…The date and location of the soccer legend’s secret wedding. So, they showed up to celebrate Ronaldo and longtime girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, only to find it was a different couple getting married altogether. Ronaldo thought it was funny, and the couple said it felt great to be celebs for the day. Read all about it here. 

You can overserve a lot by watching. Said Yogi Berra. And also Jason Bateman, who is set to produce a New York Yankees-inspired scripted drama for Netflix. You’re gonna need some updated headshots, maybe wearing pinstripes. Call your agent! 

Have you heard? We’re now living in a post-influencer world. Algorithms killed followers, AI summaries killed articles, and video killed the radio star. So, where do we go from here? As always, we pivot. Expect to see more creators dipping their toes into sports, and the reverse, too. 

It’s too hot to be outside right now. Stay inside and binge some of your favorite sports TV. Some of them I love because they’re good, some of them I watch ironically (ahem, “Ballers” ahem) — either way I’m just trying to kill some time inside. Until someone does something about climate change, that is. 

If you’re feeling uninspired by your usual ballpark fits, Elle’s Moriel Mizrahi Finder has you covered here. And if you’re eager to get your U.S. Open fits planned, Vogue’s Christina Holevas has got you. Because making decisions every single day is just the worst. 

I’m a relatively new tennis fan. I’ve only been watching for a couple of years, I’m still learning origin stories and falling in love with new players each day. But I’ve noticed something over the past few years: More and more of the top dogs are skipping smaller tournaments. I wanted to talk to my colleague, Dan, about this, because he’s not as new to this, he’s much more true to this.

With the news of both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing and skipping the Cincinnati Open, I can’t help but wonder: Is this tennis’s version of load management? What does this say about the sport’s future and the culture surrounding it? 

Ashtyn Butuso: Can you please explain if these “injuries” that are requiring big names to bow out of smaller tournaments are indeed injuries at all, or if this is a strategy to conserve themselves for the big tournaments? 

Daniel-Yaw Miller: Both. Top tennis players have to be content with some of the most intensive load management and strain throughout their season in all of sports. Between the schedule that sees them travel to every corner of this earth and the minimal off-season, plus sponsor requirements and exhibition games, there is very little room for actual down time. Injuries are on the rise, and as a result players are being advised to skip certain tournaments to focus on the majors and avoid doing long-term damage—most carry injuries throughout the season which they have to manage on the go. 

AB: How are we supposed to feel about this? Is this similar to major NBA players sitting out when the game has little to no stakes? And are we allowed to be upset? 

DYM: I think this is slightly different than an NBA player sitting out of a low-stakes game. Tournaments like Cincinnati still carry significant weight for the likes of Sinner or Alcaraz — there is a genuine belief that these decisions are done on the basis of medical advice. 

AB: Part of the allure of the non-grand slam tournaments is that there is a level of accessibility to watch the big stars play for a more affordable price. Does the magic of the little tournament feel endangered because of this? Or am I making a mountain out of a molehole, as I tend to do?

DYM: I would never accuse you of any such thing! I agree that the magic of tennis is in these smaller tournaments, which feel more intimate and allow us all to get close to the action. I think the gripe here is with the brands and corporate stakeholders who seem to want to squeeze more and more out of the sport with seemingly little regard for the wellbeing of its athletes, who then in turn feel the wrath of the fans when they need to sit out of tournaments to preserve their fitness. 

AB: I remember Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz saying there are too many tournaments. Are the men and women approaching this all differently or the same?

DYM: The feeling seems to be mutual across both tours. 

AB: Alex Eala, save us. 

August is kind of dragging, and even though it’s a nice break from a crazy June and July in the sports world, I have never been more ready for the NFL to start. So, I’m basically using that as an excuse to write about it. 

I know I’m not alone in my desperation to talk football, so here are some random clips and stories to hold you over. 

These are the main storylines on the field at the moment. The most important to me being that running backs might matter again. But you come here for off the field stuff, I know, I know. 

So how about singer Macy Kate and Bucs tight end Payne Durham planning his outfits? Or looking back at some of Jalen Hurts’ fits? Not to brag but he did just follow OffBall on social media this weekend? But the Eagles get enough shine, I’m not going to even talk about how Anne Hathaway professed her love for them publicly, again. 

Shedeur’s got some new footwear to match his Nike lambo.

A Mina Kimes and Bill Simmons collab is a must-watch, or listen, spending on which is your thing. Especially because Bill and I are both in the process of finding our way back to being devout Tottenham fans.

Bills Mafia, take a look at the Bills’ new stadium and scope out where you’ll put your easily breakable table. 

See you in a few Sundays.