Screen Shots: August 29th-September 4th, 2024

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]!

You should always be watching my show, “Beyond The Arc with Brandon Silvers!” In this week’s episode, I discussed the most important college football changes you need to know about. From the 12-team playoff to conference realignment to transfers and coaching changes, you will learn everything you need to be ready for this season. Which kicks off this weekend, and, spoiler alert, you’ll find the best games to watch in this very newsletter!

Now, to the sports!

Thursday, August 29th, 2024

• MLB: Baltimore Orioles @ Los Angeles Dodgers at 10:10 pm (ET) on MLB Network

Do you like home runs, awesome nicknames, and refreshing tequila-based drinks? Say hello to Orioles’ right fielder Anthony Santander! They call him “Tony Taters” because all he does is hit homers. He’s got 99 in the past 3 seasons, including a career-high 38 so far this year. He was born on Margarita Island off the coast of Venezuela. My bags are already packed.

Friday, August 30th, 2024

• Track and Field: Rome Diamond League at 3 pm (ET) on Peacock

If the Olympics are the Super Bowl for track and field athletes, then the Diamond League is their NFL. Athletes compete in 15 meets that typically take place from May to September. They earn points based on where they finish in each meet with the goal of qualifying for the Diamond League final in their respective discipline. Is this new information to you? Well, that’s not your fault. They do a terrible job of promoting it to Americans. You should have seen me trying to find the schedule.

It’s all worth it though, because this field is star-studded. There will be 55 Olympic medalists competing, including 10 gold medalists. Even better, they are still trying hard. At the meet last week in Silesia, Mondo Duplantis and Jakob Ingebrigtsen each set a new world record in the pole vault and men’s 3000m, respectively. Cancel your Peacock subscription after the Olympics? Check it out Saturday at 7 pm (ET) on CNBC instead.

• WNBA: Indiana Fever @ Chicago Sky at 7:30 pm (ET) on ION

Another Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese matchup, but it’s time to talk about Kamilla Cardoso. It’s hard to watch her and not see Brittney Griner 2.0. While not as polished of a scorer or as aggressive yet, Killa Milla’s defensive potential is obvious. She finished with 5 blocks in her matchup with THE A’ja Wilson. Cardoso has gotten much better at contesting with her arms more vertical which helps keep her out of foul trouble.

Offensively, she’s doing a much better job at utilizing her 6’7” frame. Whether it is setting screens or establishing post position, she’s consistently initiating contact more forcefully than she has before. Kamilla is also an underrated passer. She resembles the pocket-passing QBs of yesteryear when she stands tall and fires dimes to her Sky teammates. How much of her vast potential she’s able to fulfill will come down to how consistently and aggressively she’s able to put all of these pieces of her game together.

Saturday, August 31st, 2024

• College Football: #14 Clemson Tigers @ #1 Georgia Bulldogs at noon (ET) on ABC

How many other professions can you be successful in while also going by the names Dabo or Kirby? Much to my dismay as a South Carolina Gamecock fan, these 2 programs have combined to win 4 national championships since 2016. Clemson had a down year last season but still won 9 games thanks to Tyler from Spartanburg. That snapped a streak of 12 straight double-digit win seasons. I can’t imagine them beating Georgia in this one, so savor it because they’ll be favored in the rest of their regular season games unless the Rapture happens. Either way, Dabo will be thrilled.

Georgia is once again the most talented team in the country. The fact they didn’t 3-peat last season felt like it had more to do with complacency and the constant, self-inflicted off-the-field distractions. They still can’t stay out of trouble, but you have to figure they won’t be complacent after falling on their face in the SEC title game last season. Their schedule won’t do them any favors, but if they survive they’ll be battle-tested for the new, expanded playoff. Fun fact: Kirby Smart’s wife, Mary Beth, played college basketball at Georgia alongside Deanna “Tweety” Nolan and twins Kelly and Coco Miller, who were all drafted in the top 9 of the 2001 WNBA draft. Here’s 55 seconds on why Nolan was awesome.

• College Football: #19 Miami Hurricanes @ Florida Gators at 3:30 pm (ET) on ABC

I’ve spent a lot of time researching Florida head coach Billy Napier’s haircut. It’s often described as a buzzcut or something you’d see on a Marine, but I don’t think that’s 100% accurate. To me, this looks like a man who started getting this cut when he was coaching quarterbacks at South Carolina State under the legendary Buddy Pough. SC State is an HBCU in Orangeburg, SC so I imagine there are limited barber options for a man like Billy. He probably asked his players for a recommendation and just rolled with the look ever since. If the Gators don’t shock the world this year, he’ll almost certainly be getting a new barber. Luckily, this cut is relatively simple.

No clue where Mario Cristobal gets his haircut. His job is probably safe unless this season is an absolute disaster, but I can’t imagine his first 2 seasons were particularly satisfying to Hurricane fans. Cristobal-coached teams have now lost 2 games due to his refusal to call for his QB to take a knee. As dumb as that is, it could have been much worse. Mario once accepted a job offer to become a Secret Service agent after going through a 2-year application process before changing his mind at the last minute. They’ve got enough problems.

• College Football: #7 Notre Dame Fighting Irish @ Texas A&M Aggies at 7:30 pm (ET) on ABC

My girlfriend will be tuning in to see Marcus Freeman. I will be tuning in to root against Marcus Freeman. Choose your side.

Sunday, September 1st, 2024 

• NCAA Volleyball: Tennessee Volunteers @ Louisville Cardinals at 4 pm (ET) on ESPN2

One of those sports I enjoy watching during the Olympics but falls off my radar during the 3 years and 50 weeks in between. Well, not this time! We’ve got a lot to learn about how it works on the collegiate level, but Louisville returns most of its core from a team that made the Elite Eight last season. After upsetting #3 Wisconsin to start the season, they face off against a Lady Vols squad that is looking to continue its upward trajectory after making their 1st Sweet Sixteen appearance since 1984. We’re going to have this down cold by LA 2028!

• MLB: Atlanta Braves @ Philadelphia Phillies at 7 pm (ET) on ESPN

If any team has more than enough talent to withstand a host of devastating injuries, it’s the Atlanta Braves. Unfortunately for them, a lot of the talent that remained healthy has underperformed just enough for the Phillies to take full advantage. It’s certainly still mathematically possible for Atlanta to come back and win the NL East for the 7th straight season, but they’ll need to win these head-to-head matchups. If you missed my MLB update episode, I am extremely proud to have made a joke about Chris Sale being an amateur seamstress.

Monday, September 2nd, 2024

• 2024 Paralympic Games: Wheelchair Rugby Gold Medal Game at 3:45 pm (ET) on USA

I’m going to attempt to do a separate post on the Paralympics because there’s so much to cover. Since Wheelchair Rugby’s debut as a medal event at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Team USA has never missed a podium. However, we love winning and we have not brought home the gold since 2008. Can we keep one streak alive while breaking another? If that doesn’t get you to tune in, the original name for the sport was “Murderball.”

Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024

• WNBA: Chicago Sky @ Las Vegas Aces at 10 pm (ET) on NBA TV

Here’s what happened the last 5.4 seconds of the game the last time these two played.

Wednesday, September 4th, 2024

Typically, there will be an entry for every day of the week, but NFL season starts tomorrow. Go see your family one last time.

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