MidValleySports.Com

By Joe Torosian

Kick it!

Question: What’s the etiquette for a hat trick in soccer? What do other countries and cultures throw? If Mbappe gets a hat trick for France, do we throw croissants? Norway’s Halland puts three into the net, do we throw herring onto the grass?

Should Messi’s fans have thrown entraña?

Who is like Messi? Who is able to make war with him?

Argentina won, and Messi delivered what everyone was hoping he would deliver. All is well in my world as we do the Messi’ Round… “Everybody do the Messi ’round!”

I freely admit I’m not a soccer guy, but do soccer types roll their eyes at American media personalities suddenly talking soccer as if they follow the sport between World Cups?

There’s a difference between a casual and a poser. A casual is someone like me who rolls in every four years because of the in-laws, gets some Christmas dinner table content, and piles on with takes about Communist Kickball.

One thing I am not is a poser about soccer, but I am pretty good at spotting a poser. And it feels—feels—like we have a lot of American media members doing a whole lot of posing.

I’ll accept correction, and I’ll also accept the naming of names. I have some names in mind already, but I want to hold off to see if they match yours.

The 2026 NFL Draft ended on April 25th, and by April 27th, all the undrafted free agents were likely signed. One of the Rams UDFA’s was offensive lineman Chad Lindberg out of North Carolina.

Lindberg was injured in rookie camp, and yesterday the Rams cut him with an injury settlement. The story that is never talked about enough in sports is that one day, you’re getting the call of your life, and five weeks later, you’re being asked if you finished your degree because your football career is over.

Hard Knocks used to show this kind of stuff, and it’s why you need to use football before football uses you.

Kansas City Chiefs’ wide receiver Rashee Rice has been released from jail after serving 30 days for violating probation. Is there an over-under on how long it will be until the next KC receiver is charged, arrested, or incarcerated?

I bring this up not to highlight that bad stuff happens, it does. I bring it up now to try to understand why the Chiefs continue to pay Patrick Mahomes so much money but never find him a frontline wide receiver.

Note to Caitlin Clark: Until you watch film, spend some time with Mr. Miyagi, or naturally come out of this slump, even if you feel it, don’t shoot it. Instead, dish it. Keep pouring the sugar on your teammates.

When she gets her stroke back, Clark is going to be devastating. Right now, for the WNBA, she’s great and breaking records, but it could be so much more.

Last Add Clark: She was four of seven from the field last night—inside the arc. Outside the arc, she was one for eight. When you’re only hitting one of eight from beyond the arc, for an extended period, your attempts should drop by three.

Shooting one for five can happen, but one of eight is the equivalent of smashing the dash because your car won’t start.

In 2025, the Chicago White Sox won 60 games. In 2024, they won 41 games. As of today, in 2026, they’ve won 38 games and are tied for first in the American League Central with the team formerly known as the Cleveland Indians.

#68—May the San Francisco Giants rot and lie stinking in the earth…

Last Add White Sox: Former Dodger Miguel Vargas has 16 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .367 OBP. Which reminds me that the Dodgers have activated Tommy Edman from the 60-day injured list.

The Dude abides…

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