OSKALOOSA, Iowa — After accepting the RAMS Racing To-The-Tail Challenge, Brady Bacon thrilled a capacity crowd at Southern Iowa Speedway on Tuesday night.

Driving from 26th-to-1st in only 13 laps, Bacon was unstoppable aboard the Fatheadz Eyewear No. 99, banking upwards of $6,000 for his triumph in the Sage Fruit Ultimate Challenge with the POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League.

Bacon agreed to terms, relinquished the pole and moved to start 26th with extra money on the line. After the standing-room only grandstands went bonkers, Ultimate Challenge promoter Terry McCarl stepped in to offer the challenge to Kevin Thomas Jr. as well, who promptly accepted it.

While Zach Daum and Isaac Chapple led the 25-lapper to the green flag, all eyes were glued to Bacon and KTJ in the 13th row. Chapple paced the opening circuit over Daum as Bacon and KTJ both made massive moves as they tested the high side and advanced 10 spots in the first four corners.

The only stoppage of the race came after the first lap as Chapple led Daum, Davis, Parkinson and Landon Simon, while KTJ had worked to 14th with Bacon in 16th. Daum began to apply pressure for the lead as both KTJ and Bacon moved into the top 10.

Finessing the cushion, Bacon stormed around the outside of KTJ on lap six and ensued to slide Parkinson to take over the fifth spot, making it a 26th-to-5th charge in just six laps.

Continuing to march forward, Bacon found himself trailing Chapple and Daum as they continued to battle for the lead. By the 13th circuit, Bacon maneuvered by both of them and moved his No. 99 into the race lead after starting 26th.

Running away with a dominating performance in the second half, Bacon checked out while the battle for third heated up between Chapple, Simon, Davis, Kreisel and Thomas.

In the end, there was no stopping “The Macho Man” Brady Bacon on this night. After taking the lead from 26th in 13 laps, the Broken Arrow, Okla., native pulled away in the latter stages to complete the RAMS Racing To-The-Tail Challenge.

It was his fifth-career POWRi Lucas Oil WAR Sprint League victory, Tuesday’s triumph was Bacon’s first in the Sage Fruit Ultimate Challenge as he claimed the championship belt.

Following Bacon to the line was Zach Daum in second and Isaac Chapple in third with podium results. Rounding out the top five was Landon Simon in fourth and Riley Kreisel in fifth.

Wayne Johnson won the companion Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series event.

The finish:

Feature (25 laps): 1. 99X-Brady Bacon (1); 2. 5D-Zach Daum (1); 3. 52-Isaac Chapple (2); 4. 24-Landon Simon (4); 5. 90-Riley Kreisel (5); 6. 19X-Kevin Thomas Jr. (25); 7. 56-Mitchell Davis (3); 8. 28-Kory Schudy (12); 9. 1M-Don Droud Jr. (11); 10. 99-Korey Weyant (10); 11. 12-Wesley Smith (22); 12. 11W-Wyatt Burks (19); 13. 65-Chris Parkinson (4); 14. 0-Steve Irwin (8); 15. 20-Steve Thomas (17); 16. 19-Donovan Peterson (7); 17. 7S-Chris Morgan (9); 18. 34-Sterling Cling (13); 19. 77K-Katlynn Leer (16); 20. 0-Brandon Stevenson (14); 21. 22S-Slater Helt (21); 22. 52F-Logan Faucon (20); 23. 41-Brad Wyatt (15); 24. 4-Braydon Cromwell (18); 25. 2-Jason Billups (24); 26. 6-Frank Rodgers (23); 27. 93-Josh Most (DNS); 28. 12X-Doug Sylvester (DNS).

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This may come as a shock, but National Hockey League teams are known to hand out a contract or two that they later regret.

Sometimes it's because the signing was ill-advised in the first place. Sometimes it's because of unforeseen circumstances, like a player suffering through injuries. Sometimes the player does well but the team's priorities change, usually on the financial front. Whatever the case, contract buyouts are one remedy at the ready.

According to Cap Friendly, there have been 161 buyouts since the 2005 collective bargaining agreement created that mechanism. But there's a funny thing about buyouts: One team's trash is another team's treasure. Players who are flush with buyout money go off and, somewhat ironically, sign short-term, cap-friendly deals with other teams.

This happens for a variety of reasons, but frequently it's an attempt to mend their reputations after being cast aside as damaged goods. Hence, there's a bit of a risk in it for the signing teams, but not an enormous one for, say, a one-year deal.

It's a bit like buying a lottery ticket: Minimal investment, the potential for big upside, and if it doesn't work, you're only out a few bucks.

So do these "lottery ticket contracts" work in the NHL?

We decided to take a look at some of the most prominent ones now and in the past, to see how it played out. We narrowed our scope to the true lottery ticket deals for one season after a buyout -- so Dan Girardi's two-year deal with the Lightning at $3 million against the cap wouldn't be a "lottery ticket" deal, for example.

Let's begin with a look at this summer's lottery tickets thus far:

Kevin Shattenkirk, D, Tampa Bay Lightning

Buyout: two years, $6.65 million AAV with New York Rangers on Aug. 1
New deal: one year, $1.75 million

No one noticed because the Rangers were playing out the string, but the 30-year-old had a fairly strong season after his disastrous first year in New York. He had 20 even-strength points, was a plus-5.6 percent in relative Corsi and one of only five Rangers on the positive side (50.75 percent) on expected goals percentage. This could end up being the Brad Richards Buyout 2.0, as a solid player flush with buyout money takes a cap friendly deal to chase a Cup ... and the Lightning get a significant boost on their right side.

Lottery outlook: Barring injury, so good that you start daydreaming about what your third home looks like.

Andrej Sekera, D, Dallas Stars

Buyout: two years, $5.5 million AAV with Edmonton Oilers on June 30
New deal: one year, $2 million

Sekera, 33, wasn't part of the problem in Edmonton during his first two seasons, amassing 65 points in 161 games. But injuries humbled him in the past two seasons, and he became a liability in their eyes. If he's healthy, this could be a steal for the Stars. If he's not ... hey, it's only a year, right?

Lottery outlook: Maybe a thought or two about paying off your credit card with the winnings, but nothing more.

Corey Perry, RW, Dallas Stars

Buyout: two years, $8.625 million AAV with Anaheim Ducks on June 19
New deal: one year, $1.5 million

As I said at the time of the signing, in giving it a B-plus: "I don't have much faith that Perry is going to be able to rediscover his game as a big goal scorer, no matter how motivated he is to prove people like me wrong. But this is minimal investment in the hopes that he can."

Lottery outlook: Either you're holding the ticket for the Mega Millions jackpot, or you're going to rip up that loser and buy another ticket next week.

Lottery tickets past: How'd that go?

Those are the current lottery ticket signings. Now, what about the booms and busts from tickets from free agency past?

Michael Cammalleri, LW, Los Angeles Kings

Buyout: two years, $5 million AAV with New Jersey Devils on June 30, 2017
New deal: one year, $1.2 million

At 36, Michael Cammalleri was no longer the Michael Cammalleri of yore. His seven points in 15 games wasn't terrible, but his overall ice time (12:38) and spare usage in the third period made this an unhappy homecoming. The Kings flipped him to Edmonton for their own veteran headache in Jussi Jokinen, and Cammalleri saw an uptick in his ice time with the Oilers, scoring 22 points in 51 games.

Lottery result: When you throw away a losing ticket, and someone picks it up and realizes they won $50.

Christian Ehrhoff, D, Pittsburgh Penguins

Buyout: seven years, $4 million AAV with Buffalo Sabres on June 29, 2014
New deal: one year, $4 million

Remember when the Sabres had designs on winning a Stanley Cup and signed Ehrhoff to a 10-year contract in 2011? By 2014, he was a compliance buyout victim. The Penguins signed him for the cap hit he had with Buffalo -- a rare continuation of a previous deal instead of getting a discounted rate -- and he played 49 games in an injury-riddled season that saw him tally 14 points.

Lottery result: Spending $100 on tickets to win ... $99.

Tyler Ennis, C/LW/RW, Toronto Maple Leafs

Buyout: one year, $4.6 million AAV with Minnesota Wild on June 30, 2018
New deal: one year, $650,000

Ennis had a five-year, $23 million contract with the Sabres when the Wild acquired him. Paul Fenton -- hey, remember that guy? -- bought out his deal, and the Leafs gobbled him up for the NHL equivalent of a busboy's salary. Ennis played 51 games for Toronto as a fourth-liner (9:56 of ice time per game on average) and mustered 12 goals in 51 games.

Lottery result: Enough numbers hit that you can afford another ticket.

Mikhail Grabovski, C/RW, Washington Capitals

Buyout: four years, $5.5 million AAV with Toronto Maple Leafs on July 4, 2013
New deal: one year, $3 million

Grabo remained unsigned for a bit of the summer, finally landing with the Capitals on Aug. 22. Analytics-savvy Leafs fans dunked on the naysayers when Grabovski had 35 points in 58 games for Washington. But his contract ask was too high, and he subsequently ended up signing a four-year deal with the Islanders, where he played 109 games before injuries ended his NHL run.

Lottery result: Four numbers and the moneyball, and then wisely investing the jackpot in the future.

Scott Hartnell, LW, Nashville Predators

Buyout: two years, $4.75 million AAV with Columbus Blue Jackets on June 29, 2017
New deal: one year, $1 million

Who says you can't go home? Hartnell went down to Nashville, played 62 games in his final NHL season and had 13 goals and 11 assists in a depth role, while providing them much needed truculence. He was a scratch in nine of their 13 playoff games, but a thrifty value addition en route.

Lottery result: Winning $100 on a scratch-off ticket at the 7-Eleven near your childhood home.

Jussi Jokinen, C, Edmonton Oilers

Buyout: two years, $2,667,667 AAV with Florida Panthers on June 30, 2017
New deal: one year, $1.1 million

At the time, signing the 34-year-old Jokinen was seen as a reasonable risk for the cap-strapped (and depth-deficient) Oilers. Then he went goal-less in 14 games. They traded him to Los Angeles for Cammalleri. After 18 games, the Kings put him on waivers in January 2018 where he was claimed by Columbus, where he lasted another 14 games before they traded him to Vancouver, where he lasted (you guessed it) 14 games in his last NHL stop. In total: 60 games, five goals, four of them in garbage time with the Canucks.

Lottery result: When the whole office buys tickets for a $800 million jackpot and one person wins like $5.

Benoit Pouliot, LW, Buffalo Sabres

Buyout: two years, $4 million AAV with Edmonton Oilers on Jun 29, 2017
New deal: one year, $1.15 million

For a while, Pouliot defied the analytics movement after his numbers slipped in Edmonton when his role changed. With Buffalo, the effort was there, the goals increased, but so did the defensive lapses.

Lottery result: When every number is just slightly off from the draw.

Mason Raymond, LW, Anaheim Ducks

Buyout: one year, $3.15 million AAV with Calgary Flames on June 30, 2016
New deal: one year, $675,000

This has to be a winning lottery ticket, right? Not so fast: Raymond played just four games with the Ducks, and then refused demotion to the AHL -- he said it was partly to spend time with his wife, who had contracted Lyme disease -- and his contract was terminated.

Lottery result: A scratch-off ticket that says "a winner every time," and you still manage to lose.

Brad Richards, C, Chicago Blackhawks

Buyout: six years and $666,666 with the New York Rangers on June 20, 2014
New deal: one year, $2 million

Pretty much the "Citizen Kane" of the lottery ticket deal. OK, maybe more like the "Avengers: Endgame" of the lottery ticket deal, in that its predetermined success and institutional advantages left rivals kicking dirt. Richards was coming off a 51-point season, which was the lowest output of his career and preceded a postseason of diminishing returns. But this was still Brad Richards. Teams came calling. But when Chicago did, he jumped at the chance to contend for a Cup ... and since the Rangers owed him $20.667 million over the next 12 years, he did so for a super cap-friendly deal. He had 14 points in 23 playoff games in helping Chicago win the Cup.

Lottery result: So when are you planning on buying that private island with your winnings?

Dennis Seidenberg, D, New York Islanders

Buyout: two years, $4 million AAV with Boston Bruins on June 30, 2016
New deal: one year, $1 million

Seidenberg called his buyout from the Bruins "a shock," after Boston tried and failed to trade his remaining contract years. He didn't sign with the Islanders until Sept. 28, for a paltry sum. If GM Garth Snow was good at anything, it was acquiring someone else's defensive castoff. Seidenberg played 73 games and earned a second contract (for $1.25 million) with New York. Alas, he was limited to only 28 games, and didn't even play a game with the team when he signed for a third time in 2018-19.

Lottery result: Like buying a ticket minutes before the drawing and hitting for a few hundred bucks.

Alex Semin, LW, Montreal Canadiens

Buyout: three years, $7 million AAV with Carolina Hurricanes on June 30, 2015
New deal: one year, $1.1 million

The mother of all cautionary tales, in every way. The Canes handed Semin five years and $35 million after the Capitals moved on from him. Injuries and ineffectiveness led to the buyout. The Canadiens figured it was worth a chance on him. He was called "a colossal disappointment" after one goal in 15 games, and his contract was terminated so he could move on to the KHL.

Lottery result: Believing wholeheartedly that you have in your hand the $900 million Powerball jackpot winning ticket ... and then not only do you not win but you realize the ticket you're holding is from four years ago.

Sheldon Souray, D, Dallas Stars

Buyout: one year, $5.4 million AAV with Edmonton Oilers on June 30, 2011
New deal: one year, $1.1 million

This was a real O.G. lottery ticket deal. Souray was a big-bodied power-play quarterback whose homecoming with the Oilers was sullied by injuries, a feud with team management and then an exile in the AHL. Off he went to the Stars for just $1.65 million against the cap, and he had 21 points in 64 games. "A low-risk/high-reward signing was a very substantial reward for the Stars even considering some of the issues he had and the way his production dropped off," was the verdict.

Lottery result: Buying a winning ticket while the guy next to you talks about what trash the lottery is.

Viktor Stalberg, LW, New York Rangers

Buyout: two years, $3 million AAV with Nashville Predators on June 30, 2015
New deal: one year, $1.1 million

Stalberg won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks and then cashed in with a four-year, $12 million deal with the Predators that saw him playing in the AHL by Year 2. The Rangers swooped in and signed him to a "show me" deal on July 1, and he showed them nine goals and 11 assists in 75 games, which was good enough to earn another one-year deal with the Hurricanes the following summer.

Lottery result: Buying a $2 winning ticket and then accidentally losing it on the way home.

Fedor Tyutin, D, Colorado Avalanche

Buyout: two years, $4.5 million with Columbus Blue Jackets on June 29, 2016
New deal: one year, $2 million

The popular defenseman was bought out in part so the Jackets could sign Seth Jones to a new deal. He moved on to the Avalanche for his last NHL season, playing a serviceable 18:56 per game in 69 appearances, although his possession numbers and plus/minus (minus-25) were ghastly on a terrible team.

Lottery result: Winning exactly what you need from a scratch-off ticket to buy yourself lunch.

Dainius Zubrus, LW, San Jose Sharks

Buyout: one year, $3.1 million with New Jersey Devils on June 29, 2015
New deal: one year, $600,000 with San Jose Sharks

GM Doug Wilson signed Zubrus in late November for a bargain basement price thanks to his buyout money. He'd play 50 games and 14 more in the playoffs. Mostly a veteran warm body, but what a bargain!

Lottery result: Remembering the winning scratch-off ticket you had in your Christmas stocking and cashing it in.

Looking ahead

The continuation of the salary cap system in the next CBA means the continuation of the contract life cycle of signings, buyouts and further signings. Some will work, if the money and the fit are right. Some won't, as there ends up being a reason the player's former team sought that buyout.

But these contracts will always exist in the same way the lottery will. To paraphrase a slogan from one state lottery: "All you need is one year and around $1 million ... and a dream."

Manchester United have cooled their pursuit of Christian Eriksen, sources have told ESPN FC.

United held discussions about the possibility of signing the Tottenham midfielder before Thursday's transfer deadline but believe he has his heart set on a move to Spain.

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Eriksen has just 12 months left on his contract and has given Spurs no indication he is willing to commit his long-term future to the club. United had hoped it presented a chance to sign the Denmark international for a reduced fee but talks are not continuing at this stage.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has splashed nearly £150 million on Daniel James, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Harry Maguire this summer.

Negotiations around other targets are continuing in the last 24 hours of the window but sources have told ESPN FC there is a possibility that there will be no new arrivals before the deadline and that Solskjaer is comfortable with that scenario.

A move for Mario Mandzukic could still be resurrected -- depending on what happens with wantaway striker Romelu Lukaku -- but United's relationship with Juventus has been strained after they pulled the plug on a swap deal involving the Belgium international and Paulo Dybala on Sunday.

Sources have also told ESPN FC that United were offered the chance to sign Philippe Coutinho over the weekend. Barcelona are keen to move on the ex-Liverpool man, who has also been linked with Tottenham, after a disappointing 18 months at Camp Nou but the Brazil international is not high up on Solskjaer's list of priorities ahead of the deadline.

Premier League clubs can sign players up until 5 p.m. BST on Thursday while the deadline for most of Europe's other top leagues is Sept. 2.

Dinesh Chandimal and spinners Akila Dananjaya and Dilruwan Perera are contending for a return to Sri Lanka's Test squad, after being picked in the 22-man preliminary squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. Opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka and fast bowler Lahiru Kumara also earned recalls with two uncapped players - batting allrounder Shehan Jayasuriya and fast bowler Asitha Fernando - also in the mix. This squad will be trimmed to 15 over the next week.

Angelo Mathews, who had missed the Tests against South Africa earlier this year with a hamstring issue, was also picked.

Chandimal had been dropped from the South Africa Tests, which Sri Lanka won 2-0, to regain his batting form after his poor run against Australia. He then went on to score 223 runs in five innings at an average of 55.75 in Sri Lanka's domestic domestic one-day competition, the Premier Limited Over Tournament.

Dilruwan, too, had been dropped from the South Africa tour and now returns after a stint with Colts Cricket Club in the domestic circuit, although in T20s and one-dayers. It remains to be seen whether he will make it to the final 15, however. With spinners Lasith Embuldeniya (who has been in outstanding form for the Emerging team over the last few weeks), Akila, Lakshan Sandakan and even the improving offspin of Dhananjaya de Silva to contend with, Dilruwan's place is by no means secure.

Milinda Siriwardana, who last played a Test in December 2016 and had been picked for the South Africa tour, has been left out without getting a chance on the tour.

Akila has been picked in the Test squad after he had been suspended from international cricket for an illegal action late last year. Dananjaya remodelled his action earlier this year and then played the ODIs and T20Is in South Africa before being left out of the World Cup squad.

Sri Lanka will host New Zealand for two Tests starting August 14 and 22 in Galle and at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, respectively.

Squad: Dimuth Karunaratne (capt), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Niroshan Dickwella, Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Perera, Oshada Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilruwan Perera, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Embuldeniya, Lakshan Sandakan, Suranga Lakmal, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Kasun Rajitha, Asitha Fernando

Rahul Dravid is the latest big-name Indian cricketer to be served a notice by the BCCI's ethics officer for alleged conflict of interest. This was in response to a complaint, which pointed out that Dravid was both National Cricket Academy director - as well as coach of the India Under-19 and India A teams - and a vice-president with India Cements, owners of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

In July, Dravid's appointment to the NCA had been delayed because he was a paid employee of India Cements. As had been reported by the Hindu at the time, Dravid would be on a leave of absence from India Cements until such time as he serves as the head of NCA.

"Yes, I have sent a notice to Mr Rahul Dravid last week after receiving a complaint," Justice (retd) DK Jain, the BCCI's ethics officer-cum-ombudsman, was quoted as saying by PTI. "He has been given two weeks to reply to the allegations of Conflict of Interest. Based on his reply, I will decide whether to proceed further or not."

Dravid must now file a no-conflict reply and, if asked by Jain, appear for an in-person hearing.

Like in the cases of Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, and, more recently, BCCI Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) panelists Kapil Dev, Shanta Rangaswamy and Anshuman Gaekwad, the complaint against Dravid came from Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association life member Sanjeev Gupta.

New fashion in indian cricket .....conflict of interest ....Best way to remain in news ...god help indian cricket ......Dravid Gets Conflict of Interest Notice from BCCI Ethics Officer https://t.co/3cD6hc6vsv.

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) August 6, 2019

Tendulkar and Laxman were both members of the CAC earlier, while also being involved in different capacities with IPL franchises Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively. Separately, there was a conflict of issue complaint raised against former captain Sourav Ganguly, the third member of that CAC panel, who is president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, mentor of Delhi Capitals in the IPL, while also being a TV commentator.

Laxman and Ganguly were found to be in conflict in June. However, Jain ruled there was no issue of conflict against Tendulkar, after the latter submitted that he had decided not to be part of any BCCI committee, and had informed the board about it. As a result, the body was made defunct before being reconstituted with Kapil, Rangaswamy and Gaekwad.

As such, Rule 38 (4) of the BCCI constitution prevents individuals from holding more than one of 16 posts, which are listed therein. These are: Player (current), selector/member of cricket committee, team official, commentator, match official, administrator/office bearer, electoral officer, ombudsman & ethics officer, auditor, any person who is governance, management or employee of a franchisee, member of a standing committee, CEO & managers, office Bearer of a Member (state association), service provider (legal, financial etc.), contractual entity (broadcast, security, contractor etc.) and owner of cricket academy.

As for the Kapil-Rangaswamy-Gaekwad panel, the question of conflict came up because Kapil is also part of the steering committee on the newly formed Indian Cricketers' Association (ICA) where he is also one of directors. Incidentally, the ICA is funded by the BCCI. Kapil also works as an expert for Indian television channels. As for Gaekwad, it is alleged that in addition to working as a pundit on television channels, he is also part of the BCCI's Member Affiliation Committee, a sub-committee which grants membership to state associations. Gaekwad, too, is part of the ICA's steering group, as is Rangaswamy, who is also an ICA director.

The three of them, however, have been cleared and tasked with picking the next head coach of the senior Indian men's team. The decision is expected by mid-August.

Fast bowler Olly Stone has joined James Anderson and Mark Wood in the list of injured England fast bowlers after hurting his lower back during a training session on Tuesday.

The injury is a recurrence of the stress fracture in his lower back that ruled him out of England's Caribbean tour earlier this year.

Stone has been ruled out for at least two weeks - meaning he is likely to miss both the second and third Ashes Tests - and will undergo a scan on Wednesday afternoon to determine the exact severity of the injury.

"It's really disappointing for Olly that he's been ruled out of action for such an important two weeks of cricket because of a reoccurrence of his back injury," said Warwickshire's sport director Paul Farbrace.

"At the moment there's a bit of inflammation, but he will undergo a scan later this afternoon so that we know the full course of treatment that he can undertake with the club's medical team and with the support of the ECB.

"In the meantime, he needs to rest up before he can get his body strong again and ready to deal with the demands of being a fast bowler."

Stone's career has regularly been set back by injuries. In 2016, he suffered a freak knee injury while celebrating a wicket in the T20 Blast playing for Northamptonshire, which kept him out for over a year.

Last year, he broke into England's squads for the tour of Sri Lanka, and was picked for four ODIs, impressing with his pace despite only taking one wicket in his 16 overs.

But after being named in the Test squad to play the West Indies, he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back only days after arriving in Barbados.

Only weeks after making his comeback for Warwickshire in the County Championship, Stone took 3 for 29 on his Test debut against Ireland at Lord's, and according to coach Trevor Bayliss, was one of the bowlers in contention to come in for the injured Anderson in the second Ashes Test.

Stone's injury effectively leaves Jofra Archer and Sam Curran as the two candidates to replace Anderson at Lord's. Archer himself was sent away to "give him time to get absolutely ready and fit" as he continued his rehabilitation from a side strain suffered during the World Cup, but he proved his fitness by bowling 12.1 overs for Sussex's 2nd XI yesterday, taking 6 for 29 and adding a rapid century for good measure.

Another potential replacement, Lewis Gregory, who was named in the squad to play Ireland, is also out of contention after suffering a stress injury to a bone in his left foot.

WASHINGTON -- If the Nationals need a nickname for their stadium, they might want to consider "The Shark Tank." At least for as long as Gerardo Parra is on the team.

Seven weeks ago, Parra made the seemingly trivial decision to change his walk-up music. Released by the Giants in early May and signed by Washington shortly thereafter, the journeyman outfielder had been using "Contra La Pared" by Sean Paul and J. Balvin as his walk-up music ever since coming to D.C. But on June 19, prior to a doubleheader against the division-rival Phillies, Parra decided to mix things up -- wayyyyy up -- and walk to the plate to the tune of "Baby Shark."

If you're not familiar with "Baby Shark," it's the exact opposite of a traditional walk-up selection. It's not a thumping rap song that makes stadiums quake. It's not a ubiquitous hip-hop tune that gets people grooving in their seats. It's not a splashy reggaeton jam or a catchy country hit. Instead it's a child's song that, according to many people who don't have kids (and plenty who do), is annoying to the annoying power. It also happens to be Aaliyah Parra's favorite.

"My baby likes it," Gerardo Parra said of his 2-year-old daughter. Aaliyah is so into the song -- which rose to popularity thanks to Korean educational outfit Pinkfong and has a YouTube video that's garnered more than 3 billion views since its 2016 release -- that her father decided to give it a whirl as his walk-up.

Early returns were positive: Parra started Game 1 of that doubleheader against Philly, going 2-for-4 with a homer and helping his team to a sweep of the twin bill. Washington won its next two after that, as well as 13 of its next 17 contests heading into the All-Star Game. Although the Nats cooled off some after the Midsummer Classic, Parra didn't.

In the first two weeks after the break, the 32-year-old Venezuelan collected hits in five consecutive pinch-hit appearances, including a tiebreaking, two-run double against the Rockies that absolutely rocked The Shark Tank -- er, Nationals Park. It was during that stretch that Washington's game-day entertainment staff upped the walk-up ante, adding a videoboard clip of three mini-Parras snapping their arms to the music whenever he steps to the plate. The fans have eaten it up like sharks eating chum. Said second baseman Brian Dozier: "The crowd is very involved." They're not the only ones.

Recently, at the urging of Parra and Venezuelan pitcher Anibal Sanchez, whose locker is next to his close friend and countryman, the Nationals have turned "Baby Shark" into a celebration. Whenever a player hits a single, they turn to their teammates and start flashing the Baby Shark sign from first base (thumb and finger pinching together repeatedly). On a double, they go with Mommy Shark (left and right hand snapping together like a venus fly trap). For a triple or homer, it's a full-on Daddy Shark (arms and all). Parra's wacky walk-up has become so pervasive that even opponents have taken note.

According to Parra, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto was the first foe to give "Baby Shark" his seal of approval. "He told me it's a good song," said Parra, who says he's constantly getting rave reviews from rivals. "Every catcher tells me that. First basemen tell me they love it. People send me mail and tell me they love it. Everybody loves it."

For the Nationals, all that love has grown to the point where it's oozing off the field and into family life. When Dozier and his wife went to Bethany Beach, Delaware, during the All-Star break, they saw a Baby Shark T-shirt they simply couldn't resist. Despite not having a child of their own yet (they're due later this month), they bought the shirt and shipped it to their 18-month-old niece.

When manager Davey Martinez's granddaughter was in town recently, she came to a game in which Parra pinch hit and couldn't help but get caught up in the craze. That night, after the contest, Martinez came home and was forced by the toddler to watch the "Baby Shark" video on YouTube over and over and over. And over. "So yeah," Martinez said with a chuckle and a roll of his eyes, when asked if Parra pandemonium has blurred the line between professional and personal. "It has hit home."

Even though the Nationals have come back to earth lately, they enter play Wednesday holding the top wild-card spot in the National League. It's a position that was all but unimaginable a couple of months ago, when everyone thought Washington was toast after limping out to a 19-31 start. Although there's no shortage of reasons for the team's improbable turnaround (healthier stars, improved bullpen performance, kinder schedule), those inside the Nats clubhouse believe the wackiest of walker-uppers has a lot to do with it.

"Guys are playing with energy," closer Sean Doolittle said recently. "You see what goes on in the dugout sometimes, and I think Gerardo Parra is a big part of that. I think he brought an energy and flare, and guys are playing loose and confident right now."

Of course, nobody's looser than Baby Shark himself.

"I feel relaxed," Parra said about the impact of his theme song. "All the fans love it and my teammates like it. So everybody's relaxed. It works for me."

LAS VEGAS -- When Jaylen Brown got to town last weekend, he was looking forward to trying Mizumi, a high-end Japanese restaurant at the Wynn Hotel.

So on Sunday night, with three of his Boston Celtics teammates also preparing for Team USA training camp, he was pleased they decided to go together. But when Brown, Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart arrived, they were told they couldn't be seated because they were wearing shorts and flip-flops and there was a strict dress code.

"We were in Vegas; we thought we'd be fine," Brown said with a smile.

The group instead went to an Italian restaurant and had their first chemistry-building meal. And it was Tatum, by the way, who picked up the bill, despite it being Walker who just signed a $140 million deal.

"He'll get the next one, as long as it's not me," Brown joked. "That was the first time as a group we got a chance to sit down together. It was the first of many."

The shifting Team USA roster over the past several weeks enabled Brown and Smart to earn invites. Tatum was already on the roster, and Walker had committed before he signed with the Celtics in free agency. It all created an unexpected chance for the established Celtics to get time together with their new teammate.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens was scheduled to arrive late Tuesday, and he will get some time with his players, as well.

"I'm the new guy; they already know each other," Walker said. "They are just kind of reeling me in and getting me acclimated to how things go. With four of us here now, it gives us an opportunity to play with each other and learn each other's tendencies."

Left unsaid by the players in Vegas is that chemistry was an issue for the Celtics at times last season. Though this isn't a secret.

Walker's predecessor, Kyrie Irving, had issues with younger teammates and wasn't afraid to say so. Irving also wasn't afraid to say it with his play. Eventually, it became clear he was shopping for a new future as his relationship with now Brooklyn Nets teammate Kevin Durant intensified.

There also was some chafing in the locker room by the slack Stevens afforded Gordon Hayward as he struggled in return from an injury, among other intra-team challenges.

Walker is known for being both hardworking and low-key, but that doesn't mean there won't be an adjustment period. It's too early to say whether this time with Team USA will end up being positive, negative or neutral.

"It can only be positive for us because it's chemistry added," Brown said. "I just want to hoop. I don't want any politics. We're artists and this season is a new canvas."

There is, however, an unusual scenario in which the group is caught up. There aren't a lot of certainties with the Team USA roster. There will be some real competition for the 12 roster spots available for the FIBA World Cup -- which tips off Aug. 31 in China -- and the Celtics might find themselves competing against one another.

Walker is the lone All-NBA player on the roster and one of only three All-Stars, along with Khris Middleton and Kyle Lowry, making him a lock.

Tatum has a strong chance, as he was one of the handful of players on the original roster who kept his commitment to play this summer. But the young Celtics trio might force coach Gregg Popovich to make some difficult decisions.

In the first session of the week, Walker found himself trying to make a tying basket at the buzzer only to have Brown draped all over him to force a miss. In some ways, it isn't unlike an average NBA training camp practice with teammates wanting to beat one another.

But this isn't a team with guaranteed contracts. Some of these guys will be going home, and that's not a position they are used to.

"I'm not sure I think of it as competing for playing time and spots with them," Tatum said. "We're all grateful to be here. Hopefully, all four of us make it; that would be amazing. Me and [Brown] play one-on-one all the time, and we've always tried to push each other and it's been that way since day one. Ultimately, we have the same goal with our teams and here."

Popovich indicated Tuesday he was considering some players from the Select Team, who are in camp to help the senior team prepare and who vastly outplayed the veterans in a scrimmage. De'Aaron Fox and Joe Harris already have been promoted to play with the main squad, and Fox is looking like a legitimate contender to make the team. Trae Young, also on the Select Team, played well in the portion of practice that was open to media Tuesday.

The coach declined to say how he wanted to structure his team, whether he preferred an extra true center or wanted more versatile big men. With so many on the roster who play some version of the wing/stretch power forward position -- including Tatum, Brown, Smart, Middleton, Harris, Donovan Mitchell, Harrison Barnes, P.J. Tucker and Kyle Kuzma -- there might be three or four cuts in that group alone.

There's a chance this won't be a fairy tale for the Celtics -- that is, getting to send their new core to play overseas together and shorten the adjustment period for Walker's arrival. Then again, it could happen. And with the defensive versatility of Tatum, Brown and Smart, it's even possible they could play together for some stretches.

Either way, the four Celtics know this week presents an opportunity, and they're sharing that mindset.

"I just want to jell with those guys as best as I can, kind of get things going as fast as we can," Walker said. "Me being with those guys, it's pretty cool."