Weekly Update May 1, 2023

Queue the NSYNC! It’s gonna be May!

Baseball: Astros end Rays home streak but then lose to the WS runner-ups Phillies. Harper set to comeback from TJ Tues. Padres/Giants had fun in Mexico. Oakland A’s to Vegas A’s

Basketball-NBA: Round 1 completed! Only one Game 7 so far. And now we have Steph vs LeBron part 42. Round 2 begins.

Football – Other: XFL Division Championship drama. Well in the South.

Football- NFL: Draft day! Lamar Jackson to stay in Baltimore. NFL calendar May 11.

Golf: Finau on fire in Mexico.

Hockey: Round 1 ends tonight and we had 3 Game 7s and plenty of games in OT.

Horse Racing: Kentucky Derby this weekend.

Motorsports: Miami GP debuts this weekend for F1.

Olympic Sports: Judo Worlds without UKR. FIBA Worlds in Doha.

Coming up this month:

Kentucky Derby May 6th, XFL Championship game May 13th, PGA Championship May 18-21, NCAA Lacrosse May 27-29, Indy 500 May 28, French Open May 28- June 11

Baseball:

• The Astros stopped the Rays 14-0 home win streak with their dominating 5-0 win on Tuesday. Only 3 teams in history have had longer runs with the longest being 1880 Chicago White Stockings (precursor of the Sox) with 21. Sounds like that should’ve drawn a big crowd right? No despite the Rays having the best start in the league and the win streak on the line and the Astros are defending World Series champs, the crowd was only 9,916.
• We had the World Series rematch this weekend and it was ugly for Houston. Although they won on Sunday in a close one (4-3), they lost the other 2 games by a combined score of 9-2.

• Bryce Harper is set to return to action on Tuesday just 5 months after Tommy John surgery. He will only return as DH to start but still! The 160 days since the surgery would be the fastest any major leaguer has recovered from the frequent injury. The fastest record before this was set back in 2004 in 182 days.
• The Padres/Giants series took place in Mexico this week and the Padres should maybe look at an outpost there as they took the W in both games. That put the Padres over the .5 for a winning record.
• It is not a done deal so no one get super excited or your panties in a wad but the Oakland A’s look to have signed a non-refundable deal to buy land in Las Vegas. It would be off the Strip and the date of moving is obviously still TBD with lots of details to be figured out but the Oakland team has failed to build a new stadium in the California city for 20 years and has finally said that’s enough. After all why not follow in the Raiders’ footsteps?

Basketball – NBA:

• Round 1 continued:
  • Monday saw some crazy performances, highlighted by LeBron who got a 20-20 and is the oldest athlete to record one in NBA history. That game was wild as it went into OT where the Grizzlies only scored 7 to lose and let LA take the 3-1 lead. But the Grizzlies majorly bounced back on Wed winning by 15. But that’s where their luck ended. The Lakers put the Memphis team away on Friday beating them by 40 points and advancing.
  • The Heat also went up 3-1 on Monday after beating the Bucks. Miami better thank Jimmy Butler who scored 56 by himself. He then recorded 42 on Wednesday to take the series. The Heat advance.
  • The Hawks saved elimination on Tuesday with the help of Trae Young but they were eliminated by the Celtics on Thursday.
  • The Nuggets made quick work of the Timberwolves, winning game 5 on Tuesday to take the series 4-1. The Suns did the same with the Clippers on the same day. The Suns scored 50 points in the 3Q – damn! The Knicks also went 4-1 in the series with the Cavaliers. The NY team advances.

• • The Warriors/Kings series is the only matchup to go to Game 7. The Kings started hot going 2-0 at Golden State. Then they get home and lose the next 3 games (1 of those was away). Game 6 was the biggest win by either team at that point with the Kings winning by 17 to even out the series to a winner-take-all Game 7. Game 7 was last night and it was crazy! The Kings outscored the Warriors by 1 point in each of the first 2 Qs. But that was it from there, Steph Curry scored 50 points, the most points ever scored in a playoff Game 7 in NBA history. It was also a new PR for him in playoffs as well. He also went 20-of-38. He is the first Warrior’s player to score over 40 points in a Game 7. The Warriors are used to playing Game 7s as they have had to do so 5xs in the last 10 seasons.

• So while the Warriors finally finished out Round 1. We had 2 Round 2 series begin this week. The Nuggets and Suns were the 2^nd and 3^rd teams to advance and happen to meet up in the bracket so they started their series on Saturday. The Nuggets take Game 1 125-107. The other series began on Sunday with the Heat against the Knicks. The Heat had a nice 2H comeback to take Game 1.

Football – Other:

• Despite beating the Arlington Renegades 2xs already this season, Houston Roughnecks couldn’t do it a 3^rd time in the South Division Championship. Renegades beat the Roughnecks 26-11. That’s a huge upset since the Renegades finished the season 4-6 and the Houston team was 7-3. In the North, the DC Defenders beat the Seattle Sea Dragons. Both teams had a better record than Arlington. The Sea Dragons were 7-3 on the season and the DC Defenders had the best record at 9-1. The Final will be Arlington Renegades vs DC Defenders next Saturday 13^th.

Football – NFL:

• The NFL draft was this week and weekend which means some dreams came true! The #1 draft pick this year by the Carolina Panthers was Alabama Heisman QB Bryce Young. A QB also went #2 to Houston, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud. Bryce is the first Alabama player to go #1 in the draft – and yes I checked that stat. The Texans also traded up for the 3^rd draft pick and took another Alabama player, LB Will Anderson as well. After TJ Watt left, the Texans could use a young dynamic tackler. Only 3 QBs were selected in the first round (FL Anthony Richardson was the last one). Is that a surprise yes seeing as they kept showing Will Levis and he dropped into the 2^nd

• The Lamar Jackson drama is over! He signed a deal with his Baltimore team on Thursday for a 5-year extension for $260MM ($185MM guaranteed). This deal puts Jackson atop the list as the NFL’s highest paid player. The Ravens have added options for Lamar as well with the addition of WR OBJ and signing Boston College WR Zay Flowers in the draft on Thursday.
• Mark your calendars as the NFL announced that the next seasons schedule will drop on May 11^th.

Golf:

• Tony Finau took home his 6th PGA Tour title on Sunday in the Mexico Open. If you tuned in, you would’ve seen Jon Rahm hanging around the top of the leaderboard, something we are used to seeing with it followed by a trophy in hand later. However Finau never gave Rahm a chance, carding a 66 (5 under) final round to win by 3 strokes. Finau shot 65-64-65-66 talk about consistency.

Hockey:

• Round 1:
  • The Golden Knights might’ve lost the first game of the series but they never lost again to the Jets. The Vegas team advances with little trouble 4-1. The Hurricanes played with their Islander food going up 3-1 before putting it away in Game 6. The Stars/Wild matchup went back and worth and was tied 2-2 before the Dallas team put their foot down winning the last 2 games by a combined score of 8-1. The Oilers and Kings were also 2-2 through 4 and these games were close. Overall the score was 25-20 for all 6 games and the biggest goal differential was 3. The Oilers beat the Kings 4-2. The Maple Leafs beat the Lightning in OT on Saturday night Game 6 to take the series. That is their first playoff win since 2004. That is like Usher’s Yeah at the top of the billboard charts long draught.

• • We had 3 series go to Game 7 – little better than the NBA. And so many games went into OT including the Panthers/Bruins Game 7. The Bruins had the best season in NHL history this year but that means nothing during playoffs. The Boston team led the series 3-1 before losing the next 2 games to take it into a crazy Game 7 in Boston! The Panthers manage the biggest upset in OT scoring a goal per period.
  • In just their 2^nd season ever, the Kraken have advanced to the 2^nd round after beating the defending Stanley Cup champs, the Avalanche. Although going down 2-1 to start the series, the Seattle team came back to win the next two games 3-2. Game 6 they went down 1-4 but Game 7 they won 2-1.
  • There is one final game tonight to wrap up Round 1. The Devils/Rangers Game 7 is tonight and it has been a streaky series. The Rangers won the first 2 in NJ territory. Then the Devils won the next 3. If the trend continues, then the Rangers should win their 2^nd game in a row tonight and take the series… but we will have to wait until later tonight to find out.

Olympic Sports:

• World Judo Championships will allow RUS and BLR athletes to compete so UKR has said they will boycott. 20 athletes from those countries are set to compete under neutral flags. Really 5 of them are cause for concern. Those 5 are members of a club with military officialation. The IOC has recommended allowing RUS and BLR athletes to compete neutrally EXCEPT those associated with military clubs. International Judo Federation so far is doing their own thing.
• FIBA (the International Basketball Federation) has awarded 2027 Worlds to Doha, Qatar.

What to watch this week

Baseball – MLB:

• Mon 5/1
  • Giants at Astros @ 7:10pm on FS1
    • Stripling vs Garcia
• Tues 5/2
  • Blue Jays at Red Sox @ 6:10pm on TBS
    • Kikuchi vs Houck
• Fri 5/5
  • White Sox at Reds @ 5:40pm on AppleTV+
  • Twins at Indians @ 6:10pm on AppleTV+
• Sat 5/6
  • Orioles at Braves – or – Red Sox at Phillies @ 6:15pm on FOX
• Sun 5/7
  • Orioles at Braves @ 10:35am on NBC and Peacock
    • Wells vs Morton
  • Dodgers at Padres @ 6pm on ESPN
    • Snydergaard vs Snell

Baseball/Softball – NCAA:

• Tues 5/2
  • Softball: 3. Tennessee vs 12. Arkansas @ 12pm on SEC
  • Softball: 14. LSU vs 16. Alabama @ 4pm on ESPNU
• Wed 5/3
  • Softball: 4. Florida St vs 15. Florida @ 5pm on ESPNU
• Thurs 5/4
  • Baseball: 15. Kentucky vs 5. Vanderbilt @ 11am on ESPNU
  • Softball: Mizzou vs 23. Texas A&M @ 2pm on ESPNU
  • Baseball: 5. Vanderbilt vs Alabama @ 7pm on ESPNU
• Fri 5/5
  • Softball: South Carolina vs 3. Tennessee @ 5pm on SEC
  • Softball: 1. Oklahoma vs 7. Oklahoma St @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • Baseball: 19. Boston College vs 2. Wake Forest @ 7pm on ACC
  • Baseball: 5. Vanderbilt vs Alabama @ 7pm on SEC
  • Softball: 10. Washington vs 8. Stanford @ 9:30pm on ESPNU
• Sat 5/6
  • Softball: South Carolina at 3. Tennessee @ 11am on SEC
  • Softball: 16. Alabama vs Ole Miss @ 1pm on SEC
  • Softball: Louisville vs 14. Florida St @ 1pm on ACC
  • Softball: 15. Florida vs 22. Kentucky @ 2pm on ESPNU
  • Softball: 11. Georgia vs 14. LSU @ 3pm on SEC
  • Softball: 1. Oklahoma vs 7. Oklahoma St @ 4pm on ESPN
  • Baseball: 4. Florida at Texas A&M @ 5pm on SEC
  • Baseball: 6. Arkansas vs Mississippi St @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • Baseball: 1. LSU vs Auburn @ 8pm on SEC
  • Softball: 10. Washington vs 8. Stanford @ 9pm on ESPN2
• Sun 5/7
  • Softball: Louisville vs 4. Florida St @ 11am on ACC
  • Softball: Mississippi St vs 17. Auburn @ 11am on SEC
  • Softball: 15. Florida vs 22. Kentucky @ 1pm on ESPN2
  • Baseball: 3. South Carolina vs Kentucky @ 1pm on SEC
  • Softball: 20. Baylor vs 5. Texas @ 6pm on LGHN
  • Softball: Mississippi St vs 17. Auburn @ 10pm on SEC

Basketball – NBA:

• Mon 5/1
  • E Game 1: 76ers at Celtics @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • W Game 2: Suns at Nuggets @ 9pm on TNT
• Tues 5/2
  • E Game 2: Heat at Knicks @ 6:30pm on TNT
  • W Game 1: Lakers at Warriors @ 9pm on TNT
• Wed 5/3
  • E Game 2: 76ers at Celtics @ 7pm on TNT
• Thurs 5/4
  • W Game 2: Lakers at Warriors @ 8pm on ESPN
• Fri 5/5
  • E Game 3: Celtics at 76ers @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • W Game 3: Nuggets at Suns @ 9pm on ESPN
• Sat 5/6
  • E Game 3: Knicks at Heats @ 2:30pm on ABC
  • W Game 3: Warriors at Lakers @ 7:30pm on ABC
• Sun 5/7
  • E Game 4: Celtics at 76ers @ 2:30pm on ESPN
  • W Game 4: Nuggets at Suns @ 7pm on TNT

 

Football:

• Sat 5/6
  • USFL: Houston at Phili @ 12pm on FOX
  • USFL: Memphis at Michigan @ 6:30pm on NBC
• Sun 5/7
  • USFL: NOLA at NJ @ 2pm on NBC
  • USFL: Birmingham at Pitt @ 5:30pm on FS1

Golf:

• Thurs 5/4
  • Wells Fargo Championship – Round 1 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
• Fri 5/5
  • Wells Fargo Championship – Round 2 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
• Sat 5/6
  • Wells Fargo Championship – Round 3
    • @ 1pm on Golf Channel
    • @ 2pm on CBS
• Sun 5/7
  • Wells Fargo Championship – Final Round
    • @ 1pm on Golf Channel
    • @ 2pm on CBS

Hockey:

• Mon 5/1
  • E Game 7: Rangers at Devils @ 7pm on ESPN
• Tues 5/2
  • E Game 1: Panthers at Maple Leafs @ 6pm on ESPN
  • W Game 1: Kraken at Stars @ 8:30pm on ESPN
• Wed 5/3
  • E Game 1: Winner of the Rangers/Devils at Hurricanes @ TBD on TBD
  • W Game 1: Oilers at Golden Knights @ TBD on TBD
• Thurs 5/4
  • E Game 2: Panthers at Maple Leafs @ TBD on TBD
  • W Game 2: Kraken at Stars @ TBD on TBD
• Fri 5/5
  • E Game 2: TBD at Hurricanes @ TBD on TBD
  • W Game 2: Oilers at Golden Knights @ TBD on TBD

Horseracing:

• Sat 5/6 – Kentucky Derby @ 1:30pm on NBC (Post time 5:57pm)
  • Preview begins @ 6:30am on FS1

Motorsports:

• Sun 5/7 – F1: Miami GP @ 2:30pm on ESPN

Soccer:

• Mon 5/1
  • Premier League: Leicester City vs Everton @ 2pm on USA
• Tues 5/2
  • German DFB Pokal: SC Freiburg vs RB Leipzig @ 1:45pm on ESPNU
  • Premier League: Arsenal vs Chelsea @ 2pm on USA
  • CONCACAF: LA FC vs Phili Union @ 9pm on FS1
• Wed 5/3
  • German DFB Pokal: VfB Stuttgart vs Eintracht Frankfurt @ 1:45pm on ESPNU
  • Premier League: Manchester City vs West Ham @ 2pm on USA
  • CONCACAF: Leon vs Tigres UANL @ 9pm on FS1
• Thurs 5/4
  • Premier League: Brighton vs ManU @ 2pm on USA
• Sat 5/6
  • Premier League: Manchester City vs LeedsU @ 9am on USA
  • Premier League: Liverpool vs Brentford @ 11:30am on USA
• Sun 5/7
  • Premier League: NewcastleU vs Arsenal @ 10:30am on USA