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Open Thread: How the Spurs heading back to the NBA Finals is still sinking in

OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 30: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs hoist the The Oscar Robertson Trophy with his teammates after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game Seven of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 30, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 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 Joshua Gateley/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It’s 10:59 p.m. Just about 24 hours since the final buzzer went off and the Spurs were crowned Western Conference Champions. Just under 24 hours ago Victor Wembanyama hoisted his WCF MVP trophy proclaiming this is just the first of many. Just under 24 hours since I sat in postgame press conferences and heard Mitch Johnson praise Luke Kornet’s block. Victor Wembanyama shared an emotional desire to talk to Pop. Both Dylan Harper and Julian Champagnie were wide-eyed, barely able to contain their excitement about playing their first NBA Finals in New York, the city where their love of basketball bloomed. And just before the night ended (at least ended at Paycom Arena), De’Aaron Fox gave a shout out to the NBA fans.

I was up for at least two hours talking about the Knicks/Spurs match up. My traveling companions were all taking in the Spurs victory, the team we’ve been writing about, many of us for years now. We discussed how the Knicks has a heavy duty line up. The physicality of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson is going to be a challenge for Victor Wembanyama. We predicted how Stephon Castle will match up against Jalen Brunson. And we started planning trips to New York.

I spent most of today driving back from Oklahoma City. Got in just in time to cook dinner, read to the kid, and visit with my wife. And here I sit now, still taking in the reality that the San Antonio Spurs are heading to the 2026 NBA Finals.

I grew up in San Antonio and have been a lifelong Spurs fan. I, like many of you, remember seeing games at HemisFair Arena. Even more of us experienced the Spurs play at the Alamodome, that huge blue curtain cutting a football stadium in half to house the city’s lone major sports franchise. And still more have possibly visited the SBC Center, AT&T Center, or Frost Bank Center. They’re all the same arena adjacent to the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum, but the name has changed over the years.

I remember summers, watching the playoffs while home from college. Back then we had to get a pay-per-view box to watch blacked out Spurs games. (If you don’t know, ask your dad.) David Robinson was the star, but for a brief sliver of time while Dennis Rodman was on the team, his colorful hair and even more colorful personality pulled focus. The experiment didn’t work. Pretty soon the faces everyone associated with the Spurs were Robinson, Sean Elliott, and Avery Johnson. Not surprising they are the fourth, fifth, and sixth jerseys retired by the organization.

I left San Antonio after college and lived outside Texas until 2013, the year my daughter was born. So much of the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili Big Three Era took place while I was away. Since returning I have become a full-blown fan again. I even got my Midwestern wife on board. My daughter has embraced her fandom as well. Attending games has become part of our family’s tradition. 2014 was the perfect season to reignite my interest in basketball. I watched every single game of 2013-2014, soaking it up as the Spurs fought their way toward their fifth NBA title. I was hooked. My obsession with the hometown heroes eventually progressed until an outlet became available to me — Pounding the Rock. Nearly nine years and three-thousand articles later, I just received an email telling me where and when to pick up my NBA credentials for the Finals. Honestly, that is still sinking in for me. Not just that the Spurs are going to the Finals, but that I get to participate in the moment.

Over the next two weeks, I’ll be arriving early, staying late, packing, unpacking, flying, writing, rinsing and repeating. There is so much going on and it is all coming so quickly. I’m elated beyond words. Excited to be coving the team that has made such an imprint on me. Thrilled to share the experience, to write about the Finals.

How is this shaping up for you? Has it truly sunk in that the San Antonio Spurs are about to play in the NBA Finals? The team is looking to earn their sixth NBA title. For most of these young players, this postseason has been full of firsts. They have been labeled “inexperienced.” But each time some pundit counts them out, they rise to the moment and persevere. Time after time, they continue to prove they are ready.

Welcome to the NBA Finals, and Go Spurs Go!

“Four more to win.”

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NHL Playoffs: 2026 Stanley Cup Final prediction

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 17: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes faces off against Jack Eichel #9 of the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period at Lenovo Center on January 17, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images

The stage is set for the 2026 Stanley Cup now that only Vegas and Carolina remain.

The Hurricanes bulled into the final by dropping Montreal in five games in the Eastern Conference Final. Carolina spotted the Canadiens the first game following a 12-day layoff in between series. Once the Canes got back in with the program, it was just a matter of time until they folded up the Habs based on the domination. Goalie Jakub Dobes put up a heck of a fight to keep some of the games close, by the end there was nothing more he could do to stop the mismatch from ending in a one-sided result.

On the other side of the bracket out west, the process wasn’t as one-sided but the results were perhaps even more shocking for the Golden Knights to sweep away the regular season champ Colorado Avalanche. Vegas won one-goal contests in Games 1-3 (until late empty net goals sealed the deal) and then jumped up 2-0 in Game 4 and held onto win 2-1. Game 3 was probably their finest moment, erasing a 3-0 deficit and coming back to score five unanswered goals to shock Colorado all the way out of it. (In a way, the Avs conference final appearance mirrored the Penguins in ‘13 against the Bruins. A couple close games didn’t go their way, then before they knew what happened the hole got so deep there was no way out).

Three different models see this ultimately this matchup with the exact same result on a 56-44 split in favor of the Hurricanes. It’s hard to argue against the 12-1 path they’ve cut through the Eastern Conference. The gambling market is in close step with that analysis, the Knights at +130 to win is an implied probability of 43.5% (Carolina’s line of -155 is at 60%. That math doesn’t add up to 100%, because no matter what happens the house always wins).

That sounds like a good baseline to think about when trying to predict or analyze this one. Both teams obviously have reason to be confident heading into the final round of the playoffs, either is capable of winning four more games if the next few days/weeks go the right way. The Hurricanes are probably a marginally stronger side on paper, with home ice advantage to boot. Games, of course, won’t be decided on paper so they’ll play them to see what happens.

One area to watch – and potentially challenge previous results – will be what happens with the power play for Vegas. The Golden Knights have a 23.6% power play (2nd best in the playoffs for teams that won a round). That’s going to have to be a difference-maker and will have quite the challenge. Carolina has the penalty kill working to the tune of four goals allowed this playoff on 53 chances (92.5%) and beyond that are yielding 4v5 expected goal rates per 60 in the 3.7-4.2 range in their first three series. By contrast, the Vegas power play has 8.71 actual goals/60 on the power play this playoff to show the stark difference of this strength-on-strength area.

That will put an onus on Mitch Marner (seven power play points this playoff) and Jack Eichel (6 PPP) to create something that can hit the back of the net to throw the games off schedule for what Carolina has been doing this spring. The stars have to shine bright at this time of year, and with how stingy the Hurricanes have been that will be a huge telling point for just how much of a chance the slight underdogs have to make noise.

Both teams have been excellent late when they have a lead, Carolina is 7-0 in the playoffs when leading going into the second intermission, Vegas is 8-0. The Hurricanes have scored first in a shocking 11 out of their 13 games, and are 10-1 when they do take that first lead. The first goal has been important for Vegas, they’re 7-1 in playoff games when they strike first, but still an impressive 5-3 when they trail 1-0.

That too could be a crucial piece of information; the Hurricanes aren’t used to giving up goals while shorthanded and they’re not used to falling behind. Vegas has more experience in terms of dealing with adversity to get to this point, starting with the fact they only won 39 regular season games, had a late coaching change and have had to be in a clawing/survival type of mode for quite a while.

The question becomes is Carolina able to perform so well that they don’t even have to figure out how to deal with falling behind in a game or series? Or can Vegas take advantage of planting some seeds of doubts and putting the Canes in an unaccustomed tough spot?

We’ll shake up the ball a little and say that the Hurricanes won’t cruise to the championship, though there’s a decent possibility that they will. All of their lines are clicking, including the impressive second line of Logan Stankoven, Taylor Hall and Jackson Blake that’s helped push Nik Ehlers into the ‘Phil Kessel type of ’third’ liner’ territory. Carolina is built to suppress their opponents, the missing piece for them has seemingly been found to get enough production to make it count. That means we’ll say that Jordan Staal gets a successful trip back to the SCF, his first since being with the Penguins in 2009.

Prediction: Carolina in 6

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DitD & Open Post – 6/1/26: Middle Ground Edition

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 02: Simon Nemec #17 of the New Jersey Devils reacts during the third period against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on April 02, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 7-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links

Is there a case to be made for keeping Dougie Hamilton? “He may not be at his pinnacle anymore, but he is a high-end blueliner nonetheless, and, if given the deployment he has had throughout his career, he should be a 50+ point-getter despite the possibility of him playing on the second power-play unit. Sunny Mehta and the Devils sure seem headed to make the right call in keeping No. 7 around.” [Infernal Access]

“In what is conventionally regarded as a weak free agent class, there are three names in particular that the Devils should be keen on if they’re looking to add a third-pair caliber puck-mover in the stead of one of Hamilton or Nemec.” [Devils’ Advocates]

Marty talks here about Claude Lemieux:

Stan Fischler remembers Claude Lemieux: “If there ever was a New Jersey Devil who deserved the nickname ‘Mister Clutch’ it was Claude Lemieux.” [Devils NHL]

On the Simon Nemec situation: “Perhaps the middle-ground solution would be a cheaper bridge deal, projected at a $4.5 million AAV over two years. You could then try trading Hamilton and elevate Nemec into a surefire top-four opportunity and see what he’s got. On the other hand, if the Devils don’t believe he’ll reach his long-term ceiling (especially defensively), there’s strong merit to the idea of leveraging Nemec as a trade chip while his stock around the league is still high to land the high-end, top-six forward the club needs.” [The Athletic ($)]

Hockey Links

A nightmare Stanley Cup Final if you ask me:

Previewing the Stanley Cup Final matchup between the Hurricanes and Golden Knights: [The Athletic ($)] [Daily Faceoff] [NHL.com]

Lenni Hämeenaho and Finland take gold over Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Switzerland:

“Any time a team falls short of expectations, the finger-pointing will inevitably start, and usually that begins with the head coach. Jared Bednar is the second-longest tenured coach in the National Hockey League and guided the Avs to a Cup just a few years ago, but some are wondering if the team needs a new voice after this spring’s disappointment.” [Sportsnet]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

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Canadiens Have Big Question Marks On Defense, Starting With Xhekaj

While the Montreal Canadiens’ defense was much better than last season, it is still plagued by a few big question marks. Kaiden Guhle playing Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Final despite being obviously injured was just the latest evidence that Martin St-Louis doesn’t really trust Arber Xhekaj. The fact that Lane Hutson played the entirety of the playoffs on his off-side is further proof that the Canadiens still need a right-shot defenseman, even if it’s only a depth one. There’s also the fact that neither Xhekaj nor Jayden Struble can establish themselves as regulars, which is also a concern.

Xhekaj is the only defenseman who needs a new contract for this upcoming season; he’s an RFA with arbitration rights. His qualifying offer stands at 1.3 million, and there’s no doubt that the Canadiens will qualify him. However, it’s far from certain that he will still be in Montreal when the next season starts.

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While the gritty defenseman brings a physical element his teammates can't, St-Louis has shown time and again that he doesn’t really like that side of play, and that even if Xhekaj has adapted to the coach’s preferred style, the bench boss doesn’t really trust him. In his last game, number 72 spent less than two minutes on the ice. On a Stanley Cup-winning team, no defenseman spends so little time on the ice. It’s not sustainable for the other five defensemen to shoulder an increased workload because the coach essentially only trusts them.

If the coach isn’t going to use him, it may be tempting for Kent Hughes to use him in a deal to fill another organizational need. Despite not playing that much, there is little doubt that there would be interest in him on the market; his toughness would be attractive to many teams.

The Canadiens also need a right-shot defenseman. While Hutson has proven that he can play on his off-side if needed, that’s not putting him in the best position to succeed. It would make sense for the Habs to get another right-shot defenseman. Of course, they do have David Reinbacher in their system, but the fifth overall pick at the 2023 draft has been dealing with so many injuries that his development has been affected. Will he be ready to make the jump in the NHL this coming season? It remains to be seen.

While prospect Bryce Pickford has been dominant in the WHL this year, it doesn’t guarantee that his game could eventually translate to the NHL. We’ll get a better idea of what he can really do when he plays in the AHL in 2026-27.

There are also some question marks around Guhle. The defenseman has had a roller-coaster season, with just as many highs and lows. When he’s at his best, he’s a great part of the team, but consistency is an issue. Furthermore, he’s also often injured, and it’s hard to build a team around a piece that will only be there part-time. If the Canadiens do decide to hang on to the defensive defenseman, they have to plan for safe backup options. A seventh defenseman who won’t be a liability on the ice and will be able to shoulder the load when the Albertan is sidelined. Adam Engstrom is knocking on the door, but he doesn’t have the physicality Guhle has.

The Canadiens’ defense is far from a finished product, and it will be interesting to see how Hughes navigates the situation this offseason.

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Islanders & NHL Playoff News: McKee hired for AHL, Canes-Knights set

Remember that guy…and THAT guy! | Getty Images

It’s June! It must be Stanley Cup Final season. That’ll kick off tomorrow with the Hurricanes and Knights. And check back later this morning for the latest Islanders Anxiety podcast, with Sean Cuthbert joining Dan and Mike.

Islanders News

  • The Islanders named former NHL defenseman and successful OHL coach Jay McKee to lead their AHL affiliate in Hamilton. [Isles]
  • And at the NHL level, Pete DeBoer feels “ahead of the curve” for next season since he was able to join and see the team before the end of this past season. [Isles]
  • The latest Weird Islanders podcast covered a murderer’s row of mostly forgotten, short-time goalies. [LHH]
  • Reviewing the many Long Island-roots NHL players from this season and playoffs. [News]

Elsewhere

  • Rod Brind’Amour demands a consistent brand of Hurricanes berserker hockey and he’s fortunate to have dressing room leaders who make sure new players follow along. [NHL]
  • Mitch Marner is enjoying hockey life. [NHL]
  • And after his “low point” in Buffalo, Jack Eichel is feeling grateful for a shot at a second Cup just a few months after getting an Olympic gold. [NHL]
  • Frederik Andersen, one of Claude Lemieux’s first clients once he became an agent, reflected on the ice after advancing to the finals 48 hours after Lemieux’s death. [Post]
  • At the Worlds, Canada missed out on bronze by losing to…Norway? [Sportsnet]
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Pirates sweep Twins and drop some social media bragging

May 26, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

It’s a been a while since the Pittsburgh Pirates have had bragging rights over just about anyone, but that has changed this year, as the Bucs are currently rolling along with a 32-28 record and have moved into third place in the NL Central following a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins over the weekend.

The Pirates scored 25 runs in the three games against the Twins, with Sunday’s 9-3 victory also showing another good outing from Braxton Ashcraft. There were also dingers from Ryan O’Hearn, his 8th of the year, plus the first homer of the year from Nick Gonzales, with both guys hovering near .300 batting, with Gonzo and .308 and O’Hearn now at .294.

Bryan Reynolds, Jake Mangum and Spencer Horwitz all had their moments in the Twins series, as the Bucs lineup is pretty much dangerous from top to bottom, outside of when Henry Davis is playing, and even he got in on the act on Sunday, with 2 RBIs, while Horwitz is now hitting .289 and is looking like a smart pick up from GM Ben Cherington.

Oh, and the Bucs dropped a little social media bragging rights on Twins as well, posting this after Sunday’s sweep.

Of course, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the Bucs, as rookie phenom Konnor Griffin was just put on the 10-day IL. He has a forearm strain, but the Pirates don’t expect that he’ll be out long. After a slow start, Griffin has been coming into his own, now hitting .270 on the season with 4 homers and 22 RBIs.

There’s also the Carmen Mlodzinski drama right now in which he was moved to bullpen to make room for Jared Jones and responded by telling the team he would not be ready to pitch out of the bullpen. Ben Cherington then placed him on the Restricted List. The restricted list rule says:

“The restricted list is for players who are under contract but unable to play due to unexcused, personal or non-baseball reasons. There’s no limit to how long a player can stay on the restricted list, but he isn’t paid and doesn’t earn service time.”

So I guess we’ll see what happens next, but Jaiman will have some analysis and commentary on the Carmen situation tomorrow, so we’ll wait to hear from him about some more. We may have some additional clarity by tomorrow as well.

The Bucs are off tonight but will return to action tomorrow as the head to Houston to take on the Astros. That’s an 8:10PM series game to kick off the game.

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Coaching great John Kear dies day after covering Challenge Cup final for BBC

  • Led two sides to Challenge Cup glory in long career

  • ‘He was a true rugby league man through and through’

John Kear, the rugby league broadcaster and former Challenge Cup-winning coach, has died at the age of 71. The Rugby Football League announced that Kear died on Sunday on his return from covering Wigan’s Challenge Cup victory at Wembley for the BBC.

Kear led nine clubs in a coaching career lasting more than 700 matches, masterminding the shock Challenge Cup win for Sheffield Eagles in 1998 and then steering Hull FC to Challenge Cup glory in 2005.

Continue reading...
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On this date in Penguins history: Conor Sheary’s OT goal in the Cup Final

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 01: Conor Sheary #43 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal to defeat the San Jose Sharks 2-1 during overtime in Game Two of the 2016 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Consol Energy Center on June 1, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Ten years ago today, Conor Sheary scored an overtime goal to give the Pittsburgh Penguins a 2-0 lead in the 2016 Stanley Cup Final.

Pittsburgh was riding high heading into Game 2 of the Cup Final, having beaten the Sharks in a Game 1 thriller and were looking to defend their home ice and head to California with a 2-0 series lead.

The HBK Line of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel teamed up for the game’s opening goal in the second period after a scoreless opening frame.

The Penguins held onto their 1-0 lead as time started ticking away into the third period but with less than 5 minutes remaining in the game, Justin Braun struck for San Jose, ultimately sending the game to overtime.

The overtime period didn’t last all that long however, as Sidney Crosby won an offensive zone faceoff and Kris Letang, almost seemingly catching him off guard, got a pass to Conor Sheary, who took advantage of a screened Martin Jones to pick the corner of the net.

Just like that, it was a 2-0 series lead for Pittsburgh, putting San Jose on the back foot and heading home to California facing a tall task.

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When will the hot stove start cooking?

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 29: Fernando Cruz #63 of the New York Yankees reacts after the Yankees turned a double play to end the seventh inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on May 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images

June is here, and with it a summer filled with baseball is about to start. The Yankees are in the thick of a division race that promises to go down to the wire as always, sitting 1.5 games behind the Rays but a comfortable 7.5 games ahead of the rest of Toronto, Boston, and Baltimore. Their record against the AL East hasn’t looked too promising, losing a series and splitting another with Tampa while splitting their lone meeting with the Jays, though they’ve swept Boston in their singular matchup and gone 5-2 against Baltimore thus far.

Sitting 13 games above .500 entering the month is a solid start, but if you’ve been following them day-to-day you’d know that the Yankees have ridden some high highs and some low lows already. It’s a microcosm of the roster that’s delivered their record, with a couple of elite bats trying to pull up a few deadweights in the lineup and a rotation that’s been otherworldly doing their best to keep the ball out of the hands of their shaky bullpen. Consistency is the key to getting back on top for this team, but they’ll likely need to make some tweaks to find it. Luckily, we’re now approaching that time of year where the trade deadline starts weighing on everyone’s minds — and we might even see a couple of moves pop up on the radar.

The question is just how long can the Yankees wait for the market to develop itself. They’re in desperate need of a bullpen remodeling, something that will likely require several trades to address, and they also are looking for a right-handed catching option with the potential for further additions to the lineup should the right opportunity line itself up. We’ve started to see some separation from the pack with a few truly bad AL teams claiming the bottom of the standings, so there are potential sellers now in view, but holding out for the best package is going to incentivize teams to wait it out and let the pressure of the deadline force other teams’ hands. The first offer is rarely going to be good enough to pry a solid reliever away, even if in the grand scheme of things he isn’t going to bring back a king’s ransom.

There’s no doubt that the stove will be lit and pots will be getting stirred in July, but will we see any rumors start to swirl in June? And if we do, could we see any closer to the start or middle of the month? It’d be unconventional, but not totally unheard of — just last year we saw a wildly early trade for the season involving an at-the-time superstar in Rafael Devers (this season may have shifted the narrative on him, but there’s still time for his contract to not be totally underwater). I’m willing to go out on a limb and predict that we’ll see Brian Cashman swing something before the calendar turns again, but I don’t think there’s anything cooking now to warrant an imminent deal.

We’ve got a loaded schedule in store for you today to get through the off-day on the field. Peter leads off with the next poll on Brian Cashman’s approval rating after the team’s performance in May, and then Kevin covers the Rivalry Roundup with the Rays keeping pace slightly ahead of New York. Jonathan has a double-feature, first giving Bud Metheny his flowers on his birthday before starting off our division check-ins with the AL Central, followed by John looking at the AL West and Sam the NL West. Finally, I’ll be back late in the day to open up the mailbag for the next round of questions.

Today’s Matchup

Off-day

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Oldest and newest stadiums in MLB: When every active ballpark opened

Major League Baseball's 30 stadiums each have their own charms and for good reason, Wrigley Field (1912) and Fenway Park (1914) remain the home ballparks for marquee franchises.

But after the pre-World War I stadiums, baseball's third-oldest venue is nearly 50 years older, Dodger Stadium, which opened in 1962. On the other end of the spectrum, the Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field is MLB's newest stadium, which opened in 2020. The Atlanta Braves' Truist Park is the only other MLB stadium that has opened in the past decade, welcoming fans in Cobb County since 2017.

There was a major boon after Baltimore's Camden Yards began a retro-classic trend in 1992, with 12 new ballparks opening between 1994 and 2004.

MLB STADIUMS: Baseball's biggest and smallest ballparks, ranked by cpacity

What does the future look like for new MLB stadiums? The next opening will be in Las Vegas, welcoming the formerly-Oakland Athletics to their new home. Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Rays may finally get their long-discussed new ballpark.

Here's a look at when every MLB stadium opened:

Oldest stadiums in MLB

  • Fenway Park – 1912 (Red Sox)
  • Wrigley Field – 1914 (Cubs)
  • Dodger Stadium – 1962 (Dodgers)
  • Angel Stadium – 1966 (Angels)
  • Kauffman Stadium – 1973 (Royals)
  • Rogers Centre – 1989 (Blue Jays)
  • Tropicana Field – 1990 (Rays)
  • Rate Field – 1991 (White Sox)
  • Orioles Park at Camden Yards – 1992 (Orioles)
  • Progressive Field – 1994 (Guardians)
  • Coors Field – 1995 (Rockies)
  • Chase Field – 1998 (Diamondbacks)
  • T-Mobile Park – 1999 (Mariners)
  • Daikin Park – 2000 (Astros)
  • Comerica Park – 2000 (Tigers)
  • Oracle Park – 2000 (Giants)
  • Sutter Health Park – 2000 (Athletics' home ballpark until team moves to Las Vegas)
  • American Family Field – 2001 (Brewers)
  • PNC Park – 2001 (Pirates)
  • Great American Ball Park – 2003 (Reds)
  • Citizens Bank Park – 2004 (Phillies)
  • Petco Park – 2004 (Padres)
  • Busch Stadium – 2006 (Cardinals)
  • Nationals Park – 2008 (Nationals)
  • Citi Field – 2009 (Mets)
  • Yankee Stadium – 2009 (Yankees)
  • Target Field – 2010 (Twins)
  • LoanDepot Park – 2012 (Marlins)
  • Truist Park – 2017 (Braves)
  • Globe Life Field – 2020 (Rangers)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oldest stadiums in MLB: See when every baseball ballpark opened

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CelticsBlog exit interview: Max Shulga is good at everything, but not great at anything

BOSTON, MA - APRIL 12: Max Shulga #44 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at TD Garden on April 12, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. 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 Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Max Shulga’s season is tricky to give a definitive grade. He spent the vast bulk of the season with Maine and appeared in just 11 NBA games, playing a minuscule 3.3 minutes per outing. The 6-4 Ukranian guard was selected with pick number 57 by Boston and signed a two-way contract with the Maine Celtics.

Boston Celtics fans outside of Maine probably saw Shulga play the most in the Summer League last year. Shulga appeared in all five games for the Summer Celtics in Vegas; he had 5 points, a smidge under 5 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 21 minutes per game. With Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman on the team, Shulga deferred a fair bit, playing fairly conservatively, but should get a bigger opportunity this summer.

His debut Maine season was solid. He erupted for 35 points and 9 assists in Maine’s game at Iowa on Feb. 7, 2026. He showed versatility to score from behind the arc and get into lane and drive pass defenders to score with either hand. His shooting splits were just passable with 43% from the field and 73% from the line, and he will need to clear up the turnovers (3.2 per game) if he wants to find an NBA home long term.

Oct 8, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Boston Celtics guard Max Shulga (44) dribbles as Memphis Grizzlies forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (18) defends during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images | Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Max is a fairly shifty combo guard but lacks elite NBA-level quickness. Max is not an elite athlete either, nor the greatest ball handler to run point, so this is where things get tricky.

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Unlikely Blue Jays star Ernie Clement's love affair with Toronto fans grows

BALTIMORE – Ernie Clement doesn’t want to let anybody down.

Perhaps that quality dogged him early in his baseball career, when he tried and failed to establish himself with the Cleveland Guardians and Oakland Athletics. And minus a top-line skill that will pry open a window and keep it open – such as the promise of consistent power, or blazing speed, or savant-like defensive ability – Clement found professional appreciation elusive.

And that makes what’s happening now in Toronto even more remarkable.

Such as Blue Jays fans lining up more than three hours ahead of gametime to snag a giveaway hockey jersey bearing Clement’s name and No. 22. Or a group of rabid supporters who learned of Clement’s penchant for walking from his residence to Rogers Centre and timed it up to stroll alongside him to work.

Or the notion that he’s beloved on two shores of Lake Ontario – within the circular confines of Rogers Centre and the gorgeous city surrounding it, along with Monroe County, New York, which presented him the key to the municipality after one of Rochester’s favorite sons became an international baseball hero.

Ernie Clement set an MLB record with 30 hits in the 2025 postseason.

It can be a lot, even for a 30-year-old who sweated out years in the minors to gain this opportunity. So Clement takes none of it for granted, even as he continues establishing himself as a star player – and a Toronto icon.

“I feel the love. It’s much appreciated and I hope I’m reciprocating it enough,” Clement tells USA TODAY Sports. “Because I love my time there. It feels more and more like home every time I go there and stay there.

“I have so much fun in the city. It’s so much fun playing in front of those fans.”

And as this season lurches toward the halfway point, it’s clear this is no fleeting love affair.

Clement has followed up his record-setting 30-hit 2025 postseason by leading the American League in both hits and doubles. He’s the hardest man to strike out in the AL, fanning just 8.2% of the time, and has played a key role in keeping the defending pennant winners afloat in a season ravaged by injury.

These Blue Jays are now 29-31, lurking in third place in the AL East. For now, it’s a near repeat of their 2025 arc, when they started 31-29, got healthy, won 94 games and the division and rode it all the way to Game 7 of the World Series.

The ride stopped there, coming as close to a championship as the two or so feet Clement’s ninth-inning fly ball needed to clear the wall in left center field with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Dodgers’ Andy Pages leaped to gather it in, the prelude to an 11-inning heartbreaking defeat.

After a tearful night, the club scattered for the winter, many decamping to their offseason homes in sunnier, baseball-friendly climes.

Clement went out for Buffalo wings.

Have a day, Ernie Clement

It’s roughly 150 miles from Rochester to Toronto, even less than that as the Canadian geese might fly across Lake Ontario. So it was a strange bit of serendipity that Clement’s career would wind up so close to home, even if his hometown might lean more Yankees than Blue Jays.

The Buffalo Bills are the tie that binds, and that’s how Clement ended up in the Pittsford Pub less than 24 hours after baseball heartbreak, watching the Bills-Chiefs game, sans entourage.

Clement has surely grown to appreciate Toronto’s cosmopolitan flair, and the chance to get a world-class meal from virtually any cuisine.

But still.

“I will say, there’s no wings like the Buffalo spots, the Rochester spots,” he says.

Indeed, Clement stays true to his hometown. Three weeks after the World Series, there he was, making an appearance on behalf of the Rochester Red Wings to promote small business Saturday and goose ticket sales for the Class AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

It was also declared Ernie Clement Day in Monroe County, complete with key.

Campy stuff, to be sure, all of it buttressing the notion that Clement’s a regular cat, a vibe that only accentuates his connection with Jays fans.

Yet looks can be deceiving.

Clement is also a scratch golfer, an accomplished hockey player, and can hoop a little.

“Just one of those guys who’s a sneaky-freak athlete,” says Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman. “You might walk by him on the street and think he’s not a guy who plays in the big leagues, let alone leads the American League in hits.

“That’s really cool.”

The fans agree. They gravitated strongly toward a group of Blue Jays casually known as the “roommates” – Clement and utilityman Davis Schneider, and former first baseman Spencer Horwitz among them.

Soon, Clement integrated his Rogers Centre walk into his daily routine, which often includes a stop for an iced cold brew. Sometimes he’ll drive, too, if only to maintain an anonymity that’s increasingly shrinking.

'I proved that I belong'

There’s no plaque for being the least-famous player on a world-class team.

Yet that was the spot Clement found himself in this spring, when, coming off his 30-hit postseason, Team USA manager Mark DeRosa determined he had to have Clement for his World Baseball Classic roster.

Suddenly, Clement was a formerly itinerant player surrounded by MVPs, his 6-foot frame dwarfed by the likes of Paul Skenes and Aaron Judge, his pedigree admittedly falling short of stars like Bryce Harper and Alex Bregman.

Clement saw it as both challenge and opportunity.

It was a startling bit of company to keep, the ability to absorb best practices from some of the greatest players on the globe. And on the flip side, Clement – who got on base in three of seven plate appearances and scored three runs in four games – saw it as a chance for affirmation.

“Those are the best players in the world and there’s a reason behind it – they work their tails off. I was really fortunate to be around them,” he says. “I proved that I belong. That I can fit in with guys like that, with the best players in the world. I can help any team win. I feel like anytime I got in there, I helped that team win.

“That’s my mindset every single day here. Every time I step on that field, I just want to help us win.”

The Blue Jays certainly believe so. The club lost Bo Bichette to free agency, a key hole in both their lineup and defensive alignment. While Clement has settled in at second base, he regularly plays shortstop against left-handed starters, has played eight games at third and even 15 games at first base in 2025.

“He puts his ego aside – if he even has an ego,” says closer Louis Varland. “He’s willing to do whatever it is for the team as long as the team wins.

“He’s that kind of guy, which is the best ever.”

Ernie Clement, All-Star?

There’s one more honorific awaiting Clement, an appropriate coda to a year that saw him crowned a postseason hero, a WBC rep and Monroe County king for a day.

Clement leads all primary AL second basemen in average (.300), OPS (.771), slugging and wRC+ (113). His first trip to the All-Star Game would seem to be in order, particularly with a Blue Jays fan base clicking his name however many times their Rogers 5G Internet will allow.

It’s the next logical step for a player maximizing his window.

“As a guy who has been DFA’d,” says Gausman, “I feel like I have a different appreciation for it. There aren’t many guys who get that many second chances, especially as a position player, unfortunately.

“He’s a guy that really, from the day he came over, everybody knew the talent he had. His unique ability to not strike out. But you’ve seen him get more comfortable, more confident. Success comes with that.

“But he’s turned himself into such a complete player.”

Clement has essentially grown up with this Blue Jays team, allowed runway by manager John Schneider to produce 3.3 WAR in their 88-loss 2024 season, and then turning into a 30-hit monster in the 2025 postseason.

As success came, so, too, did a certain freedom.

“Ever since I’ve been here, they haven’t tried to change who I am and the kind of hitter I am. They let me be me,” says Clement. “Schneids and all the hitting coaches I’ve had here have helped me lean into my strengths.

“I show up to the field every day trying to prove the manager right.”

He also has a few thousand Torontonians backing him up on a given day.

When the Blue Jays distributed 15,000 Clement No. 22 hockey sweaters for an April game, the line stretched away from Rogers Centre and well into the city. (Why a club that consistently draws 40,000 fans would distribute just 15,000 souvenir giveaways is another question).

The sweaters are now going for $235 to $360 on eBay, an unscientific yet telling measure for the fanbase’s adulation.

“The city has been great to me,” says Clement. “I’m lucky to be there.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ernie Clement's star rises for Blue Jays after record-setting playoffs

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Trophy decals are coming back to NBA Finals courts. Why did they ever leave?

Trophy decals are coming back to NBA Finals courts. Why did they ever leave? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

The NBA Finals are the biggest stage in basketball, and now the championship series will once again have courts that fit the occasion.

After decades of on-court decals, the NBA had a brief stint where a massive decal of the Larry O’Brien Trophy would sit beneath the home team’s logo at midcourt for Finals games. It served as a glaring reminder of what’s at stake in the Finals and helped the games stand out from other playoff matchups.

For the first time since 2009, the trophy decals will return to the court for the 2026 Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs.

Here’s what to know about the history of the Finals decals:

When did the NBA start using on-court decals for the NBA Finals?

The NBA created individual logos for the Finals each year starting in 1986. The original template was in place for 10 years before the league updated the design in 1996. There have been several interactions since, and the NBA brought back a version of the iconic, scripted Finals font in 2022.

As for decals, the 1989 Finals between the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers was the first to feature the finals wordmark on the court. The NBA kept that tradition in place through 2004.

When did the NBA Finals have trophy logo at halfcourt?

The 2005 NBA Finals between the Spurs and Detroit Pistons were the first to feature giant Larry O’Brien Trophy decals at halfcourt.

The league brought the decals back for the next four Finals, but they were last used in 2009 when the Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic.

Lakers Magic 2009
Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers and Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic go after the tipoff to start Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals on June 14, 2009, at Amway Arena in Orlando, Florida. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

What did the NBA do once it removed trophy decals at the Finals?

The NBA used smaller on-court decals of the Finals logo from 2010 to 2014.

Court changes mostly disappeared after that. The Cavaliers incorporated the trophy with two on-court decals during the 2017 NBA Finals. The 2020 NBA Finals also had a special halfcourt logo in the Orlando bubble when the Lakers beat the Miami Heat.

Cavs 2017
Zaza Pachulia of the Golden State Warriors and Tristan Thompson of the Cleveland Cavaliers go up for the opening tipoff in Game 3 of the 2017 NBA Finals on June 7, 2017, at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland. (Darren Carroll/NBAE via Getty Images)
Heat 2020
Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat and Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers go up for the opening tipoff during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Oct. 9, 2020, in Orlando at AdventHealth Arena. (David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

There were no decals of any kind during the 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 NBA Finals, except for those superimposed for TV viewers. 

Game 5
Dallas Mavericks center Daniel Gafford and Boston Celtics center Al Horford jump for the opening tipoff in the first quarter during Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports)

Why did the NBA remove decals during the playoffs?

Player safety was the biggest factor when it came to removing on-court decals.

The NBA followed in the footsteps of the NCAA, which decided to remove decals and stickers from its courts in 2012 and mandated that all courts be “of a consistent surface.”

“There were a lot of considerations taken into account in making this decision, including player safety,” an NBA spokesman told The Cauldron in 2014. “We decided to remove the playoffs logo from the court for a variety of reasons, including cleaning up the playing surface.”

Will there be a halfcourt trophy logo for the 2026 NBA Finals?

The league brought halfcourt trophy logos back in 2023-24, but it wasn’t for the NBA Finals.

The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament featured unique courts for all 30 teams. The courts all had various colors, a colorful stripe down the middle from baseline to baseline and a decal of the NBA Cup at midcourt.

The league also had a special blue-and-red court for the In-Season Tournament semifinals and championship game, which were held in Las Vegas.

LeBron IST
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers stands on the court during the game against the Indiana Pacers during the In-Season Tournament Championship game on December 9, 2023, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. (Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

The league did not, however, change its stance on courts for the 2024 NBA Finals. While the 2024-25 NBA In-Season Tournament also had unique courts for all 30 teams, the 2025 Finals did not have on-court trophy decals, either.

Paycom Center
A general overall interior shoot of the arena for the 2025 NBA Finals on June 4, 2025, at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. (Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)

This year’s Finals decals will be painted at midcourt at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and Madison Square Garden in New York City.

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MLB power rankings: Former record-setting loser White Sox continue stunning rise

It is June, and the Chicago White Sox are a game out of first place. Is this really happening?

The franchise that lost 121 games just two years ago, that lost 102 games last season, just finished a month in which it won 18 of 28 games and capped it by sweeping the American League Central's overwhelming favorite, sending the Detroit Tigers further to a summer of irrelevance.

Yes, things are a little upside down, and the White Sox's climb seven spots to No. 9 in USA TODAY Sports' power rankings reflects that.

MLB EXPANSION? One owner thinks adding teams is 'stupid'

They rallied to beat the Tigers thanks in part to Colson Montgomery's 15th home run, his 36th since the 2025 All-Star break; only Kyle Schwarber has more. They'll get a look at Schwarber this weekend when they travel to Philadelphia, with a three-game set at Minnesota before then.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Atlanta Braves (-)

  • Sixty games in and still on a 108-win pace.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers (-)

  • Top prospect Josue De Paula on a 20-for-37 tear at Class AA; will he figure into '26 plans?

3. Tampa Bay Rays (-)

  • Shane McClanahan almost all the way back: 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA in May.

4. New York Yankees (-)

  • Can Anthony Volpe sustain his production and truly, fully, really reclaim the shortstop job?

5. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

  • Just a Miz-tastic May: 5-0, 0.23 ERA, franchise-record 57 strikeouts in a month.

6. Cleveland Guardians (+1)

  • Tanner Bibee first pitcher in Cleveland's 125-year history to go winless in his first 13 starts.

7. San Diego Padres (-1)

  • Affable Craig Stammen earns his first ejection ever - as player or manager.

8. St. Louis Cardinals (+1)

  • Getting swept in Milwaukee taps the breaks on this joyride just a bit.

9. Chicago White Sox (+7)

  • Roch Cholowsky's season is over, so the White Sox are truly on the clock at No. 1.

10. Chicago Cubs (-2)

  • Suddenly look like the third-best team in NL Central.

11. Pittsburgh Pirates (-1)

12. Seattle Mariners (+6)

  • And away they go?

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (-1)

  • Getting swept by Mariners not the ideal appetizer before Dodgers come to town.

14. Cincinnati Reds (-3)

  • A collective Queen City gasp as Elly De La Cruz exits with hamstring issue.

15. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)

  • Nick Castellanos makes Philly return this week.

16. Athletics (-3)

  • As it gets hotter in Yolo County, home team starting to melt just a little bit.

17. Washington Nationals (+3)

  • This over-.500 thing just might be permanent.

18. Toronto Blue Jays (-3)

  • Last thing they needed was an outfielder injured by an opposing fan.

19. Baltimore Orioles (+2)

  • Three walk-offs in six days a nice vibe shift.

20. Texas Rangers (-3)

Corey Seager set to begin rehab assignment this week.

21. Minnesota Twins (+1)

  • Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews combine to give up 15 runs in consecutive starts; Ober hits IL with elbow inflammation.

22. Houston Astros (+6)

  • Pulled within six games of .500 for first time since April 22.

23. New York Mets (+2)

  • Swept by Marlins a week ago, they return the favor. But treading water won't get them out of this quagmire.

24. Miami Marlins (-5)

  • Josh White strikes out first batter in major league debut, gives up grand slam five batters later.

25. Kansas City Royals (-1)

  • Have been swept four times since May 10.

26. Boston Red Sox (+1)

  • Jarren Duran blasted nine homers in May.

27. Detroit Tigers (-4)

  • When you go 1-5 against Angels, White Sox, does it matter when Tarik Skubal comes back?

28. San Francisco Giants (-2)

  • Rafael Devers' OPS climbs to .732.

29. Los Angeles Angels (-)

  • Jack Kochanowicz has 9.27 ERA in last five starts.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

  • Top prospect Ethan Holliday expected to miss rest of season with stress reaction in left foot.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: White Sox climb in AL Central standings with Colson Montgomery

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French Open 2026: Auger-Aliassime in action, Shnaider sinks Keys on day nine – live

Updates from Monday’s fourth-round matches
Email Daniel | Jódar and Fonseca into last eight

Potapova, having lost five games in a row, makes advantage on the Kalinskaya serve, a pair of backhands, one cross then another down the line, seizing the break to trail 4-6 1-0. Neither player is really at it here, meaning the match is there for whichever of them can stay composed.

On Chatrier, Svajda is improving, surviving to break points for lead 2-1 in set two, having lost the first 6-2. If he can attack Cobolli’s second serve and backhand, he might yet make an impression in this match.

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