📰🏟️ Clubbin’ Cubs
Plus: Officiating is tough, even for robots…
1) Lionel Messi retires from international soccer
Soccer legend Lionel Messi confirmed his retirement from Argentina’s national team on Monday, saying the decision hurts “deep in my soul.” His final national-team appearance was July's World Cup final loss to Spain.
- The 39-y.o. forward leaves as Argentina’s all-time leader with 125 goals across 207 appearances, including 6 World Cups, a 2022 World Cup title, and Copa América wins in 2021 and 2024.
- Messi will continue playing on a club level with Inter Miami of the MLS, where he remains under contract for another 2 years.
The GOAT says goodbye to Argentina
2) Chicago Cubs make HR history twice in one night
The Cubs closed August with a bang, hitting a franchise-record 9 home runs in Monday’s 17-3 rout of the Brewers at Wrigley Field (including 3 HRs for 3B Alex Bregman).
- The Cubs’ performance is tied for the 2nd-most HRs by any MLB team in a game since at least 1900, trailing only the Blue Jays’ 10 taters in 1987.
- Chicago also finished August with 62 HRs, setting an NL record for a calendar month and trailing only the 2019 Yankees (74) in MLB history.
Cubs went full HR Derby at Wrigley
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3) Good Good, Callaway employees out after ad controversy
The fallout from digital media company Good Good Golf and Callaway’s controversial driver ad is still growing.
The now-deleted ad showed Good Good cofounder Garrett Clark shoving a female colleague to the ground after she reached for his Callaway driver, drawing criticism for making light of violence against women.
- Now, several employees have been fired, including Good Good’s VP of brand and marketing and Callaway’s director of content and production.
- Callaway has ended its partnership with Good Good, which also had its planned Golf Channel show canceled and pulled out as title sponsor of an upcoming PGA Tour event.
A costly mis-hit for Good Good
4) WNBA begins 2-week break for FIBA World Cup
The WNBA is officially on a 17-day break, putting its playoff race on hold while 51 top players head to Berlin for the FIBA Women’s World Cup.
- The tournament runs from Sept. 4-13, with Team USA chasing its 5th straight World Cup gold.
- Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, Angel Reese, and Breanna Stewart headline Team USA’s roster, while 2x reigning WNBA MVP A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum were both late scratches due to injury.
- The WNBA returns Sept. 17, leaving teams with 4 regular-season games before the playoffs begin 10 days later.
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