📰🏟️ Blockbuster deals, different baseballs, & realignment rumors

Good morning. Arkansas Razorbacks pitcher Gage Wood tossed the third no-hitter in College World Series history yesterday, turning in a record 19 K’s in an elimination-game victory over Murray State.

Only one Murray State batter reached base, on a hit-by-pitch in the eighth inning. When asked about the near-perfect outing and his emotions following the game, Wood responded: “He shouldn’t have been standing there” "I shouldn't have hit the guy… That's all I got to say."

CWS action continues today, with the continuance of yesterday’s weather-delayed matchup between UCLA and LSU at 10 am CT, Louisville taking on Oregon State at 1 pm CT, and Arkansas facing the loser of the UCLA/LSU game at 6 pm CT (all games televised on ESPN). See the latest bracket here.

—Peter & Kyle

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🗺️ AROUND THE HORN

Three big things

🙅 Texas A&M pass rusher Shemar Stewart and the Cincinnati Bengals remain at odds. At issue: The Bengals, channeling their inner Shere Khan in an attempt to establish a precedent for draft picks moving forward, altered boilerplate language in the first-rounder’s proposed contract in a way that could void guaranteed money in future years. For example, if Stewart were suspended, even for an on-field reason such as leading with the crown of the helmet or other similar penalties, that could eliminate future guarantees. And when it comes to moving the needle with negotiating leverage, Stewart is in a tough spot. Sitting out the NFL season would allow him to re-enter the draft in 2026, but not playing for a year could result in a fall from his #17 overall slot (and the four-year, ~$19M contract + $10M signing bonus that comes with it). On the other hand, if he chooses to test the NCAA rules and try to return this upcoming season (or play in another pro league), the Bengals will retain his rights.

⚾ MLB baseballs are bumping 2 Chainz’s “I’m Different.” This year’s baseballs are behaving differently than in past years, league commissioner Rob Manfred reportedly confirmed to the player’s union in a recent closed-door meeting, presumably while wearing two chains. This development follows a report from The Athletic that indicates additional drag is being placed on the baseball (the highest since the StatCast era began in 2015), resulting in long fly balls traveling between 3-4 ft. less than last year when hit at the same trajectories. Pirates OF Andrew McCutchen also posted on X over the weekend that an MLB rep told him this year’s baseballs—manufacted in Costa Rica by Rawlings, which the league partially owns—have higher seams, resulting in the increased drag, and that the reason why is currently unknown.

🏀 The NBA offseason experienced its first blockbuster trade. On Sunday, the Memphis Grizzlies moved Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks, and one first-round pick (winners + losers from the move). Another blockbuster deal could also materialize soon: rumors are swirling that superstar Kevin Durant could get traded from the Phoenix Suns in the coming days.

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📸 Snapped

Pics from the weekend

🏌️ J.J. Spaun caps Cinderella US Open run with a 64-foot, walk-off birdie putt. After a tough start on Sunday that included five bogeys in his first six holes, Spaun came roaring back after a weather delay to claim victory by two strokes with a clutch birdie putt on 18. It marks the first major victory, and second-ever PGA Tour win, for Spaun, a 34-year-old journeyman golfer who walked on at San Diego State, grinded mini tours for four years before making the PGA Tour, and nearly lost his Tour card last year following a string of poor finishes.

⚽ The FIFA Club World Cup’s opening weekend drew surprisingly solid attendance. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, which features the world’s best individual soccer clubs (not nations) in a World Cup format, several reports indicated that FIFA had been struggling to sell tickets to fans in the US. And while none of the five matches this weekend were sellouts, attendance was respectable; a total of ~239k people showed up, meaning host stadiums across the US—including NFL arenas in Miami (Hard Rock) and New Jersey (MetLife), along with the Rose Bowl—were 76% full on average.

⚾ Rafael Devers will finally stop haunting Yankee fans. Just hours after the 28-year-old slugger hit a home run to power the Red Sox to a sweep over the Yanks (☝️), Devers was traded to the San Francisco Giants for a four-player package of major leaguers and prospects. Devers had signed a 10-year, $313.5M extension with the Red Sox two years ago, but tensions between both sides grew earlier this year following a public feud over Devers being asked to move from 3B to DH. The defensive dynamic for Devers in San Francisco moving forward isn’t much clearer, however, with 5x Gold Glover Matt Chapman already manning the team named after a large being's hot corner.

📰 NEWS

What else is happening

• Former NFL star Antonio Brown is reportedly wanted in Miami-Dade County on a felony charge of attempted murder with a firearm.
• The PGA Tour is hiring longtime NFL executive Brian Rolapp as the first CEO of its new commercial division. Rolapp had been with the NFL for 22 years and was considered a potential successor to commissioner Roger Goodell.
• The Thunder topped the Pacers in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to take a 3-2 series lead. OKC F Jalen Williams scored 40 in the victory.
• The Panthers hold a 3-2 series lead over the Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final. Game 6 takes place tonight at 7 pm CT (watch it on TNT).
• Tatjana Maria became the first women’s tennis champion at Queen’s in London since 1973. The 37-year-old mother of two beat four top-20 players in a row on the way to the title, after not beating anyone of that ranking in almost three years.
• Caitlin Clark’s first game back from injury was a sellout. And she went off.

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👀 MUST SEE TV

Top plays

⚾ Sho-time: Shohei Ohtani pitches in an MLB game for the first time in 663 days

🏌️ Victor Perez notches hole-in-one at the US Open

🏒 Centering pass by Edmonton turns into game-winning OT goal

⚾ A’s Denzel Clarke climbs the ladder for insane HR-saving catch

⚽ Anders Dreyer find the net from way downtown

+Bonus: Nationals’ bat-retrieving dog Bruce makes MLB debut

🔢 BY THE NUMBERS

Fast 5

⚾ Coastal Carolina’s baseball team has won 25 consecutive games, and is now just one victory away from reaching the College World Series best-of-three final.

🏀 Chicago Sky F Angel Reese became the second-youngest WNBA player to record a triple-double (23 years), behind only Caitlin Clark (22).

🏈 The DC Defenders set a single-game points record for modern era spring football in their 58-34 UFL championship victory over the Michigan Panthers.

🏌️US Open winner J.J. Spaun’s betting odds were as high as 150–1 at some sportsbooks before the tournament began, meaning a $100 bet would have netted $15k.

🏒 The Florida Panthers tied the all-time NHL record for most road wins in a postseason, with 10.

🌐 WEB GEMS

Interesting things to click

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🤔 TRIVIA

Incoming conference call

Texas State is a front-runner to join the Pac-12, as the conference searches for a mandatory eighth member for the 2026 football season, according to ESPN. And a deal could happen soon—the buyout for Texas State to leave its current conference doubles from $5 million to $10 million on July 1.

Can you name the conference to which Texas State currently belongs?

+Bonus: Extra credit if you can name three other schools in the conference.

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Enter now and start planning your Wi-Fi-optional victory lap🏕️🏖️.

🤔 ANSWER(S)

The Sun Belt, whose other members are: Southern Miss, Troy, ULM, South Alabama, Arkansas State, Louisiana, Georgia State, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, James Madison, Georgia Southern, and Marshall.