Sports Rain Man: Mets Hot June, Knicks Draft Picks and USA vs Uruguay Soccer

NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Happy Monday and Happy Canada Day! Welcome to July and all the 90-degree days you can physically handle. I may have to go on a hunt for my summer shorts but in the meantime, here’s today’s menu: Mets Hot June, Knicks Draft Picks and USA vs Uruguay Soccer.

Mets Hot June

Thanks to San Grimace de Citifield, the Mets have the best record in baseball for the month of June. This is despite losing Saturday and Sunday to the Astros. The Astros were the second hottest team of the month so it was one of those immovable object vs unstoppable force match-ups. The Metsies held strong and had a win within 90 feet, but that Edwin Diaz suspension left the pen short an arm and they just couldn’t close things out. The Sunday loss took the Mets back under .500 but they were briefly above .500 for the first time since March. Hopefully the can get going again in July, before and after the All-Star game. It is not insane that if the Amazins do continue to play .500 ball from here on out, they have a shot at playoffs. Let’s hope they do better than that so they lock in a playoff spot. On a high note, the Mets did sweep their two game Subway Series against the evil Yankees. And yes, I was in a coma for a week and have just now caught up.

Knicks Draft Picks

The Knicks 1st-round pick was a French wingman playing professionally in Germany, Pacome Dadiet. Dadiet is 18-years-old and turned pro at 16. He is likely a stash pick. They will let him stay in Europe another season, most likely. The following season, he will be on the bench or a two way player with the Westchester Knicks, I would be shocked if he made the bench this year. In their first pick of the second round, they drafted Tyler Kolek from Marquette. Kolek was one of the nations top point guards and he was expected to go sooner. Kolek has a good chance to make the squad and be the back-up point guard that NY has lacked. Kolek averaged 7 assists a game and if he can meet expectations, he can really be a key player on the second unit. Later on in the second round they grabbed Kevin McCullar Jr., out of Kansas. McCullar is a SG with a high upside, but comes with injuries and consistency questions. He will be given the chance to prove himself during summer ball.

With the last pick in the draft, the Knicks drafted Ariel Hukporti as their stash center. He is a good defender but not that great on offense. The Knicks see something in him and he will likely bring him in for the summer tournaments but then send him back to Europe to develop his game before he can spend time with the G-League.

USA vs Uruguay Soccer

In sport, you don’t get to control what the key moments are or when they will be. The USA lost a man early and then failed at the end to hold Panama to a tie. This means they now have to win their next match of the group tonight. The problem is their opponents are 15 time Copa America winners Uruguay. Uruguay has also run roughshod over Panama and Bolivia, the other two teams in the group. They are assured promotion to the next round practically. Which would mean they take it down a notch except that means the subs who have been chomping at the bit to play will get more time. America wants to someday be a soccer power, well today a gauntlet has been laid down and it is up to America to overcome it.

Thanks for reading and come tomorrow to hear from the Ben Whitney, who will tell you how lucky the Yankees are to get a win after being swept.