Morning! This is Kristen Wong from Sports Illustrated. With the weather in NYC turning unbearably hot this weekend, here’s my hot take of the summer/NBA Finals: It’s perfectly fine to be a bandwagoner fan. Just don’t go around claiming you’re a die-hard or an OG. As long as you accept who you are, it’s not bothering anybody so support whatever team you want. Defund the fandom police!
Forward this to your monolingual American friend who still doesn’t understand the offside rule in soccer. It’s O.K. Find a support group, and you’ll feel less alone.
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Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images
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ORANGE: 1. Pun. “Orange” you glad you were in New York City for the Knicks’ epic NBA Finals Game 4 win? If not, FOMO is real. Here’s what you missed while you were sleeping off your five-shot, four-Irish car bomb, three-Miller High Life hangover. Charles Barkley called the Spurs the “dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization” for blowing their 29-point lead. … Victor Wembanyama was taunted with boos from Knicks fans and nearly got hit by an egg (likely thrown by said Knicks fans) as he returned to his hotel after Game 4. … A dog-less Kirk Herbstreit happened to get the coolest video of OG Anunoby’s clutch tip-in. … Who were Taylor Swift’s blue-shirted friends sitting next to her courtside? The Haim sisters. … Speaking of Swift, she got an apology from Monica McNutt after the ESPN analyst questioned her Knicks fandom. … We ranked the best celebrity reactions to the Knicks’ all-time great playoff win, from little Timmy to a tearful Tracy Morgan. … Did you see what KAT did before tipping Dylan Harper’s inbounds pass on the Spurs’ final play of the game? … The NBA admitted it screwed up, again. This time, it was a blown call on Spurs’ Stephon Castle in the final two minutes of Game 4. Big whoops. … 2. Noun. A fruit that’s usually tangy or zesty. Much like the Vikings’ ongoing quarterback battle between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray. Coach Kevin O’Connell hinted this could be a long, drawn-out competition—let the mind games begin. … 3. Adj. The color of the S.F. Giants, who completed one of the wildest comeback wins in MLB history by erasing a 9-1 deficit at the bottom of the eighth. … Also, one of the colors of the Edmonton Oilers, who are looking for a trade partner to deal defenseman Darnell Nurse.
BLUE: 1. Adj. Lewd, indecent or obscene. Phil Mickelson was kicked out of a golf club in San Diego due to allegations of inappropriate contact with a female employee. … 2. Adj. Sad, in low spirits. Offensive tackle Wanya Morris is saying goodbye to the Chiefs following three seasons and one Super Bowl title after getting traded to the Falcons. Going from Patrick Mahomes to Michael Penix Jr./Tua Tagovailoa is a heck of a depressing downgrade. … 3. Adj. A color often used to describe skies. Blue skies are coming for these four NFL quarterbacks after Mahomes became the league’s first half-billion-dollar man. … Also, the color of the Dallas Cowboys, who could have their hands full with a franchise-tagged George Pickens this summer. People never change. ... 4. Noun. “Bluey.” Jason Kelce’s daughters’ favorite TV show. The ESPN analyst could embrace a larger role this season as the network plans to shake up its broadcasting teams.
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Screengrab on Twitter/@goatcollect
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We’re still not over it. Our favorite Knicks-Spurs Game 4 moments were …
DYNAMIC DUOS: Bert and Ernie. Lennon and McCarthy. Spongebob and Patrick. Jordan and Pippen. And now, Taylor and Mariska. On an action-packed Wednesday night, the Law & Order: SVU actress starred in her one-person Broadway show, Every Brilliant Thing, which ended at 8:27 p.m. ET. Hargitay then sprinted from Hudson Theater on 44th and 6th to MSG to make it in time for Game 4’s tip-off. O Captain, my Captain. Olivia Benson is GOAT-ed forever.
HUMPTY DUMPS ON WEMBY: Victor Wembanyama missed two key free throws late in the Spurs’ loss—perhaps due to some good ol’ Fat Joe Voodoo. The iconic Knicks fan did the “Humpty Dumpty” dance to hex the Spurs star while he was at the charity stripe, and lo and behold, it worked. Maybe this is how the rest of the NBA will stop Wemby.
SEINFIELD-ISMS: Both Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld were at The Garden for the Knicks’ Game 4 win, which means there were plentiful opportunities for NBA fans to create imaginary conversations related to Seinfeld, the show. Like this one: “The Spurs know how to TAKE the lead, they just don't know how to HOLD the lead. And that's really the most important part of the lead: The holding.” A perfect callback.
AN OG OG VIDEO: Where does the legend of OG Anunoby begin? SI’s Patrick Andres unearthed a clip of the Knicks forward winning a dance-off at the 2015 Maui Invitational back when he played college hoops at Indiana. Please enjoy.
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📺 What we’re watching this weekend ... |
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NBA:
Saturday, June 13
Knicks @ Spurs—8:30 p.m. ET; ABC
Game 5 for all the marbles, New York. Don’t lose your head now.
WNBA:
Saturday, June 13
Fever @ Sun—6 p.m. ET; NBC Sports/Peacock
Caitlin Clark and the Fever (7-5) have won three of their last four games. They’ll look to continue their momentum against the Sun (2-12), who sit dead last at the bottom of the table.
Stanley Cup Final
Sunday, June 14
Hurricanes @ Golden Knights—8 p.m. ET; ABC
The Canes are taking a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 in Vegas, now just one win away from their first Stanley Cup since 2006.
That’s a wrap for today. See ya Sunday!
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