I'll admit it. I don't watch a lot of soccer these days.

But every four years, when the World Cup rolls around, I'm glued to the tube like a kid watching Saturday morning cartoons. There isn't another sporting event quite like it. The passion. The pressure. The pageantry. The entire planet seems to stop for 90 minutes.

Wednesday was another reminder why.

Just when England thought it had one foot in the World Cup final, Argentina ripped out its heart.

Trailing late, the defending world champions found an equalizer in the 85th minute, then finished the job in a semifinal that lived up to every ounce of its billing.

European Champions versus defending World Cup champions.

Heavyweight versus heavyweight.

Ninety minutes of relentless drama.

Argentina has become soccer's version of the horror movie villain. You think they're dead... then they sit straight up. Slam the coffin shut, throw six feet of dirt on top, roll the credits—and they'll still come clawing back for one last scare.

They simply refuse to lose. And if you find that captivating then check out the STAT OF THE DAY at the bottom of today’s Coffee Club!

England, meanwhile, added another chapter to its encyclopedia of tournament misery. Here's a stat destined for the Hall of Heartbreak, and it’s a doozy: The Three Lions are the only nation this century to score first in a World Cup semifinal and still get eliminated... and they've done it twice.

Now the stage is set.

Argentina.

Spain.

Sunday.

One match.

One trophy.

One world champion.

You couldn't script it any better.

Forget the ratings. Forget the odds. Forget the predictions. The World Cup saved its best for last.

Argentina. Spain. Sunday. I'll be watching.

Scottie Scheffler conquered The Open last year at Royal Portrush, and while it may appear as if he's slowed down a bit since then, there's a reason he entered this week's tournament as the betting favorite for the 16th consecutive major for which that's been the case.

Yes, Scheffler has won "just" once this year, back in his season-opener in January. And yes, he's coming off his first missed cut in four years (the horror!). But in his other 13 events he has eight top-five finishes, and he leads the PGA Tour in total strokes gained.

"You can't win every single golf tournament," Scheffler said on Tuesday while musing about life's deeper meaning. That's true, but in the past few years, he's come as close as anyone.

The hometown lad

Tommy Fleetwood is among the most beloved golfers on tour no matter where he tees it up, so imagine the kind of support he'll have this week at Royal Birkdale, mere minutes from where he grew up. The Southport native snuck on the course "once or twice" as a kid, but there'll be no sneaking necessary for the world's ninth-ranked golfer.

For years, “Tommy Lad” held the unwanted title of best golfer without a PGA Tour victory. He shed that last year at the Tour Championship, but still seeks a major. Why not here, in his backyard, where he could become the first English-born golfer to hoist the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo in 1992?

The YouTube star

Bryson DeChambeau has had a fascinating career, and though your mileage may vary on his antics throughout the years (see: 3D-printed clubs, LIV Golf, a YouTube page with 2.8M subscribers, et al), he had a knack for showing up in the biggest moments. Just last year, when he completed a run of six top-10's across eight majors (including a win), he was widely considered the guy to beat outside of Scottie and Rory.

Now? Not so much. Bryson has missed the cut at all three majors this year, putting him on the precipice of becoming the only multiple-major winner under the age of 40 to miss the cut at all four in a single season. 

And finally, there is no need to waste too much ink on Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, except to say this: Their absence at Royal Birkdale means this is the first year since 1989 that neither of them appeared in a single major.

Truly the end of an era.

After dealing Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, Cleveland received a hefty return that included two-time Pro Bowler Jared Verse. But when it comes to the quarterback position, the Browns still have some decisions to make.

Waking up with “GMFB” on Wednesday, Verse opened up about where the team’s QB1 competition stands one month out from the start of the NFL’s  preseason. Saying, he believes in both of the candidates for the Browns’

Asked about what the position battle between Deshaun and Shedeur has been like thus far, Verse expressed confidence in both QBs.

“These are two great quarterbacks,” Verse explained.  “I’m honestly excited to see how it goes further in the preseason, but so far I’ve just seen two elite quarterbacks battling it out.”

On Tuesday, Fanatics Collect announced that it brokered a $3,365,000 private sale of Shohei Ohtani's 2018 Bowman Chrome Superfractor. The sale — the most expensive in history for an Ohtani card, and the second multi-million-dollar Ohtani sale in the last month — came just one day before a very fitting anniversary.

This week in history: The first million-dollar sports card was sold on July 15, 2000, when a T206 Honus Wagner card reached a $1.265 million sale price in an eBay auction. That card, previously owned by Wayne Gretzky, had sold in 1996 for a then-record $640,500. It was also believed to be the first card ever graded by industry giant PSA, bearing the serial number "00000001."

Fast forward: While seven-figure territory used to be familiar grounds for only T206 Wagners and 1952 Topps Mantles, million-dollar sports card sales are now commonplace.

According to data from Card Ladder, a card sales database, there have been 24 sports card sales exceeding $1 million to date in 2026. The Ohtani sale makes 25. That's a pace of one roughly every week and a half.

The market is on pace to tally 41 sports card sales exceeding $1 million in 2026, as many as were recorded in 2025 (26), 2024 (6), and 2023 (9) combined. It would also put 2026 on par with the 2021 (42) and 2022 (41) boom years, reflecting a market that has recovered from the bust that followed the pandemic-driven euphoria.

Cultural currency: The prevalence of high-priced sports cards reflects the growing status of sports collectibles as assets of cultural resonance. Their physical scarcity increases their appeal in an era of digital abundance, and captures the attention of deep-pocketed individuals and institutions alike who recognize the financial merits of owning these assets.

Boise State

Like six other teams in the loop, the Broncos have broken through to the other side and are now full- fledged members of the shiny new Pac-12. The great news is that head coach Spencer Danielson fits like a glove with the program, bringing a 24-8
SU /17-12-1 ATS mark with Boise into his third full season. Among the concerns is the return of starting quarterback Maddux Madson, coming off a down year last season. The good news is both of last season’s running backs are back – Dylan Riley and Siler Gaines – as they rushed for 1,125 and 811 yards respectively, while tallying 21 TDs.

STAT YOU WILL LIKE:

The Broncos are 6-1 ATS as a double-digit dog when either they or their opponent is coming off a loss.

From the 2026 PLAYBOOK Football Preview Guide
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