Usually in March the only thing big event in sports would be the NCAA Tournament, but 2017 had to be different. In March alone we have seen almost three months’ worth of headlining news. Let’s recap what has happened in March so far.
NFL:
- The New England Patriots Got Stronger
The Patriots went out and traded for a veteran tight-end, Dwayne Allen from the Indianapolis Colts, to replace the loss of Martellus Bennett. Some around the NFL view Dwayne Allen as a step up from Bennett because he is 3 years’ younger and possibly because he is a better blocker.
Day two of the new NFL year, March 10, 2017, the patriots snagged one of the best corners in the NFL, Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore entered free agency looking for top cornerback money, and Gilmore got what he asked for and more. For the past 5 years, Gilmore has been a divisional rival of the Patriots, but now he has a great opportunity to win multiple Super Bowls with the Patriots. This is not the first time the Patriots brought on a former divisional rivals’ top cornerback, in 2014 the Patriots signed Derrell Revis to a 1-year contract, later that same year the Patriots would win their 4th Super Bowl in Franchise history.
The Patriots continued their March Madness with big trade deals to acquire wide receiver, Brandon Cooks, and Defensive-end, Kony Ealy. Kony Ealy is a young solid defensive-end who is very athletic. He is only 25 years old and has managed to average just below 5 sacks per season.
Now, to top off the New England Patriots March Madness, the Patriots re-signed linebacker, Dont’a Hightower to a long-term deal. The crazy part is that the Patriots are making moves as if they did not just win the Super Bowl. The Patriots are loading up for another Super Bowl run.
- Beast Mode might be returning to football
Retired NFL running back, Marshawn Lynch, is considering returning to the NFL. He last played for the Seattle Seahawks in 2015-2016 NFL season. Lynch decided to hang up the cleats at the early age of 29 going on 30.
He was a show on the field and a show off it. He had a unique style that resonated with a lot of the young NFL fans. His personality is something the NFL hasn’t seen in a long time. Marshawn Lynch ended a great career early, so I think it would have been crazy for anyone to believe that Lynch would hang up the cleats for good.
Marshawn running style and unbelievable effort made him a one of a kind back. The team that will most likely win his services are the Oakland Raiders. If the Raiders can get Marshawn up to speed, after a year of being out of the game, the Raiders should be the favorites to knockoff the New England Patriots in 2017.
NBA:
- The NBA is a Jumbled Mess, Kind of
The NBA in March has been a tail of two teams, two MVP candidates, and the return of Magic. The Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers have captured the headlines of March, with a little sprinkle of Russell Westbrook and James Harden MVP talk
- LeBron asks for Help, again
The Cavaliers managed to add some pieces to their, already, star-studded roster. The addition of Deron Williams and Andrew Bogut gave the Cavs a seemingly unstoppable team that is destined to reach the NBA finals, but Bogut got hurt shortly after checking into his first game as a Cavalier. Unfortunately, Bogut might be out for the rest of the NBA season and possibly the NBA playoffs.
- Who’s the MVP?
As far as MVP news go, Russell Westbrook and James Harden are leading their respective teams to the playoffs and either or could win the MVP. The sad part is that neither team is projected to make it to the Finals or even compete for the chance to reach the Western Conference Finals. The same reasons that are making Westbrook and Harden MVP candidates are the same reason neither team will make it to the Finals. The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets do not have solid all around teams. Westbrook and Harden can pull their respective teams all the way to the playoffs, but without any help from the rest of the team, neither player will make it to the Western Conference Finals.
- The Lakers Family Drama.
What happens when you mix family drama and a major sports franchise? The Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have hired Earvin “Magic” Johnson to be the team’s president of basketball operations and fired Jim Buss, son of former owner Jerry Buss and brother of current president of the Lakers, Jeanie Buss.
Jeanie Buss fired her own brother, if this is not madness I must not know what madness is.
NCAAB:
- Villanova will not repeat
#1 Villanova were defeated by Wisconsin in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin came in as the 8th seed in the East, some say they are a little low, so now they have a chip on their shoulder.
- Ball is Life
No pun intended, but the Ball family has taken over basketball at all levels of the game. UCLA’s Lonzo Ball is the biggest name in college basketball and could very well be the #1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
Lavar Ball, father of Lonzo Ball, has caused controversy with his comments on his son being better than Golden State Guard, Steph Curry, who is the raining NBA MVP. LaVar has been a guest on ESPN, Skip and Shannon Undisputed, and many more sports news outlets defending how his comments and how he raised his three sons who are dominating amateur basketball. The Ball family are everywhere.
Lemelo Ball, the youngest of Lavar Ball’s three sons, is the #1 overall recruit in the 2019 high school recruiting class. He became a house hold name when he pointed at the half-court line, in a regular season high school game, and pulled up for 3 and made it. Lamelo once again made national news headlines when he scored 92 points in a single game.
Lavar Ball raised three quality sons who are great basketball players as well. If the media fears a father who is always there for his kids, then the media need to grow up.
The Ball family is here to stay.