Baseball: This week in the MLB. Judge passes Jeter with #261.
Basketball – NBA: Playoffs. 1 team advances. Others in jeopardy.
Football: NFL draft recap. Transfer Portal window is closing.
Golf: Irishmen take NOLA. AUS take AUS but Steele wins individually.
Olympic Sports: GYM gets DOJ justice. Diamond League heating up.
Quick headlines: Candace Parker retires. Matt Ryan retires. USATF maternity policy.
Baseball – MLB:
- Monday started off spicy. Yankees manager Aaron Boone only made it 5 pitches before he got ejected. It got worse for the NY team as the A’s got a 2-run HR in the 9th to break their 8 game losing streak. Speaking of breaking losing streaks, the Pirates beat the Brewers to end their 6 game losing streak as well. Cardinals 2B Nolan Gorman was 0 for the last 19 at bats before the 9th innings of the Diamondbacks game when he hit a 2-run HR. The Cardinals won 5-3. There was also some good pitching on Monday. Phillies P Suarez hasn’t allowed a run in the last 25 innings. The Phillies shutout the Reds 7-0. Tigers P Skubal got 9 Ks in just 6 innings as the DET team beat the Rays 7-1. Both pitchers got the W.
- The Astros are not off to a great start as after Tuesday’s loss to the Cubs, they are now 10 games under .500. It’s the first time the Houston team has been that bad since 2016. On the flip side of that, the Guardians are off to their best start in franchise history going 17-6. Shoehei Ohtani hit a 450 foot HR in their win over the Nationals 4-1. Braves P Max Fried pitched a complete game for the first time for ATL since 2022. ATL shutout Marlins for the 2nd day in a row. There were two grand slams on Tuesday. One by DBacks Pavin Smith who added 4 runs to the 14 run game over the Cardinals. The Rockies Brendan Rodgers got one in the 5th inning to win their game over the Padres for just their 2nd win in 10 games. Angels star Mike Trout hit a HR leading it off for the first time since 2012.
- Rangers got back to back HRs to beat the Mariners 5-1 on Wednesday. Twins Willi Castros got his 27th bday wish with a 3-run HR. The Mets have lost their 5th game in 6. The only win in that streak was on Wednesday over the Giants 8-2.
- Phillies star Bryce Harper returned from the birth of his daughter and immediately gets a HR. Nice bounce back for him! And the Phillies beat the Reds 5-0 for their 5th shutout of the season. The Royals beat the Blue Jays 2-1 in a 5-inning game after the game was called for a 3.5 hour rain delay.
- The White Sox are the worst team in the league but they won two games in a row against the Rays this week. That 9-4 win against the Tampa team on Friday broke a 7-game losing streak. They would go onto the win Sunday’s game as well, setting a season’s best of 3-consecutive wins this season. They are now 6-22. The Yankees lose two games in a row to the Brewers even though the 2nd one was in extra innings. The Giants had a walk-off 3-run HR to beat the Pirates late on Friday.
- The Astros needed to go to Mexico to break their 5 game losing streak. They beat the Rockies 12-4 in the first game of the Mexico City Series on Saturday. It was a offense heavy day on Saturday. Lots of runs scored! The Red Sox had a monstrous game against the Cubs winning 17-0. They had a 6-run 5th The Yankees beat the Brewers 15-3. And the Nationals also put up a double digit game winning 11-4 over the Marlins. Finishing it off, the Twins scored 16 including Max Kelper’s first HR of the season.
- The Astros get another big win. Viva la Mexico for the HOU team 8-2. But now they head back state side, let’s see if they can keep that momentum in the US. Speaking of momentum, Nick Senzel had two HRs in the Nationals/Marlins game. The Washington team came back from a 7-run deficit to win 12-9. The Rangers Wyatt Langford got his first HR of his career and its an inside-the-park HR! Wasn’t even close either – the ball bounced off the back wall and didn’t even make it back to home plate before he hit the base. Two games went into extra innings on Sunday. The Braves got a big win against the AL leading Guardians with a walk off in the 10th. Both teams now have 19 wins apiece. Then the Mets Mark Vientos was the big hero of their game against the Cardinals with a HR in the 11th inning.
- Yankees star Aaron Judge hit his 261st HR as a Yankee making him 9th on the All time HR list for the NY team, surpassing Derek Jeter. He had gone 9 days without a HR before Wednesday when he hit #261. It only took Judge 860 games to hit #261.
Basketball – NBA:
- We do have a team that has advanced. And keep in mind no NBA team has advanced after being down 3-0.
- Monday was a bunch of Game 2s and they all went the way of the team who won game 1. The Cavaliers had a much better start than the Magic who only put up 18 points in the entire 1Q. The Cavs cruised to a win by 10 points even though they only scored 16 in the final Q. Knicks DiVenchenzo put up final 3 pointer to beat the 76ers in a tight game. The NY team put up 8 points in the final 28 seconds. The Lakers were up by 15 at halftime and 20 points at one point over the DEN team. Nuggets Murray hit the buzzer beater to win 101 -99.
- The Nuggets would add to that lead on Thursday to take the series lead 3-0 over the Lakers. The Lakers would finally get their first win and avoid the sweep by winning on Saturday. That breaks the 11 game win streak of Denver over the Lakers. The other two teams had better luck. The Magic annihilated the Cavs 121-83. Dang! The Magic tied up the series on Saturday, outscoring the Cavs 61-29 in the 2H! We’re tied in that series! Then 76ers Embiid dropped 50 points to lead the Phili team to win that game 2 by 11. The tables would flip on the 76ers on Sunday. Knicks PG Jalen Brunson put up a playoff franchise record 47 points in that game to win a close one by 5. Knicks are up 3-1.
- The Timberwolves had a strong 2H and mainly 4Q to break open Game 2 and take the series 2-0 lead. They also put up 30+ in 3Qs to destroy the Suns on Friday when they went to PHX. Minnesota and Anthony Edwards would put the Suns away on Sunday, winning 122-116. Booker tried hard putting up 49 points but the Suns go home. MIN becomes the first team to advance and the only team to sweep so far.
- Pacers PF Pascal Siakam put up 37 points in their win over the Bucks on Tuesday. The IN team won by 17. The next game was much closer. The Pacers scored 39 in the 1Q but the Bucks came clawing back to take the game into OT. Bucks SF Middleton was responsible for 42 points. The Pacers got the last laugh though, taking the 2-1 series lead. The Bucks are just limping through their injuries and its showing. They would drop Sunday’s game as well by 13 points despite keeping it close 1H. Pacers are up 3-1.
- The Mavs/Clippers game was close all game with both teams scoring 22 points in the 2Q apiece. But the Mavs tie up the series by 3. Game 3 may have started off in favor of the Clippers but the Mavs made a quick comeback in the 2Q, scoring 36 in that Q alone. They would hold on to win and Kyrie put up 19 in the 2H. The Clippers scored 39 in the 1Q and built up a 31 point lead at one point during Sunday’s game but the Dallas team came all the way back to tie it up with 4:25 left and take the lead with 2:15 left in the game. Kyrie Irving had another great game with 40 points but the Mavs would ultimately fall short and lose 116-111. We are now tied in this series 2-2!
- The Heat evened up their series against the Celtics on Wednesday. The Miami team was ON all night for 3-pointers, showing out with 23 – that is a playoff record. Saturday was all Celtics though. The BOS team scored 42 in the 2Q and cruised to a win 104-84. That series is now 2-1.
- The Thunder took a commanding lead in the series and game on Wednesday. The OKC team won by 32 points with SGA putting up 33 points himself. It was more of the same on Saturday as they continue to ease their way closer to sealing the series just 1 win away. They took Saturday’s game 106-85.
Football – NCAAF:
- This draft was majorly offensive. As in 23 offensive players were taken in the first round, which eclipsed the previous record of 19 by quite a margin. The highest defensive player went at pick 15. Heisman Trophy winner and USC QB Caleb Williams went #1. 5 QBs in the first 10 selections. One of the biggest surprises was Washington QB Michael Penix going 8th. The Falcons already have Kirk Cousins signed to a four-year contract and it was clear Kirk Cousins found out when we are did. Its surprising because Penix is one of the oldest QBs to come out of the draft in quite some time just a week away from turning 24. In contrast UNC QB Drake Maye is only 20. Penix was expected to be one of the QBs who is ready to start right away but with just signing Kirk Cousins, one would assume Penix will be sitting and doing some learning. TBD though!
- Reggie Bush has gotten his Heisman back! He originally won the 2005 Heisman as he was playing RB for USC. However it was retroactively taken away when it was discovered that he had accepted lavish gifts (which was illegal) while at USC. He voluntarily vacated his title after it was rumored it would be stripped from him in 2010. 14 years later, he was reinstated after times have changed with the NIL policy.
- The spring transfer portal closes Tuesday (the 30th). Its been a little crazy. Arizona St highly touted QB recruit Jaden Rashada has decided to transfer to UGA. You might remember that name from all the NIL money that was promised to him at Florida but it all fell through. It helps that players can transfer an indefinite amount of times as long as they have the grades.
Golf:
- Rory McIlroy had never competed at TPC Louisiana before this week but something tells me this wont be the last time he visits. Rory and his partner, fellow Irishman, Shane Lowry drew in the biggest and loudest crowds of the weekend. They were in the lead going into the weekend and were only 2 shots off the lead into the final round but Chad Ramey and Martin Trainor came surging from T-27th to the top of the leaderboard with 9 birdies in the final 11 holes. Their score of 63 tied the alternate shot course record. But that was where their luck ran out. The two finished 3 hours before the final pair so when they had to play a playoff they had been sitting around a while. The Playoff hole did not to their way. Their first shot was pulled to the left in rough, the 2nd shot also was to the left off the cart path. Trainer then missed a short 6-foot putt to give the Irish pair the Win. This is Rory’s 25th PGA Tour title but his first of the season. It is Shane’s 3rd.
- Brendan Steele won the LIV event at Adelaide by 1 stroke over Louis Oosthuizen thanks to his second round score of 64. It was the Aussie team who took the win though led by Cam Smith, Ripper GC won in a playoff. Fitting win at home!
Hockey:
- The Hurricanes have had a crazy week. It started on Monday in Game 2 when Carolina scored 2 goals 9 seconds apart to win 5-3 after trailing by 3. Oh and the first was with an empty goal at the other end. Then the 4th game went into 2OT. The Islanders survived only needing 1:24 into 2OT to score and force a Game 5.
- There were a couple other games to go into OT. Game 2 between the Panthers/Lightning on Tuesday. Panthers scored 2 in the 1st period and then could not get one to drop in until OT. The Kings won in OT on Wednesday also Game 2. They scored 3 in the 1st and another in the 3rd to go into OT with the Oilers. They upset the Edmonton team though and even the series. Saturday the Stars/Golden Knights game went into OT where Dallas picked up a much needed win but still trailing 1-2 in the series. The Canucks upset the Predators sweep in OT on Sunday. The Vancouver team was trailing all game but scored 2 to take us into OT before getting that win.
- The Rangers swept the Capitals on Sunday winning all 4 of their games and advancing to the next round. They are the only team to advance and only team to sweep in the first round.
Olympic Sports:
- DOJ agreed to give $138MM settlement to the gymnasts that were abused by Larry Nassar.
- The Diamond League is heating up as Paris prep really gets underway. We are seeing some big names in these meets. Christian Coleman and Fred Kerley, 2 USA sprinters were in the 100m race in China on Saturday but both Olympians were upstaged by RSA Akani Simbine. Mondo Duplantis broke his own WR in the PV last week at the Diamond League although fell short on all 3 attempts to break it again this week. The new WR stands at 6.24m (20ft 5.5 inches). Sha’Carri Richardson has faded twice now in the 200m finishing 2nd and 3rd in the last two weeks. Jasmine Comacho-Quinn had a photo finish with WR holder Tobi Amusan in the 100m hurdles. US Olympic trials are set for late June.
Some quick highlights:
- WNBA great Candace Parker has announced she is retiring at the age of 38. She won 2 NCAA championship titles with Tennessee, went #1 in the WNBA draft in 2008 and then won WNBA Championship with the Sparks, Sky and Aces – the first player to do so with 3 different franchises.
- Speaking of retiring, long time NFL QB Matt Ryan also announced his retirement also at the age of 38. The Boston College grad went straight to the Falcons who he played for from 2008-2021. He has been passed around a little bit since then and not found a home. Ryan went to the Super Bowl but fell to Tom Brady and the Patriots in the biggest comeback of all time in 2016. He was still voted the NFL MVP that year.
- Oklahoma HR Queen Jocelyn Alo has signed a one-month deal with the Savannah Bananas.
- USATF has expanded on its maternity policy giving athletes more time to qualify and recover. Timely as Allyson Felix, the first champion of the movement gave birth to her 2nd baby – this time her son Kenneth III.
What to watch this week
Baseball – MLB:
- Mon 4/29
- Twins at White Sox @ 6:40pm on FS1
- Ryan vs Crochet
- Twins at White Sox @ 6:40pm on FS1
- Fri 5/3
- Giants at Phillies @ 5:40pm on Apple TV+
- Blue Jays at Nationals @ 5:45pm on Apple TV+
- Sat 5/4
- Mets at Rays – or – Mariners at Astros @ 6:15pm on FOX
- Sun 5/5
- Giants at Phillies @ 6pm on ESPN
- Webb vs Walker
- Giants at Phillies @ 6pm on ESPN
Baseball/Softball-NCAA:
- Mon 4/29
- Baseball: 5. Clemson vs Louisville @ 2pm on ESPNU
- Softball: 18. Mississippi St vs 14. Mizzou @ 5pm on ESPNU or SEC
- Softball: 5. Duke vs NC St @ 7pm on ESPNU
- Tues 4/30
- Baseball: 5. Clemson vs Louisville @ 12pm on ACC
- Baseball: Charlotte vs 15. UNC @ 6pm on ACC
- Wed 5/1
- Softball: 12. Florida vs 16. Florida St @ 6pm on ACC
- Thurs 5/2
- Softball: 12. Florida vs 16. Florida St @ 2pm on ESPNU
- Softball: 22. Kentucky vs 3. Tennessee @ 6pm on SEC
- Baseball: 3. Tennessee vs Florida @ 6pm on ESPN2
- Softball: 17. Alabama vs Auburn @ 7pm on ESPNU
- Fri 5/3
- Softball: 17. Alabama vs Auburn @ 5pm on SEC
- Softball: 4. Oklahoma St vs 2. Oklahoma @ 6:30pm on FS1
- Baseball: 1. Texas A&M vs LSU @ 7pm on SEC
- Sat 5/4
- Softball: 17. Alabama vs Auburn @ 11am on SEC
- Softball: 4. Oklahoma St vs 2. Oklahoma @ 12pm on ESPN
- Softball: 11. Texas A&M vs 12. Florida @ 1pm on SEC
- Softball: Ole Miss vs 13. Arkansas @ 3pm on SEC
- Softball: 14. Mizzou vs South Carolina @ 5pm on SEC
- Baseball: 21. NC St vs 10. Florida St @ 6pm on ACC
- Baseball: 1. Texas A&M vs LSU @ 6:30pm on ESPNU
- Sun 5/5
- Softball: 9. Georgia vs 18. Mississippi St @ 11am on SEC
- Softball: 11. Texas A&M vs 12. Florida @ 12pm on ESPN2
- Softball: Ole Miss vs 13. Arkansas @ 1pm on SEC
- Softball: 4. Oklahoma St vs 2. Oklahoma @ 3pm on ESPN2
- Softball: 14. Mizzou vs South Carolina @ 6pm on ESPNU
Basketball – NBA:
- Mon 4/29
- East Game 4: Celtics at Heat @ 6:30pm on TNT
- BOS leads 2-1
- West Game 4: Thunder at Pelicans @ 7:30pm on NBA
- OKC leads 3-0
- West Game 4: Lakers at Nuggets @ 9pm on TNT
- DEN leads 3-1
- East Game 4: Celtics at Heat @ 6:30pm on TNT
- Tues 4/30
- East Game 5: 76ers at Knicks @ 6pm on TNT
- NY leads 3-1
- East Game 5: Magic at Cavaliers @ 7pm on NBA
- Tied 2-2
- East Game 5: Pacers at Bucks @ 8:30pm on TNT
- IND leads 3-1
- East Game 5: 76ers at Knicks @ 6pm on TNT
- Wed 5/1
- East Game 5: Heat at Celtics @ 6:30pm on TNT
- West Game 5: Pelicans at Thunder @ 7:30pm on NBA
- If necessary
- West Game 5: Mavericks at Clippers @ 9pm on TNT
- Tied 2-2
- Thurs 5/2
- West Game 6: Nuggets at Lakers @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- East Game 6: Knicks at 76ers @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- East Game 6: Bucks at Pacers @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- West Game 6: Nuggets at Lakers @ TBD on TBD
- Fri 5/3
- West Game 6: Thunder at Pelicans @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- East Game 6: Celtics at Heat @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- East Game 6: Cavaliers at Magic @ TBD on TBD
- West Game 6: Clippers at Mavericks @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- West Game 6: Thunder at Pelicans @ TBD on TBD
- Sat 5/4 – if necessary
- West Game 7: Lakers at Nuggets @ TBD on TNT
- East Game 7: 76ers at Knicks @ TBD on TNT
- East Game 7: Pacers at Bucks @ TBD on TNT
- Sun 5/5 – if necessary
- West Game 7: Pelicans at Thunder @ TBD on TBD
- West Game 7: Mavericks at Clippers @ TBD on TBD
- East Game 7: Heat at Celtics @ TBD on TBD
- East Game 7: Magic at Cavaliers @ TBD on TBD
Football – UFL:
- Sat 5/4
- Birmingham Stallions at Memphis Showboats @ 11am on ABC
- Houston Roughnecks at St. Louis Battlehawks @ 2pm on FOX
- Sun 5/5
- Arlington Renegades at Michigan Panthers @ 12pm on FOX
- San Antonio Brahmas at DC Defenders @ 3pm on FOX
Golf:
- Thurs 5/2
- Byron Nelson – Round 1 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
- Fri 5/3
- Byron Nelson – Round 2 @ 3pm on Golf Channel
- Sat 5/4
- Byron Nelson – Round 3
- @ 12pm on Golf Channel
- @ 2pm on CBS
- Byron Nelson – Round 3
- Sun 5/5
- Byron Nelson – Final Round
- @ 12pm on Golf Channel
- @ 2pm on CBS
- Byron Nelson – Final Round
Hockey:
- Mon 4/29
- East – Game 5: Lightning at Panthers @ 6pm on ESPN
- FLA leads 3-1
- West – Game 4: Stars at Golden Knights @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- VGK leads 2-1
- East – Game 5: Lightning at Panthers @ 6pm on ESPN
- Tues 4/30
- East – Game 5: Maple Leafs at Bruins @ 6pm on ESPN
- BOS leads 3-1
- East – Game 5: Islanders at Hurricanes @ 6:30pm on TBS
- CAR leads 3-1
- West – Game 5: Avalanche at Jets @ 8:30pm on ESPN
- COL leads 3-1
- West – Game 5: Predators at Canucks @ 9pm on TBS
- VAN leads 3-1
- East – Game 5: Maple Leafs at Bruins @ 6pm on ESPN
- Wed 5/1
- East – Game 6: Panthers at Lightning @ TBD on TBD
- If necessary
- West – Game 5: Golden Knights at Stars @ TBD on TBD
- West – Game 5: Kings at Oilers @ TBD on TBD
- EDM leads 3-1
- East – Game 6: Panthers at Lightning @ TBD on TBD
- Thurs 5/2 – If necessary
- West – Game 6: Jets at Avalanche @ TBD on TBD
- East – Game 6: Bruins at maple Leafs @ TBD on TBD
- East – Game 6: Hurricanes at Islanders @ TBD on TBD
- Fri 5/3 – If necessary
- West – Game 6: Stars at Golden Knights @ TBD on TBD
- West – Game 6: Canucks at Predators @ TBD on TBD
- West – Game 6: Oilers at Kings @ TBD on TBD
- Sat 5/4 – If necessary
- East – Game 7: Lightning at Panthers @ TBD on TBD
- West – Game 7: Avalanche at Jets @ TBD on TBD
- East – Game 7: Maple Leafs at Bruins @ TBD on TBD
- East – Game 7: Islanders at Hurricanes @ TBD on TBD
- Sun 5/5 – If necessary
- West – Game 7: Golden Knights at Stars @ TBD on TBD
- West – Game 7: Kings at Oilers @ TBD on TBD
- West – Game 7: Predators at Canucks@ TBD on TBD
Horseracing:
- Fri 5/3
- Kentucky Oakes @ 12pm on USA
- Sat 5/4
- Kentucky Derby – 150th running
- Prep @ 11am on USA
- @ 1:30pm on NBC
- Post time 5:57pm CT
- Kentucky Derby – 150th running
Motorsports:
- Fri 5/3
- F1: Miami GP Practice 1 @ 11:25am on ESPN2
- F1: Miami GP Sprint Qualifying @ 3:25pm on ESPN2
- Sat 5/4
- F1: Miami GP Sprint Race @ 10:55am on ESPN
- F1: Miami GP Qualifying @ 2:55pm on ESPN
- Sun 5/5
- F1: Miami GP @ 3pm on ABC
Soccer:
- Tues 4/30
- CONCACAF Champions Cup: Pachuca vs Club America @ 8pm on FS1
- Wed 5/1
- CONCACAF Champions Cup: CF Monterrey vs Columbus Crew @ 9pm on FS1
- Sat 5/4
- Premier League: Arsenal vs Bournemouth @ 6:30am on USA
- Premier League: Sheffield vs Nottingham Forest @ 9am on USA
- Premier League: Teams TBA @ 11:30am on NBC
- Sun 5/5
- Premier League: Brighton vs Aston Villa @ 8am on USA
- NWSL: Houston Dash vs KC Current @ 12pm on CBS
- MLS: Seattle Sounders vs LA Galaxy @ 5:30pm on FS1
