This is the Sportacados Discussion Thread, for talking about all things sports! Feel free to live-chat games, talk about the latest news and rumours, discuss sports history, and anything else that relates to watching other grown adults throw or hit a ball. Hateration is allowed, but try to keep it within the realm of light banter.

• News and Results
• Tennis player Kei Nishikori has officially retired, losing to Frances Tiafoe in the first round of the Japan Open in front of his home crowd. Nishikori was one of my favourite players to watch, and had a notable career, reaching the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slams, the final of the US Open, winning a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics, and reaching a career high ranking of No. 4. Injuries and tough competition stopped him from ever winning a major (although he was more talented than some guys who have), but Nishikori still made a huge impact by growing the game in Asia.
• In much less dignified end-of-career athlete news, Cristiano Ronaldo has left the Portuguese national team after being benched for their second Nations League match. Ronaldo criticized new manager Jorge Jesus, and there are rumours that he’s responsible for an AI-fueled social media campaign against Jesus. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi will have his final match for Argentina against Benin next Tuesday, beloved by all.
• The long saga of the Pistons trying to resign Jalen Duren is at an end, with the All-NBA center agreeing to a five-year deal for $200 million overall. Duren had expressed interest in other teams, but ultimately re-signed with the team that could offer him the most. The Pistons will have to hope that Duren can play better in the postseason than he did this year.

Select Schedule

Fighting

• RIZIN Landmark 16 (Sat 1:00 AM, iPPV/Fight Network)
• Boxing: Ben Whittaker vs. Conor Wallace (Sat 2:00 PM, DAZN)
• UFC 332: Natalia Silva vs. Wang Cong (Sat 8:00 PM, CBS)

Golf

• LPGA Lotte Championship (Golf Channel)
• PGA Bank of Utah Championship (Golf Channel)

MLB Playoffs, Division Series

• Chicago White Sox @ Cleveland Guardians (Sat 1:00 PM, TBS/Sportsnet)
• Atlanta Braves @ LA Dodgers (Sat 4:00 PM & Sun 8:00 PM, FOX/Sportsnet)
• NY Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays (Sat 6:30 PM, TBS/Sportsnet)
• San Diego Padres @ Milwaukee Brewers (Sat 8:30 PM & Sun 4:00 PM, FS1/Sportsnet)

Motorsports

• MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix (Sun 1:00 AM, FS2/Sportsnet+)
• F1 Bahrain Grand Prix (Sun 3:00 AM, Apple TV/TSN)
• NASCAR South Point 400 (Sun 5:30 PM, USA/TSN5)

NCAA

• Men’s Hockey: #12 Boston College @ #3 Michigan State (Fri 5:00 PM, B1G+)
• Football: #7 Alabama @ #16 Mississippi State (Sat 12:00 PM, ABC)
• Women’s Hockey: #9 Clarkson @ #12 Uconn (Sat 3:00 PM, ESPN+)
• Football: #5 Ohio State @ #14 Iowa (Sat 3:30 PM, CBS)
• Football: #4 Miami @ Clemson (Sat 7:30 PM, ABC)
• Women’s Volleyball: #3 Kentucky @ #7 Florida (Sun 8:30 PM, ESPN)

NHL

• Washington Capitals @ Carolina Hurricanes (Fri 7:00 PM, ESPN Unlimited/Sportsnet)
• St. Louis Blues @ Dallas Stars (Fri 9:00 PM, TNT/SN1)
• Ottawa Senators @ Toronto Maple Leafs (Sat 7:00 PM, ESPN Unlimited/Sportsnet)
• Calgary Flames @ Vancouver Canucks (Sat 10:00 PM, ESPN Unlimited/Sportsnet)
• Regional TV schedule

Pro Football

• CFL: Calgary Stampeders @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (Fri 9:30 PM, CFL+/TSN)
• CFL: Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Montreal Alouettes (Sat 7:00 PM, CFL+/TSN)
• NFL: Washington Commanders vs. Indianapolis Colts (Sun 9:30 AM, NFL Network/TSN)
• NFL: Detroit Lions @ Carolina Panthers (Sun 8:20 PM, NBC)
• NFL regional schedule and Avocado Thread

Rugby

• Premiership: Bath vs. Exeter Chiefs (Fri 2:45 PM, HBO Max/SN World)
• Super League Grand Finals: Wakefield Trinity vs. Warrington Wolves (Sat 1:00 PM, SN World)
• URC: Munster vs. Bulls (Sat 2:45 PM, Sportsnet+)
• NRL Women’s Grand Final: Brisbane Broncos vs. Sydney Roosters (Sun 1:00 AM, Fox Soccer Plus)
• NRL Men’s Grand Final: Newcastle Knights vs. Sydney Roosters (Sun 4:30 AM, FS2)
• Full union fixtures

Soccer

• UEFA Nations League: France vs. Italy (Fri 2:45, FS1/DAZN)
• Northern Super League: Montreal Roses vs. Ottawa Rapid (Fri 7:00 PM, ESPN Unlimited/TSN+)
• International Friendly: United States vs. Mexico (Sat 10:00 PM, TNT, Telemundo)
• WSL: Manchester City vs. Arsenal (Sun 11:30 PM, Paramount+/SN1)
• NWSL: Gotham FC vs. Angel City (Sun 1:00 PM, ABC)
• CONCACAF Nations League: Costa Rica vs. Haiti (Sun 8:00 PM, FS2/Fubo)
• Full listings

WNBA Playoffs

• Quarterfinals Game 3: Dallas Wings @ Golden State Valkyries (Fri 9:00 PM, ESPN2/TSN)
• Semifinals Game 1: NY Liberty @ Atlanta Dream (Sun 3:00 PM, ABC/TSN)
• Semifinals Game 1: Las Vegas Aces vs. TBD (Sun 5:00 PM, ABC/TSN)

Other

• Women’s ODI Cricket: Zimbabwe vs. West Indies (Sat 7:00 AM, Willow)
• Horse Racing: Fall Stars Saturday (Sat 4:00 PM, NBC)
• NBA Preseason: Miami Heat @ Toronto Raptors (Sat 7:00 PM, NBA TV/TSN4)
• AFL Women: North Melbourne Kangaroos vs. Sydney Swans (Sat 10:05 PM, Fox Soccer Plus)
• Swimming World Cup (Peacock)