Swimming trials in NFL stadium ‘changed the sport’ forever
Nearly 300,000 fans attended the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials as SoFi Stadium was named the home of swimming for the 2028 Olympics, writes The Sporting Tribune's Scott Agness.
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1. Swimming trials in NFL stadium ‘changed the sport’ forever
Nearly 300,000 fans attended the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials as SoFi Stadium was named the home of swimming for the 2028 Olympics, writes The Sporting Tribune's Scott Agness.
More than 1,000 U.S. swimming competitors, ranging from the age of 14 to 46, convened in Indianapolis with the same goal in mind: qualify for the Paris Olympics.
By the end of the nine-day U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis, 46 swimmers secured a coveted spot — an achievement years in the making.
This all took place inside Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts. Locals say that it’s the building that Hall of Famer Peyton Manning built — and there’s even a statue of him on the north end.
For the first time, the Olympic swimming trials were held inside a stadium. And that move was ultimately a massive success.
2. Lakers' Redick on scrutiny over lack of coaching experience: 'I don't give a ****’
The Sporting Tribune's Mark Medina writes JJ Redick doesn't care about critics who think he doesn't deserve to be the Lakers' coach.
In between interviews in which he talked to the Lakers about their coaching vacancy, JJ Redick readily admitted he spent time watching and reading commentary on why he isn’t.
“I’ve certainly heard everything,” Redick said. “It’s been a really interesting six weeks or so just in terms of being part of the engagement farming industry.”
What did that engagement farming industry produce? Plenty.
That the Lakers hired Redick only because he appeared on the “Mind the Game” podcast with LeBron James. That the Lakers actually preferred hiring Connecticut coach Dan Hurley once they realized he didn’t secure a contract extension following two consecutive NCAA title runs. That Redick is jumping into an unstable organization after fielding three different head coaches in the past five years. That Redick will become overwhelmed partly because of his of NBA head-coaching experience.
3. Noah Lyles on LeBron James-led Olympic Dream Team: ‘They gotta win’
Noah Lyles spoke out on the expectations for the U.S. Olympics men's basketball team months after sparking a global debate, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Jackson Thompson.
Noah Lyles has revealed his standard for the U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team in Paris.
With an Olympics roster led by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis, many have labeled this year’ U.S. team the second coming of “The Dream Team.”
But after Lyles sparked a worldwide debate over the validity of the NBA champions declaring themselves “world champions” last August, the American sprinter isn’t so quick to give the team that label yet.
“They gotta win, so we’ll see,” Lyles told The Sporting Tribune earlier this month at the USATF NYC Grand Prix .
Lyles’s original comments sparked the World-Champion debate in a press conference last August after sweeping the gold medals in the 100, 200 and 4×100-meter dash races at last year’s World Athletics Championships in Antwerp Belgium.
“You know what hurts me the most is that I have to watch the NBA Finals and they have ‘world champion’ on their head,” he said then. “World champion of what? The United States?
“Don’t get me wrong. I love the U.S. — at times — but that ain’t the world. That is not the world. We are the world. We have almost every country out here fighting, thriving, putting on their flag to show that they are represented. There ain’t no flags in the NBA. We gotta do more. We gotta be presented to the world.”
4. Summer of Stoke: X Games return with Ventura event
With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games taking place in July, X Games Ventura offers fans stateside a chance to watch action sports royalty up close, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Michael Silver.
After last year’s successful return to California, the stage is set again as the action sports community takes over the Pacific Coast for X Games in Ventura.
More than 130 invited athletes will converge on Ventura’s beachside soil to battle in numerous Skateboarding, BMX and Moto X disciplines.
Contests will take place over the three-day weekend (June 28-30) with live concerts, food vendors and onsite activations keeping fans entertained under the summer sun.
5. ‘Fight Night’ in Las Vegas always has meant more than just boxing
The Sporting Tribune's W.G. Ramirez was at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for a celebration of the venue's 100th card and recounts his memories of fight night in Las Vegas.
As I stood inside MGM’s Grand Garden Arena for a celebration of the venue’s 100th boxing card, I couldn’t help but think about Oct. 2, 1980, the first time I remember attending a major fight card in Las Vegas.
My grandfather had secured ringside seats for “The Last Hurrah!”
Muhammad Ali’s effort against Larry Holmes was a far cry from any hurrah, but it certainly brought tears to my eyes. Watching Ali get pummeled into retirement wasn’t what I expected at 11 years old.
Here I thought Holmes was a nice guy for signing my autograph book before he ever even won a championship belt — he signed it “the future champ, Larry Holmes” — and I just watched him bring an end to “The Greatest.”
I also didn’t know it would be one of many fight nights I’d enjoy in Las Vegas, including what was supposed to be Holmes’ swan song nearly 15 years later (April 8, 1995), when he was tattered by Oliver McCall for the WBC World Heavyweight belt.
6. Masvidal looking forward to his rematch with Diaz
The summer blockbuster is scheduled for July 6 in Anaheim, CA, featuring a Nate Diaz vs. Jorge Masvidal rematch in a boxing ring, writes The Sporting Tribune’s Fredo Cervantes.
The highly anticipated fight between Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal, has been moved to the Honda Center in Anaheim. The 10-round light heavyweight showdown will take place on July 6 and will be available on Fanmio PPV.
Masvidal spoke with The Sporting Tribune before the big event. He talked about growing up in Miami, reflecting on their first encounter at Madison Square Garden and sharing his thoughts ahead of the main event against Diaz at the Honda Center.
In 2019, Diaz and Masvidal clashed for the inaugural BMF championship at UFC 244 in the UFC’s Octagon. The high-stakes battle concluded with an unsatisfactory doctor’s stoppage due to a cut over Diaz’s eye, granting Masvidal the victory.
7. Video of the Day
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8. Ticket Time
Here are the “get in” prices for tickets if you’re thinking about going to a game today:
1:07 p.m. – Athletics at Angels – $3
3:00 p.m. – Ecuador vs. Jamaica (Copa America-Las Vegas) – $62
6:00 p.m. – Mexico vs. Venezuela (Copa America-Los Angeles) – $221
9. On the Air
Here are the game times and television channels for professional teams in the region today:
1:07 p.m. – Athletics at Angels – Bally Sports West
3:00 p.m. – Ecuador vs. Jamaica (Copa America-Las Vegas) – FS1
5:10 p.m. – Dodgers at White Sox – SportsNet LA
6:00 p.m. – Mexico vs. Venezuela (Copa America-Los Angeles) – FS1
10. The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune
Listen to The Arash Markazi Show presented by The Sporting Tribune on The Mightier 1090 ESPN Radio in Southern California, 98.5 The Bet in Las Vegas and the Hawaii Sports Radio Network 95.1 FM and 760 AM in Hawaii. You can also listen to the show on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Play and Stitcher. You can also watch every Friday on BLEAV on FuboTV.
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