The ESPN Daily: The grisliest job in sports, if LeBron and Kobe played college hoops, and the Warriors in tank mode?
Let’s go! Today’s Daily will let you take on the weekend like a champion. Looking to bring a friend along for the ride? Why not send them this newsletter? You can do so right here.
Baddest man on the planet? … Jorge Masvidal wants badly to win the BMF belt. For a fighter who owns the record for fastest knockout in UFC history (five seconds), that recognition lies on the other side of a bout with Nate Diaz in UFC 244. In today’s episode of the Daily, host Mina Kimes is joined by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who has been spending time with Masvidal in his hometown of Miami, to get an inside look at the quest of the man they call “Gamebred.” You can listen to the full podcast right here.
If LeBron and Kobe played college hoops … Nowadays you’ve got the one-and-done rule, but for a number of years, NBA players could go straight to the pros from high school. While it didn’t quite work out for a few, it’s clear that LeBron James and Kobe Bryant were more than ready for the challenge. But what if they decided to spend all four years in the college ranks? How would that have changed history? Here’s a look at some of the superteams that might have been — with some speculation around Larry Bird’s choice of school as well. Read more
Tooth and consequences … All sports exact a physical toll, but only hockey is enough to literally wipe the smile off your face. Hockey players consider their missing teeth a badge of honor, but someone has to repair their obliterated mouths when they block shots with their faces. That task falls on a legion of team dentists who’ve seen the worst the sport has to offer … and are still sometimes shocked into silence when they witness the carnage. Read more
Kyler Murray’s hidden talent … Everyone knows that Kyler Murray could have gone pro in baseball as well as football. But what you might not realize is that he has a skill in a third competitive endeavour — and this one has nothing to do with 40-yard dash times or bat speed. Murray’s a bit of a chess whiz, so skilled at the game that he would run the table at his high school club. Here’s a look at how he’s used his power on the chessboard to shape his football career. Read more
The center of attention … Fans and players alike have fallen in love with 7-foot-7 Tacko Fall, and he attracts a crowd wherever he goes. But his celebrity is bittersweet. Since childhood, he has had to deal with a kind of popularity centered on his towering frame. Recognition for his skill as a player — and for who he is as a person — has so far eluded him. Jackie MacMullan has the story. Read More
Could the Warriors tank? That’s a question that would have seemed unthinkable a few short months ago, but this season’s version of the Warriors was already struggling before Stephen Curry broke his hand. Now that he’ll be out for a month or more, the 2019-20 season looks as if it’s a lost cause for Golden State. Although the Warriors are scoffing at the idea of tanking … for now. Ramona Shelburne writes on the possibility that the team could do what it hasn’t needed to for years: rebuild. Read More
Nothing like November … It’s that time of year again. The first College Football Playoff rankings come out Tuesday, and while they won’t matter for all that long, we’ll argue about them because that’s what we do. What isn’t up for debate? November is when the season really starts to get serious. So let’s take a look at the games, storylines and inevitable arguments we have to look forward to during this glorious month of college football action, shall we? Read More
“I don’t have to be perfect for anyone here, nor do I have to be perfect for the public. I am not here to dispel any perception, I am here to be myself.”
— Kyrie Irving, on his public perception Read more
On this date in 2008, Michael Crabtree somehow stayed inbounds on a last-second pass, then eluded the grasp of his tackler to score a winning touchdown over Texas. Watch
Overwatch World Cup (3 p.m. ET, Friday, ESPN App; 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN App): A loaded Team USA tries to improve on a disappointing finish at last year’s Overwatch World Cup, while South Korea looks to continue its dominance as the prohibitive favorite.
Rockets at Nets (7:15 p.m. ET, Friday, ESPN); Lakers at Mavericks (9:35 p.m. ET, Friday, ESPN): The Harden-Westbrook duo travels to Brooklyn to take on the Nets. If only Kevin Durant were healthy for this one. Meanwhile, LeBron and AD face off against Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic in Dallas in the later game.
College GameDay (9 a.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN): GameDay travels to Tennessee for the SMU-Memphis matchup. For a first look at the top stories and marquee matchups, make sure to tune in to our Countdown to GameDay (8:30 a.m. ET, Saturday, 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 Ole Miss at No. 11 Auburn at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Canelo vs. Kovalev (9 p.m. ET, Saturday, DAZN): Sergey Kovalev defends his light heavyweight title against middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez. Our experts have their last-minute predictions for who’s going to win right here. Read more
UFC 244: Masvidal vs. Diaz (10 p.m. ET, Saturday, ESPN PPV): Jorge Masvidal takes on Nate Diaz in what promises to be one of the most exciting fights of the year. You can catch the prelims at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and the early prelims at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. We’ve got a full slate of predictions right here: Read more
U.S. Grand Prix (1:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, ABC): We’ve got a big-time Formula One race this weekend, with Lewis Hamilton looking to become world champion for a sixth time — but as you can see here, that might not be enough for him. Read more