⚽️ Axios Sports: USA vs. Iran

Plus: Miggy's last dance | Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Open in app View in browser   Presented By GLOBAL X ETFS   Axios Sports By Kendall Baker · Nov 29, 2022 👋 Good morning! Big game today. Today's word count: 1,474 words (5 minutes). Let's sports...     1 big thing: ⚽️ A geopolitical showdown A female Iran fan protests during Iran's match against Wales. Photo: Youssef Loulidi/Getty Images   The USMNT's win-or-go-home match against Iran has become more than a game amid heightened geopolitical turmoil, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Catch up quick: Iran's morality police, tasked with enforcing strict codes around women's dress and behavior, arrested 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September for improperly wearing her hijab. Amini died in custody, allegedly after being beaten by officers. Her death was the catalyst for the uprising that has erupted across the country as citizens protest women's lack of rights. At least 450 protesters have been killed, and another 18,000 arrested. President Biden said "we're gonna free Iran" in a speech this month, and the U.S. Treasury has sanctioned multiple Iranian officials for their anti-protest behavior. State of play: Iranian soccer players have continually supported the protesters, covering their uniforms before a September friendly and refusing to sing the national anthem before their World Cup opener. Some players have remained close with top government officials, though, with two staging a controversial photoshoot with the president at his office days before leaving for Qatar. The Iranian government on Monday threatened players' families with imprisonment and torture if they fail to "behave" before today's game, CNN reports. The latest: In its own act of protest, U.S. Soccer removed the Islamic Republic's emblem from the Iranian flag in a since-deleted social media post this weekend to show "support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights," per AP. Iran responded by calling for the USMNT to be expelled from the World Cup. U.S. coach Gregg Berhalter apologized for the post on Monday, saying he and his players had no idea it was coming. Flashback: The last World Cup match between the U.S. and Iran in 1998 is considered one of the most politically charged ever, with the nations referring to each other as "The Great Satan" and an "outlaw state." Iran won that match, 2-1, to knock out the Americans.     2. 📺 Fox's huge Thanksgiving weekend Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios   Huge audiences tuned into football and soccer over Thanksgiving weekend, with the NFL, World Cup and college football all drawing record viewership, Axios' Sara Fischer and I write. Why it matters: That was particularly good news for Fox Corp., which aired the three most-watched games on three consecutive days. Thanksgiving: Giants-Cowboys was the most-watched NFL regular-season game ever, averaging 42 million viewers across live TV and streaming, per Nielsen. The total audience for the three NFL games was 138 million, a new Thanksgiving Day record. Friday: USA-England drew over 15.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched men's soccer match ever on English-language TV in America, Fox said. 4.6 million more watched the Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo or Peacock. Saturday: Ohio State-Michigan drew 17 million viewers, making it the most-watched regular season college football game in Fox's history and the most-watched regular season game on any network since 2011. For context: The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade — one of the few non-sports events that routinely ranks among the year's top broadcasts — drew 27.7 million viewers on Thursday across NBC and Peacock. The big picture: Fox wasn't the only network that scored big sports ratings over the holidays. Argentina-Mexico on Saturday was the most-watched sporting event in Telemundo's history, with the Spanish-language broadcast drawing more than 8.9 million viewers. The Eagles-Packers game drew 16.2 million viewers on NBC's "Sunday Night Football," the show's best overnight tally since Oct. 16. What to watch: Fox should put up another massive viewership number this afternoon when the USMNT takes on Iran.     3. ⚾️ Miggy's last dance Photo: Duane Burleson/Getty Images   Future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera announced Monday that the 2023 season will be his last. "I think it's time to say goodbye to baseball." — Miguel Cabrera By the numbers: The 39-year-old is a 12-time All-Star, two-time MVP, seven-time Silver Slugger, four-time batting champion and one-time World Series champion. He's a career .308 hitter with a .908 OPS, 507 HR, 1,847 RBI, 3,088 hits and 1,530 runs. In 2012, he became the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. He's one of just seven players in MLB history with 500 HR and 3,000 hits, joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez. The big picture: Cabrera and Pujols, who signed his retirement papers last month, are two of the best hitters of their generation. Truly the end of an era.     A message from GLOBAL X ETFS Potential investing opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act     Recently, the landmark Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, directing hundreds of billions in funds to advance climate and green energy priorities. Explore potential investing opportunities and other takeaways in our full breakdown of the law's funding priorities. Learn more.     4. ⚡️ Lightning round Photo: Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images   🏀 Zion's first 100: It took three years, but Zion Williamson finally played his 100th NBA game. His 2,524 points are the most by any player through 100 games since Michael Jordan. 😷 China's illusion: Chinese World Cup broadcasts — on a 30-second delay — are reportedly replacing shots of maskless crowds amid civil unrest over the country's "zero-COVID" policy. ⚾️ Houston adds an MVP: The Astros are signing 1B José Abreu to a three-year, $58.5 million contract. The 2020 MVP, who turns 36 in January, batted .304 with an .824 OPS last season with the White Sox. 🏈 Auburn's got a type: Auburn hired Hugh Freeze on Monday. The former Arkansas State coach replaces former Arkansas State coach Bryan Harsin, who replaced former Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn.     5. 🏀 Men's poll: Houston back on top Table: Axios Visuals Houston reached No. 1 in this week's AP poll, the Cougars' first time atop the rankings since Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler led them there in 1983 (before NC State famously upset them in the title game), Jeff writes. State of play: Four schools vaulted at least nine spots after winning a tournament over the weekend. No. 4 Arizona (up 10) beat two ranked teams at the Maui Invitational. No. 5 Purdue (up 19) destroyed Gonzaga and Duke at the Phil Knight Legacy tournament. No. 8 UConn (up 12) rolled through the Phil Knight Invitational, winning its three games by 57 points combined. No. 13 Tennessee (up nine) handed defending champ Kansas its first loss in the Battle 4 Atlantis title game. Conference call: The Big Ten leads the way with six ranked teams, followed by the SEC (5), Big 12 (4), ACC (3), Pac-12 (2), Big East (2), American (1), Mountain West (1) and West Coast (1). Go deeper: 15 questions after holiday hoops tourneys (NCAA)     6. 🏀 Women's poll: Louisville tumbles Table: Axios Visuals Louisville fell to No. 18 in this week's AP poll, ending the Cardinals' 98-week run in the top 10, which had been the longest active streak in the nation, Jeff writes. State of play: The Big East — with No. 3 UConn, No. 13 Creighton, No. 24 Marquette and No. 25 Villanova — has four ranked teams for the first time since its 2014 realignment. South Carolina remains the unanimous No. 1, but could be without reigning POY Aliyah Boston (foot) for its home matchup tonight against undefeated No. 15 UCLA. Tennessee (4-4) is unranked for just the 56th time in the poll's 827-week history. Conference call: The Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC each have five ranked teams, followed by the Big East (4), Big 12 (3), SEC (2) and West Coast (1). Go deeper: Holiday tournament winners and losers (Yahoo)     7. 🌎 The world in photos Photo: Lionel Hahn/Getty Images LUSAIL, Qatar — A protester ran onto the field during Monday's Portugal-Uruguay match, waving a rainbow flag and wearing a Superman T-shirt that said "Save Ukraine" on the front and "Respect for Iranian Women" on the back. 💬 Update: The pitch invader, an Italian man named Mario Ferri, said he has been released with no consequences. Photo: Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images LOS ANGELES — Andrew Nembhard's buzzer-beating three helped the Pacers erase a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat the Lakers, 116-115. Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images NAZARÉ, Portugal — Brazil's Lucas Chianca rides a wave during a session at Praia do Norte, home to some of the biggest waves in the world.     8. 📺 Watchlist: Win or go home A USMNT supporter in Qatar. Photo: Kirill Kudryavstev/AFP via Getty Images   The USMNT plays its biggest game in nearly a decade today (2pm ET, Fox), needing a win over Iran to advance to the World Cup round of 16. The U.S. has won at least one game and advanced out of the group stage in each of its last two appearances (2010, 2014). Can the Americans keep the streak alive? With a win, Iran will advance for the first time ever. They're also through with a tie, unless Wales beats England and Iran loses the goal differential tiebreaker. More to watch: ⚽️ World Cup: Netherlands vs. Qatar (10am, Fox); Ecuador vs. Senegal (10am, FS1); Wales vs. England (2pm, FS1) 🏀 NBA: Warriors at Mavericks (7:30pm, TNT); Clippers at Trail Blazers (10pm, TNT) 🏒 NHL: Lightning at Bruins (7pm, ESPN+) … Boston looks to extend its record 12-game home winning streak to start the season. 🏀 NCAAM: Syracuse at No. 16 Illinois (7:30pm, ESPN); No. 6 Baylor at Marquette (8:30pm, FS1); No. 3 Virginia at Michigan (9:30pm, ESPN) 🏀 NCAAW: No. 15 UCLA at No. 1 South Carolina (7pm, SEC) … Both undefeated.     9. 🏀 NBA trivia Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images   Kevin Durant just became the second player in Nets history with at least 50 games of 30+ points. Question: Who's the other? Hint: Played five seasons with the Nets. Answer at the bottom.     10. 🦃 ICYMI: Top plays Richarlison's gorgeous goal. Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images   Please enjoy the top 30 plays from Thanksgiving weekend.     A message from GLOBAL X ETFS Potential investing opportunities from the Inflation Reduction Act     Recently, the landmark Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law, directing hundreds of billions in funds to advance climate and green energy priorities. Explore potential investing opportunities and other takeaways in our full breakdown of the law's funding priorities. Learn more.   Talk tomorrow, Kendall "I believe!" Baker Trivia answer: Vince Carter 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Nick Aspinwall for copy edits. Are you a fan of this email format? Your essential communications — to staff, clients and other stakeholders — can have the same style. Axios HQ, a powerful platform, will help you do it.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. 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