Nothing comes easy in October

The GIST: All tied up! Nine extra innings and countless memes later, the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays are even at two games apiece, with Game 5 on deck in LA tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

• From Monday’s late-night early-morning heroics to last night’s explosive comeback, here’s what you need to know about this truly jaw-dropping best-of-seven World Series matchup.

💙 LA’s Freddie Freeman adds to postseason lore: Six hours and 39 minutes, 18 innings, but all the Dodgers’ first baseman needed was one swing to end Monday’s marathon Game 3, walking it off for a 6–5 win. It simply had to be Freeman, who became the first player with multiple walk-off homers in the World Series. The definition of clutch.

🐦 Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. breaks Jays’ franchise postseason home run record: What started as a pitchers’ duel quickly turned into a convincing 6–2 Toronto win. Vladdy blasted a two-run home run in the third inning (his seventh dinger of these playoffs) to take the lead before the Jays put the game away with a four-run seventh inning. And that’s on resilience.

⏩ Game 1 starters Trey Yesavage (Toronto) and Blake Snell (LA) take the mound again tonight: Toronto bested the usually sharp Snell with five runs in last week’s World Series opener, but the Jays could be without one of their best bats: Outfielder George Springer left Game 3 early with an injury and didn’t take the diamond last night. Keep an eye on that lineup card ahead of Game 5 — a chance to be one win away from a World Series trophy hangs in the balance.

The GIST: Cento, cento, cento — believe it or not there are just 100 days (!!!) until the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics opening ceremony begins at Italy’s San Siro Olympic Stadium. Let the countdown begin with a quick look at the upcoming Winter Games by the numbers.

🥹 Two: Meet Tina and Milo, the official mascots (and certified cutie pies) of the Milano Cortina Olympics. These adorable stoats (think ferret, but smaller) are named for the two host cities: Cortina d’Ampezzo and Milano. However, as you’ll read below, these Games stretch far and wide across Europe’s famed boot.

😦 Eight: The upcoming Games will be held across eight Italian cities, from the biathlon in Anterselva to the closing ceremony in Verona.

⛄ 16: Athletes will compete across sixteen sports. That includes ski mountaineering, which is making its Olympic debut and will see Olympians traverse northern Italy, first climbing uphill and then racing down a mountain on skis. Not for the faint of heart.

🏒 12: As in 12 years — for the first time since 2014, NHL players can participate in the Olympics, an especially exciting change following the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year. Similarly, this will be the first Olympics featuring PWHL athletes after the league was founded in 2023. Drop that puck.

👏 47: The games are inching closer and closer to parity as 47% of Milano Cortina Olympians will be women. That’s thanks in part to the fact that these Games will feature the most women’s events in Winter Olympics history.

• What’s more, 2026 will see a 29% increase in women’s Paralympic participation compared to the 2022 edition.

Too skinny. Too raw. Too one-dimensional. These scouting report slights weren’t the first time NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo was underestimated: The two-time MVP grew up stateless and in poverty. He didn’t play organized basketball until he was a teenager. But now:

🏆 He’s an NBA champ and Finals MVP;

⭐ A nine-time All-Star and seven-time All-NBA First Team selection;

👟 and a Nike athlete with six signature shoes, including the Giannis Freak 7

From Athens, Greece, playgrounds to the biggest stage in basketball, every challenge has contributed to his rise. Antetokounmpo is a reminder that greatness isn’t given; it’s earned — one stylish step at a time.

🏐 AU Volleyball: Championship Weekend — Tomorrow through Sunday — AWSN

• Unlike in Mean Girls, there’s no crown sharing in this innovative, player-first format. Opposite Jordan Thompson sits atop the leaderboard and will look to hold off outside hitter Reagan Cooper in the quest for her first-ever AU title. Talk about a killer opportunity.

🏈 NFL: Baltimore Ravens vs. Miami Dolphins — Tomorrow at 8:15 p.m. ET — Prime Video

• Put this Bee Gees classic on repeat because, against all odds, the struggling Ravens and Dolphins both logged wins last week. Sports are all about redemption arcs, and the expected return of injured Ravens superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson could be key to Baltimore claiming theirs.

🏀 NBA: Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs — Tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. ET — NBA League Pass

• Basketball’s best are scoring at record pace, and that includes the inimitable Victor Wembanyama, who’s already posted one 40-point game for the undefeated Spurs this season. This man alien is must-see television.

🦂 Float like a butterfly, sting like a scorpion — that’s the Devin Booker way. The Phoenix Suns hooper just released his latest Nike signature shoe, the Book 1 Scorpion, glow-in-the-dark kicks that light up when the spotlight is on — just like the four-time All-Star.

• The Book 1 Scorpion is the ultimate spooky season shoe, but there’s something for every vibe with eight NBA athletes boasting a Nike signature basketball sneaker.

• With the 79th NBA season officially underway, get your head in the game by exploring Nike’s full basketball collection today.

⏰ Have two minutes for fun? We know you’re busy, but our free-to-play NFL Pick’em Challenge isn’t just entertaining, it’s quick and easy. You can make your picks:

🫖 As the kettle boils for your morning Americano. No caffeine required.

🧻 During your afternoon bathroom break. You were already scrolling. *winks*

🍿 While commercials are playing during your fave shows.

Fantasy football doesn’t have to be a part-time job. And while we aren’t sure when Kris, aka this week’s champ, made their picks, we know it was quick, easy, and fun. The perfect trifecta, especially with hundreds of dollars of GIST swag on the line.

🚨 One more thing: Picks close at 8:15 p.m. ET tomorrow, right before the Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins game. Kickoff waits for no fan.