BASEBALL

Bryce Harper won the entertaining exhibition Home Run Derby with his father on the mound as his designated pitcher. The Washington Nationals slugger has been with the team since he debuted at 17 years old (he’s now 25), and even with a disappointing season (.214 batting average), he’s expected to cash in as a free-agent after the season.

The All-Star game (Tuesday 7:00 pm ET) between the best players from the American League and the best players from the National League no longer determines home-field advantage in the World Series and is now just a fun exhibition.

GOLF

CBS announcer and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is showing he’s a versatile athlete. He’s having success on the celebrity golf tour. After winning at Lake Tahoe (his second victory in a row), he refused to accept the $125K check in order to retain his amateur status. He announced he’ll donate the money to a local charity instead.

TENNIS

The Wimbledon men’s semifinal was one for the ages. After 6 hours and 35 minutes, Kevin Anderson beat John Isner 7-6, 6-7, 6-7, 6-4 (26-24). Isner has now played in the two longest matches in Grand Slam history. In 2010 (also at Wimbledon) Isner beat Nicolas Mahut in a match lasting 11 hours, 5 minutes over 3 days time.

Anderson ultimately lost in the Finals to Novak Djokovic (who beat Rafael Nadal in the semis).

In the women’s final, Angelique Kerber defeated Serena Williams 6-3, 6-3 ending Serena’s exciting comeback after a 13-month maternity leave.

WORLD CUP

France prevailed over Croatia to bring the month-long World Cup tournament in Russia to an end. The win marked the second time in team history France has brought home the title. 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe became the stand-out star during the tournament securing his place in history as only the second teenager to score a goal in a World Cup final (the first was a 17-year old Pele in 1958). Mbappe further impressed the sports world by announcing he’ll donate his earnings from the tournament to a charity offering free sports instruction to disabled children.

TENNIS

Serena Williams beat Goerges in the semis at Wimbledon in easy straight sets 6-2, 6-4. She will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber on Saturday in the finals. Serena is 36 years with an almost 1 year old baby girl.  Before maternity leave, Williams was ranked #1 in the world, but after 13 months off, her ranking dropped to #183. Tournament organizers, however,  agreed to seed her 25th at Wimbledon in order to show the tennis world they don’t penalize women for taking time off for maternity leave.

BASKETBALL

After a hip injury causing Isaiah Thomas to bounce around the League from Boston, to Cleveland, to the Lakers, it’s been reported Thomas will sign a one-year $2 million deal with the Denver Nuggets as their 6th man.  It’s also been reported Jeremy Lin will leave the Brooklyn Nets and head to the Atlanta Hawks.

TENNIS

In some big news out of Wimbledon, eight-time Wimbledon champion and #2 player in the world, Roger Federer, lost in the quarterfinals to Kevin Anderson (who’s playing in his first semis at this historic tournament).  Juan Martin del Potro couldn’t pull off an upset of #1 player in the world, Rafael Nadal, even after requesting a sandwich from his coach (with perfect execution by the ball boy). Nadal will now play Novak Djokovic in the semis and Anderson takes on John Isner.

WORLD CUP

In an exciting World Cup Semifinal, Croatia defeated England 2-1 and emerges to the championship match for the first time in its history.  According to the oddsmakers, when Croatia entered the tournament, it had a 3% chance to win it all.  The Final between France and Croatia takes place on Sunday at 11:00 am ET.

WORLD CUP

In a 1-0 victory over Belgium, France advances to the World Cup Final. The last time the team won the World Cup was in 1998. France will play the winner of England/Croatia. French soccer fan Pamela Anderson (51 years old) secretly slipped into the stadium on Tuesday to watch her boyfriend and a defender on the French national team, Adil Rami (32 years old). She arrived wearing a diamond Cartier ring so many are speculating on if/when she’ll get engaged.

Real Madrid announced Christiano Ronaldo, their all-time leading scorer who’s been with the Club for 9 years, will leave to sign with Italian Club Juventus for $117 million transfer fee. Ronaldo issued an emotional statement, “Real Madrid has won my heart and that of my family and it is because of that, now more than ever, I would like to say thank you.

BASKETBALL

A big potential change is underway in the NBA. Commissioner Adam Silver believes the one-and-done rule, where players under the age of 18 have to play at least one year of college basketball or one year internationally, should be revamped to allow players to go straight to the pros. The Players Association will need to approve of the rule, but Silver said, “My personal view is that we’re ready to make that change. It won’t come immediately, but…when I weighed the pros and cons – (and) given that (former Secretary of State) Condoleezza Rice and her (NCAA) commission has recommended to the NBA that those one-and-done players now come directly into the league and, in essence, the college community is saying ‘We do not want those players anymore,’ I mean that sort of tips the scale in my mind that we should be taking a serious look at lowering our age to 18.”

WORLD CUP

England and Croatia face off on Wednesday in the World Cup semifinals.  With the excitement of England returning to the semis for the first time in 28 years, the organizers at Wimbledon have loosened their cell phone policy in order to let fans follow their team. Normally, spectators in the stands have to turn off their phones and electronic devices, but according to reports, the policy will not be enforced this week.

TENNIS

Speaking of Wimbledon, for the first time in any Grand Slam event, no player ranked as a top 10 seed made it to the quarterfinals. Serena Williams, now ranked #25 due to time off after her pregnancy, did make the quarters and is looking to win her eighth Wimbledon title.

FOOTBALL

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler left his job as a Fox analyst last year and unsuccessfully trie to resurrect his career with the Miami Dolphins. Now he’s become a reality TV  star on his wife, Kristin Cavallari’s new show, “Very Cavallari”. According to fans, his deadpan laziness makes him extremely watchable and entertaining, although he still hasn’t ruled out a football comeback.

WORLD CUP

The semifinals are set with Belgium, France, England and Croatia. Belgium defeated #3 in the world, Brazil, and will face France. England defeated Sweden and will face Croatia. Even though Russia lost in an emotional shootout with Croatia, the Russians still celebrated as they never expected to get this far. Russia’s coach said, “People didn’t only start trusting, but loving us. They have fallen in love with us. They know what the national team is worth.”

BASEBALL

The 2018 Major League All-Stars have been selected, and as always fans are complaining about who wasn’t chosen. The All-Star game takes place July 17th in Washington DC. Click here for the lineup.

BASKETBALL

Steph and Ayesha Curry welcomed a new baby boy. His name is Canon W.Jack Curry. Canon joins his sisters 6-year-old Riley and 3-year-old Ryan. Congratulations to the newest Golden State Warrior.

WORLD CUP

The quarterfinals start today with Belgium taking on powerhouse Brazil. Brazil star Neymar has been getting a lot of attention during the games for his constant and theatrical flopping. According to reports, he’s spent 13 minutes and 50 seconds lying or rolling on the ground. KFC South Africa capitalized on the antics with a clever commercial.

Also on Friday, Uruguay takes on France. Saturday’s action features England vs Sweden and Russia vs Croatia.

BASKETBALL

Dwight Howard,  traded to the Brooklyn Nets this off-season is now reportedly heading to the Washington Wizards in a one year deal worth $5.3 million. Even though Howard is known around the League to have attitude issues and can be disruptive in the locker room, the Wizards needed a Center.

Outspoken and controversial dad, LaVar Ball claims his son Lonzo will be a great teammate for LeBron and will make him better. After the Lakers signed Rajon Rondo last week, Lonzo’s position with the team has been in question. Defending his son’s abilities, LaVar said, “Lonzo makes everybody better, including (LeBron). Lonzo’s gonna get along with anybody he plays with. He’s just got that special gift,”

OTHER

In the Annual Independence Day hot dog eating contest at Coney Island, defending champion Joey Chestnut took home the title again, and this time broke his own record of 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Chestnut has won the title 11 times and is ranked #1 in the world by Major League Eating (yes, that’s a thing). Miki Suto won her 5th consecutive title in the women’s event by downing 37 dogs.

BASKETBALL

DeMarcus Cousins agreed to a 1 year $5.3 deal with the Warriors. Cousins tore his Achilles tendon while playing for the New Orleans Pelicans and isn’t expected to be healthy enough to play until December.  Cousins commented about his deal, “This is my ace of spades. This is my chess move.” 

In other NBA news, former New Orleans Pelican Rajon Rondo will join LeBron on the Lakers agreeing to a one-year, $9 million deal. The question now is whether Rondo will start over Lonzo Ball (they both play point guard). Ball was the #2 pick in the draft last year and was declared “the new face of the Lakers” by Magic Johnson.

WORLD CUP

Powerhouse Brazil advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Mexico 2-0.  This is the 7th straight tournament in which Mexico has advanced to the round of 16 and failed to make it to the quarterfinals. Belgium enjoyed an exciting comeback win over Japan on Monday and will play Brazil in the quarterfinals on Friday. For the rest of the schedule, click here.