< FAREWELL >

Deep Ball — A Heartfelt Farewell From the Editor & Creator of The Sportsletter (Jeff Yoder)

This is it: My “walk-off” home-run moment. Despite our best efforts, it’s my last edition of The Sportsletter. Just before a banger of a weekend in my home state, too. Two places I used to work at (Indy 500 & Pacers) go back-to-back on Sunday. I’ll get to be a casual fan this Memorial Day Weekend. I’ve forgotten what that’s like.

It’s been a long six years, and a long six months at the drawing board trying to find a way forward. Today, I’m moving on. 

Media Mobilize will continue the publication with a new voice in the future, so don’t go anywhere. The Sportsletter is not done.

The Idea (Me): This thing started as a dream with a friend back in 2018. I’ve given it sweat, tears, sleepless nights and everything I had. I wanted to combine the 90s nostalgia of the sports page with late-night SportsCenter highlights (and a little of my own sportswriter persona). The goal was to write for millions, but writing for an audience larger than an NFL stadium was still pretty cool. Nothing lasts forever.

The Team (You): This project led to some great conversations in my inbox with people all over the world. Some of the replies truly made me a believer in building a community through an email publication — from France to Australia and my Midwest neighbors. This was awesome. I’m sad it’s over, but glad it happened. Thank you for being part of it.

Anyways… The Sportsletter will still live on, but I’ll be taking my talents elsewhere (a la LeBron James 2010). The Decision! South Beach, here I come.

Things I Learned

• There’s a sports analogy for everything in life.

• Readers are editors who hunt for mistakes. 

• Everybody loves an underdog and a buzzer-beater. 

• Bet on yourself.

The Story I Loved Most?

Kobe, Philly & The Mamba Magic 🦅

Writing this piece moved me to tears.

Final Shout-Outs to My Favorite Teams

• 🦅 Go Birds (Philadelphia Eagles)

• 🚂 Boiler Up (Purdue Basketball)

• ✝️ Jesus is King (Team Heaven) 

God is good. With that said, allow me to finish my walk-off edition with some class (and actual news). 

Best of luck to the writer who fills my shoes! Hope you like caffeine and 1:00 am overtimes.

✌️ Jeff

If you’ve been a longtime reader and want to stay connected:

1) Send a note to my personal email. That would be special. I’ll respond. If you made time for me each morning, I’ll make time for you.

2) Punch in your email to follow my journey. Who knows? Maybe I’ll keep writing weekly columns and underdog stories just for fun.

To the news!

Thunder in the 3rd (Again), Panthers Out of the Gate, These Series Might Just Be Over

🏀 G2: Thunder def. T-Wolves (118-103)

New MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops 38

OKC Outscores MIN by 14 in Another 3Q Blitz

OKC Leads Series (2-0)

🏒 G2: Panthers def. Hurricanes (5-0)

Sam Bennett (2G Carter Verhaeghe (3A) Fuel FLA

Sergei Bobrovsky Notches 17-Save Shutout

FLA Leads Series (2-0)

⚾️ MLB

Christian Yelich (2 HRs)

Brewers def. Pirates (8-5)

Jose Altuve (2 HRs, 4 RBIs)

Astros Crush Mariners (9-2)

Amed Rosario Hits Walk-Off Single

Nationals def. Braves (8-7, 10i)

Nathan Lukes Hits Walk-Off Single

Blue Jays (7-6)

🏀 WNBA

Fever def. Dream (81-76)

CC Goes Cold, Natasha Howard (26 pts)

Liberty def. Sky (99-74)

NY Sets WNBA’s Made 3-Pt Record (19)

< NARRATIVES >

🏈 How the Eagles Saved the ‘Tush Push’

The tush push remains alive after Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie and future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce led a last-ditch effort to save Philly’s signature play. Push on! (The Athletic)

🏀 The Indiana Pacers Refuse to Die

With Tyrese Haliburton channeling Reggie Miller, the Pacers broke both probability models and the Knicks with the greatest comeback in NBA Playoff history. (The Ringer)

⛳️ A New Brand of Scottie Scheffler

“F*** yeah!” he bellowed, spiking his white Nike hat onto the pristine 18th green and slapping palms with caddie Ted Scott. “That’s what I’m talking about!” (Yahoo! Sports)

🏁 Race Weekend Triple-Header (Sunday)

Monaco Grand Prix (Sun. 9:00 am, ESPN)

Indianapolis 500 (Sun. 12:45 pm, FOX)

Coca-Cola 600 (Sun. 6:00 pm, PRIME)

🏀 NBA Playoffs (Conference Finals)

G2: Pacers at Knicks (Fri. 8:00 pm, TNT)

G3: Thunder at T-Wolves (Sat. 8:30 pm, ABC)

G3: Knicks at Pacers (Sun. 8:00 pm, TNT)

G4: Thunder at T-Wolves (Mon. 8:30 pm, ESPN)

🏒 Stanley Cup Playoffs (Conference Finals)

G2: Oilers at Stars (Fri. 8:00 pm, ESPN)

G3: Hurricanes at Panthers (Sat. 8:00 pm, TNT)

G3: Stars at Oilers (Sun. 3:00 pm, ABC)

G4: Hurricanes at Panthers (Mon. 8:00 pm, TNT)

⚾️ MLB

Mets-Dodgers Series

Braves-Padres Series

Cubs-Reds Series

Guardians-Tigers Series

Full MLB Schedule

🏀 WNBA

Liberty at Fever (Sat. 1:00 pm, CBS)

Full WNBA Schedule

*All Times ET