The Sportsletter - Sports Goes Back to School 🎒

BY JEFF YODER

AUG. 16, 2024 |  SUBSCRIBE  |  WEB VIEW

Happy Friday 👋

The post-Olympics lull is over and it feels like a full-fledged fall schedule once again. A lot happened yesterday. Golf, baseball, football, soccer, and basketball headlined a wild “back to school” day. We’re back in the classroom to break down game film and cram some late-nighters. Let’s have some fun on our way to class (all of the headlines are school-related puns).

Enjoy! 🎒

  SOCCER  

Top of the Class 🇺🇸 

Photo: John Walton / Getty Images

Mauricio Pochettino Set to Become Next USMNT Manager 🇺🇸

No excuses, now. Mauricio Pochettino is set to become the new skipper of the U.S. Men's National Team. Pochettino will replace former USMNT manager Gregg Berhalter after he was fired following the team's collapse in the Copa America tournament. Often known by the nickname “Poch” in soccer circles, the 52-year-old Argentinian has been a top-tier manager for some of Europe’s marquee clubs. Most recently, he was in charge of Chelsea (2023-24) and PSG (2020-2023), but he spent six-plus seasons leading Tottenham (2014-2020) to consistent Premier League top-four finishes.

A Move for the Golden Era

This current “golden era” of U.S. men’s soccer has high expectations, but they’ve always underperformed with Berhalter. Pochettino’s addition mimics the move made by the USWNT to land Emma Hayes this spring. She also came from Chelsea, just like Poch, and that move resulted in Olympic gold.

Read More

NBC Sports: Is Pochettino the Perfect Fit for USMNT at a Crucial Time?

Sporting News: Is Poch the Right USMNT Hire? USMNT Makes Big But Risky Splash

  GOLF  

A First-Test Ace ⛳️

Photo: Mike Mulholland / Getty Images

FedEx Cup Playoffs: Chris Kirk (-6) Leads After Round 1 at St. Jude Championship Thanks to Hole-in-One

We’re golfing at TPC Southwind in Memphis. Low numbers were easy to find in Round 1 of the St. Jude Championship, but Chris Kirk (-6) captured the day with a hole-in-one on the 205-yard par-3 14th. Aces! The two FedEx Cup Playoff points leaders — Scottie Scheffler (1st) and Xander Schauffele (2nd) — are in the mix at 4-under. Round 2 begins shortly.

St. Jude Championship

1. C. Kirk (-6)

T2. T. Pendrith (-5)

T2. M. Pavon (-5)

T2. H. Matsuyama (-5)

T5. S. Scheffler (-4)

T5. X. Schauffele (-4)

Other Notable Scorecards: T. Fleetwood (-4), J. Rose (-4), J. Thomas (-3), C. Young (-2), C. Morikawa (-2), W. Clark (-2), R. McIlroy (-2), J. Spieth (-2), T. Finau (-1), V. Hovland (E), A. Scott (E) | Full Leaderboard

Round 1 Highlights | Round 2 Tee Times

  MLB  

Nice Bike, Freshman 🚲

Photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

Phillies' Weston Wilson Becomes 1st Rookie in Franchise History to Hit for the Cycle

The name’s Wilson… Weston Wilson. It was a snoozer last night in Philadelphia when the Phillies KO’d the Nats with a four-run first inning. It was 9-0 in less than 45 minutes. But hold on to your handlebars. Phillies’ rookie Weston Wilson had a cycle to ride. The 29-year-old freshman hit a triple and a bloop-single in the 4th inning. He added his third career home run in the 7th, and the cycle-watch was on. The crowd knew it. So did he. With one out in the 8th, Wilson slapped a double and brought Citizens Bank Park to its feet. He gave a little shimmy at second base and became the first Phillies rookie to hit for the cycle. They won a laugher (13-3). Is the legend of Weston Wilson just beginning?

The Best of Wes: Wilson persevered through seven years in the minor leagues before coming up just a month ago. He’s hit three home runs (+ the cycle) in the last eight days, and he’s batting .342 with a 1.034 OPS. Goodness.

Watch: Weston Wilson Becomes 1st Phillies Rookie to Hit for Cycle

Fun Fact: Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford also hit for the cycle on June 30. It’s the first time in MLB history two rookies hit for the cycle in the same season.

  NFL  

More Rookie Homework 📝

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

NFL Preseason Week 2: Eagles def. Patriots (14-13) on Rookie QB Drake Maye's Up-And-Down Night

Every year we fight the coverage conundrum of NFL preseason. It’s not real football, but it’s still real football. Ya know? Last night gave us more game film on Patriots’ rookie quarterback Drake Maye. He was 6/11 for 47 yards and he waltzed in for a touchdown run. Patriots fans saw glimpses of potential, and they’re not mad about it. Maye did suffer a sack-fumble in the Pats’ loss to the Eagles (14-13). We’ll have a full breakdown of early “Rookie QB Rankings” next week following Week 2 of the preseason. Check the must-watch list for some noteworthy preseason games you can watch this weekend.

Watch: Eagles Rally to Beat Patriots in Preseason Week 2 (14-13)

More NFL Preseason

CBS: Drake Maye Gives Patriots Something to Think About After Impressive Game

USA Today: NFL’s New ‘Dynamic’ Kickoff Rules are Already Throwing Teams for a Loop

  WNBA  

Class is (Back) in Session

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Olympians Are Back — Liberty Light Up the Sparks (103-68) in Return to WNBA Season

It had been almost a month since the WNBA regular season pushed pause, but that gold-medal run didn’t halt the momentum for Lady Liberty. New York reopened their push for the No. 1 playoff spot when play resumed last night across the WNBA, and they thrashed the Sparks (103-68) thanks to their star gold medalists — Breanna Stewart (27 pts) and Sabrina Ionescu (18 pts). The Liberty (22-4) are four wins clear of second place in the playoff race with roughly 15 regular-season games left. Everyone's chasing New York. It’s crunch time, and class is in session.

Watch: Liberty’s Olympic Duo Return With 35-Point Blowout

Other WNBA Highlights

Mercury def. Sky (85-65)

Copper (29 pts) & Griner (23 pts) Combine for 52

Lynx def. Mystics (79-68)

Collier (17 pts, 12 rebs) Notches Double-Double

  STORYLINES   

🏀 The 2024-25 NBA Schedule Release

The schedule is out. Among the highlights are a Celtics-Knicks opener on Boston’s ring night, Durant going back to school, LeBron’s 40th birthday, the In-Season Tournament, and four nights that feature all 30 teams. (AP)

⚾️ This Pitching Rule Could Change Everything

Major League Baseball has taken a drastic swing at recent rule changes to inject speed and excitement into the game. Could a six-inning minimum for starting pitchers bring more offense? Or chaos? (ESPN)

⚽️ Premier League Predictions for 2024-25

The 2024-25 Premier League season is almost here and it is time for us to predict how the nine-month marathon is going to go. Who will win the title? Which teams will be fighting for European qualification? Who will be relegated? (NBC Sports)

  NEWS   📰 

⚾️ Brewer’s Christian Yelich to Have Season-Ending Back Surgery (CBS Sports)

🏈 Falcons Make Another Splash on Defense, Sign Safety Justin Simmons (ESPN)

🏀 Indiana Fever Win Bid to Host 2025 WNBA All-Star Game in Indianapolis (Yahoo! Sports)

🏈 Bills Pro Bowl LB Matt Milano to Have Surgery on Torn Biceps, Out Indefinitely (B/R)

🏅 Viral Olympic Breakdancer ‘Raygun’ Makes Emotional Plea After Receiving ‘Devastating’ Online Hate (SI)

🏁 Former NASCAR Champion Kurt Busch Arrested for DWI, Reckless Driving (USA Today)

⚾️ Mets Get Roasted by Fans After Social Media’s ‘Hawk Tuah’ Girl Throws Out First Pitch (ClutchPoints)

🎾 Video: Yoshihito Nishioka Has Incredible Meltdown in Dramatic Match With Hubert Hurkacz at Cincinnati Open (Tennis TV)

  WEEKEND SCHEDULE   🗓️

The Weekend Must-Watch List

⛳️ St. Jude Championship

Rounds 2-4 (All Weekend, ESPN+ & Golf Channel)

🏈 NFL Preseason (Week 2)

Bengals at Bears (Sat. 1:00 pm, NFLN)

Bills at Steelers (Sat. 7:00 pm, NFLN)

Cowboys at Raiders (Sat. 10:00 pm, NFLN)

Saints at 49ers (Sun. 8:00 pm, FOX)

Full Preseason Week 2 Schedule

⚾️ MLB

Brewers-Guardians Series

Dodgers-Cardinals Series

Red Sox-Orioles Series

Full MLB Weekend Schedule

🏀 WNBA

Liberty at Aces (Sat. 4:00 pm, CBS)

Storm at Fever (Sun. 3:30 pm, ABC)

Full WNBA Weekend Schedule

⚽️ Soccer

Leagues Cup Schedule

Premier League Schedule

  POLL RESULTS   📊

Super Bowl Census 🏆

Six months out? Maybe so. We still asked the question yesterday: Which NFL team will win Super Bowl LIX in 2025? Thousands answered. Rematch, anyone?

Top Super Bowl Picks

AFC: Chiefs — 11.4% of Picks

NFC: 49ers — 9.3% of Picks

Rest of the Top-10: 3. Bills (5.6%), 4. Dolphins (5.2%), 5. Lions (4.8%), 6. Bengals (4.7%), 7. Eagles (4.3%), 8. Packers (4.1%), 9. Ravens (3.6%), 10. Cowboys (3.4%) | Fewest Votes: Titans (0.6%)

  THE TEAM  

Writer & Editor: Jeff Yoder

Assistant Writer: Marissa Kasch

Social Media: Aaron Yorke

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