In S.F., Ann Killion writes one of the "most striking things that occurred during the NBA Finals was the swiftness with which the NBA handed down a punishment" to Warriors investor Mark Stevens. If this was the NFL, or "almost any other sports league, there would be hemming and hawing, lawyers involved, delays, obfuscation, platitudes, denials." But Commissioner Adam Silver’s league "doesn’t put up with nonsense." There "seems no way" that the incident with Raptors G Kyle Lowry will be "forgotten or that Stevens can return as a part-owner" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 6/18).
THE BIG PICTURE: The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Jason Gay writes of the possible over-celebration by the USWNT in their World Cup win over Thailand, "Let's take the high road here. There’s a much better story happening with this USWNT team." The team is "certain to face serious competition before the tournament’s end." But this is also an operation "fighting for the basic right of equal pay for equal work." Gay: "Nothing stirs soccer in this country like the USWNT -- and this roster is on a mission that could reshape an entire sport" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 6/18).
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: In Buffalo, Mike Harrington noted the full '19-20 NHL schedule is "not expected to be released" this week, as it has "reportedly been pushed back to June 25." The league is "expected to release teams' home openers on Friday night" during the first round of the NHL Draft (BUFFALONEWS.com, 6/16).
