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After 244 days of long wait, D-backs fans were treated to a delightful performance from Eduardo Rodriguez as the pitcher stole the show in the second half of their double-header series against the Cleveland Guardians. Rodriguez played a huge role to lead the way in completing the series sweep with their 5-3 win in the second game.

The Diamondbacks needed some impressive pitching in their lineup heading into this game, fresh off a 7-3 win in the second game of their triple-game series. Arizona has not lost a single game in their matchup against the Guardians for this set as the team continued to ride an impressive pace in the season while climbing well behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West standings.

After missing out the first four months of the season due to a lat injury, it seems that Rodriguez is back in the mix with his impressive debut for Arizona, a game that proved to be quite a strong performance considering that he did have ample time to get back on track with the squad.

A Promising Show of Force

Rodriguez did not hold back in his debut with the D-backs after he allowed just three runs on four hits – doing it all in just 5 and ⅔ innings in the win against the Guardians. In the win, Rodriguez pulled off a variety of four-seam fastballs, changeups, cutters, sinkers, and sliders all in a day’s work.

This just shows how confident Rodriguez was when it comes to the post-effects of his injury. He did aggravate it during the rehab process, which further delayed his return to the field. So far, it was a promising game for the pitcher as he impressed fans with his wide array of pitching techniques that stunned the Guardians.

For his debut, Rodriguez came up with a pitch count of around 65 pitches to hit a promising mark. He tallied 26 fastballs (40%), 16 changeups (15%), 10 cutters (15%), eight sinkers (12%) and five sliders (8%). That is definitely a debut to remember, and it comes with a cherry on top as the victory against the Guardians – one of the best clubs in the league – sounds more sweet as he moves on to his next games.

Rodriguez in the Field

Rodriguez’s debut impressed a lot of his teammates in the win. They were pleased with the way he took over the field in his first game of the season with a flurry of impressive pitches that helped them knock the Guardians’ confidence out of the stadium.

“Catching was a little more nerve-wracking,” Adrian Del Castillo said. “Rodriguez has his own plan and he’s a veteran guy -- he knows what he’s good at. We were talking in the dugout and getting on the same page. He was spotting almost every pitch and tunneling them exactly where he wanted them.”

Even manager Torey Louvillo was left stunned with the high level of play from Rodriguez, and he definitely made sure to give the pitcher his deserved flowers at the end of the game.

“The fact he came in and made quality pitch after quality pitch on a day where you need some length. “It’s what I remember, it’s a very clean and easy delivery,” Lovullo said. “He knows right where it’s going. He takes it personally when it doesn’t go where he wants. He was so good. After the second inning, I took my eyes off of him.”

Amidst a lot of talks heading into the offseason that he is likely to be traded to another team, Lauri Markkanen shuts down all of the rumors with his massive signing that will see him call Salt Lake City his home for the next five years at the very least, closing the doors on all potential suitors in the league.

Markkanen signed a five-year, $238 million deal that extends his stay with Utah that will ultimately make him ineligible for trades in the entirety of the 2024-25 season. The big man was already in the final year of his contract and has been highly involved in many trade rumors that will see the Jazz focus on different core players instead.

Offering Markkanen an extension means that Utah is clearly committed to building around the forward, and it cannot be denied that there are many expectations as to how the team will now focus on making sure that they get back to playoff contention now more than ever.

Building Around Markkanen

For Utah, finishing 31-51 in the 2023-24 season wasn’t a good note considering that they did have a healthy squad for most of the season, and being unable to make the most of it certainly felt like they needed to make some moves in the offseason to keep their chances alive in the years to come. For starters, ensuring that they will have their centerpiece in Markkanen is a massive priority.

Markkanen had the best season of his career back in 2022-23, where he averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 39.1% from three. He would go on to earn his first All-Star nod en route to winning the NBA's Most Improved Player award in the same year. The previous season was not so different at all considering that he averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 48% from the field, including 39.9% from three.

The Jazz will no longer be able to put Markkanen on the trading market after re-signing him as per the rules of the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement. Markkanen has been the most valuable piece that ever came out of the Mitchell and Gobert trades, which led to three first-rounders and two first-round swaps.

Keeping the Prized Player

Lauri Markkanen has been the best player in the Jazz roster for years, and at the age of 27, his approach of being a borderline star is expected to thrive in the team considering how well they found out some impressive strides in the past few months before they actually fell out of the playoff race.

According to head coach Will Hardy, Markkanen’s value cannot be dismissed by any team at this point, especially with his massive improvement in the game.

"Lauri's done such a good job of continuing to work on different ways he can impact the game offensively," head coach Will Hardy said of Markkanen. "Obviously he's shown the ability to shoot the ball. … But the physicality he's been able to play with, to drive the ball and as a screener, has given him the opportunity to score in a variety of ways."

Markkanen’s extension deal with the Jazz slams the door shut in various rumors that he will be traded. Among the biggest suitors said to be making a push for his services were the Golden State Warriors, and now they have to turn their focus to another player on their list instead.

Had it not been for his tonsillitis, world no. 1 Jannik Sinner might have had a chance to be the one who played in the final of Men’s Singles Tennis in the Paris Olympics. However, the Italian star went on to praise his co-stars in the ATP Tour, saying that this was a spectacle that fans definitely loved to see in a long time.

Sinner joined millions of fans all over the world in enjoying this head-to-head showdown between Djokovic and Alcaraz in the final of the Olympics. The Serbian star would go on to wrap up the competition with wins in straight sets – though both of those sets ended up with intense finishes as Alcaraz managed to put up a strong fight in his game.

For Sinner, the feeling of being able to watch two established stars in the game collide is a fun sight that inspires him to do more in proving his worth. After all, his campaign in the 2024 ATP Tour has been quite fun to watch, and there is more to expect from his run with more tournaments to come.

Two Cents on Djokovic-Alcaraz Clash

Sure, Sinner was definitely disappointed with the way his run ended for the Olympics after he missed the campaign with tonsillitis, but it cannot be denied that he enjoyed the sight of two top stars competing at the top of the game with all their might. He had his fair share of contests against these two players, and it just says a lot about how he was really glad to be able to see such battle.

“It was a very high-level match, I think everyone agrees with that,” said Sinner. “It was a very physical match. When two of the best players in the world face each other at the moment, they produce something very special, so it was a pleasure to watch this kind of match and I think everyone really enjoyed. We don't see this level every day, so it was an amazing match.”

Fortunately, the Olympics does not add to the ATP Rankings, where Sinner has kept a sizeable lead over both Alcaraz and Djokovic, who sit second and third in the rankings, respectively. This just means that the Olympic clash that the duo had has no bearing in the ATP Rankings in terms of points gained.

Shifting the Focus

Sinner, however, is slated to defend his title in Toronto, the Omnium Banque National présenté par Rogers. The 22-time titlist has already confirmed that he has already recovered from his illness and is slated to bring his game to Canada to deliver a promising game.

Now I’m practising really hard again. I feel my body fighting. Honestly, it’s really good and I’m ready to compete again,” said Sinner about his campaign in the Montreal Open. “It's a while since the last match I played at Wimbledon. So, let's see. I'm very excited to be here and hopefully I can show some good tennis.”

As of the time of writing, Sinner stands with 9,570 points in the ATP Rankings. Alcaraz is not playing in the said tournament, so this would be a great opportunity for the Italian star to extend his lead. He is expecting to see some impressive strides in his campaign in Toronto, which should set the tone once he moves down with the rest of the competition for the US Open this month.

The Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans went on to come up with a promising game in their 21-17 affair last August 2nd, and it proved to be a hyped game. Now fans are seeking to see more action as the preseason kicks off with two more showdowns heading into the month, where there will be at least 44 more matchups to keep fans excited for the season.

The 2024 NFL season begins this September 6th as teams seek to come up with a massive blast to kick off the coming games. There are a lot of expectations in the 2024 season as the Kansas City Chiefs open up a campaign to come up with a three-peat and secure their dominance in the league now more than ever.

The next two games to wrap up this week will be a clash between the New York Giants and the Detroit Lions, and the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers. Fans are gearing up to see the four teams collide on top of one another to show the league that this will be a season to look out for.

A Good Preseason so Far

The preseason opened up with the Bears coming off a 21-17 win against the Texans. It was a game of runs that featured Chicago outsourcing their opponents in a 7-0 burst in the third before closing out the game for good. David Mills showed off as he went 10-13 and had 102 yards and a touchdown, while Brett Rypien came up with an 11-15 performance with 166 yards and three touchdowns to lead the win for the Bears.

So far, the preseason is a way for teams to gauge their lineups and come up with needed changes should they need to make changes in the rotation and even the starting lineup. It is also a way for returning players to see how well they will fare in an actual game, especially if they have not played for a long time due to injuries.

For instance, the Lions are hyped to be one of the big contenders in the season, and so are the Pats after making some impressive changes in their rosters. One can say that the preseason games even offer some surprises that fans don’t even expect. After all, the NFL is definitely making its presence felt with huge games coming up.

The Set Showdowns

So far, the Giants are set to test its defensive line against a well-regarded offensive front from the Lions, which has been one of the best in the league over the years. New York is keen to see its squad break its limits and ensure they have what it takes to go up against one of the best teams in the league.

The same can be said for the battle between the Patriots and the Panthers, which is expected to be one of the high-powered clashes featuring two offensive-oriented teams, and it does seem that fans can expect bigger strides in this game. It remains to be seen as Bryce Young is slated to be ruled out in the opener as well.

Still, the Panthers have also activated some of their reserves ahead for this game, and it does seem that fans can enjoy some intense plays that will make this game quite fun to watch – even if it is a preseason game.

In a recent study conducted by TransUnion, it was found that millennials make up a big chunk of iGamers and online sports bettors, and not only this, but they were found to wager larger sums - from $500 or more each month. This comes as no surprise, especially since millennials grew up with the Internet and are more comfortable with online gambling compared to older generations.

In the latest edition of the US Betting Report from TransUnion, there are new insights into the consumer demographics driving the booming online sports betting and casino gambling industries in the United States. The report, published by the American consumer credit rating firm, underlines the pivotal role millennials play in these sectors, providing a comprehensive overview of the trends and behaviors characterizing this particular demographic.

According to TransUnion, millennials are the predominant participants in iGaming and internet sports wagering. The agency's findings indicate that nearly six in ten bettors online, whom many casino and sports wagering operators believe are "high-value" due to their substantial wagering habits, are millennials. High-value bettors are defined as those who spend $500 or more each month, equating to $6,000 or more annually.

In an extensive survey conducted last April and May, TransUnion gathered responses from 3,000 adults to identify the consumers driving the growth of online sports betting and iGaming. The results revealed that millennials, aged 27 to 42, make up 57% of the high-value bettor demographic. The generation's familiarity with the internet and mobile devices has made them more comfortable with online gambling compared to previous generations.

Wagering within limits

The report highlights that millennials' dominance in high-value online gambling is not necessarily a cause for concern. In fact, many millennials have experienced wage increases in recent years, resulting in higher disposable incomes. The report emphasizes that high-value bettors are often high earners with excellent credit scores.

Declan Raines, TransUnion's head of gaming business, stated, "As we've found in prior reports, the majority of betting consumers can afford this form of entertainment. In fact, having a significant bump in income was the primary correlating factor to whether consumers bet, regardless of income level. This suggests most consumers only wager what they can afford to lose."

TransUnion's data supports this claim, showing that 55% of all online bettors have good or even excellent credit scores, with good meaning 721 - 780, and excellent scores at 781 - 850. This percentage is higher than that of non-bettors (50%) but slightly lower than land-based-only gamblers (58%).

Caution still a requirement

However, the report also cautions that not all gamblers manage their finances responsibly. Despite their financial resilience, gamers that are spending more are also more likely to struggle with financial management. The study found that 49% of high-value bettors had been past due on a loan or bill within the past year.

That's precisely why TransUnion stresses the importance of online gaming operators having the resources to distinguish between consumers experiencing temporary financial setbacks and those engaging in potentially problematic gambling behavior. "It's important for operators to understand whether the higher propensity to be behind on bills is temporary or a result of greater financial distress. Differentiating between the two is crucial for deploying the appropriate strategy for mitigating potentially problematic play," stated the report.

Enhanced scrutiny on Responsible Gaming

As the US market for iGaming continues to grow, TransUnion anticipates enhanced regulatory scrutiny in terms of responsible gaming practices. The report suggests that operators should prepare for increased media attention and regulatory requirements aimed at assessing and mitigating the risks associated with irresponsible gambling.

"Operators may likely face increased requirements to assess responsible gaming risk for their customers. To do this, additional data sources that provide insights into consumer financial health will need to be considered to ensure proactive identification," the report advised.

At the moment, iGaming (online table games and slots) is limited to seven US states: Delaware, Connecticut, New Jersey, West Virginia, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. In contrast, online sports betting is regulated in 30 US states as well as Washington, DC. As the market matures, the need for comprehensive and proactive responsible gaming measures will become increasingly critical to maintaining the industry's integrity and sustainability.