Start every morning with The Pulse in your inbox. Sign up here.
Good morning! The football siblings are fighting.
While You Were Sleeping
An early contender for Game of the Year
The defending champion Avalanche slipped by the Rangers in a shootout late last night, 3-2, in a game that had a playoff atmosphere in October. The teams combined for 90 shots on the night, and a goalie returning to New York as a foe. Deliciously entertaining stuff.
Can we have this as the Stanley Cup matchup come spring?
- Also: Klay got mad. Klay Thompson earned his first career ejection — seriously, in 796 career regular and postseason games (!) — after jawing with Devin Booker in the Warriors’ 134-105 blowout loss in Phoenix. What a spicy start to the year for the 2-2 defending NBA champs.
The Main Attraction
The football TV wars are here
NFL football is the most popular show on TV. It doesn’t need showrunners or new scripts. It wins virtually every primetime slot it occupies. Audience-wise, there’s nothing like it.
Well, there is something similar: College football. Big brother and little brother have avoided each other gracefully for years, rarely overlapping in the best interest of both parties. But football has never been more popular than it is today — and both entities want bigger pieces of cake.
Chris Vannini has a great piece up this morning detailing the incoming battle. Some boggling stats from the story:
- The NFL had 75 of the top 100 most-watched TV broadcasts last year. College football had six.
- The Olympics (11 of the top 100) were the only other sports that came close. The NBA, NHL and MLB did not place any events in the top 100.
You’ve undoubtedly noticed the NFL creep already. We’ve had Thursday games for years now, and the league added a 17th regular season game last season, as well as a bigger playoff field. It’s even adding a Black Friday — normally reserved for college football rivalries — game next season, which could cause a slight stir.
And as we discussed yesterday, the money faucet in college football is pumping… because the TV money is flowing, which comes from viewer interest. That’s how you get $100 million guaranteed coaching contracts.
The good news: We as viewers come out winners on this. More football and more choice.
Quick Pulse Poll: What are you watching on Black Friday in 2023 — college or NFL football?
Hi, My Name Is
Anfernee Simons, humble sniper
The Portland Trail Blazers are 4-0 for the first time since 1999, a surprising start to what many saw as a rebuilding year for the team that finally broke up Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum last year.
Nay. Anfernee Simons, the “awe-shucks” fifth-year guard who impressed last year, is deflating the narrative with every 3-pointer he makes. In Monday’s 135-110 rout of the Nuggets, Simons hit his first eight shots, including six straight 3s.
I love this quote from Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic after the game:
- “At one moment, I wasn’t even trying to worry about setting a screen, because I was just trying to see it,” Nurkic said. “Like, I wanted to be a part and watch. I was like,This motherf—– hot, I want to see it go in.’”
Simons (23) is averaging 19.8 points through four games this year, and the Blazers have some juice because of him.
Briefs
Griner’s sentence upheld
A Russian court denied Brittney Griner’s appeal of her nine-year prison sentence Tuesday, according to multiple reports, meaning the WNBA star can now be sent to a penal colony. The WNBA issued a strong statement of support Tuesday, saying Griner “never intended to break Russian laws” and “is very clearly a hostage.” Earlier this month, the White House said it made a “substantial offer” to exchange Russian prisoners for Griner’s release, but has not heard back.
Texas A&M freshmen suspended
Texas A&M suspended three freshman players after a “locker room incident” following the Aggies’ loss to South Carolina over the weekend, which sent A&M to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play. It hasn’t been a fun year for Jimbo Fisher & Co.
Marlins hire Schumaker
Miami is replacing departing manager Don Mattingly with rising star Skip Schumaker, who served as Cardinals bench coach this season, a source confirmed to The Athletic on Tuesday. Schumaker, 42, played 11 seasons in the majors before retiring in 2016 and entering the coaching ranks. He’ll have a big task: actually winning in Miami.
Tweet of the Day
The Bay Area was shaken by a 5.1-magnitude earthquake yesterday afternoon, just a few miles from San Jose, California. Enter this tweet from the aptly named San Jose Earthquakes, who feebly waved hi after the shakes were gone. Dark, but funny.
Hello
— San Jose Earthquakes (@SJEarthquakes) October 25, 2022
Pulse Picks
・Bookmark this one: The Athletic‘s official World Series preview. Plenty of nuggets, including why the Astros’ pitching depth could be the difference for Houston. Pulse Pick to come later — stay tuned.
・Yes, it’s officially handcuff season in fantasy football. Jake Ciely can tell you who to start in his new rankings.
・Aaron Donald and Jaylen Brown have terminated their relationships with Donda Sports following Kanye West’s recent antisemitic comments.
・Who’s making the USWNT World Cup roster? Meg Linehan and Steph Yang take a crack at it. There are some new stars to know.
・LeBron James, Kevin Durant, James Harden and other stars are investing in Mitchell & Ness as the company expands under new owner Fanatics.
・Who’s winning Coach of the Year in women’s basketball? Who’s the best transfer? The Athletic‘s women’s basketball staff makes its picks.
・Sam Amick has a great sit-down with John Wall, who was “pissed as hell” when the Rockets told him he wouldn’t play last season.
・How big is this Bailey Zappe vs. Mac Jones situation in New England? Regardless, blame the coach, writes Steve Buckley.
・Yes, The Pulse is already nerding out on a projected 2023 NFL draft order.
(Photo: Tom Horak/USA Today)
.