It’s 3:17 a.m. Yes, I’m watching the USWNT’s World Cup match against Portugal. Sixtieth minute. Still waiting for a goal. I looked up the derivation of the word “soccer.” Turns out it’s Old Gaelic for “Ohhh!…All-most!…”
Yordan Alvarez has been on fire since returning to the Astros’ lineup following that oblique injury. YA ripped a three-run homer in the sixth Monday night at Minute Maid to help lift Houston to a 7-3 win over the Guardians that left the ‘Stros just a half-game behind the idle Rangers in the AL West. Texas opens a home series Tuesday night against the White Sox.
The MLB trade deadline is this afternoon. Let’s see what Houston pulls off.
The Cowboys’ training camp battle to determine who will back up lead running back Tony Pollard will not include Ronald Jones for a while. Jones has been popped for two games for an unspecified violation of the league’s PED policy. He’ll be reinstated following the Cowboys’ Week Two game against the Jets. Bad timing. Not that there’s such a thing as good timing in these matters. Jones signed a one-year deal in Dallas back in March following a single—and lackluster—season with the Chiefs. I’m pulling for rookie Deuce Vaughn to earn that backup role behind Pollard, although Rico Dowdle and Malik Davis are very much in the picture.
(Still waiting for a goal…looking more and more like the U.S. is playing for a tie that would be enough to advance to the Knockout Round.)
Broncos WR Tim Patrick will miss his second straight season after tearing an Achilles in a 7-on-7 drill at camp on Monday. Patrick—one of the most respected members of his team—was out for all of 2022 with a torn ACL. Denver is getting thin at receiver. Also Monday, K.J. Hammer announced he is being treated for the heart condition known as pericarditis. Hammer says he should return sometime this season.
Things just get uglier and uglier—and weirder and weirder—between the Colts and RB Jonathan Taylor. And now Indy will be without backup Zack Moss for 4-6 weeks. Moss suffered a broken right arm Monday in the team’s first padded practice.
I just saw a video clip of Damar Hamlin in full pads. That gave me chills.
Nick Bosa is just “chillin’” away from the 49ers camp. Bosa is waiting to finalize an extension that will make him the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. That’s “will,” not “might.” Bosa doesn’t seem too concerned. Neither does Niners G.M. John Lynch.
“It gaut bettah” between the Vikings and stud pass-rusher (ten and a half sacks in 2022) Danielle Hunter. A couple of days ago it looked like they were going to part company one way or another. But now Hunter says, “I want to be a Viking forever” after signing a one-year deal. One year hardly seems like “forever” to me. He is set to become a free agent following this season.
Arguments about who is or was the best all-around athlete in Cowboys history can get pretty animated. Bob Hayes? Mel Renfro? Herschel Walker? All I ask is that Chuck Howley be included in the discussion. Do the Wikipedia thing on Howley. Football. Basketball. Track. Field. Baseball. Gymnastics. Swimming. Diving. Wrestling. I will stand and applaud when #54 is finally inducted into the PFHOF this weekend. It’s long overdue. Howley was a five-time first-team All-Pro. He was also one of the smartest and instinctive players the NFL has ever seen.
OK. The U.S. women just finished up a thrilling nil-nil draw with Portugal to advance to the Round of 16. Sweden is likely up next. “Rudderless, uninspired and confused” is the way TV dude just described the Americans’ performance.
Happy Tuesday to you from this Tuesday Baby.
