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🏌 An excellent start to the day for everyone, especially …
BRIAN CAMPBELL
It required some additional holes, but Brian Campbell secured his second PGA Tour victory of the year at the 2025 John Deere Classic.
Following 72 holes played at TPC Deere Run, Campbell and Emiliano Grillo were in a tie at the top of the leaderboard, both at 18 under par. Through the first 13 holes of the final round, it appeared as though Campbell might easily cruise to a win, but misfortune occurred on the 15th hole when he recorded a double bogey on his scorecard.
That provided an opening for Grillo to draw level with Campbell, which he promptly did. That pushed Campbell into a playoff situation with Grillo, but he didn’t seem affected by it. Campbell achieved a par on the playoff hole, while Grillo marked a bogey, which allowed Campbell to clinch his second victory of the season.
Campbell’s previous triumph took place at the Mexico Open back in February, a couple of weeks after Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow. It involved a significant wait, but it proved to be worth it, according to Patrick McDonald.
- McDonald: “Between the two tournament starts, Campbell’s best result was a T32, which he managed in consecutive weeks at the Masters and RBC Heritage. Regardless, due to his recent entry into the winner’s circle, he now joins Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Ben Griffin, Sepp Straka and Ryan Fox as players with multiple victories this season.”
With his victory, Campbell also obtained a sum slightly exceeding $1.5 million. Not a bad return for the equivalent of 73 holes of effort.
Grillo may have taken second place, but he still succeeded in our tournament evaluations. Max Homa had similar success, but Griffin’s performance was poor, as he experienced a significant decline by missing the cut.
😃 Notable positive mentions
⚽ Conversely, not such a positive morning for …
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USMNT
The Fourth of July weekend had a brilliant beginning on Friday, but ended in disappointment on Sunday. The USMNT relinquished an initial advantage in a 2-1 defeat to Mexico during the Concacaf Gold Cup Final in Houston.
Only four minutes into the game, the U.S. initiated the scoring when Sebastian Berhalter delivered a superb cross into the penalty area, and Chris Richards concluded the play with a remarkable header. However, that was the nearest the Americans got to success, as Mexico dominated the game thereafter. Mexico had the upper hand in shot attempts (16-6), shots on goal (8-3) and corner kicks (12-0).
Raul Jimenez equalized for the Mexicans in the 27th minute, and Edson Alvarez scored the winning goal in the 77th minute with a diving header that was affirmed by VAR review.
The USMNT let a fantastic opportunity pass them by, and it’s even more disheartening because the loss was against a significant rival. The loss also provided a reminder of the volume of effort the team must put in leading up to the 2026 World Cup, according to Pardeep Cattry.
- Cattry: “The team’s most notable performances occurred against teams against whom they were the obvious favorites, a crucial phase for a team that experienced losses against a broad range of opponents over the previous year. The next stage would demand them to exert maximum effort against Mexico, offering a final opportunity to secure a trophy before the World Cup; despite the early lead, that performance never materialized.”
Naturally, the USMNT was lacking certain key players in their lineup, including star player Christian Pulisic. Despite that and the emergence of young talents such as Diego Luna, optimism remains for the national team moving forward.
😟 Less than positive mentions
🏀 NBA offseason rumors intensify
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The NBA season concluded some time ago, but the activity continues. In fact, it’s increasing as teams alter their rosters.
One of the primary topics of discussion this summer revolves around the future of LeBron James. The 40-year-old superstar is looking for another NBA title, but the Lakers may not be in a position to offer him one in 2025-26. Therefore, does that indicate that perhaps the greatest player in basketball history will be traded?
It’s not as straightforward as it may seem. Sam Quinn clarifies why James’ $52.6 million salary is inhibiting more trade conversations from gaining momentum.
- Quinn: “Trades that would have been permissible and sensible from a basketball perspective three years ago are no longer permissible. The financial requirements imposed on the Cavaliers, Knicks and Mavericks make a trade so prohibitively expensive in terms of assets that acquiring James, no matter his quality, would likely be impractical.”
If a trade doesn’t happen and James continues to play for the Lakers next season, he could have a front-row seat to witness the progress of his son, Bronny, who executed a powerful dunk during his 2025 Summer League debut.
One significant trade involving a seasoned superstar has already taken place. Kevin Durant was transferred from the Suns to the Rockets a few weeks prior, but the complete specifics are only just being released. This is because the transaction involved a seven-team arrangement that would put any “Mission Impossible” opening weekend to shame.
The complete arrangement includes 13 players, five second-round draft picks and cash considerations.
While James and Durant have generated activity in the trade market, Bradley Beal may soon be entering the free agency market. Beal is reportedly considering several options while he anticipates a buyout agreement from the Suns.
Here’s a concise recap of the additional NBA offseason news from this weekend:
🏈 Most disappointing college football coaching decisions since 2000
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“Who else could you possibly hire?” This is a common reaction when college football supporters demand the dismissal of a current coach — and with good reason. There have been some terrible hires made in this century.
Our own John Talty revisited and ranked the 25 most unfavorable coaching appointments of the past 25 years, and there was fierce competition. Names such as Mike Price (Alabama) and Mike Locksley (New Mexico) were among the contenders.
Only two institutions, Kansas and Tennessee, had the unique distinction of placing two former coaches in the top 10. In regard to the Volunteers, they aimed to discover the next Kirby Smart in Jeremy Pruitt, but that decision backfired spectacularly.
- Talty: “Pruitt had the established SEC background but quickly showed that he was no Kirby Smart. His time in Knoxville not only failed to meet expectations, but also attracted serious NCAA scrutiny towards a program that was allegedly providing money to player parents in fast food bags.”
Following a relatively subdued coaching shuffle after the 2024 season, there may be some turbulence next offseason, and programs will need to make their choices cautiously.
World Series champion Bobby Jenks passes away at 44
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In unfortunate news from the weekend, White Sox legend and World Series champion Bobby Jenks succumbed to stomach cancer at the age of 44.
As a rookie in 2005, Jenks assumed the closer role for the White Sox during their journey to the World Series. He secured a save in Game 1, and he concluded a 1-0 victory in Game 4 to finalize the sweep against the Astros and secure a championship. Throughout those playoffs, Jenks recorded a 2.25 ERA with four saves and eight strikeouts.
In a statement, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf reflected on Jenks’ contributions to that championship-winning team and expressed his condolences to his family and friends.
“We have unfortunately lost a significant member of the White Sox family today. None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby contributed to the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire White Sox organization during his tenure in Chicago. He and his family understood that cancer would be his most formidable challenge, and he will be remembered as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”
Jenks pitched for a total of seven seasons at the MLB level, and throughout that time, he achieved a 3.53 ERA with 173 saves and 351 strikeouts.
⚾ MLB Power Rankings, weekend review: Astros ascend; Nationals make changes
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The Astros have taken over the top position in Matt Snyder’s MLB Power Rankings after winning all games against the Dodgers. Here’s the top five:
- Astros (3)
- Dodgers (1)
- Tigers (2)
- Cubs (5)
- Phillies (4)
On the less successful side of the spectrum, the Nationals have made several changes, relieving both GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez of their responsibilities. The pair had been in place during the team’s World Series victory in 2019, but Washington hasn’t qualified for the playoffs since then, and with a record of 37-53, the Nationals are in last place in the NL East.
Here’s further details:
📺 Activities to observe on Monday
🎾 We’ll be following the fourth round at Wimbledon throughout the morning, and you can keep track of our coverage through this platform.
⚽ UEFA Women’s Championship: Spain vs. Belgium, 12 p.m. on FOX
⚽ UEFA Women’s Championship: Portugal vs. Italy, 3 p.m. on FOX
⚾ Rays at Tigers, 6:40 p.m. on FS1
🏀 NBA Summer League: Thunder at 76ers, 7 pm. on ESPN
