April 1, 2022
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The women’s Final Four tips off tonight in Minneapolis with South Carolina taking on Louisville and UConn playing Stanford. The Gamecocks (-125) are the odds-on favorites to win it all.
For $50M, Rams Form New Big Three with Bobby Wagner
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
After big spending brought them a Super Bowl last season, the Rams [[link removed]] are going the value route for another defensive superstar.
On Thursday, Los Angeles signed ILB Bobby Wagner to a five-year, $50 million contract worth up to $65 million with incentives, per multiple reports.
The move was a savvy play to economically bolster the defense after the departure of OLB Von Miller [[link removed]], who signed with the Bills for six years and $120 million. Wagner’s AAV ($10M) is half of Miller’s ($20M).
The former Seahawks star joins DT Aaron Donald and CB Jalen Ramsey to form one of the most formidable defensive trios in the NFL.
Donald (6), Wagner (5), and Ramsey (3) have the three most [[link removed]] Defensive First-Team All-Pro selections in the league since 2016.In 2021, L.A. had the fifth-ranked defense by DVOA [[link removed]].Wagner is the NFL’s active leader in career combined tackles (1,383) and fumble return TDs (3).
Adding an assumed $10 million for Wagner, the three combine for an approximately $60 million cap hit in 2022 — about 30% of the team’s total cap.
In order to free up space, the Rams declined to re-sign CB Darious Williams, G Austin Corbett, and DT Sebastian Joseph, among others, and traded WR Robert Woods to the Titans for a 2023 sixth-round pick.
They can also free up space by extending and restructuring Donald’s [[link removed]] contract. Somehow, the 30-year-old is only the sixth-highest-paid defensive player in the league by AAV ($22.5M).
Giannis Tops Kareem As Bucks’ All-Time Leading Scorer
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
With his stepback, game-tying three in Thursday’s thrilling OT victory over the Nets, Giannis Antetokounmpo passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points in Bucks history (4,837).
The Greek Freak is also the first Buck with consecutive 40-point games since Kareem did it in 1975.
Like Abdul-Jabbar, Giannis has cemented himself as one of the greatest to wear a Bucks jersey: He’s first in points and blocks (855) and second in rebounds (6,106) and assists (2,998).
Though they played in different eras, Giannis’ $39.3M AAV dwarfs Kareem’s $500,000 annual salary with the Bucks. Giannis is on a five-year, $228 million supermax — the most in the NBA in total value, ahead of Steph Curry ($215M).He still has four years left on his deal and can make $51.9M with his final-year option.
Giannis is tied with LeBron James for the scoring lead (30.1 PPG) — James is currently ineligible to win the title since he hasn’t met the 58-game minimum — and has an outside shot at winning his third MVP (+560).
Meanwhile, the 2-seed Bucks (48-28) could be on their way to a second consecutive Finals if they continue to beat East contenders like the Nets.
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The Future of Fabric
What if your clothes could improve your energy efficiency? The exciting new brand LifeLabs is on a mission to do just that, as the first textile innovator [[link removed]] combating climate change with thermally-efficient apparel.
After six years of research, Stanford Professor Dr. Yi Cui developed two unique fabric technologies: CoolLife and WarmLife [[link removed]]. It’s a simple concept – CoolLife keeps you cool in the summer; WarmLife keeps you warm in the winter.
By regulating the temperature of your skin, CoolLife and WarmLife reduce the need for wasteful heating and cooling. In other words, these clothes help you from needing to turn up the thermostat or crank the air-conditioning.
As summer approaches, get ready for a run in the CoolLife Tee [[link removed]].
Djokovic Hits 7 Years As World No. 1 Despite Absence
Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports
Despite not hitting the court in more than a month and missing the season’s first major, Novak Djokovic has reached a milestone: seven years as the world’s No. 1 men’s tennis player.
On Thursday, Djokovic secured his 364th non-consecutive week on top when Daniil Medvedev, who had held the top spot at one point last month, lost in the Miami Open quarterfinals to Hubert Hurkacz.
His refusal to take the COVID vaccine has limited his appearances and saw him deported prior to the Australian Open, but Djokovic’s record will probably be untouchable — and he still reigns supreme on the money list.
He’s played in only one tournament in 2022, falling in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Duty Tennis Championships in late February.After earning $9.1M in ’21, Djokovic has made $76,570 in ’22. His 364 total weeks at No. 1 are 54 more than Roger Federer, the next-closest.He still ranks first on the career money list with $154.8M in earnings — Federer is second ($130.6M).
The 34-year-old is scheduled to play in the 2022 Monte Carlo Masters on April 10-17 — in preparation for May’s French Open, where he will defend his title and look to equal Rafael Nadal’s record 21 major victories.
Djokovic is currently the second-favorite (+225) to win at Roland Garros, behind Nadal (+110).
Making Headlines
Kyle Robertson-Columbus Dispatch
Soccer: The USMNT has drawn into Group B for the 2022 World Cup; in the group stage, they will face England, Iran, and the winner of the European playoff between Scotland, Wales, and Ukraine.
NBA: According to The Athletic, the league has informed teams of higher projections for the 2022-23 salary cap ($122M) and luxury tax ($149M). Also: Manu Ginobili, Tim Hardaway, and WNBA star Swin Cash will headline the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022.
MLB: The White Sox have acquired outfielder A.J. Pollock from the Dodgers for reliever Craig Kimbrel. Also: Jacob deGrom will undergo an MRI after feeling tightness in his shoulder.
NHL: The Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews became the first player to reach 50 goals this season — the fourth Leafs player and the 10th American to reach the mark.
Written by Doug Greenberg [[link removed]], Anthony Puccio [[link removed]], Chris Kuc [[link removed]]
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