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Good Morning 👋
Welcome to May... We’ve got more playoff updates today. Two more NHL teams advanced, and Tyrese Maxey went berserk to save the Sixers. The first rounds are almost over (so many games). Hang in there. The rest of May brings a change of pace with the Kentucky Derby, PGA Championship, French Open, and Indy 500.
As for yesterday? Some of the weirdest scenes in baseball stole the show. Letter Rip! |
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Bees & Brawls: Inside Baseball's Weird Day 🐝 |
Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images |
Brewers & Rays Clear the Benches While a Swarm of Bees Delays Diamondbacks-Dodgers Almost 2 Hours
Whacky things are bound to happen in a 162-game season, but Tuesday’s MLB sidebar stories were every bit out of left field. More info was revealed about the Shohei Ohtani theft scandal, but that was the tip of the iceberg as chaos befell ballparks around America. The Brewers and Rays had an all-out, benches-clearing brawl with some heavyweight swings. The Diamondbacks-Dodgers game in Arizona was delayed almost two hours because of a swarm of bees behind home plate, but an unlikely hero stole the show. Let me tell you about both in 30 seconds:
🐝 Arizona Beekeeper Saves the Day
Here’s one you don’t see every day. The Diamondbacks were set to host the Dodgers last night before a swarm of bees was discovered. The bees had set up shop atop the protective netting directly behind home plate, causing havoc for players and fans alike. One foul ball could’ve angered the swarm and endangered fans. Wild stuff. Meanwhile, Matt Hilton, a guy you've never heard of, was 20 miles away at his son’s tee ball game before getting the call. Hilton, the resident beekeeper for Blue Sky Pest Control, drove straight to Chase Field. The fans gave him a standing ovation. Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero” played over the PA system. Two hours later, baseball was played. Hilton threw out the first pitch (epic!), and the D-Backs won it in extras (4-3, 10 innings) on Christian Walker’s walk-off home run. Bee-lieve it.
🥊 Brewers & Rays Ignite 1st Big Brawl of 2024
Over in Milwaukee, the box score might've read as an 8-2 Brewers win with Willy Adames tallying a home run and 4 RBIs, but the story of the Brewers-Rays clash on Tuesday was baseball’s biggest slugfest of the season. Brewers manager Pat Murphy got tossed for the second straight game after Milwaukee pitcher Freddy Peralta was ejected for hitting Rays’ CF Jose Siri. Two innings later, Siri hit a ground-out with Abner Uribe on the mound. The two exchanged words, then fists. Both were tossed to make four total ejections on the night. This was no dust-up (some real haymakers here). Expect suspensions.
*Both Links to Videos Read More
B/R: Jose Siri & Abner Uribe Explain How Benches-Clearing Brawl Began
CBS Sports: MLB Bee Delay: Dodgers-D-Backs Pushed Back 2 Hours Due to Home Plate Swarm |
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Photo: Elsa / Getty Images |
76ers Stave Off Elimination Against Knicks (112-106, OT) Thanks to Tyrese Maxey’s Heroics (46 Points)
Have a night, Tyrese Maxey! The 76ers’ young star erupted with Philly’s backs against the wall in Game 5 on Tuesday night. Maxey (46 pts, 9 asts, 5 rebs) had his best career playoff game yet, and he hit the shots that mattered most. New York led 96-90 with 30 seconds left to closing time, but Maxey completed a four-point play (96-94). Following a Knicks free throw, Maxey came off a ball screen and knocked down the game-tying 3 from the logo to force overtime (97-all). He had seven points in the final 28 seconds... on two possessions! He also had five of Philly’s 15 points in overtime as the Sixers pulled away for a 112-106 win. Game 6 heads back to Philadelphia, and somehow the 76ers aren't done yet.
Other Games: Elsewhere in Round 1, the Bucks rallied together to rout the Pacers without Damian Lillard or Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Cavs held off the Magic by one in Cleveland thanks to Evan Mobley’s game-saving block. Paolo Banchero still had 39 points for the Magic. Both of those series are heading to Game 6. NBA Playoff Highlights (Round 1) Gm 5: 76ers def. Knicks (112-106, OT) NYK Leads Series (3-2) Gm 5: Cavaliers def. Magic (104-103)
CLE Leads Series (3-2) Gm 5: Bucks def. Pacers (115-92) IND Leads Series (3-2) Tonight’s Schedule Gm 5: Heat at Celtics (7:30 pm ET, TNT)
Gm 5: Mavericks at Clippers (10:00 pm ET, TNT) Read More
NBC Sports: Tyrese Maxey Scores 46, Keeps 76ers Alive With OT Win
Yahoo! Sports: Short-Handed Bucks Cruise to Dominant Game 5 Win Over Pacers |
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Photo: Jonathan Kozub / Getty Images |
Avalanche & Hurricanes Advance, Predators & Maple Leafs Force Game 6s
A critical night in the Stanley Cup Playoffs saw two teams punch their tickets to Round 2 while two others fought off elimination. The Hurricanes and Avalanche buried the Islanders and Jets, respectively, with 6-3 wins in a pair of near-series sweeps (4-1). Up in Boston, the Maple Leafs got an OT winner from Matthew Knies (2-1, OT) to force Game 6 against the Bruins. The Predators also rallied for a 2-1 win over the Canucks to keep breathing out west.
Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket: Four teams have advanced to the second round — Avalanche (West), Rangers (East), Panthers (East), and Hurricanes (East). The Rangers and ‘Canes will meet in the next round. Stanley Cup Playoff Highlights (Round 1) Gm 5: Hurricanes def. Islanders (6-3) CAR Wins Series (4-1) Gm 5: Avalanche def. Jets (6-3)
COL Wins Series (4-1) Gm 5: Maple Leafs def. Bruins (2-1, OT) BOS Leads Series (3-2)
Gm 5: Predators def. Canucks (2-1) VAN Leads Series (3-2) Tonight’s Schedule Gm 5: Golden Knights at Stars (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) Gm 5: Kings at Oilers (10:00 pm ET, ESPN) Read More ESPN: Avs Eliminate Jets, Head to Round 2
NHL: Bruins Come Out Flat, Miss Opportunity in Game 5 With Maple Leafs |
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🏀 ‘Inside the NBA’ in Jeopardy
The NBA’s current television deals expire after next season (2025-26), and it appears NBC/Peacock is making an aggressive bid to steal the NBA from Turner Sports. The future of TNT’s iconic ‘Inside the NBA’ is in major jeopardy. (Sports Illustrated)
🏈 The Falcons’ Draft Stunner
Three days after the shocking draft pick crashed into other NFL war rooms like a wrecking ball, the Atlanta Falcons’ rationale for selecting Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 overall has been cemented. What does it mean for Kirk Cousins? (Yahoo! Sports)
⚾️ The Star Driving MLB’s Surprise Team
The Guardians have almost inarguably been MLB’s biggest surprise thus far. They lead the AL with a 19-10 record and +45 run differential. First baseman Josh Naylor has been a breakout star, and a big reason for Cleveland's success. (MLB.com) |
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🏀 NBA Playoffs Gm 5: Heat at Celtics (7:30 pm ET, TNT) Gm 5: Mavericks at Clippers (10:00 pm ET, TNT) 🏒 Stanley Cup Playoffs Gm 5: Golden Knights at Stars (7:30 pm ET, ESPN) Gm 5: Kings at Oilers (10:00 pm ET, ESPN) ⚾️ MLB
Rays at Brewers (1:10 pm ET, MLBTV) Yankees at Orioles (6:35 pm ET, MLBTV) Cubs at Mets (7:10 pm ET, MLBTV) Dodgers at Diamondbacks (9:40 pm ET, MLBTV) ⚽️ Soccer UCL: Dortmund vs. PSG (3:00 pm ET, CBS/Par+)
CON: Monterrey vs. Columbus Crew (10:15 pm ET, FS1) 🎾 Tennis (Madrid Open)
M: #2 C. Alcaraz vs. #7 A. Rublev (10:00 am ET) W: #2 A. Sabalenka vs. M. Andreeva (2:00 pm ET) *Stream on Tennis Channel |
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Yesterday, we asked: Which Western Conference star (25 years or younger) do you think will win the most championships? Talk about a dead heat. This was one of the most contentious polls we’ve ever done. Anthony Edwards got the nod, but not by much. 1. Anthony Edwards (T-Wolves) — 26.4% 2. Luka Doncic (Mavericks) — 25.7%
3. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) — 24.2% 4. Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) — 23.7% |
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