Good Morning, Stumpers!

Imagine kicking a football for the first time and then within a few years just on pure dedication and self-advocation alone you kick a game-winning Field Goal at the D1 level! Luckily you don’t have to imagine because that actually happened, and we’ve the specs for you below! Also, massive shoutout to Tommy Fleetwood, big day for the Englishman yesterday!

The Rundown

🏈 Kicking His Way to a Dream

⛳️ Tommy Fleetwood wins Tour Championship

🎾 Bonzi Upsets Medvedev in WILD first-round matchup

✏️ We’ve got The Script for you today

On This Day

🎾 Ashe Wins Open

In terms of legendary professional tennis players, there’s not many that left behind a legacy quite the same as Arthur Ashe.

On this day in 1968, Arthur Ashe becomes the first African American tennis player to win the US Open men’s singles title. Beyond tennis, Ashe was a tireless advocate for social justice, education, and health care. A legend, on and off the court!

Today’s Trivia

Glue Guy of the Day

🏈 Kicker with a Big Story

There’s a lesson, maybe two or three, in the story of Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa. The Japanese footballer took the sports world by storm on the first weekend of college football when he kicked the game-winning field goal to help the Rainbow Warriors defeat Stanford on the island.

Lesson Number One: Never be afraid to try new things.

Five years ago, 21-year-old Matsuzawa began to learn how to kick a football after coming to the United States on vacation. Kansei, who played high school soccer at home in Japan, but it really took of when he officially moved to the US. While at home in Japan, he took to YouTube and Instagram, watching videos, and teaching himself how to kick. He even used YouTube to learn English and cut his hair.

Lesson Number Two: Advocate for Yourself, Even When Nobody Else Will

When Kansei came to the United States, schools weren’t convinced he was a college kicker. But that did not stop him from trying. He posted and sent his film everywhere, hoping anyone would give him a shot. It wasn't until Hocking College in Nelsonsville, Ohio, started to show some interest that Kansei finally might have a shot. After some convincing, the Junior College program offered him a chance. He drilled twelve field goals that year for Hocking, good enough for an offer from Hawaii to play on the island.

Lesson Number Three: Prepare for Your Moment

When opportunity knocks, you don’t want to miss it. After years of effort, preparation, and timeless days of believing in himself, Kansei had his moment. When he stepped onto the field to attempt the game winner and become a hero, he was ready. It was years of tiny choices of preparation, going the extra mile, and advocating for himself and moment, that led him there. When it was time, he was ready. Now, we all know Kansei Matsuzawa.

There’s lessons to be learned all over sports, and this is just one example of many I’m sure that will come from this college football season. Thanks to his belief in himself and countless hours of preparation, Kansei Matsuzawa is a hero for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors.

The BIG Moments

⛳️ Tommy Takes Home Tour Championship

The Stump Short Story: What a way to clinch your first-ever victory on the PGA Tour. Yesterday Tommy Fleetwood was able to get the monkey off his back, and he did it in grand style by winning the FedEx Cup. He was leading throughout the entire weekend, but there was always some thought of “uh-oh, when’s he going to collapse again?” Nope, none of that. He carded five birdies on Sunday to win by a comfortable three stroke margin. Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley were T2 at -15, and Scottie behind them at -14.

Why it Matters: Tommy will take home a fun prize of $10 Million. He has finally won his first tournament on the PGA Tour and after the win he said “You can’t win plenty without winning one.” Way to be Tommy. A feel good win on Tour.

Read More: Fleetwood Wins Tour Championship (ESPN)

🎾 Medvedev Upset by Bonzi in Wild Fashion

The Stump Short Story: The U.S. Open is officially underway and it kicked off in dramatic fashion with 13-seed Daniil Medvedev taking on unranked Benjamin Bonzi. The history here is Bonzi STUMPSET Medvedev just a little while ago in the first round of Wimbledon. Today the script was similar, with Medvedev faltering early and being down two sets to love. He was facing a decisive match point in the third when a cameraman roamed onto the court! Because of this, the umpire awarded Bonzi with a first serve although he had already faulted before the stoppage, Medvedev was outraged and let everybody know. Maybe that was the juice he needed because he fended off match point (double-fault) and then brought the match all the way to a FIFTH SET! It was incredible but then he eventually was upset by Bonzi AGAIN! We’ll see what type of run he can make this tournament!

Why it Matters: We don’t see outbursts like this one all that often in tennis, and when we do they are ones that live on for a while. Here’s a clip of what you missed…HERE! The U.S. Open is in full swing and it will be fun to keep tabs on who is making their way through the draws!

Read More: Bonzi Upsets Medvedev in Chaotic First Round Matchup (USA Today)

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🔗 Quick Links

⚾️ Raleigh hits 48th, 49th HRs to set MLB record for catchers

🏀 Napheesa Collier scores 32 in return from injury for Lynx

🏈 Michigan names freshman Underwood their starter at QB

What To Watch

⚾️ The MLB season is heading into the final month, which can only mean one thing, every game matters! The Red Sox take on the Orioles, Yankees hosts the Nats, Twins go to Toronto, Phillies face their rival Mets, and a west coast match between the Padres and Mariners are our series to watch for the beginning of the week!

⚽️ Some of the best clubs in the world take the stage today and tomorrow:

• Newcastle vs Liverpool (3:00 PM today on USA)

• Inter vs Torino (2:45 PM today)

• Wolverhampton vs Brentford (2:45 PM tomorrow)

🏀 WNBA on NBATV:

• Aces vs Sky (8:00 PM today)

• Mercury vs Sparks (10:00 PM tomorrow)

Of! The! Day’s!

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