| This is the part where Paul Skenes is supposed to wake up. Won a College World Series at LSU ... Was last summer's No. 1 overall pick in the major league baseball draft ... Made meteoric rise to the majors this year with Pittsburgh Pirates ... In a power couple relationship with LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne ... Picked to play Tuesday's All-Star Game ... Picked to start said All-Star Game. 3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Wow. Apparently it isn't a dream, Paul. Good for you. The annoucement Friday that Skenes will take the mound to start for the National League on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, is just the latest amazing chapter in the amazing life of the former LSU ace, who has become a moustache-wearing, flamethrowing sensation midway through his rookie season. Where it all winds up after he starts Tuesday (7 p.m., Fox) is impossible to know. But one thing is true: watching to see how everything unfolds for Skenes (now 6-0 with the Pittsburgh Pirates with a shockingly low 1.90 ERA) is almost as fun as being Skenes must be. Almost. Skenes' is so good his success is starting to rub off on his former LSU teammates. Just kidding about that, but there's no kidding that Skenes' strength coach has helped turn LSU pitcher Gage Jump into a first-day prospect in this year's MLB draft, expected to see his named called in the first two rounds Sunday. And there's no kidding that fellow former Tigers Dylan Crews and Tre Morgan will also be in Arlington. Crews, who has risen to Triple-A ball with the Washington Nationals organization, is playing in the MLB All-Star Futures Game, while Morgan (High-A ball, Tampa Bay Rays organization) will take part in the inaugural Futures Skills Showcase. The All-Star Futures Game will be at 3:10 p.m. Saturday on the MLB Network. The Futures Skills Showcase will be shown on MLB at 9 a.m. Sunday. Back here in Baton Rouge, LSU on Friday announced the creation of a new subsidiary to the Tiger Athletic Foundation, its athletic fundraising entity, to help boost its NIL collective. Until now LSU's collective, called Bayou Traditions, has suffered a bit compared to collectives at rival schools. This is supposed to change that. If it all sounds a bit like tax code, well, welcome to the brave new world of college athletics. Our Reed Darcey does an admirable job here of making it all digestable for you. Finally, some news about what's happening with some other former LSU players on the court, as Sheldon Mickles tells you which ex-Tigers are taking part in the NBA Summer League. Speaking of summer, it's time we grab our gear and head out to the pool, but just for a little while. Team Advocate is about to fire up its Dallas Bureau, as Reed, Koki Riley and I will be heading to Big D for SEC Media Days and the All-Star Game. Our coverage starts Monday, so be sure to check us out throughout the week. Until then, here's hoping you have some All-Star level dreams yourself. Scott Rabalais | 