
MLB Rumors

The King approves. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James tweeted a shout-out at Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña after Acuña borrowed a celebration James frequently uses — the “Silencer” — as he started his trot to first base following a fifth-inning home run against the Milwaukee Brewers. “Yessir!!!!” James tweeted Saturday night. “Went yard then hit the “Silencer”!! Ayyyyyyeee.” Acuña hit the 420-foot blast in the bottom of the fifth on a 1-2 count off of pitcher Corbin Burnes, last year’s NL Cy Young award winner. As Acuña left the batter’s box upon hitting the home run, which sailed into deep left field, he turned to the “Silencer,” which is when a person uses both their hands at their side and pushes down, while lifting either knee. The home run opened the scoring in the game and gave the Braves a one-run lead.
Aaron Judge’s Saturday got more eventful after a chaotic end to the Yankees’ afternoon win. Judge and his wife Samantha Bracksieck sat courtside at Barclays Center Saturday night for the Nets’ Game 3 loss to the Celtics, which put Boston up 3-0 in the first-round NBA playoff series. The couple, who got married in Hawaii in December, were seated next to “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah. Their night out in Brooklyn came hours after a walk-off hit by Gleyber Torres — who also attended the Nets game — which was overshadowed by a wild postgame scene in which fans seated beyond the outfield threw beers and trash at Guardians players. Judge was among the players who went out and tried to calm the fans down.
Stefan Bondy: Spoke to a City Hall spokesperson and the Yankees and Mets fall under the same private sector mandate as Kyrie Irving and the Nets. No difference because it’s an outdoor sport. Spokesperson cautioned that things could change by Opening Day.
Mike Vorkunov: The NBPA released a statement of support for the MLB players union. “NBA players stand with our brothers at the MLBPA as they fight in collective bargaining for a more just and equitable system on behalf of current and future generations of professional baseball players.” pic.twitter.com/0otbDpSyIH
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 1,300 fake championship rings worth nearly $1 million through an operation conducted during the fall months at the Port of Cincinnati. Some of the items recovered included counterfeit Milwaukee Bucks championship rings and a Lombardi Trophy. Officers intercepted 56 shipments of counterfeit championship rings from October to December. A total of 1,382 rings and trophies were seized. “The cheaply made rings, which lack detail and quality, included Boston Red Sox World Series, LA Dodgers, Milwaukee Bucks, University of Kentucky Championship, and NASCAR Championship rings to name a few,” the agency said in a statement.
Red Sox owners interested in buying NBA franchise
Fenway Sports Group wants to buy an NBA team once it’s done acquiring the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, Axios has learned. FSG currently owns the The Boston Red Sox and a NASCAR team in the U.S., plus Liverpool F.C. in Europe. It also recently invested in Spring Hill Group, a content production firm co-founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter (both of whom have small stakes in FSG).