Whatever your plans for the first weekend of autumn, start it off by cozying up with the latest sports news. Grab a pumpkin spiced bevvy and scroll on.

The GIST: It was the Woj-bomb heard ’round the world. The Boston Celtics suspended second-year head coach Ime Udoka for the entire 2022–23 NBA season yesterday amid reports that he had an intimate, consensual relationship with a woman on the Celtics’ staff.

The on-court impact: Udoka snapped the Celtics’ 11-year NBA Finals drought in his first season at the helm. He was also the first rookie coach to win multiple Game 7s. Needless to say, his absence will have a major impact on a Boston team many pegged to contend for a title this season.

Zooming out: With news leaked and rampant speculation, the handling of this situation has rightfully come under fire. Plus, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Udoka was issued a year-long suspension for a consensual affair, while the NFL’s Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended a mere 11 games (out of 17 in a season) after he was accused by two dozen women of sexual assault. Let that sink in.

The GIST: While the MLB playoff push continues ahead of the regular season finale in early October, two sluggers are on their own historic individual quests. Time to touch ’em all.

Aaron Judge: The NY Yankees outfielder is just two home runs (HRs) away from breaking Yanks legend Roger Maris’ American League (AL) single-season record of 61 dingers, set in 1961. To put Judge’s power into context, his 60 HRs have him 20 (!!!) ahead of second place. All rise, indeed.

• And as if the HR chase wasn’t exciting enough, Judge is also vying for MLB’s Triple Crown — when a player leads their league in batting average, HRs and RBI — which has only been awarded twice in the last 55 years.

• Judge’s campaign for baseball immortality continues tonight at 7:05 p.m. ET against the Yankees’ archrival, the Boston Red Sox, the same team Maris achieved his record-setting feat against. Couldn’t have written it better.

Albert Pujols: After a surge in production during what he’s said will be his final season, the 42-year-old St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter is two HRs away from 700 career blasts, a mark just three players have ever reached.

• And he’s been red-hot down the stretch — 11 of his 19 long balls this season have come in the last month and a half, helping the Cards stay in playoff contention.

• Pujols’ next opportunity at the plate will come tonight at 10:10 p.m. ET against his former team, the LA Dodgers.

Zooming out: Judge’s and Pujols’ feats are made even more celebration-worthy by the fact that they aren’t tainted with an asterisk. Many consider Judge’s hunt for the AL HR title as the chase for the “real” all-time mark, given Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa — who dominated the HR records in the late ’90s and early 2000s — are known to have used steroids.

• Although MLB’s “steroids era” bred a deep distrust and disdain for America’s pastime, Judge and Pujols assuage those concerns. Fans can enjoy their efforts and rest assured the superstars are “clean” in their quests. (Literally) knocking it out of the park.

Together With

🏈 NFL: The GIST’s Game of the Week — LA Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals

🏀 FIBA Women’s World Cup: USA vs. China — Tomorrow at 12:30 a.m. ET — ESPN2

• After throttling Puerto Rico 106–42 yesterday, the star-studded American squad looks to stay undefeated in round-robin play. And the expected arrival of three players from the WNBA title-winning Las Vegas Aces squad sure won’t hurt.

🏈 NCAA Football: No. 20 Florida (2-1) vs. No. 11 Tennessee (3-0) — Tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET — CBS

• In a weekend full of ranked college conference clashes, the Gators are ready to chomp at the chance to snap their SEC East rival Tennessee’s win streak. Hut, hut, hike.

⚽ NWSL: OL Reign vs. Houston Dash — Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET — Paramount+

• Powered by USWNT stars Megan Rapinoe and Rose Lavelle, the Reign will look to increase their chances at a playoff berth against the also playoff-hunting Dash. Crunch time.

🏈 NFL: Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET — FOX

• Future Hall of Fame quarterbacks (QBs) and MVP contenders Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady square off in Florida. Need we say more?