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For years now, it has felt as though big market NBA teams have had an obvious advantage when compared to the rest of the league. For starters, most superstar players want to play for big markets as it affords them more opportunities off the court. Not to mention, the weather in these larger markets is usually better, which ultimately forces players to go to teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and even the Los Angeles Clippers. As a result, it has become difficult for small market teams to retain their superstars. In fact, there are only a few instances of superstars toughing it out. The two most obvious examples are Damian Lillard with the Portland Trail Blazers and Giannis Antetokounmpo with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Over the last few years, big market teams have dominated when it comes to making it to the NBA Finals. The only real exception to this rule has been the Cleveland Cavaliers, although when LeBron James is on your team, you kind of become a big market by default. Otherwise, we have seen the Heat, Warriors, Lakers, and even the Raptors represent their respective conferences in the Finals. With this in mind, it has always felt like small markets would never get their chance, and if they did, they would be held back by poor Finals ratings that would spark a tiresome discussion about whether or not small markets are even necessary.

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Luckily, these NBA playoffs have completely eradicated that discourse as the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in the NBA Finals. Sure, Phoenix is the fifth biggest city in the United States by population size, however, it isn’t exactly the deepest market when it comes to sports. When it comes to attendance, the Suns have consistently been at the bottom of the league for years, and even when the team had its run of success with Steve Nash, the franchise couldn’t even crack the Top 10. Not to mention, the team is worth $1.7 billion which makes them the 17th most valuable team in the NBA. As for the Bucks, well, they have similar attendance issues, even with Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way. In terms of value, they are ranked even lower than the Suns, as they have an evaluation of $1.625 billion.

Despite all of this, it has been truly remarkable to watch these teams make it to the NBA Finals. After years of being labeled as a “poverty franchise,” the Suns acquired Chris Paul and went from a lottery team to an NBA Finals favorite. Meanwhile, the Bucks finally broke through their playoff woes and got to their first final since 1974. It’s a matchup that has Paul going for his first ring in 16 years, while Giannis looks to cement his legacy as one of the best foreign players ever, and he’s only 26. Aside from the very obvious narratives at play here, both teams have been playing inspired basketball, and they took full advantage of the paths laid out in front of them. While fans began to kick and scream about injuries, the Suns and Bucks kept cool heads and persevered to where they are now. It’s a very welcomed departure from the predictability we have been made privy to over the last decade.

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Case-in-point, NBA Finals ratings were among the worst ever recorded in 2020. Many blamed BLM and the Coronavirus for this, although perhaps it can also be explained by the fact that fans are tired of seeing franchises like the Heat and Lakers succeed. Leading up to Game 1 of the series between the Bucks and Suns, there were various fans claiming that the ratings would be even worse. Well, they were in for a massive shock as it was revealed that Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals saw a 13 percent increase over the ratings from Game 1 of last year’s final. At the peak of the game, there were 9.9 million viewers, all while the match set records in the Phoenix and Milwaukee markets. These Game 1 statistics prove that the NBA doesn’t need the largest markets to always be at the top. What matters most to the fans is the actual basketball product. If the basketball is good, fans are going to watch regardless. However, if the game is too predictable and people don’t like the brand of basketball that’s being played, then the NBA is going to suffer the consequences.

Thanks to the lack of small-market success over the years, teams like the Suns and Bucks have always felt like underdogs, and there is nothing better in sports than a good underdog story. Just imagine how intriguing it would be next season if a team like the Charlotte Hornets or perhaps even the New Orleans Pelicans made a deep run in the playoffs next season. Of course, these examples are very unlikely, however, they are so shocking that they would immediately create an uptick in viewership, as NBA fans would be curious to see just how far they can go. This season, the Bucks and the Suns were able to do just that, and turned what could have been a terrible season, into a successful one. 

While there will always be entitled Lakers fans who bash on the smaller markets, it’s important to block out the noise and focus on what we’ve been given. In just a couple of weeks, a team will either be awarded its first-ever NBA title, or its first title in 50 years. No matter how you spin that, it’s a win for the NBA and basketball fans everywhere.

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With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention putting forth updated guidelines this week, they have suggested that all schools should be set to fully reopen for the upcoming Fall semester.

Precautionary decisions such as social distancing and wearing masks will be in the hands of the school district leaders in order to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.  

The updated guidance, which you can find in its entirety here, highlights the importance and beneficial nature of children attending school in person. In regards to this, the latest notes read “Revised to emphasize the COVID-19 prevention strategies most important for in-person learning for K-12 schools.”

As far as other vital aspects are concerned, the CDC also suggests all students and faculty who have not been vaccinated should continue to be wearing masks indoors, and that anybody feeling under the weather is recommended to stay off-premises to cease potential spread. More specifically, writing, “because of the importance of in-person learning, schools where not everyone is fully vaccinated should implement physical distancing to the extent possible within their structures (in addition to masking and other prevention strategies)”.

Following the tumultuous year, students going back to school surely assists in the rebuilding efforts of heading back in the standard way of living. 

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It’s been 9 years since Hot Boyz rapper B.G. was given a 14 year in prison for gun possession and witness tampering, and it seems that he will have to fulfill the entire sentence. Fans had been hopeful of an early release ever since the rapper wrote a letter pleading with the court to let him go free last year. That letter was shut down this week along with optimism for release anytime soon, VladTV reports. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan blasted B.G. yesterday with an 11-page ruling detailing the rapper’s continued delinquency while serving his sentence.

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“Dorsey argues he has been rehabilitated and is no longer the same person who committed these offenses. His prison record belies such an argument,” District Judge Morgan argued. B.G.’s letter, which was touted by his son as a possible sign of early release, was seemingly ineffective in convincing the court that he had changed his behavior. Morgan asserts that the rapper should serve his whole sentence, which would end in 2024. “[B.G.] has not presented compelling and extraordinary reasons for his compassionate release.”

B.G.’s letter to the court focused on his tumultuous upbringing as the reason for his unlawful actions but maintains that he is a changed man. “I respectfully move this court to sympathize with the misguided boy I was and have enough compassion, enough faith in the man I’ve become to order my return to my family and career,” the letter reads.

However, Judge Morgan brought up unlawful behavior B.G. committed in prison as a reason for his continued stay. “Bureau of Prison disciplinary record reveals that he has write-ups for possessing drugs/alcohol in 2021, possessing a hazardous tool in 2021 and 2020, using suboxone in 2020 and 2019, testing positive for Buprenorphine in 2019, refusing a work assignment in 2019, possessing narcotics in 2017, phone abuse in 2017, possessing an unauthorized item in 2017, and possessing a dangerous weapon in 2014.”

It seems B.G. won’t be returning to his family or the studio until his 14-year sentence ends in 2024. 

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Jay-Z is among the biggest stars in the world, if not the biggest. There’s likely not a place in the world where Jay-Z can go without being recognized. Whether or not you can rap a Jay verse, his face is as recognizable as they come. Over the course of his 25+ year career, he’s produced classic albums, built a massive empire, and remains one of the most pivotal forces in the culture today. 

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It seems that there are some individuals in the world who aren’t necessarily up-to-speed on why Jay-Z is an icon. The rapper was spotted stepping out in New York City when he was met with a group of paparazzi and fans who were trying to get a signature. Jay added his John Hancock to fans vinyl prints of The Dynasty: Roc-La-Familia, The Black Album and The Blueprint. 

Unfortunately for one lady, her attempt to get a Jay-Z-autographed baseball failed. As Jay tried to step into his vehicle, the woman pulled out a baseball asking Jay to sign it. Though he was wearing shades, the confusion in Jay’s face was apparent. He politely declined, and told the lady, “I don’t play baseball.” 

Needless to say, he wasn’t impressed with the request but his dry response earned a few chuckles from those in the vicinity. Check out the clip below.

Moneybagg Yo has had a monumental 2021 with the release of A Gangsta’s Pain in April as well as his verse on Tyga’s “Splash”, which went viral on TikTok. As the Memphis rapper builds off of this success and attempts to bring other artists under his wing, he announced on Friday that he is taking his new batch of songs across the country for the “A Gangsta’s Pain” official tour. The tour, which begins at the end of September and stretches through October, will hit 20 major cities across America with more dates to be added soon.

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Fredo Bang, Big 30, Big Homie 8, Black Zacc, and Tripstar are all opening acts for the upcoming tour. The tour starts in Tampa, Florida on September 29th and stretches as north as Boston up the East Coast in just its first two weeks. He’ll also be stopping in New York City, Atlanta, and Washington D.C. along the way. Moneybagg Yo, who allegedly receives $200,000 for each headlining show, will then head west to Chicago, south to Texas, and finally, make his way up the West Coast before finishing the tour in Seattle. 

As concert venues and stadiums finally begin opening up, fans can’t wait to see Moneybagg Yo finally perform his new album. However, some fans were disappointed that their city was snubbed from the list. Houston fans were the most vocal in the rapper’s comment section, commenting: “Where HOUSTON AT ?!!!!!!!”, while others were disappointed that the rapper’s hometown of Memphis wasn’t getting a show.

Are you gonna get tickets to “A Gangsta’s Pain” Tour? Check out the post below:

It must be Certified Lover Boy season. The rapper had the internet in shambles last night after he and Johanna Leia, the mother of high school basketball star Amari Bailey, were spotted on a date. Not just any regular date but one that was hosted at the Dodger Stadium. The internet was in shambles with memes but it certainly wasn’t the first time they were spotted together.

According to TMZ, Drake and Johanna Leia have been seeing each other for months at this point. Sources close to the tabloid publication revealed that they met during a high school basketball game. Bailey, of course, is a promising young star who plays alongside Bronny James for Sierra Canyon. 

The relationship developed organically between Drake and Johanna but it seems that Bailey also approves of the relationship. The rapper reportedly offered Bailey advice on finances, fame, and life. Bailey and Drake have also bonded on their own and they’ve all hung out at Drizzy’s home together.

ABC7’s chopper caught Drake and Johanna during their dinner date at the Dodger Stadium. Apparently, Drake was able to host the luxurious date at the stadium after making a “sizeable donation” to the team’s charitable foundation. 

In related news, Drake revealed that Certified Lover Boy is officially in its mixing stages so hopefully, the album drops before the summer ends.

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