Weekly Update – Week of June 3rd, 2019

Baseball – MLB: Putting the Bee in MLB

Baseball/Softball – NCAA: OU vs UCLA Final.

Basketball – NBA: Playoff Update: Series tied 1-1

Football – NFL: Changes are afoot. Shazier wins the George Halas Award. Foles returns.

Football – NCAA: Hall of Fame ballots went out. Cheers to the SEC.

Golf: Lee6 is not a typo and she won the US Women’s Open with 6 under. Cantlay won Memorial.

Hockey: Playoff update: Bruins up 2-1 in series.

Olympic Sports: NCAA Track this weekend. Carapaz wins first Grand Tour. Jarrion Lawon to appeal failed doping test. Tokyo torch to pass nuclear bomb sites.

Tennis: Female favorites falter while men favorites all advance. Finals this weekend.

Baseball – MLB:

• The Marlins vs Padres game was delayed 28 minutes due to a swarm of bees on one of the microphones near the dugout. The Marlins were up 3-0 in the 3^rd when players started scattering. A beekeeper was called and the bees were cleared out. The best part? Seeing ‘Bee Delay’ on the scoreboard or Austin Hedges putting on a Deadpool mask to protect his face?

• Ron Darling has returned to the Mets broadcasting booth after his surgery to treat thyroid cancer. Darling is a retired pitcher who played from 1983-95 and won a World Series title in 1986.
• Phillies OF Odubel Herrera is on extended administrative leave after he was arrested last Monday in Atlantic City for assault on his gf. He is due in court on June 17^th.
• Sticking with Phillie news, they acquired the OF Jay Bruce from the Mariners for infielder Jake Scheiner and some cash. Although Bruce is still being paid from the team before the Mariners (the Mets) for his 3 year contract ending in 2020, the Phillies will now take some of that burden.

Baseball/Softball – NCAA:

• Softball College World Series Final is set between Oklahoma vs UCLA. The title will be decided by a best of 3 series. Game 1 and 2 on June 3^rd and 4^th with Game 3 on the 5^th if needed.

• NCAA Baseball post season begins on May 31^st with regionals and the College World Series will start June 15^th – 26^th (if needed 27^th) in Omaha, NE. I will post the bracket before the Super Regional level. For the full bracket click here.
  • Texas A&M hit 2 grand slams to complete an 8-run comeback before they eventually got eliminated.

Basketball – NBA:

• Playoff Update:
  • The Finals are looking to be as good as the playoffs have been this season. Both teams have already won one game apiece to make the series tied going into Wednesday’s Game 3.
    • Despite an early lead by the Raptors, the Warriors fought back with an 18 point streak to take Game 2 109-104.
      • Klay Thompson however went out of the game a little early due to hurting his hamstring. He is scheduled to have an MRI today. TBD if he will play on Wednesday but it is likely. If not that puts the Warriors without Thompson or Durant.
    • For the NBA Final rookies, the Raptors could not have started better winning Game 1 at home 118-109. Taking the lead early, the Raptors never let the Warriors catch up. Siakam scored 10 points in the 3^rd quarter alone to end the game with 32 points. Leonard scored 23 points.
    • Game 3 is Wed and Game 4 is Friday.
  • Jerry West will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom according to President Trump. The 81 year old went to West Virginia and then onto play for the Lakers and since retiring has been a basketball executive.

Football – NFL:

• Some changes are coming to the NFL thanks to discussions between the league commissioner, team owners and player association. The collective bargaining agreement ends in 2020 so that has brought up a couple of subjects some teams would like to change. Some items on the agenda: OT sudden death rules, Bills new stadium and limiting the league to 3 preseason games. TBD on how talks proceed.
• Steelers’ Ryan Shazier won the 2019 Georgie Halas Award, which is given to the player, coach or staff member that has overcome the most adversity. Shazier suffered a spinal contusion in 2017 and has not played since but is making progress.
• Jaguars QB Nick Foles is back with his team today after his wife encouraged him to return sooner than he planned. A couple of weeks ago, Foles was given a leave of absence by the team for an undisclosed family matter; it turns out his wife suffered a miscarriage and he wanted to be with her. He says he will be attending practices but will be going home straight afterwards to be with his wife and daughter. Just went you thought you couldn’t like Foles anymore!
• Free agent DT Muhammad Wilkerson was arrested on DWI at 3:30am on Saturday in NYC. His blood alcohol level was 0.01 over the legal limit.

Football – NCAA:

• The 2020 class of Hall of Famers ballots came out today and on the list: Oklahoma QB Josh Heupel, UNC Julius Peppers (played many positions), Dallas Cowboy QB Tony Romo (in the divisional category), CJ Spiller of Clemson, Chris Samuels of Bama and Ohio St’s James Laurinaitis. You can only be eligible 10+ years after your college career is over. The Class will be announced before the CFP National Championship game on Jan 13^th
• Another thing to raise your glasses to? The SEC voted to lift the ban on selling alcoholic beverages in public areas at athletic events. This will go into effect in August. Each school will decide if they want to sell wine and beer but this would open up another revenue stream for the conference.
• Michigan RB Chris Evans was suspended for a year in February due to an academic issue and Coach Harbaugh has reaffirmed that he will not be playing in the 2019 season.
• Texas Longhorn’s top WR recruit Bru McCoy is transferring from UT. It has not be released where McCoy is going but rumors have his likely landing spot being USC as he is from California.
• The Big 12 saw another year of revenue gains ( up 6% Y/Y) which means each school will receive $38.8MM. The conference has seen a 55% increase over the last 5 years. Their revenue is #3 among conferences behind the SEC and Big Ten.

Golf:

• Jeongeun Lee6 wins the US Women’s Open to win her first major and LPGA title. The USGA has never handed out a $1MM check to any LPGA winner; that was until Sunday. Lee6, yes it is actually like that, finished 6 under which fits because the #6 is in her name as she is the 6^th South Korean player on the LPGA Tour with that name.
• Patrick Cantlay rallies on the final day with a score of –8 for the day to win the Memorial after trailing by 4. This tournament is known as Jack Nicklaus’ tournament and the old timer gave Cantlay some sound advice at the beginning of the week “Learn how to finish”. I think Patrick took that to heart.

Hockey:

• Stanley Cup Playoffs Updates:
  • The games have flip flopped winners with the Bruins taking Game 1 (4-2) followed by the Blues taking Game 2 (2-3) and finally Saturday’s Game 3 went to the Bruins who dominated 7-2.
  • The Blues yanked their rookie goalie, Jordan Binnington, after the Bruins scored 5 points in game 3. The Bruins went up 3-0 in the 1^st He will be back for Game 4.
  • The Blues are making some changes after the route on Saturday. Vince Dunn will be back replacing Robert Bortuzzo. Dunn went out after taking a puck to the face in Game 3 vs the Sharks. Center Oskar Sundqvist will also rejoins the lineup after a 1 game suspension.
  • Another thing to watch out for during these final games is the number of penalties. Blues’ coach Craig Berube is getting pissed about the number of penalties his team has been given. The Blues usually only average 3 per game but in Games 1 and 2 have averaged 5. Through Game 3, the Blues have already taken 14 penalties.
• The Colorado Eagles won the Kelly Cup last year and decided to keep the trophy, permanently. The team left the ECHL to join the American Hockey League affiliate for the Avalanche. No word on when they plan to give the trophy back, if ever.

Olympic Sports:

• NCAA Track & Field Championships will take place this weekend in Austin, TX June 5-8. Men finish on Friday while the ladies finish on Saturday.
• Liverpool won the 6th European Cup beating Tottenham 2-0 on Saturday.
• Swiss Supreme Court ordered IAAF to suspend testosterone regulations through a temporary ruling. Although temporary, Caster Semenya can run her favorite race, the 800m. No formal announcement of timing but if the temporary ruling stays until September, Caster can defend her 800m title at eh Diamond League World Championships in Qatar.

• Richard Carapaz won the Giro d’Italia on Sunday to become the first Ecuadorian to win a Grand Tour. Carapaz had led the race since stage 14 on May 25^th and won the 3 week race by 1 min and 5 seconds.

• The Tokyo torch relay will pass by the sites of the nuclear bombings from WWII on its way to the stadium. It will also pass by areas affected by natural disasters. The torch will enter the stadium in Tokyo on July 24^th during the opening ceremony.
• Jarrion Lawson, an American LJ and sprinter, will appeal the expected 4 year ban that is coming his way due to a failed doping test. Lawson and his agent claim that the test was failed due to contaminated meat. Although this sounds farfetched, the substance is used in the US to promote growth in beef cattle however it was also used in a steroid mixture by the Russians during the 2014 Olympics.
• Neymar being investigated for rape as a woman in Paris claimed he raped her on May 15^th. Her argument is thin after Neymar bought her tickets to fly to Paris and Neymar’s father says they will share the private WhatsApp messages if they have to.

Tennis:

• The 2019 French Open has been full of upsets. Not a good round for the favorites.
  • Serena Williams lost in the Roung of 32 to fellow American Sofia Kenin in just 2 sets. This was Williams’ first loss in the first round since 2014.
  • In that same round, #1 ranked Naomi Osaka lost to Czech Katerina Siniakova in 2 sets.
  • Sloane Stephens is still in and through to the Quarterfinals which she plays tomorrow @ 7am vs GBR Johanna Konta. 3 Americans made it to the Quarterfinals on the women’s side, its just not who we thought.
  • Unlike the women’s side, the men favorites are still in with Nadal, Djokovic and Federer.
    • Federer plays in the Quarterfinal vs fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka tomorrow @ 8am
    • Nadal plays in the Quarterfinals vs Kei Nishikori tomorrow @ 9:15am
    • Djokovic won today and will not play until Wed vs Zverev.

What to Watch This Week:

Baseball – MLB:

• Mon 6/3
  • Astros vs Mariners @ 9pm on ESPN
    • Martin vs LeBlanc
• Thurs 6/6
  • Yankees vs Blue Jays @ 6pm on ESPN
    • Happ vs Jackson
• Sat 6/8
  • Yankees at Indians @ 3:10pm on FS1
  • 3 games depending on local area @ 6:15pm on FOX
    • Rockies at Mets
    • Dodgers at Giants
    • Cardinals at Cubs
• Sun 6/9 – Cardinals at Cubs @ 6pm on ESPN
  • Cabrera vs Hendricks

Baseball – College / Softball:

• Mon 6/3
  • Baseball: Creighton vs Michigan @ 6pm on ESPN2
  • Baseball: UConn vs OSU @ 6pm on ESPNU
  • Softball: UCLA vs Oklahoma @ 6:30pm on ESPN
  • Baseball: Loyola Marymount vs UCLA @ 9pm on ESPN2
  • Baseball: Stanford vs Fresno St @ 9pm on ESPNU
• Tues 6/4 – Softball: UCLA vs Oklahoma @ 7:30pm on ESPN
• Wed 6/5 – Softball: UCLA vs Oklahoma @ 7:30pm on ESPN
• Fri 6/7 – Baseball Super Regionals
  • Teams TBA @ 11am on ESPN2
  • Teams TBA @ 2pm on ESPN2
  • Teams TBA @ 5pm on ESPN2
  • Teams TBA @ 8pm on ESPN2
  • Teams TBA @ 11pm on ESPNU
• Sat 6/8 – Baseball Super Regionals
  • Teams TBA – starting at 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and 11pm on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU
• Sun 6/9 – Baseball Super Regionals
  • Teams TBA – starting at 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm and 11pm on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU

Basketball – NBA:

• Wed 6/5 – Finals Game 3: Raptors at Warriors @ 8pm on ABC
• Fri 6/7 – Finals Game 4: Raptors at Warriors @ 8pm on ABC

Golf:

• Thurs 6/6 – RBC Canadian Open – Round 1
  • 2-5pm on Golf Channel
• Fri 6/7 – RBC Canadian Open – Round 2
  • 2-5pm on Golf Channel
• Sat 6/8 – RBC Canadian Open – Round 3
  • 12pm – 1:45pm on Golf Channel
  • 2pm – 5pm on CBS
• Sun 6/9 – RBC Canadian Open – Round 4
  • 12pm – 1:45pm on Golf Channel
  • 2pm – 5pm on CBS

Hockey:

• Mon 6/3 – Game 4 Stanley Cup Finals: Bruins at Blues @ 7pm on NBC
  • Bruins lead 2-1
• Thurs 6/6 – Game 5 Stanley Cup Finals: Blues at Bruins @ 7pm on NBC
• Sun 6/9 – Game 6 Stanley Cup Finals: Blues at Bruins @ 7pm on NBC
  • If Game 7 is needed it will be played on Wednesday in Boston.

Horseracing:

• Sat 6/8 – Belmont Stakes @ 3pm on NBC

Olympic Sports:

• Mon 6/3 – FIVB Volleyball Women’s National League: USA vs South Korea @ 8:30pm on NBCSN
• Wed 6/5
  • Tennis: Women’s French Open – Semifinal @ 11am on NBCSN
  • Track & Field: IAAF Diamond League @ 2pm on NBCSN
  • NCAA Track & Field Championships – Running events @ 6:30pm on ESPN2
  • FIVB Volleyball Women’s National League: USA vs Brazil @ 8:30pm on NBCSN
• Thurs 6/6
  • Tennis: 2019 French Open – Men’s Semifinals @ 11am on NBCSN
  • NCAA Track & Field Championships – Running events prelims @ 7pm on ESPNU
  • NCAA Track & Field Championships – Running events prelims @ 8pm on ESPN2
• Fri 6/7 – NCAA Track & Field Championships – Men’s Running events @ 7:30pm on ESPN
• Sat 6/8
  • Tennis: 2019 French Open @ 8am on NBC
  • Track & Field: IAAF Diamond League @ 1pm on NBC
  • NCAA Track & Field Championships – Women’s Running events @ 6:30pm on ESPN2
• Sun 6/9
  • Cycling: Criterium du Dauphine: Stage 1 @ 2am on NBCSN
  • Tennis: 2019 French Open @ 8am on NBC
  • Lance Armstrong: The Next Stage @ 3pm on NBC
  • Beach Volleyball @ 3:30pm on NBC

Soccer:

• Wed 6/5
  • UEFA: Portugal vs Switzerland @ 1:45pm on ESPN2
  • USL: New Mexico vs OKC Energy FC @ 8pm on ESPNNEWS
• Thurs 6/6 – UEFA: Netherlands vs England @ 1:45pm on ESPN2
• Fri 6/7 – UEFA European Championship Qualifying: Denmark vs Republic of Ireland @ 1:45pm on ESPNNEWS
• Sat 6/8 – UEFA European Championship Qualifying
  • Croatia vs Wales @ 8am on ESPN2
  • Finland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina @ 11am on ESPNNEWS