Sarni's Scrolls: NBA offers a Wembys Grab Bag

By Jim Sarni Victor Wembanyama is a big deal. A 7-foot-4 big deal. An 8-foot wing span big deal. And most of all, the NBA's biggest deal prospect since LeBron

By Jim Sarni

Victor Wembanyama is a big deal.

A 7-foot-4 big deal.

An 8-foot wing span big deal.

And most of all, the NBA's biggest deal prospect since LeBron James entered the league 21 years ago.

The 19-year-old San Antonio Spurs rookie from France has intrigued the sports world with a skill set that defies convention. Wembanyama can handle and shoot the ball at high levels, and can guard all positions.

And here he comes Wednesday night... onto your big-screen TV.

Wemby's NBA debut is against the Dallas Mavericks (9:30 EDT, ESPN). The Spurs will be on national TV at least 19 times this season.

On the telecast: Ryan Ruocco, J.J. Reddick, Richard Jefferson.

Malika Andrews interviewed Wembanyama at the end of last week, and ESPN will feature excerpts on its studio shows and game coverage.

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Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Harmon is returning to ESPN as a part-time NBA analyst. She will appear on "NBA Today," "First Take," "Get Up" and "SportsCenter."

ESPN is also adding Andre Iguodala, Austin Rivers, former New York Knicks general manager Scott Perry and Connecticut Sun coach Stephanie White to its NBA roster.

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Amazon wants to create the NBA's version of Thursday Night Football, mirroring the internet giant's approach with the NFL.

The NBA wants $75 billion in its next media deal. The league could negotiate with 3-5 partners.

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The World Series is set... the Arizona Diamondbacks (84-78) vs. the Texas Rangers (90-72).

Seriously. D-Backs-Rangers. Two wild-card teams.

Not Astros-Phillies as most everyone expected.

Arizona and Texas were both down 3-2 in the LCS, went on the road and won Games 6 and 7. Believe it or not.

"You can't make up the craziness of playoff baseball," said Fox analyst John Smoltz.

The question: do you care?

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ETC

The MLS playoffs begin tonight with the New York Red Bulls hosting Charlotte and Sporting Kansas City against San Jose. The final is Dec. 9.

NHL players will be allowed to represent social causes with stick tape after the league came to its senses and rescinded its ban.

LeBron James is in talks with Netflix for a series that would follow pro basketball players. The format would bring the same approach to the NBA that "Quarterback" brought to the NFL

CBS is sending Hall of Fame sportscaster Lesley Visser to Paris for a feature on the historic South Carolina- Notre Dame women's basketball game on Nov. 6, the first on French soil.

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Lionel Messi's pink Inter Miami jersey is the hottest piece of sports merchandise in the world.

The Miami Dolphins will be featured on the in-season "Hard Knocks."

Fun episode of Tom Brady's podcast "Let's Go" with guest Shaq, who revealed he lost 50 pounds so he could take off his shirt at the beach like Tom.

Five Reasons Sports Network, created by Ethan Skolnick, has expanded its superlative coverage of the Heat and the NBA. Indispensable.

Yankees fans can buy shares of Mickey Mantle's childhood home in Oklahoma for $7 apiece during an auction set to begin on Friday.

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The CW referee hat cam debuted during the Virginia-N.C. State game, and captured the Cavalers' game-sealing interception.

College football will trial coach-to-player technology during the bowl season.

"Cruel Summer" is Taylor Swift's 10th Billboard No. 1 single.

Diana Nyad marked the 10-year anniversary of her epic Cuba to Florida swim by freeing a rehabilitated sea turtle in the Keys.

"Time" has compiled a list of "The 100 Best Mystery and Thriller Books of All Time." How many have you read?

Charity Larson and Xochitl Garcia each got 10s on "Dancing With The Stars" on Tuesday night.

Happy National Greasy Foods Day.

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THEY SAID IT

"There's nothing better than a wise guy New Yorker saying something and then having to chomp on those words." -- Diamondbacks manager Tory Lovullo, reacting to talk show host Chris "Mad Dog" Russo's comment that he would retire if Arizona beat the Phillies and reached the World Series.

"He's a bad man." -- Rangers SS Corey Seager on Adolis Garcia after the Texas slugger hit five home runs in the team's past four games.

"You can't put your hands on women, man. And we should be on the forefront in sports... So what are we as a league going to do about it?" -- TNT's Charles Barkley to NBA commissioner Adam Silver.

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Jim Sarni, BC Class of '69, is a former sportswriter for The Boston Globe and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He resides in Fort Lauderdale and watches a lot of television.