SI:CYMI | For Cam Brink Stans Only

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Kristen Wong Morning! This is Kristen Wong from Sports Illustrated. Welcome to today’s newsletter. Some of you will probably click the unsubscribe button after reading this introduction. So be it. Enes Whatever His Last Name Is is a stupid piece of shit. You heard it from Sparks’ Cameron Brink first. You’re hearing it here second.  Forward this to someone who was picked on because of their gender or sexual identity but became one of the most beautiful, kind-hearted and amazing human beings you know #transkidsbelonginsports   Recommended by  The headlines … Soobum Im/Getty Images LIFE AND DEATH BRIGADE: To all those who got the Gilmore Girls reference, you’re in the right place. Too many of our cultural icons are leaving us. And it’s always the wrong ones. Sigh. Back to the sports … We finally know more about the Ketel Marte situation, and it’s a bit of bad news. Marte is reportedly dealing with the loss of a close family member. Hopefully he gets the time he needs to grieve before returning to action for the Diamondbacks. … The NFL Pro Bowl is dead. Eva Geitheim took a look at five moves that led to the All-Star game’s demise. … The Good Good Golf brand is in the process of being buried, or cremated, or however you like the dead and dumb company’s remains. Seriously, who thought of that ad? This is how you know there were exactly zero women in that pitch meeting. Sheesh. … As for some resurrecting news, the Lakers have a lot to look forward to in their first season in a long time without LeBron James. Here’s why L.A. could actually be better off. … And your favorite dunker Blake Griffin is launching his own late-night TV show rather humorously called The Stepback. May he learn from Jason Kelce’s mistakes. PATRICK, TAKE A BOW: SI’s Patrick Andres got to speak one-on-one with four (!!!!) college football stars ahead of the upcoming season. We couldn’t decide which feature we liked best, so we’re linking them all here: Bryce Underwood. Dante Moore. Cam Coleman. Chris Henry Jr. Talk about a generational run. SI GRAB BAG: Sooo Caitlin Clark has seen that viral meme of her apparently laughing at Angel Reese after Reese missed a game-winning layup. Here’s how Clark’s teammate Aliyah Boston reacted. … Girl power: Kinley Rasmus is the breakout star of the Little League World Series. … NFL trade! Check out our grades for the Rams-Dolphins’ Tutu Atwell deal. … Knicks’ paranoid owner James Dolan is gambling, and it could cost the team more than he thinks. Join Verducci's View Newsletter MLB insights and analysis delivered by Tom Verducci, offering a mix of expert commentary, inside angles and thoughtful perspectives on baseball’s biggest storylines. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE   Recommended by  Feed refresher … Scott Taetsch/Getty Images Sometimes you just need to feel something inside … MEET THE BURTONS: You know how when you’re a kid and playing soccer or basketball or whatever rec league sport, and you see one of your parents in the stands before a game and they dramatically wave at you and holler your name to catch your attention so you look away and pretend they’re not your parents because you’re embarrassed? Valkyries star Veronica Burton feels that way every time her sportscaster dad Steve crashes her on-court interviews. There’s nothing quite like a proud girl dad. HELP ME I’M POOR: For those who got the Bridesmaids reference, again, you’re exactly where you belong. There’s a viral TikTok video going around of a girl asking people in sports media what their first job’s salary was, and the answers are pretty bleak. Here’s mine: $35k. It’s not too late to find a different profession, you guys (just kidding, love my job). BUSH LEAGUE PLAYERS: Kevin Durant swears he wasn’t acting out the Homer Simpson meme and trying to hide behind a tall bush outside the L.A. restaurant Nobu earlier this summer but … who’s gonna believe him? Not us. “I don’t need to hide,” Durant said of the viral paparazzi photo of him literally hiding behind a bush. “I was coming out Nobu, and it’s like this tall grassy fence or whatever. I’m coming out just like everybody else.” Ooookay, KD. LAKE AMERICA: Al Michaels no longer gives a shit, and we’re here for it. Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. Click to subscribe! 📺 What we’re watching this weekend ... NFL: Friday, Aug. 28 Seahawks @ Chiefs—8 p.m. ET; ESPN App Vikings @ Broncos—9 p.m. ET; NFL Network Saturday, Aug. 29 Lions @ Colts—1 p.m. ET; NFL Network Bears @ Titans—6 p.m. ET; NFL Network More preseason games for you to watch while avoiding your family. Enjoy! CFB: Saturday, Aug. 29 North Carolina @ TCU—Noon ET; ESPN NC State @ Virginia—3:30 p.m. ET; ESPN College football’s back—tell a friend. There are eight FBS games this Saturday before the full slate kicks off next weekend: Of note is a UNC-TCU rematch one year after Bill Belichick’s embarrassing head coaching debut and a must-watch ACC showdown. Week 0 means zero chance you’ll get around to reading that book collecting dust on your shelf. CFB szn is nearly upon us. WNBA: Friday, Aug. 28 Sun @ Fever—7:30 p.m. ET; ION Sunday, Aug. 30 Lynx @ Dream—3 p.m. ET; NBA TV Get your WNBA fix now while you can before the FIBA World Cup break (Aug. 31 to Sept 16). Caitlin Clark and the Fever need a strong push to finish out their year, while rookie Olivia Miles continues to do ridiculous things on the top-seeded Lynx. General TV: Usually I don’t do this, but I just started a fantastic show on Hulu called Furious. Go check it out. That’s a wrap for today. See ya Monday! Join SI The Post-Up A weekly spotlight on the biggest stories and in-depth reporting of women’s basketball—from compelling athlete features to sharp commentary on the latest news and scores. CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE   Recommended by  We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 625 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY. 10012 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:CYMI newsletter. You can unsubscribe here . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. All betting and gambling content included in the SI:CYMI newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators' opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. 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