The tehcnical definition of a sports equinox is when major league baseball, the NFL, the NHL and the NBA are all in action on the same day. Last month THE BIG LEAD’s Matt Reed was already touting what he claims in such a confluence and was ready to back it up:
It’s a rare occurrence to have the MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL all playing on the same day, but sports fans are already looking forward to it after lots of social media hype recently. The magical date for this year’s Equinox comes on October 26 as many of the fall sports leagues are just getting into the swing of things. The Sports Equinox has become a massive day for sports betting as fans have plenty of options to choose from across various leagues.
Thanks for the reminder that generationally the predominant reason for those in more desirable demos to sh-tpost about something is the pious hope that they can make a few bucks off a parlay. I’m typically inclined to debate this vehemently but I know in my heart you’re likely right. But if I’m to concede that natural evolution of interests over time, I’m sure you’d be willing to accept the reality check that the WNBA playoffs would quality as a major event in this day and age. Especially when Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson are playing with their respective seasons on the line.
THE ATHLETIC’s Sabrina Merchant provided a reminder as to why that definition should be revisited, especially when the actual best player and team emerged triumphant:
The superlatives are unending for…Wilson. Four-time (and soon-to-be five-time) MVP, three-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time champion and two-time Finals MVP. Best player alive. Maybe the greatest of all time.
On Thursday, all that mattered for Wilson was not having a second off game in a row. An eighth straight trip to the WNBA semifinals was on the line for her Las Vegas Aces…Wilson was transcendent in the No. 3 seed Aces’ 94-83 closeout win over the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever, finishing with 36 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in 37 minutes of action. Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 23 points, while…Clark scored 18 and Aliyah Boston added 19.
Disappointing for sure for Versant, who arguably had their premiere sporting event to date in this era of arms-length support from Comcast. Relegated to the relative obscurity of USA Network and CNBC hopes for this window to remain competitive moving forward are difficult to fathom. You can blame in part the fact that their theoretrical partners were gifted with a winner take all event of their own. Per YAHOO! SPORTS’ Kendall Baker:
The Braves bounced back from a deflating Game 2 loss to defeat the Phillies, 6-2, on Thursday night in Atlanta and eliminate their division rivals, who have now lost four straight winner-take-all games dating back to 1980. Three shutdown innings from an improbable source, 32-year-old southpaw Ray Kerr, set the tone. Michael Harris II hopped on a first-inning Aaron Nola sinker for a three-run tank, and the rest was epilogue. The Braves now head to Los Angeles, where a familiar foe awaits.
Not that that amounted to anything close to a ratings win with the likes of Thursday Night Football in the mix. Yeah, this IS supposed to a football-centric entry–not that our best laid plans going in anticpated it. A Steelers-Browns matchup seemed to be on paper the kind of game that Al Michaels and Prime Video would have had to apologize for in previous seasons. But games aren’t played on paper and for the faithful of Cleveland, there is still an air of disbelief in the air. Few were as shocked or succinct as were the fine folks as THE BLEACHER REPORT:
We’re all going to have to delete those Browns tweets from Week 1. They might actually be good.
Cleveland beat Pittsburgh in a TNF classic last night via a walk-off FG.
➤ After a dismal Week 1, they’re solely in first in the AFC North for the first time since 2014
➤ They’ve won three in a row for the first time since 2023
➤ And they have the easiest schedule in the NFL remaining.
Not to mention suddenly competent QB play and an elite defense. It’s early, but … playoffs?
One would think a surprise like that might make ESPN all the more envious that all they had to offer was the first truly full night of NHL games –an actual cornucopia if you count the regional games abailable via its Unlimited tear. Those that had such access were treated to an even rarer event than a Cleveland Browns win. THE NEW YORK POST’s Andrew Crane explained what and why:
Igor Shesterkin didn’t know if he could celebrate. He couldn’t tell if he’d made history after the puck bounced off the boards and went right to his stick, allowing him to flip it down the ice toward the Lightning’s empty net.
As Shesterkin realized he’d done it, the goalie pumped his stick in the air as nearly half of the Rangers bench surrounded him and the scene he’d created — the one he’d been trying to manifest for years — settled into place.
By scoring with just over two minutes remaining in the third period of their 5-1 win Thursday, he delivered the first goalie goal in franchise history. He became the 18th goalie in NHL history to accomplish the feat — and on the same night he picked up his 100th career home victory.
For Rangers fans desperate to turn the page from a horrific 2025-26 season that saw them finish dead last in their division and conference it was a very small step in the right direction–especially since the 2026-27 season began Tuesday night being shut out in Boston. Anyone scoring a goal would arguably have been newsworthy, let alone a goalie.
You whippersnappers out there can count down and save up ’till the 26th. I’m looking forward to the possibility we get an encore of this next Thursday night–assuming the AL Division Series both don’t end in sweeps. What is the prop bet on that happening? Asking for a friend…
Courage…