The Texas Rangers nee, the second incarnation of the Washington Senators, in their 62nd completed season (no completed season in ’94), are on the precipice of their first title, after winning games 3 and 4 at Arizona (Diamondbacks) to raise their post-season road record to a mind boggling, (10-0).
Texas scored 3 runs T3, in #3, and won the game (3-1), raising their manager Bruce Bochy’s Monday post-season record after his time with San Diego, to (6-1) (6-0) in night tilts.
It was the same score by which Bochy’s S.F. Giants won their first crown in 56 years , doing so in a Monday night #5, at Texas, in the first of 2 straight years of Rangers’ World Series losses, that one a clear, exponentially less painful one than the one a year later to St. Louis (Cards) in 7 games.
In #3 this year, Marcus Simien’s two out 1b “tuned” Nathaniel Lowe, who had 2B’d to start the Texas 3rd after Ad Garcia threw out Christian Walker, who ran through a “stop sign” and “violated” making the inning’s first out at third or beyond (b2).
This meant Bochy (check his record with the lead/”wood” in post San Diego post-season play) could still and eventually did get the “wood,” first via Simien and then it went to (3-0) Bochy “wood” when likely World Series MVP for a second time in 4 seasons (Sandy won 2 in 3 seasons, ’63 and ’65–Reggie had 2 in 5 seasons ’73 and ’77, his as would be the case, if it is Seager (still a ways to go and how about another “Tex” ease job vs AZ and Fox in #5, if not look out) with two different teams) Corey Seager smacked a 2 run home run.
Two 5 run innings for Texas in #4, a big double play keyed by Seager B8 in #3, John Gray and yes, Max Scherzer, hurling 3 shutout “inns” each in the third game, also deserve mention.
Marcus Simien, pictured above, delivered key hits ahead of Seager home runs in both #’s 3 and 4, as Texas won (3-1) and (11-7) to lead (3-1).
Remastered “Norwegian WOOD” can be heard below.
Bochy, not “The Beatles,” though he too is “Hall of Fame,” has mastered winning and in almost all cases with the “wood”/lead. Maybe I will research the #’s.
The 119th A.L./N.L. (66-52 A.L. going in, (39-39) in non Yankees’ W.S.-wonder regarding any other configurations yielding the # difference to make it even. Alas when alone, such things manifest) World Series resumes tonight with a toss up 3rd, after ‘Zona, bitterly beaten in #1, eased (9-1) in game 2.
Arizona (Diamondbacks) are now (7-3) on the road and will play a home 3rd W.S. game in a (1-1) W.S. Each is a first as in their only other W.S. “app,” they opened at home with 2 wins vs the Yankees. Two such wins were Saturday night tilts meaning they are (3-0) in Saturday World Series games.
It also will be ‘Zona’s first Monday W.S. game.
Texas (Rangers) will be in their first game 3 road World Series tilt, going in with an incredible (8-0) road record, so far in these ‘offs (that matches the Yankees ’96, also incredible (8-0) ‘offs road record, with the big difference or at least a “must be noted”–the Yankees played only 8 road ‘offs tilts and won their first crown in 18 years in that ’96 tournament) and with a (1-1) Monday W.S. record, having won #5 to lead (3-2), only to lose in 7 to the Cards in 2011 and lost to the current manager Bruce Bochy managed Giants, whose first crown in 56 years was clinched in a game 5/Monday night win at Texas. (Things end at 56.)
Speaking of Mr. Bochy, he is (5-1) in Monday ‘offs tilts (post San Diego where he was (8-16) in ‘offs games).
The wins include the aforementioned title clincher in 2010, a pair of #7 LCS wins (the 2012 #7 rout win vs the Cards on the way to a second Giants’ crown in 3 seasons and just last week (#7/ALCS)to complete an incredible all road series, which happened for just the second time in major North American sports league history, going vs the Astros for a second time in 4 years/5 seasons (’19 and 2023).
Bruce (Patty Scialfa to the New Jersey Hall, what did I miss?/do this past 3 days) won a “div” series clincher (3-1) at the Braves in 2010 and a get even home win in #2 in the aforementioned 7 game LCS win vs “St. Loo” in 2012.
I will try, hard as it is, to watch some if not all of #3 tonight.
The great Hank Bauer, who played on 7 Yankees’ title teams and managed the ’66 O’s to a 4 game sweep of then what were “My” Dodgers, is pictured above.
Mr. Bauer still holds the record for consecutive games with a hit or more with 17. In classy fashion, in one of the Busch Stadium dugouts, on either an off day or certainly before any game action at the ’85 World Series (now I violate and have fears regarding not “showing up” though it rained and ’twas also shady), Hank stated had the great Roberto Clemente been in more Series tilts he would have exceeded 17. We shall or will never know but great praise for a great player/man, Roberto Clemente.
Kitel Marte now has hit safely in 18 straight post-season tilts, a new record (someone named Jeter, Manny Ramirez hit in 17, certainly not all World Series games and as cited Bauer, all in W.S. play did same) and in fact in all 18 of his post-season tilts.
However please note 2 were in 12/8 and 1 was a 10/8 game, 6 were “div” series games and 7 were LCS, all lower levels than World Series in which Marte has hit in both thus far. His hit to go 1 for 5 in ‘Zona’s series squaring rout win in #2 was not exactly all that important.
The hit a 2r1B extended the D/Backs lead from 5-1 to 7-1 in theh top of the 8th inning. Sure I am taking from but also praising Marte but Bauer’s 17 in W.S. play is the “far, far” (cue Ronald Colman) better record.
I will not deny the regret, as I missed a tremendous game (had to be scoring, had to be excitement as this “90 vs 84 wins teams Series” has been criticized, however, this with eery reminders of #’s 4 and 5 ’01 W.S. and the 2011 #6 classic, alluded to but not detailed here in recent posts regarding Texas ‘offs history, is “off the charts” and ergo again, regrets.
It (the game 4th inning on “miss”) coincides with the fact a Zombies Concert, to which I had truly inexpensive tickets, was cancelled–the haircut yielded a quip re them “They’re not there, they’re not there. “
I of course, hope the anonymous band member who is ill and apparently recovering, continues to do so. Yet for me in a life of them, misses– the concert and game, sure it can be worse but….).
Texas tied it on Corey Seager’s (see the joke that was the 2020 World Series, with all 6 games played at the neutral, corporate named Rangers’ ballpark) 2RHR (Sewald lost at and to “Sea,” “sinning” by walking Jones up 2 to start the 9th) and won it on Ad Garcia’s opposite field, solo B11.
Start with it is the incredible third straight ‘Zona road World Series game (they are (0-4) in W.S. road games), in which they lost, despite taking 2 run leads into B9.
Thrice, opposing players Tino Martinez (his slam after a questionable ball call prolonged his at bat was the key play in current Texas manager Bruce Bochy’s lone World Series loss (he/his teams are (3-1) and give him credit as he won last night w/out his precious wood which makes any manager at least initially better), a 4 game Yankees’ sweep in ’98) in #4/’01 W.S.– Scott Brosius the next night in #5 and now Seager 22 years later hit tying 2RHR’s in eventual wins for their teams, the Yankees in ’01 and the Rangers last night.
More eery and half of 22 is ELEVEN and in 2011, in a classic, under rated #6 played 12 years to the date earlier on Thursday night October 27, the Rangers twice were 1 out if not 1 strike from their first crown.
They did not get it as both David Freese and Lance Berkman, the latter I have not seen or heard mentioned in regard to that epic tilt, which though two thirds or more Freese, is shoddy reporting, delivered beyond clutch tying hits.
Freese’s home run won it B 11, he had 21 post-season rbis, getting 2 more in #7 and more from the eery file, “Ad’s” solo gave him 22, breaking Freese’s mark, doing so with a B 11 HR, this time for Texas, 12 years to the date later.
Who knows what will happen next, however it ought to be pointed out that Arizona won that 2001 World Series. Alas “Bell,” down in a gambling hotel room, when Kim surrendered both those Yankees’ tying home runs, had ‘Zona.
A Fox hope for the W.S. to be close and the fact they are good, gives ‘Zona hope, however, I might have missed a dramatic “Setting the Series tone” opener a la Gibson’s, which I also missed, in ’88.
Alas perspective: Look up regarding Donnie Moore, Bill Buckner and Kim. Add I discussed #5/’86 ALCS with a man/”G” adjusting to having a Prosthetic leg and frankly not up for this World Series due to the matchup, not anything else. I wonder if he, unlike me, saw the classic game 1?!
Byung-Hyun Kim, pictured above yielded those two B9 game tying 2RHR’s on 2 straight nights, however, Arizona won the next 2 and their lone crown (now 3 to 1 ‘u/dogs in this bid for a second vs a Texas franchise, seeking its first) in 2001.
Again, there is far worse (look at the world!) so there will be other games (likely I will not watch) and maybe some day I will see “The Zombies.”
In the present, enjoy them perform “She’s Not There” as last night neither they or/nor? I “was there” either.
Hours from now, the 119th World Series commences in what is at this point, a projected low ratings Arizona vs Texas final round entity.
This will be the fifth post-season clash between Texas/Dallas area and Arizona.
It also is the fourth of the four ‘offs levels in which they will have met.
Dallas (Mavericks) semi’d the Phoenix Suns in ’06 and “quarter’d” them (sounds medieval and I apologize) in 2022, routing them in #7 at Phoenix.
Arizona prevailed with the Suns winning a 6 game quarter vs the Mavericks in ’05 and in an NFL wild card round game, the ‘Zona Cardinals, once located in Chicago and St. Louis defeated the Dallas Cowboys.
Earlier in this NFL season the Cardinals scored their lone win to date at home vs the Cowboys in I believe, a Fox telecast. It is Fox, for the 23rd consecutive time/season and 26th time overall, “piping” the World Series.
The game 4 indicator, (team winning game 4 winning series) is now an incredible (22-2) in Phillies’ post-season entities.
I believe the “indicator” fell to (20-6) in Dusty Baker series and (11-3) in Bruce Bochy managed series.
Back to call it Texas/Dallas vs Arizona: None of the winners in the Texas/Dallas ‘offs entities went on to win the league title.
Three were beaten by the eventual champion and all four lost in their next ‘offs entity.
In football, Arizona lost a “div” game to the Vikings. The ’05 Suns were “semi’d” by eventual champion San Antonio (Spurs).
After defeating the Suns in the aforementioned 2022 NBA “quarters,” the Mavs fell in the semis to eventual champion Golden State (Warriors).
In ’06 the Heat took the final from the Mavs.
This time it is the final so for a fourth time in 5 such the Texas/’Zona series non winner will lose to the sport champion and for the first time said winner will be champion.
At some point I will cite the 22 Phils’ post-season series (the first was the 1915 World Series when after Grover C. Alexander won in what was the Phils’ first post-season tilt, the Red Sox or Boston A.L. team, which had a pitcher named George “Babe” Ruth, won the next 4, including, by definition game 4) in which the #4 winner took the entity.
Earlier I pictured Willie “Mays” Aikens who starred in one exception, (1980 W.S.).!
George Vukovich is “here” due to his game ending home run in #4 extra/strike affected “div” series game in ’81. The Expos, however won game 5.
Again, who but me?!!!! (4 !’s for games 4).
Somewhere, maybe within an old couch I dare not throw out for fear of losing it, there is a picture of greats Teresa Wright, Gordon Parks and the good/tries hard to be factually accurate me, all of us meeting for the first and likely only time.
Parks was behind the “Shaft” movies (Wright as cited here before, was a great star) and the man who starred, made it go and epitomized “cool,” in those movies and elsewhere (Roots where he and Leslie Uggams shine) the great and also classy, Richard Roundtree died days back at age 81.
Mr. Roundtree grew up in New Rochelle and starred on one of the many legendary “New Ro” football teams (by the way, of course New Rochelle’s Ray Rice’s actions were wrong, but he is a good man who helps the unfortunate and he was “hatchet jobbed” by people such as Lupica, who ought to look up “courtesy.”)
The one time I met him I cited it and New Rochelle days. I walked away and then was informed that New Rochelle did not kindle good memories for “Richie,” as his brother had died there.
Yet Roundtree answered and talked to me with class.
Yes, Richard Roundtree was/is a truly, classy,fine actor, (I will watch my mouth!!) HUMAN BEING!
Richard Roundtree, “John Shaft” and so much more, pictured above.
The 84 win(s), N.L. 6 seed (N.L. 6’s are 2 for 2 in grabbing the N.L. title, as the Phils, vanquished by the “6” Diamondbacks, won the N.L. as such last season) Arizona Diamondbacks won their second N.L. Pennant and first since 2001, doubling the Phillies (4-2)– to “(4-3)” them in the 2023 NLCS.
Next ‘Zona, (6-2) on the road and (3-1) at home, in these ‘offs, will sojourn to Texas, to face the “5” seed, (8-0) on the road (1-3) at home (each team is (9-3) in these prostituted ‘offs, but credit due each team) in game 1 of the 2023 World Series, commencing in Texas (a first ever Texas Rangers’ World Series opener to be played at their home) Friday night.
In #7, Corbin Carroll (3 hits, 2 rbis, 2 runs) and relievers Kevin Ginkel (retired all 5 batters he faced including Trea Turner and “still no titles as with Trout and Judge,” Bryce Harper) and Paul Sewald, who worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
The last out was a Jake Cave fly out to right, the catch made in an eerily similar spot on the field (fair or foul? down the line. In another 7th/’65 World Series, Saam, who for so long did Phils’ games with no crowns or first place finishes, then retired and the Phils reeled 6 ‘offs appearances in 8 seasons (’76-’83), “Byron’d” “fair or fair” on Lou’s (Johnson) “solo,” that got L.A. and Sandy a (1-0) lead, in an eventual “pitching on TWO days rest TWO-0 Dodgers’ title clinching win) to where Castellanos (1 for 24 in the just completed LCS after a stellar performance in the division series vs Atlanta) made last year’s World Series’ final out).
Arizona won in its only other World Series appearance 7’ing the Yankees in 2001.
Corbin Carroll, (remember Clay Carroll) pictured twice with his 2 r’s and l’s, was the #7 star while Ketel Marte, (he has hit safely in all 16 post-season games, in which he has played, one shy of Derek Jeter’s record) was named NLCS MVP.
Mark Lindsay is still “kicking high” and singing such great songs as “Arizona.”
Only I: There was Mayor John V. Lindsay, benefitting greatly and getting re-elected after the long, long odds, but 100 wins, Mets won the ’69 World Series.
Already big $ if, one “Arizona’d,” and they were in “V” Lindsay’s New York City (rhyme), not long ago, however, to do so one must “take off that rainbow/shades of fear,” and really seek “that rainbow.”
Yesterday, while the Arizona Diamondbacks eased (5-1) at Philadelphia (the Phils’ first home loss in 7 tilts this post-season and first after 11 non World Series home ‘offs games wins, the last two seasons) forcing a first ever 7th game, involving the Phillies tonight, the Texas Rangers dismantled the defending champion Houston Astros (11-4), handing the ‘Stros (2 titles, 4 pennants and 7 straight LCS appearances) a second, all road team, 7 game series defeat.
That has only occurred twice in all 4 major North American sports leagues and the Astros were on the losing end both times. (Washington (Nationals) in a game 7 started by Max Scherzer, as was the case last night, won an all road 2019 World Series as “Bell,” who along with such as “The Can” and “Schtunk” will forever? “toll” vs me, cashed it).
The Rangers won their third pennant, having done so in 2010 and 2011.
They lost in both subsequent World Series, the former to the S.F. Giants, managed by their current and incredible “post San Diego days”/post-season manager, Bruce Bochy and rooted for by Bell, with home games at corporate named — Bell, with the latter being a horrible loss, in 7 games to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Adolis Garcia had a big #7 with 2 home runs and 5 runs batted (he had a record (for any p.s. series) 15 in the ALCS, while Corey Seager (see his exploits in 2020 for eventual champion L.A. (Dodgers) albeit in a “joke” season) set the tone with a T1 “solo,” as Texas scored 3 runs.
Jordan Montgomery (3-0) in these ‘offs, got the win going 2 and one third innings in relief of Scherzer, who lasted but two and two thirds (innings).
Arizona won its only other #7, scoring two runs B9 vs the to keep them from a 4th straight crown. Though Arizona vastly outplayed the Yankees it was a (3-3) series and the Yankees with their great relief pitcher Mar Rivera, 1 inning away from even rarer air than the 3 straight and 4 titles in 5 seasons places them.
Tony Womack, not Luis Gonzalez, the latter getting a misguided disproportionate amount of the glory, got the big hit “tuning” in the tying run and sending the potential World Series winning run to third.
Anyway no matter the result tonight, Texas has home advantage? (they are (8-0) on the road, but (1-3) at home in these ‘offs and I will “guess” they will play better, even well at home in the World Series.
We shall see. More updates and notes tomorrow after that #7, Phils/Diamondbacks tonight.
Adolis Garcia, pictured above, certainly “stirred” (think Reggie (Jackson) in both performance and “stirring”–of drink, why must so many?!!) and was ALCS MVP.
Last season’s World Series opponents, the defending champion, Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies, both once N.L. teams, who engaged in the classic 1980 NLCS, each take (3-2) leads back home, after each won a game 5 on the road.
On Friday, Houston made it (3-0) at Texas in this series, riding Jose Altuve’s incredibly clutch 3RHR (see Thomson’s 3RHR that yielded (5-4) Giants and literally the ’51 N.L. pennant– (Russ Hodges’ immortal “The Giants Win The Pennant!!!!-one ! for each time Russ (Hodges) said such and also one vs the Astros, T9 in #5 ’05 NLCS hit by Pujols of St, Louis, but #6 at St. Loo went vs Albert “Poo” after (it and his many, many factual mistakes surely did not – his bank account) Christopher Russo all but guaranteed the Cards would win the last 2, alas they did even manage to win one) to a (5-4) win in what has been an all road team wins series, to this point.
#6 is tonight, you would think/hope on Fox after their “pig” coverage ends, but NOOOO!!
The #4 indicator, (21-2) in previous Phils post-season series is now a decided underdog as the Phils are now 6 to 1 series “faves.”
On the two occasions the #4 indicator did not manifest (’80 World Series and ’81 strike affected “div” round) in the previous Phils’ post-season entities, the home team won the first four games and lost the fifth.
In the ’80 World Series, of course best of 7, as is this NLCS, the Phils came home and won their first ever title in game 6.
The ’81 strike effected “div” series was best of 5 and after the aforementioned home team wins in games (1-4), the then Montreal Expos won what to be their only post-season series such, with a game 5 win at Philadelphia.
Willie “Mays” Aiken, pictured above hit 2 home runs in the Royals’ game 4 win in the ’80 World Series.
However it was the Phils in 6, one of only two times the game 4 winner in a Phils’ post-season series lost that series.
It is likely to happen for a third time this year, but that is far from certain!!
The networks and even worse the baseball hierarchy won both last night, as baseball, to me all but ruined by the far too many ‘offs games, now has (2-2) and (2-1) “semis,” after Houston ripped Texas, in what has been an all road series to this point (see ’19 W.S. and ’95 NBA semis and you will, as you proceed in reading) and in the first last at bat clinching win in the 29 ‘offs games thus far (sans cable I, who once watched every inning and loved baseball, have seen almost none) ‘Zona won (2-1) vs the Phils, however, still trails (2-1), in what has been an all home NLCS to this point.
I recall the great words of my late friend Beano Cook, (though at the time while I found them humorous, I did not agree, as I still loved baseball), when asked which team he rooted for in the World Series, “the team that wins game 1 to sweep in 4 straight.”
“It”/the results was going great vs baseball and the networks, as last year there were just 9 (1 over the minimum– for those keeping score, remember keeping or Herb Score) LCS games, now there will be at least 11 (9/11 again).
There were 4 “12 to 8” round sweeps this year and only 9 (again 1 over the minimum for 4 best of 3, totally prostituted ‘offs series) games in that atrocious round last year
Certainly the biggest is the World Series, which last year went 6 games, yielding Houston its second crown and the team’s manager John “Dusty” Baker, his first managerial and non strike season title.
Let’s start with the ‘Stros, who are 25 games over .500 on the road (4-0) in these ‘offs and 5 under the break even mark at home, (1-3) in these ‘offs. They have prevailed in 8 of the 9 tilts at Texas, including the ‘offs. Their last “such” is scheduled for about 5 P.M. this afternoon.
Now to that “see,” involving a Houston team. In truly unprecedented and unbelievable fashion, the Washington Nationals won an all road 2019 World Series going (4-0) at Houston.
Add the only other ? all Texas teams semi, in any major North American sports league, the 1995 NBA Western final, in which the Houston Rockets upset the “Tonio” Spurs, winning all 3 games at San Antonio as the road team won the first 5 games, before the Rockets with the great Hakeem Olajuwon and on their way to a repeat crown, won #6 at home, to clinch the series.
The game 4 winner in a Dusty Baker involved post-season series (said winner was (8-0) in Baker series, with Dusty as a player, (2-0) in ’77 and ’78, (3-0) in strike marred ’81 and (1-0) in ’83) is (20-5) (those 8 straight wins became 11 via results in the 2000 “div,” 2002 “div” and 2002 NLCS when Baker was in his first managerial stint that with S.F. (Giants), it did not manifest in the ’02 W.S. and in both the ’03 “div” and NLCS, the latter when Florida overcame a (3-1) series deficit, eventually 6’ing the Yankees, again to repeat the fact Michael Kay said the Marlins did not belong on the same field as the Yankees after N.Y. took a (2-1) W.S. lead with a close game/#3 win).
Continuing Baker and his Reds (’00 was S.F. ’03 was the Cubs, ’12 Cincy Reds, ’15 and ’16 Washington Nationals and ’20-’23 Astros for Baker) suffered a horrible “div” series loss to current Texas manager Bruce Bochy and S.F. when the latter lost the first two at home but won all 3 at Cincy, I believe the only such occurrence to complete a baseball post-season series).
Thus– make the #4 indicator (12-3) and (20-3). With Wash it manifested in ’15 but not ’16 and with Houston it “clicked” (Larry Hagman waited for that “clicK” via drink but was great and just after I heard Patrick Duffy talk of his “also love” for another friend/working TV show partner, Suzanne Somers last Friday, sad news came that Ms. Somers, whose poster is somewhere here and likely ripped, had died too young at 76 years old one day before her birthday) in Astros’ ’20 joke playoffs “quarter”, all 3 series in ’21 and in all 3 possible instances ‘2022 ALCS, 2022 W.S. and 2023 “div” while failing to do so in the ’20 ALCS when Houston down (3-0) won games (4-6) only to lose to Tampa Bay in 7 games.
No details, but I have the “indicator” (11-2) in previous Bochy managed post-season.
What preceded is likely all accurate but there might be a mistake or two. Please let me know as I truly care about accuracy. If only so many well paid media members who seemingly do not–DID!!
No post “Remembering Piper Laurie, who died days back at age 91 (shame on me), however, I redeem citing her character’s “You’re a Roman Burt” to a character so often found on this earth, played brilliantly in that seminal film, “The Hustler,” by G.C. Scott (George C. Scott not George Scott of ’67 Red Sox vintage).
The Las Vegas Aces have joined the NHL Golden Knights as current “L.V.” champions, “barking” outright say plus 6 without starters Chelsea Gray and Kiah Stokes, an occurrence that moved “L.V.” from an original say, 1 plus point(s) underdog.
Las Vegas prevailed (70-69) at the Liberty’s Brooklyn home, joining the ’41,’49,’52 and ’56 Yankees with at Brooklyn title clinching wins. I like the WNBA but it “ain’t” anywhere near baseball back then, maybe now it is)
A’ja Wilson, pictured here the other day (it will be hard not to do so again, but we/you shall/will see) had 24 points and 16 rebounds in the clincher, while Jackie Young had 16 points and 7 assists.
L.V. coach Becky Hammon, of course doing so in the WNBA, joined Van Chancellor (first 4 years yielded titles for his Houston Comets. Per the headline “L.V.” is the first repeat WNBA champion since Michael Cooper, still shamefully not in the Basketball Hall of Fame, guided the L.A. Sparks to crowns in ’01 and ’02) and the great John Kundla (’49 and ’50 with the Minneapolis Lakers, who went on to win crowns from ’52-’54 and noting Cooper played on 5 L.A. Lakers title teams) to win basketball titles in at least their first two years as a head coach.
The Aces went (8-1) in the ‘offs, the Liberty were (6-4). In WNBA annals, all 18 teams that fell down (2-0) in best of 5 series (5 is the WNBA maximum # of games in a series) lost (0-9) in the final round.
Hail the team, hence the above picture. Wilson was great for a team shorthanded that “road clinched” a basketball crown, however, not really near Johnson (42) and Wilkes (37) when L.A. won at Philly without Kareem in the #6, 1980 title clincher.
She was great, that is for sure.
Andy B Sports 