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Good morning to everyone, but especially to…
THE LSU TIGERS
If there is one thing LSU I knew how to do it this season, it bounces back. May saw back-to-back losses in the series, June saw a tough SEC tournament elimination and the need for back-to-back triumphs against it guard forestthe best team in the country, narrowly made it to the finals of the College World Series last week
So after I was at the wrong end a record-breaking thump out of Florida In Game 2, the Tigers did what they did best and responded with an historic loss: an 18-4 loss and the program’s seventh national title.
- It looked like Florida’s offensive blast would carry over to the star Wyatt Langford started a two-run home run at the bottom of the first inning.
- Then LSU came in with a six-run second inningknocking two-way star Jac Caglianone out of the game.
- The substitutes didn’t fare much better. Overall, LSU hit an MCWS record 24 hits. Stars Dylan Crews And Tommy White combined for eight hits, five runs and four RBI, and Josh Pearson And Brayden Jobert both scored for the Tigers.
- Thatcher Hurd allowed just two runs over six innings to earn the win.
LSU started the season as No. 1 and now finishes as champions. What a year for the Tigers.
recognitions
Not so honorable mentions
Damian Lillard Meets With Trail Blazers Owners: What’s Next? 🏀
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Damien Lillard has preached fidelity above And above And above once again.
Now he and the Blazers have apparently doubled their strength again. Lillard met with the team captains on Monday to discuss the future of the franchise and its reported “serious interest” when joining the heat.
- In a statement, GM said Joe Cronin called, “I met with Dame and [agent] Aaron Goodwin this afternoon. We had a great dialogue. We continue to strive to build a winner around Dame.” If that sounds more like a non-statement than a statement, you are not wrong.
- Lillard, 32, has spent his entire career at Portland and is the all-time leader. He is and was a seven-time All-Star named to the NBA 75th Anniversary team.
- Despite Lillard’s accolades and individual brilliance, The Trail Blazers have only made it to the conference finals once — where they got carried away by that warrior in 2019 – with him and have missed the playoffs in the last two seasonswhen Lillard played in 87 out of a possible 164 games.
The Trail Blazers hired an explosive point guard Scott Henderson Third overall last week, a step that got them an A+ in our draft grades and was the right decision, says our Brad Botkin. Nonetheless, two timelines have been further challenged: the win-now lillard timeline versus the future timeline under the heading Henderson (19 years old), Shaedon Sharpe (20) and possibly Fernee Simons (24) – if not traded away.
To make it short, It’s an uncomfortable situation for a team in a difficult position, writes our Sam Quinn. We’ll see what Portland does to make Cronin’s statement true.
NHL Awards: Connor McDavid joins exclusive company with third Hart Trophy 🏒
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It’s not necessarily the hardware he wanted by the end of the year – the hunt for the elusive Stanley Cup continues – though Connor McDavid‘S His third career Hart Trophy puts him in historic company after receiving 195 of 196 possible first votes.
- McDavid is him Fifth player to win three Hart Trophies (awarded to league MVP) in his first eight seasons. The others are Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, Bobby Clarke And Alex Ovechkin
- McDavid scored 153 points this season to become the first player to break the 150 mark since Mario Lemieux 1995-96.
- McDavid also won the Ted Lindsay Award (Most Outstanding Player by NHLPA poll) and had previously secured the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy (Top Scorer) and the Art Ross Trophy (Top Scorer). His four individual trophies equal an all-time record for a single season.
As for the guy trying impede Goals, bruins goalkeeper Linus Ullmark won the Vezina Award. It’s the fifth time a Bruin has won the award, and the first since Tuukka Rask in 2014.
You can see all award winners here.
Hawks trade John Collins for Jazz, make room for the cap 🏀
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JohnCollins has been the subject of trade rumors for years. It was finally traded on Monday.
The hawks Are sends the talented 25-year-old forward for the jazz in return for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick.
- The main reason for trading is money. Collins is more than $78 million due over the next three seasons (including a player option in 2025-26) thereafter Signed a massive contract extension with Atlanta in August 2021. With the move The Hawks are clearing a $25.3 million trade exceptionwith which you can either add a player or expand your own Dejounte Murray, Onyeka Okongwu And Saddiq Bey as the top candidate.
- Collins emerged as one of the best young tall players in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season, averaging 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds while shooting over 58% from the floor and over 40% on 3-point shots lap. But his productivity faltered after that season, especially after the 2021 contract extension. Last season he shot from distance just 29.2%.
It might seem like a frustrating end to a frustrating time in Atlanta for Collins, however This is a win-win dealwrites our Brad Botkin its trade grades.
- Botkin: “Atlanta did what it had to do here. In a league poised to make life hell for big earners under the new CBA, the Hawks, who will reportedly continue to actively seek to improve the roster, are coming under the helm (for now) and creating meaningful flexibility for the Future… The Jazz are in no hurry. You have a wheelbarrow full of draft picks behind you Donovan Mitchell And Rudy Gobert Businesses. You have room for the cap. Stepping on Collins’ hoops is pretty much all positive.
Battles at NFL Training Camp: The Jets finally don’t have a QB issue but have questions elsewhere 🏈
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Once he enters the field in week 1, Aaron Rodgers will be the best quarterback ever to line up for Gang Green. Add in some great defense and Jets fans are rightly as excited as ever.
But football isn’t a simple equation of “new quarterback + strong defense = Super Bowl save.” And as training camp approaches, The Jets have many key position fights in support of Rodgerswrites our Cody Benjamin.
- Benjamin: “Jets wide receivers: Allen Lazard vs. Corey Davis vs. Mecole Hardman vs. Randall Cobb – Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson is a ban to serving as Rodgers’ No. 1. Behind him, a crowded group is vying for the No. 2/3 jobs… … Jets offensive tackles: Duane Brown vs. Mekhi Becton vs. Billy Turner – If there’s one camp battle that deserves far more attention than it gets, this is it. … While everyone in New York is talking about Aaron Rodgers’ guns, It’s fair to worry about protecting it around the edges.”
Cody hit the spot with the last line. During his back-to-back MVP campaigns in 2020 and 2021 Rodgers was only under pressure on 25% of his dropbacks, 4th worst out of 37 qualified players over the period. Last year, Jets quarterbacks were under pressure at 35.9% of the dropbacks, 26th in the NFL. That needs to be resolved to keep all parties — especially Rodgers — happy and productive.
Oh yes, and it looks like it Hard Knocks may be there to document everything. You can see all of Cody’s top training camp competitions Here.
What we’re watching on Tuesday 📺
🏀 Freedom at Sun7 p.m. on NBA TV
⚾ Twins at Braves7:20 p.m. on TBS
🏀 Wings at Mercury10 p.m. on CBS Sports Network