Basketball
About a year after the helicopter crash that killed, among others, Kobe Bryant, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has announced that the pilot made a crucial mistake before the crash.
It said the pilot lost his bearings in the clouds of the hilly area near Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2020. He was prohibited by law from continuing the visual flight into the clouds, but he did so anyway, the NTBS chairman said.
Shortly before the crash, he said, the pilot told air traffic controllers he was climbing with his helicopter and had almost broken through the clouds. In fact, however, the Sikorsky S-76B skidded and sank, he said.
Technical problems with the helicopter had previously been ruled out.
Lead by LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers are the NBA champions for 2019/2020 after a 106:93 victory over the Miami Heat on Sunday, closing the series in 4-2. LeBron delivered a great performance, logging his first triple-double in the Finals with 28 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists.
The Lakers tied Boston Celtics with NBA championships, while LeBron James celebrated his 4th NBA title, and being the NBA Finals MVP.
Miami Heat are in the NBA Finals, with the title of the East Conference after a 4:2 series against Boston Celtics.
The Heat will face Lakers, the winner of the West Conference, for the 2020 NBA title. The first game will be Wednesday, September 30.
Los Angeles Lakers are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010, with the title of the West Conference after a 4:1 series against Denver Nuggets.
LeBron James was the man of game 5 with a 38-point triple-double.
The Lakers now wait for the winner of the East Conference, either Boston Celtics or Miami Heat. Miami Heat leads the series 3:2.
The Ivy League is the first Division I conference to cancel its fall sports season, postponing football and various other sports until at least January of 2021.
"With the information available to us today regarding the continued spread of the virus, we simply do not believe we can create and maintain an environment for the intercollegiate athletic competition that meets our requirements for safety and acceptable levels of risk," so a statement by the Ivy League presidents.
The Athletic's Shams Charania has reported that the NBA and NBA Players Association are in talks of allowing players to replace their names on the jersey with social justice statements. After players and fans had voiced concerns that there are too many more significant things going on in the world to play basketball, the organizations are discussing how to make a statement to show the importance of these events and let players express their support.
Alba Berlin won the BBL title for the 9th time with a 75:74 victory against MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg Sunday at the Audi Dome in Munich. This title is the second 2019/2020 season silverware for Alba, that in February won the German cup.
The last time the team from Berlin won the German title was back in 2008.
The forward player for the Cleveland Cavaliers has announced that he has committed $500,000 through his foundation to the psychology department of the University of California, Los Angeles. In the past, he has been vocal about his own history and struggles with mental health, namely panic attacks and anxiety. The donation has been committed on Monday, a day after he received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his efforts in mental health.
Alba Berlin have beaten EWE Baskets Oldenburg on Wednesday and will now face MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg, that the day before won their game against ratiopharm ulm.
The finals will be played in two games, the first one Friday at 18:30(UTC) and the second Sunday at 13:00(UTC).
Berlin does not win the BBL title since 2008, while this could be the first silverware for Ludwigsburg.
The easyCredit BBL starts its semifinals today with a match between MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg and ratiopharm ulm. The game takes place in the Audi Dome, Munich, at 13:00(UTC). The second leg of the semifinal will happen next Tuesday, at 18:30(UTC) also in the Audi Dome.
In the other semifinal EWE Baskets Oldenburg will face ALBA BERLIN, with games happening on Monday and Wednesday at 18:30(UTC).
In a joined statement Michael Jordan and the Jordan brand announced that they'll commit $100 million over 10 years to support "organizations dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice and greater access to education".