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Discipline: The Clippers get walloped

Exactly one year ago, Pablo Torre of “Pablo Torre Finds Out” released an initial investigation into possible salary-cap circumvention by the Clippers on behalf of star player Kawhi Leonard. After months of further reporting, handwringing, mud-slinging and general messiness, the NBA dropped the hammer yesterday.

The league’s investigation found that the Clippers did, indeed, work around the salary cap to pay Leonard millions more than what was in his contract, via four separate endorsement deals. It also found that Leonard and his camp pressured the Clippers to do so.

The top-line penalties:

• $30 million fine for the Clippers, the largest in league history
• One-year ban for Clippers owner Steve Ballmer
• Forfeit of five straight first-round picks from 2029 through 2033
• Six-month ban for president Lawrence Frank
• One-year ban for president of business operations Gillian Zucker
• Five-year ban for Leonard’s uncle, Dennis Robertson
• $700,000 fine for Leonard

It is, in a word, stunning. The Clippers released a fiery statement slamming the findings, though the team has little recourse to appeal. Leonard, through his new agent, said he accepts the punishment. It appears his trade to the Raptors will go through, and he will leave a mess in his wake.

The Pulse braintrust debated what this punishment is on a scale of 1-10 for the Clippers, and I voted for an eight. The money hurts, sure, and the bans aren’t fun, but losing five straight first-round picks can completely hinder a franchise. And, if we’re keeping a morbid tally here, acquiring Leonard and Paul George in 2019 ended up costing the team 10 first-round picks and back-to-back MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. I don’t even know what to say about that.

Pablo also posted a lengthy live video reaction to the punishment yesterday, which is worth a watch/listen. He and his team have been the leading resource on this investigation since its inception.

Tune in to that here. Let’s move on to something lighter … I think:

Kickoff: Is Week 1 canceled?

For more than a decade, college football’s Week 1 has been a bacchanal of riches. In a sport that once valued strong schedules, this was the venue for big-name non-conference matchups to help bolster a late-season resume and, in turn, ratings for college football’s big debut.

Except, now, with the 12-team Playoff in full swing — soon to be more teams, assuredly, too — that tradition appears moot. Two points:

• There is just one ranked matchup this weekend, between No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 24 Louisville. That’s it. Last year, we had three matchups between top-10 teams alone.
  
• As Seth Emerson wrote yesterday, that tradition is over for now. The only entity that can save it: TV networks. Yay?

That doesn’t mean this weekend is garbage, though. Here are your best three games, per Justin Williams’ top 10:

1. Clemson at No. 11 LSU

Haven’t heard much about this one, right? Despite whatever news comes from the court system today, Lane Kiffin’s debut as LSU coach should be rowdy. And though Clemson enters this season unranked, it’s still a big name.

2. No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 24 Louisville

This could be electric, and if not, you’ll still get to watch Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss play. A good call.

John Fisher / Getty Images

3. Wisconsin at No. 4 Notre Dame

Secretly a spicy game. The Fighting Irish are preseason title favorites for plenty of pundits, including Justin. Luke Fickell is on his last chance with the Badgers. Notre Dame has lost at least one of its first two games each of the last two seasons. Just saying.

See the rest of Justin’s list here. Three final treats:

• Most fans have hope right now, because most games haven’t happened yet. It’s a beautiful thing for a bit. Unless you’re a North Carolina fan. See where your team landed on the Hope-O-Meter.
  
• Manny Navarro made his oddly specific predictions for Week 1, including an upset for Florida State over No. 19 SMU. See those precise details here.
  
• Want a deep dive? Our staff compiled a list of 100 things, coaches, players and teams to know. They call it a study guide, which feels apt. Hit the books.

Happy Week 1 to all. Onward:

News to Know

Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

Good Good brass out
Matt Kendrick, the CEO of Good Good Golf, and Joe Flannery, the popular golf brand’s president, are no longer with the company as the fallout continues from an ill-fated advertisement for a new driver in collaboration with Callaway. In the two weeks since the ad aired, the company has lost its relationship with Callaway, multiple partnerships with big-name stores, a PGA Tour sponsorship and now its top executives. More details here.

I’d also recommend a read back to Gabby Herzig’s piece about how golf’s fascination with bro influencers is fading, quickly. It’s a smart story.

Georgia state official wants LSU gone
Georgia attorney general Chris Carr wrote a letter to SEC commissioner Greg Sankey yesterday urging LSU’s expulsion from the conference should it roster former NFL players this season. Said players’ eligibility will be decided today in a Louisiana court. Read more here.

More news:

• Tiger Woods agreed to a deal in his DUI case that will see him avoid jail time. Details here.
  
• Penn State is opening the Paterno Family Football Experience Room inside Beaver Stadium. That’s a complicated decision.
  
• NFL legend Emmitt Smith is accused of cheating a Native American investor out of millions. Read our full story.
  
• The NFL in Japan? We might see games there soon.
  
• Kirk Cousins will start Week 1 for the Raiders over No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza. Hm.
  
• Thea Frodin played Serena Williams in the movie “King Richard.” This week, she played in the U.S. Open … as herself.
  
• Former Angels players and coaches seem very relieved that Arte Moreno sold the franchise. Read their comments.
  
• Lambeau Field will host an outdoor college hockey doubleheader in February. Sounds cool.

📰Find more news here 24/7.

Watch Guide

📺 Tennis: U.S. Open second round
11 a.m.-8 p.m. ET on ESPN networks
Another perfect day of tennis ahead. Naomi Osaka, hopefully donning another fashion statement, and Coco Gauff each play on the women’s side, while No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev tries to shake off his near-loss in the first round on the men’s side.

📺 CFB: Colorado at Georgia Tech
8 p.m. ET on ESPN
We have a host of games tonight, but this is the only one that promises to be somewhat close and/or entertaining (we think). Can Deion Sanders coach his way out of a slump?

Pulse Picks

Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images

Baker Mayfield may be the most interesting quarterback in the NFL this year, as the accomplished veteran is once again betting on himself. It’s what he’s always done.

UCLA is getting gobs of money from the Big Ten. So why are its finances such a mess?

There is a raging debate in golf right now about former PGA Tour pros reclassifying as amateurs to compete in amateur events. Gabby Herzig has a great explainer.

Wait, why is Bill Simmons under investigation for proxy betting? What a weird misfire.

Folarin Balogun could still leave Monaco this cycle despite his failed move to Everton. See how here.

Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: The CFB gossip.

Most-read on the website yesterday: The Clippers news.