Table of Content
In the AFC, Cleveland secured its first trip to the playoffs since 2002, and the Miami Dolphins missed the window in a blowout loss to the Bills. Bill Barnwell gives us his playoff picture, plus who had the most to gain or lose in the world of Week 17 contract incentives. Then, Pablo pays tribute to the late Gerry Marsden, former anthem singer for Liverpool FC. Saturday's UFC 257 main event is Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier in a much-hyped fight. Kansas City has a date with Tampa for Super Bowl LV. It'll be the first Super Bowl in NFL history with a home team also hosting the big game. Tom Brady threw three interceptions, but looked every bit the GOAT in the Bucs' win over the Packers.
It's a tournament that consumes the continent and combines high drama on the pitch with real-world geopolitical stakes off of it. Coming off their World Cup victory in 2018, France are heavy favorites, but can they survive the "Group of Death" with rival Germany and reigning champs Portugal? Sam Borden joins us from Rome for a preview of the 24-team field that will see matches played at 11 sites across Europe. Then, Pablo shares his thoughts on athletes and coaches deciding to get the COVID vaccine. Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker is perhaps the most overlooked superstar in the NBA. And his domination has continued this season, through the Phoenix Suns' playoff run - they're in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in 11 years.
News and Reviews
Mattress makers have told us it’s hard to quilt through dense polyfoams (most we saw were in the range of 1.7 pounds per cubic foot). If you really can’t find a mattress that works for both people, you have a couple of other options. Adjustable air beds, such as those from Sleep Number, let couples inflate the mattress with air to whatever firmness they want. Some bedding stores that have direct relationships with factories offer this option for foam and innerspring mattresses, too. If you sleep hot, you should probably avoid foam mattresses, which are notorious for trapping heat. Innerspring mattresses tend to be more breathable because body heat moves from the surface through the spaces in the coils and disperses out to the room.
But, today, ESPN's Don Van Natta breaks news about how the most controversial owner in football has been fighting, in secret, to keep his Washington Commanders. And he brings us deep inside the viciously guarded club that may finally want him out. Since we last talked to Nick Friedell two weeks ago, the Brooklyn Nets' vibes have gone from great to bad...to worse. Last Thursday, Kyrie Irving tweeted a link to a film littered with antisemitic tropes and later refused to answer questions about it. In addition, the Nets have lost 5 of their last 6 games and are in last place in the Atlantic Division. So Nick fills us in on everything that's happened in the last week, why things in Brooklyn seem so bleak, and where the team goes next.
Trump-flavoured violence rears its head in advance of midterm elections
The starting pitcher has long been baseball's marquee attraction, the guy who fans come out to see...but the job description has begun to change in recent years. Complete games are almost nonexistent, and the average outing for a starter has shrunk to barely scratching five innings. The numbers say pitching fewer innings is smart strategically...but is it good for the game and for fans? Jeff Passan explains to us how the position that was once the workhorse, has been reduced to a show pony...and what, if anything, can be done to fix it. WNBA star Brittney Griner has been held in Russia on drug charges since February. Since then, her family, teammates and fans have implored President Biden to do everything in his power to bring Griner home.
If you’re on the fence about which mattress size to get, it makes sense to go big, if it fits within your budget and space constraints. Though a queen or king isn’t crucial when you have the whole bed to yourself, most people find it’s worth the upgrade if you feel more comfortable sprawling out. And if you sleep with someone else, a bigger bed could greatly improve your quality of sleep.
Wind Chill Watch from FRI 4:00 AM EST until SAT 1:00 PM EST
ESPN investigative reporter TJ Quinn joins us from the site of the trial in Fort Worth, Texas to explain what Eric Kay, and baseball at-large, is facing. With a 3-pointer and a bow at Madison Square Garden's center court, the Atlanta Hawks' Trae Young added to his growing legend in last year's playoffs. To understand that moment, and the 23-year-old NBA All Star that authored it, ESPN's Dotun Akintoye traced Young's roots back to tiny Pampa, Texas and a love for basketball passed down through generations. Akintoye explains the mental makeup and leadership potential of a young man who's not afraid to play the villain. We've all turned to Wikipedia, the massive volunteer-run database, for more answers than we'd care to admit.
For years, the Cowboys' front office had refused to give in to Dak's contract demands...until now. ESPN's NFL analyst Mina Kimes breaks down one of the biggest deals in quarterback history and looks at how a shrinking salary cap is impacting NFL rosters. Then, Tottenham superfan Sun Min Kimes shares her English Premier League takes ahead of this weekend's match vs. Arsenal. P.K. Subban, ESPN's newest NHL playoff analyst and three-time NHL All-Star, joins Sarah Spain to dive deep into the Stanley Cup Final. Subban, who played sevens seasons for the Canadiens, shares what it means for most storied franchise in the NHL to be back playing for the Cup after last winning it nearly 30 years ago. Standing in their way are the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are looking to be the first team to repeat since the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2017.
Military Headlines
Meanwhile, his Buccaneer teammates are adjusting to a new play caller under center. ESPN's Jenna Laine brings us her reporting on how Brady is getting used to working in Tampa with a new team. Then, 18-year NFL QB veteran Josh McCown explains how difficult it is to learn a new playbook - considering McCown has learned 16 different ones over the course of his long football career.
Losing night after night isn't easy for any athlete, but veteran UFC fighter Sam Alvey's winless streak is something to behold. Alvey, whose nickname is "Smile'n," hasn't won a fight since 2018. After going in his last 8 fights, if Alvey loses tomorrow night against Michal Oleksiejczuk, he'll own the longest winless streak in UFC history. What emerges is a portrait of a fighter whose life philosophy flies in the face of every cliche we've come to expect from an athlete. Before Davante Adams became arguably the best receiver in the NFL with Aaron Rodgers as his quarterback, he was a star at Fresno State. But then-Bulldogs quarterback Derek Carr wasn't just the guy throwing Adams the ball...he was one of Adams' best friends.
ESPN basketball insider Zach Lowe (and host of "The Lowe Post" podcast) explains what's at stake in the East and West. Plus, which bubble teams could make it in, and whether this year's NBA champion deserves an asterisk due to the weirdness of the season. After more than four months on hiatus, the NBA returns to play tomorrow night from its bubble in Orlando. The players have acclimated to their resort setting - minus Clippers guard Lou Williams, who ventured outside of the clean site for some wings - and the teams are finally set to tip off.
But, why are we seeing so many Big Man touchdowns all of sudden? Mike Golic Jr. takes us into the trenches and into the psychology of the NFL's largest men, and explains why their moment in the spotlight brings so much joy to so many. WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner was arrested by Russian police at an airport near Moscow last month. Griner is being held on charges that she was transporting hashish oil, a marijuana concentrate, which is illegal in Russia. The details of Griner's arrest were not public until early March. That sparked outcry over the lack of attention around Griner's case, but also concern that publicity could further endanger her.
As the name suggests, an innerspring mattress uses a system of connected metal springs, or coils, to support the weight of your body. A top layer of soft, fabric-encased padding provides cushioning and contouring without the sinking sensation of memory foam. In general, a quality innerspring mattress offers good edge support, is more breathable than its all-foam counterparts, and comes in a range of firmness levels to accommodate a variety of preferences. If you’re not getting a good night’s sleep, if you’re waking with aches and pains, or if you’re just not comfortable in bed, it may be time to get a new mattress. Think about where you’re hurting—if you wake up with shoulder or back pain, or hip, knee, or other joint pain, your mattress may not be properly cushioned or supportive for you. Also, if your current mattress sags visibly or has a permanent indent in the shape of your body, it’s likely time for a new one.
Earlier this month she accused a powerful Chinese political figure of sexual assault, and then was not seen or heard from for weeks. This past weekend the public saw and heard Peng via a video clip of a Chinese tennis competition, and a video call between her and sports officials, including IOC President Thomas Bach. ESPN's Dan Murphy shares the latest, and why big questions remain about Peng's safety. Then, we call up our Monday Morning QB Alex Smith to recap the NFL action in Week 11. The further we get into the NFL season, the more questions we have. But after Week 12, the playoff picture is coming into frame...kind of.
Week 11 in the NFL had the makings of a snoozefest...until the Chargers and Chiefs battled it out on Sunday night, with the Chiefs pulling off yet another last-second comeback. Just a week after putting the NFL on notice with a win over the Bills in the game of the year, the Vikings got embarrassed at home by the Dallas Cowboys. And amid all the outrage over the Colts' hiring of Jeff Saturday as their interim head coach...prompted us to think, what actually makes someone qualified to be a head coach anyway? We brought in Alex Smith for another edition of QB Confidential, so he could help us make sense of all of this.
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