Day 454

• The head of the Brazilian soccer federation has been fired after the national team was prepared to boycott the Copa America (which it now hosts and starts this weekend).
• Things have gotten so crazy on the women's draw that none of the top SIXTEEN seeds made the semifinals at the French Open.
• It seems that MLB players don't know how to run bases.  At least two runs were taken off the board last night after home runs where players failed to touch the bases and were called out on appeal.
• The few people still thinking the NCAA cares about women's sports want to see if they can expand the women's basketball tournament and give it March Madness branding.  Good luck...   
• Andy Martino has a new book out which claims the Houston Astro sign-stealing scheme continued into their second American League title in 2019 -- only to be beaten by Washington.
• At least one Deadspin writer believes the discussions surrounding tampering of the baseballs have, at least partially, to do with the CBA talks which could cancel next season.  One problem with that:  Wouldn't the MLBPA also be representing the pitchers, as well?  This would appear to indicate that the pendulum is PERMANENTLY swinging away from pitching, if they can get away with it...   
• Packers OTA's have a report that Jordan Love is ready to start Week 1 (or at least he claims it) if necessary.  Rodgers is never playing another down for Green Bay, it looks like.  And, given what else has been said, that could smell full-scale mutiny for a team which already has a lot of trouble getting their hands on decent players...   
• Pat Riley has been fined $25,000 for tampering, for implying that he'd like to see LeBron James back with the Heat, of whom he is now team President.  That's not gonna work, people...   
• The Baseball Hall of Fame has moved back Induction Sunday for the 2019-20 class to September 8th.