1. Game 5 of the NBA Finals Monday night between the Heat and Nuggets will be significant not just because Denver should clinch a title and the NBA season will come to an end.
It will also be the 100th NBA Finals game called by ESPN/ABC’s Mike Breen.
100 seconds of Mike Breen calling “BANG” ahead of his 100th NBA Finals game tonight 🗣️🔥 pic.twitter.com/o2vPZog2It
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 12, 2023
The Nuggets-Heat series represents Breen’s 18th NBA finals.
Fantasy baseball analyst Fred Zinkie offers up his blueprint for successfully getting through Week 11.
Nick Taylor draining a 70-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole to win the RBC Canadian Open was maybe the 19th most-exciting thing to happen in professional golf this past week. We can of course thank the sport-shattering merger news between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf for that being the reality.
The PGA Tour agreeing to a merger with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), and in turn, LIV Golf, is without question the most monumental thing to happen in professional golf in my 30 years, and likely the most shape-shifting moment in professional golf.
It’s become increasingly common in recent years for teams to trot out position players to get the final few outs on the mound in blowout games. The overwhelming majority of these appearances follow a similar script: The position player—usually a guy who primarily finds himself at the end of the bench—lobs pitches toward the plate at speeds so slow that it’s a marvel they travel the full 60’6″. Eventually, the batters hit enough of those meatballs directly to defenders to record three outs and bring a merciful end to the game.
Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has apparently been having a good time at the start of his free-agent visit with the Tennessee Titans and the next stop is supposed to be with the New England Patriots.
So on Monday when reporters asked Patriots coach Bill Belichick about the visit, which reportedly begins Tuesday, the coach put some brakes on the whole narrative.
“I don’t know about that,” Belichick said. “Talking to him, working through it. Not sure.”
And that immediately raises questions.
The Nuggets don’t want to talk about it. Why would they? Denver is still one win away from winning its first NBA championship, and these playoffs have proved that last win is always the most difficult to get. On Sunday, Michael Malone reminded reporters of the Nuggets’ experience in 2020, when Denver rallied from a 3–1 deficit to eliminate Utah in the opening round.
“The close-out game,” the coach said, “is always the hardest game ever.”
Fans are thinking it: Why wouldn’t they? Denver is one win away from a title and perhaps a year away from winning another.
Nobody threw a baseball harder and with better command than the Rangers’ Jacob deGrom. Since his breakthrough season of 2018, deGrom owned the hardest fastball among all MLB starters (97.4 mph average), the hardest slider (92.0 mph), the best strikeout rate among pitchers with 500 innings (12.3 per nine innings), the best strikeout-to-walk rate (7.03) and the lowest batting average allowed (.187).
It was pitching elevated to its highest form. With power and command never before seen, deGrom pushed right up against the physical limits of the human body—and eventually through it.
Aaron Rodgers has been having a lot of fun since joining the New York Jets in a trade the rocked the NFL world back in April
He’s been getting to know his new teammates during offseason workouts, and he’s also been having fun experiencing everything New York City has to offer.
On Sunday night, the quarterback was seen taking in the Tony Awards at the United Palace Theater. Fans watching the awards show were caught by surprise when cameras panned to Rodgers enjoying the show with the rest of the people in attendance.
Newly retired defensive end J.J. Watt will be inducted into the Texans’ ring of honor this fall.
The ceremony will take place on Oct. 1 when the Texans host the Steelers and brother T.J. Watt.
J.J. Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, will be just the third person to be inducted into the ring of honor at NRG Stadium, following the team’s late owner, Robert C. McNair, and former wide receiver Andre Johnson.
Watt played 10 seasons for the Texans, earning first-team All-Pro honors five times, before concluding his playing career with the Cardinals.
LSU punched its ticket to the College World Series on Sunday night, and the participation of one Tigers player is likely to make some baseball fans feel old.
Blake Money went viral during his days in the 2014 Little League World Series, when his family name became a sensation because of his younger brother Cash. A picture thought to be of Cash Money sporting dollar sign-themed sunglasses during the LLWS caught fire as well—however it’s worth noting the photo actually featured Blake’s other brother, Logan.
Now, Money is now looking for what eluded him at age 12: a World Series win.
