🏊‍♀️ Comeback Kids Rule The Pool

Dive in, it's Thursday, 19 May

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🔊 Sport Today Podcast

This morning, Sam Ferris and Lucy Watkin are at the mic.

Today's listen time: 10 minutes.

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

📺 What we're watching

🏀 11.00am - NBA Western Conference Finals - Warriors v Mavericks - Chase Centre, San Francisco - Foxtel, Kayo

🏉 7.50pm - NRL - Knights v Broncos - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle - Channel 9, Foxtel, Kayo

⛳ 11.00pm - PGA Championship First Round - Southern Hills Championship Course, Tulsa - Foxtel, Kayo

All times are in AEST

🏊‍♀️ Simpson and Jack complete their comeback

Cody Simpson is used to freestyling on the mic. But now the former pop star is about to butterfly his way to glory.

Golden points: This is a major mic drop moment for the former singer. The Aussie squad hasn’t officially been named, but Simpson has done enough to qualify for the swimming World Champs in Budapest and the Commonwealth Games.

• He finished 3rd in the 100m butterfly at the Australian Swimming Championships last night in Adelaide. The top 2 make it to Budapest, but Kyle Chalmers - who finished 2nd - is skipping the event.

• This has been a wild journey. Simpson only returned to the sport in 2020 after a music career in the States.

• Simpson wasn’t the only comeback story. Shayna Jack swam a PB in the 100m freestyle final to finish 2nd behind Mollie O’Callaghan. It means she’s in the Dolphins squad not long after she returned from a 2-year drug ban.

They said it: “My goal was to love swimming and fall in love with it again and I have and I'm really, really proud to be back.” - Jack cried happy tears after the race.

Watch it: The Championships continue today on Amazon Prime. Let’s whet your appetite with Simpson’s race from last night.

🏏 Ashes clashes just got more interesting

England’s coaching poaching raid has continued, and this time it involves an Aussies.

Golden points: Just days after our Ashes rivals announced Brendon McCullum as their men’s Test coach, the English have signed Matthew Mott to lead the men’s limited-overs teams.

• This one hits closer to home because Mott was coach of the Aussie women’s team for 7 very successful years.

• They won 3 Ashes series, 2 T20 World Cups and a 50-over World Cup earlier this year. It makes sense why they wanted him.

• Assistant coach Shelley Nitschke will be Australia’s interim coach for the Commonwealth Games starting in July.

They said it: “I genuinely believe that the time is right to play a role in helping the England Men's ODI and T20 group continue to evolve as one of the best teams in the world.” - Mott said it would take something special for him to leave.

🏉 Bellamy signs on for 21st birthday bash 

There are some players in the NRL who aren’t old enough to drink in the States. As for Craig Bellamy? Well, he’s about to celebrate his 21st year coaching the Melbourne Storm.

Golden points: He’s staying for at least one more year after the club announced the extension last night. But there’s every chance he keeps going after that.

• That’s because he signed a unique contract in 2021 that kept him at the Storm for 5 years. But there was a crucial clause that gave him the power each year to choose if he wants to coach again the following season.

• If not, he'll move into a coaching director role at the club. It turns out NRL Immortal Andrew Johns helped him make the decision.

• Bellamy’s decision to stay is big for a few reasons. He has a great relationship with Cameron Munster, who is off-contract next year. But he might stay now because he loves working with Bellamy.

What’s next: Bellamy is getting ready for Storm game number 509 against the Cowboys this weekend. Only Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens and Brian Smith have coached more first-grade games.

⚽ Nottingham dancing the Samba after big win 

You’d think we’d be talking about Liverpool’s crucial win in the English Premier League yesterday morning. Wrong.

Golden points: Sure, that’s a big deal because the Reds are one point behind Manchester City with one game to go. But there’s even more drama in the Championship.

• That’s the division below the EPL, and there are 2 teams left trying to get promoted. But there’s only one spot available.

• There were wild scenes in Nottingham when Forest eliminated Sheffield United on penalties yesterday. Take a bow, Brice Samba. He saved 3 penalties.

• Fans stormed the pitch to celebrate, but then it got ugly. Police are hunting a supporter who blindsided Sheffield star Billy Sharp with a headbutt.

What’s next: There’s a reason this is called the richest game in sport. The team that wins this is promoted to the EPL and will make around $470 million. Good luck to Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield who play at Wembley on 30 May.

Watch it: Here are the highlights from that epic game.

⛳ Golf is out of the rough and into the Woods

After a couple of messy weeks in the headlines, golf is back on the course in a big way.

Golden points: Sleep will be a problem for the next few days because golf’s 2nd major starts tonight. That's the PGA Championship, and we already know last year’s winner won’t defend his title.

• Phil Mickelson won it last year aged 50 and has decided to withdraw from the tournament given everything that’s going on with the Saudi-backed rebel league.

• But we will get to see Tiger Woods. He won it in 2007 when the tournament was last held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

What are the chances… an Aussie wins it? There are 8 Australians in the field, and Cam Smith is our best hope. He’s the world #5, has won a couple of big tournaments already this year and finished 3rd at the Masters.

Key click: Here’s a detailed preview of what to expect over the next 4 rounds.

Watch it: Coverage begins at 11.00pm (AEST) on Foxtel and Kayo.

🏉 It's that time of the week!

Don't Forget Your Tips! is a weekly podcast for footy fans who are keen to get an edge in their footy tipping comp. DFYT! will give you some facts, figures and maybe even a few omens that'll help you out with your AFL and NRL footy tips every week of the footy seasons. Episodes are around 12-minutes long and drop 6am every Thursday. Listen on Apple, Spotify and your favourite podcast app. Enjoy!

👀 Quick singles

⚽ The UEFA Europa League final went to extra time in searing conditions in Spain. Nothing could split Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers after 90 minutes, with the match level at 1-1.

⚽ There were no goals last night, but Adelaide United players are feeling confident after the first leg of their A-League Men’s semi-final against Melbourne City. There’s not much time to relax because the deciding leg is on Sunday.

🏀 There was no money involved, but the Orlando Magic won big at yesterday’s NBA Draft Lottery. They dodged some bullets and will pick first at the NBA Draft for the 4th time in franchise history.

🏉 Hurricanes forward Du’Plessis Kirifi has apologised for giving Waratahs fans the finger after last week’s game at Leichhardt Oval. He took to social media to explain how racial abuse from a fan led to his reaction.

🏉 The Bulldogs have turned to a familiar face to coach them for the rest of the NRL season. Mick Potter won a couple of premierships with Canterbury and will now try to help them get off the bottom of the ladder as their interim coach.

🏉 Former Collingwood player Héritier Lumumba says his long-time battle with the club over racism is now over. Lumumba posted a couple of secret audio recordings to social media and then said he was ready to “close the chapter”.

🏉 The Newcastle Knights are going to be a lot more competitive in the NRLW this season. That’s because they’ve signed Broncos duo Millie Boyle and Tamika Upton who will bring plenty of experience and talent to the squad.

🙃 Left of field...

Orange juice might be on the menu the next time Biniam Girmay wins a major cycling stage.

Golden points: This was supposed to be the greatest day of his career. After all, he’d just become the first black African to win a stage in one of Europe’s big cycling tours at the Giro d’Italia. But then the celebrations were quickly put on ice.

• As winners do, Girmay went to pop a bottle of Prosecco to celebrate the win. The problem was, the cork shot up and straight into his left eye.

• These things aren’t slow. The Eritrean rider found out that a popped cork can hit you in the blink of an eye if you’re not ready.

• He had to go to hospital after that and he’s been pulled from the rest of the race because of an eye hemorrhage.

Watch it: Here’s the painful moment.

📽 The highlight reel

There were 418 runs, a super century, a freakish catch and some clutch bowling by Marcus Stoinis. Sit back and enjoy the game of the year in the Indian Premier League.

📸 Photo finish

The French Open starts on Monday and fans can't wait. There are already big crowds at Roland Garros and this is just to watch 13-time winner Rafael Nadal practice.

🏃‍♀️ The finish line

🏆 Today's trivia answer

Jason Day won it back in 2015 and then finished 2nd the following year.

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