Lionel Messi aims to lead Argentina to their fourth World Cup Championship. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia).
As the 154th Open Championship has matriculated into day 3, there is some phenomenal golf being played at Royal Birkdale and some controversy from one controversial dude.
New Zealander Ryan Fox, who shot 8 under 62 today, for another 62 joining Australia’s Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns of the U.S. (LSU) who both shot that number yesterday, which tied the all time major one day scoring record. It’s wide open with a really prominent leaderboard of savvy veterans and young lions.
Fox and Herbert are tied at 8 under with a crowded leaderboard including Cam Young and the always controversial DeChambeau, after a run in with rules officials yesterday after he was assessed for moving the grass behind his ball, both at 5 under and tied for seventh along with Sam Burns, Tommy Fleetwood and several others. Si Woo Kim, Cam Young Jackson Suber, the 26 year old Tampa native by way of Ole Miss, and North Carolina alum Ryan Gerard are tied for third at -6.
Even if DeChambeau doesn’t know the rule that you can’t move the grass or ground around the ball or it’s a two stroke penalty, the Diva HAS to accept the penalty and act like a grown man instead of a whining little teenager. Those are the rules. DeChambeau, as a professional golfer, should know them. A lot of controversy around that guy.
Despite DeChambois’s antics, it’s a compelling and crowded leaderboard today with NBC and Peacock providing coverage until 2 P.M. CT/3 ET or later depending on how long it takes to complete the round. Will be a riveting two days.
As for the World Cup with Spain playing Argentina in the World Cup Final, this will be an epic. The game is being played at New Jersey Stadium in the Meadowlands, or MetLife Stadium, where the Giants and Jets play football, if you want to call it that, though the Giants should be much improved in 2026. I don’t know about the Jets. Could be another long year.
FOX will broadcast the Cup with the game kicking off at 2 P.M. CT/3 ET.
My record for the World Cup is:
5-1, Straight up. 4-2, Against the Spread 3-3, on the Over/Under.
Spain is favored by a 1/2 goal and the over/under is 2 1/2 goals. By my picking Spain to win in extra time I’m taking the under because if it’s tied after 90 minutes and penalty time, 90+ minutes, before the two,15 minute extra time sessions commence, and then penalty kicks, if the game’s not decided by then, then the over under, if it’s 1-1, will be that, 2 goals. So I’m taking the under for this game.
I like Spain with their terrific defense to hold down Messi and the Argentinians and claim the Cup. It’s first and only other Cup victory came in 2010, as it defeated the Netherlands, 1-0, in South Africa.
The Argentinians have won three previous World Cups, with the first in 1978 as they defeated the Netherlands, 3-1, in extra time. The game was played in Argentina.
Then in 1986, they defeated West Germany, 3-2, in Mexico.
And in the most recent World Cup, played in Qatar in 2022, they defeated France, 4-2, on penalty kicks after playing to a 3-3 draw in regulation and extra time.
Give me: Espana 2, Argentina 1 in extra time.
I like for it to be a spectacle. Messi and his teammates, the defending champions, will be very difficult to take down. But like Bama Golf so presciently pointed out in one of my earlier posts on the WC, that Spanish defense is stellar, and it’ll take them to the mountaintop in what has been a terrific event for the U.S. and the world.
****Monday-Thursday- SEC Media Days Coverage. College Football is getting closer to coming to fruition.Week 1, August 29th, a Saturday, kicks it off.****
Can Wyndham Clark take both Opens in 2026. (Photo courtesy of PGA.com)
The 154th edition of the Open Championship, or British Open, will tee off extremely early Thursday morning Central and Eastern time and is being played this year at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. The Englishmen and women were a little interested in a soccer game that was happening. It’s a little tournament called the World Cup with The Three Lions of England, the nickname has something to do with the King Henry’s, playing Argentina. Argentina just won, 2-1, so it’ll be Argentina and Spain playing right after the Open is over at 2 P.M. CT/3 ET on FOX at the Meadowlands, New Jersey Stadium, known as MetLife Stadium here in the U.S.
“La Roja,”which stands for the Red, Spain, defeated World Cup favorite France yesterday, 2-0 to advance to the final.
It’ll still be a classic on Sunday, even though the Brits will be mourning the defeat, and so will this Open at a course that is hosting it for the 11th time. The last time the Open was held at Royal Birkdale was in 2017. Jordan Spieth was the best player in the world then and won it with some spectacular play on Sunday. It’s been a long, arduous road for the Texan ever since. He’s won two tournaments since then. He won the Valero Texas Open in 2021, and the RBC Heritage in 2022. But besides that, nada. I don’t see that changing at Royal Birkdale, either. He’s got a better chance than several guys, but he’s just not where he needs to be with his game. Chances are slim.
The course was redone for the 2026 Open and has terrific holes. The opening hole is a Par-4, 447 yards and is regarded as one of the toughest on the course. The competitor will have to be accurate on his tee shot as there is trouble on both sides. On the right is out of bounds, and on the left is a bunker and one of Birkdale’s several mounds. Very tight tee shot. The greens are slower in Europe, so that’ll make it more challenging, especially for the U.S. players. They’ll be stimping at roughly 10 1/2 to 11 1/2, slower than the other majors, which go at 13 or 14.
No. 3: 219 yards, Par-3. The players will hit from an elevated tee to a green around 30 feet below. The green runs 40 yards front to back. Club selection is critical with different pin placements each day. There is no bunker in front of the green like they’re used to be, so players may try to run it up to the pin.
No.6: 514 yards, Par 4. The 6th was the most difficult hole on the course in 2017. There are two bunkers on the right side of the fairway and a third for the guys who try to bomb it beyond that. The winds are looking at 10-15 each day, so the pro there said if that’s the case, it’ll be the toughest hole on the course.
No. 14: 602, Par-5. The wind will make it tough. There are several bunkers and an undulating green. Bunkers are on both sides of the fairway and there is run off area to the left of the green for errant draws. The green is small.
No.15: 241, Par-3. It’s a deceptively large green, but the players seem concerned most about this hole. There are two bunkers on the left and a large run off on the right. With windy conditions, getting the ball to stop will be a major challenge. This’ll be a beast of a hole with pressure ratcheting up on Sunday.
No.17: 566, Par 5. A serious penultimate test that is framed by two towering sand dunes. It’s the most asthetically interesting hole on the course. Very cool looking hole. Accuracy off the tee and to the green are paramount with the fairway lined with bunkers and a mound on the right, and a large mound with a couple of bunkers on the left. It’s a narrow green that is surrounded by bunkers. A mistake on the approach could cost the player the tournament on Sunday.
No.18: 508 yards, Par-4. This hole is extremely demanding. There are several fairway bunkers, so it’s recommended to hit it short of the bunkers and have a longer second shot into the green. Very challenging, nerve wracking hole to finish off the tournament.
The defending champion is Scottie Scheffler. Rory won the Masters this year, Aaron Rai won the PGA at Aronimink Golf Club, just outside Philly, and Wyndham Clark, with a putter that was through the roof hot, won at Shinnecock Hills at the U.S. Open.
Weather
Thursday: Partly cloudy, 77, Wind 12 MPH, N. Friday: Partly cloudy, 74, wind 13 MPH, N. Saturday, 71, Partly cloudy, Wind 13 MPH, NNW. Sunday: 70, Partly cloudy, 13 MPH, NNW. Minimal chances of rain as it’s been very dry in Europe recently. Wimbledon didn’t have one rain out day, which is highly unusual. Good conditions for the players, though the course will be very firm and very fast and good shots could still be penalized with shots running through the fairway and into the bunkers or the rough, that is not that high, but thick.
TV
Thursday-Friday, 12:30 A.M.-3 A.M. CT/1:30-4 East, NBC Sports Network/Peacock. 3 A.M.-2:30 P.M. CT/4-3:30 ET, USA Network. My brother in law says he’s been waking up at 3 A.M. lately, so he’ll be able to catch most of it.
Saturday, 4-6 A.M. CT/5-7 A.M .ET, USA. 6 A.M.-2 P.M. CT/7-3 ET, NBC /Peacock
Sunday, 3-6 A.M. CT/4-7 ET, USA. 6 A.M.-1 P.M. CT/7-2 ET, NBC/Peacock.
Scheffler, as always, is the favorite at 6/1. Rory is next at 8/1. Jon Rahm is 16/1. Matthew Fitzpatrick is 21/1. Tommy Fleetwood is 21/1. Xander Schauffele is 22/1. Cam Young is 28/1. Chris Gotterup is 28/1. Collin Morikawa is 31/1. And Ludvig Aberg is 31/1. Those are the leading contenders.
Here are my six possibilities to win the Open along with my ultimate winner.
1. Matthew Fitzpatrick, 21/1. Great game, won twice this season. On his home turf in England.
2. Jon Rahm, 16/1. He’s leading the LIV Tour in compensation for 2026, and he finished second to Aaron Rai at the PGA. I feel like he’ll get an Open soon.
3. Rory. 8/1. Of course.
4. Russell Henley, 54/1. Really accurate off the tee and won at Colonial in Fort Worth. If his putter is hot, he’s got a real strong shot.
5. Tyrrell Hatton, 37/1. At home in England. He’s been playing well on LIV and finished tied for third at the Masters. He’s a hot head, but if he can control his emotions, which is a long shot, he can win.
6. Wyndam Clark, Really good shot with the way he strikes it off the tee and the way he can putt
I’ll put one more guy in there: the winner of the Genesis Scottish Open, Tom Kim. The 24 year old is back to being stellar. Putting is the clincher for everybody like it always is. Scottie Scheffler is just not putting well enough right now. Even though he is the betting favorite, I don’t see it.
Winner
I’ll take the 45 year old from Johannesburg, South Africa, who has lived in London most f his life. He’s been banging on the door the last two years in Majors and has won a couple of regular tour events, and this is his home turf. He’s got the mental and physical game to knock the door down. I’ll take:
Justin Rose
Give me Rosie at Royal Birkdale. (Photo courtesy of The Independent, London).
Jannik Sinner takes down the field at Wimbledon for his fifth Major title. (Photo courtesy of NPR).
The great 24 year old champion Jannik Sinner of Italy just put another notch in his championship career after capturing his second Wimbledon Championship in a row with a 6-7 (7-9), 7-6 (7-2), 6-3, 6-4 victory over 29 year old German Alexander Zverev. It was a nice effort by Zverev, but the elite Sinner proved to the world he’s here to stay once again. Sinner will be 25 on August 16th, two days after my oldest daughter’s 31st birthday (I’m getting older). The 139th edition of Wimbledon didn’t disappoint after the somewhat catastrophic French Open in late May/early June. Sinner’s first serve was excellent. His forehand is getting better, maybe not as sharp as usual, but his backhand was super and he started figuring things out with his forehand as the tournament progressed.
Maybe one of the best sportsmanship moves I’ve seen in quite a while was when Zverev fell in the third set after the two players had split the first two sets and were tied 3-3. Sinner came across the net to help Alexander up. He’s a total class act. He’s a warrior as a competitor, but also a kind, gentle guy. Really like this guy. The future looks electric for Jannik. Jannik’s been fortunate that Carlos Alcarz broke his wrist before the French and was unable to play Wimbledon. Carlos also missed the French, but Jannik struggled with the heat in Paris and lost in the second round to world No.56 Juan Manuel Cerundolo. He had a 2 set lead but fell to the heat. There were a lot of people doubting him, but not his coach Darren “Killer” Cahill, his team, and my wife! She’s passionate about tennis and loves Jannik. I love the guy, too. It’ll be awesome when Carlos returns and we can get that rivalry renewed. Jannik said in the press conference tennis needs Carlos back. Carlos is undetermined whether he’ll be back for the US Open, but everybody is very hopeful he will return. Novak is still a factor, though it’s getting harder and harder for him to get through Sinner and Alcaraz. Zverev has come on winning the French and putting forth an awesome effort at Wimbledon. Should be a classic 146th edition of the US Open at Flushing Meadows in the City. That phenomenal Major starts Monday, August 31st.
And Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic beat fellow countrywoman Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Noskova is 21 and with a high level future.
Home Run Derby
Kyle Schwarber could be tough to defeat today in the Derby. (Photo courtesy ofFox Sports).
There are 8 competitors in the Home Run Derby today as the superb prelim event to the All Star game commences at Citizen’s Bank Ballpark in Philly. Netflix will cover with first pitch at 7 P.M. CT/ 8 ET.
The 8 competitors in alphabetical order are: 1. Jac Caglianone, KC Royals. He’s hitting .260 with 15 homers and 35 Ribeyes. He caused me a lot of headaches when he played at Florida against Vanderbilt. Needed my “Excedrin.” 2. Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays. Junior has hit 28 long balls and driven in 59. He’s batting .279. Junior is an absolute stud, and has a real shot today, albeit against a loaded field. I’m a big Rays fan as they drafted my Vanderbilt pitcher David Price first overall in 2007. David had some really nice years at Tampa and won a World Series as a key member of the 2018 Red Sox. I’ve been a Rays fan ever since David was there. Junior is electric. 3.Wilson Contreras. BoSox. I had a math teacher in high school who was a passionate Red Sox fan. In his “Baastan” accent he would talk about “going to Fenway, drinking a Schaffuh Beir and watching duh Sox.” Contreras is hitting .285 with 20 homers and 61 Ribbies. The Sox are a team to watch in the AL in the second half. After a very tough start to their season, which led to the firing of managerAlex Cora, they have now won 9 in a row at the break. They are 46-48 and 10 back of the Rays and 7 back of the Yankees in the AL East, but they are just a half game back of the Seattle Mariners in the AL Wild Card race. Should be a riveting second half. My Vandy man, Sonny Gray, who will be pitching for the AL in the All Star Game, is 11-1, with a 2.54 ERA and 1.10 WHIP (walks plus hits per innings pitched). He’s making a run at the AL Cy Young if he can keep “matriculating” and the Red Sox keep surging.
4. Bryce Harper, Phils, .260, 20, 57 RBIs. Harper is always a factor, though my son in law, a Philly native, calls him a disappointment for them. I kind of agree with him. You would think Harper might lead the Phils to a World Series championship by now. He doesn’t hit for great average. 5. Munetaka Murikami, ChiSox. Don’t know a lot about the 26 year old Japanese player, but the White Sox are vastly improved this season and are tied for the AL Central lead with the Guardians at 50-45. The Guardians are 51-46. He’s hitting .232, not so swift, but has launched 20 homers and thrown in 42 Ribbies. 6. Ben Rice, Yankees. Hitting .279 with 29 homers and 68 RBIs. When I picked the Braves over the Yankees in my preseason MLB predictions and picked Matt Olson of the Braves to be the Fall Classic MVP, a friend of mine, whom I went to high school and college with, and who lived in New York for a while, wrote me an email and said, “Eddie, I agree with you, except the Yankees are going to win the World Series and Ben Rice is going to be the Fall Classic MVP!” Eddie was a nickname I acquired in college. It had to do with me dressing up as Eddie Munster at the Phi Delta Theta Halloween Party when I was a freshman, and Van Wadlington, my friend who’s a Neuroradiologist in Birmingham now, dressed up as Herman putting a couple of 2 by 4’s under a pair of boots. He was already 6’5″. He was 7’4″, as Herman. He had the laugh down to a T. We were both green. He had a few too many on Halloween Night and woke up under a swing set in a park that Saturday morning with some children running away saying, “Mommy, mommy, Herman Munster is dead!” Classic stuff from Wad.
No.7, Kyle Schwarber, Phillies. Schwarber doesn’t ‘t hit for a great average, but does he ever pound the ball. He’s hit 32 jacks and added 59 Ribeyes. He’s a power machine. The Braves are 55-40 and leading the NL East right now, but the Phillies are 54-43 and 2 back. The astonishing story in the NL is the Miami Marlins. They are 52-45 and 4 back of the Braves. The lowest budget team in baseball. The Rays are 28th out of 30 and they’re leading the AL East at 56-38. That’s superb stuff from teams that have to be judicious with their finances. You gotta be smart to compete with the Dodgers, Yankees and others, who have the massive payrolls. The Dodgers are around $320 million this year. Insane. The Yankees aren ‘t far behind. No.8, Jordan Walker, Cards. Walker is hitting .294 with 22 home runs and 74 Ribbies. The Cardinals are 50-45 and 8 1/2 back of the 59-37 Brewers in the NL Central. The Cubs are 54-42, and 5 back of the Brews. The Cards are 1 back in the NL Wild Card. This young stud is excelling.
Winner
Junior Caminero, Rays.
I’ll go with Junior Caminero of the Rays to win the Home Run Derby tonight in Philly. (Photo courtesy of MLB.com).
All Star Game Prediction
FOX will televise starting at 7 P.M. CT/8 East. I’m going to take the Senior Circuit this year.
NL 6, AL 5
MVP, Drake Baldwin, catcher for the Braves.
Having a really fine year for “the Atlanta team” as the great Skip Caray used to say. I saw Skip and Harry in the mid 80’s in a restaurant in Atlanta after a Bravos game. We were all partaking a little, and I asked Skip about Pascual Perez, who had missed his start recently because he got lost on I-285. Skip said, “He’s been having some nasal problems.”
The Braves All Star catcher Drake Baldwin is having a huge year. I like him to lead the NL team to victory. (Photo courtesy of MLB.com
World Cup predictions
Tuesday, 2 P.M. CT/3 P.M. East, FOX
Spain 2, France 1, Extra Time, Overtime. France favored by a goal. Over/under is 2 1/2 goals.
Like “La Roja” over “Les Blue.” As Joseph said last week on my quarterfinals predictions’ blog, the Spain defense hadn’t given up a goal all tournament. They defeated Belgium 2-1 giving up their first goal. Defense wins most championships.
Wednesday, 2 P.M. CT/3 East, FOX
England 3, Argentina 2. Extra time. England by a 1/2 goal. Over/Under 2 1/2.
Seems like the over/under is usually 2 1/2 in this World Cup. I’ll take Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and the Three Lions side over the defending World Cup Champs from 2022. Messi and company won’t go down without a fight though.
Record so Far: SU-4-0, ATS-2-2, O/U-1-3.
Give me Jude Bellingham and the Three Lions over the Albiiceleste (The White and Sky Blues). (Photo courtesy of the New York Times).
Finally, the 154th Open Championship commences Thursday at Royal Birkdale in Southport England. The last time it was played there in 2017, Jordan Spieth won it. It’s been a long, hard road for him ever since then. Tom Kim won the Genesis Scottish Open yesterday and is the hottest golfer right now. He shot a 64 on Sunday, and so did Rory. Rory looking strong. He’s such a good putter now from seven feet and in. That’s made a tremendous difference in his game. Scottie Scheffler is an enigma to me right now. Just not getting it done in the clutch. He’s the opposite of Rory. His putter is as “cold as ice,” as Foreigner once said. Guys like Xander Schauffele, Min Woo Lee and his hideous mustache, Fitzie, Morikawa, and several others are in the mix. Should be epic. Will have full preview on Wednesday. Have a good evening.
Kylian Mbappe’leads France into the Quarterfinals today versus Morocco in Boston. (Photo courtesy of WSJ).
I didn’t know how engaged I would be in this year’s World Cup. It’s always been a highly regarded sporting event that happens only every four years. But this time of year for me it’s PGA/Majors Golf, Pro Tennis/Majors, MLB and any Vanderbilt information, football, basketball, baseball, recruiting stuff/ news that I can get to my Vanderbilt readers.
However, this year has been spectacular in the World Cup. As good as ever. I am an avid World Cup watcher now. The tournament has been scintillating, and such a pleasure to watch. So much drama with such tremendous superstars. Lionel Messi of Argentina, Kylian Mbappe’ of France, Harry Kane of England and Erling Haaland, among others, have made this a particularly riveting sporting event.
The Quarterfinals start today and continue through Saturday. Here are my predictions for each game. I will have the semifinals, which take place next Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Championship game, which takes place Sunday, 7/26 in New Jersey Stadium or MetLife Stadium, predictions next Tuesday, 7/14.
The 139th Championships, Wimbledon is coming down to the wire in the men’s, another sport that generates so much global attention in late June and early July. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are on a collision course Friday at approximately 10:30-11 A.M. CT, 11:30 A.M. to 12 P.M. ET depending on how the German, Alexander Zverev, vs the Englishman, Arthur Fery, match goes before that. Fery has been a diamond in the rough in this fortnight, but he’s got a tough task ahead of him. That match starts at 7:30 A.M. CT/8:30 ET. Both semifinals will be broadcast by ESPN.
If your work schedule allows, I’d turn it on at 7:30 A.M./8:30 ET for the full semis, or around 9:45-10 A.M. CT/10:45-11 A.M. ET for Sinner/ Djoker.
Had Sinner over Ben Shelton in the final in my predictions column before the tournament started, but the Shelton prediction didn’t pan out. Nevertheless, Sinner is very much alive. Should be an electric Friday across the pond as well.
And, finally, but just as importantly for many of my golfing friends, the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England commences next Thursday, 7/16, through Sunday, 7/19. Excedrin likes for me to call it the British Open, so it can go by either name. Will have full coverage on that iconic sporting event next Wednesday. NBC, USA and Peacock will broadcast. Can Wyndham Clark, the best player in the game right now, continue his powerful driving and mastery on the greens. Can Scottie Scheffler finally break through in a major this season. Rory is definitely a favorite. Jon Rahm is another. I like Chris Gotterup’s chances. Xander Schauffele, a resurgent Justin Thomas, the savvy veteran Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and many others will have a shot at this coveted Open championship and the Claret Jug as the champion golfer of the world, according to the Brits. Will preview and predict next Wednesday.
Here are Predictions for the World Cup Quarters starting today.
*****FOX will Broadcast all games*****
Today
France versus Morocco
Boston Stadium, Boston. It is Gillette Stadium where the Patriots play in Foxborough. But the World Cup takes away the sponsor’s name to make it more special to the World Cup
3 P.M. CT/4 ET
France by 0.5 goals, 2 1/2 goals over/under
France’s Kylian Mbappe’ is second to only Lionel Messi of Argentina in goals scored in the history of the World Cup. Mbappe’, 27, has 7 goals in this Cup while Messi has converted 8. For the all time record, the great 39 year old Messi leads all time with 21, and Mbappe’ is second at 19. They call Messi the GOAT, but it’s debatable. Mbappe’ is only 27, and has at least three more World Cups ahead of him, if he stays healthy. And then you have the former great Brazilian, Pele’, who finished with 12 goals in his career in the World Cup, but, wow, was he ever a fantastic player in the 1960’s and early 70’s. But Messi and Mbappe’ are goal scoring machines and leaders on each of their respective teams. All the players on each of their teams love those two guys. France is the favorite right now to capture the World Cup, but it’s a major war of attrition to determine who captures this World Cup. Everybody still has to go through Argentina, the defending champion.
I like Mbappe’ and France to advance to the semis.
France 3, Morocco 1
Friday
Spain vs Belgium
Los Angeles Stadium, SoFi Stadium, where the Rams and Chargers play
2 P.M. CT/3 ET
Spain by 0.5 goals, Over/Under 2 1/2 goals
Belgium was the team that knocked out the U.S. on Monday Night in Seattle, 4-1, in a controversial game as FIFA had allowed U.S. player Folarin Balogun to play despite him getting a red card for a foul in the previous game versus Bosnia-Herzogovina, which was supposed to suspend him from the next game. FIFA overruled the call, so Balogun played. But the controversy was over quickly as Belgium dominated the match. They have superb players, but give me Espana to win at LA Stadium. Viva Espana. Should be a classic. These are two very tough teams to defeat.
Spain 3, Belgium 2
Saturday
Norway’s Erling Haaland is a scoring machine. (Photo courtesy of The New York Times).
England vs Norway
Miami Stadium, Hard Rock, where the Dolphins play
4 P.M. CT/5 ET
England by 0.5 goals, O/U, 2 1/2 goals
This will be a total classic. Norway’s Erling Haaland is the soccer equivalent of Steph Curry. All he does when his foot touches the ball is score. And he makes it look so easy. It’s not though. The guy is an outright stud. Haaland, 25, and in his first World Cup, has seven goals in the tournament.
But England’s Harry Kane is spectacular as well. Kane, 32, has six goals in this World Cup and 14 in his career. England went to Mexico City and defeated Mexico 3-2 last Sunday Night. That’s hard to do. Kane and the Englishmen barely outlast Haaland and Norway in a must see match.
England 3, Norway 2
Harry Kane leads his England team to victory. (Photo courtesy of The Seattle Times).
Switzerland vs. Argentina
Kansas City Stadium, Arrowhead where the Chiefs play.
8 P.M. CT/9 ET
Argentina by 0.5 goals, O/U, 2 1/2 goals
The defending champions from 2022 and their hero, Messi, looked dead in the water versus Egypt on Tuesday. Down 2-0 with just 15 minutes + extra time left in the game (there are 90 minutes in regulation and an estimated time usually 6 to 10 minutes for any stoppage of play earlier in the game), the Argentinians scored three times to improbably defeat Egypt and advance to the quarters. The Argentinians were a clear favorite, but Egypt played with so much passion and dominated the majority of the game, though Argentina had taken some really prolific shots on goal that Egyptian Goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir had made tremendous stops on. But Argentina was not going to be denied. I like Messi to at least score once and quite possibly twice in this game as the great Argentinians advance to the semifinals.
Argentina 3, Switzerland 1
***Just a reminder all games are on FOX***
Next Tuesday, 7/14, World Cup Semifinals Predictions
Next Wednesday, 7/15, the 154th British Open/Open Championship Preview/Predictions
Rory goes for Major Number 6 and his second U.S. Open Championship. (Photo courtesy of The Independent–London).
The 2026 U. S. Open, the 126th edition, returns to the iconic Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southhampton, New York, 100 miles east of New York City on Long Island, a 2 to 2 1/2 hour drive, unless it’s the summer or the weekend, then it becomes a 3 1/2 hour drive.
With the New York Knicks celebrating their historic NBA Championship Thursday with a respective victory parade, and with the FIFA World Cup transpiring presently, with one of the venues being Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, 12 miles from the city, New York is busy. However, the Open is an elite sporting event, one of the best of the year, and it will get plenty of attention.
The defending champion of the Open is J.J. Spaun, a blue collar player, which is what is required to win an Open. He’s the ultimate warrior and sank a 64 foot birdie putt on 18 at Oakmont in 2025 to win the 125th Open. I like Spaun’s chances here. I had a text exchange with the Fellas, my commenters on the Blog, last week, and Brombey is real high on Spaun. I agree with him. J.J. is a serious factor at Shinnecock.
The course is a 7,440 yard, Par 70 that was designed by William Flynn and opened in 1891. It has hosted five Opens with the most recent in 2018 in which Brooks Kopeka captured the championship, one of his five majors. Tommy Fleetwood shot 63 on Sunday to make it interesting, but missed a six foot birdie putt on 18 that would have most likely gotten him into a playoff with Koepka. Koepka was a blue collar player then, those were his roots, though he’s a very wealthy guy now, so you’re not sure if the drive is still there. But he is doing pretty well now on tour, so the drive could be back. He’s got a wrist injury he’s battling, but he’s won two U.S. Opens, so he could be a factor.
Of course, Scottie Scheffler will attempt to obtain the career Grand Slam with a victory at Shinnecock. He’s been real low key about this achievement if it happens; too low key in my opinion. He said that if he wins the Open, people will ask him what’s next.
Maybe so, but winning a U. S. Open is monumental, and completing the career Grand Slam at 30 years old, he turns 30 on Sunday, 6/21, would be a any professional golfers lifetime dream. I would be a little more passionate about it if I were Scheffler.
Rory is playing better than ever and has figured out how to handle the pressure as he has earned the career Grand Slam and now owns 6 majors. If he putts well, he’s got a real shot.
There are 172 bunkers on Shinnecock, four less than Oakmont (176). The greens are Poa Annua and will be stimping at 10 because they’ve lost the greens before at there and the wind will more than compensate for the slower greens. They’ll be faster and firmer than that with no rain forecasted this Thursday/weekend.
Weather
Windy.
Thursday. 74. Very little chance of rain, but wind gusting 20 to 30. It was hard at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club outside Philly with strong winds. The players will see that again Thursday.
Friday-79. Wind 10-20.
Saturday- 81. Wind 10-20.
Sunday, mostly sunny. 77. Wind 10-15.
The 156 player field will be fiercely challenged by this formidable course along with the windy conditions that will come with it. As of today, rain looks unlikely this week/weekend.
TV
Thursday: 5:30 A.M.-4 P.M. CT/6:30 A.M.-5 P.M. East, USA. 4-7 P.M. CT/5-8 ET, NBC Sports, Peacock.
Saturday-9-11 A.M.CT /10 A.M.-12 P.M. ET, USA. 11 A.M.-7 P.M. CT/12-8 ET, NBC.
Sunday, 8-11 A.M. CT/9 A.M.-12 P.M. ET, USA. 11 A.M.-6 P.M. CT/12-7 P.M. East, NBC.
Odds-Scheffler, 5/1; Rory, 10/1; Jon Rahm, 10/1; Xander Schauffele, 19/1; Cam Young, 20/1; Matt Fitzpatrick, 22/1; Tommy Fleetwood, 25/1; Ludvig Aberg, 26/1; DeChambois, 27/1; Koepka, 33/1; Collin Morikawa, 35/1; Russell Henley, 37/1; Wyndham Clark, 37/1; Sam Burns, 38/1; Chris Gotterup, 44/1; Justin Thomas, 44/1; Tyrrell Hatton, 46/1; Patrick Cantlay, 46/1; Patrick Reed, 49/1; Justin Rose, 52/1; Vik Hovland, 54/1; Spaun, 61/1; Hideki, 65/1; Bob Mc, 66/1; Spieth, 69/1; Maverick McNealy, 76/1.
Those are several key players who are capable of surviving and winning at one of golf’s sternest tests.
Winner
You gotta like the Blue Collar player on this course. It was between this guy and Spaun for me. Brombey appreciates the blue collar work ethic and battle it out type player, and I do too. It’s a tough call between this 26 year old Easton, Maryland native, by way of Rutgers University and the University of Oklahoma, and the 35 year old stud Spaun, who’s from LA, by way of San Diego State University. But I’ll slightly take this workhorse to capture his first major on this historic and difficult course. All the tougher with the blustery conditions Thursday and through the weekend.
Chris Gotterup
I’ll take the young stallion Gotterup to capture the 126th edition of the U.S. Open. (Photo courtesy of Golf Channel).
Major contender with a real shot to win
J.J. Spaun
Talk about toughness. Spaun plays golf while dealing with Type 1 diabetes. I have personal experience with the Type 1 illness as my sister, nephew and a great friend have Type 1. Dealing with that every day is grueling, and I care deeply about all three of them. Let’s hope and pray there is an ultimate cure soon. Breakthrough T1D is making good progress.
Give me the great Spaun to make a serious run at the national championship.
J.J. has a real shot of capturing back to back U.S. Opens. (Photo courtesy of T1D Strong).
The great trainer Todd Pletcher goes for his fifth Belmont Stakes victory with Arkansas Derby winner and second place Derby finisher Renegade. (Photo courtesy of Thoroughbred Daily News).
The third crown jewel of American Classic Horse Racing transpires today at 6:04 P.M. CT/ 7:04 Eastern Post time as the 158th Belmont Stakes unfolds at Saratoga Springs, New York, in upstate New York. Saratoga Springs is hosting its second straight Belmont as Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y., on Long Island, is going through a massive renovation and will re-open for the 2027 Belmont. Belmont Park is a 1 1/2 mile track and called “the Test of the Champion.” Saratoga Springs is a 1 1/4 mile track, so it favors more speed. The forecast is for rain today, not guaranteed, but good chances of rain and maybe a t storm, over 50% in the afternoon leading up to the race.
Trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. have the favorite in 2/1 Renegade, which finished second at the Kentucky Derby and won the Arkansas Derby. It’s a nine horse field with good talent. Here are Post positions, horses, odds, trainers and jockeys for the 158th edition of the Belmont.
FOX will Televise with coverage starting around 2 P.M. CT/3 ET
1. Vitruvian Man, 30/1, Doug O’Neill, Antonio Fresu
2. Powershift, 12/1, Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez
3. Chief Wallabee, 3/1, Bill Mott, Junior Alvarado
4.Renegade, 2/1, Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz Jr.
5. Ottinho, 20/1, Chad Brown, Dylan Davis
6. Growth Equity, 12/1, Chad Brown, Manny Franco
7. Commandment, 6/1, Brad Cox, John Velazquez
8. Emerging Market, 6/1, Chad Brown, Flavien Prat
9. Golden Tempo, 9/2, Cherie DeVaux, Jose Ortiz
Winner/ Predictions
There is excellent talent in this field including Derby winner Golden Tempo, trainer Cherie DeVaux’s horse. The great Todd Pletcher, winning trainer in the Belmont in 2007, 2013, 2017 and 2022, has the favorite, Renegade, at 2/1. A lot of people are high on Chief Wallabee at 3/1. Trainer Bill Mott has won the Belmont in 2010 and in 2025 with Sovereignty. Mott also won the Derby in 2019 and 2025 also with Sovereignty. Others like Florida Derby winner Commandment with the terrific tandem of trainer Brad Cox and jockey John Velazquez. Velazquez is a three time winner at the Derby (2011, ’17, 2020), a two time Belmont winner (2007, 2012) and a Preakness winner in 2023.
But I’m going to take a different thoroughbred. I like trainer Chad Brown, who has three horses entered in the Belmont, the great jockey Flavien Prat, who finished second to Napoleon Solo in the Preakness aboard Iron Honor, and the horse that won the Louisiana Derby. I like this pony to capture the third leg of the Triple Crown. Brown has won two Preaknesses, 2017 and 2022. And Prat won the Derby in 2019 and the Preakness in 2021. This could be a wetter track with rain predicted, which favors horses like this one and Golden Tempo, known as good wet track racers. Give me, 6/1:
Emerging Market
Emerging Market is White’s World’s pick to win the Belmont. (Photo courtesy of Daily Racing Form).
Stephon Castle, the stellar 21 year old player for the San Antonio Spurs from UConn, where he won a national championship in 2024, leads a young, hungry San Antonio Spurs team into the NBA Finals versus the New York Knicks. (Photo courtesy of NBA.com).
It’s down to the Eastern Conference champions, the New York Knicks, and the Western Conference champions, the San Antonio Spurs, competing for the NBA Championship and the Larry O’Brien Trophy as World Champions.
The Spurs, led by seven foot, three inch phenom center Victory Wembanyama, from Le Chesney, France, he does that Bo Jackson France thing, leads a talented, elite group of young players. They will square off with the talented former Villanova trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges, all winners of a national championship at ‘Nova, along with superb big man 7’0″, 245 Karl Anthony Towns, from the University of Kentucky, and an 11 year veteran.
The Spurs have the home court advantage as they finished with the better regular season record. The Spurs average 23 to 24 year olds on their team, while the Knicks are led by 30 year old Karl Anthony, the 29 year old Brunson, the 31 year old Hart, and the 29 year old Bridges.
The Knicks haven’t won an NBA Championship since 1973, when the great Willis Reed, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, Bill Bradley, a future senator from New Jersey, the great Dave DeBusschere, one of the greatest NBA names of all time and a heckuva player, and their elite sixth man, Phil Jackson, an 11 time winner as a coach for the Chicago Bulls and the LA Lakers, as well as his championship with New York as a player played in Madison Squeeh Gaaden. Dick Barnett was another terrific player for the Knicks as was Jerry Lucas in their heyday in the early ’70’s. Just a classic team coached by a classic coach in Red Holzman. Those guys were vintage New York. Tough, scrappy, unflappable, incredible talents. Several have passed away, but they say that Walt “Clyde” Frazier is still one of the best dressed men in the City at 81 years old. He was stylish, and, and also scored 36 points and dished out 19 assists in their 1970 game seven championship victory over the Lakers, a game in which Reed played despite having a torn thigh muscle he suffered in game 5, which kept him out of the rest of that game and game 6. He hobbled onto the court at Madison Square Gaahden for game 7 in front of a raucous, passionate crowd, scored the first four points and made it through the game. It was an incredible inspiration to his teammates and the city. It will go down as one of the all time most courageous performances in NBA history. Don’t make’em like they used to.
The Spurs have quite a tradition as well. With “The Big Fundamental,” Tim Duncan, the amazing Tony Parker at point guard, and the exceptional Manu Ginobili, the Spurs won 5 titles, in Duncan’s case, and 4 with Parker and Ginobili. Duncan won it with the Admiral, David Robinson, in 1999, and the trio of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili won it all in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. The Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich coached all of those teams. Duncan, Parker and Ginobili are all in the Hall of Fame, as are Reed, Frazier, Earl the Pearl, Senator Bradley, Dave D. and Coach Jackson from the Knicks. A lot of great memories, but it’s been a minute for these two teams to be in the spotlight. The Spurs defeated the Knicks in the 1999 NBA Championship in 5 games.
Here is the TV Schedule.
All games are at 7:30 P.M. CT/8:30 ET and all will be broadcast by ABC. Best 4 of 7
Game 1:Wednesday, June 3rd: Knicks @ Spurs
Game 2: Friday, June 5th: Knicks @ Spurs
Game 3:Monday, June 8th, Spurs @ Knicks
Game 4:Wednesday, June 10th, Spurs @ Knicks
Game 5: Saturday, June 13th, (if necessary), Knicks @ Spurs
Game 6:Tuesday, June 16th (if necessary) Spurs @ Knicks
Game 7:Friday, June 19th (if necessary) Knicks @ Spurs.
The Spurs are favored by 67-33% to win the series and the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The Decision
My heart is with the Knicks. Both my daughters and my son in law live in New York, and I’ll be there seeing them the weekend of game 5 in San Antonio, so we’ll be going to dinner that Saturday night and then at a sports bar in the city watching the game with passionate New Yorkers at 8:30 P.M. ET/7:30 CT.
Friday Night, we’ll be at the Mets-Braves game at Citi Field. Friday morning we’ll be at the New York Metropolitan Museum, the Met. Saturday morning we’ll be at Rumble Boxing Studio, and at Hamilton Saturday afternoon. Pumped to see them and watch our New York Knickerbockers capture their third ever NBA Championship. Give me Brunson, KAT, Hart and Bridges, the veterans, to lead the Knicks to their first NBA Championship in 53 years (1973).
Knicks over Spurs in 6
MVP
Jalen Brunson
I’ll take the great Jalen Brunson and the Knicks. (Photo courtesy of Athlon Sports).
Stanley Cup Prediction
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Las Vegas Golden Knights
TV Schedule, All games at 7 P.M. CT/8 ET on ABC, Best 4 of 7
Game 1 Today, Vegas @ Carolina
Game 2, Thursday, 6/4, Vegas @ Carolina
Game 3, Saturday, 6/6, Carolina @ Vegas
Game 4, Tuesday, June 9th, Carolina @ Vegas
Game 5, (if necessary) Thursday, June 11th, Vegas @ Carolina
Game 6, (if necessary) Sunday, June 14th, Carolina @ Vegas
Game 7 (if necessary), Wednesday, 6/17, Vegas @ Carolina
Verdict
I’ll take my pre-playoffs pick to win it all before the Stanley Cup Playoffs commenced and take my pre-playoffs MVP, the Conn Smythe Award winner for most valuable player in the NHL Playoffs. I had Carolina over Colorado before the playoffs started. Here I’ll take:
Carolina over Vegas in 5
Conn Smythe Award winner
Sebastian Aho, center ‘Canes
Give me Sebastian Aho and the Hurricanes to capture their second Stanley Cup. Their first came in 2006. (Photo courtesy of NBC Sports).
Winner at the 50th Memorial Tournament
It’s the seventh Signature Event on the PGA Tour, and the prolific Jack Nicklaus’s Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin Ohio as the 50th Memorial Tournament commences Thursday with an elite field playing for a $20 Million purse and a $4 Million first place paycheck. The course is a stock 72 and plays at 7,569 yards. No.18 is a beast of a par 4 to finish off the round, especially on Sunday. It’s 480 yards with bunkers on the right off the tee and a slope into the woods on the left hand side off the tee. The green is long, but not wide, with a deep sand trap on the left side. The greens will be stimping at 13, very quick, and the rough will be 4 inches high.
Jack’s there to greet the players on Sunday, so that’s always special. Always a thrill to shake hands with the greatest of all time with 18 major championships under his belt. 6 Masters, 1963, ’65, ’66, ’72, 75, and ’86 (at 46 years old), 4 U.S. Opens, 1962, ’67, ’72, ’80. Three Open Championships (British Opens), 1966, ’70, and ’78, and 5 PGA Championships, 1963, ’71, ’73, ’75, and ’80. That personifies the greatest of all time in golf. And he was and is the classiest ambassador of the game along with Arnie, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, Sam Sneed, Bobby Jones, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, those guys. Still don’t make’em like they used to.
Odds: Scheffler, 3/1; Rory, 10/1; Cam Young, 16/1; Xander Schauffele, 18/1; Ludvig Aberg, 18/1; Matt “Fitzie” Fitzpatrick, 22/1; Si Woo Kim, 22/1; Russell Henley, 30/1. He put on a clinic at the Charles Schwab at Colonial in Fort Worth last Sunday taming Hogan’s Alley with three straight birdies on 16-18 in regulation, and a birdie from 5 feet in the first playoff hole, number 18, versus Eric Cole. Henley hit his second shot to 5 feet and drained the putt to capture the title. Henley was iron. Tommy Fleetwood, 30/1; Patrick Cantlay, 30/1; Ben Griffin, 33/1; Bob McIntyre, 40/1; Sam Burns, 40/1; Min Woo Lee, 40/1; Rickie Fowler, 45/1; Justin Thomas, 45/1; Hideki, 45/1; Maverick McNealy, 50/1; Jordan Spieth, 55/1; J.J. Spaun, 55/1; Chris Gotterup, 60/1; Harris English, 60/1; Adam Scott, 60/1; Justin Rose, 65/1; PGA Championship Champion Aaron Rai, can’t get over that 68 foot birdie putt on 17 at Aronimink Golf Club in Newton Square, PA. on Sunday to capture the 108th PGA in mid May. Rai is at 80/1. Seems like a good sleeper pick.
Weather
Thursday, 84, Sunny, winds SSW 8 MPH.
Friday: Partly sunny, 86, SW 12.
Saturday, 40% chance of t-storms in afternoon. 83. Wind SW 14.
Sunday, 30% chance of showers in the morning, then clearing up in the afternoon. 85, Winds, W 10.
This is the seventh of the eight Signature Events in 2026. Collin Morikawa won the first, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am (2/12-2/15), Jacob Bridgeman won the second, The Genesis Invitational (2/19-2/22), Akshay Bhatia won the third, the Arnie (3/5-3/8), Matt “Fitz” won the fourth, the RBC Heritage (4/16-4/19), Cam Young won the fifth, The Cadillac Championship (4/30-5/3), and Kristoffer Reitan? of Norway, won the sixth, The Truist Championship (5/7-5/10). The eighth Signature Event will be the Travelers Championship, 6/25-6/28 played at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, CT.
There are 72 players in the field at the Memorial as the field is smaller for the Signature Events than they are for regular tour events with most all of the elite players competing in the Signatures.
The cut is top 50 and ties, and anyone within 10 shots of the lead after the first 36 holes, Thursday-Friday. The purse is $20 million with $4 Million going to the winner as this is a player sponsored event like the Genesis was by Tiger Woods, and the Arnie was. The first place check for the other 5 is $3.6 Million. Second place at the Memorial gets $2.2 M, third gets $1.4 M, and 4th a mil, so a good week at the office for the top guys come late Sunday afternoon. Everybody also wants to win this tournament because it’s Jack’s event.
Winner
I’m going to take the 30 year old from Seoul, South Korea. He’s knocked on the door several times this season and I expect him to knock it down at Muirfueld Village.
Si Woo Kim
Give me Kim to win at Jack’s Tourney. (Photo courtesy of Golf.com).
West Point Mississippi native and Vanderbilt senior golfer Senior Wells Williams led his team with a terrific round Monday in Round 4 of the NCAA Championships. (Photo courtesy of The Vanderbilt Hustler).
Our super senior leader, Wells Williams, shot a 2 under par 70 yesterday and Jon Ed, Ryan Downes and Will Hartman all birdied the par 5, 18th to lead our team to a third place finish at 12 under par, and put us in the Elite Eight Quarterfinals, where we are facing No.6 Arizona right now. More on that in a second.
Auburn finished first at -26, Texas was next at -23, we finished -12, OK State and Florida tied for 4th at -11, ‘Zona was sixth at -3, and UCLA and Stanford rounded out the field at -2.
We are now in the match play on the La Costa Resort and Spa North course and in our matches: 1. Chase Nevins is tied with Zona’s Taishi Moto after 5 holes. 2. Jon Ed is 1 up on Tianyi Xiong after 5 holes. 3. Will is 3 Up on Filip Jakubcik through 4 holes. 4. Ryan Downes is 2 Up on William Wistrand through 4 holes. 5.Wells is all tied with Zach Pollo through 3 holes. So we have a 4-1 lead right now.
Got a long way to go, but our guys are playing superb, confident golf right now. Wells is so solid, and Will and Jon Ed are playing like seniors instead of freshmen. Ryan, a sophomore from Longview, Massachusetts, has been good throughout the Championships, and Chase, a junior from Great Falls, Virginia, is getting his first start today, and doing well.
Our guys have been through the wars this season, both in the high level tournaments we’ve played in and the SEC Championships. We’ve taken our lumps at times, but are playing our best golf right now.
Our great freshman from Marvin, North Carolina, Will Hartman, is carrying his team on his back as we qualify for round 4 today at the NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, California (Photo courtesy of On3).
Freshman Will Hartman shot four under 68 for the second day in a row on Sunday and is now 10 under for the NCAA Championships and led our team into the fourth round of the NCAA Championships today at La Costa Resort and Spa North Course in Carlsbad, Cali.
We are presently in third place at nine under par after day 3 after a 3 over par round Sunday. Auburn leads the field at 22 under and Texas is next at 19 under. Then we’re at -9, UCLA, ‘Zona, and OK State are at -8, Chapel Hill is at -6, Duke is -1, Oklahoma is Even, UVA and the Gators are at +1, while L-S-U, San Diego, Tennessee, and Stanford round out the top 15 teams that qualified for today’s fourth and final stroke round, as those four teams finished +2.
So, we’re right there heading into round 4. The goal today is to play outstanding golf, make the top 8 and qualify for the match play quarterfinals, which will commence Tuesday.
Coach Limbaugh is excellent at keeping his team locked in on the task at hand, so all we need to concentrate on a shot at a time. Pardon the triteness of that comment, but it’s a fact.
Scott said we need to quickly get over any mistakes and move forward. We need very short term memories on the 7,538 yard, par 72 La Costa North Course.
Jon Ed and Wells are at -1, while Ryan Downes is at +4, and Michael Riebe is at +18.
Will is tied for 2nd individually at -10, with Flip Jakubcik? of ‘Zona and William Jennings of Alabama, who is competing as an individual, as Alabama didn’t make the team tournament, but Jennings was one of the top 6 individual qualifiers from his region to make it to the NCAA Championships.
Preston Stout of Oklahoma State leads the individual competition at -11. The low medalist/individual National Champion will be decided after today’s final stroke round.
Gordon Sargent won the individual national championship for us in 2022.
We need Will to keep on truckin, as the Grateful Dead sang, and Jon Ed to get back to playing the type of golf he has been playing until yesterday. Wells needs to be good, and Ryan and Michael will HAVE to help us.
We need to be in the top 8 out of the 15 teams competing today to qualify for Tuesday’s quarterfinals match play.
We tee off today at 2:20 P.M. CT/3:20 East with Riebe for us playing with Auburn’s Cayden Pope and Texas’s Daniel Bennett. At 2:31/3:31- Ryan Downes for us, Logan Reilly for Auburn, and Matt Comegys for Texas. At 2:42/3:42-Jon Ed, Jake Albert for Auburn, and Christiaan Maas for UT. At 2:53-3:53-Wells for us, the great Jackson Koivun for Auburn, and Luke Potter for Hook’em. At 3:04/4:04- Will for us, Josiah Gilbert for Auburn, and Tommy Morrison for Texas.
Golf Channel will televise and stream today at 4:30-8:30 P.M. CT/5:30-9:30 East.
Will keep you very much apprised.
Luuuke Kornet had a heckuva game changing block for the San Antonio Spurs in replacing the great Victor Wembanyama, who was saddled with five fouls, making the play of the game that led the Spurs to the NBA Championship as they defeated the defending NBA Champion OKC Thunder, 111-103, at Oklahoma City in game 7 of the Western Conference Finals.
Luke and the Spurs will square off with the New York Knicks starting this Wednesday at 7:30 P.M. CT/8:30 East for the NBA Championship. The Spurs, with the better regular season record than the Knicks, will host the first two games, the Knicks the next two, then @ the Spurs, @the Knicks and @ the Spurs if games 5,6 and 7 are necessary.
Luke, at 30 years old, is having a really nice NBA career and is a stellar backup to Wemby.
Jon Ed cookin at the North Course of the La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Cali. (Photo courtesy of x)
Hope everybody is having a nice weekend. Our Men’s Golf team sure is cookin’.
Jon Ed Steed is at -7 overall after a 67 yesterday on the par 72 North Course at La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, CA., near San Diego, and fellow freshman Will Hartman is at -6 after the first two rounds, as our frosh from Marvin, N.C., 20 miles southeast of Charlotte, is playing exceptional golf as well.
Senior Wells Williams of West Point, Mississippi is at -2 under. And we are now 13 under as a team in the third round of the NCAA Championships.
We are tied with No.3 Texas in second place and are 8 back of Auburn, which sits at 21 under. All five of our players are now on the course. Sophomore Ryan Downes, from Longmeadow, Massachusetts, has two birdies already to get us to -13 overall. We came into today at -12.
Jon Ed dropped a shot on 1. Michael Riebe bogeyed one and Wells and Will are at even through one. Ryan just birdied the 383 yard, par 4 fourth. We are on holes one through four. The top 15 teams after today’s round will qualify to play Monday in an 18 hole event with the scores carrying over from today.
Monday, the top 8 teams from the group of 15 will qualify for the quarterfinals of match play to be played Tuesday.
So, great stuff from the Fellas. Will keep you updated today.
