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MONDAY MUSINGS: Haliburton, the Cup & ESPN vs. Sports

ConnorFerg, Jun 09 • 0 Comments

Jun 5, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) and forward Aaron Nesmith (23) celebrate after Haliburton makes the game winning shot as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) looks on during the fourth quarter during game one of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

Tyrese Haliburton wins game 1 for the Pacers

The former Cyclone was again at the top of the sports world after hitting a game-winner that sent the Pacers by Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday.

It was his latest – and the Pacers’ – act of late game heroics in the postseason that has given Haliburton a reputation of making big shots and big moments.

Now, we all saw what happened on Sunday in Game 2. Oklahoma City has dominated a majority of the first two games. Haliburton finished the first half with only three points.

He knows that he’s got to be better, and the good news for Indiana is that you get three of the next four at home. Game 3 is Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on TNT.

Official Visit Weekends

This weekend marked the first of two official visit weekends for Iowa State as it continues to round out its 2026 class.

I posted a premium update on how things went over the past few days and where the Cyclones stand with quarterback commit Jett Thomalla, as well as others. They also grabbed a commitment from offensive lineman Pete Eglitis.

It’s shaping up to be another big group coming into town Friday that includes a number of priority targets:

Confirmed incoming visits (June 13-15)
4-star TE | Ian Premer (Great Bend, Kansas)
3-star LB | Pierce Petersohn (Dodge Center, Minn.)
3-star LB | Kasen Thomas (Sioux City)
3-star S | Bryson Williams (Omaha, Neb.)
3-star DL | Jermaine Polk (Toledo, Ohio)

Bridget Carleton is back doing her thing

and the Minnesota Lynx are out to a 9-0 start.

Carleton moved to No. 5 in the Lynx’s franchise in 3-pointers made during Sunday’s game where she finished with eight points in 34 minutes.

While it’s been a quiet start in the statbook, it’s clear this team is firing on all of its cylinders right now.

Stevo Klotz making some noise in LA

The fan favorite appeared in an Athletic article about things to look for during workouts this week, and it looks as though he may try to slot in as a long snapper.

“Keep an eye out for undrafted rookie tight end Stevo Klotz. He caught five passes in Tuesday’s team drills. There might not be a spot for him on the 53-man roster, but he feels like a lock for the practice squad, with the potential to make an impact as an elevation player during the season. Klotz is a solid blocker, which should show up when the pads come on next month. And he should also be a factor in special teams. Klotz was working on his long-snapping in the early stages of Tuesday’s practice.“

Quick Hits

Bananas vs. Baseball & ESPN vs. Sports

I’ve never understood the hate and criticism the Savannah Bananas get from some people on social media. In the world I grew up in, we never heard many negative things about the Harlem Globetrotters and these people have the option to simply scroll past the video their watching – they don’t even need to change the channel.

But that same crowd was up in arms over the weekend, and I’m on their side. ESPN decided to televise some of the Bananas games on its networks – and that’s great. Grow the game, let the kids have fun, etc.

What I have a problem with is putting that show on TV while conflicting against college baseball’s Super Regionals.

Can y’all imagine the Globetrotters playing a game on CBS during the Sweet 16? Hell no.

It’s a shame that the world wide leader in sports wouldn’t avoid this, but it’s not surprising.

ESPN posted a story about dirt racing on its front page over the weekend… it was because Kyle Larson wrecked a car and was uninjured in an accident that was attributed to a part failure. But it’s crickets from that company when it comes to the actual racing – you know, sports.

Don’t get me wrong, I love what the Bananas do, but I need the ‘S’ back in ESPN.

Edmonton – Florida is everything we’d hoped through two games.

Each game has delivered on everything that these teams have shown throughout the playoffs so far.

Florida’s Sam Bennett ran into the opposing team’s goalie for the third time in this year’s postseason. That sounds trivial at face value, but the Panthers’ strategy has been to play dirty – it’s win at all costs, and Bennett is the lead henchman.

While Edmonton has done its share of the same throughout the past six weeks, Connor McDavid is going to out-skill any team that’s in his way. His motor is in a different gear this year and it was on display with one of the best assists we’ve seen that got to Leon Draisaitl here.

To finish out that same game, after Florida took the lead back, a 40-year old Corey Perry tied things up with 17 seconds to go before the 37-year old Brad Marchand won it for Florida in OT.

Its knotted up at 1-1. Game 3 is Monday night at 7 p.m. on TNT. 

The WWE bent its knee to fans with the re-signing of R-Truth. I put this in at the end of my column from last week and didn’t know how many would care.

It was bizarre to me – how a guy that is unanimously loved could lose his job days after one of his best performances of his career. It’s why I got out of watching the product in the first place. Guys are released or buried on the roster despite surmounting large fan bases and support. Cough, LA Knight.

R-Truth’s post stating he was being released garnered 22 million views on the platform.

In the ensuing days, it was reported that Truth was fielding independent booking dates along with calls from AEW. Once WWE realized the backlash, and saw fans chanting “We want Truth,” during the week, they went back to him and had to have WWE President Nick Khan in on the negotiation – something out of the ordinary to normal procedure.

I don’t know what the hell they were going to do if they didn’t bring Truth back for this moment, and I probably would be a lot less excited about everything with the WWE had they not. But damn, did it make for good TV.

Coastal Carolina embarrasses SEC fan

I’ll leave you with some more SEC tears, courtesy of this Barstool CCU account that got pretty big during the program’s last run to Omaha in 2016.

They put together a fun video after an SEC reporter claimed that Auburn would embarrass the Chanticleers over the weekend. Coastal proceeded to sweep the Tigers 2-0.

I’ve got no clue who the players are on any of these teams, but I’m ready to watch some college baseball next week.

Connor Ferguson

editor

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