by John Walters
A Medium Happy 50th to Iron Mike Tyson
Starting Five
Salazar won his 6th straight, the Indians their 12th
1. Danny for the Dozen
The Cleveland Indians win their 12th straight, one shy of the franchise record for longest win streak, with a 3-0 shutout of the Atlanta Braves. Danny Salazar pitched the five-hit shutout for his sixth consecutive win. The Tribe still have not lost since the Cavs won the NBA championship and the sports folk of Cleveland are really, really going to hate saying goodbye to this month of June.
On June 1st the Indians were 26-24 and the Cavs were heading toward the NBA Finals. Cleveland embarked on a six-game win streak on that first day of June and now have a victory string twice that long heading into the final day of June. With a 47-30 record, they’re 21-6 this month.
Salazar, meanwhile, is now 10-3 with a 2.22 ERA, 2nd-best in the American League.
2. Gone Girl
Williams is still only 26
The last terrific hire from the Jon Stewart era of The Daily Show, Jessica Williams, announced that today will be her final appearance. The correspondent was hired out of L.A. four years ago when she was only 22. At least there won’t be a prolonged farewell tour. Williams is going to remain with Comedy Central as opposed to just showing up at the Friars Club at 4:30 p.m. for the early bird specials.
3. The Five-Timers Club
Phelps will head to his fifth Olympics on his fourth continent
Meet Michael Phelps, who just qualified for his fifth Olympics by winning the 200-meter butterfly at the U.S. Olympic Trials.. Oh, by the way, today is his 31st birthday. He’s also a dad now (son, Boomer, was born in early May) and is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, former Miss California Nicole Johnson. You want to root for Phelps, but he spent all that time in Ann Arbor and then married a USC alum.
Phelps has won 18 gold medals at four different Olympics. In Sydney in 2000, when he was 15, he failed to win a medal but did advance to the final in the 200 butterfly.
4. The Prince of Endurance
After running 100 miles in a little over 15 hours, Miller wonders why no one can find him a more comfortable chair, or at least a second folding chair on which to prop up his feet.
This is Andrew Miller, 20, who last weekend became the youngest person to ever win the Western States 100, the granddaddy of endurance runs, in northern California. Miller, who has never run on a high school or college cross-country team (or in track) completed the 100 miles from Squaw Valley to Auburn, Calif., in 15 hours and 39 minutes.
For much of the race Miller, a sophomore-to-be at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff (move there before everyone discovers how great it is), trailed 26 year-old Jim Walmsley, also of Flagstaff. Walmsley was on a record pace for the 43 year-old annual race when he took a wrong turn on Mile 91 that took him three miles out of his way. Walmsley would finish 20th, in 18:45, whereas he had been on pace to run a sub-15.
Insert tortoise-hare analogy here.
5. CNBC’s Brexit Babe
People who talk finance in a British accent just sound more as if they know what they’re talking about. As compared to say, Darren Rovell.
Perhaps the best thing to come out of England’s departure from the European Union is more air time on CNBC for Julia Chatterley, who looks and sounds (and has an appropriately British surname) like someone Mike Myers dreamt up for the yet-to-be-filmed fourth Austin Powers film.
To be gender-neutral, another Brit and an Oxford man, Wilfred Frost, has also received a copious amount of air time lately covering Brexit for CNBC, and yes, his father is the late David Frost, of Frost/Nixon fame.
Frost: Jolly good show
Music 101
It’s Too Late To Turn Back Now
This tune, by the Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose, hit No. 2 on the Billboard charts in the summer of 1972. Eddie Cornelius, who wrote the song, is now an ordained pastor in south Florida.
Remote Patrol
Euro Quarters: Poland vs. Portugal
ESPN 3 p.m.
The most popular Pole since Lech Walesa
Tune in to see if Portugal loses and its pouty potentate, Cristiano Ronaldo, retires from international play. The underdog Poles will be the crowd faves in Marseille and keep an eye on their striker, Robert Lewandowski.
I pity the first fool who fails to give Mike Tyson his senior discount.
You want to cheer for Michael Phelps, because of the way he’s rehabbed himself since relocating to ASU for training. Turns out Ali wasn’t the only one who could float like a butterfly…
Flagstaff, Arizona has perennially been a great place for runners to train, thanks to the altitude, the scenic trails and mild climate. The Lumberjacks should recruit that lad, post haste!