When the NBA season resumes there will be five teams within four games of each other trying to get that final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Memphis currently occupy the eighth seed in the West, but hot on the Grizzlies trail are Portland, New Orleans, Sacramento, and San Antonio. Memphis and the Trail Blazers have the hardest schedules left, while the Pelicans have the easest. Six of the eight teams that the Pels will play have a losing record. Whoever gets the eighth seed in the West, will likely play the Lakers in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. L-A is reportedly close to signing veteran J-R Smith.

Several major-league players will not play in 2020 because of health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. The World Series champion Nationals will not have first baseman Ryan Zimmerman or pitcher Joe Ross. Arizona pitcher Mike Leake says he’s not playing and the same for Rockies outfielder Ian Desmond.

LSU announces that senior pitcher Matthew Beck from Alexandria will wear number eight in 2021. The number eight jersey is given each season to the upperclassmen who exemplifies the spirit of LSU Baseball through his leadership and dedication to the program. Beck has been a solid pitcher out of the bullpen for the Tigers, posting a 9-1 record with a 2.66 ERA in 77 career appearances.

Louisiana Tech says eight of its players are competing in summer league action across the South. Cole McConnell, Logan McLeod, Jack Payne, Ben Brantley, Joseph Carbone, Adarius Myers, Kyle Crigger, and Manny Garcia are getting a chance to play after a shortened 2020 season.

Former LSU safety Eric Monroe has reportedly decided to transfer to Texas Tech. Monroe was a highly rated defensive back out of the Houston area. In three seasons at LSU, Monroe had 21 tackles, most of those tackles occurred during his redshirt freshman season.