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Good morning! I will accept dried fish for soccer tickets.
In the (Playoff) Kitchen: Two defending champs, two 2-0 deficits
Look, this feels mean. But after a most consequential night of playoff hoops and hockey, looking at our results through the lens of the losers is more important. Even more importantly: How cooked are these guys? 👨🍳
Simmering: The Winnipeg Jets
This is a team that dominated the regular season yet barely escaped the first round. A 3-2 home loss to the Stars last night was again nerve-wracking, but Dallas is not St. Louis — namely because Mikko Rantanen is a Star. He scored all three goals last night. At 0-1, Winnipeg might already be in trouble.
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On a rolling boil: The Denver Nuggets
Yes, this series is 1-1, but did you watch that game last night? Every missed opportunity for Oklahoma City in Game 1 came back karmically in a 149-106 Game 2 win, an astounding contest from wire to wire. Nikola Jokić scored just 17 points and fouled out. The Thunder had eight players in double figures. So, yes, a tie series — but maybe not for long.
Hard sear: The Florida Panthers
Time and time again, the Maple Leafs have the opportunity to embody their past failures, and every time they course correct. Toronto’s 4-3 win last night over the defending champs puts them up 2-0 in what we thought — and could still be! — a dogfight.
Broken thermometer: The Boston Celtics
We’ve had over 12 hours to process the Knicks’ 91-90 win last night and I still can’t reconcile what I saw. It’s as if I’m cooking a nice cut of beef, the thermometer reads 135 degrees and yet the inside of the steak looks like rubber. Boston is still very much alive in this series, but to squander two 20-point leads at home to these Knicks is unfathomable. Another defending champion down 2-0. Another final play thwarted by Mikal Bridges. I have no idea what happens from here.
BRUNSON HITS TWO FREE THROWS.
BRIDGES TAKES THE BALL AWAY.
KNICKS TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD. pic.twitter.com/NbyRwQri9O
— NBA (@NBA) May 8, 2025
I’ll be sad when we have fewer fantastic playoff games every night. Let’s keep moving:
Feedback Loop: We still don’t like this
This may be one of the more interesting Pulse Polls we’ve ever done, because it’s a circle back to a poll we ran last summer on a similar topic. It also *serious tone* portends to the world at large.
An overwhelming number of you, as I suspected, think NBC using AI to recreate Jim Fagan’s voice is lazy and cheap. I agree — I’m of the mind that AI should be used for utilitarian purposes, not creatively.
Two points to make in this specific case:
- The Al Michaels poll, with similar results, was by a wider margin: 95 percent of you didn’t support it. In this instance, the number dipped to about 83 percent. Hm.
- Another difference here: Michaels is still alive, while Fagan is not. Part of the Michaels weirdness was the fact that he could just, you know, record it for the network if they wished. We can’t do that with Fagan.
Still, with all due respect to Fagan’s memory, it feels silly to focus so much on that past in this regard rather than moving forward. Find a new voice to anchor your basketball coverage for decades to come. Is that so hard?
Thank you, as always, for voting.
News to Know
Cowboys get another weapon
George Pickens, the mercurial uber-talented Steelers wide receiver, is heading to Dallas in exchange for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick, the Cowboys announced yesterday. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the two sides had been discussing the deal since before the draft, which checks out after Pittsburgh acquired DK Metcalf earlier this offseason. The deal makes sense for Dallas, but I still don’t know what’s happening with the Steelers. We’ll have more on that this weekend.
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Also: Emergency trade pod! Yes, Jerry Jones seems desperate.
Tickets for fish, please
The story of Bodø/Glimt is incredible: a small Norwegian club, playing near the top of the world, finding itself in the semifinal of a European soccer tournament. Premier League blueblood Tottenham Hotspur travels north today for their second-leg matchup, and some fans in the stands will have traded dried fish and reindeer meat for tickets. I love it, and I’m a Spurs fan. Read more here.
More news
- Remember when Paris Saint-Germain needed Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar? Me neither. PSG is through to the Champions League final without all of them after a win over Arsenal yesterday.
- Tom Brady said on a podcast that he communicated with Shedeur Sanders after the 23-year-old’s fall in the draft, although it’s curious the Raiders — where Brady is a part-owner — didn’t pick Sanders.
- The Rams will hold a minicamp in Maui, Hawaii, in an effort to help with wildfire recovery. Cool.
- President Trump said a 2026 World Cup slot could influence Russia to end the Ukraine war.
- There is still plenty of hand-wringing over roster size limits in the House vs. NCAA settlement discussion. Read our full report.
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What to Watch
📺 NBA: Warriors at Timberwolves
8:30 p.m. ET on TNT/Max
One question lords over everything here: Can Golden State survive without Steph Curry? He will miss at least the next three games with the hamstring injury he suffered in Game 1. Minnesota has an opening here down 1-0.
📺 NHL: Oilers at Golden Knights
9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Let’s see how much of a lead Las Vegas can open up here before the eventual third-period Edmonton barrage. It’s eerie at this point.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Two years ago, Nic Enright couldn’t see his future, exhausted from cancer treatments. He’s now on the verge of making the major leagues. Incredible story here.
Keith Law’s first MLB mock draft of the season is out, which is cause for celebration. Yes, there’s another elite Holliday in the pipeline. Read his picks.
Eno Sarris identified 10 stats that should worry MLB teams. He’s so good at this.
Let’s not lose sight of the fact the Islanders won the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday. We have a fresh mock draft in light of it. See the picks.
Rustin Dodd drank coffee like Dan Campbell, an absolute caffeine sicko. It did not go well, but it was interesting.
Tyrese Haliburton laughs at the “overrated” jabs, but in truth, he was miserable early this season. Jared Weiss has a wonderful story on how Haliburton recaptured his joy. It shows.
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Is Dabo Swinney back? Did he ever leave? Seth Emerson writes about Swinney’s second wind in the NIL era.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: The George Karl story.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Our live blog from the PSG-Arsenal match.
Ticketing links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Top photo: Nick Turchiaro / Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Na soupisce reprezentace je zatím jen osm útočníků, Nečas už dorazil do Dánska
Herning (Od našich zpravodajů) - Zatím je na soupisce pouze osm útočníků, nicméně je vysoce pravděpodobné, že minimálně další čtyři národní tým ještě před zápasem se Švýcarskem dopíše. Určitě mezi nimi bude Martin Nečas, který ve čtvrtek odpoledne odpoledne přiletěl ze zámoří na letiště do Billundu, kde už na něj čekal generální manažer reprezentace Jiří Šlégr a společně se pak vydali na zhruba půlhodinovou cestu autem za zbytkem mužstva.Pokud se Nečas bude cítit dobře a nebude unaven po dlouhém cestování, naskočí už do pátečního úvodního zápasu MS se Švýcary. „Když bude chtít hrát, tak bude. Pokud ne, nenastoupí,“ prohlásil jeden z asistentů trenéra Rulíka Tomáš Plekanec.Připravujeme podrobnosti.
Paul Pierce walks to work in L.A. after Knicks take 2-0 series lead on Celtics
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College basketball players out of eligibility are entering the transfer portal — why?
Of the thousands of college basketball players who entered the transfer portal this spring, at least 137 of them stand out because of one thing they’re all lacking: remaining college eligibility.Take star College of Charleston center Ante Brzovic, for example. The Croatian-born big man moved to America in 2020 and enrolled at Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He redshirted his first season when he wasn’t academically eligible because he barely spoke English. He then played in 28 games the following season before transferring to Charleston, where he became a three-year starter and first-team all-conference honoree. That’s four full seasons of NCAA competition — which, under conventional rules, would normally mean Brzovic is out of eligibility.AdvertisementInstead? Brzovic and his legal team are suing the NCAA for another season of eligibility, after his initial waiver request was denied on April 1. […]
FIFA Council meeting moved due to Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump’s Middle East trip
May’s FIFA Council meeting has been moved to accommodate world football governing body’s president Gianni Infantino’s decision to join President Donald Trump’s visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia over the coming week.The meeting had been set to take place in person in Paraguay on Tuesday, May 13, but The Athletic has learned it is currently due to be held via videoconference on Friday of this week as Infantino and President Trump travel to the Middle East, in what will be the U.S. President’s first foreign visit since returning to the White House.AdvertisementAs part of the events coinciding with Trump’s visit, there will also be a Saudi-U.S. investment forum, which is expected to involve speakers from the Saudi government, as well as leading U.S. business figures including BlackRock chairman Larry Fink, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser. President Trump is scheduled to see state leaders […]
Nick Saban expected to serve as co-chair for Trump administration’s commission on college football
USATSI Former Alabama coach Nick Saban is expected to co-chair President Donald Trump's commission into college athletics, a source confirmed to CBS Sport's Richard Johnson. The news comes after Trump met with Saban to discuss potential name, image and likeness reform. Additionally, Texas businessman Cody Campbell, founder of Texas Tech's Matador Club NIL collective and chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, will serve as co-chair alongside Saban.The commission would examine prominent issues facing college sports like the transfer portal, unregulated booster compensation that goes directly to athletes, the employment of college athletes and Title IX, among other hot-button topics, according to Yahoo Sports. Trump was also recently in Tuscaloosa to deliver the University of Alabama's commencement speech. The president is also considering an executive order aimed at greater scrutiny towards NIL deals, though any executive order would likely still need congressional action, NCAA president Charlie Baker told Dennis […]
Rick Tocchet isn’t just another ‘recycled’ NHL coach — he’s what the Penguins need
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Na soupisce reprezentace je zatím jen osm útočníků, Nečas už dorazil do Dánska
Herning (Od našich zpravodajů) - Zatím je na soupisce pouze osm útočníků, nicméně je vysoce pravděpodobné, že minimálně další čtyři národní tým ještě před zápasem se Švýcarskem dopíše. Určitě mezi nimi bude Martin Nečas, který ve čtvrtek odpoledne odpoledne přiletěl ze zámoří na letiště do Billundu, kde už na něj čekal generální manažer reprezentace Jiří Šlégr a společně se pak vydali na zhruba půlhodinovou cestu autem za zbytkem mužstva.Pokud se Nečas bude cítit dobře a nebude unaven po dlouhém cestování, naskočí už do pátečního úvodního zápasu MS se Švýcary. „Když bude chtít hrát, tak bude. Pokud ne, nenastoupí,“ prohlásil jeden z asistentů trenéra Rulíka Tomáš Plekanec.Připravujeme podrobnosti.
Paul Pierce walks to work in L.A. after Knicks take 2-0 series lead on Celtics
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College basketball players out of eligibility are entering the transfer portal — why?
Of the thousands of college basketball players who entered the transfer portal this spring, at least 137 of them stand out because of one thing they’re all lacking: remaining college eligibility.Take star College of Charleston center Ante Brzovic, for example. The Croatian-born big man moved to America in 2020 and enrolled at Division II Southeastern Oklahoma State University. He redshirted his first season when he wasn’t academically eligible because he barely spoke English. He then played in 28 games the following season before transferring to Charleston, where he became a three-year starter and first-team all-conference honoree. That’s four full seasons of NCAA competition — which, under conventional rules, would normally mean Brzovic is out of eligibility.AdvertisementInstead? Brzovic and his legal team are suing the NCAA for another season of eligibility, after his initial waiver request was denied on April 1. […]
FIFA Council meeting moved due to Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump’s Middle East trip
May’s FIFA Council meeting has been moved to accommodate world football governing body’s president Gianni Infantino’s decision to join President Donald Trump’s visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia over the coming week.The meeting had been set to take place in person in Paraguay on Tuesday, May 13, but The Athletic has learned it is currently due to be held via videoconference on Friday of this week as Infantino and President Trump travel to the Middle East, in what will be the U.S. President’s first foreign visit since returning to the White House.AdvertisementAs part of the events coinciding with Trump’s visit, there will also be a Saudi-U.S. investment forum, which is expected to involve speakers from the Saudi government, as well as leading U.S. business figures including BlackRock chairman Larry Fink, Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser. President Trump is scheduled to see state leaders […]
Nick Saban expected to serve as co-chair for Trump administration’s commission on college football
USATSI Former Alabama coach Nick Saban is expected to co-chair President Donald Trump's commission into college athletics, a source confirmed to CBS Sport's Richard Johnson. The news comes after Trump met with Saban to discuss potential name, image and likeness reform. Additionally, Texas businessman Cody Campbell, founder of Texas Tech's Matador Club NIL collective and chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, will serve as co-chair alongside Saban.The commission would examine prominent issues facing college sports like the transfer portal, unregulated booster compensation that goes directly to athletes, the employment of college athletes and Title IX, among other hot-button topics, according to Yahoo Sports. Trump was also recently in Tuscaloosa to deliver the University of Alabama's commencement speech. The president is also considering an executive order aimed at greater scrutiny towards NIL deals, though any executive order would likely still need congressional action, NCAA president Charlie Baker told Dennis […]
Rick Tocchet isn’t just another ‘recycled’ NHL coach — he’s what the Penguins need
We have fallen into a trap of mocking NHL teams hiring “recycled” coaches.Make no mistake, the NHL has a terrible history of firing and hiring the same people over and over again, overlooking better candidates for the sake of safety or a big name.This got me thinking about the current coaches of the NHL’s best teams. In a roundabout way, it led me to conclude that teams such as the Philadelphia Flyers, the Chicago Blackhawks, and yes, the Pittsburgh Penguins, should be clamoring for Rick Tocchet instead of hunting for the next hotshot coach in every corner of North America and Europe.Paul Maurice, the coach of the Florida Panthers, is one of the finest coaches in hockey. His Panthers have reached the Stanley Cup Final in two consecutive seasons, winning it all last year. He’s been fired by the Carolina […]
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