👋 Good morning! Happy Hump Day.
In today's edition: MLB power rankings (and team MVPs), Kawhi saga deepens, NFL power rankings, cliff diving in photos, 66-year-old freshman, Tatis robs another one, and more.
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🏀 The field is set: Seattle clinched the final WNBA playoff spot in their final regular season game. They'll join Minnesota, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Phoenix, New York, Golden State and Indiana in the eight-team field.
⚽️ USA 2, Japan 0: The USMNT got a much-needed win thanks to goals from Alejandro Zendejas and Folarin Balogun, the 16th and 17 different players to score for the U.S. in 18 games under Mauricio Pochettino.
⚾️ Milestone home runs: Kyle Schwarber joined Ryan Howard as the only Phillies to mash 50 HR in a season; Aaron Judge (359 HR) passed Yogi Berra for fifth-most as a Yankee. Three more and he'll pass Joe DiMaggio for fourth.
🏈 New Denver stadium: The Broncos plan to build a new privately funded stadium in historic Burnham Yard, with plans to open in 2031. The team currently plays at Empower Field at Mile High (2001-present), which replaced Mile High Stadium (1960 to 2000).
🏀 Bulls extend Giddey: Josh Giddey signed a four-year, $100 million extension to stay in Chicago, where he averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in 30.2 minutes per game last season.
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MLB POWER RANKINGS & MVPs
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Standings entering play on Tuesday. (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports) |
The Brewers, Phillies, Blue Jays, Yankees and Dodgers sit atop our final power rankings of the regular season, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Jordan Shusterman.
Team MVPs: Who has been the best player on each team?
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Brewers: Freddy Peralta (RHP) 16-5, 2.50 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 176:61 K:BB, 5.4 WAR
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Phillies: Trea Turner (SS) .815 OPS, 15 HR, 69 RBI, 94 R, 36 SB, 5.4 WAR
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Blue Jays: George Springer (RF) .943, 28 HR, 73 RBI, 93 R, 16 SB, 3.9 WAR
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Yankees: Aaron Judge (RF) 1.103 OPS, 44 HR, 98 RBI, 115 R, 11 SB, 7.6 WAR
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Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (DH/RHP) 1.001 OPS, 48 HR, 91 RBI, 129 R, 3.75 ERA, 6.4 WAR
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Tigers: Tarik Skubal (LHP) 13-4, 2.10 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 222:28 K:BB, 6.7 WAR
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Cubs: Pete Crow-Armstrong (CF) .786 OPS, 28 HR, 87 RBI, 85 R, 34 SB, 6.4 WAR
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Padres: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF) .794 OPS, 20 HR, 62 RBI, 96 R, 29 SB, 5.4 WAR
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Astros: Hunter Brown (RHP) 11-7, 2.25 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 190:52 K:BB, 5.7 WAR
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Red Sox: Garrett Crochet (LHP) … 15-5, 2.57 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 228:42 K:BB, 5.5 WAR
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Mets: Juan Soto (RF) .921 OPS, 38 HR, 93 RBI, 109 R, 30 SB, 5.8 WAR
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Mariners: Cal Raleigh (C) .923 OPS, 53 HR, 113 RBI, 95 R, 14 SB, 5.7 WAR
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Rangers: Jacob deGrom (RHP) 11-7, 2.78 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 169:35 K:BB, 3.0 WAR
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Giants: Logan Webb (RHP) 14-9, 3.12 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 201:41 K:BB, 3.6 WAR
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Reds: Hunter Greene (RHP) 6-4, 2.59 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 113:19 K:BB, 3.8 WAR
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Royals: Bobby Witt Jr (SS) .852 OPS, 21 HR, 77 RBI, 90 R, 34 SB, 6.0 WAR
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Guardians: José Ramírez (3B) .870 OPS, 28 HR, 76 RBI, 91 R, 37 SB, 5.2 WAR
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Diamondbacks: Geraldo Perdomo (SS) .824 OPS, 17 HR, 91 RBI, 89 R, 24 SB, 5.7 WAR
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Cardinals: Willson Contreras (1B) .786 OPS, 20 HR, 78 RBI, 67 R, 4 SB, 2.4 WAR
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Rays: Junior Caminero (3B) .836 OPS, 41 HR, 103 RBI, 86 R, 7 SB, 3.8 WAR
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Orioles: Trevor Rogers (LHP) 8-2, 1.51 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 87:20 K:BB, 5.2 WAR
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Braves: Matt Olson (1B) .828 OPS, 23 HR, 80 RBI, 82 R, 1 SB, 5.1 WAR
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Athletics: Nick Kurtz (1B) 1.015 OPS, 29 HR, 73 RBI, 76 R, 2 SB, 4.8 WAR
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Angels: Zach Neto (SS) .790 OPS, 25 HR, 60 RBI, 81 R, 25 SB, 4.8 WAR
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Twins: Byron Buxton (CF) .897 OPS, 30 HR, 74 RBI, 85 R, 22 SB, 4.9 WAR
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Pirates: Paul Skenes (RHP) 10-9, 1.98 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 195:39 K:BB, 7.0 WAR
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Marlins: Kyle Stowers (LF) .912 OPS, 25 HR, 73 RBI, 61 R, 5 SB, 3.6 WAR
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Nationals: James Wood (LF) .830 OPS, 27 HR, 88 RBI, 79 R, 15 SB, 3.6 WAR
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White Sox: Colson Montgomery (SS) .846 OPS, 18 HR, 47 RBI, 36 R, 2.7 WAR
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Rockies: Hunter Goodman (C) .867 OPS, 30 HR, 87 RBI, 68 R, 1 SB, 3.3 WAR
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Leonard during the Raptors victory parade in 2019. (Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) |
As the NBA begins its investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the salary cap by setting up a lucrative "no-show" endorsement deal for Kawhi Leonard, a new report claims Leonard's camp sought a similar deal from the Raptors.
The backdrop: Leonard was on top of the basketball world during the summer of 2019. He'd just led Toronto to its first NBA title and was entering unrestricted free agency in his prime. The race for his services came down to three teams: the incumbent Raptors, the Lakers and the Clippers, who ultimately landed him.
The latest: Leonard, through his uncle Dennis Robertson, made requests to the Raptors that summer that "line up almost perfectly" with the deal he allegedly received from Aspiration, the now-bankrupt former Clippers sponsor at the center of the controversy. That's according to a new report from Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star.
Here's Arthur:
Robertson's list was long, and absurd. … Two details stand out, in retrospect. One, Robertson asked for ownership stakes in outside companies … And two, the Raptors were told they needed to match at least $10 million per year in extra sponsorship income. Teams are allowed to introduce players to team sponsors; teams cannot negotiate deals, and [Raptors ownership] was aware of that fact.
But it didn't end there. As one source put it, when told about all the corporate sponsors in Toronto who would be happy to have Leonard as a pitchman, his camp said, "We don't want to do anything." Raptors representatives said any sponsor would want to shoot ads or arrange appearances; Robertson reiterated Leonard didn't want to do anything for the money.
That's when the Raptors realized Leonard wasn't asking to be introduced to Toronto's lucrative corporate community; they were being asked to arrange no-show jobs, and arrange no-investment investments. [Ownership] rejected both proposals.
Read the full story.
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WEEK 2 NFL POWER RANKINGS |
(Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports) |
The Eagles remain atop this week's NFL power rankings, courtesy of Yahoo Sports' Frank Schwab, with the Bills (previously No. 5) and Packers (previously No. 6) slotting in right behind them. |
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Biggest risers: Chargers (up 5), Colts (up 5), Raiders (up 5), Steelers (up 4), Packers (up 3), Bills (up 3)
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Biggest fallers: Patriots (down 5), Bears (down 5), Seahawks (down 5), Dolphins (down 4), Chiefs (down 3)
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(Romina Amato/Red Bull via Getty Images) |
(Romina Amato/Red Bull via Getty Images) |
This competition took place at the Old Bridge in the city of Mostar, named for the bridge keepers ("mostari") who guarded it during the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. The first two stops were in the Philippines (April) and Italy (June), with the finale coming next week in Boston. |
(Dean Treml/Red Bull via Getty Images) |
How it works: 12 men and 12 women compete at each event, with the men diving off a 27-meter platform (88.5 feet) and the women diving from 21 meters (69 feet). They're in the air for about three seconds, reach speeds in excess of 50 mph and hit the water with 2-3x the force of gravity. |
(Dean Treml/Red Bull via Getty Images) |
Australia's Rhiannan Iffland, who's captured eight straight season-long titles and five straight high diving world championships, won in Mostar to remain comfortably atop this year's standings. Romania's Constantin Popovici, the 2023 champion, won the men's event but sits in fourth place heading into next week's finale. |
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LSU'S 66-YEAR-OLD FRESHMAN |
Kent Broussard grew up not just as a fan of LSU football, but specifically of their marching band. Half a century later, the retired accountant is living out his dream as a member of the Tiger Band. |
- Broussard, who first saw the Tigers play at age nine back in 1968, made his marching band debut over the weekend at Tiger Stadium.
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The 66-year-old freshman, who's carrying a full-time course load this semester, is 41 years older than anyone else in the band.
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The last word: "It's that dream I've had for 30 years, to do this," said Broussard. "My slogan is: people retire, but dreams don't." |
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WATCHLIST: WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10 |
Luka is coming off a 42-point outburst in Slovenia's win over Italy. (Christina Pahnke/Corbis via Getty Images) |
🏀 EuroBasket, Quarterfinals | DAZN
Four of the tournament's top 10 scorers take the court today as the last eight concludes. Lauri Markkanen (26 ppg) and Finland play Georgia in the first quarterfinal (10am ET), followed by red-hot Luka Dončić (34 ppg) and Slovenia vs. Germany's duo of Franz Wagner (20.7 ppg) and Dennis Schröder (20.2 ppg) in the second (2pm).
More to watch:
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⚾️ MLB: Tigers at Yankees (7pm, Prime) … Jack Flaherty (7-13, 4.85 ERA) vs. Carlos Rodón (16-7, 3.12 ERA).
- 🚴 Vuelta a España: Stage 17 (8:30am, Peacock) … Riders travel 89 miles from O Barco de Valdeorras to Ponferrada in northwest Spain.
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(Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) |
Kyle Schwarber (50 HR) has hit the second-most home runs by a Phillie in a single season, trailing only Ryan Howard (58). Howard, meanwhile, has hit the second-most career home runs as a Phillie, with 382.
Question: Who is the only Phillie with more career HR than Howard?
Answer at the bottom.
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(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) |
Fernando Tatis Jr. did it again, robbing yet another home run with a sensational leaping catch over the right-field wall in San Diego.
Wild stat: The Padres superstar has robbed four home runs in his last 27 games at Petco Park. Is that good? I feel like that's good.
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Trivia answer: Mike Schmidt (548 HR) |
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