This Week in Sports Talk: October 11, 2020

This Week in Sports Talk (TWIST) is our weekly roundup of the top headlines from the past seven days in the world of sports, plus a preview of what’s up next. Heading into the week of October 11, 2020, here’s the top sports news, with just a bit of a twist. Skim it, and you’ll be good to go all week.

This Week in Sports Talk: October 11, 2020

Here are the top 10 stories to know heading into the week of October 11, 2020.

1. NBA Finals Closer than Expected – Game 6 tonight

Everyone assumed that the LA Lakers – and their lead duo LeBron James and Anthony Davis – would easily sweep to a win in the NBA Finals this week in Orlando, Florida against the Miami Heat. They had everything going for them, including crowd sentiment. The tragic death of former Laker Kobe Bryant has made this series into something of a tribute to him – in Game 5, the Lakers wore “Black Mamba” jerseys in Bryant’s honor.

Problem is, someone forgot to tell the Heat. They came to win, and they’ve battled their way back to a Game 6 after winning Game 5, 111-108. LA leads the series 3-2.

The closing minutes of Game 5 on Friday night came down to the free throw line. LeBron James made three free throws in the final three minutes. The Heat’s Jimmy Butler made four in the final 47 seconds to give Miami the win.

Game 6 is tonight at 7:30 Eastern. It’s sure to be one for the ages.

2. MLB divisional round over – 4 teams begin conference series

nlcs: dodgers-braves

In the National League, the Atlanta Braves swept the Miami Marlins to win the division series, and the LA Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers advance to their fourth NLCS in 5 years. The Dodgers and Braves both head to the NLCS unbeaten in this year’s postseason, which should make for a good series.

alcs: astros-rays

In the American League, the Houston Astros advance to their fourth ALCS, where they’ll meet the Tampa Bay Rays.

Cries of anguish were heard across Gotham as the Rays-Yankees series went to a Game 5 with a spot in the ALCS on the line. Gerrit Cole started for the Yanks with three days rest, but it still wasn’t enough to keep them in contention. They lost 2-1, ending what was supposed to be a championship season.

The Yanks have the highest payroll in baseball – Gerrit Cole has a contract worth $324 million over 9 years. It’s going to be a very long off-season now that they’ve lost to the Rays – a team that’s 28th out of 30 teams, with almost the lowest payroll in the league.

3. Six undefeated teams at end of NFL Week 4 

At the end of Week 4, the NFL has four teams that are 4-0: the Kansas City Chiefs; Seattle Seahawks; Buffalo Bills; and Green Bay Packers. An additional two are 3-0: the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans.

On the other end of the spectrum, at 0 – 4 (meaning no wins yet this season) are the New York Jets; Houston Texans; New York Giants; and Atlanta Falcons.

newton still out, rodgers on a roll

On Monday night, in a double-header, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the New England Patriots, 26-10. The Pats are feeling the loss of quarterback Cam Newton, who has been out since testing positive for COVID-19 late last week.

Green Bay easily beat Atlanta, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues his stellar season. Through the first four weeks, Rodgers has 1,214 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 92.8 QBR.

management change in Houston

The Houston Texans fired head coach and General Manager Bill O’Brien after their dismal 0-4 start to the season. Romeo Crennel is the interim head coach.

4. NFL Week 5 notable matchups

bears defeat bucs on Thursday Night

The outcome of Thursday night’s Week 5 Buccaneers-Bears game was truly stunning. Quarterbacks Tom Brady and Nick Foles took the field for a Super Bowl LII rematch (both are now on different teams).

With 1:17 left in the fourth quarter, and a score of 20-19, Brady got the football with a chance to lead a game-winning drive. In what’s being called a “senior moment,” the quarterback didn’t seem to realize it was fourth down when he threw the incomplete pass that sealed the win for Chicago. So now the Bears can boast of a 4-1 record. Feels like Peak 2020 to us.

schedule shuffles due to coronavirus flare-ups

And speaking of Peak 2020, the specter of coronavirus continues to haunt the NFL season.

In New England, Stephon Gilmore tested positive for COVID-19 (he was one of the Patriots players potentially exposed by Cam Newton). The New York Jets sent everyone home after one player tested positive for COVID-19. But the next day, that turned out to be a false positive, so their game today is still on.

The Tennessee Titans had multiple positive tests in their ranks, and then it was discovered that they violated NFL protocol by holding an unauthorized practice while they were supposed to be quarantining.

As a result of all of this, the league has had to make some adjustments to its Week 5 schedule, with multiple games being pushed back. The Titans-Bills game has been rescheduled from today to Tuesday. The Patriots-Broncos matchup has been moved from today to tomorrow night.

notable games nfl week 5

A couple of games today that people may be talking about tomorrow: the Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks. And the Indianapolis Colts at the Cleveland Browns.

5. Seattle wins WNBA Championship

The Seattle Storm are the 2020 WNBA champions. They won with a three-game sweep over the Las Vegas Aces on Tuesday night. This is the Storm’s fourth title in franchise history — they’re tied for most in the league.

Star forward Breanna Stewart was named Finals MVP (the second time she’s won it in the past three seasons). And Sue Bird becomes the third player in NBA/WNBA history to win titles in three different decades: 2004, 2010, 2018 and now 2020.

6. Clemson and ‘Bama roll on and Missouri upsets LSU in College football

No. 1 Clemson beat No. 7 Miami 42-17. No. 2 Alabama defeated unranked Ole Miss 63-48. No. 3 Georgia beat No. 14 Tennessee 44-21. Missouri stunned No. 17 LSU 45-41 in Columbia in a game that was moved from Baton Rouge due to the arrival of Hurricane Delta. 

In the annual Big 12 rivalry game the Red River Showdown, unranked Oklahoma beat No. 22 Texas, 53-45. Neither team got off to great start this season. Both are now 2-2 (this season is the first time Oklahoma has lost 2 straight games since 1999). 

7. Byfield makes NHL history in first round of draft

The Alexis Lafreniere era in New York has commenced. In the first round of the NHL Draft, as expected the New York Rangers took 18-year old Lafreniere as the top overall pick. 

Quinton Byfield was the No. 2 pick, and he’s headed to the LA Kings. Byfield is the highest-drafted Black player in NHL history.

NHL free agency opened on Friday. And longtime New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist signed a one-year deal with the Washington Capitals worth $1.5 million.

8. Legends meet at Men’s Final at the French Open

Rafael Nadal, who has never lost a final in 12 championship matches at the French Open is in the Men’s Final today against Novak Djokovic. The two meet for the third time in their careers in the newly renovated Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris. We’re hoping that this will be a pleasantly normal end to a completely abnormal tennis year.

Nadal holds 12 French Open titles and a record of 99-2 at Roland Garros. This match has high stakes for both men. They’re chasing Roger Federer’s men’s record for Grand Slam singles titles: Federer has 20, Nadal 19 and Djokovic 17.

9. Shocking upset at Women’s Final at French Open

Iga Swiatek becomes the first Polish person to win a Grand Slam when she defeated American Sofia Kenin in an upset in the Women’s Final yesterday, 6-4, 6-1. The 19-year-old is the youngest women’s French Open winner since Monica Seles in 1992. 

Swiatek arrived in Paris ranked number 54 in the world, and on the Court Philippe Chatrier she made French Open history. 

And from the News You Can Use department comes word of a cross-disciplinary romance. TMZ and other publications report that Canadian tennis star Genie Bouchard, who fell to Swiatek in the third round of the French Open, is dating Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph. Yep: the score is love all.

10. There’s definitely no fat-shaming in this competition

Finally, our Alaska Bureau sent us this dispatch from the Great North: the numbers are in, and the fattest bear wins. Bear 747 was crowned the winner of “Fat Bear Week 2020.” At an estimated 1,400 pounds, he bested 11 other bears in this year’s contest run by the Katmai National Park and Preserve. This is his first win in the annual fall classic.

The runner up was a bear known as “32 Chunk.” Dude! So close. Next year, more nachos. And extra cheese. And the crown shall be yours.

This Week in Sports News October 10, 2020

That’s it. You’re good to go with the top headlines and coming attractions heading into the week of October 10, 2020. Stay safe and healthy, dear reader. See you next week.

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