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Sunday, June 7, 3:15pm ET

Weekend Rap .... Latest News .... Crowning Achievement

American Pharoah's Victory Sends Belmont Crowd Of 90,000 Into Frenzy

A crowd of 90,000 at yesterday's Belmont Stakes gave American Pharoah "unconditional love and adulation" as he became horse racing's 12th Triple Crown winner a "seemingly endless 37 years" after the 11th. People "embraced, teared up and made a joyful noise not heard since Affirmed beat Alydar by a head" in the '78 Belmont (NEWSDAY, 6/7). The fans at Belmont Park yesterday "will never forget that in that instant, they were witnesses to history." The race was highlighted by "the thunder of 90,000 fans roaring at each step and the uncoiled mass of body English of 90,000 pilgrims willing this animal to go where no animal had been for the past 37 years" (NJ.com, 6/7). Fans who were there will "remember that sound forever" and remember what they saw (N.Y. POST, 6/7).

American Pharoah "led for every step of the Belmont's brutal 1 1/2 miles." The crowd at the race's end "exploded in celebration, the roar growing louder when louder seemed inconceivable, a prayer of thanks delivered in full throat" (SI.com, 6/7). The winning horse "made 90,000 witnesses sound like 900,000" (ESPN.com, 6/6). The win brought a "roar so loud ... that you probably could've heard it on the Cross Island Parkway" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/7). The atmosphere felt as if all 90,000 attendees "had downed a triple espresso at the same time as the No. 5 horse on the program rounded the final turn" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 6/7).

Belmont Stakes Exit Less Chaotic Than Last Year's Logjam

Thousands of fans "streamed out of Belmont Park last night in a scene that appeared far more orderly" than the "transportation meltdown" following last year's Belmont Stakes. Fans said that officials this year "provided better crowd control." Officials said that the mass exit was "helped by the fact that the LIRR brought 10,000 fewer passengers to the track than last year -- 25,583 compared with 36,000 who rode the train to last year's event." Many also "stayed behind to celebrate" American Pharoah's Triple Crown victory and "watch a concert by the Goo Goo Dolls" (NEWSDAY, 6/7).

Cup Final Draws NBC's Best Game 2 Audience; Belmont Overnight Down

Last night's Blackhawks-Lightning Stanley Cup Final Game 2 on NBC "scored a 4.8 overnight rating," the net's best Final Game 2 rating "since getting the rights" in '05-06. The audience for the Belmont Stakes, which aired on NBC prior to puck drop, "could have given Game 2 a little bump if a few casual sports fans were roped in" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/7). Meanwhile, the Belmont drew a 12.3 overnight rating, down 5% from a 12.9 last year (THE DAILY).

Stanley Cup Final Tix Averaging More Than $1K For Next Two Games

StubHub Head of U.S. Consumer Public Relations Alison Salcedo said that the average ticket price for tomorrow's Lightning-Blackhawks Stanley Cup Final Game 3 at United Center "is $1,090, while the average for Game 4 on Wednesday is about $1,200." However, TiqIQ data shows that its figures are "even higher, at $1,326 and $1,955." StubHub data shows that lower-level tickets for tomorrow's game "were recently reselling for more than $3,000 each, the cheapest nosebleed seats for $700 and standing-room tickets for more than $300." Prices for Wednesday's game "were even higher." Still, average prices "are unlikely to beat last year's between two bigger-market teams," the Rangers and Kings. Salcedo: "Those numbers were off the charts" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 6/7).

Canada Wins Women's World Cup Opener In Front Of Record Crowd

The Canada women's national soccer team yesterday pulled out a 1-0 win over China in the opening game of the FIFA Women's World Cup before "a record crowd of 53,058 at Commonwealth Stadium." The game was decided by a "late penalty converted" by Canada F Christine Sinclair (EDMONTON SUN, 6/7). The previous attendance record for a Canadian national team match on home soil "was 51,936, set June 5, 1994, when the Canadian men played Brazil at the same venue." Sinclair said that the Commonwealth Stadium atmosphere was the "best she had ever played before in Canada" (CP, 6/6).

Bucks Unveil New Uniform Designs Before Crowd Of 10,000

Bucks President Peter Feigin "was thrilled at the turnout" for the team's jersey unveiling yesterday at Schlitz Park, where it was estimated by the team to be "about 10,000 fans" gathered. The uniforms bear the team's "new color scheme of Good Land Green, Great Lakes Blue and Cream City Cream," which was introduced in April. The inside of the collar "features a blue stripe and a Cream City Rainbow pattern is on the sides of both home and road jerseys." The shorts "feature an M in the negative space and the Bucks' new deer logo on a cream background." Cream stripes are "on the bottom of the road shorts and green stripes outline the home shorts" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 6/7).

Protesters Outside MSG Rally Against Liberty's Hiring Of Isiah Thomas

A group of "approximately 20 protesters" gathered outside MSG on Friday night to "speak out against" the WNBA Liberty's decision to hire Isiah Thomas as president. Advocacy group Br{ache the Silence Exec Dir Nevin Caple and other protesters "wore black shirts that read 'I am Anucha Browne' across the front," referring to the '06 sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Thomas and MSG by the former Knicks marketing exec. The protesters "called on Thomas to issue a public apology" to Browne and acknowledge his role in "aiding and abetting a hostile work environment" (ESPNNY.com, 6/5). Thomas prior to the Liberty's season-opening win against the Dream "tried to shift the focus to the players." He said, "I’m not here to talk about the past. I’m only here to talk about the New York Liberty" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/6).

Ballpark-Safety Questions Raised As Bat Shard Wounds Fan At Fenway

Tonya Carpenter, who was "struck and seriously injured" by a shattered baseball bat at Friday's A's-Red Sox game, "remained hospitalized and in serious condition Saturday night, an incident that terrified her family and raised larger questions about safety" at Fenway Park and other ballparks where fans are seated close to the action. The incident, which occurred during the second inning after a section of a bat swung by A's 3B Brett Lawrie struck Carpenter in the head, "renewed discussion over whether nets that protect fans behind home plate should be extended farther toward the dugouts." Before yesterday's game, both teams "observed a moment of silence for Carpenter" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/7).

More Than 1K Come Out For Gridiron Gold Event In Pittsburgh

Last night's Gridiron Gold event at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh hotel that celebrated the six Western Pennsylvania QBs in the Pro Football HOF was held "in front of more than 1,000 people." Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly and reps of the late George Blanda and Johnny Unitas "were honored at the event." The four living QBs took part in a 45-minute conversation moderated by NFL Network's Andrea Kremer and "recorded by NFL Films that will be made into an hour-long special." Steelers President Art Rooney II was the event's honorary chair (PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW, 6/7).

Weekend Briefs....

Indians Chair & CEO Paul Dolan before today's game had his head shaved "in support" of SS Mike Aviles' 4-year-old daughter, Adriana, who was "diagnosed with leukemia last month" (CLEVELAND.com, 6/7).

Baseball HOF-elect Randy Johnson on Friday became the "first person to ever receive a Key to the City of Phoenix" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 6/6).

Last night's Miguel Cotto-Daniel Geale boxing match at Barclays Center drew a "raucous pro-Cotto crowd of 12,157" (ESPN.com, 6/6).

WNBA Mercury C Brittney Griner has "filed papers seeking to annul her 29-day marriage" to Shock F Glory Johnson (ESPN.com, 6/5).

The USTA runs a full-page ad in today's N.Y. Times to announce that tickets for this year's U.S. Open go on sale tomorrow at 9:00am ET (THE DAILY).

A day after winning the Triple Crown, jockey Victor Espinoza this afternoon threw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium for Angels-Yankees and then joined YES Network's broadcast during the third inning (THE DAILY).

Quick Hits....

"I think this is one of the coolest things I've seen happen in this sport since I've been in it" — NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, on the formation of a drivers' council (AP, 6/5).

"I'm willing to comply with any policy they show me in writing but they're just making up stuff as they go" — U.S. Army Captain and Lightning season-ticket holder Paul Dhillon, on the team's attempts to restrict him from selling his Stanley Cup tickets on the secondary market (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/6).

"The only people that want shorter races are the people that run the races -- the teams. I guess I'd like to get [to] work less and still get paid the same" — Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage, on the call by some to shorten races (ESPN.com, 6/5).

"There hasn't been a lot of talk about 'global' in collegiate athletics. But I do think it's important and it makes sense in a lot of ways. I'm glad the Pac-12 is out in front of this" — Univ. of Colorado AD Rick George, on the conference's efforts to participate in sporting events overseas, starting with an upcoming basketball game in China (DENVER POST, 6/7).

"If it happened again and I wasn't wearing anything, I'd feel pretty stupid" — White Sox P Dan Jennings, on why he has opted to wear protective padding in his cap after being hit by a line drive last year (ESPN.com, 6/5).

Weekend Hot Reads....

USA TODAY's Martin Rogers notes in recent years, many members of the U.S. women's national soccer team "have married other athletes," leading to some unique issues. One of the major ones is the "amount of time they are forced to spend away from their families." Combine that "with a partner who also has a heavy athletic workload, and the periods spent apart can mount up." Meanwhile, the GLOBE & MAIL's David Ebner profiles Canada women's national soccer team coach John Herdman, whose "central pillar" of his coaching philosophy revolves around figuring out "how the brain works."

The PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW's Jason Mackey writes under the header, "Experts: Time Is Ripe If Lemieux, Burkle Intend To Sell Interest In Penguins." By retaining Morgan Stanley and exploring a sale of the franchise, team co-Owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle "are seeing how their team will do on a grading scale." As you "might imagine, the Penguins pass with flying colors."

Elsewhere:

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A Lighter Buzz....

Golfer Dustin Johnson after shooting a 65 yesterday during the third round of the PGA Tour's Memorial tournament revealed that he "recently fixed his ailing game by watching one of his own TV commercials" for TaylorMade-adidas' AeroBurner collection. Johnson: "It was kind of funny, I was actually watching one of my commercials I filmed, it was right after Doral, and that was probably some of the best I’ve swung a club." Fellow golfer Keegan Bradley said jokingly, "DJ marches to his own beat. I’m sure he’s watching the commercial of himself every night" (N.Y. POST, 6/7).

Back Pages....

The Weekend Rap offers today's back page sports covers from some of the North America's major metropolitan tabloids:

 N.Y. Post  N.Y. Daily News Newsday Chicago
Sun-Times
Boston Herald

Hit The Ground Running: The Week Ahead....

THE DAILY’s Week Ahead: June 8-14

MONDAY
• MLB Draft begins – Seacaucus, N.J.
• ATP World Tour Mercedes Cup begins – Stuttgart, Germany
• ATP/WTA Tour Topshelf Open begins – ’s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
• WTA Tour Aegon Open Nottingham begins – Nottingham, Great Britain

TUESDAY
• FINA Women’s Water Polo World League Super Final begins – Shanghai, China

WEDNESDAY
• Veritix Sports Facilities & Franchises/Ticketing Symposium begins (SportsBusiness Journal/Daily event) – Santa Clara, Calif.
• KPMG Women’s Leadership Summit (in conjunction with the inagural KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) – Harrison, N.Y.

THURSDAY
• 2015 Copa América begins – Chile
• Wrigley Field right field bleachers scheduled to re-open – Chicago
• PGA Tour FedEx St. Jude Classic begins – Memphis
• KPMG Women’s PGA Championship begins – Harrison, N.Y.
• Constellation Senior Players Championship begins – Belmont, Mass.
• Web.com Tour Rust-Oleum Championship begins – West Lake, Ohio
• NHRA New England Nationals begin – Epping, N.H.

FRIDAY
• Inaugural European Games begin – Baku, Azerbaijan

SATURDAY
• MLL All-Star Game – Houston
• College World Series begins – Omaha, Neb.
• UFC 188 – Mexico City
• NASCAR Xfinity Series Great Clips 250 Benefiting Paralyzed Veterans of America – Brooklyn, Mich.
• NASCAR Camping World Truck Series American Ethanol Presents The Drivin For Linemen 200 Brought to you by Ameren – Madison, Ill.

SUNDAY
• NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans 400 – Brooklyn, Mich.
• Verizon IndyCar Series Honda Indy Toronto – Toronto