Acuña Matata
09/01/2023By: Jeff Yoder
Happy Labor Day Weekend
The holiday weekend features a bevy of sports offerings. Four straight days of college football and more U.S. Open action are inevitable. As for today? Ronald Acuña Jr. made MLB history, and there’s still a month left in the season.
Programming: The Sportsletter will not be published on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 4). We’ll return to our normal schedule on Tuesday (Sept. 5).
Letter Rip!
MLB
Acuña Jr. Shines in Clash of NL Super Powers
Braves & Dodgers Go Toe-to-Toe, But Ronald Acuña Jr. Gets Last Laugh With Grand Slam & MLB’s 1st-Ever 30-HR, 60-SB Season
The matchup we’ve all been waiting for! The most intriguing series of the weekend has been a long time coming. The Braves and Dodgers hadn’t met since late May — prior to the All-Star break, the trade deadline, and back when the Rays were still far-and-away MLB’s top team. Thursday night’s Game 1 of a four-game stint between the top-two National League powers lived up to the billing. Atlanta compiled a 6-1 lead by the end of the 2nd inning thanks to Ronald Acuña Jr.’s 30th home run of the season — a grand slam. That lead was nearly erased after not one, but two Mookie Betts homers. The two leaders in the NL MVP race certainly stamped their names on this game. In the end, Atlanta held off the Dodgers’ rally (8-7), and Acuña Jr.’s slam made him the first player in MLB history with a 30-HR, 60-steal season. Three more games of Braves-Dodgers? Yes, please.
NL Super Powers Comparison
Braves (88-45) | 1st Place
MVP Candidate: Ronald Acuña Jr.
(.337 BA, 30 HRs, 62 SBs, .993 OPS)
Dodgers (83-50) | 2nd Place
MVP Candidate: Mookie Betts
(.317 BA, 38 HRs, 10 SBs, 1.033 OPS)
Watch: Braves Fend Off Dodgers (8-7) in Historic Night Between NL Super Powers
MLB Quick-Hitters
Giants Put Padres to Bed: If it wasn’t over for the Padres’ postseason hopes, it is now. The Giants rung up six runs on the Friars in the third inning before cruising to a 7-2 win and handing San Diego their fifth loss in six games.
Marlins Keep Swimming: Miami ended August on a positive note with a 6-1 win over the Nationals last night. They were just 2-8 in their last 10 and quickly fading out of the NL Wild Card picture. A hot September for the Fish (67-67) could shift their fate.
More Yankees Misery: The Yankees rallied from a 3-0 deficit with a 3-run 9th to force the Tigers into extra innings last night, so there’s that. Moments later, Detroit won it with a walk-off thanks to a Yankees’ error (4-3, 10 innings).
RHP Lucas Giolito (Guardians)
OF Harrison Bader (Reds)
OF Hunter Renfroe (Reds)
3B Josh Donaldson (Brewers)
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TENNIS
Farewell, John Isner
38-Year-Old John Isner Exits U.S. Open in 4-Hour, 5-Set Thriller; Gives Emotional Retirement Speech After Final Match
Top seeds were safe from upset bids on Thursday at the U.S. Open (at least in the top-10), but the best match of the day came from two unranked players in an emotional, fan-packed afternoon clash. American John Isner, 38 years old, announced last month that the 2023 U.S. Open would mark the final tennis tournament of his 17-year career. He held a two-set lead against 25-year-old Michael Mmoh before the wheels fell off. Mmoh earned a survival victory in the third-set before forcing a fifth set and winning another tiebreaker. The match was nearly four hours long.
Isner’s Career In Review
The 6-foot-10 Isner has never scaled the mountain to win a grand slam, but he has been one of the most iconic American male tennis players of the last generation. Isner earned 16 ATP singles titles, eight doubles titles, and a trip to the Wimbledon semifinal in 2018. He spent 10 seasons ranked in the top-20, and he was the top-ranked American man for half of his playing career (eight seasons). To top it off, he holds the ATP record for most career aces (14,470) and the fastest serve (157.2 mph). Congrats to Big John on a great career!
Watch: John Isner Gives Emotional Retirement Speech
Highlights: M. Mmoh def. J. Isner (3-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6)
Men’s Singles Highlights
#1 C. Alcaraz def. L. Harris (6-3, 6-1, 7-6)
#3 D. Medvedev def. C. O’Connell (6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 6-2)
#6 J. Sinner def. L. Sonego (6-4, 6-2, 6-4)
#8 A. Rublev def. G. Monfils (6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1)
Women’s Singles Highlights
#2 A. Sabalenka def. J. Burrage (6-3, 6-2)
#3 J. Pegula def. P. Tig (6-3, 6-1)
#5 O. Jabeur def. L. Noskova (7-6, 4-6, 6-3)
#9 M. Vondrousova def. M. Trevisan (6-2, 6-2)
Full U.S. Open Weekend Schedule
Read More
NY Times: John Isner Says Goodbye to Pro Tennis at the U.S. Open
SI: Elina Svitolina Checks in on Husband, Gael Monfils, in Adorable U.S. Open Moment
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CFB
Big Ten Bash Kicks Off CFB Week 1
How Did CFB Week 1 Begin? Minnesota Brought Magic to a Big Ten Thriller & #14 Utah Scored a 70-Yard TD Strike on Their 1st Play
The official Week 1 kickoff to the 2023 college football season features five straight nights of action over Labor Day Weekend, and it all began last night with eleven games. A pair of Big Ten teams wasted no time providing the first true thriller of the season. Minnesota rallied from a 10-3 deficit against Nebraska late in the fourth quarter in a stunning finish. The Gophers ripped two turnovers and connected for an unbelievable 4th-down TD catch from Daniel Jackson before setting up a walk-off field goal (13-10). Meanwhile, #14 Utah started their season with a 70-yard TD strike on the first play of the year. The Utes put a muzzle on the Gator chomp as they flexed on Florida by two scores.
Take it easy, people! We have four more days of this. Let’s pace ourselves. Only a handful of power conference matchups took center stage, but there’s plenty to watch in the days ahead in this weekend’s must-watch list. We’re just getting warmed up.
CFB Week 1 Highlights (Thursday)
Minnesota def. Nebraska (13-10)
Full CFB Week 1 Schedule (Friday-Monday)
Read More
SI: Gophers Stun Nebraska With Late TD, INT & Walk-Off FG
ESPN: ACC Discussing Expansion in Friday Phone Call, Sources Say
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FIBA
Team USA’s Next Challenge
Team USA Into 2nd Round (Final 16) Alongside Lithuania, Greece & Montenegro in Group J
The FIBA World Cup jumps into Round 2 this weekend with the field down from 32 to 16 teams. Each group from Round 1 saw two teams advance into the next group stage, and they’ll all play two more games to determine the quarterfinals (final eight teams) by Monday. Team USA lands in Group J alongside Greece, but they won’t face each other again. Instead, it’s the U.S. against Lithuania and Montenegro this weekend. The wins and losses carry over from Round 1. So the U.S. (3-0) likely needs just one win this weekend to advance. Only Canada (+37.0 ppg win margin) has a better point differential than the U.S. (+34.3 ppg win margin) through three games.
FIBA World Cup (2nd Round)
Group I: Serbia, Dominican Republic, Italy, Puerto Rico
Group J: USA, Lithuania, Greece, Montenegro
Group K: Slovenia, Germany, Australia, Georgia
Group L: Canada, Spain, Brazil, Latvia
Team USA Schedule
USA vs. 
Montenegro (Fri. 4:40 am ET)
USA vs. 
Lithuania (Sun. 8:40 am ET)
Full FIBA World Cup Schedule & Groups
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STORYLINES
With so much up in the air regarding conference realignment in college football, the management committee opted to wait before seriously discussing alternative models for the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. (CBS Sports)
The 2023-24 Champions League Draw
This season’s edition of the UEFA Champions League returns with a familiar format. The 32-team group stage is set, and Manchester City looks to defend their title. Here’s a look at key dates, brackets, matchups, and groups for the fall schedule. (Sporting News)
Early Takeaways From FIBA World Cup
Austin Reaves looks like a star, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is doing a great job of impersonating one, and Team Canada has finally arrived. We hit the highlights from the Philippines as Team USA and 15 other squads enter Round 2 this weekend. (The Ringer)
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NEWS
- Vikings’ T.J. Hockenson Becomes Highest-Paid TE in NFL History With 4-Year, $68.5 Million Deal (B/R)
- USWNT Star Julie Ertz Officially Announces Retirement From Soccer (ESPN)
- ESPN & Longtime Media Veteran Wendi Nix Part Ways After 17 Years (SI)
- Famous Cowboys Executive Gil Brandt Dies at 91 (Yahoo! Sports)
- Iran Bans Weightlifter for Shaking Hands & Taking Photo With Israeli Competitor (USA Today)
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WEEKEND SCHEDULE
The Holiday Must-Watch List
College Football (Week 1)
Colorado at #17 TCU (Sat. Noon)
#3 Ohio State at Indiana (Sat. 3:30 pm)
West Virginia at #7 Penn State (Sat. 7:30 pm)
#21 North Carolina at South Carolina (Sat. 7:30 pm)
#5 LSU at #8 Florida State (Sun. 7:30 pm)
U.S. Open (3rd Round)
M: #2 N. Djokovic vs. #32 L. Dere (Fri. 8:15 pm)
M: #1 C. Alcaraz vs. #26 D. Evans (Sat. TBD)
W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. K. Juvan (Fri. 12:15 pm)
W: #6 C. Gauff vs. #32 E. Mertens (Fri. 7:00 pm)
W: #3 J. Pegula vs. #26 E. Svitolina (Sat. TBD)
FIBA World Cup (Round 2)
USA vs. Montenegro (Fri. 4:40 am)
USA vs. Lithuania (Sun. 8:40 am)
MLB
Cubs-Reds Series
Rays-Guardians Series
Twins-Rangers Series
Yankees-Astros Series
Phillies-Brewers Series
Braves-Dodgers Series
Soccer
EPL: Arsenal vs. Man. United (Sun. 11:30 am)
MLS: LAFC vs. Inter Miami CF (Sun. 10:00 pm)
WNBA
Sun at Liberty (Fri. 8:00 pm)
Racing
F1: Italian Grand Prix (Sun. 9:00 am)
NASCAR: Darlington Raceway (Sun. 6:00 pm)
Download The Sportsletter’s Must-Watch Calendar
*The Sportsletter will not be published on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 4)