If you’re a fan of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’, baseball and true crime (unusual mix, I know) then I have the perfect documentary for you. It’s called Long Shot and it’s on Netflix - stop reading here if you don’t want any spoilers.

The story is about a man named Juan Catalan who was arrested by police for a murder he didn’t commit. Catalan was adamant that he had been at Dodger Stadium in LA watching a game of baseball but had no way to prove he was there.

That’s when Larry David and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ comes in. It turns out they were filming an episode at Dodger Stadium that very night. Lawyers were able to identify Catalan in the crowd at the game using the footage shot for the show and it was used as an alibi to prove Catalan was innocent. A mind-blowing coincidence.

The episode was ‘The Car Pool Lane’ in season four if you’re curious.

6
The number of NBA players who have recorded 1,700 points, 800 rebounds and 300 assists in their first 82 games. Victor Wembayana is the most recent addition to the exclusive group, whose other members are Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Blake Griffin, and Sidney Wicks. The 20-year-old, who was last year’s number-one draft pick and is kicking off his second season with the San Antonio Spurs, played his 82nd game earlier this week against the Sacramento Kings. The regular NBA season is 82 games long, although it’s not common for players to play all 82. 

"I went into this match also blocking the noise even from myself. No like, tantrums and stuff. Just block the noise. And I really didn't care what was happening on the court. I just tried to play and it was a good feeling."
World number four Daniil Medvedev after beating Alex de Minaur in the second group stage match at the ATP Finals. In Medvedev’s first match, against American Taylor Fritz, he let his temper get the better of him, smashing a racket as he lost in straight sets. Aussie favourite de Minaur has now lost two from two and is unlikely to advance past the group stage. In the other match overnight, world number one Jannik Sinner beat Fritz in straight sets.

Mildred Ella “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias is widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes of all time. At the 1932 Olympics in Los Angeles, she won gold in the javelin throw and 80m hurdles, setting a world record in both events. She also won a silver medal in the high jump. Later, Zaharias took up golf and won 82 tournaments. To this day she is the only woman to have made the cut at a professional men’s tournament. The cut at a golf tournament is when the number of competitors is reduced by half, typically after the second of four rounds. 

⚽ The former president of a Turkish football club has been sentenced to three years and seven months in prison for assaulting a referee. Faruk Koca was the president of Turkish football club Ankaragücü when he punched referee Halil Umut Meler in the face and fractured his eye socket in December 2023. The incident happened after a 1-1 draw with Rizespor.

🏏 In the WBBL, the Perth Scorchers thrashed the Sydney Thunder last night, winning by 74 runs. 19-year-old bowler Chloe Ainsworth starred for the Scorchers with two wickets. The victory ended a four-match winning streak for the top-of-the-table Thunder and moved the Scorchers into second spot on the WBBL ladder. 

⚽ Star Matildas player Caitlin Foord helped English club Arsenal to a victory over decorated Italian club Juventus in the Women’s Champions League. Foord recorded an assist on the opening goal and was the last of four goalscorers in Arsenal’s 4-0 win, knocking the ball in after a cross from fellow Matilda Kyra Cooney-Cross in the 87th minute. Matildas star Steph Catley also took to the field for Arsenal. The victory greatly improves Arsenal’s chances of making the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals. 

🏉 Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will be obliged to make two changes to the starting fifteen that beat England ahead of a clash with Wales in Cardiff on Monday (AEDT). Starting winger Dylan Pietsch has left the tour and returned to Australia due to a calf injury, while captain Harry Wilson is out for one game due to concussion protocol. Queensland Reds winger Josh Flook will join the squad in place of Pietsch, with Max Jorgensen likely to start after coming off the bench for Pietsch last weekend. It remains to be seen how Schmidt will reshuffle the back row in the absence of Wilson, but Langi Gleeson and Jeremy Williams are potential options to combine with starters Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight. 

Marco Angulo, a 22-year-old Ecuadorian football player, has died in hospital following a car crash last month.

Angulo was playing at Ecuadorian club LDU Quito on loan from American club FC Cincinnati. The midfielder represented Ecuador twice in matches against Australia and Iraq. According to Ecuadorian media, he underwent multiple surgeries for head and lung injuries but could not be saved. Two others also died in the accident: an unnamed friend of Angulo’s, and Independiente Juniors defender Roberto Cabezas.

The Ecuadorian Football Federation said: “ [We] express the deepest sympathy over the death of Marco Angulo, who with his talent and dedication defended the colours of our country at every opportunity, Marco was not only an outstanding player, but also a great teammate. He leaves a deep sorrow in our hearts, especially in those of us who went with him on countless trips, training camps and matches. Rest in peace, Angulito.”

LDU Quito said: “His death is an irreparable loss that will leave an indelible mark on our hearts.”

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The former coach of the Canadian women’s soccer team has been fired following an independent review of the drone spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. An assistant coach and team analyst were also sacked for their involvement.

In the lead-up to the Olympic soccer tournament, members of New Zealand’s women's team spotted a drone flying above their training session. The drone sighting was reported to police who identified the drone operator as a member of the Canadian team’s staff. New Zealand then lodged an official complaint with FIFA.

FIFA then handed the three staff involved - Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander, and analyst Joseph Lombardi -were all handed a year-long suspension from the sport. FIFA also fined Canada Soccer $CA316,000 ($AU347,000) and docked the side six tournament points. Despite the penalty, Canada still finished second in their group and advanced to the quarter-finals, where they were eliminated by eventual bronze-medallists Germany.

Canada Soccer appointed a lawyer to conduct an independent review of the Paris Olympics incident and investigate whether similar spying had occurred previously. The review determined that players on the team had not viewed the footage. It also found that no drones were used at the Tokyo 2020 games, where Canada won a gold medal under the guidance of Priestman.

In a statement, Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue said: "The findings of the independent investigator reveal that the drone incident in Paris was a symptom of a past pattern of an unacceptable culture and insufficient oversight within the national teams. This is no longer part of our operations. Even though the independent investigation has been concluded, there is more to be done to set things on a new course."

ICYMI: TDA Sport has a new game on Instagram called Blurdle. IYKYK.
Today’s answer: Joel Embiid
Useless clue: CAMFRAUSA (Get it? Email me if you do.)

AFLW - 8 years and counting

The AFLW has grown significantly since 2017, expanding from eight teams to 18, with seasons increasing from seven to 11 rounds. Player minimum salaries have jumped from $8,500 to $56,077. However, despite the encouraging growth, North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney highlights ongoing challenges, noting that players face higher injury risks due to a condensed schedule of 11 rounds in ten weeks, and that some coaches and athletes only work part-time which limits the development of the game.

Pamm Phillips, a sports management professor at Deakin University who helped develop the AFLW rulebook, stresses the importance of recognizing differences between men's and women's football. For example, one difference Kearney points out is that the AFLW uses a lighter ball, which she suggests affects kicking accuracy and leads to lower scoring games.

A recent study also revealed that 90% of elite female athletes experience online harassment, showing there's still room for improvement in women's sport. In a recent interview on ABC Listen, Phillips emphasised the importance of listening to the athletes in making changes to improve the game.

Think beyond the field. Study sport at Deakin.