Happy Wednesday.
Let's get cracking.
From the "Talks too much" studios, time to make the doughnuts.
Game 3
The Golden State Warriors had a remarkable season.
They were the best in the NBA in defense, second-best in offense and became one of five teams to win 67 or more games in a season.
And unless they figure out a way to stop LeBron James from completely dominating the game, Golden State will be able to add "best team to not win a title" to their 2015 resume.
James is over the top right now, controlling the game and the flow on almost every possession. He played 46 minutes - he's averaging 47.3 minutes per game through three games - and scored 40 points in Cleveland's 96-91 Game 3 win. The Cavs lead the series 2-1.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Matthew Dellavedova, bottom, and Golden State Warriors forward David Lee go to the floor for a loose ball during the second half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland, Tuesday, June 9, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) James got a ton of help from Matthew Dellavedova (20 points) and Tristan Thompson (10 points, 13 rebounds), but the Cavs super start has been dominant.
Steph Curry was better, and the Warriors' furious fourth-quarter rally made it close. But there was no stopping LeBron.
He has punished every Warriors defensive option, and he has simply crushed Harrison Barnes.
Yes, he missed 20 shots last night, but in addition to his eight assists, the hodgepodge collection of the other Cavs combined to shoot 50 percent in part because James there were plenty of open looks.
So ball's in your court Golden State - and your season's hanging in the balance. What's your adjustment to try to rewrite the narrative of this series?
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Mariota
Another round of high praise for Tennessee Titans' No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota.
This time coming from former NFL wide out and current Titans receivers coach Shawn Jefferson.
Again, not all praise is created equally, but there are some high-value compliments in Jefferson's assessment of the rookie quarterback.
Marcus Mariota, former Oregon quarterback and overall No. 2 NFL football draft pick by the Tennessee Titans, answers questions during a news conference Friday, May 1, 2015, in Nashville, Tenn. Mariota was selected by the Titans in the first round Thursday.Here's the first passage from Jefferson to ESPN.com: "He is deadly accurate. I am just giddy about his future going forward ... He's the real deal. A couple years ago I was back in Detroit and when Matthew Stafford stepped into the huddle the first time, once I heard his voice and the way he called a play, I said, 'OK, that's a real one right there.' Same way with this one. He's real. He's got the goods."
Here's the second one from Jefferson to ESPN.com: "No. 1, it's his accuracy. No. 2, he's come in and grasped the offense. And No. 3 is the way the guys respond to him, the way he's able to go in that huddle and take control."
OK, we're officially buying Mariota stock.
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US Open
You can make an argument that the U.S. Open golf tournament is the truest and greatest national championship in all of sports.
The rigorous qualifying gives everyone - from Tiger Woods the lead singer of Survivor (Eye of the Tiger and all) - a shot.
Tiger Woods reacts to making a birdie putt on the second hole during the second round of the Memorial golf tournament, Friday, June 5, 2015, in Dublin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) Now we get to meet some of the great stories.
Yes, former Baylor School star and UTC standout Stephan Jaeger qualified for the Open earlier this week and that's big news.
Also of merit is this kid. Meet Cole Hammer - and yes, that's a money sports name - who qualified for the Open.
He's one of 13 amateurs to make the field - the most since 2009 according to the AP - but here's saying Hammer will be getting plenty of attention. And his name is only part of the storyline.
Hammer you see is 15. Yes, 15, which means he would need special permission to drive the cart at most clubs.
And dude will put his peg in the ground in 10 days with the best on the planet.
That's part of the beauty of the U.S. Open.
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This and that
FILE - In this April 15, 2015, file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez watches his solo home run in front of Baltimore Orioles catcher Caleb Joseph during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Baltimore. Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera having moved on, this looked like it might be a mundane season in the Bronx. Enter Rodriguez, who is showing signs of recapturing his slugging prowess and maybe , just maybe, winning back a few fans. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) - The Washington Nationals may have lost to the Yankees on the field Tuesday, but they did quite well in the draft. They nabbed Mariano Rivera Jr. in the fourth round, and while we have never seen him throw a single pitch, here's saying he will be a big leaguer sooner rather than later. Washington also landed a steal in the sixth round with former Ringgold star Matthew Crownover, as TFP preps ace Lindsey Young details here.
- Sometimes you go to a dance recital and nothing out of the ordinary occurs. Sometimes you go and then this happens. More than 20 million YouTube clicks later and this little girl is a star.
- The Braves got a game-winning homer from Joey Terdoslavich in a 6-5 win over San Diego on Tuesday.
- Just what the San Francisco Giants need - another high-ceiling starting pitcher. Rookie Chris Heston no-hit the Cubs on Tuesday. He did not throw a pitch faster than 91 and became the first rookie to throw a no-no since Clay Buchholz did it in 2007.
- NBC executive Mark Lazarus thinks hockey players would be more marketable if they did not grow playoff beards. Whatever. Hey, Mark, do you think hockey players would be more marketable if you showed the Stanley Cup Finals on NBC rather than some cable spinoff buried deep on the cable dial?
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UT coach Derek Dooley talks to the media in 2011 after an Orange and White game at Neyland Stadium.Today's question
Happy birthday Derek Dooley, who is 47 today.
SAL-Loot.
OK, anti-Rushmore of worst SEC football coaches, and we feel our Press Row cohost - and SEC football ace - David Paschall will have something to say on this one.
P.S. Mailbag.