Good Morning! Today is Monday, June 17, and here’s what happened over the weekend in the world of sports.

US OPEN GOLF

We begin this week by congratulating Bryson DeChambeau, winner of the U.S. Open in spectacular fashion. The entertaining, back-and-forth affair came down to the final hole– needing a par to avoid a playoff, Bryson came up with this spectacular shot from the bunker. DeChambeau then made the ensuing putt for his second career US Open victory.

For a while on Sunday afternoon, it looked like Rory McIlroy was going to win this tournament. He came up with multiple long birdie putts to start the back nine and held a two shot lead over DeChambeau down the stretch. But in the end, Rory’s quest for a fifth major (and first in 10 years) was stymied when he missed two four-foot putts, including one on the final hole. It was a heartbreaking loss for the fan-favorite. Americans Patrick Cantlay and Tony Finau finished two shots back, tied for third. 

All together, it really was just a great celebration of golf at Pinehurst in North Carolina. You really can’t capture the intensity and the drama of the US Open in this recap, but I think the best summary of Bryson, the course, and the simply fabulous weekend is this video from after the tournament, courtesy of the Golf Channel. Enjoy. 

NBA and NHL

These finals are mirror images of each other, so let’s recap ‘em both as one…

It was a bad weekend to be a team up 3-0 and going for a sweep. The Celtics were demolished by the Mavericks 122-84, in a game where the starters were pulled in the third quarter. And the Panthers didn’t fare much better, losing 8-1 to the Edmonton Oilers.

You love to see a desperate team put up a good fight, but the two blowouts made for a weekend that lacked a lot of drama. And although it’s tough to close out a series, it’s just as difficult to extend a season the second time– both the Celtics and Panthers should feel confident as they head home for game five.

MLB

Time for some whip-around coverage after a busy weekend of baseball. We’ll do a full standings check-in once the NBA and NHL finals are over and there’s a moment to catch our breath.

• Alex Verdugo returned to Boston for the first time since being traded this winter, and hit a home run for his New York Yankees on the very first pitch he saw. Boston would take two out of three from their rivals, however.

• The Mets are 5-0 since the McDonald’s mascot Grimace threw out the first pitch. Strange? Yes, but these are the New York Mets we’re talking about. They’ll take wins anyway they can get them.

• The Orioles might be the most fun team in baseball. Baltimore won two out three against the Phillies over the weekend, including a four-home run game against Philly ace Zach Wheeler on Sunday.

• They won the game and Shohei Ohtani had two homeruns (again), but the Los Angeles Dodgers had a rough day on Sunday against the Royals. Free-agent acquisition and star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto was placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury, and MVP candidate Mookie Betts is out for an unknown but likely very lengthy time after a hit-by-pitch broke his hand.

SOCCER

A miraculous appearance and goal from Denmark’s Christian Eriksen might already be the highlight of the entire tournament. At the last championships three years ago, Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in the middle of a game. Watching the game live, Eriksen’s collapse was one of the scariest things I’ve ever witnessed. To see him not only alive and well, but scoring for his country again is truly amazing. The entire sports world has to smile watching the beloved midfielder thriving again on the pitch. 

Host Germany and betting-favorite England started their Euros with victories. Germany handily defeated Scotland 3-0, while the Brits struggled a bit in a 1-0 win against a pesky Serbian team.

At just 16 years old, Lamine Yamal is the youngest player ever in a European championship. He registered an assist in Spain’s dominant 3-0 win over Croatia.

Wout Weghorst not only has a great name, he also scored a great goal for the Netherlands. Coming off the bench in the 82nd minute, Weghorst gave his country the lead and the victory just minutes later, as the Dutch beat Poland 2-1.

WNBA

Caitlin Clark had her best performance of the season (23 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists) and the Indiana Fever beat the Chicago Sky 91-83. The well-played game on the court was overshadowed, however, by a flagrant foul on Chicago’s Angel Reese, called when she hit Clark across the head going for a block. It didn’t seem like there was any malicious intent, and yet… the rivalry continues. 

In a finals rematch from last season, the New York Liberty took down the Las Vegas Aces 90-82. The Aces are really struggling this season at 6-6. When they won the title last season, Vegas lost only six games all year. 

You’ll see more in top plays of the weekend, but what a start to the College World Series! The double-elimination format is a bit confusing, but so far only Virginia has been eliminated. Number one seed Tennessee is one win away from advancing to the championship.

TENNIS

The grass court season has officially begun, and it’s started in style! Tennis power couple Katie Boulter (Great Britain) and Alex de Minaur (Australia) each won tournaments on Sunday. Could love in tennis suddenly become a good thing heading into Wimbledon?

NEWSWORTHY NOTES

The legendary Charles Barkley announced he is retiring from broadcasting after next season. Amidst a swirling landscape of changing TV rights, the best desk analyst in sports has decided he’s had enough. Next season’s Inside the NBA pre and post game shows have been  upgraded from must-see TV to potentially the best show of 2025.

US cricket advanced to the super eight round of the T20 World Cup. It’s been a wild ride for the underdog American team, including a shocking win over Pakistan. The action continues later this week, as the popularity of cricket in America skyrockets.

Plenty of highlights so far from the US swimming Olympic Trials, including a dominant swim by all-time great Katie Ledecky, who is heading back to the Olympics this summer after qualifying in the 400 meter freestyle. In addition to Ledecky, Gretchen Walsh set a world record in the 100 meter butterfly– although the record was set in a semifinal heat, so Walsh still hasn’t qualified to represent the US in Paris. Olympic trials continue all week.

Not quite the Super Bowl, but the Birmingham Stallions are the champions of the UFL. Congrats to all you Stallions fans out there!

MLB umpire Pat Hoberg is under investigation for sports betting. Not much to say here except uh-oh… and we’ll wait to hear more information soon.

TOP PLAYS OF THE WEEKEND

10, 9, 8, and 7: A couple of crazy College World Series endings. UNC over Virginia, then Tennessee over Florida State, followed by Kentucky over NC State, and finally Texas A&M over Florida

6: Brewers outfielder Blake Perkins threw out the winning run at the plate

5: Ryan McMahon steals home!

4: Twins outfielder Auston Martin gets UP to rob a home run

3: The game was still in the balance when Stuart Skinner made this incredible save

2: Inter Miami, are you kidding me? Any other weekend, this goal would be number one.

NUMBER ONE: Francisco Molinari steps up the tee with one shot to make the cut… far and away the best thing I saw all weekend.

TODAY’S BIG GAMES (all times Eastern)

College World Series: 2 PM and 7 PM  on ESPN

Star pitcher and hitter Jac Caglianone leads Florida against NC State in an elimination game, while Texas A&M takes on Kentucky in an SEC showdown as each team looks to move closer to the championship round.

MEN’S SOCCER: European Championships, 6 AM on Fubo, 9 AM and Noon on Fox

The Euros march along, with Romania taking on Ukraine, Belgium battling Slovakia, and France vs Austria.

NBA FINALS: Dallas Mavericks @ Boston Celtics, 8:30 PM on ABC

Can Boston close out Dallas and win their 18th NBA championship? 

MLB: Pirates @ Reds, 6:40 on FS1

I told you this would be a regularly highlighted event- it’s Paul Skenes day! The rookie phenom takes the mound for Pittsburgh in this divisional battle against Cincinnati.

Olympic Trials: Swimming and diving, all-day and all-week on Peacock

Jump into the pool and root for Team USA. The trials are good training for us fans, as we prepare for the Olympics in just over one month.

What a weekend! And another great week begins… Have a wonderful Monday