Month: June 2023

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MLB Fans Crushed Phillies Announcer For His Lame Reaction to Francisco Lindor’s Funny Throw to First

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor found a funny way to complete a double play Wednesday night with a silly throw to first base that most fans loved to see. 

There was, however, one guy who didn’t like it and he shared his salty feelings about on live TV. 

Phillies announcer Ben Davis was not impressed at all with Lindor throwing a bouncing ball to first to get out a runner who had no chance of getting back to the bag in time. Davis spoke about the play with the tone of someone who had just seen something really awful happen. 

Nothing awful happened, though. It was a fun moment! 

MLB fans crushed him for it: 

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Author: Andy Nesbitt

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2023 Fantasy Football: Top 10 ADP Risers in Best Ball

Fantasy fans now have a clear look at how all 32 NFL teams stack up as we head into the summer months, which makes average draft position (ADP) values closer to what they’ll be in actual fantasy drafts. After all, draft season is almost here! With that said, let’s look at ADPs at Underdog and check out which players’ values have risen lately. The best-ball drafts I’ve examined have occurred in the last week, so it’s the most up to date information available right now.

Here are 10 of the biggest best-ball risers, in order of the most recent ADP data.

Bijan Robinson, RB, Falcons

ADP: 7.8

This should come as a surprise to no one, as Robinson is considered the best rookie in the 2023 class (and it’s not close). In fact, he is currently the second running back coming off the board on average at Underdog, behind only Christian McCaffrey! You might think that’s a bit too high for a player who’s never played a down in the NFL, but it’s proof positive that Robinson’s value is skyrocketing.

Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers

ADP: 9.7

Ekeler has moved back up a few spots into the top three at running back, which of course coincides with the increased contract incentives he’s reached with the Chargers. Let’s not forget, no runner in the league has scored more total touchdowns or fantasy points in the last two seasons than Ekeler, so he’s proven to be a star. He’ll be a top-10 overall pick in best-ball leagues.

Chris Olave, WR, Saints

Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

ADP: 20.7

Olave has moved into the top 12 among fantasy wide receivers, ahead of the likes of DeVonta Smith, Tee Higgins and DK Metcalf. I’m not sure I’m as bullish on Olave with Michael Thomas back in the fold, though who knows how many games we can actually depend on Thomas playing this season. Regardless, Olave is making a move upward in the minds of best-ball participants in recent weeks.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

ADP: 32.2

Jackson’s stock is on the rise after he re-upped with the Ravens, as he’s now the fourth quarterback off the board behind only Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts and Josh Allen. It’ll be interesting to see what their offense looks like under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, as the Ravens will throw the ball more often than under previous OC Greg Roman. Still, Jackson is a mover in best-ball formats.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Jaguars

ADP: 32.7

Best ballers don’t seem to be worried about the fact that Ridley hasn’t played much football in the last two years, as he’s coming off the board in the top three rounds on average. What’s more, Ridley is going ahead of Deebo Samuel, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins. He’s still in the prime of his career at the age of 28, so Ridley could emerge as Jacksonville’s top fantasy wideout.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, free agent

ADP: 39.8

This seems strange because Hopkins was just released by the Cardinals and is currently without a team. Still, best ballers are drafting him higher on average in the last week. Maybe that’s because managers are expecting him to land with either the Chiefs or Bills, who are among my five best fantasy landing spots for Hopkins. Stay tuned, everyone.

Marquise Brown, WR, Cardinals

Michael Chow/USA Today Sports

ADP: 69.7

This isn’t a surprising move for Brown, who is now the No. 1 wideout in Arizona after the release of Hopkins. He was a fantasy star during the first six games of last year when Hopkins was suspended, averaging more than 18 PPR points. Over the final six games, all with Hopkins on the field, Brown’s stats dropped to below eight points. His stock could rise even more in the coming weeks.

Rachaad White RB, Buccaneers

ADP: 80

White’s stock is on the rise after the Buccaneers released Leonard Fournette and didn’t draft a running back to replace him. In fact, White doesn’t have significant competition for the top spot on the depth chart at this point. That could change of course, but for now White is in the RB2 conversation. He’s being picked ahead of James Conner, David Montgomery and Javonte Williams.

Alexander Mattison, RB, Vikings

ADP: 82

Mattison, the current No. 2 running back in Minnesota, is being drafted ahead of projected starters like Conner, Montgomery, Javonte Williams and James Cook. That’s due to the possibility that the Vikings will move on from current starter Dalvin Cook, which would leave Mattison as the team’s unquestioned starter. In that sort of scenario, Mattison would be a solid No. 2 fantasy back.

Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts

ADP: 90.1

Richardson is considered a breakout candidate in fantasy leagues, as the mobile Florida product is considered one of the most athletic quarterbacks to come out of college maybe ever. That’s obvious in his ADP, as Richardson is coming off the board as the QB10, ahead of the likes of Dak Prescott, Tua Tagovailoa and Kirk Cousins. He’s maybe the biggest boom-bust pick in 2023.

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Author: Michael Fabiano

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What Ticket Prices Reveal About Miami’s and Denver’s Paths to the NBA Finals

After a thrilling postseason, the NBA Finals are finally here. The playoffs have featured upsets, blowouts and compelling individual performances, but now the dust has settled, leaving the Heat and Nuggets as the last two teams standing. Miami and Denver have forged divergent paths through the Eastern and Western conferences, respectively, setting up for an exciting NBA Finals matchup.

Ahead of Thursday’s Game 1, we’re looking back on the Heat’s and Nuggets’ journeys to the Finals, using ticketing trends from SI Tickets’ reservations system.

Miami entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference, bouncing the Giannis Antetokounmpo–led No. 1 seed Bucks in five games, stunning Milwaukee in historic fashion. The Heat’s reservation prices for the NBA Finals stood at $78 at the start of the playoffs, underscoring the gravity of the upset and reflecting the Heat’s 44–38 regular season.

As Miami continued its postseason charge, bouncing the Knicks, then taking it to Boston, ticket reservation prices steadily climbed. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Finals ticket prices peaked at $997 as the Heat jumped to a 3–0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. When the Celtics went on their own run, reservation prices plummeted to $326 for Game 7, with the momentum seemingly swinging in Boston’s favor. But Playoff Jimmy and the Heat ultimately prevailed.

The average ticket price for Game 1 of the Finals is posted at $1,443 on SI Tickets.

Courtesy of SI Tickets

The Nuggets had a more straightforward postseason compared to the Heat. Denver started the playoffs as the No. 1 seed, with Finals reservation prices posted at $277. That number was a substantial jump from the start of the season when reservation prices were $155. It makes sense given Denver’s preseason NBA championship odds were +1600, per Basketball Reference.

As the Nuggets dismantled Kevin Durant and the Suns, Finals reservations prices continued to rise, peaking at $647 ahead of the team’s Western Conference finals series against the Lakers. Heading into Game 4, it appeared Denver fans were confident in the prospect of a sweep, with the Nuggets’ Finals reservations topping out at $1,037.

Courtesy of SI Tickets

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Author: Clare Brennan

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Etrian Odyssey’s new remaster makes me miss the Nintendo DS even more

Promotional art for Etrian Odyssey.
Image: Atlus

When Nintendo discontinued the 3DS — and with it, the existence of dual-screen handhelds — I lamented the weird games we would no longer have. High up on that list was Etrian Odyssey: a line of dungeon-crawling role-playing games built explicitly with the handheld’s two screens in mind. They’re games where you fight your way through dangerous labyrinths and literally draw your own map to chart your progress. I had a hard time imagining playing them on any other platform.

Now, thanks to a remastered collection of the first three games for the Switch and PC (called the Origins Collection), I don’t have to imagine. And in a number of ways, these new versions are great, with the same fantastic gameplay coupled with beautiful visuals and…

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Author: Andrew Webster

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Fans Loved Nikola Jokić’s Very Humble Answer About the Nuggets Being Favorites to Win NBA Finals

The 2023 NBA Finals kick off Thursday night and as Game 1 approaches there is one fact that sticks out more than all the others—Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets are the heavy favorites to beat the Heat and win their first-ever title. 

Denver entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the West and punched their ticket to the Finals with a sweep of LeBron James and the Lakers. 

The Heat, the eighth seed in the East, had to play their way into the playoffs and then beat the Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to get this date with Denver. 

Jokić was asked Wednesday about the Heat being underdogs in the series and the two-time NBA MVP had a very thoughtful take on it: 

NBA fans loved it: 

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Author: Andy Nesbitt

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Internet Divided Over Video Of Black Cop Shooting White Cop Who Was Choking Out Racist White Woman Who Called Police On Black Teenagers

CHICAGO—Following a widely shared post that sparked debate and confusion among online factions of every stripe, the internet was reportedly divided Thursday over a video that documented a Black cop shooting a white cop for choking out a racist white woman who had just called the police on some Black teenagers. “This…

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Guy Who Sucks At Being A Person Sees Huge Potential In AI

SAN MATEO, CA—After spending the past three decades of his life being totally unable and unwilling to engage in any meaningful way with the world around him, James Parker, a local guy who sucks at being a person, told reporters Thursday that he saw huge potential in AI. “While it’s still in its early phase, artificial…

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MLB Best Bet: Here’s Why We Like the Road Dog in Guardians-Twins

The Twins (29-27) host the Guardians (25-30) for an AL Central showdown Thursday night. Both teams have plenty to play for, as the Guardians are only 3.5 games behind the division-leading Twins.

Tanner Bibee gets the start for the visiting Guardians, and he has been nothing short of fantastic for Cleveland this year. Bibee has allowed more than two earned runs in only one of his six major-league starts, and his ERA is a sparkling 2.88. Statcast says it’s real, too — his xERA is 2.85. Bibee is striking batters out at a rate of nine per nine, while limiting hard contact.

Pablo Lopez gets the start at home for the Twins. Across 11 games started this year, Lopez has an ERA of 4.11. Lopez is striking out batters at a rate of more than 11 per nine, but his hard-hit and barrel rate are in the bottom half of the league. Lopez has an ERA of 5.46 in home games this season with an ERA of 3.00 on the road.

The pitching advantage goes to the Guardians today, as their bullpen has also been better of late, with an ERA of 2.38 across the past two weeks of play (fourth-best in MLB).

Both the Twins and the Guardians won and put up big offensive numbers yesterday vs. teams with better records (Cleveland beat the Orioles; Minnesota beat the Astros). However, both the Guardians and the Twins have averaged only four runs per game across the past two weeks.

The Guardians are 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Twins are 4-6.

This matchup sets up to be a close one, so I’ll take plus money for the Guardians to win on the moneyline.

The Pick: Guardians ML +120 

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Author: Jennifer Piacenti