The ESPN Daily: A boxing bout that’s extremely personal, Houston’s backcourt plan, and NFL stats that’ll shock you
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Not your average World Series team … The Nationals enter Game 3 with a very real chance to bring a baseball championship to Washington, D.C., for the first time since 1924. But how did they get here — especially considering their early-season slump? On today’s episode of the ESPN Daily podcast, baseball insider Tim Kurkjian joins host Mina Kimes to explore the Nats’ journey, how they handled the departure of their star Bryce Harper, their midseason turnaround and a little thing called “Baby Shark.” You can listen to the full episode right here.
This feels personal … When it comes to a boxing match, it’s not always personal. Fighting is a job, after all, and the other person you’re punching is just a particularly oppositional coworker. But what if they’re almost family? Joet Gonzalez already had motivation for this weekend’s bout against Shakur Stevenson — if he wins, he’ll be able to buy his family a house. But in a twist out of a movie, Stevenson also happens to be dating Gonzalez’s estranged sister. So yes: it’s personal. Read more
“Just figure it out” The above headline is roughly Houston’s plan for its new James Harden-Russell Westbrook backcourt duo, which pairs two of the most ball-dominant players in basketball. Of course, there’s far more to it than that, but right now the hope is that the longtime friends will be too tight — and too talented — to fail. Here’s an inside look at the challenges the new-look Rockets will face this season. Read more
It turned the first CFP race upside down … Ohio State vs. Wisconsin looked like a bad matchup for the Buckeyes — they’d be handing Cardale Jones his first collegiate start, after all, and they were already longshots to make the inaugural College Football Playoff. Then, the unthinkable: a 59-0 dismantling that some former Wisconsin players have chosen to block from their memories. Here’s an inside look at the blowout that shocked everyone and rocked the Playoff before it had even started. Read more
Stats that’ll shock you … Blind-item comparisons are always fun, because if you get them wrong, they reveal interesting assumptions you’ve made about your sports knowledge, and if you get them right, you feel super smart. Bill Barnwell has collected 14 of the most interesting ones in the NFL this season … including some revelations about the state of the Patriots that will blow your mind. Read More
Issues even Steph can’t fix … The Warriors may be a legitimately good team this season, but they likely will not be the juggernaut they once were. Even though they’ve still got Steph Curry at the height of his power, he can’t do everything — and with an injured Klay Thompson, an absent Kevin Durant, and a bevy of new faces, it’s not clear the team can solve those problems. Read More
Nick Saban goes on a rant after being asked if freshman QB Taulia Tagovailoa will play vs. Arkansas, then promptly leaves the press conference.
“After it happened, [Mahomes] thought he could go back in. That’s how he’s wired. He’s wired a little different that way. … He attacks everything. That’s how he goes about it. He’s been full steam ahead.”
— Andy Reid, on how Patrick Mahomes reacted to his injury Read more
On this date in 1986, the ball went under Bill Buckner’s glove during Game 6 of the World Series. The Red Sox blew their chance to come back in Game 7, and they’d have to wait until 2004 to break the Curse of the Bambino. Watch
Astros at Nationals (8:07 p.m. ET, Fox): Time is rapidly running out for the Astros to get back in this World Series — and now that the series is moving to Washington, it’ll be even more difficult. Houston will look to Zack Greinke to save them from an 0-3 hole, and Washington will put Anibal Sanchez on the mound.
Mavericks at Pelicans (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Luka Doncic wants to make the playoffs … and after a 34-point performance in a Game 1 win against the Wizards, it’s hard to argue with him. He and the Mavericks will take on the Zion-less Pelicans in New Orleans Friday night.
Jazz at Lakers (10:35 p.m. ET, ESPN): LeBron, AD, and the Lakers go for win No. 1 at home against the Jazz, who started off their season with a win against the Thunder and a sweet double-double from Donovan Mitchell.
USC at Colorado (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2): USC followed a close loss against No. 9 Notre Dame with a blowout win over Arizona. The Trojans will be facing a Colorado squad that is on a three-game skid ever since its upset of Arizona State.
UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Askren (Saturday, 8 a.m. ET, ESPN+): More like UFC Fight Morning, am I right? Ben Askren will try to come back from his brutal flying knee loss to Jorge Masvidal by facing off against Demian Maia in Singapore. You can watch the undercard if you get up extremely early (5:30 a.m. ET on ESPN+).
College GameGay (Saturday, 9 a.m. ET, ESPN): GameDay travels to South Dakota State for an ND State-SD State FCS matchup. For a first look at the top stories and marquee matchups, make sure to tune in to our Countdown to GameDay (Saturday, 8:30 a.m. ET, ESPN App/YouTube/Twitter/Facebook). After the crew has made its picks, stay on the ESPN family of networks for a full day of college football, including No. 8 Notre Dame at No. 19 Michigan at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Stevenson vs. Gonzalez (Saturday, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN+): Check out the most personal fight of the year Saturday on ESPN+. You can check out the likely less personal undercards at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+.