*By Jacqueline Corba*
Denver Nuggets shooting guard Malik Beasley has already made it to the *real* NBA, and now the former first-round draft pick has his sights curiously set on the top tier of NBA2K, basketball's video-game analog.
"I think it's cool to see them compete, and it's different from actually being in the NBA," Beasley said Friday in an interview on Cheddar. "Even if they don't watch the NBA, if they are playing the games then they know a little something about us."
A real baller showing respect for the virtual ballers of the NBA's esports league is a telling sign of the times. Beasley said he enjoys playing video games like NBA2K with his teammates on the road, and said it's more than just a hobby.
"People always think that gaming is just bad if you are just sitting there and playing," he said. "If people get joy out of it, then enjoy that"
The NBA became the first professional sports league in the U.S. to launch an online league too. The NBA2K playoffs [tipped off Friday](https://cheddar.com/videos/e-trade-generation-trader-nba-2k-playoffs-kick-off) and were streaming on Twitch.
Building on the success of its inaugural season, the [NBA2K league announced] (https://2kleague.nba.com/news/nba-2k-league-announces-four-expansion-teams-for-2019-season/) recently it's adding four NBA teams ー the Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Minnesota Timberwolves ー to the lineup in 2019.
Beasley wants to Nuggets to get in on the action.
"I'm going to help create that."
For more on this story, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/nba-athlete-malik-beasley-dishes-on-esports).
While the United States were once again among the top nations in 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to medal, with the games just ended, the focus turns to the athletes coming home and the mental toll the competition take on them. Lauren Gibbs, the 2018 Team USA silver medalist in bobsledding, joined Cheddar News to give her perspective on this year's games and what the competitors have gone through. “Its definitely a mixed bag, you know? It's like I just had the most incredible athletic experience of my life, but then its like its over in a flash," Gibbs said about the feelings an athlete can go through after finishing. She noted that it's important for them to be vocal and reach out to support networks after the rush of competition ends.
As the Beijing winter Olympics start to wind down, its ratings are heading towards a historic low. An average of only 12.3 million viewers per day have tuned into NBC to watch the games, compared with about 23 million viewers for the 2018 games in South Korea. Seth Schachner, managing director of StratAmericas and digital business executive, breaks down what could be behind this trend.
As we celebrate Black History Month, Cheddar is highlighting prominent Black Americans who are carving their own historic paths and trailblazing in their fields. Today we feature NFL all-time great and current college coach Deion Sanders.
As Super Bowl LVI shapes up to be the biggest gambling event in sports history, restaurants and bars are looking to get in on the rapidly growing world of legalized sports betting.
The NFL was struck with a bombshell lawsuit by former Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores that accuses them and three teams of discrimination. The league's hiring practices when it comes to minority coaches have been in question for years but may finally see some change after Flores' suit. Cheddar News was joined by Matt Lombardo, National NFL Insider at Fansided to discuss the suit and its possible implications.
The Rams will technically be the road team for Super Bowl LIV despite the event being play at their home venue, Sofi Stadium. Why? Because the league alternates which conference's team is designated as home, and this year, it's the Bengals turn. Cody Roark, NFL Analyst for Pro Football Network, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell for some more Super Bowl nuggets and discusses what viewers should watch for when the game kicks off.
Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in NFL history, has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year-career.
