By Ron Johnson
As we hit the final stretch of the month, we prepare for the beginning of football and the Women’s World Cup as well as the final stretch of baseball season and a chance to watch two legends get immortalized forever. So many events, so little time…and we even got a little WNBA to cover. So let’s discuss the week shall we?
Commanders Get…New Commanders?
As announced a few days ago, the Washington Commanders will have new ownership heading into the new season as Dan Snyder has been classified as OBSOLETE by the other NFL Owners. In a unanimous vote, the NFL approved the sale of the Commanders from Snyder to a new ownership group led by 76ers co-owner Josh Harris and basketball legend and co-owner of the Dodgers, Sparks and Los Angeles FC Magic Johnson. The sale was imminent due in large part to Snyder’s conduct off the field as well as the scandals that followed him throughout his tenure. After making multiple threats to NFL Owners, it did not take long for the Owners to fire back and vote him out while fining him $60 million for his antics the past few seasons.
It’s A Woman’s World…Cup, That Is
It is said that all good things will come to an end. For Soccer Legend Megan Rapinoe, one more round sounds perfect. The partner of WNBA legend Sue Bird will hit the pitch for the final time in this year’s Women’s World Cup in Auckland, New Zealand. With the stars out for Megan’s Last Curtain Call, the US Women’s National Team took to the field and played a sloppy, sleepy and lopsided game against Vietnam. The ladies won the game, a 3-0 victory, but it was the play of Sophia Smith that look to set the tone for the match. There are some things to fix, but I’m pretty sure by the time that the points start to matter, these women will indeed shine on the brightest and biggest stage. Next up will be the Netherlands in the middle of next week, but if you get the chance to watch a game, I advise to do so. You will see legends out there, and they deserve our respect.
Mark Ingram Brings Out The Claws
We all have been making our picks for the 2024 National Champions. Most believe Georgia will Three-Peat. Most believe that it will finally be Ohio State’s time. You even got others thinking that Alabama will make a return to the College Football Playoff. But one person in particular is thinking that Jim Harbaugh will finally exorcise his demons and hoist up a championship. That individual is former Heisman winner and Alabama Crimson Tide Mark Ingram. The newest member of Fox’s ‘Big Noon Kickoff’ believes that it is the Wolverines of Michigan that are primed to win their first national championship since 1997. In Ingram’s eyes: “You got Michigan, returning a quarterback, a double-headed monster at running back, 14 stars on offense and defense…then you got Georgia trying to break in a new quarterback, Alabama breaking in a new quarterback and Ohio State, with Ryan Day and Marvin Harrison, Jr. breaking in a new quarterback. I’m sure that the Bleacher Brothers team will be discussing this in full length come August, but is Ingram spot on thinking that this will be a Blue and Yellow year for the College Football Playoff?
When Immortals Rise AND Shine
Everyone who has ever played a sport all their life lives for these moments. It’s the moment in which all your hard work and accomplishments take center stage with you as you are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. While the NFL is preparing for theirs, baseball is doing theirs as they honor Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff this year. While McGriff was a sure-fire first ballot, it was Rolen that was walking on pins and needles for a moment or two. When he needed 292 votes to take his rightful spot, he got 297. The enshrinement of ’23 matched that one of ’16 when Ken Griffey, Jr and Mike Piazza were the only pair inducted that year. However, next year’s inductions will be just as epic.
It is almost guaranteed that we will see Todd Helton in next year’s class because even I can’t see a reason he shouldn’t be in (also helps he was behind Rolen with 281 votes). Helton may have good company with Billy Wagner, Braves legend Andruw Jones, Gary Sheffield, Adrian Beltre, Mike Schmidt, Eddie Mathews, Joe Mauer, Mets legend David Wright and six-time All Star Chase Utley slated to make appearances on upcoming ballots. But I definitely see Todd Helton getting a bust next year.
FAMU Defanged?
The FAMU football program may not be well known outside the South (unless you’re from the South), but people will know about them after this stunt. Following an unauthorized rap video in their locker room, head coach Willie Simmons has suspended football activities until further notice. The video in question contained use of FAMU property as well as licensed apparel with the university’s logo on it during the video. This is definitely not something that the program needs this close to the season, but people are finding the most ish of ways to get famous, and it may cost FAMU this season as there is no timetable for the program’s return. Just for everyone’s knowledge, training camp starts on August 2nd, and the season itself starts September 3rd against Jackson State.
One Hit…Wonderful!
The lure of combat sports always seems to get people’s attention, and Titan FC 83 in Miami was no different. Not since Jorge Masvidal hit Ben Askren with a knee to the dome was there so much OMG surrounding a knockout…that is until last night. Luis Hernandez took Brian Topp with a single head kick literally one second into the fight. This occurred after Hernandez pull one of the oldest tricks in the book by utilizing the “fake glove tap” trick to deliver the kick that won him the fight. While there are many that are questioning the exact time the KO occurred, the fact remains: Hernandez got a KO victory and improved to 3-0, while Topp has not had a good outing in his career as he falls to 1-5.
On tap: UFC 291 – Poirier-Gaethje 2
While the world is waiting for November and the big bout for the Heavyweight Championship between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic, there are some good fights that UFC is hyping up now. For instance, next weekend, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje collide once again, this time in Salt Lake City to finally find out who is the better out of the two. Also on the card is Jan Blachowicz locking up with Alex Pereira, Stephen Thompson vs. Michel Pereira, UFC legend Tony Ferguson vs. Bobby Green and Michael Chiesa vs. Kevin Holland. Now while no titles will be on the line at this pay per view, if you are not hyped about seeing Poirier vs. Gaethje 2, you clearly are not a MMA fan at all.
WWE: SummerSlam Mixed…with a little TRIBAL COMBAT
As the Road to Summerslam reaches its destination in Detroit, we now know the double main event on the card as Seth “Freakin” Rollins faces Finn Balor for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, and Roman Reigns faces Jey Uso. Now the situation on SmackDown may look like full circle, but it is a plot twist involved as via The Elders, Roman and Jey will battle in Tribal Combat, a Samoan form of No Holds Barred, and on top of that, Reigns will not only put his WWE Undisputed Championship on the line, he will also put his Tribal Chiefdom on the line as well. This means that Jey Uso has the chance to walk away with the gold and the title of Tribal Chief. As for Rollins, he has had to deal with Balor’s constant obsession of losing almost a year of his career, and now the showdown comes full circle as the two will battle for the title and possibly Balor’s sanity. However, there is the question of if Senor Money in the Bank, Damian Priest will play a roll in the outcome as he does have the chance to cash in that guaranteed title shot. With August 5th quickly approaching, who will gain the advantage heading into the Motor City?
