July 4th's Greatest Sports Moments, MLB Midseason Surprises & Ovechkin Returns

July 4th's Greatest Sports Moments, MLB Midseason Surprises & Ovechkin Returns

The Fourth of July has produced some of the most unforgettable moments in sports history, and Larry Smith counts down the five greatest—from Lou Gehrig's iconic "Luckiest Man Alive" speech to Jack Johnson's Fight of the Century, Nolan Ryan's 3,000th strikeout, and some truly unbelievable baseball feats. Before the countdown, Larry and Producer Tony take a deep dive into the first half of the Major League Baseball season, discussing the biggest surprise teams, trade deadline storylines, Paul Skenes' puzzling struggles, the Yankees' concerns without Aaron Judge, and why the Padres have fallen apart. Plus, the latest from the WNBA All-Star selections, Alex Ovechkin returns for another NHL season, and today's Moment of Awe recalls the 1944 fire that ultimately helped bring Major League Baseball back to Baltimore. It's a holiday weekend packed with sports history, great stories, and plenty of debate.

LeBron Leaves LA, Jaylen Brown Shocks Boston & USA Soccer Advances

NBA free agency is already delivering blockbuster headlines. Larry Smith is joined by veteran basketball writer Jasmyn Wimbish to break down LeBron James' departure from the Lakers, whether Cleveland or Golden State makes the most sense, the Lakers' aggressive moves to reshape their roster, and the stunning trade that sends Jaylen Brown from Boston to Philadelphia. They also discuss the futures of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić, Walker Kessler, and the rapidly changing balance of power across the NBA. Also on today's show, USA Swimming national team member Becca Mann looks ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, explains the strategy behind open-water marathon swimming, discusses the next generation of American stars, and shares why the Olympic 10K remains one of the sport's most fascinating—and underrated—events. Larry also recaps Wimbledon, the FIFA World Cup, NHL and NBA free agency, a historic offensive explosion by the Chicago Cubs, and today's Moment of Awe, the bizarre 1917 Sunday baseball game that ended with Brooklyn Robins owner Charles Ebbets and manager Wilbert Robinson under arrest after trying to outsmart New York's blue laws.

LeBron Leaves L.A., Serena's Emotional Wimbledon Return & Bobby Bonilla Day

LeBron James' stunning departure from the Los Angeles Lakers headlines today's SportsIQ as Larry Smith explores where the NBA superstar could land next and what his exit means for the league's balance of power. The show also celebrates Serena Williams' inspiring return to Wimbledon, reflecting on her grit, grace, and enduring legacy after an emotional singles match that may mark the final chapter of one of the greatest careers in tennis history. Major League Baseball takes center stage with Just Baseball writer A.J. Stone, who discusses the biggest surprises of the first half of the season, Bobby Bonilla Day, the rise of the Brewers and White Sox, contenders to watch before the trade deadline, and which teams are built for October. Nick Farabaugh of PennLive.com joins later to break down the Pittsburgh Steelers' new era under Mike McCarthy, Aaron Rodgers' arrival, Drew Aller's development, and expectations for one of the NFL's most intriguing franchises. Plus, today's Moment of Awe looks back at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, the first Olympics ever held in the United States and the event that introduced the now-famous tradition of awarding gold, silver, and bronze medals. The show also covers Kawhi Leonard's return to Toronto, the latest FIFA World Cup knockout-round action, and closes with more insight into Serena Williams' remarkable comeback and what may be next for LeBron James.

NFL Billions, NIL One Year Later & Does the WNBA Have a Caitlin Clark Problem?

The business of sports takes center stage in today's episode of SportsIQ. Larry Smith examines the staggering rise in NFL franchise values, from the Detroit Lions' $7,900 purchase price in 1934 to today's multi-billion-dollar valuations, and explains why the league continues to dominate the sports economy. Then, sports law professor Michael LeRoy joins the show to assess the first year of the House v. NCAA settlement. The conversation explores whether NIL reforms have actually stabilized college athletics, why some football rosters reportedly continue to exceed $50 million, the role of multimedia rights companies, transfer portal challenges, gambling concerns, and what comes next for the College Sports Commission. Plus, Larry and Tony discuss the WNBA's biggest storyline: Caitlin Clark. Is the league facing a Caitlin Clark problem, or simply the growing pains that come with unprecedented popularity? They examine officiating, player physicality, media narratives, team promotion, and why the conversation should stay focused on basketball.

Historic WNBA Thriller, Hockey Draft Reactions & Notre Dame's Next Title Push

A little bit of everything on today's SportsIQ. Larry opens with one of the wildest games in WNBA history as the Washington Mystics outlast Portland in a four-overtime classic, while Cheryl Reeve ties the league's all-time coaching wins record and Scottie Scheffler's Travelers Championship turns into a weather-delayed playoff. Plus, today's Moment of Awe looks back at an unusual record held by Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey—long before he changed baseball forever by signing Jackie Robinson. Producer Tony is joined by CBS Sports' Austin Nivison to break down the 2026 NHL Draft, the Sharks' long-term rebuild, Stanley Cup contenders loading up, the latest trade rumors surrounding Connor Hellebuyck, Auston Matthews, and Connor McDavid, plus why Mike Babcock's return may not end well. Later, Ryan Roberts of A to Z Sports previews Notre Dame's upcoming football season, discussing how the Irish replace Jeremiah Love, the evolution of the passing game, CJ Carr's development, transfer additions, elite recruiting under Marcus Freeman, and why Notre Dame's roster construction may finally resemble the nation's powerhouse programs. Larry and Tony also marvel at Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski's record-setting velocity and debate the puzzling direction of the Charlotte Hornets after a flurry of offseason trades.