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The NBA season tipped off last night.

Before the jump, New York got new big-and-shiny championship Knick-knacks and raised Madison Square Garden’s first NBA-title banner since 1973 (see it go up). Then the sneakers got squeakin’, and the 76ers ruined NY’s party, nixing the Knicks in LeBron James and Jaylen Brown’s Philly debut. In a Western finals rematch and clash of title favorites, the Thunder struck the Spurs.

Hoops fans hope the Association’s new anti-tanking rules will make losing on purpose less appealing by tweaking draft lottery odds and capping teams at two years of top-five picks.

As one season begins, MLB nears its end. The Rays beat the Guardians Monday to win the AL pennant and set up a World Series with the 103-win Brewers, guaranteeing a first-time Fall Classic winner; Game 1 is Friday in Milwaukee.

CHOOSE HUMILITY
Believers celebrate excellence, teamwork, and perseverance, but we don’t define greatness by scoreboards or record books. The MVPs in God’s kingdom are the humble who depend on Him and serve others sacrificially.

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be last and servant of all.” He took a child, had him stand among them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but him who sent me.”
Mark 9:35-37 (CSB) (read full passage)