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.
Good morning, Winners. Thanks so much for reading the Morning Win today. We appreciate you giving us a bit of your time.
You ever had a homie take over your birthday party? It’s not fun.
I remember when I was a kid at one of the last birthday parties I can remember. I got Pokémon Gold version —yes, this was a really long time ago, folks.
Everything around me stopped. I just had to play this game. Immediately. So I take it out of the box and throw it into my Gameboy Color — again, this was a very long time ago.
I’m playing it. The homies at the birthday party are watching. But then I come to a standstill. For some reason, I can’t win a certain battle. It’s embarrassing. So, one of the homies offers to give it a shot. And, whaddaya know, he wins! Nice. We can finally move on to the next town.
Except it’s not me who is moving to the next town. It’s the homie.
He just … didn’t give the game back. He kept playing until it was time for him to go. And I’m just watching. Watching someone else play my game and steal my thunder in front of the whole party, which was probably like three other kids at that point. The party was no longer mine — it was the other kid’s.
That was kind of how Klay Thompson’s return to the Chase Center on Tuesday went.
The adoring Warriors fans greeted him with a standing ovation while donning signature Klay Thompson captain hats. Every time he touched the ball, there was a cheer. It sounded like a home game for the Mavericks every time he shot it.
He may not play for the Warriors anymore, but those are still his fans, too. They showed him that much. He got the welcome home he always deserved. And, for a while there, it seemed like it would be his night. He hit six threes! He even did the Steph Curry shimmy after one of them.
Then, Steph took the game from him.
The Warriors’ star closed the game with a personal 12-0 run, punctuated by an absolutely ridiculous 3-pointer over Derek Lively II. That’s just insane shot-making. He hit the Mavs with the night-night celebration and then reminded us who built the Chase Center.
Y’all can put on captain’s hats and cheer for Klay when he does well and be happy he’s back in the building again.
It might’ve been Thompson’s night, but don’t forget. It’s still all about Steph. It always will be in Golden State.
Colorado controls its own destiny
The latest College Football Playoff rankings were released on Tuesday with Oregon (1), Ohio State (2), Texas (3) and Penn State (4) rounding out the top four slots.
But that’s not the most interesting story here. Rather, it’s the position Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes (17) find themselves in.
A year ago, Sanders’ team completely floundered down the stretch after a 4-1 start. This season, after a return to the Big 12, Colorado controls its own destiny moving forward. They could win the conference!
Here’s Blake Schuster with more from his latest CFP winners and losers column:
“A week after the committee seemingly told the Big 12 it was only getting one team in the playoff, here comes the Buffaloes to challenge the narrative. Up three spots to No. 17 in this week’s rankings, Colorado controls its own destiny with remaining games against Utah, Kansas and Oklahoma State. None of those are cakewalks, but the Buffs will be favored in each matchup.
If both Colorado and BYU are undefeated heading into the Big 12 championship game, would the committee favor a one-loss conference runner-up over a two-loss SEC or Big Ten team?
Let’s hope we find get to out.”
It’s not completely surprising that the Buffs are here. This team is much better than last season and the schedule is a bit more favorable.
Potentially having this team in the playoff would be a huge win for college football. It can legitimately happen! Let’s see if the Buffs can hold up.
Stick to hoops, CC
Don’t get me wrong — Caitlin Clark is a solid golfer. She’s been spending her offseason so far golfing.
But maybe this is a sign to chill a bit on the golf! Clark nearly took out spectators at the Annika Sorenstam LPGA Pro-Am with her shot off the tee. It was mostly funny. But look at how close this was!
Caitlin Clark is so brave because after that first tee shot I would’ve just dropped up by my playing partners
pic.twitter.com/dm5koiznEY— claire rogers (@kclairerogers) November 13, 2024
Sheesh, CC. She can drop 30-foot bombs on the court at a moment’s notice. But getting the ball down the green? That’s a struggle.
El. Oh. El.
Quick hits: Russell Okung’s super late victory lap … Erik Spoelstra pulled a Chris Webber … and more
— Russell Okung waited 4 years to dunk on Bitcoin haters. Someone should let him know people stopped caring 4 years ago. Blake Schuster has more.
— Jalen Rose was all of us after Erik Spoelstra called a timeout he didn’t have. Charles Curtis has more.
— Here’s Christian D’Andrea with his weekly quarterback rankings, including Joe Burrow’s awesome play for nothing.
— Here’s Michelle Martinelli with a look at the CFP bracket if the playoff started today. Justice for Indiana.
— Robert Zeglinski makes the argument that Matt Eberflus is still the Bears’ biggest problem.
— Here’s how you can get a dozen donuts for nothing from Krispy Kreme on World Kindness Day.
That’s a wrap, folks. Thanks so much for reading. Have a fantastic day. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️