Baylor vote
Several wealthy Baylor University backers took to social media and assorted interviews Monday in support of suspended coach Art Briles.
Yes, the Baylor folks who offered phrases like "We'd like to see that" in regard to reports made in advance Baylor's vote Monday night. The board of regents rightly voted to terminate Briles, the head coach who turned Baylor into a national power and eventually a national punchline.
The Bears have become a perennial title contender after years of futility, but the football leadership has embarrassed the entire sport and their profession by trying to cover up sexual and domestic assaults from players. Some of those players had previous incidents of similar violations but the coaches brought them to campus anyone.
All of this has been well-documented to this point, but now the secrecy has started to grow. Bob Simpson, the Texas Rangers co-owner who is not related to O.J. or Bart, is the biggest backer of Briles.
Then there is the matter of the wording. Briles has been suspended by the university with the "intent of termination."
We'll see how grand those intentions truly are.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (2) drives against Golden State Warriors forward Anderson Varejao (18) during the second half of Game 3 of basketball's NBA Finals in Cleveland, Thursday, June 9, 2016. Cleveland won 120-90. (Larry W. Smith/EPA via AP, Pool) NBA Finals
Whether it was the absence of Draymond Green or the fat that he had been worked over in the court of public scorn, LeBron James arrived to Game 5 Monday night in a bad mood.
Maybe it was the lack of Green's defensive physicality - or the fact that he could feel pretty secure that no one was going to take a swing at his Royal Jewels - but King James delivered one of his best career performances Monday as the Cavs extended the series. Cleveland's 112-97 win means Game 6 will be in Cleveland on Thursday night. James had 41 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and three steals. Almost as important, he had only two turnovers.
The Cavs also got 41 from Kyrie Irving and recorded the kind of win that can lead to several conclusions.
First, it was far and away the Cavs best performance of the series, and easily their best second-half effort against the Warriors. Game 5 was tied at 61 at the break, and for the first time in meaningful crunch time minutes against Golden State, Cleveland delivered when it matter most.
Secondly, the magnitude of being on the brink was clear on the Cavs rotation. Iman Shumpert was the only reserve who played more than 15 minutes. James, Irving and Tristan Thompson each played more than 40 minutes. The same can be said for the Warriors, too, after four starters played at least 38 minutes.
Next, the one starter who didn't pass 38 minutes was center Andrew Bogut, who crumpled on an injured knee in the first half. He will have an MRI today, and it did not look good.
Without Bogut or Green defending the paint and offering some sort of physical presence, James assault the rim relentlessly.
Yes, the return of Green Thursday from the one-game suspension will give the Warriors new spirit, but the Cavs have to have a renewed sense of opportunity after Game 5.
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND EDITIONS, JUNE 11-12 - In this June 15, 2007, file photo, Ian Poulter, of England, hits from the tall grass during the second round of the U.S. Open Golf Championship at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pa. The U.S. Open returns to perhaps the most storied, and feared, championship golf course in America. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) U.S. Open
OK, the greens are electric. We know this.
The rough is a combination seaweed salad and knee-high weeds. There are more bunkers than an Archie and Edith family reunion. The pressure will be intense and the weather on the weekend looks to be perfect.
All told, this could be a wonderfully crazy and crazily wonderful U.S. Open.
Every player asked speaks with such respect for the Oakmont track, that unlike almost all the other championship venues the best in golf play, we're not so sure we want to even test the old gal nestled in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Now comes this news: Oakmont will have the longest par 3 in U.S. Open history, with the average tee length for the pros ranging right at 288 yards. (Side note: do you know the average drive on the PGA Tour this year? Would you be shocked if we said it's 288? That has to be a coincidence, right? With the USGA involved, there is very little in the way of coincidence.)
So we are headed to the belly of beast that Phil Mickelson called the hardest golf course at which he's ever played a major championship. We'll call it the Oakmonster, and here's betting that every player in the field would take even par at sunset Sunday night and roll the dice.
This and that
- Speaking of the NBA Finals, here's a down side of being uber famous: Even the social media comments of your family
- We got to Game of Thrones on Monday night before the NBA Finals but still have not made up the ground on OJ: Made in America. We'll get there before tonight's second installment and be ready to reconvene Wednesday.
- The Braves are at the very least inventively terrible. Last night they succumbed (great word, that succumbed) to a walk-off walk.
- We'll link our A2 column on Orlando as soon as it's posted to the website. And thanks to those of you who have emailed kind words about it.
Today's question
Happy birthday Donald Trump.
Since the former reality TV star and billionaire business man is on the cusp of turning fame and wealth into a possible stint in the White House, let's flip the presidential prism to the sports world.
Who is on the Rushmore of current sports figures who would make the best presidential candidates?
Go, and still taking feedback on a possible US Open contest.