WALKER, TEXAS RANGER | TMK #9 - November 2nd

Today, on TMK:

The Rangers make history, ZERO load management in the NBA, and European Football powerhouses get embarrassed.

Catch Up:

• Texas Rangers Win World Series 4-1

• Carabao Cup: Arsenal, United Embarrassed

• NBA Recap: Lakers, Warriors Win

• Saarbrucken Ousts Bayern Munich From German Cup

The Main Events:

• Thursday Night Football: Steelers - Titans

• NBA: Spurs - Suns, 76ers - Raptors

• Golf: PGA Tour WWT Championship

Extra Time:

• Quote of the Day

• Can’t Miss Moment

• Stat of the Day

• Video of the Day

⚾ Texas Rangers Win World Series 4-1

History has been made. The Texas Rangers won EVERY SINGLE GAME ON THE ROAD this postseason to clinch their first ever World Series. How does a team go 11-0 away from home in a single postseason is a question that psychologists and analysts will be looking to answer in the coming years. Coming into this season we knew the Rangers were a capable team, but nothing pointed to this incredible stat.

Game 5 was a tense and tight affair with both teams locked in a scoreless game through the first 6 innings. The Rangers scored their first run in the top of the 7th, but the real turning point of this game was a fielding error by Thomas; the ball simply slipped under this glove, allowing the Rangers to score two more runs and mentally break the D-backs, who gave up a two-run homer later that inning to seal the deal.

The D-Backs had their chances; they left 9 runners on bases during the first 5 innings. They needed a clutch hit to save their World Series - but failed to get one. 

The Rangers spent half a billion dollars to sign Seager, Semien and pitcher Jon Gray back in December 2021, and they now have the hardware to show for it. Seager was deservedly named World Series MVP.

⚽ Carabao Cup: Arsenal, United Embarrassed

West Ham 3 - 1 Arsenal

Arsenal’s manager Arteta decided to rest Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, and captain Martin Odegaard, who all started on the bench. In total, Arteta gave a starting opportunity to 6 players, and it’s safe to say they did not make the most out of their opportunity.

Arsenal held the ball 72% of the time but looked toothless and lethargic, while West Ham made the most of their chances with 2 goals on 3 shots on target. West Ham’s first goal was an own goal by Ben White, who perfectly executed a difficult header to beat his own goalkeeper. Yes, you read that right. It looked almost intentional.

Manchester United 0 - 3 Newcastle

I am running out of superlatives to describe United’s play. A football team is allowed to lose; even at home. But there is a major difference between losing a hard-fought game and looking completely out of place as if no one had told United they had a game to play until 90 seconds before kickoff. This is United’s second 3-0 home loss after losing to City last weekend. All the signs are pointing towards United having lost the plot, which means Ten Hag’s tenure as United’s coach might - and probably should - be coming to an end. 

Newcastle’s subs, on the other end, deserve all the praise and credit in the world. They were assertive, aggressive, and rose above any expectations their fans could’ve had. Something special is brewing in Newcastle. There is an undeniable bond between fans, players, and club, and they are at least making the most out of the Saudi money.

Other Games:

Mansfield Town 0 - 1 Port Vale

Exeter City 2 - 3 Middlesbrough

Chelsea 2 - 0 Blackburn Rovers

Bournemouth 1 - 2 Liverpool

Ipswich Town 1 - 3 Fulham

Everton 3 - 0 Burnley

🏀 NBA: 13 Games

Lakers Snap 11-Game Losing Streak to Clippers, Win 130-125 in OT

Games like these are exactly what the NBA was hoping to achieve by targeting load management practice. A brilliant game full to the brim of superstars giving everything they have to take the win, and needing overtime to crown a winner. This is what we want - and as much of it as we can get.

Anthony Davis played 48(!) minutes for the Lakers and scored 27 with 10 rebounds. LeBron forgot all about his “plan” to manage his minutes and scored 35 points in 42 minutes. Deangelo Russell added 28 points in 38 minutes, and Austin Reaves scored 15 - including 7 of the Lakers’ 13 points in OT.

On the Clippers’ side, Kawhi started the game on fire and had 13 points after 5 minutes of play. He finished with 38 points. Paul George added 35, and Westbrook 24.

This felt like an NBA playoff game in November. More, please.

Toronto Raptors 130 - 111 Milwaukee Bucks

This Bucks team has potential, but they’ve yet to figure it out. Antetokounmpo finished with 18 points, Lillard with 15 - and the Bucks have work to do on offense and on defense. 

Toronto outscored Milwaukee 26-5 on fast-break points and 66-40 on points in the paint. They were bigger, more physical, and deserved this win to snap a 3-game losing streak.

Dallas Mavericks 114 - 105 Chicago Bulls

MVP front-runner Luka Doncic had a quiet night by his standards with 18 points, but the Mavs relied on new addition Grant Willams who led all scorer with 25 points. The Mavs are 4-0 for the first time since 2004.

Minnesota Timberwolves 110 - 89 Denver Nuggets

An NBA season is long and teams are bound to have an off night, but “off night” feels like an understatement to describe a laughingly bad game for the Nuggets. Jokic scored 25, Murray 14, and no other players on the Nuggets scored in double digits. 

Anthony Edwards and KAT showed up for the Wolves, and scored 24 and 21, respectively.

Boston Celtics 155 - 104 Indiana Pacers

The Celtics’ 155 points is their highest output game since the 1958 season. Led by Tatum’s 30 points, 8 different players scored in double digits and the Celtics won by an impressive 51 points.

Golden State Warriors 102 - 101 Sacramento Kings

Kings’ star De’aaron Fox being out did not prevent the Kings from putting up a fight, but they eventually fell to a hot-handed Klay Thompson who scored the go-ahead bucket with 0.2 seconds remaining. Both Kings and Warriors look like playoff teams.

Other Games:

Miami Heat 105 - 109 Brooklyn Nets

New York Knicks 89 - 95 Cleveland Cavaliers

Oklahoma City Thunder 106 - 110 New Orleans Pelicans

Houston Rockets 128 - 119 Charlotte Hornets

Atlanta Hawks 130 - 121 Washington Wizards

Utah Jazz 133 - 109 Memphis Grizzlies

Detroit Pistons 101 - 110 Portland Trail Blazers

⚽ Bayern Munich OUT of German Cup, Loses 2-1 To Third Division Saarbrucken

How did this happen, Thomas? Bayern looked in control of this game as Muller scored in the 16’ minute to give them the advantage, but they could not put Saarbrucken away despite having 75% possession and shooting 18 times. Kane, Coman, and Musiala started on the bench, but that shouldn’t have mattered.

Saarbrucken scored twice in stoppage time - once to equalize just before halftime, and once to take its most impressive victory ever at the 96’ minute mark. Saarbrucken shot twice on goal, and that’s all they needed to create one of the most memorable upsets in recent history.

🏈 Thursday Night Football: Steelers - Titans

Titans’ rookie QB Will Levis is coming off one of the most impressive debuts in NFL history, having thrown for 4 TD in the previous game, including 3 TD passes of over 30 yards. I can’t think of a much better way to announce you’ve arrived - but now Levis has to deal with the expectations that come with such a big first game.

He’ll be facing a weakened Steelers defense who lost All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to injury last week, which should - in theory - create more open looks for Levis downfield. Offensively, the Steelers are coming off a poor showing against Jacksonville in which they scored 10 points and lost QB1 Pickett to an injury, forcing Mitch Trubisky into the game. 

Pickett is expected back for this matchup tonight, but he hasn’t always looked like a long-term answer for the Steelers. One thing is for sure - the Steelers’ pass rush, led by TJ Watt, will do all it can to take over this game and win it for the Steelers.

🏀 NBA

San Antonio Spurs - Phoenix Suns

Just a couple of days after literally stealing the game away from the Suns, the Spurs will be looking to continue developing their young core as they host one of the NBA’s scariest teams when they’re healthy. 

The problem, of course, is that they’re not. Booker and Beal are out with no timetable, leaving Durant to fend for himself as the lone active superstar on the roster. Durant is of course capable of taking over games, but we’ve seen him run out of gas towards the end of games this year - which makes sense given the heavy load he’s been asked to carry. 

76ers - Raptors

The Raptors are coming fresh out of a 19-point victory against the Bucks, with Patrick Siakam and Dennis Schroder looking comfortable at the point of attack. The 2023 Raptors feel like a sneaky good team, who perhaps like the Knicks, are only one superstar away from being serious contenders. 

The 76ers will be looking to continue their good start to the season, as reigning MVP Embiid is averaging 31 points per game. The major question surrounding the 76ers is their supporting cast, which on paper improved after trading Harden to the Clippers. It is unclear exactly when the players in question are set to join the 76ers rotation.

⛳ Golf: PGA Tour WWT Championship

Are we seriously going to discuss Golf? Yes, for two reasons:

1. Thursdays without European Football are…slow.

2. The PGA Tour comes to a course designed by none other than Tiger Woods.

That’s enough reason for me. 

This is the first time the PGA Tour plays at a course designed by Golf’s GOAT Tiger Woods, and it’ll be fascinating to see how the field handles a Woods’ design. “I set up the golf strategy to make golfers think and make choices. I love this kind of golf” Woods said, and when the GOAT speaks, you listen.

In terms of the field, Ludvig Åberg is the favorite and is looking to solidify his spot in the top 125 of the FedExCup standings. Maverick McNealy returns to the PGA Tour after shoulder surgery earlier in the year, while Sahith Theegala, the winner of the Fortinet Championship, is back in action after a T19 finish at the ZOZO Championship.

🗣️ Quote Of The Day

“It feels strange.”

Bayern Manager Thomas Tuchel after losing a cup match to third division Saarbrucken.

Does it, Thomas? Does it?

⭐ Can’t Miss Moment

Saarbrucken 96’ minute goal

The upset of the year so far.

🧮 Stat Of The Day

3 First Time Winners in American Sports This Year

With their World Series win, the Rangers join the Vegas Golden Knights (NHL) and Denver Nuggets (NBA) as first-time winners this year. Jacksonville winning the Superbowl would complete a historic run of first-timers, but…I wouldn’t count on it. 

📽️ Video of the Day

Texas Rangers 2023 Postseason highlights

It’s not every day that you win the World Series for the first time. Well done, Rangers. Enjoy the parade.

Click HERE to watch on Youtube.

Wrap Up

No more baseball until the spring, and a relatively quiet Thursday on the sports front. I guess it’s family time. See you tomorrow.