The Sportsletter - Cheaters Never Prosper ❌

BY JEFF YODER & MATTHEW CAHILL

SEP. 23, 2022  |  SUBSCRIBE  |  REFER  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 👋

Unfortunately for baseball fans, history will have to wait until the weekend, as Aaron Judge and Albert Pujols both came a few feet short of clearing the fence as the two continue to chase history. 

Letter Rip!

THE SPORTSLETTER'S NFL PICK 'EM

Thursday Night Football Games Not Included to Allow Players to Make Picks Until Sunday Morning

NBA

Udoka Suspended For Season

Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Boston Head Coach Ime Udoka Suspended for Entire 2023 Season

After just one season as a head coach, Ime Udoka was immediately lauded as one of the league’s best for helping turn the ship around for the Celtics and leading them all the way to the Finals. Today, he is now painted in an entirely different light, as he has been suspended for the entire 2022-23 season for having an affair with a female member of the team staff. Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will step in for Udoka as the interim head coach in his absence. 

The season-long suspension was handed down directly from the Celtics organization themselves, not the NBA, which is unprecedented in terms of an internal punishment for a head coach without being fully fired. Even though Udoka hasn’t been fired yet, the Celtics stated that they will make a decision about his future once the suspension is over, so it remains a possibility that his days leading the way in Boston are over.

Capping off a Disastrous Summer

Fresh off of a Finals berth, the Celtics greatly improved their roster by bringing in veterans Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari to round out an already stellar roster that was two wins away from a championship. After the additions, many viewed Boston as the favorites to win the title heading into the 2023 season, but these past few weeks have been tumultuous to say the least. Danilo Gallinari tore his ACL in Eurobasket last month and is out indefinitely, and Robert Williams underwent another knee surgery a few days ago that will keep him on the shelf for the start of the season. Those injuries along with their head coach being suspended a week before training camp begins bring on many questions about whether or not they can live up to championship expectations with all of the injuries and internal turmoil surrounding them. 

Additional Storylines

USA Today: Boston Celtics Suspend Coach Ime Udoka for 2022-23 Season for 'violations of team policies'

NY Post: Ime Udoka not Expected to Resign in Wake of Celtics Scandal

NFL

Trubisky Troubles

Photo: Nick Cammett / Getty Images

Chicago Defeats Pittsburgh (29-17) on Thursday Night Football

Week 3 kicked off last night with the Browns taking care of business against the Steelers to move to 2-1 on the young season. David Njoku, Amari Cooper, and Nick Chubb all had strong performances while Jacoby Brissett did a great job of putting his playmakers in position to succeed all night long. However, the same can’t be said for Mitchell Trubisky. 

Throughout the week, questions loomed about whether or not head coach Mike Tomlin should bench Mitch Trubisky in favor of rookie Kenny Pickett. Trubisky did have a strong performance in the first half, but really struggled to lead Pittsburgh into any sort of rhythm in the second half, as they only mounted three points in the final thirty minutes of game time. Despite another lackluster performance, Tomlin reassured reporters postgame that Trubisky is still going to be the starting quarterback going forward. 

Watch: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns Highlights 

Additional Storylines

Bleacher Report: Steelers' Mike Tomlin 'Definitively' Not Benching Mitchell Trubisky After Browns Loss

Yahoo!: Jacoby Brissett, Nick Chubb Power Browns Past Steelers

GOLF

No Surprises At Quail Hollow

Photo: Warren Little / Getty Images

Team USA Jumps Out to Commanding 4-1 Lead

Team USA came into the Presidents Cup as heavy favorites, and there were no surprises on day 1, as the United States has taken firm control with a 4-1 lead. The US rolled out their heavy hitters early, as Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay defeated Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama 6 and 5 to kick off the event. Schauffele and Cantlay were the only duo to go the entire day without settling for a bogey, never leaving a doubt about who would come out on top. The lone victory for the Internationals came from Si Woo Kim and Cam Davis, as they pulled away in the final four holes against Scottie Scheffler Sam Burns. Today will feature fourball and kicks off at 11:30 AM EST. 

Watch: Presidents Cup Day 1 Highights

Additional Storylines

ESPN: United States Builds 4-1 Lead Over Internationals After Presidents Cup Foursome Golf Matches

Yahoo!: Day 2 Fourball Matchups, Tee Times at Quail Hollow

TENNIS

Federer's Finale

Photo: Anadolu Agency / Getty Images

Roger Federer to Play Final Professional Match Alongside Rafael Nadal Today (3:20 PM EST)

After announcing his retirement last week, the time has come for one of the greatest tennis players of all time to play his last match. Roger Federer will team up with one of his biggest rivals, as he will play alongside Rafael Nadal in a duos bout against Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock in the Laver Cup later today. Win or lose, Federer announced that this will be the final match of his career, as Matteo Berrettini will take his spot for the rest of the competition. 

While the two are most known for their epic rivalry that includes 40 matches and spans over 18 years, Federer and Nadal have actually teamed up once before at the Laver Cup back in 2017 where they won their lone match in two sets. No matter what ends up happening on the court today, it will undoubtedly be an emotional experience as one of the all-time greats wraps up his career. 

Additional Storylines

NPR: Serena Williams and Roger Federer Changed Tennis Forever. So Will Their Retirements

CNN: In pictures: Tennis Great Roger Federer

🎥 THE HIGHLIGHTS

🏈 Catch of the Year!?

Even though the Steelers suffered a loss on Thursday night, George Pickens made an incredible one-handed catch early in the first quarter that had shades of Odell Beckham's iconic grab back in 2015. 

⚾️ Hayden Wesneski Throws Immaculate Inning 

The Cubs picked up a 3-2 victory against the Pirates on Thursday night. Chicago's rookie starting pitcher Hayden Wesneski was brilliant, picking up the win and throwing an immaculate inning in the fifth frame along the way. 

⚾️ Walk-Off Sends Yankees to Playoffs 

While Aaron Judge didn't hit home run number 61 just yet, New York still has plenty to celebrate, as Josh Donaldson's walk-off single against the Red Sox in the 10th inning officially punches their ticket into the playoffs.

THE STORYLINES

🏈 Week 3 NFL Predictions

When the going gets tough, you continue to swing for the fences—that’s what our NFL experts will do after another 7-9 week. (B/R)

⚾️ MLB Prospect Watch

By this time next week, every level of the minors will have completed the regular season. As is tradition, we're devoting this space to our version of end-of-year awards. (CBS Sports)

🏀 Sarver Sale Doesn’t Solve Problem

After 18 years as Phoenix Suns owner, Robert Sarver is about to sell the team. The NBA still has a problem with owners being racially insensitive. (ESPN)

📰 THE HEADLINES

• Jazz Trade Bojan Bogdanovic to Pistons for Multiple Players (ESPN)
• NCAA Announces Recruiting Violations & Penalties for LSU (SI)
• Czech Government Tells NHL Russian Players Unwelcome at Prague Series (CBS Sports)
• Utah Student Arrested for Making Nuclear Threat if Football Team Lost (USA Today)

🗓️ WEEKEND SCHEDULE

The Must-Watch List

NFL Week 3 (Sunday)

Bills at Dolphins (1:00 pm)

Ravens at Patriots (1:00 pm)

Eagles at Commanders (1:00 pm)

Rams at Cardinals (4:25 pm)

Packers at Bucs (4:25 pm)

49ers at Broncos (8:20 pm)

Full NFL Week 3 Schedule

College Football Week 4 (Saturday)

#5 Clemson at #21 Wake Forest (Noon)

#20 Florida at #11 Tennessee (3:30 pm)

#10 Arkansas at #23 Texas A&M (7:00 pm)

Wisconsin at #3 Ohio State (7:30 pm)

#7 USC at Oregon State (9:30 pm)

Full CFB Week 4 Schedule

MLB

Braves—Phillies Series

Blue Jays—Rays Series

Red Sox—Yankees Series

Cardinals—Dodgers Series

Full MLB Schedule

Golf

Presidents Cup (All Weekend)

Soccer

USMNT vs. Japan (Fri. 8:25 am)

Italy vs. England (Fri. 2:45 pm)

*UEFA Nations League & International Friendlies All Weekend

Tennis

Laver Cup (Federer’s Final Match)

*All Times ET

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