Fast forward forty years, players represent Baltimore basketball on high levels worldwide; one in particular, Malcolm Delaney. 

The Malcolm Delaney Story is set to be released November 1 exclusively on the Fan-I Network.   Through Delaney’s perspective, the audience will get a chance to see what it is like to be a high-level European basketball star as he plays his final season with Italy professional basketball powerhouse, AX Olimipia Milano.

Delaney’s basketball career has earned him a reputation as one of the best to come out of Baltimore in recent memory. He was a part of a Towson Catholic squad that put the former Baltimore Catholic League school on the map, playing alongside McDonald’s All-American, Donte Greene.

In the documentary, Delaney travels through the life, times, and tragedies that led him to becoming one of the best players in Europe. He assures fans this is not a retirement tale but it could be his final season in Europe. 

Delaney career has come with injuries and with his businesses flourishing and a new sports bar opening in Baltimore, life after basketball seems more relaxing for the 11-year veteran compared to the grind of European basketball and its 10-month season.

I spent two weeks in Europe producing this documentary. A true once in a lifetime experience that didn’t take a lot of planning. A simple conversation with Delaney led to the Euro trip back in March. While this isn’t my first documentary, The Malcolm Delaney Story marks the brand’s first project on international grounds. It is also the first project where we have a theatrical release and world premiere.

Visit Fan-I.com for more details and release dates for the highly anticipated documentary.

The post Fan-I Sports Documentary On Malcolm Delaney appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

 Big games also signal big performance. So while it may be premature to pick out Heisman candidates, it won’t hurt to pick out the best players to watch this weekend for our entertainment purposes.

Ohio State QB, CJ Stroud v. #5 Notre Dame

Stroud is the frontrunner on the majority of the Heisman list, but first, he has to take on the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.

Stroud made noise last season, scoring 44 touchdowns on his way to being a Heisman finalist. Unfortunately, last season didn’t start in a way Stroud or the Buckeyes wanted when they hosted a ranked non-conference opponent, losing to Oregon in the second week of the season.

A big performance from Stroud early in the season can give him a head start over the rest of the pool.

Alabama QB, Bryce Young v. Utah State

My favorite player in college football, mainly because he is the first high school player I interviewed to become a Heisman winner.

Young is a treat to watch on the field. The Crimson Tide were in close games last season, many challenging situations. Young never rattled. The same way he looked when the Tide was rolling.

 Now, as a Heisman winner, let’s see how he starts his campaign to be the first back-to-back winner since Archie Griffin.

Texas RB, Bijan Robinson v. UL-Monroe

Already dubbed as the best running back in college football, the expectations are high in Austin for Robinson. Robinson has the potential to be the first running back to bring a Heisman back to the Longhorn State since Ricky Williams. Robinson is still under the radar even though he is on the Doak Walker watch list.

The average college football fan doesn’t know how entertaining the junior running back is. Saturday night, he’ll get a chance to showcase his talents.

Clemson QB, D.J. Uiagalelei v. Georgia Tech

During the time I covered Young, I also covered Uiagalelei. He was just as good, if not better than Young. And he outplayed Young twice in their senior seasons.

Uiagalelei’s college experience hasn’t been as good as Young’s, with only nine touchdowns last season. However, he is ready to prove he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

The lights will be bright when Clemson takes on Georgia Tech Monday and presents a perfect opportunity to show the world this will be a different season for the Clemson signal caller.

The post Four College Players To Watch This Week appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

This is the USWNT’s first trip to Wembley Stadium since winning the gold at the 2012 Olympic Games, a 2-1 victory for the USA over Japan, and the first-ever meeting between the United States and England Women’s National Teams at London’s green cathedral of soccer.

England is fresh off their 2-1 victory over Germany, forward Chole Kelly scoring the game-winner in extra time with over 87,000 fans in attendance.

“To get a chance to play the European champions in London at Wembley is an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often, so we’re all thankful that the match could be arranged, and we’ll be hoping that England finish their qualifying campaign in September,” said U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Vlatko Andonovski.

“This is exactly the kind of match we need at exactly the right time in our World Cup preparations so we can test ourselves against a very talented England team. I saw England play live at the Euros, and I’m looking forward to an amazing atmosphere at Wembley and another big event for women’s soccer on Oct. 7.”

This will be the 19th meeting between the two nations, but only the third match in England. They split the two previous meetings in England, The Lionesses winning 2-1 in 2011 and the Star and Stripes claiming a 1-0 victory in 2015. The last matchup between USA and England was in the 2020 SheBelieves Cup, the USA winning 2-1.

The decision to announce the game now is to give fans worldwide an opportunity to prepare and purchase tickets for the high-profile match.

The match is subject to England securing its FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification during the September international window. The Lionesses need to beat Austria on Saturday, September 3 or a victory at home over Luxembourg on Tuesday, September 6, to claim their spot in Australia and New Zealand next summer.

Should England instead be involved in the two-leg World Cup playoffs in October, the England FA and the U.S. Soccer Federation would schedule a new date for the two teams to meet in the future.

The USWNT will play another European match, but an opponent and venue have yet to be confirmed soon.

The post USWNT Announce Friendly Vs England In London appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I’ve been fortunate enough to witness some great moments throughout my decade-long career in sports media. Covering the United States Women’s National Soccer Team as they qualified for their 9th consecutive World Cup is officially high on the list.

CONCACAF – the soccer confederation that governs North America, Central America, and Caribbean countries – hosted its quadrennial championship in Monterrey, Mexico. It will be one of the 16 cities to host the 2026 World Cup. I stayed in an Airbnb a few miles from Estadio BBVA and Estadio Universitario. The ladder was my favorite. It was a traditional stadium that gave an authentic Mexican soccer aura.

The Estadio Universitario hosted the rivalry match between the United States and Mexico, and it’s honestly one of the greatest moments in my sports media career. The match didn’t have much on the line; Mexico’s chances of qualifying for the World Cup were already slim to none after two disappointing losses to Jamaica and Hait. What made it significant is this was the first time in 12 years that the two rivals played each other in Mexico. In addition, the USWNT roster was filled with players who had never played in a meaningful game of that magnitude on international soil.

The drums, the chants, and the engaged Mexican crowd created a euphoric feeling for me. The world’s best players are in front of me, battling to the last minute.

Don’t get me wrong, Estadio BBVA – which has won awards for its incredible architecture and design – is one of the best stadiums I’ve ever visited. Coming from the United States, the land of futuristic stadiums, they all look the same after a while. What made Estadio BBVA special, though, was the open roof that gave fans in the nosebleeds section a view of the mountains as if it is growing from the stadium floors.

On the pitch, I witnessed a lot of talented players, but there were three in particular that I watched with a keen eye; Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, and Christine Sinclair.

Morgan and Rapinoe played the role of veterans, a part of the USWNT youth movement designed by Vlatko Andonovski. Both players had great moments in the previous two World Cup runs by the stars and stripes and are recognized as two of the greatest players in the world.

It was interesting to see these two football giants get ready for games and how they react in games. Rapinoe seemed to be more of the player to keep things loose. She was on the team as a reserve, but she made a significant contribution there. Her personality was nothing short of captivating. Rapinoe reminded everyone with her joyful spirit that this is a game and you’re supposed to have fun with it. We all know about her social work off the pitch, leaving the team and missing a game to receive the Freedom Medal of honor at the White House. While she may kid joke and play, she was serious when it was time to be serious.

Morgan was the best player in the entire competition. She made unbelievable goals, and her star power among the Mexican fans was amazing. Morgan is much more reserved than Rapinoe, but she has the brightest smile on the pitch. Her game-winning penalty kick to give the USWNT a 1-0 lead in the championship game against Canada was one of those moments where great players step up in the most significant moments. It won the CONCACAF W Championship and avenged a loss the USWNT suffered in the 2019 Olympics that sent them to the bronze medal game. 

And then you have Sinclair. At age 38, she is still capable of running up and down the pitch, contributing, and having fun. For those who don’t know, Sinclair has played for the Canada National team for 22 years, equaling up to 312 caps and 190 goals (all-time leader for men and women). Sinclair will play in her sixth world cup next August, and I asked her about making another trip to the world’s biggest event in women’s sports, and she said, “it never gets old.”

A sporting event like this would not be the most exciting to the average sports fan, but it had everything a sports fan would want: great venues, great players, rivalries, and a lot on the line. I’m more than grateful to have been able to be an accredited media member and to cover the USWNT, the best team in the world.

Next stop, New Zealand.

The post My Experience At The 2022 CONCACAF W Championship appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

The USWNT clinched their ninth World Cup berth after defeating Jamaica 5-0 in their second game of group play in the CONCACAF W Championship, thanks to a dominant performance from their younger stars.

The second-youngest player on the team, Sophia Smith, scored two goals early for the stars and stripes, one of which came off the outside of her right foot, a very challenging shot.

“That might be my first outside foot goal,” the 21-year-old forward said about her acrobatic shot. “I practice it every day, but I just never been in a situation. [But] Today I did.”

“I think I said, ‘that was sick, Soph,’” Rose Lavelle said about the rare right-footed goal.

Three minutes later, she sent another shot over the top of Rebecca Spencer, who attempted to disrupt Smith. Allyson Swaby tried to run down the free ball, but it crossed the goal line before she could kick it away.

With the older veterans on the team, it was a much better performance for the stars and stripes, who looked beatable against Hati on Monday. Margaret Purce and Smith both did an outstanding job pressing the Jamaican defense on the wings, continuously setting up attempts. Unlike in the tournament opener, the heat did not impact the reigning world champs much.

“Each game is an adjustment; it’s hot here,” Smith said. “We are getting use to it, and  I think our preparation in Denver and Salt Lake City help with the altitude. We’re a very fit team, and now is just about trusting [the]preparation that we’ve put in, and it will help us in the rest of these games.

Third-year head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, mentioned that the team did not have to work as hard as in the first game because of the better play.

“I don’t think the intensity was any better this game compared to the last game, in fact, we ended up running a lot more,” Andonovski said about the team’s performance. “The reason why was because of the little things [like] countermeasures, losing the ball in critical areas, missed passes, or losing individual battles.”

The two early goals put Jamaica in a hole they could not figure out how to get out. Newly hired head coach, Lorne Donaldson, did not shy away from admitting his team was not ready for the champs. Donaldson took over the team in early June, and many expected a much better performance from the Reggae Girlz.

“You’re not going to play the world champions that bad and expected anything to come out of it. We weren’t good.”

Lavelle added another goal in the ‘59 pushing the lead to 3-0. Kristie Mewis and Trinity Rodman both entered the game off the bench and contributed two goals in the last ten minutes of the game.

The experiment of mixing young and old players has looked to be the right move for the USWNT. Anyone watching this team can see they are a tight unit that enjoys each other, on and off the pitch. Smiles are all-around before, during, and after the game.

“Every training session, we’re pushing each other super hard,” Rodman said about the squad’s morale. “It’s been a great experience. The competitiveness is crazy [and] getting the wins, and the goals are a bonus, so it’s been great.”

Veterans Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Kelly O’Hara received the day off. Megan Rapinoe was not with the team because President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

The final game of the group will be Monday against rival and host nation, Mexico. Mexico suffered an upsetting loss to Hati 3-0, putting them in a must-win position, or they will miss the World Cup for the second time. The USWNT is excited about the matchup, especially with the game being on foreign soil.

“I think it will be a very good game, a good show,” Andonovski said about the upcoming rivalry matchup.

“We are excited and looking forward to it because we are expecting a lot of fans, we’re expecting a lot of cheering and booing. For us, this is very important [with] this young team that we have, the younger players have never experienced this, being outside the U.S. and playing games in front of 30-40 thousand people.”

The post USWNT Clinch World Cup Birth In Dominant Fashion appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

“She’s back!” Megan Rapinoe said about the world-class striker who’s birthday was July 2. 

Morgan’s first goal in the ‘16 minute came off a magnificent back-foot shot that slipped past the post and Haiti’s goalie, Lara Larco. Seven minutes later, she floated a header into the back of the net, giving the stars and stripes an early 2-0 lead. 

Morgan’s role as veteran in the new youth movement extends further than provided moral and support for the younger players. It was evident during the Friendly against Columbia she would play a much more important role and could return as the star of the USWNT once again. 

“She’s in such good form right now,” captain Becky Sauebrunn spoke about Morgan’s early goals. “It’s like she played with us, then killed the NWSL and just brought that form back to the National team.” 

Long-time national squad teammate, Rapinoe, joined the match late in the second half and quickly left a mark, sending a cross to Margaret Purce to give the USWNT a 3-0 lead. 

Despite the win, USA’s performance left some questions on the board. Rapinoe gave the squad a “7/10” and head coach, Vlatko Andonovski, believes the team could have played much better. 

“I think it’s jitters,” Rapinoe said about the team’s performance. “It’s a lot of people first real meaningful tournament. It’s always difficult to play in CONCACAF, it’s just a different kind of tournament.” 

The heat played a part as well for the squad, their first time playing under the hot mexican sun in the city of mountains. As the game went on, you can see the heat wearing down on the starting IX, especially on the offensive end. 

Hati had multiple opportunities late in the first half to put points on the board. Melchie Dumornay took a shot on goal deep in USA’s territory but Casey Murphy made a great hands save outside of the goal. A few minutes later, star striker, Roselord Borgella, missed a penalty shot after Murphy stopped the attempt, leaving Hati with another missed opportunity, and eventually turned out to be their last. 

We played against a really good disciplined team with some world-class individuals,” Andonovski said about the play of Hati. 

USA first win – despite it being less than what is expected of the world’s best team – puts them at the top of Group A. Jamaica follows after they surprised the host country Mexico with a 1-0 victory. 

The USWNT will step back on the pitch Thursday as they take on Jamaica in what could be another tough battle for the stars and stripes. 

The post Alex Morgan’s Two Goals Spark USWNT In 3-0 Win Vs. Haiti appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

The stars and stripes have dominated the CONCACAF Women’s Championship since its inception in 1991. They hold an all-time record of 37W-1D-1L, outsourcing opponents 219-6. The USWNT’s worse finish was third place in 2010, ironically in Mexico.

The USA was drawn into Group A and will see their first opponent of group play, Haiti, on Monday, July 4. Then, they will take on Jamaica on July 7 and concludes group play in a rivalry match against Mexico on July 11th.

 The semifinals will take place on July 14, with the third-place match and championship game being held on July 18th.

Team boss, Vlatko Andonovski, put together a younger, less experience unit for the competition. Only ten players on the 23-woman roster have CWC and World Cup qualifying experience. For Andonovski, this is an opportunity to prepare the younger talent, with the likes of Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Kelly O’Hara possibly making their last runs at a World Cup title.

“As usual, the players don’t make these decisions easy,” said Andonovski.  “We feel this is a roster that can accomplish all of our goals over the four weeks we will be together for what we hope will be seven successful games.”

Rapinoe joined the team for the first time since last October in the squad’s friendly match against Columbia. She connected with Taylor Kornieckon, a cross in the 90’.

Rapinoe isn’t in her 2019 Ballon d’ Or Femina form, only playing four regular-season games (154 total minutes) for her club, OL Reign, but her presence boosts the team’s morale.

“Obviously, this is a young group that we’re bringing in,” Andonovski said about adding Rapinoe to the roster. “There are lots of young players. So her experience and going through adversity, going through tough times in getting on top, her mentality, winning mentality, her knowledge, and understanding is very valuable for the group.”

Alex Morgan also returns for the first time since October.

The USWNT will be without one of the world’s best players Caterina Macario, who suffered an ACL injury in late May in Lyon’s last match. Other significant injuries included Sam Mewis (Knee), Christen Press (Knee), and Julie Ertz (Pregnancy).

New national team call-ups include North Carolina Courage defender Carson Pickett, Portland Thorns midfielder Sam Coffey, and San Diego Wave midfielder Taylor Kornieck. Both Pickett and Coffey are on the list of three alternates, along with Racing Louisville midfielder, Jaelin Howell.

This current roster will likely differ from the one that sees the pitch in New Zealand once the injured return, but it could shape up for other tough decisions for Andonovski, which could be a good thing.

The post USWNT Quest For World Cup Begins In Mexico With Youth Movement appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

This year’s class is very young with high potential (it seems like we say this every year), but I’m not sure if the talent pool is strong enough to make GMs confident they’ll find the next NBA Superstar.

Because of that, I think we’ll see a lot of trades early in the draft. Many of the teams in the lottery are young and filled with players who haven’t had the opportunity to show if they are worthy of substantial responsibilities.

1. Orlando Magic – TRADE

The Magic are still undecided on what they will do with this pick and have stated they are open to offers. But, outside of that, the Magic have a young team, and it’s time to bring some veteran talent in.

2. Oklahoma City – Chet Holmgren

Everyone in the basketball media world is a fan of Holmgren. Jay Bilas has even compared the seven-footer to Giannis Antetoukounpo.

3. Houston Rockets – Jabari Smith Jr.

I believe Smith Jr fits this roster better than Holmgren, but the Rockets need size. So don’t be surprised if a trade for Holmgren happens.

4. Sacramento Kings – Pablo Blanchero

A perfect sidekick for D’Aron Fox. Both are very talented athletic ballplayers that play with a chip on their shoulders. This could have the potential to be the best pick of the draft.

5. Detroit  Pistons – Keegan Murray

It doesn’t matter where this kid goes, he will make an impact. Murray’s game is crisp, and he has the potential to be rookie of the year.

6. Indiana Pacers – TRADE

Like the Magic, the Pacers are already loaded with high-potential young talent. They could use this pick to find a combo guard, such as Bennedict Mathurin, but with Buddy Hield and TJ Warren, it could get crowded at that shooting guard position.

7. Portland Trailblazers – Benedict Mathurin

The Trailblazers traded away CJ McCollum, who helped create one of the best backcourts in the NBA alongside Damian Lillard. Mathurin is a much more explosive guard and can shoot the longball.

8. New Orleans Pelicans – Dyson Daniles

Daniels is the first player off the board from the G-League. Daniels has a mature game and could add more length and explosive to the Pelicans lineup.

9. San Antonio Spurs – Shaedon Sharpe

We all know that to play with Pop, you must show some commitment to defense. While the Spurs have struggled to reclaim their supremacy in the western conference, a player like Sharpe could add a different energy to the team with his relaxed demeanor but tenacious in-game play. Sound familiar?

10. Washington Wizards – TRADE

Rumors have been swirling that Bradley Beal may be on his way out of DC. However, I think there may be some reality to this rumor. The Wizards haven’t shown much of commitment or direction in the last few years, which could lead to a big trade, including the All-Star guard.

11. New York Knicks – Ousmane Dieng

Dieng can play on the perimeter, but we haven’t seen him do it against NBA-caliber competition. In addition, the Knicks and Julian Randle have had disputes this past season, which could lead to a new direction in the paint.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder – TRADE

Yes, another trade, but trades are fun. The Thunder could sit tight but already claiming their top-three pick. I suggest going after more overall talent and using the value of a second lottery pick.

13. Charlotte Hornets – Mark Williams

Giving LaMelo Ball a player like Williams is nothing short of necessary. He is a 7’2’’ specimen that can make things more accessible inside the paint. Mix that size with Ball’s ability to make players better. This could be one of the best picks in the draft.

14. Cleveland Cavaliers – A.J. Griffin

Griffin was one of my favorite players in college last season. He is a force on both ends of the floor, with a very solid offensive game. Dropping to the end of the lottery will surprise most, but I see this as the best situation for the young man to flourish.

The post NBA Mock Lottery Draft appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

The PLL has increased its popularity and is becoming a legitimate league within the American professional sports market. The league’s purpose is to give the sport of lacrosse and its top players a platform to grow. In addition, all players receive a salary, health care, and other benefits that other leagues in the past did not provide.

Baltimore is the fourth stop in the league’s 14-week-tour-based schedule. Homewood Field will host four games between Friday and Saturday. PLL co-founder and President Paul Rabil became one of the greatest college lacrosse players.

Rabil’s career at John Hopkins catapulted him to a professional lacrosse career from 2008 to last year.

Rabil retired in 2021 after playing two seasons in the league he created and was announced as the President of the PLL. Now Rabil is helping build the brand, league, and sport as a full-time executive and ambassador, alongside his brother, Mike Rabil.

The PLL has grown substantially since 2019, using significant partnerships to catapult the league into different places. 

The PLL’s first media partner was NBC, but games were exclusively available through the network’s streaming app. For fans like me, supporting and enjoying the league made it difficult. ESPN will air 12 games this summer on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. The championship game in Philadelphia on September 18th will be broadcast at 3 pm.

Other partnerships include the classic athletic clothing brand CHAMPION, the on-the-field apparel sponsor, producing uniforms, replica jerseys, and team apparel for players, coaches, and staff.

“We’re an innovative brand that believes in letting everyone Be Your Champion,” said Jon Ram, Group President of Global Activewear for HanesBrands, the parent company of Champion. “We choose partners who know Champions are defined by how they carry themselves on the field and off, and we’re thrilled to build on our sports heritage with one of the most innovative leagues around. We’re letting players express themselves at the same time we’re working to make lacrosse more equitable and inclusive.”

Cash App became the official Cryptocurrency Exchange, Peer to Peer Payment Technology, and Investment/Trading Platform of the PLL.

“Our mission is to trailblaze the future of professional sports, and we believe that Cash App is one of the most innovative businesses and marketing brands in the world,” Rabil said in a press release. “Beginning this season, you can expect to see cutting-edge integration from our compensation packages with players and front office colleagues, all the way through our final competition, where our champions will now hoist the Cash App Championship Trophy. Personally, I’m also excited and humbled that Cash App will be joining our off-the-field initiatives, presenting our Goals for Greatness program.”

The partnership allows players to invest a portion of their PLL paychecks and be paid in bitcoins through Cash App. In addition, players can instantly turn on, off, and adjust at any time. And there are no fees to opt in.

The Whipsnakes are tied first in the standings with a 3-0 record. Justin Guterding leads the team with 9 goals and 3 assists. The former Duke star has become one of the top players in the PLL, finishing the 2021 season with 49 points apart from Chrome. Joining Guterding are former Maryland standouts Matt Rambo and Jay Carlson, who were part of the Whipsnakes title run in 2019.

Whipsnakes are looking to claim their third championship since the PLL inception.

The Redwoods are led by Myles Jones and Matt Kavanaugh, who has been a part of the team since 2019, when they played the Whipsnakes in the Inaugural championship game.

Other stars will be playing throughout the short weekend. The two leading points scorer, Will Manny (13 goals, 4 Assist)  and Tom Schreiber (3 goals, 8 assist), play in the weekend’s final game against the Atlas. Manny scored five goals in the Archers’ 20-9 win over the Cannons last week. Schreiber played in the inaugural All-Star game and was described on the PLL website as “one of the most dominant forces in the PLL.”

One of the sports most prominent stars of the sport, Lyle Thompson, comes into the weekend with seven goals in only two games, 10 points total on the season so far. Thompson, alongside his brother Miles, set the lacrosse world on fire when they shared the Teweraton Award, which goes to the nation’s best college lacrosse player. The two were the first native Americans to win the award, landing Lyle on Sports Illustrated’s cover.

Thompson is questionable for the weekend as his Cannons look to bounce back from the 11-point loss last week. Thompson has been out since June 17th with an upper-body injury.

Game Schedule:

Fri, Jun 24 • 6:30pm ET         

Redwoods vs Whipsnakes

Fri, Jun 24 • 9:15pm ET         

Chaos vs Waterdogs

Sat, Jun 25 • 6pm ET

Cannons vs Chrome

Sat, Jun 25 • 8:45pm ET       

Archers vs Atlas

ABOUT PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE

The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) powered by Ticketmaster is a men’s professional lacrosse league in North America, composed of 8 teams rostered by the best players in the world. Co-founded by lacrosse superstar, philanthropist, and investor Paul Rabil and his brother, serial entrepreneur and investor, Mike Rabil, the Premier Lacrosse League is backed by an investment group composed of Joe Tsai Sports, Brett Jefferson Holdings, The Raine Group, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Chernin Group, Blum Capital, The Kraft Group, Arctos Sports Partners, and other top investors in sports and media. The PLL is distributed through an exclusive media rights agreement with ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN+. The PLL was recognized by Front Office Sports’ 2021 Best Employers in Sports. For more information, visit www.premierlacrosseleague.com and follow on social media: Instagram (@PLL), Twitter (@PremierLacrosse), Facebook (@PremierLacrosseLeague), YouTube (YouTube.com/PLL) and TikTok (@pll).

The post The PLL Returns To Baltimore appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

That led to 17 players being suspended indefinitely from all PGA sanctioned events. The list of players includes high-profile golfers such as Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and Dustin Johnson. 

“These players have made their choice for their own financial-based reasons,” PGA commissioner Jay Monahan wrote in the memo. 

“But they can’t demand the same PGA Tour membership benefits, considerations, opportunities, and platform as you. That expectations disrespect you, our fans, and our partners. You have made a different choice, which is to abide by the tournament regulations you agreed to when you accomplished the dream of earning a PGA Tour card and – more importantly – to compete as part of the preeminent organization in the world of professional golf.”

Golf legend, Greg Norman, who spent 331 weeks as the #1 golfer in the world during the 80s called the move “vindictive” (and it is). Norman was named CEO of the LIV Invitational in 2021. 

While the words of Monahan sound personal, it is understandable when you think the LIV Golf Series events conflict with those of the PGA, and they are proud to be competitors of the old-fashion structure.  

The LIV Golf Invitational Series is different from the traditional PGA Tour. It features 48 players broken down into 12 teams playing 54 holes (3 rounds) with a shotgun start – all golfers play at the same time. The series spreads across eight events in eight different cities, starting in London this weekend and capping off in Miami for the team championship. 

The fun and team-style play are not what swayed golfers, it was the record-breaking purses. For each winning team, they will receive $25 million, with $4 million going to the best golfer of the weekend. 

Fewer events a year and more money sound like a sweet deal. 

“I want to be around as a dad,” 42-year-old Matt Jones said. “I mean, I’ve been out here for 15 years. I’ve missed a lot of what goes on in my kids’ life. I was raised with a mom and dad that were always there for me. They were there at every sporting event, every schooling event, and that’s something I’d like to try and do for my kids.”

For other older players like Jones, with families, the LIV invitational gives them more time with their families and less time on the road. And of course a chance at a higher purse. 

The PGA Tour has prestige and legacy. For over 90 years, the PGA Tour has been the standard in the sport of golf. Monahan is confident that because of that history and lineage, their partners will side with them in the new age of “golf beef”. 

And he might be right. Rocket Mortgage terminated its sponsorship deal with Bryson DeChambeau after he committed to playing in the LIV Invitational. According to ESPN, DeChambeau is expected to play in the second event, hosted in Portland Oregon, on June 30. As the weeks go on, it’s not certain how many more golfers will lose their sponsorships.

“I’m as curious as you are to see how the tournaments will go and what the presentation will be like, if it will be similar to golf tournaments that we’re used to seeing on TV, or if it will be something totally different, and only time will tell,” Patrick Cantlay said last week. “I’m interested to see what that product will be compared to what the product is right now that we are all used to.”

The LIV Golf Series has already proved they have the money to compete with the PGA Tour but the one thing that could halt their poaching ambitions is whether or not the Major championships side with the PGA Tour. The Masters, U.S Open, and PGA Championships governing bodies have yet to decide if they will ban players from their competitions. Many players hope that they will still be allowed to participate in Majors but like the rest of us, they’ll have to watch this situation play out. 

The post PGA Suspends 17 Players from tour for participating in LIV Golf Series appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.