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Hard luck in softball
NiJaree Canady has become the face of her sport.
The hard-throwing Texas Tech softball pitcher is the sport’s first known million-dollar NIL player after transferring from Stanford.
Go ahead and read that graph again.
A million-dollar softball player. Wow.
Canady is a former national freshman of the year and a national player of the year. She’s made every pitch for Texas Tech in this postseason, and they had not trailed in the College World Series until there were two outs in the sixth inning in a 2-1 loss to Texas Wednesday.
And that’s when we found the one thing Canady can’t do.
Trying to issue her first intentional walk of the season, Canady’s pitches were too good.
Ball one was high but over the plate. Ball two was almost a strike for Patricia’s sake. Ball three was high but still close. Ball four was belt-high, and Texas slugger Reese Atwood drilled a two-run single to left.
It was almost unbelievable watching in real time.
As surreal as Canady’s inability to throw the ball high and wide — remember, she’s been throwing it through a Cheerio for months — it was just as risky for Atwood, who swung at ball four.
A line-out or if the ground ball was four feet either way, Atwood would be forced to answer, “What the bleep?” questions after the game.
But like Chris Chambers from “Stand By Me,” Atwood didn’t miss. Wonder what her NIL reward will be.
Title starvation
If the Pacers and Thunder meet in the Finals and no one watches, does it actually count?
Yes, yes it does. And someone will win the first NBA title for their town.
(Side question: Since the Thunder were once the Seattle Supersonics, who won a chip in the late 1970s, does OKC count that one? I don’t but can see it both sides.)
Anywell, the Pacers or the Thunder will be champions in the next 10 or so days, which made we wonder: What are the five most-title starved franchises and fan bases?
As always, your thoughts are welcomed, and with that, let’s make like Chappell Roan at the “Pink Pony Club” and get to the poll.
5 Detroit Lions. Look, the city has had some success through the decade, but the Lions have been one of the consistent punchlines in the NFL in my lifetime. Despite the presences of Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson — two of the all-time greats at their positions — for their entire careers, the Lions were barely a blip. Now they are good, and I want them to win it all if the Falcons can’t.
4 Toronto Maple Leafs. One of the original six of the NHL, the title drought for Toronto is almost at 60 years — their last Cup was in 1967.
3 Buffalo Bills. A devoted fan base with the great moniker of “Bills Mafia” has enjoyed great runs of success, be them now with Josh Allen or in the 1990s with Kelly-Thomas-Smith and Co. But the forever bridesmaids have made playoff heartbreak an expectation rather than an exception.
2 San Diego Padres. Man, it’s a good thing San Diego has wonderful weather and a world-class zoo. Because that collection of sports futility — remember the Clippers and Chargers (both chip-less) were in San Diego before heading to L.A. — for that city is staggering.
1 Cleveland Browns. Was there any doubt who was 1, especially considering the passion of the Dawg Pound? For goodness sakes, “taking the Browns to the Super Bowl” is a euphemism for going to the bathroom.
Golf comments
So, Rory got in his feels when he met with the media for the first time since his struggles and failed driver at the PGA Championship.
It mostly felt like a big nothingburger, but I did find intrigue in his veiled threat at limiting media access moving forward.
Here’s more, and know this: Some of the biggest icons of their time — think Tiger, think MJ — were notorious for knowing and using the fact that the media needed those superstars way more than they needed the media. Is Rory that big of a star in his sport? No, but he’s one of the biggest draws in the game currently, if not the biggest.
Then I saw this as Phil Mickelson discussed his chase for the career Grand Slam in next week’s U.S. Open, which Mickelson admits likely will be his last shot at his white whale.
Interesting stuff. Mickelson’s final chapter to a Hall of Fame career has taken several wrong turns, and I hope he contends next week.
It also led me to Mickelson questions:
First, how would you view his career? Did he underachieve, even with six major championships?
Second, which elite-level superstar would have benefitted more with a different conclusion to his career, Aaron Rodgers and his time with the Jets, or Mickelson selling out and going to LIV?
Discuss.
This and that
› Bear with me this morning. The Lil 5-at-10 and I were at the GameStop until 1:20 a.m. in line to get the new Nintendo Switch. Side note: There are few joys like making your kids genuinely happy, you know.
› Like, a bagel-and-2 night for Plays. Are any of you guys and gals starting to fade the aforementioned afternoon picks? Egad.
› Braves played. Braves lost. And they wasted another quality start from Chris Sale. Dude has a legal case for a true lack of support since he’s 3-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 12 starts this season. Someone call Morgan and Morgan.
› Not sure why I feel this, but something tells me the aforementioned NBA Finals will be brief, and the Stanley Cup Finals will be a full seven-game classic.
› You know the rules. Here’s Paschall with some UT football goodness on one of the Vols two returning starters on offense — left tackle Lance Heard.
› Shaq putting the unknown transition of the beloved “Inside the NBA” from TNT to ESPN perfectly: “Can Charles (Barkley) talk about fat women in San Antonio? Can we talk about people’s hairlines and make them cut their hair? That’s the only thing I’m worried about.” All of us are, Shaq.
Today’s questions
It’s AGT friends, the ol’ Anything Goes Thursday.
We’ll start here: Which pro team would truly surprise you the most if they won a championship?
Also, who does more commercials, Morgan and Morgan on the radio or the ubiquitous Jake from State Farm?
As for today, June 5, let’s review:
Bobby Kennedy was shot on this day in 1968.
Mark Wahlberg is 54 today. Like his work, from being the producer in “Entourage” to a great turn in “The Departed,” even to “Good Vibrations” as a rapper.
Robert Kraft is 84 today.
Ronald Reagan died on this day in 2004.
Rushmore of Ronald/Ron/Ronnie. Go, and remember the mailbag.