Latest news with #MikeTaylor
Winnipeg Free Press
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sea change for Sea Bears
So much for needing time to gel. The Winnipeg Sea Bears and their new additions — star guard Jalen Harris and Canadian centre Simi Shittu — have hit the ground running. The Sea Bears (4-5) are 2-0 with both in the lineup, and 3-1 since Harris, a former second round pick by the Toronto Raptors, signed two weeks ago. The club stumbled out of the gate to a 1-4 start but have a chance to reach .500 Friday night when they hit the road to take on the Vancouver Bandits (8-1). 'We've added two first-team all-league players. We knew they'd be able to play a big responsibility for us, they'd take the pressure off the other players, and it would kind of balance out the lineup and rotation,' Sea Bears head coach and general manager Mike Taylor told the Free Press on Thursday. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Coach Mike Taylor speaks with the media at the first training camp of the season for the Sea Bears at the Sport for Life Centre on Thursday, May 8, 2025. For Josh story. Winnipeg Free Press 2025 'All those things have worked out, and now it's about continuing to grow together, continuing to find that identity and get everybody on the same page. We're really moving in a good direction.' It's no surprise to Harris to see things come together so quickly. He and Shittu are leading the team in scoring at just under 20 points per game each. 'When I was coming in, I was looking at the team and it was a talented group of guys, a great group of guys, so I knew it wasn't anything like that when the games weren't falling,' said Harris. 'When we got here, I think it kind of helped that maybe we brought a level of excitement, you know, something new. But then also, I think it was just kind of the extra little boost that maybe guys needed. We got a lot of talented guys that do a lot of good things, and I think there's still a lot of areas we can clean up, but I think it's been a good success so far.' Harris exploded for 32 points while going 7-for-10 from three last Sunday in a 91-84 victory at home against his former team, the Saskatchewan Rattlers. Point guard Terry Roberts also had a huge day, adding 15 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds with one turnover. 'Just how the ball is moving, everybody is ready and willing to make the extra pass, and it just feels better playing out there with a connected group of guys,' said Roberts. 'Our team in general, it just feels good to see how we're moving forward. We want to bring winning back to Winnipeg, and I think we've been doing pretty good and everything else will take care of itself.' Friday will be a massive test as the Bandits have quickly proven to be the cream of the crop in the CEBL with seven of their eight victories coming by double digits. They're led by veteran Australian forward Mitch Creek — a former member of the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves — and his 23.1 points per game and 46.2 per cent shooting from deep. This will be their second meeting this year as Vancouver beat the Sea Bears 100-89 in Winnipeg on May 28. The Sea Bears led by 13 in the first half before crumbling after the break. 'My biggest takeaway from the first game we played them was we had them, they just continued to fight,' said Roberts. 'We didn't have the same team that we have now. We're going into it with a different team, a different mindset. We've been winning, and I'm very excited for the game to show our confidence and show everybody what we can do here in Winnipeg.' The Sea Bears are guaranteed a spot in the Western Conference final as this year's host of championship weekend (Aug. 22-24). If Vancouver continues to dominate the way that they are, there's a good chance these two sides will square off at the end of summer for a trip to the CEBL title game on the line. After Vancouver the Sea Bears will travel to Edmonton for a date with the Stingers (4-6) on Sunday. The Sea Bears return to the Canada Life Centre to host the Scarborough Shooting Stars (5-4) on Fri., June 27 at 7:30 p.m. 'Whether it's Vancouver, whether it's Edmonton, with all these Western Conference teams, we're collecting as much information as we can, and we're trying to be intelligent about what we're showing,' said Taylor. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'At the end of the day, we want to win, and that's what we're preparing for. But we know one of these teams will be in Winnipeg at the end for a very important game and we want to be at our best at that time.' COACHING CHANGE It was announced Thursday that player development coach Tevonn Walker has left the Sea Bears to accept a coaching role with the NBA's Utah Jazz. The Sea Bears have replaced Walker with Jerry Williams, who was most recently the head coach of the London Lightning of the Basketball Super League. Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
03-06-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Home court not so sweet for Sea Bears
Home court hasn't been an advantage for the Winnipeg Sea Bears lately. The past two seasons saw Winnipeg's professional hoops squad go 15-5 inside Canada Life Centre, but this summer, they find themselves on a three-game slide on their own floor. Their latest defeat, which dropped them to 1-4, came on Saturday night in an 88-73 loss against the visiting Ottawa BlackJacks (2-2). The Sea Bears have now lost four straight games, all by double digits, since prevailing 92-89 over the Edmonton Stingers in the season opener. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Alex Campbell (centre) said Tuesday the team is still optimistic about their season despite dropping their last four contests. BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears guard Alex Campbell (centre) said Tuesday the team is still optimistic about their season despite dropping their last four contests. 'I think we've got a younger group and it's taken a lot to realize how special this fanbase is and I don't think we've come out and played with the sense of urgency that I feel like we could, and I don't know why that is,' said veteran Canadian guard Alex Campbell after Tuesday's practice. 'We're still optimistic… It's about gelling and building this thing back up. We have one ultimate goal at the end of the summer, obviously, and we want to build up towards that.' Campbell and head coach Mike Taylor insist the team isn't on cruise control since they're hosting the CEBL's Championship Weekend (Aug. 22-24). They are guaranteed to play in the league's Western Conference championship game no matter how they finish the regular season. The last three hosts — Montreal Alliance (6-14 in 2024), Vancouver Bandits (8-12 in 2023), and Ottawa (8-12 in 2022) — all went into the final four weekend with losing records and none of them made it to championship Sunday. 'I think we've seen the last few years that (hosting) has not been easy for teams to handle. We're trying to avoid, we'll say, the trap of a challenging season and a difficult time to win games,' said Taylor. 'We've gotten off to a slow start, so I think the most important thing for us is to take ownership and understand where we are and understand where we want to be and work to get there.' MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears head coach Mike Taylor said hosting the CEBL Championship Weekend can lead to complacency during the regular season. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS Winnipeg Sea Bears head coach Mike Taylor said hosting the CEBL Championship Weekend can lead to complacency during the regular season. 'I do have to say, there can be some complacency and that urgency you normally have when you're playing, it's something that we have to address… (But) we're working hard and going in the right direction.' Inefficient shooting has plagued the Sea Bears. They're dead last in both field goal (36.7) and three-point percentage (25.7). 'I feel like we're getting the right looks, it's just more self confidence because teams are kind of labelling us as non-shooters, so I think that's getting into a lot of players' heads,' said American power forward Jaylin Williams, who had 16 points and five rebounds against Ottawa. 'It's just about boosting confidence and believing in those shots is the main way to improving things. A lot of guys can shoot, I mean, I see it with these guys in practice every day, they all can shoot, it's just about putting it together in games.' The good news is help is on the way as star Canadian centre Simi Shittu is expected to join the team on the road this weekend when they take on the Brampton Honey Badgers (0-5) Friday and then the Scarborough Shooting Stars (3-0) Saturday. The six-foot-10 Shittu, who is arriving late as he was finishing up the Greek Basketball League season with his club Promitheas Patras, is an accomplished name in the summer circuit as he was named to the All-CEBL First Team and All-Canadian Team in 2023 when he was a member of the Calgary Surge. Supplied / CEBL Winnipeg Sea Bears' Simi Shittu is expected to join the team on the road Friday against the Brampton Honey Badgers. Shittu spent the 2023 season with the Calgary Surge. Supplied / CEBL Winnipeg Sea Bears' Simi Shittu is expected to join the team on the road Friday against the Brampton Honey Badgers. Shittu spent the 2023 season with the Calgary Surge. Shittu isn't expected to play this week since he'll need some time to get comfortable with his Winnipeg teammates. 'In the past, we had the star mentality where we built things around Teddy (Allen), we built things around Justin (Wright-Foreman). We made an effort to have more of a team approach this summer, and the early results are not as productive as we have been, but we have Simi coming in,' said Taylor. 'Simi is important because we've never had an athletic rim protector that he can provide. He's also a player that can settle guys down. When other teams go on a run, we can throw the ball into the post to him and play through him. He can play multiple spots on the floor, and is a big, physical body that will help with the physical presence of our team.' The Sea Bears will return to downtown Winnipeg on June 11 to square off against Montreal. Former Sea Bears guard Mason Bourcier officially signed with the Edmonton Stingers on Tuesday. Bourcier requested his release from Winnipeg last week as the 25-year-old from Kelowna, B.C., was frustrated with his role on the team. He played over 20 minutes per game with the Sea Bears in 2024, but saw his playing time slashed in half through the first three games this summer. 'We wish him all the best, we wish his family all the best, but (his tenure here) had run its course,' Taylor told the Free Press. 'At this point, our team is really together, and the roles are set. Hopefully we can replace him with a more productive player, a better player.' Taylor AllenReporter Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor. Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Knox Education Foundation CEO stepping down
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The CEO of the Knox Education Foundation is stepping down. Mike Taylor's exit takes effect on June 30, 2025. The foundation has served as an umbrella group to support Knox County Schools through strategic initiatives, grants, and a bunch of programs, like Project Grad, the 865 Academies and One Book – Read City. A release from the nonprofit said Taylor's leadership set them up for long-term success. Second Harvest continues to feel federal cuts impact ahead of summer months 'It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve the Knox Education Foundation. I am deeply grateful for the dedicated staff, committed board, and invaluable community partnerships that have made this journey so meaningful. As I prepare to step down, I do so with full confidence that the Foundation will continue to thrive and grow in its mission,' said Taylor. 'We are deeply grateful to Mike for his tireless commitment to our mission,' said Scott Broyles, Chair of the Board of Directors. 'His vision and dedication have laid a strong foundation for the future.' Whataburger to open Knoxville location on Cumberland Avenue Broyles added that the search for the next CEO will get underway with the support of partners and friends, and they plan to remain dedicated to strengthening Knox County's public education. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Martinez a 'cherished asset' or 'act on succession planning'?
We asked if you think selling Emi Martinez would be a wise idea for Aston Villa this summer, after our BBC Radio WM reporter Mike Taylor pondered whether the club should sell one of their "crown jewels" this transfer are some of your replies:Steve: Emi is a cherished asset by the club and, more so, by the fans. Losing him would hurt greatly. If it means we stay strong and retain other assets, I will be sad but I will accept the club's decision. His performances this year haven't been that good, so could we find a replacement that leaves us with a positive PSR balance? I'm up for Madness to sell Selling Martinez might be forced, either by PSR or by Emi wanting to go and the money being good enough, But if we make Champions League, we will want a top goalkeeper. Can we replace Martinez with someone as good or better? I don't know that we can. On a purely fan level though, I'd be devastated to lose him. He's got the sort of personality that makes him compelling to watch and I'm not sure there is a price I'd be happy to sell I don't think it would be a good idea to sell Martinez, this summer at least. It would be good to act on succession planning, like we did with Douglas Luiz, but we cannot replace Martinez with someone of equal quality this a Villa fan? Find and follow your club hereJohn: No chance. He is the jewel in our Now is the time to sell Martinez and buy Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool. He is a very good keeper that is yet to peak. Martinez made a few costly mistakes this season and Villa should easily make a profit on him. He may want to try and prove himself again in a different league, and that is Martinez is not for sale. Villa have had plenty of good goalkeepers over the years, but it's no coincidence that during the dark years of relegation, Villa continually changed their number one without success. The spine of a good team is grounded at the goalkeeper and Martinez is still in his prime and loves the club. Plenty of players bring their families onto the pitch in the final home game and Martinez's tears merely prove his devotion to both the Villa project and the fanbase.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Martinez a 'cherished asset' or 'act on succession planning'?
We asked if you think selling Emi Martinez would be a wise idea for Aston Villa this summer, after our BBC Radio WM reporter Mike Taylor pondered whether the club should sell one of their "crown jewels" this transfer window. Here are some of your replies: Steve: Emi is a cherished asset by the club and, more so, by the fans. Losing him would hurt greatly. If it means we stay strong and retain other assets, I will be sad but I will accept the club's decision. His performances this year haven't been that good, so could we find a replacement that leaves us with a positive PSR balance? I'm up for that. Phil: Madness to sell him. Matt: Selling Martinez might be forced, either by PSR or by Emi wanting to go and the money being good enough, But if we make Champions League, we will want a top goalkeeper. Can we replace Martinez with someone as good or better? I don't know that we can. On a purely fan level though, I'd be devastated to lose him. He's got the sort of personality that makes him compelling to watch and I'm not sure there is a price I'd be happy to sell at. Pip: I don't think it would be a good idea to sell Martinez, this summer at least. It would be good to act on succession planning, like we did with Douglas Luiz, but we cannot replace Martinez with someone of equal quality this summer. Not a Villa fan? Find and follow your club here John: No chance. He is the jewel in our crown. Cassie: Now is the time to sell Martinez and buy Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool. He is a very good keeper that is yet to peak. Martinez made a few costly mistakes this season and Villa should easily make a profit on him. He may want to try and prove himself again in a different league, and that is acceptable. Charlie: Martinez is not for sale. Villa have had plenty of good goalkeepers over the years, but it's no coincidence that during the dark years of relegation, Villa continually changed their number one without success. The spine of a good team is grounded at the goalkeeper and Martinez is still in his prime and loves the club. Plenty of players bring their families onto the pitch in the final home game and Martinez's tears merely prove his devotion to both the Villa project and the fanbase.
