Digital Sports Desk

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Sept. 1

September 1, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

By TERRY LYONS, Editor in Chief, Digital Sports Desk

NORTON – The dateline might look familiar. It last appeared on Digital Sports Deskin September of 2020, freshly inked from the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs and the Northern Trust (won by Dustin Johnson) in the good ole days before the Tour was as divided as the two major political parties of the USA.

The bean counters took a look at the Nielsen TV ratings and the PGA Tour execs cut their playoffs down to three rounds, to be sure they conclude before the start of the NFL season. Then, FedEx used its clout as year-long sponsor and the keeper of all things playoffs, the BMW Championship (formerly the Western Open) and Coca-Cola stepped-up with big-time money for record purses to keep the pseudo semi-finals and the TOUR Championship right where they are today, as the men finish their season at East Lake Country Club, near Atlanta.

Although the TOUR promised us a tournament every other season, thus was the end of men’s pro golf in Greater Boston/Providence as the Deutsch Bank Championship and its Labor Day finish was stopped cold in 2018 and, after a year at Liberty National in New Jersey, the Boston/Labor Day concept was briefly reinstated in 2020. But Northern Trust couldn’t be trusted and golf fans of New England were left with a free Labor Day Monday and an occasional major at The Country Club – not bad at all.

This weekend, professional golf returned to Eastern Massachusetts as a new LPGA tournament, the FM Championship, is being staged at famed TPC Boston.

While We’re Young (Ideas) and Digital Sports Desk are both on-site for the LPGA’s “FM” this weekend. Please visit DSD on Sunday for complete coverage of the tournament’s final day, coinciding with the PGA Tour’s 2024 conclusion at the TOUR Championship. (FM is a corporate real estate assessment firm to mitigate potential water/flood/other damage to land assets/HQs).

From the FM Media Center Saturday, we can note that nine players are separated by five strokes with S. Korea’s Jin Young Ko (67) – (-11) atop the leaderboard after her Saturday round. American Lauren Coughlin snuck into second place at (69) – (-9).

There’s a definite surge in the overall popularity of women’s sports, much to the credit of basketball phenom Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever who bolsters the WNBA this season. But, lifelong sports fans must always recognize the two mainstays of women’s sports – tennis and golf – as the cornerstones of activity. They’re both on display this weekend, as summer sports give way to the Fall of ‘24.

Chicago Sky PF Angela Reese might be pushing Clark in the WNBA, but there’s a long list of players in hot pursuit of LPGA leading money winner, Nelly Korda,($3,601,630 over 13 events) who is being chased by more than a dozen talented, world class golfers as the women’s tour zig-zags the USA and the globe. Korda took a pass at playing Boston this week after her near-miss “W” at the AIG Women’s Open at the Old Course in Britain.

UPSETS: Aside from the LPGA/FM Championship and WTA/U.S. Open tennis tournament, let’s look at some upsets in sports at the start of the Fall schedule of college & pro football, MLB, WNBA, U.S. Open tennis, the TOUR Championship and the women’s golf home stretch:

Georgia Tech knocked off Florida State, 24-21, in their ACC opener held in Dublin, Ireland (Week 0).
French Open and Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz (Spain) was handed his earliest exit at the US Open when he lost in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, to World No. 74 Botic van de Zandschulp (Netherlands).
A night later, No. 2 seed Novak Djokovic (Serbia) lost to No. 28 seed in Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, in the third round on the same court.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Next week, WWYI will delve into the 2024 NFL season, but this week, it’s important to note that the rookie QB (Drake) Maye to coach (Jerod) Mayo era will wait a while, as Mayo named veteran QB Jacoby Brissett the opening week starter. … The pundits of Las Vegas have the New England Patriots listed as O/U 4.5 in season wins, an NFL low. Yet, it’s very difficult to count five possible “Ws” on the Patriots’ difficult AFC East schedule. … In other words, take the (U)under. … Boston College football opens up on the road vs (0-1) Florida State. The Eagles are in trouble, as the Seminoles will play ‘pissed’ after their loss to ACC Sleeper Georgia Tech. … The SMU Mustangs might be considered another ACC sleeper, after their 29-24 victory over Nevada (Augst 24).

TID-BITS AND GOLDEN NUGGETS: The Boston Bruins are seeking some veteran experience and influence in the locker and on the ice with the signing of forward Tyler Johnson to a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO). … Johnson, 34, appeared in 67 games with the Chicago Blackhawks during the 2023-24 season, recording 17 goals and 14 assists for 31 points. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound forward has skated in 738 career NHL games with Chicago and Tampa Bay, totaling 193 goals and 238 assists for 431 points with a plus-20 rating. The two-time Stanley Cup winner (2020, 2021) has also played 116 career Stanley Cup playoff games, tallying 32 goals and 33 assists for 65 points. … Norway’s Erling Haaland scored his second consecutive futbol hat trick which led Manchester City to a 3-1 win at West Ham United on Saturday, maintaining Man City’s perfect start to the Premier League season. … Going into Saturday night’s game at Detroit, the Boston Red Sox are (16-23) in the 39 fun-filled games since the MLB All-Star break.

Rich Hill to the Rescue

August 27, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox are activating 44-year-old left-hander Rich Hill, multiple outlets reported. Hill signed a minor league deal on Aug. 15 and made one scoreless, two-inning appearance at Triple-A Worcester.

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Hill has played for 13 franchises since making his MLB debut in 2005, including three previous stints with his hometown Red Sox.

Once activated, Hill will surpass 41-year-old Justin Verlander as the oldest player in the majors.

Hill last played in the big leagues in 2023 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres, going 8-14 with a 5.41 ERA in 32 games (27 starts).

He is 90-73 with a 4.01 ERA in 382 games (248 starts) with the Chicago Cubs (2005-08), Baltimore Orioles (2009), Red Sox (2010-12, 2015, 2022), Cleveland (2013), Los Angeles Angels (2014), New York Yankees (2014), Oakland Athletics (2016), Los Angeles Dodgers (2016-19), Minnesota Twins (2020), Tampa Bay Rays (2021), New York Mets (2021), Pirates (2023) and Padres (2023).

The Red Sox optioned right-hander Josh Winckowski to Worcester on Tuesday morning. Winckowski, 26, is 4-1 with a 4.37 ERA in 30 games (six starts) this season for Boston.

–Field Level Media

Two for Two

August 27, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – With their American League playoff hopes continuing to fade like the lazy days of Summer turning to the chilly evenings of September, the Boston Red Sox will look to bounce back from a series-opening, day-night sweep when they continue a rare five-game set against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays tonight.

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Much-needed wins were not in the cards for the Red Sox on Monday, as 4-1 and 7-3 losses dropped them to 5 1/2 games back of Minnesota, which currently holds the third and final wild-card spot.

“It’s not happening right now, to be honest with you,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “It’s been going on for a while here, right? Most of (the players) haven’t been in this situation before, right? Every pitcher matters, every at-bat matters. We just gotta make sure we slow it down. … We’re better than this. We know that.”

Every team goes through such rough patches over the course of the 162-game season, but Boston’s four straight losses and six in eight games have come at a less-than-ideal time and immediately following a 4-2 stretch.

Center fielder Jarren Duran was a major bright spot for the Boston offense, hitting home runs in both Monday games while doubling twice in the nightcap.

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“It’s nice to come up with those productive days, but we didn’t get the wins,” Duran said. “I think we’ve just got to get back on the horse … and believe in ourselves again.”

Four errors were too much for the Red Sox to overcome, and Toronto’s five-hit showing with runners in scoring position was key to the latter Monday victory, its season-high fifth straight.

“We were ready to go, and that’s a testament to the leaders of the team,” Blue Jays shortstop Ernie Clement said.

Boston’s Cooper Criswell (5-4, 4.41 ERA) is due to make his second straight start after throwing 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball last Wednesday at Houston.

Criswell has a 3.88 ERA in 14 starts and a 7.30 ERA in six relief outings this season. He has a 5.68 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Toronto.

The Blue Jays had an outfield star of their own on Monday in Connecticut native George Springer, who also homered in both Monday games and has four over his last six games.

“It’s been a weird year for George,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “He’s been so consistent in the clubhouse, and he’s done such an amazing job to keep these young kids under wraps. It goes without saying, we need George to be George, and he’s been that for a good while now.”

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had a two-hit game, giving him a .415 average since the All-Star break.

Yariel Rodriguez (1-5, 4.40) is slated to make Tuesday’s start for Toronto. The 27-year-old rookie has allowed nine runs in 9 1/3 innings across his last two starts, both no-decisions, against the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds.

Rodriguez has failed to finish five innings in three of his last five starts, including Wednesday against Cincinnati when he let a 5-0 lead slip with five runs allowed in 4 1/3 frames.

Rodriguez’s first and only career start against Boston was made official on Monday with the completion of a June 26 suspended game. He pitched a scoreless first inning before inclement weather halted play.

Boston’s Danny Jansen began that game as Rodriguez’s catcher, but was traded to the Red Sox last month. When play resumed Monday, Jansen became the first player in MLB history to appear for both teams in the same game.

–Field Level Media

D-Backs Make It Six in a Row

August 25, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – It was only one run, but when Boston’s DH Masataka Yoshida tried to stretch a stand-up double into a triple and was thrown out by seven feet, it stopped the Red Sox rally to be.

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Aside from the inexcusable Little League level mistake, the poor base-running with none out and a four run lead in the bottom of the fourth inning seemed harmless even when Sox catcher Connor Wong doubled immediately after the miscue. But, the damage was done, as Yoshida was the rally killer.

Two innings later, Arizona’s 3B Eugenio Suarez hit a three-run home run to help the visiting Diamondbacks take a 6-4 lead which led the Diamondbacks to complete a three-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 7-5 victory Sunday. The win extended Arizona’s winning streak to seven.

The Diamondbacks trailed 4-3 until Suarez hit his 20th home run of the season in the sixth against Boston starter Tanner Houck. Suarez, who had four hits Sunday, collected eight hits and 10 RBIs in the series.

The Diamondbacks also received a solo home run from Geraldo Perdomo (No. 3 of the year) in the ninth as the victory stretched Arizona’s winning streak to six games. All six victories have come on the road.

Houck (8-9) allowed six runs on seven hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out two. Boston is winless in Houck’s last seven starts.

Triston Casas, Rafael Devers and Tyler O’Neill each homered for Boston, which led 4-0 after four innings.

Casas, who struck out four times in Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Arizona, hit a solo home run in the first inning, Devers hit a three-run homer in the fourth and O’Neill struck for a solo home run against Justin Martinez in the ninth. Devers’ home run was the 200th of his major league career.

After allowing the home run to O’Neill, Martinez retired the next three batters to collect his sixth save.

Arizona starter Merrill Kelly (4-0) earned the win despite allowing Boston’s first two home runs. He gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings and recorded five strikeouts.

The homers by Casas (No. 8) and Devers (No. 28) handed Boston a 4-0 lead, but Arizona scored three times in the fifth. Adrian Del Castillo scored on Perdomo’s bases-loaded groundout, Suarez scored on Corbin Carroll’s sacrifice fly and then Jake McCarthy’s RBI single drove in Luis Guillorme to make it a 4-3 game.

Pavin Smith singled and Del Castillo walked before Suarez belted the three-run homer that put the Diamondbacks in front 6-4. Perdomo’s home run extended the lead to 7-4 before O’Neill’s 23rd homer capped the scoring.

Boston, now on a three-game losing skid, slipped to 29-35 at home.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | Aug 25

August 25, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

While We’re Young (Ideas) | On College Football’s Future

By TERRY LYONS, Editor in Chief, Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – This week, the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) struck a new Collective Bargaining Agreement that looks more like the English Premier League model than the NFL, NBA or NHL. For the women, there will be more pay but the annual Draft will get tossed. A growing cadre of talented collegiate players or incoming internationals will be free agents able to sign with the team of their choice.

That might sound strange to North American sports fans, but it can be said that the system mimics NCAA talent in all sports who are recruited to play by collegiate coaches and their bagmen, who are now able too offer full scholarships and unprecedented amounts of NIL money, as long as the college boosters stay with the program.

While writing on college programs, please note that the University of Connecticut is – once again – on the block for a possible move to the Big 12, a college conference aggressively seeking to out-position the other Power (is it four?) Conferences, while destroying anything in its path, like the Pac 12.

UConn is near and dear to the Digital Sports Desk legacy, as it was here that you first read that UConn had agreed to return to the BIG EAST in 2020, leaving the American Athletic Conference which was an off-shoot of the original BIG EAST but with a preference for the sport of football rather than hoops.

Now, big time college football is luring UConn back to the negotiating table (for the third time, no less) and the decision could have serious ramifications for the little old BIG EAST, which would return to 10 teams of yore.

The bottom line is that NCAA football is beginning to look like European futbol as much or more that the NWSL could ever hope for in the near future.

It’s not a stretch to think of UConn as Manchester United, Alabama as Arsenal, and Georgia as Liverpool. That might make Manchester City a bit like Penn State, Tottenham Hotspurs a version of Michigan, and Spain’s Real Madrid and FC Barcelona take on characteristics of USC and UCLA.

Playing the comparison out, the short term goal is to win the EPL/Conference championship, whether it be the ACC, SEC, BIG 12 or Big Ten, but the longer term strategy is to join and win in the Champions League.

The mirror of the Champions League for College Football will be the 12-Team CFB Playoff coming in 2025. That is where a national champion will be crowned and with it the cash and prestige to keep the coffers filled and alum happy for at least one more year before some other conference gets gobbled up or sees its longtime anchors disappear.

Do you hear that UNC, Clemson, and Florida State? Where might you be headed in 2025-26?

Florida State, by the way, dropped its opener on Saturday, bowing to an upstart Georgia Tech squad, 24-21, in Dublin, Ireland. Georgia Tech and SMU have been tabbed as the “sleepers” of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The hometown favorites, Boston College, might be more of a snoozer than sleeper as the Eagles are likely to be 1-3 after an opener vs a very angry Florida State Seminole team at Tallahassee, a home breather vs Duquesne, a road jaunt to Mizzou and another home game – the annual Red Bandana Game – against Michigan State (winnable).

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Once upon a time, the Boston Red Sox were tagged as the second hottest team in the American League, but, as of August 24, the Sox are back to their inconsistent ways, dropping the second of a three game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway. The Sox are 5-6 in their last 11, 10-11 in 21 games during August, and 14-19 in 33 games since the MLB All-Star break. Going into the series finale against the D-Backs, Boston is four games out of the Wild Card slot. … Boston starters, such as Cutter Crawford (loser on Saturday, and (8-11) on the season, are reason for much of the inconsistency. Sunday will mark Game 129 of the 2024 season for the Sox, also home game 64 of 82.

The Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Danny Jansen will be making history this Monday when Jansen will become the first major leaguer to appear in a game for both teams if he plays catcher for the Boston in the resumption of a suspended game against the Toronto Blue Jays.

“He’s catching. Let’s make history,” Boston manager Alex Cora said Friday before the Red Sox dropped the opener of a three-game series against Arizona 12-2.

Jansen was about to bat for Toronto when the June 26 game against Boston was suspended in the second inning because of heavy rain. It was rescheduled for this Monday as part of a doubleheader.

He was traded from Toronto to Boston on July 27.

“I don’t know if it’s set in for me. It’s definitely a cool thing,” Jansen said. “Honestly, when I heard about it, I didn’t think I would be the first. The game has been around for so long. It’s one of those oddities that happen in this sport. It’s extremely rare and cool.”

AT BAT: Major League Baseball recently announced the tournament format, pool play opponents and sites for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. There are four pools of five teams each, with one slot open for a qualifier in each pool. The United States will face a formidable challenge from Mexico, then hope to outplay Italy, Great Britain and the qualifier TBA. As in past years, San Juan and Tokyo will host first round match-ups with tough North American (Canada), Americas (Panama) and Caribbean (Cuba) world teams heading to Puerto Rico while Japan plays host to Australia, Korea, Czechia and a qualifier.

The semifinals and finals will be played in Miami.

Artist’s rendition of Bristol Motor Speedway set-up for Baseball (MLB)

SPEED RACERS: On August 2, 2025, Major League Baseball will again expands its horizons within the United States when they stage a game at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway in northeastern Tennessee. The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves will rev-it-up for the special occasion as Baseball tries to one-up their highly successful “Field of Dreams“ effort. … The one-off game will be part of a three-game series as the Reds are the home team.

GOLDEN NUGGETS & TIDBITS: The Boston Bruins dealt goalkeeper Linus Ullmark to the Ottawa Senators back on June 24. In doing so, the Bruins made a longterm commitment to their ‘24 starter Jeremy Swayman but Swagman and the Bruins have yet to come to terms on a new contract. For that matter, the Senators have yet to sign Ullmark to an extension that was planned when the deal went down. Stay tuned as camp opens in about one month. … The PGA Tour is down to its penultimate week of play. This week, the best 50 players on the season-log FedEx Cup point listing are competing in Castle Rock, Colorado with the Top 30 to qualify for the TOUR Championship next week in Atlanta. The BMW Championship is the oldest non-major on the PGA TOUR schedule, dating back to 1899. It was known as the Western Open for most of the time. The tournament is being played at its 11th different venue since 2007 and the first in Colorado since 2014 . Why the break? Altitude is a bitch! … The Castle Pines GC is playing as a Par 72 at 8,130 yards, the longest in PGA Tour history. Through 54 holes, Keegan Bradley (Vermont and Hopkinton, Mass) – (-12), Adam Scott (Australia), along with Sweden’s Alex Soren and Ludvig Åberg are ripping up the course, finishing Saturday’s round at (-12), (-11) and (-10). Xander Schauffele and Denver’s Wyndham Clark are four back of the leaders. … With a $75 million prize pool, the winner of the TOUR Championship will bank $18 million. … While St. John’s grad Keegan Bradley was leading at the BMW, another St. John’s guy, Mike Repole (think Vitamin Water) was cleaning up at Saturday’s Travers Stakes in Saratoga (Sponsored by Draft Kings). Repole’s bay colt, Fierceness, took the $1,250,000 purse Travers with John R. Velazquez riding to the $787,500 prize, nipping Torpedo Anna at the wire. … Meanwhile, on the St. John’s campus, coach Rick Pitino’s office was robbed of memorabilia he was scheduled to sign. The perp was nabbed, a Long Island City man was arrested in connection with the robbery. Emanuel Yakubov was nabbed by the 107th Precinct at 9 p.m. Friday, according to the NYPD. He faces multiple charges, including third-degree burglary, petit larceny, third-degree criminal trespassing, and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. Security footage tipped off the NYPD sleuths.

Patriots: Jacoby Brissett to Start

August 24, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start the Patriots’ preseason finale against the Washington Commanders on Sunday before being replaced by rookie Drake Maye, New England first-year head coach Jerod Mayo announced.

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Mayo also noted on Friday that quarterbacks Joe Milton III and Bailey Zappe will draw into the game as well.

“Jacoby is going to start the game off,” Mayo told reporters. “Drake will play as well. Joe will play as well. Now, you guys can sleep. Bailey will play. We do have some players dealing with small things that probably won’t play and get ready for the regular season — some of our proven players.”

Mayo has yet to announce which quarterback will start the Patriots’ season opener against the host Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 8.

Brissett, 31, is in his ninth NFL season and second go-round with the Patriots after stops in Indianapolis, Miami, Cleveland and Washington. He has appeared in 79 games and is 18-30 as a starter, completing 61.3 percent of his passes for 10,574 yards with 51 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.

Maye, who turns 22 next week, was the No. 3 overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft in April. He was a two-year starter at North Carolina.

–Field Level Media

High Octane D-Backs Drub Sox

August 24, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Arizona Diamondbacks will attempt to extend their winning streak to five games Saturday afternoon when they face the host Boston Red Sox in the middle contest of a three-game series.

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Arizona entered the series having scored the most runs in the majors and showed why during a 12-2 triumph on Friday. The Diamondbacks collected 16 hits in the victory, including a grand slam by Eugenio Suarez that put Arizona in front 9-2 in the seventh inning.

It was the majors-best ninth grand slam hit by Arizona this season and the fifth that Suarez has belted during his 11-year major league career.

“Cutter in the middle of the zone,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He’s a dead-pull hitter, and he’s gonna look to do damage with something close to him. He got a cutter in the middle, and he didn’t miss it.

“He’s one of these guys that you look at the numbers … average and all that stuff he’s not usually up there, but RBIs — that’s what he does. He got a good pitch to hit and drove it.”

Suarez and Josh Bell each had three hits in the win. Suarez also scored three times and had five RBIs.

Ryne Nelson pitched six innings to earn the win. This came hours after Arizona manager Torey Lovullo announced that Nelson would remain in the rotation and Jordan Montgomery would move to the bullpen.

Patriots Release Mike Purcell

August 23, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

FOXBOROUGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The New England Patriots released veteran defensive tackle Mike Purcell after signing him on Aug. 1 for depth on the line.

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Purcell, 33, started 10 of his 16 games played with the Denver Broncos last season and recorded 25 tackles, five quarterback hits and one fumble recovery. In eight seasons for the San Francisco 49ers (2014-16) and Broncos, he has 208 tackles, including 3.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss, as well as three fumble recoveries in 90 games (45 starts).

Undrafted out of Wyoming, Purcell also spent time on several teams’ practice squads from 2013-18, including two separate stints with the Patriots in 2017.

–Field Level Media

Reds Sign Sox Castaway

August 23, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

CINCINNATI – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Cincinnati Reds signed first baseman Dominic Smith to a major league contract, according to multiple media reports Thursday. Smith was released by the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, four days after he was designated for assignment. The former first-round draft pick became expendable when Boston reinstated first baseman Triston Casas from the 60-day injured list last week.

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The reported addition of Smith will help the Reds address the loss of versatile infielder Jeimer Candelario, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a fractured left big toe.

Candelario, 30, has made 53 starts at third base, 32 at designated hitter and 26 at first base this season.

Smith, 29, batted .237 with six home runs, 34 RBIs and a .706 OPS in 83 games for the Red Sox.

Boston signed Smith on May 1 after he opted out of a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, who had released him one day earlier.

The New York Mets selected Smith with the 11th overall pick of the 2013 MLB Draft. Smith played for New York from 2017-22, finishing 13th in the National League MVP voting in 2020 when he posted career bests by slashing .316/.377/.616.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 18

August 18, 2024 by Digital Sports Desk

Just think about the possibilities for this venue at LA ‘28

By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

FROM THE LYONS’ DEN IN BOSTON – Congratulations are in order to USA Basketball’s Men’s and Women’s (5×5) Olympic teams for their haul of 24 gold medals at the recently concluded Summer Olympic Games. Two of those 24 medals are counted in the stupendously ridiculous medal standings that every newspaper and TV station publish on a daily basis. More on that later.

The men’s and women’s team worked (very) hard and earned their medals as the competitors in the 20214 basketball tournaments were as deep and talented as we’ve ever seen, although the men’s side has had tough comp since 2000. Remember, it’s no longer about the number of players with NBA contracts on a roster. The basketball nations of the world come to play, as evidenced by Canada, Germany, (the reigning World Cup champions), Greece and South Sudan. Exhibit 1-A was a July 27 game featuring Greece vs Canada won by our neighbors to ‘Da North, (86-79). In that contest, Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) got his first taste of Olympic basketball and scored 34 points. Canada’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC) countered with 21 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Both teams fared well, but lost in the quarter-finals (medal round). Much of their rosters wee non-NBA players.

On the men’s side, USA Basketball’s staff and its de facto team GM, Grant Hill, will have their hands filled going forward. The assignment is daunting and that’s a great thing.

Much of the roster make-up conversation has pointed to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. While that makes for easy column inches right after the 2024 Games, there is far more need for concern on the roster for the 2027 World Cup in Qatar from 27 August to 12 September 2027 (notice the European style of date-listing?)

The Worlds are a grueling 32-team tournament. Looking back at 2023, the USA lost to Germany 113-111 in the semifinals and that meant the United States failed to medal at consecutive World Cups for the first time since 1967 and 1970. In global basketball at the senior team level, the USA’s last team to lose three games in a major tournament was the 2004 Olympic team.

While many pundits looked at the potential roster for the 2028 Olympics, the focus should be on the roster composition at the 2027 Worlds which can lead to continuity for a team headed to Los Angeles a year later.

For the sake of sanity, let’s figure the elder statesman who excelled in Paris and Lille this summer, take a pass at playing for the USA again. That will put Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Lebron James in the stands as opposed to on the court. Let’s assume Kawhi Leonard is on AARP’s mailing list by then as well. And, lastly, in the summer of 2027, no one has any idea if Joel Embiid will be healthy or not considering his history of injuries and lack of conditioning. He’ll be 33 in March of 2027.

On the other side of the coin, here’s a list of players from the 2024 roster who will be locks if healthy and willing to dedicate their 2027 and ‘28 summers to USA Basketball.

Bam Adebayo
Devin Booker
Anthony Edwards
Tyrese Halliburton (PG)
Jrue Holiday
Jayson Tatum
Derrick White (PG)

That leaves another five roster spots to select for the 2027 World Cup team, again assuming all listed are volunteering to play. Here are the no-brainers:

Jalen Brown
Jalen Brunson (PG)

Here are the three others that make the most sense to round out the roster:

Cooper Flagg (let the long-range planning begin) – (also, limited minutes)
Chet Holmgren
Anthony Davis (who will be 34) (they need another rebounder)

To be considered for sure: Paolo Banchero (Orlando), Jalen Duren (Detroit), Josh Hart (New York), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (Miami), and Tyrese Maxey (Philadelphia).

Of course, there are dozens of other players who deserve mention but the players above (noting the three necessary point guards who need to work for USA Basketball as pass first/run the offense/run the break PGs – old school types. The list also assumes the Boston Celtics players will let bygones be bygones in respect to USAB head coach Steve Kerr’s snub of Tatum this summer with an expected coaching change to come within the next two years … (Do you think Grant Hill can talk Coach Mike Krzyzewski to return for an encore)?

Figuring Krzyzewski will remain in his much-deserved retirement, it will be a toss-up between two great coaches in Tyronn Lue of the LA Clippers and Miami’s Eric Spoelstra for the head spot heading into 2026-27.

Here’s my Dream Coaching Staff for USA Basketball:

Head Coach: Pat Riley

Assistant Coaches: Mike Krzyzewski, Mike D’Antoni, Bob McKillop.

Select Team Coaches: Jeff Van Gundy, Tom Izzo, Doc Rivers

THE MEDAL STANDINGS: Let’s get this out there and straight as an arrow, the Olympic Medal Standings are RIDICULOUS. There are dozens of reasons, but here’s just a few:

It’s not about the athletes who medal
It is ALL ABOUT the competitions, the honor of being an Olympian
Having Medal standings and using them so prominently SENDS the WRONG MESSAGE to the youth of the world
The jingoistic “Rah, Rah” for the USA leading the medal standings in a tête-à-tête vs. China or Russia or Japan or Australia or Great Britain is a little too much as the USA sends far more athletes and the sports (for the most part) have the wherewithal to send athletes to worldwide competitions and train with the highest levels of equipment, venues, nutrition, wellness and weight training, travel and overall budgets.
Lastly, the phrases, “Settling for the Silver” or “Settling for the Bronze” just burn me up.
Grow up