May 26, 2022
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The Warriors can clinch a Finals berth for a sixth time in the last eight seasons with a Game 5 win at home. Meanwhile in Carolina, the Hurricanes will look to keep their postseason home winning streak alive against the Rangers in their own Game 5.
What is Colin Kaepernick’s Future After Raiders Workout? [[link removed]]
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Colin Kaepernick has made some immense cultural contributions since he famously took a knee during the national anthem in 2016 to protest racial injustice. Now, he may be about to reclaim his place in the NFL.
On Wednesday, Kaepernick worked out for the Raiders — his first formal session in almost three years. The 34-year-old hasn’t played professional football since 2016, later alleging in a lawsuit that he was blackballed from the NFL (he settled for an undisclosed sum).
But while he’s stayed busy — raising over $1 million for social justice initiatives, launching [[link removed]] an SPAC, and executive producing a Netflix limited series about his life — the financial outlook for an NFL return is anyone’s guess.
Kaepernick has [[link removed]] made $43.5M on the field through his NFL contracts, maxing out at $14.3M in his latest season.With six years of league service time, he would [[link removed]] be eligible for a minimum salary of just over $1M.He was reportedly [[link removed]] in talks to join the XFL in 2019 but wanted a $20M salary — unfeasible given the league’s finances.
Kap’s sharpness under center will be the biggest mystery. In 2016, he ranked 30th in YPG (186.8) and 26th in completions (59.2%), but had a sixth-best interception rate (1.2%).
And there’s no guarantee he can even make Josh McDaniels’ squad.
Las Vegas locked [[link removed]] in starting QB Derek Carr with a three-year, $121.5 million extension in April — and the team is already carrying two veteran backups in Jarrett Stidham and Nick Mullens.
Stevens’ Celtics Win Away From 1st Finals Since 2010 [[link removed]]
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
In January, the Boston Celtics occupied the East’s 11th seed. Thanks to some smart moves by rookie GM Brad Stevens, they’re now one win away from their first NBA Finals appearance since 2010.
As they’ve done six times on the road this postseason, Boston beat Miami in Game 5 of the conference finals with stifling defense. The Heat were held to 80 points — the third-fewest in a playoff game this year.
The Celtics have simply overpowered the Heat on both sides of the ball.
The Heat averaged 110 PPG in the regular season — the Celtics have held them to 98.2.Miami was the most efficient 3PT shooting team in the regular season (39.7%), but went 7-45 (15.6%) from three in Game 5, the second-lowest [[link removed]] 3PT% ever on 40+ attempts.Boston is scoring 106.4 PPG on 35.3% 3PT this series, with a 113.0 offensive rating second to only the Warriors.
As Celtics coach, Stevens lost in the Conference Finals three times, but he’s faring much better as GM, masterfully manipulating the NBA’s 11th-highest payroll ($138M) for maximum returns.
Stevens traded Kemba Walker to reacquire Al Horford (2 YRs, 53.5M), re-signed Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart on a bargain (4 YRs, $77M), and successfully gambled on first-year coach Ime Udoka.
The series is now Boston’s to lose — and the C’s haven’t lost two consecutive games since March 30.
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Nadal Becomes 5th Ever With 300 Grand Slam Wins [[link removed]]
Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
Days after Novak Djokovic’s statement win at the French Open, rival Rafael Nadal made one of his own at Roland-Garros — and made history in the process.
On Wednesday, the 35-year-old breezed past France’s Corentin Moutet (6-3, 6-1, 6-4) in the second round, becoming the fifth player in history — and third man — to record 300 Grand Slam singles victories.
It also kept Nadal on track in his bid for a record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title. A 14th French title — extending another high mark — would earn Nadal around $2.3 million, moving him into second place on the ATP all-time money list.
He joins Roger Federer, Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Martina Navratilova in the 300+ club.His $3.4M in 2022 prize money gives him a career total of $128.3M, which trails Roger Federer ($130.5M) and Novak Djokovic ($156.1M).Nadal is now 300-41 (.880 win percentage) in Grand Slams, including 107-3 at Roland-Garros (.973).
Despite a chronic foot injury that hurts “every single day,” [[link removed]] Nadal’s brilliance at the French continues unabated — but he’ll have to stop the top-seeded Djokovic from tying his all-time Slam record.
The two [[link removed]] are on a collision course in the quarterfinals, and Djokovic is the favorite (+150) to win the title, with Nadal third (+330).
In the meantime, the fifth-seeded Spaniard faces (26) Botic Van De Zandschulp in the third round on Friday morning.
Making Headlines
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: For a fourth straight season, the Yankees placed Giancarlo Stanton on the 10-day injured list with ankle inflammation; he’s tied for sixth in MLB with 11 HR.
NFL: The Falcons announced that Pro Bowl LB Deion Jones will miss the entire offseason after undergoing shoulder surgery; Jones’ $20M cap hit is the highest on the team.
French Open: (1) Iga Swiatek, (3) Paula Badosa, and (7) Aryna Sabalenka each advanced to the third round of the women’s competition, while (8) Karolina Pliskova and (9) Danielle Collins were eliminated. In the men’s tournament, (2) Daniil Medvedev and (8) Casper Ruud reached the third round.
Golf: Former U.S. Women’s Open winner Michelle Wie West will step away from the LPGA Tour following next week’s U.S. Women’s Open in North Carolina, per Golfweek [[link removed]]; the 32-year-old made history at 12 as the youngest player to qualify for an LPGA event.
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