Welcome to Thursday's Morning Mashup. For the latest news, start at our WEEI.com home page or click here for the top stories from our news wire.
THURSDAY'S BROADCAST HIGHLIGHTS:MLB: Baltimore at Detroit, 1 p.m. (MLB Network)MLB: Toronto at NY Yankees, 6:30 p.m. (MLB Network)MLB: Boston at LA Angels, 10:07 p.m. (NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7)NBA: Philadelphia at Miami, 7 p.m. (TNT)NBA: Portland at New Orleans, 9 p.m. (NBATV)NBA: Golden State at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m. (TNT)NHL: Boston at Toronto, 7 p.m. (NBCSN, NESN)NHL: Washington at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. (USA)
AROUND THE WEB:
-- There will likely be at least two Gronkowskis at the Kentucky Derby this year.
The horse named Gronkowski qualified for the Kentucky Derby and his namesake, Rob Gronkowski, now owns a minority stake in the thoroughbred.
"I've never dealt with horses," human Gronkowski said. "Hopefully I can get a ride on the horse. ... I'm not trying to ride it for a full speed ride. I just want to get the feel of what it's like to be on top of one. Maybe I'll go for a full speed ride once I get comfortable."
Phoenix Thoroughbreds, a global horse racing investment fund, bought the horse for over $400,000 last year. Trainer Jeremy Noseda named the horse after the tight end because his family are big Patriots fans.
"It will be a new experience," Gronkowski said. "Hopefully it will be something I like. I like new hobbies." (Like wrestling or acting??????)
It's official, I am part of the Gronkowski Team!GRONK ACQUIRES A STAKE IN GRONK ... THE KENTUCKY DERBY-BOUND RACEHORSE!Check it out: https://t.co/hCsHTAyepE pic.twitter.com/W78FEDUCWy
— Rob Gronkowski (@RobGronkowski) April 18, 2018Horse Gronkowski is set to compete in the Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5.
-- Erin Popovich, wife of Spurs head coach, Gregg Popovich, has died at 67 after an extended illness, the team announced Wednesday.
"We mourn the loss of Erin," R.C. Buford, Spurs general manager, said. "She was a strong, wonderful, kind, intelligent woman who provided love, support and humor to all of us."
Spurs announce Gregg Popovich's wife Erin has died pic.twitter.com/HnjvyM0CtD
— Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) April 19, 2018LeBron James after the game finding out about the horrible news of Erin Popovich's passing pic.twitter.com/2hz7z2ysWp
— ⓂarcusD (@_MarcusD2_) April 19, 2018Warriors just learning about Erin Popovich's passing. Steve Kerr understandably at a loss for words. Same with Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/PT48FYKIOC
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 19, 2018"I just want Pop to know that the whole NBA family is supporting him and got his back through it all," Kevin Durant said. "It's bigger than the game. It's bigger than winning and losing. It's about the brotherhood we built as NBA players and everybody in the NBA family. I feel so bad for Pop and his family. That's just tough to hear about."
Gregg and Erin had been married for 40 years and had two children and two grandchildren.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I was told that before the Super Bowl Robert Kraft had told people, 'Look, we have to figure out a way to limit Alex. Yeah, he's a problem,' and then he flew out to the Super Bowl on Robert Kraft's private plane. There's inconsistencies and I don't know how it resolves itself and I am not sure it will. I think at the end of the day, Tom Brady loves playing football too much to not come back and that will probably be the case and he will probably return playing at his typically high level." -- Seth Wickersham, with K&C, on the issues between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick
