Final Days of the Games

08/03/2021

By: Jeff Yoder

Good Morning,

As the Olympic Games close in on the final five days, two of Team USA’s most notable squads took center stage. One survived. One didn’t. Plus, NFL training camps heat up and NBA free agency pops off. It’s time for us to do the same.

Letter Rip!

_________________________________________________________________________________________

MEDAL COUNT

Total Medals

USA (66)

China (63)

Russia (50)

Great Britain (37)

Japan (34)

Australia (33)

Italy (28)

Germany (27)

France (23)

 

Gold Medals

China (29)

USA (22)

Japan (18)

Australia (14)

Great Britain (13)

Russia (12)

 

*Medal Count Accurate as of Midnight ET (Aug. 3)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

OLYMPICS

Durant Powers USA Into Semifinals

Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Team USA Men’s Basketball Beats Spain (95-81) to Advance to Medal Rounds

 

After all the early struggles that plagued the USA men’s basketball team, they’re moving on to the medal rounds. Team USA weathered a 38-point outing from Spain’s Ricky Rubio last night. The game was all square at halftime (43-43) before the U.S. pulled away down the stretch. Kevin Durant (29 points) led the charge in a pressure-packed performance. The USA men’s basketball team had never failed to medal in Olympic history, but that streak goes back under the microscope Thursday (12:15 am ET).

 

Read More (USAB)

*Highlights Unavailable Due to Schedule

 

Men’s Basketball Bracket (Next Round)

USA vs. Australia/Argentina

Slovenia vs. Italy/France

 

Other Men’s Olympic Highlights

 

Track & Field: Warholm Shatters World Record

Norway’s Karsten Warholm shattered his own world record by .76 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles on Monday. He ran a 45.94-second race, breaking the 46-second barrier in a blazing gold-medal run. USA’s Rai Benjamin ran a would-be world record (46.17) but settled for silver.

 

Men’s Baseball: Japan Tops USA With Walk-Off

The USA baseball team blew a 6-3 lead to Japan on Monday in the quarterfinals. The game went into extra-innings at 6-all before Japan’s Takuya Kai delivered the 10th-inning walk-off. Team USA moves to the elimination bracket, but their medal pursuit is still in tact.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

OLYMPICS 🏅

The World Cup Curse Lives On

Photo: Kazuhiro Nogi / Getty Images

USWNT Falls to Canada (1-0) on Controversial Penalty in Olympic Semifinal

 

The U.S. women’s soccer team will settle for a shot at the bronze medal on Thursday after failing to get past Canada in the Olympic semifinals Monday morning. Canada broke American hearts with a 75th-minute penalty strike from Jessie Fleming after a controversial VAR call. Nothing clicked for the USWNT in a lifeless performance that lacked chemistry. Canada came out physical and overwhelmed the USWNT’s attacking front, who didn’t fire a shot on goal until the 65th minute. And while gold was always the goal, they’ll get one more match on Thursday (4:00 am ET) against Australia for the bronze medal.

 

Fun Fact: No women’s soccer team has ever won the gold medal in the Olympics after winning the World Cup.

 

Watch: USWNT Falls to Canada (1-0)

 

Other Women’s Olympic Highlights

 

Track & Field: USA’s Valarie Allman Wins Gold in Discus

After two days of events at Japan’s National Stadium, Team USA claimed its first gold medal of the track and field events thanks to discus-thrower Valarie Allman. Allman launched an untouchable 68.98-meter toss on her first throw of the day.

 

Gymnastics: Jade Carey Takes Gold in Floor

American 21-year-old Jade Carey was nearly perfect in her floor routine on Monday, posting a 14.366 score en route to another gymnastics gold medal for Team USA.

 

GYMNASTICS ALERT 🚨

Simone Biles Returns to Olympics Action, Competes in Balance Beam Final This Morning

_________________________________________________________________________________________

NBA

Day 1: Free Agents on the Move

Photo: Nic Antaya / Getty Images

Free Agency Brings New Beginnings for Kyle Lowry (Heat), Lonzo Ball (Bulls) & More

 

The floodgates opened on the NBA free-agent market, and there was no shortage of movement on Day 1. While much of the action featured players re-signing with their current teams, a handful of guards across the league are booking flights to their new homes. Kyle Lowry landed on the Miami Heat within minutes of the market opening, but the Chicago Bulls won the day with a pair of backcourt additions in Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. Here’s the latest on NBA free-agent movement:

 

Free Agent News & Acquisitions

 

PG Kyle Lowry → Heat

Contract: 3 Yrs, $90 Million

 

PG Lonzo Ball → Bulls

Contract: 4 Yrs, $85 Million

 

SG Alex Caruso → Bulls

Contract: 4 Yrs, $37 Million

 

SG Evan Fournier → Knicks

Contract: 4 Yrs, $78 Million

 

PG Devonte’ Graham → Pelicans

Contract: 4 Yrs, $47 Million

 

C Daniel Theis → Rockets

Contract: 3 Yrs, $42 Million

 

PF Kelly Olynyk → Pistons

Contract: 4 Yrs, $36 Million

 

Notable Players Who Re-Signed With Same Team

PG Chris Paul (Suns) — 4 Yrs, $120 Million

PG Derrick Rose (Knicks) — 3 Yrs, $43 Million

PG Mike Conley (Jazz) — 3 Yrs, $72.5 Million

SG Duncan Robinson (Heat) — 5 Yrs, $90 Million

C Jarrett Allen (Cavaliers) — 5 Yrs, $100 Million

SG Gary Trent Jr. (Raptors) — 3 Yrs, $54 Million

PG Tim Hardaway Jr. (Mavericks) — 4 Yrs, $72 Million

 

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Steph Curry Signs 4-Year, $215 Million Extension With Warriors

Yahoo! Sports: Hawks Sign Trae Young to Rookie Max Extension Worth Up to $207 Million

NBA: Lakers Bring Back Former Players in Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza & Wayne Ellington

_________________________________________________________________________________________

NFL

Training Camp Storylines

Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images

Colts QB Carson Wentz Out 5-12 Weeks After Foot Surgery

 

The first week of NFL training camp brought devastating news for one team before preseason play has even begun. Colts QB Carson Wentz will have surgery after suffering a foot injury last week. He’s expected to miss 1-2 months of regular-season action. After QB Phillip Rivers retired last year, the Colts now have a decision to make — throw in a backup or trade for a veteran?

 

All over the NFL, training camp positional battles are shaping up while August brings a three-game preseason. Here are some of the top storylines coming out of training camp.

 

Other Training Camp Storylines

  • RB Nick Chubb relieved after signing 3-year, $36 million extension with Browns.
  • Minnesota Vikings place three quarterbacks on COVID-19 list, claim Danny Etling off waivers.
  • Rookie WR Devonta Smith to Miss 2-3 weeks at Eagles camp with sprained MCL.
  • TE Tim Tebow is facing an ‘uphill battle’ at Jaguars’ training camp.

 

Additional Storylines

NFL: 16 Things We’ve Learned Thus Far at NFL Training Camps

USA Today: QB Nick Foles Addresses Colts Trade Speculation, Admiration for HC Frank Reich

THE STORYLINES

📺  NBC’s Televisual Vomit

In 2014, NBC paid $7.75 billion for the Olympics broadcast rights through 2032. For these Olympics, faced with an inhospitable timezone for US viewers, the host broadcaster tried to show a bit of everything to every viewer on every available platform all at once. (Yahoo! Sports)

 

⚾️  Toronto! We’re HOME

The Blue Jays just spent 670 days away from home due to international travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they’re back in Toronto, and Bo Bichette is excited. “Toronto, I missed y’all. Probably more than you even know.” (The Players’ Tribune)

 

🏈  2021 Fantasy Football Projections

In just a few days, the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers will meet in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. It marks the official beginning of the 2021 NFL preseason. And it means that fantasy draft season will be ramping up in earnest. (Bleacher Report)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

📰 THE HEADLINES

_________________________________________________________________________________________

🗓️ OLYMPICS SCHEDULE

This Morning

 

Men’s Diving

3M Springboard Final (2:00 am ET)

 

Men’s Soccer (Semifinals)

Mexico vs. Brazil (4:00 am ET)

Japan vs. Spain (7:00 am ET)

 

Gymnastics

Balance Beam Finals (4:00 am ET)

 

Tonight

 

Track & Field

Multiple Events (8:00 pm — 12:30 am ET)

 

Women’s Golf

First Round (6:30 pm ET)

 

Women’s Basketball (Quarterfinal)

USA vs. Australia (12:40 am ET)

 

All Team USA events will air live on Peacock / NBC or tape-delayed on NBC affiliates.

 

Full Olympics Schedule & Results

_________________________________________________________________________________________

SHARE SPORTS, GET REWARDS

It’s time to recruit some new team members. Now, when you share The Sportsletter with family and friends using your unique Team ID (unique referral link), you’ll get rewarded with team gear. Rack up the points to climb the ranks and prove you’re a superstar.