| | | | | | | | | | | Axios Sports | | By Jeff Tracy ·Jun 07, 2021 | | 👋 Good morning! Exciting announcement: We're bringing back the "Why we love sports" section for the summer, beginning today at the bottom of this email. Send us your stories! - Also, a friendly reminder that I'll be running the show this week while Kendall's on vacation.
⚾️ Stat du jour: Jacob deGrom lowered his ERA to 0.62 after Saturday's gem (7 IP, 11 K, 3 H, 0 R), giving him the lowest ERA through nine starts since at least 1913, when ER became official in both leagues. Today's word count: 1,891 words (7 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: ⚽️ USMNT beat Mexico in instant classic |  | | | Photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images | | | | USMNT defeated Mexico, 3-2, in an overtime thriller to win the inaugural CONCACAF Nations League final Sunday night in Denver. - Man of the match: Ethan Horvath, who replaced injured keeper Zack Steffen and saved the would-be game-tying penalty in stoppage time.
- Streak broken: This was USMNT's first non-friendly win over Mexico since Sept. 10, 2013.
Recap: Mexico took an immediate lead with a first-minute goal, but Gio Reyna knotted things up for the U.S. in the 27th minute. - El Tri went ahead again in the 79th minute, but Weston McKennie scored an equalizer just three minutes later.
- VAR, FTW: In the first half, Mexico had a goal reversed on VAR; in overtime, VAR gave the U.S. a penalty, which Christian Pulisic buried for the decisive 3-2 lead.
Between the lines: There's no love lost between these rivals and their fans, and Sunday's see-saw affair was no exception, with Mexico's fans comporting themselves particularly poorly. - Near the end of regulation, officials had to stop the match when anti-gay chants rang out from a faction of Mexico fans. The same thing happened in Mexico's semifinal last week against Costa Rica.
- Then, after Pulisic's goal, fans threw cups and bottles toward the celebrating U.S. players, knocking down Reyna with a head shot.
- On the field, play got a little chippy at times, but was ultimately a well-fought match whose legacy shouldn't be marred by the ugliness of what happened in the stands.
The big picture: USMNT had looked great during a nine-match unbeaten streak from November 2019 to May 2021 before losing to Switzerland in a friendly and then just eking past Honduras to reach this final. - But their strong showing last night should give them confidence heading into next month's Gold Cup, which itself is a prelude to the all-important World Cup qualifiers later in the summer.
Go deeper: Young USMNT battles and delivers in chaotic Nations League final vs. Mexico (The Athletic) |     | | | | | | 2. 🏀 NBA playoffs: Eight teams left |  Data: NBA; Chart: Danielle Alberti/Axios The Clippers exorcised their Game 7 demons, overcoming Luka Dončić's monster performance (46-7-14) to take down the Mavericks, 126-111, and snag the eighth and final spot in the conference semifinals. - Wild stat: The Clippers won Game 7 at home, but for the first time in NBA history, the first six games went to the road team.
- Streak continues: The Mavs haven't won a playoff series since beating the Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals, going 0-6 since.
Onto the matchups ... EastNo. 2 Nets vs. No. 3 Bucks (BKN leads 1-0): Despite losing James Harden to a hamstring injury 43 seconds into Game 1, Brooklyn took care of business in a 115-107 victory. Harden won't play in Game 2, either. - The Bucks got a superstar performance from Giannis Antetokounmpo (34-11-4), but the fourth-best three-point shooting team in the NBA (38.9%) went just 6-30 from deep.
No. 1 Sixers vs. No. 5 Hawks (ATL leads 1-0): Trae Young continued his sensational playoff debut, dropping 35 points and 10 assists in Atlanta's 128-124 win. - Philly mounted a huge comeback, pouring in 70 second-half points after trailing by 20, but even Joel Embiid's return from injury wasn't enough.
WestNo. 2 Suns vs. No. 3 Nuggets (Game 1 tonight): Deandre Ayton's 79.6% first-round field goal percentage set a playoff record (min. 50 FG) and Devin Booker is a star, but Chris Paul's balky shoulder could still dictate this series. - The Nuggets haven't missed a beat since losing Jamal Murray in April (17-7 since), but the deeper they go, the more they'll miss him. Nikola Jokić needs to be, well, Nikola Jokić.
No. 1 Jazz vs. No. 4 Clippers (Game 1 Tuesday): Utah's long rest after its gentlemen's sweep of the Grizzlies could prove critical, as Mike Conley is nursing a strained hamstring. - The Clips, meanwhile, are anything but rested, but if Kawhi Leonard keeps playing like this (32-8-4.5 against Dallas), it might not matter.
📆 Tonight ... Bucks at Nets, 7:30pm ET (BKN leads 1-0); Nuggets at Suns, 10pm (Game 1) | | | | | | | | 3. 🥊 Claressa Shields' path to two-sport star |  | | | Photo: Mark Brown/Getty Images | | | | Claressa Shields, already the greatest women's boxer in the world, is ready to make the leap into MMA. - Her first fight is this Thursday, June 10, at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., on ESPN2.
- Despite it being her debut, Shields is heavily favored over Brittney Elkin, who's just 3-6 and hasn't fought since January 2019.
The big picture: Other fighters like Holly Holm and Conor McGregor have crossed over between the two disciplines before, but with little overlap. - Shields, who last November signed a multi-year deal with the Professional Fighters League, hopes to compete at a championship level in both simultaneously.
"I'm ready for everything. Whatever [Elkin] brings, I think that my training has really prepared me, and I just tell myself, 'Just because something is hard, doesn't mean it's not doable. Just because something is hard, doesn't mean you have to lose.' It's like, boxing is hard, but I win." — Shields, in an interview with Axios The backdrop: The 26-year-0ld Flint, Michigan, native won two Olympic gold medals (2012, 2016) before turning pro. That's when the accolades really started piling up. - In 2018, she broke Vasyl Lomachenko's record for becoming a two-weight world champion in the fewest fights (six, to Lomachenko's seven).
- In March 2021, she upped the ante by becoming the first boxer in the four-belt era (since 1988) to hold undisputed titles in two weight classes.
What they're saying: ESPN's four-part miniseries, "Claressa Shields," which debuted last week, chronicles her transformation to two-sport athlete. - "Claressa Shields is a two-time gold medalist and the best female fighter in the world," says boxing journalist Mark Kriegel. "She's speaking a language that goes beyond gender. It's pure excellence."
- "I want to be remembered as a great champion, who was true to herself," says Shields. "I want to be remembered as being resilient and an overcomer; a conqueror. ... I know I'm great at boxing, but if I give everything to MMA, can I be just as great at MMA as I am at boxing?"
The other side: "The idea of Claressa doing two sports at once ... it's not going to work out," says former MMA fighter Chael Sonnen. "As a whole, the tools of boxing are least effective in MMA." Guess there's only one way to find out ... 🎥 Watch Part 1 of "Claressa Shields" (ESPN+) | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | 5 minutes and you're all caught up | | |  | | | | Get the news that matters in your inbox every morning and afternoon with Axios AM and PM. Delivered daily by Mike Allen, the world's most wired reporter. Why it matters: We remove the clutter and the noise for you. In just 5 minutes, you'll keep up with the top news of the day. Subscribe for free | | | | | | 4. 🏒 NHL playoffs: Habs, Knights win big |  | | | Photo: Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images | | | | MONTREAL — The Canadiens crushed the Jets, 5-1, to take a 3-0 series lead. Carey Price (26 saves) continued his dominance, and if the Habs win again tonight they'll take a seven-game winning streak into the Stanley Cup semifinals. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images LAS VEGAS — Jonathan Marchessault's hat trick paced the Golden Knights to a 5-1 romp over the Avs. This series, now tied at 2-2, has suddenly become a best-of-three race to the semis. 📆 Coming up ... - Tonight: Islanders at Bruins, 6:30pm (tied 2-2); Jets at Canadiens, 8pm (MTL leads 3-0)
- Tomorrow: Lightning at Hurricanes, 6:30pm (TB leads 3-1); Golden Knights at Avalanche, 9pm (tied 2-2)
Of note ... The Canadian government approved the NHL's travel exemption, meaning teams can forego the otherwise mandatory 14-day quarantine after crossing into Canada. | | | | | | | | 5. 🇺🇸 Photos across America | | Jon Rahm being carted away after testing positive. Photo: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images DUBLIN, OHIO — Patrick Cantlay (-13) beat Collin Morikawa in a playoff to win the Memorial Tournament after defending champ Jon Rahm — whose 54-hole score (-18) and lead (six strokes) tied a tournament record — was forced to withdraw due to a positive test. Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images SAN FRANCISCO — Filipino teenager Yuka Saso (-4) beat Nasa Hataoka in a playoff to win the U.S. Women's Open, tying Inbee Park (2008) to become the event's co-youngest winner (they were both exactly 19 years, 11 months and 17 days). Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images ELMONT, N.Y. — Betting favorite Essential Quality, jockeyed by first-time Triple Crown-race winner Luis Saez, came from behind to win the 153rd Belmont Stakes, edging out Hot Rod Charlie down the final straightaway. | | | | | | | | 6. 🌎 Photos 'round the world | | Photo: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images PARIS — It was a wild weekend at Roland Garros, as No. 7 Serena Williams was upset by No. 21 Elena Rybakina, No. 1 Novak Djokovic reached the fourth round for a record 12th consecutive year and No. 8 Roger Federer withdrew to rest his body for Wimbledon. Photo: John Berry/Getty Images PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain's women's side clinched their first Division 1 Féminine title, going undefeated (20-2-0) and ending Lyon's historic reign of 14 consecutive championships. Photo: Dan Istitene - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images BAKU, AZERBAIJAN — Red Bull's Sergio Pérez won the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after teammate Max Verstappen crashed out of the lead (he's unharmed) with just five laps to go. Pérez is now tied with fellow countryman Pedro Rodríguez as the only Mexican drivers with two Formula One victories. | | | | | | | | 7. ⚡️ Lightning round |  | | | Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images | | | | 🏈 Julio on the move: The Falcons traded Julio Jones to the Titans for draft picks, and Tennessee's offense — with Jones, Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown — suddenly looks awfully scary. ⚾️ Olympic baseball: Team USA beat Venezuela, 4-2, to qualify for next month's Tokyo Olympics. 35-year-old MLB free agent Todd Frazier led the way, going 4-4 with a homer, a double and a steal. 💨 Fastest woman alive: Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran the 100-meter dash in 10.63 seconds, giving her the fourth fastest time ever, behind only the late Florence Griffith Joyner's 10.49, 10.61 and 10.62 in 1988. 🤸🏾♀️ Biles wins, again: Simone Biles won a record seventh senior women's all-around title at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships on Sunday, just seven weeks before she looks to add to her already historic Olympic tally. 🥊 Paul's strong showing: Floyd Mayweather would have been declared winner if the eight-round exhibition had any judges, but Logan Paul still held his own against the all-time great. 🥍 PLL begins: The Premier Lacrosse League season kicked off this weekend with five games at Gillette Stadium outside Boston. The 11-week tour continues next weekend in Atlanta. Standings. | | | | | | | | 8. 📆 June 7, 2010: Bryce goes No. 1 |  | | | Photo: Mitchell Layton/Getty Images | | | | 11 years ago today, the Washington Nationals selected 17-year-old Bryce Harper first overall in the draft. Why it matters: He'd go on to win ROY in 2012, and in 2015 he became the youngest player in MLB history to be named unanimous MVP. The backdrop: Harper's combination of youth and talent made him one of the most hyped prospects ever, earning him an SI cover story titled "Baseball's LeBron" at the age of 16. - When he was 12, he played in a tournament with 250-foot fences and went 12-12 with 11 HR and a double.
- When he was 16, he launched a 502-foot HR in a showcase at Tropicana Field.
- When he was 17, after earning his GED to become draft eligible, he played one season of JUCO ball at the College of Southern Nevada. In 66 games, he compiled a 1.513 OPS with 31 HR, nearly tripling the school's previous record (12).
The big picture: Because of his hype, and the fact he entered the league alongside Mike Trout, Harper has become the poster child for "so overrated he's actually underrated." - His 35.1 WAR are fourth among No. 1 picks since 2000 and 15th overall among position players since his debut.
- And with another decade left on his deal after 2021, his path to Cooperstown still remains wide open.
🎥 Watch: 16-year-old Harper beats minor leaguers in HR derby (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 9. ⚾️ MLB trivia |  | | | Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images | | | | Reds LF Jesse Winker on Sunday had his second, three-homer game of the season in an 8-7 win over the Cardinals. - Question: Who is the only MLB player with three such games in one season?
- Hint: No longer active, but happened this century.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. ❤️ Why we love sports | | Last summer, we shared your personal stories about "why you love sports." We're bringing it back, and over the next 10 days we'll share 10 of our favorites before starting up again with new submissions. Courtesy: Vincent L. Vincent L. (Florida) writes: "My dad attended Notre Dame when it was still synonymous with college football, so despite growing up in Miami Hurricanes territory in South Florida, Notre Dame football got priority over just about everything on Saturdays in our house. "My dad always said the 1988 'Catholics vs. Convicts' game (Notre Dame vs. Miami) was the most satisfying win he'd ever experienced. So you can imagine his delight when, as a senior in high school, I began dating a future Hurricane. "Notre Dame and Miami didn't play regularly anymore, which was good because I didn't want to have to choose between my girlfriend and my dad. But they met again in South Bend on Oct. 29, 2016. "While the world wasn't paying much attention to a 4-3 Miami team play a 3-4 Notre Dame team, this was the biggest game of my life. My sister was a senior at Notre Dame, my girlfriend was about to become my fiancée and my dad had just undergone 10 rounds of chemotherapy. "At the tailgate, we were together as a family outside of a hospital room for the first time in what seemed like years. It was one of those perfect cloudless afternoons, and we were practically running into the stadium before kickoff. "Notre Dame ended up winning on a Justin Yoon field goal in the final 30 seconds, and my girlfriend — the only Miami fan in a sea of blue and gold — snapped a photo of us to memorialize our win (see above). "My dad and I walked out of the stadium that night together, with our arms over each others shoulders, for what would be the last time. He passed away eight months later. "What I have left of him are the memories of looking to the sidelines after I scored a goal in youth soccer and seeing him losing his mind. The memories of competing in backyard pool basketball and never figuring out how to beat him in ping pong. And the memory of celebrating Notre Dame beat Miami one last time. "In every crowd, there is a son, a daughter, or a friend creating a memory with someone they love — and oftentimes it has nothing to do with whether or not there's a trophy on the line. Some people say sports don't matter. Well, I'd argue they matter an awful lot." ✍️ Submit your story: Do you have a fondest sports memory? Or an example of sports having a positive impact on your life? If you'd like to share, simply reply to this email. We'll be telling your stories all summer. | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | 5 minutes and you're all caught up | | | | | | | | Get the news that matters in your inbox every morning and afternoon with Axios AM and PM. Delivered daily by Mike Allen, the world's most wired reporter. Why it matters: We remove the clutter and the noise for you. In just 5 minutes, you'll keep up with the top news of the day. Subscribe for free | | | | See ya tomorrow, Jeff "The Bunny & The GOAT" Tracy Trivia answer: Sammy Sosa (2001) |  | | The tool and templates you need for more engaging team updates. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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