Short-form video content company Overtime announced Thursday that it is launching a professional basketball league that will compensate high school-aged players in hopes of funneling elite talent away from playing both high school and collegiate basketball, in which players are prohibited from being compensated.

Overtime will launch the league, Overtime Elite (OTE) in September, targeting top-ranked players ages 16 to 18 who are willing to forfeit their remaining high school eligibility and future college eligibility to earn six figures.

League executives hope OTE can capitalize off American high school players now choosing to eschew the traditional route of finishing a high school career and playing at least one year of collegiate ball before declaring for the NBA draft.

It's an emerging trend of "athletes trying to hack the system to find a way to really address ... preparing themselves for a pro path and a pro career," said OTE president and commissioner Aaron Ryan.

OTE will operate out of one city (which will be announced at a later date) and will consist of up to 30 total players from across the world. The teams will play not only against each other, but against competition from American prep schools and other countries. The total number of teams that will make up the league and how rosters will be constructed was not disclosed.

According to Ryan, some current players feel their high schools don't offer adequate academic and skill development and want to challenge current NCAA rules that don't allow them to profit from their likeness.

"This offering and opportunity not only gives you pro-caliber training and development in a facility that models and starts to simulate what life will be like in the NBA ... but it also provides a six-figure salary," said Ryan, who worked in the NBA for 22 years, including most recently as vice president of the NBA 2K league.

Each OTE player will earn at least $100,000 guaranteed for the season. The league also plans to compensate players through bonuses, equity in Overtime, and revenues from a player's name, image and likeness, the latter an NCAA issue that is currently being discussed in Congress.

Along with full health care benefits, OTE will offer up to $100,000 for players to use toward college tuition in the event a player doesn't go on to play in the NBA or other professional leagues.

In lieu of a traditional high school curriculum, the league will offer an academic program that it says will focus on "financial literacy, media training and social justice advocacy," according to a news release.

OTE is entering a crowded space for attracting high school basketball players who want an alternative to the current system.

Recent top prospects LaMelo Ball and R.J. Hampton played professionally overseas rather than play in college and, in Ball's case, high school. The pair were selected third and 24th overall, respectively, in November's NBA draft. The NBA G League's developmental program will pay select players with college eligibility anywhere from $125,000 to $500,000 in a season. Not to mention, states like Florida will allow players to make money from their likenesses as early as this summer.

Ryan believes OTE will bring a unique and distinct approach to addressing the concerns of young basketball players when it comes to their education and preparation for a basketball career.

"Playing college basketball is great for some," Ryan said. "But let's recognize the fact that they play over 10,000 hours of basketball for free."

Overtime, created in 2016, publishes basketball highlights, interviews with players from all levels of the sports and original content, including a series following top 2023 recruit Mikey Williams. Overtime investors include Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant, as was the late NBA commissioner David Stern.

A dunk is worth just two points, but the best dunkers in the world always find ways to make it feel like more.

From signature in-game slams to unforgettable posterizations to you-had-to-be-there dunk contest moments, players from generations past and present have left an indelible mark on the game with their ability to finish at the rim.

But which player holds the crown for each franchise? To answer the question, we asked our group of NBA Insiders to vote on the most iconic dunker for each franchise. Let the debate begin.

Note: The criteria used for selecting iconic dunkers for each team included a player's in-game dunks, performance in the slam dunk contest, innovation and signature moments.

Atlanta Hawks: Dominique Wilkins 95.8%

Wilkins' double-handed windmill in the finals of the 1988 dunk contest he lost (controversially? dubiously? Hawks fans have their suspicions) to Michael Jordan might be Nique's most noteworthy dunk, but his most potent weaponry was discharged in live games. Few could unleash an electric dunk in traffic quite like Wilkins, and his signature double pump while jumping off two feet among the trees was a marvel of body control. The true spectacle? When he got a running start and gussied up the double pump with the reverse. -- Kevin Arnovitz

Others receiving votes: Spud Webb 4.2%

Boston Celtics: Dee Brown 70.8%

Brown's 1991 dunk contest victory over another legendary dunker, Shawn Kemp, became iconic for two reasons: Brown "pumping up" his Reeboks and his no-look final slam to cap his victory. While Brown had a solid but unspectacular NBA career playing for the Celtics, Raptors and Magic, his performance as a rookie in that 1991 dunk contest will ensure he remains a part of NBA lore. -- Tim Bontemps

Others receiving votes: Gerald Green 29.2%

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Brooklyn Nets: Julius Erving 79.2%

Vince Carter threw down more impossible and head-shaking dunks. No Net had more power dunks than Kenyon Martin. And Richard Jefferson collected his share of high-flying alley-oops from Jason Kidd. But despite being a Net for only three ABA years, Julius Erving was simply iconic. Dr. J's style, flair and creativity were groundbreaking and spawned a generation of innovative dunkers. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

Others receiving votes: Vince Carter 12.5%, Richard Jefferson 4.2%, Kenyon Martin 4.2%

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Charlotte Hornets/Bobcats: Larry Johnson 70.8%

Johnson was the man when it came to throwing down ferocious dunks early in his career. Before his back injury zapped some of his high-flying abilities, Johnson was a walking highlight during his early days with the Hornets. At 6-6 and 250 pounds, Johnson was a scary sight coming down the lane -- even scarier if he was wearing the Grandmama getup. -- Andrew Lopez

Others receiving votes: Baron Davis 16.7%, Jason Richardson 12.5%

Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan 100%

His Airness was one of three players to receive 100% of a team's total votes, and it's obvious as to why. Whether it was in a game or in the dunk contest, Jordan always rose to the occasion. MJ's most memorable dunk of all time came in the 1988 dunk contest when he took off from just inside the free throw line to earn a perfect score inside a raucous Chicago Stadium. Just as noteworthy are the times he would rise up to posterize big men like Dikembe Mutombo and Patrick Ewing. He is the gold standard in this category because of his style, grace and power in the air. -- Nick Friedell

Others receiving votes: None

Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James 70.8%

If there's a category in Cavaliers history LeBron doesn't own, it's not readily available. He has probably the two most impressive dunks in Cavs history: the "no regard for human life" dunk on Kevin Garnett in the 2008 playoffs and the Jusuf Nurkic poster in Portland in 2018. LeBron's constant teasing of participation in the slam dunk contest made us wonder what he could do on All-Star Saturday night, but his signature tomahawk dunks and a long list of posters make up for it. -- Brian Windhorst

Others receiving votes: Larry Nance 20.8%, Ricky Davis 8.3%

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Dallas Mavericks: Michael Finley 75%

Finley had one of the funniest attempts in a dunk contest when he represented the Mavericks in 1997. After throwing himself a lob off the floor, he did a (really bad) cartwheel and missed the two-hand jam, cracking up the crowd and himself. Finley, the runner-up in the contest as a Suns rookie the previous year, has a highlight reel full of ferocious dunks over big men, typically one-hand tomahawks after two-foot takeoffs in traffic. -- Tim MacMahon

Others receiving votes: Josh Howard 12.5%, Dennis Smith Jr. 12.5%

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Denver Nuggets: David Thompson 70.8%

One of Thompson's biggest accomplishments is that he helped popularize the alley-oop while in college during an era when dunking was outlawed by the NCAA. But his biggest dunk accomplishment is that he was the one to inspire Michael Jordan. Jordan idolized the former North Carolina State standout while growing up in nearby Wilmington. Once in Denver, the high-flying guard was a showman. He caught his fair share of bodies over seven seasons in Denver, flying in for dunks over taller defenders and, of course, throwing down alley-oops. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

Others receiving votes: JR Smith 16.7%, Antonio McDyess 8.3%, Robert Pack 4.2%

Detroit Pistons: Grant Hill 47.8%

The two biggest stars in Detroit in the 1990s were Barry Sanders and Grant Hill. While Sanders crossed up defenders on the gridiron, "G-Money" was crossing up elite defenders like Scottie Pippen to deliver vicious two-handed jams in his signature Filas. Hill's most disrespectful dunk came in Miami when he crossed up Dan Majerle and drove to finish over Alonzo Mourning at the rim. Hill's time in Motown hasn't merited putting his jersey in the rafters yet, but his status as best dunker in franchise history remains unchallenged. -- Eric Woodyard

Others receiving votes: Darvin Ham 34.8%, Jerry Stackhouse 17.4%

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Golden State Warriors: Jason Richardson 79.2%

Baron Davis' dunk on Andre Kirilenko with the "We Believe" Golden State Warriors is the greatest in franchise history. But Jason Richardson is the greatest dunker in franchise history. "J-Rich" won two NBA slam dunk championships as a member of the Warriors and is the only player in franchise history to win. And in lean years for the team during his six-year tenure, Richardson was one of the few reasons Warriors fans felt like they got their money's worth. -- Marc Spears

Others receiving votes: Baron Davis 12.5%, Latrell Sprewell 4.2%, Chris Webber 4.2%

Houston Rockets: Steve Francis 48%

You might not remember the runner-up in Vince Carter's legendary dunk contest performance, but Steve Francis put on a pretty good show that night, too. Stevie Franchise had a 40-plus-inch vertical and a lot of flair, and his dunking resume just squeaks by T-Mac for best Rocket dunker ever. The three-time All-Star was a ruthless rim attacker off the dribble, but a lot of his best in-game dunks came on alley-oops, a rarity for a 6-foot-3 guard. -- Tim MacMahon

Others receiving votes: Tracy McGrady 40%, Clyde Drexler 12%

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Indiana Pacers: Paul George 45.8%

Paul George's performances in the dunk contest are criminally underrated -- don't sleep on his reverse through-the-legs dunk in 2014 -- but what cements his place as the Pacers' all-time dunker is, simply, the Birdman poster. Game 2, 2013 Eastern Conference finals, under 10 seconds left in the third quarter in a two-point game. George beats LeBron off the dribble, and to say he demolished Chris Andersen isn't even enough. He sent Andersen into another realm. -- Royce Young

Others receiving votes: Victor Oladipo 37.5%, Fred Jones 12.5%, Glenn Robinson III 4.2%

LA Clippers: Blake Griffin 88%

Apologies to DeAndre Jordan, but there is no "Lob City" without Blake Griffin. For seven and a half seasons with LA, Griffin terrorized rims and defenders with power and athleticism. Griffin was a nightly guest on highlight shows with his latest poster victim or an incredible alley-oop finish. Not only were big men not safe in the paint, but cars could get it too, as evidenced by his winning jam in the 2011 slam dunk contest. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

Others receiving votes: Brent Barry 4%, DeAndre Jordan 4%, Darius Miles 4%

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant 68%

From the moment Kobe Bryant snatched Ben Wallace's soul, taking off just inside the foul line to dunk over a future all-world defender in a 1997 preseason game, his dunking legacy as one of greatest began. Sure, his slam dunk contest win preceded it -- he took home the trophy with an Isaiah "J.R." Rider-inspired between-the-legs dunk -- but his best dunks came when it mattered. The playoff posters on Steve Nash and Emeka Okafor. The baseline reverse jams eluding Latrell Sprewell at the Mecca and Kevin Garnett at the Target Center. His baptism of Dwight Howard. And the sweet footwork, creativity and command he showed catching a full-court outlet pass against Denver and putting the ball behind his back as he corkscrewed his body to launch a 180 slam might have been his best. He is a dunking icon. -- Dave McMenamin

Others receiving votes: Shaquille O'Neal 28%, Eddie Jones 4%

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Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant 50%

Ja Morant's most memorable highlight might be a missed dunk after leaping over 6-10 Kevin Love, who joked on Twitter, "Ja almost ended my professional career with this dunk." Morant has already dunked on plenty of bigs, most notably then-Suns center Aron Baynes, the victim of a vicious, off-the-dribble, tomahawk dagger in a close game. Morant, in only his second season, has a unique combination of explosiveness and fearlessness, giving the Grizzlies' skinny point guard a case for the league's most entertaining pound-for-pound dunker. -- Tim MacMahon

Others receiving votes: Rudy Gay 25%, Stromile Swift 25%

Miami Heat: Harold Miner 37.5%

Harold Miner was voted the Heat's best dunker mostly on the back of his winning two slam dunk competitions in dominant fashion. Miner, who was nicknamed "Baby Jordan," used his incredible leaping ability and power to beat the 1993 defending champion Cedric Ceballos and 1995 defending champ Isaiah "J.R." Rider. His signature dunk, a reverse double-pump dunk, became a go-to move for future dunkers in the competition. Miner played only four seasons in the NBA, but his in-game dunks, including a putback slam over Hakeem Olajuwon, make for a worthy highlight reel. -- Jorge Sedano

Others receiving votes: Dwyane Wade 29.2%, LeBron James 25%, Derrick Jones, Jr. 8.3%

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Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo 56%

Antetokounmpo is at his best going downhill, Euro-stepping his way around defenders to deliver a thunderous jam followed by his patented mean mug as an exclamation. Dunking isn't so much an art form as a reminder of how forceful and dominant the two-time MVP can be to opponents. Sure, the Bucks have had rim rockers over the years such as Desmond Mason and Ray Allen, but none like Antetokounmpo. Antetokounmpo personifies the team's "Fear the Deer" slogan, one poster dunk at a time. -- Eric Woodyard

Others receiving votes: Desmond Mason 36%, Ray Allen 8%

Minnesota Timberwolves: Zach LaVine 58.3%

Zach LaVine has worked hard to let it be known that he's more than a dunker, as the two-time slam dunk champion earned his first All-Star selection in his seventh season. However, LaVine's run in the dunk contest is arguably the greatest in NBA history. His duel in the slam dunk contest versus Aaron Gordon in 2016 reminded many of Jordan vs. Wilkins in 1988. When your name can stand tall next to MJ, Vince Carter and Julius Erving in dunk contest lore, you've done something special. -- Eric Woodyard

Others receiving votes: Isaiah Rider 25%, Kevin Garnett 12.5%, Gerald Green 4.2%

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New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans: Baron Davis 40%

If you ask this question again at the end of the season, the answer will likely change to Zion Williamson. But by a slim margin, B-Diddy holds the dunk crown in the Big Easy. While some of his more memorable slams came in other uniforms, Davis put on a show in the 2001 slam dunk competition with his homage to Harold Miner and a comedic display of dunk brilliance with a headband covering his eyes on a missed slam. It's important to note that Davis did all of this after tearing his ACL in 1998 while at UCLA. Do yourself a favor and look at his dunks while in Westwood. -- Andrew Lopez

Others receiving votes: Zion Williamson 28%, JR Smith 16%, Anthony Davis 16%

New York Knicks: Kenny Walker and Nate Robinson 37.5% (tie)

Kenny "Sky" Walker had the nickname, power dunks, high-top fade, gold chains and was the successor to back-to-back winner Michael Jordan as the slam dunk champion in 1989. But Nate Robinson wins this tiebreaker for me due to becoming the first three-time dunk champion -- and doing it while standing 5-9. While they came in the dunk contests, only Robinson can lay claim to dunking over former dunk champs in 5-7 Spud Webb and 6-10 Dwight Howard. Plus, Robinson's penchant for putback dunks in Madison Square Garden made him consistently worthy of SportsCenter's Top 10. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

Others receiving votes: Patrick Ewing 16.7%, John Starks 8.3%

Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook 95.5%

It's a forgotten story, but Westbrook tried to be in the dunk contest. The fans just turned him down. He was part of a vote in the 2009 All-Star Game in which Rudy Fernandez got the nod. Since then, one of the greatest athletes in NBA history has sworn off the dunk contest because it no longer fits his ideology: "I only dunk on people," he said in 2015. A fair point, because if you type in "Russell Westbrook dunk" on YouTube, you'll find a treasure trove of posters. Westbrook's dunk approach mimics his game at large: They are uncompromising, ambitious, aggressive and at times, head-scratching. Even his failed attempts are magnificent. If you pay close attention, you can see the moment of realization he's going to attack. And that instant is one of the most exhilarating because there's no telling what might happen next. -- Royce Young

Others receiving votes: Kevin Durant 4.5%

Orlando Magic: Aaron Gordon 43.5

Gordon's dunk legacy as one of the all-time greats is secured without his actually winning a contest. His performances in the 2016 and 2020 slam dunk contests still spark debate about whether he deserved to win, as his desire to dunk over and around team mascots made for incredible moments. Gordon's athletic ability and ferocity at the rim have always been a staple of his dunk repertoire whether in games or not, but his ability to fly through the air while taking the ball from Stuff spinning on a motorized hoverboard might be Gordon's best achievement. -- Nick Friedell

Others receiving votes: Dwight Howard 34.8%, Shaquille O'Neal 17.4%, Tracy McGrady 4.3%

Philadelphia 76ers: Julius Erving 62.5%

Julius Erving might not have ever competed in an NBA slam dunk contest, but he didn't need to -- his victory in the first-ever dunk contest, at halftime of the ABA All-Star Game in 1976 -- set the standard for all who followed. Erving's dunk from the free throw line was later imitated by Michael Jordan, and players for generations to come -- including LeBron James, who wore Dr. J's No. 6 in Miami -- credit his style on the court, including his incredible combination of athleticism and grace soaring through the air, as an inspiration for how they tried to play the game.

Of note, Erving is the only player to represent two franchises on this list. -- Tim Bontemps

Others receiving votes: Darryl Dawkins 37.5%-

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Phoenix Suns: Amar'e Stoudemire 54.2%

During his time with Phoenix, Stoudemire would try to dunk on anybody and anything that was in his path. Just ask Anthony Tolliver. Or Michael Olowokandi. Or any other number of former NBA players who felt S.T.A.T.'s wrath during his eight years with the Suns. Over that time, Stoudemire threw down 1,177 dunks -- only Shaquille O'Neal and Dwight Howard had more over that stretch. Plus, his soccer-style collaboration with Steve Nash during the slam dunk contest in 2005 resulted in a memorable runner-up finish. -- Andrew Lopez

Others receiving votes: Larry Nance 20.8%, Tom Chambers 16.7%, Kevin Johnson 8.3%

Portland Trail Blazers: Clyde Drexler 83.3%

When your nickname comes from your leaping ability, it probably means you've got a good dunking résumé. And "The Glide" was an entirely appropriate moniker, because Drexler's dunks had a certain gracefulness to them. He soared, he levitated, he hovered. He ... glided. He was both an in-game highlight reel and a contest dunker, showcasing creativity to go along with his practicality. The way he would palm the ball high as he galloped into two big steps just added to the artfulness of his dunks. -- Royce Young

Others receiving votes: Jerome Kersey 12.5%, Brandon Roy 4.3%

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Sacramento Kings: Gerald Wallace 45.8%

Wallace made two appearances in the contest, one as a member of the Kings in 2002. He always had the hops to get people's attention, but it was the athleticism and ability to contort his body in different directions that created some impressive throwdowns through the years. Wallace's gift was being able to strike at any moment through the air, like his fast-break poster and twirl on Boštjan Nachbar. -- Nick Friedell

Others receiving votes: Chris Webber 29.2%, Kenny Smith 25%

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San Antonio Spurs: George Gervin 47.8%

The finger roll wasn't the only thing George Gervin could do. The "Iceman" competed in the ABA's groundbreaking 1976 dunk contest -- a windmill after taking off from the dotted line being the highlight of his performance. Gervin, often with a gold chain dangling on his neck, usually frustrated shot-blockers by floating that finger roll over them, but the lanky legend took off and punched it in plenty of times, too. -- Tim MacMahon

Others receiving votes: Manu Ginobili 26.1%, David Robinson 21.7%, Johnny Dawkins 4.3%

Seattle SuperSonics: Shawn Kemp 100%

Despite never winning a dunk contest -- he finished second to Dee Brown in 1991 -- Kemp was the clear pick here. Kemp's dunks remain symbolic of the Sonics' successful 1990s run and have gained new life on YouTube. Whether he was throwing down alley-oop lobs from Gary Payton or finishing over Alton Lister, Kemp's dunks were singular. Who else could dunk on a player (Chris Gatling) and then get dapped up by him? -- Kevin Pelton

Others receiving votes: None

Toronto Raptors: Vince Carter 100%

It is hard to argue against Vince Carter being the greatest dunker in NBA history, not just Raptors history. In 2000, "Vinsanity" had the dunk contest's most dominant and beautiful performance ever, with elbow-in-the-rim dunks and two-handed finishes from the free throw line standing out. Carter also made a name for himself by regularly posterizing big men, most notably with his dunk over France's 7-2 center, Frederic Weis, in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. -- Marc Spears

Others receiving votes: None

More: The story of Vince Carter and the 2000 slam dunk contest

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Utah Jazz: Darrell Griffith 45.8%

Nicknames are earned, not given. And there's not too many cooler than Darrell Griffith's "Dr. Dunkenstein." Before current Utah star Donovan Mitchell made the move from Louisville to Salt Lake City, there was another high flier who already laid that foundation in Griffith. Griffith's No. 35 is currently hanging in the rafters of Vivint Arena after he treated fans to countless dunk shows. At 6-4, Griffith could fly with the best of them, both in the dunk contest and during in-game action. That's the reason the iconic Nike poster of him dressed as a doctor -- holding two half basketballs with smoke coming out of them -- is forever a classic. -- Eric Woodyard

Others receiving votes: Donovan Mitchell 33.3%, Karl Malone 16.7%, Jeremy Evans 4.2%

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Washington Wizards: John Wall 62.5%

JaVale McGee not only could dunk two balls in two different hoops, but he also slammed three balls consecutively on one attempt in a memorable slam dunk contest. Perhaps no Wizard had more punishing power dunks on opposing big men in games than Chris Webber. But the greatest Wizards dunker ever (sorry, Michael Jordan was mostly playing below the rim during his Wizards days) is John Wall. Loaded with speed and athleticism, Wall often looked like he was shot out of a cannon before he would dunk in games. He could dunk right-handed or left-handed, and the 2014 slam dunk champ could even dribble behind his back on the sprint before throwing down a filthy dunk. -- Ohm Youngmisuk

Others receiving votes: JaVale McGee 20.8%, Chris Webber 16.7%

Major League Baseball will hold a sportwide Lou Gehrig Day starting this season, honoring the Hall of Fame New York Yankees first baseman whose grace and courage fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis inspired a group of those affected by the disease to make June 2 synonymous with him.

The plans, revealed to ESPN and expected to be announced by MLB on Thursday morning, include an annual tribute in which uniformed personnel will wear a jersey patch celebrating Gehrig, and a "4-ALS" logo -- commemorating his No. 4 -- will be displayed around stadiums. The league will use the occasion to raise money and awareness to battle ALS and pay homage to ALS advocacy groups like the LG4Day committee, which turned an off-the-cuff text into a cause that will bring together the sport.

On June 24, 2019, songwriter Bryan Wayne Galentine, who had been diagnosed with the disease two years earlier, texted friends whom he'd met through the tight-knit ALS community: "do you think it would [be] possible and appropriate to approach mlb with doing something with Lou Gehrig like they've done Jackie Robinson?"

Over the past two years, Galentine and his co-chairs, Adam Wilson and Chuck Haberstroh, have strategized to convince MLB to honor Gehrig with a day as it does Robinson and Roberto Clemente. For nearly eight decades, Gehrig has been the face of ALS, a neurodegenerative disease with no cure. Gehrig died June 2, 1941, the same date of the first start in his record 2,130-consecutive-games-played streak that had begun 16 years earlier.

As much as baseball has been synonymous with the disease -- from Gehrig's "Luckiest Man Alive" speech to Pete Frates, the former college star who helped popularize the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised more than $100 million -- the goal of LG4Day was for something more specific than teams holding their own ALS awareness days. From that first text to the first meeting in August 2019 with the seven original members of LG4Day, they sought tangible ends, and Galentine epitomized the group's spirit.

"He just said, 'I can sit here and wither away, or I can get up off my keister and do something,'" Staci Galentine, Bryan's wife, told ESPN. "From day one, that was his mission."

The group grew in size and tightened its strategy. Going straight to MLB would be fruitless. The league was loath to mandate any sort of a sportwide edict. If Lou Gehrig Day was going to happen, it would be with the support of all 30 teams.

Wilson, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2015, was the organizer, canny with logistics. Haberstroh, whose mother, Patty, was diagnosed with ALS in 2017, was the voice, always at the ready for a chat. Galentine, whose friends called him B-Wayne, was the connector -- charming, personable and capable of getting players such as Oakland's Stephen Piscotty and Colorado's Sam Hilliard, both of whom had parents with ALS, onboard.

Seven teams joined the cause before the group hit what felt like a dead end. That didn't stop Galentine, even as he was losing his ability to move and using eye-gaze technology to communicate.

"He spent so much time on it," said Galentine's elder son, Grayson, who is 16. "Especially when we were in quarantine. Basically from whenever he woke up to whenever it was time for dinner, he was in his room on his computer."

The breakthrough came Oct. 19. Arizona Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall, Boston Red Sox president Sam Kennedy and Minnesota Twins president Dave St. Peter agreed to email the presidents of the nearly two dozen teams that hadn't pledged support for a Lou Gehrig Day. Within minutes, the responses poured in. Of course. Absolutely. What a great idea. For two years, LG4Day had envisioned this, and it was finally happening.

"They deserve all the credit," St. Peter said. "The story they tell resonated with all of us. When those guys reached out, it was a no-brainer."

By Oct. 20, less than 24 hours after they sent the email, all 30 teams were in. MLB's rubber stamp would be next. Nobody was happier than Galentine. Then ALS, ever cruel and unrelenting, turned that moment of joy into sadness. Galentine died Oct. 22. Of the 27 core members of LG4Day, he was the sixth taken by ALS.

"It became his purpose," Staci Galentine said. "He ate, drank, lived, breathed it. To be able to take this game and this disease, put them together and see it come to fruition ... he knew it was coming. I'm so thankful for that day we found out this was happening. It is a celebration. This is not a sad thing. It's something he believed in so deeply."

Now, June 2 can be a day for baseball, a day for Lou Gehrig, but also a day for others, like Bryan Wayne Galentine, like Adam Wilson, like Pete Frates, like Gretchen Piscotty and Jim Hilliard and Patti Haberstroh, like the estimated 5,000 people a year in the United States diagnosed with ALS.

"This disease chose baseball," St. Peter said. "When you think about it, I think we have a responsibility and an obligation to continue to pay it forward. I can't imagine there's a franchise in the game that hasn't been touched by ALS. For us, it's personal. Other teams share that view. Certainly we all share the connection to Lou Gehrig and what he stood for and represented. Finding a way to celebrate his legacy and the class and dignity he found in his darkest hours is something that's truly worthwhile."

Center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. plans to sign a two-year, $24 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers that includes an opt-out after the first year, a source familiar with the contract told ESPN.

Bradley spent all eight of his seasons with the Boston Red Sox, joining the organization in 2011 when he was drafted 40th overall.

Bradley batted .283 with seven home runs, 22 RBIs, five stolen bases, an .814 OPS and a career-low K rate (22.1%) in 55 games in 2020.

The 30-year-old is an elite center fielder. He won a Gold Glove in 2018, and his acrobatic catches in Fenway are a staple of highlight films.

He has some power in his bat -- in the 2018 American League Championship Series with Houston, Bradley had a two-run homer and a grand slam, helping him earn MVP honors for that series. And he is a streaky hitter -- in 2016, he hit safely in 29 straight games. But his tendency to pull too much has led to mediocre batting averages. He's a career .239 hitter, with 98 home runs, 376 RBIs and a .732 OPS. He was an All-Star in 2016.

Bradley, who is represented by Scott Boras, was on a $11 million, one-year deal with the Red Sox in 2020, but that number was prorated because of the shortened season.

Bradley's deal with the Brewers was first reported by the Boston Globe.

New York Mets fans, riding the wave of new owner Steve Cohen's money and enthusiasm, began the offseason hoping to end up with at least two players -- and dreaming on three -- from the group of Francisco Lindor, Trevor Bauer, J.T. Realmuto, George Springer and DJ LeMahieu. The Mets landed only Lindor, via a blockbuster trade with Cleveland, while the four free agents signed elsewhere, leaving some Mets fans disappointed that the winter overhaul wasn't a little more dramatic.

Still, the Mets acquired one of the best all-around players in the game in Lindor and a very good starting pitcher in Carlos Carrasco, and thanks to the signings of 10 major league free agents, they enter the 2021 season with a much better, deeper roster than they've had in recent years. At the outset of the offseason, new team president Sandy Alderson said a key goal was to improve the team's depth -- not just the major league roster but Triple-A as well.

That's what the Mets have accomplished. After they finished under .500 and missed the expanded playoffs in 2020, my colleague Bradford Doolittle sees them as a 90-win team in his projection system. FanGraphs predicts a 93-69 record -- fourth best in the majors behind the Dodgers, Padres and Yankees. The PECOTA system at Baseball Prospectus also forecasts 93 wins. On paper, the Mets look vastly improved.

Four-time Olympic champion taking next step on the road to Tokyo in the country where he grew up as he headlines Djibouti International Half-Marathon

As a young boy, Mo Farah used to play football on the streets of Djibouti and dream of being a star. The sport may have changed in the intervening years but the dream came true and he is back in the nation from which he moved to Britain at the age of eight now as a four-time Olympic champion.

Farah’s pursuit of a fifth title is about to begin in earnest. After spending the last seven weeks at his training camp in Ethiopia, the time has come for him to start his racing year, to test himself and discover the extent to which all that work is paying off.

The inaugural Djibouti International Half Marathon on Friday (March 5) represents an opportunity to do just that, against a field which contains the likes of training partner Bashir Abdi, competing for Belgium, the Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye and Frenchman Florian Carvalho.

It will be Farah’s first outing since he clocked 60:27 to win the Antrim Coast Half Marathon on September 12 and the 37-year-old admits he is excited to engage his racing brain once again. The overall target is simple.

“Most importantly, I want to win the race,” says the man who broke the one-hour track record last year. “It’s not just going to be a case of me turning up. It’s going to be tough and there are a lot of decent guys racing so I’ll just go out there and see what I can do.

“It’ll be good to get back in the right frame of mind in terms of racing again and to test myself.”

He adds: “I look forward to racing and of course it’s a big part of being an athlete. You put in all of this work and you have to test yourself and see where you are – ‘what do I need to do? Do I need to change anything? What kind of shape am I in?’.

“I’m excited. Obviously this year is going to be different because I’m back on the track and very much looking forward to it but at the same time it’s still four-and-a-half months away.”

“I know what needs to be put in – it’s not a matter of ‘I’m the Olympic champion, I’m going to turn up and it’s going to be easy’. It’s going to be tough and it will come down to who wants it more.”

“It”, of course, is the Tokyo Olympics where Farah will defend the 10,000m title he has held since 2012. After his recent relationship with the marathon comes something more akin to a first love. Farah admits to feeling more at home on the track and has definitely been able to find a positive side to the global pandemic.

“Having the Olympics postponed is probably a good thing for me in terms of having more time back on the track and to get used to it,” he says.

“The important thing is being hungry. I love racing and I guess I’m happiest on the track – turning up, knowing that you’ve put in the work, you’ve grafted over time. The racing is the easier part – it’s the work that you put in [that is hardest].”

There will be nothing easy about this year’s 10,000m task. A host of African opponents –with world champion and world record-holder Joshua Cheptegei, second to Farah at the world championships of 2017, chief among them – stand in the way.

The Ugandan threw down a particularly intimidating gauntlet with his run of 26:11.00 in Valencia last October, but it has served to get Farah’s competitive juices flowing.

“It does fire me up and I think it’s good for athletics but at the same time the Olympics is not just a time trial, is it?,” says the six-time world gold medallist. “We know the history.

“It’s not just Cheptegei – there’s Jacob Kiplimo, Mo Ahmed – you’ve got so many guys coming through at the moment and I think it’s exciting for the sport to have all of these people at that level.”

None, however, will have the same level of championship experience to draw on as Farah does.

“Having experience is a big thing but the key is being injury-free, putting in the work and turning up finely tuned – that’s the thing most athletes struggle with and I’m looking forward to it,” he continues. “I know what needs to be put in – it’s not a matter of ‘I’m the Olympic champion, I’m going to turn up and it’s going to be easy’. It’s going to be tough and it will come down to who wants it more.”

Getting back to the track is for another day, however. Farah is not one to look too far ahead and when asked if he is tempted to tackle any of the host of major championships which will be on offer next year, he simply says: “I take it one race at a time, one year at a time and it’s too far ahead to think about it. If my body allows me, I keep enjoying it and I’m happy with the result at the Olympics then we’ll see.”

The immediate priority is his half-marathon assignment in Djibouti and there is a quiet confidence about Farah. Under the guidance of coach Gary Lough, his body is still sending him the right signals. “I’m happy where I am,” he adds.

The event, which takes place in Djibouti City and gets under way around 2pm UK time, also provides a reminder as to how far he has come.

“I grew up here,” Farah says of Djibouti. “When I was coming to the UK I came direct from here.

“Going through the streets I was like ‘I remember I used to play football here, I remember here’ so to be able to come back and race is exciting. A lot of people are excited, too – they are excited to see you, knowing that you grew up on these streets and you’re back here having achieved all that you have.”

There may yet be more to come.

Big Picture

After a poor performance then a better performance, Australia produced an almost-perfect performance to keep themselves alive in the T20I series. A well-constructed innings, lit up by the hitting of Glenn Maxwell, was followed by a strong bowling display led by an impressive debut for Riley Meredith and a record six-wicket haul from Ashton Agar.

Barring the early loss of Matthew Wade, if Australia could plan a T20 batting innings what they put together in Wellington would be close to the ideal template: a run-rate touching nine-an-over at the midway point with Maxwell having enough time to assess conditions and then cut loose as he did with the 28-run over off Jimmy Neesham.

For a little while it looked as though New Zealand could replicate it as they scored freely in the powerplay, but Meredith's brace of wickets were key in keeping Australia ahead of the game. Having got set, Martin Guptill had to bat deep but when he fell to Adam Zampa the task quickly became too much - the contest sealed when Agar took three wickets in an over.

New Zealand's balance was off as they replaced the ill Mitchell Santner with batsman Mark Chapman, relying on just the five bowling options (although Chapman or Kane Williamson could have had a trundle) and the side felt out of kilter. The good news for the home side is that Santner is available for the fourth game having received a negative Covid-19 test and has started to feel better.

Form guide

(last five completed matches)

New Zealand LWWLW
Australia WLLWLL

In the spotlight

Matthew Wade is a senior figure in this side as the vice-captain and first-choice wicketkeeper but he hasn't quite got going yet. He impressed against India late last year but there will be a lot of options to choose from when it comes to nailing down the top three as the likes of David Warner and Steven Smith become available again. There are other keeping options in this squad, not least Josh Philippe at No. 3 in this XI, so while there's unlikely to be a change it remains one of the positions up for grabs.

Wade's opposite number Tim Seifert has had a lean series to date with scores of 1, 3 and 4 although his success against Pakistan earlier in the season - where he made 57, 84 not out and 35 - means there is credit in the bank. Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips are other options in this side who could take the gloves but before the third match New Zealand coach Gary Stead said they are very keen to leave Phillips as an outfielder where he is among the best in the business.

Team news

Santner is back in the mix and barring any change to his condition would seem very likely to make a swift return to the XI at the expense of Chapman

New Zealand (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tim Seifert, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Devon Conway, 5 Glenn Phillips, 6 Jimmy Neesham, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Ish Sodhi, 11 Trent Boult

Having secured such a convincing win there may be a reluctance to change the side, although the selectors could decide to rotate a quick bowler.

Australia (probable) 1 Aaron Finch, 2 Matthew Wade (wk), 3 Josh Philippe, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Marcus Stoinis, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Ashton Agar, 8 Jhye Richardson, 9 Kane Richardson, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Riley Meredith

Pitch and conditions

There is some uncertainty over how the surface will play with the increasing amount of traffic on it. All the matches being played on the same pitch, which will host six games in total with the women's series also taking place. Initially it looked tricky in the first game, but once batsmen got set scoring came freely. The forecast is for a cloudy but dry evening with a brisk Wellington wind around. "It feels as though everywhere you stand the wind is hitting you in the face, but the ball never gets to you at certain times," Aaron Finch said.

Stats and trivia

• Maxwell has the highest strike-rate (158.79) of any batsman with at least a 1000 T20I runs
• This ground is one of Santner's best in T20I: he has 10 wickets at 12.60 - his most for any venue - at an economy rate of just 6.00

Quotes

"The start of an innings you are always a little bit nervous, a little bit tentative and when it hit me on the pad it was just one of those things, was a 50-50 call. Once I got into my innings felt I was moving a lot better, my feet were moving, my intent was there and it was nice to get a few out of the middle.
Aaron Finch

"When you miss Mitchell Santner it shows what an impact he has for us and then also when their left-arm spinner takes six wickets and bowls well it shows what he brings to our team."
Luke Ronchi

The remainder of the 2021 Pakistan Super League has been postponed, following news on Thursday morning that three more players had tested positive for Covid-19. The decision was taken after an emergency meeting between the PCB and the franchises. The three new cases on Thursday brought the tally of total positives in the tournament bubble to seven, of which six were players.

The PCB said that the decision to postpone was taken "following a meeting with the team owners and considering the health and well-being of all participants". The board's immediate next step is to focus on the "safe and secure passage of all participants, and arrange repeat PCR tests, vaccines and isolation facilities to the six participating sides". Fourteen out of the scheduled 34 matches in the tournament have been completed.

The PCB had said the three most-recent cases are from two different teams. They were tested on Wednesday afternoon after reporting symptoms. The board said the new cases were not from any of the teams who played in Wednesday's double-header matches, which rules out players from Karachi Kings, Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans or Quetta Gladiators.

The first case reported by the PCB was on March 1, when Islamabad United's Australian legspinner Fawad Ahmed tested positive for the virus hours before the 12th match of the season. The following day, the PCB said that two more overseas players, along with one local support-staff member - Kamran Khan of Kings - had tested positive. It was later revealed by Gladiators' Tom Banton on his Twitter handle that he was one of those who were among the positive cases.

Before the postponement was announced, the PCB was considering cancelling the Lahore leg of the season and playing all the matches in Karachi. The PCB had also offered every member of the PSL bubble Covid-19 vaccine shots if they wish to take them.

New Zealand v Australia 4th T20I Match, Wellington

Pro Tip

• The match is held at the same venue and hence expect the approach to be similar to the previous match. Back your team with six hitters and in-form players

Our XI: Matthew Wade (WK), Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Glenn Maxwell, Devon Conway, Marcus Stoinis, Riley Meredith, Trent Boult, Adam Zampa, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson

Substitutes:Aaron Finch, Joshua Phillipe, Ish Sodhi and Ashton AgarNOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about a late injury (or other relevant) updates.

Captain: Martin Guptill

Guptill is the man in form for New Zealand and the leading run-getter in the series with 140 runs. He has been striking at 172.83 and has hit 11 sixes in the series so far.

Vice-Captain: Glenn Maxwell

Maxwell found his form last game and it will be a big miss if you don't pick him in your team. Maxwell's strike rate of 180.48 is the second best in this format and he scored a superb 70 to help Australia go past the 200-plus score in the third T20I. Drop Maxwell at your own peril.

Hot picks

Devon Conway Just like Guptill, Conway is the man in form. He has hit139 runs at 156.17 and has been striking the ball well. He plays fast and spin equally well. Conway is a safe pick in your fantasy team.

Riley Meredith : Meredith had a dream debut taking two wickets for 24 runs in the last T20I but what was impressive was his speed and accuracy. The New Zealand batsmen will surely come better prepared but Meredith is a wicket-taker and is in good form after a good BBL. He will be a good pick for your fantasy team.

Value picks

Trent Boult: Boult has not bowled his best yet in the tournament but showed promise in the powerplay in the third match. Boult is a good value pick in your fantasy team as he has the ability to take early wickets if there is swing around. Boult has 21 wickets between overs one to six since September 2020. The next best is Jason Beherendoff with 13.

Matthew Wade : Wade has been striking in excess of 170 in the BBL over the last two seasons. However, for Australia he is yet to show similar performances. He has been striking at just 124 so far in the series. Wade is due for a big score and hence it is worth punting on him in your fantasy team.

On another day, Aaron Finch might have been walking back for a first-ball duck in Wellington on Wednesday, a continuation of his lean run in T20s, but instead he was able to reflect on a half-century, his first in 27 innings, which helped set up a convincing victory.

Backed by team-mates, the coach and the selectors, Finch's form had nonetheless starting to become a significant focus as Australia head towards the end of their season and then a winter where they will be settling on a squad for the T20 World Cup in October.

It appears unlikely that Finch's position would have been scrutinised, but a return to form has helped avoid any awkward conversations or selection calls.

"It's never easy when you are trying to lead the side and not performing as well as you would like. But you always put the team first," Finch said. "I felt my captaincy has been pretty good throughout this period and the Big Bash. I would have loved to have got some more runs but was never doubting that I'd ever get runs again.

"T20 can be brutal game at the best of the times, just having the ability to take a step back and reassess my own game and go out there with a clear mind. It was great to have the support of the selectors."

Finch had been through a similar run two years ago with the 50-over World Cup even closer on the horizon than the T20 one later this year and in the nick of time surged back on a tour of India and didn't look back in that format. T20 offers less time to play yourself back into form such is the pressure to score quickly but a couple of straight drives in Wellington got him up and running.

"It's one of those games that sometimes the better intent you have the luckier you get," he said. "As a batter it can be bloody tough at times. Just having the confidence to keep backing my instinct and keep backing my game was the most important thing. I know I've done it before, I'm not a bad player.

"I don't look too much technically, think it's more a mental thing. Sometimes when you are searching for a score you forget the absolute basics. You always get a bit fixated on the end result and not what's right in front of you. At times it was wanting desperately to get some runs and forgetting to watch the ball, one percent can be enough in this game to be out and your run continues."

Earlier in the tour, Finch's wife Amy had revealed she had been receiving significant abuse on social media as his low scores continued. "It's never ideal when your family or partner is getting abuse for how you're performing. That's just not what it should be," he said. "I'm fine to cop criticism about my game, that's part of the job, but when it turns into abuse to your family that's a bit past the line."