Trophy Takers

07/06/2021

By: Jeff Yoder

Welcome Back 

The 4th of July sports schedule was full of fireworks. Now, we turn the page to trophy week. We’ll start crowning champions in the NHL, NBA, Soccer, Wimbledon and more. And if you’re missing football, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are playing golf tonight with Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau.

The busiest month in sports is off with a bang.

Letter Rip!

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STANLEY CUP FINALS

Canadiens Thwart the Sweep

Photo: Mark Blinch / Getty Images

Montreal Forces Game 5, Delays Tampa Bay’s Stanley Cup Celebration With Game 4 OT Win (3-2)

 

Just when we thought the Canadiens were out of magic, the Montreal miracle-workers live to play another day. The Habs outlasted the Lightning in Game 4 (3-2, OT) with a stunning game-winner from Josh Anderson just three 3:57 into overtime. The game-winning goal came shortly after an empty Lightning power-play that bookended the third period and OT. Anderson had two goals in Game 4, and the Canadiens aren’t done yet.

 

The Stanley Cup Final Rewind

The Tampa Bay Lightning looked charged and ready to repeat as Stanley Cup champs. They won Games 1, 2 and 3 by outscoring Montreal 14-3, but Game 4 slipped away. The Lightning are now 0-for-4 in overtime games this postseason, and they still haven’t scored a power-play goal in the playoffs. Game 5 heads back to Tampa Bay for another shot at the repeat.

 

Watch: Anderson Scores Game-Winner to Keep Canadiens Alive in Game 4 (3-2, OT)

 

Stanley Cup Final

Game 5: Canadiens at Lightning (Wed. 8:00 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

ESPN: ‘Nothing Easy’: Habs Win in OT to Avoid Stanley Cup Final Sweep

CBS Sports: Josh Anderson Plays Habs’ Hero as Canadiens Stave Off Elimination & Force Game 5

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NBA FINALS

A Finals of Firsts

Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

NBA Finals Preview: Bucks at Suns (Game 1: Tonight, 9:00 pm ET)

 

The Milwaukee Bucks closed out the Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 on Saturday (118-107) to set up an NBA Finals battle of firsts. It’s Deer vs. Desert in a best-of-7 for all the marbles. Milwaukee was without two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in their Game 6 win, but the team feels positive that he’ll suit up in the Finals. He remains “day-to-day” with a hyperextended left knee.

 

A Finals of Firsts

The Suns have never won an NBA championship in franchise history, and the Bucks haven’t won a title since 1976. None of the 24 active players in the Finals have ever won a ring, including Chris Paul — making his first Finals appearance after 16 Hall of Fame caliber NBA seasons. It’s Paul and the Suns’ young core against the MVP and his small-market franchise starving for a title. The Suns are the favorites (-190), but not by much. And the series likely hinges on the status of Antetokounmpo’s injury. The Finals tip off tonight.

 

NBA Finals (Tonight)

Gm 1: Bucks at Suns (9:00 pm ET)

 

Additional Storylines

B/R: Who Has the Edge at Every Position in the 2021 NBA Finals?

The Ringer: The 2021 NBA Finals Entrance Survey

Yahoo! Sports: Making the NBA Finals a Long Time Coming for Giannis, Bucks

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TENNIS

Top Stars Torching Wimbledon

Photo: Ben Stansall / Getty Images

(1) Ashleigh Barty & (1) Novak Djokovic Cruise Into Quarterfinals

 

The early storyline from the All England Club was a flurry of early exit from high-ranked stars, but the No. 1 seeds in the men’s and women’s draw are inching closer without the usual cast of challengers standing in their way. Both (1) Ashleigh Barty and (1) Novak Djokovic were straight-set winners in both of their matches over the weekend. The pair has each lost just one set in the entire tournament, and their path to the finals looks advantageous. Both players have quarterfinals matches with unranked opponents in the next 48 hours. Djokovic is fresh off a French Open title, but Barty’s last major was in 2019 — also at Roland-Garros.

 

The action continues today with the women’s quarterfinals.

 

Wimbledon Highlights (Notable Players)

M: (1) N. Djokovic def. (17) C. Garin (6-2, 6-4, 6-2)

M: (6) R. Federer def. (23) L. Sonego (7-5, 6-4, 6-2)

W: (1) A. Barty def. B. Krejcikova (7-6, 6-3)

W: (25) A. Kerber def. (20) C. Gauff (6-4, 6-4)

 

Today’s Schedule (Women’s Quarterfinal)

(8) K. Pliskova vs. V. Golubic (8:00 am ET)

(19) K. Muchova vs. (25) A. Kerber (9:15 am ET)

(2) A. Sabalenka vs. (21) O. Jabeur (9:30 am ET)

(1) A. Barty vs. A. Tomljanovic (11:30 am ET)

 

Men’s Quarterfinal: Tomorrow

 

Fun Fact: It’s just the third time in the Open Era that no Americans (men or women) have reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

 

Additional Storylines
US News: 
Full Wimbledon Crowds Allowed From Quarterfinals to Finals

LA Times: Remaining Americans at Wimbledon Can’t Get Past Manic Monday

The Guardian: Roger Federer Rolls Back the Years to Reach 18th Wimbledon Quarterfinal

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🎥 EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS

⚾️ MLB: Gausman’s No-Hit Bid Ends in Frustration

Giants’ ace Kevin Gausman carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning on Monday before giving up two runs and an eventual loss (5-3) to the Cardinals. Gausman just made his first all-star selection a day earlier.

 

⚾️ MLB: Pujols Tags 6,000th Career Base

With a single in the eighth inning of a Dodgers’ loss to the Marlins (5-4), Albert Pujols became the fourth player in MLB history to reach 6,000 career total bases. He joined legends Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Stan Musial on the list.

 

⚽️ EUROS: Semifinals Set After Weekend in Europe

The UEFA European Championship cut the field from eight to four over the weekend with a handful of close matches. Spain, Italy, Denmark and England advanced to the semifinals. Italy takes on Spain this afternoon (3:00 pm ET).

 

⚽️ COPA: Neymar, Brazil Advance to Copa Finale

South America’s continental tournament is down to just three teams left after Brazil defeated Peru (1-0) in the semifinals on Monday. Lucas Paqueta scored the only goal of the match, and the Brazilians await the winner of Argentina and Columbia in today’s match (9:00 pm ET).

 

🚴 TDF: Van Der Poel Abandons Tour de France

Mathieu van der Poel held the yellow jersey for most of the first week at the Tour de France, but he retired from the race to focus on the Olympics after relinquishing the lead in Stage 9. Tadej Pogacar now leads the race.

 

🏎️ NASCAR: Elliot Lands Road America Win

Chase Elliot delivered the 10th win of the season (out of 20 races) for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday at Road America. Elliot led 46 of 62 laps for his second win of the season.

 

🏀 WNBA: Aces Hot Streak Taking Over WNBA

The Las Vegas Aces have jumped to the top of the WNBA standings after two wins over the weekend, bringing their streak to four straight and nine of their last 10. Now 14-4, the Aces have tied the Seattle Storm for the top record in the league.

 

⛳️ PGA: Aussie Davis Wins 3-Way Playoff

Cameron Davis (-18) claimed his first career PGA Tour victory on Sunday at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. The 26-year-old Australian won a three-way playoff against Joaquin Nieman and Troy Merritt.

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THE STORYLINES 

⚾️  The 2021 MLB All-Star Rosters

The starters were announced last Thursday, but the full NL and AL rosters of reserves, pitchers and more have been released. Shohei Ohtani made baseball history as the first two-way player ever selected as both a hitter and pitcher in the same All-Star Game. (USA Today)

 

🏅  ‘Let Her Run!’

American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson has been suspended for one month after testing positive for marijuana. The positive test invalidates her 100-meter dash victory at Olympic Trials last month, and the sports world was outraged. Athletes from all over took to social media in Richardson’s defense. (FTW)

 

🏀  The World’s Test in Basketball

The U.S. men’s basketball team will be heavily favored at the Tokyo Olympics, but multiple other countries are rich with NBA talent. The United States has reigned supreme, winning gold in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Let’s take a look at the top competition for gold. (FOX Sports)

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📰 THE HEADLINES

Joey Chestnut Wins 14th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest With Record 76 Hot Dogs

(USA Today)

 

Blue Jackets Goalie Matiss Kivleniek Dies at Age 24 From Head Injury in Tragic July 4th Fireworks Accident

(Bleacher Report)

 

No. 1 Overall Pick QB Trevor Lawrence Signs $36.8 Million Rookie Contract With Jaguars

(ESPN)

 

Former UCLA Football Coach Terry Donahue Dies at Age 77

(CBS Sports)

 

ESPN Reporter Rachel Nichols Under Fire Over Leaked ‘Diversity’ Comments About Co-Worker Maria Taylor

(Yahoo! Sports)

 

Legendary NBA Commentator Marv Albert Calls Final Game, Signs Off After 55 Years

(FTW)

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🗓️ TODAY’S SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

NBA Finals

Gm 1: Bucks at Suns (9:00 pm ET)

 

The Match (Celebrity Golf)

Mickelson/Brady vs. Rodgers/DeChambeau (5:00 pm ET)

 

Euro 2020

Semifinal: Italy vs. Spain (3:00 pm ET)

 

Copa America

Semifinal: Argentina vs. Colombia (9:00 pm ET)

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