Putting in work
This is where you turn up your Charlotte Day Wilson
I’m a Raptors fan, so watching Yuta Watanabe get killed by an Anthony Edwards dunk on national television (see here and here if you somehow missed the best in-game dunk in a hundred years) gave me many feelings. Like, who informs next of kin here? And if Edwards is to be charged with homicide (or at least manslaughter) who has jurisdiction?
Jokes aside, that dunk reminded me that these athletes, these humans whose jerseys we wear and whose teams we support and whose contracts we opine on, they’re superhuman. Like, people shouldn’t be able to do what they do. A human shouldn’t be able to dunk like that. A human shouldn’t be able to do what Simone Biles (or any gymnast, really) does. A human shouldn’t be able to hit a 100mph fastball — and that’s not me saying it, it’s science. Sure, a lot of it is genetic, but a lot of it is work, and having the right kind of support around you to allow you to level up and reach your goals. The miraculous De’Aaron Fox, for example, wouldn’t be where he is — a hair away from superstardom — without his fiancé and his mom, and a good number of NHL stars owe their living to the moms and dads who woke up at 4am to groggily drive station wagons to stupid places for the privilege of drinking terrible coffee with other parents. Yes, sports parents can be as toxic as stage parents (this is where I tell you to watch Gypsy again), but a lot of them aren’t. — DJ
Answers from last week’s issue
Aside from J.J. Watt, only two other players — a linebacker and a defensive tackle — have won the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year Award three times. Who are they?
Rams DT Aaron Donald (2017, 2018, 2020) recently became the second player to become a three-time DPOY, following Lawrence Taylor (1981, 1982, 1986).
It's Lanny McDonald's birthday! In 1982-83, he scored a career-high 66 goals with the Calgary Flames. Up to that point, who were the only three players to score at least that many goals in a season?
The players who scored 66+ goals prior to this season were Phil Esposito (76, 68, 66), Mike Bossy (69, 68), and Wayne Gretzky (92, 71).
Since 1997, what NBA player has scored the most overtime points (all-time, not in a single game)?
The late Kobe Bryant scored the most overtime points, with 415. He will most likely be surpassed by LeBron James (23 points behind) sometime soon.
Since 1980, what multiple Cy Young Award winner is the pitcher who has recorded the most strikeouts after starting an at-bat with a 3-0 count?
Roger Clemens has 70 strikeouts after starting from a 3-0 count.
#mikekrushelquizki
For the purposes of answering this week’s questions, similar to reading fortune cookie fortunes, tack the phrase “while wearing the #23 jersey” at the end of each question. In bed.
Over a 17-year career, what former Montréal Canadien scored the most points of any NHL player?
What former NL MVP has accumulated the most career WAR?
What NBA player has collected the most rebounds?
What running back has scored the most touchdowns (all types, not just rushing)?
#postscript
Many thanks also to Mike Krushelnyski for being named his name and to you for being named your name, unless your name is Elon Musk, who doesn’t need any more thanks because he’s a zillionaire with a space car and a members-only golf club on the moon. He should be thanking you, even though Tesla just lost like $15 billion dollars in value.
Want some thanks from Oddball? Help us out and you’ll get ‘em.
Click the heart and share this issue (and all the other issues!) with likeminded friends, enemies, and frenemies you think may enjoy the challenge.
Until then, be the Ezequiel Carrera you wish to see in the world.
— DJ/JY