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Terry Lyons

Blue Jays Sweep the Red Sox

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – On July 26, when the Boston Red Sox finished a two-game sweep of the Major League Baseball-leading Atlanta Braves, the season looked promising. Today, as the Toronto Blue Jays finished-off a three-game sweep of the Sox with an 13-1 thrashing of the home team, the entire season looks like a Chris Murphy pitch, soaring into the gutter on Landsdowne Street.

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Instead of a four-game winning streak and momentum at the end of July, the Red Sox are now buried in the cellar of the American League East.

The Blue Jays scored first in the game, putting up four runs in the third inning. The rally started with a well executed bunt by Jays 1B Brandon Belt, followed by the first of three consecutive doubles off of the left-handed Red Sox reliever, Murphy.

DH George Springer hit his double to right center field, putting men of second and third with one out. Toronto third baseman Matt Chapman knocked in Bell and Springer with his double. Right fielder Cavan Biggio followed with the third double, scoring Chapman.

Toronto center fielder Kevin Kiermaier earned an RBI when he singled to left, scoring Biggio and spotting the Blue Jays a 4-0 lead. Kiermaier later left the game after making a spectacular defensive play against the center-field wall, but injuring his right arm/elbow in wither the catch or the throw back to the infield.

Toronto rookie second baseman Davis Schneider hit his second home run of the three-game series, ousting a ball over the famed Green Monster in the left field side of Fenway Park. The ball carried all the way to Landsdowne Street and was clocked at 107.5 mph on a 425-foot journey towards the CITGO sign.

The Blue Jays’ fifth inning produced another five runs as the club batted around. The outburst began with a walk to Biggio and a hit batter as Murphy clipped Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk’s hand. Two singles (Kiermaier and SS Paul DeJong), then another walk and another hit batsman and the Jays paraded base runner after base runner across Fenway’s home plate.

Murphy departed after 2.1 innings pitched with seven hits allowed, six earned runs, two walks with two strike-outs.

Boston’s rookie first baseman, Tristan Casas, put the Red Sox on the scoreboard in the fourth with a first-pitch, lead-off homer to the right field bleachers. It was Casas’ 17th home run of the season.

Schneider went 4-for-5 with a hit by pitch and the home run in the 4th inning. He had four RBI and scored once.

Bernardino (1-1) opened for the Red Sox, pitching only the first inning and allowing two hits but striking out two Blue Jays before giving way to Murphy.

Chris Bassitt (11-6) earned the win with his seven IP, allowing seven hits but only one run. He walked three Red Sox and struck-out six for his 11th win of the season.

Murphy (1-1) took the loss for Boston.

Boston shortstop Pablo Reyes pitched the ninth inning for his shellshocked club. He allowed one hit and walked two batters but escaped with no runs allowed and three left on base for Toronto.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notebook | July 30

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Issue of Name, Image and Likeness Created Unrealistic Congressional P.O.V.

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – This week saw two – count ‘em – TWO – Congressional bills to create oversight on the issue of Name, Imagine and Likeness for College athletics. Those two bills, will be added to a previous submission by Senator Lindsay Graham and a host of other lawmakers – Fed and State – have made for a “4th Down and Long” in addressing the entire foundation of the NIL concept.

With the latest, call it the third whiff, the United States House and Senate should be out!

On March 29, 2023, Congress held a hearing which came less than a month after former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker had assumed the position as President of the NCAA. It also came about a month after the NCAA had its first ruling in an NIL infraction case.

In early February, 2023 Congressman Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced the “Collegiate Athlete Economic Freedom Act,” a bill co-sponsored by Massachusetts Congressional Rep Lori Trahan (D-MA) who is a former NCAA volleyball athlete from Georgetown University.

The Murphy/Trahan bill did not have specific language pertaining to an employee-employer relationship, a key legal designation that has all of the college athletics stakeholders concerned about that relationship and its influence on future legal maneuvers. Murphy’s bill also advocated athletes should receive a portion of athletic department revenues. Some of that language is included in the “College Athletes Bill of Rights” filed in December of 2022 by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

On May 19, Senator Lindsey Graham drafted and introduced the “College Sports NIL Clearinghouse Act of 2023.”

“The purpose behind the NIL clearinghouse would be to monitor compliance, establish and enforce penalties and provide educational information to athletes. The legislation provides some protections to athletes, including prohibiting institutions from limiting playing time or making changes to scholarships as retaliation for an NIL deal. Yet, universities would have the power to prohibit their athletes from entering into agreements that would violate state law or the student conduct code.

“Institutions would also have the right to, “provide each enrolled student-athlete a list of entities” athletes would be prohibited from entering business relationships with. The clearinghouse would provide any information to the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice or the attorney general of any state.”

Graham’s draft also called for third party oversight of Name, Image and Likeness for college athletics, removing the NCAA office and Baker from the equation, a proposal that would further place the NCAA in a position of weakness. The shifting power in collegiate sports has moved greatly to the College Football Playoffs and to the individual college conferences – all playing games of musical chairs to fight over worthy college football programs to hoist from one conference to another (see: Colorado, UConn and the constantly swirling rumors of expansion to the BIG 12).

The most recent Congressional take was the “Protecting Athletes, Schools, and Sports Act of 2023,” which contrasts with previously submitted “The College Athlete Economic Freedom Act.” The recent take, introduced by Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Joe Manchin, (D-West Virgina), includes more protection to the NCAA and its member universities and colleges.

It had the backing, as you might expect, from Baker who issued a statement saying, “This important legislation is a major step in the right direction to ensure the health and safety of student-athletes, includes key measures to increase consumer protections and transparency in the NIL market, and aims to protect women’s and Olympic sports.” (Note: Olympic sports is an easy way for colleges to say – NOT College Football).

At issue as the Federal legislators play dueling bills is the fact individual States are getting into the act, usually with input from their local institutions all looking out for their own small world and short-term success.

Alabama football coach Nick Saban addressed key issues when he did a lengthy interview with the online publication that used to look like Sports Illustrated. Touching on all aspects of the NIL craze, Saban said, “I’m not trying to spearhead a solution. I talk to (SEC Commissioner) Greg Sankey a lot. I talk to [SEC associate commissioner] William King. I hear the other coaches in our meetings. I’m just trying to help provide information to [the United States Senators] so they know what the issues really are. I’m trying to also direct them to people I think can input the solution, like Greg Sankey and those kinds of people. Everybody needs to look at the issue from 1,000 feet. I don’t want to take opportunities away from players. I just think the mechanisms around how they get those opportunities need to be more standard for everyone.”

Saban speaks from a lofty position at the top of the power base pyramid of college football, but he notes the quagmire (awkward, complex and hazardous position) created as the introduction of NIL collides with college athletics.

“I think one of the things is everybody having a different state law,” said Saban. “A lot of people blame the NCAA for a lot of this, but the NCAA sometimes gets caught. … Because of the changes we’ve had in what’s legal and not, they can’t enforce their own rules and they’re in a little bit of a dilemma, too.”

Ya think, Nick?

As previous typing here at WWYI, the main issue the NCAA, the schools, the Feds and the States all seem to miss is the fact NIL now means “Now, It’s Legal,” for all the friends of the programs, the boosters (aka very wealthy alum), the local businesses supporting colleges, the former athletes who’ve struck it rich in the professional ranks, and “want to give back” to the place where they started their careers.

The Tuberville-Manchin bill proclaims, ““Student athletes should be able to take advantage of NIL promotional activities without impacting their ability to play collegiate sports,” said Tuberville, the former college football coach. “But we need to ensure the integrity of our higher education system, remain focused on education, and keep the playing field level.”

Yet, it’s first line of defense is a colossally unrealistic – let’s call it stupid – statement of the proposed law, noting:

INDUCEMENTS—

1) IN GENERAL—An individual, booster, or third party may not offer or provide a prospective student athlete or a student athlete with any compensation or benefit that is intended to induce the prospective student athlete or student athlete to enroll in or transfer to a particular institution of higher education.

Yeah, right!

Where does that gem leave the issue?

What sayith the wisdom of WWYI? – “The lethal Bouillabaisse of NIL (Now, It’s Legal) consists of desperate and disparate worlds, all with their own specific agendas. They all stir the nasty ingredients put forth by State legislation, Federal legislation, the NCAA, the Colleges and Universities, the so-called Student-Athletes who play Football and Basketball, the Student-Athletes who do not play Football and Basketball, the TV networks, the wealthy boosters/former athletes, the Conferences, the Conference Commissioners, individual school Athletic Directors, and the “Collectives” – business groups trying to make a buck by brokering NIL deals often graced by the University but not necessarily in the best interest of the individual athletes.

Many of the issues are confronted each and every day by professional sports entities who pay players on the table, as opposed to the old-school ways of under-the-table. The league/franchise owners and the players’ unions sit down and negotiate a “Collective Bargaining Agreement” that addresses every issue of league/sport operation – from regular season compensation to playoff shares, from schedules to travel regulations, from per diem to mandatory appearances, from marketing rights to use of IP (trademarks) and more.

The more the NCAA and its member schools, along with the Feds and States, try to avoid the pro model, the deeper they fall into the NIL rabbit hole.

Sooner, rather than later, there will be no way out.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: The artist formerly known as The New York Times Sports section, aka The Athletic, created a FAN-Tastic take-out highlighting the work of Boston Celtics tv play-by-play man and Gowdy Award Hall-of-Famer Mike Gorman. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss did the reporting and typing and, quite frankly, deserves consideration for the annual Pro Basketball Writers Association awards for his work.

The story is a must-read and it was brought to WWYI’s attention by column-consumer and now contributor Rich Hussey, an NBC Sports Hall-of-Famer in his own right.

Back to the Athletic – the article highlighted Gorman’s entire career, his relationship with the late Tommy Heinsohn – his TV sidekick for 40 years (2,800+ broadcasts) and his plans to retire after this season.

One thing, well make it two things are for sure. Mike Gorman and the late Tommy Heinsohn will never be replaced. Never.

Sox Experience Power Surge

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – A barrage of three home runs in the late innings helped the Boston Red Sox top the visiting Atlanta Braves 5-3 to complete a two-game series sweep on Wednesday night.

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Rafael Devers, Triston Casas and Adam Duvall all homered for Boston, which has won four straight. Justin Turner hit a two-run double that flipped the score for good in the seventh.

Turner, Casas and Connor Wong all had multi-hit games to support Brayan Bello, who allowed three runs on four hits over his six innings. Joe Jacques (2-1) followed with a scoreless inning to earn the win.

The early duel began with Bello erasing Atlanta’s first two hits with double play balls, helping him face just one batter over the minimum through the first five innings.

One swing of the bat broke the game open for the Braves in the sixth after Harris lined a leadoff double to center and Ronald Acuna Jr. was hit by a pitch. Ozzie Albies ripped a three-run homer into the right-center field bullpen.

Albies was 2-for-4 to lead the six-hit offense for the Braves, who have lost three of their last four games.

Harris’ double made him the first Atlanta runner in scoring position in the game.

The Red Sox quickly broke the shutout bid in the sixth when Devers golfed a two-out solo homer out to right. Spencer Strider had started the inning with back-to-back strikeouts, helping him reach double digits for the ninth time this season.

Boston chased Strider (6 1/3 innings, two runs, six hits, 10 strikeouts, one walk) with one out in the seventh after Casas homered to center and Connor Wong followed with a single. The homer marked Casas’ third during a five-game hit streak.

Two batters after Pierce Johnson (1-6) entered, Turner hit a two-out double to left that lifted Boston to its first lead.

Duvall’s solo homer extended the Boston lead in the eighth.

Kenley Jansen worked out of a two-on, one-out jam to post his 22nd save.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 23

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While We’re Young (Ideas) on a Busy Week in Sports

BOSTON – Last week, we enjoyed a fake dateline and a fake British Open golf preview to show the open-ended dangers of trusting AI too much, especially before it’s ready for primetime. This week, we’re posting just as the final round of The Open begins at Royal Liverpool, in England.

The Open is being played a few miles from Penny Lane (which doubles as the name of our dog). Royal Liverpool last hosted The Open in 2014 when Rory McIlroy held on to win with a two-stroke cushion, despite his own (71) or (-1) in the final round. That Sunday, McIlroy’s competitors shot: T-2 Rickie Fowler (67); T-2 Sergio Garcia (66); 4th Jim Furyk (65), all in a mad dash to catch the 54-hole leader.

This week, it’s been a blast to listen to “The Open Radio” as background music while attending to other duties. Just to state the obvious: There is no better broadcast in the world of sports, maybe the world of everything. The infectious “Mrs. Doubtfire” approach to calling a 72-hole endurance test is a treasure to behold.

United States’ broadcasters and viewers think the world of Jim Nantz’s efforts on the PGA Tour, especially at The Masters. The Open broadcast makes Nantz’s famous, “Hello Friends,” or catch-phrase “a tradition unlike any other,” seem like locker room profanity.

Instead, let us present:

  • Marcus Buckland
  • Sue Thearle
  • Ron Jones
  • Matt Adams
  • Sophie Walker
  • Raymond Burns
  • Alison Walker
  • Paul Eales
  • Harry Ewing
  • SiriusXM’s Maureen Madill and Carl Paulson

Maureen Elizabeth Jane Madill is the gem. Her married name is Garner and she was born in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. Madill won the British Ladies Amateur Golf Championship in 1979 and the British Ladies Amateur Stroke Play Championship in 1980. She turned pro but didn’t have much success and turned to broadcasting where she’s worked for the British Broadcasting Company (BBC Sport) calling the Scottish Open, the PGA Championship, and of course, The Open.

Here’s a glimpse of Ms. Madill’s typical delivery:

“We were stationed in front of the telly watching the lengthy playoff for the Made in Himmerland title in Denmark between Spaniard Nacho Elvira and home hero Rasmus Hojgaard. We had no particular favourite for the trophy but acknowledged how fabulous it would be for Rasmus and the partisan galleries if the Dane could manage to pull it off. Elvira had ascended the 18th tee in the final round with a one-shot lead but was relieved to hole a nasty little one for bogey to fall back into a playoff with Rasmus, who’d shot 64 and been finished for ages.

The 18th was a bit of a brute of a hole with a very testing tee shot, trouble lurking everywhere. The pair shared pars on five occasions before Elvira finally came unstuck on the sixth time of asking and the title was won by a Dane for the first time in its history.”

Her go-to line is that a player is approaching “a tricky hole,” and her overall descriptions never fail.

The other killer phrases are when a player has to “Tidy-Up” to get his par or when the commentators wonder about Scottie Scheffler’s “Schh-edule” (schedule).

THE BUSY WEEKEND IN THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER: It’s been a busy week in sports and it’s getting busier by the day.

  • Major League Soccer held its All-Star break and fell to mighty Arsenal, 0-5. The Premier League power dominated the MLS stars, even though Arsenal is in its preseason preparations. The MLS Stars, coached by former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, were outshot 16-7 overall.
  • The Open is fully underway at Royal Liverpool, as noted above. It is the last of professional golf’s majors for 2023.
  • The United States Women’s National Team is in the preliminary round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, being staged in Australia and New Zealand. The USA pool includes:
  • United States
  • Netherlands
  • Portugal
  • Viet Nam – the USA claimed a victory over Viet Nam, 3-0. That’s something that could not be said in 1975.
  1. Baseball is Back in Full Action after the MLB All-Star Break.
  2. The Premier Lacrosse League All-Star Game
  3. NFL Training Camps are opening with most clubs having had their rookies report July 18 and the veterans this coming Tuesday, Jul;y 25.
  4. SlamBall Returns. (You’ve read all about it here)!

HERE NOW THE NOTES: NBA Legend, LA Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, UCLA and Power Memorial champion Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is making as much impact in 2023 as he did in 1968 (when he changed his name from Lew Alcindor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Noble, Powerful Servant ) or 1971 (when he won his first NBA title along with Oscar Robertson and the Milwaukee Bucks) or from 1975-1989 when, as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, he was “Sky-Hooking” his way to become one of – if not the – greatest player in National Basketball Association history.

Your dedicated columnist worked with KAJ from 1981 through 1989 but very little beyond. On the other hand, at times my former employer allowed for work far beyond the years a player competed on the court. Up until his retirement in 1989, KAJ was “a bit of a handful.” He was quite aloof in terms of his association with the people who promoted the NBA Players as a whole and NBA teams and the league with all systems on “full speed ahead.”

To be clear, KAJ performed on the court as well as any player in history and he lived-up to his obligations to do interviews, especially at tough times during the NBA Playoffs or Finals. But, he did so grudgingly – the complete opposite of many of his peers, such as Julius Erving, Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Wes Unseld, Willis Reed or Walt Frazier.

The latter group set an important tone in their respective team locker rooms and forged an air of cooperation that brought the NBA from the doldrums of tape-delayed NBA Finals games to global dominance in the sports world. In a pregame open locker, media availability session, KAJ would very often be at his locker, but he would be totally engrossed in a book he was reading – sending a “Please Do NOT Disturb” message to all passers-by, near and far.

At one point during the 2009 NBA Finals, the retired KAJ was traveling with his team and situated in a quiet Lakers team locker room, in his usual pose of reading a book off in a corner. This reporter was, coincidentally, in the locker at the same time, but there to see a dear friend – LA Lakers athletic trainer Gary Vitti – who had a few seconds of down time as the entire team was out on the court and warming up for that night’s game.

Seeing KAJ and in no way in need of his time, I felt it important to let him know that the parent of his friend and longtime Lakers PR man, Josh Rosenfeld, had just passed away after an extended illness. KAJ was well aware of the situation but not the death.

As only the great Rosenfeld could do, he had inserted a line of very dry humor in the death notice issued to his closest friends. I took the liberty of reading it to KAJ as he sat quietly and extended his sincere condolences to our mutual friend. It read in part, “In lieu of flowers, please send job offers.”

Kareem laughed out loud with a deep, “Har, Har”– as he looked me in the eye knowing how loyal a friend I was to his former colleague, and world traveling companion through Lakers’ trips all over the USA, all of his championships and NBA exhibitions and functions all over the world.

Upon returning to the other side of the locker to bid good-bye as a few players returned to the locker, Vitti and a small group of assist athletic trainers, equipment managers and video room techs gazed in amazement, asking, “What did you say to him? We haven’t seen ‘Capt’ laugh like that in 10 years.”

Now 76 years old and still a dozen years older than yours truly, KAJ has turned to this same platform (Substack) to share his point of view in a way very few writers have ever had the talent to do so.

Quite frankly, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s column is the best of its kind – maybe the best writing of any kind on any platform or publication available today.

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 9

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While We’re Young (Ideas) Covers the Notes

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – In recent weeks, the readers have been the recipients of some breaking sports news (SlamBall!) and some motion picture musings (Indiana Jones and Harrison Ford). WWYI ran some music insights, from Billy Joel to The Beatles and Stones to Bruce Springsteen and his introspective thoughts through the “Last Man Standing.” The Notes always finish with a closing musical memory in the popular section tagged, “Parting Words & Music.”

Throughout, reader and writer have shared laughs and tears (for fears), talked sports, chatted-up trends in society while trying very hard to avoid politics and the terrible news of the day/week/month.

Today?

We have Notes. Just Notes.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Did you catch this news item? Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady lost millions in the collapse of cryptocurrency company FTX, for which he served as an ambassador, The New York Times reported Friday. Under an agreement the retired NFL quarterback made with FTX in 2021, he received $30 million in now-worthless stock for his work pitching the company in television ads and at its conference. In step with him at the time was his then-wife, Gisele Bundchen, who received $18 million in stock, per the report.

DRIBBLED IT OUT: USA Basketball tried to slip one by us on Thursday at 5pm (ET). New USA head-honcho Grant Hill named the players on the 2023 USA World Cup senior national team scheduled to compete in the 2023 FIBA World Cup tournament August 25-September 10, (a.k.a) The Thriller in Manila.

The 2023 USA Men’s National Team will include Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (Knicks), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans),Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cam Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks) and Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers).

In past years, Nike has spent beaucoup de bucks on glitzy announcements with day-long twitter feeds, NYC/Statue of Liberty photo shoots, team clinics for kids and global media days. This year, it was a simple news release (5pm ET) on Thursday with a follow-up with new USA national team managing director Grant Hill.

PERTH: The NBA G League Ignite will once again host a premiere international program for a pair of preseason games with the inaugural NBA G League Fall Invitational featuring the Perth Wildcats of Australia. The Ignite will welcomes the Wildcats to the Dollar Loan Center on Wednesday, Sept. 6 and Friday, Sept. 8 when the matchup spotlights top 2024+ NBA Draft prospects among both teams. McDonald’s All-Americans Matas Buzelis andRon Holland, who are projected as Top 10 picks in the 2024 NBA Draft highlight Ignite’s 2023-24 roster, while the Wildcats feature top international talent including National Basketball League (NBL) Next Stars participant Alexandre Sarr, a projected Top 20 selection in next year’s NBA Draft. … Remember! If there’s a logo, it must be important.

NIKKI – RIP: Amongst the saddest news item to report, former USA Basketball women’s team gold medalist and proud Olympian Nikki McCray-Penson, also a former WNBA star and immortal member of the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, died at the age of 51.

McCray-Penson, who spent nine years in the WNBA and led the U.S. Olympic Team to a gold medal in 1996, spent this past basketball season as an assistant coach at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Rutgers confirmed the report of Ms. McCray’s passing on Friday.

“Today is deeply sad and emotional day for everyone who knew and loved Nikki,” Rutgets head coach of the women’s team Coquese Washington said in a prepared statement. “Nikki had a big smile and an even bigger heart. She was full of life, energy, and was so much fun to be around. Nikki touched the lives of many because she made it her mission to uplift others and help them achieve whatever dreams and goals they expressed.”

McCray-Penson had been diagnosed with breast cancer years ago (2013), but the initial reports of her passing did not state a cause of death, but Nikki’s friend, South Carolina head coach and former USAB Olympic Games teammate Dawn Staley did.

$AUDI MONEY: Mucho controversy was made of the Private Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia paying the freight for LIV Golf in the summers of 2022 and 2023. The Saudi fund -valued at $650 billion – will branch-out with new fund-holders to arrange a new, multibillion-dollar entity, dedicated solely to sports, according to the Financial Times.

Accused by many – especially the families of 9/11 United – as using the funds to “Sportswash” in an attempt to cover-up human rights violations and murder committed by Saudi nationals. As time passes, the concept now calls for mainstream investments into leagues, teams, new franchises, start-ups in addition to LIV Golf. … Meanwhile, the rival to the PGA Tour, makes its way through St. Albans, England and London LIV where the LIV players will soon meet-up with their PGA Tour brethren to participate in The Open.

Current Saudi sports investments include:

  • At least $2 billion of funding to back LIV Golf
  • Purchased majority ownership of Newcastle United ($409 million purchase)
  • Saudi Arabian Formula 1 Grand Prix
  • Purchased 16.7% stake in Aston Martin F1 team
  • Saudi Pro League (Soccer) ($75 million annual contract for Cristiano Ronaldo)
  • The PIF made news in sports all year, most notably the massive but cryptic announcment with the PGA Tour to stake a place in men’s professional golf.
  • Tennis was also a target for the PIF, which has reportedly had talks with the ATP Tour and WTA Tour.
  • It’s been previously reported, the PIF and other Middle East minority investments are being made in USA/North American-based professional teams. That’s clearly a part of the strategy for the new Saudi sports company.
  • The Qatar Investment Authority purchased a roughly 5% stake in Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Wash DC) and NBA Commissioner Adam Silver publicly stated the league has not ruled out accepting investments from the PIF and other entities.
  • The NBA will be playing preseason games in UAE this fall and USA Basketball (repped by the NBA) will play exhibition games in Abu Dhabi on August 18-20.

IT’S OFFICIAL: Although there were plenty of leaks a week or two ago, the NBA formally announced the addition of the long-awaited “In-Season Tournament.” The NBA In-Season Tournament, a new annual competition for all 30 teams that will debut in the 2023-24 regular season, will tip off on Friday, Nov. 3 in NBA team markets and culminate with the playing of the Semifinals (Thursday, Dec. 7) and Championship (Saturday, Dec. 9) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

“The NBA In-Season Tournament is an opportunity to further enhance and innovate around our season structure,” said Joe Dumars, NBA Executive Vice President, and the Head of Basketball Operations. “With the addition of this new marquee event on the NBA calendar, we are focused on providing players and teams with another competition to win, engaging fans in a different way and driving further interest in the early portion of the regular-season schedule,” added Dumars.

The In-Season Tournament will consist of two stages: Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.

  • Group Play:  All 30 teams have been randomly drawn into groups of five within their conference based on win-loss records from the 2022-23 regular season.  Each team will play four designated Group Play games – one game against each opponent in its group, with two games at home and two on the road – on “Tournament Nights,” which will take place every Tuesday and Friday from Nov. 3-28 (with the exception of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 7, when no games will be played).  The only NBA games played on Tournament Nights will be Group Play games.
  • Knockout Rounds:  Eight teams will advance to the Knockout Rounds:  The team with the best standing in Group Play games in each of the six groups and two “wild cards” (the team from each conference with the best record in Group Play games that finished second in its group).  The Knockout Rounds will consist of single-elimination games in the Quarterfinals (played in NBA team markets on Monday, Dec. 4 and Tuesday, Dec. 5) and Semifinals and Championship (played in Las Vegas on Dec. 7 and Dec. 9, respectively).  The Knockout teams will compete for a prize pool and the new In-Season Tournament trophy, the NBA Cup.

The 67 games played in both stages of the In-Season Tournament will count toward the regular-season standings except the Championship.  Each team will continue to play 82 regular-season games in the 2023-24 season, including those games that are part of Group Play and the Knockout Rounds.

TOURNAMENT GROUPS:

West Group A

Memphis Phoenix L.A. Lakers Utah Portland

West Group B

Denver LA Clippers New Orleans Dallas Houston

West Group C

Sacramento Golden State Minnesota Oklahoma City San Antonio

East Group A

Philadelphia Cleveland Atlanta Indiana Detroit

Eastern Conference

East Group B

Milwaukee New York Miami Washington Charlotte

East Group C

Boston Brooklyn Toronto Chicago Orlando

USA Basketball Names World Cup Team

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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 2

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While We’re Young (Ideas) on Indy, Star Wars and More

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – I first met Harrison Ford in 1973. He was 31 and I was only 14. He was on the Silver Screen, portraying Bob Falfa in American Graffiti, an incredible hit motion picture directed by a guy named George Lucas and produced by another familiar name in – oh – Francis Ford Coppola. I was sitting in a theatre chair, watching him, Richard Dreyfuss and Ron Howardwhile enjoying the picture and listening to one of the great sound tracks in Hollywood history.

A few years went by, my high school years, and I met-up with Ford again in 1977, except he was going by the name Han Solo in a sci-fi film named, Star Wars. What’a guy!

A few years later, we crossed paths once again. I was graduating from college (‘81) and he had changed his name and was hanging around with Hollywood characters working with Lucas. The new crew were writer Lawrence Kasdan and a new director named Steven Spielberg. They called Ford, “Indy,” as in Indiana Jones, professor of archaeology, and we followed his every move, his every trip in search of “Lost Arks” or to “Temples of Doom” or to battle the Nazi criminals or to India to free enslaved children.

Ford, errr, Indiana Jones, errr, Han Solo (by then, quite a wise-guy) and his new friends would change lives all around the world, teaming up with Mark Hamill (a young adventurer), Carrie Fisher (a princess), and Alec Guinness(wise old man). Add in the fabulous works of composer and conductor of music, John Williams, and it was the perfect formula – a motion picture soundtrack of our lives – some of it always heard in America on the 4th of July. They earned a place in our minds and souls from that Summer of ‘81 until this very day.

Ford had the thrill to go back and forth between the roles of Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and his films grossed some $5.4 billion in North America and $9.3 billion worldwide.

Ole’ Indy, (Ford is now 80 years old), is back for another go round in the summertime release of “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” in theaters now and getting very positive reviews.

Ford played other great roles, too. His Jack Ryan in “Patriot Games” and “Clear and Present Danger,” two blockbusters. And, who could forget his role as “Dr. Richard Kimble” in 1993’s “The Fugitive,” or his role as President of the United States in 1997’s “Air Force One?”

This all brings us to the point of this column, usually focused on sports but often on media. TV anchor, reporter and newly crowned host of CNN’s “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace,” a masterful show of one-on-one interviews being aired weekly on the cable news outlet.

In every instance, the talented media personality formed a team within his/her organization. Just like Han teamed-up with Chewy, his trusty sidekick, and bonded with Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and his two friendly and trusty droids – R2D2 and C3PO, and they welcomed the input from the likes of Alec Guinness in the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

You can compare the team of the motion picture director, producer, casting director, cast and crew to a team in a live sports remote broadcast or to a team competing on the field of play. In each case, you place your trust in your co-worker’s hands and he/she does to you. You rely on your coach, the scouts, the athletic trainer and team doctor and everyone in the front office to help sell some tickets.

It’s much the same when preparing for an interview or shooting a movie.

The Wallace and Ford interview aired about a week ago, in large part of promote the release of the most recent piece of the Indiana Jones saga.

Wallace is not the first TV journalist to do a series of interesting interviews. CBS’ Anthony Mason does a great job on both the evening, morning and weekend news but he excels when he’s digging in deeply with a rock n’ roll, country music or any legendary musician, many previewing the annual Kennedy Awards, aired on CBS.

Last week, Mason had the legendary Paul Simon speaking on his new Seven Psalms and a few years ago, one of Mason’s gems was a sit-down with The Boss, Bruce Springsteen (in a MUST WATCH)..

From CNN’s Mike Wallace interviewing Harrison Ford to CBS’ Anthony Mason sitting down with Mr. “Born in the USA,” Bruce Springsteen, a logical next step might be to recognize Dan Rather and his Big Interview TV Serieson AXS-TV.

The show all other’s are based upon has to be James Tipton, the executive producer and host of Inside the Actor’s Studio on Bravo. Tipton set the bar so very high, all others strive to meet his professionalism, depth, humor and intensity. Born in 1926, Tipton passed away in March, 2020 with reports noting cause of death as bladder cancer. He was 93 years old and in those many years, from radio to TV soaps to his own show, there was no better episode as his interview with singer, songwriter, composer and Long Islander, Billy Joel.

Why all the fuss this week on some of the best journalists to ever interview actors and icons? It’s a simple reminder of how important the media are in our lives. The toxic B.S. of the political theatre has cast the media in such a negative light. We forget about the media in the arts, in religion, in investigative work (see Spotlight) and in sports. If there’s one take-away, it’s to never cast single broad stroke when you’re thinking of or speaking about “the media.”

There are as many different kinds of media as there are breeds of dogs. Some are better than others. Some breeds are smarter, others meaner, while others might be more trustworthy and show more loyalty.

If you’re casting broad strokes at the media – in general – they owe you one thing. The truth.

The problem with that? People lie to your face and tell you it’s the truth, not caring if it’s taped or live airtime.

When it’s not live, every word has to be checked, double-checked and triple-checked. In many ways, the story has two sides and each point-of-view must be sought out.

In the cases cited here – on music – each journalist has earned his stripes and the respect of his peers and his interview subjects, alike. That is the goal to strive for in any realm of the journalism industry, print, online, TV or radio.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: A new professional hockey league, featuring the world’s best women’s players, will launch in January 2024. … The new league is a venture by business and philanthropic leaders Mark and Kimbra Walter, sports icon Billie Jean King, and Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) Governors Johanna and John Boynton. The league will be supported financially by the Walters and led by board members including King, sports executive Ilana Kloss, and Los Angeles Dodgers President Stan Kasten, one-time head of the Atlanta Hawks and Turner Broadcasting.

The new league acquired assets of the PHF and has spent months negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA). These actions will enable the new league to move forward while undertaking a thorough and equitable process to ensure it features the best women’s hockey players in the world.

“I have always believed that professional sports should bring the highest levels of performance and organization, and this new league will have the backing and resources it needs to represent the very best of women’s hockey,” said Mark Walter, who is the controlling owner of the Dodgers and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, co-general partner of the ownership group of the Premier League’s Chelsea Football Club and holder of a significant interest in the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to advance women’s sports,” said King. “I have no doubt that this league can capture the imagination of fans and a new generation of players. I want to thank Mark and Kimbra Walter for their vision and commitment to investing in women’s sports.”

“This is another step forward for the women who play professional hockey and the girls who dream of it every day,” Johanna Boynton said. “The PHF has been a game-changer and catalyst for growth in the women’s professional game. This announcement builds on the established foundation, represents a shared vision for one new league, and reaffirms our belief that collective and collaborative leadership is in the best interest of women’s professional hockey.”

“I celebrate this transformational moment for women’s professional hockey,” said Kasten, who represented the Walters in both transactions. “I thank Jayna Hefford, Kendall Coyne Schofield and the PWHPA player bargaining committee, Johanna and John Boynton and their partners at the PHF, and PHF Commissioner Reagan Carey for their essential roles in this historic accomplishment.”

“This new league will be unlike anything we’ve seen in women’s hockey,” said Hockey Hall of Famer and PWHPA lead, Jayna Hefford. “I am inspired by this generation of players who are redefining the sport. We will create dreams and opportunities for girls and women around the world for decades to come.”

Although the Boston Pride competed in the prior pro hockey league, there’s been no mention on whether they will continue to be a local sports franchise or will fold.

SLAMBALL ART: SlamBall, the fast-paced that combines elements of basketball, football, hockey and trampolines, revealed its eight team names, logos, coaches and seven-man rosters for the league’s upcoming season. The mix of standout athletes with basketball, football and track backgrounds will be led by veteran coaching staffs in SlamBall League: Series 6, opening on ESPN July 21 at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. … Three legacy teams – the Mob, Rumble and Slashers – will be joined by five new clubs, namely the Buzzsaw, Gryphons, Lava, Ozone and Wrath. Each squad is guided by a former SlamBall player or coach, including Ken Carter, the inspiration for the acclaimed film Coach Carter, who is back with the Rumble, the team that he led to a championship in the initial 2002 SlamBall campaign.

When we look at top picks like Bryce and Bryan, they represent high level basketball talent and high caliber football talent coming together in SlamBall, where basketball and football cultures collide,” said Mason Gordon, the Co-Founder of SlamBall. “We were incredibly gratified to see that on draft night.”

The SlamBall league and team logos and color schemes were designed by Gameplan Creative, the Chicago-based branding team headed by Tom O’that has been instrumental in creating designs for a host of teams, leagues and organizations, including the WNBA and eight of its teams and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

“The team names and logos are a nod to our history, with the Mob, Rumble and Slashers mirroring the original franchises, and also a reflection of the sport’s exciting future,” added Gordon.

SlamBall recently announced an exclusive, two-year national broadcast partnership with ESPN for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The partnership begins on Opening Night 2023, when SlamBall relaunches on ESPN live from Las Vegas on July 21 from 7-99pm (ET) ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN+ will combine to air more than 30 hours of live SlamBall programming across five weekends, culminating August 17-19 with the SlamBall Playoffs and SlamBall Championship Game.

For a full Sunday Note column, Visit “While We’re Young (Ideas) and consider becoming a paying subscriber to help fund Digital Sports Desk.

Devers, Sox Upset Blue Jays

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TORONTO – Boston’s 3B Rafael Devers hit a two-run home run and had three RBIs in a three-hit game as the visiting Red Sox defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 7-6. Boston’s Justin Turner added a solo homer and an RBI double for the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the three-game series. Boston is 6-0 against Toronto this season.

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Matt Chapman had a two-run homer for the Blue Jays while George Springer and Bo Bichette added solo home runs.

The game ended when Bichette was thrown out at home by right fielder Alex Verdugo. Bichette was trying to score the tying run on Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s single, which had already plated Springer.

Toronto left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (7-3) allowed five runs, seven hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Boston right-hander Kutter Crawford (3-4) allowed two runs, three hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Springer led off the home half of the first with his 12th home run of the season.

Boston scored twice in the third. Turner singled with one out and Devers hit a 3-2 fastball to left center for his 20th homer of the season.

Bichette tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the third with his 15th homer of the season.

Boston regained the lead in the fifth. Rob Refsnyder led off with a single and scored on Turner’s double. Devers followed with an RBI single and took second on the throw home. Trevor Richards replaced Kikuchi and allowed Masataka Yoshida’s run-scoring single.

Christian Arroyo led off the Boston sixth with a single, took third on Refsnyder’s double and scored on Verdugo’s sacrifice fly. Nate Pearson then replaced Richards.

Josh Winckowski allowed Chapman’s leadoff double in the Toronto seventh before Danny Jansen hit an infield single. With runners at second and third and two outs, Winckowski’s errant pickoff throw to second resulted in a run.

Winckowski walked Guerrero with two outs in the eighth and allowed Chapman’s 11th homer of the season, which pulled the Blue Jays within 6-5.

Turner led off the ninth with his 13th homer of the season. It came against Erik Swanson.

Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen allowed Springer’s single and Bichette’s double ahead of Guerrero’s single that nearly tied the game until Verdugo’s pinpoint throw finished off the Jays.

–Field Level Media

NBA Free Agency Round-Up

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MIAMI – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Once the NBA’s free agency negotiation period began Friday, plenty of reported deals — including Kyrie Irving staying with the Dallas Mavericks and Draymond Green remaining with the Golden State Warriors — made the headlines, but there were several other moves worth noting.

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The contract agreements with free agents become official July 6, per NBA free agency rules.

Here’s a look at several deals that were reportedly agreed to on Friday:

–The Miami Heat re-signed forward Kevin Love and added guard Jason Richardson, according to ESPN. The Athletic also reported that the Heat were set to trade Victor Oladipo to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Love, who will turn 35 before next season, turned his career around with Miami and played a key role in the team’s run to the NBA Finals.

A second-round pick of the Heat in 2015, Richardson, 29, gives his original team depth after Gabe Vincent reportedly joined the Los Angeles Lakers.

Oladipo, 31, spent 2 1/2 seasons in Miami. He previously played for Oklahoma City in 2016-17.

—Joe Ingles landed a deal with the Orlando Magic.

A key contributor off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks last season, the 35-year-old forward is getting a two-year, $22 million contract with the Orlando Magic, per ESPN.

–Former MVP Derrick Rose is set to join the Memphis Grizzlies. The 34-year-old guard was a bit-part player for the New York Knicks last season.

–Forward Herb Jones is sticking with the Pelicans. Jones, 24, had declined his option on a minimum salary, opting instead to agree on a four-year, $54 million deal to stay with New Orleans, per an ESPN report.

–Veteran guard Dennis Schroeder is joining the Raptors. After losing star guard Fred Van Vleet to the Houston Rockets, Toronto landed Schroeder, 29, with a two-year deal worth a reported $26 million.

–Guard Reggie Jackson, 33, and center DeAndre Jordan, 34, will stay with the reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets. Jackson’s deal is reportedly for two years and $10.25 million.

—Seth Curry, 32, is back for a third stint with the Mavericks, landing a two-year contract. The former Nets guard, one of the NBA’s best 3-point shooters, Curry played for Dallas in 2016-17 and again in 2019-20.

–The Minnesota Timberwolves are signing guard Shake Milton and forward Troy Brown. Milton, 26, formerly of the Philadelphia 76ers agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal, per an ESPN report. Brown, 23, played for the Lakers last season.

–The San Antonio Spurs retained forward Julian Champagnie with a four-year, $12 million contract. Champagnie, 22, signed with the team in February after he was waived by the Sixers. He averaged 11 points per game for San Antonio last season.

–The Boston Celtics agreed to a deal with forward Oshae Brissett, 25. According to ESPN, Brissett will get a player option for the second year of the contract.

–Field Level Media

Bello Shines But Marlins Sweep Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Despite Boston Red Sox starter Brayan Bello flirting with a no-hitter, the visiting Miami Marlins rallied late and completed a three-game series sweep with Thursday night’s 2-0 win.

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The Marlins ended Bello’s no-hit bid and later took the lead — thanks to Jon Berti’s RBI single to center — during an eighth-inning rally.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. doubled the Miami lead with his second home run in as many games to straightaway center in the ninth. He has nine blasts.

Joey Wendle went 2-for-4 and starter Jesus Luzardo allowed just three hits and struck out nine over 6 1/3 scoreless innings.

Tanner Scott and A.J. Puk pitched two combined innings of one-hit ball following winning reliever Andrew Nardi (6-1). Puk logged his 13th save.

Jean Segura led off the eighth with Miami’s first hit — an single up the middle that diving Red Sox shortstop Enrique Hernandez knocked down behind second base.

After Wendle’s single to right moved Segura to third, Berti knocked an RBI single to center against reliever Chris Martin. A 5-2-3 double play ball and a strikeout of Jorge Soler ended the inning without any further damage.

Bello (5-5) struck out five and was charged with one run on two hits and one walk over seven-plus innings.