The ESPN Daily: Return of "The Ocho," the Year of the Home Run, and which NFL teams will decline this season?

THINGS TO CARE ABOUT

Waiting for the hammer to fall … So here’s the thing: When Bill Barnwell predicts that a team is due to decline, it almost always does. He’s done it 11 times over the past two seasons, and only once was he wrong — the 2018 Titans maintained their 9-7 record for the second season in a row. So if you’re a fan of any of the five teams he identifies here as ones that are going to fall off a bit from their 2018 performances … well, don’t say we didn’t warn you. Read More

Never count out Nathan Adrian … He’s won gold medals in the Olympics and is competing in the 2019 Pan American Games, but Nathan Adrian’s ongoing recovery from testicular cancer has defined his life ever since he was diagnosed several months ago. We talked to him about how his recovery has affected his life, his future outlook and what he expects from the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Read More

20 facts about the Year of the Home Run … Baseballs are flying out of the yard at historic rates, and it looks like 2017’s single-season record for total dingers is going to fall easily. In a year like that, some of the statistics might seem made up … but we assure you, they’re very real. Here are the most ridiculous numbers from the Year of the Home Run, with a special section exclusively devoted to the unprecedented power of the Minnesota Twins. Read More

BOLD STRATEGY, COTTON

Return of ‘The Ocho’ … It all started as a quality joke in “Dodgeball,” but for one day a year for the past few years, “ESPN8: The Ocho” has been a reality. This year’s lineup is awesome: We’ve got axe throwing, stone skipping, chess boxing and something that combines juggling and dodgeball. Want to watch every minute of the madness and maybe try some dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodging for yourself? We’ve got you covered. Read More

THINGS TO WATCH

How to dominate your draft … Worried about making the wrong pick in your upcoming fantasy football draft? Matt Berry’s got a full video guide to taking care of business that’ll put you in the driver’s seat when it’s your turn. Watch

SAY WHAT?

Don’t panic! … Hey, were you at the Colorado Rapids game on Saturday? Just be aware that even though the game went on as planned, the fireworks show was canceled because certain wildlife in the area were found to have come down with PLAGUE. Now, fortunately, it hasn’t spread to the extent of THE BLACK PLAGUE, which ravaged the world in the mid-14th century and caused many contemporary sources to speculate that they were living through the end times. This is sylvatic plague, which is mainly found in rodents but can make the jump to humans through fleas. So, you know, steer clear of any prairie dogs if you happen to be in Commerce City, unless you feel like becoming famous as “Patient Zero.” Read More

OVERHEARD

“This is, like, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of us. I think a lot of us are happy those guys pulled out because this is our chance.”

— Kemba Walker on the number of players who have withdrawn from the FIBA World Championships Read more

REMEMBER WHEN?

On this date in 2007, Barry Bonds made history by breaking Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record, clobbering his 756th off a pitch from Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik. Bonds finished his career with 762, a record that doesn’t seem likely to be broken for many years.

WHAT’S ON TODAY?

The Ocho (All day, ESPN2): Get ready to watch everything from competitive eating to the Stupid Robot Fighting League as the Ocho takes over ESPN2. We guarantee you’ll find something entertaining among the ridiculous sports we’ve offered up … and hey, you might even find something you could turn into a career.

Brewers at Pirates (7 p.m. ET, ESPN): OK, this isn’t exactly something you’d see on The Ocho, but you should take any chance you can to watch Christian Yelich mash some dingers.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2): Finish off the Ocho in style with the movie that started it all, a heartwarming tale of a man who achieves a kind of enlightenment by defeating an evil gym owner at competitive dodgeball. Also, Alan Tudyk plays a pirate named Steve.

Source: Read Full Article