The Lineup: Thursday, July 18
Photo by Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images
Back then they didn't watch me. Now I'm hot they all on me. (All times Eastern)
Starter
Golf The Open Championship: First Round Encore Presentation, 3:00p.m. (ESPN)
This tournament, coming on the back of Andy Murray's Wimbledon win, offers another important lesson in the national identity of Scotsmen. They don't call it the bloody English Open, do they?
Reserves
Cycling Tour De France: Stage 18, 8:00a.m. (NBC Sports Network & NBC Sports Live Extra)
Two more entries into the cavalcade of wacky stories that have come out of this year's tour:
1. Danish racer Jakob Fuglsang lost 7 minutes of time and was passed by 100 riders when he took a wrong turn at a roundabout.
2. Race leader Chris Froome dropped some trash talk at former champion Alberto Contador for reckless riding that nearly caused a crash. Cycling's got the smack talk, spandex, and P.E.D.s. It's one good rumble away from professional wrestling.
Soccer UEFA Women's Euro Group Stage: France vs. England & Russia vs. Spain, 2:15p.m. (ESPN3)
Four teams vie for two remaining spots in the quarterfinals on the last day of group play. Three of those teams play today, while poor Denmark has to sit back and repeatedly employ the quadratic equation to sort out the different scenarios that determine who will advance.
WNBA Phoenix Mercury vs. Los Angeles Sparks, 10:00p.m. (ESPN2)
Hopefully Brittany Griner isn't too exhausted from her big night of showing up in the background of shots at the ESPY's to play in this one.
NBA Summer League Playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Los Angeles Lakers, 4:30p.m. (ESPN3)
Normally, Lakers fans can ignore their summer league squad, knowing that few of the scrubs will be relevant once the season comes around. With L.A. focusing on saving cash for the 2014 free agency period, these guys may become way more familiar than is probably desirable.
Deep Bench
Major League Lacrosse Boston Cannons vs. Chesapeake Bayhawks, 7:30p.m. (CBS Sports Network)
Frankly, I only included this game to bring your attention to Brett Queener, MLL's premier showman. Search his name on YouTube, you'll be glad you did.
