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.
More PGA drama
Tom Watson is ticked at Jay Monahan.
Welcome to the club, Tom.
Watson, an eight-time major champ, sent a sternly worded letter to the PGA commissioner and to the board of directors.
Watson is one of the legends of the game. An all-time great who has some of the most iconic moments — good and bad — over the last 50-plus years.
But at this point, does anyone this side of Mrs. Monahan think the soon-to-be-former PGA commissioner handled this well?
And in truth, we’re so deep into this now, the only thing worse than the LIV-PGA merger is if the deal falls apart at the 11th hour.
Because for Monahan to have risked everything, including his legacy and almost assuredly his job, it has to be pretty clear if you are on the inside looking out from the PGA Tour headquarters, it almost certainly was merger or get consumed, right?
And if that’s the case, and the Saudis were in this for the long haul, who can stand toe-to-toe with $700 billion?
College World Series
Omaha is a cool trip. Followed Auburn’s crew out there in 1994.
Yeah, let’s just say as a college student, I was an excellent road tripper.
Tennessee rallied to eliminate Stanford. The Vols will have to handle LSU, which lost to top-ranked Wake Forest late last night 3-2.
Yes, top-seeded Wake Forest. But that’s just one of a slew of baseball-related headlines that caught my eye over the past 24 hours.
There’s the layers of intrigue in this one: Votto homers in season debut for first-place Reds.
Yes, Joey Votto — who has fashioned a career that will get a lot of Cooperstown consideration — made his debut on June 19. And yes, the Reds — winners of nine straight mind you — are in first place.
Then there is Miami infielder Luis Arraez, who collected five hits Monday night and is hitting a cool .400 on the season.
If he hits .400, even if the Marlins finish 10 games out of the playoffs, is he the MVP?
Discuss.
NBA draft
I love the draft. You know this.
Yes, my affinity for the draft now is primarily the NFL draft, but my crush on the draft originally started in the 1980s with the NBA draft, especially that great 1984 draft.
(Side note: Watched “Air” last night. Pretty good. Not great. Expected a bit more considering the cast, you know? Also watched “Creed 2” again last night. Which begs the question: Is Creed 1 and 2 better than every other Rocky movie? Discuss.)
The NBA draft is later this week, and it’s been since LeBron was picked 1 overall that the league has this kind of hype with an incoming rookie.
Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4 Frenchman who has guard skills, is a dunk to go first.
Heck, players 2 and 3 — Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson — on everyone’s board this year are dudes, too.
The intrigue will start at 4 after those three are picked, but in truth, the story lines could extend well beyond the top 10. (Side note: On the final CBSsports top 10 draft board, it’s all freshmen or players who have not played in the NCAA at all. That’s kind of strange, no?)
We know the Suns have already landed Bradly Beal, which is a nasty big 3 in Phoenix.
Several big names could be on the move, including Zion Williamson, the oft-injured New Orleans star who was former No. 1 overall pick in his own right.
And the benefits of second-round selections have never been more important, considering the impact Nikola Jokic and Draymond Green have had on their franchises’ championship runs.
This and that
— Congrats to all of the Best of Preps invitees. The banquet is this week.
— Braves were off Monday. They return to action tonight when Spencer Strider takes the mound in Philadelphia.
— I am a Nick Saban fan. Even though he coaches Alabama. But he sounds pretty whiny going on and on about the Tide not getting invited to the 2022 playoff, you know?
Today’s questions
True or false, it’s Tuesday. Morning, Ernie.
True or false, when the college football playoff expands, Alabama will be in it every year.
True or false, you’re watching the college world series. True or false, calling it the Men’s College World Series is nonsensical.
True or false, Victor Wembanyama will be an All-NBA player in two years.
True or false, the Braves did Charlie Culberson dirty over the weekend.
You know the drill. Answer some T or Fs, ask some T or Fs.
As for today, June 20, let’s review.
“Jaws” was released on this day in 1975.
Nicole Kidman is 56 today. Lionel Richie — Hello — is 74.
John Goodman is 71 today. What’s his Rushmore, and he’s got a sneaky strong one, to be sure.