Joshua Valdez Articles - Page 9

One of the joys of being a sports fan is playing armchair GM, especially for a rebuilding team like the Washington Wizards. Anybody can have opinions about what the organization should do to get back to contention, but three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year Lou Williams isn’t just anybody. That’s why his comments on […]

Once again, Mississippi State football (2-10, 0-8 SEC) must go back to the drawing board after its second straight losing season. While the future is murky, one thing is for certain: redshirt freshman quarterback Chris Parson won’t be a part of it. Parson is entering the transfer portal, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Parson appeared in […]

Jordan Poole has seen the highest highs and the lowest lows of the NBA since being drafted by the Golden State Warriors in 2019. The Michigan alum won the title with the Dubs in ’22 but is now tasked with leading a 2-16 Washington Wizards team. Poole, though, is unfazed, via Monumental Sports Network’s Chase […]

Duke basketball’s Cooper Flagg was the preseason hype magnet in college basketball, and for good reason. The 17-year-old’s hoops IQ is well above most players his age on both ends of the floor, but Rutgers basketball superstar Dylan Harper is quickly showing why he should be mentioned in the same breath. Flagg still has the […]

In a perfect world, veteran forward Kyle Kuzma would be a guiding light on a Washington Wizards team stacked with young talent. However, that’s hard for the 29-year-old to do when constantly injured. Kuzma didn’t practice on Friday and is unlikely to play in the Wizards’ next two games, via Monumental Sports Network’s Chase Hughes. […]

Ole Miss football was set back in multiple ways in its 24-17 loss to Florida in Week 13. The Rebels not only got knocked out of College Football Playoff (CFP) contention, but it also lost leading receiver Tre Harris due to injury. Harris will be out against Mississippi State on Saturday, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel. […]

It’s been no secret recently that former Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus was on the hot seat after the team’s 4-7 start. However, its last-second loss to the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving was the final straw, and now the fanbase is celebrating his ouster. @jack_bfr used a GIF to express his excitement, via X, […]

After decades of failure, the Detroit Lions are finally elite. However, winning comes at a price, and linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez paid it on Thanksgiving. Rodriguez is out for the season after tearing his ACL during the Lions’ 23-20 victory over the Chicago Bears on Thursday, via NFL insider Jordan Schultz. “It’s a devastating blow for […]

Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has had plenty of reasons to be discouraged recently. The former NBA champion missed five games due to a groin injury and is currently averaging the lowest field goal percentage (40.9) of his career. Kuzma, though, thinks he’s turning a corner. Kyle Kuzma admits that he’s been a “work in […]

On Wednesday, the Washington Wizards reminded the local DC community that while they may be a team full of wealthy and famous athletes, they’re still generous enough to give back to the less fortunate. Both the Wizards and Mystics handed out hot food as a part of the city’s Thankful Meals Initiative for Wards 7 […]

Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic gets triple-doubles in his sleep, and is on pace to break his teammate Russell Westbrook’s all-time record. Westbrook has 200 and Jokic has 136, but the 29-year-old Jokic has plenty of time to catch up to the 36-year-old Westbrook. Westbrook sounded off about how it feels to be on the […]

Hawaii may be a beautiful state, but its university’s college athletics program is not right now. The Rainbow Warriors announced on Tuesday that it will fire athletic director Craig Angelos, and top NIL booster Mike Kawazoe isn’t pleased. Kawazoe, who heads the Rainbow Warriors NIL Collective, will pull all funding immediately, according to news network […]

As usual, Boston Celtics big man Al Horford was a crucial supporting piece in his team’s 120-117 over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. The 18th-year veteran scored 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting with seven rebounds, three blocks, and one assist across 32 minutes, and Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson couldn’t help but admire his performance […]

Some losses hurt more than others, and Tuesday night’s 120-117 defeat to the Boston Celtics was extra painful for Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell. The five-time All-Star drew one of the hardest fouls in recent memory as he dribbled past half court with the final seconds of the game winding down. Boston Celtics forward Jayson […]

Through their first 13 games of the NBA season, the Washington Wizards have shown that while they’re not a contender right now, they have building blocks that will eventually get them to the next level. Chief among them is second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly, who’s impressed some of the league’s best players recently. Future Hall-of-Fame sharpshooter […]

Former Memphis forward Tyreek Smith has found a new home after his falling out with the Tigers. The senior, who is represented by Young Money Sports, committed to Kansas State basketball on Monday. Smith will redshirt this season and play for the Wildcats next year, via On3’s Pete Nakos. Smith’s representative at Young Money Sports […]

Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma had one of his best performances of the season thus far against the Detroit Pistons, but it wasn’t enough to keep the game close. The Wizards lost 124-104 at home, and the former NBA champion wasn’t pleased. Kuzma didn’t hold back in the postgame presser, via Monumental Sports Network’s Chase […]

Many things went wrong for the Atlanta Falcons during Sunday’s 38-6 loss to the Denver Broncos. One of the scarier developments was wide receiver Darnell Mooney getting injured. However, the Tulane alum will be okay, via ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “Early prognosis is Falcons WR Darnell Mooney’s hamstring injury from Sunday is not serious, per source,” […]

The Washington Wizards may be 2-9, but their rebuild is right on schedule. Second-year guard Bilal Coulibaly along with rookies Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George have all shown promise, and Corey Kispert is impressed. The 25-year-old explained how the aforementioned quartet has changed the team’s offensive dynamic. I asked Corey Kispert how the Wizards’ […]

Washington Wizards rookie Alex Sarr is already an elite rim protector, as he’s tied for fourth in the NBA with 2.4 blocks per game thus far. However, the French international is also excited about his offensive game. Sarr gave a self-evaluation for that side of the ball thus far at practice. I asked Alex Sarr […]

Cooper Flagg has an elite standard to live up to in his freshman year at Duke basketball. The 2024 National High School Player of the Year is not only poised to be one of the best players in the country, but he’s playing for a Blue Devils program that only accepts National Championship runs annually. […]

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer hasn’t played since Week 3 due to personal reasons. The team has struggled since then, as its currently 2-7, but there’s new reason for hope. The Raiders activated Mayer from the Reserve/Non-football Injury List on Saturday, via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Mayer, who’s in his second season, has […]

Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins has been out for over a month with a hamstring injury, but the star playmaker is finally poised to return. The Texans can hardly afford to lose the Michigan alum long-term, as he still leads the team with 567 receiving yards this year. Collins was a full participant at Friday’s […]

Tennessee football fans should have no qualms with head coach Josh Heupel, as the No. 7-ranked Volunteers are 8-1 ahead of their primetime matchup with No. 12 Georgia on Saturday. However, it’s fair to wonder how Jon Gruden would’ve done in the role, too. The former Las Vegas Raiders coach almost coached Tennessee in the […]

The Detroit Pistons were tantalizingly close to upsetting the Milwaukee Bucks on the road on Wednesday night. However, they couldn’t close the deal at the charity stripe. Rookie forward Ron Holland II missed both free throws with the game tied and one second left in regulation. Ron Holland misses BOTH free throws and Pistons-Bucks are […]

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey finally made his season debut on Sunday, rushing for 39 yards on 13 carries and catching six passes for 68 receiving yards in the 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was a fine outing for a player who’s still dealing with Achilles tendonitis, but 49ers head […]

Mike Williams’ time with the New York Jets lasted just a half-season, as he and Aaron Rodgers were never in sync. That fact was highlighted by the 40-year-old quarterback’s comments about a route Williams ran against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6, which led to a back-breaking interception. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ newest receiver then trolled […]

Superstar outfielder Juan Soto will receive a long-term deal north of $600 million this offseason. The only question is, who will the four-time All-Star sign it with? While the New York Yankees and New York Mets are considered the favorites to land Soto, two other AL East teams have entered the fray, via ESPN’s Jeff Passan. […]

Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid might be the NBA’s most controversial player. Naismith Basketball Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal didn’t mince words about the 30-year-old’s attitude during halftime of the 76ers-New York Knicks game on Tuesday. O’Neal wanted Embiid to come with “more energy,” in his season debut, via NBA on TNT. "Joel Embiid will never win […]

Life without Klay Thompson has started well for the Golden State Warriors, as they’re 8-2 heading into their NBA Cup matchup with the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. The contest will mark Thompson’s first game in Golden State since departing to the Mavericks in free agency this past offseason, and Draymond Green is excited. Green […]

Kennesaw State football fired head coach Brian Bohannon on Sunday after a 1-8 start to the season, and rumors are flying about who could replace him. The 53-year-old won 48 games in his first five seasons before the Owls graduated to the FBS this year, but he couldn’t survive their newfound struggles, as the team’s […]

The New York Jets’ marriage with Aaron Rodgers looked great on paper. A future Hall-of-Fame quarterback joining a team stacked with talent on both sides of the ball sounds like a recipe for a deep playoff run. The Jets, though, always find a way to mess it up. Trading for Rodgers in 2023 made sense […]

The Chicago Bears haven’t surpassed 15 points scored in a game since their London matchup against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars on October 13, and it’s time for heads to roll. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron may be first on the chopping block. Head coach Matt Eberflus didn’t defend Waldron after their 19-3 loss to the New […]

Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk has gotten off to a solid start in his third season with the club, but he now has a new issue to deal with. The veteran will miss Monday night’s game against the San Antonio Spurs due to an ankle injury he suffered against the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The […]

It’s no surprise that superstar Juan Soto’s free agency was a topic of discussion during the MLB General Manager Meetings in San Antonio. The 26-year-old’s services could be available to anyone for the right price, but the Big Apple teams are the clear frontrunners. The New York Mets and New York Yankees are viewed around […]

After a successful campaign with the New York Yankees, superstar Juan Soto and his agent Scott Boras are testing the free-agent market in search of the biggest pot of gold they can find. As expected, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is throwing his hat in the ring. Cohen will meet Soto and Boras in […]

Elite programs like Villanova basketball schedule “buy games” against programs like Columbia early in the season to warm up against easy teams. However, it backfired for the Wildcats on Wednesday, as they lost 90-80 to the Lions in the season-opener at home. College basketball fans went wild on social media after the upset. “Villanova loses […]

San Antonio Spurs big man Victor Wembanyama may not be from Earth. The French international made yet another dazzling play on Wednesday night, showing off his vertical with a two-hand block against Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green. Wemby with the REJECTION on Jalen Green 🤯pic.twitter.com/xusSyKb3o6 — ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 7, 2024 Wembanyama hasn’t had a […]

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani injured his shoulder against the New York Yankees in the World Series, but played through it anyway. The generational talent now begins his rehab process. Ohtani had shoulder surgery on Tuesday, via The Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. “Dodgers announce that Shohei Ohtani had surgery today to repair a […]