Sports this 'n' that

 The NBA finals ended on Sunday, and with it, came an end to an era at ESPN, as they won't have the same crew returning next season.

With broadcast rights shifting to NBC & Amazon, along with ESPN, that means no more garbage coming from an overpaid, bloviating moron.

Yeah, this guy:

Photo courtesy ESPN/MSN.com

Seems Stephen A. Smith, aka Screamin' A. Cosell, has made ESPN's NBA coverage too much of a bully pulpit for himself, attempting to justify his current contract. They say controversy creates cash, but in Smith's case, he thinks he knows everything, but he really doesn't, and it makes the talent surrounding him in the studio or on location seemingly uncomfortable. Regular readers of this blog know I find him to be about as interesting as a torn curtain. ESPN pays him the big salary because they need the ratings. With Inside The NBA being licensed out to ESPN, I doubt seriously Smith will fit in with that crew.

We already have seen Smith exposed as being incompetent on football coverage. He came to ESPN as a beat reporter out of Philadelphia, and the fans there are probably willing to disown him. Given his increasing interest in politics, maybe Disney can move him over to Fox Sports. Naaaaaaah.

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The NFL has suspended Baltimore kicker and Super Bowl hero Justin Tucker 10 games for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Like DeShaun Watson, now with Cleveland, Tucker has had some issues, as allegedly, he's engaged in sexual misconduct with several women. Wouldn't be surprised at all if the Ravens cut him loose, and let someone else deal with the problem.

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The Mets have lost another starting pitcher to injury.

Griffin Canning, acquired from the Angels over the winter, was pulled from Thursday's game vs. Atlanta with what was originally believed to be an ankle injury, but overnight, there are fears it may be worse. As in, a torn Achilles tendon, which would end Canning's season. He signed a 1 year deal with the Mets, and as good as he was during the first 2 1/2 months of the season, they could re-sign him for next year, and for multiple years.

Get well soon.

Update, 5:38 pm (ET): Canning does have a ruptured Achilles tendon. Had surgery today, and is likely gone for the year.

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If there's one thing we know about boxer and YouTuber Jake Paul, it's that he's scared of fighting guys in his own age group.

Paul's set to face Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. soon, after outpointng Mike Tyson in his last fight. Thursday, Paul abruptly ended a remote interview conducted by Piers Morgan by cursing out Morgan, among other things. Oh, of course, Tyson fought some past-their-prime types early in his career, 40 years ago, but Paul is, to this writer, a poser. While brother Logan is on the sidelines with an injury, Jake will make another spectacle of himself at the expense of another, more experienced fighter. It's past time someone smacked him back to reality.