RECORDS NIGHT IN THE NBA..... @adekanye52 @ai_fwesh @proudlyaustin.....via@sportsbywest3

THE STAGE WAS SET, the  final day of the NBA regular season, and one of the greatest athlete of all time, Kobe Bryant was set to play his final game for LA Lakers, after 20 years of dedication, hardwork and success, the black mamba was set to retire.

On the other side, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS were looking to claim the record number of wins in a regular NBA season for themselves, with the previous record held by the legendary Michael Jordan inspired Chicago bulls, which was 72, and having equaled the record themselves, the whole world wanted to know if the Stephen curry inspired NBA defending champions, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS will have the record.

Like a script perfectly written, and properly directed by steven speilberg, boom, kobe bowed out of the game with 60 points, the black mamba brought back memories of the past, the 5 time NBA champion showed the stuff he is made of, leading the purple and gold side to a 101-96 triumph over Utah jazz.

In his words after the epic match, “you know, I can’t believe how fast 20 years went by, this is crazy. This is absolutely crazy.”

QUICK STATS:  kobe has scored 60 or more points in an NBA game 6 times.

He scored 15 of his team’s last 17 points in  his final game.

bryant is tied with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and tim duncan  for the most All-NBA selections all time with 15.

Three of his five titles came when he wore jersey No. 8, but his lone MVP season was in a No. 24 jersey.

Bryant is the only player in the last 50 seasons with four straight 50-point games, which he did in March 2007. Michael Jordan  is the only other player in the last 50 seasons with even three straight 50-point games, doing so in April 1987. The Elias Sports Bureau notes that Chamberlain with a career-long streak of seven in December 1961 is the only other player with more than three in NBA history.

Bryant is one of five players in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons, and is the only guard on the list. The rest include  Garnet,  Robert Parish, Kevin Willis and Abdul-Jabbar.

“to be drafted and then traded to this organization and then to spend 20 years here, you can’t write something better than this.” Kobe said. “all I can do here is thank you guys. This has been absolutely beautiful. I can’t believe this comes to an end”

Kobe also had some words for his wife and two daughters.

What can I say? Kobe said with a huge smile. “mamba out”

On the other hand, same day, steph curry and his fellow warriors  have created history right before our eyes, winning their  73 game of the season and eclipsing the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls' all-time wins record.

This two tales would be on the lips of lovers of the game for such a long time, the GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS record, and the signature way in which Kobe ended his career. Thank goodness there was no tweak in the script, and all the actors did their own part.

we love this game, we love the NBA.

2015/2016 PFA AWARDS NOMINEES...@adekanye52 @Ai_fwesh...via@sportsbywest3

The nominees for the 2015/2016 PFA player of the year has been announced, and current holder of the award, Eden Hazard will not be defending his award as he has had a bad season with Chelsea, table toppers, Leicester City has 3 players in the top category, Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham have one player each.

Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, Mesut Ozil, Harry Kane, N'Golo Kante and Dimitri Payet have been nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award.

Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Romelu Lukaku, Jack Butland, Philippe Coutinho and Ross Barkley have been nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.

Dele Alli has inspired spurs with some breathtaking goals in the season in view and some wonderful assists. The 2015/2016 has been like a breakout season for the young lad who has been called up to the England national team and has played for the three lions.

Ross Barkley has been energetic for Everton in the middle of the park, although, the Merseyside team may have had a disappointing season, especially in the EPL, two players have stood out for Everton this season: Ross Barkley and Romelu Lukaku.

Three lions forward harry Kane has been nominated in both categories, and he can scoop both awards after having a great season with Spurs.

Other previous winners of the PFA player of the year award are: Gareth Bale, Robin van persie, C.ronaldo, Eden hazard amongst others.

Other previous winners of the PFA young player of the year are: Jack Wilshere, Kyle walker, harry Kane amongst others.

Surprise omissions from the PFA young footballer of the year award are: Hector bellerin and Anthony martial.

Who do you feel deserves the award?
Share your thoughts below.
#Sportsbywest.

AMAJU PINNICK SACKED@proudlyaustin @koyero @ibksports @adekanye52 @NFF VIA@sportsbywest3

A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State has sacked the Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick.

  Amaju Pinnick

 Although, he was only elected in september 2014, Nigeria has failed to qualify for back to back AFCON tournaments under his tenure, with the failure to qualify for AFCON 2017 the latest.

The Court also ordered Chris Giwa to resume office as president of the football federation.

  Chris Giwa

The duo of Adama Yahaya and Obinna Ogba had approached the court to re-list the suit against Pinnick which they withdrew after the intervention of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Before the court ruling, many Nigerians had demanded the resignation of Pinnick from office who blamed him for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the AFCON 2017, same way they missed out on the 2015 edition.

A prominent Nigeria sports journalist on his twitter handle has confirmed the news saying: I also spoke with Amaju Pinnick and he says "this is not good for Nigerian football, we will file for stay of execution".

Pinnick had played down on the resignation calls, describing them as unnecessary.

It is yet to be seen how the world football governing body, FIFA, will react to the new twist in Nigerian football. Amaju Pinnick is a former chairman of the delta football association where the giant strides he made as chairman did not go un-noticed

 Solomon Dalung, Minister of Sports.

 It should be noted that FIFA opposes football matters being taken to civil courts and the world awaits the decision of football's world governing body on this issue.

sports by west  is then  asking  a wonderful question, is the sack of Pinnick good riddance to bad rubbish, or it was unfair?

#SBW

#SPORTSBYWEST

A CLASICO WITHOUT MSN? via@sportsbywest3

The El Clasico is upon us again, a match like no other, Real Madrid vs Barcelona, two giants, two successful teams, parading the best set of footballers. Millions of people around the world will be connected to Spain, it does not get any bigger than this, Barcelona are looking like runaway champions, Real Madrid will definitely not want them to go without giving it their all, and the good news for Real Madrid is that the trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar will be missing in action.

Reports reaching us from Spain has it that the Barcelona manager angered 5 time ballon d'or winner Lionel Messi by suggesting that the team should have  3 different training sessions on Friday, and Lionel responded by saying Luis Enrique is heartless, given that most of the players are just coming from the international break, and they deserve to rest, Lionel's response was said to have angered the coach who in turn responded by saying he does not need Messi, since he has Neymar and Luiz Suarez. A heated argument soon followed, and it took officials present at the training ground to prevent a major fight.

Lionel Messi has told the manager to go ahead and see how to win the match without him. RECALL that Real Madrid did lose to Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg with Lionel Messi not starting the match. Enrique responded by saying watch me do the trick again without you, only for Neymar and Suarez to betray the coach! it is now clearer than ever that Messi pulls the string at Barcelona, and no coach can ever tell him  what to do, Suarez and Neymar have sworn their allegiance to Lionel Messi, leaving the coach stranded.

The world will love to see how Barcelona will fare without the influencial trio who have scored over a 100 goals between them already this season, while Zidane will feel that luck has finally smiled on him as the manager of Real Madrid.

The news has been confirmed by Barcelona's official twitter handle as they were seen tweeting #aprilfool'sday

Happy April 1st to you.

ARSENE WENGER RESIGNS....via@sportsbywest3

The good thing about a bad thing is that it will surely come to an end, the bad thing about a good thing is that it will surely come to an end, and so, when Arsene Wenger, officially tendered his resignation letter as the manager of Arsenal football club of England, some fans that have always supported the #wengerout campaign will be happy that a bad thing has come to an end, while the board who have always had the back of the Frenchman will feel like a good thing has come to an end.

The 2015/2016 campaign has been another disappointing season for Arsenal, they were knocked out of the capital one cup, losing 3-0 to Sheffield Wednesday, not only that, they were also knocked out of the FA cup and the UEFA champions league in the same week, while losing to Barcelona in the UCL may have been forgivable, getting knocked out to relatively smaller teams in cup competitions has angered the fans. Not only that, in the race for the EPL title, in a season where defending champions Chelsea are struggling, and have had a managerial change, and both Manchester teams are having their worst seasons in recent years, pundits have tipped arsenal for the EPL title, only for the North London side to find themselves way behind Leicester city and Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsene Wenger has then confessed at a press conference briefing that this would be his last press conference as the manager of Arsenal football club, thereby renegading on his promise that he would still be at Arsenal next season. it looks like the pressure has finally gotten to the Frenchman as he was unable to muster words properly but he was quick to say that he  loves the club and there are no hard feeling. 

There are strong rumors that the special one is set to take over by next week, and he will be at Arsenal's next match against Watford. JOSE Mourinho had two options between Arsenal and Manchester united, but Jose chose arsenal because of his love for London. it is a surprising move given that we all thought Jose never loved Arsenal.

The social media has already gone abuzz with the #aprilfools day since the news was announced.

Happy April 1st to you.