Carlton beat Melbourne 10.14 (74) to 7.13 (5) at MCG
Carlton claimed victory over Melbourne in front of 91,733 fans at the MCG in their AFL wildcard match to extend their fairytale resurgence into an elimination final clash with Geelong.
Under Josh Fraser, the Blues fought back from a 1-8 start to the season that cost Michael Voss his job, to first make the wildcard round in 10th place, then reach the elimination final.
Continue reading...At the trade deadline, the Detroit Red Wings looked to make a couple of moves that could help keep them in the playoff picture, headlined by the addition of offensive defenseman Justin Faulk, along with a smaller pickup that saw them give up a conditional fourth-round pick to bring back veteran forward David Perron.
The now 38-year-old arrived with the idea of being a steady veteran presence who could slot into Detroit's bottom six and provide the kind of depth scoring the roster needed. That didn't materialize the way the team hoped.
The near 20-year NHL veteran battled injuries down the stretch, appearing in just 16 games with Detroit and finishing with three goals, no assists and a minus-nine rating, a noticeable cooldown after posting 10 goals and 25 points in 49 games with Ottawa earlier in the season.
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Perron is now a free agent, and with training camp fast approaching, he still doesn't have a team lined up. The Sherbrooke, Quebec native has said he intends to keep playing, but his options appear to be narrowing as he gets deeper into his 30s.
Detroit itself was reportedly still in talks with Perron about a new deal as free agency opened, but nothing came together, and the Red Wings don't currently appear to be circling back for another season.
It's the kind of quiet ending that plenty of longtime NHL veterans eventually face. Perron could still look for opportunities in the AHL, as a depth option elsewhere, or overseas, but it's fair to wonder whether it might be time for the 2019 Stanley Cup champion to call it a career.
He leaves the game, if this is indeed the end, with an underrated résumé: 332 goals and 480 assists for 812 points in 1,239 career games, a run that started with the St. Louis Blues, who drafted him 26th overall in 2007, and carried him through stops with the Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Vegas Golden Knights, Ottawa Senators and two stints in Detroit.
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Victor Hedman has spent most of his 17-year NHL career looking nearly indestructible.
The 6-foot-7, 244-pound Tampa Bay Lightning captain has won two Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Norris Trophy while establishing himself as one of the best defencemen of his generation.
But incredible talent, success and physical strength don't make anyone immune to mental health issues.
In an interview with NHL.com’s Dan Rosen this week, Hedman went into greater detail about his mental health struggles last season. It's a health situation that remains misunderstood and carries stigma, especially in a sport where players still feel pressure to suck it up and play through the pain.
The 35-year-old described experiencing performance anxiety and pressure in his chest as soon as game days arrived. Mistakes he would normally shake off began staying with him.
“It kind of locks you up,” Hedman told NHL.com. “You make a mistake and in the past you’d be able to shake it off, but I couldn’t do that.”
Hedman had already endured a difficult season physically. An undisclosed injury cost him 12 games in November before elbow surgery sidelined him for another 22. He returned for three games before the Olympic break and represented Sweden in Milan, but an injury during warmups kept him out of their quarter-final elimination loss to Team USA.
After returning to Tampa Bay, Hedman played 12 more games. His final appearance came March 19 against Vancouver, when he logged less than five minutes of ice time before leaving the game.
He then stepped away from the Lightning to focus on his physical and mental health. Hedman continued skating during the playoffs and believes he might have returned had Tampa Bay advanced to round 2, but the Lightning fell in 7 games to Montreal.
Hedman finished with one goal and 17 points in 33 games, easily the lowest offensive output of his NHL career.
His decision to speak publicly about his issues immediately brought back memories of Linus Ullmark's leave of absence in Ottawa.
The Senators' starting goalie also stepped away from hockey last season after experiencing anxiety and panic attacks. His leave began after he was pulled from a Dec. 27 game in Toronto and lasted about a month.
Shortly before returning, Ullmark sat down for an emotional interview with TSN’s Claire Hanna and revealed that Hedman had become one of his biggest sources of support through his battle.
“He really helped me sort out things and things that I was going through and that I’m still going through,” Ullmark said of Hedman. “So I’ve got huge love. My respect for him went even further up.”
For most Sens fans who heard that interview, it probably didn’t dawn on them at the time that Hedman may have been actively battling the same issues of his own down in Tampa.
Hedman still reached out and offered the benefit of his own experience working with a therapist and supporting mental health initiatives. When Hedman subsequently needed to step away himself, he followed the same advice he had helped provide to Ullmark.
Ullmark’s leave of absence didn't instantly solve everything. But after his leave and then the Olympic break, he was a much better goalie.
He had a 14-8-5 record with a 2.95 goals-against average and an .881 save percentage when his leave began.
However, he returned to the crease Jan. 31 and went 14-4-3 over the remainder of the regular season, improving his save percentage to .904 during that stretch. He finished 28-12-8 and helped Ottawa reach the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
Although the Senators were swept by Carolina in the opening round, Ullmark was dynamite in goal. He posted a 2.03 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage in four games while Ottawa managed only five goals in the series.
Now it’s almost time for Hedman’s comeback. He’s now preparing for his 18th NHL season and says he is healthy, motivated and confident. And Ullmark was probably right there in his corner, helping him get to this point and returning the favour.
Not only did the two men step away and get the help they needed, but they’ve made it easier for the next person to feel it's okay to do the same.
By Steve Warne
The Hockey News
This article was first published in The Hockey News. For more Sens coverage at The Hockey News, click on one of the latest headlines below:
- Sens Nation Podcast: Who Gets The C? Ranking The Best Five Ottawa-Born Senators
- Sens Rewind: 15 Years Later, A Look Back At The Senators' Rebuild That Wasn't
- Former Senator Chris Neil On Tkachuk Joining Florida: 'Is He Even In Their Top Six?'
- Looking Back At One Of The Wildest Playoff Games In Senators History
- Ten Years Later: The Story of Senators First-Round Pick Logan Brown
The NBA season starts in 52 days, and while the Memphis Grizzlies start exhibition play in 37 days, vs. Quin Snyder’s Hawks, regular season play starts in 53 days, on October 21, against the Utah Jazz, featuring former Blue Devil Kyle Filipowski.
There’s a lot of keen interest in how former Duke star Cameron Boozer will do as his NBA career starts up.
At least one GM, anonymously, thinks he’s headed for a Rookie of the Year campaign, saying this: “Boozer is a winner and he’s won things his entire young life. Memphis isn’t going to have a good year, but he’s going to be the bright spot and he’s going to win the award.”
He’s more knowledgeable than we are, but Boozer could be better than people expect. We’re not saying they’ll necessarily make the playoffs, but Boozer will be a solid scorer, rebounder, and he’s a much better passer than people think.
Almost-Blue Devil Cedric Coward should start at one guard, while former Virginia point guard Ty Jerome will take over for Ja Morant.
He’s nowhere near the talent Morant is, obviously, but he’s going to be much more steady, and the chances of getting suspended for doing something idiotic are trivial. As immensely talented as Morant is, he can be his own worst enemy.
The thing that people don’t fully realize about Boozer is that he’s a superb passer. It won’t surprise us in the least if he leads Memphis in assists, covering that weakness as Edey and newly acquired Isaiah Stewart should cover up his perceived defensive weaknesses in the post.
The biggest thing, as the GM observed, is that Boozer is a winner, and he’s a winner because he has mastered the basics of the game at a very early age, and understands it at a level a lot of players never figure out. Whether it’s this year or one or two down the road, he’s going to help turn that team around.
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The Yankees’ offense was up to its old tricks on Friday, mustering a mere solo shot by Paul Goldschmidt and three hits in total against the middling Patrick Sandoval and the Red Sox bullpen. They even had extra chances granted due to four walks, but still never came up with the big hit when runners were on. Thankfully, the superior part of the New York operation stood up, with Cam Schlittler firing 5.2 scoreless while Brent Headrick, Paul Blackburn, and David Bednar handled the rest. Cody Bellinger’s pivotal outfield assist to throw Ceddanne Rafaela out at the plate as the potential tying was the play of the game, and the Yankees won, 1-0. Now they must play two and ideally come up with more support for Carlos Rodón and Max Fried.
There was plenty of notable Junior Circuit activity on Friday night, so let’s get into it!
Casey Mize has not had the best time since joining the Padres at the Trade Deadline, though tonight five of the seven runs scored against him were unearned in a sloppy fourth inning. After Yandy Díaz opened the scoring with a solo shot in the third, the Dads committed a pair of errors after Junior Caminero was hit by a pitch and Jonny DeLuca drew a walk, resulting in a run scoring and the bases loaded with one out. A wild pitch plated another, followed by a Jorge Mateo sac fly, and consecutive RBI singles by Taylor Walls and Díaz.
San Diego scored two each in the fifth and sixth to cut into that lead, Jackson Merrill crushing a two-run bomb in the sixth. However, the Rays kept the pressure on scoring one each in the fifth, sixth, and seventh. DeLuca added an RBI single in the fifth, Caminero an RBI single in the sixth, and Mullins a solo shot in the seventh to make sure the Padres always remained at arm’s length. The Rays become the first team in the AL to reach 80 wins (the Brewers, Dodgers, and Braves already got there in the NL), and maintain their four-game lead over the Yankees in the East.
Chicago White Sox (71-63) 7, Minnesota Twins (64-71) 4
The promotion of top prospect Walker Jenkins wasn’t enough to lift the Twins over their AL Central rivals. There was a flurry of scoring early, Chicago plating four with two outs in the first on three straight singles by Miguel Vargas, Andrew Benintendi, and Braden Montgomery, capped off by a Colson Montgomery three-run bomb. The Twins responded with three of their own in the bottom half on a two-run homer by Brooks Lee and a solo shot by Kody Clemens before tying the game in the second on an RBI single from Lee after Trevor Larnach led off with a double.
Only the White Sox kept their foot on the accelerator. Benintendi added an RBI double in the third before a passed ball allowed another run to score in the fourth and a wild pitch the final run in the eighth. With the win, the White Sox extend their surprise lead atop the Central to three and a half games over Cleveland.
Toronto Blue Jays (66-70) 8, Seattle Mariners (64-71) 1
Both AL Cy Young frontrunners pitched on Friday and Dylan Cease matched Cam Schlittler stride for stride, allowing a run on four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in six innings. George Springer went 4-for-4 with a home run and three runs scored. Kazuma Okamoto went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs while Nathan Lukes also left the yard. Dominic Canzone’s solo shot in the first was the Mariners’ only run.
Houston Astros (68-67) 3, New York Mets (60-75) 1
Hunter Brown pitched his best start of the year, allowing a run on five hits and a walk while striking out 10 in 6.2 innings. The Astros scored all their runs in the sixth, Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes, and Jose Altuce drawing three straight walks before Daulton Varsho and Yainer Diaz cleared the bases with a pair of singles. This was after Carson Benge gave the Mets the lead with an RBI double the inning prior. Houston is two games ahead of Texas in the AL West, plus four up on fading Seattle.
Kansas City Royals (61-75) 3, Cleveland Guardians (68-67) 0
Michael Wacha was simply untouchable, twirling eight scoreless innings allowing four hits an no walks while striking out 10. Salvador Perez opened the scoring in the fifth with an RBI groundout. Carter Jensen gave the Royals some late insurance with a two-run blast in the ninth.
Milwaukee Brewers (84-51) 6, Texas Rangers (66-69) 1
Brewers rookie Logan Henderson logged one of the best starts of his young career, allowing a run on one hit and no walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings, that lone hit a Danny Jansen solo shot in the third. While the Rangers would manage just one more hit on the contest, the Brewers ended with 14. Christian Yelich went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, William Contreras 2-for-4 with three RBIs, and Jake Bauers 2-for-2 with three walks.
Baltimore Orioles (66-69) 4, The Athletics (53-82) 3
A’s starter Jacob Lopez was at fault for both Orioles runs in the second, committing an error after a HBP, walk, and single. The Athletics tied it up on a Jonah Heim solo shot in the seventh and Lawrence Butler RBI single in the eighth. Both teams had runners thrown out at home meaning this one went to extras. The O’s scored two in the top of the tenth on two-out singles by Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion-Strand to win it.
How about an overall picture of the hectic Wild Card race?
Cleveland Guardians (68-67)
Texas Rangers (66-69, 2 GB)
Baltimore Orioles (66-69, 2 GB)
Toronto Blue Jays (66-70, 2.5 GB)
Seattle Mariners (64-71, 4 GB)
Minnesota Twins (64-71, 4 GB)
Cleveland remains in front, nearly by default, but we still have just under a month of regular season play to go.
I am repeating some things to myself.
Winning streaks don’t last forever.
The Royals haven’t lost 75 games by accident.
Michael Wacha cannot pitch again tonight.
The Guardians lost 3-0 to the Royals yesterday as Jakhob covered here. They got shutout again. Craig Yoho pitched 1 and 2/3rds scoreless then hung a cutter and gave up a two-run homer. Angel Genao got up 2-0 in the count with the bases loaded then topped a good pitch to hit back to the pitcher to end the game. Should someone else have pitched the 9th for Yoho? I don’t know. Probably he should have executed that last pitch better. Should Patrick Bailey have hit with Genao saved to bat for Halpin? I don’t know. Bailey getting two hits against Wacha is admirable but doesn’t mean he is a good hitter.
They need to flush this one quickly and get after it this afternoon. Griffin needs his best performance in a Guardians uniform.
AROIND MLB:
Tigers, Rangers, Twins lost. White Sox, Astros, Blue Jays, Orioles, and Mariners won. Guardians still have a 2 game lead in the Wildcard race.
We’re under two months away from opening night, and there’s plenty of chatter surrounding the new-look Dallas Mavericks. From draft night in June to trade splashes in July to personnel moves in August, the Mavericks have had a busy summer. They’ll begin the 2026 season with a new president, new coach, and a flurry of new faces. However, one familiar face we’re ready to see on the court again is Kyrie Irving. Several trade rumors have surrounded the nine-time All-Star, but are any true? Here are three reasons why Irving will stay a Maverick this season.
Arguably the most exciting part of the upcoming season will be watching the Cooper Flagg-Kyrie Irving duo materialize. Coming into the league as an 18-year-old rookie with expectations similar to names like Victor Wembanyama, Zion Williamson, and LeBron James, Cooper Flagg had a lot to carry on his shoulders last season. Despite the heavy load, Flagg averaged 21.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, on 46.8% shooting. Among rookies, Flagg had the highest usage rate at 26.9% and played more minutes than any rookie, averaging 33.5 per game — 2,344 total for the season.
Having another on-ball threat will make a huge difference for the Mavericks. The majority of the 2025-2026 season was spent experimenting with guards like D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Williams, and Ryan Nembhard, all of whom have found different teams this summer. Adding in a bona fide star like Irving, even as he comes off an ACL injury, will take some pressure off Flagg. Before the ACL injury, Irving was having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 24.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game on 47.3% shooting. Even Irving at 70% will have a huge impact. Coming into his second season next to Irving, Flagg will be able to move more without the ball, enjoy better floor spacing, and play to his strengths. Teams won’t be able to double-team and swarm the 19-year-old as easily if Irving is on the floor too. This duo will be an exciting watch.
Currently, Dallas has 19 players listed on its roster, which will be reduced to 15 by opening night. Of those 19, only six are guards — Irving, Max Christie, Marcus Sasser, Jett Howard, John Poulakidas, and Vsevolod Ishchenko. There’s a significant drop-off after Kyrie Irving in both shooting and playmaking. The Mavericks need Irving if they want to make any noise in the Western Conference. For the first time since the pre-dynasty Golden State Warriors, the West took a step back this summer. With no incentive to lose, since the Mavericks do not own their first-round picks until 2031, Dallas is looking for a major bounce-back year.
While putting too many eggs in Irving’s basket is risky, trading him doesn’t make sense if the Mavericks want to start winning. The only way he gets moved is if the Mavericks find themselves in the midst of a disastrous season. Even then, the mentorship and skills Irving could impart to Flagg are invaluable. It would likely take an Irving trade request to get this ball rolling.
The reality of Irving currently is that for all his talent and wizardry on the court, he’s 34 and coming off an ACL tear. With that, the offers for Irving would likely be less than ideal. Until other teams see him on the court, playing like the Irving we know and love, it’s hard to imagine Dallas would get an offer it couldn’t refuse. At bare minimum, Dallas would want a high first-round pick plus a good young piece or two late first-round picks with a salary dump or something similar.
Weighing the pros vs cons, there are more pros to keeping Irving and seeing what the fit looks like before even considering trading him. If Dallas isn’t in the playoff hunt by the trade deadline in February, or if he wants out, then a new destination could be an option. But for now, it makes more sense to keep him and, at bare minimum, see if he can increase his trade value before moving him.
There will be loads of excitement to see number eleven back on the court opening night on October 21st. Plugging him into a lineup with Flagg is a recipe for basketball poetry. Irving has become the co-face of the Mavericks over the past 18 months, and his presence on the court will be felt from tipoff. Before even thinking about moving him, the Mavericks will want to see what he looks like, how he fits, and if he can bring them back into the playoff picture. Get your popcorn ready. It will be absolute cinema.
The Atlanta Braves received some unfortunate news on the pitching front Friday, as two starting pitchers will be undergoing surgery. Right-hander Hurston Waldrep will undergo Tommy John surgery, requiring him to miss all of the 2027 season. Fellow righty Spencer Schwellenbach will undergo surgery on the same elbow he fractured last year. There has not yet been a timetable for his return.
Waldrep last appeared in the majors in early July before he was optioned to the Gwinnett Stripers. Schwellenbach has yet to make his 2026 debut, and it will likely be some time before he is on the mound again.
The Atlanta pitching staff continues to take hit after hit, but hopefully all goes well on the recovery front for Waldrep and Schwelly.
The Braves kicked off the series against the Colorado Rockies with a 6-4 win.
Luis Guanipa homered for the Rome Emperors on Thursday. More in the minor league recap.
After hitting the injured list on August 17, the New York Yankees are activating lefty Max Fried today.
Cast your vote for Braves Player of the Game below.
The Dodgers aren’t sure how long Roki Sasaki will be on the injured list with his middle-finger blister, and while he’s expected to pitch in the bullpen during the postseason, they might also want him to start games in September to give the rest of the rotation rest days. Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register has more.
Combining Mark Walter’s company TWG Global releasing a statement this week saying the Dodgers are not for sale with the Atlanta Braves ace dominating the Dodgers in a 1-0 shutout on Thursday, please enjoy this headline for The Windup newsletter by Spencer Nusbaum on Friday at The Athletic.
Kiley McDaniel at ESPN this week unveiled updated ranking of MLB farm systems, based on a monetary calculation of future value of every prospect. The Dodgers come in at a virtual tie for second-best system, along with the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays:
Their outfield depth was mentioned a lot leading up to the trade, and Zyhir Hope was dealt from that surplus, but there are still eight outfielders in their top 15 prospects along with two third basemen who might end up moving to a corner outfield spot.
On the pitching side, the rise of Christian Zazueta and Zach Root make up for dealing River Ryan and seeing Jackson Ferris take a step back this season.
Dodgers minor league infielder Daniel Mielcarek on Thursday was named an Arizona Complex League All-Star at second base after the 20-year-old hit .292/.428/.525 with seven home runs, seven doubles, a 135 wRC+, 18.4-percent walk rate and 36.2-percent strikeout rate in 42 games this season. Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $400,000 in 2023, the 6’3 Mielcarek this season played 21 games at second base, 10 games at shortstop, one game apiece at third base and left field, plus nine starts as designated hitter.
Jon Becker at FanGraphs wrote about the Monday night (August 31) deadline for teams to add players who would be eligible for the postseason.
Good morning, baseball fans!
Another week of San Francisco Giants baseball comes to an end this weekend, so it’s time for us to make our picks for Player of the Week!
My pick for this week will likely come as no surprise, but it is Rafael Devers! Over his last six games, Devers has had seven hits, three home runs, six RBI, and scored seven runs. That’s a strong contender in any week! Good job Devers! Lets take a look at one of the dingers he hit in his return to Fenway Park last weekend.
Who is your pick for Player of the Week?
Today is a full day of Giants baseball, as they begin a double-header against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The first game starts at 1:05 p.m. PT, and the second game starts at 7:05 p.m. PT.
Today’s Reflections
I wanted to wax more poetic, on and on, about the enjoyment of watching four pitchers perform at their very best.
Instead, the headlines all talked about PCA’s angry reaction to a balk that wasn’t called. Turns out he was right. Quintin Berry was right. Craig Counsell was right. Even myself, from 22 rows up, was right.
From an ESPN article: “After the game, crew chief Alfonso Márquez confirmed that the balk call, which was not reviewable, was missed. We just didn’t see it,” he said. “After looking at the video, it looked like [Rodriguez] stepped off.”
Thanks, Alfonso.
Matthew Boyd nearly matched Kevin Gausman and Clay Holmes (as well as Eduardo Rodiguez) pitch-for-pitch. Except for one, the CSPSHR*. Outside of that pitch, Boyd pitched six innings, allowed two other hits, two walks and struck out five.
Boyd’s performance was plenty enough to put the Cubs on the right track for a win. But the hitters only managed two hits — PCA’s lazy double off the top of the first baseman’s glove, and a nondescript single by Tyrone Taylor — and were struck out 10 times (nine by Rodriguez). There are a number of situations where a RISP of 0-5 wouldn’t be much of an issue. But it was huge Wednesday. PCA was standing on third with one out. That’s really all I have to say.
Complimentary Starting Pitcher Solo Home Run*
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Wednesday’s Game Stories:
Assorted Pitching Stories:
Assorted Hitting Stories:
Assorted Stories:
Food For Thought:
Celebrating 30 years of his career, Big Chico is considered one of the most complete blues artists in Brazil with his excellent voice, harmonica and guitar. His recent album demonstrates the range of influences, including traditional Blues, the sophistication of Jazz and all the energy and Swing of Soul, always interpreted with great charisma and emotion. Big Chico has participated in many Blues and Jazz festivals in Brazil and the United States.
D.K. Harrell was born D’Kieran Harrell in Ruston, Louisiana in 1998. He first heard B.B. King at age two and responded by singing along. He sang in his church choir as a boy while continuing to be drawn to the blues. He received his first guitar at 12, and by 16 was writing his own songs. Initially inspired by B.B. King, the youthful Harrell spent hours studying every video of King he could find, learning not just King’s licks but ultimately his tone, his finesse, his stage craft, and his band leadership skills. Harrell’s first paying gig was as an invited guest to the B.B. King Symposium in Indianola, Mississippi—where he played The Thrill Is Gone on King’s iconic guitar, Lucille—backed by members of King’s touring band.
In 2022 Harrell won the B.B. King Of The Blues Award for Preserving Traditional Blues Heritage from the Jus’ Blues Music Foundation. In addition to B.B. King, Harrell fell under the spell of blues masters including Albert King, Freddie King, Elmore James, Muddy Waters and others, and made their styles part of his musical vocabulary. People all over the world can’t get enough of D.K. Harrell’s high-energy and always unpredictable live shows. In 2024 alone he performed across the U.S. and Canada, and toured all over the European continent.
EDIT: I saw D. K. Harrell in January and he was fantastic. The B.B.-connection is quite evident, down to the suit, the guitar almost tucked under his arm and playing it across his slightly-ample belly. But he’s more than B.B. and a fantastic artist on his own to see. As an aside, I met one of the many B.B. King’s grandsons, Christopher, at that concert — just a little plus to the night.
Please be reminded that Cub Tracks and Bleed Cubbie Blue do not necessarily endorse the content of articles, podcasts, or videos that are linked to in this series.
There are easier (and less surreal) ways to fulfill an NBA dream than the Jose Alvarado route.
Go undrafted and fight your way onto a roster. Develop a reputation as a defensive menace on the court. Spend four and a half seasons in NOLA. Get traded home to New York mid-season. Help your favorite team from childhood win their first championship in more than half a century. Then parade through the streets of the city where you grew up with a few million people screaming at you.
Alvarado sat down with SLAM during his cover shoot for KICKS 29, and the conversation naturally circled back to the improbable route that brought the Brooklyn native here.
Asked to choose one word for the Knicks’ championship run, Alvarado answered: “Believe. That’s one thing you got to do is believe the way we did it.”
That was especially true in Game Four of the Finals, when New York fell 29 points behind San Antonio and somehow dragged itself all the way back, aided by significant contributions from Alvarado. He said his focus during the comeback was simple: “It was more not really overthinking—like, what can I do to make us win the game regardless if it’s making shots or not.”
The championship would have been a massive achievement anywhere. Winning it in New York meant even more for Jose, who grew up in Brooklyn before playing at Georgia Tech and eventually joining the Pelicans.
Pondering Jose’s experience, there is always something weird about getting a desperately wanted thing. For years, the dream existed at a distance, beyond the next practice, the next contract, the doubt expressed by others about your size or talent. Then one afternoon, you’re dancing on a float in Manhattan as an NBA champion with your hometown passing by, block by block.
“I almost cried on the float because . . . obviously going through the city that I was raised . . . I know a lot of people that’s in the crowd,” Alvarado told SLAM.
That’s the part of winning a championship nobody can really prepare for, that transition point when the dream stops being something you’re chasing and becomes something that has happened to you. Sounds surreal. And not to get all Jean-Paul Sartre about it all, but it’s natural to wonder: what’s next?
The answer: Your own sneaker and a new contract with the Knicks, naturally. After declining his $4.5 million player option this summer, Alvarado agreed to a new three-year deal with the Knicks worth roughly $14.4 million, with $12 million guaranteed.
Furthermore, Jose recently signed with the streetball brand AND1 and showed off his personalized player-exclusive shoes during the SLAM shoot. The partnership makes sense. Few NBA players have built an identity more closely connected to playground basketball’s particular mixture of hustle, swagger, annoyance, and joy. Thus, the SLAM team drove Alvarado back to an outdoor New York court, a familiar environment to the 28-year-old who is currently playing for Puerto Rico in FIFA’s Basketball World Cup qualifiers.
In March, I spoke to Jose over Zoom. He was connecting from a hotel room in Utah, grinding out NBA life on the road, still getting acclimated to his new team. What struck me in the conversation was how completely disruptive a mid-season trade is on a player with a young family.
“People don’t understand,” Alvarado told me. “You think, ‘They’ve got millions,’ and don’t get me wrong, the financial security is great. But one day you’re comfortable in your forever home, and overnight you have to go to a different city, leaving your wife and kids behind.”
He explained that even a month after the trade, he hadn’t yet been able to return home to his family in New Orleans. It became clear how much these players—and their families—must sacrifice for an NBA career.
And Jose is not slowing down. Despite the ring, a new contract, and his face on a SLAM cover, Alvarado doesn’t sound particularly interested in staying comfortable.
“The only way to stay in the NBA, or to be in a conversation where I want to be, with my goal, is [I] definitely got to have a chip on my shoulder, no matter what,” he told SLAM.
That chip is mighty durable. Going undrafted didn’t remove it; making an NBA team didn’t shake it; becoming an established rotation player didn’t loosen it; and neither did coming home, getting paid, or getting to pose for glamour shots with the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Asked how he eventually wants people to remember him, Jose went right back to the beginning. “I want them to remember that there was a lot of people that said no to this kid. There was a lot of doubts . . . just remember the doubts and how I overcame all that.”
I can think of worse epitaphs for a basketball career. Congrats, Jose. Knicks in five.
Víctor Muñoz struck an 82nd-minute equaliser for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest in an entertaining Premier League draw at Anfield
The teams are out! Liverpool all in red, Forest wearing a third-choice shirt that looks awfully like a recent Manchester City number. You’ll Never Walk Alone rings out, as Liverpool principal owner John Henry and the new vice-chairman Amit Bhatia watch from the stand. We’ll be off in a minute … and that minute will see fans remember the legendary Kevin Keegan, the star of Bill Shankly’s second great team, who recently passed. The warmest applause from all four corners of the ground, a mosaic on the Kop that reads KEVIN 7, and a chant of One Kevin Keegan.
On the subject of Forest and big-money transfers … David Ornstein of the Athletic was on TNT Sports earlier, reporting the possibility of their buying 19-year-old midfield prospect Harrison Armstrong from Everton for £40m. Should that come to pass, it’ll probably result in the Hill Dickinson toppling into the Mersey, but only after the whole structure is launched a couple of miles into the air by the steam from Everton supporters’ lugs. Armstrong is extremely highly rated, but Forest have pockets full of cash after selling Elliot Anderson to Manchester City, so this one is worth keeping an eye on.
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LEHIGH VALLEY 6, SYRACUSE 4 (BOX)
Three ‘cuse pitchers, six earned runs. Only Zach Franklin, one of the Mets’ trade deadline acquisitions , didn’t allow an earned run in his time on the mound. Jose Ramos hit a solo shot and MJ Melendez drove in two in the Syracuse loss.
BINGHAMTON 5, READING 1 (BOX)
Chris Suero drove in four runs and the Bingo bullpen was perfect over six innings. Marco Vargas went 3-5 with a double and triple, along with a stolen base.
HUDSON VALLEY 5, BROOKLYN 2 (BOX)
Local boy Sammy Stafura hit a double and drew a walk in the Cyclones’ 5-2 loss. Yonatan Henriquez went three for four with two RBI, while the Brooklyn bullpen allowed two runs over four innings, striking out five and walking three.
DAYTONA 6, ST. LUCIE 5 (BOX)
Jonathan Jimenez gave up four earned runs on five hits in two and a third innings pitched, as St. Lucie dropped a close one to Tortugas. Yovanny Rodriguez provided most of the offense, driving in three, with Branny De Oleo adding a solo home run.
Marco Vargas
Jonathan Jimenez
The Winnipeg Jets are under pressure. Their Vezina-winning goaltender wants out, and he’s had enough of waiting for a trade to materialize, so he went public with the trade request. That won’t make things easier for the Jets, far from it. They won’t be trading from a position of strength, and parting with Hellebuyck could force them to either rebuild or retool. It could cause some of their top players to want out.
Take Mark Scheifele, for instance. The 33-year-old right-shot center is 33 now and must be getting eager to win. At his age, you could expect him to be declining, but in the last four seasons, he’s been on an upward trend. In 2022-23, he had 68 points. The following year, he had 72; then he went up to 87 points, and last season he reached a career high with 103 points. That’s not a guy who’s started to decline. In fact, his last two seasons were the two best campaigns of his career.
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Should the Jets decide to hit the reset button, there’s no doubt that the Montreal Canadiens would have plenty of futures to dangle in front of Kevin Cheveldayoff, but would it make sense for the Habs? It’s no secret that Montreal needs another top-six center, and Scheifele certainly fits that bill. Furthermore, he’s under contract for a very reasonable $8.5 million AAV, which wouldn’t unsettle the Habs’ salary structure and wouldn’t create friction. Not that bringing in a big earner would definitely create friction, but a reasonable contract eliminates any potential risk, no matter how small.
In a vacuum, Scheifele would be a great target for the Habs, but then there’s the small matter of the fact that he was the player who obliterated Jake Evans with a high elbow in the 2021 playoffs, sending him down to the ice unconscious. That made for very uncomfortable viewing for fans, and it could have had disastrous results for Evans’ career. Ever since then, Scheifele has been booed copiously in Montreal, understandably. Only five players remain on the Habs from those playoffs: Evans himself, Nick Suzuki, Josh Anderson, Phillip Danault and Cole Caufield. Would they be ok with acquiring Scheifele? Kent Hughes would certainly need to have that conversation with the players.
Furthermore, Hughes has said repeatedly that he won’t sign or acquire players who would prevent his young players from progressing. If the Canadiens are as high as they seem to be on Michael Hage, would it make sense to acquire a 33-year-old pivot who’s still under contract for five years? Initially, it wouldn’t be a bad thing; Hage would likely need some time to adapt to the NHL, and it’s doubtful that he will come in and be the Canadiens’ second center right away. That’s a huge step. For the first two seasons, having Scheifele would make sense, but after that? If Hage is ready to take the next step, does Scheifele accept being overtaken in the lineup? Will he react like Mike Matheson did when he was pushed down the depth chart? That’s another question Hughes needs to ponder. Would he be a good teammate if it came to that, or would that create trouble in the room? For the Canadiens, culture matters as much as talent; they would have to check whether he ticks that box.
Right now, Scheifele has a full no-move clause, which wouldn’t matter if he were to ask out of course, although that could mean he, too, would put the Jets in a precarious position by trying to pick where he’s going. From the 2027-28 season, however, he has only a modified no-trade clause, which requires him to provide a list of 10 teams he could be traded to. That’s a much bigger list than what we’ve seen players on a full no-movement clause give their team so far.
At this stage, it is all speculation, and it hinges on the Jets deciding to go ahead with a rebuild, which is far from certain. Winnipeg being the market that it is, it’s far from a given that ownership would embrace a rebuild. The Jets don’t always play in front of a packed building anymore; can they afford to bite the bullet and be bad for a while? That’s far from a given.
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