Screen Shots: June 12th-18th, 2025

Welcome to Screen Shots! This is where I tell you what sporting events you should watch on TV every week! Make sure you subscribe so it comes straight to your inbox! Have your own suggestions? Shoot me an email at [email protected]!

Another wonderful episode of Beyond The Arc with Brandon Silvers last week! A lovely guide to properly hating the NBA Finals just for you! Plus, some bonus McFlurry hate!

Now, to the sports!

Thursday, June 12th, 2025

• On This Day In Sports History: In 1991, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Championship

Has sports ever had a passing of the torch moment quite like this? In the 1980s, the Lakers made 8 NBA Finals appearances, winning 5 championships. The one constant on all of those teams was the player many consider to be the greatest passer of all time and the epitome of a team player, Magic Johnson.

They faced off against a Bulls team that was led by Michael Jordan. By all accounts, Jordan was brilliant. He had the eye-popping numbers, the highlights, the shoes, but he was considered too selfish to lead a team to an NBA title. Conventional wisdom at the time said players like Jordan could win games, but teams, like the Magic-led Lakers, won championships. In fact, it had been 20 years since a player had won the scoring title and an NBA title in the same season.

Of course, we now know that Michael Jeffrey Jordan was either more of a team player than he was given credit for, immune to conventional wisdom, or a little bit of both. The Bulls’ 6-0 record in the NBA Finals is used as the cherry on top of his GOAT case. MJ was so good that teams began building their rosters around athletic, volume-scoring shooting guards. The peak of this copycat-gone-wrong philosophy was the 2000-01 season that saw Jerry Stackhouse take a hilarious 24.1 shots per game to score 29.8 points per game on an anemic 40.2% from the field.

We also know that this was the last gasp for that iteration of the Lakers. Before the next regular season began, Magic was forced into retirement as a result of contracting HIV. What’s rarely talked about is how well the franchise was positioned to continue to contend if not for that. Of the 9-man rotation they used in the 1991 playoffs, Magic was the oldest at just 31, and still playing at an elite level, having just finished 2nd to Jordan in MVP voting that season. In this very closeout game, he recorded 16 points, 11 rebounds, and an absurd 20 assists for yet another triple-double. The world was almost certainly robbed of a rematch. Sources say everything ended up working out for the Lakers, though.

Friday, June 13th, 2025

• NBA Finals: Oklahoma City Thunder @ Indiana Pacers at 8:30 pm (ET) on ABC

As a lifelong East Coaster, these 8:30 pm start times are out of control. Might as well go back to tape delay. However, this is a Friday night, so it won’t be as painful. For that reason, you should check it out!

• WNBA: Dallas Wings @ Las Vegas Aces at 10:00 pm (ET) on ION

Both teams badly need a win. The Wings have the excuse that they’re still figuring things out under new coach Kenny G, but fans certainly expected more heading into the season. The Aces can use the excuse that, well, they don’t have one. They are supposed to be contending for a championship, not getting drilled by a team that just got here. Good news: someone has to win!

Saturday, June 14th, 2025

• WNBA: Los Angeles Sparks @ Minnesota Lynx at 1:00 pm (ET) on CBS

Lynx star Kayla McBride doesn’t believe in offseasons. She split her WNBA break between Unrivaled and Turkey playing basketball, so much so that Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve sat her out of the first 4 regular-season games to get her some rest. Well, that seems to have worked, because K-Mac is back and hooping her ass off. As of 6/10, she was shooting a hotter-than-a-pot-of-rice 55% from 3 on over 6 attempts per game. Even worse for Lynx opponents, Minnesota didn’t lose a game without her. So yeah, good luck!

• UFL Championship: Michigan Panthers vs. DC Defenders at 8:00 pm (ET) on ESPN

Admittedly, I’ve been inconsistent with my UFL fandom. It would appear that I’m not the only one. However, I have a solution borne out of many conversations with my dear friend, Brett. Typically, sports announcers are a mixed bag. Everyone in charge at ESPN this hypothetical TV network knows this, so it doesn’t make sense to spend money on talent. That’s not what moves the needle. They just need someone there who won’t go full Brennamen.

However, in less mainstream leagues such as the UFL, they should get wacky with announcers. I’m not saying turn it into an announcer’s version of the Savannah Bananas, but think outside of the box and give viewers another reason to tune in. Do you know how many Pac-12 (RIP) men’s basketball games I watched just to see what ridiculous thing Bill Walton (RIP) was going to say? We’re not tuning in for strictly football here. Give us another reason. Hell, put me in the booth!

Sunday, June 15th, 2025

• FIFA Club World Cup: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Atletico Madrid at 3:00 pm (ET) on TNT

I guess I’ve been living under a rock, but I had no clue this was a thing. They’re using a new format this year, so what a perfect time to jump in. 32 of the top clubs from around the globe face off. It kind of works as a dry run for next year’s World Cup, and what better time to have all of these foreign teams visit our lovely country!

• Concacaf Gold Cup: USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago at 6:00 pm (ET) on FS1

Hope you’ve saved a little patriotism for soccer! The USMNT has done a great job of replicating all of the shit show aspects of this country. Our best and brightest are taking criticism for sitting out. The guys who are playing are getting blasted for being awful. The good news is that a loss to Trinidad and Tobago can’t knock the USMNT out of the FIFA World Cup this time.

Monday, June 16th, 2025

• NBA Finals: Indiana Pacers @ Oklahoma City Thunder at 8:30 pm (ET) on ABC

The previous 2 NBA Finals have been decided in 5 games. That could mean absolutely nothing. It could also mean something. You decide!

Tuesday, June 17th, 2025

• MLB: San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers at 10:10 pm (ET) on TBS

Is this the hottest rivalry in baseball? During game 1 of last season’s NLDS, Dodgers fans threw trash at Padres players. This was completely unacceptable. The trash deserved better than that. Even without Fernando Tatis Jr.’s ringworm buddy Jurickson Profar, San Diego still has some of the most hateable players in baseball. Let’s tune in and hate them together.

Wednesday, June 18th, 2025

• Concacaf Gold Cup: Suriname vs. Mexico at 10:00 pm (ET) on FS1

Mexico is the defending champion and also took home the Concacaf Nations League title in March. This one will be played in Texas. Not sure how you “Stick to sports!” folks do it!

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