Good Morning! What do we love most about the summer? Well there’s a lot of things, but one of them is the ESPN Make A Wish special segment that airs on SportsCenter and shows us how sports can be used to make a positive difference. Check out this powerful piece featuring Carolina Panthers’ Cam Newton and 6 year old George Gring:

 

QUIPS FOR THIS WEEK

Golf

Talk about a major weekend for Rory McIlroy. That’s right, the 25 year old rose above the rest of the field to dominate and win the British Open on Sunday. Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia were the runners-up. It was a big win for Rory, as it was his 3rd major golf tournament win. Further, he now has won 3 out of the 4 major events, and is closer to the elusive and coveted Grand Slam. At 25 years old the best is surely yet to come, and that’s good news for the future of golf.

As good of a weekend as it was for Rory, it was the exact opposite for Tiger Woods. Tiger was never really in contention and finished his last round poorly, driving more questions into whether he will win another Major ever again. For now, his next concern is whether he will make the Ryder Cup. Stay tuned.

Speaking of the Ryder Cup, the 2014 golfing event gets started September 23-28th in Perthshire, Scotland. Get ready to hear more about the tournament where the Americans face off against the Europeans as it gets closer to fall. But before that, the PGA Championship will kick off on August 7th in Kentucky.

Basketball

Tis the season for more USA basketball! This past week, USA hoops announced 19 players that will compete for a roster spot on the national team that will play for a World Championship in late August. It is a mix of familiar faces and new players including: Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, James Harden, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Blake Griffin, Chandler Parsons, Paul George, Damion Lillard, DeMarcus Cousins, Bradley Beal, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Fareid, Kyle Korver and Gordon Hayward.

The excitement surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers continues to grow as they finalize their new team. In addition to signing LeBron James and extending Kyrie Irving’s contract, the Cavs have added former Miami Heat players Mike Miller and James Jones to their roster and are looking to potentially make even more moves. The big question remains whether the Cavs will trade #1 pick Andrew Wiggins to the Minnesota Timberwolves for star forward Kevin Love or keep the team the way it is. There are arguments for both sides, and everyone has an opinion on which route will lead to better short term or long term results. At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is an NBA Championship, and LeBron seems to want to team up with Love. Does the Cavs’ management feel the same way?

In other NBA news, outside of summer league that is, there were a couple of more big signings this week. Dwyane Wade signed a new contract with the Miami Heat that awarded him a no-trade clause. He joins Carmelo Anthony as the only other player to negotiate a no-trade clause into a contract this season. There are now 6 players in the league with this type of exclusive contract.

Other

In all things tennis, #15 Caroline Wozniacki got her first win of the year at the Istanbul Cup. It’s the 22nd win of her career and will hopefully propel her forward.

It may not seem like it, but college football is just around the corner and you know what means… media day! Over the weekend the ACC took their turn and a number of topics were addressed. Among them were Jameis Winston and Florida State, their off-the-field troubles, and whether they have what it takes to compete for back-to-back national championships.

The ESPYs took place last Wednesday night on ESPN. There were a number of interesting takeaways, but two of the most powerful moments took place when Stuart Scott and Michael Sam each gave incredibly thoughtful speeches. They are both worth watching.

JUST FOR FUN

Ballin’
LeBron’s 4th grade son is an awesome basketball player (shocker!) 

STORIES FOR INSIGHTS, COOL FACTOR + DEBATE

The A’s, B’s, and C’s of the NBA Offseason
How are your teams looking?
Check out this NBA Offseason Report Card – if you’re a fair weather fan, it’s time to get a head start on finding a new team!

Now What?
Where is your newly found interest in soccer headed?
Since the World Cup ended, have you stayed invested in the world of soccer, or has your interest petered out?

Equanimeous St. Brown
This college football recruit has the height, the fluidity, and the athleticism 
Named for the word “equanimity” meaning “calm emotions when dealing with problems or pressure,” Equanimeous is one of Sports Illustrated’s most interesting recruits

Proving Her Worth
Natalie Nakase is looking to be the first female NBA coach
She has worked as the Clippers’ video intern, but her love of the game and competitive edge might just help her shatter the glass ceiling

No Cheer for the Cheerleaders
Are cheerleaders being compensated fairly for their work?
As more and more women file lawsuits, it raises questions about how teams employ their cheerleaders