Morning Perk: Mayweather, Pre-Madness and More

Monday morning. Your alarm goes off for the first time in two days, you head back to the office and then spend the first few hours of the workday planning out how you’ll survive until closing time on Friday. Luckily, Poker Central and Death Wish Coffee have you covered. The world’s strongest coffee gives you a “Morning Perk,” recapping the weekend sports action on Monday and then the best from across the internet on Friday.

Dare I say this was the best sports weekend that we’ve had since the New England Patriots hoisted the Lombardi Trophy? Post-NFL life, save for some trades and signings that made bigger news than actual sporting events, isn’t half bad. How could it be, when you have boxers coming out of retirement, MVP candidates battling in a potential NBA Finals preview and an action packed college basketball weekend that is leaving us chomping at the bit for March Madness to officially start later this week. 

TRADE! The Patriots have traded their #32 & 3rd #103 pick to the Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks & their 4th #118 pick per sources

— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 11, 2017

There were a handful of meaningful NFL moves over the last week, Martellus Bennet signing with the Packers and Terrelle Pryor joining the Redskins made headlines but the most talked about transaction was a trade by the reigning Super Bowl champions. The New England Patriots bolstered their offense by sending a 1^st and 3^rd Round pick to the New Orleans Saints for wide receiver Brandin Cooks. As one of last year’s breakout players, the 23-year old Cooks will add to Tom Brady’s arsenal and make the Patriots Super Bowl frontrunners heading into next season.

BREAKING: Floyd Mayweather is coming out of retirement, just to fight Conor McGregor! pic.twitter.com/NmLLM1poyw

— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) March 11, 2017

Last week, Floyd Mayweather confirmed that he was coming out of retirement but only to fight Conor McGregor. Money Mayweather admitted that the fight “needs to happen” and apparently, McGregor’s camp is on board. Both fighters have reportedly settled on June 10 for the date of their super-fight and Las Vegas’ new T-Mobile Arena is set to be in the venue. While nothing has officially been confirmed, you’d have to imagine that there is just too much money at stake for this fight to not eventually happen.

James x James

Harden’s 38 points, 11 assists & 10 rebounds bests LeBron’s 30 points, 7 rebounds & 5 assists in Houston! pic.twitter.com/5A21AJVp0q

— NBA (@NBA) March 13, 2017

While college basketball was the main hardwood focus of the weekend, two of the NBA’s best teed off against one another last night. LeBron James and James Harden traded blows in a heavyweight battle of likely MVP candidates, with Harden’s 38/11/10 stat line leading his Rockets to a win over the reigning champs. With the Golden State Warriors injured and struggling of late, this could be an NBA Finals preview but we aren’t writing off Steph, Clay, Drey and KD just yet.

HANG ON TO THE ROOF!! pic.twitter.com/5W94fcIs4c

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 12, 2017

Iowa State claimed their third Big 12 Tournament title in the last four years this past weekend and the highlight from their win over West Virginia was brought to you by Deonte Burton, who is a bad, bad man. If Willie Cauley-Stein was arrested for attempted murder last week, they need to lock Burton up and throw away the key. Burton jumped out of the building, caught a perfect alley-oop and poster-ized some poor Mountaineer to put the exclamation point on their victory. Iowa State might not be a favorite heading into the NCAA Tournament but if them advancing means more dunks like this from Burton, I am all-in on the Cyclones over the next few weeks. 

NO. 1 SEEDS: Villanova, Kansas, UNC, Gonzaga https://t.co/VQijBldMAb pic.twitter.com/GnPVP4YUXV

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 12, 2017

The biggest story line from the spots weekend was the announcement of the NCAA Basketball Tournament bracket. Defending champion Villanova, along with Gonzaga, North Carolina and Kansas are the top seeds in their region but in a year where no single team has set themselves apart throughout the regular season, any of the 68 teams could end their season cutting the nets in Phoenix next month. Okay, maybe not all of them, no offense South Dakota State fans.

The “Morning Perk” is sponsored by Death Wish Coffee, the world’s strongest coffee. Order yours today and make sure to follow Death Wish Coffee on Twitter.