Baseball: Bumgarner’s 7 inning no-hitter. A’s 13 game win streak is over. Yelich MRI results.
Basketball: Curry 3 point record. Magic rookie ankle injury. HC tests positive. KD back and with an Oscar.
Football: Davis dies. Mayfield 5th year. Gronk’s new Guinness World Record. LSU makes moves. Steelers CB Layne arrested. Central MI QB shot.
Golf: Team AUS gets it done over RSA. Tiger back on course.
Hockey: Playoff clinches. Blackhawks Shaw retires but extend Stillman. Wild extend Hartman. Flames COVID issue. Playoffs delayed until May 16.
Horse Racing: KT Derby on Saturday!
Motorsports: Nasty NASCAR crash.
Olympic Sports: Konrads passes. Biles drops Nike. KT wins Vball natty. UK Athletics pissed about stadium. Clemson’s M T&F Team reinstated.
Baseball:
- Madison Bumgarner threw a no-hitter but for only 7 innings when he was pulled off the mound. This means it will not be recorded as a no-hitter but he was 2 innings away from the feat. It did lead to a Diamondback sweep of the Braves on Sunday, scoring 7-0 in that game and 5-0 in the game before. The Diamondbacks actually had the fewest hits in a doubleheader in MLB history, with 1 coming off an error in the 2nd inning of Bumgarner’s game. That record was previously set in 1992.
- The A’s 13 game winning streak was broken on Sunday with a 1-8 loss to the Orioles. This was the team’s 3rd longest win streak in franchise history (since moving to Oakland anyway ~~1968) after the team started the season 0-6. Orioles RF Austin Hayes scored 2 HRs paired with LHP John Means great pitching performance led to the 8-1 win.
- Good news for Brewers fans, nothing major is wrong with LF Christian Yelich’s back according to the MRI. However the slugger hasn’t played since April 11th and was sent home due to hitting a plateau in his recovery. TBD on his return.
- Bob Simpson, the former co-chairman of the Texas Rangers, owned this ‘No Stars Flowing Hair Dollar’ which was a silver dollar prototype. It sold for $840k at an auction this weekend.
- Jacob deGrom had a great game for the Mets, recording a career high 15 KOs in their 6-0 win over the Nationals.
Basketball:
- Steph Curry has kept the 3 train rolling. He set a new record with 85 3s set in one calendar month, April and its not over yet. James Harden previously held the record with 82 from 2019 with the Rockets. Curry’s scoring average for this month is 38.2 points/game and he has 2 games left (Tues against the Mavericks and Thursday against the Timberwolves). Watch that game on Thursday as the Timberwolves have already been eliminated from the playoffs, could be a high scoring game for Curry.
- The Magic G Devin Cannady had to keep stretchered off the court after a nasty ankle injury during the game against the Pacers. The open fracture was so bad that Cannady’s teammate Mo Bamba took off his jersey and laid it over the injury to cover it. Cannady landed awkwardly going up to contest Edmond Sumner’s layup. He is believed to have undergone surgery Sunday night. Watch at your own risk.
- As if the Magic didn’t have enough problems, HC Steve Clifford tested positive for COVID on Sunday. This was his 3rd positive in 4 days. His first positive test was on Thursday followed by 2 negative tests, giving the team false hope that it was a false positive (I can relate – trust me). That was until this last one. He is asymptomatic.
- KD is back and he came off the bench hot, scoring 33 points in his first game back in 3 games.
- KD also had a good night last night at the Oscars as he and Mike Conley of the Jazz were among the Executive Producers of “Two Distant Strangers” which won an Academy Award for Best Digital Short. The 2 were among 10 EPs in the film that was acclaimed as the black ‘Groundhog Day.’
- Playoffs will start on 5/22. So here are the NBA Standings so far:
- East: Nets, 76ers, Bucks (41, 39, 37 Ws)
- Last in: Wizards (2 Ws over Bulls)
- West: Jazz, Suns, Clippers (44, 42, 43 Ws)
- Last in: Warriors (1 Ws over Prelicans)
- Eliminated from playoffs: Timberwolves and Rockets
- East: Nets, 76ers, Bucks (41, 39, 37 Ws)
Football:
- It’s NFL Draft week yall! The first round is Thursday with the Jaguars picking first (likely Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence) and the final round on Saturday.
- Mike Davis, a former Raiders DB responsible for the interception in the playoff win against the Browns in 1941, has died at the age of 65. That inception sealed the win in that playoff game before the Raiders went on to win their 2nd Super Bowl. Davis played 107 games with the Raiders and had 11 interceptions and 12 fumble recoveries over his 115 games career.
- Baker Mayfield will stay in Cleveland through 2022 after the Browns exercised the 5th year option on his contact. This will earn him $18.8MM.
- Gronk now holds the Guinness World Record for the longest pass ever caught after a helicopter dropped a pass from 600 feet in the air. Obviously Gronk successfully caught it in front of his Arizona team during a team practice. It did take him 3 tries but hey a record is a record.
- LSU has fired their law firm of the last 80 years, Taylor Porter, and has banned RB Derrius Guice from athletics in response to their sexual harassment scandal. Guice’s stats and records will be erased from the LSU books after he was accused by 2 women of sexual assault when he was a freshman (in 2016) and 3 domestic violence incidents in 2020. Better late than never I guess? The report also shared the news that LSU’s AD in 2013, Joe Allevas, actually recommended firing HC Les Miles but it was never carried out. The Tigers are trying to make some kind of changes.
- Steelers CB Justin Layne was arrested on Friday night with a felony of transporting a firearm inside a vehicle and 2 misdemeanors of driving with a suspended license and exceeding speed limits. He was pulled over for going 89 in a 60 mph zone.
- Central Michigan’s QB John Keller was shot in an off-campus party over the weekend. He is in serious condition and was among 2 people shot.
- Possible CFP expansion finally being discussed??
Golf:
- Team Australia won the Zurich Classic. Not officially Team Australia but both marc Leishman and Cameron Smith are aussies. You could also call them team mullet. Round 1 & 3 were best ball and Rounds 2 & 4 were alternate shot in the only team event on the PGA Tour. Team AUS beat out Team RSA (South Africa) in the first playoff hole. Team RSA was Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. The back nine played very tough on the final day with the winning duo only scoring 2 under for their final round. This was Marc Leishman’s 6th win on the PGA Tour and Cameron Smith’s third, all of them being in playoffs. Cameron Smith won the Zurich back in 2017 with partner Jonas Blixt. You could be looking at who will rep AUS in Tokyo this summer.
- It is great to see Tiger back on a golf course, even if it is on crutches.
Hockey:
- I don’t usually do a Hockey section but there seemed to be major news so I’ll make this quick
- The Golden Knights are the first team to clinch a spot on the playoffs, as have the Avalanche and Wild. Playoff begin after May 16 after the Canucks long COVID outbreak.
- The Devils, Sabres and Blue Jackets have been eliminated already.
- The Blackhawks have good and bad news. F Andrew Shaw announced that he is retiring at the age of 29 due to too many concussions. The 2x Stanley Cup winner played for over 10 years in the league. The good news is the team also extended their contract with D Riley Stillman for $1.35MM/yr through the 2024 season.
- Wild extended F Ryan Hartman’s contract for years for $5.1MM. He’s played with Chicago, Nashville and Phili previously in his 354 games career so far.
- The Flames have had a positive test but plans to continue playing. The Canucks are back to playing after their 21 players and 4 staff tested positive over a long break. So far 52 NHL games have been rescheduled due to COVID.
- The Golden Knights are the first team to clinch a spot on the playoffs, as have the Avalanche and Wild. Playoff begin after May 16 after the Canucks long COVID outbreak.
Horse Racing:
- It’s Kentucky Derby week yall! Tune in on Saturday to watch the race! Coverage begins at 12:30pm with the race scheduled for 6:01pm.
Motorsports:
- At the Talladega race this weekend, Brad Keselowski won the race but all eyes were on this scary crash involving Joey Logano. He is ok and will race in the next race.
Olympic Sports:
- AUS swimmer, John Konrads, died at age 78. Konrads won the 1960 Olympic gold medal in the 1500m free and set 26 WRs and once set 6 WRs in an 8 day span. He also took home the bronze medal for the 400m free and 4x200m free relay. Although he was born in Latvia, he moved to AUS at the age of 7 and made the Olympic team as a reserve at 14 years old for the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games.
- Olympic athletes will not be required to quarantine for 14 days following their entrance into Tokyo for the games but they will need to stay in the bubble of the Olympic village and venues. There will be daily testing and 2 tests before leaving their home country and a test upon arrival. This was all revealed in the new edition of the athletes playbook. The final update will come in June. Japan only has 10k deaths from COVID but also only has 1% of its population vaccinated.
- Speaking of COVID in Japan, the PM has issued a 3rd emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo from 4/25-5/11. Officials are afraid of continuously rising cases, especially with the Golden Week holidays and travel for it through the first week of May. Vaccines are supposed to be completed for senior citizens (all 36MM of them) by the end of July; this is a month behind the original schedule.
- Simone Biles has dropped Nike for Athleta as her athletic apparel sponsor. Biles will go a post-Olympics tour on her own, compared to the one usually organized by USA Gymnastics. Biles felt the brand would allow her to have honest convos with women and girls about athletics and body image.
- Kentucky has won their first NCAA Volleyball Championship when they beat the Texas Longhorns on Saturday in 4 sets. After losing the first one, the Wildcats came back with force to take the next 3 25-18, 25-23 and 25-22. They had the most efficient offense during the regular season and it showed. Congrats ladies!
- Things are getting feisty in the UK with regards to the London 2012 Olympic stadium. The stadium was transformed into a soccer stadium for West Ham United and was due to host a Diamond League meet on 7/13. However organizers said it would cost too much to change the soccer stadium back to a track stadium and back so they moved the meet out to Manchester or Gateshead. Gateshead will host the first Diamond League meet of the year and Manchester is set to host the British Championships in June. UK Athletics has said it will take legal action to get back into the same stadium as the London 2012 Games and says it undermines their Olympics.
- Clemson has reinstated its men’s track team!
What to watch this week
Baseball-MLB:
- Mon 4/26
- Cubs at Braves @ 6pm on ESPN
- Davies vs Morton
- Cubs at Braves @ 6pm on ESPN
- Tues 4/27
- Red Sox at Mets @ 6:10pm on ESPN
- Richards vs Peterson
- Red Sox at Mets @ 6:10pm on ESPN
- Wed 4/28
- Cubs at Braves @ 6:20pm on FS1
- Hendricks vs Ynoa
- Cubs at Braves @ 6:20pm on FS1
- Sat 5/1
- Indians at White Sox @ 3:05pm on FS1
- McKenzie vs Kopech
- Indians at White Sox @ 3:05pm on FS1
- Sun 5/2
- Mets at Phillies @ 6pm on ESPN
- Peterson vs Eflin
- Mets at Phillies @ 6pm on ESPN
Baseball/Softball–NCAA: (ranked vs ranked only)
- Mon 4/26
- NCAA Softball: 19. Mizzou at 6. Arkansas @ 6pm on SEC
- Tues 4/27
- NCAA Softball: 9. Oklahoma St at 23. Wichita St @ 6pm on ESPN+
- Fri 4/30
- NCAA Baseball: 15. Charlotte at 25. Old Dominion @ 2pm
- NCAA Softball: 9. Oklahoma St at 12. Texas @ 4:30pm
- NCAA Baseball: 2. Vanderbilt at 14. Florida @ 5pm on ESPNU
- NCAA Softball: 5. Alabama at 22. Georgia @ 5pm on SEC+
- NCAA Baseball: 13. South Carolina at 19. Ole Miss @ 6:30pm
- NCAA Softball: 3. Florida at 19. Mizzou @ 6:30pm on SEC+
- NCAA Softball: 7. Oregon at 9. Arizona St @ 7pm
- NCAA Baseball: 11. Texas Tech at 3. Texas @ 7pm
- Sat 5/1
- NCAA Softball: 9. Oklahoma St at 12. Texas @ 12pm
- NCAA Softball: 5. Alabama at 22. Georgia @ 12pm on ESPN2
- NCAA Baseball: 15. Charlotte at 25. Old Dominion @ 2pm
- NCAA Baseball: 11. Texas Tech at 3. Texas @ 2:30pm
- NCAA Baseball: 15. Charlotte at 25. Old Dominion @ 4pm
- NCAA Softball: 3. Florida at 19. Mizzou @ 4pm on SEC
- NCAA Baseball: 2. Vanderbilt at 14. Florida @ 5:30pm on SEC+
- NCAA Baseball: 13. South Carolina at 19. Ole Miss @ 6pm on SEC
- NCAA Softball: 6. Arkansas at 15. LSU @ 6pm on ESPNU
- NCAA Softball: Double header: 7. Oregon at 9. Arizona St @ 6pm
- NCAA Softball: Double header: 7. Oregon at 9. Arizona St @ 8:30pm
- Sun 5/2
- NCAA Softball: 3. Florida at 19. Mizzou @ 11am on SEC+
- NCAA Softball: 9. Oklahoma St at 12. Texas @ 12pm
- NCAA Baseball: 13. South Carolina at 19. Ole Miss @ 12pm on SEC+
- NCAA Baseball: 15. Charlotte at 25. Old Dominion @ 1pm
- NCAA Baseball: 2. Vanderbilt at 14. Florida @ 2pm on ESPN2
- NCAA Baseball: 11. Texas Tech at 3. Texas @ 2:30pm on LGHN
- NCAA Softball: 6. Arkansas at 15. LSU @ 5pm on SEC
Basketball-NBA:
- Wed 4/26
- Lakers at Wizards @ 6:30pm on ESPN
- Clippers at Suns @ 9pm on ESPN
- Sat 5/1
- Warriors at Rockets @ 6:30pm on ESPN
- Nuggets at Clippers @ 9pm on ESPN
- Sun 5/2
- Nets at Bucks @ 2:30pm on ABC
Football:
- Thurs 4/29 – NFL Draft Round 1 @ 7pm on ESPN
- GameDay @ 3pm on ESPN
- Fri 4/30 – NFL Draft Rounds 2-3 @ 6pm on ESPN
- GameDay @ 3pm on ESPN
- Sat 5/1 – NFL Draft Rounds 4-7 @ 11am on ESPN
- GameDay @ 10am on ESPN
Golf:
- Wed 4/28
- SEC Men’s Championship @ 7:30am on SEC
- D1 Women’s Golf Selection @ 1pm on Golf Channel
- Thurs 4/29
- Valspar – Round 1 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
- Fri 4/30
- Valspar – Round 2 @ 2pm on Golf Channel
- Sat 5/1
- Valspar – Round 3
- @ 12pm on Golf Channel
- @ 2pm on CBS
- Valspar – Round 3
- Sun 5/2
- Valspar – Round 4
- @ 12pm on Golf Channel
- @ 2pm on CBS
- Valspar – Round 4
Hockey:
- Mon 4/26
- Hurricanes at Stars @ 6:30pm on NBCSN
- Tues 4/27
- Islanders at Capitals @ 6pm on NBCSN
- Wed 4/28
- Blues at Wild @ 6pm on NBCSN
- Avalanche at Golden Knights @ 8:30pm on NBCSN
- Thurs 4/29
- Panthers at Blackhawks @ 7pm on NBCSN
- Flames at Oilers @ 8pm on NBCSN
- Sun 5/2
- Lightning at Red Wings @ 2pm on NBC
Horse Racing:
- Fri 4/30 – Kentucky Derby Oaks (pre show) @ 11am on NBCSN
- Sat 5/1 – Kentucky Derby @ 12:30pm on NBC
- Race at ~5:50pm
- Prep show begins @ 11am on NBCSN
Motorsports:
- Sat 5/1
- F1: Portuguese Qualifying @ 7:55am on ESPN2
- IndyCar: Genesys 300 Qualifying @ 3pm on NBCSN
- IndyCar: Genesys Race @ 6:30pm on NBCSN
- Supercross: SLC @ 9pm on NBCSN
- Sun 5/2
- F1: Portuguese GP @ 9am on ESPN
- Replay @ 10pm on ESPN2
- MotoGP: Spain GP @ 6:30pm on NBCSN
- F1: Portuguese GP @ 9am on ESPN
Olympic Sports:
- Fri 4/30
- Lacrosse: ACC Women’s Championship @ 11am – 2:30pm (final game) on ACC
- Curling: Women’s World Championships: USA vs SCO @ 6pm on NBCSN
- Sat 5/1
- Track & Field: IAAF World Relays @ 1:30pm on NBCSN
- Sun 5/2
- Lacrosse: ACC Women’s Championship @ 11am on ACC
- Track & Field: IAAF World Relays @ 10:30pm on NBCSN
Soccer:
- Fri 4/30
- USL: PHX Rising vs San Diego Loyal @ 8pm on ESPN2
- Sat 5/1
- Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Manchester City @ 6:25am on NBCSN
- Premier League: Brighton & Hove Albion vs Leeds United @ 8:55am on NBCSN
- Sun 5/2
- Italian Serie A: Lazio vs Genoa @ 4:25am on ESPN2
- Mexico Primera Division: Guadalajara vs Tigres UANL @ 5am on NBCSN
- Premier League: Newcastle vs Arsenal @ 7:55am on NBCSN
- Premier League: ManU vs Liverpool @ 10:25am on NBCSN
- MLS: Nashville vs Inter Miami CF @ 11am on ESPN
- Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur vs Sheffield @ 1:15pm on NBCSN
Tennis:
- Thurs 4/29
- Women’s SEC Championship @ 5:30am on SEC
- Men’s SEC Championship @ 7:30am on SEC
