Baseball: Blue Jys 8 HRs to win 18-4. Pitchers using Spider Tack days are done? Serpientes jersey. Haniger out. Matz on COVID IL.
Baseball/Softball-NCAA: OU 5th natty. CWS begins Saturday. #1 Arkansas gets beat!
Basketball-NBA: Playoff continue. Suns onto Conference finals. Nets lost Irving and Harden . Green out. Nets security guard in trouble.
Football: CFP expansion finally happening? Bell will never play for Reed again.
Golf: US Open week! Higgo wins Palmetto. Olympic qualifying needs this week.
Hockey: Semifinals!
Olympic Sports: US Swim & Diving Trials. US T&F Trials. Hernandez and Hurd out for Gym Trials. AUS trials break WR.
Soccer: DEN Christian Eriksen cardiac arrest. Stable condition now.
Tennis: Djokoovic takes French Open.
Baseball-MLB:
- The Blue Jays destroyed the Red Sox 18-4 mainly due to the fact that they hit 8 HRs. The only innings without a HR were the 3rd and the 8th. Hernandez hit two HRs in the game along with Gurriel Jr (2)., Semien, Bichette, Biggio and Tellez. Oh and 2 players on the Red Sox also homered (Bogaerts & Dalbec).
- The league is about to send out a memo on foreign substances by pitchers (like Spider Tack, pine tar and homemade super glues). Sliders break more sharply and with the increase in no-hitters this year, it is believed that more and more pitchers are using it. It is unclear whether the league will actually punish players who use it or simply hope to scare pitchers away from it.
- #GFHint: Spider Tack is used on the ball to increase spin rate. It is so sticky that you have to use baby oil to get it off your hands. Spider Tack was specifically created for Strong Man competitions (in the Atlas stone event) and was used by wheelchair athletes before baseball found it.
- Diamondbacks are honoring the Hispanic culture with their ‘Serpientes’ jersey on June 18th when they play the Dodgers. The team will wear them 7 times total.
- Mariners RF Mitch Haniger has a bruised knee after he fouled a pitch off of it in the 1st inning during the Cleveland game on Sunday.
- Blue Jays LHP Steven Matz has been placed on the COVID IL.
Baseball/Softball-NCAA: (since there is a slot going on)
- Oklahoma is the softball national champions! It took all 3 games to make it to the final and all 3 games in the final to beat the Seminoles but the Sooners did it! In a fitting way to end it, G Juarez caught the final out that made the stadium in OKC explode. The Sooners set the record for the most HRs in 1 season, most runs scored ever in 1 season, most HRs in the WCWS and most runs in the WCWS. Congrats ladies! Boomer!
- First time in 39 years (since this format started) that all 17 games were needed to declare a winner of the WCWS. The OU team never lost back to back games and avenged every loss they had in the regular season (granted it was only 2 but still).
- The College World Series is set to start this weekend! Game 1 is Saturday @ 1pm on ESPN.
- #1 Arkansas was upset by NC St with a 9th inning HR.
- Going to Omaha: Vanderbilt, Stanford, NC St, Arizona, Tennessee, Texas
- 2 more to be decided: Dallas Baptist vs UVA and Notre Dame vs Mississippi St have their games today to decide who makes the trip to Omaha.
- The defending champions: Vanderbilt in 2019.
Basketball:
- Playoffs continue with the Suns punching their ticket first to the conference finals.
- The Nuggets have been eliminated by the Suns but not before NBA MVP Nikola Jokic got ejected for a flagrant foul 2 for hitting G Cameron Payne. After the game, Jokic said he didn’t do it to actually hit and injure Payne, he did it to change the momentum of the game and rile up the crowd. When Jokic was ejected there was 3:52 minutes left in the 3rd and the Suns were up by 8.
- The Nets lost Harden 47 seconds into the series and have now lost Kyrie Irving after he sprained his ankle during Game 4 on Sunday. The series is now tied with the Bucks but Irving is out for an undisclosed amount of time but left the arena in a boot and on crutches. During the 2nd quarter, Irving had a layup and came down on Giannis’ foot, bending his ankle significantly. He then proceeded to play for a couple more minutes but was in considerable pain. The Bucks won that game 107-96.
- The 76ers will miss F Danny Green for 2 weeks (which means the rest of the series vs the Hawks) due to a calf strain confirmed by MRI. He was also wearing a boot on his leg after he left the game in the 1st
- The NBA has banned a Nets security guard from the rest of the series after he shoved Bucks F PJ Tucker. Tucker and KD were getting into each other’s faces during Game 3 when a security guard, who actually used to work for Durant, came in and crossed the line with Tucker.
Football:
- The CFP is actually contemplating expansion! The management committee will talk next week about possibly increasing the playoff from 4 teams to 12 (6 of the highest ranked conference champions and 6 of the next highest ranked teams). No conference limitations or guarantees. I’m sure this will not be the last we hear on this!
- RB LeVeon Bell aired some dirty laundry between him and KC HC Andy Reid on Twitter yesterday. He regrets airing the comments but not the actual comment. Bell said he would retire before playing for KC again and by that he means the coach. Bell started last season with the Jets before being signed to a one year deal with the Chiefs. He remains unsigned as of now for next season.
- Baylor and 3 football players have been found not guilty of sexual assault in 2017. The equestrian athlete in question says she was assaulted at the University Parks residence hall, which was a ‘hot spot’ for assault. However there were test messages that proved their ‘innocence’ in the criminal suit including one from the woman saying ‘I cant believe I let this happen.’ The residence hall in question has been responsible for 27% of the rapes on Baylor’s campus from 2013-2016 and 4 cases in 40 days.
Golf:
- The US Open is this week! Everyone is calling for a Brooks/Bryson pairing and the world might actually explode if Phil Mickelson can do it again to finally complete his career slam.
- Garrick Higgo won first Palmetto Championship at Congaree (which took the place of the RBC Canadian Open due to COVID restrictions). Don’t recognize the name? Probably because he turned pro in 2019 and has only played 26 events on the European Tour (winning 3 of those) and now in just his second start on the PGA Tour, he claims his first PGA title. The UNLV grad from RSA was lingering around on Sunday in a close field where 11 players were within 3 shots of the lead. Then there were blow ups everywhere. DJ triple bogeyed the 16th. 4 shot leader going into the final round, Chesson Hadley bogeyed the final 3 holes to give up the title. Harris English, who was in 2nd going into Sunday, bogeyed 2 of the first 3 holes and then 4 bogeys and a double in the final 8 holes.
- Olympic qualifying ranking ends this Sunday. Here who is in position as of this week.
- USA: Justin Thomas & Collin Morikawa
- Dustin Johnson has already said he will not compete (he is currently World #1)
- RSA: Louis Oosthuizen & Garrick Higgo – as of yesterday! Poor Bezuidenhout.
- GBR: Tyrrell Hatton & Paul Casey
- IRL: Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry
- AUS: Cameron Smith & Marc Leishman
- CAN: Corey Conners & Mackenzie Hughes
- MEX: Abraham Ancer & Carlos Ortiz
- USA: Justin Thomas & Collin Morikawa
- Dustin Johnson was presented with the Order of Palmetto award, the highest award in the state given to a civilian.
Hockey:
- Stanley Cup playoffs are underway! We are now up to the Semifinals!
Olympic Sports:
- US Diving teams are set for Tokyo
- Laura Wilkinson competed in the 10M Platform at the age of 43 and mother of 4 (2 adopted). She is the only American Olympic champion in the platform since 1964; she won gold at the 2000 Sydney Games. She went to the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Games before retiring in 2009.
- Delaney Schnell won the 10M Platform last night to go along with her 10M Platform Synchro title. Rio Olympian Katrina Young also qualified in the 10M Platform when she took 2nd.
- Another 10M Platform Olympic champion, David Boudia (bow-die-ah) placed 3rd in Olympic trails and will not be going to his fourth Olympics. He won gold at the 2012 London games and 3rd in 2016 Rio and 10th at the 2008 Beijing games. Boudia switched from the platform to the springboard after a concussion during practice in 2018.
- 17 year old Tyler Downs won the 3M Springboard title yesterday followed by Andrew Capobianco. These 2 first time Olympians beat out the veterans Boudia and Hixon, who won silver in Rio on the Synchro 3M Springboard.
- Congratulations to the US Olympic team: Alison Gibson, Krysta Palmer (2 events), Andrew Capobianco (2 events), Michael Hixon, Delaney Schnell (2 events), Jessica Parratto, Hailey Hernandez, Tyler Downs, Katrina Young, Brandon Loschiavo and Jordan Windle.
- US Swimming Olympic Trails are also on starting last night. 2 athletes have already secured their spot. Full Schedule
- 3 finals were competed last night: M 400m Free, M 400m IM and the W 400m IM.
- Chase Kalisz has secured his spot on the USA team after winning the M 400m IM. Emma Weyant won the W 400m IM and had to beat 3 Olympians to do it. Kieran Smith, another first time Olympian, secured his spot after winning the M 400m Free.
- #GFHint: Any event over 400m does not swim a semifinal and we had a couple last night.
- 3 finals were competed last night: M 400m Free, M 400m IM and the W 400m IM.
- Track & Field US Olympic Trials begin Friday! For the full schedule, see here. Tues and Wednesday next week are rest days. Top 3 athletes in each event make it and 6 are taken for the relays. There is a time qualifier to hit but most Americans are past that mark.
- NCAAs in T&F was this weekend. The LSU Tigers clinched the men’s title early in the day on the final day. The women’s team title was taken by the USC Trojans.
- Laurie Hernandez and Morgan Hurd, 2017 World Champion (Biles took the year off), are both out for the US Olympic Trials next week. Laurie hyperextended her knee during beam practice during USAs two weeks ago. Hurd is still not back to form after having 2 elbow surgeries, the most recent being in March. Chellsie Memmel, mother of 2 and 2008 Olympian, will also not be at Trials. Trials start June 24th.
- The USA isn’t the only Olympic Trials happening. Team AUS is being decided this week as well and they have had a new WR already. Kaylee McKeown broke Regan Smith’s 2019 WR in the 100m backstroke yesterday at AUS trials. McKeown broke the old mark by .12 to set the 57.45 time. Better watch out for the Aussies in that event. Ariarne Titmus almost got her own WR in the 200m freestyle at AUS trials as well, missing it by .11 seconds. That WR was set by ITA Federica Pellegrini in 2009 with a rubberized suit.
Soccer:
- It may have only been game 1 of the Euro 2020 but we have already had a terrifying moment. DEN Christian Eriksen collapsed during the game against FIN on Saturday in the 43rd He suffered from cardiac arrest and was revived on the pitch by a AED. He is now in stable condition I the hospital and says he wants the game to continue. He is only 29 years old.
Tennis:
- The French Open has now ended.
- Men’s: Djokovic tried to keep it entertaining for us by losing the first 2 sets in the Final to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Final score was 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The beginning of the match, Djokovic didn’t look like himself and looked exhausted but he rallied to win. This GS win makes him only 1 title away from tying Nadal and Federer with 20 GS victories: the most ever! This year, Djokovic is reigning Australian Open and now French Open champion. If he wins Wimbledon and the US Open, he would be one of the 2 men to win a Grand Slam in majors in one calendar year.
- Djokovic met Nadal in the semifinal round and won, making Nadal’s overall French Open record 105-3. 2 of those losses are now to Djokovic.
- Women’s: Even though there were no Americans past the Quarterfinals, CZE Barbora Krejcikova was a force to be reconned with. She beat RUS Anastasia Pavyluchenkova 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. She also won the W Double’s competition! She is the first woman to sweep the W events since 2000. This was her first Grand Slam title (now 2) which makes it the 6th straight first time major winner at the French Open.
- Men’s: Djokovic tried to keep it entertaining for us by losing the first 2 sets in the Final to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Final score was 6-7 (6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. The beginning of the match, Djokovic didn’t look like himself and looked exhausted but he rallied to win. This GS win makes him only 1 title away from tying Nadal and Federer with 20 GS victories: the most ever! This year, Djokovic is reigning Australian Open and now French Open champion. If he wins Wimbledon and the US Open, he would be one of the 2 men to win a Grand Slam in majors in one calendar year.
- A little American news: due to her success in the French Open, Coco Gauff is now the 4th highest ranked American which qualifies her to play in Tokyo!
What to watch this week
Baseball-MLB:
- Mon 6/14
- Cubs at Mets @ 6pm on ESPN
- Arrieta vs Peterson
- Cubs at Mets @ 6pm on ESPN
- Tues 6/15
- Cubs at Mets @ 6pm on ESPN
- Mills vs Walker
- Cubs at Mets @ 6pm on ESPN
- Wed 6/16
- Red Sox at Braves @ 6pm on ESPN
- Richards vs Anderson
- Red Sox at Braves @ 6pm on ESPN
- Sat 6/19
- 3 games based on geographic location on FOX @ 6:15pm on Fox
- White Sox at Astros
- Reds at Padres
- Cardinals at Braves
- Tigers at Angels @ 9:07pm on FS1
- Boyd vs Sandoval
- 3 games based on geographic location on FOX @ 6:15pm on Fox
- Sun 6/20
- Cardinals at Braves @ 6pm on ESPN
Baseballl–NCAA:
- Mon 6/14
- Super Regional: Dallas Baptist vs UVA @ 12pm on ESPNU
- Super Regional: Notre Dame vs Mississippi St @ 7pm on ESPN2
- Sat 6/19
- CWS Game 1: Teams TBA @ 1pm on ESPN
- CWS Game 1: Teams TBA @ 6pm on ESPN
- Sun 6/20
- CWS Game 3: Teams TBA @ 1pm on ESPN2
- CWS Game 4: Teams TBA @ 6pm on ESPN2
Basketball-NBA:
- Mon 6/14
- East Semi – Game 4: 76ers at Hawks @ 6:30pm on TNT
- PHI leads 2-1
- West Semi – Game 4: Jazz at Clippers @ 9pm on TNTT
- UT leads 2-1
- East Semi – Game 4: 76ers at Hawks @ 6:30pm on TNT
- Tues 6/15
- East Semi – Game 5: Bucks at Nets @ 7:30pm on TNT
- Tied 2-2
- East Semi – Game 5: Bucks at Nets @ 7:30pm on TNT
- Wed 6/16
- East Semi – Game 5: Hawks at 76ers @ 6:30pm on TNT
- West Semi – Game 5: Clippers at Jazz @ 9pm on TNT
- Thurs 6/17
- East Semi – Game 6: Nets at Bucks @ 7:30pm on ESPN
- Fri 6/18
- East Semi – Game 6: 76ers at Hawks @ TBD on ESPN
- If necessary
- West Semi – Game 6: Jazz at Clippers @ TBD on ESPN
- If necessary
- East Semi – Game 6: 76ers at Hawks @ TBD on ESPN
- Sat 6/19
- East Semi – Game 7: Bucks at Nets @ TBD on TNT
- If necessary
- East Semi – Game 7: Bucks at Nets @ TBD on TNT
- Sun 6/20
- East Semi – Game 7: Hawks at 76ers @ TBD
- If necessary
- West Semi – Game 7: Clippers at Jazz @ TBD
- If necessary
- East Semi – Game 7: Hawks at 76ers @ TBD
Golf:
- Thurs 6/17
- US Open – Round 1
- @ 11:30am on Golf Channel
- @ 6pm on NBC
- US Open – Round 1
- Fri 6/18
- US Open – Round 2
- @ 11:30am on Golf Channel
- @ 5pm on NBC
- US Open – Round 2
- Sat 6/19
- US Open – Round 3 @ 10am on nbc
- Sun 6/20
- US Open – Round 4
- @ 9am on Golf Channel
- @ 11am on NBC
- LPGA Meijer Classic – Final Round @ 1pm on CBS
- US Open – Round 4
Hockey:
- Mon 6/14
- Semifinals – Game 1: Canadiens at Golden Knights @ 8pm on NBCSN
- Tues 6/15
- Semifinals – Game 2: Islanders at Lightning @ 7pm on NBCSN
- NYI lead 1-0
- Wed 6/16
- Semifinals – Game 2: Canadiens at Golden Knights @ 8pm on NBCSN
- Thurs 6/17
- Semifinals – Game 3: Lightning at Islanders @ 7pm on USA
- Fri 6/18
- Semifinals – Game 3: Golden Knights at Canadiens @ 7pm on USA
- Sat 6/19
- Semifinals – Game 4: Lightning at Islanders @ 7pm on USA
- Sun 6/20
- Semifinals – Game 4: Golden Knights at Canadiens @ 7pm on NBCSN
- Semifinals – Game 2: Islanders at Lightning @ 7pm on NBCSN
Horse Racing:
- Tues 6/15
- Ascot Day 1 @ 7 :30am on NBCSN
- Wed 6/16
- Ascot Day 2 @ 7:30am on NBCSN
- Thurs 6/17
- Ascot Day 3 @ 7:30am on NBCSN
- Fri 6/18
- Ascot Day 4 @ 7:30am on NBCSN
- Sat 6/19
- Ascot @ 7am on NBC
Motorsports:
- Fri 6/18
- NASCAR: TN Lottery 250 Practice @ 3pm on NBCSN
- Sat 6/19
- F1: French GP Qualifying @ 7:55am on ESPN2
- NASCAR: TN Lottery 250 Qualifying @ 11:30am on NBCSN
- NASCAR: TN Lottery 250 Race @ 2:30pm on NBCSN
- IndyCar: Road America GP Qualifying @ 11pm on NBCSN
- Sun 6/20
- F1: FRA GP @ 7:55am on ESPN
- NASCAR: Ally 400 Qualifying @ 10am on NBCSN
- IndyCar: Rev group GP @ 11:30am on NBCSN
- NASCAR: Ally 400 race @ 2:30pm on NBCSN
- MotoGP: Germany GP @ 10:30pm on NBCSN
Olympic Sports:
- Mon 6/14
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Finals: W 100m Fly, M 100m Breast, W 400m Free,
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBC
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Tues 6/15
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Finals: M 200m Free, W 100m Back, M 100m Back, W 100m Breast,
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBC
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Wed 6/16
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Finals: W 200m Free, M 200m Fly, W 200m IM, W 1500m Free
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBC
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Thurs 6/17
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 7pm on NBCSN
- Finals: M 800m Free, M 200m Breast, W 200m Fly, M 100m Free,
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 8pm on NBC
- Fri 6/18
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5pm on NBCSN
- Finals: W 200m Breast, M 200m Back, M 200m IM, W 100m Free
- Track & Field: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBCSN
- Finals: M Shot Put, M 10k
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 7pm on NBC
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 8pm on NBC
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5pm on NBCSN
- Sat 6/19
- Climbing: USA Championships & National Team Trials @ 12pm on ESPNEWS
- Combined @ 12pm & 3pm; Bouldering @ 1pm & 4pm; Sport & Speed @ 2pm; Team @ 5pm
- Swimming: US Olympic Trials @ 5:30pm on NBCSN
- Finals: M 100m Fly, W 200m Back, W 800m Free
- Track & Field: US Olympic Trials @ 7pm on NBCSN
- Finals: Day 1 Decathlon, W Discus, W 100m
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 7pm on NBC
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 8pm on NBC
- Climbing: USA Championships & National Team Trials @ 12pm on ESPNEWS
- Sun 6/20
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBC
- Swimming Finals: M 50m Free, W 50m Free, M 1500m Free
- Track & Field Finals: Day 2 Decathlon, M Hammer Throw, W HJ, W TJ, W 400m, M 400m, W 100h, M 100m
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 7pm on NBC
- Various: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBC
- Mon 6/21
- Track & Field: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBCSN
- Finals: M PV, M Javelin, M TJ, W 1500m, M 800m, W 5k
- Track & Field: US Olympic Trials @ 6pm on NBCSN
Soccer:
- Mon 6/14
- UEFA Euro Championship: POL vs SLO @ 12pm on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: ESP vs SWE @ 2pm on ESPN
- Tues 6/15
- UEFA Euro Championship: HUN vs POR @ 11am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: FRA vs GER @ 2pm on ESPN
- Wed 6/16
- UEFA Euro Championship: FIN vs RUS @ 8am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: TUR vs Wales on 11am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: ITA vs SUI @ 2pm on ESPN
- Thurs 6/17
- UEFA Euro Championship: UKR vs MAC @ 8am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: DEN vs BEL @ 11am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: NED vs AUT @ 2pm on ESPN
- Fri 6/16
- UEFA Euro Championship: SWE vs SLO @ 8am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: CRO vs CZE @ 11am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: ENG vs SCO @ 2pm on ESPN
- Sat 6/19
- UEFA Euro Championship: HUN vs FRA @ 8am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: POR vs GER @ 11am on ESPN
- UEFA Euro Championship: ESP vs POL @ 2pm on ABC
- NWSL: Reign vs NC Courage @ 3pm on CBS
- Sun 6/20
- UEFA Euro Championship: ITA vs Wales @ 11am on ESPN2
- UEFA Euro Championship: SUI vs TUR @ 11am on ESPN
- MLS: Atlanta United vs Phil Union @ 1pm on ESPN
- NWSL: KC vs Portland Thorns @ 3pm on CBS
