6’s to 9’s | ‘23 NBA Finals | ‘23 Stanley Cup Finals | Yanks vs Sox | RBC Canadian Open | YouTube Rabbithole
Well, it’s a Friday, June 9th, 6/9, ‘23 so I figured it’d be nice to go with an upbeat summer tune.
Per Big Wild in an interview: “ The numbers are a reference to having your world flipped upside down when the infatuation from love seems to take over your life. I’ve wanted to work with Rationale for a long time and sent him over the initial instrumental and hook idea. He came back with the vocals, and I put the last touches on it. It’s one of my favorites on the album.”
‘23 NBA Finals
Game 4 | Tonight (6/9 ‘23) | 8:30 PM ET | ABC
Alright, hand up, I might’ve been wrong about this Christian Braun kid from Kansas. In Game 3, the rookie guard scored a playoff-high 15 points in 19 minutes and provided a massive spark off the bench. Bet you thought I’d lead with the Joker, nope, but here is what he had to say on Braun, “Christian Braun had [an] amazing game. I told him, ‘You won us the game’ He’s a winner, and he won us the game, with energy, just the focus, the mindset. Even when he makes a mistake, it’s an aggressive mistake, so you cannot be mad at him. I always say that. He won us the game, and he was really good [Wednesday night].” @T-Swifties don’t worry, I checked, he is not related to Scooter.
In Game 3, Nikola Jokic became the first player to ever score 30+ points, grab 20+ rebounds, and have 10+ assists in an NBA Finals game. He now leads the entire NBA playoffs in points, rebounds, and assists. There is stat-padding regular-season triple-doubles and then there is The Joker who plays quite possibly one of the most efficient brands of basketball of all time. Only LeBron of this era, could you compare him to in terms of overall game efficiency, and LeBron is one of, if not the greatest athletes of all time. It makes no sense, but when you stop and think about it, The Joker is always composed playing at his own pace. It is just bewildering that it actually works. It also should be Noted that Jamal Murray was fantastic in Game 3, scoring 34 points with a triple-double of his own - 10 assists + 10 rebounds.
As for the Miami Heat, Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler played well combining for 50 points. The rest of the Heat combined to score 44 points and the rest of their starters only scored 16 points on a field goal percentage of 23%. While Bam and Butler likely won’t ever outproduce The Joker and Murray, they can at least put up a good fight. That said, Miami has no shot in this series if the rest of the team doesn’t show up with them.
‘23 Stanley Cup Finals
Game 4 | Tomorrow Night (6/10 ‘23) | 8 PM ET | TNT
Heading into Game 3, the Panthers’ Matthew Tkachuk made the rather obvious claim that without a win last night, this wouldn’t be a series. Well, thanks to his goal with 2:13 seconds left in regulation, Florida was able to play free OT hockey and make this a series. Tkachuk is now tied for the League lead with 24 points this postseason and can become the first player in the Panthers’ history to lead the NHL in points in one playoff year. (Source: @PR_NHL)
Carter Verhaeghe won it with a long-range wrister. Afterwards, Tkachuk called Game 3, "The gutsiest win I've ever been a part of." The Panthers are now remarkably 7-0 in OT this postseason. They have to have felt like they just stole this one right from underneath Vegas.
After making the first two games plus last night’s first two periods look easy, the Vegas Knights have to be kicking themselves after last night. Jonathan Marchessault scored his 13th goal of the playoffs and he is now tied with Leon Draisait, whose team hasn’t played in 2 rounds. The Panthers have proven time and time again this postseason that they can claw their way out, but is it time for Vegas to strive for Knighthood?
Yanks vs Sox
June 9th and we’re just getting the 1st Series between New York & Boston, how is that possible? The Sox after playing above their weight to start the season have fallen back down to Earth losing 7 of their last 10. The Yankees, having just lost Aaron Judge because the man ran through a wall, have a lineup that appears shellshocked without #99.
Game 1
Tonight features a Yankees and Red Sox battle started over how to spell Garrett or Gerrit. The Yankees and Cole should have the advantage over the former Yankee farm arm in Garrett Whitlock. Whitlock, after dominating the scene out of Boston’s bullpen in ‘21 and ‘22 was moved to the starting rotation and thus far hasn’t been the same pitcher.
Game 2
Many Red Sox fans are saying that Tanner Houck should be in the bullpen. His sinker and slider may play better as a reliever but then again the hell do Red Sox fans know? Domingo German, on the other hand, may have turned the corner on using the rosin bag. He has not been ejected & suspended for using unbanned substances for a better grip on the baseball for 2 weeks, nonsticky fingers are crossed he makes it another 2 days at least.
Game 3
A Sunday Night Baseball matchup of 2 novice starters. Brayan Bello has been the Sox's most effective starting pitcher to date, while Clarke Schmidt has been the Yanks’ least effective. Bello features a mid-90s fastball, slider, and change-up while Schmidt goes with a slider, sinker, cutter, and knuckle curve.
Toronto, ON, CAN | Oakdale Golf & Country Club | $9,000,000 (Purse) | GOLF/CBS
The Canadian Open was first played in 1904. It has been played continuously annually with the only exceptions where it was canceled being World War I, World War II, and COVID-19. After the Open Championship and the U.S. Open, Canada holds the 3rd oldest continuously running tournament on the PGA TOUR. Due to its deep-rooted history, the Canadian Open is considered to be a part of the Triple Crown of Golf with the other two Opens mentioned previously. Only Lee Trevino in 1971 and Tiger Woods ‘00 have taken home the Triple Crown. The RBC Canadian Open is regarded as the most prestigious tournament that Jack Nicklaus, a seven-time runner-up, never won. Canada switches up the Golf venue for their Open nearly every year and this is the first time that Oakdale Golf & Country Club has ever hosted.
Round 1 Leaderboard
Justin Lower
Just six days after he missed the cut in The Memorial in Ohio, Justin Lower put on a show yesterday. Lower lowered his number of strokes up in Canada, finishing his round with an eagle at 18 following a bird on 17. Lower won the ‘21 Korn Ferry BMW Charity Pro-Am which secured him his PGA Tour Card at 32 years old.
Corey Conners
Canada’s own Corey Conners shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 and is tied for 1st. Conners grew up in Listowel, Ontario, which is just about an hour & 45 mins away from Oakdale Golf & Country Club. Not a bad track over, eh?
Aaron Rai
After starting off his opening round 3 shots over par through 5 holes, Aaron Rai righted his own ship by shooting a 30 (6 shots under par) on the back 9. Rai wears two gloves on the course. Maybe that will fix my golf game.
Chesson Hadley
Chesson Hadley had a very nice round but afterward, he had a Cousin Greg Succession type of moment when he dead seriously said he would like to be rewarded for his loyalty with the likes of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy for not jumping at LIV Tour. I love the confidence but the LIV Tour wasn’t knocking on his door.
Rory McIlroy
Tough week for Rory McIlroy who was the most outspoken against the LIV Tour. "It's hard for me to not sit up here and feel somewhat like a sacrificial lamb. Feeling like I've put myself out there and this is what happens.” He is still calling for action against LIV Tour Players who left the PGA Tour. McIlroy allegedly turned down a reported $500 million to stay on the PGA Tour, however, he told the press he was never offered anything. Either way, his stance was “All I’ve wanted is to protect the future of the PGA Tour and I hope that this does that.” We’ll see what happens.