The Sportsletter - Pedal to the Medals 🏅

BY JEFF YODER

JULY 30, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

We’re already into Day 6 of Olympics action. The medals are pouring in. The U.S. still leads the overall medal count (20 total) thanks partly to swimming excellence (11 medals), but Japan leads all nations in golds (6). Plus, today brings the MLB trade deadline (6:00 pm ET).

In Case You Missed It: Snoop Dogg’s badminton commentary will be the best thing you see today. I’ll sign the petition right now to get the D-O Double-G on prime-time coverage. Listen to the people, NBC.

Letter Rip!

  MEDAL TRACKER   🏅

*Accurate Through Midnight, July 30 / Click Image for Updated Medal Count 

Other Countries With Multiple Medals: 🇨🇦 Canada (5), 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan (3), 🇿🇦 South Africa (3), 🇧🇷 Brazil (3), 🇸🇪 Sweden (3), 🇭🇰 Hong Kong (3), 🇩🇪 Germany (2), 🇧🇪 Belgium (2), 🇲🇩 Moldova (2)

  OLYMPICS   🏅

The Last Dance?

Photo: BSR Agency / Getty Images

🇷🇸 Novak Djokovic Beats 🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal in What Might Have Been Their Final Clash

🎾 (M) Tennis: 🇷🇸 Djokovic Blitzes 🇪🇸 Nadal

Was it the last? Monday’s Olympics clash of tennis titans took place bright and early. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Spain’s Rafael Nadal met in Round 2 of the men’s singles bracket for a showdown on the familiar Roland-Garros clay surface, but it wasn’t favorable to the “King of Clay.” Djokovic shut down Nadal in straight sets (6-4, 6-1) in front of a Spanish-heavy crowd. Rafa’s Olympics bid isn’t over, though. He’s still competing with teammate Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles competition. Nadal (38) and Djokovic (37) are nearing the ends of their careers. Could this have been the last iconic battle?

🎾 Other Tennis Highlights (Singles)

W: 🇺🇸 C. Gauff def. 🇦🇷 M. Carle (6-1, 6-1)

M: 🇪🇸 C. Alcaraz def. 🇳🇱 T. Griekspoor (6-1, 7-6)

W: 🇵🇱 I. Swiatek def. 🇫🇷 D. Parry (6-1, 6-1)

W: 🇨🇿 D. Vekic def. 🇨🇦 B. Andreescu (6-3, 6-4)

W: 🇺🇸 D. Collins def. 🇩🇰 C. Wozniacki (6-3, 3-6, 6-3)

M: 🇳🇴 C. Ruud def. 🇮🇹 A. Vavassori (4-6, 6-4, 6-3)

M: 🇦🇷 F. Cerundolo def. 🇫🇷 U. Humbert (7-5, 6-7, 7-5)

*Not All Highlight Links Available

  WOMEN'S OLYMPICS   🏅

The Streak Continues

Photo: Sameer Al-Doumy / Getty Images

A’ja Wilson (33 pts) & Breanna Stewart (31 pts) Lead USA Women's Basketball to 56th Straight Olympic Win

🏀 Basketball: 🇺🇸 USA def. 🇯🇵 Japan (102-76)

The U.S. women’s basketball team extended their Olympic win streak to 56 games (dating back to 1992) with a blowout against Japan on Monday. Star forwards A’ja Wilson (33 pts, 13 reb) and Breanna Stewart (31 pts, 8 reb) were unstoppable inside. Seven players scored in double figures, including 20 from Brittney Griner and 14 from Sabrina Ionescu. The U.S. struggled from deep (20%) but they hit a 66.7-percent clip from the field while getting to the rim in transition almost at will.

🏑 Field Hockey: 🇺🇸 USA Ties 🇪🇸 Spain (1-1)

I’ll level with you, team. I haven’t watched much field hockey in my sportswriting career, but it’s quite entertaining. Team USA held Spain to a 1-1 draw yesterday in pool play. Sophia Gladieaux notched the opening goal for the U.S. If you like a fast-paced blend of hockey and soccer, this sport is for you.

🏉 Rugby: 🇦🇺 Australia’s Levi Sets Record

There’s a lot of fun highlights from the rugby field, but Australia’s Maddison Levi is putting on a clinic. She tallied her third hat trick (already!) in Paris during Monday’s win against Ireland (40-7). She’s already broken the women’s record for a try scorer in a single Olympic Games.

🏊 Swimming: 🇨🇦 Canada’s McIntosh Wins 400 IM

The women’s 400-meter IM featured an all-North American podium with Canada (gold) and the U.S. (silver+bronze) pulling away. Canada’s Summer McIntosh took the race in a landslide while Katie Grimes (silver) and Emma Weyant (bronze) added to the USA's overwhelming medal haul in the pool.

  MEN'S OLYMPICS   🏅

The Drought Is Over

Photo: Naomi Baker / Getty Images

USA Men's Gymnastics Claims 1st Medal (Bronze) Since 2008 in Team Final

🤸 Gym: 🇺🇸 USA Men End 16-Year Drought

The USA men’s gymnastics team — often overshadowed by the superstar women — hadn’t medaled in the team final at the Olympics since 2008. That changed on Monday. After qualifying fifth, they ended the 16-year drought with a 257.793 team final score to edge Great Britain (4th) and take bronze. The American five-man team consisted of Asher Hong, Paul Juda, Frederick Richard (pictured above), Brody Malone, and the finishing act on the pommel horse from new Olympic hero Stephen Nedoroscik. Japan (Gold) and China (Silver) won the event, but a weight has been lifted for USA men's gymnastics.

🏐 Beach Volleyball: 🇺🇸 USA Duo Wins Opener

Former NBA player Chase Budinger and teammate Miles Evans blew past their French opponents in the opening match of men’s beach volleyball (21-14, 21-11). Budinger spent seven seasons in the NBA, but he’s even more talented on the sand.

Other Olympics Highlights & Stories

• Djokovic Won But It Was Nadal’s Moment at Paris Olympics
• Triathlon Cancels Swim Training Again Due to Water Quality in Seine River
• Canada Soccer to Appeal FIFA Over Drone Scandal
• Spain Upsets USA in Rare Women’s Water Polo Loss
• Japan (Gold), USA (Silver+Bronze) Top Men’s Skateboard Street Event
• Frenchman Nicolas Gestin Wins Canoe Slalom Gold in Home Waters

• USA’s Ryan Murphy Earns 7th Olympic Medal in Backstroke

• Brazil’s Gabriel Medina Surfs Highest Wave Score in Olympic History

Today’s Olympics Previews

• Remember Jimmer Fredette? He’s Back in 3x3 Hoops

• Women’s Gymnastics Team Final: Stop No. 2 on the Simone Biles ‘Redemption Tour’

  MLB   

MLB Trade Tracker 🚨

MLB Trade Deadline (Today, 6:00 pm ET)

More big names are packing their bags to go join contenders, but yesterday's deal of the day was a doozy. A three-team, seven-player swap between the Dodgers, Cardinals and White Sox landed Erick Fedde and Tommy Pham in St. Louis. In the seller's market, it’s safe to say the Rays and Blue Jays have given up on catching the AL East. More to come after today’s deadline…

MLB Trade Tracker

Dodgers Acquire OF Amed Rosario (Rays)

Astros Acquire LHP Yusei Kikuchi (Blue Jays)

Guardians Acquire OF Lane Thomas (Nationals)

Mariners Acquire DH Justin Turner (Blue Jays)

Royals Acquire RHP Michael Lorenzen (Rangers)

Cardinals Acquire RHP Erick Fedde & OF Tommy Pham

7-Player, 3-Team Deal (Dodgers, White Sox & Cardinals)

⚾️ MLB Highlights

• Reds Shred Chicago (7-1) as Cubs Get Ejected
• Bobby Witt Jr. Lifts Royals With Go-Ahead Grand Slam
• Paul Skenes Tallies 100th K in Historic Rookie Campaign
• Mets Stay Hot, Hang 15 on Twins in Blowout (15-2)
• Judge & Chisholm Jr. Both Hit 2 HRs to Lead Yankees' Win

  STORYLINES  

🏊 What’s Wrong With the Paris Pool?

Is a “slow” swimming pool impeding world records? Some believe the depth of the pool at Paris La Defense Arena is contributing to slower times. (Yahoo! Sports)

🎮 Madden 25 Player Ratings

As teams return to the field for the start of training camp, gamers will soon return to the virtual gridiron as EA Sports' Madden 25 releases worldwide on Aug. 16. (ESPN)

🏀 From Prison to Paris

With a new son and a chance to earn her third Olympic gold medal, Brittney Griner is finding joy and healing after enduring months of hell in a Russian prison. (The Ringer)

  NEWS   📰 

⚾️ Former MLB Pitcher Reyes Moronta Dies in Traffic Accident at Age 31 (ESPN)

🏈 Colts’ Pass-Rusher Samson Ebukam Suffers Torn Achilles in Training Camp (CBS Sports)

🏈 Texans’ DE Denico Autry Suspended 6 Games for PED Violation (Yahoo! Sports)

👟 Noah Lyles Doubles Down on ‘Fastest Man in the World’ Claim Amid Video Backlash (B/R)

📺 Eurosport Olympics Reporter Bob Ballard Dumped After Sexist Remark During Swimming Competition (USA Today)

🏈 Jets QB Aaron Rodgers Fired Up at Practice Over Bad Snaps & Sloppy Play (NBC Sports)

⚾️ Orioles Catcher James McCann Shrugs Off Fastball to the Face (FOX Sports)

  SCHEDULE   🗓️

Today's Olympic Must-Watch List

🏅 Olympics

🏀 MBB: 🇨🇦 Canada vs. 🇦🇺 Australia (9:00 am)

👟 Men’s Triathlon (2:00 am ET / 10:00 am Encore)

🏀 M&W: 3x3 Basketball (11:30 am & 3:00 pm)

🤸 WGYM: Women’s Team Final (12:15 pm)

⚽️ MSOC: 🇺🇸 USA vs. 🇬🇳 Guinea (1:00 pm)

Other Sports: Archery, Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Volleyball, Boxing, Canoeing, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Field Hockey, Gymnastics, Handball, Judo, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Surfing, Swimming, Table Tennis, Water Polo

*All Times ET / Coverage on NBC & Peacock

Other Sports

⚾️ MLB

Yankees at Phillies (6:40 pm ET, TBS)

Braves at Brewers (8:10 pm ET, MBLN)

Dodgers at Padres (9:40 pm ET, MLBN)

Full MLB Schedule

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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