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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 5

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – It was very hot this week in Boston. In fact, most of the nation was hot, humid and quite still. There were some thundershowers and there was a full moon, too, a Strawberry Moon. When there’s a full moon, people get weird. Strange things happen – usually bad things – the kind of things you regret when the moon sets and the sun rises.

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For the full moon of July 1, 2026 – it’ll be four parts regret and no parts forget. It was a bad day in Boston Celtics history. It wasn’t Strawberries & Cream, it was reverse Red (Auerbach) and Creamed. It was trading in your Rolex to a guy in an alley with a vest full of Patek Philippe knock-offs. It was trading in your Bentley Continental GT Convertible for a broken-down 2014 Ford Taurus, a car – up on blocks with no wheels.

This trade reminded you of that guy in your fantasy football league who trades Josh Allen for Mac Jones and Nick Folk, and he thinks he got the best of the deal. It was like turning down a romantic dinner-for-two in Vegas with Julia Roberts for a last row show ticket to see Weird Al Yankovic in Reno.

It was so bad, the Celtics might have to bring in Nico Harrison to blame for suggesting the trade heard ‘round the Commonwealth.

Trade?

No, it was more like a smash and grab.

In the deal, the 76ers received:

  • Jaylen Brown, second team All-NBA and No. 6 in the MVP voting

The Celtics took a door prize which included:

  • Paul George, 36 year old, drafted in 2010, but 9x NBA All-Star
  • 2028 first-round pick* with contingencies
  • 2031 first-round pick (via PHI)
  • 2028 second-round pick (best of GSW/OKC/MIL)
  • 2030 second-round pick (best of WAS/POR/PHX)

Add-ons, the Celtics get:

  • Two tickets to see “No, No Nanette” at The Wilbur
  • A box of Mike’s Pastries from the North End
  • Two tickets to NBA Cup finale at Hinkle Fieldhouse
  • $25 gift card for WaWa
  • $50 coupon good for Cheesesteaks at Jim’s (South Street)

As of the 4th of July, speculation was that Celtics GM Brad Stevens had a “Plan B” in his back pocket, some other move to be made to make sense of the nonsensical deal to ship Brown down the Schuylkill River. The transactions for the start of the 2026-27 season can’t be announced until July 6 at Noon when teams can officially sign contracts under the guise of the 2026-27 Team Salary rules.

Thoughts, please? Any ideas? We’re all ears.

It wasn’t as much as realizing the Celtics dealt Brown, it was the fact they took so little in return.

Maybe it’s retribution by the Sixers to make up for the ill-fated 2017 swap of draft picks that the club used to draft Markelle Fultz at No. 1 while Danny Ainge, GM of the Celtics, got his man – Jayson Tatum – at No. 3, anyway.

Are the Sixers righting the wrong of the 1968 and 1981 Playoffs when the Celtics came back from 3-to-1 game deficits to win a pair of important playoff series vs. Philly?

No.

This is the cold, new reality of the ultimate in salary dumps, the dark backbone of the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement which drives the league’s entire set of basketball-related operations.

Brown was on the Celtics’ books for three more seasons at some $185 million, and the club was bound to extend him one more year come July 27. Paul George has two years at $114.3m (approx. $54 and $56m). By doing the deal, it saved the Celtics $71m plus another $142m over two additional years that the extension would provide. Now, the Sixers will need to negotiate that extension. At the end of the fray, that’s $213m the Celtics will keep in their coffers, or utilize to sign other free agents.

Yes, in the end, it’s all about the math and money, not the players. It’s the (possible) move backwards before (potentially) moving forward. Pay them now, or pay them later? Brad Stevens is at the poker table called the “Summer of ‘26.”

Note: Celtics’ President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the team’s Lead club Owner and Governor Bill Chisholm will meet the media on Monday, July 6 at 4:00pm (EDT).

This season, there’s no 4th of July “invitation only” cookout and meet & greets for teams to line up at the East Hampton (LI) digs of a Kevin Durant. There was no long line outside of LeBron James’ door, not any “The Decision” TV specials.

The Boston vs Miami for a trade for the services of Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo was the highlight of the off-season. Whatever James decided to do will be a great story for the one city/team he chooses. Most of the NBA will shrug at the news, wishing him well and awaiting the release of the 2026-27 NBA schedule to circle the date for a rocking chair presentation, a la Dr. J (Julius Erving) and Kareem (Abdul-Jabbar).

For James, who is being courted by Golden state, Cleveland and, now, Philly, I’ll put my money on Cleveland being the final destination, as he’ll look to come full circle and have a legitimate chance to compete with a contender for the 2027 NBA title. No other city really makes sense for LeBron’s swan-song departure from the NBA at this point in time. If Philly steps up, gets James at a veteran’s minimum or some other salary cap exception, it’ll raise eyebrows in New York, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, a.k.a. “The Teams to Beat.”.

One thing is for sure. James will retire from active NBA play as one of the all-time greats, to be compared to Michael Jordan or Elgin Baylor or Oscar Robertson, or even to the greats of the 80s – Dr. J, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, or even to the great centers like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar.

If James can carry a team to the 2027 NBA Finals and earn another title, he might be placed on top of that glorious list.

An A.I. Dream Team, sans David Robinson, Chris Mullin and Christian Laettner

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: There’s a great series of features of the “The USA’s Top Ten Sports Moments) (over 250 years) and it’s been posted on Substack at a pace of “one a day” leading up the the 4th by author Adam Steinmetz.

One peek is a quote about Larry Bird’s participation for the USA in Portland, Monte Carlo and Barcelona: “Larry was the ultimate teammate. He affected the game just by being in the huddle, and it was very obvious. They didn’t need any rah-rah, but his presence was very noticeable.”

One of the very best editions of the Top Ten is the 4th of July entry about the great Lou Gehrig. Says Steinmetz, “Four score and seven years ago, on this exact date in 1939, a great American delivered one of the most famous speeches in the 250-year history of the United States. His opening line reverberated beyond baseball. His speech echoed beyond sports.

“Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” – Gehrig

Born Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig in 1903, Gehrig, along with Babe Ruth, became one of the greatest baseball players (and athletes) the game had ever seen. So sadly on May 2, 1939, Gehrig took himself out of the New York Yankees’ line-up and ended a record 2,130 consecutive games played streak (it was since passed by Cal Ripken – 2,632). Gehrig was later diagnosed with the fatal Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (known to most as Lou Gehrig’s disease). Lou Gehrig passed away on June 2, 1941 at the age of 37.

ESPN has done a marvelous job at Wimbledon, thanks to John McEnroe (ESPN)

ESPN COVERAGE OF WIMBLEDON: Serena Williams’ first round loss to Maya Joint averaged 1.8 million viewers on ESPN Tuesday afternoon, helping the network to an average of 937,000 for the full day of coverage — up 55% from last year. It was the network’s most-watched opening round Wimbledon telecast on record. The full opening round, which included Monday’s play, was the most-watched openers on record with an average of 734,000 fans tuning into ESPN’s coverage from England. The last time Williams played in any Grand Slam tournament prior to this year was at the U.S. Open in 2022.

ESPN’s decision to have John McEnroe in the broadcast bunker/booth is the key to the men’s bracket coverage and the anchor to the entire production. Maybe ESPN suits should consider McEnroe as a pairing with Mike Breen (and Jay Bilas) for NBA coverage?

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: The Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) announced the closing of a $100 million Series E financing round led by Ares and Joe Tsai, representing the largest capital raise in the history of professional lacrosse. According to a news release issued by the PLL, the round included a subsequent minority equity investment from ESPN, along with investments from actor, writer and producer Glen Powell, Co-chairman of Wrexham A.F.C, actor and producer Rob Mac (formerly McElhenney), country music singer and songwriter Warren Zeiders, and actor Tony Cavalero. As part of the financing, Co-Head of Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment, Jim Miller, will join the PLL’s Board of Directors.

FIBA U-17 BASKETBALL WORLDS: Although overshadowed by the FIFA World Cup tournament, FIBA is staging its World Cup for Under-17 years old Men in Istanbul. The USA defeated Australia, 114-65, to advance to the gold medal game. In the quarter Final game, Türkiye’s Omer Kutluay poured in 30 points to go with 11 assists and two rebounds in a 94-87 win over France to reach the Semi-Finals. Kutluay, son of former NBAer Abrahim (Seattle Sonics), did not commit a single turnover despite being the focal point of France’s aggressive defense. Omer Kutluay was previously signed by Real Madrid to play for their junior level club. With his U-17 age, he is prime material to be signed by a USA college program. … Serbia defeated Türkiye, 76-71, to advance to the final vs. USA (Sunday, 13:15, local).

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: Why? We do not know.

  • What ever happened to white wall tires?
  • The two squirrels that live in the trees by our home are nuts. They run around like crazy animals, chasing each other for no reason – Squirrel ZOOMIES!
  • Our dog(s) do not bark, nor care about squirrels. They prefer to bark at other dogs and people.
  • You knew Canada’s World Cup hopes were limited when there was no player named Guy Lafleur on the roster.
  • How can the PGA Tour completely re-do their schedule and not place a tournament at TPC Boston (like the good olde days of the DeutschBank Championship (DBC), Northern Trust and the FedEx Cup Playoffs)?
  • When we toast bread, it’s just “Toast.” But, if we’re talking about bagels, it’s a “toasted bagel,” and not Toast.” … Which brings this post about “Toast” to its key point. Why, when something is done, over, useless, defeated, is it “Toast?”
  • Why doesn’t FIFA lay down a red line and two blue lines for Offsides?
  • Why don’t MLB teams have a top of the 4th inning stretch well ahead of the traditional 7th inning stretch? Everyone definitely needs a stretch before the middle of the 7th.
  • Many of us aspire to compete on Jeopardy! – the great American television game show that tests knowledge in broad areas of concern. Now get this: FOX television is now proudly promoting the Nation’s Dumbest, a new reality competition show. The goal of contestants on the show is to lose. Figures.

PARTING WORDS & MUSIC: And, you ‘all thought I’d go with “Saturday in the Park” by Chicago. The answer is – No.

  • Since I attended two Goose concerts this week, did I see Goose or Geese?
  • In case you didn’t know, Goose and Tedeschi Trucks Band are the two best and most talented bands touring this summer.

Gray Gets the Job Done for Sox

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ANAHEIM – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Sonny Gray allowed a run and four hits in six innings and Willson Contreras and Romy Gonzalez hit home runs as the Red Sox routed the Los Angeles Angels 8-1 on Saturday night in California.

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Wilyer Abreu added two RBIs and scored two runs for the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the series.

Josh Lowe homered for the Angels, who lost their fifth in a row.

Gray (10-1, 2.61 ERA) walked two and struck out seven. Neither he nor Contreras (19 HR, 56 RBI, .285 batting average, .914 OPS) were among the All-Star Game participants announced earlier in the day.

Los Angeles starter Sam Aldegheri (3-4) gave up three runs and one hit in four innings with four walks and two strikeouts.

Contreras’ three-run homer in the first inning gave Boston a 3-0 lead.

He belted Aldegheri’s 2-1 changeup an estimated 421 feet into the left field stands. Anthony Seigler and Abreu, who had both walked, scored ahead of Contreras.

Lowe’s solo homer in the second put the Angels on the board and made it 3-1. He drove Gray’s first-pitch cutter high over the center field fence an estimated 437 feet. It was Lowe’s seventh homer of the season.

Los Angeles had runners on first and second with one out later in the inning, but Gray struck out Donovan Walton and Tyler Heineman.

Boston put the game out of reach with four runs in the fifth for a 7-1 lead. Abreu hit a two-run double and Gonzalez lofted a two-run homer just inside the foul pole in left for his first home run.

All four runs came off of reliever Samy Natera Jr.

Ceddanne Rafaela doubled in a run in the eighth for the final margin.

Relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman and starter Ranger Suarez were selected for the All-Star Game for Boston and Los Angeles outfielder Mike Trout, who is on the injured list with a hamstring injury, was picked as a starter for the game in Philadelphia on July 14.

–Field Level Media

Dow the Stretch at John Deere

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SILVIS – Lucas Glover (T1/-16), the 18-and 36-hole leader/co-leader, carded a 2-under (69), highlighted by an eagle on No. 2. He holds 54-hole lead/co-lead for fifth time on TOUR (most recent: 2023 FedEx St. Jude Championship/Won) and is 2-for-4 in converting 54-hole lead/co-lead into victory.

Glover leads the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (10.254) and Strokes Gained: Approach The Green (8.840).

Lee Hodges (T1/-16) recorded six birdies against two bogeys on Nos. 6 and 8 en route to third-round (67). He holds 54-hole lead/co-lead for third time on TOUR (2022 American Express/finished T3, 2023 3M Open/Won) and is 1-for-2 in converting to victory. Hodges ranks No. 1 in Strokes Gained: Putting (8.598).

The 54-hole leader(s)/co-leader(s) has gone on to win 10 of 25 individual stroke-play events on TOUR this season

John Deere Classic | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

T1 Lucas Glover 63 65 69 197 (-16)

T1 Lee Hodges 64 66 67 197 (-16)

T3 Ben Kohles 65 67 66 198 (-15)

T3 Jackson Suber 68 64 66 198 (-15)

T3 Zac Blair 63 68 67 198 (-15)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

The John Deere Classic | Tournament Facts

COURSE: TPC Deere Run, Silvis, IL

YARDS/PAR: 7,327 yards/Par 71

ARCHITECTS: D.A. Weibring and Chris Gray

PRIZE Money – Purse/Winner’s Share: $8,800,000/$1,584,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Brian Campbell

OVERVIEW: (PGATourCom)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @JDCLASSIC @JohnDeere

The NEXT Best Player in Baseball

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief

BOSTON – He’s the only player in the Majors with 20+ home runs and 10+ stolen bases. He ranks first in runs scored, and first in the National League in base-on-balls drawn. He’s first among NL outfielders in extra base hits which ranks second in the entire NL. He’s tops amongst NL outfielders in home runs, and tied for third amongst the National League home run leaders (Matt Olson). The stats and the rankings continue right through On Base Percentage, total bases, OPS (On base + Slugging).

James Wood is the best player no one has heard much about.

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He made the NL All-Star team, he robs opponents of home runs with his 6-foot-6 frame and lengthy reach. He’s even hit an inside-the-park Grand Slam (May 19 vs. New York Mets).

Wood was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the second round of the 2021 amateur draft but later traded to Washington as part of a massive deal that sent Juan Soto to Southern California. Wood’s Nationals teammate in shortstop C.J. Abrams was part of the same deal and they’re both destined for many an All-Star Game appearance.

Wood is 23 years old. Abrams is 25.

On Monday night, just as the folks at Fenway Park were settling in for a gorgeous summer night, Wood stepped up to face Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez – left handed batter vs. left handed pitcher. The second pitch of the game landed 441 feet away from home plate. Gone.

That is the power of Washington’s young lead-off hitter. It was his ninth lead-off homer of his career and the sixth of the 2026 season. The blast was his 61st major league home run, 31 in 2025 and 21 this season (and counting).

Wood played in 157 of 162 regular season games in 2025. As of Monday, he played in every single one of Washington’s 86 games, reaching base safely in 34 of his last 42 games. His No. 1 ranking in runs scored means he’s crossed the plate 73 times and it’s not even the 4th of July.

To say Wood is the best player in baseball is a tough statement to make, considering the Ohtani, Judge, Schwarber trifecta, and a host of other talented veteran players. But to say he’s the best young, 23-year old player in baseball might be the way to go.

Wood grew up in Richmond, Virginia, the son of a talented University of Richmond basketball star in his father, Kenny. Wood’s 6-foot-8 uncle, Howard, grew up in East Hampton, Long Island and went on to play basketball for the University of Tennessee and then with the NBA’s Utah Jazz but played only 48 games as a pro. Suffice to say, the athleticism is there and the 6-foot-6 frame provides the younger Wood with some serious base-running, defense and torque producing swings which can send baseballs into space.

After zipping through the minors, Wood is now in his third season in the big leagues.

He’ll surely be representing the Nationals when the All-Star Game celebrates America’s 250th in Philadelphia in mid-July.

His next goal will be to play Major League Baseball in October. But, with Boston shelling Nationals starter Miles Mikolas in the first inning Monday night, then adding insurance in the second and third frames, Woods’ Nats are playing only .500 ball (43-43). Mikolas pitched seven innings, allowed nine hits, six earned runs, and two home runs in defeat.

Boston’s starter, Ranger Suarez, pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three runs, including the solo, lead-off HR to Woods.

The victory, a 6-3 breeze, was Boston’s fifth straight, their sixth of seven and eighth of the last 11 games.

The two clubs will play two additional games Tuesday and Wednesday before the Red Sox take an off day to fly to California to face the LA Angels.

The Nationals will enjoy an off day on July 2, then head home to play a nine game homestand surrounding the 4th of July festivities and concluding with the MLB All-Star break – July 13-16.

Sox: Craziest Game of the Season

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Red Sox SP Sonny Gray Lost No-hit Bid in the 8th Inning

By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief

BOSTON – On July 9, 1969, there was this ten-year old kid from New York who watched reserve outfielder Jimmy Qualls of the Chicago Cubs break-up a Tom Seaver potential perfect game with one out, opposite field blooper fly ball that landed on the Shea Stadium turf in the top of the ninth inning as New York Mets left-fielder Cleon Jones had no play on the ball. It fell in.

A couple years later, the 4th of July in 1972, and it was Seaver on the mound, once again, for the Mets. One out, top of the ninth and San Diego Padres scrub Leron Lee single up the middle to break up the no-hitter.

Can a life-long baseball man, now a reporter, get a break? Can the guy see a no hitter in person?

Fifty-five years later, Boston Red Sox starter Sonny Gray was cruising along, having just struck-out his ninth batter of the game as the New York Yankees batted in the top of the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Not a single soul of the 34,573 bipartisan crowd had left the building as the tension mounted.

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One out, and it was batter-up for Yankees designated hitter Amed Rosario who nervously stepped to the plate.

Guess what?

Base hit to left field and Gray’s no-hit bid was lost, just as Seaver had lost his. It was an inning earlier for Gray’s effort, as he went 7.1 innings, allowed just the one hit, no runs, one walk in the fifth inning (to spoil the potential perfect game), and nine punch-outs as he tossed 97 pitches with 64 strikes.

Of course, as the spell was broken and the obvious mental let-down set-in for Gray, his teammates and the hometown crowd provided a heartfelt standing ovation which accompanied Gray to the Sox dugout as reliever Tyron Guerrero took the ball from Boston manager Chad Tracy. Guerrero did the job by allowing a ground ball force out of Rosario at second base, then a fly ball – can of corn – to Sox centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela.

Boston went down in order in the bottom of the eighth and then the ridiculousness began.

Fenway’s outfield lights ‘a flashing saw Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman take the mound with a 2-0 lead. It was just a formality, as the Yankees were three outs away from a four game sweep by the last place Red Sox and showing no life whatsoever.

Nope, not so fast.

Yankees’ shortstop Jose Caballero, the No. 9 hitter in the order, singled to left, then stole second base.

Anthony Volpe, who had entered the game in the sixth inning when teammate Jazz Chisholm was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, walked – a sign of Chapman struggling at best – choking at worst.

New York first baseman Ben Rice flew out to right and the bottom fell out when Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu missed everyone and the cut-off man as each runner tagged to advance. The throw went astray and rolled all the way to the home plate backstop, allowing both Caballero and Volpe to score. Tie game, 2-2.

Could the Red Sox pull it off with a bottom of the ninth victory?

Although Willson Contreras singled to start the home ninth, newly activated designated hitter Romy Gonzalez grounded into a double play – 6-4-3 – to quash any hope of that ninth inning celebration.

The game went into extra innings, and the phantom runners came out.

Justin Slaten took the mound for Boston, and the game went from really bad to really worse for Boston. Slaten gave up a base hit to Rosario which eluded the glove of Abreu – a player truly having the worst game of the season for a Sox defender. The phantom runner (reserve Max Scheman) scored to put the Yankees ahead and that fact placed the pressure squarely on the Red Sox. A sacrifice bunt by NY’s Oswaldo Cabrera moved Rosario to third base, then a fielder’s choice grounder scored Rosario from third and the Sox trailed by two runs, 4-2.

Gray’s no hitter was not only squandered but the Yankees suddenly were in position to win the game. There was the home half-inning to be played.

Bottom of the tenth, trailing by two, Caleb Durbin took second base as his place with the phantom, extra innings MLB rule.

Crazy time in reverse was about to play out.

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It went down like this:

o A base hit by Anthony Siegler scored Durbin.

o A double by pinch hitter Masataka Yoshida moved pinch-runner Andruw Monasterio to third, as men on 2nd and 3rd set the scene.

o A sacrifice fly by No. 9 hitter Tsung-Che Cheng scored Monasterio (tie game) and advanced Yoshida to third base.

Outfielder Jarren Duran stepped up to the plate, having entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning (when he struck out).

The Yankees adjusted their defense to bring five infielders in to cut down any attempt Yoshida might have to score. But, Duran belted a line drive to right field which landed clearly on the outfield turf. Yoshida scored easily and Duran was mobbed by his teammates as he rounded first base with the walk-off RBI.

The Red Sox won, 5-4.

Boston earned its four-game sweep of the Yankees, won their fifth game of the last six they played and the seventh of 10 games since June 19. Only a couple botched games at Colorado on June 22 and 24 are the blemishes on a team that is still in the American league East cellar, but showing signs of life and potential, especially as the Sox starting pitchers continue to throw quality starts. (It was Gray’s sixth straight quality start and Boston’s 11th straight game with a quality game by a starter).

Sonny Gray did not get his no-hitter.

Justin Slaten earned the victory, his first of the season vs. four losses. He grabbed victory in place of the bitter defeat.

Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz took the loss, his third.

Jarren Duran took a postgame Gatorade bath from his celebratory teammates.

Aroldis Chapman blew the save but did get his 1,363rd career strikeout, tying Hoyt Wilhelm for the most K’s in relief in Major League Baseball history. Chapman will need to work on his game, as blowing saves seems to be a trend.

And, a writer who recalled a pair of Tom Seaver lost no hit bids, and saw another big league no-hitter go down the drain.

Nope … no hitters … no triple plays.

Time has been marching by. It’s now time for another 55 years worth.

Maybe not.

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 28

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of PGA Tour Brunch & Digital Sports Desk

CROMWELL (Conn) – After prepping at Hamden Hall Day School and playing the very best golf courses at every chance, Ben James decided to attend the University of Virginia to play golf. James grew up in Milford, Connecticut, developing his game at Great River Golf Club, where his grandfather, Donald James Sr., worked part-time after retirement and his father, Donald James Jr., played in his youth.

They might’ve dreamt of great things to come for Ben, but little did they know just how far those dreams would take their grandson/son.

James played four seasons at Virginia (2022-26), where he earned seven individual victories, tying Ben Kohles‘ school record for career wins and one of his victories included the 2024 Valero Texas Collegiate, which earned him an exemption for the 2025 Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR.

One outing and one experience after another, led James to the next level.

James became only the fifth collegiate golfer in history to earn four All-America First Team honors, following Gary Hallberg (1977-80 at Wake Forest University), Phil Mickelson (1989-92 at Arizona State University), David Duval (1990-93 at Georgia Tech), and Bryce Molder (1998-2001 at Georgia Tech).

James earned his PGA TOUR membership as the No. 1 player from the 2026 PGA TOUR University Ranking after those four amazing seasons four seasons in Charlottesville. Now, there’s no turning back.

Actually, this wonderful tournament at the TPC River Highlands, just south of Hartford, was James’ first rodeo. He made his PGA TOUR debut as a sponsor exemption at the 2022 Travelers Championship, playing in a field which also featured Chris Gotterup, Cole Hammer, and Michael Thorbjornsen as a few other sponsor exemptions. James was keeping good company, all along.

When James teed-off at the Travelers Championship on Thursday, he had $204,170 in winnings to his name and a 4-for-11 record in making the cut at his events on Tour. Home course advantage would help him get a good – but not great – start.

James’ bogey-free (64) on Friday placed him in a tie for 14th place amongst a crowded and star-studded leaderboard, but for a PGA Tour signature event, he’s in good shape for this weekend.

Maybe today, on Sunday, the hometown crowds from Milford to Cromwell, Connecticut will spur-on their proud Hamden Hall and Virginia Cavalier product to his best finish as a professional at the ripe age of 23..

a close up of a soccer ball on a field
Photo by My Profit Tutor on Unsplash

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: When the FIFA World Cup draw and then full schedule was announced long ago, every soccer fan in New England circled the Friday afternoon, June 26 match featuring Norway and France. Norway boasts the best player in the world in Erling Haaland and he was named as a substitute only hours before gametime. Both France and Norway had secured placed in the Knockout Round so the national team coaches decided to sit their best players for rest or to protect them from possible yellow card or red card suspensions. The ultimate in load management. … Fans had plunked down $2,500 per seat. Even at game time, after the announcement of load management, “get-in” upper deck seats were over $1,000.

It looks like boxing champ Oleksandr Usyk watched Michael Jordan’s “Last Dance” tv documentary. Usyk, the unified heavyweight champion, announced that he is vacating his WBA, IBF and WBC heavyweight titles, but he is not retiring. In a social media post, he wrote that he has one “Last Dance” before he bags it. The boxer is 39 years old and defeated a kick boxer in his last match (25-0, 16 KOs).

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Kenny Klein was an accomplished and respected member of the College Sports Information community, mostly for his four+ decades at the University of Louisville and recently for his second-career pitch-in to help former Louisville basketball coach, now head coach of St. John’s, being Rick Pitino. Klein answered Pitino’s call for added help in Queens and it was answered. WWYI did not know Klein, sadly never met him, but have been reading column after column of love and pride for the man who was the ultimate “behind the scenes” guy. Klein passed away at the young age of 66, suddenly gone after having a terrible incident while dining at a Louisville restaurant. May God Bless him and may we all offer condolences to his dear friends (he has so many) and family. … To get some real insight from someone who knew him very well for most of the 40+ years via a column by Louisville’s Eric Crawford, click HERE.

USA Today Photos

PINK: Yes, Pink did a great job hosting the TONYs, but the pink being discussed here points to the vast number of players wearing pink cleats at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It’s being driven by competing sportswear brands independently using color forecasting to maximize product visibility and broadcast impact. While many fans initially assumed the bright footwear was tied to a “breast cancer awareness campaign,” this summer, it’s strictly a commercial marketing ploy. Even Google dedicated its home page of June 26th to the Pretty in Pink trend.

As the preliminary round of the FIFA World Cup comes to its conclusion, the event has made major in-roads to the American-Mexican-Canadian sports societies hosting the event(s). A job well done by the organizers and venue chiefs, even as ridiculous amounts of price-gouging take place. Ticket prices are keeping many an average fan away, and thus, the sport of football/Futbol/Soccer sees little to no growth of the casual sports fan. A recent ticket offer to the France vs Norway game (little meaning as both teams had secured their place in the Knock-out round) came with a price tag of $2,500 per seat. C’mon now?

Because of that fact, the MLS is not likely to see much of a bump when it comes to the ticket-buying public attending MLS games in the second half of their split season.

WILD WEST: Take a look at the run differential numbers for the National League West (as of games completed June 25).

  • Los Angeles Dodgers – (+144)
  • San Diego Padres – (-5)
  • Arizona Diamondbacks – (-20)
  • San Francisco Giants – (-54)
  • Colorado Rockies – (-90) – (and that was after they beat-up the Mets)

Only the New York Mets (-47) are in negative figures in the National League East

Only the Seattle Mariners (+4) are in positive figures in the AL West

No teams are in positive figures in the AL Central

YOU CAN’T MAKE IT UP: The promo reads: “Experience the raw intensity of bare-knuckle fighting up close with the ultimate Ringside Seat experience. This premium ticket puts you right in the action, complete with a selection of beer, wine, liquor, and assorted soft drinks. Skip the lines and enjoy a dedicated grab-and-go buffet featuring ballpark favorites like Fenway Franks, fresh lobster rolls, and sizzling Italian sausages. You’ll also take home an exclusive miniature replica BKFC championship belt to commemorate an unforgettable night. Don’t just attend the event—own it. Secure your Ringside experience today and witness every jaw-dropping moment in style.” … Yes, the people at Fenway Sports are bringing fans “Bare-knuckle fighting.” … How could we ever live without it? … The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) will make its Massachusetts debut at Fenway Park on Saturday, August 29, marking the first time a sanctioned bare-knuckle fighting event has ever been held in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.. The matches will take place directly on the field, and will be headlined by BKFC Featherweight World Champion and #3 Ranked pound-for-pound fighter ‘King’ Kai Stewart (9-0) of Great Falls, Montana, who defends his world title for a record sixth time against New England combat sports standout Harry ‘The Hitman’ Gigliotti (6-0, 5 KOs) of Haverhill. Additional fights and details for this world class evening of bare-knuckle fighting will be announced in the coming weeks. … Bare Knuckle fighting claims to be the “fastest growing combat sport.” But, honestly, I can not think of any other “combat sport,” other than the recent hijinx of the WNBA. … Will the matches be the most physical confrontation related to the Sox since Pedro Martinez tossed coach Don Zimmer aside at Yankee Stadium? … You can make reservations for private suites. Or, you can purchase seats for either $51 or $157. I also know of a few places in Chicago or New York where you can get your ass kicked with bare knuckles for free.

IF THAT’S NOT ENOUGH: If you happen to be a restaurant/bar/tavern/saloon owner, you can pay $250 (per quarter, they say) to be an official Bare Knuckles Fighting home base. You really can’t make this up! … “BKFC will provide your establishment with items to give out during the fights. These items will range from pens and lanyards to posters and T-shirts. This arrangement will also give your establishment the authority to use BKFC-approved logos in your advertising.” … Apparently, the events are broadcast regularly on BKFC TV via FUBO streaming.

OR, ALL NEW MEANING TO THE TERM “KNUCKLE-HEADS” – How about a three-day cruise from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas aboard the BKFSea? Can you imagine the mayhem? It’s January 22-25, 2027. Before you book, you better ask if they’re carrying the CFP National Championship on TV on the night of Jan. 25th. Not all ships at sea have full broadcasting rights.

SKRATCH: Reporter Alan Shipnuck did a full expose by compiling all of Phil Mickelson’s misdeeds and adding some new dirt and information. The story is best read directly – HERE. … If you’re wondering about it, this is the final paragraph: “It’s a very sad story,” says Mickelson’s former golf buddy. “He should have been Arnold Palmer. Phil had the same charisma, the same star power. People loved him everywhere he went. My take is that he came to believe his own bullshit. He thought he was bulletproof, because his whole life he had always skated on everything. But, in the end, he had too many demons. He got consumed by his own darkness.” … Keep in mind, Tiger Woods held the World No. 1 ranking for 661 weeks, and in the midst of that run, Phil Mickelson held the No. 2 slot for 270 weeks. (Between 2001-2010+). Now, both players will have scandals in the second paragraphs of their death notices.

Could This Be Sox Turning Point?

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Boston rookie left-hander Jake Bennett allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings,  designated hitter Masataka Yoshida and rookie infielder Anthony Seigler each belted a solo home run and the host Boston Red Sox earned a 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon. It was Seigler’s first homer of his career and proved to be the 25th Boston home run off New York Yankees starter Gerrit Cole since 2020, when Cole joined the Yanks.

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The first hit allowed by Bennett (2-3) came with two outs in the fifth inning, courtesy of a solo homer by Max Schuemann. Bennett yielded two more hits and struck out three batters before exiting to a standing ovation.

Yoshida launched a solo shot in the first inning and Seigler — a first-round pick of the Yankees in the 2018 MLB Draft — added his homer in the second.

Boston’s Willson Contreras ripped a two-run double in the third inning, one day after sparking a benches-clearing push-and-shove incident in a 6-1 win over New York on Friday night.

The early offense on Saturday powered the Red Sox to their third straight win to open the four-game series. The Yankees, in turn, have lost six of their last eight games.

Justin Slaten relieved Bennett and struck out Jose Caballero and Jazz Chisholm Jr. to end the seventh inning. Garrett Whitlock retired the side in order in the eighth and Aroldis Chapman got the final three outs in the ninth to secure his 16th save.

Boston bolted out of the blocks as Yoshida deposited the second pitch of the game from Gerrit Cole (2-3) over the wall in right-center field. The homer was the second of the season for Yoshida and first since May 24.

Seigler doubled the advantage in the second inning by sending a 3-1 fastball from Cole just over the Green Monster.

Yoshida and Ceddanne Rafaela each singled to center to lead off the third inning before both runners sprinted home on Contreras’ hard-hit smash to left-center field.

New York finally solved Bennett in the fifth, as Schuemann deposited a first-pitch sinker over the wall in center field.

Cole struggled in his second straight outing, permitting four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.

–Field Level Media

 

Scheffler Leads the Pack at Travelers

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CROMWELL (Conn) – (Wire Service Report) – Scottie Scheffler bumped in a par putt at No. 18 for a second-round 60 to stand atop the leaderboard at 16 under through 36 holes of the Travelers Championship on Friday at the TPC River Highlands course, just south of Hartford, Connecticut.

Scheffler missed a long birdie by mere inches to the right on the par-4 18th before tapping in for the 10-under 60, one better than Norway’s Viktor Hovland (61 on Friday) and two better than Akshay Bhatia’s second-round 62.

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Hovland is alone in second, two back of Scheffler at 14 under. Bhatia ended the day in a tie for third at 12 under with Eric Cole (65).

“After birdieing 15, I was kind of like, ‘Oh, yeah, maybe 9 under now. A few more, you could shoot 59,’” Scheffler said.

“At the end of the day, I was very focused on just my execution out there. … I’ve put myself in position now this week. Go home, get some rest, and get ready for tomorrow.”

Overnight rain led to soft greens and low scoring at TPC River Highlands on Friday, a common theme in the second round albeit nothing entirely novel at the event.

With a round of 60, Scheffler ties Patrick Cantlay (2011) and Tommy Bolt (1954) for the top second round. Jim Furyk (58 in 2016) holds the tournament single-round scoring record and Cameron Young posted a 59 in the third round two years ago.

“The conditions were really good this morning. Softer golf course, not as much wind,” Scheffler said. “Going out yesterday in the afternoon, when the greens get firm out here and the wind starts to blow, it can get tricky pretty quickly.

“Yeah, going out this morning, you definitely had a feeling the conditions were going to be easier, so you need to go out there and try and take advantage of it.”

After opening with a birdie Friday, Scheffler made a bogey 5 at the second. The missed 6-footer on the par-4 was arguably his last mistake Friday before shifting into overdrive. He had 10 birdies on his final 16 holes in the second round with matching scores of 30 on the front and back nine in his bid to win the event for the second time in three years.

Hovland was 9 under on Friday with a 30 on the front nine and a highlight eagle on the par-5 13th.

“It was awesome stuff today,” said Hovland, who tied his career-low round on tour. “Obviously been kind of battling some stuff. You know, my golf swing had not felt all that comfortable. But, you know, I felt like things stabilized a lot more today, and I was able to put the ball in the fairway, hit some great iron shots, and putter finally cooperated a little bit more today.”

Bhatia walked off the course earlier with the lead before Hovland and Scheffler closed out the round emphatically. He had four birdies on each nine in a bogey-free trip around River Highlands, including putts from outside 26 feet at Nos. 3 and 10.

“I feel like I’ve putted really good the whole year,” Bhatia said. “I went through a stretch where when the greens were as good or consistent, even though I hit good putts, they just weren’t going in. … I feel like I kind of showed up this week, you know, did my same stuff, and my speed has been really good this week. I’ve had pretty stress-free putts.”

Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick had a late-afternoon run undone by bogeys at Nos. 16 and 18. He settled for a 66 and a tie for fifth at 10 under with Bud Cauley and Ben Griffin, each of whom also posted 66.

There was no 36-hole cut at the 72-man signature event. Notables down the board include defending champion Keegan Bradley (65) and U.S. Open champ Wyndham Clark (64) at 8 under, PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai of England (68) at 7 under and Justin Thomas (66) at 6 under.

–Field Level Media

PGA: New England’s Signature Event

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CROMWELL – The Travelers Championship ‘26 is the last of this year’s PGA Tour Signature Events, all held during the regular season. Next year, the Travelers will remain on the championship level of the TOUR.

At 6,844 yards, TPC River Highlands was the second shortest course on PGA TOUR in 2025 with Port Royal Golf Course shorter at 71/6,828 yards.

This week – one week after the U.S. Open at Shinnecock – the field includes:

  • Nine of the top 10 in the FedExCup standings
  • Eight of the top 10 in the Official World Golf Ranking
  • Five past winners of the Travelers Championship: Jordan Spieth (2017), Harris English (2021), Xander Schauffele, (2022), Keegan Bradley (2023, 2025), Scottie Scheffler (2024)
  • With the short hop across the Long Island Sound, 61 of the 72 players in the field competed at last week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, including five of the top six finishers: Wyndham Clark (Won), Sam Burns (2nd), J.T. Poston (T4), Keith Mitchell (T4), Scottie Scheffler (T4)
  • There are four sponsor exemptions: Tony Finau, Ben James, Jordan Spieth, Keith Mitchell.

There have been four rounds of 60 recorded on TOUR this season and, in the past, two sub-60 scores here at the Travelers Championship.

This season:

60, Wyndham Clark, R4, TPC Craig Ranch, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

60, Si Woo Kim, R2, TPC Craig Ranch, THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson

60, Andrew Putnam, R2, La Quinta Country Club, The American Express

60, Blades Brown, R2, Nicklaus Tournament Course, The American Express

Lowest 18-hole score in (Travelers) tournament history:

58, Jim Furyk, R4, 2016

59, Cameron Young, R3, 2024

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More Notes:

o Following a T4 finish at last week’s U.S. Open, Scottie Scheffler (3,111) reclaims the lead in the 2026 FedExCup standings and holds a 241-point lead over Matt Fitzpatrick (2,870)

o Adam Scott enters the week after making his 100th consecutive major championship appearance, dating to the 2001 Open Championship (only Jack Nicklaus with 146 has played in more than 100 straight majors). Scott, the 14-time PGA TOUR winner, has made 438 starts, with his most recent win coming at the 2020 Genesis Invitational.

o Ben James, a Milford, Connecticut native, earned PGA TOUR membership as the No. 1 player from the 2026 PGA TOUR University Ranking. He made his professional debut two weeks ago at the RBC Canadian Open and finished T54 with rounds of 67-63-78-69. James played four seasons at the University of Virginia (2022-26).

A.J. is the One

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BROOKLYN – (Wire Service Report) – The Washington Wizards opened the NBA draft on Tuesday night by selecting BYU forward AJ Dybantsa with the No. 1 overall pick. The Wizards tabbed Dybantsa over Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, who had a checkered college season at Kansas last season. The Utah Jazz then chose Peterson with the No. 2 overall pick. Dybantsa grew up in Brocton, Mass. and played high school ball at St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, Mass.

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The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa led the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per  game in his one college campaign and should be ready to make an immediate impact.

“This means a lot,” Dybantsa said on ESPN of going first in the draft. “It’s a stepping stone. Obviously, I have a lot more work to do.”

This is the third time Washington has held the No. 1 overall pick. The Wizards selected Kwame Brown in 2001 and John Wall in 2010.

Dybantsa is the first BYU player to go first overall.

–Field Level Media

Wyndham Clark Wins US Open

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SOUTHAMPTON – (Wire Service Report) – Wyndham Clark is once again a top-10 golfer in the world after capturing his second U.S. Open title in four years. Clark jumped 26 spots to No. 8 in the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday, one day after he won the third major of the 2026 season.

Clark had his first major breakthrough at the 2023 U.S. Open and climbed as high as No. 3 in the world in 2024. A less-than-stellar start to the 2026 season saw him tumble as far as 75th in the world, which is where he stood when he missed the cut at the PGA Championship.

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He bounced back to No. 45 in his next start by winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson outside Dallas, then gained eight more spots to No. 37 by placing third at the Memorial Tournament, a signature event with a strong field.

Clark won by one stroke over Sam Burns Sunday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club after starting the day with a six-shot cushion on the field. Burns, for his part, rose from No. 30 to 15 in the world.

In third place was South Korea’s Tom Kim, who like Burns made a late push to try to apply pressure as Clark slipped from 7 under to 4 under for the event.

A three-time winner on the PGA Tour, Kim has struggled in recent years and fell as far as No. 152 in the world before playing the RBC Canadian Open two weeks ago. His U.S. Open finish propelled him from 141st to 64th in the rankings.

Bryson DeChambeau missed his third straight major cut of 2026 and dropped two spots to No. 34 in the rankings. He has had a successful season on the LIV Golf circuit, where world ranking points are being doled out for the first time, but only to the top 10 finishers of a given event.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | June 21

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Over the many years of WWYI and maybe a column or two on Digital Sports Desk, I’ve written a lot of different angles on Father’s Day. Some upbeat and noting fond memories, while others a bit sad.

It’s hard to write this, but when I think of Father’s Day, I think of my Dad very late in his life. He fell ill when I was very young (8th Grade), and passed away in the summer between my Freshman and Sophomore years at St. John’s. I looked at a picture just the other day, and instead of just seeing my Dad – as I did when I looked at the picture back in 1977 at my high school graduation – I looked at a relatively young man (60) appearing very old and fragile, barely able to walk past the Trinity baseball field and out another 100 yards to our football field – Jay Kutner Field. He did everything he could just to be there for me.

Of course, I think of a million happier and more meaningful thoughts. At the risk of repeating some things I might’ve written in the past, I’ll list a just a few things that pop into my mind:

  • My Dad pulling out colored (red and blue) markers from his work shirt pocket – complete with the plastic protector to not allow the ink to stain his white shirt – and drawing the red and blue lines of a hockey rink to properly teach the NHL ice hockey “off-sides” rules to me while watching Jim Godon and Bill “The Big Whistle” Chadwick call the New York Rangers games on WOR-TV-9. He also illustrated the more intricate “two-line pass” rule, using a black marker and dotted lines of the passes.
  • My Dad taking me to special Pan American World Airways functions when the New York Nets were sending players to ramp-up ticket sales. One function stands out as Ollie Taylor was the guest and took pictures with all of us (mine ended up in the Long Island Press) and the great Olympic swimmer, Donna deVerona, was being honored.
  • My Dad taking me to see “Patton” in the movie theatre near Salisbury Park (which eventually became Eisenhower Park).
  • Great “Pan Am” vacations in Montego Bay, Jamaica; St. Thomas (USVI); and Frankfurt, Germany. We always had to fly in a suit or sport jacket, hoping for an upgrade to First Class but also not to have to pack the bulky jackets. I still do it ‘til this day.
  • My Dad – somehow, someway – putting up with us (my brothers and entire neighborhood) playing Wiffel Ball on our front driveway. As we aged, those Wiffel Balls would sound like M-80s hitting our garage door on a foul back. (We only broke two or three windows, and actually purchased them in half-dozens to be sure we could replace any broken windows. We bought Wiffel Balls by the CASE!
  • My Dad taking me to dozens of Nets games at the Island Garden in the York Larese and Lavern Tart era.
  • Harlem Globetrotters at the Commack Arena
  • Long Island Ducks (minor league ice hockey) at Commack, too.

I could go on and on and on.

Anyway, for this Father’s Day, I thought I’d jot down some REALLY random but not very important in the grand scheme of life notes for my daughters to know. Some of the “trivial items in the key of life.”

  • As much as I admired Gregg Allman singing “Melissa,” my favorite ABB song is “Jessica,” an instrumental written by Dickie Betts with organ pieces by Gregg Allman, of course, double drums (former ABB, the late Butch Trucks; with Jaimoe), then an incredible piano solo by Check Leavell. As you’ll note from the clip below, Betts wrote the song with the influence of jazz legend Django Reinhardt but inspiration from his two-year old daughter, Jessica,” bouncing around the house. Here it is, in all its glory, being taught by Chuck Leavell himself.

My favorite motion pictures, in real order of preference, but I always reserve the right to change my mind, add and subtract shows, and I don’t include legendary motion pictures that EVERYONE lists and loves, such as The Godfather and Godfather II, Citizen Kane, Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz or the great “action” movies in the James Bond or Mission Impossible category.

  1. Casablanca
  2. The Sting
  3. Almost Famous
  4. The Way We Were
  5. STAR WARS to The Return of the Jedi (old school)
  6. All the President’s Men
  7. The Purple Rose of Cairo
  8. Cinema Paradiso
  9. The Maltese Falcon
  10. The Big Chill

There are hundreds of “also rans” on my list, including a ton of great sports (Slap Shot), War Movies (Saving Private Ryan), Baseball Movies (It Happens Every Spring and the original Angeles in the Outfield) plus plenty more, like the silly set of “My Cousin Vinnie,” “STRIPES,” and “Airplane.”

KESWICK AMERICANS SPECIAL for FATHER’S DAY

By the way, here’s an extra bonus “Father’s Day Gift,” dedicated to all of those who wore the uniform of the Keswick Americans. This clip is from an ‘84 Dickie Betts concert, a few years after our heydays of 1978-79-80-81. Of course, Chuck Leavell is featured, but it is one of Betts’ best performances ever.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: A few friends and former NBA colleagues pointed out that this year’s NBA Draft will mark 40 years since we lost Len Bias. For those who don’t know the Len Bias story, please clock HERE. For everyone else, Bias’ death marks a terrible tragedy when we know exactly where we were when we heard the terrible news. There were several points of anguish that late night/ear;y morning in June 1986, a few hours after we saw Bias at the Draft in New York, then watched as he met the media in Boston a couple hours after we said good-bye and good luck. The most serious place was with Bias’ family, especially his mother, Dr. Lonise Bias. Then, there was the shock of the Boston Celtics, and then the point of the most media attention and all out shock – was the crime scene on the campus of the University of Maryland at College Park. Lastly, was with us, the people of the NBA who had staged the draft and saw a young, vibrant, can’t miss talent shake hands with Commissioner David Stern and get his Celtics’ hat, conduct his press conferences then head off to Boston for a same day event. … Dr. Lonise Bias passed away a couple years back. She had to endure the death of two sons. … I can share this brief snippet: After a very late night at the 1986 NBA Draft and the proverbial “End of the Season gathering of sorts,” even though it was really the start of the new season, I got about four hours of sleep, sucked it up and went to the office at 645 Fifth Avenue to edit film shot at the Draft the night before. Upon entering the office at about 8:35am, (15th floor), our receptionist Rhea Williams said, “Thank God, someone’s here.” I had no idea what she was talking about but glanced at the “old fashioned” switchboard and every single line was lit or blinking. … I CAN NOT think of a day worse than that day and that covers over 25 years of fielding calls for the NBA. I’m sure it was even harder, more emotional and just terrible at U of Maryland. May God Bless Len and his family.

JUNGLELAND: “They’ll meet ‘neath that CITGO sign that brings this fair city light.” No! … They’re coming after the CITGO sign.

According to multiple media accounts, the iconic CITGO sign in Boston is moving, but only slightly. The sign will be moved 30 feet higher and 120 feet to the east on the roof of 660 Beacon St, which is being redeveloped. This will “restore and preserve the original viewshed corridor” for the sign, developers say. The project will be done in two phases over six months. The first was taking the sign apart, which included removing the letters and the logo.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: A time out in any sporting event is often a horse of a different color. In some sports, the timeouts seem excessive. In the World Cup, they are infrequent, but this year there seems to be a new moniker for a timeout. Let’s look at the evolution of mandatory timeouts:

  1. An “automatic” timeout
  2. A “TV” timeout
  3. A media timeout
  4. A “hydration break”

Maybe all the leagues should change their stripes (rules) and everyone can call it a “hydration break?” Seems like it’s all for the benefit of over-heated players, on the edge of dehydration. Then, a miracle. A “hydration break” fixes everything.

A group of men in kilts marching down a street
Photo by Sebastian Pociecha on Unsplash

SCOTLAND YARD: Boston says “Thank-You” to our guests from Scotland. The cities of Boston (and Providence, RI) were graced with two World Cup preliminary round games played at “Boston Stadium,” a.k.a. Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The Scottish fans made quite an impression. Last Sunday night, they organized and staged a parade of some 5,000 fans who marched to Fenway Park. The parade was led by bagpipers and Scottish flags, and a massive group who carried tunes with the best of ‘em. The city fell in love with the Scots and rooted their team on. When Scotland flew off to Miami for their third game, the editors of The Boston Globe took it upon themselves to do a full page formal “Thank You,” which read:

Dear Tartan Army,

You came for the World Cup, but gave us something more.

“For a week, you turned train stations into singalongs, Fenway into a football ground and an ordinary June into something we’ll be talking about for years.

“Boston has hosted championships, parades and celebrations of every kind. But we’ve never hosted guests quite like you all.

“Thank you for the laughter, the bagpipes and the memories. The World Cup will move on. So will the songs, but we’ll never forget the joy you brought to our city.”

CAN’T MAKE IT UP: Olympiakos and Panathinaikos squared-off for the Greek League basketball finals and, as per usual, there were some serious sparks. This year, however, it went above and beyond. The sports commission of Greece imposed a six-month ban (from attending games) and a fine on Panathinaikos team owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos during Game 4 of the Finals. The fine of $50,000 (Euros) was doubled when the basketball club was also fined for the same amount, with the commission stating Giannakopoulos was penalized for “repeated defamation of the sport.” … The Game 4 fine was stiffer as Giannakopoulos was previously penalized with a one-month ban and a $30,000 (euros) fine from Game 1 of the Finals with the ban obviously ignored. … It got worse. … Following Game 2, Giannakopoulos was handed another one-month ban. Game officials reported that he stepped onto the court to aggressively protest and threaten referees, explicitly demanding a technical foul be given to Olympiacos coach Georgios Bartzokas. Olympiacos won the championship series. They defeated Panathinaikos 3-2 in the best-of-five.

NFL Schedule: Here’s a Top Ten

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LOS ANGELES – (Wire Service Report) – Not only do the Los Angeles Rams have a reasonable shot at becoming the first team to win the Super Bowl on its homefield twice, the NFC West runner-up is by far the easiest team to find on the NFL’s 2026 broadcast schedule.

Seven times the Rams are positioned for a primetime slot — tying a league record — barring a slip from contender status that would prompt networks to invoke the “flex” option and reassign Sean McVay’s team to an afternoon kickoff.

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You’ve got to appreciate McVay’s offensive machine as much as the next NFL fan, but let’s survey the broader landscape for the 10 games we are circling on the 2026 schedule.

1. Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Friday, Dec. 25
Are the Packers still gutted by two heartbreaking losses to the Bears? They’ll never admit it. The drama on the field and sidelines restored one of the  game’s best rivalries. Chicago’s schedule strength adds a degree of difficulty the Bears didn’t face rising from the bottom of the NFC North to a division title in Ben Johnson’s first season. The Packers had owned this series in recent years and want to pull the pendulum northward.

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day amplifies whatever the state of the Dallas Cowboys happens to be, and this one should be extra spicy. It hasn’t happened since 2014 and will be the third Turkey Day meeting between the teams. Cowboys fans are crossing their fingers the results will be better than the last time (33-10 loss in ‘14) and 1989, when the Eagles used two Randall Cunningham-to-Cris Carter TDs and Philly’s defense ransacked Troy Aikman at Texas Stadium, 27-0. Philadelphia hosts the first meeting of the 2026 season with Dallas on “Monday Night Football” in October.

3. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 6
Josh Allen ran the AFC East for nearly a decade and Drake Maye was more than the new kid on the block in 2025. He played like an MVP candidate — even winning in Buffalo — and the Patriots went 5-1 in the division. The only loss was a 35-31 barnburner at Gillette Stadium won by the Bills on Dec. 14. It was New England’s only loss between Sept. 28 and the Super Bowl.

4. Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, Friday, Dec. 25
Fine, we can talk Rams, too Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, the NFL wrapped up a matchup between teams who combined for 26 regular-season wins and took the division duel down to the wire last season. Lumen Field won’t be a present for the Rams, but Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have usually done just fine in enemy territory. The game falls one week after the one-year anniversary of Seattle’s memorable fourth-quarter rally from 16 down, forced overtime and walked it off with a 38-37 victory over the Rams.

5. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Dec. 31
Last season wasn’t a typical set of Bengals-Ravens games. The AFC North rivals split with an average margin of victory of 21 points. Rewind to 2025 and unleashed Lamar Jackson vs. bomb-happy Joe Burrow produced scores of 35-34 and 41-38 (overtime). If we get a New Year’s Eve snow game with division and playoff consequences, even better.

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6. New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, Wednesday, Sept. 9
A Wednesday night opener ahead of the Thursday Rams-49ers matchup in Australia, we’ll find out if the Patriots are better prepared for a Super Bowl rematch with months to prepare. New England oscillated from disjointed to complete disarray in the February loss to Seattle and didn’t have all oars in the water during an offseason when Mike Vrabel’s off-field, ahem, affairs were a constant talking point.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 8
Baker Mayfield vs. Caleb Williams piques our interest in a midseason “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the undercard of Buccaneers head coach and defensive maestro Todd Bowles against Bears coach and offensive brain Ben Johnson. The Bucs fell short of the postseason in 2025 for the first time since 2019, while the Bears are trending upward after the franchise won a playoff game (well, two of them, actually) in January to snap a 15-year drought dating to 2011.

8. Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Dec. 7
Crossover games with the NFC West add a degree of difficulty to the Dallas schedule this season. While we wait to offer judgment on the revamped defense, the Cowboys are likely to bring all the smoke to test Seattle’s versatile, attacking defense in a game sandwiched between matchups with the Eagles and Rams for Dallas.

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9. Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 20
Some called the Denver AFC West run last season but far fewer anticipated Jacksonville winning 13  games and dealing the Broncos one of the team’s three regular-season losses. First-year head coach Liam Coen reflects many of Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s qualities as a play-caller and designer, adding built-in entertainment value.

10. San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 27
What will the 49ers have left in the tank? San Francisco is setting a record for miles traveled in a season thanks to international treks to Mexico and Australia and the closing stretch for the 49ers is some kind of minefield from NFL schedulers. Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy are familiar foes but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has not beaten Andy Reid as a head coach (0-3). Two of those losses were agonizing Super Bowl defeats (LIV, 2020 and LVIII, 2024). After falling short of historical track and expectations in 2025, is the window closed on one or both of these longtime contenders?

–Field Level Media

Connecticut’s James is On the Job

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By TERRY LYONS

CROMWELL (Conn) – After prepping at Hamden Hall Day School and playing the very best golf courses at every chance, Ben James decided to attend the University of Virginia to play golf. James grew up in Milford, Connecticut, developing his game at Great River Golf Club, where his grandfather, Donald James Sr., worked part-time after retirement and his father, Donald James Jr., played in his youth.

They might’ve dreamt of great things for Ben, but little did they know just how far those dreams would take their grandson/son.

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James played four seasons at Virginia (2022-26), where he earned seven individual victories, tying Ben Kohles‘ school record for career wins and one of his victories included the 2024 Valero Texas Collegiate, which earned him an exemption for the 2025 Valero Texas Open on the PGA TOUR.

One outing and one experience after another, led James to the next level.

James became only the fifth collegiate golfer in history to earn four All-America First Team honors, following Gary Hallberg (1977-80 at Wake Forest University), Phil Mickelson (1989-92 at Arizona State University), David Duval (1990-93 at Georgia Tech), and Bryce Molder (1998-2001 at Georgia Tech).

James earned his PGA TOUR membership as the No. 1 player from the 2026 PGA TOUR University Ranking after those four amazing seasons four seasons in Charlottesville. Now, there’s no turning back.

Actually, this wonderful tournament at the TPC River Highlands, just south of Hartford, was James’ first rodeo. He made his PGA TOUR debut as a sponsor exemption at the 2022 Travelers Championship, playing in a field which also featured Chris Gotterup, Cole Hammer, and Michael Thorbjornsen as a few other sponsor exemptions. James was keeping good company, all along.

When James teed-off at the Travelers Championship on Thursday, he had $204,170 in winnings and a 4-for-11 record in making the cut at his events on Tour. Home course advantage would help him get a good – but not great – start today.

James shot (-2) under (68) and was tied for 30th as the “big boys,” like Scottie Scheffler, Sam Burns and Tommy Fleetwood turned for home in the afternoon. Tournament defending champion, Keegan Bradley, was (-3) under after 16 holes. Gotterup was one-over as his round concluded.  TPC River Highlands was kind to the morning groups after a couple days of hard rain, but a heater rising to 83-degrees and gorgeous blue skies dried up the course quickly, and it played tougher as the clock struck military time of 14:00 hundred.

James went out in (32) as par read (35) and he was on the morning leaderboard and stirring interest in the local fan base, happily following his journey. The back nine was not so kind as the course firmed-up, and James shot (36) on the par (35) to finish with his (68) on the par 70 course. The three bogeys with two birdies dotted the back nine scorecard and two of those bogeys came on No. 17 and No. 18, sending young James to the lockers with a “what might’ve been” scorecard.

The early clubhouse leader was Eric Cole who posted a healthy (63), seven under par on a course which Bradley conquered last summer with a (-15) score.

Of course, this is the same golf course where Jim Furyk (2016) and Cameron Young (2024) carded the glorious, and often untouchable “59.” But, keep in mind, in 2024, Scottie Scheffler posted a (-22) to win the tournament and it took a playoff to defeat Tom Kim that year. Bradley won in 2023 with a (-23).

That means, there’s a lot of golf to be played. There’s a cut to be made for Ben James (T-15) and then, on Saturday, maybe the hometown crowds from Milford will spur their proud Hamden Hall and Virginia Cavalier on to – possibly – his best finish as a professional at the ripe age of 23.

 

 

Opposite Ends of the Standings

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Preview) – Teams at opposite ends of the American League East standings will meet tonight when the New York Yankees open a four-game series against the host Boston Red Sox. The division-leading Yankees enter the series on a two-game winning streak after a 4-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Paul Goldschmidt hit two solo home runs off Tarik Skubal, and Jasson Dominguez delivered a two-run shot in the sixth inning.

“Obviously (Skubal is) one of the best pitchers in the game and facing him is a tough challenge,” Goldschmidt said. “I just try to get in there and compete, and fortunately, I was able to get a couple balls I was able to get out of there.

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“We didn’t have many hits (six). We didn’t have much offense, but it was enough just because our pitching was so good. … This game is hard. Nights like this when you have success, enjoy it because there are a lot of games where we either lose or individually you have a bad game or there’s stretches of bad games.”

Ryan Weathers and three relievers scattered two runs and eight hits against the Tigers.

Boston, meanwhile, is at the bottom of the AL East and dropped 14 games below .500 with Wednesday’s 8-6 loss against the Colorado Rockies in Denver.

The Red Sox led 6-3 when shortstop Marcelo Mayer made an error on a routine grounder with two outs in the seventh inning. The Rockies scored three runs in the inning after the error to tie the game.

Mayer entered the contest when third baseman Caleb Durbin had to leave after injuring his left hand while sliding into first base. Boston made two errors in the loss, and five of Colorado’s eight runs were unearned.

“I mean today it was fairly clear, we didn’t play well enough defensively,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “A lot of their run-scoring opportunities and run scores were a product of us. We have to take care of the ball.”

New York has won four of five games against the Red Sox this season, including a three-game sweep in Boston from April 21-23.

Left-hander Connelly Early (6-5, 3.64 ERA) is expected to start for Boston on tonight.

Early is 0-1 with a 5.06 ERA in his only regular-season start against the Yankees. He gave up three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out four in a 4-0 loss to New York on April 21.

Right-hander Cam Schlittler (8-3, 1.71 ERA) is New York’s probable starter. He’s 1-0 with a 1.32 ERA in two career regular-season starts against Boston.

Schlittler also earned the win when New York beat Boston 4-0 in Game 3 of the AL wild-card series last season. He struck out 12 in eight innings during that game. Early gave up all four New York runs in 3 2/3 innings and took the loss.

Tonight will mark the first of seven straight home games for the Red Sox, who are 12-25 at Fenway Park this year.

Boston infielder Romy Gonzalez has yet to play this season after having shoulder surgery in March but could be activated this weekend.

“I’m trying to push for Saturday to be activated,” Gonzalez said. “We’ll see what happens. Definitely, I want to be (there) Sunday with (New York’s Carlos) Rodon going Sunday. I want to be in the lineup.”

–Field Level Media