“I think we feel proud because ... I think we'll create something that is going to stay now in the federation and in this country.” - Mauricio Pochettino, USMNT coach, who hopefully signs up for 4 more years.
🎙️ Leading Off
It is amazing what playing World Cup games in North America instead of Qatar will do for the collective American interest in the sport. IT’S JUST AMAZING. Despite the abysmal performance against Belgium, the USMNT put on a good honest show for the past month. There’s been volume, drama, and international unity. Sprinkle in the mammoth dose of corruption and the game is firing on all cylinders. This is Modern Sport. It’s an Entertainment Product!
Jokes aside. I’m feeling the faintest disappointment in Monday’s loss not because we were embarrassed, but because the ride has to end. Positive indicator. Let’s keep Pochettino around. See me in the Iberian Penisula in 2030 and I’ll likely have a USA shersey on while I enjoy my jamon.
🏀 Hard In The Paint
(NBA.com)
This Jaylen Brown deal is stinkin up Boston’s Back Bay like a bucket of old oysters. SMELL THAT? WOAH! The chowder’s gone bad people. Boston cleared their 2028 payroll of Brown and his mega-max deal. In return, they swallow Paul George, duck the luxury tax (after likewise trimming Jrue Holiday and Luke Kornet last offseason), and reset the Repeater Tax penalties they were facing had they decided to, yaknow, keep team together. Since winning the 2024 title, Boston has sent Holiday to Portland, shipped Porzingis to Atlanta and watched Kornet walk to San Antonio despite lecturing us today on the virtues of Depth and Team Building. The macro existence of the Celtics since winning the Finals has been one of cost-cutting, playoff disappointments, and tax evasion. 2025’s efforts were excused as a gap year waiting for Jayson Tatum to heal from his achilles injury. 2026’s version is being sold as cap management, analytical improvement, and avoiding internal dysfunction.
How do we know for sure that Boston is cheaping out and not actually optimizing their roster? Let’s keep our eyes on 2028….
Almost immediately after Beantown’s title, Bill Chisholm bought the Celtics for $6.1b. Chisholm structured the deal to close in two tranches. He put up $1b in 2024, but needs to buy out former owner Wyc Grousbeck at a $7.3b valuation in 2028. Get a look at those Numbies. Billy Chizz needs the cash machine hummin because he’s rolling profits annually into his final purchase price. Chisholm signed up PE firm State Street for another $1b to close his financing gap. Nearly 20 minority partners are likewise on board. Still, even an amateur financier (sterling FICO) like myself can see that Bill needs cash and/or clean books by 2028 to close.
As per NBA rules, the Celts can carry up to $475m in debt. Chisholm needs his debt and equity contributions to exceed the 20% equity State Street has volunteered to contribute. Including his $1b already committed, and the $475m in debt, Chisholm needs profitable seasons to fund the remaining equity required to give him more shares than State Street and any one minority partner. He needs no luxury tax repeater penalties hanging over his head when he raises his debt financing. He needs the most lendable team possible heading into 2028 and beyond. While Paul George might earn close to Jaylen Brown’s salary this year and next, he evaporates from the books before the 2028 season begins. Which brings us to another Brown-linked trade….
Before shipping Jaylen to Philly, Boston dangled Brown for Giannis. And why did the Giannis deal ultimately fall through? The Celtics reportedly balked at offering Giannis a 3 year extension at 35% of the cap. They preferred the Greek Freak to sign on for 2yrs at 30%. When Giannis balked, the Bucks and his representatives re-routed to Miami. Boston thought they could swipe Giannis and save a little skrilla. Their reluctance to include Hugo Gonzalez and Bailey Scheierman had nothing to do with their individual talents and everything to do with retaining near minimum salary depth. Had the Giannis deal closed, you could bet Sam Houser and his $10m salary would have been shipped out of town.
The NBA is having a reckoning when it comes to super-max contracts. The league is also being penetrated by analytics. Did both play a part in Brown getting shipped out of town? Sure, but neither mattered as much as Bill Chisholm needing clean books before hitting up every private credit fund in town.
📻 Over The Air
📡 JumboTron: Tuesday’s Must Watch
All times PST
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Novak Djokovic, 8:30am ESPN
Argentina vs Egypt, 9:00am Fox
Yankees vs Rays, 3:40pm TBS, an eclectic day of sport
☎️ The Phone Line
Best thing on the timeline today:
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
Walkup Song
Walkup Song
Kygo, Ava Max
For bowing out of another World Cup, we’ll be back:
Spotify