Wherever you look these days for sports news its difficult to miss Iowa women’s basketball great Caitlin Clark and here incredible run for the Hawkeyes. She recently became women’s basketball’s all-time leading scorer in the college ranks and has a chance to track down Pete Maravich to become college basketball’s all-time leading scorer, regardless of gender.
That got our minds running a bit here at Fighting Irish Wire – or at least got us to look up the leading scorers in the history of a few Notre Dame sports.
Goooood morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thanks so much for reading this morning. We appreciate you. I hope you’re having a fantastic week. Can y’all believe it’s still January? BRUH.
Anyway, let’s talk about the NBA’s big scoring bug. Offense seems unstoppable in the league today.
There’ve been four players in the league who’ve scored at least 70 points in a game over the last year (Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Joel Embiid and Luka Doncic). In this season alone, we’ve had two. Plus there have been two 60-point games as well (Devin Booker, Karl-Anthony Towns).
Basically, folks, there’s been a lot of bucket-getting on some historic levels recently. And the NBA seems to see this as a problem. At least, according to the thinking of one Brian Windhorst.
"The league is out of whack & I do expect there to be changes in the rules into next season that's tries to bring this back a little bit that gives the defense a little bit of more of their rights back."@WindhorstESPN on the recent offensive explosion.pic.twitter.com/NhmppC7soh
These high-scoring games are fun — it’s cool watching players run up the scoreboard by themselves like that. But, at the same time, it does feel like we’re losing control.
So, yeah, scoring is a bit over the top right now. That’s not changing — at least not this season. Teams are still fully in the pace-and-space era where the focus is on spreading the defense out and putting pressure on the rim to generate open looks from 3-point range. Almost every team in the league is good at it.
The natural resolution here, as Windhorst said, is to give the defense a bit of leeway. It doesn’t have to be anything drastic like, say, ditching the defensive three-second rule or fully bringing back hand-checking (which is what a ton of people have asked for). Maybe it’s allowing the defense to be a teeny bit more physical while also not rewarding offensive players with fouls on bare minimum contact.
We’ll see what the NBA comes up with this offseason.
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EPL back in the USA
. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
The English Premier League is coming back to the United States, folks! Well, for a few games, anyway.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are set to play in the U.S. this summer during the EPL’s preseason, Adam Crafton of The Athletic writes. t
This isn’t the first time EPL teams have been here, but it’s always a big deal when teams from arguably the biggest soccer league in the world touch down here. Here’s Crafton on the reaction from the game last year:
“The match between United and Arsenal at MetLife Stadium sold out last summer, according to event organizer AEG, while the ticket sales revenue made it the highest-grossing club soccer game at the venue since the stadium opened in 2010. Both clubs, as well as Liverpool, are majority-owned by U.S. investors, due to continuing control by the Kroenke family at Arsenal, the Glazer family at Manchester United and Fenway Sports Group at Liverpool.”
We don’t know the dates or the locations for this year’s preseason games just yet, but when we find out you can rest assured that tickets will probably sell out immediately. This league and these teams are always a major draw.
Soccer’s footprint in the United States is also increasingly growing larger. Between the EPL’s increased presence over the last year and Lionel Messi’s dominance of the MLS, excitement might be as high as it has ever been.
Let’s see where all this goes in another 10 years.
Y’all better leave Elmo alone
(AP Photo/Victoria Will, File)
All Elmo asked everyone on Twitter was how they were doing. Then everyone just decided to trauma dump on my guy! Mary Clarke has more here.
“It all started when Elmo — sweet, innocent Elmo — asked Twitter on Monday morning how things were going. And folks, the answer is not great! Whether it be overall world weariness of the general state of things in 2024 or you’re a Detroit Lions fan still reeling from the team’s NFC title game collapse, the internet at large is just not feeling too hot right now.
And you know what? I get it. It’s late January. It’s cold outside. I haven’t seen the sun in days and I could use the world’s longest nap right about now. But thanks to the internet, Elmo is now traumatized after bearing the weight of the world’s problems on his little red shoulders. Even Sesame Street‘s Twitter had to step in on Elmo’s behalf to send out a very important reminder about mental health!”
Listen, man. I get it. We all do. We’ve got some problems. But, man. I don’t think this is what Elmo was looking for, folks.
Quick hits: Kevin Garnett back in Minnesota? … WNBA Free Agency is here … and more
Another four teams scored 130 … in losses. Let’s quickly run down the scores.
— Pacers 142, Bucks 130
— Hawks 141, Thunder 138
— Jazz 154, Pistons 148 (OT)
— Cavaliers 140, Wizards 101
— Kings 138, Magic 135 (OT)
Now, look. Let me make this clear: This is not one of those “Where has all the defense gone?!” posts. I don’t think those are fair. The NBA’s defenses are as good as they’ve ever been across the league even if the numbers might not say it.
The gist is this: Teams are making 12.5 3-pointers a game on average in the 2020s. That’s more makes per game than there were in the 2010s, according to StatMuse. They’re also driving into the paint more leading to more shots at the rim and more kick-out 3-point attempts. Those are the most efficient shots in basketball and we’re seeing them constantly. That’s why scoring has continued to increase year after year after year.
I just don’t know if that’s actually a good thing? It’s not that the quality of these games are bad — they’ve actually been great and fun to watch. But these numbers just feel a little too gaudy. These scores don’t feel normal, but we’re seeing them with regularity today. And it isn’t helping with the NBA’s overall ratings problem.
I don’t know what the solution here is or, honestly, if this is even a problem. I want to know what you think.
How much is too much scoring in the NBA? Drop your answers in our poll here. I’ll share the results with you for next Monday’s newsletter.
McAfee responds
Credit: Pat McAfee Show
Remember yesterday when we told you that Pat McAfee’s latest Aaron Rodgers interview would not go unchecked? Looks like somebody made a call to the Pat McAfee show.
McAfee responded to Rodgers’ baseless claim connecting Jimmy Kimmel to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by trying to explain the situation away with an “I think he was just joking?” explanation. Of course, that’s the excuse.
“He essentially said that Rodgers was just trying to talk smack to Kimmel after Kimmel had joked about Rodgers on his late-night show. But there’s a big difference between making fun of a conspiracy theorist and accusing someone of being a pedophile.
It’s hard to imagine that ESPN will be pleased with how McAfee addressed the situation. We’ll have to see if Rodgers is back with his regular appearance next Tuesday.”
This is why it’s hard for me to believe the Pat McAfee show will work at ESPN in the long-term. It’s hilarious at times, sure. And McAfee will certainly bring the network some wins with the free-wheeling interviews he manages to grab.
But those same free-wheeling interviews are also clearly what’s going to bring a ton of trouble to the company’s doorstep. I just don’t know how long that lasts.
It’s a shame we keep having to talk about this
(Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
Hey, folks. For the 50-leventh time, when Caitlin Clark leaves Iowa she is not taking a pay cut.
That incorrect notion was made again on ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption on Wednesday when Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser were discussing the Hawkeye’s phenom.
Our Mitchell Northam did his best to shoot it down. None of this is going away for Clark. Our Mitchell Northam explains why:
“She will still be a household name with more than 825,000 followers on Instagram, and her profile could grow even more should Iowa make another Final Four run or if she competes in the Olympics this summer.
Those brands are more than likely going to stick with Clark, continue to back her and continue to reap the rewards from endorsing an athlete of her caliber. Gatorade has already committed to this, as its deal with Clark is a multi-year one. In a statement announcing a partnership with Clark, State Farm Chief Marketing Officer Kristyn Cook said, “We can’t wait to drive progress forward together with Caitlin for years to come.”
So, no, Clark – or any other women’s basketball star with national NIL deals, from Deja Kelly to Paige Bueckers – won’t be taking a pay cut. The reality is that, whenever Clark decides to enter the WNBA, she’ll be making even more money. Because Iowa isn’t paying her to play basketball. Those national endorsement deals will come with her to the pros, and she’ll combine that with a rookie salary of at least $74,000.”
We told you this back in November when it came to Angel Reese. We’re telling everyone again when it comes to Caitlin Clark. This imaginary “pay cut” does not exist.
Please, for all of the talking heads out there, stop trying to make it a thing.
Quick hits: Fireable coaches … Pro Bowl Snubs … and more
Alvin Kamara has already matched his 2022 season-long red zone production. The Saints are doing a better job utilizing one of their best players:
It’s taken longer than they may have liked, but the New Orleans Saints offense has made some improvements over last year’s performance. And one of the big steps forward is annoyingly simple: getting the ball to their best players in scoring position.
Alvin Kamara has already matched his production in the red zone from the 2022 season after just five games in 2023. Last year when the offense got inside the opposing 20-yard line, Kamara totaled 20 rushing attempts and 7 receptions (on 11 targets) for a combined 79 yards, scoring three touchdowns. That’s over the course of 15 games.
This year, through just five games after returning from suspension, Kamara has already locked 18 carries and 6 catches (6 targets) for 80 yards from scrimmage — again scoring three touchdowns. Derek Carr is throwing a better football to Kamara than he got from Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston last year, and Pete Carmichael is clearly making a greater effort to keep Kamara involved when the goal line is in sight.
Maintaining that usage will be vital. Kamara is one of the league’s greatest scoring threats; his 75 career touchdowns scored trail just Travis Kelce (76), Ezekiel Elliott (82), Tyreek Hill (84), Derrick Henry (85), Jimmy Graham (86), Mike Evans (87), and Davante Adams (90) for the eighth-most among active players. Kamara and Kelce are tied for the most successful two-point conversions (5) among their peers, too.
So while we shouldn’t hope for many more games with 12 and 13 receptions from Kamara this season (both losses), the Saints absolutely should keep calling his number when they’re in the red zone. Kamara is a dangerous matchup for any linebacker when the field shrinks (and the defense’s margin for error with it) and he’s able to attack teams as a runner or receiver and use his unique athleticism to his advantage. There isn’t anyone who maintains their balance through contact better than Kamara in the NFL, and that’s a cheat code the Saints should continue to exploit.
Blake Grupe’s last-minute field goal against the Colts meant more than just 3 points. It was the Saints’ first score in the final two minutes all season:
On its face, there wasn’t much to say about rookie kicker Blake Grupe’s late field goal try against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Sure, it was frustrating that the New Orleans offense couldn’t come away with a touchdown to pad their numbers — and it was disheartening to see the jumbo Taysom Hill-centric run package stopped for a loss of yards in the red zone on the final play.
And, yeah, it was just a chip shot from 27 yards out. But Grupe had tried field goals from even shorter distances of 26, 23, and 25 yards earlier this season; his head coach Dennis Allen has a bad habit of settling for “safe” kicks in scoring position when he could get aggressive instead, which has cost him a couple of wins.
But that’s all neither here nor there. What’s worth acknowledging is that the three points Grupe scored on that late field goal (to be exact, it was kicked with 24 seconds left in regulation) were the first points the Saints have scored all season inside the two-minute warning. That’s with the Saints rallying late in multiple games this year, ultimately coming up short.
So good on Grupe and his teammates for finally checking that off their to-do list. It’s a small thing, and to be frank, it’s something that should have happened much sooner than Week 8. But wins have been hard to come by for this Saints team as of late. We’ll take them where we can find them, and hope we don’t have to wait long for more.
We now know exactly when the Kansas City Chiefs will play their opponents during the upcoming season and it’s certainly an interesting schedule compared to prior years. With that in mind, here are some quick-hitting way-too-early game-by-game score predictions for you to consider.
Take a look at some thoughts on the Chiefs’ schedule, the games we think they’ll win, plus those we think they could lose down below:
These three aspects of their game played a role in the #49ers’ loss to the #Eagles in the NFC Championship Game
Hopes were high that first-year quarterback Brock Purdy could pull out an improbable upset to send the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl, but all his team’s best efforts fell short of the mark against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
The Eagles dominated in nearly every aspect of this game, especially when they sent Purdy to the bench with a wrist injury in the first quarter. This was one of the sloppiest games played by the 49ers this season and was characterized by their undisciplined play and penalties that came to define their effort.
Here are 3 key reasons why San Francisco saw their season end on Sunday:
All the scoring plays and highlights from the Packers’ Week 9 matchup with the Lions.
The Green Bay Packers will attempt to get back in the win column for the first time since Week 4 when Matt LaFleur’s struggling team arrives in Detroit to play the one-win Lions on Sunday at Ford Field.
Will Week 9 represent a turning point for Aaron Rodgers the Packers? Or will the struggles of the 2022 season continue appearing in a must-win game against a division opponent on a five-game losing streak?
Follow along with Packers Wire for live updates, scoring plays and highlights from the contest.
Key stats tell the story of the Tide’s 2022 success
Through the first five weeks of the college football season, the Crimson Tide are exactly where they are supposed to be, undefeated and ranked No. 1.
The Tide started the season a little slow with a scare in Austin, Texas, but since then they have found their rhythm. Alabama is off to a fast 2-0 start in the SEC outscoring Arkansas and Vanderbilt by a combined 104-29. However, Texas A&M comes to town this weekend for arguably the most anticipated matchup of the season.
While the solid start is great, Alabama now enters the most daunting stretch of their season with ranked Tennessee, LSU and Mississippi State on the horizon.
Leslie Grabeman is taking names and keeping score. And no woman does it better. Actually, no other woman does it, period.
Don’t be alarmed, guys, but Leslie Grabeman is taking names and keeping score.
And no woman does it better. Actually, no other woman does it, period.
Grabeman has followed a path from amateur golfer to Muirfield Village Golf Club intern to becoming the first and only PGA Tour female scoring official, with even bigger things to come. If plans hold, she will become the first woman to work as a rules official on Tour.
But first, Grabeman has a score to settle, er, make that scores. Working about 35 Tour events a year, including this week’s Memorial Tournament, she verifies each player’s scorecard at the end of every round. Her duties increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, including sometimes announcing players’ names on the first tee, but mostly she serves as scoring official/sounding board/amateur psychologist.
“You have to be able to read the room,” she said last week while working the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas. “You have to have thick skin and know that if they’re mad about how the course played, it’s not directed at you. It’s their livelihood, so you remember that. You listen a lot.”
The scoring tent, which typically is four solid walls tucked somewhere inside the clubhouse or media center, is the first place players can let off steam away from fans and TV cameras (although sometimes TV follows the top finishers inside the scoring sanctuary). Finally able to let loose after a bad round, players enter the scoring area ready to vent or celebrate.
When she first began her current position 1½ years ago — she has held several other Tour jobs the past six years, including helping run the ShotLink system that tracks every shot of every player — some players unaccustomed to seeing a woman in the scoring room were careful to mutter obscenities under their breath.
Over time, the guys have become more comfortable around Grabeman, treating her like one of the boys. Big of them, eh? The Tour is as male-dominated as it gets. It took 52 years before the Tour hired a woman to verify scores. But give credit where due. The testosterone-heavy Tour is trying to diversify.
Gary Young, vice president of Tour rules, competitions and administration, sees something in Grabeman that transcends gender.
“Her knowledge of the game and experience as a player (at Springboro High School, the University of Minnesota and then Memphis) have provided her with a good feel for the game,” said Young, whose plan is to continue moving Grabeman up the ladder. “It is my hope that Leslie will continue on her path toward becoming the first female rules official on the PGA Tour.”
If that happens, Grabeman can expect to step into even tougher situations than she faces now. Scorers pass the stickiest issues up the line. For example, when 2020 Memorial winner Jon Rahm was penalized two strokes during the final round — his ball moved when he soled his wedge in the rough at No. 16 — the Tour’s tournament director took command of the situation, informing Rahm of the penalty.
“Once the facts have been decided … we’re almost a bystander at that point,” Grabeman said.
Rules officials sometimes get berated on camera — Bryson DeChambeau publicly took one to task at the Memorial last year — and face pressure not to cave to player arguments.
But Grabeman is no pushover.
“I’m not afraid to ask (players) about their cards if there is a potential issue,” she said. “That’s called helping them out.”
And sometimes they need it. One absent-minded mistake can get a player disqualified. In 1968, Roberto De Vicenzo infamously signed an incorrect scorecard that cost him a chance to win the Masters in a playoff.
Grabeman, whose brother, Kevin, played golf at Ohio State, grew up golfing, but burned out on the game and became disillusioned after playing under a series of coaches in college. Not until a family friend put her in touch with a Tour connection and she landed a job with the Tour at its Jacksonville, Florida, headquarters did her love for the game rekindle. But instead of marking her own scorecard, she checked everyone else’s.
“You have to be accurate (when scoring), because so much is riding on the results,” said Larry Dornisch, the head pro at Muirfield Village who brought Grabeman into the pro shop as an intern in 2010-2011. “When she worked over here with us, you knew she had a bright future. She’s efficient, a problem solver and initiated things that could make us better. And she has a great sense of humor.”
Those attributes are not gender specific, of course, which Grabeman proves every time she checks a scorecard. She is smart, kind and willing to listen to golfers at their best and worst. It all adds up to being the right woman for the job.
