| | | | | | | Presented By Equitybee | | | | Axios Sports | | By Kendall Baker · Nov 03, 2022 | | 👋 Happy Thursday! Two more sleeps until the game of the year in college football. Current spread, per Caesars: Georgia -8. 🎓 Developing story: Gonzaga is in early talks to leave the West Coast Conference for the Big 12, per multiple reports. The Pac-12 and Big East have also engaged with the Zags. Today's word count: 1,903 words (7 minutes). Let's sports... | | | | | | 1 big thing: ⚾️ A World Series no-hitter |  | | | L to R: Rafael Montero, Bryan Abreu, Cristian Javier, catcher Christian Vázquez and Ryan Pressly. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images | | | | A day after the Phillies made history with their bats, the Astros did it with their arms, Axios' Jeff Tracy writes. Driving the news: Houston's Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined to no-hit the Phillies in Wednesday's 5-0 victory, tying the World Series at two games apiece. Why it matters: This was just the third postseason no-hitter in MLB history, joining Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series and Roy Halladay's no-hitter in the 2010 NLDS, also at Citizens Bank Park (with current Astros manager Dusty Baker in the opposite dugout). By the numbers: Javier, nicknamed "El Reptil" because of his "cold blood" and poised demeanor, used his electric fastball to strike out nine across six innings before handing it over to the bullpen. - It was the first individual no-hit bid of 6+ innings in the Fall Classic since Mets lefty Jerry Koosman in 1969, and it's not as if it came out of nowhere.
- This was Javier's sixth straight start of 5+ shutout innings with two or fewer hits allowed. No other pitcher in the modern era (1900) has more than three such consecutive starts, per Opta Stats.
Wild stat: The Astros already threw a combined no-hitter this season (Yankees, June 25), and the Phillies were already on the wrong end of one (Mets, April 29). - Houston's starter that night? Javier.
- Philly's? Aaron Nola, who also started last night. Baseball!
Looking ahead: And just like that, the Fall Classic has become a best-of-three race to the finish. 🍿 Watch: Highlights (YouTube) |     | | | | | | 2. 🏈 Dan Snyder is exploring a sale |  | | | Photo illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Al Pereira/Getty Images | | | | Dan and Tanya Snyder announced Wednesday that they are exploring selling the Commanders, Axios' Cuneyt Dil and I write. Why it matters: Snyder has until now resisted selling the valuable franchise ($4.78 billion, per Sportico) — even after workplace and sexual harassment allegations piled up and the team's performance declined (one playoff win in the last 17 years). - The Snyders, who have owned the team since 1999, said in a statement that they've hired Bank of America to "consider potential transactions."
- Forbes, which broke the news, reported that Snyder has already fielded four calls from groups interested in purchasing the team.
Yes, but: While a full sale of the team may be on the table, Snyder could also be looking to sell a minority stake — perhaps to raise cash to fund a new stadium, which local governments have been reluctant to support. The backdrop: Snyder has been under mounting pressure to sell the team, stemming from investigations by congressional Democrats, the attorney general of D.C., and the NFL. - The U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of Virginia has opened a criminal investigation into the Commanders over alleged financial improprieties, ESPN reported Wednesday.
- Colts owner Jim Irsay publicly said last month that NFL owners should seriously consider removing Snyder as owner.
What they're saying: "I think it sounds like a positive move for the team," Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told reporters, reiterating that the team should return to the District from the suburbs in Maryland. Zoom out: With the Nationals currently on the market, two major D.C. sports franchises could be for sale at the same time. What to watch: Jeff Bezos has been floated as a potential buyer. The Amazon founder has a stake in the community (owns the Washington Post), has long wanted an NFL team, and could certainly afford it. | | | | | | | | 3. ⚽️ Champions League: The final 16 |  Map: Axios Visuals The Champions League knockout stage is set, as each group's winner and runner-up have advanced to the round of 16, Jeff writes. Winners: - 🇮🇹 Napoli (Group A): Despite slashing payroll this summer, they're one of just three teams that won at least five group stage games (Liverpool, Bayern).
- 🇵🇹 Porto (B): Diogo Costa is the first keeper to save three penalties in a single Champions League campaign. Here's the record-setting third.
- 🇩🇪 Bayern (C): They're unbeaten in 34 consecutive group stage matches and have won the past 13 outright, both Champions League records.
- 🏴 Tottenham (D): The Spurs are in the knockout round for the first time in three years thanks to Tuesday's comeback win over Marseille.
- 🏴 Chelsea (E): For the 18th time in their last 19 tries, the Blues have advanced to the round of 16.
- 🇪🇸 Real Madrid (F): Manager Carlo Ancelotti won his 102nd Champions League match on Wednesday for the defending champs, tying Sir Alex Ferguson for the most ever.
- 🏴 Manchester City (G): Business as usual for the English giants, making their 10th straight trip to the round of 16.
- 🇵🇹 Benfica (H): Just an incredible run for the Portuguese side, which is unbeaten in 24 matches this season across all competitions.
Runners-up: - 🏴 Liverpool (A): It's been a rollercoaster year for the Reds, who have wins over juggernauts like Man City and Napoli — and losses to Leeds United (15th in EPL) and Nottingham Forest (dead last).
- 🇧🇪 Brugge (B): The Belgians reached their first knockout stage behind goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who recorded five shutouts.
- 🇮🇹 Inter Milan (C): After nine straight years of failing to advance to the round of 16, Inter has made it in two consecutive seasons.
- 🇩🇪 Frankfurt (D): Last year, they won the Europa League. Now, they're in the Champions League knockouts for the first time. Club on the rise.
- 🇮🇹 AC Milan (E): The Rossoneri, whose seven Champions League titles are second only to Real Madrid's 14, are back in the knockout stage for the first time in nine years.
- 🇩🇪 RB Leipzig (F): After losing their first two matches by a cumulative score of 6-1, they won their next four by a cumulative score of 12-3.
- 🇩🇪 Dortmund (G): No Haaland? No problem, as the German side advanced despite losing their superstar to group winner Man City.
- 🇫🇷 PSG (H): Kylian Mbappé's seven goals tied Liverpool's Mohamed Salah for most in the group stage. Lionel Messi added four.
Looking ahead: The round of 16 draw is Monday morning. Group winners will be drawn against runners-up with two caveats: teams from the same group or country can't face each other. | | | | | | | | A message from Equitybee | | Get access to high-demand, pre-IPO startups | | |  | | | | With Equitybee, accredited investors get access to hundreds of high-growth, VC-backed startups and invest at past company valuations by funding employee stock options. In exchange, they get a percentage of the future share value. Choose a startup and start investing. | | | | | | 4. ⚡️ Lightning round | | Source: Giphy 🏒 Something Bruin: The 9-1 Bruins have their most wins ever through 10 games. Win No. 9 came courtesy of a thrilling comeback against the Penguins on Tuesday — the 99th anniversary of the team's founding. 🏀 Self suspension: Bill Self will begin the season with a four-game suspension as part of the Kansas' self-imposed punishments amid the NCAA's ongoing investigation into potential recruiting violations. 🇺🇸 Remaining 'Skins: The Washington Commanders ditched their controversial nickname in 2020, but 37 high schools across 18 states still use the word, per ESPN. 💵 $1 billion in cocaine: The U.S. Department of Justice has charged former heavyweight boxer Goran Gogic with trafficking over $1 billion worth of cocaine stemming from 2019 ship seizures. 🏟 Kyle Field wildlife: Texas A&M is having a brutal football season on the field — and a weird one in the stands. First, it was a possum being removed from Kyle Field. Now it's bats. | | | | | | | | 5. 🏈 NFL power rankings: Week 9 |  Table: Axios Visuals There's little change at the top of our rankings, which once again heavily feature the dominant NFC East, Jeff writes. A tale of two divisions: - The NFC East's .742 win percentage (23-8) is the best of any division through eight weeks since the 1970 merger.
- The NFC South (12-20) is led by the 4-4 Falcons, who have the same record as the NFC East's last place team, the Commanders.
| | | | | | | | 6. ⛳️ High-profile investors join TMRW |  | | | A rendering of the proposed TGL venue. Graphic: Courtesy of TMRW Sports | | | | Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TMRW Sports, a tech-focused company set to launch a virtual golf league in 2024, announced its first round of investors on Wednesday, Jeff writes. Driving the news: Among the 50+ high-profile investors were 26 active or retired athletes, along with a handful of team owners. - Athletes include Steph Curry, Alex Morgan, Josh Allen, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams, Shohei Ohtani and Sidney Crosby.
- Owners include Arthur Blank (Falcons), John Henry (Red Sox) and David Blitzer (76ers, Devils, et al).
What they're saying: "There was ... a clear vision [among investors] for how technology can really help make sports more accessible and culturally relevant to new groups of fans," said Mike McCarley, TMRW's co-founder and CEO, who is also president of the Golf Channel. Between the lines: TMRW's only tangible plan at the moment is TGL, a virtual golf league set to launch in partnership with the PGA Tour in January 2024. - Format: 15 regular-season matches and playoffs, with each match lasting just two hours and airing on Monday nights in primetime.
- Venue: The planned facility (see rendering above) will combine virtual (longer shots) and real golf (an actual green for chipping and putting).
- Teams: Six teams of three PGA Tour golfers are expected to compete, but Woods and McIlroy are the only two confirmed so far.
State of play: TGL was one of many announcements made on the eve of this summer's Tour Championship, all part of the PGA Tour's ongoing battle with LIV Golf. The backdrop: The intersection of golf and technology has been fertile ground for investors recently. - McIlroy himself invested $10 million last year in Drive Shack, a Topgolf competitor, as the latter has continued growing rapidly.
- Puttshack, a tech-infused mini golf experience from Topgolf's founders, received $150 million in growth capital from BlackRock last month.
| | | | | | | | 7. 🌎 The world in photos | | Photo: Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images DALLAS — Luka Dončić has now scored 30+ points in each of the Mavs' first seven games, the longest streak to start a season since Wilt Chamberlain in 1962-63 (!). - Plus: Dončić added 11 assists in a 103-100 win over the Jazz, his fourth 30-point, 10-assist game — as many as the rest of the NBA combined.
Rafael Nadal walks onto the court. Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images PARIS — Rafael Nadal was upset at the Paris Masters on Wednesday, falling to American Tommy Paul, 3-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-1. - 🔥 Hot streak: Paul has now beaten the world No. 1 (Carlos Alcaraz) and world No. 2 (Nadal) in back-to-back matches.
Photo: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC via Getty Images LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp was awarded the Freedom of the City of Liverpool on Wednesday, the city's highest civic honor. Denmark's Nicolai Kristensen plays his tee shot during the Pro-Am prior to the Rolex Challenge Tour Grand Final at Club de Golf Alcanada. Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images ALCUDIA, Spain — Just gorgeous. | | | | | | | | 8. 📺 Watchlist: Philly vs. Houston |  | | | Photos: Found Image Holdings/Corbis via Getty Images | | | | Philadelphia and Houston will go head-to-head on both the diamond and the gridiron tonight. - ⚾️ MLB: World Series, Game 5 (8pm ET, Fox) ... Justin Verlander will look to improve his dismal World Series résumé (0-6, 6.07 ERA).
- 🏈 NFL: Eagles at Texans (8:15pm, Prime) ... The Eagles have a chance to become just the 20th NFL team since 1978 to start 8-0.
More to watch: Yup, it's another Sports Equinox, which should probably be called a Sports Conjunction (h/t to reader John S.), or perhaps a Sports Syzygy (h/t to reader James F.). | | | | | | | | 9. 🏒 NHL trivia |  | | | Photo: Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images | | | | Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin scored in the same game for the 110th time on Tuesday, the second-most of any active pair of teammates. - Question: Who's ahead of them with 113 such games?
- Hint: Neither player is from North America.
Answer at the bottom. | | | | | | | | 10. 🇺🇸 1 dynasty thing: USA wins again |  | | | Team USA walks onto the floor. Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images | | | | The U.S. women's gymnastics team overcame years of turmoil to win its sixth straight world title on Tuesday in Liverpool, England. The big picture: The U.S. has now won every world championship gold medal since 2010 — when current team member Skye Blakely was 5 years old. | | | | | | | | A message from Equitybee | | Unlock access to high-growth startups | | |  | | | | Equitybee gives accredited investors unprecedented access to high-growth, VC-backed startups. What's in it for you: Invest in startups at past valuations by funding employee stock options. Then, you receive a portion of the future share. Get started in minutes. | | | | Talk tomorrow, Kendall "Klopp's laugh is infectious" Baker Trivia answer: Capitals teammates Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Bäckström 🙏 Have a great day! Follow us for more (@kendallbaker and @jeffreytracy). Friends can sign up here. Thanks to Bryan McBournie for copy edits. |  | | Are you a fan of this email format? 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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