Bally Sports is Back: What You Need to Know

By now, hopefully you've heard the good news that Bally Sports is back on your TV. Comcast/Xfinity customers who haven't been able to watch their favorite MLB teams on Bally this summer will finally get to see those games starting on Aug. 1. It's a long time coming. Bally has been off the Comcast/Xfinity airwaves since early May. Customers have been up in arms, and rightfully so. Cable TV isn't cheap. Many people buy cable just to see their favorite local sports teams, too. So, I'm extremely happy that Bally Sports is back, because it's better late than never.

Following months of negotiations, Diamond Sports Group, which operates the Bally Sports network, has come to a deal with Comcast to have the regional sports networks back on Xfinity beginning Aug. 1. The two parties weren't able to come to a deal before their April 30 deadline early this year, which is why Xfinity customers weren't able to watch Bally Sports in their area. In the summertime, Bally carries many local MLB teams, so baseball fans weren't able to catch those games. Come fall, Bally will also air NBA and NHL games, so those customers would have also been left in the dark if this deal hadn't been made.

According to a statement on Business Wire, those who subscribe to Xfinity's Ultimate TV package will now be able to watch the MLB, NHL and NBA games that air on Bally Sports. Those customers will also be able to log into the Bally Sports app to watch using their Xfinity credentials.

"Entering a new carriage agreement with Comcast, our third largest distributor, is a critical step forward in our restructuring effort, and we are pleased that fans will again be able to access broadcasts of their local teams through Xfinity," David Preschlack, CEO of Diamond Sports said in a statement. He added, "With certainty on our distribution, we are focused on finalizing an agreement with the NHL and resolving our ongoing negotiations with the NBA."

So, what do you need to know if you want to watch the games? As long as you have Xfinity's Ultimate TV package, all you have to do is switch to the Bally Sports channel starting Aug. 1, and you'll be able to see all the usual Bally coverage. It's easy as that. Bally Sports is back, after a long negotiation process. Of course, some customers have already left Xfinity and opted for streaming services that offer Bally. But, if you're someone who hasn't, like me, put Aug. 1 on your calendar. I'm a big Detroit Pistons fan (don't judge), so I'm glad they remedied this before the new NBA season started. Contact me with your thoughts.

The NBA playoffs are in full swing, and it's been one of the most exciting playoffs in recent years. Many of the top NBA superstars today are in the playoffs, while others are watching, following some upset losses. Either way, there's no denying that the NBA has a ton of talent right now. So many of the games have come down to the wire, which makes for some pretty incredible, and stressful, endings. So, who are the top NBA superstars of the minute?

Before we get into the top NBA superstars today, let's do some NBA history and look at the top players of all time. There's a reason they call LeBron James the GOAT. He's the best ever, according to the raw statistics and numbers via NBA.com. James knows how to really handle the pressure and fame.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, James went into detail about his fame and how it has impacted his life, both personal and professional. "I don't want to say it ever becomes too much, but there are times when I wish I could do normal things," he said. "I wish I could go to Target sometimes and walk into Starbucks and have my name on the cup just like regular people." He obviously can't do that without everyone rushing to meet the greatest basketball player of all time. NBA experts know that when you have a superstar as big as James, he never plays an away game. No matter what city he's in, people will go to that game just to see him. I have yet to see the GOAT in action, so I hope he returns next year, so I can catch him live.

No. 2 on the list of the greatest NBA players of all time, according to the NBA's stats, is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He played until he was 42 in an era where that was even more rare than it is today. So, how did he avoid burning out? Speaking with the Harvard Business Review, Abdul-Jabbar said, "I just thought that I had the greatest job in the world, and I wanted to keep it as long as I could. I knew it wouldn't last forever." He also noted that in one of his books, he quoted Jackie Robinson saying, "Athletes die twice," because when you're no longer playing professional sports, it's a kind of a death. That's deep.

Now, let's get into the top NBA superstars today.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's stats currently have him at No. 4 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's a great driver and fantastic defender. That's a dangerous combination. He's one of the hottest players of the season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks is sitting at a Player Impact Estimate of No. 3 in the league via NBA.com. Sadly, before the playoffs began, Antetokounmpo suffered a calf injury, so he was unable to participate. Now, the Bucks are out.

Some might say that putting LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers this far up on the list is a bit surprising. Overall, as I mentioned above, he's the all-time greatest player in the NBA. However, he's currently No. 5 in the NBA right now, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He's the GOAT, so I have to put him at No. 3.

Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks is an absolute beast on the court. That doesn't always mean his always team wins, but he's always out there, giving it his all. Doncic is ranked the No. 2 NBA player right now, via the NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate.

Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, "the Joker," is one of the greatest centers of all time. He's ranked No. 1 in the NBA, according to NBA.com's Player Impact Estimate. He has gotten some raised eyebrows lately, due to some weak Nuggets games in the playoffs. But, there's no denying this MVP is the best right now.