Sports: How an ice cream machine turned around Atlanta’s season

Plus China's hockey team is so bad it might be dropped from the Olympics.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story October 28, 2021 How an Ice Cream Machine Turned Around Atlanta's Season Madison Ketcham The Atlanta Braves are making their first World Series appearance since 1999 because of star players at several positions, an underrated pitching staff and shrewd midsummer moves by the front office. Inside the clubhouse, though, players also point to a secret weapon. Read the full article here. ON BASEBALL The Atlanta Braves have not won a home game in the World Series since the night they clinched a championship in 1995. Doug Mills/The New York Times The Astros, and Their Star Player, Get Back on Track Jose Altuve broke out of a slump, setting the tone in a crucial Game 2 win that tied the World Series as it heads to Atlanta. By Scott Miller Lynsey Weatherspoon for The New York Times On Baseball Atlanta Heads Home, Hoping to Find Strength in Defiance A region's fans have their share of enemies, real or imagined, and the atmosphere at their World Series games should be electric. By Tyler Kepner Doug Mills/The New York Times Houston 7, Atlanta 2 | World Series tied, 1-1 Astros Dink and Dunk Their Way to a Win, Tying Series A series of light hits and defensive miscues let Houston run up the score early, and the Astros' pitching held the lead. By David Waldstein Doug Mills/The New York Times Did Charlie Morton Get Three Outs With a Broken Leg? Morton was struck by a comebacker in Atlanta's Game 1 win over Houston in the World Series. Three outs later, he left with a fractured fibula. When the break occurred is unknown. By David Waldstein Annie Mulligan for The New York Times Tyler Matzek's Journey From the AirHogs to the World Series The left-hander was once so out of sorts that he attended tryouts with football players and security guards. Now he has one of Atlanta's most dependable arms. By Scott Miller Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ON FOOTBALL Aaron Rodgers's top two receivers may be out against the 7-0 Cardinals. Matt Ludtke/Associated Press N.F.L. Week 8 Predictions: Our Picks Against the Spread Aaron Rodgers's top two receivers may be out against the 7-0 Cardinals, and the Saints must rely on Alvin Kamara to move past the Buccaneers while the Dolphins stare down the Bills and the trade deadline. By Emmanuel Morgan Daniel Kucin Jr./Associated Press Trend Watch The Bengals Are Good. Ja'Marr Chase Makes Them Interesting. With Chase on a pace to set a rookie receiving record, Cincinnati has the lead in the A.F.C. North and an offense that can score from anywhere. What? By Mike Tanier Seth Wenig/Associated Press Former Washington Football Staff Members Demand Investigation's Findings Two women formerly employed by the team interrupted a meeting of the N.F.L.'s team owners to ask the league to release the full findings of an inquiry into sexual harassment and workplace misconduct. By Ken Belson Bill Kostroun/Associated Press On Pro Football Daniel Jones's Big Play Shows the Giants' Bullheaded Approach The Giants quarterback was applauded for his toughness after making a rare reception. But considering Jones's recent head injury, our columnist asks why the play was even called. By Ben Shpigel ON HOCKEY China has spent billions on its Olympic preparations. But it doesn't have a men's hockey team that merits a place in the Games. Tingshu Wang/Reuters China's Hockey Team Is So Bad It Might Be Dropped From the Olympics Months ahead of the Beijing Games, hockey officials are trying to balance competitive concerns with fears about embarrassing the host nation. By Tariq Panja Taylor Wilder/NHLI via Getty Images Blackhawks Ignored 2010 Sexual Assault Accusation, an Investigation Says An independent investigation commissioned by the N.H.L. club revealed on Tuesday that the team failed to act promptly after a player accused a video coach of sexual assault, in part because club executives were concerned about winning the Stanley Cup. By Kevin Draper Lindsey Wasson for The New York Times The Seattle Kraken Make Their Home Debut Fans celebrated the arrival of pro hockey in Seattle, though the Kraken lost to their new regional rival, the Vancouver Canucks. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT ON SOCCER Ronald Koeman was fired as the manager of Barcelona, ending his 14-month tenure at the soccer club. Oscar Del Pozo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Barcelona, Drifting, Fires Ronald Koeman as Coach Successive defeats to Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano convinced Barcelona to fire Koeman, its Dutch manager. Xavi Hernández is a favorite to replace him. By Rory Smith Peter Powell/EPA, via Shutterstock On Soccer Goals Rain on Manchester United, Covering the Boss With Blame In a 5-0 loss thrashing by Liverpool, United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer went from embattled manager to something far worse: a punchline. By Rory Smith IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Articles you may have missed. Tamir Kalifa/Getty Images Transgender Athletes Face Bans From Girls' Sports in 10 U.S. States Over the past two years, nine states have enacted laws to bar transgender girls and women from competing in girls' and women's sports. Another relied on an executive order for a ban. By David W. Chen Aubrey Trinnaman for The New York Times It's never too late It's Never Too Late to Climb That Mountain Dierdre Wolownick, whose son, Alex Honnold, is one of the world's top rock climbers, ascended Yosemite's El Capitan to celebrate her 70th birthday. By Tim Neville Allison Zaucha for The New York Times Students Use the Los Angeles Marathon as a Way to Keep Going Over the past three decades, more than 50,000 students have trained for and completed the Los Angeles Marathon. By Matthew Futterman GET MORE SPORTS IN YOUR INBOX Sign up for the Postseason Briefing. Our analysis of the biggest games, story lines and athletes in the M.L.B. postseason, delivered daily. Get it in your inbox Sign up for the Running Newsletter Get the biggest news in the running world and tips to help you run your best, too. Get it in your inbox Sign up for the On Soccer With Rory Smith newsletter, for Times subscribers only. Chief soccer correspondent Rory Smith takes you from the biggest matches to the smallest leagues, covering the tactics, history and personalities of the world's most popular sport. Get it in your inbox Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Sports from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018