Internet Roundup: Magic: The Tampering, Overzealous Eagles Fan, Dirk “Nowitkzi” and More

Welcome to Internet Roundup.  I’ve tried similar concepts a few times before with Take 5 and 5Hundred, but here’s the deal: I take some current sports stories from around the web, and give my takes – it’s that simple.  Usually, these will be more lighthearted or funny in nature, and not major enough to warrant their own full article.  There might be three, there might be six, who knows.  No set schedule either, just whenever there’s a good batch of stories.  Got it?  Good.  Let’s go.

Lakers Fined $50k for Magic Johnson’s Comments on the Greek Freak

http://gty.im/866410088

In an absurd, money-hungry decision, the NBA has decided to fine the Lakers $50k for tampering in relation to comments team president of basketball relations Magic Johnson made in a recent interview to ESPN concerning Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo.  In the interview, Magic compares himself to the Greek Freak and claims he’s happy Antetokounmpo became an All-Star starter because he deserves the honor.  Magic also adds that he believes Antetokounmpo will become an MVP, bring a championship to Milwaukee, and put the city on the map.

High praise, sure, but tampering?  Article 34A of the NBA’s constitution, in just about the most convoluted wording possible, essentially prevents NBA teams from attempting to persuade a player under contract with another team to join their team.  It isn’t Magic’s first offense either, as he was fined $500k in August for tampering with Paul George.

In the Giannis interview, Magic’s only crime was complimenting another player’s game.  It happens all the time.  There was no mention of the Lakers.  In fact, if anything, Magic mentioned Giannis winning a title in Milwaukee.  Sure, it could be interpreted as an attempt to butter up the young star, but I don’t see anything resembling that intent.  If this is tampering, the league should start throwing out fines left and right.  As Nick Greene wrote for Slate, tampering as a concept itself is ridiculous, in large part because of how much a family the league is.  Give me a break.

 

One Down, Two to Go for Ambitious, Inked Up Eagles Fan

There have been a number of Eagles tattoo stories since the Super Bowl, like the guy who got the Eagles’ trick touchdown play inked on his arm, or the teacher with Nick Foles hoisting the Lombardi Trophy on his calf.  My favorite, however, is a since-deleted Twitter picture which went viral back in November and again around the time of the Super Bowl, showing a fan confident enough in predicting the Eagles winning the next three Super Bowls to get the tattoo in advance.  What can I say, he’s 1 for 3.  Good luck sweating out the next couple years, bro.

 

Congrats on 50k Minutes Played, um…Who?

Dirk Nowitzki is one of the greatest of all-time, a surefire Hall of Famer, and a Dallas sports legend.  So after 20 years, you’d figure the Mavericks would know how to spell his name correctly.  Well, you figured wrong.  On the same night Nowitzki became just the sixth player in NBA history to log 50,000 career minutes, the Mavericks misspelled his name on the back of his jersey.  “NOWITKZI”.

I’m sure it was an honest mistake (it isn’t the easiest name in the world to spell, after all), but the timing was plain horrible.  Fortunately, Dirk didn’t seem to notice, and was able to joke about the situation, claiming “It kind of sums up our season.”  He’s got a point – the Mavs currently sit dead last in the Western Conference, and it was announced today that Seth Curry will miss the remainder of the season to undergo surgery on a fractured tibia.  The 27-year old did not play this season.

 

Life’s Good as Derrick Rose’s Bro

Much has been made of Derrick Rose’s insane 13-year, $185 million shoe deal with Adidas signed back in 2012.  It came back into the spotlight earlier this season when Rose took a personal leave of absence from the Cavaliers to contemplate his future in basketball when it was reported Rose’s retirement would cost him $80 million remaining on the deal.  Sports Illustrated recently obtained the contract, and found a few additional beneficiaries.

Apparently, Rose’s older brother Reggie receives $250-300k annually as a consultant, while best friend Randall Hampton is also paid $50-75k for consulting services.  This comes as a huge surprise to me, as I did not realize other people would be listed in the contract, or paid as much as they are.  Time to start training my younger brother to ensure he makes the league.

 

SI Reveals the 2018 National Signing Day All-Name Team

Sports Illustrated’s annual list of the best names from National Signing Day is here, and no, it’s not a Key & Peele skit – this is real life.  Led by team captains Habakkuk Baldonado, Zadock Dinkelmann, Quindarious (Smoke) Monday, and my personal favorite, Bumper Pool, these are absolutely real players who will aim to take the college football world by storm next year.  As you can already tell, this is a fantastic piece.  I won’t spoil any more of the names, but go check it out.