Why the European Super League drama escalated so quickly, plus new NHL power rankings

Happy Wednesday! You’re nearly midway through the week and whether that does not make you’re feeling a bit better, just think … you’ve already made it farther than The Super League. Big stuff! We’re going to discuss how that whole object blew up in a matter of days. It honestly might be some of the funniest stories in the history of soccer.  

We’re going to also dive into a couple of other things, including the sports world’s reaction to the day gone by’s biggest story: Derek Chauvin’s homicide conviction. And, yes, that tweet from the Raiders is STILL up, in case you were wondering.

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Wednesday also means we’ve got a mailbag to receive to, so make yourself comfortable. We’re going in. 

📰 What you wish to have to realize 1. European Super League comes crashing down ⚽

Here lies the Super League … April 18, 2021 – April 20, 2021. 

So, keep in mind that European Super League that we discussed on Monday morning? The one who was once going to feature more than a dozen of the top soccer teams from England (including six Premier League clubs), Italy and Spain? Yeah, it doesn’t seem like that’s going to be happening.

Plans for the breakaway league were announced on Sunday, and the day gone by it was once announced those plans have been suspended because of teams backing out amid intense backlash from fans and governing bodies. You must say things have escalated quickly.  

So, how’d we get here?

All six Premier League clubs (Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham) dropped out of the project on TuesdayInter Milan and AC Milan also announced they were abandoning the Super LeagueThe withdrawals come after UEFA and FIFA threatened to ban teams/players that participated in the competition. Many fans also protested the new league this week

And whether that does not appear to be enough of a mess already, get this: Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward announced that he was once stepping down from his position shortly after the club announced its withdrawal from the Super League. Man U says that his exit is unrelated to this week’s drama, but that timing certain is convenient. 

Here is a piece of the observation that the Super League released on Tuesday:

“We are proposing a new European competition because the existing system does not work. Our proposal is aimed at allowing the sport to evolve while generating resources and stability for the full football pyramid … Provided the current circumstances, we will reconsider the most appropriate steps to reshape the project”

It’s honestly pretty impressive that they were in a position to get a hold of a multi-billion dollar idea that seemingly everyone hated such a lot that it led to a big ol’ “never brain” approximately 48 hours later. Back to the drawing board, I guess! 

2. Sports world reacts to Derek Chauvin conviction
USATSI

The big national story of the day the day gone by was once the conviction of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police offer who was once charged with the homicide of George Floyd final year. Floyd’s killing sparked countless protests that aimed to spotlight social injustice and systemic racism in The usa, especially relating to the country’s police system. Many leagues, teams and athletes from the sports world participated in those protests, so it wasn’t surprising that the news of Chauvin’s conviction permeated sports the day gone by.

A jury found Chauvin guilty on all three counts he faced (unintentional second-degree homicide, third-degree homicide and second-degree manslaughter)
LeBron James tweeted a one-word response to the conviction: “ACCOUNTABILITY”Karl-Anthony Towns, via Twitter: “Justice and accountability! Things I never thought I would see. There’s a lot more work to do, but this is an amazing start working toward the reform this country NEEDS!”Ryan Clark, via Twitter: “Consider, the jurors only did the correct object. Nothing special, not above & beyond. They held Derek Chauvin accountable for his actions under the law. That was once their job, & they did it. We just don’t seem to be use to seeing it. This was once the judgement we as a country deserved.”

Quite a few other notable athletes (and leagues) weighed in as polite, with most addressing the results of the trial while also recognizing that there is more to be done to move justice and equality efforts forward. One response that wasn’t especially received polite was once a questionable and tone deaf tweet sent out by the Raiders, which it sounds as if came straight from owner Mark Davis. (LeBron in point of fact didn’t appreciate that Raiders one.) 

3. NHL Power Rankings: Here come the Bruins (again) 🏒

We’re approximately a month absent from my favorite time of year — playoff hockey season. The NHL’s steady season is closing in on the finish line and, while I’m already having a look forward to some of the likely playoff matchups we will get someday (namely Lightning-Hurricanes and Avalanche-Golden Knights), there are also numerous races in the standings to regulate in the meanwhile. 

The newest edition of my weekly Power Rankings are out and whether there’s one object to spotlight above all else, it’s how closely grouped the top of the East division is at this juncture. We’ve got four teams from that division a number of the top 10, with a fifth threatening just out of doors the top 10. Here’s how it looks:

AvalancheGolden KnightsHurricanesLightningPanthersMaple LeafsCapitalsIslandersBruinsPenguins

You’ll be able to find the full rankings (at the side of some analysis) correct here.

I’m going to say this approximately my Bruins: I’ve had quite a lot of doubts and limited expectations for them for many of the year, and they appeared like a very mediocre team for a long stretch. But they have transformed into an absolutely different team since the business deadline (now 5-0 in the Taylor Corridor era) and now I’m thinking I’ll have to recalibrate my expectations whether they retain this up.

No doubt approximately it, I am able to receive hurt again. 

4. College football coaches under the most pressure 🏈
CBS Sports graphic

You realize what they say approximately coaches … they are hired just to be fired (they say that, correct? I am not just making that up?) The grind to stay employed will also be hard, particularly in college football where the coaching carousel stays spinning at a stable pace. But some coaches are heading into this season closer to being fired than others, so our Barrett Sallee has highlighted a couple of under the most pressure:

Kirby Smart, Georgia: The Bulldogs have the most efficient QB in the SEC and the most efficient defense in the SEC, so the expectations are very high. So is the pressure on Smart, who basically has to lead his team to the College Football Playoff this year or else face a ton of questions and scrutinyLincoln Riley, Oklahoma: “Certain, he has led his team to the CFP in three of his four years at the helm, but that’s a double-edged sword. It became obvious in those three seasons that Oklahoma is a team that’s ceiling is getting to the CFP, not winning it.”Jim Harbaugh, Michigan: Many of us were surprised Harbaugh even survived this past season at Michigan, so there’s absolutely a ton of pressure on him heading into this year. He helped his cause by restructuring his contract but there’s only such a lot longer he can final without winning the Big Ten East and/or beating Ohio State

There are plenty more program bosses feeling the heat already so you’ll take a look at Sallee’s full list here.

📝 Odds & Ends 📺 What to watch today

⚾ Braves vs. Yankees, 6:35 p.m. | NYY -121 | TV: ESPN   

🏀 Suns vs. 76ers, 7 p.m. | PHI +1 | TV: NBA TV

🏒 Sharks vs. Golden Knights, 9:30 p.m. | VGK -255 | TV: NBCSN

🥇 The most efficient object I saw the day gone by

Brewers outfielder Billy McKinney made one hell of a diving seize throughout final night’s game against the Padres.

Mailbag!
NHL

What are some teams that are completely not on anybody’s radar presently that everybody will be talking approximately in a couple of years? -Paul

Polite, the easy answer to that question is the Seattle Kraken, as they do not even exist on the radar presently and must be a popular case study in a couple of years. But from a competitive standpoint, I’m going to stick with hockey and say the Los Angeles Kings. They have got been comfy hanging in the basement for the past few years, but they have got a great prospect pool that they must be able to dip into soon. Or the Red Wings. I imagine in the power of Stevie Yzerman. In football? Give me the Dolphins. So long as Tua pans out, I imagine in what they are building in Miami. 

You said that you’d be grinding one of the ‘MLB the Show 21’ over the weekend. How is it? -Anders

Gameplay and graphics are in large part the same (the biggest notable upgrade comes via how smooth the fielding is) but it’s remains a good game. It isn’t fairly as polished as I used to be hoping it’d be on next-gen, but there is a lot to like. Stadium writer is a ton of fun. I saw they have been running into some server issues this week but, as a chiefly offline gamer, I’ve been enjoying myself.

Whether the NHL is the most efficient hockey on the earth and the Vezina goes to the most efficient goalie in the NHL, is it reasonable to say that for one year after the trophy is awarded, you’ll unequivocally state that the winner is the most efficient goalie on the earth?  (Ie. Connor Hellebuyck is the most efficient goalie on the earth) -Michael

I don’t in point of fact imagine in individual awards being the “unequivocal” end-all-be-all in the meritocracy of sports, but I think it’s particularly difficult to apply that logic to goaltending in the NHL. Goaltending can just be so unpredictable and numerous that position is mental, so you ceaselessly see numerous ups and downs. Also, I think it’s very imaginable for a goaltender to have the most efficient season without necessarily being the most efficient goaltender.

Plus, everyone knows Tuukka Rask is the most efficient goalie on the earth at all times. 

Sports outline

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