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Sports

NBA Finals: Underdog Knicks working against historic odds to beat Spurs

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1 hour ago

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Heading into Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday night, the New York Knicks are decided underdogs to win it all. FanDuel has them at +160, against -190 for the Spurs. That seems too lopsided for a series that feels pretty evenly matched on a lot of fronts, but the Knicks are no strangers to long odds. 

New York opened the season with better odds, but by the time the playoffs started, they were down to +2200 to win the title. No NBA champion over the last 40 years (as far as we can trace) has entered the postseason with longer odds, meaning the Knicks are four wins away from becoming the biggest underdog in history to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy. 

Hell, they weren’t even favored to win the Eastern Conference. 

Draymond Green’s name is being invoked because of his recent profane podcast rant about how Jalen Brunson hasn’t proven himself as a 1A championship player and, by extension, how the Knicks haven’t proven anything special by winning an Eastern Conference that is widely regarded as weak in comparison to the West. 

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“You’re supposed to get out of the East,” Green laughed. “It’s the f–king East. Of course you’re supposed to get out of the East.”

So again, it bears repeating that the Knicks were not “supposed to” win the East. The Celtics were favored. After Jayson Tatum came back, almost everyone, myself included, thought they were the cream of the conference after finishing as the No. 2 seed without their best player for most of the season. After that, the Cavaliers were next in line. New York swept them. 

New York has, in fact, obliterated its postseason competition in historic fashion. Their +271 point differential, which comes out to an average margin of victory of 19.7 points per game, is the largest point differential entering the NBA Finals in history. They have swept their last two opponents and won 11 straight playoff games. The last time they lost was Game 3 against the Hawks. 

You won’t get any argument from me that the East is the weaker conference. Of course it is. Has been for a long time. I’m a proponent of getting rid of conferences entirely and going to a straight 1-16 seeding format for the playoffs to end the annual inequity.

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That said, we’re talking about the depth of the two conferences. No 3-seed in the East is having to play a team as good as the Timberwolves in the first round as the Nuggets did. The Knicks were the East’s 3-seed. They got the Hawks. A fine team, but a far cry from a back-to-back conference finalist.

The East is an easier path. No chance LeBron James makes it to eight straight Finals in the West. That doesn’t mean his teams weren’t championship-level rosters. Of course they were. Those Cavs teams that went to four straight against the Warriors were incredible. Only a team as stacked as the Warriors could’ve kept that team from winning multiple rings. Obviously the Heat were a title team. Twice. 

The point is, there is always one or two teams in the East that can challenge the best in the West toe to toe. The Pacers took OKC to seven last year and looked like they were the favorite to win Game 7 until Tyrese Haliburton ruptured his Achilles. The Celtics won it the year before that. The Bucks two years before that. The Raptors two years before that. 

The advantage comes in being that one title-caliber team that gets to enter the championship series having endured less wear and tear, which is certainly true for the Knicks entering this one. The Spurs just had to go through a seven-game war with OKC. By the time Game 1 tips, the Knicks will have had eight days of rest between their conference finals clincher vs. Cleveland and the start of the Finals. 

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To me, this should make the series price closer to a coin toss, but it’s not because the casual fans are treating this Wemby takeover as if it’s already written in ink and because the East is talked about as such a lesser test. Again, it is lesser than the West. As a whole. Don’t let that fool you into thinking the Knicks can’t win this thing. 

They absolutely can. Think about it: The Spurs win by forcing you into a bunch of jump shots; the Knicks are shooting a postseason best 40% from 3 and have marksmen everywhere. The Spurs are deep. So is New York. The Spurs have a ton of big, physical, two-way wings. So do the Knicks, who traded for OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges to basically model their roster after the title-winning Celtics. 

Shall we go on? Wembanyama blows up offenses by serving as a roaming paint protector, but the Knicks have arguably the best big-man shooter in history in Karl-Anthony Towns to pull him out. On the other side, they have, literally, the best Wembanyama defender in the league in Anunoby. 

We all get that it’s tough to win a title with a small point guard as your best player, particularly one who isn’t a good defender. Excluding Stephen Curry, who is the exception of all exceptions, you have to go back to 1990 when Isiah Thomas led the Pistons to a championship to find an example of a small point guard being the 1A alpha on a title team. 

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Becky Hammon has publicly doubted the Knicks’ chances of winning it all for this reason, and Draymond backs her. They’re not alone. History is on their side. But Brunson has been beating the odds his entire basketball life, and at this point, if you don’t believe in his ability to do it again, and by extension the Knicks’ ability to buck the +2200 odds they started the postseason with and win the whole damn thing, you haven’t been paying attention. 

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Police launch investigation into alleged assault of tennis coach at Birmingham Open

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7 minutes ago

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3 June 2026

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Police are investigating after a coach was allegedly assaulted by a member of grounds staff at this week’s Birmingham Open tennis tournament.

According to Australian tennis player James McCabe, the altercation occurred following a dispute between his father and coach Patrick and the staff member at the Edgbaston Priory Club over the use of practice courts on Monday morning.

Writing on Instagram, James McCabe, who is ranked 234 in the world, described the event as a “serious police-reported player/coach safety incident at the tournament venue.

“My account is that he was followed, physically handled by a staff member, and left in pain afterwards.”

West Midlands Police issued a statement as they continued their investigation (Alamy/PA)
West Midlands Police issued a statement as they continued their investigation (Alamy/PA) (Local Library)

West Midlands Police said in a statement: “We received a report of a man being assaulted at a venue in Sir Harrys Road, Birmingham on June 1. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.”

McCabe, who lost his first-round match, added on Wednesday morning that his father had gone to hospital as a result of the incident.

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The tournament is the first of the British grass-court season and features events on the second-tier ATP Challenger and WTA 125 tours.

It is run by the Lawn Tennis Association and a joint statement from the governing body, the ATP and Edgbaston Priory Club read: “There is an ongoing investigation being led by Edgbaston Priory Club with support from the ATP and LTA in relation to an incident during the Lexus Birmingham Open on Monday, June 1.

“This incident involves an allegation made against a member of Edgbaston Priory Club staff by a player’s coach and is currently being reviewed by an investigating officer.

“We will be making no further comment whilst the investigation is ongoing.”

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The grass-court season will continue next week once the French Open concludes, with some of the world’s best players heading to Queen’s.

The third grand slam of the year will then take centre stage later this month when Wimbledon gets underway on 29 June.

Jannik Sinner is the defending men’s champion after beating Carlos Alcaraz in last year’s final, while Iga Swiatek will be aiming to defend the title she won by thrashing Amanda Anisimova in 2025.

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Aaron Rai found key to shocking PGA win in an unlikely place

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21 minutes ago

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3 June 2026

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Sunday at the PGA Championship was set up to be a “free for all” between several of the game’s biggest stars. Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele were firmly in the hunt entering the final round, while Scottie Scheffler lurked on the periphery.

But the chaotic Sunday that was promised at Aronimink never materialized. Scheffler never got out of neutral, McIlroy’s driver betrayed him and Rahm couldn’t figure out the speed of the Golden Age greens. While golf’s stars puttered along on Sunday, Aaron Rai took control of the tournament as he made the turn and ran away from the field to claim his first major title. Rai shocked the world with his PGA Championship victory. Nothing about his recent form suggested that Rai would be the one to leave Philadelphia with the Wanamaker Trophy. He had just one top-20 finish on the year entering the event and had spent the previous week at the opposite-field Myrtle Beach Classic while the PGA Tour’s top players were at the Truist Championship.

But it was there, in Myrtle Beach, that Rai found the key to what would be a career-altering win a week later.

Rai entered Sunday in Myrtle Beach as the 54-hole leader. It was his first time playing in the final group since the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in November. On that Sunday, Rai stared down McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood to take home the trophy. He lived a different life in Myrtle Beach, stumbling on Sunday and eventually finishing three shots behind Brandt Snedeker.

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But that final-group refresher gave Rai what he needed to seamlessly navigate the Sunday cauldron at Aronimink.

“That experience at Myrtle Beach was absolutely invaluable for the PGA, and I’m not sure I would have handled the situation as well as I did at the PGA if I hadn’t experienced it the week before at Myrtle Beach,” Rai said on Tuesday at the Memorial. “Two reasons, really. One, I hadn’t really been in the last group for probably a good five months, six months previous to that. So to get that feel of what it’s like again was huge.

“There were a couple of small things that kind of happened during that round on Sunday. Bits from the crowd, bits from a couple of mistakes that I made in the mid-section of the round. I think I made four bogeys in a row around the turn. I think just kind of where my mind went, certain things that I could have dealt with better, I was very aware of even on the Saturday of the PGA. And I think when you’ve had that experience so recently before, it’s a lot fresher in the mind and it’s a lot easier to make those adjustments. So, that was crucial, really.”

For the first eight holes of his final round at the PGA, Rai was scuffling. He was one over on the round and looked like he might exit the proceedings. But he reset after a bogey at No. 8 and broke free of the pack atop a jammed leaderboard within the hour. He poured in a 33-foot eagle putt at the ninth and added a birdie at No. 11. Then came the short par-4 13th. Like most players on Sunday, Rai’s tee shot found the greenside bunker. All day, players had tried to play a chunk and run out of the front-right bunker to a back-left pin. All of their shots came up short and they left the gettable 13th with a par.

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But Rai did what the course asked; he flew the bunker shot to the back shelf and stopped it 6 feet from the pin. He rolled in the birdie putt and never looked back.

It was a seismic moment for Rai. Majors are the lens through which we discuss seasons, careers and legacies. Those four days outside of Philadelphia will change a lot for Rai, but the gravity of that achievement didn’t set in until he saw his father a few days later.

“I think it took a good few days, I think, for me to really get my head around it,” Rai said. “I don’t think I still have fully. But the following morning it was just more of an excitement really. I only slept for four hours on the Sunday night. I slept really late and then I just couldn’t sleep in the morning either after I woke up. So I think just a lot of excitement. It was only really when my dad came to my house a few days later that we started to speak about it a little bit more that I started to kind of embrace it and let it sink in a little bit more.”

Rai’s father, Amrik, was a talented amateur tennis player who gave up his dream to put clubs in his son’s hands. He had Rai play on a customized course suited to his age, instilled in his son the importance of hard work and dedication from a young age, and helped pave Aaron’s path to his crowning achievement at Aronimink. Amrik missed his son’s win because he had fallen asleep in his camper van back in the U.K.

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But once Amrik arrived in Jacksonville, his son started to feel and grasp the weight of the victory.

“My dad, he’s a very proud man,” Rai said. “He doesn’t show a huge amount of emotions. But the first evening that I saw him, his hug was a little bit different. His smile was a little bit different. We sat, and we spoke for probably a good couple of hours or so. And again, probably just how big of an achievement that was. I could probably hear it more from what I associate with how he is normally and how he was during those first couple of days. So I think, yeah, that definitely held a lot of weight for me internally.”

Aaron Rai is still getting used to his new reality — to more people recognizing him, to the extra media requests, to being called a major champion. But that’s all part of the package, one he found the key to unlocking on a Sunday to forget at an opposite-field event in Myrtle Beach.

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After Jacob Fatu, 5 Anoa’i family members Roman Reigns can recruit to The Bloodline in WWE

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35 minutes ago

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3 June 2026

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Roman Reigns recently recruited Jacob Fatu as the newest member of the Bloodline in WWE. This occurred after The Samoan Werewolf demanded a rematch against the Original Tribal Chief at Clash in Italy 2026.

The Tribal Combat match was not merely about the World Heavyweight Championship or the position as the Tribal Chief. A loss came with consequences. As Fatu lost to the OTC, he was forced to acknowledge the Head of the Table and to fall in line with The Bloodline.

Now that Jacob Fatu has officially joined the group, The Bloodline leader is expected to recruit more family members into the faction soon. In this article, we will discuss five Anoa’i family members the Only Tribal Chief could recruit to his faction in the Stamford-based promotion.

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WWE’s Real Plan for Bloodline Leaked? – Click Here

#5. WWE star Solo Sikoa

The MFTs appeared in the crowd. Roman Reigns says he’s got something for Solo Sikoa and The MFTs and that they are next. #WWEClash

At Clash in Italy 2026, Solo Sikoa and the MFT appeared in the crowd after the Tribal Combat match. Roman spotted the villainous faction and asserted that they are next in line. This seemingly confirms that the MFT is also part of The Bloodline saga and will eventually come face-to-face in the coming months.

Reigns’ words affirm that he wants Solo Sikoa to be part of the group. So, if Solo faces Roman and loses to the OTC, it could lead to him falling in line like Jacob Fatu and becoming the latest recruit in The Bloodline soon.

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#4. Journey Fatu

Journey Fatu is another potential Anoa’i family member who could be recruited to The Bloodline in the sports entertainment juggernaut. For those who may not know, Journey is currently making waves on the independent wrestling circuit.

The 30-year-old star once went viral online, and fans couldn’t stop praising him and immediately anticipated his debut in WWE.

Considering that The Bloodline saga has been revived, this would be the perfect time to bring Journey to the Triple H-led promotion. He can debut as Roman Reigns’ newest Bloodline recruit on Monday Night RAW.

#3. Zilla Fatu

The WWE Universe was expecting Zilla Fatu’s debut at Clash in Italy 2026. Despite the buzz, the real-life Anoa’i member didn’t make his presence felt on the show.

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Fans were surprised that Triple H didn’t pull the trigger on Zilla’s debut at the international premium live event. As we are moving into the next innings of The Bloodline saga, this would be a great time to finally execute Zilla’s debut in World Wrestling Entertainment.

Jacob Fatu has already joined The Bloodline on WWE RAW. Recruiting Zilla Fatu would add a fresh direction for the faction, particularly as Jacob is also the young star’s cousin.

#2. Nia Jax

Nia Jax is currently part of the Women’s Tag Team division on Friday Night SmackDown. The Irresistible Force is paired with Lash Legend and is a former Women’s Tag Team Champion.

The revival of The Bloodline saga would be a great reason to bring Nia into the family drama. The recruitment of the 42-year-old star in The Bloodline would help the faction expand its reach into WWE’s women’s division.

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#1. Rikishi

WWE legend Rikishi is another name on the list who has long been rumored to get involved in The Bloodline saga in WWE. While this is yet to happen, he could be recruited into the Bloodline in the near future. Since the start of The Bloodline saga in the company, Rikishi has reacted to major moments and shared his opinions online.

The veteran star is closely connected to Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa, and Jacob Fatu. It will make complete sense if the TKO-led promotion finally brings Rikishi to the company and incorporates him into The Bloodline story.

The 60-year-old star can serve as the faction’s manager, similar to how Paul Heyman was Roman Reigns’ “Wiseman.”

Overall, it will be interesting to see how the storyline moves forward now that Jacob Fatu has officially joined The Bloodline.

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