Slow Season Sports: Fresh Picks for Every Fan

The public tunes in to sports for myriad reasons. Some are tied to specific fandom and allegiance. Others come for big-picture cosmic intrigue and cultural appreciation, and there’s no shortage of interested bettors. Above all, sports give us a rare night-by-night consistency — perpetual diversions, conversation pieces or background noises.

There’s a solid upcoming slate for international action. The prestigious Open Championship tees off in Northern Ireland, and women’s soccer Euros are into the quarterfinal stages. This is a rather slow time for major American leagues, though. Pro basketball, hockey and football are on summer vacations, while the WNBA and MLB are in their midseason All-Star breaks. The lulls never last long, fortunately, and this is a perfect time to try out the unexamined life.

Here are some interesting, if slightly out-there offerings, airing from Thursday through the weekend. This is not a comprehensive list, and we’re eager to uncover new gems alongside our readership. Let us know what looks best or what we’ve missed in the comments below.

Viewing guide

Fox, CBS and ABC are available free over the air. ABC and ESPN programming is also available on ESPN+.

Do you dig the Kentucky Derby, Belmont or Preakness Stakes?

Try Saratoga. This is the second week of graded stakes racing in upstate New York. Saratoga is one of the oldest sports venues in the country, currently celebrating its 162nd year of operation, and the Fox Sports networks are carrying live horse racing through Sunday. The Rick Violette Stakes goes down Thursday, with a $150,000 purse for the winner of the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Friday features the Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes, a $200,000 dirt track run named after the 1969 Filly Triple Crown winner.

Then the weekend starts with the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, which touts a $500,000 prize. It’s also the second leg of New York’s historic Triple Tiara. Other races on Saturday’s packed card include the Caress Stakes (G3) and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G2). Saratoga’s placid and pastoral setting should make for a light summer watch.

Are you an ardent golfer?

Try the PGA Tour’s Barracuda Championship. It’s nowhere near the Open Championship in terms of hype and history, but Thursday is also the beginning of the Barracuda Championship at Tahoe Mountain Club. The reigning champion of the sun-drenched alpine tourney is Nick Dunlap, who had earlier in the year claimed the first amateur PGA win in more than three decades.

The Barracuda is played at nearly 6,000 feet above sea level and uses the Modified Stableford format. This is the only Tour event with such a scoring system, and it’s a load of fun because it incentivizes aggressive play. Golfers go for the highest score here. A double eagle is worth eight points, an eagle fetches five points and a birdie gets two. Pars are a push, while bogeys deduct one point and double bogeys or worse get a minus-three mark. The tournament concludes Sunday. Here’s to “the western pools” and “silly fools.“

Curious about cricket?

Try England vs. Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends. The summer action at Edgbaston starts with two historic powerhouse nations. England and Pakistan squared off in the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup championship, with Sam Curran and the English winning by five wickets. These two sides also produced a classic in the 1992 World Cup final, in which Imran Khan led Pakistan to glory. The World Championship of Legends stars retired international cricketers who still have some juice. Opening batsman and off-spin bowler Mohammad Hafeez headlines the Pakistani group; decorated left-hander Eoin Morgan captains the host country.

Need an MMA fix?

Try Holloway vs. Poirier 3. UFC 318’s main event in New Orleans showcases two top American fighters. Max Holloway (26-8-0) enters as an ever-so-slight favorite against Dustin Poirier (30-9-0). Holloway is a former featherweight champion who is now back in lightweight classification; Poirier is set to retire after this weekend’s fight. The latter won each of the previous two bouts — in 2012 by triangle armbar submission, then in 2019 by judges’ decision. Together, these two have grown from unknown 20-somethings to decorated fan favorites. Holloway is risking his “BMF” title belt, an unofficial honor coined by Nate Diaz in 2019. May the “baddest” man win in the trilogy tussle.

Still fueled by hardwood nostalgia?

Try The Basketball Tournament. “TBT,” indeed. The 12th installment of this throwback bracket event celebrates regional fandom and well-worn basketball bonds. Friday pits War Ready (Auburn alumni) versus X-Rayted (a medley squad). Later in the evening, the stacked La Familia team brings back notable Kentucky products like Willie Cauley-Stein and the Harrison twins (Andrew and Aaron). Saturday gives us Indiana’s Assembly Ball, featuring Yogi Ferrell and Christian Watford. The field of 64 competes for $1 million in total winnings.

Or … try the BIG3. If you’re more partial to NBA reminiscence, there’s BIG3 matchups on CBS throughout Sunday. The first of those pits the Chicago Triplets against the Los Angeles Riot on a neutral court in Detroit. Chicago is coached by the legendary Julius Erving and has Montrezl Harrell (2020’s Sixth Man of the Year). LA, meanwhile, is led by eight-time All-Star Dwight Howard, former No. 4 pick Wesley Johnson and emoji enthusiast Mike Scott. The sideline strategist is … yup, it’s Swaggy P!

Want to see dudes hit each other in the face?

Try SlapFIGHT. The burgeoning combat contest has its 46th card, “Gold Rush,” coming up on Friday. Come on, let’s not overthink this — it’s open-handed five-finger blows until someone stumbles backward or TKOs entirely. Competitors have names like Grizzly, Raven, Biscuit, Slap Jesus and Da Crazy Hawaiian. T-Pain was a recent guest judge for the “chest chop” challenge. All of this is patently ridiculous and wildly entertaining:

Can’t wait any longer for football?

Try the NFL Flag Championships. Before the NFL’s preseason kicks off, youth participants repping all 32 teams go at it in flag football play. This year’s venue is the Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. Championship games are slated for Sunday evening across ABC-ESPN networks. The Staten Island Giants were 2024 winners on the girls’ side, while the Metro Select Saints won the under-15 boys competition. This younger version of the sport is fast, creative and particularly joyous.

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(Photo of Da Crazy Hawaiian: Gaelen Morse / Getty Images)