Wednesday, 1 September 2021
Max Scherzer Sets Record With 50th Straight Plate Appearance Without Reaching Base
The Dodgers' ace stands alone in failing at the plate after striking out against Atlanta's Max Fried on Wednesday.
As Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani stretches the imagination for what baseball players are capable of, the vast majority of the rest of the league's pitchers are demonstrating the age-old universal truth: pitchers are usually really, really bad at hitting.
Case in point: Dodgers ace Max Scherzer, who on Wednesday night against the Braves made a bit of dubious history during his fifth inning at-bat. Facing Atlanta's Max Fried, Scherzer struck out on six pitches, marking his 50th consecutive plate appearance this season without reaching base via a hit, walk or hit by pitch.
That, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark, breaks the previous record of 49 held by Wei-Yin Chen. In his first 50 plate appearances of 2020, he's struck out 20 times.
To illustrate the two extremes of being able to reach base safely, Scherzer's streak roars on as Tampa Bay's rookie shortstop Wander Franco has reached base in 32 consecutive games. With the designated hitter in use for both leagues in 2020, the last time Scherzer reached base by way of a hit, walk or hit by pitch was on Sept. 18, 2019, when he singled off of Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright in the top of the second inning.
Thankfully for the Dodgers, their lineup has plenty of firepower elsewhere, and they did not acquire the three-time Cy Young Award winner for his offensive prowess. Through his first five starts with Los Angeles, the 37-year-old has gone 4-0 with 41 strikeouts and a 1.55 ERA in 29 innings.
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Nick Selbe September 02, 2021 at 09:35AMRain Forces U.S. Open Postponements as Water Pours Through Closed Roof
The retractable roof at Louis Armstrong Stadium was no match for the downpour at the U.S. Open on Wednesday night.
Despite being played in an arena with a retractable roof, play at the U.S. Open in New York was postponed due to flash flood warnings as the city experienced a downpour on Wednesday night. Despite the roof at Louis Armstrong Stadium being closed, water fell onto the court and stands.
Kevin Anderson and Diego Schwartzman's match has been moved to Arthur Ashe Stadium and will be played following Adrian Mannarino and Stefanos Tsitsipas's match. The Anderson-Schwartzman match was suspended during the first set for more than 30 minutes. Schwartzman ended up taking the first set, 7-6 (7-4).
The match between Angelique Kerber and Anhelina Kalinina has been pushed to Thursday.
The heavy rains caused the National Weather Service of New York to issue a flash flood emergency for the city. It marked the first time the NWS has ever taken such a step in New York City. The same designation was also made for Northeast New Jersey earlier Wednesday evening.
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Aces Center Liz Cambage Tests Positive for COVID-19
The four-time All-Star is fully vaccinated and is experiencing only mild symptoms and will be isolated until she's cleared to play.
Las Vegas Aces center Liz Cambage has been placed in the WNBA's health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19, the team announced Wednesday in a statement. Cambage, who is fully vaccinated, is experiencing mild symptoms and will remain isolated until she is cleared to return to play.
Cambage, 30, is a four-time All-Star who's been with the Aces since 2019. She led the league in scoring in 2018, and in 24 games this season is averaging 14.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game on 54.5% shooting from the field.
Cambage sat out the 2020 season due to the risk of COVID-19. At the time, her agent told reporters that a pre-existing health condition put her at "high-risk for severe illness" if she were to contract the virus.
The Aces currently hold the league's second-best record at 19-7, just 1.5 games behind the Sun.
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Nick Selbe September 02, 2021 at 07:18AMAt the U.S. Open, Sloane Stephens Sends Coco Gauff Home
Mets’ Acting G.M. Is Arrested on Drunken-Driving Charge
Report: Nationals Are First Known MLB Team to Fire Employees for Refusing COVID Vaccine
The Nationals reportedly fired two scouts over a refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the first known team to do so.
The Nationals parted ways with multiple employees on Wednesday over their refusal to get vaccinated for COVID-19, according to The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli. Eight scouts in total were let go but two of them were informed they would not be with the Nationals next season for their refusal to get vaccinated, while the other six firings were mainly performance-based. The Nationals are the first known MLB team to part ways with employees due to vaccinated status.
The Nationals are also expected to part ways with Bob Boone, who has been with the team's front office since 2005, for his refusal to get vaccinated. Boone is a former catcher and manager who was named an All-Star four times and won seven Golden Gloves over his 18-year playing career. He's also the father of former players Bret and Aaron Boone, the latter of which currently manages the New York Yankees.
The news comes after the Nationals, along with the Astros, informed non-playing full-time employees that they would be required to get vaccinated. The Orioles also informed all full-time and part-time year-round employees that they will need to be full vaccinated by Oct. 31, according to an email obtained by The Athletic.
"As a company, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to keep one another safe and felt that mandating vaccines is the absolute right thing to do for our employees and our community," the Nationals said in a statement to ESPN on Friday.
The Nationals also put minor league pitching coordinator Brad Holman on unpaid administrative leave for not getting vaccinated, per The Washington Post. He has until Sept. 15 to get vaccinated or he'll be fired.
These mandates don't apply to players because MLB and the players union didn't agree to a vaccination requirement.
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Joseph Salvador September 02, 2021 at 03:29AMMailbag: Where Will Aaron Rodgers Play in 2022?
Answering your questions on QB-needy teams next season, Urban Meyer, the NFC West, the Bucs’ statistical leaders, Zach Ertz, Justin Fields and more.
Most of the NFL is now on to Week 1—with some roster maintenance mixed in—so let’s dive into what landed in the inbox after cut-down day …
Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports
From Alex Murphy (@AlexMurphy1824): Assuming Aaron Rodgers is done in Green Bay after this season ... where does he play next year? Denver?
Here’s the thing, Alex—if this season plays out the way I think it will, the Packers are going to be really, really good. And if they make my picks look equally good, then I’d imagine there’d be a chance he’ll stay in Green Bay in 2022. Something short of winning the whole thing could bring another result, though, and that makes your question a worthy one. So here are a half dozen teams on my radar for quarterbacks next April.
• Broncos: I love the early work GM George Paton has done, and as we’ve said in this space before, the Broncos aren’t far off from where they were in 2012, when they had enough to lure Peyton Manning to the Rockies. Like then, they have promising young receivers, a growing offensive line, a young, raw tight end and young stars on the edge and at corner on defense. I could absolutely see Rodgers looking at this one and thinking it’d work for him.
• Raiders: Another West Coast team and, like Denver, Vegas was on Rodgers’s list in the spring. And for all the problems they’ve had, and there have been lots, the offensive infrastructure there is really strong—with good young talent at receiver (Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards), tight end (Darren Waller), left tackle (Kolton Miller) and tailback (Josh Jacobs). And presuming Jon Gruden’s still around, it’s a good bet he’d love to work with Rodgers.
• Dolphins: Internally, the Dolphins believe they’re ready to contend at the highest level right now, which contextualizes why they’ve sniffed around on Deshaun Watson. And that very naturally puts pressure on Tua Tagovailoa to perform in Year 2. Absent something happening with Watson, he’ll get a full year to prove himself. If he falls short of expectation, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Dolphins looking around in 2022.
• Giants: This is a critical year for Daniel Jones. The Giants have invested a lot in their 2021 team—high draft picks, free-agent money, etc. And New York has two first-round picks in ’22, so there’ll be opportunity to build on what they believe is a really good team. If they don’t get more out of the quarterback position between now and then, it’s easy to see a scenario where they’re a player for someone like Rodgers or Russell Wilson.
• Eagles: The Eagles have done their homework on Deshaun Watson, and owner Jeffrey Lurie’s got a healthy desire to get the quarterback position taken care of after dealing off a young one he thought would be there for a decade and a half. Maybe Jalen Hurts will take off in Year 2. But I don’t think the Eagles are married to the idea he will the way they’d hitched themselves to Carson Wentz. And Philly will have flexibility to build around a QB next year.
• Washington: So that’s three of four NFC East teams. If a couple of things hit right for Washington the next few months (hitting on draft picks Jamin Davis and Sam Cosmi, and free agents Charles Leno, Curtis Samuel and William Jackson), Ron Rivera could have a very appealing situation sitting there for a veteran quarterback in 2022. And what better way to usher in the team’s looming rebrand than with a superstar at the position.
And the truth is, if we want to keep playing this game, we can. What if Carson Wentz doesn’t work out in Indy? Or if Jameis Winston can’t deliver for the Saints? Or if the Browns decide not to extend Baker Mayfield? Could the Steelers or Bucs do it logistically if their quarterbacks retire? Are there more I missed? It may seem bonkers to consider that a dozen teams are feasible at this point, but if this offseason showed us anything, it’s that the league as a whole is far more malleable, and volatile, than it’s ever been at quarterback.
From David Licht (@david_licht): How many years before Urban “burns” out again?
David, I get the question. But consider this—Urban Meyer coached six seasons at Florida and another seven at Ohio State. And as we enter the 2020 season, just eight of 32 head coaches have more than four seasons under their belt in their current locations. So if you’re worried about what Meyer will be doing in ’25 and ’26, that even being a question would be really good news for the Jaguars, because he’ll have to win a bunch just to get there.
I do think much of his ability to endure the rigors of the job in Jacksonville is going to boil down to the job he does delegating. And having the NFL’s biggest staff, with both guys he trusts from the college level and guys with extensive pro experience, should help in that regard. I think Meyer would tell you himself he’s become more of a CEO coach—spending time on program-building—than an in-the-weeds offensive coach.
On paper at least, I think that’d allow him to manage himself a certain way.
From Irfan (@Irfannzo): Do you think that three teams from the NFC west make the playoffs, and if so, which teams do?
Irfan, in the MMQB predictions coming out next week, I answered your question with a yes, putting the Rams in there as division champions, and the Niners and Seahawks in as wild cards. And I think the Cardinals will be in the running, too, with a roster restocked with playoff-experienced vets like A.J. Green and J.J. Watt. If I had to guess right now …
Rams 12–5
Niners 12–5
Seahawks 10–7
Cardinals 8–9
I’m sure you won’t hold me to that.
From Hall Joe (@HallJoe15): Mac’s ceiling?
Hall, the comp I got most on Mac Jones that I liked best in the offseason was Chad Pennington, and a lot of people took that as some sort of shot at Jones—it’s not. Pennington was a hyperproductive, heady collegian who measured out at 6' 3" and 225 pounds at the 2000 combine and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.85 seconds. The similarly productive, smart Jones was 6' 2" and 217 pounds, and ran, unofficially, in the 4.7s at his pro day. Other common strengths: accuracy, pocket awareness, field vision and leadership traits.
Injuries wound up doing Pennington in over time (only once did he start all 16 games in a season). But despite playing for three different coaches, all of whom inherited him (Al Groh was his first NFL coach), over his seven-year window as an NFL starter (2002 to ’08), Pennington went 43–34, got to the playoffs with each of those three coaches, and was the last quarterback other than Tom Brady to win the AFC East before Brady left the division.
I think it’s fair to say, if Pennington had more stability around him, things might’ve played out a little differently for him. And Jones is walking into a better situation than Pennington was back in 2000, so the comp carries as a pretty interesting one for me.
Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports
From Adam Moffett (@AdamMoff24): Who leads Bucs in receiving rec yards/TD?
Adam, I think we’re going to see a pretty even distribution there, because now that Tom Brady has a year in the Bucs’ system, it’ll become his system—and when he’s running things the way he wants to, all five skill players are alive on every single play. In a nod to that, let’s say that there’ll be different leaders in each of those categories …
• Receptions: Chris Godwin, 92.
• Yards: Mike Evans, 1,235.
• Touchdowns: Rob Gronkowski, 10.
And I’m laying all this out with the thought, additionally, that Antonio Brown’s going to be a much bigger factor than people realize, O.J. Howard is in the mix now and Gio Bernard is the sort of back (à la Kevin Faulk, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, James White) that Brady has always valued over the course of his career. Again, the production, as I see it, is going to be spread around. But there’s also going to be a lot of it to go around.
From Juan Garcia (@JuanGarciaGacia): Packers' unsung hero?
Juan, when I saw this question, I immediately thought of Elgton Jenkins. And I’m not saying that it was some secret how good a lineman Jenkins is. He was a Pro Bowl guard in 2020, in just his second year as a pro, so word is out. But his ability to toggle from guard to left tackle this summer, after a collegiate career spent primarily as a center, is rare, and I’m not sure it’s gotten enough attention, based on how massive that is for a Packers team that’s going to be without All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari until October (at least).
If you want context, consider the Colts’ situation. Anthony Castonzo retired in January, after completing his 10th season as Indy’s left tackle. That created a massive hole in what was probably the best line in football in 2020. To patch it, the Colts signed ex-Chief Eric Fisher, coming off a torn Achilles, after not drafting a tackle until the 248th pick in April. Until then, their projected starter at the position was Sam Tevi, a career backup they signed in March. Tevi just tore his ACL and is out for the year, Fisher’s on PUP still and Julién Davenport is the for-now starter.
Indy, like Green Bay, has an elite guard, probably the best one in the league in Quenton Nelson. Now, imagine if the Colts could move Nelson out to left tackle for the time being. Then, the Colts would be looking to find a quick fix at guard, which is much easier to do than it is at tackle. And I’m not saying that Nelson can’t do it. But the fact that Indy hasn’t yet tried with such a high-level lineman should bring color to what Jenkins is doing.
So give me Jenkins as an unsung hero. And if you’re looking for a couple of other guys to break through in Green Bay that have been, to this point, a little unsung, throw safety Darnell Savage and edge defender Rashan Gary (both former first-rounders) in the pile.
From Raul (@raulvibe): Best options for Az at CB after Butler’s sudden retirement?
Raul, the bad news is there’s not a whole lot of help out there. Corner was right up there with offensive line as the spots teams were most looking for via trade ahead of Tuesday’s cutdown to 53 across the NFL—a fact that underlines the state of those positions across the league (there aren’t enough corners or offensive linemen to go around). So I don’t think you’re going to find your fix on someone else’s roster. Teams just aren’t selling corners.
The good news is that I don’t think this came out of left field for Arizona. There were rumblings before this that Malcolm Butler couldn’t run anymore, and concern internally that his lost step would get magnified gradually, as the normal wear-and-tear of the season set in. So it’s not like they haven’t been working hard to try and find solutions for that eventuality, which at least prepared them for this.
It starts with Byron Murphy, who’ll have to play to his 2019 draft slot (33rd), and has flashed an ability to be elite as a slot corner and more than competent flipping outside. From there, veteran Robert Alford can play but will have to hold up physically. And really, the swing factor will be rookie Marco Wilson, who has flashed in camp. Those three guys’ delivering would be a way better remedy than some castoff from another team.
From Philly Phanatic (@PhillyPhan1001): Where's the podcast?
Philly!! Thanks for the support. Still working on that, but I’d point you to the Hurry Up, too, our new web show on YouTube, SI.com and all your social channels. We’ll have some elements of the old podcast on there weekly, for sure—this week, we had Charlie Weis and Brady Quinn in to talk quarterbacks. Be sure to check it out.
From Andrew Poirier (@apoirier717): How bad will the Giants be this year?
Wow, Andrew, already out on your favorite team? To me, the Giants are somewhere between a 7–10 and 10–7 team, and the four swing factors are elements you’re pretty familiar with.
1) Are the edge rushers what the Giants think they are? The brass there is pumped about how rookie Azeez Ojulari and veteran Lorenzo Carter have looked. Whether it translates to the regular season or not will be interesting. With Leonard Williams and Dexter Lawrence inside, those guys just have to provide a thread; they don’t have to carry the front.
2) Where’s the offensive line at? The fact that the Giants just traded for Billy Price and Ben Bredeson doesn’t reflect all that well on the group they have in-house. And regardless of what Price and Bredeson bring, there’s no question that New York needs guys like Andrew Thomas, Shane Lemieux and Matt Peart to come along.
3) What is Saquon Barkley capable of coming off the torn ACL? If he’s himself again, the reimagined skill group of Kenny Golladay, Evan Engram, Sterling Shepard, Kyle Rudolph, Darius Slayton, John Ross, et al. becomes that much tougher to defend.
4) How much better is Daniel Jones? Obviously.
So could the Giants be pretty good? Absolutely. There are just a lot of variables to sort through there.
From KWC (@WestrayKnight): Are you surprised that the Steelers and T.J. Watt extension has yet to be announced? Do you expect it to be announced before their opener?
Eh, I thought they’d get it done right around now. So, KWC, if they kick off the season without Watt signed to a new deal, it’d be a mild surprise to me, because I know this has been their top priority, but also because it was always going to be a complicated deal to do.
The reason why it’s complicated is pretty easy to lay out. Joey Bosa’s the highest-paid defensive player in football at $27 million per year, and Myles Garrett is second at $25 million per year. Both of those deals were done last year. After that, there are the three-year-old deals done by Khalil Mack ($23.5 million APY) and Aaron Donald ($22.5 million). And I don’t think many people would argue Watt isn’t in that class.
So if you account for inflation, and look at the makeup of those contracts, T.J. Watt would be well within his rights to ask for $30 million per. That’d be nearly double what any other player on the Steelers’ roster is making. And further clouding the whole thing would be the Steelers’ policies on funding future guarantees.
Now, for what it’s worth, I’ve heard Watt’s ask is closer to $28 million per. So, really, that’s just a markup on Bosa’s deal, and I can’t imagine that’s a deal-breaker, even if it would have an effect on guys who are next in line like Minkah Fitzpatrick. My guess, then, would be they’re going to have to find common ground on structure and guarantees over the next week. I’ll guess that the Steelers find a way to get it done.
Vincent Carchietta/USA TODAY Sports
From Kevin (@BostAngeles): Did Cam ask to be released when notified he will not start Week 1?
Kevin, I have not heard that he asked for his release. And I can tell you that the likelihood all along was that Cam Newton was either going to be the Patriots’ starter or off the team altogether. Which is to say, yes, I was surprised that Bill Belichick went to Mac Jones after giving the great majority of first-team reps to Newton over the summer. But given the fact that Jones was going to be the starter, Newton’s release doesn’t surprise me at all.
Fact is, once you decide to go with your young first-round pick at quarterback, the makeup of the quarterback room has to be good for that quarterback. There’s a reason why the Bengals let Andy Dalton walk before drafting Joe Burrow, and why the Chargers probably couldn’t have had Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert together, and the Dolphins presented no resistance to Ryan Fitzpatrick’s departure this offseason. Those guys had history as starters with their teams, and that kind of history has a way of looming over a young quarterback.
Similarly, Newton’s really never been a backup, and the fact that he’s a former MVP would have hovered in the background if Jones hit a rough patch early on. It could’ve even created division in the locker room—and that has nothing to do with Newton himself, but the shadow his accomplishments would cast. And a rookie at the most difficult position to play in sports has enough to worry about, without having to think about that.
There’s even a Patriots parallel you can make here. In 2008, ahead of Week 1, the Patriots scheduled workouts with veterans Chris Simms and Tim Rattay for the Tuesday after the opener, after backup Matt Cassel went through an up-and-down preseason. Brady tore his ACL that week. And Belichick canceled the Simms and Rattay workouts when, arguably, he needed more help at quarterback than ever before. Why? Well, because it was important that he show confidence in Cassel. Cassel, of course, wound up delivering in a very big way.
Similarly, 13 years later, very clearly, Belichick sees it as important that he show confidence in Jones. And in letting Newton go, it’ll be easier for him to do that.
From Comedian (@Comedian_Watch): Do NFL GMs believe it will be a significant increase in next year’s salary cap?
Comedian, the big jump won’t come next year; it’ll likely come in 2023. The league and union have already set a ceiling for the ’22 cap at $208.2 million, and based on the influx of gambling money, I think it’s fair to assume they’ll hit that ceiling and set the cap there next year. That’s a big jump from $182.5 million, of course, but it’s actually probably still below where the cap would’ve been, absent COVID-19 (it was at $198.2 million in ’20).
But in 2023? Then the money from the new television contracts will factor into the equation, the gambling money, presumably, will be fully flowing and I think teams will have a lot more money to spend. Which means by then we’re probably looking at a $50 million quarterback somewhere (Herbert maybe?), and star nonquarterbacks having their average-per-year numbers start with a 3.
From Steve Cardenas (@Steve_Cardenas): Will the Eagles trade or release Zach Ertz? If he moves, what team will he end up playing for? Was hoping for a Wentz-Ertz reunion in Indy.
Steve, I think they’re hanging on to him now. Ertz himself mentioned having come-to-Jesus meetings with the team brass over the last few months, and he by all accounts had a monster camp. He’s going into the last year of his contract, so his future remains a little murky. But this idea that he’s done might be a little overblown. Did you know he’s actually more than a year younger than Travis Kelce?
My guess would be if he can stay healthy, the Eagles will try to keep him past this year. But just for now, he’s a really good asset to have as Philly breaks in a new quarterback.
From Joe Barczak (@jtbcubs): So now three of the rookie QB are starting and another (Lance) looks like he will get substantial snaps in a version of a two-QB deal. Is there anyone besides Matt Nagy who doesn’t think Justin Fields is ready? And to sit behind mediocre Andy Dalton much less?
Joe, I understand your frustration, and the frustration of all Bears fans on this. I’d just tell you to be patient, because one of two things will happen. Either Andy Dalton crushes it, and the team contends. Or Fields is going to play sooner rather than later.
And I do think it’s significant that Fields played the last game of the preseason with Chicago’s starters. The whole summer, the goal for Nagy and his staff has been to get as long a look at Fields in the games as possible—one reason why being that the coaches wanted to see how much they’d have to scale back the offense to play the rookies, and what the offense would look like in that context. Well, now they’ve gotten to see it with the starters in there, which gives them a better idea of what going to Fields will mean when the time comes.
I also think you’ll get a significant tell on where all this stands in 11 days, when the Bears kick off their season in Los Angeles. If the team is truly intent on redshirting Fields, then he won’t dress for that game, the same way Jordan Love didn’t dress for any of the Packers’ games last fall. But if they dress him and they don’t dress Nick Foles? It’ll mean they’re comfortable putting him in the game.
In the end, that could be as good a sign as any of how long a leash Dalton has, and how close all of you in Chicago are to getting what you want. But, again, if Dalton goes out there and plays great, then that’d be a really good result, too—because I’d assume you want your team to win, and it’d give Fields more time to develop.
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Haven Shepherd, Jessica Long Take a Unique Partnership to Tokyo Paralympics
Shepherd, who is making her Paralympic debut, has been friends with Long since she was a young girl, bonded by their similar stories.
After an intense training session at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, 23-time Paralympic medalist Jessica Long gets out of the pool and sends a quick text to her teammate Haven Shepherd.
“How are Becky and Bridget today?” Long types.
“They are good! How are Mary-Kate and Ashley?” Shepherd responds.
Long and Shepherd are referring to their legs. Dubbed their “nubs,” both athletes are bilateral amputees and are the only people they know to give endearing nicknames to their legs.
“Our nubs are identical,” Long said. “So my left one is my shorter, fat one and my right one is skinnier, and longer. Just a little and so are hers.”
Courtesy of Challenged Athlete Foundation
These two women share a friendship that began when Shepherd was a young girl. Now 18, Shepherd is in Tokyo for her first Paralympic Games while Long, now 29 years old, makes her fifth appearance in the summer game as the second-most decorated U.S. Paralympic swimmer in history. Over the last 10 years, Long and Shepherd learned their stories are more similar than how it appears on the surface.
Both were adopted—Shepherd at 20 months old from Vietnam and Long at 13 months old from Russia—but the stories of how Long and Shepherd lost their legs are different. Long was born with fibular hemimelia, a condition that causes the lower leg to not have some of the key bones it needs in order to help a person stand up and walk. Long’s legs were amputated from the knee down at 18 months old and she’s had 25 surgeries since the initial amputation.
Shepherd, on the other hand, was born in Vietnam. Her parents, who had Shepherd while married to other people, were poor and living in a small hut. Afraid and hopeless in their circumstance, Shepherd’s father brought home bombs. He strapped one to himself, one to Shepherd’s mother, their young baby in between them. Both parents died, but Shepherd survived the blast as she was flung out the front door with burns and shrapnel embedded in her body. She was rushed to the hospital by her biological grandmother and had her legs amputated that night.
Seven years later, Long met Shepherd at an event hosted by the Challenged Athletes Foundation, a group that makes prosthetics and other pieces of equipment for people with physical disabilities more accessible to help promote an active lifestyle.
“It was very evident at the gala that everyone knew Haven and Haven knew everyone,” Long said. “I just remember watching this little girl and it was one of the very first times that I saw another bilateral amputee. Right away, I was just like, ‘this girl is electric.’ ”
Shepherd, who attended the event wearing a tutu and her signature Converse sneakers, recalls a photo she took with Long that night.
“It’s definitely very weird to see some pictures of us from when I was 8 years old,” Shepherd said. “Now we’re teammates. It’s very odd to me, but I just look at Jessica like a big sister. She’s always looking out for me. She always wants the best for me.”
Shepherd didn’t take to swimming instantly; she started her adaptive athletic career running track, but soon realized it wasn’t for her. When she was 10 years old, she started swimming competitively and hit the professional circuit shortly thereafter. In 2016, Shepherd competed at trials for the Rio Paralympics at 13 years old, but didn’t qualify. Five years later, Shepherd is ready for a chance at a Paralympic title.
Courtesy of Challenged Athlete Foundation
The road to the podium for Shepherd will be met by Long, who will be competing in her fifth Paralympic games. Long made her olympic debut at age 12 in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, winning three gold medals along the way. Before Tokyo, Long had 13 gold medals, six silver and four bronze.
“I don't really see [Long] as a competitor,” Shepherd said. “I know that Jessica will always be the best and that's what she expects. I'm just so happy to be in her shadow and [to have] seen her journey, and getting to be alongside her most big races.”
The duo will swim against each other in two events; the 200-meter individual medley and the 100-meter breaststroke. Shepherd and Long are both classified as S8, SM8, and SB7 swimmers, which is how World Para Swimming determines where to place which athlete in order to keep competition fair.
The letter indicates what kind of stroke the swimmer will be doing—“S'' signifies freestyle, backstroke or butterfly, “SB” is breaststroke, and “SM” is individual medley. Any swimmer in an S, SM or SB classification with a number one through 10 denotes that they have a physical impairment. The lower the number, the more severe the impairment is.
Prior to the Paralympic trials, Shepherd was feeling unsure about her race times. According to Long, trials was the first time they had raced in almost a year and a half because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Long recalls Shepherd asking if she thought she had any chance of making the Paralympics, and it was time for Long to step into her “big sister” shoes.
“I'll never lie to her, but I was like, ‘It's going to be really, really hard. Like, these next six weeks before trials, you're going to have to really, really focus and work so, so hard,’ ” says long. “And it was just kind of a sweet, cute, intimate moment between us. Not everyone becomes a Paralympic athlete or a Paralympian. So that's something that Haven can add to her title for the rest of her life.”
Courtesy of Challenged Athlete Foundation
With both swimmers competing in Tokyo, Long is excited to have Shepherd as a teammate, and Shepherd is ready for her chance on the big stage.
Even though Long and Shepherd will be competing against one another, the duo will always be friends and have a connection that not many have—an experienced Paralympian and a young hopeful looking to land a spot on the podium with her mentor, and their identical nubs.
Mackenzie Meaney is a contributor for GoodSport, a media company dedicated to raising the visibility of women and girls in sports.
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• Jessica Long Is Unparalleled
• Olympic Athletes Should Stand Up to the IOC
• How Kelly Elmlinger’s Fateful Work Led Her to the Paralympics
Tennis Programs at Historically Black Colleges Receive a Boost
Report: Unvaccinated Players in Some Cities Won't Be Allowed to Play in Home Games
Unvaccinated Knicks, Nets and Warriors players cannot enter home arenas or participate in team activities unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption.
Unvaccinated NBA players on several teams such as the Knicks, Nets and Warriors will not be allowed to enter home arenas or facilities for games and team activities taking place unless there is an approved medical or religious exemption, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Following local government policies in New York and San Francisco, unvaccinated Nets, Knicks and Warriors players would not be allowed to play in home games. However, visiting players would be exempt from the vaccination requirements in New York City or San Francisco.
The league also informed teams that media workrooms will return in the 2021-22 season and that separate press conference rooms—that will hold at least 15 distanced people—for both home and road teams must be available, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press.
Entertainment during games can also be reinstated at the team's discretion as long as all of the performers around players and referees are 100% vaccinated, per Reynolds.
The league's reported COVID-19 mandates on Wednesday come after the league informed all teams on Aug. 27 that personnel who work within 15 feet of players or referees during games must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 this season, according to ESPN. The mandate includes coaches, front office members and trainers but does not include that all players be vaccinated.
The mandate also applies to broadcasters, scoreboard operators, photographers and security personnel, locker room attendants, medical personnel, equipment managers and food and beverage handlers and providers.
The NBA set a deadline of Oct. 1 for all team personnel to be fully vaccinated and kept open the possibility of issuing a booster shot at a later date.
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Wilton Jackson September 02, 2021 at 02:10AMCristiano Ronaldo Sets All-Time Men's International Goal Record
Ronaldo had pulled even with Iran's Ali Daei but now has sole possession following his 110th goal for Portugal.
It's been quite a week for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Days after securing his return to Manchester United from Juventus in an abrupt and blockbuster transfer, he now has sole possession of the all-time men's international goal record, scoring his 110th and 111th goals for Portugal in Wednesday's World Cup qualifying match vs. the Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo had tied Iranian great Ali Daei, at his previously unassailable total of 109, with a pair of penalty kicks against France to close the group stage at Euro 2020 but was made to wait a little while longer to set the record outright after Portugal's ouster at the hands of Belgium in the round of 16.
He set the record on Wednesday in dramatic fashion, scoring on a late header to bring Portugal level with Ireland in the 89th minute and then netting the winner deep into stoppage time. The goals came after he had an earlier penalty saved, with 19-year-old Gavin Bazunu, a Man City goalkeeper on loan at Portsmouth, delaying his historical moment—however briefly—with a top, diving denial.
Ronaldo ripped off his shirt in celebration after the game-winner, holding up his No. 7, but it'll cost him and Portugal in its next game. Due to his previous yellow card from a March qualifier against Serbia, the card he received for stripping down will suspend him for next Tuesday's qualifier at Azerbaijan.
Of Ronaldo's 111 goals for his country, just 19 have come in friendlies. He has scored 33 in World Cup qualifying and 31 in European Championship qualifying to account for 63 others. He has 14 at the Euros, seven at the World Cup, five in the UEFA Nations League and two at the now-defunct FIFA Confederations Cup. Just 14 have come from the penalty spot, the first of which (goal No. 12 overall) came in the 2006 World Cup against Iran—a match for which Daei was suited up as the opponent.
Ronaldo, who has nine international hat tricks in his 180 caps, has scored the most against Sweden and Lithuania (seven times apiece), while picking on Hungary, Andorra and Luxembourg six times each and tallying against Armenia and Latvia five times each. He added new, high-profile nations to his hit list at the Euros. His goal against Germany in the group stage of the competition was his first ever against Die Mannschaft in five all-time meetings, and his two against France were his first vs. Les Bleus in seven all-time encounters. Wednesday's goals were his first against Ireland.
Daei offered his congratulations to Ronaldo upon his tying the record, which stood since 2006, saying on Instagram at the time: "I am honoured that this remarkable achievement will belong to Ronaldo—great champion of football and caring humanist who inspires and impacts lives throughout the world."
While he didn't wind up breaking the record at the Euros, he had set other records in the competition. With his appearance vs. Hungary in Portugal's opener, he became the first men's player to appear in five European Championships. With his two goals in that match, he broke a tie with Michel Platini to become the competition's all-time leading scorer, and in doing so he became the first player to score in five European Championships as well. The 36-year-old's five goals in total were tied for the most in the competition along with the Czech Republic's Patrik Schick.
Presuming Portugal qualifies for Qatar 2022, he'll look to score in a fifth straight World Cup, something no player has done in the men's game—only four have ever played in five World Cups. He has tallied seven World Cup goals across the 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 competitions.
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Avi Creditor September 02, 2021 at 02:08AMReport: Mets' Acting GM Zack Scott Facing DWI Charges
Mets acting general manager Zack Scott was reportedly arrested this week after being found sleeping in his car. He underwent a field sobriety test, and failed.
Mets acting general manager Zack Scott is facing charges of driving while intoxicated after he was found sleeping in his car early Tuesday morning in White Plains, New York, according to the New York Post's Mike Puma, Craig McCarthy and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon.
The Post reports that Scott was arrested at 4:17 a.m. Tuesday after cops found him asleep in his vehicle near the federal courthouse.
"We were surprised and deeply disappointed to learn this morning about an alleged DUI involving Zack Scott," the Mets said in a statement following the publication of the Post's story. "We take this matter very seriously. Zack will not be traveling with the team for our upcoming road trip while we learn more and determine next steps."
ESPN's Jeff Passan states that on the night Scott was arrested, he had been at the Connecticut house of team owner Steve Cohen. Per ESPN, a fundraiser for the team's Amazin' Mets Foundation was being held at the house. Scott and the players were in attendance.
According to the Post's Joel Sherman, the event was over by 9 p.m. ET.
Per the Post, White Plains police captain James Spencer said Wednesday Scott refused to give blood or submit to a Breathalyzer, but underwent a field sobriety test and failed. He was charged and released and is due back in court Thursday.
Scott joined the organization in December after spending 17 seasons with the Red Sox.
While he was initially hired to be the senior vice president and assistant general manager, he was promoted to acting general manager after the team fired first-year general manager Jared Porter in January for sending multiple explicit and unsolicited images to a female reporter in 2016.
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Jon Moxley Promises ‘Egregious, Felonious Assault’ in Hard-Hitting Showdown With Satoshi Kojima
Jon Moxley is ready for a hard-hitting showdown with one of Japan’s best.
SI.com’s Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath-the-surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Jon Moxley ready for matchup with one of Japan’s best at All Out
The wrestling world is about to receive a lesson in stardom.
Though Satoshi Kojima humbly claimed on Twitter last week that he is not famous to wrestling fans around the world, that statement is the furthest thing from the truth—and Kojima’s star power will be on full display this Sunday when he wrestles Jon Moxley at All Out.
“Kojima is an icon; he’s someone that is decorated as f---,” Moxley says. “AEW has a very educated fan base, but I’m guessing there are still some people that haven’t heard of Kojima or understand what he’s done. He was IWGP and All Japan Triple Crown champion. Kojima is a legit legend.”
New Japan has reached newer audiences over the past decade with the rise of Kazuchika Okada, Bullet Club and Kenny Omega, so perhaps wrestling faithful need only a brief introduction to the two-time IWGP and All Japan Triple Crown champion. The history of New Japan simply cannot be properly written without paying homage to the masterful body of work that Kojima has created throughout his 30-year career.
“The system is different in Japan,” Moxley says. “When guys get older in Japan, they slowly get phased down the card. They can still go in the ring, but their role becomes to reach younger guys. That’s different from WWE, where the old guys are often the main event. That’s not how it works in Japan, but when the veterans are called upon, they can still go hard and kick ass.
“It ain’t no f---ing secret Kojima can still go. The fighting spirit is indelibly etched into Kojima’s brain. We have the greatest fans in the world, and it’s a treat for the fans of Chicago to see this man live and in-person.”
There is no title on the line in the Moxley-Kojima encounter, and none is needed. This is a magnificent encounter of a former WWE star—one who opted to leave the company to pursue his career dreams—against a New Japan star. It takes place in an AEW ring on pay-per-view, called by Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone, on a card that also features CM Punk, Omega, Britt Baker, Paul Wight (The Big Show), Christian Cage, Kris Statlander, Penta and Fénix, the Young Bucks, and the legendary Chris Jericho. In case that wasn’t enough, Sting will be in Darby Allin’s corner as he takes on Punk. It is a celebration of riches, taking the wrestling industry by storm, and the addition of Kojima in a hard-hitting, foot-to-the-gas-pedal trainwreck against Moxley is going to add an entirely different dimension to the show.
“There are no question marks in this match,” Moxley says. “If you know me or Kojima, you know what you’re going to get. This is a fight that isn’t going to get out of the opening round.”
For Moxley and Kojima, their match at All Out is a celebration of the power of pro wrestling. It will also be a love letter to the fighting spirit written in blood, as two ring warriors violently showcase a lifetime commitment to the art.
“Kojima is here to be celebrated,” Moxley says. “With that being said, I’m still planning on committing egregious, felonious assault and trying to end his career, and he’d be insulted if I felt any other way. It’s an honor to share the ring with him, and I can’t wait to throw with him.
“He still has gas left in the tank, and there’s still something he wants to prove. He’ll be staring across from the baddest motherf---er in the business. I don’t expect it to be long, I don’t expect it to be pretty. It’s going to be violent, and I can’t wait to get in there with him.”
The (online) week in wrestling
- Another highlight of the past week was the NWA’s EmPowerrr pay-per-view. Run by Mickie James, the all-women’s show had high expectations, and then managed to exceed every one of them. Tootie Lynn particularly stood out, as did Leyla Hirsch, Red Velvet and Chelsea Green.
- The Damian Priest–Sheamus–Drew McIntyre triple-threat, which led to a significant victory for Priest, was an outstanding part of Raw.
- Charlotte Flair and Nia Jax had a flare-up during their match on Raw. This falls into the “worked shoot” category of pro wrestling, and it just may help ignite some fire in the program between the two.
- The Lucha Brothers and Jurassic Express were outstanding in their Rampage match, and the upcoming Penta/Fénix–Young Bucks cage match at All Out has every ingredient needed to become an instant classic.
- JD Drake and Daniel Garcia put on a wrestling clinic this weekend at a Limitless Wrestling show, again highlighting the importance and significance of indie wrestling.
- Johnny Gargano again showed his brilliance during his match this week against LA Knight. If used correctly, Gargano—who is dripping with charisma and wrestling ability—could be the face of Raw.
Roman Reigns shines against John Cena at SummerSlam, now primed to do it again in program with Brock Lesnar
A very unusual situation occurred at WWE’s SummerSlam.
John Cena returned to the company, breathing new life into the product and serving as a top-tier opponent for the current face of the industry, Roman Reigns. And that was Cena’s role for SummerSlam: he was the opponent. There was no doubt that Cena was also an attraction; that was clear from the interest he generated in WWE. But Reigns occupied the same ground Cena did for a very long time at an elite level.
That same cycle is set to repeat itself in Reigns’s next program, which is with Brock Lesnar. That is because Reigns has been positioned as an attraction, and that is a presentation over the past year that has never strayed from its message. Reigns has been unbeatable during this stretch, with the story building toward an improbable defeat when someone finally pins him or makes him tap. The positioning is similar to The Undertaker’s vaunted WrestleMania winning streak—the longer this extends, the more meaningful it will be when he is finally defeated.
The story is also an outlier in today’s WWE landscape. WWE’s creative team continues to struggle to tell long-term stories, yet that is never the case with Reigns. Whether his opponent is Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Edge, Cesaro or Daniel Bryan, or even infighting among The Bloodline, his segments are constantly compelling. This is WWE’s only piece of must-see content on a weekly basis, and there are multiple factors at play for its success.
Reigns’s ensemble of Paul Heyman and The Usos complements him perfectly, and they are critical to the depth of the story. Sports Illustrated has confirmed that Reigns and Heyman have considerable input and influence in their short-term and long-term story lines, a right reserved exclusively for only a few talents in WWE. This is a key ingredient in allowing Reigns to keep on track in his weekly narrative. Unlike so many other stories on SmackDown and Raw, which have a tendency to move too rapidly, make no sense or abruptly change direction, Reigns is consistent every week with the long-term plan to present him as a star.
Reigns’s star aura has been protected for the past 52 weeks, and the results are an overwhelming positive for WWE. He also benefits from the respect of his peers, which was visible in the program with Cena. The moment Cena confronted Reigns at Money in the Bank was acknowledgment that Reigns is the biggest star in WWE, and that is exactly why Cena interrupted Reigns instead of anyone else. Cena made the match at SummerSlam a showcase for Reigns, which is an immense sign of respect from Cena and a credit to him. Because of that, Reigns came out of SummerSlam carrying even more star power, with the upcoming Lesnar program now designed to raise his stock even higher.
Personally, I didn’t feel as though Lesnar was needed at SummerSlam. That closing moment of the show should have been all about Reigns, with WWE’s top-notch production team zooming in on a look of pure intensity as the show went off the air with a defeated Cena slumped behind him on the mat. But with Lesnar coming back for the upcoming Saudi Arabia show this fall, the timing made sense to also use him as a major surprise at SummerSlam. Again, I would have preferred to wait until January at the Royal Rumble, though I understand why it happened the way it unfolded.
Reigns meets Finn Bálor this Friday on SmackDown. This should be the best presentation of Bálor on the main roster in years. Given the potential between Reigns and Bálor, all signs indicate this program running into the next pay-per-view Sept. 26 at Extreme Rules—where, no doubt, Reigns will continue to elevate his place as the top attraction in the industry.
Tweet of the Week
How cool is it to see Sasha Banks tweeting about EmPowerrr?
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
Justin Barrasso September 02, 2021 at 01:03AMReport: John Smoltz, Al Leiter to Leave MLB Network Studios After COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal
John Smoltz and Al Leiter will now appear on MLB Network remotely after the network instituted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
Former All-Star pitchers John Smoltz and Al Leiter will end their in-studio work with MLB Network after refusing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the New York Post's Andrew Marchand.
MLB Network began to implement a vaccine mandate for all employees Tuesday, per Marchand. Smoltz and Leiter will continue to work for MLB Network through the 2021 postseason, but will work remotely. Smoltz is reportedly still slated to call a Division Series game for MLB Network on site in October.
Smoltz has been Fox's lead baseball analyst since 2016, joining Joe Buck in the booth for the network's World Series broadcasts. He retired in 2009 after 21 MLB seasons—a career that included eight All-Star appearances, one Cy Young award and one World Series.
Leiter currently works as an adviser for the Mets in addition to his role with MLB Network. He won two World Series and tallied two All-Star appearances from 1987 to 2005.
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Nickelodeon Broadcast to Return for NFL Wild-Card Weekend
Last year was the first time there was a Nickelodeon broadcast for NFL wild-card weekend and it will make its return this season.
There will be an NFL wild-card playoff game simulcasted on Nickelodeon this season, CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus told reporters Wednesday.
Last postseason Nickelodeon broadcasted its first NFL wild-card game when the Saints defeated the Bears and it looked significantly different from your typical NFL broadcast.
The commentary, graphics and everything in between were geared toward kids — including the Slime Zone when a player scored a touchdown. The game's typical nuances and game speech were replaced with simple commentary that while spoke about the game also explained how football worked.
Last year's broadcast even included appearances from beloved cartoon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks, among others. It was clearly popular enough with both children and adults to warrant its return and sure enough, the Slime Zone will be back this wild-card weekend.
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Joseph Salvador September 01, 2021 at 11:58PMCollege Football Week 1 Best Bets: Composite Betting System Picks Favorites & Dogs
Math is your friend so that's why we're teaming up with it to break the college football betting landscape with a new composite ratings system
I'll level with y'all—I went to journalism school, so I didn't have to do math. I'd never been a particularly strong student where numbers are concerned, so besides the lifelong love of sports and the wish to tell stories, the medium appealed to me because I didn't have to do too much with numbers. And yet, here I sit six years removed from college screwing around with averages and standard deviations and Vlookup tables. Maybe Mrs. Seymour was right after all.
Josh Morgan-USA TODAY NETWORK
The fine folks at Sports Illustrated entrusted me to take a swing at spread picks for every college football game this year. Time will tell if that’s a good decision or not, but let’s have some fun until they wise up. I’m definitely not smart enough to predict every game, but I’m willing to bet (gambling term) that some of the strongest predictive computer models out there are. Using a few, I’ve created a composite power rating to generate my own spreads and see where Vegas’ bias reside.
The secret sauce is simple: Average the ratings from multiple rating systems to get every team's number against the "average" college football team. If Alabama's rating is 10, then they're 10 points better than the average football team. If UConn is -10, they're 10 points worse than the average team and 20 points worse than Alabama. Put 'em on the same field, and the computer says Alabama is a 20-point favorite over the Huskies. So, the composite score listed below for each matchup is the difference between each team.
Watch NCAA football games online all season long with fuboTV: Start with a 7-day free trial!
What follows is simply what the spreadsheet spits out for FBS vs. FBS games. There's no home-field advantage baked in because I don't think home field should be the deciding vote to swing a pick one way or another. And obviously, the spreadsheet doesn't know if the starting quarterback tears his ACL on Wednesday.
I have opinions that often vary from what the numbers say, and that's the human element to making picks. I use this as a base to make my picks, but I've never tested how good the composite is overall, so … here goes.
Season Record
Last Week: 1-3, 25%
Season: 1-3, 25%
Composite Best Bets
DOWNLOAD: PDF or VIEW AS WEBPAGE
Most of the time, the computer spits out something within one or two points of the real line—and at that point, sharp plays and whale plays are what's moving the line anyway. But if the computer gives something three points or more off of the line, it's worth a second look. Here are those plays from this week.
Favorites
-Marshall (-2.5) over Navy
-USC (-14) over San Jose State
Dogs
-Temple (+14) over Rutgers
-Minnesota (+14) over Ohio State
-Oregon State (+7) over Purdue
-Louisville (+11) over Ole Miss
The Big Dogs
-Bowling Green (+35.5) over Tennessee
-ULM (+31) over Kentucky
-Tulane (+31.5) over Oklahoma
-Miami [OH] (+22.5) over Cincinnati
-Miami [FL] (+19.5) over Alabama
-Central Michigan (+14.5) over Missouri
-Akron (+37) over Auburn
-FAU (+23.5) over Florida
-UMass (+38) over Pitt
More from SI Betting:
• Passing Yards Player Prop Betting Projections
• Rushing Yards Player Prop Betting Projections
• Receiving Yards Player Prop Betting Projections
• 2021 Highest-Scoring NFL Team by the Odds: Top-Five Best Bets
• 2022 College Football Playoff Championship Futures Breakdown & Odds
Sports Illustrated may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.
Richard Johnson September 01, 2021 at 11:46PMGauff-Stephens U.S. Open Matchup Another Sign of the Williams Legacy
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https://ift.tt/2YhujdT New York Times BY ANDREW KEH
