Axios Sports: Final Fours — Opening Day — The Kordas

1 big thing: ⚾️ Opening Day recap | Friday, April 02, 2021

Open in app View in browser     Axios Sports By Kendall Baker ·Apr 02, 2021 🎉 Happy Friday! Let's sports. 🎙 Reminder: We're hosting a live conversation on Locker Room for Axios Sports readers at 8am ET (aka right now) — and you're all invited! If you don't have the app, download it and come join our conversation. If you have the app, you can join our conversation now. Today's word count: 1,924 words (7 minutes).     1 big thing: ⚾️ Opening Day recap Wrigley Field. Photo: Nuccio DiNuzzo/MLB Photos via Getty Images Opening Day began with two postponements — one due to rain (Orioles-Red Sox), one due to COVID-19 (Mets-Nationals). But the remaining 13 games still delivered the goods, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. ⭐️ Three stars: First star: Rays RHP Tyler Glasnow: 6 IP, 6 K, 1 H, 0 R Second star: Padres 1B Eric Hosmer: 3-4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, R Third star: Diamondbacks 2B Ketel Marte: 4-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R Miguel Cabrera hits a home run. Photo: Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images 🎥 Highlights: Miggy kicks things off: Miguel Cabrera hit the first home run of the season, an oppo shot through the snow that just snuck over the fence. Web gems: Brewers shortstop Luis Urías and Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius both got their seasons started with unreal grabs. Bleacher Creatures: In the Bronx, the Bleacher Creatures did their Roll Call in the right-field seats for the first time in nearly two years. Manny Machado taking the field in San Diego. Photo: Matt Thomas/Padres/Getty Images Elsewhere: The homer that wasn't: With Justin Turner on first, Cody Bellinger hit one barely over the fence; but Turner, thinking it was caught, retreated to the base as Bellinger passed him mid-trot. By rule, Bellinger was called out and credited with an RBI single as Turner jogged home. Baseball! Nice debut: Rookie Ke'Bryan Hayes, 23, launched a homer in his first at-bat, becoming the youngest Pirate with an Opening Day blast since Barry Bonds in 1988. Struggling aces: Cubs RHP Kyle Hendricks (3 R, 3 BB, 3 IP), Cardinals RHP Jack Flaherty (6 R, 4.1 IP), Padres RHP Yu Darvish (4 R, 4.2 IP) and Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (6 R, 5.2 IP) all got roughed up, but they pale in comparison to Reds RHP Luis Castillo, who allowed six runs on his first 13 pitches, and 10 runs overall in 3.1 IP. Scoreboard: Rays 1, Marlins 0; Cardinals 11, Reds 6; Rockies 8, Dodgers 5; Padres 8, Diamondbacks 7; Phillies 3, Braves 2; Pirates 5, Cubs 3; Brewers 6, Twins 5; Tigers 3, Indians 2; Blue Jays 3, Yankees 2; Royals 14, Rangers 10; Astros 8, A's 1; Angels 4, White Sox 3; Mariners 8, Giants 7     2. 🏀 Preview: Women's Final Four Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photos: Elsa/Getty Images   Tonight's slate starts with a couple heavyweights going toe-to-toe before a Final Four newcomer tries to topple the program making its 13th straight trip to the national semifinal, Jeff writes. No. 1 Stanford vs. No. 1 South Carolina Watch: 6pm ET, ESPN Lines: STAN -6 | O/U 134 Coaching matchup: Stanford: Tara VanDerveer's 1,123 wins are the most all-time among women's D-I coaches, and a win tonight would give her sole possession of second place — including men's coaches — behind Mike Krzyzewski (1,170). South Carolina: Dawn Staley is among the greatest players ever, with two Naismith awards and six WNBA All-Star appearances. Since she became coach in 2008, the Gamecocks have gone 330-102 with eight Sweet 16's and one title (2017). By the numbers: Stanford's two super-subs, Hannah Jump and Ashten Prechtel, shot 10 of 13 from deep over the past two games. That's great insurance should star point guard Kiana Williams have another off-night (6-20 in the Elite Eight). South Carolina allowed zero points in the fourth quarter against Texas in their 62-34 Elite Eight win. Stanford is a tougher opponent, but the Gamecocks' defense is for real. Pregame reading: Why Stanford, calm and deep, could win it all (USA Today); Gamecocks overcome heartbreak, isolation to reach Final Four (The State) No. 1 UConn vs. No. 3 Arizona Watch: 9:30pm, ESPN Lines: CONN -13.5 | O/U 128 Coaching matchup: UConn: Geno Auriemma is just barely behind VanDerveer with 1,119 wins of his own, but he's miles ahead with 11 championships, three more than anyone else (Pat Summit won eight with Tennessee). Arizona: Adia Barnes led the Wildcats to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance back in 1997. Now, in her fifth season as their coach, she's led them to their first Final Four. Amazing. By the numbers: UConn star Paige Bueckers is vying to become just the sixth freshman in men's and women's NCAA history to lead a national champion in scoring (20.1 ppg), joining Jahlil Okafor (2015 Duke), Anthony Davis (2012 Kentucky), Carmelo Anthony (2003 Syracuse), Chamique Holdsclaw (1996 Tennessee) and Cheryl Miller (1983 USC). Arizona represents a strange minority, in that fewer No. 3 seeds (11) have made the Final Four since the field expanded to 64 than teams seeded No. 4 or higher (14). 77% of Final Four teams, meanwhile, have come from the top two seeds. Pregame reading: Paige Bueckers and Jalen Suggs, phenoms and close friends (ESPN); Arizona is practically a Cinderella (FiveThirtyEight)     3. 🏀 Preview: Men's Final Four Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photos: Getty Images   Saturday begins with the fifth Final Four meeting between intra-state opponents and concludes with a matchup between college basketball's winningest program and its lovable David-turned-Goliath, Jeff writes. No. 1 Baylor vs. No. 2 Houston Watch: Saturday, 5:14pm, CBS Lines: BAY -5 | O/U 134.5 Coaching matchup: Baylor: Scott Drew took over a middling Bears team in 2003 that was dealing with one player having murdered another over the summer, but has made the tournament nine times since 2008. Houston: That same year, then-Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson was slapped with a five-year NCAA suspension for recruiting violations. He arrived at Houston in 2014, and has since built a juggernaut. By the numbers: Baylor leads the nation in three-point shooting (41.1%), but they've shot just 35.7% (30-84) from deep in the tourney. Houston is one of three teams (Illinois, Oklahoma) to make five Final Fours without winning it all; a loss tomorrow (or Monday) would put them alone at six. Pregame reading: The Bears are bad news for opposing offenses (FiveThirtyEight); Houston primed to end a streak of bad luck (NCAA) No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 11 UCLA Watch: Saturday, 8:34pm, CBS Lines: GONZ -14 | O/U 145.5 Coaching matchup: Gonzaga: Before Mark Few arrived in 1999, the Bulldogs had made the tourney twice in 55 years. They've made it every year since, including six straight Sweet 16s. Still looking for that first title, though... UCLA: Mick Cronin has pulled off plenty of upsets in his career, but this would top them all. At UCLA, he relishes the opportunity to prove people wrong: "Nobody believed in us. That's how we like it." By the numbers: Gonzaga has won 27 straight games by at least 10 points, the most by any team in at least 60 years, and their 23-point scoring margin leads the nation. UCLA's bench put up a goose egg against Michigan and has scored just 48 of the Bruins' 365 points in the tournament. Pregame reading: Gonzaga's secret alumni tradition (SI); Johnny Juzang dreamed of something like this, but not this (L.A. Times)     A message from Axios Keep up with Twin Cities news     Get a daily digest of what's new in your hometown with Axios Twin Cities. Why it matters: It's more important than ever to stay up to date on the events unfolding around you. Subscribe for free     4. Pics du jour: 💍 Proposal in Seattle Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images     5. ⚽️ Boycott threats loom over Qatar and Beijing German players with shirts reading "Human Rights." Photo: Tobias Schwarz/Pool/Getty Images   The hosts of both of the two biggest global sporting events on the 2022 calendar are facing boycott threats, but they're handling the scrutiny much differently, Axios' Dave Lawler and I write. Driving the news: When European qualifying for the 2022 World Cup kicked off last week, players from three countries seized the opportunity to protest the human rights conditions in host nation Qatar. Norway donned shirts that said, "Human rights on and off the pitch." Germany spelled out "human rights" on their shirts. The Netherlands wore shirts that said, "Football supports change." The backdrop: Qatar has faced scrutiny over the poor conditions migrant workers are facing as they help build the infrastructure for the tournament. The Gulf kingdom has introduced major reforms of its labor laws since being controversially awarded the World Cup, in a sign that this kind of public pressure can work. But in late February, The Guardian reported that over 6,500 migrant workers had died in the last decade. Top clubs in Norway recently called for a boycott, though that currently looks unlikely. The big picture: There are also calls for a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, but that pressure is coming mainly from human rights groups and politicians, rather than the athletes themselves. It's hard to envision stars with the profile of Germany's top soccer players taking a similar stand against the mass detentions in Xinjiang, because so much money is at stake for the players and their clubs. What to watch: Sponsors of the 2022 Olympics are under pressure to pull out, or at least to speak out. But China's blacklisting last month of H&M and other retailers who raised concerns about forced labor in Xinjiang sent a clear message: Even the slightest criticism could see you cut off from China's massive market. And while Qatar has promised reforms, China continues to deny that it is holding Uyghurs in detention camps, despite all evidence to the contrary. Sign up for Dave's weekly newsletter, Axios World.     6. ⛳️🎾 Keeping up with the Kordas Nelly (L) and Jessica Korda. Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images Thursday was a busy day for the Korda family. Jessica, 28, shot a three-under 69 at the ANA Inspiration, putting her in a tie for eighth in the LPGA's first major of the year. Nelly, 22, shot a one-under 71 at the same event, putting her in a tie for 30th heading into round two. Meanwhile, at the Miami Open, their 20-year-old brother, Sebastian, played the biggest match of his life, narrowly losing to the world No. 8, Andrey Rublev, 7-5, 7-5 (9-7). Sebastian Korda. Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images The Korda siblings are the children of retired Czech tennis players Petr Korda (winner of the 1998 Australian Open) and Regina Rajchrtová. They grew up in Bradenton, Florida, and all three still reside there, though they rarely see each other because of their busy schedules. But during the pandemic, they were able to spend more time together. "It was nice to have everybody home," said Sebastian. World rankings: Nelly is ranked No. 4 in the world, Jessica is ranked No. 18, and Sebastian will climb into the 60s after his surprise run in Miami, making him one of the highest-ranked American men.     7. ⚡️ Lightning round Giphy ⛳️ DJ's dinner menu: Dustin Johnson revealed what he'll serve at the Masters Champions Dinner next week. Pigs in a Blanket is an appetizer (yes!), and the main course is filet mignon and sea bass. Full menu. ⚽️ Women's Champions League: Bayern, Chelsea and Barcelona have clinched spots in the semifinals, with the fourth semifinalist to be determined on April 17 (PSG vs. Lyon). 🏀 AP award winners: Iowa's Luka Garza was named AP player of the year after finishing second last season, while Michigan's Juwan Howard was named AP coach of the year. 🏒 Gorgeous hat trick: Mathew Barzal netted a hat trick in the Islanders' 8-4 win over the Capitals, and all three goals were spectacular. 🏀 20 of 23: LaMarcus Aldridge (11-9-6) had a strong debut for the Nets, who have won 20 of 23 games for the first time in franchise history.     8. 📆 April 2, 1919: Flu cancels Stanley Cup Photo: Austin Danforth/Free Press via Getty Images 102 years ago today, Americans woke up to the news that the Stanley Cup Final had been canceled due to an outbreak of the Spanish flu. The backdrop: World War I ended in late 1918 and the pandemic's deadly second wave had seemingly run its course. But much like today, the virus was still lurking — and it took hockey's championship series with it. What happened: On April 1, 1919, the puck was set to drop on Game 6 between the Seattle Metropolitans and the visiting Montreal Canadiens. But that morning, all but four Canadiens came down with the flu, causing the game — and series — to be called off. Seattle coach Pete Muldoon, ever the mensch, refused to accept Montreal's offer to forfeit, so both teams were engraved on the Stanley Cup above the words "SERIES NOT COMPLETED." Four days later, 37-year-old Canadiens defenseman Joe Hall, one of the NHL's most decorated veterans, passed away. Go deeper: War, fever and baseball in 1918 (Axios)     9. 🏀 Final Four trivia Source: @UNC_Basketball (Twitter) Roy Williams, who retired Thursday, is one of five coaches with at least four men's Final Four appearances this century (he has seven). Question: Who are the other four coaches? Hint: Only one was in this year's field. Answer at the bottom.     10. 🚨 Tune in now: Axios Sports Breakfast Giphy We're hosting a live conversation on Locker Room for Axios Sports readers at 8am ET — and you're all invited! If you don't have the app, download it and come join our conversation. If you have the app, you can join our conversation now.     A message from Axios Keep up with Twin Cities news     Get a daily digest of what's new in your hometown with Axios Twin Cities. Why it matters: It's more important than ever to stay up to date on the events unfolding around you. Subscribe for free   Enjoy the weekend, Kendall "Of course DJ went with pigs in a blanket" Baker Trivia answer: Tom Izzo (7 Final Four appearances this century), Mike Krzyzewski (4), John Calipari (4), Billy Donovan (4) Invite friends to follow Axios Sports Use your personal link to track how many readers you bring into the community You currently have 00 referrals. 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