This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win.
Yesterday there were six teams in the history of Major League Baseball never to win a World Series. Today, there are only five. The Texas Rangers are now forever immortalized in the history of baseball after winning the franchise’s first-ever championship.
If you’d told anyone before the season that the Rangers would be the only team left standing at the end, the only folks who would’ve believed were probably Rangers fans. But can you blame the rest of us? It was just two seasons ago that this team lost 102 games. The franchise hadn’t been to the playoffs since 2016.
Absolutely none of that matters today. The Rangers are World Series champions.
The moment the Rangers won it all was so satisfying. The team and it’s fans have waited 52 years for this. All 52 of them built up to this final moment and you could just feel the impact of Josh Sborz’s final pitch into Jonah Heim’s glove. What an electric moment.
A moment 52 seasons in the making. #WentAndTookIt pic.twitter.com/UnBLCknUpw
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) November 2, 2023
This changes things for so many people on that team.
That starts with Corey Seager, who just became one of four players in MLB history to win multiple World Series MVPs. He’s also the only player in MLB history to win one in the AL and NL.
There’s also Bruce Bochy, who is officially a dynasty unto himself. He went from relaxing last year in retirement to winning his fourth championship in 13 years.
Adolis Garcia leaves this postseason an absolute legend. He may not have been able to finish the series, but he’ll never have to pay for a drink in Arlington again.
Last, but not least, Rangers fans will sleep well knowing that nobody can flex on them anymore. Texas is no longer in Major League Baseball’s basement. It spent the money. It did the impossible. It won the World Series.
That, more than anything, has to feel great. Congrats, Rangers fans. Your squad earned this one.
How cold is too cold in the NFL? Let’s find out
NFL players playing in negative temperatures has always baffled me. Like, how are they doing this? Why is this possible?
Our Christian D’Andrea set out to find those answers in his latest piece. It’s a fantastic piece and well worth your time.
“But just how cold does it have to be to send veterans who’ve spent their whole lives between the hashmarks in November and December — and, with any luck, January — scrambling to their lockers for extra gear? What does that wind chill have to hit before they go full Michael Irvin?
Different players react to the cold in different ways. Fortunately, I got the chance to conduct an informal survey when For The Win was making the rounds at Radio Row in the run-up to Super Bowl 57. Over the course of several interviews with NFL veterans past and present, I was able to separate “cold” from “Vaseline cold.” Sort of.
So how cold does it need to be for stars to start bundling up? Well, sometimes the limit does not exist.”
He’s got insights from players ranging from legends like Brian Dawkins and Tedy Bruschi to current greats like Stefon Diggs and DK Metcalf. The answers vary, but my takeaway is the same every time.
NFL players are just built different.
REQUIRED READING: How cold is too cold in the NFL?
The Wizards will be the end of me
So, look. Most of you know I’m a Washington Wizards fan. That’s an unfortunate disposition that I’ve brought upon myself. I’m not asking for pity. I just want you to know that, when I do finally completely lose my mind, it’ll be because of this team.
I know the Wizards are going to stink this year. The team traded Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis so it could start over anew. It was a needed reset.
What I didn’t know is that Jordan Poole would be throwing lobs to Kyle Kuzma off of the backboard … while trailing by 20 points in a game.
Throwing it off the backboard down 20 is insane 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/ojR3ZMJzdH
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) November 2, 2023
Yes, this is a thing that happened. Kuzma’s face during the dunk is exactly what my face looked like at home.
Translation: Why on Earth is this happening?
Only Jordan Poole knows the answer to that question. My only hope is that, someday, I don’t have to ask it during every single game I watch.
Quick hits: RIP Bob Knight …. The NBA’s awful new jerseys are here…and more
—The sports world reacts to the death of Bob Knight. Here’s more from Cory Woodruff.
— Here’s a definitive ranking of every NBA team’s new City jerseys. They’re not great, folks.
— Charles Curtis has everything we know about the Beatles’ final single release, Now and Then.
— Will Smith has won three straight World Series titles…with three different teams. The MLB’s version of James Jones.
— Rob Manfred seemed to struggle quite a bit during the Rangers’ World Series celebration. Andrew Joseph has more.
— Megahn Hall highlighted 5 major missteps from Marvel Studios that were detailed in a new blockbuster report from Variety. There’s some wild stuff here.
That’s all, folks. Let’s chat again tomorrow! Until then. We out. Peace.
-Sykes ✌️
