5 Minor League promos that John Oliver hilariously highlighted on Last Week Tonight
On the HBO show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” the titular host provides his take on issues affecting America and the world at large. May 4’s episode featured a lengthy segment on the most important issue of the day: Minor League Baseball promotions. Over the course of 11 minutes Oliver embarked upon a wide-ranging […]
On the HBO show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” the titular host provides his take on issues affecting America and the world at large. May 4’s episode featured a lengthy segment on the most important issue of the day: Minor League Baseball promotions.
Over the course of 11 minutes Oliver embarked upon a wide-ranging exploration of Minor League team names, alternate identities and theme nights, ending with an offer to have his show rebrand a Minor League team. It was perhaps the most comprehensive overview of the topic ever provided on network television, and yet still only scratched the surface.
Many of the promos Oliver highlighted drew on work done by this writer for MiLB.com. Here are more details on five of them, in the order in which they appeared in the show.
At Eastlake Park, home of the Lake County Captains, themed group areas include the Speakeasy, the ’70s Bowling Suite and the ’80s Arcade Suite. But those who want to feel like true baseball royalty sit on the throne. The Captains’ Roto-Rooter Toilet Row, unveiled last season, features eight toilets located behind home plate. Watch the game and read a complimentary magazine, all under the watchful eye of section attendant Horatio (a wisecracking cormorant). The toilet’s seats are padded, but please note that the toilets themselves are not functional.
The El Paso Chihuahuas capped off their 2014 inaugural season by winning a “Promotion of the Year” MiLBY Award, in honor of what may just be the most memorable theme jersey of all time. On Bark in the Park Night, the team donned jerseys featuring the piercing, plaintive stare of a larger-than-life Chihuahua. To stare at this jersey is to stare into the chihuahua’s soul. General manager Brad Taylor summed it up well, in a quote also highlighted by Oliver: “I’ll never forget the first time I saw it. It’s so terrible. It’s perfect.”
For those who like their Minor League nights obscure and hyper-specific (as Oliver clearly does), then it doesn’t get better than Charleston’s ode to Helen McGuckin. In May 2018 this hyper-prolific Google reviewer gave the RiverDogs the following two-star review: “Just drove by.” This prompted the RiverDogs to invite McGuckin to a game so that they could change her review to five stars. McGuckin backed out of the appearance at the last minute, but the show went on. The team recruited office manager Cynthia Linhart to play the role of Helen McGuckin and then catered to her whims all evening long. That’s a five-star effort.
Syracuse, then a Nationals affiliate, played a game as the Devices in 2018, but specifically it was a tribute to the Brannock Device. You know what this is, even if you don’t think you do: an oblong, metallic foot-measuring tool that Uni Watch founder Paul Lukas calls “a powerful combination of ubiquity and anonymity.” The team’s jerseys featured an anthropomorphic Brannock Device named Chuck, while visiting player headshots featured the player’s face inside of a foot. As random as this endeavor may seem, rest assured that it was not. The Brannock Device was invented in Syracuse in 1927 and manufactured there for the next 70 years.
When the Eugene Emeralds announced their Exploding Whales identity in 2023, the first batch of merchandise sold out in 90 seconds to customers all over the world. To understand the attention that the Emeralds received, one must first understand the exploding whale itself. In short: In 1970 a sperm whale washed ashore in Florence, Ore. and local authorities decided the best way to dispose of the carcass would be to blow it up. They used way too many explosives, and a resulting local news report went on to become what some consider to be the world’s first viral video. 55 years later, this bizarre disaster still retains the power to shock, amuse and, yes, sell merchandise.
Chaminade women’s volleyball coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke announced her nine-player recruiting class for the 2025 season on Wednesday. Division I transfers Audrah Radford (6-2, outside hitter, Utah State) and Alizaysha Sopi (6-2, OH, Tennessee State) are among the group. Sopi is a Kapolei graduate. The class includes three incoming freshmen from local high schools. They […]
Chaminade women’s volleyball coach Kahala Kabalis Hoke announced her nine-player recruiting class for the 2025 season on Wednesday.
Division I transfers Audrah Radford (6-2, outside hitter, Utah State) and Alizaysha Sopi (6-2, OH, Tennessee State) are among the group. Sopi is a Kapolei graduate.
The class includes three incoming freshmen from local high schools. They are Baldwin’s Lilinoe Paschoal (5-8, setter) and Imani-Maile Hargis (6-1, middle blocker), and Hanalani’s Aliyah Hofherr-Sanders (5-9 right-side hitter).
The other recruits are Anna Karasinska (6-3, MB, Nowa Ruda, Poland), Maylynn Mitchell (6-1, OH, Orange, Calif.), Beele Wieczorek (6-2 RSH, Wiesbaden, Germany) and Alexis “Lillie” Hinton (6-foot-2, OH, Spicewood, Texas).
Hinton graduated early from high school and played with the Silverswords beach volleyball team in the spring.
Moanalua’s Millare claims Gatorade honor
Don’t miss out on what’s happening!
Stay in touch with breaking news, as it happens, conveniently in your email inbox. It’s FREE!
Moanalua’s James Millare was named the Gatorade Hawaii Boys Track & Field Player of the Year on Wednesday.
Millare, a junior, won the 800-, 1,500- and 3,000-meter events to help lead Na Menehune to the boys team title at the Island Movers/HHSAA State Championships in May at Kealakehe High School.
The Gatorade award recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service.
Millare, who has maintained a 3.41 GPA, has volunteered with his church community and has participated in the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
Story Links
2025 Fordham Water Polo Schedule
Bronx, N.Y. – (June 26, 2025) – Coming off the team’s most successful season in program history, the four-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham Rams have released their 2025 schedule for the upcoming water polo season. The schedule […]
Bronx, N.Y. – (June 26, 2025) – Coming off the team’s most successful season in program history, the four-time defending MAWPC champion Fordham Rams have released their 2025 schedule for the upcoming water polo season. The schedule has the most challenging run to date for the Rams, featuring 13 contests against opponents that received votes in the final poll of 2024, including four that participated in the National Collegiate Championship.
Right out of the gate, Fordham will be in the Bruno Classic, August 30-31, taking on MIT and Harvard on day one in Providence, Rhode Island, while taking on Pacific and LIU on day two in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Week two will be a special one for the Rams at the Princeton Invitational, September 6-7. Fordham will open Saturday’s action against the defending national champion, UCLA, followed by an exhibition contest against Ferencvaros (FTC) a Hungarian-based club team that recently won the Champions League. Fordham then completes the weekend of competition on Sunday against Santa Clara.
After an off week, the Rams start MAWPC league play with three road contests, September 20-21. Fordham plays at Mercyhurst on September 20th, while matching up with Bucknell and Mt. St. Mary’s the following day at the Bison Invitational.
Starting on September 27th, Fordham will have five straight home contests beginning with N.C.C. participant Princeton coming to the Messmore Aquatic Center for the start of a home-and-home series with the match at Princeton slated for November 1st. The Rams will also face Wagner later that day in a league match. Fordham is also scheduled to host Iona on October 10th, as well as MAWPC opponents Navy and George Washington on October 11th.
The Rams then have their longest road trip of the season to the west coast from October 21-26. The trip begins on October 21st with a road game at Long Beach State, who the Rams defeated in last year’s N.C.C. quarterfinals. Two days later, Fordham makes the trek to Berkeley for a highlight match-up against Cal on October 23rd.
Fordham will then participate in the annual Julian Fraser Memorial Tournament in Santa Clara, California. On October 24th, the Rams face UC Merced, while the following day will have another highlight match against fellow 2024 N.C.C. semifinalist Stanford on October 25th. The trip then concludes against San Jose State on October 26th.
Following the second match with Princeton, the Rams then return to league play with road games at George Washington (Nov. 2), Navy (Nov. 2), and Wagner (Nov. 7). Fordham then has their final four regular season games at home, starting with a tripleheader on November 8th against Bucknell, Mt. St. Mary’s, and Mercyhurst to conclude MAWPC play. The home finale will be on November 15th against Brown.
The regular season leads to the 2025 MAWPC Championship, which will be held, November 21-23, at Fordham University’s Col. Francis B. Messmore Aquatic Center in the Bronx, as the Rams will look for their fifth consecutive championship and another N.C. Championship berth.
The N.C. Championship is set for December 5-7 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
U.S. Girls U19 Team Ends 2025 Pan American Cup Pool Play 3-0
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 26, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team completed pool play undefeated after a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The U.S. (3-0) will meet the winner of the Costa Rica-Dominican Republic match in the semifinals tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at 1:30 […]
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (June 26, 2025) —The U.S. Girls U19 National Team completed pool play undefeated after a 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) victory over Puerto Rico on Thursday in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
The U.S. (3-0) will meet the winner of the Costa Rica-Dominican Republic match in the semifinals tomorrow, Friday, June 27, at 1:30 p.m. PT.
The U.S. held a double-digit advantage in kills (57-46) for the third consecutive match and finished with two more blocks (8-6). Puerto Rico led in aces 12-9, with half of them in the final set.
MATCH STATISTICS (PDF)
Outside hitters Kari Knotts and Ireland Real finished with identical numbers with 19 points on 16 kills, a block and two aces. Knotts led the team with 10 digs and seven successful receptions, while Real added nine digs.
Middle blocker Taylor Harrington led all players with six blocks, adding six kills and an ace for 13 total points. Megan Hodges also reached double digits with 12 points on 11 kills and one ace.
Libero Cala Haffner and setter Marissa Jones each recorded eight digs with Hodges contributing seven.
“It was a hard-fought match, and I’m just so proud that my team showed up today,” Jones said. “We faced adversity, especially during the first set, but we all just came together, and individually everyone stepped up and gave it their all the whole entire match. We continue to trust our training and believe in our coaches. I’m so proud of the outcome, and we’re focusing on continuing to get better.”
Puerto Rico took a lead it never relinquished in the first set at 9-8. A Harrington kill, Hodges ace and Knotts kill late in the set brought the U.S. within two points, 22-20, before Puerto Rico scored the final three points. Knotts and Real each recorded four kills with Harrington scoring four points on two kills and two blocks.
A Kyla Williams ace put the U.S. ahead 5-1 to start the second set and force a quick timeout. The lead grew to six points, 9-3, before a 7-1 surge by Puerto Rico evened the set at 10. The U.S. called timeout and scored the next five points, scoring the first three on a Real kill and two Jones aces.
A Knotts kill put the U.S. up 19-16 but Puerto Rico scored the next three points to tie the set. The U.S. finished the set with a 6-1 run with Crooks scoring four points on kills, three of which were tooled off the block. Knotts also registered four kills in the set and Real, who ended the set on a kill, scored four points on three kills and an ace.
The U.S. led 10-8 in the third set before going on a 5-0 run that put them in control. Puerto Rico managed just six points the rest of the set as the U.S. took a 2-1 set lead. Hodges led all players with six kills and Knotts scored five points on three kills and two aces. Harrington added four points on two kills and a pair of blocks.
Both teams took advantage of a lengthy delay before the start of the fourth set to show off their dancing skills. Once play resumed, each team put together mini runs in the first half of the set. The U.S. used a 4-0 run to take a 13-10 lead and force a Puerto Rico time out.
Puerto Rico used its second 4-0 stretch of the set to take the lead, 17-16. Play continued to go back and forth for the remainder of the set with Puerto Rico earning set points at 25-24 and 26-25 before the U.S. scored the final three points, one on a Knotts kill and the last two on hitting errors. Real paced the U.S. with seven points on five kills, a block and an ace. Knotts totaled six points on five kills and a block.
2025 U.S. Girls U19 National Team for the NORCECA Pan American Cup (Name, Position, Height, Birth Year, Hometown, High School, Region)
1 Taimane Ainu’u (S, 5-11, 2009, Kapolei, Hawaii, Iolani HS, Aloha) 2 Nejari Crooks (OPP, 6-1, 2009, High Point, N.C., Wesleyan Christian Academy, Carolina) 3 Cala Haffner (L, 5-8, 2009, Fort Wayne, Ind., Carroll HS, Hoosier) 4 Taylor Harrington (MB, 6-3, 2009, Arlington, Va., Wakefield HS, Chesapeake) 5 Olivia Henry (OH, 6-5, 2009, Bayside, N.Y., IMG Academy, Florida) 6 Megan Hodges (MB/OPP, 6-5, 2009, Ladera Ranch, Calif., San Juan Hills HS, Southern California) 7 Marissa Jones (S, 6-2, 2009, Atlanta, Ga., Woodward Academy, Southern) 8 Kari Knotts (OH, 6-3, 2010, Marietta, Ga., Hightower Trail MS, Southern) 11 Westley Matavao (OH, 6-0, 2009, Ontario, Calif., Mater Dei HS, Southern California) 13 Shayla Rautenberg (MB, 6-3, 2009, Pleasant Dale, Neb., Milford HS, Great Plains) 14 Ireland Real (OH, 6-4, 2009, San Clemente, Calif., Santa Margarita Catholic HS, Southern California) 18 Kyla Williams (MB, 6-4, 2009, Cleveland, Ohio, Gilmour Academy, Ohio Valley)
Coaches Head Coach: Jamie Morrison (Texas A&M) Assistant Coach: Michelle Chatman Smith (LOVB) Assistant Coach: Maggie Eppright (LOVB) Performance Analyst: Michael Bouril (Mississippi State) Athletic Trainer: Rebecca Himes (PVF) Team Lead: Alex Purvey (NTDP)
2025 Girls U19 Pan American Cup Schedule All times Pacific All matches will be livestreamed on Volleyball Canada YouTube
June 24: USA def. Venezuela, 3-0 (25-9, 25-23, 25-21) June 25: USA def. Mexico, 3-0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23) June 26: USA def. Puerto Rico, 3-1 (20-25, 25-20, 25-14, 27-25) June 27: 1:30 p.m. USA vs. Costa Rica/Dominican Republic June 28: Medal Match, TBA
Canada falls to host Americans in Volleyball Nations League | National Sports
HOFFMAN ESTATES – Canada dropped a 3-0 decision to the United States in Volleyball Nations League play on Thursday at the NOW Arena. All three sets were close, but the host side pulled out a 25-23, 25-22, 30-28 victory. Canada captain Fynn McCarthy had eight attacks, four blocks and an ace. “Once we solidified our […]
HOFFMAN ESTATES – Canada dropped a 3-0 decision to the United States in Volleyball Nations League play on Thursday at the NOW Arena.
All three sets were close, but the host side pulled out a 25-23, 25-22, 30-28 victory. Canada captain Fynn McCarthy had eight attacks, four blocks and an ace.
“Once we solidified our reception and service tonight, we were able to play at a much higher level and we put more pressure on them,” said Canada head coach Dan Lewis.
Canada is 14th in the 18-team preliminary standings.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025.
Registration for the Jr. ‘Bows 2025 Summer Water Polo camp is under way. The camp is scheduled for July 11-13 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex and is open to players ages 13-18 of all skill levels. The clinic will focus on developing a love for water polo in players and participants will receive instruction […]
Registration for the Jr. ‘Bows 2025 Summer Water Polo camp is under way. The camp is scheduled for July 11-13 at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex and is open to players ages 13-18 of all skill levels. The clinic will focus on developing a love for water polo in players and participants will receive instruction on fundamental offensive and defensive movements, positional skills, shooting, and general tactics. Camp sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily and will be led by the UH water polo coaching staff and assisted by student-athletes from the reigning Big West champion…
By Beth Schnitzer– Honoring a Legacy: The Bette S. Schnitzer Endowed Scholarship This June marked my second journey back to Union Catholic High School in New Jersey to present the Bette “S.” Schnitzer Endowed Scholarship, a tribute to my mother’s extraordinary legacy as a coach, educator, and pioneer for girls’ sports. I had the honor […]
Honoring a Legacy: The Bette S. Schnitzer Endowed Scholarship
This June marked my second journey back to Union Catholic High School in New Jersey to present the Bette “S.” Schnitzer Endowed Scholarship, a tribute to my mother’s extraordinary legacy as a coach, educator, and pioneer for girls’ sports. I had the honor of making the trip with my sister, Jaimie, herself a proud UC alum. It was an emotional and magical return—reconnecting with my mom’s former colleagues, her principal from the all-girls school era, and stepping into a space that shaped so many lives, including hers.
This year’s recipient, junior Evan Florek (UC Class of 2026), embodies the spirit of our mother’s mission. Evan is a natural leader on campus—the voice behind school pep rallies, an aspiring sports commentator, and someone already committed to a future in sports. His energy, optimism, and drive reflect the very qualities our mom brought to every classroom, track meet, and practice she led.
Beth Schnitzer, Former UC Principal Sister Percylee Hart, Jaimie Westley Schnitzer
Our mother, Bette Schnitzer, was a true trailblazer. After earning her degree in physical education from Montclair State, she devoted over 35 years to Union Catholic, launching the school’s track and field program and coaching countless others—gymnastics, cheerleading, pep squad—while championing opportunities for girls in sports long before it was common. She was a director of summer recreation, a chaperone for the NJ AAU girls’ basketball team, and founder of the county scholar-athlete awards program. Her accolades include induction into the New Jersey Interscholastic Coaches Hall of Fame and the Union Catholic Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions to athletics and student life.
We created the scholarship after she passed in 2022 to ensure her legacy would live on—each spring, it’s awarded to a Union Catholic student who exemplifies her passion and is pursuing a future in education, athletics, or coaching. Sitting beside Evan and his family at the ceremony, watching a room full of focused, respectful, and engaged students—not a phone in sight—reminded me of how much impact a teacher, a coach, a mentor can have.
And yes, our mom truly was our biggest cheerleader. She even got to meet the gold medal–winning U.S. women’s gymnastics team—the iconic “Magnificent Seven”—at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, a full-circle moment that reflected her lifelong love for sports and youth development. When I watched Simone Biles capture the all-around gold medal in Paris last summer, it brought back a wave of joyful memories: of me and my mom meeting Dominique Dawes, Shannon Miller, and the rest of that unforgettable 1996 team. It was a moment of then, a celebration of now, and a reminder of how deeply rooted her passion for empowering young athletes truly was.
On June 10, 2025, I had the honor of attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Rikki’s, San Francisco’s first—and only—sports bar dedicated entirely to celebrating women’s sports. It was a powerful moment for the city and for the national movement to elevate women’s athletics in every arena, including where we gather to watch and cheer.
The event featured remarks from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, Rikki’s co-owners Sara Yergovich and Danielle Thoe, Brady Stewart, CEO of Bay FC, Kimberly Veale, Senior VP of Marketing and Communications for the Golden State Valkyries, and Rosemary Gardner, with the San Francisco LGBT Center.
Stepping into the bar for the first time was pure magic. Fourteen TVs lit up with WNBA games, and the walls were filled with incredible memorabilia, framed jerseys, and tributes to women athletes. The attention to detail, community pride, and passion for the mission were palpable.
Rikki’s is named in honor of Rikki Strei-cher, a beloved San Francisco community leader who owned several lesbian bars over the decades and was a proud sportswoman herself. Her legacy lives on in this vibrant, inclusive space. As I took it all in, I couldn’t help but think of my mom—a lifelong coach and sports advocate—and how amazed and proud she would be to see women’s sports bars opening across the country.
Just three years ago, only one such bar existed: The Sports Bra in Portland. Today, it’s gearing up to launch locations in Boston, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, and St. Louis—cities chosen for their enthusiastic women’s sports fan bases. Rikki’s now joins that movement, and I can’t wait to see it thrive and expand across California and beyond.
Whether it’s to catch a game, sip one of their signature cocktails, enjoy a bite, or support an LGBTQ+ and women-owned business, visiting Rikki’s is highly recommended as it is a safe, spirited space for fans, friends, and community to come together and celebrate women in sport. I can’t wait to go back to 2223 Market Street to celebrate the power and presence of women’s sports.
Cricket Fever Hits the Bay and I’m Officially Hooked
In my last column, I previewed the arrival of Major League Cricket (MLC) at the Oakland Coliseum—and this past week, I had the chance to attend my very first MLC cricket match. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was lucky enough to go with my business partner, Raghu Shivaram, a devoted cricket fan originally from India, who offered me a front-row seat and a crash course in Cricket 101.
Beth Schnitzer and Raghu Shivaram at an MLC cricket match
We watched the Texas Super Kings face off against the Seattle Orcas, and I was completely awed—not just by the match itself, but by the transformation of the Coliseum: a baseball and football stadium retrofitted into a world-class cricket venue, complete with drop-in turf wickets that meet international standards. The setup was impressive, but the atmosphere? Absolutely electric.
Families, longtime fans, newcomers, and cricket lovers of all backgrounds were in the stands, waving team flags, cheering with enthusiasm—and yes, blowing whistles, which I learned are a staple in cricket crowds. Raghu shared that the largest cricket stadium in the world, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, seats a staggering 132,000 fans—and during matches, the noise is deafening. After experiencing the energy in Oakland, I can only imagine what that must feel like.
As for the match itself, the Texas Super Kings crushed the Seattle Orcas, but for me, the win was just understanding the game. I now know what a wicket is, how a bowler differs from a pitcher, and that a “six” is cricket’s version of a home run. The strategy, precision, and athleticism were thrilling to watch, and as a new fan, I can’t wait to learn more about the roles of spinners, pace bowlers, and match tactics.
And more exciting cricket news: San Ramon is now home to the San Ramon Grizzlies, a Minor League cricket team, and that’s major news for the Tri-Valley area. San Ramon is already a hotbed for youth and adult cricket, and as our agency, Spritz, represents Discover San Ramon, I look forward to exploring how we can amplify and showcase cricket locally, especially with the countdown to LA28, where cricket will officially debut as an Olympic sport.
Cricket is here and I’m all in.
Cricket 101: What You Need to Know
What is cricket? Think baseball’s cousin. It has a flat bat, a hard leather covered ball, an oval shaped field, and a rectangular pitch.
The Basics: Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players. One team bats, aiming to score as many runs as possible, while the other bowls and fields to restrict scoring and dismiss batters.
The Pitch: A 22-yard-long strip in the center of the field where most of the action happens.
Wickets: The three wooden stumps behind the batter. Knocking them over = batter out.
The Format: A fast-paced, action-packed version where each team plays just 20 overs (think: innings), making games last about 3 hours. An over consists of six legal deliveries (or balls) bowled by a single bowler from one end of the pitch.
The Objective: Teams take turns batting and fielding. The batting team tries to score runs by hitting the ball and running between wickets, while the fielding team tries to get them “out.”
Key Positions: Bowlers (pitchers), batters, fielders, and the wicketkeeper (like a catcher).
The Vibe: Loud, colorful, and festive—drums, chants, flags, and face-painted fans in national/team colors. It’s a full-on experience like World Cup soccer.
Cricket combines strategy, patience, and explosive athleticism—and once you get the rhythm, it’s hard not to get hooked.
From Roland Garros to San Francisco: A Slam Summer of Tennis
As a lifelong tennis fan and player, I try to watch every Slam—either courtside or from the comfort of my couch, always with the same level of passion and awe. Last month’s French Open delivered exactly what we all hope for in sport: history in the making.
For American fans, the women’s final was especially sweet. Coco Gauff broke nearly a decade-long drought for U.S. champions at Roland Garros—the last American woman to win was Serena Williams in 2015. Gauff’s thrilling win over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka earned her the prestigious trophy and a $2.9 million check. With Madison Keys also winning the Australian Open earlier this year, American women now hold two of the four major titles in 2025. Next up: Wimbledon, beginning June 30.
Serena was the last American to win there too—back in 2016. I can’t wait for this next chapter in American Tennis.
The men’s final was a true tennis epic. At five hours and 29 minutes, it became the longest French Open final in history and the second-longest Grand Slam final ever, just behind the legendary 2012 Australian Open match between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Italy’s Jannik Sinner delivered a match that had everything: power, finesse, nerves, and comebacks. Alcaraz clawed his way back from two sets down, saving multiple championship points before sealing the win and matching Gauff’s $2.9 million payout. It was the kind of final that made me jump, cheer, and hold my breath—the kind you never want to end.
Looking ahead, Wimbledon, beginning June 30, is high on my bucket list to attend in person someday. But closer to home, tennis fans in the Bay Area will have a front-row opportunity this fall: the Laver Cup is coming to San Francisco’s Chase Center, September 19–21.
The Laver Cup—co-created by 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer—pits six of the top men’s players from Europe against six of their counterparts from the rest of the world in a three-day, team-based competition. The event is named for tennis legend Rod Laver, the only man to win two calendar-year Grand Slams, who now resides in San Diego. It rotates annually between European and international cities and takes place two weeks after the U.S. Open.
This will be the eighth edition of the Laver Cup, and with its blend of high-caliber tennis, team spirit, and global talent, it’s set to be one of the most exciting sporting events in San Francisco and a highlight of the Bay Area sports calendar. I’ll be watching—and cheering—all the way through and hope you will be too.
Wrapping Up: From Cricket Pitches to Center Courts
Whether I was cheering in awe for the tennis finals at Roland Garros, honoring my mom’s legacy in New Jersey, watching the WNBA at Rikki’s, or hearing the cheers and whistles of Oakland’s cricket crowd, this month has been all about the power of sport to connect, inspire, and create community. I’m more excited than ever about the growing visibility of women’s sports, the global stage of tennis coming to San Francisco, and the fresh energy cricket is bringing to the Bay Area and beyond.
From San Ramon to San Francisco, and from Paris to the pitch—the future of sport is bright, diverse, and thrilling. And I’m here for it.
Signing off from the Bay, where passion meets the play. See you next month!
Beth Schnitzer, the former President of WISE (Women in Sports and Events), is the Co-Founder and President of Spritz: https://spritzsf.com/
Beth’s Bay Area Sports Beat Published on June 26, 2025
| The Pat McAfee Show
