(The Storm is all about what’s storming in sports today.)
***MLB Wild Card Series begins tonight—The postseason opens with four best-of-three series: Phillies at Braves, White Sox at Astros, Red Sox at Yankees, and Cubs at Padres.
***Case Keenum has been in the NFL since 2012. Until Monday night, his two kids had never seen him play a game. Keenum completed 24 of 34 for 247 yards and two touchdowns in the Chicago Bears 27-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night.
Keenum, who has played for eight different teams, entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Houston.
***NHL regular season opens tonight.
***Aaron Judge left off Yankees Wild Card roster—The Yankees captain is out of the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox due to a calf injury. New York’s roster does not include him for Game 1 tonight.
***On this date in 1954—New York Giants center fielder Willie Mays made “The Catch” in Game 1 off the World Series off the bat of Cleveland Indians first baseman Vic Wertz.
***U.S. Senate passes Protect College Sports Act—A sweeping bipartisan bill regulating college athletics—covering NIL deals, the transfer portal, and athlete compensation—passed the Senate late Monday. It is one of the most significant pieces of college-sports legislation in years.
***NBA forward, former Sonic/Thunder, Warrior, Net, Sun, and current Houston Rocket Kevin Durant turns 38 today. Durant was draft second overall in the 2007 by the Seattle SuperSonics…With the first pick the Portland Trailblazers took Ohio State center Greg Oden.
***The New York Giants acquired QB J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 fifth-round pick after starter Jaxson Dart was ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
***On this date in 1879—National League owners secretly adopt the reserve clause, locking players to teams for decades. A move that led to legal upheaval of the 1970s and to the dominant factor in professional sports today. Free Agency.
***“We’re playing for first place. Holy s***. Is that cool or what? I mean, so our guys are ready to rock and roll…”—Cleveland Browns HC Todd Monken
