Unforgettable moment in the USA basketball team and the newest Olympic sport
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Introduction. Good morning! Show some urgency today.
Tradition: Four MVPs, one indelible victory
There are close games, and then there are games dramatic enough to be remembered for a long time. Yesterday’s victory by the United States over Serbia is one of them, and it was all because of a single quarter of play.
Let’s zoom out:
- For three quarters, it looked like this semifinal would be the worst defeat in the history of American Olympic basketball. Things weren’t going well for Team USA and Bogdan Bogdanović turned into a monster. The most talented team in American Olympic history crashed. At one point they were 17 points behind.
- We will remember the fourth quarter. Four former NBA MVPs – LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid – all played at the peak of their careers. They played well together and showed incredible grit in the home stretch.
- Curry in particular was first classscored 36 points in the game and sank nine 3-pointers. James added a triple-double. Durant had a huge basket in crunch time. Embiid scored 19 points.
After the buzzer sounded, a kind of collective goosebumps spread across social media. To see James, Curry and Durant – three of the 15 best NBA players any times — to play on the same team and represent their country like that was just something special. Steve Kerr, coach of the US national team, said he was “truly honored to have played in this game.” Same thing, but from my couch.
On Saturday it’s all about the gold medal: Hosts France, who narrowly beat Germany in another close semi-final. The Americans are big favorites and the focus will be on Embiid, who spurned the French to play for Team USA. Don’t let Wemby get hot.
Elsewhere, four Americans won a medal yesterday:
news
Jones: Lamb deal does not require “urgency”
There is no NFL owner like Jerry Jones who said yesterday he has “no sense of urgency” to sign star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb – a training camp holdout – to a contract. Jones made similar comments about running back Ezekiel Elliott in 2019 before signing him to a big contract. “I was at Nobu two days ago. Give that as the reason (for the stalled talks),” Jones said.
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Explanations: The new sport at the Olympic Games in Paris
A sport that battle in the official Olympic calendar? Register with us. Get to know breaking, the only new sport at these games. A little background:
- A urban dance style that includes acrobatic movements and stylized footworkBreaking originated in street parties in the Bronx in the 1970s. (Call it “breakdancing,” but you risk sounding old-fashioned.)
- The athletes are called B-Boys and B-Girls, where the “B” stands for – yes – breaking.
- At the Olympic Games, athletes will dance freestyle, improvise and adapt their movements to the beat of the DJ, which they only find out when the competition begins. To be honest, I’m worried about her.
The format: 16 B-Boys and B-Girls compete against each other in head-to-head battles. The first round is a round-robin tournament, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and the medal round.
Some Americans to keep an eye on: 30-year-old Victor Montalvo (aka “B-Boy Victor”) is currently the top-ranked American breaker in the world. On the women’s side, we’re eyeing 35-year-old Sunny Choi, a former Estée Lauder executive who won gold at the 2023 Pan American Games after quitting her job.
David Aldridge wrote a great story about the deep history of breaking earlier this week that you should read. Fighting begins today at 10 a.m. ET.
Feedback loop: We are divided about Snoop
As you can see above, many of you can’t get enough of Snoop Dogg at the Olympics. But a few more of you think he’s a bit too present.
Two thoughts:
- I tend to agree with the majority, but maybe that’s just being grumpy. I love Snoop Dogg. People love Snoop Dogg. NBC obviously loves Snoop Dogg. We should make people enjoy things, right?
- Reader James F. came up with a solution that I honestly should have thought about right from the start: Mmaybe this is the perfect amount of Snoop. Nothing more, nothing less. A third option might have been the best.
Thank you as always for your vote.
Olympic Headquarters
What you should see
All times Eastern
Three more days. Today on deck:
- Women’s basketball semifinal: Team USA vs. Australia, 11:30 a.m. on NBC and Peacock
- Break, 10:00 am and 3:30 pm on Peacock
- Athletics: 4×100 relay for men and women, 1:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock
Other medals decided today: Swimming, taekwondo, table tennis, sport climbing, sailing, canoeing, weightlifting, field hockey, rhythmic gymnastics, water polo, football, volleyball, cycling, wrestling, handball, beach volleyball and boxing.
Medal table
- 🇺🇸 United States – 103 (30 Gold, 38 Silver, 35 Bronze)
- 🇨🇳 China — 73 (29 gold, 25 silver, 19 bronze)
- 🇫🇷 France — 54 (14 gold, 19 silver, 21 bronze)
Pulse Picks
Two years ago Tua Tagovailoa looked in the mirror and asked himself: “Am I bad?” His mentality has changed after two brilliant years under coach Michael McDanielwhich the entire Dolphins Attack around the left-handedness of his quarterback. Take time today to read Jourdan Rodrigues’ captivating story.
Austin Mock analyzes whether the Cowboys can actually afford to pay Daniel Prescott in what Austin calls “broken” QB economics. Good read.
Can the rest of the world catch up Team USA In Women’s basketball? Our experts are not sure.
I missed Dana O’Neil’s story from the Olympic Skateboarding Competition that is currently sounded like a really good time.
Most clicked in yesterday’s newsletter: Our story about Quincy Hall’s impressive comeback victory in the 400 meters yesterday… and his argument with Noah Lyles. Sharp.
Most read on the website yesterday: Did the NCAA really penalize Jim Harbaugh for a cheeseburger?
Top podcast in The athlete network: Scoop City had DeMeco Ryans on board, arguably the most celebrated coach in the NFL, to talk about the aggressive goals of the Texans.
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(Top photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
