Members phkrause Posted June 8, 2025 Author Members Posted June 8, 2025 ? Yahoo! It's Friday! You made it. In today's edition: The Pacers steal NBA Finals opener, Texas Tech forces Game 3, Rodgers to Pittsburgh, sorting out MLB's buyers and sellers, Fry vs. Fried, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ? Texas Tech forces Game 3: The Red Raiders held off the Longhorns in a 4-3 victory, as star pitcher NiJaree Canady struck out the final batter with the tying run on third. They'll play a decisive Game 3 tonight. ? KD to NYC? The Knicks reportedly made an offer for Kevin Durant at the trade deadline, and there's some belief that they could revisit that deal this offseason as the Suns look to shed Durant's $54.7 million salary. ? Women's final set: No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka took down three-time defending champion Iga Świątek and No. 2 Coco Gauff dispatched tournament darling Loïs Boisson to set up a top-two clash in the French Open final. ⚾️ Ownership change imminent: Jerry Reinsdorf has agreed to sell his majority stake in the White Sox to current minority owner Justin Ishbia as soon as 2029. Ishbia is the brother of Suns owner, Mat Ishbia. ⚽️ Poch's picks: The USMNT's 26-man Gold Cup roster features seven players making their national team debut. Manager Mauricio Pochettino hopes to use these games as an extended tryout for next year's World Cup. ? NBA FINALS THE COMEBACK KINGS STRIKE AGAIN (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) The Pacers will not die. The Knicks warned us. The Cavaliers warned us. The Bucks warned us. And now, the Thunder have learned their own lesson. Oops, they did it again: Indiana staged yet another epic comeback in Game 1 of the NBA Finals, outscoring Oklahoma City 32-16 down the stretch and erasing a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes to pull off an unlikely 111-110 victory and steal a game for the fourth straight series. Round 1: Erased a seven-point deficit in the final 35 seconds of Game 5 Round 2: Erased another seven-point deficit in the final minute of Game 2 East Finals: Erased a 14-point deficit in the final three minutes of Game 1 NBA Finals: Erased a nine-point deficit in the final three minutes of Game 1 The comeback kings: The Thunder went up 94-79 with 9:42 remaining in the fourth quarter and victory seemed inevitable. Turns out, the Pacers had them right where they wanted them: They're now 5-3 this postseason when trailing by 15+ points. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) The game-winner: Tyrese Haliburton's last-second jump shot gave the Pacers their first and only lead of the game and left the capacity crowd at Paycom Center stunned. He's now 6-for-7 (85.7%) when taking a shot to tie or take the lead in the final 90 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime this postseason. He just keeps on doing it, man! Go deeper: History repeats, and OKC stands stunned (Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports) ? ON THE MOVE IT'S OFFICIAL: RODGERS IS A STEELER (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports) Aaron Rodgers is joining the Steelers on a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday. The future Hall of Famer plans to fly to Pittsburgh this week and participate in mandatory minicamp next week. Like many others before Rodgers, this is a late-career embrace born out of necessity. Half need on the part of a team trying to capture one last gasp at whatever its current roster can be; and half need on the part of a fading QB trying to finish his career in flourish rather than frustration. This is Brett Favre in Minneapolis, Warren Moon in Seattle, Carson Palmer in Arizona, Drew Bledsoe in Dallas. Or, well, Russell Wilson … in Pittsburgh. The results of those previous unions were mixed, but the connective tissue binding all of them is what waited on the other side of the alliance for each of the franchises: some element of change or transition, if not a full-blown rebuild. Fun fact: Rodgers, 41, will become the eighth QB among the NFL's top 20 all-time passing yardage leaders to take starting snaps for at least three different franchises, joining the five guys mentioned above (Favre, Moon, Palmer, Bledsoe, Wilson) plus Tom Brady and Joe Flacco. ⚾️ TRADE DEADLINE SORTING OUT MLB'S BUYERS AND SELLERS (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) Summer is almost upon us, which means the MLB trade deadline (July 31) lurks in the distance. Where do teams stand as of today? Yahoo Sports' Jake Mintz on the likely buyers and sellers: Buyers: Yankees (38-23), Dodgers (38-25), Tigers (41-23), Mets (39-24), Phillies (37-25), Cubs (39-23), Padres (35-26), Astros (34-28), Mariners (32-29), Royals (33-30), Braves (27-34). Sellers: Rockies (12-50), White Sox (20-43), Marlins (23-37), Orioles (25-36), Pirates (23-40), Athletics (24-40), Nationals (29-33), Angels (28-33). The messy middle: The Twins (34-28), Blue Jays (33-29), Giants (35-28) and Guardians (33-28) aren't expected to make many moves, while the Rays (33-29), Brewers (34-29) and Red Sox (30-34) may thread the needle as buyers and sellers. It's hard to pin down exactly what the Reds (30-33), Diamondbacks (31-31), Cardinals (34-28) and Rangers (29-34) will do. ? TV GUIDE WEEKEND WATCHLIST One more game in Edmonton before the series heads to Florida. (Codie McLachlan/Getty Images) ? Stanley Cup Final, Game 2 | Fri. 8pm ET, TNT The Oilers can put themselves in excellent position with a victory tonight: Teams who take a 2-0 lead in the Stanley Cup Final have gone on to win the title 91% of the time (50-5). ? NBA Finals, Game 2 | Sun. 8pm, ABC After the Pacers pulled off yet another stunning postseason comeback, the Thunder will try to even the series at one game apiece before heading to Indy. ? French Open, Semis and Finals | Fri-Sun, TNT Today's men's semifinals: No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti (8:30am) and No. 1 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 6 Novak Djokovic (1pm). Then it's No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka vs. No. 2 Coco Gauff in tomorrow's women's final (9am), followed by the men's final on Sunday (9am). ? WCWS Final, Game 3 | Fri. 8pm, ESPN Texas and Texas Tech face off in a rubber match as both programs chase their first national championship. What more could you ask for? ? The 157th Belmont Stakes | Sat. 7pm, Fox Preakness winner Journalism is currently favored (8-5) over Derby winner Sovereignty (2-1) to win the final leg of the Triple Crown. ? UFL, Conference Finals | Sunday, ABC/Fox Michigan Panthers at Birmingham Stallions (3pm, ABC) and DC Defenders at St. Louis Battlehawks (6pm, Fox) for a trip to the championship. More to watch: ⚾️ NCAA Baseball: Super Regionals (Fri-Sun, ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU) … Eight best-of-three series hosted by the higher seed begin today, with the winners moving on to the CWS. ⚾️ MLB: Cubs at Tigers (Fri. 7pm, Apple); Padres at Brewers (Sun. 1pm, Roku); Red Sox at Yankees (Sun. 7pm, ESPN) ⚽️ UEFA Nations League: Portugal vs. Spain (Sun. 3pm, Fox) … Final in Munich. ⛳️ PGA: Canadian Open (Fri-Sun, ESPN+/Golf/CBS) … Thorbjørn Olesen and Cristobal Del Solar (-9) are tied for the lead after Round 1. ⛳️ LIV: Virginia (Fri-Sun, Fox/FS1) … At Robert Trent Jones Golf Club near D.C. ? WNBA: Aces at Valkyries (Sat. 3pm, ABC); Fever at Sky (Sat. 8pm, CBS) … Commissioner's Cup. ⚽️ Soccer: USMNT vs. Turkey (Sat. 3:30pm, TNT) … The first of two friendlies for the Americans before the Gold Cup kicks off next weekend. ? PLL: Week 2 (Fri-Sat, ESPN+/ABC) … In Charlotte. ? NASCAR: Michigan (Sun. 2pm, Prime) ⚾️ SAME VERB FRY VS. FRIED (YES Network) How often do you see a batter facing a pitcher whose name is just the batter's name in the past tense? That was the situation on Thursday at Yankee Stadium, where Cleveland's David Fry stepped in against New York's Max Fried. Rare occurrence: Fried has faced another Fry in the big leagues (Jace Fry in 2019), but the only other matchup of different forms of a verb in MLB history appears to be Brown vs. Browning, which happened a few times. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 9, 2025 Author Members Posted June 9, 2025 ? Pic du jour Photo: Lindsey Wasson/AP Coco Gauff celebrates after winning her first French Open yesterday. The second-ranked Gauff defeated No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. It's Gauff's second Grand Slam title. She won the U.S. Open two years ago. Plus, she's the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. Screenshot via X Yesterday's victory was especially sweet for Gauff after her heartbreaking loss in the French Open final three years ago. "I was going through a lot of things when I lost in this final three years ago ... A lot of dark thoughts and just the fact that I stayed to it, just means a lot to be here," she said in her victory speech. Watch the speech. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 9, 2025 Author Members Posted June 9, 2025 ? 1 for the road: Instant tennis classic Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning the French Open yesterday. Photo: Lindsey Wasson/AP Carlos Alcaraz came from behind to beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner for the French Open title in a 5-hour, 29-minute marathon match yesterday in Paris. Why it matters: The match — already being labeled one of the greatest ever played — solidified a new era in men's tennis: Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23, have won the last six major titles, taking three each. Go deeper ... Highlights. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 10, 2025 Author Members Posted June 10, 2025 ? Good morning! Happy Monday. In today's edition: Alcaraz wins instant classic, Thunder and Panthers draw even, LIV is irrelevant, USMNT loses third straight match, Baker's Dozen, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ? All knotted up: The Thunder dominated the Pacers, 123-107, on Sunday to draw even in the NBA Finals and improve to 30-2 against Eastern Conference teams this season. ? Revenue sharing is here: The NCAA's landmark antitrust settlement was finally granted approval on Friday, ushering in a new era of college sports where schools will make direct payments to athletes. We'll go deeper on this in the coming days. ? Texas breaks through: The Longhorns were in the WCWS finals for the third time in four years. After losing to Oklahoma in their first two trips, they broke through against Texas Tech to win the school's first softball national championship and 64th NCAA crown. ? Behind the scenes at MSG: Complaints from key Knicks players in exit interviews led to Tom Thibodeau being fired, sources told Yahoo Sports. The decision was spearheaded by owner James Dolan, whom sources said was never a huge Thibodeau fan. ? Dallas fires DeBoer: The Stars are parting ways with head coach Pete DeBoer, who has led his team to the Western Conference Finals in six of the past seven seasons… and been fired three times. ? FRENCH OPEN BEST MATCH EVER? ALCARAZ WINS FIVE-SET EPIC Carlos Alcaraz remains perfect (5-0) in major finals. (Lionel Hahn/Getty Images) Normally, I wouldn't advise sitting on the couch for six straight hours with your eyes glued to the TV screen. But on Sunday, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner engaged in a tennis match for the ages, watching six straight hours of TNT was one of the best decisions you could have made. Instant classic: Alcaraz rallied from two sets down and saved three match points to beat Sinner, 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2), and defend his title at Roland Garros in the second-longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era (5 hours, 29 minutes). Points won: Sinner 193, Alcaraz 192 Games won: Alcaraz 30, Sinner 29 Marathon man stays perfect: Alcaraz's 5-0 record in major finals is the best mark to begin a career since Roger Federer won his first seven. "Carlitos," known for his endurance, is now 13-1 in five-setters, while Sinner falls to 0-7 in matches that last more than four hours. Alcaraz won this match, nearly two hours later. (TNT Sports) The second coming: Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal (his childhood idol) were the exact same age when they won their fifth major: 22 years, 1 month, 3 days old. Nadal won No. 5 against Federer in "the greatest match ever played." 17 years later, his protege won No. 5 in another all-time final that rivaled his own. "When I was struggling, I tried to think of Rafa and all of the comebacks he made," said Alcaraz on Sunday. (TNT Sports) Summed up in a GIF: This was Alcaraz and Sinner's first meeting in a major final. I have a feeling it won't be their last. When that inevitable rematch does occur, can we please make sure Andre Agassi* is in the crowd? He could not believe what he was seeing on Sunday, and his reactions were priceless. *Speaking of Agassi: The eight-time major champion is a fantastic analyst. I thought TNT aced its first year of French Open coverage, and he was a big reason why. I could listen to him explain the nuances of Alcaraz's revamped backhand all day long. ? THROUGH THE LENS THE WORLD IN PHOTOS (Al Bello/Getty Images) ?? Saratoga Springs, New York — Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty surged ahead of Preakness winner Journalism to win the 157th Belmont Stakes by multiple lengths, earning his owners $1.2 million of the $2 million purse. Déjà vu: Sovereignty (1st), Journalism (2nd) and Baeza (3rd) finished in the same order at Saratoga as they did at Churchill Downs. We'll never know if they would have done the same at Pimlico, where Journalism took first while the other two skipped the race. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images) ?? Edmonton, Canada — Brad Marchand's double-overtime winner lifted the Panthers past the Oilers, 5-4 (2OT), on Friday to even up the Stanley Cup Final at one game apiece. Postseason legend: Since entering the NHL in 2010, Marchand ranks first among all players in playoff goals (63) and playoff game-winners (15). He's also second in playoff points (155) and third in playoff penalty minutes (205). (Lars Baron/Getty Images) ?? Munich, Germany — Cristiano Ronaldo was in tears on Sunday after Portugal beat Spain on penalties to win their second Nations League title. Ronaldo's 138th international goal (26 more than anyone else) took the final to a shootout, where Rúben Neves converted the winning kick. Tragic death: A spectator died after falling from the second tier of the main stand during extra time. The match continued as the fan received medical treatment but could not be revived. (Stefano Mazzola/Getty Images) ?? Venice, Italy — Hundreds of rowboats took to Venice's iconic canals and surrounding lagoon on Sunday for the 49th Vogalonga, an annual regatta to celebrate Venetian rowing culture and protest the use of powerboats in the island city. Tourist hot spot: Venice welcomes around 30 million visitors per year, which dwarfs the local population of ~60,000. A fascinating watch if you're interested: Why Nobody Lives in Venice ⛳️ BREAKAWAY TOUR 3 YEARS IN, LIV'S FUTURE IS CLOUDIER THAN EVER LIV signage at this weekend's tournament in Virginia. (Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) We're in the midst of two pretty significant anniversaries for LIV Golf. If you weren't aware of that, well, that's one of the many challenges that the breakaway tour continues to face, month after month, year after year. From Yahoo Sports' Jay Busbee: Three years ago on June 9, 2022, LIV Golf's first-ever event teed off at the Centurion Club in London. Two years ago on June 6, 2023, LIV and the PGA Tour announced a stunning "framework agreement" that brought an end to the legal hostilities between the two tours and, in theory, laid the groundwork for future reconciliation and unification. Now, in 2025, the dream of a LIV-PGA Tour unification seems about as likely as Tiger Woods winning the U.S. Open next week… and no, Tiger Woods is not playing in the U.S. Open next week. Whatever LIV Golf is now, "threat" is not it. And for all the PGA Tour's many missteps, misfires and mistakes, there's a very clear leader in the match-play duel between the two. It's worth remembering that for several months in 2022, LIV appeared to pose an existential threat to the PGA Tour. Yes, that first tournament was more spectacle than competition, but it did feature some of the biggest names in the sport — Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio García — and some astounding paychecks. Soon afterward, Patrick Reed, Brooks Koepka and Bryson Dechambeau would join LIV, giving the breakaway tour a shot of juice and attitude the PGA Tour, at the time, simply couldn't match. The problem for LIV, though, was that attitude and gobs of cash were pretty much all the series had to offer. That's the fundamental problem for LIV Golf — it's a series that still hasn't found a way to connect with most fans on a deep level. And two years out from the "framework agreement," the PGA Tour doesn't seem particularly inclined to do anything but wait out LIV until its Saudi financial backers either capitulate or pull the plug entirely. ? STATS DU JOUR BY THE NUMBERS (Julian Finney/Getty Images) ? 10th American Coco Gauff beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday to win her first French Open title and her second Grand Slam (2023 U.S. Open). The 21-year-old is just the 10th American to win an Open Era singles title at Roland Garros, joining six women (Evert, Williams, Navratilova, Capriati, King, Richey) and three men (Agassi, Courier, Chang). ⚾️ 497 feet Top prospect Roman Anthony hit a 497-foot grand slam on Saturday during the Worcester Red Sox's 10-4 win over the Rochester Red Wings. That's the longest homer in the majors or minors this season, and the fifth-longest since Statcast began tracking fly balls in 2015. Name to know: Anthony, 21, is MLB Pipeline's No. 1 overall prospect, and the sweet-swinging lefty outfielder is expected to make it to the big leagues sometime this season. ✈️ 2,541 miles Edmonton to Miami is the furthest distance between two cities in Stanley Cup Final history. That made Saturday an extra-long travel day, but players were happy to spend six hours relaxing, playing cards and enjoying the comforts of charter plane life. "If you are ever in our room, you hear guys talking about how excited they are to get on the bird," said Oilers forward Evander Kane. ⚽️ 3 straight losses Turkey beat a makeshift USMNT squad, 2-1, on Saturday in a soaking-wet friendly in Connecticut. That's three straight losses for the Americans, and seven straight matches against a European foe without a victory. ? 8.91 million viewers Game 1 of the NBA Finals averaged 8.91 million viewers on ABC, making it the least-watched Game 1 of the Nielsen meter era (since 1988) outside of the COVID downturn in 2020 and 2021. It also marks an 18% drop from last year's Celtics-Mavericks opener. ? TV GUIDE WATCHLIST: MONDAY, JUNE 9 Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images) ? Stanley Cup Final, Game 3 | 8pm ET, TNT Aaron Ekblad (Panthers), Sam Reinhart (Sabres), Leon Draisaitl (Oilers) and Sam Bennett (Flames) were the first four picks in the 2014 NHL Draft. 11 years later, Ekblad, Reinhart and Bennett are teammates in Florida and facing Draisaitl in the Cup Final for the second straight year. ⚾️ NCAA Baseball, Super Regionals | 7pm, ESPN The eighth and final spot in the Men's College World Series is on the line today in Durham, where Duke hosts Murray State. The winner will join No. 3 Arkansas, No. 6 LSU, No. 8 Oregon State, No. 13 Coastal Carolina, No. 15 UCLA, Louisville and Arizona in Omaha. ⚽️ TST, Finals | ESPNU The Soccer Tournament concludes tonight with $1 million championship games for the women (7pm) and the men (8:30). Team to watch: Carli Lloyd-led US Women are seeking back-to-back titles in the 7-on-7 event. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 11, 2025 Author Members Posted June 11, 2025 ? Good morning! It's a great day to have a great day. In today's edition: House settlement approved, Catch of the Year, Scottie is an overwhelming favorite at Oakmont, MLB free agent report cards, manicured to perfection, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ? Panthers 6, Oilers 1: The defending champs returned home in style, clobbering the Oilers in a physical Game 3 to seize control of the Stanley Cup Final. Tensions flared all night and ultimately led to a full-out brawl in the third period. ⚾️ Final ticket punched: Murray State is headed to the College World Series for the first time ever after upsetting Duke, 5-4, to secure the final spot in the eight-team tournament. The action begins Friday in Omaha, Nebraska. ? NFL succession: Ownership of the Colts has officially passed to Jim Irsay's three daughters in the wake of their father's death last month. The eldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, will serve as principal owner and CEO as part of "longstanding plans set forth by Jim." ? Historic viewership: Game 3 of the Women's College World Series final drew 2.4 million viewers on ESPN, making it the most-watched college softball game ever. Games 1 and 2 each drew 2.1 million viewers, the largest audience ever for the first two games. ? Chubb to Houston: Four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb has agreed to a one-year deal with the Texans. It's a fresh start for Chubb after knee and foot injuries limited him to 10 games over the past two seasons. ? PAY TO PLAY A NEW ERA OF COLLEGE SPORTS (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports) The NCAA's landmark settlement of three antitrust cases was finally granted approval on Friday, ushering in a new era of college sports where schools will pay athletes directly. Key details: Revenue sharing: Starting July 1, schools that opt into this new system (most D-I schools) can share up to a certain amount of revenue with athletes annually. The "cap" for Year 1 is projected to be $20.5 million and will go up from there. Enforcement: A new non-NCAA entity called the College Sports Commission will enforce revenue-sharing rules, while a Deloitte-run clearinghouse dubbed "NIL Go" will review contracts between athletes and third-parties (brands, boosters, etc). Backpay: The NCAA will pay thousands of former athletes (playing from 2016-2024) a whopping $2.8 billion in backpay from lost NIL compensation. Roster limits: Scholarship limits will be replaced with roster limits, with a caveat: Schools may grandfather-in current athletes, those who've been cut this year due to the impending limits and recruits who enrolled on the promise of a roster spot. The money, explained: From Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger: The cap is calculated by taking 22% of the average of certain power school revenues, most notably ticket sales, television dollars and sponsorships. In Year 1, the cap amount is projected to be $20.5 million. While each school is charged with determining how to distribute those funds, most power conference programs are planning to distribute 90% to football and men's basketball, as those are, for the most part, the only revenue-generating sports for an athletic department. In Year 1, that's about $13-16 million for a football roster and $2-4 million for men's basketball, with the remaining amount shared with women's basketball, baseball, volleyball and other Olympic sports. While the 22% cap will remain the same through the 10-year settlement agreement, the cap money figure will rise based on built-in escalators (4% increase in Year 2 and Year 3), scheduled recalculations (after each third year) and additional cash flows into athletic departments. Ohio State AD Ross Bjork told Yahoo Sports this summer that he expects the cap to break $25 million by the time the Year 4 recalculation happens. What's next: The settlement's approval is the first in what many college leaders describe as a two-step process to bring stability to the landscape. Step 2: lawmakers producing a federal bill to codify the settlement terms and insulate the NCAA and its members from legal challenges. Five senators have been meeting regularly to discuss legislation, and a bill could be introduced in the House this week. ? THROUGH THE LENS CATCH OF THE YEAR! (Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Athletics rookie Denzel Clarke made one of the best catches you'll ever see on Monday night, scaling the wall at Angel Stadium and nearly launching his body over the fence to rob a home run. (John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) On the call: "I've seen the list of the greatest catches you're ever going to see in your life. If you don't have room for this one, we're watching two different sports," said A's commentator Dallas Braden. Meanwhile, on the Angels broadcast: "He caught it!! I can't believe it!! How did he do it?!" (Tom Wilson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Instant impact: Clarke is just 16 games into his big league career, and he's already submitted two entries for Catch of the Year. Monday's robbery came just three days after he put his body on the line to make this sensational catch. ? STATS DU JOUR BY THE NUMBERS Scheffler signs autographs for fans during Monday's U.S. Open practice round. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) ⛳️ +275 Scottie Scheffler, who has won three of his past four starts, is an overwhelming +275 favorite (via BetMGM) to win this week's U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. Those are the shortest odds entering the U.S. Open since Tiger Woods was +175 in 2009. ? $2.8 billion The attorneys who shepherded the $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement to fruition for hundreds of thousands of college athletes will share in over $475 million in plaintiff legal fees, and that figure could rise to more than $725 million over the next 10 years. ⚾️ 43 multi-HR games Aaron Judge had his 43rd career multi-HR game on Sunday, tying Lou Gehrig for the third-most ever by a Yankee. Only Babe Ruth (68) and Mickey Mantle (46) have more. ? 2 players How good has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander been this season? He just joined Michael Jordan (1991-92) as the only two players in NBA history to put up 3,000 points, 600 assists, 150 steals and 80 blocks in a single campaign (including playoffs). ⚽️ 89 goals Belgium's Romelu Lukaku scored his 89th career international goal on Monday, tying Malaysia's Mokhtar Dahari for the fifth-most ever. Only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (138), Argentina's Lionel Messi (112), Iran's Ali Daei (108) and India's Sunil Chhetri (95) have more. ⚾️ REPORT CARD EARLY GRADES FOR TOP 10 MLB FREE AGENTS (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports) MLB's biggest offseason signings have yielded mixed results so far. Here are early grades for the Top 10 free agents, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman. Juan Soto, Mets (B-): The highest-paid player in baseball history should be held to the highest possible standard, and Soto simply hasn't met it yet. But that could change in a hurry as he starts to heat up, with 3 HR and a 1.250 OPS in his last 10 games. Rōki Sasaki, Dodgers (C): For as special as his splitter is, the Japanese phenom doesn't have a great fastball and his command remains shoddy at best. Hence his underwhelming numbers (4.72 ERA and 1.49 WHIP) through his first eight big league starts. Corbin Burnes, Diamondbacks (B/Incomplete): Arizona's $210 million ace was ruled out for the season on Friday (Tommy John surgery), ending what had been a strong start to his tenure (2.66 ERA in 11 starts). Alex Bregman, Red Sox (A-): For all the roster construction drama that has swirled around since his arrival, Bregman himself was thoroughly fulfilling his obligations (11 HR, .938 OPS, 3.0 WAR) until his quad injury last month. Willy Adames, Giants (C-): It's been a struggle at the plate for San Francisco's new shortstop (.193 BA, .584 OPS, -0.5 WAR), who has been moved down in the order as he looks to find his stride. Blake Snell, Dodgers (D/Incomplete): The two-time Cy Young winner hit the injured list (shoulder) after just two starts. He's working his way back and is scheduled to throw a bullpen in the coming weeks. Max Fried, Yankees (A): Fried has been phenomenal (8-1, 1.78 ERA) and his presence has been crucial in the absence of ace Gerrit Cole and reigning ROY Luis Gil. Pete Alonso, Mets (A): After failing to secure a long-term deal in his first go at free agency, Alonso's red-hot start (17 HR, .990 OPS, league-leading 61 RBI) has him primed to land a deserved, if delayed, monster payday this winter. Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers (B): Los Angeles re-signed Hernández for his bat and he continues to slug. But his complete refusal to draw walks continues to limit his impact (.290 on-base percentage). Christian Walker, Astros (D+): The veteran first baseman is off to a rough start in Houston (.207 BA, .619 OPS, -0.7 WAR), where his strikeouts have spiked and walks have plummeted. Go deeper: Grades for the top 25 free agents ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, JUNE 10 Mauricio Pochettino is 5-0-4 as USMNT manager. (Stephen Nadler/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images) ⚽️ USMNT vs. Switzerland | 8pm ET, TNT The Americans hope to snap their three-game losing streak in today's friendly in Nashville, their final match before the Gold Cup begins this weekend. ⚾️ Yankees at Royals | 7:40pm, TBS A couple of southpaws with eye-popping numbers take the mound in Kansas City: Cy Young contender Max Fried (8-1, 1.78 ERA, 0.94 WHIP) vs. Royals rookie Noah Cameron (2-1, 0.85 ERA, 0.79 WHIP). ? Sky at Liberty | 8pm, ESPN The defending champion Liberty (8-0) host the reeling Sky (2-5), who just lost starting PG Courtney Vandersloot for the year (torn ACL). ⛳️ 125TH U.S. OPEN MANICURED TO PERFECTION There's beauty in that bunker. (U.S. Open) Shout out to the maintenance crew getting Oakmont Country Club in mint condition for this week's U.S. Open. Some wielded lawnmowers, some operated heavy machinery and others manicured greens with barber-like tools. The real MVPs. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 13, 2025 Author Members Posted June 13, 2025 ? Good morning! Happy Hump Day. In today's edition: USMNT suffers fourth straight loss, the case against pitcher wins, 16-year-old phenoms, the Alex Caruso story, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ⚽️ ONE YEAR OUT THE USMNT IS SPIRALING (Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images) The USMNT has lost four straight games for the first time since 2007, and with the Gold Cup starting this weekend and the World Cup exactly 365 days away, the team is spiraling. From Yahoo Sports' Henry Bushnell: The 2026 World Cup has been billed as the opportunity of a lifetime, as a chance for the USMNT to "change soccer in America forever." It will be a monthlong moment to captivate a country and lift an entire sport; a moment that everyone, for years, assumed a rising USMNT would seize with pride. And yet, with the World Cup a year away, the USMNT is directionless. It clunked to a new low on Tuesday night in Nashville, falling 4-0 to Switzerland. It failed to record a single shot on target, and it trailed by four goals inside 40 minutes at home for the first time ever. It made head coach Mauricio Pochettino sigh, repeatedly, perhaps in disbelief, perhaps with alarm. And it made a half-empty stadium boo their brains out. That, astonishingly, is the state of the USMNT with a year to go. Two years after former head coach Gregg Berhalter said "the sky's the limit" for what many believed was a "golden generation" of players, they are insipid and astray, uninspired and uninspiring. Many of those prominent players were absent for Tuesday's loss to Switzerland and Saturday's to Türkiye, so there are caveats. But they and their dubious effort were responsible for the first two losses, in March to Panama and Canada. Bottom line: Instead of rising to meet this unmissable moment, the USMNT plateaued in 2024; and now, it is regressing. ⚾️ UNLUCKY LOSER PAUL SKENES AND THE CASE AGAINST PITCHER WINS (Justin Berl/Getty Images) There have been 63 occurrences in MLB history where a pitcher had a sub-2.00 ERA and 90+ strikeouts through 14 starts. The only one without a winning record? Paul Skenes this season. By the numbers: The NL Cy Young favorite ranks second in the league in ERA (1.88) and first in WHIP (0.84), but he's just 4-6 on the year due to a historic lack of run support. The last-place Pirates score the second-fewest runs in the majors (3.24 per game), and their bats always seem to be quietest when their ace is on the bump. Consider this: Skenes has allowed 0 or 1 earned run in nine of his 14 starts, yet he has fewer wins than 50 other MLB pitchers. A useless statistic: Win-loss record is a common gauge of a pitcher's performance, but as Skenes proves, it's not a very meaningful one. To further highlight the point: Arizona's Brandon Pfaadt (8-4) has twice as many wins as Skenes despite an ERA three times worse (5.50), simply because his teammates score a lot of runs (MLB-best 5.09 per game). Looking ahead: If Skenes keeps shoving — and the Pirates keep losing — the former No. 1 overall pick could become just the second-ever Cy Young winner to have a losing record.* *Who was the first? Dodgers closer Eric Gagné won the 2003 NL Cy Young with a 2-3 record to go along with his 1.20 ERA, 55 saves (fourth-most ever) and perfect save percentage (55-for-55). ? RISING STARS 16-YEAR-OLD PHENOMS MAKE HISTORY (Peter H. Bick) A couple of 16-year-old phenoms were in the news this past week for historic performances in the pool and on the track. ? In the pool: Luka Mijatovic (Pleasanton, California) broke the American records for the 15-16 age group in the 200m (1:45.92) and 400m freestyle (3:45.89) at U.S. Nationals. Here's the kicker: Both times also broke the records for the 17-18 age group, one of which had belonged to Michael Phelps. In other words: Mijatovic is faster at 16 than Phelps was at 18 (in the 200m freestyle, at least). (Northwest High School) ? On the track: Cooper Lutkenhaus (Forth Worth, Texas) set the national high school record in the 800 meters (1:46.26), eclipsing a mark that was set 12 years before he was born (1996). This comes four months after the sophomore sensation set the national high school indoor record (1:46.86). By the numbers: Lutkhenhaus beat the field with a rare negative split, meaning his second lap (52.67) was faster than his first (53.59). What's next: Mijatovic earned a spot at this summer's World Championships, where he'll be the youngest U.S. male to compete since Phelps in 2001. Lutkenhaus will be at the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships and Nike Outdoor Nationals this month before potentially lining up against senior competition at the USATF Outdoor Championships later this summer. ? NBA FINALS THE ALEX CARUSO STORY (James Pawelczyk/Yahoo Sports) From Yahoo Sports' Yaron Weitzman: The pinky finger on Alex Caruso's right hand doesn't look like a typical pinky. Around the middle knuckle, it bulges as if a small marble was implanted under the skin. It will come as no surprise to anyone who's watched Caruso play basketball that this slight disfiguration is the result of him throwing his body around the court. "Somebody stepped on it while I was on the ground during a game," Caruso said during a phone interview. What might be surprising, though, is how old he was when the injury occurred. "I think it was in, like, the first or second grade," he said. So, yes, the player we've seen throughout the playoffs, and in his first season with the Thunder, and really over the past five seasons, is who Caruso has always been. The running, the diving, the swiping, that blur of activity that looks like a tornado with arms — it all comes naturally to him. On the court, it's his version of breathing. That capacity for wreaking havoc is what propelled Caruso, now 31, from an undrafted guard in 2016, one close to accepting a contract to play overseas, into the NBA. But what's transformed him into into one of the great role players of this decade, someone who is three wins away from a second ring, has been his ability to both build on those skills and refine them. These days, Caruso is more than just a basketball version of the Tasmanian Devil. In fact, ask him about his propensity for creating chaos, and he'll balk at that description. "I think when you use the word 'chaos,' it's for the other team," he said. "Creating chaos for them and making them have to think and second-guess things. "For us, I'm trying to be settling and create a rhythm and flow." More than that, he's trying to "have an understanding of what we're gonna do and then putting guys in positions where they can just play and don't have to think." ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11 (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) ? NBA Finals, Game 3 | 8:30pm ET, ABC Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 72 points across Games 1 and 2, the most ever through a player's first two career NBA Finals games. Can the Pacers put the clamps down on the league MVP as the series shifts to Indy? ⚾️ Yankees at Royals | 7:40pm, Prime Lefty Kris Bubic toes the rubber for KC as he looks to continue his breakout campaign. He leads all AL pitchers in ERA (1.43) and WAR (3.5) in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023. ? NCAA Track & Field Championships | 7pm, ESPN The coed four-day event begins today at Oregon's iconic Hayward Field, where the Florida men seek their fourth straight title and the Arkansas women look to defend theirs. ? NCAA RULES FINALLY! (Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) Coach's challenges are coming to men's college basketball this fall, and the NCAA is also removing automatic out-of-bounds reviews in the last two minutes. Net result: The end of games shouldn't take forever now, which is a win for everybody. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 15, 2025 Author Members Posted June 15, 2025 ? Good morning! The 125th U.S. Open is underway at Oakmont. In today's edition: Golf's toughest test, Pacers take Game 3, old faces in new places, Club World Cup favorites, Saquon keeps on winning, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ⛳️ 125TH U.S. OPEN GOLF'S TOUGHEST TEST: PREPARE FOR CARNAGE AT OAKMONT (Warren Little/Getty Images) The U.S. Open is golf's toughest major. It's only fitting, then, that the 125th edition is being held at what many consider to be golf's toughest course. Good luck, golfers: The average winning score at the U.S. Open this century is -4.8. Compare that to the Masters (-10.9), PGA Championship (-10.9) and Open Championship (-10.8), and it's clear which major presents the biggest challenge. No U.S. Open track has been more difficult than Oakmont Country Club, the venerable old battleship that is hosting the tournament for a record 10th time this week (1927, 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2016, 2025). The 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont (won by Ángel Cabrera) had the worst average score of any major this century, and just four players broke par during the 2016 edition (won by Dustin Johnson), which was considered "easy" due to the conditions caused by heavy rain. What they're saying: "If you gave me +4 for the entire week, I would probably take it… and expect to have a chance to win," said world No. 15 Ben Griffin as he and 155 others prepare for carnage at the 121-year-old club outside Pittsburgh, which once played to a par 80 and even featured a par-6 hole. The “Church Pew” bunker between holes 3 and 4. (Fried Egg Golf) What makes Oakmont so hard? The comically deep rough, for starters. Then there's the lightning fast greens, copious bunkers and hazardous drainage ditches. Rough: Miss the green or fairway by even a little and you're met with five-inch deep rough that is purposely cut so that the ball falls to the bottom. "Oh my gosh," said Bryson DeChambeau when he saw his lie during a recent round at Oakmont. Greens: The average green you or I would play has an 8-10 reading on the Stimpmeter,* and PGA Tour events are typically around 12. Oakmont's undulating greens will be set at a 15 this week. Like putting on ice. Bunkers: Errant shots that avoid the rough will probably find their way into one of the course's 175 sand traps — none more famous or daunting than the "Church Pew" bunker between the third and fourth holes that spans 26,000 square feet and has 550 tons of sand. Ditches: A 1.1-mile network of drainage ditches runs alongside half the holes. The lateral hazards can be treated as a one-stroke penalty or an extremely difficult play-it-as-it-lies. Hole to watch: The 289-yard eighth hole is the longest par 3 in any major championship. Collin Morikawa was among those who hit driver during this week's practice rounds. An aerial view of Oakmont, taken in 2024. (Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo) The last word: World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, a massive favorite this week, didn't mince words when discussing the challenge Oakmont presents: "This is probably the hardest golf course that we'll play, maybe ever." Go deeper: Key storylines (Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports) *A Stimpmeter is a yardstick-like device used to measure green speeds. It was invented by amateur golfer Edward Stimpson in 1935 after he watched seven-time major champion Gene Sarazen roll a putt off the green and into a bunker at… Oakmont. ? NBA FINALS PACERS TAKE GAME 3 (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) The Pacers were supposed to be nothing more than a nuisance in the Thunder's path to the championship. Instead, they're two wins away from capturing the title themselves. Pacers 116, Thunder 107: Indiana rode a dominant fourth quarter to a Game 3 victory and 2-1 series lead in their first NBA Finals home game in 25 years. Tyrese Haliburton, who struggled a bit in Games 1 and 2, nearly put up a triple-double (22-9-11). But it was the Pacers' bench that made the biggest difference: Bennedict Mathurin's 27 points were the third-most off the bench in Finals history, while T.J. McConnell put up the first 10-point, 5-assist, 5-steal performance by a reserve in Finals history. The other side: The Thunder's big three scored as always (70 points combined from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams), but Indiana's crowd and smothering defense took over in the fourth quarter, when OKC was outscored 32-18. Big picture: The Pacers still haven't lost back-to-back games since March 10. If the Thunder want to get back in this series, they'll need to snap that streak. ? NFL MINICAMPS IN PHOTOS: OLD FACES, NEW PLACES (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) The NFL's mandatory minicamps began this week, giving fans a glimpse of all the old faces in new places. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Yes, Aaron Rodgers really is a Steeler now. And yes, that's a wedding band on his finger. The four-time MVP revealed this week that he recently tied the knot, adding another headline to his fresh start in Pittsburgh. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Henderson, Nevada — Pete Carroll is back on the sidelines after a one-year hiatus, now leading the Raiders after 14 years in Seattle. Carroll turns 74 in September, which will make him the oldest head coach in NFL history. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images) Foxboro, Massachusetts — Stefon Diggs' tenure with the Patriots got off to a rocky start after videos surfaced of him partying on a yacht just before voluntary workouts. But the four-time Pro Bowler is present at minicamp and is aiming to be ready for Week 1 after tearing his ACL last fall. (John Froschauer/AP Photo) Renton, Washington — The Seahawks have completely overhauled their offense, swapping out the Geno Smith–DK Metcalf duo (now with the Raiders and Steelers, respectively) for Sam Darnold and Cooper Kupp. ⚽️ RANKING THE FIELD CLUB WORLD CUP: WHERE ALL 32 TEAMS STAND (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports) The 2026 World Cup is one year away. But beginning this weekend, the U.S. hosts another FIFA competition: The 2025 Club World Cup, a first-of-its-kind tournament with 32 professional teams (rather than countries) as the contestants. The favorites: 1.?? PSG (France) 2.?? Real Madrid (Spain) 3.?? Bayern Munich (Germany) 4.??????? Manchester City (England) 5.?? Inter Milan (Italy) 6.??????? Chelsea (England) 7.?? Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 8.?? Atlético Madrid (Spain) 9.?? Juventus (Italy) The fringe contenders: Benfica (Portugal), Palmeiras (Brazil), Flamengo (Brazil), Porto (Portugal), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) The best of the rest: River Plate (Argentina), Monterrey (Mexico), Al Ahly (Egypt), Botafogo (Brazil), RB Salzburg (Austria) The mid/long shots: LAFC (USA), Inter Miami (USA), Fluminense (Brazil), Boca Juniors (Argentina), Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa), Seattle Sounders (USA), Pachuca (Mexico), ES Tunis (Tunisia), Urawa Reds (Japan), Wydad (Morocco), Ulsan (South Korea), Al Ain (UAE), Auckland City (New Zealand) Go deeper: Club World Cup, explained (Henry Bushnell, Yahoo Sports) ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, JUNE 12 (Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) ? Stanley Cup Final, Game 4 | 8pm ET, TNT The defending champion Panthers look to take a commanding 3-1 lead at home. Tune in before the game (6pm) to watch the 2025 NHL Awards, where Oilers goal-scoring machine Leon Draisaitl is the favorite to win the Hart Trophy (MVP). ⛳️ U.S. Open, Round 1 | USA/Peacock The action is underway at Oakmont Country Club. The first round will be televised on USA Network (6:30am-5pm), followed by coverage on Peacock (5pm-8pm). More to watch: ? NCAA Track and Field: Outdoor Championships (7pm, ESPN) … Six individual men's champions were crowned on Day 1. The women's events begin today. ⛳️ LPGA: Meijer LPGA Classic (3pm, Golf) … At Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Michigan. ? MERCH KING SAQUON KEEPS ON WINNING (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) Saquon Barkley topped the NFLPA's Year-End Top 50 Player Sales List, unseating Patrick Mahomes as the league's retail king and becoming the first running back since 2017 to finish No. 1 in officially licensed product sold. Top 10: Barkley, RB (Eagles) Mahomes, QB (Chiefs) Jalen Hurts, QB (Eagles) Jayden Daniels, QB (Commanders) C.J. Stroud, QB (Texans) Josh Allen, QB (Bills) Aidan Hutchinson, DE (Lions) Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR (Lions) Micah Parsons, LB (Cowboys) Justin Jefferson, WR (Vikings) Look away, Giants fans… In the 15 months since New York chose Daniel Jones over Barkley, the workhorse back has (1) won a Super Bowl, (2) been named NFL OPOY, (3) broken the record for most rushing yards in a season, (4) driven more sales than any other player, and (5) been chosen as the "Madden" cover athlete. Is that good? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 15, 2025 Author Members Posted June 15, 2025 Meet the charitable foundation carrying the little-known legacy of ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’ NEW YORK (AP) — It’s sung every summer in baseball stadiums around the United States. But the impact of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” goes much further than simply getting fans out of their seats for the 7th-inning stretch. https://apnews.com/article/ascap-foundation-stephen-schwartz-wicked-moana-23979f330fc88001dc43641eb4493778? Dream come true Golfer Justin Hastings made his major championship debut at the Masters when he was 21. Now he’s competing at the US Open. Hastings explained what it’s like to be an amateur at one of the sport’s greatest events. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 15, 2025 Author Members Posted June 15, 2025 ? Yahoo! It's Friday! You made it. In today's edition: Draisaitl plays the hero (again!), Antonio Brown wanted for attempted murder, U.S. Open recap, David vs. Goliath in Omaha, NBA Mock Draft 4.0, a Phelpsian feat, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ? Attempted murder charge: Former NFL star Antonio Brown is reportedly wanted in Miami-Dade County on a felony charge of attempted murder with a firearm, the Washington Post reports. The charge is related to an altercation at a Miami boxing event in May. ? Hellebuyck wins rare double: Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck became the fifth goalie in NHL history to win both the Hart (MVP) and Vezina Trophy (goalie) in the same season. ⛳️ PGA Tour hires CEO: The PGA Tour is hiring longtime NFL executive Brian Rolapp as the first CEO of its new commercial division. Rolapp had been with the NFL for 22 years and was considered a potential successor to Roger Goodell. ⚽️ De Bruyne to Napoli: Kevin De Bruyne is joining Serie A champion Napoli following his exit from Manchester City, where the Belgian midfielder spent the past 10 years and established himself as one of the club's all-time greats. ? Bronze Brady: The Patriots will unveil a 12-foot-tall statue of Tom Brady (a nod to his No. 12 jersey number) outside Gillette Stadium before their preseason opener in August. ? STANLEY CUP FINAL DRAISAITL, OILERS STUN PANTHERS TO DRAW EVEN Draisaitl is mobbed by his teammates. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Hours after finishing runner-up for the Hart Trophy, Leon Draisaitl put on an MVP-like performance on the league's biggest stage, showing why many believed he should have won. Captain clutch: Draisaitl scored his fourth overtime goal of these playoffs (most ever in a single postseason) to lift the Oilers past the Panthers, 5-4 (OT), and even the Stanley Cup Final at two games apiece. He also set up two of Edmonton's goals in the historic come-from-behind win. Epic collapse: Entering Thursday, teams were 37-0 when leading a Cup Final game by three or more goals in the first period. They're now 37-1 after the Panthers blew a 3-0 lead. Epic comeback: The Oilers are the first road team to rally from a three-goal deficit in a Cup Final game since the Canadiens did it against the Seattle Metropolitans 106 years ago (1919). Super sub: Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner was replaced after the first period by journeyman backup Calvin Pickard, whose acrobatic saves paved the way for the comeback. He's now 7-0 in the postseason and could presumably take over the starting duties for Game 5 tomorrow night in Edmonton. Are you not entertained?! Three of the first four games of this final have gone to overtime, which has only happened four times before. We've also seen the two latest tying goals in Cup Final history over the past week: In Game 2, it was Edmonton's Corey Perry (17.8 seconds left) . In Game 4, it was Florida's Sam Reinhart (19.5 seconds). ⛳️ 18 DOWN, 54 TO GO U.S. OPEN: ROUND 1 RECAP J.J. Spaun didn't seem phased by Oakmont in his first competitive round there. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Oakmont Country Club lived up to its billing on Thursday, yielding just 10 rounds under par during Round 1 of the U.S. Open, with an average score of +4.63. Yes, but: For all the carnage at the famously difficult track, there was still plenty of impressive golf and highlight shots. Clubhouse leader: J.J. Spaun (-4) shot the first bogey-free round at Oakmont since Dustin Johnson's first round in 2016. Johnson went on to finish -4 and win the tournament. Rare albatross: Patrick Reed recorded the fourth albatross in U.S. Open history when his 286-yard second shot found the cup on the par-5 fourth hole. First eagle ever: Oakmont's par-4 3rd hole had never surrendered an eagle during the U.S. Open… until Shane Lowry carded one during an otherwise ugly round (+9). More from Round 1: Brooks Koepka (-2) is in the hunt after a tongue lashing from his coach … Rory McIlroy (+4) left without talking to media (again) … Bryson DeChambeau (+3) averted a disastrous rules mistake … Scottie Scheffler (+3) turned in a 5.5-hour slog. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images) Good read: Phil Mickelson walks in silence in possible last U.S. Open (Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports) As Phil Mickelson, aka Lefty, aka Phil the Thrill, aka FIGJAM, aka one of the two most famous golfers of the 21st century, teed off Thursday in what might be his final U.S. Open, there were more security guards than journalists following him. And there were two security guards. ⚾️ COLLEGE WORLD SERIES CHART OF THE DAY: DAVID VS. GOLIATH (Lev Akabas/Sportico) Eight teams are in Omaha this weekend for the 2025 College World Series. One of them is not like the others. Underdog story: Murray State upset Duke on Monday to clinch their first-ever trip to Omaha and become just the fourth regional No. 4 seed ever to reach the CWS. Not bad for a team with a tiny stadium and a paltry $858,000 budget, which ranks 253rd out of 308 D-I programs and pales in comparison to the other seven teams in Omaha, as illustrated above. Taking on the big boys: The three teams Murray State faced to get here (Ole Miss, Duke, Georgia Tech) have a combined 24 pitchers who average 92+ mph on their fastball. The Racers have none. Thankfully, their offense absolutely rakes and averaged 8.8 runs per game this season, tied for 11th in the nation. ? CLASS OF 2025 NBA MOCK DRAFT 4.0 (Taylar Sievert/Yahoo Sports) With the NBA draft less than two weeks away (June 25-26), Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor shares his latest first-round mock draft, which includes a projected top-10 trade between Philadelphia and New Orleans. Lottery: Mavericks: Cooper Flagg (F, Duke) Spurs: Dylan Harper (G, Rutgers) Pelicans*: Ace Bailey (F, Rutgers) Hornets: Kon Knueppel (G/F, Duke) Jazz: VJ Edgecombe (G, Baylor) Wizards: Tre Johnson (G, Texas) 76ers*: Khaman Maluach (C, Duke) Nets: Jeremiah Fears (G, Oklahoma) Raptors: Carter Bryant (F, Arizona) Rockets: Kasparas Jakučionis (G, Illinois) Trail Blazers: Liam McNeeley (F, UConn) Bulls: Jase Richardson (G, Michigan State) Hawks: Derik Queen (C, Maryland) Spurs: Cedric Coward (G, Washington State) *Proposed trade: The Pelicans send the No. 7 pick, a 2026 Pacers 1st-round pick (top-4 protected) and Herb Jones to the 76ers for the No. 3 pick and Kelly Oubre (player option). ? VIEWING GUIDE WEEKEND WATCHLIST Indiana's defense put the clamps on OKC in Game 3. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images) ? NBA Finals, Game 4 | Fri. 8:30pm ET, ABC The Thunder need a road win tonight in Indianapolis to avoid falling into a dreaded 3-1 hole. The 2016 Cavaliers are the only team in NBA Finals history to erase a 3-1 deficit and win the title. ? Stanley Cup Final, Game 5 | Sat. 8pm, TNT The Oilers were in serious danger of falling into a 3-1 hole on Thursday night. Instead, they head home with all the momentum and a chance to take the series lead as they chase Canada's first Stanley Cup since 1993. ⛳️ U.S. Open | Fri-Sun, USA/NBC/Peacock Only the top 60 players and ties will make it to the weekend at Oakmont, and some big names are in danger of missing the cut. Here are the Round 2 tee times. ⚾️ College World Series | Fri-Sun, ESPN The eight-team double-elimination tournament begins today in Omaha, with No. 13 Coastal Carolina vs. Arizona (2pm) and No. 8 Oregon State vs. Louisville (7pm). Tomorrow, it's No. 15 UCLA vs. Murray State (2pm) and No. 3 Arkansas vs. No. 6 LSU (7pm). The winners and losers of Friday's games play on Sunday. ⚽️ Club World Cup | Sat-Sun, TBS/TNT The inaugural 32-team tournament kicks off tomorrow in Miami, where Inter Miami faces Egypt's Al Ahly (8pm, TBS). The group stage continues on Saturday with four more matches, including PSG vs. Atlético Madrid at the Rose Bowl (3pm, TNT). ⚽️ Gold Cup | Sat-Sun, Fox/FS1 The 16-team competition co-hosted by the U.S. and Canada kicks off tomorrow. The USMNT faces Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday in San Jose (6pm, Fox) before taking on Saudi Arabia and Haiti next week to complete Group D play. ? UFL Championship | Sat. 8pm, ABC The Michigan Panthers, who knocked off the three-time defending champion Birmingham Stallions in the semifinals, take on the DC Defenders in St. Louis for the title of spring football champion. More to watch: ? Track & Field: NCAA Outdoor Championships (Fri-Sat, ESPN2/ESPNU) … At Oregon's historic Hayward Field. ⚾️ MLB: Yankees at Red Sox (Sat. 7pm, Fox); Giants at Dodgers (Sun. 7pm, ESPN) … Two coastal rivalries. ? NASCAR: Mexico City (Sun. 3pm, Prime) … The Cup Series goes international for the first time in 27 years. ?️ F1: Canadian Grand Prix (Sun. 2pm, ABC) … In Montreal. ? PLL: Week 3 (Fri-Sat, ABC/ESPN+) … In Philadelphia. ? BIG3: Week 1 (Sat. 3pm, CBS/Vice) … In Chicago. ?? TEAM CANADA FIRST SINCE PHELPS (Canada Swimming) Canadian swimming phenom Summer McIntosh, 18, broke the world record in three different individual events (200 IM, 400 IM, 400 free) at this week's Canadian Swimming Trials. A Phelpsian feat: The last swimmer to do that at a single long-course meet? Michael Phelps at the 2008 Beijing Games, when the most decorated Olympian ever put forth arguably the greatest Olympics performance ever. Not bad company to be in! Looking ahead: McIntosh, who won three gold medals in Paris, plans to move to Austin, Texas, later this summer and begin training with Bob Bowman, who coached Phelps for his entire career. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 16, 2025 Author Members Posted June 16, 2025 ? 1 for the road Photo: Nick Wass/AP Bruce, a 21-month-old golden retriever, had his MLB debut as a bat-retrieving dog at National Park in Washington yesterday. As part of Pups in the Park, he fetched a bat during a ceremony before the Nats played the Miami Marlins. Read on. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 17, 2025 Author Members Posted June 17, 2025 ? Good morning! Welcome back. In today's edition: Spaun wins wet and wild finale at Oakmont, Red Sox trade Devers, Grizzlies trade Bane, Ohtani returns to the mound, Panthers inch closer, Baker's Dozen, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ⚾️ Sho-time's return: Shohei Ohtani will make his Dodgers pitching debut tonight against the Padres (10pm ET, MLB). The two-way sensation last took the mound in an MLB game on Aug. 23, 2023, when he was still with the Angels. ? Magic land Bane: The Grizzlies are trading Desmond Bane to the Magic in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony and four unprotected first-round picks. Orlando is clearly in win-now mode, while Memphis could be headed for a rebuild. ⚽️ USA wins opener: The USMNT beat Trinidad & Tobago, 5-0, in their Gold Cup opener to snap a four-match losing streak and distract from the soap opera happening behind the scenes. ? KD's preferred destinations: The Heat, Spurs and Rockets have emerged as Kevin Durant's preferred destinations should the Suns elect to trade him. A deal could happen in the next few days, according to the latest reports. ? DC wins UFL title: QB Jordan Ta'amu (21/28, 390 yards, 4 TD) and the DC Defenders demolished the Michigan Panthers, 58-34, to win the UFL championship. That's the most points scored by any team in two seasons of UFL action. ⛳️ 125TH U.S. OPEN SPAUN RALLIES, HITS MONSTER PUTT TO WIN FIRST MAJOR The thrill of victory. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images) J.J. Spaun began his Father's Day with an early-morning trip to CVS to get medication for his daughter, who'd been up all night with an upset stomach. He ended his Father's Day by winning the U.S. Open in unforgettable fashion. Way to go, dad. How it happened: Spaun was the leader after Round 1 and entered Sunday's final round in a three-way tie for second, one stroke off the lead. But after bogeying five of his first six holes, the 34-year-old appeared to have played himself out of contention before he could even make the turn. Then the skies opened up above Oakmont Country Club, leading to a 96-minute weather delay that proved to be exactly what Spaun needed. "I changed my outfit. I'm like, I'm done wearing those clothes. I just needed to reset everything," he said. Reset he did. While the rest of the field struggled once play resumed, Spaun thrived in the wet conditions and began mounting a comeback, one hole at a time. After an incredible drive led to a birdie on No. 17, he walked up to the 18th tee box needing a par to win. The putt of a lifetime: Spaun did one better than par, sinking an unforgettable 65-foot birdie putt to win his first major and finish 1-under for the tournament, officially beating the unbeatable Oakmont. Every other golfer finished over-par. This was the right stroke, in the right tournament, at the right time, for the right player. This was one of those why-we-watch moments, a triumph in the evening fog, a victory for the little guy in a sport increasingly tilted against the little guys. This wasn't a storybook finish — storybooks only wish they could be this good. — Jay Busbee, Yahoo Sports Spaun walks off the 18th green with his wife and two daughters. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images) Rise to glory: Spaun grew up playing at a local par-3 track in Southern California, walked on at San Diego State and spent years toiling in the minors before finally reaching the PGA Tour, where he had a grand total of one win in 235 starts entering the weekend. It's hard to imagine a more fitting champion for golf's most meritocratic major, which has a way of celebrating the underdogs and rewarding the grinders. The last word: "I wasn't really groomed to be a professional golfer. I didn't get put through academies. I didn't play [Juniors]. I played local stuff," said Spaun, who still practices at munis alongside everyday golfers to keep himself grounded. "I just kept going, one foot in front of the other … and now here I am with the U.S. Open trophy." ⚾️ BLOCKBUSTER TRADE RED SOX DEAL DEVERS TO GIANTS (Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) The Red Sox shocked the baseball world on Sunday when they shipped slugger Rafael Devers to the Giants in a blockbuster trade that ends a months-long position change saga in Boston. The trade: The Giants are sending two pitchers (Jordan Hicks and Kyle Harrison) and two minor leaguers (James Tibbs and Jose Bello) to the Red Sox in exchange for Devers. San Francisco has reportedly agreed to take on all of his contract, which will pay him $254.5 million through the 2033 season. How we got here: From Yahoo Sports' Russell Dorsey: The timeline of Devers' tenure with the Red Sox organization goes back more than a decade to when Boston signed him as an international free agent at the age of 16. He then made his debut in 2017 at age 20, and it wasn't long before his impact was being felt. After the trade of Mookie Betts in 2020 and the departure of Xander Bogaerts in free agency in 2022, the organization looked to Devers to be the new face of the franchise, inking him to a 10-year, $313.5 million extension in January 2023 and committing to him for the long term. But all those warm and fuzzy feelings quickly evaporated this season after Boston acquired third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency and the team told Devers he would be their permanent designated hitter going forward. Devers, who isn't the best defensive third baseman by any metric, was not shy about voicing his displeasure. And it didn't end there. After first baseman Triston Casas was lost for the season, the Red Sox asked Devers if he'd be willing to play first base. Having already moved once, he was less than happy about that request and ultimately told the Red Sox no. That's how we get to Sunday. How does Devers fit on the Giants? Offensively, the fit is obvious: Devers has been one of baseball's best hitters for years and is enjoying a career year, ranking sixth in OBP (.401) and 12th in OPS (.905). But where will he play on defense? The dynamic in San Francisco is not much clearer than it was in Boston, writes Yahoo Sports' Jake Mintz. ? STANLEY CUP FINAL ROAD WARRIORS: PANTHERS INCH CLOSER TO REPEAT Sergei Bobrovsky and the Panthers traveled to enemy territory on Saturday, and earned a crucial Game 5 win. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) The Panthers have had to start on the road in every series this postseason. That hasn't been a problem for the defending champs, whose dominance away from home has them one win away from their second straight title. Road warriors: Florida's 5-2 victory over Edmonton in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final was the team's 10th road win this postseason, tied for the most ever in a single playoffs. They're now 10-3 away from home, compared to 5-4 at Amerant Bank Arena. Round 1 (vs. TB): 3-0 on the road, 1-1 at home Round 2 (vs. TOR): 2-2 on the road, 2-1 at home East Final (vs. CAR): 3-0 on the road, 1-1 at home Cup Final (vs. EDM): 2-1 on the road, 1-1 at home What they're saying: The Panthers went 8-4 on the road in 2023 and 7-4 during last year's title run, so this is becoming a bit of a theme. "Our game travels," defenseman Seth Jones told The Athletic ($) after Game 2. "We feel comfortable on the road," added star winger Matthew Tkachuk. "We've said it a bunch: it's that us-against-the-world mindset." Brad Marchand celebrates one of his two goals during Saturday's 5-2 win. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) Marchand matches Lemieux: Brad Marchand, 37, scored his fifth and sixth goals of the series on Saturday, the most in a Cup Final since 1988. This is also the second time he's scored 5+ goals in a Cup Final (2011 with the Bruins). The only other player to do that over the past 50 years? Mario Lemieux (1991-92 with the Penguins). ? THROUGH THE LENS THE WORLD IN PHOTOS (A.J. Mast/NBAE via Getty Images) ?? Indianapolis, Indiana — Caitlin Clark returned with a bang on Saturday, scoring 32 points in her first game in almost three weeks (quad injury) to lift the Fever past the Liberty, 102-88, and hand the defending champions their first loss of the season. Must-see highlight: Three straight triples in 33 seconds (Jared C. Tilton/Formula 1 via Getty Images) ?? Montreal, Canada — George Russell (Mercedes) held off defending champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull) at Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix to earn his first victory of the Formula 1 season and the fourth of his career. McLaren vs. McLaren: Lando Norris inexplicably tried to pass McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri for fourth place with less than five laps left, which resulted in him crashing out of the race and McLaren missing the podium for the first time this year. (Ker Robertson/Getty Images) ?? Le Mans, France — Former F1 driver Robert Kubica won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with a privately entered Ferrari, securing a third straight win for the Italian automaker in the 93rd edition of the storied race. The long road back: Sunday's victory was an emotional triumph for Kubica, who once rivaled the likes of Lewis Hamilton before a near-fatal crash in 2011 left him with a partially amputated arm and all but ended his burgeoning F1 career. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images for Ironman) ?? Cairns, Australia — Competitors enter the water for the swimming portion of Sunday's Ironman Cairns, affectionately known as the "Race in Paradise." Quite the destination: Cairns is home to both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, making it the only place in the world where two UNESCO World Heritage sites meet. ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: MONDAY, JUNE 16 (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) ? NBA Finals, Game 5 | 8:30pm ET, ABC Will OKC beat Indiana for the second straight game and take a 3-2 lead? Or will the Pacers, who haven't lost back-to-back games since March, win on the road to seize control? ⚾️ Padres at Dodgers | 10pm, MLB Shohei Ohtani takes the mound in a big league game for the first time in 663 days. ⚾️ College World Series | ESPN Can Murray State keep its Cinderella run alive in Omaha? The Racers face elimination against No. 3 Arkansas (2pm) in the loser's bracket. Then it's No. 15 UCLA vs. No. 6 LSU (7pm) in the winner's bracket. ⚽️ Chelsea vs. LAFC | 3pm, TBS Inter Miami (draw) and the Seattle Sounders (loss) failed to win their Club World Cup openers. Can MLS' third and final representative do what they couldn't? Victory won't come easy in Atlanta, where a 120-year-old English juggernaut awaits. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 17, 2025 Author Members Posted June 17, 2025 ⚾️ Another shocking Red Sox trade Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox bats against the Yankees at Fenway Park yesterday, just hours before being traded. Photo: Paul Rutherford/MLB Photos via Getty Images Red Sox fans are furious after the team traded away star player Rafael Devers last night — the second time in the past five years the franchise has traded a star player for what seems like an insufficient return. "I'm shocked. This is a terrible trade. Rafael is their star player and it's going to ruin the Sox," one fan told Boston's CBS affiliate, WBZ. "I honestly think they're just doing it for the money." Devers is a three-time All-Star. ? The trade reminded many Sox fans of the team's decision to trade another star, future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts, in 2020. "I just thought it was crazy," Betts himself said of the Devers trade, per The Athletic. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 18, 2025 Author Members Posted June 18, 2025 ? Good morning! How much fun is championship season? NBA Finals, Stanley Cup Final, College World Series... don't take it for granted! In today's edition: OKC is one win from the title, MLB All-Star voting update, the Mondo method, On This Day, Skenes returns to Omaha, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ⚾️ Historic no-no: Arkansas' Gage Wood threw the third no-hitter in Men's College World Series history, tossing a 19-strikeout, 119-pitch gem to eliminate tournament darling Murray State. ⚾️ Ohtani's return: Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound was encouraging if a little shaky, allowing one run on two hits in an inning of work while flashing triple digits on his fastball. He also went 2-4 with a double, a walk and 2 RBIs, naturally. ? First six: USA Hockey named its first six players who will represent the U.S. at next year's Winter Olympics: Matthew (Panthers) and Brady Tkachuk (Senators), Auston Matthews (Maple Leafs), Jack Eichel (Golden Knights), Quinn Hughes (Canucks) and Charlie McAvoy (Bruins). ? Gold medal defense: Novak Djokovic says he plans to defend his singles title at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. He'll be 41 years old when the Games begin. ? Chestnut's back: Joey Chestnut, who was banned from last year's Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest after being endorsed by a rival brand, is returning to this year's July 4th event, where he'll seek a record-extending 17th victory. ? NBA FINALS THUNDER MOVE ONE WIN FROM TITLE (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) This time, Indiana's rally fell short. ICYMI: The Pacers cut an 18-point first-half deficit to two points in the fourth quarter of Game 5, but the Thunder did not relent, holding on for a 120-109 victory at home and 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. One more win and they're champs. Player of the game: Jalen Williams exploded for 40 points (14/25 FG) in the best game of his young career. The 24-year-old is the fifth-youngest player to score 40 in an NBA Finals game: Magic Johnson, age 20 (1980) Rick Barry (3x), age 23 (1967) Russell Westbrook, age 23 (2012) Jerry West, age 23 (1962) Williams, age 24 (2025) SGA stands alone: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points, 10 assists) recorded his 12th game this postseason with 30+ points and 5+ assists, moving him past Michael Jordan and LeBron James for the most such games during a single playoff run. The other side: A banged up Tyrese Haliburton (4 points) didn't hit a single field goal for the Pacers, who lost back-to-back games for the first time since March 10. The Eastern Conference champions now trail in a series for the first time this postseason. Looking ahead: History favors the Thunder as they chase their first title in OKC. Teams that take a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals have gone on to win the championship 82% of the time (40 out of 49). ⚾️ MIDSUMMER CLASSIC MLB ALL-STAR: VOTING UPDATE (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports) The first MLB All-Star ballot update was released on Monday ahead of next month's Midsummer Classic in Atlanta. Phase 1 of fan voting continues through June 26. American League Catcher: Cal Raleigh, SEA (runners-up: Alejandro Kirk, TOR; Dillon Dingler, DET) First base: Paul Goldschmidt, NYY (Vladimir Guerrero Jr., TOR; Jonathan Aranda, TB) Second base: Gleyber Torres, DET (Jackson Holliday, BAL; Jose Altuve, HOU) Third base: José Ramírez (Alex Bregman, BOS; Addison Barger, TOR) Shortstop: Jacob Wilson, ATH (Bobby Witt Jr., KC; Jeremy Peña, HOU) Outfield: Aaron Judge, NYY; Riley Greene, DET; Mike Trout, LAA (Steven Kwan, CLE; Javier Báez, DET; Cody Bellinger, NYY) Designated hitter: Ryan O'Hearn, BAL (Ben Rice, NYY; Mike Tauchman, CWS) League change: The leading vote-getter at DH was Rafael Devers (796,382 votes), who now plays for the Giants in the NL. That's why O'Hearn (353,029 votes) is in position to make his first All-Star team. (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports) National League Catcher: Will Smith, LAD (Carson Kelly, CHC; Francisco Alvarez, NYM) First base: Freddie Freeman, LAD (Pete Alonso, NYM; Michael Busch, CHC) Second base: Ketel Marte, ARI (Tommy Edman, LAD; Nico Hoerner, CHC) Third base: Manny Machado, SD (Max Muncy, LAD; Eugenio Suárez, ARI) Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, NYM (Mookie Betts, LAD; Trea Turner, PHI) Outfield: Pete Crow-Armstrong, CHC; Kyle Tucker, CHC; Teoscar Hernández, LAD (Juan Soto, NYM; Corbin Carroll, ARI; Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL) Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, LAD (Devers, SF; Seiya Suzuki, CHC) Looking ahead: When Phase 1 ends on June 26, the top two vote-getters at each position (and top six outfielders) advance to Phase 2. The only caveat is that each league's overall vote leader after Phase 1 (Judge and Ohtani, as of today) earns an automatic starting spot. ? POLE VAULT THE MONDO METHOD: ONE CENTIMETER AT A TIME Mondo's latest record came in his mother's native Sweden, which he represents internationally. (Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images) Mondo Duplantis broke the pole vault world record for the 12th time on Sunday in Stockholm. And for the 12th time, he bested the previous mark by a single centimeter — all part of a lucrative strategy to maximize his earnings. It pays to be great: Every time Duplantis breaks a world record, he earns upwards of $100,000 from World Athletics, meet organizers and sponsors. So rather than jump as high as he can, he raises the bar by exactly one centimeter each time he attempts a new record in order to maximize his potential payouts. "I think I would be lying if I didn't say that was a part of it," Duplantis told Time last year of the financial considerations that go into his record-breaking strategy. World record progression: In 2014, France's Renaud Lavillenie broke the 20-year-old world record with a height of 6.16 meters. Six years later, Duplantis eclipsed that with a jump of 6.17 meters, and he's incrementally added .11 meters (over four inches) to his mark since then. 6.17 meters (Feb. 8, 2020) 6.18 meters (Feb. 15, 2020) 6.19 meters (March 7, 2022) 6.20 meters (March 20, 2022) 6.21 meters (July 24, 2022) 6.22 meters (Feb. 25, 2023) 6.23 meters (Sept. 17, 2023) 6.24 meters (April 20, 2024) 6.25 meters (Aug. 5, 2024) 6.26 meters (Aug. 25, 2024) 6.27 meters (Feb. 28, 2025) 6.28 meters (June 15, 2025) Flashback: Duplantis isn't the first pole vaulter to employ the one-centimeter strategy. Ukraine's Sergey Bubka broke the outdoor* world record 17 times and the indoor world record 18 times between 1984-94, often by just a single centimeter, as he too earned bonuses each time. *Outdoor vs. indoor: World Athletics used to distinguish between outdoor and indoor world records, but since 2000 they've been treated as the same record. Six of Duplantis' 12 world records have come at indoor meets. ? ON THIS DAY IN PHOTOS: JUNE 17, 1994 (Joseph Villarin/AP Photo) June 17, 1994, was a day that won't soon be forgotten, with four major sporting events set against the backdrop of the most infamous "sports" story in American history — the day the Juice got loose. Los Angeles — O.J. Simpson led police on an hour-long, low-speed car chase in a white Ford Bronco (driven by friend Al Cowlings) after learning he was being charged with the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. (Chris Wilkins/AFP via Getty Images) Chicago — Earlier in the day, the first World Cup ever held on American soil kicked off at Chicago's Soldier Field. The second U.S.-hosted World Cup is 359 days away. Spike Lee has been courtside for the Knicks for a very long time. (Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) New York — Coverage of Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Knicks and Rockets was interrupted by live updates of the car chase. New York won that game to take a 3-2 lead, but Houston won Games 6 and 7 to capture their first title. (Keith Torrie/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images) New York — Just a few miles south of Madison Square Garden, the Rangers had paraded down the Canyon of Heroes to celebrate winning their fourth (and most recent) Stanley Cup. (Kathy Willens/AP Photo) Oakmont, Pennsylvania — A 64-year-old Arnold Palmer, who grew up in nearby Latrobe, gave a tearful goodbye during the final U.S. Open round of his career. He failed to make the cut at Oakmont, where Ernie Els won his first major in a three-man playoff. ? Watch: 30 for 30: June 17, 1994 (Netflix) ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, JUNE 17 Panthers fans cheer during Game 3 at Amerant Bank Arena. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) ? Stanley Cup Final, Game 6 | 8pm ET, TNT A year ago, the Oilers beat the Panthers in Game 6 to force a Game 7. Will history repeat itself tonight? Or will Florida (3-2 series lead) hoist Lord Stanley's Cup on their home ice for the second straight year? ⚾️ College World Series | ESPN Two more elimination games today in Omaha: No. 8 Oregon State vs. Louisville (2pm) and No. 3 Arkansas vs. the loser of No. 6 LSU vs. No. 15 UCLA (7pm), which was suspended due to thunderstorms on Monday and will resume today (11am). More to watch: ⚾️ MLB: Padres at Dodgers (10pm, TBS) ⚽️ Gold Cup: Canada vs. Honduras (10:30pm, FS1) … Group B action at BC Place in Vancouver. ⚽️ Club World Cup: Borussia Dortmund vs. Fluminense (12pm, TNT) … Group F action at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. ? WNBA: Commissioner's Cup (7-10pm, NBA) … Today's slate will determine the finalists for the in-season tournament. ⚾️ MCWS PAUL SKENES RETURNS TO OMAHA Paul Skenes spotted in Omaha. (LSU Athletics) Serendipitous MLB scheduling allowed NL Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes to return to Omaha on Monday for a brief visit to the arena that changed his life. From Yahoo Sports' Jake Mintz: In the far corner of the bar, on a Monday afternoon, towered Paul Skenes. He drank only water, yet all around him swirled an intoxicated mayhem, a frenzied hurricane of purple and gold. This was the Men's College World Series in full, drunken bloom: Jell-O shots by the trayful, sticky floors, ball games on big screens, a sea of golf shirts. LSU chants erupted sporadically across the crowd. One particularly well-prepared fan led a cheer with a trumpet. At Rocco's, the unofficial hub of Omaha's pregame, midgame and postgame debauchery, the party had already reached a rolling boil. Behind a cordoned-off VIP area, two imposing bodyguards in all black stood watch, keeping the throngs of eager LSU fans from swarming Skenes and his sizable entourage. His über-famous girlfriend, gymnast-turned-social-media-icon Livvy Dunne, posed for photos. Todd Graves, founder of the Raisin' Cane's chicken empire and a prominent LSU booster, held court. Various acolytes sipped brews. Former players mingled. Hangers-on loitered. Above and apart from it all lingered Skenes. All 6-foot-7 of him. He did not wear purple or yellow or anything that signified his status as LSU royalty. Instead, the 23-year-old was dressed in a charcoal button-down and khakis. It was as if he were trying to blend in, despite knowing full well that he cannot. He is, after all, the most recognizable college baseball player of the 21st century. Two years ago, this was his kingdom. Now, he's just visiting. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 18, 2025 Author Members Posted June 18, 2025 Sabalenka apologizes to Gauff for post-match comments after French Open Aryna Sabalenka says she has written to Coco Gauff to apologize for the “unprofessional” comments she made following her loss to her American rival in the final of the French Open. Read More. ? 1 for the road: Stanley Cup champs Florida Panthers center Sam Reinhart kisses the Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers last night. Photo: Lynne Sladky/AP The Florida Panthers won their second straight Stanley Cup after defeating the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 last night, Axios Miami's Martin Vassolo writes. Why it matters: Just like last year, the Panthers stopped the Oilers from becoming the first Canadian team to win the Cup since 1993. Go deeper. Stanley Cup The Florida Panthers are back-to-back NHL champions! For the second year in a row, the Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup Final. It’s been 32 years since a hockey team from Canada has won the championship in its own national winter sport. The Montreal Canadiens were the last such franchise to hoist the trophy named after Lord Stanley of Preston. But, there’s always next year… Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 19, 2025 Author Members Posted June 19, 2025 ? Good morning! With four Stanley Cups in six years, it's official: Florida is the hockey capital of the world. Programming note: We'll be off tomorrow for Juneteenth. Back on Friday. In today's edition: Florida goes back-to-back, Mascot Hall of Fame, the chaos of "Ice Wars," KD wild-card trade ideas, throwback Thursday, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? STANLEY CUP FINAL PLAY IT ON REPEAT: PANTHERS KEEP THE CUP Matthew Tkachuk celebrates with the Cup. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) The Stanley Cup will remain in South Florida. And Canada's title drought will continue. Back-to-back: The Panthers beat the Oilers, 5-1, in Game 6 to repeat as champions and hoist the Cup in front of their home fans for the second straight year. Star of the night: Sam Reinhart became just the sixth player in NHL history (and the first since 1957) to score four goals in a Cup Final game. Star of the playoffs: Sam Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy after scoring an NHL-best 15 goals throughout the postseason, including five in the Cup Final. Love this quote: "He's a better player and person than I ever knew, and I'm grateful that I got to play with him," said Bennett of former nemesis turned beloved teammate Brad Marchand, who could have easily won the Conn Smythe himself. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Dynasty down South: The Panthers won four playoff series in their first 28 seasons as a franchise. They've now won 11 (out of 12) in the last three years. The state of Florida this decade: Six straight Finals appearances and four Stanley Cups (two for the Panthers, two for the Lightning). Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl came up short once again. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images) Meanwhile, in Edmonton: The Oilers' loss extended one of the wildest sports stats for another year: An American team (Baltimore Stallions, 1995) has won the CFL Grey Cup more recently than a Canadian team (Canadiens, 1993) has won the Stanley Cup. Edmonton is the third team in the NHL's post-expansion era to lose consecutive Cup Finals, joining the Bruins (1977-78) and Blues (1968-70). Canadian teams are now 0-7 in the Cup Final during this 32-year title drought, with the Oilers (3x), Canucks (2x), Canadiens and Flames all falling just short. Looking ahead: Will next year finally be Canada's year? The Oilers are the way-too-early betting favorites (+650 at BetMGM) over the Panthers (+750) to win the 2026 Stanley Cup. ? CLASS OF 2025 WELCOME TO THE MASCOT HALL OF FAME Fredbird, welcome to the Hall. (Brandon Sloter/Image Of Sport/Getty Images) The Mascot Hall of Fame — yes, that's a real thing — welcomed five new members this week. Class of 2025: Fredbird (St. Louis Cardinals) Blitz (Seattle Seahawks) Sebastian the Ibis (U of Miami) SJ Sharkie (San Jose Sharks) Toro (Houston Texans) Backstory: The Mascot Hall of Fame was founded in 2005 by David Raymond, the original Phillie Phanatic (1978-93). A brick-and-mortar location was opened in Indiana in 2018 before closing its doors lastsummer, kicking off a search for a new permanent home. Exclusive club: The newest inductees increase the total membership to just 38, spanning the "Big Four" leagues, the NCAA and a handful of minor and independent teams. NCAA (11): Sebastian the Ibis, YoUDee (Delaware), Smokey (Tennessee), Otto the Orange (Syracuse), Nittany Lion (Penn State), Monte (Montana), Lil' Red (Nebraska), Bucky Badger (Wisconsin), Brutus Buckeye (Ohio State), Big Red (WKU), Aubie (Auburn) MLB (9): Fredbird, Phillie Phanatic, The Oriole Bird (Orioles), Southpaw (White Sox), Sluggerrr (Royals), Slider (Guardians), Orbit (Astros), Mr. Met (Mets), Lou Seal (Giants) NBA (7): The Gorilla (Suns), The Coyote (Spurs), Rocky (Nuggets), Jazz Bear (Jazz), Clutch the Bear (Rockets), Boomer (Pacers), Benny the Bull (Bulls) NFL (5): Blitz, Toro, K.C. Wolf (Chiefs), Jaxson de Ville (Jaguars), Blue (Colts) NHL (3): SJ Sharkie, Youppi! (Canadiens), Tommy Hawk (Blackhawks) Other (3): Globie (Harlem Globetrotters), Slugger (Portland Sea Dogs, MiLB), The Famous Chicken (former unofficial Padres mascot, MLB) How it works: In order to be eligible, mascots must have existed for at least 10 years and had an impact on their sport and community. They need 60% of the weighted vote to get in, with votes from the Hall's executive committee worth six times as much as the general public. ? FIGHT NIGHT INSIDE THE CHAOS OF "ICE WARS" (RGBTV Photography) "Ice Wars" answers the question: What if you took all the hockey out of fighting? New combat series: The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship's newest foray got underway on Saturday with the inaugural event in "Ice Wars," a series that distills the dying art of hockey fights into its own sport. 20 fighters — former hockey players, boxers and MMA fighters — competed in a small arena inside the Soaring Eagle Resort and Casino in central Michigan, where they donned full hockey gear but with nary a stick, puck or goal in sight. The ring was an 800 square foot "hockey rink" called the Ice Box (though the "ice" was synthetic), which hosted 10 fights between American and Canadian opponents in the "Battle of the Border." How it works: Each bout features between three and five 90-second rounds. Like NHL enforcers, the fighters circle each other on the ice before throwing haymakers. Unlike NHL enforcers, they keep their (four-ounce MMA-style) gloves on. Rather than a round-by-round scoring system, fights are judged as a whole. "You just know who won," one judge told Uncrowned's Chuck Mindenhall. "You can tell." Well, okay then. What they're saying: While the concept might sound like unbridled chaos, the athletes are fully bought in. "I've had fights in MMA, and this is the most fun fighting I've ever had in my life," said super heavyweight Zach Hughes, not long after getting flattened by a 276-pound slab of humanity from Alberta nicknamed "The Chief." Yeah, that one's going to need some stitches. (RGBTV Photography) Here's more from Chuck: The fictional hockey world had the Hanson brothers, a bespectacled trio who came to the Charlestown Chiefs from the North American Hockey League, where gooning it up was a way of life. The nonfictional Ice Wars has the LaPorte brothers, Nick and Will, 6-foot-6 hockey specimens who throw hands more for simple pleasure. ? GO DEEPER GOOD READS (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) ? Kevin O'Connor: Which wild-card teams might want to roll the dice on a deal for KD? Yes, Kevin Durant is aging. And yes, he could bolt in a year. But if you think he's the guy who gets you to the Finals, you make the call. (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports) ⚾️ Jordan Shusterman: Everything you need to know about the MLB draft combine This week, many of the top high school prospects and collegiate players descend on Chase Field to showcase their skills. (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports) ⚽️ Henry Bushnell: Why are Club World Cup stadiums half empty? Despite FIFA's lofty ambitions, the Club World Cup has so far played out in front of half-empty stadiums, the result of steep ticket prices, poor promotion and flawed messaging. ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18 Day 6 in Omaha. (College World Series) ⚾️ No. 13 Coastal Carolina vs. Louisville | 2pm ET, ESPN The Chanticleers (no losses) have the easier path in the first College World Series semifinal, needing just a win tonight to advance to their first championship series since winning the 2016 title. If the Cardinals (one loss) win, they'll force a win-or-go-home game tomorrow. ⚾️ No. 6 LSU vs. No. 3 Arkansas | 7pm, ESPN The Tigers (no losses) are one win away from reaching their second CWS Finals in three years. The Razorbacks (one loss) will be hoping to extend their season and force a rubber match tomorrow. More to watch: ⚾️ MLB: Red Sox at Mariners (4:10pm, MLB) … AL strikeout leader Garrett Crochet takes the mound for the Sox, who've won eight of their last 10. ⚽️ Club World Cup: Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal (3pm, TNT) … Group H action in Miami. ⚽️ Gold Cup: Suriname vs. Mexico (10pm, FS1) … Group A action at Jerry World. ⛳️ TIME MACHINE THROWBACK THURSDAY (Giphy) I stumbled upon a video of Bobby Jones demonstrating how to hit out of a plugged bunker lie, and I can't stop watching it. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 20, 2025 Author Members Posted June 20, 2025 ? 1 for the road: Lakers sale smashes records Data: Axios research. Chart: Axios Visuals The long-time owners of the Los Angeles Lakers — the Buss family — have agreed to sell the controlling stake of the franchise in a deal that values the franchise at $10 billion, ESPN's Shams Charania first reported. Why it matters: This would be the most ever paid for a pro sports team, topping the recent Boston Celtics sale agreement, Axios Pro Rata author Dan Primack notes. Between the lines: The number probably could have been even higher had the Buss family launched a full-fledged sale process. Instead, the Buss family is said to have negotiated exclusively with Mark Walter, who bought a minority stake in 2021 in a deal that included a right of first refusal on any control sale. Walter is the CEO of TWG Global, which also owns the controlling interest in the Los Angeles Dodgers and Premier League club Chelsea. Go deeper. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 20, 2025 Author Members Posted June 20, 2025 ? Yahoo! It's Friday! You made it. And so did the USMNT, clinching a spot in the Gold Cup knockouts with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia. In today's edition: Pacers force Game 7, David vs. Goliath in the Club World Cup, Soto's 1,000th hit, photos of the week, the Bandon Solstice and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? NBA FINALS INDY BLOWS OUT OKC, FORCES GAME 7 (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) The Pacers came into Thursday's contest with a two-game losing streak, a hobbled star and their season on life support. They left it one win away from capturing their first NBA championship. ICYMI: Indiana manhandled the Thunder, 108-91, to tie up the NBA Finals at three games apiece, meaning the season will end courtesy of the two best words in sports: Game Seven. The Pacers yet again rose to the challenge, winning with a balanced attack that showcased their depth as six players scored in double figures. Tyrese Haliburton (14 points, 5 assists) played through a calf strain; Obi Tobbin (20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals) and T.J. McConnell (12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals) continued their stellar play off the bench; Pascal Siakam (16 points, 13 rebounds) had his second double-double of the Finals. The turning point: The first quarter was competitive; the second was a bloodbath, with Indy closing the half on a 30-9 run, punctuated by a Siakam poster and buzzer-beater. And the good vibes continued into the third quarter, which they also ended on a buzzer-beater to go up 90-60. Yes, 90-60. Siakam's buzzer-beater. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) The other side: While everything went right for the Pacers, nothing did for the Thunder, whose 91 points were the fewest they scored all season. Jalen Williams, who played the hero in Game 5, had a -40 plus/minus in Game 6 — the lowest in a Finals game in the play-by-play era (1996). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had four times as many turnovers (8) as assists (2). What's next: The 20th Game 7 in NBA Finals history is on Sunday in Oklahoma City. Will Indy's momentum carry over? Or will the NBA's No. 1 seed and league MVP shake off their underwhelming performance and protect home court? ⚽️ CLUB WORLD CUP DAVID VS. GOLIATH Auckland City's starting lineup. (Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images) Auckland City is the only amateur team in the Club World Cup, and if their first game was any indication, today's match against Benfica (12pm ET, DAZN) might be a little lopsided. David vs. Goliath: Bayern Munich beat Auckland, 10-0, on Sunday in a mismatch of epic proportions. On one side: A European giant and perennial German champion ranked No. 6 in the world, with a valuation of $5.6 billion. On the other side: An amateur team ranked No. 5,704 in the world, which claimed Oceania's lone guaranteed spot in the Club World Cup thanks to logistical hurdles that prevent the region's top pro teams from competing. Don't quit your day job: While Bayern features all-time greats like Harry Kane and Thomas Müller, Auckland's roster comprises everyday New Zealanders who had to take leave from their everyday jobs to be there. Seriously — here's what their starting lineup actually does for work: Conor Tracey, GK: Veterinary supply warehouse supervisor Nathan Lobo, ? Sonographer Nikko Boxall, ? Commercial real estate Adam Mitchell, ? Residential real estate Michael den Heijer, ? Team leader at a mental health foundation Regont Murati, ? Product owner at a shipping company Dylan Manickum, M: Assistant site engineer Mario Ilich, M: Coca-Cola sales rep Gerrard Garriga, M: Soccer academy coach David Yoo, M: Community coach Myer Bevan, F: Community coach Double life: "This week, I'm waking up to load the car with parcels, knocking on doors, dogs are barking mad and chasing me down driveways," Auckland reserve Haris Zeb, a delivery guy, told FIFA.com in May. "And next month I'm playing Bayern Munich. It's like I'm leading a double life!" ? STATS DU JOUR BY THE NUMBERS (Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images) ⚽️ 50 goals Lionel Messi's game-winning free kick on Thursday — his 50th goal with Inter Miami — propelled his side to a 2-1 victory over FC Porto in the Club World Cup, making Miami the first MLS club ever to defeat a European team in an official competition. ⚾️ 1,000 hits Juan Soto recorded the 1,000th hit of his career on Thursday, joining Mickey Mantle and Mel Ott as the only players in MLB history with 1,000 hits, 200 home runs and 700 walks before the age of 27 (he turns 27 in October). ? 15 straight wins Carlos Alcaraz beat fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in a marathon three-setter at the Queen's Club Championships for his 15th straight victory, the longest winning streak of his career. He'll face France's Arthur Rinderknech in today's quarterfinal. ⚾️ 73 games Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong joined the 20/20 club in his 73rd game, becoming the fourth-fastest player in MLB history to reach 20 HR and 20 SB in a season. Only Eric Davis in 1987 (46 games), José Canseco in 1998 (68) and Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2021 (71) got there faster. ? 2.5 million viewers This year's Stanley Cup Final averaged just 2.5 million viewers on TNT, down 40% from last year when the same two teams played for the Cup on ABC. Excluding the COVID-impacted Finals in 2020-21, this was the NHL's least-watched championship series since 2007. ? THROUGH THE LENS PHOTOS OF THE WEEK (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Cincinnati — A severe thunderstorm (and 97-minute delay) during RB Salzburg's win over Pachuca on Wednesday at the Club World Cup gave way to a gorgeous sunset. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images) Sunrise, Florida — On Tuesday, the Panthers clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup. On Sunday, they'll keep the party going with a victory parade down State Road A1A in Fort Lauderdale. (Kelsey Grant/Arizona Diamondbacks/Getty Images) Phoenix — Arizona's Geraldo Perdomo scored the walk-off run against the Padres on Saturday on a bang-bang play at the plate, capping off a five-run ninth to secure the Diamondbacks' fifth straight win. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) Ascot, England — Queen Camilla looks on as her and King Charles III's horse, Reaching High, lost its race on Tuesday at the Royal Ascot, a five-day festival that dates back over 200 years. ? VIEWING GUIDE WEEKEND WATCHLIST (James Pawelczyk/Yahoo Sports) ? NBA Finals, Game 7 | Sun. 8:30pm ET, ABC It all comes down to this: Pacers vs. Thunder in OKC for the NBA championship. The last time the Finals went the distance? 2016, when LeBron's block and Kyrie's three sealed the win for the Cavs over the Warriors. ⚾️ College World Series Finals | Sat-Sun, ESPN/ABC Coastal Carolina is riding a 26-game winning streak, the longest ever entering the championship series. Can they stay hot and take down seven-time champion LSU? Game 1 is on Saturday (7pm, ESPN), Game 2 is on Sunday (2:30pm, ABC) and Game 3, if necessary, is on Monday. ⛳️ Women's PGA Championship | Fri-Sun, Peacock/Golf/NBC World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul (-4), who sank nearly 200 feet of putts on Thursday, leads the third major of the season after Round 1 at Fields Ranch East outside Dallas. ⚽️ Club World Cup | Fri-Sun, TNT/TBS/DAZN There are 12 more group stage games this weekend, headlined by LAFC vs. ES Tunis tonight in Nashville (6pm, DAZN), Real Madrid vs. Pachuca on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte (3pm, TNT) and Manchester City vs. Al Ain on Sunday night in Atlanta (9pm, TNT). ⚽️ Gold Cup | Fri-Sun, FS1/FS2/Fox There are eight more group stage games this weekend as the knockouts approach next week, with the U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica already clinching their spots. The Dominican Republic and Suriname have been eliminated, while the other 11 teams are still in contention. ⚾️ Mets at Phillies | Fri-Sun 7pm, Apple/Fox/ESPN The top of the NL East is up for grabs as New York (45-30) has slumped to six straight losses and Philly (45-30) has surged with eight wins in their last 10 games. More to watch: ? WNBA: Fever at Aces (Sun. 3pm, ESPN) … Caitlin Clark will look to rebound from her disappointing performance in Thursday's loss to the Valkyries. ⛳️ PGA: Travelers Championship (Fri-Sun, ESPN+/Golf/CBS) … Scottie Scheffler and Austin Eckroat (-8) lead by two strokes after Round 1 in Connecticut. ? NASCAR: Pocono Raceway (Sun. 2pm, Prime) … Drivers will navigate the "Tricky Triangle," NASCAR's only track that features three turns instead of four. ? PLL: Week 4 (Sat-Sun, ESPN/ESPN2/ABC/ESPN+) … In Baltimore. ? Tennis: Queen's Club Championships (Fri-Sun, Tennis) … Men's final on Sunday. ⛳️ GOLF MARATHON THE BANDON SOLSTICE The second and third holes at Bandon Trails in 2005. (David Cannon/Getty Images) Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. But three days ago was the Bandon Solstice, the longest golf day of the year. 72 holes, 1 day: For the 15th year in a row, the picturesque Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in southwest Oregon hosted the Bandon Solstice, a 72-hole golf marathon to celebrate the official start of summer and the abundance of daylight that comes with it. 140 golfers teed off at 5:20am local time across four of the resort's five courses, all of which land in the top 30 of Golf Digest's rankings of the best public courses in the country. By the end of the day, each golfer had played Pacific Dunes (ranked No. 2), Bandon Dunes (No. 9), Bandon Trails (No. 11) and Sheep Ranch (No. 27). Only Old Macdonald (No. 14) was left off this year's schedule. Pro tip: How do you make it through a marathon like this? "Change your socks, change your underwear, change your shoes," say the caddies. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 21, 2025 Author Members Posted June 21, 2025 ? NBA Finals down to the wire Sports books still favor the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the NBA title, despite a stinker of a Game 6 last night. Oklahoma City — led by the league's MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — has been favored throughout the finals, even as a scrappy Indiana Pacers team pulled out three big wins. ? Game 7 tips Sunday at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 23, 2025 Author Members Posted June 23, 2025 Thunder Clap The Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the NBA championship last night, defeating the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the Finals. The win marks a new era for the Thunder, as the franchise lifts the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the first time since 1979, when they were the Seattle SuperSonics (the team relocated in 2008). Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton exited the game in first quarter with an injured Achilles. The title caps a dominant season for the Thunder, who finished with a league-leading 68 wins and entered the playoffs as the top seed in the West. Adding to his accolades after being named regular-season MVP, star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (or “SGA”) was also named Finals MVP, averaging nearly 38 points, five rebounds, and four assists during the series. See photos from last night's celebrations here. In related news, the Phoenix Suns reportedly traded 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets yesterday. ? 1 fun thing: New NBA champs Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander holds up the MVP trophy. Photo: Julio Cortez/AP The Oklahoma City Thunder won the NBA championship last night with a Game 7 victory over the Indiana Pacers, completing one of the most dominant seasons in the league's history. Why it matters: It's the team's first title of the OKC era. (The franchise won a championship as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979.) Zoom in: Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander became the first player in 25 years to win a scoring title (most points per game), regular-season MVP and finals MVP in the same season. Oklahoma City won 84 games between the regular season and the playoffs, tying the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls for third-most in any season. Only the Golden State Warriors (88 in 2016-17) and the Bulls (87 in 1995-95) won more. Go deeper. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 23, 2025 Author Members Posted June 23, 2025 ? Good morning! Welcome back. In today's edition: OKC wins first title, KD to Houston, LSU wins MCWS, Jon Jones' complicated legacy, Baker's Dozen, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ⛳️ Lee wins third major: Australia's Minjee Lee (-4) won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship by three strokes to capture her third major title at age 29. The key to victory: her much-improved putting game. ⚽️ Perfect start: The USMNT beat Haiti, 2-1, on Sunday to complete a perfect Gold Cup group stage. Next up: Costa Rica in the quarterfinals this Sunday. ? Wisconsin sues Miami: In a landmark moment in college athletics, the University of Wisconsin is suing the University of Miami for poaching defensive back Xavier Lucas from their program. ⚾️ Washington steps away: Angels manager Ron Washington, 73, will be out indefinitely due to an undisclosed health concern. Bench coach Ray Montgomery will take over in his absence. ? Toews returns: Blackhawks legend Jonathan Toews, who sat out the past two seasons due to health issues, is making a comeback at age 37 after signing a two-year deal with the Jets. ? THUNDERSTRUCK OKC STORMS TO FIRST NBA TITLE (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) Four years ago, the Thunder won 22 games. Three years ago, they won 24 games. On Sunday, they won an NBA championship with the league's fourth-youngest roster and 25th-highest payroll. All hail, Sam Presti. The grand finale: OKC used a dominant second half to beat Indiana, 103-91, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals and win the franchise's first title since it moved from Seattle to Oklahoma City in 2008. The tone of the game took a devastating turn in the first quarter when Tyrese Haliburton went down with an Achilles injury. The Pacers kept fighting without their star and led 48-47 at the break, but the momentum shifted dramatically after that. The swarming defense that has become the Thunder's trademark took over in the third quarterand powered them to victory in front of their home crowd. OKC won the turnover battle 21-7 and finished with a 32-10 edge in points off turnovers. What they're saying: "So many hours, so many moments, so many emotions," said Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who capped his epic season with a 29-point, 12-assist performance. "This group worked for it. We deserve this." Clean sweep: SGA is just the fourth player to win league MVP, Finals MVP and a scoring title in the same season, joining Shaquille O'Neal (2000), Michael Jordan (1991-92, 1996, 1998) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1971). The 26-year-old also won Conference Finals MVP for good measure. Champion. League MVP. Finals MVP. Feeling good. (NBA) A team for the ages: The 2024-25 Thunder were always going to be remembered as one of the best teams, statistically, in NBA history. By winning a championship, they cement their legacy in stone and solidify their case as one of the best teams, period. 84-win club: OKC went 34-7 during the first half of the season, 34-7 during the second half, and 16-7 in the playoffs en route to becoming the fourth team in NBA history to win 84+ games. 2015-16 Warriors: 88-18 (lost Finals) 1995-96 Bulls: 87-13 (won Finals) 1996-97 Bulls: 84-17 (won Finals) 2024-25 Thunder: 84-21 (won Finals) Words to live by: "Be where your feet are." The Thunder adopted that mantra in 2023 to help them stay in the present moment, and it proved critical in helping them reach the NBA mountaintop, writes Yahoo Sports' Ben Rohrbach. Watch: Game 7 highlights Trophy presentation Pregame promo (this was awesome) Looking ahead: This could be the start of a dynasty for the Thunder, who enter the offseason with no notable free agents and will be a popular pick to repeat in 2026. They opened as +240 title favorites at BetMGM, the shortest preseason title odds for any team since the 2018-19 Warriors. ? HIRED GUN BLOCKBUSTER: KD TO HOUSTON (Davis Long/Yahoo Sports) Kevin Durant is on the move again. After stints in Seattle/Oklahoma City (2007-16), Golden State (2016-19), Brooklyn (2019-23) and Phoenix (2023-25), the future Hall of Famer is headed to Houston. The trade: Rockets get: Durant Suns get: Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, 2025 first-round pick (No. 10), five second-round picks What he's saying: "Being part of the Houston Rockets, I'm looking forward to it," said Durant, who found out about the trade while onstage at Fanatics Fest on Sunday. "It's a crazy, crazy couple weeks, but I'm glad it's over with." Instant contenders: The trade had an immediate impact on title odds, as the Rockets moved from the 12-1 range to +800 at BetMGM, trailing only the Thunder (+240), Cavaliers (+700) and Knicks (+700). Traded thrice: Durant, 36, has now been traded three times (Warriors → Nets → Suns → Rockets). The collective return: Mikal Bridges Dillon Brooks Jae Crowder Treveon Graham Jalen Green Cam Johnson Shabazz Napier D'Angelo Russell 5 first-round picks 5 second-round picks 1 pick swap The last word, via Yahoo Sports' Vincent Goodwill: Durant has his next town, another restart, another chance to shake free of whatever's chasing him. Perhaps Houston is his last stop. Or maybe it's just his next stop. ? GEAUX TIGERS LSU IS BACK ON TOP (Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) LSU swept Coastal Carolina over the weekend to win its second Men's College World Series title in three years and eighth title overall, second only to USC (12). Title towns: While the Trojans have more hardware, their most recent championship was in 1998. The Tigers, on the other hand, have now won four titles this century, the most of any program. USC (12): 1948, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1970-74, 1978, 1998 LSU (8): 1991, 1993, 1996-97, 2000, 2009, 2023, 2025 Weekend recap: Coastal Carolina entered the championship series on a historic 26-game winning streak — then lost back-to-back games for the first time since March. Game 1: Sophomore Kade Anderson tossed the first complete game shutout in the MCWS since 2018 (130 pitches, 10 strikeouts, 3 hits) to lift LSU to a 1-0 victory and make a strong case to be picked No. 1 in this year's MLB draft. Game 2: After Coastal Carolina's head coach and first base coach were ejected in the first inning, the Tigers handed Jacob Morrison (12-1, 2.75 ERA) his first loss of the season in a 5-3 win, clinching the title on this game-sealing double play. Conference of champions: The SEC is the first league to produce six consecutive baseball national champions. 2019: Vanderbilt 2021: Mississippi State 2022: Ole Miss 2023: LSU 2024: Tennessee 2025: LSU Good read: 10 future MLB draftees who stood out in Omaha (Jake Mintz, Yahoo Sports) ? CALLING IT QUITS JON JONES' COMPLICATED LEGACY Jones after his TKO victory against Stipe Miocic in November 2024 at Madison Square Garden. (Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) "Jon Jones called us last night and retired." That's how it ended, according to UFC CEO Dana White. The man who would be GOAT called it a career on Saturday via late-night phone call… hours before news broke that he's facing yet another criminal charge. A complicated legacy: If this is it for Jones, it's a laughably anticlimactic end to a great though troubled career. The single most consistent part of his story was that he always remained the greatest threat to his own ambitions — and the only limit on his own ability, writes Uncrowned's Ben Fowlkes: No one could stop him in the cage. Outside of it, he couldn't stop himself from lighting it all on fire, then begging for mercy and swearing to be better from now on, then doing it again. He was our spoiled genius, a petulant boy king who kept threatening to finally grow up but never really did. He also might have been the greatest fighter this sport has ever known, but he couldn't ever stay focused on that goal long enough to keep showing up in ways that would have removed all doubt. Is this really the last we see of Jones in the UFC? I kind of doubt it. I think once he sees how quickly the sport and the heavyweight division moves on without him — and once he sees what life is like as a former UFC champ — he'll want back in. I'd be surprised if, by this time next year, he's still as retired as he claims. But if it is the end, his legacy won't be a simple one. And it won't be one that he alone gets to dictate. Jones' story is about greatness, but it's also about the price of it. Here was a man who was so good and gifted at this one specific thing that he almost couldn't help but take it for granted. He treated his peerless career like it was a toy he could dangle out the window of a moving car, just for the thrill of seeing how close he could come to losing it entirely. We watched in awe of the fighter, then shook our heads in weary dismay at the man. We end (or so we're told) by repeating that pattern. There goes Jon Jones, maybe the greatest of all time. But also maybe not. We're sad to see him go with business left unfinished. But also maybe we're not. ? STATS DU JOUR BY THE NUMBERS (Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) ⚾️ 31 home runs Cal Raleigh's torrid season reached new heights over the weekend, as the Mariners' catcher became just the ninth player in MLB history to hit 30+ home runs through his team's first 75 games. The other eight? Babe Ruth, Roger Maris, Reggie Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr., Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Luis Gonzalez and Barry Bonds. Historic pace: Raleigh is on pace for 66 homers, which would be tied for the third-most ever and shatter the previous record for a catcher (Salvador Perez: 48) and switch-hitter (Mickey Mantle: 54). ? 18 straight wins Carlos Alcaraz won the Queen's Club Championship to capture his fifth title of the season and extend his career-best winning streak to 18 matches. Safe to say the defending Wimbledon champion is feeling good as the third major of the year approaches. ⛳️ 72nd hole USA Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley (-15) won the Travelers Championship in a thrilling finish that came down to the 72nd and final hole, where he drained his birdie putt to overtake playing partner Tommy Fleetwood (-14) and earn himself a cool $3.6 million. Looking ahead: Could Bradley serve as captain and play for Team USA at the 2025 Ryder Cup? He'd be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1962. "I will play if I feel like it will help the team," he said Sunday. ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: MONDAY, JUNE 23 Messi celebrates after scoring the game-winner against Porto. (Alex Grimm/Getty Images) ⚽️ Inter Miami vs. Palmeiras | 9pm ET, TBS Fresh off a historic victory over FC Porto, Inter Miami host Brazilian giant Palmeiras in South Florida, where Lionel Messi and friends can book a spot in the Club World Cup Round of 16 with a win or draw (or maybe even a loss). ⚾️ Mariners at Twins | 7:40pm, FS1 Seattle's Bryan Woo (6-4, 3.12 ERA) takes the mound against Minnesota's Bailey Ober (4-4, 4.54 ERA). Can Cal Raleigh keep mashing? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 25, 2025 Author Members Posted June 25, 2025 ? Good morning! Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani still lead their respective leagues in the latest All-Star voting update, with Phase 1 ending on Thursday. Vote for your guys today! In today's edition: MLB's baseballs are misbehaving again, the NBA has an Achilles problem, Mock Draft 5.0, Gold Cup group stage finale, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ? Celtics trade Holiday: The Celtics are trading Jrue Holiday, a key part of last year's championship team, to the Trail Blazers for Anfernee Simons and two future second-round picks. ⚾️ A's break ground: The Athletics held a groundbreaking ceremony for their new stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, which is expected to be ready for the start of the 2028 season. ? Ducks trade Zegras: The Ducks are trading Trevor Zegras, the 2022 Calder Memorial Trophy runner-up (ROY), for Ryan Poehling, the 45th pick in this year's draft and a 2026 fourth-rounder. ? NBA Finals ratings: Sunday's Game 7 averaged 16.4 million viewers, making it the most-watched Finals game since 2019. But the series as a whole (10.2 million per game) was the least-watched Finals since 2007, excluding COVID-impacted seasons. ⚾️ Wander Franco update: Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic are seeking a five-year prison sentence for suspended Rays star Wander Franco, who faces sexual abuse charges. ⚾️ (DE)JUICED MLB'S BASEBALLS ARE ACTING DIFFERENTLY (AGAIN) (Stephen Dunn/Allsport/Getty Images) Stop me if this you've heard this before: MLB's baseballs are acting differently this season, and no one is entirely sure why. By the numbers: Fly balls are traveling an average of four feet shorter in 2025 than they did in 2024 due to increased drag, according to analysis by The Athletic ($). MLB confirmed those findings, but said no intentional change was made and that "all baseballs remain within specifications." One unnamed league source suggested the increased drag may be caused by higher seams on the balls, which are hand-stitched and thus prone to variability. That theory was corroborated by Pirates veteran Andrew McCutchen, who said an MLB rep told him the balls are indeed different this year, and that while "nothing can be done about it this season, they are working hard on getting to the bottom of why the seams are higher." Here we go again: This is just the latest instance of MLB baseballs — the game's most fundamental piece of equipment — becoming a central topic of discussion due to their altered behavior and the league's cagey response when questioned about it. 2017: During the third straight year of surging home run rates, an astrophysicist named Dr. Meredith Wills conducted an independent study that found thicker seams were creating rounder baseballs that reduced drag, prompting cries that the juiced ball was back. 2019: As home run rates skyrocketed, Justin Verlander ranted that MLB was juicing the balls, citing the league's 2018 purchase of ball manufacturer Rawlings. Studies found that lower seams were reducing drag, but MLB said no intentional changes had been made. 2021: MLB said before the season that it was deadening balls to "de-juice" them, which they did. But another study by Wills found that the league actually used both old and new balls, which MLB later admitted and said was due to COVID-induced production delays. 2022: Another study by Wills found that MLB used three different balls over the course of the season, which the league denied. 2024: Some pitchers and scouts were convinced the ball was juiced, which the data didn't even suggest but shows the level of mistrust players have in the league. The last word: "The ball sure is carrying tonight, huh Joe?" quipped Dodgers announcer Eric Karros on Saturday after the Nats' fifth HR of the game. "Sure is, man," replied boothmate Joe Davis with a laugh. "I think these things are juiced." Even in the midst of a season with a ball scientifically proven to travel less far, they can't help but let the years of doubt creep in. ? INJURY REPORT THE NBA HAS AN ACHILLES PROBLEM (Yahoo Sports) Tyrese Haliburton shared an update on Monday following successful surgery to repair his right Achilles tendon, which he tore during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. "And honestly, right now, torn Achilles and all, I don't regret it. I'd do it again, and again after that, to fight for this city and my brothers. For the chance to do something special." Sound the alarm: The NBA has an Achilles problem. Haliburton is the latest star to suffer the devastating injury, which has become so common that most hoops fans can recognize when it happens in real-time. The "snap" that shoots up the leg; the way the player crumbles to the floor. It's terrible. "It's crazy we all know immediately now," writes journalist Jay Caspian Kang. "More people can spot an Achilles injury than can tell if a team is playing zone." "Baseball has this with Tommy John but surgery fixes it now. We don't have the same thing with Achilles injuries and there are less players in the NBA, so it's more impactful." What they're saying: "10 years ago, I never would have thought player physical health would be a bigger topic in basketball than football. But with almost every recent NBA playoff now marked (and in some cases totally transformed) by lower-body ligament and tendon injuries, it's kind of happening," writes journalist Derek Thompson. ? DRAFT EVE NBA MOCK DRAFT 5.0 (Yahoo Sports) The 2025 NBA Draft is tomorrow night. Here's the latest mock draft, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor. Go deeper: NBA draft guide ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: TUESDAY, JUNE 24 Will Canada reach their fifth straight Gold Cup quarterfinals? (Christopher Morris/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ⚽️ Gold Cup | 7pm-10pm, FS1/FS2 The group stage concludes tonight with four matches: Guadeloupe vs. Guatemala (7pm, FS2) and Canada vs. El Salvador (10pm, FS1) in Houston, Panama vs. Jamaica in Austin (7pm, FS1), and Honduras vs. Curaçao in San Jose (10pm, FS2). Who will join the USA, Costa Rica, Mexico and Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals? ? Fever at Storm | 10pm, NBA Seattle (9-5) has won three straight games while Indiana (6-7) has lost two straight in the midst of Caitlin Clark's uncharacteristic cold streak (1-for-17 from 3-point range). More to watch: ⚾️ MLB: Braves at Mets (7:10pm, TBS) … New York, which has lost nine of 10, looks to get back on track after falling out of first place over the weekend. ⚽️ Club World Cup: Benfica vs. Bayern Munich (3pm, TNT) … Benfica can secure a spot in the knockout round with a tie. Bayern have already clinched. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 27, 2025 Author Members Posted June 27, 2025 ? Good morning! The Mavericks are on the clock. I wonder who they'll pick! In today's edition: Summer sports schedule, the legend of Santi Cazorla, MLB power rankings, OKC parade, what to expect from your NBA draft pick, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ? NBA moves: The Celtics are trading Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks in a three-team deal with the Nets; the Pelicans are sending CJ McCollum to the Wizards; Kyrie Irving is signing a new three-year, $119 million deal to stay in Dallas. ⚽️ 8 teams left: Canada, Guatemala, Panama and Honduras clinched spots in the Gold Cup knockouts on the final day of the group stage, joining the U.S., Costa Rica, Mexico and Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals. ? Class of 2025: Seven-time All-Star Zdeno Chára, Russian trailblazer Alexander Mogilny and 2006 MVP Joe Thornton headline the Hockey Hall of Fame's eight-member class of 2025. ? WNBA valuations: Business is booming in the WNBA, where the average franchise is now worth $269 million — a 180% increase from last year, per Sportico. The Golden State Valkyries lead the way with a $500 million valuation. ? Rodgers' last dance? Aaron Rodgers suggested the upcoming season in Pittsburgh, his 21st in the NFL, will be his last. "I'm pretty sure this is it," he said. The NBA Draft Presented by State Farm begins tonight at 8PM ET on ABC and ESPN. ? COMING UP THE SUMMER SPORTS SCHEDULE The 2024 Wimbledon women's singles final. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images) After eight months of nonstop action, the NBA and NHL seasons have come to a close. But fear not, dear sports fans: There's a lot to look forward to this summer. Stacked summer slate: Beginning with tonight's NBA draft, there are more than two dozen major sporting events worthy of your attention between now and Labor Day. ? June 25-26: NBA Draft (Brooklyn) ? June 27-28: NHL Draft (Los Angeles) ? June 28: UFC 317 (Las Vegas) ? June 30-July 13: The 138th Wimbledon Championships (London) ⚽️ July 2-27: UEFA Women's Euro 2025 (Final in Basel, Switzerland) ? July 4: Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest (Coney Island) ? July 5-27: The 112th Tour de France (Lille → Paris) ⚽️ July 6: Gold Cup Final (Houston) ⛳️ July 10-13: The Evian Championship (Évian-les-Bains, France) ? July 11-Aug. 3: World Aquatics Championships (Singapore) ⚽️ July 13: Club World Cup Final (New Jersey) ⚾️ July 13-14: MLB Draft (Atlanta) ⚾️ July 15: MLB All-Star Game (Atlanta) ⛳️ July 17-20: The 153rd Open Championship (Royal Portrush, Northern Ireland) ? July 19: WNBA All-Star Game (Indianapolis) ? July 19: UFC 318 (New Orleans) ⚽️ July 23: MLS All-Star Game (Austin) ? July 31: NFL Hall of Fame Game (Canton, OH) ⛳️ July 31-Aug. 3: The Women's Open (Royal Porthcawl, Wales) ? July 31-Aug. 3: USATF Outdoor Championships (Eugene, OR) ? Aug. 16: UFC 319 (Chicago) ⚾️ Aug. 17: MLB Little League Classic: Mets vs. Mariners (Williamsport, PA) ⛳️ Aug. 21-24: PGA Tour Championship at East Lake (Atlanta) ? Aug. 22-Sept. 27: Women's Rugby World Cup (England) ? Aug. 23-Sept. 14: The 80th Vuelta a España (Turin, Italy → Madrid, Spain) ? Aug. 24-Sept. 7: The 145th U.S. Open (New York) ? Aug. 31: NASCAR playoffs opener (Darlington, South Carolina) Looking ahead: As soon as the end-of-summer blues begin kicking in, football makes its triumphant return. "Week 0" of the college football season actually begins on Aug. 23, and Week 1 kicks off on Labor Day Weekend (Aug. 29-Sept. 1). Then it's the NFL's turn, with the defending champion Eagles hosting the Cowboys on Sept. 4 in the season-opener. ⚽️ BACK ON TOP SANTI CAZORLA: OVIEDO'S PRODIGAL SON Santi in a sea of Oviedo fans, exactly where he belongs. (TNT Sports) Real Oviedo is back in La Liga for the first time in 24 years thanks to the heroics of 40-year-old Santi Cazorla, easily the most important figure in the club's 100-year history. What they're saying: "It's been many years in the mud," said Cazorla of his club's long journey back to the top flight, which they never would have reached without his equalizer sparking their comeback in Saturday's playoff final, or his goal earlier this month that kept their season alive. He belted Oviedo's unofficial anthem during the postgame celebration, singing the bittersweet song of pain and yearning. "We can't live like this, seeing our team suffer." "Volveremos, volveremos, volveremos," goes the song's chorus. "We will return." And now they have, just as he returned to the club he called home so long ago. The prodigal son: In another life, this might have happened years ago. Cazorla grew up playing for Oviedo's youth academy, destined for the senior team. But he was forced to leave in 2003 due to the club's financial troubles, beginning a successful sojourn across European football. While his career flourished — a decade with Villarreal, five years with Arsenal, back-to-back European championships with Spain — Oviedo floundered, relegated all the way to the fourth division while a financial crisis nearly spelled their demise. But he and the club's thousands of other supporters never let it die. For years, fans came in droves and pitched in with manual labor to keep the lights on; and in 2012, he helped drive the fundraising campaign that stopped his beloved team from slipping into administration. The latest chapter: In 2023 — over a decade after saving his boyhood club and a full 20 years after he'd last worn their uniform — Cazorla returned on a league minimum contract and with a stipulation that 10% of his jersey sales go to the youth academy. "I'd play for free, but the regulations must be respected." It had been five years since he returned from a devastating Achilles injury that nearly led to the loss of his leg. He was 38. He'd accomplished almost everything you can on a soccer field. Almost. Oviedo narrowly missed promotion last year, Cazorla's first season back with the club, losing in the playoff final. This year, they finished the job; he finished the job. Santi forever: Oviedo and its supporters have long celebrated major victories in Plaza América, but after Saturday's momentous occasion, the town's mayor decided it was time for a change: From now on, it will be known as Plaza Santi Cazorla. ⚾️ 1-30 MLB POWER RANKINGS Records before Tuesday's games. (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports) With the All-Star Game just a few weeks away, Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman digs into which players from each team should be heading to Atlanta in his latest power rankings. Top 5: Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and Yoshinobu Yamamoto look like locks. Will Mookie Betts or Teoscar Hernández join them? Phillies: Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner are the most deserving hitters, while Zack Wheeler and Christopher Sanchez should make it on the mound. Tigers: Tarik Skubal is a good bet to be the AL's starting pitcher, and could be joined by a trio of hitters in Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Javier Báez. Yankees: Aaron Judge might make it. Max Fried and Carlos Rodón should, too. Will Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger or any other Bombers join them? Mets: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Kodai Senga and Edwin Díaz look like shoo-ins. As for $765 million man Juan Soto, his recent hot streak should get him in. ?? THROUGH THE LENS AMERICA IN PHOTOS (Morgan Givens/NBAE via Getty Images) Oklahoma City — "Don't ever forget this," Shai Gilgeous-Alexander told Thunder fans during the team's championship parade. "Moments in life like this, they don't come very often. … We love you guys." (Abdoul Sow/MLB Photos via Getty Images) Cincinnati — Former No. 2 overall pick Chase Burns struck out the first five batters he faced in his highly-anticipated MLB debut against the Yankees, the team he grew up rooting for. (Alex Grimm/Getty Images) Nashville — Auckland City FC, the amateur New Zealand club whose entire roster has separate day jobs and who lost their first two Club World Cup games by a combined 16-0, played Boca Juniors (Argentina) to a 1-1 draw in their group stage finale despite being outshot 41-3. You love to see it. ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25 (Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports) ? NBA Draft | 8pm ET, ESPN/ABC The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft is tonight at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, where the only certainty is that Cooper Flagg is heading to Dallas with the first pick. Here's our final ranking of the top 70 prospects. ⚾️ Pirates at Brewers | 2:10pm, MLB.TV (Free Game) Today's game in Milwaukee is all about the starting pitchers. Cy Young frontrunner Paul Skenes (4-6, 1.85 ERA) takes on rookie fireballer Jacob Misiorowski (2-0, 1.65 ERA), who's allowed just one hit through his first 11 MLB innings while making hitters look silly. More to watch: ⚽️ Club World Cup: Inter Milan vs. River Plate (9pm, TNT) … Six of the eight teams in Groups E and F are still alive entering their group stage finale. ⚾️ MLB: Yankees at Reds (7:10pm, Prime) … Max Fried (9-2, 2.05 ERA) vs. Brady Singer (7-5, 4.13 ERA). ? NBA DRAFT WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR PICK (Todd Whitehead/Sportradar) What should you expect from the player your favorite NBA team drafts tonight? By the numbers: The chart above shows the percentage of players from each draft slot (1980-2020 classes) that went on to become stars, starters, bench players or worse in their first four NBA seasons. Trivia answer: Art Heyman, Elton Brand, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, Paolo Banchero Thanks for reading! Wanna be friends? Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 27, 2025 Author Members Posted June 27, 2025 Fan banned after heckling Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte to tears with comments about late mother A fan who heckled Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on Tuesday night has been banned indefinitely from all major league stadiums, a person with direct knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. Read More. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 27, 2025 Author Members Posted June 27, 2025 ⚽️ Messi's millions Lionel Messi acknowledges fans during a game last month. Photo: Megan Briggs/Getty Images Lionel Messi isn't just the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer — his annual salary is greater than the entire payroll of 21 teams. Messi's total compensation this year is $20,446,667, per AP. The average compensation for MLS players is just under $650,000. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Members phkrause Posted June 28, 2025 Author Members Posted June 28, 2025 ? Good morning! Cedric Coward paid $25,000 to play at D-III Willamette University. Four years later, he was the No. 11 pick in the NBA draft. Awesome. In today's edition: First round recap, four picks from one high school, pro softball's moment is here, geography quiz, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports… ? ICYMI headlineS ⚾️ Misiorowski dazzles again: Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski outdueled Paul Skenes with yet another sensational start in Milwaukee's win over Pittsburgh, improving to 3-0 with just 3 hits allowed through his first three career starts. ? Oilers trade Kane: Edmonton has traded forward Evander Kane, a 16-year veteran, to the Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this week's NHL Draft. ⚾️ Bonds getting statue: While Barry Bonds remains locked out of Cooperstown, it sounds like he may soon be immortalized in San Francisco. Giants CEO Larry Baer says they plan to erect a statue. "It's coming," he said. ? Bonner breakup: The Fever released DeWanna Bonner just four months after signing her in free agency. The six-time All-Star requested to be waived because "the fit did not work out." ⚾️ Sox fan banned: A 22-year-old White Sox fan has been banned from MLB games indefinitely after taunting Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte about his late mother during Tuesday's game in Chicago. ? CLASS OF 2025 NBA DRAFT: 30 DREAMS COME TRUE (Yahoo Sports) The first round of the 2025 NBA Draft saw three Duke players go in the top 10 and a record 18 freshmen get selected. Plus: The Trail Blazers shocked the world by picking Yang Hansen at No. 15, the Nets made history by using all five of their picks, and many tears were shed. (Yahoo Sports) ? PREP TO PROS ONE HIGH SCHOOL, FOUR DRAFTEES (Timoth A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) The only team with more 2025 NBA first-round draft picks than Cooper Flagg's Duke? Cooper Flagg's prep team, Montverde Academy. Flagg was the No. 1 recruit out of high school and went No. 1 in the draft. Derik Queen (Maryland) was the No. 18 recruit and went No. 13 in the draft. Asa Newell (Georgia) was the No. 13 recruit and went No. 23 in the draft. Liam McNeeley (UConn) was the No. 17 recruit and went No. 29 in the draft. Best high school team ever? You will not be shocked to hear that Montverde went 33-0 and won the national championship during their senior year. They were so stacked that they adopted a system where they'd rotate starters and have a different player come off the bench. Newell (left), McNeeley and Queen. (Kai Tsehay/NBAE via Getty Images) Talent pipeline: While this was a historic class for the Florida prep school, Kevin Boyle's program* is no stranger to draft night. Cade Cunningham, Joel Embiid, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jalen Duren, Andrew Nembhard, Ben Simmons, D'Angelo Russell and many other current and former NBA players also went there. *On the move: Boyle departed this spring for Spire Academy (Ohio) after leading Montverde to eight of the past 12 national championships. ? ATHLETES UNLIMITED PRO SOFTBALL'S MOMENT IS HERE Volts utility player Danieca Coffey celebrates a HR. (AUSL) Has professional softball's moment finally arrived? MLB certainly seems to think so. Meet the AUSL: The new Athletes Unlimited Softball League's inaugural season began earlier this month, and a week before the first pitch it secured an eight-figure investment from Major League Baseball as a strategic partner. "This is a watershed moment for women's sports and especially for softball," said AUSL commissioner and former Marlins GM Kim Ng. "MLB's investment will supercharge our efforts to build the sustainable professional league this sport has long deserved." AUSL, explained: Athletes Unlimited launched in 2020 with a unique concept for women's professional sports, using fantasy-style scoring to crown individual champions in their softball, basketball and volleyball leagues that redraft new teams each week. AUSL takes a different tack, giving AU its first traditional, team-based league. Teams and format: Four teams (Bandits, Talons, Volts, Blaze) are playing a 24-game barnstorming season across 10 cities, with plans to expand to six city-based teams next summer. The season culminates in a best-of-three championship in late July, followed by the All-Star Cup in August, which will revert to AU's original redraft format. Players: Rosters are peppered with recent college superstars like 2025 POY Bri Ellis (Arkansas), 2021 pitcher of the year Odicci Alexander (JMU) and four-time Women's College World Series champion Tiare Jennings (Oklahoma). How to watch: All 72 games, including those in the All-Star Cup, will air on linear TV, with a majority broadcast across ESPN's platforms. What they're saying: "Our goal is to get a softball league into the same position of stability that the WNBA has found," says MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. It's a tall task, to be sure, but the sport appears to be in a prime position to take it on. McKenzie Clark, part of AUSL's first-ever trade, slides into home plate. (AUSL) Business is booming: After decades of professional softball leagues failing to gain traction, MLB's historic investment and the current landscape should combine to give AUSL a real chance of breaking through. This year's WCWS was the most-watched ever across its 15-game slate, with Game 3 of the Finals drawing a college softball record 2.4 million viewers. That's more than watched the first round of the Masters (2.3M) or Duke-UNC in the ACC tournament semifinals (2.3M). Texas Tech's NiJaree Canady signed two $1 million NIL deals this year. That type of star power is exactly what the AUSL is banking on, with fans following their favorite players from college to the pros like they do in other major leagues. Looking ahead: The next few years are critical. If the league has a strong start, it can take that momentum straight into 2028, when softball returns to the Olympic program in Los Angeles. ? GO DEEPER GOOD READS (Dillon Minshall, Yahoo Sports) ? Elliot Worsell: Deontay Wilder's right hand can only break things, not fix them Once one of the most ferocious fighters on the planet, Tuscaloosa's former heavyweight king returns Friday as a cause for concern rather than the cause of fear. (James Pawelczyk/Yahoo Sports) ? Jeff Eisenberg: Why AI — and how to use it — has become the NBA's biggest secret As basketball analytics have altered the game, NBA teams have become more and more secretive about how they use the heaps of data available to them. (Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) ⚾️ Jake Mintz: Braves still face an uphill battle, but with Ronald Acuña Jr., anything seems possible Since missing the last four months of 2024 and the first two months of this season while recovering from his second career ACL surgery, Acuña has reemerged like a bat out of hell. ? VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, JUNE 26 Real Madrid during Sunday's match against Pachuca. (Michael Owens/Getty Images) ⚽️ Club World Cup | TNT/DAZN The group stage concludes today with four more games, headlined by Juventus vs. Manchester City in Orlando (3pm ET, TNT) — though both sides have already clinched knockouts. Later, Real Madrid and RB Salzburg square off in Philly (9pm, DAZN), with their spots not yet secured. ? NBA Draft, Round 2 | 8pm, ESPN 29 more players will hear their name called tonight in Brooklyn. Some of the best players still available include Stanford's Maxime Raynaud, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner and Arkansas' Adou Thiero. ⚽️ USWNT vs. Ireland | 9pm, TBS A relatively inexperienced roster of Americans (six uncapped players) take the field in the Denver suburbs for their first of three friendlies in the next week, as head coach Emma Hayes will use this window to widen the player pool. More to watch: ? WNBA: Sparks at Fever (7pm, Prime); Mystics at Aces (10pm, Prime) … Can Caitlin Clark rebound from her season-low six-point performance? ⛳️ PGA: Rocket Classic (6:45am, ESPN+; 3pm, Golf) … No. 5 Collin Morikawa and No. 7 Keegan Bradley headline the 156-player field at Detroit Golf Club. Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
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