Sign up for the daily newsletter, Jay’s Plays of the Day, to get sports betting recommendations for the top games of the night and the week ahead.
So we’re here. The presidential race is upended. The Braves stink. College football is still more than a month away.
How can we make this work?
By being our best selves. Deal? Deal.
Which leads us to LeBron James, who, at 39, did maybe the best dad work since Heathcliff Huxtable. And now gets word that he is going to carry one of two American flags at the opening ceremonies in Paris later this week.
Hey, hate LeBron if you want, but carrying the Stars and Stripes to open the Olympics is wicked cool. Period.
Also, did I mention that he scored 11 points in the final four minutes (all of them needed, too) as the US rallied to beat Germany in its final exhibition before the Olympics?
True or false Tuesday — carrying the flag in the opening ceremonies is the sneakiest coolest thing in sports. Discuss.
Say what?
So, from LeBron’s awesome Monday comes the news from Green Bay that has me wondering a few things.
First, how has Green Bay been this excellent at finding, developing and growing QB1s?
It was Don Majikoski then Favre then Rodgers and now Jordan Love. That’s almost four full decades of QB1 awesome sauce.
But this story from the early days of the NFL camp process had me scratching my head.
Yes, Jordan Love from October on was impressive last year. But The Athletic is telling us that Love is about to become the highest paid QB in NFL history.
Jordan Bleeping’ Love, people.
And moreover, he’s about to get the same contract — and maybe a smidge more — than Trevor Lawrence. Where are we, NFL?
I get — we all get — paying Patty Mahomes half a billion, but Jordan Love? Trevor Lawrence?
Heck, you know Deshaun Watson got a quarter of a billion — GUARANTEED — and he is a predator.
Man, if you could have one skill in sports — in the world — being a QB1 has to be high on the list, right?
Side question: If your team was about to give Jordan Love $300 million, how would you feel?
Side question #2: Jordan Love at $250-plus million or Kirk Cousins at $180 million — what’s the better buy?
Color me happy
OK, so I do not watch a ton of NBA hoops. I am not alone.
But I applaud TNT for protecting its property and defending the best pregame show ever.
TNT had the option to match any deal in the NBA’s newest TV deal. The NBA picked ABC, NBC and Amazon, and TNT said: Bring it on, Amazon.
Somewhere in the Heaven version of Montana, Ted Turner is smiling.
Also, this gives the NBA a chance to do the right thing by Ernie Johnson, Chuck, Char and Kenny Smith.
The NBA owes TNT, whether the league realizes it or not.
TNT is great without being phony. It is truth-telling without being combative. It is funny without even trying.
And we need more of that on TV.
And in life.
This and that
— Connor Stallions is going to be in a documentary about the Michigan sign stealing scandal. Yes, I will be watching. Coach Khaki is going to have Stallions killed, right?
— Braves played. Braves lost. Those bats — with Acuna and Allies out for the rest of the foreseeable future — are gonna struggle.
— Saw this on the TFP website and, buckets, that is my pediatrician. Dr. Coffman is aces. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2024/jul/22/ask-a-doctor-pediatrician-shares-tips-for-parents/
— So the ACC commish is taking a hard stance against FSU and Clemson. Hey, bro, you need the ‘Noles and the Tigers more than they need you in this day and age. Trust me.
— Hey, Diana Taurus may be the women’s hoops GOAT, but why at 42 — and check the stats — is she on Team USA and Caitlin Clark is not?
Today’s questions
True or false, it’s Tuesday. Morning Ernie.
True or false, if we hosted a fantasy football league here, you would be interested.
True or false, this run of Packers QBs is the best ever.
True or false, the Braves are cooked.
True or false, the NBA should make TNT a partner.
True or false, if the NBA and TNT break up, Chuck Barkley is going to get a huge payday from Amazon.
True or false, Connor Stallions is going to give the goods on Michigan.
As for today, July 23, let’s review:
Tiger completed his grand slam by winning the British in 2000 on this day.
Monica Lewinsky is 51 today.
And if that does not make you feel old, Harry Potter is 35 today. Seriously.
Philip Seymour Hoffman would have been 57 today. Woody Harrelson is 63 today.
Rushmore of best replacement sitcom plug-ins, because Woody filling in for Coach on “Cheers” was outstanding.
Go.