Mexico and the USA meet in a soccer friendly in the Valley of the Sun in front of a pro-Mexico crowd. The match ends in a 2-2 draw (the US led 2-0 at the half) after a late American goal is waved off for offside, even though replay shows it was legal. Replay to The Beautiful Game? (Let’s hope not).

Both Mets and Yanks are 0-2 for first time since 1965. Will Yankee Stadium debut a “Past-Their-Prime Rib Sandwich ($24)?” Oh, and the Cubs are also 0-2 with a pair of extra-inning walk-off defeats in Pittsburgh. Why do Chicagoans do this to themselves every summer?

Brooklyn forward Paul Pierce vows he will remember this 29-point defeat when the two teams next meet…which is in 12 days, so let’s hope so. The Knicks, by the way, are now technically in 8th place in the East by .02. Please, Lord, let this happen, since nobody beyond the I-285 belt knows who plays for the Atlanta Hawks.

Kevin Costner is already attempting to trade up for the South Carolina DE. How impressive was Clowney? Word is that “Good Morning, America” is also looking to sign him.

SportsPickle, a satirical sports web site, reports that the notorious gang has dropped the wide receiver who earlier in the week was cut by the Eagles only to be later signed by the Redskins. “While we may be known as a group that commits crimes such as larceny, drug trafficking and murder, we are NOT known as a group that supports racial stereotypes toward Native Americans.”

The Hall

Charter Inductees: Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner

1937:  Tris Speaker, CF; Cy Young, P ; 1938: Grover Cleveland Alexander, P; Eddie Collins, 2B 1939:Nap Lajoie, 2B; Joe Jackson, LF; 1940: Billy Hamilton, OF; Cap Anson, 1B; 1941: Wee Willie Keeler, RF; George Sisler, 1B; 1942: Rogers Hornsby, 2B; Pie Traynor, 3B; 1943: Mickey Cochrane, C; Frankie Frisch, 2B 1944: Ed Walsh, P; Old Hoss Radbourn, P 1945: Lou Gehrig, 1B; Kid Nichols, P 1946: Ed Delahanty, LF; Lefty O’Doul 1947: Pud Galvin, P; John McGraw, INF 1948: Carl Hubbell, P; Addie Joss, P 1949: Harry Heilman, OF/1B; Monte Ward, P/SS 1950: Cool Papa Bell, CF; Jimmie Foxx, 1B 1951: Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown, P; Josh Gibson, C 1952: Paul Waner, RF; Charlie Gehringer, 2B 1953: Mel Ott, RF; Hank Greenberg, 1B 1954: Eddie Plank, P; Dan Brouthers, 1B 1955: “Wahoo” Sam Crawford, OF; John Clarkson, P 1956: Chief Bender, P; Bill Dickey, C 1957: Sam Rice, RF; Joe DiMaggio, CF 1958: Bill Terry, 1B; Heinie Manush, LF 1959: Dizzy Dean, P; Tim Keefe, P 

1960: Gabby Hartnett, C; Mickey Welch, P 1961: Bob Feller, P; Ducky Medwick, LF 1962: Luke Appling, SS; Jesse Burkett, LF 1963 Jackie Robinson, 2B; Zack Wheat, LF 1964: Jake Beckley, 1B; Rube Waddell, P 1965: Ralph Kiner, 1B; Lefty Grove, P 1966: Ted Williams, LF; Smoky Joe Wood, P/OF 1967: Roy Campanella, C; Max Carey, OF 1968: Goose Goslin, LF; Rabbit Maranville, SS 1969: Stan Musial, 1B/OF 1970: Ferris Fain, 1B; Earle Combs, CF 1971: Warren Spahn, P; Yogi Berra, C 1972 Satchel Paige, P; Sandy Koufax, P 1973: Robin Roberts, P; Whitey Ford, P 1974: Mickey Mantle, CF; Eddie Mathews, 3B 1975: Lefty Gomez, P; Hack Wilson, CF 1976: Jack Pfiester, P; Johnny Mize, 1B 1977: Ernie Banks, SS; Mickey Welch, P 1978: Roberto Clemente, RF; Chuck Klein, RF 1979: Willie Mays, CF; Luis Aparicio,  SS 1980: Al Kaline, RF; Enos Slaughter, RF 1981: Bob Gibson, P; Harmon Killebrew, 1B 1982: Hank Aaron, RF; Frank Robinson, OF 1983: Brooks Robinson, 3B, Juan Marichal, P 1984: Hoyt Wilhelm, P; Arky Vaughan, SS 1985: Lou Brock, LF; Pete Browning, OF 1986: Sidd Finch, P 1987: Willie McCovey, 1B, Roger Maris, RF

“Pops” will always be a beloved figure from a grand sports era  in the Iron City, having led the Pirates to a pair of World Series crowns in the same decade that the Steelers won four Super Bowls. A seven-time All-Star and the 1979 MVP, he finished with 475 home runs and 2,232 hits and was the unquestioned leader of the franchise (even if Dave Parker had more natural talent).

Injuries shortened a brilliant career as Hunter, baseball’s first big money free agent (signed, of course, by George Steinbrenner), was the ace on staffs in Oakland and New York that won five World Series in a seven-year period in the mid-Seventies. Hunter enjoyed five consecutive 20-win seasons and pitched a perfect game in 1968. The first pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by age 31, he retired two years later due to persistent arm problems with a 224-166 record. The nickname notwithstanding, he never punked someone on the internet.

Why watch? This season’s MVP (Kevin Durant) versus a Spurs team that has won 19 in a row. Oh, and they have the NBA’s two top records (56-19 and 54-19), even though I think the Clippers and Heat are both currently better than OKC.