Look, I know I said I was going to do one newsletter about the NFL and make the Friday newsletter all about all the other sports in the world …
…
…
… but sometimes football is just too funny to limit to one newsletter.
We’ll be back Sunday with college football, Monday with NFL, and then late next week with other sports (but potentially also football)!
Remember: Here’s where to subscribe if you want three good free sports newsletters in your inbox every week!
– Rodger Sherman
Today’s Lineup
The Rams lost by 20; we’re not chalking that all up to the 49ers
Let’s not make Cavan Sullivan another cautionary tale about soccer prodigies (he’s playing great, though)
The tennis is too good
⏱️ Losing Time ⏱️
Remember two days ago, when I published an NFL preview newsletter and told you all about how the Rams are a superteam that is going to dominate the NFL?
About that. In the NFL’s first game held in Australia, the 49ers rocked the Rams, 27-7. The Rams looked like a team that had just gotten off a 9,000-mile, 15-hour flight the day before. You know, because the Rams had just gotten off a 9,000-mile, 15-hour flight the day before.
In the biggest football-related timing miscalculation since Western Michigan vs. Michigan, the Rams flew to Australia on Wednesday for a game to be played Thursday, while the 49ers flew in a week ahead of time. Sure enough, the Niners looked rested and ready, as if they had spent the prior week getting acclimated and doing photo ops with various marsupials.
Honestly, if the 49ers had just won, like, 21-17, I would give 100 percent credit to the 49ers. But this was a 20-point win. The ass kicking was so thorough, I have decided that the biggest reason the Rams lost was because of their cockamamie scheme to defeat the concept of time zones.
The Rams don’t lose often, and they don’t lose like this. The 20-point margin of defeat was as big as all five of the Rams’ losses last year combined.
McVay’s offense had scored double digits in 49 consecutive games, including postseason games, since Week 9 of the 2023 season.
Melbourne is 17 hours ahead of Los Angeles, and the Rams lost by 20. That’s more than one point per time zone.
Matthew Stafford had a particularly bad outing, failing to throw a touchdown after throwing at least one in every regular season game last year. I get it. As a fellow Guy In His Late 30s With Back Issues, I also don’t perform well shortly after getting off long plane rides.
New acquisition Myles Garrett literally did not show up on the stat sheet — no tackles and no sacks for the player voted as the #1 player in the NFL by his peers. So the Rams had a miles problem and a Myles problem.
(Unretiring legend Aaron Donald didn’t make the trip to Australia. The combo of him and Garrett is the real reason I’m excited to watch the Rams this year.)
Last year, the Rams were praised for flying to London the day before a game against the Jaguars and dominating, 35-7. They were the first team to attempt that travel plan. But it wasn’t really the same as their Australia plan. They spent a week on the East Coast after playing the Ravens. And after consulting with the Sports! staff of sports scientists, I can confirm that a six-hour flight across the Atlantic is shorter than a 15-hour flight to Australia.
According to Peter Schrager, the Rams sent 15 staffers on test runs to Australia over the last two years “to track their bodies and sleep rhythms.” Just throwing this out there: if any sports teams would like to use me as a guinea pig to go on trips to foreign countries, I’m willing to do that, for science. “Hey, can you send me back to Australia to see how my body adjusts to being in Australia for a full week? I also think we should test what happens if the players drink a ton of beer while they’re there.”
Unfortunately, I can’t promise that studying my body will provide useful data that can be applied to elite athletes. (As noted: 30s, back issues.)
OK, switching the vibes from making fun of the Rams: I really enjoyed the Australia of it all!
My favorite moment was after the first field goal, when the NFL officials made the same signal as Australian Rules referees when somebody scores a goal:
Australia has a huge NFL fanbase. There were 100,021 fans in attendance, making it the seventh-most attended game in NFL history. The Melbourne Cricket Ground has a listed capacity of 100,024, which implies that there were exactly three empty seats.
Also, great job by Noah Eagle repeatedly saying “Melbourne” like an Australian.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said after the game that “I don’t believe (the travel plan) is why we didn’t play well enough. I really don’t.” But I mean … we’ll see? Because either this was a one-off logistical failure … or the Rams really are 20 points worse than their opponents, despite being the most talented team in the league and led by one of game’s greatest coaches.
🇺🇸⚽️ American Hope ⚽️🇺🇸
We are trying to freak out an appropriate amount about 16-year-old Cavan Sullivan.
Since the MLS returned from the World Cup break, the talented teen has taken a big leap forward with the Philadelphia Union. It’s no longer a novelty that this literal child is playing in the pros; he clearly belongs, and looks like one of the best players on the field for the hottest team in the league. In Philadelphia’s last six games, Sullivan has scored three goals with six assists.
Here’s the best banger of the bunch from a 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls: three touches, two feet, one ball curled perfectly into the back of the net.
It’s hard not to be excited about Sullivan. The sky is the limit, and soon he’ll be in sky blue: his contract has a clause that allows Manchester City to sign him when he turns 18, and it sure feels like they’ll pick up that option.
But he’s also a literal child. And when America has produced young talents like this in the past, we’ve often prioritized hype over a sensible development plan.
So we’re trying to be normal about this. We’re not going to hype this kid up like the famous flameouts of the past. DO NOT share this article telling your friends about The Next American Soccer Sensation. (Simply ask them, “Are you subscribed to this great free newsletter about sports?” and casually send them send them the link to subscribe.) It’s cool that Sullivan is thriving at 16 … so what can we do to make sure he’ll still be thriving at 26?
2009, for the record. That’s when Sullivan was born. His parents could have taken a picture of baby Cavan on an iPhone, which came out in 2007, and posted it on Twitter or Facebook, websites that existed when he was born. (Not Instagram, though — that launched in 2010.)
Sullivan made his MLS debut a little over two years ago, in July 2024, at 14 years and 293 days old. He broke the record set by Freddy Adu, the #1 cautionary tale for Not Overhyping A Teenager. We were putting that kid in Sierra Mist commercials with Pele when he was 15.
(BTW, I saw Freddy Adu’s first MLS goal for DC United, against the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, at my buddy Alex’s 13th birthday party. What’s up Alex, I know you’re reading this.)
Sullivan plays for Philadelphia because he is from Philadelphia. He came up through the team’s academy. His older brother, Quinn, has been playing for the Union since 2021; they play on opposite sides of the Union midfield.
Sullivan still lives at home with his parents. Which is normal. Because he’s a teenager. The Union’s arena in Chester is about 40 minutes from their home in Norristown. He still has to do chores around the house, and he complained to Sports Illustrated about walking the family’s Great Danes. (Sullivan is only 150 pounds; they might be bigger than him.)
So, how good is this kid? REALLY GOOD. Per his Fotmob page, Sullivan is in the 98th percentile of big chances created among MLS midfielders, as well as the 95th percentile for expected goals, the 94th percentile for expected assists, and the 98th percentile for successful dribbles.
John Muller broke down for The Guardian how Sullivan is one of the best teens ever in MLS history — and that includes 18- and 19-year-olds. Sullivan is on par with Canada’s Alphonso Davies, who played for the Vancouver Whitecaps until he was 17 before becoming one of the world’s best left backs for Bayern Munich.
But the hype has been there for years. When Sullivan officially signed with the Union at age 14, he was given the largest Homegrown contract in MLS history, and it included that clause promising him to Manchester City when he is 18, replete with extensive details about how much money the Union will make if Manchester City sells him at any point.
Sullivan’s deal with Manchester City is the result of various FIFA and FA rules meant to protect minors from being exploited. English clubs can’t bring foreign players to England until they turn 18, but they can make deals with those players to come over after they turn 18.
Now that he’s 16, Sullivan could hypothetically play for one of Manchester City’s various sister clubs in Europe — like Girona in Spain, or Troyes in France — but it looks like he’ll stay stateside until he’s 18.
The results are showing up. Remember the World Cup, all the way back in June and July? The Union haven’t lost an MLS game since. They’ve gone from last place to a likely spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
It’s been an odd season for Philly. Last year, the Union had the best record in MLS. But they started the season with six consecutive losses. Last year, first-year coach Bradley Carnell won Coach of the Year; this year, he was fired after five games. They’re in position to make the playoffs as the 8-seed, but at their current pace, they will certainly rise even higher before the season ends in November.
What I like about Sullivan is his swagger. A few older MLS players clearly think they can put the 16-year-old in his place with physical play, but he stands up for himself. He got a red card (later rescinded) for jumping into the fray when an Inter Miami player body-slammed his brother, Quinn. Sullivan also brings a lot of energy to his celebrations, although he has been accused by one of his teammates of aura farming.
And Sullivan has enough self-belief that he thinks he could’ve been the difference in Team USA’s World Cup flameout. “Thinking of that Belgium game, I think I can come into that game on the right side and make a difference, right?” Hell yeah, kid.
Two of Sullivan’s brothers have already made an impact on the international scene … but not for the USA. Sullivan’s grandmother is from Bangladesh, and his brothers Declan and Ronan, who play college soccer for Saint Joseph’s, helped Bangladesh win the South Asian U-20 championship, a rare soccer success for the 181st-ranked nation in the FIFA standings.
Sullivan’s first chance with the USMNT could come soon. The team has a pair of friendlies with Peru and Chile at the end of the month, and American fans are begging Mauricio Pochettino to bring the 16-year-old into the camp.
But Pochettino is being cautious: “One of our responsibilities is to protect this guy because sometimes if you play well and you are 17, 16, or 18, people talk about ‘you are Messi’ or ‘you are a big star.’ … If after you are confused and you don't manage well, that can be dangerous for your career.”
I’d love to see Sullivan in the red, white, and blue in a few weeks … but what I’d really love to see is Sullivan winning World Cup games for the USA in 2030 and 2034.
And while it’s easy to dream big … right now, this kid seems to be really enjoying playing in America, in his hometown, in the lineup next to his brother.
🎾 Tennis after dark 🎾
Speaking of body clocks: One of the great matches in U.S. Open history took place Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, as Ben Shelton came back from two sets down against Carlos Alcaraz and won the latest-played match in tournament history in a fifth set tiebreaker at 3:30 in the morning. Shoutout to all the fans who stayed until the finish. (Those tickets are expensive! I wouldn’t leave either!)
The timing was the result of a spectacular day of tennis when every match lasted as long as possible. Aryna Sabalenka’s match against Linda Nosková went to a third-set tiebreaker … then Francis Tiafoe’s match against Alex Michelsen went to a fifth-set tiebreaker … then the billionaire-off between Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro went three sets …
My dumb take after watching a lot of tennis this week: I feel like tennis has to be the sport with the widest variance in how long it lasts. Every NFL game lasts somewhere between two hours and 57 minutes and three hours and 20 minutes. Tennis could last 90 minutes or five hours.
🔒 D. Lock + Lockdown D 🔒
The actual first game of the NFL season took place Wednesday night, and the Seahawks won despite an injury forcing backup Drew Lock into the game in the first quarter. They held on because of three fourth-quarter interceptions by Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. The first three-interception game of his career, and he did it all in one quarter.
🏐 Wet sets 🏐
College volleyball is more popular than ever, and tried capitalizing on that popularity with a pair of outdoor games at Wrigley Field in front of 40,000 fans. The only problem: You can’t actually play volleyball games outdoors. Humidity created condensation on the court, which led to players repeatedly slipping and falling and attempting to mop the floor on their hands and knees. Eventually, the games were canceled, and the players entertained fans with karaoke.
🛣️ A long strange trip 🛣️
I was captivated by this Athletic article about a minor league team in the Pioneer League that had lost 40 straight games, the longest losing streak in professional baseball history. The RedPocket Mobiles (named after a wireless carrier) have no home venue, and were placed in the league to balance out the schedules for everybody else. The players have the league’s lowest salaries and no off days from May until the end of the season in September. And on the day The Athletic published that story … the Mobiles won, their first win since July.
On Deck is written by Bradley Locker.
🦬 Bills 🦬 vs. 🤠 Texans 🤠
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET in Houston (CBS)
This game should be in primetime. Josh Allen and the Bills begin the Joe Brady era looking to finally reach the Super Bowl, although facing the daunting Texans defense won’t be easy. Houston’s offense also faces questions, including quarterback C.J. Stroud, who hopes to bounce back from a disastrous postseason with the support of David Montgomery and a reshuffled offensive line. Allen has never won in NRG Stadium; they lost 23-19 there last year.
🧑🚀 Astros 🧑🚀 vs. ☀️ Rays ☀️
Series begins Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET in Tampa Bay (MLB.TV)
Another round of Braves-Phillies is certainly worth your time, but to keep things fresh, let’s pivot to this critical series between AL division leaders. The Astros have settled in atop the West thanks to MVP frontrunner Yordan Álvarez, who very much remains alive in the Triple Crown race, but players like Jeremy Peña, Christian Walker, and Cam Smith have also helped. Meanwhile, the Rays have held firm in the East with boppers Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, and Jonathan Aranda. Caminero (39) is the only AL player with more home runs than Álvarez (38), so we could see balls hit a long way in Tropicana Field.
⭕ #1 Ohio State ⭕ vs. 🤘 #4 Texas 🤘
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET in Austin (ABC)
This might be the best college football game of the entire regular season. Want an NFL Draft preview? OSU receiver Jeremiah Smith and Texas QB Arch Manning are likely top five picks, and don’t forget about quarterback Julian Sayin on Ohio State, and edge rusher Colin Simmons, tackle Trevor Goosby, and receiver Cam Coleman on Texas. Manning and the Longhorns want revenge after falling 14-7 in a sloppy game last season. The winner of this game should emerge as the national title favorites.
🏀🏆 FIBA Women’s World Cup Final 🏆🏀
Sunday, 2 p.m. ET in Berlin (TNT/TruTV/HBO Max)
Can the Americans win a fifth consecutive title? Since a three-point scare against Italy last weekend, Team USA has been dialed in, routing the Czech Republic and Hungary. With a victory against Spain in the semifinals, Napheesa Collier, Caitlin Clark, and Paige Bueckers would face either France or Germany in the title match.
🗽🎾 U.S. Open 🎾🗽
Semifinals continue Friday at 3 p.m. ET
The final Grand Slam on the tennis calendar sure hasn’t disappointed. The highlight of the final weekend is an All-American clash between Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe in primetime. Whoever wins could become the first American man to win the U.S. Open since Andy Roddick in 2003. The other semifinal has #1 Alexander Zverev and Karen Khachanov. (It’s the only match of the whole U.S. Open that has had cheap tickets — RS.) The best two in the world duke it out for the women’s title Saturday. Aryna Sabalenka is eyeing her third straight trophy against Elena Rybakina.
🇪🇸🏎️ Spanish Grand Prix 🏎️🇪🇸
Sunday, 9 a.m. ET in Madrid (Apple TV)
Kimi Antonelli wasn’t fazed by his grid penalty last weekend, prevailing in the Italian Grand Prix for his first win since July 19. The Mercedes phenom holds a 66-point lead over George Russell for the season crown. A victory in Madrid would inch him that much closer on a track that’s featured two different winners (Oscar Piastri, Max Verstappen) in its last two runnings. The legendary Lewis Hamilton also can’t be forgotten after winning five straight in Madrid from 2017-21.
🌍🏃♂️ World Athletics Ultimate Championship 🌍🏃♂️
Begins Friday in Budapest (NBC/Peacock)
The inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship features touted track and field (but mainly track) athletes competing in one setting. Thanks to the draw of a $10 million prize pool, the best athletes in the world will be there, including pole vaulting sensation Mondo Duplantis and American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson.
🥊 Garcia vs. Benn 🥊
Saturday in Las Vegas (Paramount+)
Ryan Garcia has swiftly risen up the boxing ranks thanks to his quick hands and bravado, winning his first title in February. He’ll make his initial welterweight belt defense against Conor Benn, the #4-ranked middleweight making his debut with Zuffa Boxing. Neither fighter has secured a knockout since 2023, but an avalanche of pre-fight chatter may mean we see some haymakers.
