🎾 Comeback by the Djoker, Jefferson gets PAID, and we anxiously await NHL and NFL finals

Welcome Back, Blitzers 👋 We’ll all need to be patient this week as we wait three days for the NHL and NBA Finals to kick off. We’ll check in on the French Open, fill you in on a PAYDAY in Minnesota, and catch you up on the rest of the goings on in the world of sports as we march through the week toward the drop of the puck and the opening tip to crown this year’s champions of the ice and hardwood.

WTF Stat of the day: In 2004, in perhaps the best season of his career, Barry Bonds was intentionally walked 120 times, more than the number of times some entire teams were intentionally walked that season. He hit .362, won the National League batting title, and walked 232 times!

🏀 WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark continued to dominate headlines yesterday following an incident involving a hard foul against her by a Chicago Sky player Chennedy Carter. Despite impressive rookie performance and record-breaking viewership, the focus has now shifted to broader societal issues, and her rising stardom is sparking debates about her impact on the league.

🏈 Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings signs 4-year $140 million extension with Vikings, all the details are outlined below.

⚽️ The 25-year-old World Cup winner with France joins a Madrid team already loaded with talent and still celebrating its latest European triumph. (Kylian Mbappe Joins Real Madrid) (NBC News)

🏈 Beloved Cowboys Hall of Fame OL Larry Allen Dies Suddenly at Age 52 (ESPN). Emmit Smith and Troy Aikman were a few of his former teammates speaking out about the loss of Larry.  

⚾️ San Diego Padres infielder Tucupita Marcano is facing a potential lifetime ban for betting on baseball. It’s the next in many sports gambling scandals in recent years. (The Next Sports Gambling Scandal) (ESPN)

🏀 Do the Dallas Mavericks or Boston Celtics have a better leading duo? Which role player is the most significant X factor? It’s time for Finals picks ahead of the NBA’s ultimate clash. (The 2024 NBA Finals Entrance Survey) (The Ringer)

TENNIS - No Djoke: Another Paris Survival

#1 Novak Djokovic Survives 2nd Straight 5-Set Thriller to Beat #23 Francisco Cerundolo

Shaken, but not stirred! For the second straight match, Novak Djokovic needed every bit of five sets and four-plus hours to etch his name on the following line of the French Open bracket. Monday’s 4th-round clash with Francisco Cerundolo required a comeback by the Djoker to take Set 4 and 5 and advance. It hasn’t been easy for the 37-year-old, and it won’t get easier. The other youth group of men’s seeds — Sinner, Alcaraz, and Zverev — are still alive and playing some of their best tennis in their 20s.

 Watch: #1 N. Djokovic Survives Another 5-Setter

Defeats Francisco Cerundolo (6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3)

Men’s Singles (4th Round)

#4 A. Zverev def. #13 H. Rune (4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2)

#7 C. Ruud def. #12 T. Fritz (7-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2)

#11 A. De Minaur def. #5 D. Medvedev (4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3)

Women’s Singles (4th Round)

#2 A. Sabalenka def. #22 E. Navarro (6-2, 6-3)

#4 E. Rybakina def. #15 E. Svitolina (6-4, 6-3)

#12 J. Paolini def. E. Avanesyan (4-6, 6-0, 6-1)

M. Andreeva def. V. Gracheva (7-5, 6-2)

Today’s Schedule (Quarterfinals)

W: #3 C. Gauff vs. #8 O. Jabeur (5:00 am ET)

W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. #5 M. Vondrousova (6:30 am ET)

M: #2 J. Sinner vs. #10 G. Dimitrov (7:45 am ET)

M: #3 C. Alcaraz vs. #9 S. Tsitsipas (2:15 pm ET)

NFL - 🤑 The J.J. Pay Day - Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Inks Largest Non-QB Contract in NFL History (4 Years, $140 Million)

After drafting J.J. McCarthy in the 1st Round of April’s NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings have two JJs on offense. Whether McCarthy or Sam Darnold starts Week 1 remains to be seen, but their No. 1 target should be a happy camper when that day comes. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson inked a record-setting 4-year, $140 million extension on Monday morning. It includes $110 million guaranteed. That $35 million annual mark breaks the record for the most money given to a non-quarterback position. Nick Bosa (49ers) set the mark last September (5 years, $170 million). The news ends a potential holdout saga that would’ve crushed the Vikings’ offensive firepower. Jefferson announced the news on social media: “The deal I have been waiting for since I was a little kid.”

 Jetta’s HOF Trajectory

Jefferson (a.k.a. Jetta) reset the receiver market for good reason. In just four seasons since he was selected with the No. 22 pick in the 2020 draft, he’s received three Pro Bowl nods. Jefferson’s 5,899 receiving yards since 2020 ranks second to only Dolphins’ WR Tyreek Hill (6,024 yards), and it’s the most by any player in his first four seasons. His 1,500 yards-per-season pace would put him top-5 at the end of a 10-year career. Hall of Fame numbers…

 Largest Annual Receiver Contracts

1. Justin Jefferson (MIN): $35M / Year

2. A.J. Brown (PHI): $32M / Year

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET): $30M / Year

4. Tyreek Hill (MIA): $30M / Year

5. Jaylen Waddle (MIA): $28.25M / Year

 Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is smiling somewhere. He’s up next.

HIGHLIGHTS

MLB

Rhys Hoskins Hits HR in Return to Philly

Brewers Lose to Phillies (3-1)

Reds Set Season-High in Runs & Hits

Cincy Rolls Rockies (13-3)

Pavin Smith Hits Walk-Off Blast for D-Backs

Arizona Tops SF (4-2) for 3rd Straight Win

Softball World Series (Semifinals)

#1 Texas def. #8 Stanford (1-0)

Texas Advances to Finals

#4 Florida def. #2 Oklahoma (9-3)

Florida Forces Winner-Take-All Today (2pm ET)

On June 4th, 1989, The Boston Red Sox led the Blue Jays 10-0 in the 7th inning at Fenway Park but lost 13-11 in 12 innings for the Blue Jays’ 12th consecutive victory. Junior Felix hit a two-run home run in the 12th inning, inflicting the worst collapse in a game in the franchise’s history.

French Open (Quarterfinals)

W: #3 C. Gauff vs. #8 O. Jabeur (5:00 am ET)

W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. #5 M. Vondrousova (6:30 am ET)

M: #2 J. Sinner vs. #10 G. Dimitrov (7:45 am ET)

M: #3 C. Alcaraz vs. #9 S. Tsitsipas (2:15 pm ET)

*Stream on NBC Sports

 Softball World Series (Semifinals)

#2 Oklahoma vs. #4 Florida (2:00 pm ET, ESPN)

Winner to Face #1 Texas in Final Series

 MLB

Twins at Yankees (7:05 pm ET, TBS)

Braves at Red Sox (7:10 pm ET, NESN)
White Sox at Cubs (8:05 pm ET, MLBTV)

 WNBA

Liberty at Sky (8:00 pm ET, NBATV)

Mercury at Storm (10:00 pm ET, CBS)

 Soccer (Friendly)

USWNT vs. South Korea (8:00 pm ET, truTV)

Trivia Time Answer

B.  5.

The Edmonton Oilers have won 5 Stanley Cups in their history. They secured their championships in a dominant era during the 1980s and early 1990s. The Oilers' Stanley Cup victories came in 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990, largely thanks to legendary players like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, and Paul Coffey.