| | | | | | | | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker · Jun 27, 2022 | | 👋 Good morning! Welcome back. Today's word count: 1,890 words (7 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: 🏆 Colorado hoists the Cup |  | | | Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images | | | | The Avalanche beat the Lightning, 2-1, on Sunday night in Tampa to win their first Stanley Cup since 2001 and third overall. Why it matters: The Avs won 72 games this season, tying the 1976-77 Canadiens, 1983-84 Oilers and 1995-96 Red Wings for the most in NHL history. They are, quite simply, one of the best teams ever. - Season: 56-19-7
- Playoffs: 16-4
Between the lines: Colorado dominated at times during these playoffs but also notched 10 come-from-behind wins, tying the 2009 Penguins for the most in a single postseason. - They're the fourth team in NHL history to post all four series-clinching wins on the road.
- Now, they'll make up for those missed celebrations with the biggest party Denver can muster.
The superstar: Cale Makar is the first player to ever win the Hobey Baker Award (best college player), Calder Trophy (Rookie of the Year), Norris Trophy (top defenseman), Conn Smythe Trophy (MVP of the playoffs) and a Stanley Cup. And he's only 23 years old. "I was trying not to look at the clock too much, was just trying to stay in the moment. ... Pure joy being able to throw the gloves off and being able to experience [this] with such a great group of guys." — Makar The other side: The Lightning's three-peat bid fell two wins short, ending an amazing stretch that saw them play a record 71 playoff games over three seasons. "This group is a part of history. These guys are right up there with the '80s Islanders and the Oilers, the teams you talk about for decades. I hope people talk about that team in there for decades." — Lightning coach Jon Cooper ( full interview) The bottom line: The Lightning dynasty is over (for now), and an Avalanche dynasty could just be getting started. Colorado is the favorite at 6-1 to win the 2023 Stanley Cup. Tampa is next at 8-1. Go deeper: |     | | | | | | 2. ⚾️ Hotty Toddy: Rebels win it all |  | | | Photo: Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images | | | | Ole Miss scored twice on wild pitches in a three-run eighth inning on Sunday to beat Oklahoma, 4-2, and complete the sweep in the College World Series Finals. Why it matters: The Rebels were the last team to get into the NCAA baseball tournament. One magical run later, they are national champions for the first time in program history. - They join the women's golf team (2021) as the only Ole Miss teams with national titles.
- That's two straight college baseball championships for the Magnolia State (Mississippi State won last year) and three straight for the SEC (Vanderbilt won in 2019).
What they're saying: "I think they've showed a lot of people that you can fall down, you can stumble and you can fail, but that doesn't mean you're a failure," coach Mike Bianco said of his team, which was 22-17 (7-14 SEC) on May 1. - "If you continue to work hard, you continue to push and you continue to believe, you can accomplish anything."
- "That's not some poster or some tweet to motivate you. We've all heard that. These guys have lived that this season.''
The last word: Ole Miss fans threw down thousands of Jell-O shots during their team's CWS run. On Sunday, Gloria Poplin, a self-described "hotty toddy grandma," told ESPN she was ready to get in on the action: "I ain't never had a Jell-O shot in my 78-year-old life. But I think I am going to go over there and see if they have any of them left. And I ain't going to bed until Wednesday." 🎥 Watch: Highlights (YouTube) | | | | | | | | 3. 🏀 Victor Wembanyama is coming |  | | | Photo: Romain Biard/Euroleague Basketball via Getty Images | | | | The 2022 NBA draft was just four days ago, but scouts and teams are already salivating over France's Victor Wembanyama, the prize of next year's class, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Why it matters: The 18-year-old point-forward with a Swiss Army Knife skill set is being touted as one of the best basketball prospects ever. Player profile: Wembanyama pairs impressive shooting range and court vision with game-changing rim protection. He led Euroleague with 1.9 blocks per game last season — while playing just 17 minutes per game. - Physicals: He's 7'2" (at least) with a 7'9" wingspan and weighs 230 pounds.
- Team: He plays for ASVEL, which is owned by Spurs legend Tony Parker and just won its third straight French League title.
What they're saying: "I thought I was tall, I thought I had long arms, but he takes it to a whole other level," seven-footer Chet Holmgren, this year's No. 2 pick, said after Wembanyama's monster performance against the U.S. in the U-19 FIBA World Cup title game. - "Might be the most talented prospect I've ever scouted," says ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
- "Rudy Gobert mixed with Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis," writes Yahoo's Krysten Peek.
Catch up quick: Wembanyama grew up near Paris in a family of athletes: his mother and sister excelled at basketball, and his father was an elite long jumper. - He played soccer and judo as a kid before focusing exclusively on basketball at age 10, by which time he'd already garnered offers from Barcelona and ASVEL.
- Instead, he joined his local club, Nanterre 92, which he led to the U-18 championship game when he was just 14.
- At 15, he became the second-youngest player in EuroCup history, and last month he was named the French League's Rising Star (best young player) for the second straight year.
The big picture: Four of the NBA's top 10 players right now hail from abroad in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokić, Joel Embiid and Luka Dončić. It might not be long before Wembanyama joins them. The bottom line: Elite NBA prospects get hyped every year as the draft approaches, but it's the rare talent who bullies his way into the news cycle mere hours after the previous draft concludes. 🎥 Watch: Highlight reel (YouTube) | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Recruit smart professionals | | |  | | | | Reach over 800,000 smart professionals for your remote and local job opportunities. Axios now has job boards to get your openings in front of qualified candidates. Post your job opportunities on Axios. | | | | | | 4. ⚡️ Lightning round |  | | | Photo: Elsa/Getty Images | | | | ⛳️ Golf roundup: In Gee Chun held off Lexi Thompson to win the Women's PGA Championship … Xander Schauffele won the Travelers Championship … Padraig Harrington won the U.S. Senior Open. ⚽️ Bale joins LAFC: Gareth Bale, once the most expensive soccer player of all time, is joining LAFC after an eight-year stint with Real Madrid. 🏈 Watson hearing: Deshaun Watson's hearing before the NFL and NFLPA's jointly appointed disciplinary officer will begin tomorrow. 🏀 Seattle lands Charles: After agreeing to a "contract divorce" with the Mercury, former WNBA MVP Tina Charles plans to join the Storm. | | | | | | | | 5. ⚾️ Appel's long road to the big leagues |  | | | Mark Appel in 2013 and 2021. Photos: Scott Halleran/Getty Images; Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images | | | | Mark Appel, drafted No. 1 by the Astros in 2013, earned his first MLB call-up on Saturday with the Phillies, Jeff writes. Why it matters: Appel, 30, was one of only three No. 1 picks in MLB history to sign with their team but never make the big leagues. He's now off that list after making it to "the show." - "Completely overwhelmed," said Appel. "I have so many thoughts I want to share but can't find the words, so I'll just say this: I'm thankful."
- Context: Nine years is a long time. Fellow 2013 draftees like Kris Bryant (No. 2), Tim Anderson (No. 17), Aaron Judge (No. 32) and Cody Bellinger (No. 124) have already become superstars.
The backdrop: The Stanford graduate and 2012 National Pitcher of the Year was drafted first overall in 2013 by his hometown Astros, who signed him for $6.35 million. - He was MLB's No. 6 pitching prospect in 2014 before Houston traded the oft-injured and ineffective Appel to the Phillies in 2015.
- In 2018, battling inconsistency, injuries and depression, he left baseball. Three years later, he returned to the Phillies organization, where he's excelled as a reliever this season in Triple-A.
- On Saturday, with reliever Connor Brogdon on the COVID IL, he finally got the call he's been waiting nearly a decade to receive.
The big picture: Appel was an established college star before injuries derailed his pro career, but a pair of high school draftees who endured similarly long delays offer optimism for his future. - Matt Bush, the No. 1 pick in 2004, debuted in 2016 after battling alcoholism. At 36, he's still part of the Rangers' bullpen.
- Josh Hamilton, the No. 1 pick in 1999, debuted in 2007 after he battled alcoholism and drug addiction. He won the 2010 AL MVP and was a five-time All-Star.
The bottom line: No matter your talent it's impossible to prove yourself if you never get the opportunity. Mark Appel is finally getting his. | | | | | | | | 6. 🇺🇸 Photos across America | | Photo: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — The USWNT beat Colombia, 3-0, on Saturday behind two goals from Sophia Smith and one from Taylor Kornieck in her international debut. - Wild stat: The U.S. hasn't lost on home soil in 68 straight games, outscoring opponents 258-28.
Photo: Steph Chambers/Getty Images EUGENE, Ore. — Tokyo 2020 bronze medalist Noah Lyles (19.67 seconds) squeaked past wunderkind Erriyon Knighton (19.69) in the 200-meter final at the USTAF Outdoor Championships. Fun rivalry brewing. Photo: Jason Miller/USFL/Getty Images CANTON, Ohio — The Philadelphia Stars and Birmingham Stallions won their semifinal games on Saturday and will meet in this Sunday's USFL championship game. Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images ANAHEIM, Calif. — Six players and two coaches were ejected after a benches-clearing brawl between the Mariners and Angels on Sunday. | | | | | | | | 7. 🌍 Photos around the world | | Photo: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images PENZANCE, England — 270 swimmers wearing blue and yellow caps set a world record on Sunday for the largest synchronized swimming routine. Photo: Daniel Maurer/AFP via Getty Images BAD HOMBURG, Germany — Caroline Garcia came back to beat Bianca Andreescu, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, on Saturday to win the Bad Homburg Open, a Wimbledon warm-up event. Photo: Tom Pennington/Getty Images BUDAPEST, Hungary — Katie Ledecky won her fifth consecutive 800-meter final at the world championships, becoming the first swimmer to win the same individual event at five straight worlds. - The big picture: The U.S. shattered the record for most medals at a single worlds, with 45 (previous record: 38).
Photo: Daniel Smorigo/World Surf League via Getty Images RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The beach was packed for the elimination round at the Oi Rio Pro. | | | | | | | | 8. 📺 Watchlist: Wimbledon is here |  | | | Photo: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images | | | | The 135th Wimbledon Championships begin today (now, ESPN), where players will compete for a record $50.5 million purse. - Today's slate: No. 1 Novak Djokovic (8:30am ET), No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz (9:15am), No. 3 Ons Jabeur (8am), No. 10 Emma Raducanu (10:30am). See all.
- State of play: Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarusian players, so five of the top 100 men, and 11 of the top 100 women, can't participate.
More to watch: - ⚾️ MLB: Red Sox at Blue Jays (7pm, MLB) ... Since a 10-19 start, Boston has gone 32-12 and holds the first AL Wild Card.
- 🏀 WNBA: Aces at Sparks (10:30pm, NBA) ... Vegas leads the league in scoring (91.2 ppg), while L.A. allows the second-most points (86.4). Could spell trouble for the Sparks.
| | | | | | | | 9. 🏆 Stanley Cup trivia |  | | | Erik Johnson lifts the Cup. What a feeling. Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images | | | | The Avalanche are one of six non-Original Six NHL franchises with at least three Stanley Cup titles. - Question: Name the five others.
- Hint: The Original Six are the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Red Wings, Bruins, Blackhawks and Rangers.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🎥 Top plays: Weekend edition | | Source: Giphy - ⚾️ Riley Greene!!!
- ⛳️ Ridiculous putt
- ⚾️ What a grab
- ⛳️ Spins it in
- ⚾️ Take a bow
- ⚾️ Outfield snag
- ⚾️ Infield snag
- 🏀 Buzzer-beater
- ⚾️ Crazy range
- 🥍 One-hander
Watch all 10. | | | | | | | | A message from Axios | | Recruit smart professionals | | | | | | | | Reach over 800,000 smart professionals for your remote and local job opportunities. Axios now has job boards to get your openings in front of qualified candidates. Post your job opportunities on Axios. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Gonna miss playoff hockey" Baker Trivia answer: Penguins (five), Oilers (five), Islanders (four), Devils (three), Lightning (three) 🙏 Thanks for reading. Follow us on Twitter: @kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy. Tell your friends to sign up. |  | It's called Smart Brevity®. Over 300 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.
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