It is with great pleasure that we continue the third annual Notinhalloffame MLB Regular Season Cup, and let us explain how this works:

With every single regular season game, we anointed the best five players in the game with descending points, 5-4-3-2-1.

We knew the following:

-       The top players for the MLB NIHOF Cup are not always the best in the league, as injuries keep players out of games, and a premium on staying healthy can help pile up points. It also does not hurt to be a top player on an average or mediocre team, as they can amass Cup points easier that elite players on loaded squads.

-       In Baseball, it is more common than in Basketball and Hockey for a player to accrue points with a single Home Run in a game, and overall favors position players. Starting Pitchers have a hard time with approximately 30-35 Starts and throwing less innings than in previous generations. This also is true for closers, which is not made for this process.

-       Please remember, that this is NOT necessarily who we think were the best players this year, and does not reflect overall consistency. Treat this the way did, as a fun process and more of a compilation of temporary statistical domination.

At present 698 (up from 664 last week) Players have generated at least one Cup Point.

So, MLB players! Get your agents to work winning this into your contracts!

This is the third update, with standings as of the morning of May 15.

1. Shohei Ohtani: Los Angeles Angels, Designated Hitter & Pitcher: (Ranked #1 last week)

55 Cup Points, 39 Games, 1.41 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 26 Runs Batted In, 6 SB, .287/.361/.513, 2.4 bWAR & 4-1, 2.74 ERA, 66 SO, 0.913 WHIP.

We said that Ohtani would take over the top spot by before June, and here we are! The Notinhalloffame Cup is built for Ohtani, who can compile points in two different avenues; the only one who can do so. The Japanese superstar led his nation to a World Cup, and right now his Angels have a winning record. Ohtani is off to his best pitching start, leading the AL in SO/9 (12.9) and H/9 (4.3), and he is his usual self with the bat.

2 (TIE). Rafael Devers: Boston Red Sox, Third Base: (Ranked #2 Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.23 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 37 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .255/.304/.529, 1.1 bWAR.

Devers finally falls from the top spot, after failing to accrue a Cup Point this past week, but is still the American League leader in Home Runs (11), and is second in RBIs (37).

2. Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers, Shortstop: (Ranked #5, Last Week)

49 Cup Points, 33 Games, 1.18 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 34 Runs Batted In, 7 SB, .288/.376/.475, 2.4 bWAR.

Semien climbs to a second-place tie and is the current AL leader in Runs Scoed (35) and bWAR for Position Players (2.4). The Rangers infielder is also third in Defensive bWAR (0.8).

4. Ronald Acuna: Atlanta Braves, Outfield: (Ranked #3 Last Week)

48 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.20 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 23 Runs Batted In, 17 SB, .346/.437/.577, 2.7 bWAR.

Acuna leads all NL batters in bWAR (2.7), Runs Scored (30), Hits (54) Stolen Bases (17), OBP (.437), OPS (1.014), OPS+ (174) and Total Bases (90), while second in Batting Average (.346). Wait, how is he only fourth? Ah, the mystery of the NIHOF CUP!

5. Juan Soto: San Diego Padres, Outfield: (Not in Top Ten, Last Week)

46 Cup Points, 41 Games, 1.12 Cup Points per Game, 7 Home Runs, 20 Runs Batted In, 3 SB, .255/.403/.483, 1.3 bWAR.

Soto is the National League leader in Walks (36) and is in the top ten in OBP (.403) and OPS+ (151).

6. Luis Robert: Chicago White Sox, Outfield: (Not in Top Ten, Last Week)

45 Cup Points, 41 Games, 1.10 Cup Points per Game, 11 Home Runs, 27 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .275/.335/.562, 2.2 bWAR.

Robert is healthy and producing at a high rate, topping the AL leaderboard in Home Runs (11) and Extra Base Hits (22) and is second in Defensive bWAR (0.8).

7 (TIE). Yordan Alvarez: Houston Astros, Designated Hitter & Outfield: (Ranked #6, Last Week)

43 Cup Points, 34 Games, 1.27 Cup Points per Game, 9 Home Runs, 37 Runs Batted In, 0 SB, .288/.388/.568, 1.2 bWAR.

Alvarez is entrenched as one of the game’s premier hitters, and is at present fourth in Slugging (.568) and OPS (.956) and eighth in Home Runs (9).

7 (TIE). Mookie Betts: Los Angeles Dodgers, Outfield: (Not in the Top Ten, Last Week)

43 Cup Points, 39 Games, 1.10 Cup Points per Game, 9 Home Runs, 24 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .252/.358/.510, 1.6 bWAR.

Betts makes his first top ten appearance, which is where he belongs. The Outfielder is seventh in Home Runs in the NL (9).

9. Ozzie Albies: Atlanta Braves, Second Base: (Ranked #3, Last Week)

42 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.05 Cup Points per Game, 10 Home Runs, 29 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .259/.298/.505, 1.1 bWAR.

Albies is here because of his power, currently fifth in the NL in Home Runs (10) and fourth in RBIs (29).

10 (TIE). Patrick Wisdom: Chicago Cubs, First Base: (Not Ranked in the Top Ten, Last Week)

41 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.03 Cup Points per Game, 12 Home Runs, 23 Runs Batted In, 2 SB, .240/.338/.587, 1.0 bWAR.

Wisdom returns to the top ten as two other Cubs fell off. He is currently the National League leader in Slugging (.587) and is second in Home Runs (12).

10 (TIE). Bo Bichette: Toronto Blue Jays, Shortstop: (Not Ranked in the Top Ten, Last Week)

41 Cup Points, 40 Games, 1.02 Cup Points per Game, 8 Home Runs, 26 Runs Batted In, 1 SB, .320/.365/.515, 1.7 bWAR.

Bichette currently holds the AL lead in Hits (54) and Total Bases (87), and is third in Batting Average (.320).

Chicago’s (NL) Ian Happ and Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles’s (NL) Max Muncy and Los Angeles’s (AL) Mike Trout fell out of the top ten.

Our next update will be the morning of May 22.

Doyle Brunson, who was considered by many to have been the greatest poker player of all-time, passed away at the age of 89.

A ten-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner (tied for second), and 26-time WSOP final table participant won over six million dollars in earnings. Nicknamed “Texas Dolly”, Brunson was one of the most popular figures of the game, known for his big smile, cowboy hat, and affable personality.

Brunson was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Doyle Brunson.

Many sportspeople use CBD for various purposes. Some do it discreetly, while others don’t conceal this fact. Here are some famous athletes who are CBD ambassadors. 

Famous Athletes Who Are Into CBD 

The rise of CBD use across the USA and worldwide is evident. Many people resort to this safe, non-addictive herbal remedy to treat pain, inflammation, stress, and insomnia. The best about CBD is that it is not psychoactive like its fellow cannabis compound THC. Thus, CBD use is generally safe for many adult populations, with meager risks of overdosing or side effects. 

Due to such a broad spectrum of CBD’s health benefits, there's nothing surprising about the fact that it has become a close companion of many athletes. People dealing with sports at all levels, from routine wellness to high-rank professional leagues, use CBD-infused products to address pre-competition anxiety, soothe sore and inflamed muscles, and combat chronic or acute pain. 

Is this practice legally allowed? What implications does this CBD use have for athletes? Which famous athletes propagate CBD consumption and are open about their CBD regimen? This article will walk you through all these points to show the relationship between CBD and professional sports. 

Why Do Athletes Use CBD? 

First, let’s start by clarifying the purposes of CBD use for athletes. These are people who train very often and endure immense physical workloads on their bodies every day. Thus, it’s pretty common for athletes to feel soreness and inflammation in muscles and joints after intense workouts, which may exacerbate if not addressed properly. To soothe the pain and relieve the discomfort, athletes apply cooling and painkilling lotions, salves, and roll-ons, many of which are covered at askgrowers.com/cbd/cbd-topicals/cbd-roll-on. 

Another aspect with which CBD can help is athletic anxiety; many famous and talented sportspeople lost competitions only because of nervousness and self-distrust. These conditions can be quickly managed with CBD oils and capsules, which contain high CBD concentrations and produce a calming and soothing effect on the user. 

Is CBD Use Legal in Professional Sports? 

The most important point is that CBD is non-psychoactive, unlike THC, so it won't appear in the drug test and will not impair the athlete's judgment or reaction. The use of CBD is totally safe for the CNS and doesn't cause the intoxication a regular cannabis user could feel. Thus, there is no legal limitation

in WADA or any other reputable sports organization that would prohibit the use of CBD by athletes. 

Top 5 Famous Athletes Open About Their CBD Consumption 

Now, to see that our words are not empty marketing, let’s consider a list of five world-known athletes who are open about their CBD use and face no legal or professional problems due to this wellness habit. 

#1 James Haskell 

Haskell, a retired UK rugby star and a holder of 78 senior England cups, is well-known for CBD advocacy and use as a part of his daily wellness regimen. Haskell and his wife, Chloe Madeley, share their fitness and nutrition tips with their followers on social media and talk about CBD as an integral element of their health and vitality. According to Haskell, regular CBD consumption can aid better training performance and speed up athletes' recovery after intense workouts. 

#2 George Kruis 

Kruis is a well-known rugby player who once played for the Saracens and was an honorable member of the England Performance Squad. While at the Saracens, Kruis was introduced to CBD by his teammate Dominic Day, who felt the whole spectrum of CBD benefits by using CBD remedies for knee injury treatment. Day was impressed with the potency of pain relief and accelerated recovery he experienced with CBD assistance, so he engaged Kruis in CBD use and advocacy. This advice was exceptionally helpful for Kruis after an ankle surgery he sustained due to a sports trauma, making him a dedicated fan of CBD consumption afterward. 

#3 Eugene Monroe 

Monroe is an NFL star repeatedly noted for avid CBD advocacy. Unfortunately, he had to retire from the NFL at the age of 29, ending his professional career in 2016, because of a severe head trauma sustained during the competitions. However, even before retiring. Monroe advocated CBD use by athletes since 2014, the early years of cannabis legalization and CBD products' entry into the American market. 

#4 Mike Tyson 

Mike Tyson has a long history of CBD advocacy as a method of improving the athlete's health and well-being. He had a glorious track record of titles and victories in professional boxing and was the first to hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF awards simultaneously. Tyson repeatedly claimed he used CBD before bedtime and in the morning, reporting its consumption for training performance enhancement. Thus, the name of Tyson has been firmly associated with CBD in particular and cannabis advocacy in general. After retiring from professional sports, Mike Tyson even launched his own marijuana growing farm where he cultivates top-tier US cannabis and uses it to produce high-quality cannabis products for American consumers. 

#5 Kieran Kevan 

Kieran Kevan is a world-known bodybuilder with a tough, demanding training regimen. He has been a role model for many aspiring athletes in this sector for many years and is currently a UK Drug-Free Body Building Association champion. As the UKDFBA name suggests, the organization encourages bodybuilding athletes to grow their muscle mass without using hazardous chemicals. Thus, Kevan propagates the use of CBD (which he often displays in his Instagram posts) as a remedy after a stressful workout and an effective method for post-competition stress relief. 

Final Word: CBD and Sports Can Be Friends 

So, as you can see now, CBD is absolutely safe and beneficial in many ways to people doing regular sports, from amateurs to top-tier professionals. CBD-infused topicals can help you soothe muscle and joint pain, while CBD products for internal consumption can soothe stress and relieve the burden of chronic overload at training sessions. The key to safe and effective CBD use is to choose a well-matched product to your needs and keep it to a standard dose to achieve optimal effects. 

The author of this piece is Tia Moskalenko, a full-time blogger at AskGrowers and a keen fan of using CBD products for health and wellness. Tia collaborates closely with cannabis brands and spreads word of mouth about CBD benefits for various population categories. Her dream is to improve the reputation of the cannabis industry among American users with various health issues, thus helping people transition to safer, non-addictive remedies gifted by nature.

It is award season in the NBA, and while we have a section (that we are in the process of updating) where we look at every award and its impact in Hall of Fame induction, we have felt that post-season All-NBA honors are colossal.

If you can, indulge us as we look at all 15 All-NBA spots, and offer a quick speculation on what it means for a Springfield spot.

First Team:

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers. (Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). The Sixers superstar won the MVP, and is a First Team All-NBA player this year. No player who won the MVP has ever failed to enter the Hall (though we think Derrick Rose will buck that trend), and he could become a Champion this year. This is the season that should cement his induction, and when we revise the Monitor, he will have a monstrous jump.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics. (Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Tatum is now a back-to-back First Team All-Star, and if you didn’t think he was not among the top five players in basketball last year, don’t you now? This is a future Hall of Fame inductee.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks. (Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Giannis has already done enough to enter the Hall, and the two-time MVP now has a five-year streak of First Team All-Pros.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks. (Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Doncic will also see a seismic rise in next year’s pre-season Monitor, and while the Luka/Kyrie experiment flopped, Doncic earned this accolade. He is also on a four-year run of First Team All-Pros.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder. (Unranked on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Gilgeous-Alexander had his breakthrough, and it is colossal for his Hall of Fame chances. We know that anyone as young as SGA will not enter a Hall on one great year, it is a lot harder for players without a First Team All-NBA to gain induction. He has one now, and isn’t done yet.

Second Team:

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets. (Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Jokic did not repeat as MVP, but under next year’s All-NBA format would have added another First Team All-NBA. A two-time MVP will enter the Hall regardless, it is just now whether or not he can be a champion.

Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors. (Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Curry is already first ballot, so this doesn’t mean much for Springfield, but notably this is his ninth All-NBA nod.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Ranked #44 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). As big as we said that Gilgeous-Alexander’s First Team, we think this Second Team is bigger for Mitchell. While we said it was possible for a player to make the Hall without a First Team, it is next to impossible to enter without an All-NBA of any kind, despite how many All-Stars you have. Mitchell, who is a four-time All-Star, gains his first All-NBA nod, and should have more in him.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat. (Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Right here. For our money, the man helped the most is Butler, whose first half was not good enough to earn an All-Star nod, but had a great second half which propelled him to his fifth All-NBA Selection. Butler never was named a First Team, but anyone with five All-NBAs (and five All-Defensives) should now be on the positive side of the fence.

Jaleyn Brown, Boston Celtics. (Unranked on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Brown finally achieved an All-NBA Selection, and though this is far from enough to even be considered for a plaque, it is an excellent building block for a future conversation.

Third Team

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers. (Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). James is the best player of this generation and adding another All-NBA (his 19^th) is a drop in his bucket. Holy crap, 19?

Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings. (Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Sabonis had an excellent year, taking the Kings to their first playoff in years. It has been a great fit for Sabonis, who should build on this resume if he stays healthy.

De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings. (Unranked on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Fox lands his first All-NBA Selection, but has a lot more to do. Is this a one-and-done, or the start of something phenomenal?

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers. (Ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Portland was awful, but Dame wasn’t adding his seventh All-NBA. No player with seven of those and seven All-Stars will not be inducted regardless of whether he played in an NBA Final.

Julius Randle, New York Knicks. (Ranked #41 on Notinhalloffame’s Active HOF Monitor). Randle captured his second All-Star and post-season All-Star, and his slowly rising on the HOF radar. Is he considered one now? No, but if he has five more years just like this, he should be borderline.

Notably, Ja Morant’s failure to make the All-NBA cost him nearly 40 millin dollars. Does this make it the most costly Instagram post of all-time?