Good Morning, Stumpers!

It seems like every half hour we were getting a new move in the NBA. Even after going through everything, there’s still so much that could have been missed! Don’t worry, we’ve got all the big ones for you here today. We’ve also got some Wimbledon STUMPSETS and an NFL UN-retirement! Yeah! Lots to discuss! Let’s go!

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The Rundown

🏀 Free Agency MANIA! Lot’s to discuss!

🎾 Down Goes Gauff! Record Number of First-Round STUMPSETS!

🏈 An Unretirement? Wow Darren Waller!

🎵 Trust us…Give this one a listen!

On This Day

⛈️ Thunder’s Rolling In

There was a once storied basketball team in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle SuperSonics were one of the most beloved franchises in their area, but when money got tight, owners always find a way out.

On this day in 2008, a settlement is reached to move the Seattle SuperSonics to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to become the franchise we now know as the Thunder. Owner Clay Bennett agreed to pay the City of Seattle $45M to get out of the last two years of their stadium lease. Felt relevant after the last few weeks.

Today’s Trivia

Glue Guy of the Day

⚾️ Bobby Bonilla Day!

Glue Guy of the Day: Bobby Bonilla, Former New York Met

You may be thinking, “Who the hell is Bobby Bonilla? And why does he have a day?”. Well, sports fan, let me enlighten you. The calendar officially changed on the fiscal year yesterday, making July 1 the first day of the new year. For Bobby Bonilla, who last played for the New York Mets in 1999, July 1 is a day of celebration.

When New York wanted to cut the struggling veteran, the two sides agreed to buy out the remaining $5.9 million on Bonilla’s contract. Instead of just handing him the money then and there, the two sides agreed to make annual payments of nearly $1.2M for 25 years starting on July 1, 2011. Every year on July 1, until 2035, Mets fans and Bonilla celebrate the day. Yesterday was Bonilla’s day, a day he calls “better than my birthday”.

Bonilla, who is now 62 years of age, set the precedent for today’s deferred contracts we see all over the major leagues. But mostly, I just think this is so bad ass. Screw a retirement check or a retirement job, pay me to retire! Bonilla, who was going to get cut anyways, say an amazing opportunity to make himself some money in the long run.

It’s even quite funny, maybe just because it’s the Mets, that an MLB franchise is paying a guy who’s 62 to sit on his couch, just because they didn’t want to pay him $6M back in 2000. Bonilla, I tip my cap to you, sir! You were, and I’m sure still are, an opportunist.

The guy STEALING $1.2M from the New York Mets, Bobby Bonilla: GLUE!

Weekend Moments

🏀 NBA Free Agency Frenzy

The Stump Short Story: It’s going to be hard to keep this one short, so instead, I’ll just bullet point the biggest moves:

• SGA signed a historic 4-year, $285M supermax contract to make the largest annual salary for a player in NBA history

• The Milwaukee Bucks got busy, signing Myles Turner to a 4-year, $107M deal

  • Immediately following that, the Bucks waived their injured star Damian Lillard

• Jaren Jackson Jr (MEM) sings a 5-year, $240M max contract

• Dorian Finney-Smith (HOU) signs a 4-year, $53M deal

• Raptors and Jakob Poeltl agree on 4-year, $104M extension

• D’Angelo Russell (DAL) agrees to a 2-year, $13M deal

• Denver Nuggets trade Michael Porter Jr. and a first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Cam Johnson

• Brook Lopez (LAC) signs on with the Clippers, (2-year, $18M)

• Nickeil Alexander-Walker (ATL), or NAW, agrees to a 4-year, $62M deal

Why it Matters: It’s that time of the year where everyone feels like they are winning the offseason. Free agency is a wonderful time, full of excitement, big pay days, and unrealistic expectations. Enjoy these days, and remember how you felt when the guy you loved signing isn’t everything you wanted him to be.

Read More: NBA Free Agency 2025 Tracker (ESPN)

🏈 Waller Shocks All, Unretires and Traded

The Stump Short Story: Well, it looks like the rap career did not work out for Darren Waller. The 32-year-old former All-Pro shocked the NFL world yesterday by unretiring and being traded from the New York Giants to the Miami Dolphins. This is just one example in the latest flurry of moves by the Dolphins to reshape their team for the upcoming season. Waller will replace TE Jonnu Smith, who the Dolphins just traded Monday to Pittsburgh. A pro bowler during his time in Las Vegas, he was traded to the Giants heading into the 2023 NFL season. After just one year in New York, Waller announced a retirement.

Why it Matters: Waller will be reuniting with Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who was his position coach in Las Vegas during his most successful time in the NFL. During his retirement, Waller opened up about his struggles with addiction and illness that left him contemplating his purpose in life. Recently, Waller told those close to him that he “missed the game” and wanted to return. Now, he’s a Miami Dolphin!

Read More: Darren Waller unretiring as Dolphins acquire TE in trade (ESPN)

🎾 Wimbledon Woes! Down Goes Gauff!

The Stump Short Story: Wimbledon has officially kicked off, and to be perfectly honest with you, there usually isn’t a whole lot to report from the Round of 128! Yesterday however the women’s draw completely flipped on its head! We saw three of the top seeds go down to unranked opponents. (2) Coco Gauff, (3) Jessica Pegula, and (5) Qinwen Zheng!

Why it Matters: Gauff came into the tournament as one of favorites, and going down to Dayana Yastremska in straight sets. She just couldn’t seem to get her first serve going all game, which really got in her head late. Overall, there was a record-tying 23 seeds lose across draws these last two days in the 1st round at Wimbledon! INSANE!

Read More: Coco Gauff Overwhelmed in First Round of Wimbledon (Yahoo Sports)

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🔗 Quick Links

⚾️ Two tickets. It’s Showtime. We’re watching the movie called HR #30

🏀 Jake Paul now ranked and eligible for WBA cruiserweight title shot (ESPN)

🎾 Cool reaction from the showman Gael Monfils!

Today’s Top Three

⚾️ MLB Mid-Week:

• Padres @ Phillies (12:10 PM)

• Reds @ Red Sox (7:10 PM)

• Yankees @ Blue Jays (7:07 PM)

• Giants @ DBacks (9:40 PM)

⚽️ Both the United States Men and Women National Teams take center stage tonight!

• Concacaf Gold Cup Semi’s: USA vs Guatemala (7:30 PM on FS1), Mexico vs Honduras (10:00 PM on FS1)

• Women’s Int’l Friendly: USA vs Canada (7:30 PM on TNT)

🎾 The 2025 Wimbledon charges on into the week with Round 2 getting started this morning on the other side of the pond! With all the matches going on, here’s a link to the full schedule

Of! The! Day’s!

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