Leftovers

Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, and the Mets are just about out of it, I thought I'd do a montage of various stories that on their own probably wouldn't merit a dedicated piece. Barring something truly newsworthy, such as Steve Cohen firing David Stearns, this will likely be the last piece I write until August.

So here goes,

The ESPY Awards. It was gratifying to see the Knicks finally get the respect they deserve, even if it was at an awards ceremony that was held in New York. They won in every category they were nominated for, including best male athlete: Jalen Brunson; best championship performance: Jalen Brunson; best NBA player: Jalen Brunson; best play of the year: O.G. Anunoby; and best team: Knicks. 

However, there was one category that was missing from last night's ceremony: best executive. Had there been an award for that, it would've undoubtedly gone to Leon Rose. Think about it: before this year, the last local-area team to win a championship was the Giants in 2011. That was 15 years ago. For a city that Frank Sinatra once said never slept, and has a total of nine sports franchises, 15 years is a VERY long time. Maybe if those franchises had someone like Rose running them, their fans might've had a few more championships to celebrate.

Jaxson Dart and Trump. I stayed away from this because of the toxic nature of the subject. That being said, I do think it was a mistake for Dart to attend a Trump rally. Not because he isn't entitled to his opinion, but because as a leader on this team, he has an obligation to every player in the locker room; some of whom may not have voted for the current president. The last thing this quarterback needs going into his second year as a pro is to become a lightning rod. Going forward, it would behoove him, and frankly all athletes, to stay out of the political arena. That goes for athletes who endorse Democrats. Stick to the Xs and Os. In the end, the only thing fans care about is the result on the field, court or rink.

The Leo Carlsson offer sheet. I'm just gonna come right out and say it. This is the worst thing that could've happened to the NHL. Anyone who thinks this is a good for hockey doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. $18 million per year for a player coming off an entry level contract is absurd. I don't care if he turns out to be the next Nathan MacKinnon, he's only played three seasons and he's yet to average a point a game. If Carlsson is worth $18 million, what's Connor McDavid worth, $30 million? This will have ripple effects throughout the NHL.

Pat Verbeek and Steve Yzerman. If you think Chris Drury's tenure in New York has been a disaster, just consider that Verbeek or Yzerman could've been running the show. It was Verbeek who botched the Carlsson negotiations. Instead of re-signing him for $15 million a year, he chose instead to play hardball. And it was Yzerman, who in seven seasons with the Red Wings, never once made the playoffs. Yes, Rangers fans, it sucks to admit it, but Drury isn't the worst GM in the league, after all.

Wemby signs for less than the max. Following in the footsteps of Jalen Brunson, Victor Wembanyama left roughly $50 million on the table when he signed his extension with San Antonio. The move gives the Spurs the financial flexibility they need to build a championship roster around the 7-5 center. Some will not understand this, but with the second apron likely here to stay, cap management will be essential for teams looking to win a championship. The Knicks would never have ended their 53-year drought had Brunson not left $113 million on the table. Think about this: at no point was Tom Brady ever the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. But he was smart enough to know that it takes a team to win a Super Bowl. Here's to smart athletes who get that.

Philly fans boo Jordan Walker. For the record, I've never had much use for all star games. I've also never had much use for Philadelphia sports fans. So when Philly fans booed Jordan Walker for winning the home run derby I couldn't resist. Seriously, this is a fan base that can't show up to support its own teams in the playoffs and they boo a fucking home run derby winner? Predictably pitiful.

Daylight Savings Time now yearlong. Whether or not you thought this was a good idea - frankly, I was ambivalent - there's one unintended consequence. NHL games played in Canada will air one hour later in the U.S. That means when the Rangers play the Maple Leafs in Toronto, the game will start at 8:00 PM in New York instead of 7:00. Now you'll have to stay up an extra hour just to watch the Blueshirts lose.

Lindor on the move? Just a couple hours ago, it was learned that the Mets informed teams that everyone but Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Christian Scott are available. Conspicuously absent from that list was Francisco Lindor. The fact that Stearns is willing to include him in a fire sale, is a sign that both he and Cohen believe that, despite spending $371 million on payroll, this team is a train wreck. I guess that's progress.