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00:00Good morning. Welcome to the early line here on SportsGrid. I'm Craig Misch, going to be with you here for
00:06the next few weeks while we have World Cup action.
00:08I'm going to be sitting in with Joe Ranieri to get you ready for your sports wagering day each and
00:14every Monday through Friday.
00:15So welcome into the show. We got a lot to get to here on the program. We'll talk some NHL,
00:20some NBA, and of course it's a big Major League Baseball weekend as well.
00:24And in fact, in the Stanley Cup playoffs last night, we had a significant move, and we'll tell you about
00:30that, and also prediction markets coming up in about 90 minutes from now.
00:34But before we get started, we turn it over to my partner here, of course, the host of the early
00:39line, Joe Ranieri. It's time for Caffeinated Joe.
00:44Well, Craig, I thought it'd be really good if we talked about, I don't know, the World Cup, which just
00:50started yesterday,
00:52and of course how FIFA is ruining the one thing casual soccer fans actually loved about watching the sport.
01:01Because yesterday, the 2026 World Cup kicked off, and Mexico beat South Africa 2-0, which was fun,
01:09but nobody was talking about the actual action on the pitch after that game.
01:15Because instead, social media was in an absolute uproar over FIFA's brand-new, mandated, and I quote,
01:25hydration breaks. Yes, hydration breaks now.
01:29They claim these three-minute pauses at the 22- and 67-minute mark of every match are for player
01:37welfare and well-being.
01:40That did not go over all that well to the casual soccer fan, because the veil is so thin, it
01:47is laughable right now,
01:49because this is just a naked corporate cash grab to cram full-screen commercials down our throats mid-game,
01:57and that's really all it is, because casual American fans loved soccer for one principal reason.
02:05Efficiency. You turned on the game, you got two uninterrupted halves, and in 90 minutes or so, it was over,
02:13and you went on with your life. That was the key to soccer and watching it.
02:17But FIFA completely overestimated not only the patience, but also the wallets of the American consumer
02:24during this World Cup, apparently, as we still have thousands upon thousands of tickets that have gone unsold for these
02:32matches.
02:33They essentially turned the sport into a game of, well, four quarters now, creating over 800 new ad spots throughout
02:42this tournament
02:43just to squeeze a few extra bucks and revenue from the U.S. consumer.
02:48And to make it an absolute disaster, Fox Sports completely botched the very first test yesterday.
02:55Their ads ran so long in the second half that viewers came back to the game after the play had
03:01already resumed.
03:01You literally can't make this up.
03:04And even the U.S. men's national team coach admitted that he hates the new rules and finds it completely
03:11unnecessary
03:12unless conditions are extreme, which is funny, since the last World Cup, I believe, was in Qatar,
03:18which is pretty much the desert.
03:20Now, meanwhile, Telemundo is proving that it can be done right.
03:25How?
03:26Well, they're refusing to run the full-screen ads during the pauses to protect the authentic experience,
03:32which is ultimately all soccer fans want.
03:35FIFA is already making record revenue, yet they just could not resist squeezing every last penny out of the consumer.
03:43If you were on the fence about how greedy this organization truly is, well, I think yesterday gave you your
03:50answer.
03:50But here's hoping that Team USA can run the table and win a ton of games here over the next
03:56couple of weeks.
03:57But let's hope, Craig, that they stay hydrated as well.
04:02Well, Joe, I mean, that does sound like bad news, but honestly, I think it's a great idea.
04:07So we are announcing here on the early line that our first hydration break is coming at 7.18 a
04:14.m.
04:14When you tune into the show, you're just going to see me drinking coffee on the show
04:21and Joe with seven Red Bulls and one in each hand to get through the show here.
04:26No, all things considered, though, yes, I mean, definitely a new way to watch the World Cup this season,
04:31but I don't think anybody should be surprised.
04:34I mean, this is soccer's premier event.
04:36I mean, I guess in the future, who knows?
04:38You know, some people, Joe, they just watch one sport one time.
04:41Maybe the Triple Crown will have hydration breaks, too.
04:44You know, they stop halfway through running the horses.
04:46They make them stop to get a little bit of a drink and then keep going.
04:49But great stuff by Joe as we begin the show.
04:52All right.
04:52So let's get to the Stanley Cup finals here for a minute.
04:56It does appear the Carolina Hurricanes are now officially on the doorstep of winning their first Stanley Cup in 20
05:02years.
05:03They beat the Golden Knights last night 4-2.
05:06Each game has been better than the next,
05:08although last night the Carolina Hurricanes were in control.
05:11As of right now, there's one game to be played.
05:15There's a possibility it could be seven games, Joe, but this does seem like inevitable.
05:20Carolina looks like the better team in this series.
05:23Well, it certainly did last night, and they finally got some goaltending, which I think helps here.
05:28But listen, Vegas has been feisty, and they are going back home.
05:33I had always said, Craig, all week I was hoping for seven games.
05:37It's been a fun series, a great series.
05:40I don't think there's a lot separating these two teams, so it would not shock me if we're back in
05:45Carolina next week for a Game 7.
05:48In baseball this weekend, of course, weekend slates begin.
05:52Teams are in new places, and an old face returns on Saturday.
05:55Tariq Skubal is going to be back on the mound for the first time in the majors in over a
06:01month.
06:02He had a surgery that is getting him back on the field faster than anyone that has had this injury
06:07before.
06:08He made a minor league start on Sunday, and he looked great.
06:12Now he gets an opportunity to come back, and we see, of course, the American League Cy Young markets have
06:18certainly shifted quite a bit since he's been out, Joe.
06:21But he looked really good in his first minor league start back.
06:24What do you make of his start coming up this weekend?
06:27Well, I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that he is scheduled for quite the
06:32payday coming up here.
06:33And how long is he actually even going to be wearing a Tiger's uniform, I think, is the next question,
06:38because is he going to remain a Tiger come the trade deadline?
06:43A lot of question marks right now, but something tells me, Craig, had he already gotten a $500 million contract,
06:50which he's likely going to be pushing here over the next couple of months,
06:55would he even be back here this fast after this?
06:58Because you mentioned it, less than a month, and he had surgery on his elbow, I wish him nothing but
07:05the best.
07:05I really do.
07:06Yeah, he's, I mean, definitely the best pitcher in the free agent market.
07:10And, of course, who knows if there's even going to be an extended free agent market this season, maybe a
07:15month before they lock it up, as they say.
07:18But who knows?
07:18All right, real quick, let's get to an NFL story here.
07:21Henry Ruggs, who we haven't heard his name in quite some time, was denied parole by the Nevada Board of
07:29Parole Commissioners.
07:31And certainly, you know, Ruggs was guilty in 2023 to a DUI that resulted in death in a misdemeanor vehicular
07:40manslaughter charge that killed a woman and her dog.
07:43So we will not see Henry Ruggs out of jail anytime soon.
07:48No, one year, I think, is the, now he's got to wait one more year.
07:52He's 27 years old.
07:54And from what I understand, most people, their first time up for parole doesn't often go well there, Craig.
08:01Phil Mickelson is no longer a member at the Farms Golf Club outside San Diego.
08:06A female club employee has accused him of inappropriate contact before her, before a round of golf earlier this spring.
08:15How about that?
08:17Yeah, well, I guess there's an opening at that golf club in San Diego you always wanted to belong to
08:22there, right, Craig?
08:24So, there you go.
08:25Opportunity knocks.
08:25Definitely knocks.
08:27Mexico wins the first match, as Joe mentioned, 2-0 against South Africa.
08:32They were a heavy favorite in this one.
08:35And I guess if you bet them minus a goal and a half, that was more reasonable than the minus
08:39500 going into this thing.
08:42Yes, good win for them, by the way.
08:45And, yeah, a lot of people thought they might be a sleeper here in this tournament.
08:48Worth keeping an eye on.
08:50All right, we'll take a quick break here on the early line.
08:53Plenty more to come here on the show.
08:55We will get into a whole lot more when we return here on the program and start talking some more
09:00World Cup.
09:01We have Team USA ready to kick off, so to speak, this afternoon at 3 p.m. Eastern.
09:10And welcome back to the early line here on Sports Grid.
09:13I'm Craig Misch.
09:14In this month, as we get you ready for World Cup action, Joe Ranieri, of course, here with me,
09:19as we break down everything happening in the world of sports and sports betting as well.
09:24It's a big World Cup weekend.
09:25We've got that.
09:26Of course, the Stanley Cup Finals now on the possibility of one game away from one team winning,
09:31and the NBA Finals resumes tomorrow.
09:33So let's get started with some of our top stories here on the show,
09:36and that includes the Carolina Hurricanes, one win away from their first Stanley Cup in 20 years.
09:42They defeated the Golden Knights last night 4-2 in Game 5,
09:45and now Game 6 is Sunday night in Vegas, where Carolina can close it out.
09:51But, Joe, it seems to me, from talking to you about this at least a bit,
09:55sounds like you think Vegas has got a shot to win this next one,
09:58and we could be headed toward a Game 7.
10:01I always thought it was a Game 7 in this series,
10:05because I did not see a whole lot separating these two teams.
10:10They're both more than capable of, obviously, finding the back of the net.
10:14We know that.
10:15But we also know both gold tending has been a little bit shaky, to say the least.
10:21I love the experience Vegas has at being back home, backs against the wall.
10:27I expect a huge effort for them.
10:30I think Carolina eventually wins it in Game 7 on their own home ice,
10:34but I do think Vegas is very much alive to get this thing to a Game 7.
10:40Tariq Skubal pitched in the minor leagues last week.
10:43It went well.
10:43The Tigers have decided to activate him off the injured list.
10:47He's back after having what they called loose bodies in his pitching elbow.
10:52He had a new surgery that got him back on the field quicker.
10:57It looks like it potentially has worked.
10:59He'll start in Cleveland a little bit over a month away,
11:03was what we were told when he got hurt.
11:06It was hard to believe, Joe, but it turns out to be a reality here.
11:09We'll just see how healthy he is and how deep he can go on Saturday.
11:14Yeah, it's very strange, right?
11:17And you got to wonder is the fact that, you know, he is due for,
11:20if you brought this up last hour, it's important,
11:24that, you know, will there even be any baseball or free period remains to be seen.
11:29But he is due for quite the payday here.
11:32I don't think he needs to throw another pitch, Greg.
11:34Honest, I don't know what he's trying to rush back for.
11:37But if it's simply because, is he really okay?
11:41Because this is very strange that you go under the knife with an elbow,
11:46clean out, whatever, and then a month later,
11:48all of a sudden I'm ready to go on a team that, I don't know,
11:51can't even get to 500 here, it feels like at this point.
11:54So the whole thing is very strange to me.
11:56I wonder if it's money motivated.
11:59Meanwhile, talk about strange.
12:01Story out of nowhere yesterday ahead of the upcoming U.S. Open.
12:04How about this one?
12:05Phil Mickelson, no longer a member at the Farms Golf Club outside San Diego
12:12after a female club employee has accused him of inappropriate contact with her
12:17before a round of golf earlier this spring.
12:20Talk about a story I didn't see coming here on this Friday.
12:23This is one of them.
12:25This broke yesterday.
12:26And it's interesting because we just had, you know, the PGA Championship,
12:32which he withdrew from, he has been citing that there is a family health issue,
12:39that he's, you know, he is stepping away from, you know, golf at this point.
12:43But it felt very weird because there was no, you know, everyone's like, where's Phil?
12:48And then all of a sudden there's this family issue and nobody really knew what was going on.
12:53And then this story broke and where there's smoke, there's fire, right?
12:59And it'll be interesting to see his attorneys have finally made a statement saying that there's a lot of misinformation.
13:06But the only information we're hearing is being leaked out of the club right now that he had to go.
13:13Now, in the case of Henry Ruggs, he's been denied parole by a Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners.
13:22He's serving a prison sentence after pleading guilty in 2023.
13:26He had a DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor from a 2021 crash that killed a woman and her dog.
13:35I don't know, honestly, that there's much more for you or I to add about this.
13:38So we're going to move on.
13:38How about the World Cup?
13:40Mexico wins yesterday 2-0 over South Africa.
13:44So certainly a good start for them.
13:46But this was the appetizer, Joe, for the main course, which is today.
13:52Canada will play Bosnia at 3 p.m. Eastern.
13:55And then the United States plays Paraguay tonight at 9.
14:00Hold on.
14:01I got a hydration break here.
14:03Quick.
14:04Hold on.
14:04I already hit mine.
14:05What is that that you're drinking right there, by the way?
14:07Okay, good.
14:08Oh, that's a that's some sort of orange, you know, electrolyte thing there.
14:13We I can tell you this.
14:16The main conversation of after yesterday's two matches was why are there commercials running
14:24during a soccer match?
14:25And that is going to continue.
14:28So, yes, get ready.
14:30FIFA has sold a whole lot of commercials now within the soccer man.
14:35No more 90 minutes and go on with your life.
14:38You're going to have to deal with hydration breaks and commercials here on out.
14:42But hoping Team USA can get the win at a pretty good price here today.
14:47Shohei Otani left yesterday start with some knee inflammation.
14:51Dave Roberts told reporters yesterday that he doesn't think that it's anything and that
14:56he could potentially play on Friday.
14:58I guess I'll be a little skeptical of that, but it doesn't seem like it's anything significant
15:03or he would have given us some information.
15:05But Joe, as you know, the way that this works, player gets hurt in sports.
15:08Immediately, we hear good news.
15:10And then, you know, half the time, it's not good news.
15:13But I think with Otani, it sounds like he could play.
15:16And if not on Friday, maybe this weekend.
15:18But he's having, of course, this incredible season with a six and two record on the mound.
15:221.06 earned run average.
15:26Yeah, and it really does feel like it was coming off of the night prior, which he pitched
15:32and the bullpen melted down.
15:35Then he started, you know, and he hit in that game, right?
15:38Then yesterday, he started, he hit a home run.
15:41I think he was two for two.
15:42And then all of a sudden, the knee was an issue and they sat him down.
15:46And it felt all very precautionary because they were leaving that game last night,
15:51heading to Chicago for a new series here.
15:53So, yeah, I think he'll be just fine.
15:57But it just felt like, all right, let's give him a breather here.
16:00We should be good to go.
16:02Wimbledon announces a 20% increase in prize money, raising their total to $85.8 million.
16:11Singles champions earning $4.8 million.
16:14But that falls short of what some players have been pushing for,
16:17including the world's number one player, Irina Sabalenka.
16:21She said that she's even floated a boycott if demands are not met.
16:27Yeah, this is just in time too, right?
16:31For the Serena comeback, I think.
16:34All of a sudden now, we're just...
16:36Listen, apparently they have been screaming about not being paid enough money on professional
16:42tennis, which I think is kind of funny, since it's always the same four people that win
16:47every tournament in the men and women's side anyway.
16:50But, okay, Wimbledon is saying, all right, we'll give you more money.
16:54Kind of what the Lib Tour did, but that didn't work out all that well.
16:58New York has renamed a Manhattan street corner, Thierry Henry, which is ahead of the 2026 World
17:08Cup, honoring the French icon and former Red Bull star at 50th Street at 6th Avenue.
17:14He joins Pele, who has been honored over in Queens.
17:19Both run through November as New York hosts the World Cup matches at MetLife, including the final.
17:25We're getting real busy in New York these days, Joe.
17:28We got OG Ananobi Day.
17:29We're renaming streets after soccer players.
17:32It's been a really busy time for some of these people.
17:36Yeah, I mean, I hope you don't use the GPS, because you're not going to know the name of
17:41the streets anymore as they all get renamed.
17:43Bridges, I think, are coming.
17:46Hospitals will be changed, and everything will be nixed, except for the fact that they haven't
17:52won anything yet.
17:53But, okay, let's go with it.
17:55Keep renaming the streets.
17:56I guess it's the least they can do.
17:59Maybe we'll run a Rennari Street in Jupiter.
18:02Maybe that's the next one.
18:03No.
18:04Set it on fire.
18:05Palm Beach?
18:06Palm Beach?
18:07Joe Rennari Stadium?
18:08Yeah.
18:09Joe Rennari Field?
18:10They won't even let me over the bridge.
18:11Who are you kidding?
18:12No, that's not true.
18:13That's not true.
18:13All right, welcome back.
18:15It is time for Prediction Markets Edge here on Friday on Sports Grid.
18:20I'm Craig Mish, along with Joe Rennari, getting you all set for some of the trading options
18:25on the different prediction markets.
18:28So let's get started with Prediction Markets Edge.
18:32And we begin with Calshi versus Polymarket.
18:36Calshi has asked the CFTC in late April to crack down on Polymarket.
18:41There's infighting with the companies for not blocking US users from their offshore exchange,
18:46but the request didn't make the agency's rule proposal release Wednesday.
18:51Calshi has otherwise been winning policy battles in the CFTC, and they have a valuation of $22
18:57billion.
18:59Isn't this an interesting dynamic here, Joe, considering that both of these companies have
19:05been battling everybody outside of the prediction markets.
19:07Now they're fighting themselves inside.
19:09I got some news for you.
19:10They shouldn't be fighting each other.
19:11Just let it be.
19:14Exactly it.
19:15Do not get distracted from the bigger picture, Craig, which is, listen, prediction markets
19:20are here to stay.
19:22They're not going anywhere, which is why you're starting to see, you know, traditional sports
19:27books now offer these kinds of markets, and that's the direction they're going, right?
19:32If you can't beat them, join them.
19:34The last thing you want to do is be battling with the two markets, you know, the two platforms
19:39that pretty much have established what the prediction markets are all about.
19:44So hopefully they all get on the same page.
19:47Plenty enough money, I think, Craig, based upon that valuation to go around for everyone.
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