The Sport Superlatives - Issue No. 20

May 16, 2024

🏆 The Superlatives 🏆

The Victim of Playoff Superstitions: Aaron Gordon

OK, victim is a stretch. But still, poor NBA Denver Nuggets’ player Aaron Gordan is stuck in the middle of a Playoff Superstition. He missed team dinner after they lost against the Timberwolves in Game 2, and unfortunately for his dining arrangements, the Nuggets have been up ever since. Now, his teammates have banned him from team dinners during this round of playoffs. Guess it’s room service for one for now, Gordy.  

The King of Playoff Superstitions: Leon Draisaitl

NHL players are well known for their superstitions or as the new kids like to call them routines. Edmonton Oilers’ center Leon Draisaitl admitted in an interview that on a 1-10 scale of superstition, he is about an 8 or 9. Draisaitl, known for his cheekiness on the ice and during interviews, says that he likes to do many things the exact same way, like leaving his home at the same time for games.

That doesn’t seem too bad… but one has to wonder what else is a part of this routine of his. Let’s just hope it involves washing his socks. Some NHL players are known to skip that during Playoffs… which is just… yuck. 

🏀 Playin’ it Off: After telling the Cavs to clock out for the rest of the season, the Celtics are the first team to punch their ticket to the conference finals! What other three teams will join them? Let’s see how the remaining series are shaking out.

• Knicks vs. Pacers: The Knicks are up 3-2 in this series as they head to Indiana for a crucial Game 6. This battle has been a close one that’s seen the home team win every game so far. Will that trend continue in Game 6? Or will the Knicks decide, “Finish them!” (Mortal Kombat, anyone?)  and move on to greener pastures (aka the Boston Celtics)? Tune in tonight, Friday, 5/17, at 8:30 pm on ESPN to find out.

• Nuggets vs. Timberwolves: After last night’s clutch win (more so annihilation) from Ant and company, this series is headed to a winner-takes-all Game 7. While home-court advantage has served little to no importance in this matchup, it might be the Nuggets’ saving grace with their season (and dignity) on the line. Watch this series [finally] end on Sunday, 5/19.

• Thunder vs Mavericks: The Mavs are up 3-2 in this series, which heads to Dallas for Game 6. It’s not looking so good for OKC, but if they can win this and send the series back to their home court, all bets are off. Maybe Shai has some of that Space Jam “secret stuff” (the original ‘96 recipe) he can pass around? We’ll see what happens on Saturday, 5/18, at 8 p.m. on ABC.

🏒 Second Round is on Me:  The second round of the NHL playoffs continues!

• Panthers vs. Bruins: The Florida Panthers have their chance to close out the series against the Boston Bruins tonight (Friday) with a Game 6 win. Personally, we’re rooting for a Boston win because we’re suckers for the goalie hug…and who doesn’t love a Game 7?

• Edmonton Oilers vs. Vancouver Canucks: These two have kept the series close, trading wins for the first four games, and Game 5 goes to the Canucks with a score of 3-2.

• Stars vs. Avalanche: The Dallas Stars get the first attempt to make the Western Conference Finals if they dispatch the Colorado Avalanche in Game 6 on Saturday. Avs defenseman Cale Makar carried Game 5 with two of the five goals, probably because he needs a little more time to work on his playoff beard.

🏒 Power to the PWHL: Over on the PWHL playoffs, the inaugural Walter Cup finals are half set!

• Boston vs. Montreal: Boston swept their series over Montreal, but that only tells part of the story. All three games went into overtime, and Game 2 was decided in the third (THIRD!) overtime. Boston vs. Montreal’s Game 2 goes down in the history books as the longest game in PWHL history, clocking in at 111 minutes and 44 seconds. Susanna Tapani bookended the series, sealing Boston’s wins in Game 1 and Game 3.

• Minnesota vs. Toronto: The Minnesota vs. Toronto series is taking it to a final Game 5 (tune in on the PWHL Youtube channel) after Minnesota pulled out the win in a second OT. The series is currently tied up at two wins and two shutouts apiece. Tune in on Friday, 5/17, to see who takes it!

🏀 We’re Back, and We’re Better: The WNBA kicked off on Tuesday with record-breaking viewership as the Indiana Fever played (and lost to) the Connecticut Sun. Caitlin Clark scored 20 points and committed a record-setting ten turnovers in her debut. As expected, she wasn’t too thrilled about that stat line saying, “Obviously, there are too many turnovers. That's not going to get the job done.”…and didn’t.

On a more positive note, the Connecticut Sun’s DeWanna Bonner used the very same season opener to move up the ranks to the fifth all-time scorer in WNBA history…so at least someone had a good game.

🎾 It’s Raining Water….Bottles: The Italian Open is coming to a close this weekend, but not without a bit of controversy. Novak Djokovic was signing autographs after winning his first match when he was knocked upside his head with a water bottle...that is to say, a water bottle fell from the stands and hit him atop his head.After a review of the footage, social media sleuths discovered the bottle slipped from a fan’s bag as he leaned over for an autograph.

Well, best believe Djokovic came prepared for the next time, as he showed up in a helmet. He clearly enjoys a good laugh. Unfortunately, all that laughing stopped after he lost the next match and had to undergo concussion protocol (gotta love an NFL x ATP Tennis crossover).

🏆 Hostess With the Mostest: It’s been announced that GOAT and Entrepreneur extraordinaire Serena Williams is set to host the 2024 ESPYs. Now Serena knows a thing or two about ESPY awards, seeing as how she has 12 of her own. So it seems like a match made in heaven. We’re sure she’ll serve (see what we did there) up a few jokey jokes and a handful of lewks to match. Be sure to tune in on July 11th on ESPN (but don’t worry, we’ll remind you later).

🤮 In Another Episode of Men Losing Their Mind: Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker said, “Yea I won a Super Bowl, so I’m super qualified to tell women how to exist.” Butker was asked to deliver the commencement speech at Benedictine College’s graduation ceremony. But while he certainly spoke (read: ranted) for 28 minutes, an inspiring speech it was not. According to Butker, women belong in the home (yes, he said this at a graduation), and their progressive thoughts around surrogacy and IVF are destroying the moral values of our country.

How dare women aim to have a career, be financially secure, and contribute to the household when the cost of living is at an all-time high!? How dare they make decisions about their own bodies when the mortality rate for giving birth in the US is the highest of all the developed nations?! Sorry, the opinion of a privileged, rich, out-of-touch football player has no place here. And I’m sure Butker’s physicist mother agrees with us. The NFL also wasn’t feeling his comments and has released an official statement. Hopefully, the only thing we see Butker kicking next season is rocks. 

Your sports term of the week is: flop.

IRL Example: It’s like when you’re not trying to go to work. So, you decide to level up the drama and really sell your “illness” with a cough and a whisper of a voice…then you’re back the next day with a new hairdo.

This just in… hockey jerseys are the new streetwear fashion trend. Their bagginess makes them pretty versatile, pairing well with both shorts and pants. Let's check out a few ways a couple of non-hockey players have been strutting this trend and supporting their fav teams.

NY Knicks’ Josh Hart showed love to his fellow NY sports team during their Playoff run by rocking a NY Rangers jersey with khaki-colored slacks and fresh white sneakers.

Skylar Diggins Smith also showed love to her fellow local team, the Seattle Kraken, even though they didn’t make the playoffs. Her outfit is cute, though! 

Even singer Ciara got in on the trend, pairing the Oilers jersey with biker shorts for a comfy, but cute look:

ciara

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If you like these looks, head over to TikTok to see how more trendsters are styling their hockey jerseys.

Do you love sports? Want to find a way to fit more sports into your week? We’ve got you. From keeping up with your work colleagues to impressing hot dates, our newsletter aims to keep you in the know regardless of your fandom level or the reason. That’s your business, sis!

Share The Sport Superlatives with hardcore sports fans or anyone who just likes to keep a little sports knowledge on hand. See you next week!