by Julian Spivey
Denny Hamlin won the NASCAR Cup Racing M&Ms Fan Appreciation 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday, July 24. Then about two hours after the completion of the race he didn’t.

Hamlin was stripped of the win after his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota failed post-race inspection when according to NASCAR Cup Series Managing Director Brad Moran the front fascia of his car was illegal affecting the aerodynamics of his vehicle.

It’s the first time the winner of a Cup Series race has been disqualified since 1960.

Typically, when a race winner is DQ’d the victory would go to the second place finisher, which was Hamlin’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch, but Busch’s No. 18 Toyota also failed post-race inspection for the same reason and was also disqualified. Hamlin was credited with a 35th place finish and Busch was credited with a last-place 36th place finish.

Chase Elliott, who finished third at the end of the race’s 160 laps, was given the win by default despite not leading a lap during the entire race.

This is a horrible scenario for NASCAR for multiple reasons. The most obvious reason being the blatant cheating by one of the sport’s top teams. But the other reason is one I feel judging on tonight’s immediate social media takes that I’m going to be in the minority on. I don’t think NASCAR should’ve stripped the win from Hamlin.

My reasoning is going to be weird, so I hope this doesn’t get too confusing to follow.

I don’t want to condone cheating. So, I effectively would like everything positive about the win to be stripped from Hamlin’s team. I want him to receive zero points from the race (I assume he will get the usual six points for his now 35th place finish). I want the win to not count toward the playoffs. I was the entire No. 11 team (and No. 18) benched for next weekend’s race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (this is something that’s never been done in NASCAR). I want the crew chief’s of the No. 11 and No. 18 suspended for at least a month, which would basically be the suspension for losing a tire off the car during as race (so I’d argue more than a month could be fair), I want a massive points penalty. I want the biggest fine in the history of the sport. I want any and every punishment for this team other than stripping the win out of the record books.

Why?

Because when the race ended Hamlin was the driver who crossed the finish line first and I spent around three hours of my busy life watching this happen and so did millions of other viewers and so did thousands of fans who paid to attend the Pocono race.  

I don’t want Hamlin to be rewarded, but I don’t like the idea of sporting results changing hours after the end of the event. It makes the entire thing seem pointless.

I realize this will feel like condoning cheating to some. I’ve already been told on social media that a cheater winning makes the event pointless too. I truly don’t disagree with that. This is a horrible scenario for NASCAR to be in. But I can’t help feeling that I wasted my time on today’s Cup Series race at Pocono. I’d rather every possible penalty be levied at Hamlin and Busch after the fact instead of naming the guy I saw finish in third place the winner well after the fact.

Best Team
Nominees: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Braves, Colorado Avalanche, Georgia Bulldogs Football, Oklahoma Sooners Softball, Chicago Sky

Eric’s Pick to Win: Golden State Warriors
The Warriors became the first team in NBA history to go from worst to first in a three-year span. A lot of people thought their championship window was closed after Kevin Durant left in free agency and injuries to key players. But their championship pedigree is still intact and looks to be poised for another dynasty. EF

Julian’s Pick to Win: Atlanta Braves
This one’s hard for me. I could almost flip a coin to decide between the Atlanta Braves and Golden State Warriors (honesty moment – these are my favorite teams in MLB and NBA). Both were unexpected champions – the Braves a young team that was under .500 with two months remaining in the 2021 season and went on to somehow win it all and the Warriors a former dynasty rebuilding around a trio often injured over the last couple of seasons and back to their glory. Eric choosing the Warriors makes me selection a bit easier because I won’t have to feel bad voting for the Atlanta Braves. JS

Best Athlete, Men's Sports
Nominees: Stephen Curry, Aaron Rodgers, Shohei Ohtani, Connor McDavid

Eric’s Pick to Win: Stephen Curry
After a tough couple of seasons, Curry led the Warriors to the return of NBA's top team. He solidified his legacy by winning his first NBA Finals MVP.  With Golden State winning their fourth title in the last eight seasons, Curry has established a legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. EF

Julian’s Pick to Win: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani did something in the 2021 MLB season that’s never been done before – he was an All-Star as a hitter and a pitcher. Ohtani is a unicorn. There’s no athlete in his sport or any sport for that matter that’s like him. The 2021 American League Most Valuable Player for the Los Angeles Angels is the obvious pick here, but ESPY voters haven’t voted a baseball player as Male Athlete of the Year in more than 20 years since ‘roided up Mark McGwire won in 1999. If a baseball player can do it to it’s Ohtani, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Curry took it. JS
 
Best Athlete, Women's Sports
Nominees: Oksana Masters, Sunisa Lee, Katie Ledecky, and Candace Parker

Eric’s Pick to Win: Sunisa Lee
Sunisa Lee stole the spotlight in the 2020 Summer Olympics. She won all-around gymnastics as well as a bronze medal in the uneven bars. Lee would compete in collegiate gymnastics at Auburn University. She finished first in the balance beam in the NCAA Championships and second in the all-around. EF

Best Breakthrough Athlete
Nominees: Trinity Rodman, Eileen Gu, Jonathan Taylor, Ja Morant

Eric’s Pick to Win: Ja Morant
Morant led the Memphis Grizzlies to the second seed in the NBA's Western Conference. The former NBA Rookie of the Year also became a starter in this year's NBA All-Star Game. EF

Best Record-Breaking Performance
Nominees: Stephen Curry, Jocelyn Alo, Tom Brady, Allyson Felix

Eric’s Pick to Win: Stephen Curry setting the record for most three-pointers made in NBA history.
It is not a surprise to anyone not if, but when Curry was going to set the record for most three pointers made. Let's face it, Curry can shoot it from anywhere and most times, it would go in. Whenever he does retire, that is one record that will probably never be broken. EF

Julian’s Pick to Win: Stephen Curry
I’ve never seen one athlete completely change the way a sport is played like Stephen Curry has done in the NBA with his three-point shooting. It only took Curry basically 11 seasons to break the league’s all-time three-point record held by Ray Allen. At 34 years old Curry still has multiple seasons ahead of him and his shot is still falling at a great clip. He’s going to set a mark that may never be topped. JS

Best Championship Performance
Nominees: Cooper Kupp, Julianna Pena, Max Verstappen, Cale Makar

Eric’s Pick to Win: Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams – Super Bowl LVI
Cooper Kupp's historic 2021 season ended with an outstanding performance in Super Bowl LVI. Kupp had eight catches for 92 yards with two touchdowns, including the game winner. Including the postseason, Kupp had a total of 2,425 recieving yards for the 2021 season. He also led the NFL in receptions (145) and touchdowns (16). EF

Julian’s Pick to Win: Cooper Kupp
First of all, it’s irritating to see Formula 1’s Max Verstappen even nominated for Best Championship Performance because he only won the F1 title because of a controversial ruling late in the race during a caution and restart that screwed Lewis Hamilton out of a record eighth championship.

I voted for Cooper Kupp, who not only had one of the greatest Super Bowls of all-time by a receiver, but I felt should’ve been the NFL’s MVP of the regular season – but that has seemingly become a quarterback only award. JS

Best Game
Nominees: Chiefs defeat Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, Kansas comeback over North Carolina, UCONN 2OT win over NC State, Alabama defeating Auburn in 4OT

Eric’s Pick to Win: Chiefs over Bills.
While many fans did not like how the game ended, Kansas City versus Buffalo in the AFC Divisional Round was still one of the best football games ever played. Each team scoring at will in the fourth quarter sending a classic into overtime. While the Bills' offense did not get a chance to score in overtime, they still provided some fireworks late. EF

Julian’s Pick to Win: Kansas comeback over North Carolina in NCAA Men’s College Basketball Championship
Chiefs over Bills was a fantastic NFL playoff game, but it was only the divisional round! What the Kansas Jayhawks did in the NCAA men’s college basketball championship coming back from a record 16 points down to the North Carolina Tar Heels should be the winner because it was for all the marbles. JS

Best NFL Player
Nominees: Cooper Kupp, T.J. Watt, Aaron Rodgers, Jonathan Taylor

Julian’s Pick to Win: Cooper Kupp
I’ve mentioned multiple times on this website over the last couple of years how I hate how the NFL MVP award has become essentially a quarterback only award. The last two seasons Aaron Rodgers have been given the honor over more deserving players in my opinion – Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry two years ago and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp this past season. Kupp had one of the all-time greatest seasons for a receiver in NFL history last year and while I can’t do anything about him being snubbed as MVP I can at least give him my ESPY vote.
 
Best MLB Player:
Nominees: Shohei Ohtani, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Jorge Soler

Julian’s Pick to Win: Shohei Ohtani

It’s so dumb that Jorge Soler is nominated here. He won the MVP of the World Series for the Atlanta Braves and that’s the entire reason he’s nominated for an ESPY, because apparently the ESPYs don’t look too far into who’s actually deserving.

Shohei Ohtani absolutely has to be the winning choice for this category. As mentioned earlier, he’s a unicorn. There’s nobody like him in the game of baseball – dominant on the mound and at the plate. JS

Best NBA Player:
Nominees: Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry

Julian’s Pick to Win: Nikola Jokic
This one was very hard for me because I’d honestly like to vote for Stephen Curry, he is my favorite player in the NBA, after all, but I’ve got to be objective and go with the guy who’s won the last two NBA MVP’s in Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. I watched the first round NBA Playoffs matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Nuggets and the Nuggets are nothing without Jokic, who does it all for that team. JS

Best NHL Player
Nominees: Connor McDavid, Igor Shesterkin, Roman Josi, Auston Matthews

Eric’s Pick to Win: Auston Matthews
Matthews became the first player in a decade to score 60 goals in a season.  He registered a career high in goals, assists, and points in a season. EF

Starters: 

Catcher: Willson Contreras (Chicago Cubs) 
Avg: .274, HR: 13, RBI: 35, OBP: .392, WAR: 2.9

First Base: Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals) 
Avg: .340, HR: 19, RBI: 65, OBP: .422, WAR: 4.4

Second Base: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (Miami Marlins) 
Avg: .254, HR: 14, RBI: 45, OBP: .325, WAR: 2.4

Third Base: Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals) 
Avg: .292, HR: 17, RBI: 55, OBP: .353, WAR: 4.1

Shortstop: Trea Turner (Los Angeles Dodgers) 
Avg: .311, HR: 11, RBI: 59, SB: 16, OBP: .359, WAR: 2.8

Left Field: Joc Pederson (San Francisco Giants) 
Avg: .278, HR: 17, RBI: 40, OBP: .348, WAR: 1.0 

Center Field: Ronald Acuna Jr. (Atlanta Braves) 
Avg: .287, HR: 7, RBI: 19, SB: 16, OBP: .389, WAR: 1.7

Right Field: Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers) 
Avg: .278, HR: 17, RBI: 41, OBP: .356, WAR: 3.0

Designated Hitter: Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies) 
Avg: .318, HR: 15, RBI: 48, OBP: .385, WAR: 2.6 

Reserves: 

Catcher: Travis d'Arnaud (Atlanta Braves) 
Avg: .264, HR: 11, RBI: 36, OBP: .309, WAR: 0.8

First Base: Pete Alonso (New York Mets) 
Avg: .276, HR: 22, RBI: 69, OBP: .356, WAR: 2.1

First Base: Josh Bell (Washington Nationals) 
Avg: .318, HR: 12, RBI: 47, OBP: .399, WAR: 3.3

Second Base: Jeff McNeil (New York Mets) 
Avg: .318, HR: 4, RBI: 34, OBP: .375, WAR: 2.1

Second Base: Tommy Edman (St. Louis Cardinals) 
Avg: .266, HR: 7, RBI: 32, SB: 19, OBP: .335, WAR: 4.2

Third Base: Manny Machado (San Diego Padres) 
Avg: .318, HR: 12, RBI: 46, OBP: .392, WAR: 3.9 

Shortstop: Dansby Swanson (Atlanta Braves) 
Avg: .304, HR: 14, RBI: 49, OBP: .361, WAR: 3.5

Outfield: Charlie Blackmon (Colorado Rockies) 
Avg: .272, HR: 13, RBI: 45, OBP: .320, WAR: 0.8

Outfield: Bryan Reynolds (Pittsburgh Pirates) 
Avg: .253, HR: 15, RBI: 32, OBP: .328, WAR: 1.4

Outfield: Starling Marte (New York Mets) 
Avg: .282, HR: 9, RBI: 39, OBP: .332, WAR: 2.4

Designated Hitter: Garrett Cooper (Miami Marlins) 
Avg: .315, HR: 5, RBI: 36, OBP: .380, WAR: 1.4

Pitchers: 

Tony Gonsolin (Los Angeles Dodgers) 
W-L: 10-0, ERA: 1.54, K: 77, WAR: 3.4

Max Fried (Atlanta Braves) 
W-L: 8-2, ERA: 2.66, K: 96, WAR: 3.8

Kyle Wright (Atlanta Braves) 
W-L: 9-4, ERA: 2.91, K: 98, WAR: 2.7

Sandy Alcantara (Miami Marlins) 
W-L: 8-3, ERA: 1.95, K: 97, WAR: 4.5

Carlos Rodon (San Francisco Giants)
W-L: 7-5, ERA: 2.87, K: 112, WAR: 2.8 

​Joe Musgrove (San Diego Padres) 
W-L: 8-2, ERA: 2.25, K: 92, WAR: 2.3

Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia Phillies) 
W-L: 7-4, ERA: 2.66, K: 99, WAR: 2.8 

Corbin Burnes (Milwaukee Brewers) 
W-L: 7-4, ERA: 2.36, K: 124, WAR: 3.1 

Josh Hader (Milwaukee Brewers) 
SV: 25, ERA: 1.35, K: 45, WAR: 1.5 

Edwin Diaz (New York Mets) 
SV: 18, ERA: 1.95, K: 63, WAR: 1.3

Joe Mantiply (Arizona Diamondbacks)
ERA: 1.13, K: 33, WAR: 1.4

Alexis Diaz (Cincinnati Reds)
ERA: 2.40, K: 36, WAR: 1.2​

by Julian Spivey

Every year I like to make selections for which players I believe should make the Major League Baseball All-Star Game for each league. It's quite the task because you don't just pick the 32 best players from each league because each team (even the worst in the game) must have at least one selection for the Midsummer Classic (I actually like this rule because it gets every fan-base involved). 

MLB has changed up its All-Star voting as of late. The fans still get to pick the starters for each league, but now voting is a two-pronged process where the first round selects the two finalists (or six for outfielders) at each position and round two decides which of those two players gets the start. The leading vote getter round one of voting is automatically given a starting spot - it was New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge for the American League this year. 

My selections for the starting lineup will be based on which of the two finalists I believe is more deserving and not which player in the league is necessarily more deserving. For example Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez has been the best two-bagger in the A.L. this year, but didn't make the top two in voting in round one of the fan vote to have the shot at starting. 

All statistics as of July 4

Starters: 

Catcher: Alejandro Kirk (Toronto Blue Jays)
Avg: .315, HR: 10 RBI: 33 OBP: .405 WAR: 3.2 

First Base: Ty France (Seattle Mariners) 
Avg: .316, HR: 10, RBI: 45, OBP: .390, WAR: 3.0

Second Base: Jose Altuve (Houston Astros) 
Avg: .278, HR: 16, RBI: 29, OBP: .363, WAR: 2.5

Third Base: Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox) 
Avg: .327, HR: 17, RBI: 46, OBP: .383, WAR: 3.7

Shortstop: Tim Anderson (Chicago White Sox) 
Avg: .326, HR: 5, RBI: 19, OBP: .364, WAR: 1.7 

Left Field: George Springer (Toronto Blue Jays) 
Avg: .254, HR: 15, RBI: 38, OBP: .338, WAR: 2.2

Center Field: Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels) 
Avg: .272, HR: 23, RBI: 47, OBP: .372, WAR: 3.9

Right Field: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) 
Avg: .282, HR: 29, RBI: 59, OBP: .362, WAR: 3.5

Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros) 
Avg: .310, HR: 24, RBI: 57, OBP: .410, WAR: 3.8 

Pitchers: 

Shane McClanahan (Tampa Bay Rays)
W-L: 9-3, ERA: 1.74, K: 133, WAR: 3.2 

Justin Verlander (Houston Astros)
W-L: 10-3, ERA: 2.03, K: 90, WAR: 2.4

Framber Valdez (Houston Astros)
W-L: 8-3, ERA: 2.67, K: 93, WAR: 2.0 

Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees)
W-L: 7-2, ERA: 2.99, K: 117, WAR: 2.0 

Nestor Cortes Jr. (New York Yankees)
W-L: 7-3, ERA: 2.44, K: 91, WAR: 2.4 
Clay Holmes (New York Yankees)

Alek Manoah (Toronto Blue Jays)
W-L: 9-3, ERA: 2.33, K: 90, WAR: 2.8 

Jordan Romano (Toronto Blue Jays)
SV: 17, ERA: 2.79, K: 32, WAR: 0.8 

Paul Blackburn (Oakland Athletics)
W-L: 6-3, ERA: 2.90, K: 67, WAR: 2.7

Emmanuel Clase (Cleveland Guardians)
SV: 19, ERA: 1.31, K: 37, WAR: 1.7

Alex Lange (Detroit Tigers)
W-L: 4-1, ERA: 2.08, K: 39, WAR: 0.9 

Martin Perez (Texas Rangers) 
W-L: 7-2, ERA: 2.34, K: 81, WAR: 3.1