There’s been a clear No. 1 for the majority of the season — but there might be a new face vying for the title of best team in baseball.
Author: Michael
Welcome to The Weekly Takedown, Sports Illustrated’s in-depth look at MMA. Every week, this column offers insight and information on the most noteworthy stories in the fight world.
A dirty word in MMA is retirement.
The moment a fighter says that two-syllable word—retire—it becomes as close a guarantee as there is to death and taxes that their next fight will end in defeat.
Amanda Nunes is smart. As she approaches her main event bout at UFC 289 against Irene Aldana, she has been meticulous in her approach to avoid that word.
“It’s not easy to talk about,” says Nunes.
A Toronto Blue Jays fan got a little overeager to catch a ball thrown into the stands by Kevin Kiermaier and accidentally threw his phone back in return.
It happened on Wednesday night with eh Blue Jays working the Houston Astors to Rogers Centre.
After catching a flyball to end the top of the third inning, Kiermaier lobbed the ball into the stands. One fan reaching for the cheap souvenir inadvertently launched their phone onto the field.
A fan dropped his phone while trying to catch a ball from Kevin Kiermaier.
Glad to know this story had a happy ending! pic.twitter.
Phil Mickelson called out the PGA Tour and forecast huge changes in the sport. He was roasted then, but in the end, he hit on almost every point.
What does the ideal Forbidden Door look like? We have some ideas.
It’s opening once more. On June 25 AEW and NJPW are having their second Forbidden Door pay per view, a crossover between the two biggest wrestling companies in the world not named WWE. It’s a rare occasion to both give us the dream matches we’ve been dying for, and also making good on the disappointment of 2022.
Last year’s Forbidden Door was good.
Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images
Fans of F1, Daniel Ricciardo, the Manningcast, and alternate telecasts got some welcome news Thursday
Formula 1 fans new and old have been wondering when they will see Daniel Ricciardo on the track again.
While that might have to wait a little while longer, people looking forward to seeing more of the Australian driver will get their wish soon.
Just two games into his Major League Baseball career, Elly De La Cruz is already a Cincinnati Reds legend. OK, that’s a little bit of hyperbole. But the hype is indeed real.
De La Cruz hit a moonshot home run in his first at-bat on Wednesday night against the Dodgers, the first of his big-league career. He followed that with a triple in his second at-bat, recording the fastest home-to-third-base time in the majors this season.
Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park.
Photo by David Becker/Getty Images for ACM
Paige Spiranac reminded the golf world that none of us actually know what’s going on with this merger with a hysterical video.
Golf influencer Paige Spiranac knows how to appeal to her masses, and her witty video about taking a deep breath takes the cake.
This week saw the golf world shaken to its core when the PGA Tour and PIF announced they were merging.
So many opinions, reports and commentary has been all over social media. Thankfully, Spiranac kept it real and she chose the light route, which we all need.
LIV, Laugh, Love pic.
Steven Adams has become somewhat mythical during his time in the NBA. The New Zealand native has built a reputation for being abnormally strong and fearsomely tough during his 10-year career in the association. Naturally, this has led to plenty of hilarious stories, but this one puts them all to shame.
One of his former teammates with the Thunder, Paul George, had Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. on his podcast, and the two exchanged stories about Adams, who is currently Jackson’s front court partner in Memphis.
When you’re hot, you’re hot! And PGA Tour golfer Justin Rose had a flaming hot streak in the middle of his first round at the RBC Canadian Open.
Rose entered the week as one of the favorites to contend for the title at the national tournament of our north-of-the-border neighbors. It’s a relatively weak field, especially with the much more important US Open on tap next week.
But defending champion (technically back-to-back) Rory McIlroy is there to try and pick up a three-peat.