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Blake Harper

Blake Harper is a writer based in New York. He's originally from San Diego and is one of the few Chargers fans left. He doesn't believe in ties and loves elaborate celebrations. Follow him on Twitter @beezyharps 

Damian Lillard wants Trail Blazers to retire LaMarcus Aldridge's jersey

Some Portland fans turned on Aldridge when he left the team in 2015 to sign with the Spurs, but Lillard says that shouldn't overshadow his impressive play.

Japanese official: Olympics could still be canceled due to pandemic

And while the pandemic is certainly not over, cases have managed to drop in many areas of the world due to the vaccine rollout. Unfortunately, cases have been rising in Japan.

Michael Jordan will present for Kobe Bryant at Hall of Fame induction

At Bryant's memorial service, Jordan opened up about the closeness of their relationship, referring to Bryant as a "little brother."

Pelicans' Stan Van Gundy: 'Extra training camp' benefited Tom Thibodeau, Knicks

The Knicks were one of eight teams not invited to the bubble last summer, and they hired Thibs as their new coach in July, giving him several months to work with players and establish his presence with the team. 

Ex-Jets center Ryan Kalil: Adam Gase 'didn't give Sam [Darnold] a lot of room to grow'

Kalil spent nearly all of his career with the Panthers, where Darnold was recently traded, before joining the Jets in 2019 for his final season.

LaMarcus Aldridge retires from NBA due to irregular heartbeat

On Saturday's game between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers, Aldridge said he had an irregular heartbeat, which only worsened after the game.

Dan Evans hands Novak Djokovic first defeat of the year

Heading into the contest, Djokovic had a 10-0 record for 2021, including winning the Australian Open, but he faced an immediate deficit against Evans.

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau defends NBA play-in tournament

Thibodeau acknowledged the concerns from Cuban but said that it was too soon to say whether the play-in was a success or failure.

Vikings' Michael Pierce on opting out of 2020 season: 'I for sure regretted it to an extent'

Pierce was set to debut as a Viking in 2020, as he had signed a three-year, $27 million contract with Minnesota after spending his first four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.

Bears icon Jim McMahon: Chicago is 'where quarterbacks go to die'

It's tough to disagree with McMahon, as the Bears' quarterback situation has remained mostly a mess in the three decades since McMahon was under center.

Steph Curry 'absolutely' wants to break Klay Thompson's three-point record

Thompson set the record back in 2018, making 14 three-pointers against the Chicago Bulls to break the previous record of 13, which was set by Curry in 2016.

Bills, Sabres to allow full capacity in fall, though fans must be vaccinated

Fans can apply for an Excelsior Pass, which will show that they have been fully vaccinated and is already being used by the New York state health department.

NFL issues memo encouraging players and staff to get vaccinated

The memo also said that teams should provide their stadiums and facilities as venues for players and staff members to receive their vaccinations.

DeMar DeRozan describes Kobe Bryant's last game as 'an Avengers movie'

DeRozan outlined how Bryant's final game was far different from the usual farewell.

Head coach Matt Rhule: Panthers will take 'best available player' with eighth pick

The Carolina Panthers appear to have landed their starting quarterback for Week 1 of the upcoming season when they traded for Sam Darnold. 

Mark Cuban: NBA play-in tournament an 'enormous mistake'

The NBA first introduced the play-in tournament in the bubble last season, and the Board of Governors, which includes Cuban, unanimously approved to implement it for this season.

Nuggets star Jamal Murray out indefinitely with torn ACL

While the team did not explicitly say that Murray would miss the rest of the season, it's all but guaranteed given the timetable of recovering from a torn ACL.

Timberwolves to host rescheduled game vs. Nets on Tuesday afternoon

The game will begin at 4 p.m. ET, making it a rare weekday game not to be played at night.

Cleveland infielder Yu Chang received racist messages on social media after error in loss

In the ninth inning of the game between Cleveland and Chicago, Chang allowed the White Sox to score the go-ahead run when he accidentally hit Chicago's Yasmani Grandal with a throw.

Reggie Miller never had any interest in teaming up with Michael Jordan

This response should not come as a shock to anyone familiar with Miller, who is infamously competitive and has made it abundantly clear how much he wanted to be the guy who took Jordan down.

Josh Allen tells Trey Lance to 'ignore' the doubters: 'Let your game do the talking'

Similar to Lance, Allen was seen as a raw prospect heading into the 2018 draft, and some wondered if he would ever be able to develop enough as a QB to last in the league. Allen managed to prove his own doubters wrong.

Knicks reportedly targeting Dennis Schroder in free agency

Schroder is currently playing in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he has established himself as a valuable contributor on both ends of the floor.

Luka Doncic criticizes NBA play-in tournament: 'I don't see the point of that'

The Mavs are currently holding the seventh seed and would be in the play-in tournament if the playoffs began today, which is likely why Doncic is frustrated with the format. 

Dolphins corner Byron Jones expects 'big jump' from Tua Tagovailoa in Year 2

If Jones' prediction turns out to be accurate, it could mean big things for the Dolphins, as they are in a great position to make the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Report: Buccaneers not interested in trading for Teddy Bridgewater

With Tom Brady signing an extension after winning his seventh Super Bowl, there's no reason for Tampa Bay to be too concerned about bringing in a backup.