THINGS TO CARE ABOUT

A foot in the door … “Head coach in the NFL” isn’t a job you tend to fall backward into. Pretty much every single coach in the league has had to pay his dues in one form or another, whether they finagled their way into a coaching gig at a high school or watched film for days as a graduate assistant in college. We asked all 32 head coaches about how they got their start … and got some surprising answers. Read More

Mo Rivera stands alone … There’s an old Bill James line about Rickey Henderson — “If you could split him in two, you’d have two Hall of Famers” — and if you look at Henderson’s career numbers, it’s hard to argue otherwise. The same goes for Mariano Rivera, by consensus and quantity the greatest regular-season and postseason reliever to ever play the game. In honor of his upcoming induction into the Hall, here’s a look at just how absurd Rivera’s numbers were, and why he’s on a different planet than every other closer. Read More

Zlatan’s got something to say … Any time Zlatan Ibrahimovic speaks, you should listen, because regardless of what you think of him, he’s never boring. At 37, he’s showing Major League Soccer why he was considered a genius on the pitch for so many years — and if you think he’s done reminding the world of what it means to be Zlatan, you’re kidding yourself. Read More

Cooperstown out on Bonds … For the seventh consecutive year, Barry Bonds failed to earn enough votes to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In Bonds’ 22-year career, he racked up a resume that speaks for itself: seven-time MVP (including four consecutive from 2001 to 2004), 14-time All-Star, eight-time Gold Glove winner, 12-time Silver Slugger winner, two-time batting champion, three-time TSN Major League Player of the Year, the all-time leader in home runs (762), walks (2,558) and intentional walks (688), and still the only player to hit at least 400 home runs and steal at least 400 bases (500-500, too). But then there’s the stain — his alleged connection to performance-enhancing drugs. As his chances to be enshrined dwindle, will baseball’s gatekeepers reconsider and make room for the home run king? Read More

WEEKEND BINGE READS

Baker Mayfield knows what’s coming … He was the kid in kindergarten who never wanted to get in trouble, a teacher’s pet whose greatest accomplishment was being allowed to nap in the best spot in class. Now, Baker Mayfield is the brash, confident face of the Cleveland Browns, a savior of a franchise that might have been the worst the NFL had ever seen. How is he dealing with the hype and pressure of being Cleveland’s chosen one? We sent Mina Kimes to find out. Read More

Life after viral horror … You might not know Sam Cerio’s name, but you’ve probably seen her in one of the most painful athletic moments caught on video. Earlier this year, Cerio landed wrong on a gymnastics mat at the NCAA regionals, racking up a laundry list of injuries: two dislocated knees, several torn ligaments, and a broken left leg. What’s more, she had to relive the emotional trauma of her injury over and over as video of the incident spread across social media. It looked as if she might never walk again — but whether it was to get her diploma or to say her wedding vows, Cerio found a way. Read More

The adulation that drives Manny Pacquiao … He has fought 70 times. He’s 40 years old. Manny Pacquiao has absolutely nothing left to prove as a boxer. So why does he keep doing it? The answer lies in the people who surround him, a hefty entourage that enables his passion and would “jump off a f—ing bridge if he told them to.” The money is great. So is the fame. But in truth, Pacquiao would find it very difficult to give up the affection. Read More

DID YOU READ THE NEWS THIS WEEK?

Hope you were paying attention … It might be the middle of the summer, but there was plenty going on in the world of sports. From a near-combined no-hitter to a repeat Wimbledon champion to the fastest pit stop of all time, we’ve got the biggest news of the past few days all right here. How much do you remember? Take our quiz now! Read More

THINGS TO WATCH

OVERHEARD

“A very unique, awful situation.”

— David Duval, on his score of 91 in the first round of The Open that saw him make a single-hole score of 14, which included a two-stroke penalty for hitting the wrong ball. Read more

REMEMBER WHEN?

On this date in 1996, Muhammad Ali brought the house down in Atlanta by lighting the torch at the opening ceremony of the Summer Olympics.

WHAT’S ON TONIGHT?

The Basketball Tournament (games start from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN App, with games at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on ESPN2): There is $2 million on the line in The Basketball Tournament, which tips off Friday afternoon. Which teams will make it to the final four in Chicago in August? Our experts have the inside scoop on each region’s strongest squads. Read more

Benfica vs. Chivas (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN Deportes/ESPN App): The International Champions Cup continues as Portugal’s Benfica takes on Chivas from the Mexican first division. Benfica are in top form, winning their past five matches, while Chivas started out their ICC campaign with a loss to Fiorentina.

Thurman vs. Pacquiao (Saturday, 5 p.m. ET, Fox PPV/Fox/Fox Deportes): Manny Pacquiao’s incredible, lengthy career continues with a fight in Las Vegas against Keith Thurman, who will be defending his WBA welterweight title. Pacquiao has won his past two fights, defeating Lucas Matthysse by TKO and Adrien Broner by unanimous decision.

UFC Fight Night presented by Modelo: Dos Anjos vs. Edwards (Saturday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN): Former UFC lightweight champion Rafael Dos Anjos takes on rising star Leon Edwards in a welterweight matchup. You can catch the preliminary fights at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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