| | | | | | | | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker ·Aug 02, 2021 | | 👋 Happy Monday! Another jam-packed weekend of sports is in the books. But don't blink: NBA free agency officially starts at 6pm ET today. Today's word count: 1,819 words (7 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: ⚽️ The pendulum swings north |  | | | Photo: Omar Vega/Getty Images | | | | The centuries-old Olympics were upstaged by a 30-year-old soccer tournament, at least for one night. And the scenes — one with fans, one without — couldn't have been more different. Driving the news: Miles Robinson's extra-time goal in the 117th minute lifted the USMNT to a thrilling 1-0 win over Mexico in Sunday night's CONCACAF Gold Cup final. - This was the USMNT's ninth straight win, and it came on head coach Gregg Berhalter's 48th birthday.
- An overwhelmingly pro-Mexico crowd filled a sold-out Allegiant Stadium (~65,00 fans), the largest event in the building's brief history.
Why it matters: This is the second time in two months that the U.S. has defeated Mexico in a final of a continental tournament, after prevailing in extra time in the CONCACAF Nations League final on June 6. Nicholas Gioacchini (R) points at Miles Robinson after his game-winning goal. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images The backdrop: The USMNT didn't have its A-team for the Gold Cup, with most of its top players — many of whom now play in Europe — resting or taking part in preseason with their club teams. - Of the 23 players on the Gold Cup roster, 19 represented MLS clubs. The squad went 6-0-0 in the tournament, yielded just one goal (on a penalty kick) and won five games by a 1–0 score.
- Mexico was missing a few players due to the Olympics (U-23 rosters), but it was much closer to full strength than the U.S. Sunday's loss could realistically cost head coach Tata Martino his job.
The big picture: With the embarrassment of missing the 2018 World Cup still fresh, this summer marked one of the most important stretches in U.S. soccer history. So far, the USMNT is passing with flying colors. - May/June: Won the Nations League
- July/August: Won the Gold Cup
What's next: The Europe-based players will return when the USMNT opens World Cup qualifying at El Salvador on Sept. 2. |     | | | | | | 2. 🇯🇵 While you were sleeping: Tokyo headlines |  | | | Photo: Naomi Baker/Getty Images | | | - ⚽️ The USWNT lost to Canada, 1-0, in the semifinals, marking the second straight Olympics without a gold medal for the U.S. women.
- 🚨 Simone Biles will compete in the balance beam final on Tuesday, her last possible event in Tokyo.
- 🥇 Jade Carey won gold in floor exercise, giving the U.S. women's gymnastics team its second gold (Suni Lee: all-around).
- 🇧🇾 Kristina Timanovskaya, the Belarusian sprinter who says she was kidnapped by team officials after she was critical of her coaches, has been offered asylum by Poland. She's heading there Wednesday.
| | | | | | | | 3. 🇺🇸 Olympics snapshot: Team USA | | Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images Captain America: Caeleb Dressel was the star of Team USA's first week, with five gold medals and four new records (two Olympic, two world). Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz are the only other American men's swimmers with three individual golds in a single Games. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images Silver lining: When MyKayla Skinner walked off the floor a week ago, she believed her gymnastics career was over. But when Simone Biles withdrew from the vault final, Skinner stepped up, and now she's an Olympic silver medalist. More: - 🏊♀️ Not done yet: Katie Ledecky, who dominated the 800-meter free and now holds the 24 fastest times ever in the event, won four medals in Tokyo and now has 10 total. More are likely on the way, too. "I'm at least going to 2024. Maybe 2028," she told NBC.
- ❤️ You love to see it: American Isaiah Jewett and Botswana's Nijel Amos got tangled up during the 800-meter semifinal. As the two got up, they put their arms around each other and finished together.
- ✈️ The overnight Olympian: On Wednesday, pole vaulter Matt Ludwig was in Ohio. By Saturday morning he was in Tokyo, competing as a COVID-19 replacement. He didn't qualify for the final, but his whirlwind journey will live on forever in Olympic lore.
- ⛳️ Gold for Sc hauffele: Xander Schauffele (-18) emerged victorious from a crowded field, holding off a surging Rory Sabbatini (-17) to capture gold. Chinese Taipei's C.T. Pan (-15) beat Collin Morikawa in a playoff for the bronze.
| | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Market news worthy of your time | | |  | | | | Get a daily look at the news and trends dominating the worlds of global business and finance. Why it matters: We highlight the stories that matter and share crucial economic insights. Stay informed in just a few short minutes. Subscribe for free | | | | | | 4. 🌏 Olympics snapshot: World | | Photo: Elif Ozturk Ozgoncu/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Golden friendship: High jumpers — and close friends — Mutaz Essa Barshim (Qatar) and Gianmarco Tamberi (Italy) convinced officials to let them share gold instead of a standard "jump-off" to decide a winner. This story is everything — and reminiscent of a similar one from 1936. L to R: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shericka Jackson. Photo: Wally Skalij /Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Podium sweep: Jamaica's Elaine Thompson-Herah (gold), Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce (silver) and Shericka Jackson (bronze) swept the women's 100 meters, with Thompson-Herah's 10.61 breaking Florence Griffith-Joyner 33-year-old Olympic record. Since 2008, Jamaica has won 10 of 12 medals in this event — and every gold. More: - 🇳🇱 Simply incredible: Dutch runner Sifan Hassan tripped with one lap to go in the preliminary heat of the women's 1500 meter — but got back up and won the race!
- 🇮🇹 World's fastest man: Italy's Lamont Marcell Jacobs, who was born in Texas, won the first 100-meter final in the post-Usain Bolt era, running a blistering 9.80 seconds. Jacobs reconnected with his estranged father last year and credits that with his rise to the top.
- 🇦🇺 Aussie Queen: Emma McKeon won seven medals, the most ever by a female swimmer in a single Olympics, and her 11 career medals are an Australian record.
- 🇨🇴 Supportive husband: Colombia's Melissa González, wife of Lions QB David Blough, set a national record in her 400-meter hurdles heat while Blough and his teammates cheered her on together from Detroit.
| | | | |  | | | | If you like this newsletter, your friends may, too! Refer your friends and get free Axios swag when they sign up. | | | | | | | | 5. 🏈 Skipper: Super Bowl on pay-per-view? |  | | | Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios | | | | John Skipper, the former ESPN president and current Meadowlark Media executive, stopped by Meadowlark's "Le Batard & Friends" show to discuss the latest in sports media. What he's saying: Skipper was asked if professional sports leagues might eventually shift to a pay-per-view model for major events. - Le Batard: "Is a league gonna figure out that they can do this themselves? That they don't necessarily need a partner, and they don't need to split that revenue, and there's probably more money in it for them by just building their own service?"
- Skipper: "Generally, the math doesn't work. Fans don't want to buy a league pass. They want to buy a service that gives them most of the sports they want. They're willing to buy two or three or four. I think it'll be just like it's been before. I think ESPN+ will continue to hold most of the rights and that's what you'll have to have. And then you'll have to supplement ... you may end up with some pay-per-view stuff. Super Bowl ... that's an interesting thing."
- Le Batard: "Whoa ... whoa ... let's just end right there. The Super Bowl on pay-per-view?"
- Skipper: "I mean that's how they're gonna replace the money someday. Because there's not gonna be enough money in the advertising ... If people are willing to pay big money to see Floyd Mayweather fight a Paul brother, I would think the money generated by a pay-per-view ... maybe you'll be able to pay a lifetime sub."
Why it matters: Skipper is obviously just riffing here, but he also spent years negotiating TV contracts for some of the world's biggest sporting events. So even a riff is worth noting. | | | | | | | | 6. ⚾️ MLB's post-deadline playoff picture | | Longtime Cub Anthony Rizzo homered in his Yankees debut. Photo: Eric Espada/Getty Images The wildest MLB trade deadline in years — which saw a record 10 All-Stars switch teams — has set up for an epic race to October, Jeff writes. American League - East: The Rays (64-42) and Red Sox (63-44) should be locked in a close battle for the division, but the Yankees (56-48) and Blue Jays (54-48) are fully capable of making runs following some major deadline moves.
- Central: The White Sox's (62-44) nine-game cushion over the second-place Indians (51-51) should only grow after they bolstered an already-elite bullpen with Craig Kimbrel. Sluggers Eloy Jiménez and Luis Robert are also due back soon from injury.
- West: The Astros (64-42) already have the AL's best offense and improved their bullpen at the deadline, but the A's (60-47) are hanging around and just added three veteran bats as they chase a fourth straight playoff berth.
- Wild Card: Seven teams are within six games of the top two spots. That includes the Mariners (56-50), who are trying to break a 19-year playoff drought, and the Angels (52-53), who are hoping to get Mike Trout to October for just the second time.
 Longtime Cub Kris Bryant homered in his Giants debut. Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images National League - East: Three teams — all deadline buyers — are still very much alive. The Mets (55-49) are without Jacob deGrom until at least September, and they hold a narrow lead over the Phillies (52-53) and Braves (52-54).
- Central: The Brewers' (63-43) superb pitching is keeping the surging Reds (56-50) at bay. If they get more from struggling star Christian Yelich, they should have no trouble winning the division.
- West: The Giants (66-39) maintaining their lead over the Dodgers (64-43) and Padres (61-47) remains the shock of the year. But L.A.'s acquisition of Trea Turner and Max Scherzer could make it tough to keep that up, even with Kris Bryant now in the Bay Area.
- Wild Card: San Diego is suddenly looking vulnerable, with Yu Darvish struggling and Fernando Tatis Jr. (shoulder) back on the IL. Will the Reds, just 3.5 games back of the Friars, keep the pressure on?
Go deeper: | | | | | | | | 7. 🇺🇸 Pic du jour: "Never Forget Walk" |  | | | Courtesy: Tunnel to Towers | | | | Frank Siller, chairman/CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, embarked Sunday on the "Never Forget Walk" from Washington, D.C. to New York to commemorate the 20th anniversary of 9/11. - Siller started at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and will walk 500+ miles over six weeks before finishing at Ground Zero on Sept. 11.
- Tunnel to Towers supports the families of fallen first responders, including those who died that tragic day. One of them was Siller's brother, Stephen, an FDNY firefighter.
| | | | | | | | 8. 📆 Aug. 2, 1996: Dream Team III wins gold |  | | | Photo: Linda Cataffo/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images | | | | 25 years ago today, the U.S. men's basketball team routed Yugoslavia, 95-69, to claim its second straight Olympic gold medal. Details: Nicknamed "Dream Team III," the U.S. cruised through the tournament, going 8-0 at home in Atlanta. - Guards: Penny Hardaway, Reggie Miller, Gary Payton, Mitch Richmond, John Stockton
- Forwards: Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Grant Hill, Scottie Pippen
- Centers: Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson
The big picture: The original Dream Team was formed in 1992 after FIBA changed its rules to allow NBA players to compete, and "Dream Team II" won the 1994 FIBA World Championship. - Since the Dream Team cruised to gold in 1992, the U.S. has won six golds and a bronze (2004).
- If the U.S. beats Spain while most of you sleep tonight (12:40am ET), it'll be two wins away from another gold.
🎥 Watch: Dream Team III introduced (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 9. 🎓 NCAA trivia | | Source: Giphy Five FBS schools don't have "university" in their official name. - Question: Can you name all five?
- Hint: Four are on the East Coast.
- Submitted by: Justin S. (Roswell, Georgia)
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🎵 Send us songs |  | | | Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios | | | | We're due for another Axios Sports reader playlist. Send us songs: Share your current favorite song here. Jeff and I will pick our 20 favorites and include a playlist in tomorrow's newsletter. | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Market news worthy of your time | | | | | | | | Get a daily look at the news and trends dominating the worlds of global business and finance. Why it matters: We highlight the stories that matter and share crucial economic insights. Stay informed in just a few short minutes. Subscribe for free | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "How is it August?" Baker Trivia answer: Boston College, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy 🙏 Thanks for reading. Don't forget to 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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