| | | | | | | Presented By Babbel | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker ·Jul 06, 2021 | | 👋 Good morning! Missed you, hope you had a wonderful weekend. - 🔥 Today's slate: NBA Finals, Wimbledon women's quarterfinals, Euro and Copa América semifinals, The Match 4, Shohei Ohtani on the mound. Nice little Tuesday.
- 📆 Upcoming event: Next Tuesday, Axios Sports and the Aspen Institute will co-host a virtual event on the future of U.S. Soccer with special guest Cindy Parlow Cone, president of U.S. Soccer. Register here.
🏆 Stat du jour: Five metro areas — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area — have won nearly half (43%) of the 186 available NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and WNBA titles since 1980. Todays' word count: 2,040 words (8 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: 🏀 A clash of cursed sports cities |  Note: Expected championships are the number we'd expect if every team in a league had an equal chance of winning each season. Reproduced from FiveThirtyEight; Table: Axios Visuals The 2021 NBA Finals matchup between the Bucks and Suns is full of mystery. But one thing is certain: The winning team will bring a title to a championship-starved city. By the numbers: Milwaukee has won zero MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and WNBA titles since 1980, which is 2.91 less than one would expect if every team in each league had an equal chance of winning each season. - Phoenix has won four, which might seem like a lot. But since the city has a team in all five leagues, that's still 2.05 less than expected.
Milwaukee: The Bucks and Brewers produced contenders in the 1980s, but decades of mediocrity followed. Recent years have been more kind, with both franchises consistently making the playoffs. - Wild stat ... The last time the Bucks won the NBA title (1971), the Cincinnati Royals, Buffalo Braves and San Diego Rockets were still in the NBA, and the Bucks shared a division with ... the Suns.
Phoenix: The Suns were Phoenix's only major sports team until 1988, when the Cardinals arrived. They've since added NHL, MLB and WNBA franchises, with the Mercury (3x) and Diamondbacks (1x) winning titles. - Wild stat ... Phoenix has the fewest championships of any city that currently has teams in the NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL and WNBA.
Notes: - Guaranteed ring: Torrey Craig, who began the season with the Bucks before being traded to the Suns, will get a ring no matter who wins.
- The rule of five: Going back every five years, the NBA Finals have produced something special. In 2016, the Cavs came back from a 3-1 deficit. In 2011, the Mavs won their first title. The list goes on.
- Pregame reading: The NBA Finals entrance survey (The Ringer)
📆 Tonight ... Bucks at Suns, 9pm ET (Game 1) - Injury report: Giannis Antetokounmpo (hyperextended knee) is doubtful despite "good progress"
|     | | | | | | 2. 🏒 Canadiens survive, send series back to Tampa | | Source: Giphy The Canadiens were on the brink of elimination Monday night. They'd blown two leads, the game was tied 2-2, and the Lightning had a four-minute power play heading into overtime. - But Montreal did what it does best and killed the power play (they're 53-for-58 on the penalty kill this postseason, a 91.4% success rate).
- Then Josh Anderson scored an epic game-winner, as Montreal improved to 8-1 when facing elimination at home in Stanley Cup Finals.
What's next: The Canadiens will now try to rally from a 3-1 series deficit just like they did against the Maple Leafs in the first round. - Yes, but: The Lightning are 14-0 in games following a playoff loss dating back to the start of last year's tournament. The Canadiens need them to lose three straight.
| | | | | | | | 3. ⚾️ Shohei Ohtani is breaking the game |  | | | Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Ronald Martinez, Sarah Stier/Getty Images | | | | 100 years after Babe Ruth bent the sport of baseball to his will, Shohei Ohtani — who takes the mound tonight against the Red Sox — has broken it entirely, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Driving the news: Next week in Denver, Ohtani will compete in the Home Run Derby, start at DH for the AL and take the mound after becoming the first player ever named an All-Star as both a pitcher and position player. By the numbers: You can't scroll Twitter or turn on "SportsCenter" without seeing a new Ohtani stat, but in case you've missed it, here's a snapshot of his nightly heroics. - Hitting: He leads the league in HR (31), SLG (.704), 3B (4) and bunt hits (4), and he's the first AL player ever with 31 HR and 12 steals before the All-Star break.
- Pitching: In 12 starts, he's 3-1 with a 3.60 ERA, 83 strikeouts and the most unhittable pitch in the majors, as opponents are batting just .083 with zero HR against his splitter.
- Wild stat: Ohtani has either reached base, had an RBI or pitched in 92% of the games he's played in this season (73/79).
The backstory: Ohtani, who turned 27 on Monday, grew up in the Iwate prefecture in northern Japan, the youngest of three born to Kayoko (mom) and Toru Ohtani. Like most Japanese children, he picked up baseball at a young age and never looked back. - At Hanamaki Higashi High School in 2012, during the famed Summer Koshien tournament, he became the first Japanese amateur to throw a 99-mph pitch.
- He hoped to jump straight to MLB, but the NPB's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters convinced him to stay. He played both ways and earned All-Star nods in each of his five seasons in the league (2013-17).
- In 2017, it was finally time to head across the Pacific. After all 30 MLB teams made their pitch, Ohtani signed with the Angels, who promised he could continue playing both ways.
Ohtani at his introductory press conference in 2017. Photo: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images The big picture: Ohtani is the rare baseball star to become a bona fide spectacle, breaking free from the bounds of his sport in a way normally reserved for the NBA or NFL. - The three juniors (Vladimir Guerrero, Fernando Tatís and Ronald Acuña) have turned the batter's box into their playground, and Jacob deGrom might break the modern ERA record, but Ohtani in April threw a 101-mph pitch and hit a 450-foot homer in the same inning.
- While most baseball feats are statistical, Ohtani's are visual. He must be seen to be believed — and is a the definition of a "must-see TV" (Japan has an "Ohtani cam" that tracks his every move during games).
The bigger picture: It's too early to do more than hypothesize, but it's worth considering how Ohtani's success could impact the future of the game. - Plenty of pitchers can hit, but most give it up in college. Perhaps more will attempt to test their two-way mettle in the future — and perhaps more teams will now be open to it.
- If more players get that opportunity and succeed, Ohtani will be heralded as the first of a "new breed." Until then, he'll remain an anomaly — a once-in-a-generation talent.
🎥 Watch: Ohtani hits a ball through the roof in Japan (Twitter) | | | | | | | | A message from Babbel | | Here's a skill you can show off this summer | | |  | | | | Travel, friends, adventures – it's happening. Get ready with Babbel and start having conversations in a new language – such as Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese – in as little as 3 weeks. Get 60% off during their 4th of July sale. Sign up today. | | | | | | 4. 🎾 Wimbledon: Quarterfinals (nearly) set |  | | | Felix Auger-Aliassime. Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images | | | | There are no Americans in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, but plenty of other countries are represented. - The field includes Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, the first Arab woman in the Open era to make it this far at Wimbledon.
- It also includes Felix Auger Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, marking the first time two Canadian men are in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.
Women (today): Of the eight quarterfinalists, only Angelique Kerber has won a Wimbledon singles title (2018 vs. Serena Williams). - 8am ET: 🇨🇿 (8) Karolína Plíšková vs. 🇨🇭 Viktorija Golubic
- 9:15am: 🇨🇿 (19) Karolína Muchová vs. 🇩🇪 (25) Angelique Kerber
- 9:30am: 🇧🇾 (2) Aryna Sabalenka vs. 🇹🇳 (21) Jabeur
- 11:30am: 🇦🇺 (1) Ashleigh Barty vs. 🇦🇺 Ajla Tomljanović
Men (tomorrow): Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkacz will complete their match today after it was suspended due to rain. Times TBD. - 🇷🇺 (25) Karen Khachanov vs. 🇨🇦 (10) Shapovalov
- 🇷🇸 (1) Novak Djokovic vs. 🇭🇺 Márton Fucsovics
- 🇮🇹 (7) Matteo Berrettini vs. 🇨🇦 (16) Auger Aliassime
- 🇷🇺 (2) Medvedev / 🇵🇱 (14) Hurkacz vs. 🇨🇭 (6) Roger Federer
Go deeper: The rise, fall and hopefulness of American men's tennis (ESPN) | | | | | | | | 5. 🎙 Marv Albert signs off |  | | | Photo: David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images | | | | Marv Albert, the "voice of basketball," called his final game on Saturday, concluding his legendary 55-year broadcasting career. - Famous catchphrases: "Yes!" (after a made shot) and "From way downtown!" (after a deep three).
- The Albert Pause: When Michael Jordan changed hands mid-flight at the 1991 Finals, Albert said: "Oh, what a spectacular move" — pause — "by Michael Jordan!" Nobody used pauses better.
- Of note: In addition to basketball, Albert also did play-by-play for eight Super Bowls and seven Stanley Cup Finals, co-hosted two World Series, and dabbled in other sports like tennis and boxing.
Like father, like son ... If you've been watching the Stanley Cup Final, you've been listening to Albert's son, Kenny — the only sportscaster who currently does play-by-play for the NHL, NFL, MLB and NHL. The big picture: The styles of famous sports announcers are often passed down through generations. In that way, Albert's voice — his cadence and his spirit — will live on forever. "An announcer's sound, like a musician's, has a way of sticking around. Ian Eagle's and Mike Breen's calls will carry a few notes of Albert, just like Albert's carry the notes of his mentor, Marty Glickman." — Bryan Curtis, The Ringer🎥 Watch: Career tribute (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 6. 🌍 The world in photos | | Photo: Tolga Bozoglu/Getty Images BAKU, Azerbaijan — Denmark is in the Euro semifinals alongside three behemoths. After Christian Eriksen's collapse, you could call it destiny — or perhaps the Danes are just far better than most anyone thought. - Today: Italy vs. Spain (3pm ET)
- Tomorrow: England vs. Denmark (3pm)
Photo: Pedro Vilela/Getty Images GOIANIA, Brazil — Lionel Messi scored his 76th international goal on Saturday (free kick), one shy of Pelé for most by a South American man. Imagine if he passes him ... against Brazil ... in the Copa América Final. - Today: Brazil vs. Peru (7pm)
- Tomorrow: Argentina vs. Colombia (9pm)
Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images TIGNES, France — Stage 9 of the Tour de France saw the Peloton cut through the Alps and cross the spectacular Roselend Dam. Photo: Jurij Kodrun/Getty Images SPLIT, Croatia — Moe Wagner and Germany knocked off favored Brazil (highlights) to clinch a spot in the Olympics for the first time since 2008. - Plus: Luka Dončić led Slovenia to its first Olympics berth, recording a triple-double in a 96-85 win over Lithuania.
| | | | | | | | 7. ⚡️ Lightning round | | Photo: Michael Nagle/Xinhua via Getty Images 🌭 Spirit of 76: Joey "Jaws" Chestnut ate 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes on Sunday, breaking his own world record and winning his 14th Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Total calories: 20,520. 💔 RIP, Matiss: Blue Jackets goalie Matiss Kivlenieks died Sunday after being struck with fireworks at a private party. He was 24. 🚣 Rowing record: A four-man crew rowed a boat from San Francisco to Hawaii in 30 days, 7 hours and 30 minutes, smashing the previous record by almost nine days. 🏀 Bird keeps climbing: Sue Bird has passed Katie Smith for sixth on the WNBA's all-time scoring list (6,464 points). Photo: Elsa/Getty Images ⚽️ 44 straight: The USWNT beat Mexico, 4-0, on Monday to extend their unbeaten streak to a team-record 44 matches (39-0-4). Next stop: Tokyo. ⛳️ Working overtime: After an eight-hole playoff last week at the Travelers, the Rocket Mortgage Classic (won by Cam Davis) required five. The 13 playoff holes are the most in a two-week span in PGA Tour history. 🏁 Racing recap: Chase Elliott won at Road America in NASCAR's return to Wisconsin ... Max Verstappen dominated the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull's home race. ⚽️ 7 goals, 7 players: D.C. United destroyed Toronto FC, 7-1, on Saturday. Seven different United players put the ball in the back of the net, the first time that's ever happened in MLS history. Highlights. | | | | | | | | 8. 📆 July 6, 1933: MLB's first All-Star Game |  | | | The original lineup cards from the 1933 MLB All-Star Game. Photo: Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images | | | | 88 years ago today, the AL beat the NL, 4-2, in MLB's inaugural All-Star Game at Chicago's Comiskey Park. The backdrop: The "Midsummer Classic" was originally billed as a one-time "Game of the Century" to drum up excitement after attendance had plummeted amid the Great Depression. - Held in conjunction with Chicago's centennial World's Fair, the game was the brainchild of the Tribune's sports editor, Arch Ward, who also had the brilliant idea of letting fans vote for the players (55 newspapers nationwide printed ballots).
- It was such a success that it immediately became an annual event, held every summer since except 1945 and 2020.
The big picture: The AL leads the all-time series, 45-43-2, thanks to the NL winning just six times since 1987. Go deeper: The birth of the All-Star Game (Bronx Pinstripes) | | | | | | | | 9. ⚽️ Europe trivia |  Data: United Nations; Chart: Axios Visuals Spain and Italy go head-to-head today in the Euro semifinals. - Question: Which country has a larger population?
- Hint: One is ~60 million, the other is ~47 million.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. ⛳️ 1 golf thing: The Match returns |  | | | Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images for The Match | | | | The fourth installment of the made-for-TV golf event, The Match, takes place today. - Teams: Phil Mickelson/Tom Brady vs. Bryson DeChambeau/Aaron Rodgers
- Course: The Reserve at Moonlight Basin (Big Sky, Montana)
- Odds: DeChambeau and Rodgers are favorites to win (-175) over Mickelson and Brady (+140), per BetMGM.
How to watch: Coverage begins at 5pm ET on TBS, TNT and truTV. Charles Barkley will be on the call as an analyst, as will Larry Fitzgerald. | | | | | | | | A message from Babbel | | Here's a skill you can show off this summer | | |  | | | | Travel, friends, adventures – it's happening. Get ready with Babbel and start having conversations in a new language – such as Spanish, Italian, or Portuguese – in as little as 3 weeks. Get 60% off during their 4th of July sale. Sign up today. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "A spectacular move!" Baker Trivia answer: Italy 🙏 Thanks for reading. Don't forget to refer friends (axios.com/referral) and follow us on Twitter: @thekendallbaker and @jeffreytracy. |  | | It'll help you deliver employee communications more effectively. | | | | | | Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here.
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