News Information and Media Site: Sports: What to Read and Watch

July 3, 2021

What to Read This Weekend

"I could feel that tension constantly," Sam Parsons said. "And I know so many athletes who pushed themselves into an unsafe space, just because we all wanted to get to the Olympics so badly. So many people kept their foot on the gas for so long, and you can only give so much."Alexandra Garcia/The New York Times

For many Olympic hopefuls, the past year and a half was a period of great uncertainty and mounting anxiety, Scott Cacciola writes.

They grappled with shuttered training facilities, canceled meets and shoestring budgets. There was also the big unknown: whether the Tokyo Games would happen at all.

"I think it's been a very, very rough 15 months for a whole bunch of athletes," said Steven Ungerleider, a sports psychologist in Oregon who serves on the executive board of the International Paralympic Committee.

And athletes are saying so themselves, speaking frankly in interviews and on social media about their mental health, a subject that no longer carries the stigma in sports and in society that it once did.

Read the full article here.

What to Watch This Weekend

Denmark's Euro 2020, from Christian Eriksen's collapse in the team's opening match to a win over Wales in the round of 16, has been an emotional journey for the nation.Philip Davali/EPA, via Shutterstock

All times are Eastern.

Soccer

Both Euro 2020 and the Copa América have reached the quarterfinal stage.

The inspiring story of Denmark continues. After Christian Eriksen collapsed during his team's opening game, Denmark rallied, sneaked into the knockout round and now has advanced to a quarterfinal in Baku, Azerbaijan, against the Czech Republic (Saturday, noon, ESPN). England continues its run and can earn home games in the semifinal and final if it beats Ukraine in Rome (Saturday, 3 p.m., ABC).

In the Copa, Uruguay plays Colombia (Saturday, 6 p.m., FS2) and Lionel Messi continues his bid for a first major title with Argentina against Ecuador (Saturday, 9 p.m., FS1).

Cycling

The Tour de France never really begins until the high mountains, and those start this weekend in the Alps. First, a ride up the brutal Col de la Colombière (Saturday, 7 a.m., NBCSN), then a punishing stage ending with a climb to the ski resort of Tignes (Sunday, 7 a.m., NBCSN).

Basketball

The Phoenix Suns are comfortably in the Finals, while the last two teams in the East are still banging away. The Milwaukee Bucks are up three games to two, and face the Atlanta Hawks in their home arena for Game 6 on Saturday. (8:30 p.m., TNT).

Continue reading the main story

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