The Pulse Newsletter: Sports Update
The latest edition of The Pulse Newsletter brings you an up-to-date summary of the dynamic world of sports. If you’re eager to stay updated, consider subscribing to receive The Pulse straight to your email.
NBA Offseason Highlights
Hello sports enthusiasts! As we dive into the NBA offseason, some casual humor comes to mind: did you stock up on hot dogs for the season? Although it might seem premature to say, NBA free agency is winding down. Even though new contracts can’t be officially signed until 12:01 p.m. ET tomorrow, most of the major players have landed in their respective teams for the 2025-26 season. The Warriors are still navigating the trade waters with restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, aiming to extract significant value from any potential trade.
John Hollinger has a compelling take, suggesting that the trade deadline overshadowed free agency in excitement. Notably, the most talked-about acquisition of this period emerged on June 22, when the Houston Rockets secured Kevin Durant in a deal that could expand into what might be known as a seven-team trade—a phrase that could soon become standard in the sports vernacular.
As the free agency frenzy subsides, keep an eye on our tracker for significant moves. Rumors swirl around LeBron James’ status with the Lakers, prompting Fred Katz to present a well-thought-out list of potential trade scenarios. On another note, the Milwaukee Bucks have made headlines by waiving the injured Damian Lillard and instead signing Myles Turner—a strategic move that implies they are not giving up on their championship aspirations. Yet, speculation persists about the likelihood of Giannis Antetokounmpo being traded.
With these recent shifts, we turn to Hollinger and Zach Harper for insights on how the league landscape has changed. For those interested, Harper’s pick for the top Eastern Conference team as of July 4 is the Orlando Magic, with a mere 109 days left for challengers to stake their claim.
Competitive Eating and Tennis
In food sports, legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut has clinched his 17th Mustard Belt at the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, devouring 70.5 hot dogs in just ten minutes—outpacing second place by 24 dogs. On the women’s side, Miki Sudo achieved her 11th title as she competed fiercely, albeit not quite matching her world record.
In tennis, American Ben Shelton experienced an unusual quick victory at Wimbledon, completing a second-round match in just 70 seconds due to a rare interruption that saw his contest against Rinky Hijikata halted and resumed the following day. For more on Wimbledon’s Day 5 and previews for upcoming matches, check out our recap.
WNBA and MLB Showdowns
Turning to the WNBA, the Sparks are set to face off against the Fever at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV, where Indiana looks to capitalize on their recent Commissioner’s Cup win. Meanwhile, MLB sees a high-stakes showdown as the Astros meet the Dodgers, with standout pitchers Framber Valdez and Shohei Ohtani taking the mound.
In Memoriam and Weekend Essentials
In other somber news from the soccer world, Daniel Taylor and Guillermo Rai penned a heartfelt piece discussing the widespread grief following the passing of Diogo Jota.
As we step into the holiday weekend, I’ve lined up a few essentials: The Only Ice Cream Recipe You’ll Ever Need and a rewatch of the classic film “Independence Day”, featuring iconic performances from Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum against an extraterrestrial threat. Additionally, consider the impressive grill brush that’s received Dad’s seal of approval and the new season of Netflix’s “Tour de France: Unchained”—an essential watch before this year’s race.
For memorabilia enthusiasts, a fascinating baseball card now features the MLB logo patch from Clayton Kershaw’s historic 3,000th strikeout jersey. Finally, Apple Music’s “Safe for Work” hip-hop playlist has proven to be a smash hit, providing a clean version of tracks by Kendrick and Lil Durk that kids can enjoy.
While it’s a challenging transition to make, it’s essential to stay informed and engaged as these sports narratives evolve.
