👑 Axios Sports: King Henry

Plus: College hoops poll | Tuesday, October 19, 2021

Open in app View in browser     Axios Sports By Kendall Baker ·Oct 19, 2021 👋 Good morning! The NBA season tips off tonight with a star-studded double-header on TNT. October really is the best sports month. 7:30pm ET: Nets at Bucks 10pm: Warriors at Lakers Today's word count: 1,626 words (6 minutes). Let's sports...     1 big thing: 🏈 King Henry's reign Photo: Andy Lyons/Getty Images   Derrick Henry led the Titans past the Bills in a 34-31 thriller that had seven lead changes (MNF record) and ended on a failed QB sneak at the goal line. By the numbers: Henry recorded his fifth straight 100-yard rushing game and became the first player to rush for 10 TD within his team's first six games since Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005. Game log: Sept. 12: 17 car, 58 yds Sept. 19: 35 car, 182 yds, 3 TD Sept. 26: 28 car, 113 yds Oct. 3: 33 car, 157 yds, 1 TD Oct. 10: 29 car, 130 yds, 3 TD Oct. 18: 20 car, 143 yds, 3 TD Why it matters: Henry's 783 rushing yards through six games has him on pace for 2,219, which would break Eric Dickerson's 37-year-old record (2,105) and make him the first player with consecutive 2,000-yard seasons. The addition of a 17th game aids in that projection, as we enter a new era of the NFL record books (expect a lot of marks to fall this season). Yes, but: Even if there were only 16 games this year, Henry would still be on pace to challenge Dickerson's record and break 2,000 yards again (2,088-yard pace). Between the lines: Workhorse running backs are a dying breed, but Henry didn't get the memo. He's currently on pace for 459 carries, which would demolish the record of 416, set by Larry Johnson in 2006. Looking (way) ahead: Could the 27-year-old Henry eventually break Emmitt Smith's career rushing yards record? If he stays healthy, it's certainly possible. Based on Henry's 102.1 yards per game average since becoming the starter in 2018, he'd need 115 games to surpass Smith's 18,355 yards. If he keeps that pace, and the NFL keeps a 17-game season, he would pass Smith in the first game of the 2028 season at age 34 — one year younger than Smith was when he retired. 🎥 Highlight ... Henry had his sixth career 70-yard rush TD on Monday, passing Barry Sanders and O.J. Simpson for third-most ever. Only Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson (seven) have more.     2. 🏀 Snapshot: NBA tiers Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images The Kyrie Irving situation looms over Brooklyn, vaulting Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending champs into the top spot for now. Favorites: 1. Bucks, 2. Nets Contenders: 3. Lakers, 4. Suns, 5. Jazz, 6. Hawks, 7. Heat, 8. Nuggets Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images The Steph Curry show is back after a historic season — this time with more veteran help. Could Klay Thompson's return around Christmas elevate the Warriors to contender status? Great teams: 9. 76ers, 10. Mavericks, 11. Warriors, 12. Celtics, 13. Clippers Good teams: 14. Knicks, 15. Grizzlies, 16. Trail Blazers, 17. Bulls Jalen Green (L) and Cade Cunningham during preseason action. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images The Pistons and Rockets will lean heavily on Cade Cunningham (No. 1 pick) and Jalen Green (No. 2 pick), respectively. Expect a season-long battle for Rookie of the Year. "Meh" teams: 18. Pacers, 19. Raptors, 20. Hornets, 21. Wizards, 22. Timberwolves, 23. Kings, 24. Spurs, 25. Pelicans The doldrums: 26. Cavaliers, 27. Pistons, 28. Rockets, 29. Magic, 30. Thunder Go deeper: Season preview (NBA.com)     3. ⚾️ Minor leaguers' major win Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios   Starting next season, MLB teams will be required to provide housing for minor league players, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Why it matters: "This is a historic victory," Harry Marino, director of the nonprofit Advocates for Minor Leaguers, told ESPN. It's also just the beginning of a fight for improved quality of life. State of play: Minor leaguers are expected to train year round while being paid roughly $15,000 per year on average — and that's after a recent salary increase. Most players work offseason side gigs, cram into apartments and subsist on food unfit for professional athletes. The fear and anxiety caused by this lifestyle has contributed to MiLB's mental health crisis. Companies like Big League Advance have emerged against this backdrop, offering players money upfront in exchange for a cut of future earnings — a practice some critics view as predatory. The Astros this season became the first team to provide housing for all minor leaguers, and other teams offer similar benefits. Now, there will be a universal rule. The big picture: This housing upgrade comes amid MLB's efforts to modernize the minors, which included 2020's restructuring, the aforementioned salary increase, reduced travel and upgraded facilities. All that adds up to "the best we've ever done in terms of providing an environment conducive to professional development," says MLB executive Morgan Sword. More improvements are needed, though, and they wouldn't even be that expensive. Food for thought: The annual cost to pay all MiLB players $50,000, give everyone furnished housing, cover in-season meals and fly players to road games would be $16 million total, per Baseball Prospectus. MLB owners are worth a combined $75 billion. What they're saying: "This is a black eye for the game [and] for the country," said Advocates for Minor Leaguers co-founder Bill Fletcher Jr. "This is hiding in plain sight, and it's egregious." But it's not hiding anymore. The push for change has accelerated in recent years and reached a peak in 2021, with some players going so far as holding in-game protests. Marino thinks such "unprecedented behavior ... upset the status quo," helping yield this week's housing win. The last word, from Fletcher: "People talk about wages, hours and working conditions, but it is really about dignity. Am I going to be respected as a human being?" Go deeper: Reimagining how MLB prospects get paid (Axios)     A message from Axios Start a new morning habit.     Power your day with the Axios Today podcast. Hear the latest scoops from the White House and Congress, analysis on the economy and insights into trends shaping your world. In 10 minutes, you'll catch up on the news that matters. Listen for free.     4. ⚡️ Lightning round Nick Rolovich. Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images   🏈 Rolovich terminated: Washington State has fired football coach Nick Rolovich and four assistants for not complying with the state's vaccine mandate. Vaccinated defensive coordinator Jake Dickert will take over. 🏀 F--k cancer: In August, ESPN's Dick Vitale was diagnosed with melanoma. Now he has lymphoma. "If you see me, please just give me a fist bump and say a prayer that I can return from being 82 years old to acting like I'm 12," he wrote in a statement. We love you, Dickie V! 🏒 Kane suspended: The NHL has suspended Sharks forward Evander Kane 21 games for submitting a fake vaccine card. 🏀 Good read: Are the Lakers the oldest team in NBA history? (Zach Kram, The Ringer) "LeBron James' fight against Father Time will have a lot of company this season in Los Angeles."     5. ⚾️ Red Sox stay red hot Kyle Schwarber admiring his grand slam. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images   The Red Sox pounded the Astros, 12-3, on Monday night to take a 2-1 lead in the ALCS. Boston has 10+ hits in six straight games, the longest streak within a single postseason ever. Kyle Schwarber's second-inning blast made the Red Sox the first team to hit three grand slams in a single playoff series. 📆 Today's double-header: Braves (up 2-0) at Dodgers, 5pm ET; Astros (down 2-1) at Red Sox, 8pm     5. 🏀 College hoops: Zags top preseason poll Data: AP; Table: Axios Visuals Gonzaga was the runaway top choice in Monday's AP college basketball preseason poll, the second straight year the Bulldogs will start at No. 1, Jeff writes. State of play: The Big Ten and SEC lead the way with five ranked teams each, followed by the ACC (four), Big 12 (three), Pac-12, Big East and American (two each). No. 2 UCLA was the only other school to earn first-place votes after returning most of the core from its Final Four run. No. 8 Baylor will look to become just the second repeat champion this century (Florida, 2006-07). No. 9 Duke hopes to rebound from its worst campaign in 25 years to give Coach K a proper sendoff. No. 12 Memphis, powered by the nation's top recruiting class, hasn't made the NCAA tournament since 2014. No. 23 St. Bonaventure is ranked for the first time since 1971. Looking ahead: The season begins three weeks from today with a marathon of games, highlighted by the Champions Classic (Duke vs. Kentucky, Kansas vs. Michigan State) at MSG. Go deeper: 64 reasons to be excited for college basketball (SI)     7. 🌎 The world in photos Photo: Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images BOSTON — Fenway, you're beautiful. 🎥 Watch: Fenway Park tour (YouTube) Photo: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images ATHENS — The Olympic flame-lighting ceremony took place Monday, 108 days ahead of Beijing 2022. Go deeper: A history of torch relays (Olympics) Photo: Fadel Senna/AFP via Getty Images M'HAMID EL GHIZLANE, Morocco — The Rally of Morocco took place last week, with drivers and riders covering 1,666 miles of the Sahara Desert. 🎥 Watch: Highlights (YouTube)     8. 📆 Oct. 19, 1987: Martin hired (again) Photo: Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images 34 years ago today, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner hired manager Billy Martin — for the fifth time in 12 years. The big picture: Steinbrenner made 20 managerial changes in his first 20 seasons, leading to Martin's unprecedented run of hiring and firings. 1975–78: Martin (a Yankees shortstop 1950–57) went 279-192 across parts of four seasons, winning one World Series and reaching another. 1979: Brought back just one year later, he closed the season with a 55-40 record before getting fired for challenging a civilian to a fight. 1983: He went 91-71 and famously instigated George Brett's "Pine Tar Incident." After the season, he was replaced by Yogi Berra. 1985: Martin replaced Berra 16 games into the season, going 91-54 the rest of the way but missing the playoffs. Steinbrenner fired him, but gave him a huge raise to stay on as an adviser. 1988: The last rodeo. He started strong, going 40-28, but got fired after an in-game scuffle with an umpire led to his suspension by the league. The aftermath: Martin remained on Steinbrenner's payroll, but never managed again. On Christmas Day, 1989, he died in a single-vehicle, drunk-driving accident. 🎥 Watch ... You're fired: The Billy Martin story (Bronx Pinstripes)     9. ⚽️ London trivia Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images   Tottenham, which hosted both NFL games this month, is one of six London-based Premier League clubs this season. Question: Can you name the other five? Hint: A, B, C, C, W. Answer at the bottom.     10. 🏒 1 overtime thing: 3-on-3 madness Photo: Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images   The best part about NHL overtime is that it's basically a different sport. After 60 minutes of 5-on-5 hockey, it's five minutes of 3-on-3 madness. 🎥 Exhibit A: Monday's Rangers-Maple Leafs game. How fun is this?     A message from Axios Start a new morning habit.     Power your day with the Axios Today podcast. Hear the latest scoops from the White House and Congress, analysis on the economy and insights into trends shaping your world. In 10 minutes, you'll catch up on the news that matters. Listen for free.   Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Ball is life" Baker Trivia answer: Arsenal, Brentford, Chelsea, Crystal Palace, West Ham 🙏 Thanks for reading. For more sports coverage, follow us on Twitter: @kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy. Like this email style and format? Learn more about Axios HQ. 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