Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts’ month-long pursuit of presumed National League MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. may not result in winning his first NL MVP award—but going forward there is potential for Betts to accomplish something just as special on the game’s largest stage.

On Saturday, in the Dodgers’ 7-0 win over the San Francisco Giants, Betts reached one of the most unique achievements in MLB history for a leadoff hitter.

His 105th RBI this season from the top of the lineup eclipsed Colorado Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon’s record of 104 RBI that was set in 2017.

“There’s been a lot of great leadoff hitters, and for him to be No.1 is pretty remarkable,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “It seems like every night we’re eclipsing milestones as individuals.”
The record comes in a season that has seen Betts do it all for the Dodgers at the plate, especially since the All-Star break.

Over his previous 30 games at the start of the week, Betts was slashing .360/.474/.622 with 7 homers, 21 RBI and 22 walks. With 39 home runs when the Dodgers faced the Rockies last night (Wednesday), it is the third time he has reached the 30-plus milestone. One more will put him at 40 for the first time in the 30-year-old’s 10-year career. This is his fourth season as a Dodger after six with the Boston Red Sox.

On most teams, a power bat like Betts’ would almost automatically be placed in the cleanup spot, but the Dodgers aren’t normal. They are an offensive juggernaut with heavy hitters throughout their lineup and Betts is the head of the snake.The Dodgers, champions of the NL West, have clinched a first-round bye in the postseason.

Betts’ value to the Dodgers has been immense. Already establishing himself as one of the best defensive outfielders in the game, his ability to play the infield has helped the Dodgers through injuries while also providing Roberts with additional strategic options.  

Betts flashed a lot of leather on Sunday while playing second base in the Dodgers series finale against their longtime division rival Giants, making two fantastic diving stops on back-to-back plays. Given the plethora of injuries to the Dodgers pitching staff, strong defense will be key to their pursuit of a World Series title.

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It was Caitlin Clark’s first visit to New York City. Although the college basketball star who propelled the University of Iowa to the title game in the 2023 NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Tournament was only in town for 24 hours, it was a memorable time because she was named recipient of the 93rd Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) James E. Sullivan Award at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC) last week. In addition to athletic excellence, the Sullivan Award recognizes qualities of leadership, character, and sportsmanship on and off the field of play. It is presented annually to the most outstanding athlete at the collegiate or Olympic level in the U.S.

“It’s kind of a full circle moment; I grew up playing a lot of AAU sports—softball, basketball, soccer,” said Clark, whose father was her first-ever AAU basketball coach. “The reason I went to Iowa was to be able to do something different and take them to a place they really hadn’t been… I hope I can continue to push women’s sport forward and be an advocate.”

The other finalists were Dylan Crews, a baseball player at LSU who is now with the Washington Nationals; Jordan Chiles, a collegiate gymnast at UCLA (unable to attend due to the trials for the World Championships); Jordan Crooks, a swimmer for the University of Tennessee; Zach Edey, a basketball player with Purdue University; and Kate Douglass, a swimmer and recent graduate of the University of Virginia who began her swimming career at a swimming club affiliated with the NYAC.

Other memorable moments of last week’s Sullivan Award event included a keynote speech by Leon Carter, editor-at-large of The Athletic and co-director of the Sports Journalism Institute, a nine-week training program for aspiring sports journalists with an emphasis on minorities and women.“You will see people who will not be with you,” Carter said. “Stand tall in the face of adversity. When people say you can’t do something, stand tall.”

The AAU’s Humanitarian Award went to NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, who has worked with the AAU for several years on organizing sports programs for young people in NYC. This year’s AAU Urban Initiative featured three-on-three basketball courts in Time Square.

 “Through this partnership with AAU, this platform, I was able to pull together resources and create opportunities,” said Maddrey. “Boys and girls together playing basketball…We have to think of something bigger for next year!”

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The Big East Conference hosted its eighth annual Transition Game program earlier this month, providing current women’s basketball student-athletes with insights into planning for life on and off the court after graduation. More than 30 student-athletes attended, listened, and asked questions of speakers about subjects ranging from playing professional basketball to using skills developed in sports to launch new careers. Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Liberty Keia Clarke addressed the attendees.

Shenneika Smith, now an assistant coach at her alma mater, St. John’s University, spoke about moving into the pro game. She admitted she’s not fond of public speaking but was happy to share her story of being drafted by the New York Liberty, getting cut, and then learning the ropes of playing overseas.

“One of the mistakes I made when I first went overseas was not being more in tune with my teammates, not gravitating to them where they could help me with the language barriers or even the small things like where to go eat, what’s fun to do,” said Smith, who played in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Australia. “Also, I was not used to not having a schedule because in college, everything is planned out.”

Other than practice and games, Smith spent a lot of time in her first season in her apartment, watching Netflix or NBA games. Fortunately, she became more a part of the community as her career progressed. She also learned to accept not making a WNBA roster.

“I was the last person waived by the New York Liberty, and it was heart-wrenching,” said Smith, now in her seventh season on the St. John’s coaching staff. “I let them know [that] just because you didn’t make a team or you got waived doesn’t mean you don’t go forward. Go overseas and enjoy your time over there.”

Kae Satterfield, a fifth-year guard/forward at Seton Hall, attended and soaked up the wealth of information. Her post-graduation goals include playing professionally. “The real world is coming fast,” said Satterfield, who also listened intently to Dr. Alfiee M. Breland-Noble’s insights about mental health. “I really appreciated the former athletes panel and their honesty. Their insights into overseas professional basketball, as well as the WNBA, were really helpful. They gave good tips for when you’re in other countries.”

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North Carolina Central (NCCU) is atop the HBCU power rankings heading into this weekend’s Black college football schedule after a commanding 45-3 win over Mississippi Valley State in Indianapolis, Indiana, at Lucas Oil Stadium in the Circle City Classic this past Saturday. 

NC Central, of the MEAC, is 3-1 overall and their only loss is to UCLA in a 59-7 drubbing to the PAC-12 Power Five conference school two weekends ago in Los Angeles. Mississippi Valley State of the SWAC fell to 0-3 and faces a formidable task at home this Saturday when they will play their first conference game of the season against Florida A&M. 

The Rattlers are No. 2 in the HBCU Power Rankings and are coming off of a 23-10 victory over Alabama State. They are followed by No. 3 Tennessee State (2-1) of the Ohio Valley Conference, No. 4 Jackson State (3-2) of the SWAC and No. 5 Hampton (2-1) of the Colonial Athletic Conference. 

NCCU, which had its seven-game win streak dating back to last season snapped by UCLA, opened up a 14-0 lead in the first quarter against the Delta Devils and were never threatened after. Eagles junior quarterback Walter Harris was 17-28 for 263 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

NCCU is back home at O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium this Saturday after two games on the road to play Campbell University (2-2) of the Colonial Athletic Conference. The Eagles ended last season as the Black college champions with a gripping 41-34 overtime win in the Crickett Celebration Bowl over the Jackson State Tigers led by the program’s former head coach Deion Sanders, who now is in his first season leading the Colorado Buffaloes.

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* This article was originally published here