Good Morning,
College athletics is in a spiral, and things just got interesting. Plus, the Paralympics are underway in Tokyo and the MLS All-Star Game takes center stage tonight in L.A. Only two weeks until football.
Letter Rip!
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NCAA
Power Struggle: Meet the Alliance
Photo: Justin Tafoya / Getty Images
Big Ten, Pac-12 & ACC Announce Formal ‘Alliance’ to Collaborate on Future of College Sports
The collegiate sports landscape is changing before our eyes, and another twist made headlines on Tuesday. Three of the NCAA’s Power-5 conferences — the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC — officially announced a conference alliance that’s been described as a “collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics.” What that means exactly remains to be seen, but the alliance was built to focus on NCAA governance with the SEC and Big 12 undergoing drastic changes.
How We Got Here: The NCAA’s amateur model fell on its face just a few months ago when the collegiate athletics governing body announced that student-athletes could finally earn money off their name, image and likeness. That change has brought a dramatic shift to the college sports landscape, and it left two Big 12 juggernauts — Texas and Oklahoma — bolting for the SEC where they can ultimately make more money and have more recruiting success.
Alliance in Action: This new formation of the other three Power-5 conferences is simply a show of unity. By being on the same page about the ongoing changes in college athletics, the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC are essentially aligned on the same goals while the college sports model goes through drastic changes.
In the end, it’s a vote of confidence for the NCAA. But this so-called “alliance” is nothing more labels. There has been no official document signed by any of the three conference commissioners.
Additional Storylines
Yahoo! Sports: To Combat SEC Power, Other Power Conferences Team Up
The Athletic: Big Ten, Pac-12, ACC Announce Alliance to Work Together on CFP, NCAA Governance
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PARALYMPICS
The Paralympics Takeover
Photo: NurPhoto / Getty Images
Opening Ceremony: Tokyo’s Run as Host of the World’s Top Athletes Isn’t Over Yet
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics may have come and went, but the action continues in Japan for the next two weeks with the Paralympic Games. For those unfamiliar, the Paralympics are the Games for athletes with disabilities in six main categories: amputee, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, visual impairment, spinal injuries and a category classified as “other.” But a disability doesn’t take anything away from the athletic achievements of the world’s top athletes. Competition is just as fierce. The opening ceremony is in the books. Let’s re-run the medal count!
Paralympics Schedule
August 24 — September 5
Paralympic Sports to Watch
Archery
Badminton
Cycling
Equestrian
Football
Judo
Powerlifting
Rowing
Shooting
Swimming
Table Tennis
Taekwondo
Wheelchair Basketball
Wheelchair Rugby
Wheelchair Tennis
Let the (next) Games begin!
Watch: Best Moments From the Paralympics Opening Ceremony
Additional Storylines
NY Times: Paralympics Open With Empty Stands But a Bigger Stage
Yahoo! Sports: ‘Heartbreaking’ Scene at Paralympics Ceremony as Afghanistan’s Flag Carried by Volunteer in Place of Missing Athletes
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MLS
The MLS All-Star Game Preview
Photo: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
Tonight: MLS All-Stars vs. Liga MX Stars (9:00 pm ET, FS1)
The 2021 MLS All-Star Game is finally here, and the stakes are higher than ever before. This year’s one-of-a-kind match is the first ever battle between MLS and Liga MX stars. Instead of East vs. West, it’s the U.S.-based players against their Mexican counterparts in a highly competitive showdown. The U.S. men’s national team recently beat Mexico (1-0) in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, but this is league vs. league at Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles.
Selecting the Rosters
This year’s unique spectacle features 28 MLS players selected by fans and media (13), All-Star head coach Bob Bradley (13) and MLS commissioner Don Garber (2). The top player at each position in the fan vote receives a spot in the starting nine. Seattle Sounders’ Cristian Roldan was named the captain.
MLS All-Star Roster | Liga MX Roster
The Skills Challenge
Before the 90-minute game is a flurry of skill events between various members of the MLS and Liga MX. They include: Shooting Challenge, Touch Challenge, Cross & Volley Challenge, Passing Challenge and the Crossbar Challenge. | Skills Challenge Participants
It’s an all-star showcase unlike any before, and it starts tonight. We’ll have full coverage in tomorrow’s edition.
Additional Storylines
MLS: 5 Things to Know About the 2021 MLS All-Star Game
FOX Sports: Alexi Lalas & David Mosse Breakdown the MLS All-Star Game (Video)
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THE HIGHLIGHTS
️ MLB: Yankees Win Streak Hits 11 Games
Another night, another win for the Yankees. New York’s win streak reached 11 games with a 5-4 win over the Braves on Tuesday. That’s the longest win streak for the franchise since 1985. Giancarlo Stanton and D.J. LeMahieu both went yard in the win.
WNBA: Fowles Catches Fire in Record-Setter
Minnesota’s Sylvia Fowles made WNBA history on Tuesday night with a 29-point, 20-rebound performance for the ages. The 35-year-old added four steals and three blocks to become the first player in league history with a 20-20-3-3 game as the Lynx took down the Storm (76-70).
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THE STORYLINES
With COVID-19 still raging, the NFL is mitigating risk whenever and wherever it can in 2021. That includes a strict vaccine policy and limited access to players and locker rooms for media members. (Yahoo! Sports)
Amid the arrival of Lionel Messi, PSG’s Kylian Mbappe is rumored to be on the transfer block. Real Madrid made a $188 million offer for the 22-year-old, who’s contract expires next summer. PSG immediately denied. Game on. (ESPN)
Kobe Celebrations on ‘Mamba Day’
One day after Kobe Bryant’s would-be 43rd birthday, the world continued to honor the basketball legend on Aug. 24 (8-14), also known as ‘Mamba Day.’ Let the Kobe tributes roll on… (FOX Sports)
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THE HEADLINES
Jaguars Rookie RB Travis Etienne Hits Season-Ending IR With Foot Injury
(Yahoo! Sports)
Patrick Reed Hospitalized With Pneumonia Putting FedEx Cup Playoffs in Doubt
(CBS Sports)
Atlanta Falcons Sign Former Top-10 Pick QB Josh Rosen After Backup’s Injury
(USA Today)
Diamondbacks Pitcher Caleb Smith Gets 10-Game Ban for Foreign Substance
(ESPN)
NCAA Rules J.R. Smith Eligible to Play Golf for North Carolina A&T
(SI)
Cardinals Give 39-Year-Old Yadier Molina 1-Year, $10 Million Extension
(Bleacher Report)
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