colored stick tape would not be permitted on the ice during warm-ups or games. This comes after massive controversy within the NHL world concerning pride night jerseys last season after several players voiced their opposition to taking part in Pride Night celebrations. This led to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman that all themed jerseys would be removed from the NHL lineup of jerseys. Bettman stated themed jerseys had become “a distraction from really the essence of what the purpose of these nights are.”

Hart Trophy winner and Oilers star Connor McDavid expressed disappointment for not being able to wear specialty jerseys and wants them back. “Whether that’s Pride Night or Military Night or Indigenous Night, all the various nights that we’ve had and had a chance to celebrate. I’ve always enjoyed them… it’s something that I’ve always enjoyed.”

League officials told The Athletic on Sunday that they will review the incident concerning Dermott for a possible violation of their policy “in due course”. The team has not yet heard of any potential disciplinary measures from the league yet. Co-founder of Pride Tape Jeff McLean told The Athletic that Dermott placed an order for more rainbow stick tape just last week with plans to use it throughout the 2023-2024 season. The Coyotes are set to host Pride Night on Friday.

Dubai’s Baseball United League Holds Inaugural Draft

Photo via Baseball United

Dubai’s Baseball United League held its inaugural draft on Monday, with many former big leaguers being taken. Former Cy Young winner Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon was selected in the second round. Former Yankees and Phillies shortstop slugger Didi Gregorius was picked third overall, and former Yankee, Met and Mariner second baseman Robinson Cano was picked sixth. Gold glover Andrelton Simmons was picked at the back end of the first round at eight. Former all-star Jair Jurrjens was also selected, as well as former big leaguers Alejandro de Aza, Shed Long, Robbie Ross, and many more.

The first Baseball United action will take place on November 24, when the league will hold a showcase, playing games on Friday and Saturday to showcase some of the league's talent, as well as having a fan fest and opening night ceremonies.

The ownership group is spearheaded by Kash Shaikh, a former executive at Procter & Gamble as well as GoPro. Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Barry Larkin are also investors in the league.

Baseball United is the first professional baseball league to service the Middle East and South Asia. In a region heavily dominated by cricket and soccer, Shaikh said in an announcement that Baseball United will be introducing some rules that differ from the MLB and “things that you’d never see in other professional baseball leagues” to further appeal to cricket audiences. Cricket’s shortest and most exciting format took off in India in 2008 with the Indian Premier League, whose five-year broadcasting rights are now worth over $6 billion. The Baseball United’s website states “With a footprint of 2 billion people – 1 billion of whom are cricket fans – the Middle East and South Asia is the Bat and Ball epicenter of the world. It’s also home to some of the most diverse communities and fastest-growing economies on the earth, making it a hotbed for sports growth and innovation. At Baseball United, we believe professional baseball will be the region’s next great sport.”

The four league-owned franchises are the Abu Dhabi Falcons, managed by World Series Champion Dennis Cook, and led by honorary GM Nick Swisher, the Dubai Wolves, managed by John McLaren and led by honorary GM Felix Hernandez, the Karachi Monarchs, managed by former AL MVP Miguel Tejada and led by honorary GM Adrian Beltre, and the Mumbai Cobras, managed by three time all star and World Series Champion Chris Sabo, and led by honorary GM Barry Larkin.