🎾 Axios Sports: "The king of stupidity"

Plus: The NBA's iron men | Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Global X ETFs   Axios Sports By Jeff Tracy · Apr 12, 2022 👋 Good morning! Kendall's off today, but he'll be back in the driver's seat tomorrow. Today's word count: 1,926 words (7 minutes). Let's sports...     1 big thing: 🎾 Novak's back Novak Djokovic practices ahead of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images   Novak Djokovic begins his clay-court season today at the Monte-Carlo Masters, where the world No. 1 will face Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. Why it matters: This is just his second tournament of the year, and first since February, as the unvaccinated superstar looks to move past the debacle of his own making. "The last four, five months have been really challenging for me mentally and emotionally, but here I am. I try to leave all of that behind me and move on." — Djokovic, to reporters on Sunday Catch up quick: Djokovic's year began with January's 11-day Australian saga that resulted in his deportation, an Australian Open withdrawal and a three-year visa ban (which could end early). In February, he lost his No. 1 ranking for the first time in two years after a quarterfinal exit in the Dubai Tennis Championships, though he regained the top spot three weeks later. In March he missed both the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California, and the Miami Open because his unvaccinated status barred him from entering the U.S. But when France — and Monaco, where Djokovic lives — last month lifted most of its COVID restrictions, it cleared the way for him to compete at both Monte Carlo and next month's French Open, where he's the reigning champ. What they're saying: Everything above stemmed from Djokovic's decision not to be vaccinated — a choice that at least one person found baffling given the potentially lofty consequences. "If you're trying to be the best in history and you're going to give up the race for some vaccines, you have to be the king of stupidity," former world No. 1 Marcelo Ríos told La Tercera. "I believe that at first it was out of fear, but now he is being too arrogant." The big picture: Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open in Djokovic's absence, putting the Spaniard alone at the top with 21 grand slam victories (Djokovic and Roger Federer are tied at 20). This clay-court tune-up in Monte Carlo should improve Djokovic's chances of winning next month at Roland Garros and tying Nadal on the grand slam leaderboard.     2. 🏒 NHL snapshot: 17 days left Toronto's Auston Matthews is having an all-time great season. Photo: Claus Andersen/Getty Images   The NHL's first 82-game regular season since 2019 ends 17 days from now, and just 10 of the league's 32 teams have been eliminated from playoff contention. How it works: Eight teams per conference make the postseason, including the top three from each division plus two wild cards. Here's where things stand: East: Four teams have clinched and six have been eliminated, leaving six teams fighting for the remaining four spots, though the Islanders and Blue Jackets are all but out. Clinched: Panthers (108 points), Hurricanes (102), Maple Leafs (100), Rangers (100) In the hunt: Lightning (96), Bruins (95), Penguins (94), Capitals (90), Islanders (75), Blue Jackets (74) Eliminated: Red Wings, Sabres, Senators, Flyers, Devils, Canadiens West: Only Colorado can breathe easy here, as the other seven spots are still up for grabs. Clinched: Avalanche (110) In the hunt: Flames (97), Wild (94), Blues (94), Oilers (90), Predators (87), Stars (86), Kings (86), Golden Knights (84), Jets (81), Canucks (80), Sharks (67) Eliminated: Ducks, Blackhawks, Kraken, Coyotes What to watch: Aside from the playoff races, two players are looking to put a stamp on seasons that have already been etched in the history books. Toronto's Auston Matthews has 58 goals, already the 42nd-most in NHL history, and with 10 games left he should become just the third player this century to reach 60 (Alex Ovechkin, Steven Stamkos). Florida's Jonathan Huberdeau is the first player in franchise history with a 100-point season (104), and he's three assists shy of becoming the fifth player this century to reach 80 (Joe Thornton 2x, Nikita Kucherov, Sidney Crosby, Henrik Sedin). Go deeper: Will the Stanley Cup return to Canada this year? (ESPN)     3. 🏟 The Orioles' new-look stadium Data: Sports Illustrated; Chart: Axios Visuals Part of baseball's charm is every ballpark having its own unique dimensions — and those dimensions evolving with time. Driving the news: Camden Yards moved its notoriously easy-to-clear left-field fence this offseason, and debuted the changes at Monday's Orioles home opener. The wall is now deeper (384 feet) and higher (13 feet) — changes intended to keep more balls in the yard. Wild stat: 72 more homers were hit at Camden Yards than any other ballpark from 2019 to 2021, a difference larger than the gap between second and 13th place. It doesn't get much better than Camden Yards. Photo: Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images By the numbers: The closest wall in Baltimore remains its right-field foul pole, at 318 feet, which is the sixth-shortest home run that can be hit in an MLB ballpark. Closest fence in right field (17): Cubs, Nationals, Marlins, Cardinals, Tigers, Mets, Twins, Rangers, Mariners, Reds, Braves, Padres, Pirates, Orioles, Yankees, Giants, Red Sox Closest in left (8): Angels, Rockies, Brewers, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Phillies, Astros, Rays Left and right equal (5): A's, Dodgers, Royals, Blue Jays, Guardians     A message from Global X ETFs The rise of cyber threats is not just a news story, it's a reality     If we're lucky, cybersecurity can feel like an afterthought. But as the world continues to digitalize, more of our data and devices are potentially at risk. Explore the Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) for exposure to companies preventing intrusions and attacks — all in single trade. Explore BUG.     4. ⚡️ Lightning round Tiger Woods at the 2001 Masters. Photo: Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images   💰 Tiger's irons: The iron set Tiger Woods used when he won the "Tiger Slam," his four straight major victories ending with the 2001 Masters, sold for $5.2 million — more than seven times the previous record for a sale of golf memorabilia. ⚾️ Nats for sale? The Lerner family may consider selling the Washington Nationals, which it purchased from MLB in 2006 after the franchise moved from Montreal one year earlier. 🏀 The other Nikola: 18-year-old Serbian forward Nikola Jović — not to be confused with 27-year-old Serbian center and reigning MVP Nikola Jokić — has declared for the NBA draft. Denver, you know what to do. 🧦 Look for the socks: T-Wolves fans have made a habit of taking their shoes off at the arena after securing a victory, writes Axios Twin Cities' Nick Halter. Karl-Anthony Towns inadvertently spawned the new tradition, which fans hope to continue at tonight's play-in game.     5. 🏀 WNBA draft: Howard, Smith go 1-2 WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert flanked by 12 of last night's draftees. Photo: Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images   The WNBA draft was held in person Monday night for the first time since 2019 as 36 women joined the league just over three weeks before the season begins. First round: The Atlanta Dream made Kentucky's Rhyne Howard the first Wildcat ever taken No. 1, while the Indiana Fever made a record four picks in the top 10. Dream: Howard (G, Kentucky) Fever: NaLyssa Smith (F, Baylor) Washington Mystics: Shakira Austin (C, Ole Miss) Fever: Emily Engstler (F, Louisville) New York Liberty: Nyara Sabally (C, Oregon) Fever: Lexie Hull (G, Stanford) Dallas Wings: Veronica Burton (G, Northwestern) Las Vegas Aces: Mya Hollingshed (F, Colorado) Los Angeles Sparks: Rae Burrell (F, Tennessee) Fever: Queen Egbo (C, Baylor) Aces: Kierstan Bell (G, FGCU) Connecticut Sun: Nia Clouden (G, Michigan State) Second round: Five of 12 picks just played in the Final Four, and another three were in the Elite Eight. Aces: Khayla Pointer (G, LSU) Mystics: Christyn Williams (G, UConn) Dream: Naz Hillmon (F, Michigan) Sparks: Kianna Smith (G, Louisville) Seattle Storm: Elissa Cunane (C, NC State) Storm: Lorela Cubaj (F, Georgia Tech) Sparks: Olivia Nelson-Ododa (F, UConn) Fever: Destanni Henderson (G, South Carolina) Storm: Evina Westbrook (G, UConn) Minnesota Lynx: Kayla Jones (F, NC State) Aces: Aisha Sheppard (G, Virginia Tech) Sun: Jordan Lewis (G, Baylor) Third round: Sika Koné became the fifth Malian selected in the WNBA draft, and her ceiling rivals that of anyone else taken Monday. Fever: Ameshya Williams-Holliday (C, Jackson State) Phoenix Mercury: Maya Dodson (F, Notre Dame) Sparks: Amy Atwell (F, Hawaii) Lynx: Hannah Sjerven (F, South Dakota) Liberty: Koné (F, Mali) Wings: Jasmine Dickey (F, Delaware) Wings: Jazz Bond (F, North Florida) Mercury: Macee Williams (F, IUPUI) Storm: Jade Melbourne (G, Australia) Fever: Ali Patberg (G, Indiana) Aces: Faustine Aifuwa (C, LSU) Sun: Kiara Smith (G, Florida) Go deeper: Winners and losers (Yahoo)     6. Bombshell report: 💔 The other predator Photo: Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images   ESPN published a 32,000-word report on Monday detailing the previously-untold story of Todd Hodne, a Penn State football player who committed a string of rapes and assaults from 1978 to 1979. Why it matters: The Penn State football program and former coach Joe Paterno's legacy were irrevocably tarnished 11 years ago in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. It turns out that wasn't the first time there was a serial sexual predator in their midst. The late Paterno, who was fired in 2011 for failing to appropriately respond to accusations regarding Sandusky, reportedly had similar knowledge of Hodne's crimes that he remained silent about. The authors spoke with six of the 12 women Hodne was known to have attacked, as well as countless family members and former classmates. Hodne died two years ago of cancer in the prison ward of a hospital. What they're saying: "I have prosecuted serial killers and capital cases," wrote John Collins, one of Hodne's prosecutors, in a letter to a parole board. "To this day, [Hodne] remains among the three most dangerous, physically imposing and ruthless excuses for a human being I have ever faced in court." Read the full story.     7. 🏀 Stat du jour: The NBA's iron men Source: Giphy Just five players played in every NBA game this season, the fewest in league history. Saddiq Bey (F, Pistons): 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 33 minutes a night Mikal Bridges (F, Suns): 14.2 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 35 minutes a night Dwight Powell (C, Mavericks): 8.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 22 minutes a night Deni Avdija (F, Wizards): 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2 assists in 24 minutes a night Kevon Looney (C, Warriors): 6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2 assists in 21 minutes a night The big picture: Bridges reigns supreme among this group, having never missed a game in his four NBA seasons nor his three years at Villanova before that.     8. 📺 Watchlist: Play-in round Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images   The NBA play-in tournament begins today with the East and West "7-8" games. By Friday night, the 16-team playoff field will be set. Tonight: East ... No. 8 Cavaliers at No. 7 Nets (7pm ET, TNT); West ... No. 8 Clippers at No. 7 Timberwolves (9:30pm, TNT) The winners of tonight's games advance to the playoffs as their conference's No. 7 seed. The losers host the winners of tomorrow's "9-10" games in the East (Hawks-Hornets) and West (Pelicans-Spurs), with the winners of those games earning the No. 8 seed. More to watch: 🏀 G League Finals: Delaware Blue Coats at Rio Grande Valley Vipers (9pm, ESPN2) ... First game in best-of-three series ⚽️ Champions League: Chelsea (down 3-1) at Real Madrid (3pm, CBS); Bayern Munich (down 1-0) at Villarreal (3pm, Paramount+) ... Quarterfinal second leg ⚽️ CONCACAF Champions League: Pumas UNAM (up 2-1) at Cruz Azul (10pm, FS1) ... Semifinal second leg ⚽️ Friendly: Uzbekistan at USWNT (7pm, ESPN2) 🎾 Monte-Carlo Masters: Novak Djokovic vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (8:15am, Tennis) ⚾️ MLB: Mets at Phillies (6:45pm, MLB Network) 🏒 NHL: Flyers at Capitals (7pm, ESPN); Lightning at Stars (9:30pm, ESPN) ⛳️ NCAA golf: Western Intercollegiate (7pm, Golf)     9. ⚾️ MLB trivia Photo: Robert Sabo/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images   Derek Jeter, whose upcoming ESPN docuseries just premiered its trailer, is by far the Yankees' all-time hits leader, with 3,465. Question: Which four players round out the top five? Hint: One of them is not who you'd think Answer at the bottom.     10. ⚾️ 1 rookie thing: Kwan-base percentage Photo: Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images   Steven Kwan, the Guardians' rookie left fielder, has reached base 15 times through his first four career games. Why it matters: He's the first player to accomplish that feat since at least 1901! We may be witnessing the best start to an MLB career ... ever. By the numbers: Kwan is batting .692 (9 for 13) with a .789 on-base percentage, he has yet to strike out and already has a five-hit game to his name. He seems to have the clutch gene, too, roping an eighth-inning, three-run triple to extend Cleveland's one-run lead to four in Monday's win over the Royals. Keep raking, kid.     A message from Global X ETFs The rise of cyber threats is not just a news story, it's a reality     If we're lucky, cybersecurity can feel like an afterthought. But as the world continues to digitalize, more of our data and devices are potentially at risk. Explore the Global X Cybersecurity ETF (BUG) for exposure to companies preventing intrusions and attacks — all in single trade. Explore BUG.   Talk tomorrow, Jeff "Love this energy" Tracy Trivia answer: Lou Gehrig (2,721); Babe Ruth (2,518); Mickey Mantle (2,415); Bernie Williams (2,336) 🙏 Thanks for reading. Follow us on Twitter: @kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy. Tell your friends to sign up. Like this email style and format? It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 200 orgs use it — in a tool called Axios HQ — to drive productivity with clearer workplace communications.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: