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Frozen Four Breakdown: How Denver Took Home the Title | Deadspin.com   Four teams hit the rink this past weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, to see who would be crowned the 2026 NCAA D1 Frozen Four Champions. Two games were played on Thursday, with the championship game on Saturday. In the end, only one team would lift the trophy high and get their picture taken as their snapshot would be frozen in time forever.Badge of HonorThe first matchup on Thursday was between the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the Wisconsin Badgers. Badger fans marked their territory in section 7, while the North Dakota faithful sat in section 16. In the first ten minutes of the game, both teams had shots on goal, and there were plenty of scuffles as the temperature rose. It was not until a tick under seven minutes that the first goal of the tournament occurred. Wisconsin’s Simon Tassey gave his team the lead against the Fighting Hawks. In the span of twenty seconds, Wisconsin had another shot on goal before Ryan Borrtelli received a pass from the crease to the middle, and his shot slid past the goaltender to put the Badgers up 2-0. As the first period ended, fans booed when two players got tangled up with the puck and the action ended. Wisconsin outshot North Dakota 18-4 in the first period and remained dominant until the third period.North Dakota had plenty of opportunities to get the puck in the net, but the players were not in sync for most of the game. It seemed like the Fighting Hawks forgot the fundamentals of hockey. Penalties were galore in the second period. The green and black almost scored near the tail end of their 5-4 advantage, but could not get the puck past the goaltender Daniel Hauser. They even had a 5-3 power play with six minutes left to go in the second period, but missed an opportunity with a minute to go. Just when it looked like the Badgers were going to get a shutout, forward Simon Tassy scored with 52 seconds to go in the game in one last gasp for a comeback. The Badgers could not score an empty-netter, but advanced to the national championship. Hauser recorded 21 saves, and the Badgers had 15 more shots on goal despite the Fighting Hawks winning five more faceoffs.The Wolverines can’t claw their Way to a Win.With the Badgers headed to the championship, it was time for fans in attendance to find out who their opponent was. The Denver Pioneers battled the Michigan Wolverines for 82 minutes on the ice. It took two overtimes for a winner to be crowned in the second game of the Frozen Four tournament. The Pioneers had the first shot of the game, but it was the Wolverines who were more aggressive throughout the first period. In the 13th minute, Michigan missed a golden opportunity as the puck slid wide right of the net past the goalie. Denver University found the net first, halfway through the first period, where Kyle Chyzowski scored his 12th of the season.Michigan responded with a goal of its own after winning a faceoff in its zone. TJ Hughes scored his 10th goal of the season to tie it up.Both teams lit up the scoreboard for a 3-3 hockey game that needed two OTs for a winner to be declared. With a little over seven minutes to go in 2OT, Kent Anderson found a way past the goalkeeper to advance the Pioneers to the championship game.Pioneering their Way to VictoryAfter battling Michigan in a double OT thriller, the Denver Pioneers looked to secure their 11th title in school history. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Badgers were seeking their 10th Frozen Four victory. Only one of these teams was going to get to hold the trophy up high, while the other left Vegas in despair.Wisconsin was hot right out of the gate, with the first shot off the right post followed by two more shots that bounced off the goalie. It took half of the period for Denver to get their first shot from the middle of the crease that bounced off the goalie’s pads. The Badgers ended the period with a flurry of shots, but none found the back of the net, despite having five times more shots than their opponent, ten. In the second twenty-minute block, both teams had their opportunities, but neither could capitalize.Denver tied up the game with a rebound shot by Rieger Lorenz off a slapshot. With the game tied at 1-1, fans wondered if they were going to see déjà vu. Instead, Hauser lost his stick on a save, leaving him with only his hands. That proved to be the deciding factor, as the Pioneers scored the game-winner. The Badgers fans headed for the exits, but the Pioneer fans celebrated with their team. Singing along to “Country Road” and “We are the Champions”, the team took turns hoisting the trophy and cutting the nets. The refs in this game let the players skate as only three penalties were called. The Pioneers’ goaltender, Johnny Hicks, had 26 saves and was named the most outstanding player of the tournament.Outside of the four teams that participated in the tournament, there were jerseys from the following states and countries: USA, Japan, Canada, Minnesota, Alaska, Maine, Missouri, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and the host state of Nevada to name a few. It is recorded that over 53,000 fans attended or were a part of the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Next year, the tournament will be held in Washington, D.C. for the second time and for the first time in almost 20 years.Denver University has won three of the past five tournaments, and only seven times since 1948 has a team hoisted the trophy back-to-back years. Denver has done it before, and Minnesota-Duluth is the last team to do so in 2018-2019. Who will be the last team standing in Washington, D.C.? It is an unpredictable tournament with a hardcore following, and it was an unbelievable experience to witness in person.   #Frozen #Breakdown #Denver #Home #Title #Deadspin.com

Frozen Four Breakdown: How Denver Took Home the Title | Deadspin.com

Four teams hit the rink this past weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, to see who would be crowned the 2026 NCAA D1 Frozen Four Champions. 

Two games were played on Thursday, with the championship game on Saturday. In the end, only one team would lift the trophy high and get their picture taken as their snapshot would be frozen in time forever.

Badge of Honor
The first matchup on Thursday was between the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the Wisconsin Badgers. Badger fans marked their territory in section 7, while the North Dakota faithful sat in section 16. In the first ten minutes of the game, both teams had shots on goal, and there were plenty of scuffles as the temperature rose. It was not until a tick under seven minutes that the first goal of the tournament occurred. 

Wisconsin’s Simon Tassey gave his team the lead against the Fighting Hawks. In the span of twenty seconds, Wisconsin had another shot on goal before Ryan Borrtelli received a pass from the crease to the middle, and his shot slid past the goaltender to put the Badgers up 2-0. As the first period ended, fans booed when two players got tangled up with the puck and the action ended. Wisconsin outshot North Dakota 18-4 in the first period and remained dominant until the third period.

North Dakota had plenty of opportunities to get the puck in the net, but the players were not in sync for most of the game. It seemed like the Fighting Hawks forgot the fundamentals of hockey. Penalties were galore in the second period. The green and black almost scored near the tail end of their 5-4 advantage, but could not get the puck past the goaltender Daniel Hauser. 

They even had a 5-3 power play with six minutes left to go in the second period, but missed an opportunity with a minute to go. Just when it looked like the Badgers were going to get a shutout, forward Simon Tassy scored with 52 seconds to go in the game in one last gasp for a comeback. The Badgers could not score an empty-netter, but advanced to the national championship. Hauser recorded 21 saves, and the Badgers had 15 more shots on goal despite the Fighting Hawks winning five more faceoffs.

The Wolverines can’t claw their Way to a Win.
With the Badgers headed to the championship, it was time for fans in attendance to find out who their opponent was. The Denver Pioneers battled the Michigan Wolverines for 82 minutes on the ice. It took two overtimes for a winner to be crowned in the second game of the Frozen Four tournament. 

The Pioneers had the first shot of the game, but it was the Wolverines who were more aggressive throughout the first period. In the 13th minute, Michigan missed a golden opportunity as the puck slid wide right of the net past the goalie. Denver University found the net first, halfway through the first period, where Kyle Chyzowski scored his 12th of the season.
Michigan responded with a goal of its own after winning a faceoff in its zone. TJ Hughes scored his 10th goal of the season to tie it up.
Both teams lit up the scoreboard for a 3-3 hockey game that needed two OTs for a winner to be declared. With a little over seven minutes to go in 2OT, Kent Anderson found a way past the goalkeeper to advance the Pioneers to the championship game.

Pioneering their Way to Victory
After battling Michigan in a double OT thriller, the Denver Pioneers looked to secure their 11th title in school history. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Badgers were seeking their 10th Frozen Four victory. Only one of these teams was going to get to hold the trophy up high, while the other left Vegas in despair.
Wisconsin was hot right out of the gate, with the first shot off the right post followed by two more shots that bounced off the goalie. It took half of the period for Denver to get their first shot from the middle of the crease that bounced off the goalie’s pads. The Badgers ended the period with a flurry of shots, but none found the back of the net, despite having five times more shots than their opponent, ten. In the second twenty-minute block, both teams had their opportunities, but neither could capitalize.

Denver tied up the game with a rebound shot by Rieger Lorenz off a slapshot. With the game tied at 1-1, fans wondered if they were going to see déjà vu. Instead, Hauser lost his stick on a save, leaving him with only his hands. That proved to be the deciding factor, as the Pioneers scored the game-winner. 

The Badgers fans headed for the exits, but the Pioneer fans celebrated with their team. Singing along to “Country Road” and “We are the Champions”, the team took turns hoisting the trophy and cutting the nets. The refs in this game let the players skate as only three penalties were called. The Pioneers’ goaltender, Johnny Hicks, had 26 saves and was named the most outstanding player of the tournament.

Outside of the four teams that participated in the tournament, there were jerseys from the following states and countries: USA, Japan, Canada, Minnesota, Alaska, Maine, Missouri, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and the host state of Nevada to name a few. It is recorded that over 53,000 fans attended or were a part of the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Next year, the tournament will be held in Washington, D.C. for the second time and for the first time in almost 20 years.
Denver University has won three of the past five tournaments, and only seven times since 1948 has a team hoisted the trophy back-to-back years. Denver has done it before, and Minnesota-Duluth is the last team to do so in 2018-2019. Who will be the last team standing in Washington, D.C.? It is an unpredictable tournament with a hardcore following, and it was an unbelievable experience to witness in person.

#Frozen #Breakdown #Denver #Home #Title #Deadspin.com

Four teams hit the rink this past weekend at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, to see who would be crowned the 2026 NCAA D1 Frozen Four Champions. 

Two games were played on Thursday, with the championship game on Saturday. In the end, only one team would lift the trophy high and get their picture taken as their snapshot would be frozen in time forever.

Badge of Honor
The first matchup on Thursday was between the North Dakota Fighting Hawks and the Wisconsin Badgers. Badger fans marked their territory in section 7, while the North Dakota faithful sat in section 16. In the first ten minutes of the game, both teams had shots on goal, and there were plenty of scuffles as the temperature rose. It was not until a tick under seven minutes that the first goal of the tournament occurred. 

Wisconsin’s Simon Tassey gave his team the lead against the Fighting Hawks. In the span of twenty seconds, Wisconsin had another shot on goal before Ryan Borrtelli received a pass from the crease to the middle, and his shot slid past the goaltender to put the Badgers up 2-0. As the first period ended, fans booed when two players got tangled up with the puck and the action ended. Wisconsin outshot North Dakota 18-4 in the first period and remained dominant until the third period.

North Dakota had plenty of opportunities to get the puck in the net, but the players were not in sync for most of the game. It seemed like the Fighting Hawks forgot the fundamentals of hockey. Penalties were galore in the second period. The green and black almost scored near the tail end of their 5-4 advantage, but could not get the puck past the goaltender Daniel Hauser. 

They even had a 5-3 power play with six minutes left to go in the second period, but missed an opportunity with a minute to go. Just when it looked like the Badgers were going to get a shutout, forward Simon Tassy scored with 52 seconds to go in the game in one last gasp for a comeback. The Badgers could not score an empty-netter, but advanced to the national championship. Hauser recorded 21 saves, and the Badgers had 15 more shots on goal despite the Fighting Hawks winning five more faceoffs.

The Wolverines can’t claw their Way to a Win.
With the Badgers headed to the championship, it was time for fans in attendance to find out who their opponent was. The Denver Pioneers battled the Michigan Wolverines for 82 minutes on the ice. It took two overtimes for a winner to be crowned in the second game of the Frozen Four tournament. 

The Pioneers had the first shot of the game, but it was the Wolverines who were more aggressive throughout the first period. In the 13th minute, Michigan missed a golden opportunity as the puck slid wide right of the net past the goalie. Denver University found the net first, halfway through the first period, where Kyle Chyzowski scored his 12th of the season.
Michigan responded with a goal of its own after winning a faceoff in its zone. TJ Hughes scored his 10th goal of the season to tie it up.
Both teams lit up the scoreboard for a 3-3 hockey game that needed two OTs for a winner to be declared. With a little over seven minutes to go in 2OT, Kent Anderson found a way past the goalkeeper to advance the Pioneers to the championship game.

Pioneering their Way to Victory
After battling Michigan in a double OT thriller, the Denver Pioneers looked to secure their 11th title in school history. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Badgers were seeking their 10th Frozen Four victory. Only one of these teams was going to get to hold the trophy up high, while the other left Vegas in despair.
Wisconsin was hot right out of the gate, with the first shot off the right post followed by two more shots that bounced off the goalie. It took half of the period for Denver to get their first shot from the middle of the crease that bounced off the goalie’s pads. The Badgers ended the period with a flurry of shots, but none found the back of the net, despite having five times more shots than their opponent, ten. In the second twenty-minute block, both teams had their opportunities, but neither could capitalize.

Denver tied up the game with a rebound shot by Rieger Lorenz off a slapshot. With the game tied at 1-1, fans wondered if they were going to see déjà vu. Instead, Hauser lost his stick on a save, leaving him with only his hands. That proved to be the deciding factor, as the Pioneers scored the game-winner. 

The Badgers fans headed for the exits, but the Pioneer fans celebrated with their team. Singing along to “Country Road” and “We are the Champions”, the team took turns hoisting the trophy and cutting the nets. The refs in this game let the players skate as only three penalties were called. The Pioneers’ goaltender, Johnny Hicks, had 26 saves and was named the most outstanding player of the tournament.

Outside of the four teams that participated in the tournament, there were jerseys from the following states and countries: USA, Japan, Canada, Minnesota, Alaska, Maine, Missouri, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and the host state of Nevada to name a few. It is recorded that over 53,000 fans attended or were a part of the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Next year, the tournament will be held in Washington, D.C. for the second time and for the first time in almost 20 years.
Denver University has won three of the past five tournaments, and only seven times since 1948 has a team hoisted the trophy back-to-back years. Denver has done it before, and Minnesota-Duluth is the last team to do so in 2018-2019. Who will be the last team standing in Washington, D.C.? It is an unpredictable tournament with a hardcore following, and it was an unbelievable experience to witness in person.

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#Frozen #Breakdown #Denver #Home #Title #Deadspin.com

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Commanders snag one of the draft’s best defenders at No. 7 in the SB Nation community mock draft <div id="cyclone-embed-body-e98dd0ab-435b-4aee-a4da-dd28a114833a"><p>Even with Reese, Bailey, Love, and Styles off the board, the Commanders still had several great options. Carnell Tate was considered to pair with Terry McLaurin, and give Jayden Daniels another weapon. Caleb Downs is the pick, and gives Washington the best safety they’ve had on the roster in a long time. Downs is an intelligent and versatile defender who can take over the green dot from Bobby Wagner. Downs immediately improves a secondary that has has had communication and talent issues.</p></div> #Commanders #snag #drafts #defenders #Nation #community #mock #draft

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Medvedev fined $7,000 for smashing his racket 7 times at the Monte Carlo Masters <div id="content-body-70858970" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Former No. 1 Daniil Medvedev was fined 6,000 euros ($7,000) for unsportsmanlike conduct after he smashed his seven racquet times during a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters last week, the ATP Tour confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.</p><p>Medvedev, who is currently ranked 10th, received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct by the chair umpire for his actions early in the second set of Wednesday’s match.</p><p>The fine is small in comparison to the $76,000 and $42,500 that Medvedev was penalised with for outbursts at the Australian Open and U.S. Open last year, respectively.</p><p>Medvedev, who had a first-round bye, had earned 45,520 euros ($50,000) in prize money from the Monte Carlo tournament.</p><p>The 30-year-old Russian was already struggling when he landed a forehand in the net to drop his opening service game of the second set and fall behind 2-0 and he slammed his racquet near the baseline. Then he picked the racquet up and threw it toward a tarp at the end of the court.</p><p>Still not through, Medvedev then continually picked his frame up and kept smashing it until it was destroyed enough to fit through an opening in a courtside trash can as the crowd sarcastically cheered him on.</p><p>Medvedev, who won the U.S. Open in 2021, lost the match in 49 minutes.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 13, 2026</p></div> #Medvedev #fined #smashing #racket #times #Monte #Carlo #Masters

Deadspin | Red Sox chase 10th straight win, aim to hand A’s 10th straight loss  Aug 7, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Raymond Burgos (79) reacts after throwing the final out to beat the Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images   The Boston Red Sox can do no wrong these days. At least that’s the way it seems.  The Red Sox will enter their Saturday matchup against the visiting Athletics on a nine-game winning streak after recording a 13-1 victory on Friday in the opening contest of a three-game series.  Boston has won 11 of its last 12 games, 27 of its past 30 and 32 of its past 37 — the best streak in franchise history. The Friday victory was the Red Sox’s 12th in their past 14 home games and improved the team’s record to 29-29 at Fenway Park.  Boston has scored 25 runs in the past two games.  “It’s absolutely amazing,” left fielder Jarren Duran told WEEI following the latest triumph. “I remember at the beginning of the season the feeling was, ‘I hope we score.’ Now it’s gotten to the point of it’s just a matter of when we score and how much are we going to score.”  Catcher Jake Rogers and reliever Raymond Burgos, two players who may not be with the Red Sox for very long, made significant contributions on Friday.  Boston acquired Rogers when it traded for Adley Rutschman because the Red Sox needed a backup catcher until Rutschman is cleared to play after missing time due to left wrist inflammation. Rogers doubled in each of his first two at-bats on Friday. He also walked once, drove in a run and scored three times.  Rutschman hasn’t played since July 18, but following the Friday game, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the three-time All-Star is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.   Burgos was called up from Worcester on Friday to fortify a depleted bullpen after Boston played a 13-inning game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He made his second major league appearance Friday night and tossed three scoreless innings to earn his first save. He retired each of the nine batters he faced.  The Athletics were limited to two hits in the defeat, which extended their losing streak to nine games. The A’s also parted ways with general manager David Forst on Friday. Forst had been with the organization for 27 seasons.  “For me, (Forst) gave me this opportunity to manage this club,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve faced our certain circumstances, challenges, together. That’s what’s tough about it. Not being able to see it through with him.  “My ask of (the players) is that they go out and win as many games as possible from this point forward.”  The Athletics will be hoping for a repeat performance when they send rookie Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. The left-hander was the winning pitcher when the Athletics beat the Red Sox 4-3 on July 28 — Boston’s last loss. He tossed six scoreless innings and struck out seven in that win, which is his only career appearance against the Red Sox.  Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (7-4, 2.90) is Boston’s scheduled starter. Bennett was the losing pitcher in that July 28 game against the Athletics, when he allowed three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. That was his only career appearance against the Athletics.  Despite that setback, Bennett is 6-1 with a 2.13 ERA in his past eight starts.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Red #Sox #chase #10th #straight #win #aim #hand #10th #straight #lossAug 7, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Raymond Burgos (79) reacts after throwing the final out to beat the Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The Boston Red Sox can do no wrong these days. At least that’s the way it seems.

The Red Sox will enter their Saturday matchup against the visiting Athletics on a nine-game winning streak after recording a 13-1 victory on Friday in the opening contest of a three-game series.

Boston has won 11 of its last 12 games, 27 of its past 30 and 32 of its past 37 — the best streak in franchise history. The Friday victory was the Red Sox’s 12th in their past 14 home games and improved the team’s record to 29-29 at Fenway Park.

Boston has scored 25 runs in the past two games.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” left fielder Jarren Duran told WEEI following the latest triumph. “I remember at the beginning of the season the feeling was, ‘I hope we score.’ Now it’s gotten to the point of it’s just a matter of when we score and how much are we going to score.”

Catcher Jake Rogers and reliever Raymond Burgos, two players who may not be with the Red Sox for very long, made significant contributions on Friday.

Boston acquired Rogers when it traded for Adley Rutschman because the Red Sox needed a backup catcher until Rutschman is cleared to play after missing time due to left wrist inflammation. Rogers doubled in each of his first two at-bats on Friday. He also walked once, drove in a run and scored three times.


Rutschman hasn’t played since July 18, but following the Friday game, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the three-time All-Star is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.

Burgos was called up from Worcester on Friday to fortify a depleted bullpen after Boston played a 13-inning game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He made his second major league appearance Friday night and tossed three scoreless innings to earn his first save. He retired each of the nine batters he faced.

The Athletics were limited to two hits in the defeat, which extended their losing streak to nine games. The A’s also parted ways with general manager David Forst on Friday. Forst had been with the organization for 27 seasons.

“For me, (Forst) gave me this opportunity to manage this club,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve faced our certain circumstances, challenges, together. That’s what’s tough about it. Not being able to see it through with him.

“My ask of (the players) is that they go out and win as many games as possible from this point forward.”

The Athletics will be hoping for a repeat performance when they send rookie Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. The left-hander was the winning pitcher when the Athletics beat the Red Sox 4-3 on July 28 — Boston’s last loss. He tossed six scoreless innings and struck out seven in that win, which is his only career appearance against the Red Sox.

Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (7-4, 2.90) is Boston’s scheduled starter. Bennett was the losing pitcher in that July 28 game against the Athletics, when he allowed three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. That was his only career appearance against the Athletics.

Despite that setback, Bennett is 6-1 with a 2.13 ERA in his past eight starts.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Red #Sox #chase #10th #straight #win #aim #hand #10th #straight #loss">Deadspin | Red Sox chase 10th straight win, aim to hand A’s 10th straight loss  Aug 7, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Raymond Burgos (79) reacts after throwing the final out to beat the Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images   The Boston Red Sox can do no wrong these days. At least that’s the way it seems.  The Red Sox will enter their Saturday matchup against the visiting Athletics on a nine-game winning streak after recording a 13-1 victory on Friday in the opening contest of a three-game series.  Boston has won 11 of its last 12 games, 27 of its past 30 and 32 of its past 37 — the best streak in franchise history. The Friday victory was the Red Sox’s 12th in their past 14 home games and improved the team’s record to 29-29 at Fenway Park.  Boston has scored 25 runs in the past two games.  “It’s absolutely amazing,” left fielder Jarren Duran told WEEI following the latest triumph. “I remember at the beginning of the season the feeling was, ‘I hope we score.’ Now it’s gotten to the point of it’s just a matter of when we score and how much are we going to score.”  Catcher Jake Rogers and reliever Raymond Burgos, two players who may not be with the Red Sox for very long, made significant contributions on Friday.  Boston acquired Rogers when it traded for Adley Rutschman because the Red Sox needed a backup catcher until Rutschman is cleared to play after missing time due to left wrist inflammation. Rogers doubled in each of his first two at-bats on Friday. He also walked once, drove in a run and scored three times.  Rutschman hasn’t played since July 18, but following the Friday game, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the three-time All-Star is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.   Burgos was called up from Worcester on Friday to fortify a depleted bullpen after Boston played a 13-inning game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He made his second major league appearance Friday night and tossed three scoreless innings to earn his first save. He retired each of the nine batters he faced.  The Athletics were limited to two hits in the defeat, which extended their losing streak to nine games. The A’s also parted ways with general manager David Forst on Friday. Forst had been with the organization for 27 seasons.  “For me, (Forst) gave me this opportunity to manage this club,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve faced our certain circumstances, challenges, together. That’s what’s tough about it. Not being able to see it through with him.  “My ask of (the players) is that they go out and win as many games as possible from this point forward.”  The Athletics will be hoping for a repeat performance when they send rookie Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. The left-hander was the winning pitcher when the Athletics beat the Red Sox 4-3 on July 28 — Boston’s last loss. He tossed six scoreless innings and struck out seven in that win, which is his only career appearance against the Red Sox.  Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (7-4, 2.90) is Boston’s scheduled starter. Bennett was the losing pitcher in that July 28 game against the Athletics, when he allowed three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. That was his only career appearance against the Athletics.  Despite that setback, Bennett is 6-1 with a 2.13 ERA in his past eight starts.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Red #Sox #chase #10th #straight #win #aim #hand #10th #straight #loss

Despite a bummer of an ending, it was obviously a wonderful year for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama morphed into arguably the best player in the world, and proved that he could drive winning at the highest levels by leading his team to an upset victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama turns 23 years old in the middle of next season, and he’ll be the presumptive favorite to win his first MVP. Only the Thunder are ahead of the Spurs in our way-too-early power rankings for the 2026-27 campaign.

The scariest thing about Wembanyama is he still has so much room to get better. To me, the biggest thing that would help him level up again is figuring out a signature shot in the mid-range that he can always lean on when he doesn’t want to chuck a three and can’t get all the way to the rim. In the playoffs, Wemby took a decent amount of mid-range shots, with 28% of his field goal attempts coming on non-rim two-pointers. The problem is he only made 35% of those shots. Wemby obviously has good touch — he’s an 82% career free throw shooter, and 34% career three-point shooter — so I tend to think he can get a lot more accurate from the mid-range in time.

A video circulated from the Spurs’ offseason workouts, and it should terrify the rest of the NBA. Wembanyama might be figuring out his mid-range game in the most unstoppable possible style: by mastering Dirk Nowitzki’s go-to fadeaway.

There’s a world where that shot could be as unstoppable as a skyhook for Wembanyama. It’s going to be impossible to contest, and it gives him enough room to square his shoulders to the basket for a shot. The fact that Wemby is now strong enough to win the positioning battle on the ground against his man only makes this even more enticing. If Wembanyama can hit this with any consistency, it’s going to give him even more scoring versatility for when the game slows down in the playoffs.

Wemby could still be a few years away from his offensive peak. Right now, it feels like he’s about as dominant defensively as anyone has ever been. It’s easy to imagine Wembanyama and Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle reaching the NBA Finals year after year, but the reality is that the NBA hasn’t even had a repeat conference champ since the 2019 Golden State Warriors. Everyone thought LeBron James would be in the Finals every year after he made it for the first time in 2007. It turns out James had to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat before he made his next trip in 2011 … where he lost to Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks.

Wembanyama should be adding to his offensive arsenal every offseason. Beginning to integrate a Dirk fade into his game would be the best possible start.

#Victor #Wembanyama #working #Dirk #Nowitzkis #fadeaway #NBA">Victor Wembanyama is working on Dirk Nowitzki’s fadeaway, and it might be over for the NBA  Despite a bummer of an ending, it was obviously a wonderful year for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama morphed into arguably the best player in the world, and proved that he could drive winning at the highest levels by leading his team to an upset victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama turns 23 years old in the middle of next season, and he’ll be the presumptive favorite to win his first MVP. Only the Thunder are ahead of the Spurs in our way-too-early power rankings for the 2026-27 campaign.The scariest thing about Wembanyama is he still has so much room to get better. To me, the biggest thing that would help him level up again is figuring out a signature shot in the mid-range that he can always lean on when he doesn’t want to chuck a three and can’t get all the way to the rim. In the playoffs, Wemby took a decent amount of mid-range shots, with 28% of his field goal attempts coming on non-rim two-pointers. The problem is he only made 35% of those shots. Wemby obviously has good touch — he’s an 82% career free throw shooter, and 34% career three-point shooter — so I tend to think he can get a lot more accurate from the mid-range in time.A video circulated from the Spurs’ offseason workouts, and it should terrify the rest of the NBA. Wembanyama might be figuring out his mid-range game in the most unstoppable possible style: by mastering Dirk Nowitzki’s go-to fadeaway.There’s a world where that shot could be as unstoppable as a skyhook for Wembanyama. It’s going to be impossible to contest, and it gives him enough room to square his shoulders to the basket for a shot. The fact that Wemby is now strong enough to win the positioning battle on the ground against his man only makes this even more enticing. If Wembanyama can hit this with any consistency, it’s going to give him even more scoring versatility for when the game slows down in the playoffs.Wemby could still be a few years away from his offensive peak. Right now, it feels like he’s about as dominant defensively as anyone has ever been. It’s easy to imagine Wembanyama and Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle reaching the NBA Finals year after year, but the reality is that the NBA hasn’t even had a repeat conference champ since the 2019 Golden State Warriors. Everyone thought LeBron James would be in the Finals every year after he made it for the first time in 2007. It turns out James had to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat before he made his next trip in 2011 … where he lost to Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks.Wembanyama should be adding to his offensive arsenal every offseason. Beginning to integrate a Dirk fade into his game would be the best possible start.  #Victor #Wembanyama #working #Dirk #Nowitzkis #fadeaway #NBA

Only the Thunder are ahead of the Spurs in our way-too-early power rankings for the 2026-27 campaign.

The scariest thing about Wembanyama is he still has so much room to get better. To me, the biggest thing that would help him level up again is figuring out a signature shot in the mid-range that he can always lean on when he doesn’t want to chuck a three and can’t get all the way to the rim. In the playoffs, Wemby took a decent amount of mid-range shots, with 28% of his field goal attempts coming on non-rim two-pointers. The problem is he only made 35% of those shots. Wemby obviously has good touch — he’s an 82% career free throw shooter, and 34% career three-point shooter — so I tend to think he can get a lot more accurate from the mid-range in time.

A video circulated from the Spurs’ offseason workouts, and it should terrify the rest of the NBA. Wembanyama might be figuring out his mid-range game in the most unstoppable possible style: by mastering Dirk Nowitzki’s go-to fadeaway.

There’s a world where that shot could be as unstoppable as a skyhook for Wembanyama. It’s going to be impossible to contest, and it gives him enough room to square his shoulders to the basket for a shot. The fact that Wemby is now strong enough to win the positioning battle on the ground against his man only makes this even more enticing. If Wembanyama can hit this with any consistency, it’s going to give him even more scoring versatility for when the game slows down in the playoffs.

Wemby could still be a few years away from his offensive peak. Right now, it feels like he’s about as dominant defensively as anyone has ever been. It’s easy to imagine Wembanyama and Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle reaching the NBA Finals year after year, but the reality is that the NBA hasn’t even had a repeat conference champ since the 2019 Golden State Warriors. Everyone thought LeBron James would be in the Finals every year after he made it for the first time in 2007. It turns out James had to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat before he made his next trip in 2011 … where he lost to Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks.

Wembanyama should be adding to his offensive arsenal every offseason. Beginning to integrate a Dirk fade into his game would be the best possible start.

#Victor #Wembanyama #working #Dirk #Nowitzkis #fadeaway #NBA">Victor Wembanyama is working on Dirk Nowitzki’s fadeaway, and it might be over for the NBA

Despite a bummer of an ending, it was obviously a wonderful year for the Spurs. Victor Wembanyama morphed into arguably the best player in the world, and proved that he could drive winning at the highest levels by leading his team to an upset victory over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama turns 23 years old in the middle of next season, and he’ll be the presumptive favorite to win his first MVP. Only the Thunder are ahead of the Spurs in our way-too-early power rankings for the 2026-27 campaign.

The scariest thing about Wembanyama is he still has so much room to get better. To me, the biggest thing that would help him level up again is figuring out a signature shot in the mid-range that he can always lean on when he doesn’t want to chuck a three and can’t get all the way to the rim. In the playoffs, Wemby took a decent amount of mid-range shots, with 28% of his field goal attempts coming on non-rim two-pointers. The problem is he only made 35% of those shots. Wemby obviously has good touch — he’s an 82% career free throw shooter, and 34% career three-point shooter — so I tend to think he can get a lot more accurate from the mid-range in time.

A video circulated from the Spurs’ offseason workouts, and it should terrify the rest of the NBA. Wembanyama might be figuring out his mid-range game in the most unstoppable possible style: by mastering Dirk Nowitzki’s go-to fadeaway.

There’s a world where that shot could be as unstoppable as a skyhook for Wembanyama. It’s going to be impossible to contest, and it gives him enough room to square his shoulders to the basket for a shot. The fact that Wemby is now strong enough to win the positioning battle on the ground against his man only makes this even more enticing. If Wembanyama can hit this with any consistency, it’s going to give him even more scoring versatility for when the game slows down in the playoffs.

Wemby could still be a few years away from his offensive peak. Right now, it feels like he’s about as dominant defensively as anyone has ever been. It’s easy to imagine Wembanyama and Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle reaching the NBA Finals year after year, but the reality is that the NBA hasn’t even had a repeat conference champ since the 2019 Golden State Warriors. Everyone thought LeBron James would be in the Finals every year after he made it for the first time in 2007. It turns out James had to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat before he made his next trip in 2011 … where he lost to Nowitzki’s Dallas Mavericks.

Wembanyama should be adding to his offensive arsenal every offseason. Beginning to integrate a Dirk fade into his game would be the best possible start.

#Victor #Wembanyama #working #Dirk #Nowitzkis #fadeaway #NBA

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