Little Havana, Miami, Florida, Young woman posing in front of little Havana mural. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Today’s Lineups
DIAMONDBACKS
MARLINS
Ketel Marte – 2B
Liam Hicks – C
Corbin Carroll – RF
Otto Lopez – SS
Gabriel Moreno – C
Kyle Stowers – DH
Nolan Arenado – 3B
Xavier Edwards – 2B
Pavin Smith – DH
Heriberto Hernandez – LF
Geraldo Perdomo – SS
Jakob Marsee – CF
Ildemaro Vargas – 1B
Christopher Morel – 1B
Ryan Waldschmidt – CF
Owen Caissie – RF
Tommy Troy – LF
Javier Sanoja – 3B
Ryne Nelson – RHP
Ryan Gusto – RHP
Quick: what’s the strongest position on the D-backs this year? It’s really not too difficult a question to get right, because your instincts are probably right. Powered largely by Corbin Carroll (all but 28 PA there, in fact) it’s right field. By bWAA – that’s bWAR above average, not replacement – the D-backs are at +1.7. That trails only the Cardinals, for whom Jordan Walker has been a revelation, batting .301 with 16 home-runs. But which position is the next highest-ranked for Arizona? Probably less obvious: it’s third-base (7th, +0.7 bWAA), courtesy mainly of Nolan Arenado’s unexpected resurrection which has seen some predict he’ll make his 9th All-Star game.
After that, despite Geraldo Perdomo’s struggles, it’s shortstop, which is the only other place at which the D-backs rank in the top ten (10th, +0.7). Ketel Marte, who hasn’t reproduced his previous form either, anchors second-base to 12th place (+0.3). At the other end, no real surprises there either. First-base is easily the worst performing spot for the Diamondbacks, ahead of just the Mets and Tigers (28th, -1.0). Left-field (-0.6) and the designated hitter spot (-0.8) are tied for next worst, Arizona ranking 25th at both places. It’s nice to see our bullpen (-0.4, 14th) is at least non-terrible, and for once our rotation (-0.9, 23rd) is worse.
What’s interesting is, the D-backs overall at at -1.1 bWAA, which is only good enough for 18th – despite being in a tie for the third NL wild-card spot, with the 11th-best record. My instinct is it’s a result of the team being “clutch” on both sides of the ball, so scoring more and conceding fewer runs than would be expected. Despite recent struggles, their OPS with RISP is still 5th-highest in the majors. Conversely, in “Late & Close” situations, the D-backs have the fifth-lowest OPS. Taylor Clarke, for example, is 5-for-42 with no extra-base hits allowed. That has likely helped them punch above their weight. But is it sustainable? That seems more doubtful.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs and Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the New York Knicks battle for position during the fourth quarter in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden on June 08, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
They say it’s not a series until the home team loses.
Well, if that’s the case, the 2026 NBA Finals might be trying to become the greatest series of all time.
Through three games, home court has meant absolutely nothing. The New York Knicks walked into San Antonio, stole Games 1 and 2 from Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. The entire New York metropolitan area found itself in a collective basketball fever dream that only happens when a 53-year championship drought starts to look less like a curse and more like an inevitability. Karl-Anthony Towns was making a real Finals MVP case, the Garden was preparing for a coronation, and every Knicks fan from Manhattan to Montauk was envisioning the ticker tape parade in the Canyon of Heroes.
Then Game 3 happened.
San Antonio walked into Madison Square Garden and returned the favor, dominating the second half, taking the air out of the building, and handing the Knicks their first loss since April 23. New York had been rolling for so long that it almost started to feel automatic, which is always when sports becomes most dangerous. The second MSG started treating destiny like a direct deposit, Victor Wembanyama showed up and reminded everyone that this series is still very much alive.
Which brings us to Game 4, the pressure cooker game.
If the Knicks win, they take a commanding 3-1 series lead and move within a single victory of their first NBA title in 53 years. One win from the Larry O’Brien Trophy. One win from Karl-Anthony Towns joining Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love as former Timberwolves greats who found championship glory after leaving Minnesota.
But if the Spurs win? If San Antonio pulls the road reverse sweep and snatches both games at MSG after dropping the first two at home? Then this series becomes something completely different. It becomes 2-2. It becomes San Antonio regaining home court, if home court advantage even exists in this series. It becomes New York watching a 2-0 Finals lead evaporate in real time, with 53 years of anxiety crawling up the walls like something out of a horror movie.
That’s the thing about ghosts. They don’t stay quiet just because you win the first two games. The Knicks are trying to exorcise a 53-year-old demon. That’s not normal pressure. That’s not “close out a second-round series” pressure. That’s not “win a big Christmas Day game” pressure. That’s the entire weight of Knicks history pressing down on one team in one building in one city that has been waiting more than half a century for this. You could almost feel the mood shift after Game 3. The same fan base that was planning parade routes now had to spend 48 hours trying not to think about what happens if the Spurs win again.
That is why Game 4 is enormous. This is the kind of game that can define a series. Win it, and the Knicks walk into Game 5 with three chances to finish the job and the entire basketball world preparing for a New York coronation. Lose it, and suddenly San Antonio has ripped away the momentum, Wembanyama has reasserted himself, and the Knicks are staring at a best-of-three series against the one player in basketball who seems genetically engineered to ruin everyone’s plans.
For Wolves fans, of course, the focus remains on Karl-Anthony Towns. Our guy.
KAT did not have his best Game 3. After making a strong Finals MVP case through the first two games, he came back to earth in New York’s first loss of the series. Nobody said matching up with Wembanyama was going to be easy. Actually, let’s go one step further: it might not be possible in any normal sense. You don’t really solve Victor Wembanyama. You bother him, drag him into different actions, force him to work, and hope that over 48 minutes you create just enough pockets of normal basketball to win. Towns did that beautifully in Games 1 and 2. He played with the poise and maturity Wolves fans spent years hoping he would consistently find in Minnesota. He was physical without being reckless. He looked like a player who understood exactly what this stage required from him.
Game 3 was a reminder that nothing about this matchup will be easy. Now Game 4 becomes his response.
That’s why this is so compelling for those of us watching from the Wolves side of the fence. We spent years living through every version of KAT. The brilliant version. The frustrating version. The misunderstood version. The version that could dominate quarters and then pick up a foul 35 feet from the basket. The version that carried a terrible franchise with grace. The version that never quite got the chance to finish the job here.
Now he gets that chance in New York, under the brightest lights in the sport, in the most famous arena in the world, with an entire city begging him to help end a drought that has lasted longer than most of its fans have been alive.
No pressure.
The Knicks need him to be better in Game 4, point blank. If New York is going to put San Antonio one nail away from the coffin, Towns has to regain the form he showed in Texas, because San Antonio is not going away. The Spurs did not win the West by accident. They did not survive the Thunder by accident. They did not march through a loaded conference just to roll over because Madison Square Garden got loud. This is a young, prideful, absurdly talented team led by a generational player.
The Knicks still have the advantage. They still lead the series. They still have the Garden behind them. They still have Towns, Jalen Brunson, and the momentum that comes with knowing they already proved they can win in San Antonio. But Game 4 is where the series either bends toward New York’s dream ending or snaps back into something much more terrifying.
The Knicks are either one win away from glory or two wins away from disaster.
So yes, tonight matters for New York, for San Antonio, for Towns, and for every Wolves fan who still feels connected to the player who gave so much of his career to Minnesota and now stands within reach of the one thing every player spends his life chasing.
The Canis Hoopus faithful will be here backing KAT, cheering him on, and hoping Game 4 becomes the night New York steadies itself, answers the punch, and moves one step closer to the promised land.
NEW YORK (AP) — Victor Wembanyama's 32-point performance in San Antonio's 115-111 win over the New York Knicks on Monday night was the most-watched NBA Finals Game 3 since 1998.
The game averaged 23.8 million viewers and peaked at 26.3 million late in the fourth quarter, according to data released by Nielsen on Wednesday. That's the largest television audience since Super Bowl 60 on Feb. 8.
The finals are averaging 19.1 million, the second most-watched since ABC and ESPN took over the broadcast in 2003. That represents a 114% increase over last year's series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers.
“NBA Finals All‑Access with The Pat McAfee Show” averaged 1.1 million on ESPN, making it the most-watched NBA alternate telecast on the network.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JUNE 03: Starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after pitching out of the sixth inning of the MLB game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on June 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Pirates have their work cut out for them on the second matchup of a three-game series against the Dodgers at PNC Park. They will face off against one of the best pitchers in the game in Shohei Ohtani, who is 6-2 with a 0.74 ERA so far this season.
Ohtani has not allowed more than two earned runs in a single game. That came on May 5 against the Houston Astros, which is also the last game he lost. Since then, he has beaten the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Colorado Rockies, and Arizona Diamondbacks in consecutive starts.
The Dodgers are 6-4 when Ohtani pitches, but have won their last four games and have only given up one whole run in all of those starts.
On the flip side, Jared Jones is making his third start of the season for the Bucks. In his 2026 debut on May 29, Jones pitched 4.1 innings and gave up five runs, but the Pirates were able to score six in a 6-5 victory at home. In his last start on June 4 against the Astros, Jones pitched five scoreless innings, giving up four hits, in a 5-1 victory. Now, he will look to remain perfect with the defending champs in town.
Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA
Broadcast: KDKA AM/FM, Sportsnet
Pitching Matchup: Shohei Ohtani (6-2, 0.74 ERA) vs. Jared Jones (1-0, 4.82 ERA)
BD community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!
SAN FRANCISCO — Willy Adames’ cold snap progressed into a minor slump with another hitless effort Tuesday night, but that wasn’t the reason he was out of the lineup the following afternoon.
Adames was “kind of fighting through some pain,” in the Giants’ 6-3 loss to the Nationals, manager Tony Vitello revealed before Wednesday’s series finale.
The Giants held shortstop Willy Adames out of the series finale Wednesday against the Nationals. Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
The issue is in the shortstop’s upper leg — “knee to hip,” per Vitello — and only cropped up sometime during the loss Tuesday. He went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts, extending his hitless streak to his past 17 at-bats over the previous four games.
“I think it affected the way he was moving a little bit,” Vitello said. “Yesterday, the read from everybody was he’s fighting through that thing.”
Adames pleaded his case to play Wednesday, Vitello said. But after consulting the training staff, the manager opted to pencil in a different name at shortstop — utilityman Casey Schmitt — for only the second time in 69 games this season.
Giants manager Tony Vitello (right) penciled in utilityman Casey Schmitt at shortstop Wednesday against the Nationals. AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Schmitt has spent most of his time lately in left field but reacquainted himself with the infield dirt by going through drills at shortstop with infield coach Ron Washington.
Jun 9, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) against the Toronto Blue Jays during the seventh inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Victor Wembanyama did his best “Cloverfield” impersonation, storming the Big Apple to send New Yorkers cowering in fear — just like the 2008 monster movie.
This “alien” led the San Antonio Spurs to a win over the New York Knicks, tightening the series heading into Game 4.
My Spurs vs. Knicks predictions like New York to push back tonight, thanks to defense, offensive execution, and a monster of its own: Karl-Anthony Towns.
Here are my best NBA picks for Wednesday, June 10.
Our best Spurs vs Knicks SGP for Game 4
SGP leg #1: Knicks moneyline
The New York Knicks’ 13-game postseason streak came to an end, but that takes pressure off the team heading into Game 4. New York no longer has to be perfect and can clean up its sloppy play, which led to the San Antonio Spurs’ strong showing on Monday.
The Knicks coughed up the ball 13 times and awarded San Antonio 21 points off turnovers, which is just what the Spurs’ transition-heavy offense wants. New York gets back to business in Game 4, controlling pace, limiting miscues and putting themselves one win away from an NBA title.
SGP leg #2: Under 216.5
The Under has been the bet in the NBA Finals for the past 20 years, coming through at a 60% clip since 2005-06.
After the Under hit in the first two games of the finals, the Over landed in Game 3, thanks in part to the Spurs getting easier looks and scoring from the foul line.
With the Knicks refocused and not handing over extra possessions, Game 4 comes in short of the total.
SGP leg #3: Karl-Anthony Towns Over 32.5 points + rebounds + assists
Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t get into rhythm in Game 3 and was passive in his offensive approach, especially compared to his overall work in the postseason.
New York needs to get KAT going early, and with San Antonio throwing smaller guards at him, expect the 7-footer to clean the offensive glass and distribute from the high post.
I have him pegged for a collective 35 PRA, while some bullish models are as high as 41+ for this combo prop.
Get Jason Logan's full breakdown of this game, including his best bet, plus the latest NBA odds, injuries, and betting trends, in his Spurs vs. Knicks predictions for Game 4.
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HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 08: Miles Mastrobuoni #2 of Italyreacts after hitting a double against Great Britain during the World baseball Classic - Pool B game at Daikin Park on March 08, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Seattle Mariners were expected to make some moves following Tuesday’s unlikely extra innings victory. They have not disappointed Wednesday afternoon, but the results are in part quite distressing. RHP Matt Brash has been placed on the 15-day injured list for pitchers with a right lat strain, retroactive to June 9th, while INF Ryan Bliss has been optioned to Triple-A Tacoma. In their places are RHP Domingo González and UTIL Miles Mastrobuoni, recalled from Triple-A Tacoma and activated from the 60-day IL respectively. To make room on the 40-man roster for Mastrobuoni’s activation, RHP Yosver Zulueta has been designated for assignment.
While it seemed likely the M’s would make a move in the bullpen, Brash returning to the injured list with the same muscle area that sidelined him at the start of May seems suboptimal. A strain is more severe than the “inflammation” he was waylaid with in May, and typically costs pitchers at least a month or two. Given this appears to be an escalation in Brash’s troubles, the M’s may err on the side of caution with their quixotic Canadian fireman.
Mastrobuoni had been out since Spring Training with an oblique injury that caused him to miss most of his time in Arizona and his chance to play significantly for the quarterfinalist Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic. He’ll replace Bliss despite Seattle’s handedness trend, and take on a pinch-running role as well situationally.
González returns to the bigs after a stretch similar to last night’s hero Nick Davila, having worked 5.2 scoreless frames over four games in mid-May but being returned to the Rainiers due to a lack of space and some askance peripherals. Inarguably, he’s been nails in Tacoma, albeit less of the strikeout-heavy monster he showed at times in previous organizations. Zulueta drew the short stick, but has struggled to separate himself in the Pacific Coast League. The groundball specialist has always been able to get away with some wildness thanks to his penchant for eliciting double play balls, but walking 16% of hitters you face while punching out just 21% is a recipe for the waiver wire.
England captain Ben Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson have been dropped from the squad for next week’s second Test against New Zealand at the Oval, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced overnight.
Outfielder Luis Robert Jr. was seen throwing the ball in the outfield at Citi Field.
Robert, who has been on the injured list since April 30 (retroactive to April 27) due to lumbar spine disc herniation, was transferred to the 60-day IL in late May.
Meanwhile, Ronny Mauricio has progressed to the baseball activities portion of his rehab, the manager said.
“He’s throwing, he’s hitting,” Mendoza said. “So he’s now at the phase where he’s doing a lot of the baseball stuff.”
Mauricio, who was seen doing some running in the outfield near Robert, landed on the IL with a right thumb fracture in early May and was expected to miss six to eight weeks.
Rotation pushback
Mendoza confirmed pushing back Nolan McLean to Friday and having Christian Scott on Thursday was just about getting the arms an extra day amid a long stretch without a day off.
“This was something that we discussed over the weekend,” the skipper said, adding it was always part of the plan. “[The pitchers] knew the plan, the Cardinals knew the plan that we were going bullpen game today, Scotty tomorrow, and then Nolan.
“Just kinda giving those guys an extra day this early in the stretch we’re about to go here.”
The stretch, which began with Tuesday night's game, sees the Mets play 22 times over 23 days, with only Friday, June 19, without a fixture during that run.
David Peterson ‘ready to go’
Peterson could see action in Wednesday’s game as the left-hander has not appeared since tossing four scoreless frames on May 31 after his move to the bullpen.
Mendoza said the time out of action had been influenced by how the schedule fell, especially with the Padres sporting a very right-handed-heavy lineup during the series in San Diego.
“There’s a good chance he pitches tonight, so, he’s ready to go,” he said, adding that Peterson had been “touching the mound and throwing aggressive side [sessions]” and they don’t see the time off as an issue.
“This is a guy that we’re gonna use because he’s important for this team,” Mendoza said.
Odds and ends
The manager had nothing new to report on Kodai Senga other than the right-hander “felt good” on Tuesday after playing catch. The starter was scheduled to play catch again on Wednesday and Mendoza said he “wouldn’t be surprised if he was pitching in a game tomorrow or the next day.”
Francisco Alvarez is back in the lineup as the DH on Wednesday, the day after making his return from the IL. Mendoza said there were “no issues” physically for the catcher after his first game back.
Tobias Myers is still working to get stretched out at Triple-A Syracuse, and is likely scheduled to throw around 35 to 40 pitches on Wednesday after throwing 1.1 innings on Sunday.
“After that, he’s probably gonna get three days [rest], and then revisit,” Mendoza said, adding the righty is “throwing the ball well, doing everything we’re asking him to do.”
KANSAS CITY, MO - JUNE 09: Texas Rangers centerfielder Evan Carter (32) is congratulated by teammates after scoring during a MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Kansas City Royals on June 09, 2026, at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Keith Gillett/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Texas Rangers lineup for June 10, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are MacKenzie Gore for the Rangers and Seth Lugo for the Royals.
We have game two of the three game series in Kansas City. After the Rangers put just three runs up on the board yesterday, Skip Schumaker has decided to put offensive catalyst Nicky Lopez back in the starting lineup. Jake Burger is getting the day off.
The lineup:
Pederson — DH
Seager — SS
Jung — 3B
Nimmo — RF
Langford — LF
Duran — 1B
Carter — CF
Higashioka — C
Lopez — 2B
6:40 p.m. Central start time. Rangers are -119 favorites.
In continuation of our draft prospect profiles, today, we’ll be looking at a 6-foot-3, two-way defenseman in Daxon Rudolph.
To start this series, we first reviewed Alberts Smits’ game, claiming he is the most NHL-ready defenseman in the draft. Following Smits was Malte Gustafsson, a physical defensive defenseman with a 6-foot-4 frame.
Rudolph has a slightly different profile from Smits and Gustafsson. Rudolph brings a bit more finesse. He is a quick thinker and moves the puck on the breakout better than almost any player in this draft. Offensively, he isn’t afraid to jump into the play on the rush or cycle.
While his offensive game receives most of the praise, he is a sturdy defender who showcased his all-around game in the WHL playoffs recently.
In the WHL this season with the Prince Albert Raiders, the 2023 WHL first overall pick scored 28 goals and 78 points in 68 games. Both categories ranked third among defensemen in the WHL, trailing Bryce Pickford and Jonas Woo, both of whom played for the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Rudolph’s regular season was outstanding, but he took his game to another level in the playoffs, as the Raiders lost in the WHL finals. Rudolph tied for the league lead in points during the post-season, recording nine goals and 27 points in 19 games.
With his track record as a first overall pick in the WHL, as well as his outstanding point production from the blueline, it feels almost odd to see him projected in some cases to fall outside the top 10, but skating deficiencies are why defenders like Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Smits, and Keaton Verhoeff have been ranked ahead of him. While there is a chance he falls outside the top 10 and past the Panthers, there’s a chance he is selected before then by a team like the Seattle Kraken or the Winnipeg Jets.
The 18-year-old Rudolph is an incredibly smart player. He sees the game well on both sides of the puck. His vision allows him to make plays in the offensive zone and break up plays in the defensive zone.
With the puck in the o-zone, Rudolph is a threat to connect on give-and-gos, slide into the play unguarded, and rifle a heavy shot. In his own end with the puck, Rudolph makes heads-up passes and uses his feet to navigate forecheckers. While the concern is that it might not translate to the NHL, at the junior level he is more than capable of making those plays with his feet.
The native of Lacombe, Alta., will make the big jump to the NCAA next season, joining the mighty University of Denver. Despite the loaded blueline, Rudolph is expected to be the leader of the backend and bring the program back to the National Championship.
Rudolph was brought out to dinner by the Panthers, suggesting that, at the very least, the organization is interested in him. If Rudolph’s skating improves, we could be one of, if not the best, defensemen in the draft. It’s a big if, but Rudolph still possesses many traits that will make him a successful NHL player.
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New York Knicks owner James Dolan broke his public silence on June 10, engaging in a war of words with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. It ended up with the planned watch party outside of Madison Square Garden for Game 4 of the NBA Finals canceled hours before tipoff.
Mamdani officially announced the cancellation the afternoon of June 10, blaming Dolan in a post on X. Dolan's Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. fired back, saying in a statement the Knicks never agreed to what the city proposed, and that the party wasn't canceled in the traditional cense, but that city restrictions would prevent it from happening.
The finger-pointing was just part of the Knicks owner's busy afternoon.
Dolan also took to WFAN's Craig Carton Show to blast Mamdani and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for what he called a "police state" around the Garden. He said getting into MSG was harder than accessing Area 51 and accused city officials of trying to kill the fan celebration.
MSG Sports, the company led by Dolan that owns the Knicks and their arena, released a statement on June 10 calling the watch party permit granted by Mamdani's New York City administration "disingenuous at best" because of conditions that included not allowing more than 1,000 spectators and forcing attendees to have a ticket to enter.
"But more important is the Mayor's plan to freeze out fans from celebrating outside Madison Square Garden," the MSG Sports statement read, "which will turn the streets around MSG into a police state."
The NYPD said June 10 that MSG's permit application only requested an event for 500 to 1,000 people. The city granted the maximum that MSG asked for.
Dolan, Mamdami spar over extra security for NBA Finals Game 4
MSG accused Mamdani and Tisch of keeping the same frozen zone security from Game 3 in place for Game 4, which the organization said was "supposedly to thwart any threats related to" the Game 3 attendance of President Donald Trump.
"We now know these restrictions were never about the President," MSG's statement read.
Dolan personally invited Trump to Game 3. Like all presidential visits to Manhattan, Trump's arrival and the associated heightened security created massive inconveniences for people in the area.
It seemed like things could get back to normal after the presidential visit.
Mamdani announced via social media on June 9 that the city had approved "a ticketed MSG watch party for Game 4."
"As we prepare to watch together, let me be clear: this is a historic, joyful moment for our city," Mamdani wrote on his X account. "We will not allow it to be disrupted by violence. Be safe, take care, and celebrate responsibly. Knicks in 5."
Watch party arrests, disturbances central to war of words
The NBA Finals Game 3 watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled due to security protocols in place for Trump's attendance at the game. But a Game 3 watch party hosted by New York City at nearby Bryant Park ended with at least eight people arrested, according to multiplereports.
The NYPD announced June 10 that the same secure zone and security fencing around Madison Square Garden for Game 3 remains in place. It encouraged fans to arrive early and leave bags at home for Game 4.
"This is not about watch parties, it's about celebrating wins," MSG Sports said in its statement. "Issues that happened at the Mayor's Bryant Park watch party (a city-run watch party) are not related to blocks around MSG nor any other previously run MSG watch party."
Madison Square Garden Sports previously referred to Mamdani and NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch as "party poopers" in a June 9 press release blasting the decision to limit the number of fans that could attend the Game 4 watch party outside the Garden.
Mamdani and Tisch have emphasized the security protocols for Game 4 near the arena are in line with other major events like New Year's Eve and July 4. Mamdani attended Game 3 and told reporters he bought a ticket in the nosebleeds to the first NBA Finals game hosted by the Knicks since 1999 for nearly $1,000.
On June 10, the Knicks ownership group noted that Oklahoma City, Boston, Denver and Toronto have each successfully had major celebrations and NBA Finals watch parties around their arenas in recent years with only minor incidents.
"If the Mayor won't allow that, can he at least give Knicks fans an honest answer of why not?" the MSG Sports statement concluded. "He can't blame it on the President. He is not coming to Game 4 and there is no reason to create a police state around The Garden."
Asked about being called "party poopers" by MSG, Mamdani talked about the importance of safety and the city's economic boom from the Knicks run. Mamdani didn't address the president's visit.
What started as a regular Little League practice in Pittsburgh turned into a memory Bryce Blewitt will likely carry for the rest of his life when Pirates ace Paul Skenes made a surprise stop at Vestal Field, home of Ingomar Franklin Park Little League.
The unplanned visit came when Skenes spotted kids practicing under the lights on his drive home and decided to pull over, join them on the field, play catch, sign autographs and spend time with players and families.
For Bryce, the night quickly became even more memorable because of one hilarious choice that made him a viral sensation.
“It’s kind of crazy that, like, I just blew up,” Bryce said in the transcript, explaining that after a friend joked earlier in the day about his forehead, he figured, “Why not get that big space signed.”
The video of the Pirates star autographing Bryce’s forehead spread widely online, helping turn a neighborhood baseball moment into a Pittsburgh feel-good story. Bryce also used the moment to ask baseball questions only a young pitcher would think to ask.
“If he had any advice for the young pitchers,” Bryce said, adding that he also asked how to recover after hitting a batter. Skenes’ answer stuck with him and was in simple Skenes delivery: “Just throw hard,” and “Just don’t hit the next batter.”
Bryce’s father, Brent, a coach of the Little League team, said what stood out most was not just that Skenes showed up, but how he treated every child there.
“To see a guy like that just step up, and I mean take his time out of his day to make a special moment for these kids,” Brent said.
“Honestly, like, I wish there were more people like Paul in the world.”
The next night at PNC Park, Skenes went back to being the ace on the hill, holding the powerful Dodgers lineup to two runs over more than six innings before the bullpen let a 12–3 game get away; a reminder that even on nights when the final score tilts the wrong direction, his arm is already one of the most feared in baseball.
For Bryce and his Ingomar Franklin Park teammates, though, the box score will never matter as much as the night before, when that same arm was just a few feet away, signing a forehead, answering questions about hitting batters and turning a regular Little League practice into a story they will tell for the rest of their lives.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
