1. If you’re someone who loves conspiracy theories, you can easily assume that ESPN put out this video Monday of how intently Brian Windhorst watches an NBA Finals game to counter the Stephen A. Smith solitaire controversy.

Of course, the timing of this is hilarious given that the NBA world just lost their minds because Smith was caught playing solitaire during an NBA Finals game.

I don’t think that this video was solitaire damage control even though the whole video has a solitaire damage control vibe. This is probably just a coincidence.

I guess.

Maybe.

Perhaps.

Yeah, yeah, it was just a coincidence, I’m sure.

2. Friday’s Game 4 of the NBA Finals was watched by 9.41 million people, making it the most-watched game of the series. However, it was still the lowest-rated Game 4 in the history of the NBA Finals (outside of the COVID-19 years).

3. Arkansas pitcher Gage Wood not only threw a no-hitter, but the junior right-hander also struck out 19 batters against Murray State on Monday. It was the third no-hitter in men’s College World Series history and the first since 1960.

What prevented Wood from a perfect game? Not a walk. Not an error. He hit a batter in the eighth inning.

And after the game, that hit batsman was still on Wood’s mind despite his historic performance.

4. For the first time, more people consume programming from streaming than the combination of broadcast and cable, according to Nielsen data.

5. Caitlin Clark’s return on Saturday helped ABC draw its third-largest audience ever for a WNBA game. Fever-Liberty was watched by 2.2 million people.

6. The latest episode of SI Media With Jimmy Traina is an all-mailbag edition followed by the weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment with Sal Licata.

I answered all your questions about the NBA Finals ratings, the presentation of the NBA Finals by ESPN, the way the NBA drags out the NBA Finals schedule, NFL Network’s lack of respect for Good Morning Football, All-Star games, Brian Windhorst’s status with ESPN, Greg Olsen’s future, where the ESPN MLB package of games will end up, John Cena’s heel turn, the WWE controversy surrounding R-Truth, favorite late-night hosts, the best decade for pop culture and more.

Following the mailbag, Sal Licata from WFAN radio and SNY TV in New York joins me for our weekly “Traina Thoughts” segment. This week, we discuss the lack of juice for the NBA Finals, Netflix’s amazing docuseries, American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, the appeal of Oz the Mentalist and the Savannah Bananas, the anniversary of The Sopranos’ final episode and more.

You can listen to the SI Media With Jimmy Traina podcast below or on Apple and Spotify.

You can also watch SI Media With Jimmy Traina on Sports Illustrated‘s YouTube channel.

7. RANDOM VIDEO OF THE DAY: It was 40 years ago today, June 17, 1985, that Randy “Macho Man” Savage made his debut in the then-WWF. The match was taped on that date and would air on television on July 6. In a great piece of writing, the WWF had all the managers come out to scout Savage, who, of course, ended up choosing Miss Elizabeth as his manager.

Be sure to catch up on past editions of Traina Thoughts and check out the Sports Illustrated Media Podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina on Apple, Spotify or Google. You can also follow Jimmy on X and Instagram.


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Here’s a Doozy of a Theory About Stephen A. Smith’s Solitaire Scandal.

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