This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Gooood morning, Winners! Thanks so much for tapping in with TMW today. We appreciate you spending a little time with us this morning.
Remember a few months ago when Aaron Rodgers told us the Jets needed to leave all of the “[expletive] that has nothing to do with winning” at the door going into next season? Good times, right?
That was always pretty rich coming from him — especially after last season. Did he think we forgot about those appearances on the Pat McAfee show? Or how he allowed the Jets to cut a player to make room for his return from a torn Achilles that was never happening? Talk about somebody needing to cut the BS. Can somebody please get that guy to look in the mirror?
Unfortunately for the Jets, it still doesn’t seem like he plans on taking his own advice here.
Rodgers is missing the Jets’ mandatory minicamp because of what head coach Robert Saleh called an “unexcused absence.” He’s reportedly on a trip that was planned while he was rehabbing from his Achilles tear. Saleh told us this is an “event that was very important to him” to attend. That’s all we know about it.
Honestly, we don’t need to know anything else. This isn’t something we should care about that much. It’s not a big deal to me when veterans miss minicamps. It’s usually centered around a contract holdout like what Haason Reddick, Rodgers’ new teammate, is doing. I get that. Get your money, champ.
But, folks. This is Aaron Rodgers we’re talking about. It’s not about the money — his football team is paying him $40 million annually. He’s fine.
Instead, as always, it’s the audacity.
At the end of last season, he told everyone else to get it together. In his words, the Jets needed to leave behind the BS that had “nothing to do with winning.”
Yet, here we are. The guy who told his teammates to leave out the BS and distractions at the end of last season is beginning this season by bringing BS and distractions right to their doorstep. That is objectively hilarious and the most Aaron Rodgers thing ever.
Bless your hearts, Jets fans. I don’t know how you put up with this.
Broken Aces
The Aces only lost six games throughout the entire 2023 WNBA season. On Tuesday, Minnesota handed Vegas its third consecutive loss and fifth on the season.
Las Vegas is 5-5 right now. Despite A’ja Wilson very clearly looking like the best player on the planet, the possibility of a 3-peat for the reigning WNBA champions feels less and less like a possibility as the games go by.
This team is so broken, y’all. After having the best defense in the W last season, Vegas ranks 7 out of 12 teams this season.
Every season is different. You don’t expect Vegas to be the same dominant team they were last season at all times, sure. But I certainly didn’t expect them to look this…beatable?
Part of the issue is that Chelsea Gray is still out with the leg injury she suffered in the WNBA Finals. She plans to return before the Olympic break in July, which is a great sign for Vegas. That should help.
But will she be able to fix all of Vegas’ problems? That, I don’t know.
Justice for Joey Chestnut
I didn’t think 2024 could get any weirder, but it has. Joey Chestnut is being (unofficially?) banned from Nathan’s Famous International Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating contest by Major League Eating.
As our Christian D’Andrea writes, it’s technically not a ban, but his new sponsorship with Impossible Foods is keeping him from competing.
“The reason for the alleged ban? Chestnut’s partnership with Impossible Foods, the plant-based meat replacement that made the legendary athlete spokesman for its new vegan hot dogs. Per reports, Chestnut refused to eat the classic Nathan’s offerings and instead wanted to swap in his Impossible franks instead — a trade that could create a clear imbalance between the defending champion and the rest of the field.”
I don’t know if eating Impossible hot dogs is considered a performance enhancer here, but if this is the end of the road for Chestnut after winning 16 of the last 17 contests, then, boy, is it a sad way to go out.
READ MORE: Everything we know about the Joey Chestnut controversy
Quick hits: Rest in peace, Jerry West … and more
— Jerry West has died at 86 years old. NBA players took to social media to pay tribute to the legend. Bryan Kalbrosky has their reactions.
— He truly had one of the greatest careers in the basketball world we’ll ever see. Charles Curtis listed out his accomplishments as both a Hall of Fame player and a legendary executive here.
— Here’s the story on how West became the NBA’s logo from Curtis as well.
— A 2023 College World Series team required police protection after being threatened by a bettor. Here’s Prince Grimes with more.
— The greens at the U.S. Open are so brutal. Wow. Here’s Charles again, with more.
— Paul Skenes is so good that even his opponent’s fans are cheering for him. Way to go, rook. Cory Woodroof has more.
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading today. Appreciate you. Have a fantastic Wednesday. See you tomorrow. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️