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Good morning! Remind people who you are today. Inside:
👋 LeBron mulls the end
🧐 LIV pushes ahead
💣 A different Woj bomb
Farewells? LeBron could be done
Tomorrow, the Lakers begin their playoff series against the Rockets as a shorthanded crew. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are both out indefinitely for L.A., which leaves 41-year-old LeBron James as the centerpiece of an undermanned team.
It could be the last time we see James play in the NBA, per a report from The Athletic this morning. Quick notes:
The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason. Sources said James does not want a farewell tour. This choice would align with that.
But James is still really, really good. The Lakers would welcome him back, as his run with a healthy Dončić and Reaves was fearsome. The Warriors are a possible landing spot, though, as are the Cavaliers. Seriously.
Read the full story for more. It’ll get plenty of buzz today. Let’s move on:
Feedback Loop: LIV, laugh, (no) love
Before we get to the results of yesterday’s poll, a brief news update on the LIV front:
CEO Scott O’Neil was defiant yesterday in addressing reports that his league could shutter imminently, but he didn’t exactly dispute the notion that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will withdraw funding. O’Neil did say he expects LIV to finish its season. You can read his comments here.
While we can admire his fervor, the news surrounding all of this is dire. The PIF also sold off 70 percent of the Saudi soccer club Al-Hilal, one of four Saudi clubs in the PIF’s portfolio. PIF’s shift in priorities could also have a big impact on Premier League stalwart Newcastle. Oh, and the live stream for this week’s LIV event crashed moments after it began yesterday.
Things with LIV remain fluid at best. Which brings me back to our question from yesterday. Your results:
I’m not shocked about this, though I might actually find myself in the minority when strictly looking at the sporting implications. If LIV does shut down, this era will be known as a grim period, yes. I also found its entire existence to be a silly charade. But the PGA comes out stronger than ever, with players better compensated. And the big-name LIV golfers will eventually be welcomed back into the PGA Tour at some point.
That’s good, right?
Thank you, as always, for voting.
News to Know
Former Tide player posed as NFL stars in scamLuther Davis won a national title with Alabama in 2010 as a talented defensive tackle. Yesterday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office accused Davis and a co-conspirator of posing as NFL players to obtain nearly $20 million in fraudulent loans. No, really: The filing indicates the players impersonated have the initials X.M., D.N. and M.P. The X.M. lines up with a lawsuit involving Packers safety Xavier McKinney. Read the whole saga here.
This close to historyIn spring training, many thought Guardians pitcher Parker Messick would start the year in Triple A. Weeks after earning an Opening Day roster spot, he nearly ended the longest no-hitter drought in baseball for any team — 16,409 days and counting — with eight scoreless innings before giving up a leadoff single in the ninth. I still can’t believe the drought exists.
More news:
Mike Trout obliterated Yankees pitching this week. It was a great reminder of his greatness, as Ken Rosenthal wrote.
Speaking of potential retirees: It doesn’t sound like Alex Ovechkin is ready to hang up his skates, after all. Read his latest comments.
Luka Dončić and Cade Cunningham will be eligible for NBA awards after winning appeals. More here.
Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones will plead guilty to selling insider information for sports gambling.
NJ Transit is also considering a $150 train fare to MetLife Stadium for the World Cup. The normal price: $12.90. See our full story.
LSU, Oklahoma, Florida and Minnesota earned spots in the NCAA gymnastics championship, set for tomorrow. Read more here.
📰 Find more news here 24/7.
Bonnie Bombs: Woj bombing out?
For nearly two decades, Adrian Wojnarowski has been one of the most interesting men in sports. His rise as a reporter was tied to NBA scoops, which became such a trademark for him that his tweets earned a nickname: Woj Bombs. He was the premier scoops guy before that was even a mainstream bit.
Then, a year and a half ago, Wojnarowski walked away from ESPN and a $7 million salary to … become the general manager for the men’s basketball program at St. Bonaventure, his alma mater.
So, how have the last 18 months been? More difficult — and intriguing — than you think, per a story from Austin Meek this week.
Two things I found fascinating:
In the NIL era, the celebrity-alum-turned-GM has become near ubiquitous, but many of those roles are ceremonial or, at least, low-effort. Not for Wojnarowski. This is his only job, which pays him $75,000. The 57-year-old is hands-on in crafting roster budgets and helping wherever he can.
… Which is the problem, it seems. St. Bonaventure is located in a tiny western New York town. Wojnarowski butted heads with longtime Bonnies coach Mark Schmidt, who retired after 19 years on the job last month “amid friction with Wojnarowski,” per our story. Schmidt was beloved in town. Some Bonnies fans are upset.
I really urge you to read the story, which does a great job of illustrating the small-town dynamics at play here. It also gives unique insight into how Wojnarowski operates in this scene.
Let’s keep going:
Watch Guide
📺 NBA: Hornets at Magic7:30 p.m. ET on Prime VideoLoser goes home. Winner gets the No. 8 seed in the East and the chance to play Detroit in the first round of the real playoffs. The same goes for Golden State at Phoenix (10 p.m. ET), but in the Western Conference, where Oklahoma City awaits.
📺 Soccer: USWNT vs. Japan9 p.m. ET on TNT, HBO Max and PeacockThis informal friendly series is tied 1-1 after Japan’s win Tuesday night, which was a stark reminder about the Americans’ roster. Tune in for the finale.
Get tickets to games like these here.
Pulse Picks
Sarah Stier / Getty Images
🎙️ Up first this morning is actually a podcast, from the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” crew, about the frankly incredible levels of surveillance done by Madison Square Garden on its own patrons and former players. Make time for this today.
James Mirtle took us inside the race to sell hockey in Seattle, where the Kraken have struggled. It’s all the more important as the NBA inches closer to the city, too. This was really good.
Will tailgating be banned for the World Cup? I’m prepared to throw some metaphorical tomatoes at this decision. Read our explainer.
I’ll admit, the name “Uppies and Downies” sounds like something my daughter plays at school. But as Rob Tanner found out, the medieval football game is a riot, and the small town that conducts a game every year is mad about it. Trust me, just read it.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: “Simpsons” hats.
Most-read on the website yesterday: The Pacers couple story.
📫 That’s all for now! Say hello at thepulse@theathletic.com, check out our other newsletters and connect with me on Instagram for more.
