Aston Villa boss Unai Emery insists he is not the “king” of the Europa League as he bids to win the competition for a fifth time when his side face Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on Wednesday. Villa have impressed in Europe under the Spaniard, reaching the Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and the last eight of the Champions League last year, while they now stand just one game away from their first major trophy in 30 years.
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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery attends a press conference at Besiktas Park, ahead of Wednesday's UEFA Europa League final soccer match against SC Freiburg. Alex Caparros/PA Wire/dpa
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery insists he is not the “king” of the Europa League as he bids to win the competition for a fifth time when his side face Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on Wednesday.
Villa have impressed in Europe under the Spaniard, reaching the Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and the last eight of the Champions League last year, while they now stand just one game away from their first major trophy in 30 years.
Emery has been hailed as a specialist in the Europa League after winning it three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal but says past glories will count for nothing against Bundesliga side Freiburg at Besiktas Park.
He told a pre-match press conference on Tuesday: “I am not a king in this competition.
“I am now with Aston Villa in a new chapter and everything I did is done. It’s there in that moment, but with it I am not winning tomorrow.
“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we face tomorrow. So it’s a new way, a new moment and hopefully a new era.
“I don’t want to speak a lot about the thing we did before. Now, this year, and the matches we played before in the Conference League or in the Champions League, and they are showing the capacity to play at a high level.”
Emery has transformed Villa since he replaced Steven Gerrard in November 2022, taking them from battling relegation to fighting for titles.
His side now have a chance to cap a memorable season which has brought Champions League qualification with the club’s first major trophy since the 1996 League Cup and first continental crown since their European Cup triumph in 1982.
Emery knows his players will feel pressure but wants them to embrace the feeling of playing in high-profile matches like the one on Wednesday night.
He added: “This is a process. A process (for) how we could achieve, building the team and our structure.
“Now it’s a new experience we will have tomorrow. It’s very important how we manage our emotions and we’ve done it for a lot of matches and there are a lot of emotions.
“The pressure is here as well, but we must try to understand the pressure like something positive, not negative. And the pressure is when you are playing for something important. And of course we have experience here.”
Villa’s achievements this season have come after they failed to win any of their first six matches in all competitions and Emery, who admitted the slow start had him “really worried”, praised his players for bouncing back.
He added: “We started so poorly at the beginning of the season for different reasons. But how the players responded in the difficult moments was really amazing.
“We were mature in the difficult moments. This is the most important characteristic we had during the season – mature and responsible.
“I was worried at the beginning. Really worried. I was always trying to find solutions in each moment. I needed the players, I needed the work we did and the reaction we did. But we did it together.”
Real Madrid have identified Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot as an option to bolster their defence this summer, according to a new report from Spain.Jose takes the throneDespite a steady declin...
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Diogo Dalot: Real Madrid plot shock raid for Man United defender
Real Madrid have identified Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot as an option to bolster their defence this summer, according to a new report from Spain.
Jose takes the throne
Despite a steady decline which has taken him from Old Trafford back to Liga Portugal over the past decade, Mourinho is primed to return to the Spanish capital as Real Madrid’s new manager.
President Florentino Perez has personally picked the 63-year-old as the man to rescue Los Blancos after a dismal season at the Santiago Bernabeu – a decision which spits in the face of logic and reason.
The ‘Special One’ has not coached a top club since leaving United in 2018, with spells at Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma, and Fenerbahce leading him to his current haunt at SL Benfica.
The idea that an obstinate manager, with little appreciation nor understanding for the modern game, is going to provide the solution to the complicated problems unfolding in Madrid is one as fanciful as it is certain to end in tears.
But Perez is pushing ahead with his plan to appoint Mourinho, with the former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss already offering his thoughts on Real’s squad.
A key position to fill is right-back as long-term stalwart Dani Carvajal is set to leave after 13 years – and 27 trophies – at the club. This leaves Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has endured a difficult debut campaign in Spain, as the only option on that flank.
Dalot in the crosshairs
Spanish outlet Defensa Central claims Dalot is one of five options on Real’s radar, with the 26-year-old defender having been signed by Mourinho from Porto in 2018.
At the time, the Portuguese coach described his compatriot as the “best full-back in Europe” in that age group, and stated the Braga native could be United’s right-back for the next decade.
Eight years on, this has proven a prescient prediction, with Dalot the first-choice right-back under Michael Carrick. He is considered an important part of the dressing room, having been named part of the leadership team under previous incumbent, Ruben Amorim.
United are understood to be happy with the Portugal international and not looking to upgrade the position this summer. However, a report relayed by The Peoples Person claimed INEOS were open to cashing in if a “premium fee” was tabled.
Defensa Central states the other four targets are: Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), Wesley (Roma), Vanderson (AS Monaco), and Givairo Read (Feyenoord).
Final Thoughts
Despite being an unpopular figure with fans at times, Dalot has consistently been a key part of United’s squad under multiple coaches. He is also highly regarded by his national team manager, Roberto Martinez.
The 26-year-old possesses an excellent range of physical attributes: he is rarely ever injured, is an excellent figure in the dressing room, and is positionally versatile, capable of playing on both sides.
It would take a considerable offer for United to let him leave this summer, as a replacement would have to be sourced. However, the presence of Noussair Mazraoui would help soften this blow.
The Cleveland Browns roster continues to change with 2 tryout players signed and Markees Watts added in free agency
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Aug 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Markees Watts (58) at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
As always with GM Andrew Berry, the Browns roster remains in flux. At rookie minicamp, the first under new HC Todd Monken, Cleveland had 25 tryout players in Berea. Tuesday, the Browns roster saw six changes, including two of those tryout players signing to the 90-man roster:
Signed
WR Aaron Anderson
LB Reid Carrico
DE Markees Watts
Anderson and Carrico were among the tryout players at rookie camp, while Watts is entering his fourth season after spending the last three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last season, Watts played in 15 games, had nine tackles, one QB hit, and a half sack. He played just 26 snaps on defense, but 235 on special teams.
Waived
DT Bernard Gooden
TE Caden Prieskorn
WR Isaiah Wooden
Gooden was signed as an undrafted free agent shortly after the NFL draft. Prieskorn and Wooden signed future/reserve contracts after the 2025 season ended.
Jannik Sinner ranks first in 2026 tennis tournament winnings with $6.72 million. The world No. 1 has won all five Masters 1000 tournaments this year, earning more than $1 million for each championship. Sinner is up to fifth all-time in ATP career prize money, with a total of $64.7 million, and will enter next week’s …
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Jannik Sinner ranks first in 2026 tennis tournament winnings with $6.72 million. The world No. 1 has won all five Masters 1000 tournaments this year, earning more than $1 million for each championship. Sinner is up to fifth all-time in ATP career prize money, with a total of $64.7 million, and will enter next week’s French Open on a 29-match win streak as he seeks the career Grand Slam in Paris.
Elena Rybakina has earned the most tennis prize money of any woman in the 2026 season. She pocketed $2.77 million for winning the Australian Open in Melbourne, and she also made the final at Indian Wells to boost her total earnings by another $565,000. Rybakina has made $28.6 million in prize money during her career and now has two major titles.
Carlos Alcaraz sits just ahead of Rybakina in year-to-date on-court winnings. The Spaniard also took home $2.77 million for winning the Australian Open; that amount was up 19% from the previous year’s winner’s purse, but still the smallest payout of the four majors. Just 23 years old, Alcaraz is already fourth all-time in ATP career prize money won, with a total of $65 million. However, he’ll miss the French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury.
The next opportunity for players to earn big money will be the French Open, which will have a total purse of $72.1 million in 2026. The main draw begins this Sunday.
When tennis players participate in tournaments, they are compensated based on the round in which they lose, with payouts escalating somewhat exponentially as the player continues to win. A first-round loser at the 2025 Miami Open received $23,760, while the tournament runner-up won $598,000 and the champion $1.12 million.
Singles draws generally pay out more money than doubles draws, but singles players also pad their earnings by participating in doubles at events that feature both formats.
The money at stake in different tournaments varies greatly. Throughout the year, there are 250-level, 500-level and 1000-level events; the number refers to how many ranking points winners receive. Tournaments with more points on the line generally pay more money.
Which tennis tournament has the highest prize money?
The four majors—the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open—award 2,000 ranking points. They also have larger purses.
For instance, the 2025 U.S. Open allocated $5 million to each singles winner, while the 2025 Winston-Salem Open, an ATP 250 event, dished out $109,640 to its champion the prior week. Many pros also compete on the Challenger Tour, where players typically take home low five figures for winning an event.
Although the ATP Finals and WTA Finals at the end of the calendar draw much less public attention than the majors, they are extremely lucrative for the exclusive group of eight participants. In fact, the $5.07 million that Sinner earned for winning the 2025 ATP Finals is nearly the total he made for winning the 2025 Australian Open ($2.15 million) and 2025 Wimbledon ($4.12 million) combined.
Last year, 23 women and 30 men earned at least $2 million. The four majors have all paid both genders equally since 2007, but many marquee events in which men and women both play simultaneously still pay men far more. For instance, the Cincinnati Open paid out approximately $9.2 million to male players in 2025 and just $5.2 million to female players, while prize money disparities at lower-level tournaments are even worse.
In 2022, Iga Świątek was so dominant on the court that she nearly became the first woman to be the highest-paid tennis player in a single season since 2003, when Kim Clijsters ($4.47 million) out-earned Roger Federer ($4 million). In 2025, the gender pay gap at the top of the sport finally shrunk a little after having grown in recent years. The top 10 male players collectively earned $87.8 million in 2025 prior to bonus pool payouts, only 23% more than the $71.3 million earned by the top 10 female players.
In the global professional sports landscape, tennis still offers the most earning potential for women, as seven of the 10 highest-paid female athletes in 2025 played tennis. Many tournaments have committed to offering equal pay in the future, but there is still much work to be done to close the gap overall.
Male tennis stars also benefit significantly from ATP bonus pools, which share additional profits with the game’s top players, with payouts are predicated on year-end ranking and participation in a certain number of 1000-level tournaments. The pool ballooned to roughly $21 million in 2023, where it has roughly remained for 2024 and 2025.
Which tennis player has the most prize money?
For both genders, tennis is dominated financially by the elites. Last year, Alcaraz earned more than five times that of the 10th highest-paid man, Rudd, and Sabalenka earned more than five times that of the 10th highest-paid woman, Elise Mertens.
The ATP Finals and WTA Finals both had purses exceeding $15 million last year. These tournaments only include the top eight players in the rankings, which contributes to the top-heavy prize money distribution in tennis. They are essentially “rich get richer” events to end the season.
Novak Djokovic has won a record 24 Grand Slams along with seven ATP Tour Finals, with inflation giving him an additional boost over players from previous generations. He holds three of the top 10 prize money seasons of all time and has a $58 million lead over Rafael Nadal for the most career winnings. Djokovic’s lifetime prize money totals $193 million.
The NFL is taking the 2030 Super Bowl to Nashville and the Tennessee Titans' new Nissan Stadium after team owners voted Tuesday to hold the league's championship game in the Music City for the first time. Once the Titans broke ground on the $2.1 billion enclosed stadium, a Super Bowl being played in Nashville appeared to be only a matter of time. Commissioner Roger Goodell said in November that Nashville lacked only the stage after setting a new standard for the league's annual draft with record attendance for the 2019 draft.
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The NFL is taking the 2030 Super Bowl to Nashville and the Tennessee Titans' new Nissan Stadium after team owners voted Tuesday to hold the league's championship game in the Music City for the first time.
Once the Titans broke ground on the $2.1 billion enclosed stadium, a Super Bowl being played in Nashville appeared to be only a matter of time. Commissioner Roger Goodell said in November that Nashville lacked only the stage after setting a new standard for the league's annual draft with record attendance for the 2019 draft.
The Titans are on schedule to finish the new stadium directly across from the current Nissan Stadium in February, completing the three-year construction. Critics worried the planned capacity wasn't big enough to host a Super Bowl, though league officials were updated throughout the process.
Awarding the 2030 Super Bowl to Nashville gives the Titans three full seasons to work out any kinks.
Tuesday's announcement adds to the NFL's Super Bowl lineup of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, hosting in 2027, followed by Atlanta in 2028 and Las Vegas in 2029.
The NFL also announced that Minnesota will host the 2028 draft a decade after hosting its last Super Bowl in 2018. Pittsburgh drew a record 805,000 fans over three days this past April. Washington will host the 2027 NFL draft. Minnesota last hosted a Super Bowl in 2018.
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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Orlando, Florida, contributed to this report.
The 2026 WNBA season is still young, much like the rookies who are already bolstering some of the league’s top teams.
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The 2026 WNBA season is still young, much like the rookies who are already bolstering some of the league’s top teams.
Through two weeks of action, there have been plenty of reminders that new talent is nothing to underestimate.
No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd reached her career high as a pro in a blowout win on Monday, and she’s not the only newcomer to watch. This week, The New York Liberty rebounded from an unexpected loss with help from two of their own rookies.
Meanwhile, some teams don’t need any rookie assistance at all.
Where does Dallas stand? Is New York still on top?
Keep reading to find out where every team landed in comparison to Week 1 of the league’s 30th anniversary season (see the arrows), and come back next week, as USA TODAY Sports provides power rankings every Tuesday this season.
Note: All records and stats are through games played on Monday, May 18.
1. Las Vegas Aces (⬆1)Record: 4-1Rookie contributor: N/A
The reigning champs look dominant with a group so stacked that it’s hard to imagine a rookie finding minutes. Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson made history with her 45-point showing in a 101-94 win over the Sun on Friday. Chelsea Gray is also in postseason form, having put the team on her back to seal an 85-84 win at the Atlanta Dream on Sunday. It was the Aces’ third-straight win after turning in a no-show for their season-opener against the Phoenix Mercury. In addition to all of the Aces’ star power, Chennedy Carter has already scored a combined 97 points, the most by a player coming off the bench through the first five games of a WNBA season. Carter is brand new to the Aces and wasn’t in the league last season, but second-round pick Janiah Barker is the only rookie on the Aces’ roster. She’s been in concussion protocol since the team’s preseason opener and has yet to make her regular-season debut.
Up next: vs. Los Angeles (5/23), @ Dallas (5/28), @ Golden State (5/31
2. New York Liberty (⬇1)Record: 3-1Rookie contributor: Pauline Astier
As New York spends another season battling injury, a rookie whose name wasn’t called in the draft is coming up big. The Portland Fire beat the Liberty 98-96 on Tuesday. New York responded with a 100-82 win two days later, which they couldn’t have pulled off without Pauline Astier. The free agent rookie signee from France scored 20 points off the bench as Breanna Stewart led the Liberty with 22 points on Thursday. Starters Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally were out for a fourth straight game, and the performance brought Astier up to 67 total points across four games for the Liberty as Ionescu’s replacement. The undrafted rookie riches don’t end there for New York. Australian forward Alex Fowler (University of Portland) signed a developmental contract on Thursday, then scored 12 points in her debut to help the Liberty that same day.
Up next: vs. Golden State (5/21), vs. Dallas (5/24), vs. Portland (5/25)
3. Atlanta Dream (⬆2)Record: 2-1Rookie contributor: Madina Okot
Atlanta took a loss to the Aces but still moved up this week because of how formidable they looked as they pushed the defending champion to the brink in their home opener after a 77-72 road win over the Dallas Wings on Tuesday. Without Rhyne Howard (concussion protocol) and Brionna Jones (knee), the Dream got A=plus performances from Allisha Gray (25 points) and Te-Hina Paopao (19 points) and Jordin Canada (11 points, seven steals). 2026 second-round pick Madina Okot, one of the many South Carolina Gamecocks on the court that day, also turned in the first regular-season double-double of her career with 14 points and 11 rebounds. In the close loss to Las Vegas, blockbuster trade acquisition Angel Reese had 8 points on 1-of-8 shooting from the floor and eight turnovers. With more from Reese, the Dream will be a hard team to beat.
Jovana Nogic, another undrafted international rookie, is making history for Phoenix. The 28-year-old Serbian scored 27 points as the Mercury beat the Chicago Sky 91-83 on Friday night after blowing a 17-point lead in the second half. Prior to that game, the Mercury took an 88-84 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. Nogic has scored 64 points through her first four games with Phoenix, the third-most for any rookie in franchise history. Diana Taurasi (83) and Cappie Pondexter (85) are the only Mercury rookies with more points to start their WNBA careers. Kahleah Copper still leads the team in scoring and steals (17.8 ppg, 1.5 spg), while Alyssa Thomas averages a team-high 8.5 assists.
Up next: vs. Toronto (5/19), vs. Los Angeles (5/21), @ Atlanta (5/24)
5. Chicago Sky (⬆3)Record: 3-1Rookie contributor: Gabriela Jaquez
Aside from a 91-83 loss to Phoenix on Friday, Chicago closed out an otherwise strong week with a win on Sunday night. Rookie Gabriela Jaquez set career highs of 20 points and eight rebounds as the Sky beat the Lynx 86-79. In addition to the breakout performance from the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 draft out of UCLA, the Sky was aided by Kamilla Cardoso’s 11 points and 12 rebounds. Rickea Jackson, who went down with a non-contact injury midway through the second quarter against the Lynx and did not return, is out for the season with a torn ACL. Skylar Diggins (eye) was also sidelined for that game.
The Valkyries only had one game since our last rankings and lost it 69-63 to the Sky on Wednesday. Forward Gabby Williams had 18 points and five rebounds for Golden State in the defeat. They led by 12 early, but struggled offensively, shooting 22 for 75 from the field (29.3%). Janelle Salaun is the Valkyries' leading scorer with 15.7 points per game. Rookies Miela Sowah and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda haven’t logged enough minutes to make an impact.
Up next: @ New York (5/21), @ Indiana (5/22), vs Connecticut (5/25)
The Wings ended a rough week on a high-note by dominating the Washington Mystics 92-69 on Monday night after taking close losses to Atlanta and the Minnesota Lynx. There was a lot to like about Dallas’ victory, which was its first home win in three tries. The win served as a response to coach Jose Fernandez calling his players out publicly for “selfishness.” He didn’t have to make any such comments on Monday, as the team had a season-high 30 assists. No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd scored a season-high 12 points in 24 minutes off the bench, which Fernandez said will help her earn a larger role eventually. Fudd’s former UConn teammate Paige Bueckers added 18 points and seven assists against the Mystics, making four of her five 3-point attempts. Arike Ogunbowale scored 16 points, and Jessica Shepard added 16 rebounds to tie the league's single-game high for this season.
Up next: @ Chicago (5/20), @ Atlanta (5/22), @ New York (5/24)
8. Washington Mystics (⬆3)Record: 2-2Rookie contributor: Cotie McMahon
The Mystics are a young team. All of their major stat leaders — other than Shakira Austin (1.7 blocks per game) — boast two or fewer years of experience. Sonia Citron continues to shine with 24.3 points per game, while Kiki Iriafen dominates with a league-high 12.8 rebounds per game. The team’s youth was on display in their loss to the Wings on Monday night. That said, rookie forward Cotie McMahon, selected 11th overall out of Ohio State, had a promising debut for the team a few days later: She scored 13 points in the team’s 104-102 overtime win over the Fever on Friday. It was her first game playing for the team after recovering from a partially torn UCL in her elbow. She made an immediate impact, as five of those points came in overtime. Rookie Rori Harmon, selected 34th overall out of Texas, is an honorable mention. She leads the team with 1.7 steals per game this season.
Up next: @ Seattle (5/24), @ Seattle 5/27, vs. Los Angeles (5/29)
Indiana hasn’t been pitted against any contenders yet this season. They beat the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday and rolled past the Seattle Storm on Sunday but fell to the Mystics in overtime despite Caitlin Clark’s 32 points. Clark has been setting records this season for the Fever, which hasn’t seen any key rookie performances so far this year. After joining the team as the No. 10 overall pick out of South Carolina, Raven Johnson scored four points in her debut with the team and has gone scoreless since. It’s possible that coach Stephanie White is allowing Johnson plenty of time to get acclimated, but Lexie Hull and Tyasha Harris certainly seem to be well favored over her as far as backcourt rotations go.
Up next: vs. Portland (5/20), vs. Golden State (5/22)
10. Minnesota Lynx (⬇1, 2-2) Last seven days: @ Phoenix (5/12), @ Dallas (5/14), vs. Chicago (5/17) Rookie contributor: Olivia Miles
Olivia Miles, the No. 2 overall pick out of TCU, is averaging 15.5 points per game and a team-high 5.8 assists per game for Minnesota. Her seamless transition to the WNBA has earned her endorsements from Courtney Williams and coach Cheryl Reeve. Miles scored 13 points in the Lynx’s 86-79 loss to Chicago on Sunday. That was tied for her season low, but she added a season-high four steals. In the game prior, a 90-86 win over the Wings, Miles had 15 points and six assists. Williams has described Miles as the “captain of the ship.”
Up next: vs. Toronto (5/21), @ Chicago 5/23
11. Toronto Tempo (⬆2)Record: 2-2Rookie contributor: Kiki Rice
Over the last week, the Tempo beat the Seattle Storm 86-73 on Wednesday, lost to the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday and then rebounded with a win over the Sparks two days later. To support Brittney Sykes’ career-high 38 points in the 106-96 victory on Sunday, rookie Kiki Rice added 19 in her first start for the team. Rice shot 5-of-8 from the field and had zero turnovers in 35 minutes, leading Tempo coach Sandy Brondello to praise her IQ and poise. In a reminder of just how quickly things move in women’s basketball, UCLA women's basketball coach Cori Close watched Rice courtside, only a month since Close coached Rice as part of UCLA’s first NCAA title winner.
Up next: @ Phoenix (5/19), @ Minnesota (5/21), vs. Portland (5/23)
12. Portland Fire (⬆2)Record: 2-2Rookie contributor: N/A
Portland didn't get to ride the high of its first win for long, but it was still one for the books. Bridget Carleton 's 26 points led the 98-96 victory over New York on Tuesday, punctuated by a walk-off game-winner from Sarah Ashlee Barker. Of course, the Liberty avenged the loss on Thursday, but the Fire got their back in win column against the Connecticut Sun Monday night. Carleton and Barker had 18 points each in the 83-82 win. Although rookies Frieda Bühner (Germany), and Serah Williams have seen limited time on the court, the Fire is still getting use of a different kind of draftee. Carleton was the No. 1 pick in April's expansion draft and Barker was the No. 18 pick.
Up next: @ Indiana (5/20), @ Toronto (5/23), @ New York (5/25)
13. Los Angeles Sparks (⬇1)Record: 1-3Rookie contributor: N/A
The arrival of guard Kelsey Plum via trade from the Aces last offseason was meant to signify a new era for the Sparks, but they’re off to a 1-3 start for the third straight year. Their only win so far was a 99-95 victory over Toronto on Friday. Their other results in the past week were an 87-78 loss to the Fever and a 106-96 loss to Toronto. It’s not that Plum is struggling offensively. She’s averaging 26.8 points and 5.5 assists. In the frontcourt, Dearica Hamby (17.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and Nneka Ogwumike (16.5 ppg, 6.8 rpg) are also recording solid stats. Rookie Ta'Niya Latson hasn’t gotten much time, and has been limited to two points in her WNBA career so far.
Up next: @ Phoenix (5/21), @ Las Vegas (5/23)
14. Seattle Storm (⬇4)Record: 1-3Rookie contributor: Flau'jae Johnson
The Storm took two losses in the past week, falling 86-73 at Toronto on Wednesday and 89-78 at Indiana on Sunday. Natisha Hiedeman scored 19 points to lead the Storm against the Fever, and rookie guard Flau'jae Johnson added 14. Johnson, the No. 8 overall pick out of LSU, leads the team in steals (1.5 per game) while also averaging 12.3 points per game. Center Dominique Malonga missed the game against the Fever due to concussion protocol. Once she returns, the Storm won’t be far from the arrival of rookie center Awa Fam, the No. 3 pick in the WNBA draft. Fam’s contract was temporarily suspended as she played overseas.
Up next: vs. Connecticut (5/20), vs. Connecticut (5/22), vs. Washington (5/24)
15. Connecticut Sun (⬌) Record: 0-5Rookie contributor: Charlisse Leger-Walker
It obviously doesn't help to face the defending champions twice in a week, but Connecticut is still in search of a win this season. They fell to the Aces 98-69 on Wednesday and 101-94 on Friday, then had a chance in Portland on Monday night that fell out of their fingertips at the charity stripe. They shot 11-of-20 from the free throw line in that 5-point loss. Forward Aneesah Morrow is the standout, as she leads the team in two categories (14.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg). Connecticut's most productive rookie right now is Charlisse Leger-Walker, a second-round pick out of UCLA. She scored 10 points in each of the team's last two games.
Up next: @ Seattle (5/20), @Seattle (5/22), @ Golden state (5/25)
The BVB star has reportedly made the cut for Germany.
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BREMEN, GERMANY - MAY 16: Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund looks on Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund at Weserstadion on May 16, 2026 in Bremen, Germany. (Photo by Pau Barrena/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha suffered a torn lateral ligament on March 22nd, the 25-year-old’s status for the World Cup was immediately thrust into doubt. According to a report from Sport Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), though, Nmecha has done enough to stave off his injury and has earned a spot with the German national team:
Following his knee injury in March which put his World Cup chances in doubt, Felix Nmecha has won his race against time and is back to full fitness. Julian Nagelsmann has informed the midfielder that he will be included in the World Cup squad.
Nmecha figures to be in competition for a starting spot because Germany’s midfield is far from settled. With Joshua Kimmich likely to be at right-back, Nmecha could be competing with players like Leon Goretzka, Aleksandar Pavlović, and others for playing time or even a starting role.
It should be noted that nothing has been released by the German national team as of yet, so all of this could change and should be considered unofficial.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Tyrone Burrus Jr. is working hard to make good on a bright future at IU. The Warren Central grad also took time to give back.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana football edge rusher and Indianapolis native Tyrone Burrus Jr., returned home to the east side Tuesday for a morning at Sunny Heights Elementary. Burrus started his day reading to a second-grade classroom, before he walked the halls and spent some time playing the noodles toss game and tug-of-war at the school's field day.
"It feels great. I've been around, went back to my old high school, stuff of that nature," Burrus said. He also made note of his impact on younger generations, "It's definitely a different feeling, when even younger people I haven't seen or spoke to knows my name and stuff like that. So it's just been great, just giving out as much advice as I can."
A Warren Central graduate, Burrus was one of the premier defensive players in the state during his senior season. According to 247Sports, he was the No. 9 player in the state's class of 2025, regardless of position. Burrus originally committed to Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals in June of 2024, before flipping his commitment to Indiana less than five months later. He instantly became the second-highest rated high school recruit of the cycle for Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers.
For Burrus though, it meant something extra staying home and playing for Indiana. He relishes the opportunity to wear the cream and crimson, and the ability to play in front of friends and family — all of which he said made his decision easier.
In his freshman campaign at Indiana he did see some early action, but is poised to see an increased role going forward in Bryant Haines' defensive scheme. He took some time to acknowledge some of the upperclassmen that have played key roles in his early development, notably Daniel Ndukwe and Mikail Kamara. For next year, Burrus plans on carving out a spot for himself on the outside of the defensive line.
The Warren Central graduate praised the coaching staff, mentioning a very specific coach by name.
"They're really open and available, especially my position coach, Buddha (Williams)." Burrus said. He continued on coach Buddha Williams, "He reviews on his own time. He tells me exactly what I need done, and next practice I get it done, and we just keep moving forward."
Now with a year under his belt, Burrus knows what to expect from the Indiana system. He knows he'll be ready when his name is called.
"I'm just always ready to step up, so that's really my mindset," he said.
Tyrone Burrus Jr. is working hard to make good on a bright future at IU. The Warren Central grad also took time to give back.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana football edge rusher and Indianapolis native Tyrone Burrus Jr., returned home to the east side Tuesday for a morning at Sunny Heights Elementary. Burrus started his day reading to a second-grade classroom, before he walked the halls and spent some time playing the noodles toss game and tug-of-war at the school's field day.
"It feels great. I've been around, went back to my old high school, stuff of that nature," Burrus said. He also made note of his impact on younger generations, "It's definitely a different feeling, when even younger people I haven't seen or spoke to knows my name and stuff like that. So it's just been great, just giving out as much advice as I can."
A Warren Central graduate, Burrus was one of the premier defensive players in the state during his senior season. According to 247Sports, he was the No. 9 player in the state's class of 2025, regardless of position. Burrus originally committed to Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals in June of 2024, before flipping his commitment to Indiana less than five months later. He instantly became the second-highest rated high school recruit of the cycle for Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers.
For Burrus though, it meant something extra staying home and playing for Indiana. He relishes the opportunity to wear the cream and crimson, and the ability to play in front of friends and family — all of which he said made his decision easier.
In his freshman campaign at Indiana he did see some early action, but is poised to see an increased role going forward in Bryant Haines' defensive scheme. He took some time to acknowledge some of the upperclassmen that have played key roles in his early development, notably Daniel Ndukwe and Mikail Kamara. For next year, Burrus plans on carving out a spot for himself on the outside of the defensive line.
The Warren Central graduate praised the coaching staff, mentioning a very specific coach by name.
"They're really open and available, especially my position coach, Buddha (Williams)." Burrus said. He continued on coach Buddha Williams, "He reviews on his own time. He tells me exactly what I need done, and next practice I get it done, and we just keep moving forward."
Now with a year under his belt, Burrus knows what to expect from the Indiana system. He knows he'll be ready when his name is called.
"I'm just always ready to step up, so that's really my mindset," he said.
The IHSAA girls tennis postseason begins with sectionals this week. Follow along here for brackets and results for each East Central Indiana team.
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The IHSAA girls tennis postseason begins this week with sectional tournaments around the state.
Three local schools are set to host, with Sectional 29 at New Castle, Sectional 53 at Jay County and Sectional 54 at Delta. All three will begin play on Wednesday, May 20, with the Sectional 53 and 54 championships set for Thursday, May 21, and the Sectional 29 championship set for Friday, May 22.
Ten East Central Indiana schools will compete across four total sectionals: Blue River Valley, New Castle and Shenandoah in Sectional 29; Blackford in Sectional 49 at Marion; Jay County and Winchester Community in Sectional 53; and Delta, Muncie Burris, Muncie Central and Yorktown in Sectional 54.
The three ECI host schools of Delta, Jay County and New Castle each won their respective sectionals last season. This year, Delta seeks its 15th straight sectional title, Jay County seeks its sixth straight, and New Castle seeks its third straight.
Serie A side Napoli are in the hunt for a possible replacement for Antonio Conte, who is set to leave after the last game of the season. While Maurizio Sarri seems like the Partenopei’s favourite, M...
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Milan’s Max Allegri among candidates to become Napoli manager
Serie A side Napoli are in the hunt for a possible replacement for Antonio Conte, who is set to leave after the last game of the season. While Maurizio Sarri seems like the Partenopei’s favourite, Max Allegri is also in the fray.
La Gazzetta dello Sport have reported that even if Allegri’s renewal at Milan will be triggered if they qualify for the Champions League, it isn’t certain he will stay.
He wants the Rossoneri to meet several demands a failure to satisfy that will lead to his departure. It is believed Igli Tare is much more supportive of him than Zlatan Ibrahimovic but is on the verge of leaving. This is causing concern for Allegri, who wants a supportive sporting director. If Ibrahimovic ends up staying, the manager will also seek to leave.
This will leave Napoli as a major option. He is in the mix to become their next manager and Napoli have tried to sign him in the past. There are no wage concerns as Antonio Conte earns more than Allegri and the Milan boss will fit right into their wage bill as well.
Aurelio de Laurentiis is always keen on hiring recognised managers and he does have a liking for Allegri, which makes this a very interesting decision for him.
Italy option should tempt Allegri
Napoli can be a good option for a two-year period for Allegri but the Azzurri want a manager like him. The job has increasingly been demanding pragmatists and Allegri is clearly one and for years now, he hasn’t felt like a manager who can win league titles.
He is still very much a manager who deals in cups and thrives in knockout scenarios. That is why Italy would be a sensible jump and there couldn’t be a better time for that.
The Miami Dolphins had an OTA open to media on Tuesday, May 19. Here’s what we observed.
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MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins had an OTA open to the media on Tuesday, May 19, at the Baptist Health Training Complex.
“I want everything run a certain way,” Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said before practice. “Now is the time to get everything exactly how we want it. How we practice.”
Here are some notes and quotes:
WR Chris Bell (knee) worked on the side.RB De’Von Achane was in attendance but mostly observed. He seemed to be walking around fine with a helmet in hand.
First-year head coach Jeff Hafley was active. In one drill he had a pad on his arm and was violently trying to knock the ball out of players’ arms.
Rookie Caleb Douglas stands out as a bigger target among smaller receivers like Tutu Atwell, Malik Washington and Kevin Coleman. Douglas went high to catch a pass from Cam Miller over the middle.
JuJu Brents had a pass defense of an attempt from Malik Willis to Malik Washington. Brents is an impressive athlete. When healthy, he had the talent as a capable starter.
Dante Trader had coverage on an incompletion from Quinn Ewers to Tahj Washington.
Dante Trader intercepted Malik Willis over the middle after a tipped ball.
Kyle Louis had an interception return for a TD on rookie Mark Gronowski.
Can Miller had Tahj Washington open on a deep ball but it was just a tad long and through his hands.
Aaron Brewer and Jordyn Brooks, seeking contracts, were present
Cornerback Alex Austin had a pass breakup.
Team bonding and likely staying out on West Coast is a great opportunity and the Dolphins did express interest in back to back West Coast games to NFL schedule makers, Hafley said.
The UW-Oshkosh 4x100 relay team made history, becoming the first NCAA Division III team to break 39 seconds. See the record run here.
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LA CROSSE – The UW-Oshkosh 4x100 relay team accomplished something that had never been done at the Division III level.
It broke 39 seconds in the event with a time of 38.96 which is a NCAA Division III record. The record was set by Davian Williams, Dylan Doss, Londyn Little and Nolan Milas at the UW-La Crosse Final Qualifier on Wednesday, May 13. In the same race, UW-La Crosse also broke the previous record with a time of 39.36. According to a UW-Oshkosh press release, it’s the fastest relay race in Division III history.
The 2026 Division III outdoor track and field championships will be held in La Crosse at Veteran’s Memorial Field Sports Complex from May 21 – May 23. It’s there that the UW-Oshkosh 4x100 relay team will compete against the nation's best. As a school, UW-Oshkosh will be well represented with a total of 21 men’s and women’s athletes qualifying and will compete across 15 events.
Contact or send game stats/info to Ben Schultz at BSchultz@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @benschultz52.
The UW-Oshkosh 4x100 relay team made history, becoming the first NCAA Division III team to break 39 seconds. See the record run here.
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LA CROSSE – The UW-Oshkosh 4x100 relay team accomplished something that had never been done at the Division III level.
It broke 39 seconds in the event with a time of 38.96 which is a NCAA Division III record. The record was set by Davian Williams, Dylan Doss, Londyn Little and Nolan Milas at the UW-La Crosse Final Qualifier on Wednesday, May 13. In the same race, UW-La Crosse also broke the previous record with a time of 39.36. According to a UW-Oshkosh press release, it’s the fastest relay race in Division III history.
The 2026 Division III outdoor track and field championships will be held in La Crosse at Veteran’s Memorial Field Sports Complex from May 21 – May 23. It’s there that the UW-Oshkosh 4x100 relay team will compete against the nation's best. As a school, UW-Oshkosh will be well represented with a total of 21 men’s and women’s athletes qualifying and will compete across 15 events.
Contact or send game stats/info to Ben Schultz at BSchultz@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @benschultz52.
NFL owners awarded Nashville the bid to host Super Bowl LXIV, which would take place in 2030. Nashville would become one of 21 cities that have hosted the championship game.
Here's what to know about the Super Bowl in Music City.
Why has Nashville never hosted a Super Bowl?
This would mark the city's very first time hosting the NFL's most prestigious game. Over the last two decades, the league has broadened the championship event's appeal. Since 2010, five cities that had never hosted the Super Bowl have taken their turn welcoming it.
In November 2025, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated that he had "every expectation you're going to see that type of thing in the future" in Nashville, referring to a Super Bowl. Officials from the city and the Tennessee Titans also demonstrated to the NFL their capability to host major events, as shown by the 2019 NFL Draft.
Why is Nashville hosting a Super Bowl now?
The largest contributor to Nashville's potential success in hosting the Super Bowl will be the soon-to-be-completed Nissan Stadium. Construction on the stadium began in 2024 and won't be completed until February 2027.
In total, the new stadium will cost $2.1 billion once it is complete.
Nashville is not only aiming to host the Super Bowl, but also other significant sports events. The Nashville Sports Council has announced plans to seek the opportunity to host the national championship game for the College Football Playoff and the men's college basketball Final Four. Additionally, there have been indications that WWE's WrestleMania will take place at the newly built Nissan Stadium.
NFL owners awarded Nashville the bid to host Super Bowl LXIV, which would take place in 2030. Nashville would become one of 21 cities that have hosted the championship game.
Here's what to know about the Super Bowl in Music City.
Why has Nashville never hosted a Super Bowl?
This would mark the city's very first time hosting the NFL's most prestigious game. Over the last two decades, the league has broadened the championship event's appeal. Since 2010, five cities that had never hosted the Super Bowl have taken their turn welcoming it.
In November 2025, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated that he had "every expectation you're going to see that type of thing in the future" in Nashville, referring to a Super Bowl. Officials from the city and the Tennessee Titans also demonstrated to the NFL their capability to host major events, as shown by the 2019 NFL Draft.
Why is Nashville hosting a Super Bowl now?
The largest contributor to Nashville's potential success in hosting the Super Bowl will be the soon-to-be-completed Nissan Stadium. Construction on the stadium began in 2024 and won't be completed until February 2027.
In total, the new stadium will cost $2.1 billion once it is complete.
Nashville is not only aiming to host the Super Bowl, but also other significant sports events. The Nashville Sports Council has announced plans to seek the opportunity to host the national championship game for the College Football Playoff and the men's college basketball Final Four. Additionally, there have been indications that WWE's WrestleMania will take place at the newly built Nissan Stadium.
It’s interesting to watch shifts in public opinion, particularly when it comes to the outlook for NFL teams. On April 18, when the Cincinnati Bengals traded the No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter…
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It’s interesting to watch shifts in public opinion, particularly when it comes to the outlook for NFL teams.
Now, one month later, ESPN’s Peter Schrager predicts the Bengals will be a popular choice to win the AFC championship.
“This is going to be the trendy pick for a lot of people for Super Bowl out of the AFC,” Schrager said Tuesday on “Get Up.” “Not only did they spend the fourth-most in the free-agent market … which is not Bengals football, they bring back 11 starters on offense.”
What changed?
It’s difficult to understand what prompted the sudden shift in outlook for Cincinnati.
The Bengals had a solid, if unspectacular, draft, despite not having a first-round pick. They took Texas A&M EDGE Cashius Howell in the second round and Washington cornerback Tacario Davis in the third round. Both picks are attempts to shore up a defense that finished 31st in yards allowed last season.
Schrager mentioned the addition of free agents Jonathan Allen (defensive tackle) and Bryan Cook (safety) to go along with Lawrence. Those moves, along with the free-agent signings of Boye Mafe (EDGE) and Kyle Dugger (safety), came before the Lawrence trade, however.
Schrager also discussed the instability in Cincinnati’s division. AFC North rivals Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh have new coaches heading into 2026.
“The Bengals seem to be the stable situation,” he said. “And Burrow being on site there at minicamp, there’s a lot of reason to be optimistic about the Bengals.”
What’s the truth?
The Bengals’ defense should be improved. So far, though, the team has done nothing to upgrade a poor linebacking corps. Rookie starters Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. ranked 85th and 83rd, respectively, among 88 qualifying linebackers in Pro Football Focus’ 2025 overall grades.
Still, the defense’s move toward the middle of the pack would give Burrow and his offensive weapons — receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and running back Chase Brown — all the help they need.
Ultimately, it comes down to Burrow’s health. If he plays 17 games, Cincinnati is likely to end a three-year postseason drought. If he doesn’t, they probably won’t.
But a Super Bowl berth following a 6-11 season? We’ll believe that when we see it.
Here's when the Detroit Lions will play all three of their exhibition contests ahead of the 2026 regular season.
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Dates and times for the Detroit Lions' three preseason games for 2026 have officially been set.
The Lions will start their exhibition schedule with a road contest at the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 13 at 7 p.m. They'll welcome the Washington Commanders to Ford Field on Aug. 22 at noon, and they'll close the slate by visiting the Indianapolis Colts on Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
In recent years, the Lions have participated in joint practices with at least one of their preseason opponents. In 2025, it was the Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. That won't be the case in 2026, as the team decided to axe joint practices, with Lions coach Dan Campbell explaining "it just felt counterproductive."
"I felt like we got two really good years of it. Like, man, we're really getting something out of this. Then, as it kind of went on, we got into that third year … it didn't feel like we were getting what I thought we would get out of it. … We would have gotten an extra practice and we'd have gotten more done had we just gone against ourselves," Campbell said in March.
"I want to kind of keep this about us. Let's go to work, set the schedule up and we can hit everything. We don't have to get ready for the next opponent in a joint practice, we go right through it. We've got first down, we've got third down, we've got red zone, we've got backed up, we've got four minute, we've got two minute, we've got situational work, we've got special teams involved, mock games. And let's just go."
The Lions under Campbell have typically opted against playing their starters in the preseason. Campbell, however, indicated the team could "play some of these guys in the preseason more than we have," given the absence of joint practices, which is usually where the starters have gotten most of their work.
Don’t expect the 49ers to part ways with Kyle Shanahan or John Lyncy anytime soon.
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 07: (L-R) General manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan look on during San Francisco 49ers practice ahead of Super Bowl LVIII at Fertitta Football Complex on February 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Opinions aren’t split about the San Francisco 49ers brass. In fact, 71% of our poll voters believed John Lynch was the right man for the job. This was after Lynch and Kyle Shanahan caught flak, as they tend to do around NFL Draft time, for selecting a couple of players higher than what was expected against the consensus.
When you look at the hit rates in each round of the NFL Draft, the 49ers are in line or exceeding expectations compared to the rest of the league. The one round that’s done them in? The most important one. Naturally, that’s what most will remember.
Even if Ricky Pearsall or Mykel Williams don’t live up to their draft status, NFL Insider Tom Pelissero said on The Rich Eisen Show that we shouldn’t expect the 49ers to part ways with Lynch or Shanahan anytime soon:
I don’t see a world where John Lynch ever gets fired by the San Francisco 49ers. Same thing with Kyle Shanahan. They stabilized that franchise after; if you remember how things were for several years before they got there, it was a constant churn. It was the end of the Jim Harbaugh era, which became the Jim Tomsula era, which became the Chip Kelly era. The 49ers are competitive year after year.
The 49ers have become one of the most successful franchises of the 2020s. The organization feels like it should have some hardware to show for it. They’ve been on the doorstep of a championship on more than one occasion. Barring their most important players getting hurt, this team has been a shoo-in for a postseason appearance.
Pelissero continued, this time speaking about the moves the team has made:
They certainly, I think it’s fair to say, have supplemented a lot through trades and, at times, free agency because they’ve had some misses in the draft. I know there was a minor uprising in the media and among fans because you take De’Zhaun Stribling with your second-round pick, and that’s the starting point for your entire draft.
They’ve been really good at drafting guys on Day 3. Brock Purdy, of course, was a pick there, along with guys like George Kittle and Fred Warner, who were not first-round picks. At the top of the draft, the bang for buck hasn’t always been there.
The 49ers have built a strong enough foundation through their stars that has given them a long enough leash. It’s how they’ve maintained success without hitting on a first-rounder this decade. Purdy saving the day certainly helps.
Pelissero believes it’s more likely that Lynch would pursue something else than being fired:
I don’t think it’s a matter of whether you fire John Lynch. If anything, at some point, could John Lynch decide, ‘I’ve had enough, and I’m going to walk away. I’m going to go into an emeritus role?’ They’re structured differently, too, because Kyle Shanahan has such a huge voice in everything they’re doing. They’ve also got a lot of accomplished front office people.
Pelissero used trades like Christian McCaffrey. There’s Trent Williams. Even the process of acquiring Dee Ford was a good one. The same is true for Emmanuel Sanders. The 49ers have taken swings. If I were a fan of a team, I’d want my front office to be aggressive.
When that’s the case, you can expect several misses. But if that’s the mindset and the approach is consistent, you’re going to end up with several hits. And that explains the 49ers roster.
Which is why Pelissero finished where he began, by saying, “No, I don’t think John Lynch gets fired.”
Kevin Stefanski gives update on Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. as OTAs begin
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The Atlanta Falcons are kicking off OTAs under new head coach Kevin Stefanski, but all eyes are on third-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. The former top-10 pick has returned to the field six months after having ACL surgery.
Atlanta's new head coach was asked about Penix's health during a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
"Stefanski said Penix is able to do more and more football-related things now on the field, as the staff works hand in hand with the medical team," wrote ESPN's Marc Raimondi. "He said Penix will do individual drills today and 7 on 7. No team sessions, but that's coming, Stefanski said"
The Falcons are rightfully being cautious with Penix, but at this point, it would be a surprise if he's not good to go by the time training camp rolls around. Stefanski said his main goal in working with quarterbacks is "making sure they are efficient in what they are doing"
Stefanski also gave an update on second-year cornerback Billy Bowman Jr., who tore his Achilles in the middle of the 2025 season.
"You'll see him out there going through walk-throughs, off to the side," said Stefanski. "But he's doing really well."
Stefanski on Billy Bowman: You'll see him out there going through walk-throughs, off to the side. But he's doing really well. #Falcons
Caitlin Clark finally is going to the Indianapolis 500 and she’ll do it in style — giving the starting command before the sold-out race.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Caitlin Clark finally is going to the Indianapolis 500 and she’ll do it in style — giving the starting command before the sold-out race.
Race organizers announced they had chosen the two-time WNBA All-Star as this year’s grand marshal. Her basketball schedule had prevented the former Iowa star from previously participating in race week activities.
Last May, the Fever played a home game the day before a rare Indianapolis 500-Indiana Pacers race day doubleheader. They also played on race weekend during her rookie season in 2024. This week, though, they host the expansion Portland Fire and Golden State before getting a six-day break.
“I’m honored to represent Gainbridge as grand marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
The Indiana Fever star has helped push women’s basketball to new heights in both the college and professional ranks, routinely attracting sellout crowds and prompting some opponents to move games to larger venues.
Clark was the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick in 2024 and earned the league’s Rookie of the Year Award that season, breaking multiple records including the WNBA’s single season assists mark. She also is the NCAA’s career scoring leader and recently became the first player in WNBA history to record a second double-double with 30 or more points and 10 or more assists.
Earlier this year, Clark also was selected MVP of the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament as she returned from an injury-plagued second pro season.
She joins a long list of celebrities who have given the starting command at the Brickyard. Among those are former baseball stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, award-winning singer Blake Shelton, actor Dylan Sprouse and actor Stephanie Beatriz.
“Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 race day with Caitlin,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said. “Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle.”
Clark has been a brand ambassador for Gainbridge, a race sponsor that also holds naming rights to the home arena of the Fever, since her senior year in college. She’s currently appearing in a second ad campaign with the company.
Jim Wilson found the top performances for readers to vote on to decide the Hometeam Girls' Lacrosse Player of the Week.
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There were plenty of tremendous performances last week in the Central Mass. girls' lacrosse season, and Jim Wilson found some of the best of them for readers to vote on to decide the Hometeam Girls' Lacrosse Player of the Week.
Congratulations to Grafton's Brooke Willar for taking the top spot in last week's poll, recording 8,780 votes to top St. Bernard's Emily Terho (7,169 votes) and Tyngsborough's Kenley Gustafson (3,171 votes) for the honor. .
These picks were selected from performances reported by area coaches to the Hometeam Scoreboard. Coaches or administrators are encouraged to report game results and highlights each night by calling the T&G sports desk at 508-793-9350 or emailing sports@telegram.com.
Sydney Balewicz, Nashoba
Balewicz had five goals and three assists in an 18-6 win over Leominster and added a hat trick in a 15-5 win over Oakmont.
Kara Bennett, North Middlesex
Bennett had seven goals and two assists as the Patriots got past Groton-Dunstable, 16-7.
Caroline Caiozzo, Bromfield School
Caiozzo had three goals and one assist as the Trojans outlasted Tyngsborough, 12-9.
Morgan Charbonnier, Hopedale
Charbonnier had a hat trick as the Blue Raiders fell to Auburn, 14-6.
Shea Domolky, Algonquin
Domolky had four goals and one assist to propel the Titans to a 16-12 win over Grafton.
Maille Fluharty, St. Bernard's
Fluharty had five goals and four assists in a 16-13 loss to Notre Dame Academy, had five goals in a 16-1 rout of Nashoba Tech and added three goals and an assist as the Bernardians fell to Nipmuc, 16-5.
Mackenzie Gage, Westborough
Gage had four goals, an assist and two draw controls as the Rangers edged Longmeadow, 14-13.
Juliette Gelinas, Oakmont
Gelinas had six goals and two assists in a 16-10 win over Groton-Dunstable, four goals in a 16-7 win over Littleton and two goals in a 15-5 loss to Nashoba.
Kelley Gustafson, Tyngsborough
The eighth-grader had seven goals and three assists in a 13-6 victory over Oakmont and had four goals in both a 16-7 win over Dracut and a 12-9 loss to Bromfield School.
Alexandra Joslyn, AMSA
Joslyn had five goals to key a 16-12 win over Northbridge and had four goals as the Eagles fell to Shephed Hill, 13-9.
Liv Kearns, Tantasqua
Kearns had five goals in each game as the Warriors defeated Northbridge (12-4) and Notre Dame Academy (12-10).
Julie LaPrade, Oakmont
LaPrade had five goals and one assist to help the Spartans turn back Groton-Dunstable, 16-10.
Jayden Lilburn, Nipmuc
Lilburn had four goals and one assist in a 16-5 win over St. Bernard's.
Ireland Malpass, Auburn
Malpass notched six goals as the Rockets topped Hopedale, 14-6.
Charlotte McCarthy, AMSA
McCarthy notched four goals and four assists as the Eagles were edged by Notre Dame Academy, 19-18.
Addie McGrath, Grafton
McGrath had five goals and two assists as the Gators edged Nashoba, 14-12 and scored five goals in a 16-12 loss to Algonquin.
Carly Moody, Bay Path
Moody reached the 200-goal plateau for her career after scoring seven goals and adding an assist in a 13-8 win over Bay Path and also had two goals in a 17-5 loss to Essex Tech in the State Vocational Tournament.
Anna O'Connor, Auburn
O'Connor had six goals to send the Rockets to a 14-6 win over Hopedale.
Paige O'Donnell, Shrewsbury
O'Donnell had five goals in a 16-5 win over Wachusett.
Emma O'Malley, AMSA
O'Malley had five goals and two assists as the Eagles lost a close one to Notre Dame Academy, 19-18, but added give goals to fuel a 16-12 win over Northbridge and had six goals to key a 16-8 win over Worcester.
Kathleen Perusse, Hudson
Perusse had five goals as the Hawks topped Northbridge, 17-7, and had four goals in an 18-8 loss to Bromfield School.
Cate Phillips, Notre Dame Academy
Phillips had seven goals and four assists to send the Rebels to a 16-13 win over St. Bernard's and added another seven goals in a 12-10 loss to Tantasqua.
Caroline Pinto, Nashoba
Pinto had six goals in a 18-6 win over Leominster another six in a 15-5 win over Oakmont and tallied twice as the Wolves were edged, 14-12, by Nashoba.
Lily Proto, Northbridge
Proto had five goals in a 13-6 win over Milford and tallied twice as the Rams fell to Hudson, 17-7.
Anastasia Quimby, Nipmuc
Quimby had five goals in a 16-5 win over St. Bernard's.
Elly Schofer, Northbridge
Schofer had five goals in a 17-8 loss to Hudson and also had a hat trick in a 13-6 win over Milford.
Kristaya Smart, Worcester
Smart had six goals as the Wildcats ran past Assabet, 23-4, and added a hat trick in a 16-8 loss to AMSA.
Lauren Staunton, Algonquin
Staunton had four goals and two assists as the Titans held off Grafton, 16-12.
Hanna Wicks, Bromfield School
Wicks had two goals and an assist in a 12-9 win over Tyngsborough and had four goals and one assist to send the Trojans past Hudson, 18-8.
Kate Wicks, Bromfield School
Wicks had three goals and one assist to key a 12-9 win over Tyngsborough and added three goals and four assists in an 18-8 win over Hudson.
Plus: NCAA reform legislation on hold in Congress, the Senate discusses betting and sporting integrity, and private equity in youth sports
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Bill Clark CQ Roll Call/Newscom
Hello and welcome to another edition of Free Agent! Take a seat and crack open a beer, because summer is here (where I live, anyway).
It's Sports Week on Capitol Hill, apparently. Typically we try to discuss news happening all across the country or world, but this week all the expected collisions of sports and politics are happening on a small bump of land in Washington, D.C. We've got to cover college sports, sports betting, and youth sports, so let's get to it.
Good on the NHL for cracking down: The Vegas Golden Knights lost their second-round draft pick and the head coach was fined $100,000 for media violations after knocking the Anaheim Ducks out of the playoffs. The Knights didn't allow media into the locker room after the game, and coach John Tortorella didn't speak to reporters.
The weekly NFL schedule is getting spread out as more games get standalone windows—some people are sad about this, but as an out-of-market NFL fan I'm in favor of the Lions getting as many national night games as possible.
The whole "save college sports" movement is rooted in the myth that NIL is going to force schools to cut Olympic sports.
As Arkansas found out, like Stanford and others before them, these sports all have alumni who care deeply about those programs and stepped up to fund them. https://t.co/tDWq4qDp1i
The NCAA has been asking Congress to regulate college sports for over six years now, and was hoping this week would mark a major milestone. The SCORE Act was supposed to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives this week—but just as in December, it was pulled from the floor due to lackluster support.
Just a few hours before the vote was postponed indefinitely, the bill apparently hit a major roadblock when the Congressional Black Caucus and its 54 voting members in the House announced unanimous opposition to the SCORE Act—because the SEC, ACC, and NCAA aren't talking enough about gerrymandering and redistricting. Yes, really.
"The Congressional Black Caucus cannot support legislation benefiting major athletic institutions that continue to remain silent while Black voting rights and Black political power are being systematically dismantled across the South," their statement said. "The Congressional Black Caucus has transmitted formal letters to SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, ACC Commissioner James J. Phillips, Ph.D., and NCAA President Charlie Baker demanding immediate engagement and a public response regarding the ongoing assault on Black political representation throughout the South and across the nation."
The SCORE Act would not upend college sports as we know them—your alma mater's teams would still stink, sorry. Some of the status quo would be solidified, especially on rules governing name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments. Athletes would not be classified as employees, and thus not eligible for collective bargaining. Transfers would be modestly restricted, but not by much: Athletes would have to spend an entire academic year at their school before transferring. Eligibility rules would be tightened: Anyone who's ever gone pro would be unable to return to Division I sports (perhaps former G-Leaguer R.J. Luis will sneak in), and general eligibility would be capped at five years, based on age (the age aspect could upend college hockey as an NHL pipeline).
The NCAA is hoping this legislation will pass because various court decisions over the last decade basically told them the old ways the NCAA wanted to run college sports were illegal. Transfer restrictions? Illegal. Eligibility rules? Illegal. Even if Congress thinks the SCORE Act would settle these questions once and for all, it's just going to lead to more lawsuits (billable hours remain undefeated). What's awkward is that the NCAA has spent the last few weeks making decisions that are unpopular with their fans—namely, playoff expansion in basketball and football. But maybe that's part of the point: The more broken the NCAA looks, the more people might clamor for legislation that will, supposedly, fix it.
For the time being, though, the SCORE Act isn't going anywhere. The good news for the NCAA is that there's a bipartisan bill rumored to be in the works by Sens. Ted Cruz (R–Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D–Wash.). The contents of that rumored Senate bill are unclear, but according to CBS Sports, it will try to implement a stricter cap on NIL payments per school. That would be at least the fourthbill in the Senate that attempts to fix the NCAA, including one earlier, more narrow bipartisan effort involving Cantwell.
Anything is possible, even on Capitol Hill, and there's plenty of energy behind a just do something! attitude on college sports. But things move slowly in Congress, and come January 1, bills expire and new members come into town with their own ideas of how things should go. The NCAA is running out of time for congressional help, and, of all things, its deafening "silence" on gerrymandering appears to be a new obstacle.
Congress Talking About Thinking About Doing Something
Meanwhile, the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Technology, and Data Privacy is holding a hearing on Wednesday morning, entitled "No Sure Bets: Protecting Sports Integrity in America." (You can watch here, but this is not going to be the real game of the week.) Based on its name, it seems safe to assume just do something! will be the prevailing mood of the hearing.
The hearing is inspired by the recent game-fixing scandals in American sports—most notably the scandals involving NBA player Terry Rozier and MLB pitcher Emmanuel Clase, which were detected and resulted in federal charges. The witnesses include the head of the American Gaming Association (pro–sports betting, anti–prediction markets), a former GOP congressman who's now a "senior advisor" to The Coalition for Prediction Markets, a gambling counselor who says there's a gambling "public health crisis," the head of Tennessee's sports betting regulator, and the co-CEO of Integrity Compliance 360 (a company that flags suspicious bets for possible match-fixing or insider trading).
The hearing might not result in any kind of legislation—it may just be yet another chance for politicians to get on camera and get a soundbite in on whatever their opinion may be.
Private Equity and the 'Travel Team Trap'
Admittedly, I have not been personally exposed to the alleged evils of private equity in youth sports, although I've seen stories about changes that have made me think "I would probably not want to give that organization my money anymore." Sen. Chris Murphy (D–Conn.) and Rep. Chris Deluzio (D–Pa.) have a new bill to make sure no one can give any money to private equity in youth sports, because the bill would ban private equity firms from getting involved in youth sports in almost any way: leagues, facilities, tournaments, and player platforms (which leaves equipment and uniforms, I guess). Private equity would have two years to get out of youth sports.
The private equity firms, naturally, say they're saving leagues and venues from closing altogether, while parents say they're getting hit with higher costs and more restrictive rules. "We are growing youth hockey at four times the national rate, providing free and low-cost programs and letting more kids play by saving and revitalizing ice rinks," a spokesperson for Black Bear, a private firm that runs youth hockey leagues and tournaments, told USA Today. Murphy's son plays in a Black Bear-run league, which sounds awkward for everyone involved.
Private equity makes for an easy bogeyman, especially in a sacred space like youth sports. But parents who are perturbed by what my friend Timothy P. Carney calls the "travel team trap" are always free to exit instead. Kids should play sports as long as they're having fun, and as long as their parents are having fun instead of thinking about the cost. Parenting is hard—kids and parents are never going to get everything they want. A ban on private equity in youth sports isn't going to solve all the problems.
Replay of the Week
The only guarantees in life are death, taxes, and the New York Yankees fumbling away 5–10 important games a year because of bad fielding.
ESPN projects Tennessee Titans rookies Carnell Tate and Keldric Faulk to be among the NFL's top performers in 2026.
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The Tennessee Titans infused some much-needed talent into the roster in the 2026 NFL Draft, including multiple picks in the first round, Carnell Tate, and Keldric Faulk. Both players fill needs and have upside.
Now, with offseason team activities fully underway, it is a great time to assess the potential impact the tandem will have on the team in 2026 to see whether general manager Mike Borgonzi made the right selections.
Mike Clay of ESPN did just that and projected the 2026 rookie leaders in multiple categories, and both Tate and Faulk find their names in his rankings.
Receiving Yards
Number 1. Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans: 1,065 yards, 5 TDs
Both Tate (No. 4) and Tyson (No. 8) were top-10 selections, which is notable. Take a look at the production of the 16 wide receivers who were selected with a top-10 pick since 2012. It's a small sample, but 12 of the 16 wideouts produced at least 865 yards. The 13 receivers on the list who appeared in at least 14 games averaged a hefty 25% target share (Rome Odunze's 19% was the lowest). History tells us Tate and Tyson will be very busy and productive as rookies.
If he stays healthy, Tate should quickly find his way into the lineup, and he has the skillset to excel in the new offensive system. While he lacks elite physical traits, he is a nuanced route technician and has the size to create matchup problems on the outside. Couple that with the addition of Wan’Dale Robinson in the slot, and return of a healthy Calvin Ridley, Tennessee’s receiving corps appears to be in a better place than it was in 2025.
Touchdowns from scrimmage
T-3. Carnell Tate, Tennessee Titans: 5
Touchdowns from rookies have been on the decline (fewer than 140 in three of the past five seasons). While last season was an outlier (as predicted in this column due to the loaded running back class), we should see a major crash back to earth in 2026.
Since 2012, 32 rookies have reached 10 TDs, with RJ Harvey (12), Jeanty (10), and TreVeyon Henderson (10) hitting the mark last season. Of those 32 double-digit TD scorers, 23 were running backs, so even in a year with a shaky running back class, seeing Love and Price atop the list isn't surprising. The aforementioned past five backs selected in the top seven all produced a minimum of 300 touches, 1,300 yards, and 10 touchdowns as a rookie.
The low wide receiver numbers might seem foolish, but if we look at the 602 rookie WRs since 2012 in our sample, only 53 (8.8%) reached six TDs in their first season. Tetairoa McMillan led all first-year receivers with seven TDs last season, and only five others reached five scores. As our earlier chart showed, even the 16 top-10 wide receivers who played a major role as a rookie averaged 5.6 TDs.
With his size, Tate should easily become a red zone threat for Cam Ward and the offense in 2026, but his impact should not end there. Even without elite measurables, Tate proved to be a deep-ball threat throughout his college career, and Ward throws an outstanding deep ball; a combination that should give Tate a chance to make an impact throughout the season, and possibly exceed those projected numbers.
Sacks
Number 5. Keldric Faulk, Tennessee Titans: 4.4
Rookies are averaging 106.0 sacks per season over the past decade, but the past two seasons (84.5 in 2024 and 100.0 in 2025) have been far below that average.
James Pearce Jr. led the way with 10.5 sacks last season, but no other rookie had more than 5.5, and only two others reached 5.0 (Jalon Walker and Nic Scourton). Micah Parsons' 13.0 sacks in 2021 were the most by a rookie over the past decade, and only five other freshmen (including Pearce) reached double-digits. Four of the five were first-rounders. (Maxx Crosby was a fourth-rounder in 2019.)
That's especially relevant, considering that five edge rushers were drafted in the first round this year (all listed above), and it's why none of them is projected to clear 7.6 sacks. In fact, each sack projection above would rank in the top 25 among first-round picks over the past five years. All five edge rushers will likely be busy, but let's keep statistical expectations in check.
The projected numbers for Faulk appear to be about right. Not only is Faulk still developing as a pass rusher, with Robert Saleh’s desire to consistently rotate his defensive linemen, but he also may not receive the same amount of pass-rush opportunities that other edge prospects get in different systems. If Faulk can muster 4.4 sacks as a rookie along a stout defensive front, it would be a win for this draft class.
There was a time where Michael Wilbon was fine with ESPN covering Aaron Rodgers like he matters, but that time passed several years ago. Aaron Rodgers is back. After insisting his decision of whether to play or retire wouldn’t drag into June like it did last year, Rodgers only waited until May to officially sign…
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Credit: ESPN
There was a time where Michael Wilbon was fine with ESPN covering Aaron Rodgers like he matters, but that time passed several years ago.
Aaron Rodgers is back. After insisting his decision of whether to play or retire wouldn’t drag into June like it did last year, Rodgers only waited until May to officially sign his contract to play a second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now that we’ve endured another offseason of ‘will he, won’t he’ surrounding Rodgers’ future, Wilbon is wondering why ESPN bothered to cover it.
“I’m blaming this network, cause every time I turn on all of our shows, except one, I hear about Aaron damn Rodgers…I’m criticizing us…he’s irrelevant” – Michael Wilbon pic.twitter.com/5rF6ImtvQD
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2026
“He’s irrelevant. He’s overstated,” Wilbon ranted Tuesday morning on First Take. “And by the way, I’m not talking about his career. No. Aaron Rodgers is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, a great quarterback for years. He’s irrelevant now. What makes him relevant now? This network talking about him every day, day in, day out as if they’re hanging on waiting for Patrick Mahomes three years ago. He’s irrelevant at this point. He’s not LeBron James, he’s not Tom Brady, he’s not playing that way into his 40s. I knew when I saw ‘breaking news,’ what breaking news? “
At this point, the only “breaking news” Michael Wilbon wants to see pertaining to Aaron Rodgers is the announcement that he’s retiring. He’s an old quarterback on a mediocre team, and should be covered as such. Wilbon doesn’t believe Rodgers deserves the coverage about his future that he commanded when he left Green Bay for the New York Jets three years ago.
“All this breathless waiting on Aaron Rodgers…I’m blaming this network,” Wilbon continued of ESPN. “Cause every time I turn on all of our shows, except one, I hear about Aaron damn Rodgers. It makes it sound like I’m criticizing Aaron Rodgers. I’m not. I’m criticizing us. I’m criticizing ‘breaking news!’ I’m criticizing every day we gotta talk about Aaron Rodgers. No we don’t! He’s irrelevant.”
It’s worth noting, Wilbon is a Chicago Bears fan, so maybe his opinion of Rodgers is a little skewed. But he’s largely right in noting Rodgers is commanding attention in name only, and not because of his ability to impact a team on the field. Because at 42 years old, and now a half-decade removed from being an MVP-caliber quarterback, Rodgers doesn’t warrant incessant coverage based on what he still is as a football player.
But while Michael Wilbon might not like it, this is basically the ESPN model. The Lakers and Cowboys don’t have to be championship contenders to dominate ESPN’s daytime programming. Similarly, Aaron Rodgers doesn’t need to be an MVP quarterback to garner coverage.
Would Nashville weather allow for a Super Bowl? Here's what to know before 2030.
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Nashville is officially hosting Super Bowl LXIV.
As previously reported by The Tennessean, NFL owners voted during the league's spring meetings on May 19 to award the Titans' new Nissan Stadium the 2030 Super Bowl.
But while the city's infrastructure prepares for a potential Super Bowl, will the weather cooperate?
Because the stadium will be an enclosed venue, precipitation and temperatures are unlikely to be major concerns, though the potential for severe weather, including tornadoes, remains. February, the month when Super Bowls are annually held, ranks as the fourth-most active month for tornadoes in Tennessee.
Here's what else to know about Nashville weather and what it could mean for a Super Bowl in February.
Just over a year later, sportscaster Dan Patrick on April 20 said Super Bowl LXIV is "signed and ready to go" for Nashville to host in 2030.
Additionally, the city has significantly grown its tourism capacity, making it a viable Super Bowl host.
In the past six years, Nashville has added thousands of hotel rooms, with several more in development. The city’s hotel pipeline ranks among the top 25 markets in the country, according to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Since 2020, Nashville has added 61 new hotels and nearly 10,000 rooms.
Is the new Nissan stadium under a dome?
The new Nissan Stadium will feature a non-retractable roof.
According to the Titans' website, the enclosed venue will be able to host events year-round regardless of weather conditions, a move expected to boost local and regional economic impact.
"After researching venues with retractable roofs, we found that most are very lightly used and that they often have costly mechanical issues," The Titans' website reads.
Climate considerations are among the NFL’s key criteria when selecting host venues.
According to Topendsports.com, the league strongly prefers warm-weather cities or those with domed stadiums. Cities with average February temperatures below 50 that lack a dome face a disadvantage.
What is Nashville weather like in February?
In February, Nashville typically experiences cool winter weather with occasional precipitation, according to climatology data from the National Weather Service.
The city averages about 4.47 inches of total precipitation, which can include rain and the occasional snow. Temperatures are generally mild, with an average high of around 53.8 and an average low near 33, resulting in a mean temperature of about 43.4.
While the state's peak severe weather season typically runs from March through May, tornadoes are still common in February. The weather service has documented about 80 tornadoes in Tennessee during the month of February between 1811 and 2026.
On Feb. 6, 2025, four tornadoes struck northeastern Middle Tennessee, causing widespread damage to trees, homes, power lines, and other structures, and injuring two people. The storms also brought damaging winds and hail.
Contributing: Hadley Hitson, Gentry Estes
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
Would Nashville weather allow for a Super Bowl? Here's what to know before 2030.
Show full content
Nashville is officially hosting Super Bowl LXIV.
As previously reported by The Tennessean, NFL owners voted during the league's spring meetings on May 19 to award the Titans' new Nissan Stadium the 2030 Super Bowl.
But while the city's infrastructure prepares for a potential Super Bowl, will the weather cooperate?
Because the stadium will be an enclosed venue, precipitation and temperatures are unlikely to be major concerns, though the potential for severe weather, including tornadoes, remains. February, the month when Super Bowls are annually held, ranks as the fourth-most active month for tornadoes in Tennessee.
Here's what else to know about Nashville weather and what it could mean for a Super Bowl in February.
Just over a year later, sportscaster Dan Patrick on April 20 said Super Bowl LXIV is "signed and ready to go" for Nashville to host in 2030.
Additionally, the city has significantly grown its tourism capacity, making it a viable Super Bowl host.
In the past six years, Nashville has added thousands of hotel rooms, with several more in development. The city’s hotel pipeline ranks among the top 25 markets in the country, according to the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. Since 2020, Nashville has added 61 new hotels and nearly 10,000 rooms.
Is the new Nissan stadium under a dome?
The new Nissan Stadium will feature a non-retractable roof.
According to the Titans' website, the enclosed venue will be able to host events year-round regardless of weather conditions, a move expected to boost local and regional economic impact.
"After researching venues with retractable roofs, we found that most are very lightly used and that they often have costly mechanical issues," The Titans' website reads.
Climate considerations are among the NFL’s key criteria when selecting host venues.
According to Topendsports.com, the league strongly prefers warm-weather cities or those with domed stadiums. Cities with average February temperatures below 50 that lack a dome face a disadvantage.
What is Nashville weather like in February?
In February, Nashville typically experiences cool winter weather with occasional precipitation, according to climatology data from the National Weather Service.
The city averages about 4.47 inches of total precipitation, which can include rain and the occasional snow. Temperatures are generally mild, with an average high of around 53.8 and an average low near 33, resulting in a mean temperature of about 43.4.
While the state's peak severe weather season typically runs from March through May, tornadoes are still common in February. The weather service has documented about 80 tornadoes in Tennessee during the month of February between 1811 and 2026.
On Feb. 6, 2025, four tornadoes struck northeastern Middle Tennessee, causing widespread damage to trees, homes, power lines, and other structures, and injuring two people. The storms also brought damaging winds and hail.
Contributing: Hadley Hitson, Gentry Estes
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
A detailed look at Aaron Rai's victory at the 2026 PGA Championship as he conquered a jam-packed leaderboard at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia.
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NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA - MAY 17: Aaron Rai of England poses with The Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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The 2026 PGA Championship wrapped up at Aronimink Golf Club this past weekend, and while Aaron Rai claimed his first major championship of his career, there were several storylines outside of Rai’s victory.
18 Thoughts after the 2026 PGA ChampionshipAronimink Strikes Back
Despite not being overly long at 7,394 yards, Ironmink’s Donald Ross design proved that length isn’t everything. This storied course, with its classic architecture, tested every aspect of the players’ games. Clever pin placements, narrow fairways, and the infamous turtle-back greens forced even elite pros into mistakes, producing 127 three-putts in the opening round alone—remarkably close to the 190 total three-putts at Augusta National across four rounds.
Donald Ross Greens Win
When people think of Ross designed courses, the focus typically surrounds the greens. Whether they are the “turtleback” greens of Pinehurst No. 2, or the “spines” of Aronimink, Ross’s designs continue to challenge the best golfers even after almost 100 years. When the PGA of America announced Aronimink would be the host course of the 2026 PGA Championship, it was a Ross design which confounded the game’s best players.
Pin Placements Were Brutal
The PGA of America made a clear statement with its setup. Instead of favoring brute strength or chasing the kind of ultra-low winning scores sometimes seen at the PGA, the organizers created a test reminiscent of a U.S. Open. While the rough was punishing enough, the main defense was in uniquely tricky pins and the necessity to approach the greens from just the right angles. Forget runaway victories; nine-under-par was enough to claim the trophy, leaving many big names in the dust.
Bryson DeChambeau’s Struggles Continue
DeChambeau finds himself in quite the slump, as it pertains to the major championships. DeChambeau’s latest majors go as follow:
2025 U.S. Open - Missed Cut
2026 Masters - Missed Cut
2026 PGA Championship - Missed Cut
Sure, DeChambeau won the 2024 U.S. Open, but since that season came to a close he has struggled as of late. For a player who is weighing his options next season, getting his game back on track should be priority No. 1.
Missed Cut Players
Several stars faltered at Ironmink. Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley, Viktor Hovland, and Tyrrell Hatton all missed the cut, surprising many. Even as many LIV Golfers missed the weekend, others—like Jon Rahm and Cam Smith—finished in the top ten.
“Bash Driver” Theory Debunked
Pre-tournament expectations suggested players would overpower Aronimink with the driver-then-wedge strategy. This echo of the “bomb and gouge” era didn’t materialize. The combination of sticky rough, narrow landing spots, and devilish greens meant that even power hitters like Rory McIlroy had to dig deep, often coming up short despite making charges late in the tournament.
Course Set Up Criticism Unwarranted
Rory McIlroy led the charge over the weekend of criticizing the course set up. He said the pin placements were questionable, and even went as far as to say the jam-packed leaderboard on the weekend was a sign of a bad course set up. Many, like Jon Rahm, praised the set up and called the talk of a winner being -20 preposterous when he first set foot on the golf course.
PGA Tour Has A Pace Of Play Issue
Pace of play issues resurfaced, with rounds ballooning to five and a half hours. The compact, old-school layout led to occasional backups, and Justin Thomas’s group even found itself put on the clock. Needless to say, you want to have better pace of play in a major championship.
Garrick Higgo Story
Meanwhile, newcomer Garrick Higgo suffered a two-stroke penalty for being late to his tee time. He recently fired his caddy, reportedly because of the issue last weekend, and to make matters worse he missed the weekend by just a single shot. Was it because of the penalty? We’ll never know, but you have to wonder what could have been for the young pro.
Putting And Distance Control Was Paramount
Come Sunday, it was all about who could handle the slippery, contoured greens. Players who lagged putts to smart spots and avoided the dreaded three-putt separated themselves from the field. In the end, it was the most adaptive and creative putters—not necessarily the longest hitters—who contended.
Sunday Was Anyone’s Tournament
When the PGA Tour, and in this case the PGA of America, is looking at putting together a tremendous major championship, the goal should always be a 4th Round filled with drama. The 2026 PGA Championship had plenty of it as Alex Smalley was a one-shot leader heading into the final round of the tournament and any number of players were in position to make a charge. It was thrilling cinema.
Scottie Scheffler’s Putting Woes Return
When people talked about Scottie Scheffler before 2024 they always said he had all the game needed to win multiple majors, but he just has to figure out the putting. Scheffler’s performance on the greens this past weekend reminded everyone of those days. It was the flat blade which let Scheffler down on more than one occasion, and will likely have the 2025 PGA Champion wondering if he let one go.
Late Charge By “Big Guns”
When Aaron Rai took the lead Sunday, he was able to hold off some of the “big guns” on tour. Xander Schauffele, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg, and even Rory McIlroy all made a charge, but came up short with Rai making all the clutch shots on his way to victory.
Aaron Rai Clinches With Huge Birdie on 17
Rai demonstrated remarkable composure on Sunday. When he faced a daunting 68-foot birdie putt on 17 with the Philadelphia crowd rooting for a bigger name, Rai calmly drained the putt, sealing his place in major championship history. His stoic celebration—measured and respectful—stood in contrast to the chaos others might have embraced in such a moment.
“Different” Can Still Win
The biggest story was the triumph of Aaron Rai—a player distinguished as much by his unique style as by his golf. Rai is known for wearing two gloves and using iron covers, choices rooted in his upbringing and family values. Far from quirks, these habits remind him of his family’s sacrifices and keep him grounded. Rai proved “different” can still win.
Rai’s Stoicism Dominates
Following Rai’s incredible putt on No. 17, his reaction was very stoic. No huge fist pump or celebrating with his caddy. Instead, a small fist pump and a wave to the crowd. Rai knew he still had one hole to play, and there were golfers behind him. While that putt made him a major champion, Rai’s stoicism and being able to stay in the moment, was more than commendable.
PGA Championship Makes Statement
If you ask any golf fan to rank the four major tournaments you’ll find any number of order, but the PGA Championship is typically dead last. There are even some who suggest the Players Championship is better than the PGA Championship. It felt as if the PGA of America heard the criticisms and decided to make their major challenging. To make their tournament notable. For 2026, mission accomplished. The next question is will it continue, or is this a one-off based on a course which was able to be manicured to challenge the best players in the world?
What’s Next?
With the 2026 PGA Championship concluded in such dramatic fashion, golf fans now turn their attention to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock and the upcoming CJ Cup events. In the meantime, one thing is clear: Aronimink reminded the golfing world why classic setups and unexpected winners are the backbone of golf’s greatest dramas.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
It's official: Minnesota will host the 2028 NFL Draft.
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It's official: Minnesota will host the 2028 NFL Draft.
As expected, owners voted to approve Minnesota as the host at the NFL spring meeting in Orlando on Tuesday.
The event will be anchored in downtown Minneapolis, in and around U.S. Bank Stadium, the home of the Vikings.
"Minnesota knows how to show up for big moments, and we've seen it firsthand," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "This is a market that delivers at the highest level. Working with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events, we look forward to bringing the 2028 NFL Draft to this great community, driving positive economic impact throughout the region, and hosting an incredible experience for fans and the next generation of the NFL."
"For three days, Minnesota will become the center of the football world," Vikings owner Mark Wilf said in a statement. "The 2028 NFL Draft will give us an opportunity to showcase not just U.S. Bank Stadium, but the energy, hospitality and pride that define Minneapolis-St. Paul and the entire state and region. We have no doubt the community will deliver a world-class event that is unique to Minnesota."
With Minnesota now officially approved, the NFL has its next two drafts set. In 2027, the event will take place in Washington, D.C. on the National Mall.
Since the last draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York City in 2014, the draft has been hosted by Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City, Detroit, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh.
Boreham Wood defender James Clarke signs a new two-year contract.
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[BBC]
Boreham Wood defender James Clarke has signed a new contract which will keep him at the National League club until at least the end of the 2027-28 season with the option for a further 12 months.
The 26-year-old right-back joined The Wood from league rivals Solihull Moors in March, making 11 appearances as they were beaten in the promotion final by Rochdale earlier this month.
He scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 win over Wealdstone in April with Boreham Wood finishing the season in fourth place and beating Forest Green Rovers and Carlisle United in the play-offs to reach the final at Wembley.
Clarke started his career with Mansfield Town before signing for Solihull in 2021.
Bill Belichick has finally addressed the Hall of Fame snub that stunned much of the NFL world. The former New England Patriots coach did not sound interested in turning the decision into a public fight, even after a voting result that many former players and analysts called impossible to defend.
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Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images
Bill Belichick has finally addressed the Hall of Fame snub that stunned much of the NFL world.
The former New England Patriots coach did not sound interested in turning the decision into a public fight, even after a voting result that many former players and analysts called impossible to defend.
Belichick’s answer was familiar in tone: controlled, brief, and focused on the work directly in front of him.
Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty ImagesBill Belichick responds to NFL Hall of Fame snub
Speaking in a clip shared by Sean Hannity, Bill Belichick was asked about being left out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame despite his historic NFL resume.
Belichick said, “Well, [it] is out of my control. And, you know, honestly, I’ve been very focused on my job at the University of North Carolina and the players and, you know, the University there.”
Belichick has six Super Bowl wins as head coach of the New England Patriots and two more rings from his time as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants.
That resume is why the snub became such a major story. Belichick owns one of the strongest Hall of Fame cases in NFL history, with the most Super Bowl wins by a head coach and one of the longest runs of sustained dominance the league has seen.
Bill Belichick keeps focus on New England Patriots legacy
The public reaction has been loud, but Belichick’s answer showed that he is not trying to make the Hall of Fame decision the center of his current work.
Belichick added, “So, whatever happens, happens. But, I’m proud of what we accomplished as teams at New England and certainly at the Giants, and proud of those relationships. So, that’s what matters the most.”
That answer fits the way Belichick has handled most public controversies across his career. He did not campaign for votes, attack the process or sound eager to relitigate old arguments.
His focus on relationships also stood out because so much of the reaction has come from former Patriots figures. Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, and others have strongly pushed back against the idea that Belichick should have to wait for Canton.
The University of North Carolina job gives him a new project while the Hall debate continues without him. Belichick is now trying to build a college program after decades in the NFL, which explains why he framed the snub as something outside his control.
Canton still feels inevitable. The only real question is why the wait had to happen at all.
SportCharlotteNASCAR CupCarCharlotte Motor Speedway
Edwards, Gordon, Truex, Keselowski, and Martin will all appear during Prime's five-week run of covering NASCAR
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Motorsport photo
NASCAR on Prime Video is back! As the Cup Series heads to streaming for the next five weeks, the popular trackside coverage that featured lengthy post-race shows is back.
Alongside Danielle Trotta and Corey LaJoie, who will be there every week, the panel will have a rotating cast of NASCAR legends for each of the five races the streaming platform will broadcast.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Carl Edwards will be back for the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600, where he went 'full fan' one year ago as he and LaJoie watched Ross Chastain pull off a daring pass for the win on William Byron. The show was also known for sharing a celebratory drink with the winner during their engaging post-race discussions. Edwards will then add features and remote contributions throughout the remaining four races.
Danielle Trotta (left) and Carl Edwards (right) on Prime's post-race showDanielle Trotta (left) and Carl Edwards (right) on Prime's post-race showOther NASCAR legends joining the show
He won't be the only Hall of Famer (or future Hall of Famer) joining Prime's trackside panel either. At Nashville, it will be 40-time Cup Series race winner Mark Martin, followed by 2017 Cup champion Martin Truex Jr. at Michigan, 2012 Cup champion Brad Keselowski at Pocono, and four-time Cup champion Jeff Gordon for the San Diego Street Course.
NASCAR on Prime’s broadcast booth will have the same booth for 2026 with play-by-play announcer Adam Alexander joined by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and DAYTONA 500-winning crew chief Steve Letarte. In the pits, 2011 Daytona 500 winner Trevor Bayne will join veteran reporters Kim Coon and Marty Snider for real-time updates as the major story lines unfold throughout the race.
After NASCAR on Prime's stint, Cup Series coverage will head to TNT Sports for the rest of the summer.
Payton Pritchard will be eligible for a contract extension later this summer, should the Boston Celtics move to secure his future?
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Payton Pritchard has proven himself to be one of the best second-unit scorers in the NBA. The Boston Celtics guard was named as the 2025 Sixth Man of the Year, and could have snagged the award in 2026 if he hadn't moved into the starting lineup for the first half of the season. When looking at his overall scoring production, it's clear that Pritchard is on one of the best value contracts in the NBA, worth $30 million over four years.
Heading into the offseason, Brad Stevens and the Celtics front office will have a decision to make, as Pritchard becomes extension-eligible. He could stand to earn more than double his current salary, in what would be the most lucrative contract of his career. However, Pritchard would already be 31 by the time the extension kicks in, meaning the Celtics have a difficult decision to make.
In the latest episode of The "Celtics Chronicle" podcast, hosts Adam Taylor and Tim Sheils discuss whether the Celtics should offer Pritchard an extension this summer, what the ideal value of that extension would be, and what it could mean for Pritchard if they opted against giving him the extension.
You can watch the full episode by clicking on the embedded video above.
Watch or listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on:
Dana White is opposed to open-air UFC events for a reason.
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Dana White is opposed to open-air
UFC events for a reason.
The UFC is hosting a one-of-a-kind event on President Donald
Trump’s birthday on June 14 at the White House to celebrate
America’s 250th year of independence. White recently revealed that,
among other issues, the UFC’s production team is currently trying
to figure out how to deal with gnats.
White, who is a close ally of Trump, was recently invited to dinner
at the Rose Garden of the White House. White was immediately
concerned to see the number of gnats there. The issue is likely to
be aggravated further under the bright lights at
UFC White House. White immediately called his head of
production to discuss the issue and make sure fighters don’t have
gnats swarming them at the event on June 14. White notes that he
has always been opposed to open-air events for reasons like
these.
Hall of Famer Magic Johnson believes the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will be favored to win the West for the foreseeable future.
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The Phoenix Suns and the rest of the Western Conference might as well put their championship aspirations on hold for a while.
The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs will have the conference locked up for the foreseeable future, according to Magic Johnson.
The Hall of Famer and five-time NBA champion posted on X his belief that the Thunder and Spurs are in position to run the West for years to come after seeing an epic Game 1 in the conference finals. San Antonio won Game 1 in double overtime, 122-115, on May 18 at Oklahoma City.
“I hate to break the news to the rest of the Western Conference, but they may not have a chance to win the Western Conference Finals for the next 5-7 years,” Johnson tweeted after Game 1. “The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are just that good! They are talented, deep, athletic and both teams are well coached.”
I hate to break the news to the rest of the Western Conference, but they may not have a chance to win the Western Conference Finals for the next 5-7 years. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are just that good! They are talented, deep, athletic and both teams are…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 19, 2026
Victor Wembanyama delivered 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks in 49 minutes in leading the second-seeded Spurs past the defending NBA champions.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander posted 24 points, 12 assists and five steals in a game-high 51 minutes for the Thunder. He was presented this season's NBA Most Valuable Player award before Game 1. The four-time All-Star became only the 14th player to win back-to-back league MVP honors.
The 7-4 Wembanyama, a unanimous winner for this season's NBA Defensive Player of the Year, finished third in the MVP voting.
Game 2 is May 20 in Oklahoma City.
The Thunder won a league-best 64 games this season in earning the top overall seed in the playoffs, while the Spurs had the NBA’s second-best record at 62-20.
San Antonio took three out of four games over the Thunder in the regular season. The Spurs were the only team to have a winning record over Oklahoma City.
Now they’re meeting again with a trip to the 2026 NBA Finals on the line.
Phoenix played the Thunder nine times this season, losing seven. Oklahoma City swept the Suns in the first round of the playoffs and won three games in the regular season.
San Antonio and Phoenix split four games in the regular season.
The Spurs won the final two as Wembanyama hit a 17-foot jumper with 1.1 seconds left to give San Antonio a 101-100 home win on March 19 to end the season series.
San Antonio closed the regular season winning 13 of their last 15 games.
Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin atdmrankin@gannett.comor contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at@DuaneRankin.
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Clemson football DT Hevin Brown-Shuler is expected to miss the 2026 season after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, the school announced.
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CLEMSON — Clemson football defensive tackle Hevin Brown-Shuler is expected to miss the 2026 season amid treatment and recovery for Hodgkin lymphoma, the school announced May 19.
"Recently, after doctors discovered a mass in my chest, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma," Brown-Shuler said in a school release. "While this news was difficult to receive, I am grateful that the prognosis is very good, and I am approaching this challenge with optimism and determination. ...
"Thank you for your continued kindness and support. I can’t wait to run down that hill and touch Howard’s Rock again for the 2027 football season."
Brown-Shuler, a redshirt sophomore, will begin treatment in May.
"The Clemson Family and the entire college football world are with Hevin as he begins treatment this month," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in a school release. "As a program, we’ll wrap our arms around him and his family as he steps away from football temporarily to focus on his health.
"Hevin, his family and the amazing medical teams that are caring for him will be in our prayers."
Brown-Shuler has appeared in seven games with no starts over two seasons to record seven tackles. He was in line to compete for defensive tackle reps with Amare Adams, Markus Strong, Vic Burley, Andy Burburija, Devarrick Woods and Champ Thompson.
Brown-Shuler is the second Clemson defensive tackle who is expected to miss 2026, joining Kourtney Kelly, who tore his ACL during spring practice.
The Tigers lost all of their defensive tackle starters from last season: Stephiylan Green (transfer portal), Peter Woods (NFL draft) and DeMonte Capehart (expiring eligibility).
Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00
The disrespect is getting a little absurd at this point
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Seattle Seahawks superstar wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba just had a season for the ages. Unfortunately, it seems as if the NFL could hardly care less, because the amount of disrespect they have shown him has genuinely been offensive. First and foremost, during the NFL Honors, the league had a second-rate internet comedian in Druski present the award for Offensive Player of the Year. Druski intentionally mispronounced JSN's name and tried turning it into a joke. He tried apologizing, but the damage was done and JSN (rightfully) did not respond.
Now, it appears the disrespect continues. Jaxon Smith-Njigba took to social media to share the award he received from the NFL. It turns out JSN wasn't just a wide receiver. Apparently, he took plenty of defensive snaps without any of us noticing, and was so great on that side of the ball he won the Defensive Player of the Year award. No, we're not kidding, that's the award that was sent to him.
This is INSANE: #Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba just received his Offensive Player of the Year trophy, but there’s one GIANT problem: the plaque actually says “Defensive Player of the Year.” 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
JSN’s response: “It’s getting disrespectful at this point.”
Not only did they award him "Defensive" Player of the Year, if you look closer, you'll notice there isn't a space between "The" and "Year" like there should be. Instead, it just says "theyear." Unbelievable. I guess the good news is the NFL has apologized, and will be working to send him a corrected trophy. But still, what an embarrassment from the league the whole way through.
Seattle fans often feel as if the Seahawks (and all their teams) are perpetually overlooked and outright disrespected by the national media, and with good reason. Now, they have yet another example to add to their perpetually growing list. If a wide receiver who led the NFL with 1,793 yards on 119 receptions and scoring 10 touchdowns can't even win an award properly, what else can the 12's expect from the media?
I suppose the silver lining here is I don't think JSN's chip on his shoulder is going away any time soon, despite winning a Super Bowl and getting a historic contract extension.
Meet the athletes who made the Houston area earn bragging rights as the fastest city in Texas.
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The Houston area earned bragging rights as the fastest city in Texas.
Houston-area 6A boys won gold in every running event except the 4x200 relay, where Tompkins finished second, and the 2-mile run.
Klein Collins hurdler closed out his decorated high school career with two more gold medals in the 110m (13.01) hurdles and 300m (36.00) hurdles.
Andrew Jones is the fastest high school hurdler of all time and is looked at as the best American high schooler to ever compete in the hurdles.
"I think everyone would enjoy some recognition, but it's super cool to say like, 'I'm the fastest person to ever do it,'" Jones said. "There's been no one as fast as me, so that's something to think is really cool to think about."
ABC13's Joe Gleason highlights Houston-area high schools that won big over the weekend.
In the 100m final, all eyes were on CE King sophomore Dillon Mitchell, who came into the state meet running the fastest all-conditions time in the nation. He didn't disappoint. Mitchell ran a blistering 9.92 (+4.0). It was wind-aided, but it was still a sub-10 time.
"So what does it mean that you're able to come over here and run that too?" ABC13 asked.
"I mean, it wasn't really about the time. It was more about the medal, because all I wanted was a gold medal. This time last year, I got fourth, so it's all good," Mitchell said.
When asked how it feels to wear that medal around his neck, Mitchell responded, "It feels great. I love this feeling."
Blake Hamilton of Tompkins comes in with the best time in the nation in the 200; he also did not disappoint.
Hamilton ran the fastest all-conditions 200 in high school history, 19.86.
Tompkins boys also won the team title by finishing first in the 4x1 relay and second in the 4x2 relay.
"Golds are going to be my prized possessions in life because just knowing that I went up there and I put everything, I had my whole body and soul rolls in one last time," Hamilton said. "This is my last high school meet. I'm satisfied, but it's all good. You know, I'm so very proud of my team. I'm so proud of my teammates. I want to give all thanks to God, all thanks to my parents for everything that they did for me and my little brother, Blaine."
Houston-area athletes win medals at state high school track and field championships.
"We are thrilled that the new Nissan Stadium will host Nashville’s first Super Bowl in 2030," Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. "This is an exciting moment for our city and our entire state. We cannot wait for our community to experience an event of this magnitude and for the world to see the energy, hospitality, and culture that make our city so special on a global stage.
"Thank you to (NFL commissioner Roger Goodell), my fellow owners, and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp for their partnership throughout this process. We look forward to bringing an unforgettable Super Bowl experience to Nashville together."
"The 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville was one of the greatest fan events in our history," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "Super Bowl LXIV at the new stadium is the next step in this remarkable football journey. The vision of Amy Adams Strunk and the Tennessee Titans helped make this moment possible. With great partners at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. and Tennessee Titans, we can’t wait to put on an unforgettable show in 2030.”
Nashville has been on the NFL's radar before. The city hosted the 2019 NFL Draft, marking one of the more memorable drafts in recent years.
The city has been a popular tourist destination for years thanks to its music and food scene, as well as its party atmosphere. Sports will now play a factor as well. The Tennessee Titans will officially open their new stadium in advance of the 2027 season, which is expected to cost about $2.1 billion for the domed, state-of-the-art venue.
Designed with the intention of hosting the biggest events in sports and music, the new Nissan Stadium already has the crown jewel of sporting events on the calendar.
New Nissan Stadium is expected to open in Feb. 2027, meaning it will be ready for the 2027 NFL season.
Groundbreaking for the venue began in 2024 after the 2023 season concluded. It will notably be a facility with artificial turf, something that has drawn the ire of players over the years.
The building is located right next to the current Nissan Stadium and just a short walk from Broadway, Nashville's famous entertainment district, with honky-tonks lining the strip.
Does the new Nissan Stadium have a roof?
The new Nissan Stadium will have a roof, but it will not be retractable.
While the NFL is not opposed to hosting the Super Bowl in outdoor venues, as evidenced by Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the presence of a roof has proven to be the league's preference in recent years.
How much does the new Nissan Stadium cost?
New Nissan Stadium's price tag checks in at about $2.1 billion.
New Nissan Stadium capacity
The new Nissan Stadium will have approximately 60,000 seats.
That is down from about the 69,000 seats that the current Nissan Stadium holds. According to the Titans, the idea to reduce capacity was to ensure there wouldn't be a bad seat in the building.
Future Super Bowl host cities
The next four Super Bowl host cities are now locked in after the Nashville announcement. Here's a look at where the big game is going through 2030:
2027 (Super Bowl 61): Feb. 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California
2028 (Super Bowl 62): Feb. 2028 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
2029 (Super Bowl 63): Feb. 2029 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada
2030 (Super Bowl 64): Feb. 2030 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee
Following the Boston Celtics first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, everyone on the roster has to show developmental growth next season
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The Boston Celtics let a 3-1 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers slip away in the opening round of the 2026 playoffs, ultimately losing in game seven and ending their season on a low note. Joe Mazzulla will undoubtedly shoulder a significant portion of the criticism for Boston's inability to close out the series, losing three straight games, two of them at the TD Garden.
During a recent episode of "The Greg Hill Show," Meghan Ottolini noted how Mazzulla's decision to move away from some aspects of the Celtics' game plan that had worked during the regular season likely played a role in the team's struggles as the series wore on. Ottolini noted how Boston didn't experiment with other members of the rotation until game seven, which was likely too late and came with the biggest risk.
"I think they went away from a lot of the stuff they did in the regular season, and that was the mistake," Ottolini said. "In the regular season, they had like a 10-man rotation, and then it took until game seven to see somebody like Hugo (Gonzalez), who I thought provided a big spark, in the first half, when he was in there. Even some of these other guys, like Jordan Walsh. (He was o)ne of the few guys on the team who could at least slow down Tyrese Maxey. I don't think you have a Maxey stopper on that team, but at least slow him down."
The Celtics will undoubtedly make roster changes over the summer. Brad Stevens will want to improve the current rotation, adding both talent and depth, especially in terms of interior scoring, so that Boston's isn't as reliant on the three-point shot.
Nevertheless, Mazzulla will also need to show some growth, especially in terms of his overall offensive system.
Mazzulla has shown growth in every season since he's been the head coach. It's fair to assume he will continue to adapt as the players at his disposal change. The question is whether one of those adaptations will be the willingness to make adjustments on the fly, even if that means going deeper into his bench three or four games into a playoff series.
Guernsey move to the top of their 2028 T20 World Cup qualifying group after beating Austria by 46 runs in Cyprus.
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Guernsey’s batters impressed against Austria [ICC]
Guernsey moved to the top of their 2028 T20 World Cup qualifying group after beating Austria by 46 runs in Cyprus.
The two sides had each won their opening two games in Sub Regional Europe Qualifier A, with Guernsey having beaten Malta and Sweden over the weekend.
Josh Butler scored 68 while Tom Nightingale hit 55 as Guernsey made 196-7 before bowling out their opponents for 150 in reply.
The win puts Guernsey two points clear of the Austrians ahead of their final pool game on Tuesday against winless Slovenia.
A victory would guarantee a place in the final and a chance to play for the one spot at next summer's final round of European qualifying for the 2028 T20 World Cup - currently Channel island rivals Jersey lead the other group.
Having lost the toss and been put into bat opener Josh Butler and Tom Nightingale set a good foundation for the Guernsey innings.
Butler, who was dropped on 31, and Nightingale went on to get 83 for the second wicket.
Nightingale was caught towards the end of the 11th over having smashed five sixes and four fours in his 25-ball knock of 55 to leave Guernsey on 106-2.
Matt Stokes replaced him and provided great support to Butler who went on to score 68 before being caught with the score on 148-3 - his 49-ball innings saw him hit five fours and three sixes.
Stokes went on to make 42 as Guernsey ended on 196-7 from their 20 overs.
In reply Austria’s top order batters were no match for the Guernsey attack - only opener Katanbir Singh put up any resistance with a knock of 59 off 30 balls that included six sixes.
When he was caught off Matt Stokes’ bowling Austria were left on 96-6.
While the lower order proved to be more stubborn they were never able to get close to the run rate.
Luke Bichard took 3-24 and Ed Robinson 3-34 as Austria were bowled out for 150 in 17.4 overs.
The WNBA's popularity has never been higher, and the level of talent in the league right now is greater than at any point in the league's 30-year history.
So leave it to Jeff Teague to voice the most ludicrous take possible about it.
Speaking on a live edition of his "Club 520" podcast on YouTube, Teague declared that he would have "Wilt Chamberlain numbers" -- i.e. he would score 100 points -- in a WNBA game. The one-time NBA All-Star even took a shot at A'ja Wilson, widely regarded as the WNBA's best player, who is a three-time champion and the league's only four-time MVP in addition to being a two-time Olympic gold medalist.
"I'm 215 (pounds), bro. I doubt (Wilson) probably weighs about 170," Teague said. "(Defenders) can't check here, they damn sure can't check me."
Jeff Teague says he’d drop 100 points in a WNBA game:
“I’d have Wilt numbers… I’m playing the whole game…. No disrespect to them but I’m 215, bro. A'ja Wilson probably weigh 200, sh*t I doubt that she probably weigh about 170. A'ja getting 46 and this is no disrespect you are… pic.twitter.com/55bP9czv6P
Teague's comments are the latest indication that many in the sphere of men's basketball still don't understand -- let alone respect -- the talent and professionalism of the WNBA's stars.
Last November, Michael Porter Jr. drew controversy by saying that he could have beaten a WNBA All-Star team when he was eight years old. In the six months since, the league has agreed to a historic new CBA that has raised player salaries into the millions of dollars for the first time. The league's new $3.1 billion media rights deal took effect just this season, and broadcast presentation of WNBA games finally matches the standard of the basketball being played.
However, this just isn't enough for ignoramuses like Porter and Teague. Wilson and the WNBA's other superstars will just have to keep proving them wrong.
The Giants, due to the FIFA World Cup at MetLife Stadium and construction at their practice facility across the parking lot, will spend the early part of training camp at The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Dates for that have yet to be confirmed, but camp figures to begin at the end of July and the Giants should return to East Rutherford, N.J. well before their preseason opener Aug. 15 at MetLife Stadium against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Giants and New York Jets meet in a Week 3 preseason game at MetLife Stadium. In recent years the teams have done at least one joint practice prior to their annual preseason game, but no announcement about that has yet been made.
We are probably a week or two away from MLB All-Star Game voting to start, and the Dodgers’ season will be one-third complete on Monday, so let’s check in to see who might represent Los Angeles in the midsummer classic on July . at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Shohei Ohtani is the free spot […]
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Los Angeles, CA - April 10: Andy Pages #44 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives teammate Max Muncy #13 after hitting a two run home run against the Texas Rangers in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, April 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) | MediaNews Group via Getty Images
We are probably a week or two away from MLB All-Star Game voting to start, and the Dodgers’ season will be one-third complete on Monday, so let’s check in to see who might represent Los Angeles in the midsummer classic on July . at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Shohei Ohtani is the free spot on the bingo card, as he’s going to be an All-Star no matter how much he has slumped offensively relative to his standards but not necessarily relative to the league. The only question is whether he wins the fan vote as starting designated hitter or if he’s on as a reserve with Kyle Schwarber starting. This should be the second year Ohtani is an All-Star as both a hitter and pitcher, along with 2021.
Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts are perennial All-Stars but this year aren’t playing like it. Betts missing 32 games with a strained oblique likely takes him out of consideration either way. Freeman this year is hitting .254/.338/.399 with a 109 wRC+, but this brings to mind the question of what makes an All-Star. Is it really just considering only the first half of that season? That line of thought completely ignores the second half of every year. Dating back to last All-Star break, here are the top National League first basemen:
Matt Olson, Braves: .283/.365/.539, 26 HR, 149 wRC+, 4.4 fWAR
It’s unlikely Freeman makes it this year, which would snap a streak of seven straight All-Star Games for him. But there’s still another month and a half for him to bolster his case.
Max Muncy (.260/.360/.526, 12 HR, 147 wRC+) and Andy Pages (.299/.351/.514, MLB-high 41 RBI, ,141 wRC+) have combined strong offense and stellar defense to both be among the top seven in National League fWAR among all players, and are obvious All-Star candidates.
On the pitching side, besides Ohtani, you have Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Justin Wrobleski making strong cases, especially so for Yamamoto when considering his entire body of work beyond just this year. Tanner Scott (1.47 ERA, 3.27 xERA, 27.7-percent K rate) and Alex Vesia (2.75 ERA, 2.53 xERA, 35.4-percent K rate) have been solid out of the bullpen, but relievers without high save totals rarely get tabbed for the midsummer classic.
Today’s question is which Dodgers do you think should make the All-Star Game this season?
India have announced squads for the Afghanistan one-off Test and ODI series, with Ravindra Jadeja rested from the series. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli feature in the ODI squad, though Rohit and Hardik Pandya’s participation remains subject to fitness clearance. Shubman Gill will lead India in both formats, while Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey and Prince Yadav are among the notable inclusions.
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NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were named in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming Afghanistan series as the BCCI on Tuesday announced the teams for the one-off Test and three-match ODI leg in June.
Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested for both the Test and ODI assignments, while wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant does not feature in the ODI setup.
Rohit’s inclusion in the ODI squad, along with Hardik Pandya’s, is subject to fitness clearance.
India’s ODI squad will be led by Shubman Gill with the series expected to serve as part of the team’s preparations towards the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Gill will lead India in both formats, with KL Rahul appointed vice-captain for the one-off Test. The squads feature a blend of established names and fresh faces, with Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar included in the Test setup.
The ODI squad also sees Prince Yadav earn his maiden India call-up alongside senior players Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer — named vice-captain - and KL Rahul as India continue preparations for next year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
India will face Afghanistan in a one-off Test in New Chandigarh from June 6 before the ODI series begins in Dharamsala on June 14.
India squad for Afghanistan one-off Test: Shubman Gill (captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (vice-captain), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant, Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Manav Suthar, Harsh Dubey, Dhruv Jurel.
India squad for Afghanistan ODI series: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.
India last played a Test in November last year against South Africa in Guwahati, where Rishabh Pant captained the side in the absence of an injured Gill.
The Afghanistan series will mark only the second Test meeting between the two nations. Afghanistan had previously played their maiden Test in India in Bengaluru in 2018.
Afghanistan tour of India 2026 schedule:
One-off Test: June 6-10, New Chandigarh
First ODI: June 14, Dharamsala
Second ODI: June 17, Lucknow
Third ODI: June 20, Chennai
The selectors have largely retained the core of the side that last featured in ODI cricket during the home series against New Zealand earlier this year, though a few fresh faces have also found a place in the setup.
The Commanders need depth and competition at cornerback. Signing free agent Rasul Douglas could fortify the position.
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Cornerback seemed like a clear and obvious Commanders need heading into the NFL Draft. General manager Adam Peters didn’t take one with any of his six selections.
We may have had a different discussion had the Kansas City Chiefs not traded up to take LSU’s Mansoor Delane at No. 6 overall, but we’ll never know what Peters would have done.
Delane or Sonny Styles? No way Peters will let that preference go public. The Commanders looked to receiver Antonio Williams in the third round other positions after that, leaving the defensive backfield alone.
That doesn’t mean he won’t address it as spring turns to summer. As matter of fact, Peters probably should. There aren’t many cover corners on the open market who flow with his objective to get younger, but the position group can surely get stronger and deeper and more dependable by adding Rasul Douglas.
The 30-year-old isn’t a household name and has bounced around a fair amount recently, but Douglas is a guy who can come in and compete. He’s a bigger cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, and could certainly fit into new coordinator Daronte Jones’ scheme.
Adding Douglas isn’t an original thought. Our John Portis and Matt inBrisVegas have brought him up a bunch, and I like their logic. He has been a steady starter throughout his career, including the 2025 campaign in Miami. He had 62 tackles, two interceptions and a sack, allowing just a 72.6 passer rating when targeted.
That’s, you know, pretty good.
Incumbent cornerback Mike Sainristill, by contrast, allowed a 109.7 passer rating when targeted. And a 71.3% completion rate.
It’s safe to say that Trey Amos will lock down one outside cornerback spot. The Commanders would surely like Sainristill to develop and secure his position atop the depth chart. They used a second-round pick on him for a reason.
Adding Douglas brings competition and valuable experience to the position group. Whether he’s injury protection, a hedge against Sainristill’s development or quality depth, it’s a good investment.
Signing Douglas won’t break the bank and should add positivity to the locker room culture. There’s no downside to this one, as Peters continues to fortify a defense that simply must be better than it was last season.
Billie Jean King, 82, received her bachelor's degree in history from the same school she attended more than 60 years ago and also gave a commencement speech.
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Tennis legend Billie Jean King prepares to toss tennis balls to graduates after delivering remarks during a Cal State Los Angeles commencement ceremony. (Jae C. Hong/Associated Press)
Long before Billie Jean King won dozens of Grand Slam tennis titles, founded the Women's Tennis Association, became part owner of the Dodgers and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, she enrolled in what was then called Los Angeles State College.
Three years later in 1964, King left without a degree to devote full attention to her burgeoning tennis career.
Failing to earn the degree bothered her, and King would correct anyone who said she had graduated.
"I said, 'Don't ever say 'graduated.' I haven't earned it — yet,'" she said.
"Yet" became a reality Monday when King, 82, received her bachelor's degree in history from the same school she attended more than 60 years ago — now called Cal State Los Angeles — walking across the Shrine Auditorium stage with the rest of the Class of 2026.
King also served as a commencement speaker, telling the roughly 6,000 fellow graduates, “It is a privilege for me to be here.
“Yeah, baby, only 61 years!”
King mentioned that "like many of you," no one in her immediate family had graduated from college.
She noted that her lifelong fight against discrimination began when she realized at age 12 that nearly everyone at tennis clubs was white.
“I asked myself, 'Where is everybody else?'” King said. “From that day forward, I committed my life to equality and inclusion for all. Tennis is a global sport and it became my platform, but equality was my dream — to make the world a better place.”
“We can never understand inclusion unless we’ve been excluded.”
Known then as Billie Jean Moffitt, she chose Los Angeles State because tennis coach Scotty Deeds trained men and women together. She soon became an international star, winning a Wimbledon doubles championship at 18 with Karen Hantze, who was only 17.
She married her college sweetheart Larry King in 1965 and they divorced in 1987. Afterward, King and Ilana Kloss, an accomplished tennis player in her own right, were a couple for decades before marrying in 2018 in a secret ceremony in the apartment of former New York City Mayor David Dinkins.
"You're finding your truth, and it doesn't have to stay the same," King told People magazine at the time. "I only liked guys when I was young. I didn't think about girls. And then all of a sudden I'm like, 'Oh my God, what's happening?' My truth was changing over time. It took me forever."
King became a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ and women's civil rights and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 in part for her advocacy for equality. King and Kloss co-founded the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative to promote inclusive workplaces and gender equality.
Shortly after they married, King and Kloss became part owners of the Dodgers and the Sparks, acquiring undisclosed minority stakes in the franchises through an invitation from controlling owner Mark Walter.
“We believe all professions, and professional sports, need to be more inclusive and equitable,’’ Walter said at the time. “It’s going to be wonderful to have a role model like her in both clubhouses from time to time.’’
King returned to Cal State L.A. in the 2025 spring semester. She also earned course credit for her interaction with fellow students enrolled through the university's Prison Graduation Initiative.
“They have made a commitment to improving their lives through education,” she said, and “getting their degree will be life-changing for them.”
King now knows the feeling firsthand. At the graduation ceremony on Monday, she wore a gold stole embroidered with a multicolored tennis racket and the letters G.O.A.T — greatest of all time.
"It means a lot more to me than I thought," she told reporters. "I am so glad I did it. My hope is that one other person will go back to school.
"It's never too late, whatever age you are, whatever your abilities are, go for it if you want it."
On May 19, NFL owners voted during the league's spring meetings to select Nissan Stadium as the host site for the 2030 event, The Tennessean reported.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in Nov. 2025 that he had "every expectation you're going to see that type of thing in the future" in regard to Nashville hosting a Super Bowl. City and Tennessee Titans officials also showed the NFL they could hold big events when it held the 2019 NFL Draft.
The event would mark Nashville's first time hosting pro football’s biggest game, a development long anticipated in connection with the 2027 completion of the Tennessee Titans' new stadium.
Ahead of the vote, here's a look at which cities have hosted the most Super Bowls.
Which cities have hosted the most Super Bowls?
Here are the cities which have hosted the most Super Bowls, according to topendsports.com.
Miami, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana (tie): 11
Los Angeles/Pasadena, California: 8
Tampa, Florida: 5
Phoenix/Glendale, Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia (tie): 4
Houston, Texas and San Diego, California (tie): 3
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.
The New York Giants finally have a reason to feel better about Cam Skattebo’s recovery. And for a Giants team that needs an offensive identity, this is not a small update. Skattebo, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury last season,…
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The New York Giants finally have a reason to feel better about Cam Skattebo’s recovery. And for a Giants team that needs an offensive identity, this is not a small update. Skattebo, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury last season, said during the Giants Town Hall that he is “feeling great” and will be ready for Week 1 of the NFL season, according to NFL.com’s league news roundup.
Impressive Before InjuryOct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) warms up before the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Skattebo’s injury was one of the more frustrating setbacks of New York’s 2025 season because he had been building momentum before getting hurt. A physical runner with energy and contact balance, Skattebo gave the Giants a different type of backfield presence. Losing him cut into more than just depth. It took away a tone-setter.
This is not the first positive sign in his rehab. Back in March, Giants general manager Joe Schoen said Skattebo was in a good place mentally and physically, and even joked that he saw him jogging, running, and jumping on former teammates at Arizona’s pro day. Schoen also made clear the team planned to ease him back, with the regular season still months away.
Read that last part again, because it’s important.
Week One Real Possibility?Oct 19, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs the ball against pressure from the Denver Broncos during the second half at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
Skattebo saying he will be ready for Week 1 does not mean the Giants should rush him through spring work. It simply means the most important checkpoint still appears realistic. If New York can get him through the summer without a setback, the Giants could have one of their more intriguing offensive pieces ready when the games start to count.
The timing also helps the Giants shape their backfield. Instead of entering the summer with total uncertainty, they can now build around the possibility that Skattebo will be available early in the season. That does not guarantee a major role right away, but it does keep the door open.
For Skattebo, the next challenge is not just getting cleared. It is proving he can still run with the same violence and confidence he had as a rookie. That’s what made him so effective in the first place. For the Giants, the update is simple: one of their young offensive pieces is trending in the right direction.
And after the way his season ended, that is exactly the kind of injury news New York needed.
Now that the Tennessee Titans have been awarded the 2030 Super Bowl host responsibilities, Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk offered a statement.
"We are thrilled that the new Nissan Stadium will host Nashville’s first Super Bowl in 2030,” Adams Strunk said. “This is an exciting moment for our city and our entire state. We cannot wait for our community to experience an event of this magnitude and for the world to see the energy, hospitality, and culture that make our city so special on a global stage.
"Thank you to (NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell), my fellow owners, and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp for their partnership throughout this process. We look forward to bringing an unforgettable Super Bowl experience to Nashville together.”
Adams Strunk's father, Bud Adams, moved the Titans to Tennessee in 1997 after operating the franchise as the Houston Oilers for nearly 40 years. The newly renamed Titans moved to Nashville full-time in 1998 after a year in Memphis and moved into their existing home, now called Nissan Stadium, for the 1999 season.
Adams Strunk took over as the Titans' controlling owner in 2015 and has overseen the franchise through some of its most consequential periods. Some of the decisions made under Adams Strunk's supervision include the choice to fire coach Mike Mularkey just two weeks after leading the franchise to its first playoff win in more than a decade; firing general manager Jon Robinson, who had a winning record, midway through the 2022 season; firing coach Mike Vrabel despite his winning record; and the quick-turn hirings and firings of coach Brian Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon.
Off the field, her tenure has coincided with Nashville's and Tennessee's economic boons and the positives that have come from that. The most practical benefit is Adams Strunk's and the Titans' ability to get approval on their $2.1 billion stadium project to build a new home for the Titans, with a majority of the funding coming from public fundraising rather than from the team via a loan to be repaid with stadium-related revenues.
The new stadium, which is scheduled to be completed in February 2027 and open to the public shortly thereafter, is a crucial piece in Nashville getting its Super Bowl. The 60,000-seat, fully enclosed new Nissan Stadium was viewed as the "missing piece" in Nashville getting to host the NFL's premier event.
Nashville will formally announce and celebrate its upcoming Super Bowl with a news conference on May 20, followed by a community celebration on lower Broadway that evening. The news conference will include Gov. Bill Lee, Mayor Freddie O'Connell, Titans CEO Burke Nihill, Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp CEO Deana Ivey, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and NFL vice president for league events Peter O'Reilly. The celebration will include live music, drone shows and fireworks, weather permitting.
Nashville's tourism executives toiled for years to build the type of city that could host a Super Bowl. That work has finally paid off.
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Nashville will host a Super Bowl for the first time in 2030, a milestone that would have seemed far-fetched not long ago for a city once considered too small for the NFL's biggest stage.
The May 19 announcement from the league meetings in Orlando that NFL owners voted to approve the Super Bowl LXIV in Nashville, teeing up Music City as the 17th destination for the massive event, capped a years-long push to create a global destination.
Nashville's tourism executives toiled for years to build the type of city that could host a Super Bowl, focusing on brand building, strategic event hosting and infrastructure investment. They attracted the NFL Draft in 2019, lobbied for a new football stadium and expanded direct international flight options, while building up the Music City brand.
Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. President and CEO Deana Ivey pointed out it has only been 31 years since former Mayor Phil Bredesen decided to bring the Houston Oilers, later renamed the Tennessee Titans, to Nashville.
"If you think back to Mayor Bredesen, and the vision of bringing an NFL team, and building a stadium, and where we are today, it's pretty amazing," Ivey said./
Nashville submitted a letter of interest to the NFL last year to hold the event and was viewed as a favorite to win it sooner or later. With a new Tennessee Titans stadium due in 2027, a year-round tourism economy and growing track record of successful events under its belt, many people thought the city was a shoe-in.
Since Nashville's first NFL stadium was completed in 1999, the city has completely transformed. Here's a look at the key moments that led up to Nashville's new status as a Super Bowl city.
Music City brand solidified more than 20 years ago
In those days, the party atmosphere on Lower Broadway was in its infancy, with just a handful of honky-tonks holding it down. More bars and restaurants joined the early adopters over the last 20 years, including establishments bearing the names of the biggest names in Country Music: Garth Brooks, Luke Combs, Morgan Wallen, Eric Church, Blake Shelton and many more. Now, the famous strip is primed to host its largest party ever on Super Bowl Sunday in 2030.
"This is a big moment for the city, and we've been working toward this for a long time," Ivey said.
But before Nashville could host a Super Bowl, the city had to prove it was up to the task.
How NFL, Tennessee Titans found a Super Bowl match in Nashville
Starting in 2015, the NFL Draft became a traveling event and, ostensibly, a showcase opportunity for NFL cities in cold-weather markets like Chicago and Philadelphia that were considered unlikely to host Super Bowls. That changed in 2019 when Nashville turned the Draft into a party unlike the league had ever seen. More than 600,000 fans descended on Lower Broadway across the three-day festivities, weathering rainy conditions and flummoxing unsuspecting Bachelorette parties and would-be honky-tonkers.
The event turned the NFL Draft into a new kind of spectacle, which major cities like Las Vegas, Detroit and Kansas City have worked to replicate. And it fast-tracked Nashville as a city the NFL could someday consider as a Super Bowl host, provided Nashville built a stadium that could replicate the party atmosphere of Lower Broadway in a way the Tennessee Titans' existing Nissan Stadium structure simply couldn't.
Explorations into the possibility of renovating Nissan Stadium began as early as 2020, but renovation estimates proved roughly as costly as the prospect of building a new arena. In April 2023, Metro Nashville Sports Authority and Metro Nashville Council approved construction of a new, enclosed stadium on the East Bank. Groundbreaking took place in Feb. 2024, and the project is on schedule to be completed by Feb. 2027 with the Titans moving in as primary tenants for the 2027 season.
Speaking at the steel topping-out ceremony for the new Nissan Stadium in Nov. 2025, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he had "every expectation" Nashville would host a Super Bowl after the stadium opened.
It's customary for new NFL stadiums to endure a short grace period before hosting Super Bowls. Venues in San Francisco, Minneapolis, Atlanta and Los Angeles all hosted Super Bowls within two years of opening. Las Vegas' grace period was four years. The NFL apparently liked what it saw from the new venues. San Francisco has already hosted a second Super Bowl. Los Angeles, Atlanta and Las Vegas will host the three games that precede Nashville's turn in 2030.
A key concern: Does Nashville have enough hotel rooms?
One of the last questions Nashville has to answer is how well it can accommodate massive influxes of tourists.
About 12 years ago, as Nashville's status as a tourism magnet and major event host began to take off, the city had about 26,000 hotel rooms and very limited luxury tier accommodations. That was a major limiting factor for large events like the Super Bowl, which bring high-profile visitors expecting luxurious hotel options.
According to the NCVC, the greater Nashville market could have a projected 658 hotels operating with more than 80,000 guest rooms by 2030. And Nissan Stadium ranks as the third NFL venue by the number of hotels within a one-mile radius, ranking Nashville behind only New Orleans and Las Vegas.
The total number and caliber of luxury offerings has only gone up. Nashville is now home to the Four Seasons, Conrad, The Joseph, W Hotel, JW Marriott, 1 Hotel and others. The Edition, The Pendry, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and Equinox are under construction or in planning stages.
"As a city, I think we're well prepared," Ivey said. "We still have work to do. The real work starts now."
Molly Davis covers growth and development in Nashville. You can email her with comments, questions and tips at mmdavis@tennessean.com.
Carlos Alcaraz has been recovering from a wrist injury since he last took the court at the Barcelona Open last month.
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Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from Wimbledon and the remainder of grass-court season with a wrist injury.
The two-time Wimbledon champion began the calendar year by claiming the Australian Open men's title, becoming the youngest player to complete the Career Grand Slam.
However, he has been recovering from the injury since he last took the court at the Barcelona Open in April and had already opted out of the French Open.
"My recovery is going well and I feel much better, but unfortunately I'm still not ready to be able to play, and that's why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen's and Wimbledon," Alcaraz said via social media Tuesday. "They are two really special tournaments for me and I'll miss them a lot. We keep working to return as soon as possible!"
Without Alcaraz, who is second in the men's ATP rankings, familiar foe and new No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been collecting singles titles at a record clip entering the French Open. The four-time major winner said he won't do much on the court before playing in Paris after a rugged schedule during which he was unstoppable.
"The main priority is to recover as much as I can in the next two, three days," Sinner said after becoming the first Italian in 50 years to win the Italian Open in Rome last week. "There is not going to be a lot of training, for sure. Tennis, zero. Physically, we need to see.
"I want to be a little bit with my family, as well, in this moment. Switching off on tennis, then from Thursday on, I think I will be there in Paris. Prepare, and we'll see how it goes. Yeah, look, now it's important to rest."
Sinner, 24, claimed the men's title at Wimbledon in 2025 following a defeat at the hands of Alcaraz in a five-set classic in the French Open. Sinner had lost five consecutive matches to Alcaraz before denying him a singles title defense in England last year.
Sinner hasn't lost a match in three months. He rolls into Paris with a 29-match winning streak.
The NFL's owners officially voted to award Nashville its 1st ever Super Bowl, bringing the sporting calendar's biggest event to Nissan Stadium in 2030.
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It's Nashville's turn.
The city of Nashville and the Tennessee Titans will officially host Super Bowl LXIV in 2030, bringing America's marquee sporting event and the most-watched televised spectacle every year to Music City for the first time. An honor bestowed on Nashville and the new Nissan Stadium construction project, the game will make Nashville just the 17th metro area to host a Super Bowl.
National Football League owners voted May 19 to approve Nashville as Super Bowl LXIV host at the league meetings in Orlando. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk was present for the vote, while Titans CEO Burke Nihill and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp CEO Deana Ivey made one final presentation to the league's owners prior to the vote.
"We’re used to doing big events and we do them really, really well," Ivey told The Tennessean prior to the announcement. "Nashville’s going to be a fantastic city for the Super Bowl. If you think about it, the cities that do the best with the Super Bowl are the cities that people like to visit other times of year."
Nihill emphasized this win positions the city for more world-class events.
"I think this is an opportunity for us to do great things for the city and for the people of our city while it’s here, but then also leave a long tail," Nihill added. "That’s the legacy of Super Bowls is great things are left in the wake of the Super Bowl for schools and local businesses. I look forward to the next few years because we (in Nashville) can do that better than anyone else."
The city of Nashville will formally announce and celebrate its coronation as a Super Bowl city with a press conference at 9 a.m. on May 20 and a party on Lower Broadway that evening at 7:30 p.m.
Governor Bill Lee, Mayor Freddie O'Connell, former Governor Bill Haslam and NFL Vice President for League Events Peter O'Reilly will join Nihill and Ivey at the press conference. The community celebration will feature live music, a drone show and fireworks, weather permitting.
Nashville, new Nissan Stadium will host Super Bowl 64: What locals need to know
New Nissan Stadium construction is on schedule to be completed in Feb. 2027 and to open to the Titans' tenancy that fall. Nashville joins other major cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Atlanta as metro areas that have been awarded Super Bowls shortly after completing new stadium projects.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned several times he believed Nashville was just "a stadium away" from hosting a Super Bowl. Nihill pointed to the success of Nashville's turn hosting the 2019 NFL Draft as a launching point that accelerated the plans, since many of the sitting members of the NFL's event planning and selection committee worked closely with Nashville and the Titans during that event.
"I think we recognized that the biggest events in the world like the Super Bowl and the Final Four and the College Football Playoff championships, those are events that this city would do as well or probably better than any other city," Nihill said. "We were a stadium away from being able to host those events. Certainly that was always something that we had in mind. It’s no surprise to us that, now that the stadium is a reality, that the NFL has decided to get here as soon as they can."
Construction began on the new Nissan Stadium project with its Feb. 2024 groundbreaking. The enclosed venue will seat 60,000 fans but can be expanded for major events and is expected to include standing-room-only ticket options for select events. The stadium cost $2.1 billion to build, including a $1.26 billion public loan to be repaid with stadium revenue, which at the time of approval was the largest public investment into a stadium in United States history.
As Nihill alluded, the Super Bowl is hardly the only major event Nashville is courting. Everything from the NCAA football and basketball championships to WWE Wrestlemania is being discussed now that Nashville has a suitable home for them. The East Bank revitalization project, at which Nissan Stadium is the center point, will also allow Nashville to court major entertainment events and business conferences, continuing the pledge to grow Nashville into one of the nation's premiere destination cities.
Ivey pointed out that 60% attendees for concerts at sporting events in the existing Nissan Stadium come from out of town. The expectation is the Super Bowl will function like several of those events wrapped into one week, with all the private parties, concerts, corporate events and fan experiences that come with hosting an event so large in scale.
Per data shared with The Tennessean by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, the greater Nashville market will grow from having 61,000 available hotel rooms to more than 80,000 hotel rooms by 2030.
Super Bowl LXIV will be organized through partnerships between the NCVC, the Titans, Music City Major Event Inc., and the Nashville Super Bowl Bid Committee.
The NFL's owners officially voted to award Nashville its 1st ever Super Bowl, bringing the sporting calendar's biggest event to Nissan Stadium in 2030.
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It's Nashville's turn.
The city of Nashville and the Tennessee Titans will officially host Super Bowl LXIV in 2030, bringing America's marquee sporting event and the most-watched televised spectacle every year to Music City for the first time. An honor bestowed on Nashville and the new Nissan Stadium construction project, the game will make Nashville just the 17th metro area to host a Super Bowl.
National Football League owners voted May 19 to approve Nashville as Super Bowl LXIV host at the league meetings in Orlando. Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk was present for the vote, while Titans CEO Burke Nihill and Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp CEO Deana Ivey made one final presentation to the league's owners prior to the vote.
"We’re used to doing big events and we do them really, really well," Ivey told The Tennessean prior to the announcement. "Nashville’s going to be a fantastic city for the Super Bowl. If you think about it, the cities that do the best with the Super Bowl are the cities that people like to visit other times of year."
Nihill emphasized this win positions the city for more world-class events.
"I think this is an opportunity for us to do great things for the city and for the people of our city while it’s here, but then also leave a long tail," Nihill added. "That’s the legacy of Super Bowls is great things are left in the wake of the Super Bowl for schools and local businesses. I look forward to the next few years because we (in Nashville) can do that better than anyone else."
The city of Nashville will formally announce and celebrate its coronation as a Super Bowl city with a press conference at 9 a.m. on May 20 and a party on Lower Broadway that evening at 7:30 p.m.
Governor Bill Lee, Mayor Freddie O'Connell, former Governor Bill Haslam and NFL Vice President for League Events Peter O'Reilly will join Nihill and Ivey at the press conference. The community celebration will feature live music, a drone show and fireworks, weather permitting.
Nashville, new Nissan Stadium will host Super Bowl 64: What locals need to know
New Nissan Stadium construction is on schedule to be completed in Feb. 2027 and to open to the Titans' tenancy that fall. Nashville joins other major cities like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Atlanta as metro areas that have been awarded Super Bowls shortly after completing new stadium projects.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned several times he believed Nashville was just "a stadium away" from hosting a Super Bowl. Nihill pointed to the success of Nashville's turn hosting the 2019 NFL Draft as a launching point that accelerated the plans, since many of the sitting members of the NFL's event planning and selection committee worked closely with Nashville and the Titans during that event.
"I think we recognized that the biggest events in the world like the Super Bowl and the Final Four and the College Football Playoff championships, those are events that this city would do as well or probably better than any other city," Nihill said. "We were a stadium away from being able to host those events. Certainly that was always something that we had in mind. It’s no surprise to us that, now that the stadium is a reality, that the NFL has decided to get here as soon as they can."
Construction began on the new Nissan Stadium project with its Feb. 2024 groundbreaking. The enclosed venue will seat 60,000 fans but can be expanded for major events and is expected to include standing-room-only ticket options for select events. The stadium cost $2.1 billion to build, including a $1.26 billion public loan to be repaid with stadium revenue, which at the time of approval was the largest public investment into a stadium in United States history.
As Nihill alluded, the Super Bowl is hardly the only major event Nashville is courting. Everything from the NCAA football and basketball championships to WWE Wrestlemania is being discussed now that Nashville has a suitable home for them. The East Bank revitalization project, at which Nissan Stadium is the center point, will also allow Nashville to court major entertainment events and business conferences, continuing the pledge to grow Nashville into one of the nation's premiere destination cities.
Ivey pointed out that 60% attendees for concerts at sporting events in the existing Nissan Stadium come from out of town. The expectation is the Super Bowl will function like several of those events wrapped into one week, with all the private parties, concerts, corporate events and fan experiences that come with hosting an event so large in scale.
Per data shared with The Tennessean by the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp, the greater Nashville market will grow from having 61,000 available hotel rooms to more than 80,000 hotel rooms by 2030.
Super Bowl LXIV will be organized through partnerships between the NCVC, the Titans, Music City Major Event Inc., and the Nashville Super Bowl Bid Committee.
Earlier today, I reported on the excitement generated by Carlos Alcaraz‘s name appearing on the entry list for the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club. This is a key ATP warmup event for Wimbledon which begins on June 15. Unfortunately, Alcaraz…
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Earlier today, I reported on the excitement generated by Carlos Alcaraz‘s name appearing on the entry list for the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club.
This is a key ATP warmup event for Wimbledon which begins on June 15.
Unfortunately, Alcaraz has since announced that he will withdraw from this event, Wimbledon, and will miss the entire grass court tennis season.
His words leading into the 2026 Australian Open are becoming eerily prophetic. At that time, he said he would trade a win at the Australian Open and the career Grand Slam for the rest of the slams this year. It might come down to that.
Sep 7, 2025; Flushing, NY, USA; Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) kisses the trophy after defeating Jannik Sinner (ITA) (not pictured) in the final of mens singles at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
The only part of this that makes sense is that the grass court season is extremely short, about four weeks long. With such a long layoff, it is prudent to wait until July to delve into the hardcourt season which is lengthy and leads into the US Open, a title he will hope to defend.
If we get into July and Alcaraz is still missing events, that is a red alert that his entire season could be in jeopardy.
In the meantime, can someone else challenge Jannik Sinner?
The other consequence of Alcaraz’s long absence is that someone needs to step up and challenge Jannik Sinner, or he can run the table between now and July.
He has barely been tested by anyone but Alcaraz, and though any given day something can happen, the level and skill he possesses separates him from everyone in the field but Alcaraz.
Diaz (21-14) faced Perry at
Most Valuable Promotions "Rousey vs. Carano" last weekend in
Los Angeles. Diaz had no answers while taking a brutal beating from
Perry. Perry left Diaz a bloody mess, forcing his corner to throw
in the towel at the end of the second round.
Poirier (30-10) was unimpressed by Diaz’s performance against
Perry. To Poirier, it looked like Diaz didn’t want to be inside the
cage after returning to MMA for the first time since 2022. While
Poirier and Diaz were scheduled to fight twice in the past, the
matchups never came to fruition due to various reasons. Despite
Poirier’s retirement last year, “The Diamond” is open to a return
only for a matchup against Diaz. Regardless of Diaz’s underwhelming
performance against Perry, Poirier is still interested in fighting
the Stockton, California, native and promises to knock him out
clean.
"My invitation is still out there. At 170, I will go back in the
drug testing protocol. I WILL KNOCK Nate Diaz
COMPLETE OUT." pic.twitter.com/8bN3k6CpSz— UFC on
Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
May 18, 2026
“After the way he looked on Saturday night, he can't talk right
now,” Poirier said on Deep Waters. “He needs to get some sleep and
some rest. He looked like dogs—t. He looked like he didn’t want to
be in there, looked like a punching bag, looked off balance, his
timing was horrible… My invitation is still out there. At 170, I
will go back in the drug testing protocol. I will knock Nate Diaz
complete out.”
Mohamed Salah appeared to aim a dig at Arne Slot ahead of his final match for Liverpool
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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot faces an unenviable dilemma this weekend, with former defender Jamie Carragher suggesting he "cannot win" when it comes to managing Mohamed Salah's final appearance for the club.
Carragher believes Slot lacks the authority to sideline the Egypt international, despite recent tensions.
Salah’s recent social media post, published on Saturday, was widely interpreted as a thinly veiled critique of Slot. The forward’s message, which heavily referenced terminology associated with former manager Jürgen Klopp, was liked by several teammates.
The upcoming match against Brentford on Sunday is set to be Salah’s last game for Liverpool at Anfield before his summer exit.
The Premier League fixture holds significant weight, potentially determining the club’s Champions League qualification for next season, should Bournemouth remain in contention and secure a result against Manchester City.
Jamie Carragher believes Slot cannot win when making his decision on Salah (Richard Sellers/PA) (PA Wire)
Carragher acknowledged that the outcome of this crucial game must take precedence. However, he suggested that if qualification were already secured, Slot might have more justification to make a statement regarding the long-serving forward.
Such a move, however, risks further alienating fans who largely remain supportive of Salah, having reportedly grown disillusioned with Slot’s tactics and the team’s recent performances.
"I don’t think a manager should ever cut off his nose to spite his face, he should always do what’s going to give the team the best chance of a result – if he needs a result," Carragher stated on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast.
He continued: "If he doesn’t need a result and Liverpool are already qualified then that might be something different but the position Arne Slot is in right now with the supporters, it is very difficult not to give Mo Salah some sort of big send off.
“You almost can’t win in some ways. If he had a bit more power… But if it was me and I was Arne Slot, I think I would play it a little bit clever if I’d got the result (from Bournemouth) and was in the Champions League positions."
In his social media post, Salah expressed a desire for Liverpool to revert to being a "heavy metal attacking team" – a direct nod to Klopp’s philosophy. He wrote: "That is the identity that needs to be recovered and kept for good. It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it."
This is not the first instance of public friction between Salah and Slot this season. Following a December match at Leeds, where Salah was benched during a poor run of form, he gave an extraordinary post-match interview, claiming he had been "thrown under the bus" and no longer had a relationship with the Dutchman.
While the pair reconciled after Salah’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations, the announcement in March that his two-year deal would be cut short suggested underlying issues persisted behind the scenes.
Arlington Heights, Illinois, is in competition with Hammond, Indiana, to become the next home of the Chicago Bears.
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Arlington Heights, Illinois, is in competition with Hammond, Indiana, to become the next home of the Chicago Bears. And Arlington Heights' mayor says there's a major problem with Hammond.
Mayor Jim Tinaglia is an architect by training, and he says he knows first-hand that sites like the proposed Hammond location for a new stadium can have massive problems. The Hammond location is surrounded by slag, treated human waste, hazardous waste sites, an oil tank storage complex, and the Midwest’s largest oil refinery, according to the Chicago Tribune.
“I would throw up the red caution flags immediately,” Tinaglia told the Tribune. “I’ve worked on enough sites with gas stations or dry cleaners or some sort of hazardous material to know it contaminates the ground. I would be very concerned about selecting a site like that.”
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., however, says the Bears are well aware of the waste products nearby and have studied the safety of a stadium built there.
“I understand people want to take a close look, but the Bears know far more about environmental concerns in that area than any of us, because they’re spending millions of dollars on it,” he said.
The NFL’s Inspire Change initiative has surpassed a half-billion dollars. Since launching in 2017, the NFL has provided nearly $575 million in support of thousands of partners and nonprofit organizations across four core pillars: education, economic advancement, police/community relations and criminal justice reform. The league is renewing grants for nine nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Law Enforcement Action Partnership and Center for Employment Opportunities.
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ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The NFL’s Inspire Change initiative has surpassed a half-billion dollars.
Since launching in 2017, the NFL has provided nearly $575 million in support of thousands of partners and nonprofit organizations across four core pillars: education, economic advancement, police/community relations and criminal justice reform.
The league is renewing grants for nine nonprofit organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Law Enforcement Action Partnership and Center for Employment Opportunities.
“It’s really a credit to the NFL family for contributing back to our communities that need us to reach the under resourced and the underserved,” said Anna Isaacson, senior vice president of social responsibility for the NFL. “The dollar amount is big, but it’s really what that dollar amount represents. It’s thousands of organizations over the last nine years that have received grants from NFL clubs, from club foundations, from the NFL Foundation, to do the work in their communities across the four pillars of Inspire Change.”
The renewed grants were approved by the Player-Owner Social Justice Committee, a 12-member panel composed of current and former players representing the Players Coalition, and team owners.
“Our mission as the Players Coalition is to use our collective voices and influence to advocate for the individuals actively making a difference in their communities,” Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “The collaborative work with the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative gives players the opportunity to raise awareness of social issues and direct funds to solve them.”
Nashville Super Bowl
Team owners are expected to vote Tuesday on bringing the 2030 Super Bowl to Nashville and the Tennessee Titans’ new Nissan Stadium.
The Titans are on schedule to finish the new stadium directly across from the current Nissan Stadium in February, completing the three-year construction. The NFL held the 2019 draft in Music City.
The Super Bowl will be held in Los Angeles this season, Atlanta in 2028 and Las Vegas in 2029.
Minneapolis draft
Team owners also are expected to vote on holding the 2028 draft in Minneapolis.
It will be held in Washington next year. Minneapolis hosted the 2018 Super Bowl, when the Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33.
It helps that the class was 14 players deep, but the quality of it far outweighs the quantity. It started with three terrific selections with Steve Avila, Byron Young and Kobie Turner, followed by Warren McClendon Jr. and Puka Nacua in the fifth round. Sprinkled in were Davis Allen and Ethan Evans, who have also contributed in the last three years.
Collectively, it was arguably the best haul of any team that year, completely reshaping the future of the Rams following a terrible 5-12 season in 2022.
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco regraded every team’s 2023 draft haul and he gave the Rams a perfect A+ after initially grading it as a B three years ago.
The skinny: They had 14 picks in the draft and five of them are starters with the best of them being fifth-round receiver Puka Nacua. He has proven to be a star and a steal. They also got starters in guard Steve Avila (second), defensive linemen Byron Young and Kobie Turner in the third and right tackle Warren McClendon in the fifth. Backup tight end Davis Allen also came in the fifth. Backup quarterback Stetson Bennett came in the fourth.
The Rams have yet to sign anyone from the 2023 draft class but there are several extension-worthy players on the docket. Nacua is bound to sign a lucrative deal at some point, while Turner and Young could also be next for long-term extensions. The same goes for Avila and McClendon, who are penciled in as starters in 2026.
The Rams wouldn’t have made three straight playoff appearances without this 2023 draft class, showing just how crucial it’s been to the success of the team.
Los Angeles was one of just two teams to receive an A+ grade from Prisco, with the other being the Seattle Seahawks.
Next up are the well-rested Hurricanes in a series that opens at Carolina.
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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Canadiens defenseman Mike Matheson was no different than any Montreal hockey fan, increasingly impatient over talk of the team’s promising potential.
Turns out, the future has arrived perhaps a little ahead of schedule, and propelled by forward Alex Newhook’s knack for scoring Game 7 playoff series-clinching goals.
“It means a lot,” Matheson said after Montreal advanced to the Eastern Conference finals courtesy of Newhook’s goal 11:22 into overtime of a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.
“For a long time it’s been talking about the rebuild and rebuild. I think as a group we’re a little tired of that whole kind of viewpoint, as if we have to keep being patient and wait, and our time will come,” he said. “So I feel it’s exciting for us and motivating for us to see that we’re at this stage already.”
The win was Montreal’s second in a Game 7 this postseason, with both coming on the road and both decided by Newhook. The second-line forward also scored the tie-breaking goal 11:07 into the third period in Game 7 of Montreal’s 2-1 first-round series-clinching win over Tampa Bay.
Next up are the well-rested Hurricanes in a series that opens at Carolina. The Hurricanes have swept each of their first two rounds, and been off since a 3-2 overtime win against Philadelphia on May 9.
The Canadiens reached the NHL’s semifinal round for the first time since the 2021 COVID-altered playoffs, in which a veteran-laden Montreal team — including captain Shea Weber and goalie Carey Price — beat Vegas before losing to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final in five games.
Though there are a few holdovers, such as captain Nick Suzuki and linemate Cole Caufield, both now in their mid-20s, this group essentially has been rebuilt from scratch in three-plus seasons under general manager Kent Hughes and coach Martin St. Louis.
Among the newcomers are draft picks such as defenseman Lane Hutson, forwards Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov, and goalie Jakub Dobes. Then there’s the key pieces Hughes acquired through trades, including Newhook, Matheson, Noah Dobson, Alexandre Carrier and Phillip Danault, who is back for a second stint.
“We built it since I’ve been here, and we built it all season long,” said Newhook, who won the Stanley Cup in 2022 with Colorado, and now is in his second season in Montreal. “We’re a confident group. We knew what we were capable of all year. I think we believe that we can keep going and bring this thing all the way.”
Montreal is in the playoffs for just the fourth time in nine years. And the team’s upward trajectory is apparent a year after being knocked out in the first round by Washington, and following a season in which Montreal’s 48 wins and 106 points were the most since 2014-15.
The Canadiens haven’t lost consecutive games since mid-March, and improved their playoff record to 6-0 following a loss.
Dobes, a rookie, has carried the load in goal by starting every playoff game and after going 29-10-4 this season. In two Game 7s, he’s allowed a combined three goals on 68 shots, including a 37-save outing against Buffalo.
And he and the Canadiens bounced back from an 8-3 loss in Game 6.
“We’re used to it,” Dobes said of performing in the clutch. “The Tampa series made us a way better team than before the playoffs. We know how to bounce back. We know what’s the feeling like. So, yeah, it’s just keep getting experience.”
Montreal entered the playoffs with 10 players having previously appeared in a Game 7. The Canadiens now count 20.
“It’s easy to just use the age as a crutch,” said St. Louis, who improved to 2-0 in Game 7s as a coach to go along with 6-2 during his playing days.
“Two years ago, we know that we lacked experience. That doesn’t mean you can’t advance and mature,” he said. “Last year’s experience in the playoffs, what we’re going through right now, you can’t buy that. It’s amazing. I’m so happy for the players to live that.”
Fantasy baseball analyst Scott Pianowski is back with his updated rankings!
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Every week, we check in and update the rest-of-season MLB rankings. Use them however you like — for team self-scouting, for trade ideas, for spirited debate or a start-from-scratch fantasy baseball draft.
Let’s have a look at some of the risers and fallers; the player values are never static, even if it feels like chasing a butterfly at times.
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Miguel Vargas, 1B/3B, White Sox: There’s been pro-Vargas stuff in this space all year, but maybe it didn’t go far enough. Vargas is the top 5x5 hitter over the past 30 days. Here’s a good sample of how batting average isn’t everything (although he is hitting .309 the last month). Appreciate Vargas’s batting eye (.366 OBP), his legitimate power (.494 slugging) and resourcefulness on the bases (six steals in six attempts).
He’s on pace to hit over 30 homers, score more than 100 runs, drive in over 90 runs. And the top of the Chicago order is pretty darn fun right now.
Josh Naylor, 1B, Mariners: Naylor is one of the slowest runners in MLB but he continues to steal like Rickey Henderson, copping eight bags in May. His bat has also perked up this month: .338/.392/.426 slash, just nine strikeouts. A lot of things have gone wrong with the Mariners this year, but with Naylor and Julio Rodríguez coming around, Seattle still looms as the AL West favorite.
Matt McLain, 2B, Reds: McLain has finally started to cut his strikeouts, and not a moment too soon — he was dropped in the lineup earlier this month and his overall job might have been in jeopardy. A .289 binge over the last two weeks (three homers, two steals, six walks) not only marks McLain’s territory, but it’s earned him a promotion to the top of the lineup.
Cody Bellinger, 1B, Yankees: New York was wise to bring Bellinger back, as the sweet-swinging lefty has cut his strikeouts and bumped his walks without sacrificing any average. He’s also on pace to pick up about 15 steals. Don’t fret the home run column, those will come. Everything else is where it needs to be.
Cristopher Sánchez, SP, Phillies: He finished second in the Cy Young voting last year, and has designs on the hardware this time around. The walk rate is still microscopic, and it’s almost impossible to homer off Sánchez. But just for fun, he’s bumped his strikeout rate by 3.6% while maintaining the same ground-ball tilt. Even with Zack Wheeler back in the mix, the Phillies should start Sánchez first in any playoff series.
Mark Vientos, 1B/3B, Mets: Maybe you have to squint a little to see it, but I pushed Vientos back into the top 250. He's been a run-producer this month (four homers, 14 RBI, .468 slugging), and while his slash line is still lagging, he's been swimming mostly in bad luck (his expected average is .281, his expected slugging is .531). Vientos is rostered in just 10% of Yahoo leagues, but he feels like a 25-30% guy to me. Jump the line.
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Trevor Rogers, SP, Orioles: He was over his skis last year, posting a 1.81 ERA despite Statcast suggesting a 3.41 ERA. Okay, that second number is still good. This year it’s been bombs away, with a 6.87 ERA, a 1.66 WHIP and a paltry 19.5% strikeout rate. Your command needs to be fine when your average fastball is shy of 93 mph; Rogers is hitting too much of the plate and paying the price. His ground-ball rate has also fallen apart after last year’s dream season.
Sandy Alcantara, SP, Marlins: Something doesn’t add up here — Alcantara has a fastball over 97 mph and a chase rate better than average, but he almost never gets strikeouts (just 16.9%). Maybe it’s time to accept that the one Cy Young season was a fluke and never coming back. He’s posted a 4.87 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over his past 41 starts, and that’s how I’m going to consider him moving forward. Now at age 30, it’s time for the back-nine seasons.
Jackson Merrill, OF, Padres: I’ve tried to be patient and at least there’s still some category juice here — four homers, nine steals. But pitchers are starting to exploit Merrill’s poor walk and chase rates, and although Merrill’s batted-ball outcomes are a trifle unlucky, a .234 expected average and .410 expected slugging won’t help much.
We thought Merrill was an instant superstar when he dropped in 2024 — narrowly missing Rookie of the Year to Paul Skenes — but baseball has gotten harder since. Development curves are not always linear.
Steven Kwan, OF, Guardians: It’s almost impossible to be a bad offensive player when you have more walks than strikeouts, but Kwan is trying to challenge that notion. A .200/.328/.255 slash is drop-worthy in most mixed leagues, and he’s only attempted three stolen bases (you need ancillary contributions when the power isn’t standard). Kwan has been unlucky with batted-ball outcomes, but his expected average is still just .223.
Updated rest-of-season top-250 rankings (as of May 19)
Carlos Alcaraz, who already withdrew from the 2026 French Open, also will miss Wimbledon due to his wrist injury, he announced Tuesday.
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Carlos Alcaraz sits at No. 2 in the ATP singles rankings. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
May 19 (UPI) -- Carlos Alcaraz will miss the Wimbledon tennis tournament due to his wrist injury, he announced Tuesday.
The Spaniard hurt his right wrist last month at the Barcelona Open. He withdrew from several tournaments, including the French Open, ending his attempt to win three-consecutive crowns at Roland Garros.
The 2026 Australian Open champion will now miss at least half of the Grand Slams contested this year.
"My recovery is going well and I'm feeling much better, but unfortunately I'm still not ready to compete, which is why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen's and Wimbledon," Alcaraz wrote on social media.
"They are two truly special tournaments for me and I will miss them a lot. We'll keep working to come back as soon as possible!"
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (pictured) faced Jannik Sinner in the Wimbledon 2025 finale. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
View this post on InstagramSpain's Carlos Alcaraz will miss the 2026 French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz won Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
Alcaraz, the No. 2 player in the ATP singles rankings, last played April 14, during a Round of 32 match at the Barcelona Open.
The 2026 French Open, the second major of the season, will be held May 18 to June 7. Wimbledon 2026 will be played June 29 to July 12 in London. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy beat Alcaraz for the Wimbledon 2025 singles title.
Carlos Alcaraz owns a 22-3 record this season. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI
Alcaraz did not divulge his status for the final major of the year, the 2026 U.S. Open. That Grand Slam will be played from Aug. 23 to Sept. 13 in Flushing, N.Y. Alcaraz is the defending champion.
Can UDFA DT Cam Ball make the Colts' 53-man roster? Let's take a closer look.
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The Indianapolis Colts announced that they signed 12 undrafted free agents following the conclusion of the 2026 NFL draft. Let's take a closer look at these players and highlight why each could make a potential roster push.
Up next is Arkansas defensive tackle Cameron Ball.
Ball has played 1,864 career snaps on defense, which includes being a starter the past two years. He's routinely graded out well as a run defender throughout his career by PFF's metrics. This past season, Ball recorded a career-high 21 pressures. The bulk of Ball's snaps have come lined up in the A or B gaps. He also has a good amount of special teams experience, playing 467 career snaps.
Cameron Ball's athletic profile
Cameron Ball is a DT prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored an unofficial 8.26 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 357 out of 2046 DT from 1987 to 2026.
"Steady interior defender who plays with good initial quickness and adequate play strength. Ball can dart into gaps or hold the point against single blocks as a two-gapper. While he can handle hand-to-hand combat, he’s unable to sink a deep anchor and compete at a high level against double teams and down blocks. He’s an effort rusher with decent footwork but could become much more effective with better hand work. Ball has average upside as a rotational defender in an even front." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Can Cameron Ball make a roster push with the Colts?
Ball could provide the Colts with another run-first defender at the defensive tackle position, however, he finds himself a part of a crowded position group. Leading the way at defensive tackle are DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. GM Chris Ballard also added to this unit heavily this offseason, trading for Colby Wooden while signing Derrick Nnadi and Jerry Tillery. Also returning are Adetomiwa Adebawore and Tim Smith. That may be the biggest challenge for Ball when it comes to making the final roster -- that's a lot of players to jump.
Iowa is hanging in limbo in CBS Sports' most recent Big Ten power rankings ahead of the 2026 season.
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The Big Ten appears to be the lead dog in the college football arms race of talent, superiority, and winning as of late. With a trio of national championships under its belt, the confernece is looking better than ever as well as deeper than ever.
The talent at the top is evident in Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana, and Michigan, but the middle of the conference, which includes the Iowa Hawkeyes, is deep and ripe for a team to make a strong push for a College Football Playoff appearance.
That depth is clear in CBS Sports' Big Ten power rankings, which sees a cluster of teams bunched up in the middle, including Iowa, which sits at No. 8 in the conference's pecking order as of this moment ahead of the 2026 college football season.
8. Iowa
The Hawkeyes had a record seven players selected in the 2026 NFL Draft. While that's a clear testament to the program's development pipeline, it also raises real questions about how quickly they can replace that level of talent.
Only six starters return, and an Iowa defense that hasn't finished outside the top 20 in scoring since 2014 enters 2026 with the fewest returning FBS snaps of any Power Four team.
The quarterback battle betweenHank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinsky is expected to stretch into fall camp. There are always reasons to doubt Iowa in transition years, but Kirk Ferentz's consistency tends to win out, and more often than not, the Hawkeyes still find a way to scratch out at least eight wins. Odds: +4000- Cody Nagel, CBS Sports
It's the classic Iowa scenario. The defense is seeing some doubts cast upon itself from the national media, with new faces in new places. At times, it seems to be forgotten that Phil Parker is still the defensive coordinator, and many of these new starters aren't inexperienced, but have been within the program for three or even four years at this point.
Offensively, you, I, your mother, your mother's friend, and anyone else willing to listen know about the quarterback battle. It will be decided this fall and could linger into the regular season before it's finally settled.
Where Iowa can alleviate some pressure is with the loaded running back room they have and an offensive line that is expected to be stout once again. This area of the game can take pressure off the quarterback, keep the defense rested and off the field, and chew the clock in a way few love to do as much as Kirk Ferentz.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
A new NBA mock draft from ESPN suggests the New York Knicks will use their first-round pick in June on […]
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A new NBA mock draft from ESPN suggests the New York Knicks will use their first-round pick in June on a player unlikely to make much of an impact next season.
There is a ton of hope and excitement surrounding the Knicks right now. On Tuesday night, they will begin their Eastern Conference Finals series against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home and as favorites. Due to their outstanding play over the last couple of weeks, this may be the franchise’s best chance at winning an NBA title in decades.
Yet, while the organization is hyper-focused on the East Finals, they must also keep some attention on what lies ahead, and that is the NBA Draft next month. And when it comes to their pick at No. 24 in June’s event, ESPN’s Jeremy Woo believes the team will take Houston big man Chris Cenac Jr.
On paper, getting an impact player from an elite team in 2025-26 seems like a great get. But according to the draft expert, don’t expect Cenac Jr. to be more than a role player next season.
Chris Cenac Jr. to be Mitchell Robinson’s NY Knicks replacement?Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
“Cenac measured well at the combine and stood out physically in on-court drills, with good dimensions and mobility for a center that make him a worthwhile developmental bet,” Woo wrote. “He made strides with his toughness and rebounding at Houston, but remains a ways from contributing to a winning NBA team.
“Still, his sheer size and fluid movement skills give him a chance to carve out an eventual NBA role if he can find more of an offensive identity. There’s probably more rim-protection upside than his alarming lack of blocks might suggest, as he was asked to play conservatively and focus on rebounding as part of Houston’s approach.”
For a team hoping to win a championship this spring, and hopefully contend for more in the next few seasons, using a first-rounder on a prospect who will be a role player at best next season is disappointing. However, Woo notes that with backup center Mitchell Robinson hitting free agency this summer, the Knicks must look for potential replacements.
Robinson is essentially a role player as well, but a very good one who is elite at a couple of skills. If Cenac Jr. can be just as meaningful or more in a couple of years, Knicks fans will be happy with the pick.
Last night, 22-year-old Victor Wembanyama became the youngest of 14 players in NBA history to score 40+ points with 20+ rebounds in a playoff game. pic.twitter.com/iDsyT1X22c
Here are the pairings and schedule for the NJSIAA Baseball Tournament. The tournament begins May 26 and May 27 and concludes June 10 and June 14.
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The NJSIAA seeded its state baseball tournament Tuesday for each of its 16 public school sections and the four non-public sections.
The top 16 in the power points in each of the public school sections through the games of May 16 qualified for the tournament. Any school who opted in in each of the four non-public school sections was seeded into the tournament.
The pairings become official at noon Wednesday.
The non-public portion of the tournament begins May 26 and concludes with the two state championship games June 10 at Rutgers University. The Non-Public A final will be at 4 p.m. and the Non-Public B final will be at 7 p.m.
The public school portion of the tournament begins May 27 and concludes June 14 with the four state championship games at Rutgers. The Group 3 final will be at 10 a.m.; Group 4 at 1 p.m.; Group 1 at 4 p.m. and Group 2 at 7 p.m.
Here are the pairings for the tournament.
North 1 Group 1
16. Hawthorne at 1. Wallkill Valley
9. Saddle Brook at 8. Indian Hills
12. Kittatinny at 5. Pequannock
13. Kinnelon at 4. Pompton Lakes
14. Lenape Valley at 3. Park Ridge
11. Cresskill at 6. Midland Park
10. Mountain Lakes at 7. Waldwick
15. North Warren at 2. New Milford
North 1 Group 2
16. Sussex Tech at 1. Westwood
9. Pascack Hills at 8. West Milford
12. Jefferson at 5. River Dell
13. Dumont at 4. Ramsey
14. Morris Tech at 3. Vernon
11. Sparta at 6. Pascack Valley
10. Lodi at 7. Glen Rock
15. Mahwah at 2. High Point
North 1 Group 3
16. Randoph at 1. Old Tappan
9. Morris Hills at 8. Northern Highlands
12. Cliffside Park at 5. Nutley
13. Wayne Valley at 4. Wayne Hills
14. Warren Hills at 3. Fort Lee
11. Roxbury at 6. Ridgefield Park
10. Bergenfield at 7. Morris Knolls
15. Paramus at 2. Ramapo
North 1 Group 4
16. Memorial (West New York) at 1. Passaic Tech
9. Belleville at 8. Union City
12. Clifton at 5. Fair Lawn
13. Kearny at 4. West Orange
14. Bergen Tech at 3. Ridgewood
11. Montclair at 6. Morristown
10. Hackensack at 7. North Bergen
15. Livingston at 2. Mount Olive
North 2 Group 1
16. Wallington at 1. Verona
9. Roselle Park at 8. Wood-Ridge
12. Dayton at 5. Hoboken
13. Weehawken at 4. Hanover Park
14. Glen Ridge at 3. Cedar Grove
11. North Arlington at 6. Brearley
10. Newark Tech at 7. New Providence
15. McNair at 2. Whippany Park
North 2 Group 2
16. Hillside at 1. Caldwell
9. Parsippany Hills at 8. Hackettstown
12. Passaic Valley at 5. Rutherford
13. Shabazz at 4. Madison
14. Voorhees at 3. West Morris
11. Bernards at 6. Lyndhurst
10. Becton at 7. Mendham
15. Parsippany at 2. West Essex
North 2 Group 3
16. Orange at 1. Chatham
9. Middletown North at 8. Colonia
12. Matawan at 5. North Plainfield
13. JFK-Iselin at 4. South Plainfield
14. Rahway at 3. Cranford
11. Summit at 6. Carteret
10. Somerville at 7. Millburn
15. Payne Tech at 2. North Hunterdon
North 2 Group 4
16. Barringer at 1. Ridge
9. Columbia at 8. Phillipsburg
12. Plainfield at 5. Bridgewater-Raritan
13. Ferris at 4. J.P. Stevens
14. Elizabeth at 3. Watchung Hills
11. Union at 6. Westfield
10. Woodbridge at 7. Scotch Plains-Fanwood
15. Piscataway at 2. Bayonne
Central Group 1
16. Highland Park at 1. Middlesex
9. New Egypt at 8. South Hunterdon
12. Manville at 5. Shore
13. Somerset Tech at 4. Metuchen
14. South Amboy at 3. Point Pleasant Beach
11. Florence at 6. Dunellen
10. Delaware Valley at 7. Keyport
15. Henry Hudson at 2. Piscataway Magnet
Central Group 2
16. Holmdel at 1. Rumson-Fair Haven
9. Spotswood at 8. Allentown
12. Raritan at 5. Delran
13. Ocean at 4. Wall
14. Bordentown at 3. A.L. Johnson
11. Robbinsville at 6. South River
10. Manasquan at 7. Point Pleasant Borough
15. Cinnaminson at 2. Governor Livingston
Central Group 3
16. Long Branch at 1. Northern Burlington
9. Hamilton North at 8. Burlington Township
12. Hamilton West at 5. Steinert
13. Ewing at 4. Lawrence
14. Brick Township at 3. Brick Memorial
11. Westampton Tech at 6. Hopewell Valley
10. Pemberton at 7. Red Bank
15. Lakewood at 2. Colts Neck
Central Group 4
16. East Brunswick at 1. Old Bridge
9. South Brunswick at 8. Freehold Township
12. Montgomery at 5. Monroe
13. Sayreville at 4. Hightstown
14. Princeton at 3. Hunterdon Central
11. Marlboro at 6. Manalapan
10. Hillsborough at 7. Jackson Township
15. Franklin at 2. Edison
South Group 1
16. Cape May Tech at 1. Schalick
9. Gateway at 8. Audubon
12. Paulsboro at 5. Wildwood
13. Riverside at 4. Maple Shade
14. LEAP Academy at 3. Haddon Township
11. Pitman at 6. Pennsville
10. Buena at 7. Glassboro
15. Clayton at 2. Woodstown
South Group 2
16. Collingswood at 1. Haddonfield
9. Manchester Township at 8. Middle Township
12. Lower Cape May at 5. Seneca
13. Gloucester City at 4. Sterling
14. Pleasantville at 3. Cedar Creek
11. Medford Tech at 6. West Deptford
10. Salem Tech at 7. Barnegat
15. Mastery (Camden) at 2. Haddon Heights
South Group 3
16. Timber Creek at 1. Clearview
9. Toms River South at 8. Highland
12. Moorestown at 5. Cumberland
13. Ocean City at 4. Delsea
14. Hammonton at 3. Toms River East
11. Absegami at 6. Shawnee
10. Lacey at 7. Mainland
15. Triton at 2. Cherry Hill West
South Group 4
16. Central at 1.Kingsway
9. Lenape at 8. Williamstown
12. Washington Township at 5. Egg Harbor Township
13. Southern at 4. Rancocas Valley
14. Cherokee at 3. Gloucester Tech
11. Cherry Hill East at 6. Vineland
10. Pennsauken at 7. Howell
15. Toms River North at 2. Eastern
Non-Public North A
1. Delbarton vs. winner of 9. Oratory at 8. Paramus Catholic
12. Hudson Catholic at 5. St. Joseph (Montvale), winner at 4. Seton Hall Prep.
3. DePaul vs winner of 11. Dwight Englewood at 6. St. Peter’s Prep
10. St. Benedicts at. 7. Bergen Catholic, winner at 2. Don Bosco Prep
Non-Public South A
1. Immaculata vs. winner of 9. Donovan Catholic at 8. Paul VI
5. Christian Brothers Academy at 4. Union Catholic
3. Red Bank Catholic vs. winner of 11. St. Joseph (Metuchen) at 6. St. John Vianney
10. Pingry at 7. Notre Dame, winner at 2. St. Augustine
Non-Public North B
1. St. Mary (Rutherford) vs. winner of 9. Hawthorne Christian at 8. Montclair Kimberley
5. Morristown Beard at 4. Newark Academy
6. Morris Catholic at 3. St. Thomas Aquinas
10. Pope John at 7. Gill St. Bernards, winner at 2. Rutgers Prep
Non-Public South B
1. Gloucester Catholic vs. winner of 9. Holy Cross at 8. Princeton Day
5. St. Rose at 4. Ranney
3. Doane Academy vs. winner of 11. Wildwood Catholic at 6. Holy Spirit
10. Moorestown Friends at 7. St. Joseph Academy, winner at 2. Bishop Eustace
University of Pacific baseball is headed to its first-ever West Coast Conference Tournament, clinching the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
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Cue the music.
At long last, the Tigers are going dancing.
For the first time in program history, University of Pacific baseball is headed to the West Coast Conference Tournament.
An 11-11, eight-inning tie against San Diego in its Senior Day and regular-season home finale May 10, paired with results elsewhere in the WCC, officially punched Pacific’s ticket to Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the conference tournament May 20-23.
"It was a goal we set at the start of the year," coach Reed Peters said. "These guys really came together. The leadership of the senior class helped us turn it around. It was some great work by our assistant coaches to help us get here, but it ultimately came down to the players to get us there."
Pacific closed the regular season at 23-28-1 overall and 15-13-1 in conference play, securing the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
All WCC Tournament games will stream on ESPN+, with the championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 23, on ESPNU.
“It’s hard to explain,” senior infielder Jake Tandy said. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs here, and it feels like all those downs have finally paid off. We’re finally getting to reap the rewards of all the hard work we’ve put in.”
Since rejoining the WCC in 2013-14, the Tigers had never qualified for the six-team conference tournament.
Now, Pacific heads to Scottsdale riding one of the hottest stretches in program history, having won 15 of its final 21 conference games, including a program-best five straight WCC series victories before the regular-season finale at Portland.
“We set out at the beginning of the year to make history by reaching the conference tournament," shortstop Brendan O’Sullivan said. "But we’re not done. We want to keep making history.”
The 'little rebirth party'
Game No. 30 had come and gone, and the script felt all too familiar.
Pacific had just been swept by league rival St. Mary’s, dropping to 2-7 in WCC play.
On the bus ride home, the conversations started. O’Sullivan and redshirt junior left-hander Garret Plata knew something had to change, and fast.
Two days later, another loss — a nonconference defeat to Cal State Bakersfield that dropped Pacific to 10-21 overall — became the breaking point.
That’s when the “pow wow” happened.
“No phones, no anything,” O’Sullivan said. “We met for two or three hours, really hammered everything out and got back to our goals.”
At first, it wasn’t easy. Tough truths were aired, brutal honesty filled the room. Yet, it was exactly what the Tigers needed.
“Accountability is a huge part of this team," Tandy said. "If we’re calling out someone’s shortcomings, it’s not out of hate. It’s because we love and want the best for each other. That meeting really laid the groundwork for us to get on the same page.”
Not only did the turnaround follow, but a new tradition came with it.
Borrowing from his Delta College days, Peters brought in the demerit chart.
“If you don’t get a job done — pop up, walk a guy, whatever it may be — you’re sprinting after the game,” O’Sullivan said. “That’s the first thing we do after every game, before meetings or anything else.”
From the foul line to the fence, Pacific can rack up anywhere from one to five demerits, regardless of the result.
O’Sullivan knows other teams probably think they’re nuts.
They don’t care.
“They had their own little rebirth party,” Peters said. “I wasn’t there, but from what I heard, that’s what helped turn things around for us.”
'Continue making history'
When Peters took over in June 2024 after an 11-44 season, the difference was immediate.
Peters arrived from San Joaquin Delta College, where he spent 17 seasons building a powerhouse, compiling a 386-167 record and helping place 140 student-athletes at Division I programs.
What came with him was the same expectation.
A culture built on winning.
“He completely flipped it,” Tandy said. “From the players he brought in, to the culture he created, everything changed. The focus now is doing whatever it takes to win ballgames and execute every aspect of the game. It’s a completely different mindset from previous years, and he’s done a really good job bringing this team together while holding us accountable.”
In Peters’ debut season, Pacific reached 20 wins for the first time since 2019. This year, that foundation turned into history.
Ask Peters, though, and the credit belongs elsewhere.
“Their camaraderie,” Peters said. “This is a team that’s very united, very loyal to one another and works together.”
Of course, having plenty of talent doesn’t hurt, either.
“I was talking with some guys,” O’Sullivan said. “Our one through five is really strong, and then you have Robert Ore — one of our best hitters — in the six hole. You get through that first five, and there’s another tough four before it rolls back to the top. Hitting-wise, I think we have one of the best lineups in the WCC.
“Then our pitching has been great. Carson Revay in the back end. Garret Plata, Zach Todd, all of our guys. The way they’ve pieced things together and dominated on the mound time and time again gives us energy at the plate and lets us go up there free and swing away.”
Culture. Camaraderie. Talent.
Pacific hopes it’s enough to keep this run going.
“Getting that first-round bye will set us up well,” O’Sullivan said. “It puts us in a good spot to continue making history, win the tournament and reach an NCAA Regional.”
Tandy added, “We’re striving for big things. We’re trying to do things this school has never seen before.”
I think I can, without a doubt, say that second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden II is one of the most exciting Chargers fans are looking forward to watching in 2026 after a great rookie season. He became a dangerous weapon for Justin Herbert once he cemented himself in the team’s starting lineup and will once […]
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 02: Oronde Gadsden II #86 of the Los Angeles Chargers runs the ball in the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans in the game at Nissan Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
I think I can, without a doubt, say that second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden II is one of the most exciting Chargers fans are looking forward to watching in 2026 after a great rookie season. He became a dangerous weapon for Justin Herbert once he cemented himself in the team’s starting lineup and will once again be looked upon to make plays under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.
Even with the host of other under-the-radar players across the Chargers, including some of their free-agent signings this offseason, Gadsden was actually named the team’s best-kept secret by Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski.
Here’s what the analyst had to say:
“Oronde Gadsden II has always been a weapon in the passing game. At Syracuse, the tight end/oversized wide receiver posted two 900-plus yard seasons when healthy. The fact Gadsden entered the Los Angeles Chargers’ lineup as a rookie and caught 49 passes for 664 yards came as no surprise whatsoever.“
“The 165th overall pick in last year’s draft should expect a bigger workload this fall.“
“First, Keenan Allen hasn’t re-signed, which frees up 122 targets. Also, the organization brought in veteran tight end David Njoku on a one-year deal to be the primary in-line option. The Chargers can lean heavily on 12 personnel without losing any playmaking thanks to Gadsden and Njoku’s capabilities.“
“The former has the potential to become Justin Herbert’s new security blanket and control the middle of the field.“
Gadsden was always going to be expected to take that next step in his sophomore season. That notion only gained further momentum when the Chargers added Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator. However, the additions of tight ends Njoku and Charlie Kolar were not made without the idea that both would also be used as receiving threats, even if the latter is deemed one of the best blocking players in the league at his position.
Still, as Sobleski highlighted above, Keenan Allen’s absence from the offense means there’s well over 100 looks left on the table. The expectation remains that Gadsden is likely to lead the room in production by the end of the year, but now the Bolts have three very reliable players to be utilized in a number of ways. And heck, don’t be surprised to see all three of them on the field at the same time quite a bit throughout the season.
Kentucky football secured a major recruiting win, landing 2027 four-star cornerback Miles Brown over SEC rivals.
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There are recruiting wins — and then there are tone-setting recruiting wins. On Tuesday, the Kentucky Wildcats landed one of the most coveted corners in the 2027 cycle when four-star cornerback Miles Brown out of Westview (TN) announced his commitment over Ole Miss, Louisville, and the Tennessee Volunteers.
Make no mistake—this was not a recruitment Kentucky simply “hung around” in. This was a calculated, relationship-driven SEC recruiting battle that cornerbacks coach Allen Brown and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman refused to let slip away.
Even with heavyweight pressure mounting late from SEC rivals, Kentucky stayed steady. The Wildcats continued showing up in Westview. Continued communicating vision. Continued reinforcing development. In the modern recruiting era — where NIL noise, social media momentum, and late pushes often swing decisions — Kentucky won this one the old-fashioned way: consistency, trust, and defensive fit. That mattered to Brown.
“The relationships I have built with their staff and just the love they show on a day-to-day basis.”
When you study Brown’s profile through a personnel lens, it becomes easy to understand why Kentucky prioritized him the way they did. Brown is not simply another highly rated corner. He is the kind of multi-phase athlete SEC programs build secondaries around because he changes the geometry of the football field every snap.
At Westview, Brown has already shown the ability to impact games as a receiver, defensive back, and return specialist—the type of versatility that immediately raises a player’s ceiling in the SEC. As a sophomore, he posted 54 receptions for 984 yards and 16 touchdowns offensively while adding 39 tackles and three interceptions defensively. That alone would have placed him among the region’s elite two-way athletes.
But his junior tape pushed him into a different category entirely. Brown became the player offenses actively avoided and special teams coordinators feared. Whether aligned outside at the corner, operating in space offensively, or touching the football in the return game, his burst and sudden acceleration consistently flipped momentum.
That complete skill set showed up on the biggest stage during Westview’s state championship run. Brown hauled in four receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown, broke up two passes defensively, and electrified the game with a 78-yard kickoff return touchdown—the type of takeover performance recruiters remember long after the final whistle.
The athletic profile extends well beyond football. Brown averaged 12.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game during basketball season, and that crossover athleticism is obvious on film. His body control, lateral balance, recovery quickness, and ability to transition in space all project naturally to high-level corner play. Add in 22 stolen bases across his freshman and sophomore baseball seasons, and you begin to understand why SEC staffs viewed him as one of the premier movement athletes in the class.
Kentucky ultimately won this battle because the Wildcats sold more than playing time. They sold trajectory.
“I’m looking for a place where I can be developed and be the best version of myself.”
For Brown, Kentucky became that place.
From a schematic standpoint, the fit makes sense. Kentucky has consistently developed long, explosive defensive backs capable of playing physical SEC football while still operating comfortably in space. Brown’s versatility allows the Wildcats to move him across multiple coverages while also giving them a potential early-impact special teams weapon.
But beyond the scheme, this commitment says something larger about where Kentucky recruiting currently stands.
Programs like the Tennessee Volunteers and Ole Miss Rebels do not lose many battles for elite perimeter athletes unless another staff member earns it. Kentucky earned this one. In a recruiting era increasingly defined by relationships, development pathways, and authentic communication, the Wildcats once again proved they can go toe-to-toe with the SEC’s biggest brands for blue-chip talent. Brown is the 16th commitment for Kentucky in their 2027 class. Will Stein's current recruiting class ranks No. 10 overall per 247Sports industry rankings. The Wildcats are indeed feedingt the studs all the way to My Ole Kentucky Home!
The New England Patriots pass rush was not great last season, and while they've addressed it, they could still use more depth.
The Patriots had just 35 sacks last season. They made the Super Bowl in spite of a weaker pass rush. This offseason, they lost K'Lavon Chaisson and replaced him with Dre-Mont Jones. They also drafted Gabe Jacas in the second round. While those moves could help the pass rush, the team is seemingly still interested in adding some depth to the pass rush.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team is working out free agent defensive end Janarius Robinson on Tuesday. While Robinson could be a low-risk, high-reward type of signing, if the Patriots want more help in the pass rush department, there are some proven veterans still available in free agency.
Joey Bosa, a five-time Pro Bowler, is still a free agent and would seemingly make a bigger impact than someone like Robinson. Bosa spent last season with the Buffalo Bills, but he is not the player he once was. He had just five sacks last season and has not posted a double-digit sack season since 2021. He is going into his 11th season and could be a cheap, low-risk addition for the Patriots. At the very least, he could be a rotational pass rusher.
Even playing at his current level, Bosa could take some of the load off Jacas as a rookie. Not to mention, he would be a great mentor for the young pass rusher as well. He was a Pro Bowler last in 2024 and had 16 quarterbacks hit with nine tackles for a loss to go along with his five sacks last season. He also forced five fumbles.
Bosa will turn 31 years old soon and may be best suited as a depth piece now. He is going into his 11th season, and if he is willing to sign a cheap short-term deal, the Patriots would be wise to sign him.
Manuel Neuer's recently diagnosed muscular problems in his calf should not be underestimated, writes Sport BILD.Internally, it has been agreed that if he can participate in team training on Thursday, ...
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Neuer's calf problems can't be overlooked with World Cup looming
Manuel Neuer's recently diagnosed muscular problems in his calf should not be underestimated, writes Sport BILD.
Internally, it has been agreed that if he can participate in team training on Thursday, Neuer will start in goal in the DFB Pokal final.
There's also constant communication with the DFB's coaching staff regarding the extent to which Neuer's calf might affect his World Cup involvement.
A final meeting between the 40-year-old shot-stopper and Julian Nagelsmann is scheduled before the squad announcement on Thursday.
Since making his debut in 2009, Neuer has picked up over 124 caps for the German national team and kept 51 clean sheets.
On the verge of blowing another ninth-inning lead, David Bednar threw George Springer a surprise splitter. And another. And another.
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NEW YORK — On the verge of blowing another ninth-inning lead, David Bednar threw George Springer a surprise splitter. And another. And another.
Having allowed an RBI double that cut the Yankees’ lead to one run, Bednar faced two on with one out when he fell behind the four-time All-Star 3-0 in the count with three straight pitches that weren’t close. Bednar rebounded by getting Springer to swing over three straight splitters that dipped below the strike zone.
Five-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. then worked the count full before bouncing a hanging splitter to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who threw to first for the out that preserved New York’s 7-6 win over the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays.
“It’s digging deep, getting a little gritty and finding a way,” Bednar said. “Just find a way. There’s a way out of every situation.”
Not on Sunday, when Bednar gave up Tyrone Taylor’s tying, three-run homer on a hanging curveball with two outs in the ninth inning. The Yankees went on to lose 7-6 in 10 innings to the crosstown Mets, ending a deflating 2-7 trip.
“You got to get punched in the face,” Bednar said, adding the test is “how you respond from that.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone didn’t feel a need to give a pep talk to the two-time All-Star closer.
“If I would have bumped into him, I would have said something to him,” Boone explained, “but we got a lot of grown-ups in that room and I trust they know how to handle the highs and the lows.”
Two-run homers by Cody Bellinger and Chisholm Jr. off Yariel Rodríguez — the second clanking off the left-field foul pole — had put the Yankees ahead 7-5 in the seventh inning against Toronto as they rallied from 3-1 and 5-3 deficits.
Bednar relieved to start the ninth and walked Ernie Clement, whose three-run homer and RBI grounder had helped Toronto build its leads. Pinch-hitter Jesús Sánchez followed by chopping a splitter that took a huge hop over first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and rolled into the right-field corner for an RBI double.
“Just continue foot on the gas and keep going after guys,” Bednar said.
Toronto sent two rookies to the plate at the bottom of its batting order, and Bednar struck out Brandon Valenzuela on a splitter before walking Yohendrick Piñango.
Now the top of the Blue Jays order was coming up.
“He didn’t flinch, though,” Boone said. “Just kept making pitches and obviously got two really tough customers there at the end.”
A 3-0 count in tight late-inning games with runners on usually is a time for fastballs. Most pitchers wouldn’t want to risk a walk that would load the bases.
“I’m certain on the 3-0 pitch he thought he was getting a heater, as did I,” Boone said.
Just deciding on the splitter there boosted confidence of Bednar’s Yankees teammates.
“When he threw that,” Chisholm said, “that was fire.”
Bednar threw 36 pitches, raising his total to 59 in two days and 80 in four. After the walk to Piñango, pitching coach Matt Blake went to the mound. By the time Guerrero was hitting, Boone decided Bednar would face at most one more batter after Vladdy.
“I knew I was going to be in there today, and the guys needed me to do my job,” Bednar said. “It wasn’t pretty tonight, and there’s definitely plenty of things to work on but at the end of the day it’s: Did I get it done or not?”
Learn why TaylorMade believes longer product cycles could benefit golfers, fitters and future innovation.
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Last Friday, TaylorMade Golf confirmed that it is moving its metalwood lineup (drivers, fairway woods and hybrids) to a two-year product cycle. That means the Qi4D family introduced in 2026 will remain the company’s flagship metalwood line through 2027, with the next major driver launch expected in 2028.
Golfweek spoke with Brian Bazzel, a vice president at TaylorMade who is in charge of product creation, as well as research and development, about why the company made the decision, what it means for golfers and fitters, and how modern driver production is changing.
Golfweek: TaylorMade, for a long time, has been one of the companies that leads the metalwood category. The cadence has been that every year new drivers come out. What changed internally that made you decide the time is right to now move to a two-year product cycle?
Bazzel: I don’t know if it was so much an internal change as it was sort of studying what was going on in the market. Certainly, there’s things happening inside the building related to the advancements of innovation, and the impact or the complexity of those innovations to deliver more performance. We’re definitely studying and understanding what it takes these days to stay on top of things. And the reality is, it just is more complicated to show significant gains. So, between what consumers are doing externally and what it would take internally to do the things that we think are meaningful, it kind of added up to this decision.
Golfweek: How much did the fact that you’re getting close to the limits on things like moment of inertia (MOI), ball speed and overall performance factor based on the USGA and R&A rules, go into this decision?
Bazzel: We still believe there’s meat on the bone. We do believe there are advancements. And if you think about it, in a perfect state, I know they won’t allow it for it, but if you can get maximum COR [coefficient of restitution, a measure of a club face’s springiness] across the entire face every time for the player and add all the corrective nature to that driver so that even your worst swings would result in something better. I mean, that’s still what we’re going after. And there’s still ways to do that. But the reality is we are pushing up against a lot of the rules. But, I’d also say that the creativity and sort of innovative spirit that we have here still leaves us with a lot of opportunity.
Golfweek: Do you think golfers have become skeptical about year-over-year gains in drivers?
Bazzel: I think humans are naturally skeptical. To some degree, it’s a good quality of people to question things. And I would say in this world, and certainly with our company in the golf space, when we make these advancements, even if they’re small things, we like to ‘story tell’ them. We like to speak loudly about them and be proud of them. And sometimes I think people either don’t see it the same way or are expecting something more. Or (they) think maybe what we’re talking about is not as consequential as it would be to them as it is to us. It is the nature of the business and that’s okay.
Golfweek: How much does price factor into this? Drivers have become significantly more expensive over the last several years.
Bazzel: Well, I think every company is dealing with the same thing. It’s quite challenging to push performance without any cost. I mean, if you want to stay ahead, these products are complicated. The manufacturing, the materials, and so on. And so, I think more than anything, what we’re looking at is the understanding that golfers are forking over real money for these products, a meaningful amount of money. And we want to ensure that they’re getting every bit, if not more, than they even expected out of that product. And I don’t think it’s going away. I don’t think an extended life cycle gives us huge opportunities to be more efficient or more cost-effective. But planning our business, I think, will become a little bit more stabilized. And if it does turn out to stabilize pricing in the future, that would be great. But I don’t think that’s the spirit of the decision at this point. It’s just, again, I would say if there’s any connection, it’s the value of what people are spending versus what they’re getting.
Golfweek: How does a two-year cycle change the way TaylorMade approaches product development internally?
Bazzel: “Well, it’s still a little bit new, but as we look to the future, we’re so used to having these ideas just constantly flowing and then chipping away at those ideas. As you get further out, the funnel gets a little wider. For us, now, I would say it’s changing right now internally and it’s exciting. It’s energizing to the teams because I think we feel like we can dive even deeper on these products than we maybe have been able to in the past.
Golfweek: You’ve mentioned that keeping Qi4D in the market for two years could benefit fitters and consumers. How?
Bazzel: “Yeah, I think, honestly, it’s an exciting time for our fitters to be able to recognize the fact that they’re going to be able to use this tool, this sort of weapon, and that they can ensure that the golfers that for they’re fitting, it’s optimized for them. And it takes time, learning the product. And they don’t just learn TaylorMade products. They have to learn across the whole breadth of our competitors as well. But, understanding the nuances and how it applies to all these unique swings out there, I think this is an area where we’re really interested in and we want to be very supportive to our fitters
We have a fitting council, and they’ve asked for some things like this. And again, I think they’re just as excited as we are to be able to, in this case with Qi4D, kind of continue down the path. And they know they’re going to be able to feel more confident, I think, in what they’re doing on a daily basis. That leads to golfers being more enthused with their product, which is what we’re all trying to do.
Golfweek: Were you surprised by how much attention this decision received in the equipment world when the news broke last week?
Bazzel: I don’t know if I’ve read all the reactions, to be honest. I think we believe we’re doing this for all the right reasons. And honestly, and transparently, we’re constantly looking at the portfolio of our products in Qi4D and beyond. Are we addressing all the golfers out there in the way that’s most beneficial? And if we find opportunities that we’re not currently addressing, we’re going to introduce things that make sense
At the end of the day, I think most golfers have leaned in and said this is the right move. They’re listening, they understand, and can kind of see the bigger picture on this one. So far, even our partners, our retailers, have embraced this idea as we’ve been talking to them over the last couple of months. They’re in the business of selling more products as well, but they think this can lead to, again, a better business in the future.
Golfweek: You mentioned that fitting technology continues to evolve rapidly. How important is that to the future of metalwoods?
Bazzel: I think the fitting tools that are coming at us, the data acquisition, is enabling us to learn more. Even if you did get fit a year ago or two years ago, I think the advancement in fitting, and being able to apply these products in a way that golfers and understanding golfers at a deeper level, is going to lead to even better products in the future. Let’s just say you had an incremental change in a product, but you had a massive improvement in the fitting technologies and understanding the golfer so that you can get an even better fit. That’s part of this as well.
I think that’s changing rapidly in terms of understanding the golfer’s swing, 3D motion, certainly launch monitors and so on and so forth. And then, just the understanding of the golfer’s psyche within that. I mean, there’s so much opportunity that we think beyond just the physical part itself, but the applying of the part to the golfer, this is ripe for innovation.
Big Ten coaches anonymously believe Michigan football has the talent and depth to win the conference this season.
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While media types suggest that Michigan football will be vastly improved in 2026, but likely worse off due to the opponents on the schedule, there are people around college football who believe otherwise. Quite notably, coaches within the Big Ten itself.
“The 2027 season was the target because they really liked that 2025 class, so the thought was to build it for that third year and focus on retaining those guys while bringing in younger players," the anonymous coach told Athlon. “I think they can win the conference. It’s not a group with a lot of household names, but there’s a lot of depth with really good players.”
One of the misconceptions about the Wolverines is that they just aren't talented enough compared to other top tier teams. Yet, Michigan has had solid recruiting classes under Sherrone Moore in his tenure, and Kyle Whittingham supplemented strategically through the transfer portal.
Though there's inexperience, there is talent. And the maize and blue are arguably as talented as the teams that took the field in the College Football Playoff for three straight years -- it just hasn't proven itself to be able to operate at as high a level as those teams had.
Still, coaches see what Michigan has built and know that if they come along, it could spell trouble for their teams.
“I love that roster," one coach said. "The second that (ex-Michigan head coach) Sherrone Moore was gone, they actually got to run that roster. There are four or five players in that freshman class who’ll contribute immediately, and they had a bunch of freshmen last year who contributed.”
The defense has long been the linchpin for the maize and blue, and that likely won't be any different this year. The hope is that with Jason Beck leading the charge, the offense will take an immense step forward. But it won't just be Beck's prowess that will improve the offensive standing of these Wolverines -- it will be players. And one coach believes they have the players to do it.
“On offense, you’re gonna have Bryce (Underwood), Andrew Marsh and Jaime Ffrench and JJ Buchanan out of the portal. There’s a lot of excitement for what that team can be this year.”
Michigan is off until June 1 when it will commence summer conditioning. Fall camp will begin roughly eight weeks later with eyes on the September 5 season opener.
After Riddle was stopped by another officer on patrol, an “overwhelming odor of marijuana,” could be smelled from inside the vehicle, the report obtained Tuesday by the Athens Banner-Herald said.
Riddle, a junior transfer from East Carolina, was exhibiting “nervous behavior,” including shaking so he was asked to step out of the vehicle, but was cooperative while police looked for a VIN number.
Four officers responded to the scene. Riddle told police there was no marijuana inside the car, but he agreed to allow a search.
An officer pulled “a large heat-sealed bag from one of the backpacks in the back seat," the report said. "Inside the backpack was a large amount of multicolored packaging, some with a leafy substance stating marijuana, and some containing vapes stating THC.”
Riddle was placed under arrest. He began explaining he had marijuana inside the vehicle, the report said. Police called his mother and sister to inform them of the arrest.
Riddle was charged with possession of marijuana of more than one ounce, possession of a schedule 1 controlled substance and misdemeanor speeding, according to the Glynn County Sherrif’s Office.
Riddle’s arrest came less than three months after Georgia linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon were arrested on driving-releated charges.
Georgia athletics did not have further comment on Tuesday on Riddle.
It released a statement on Friday May 14: "We are aware of the charges are actively gathering additional information. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will not be providing further comment at this time.”
Most Valuable Promotions has banned Claressa Shields from its events after her physical altercation with boxer Alycia Baumgardner, MVP announced.
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Boxing star Claressa Shields has been banned from events prompted by Most Valuable Promotions after Shields got into a physical altercation with MVP-backed boxer Alycia Baumgardner, a boxing champion promoted by MVP, the promotion company announced in a statement.
MVP is co-founded by Jake Paul. The company partnered with Netflix to promote its inaugural MMA event, headlined by the bout between Rousey and Carano.
“There is a time and a place for fighter tension and banter, but to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guest inside a private VIP area is unacceptable,’’ MVP’s statement reads. “MVP would like to thank venue security for their swift response in addressing and de-escalating the situation and appreciate Alycia Baumgardner not retaliating and further amplifying the situation.’’
Claressa Shields has been banned from all MVP events after slapping Alycia Baumgardner at the Ronda Rousey fight 😳
Video shows Shields and Baumgardner in a heated verbal exchange before Shields apparently reaches out and appears to make contact with Baumgardner. In a statement issued on X, Baumgardner said she was assaulted and the situation was unprovoked.
"This behavior follows a continued pattern from someone who has publicly celebrated other fighters' brain injuries, initiated one-sided altercations at press conferences, and consistently displayed hostility toward other women,'' Baumgardner said. "That conduct is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any professional sport.''
Shields, 31, is a two-time Olympic gold medal winner, 18-0 as a pro and the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Baumgardner, 31, is 18-1 and the unified female featherweight champion. She is promoted by MVP.
"MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior toward fighters, staff, media, or guests at any of our events,'' the company's statement reads. "Physical altercations outside the ring or cage are unacceptable in any MVP environment. MVP does not condone, tolerate, or accept Claressa Shields’ behavior in that setting and it reflects poorly on MVP and women’s sports, which we have worked tirelessly to uplift."
Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo spoke to club media on a wide range of topics as he closes out his first season at the club.He joined United last summer from Brentford in a deal worth an initia...
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“Not easy”: Bryan Mbeumo opens up on “demanding” factor behind dip in form
Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo spoke to club media on a wide range of topics as he closes out his first season at the club.
He joined United last summer from Brentford in a deal worth an initial £65m, with the overall package potentially rising to £71m. The Cameroonian wasted no time in rendering himself a key member of the squad under now-sacked head coach Ruben Amorim.
Mbeumo enjoyed a superb start to life at United, regularly scoring goals for the club and even scooping up the Player of the Month award for August. However, his form somewhat declined since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
He found goals hard to come by and endured a goal drought until last weekend’s 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest, when he finally found the back of the net. Many of Mbeumo’s critics have attributed his drop-off in performances to the AFCON, and the winger opened up on that very subject during his interview.
Mbeumo’s revelation
The 26-year-old told club media, “Yeah, of course, it is not easy. Especially as the AFCON is really demanding but it was a really, really good experience. I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait for the next one.”
Upon returning to United to find a change in the dugout, and then scoring against Manchester City, Mbeumo remarked, “It was a crazy game, to be honest. A lot of chances, a lot of disallowed goals but, at the end, we managed to win.”
“Winning in the derby is like new [for me] and priceless, it was such a good game.”
Season reflections
Asked to assess his maiden season at Old Trafford, Mbeumo answered, “Yeah, it’s been a quick, quick year but I’m really happy to be here. Playing for Manchester United is something special and what we achieved this season is great.”
“Of course. I mean, it’s always important to be ready and to adapt as soon as possible, in the club and in your new environment, and to be happy to integrate with the team-mates I had. It was easier for me because they were really helpful to me.”
“Being accepted by the fans is something that you always want. You are playing for yourself, for your family, for your friends, but also, and this is a big part, you play for the fans because every game they are always behind us. They never stop cheering us. So yeah, being accepted from them is great for me.”
Not only did Mbeumo score against City, but he also grabbed goals against Liverpool and Arsenal — every single one of United’s three most bitter rivals.
Asked whether he considers himself a big-game player, he replied, “Yeah [laughs], that’s true, obviously I scored against the big teams. As a player, that is what you want – you always want to perform on the biggest stages. I’m really happy for it.”
“Yeah, I think it’s a special, special feeling [scoring against Liverpool]. I couldn’t really describe it. Just to know these are the biggest rivals and being able to score in that game. As you said, some players never had a good chance to do it. It’s something I was really happy to have happened.”
Mbeumo said his Anfield goal was his personal favourite, but he gave top marks for goal of the season to Patrick Dorgu’s screamer against Arsenal and Bruno Fernandes’s free-kick vs Bournemouth.
On what are the aims of next season, Mbeumo remarked, “Obviously, it’s to perform in this competition [Champions League] because we’re not going there just to be there. But first of all, we want to keep the good rhythm in the Premier League because it’s really important as well.”
He agreed that his decision to join United even without Champions League football has been vindicated.
“Of course, it was a good answer for my choice and I always trust the process, I trust in my team-mates, I trust all the staff who brought me here and now, Michael Carrick. I’m really happy for what we have achieved and we just can’t wait to go again.”
“Obviously, it’s, as you say, step by step. Obviously, we now want to finish as high as possible in the table and not just stick only for this spot. To finish in the top three, it is a really good message and a really, really big performance from everyone.”
He continued, “To be honest, I’ve been settling here quite quickly. I got my house and then, with the club, it took a bit of time obviously because, when you come to a new club, you don’t know anybody, so it’s always a bit of time. But it has been quite easy because everyone was really nice to me and made me feel welcome.”
The former Brentford man insisted that he is looking forward to the summer to recharge his batteries and prepare for pre-season.
Spotted early by Shubman Gill, backed by Shikhar Dhawan and mentored by Ashish Nehra, Punjab pacer Gurnoor Brar’s rise has been shaped by pace, setbacks and learning curves. From a late start to India A success, the six-foot-five quick is now firmly on the national radar as India search for fast-bowling depth. The lanky fast bowler on Tuesday has received a maiden Indian call -up for both Tests and ODIs.
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New Delhi: Growing up, Gurnoor Brar was one of the many Indian kids who used to mimic the bowling actions of Dale Steyn, Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, even while crossing the road.
Although Brar picked up the red cherry at the age of 16, the Mohali lad was always fascinated by South Africa great Dale Steyn. "I am a Dale Steyn fan. Because of him, I picked up bowling. He ruled world cricket for almost a decade. He was not only fast, but it was his skill that made him the best in the world," Brar tells TimesofIndia.com.
Although he admired Steyn, Brar’s first love was never cricket. "I used to play football and tennis in school. I never took cricket seriously. It was just for fun," he says.
"One of my friends suggested that I give trials at school. He reasoned that since I have good height, I could be a good bowler," laughs Brar, who stands six feet five inches.
It turned out to be great advice. Within two years, Brar met Shubman Gill, who was with the India Under-19 team at the time, and Brar’s pace left a mark on the current India Test and ODI captain.
"I used to bowl to him since our Under-19 days. I remember when he was playing for India Under-19, he played a couple of Katoch Shield matches. He saw me bowling and helped me get into the district team. I played for Mohali and was then picked for the Punjab Under-23 side," he recollects.
Brar made his List A debut for Punjab in 2021 and played five first-class matches the following year. Although his returns were modest, he caught the attention of Punjab Kings and joined the franchise as a net bowler.
It was in Mohali where he impressed Punjab Kings’ then skipper Shikhar Dhawan.
"I impressed Shikhar paaji with my pace. I was with the team as a net bowler. He told me that I would be with the team throughout the season. Later, I joined as a replacement for Raj Angad Bawa," Brar recollects.
Then came his IPL debut against Lucknow Super Giants, a side that had wanted to sign him as a net bowler before Punjab Kings came calling. Brar says the IPL debut gave him a reality check.
"In the first season, you are never sure whether you will get a match. One evening during a pool session, Shikhar paaji told me to be ready as I could get a game. Two days later, I was playing in the IPL," Brar shares.
"At the toss, Shikhar paaji told me that I would bowl the first over. With Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada and Sam Curran in the team, I was given the new ball. It boosted my confidence. On the very first ball, a regulation catch was dropped off KL Rahul. I bowled a good over and conceded only two runs. In my second over, I bowled a no-ball and the free hit went for a six. The next no-ball also went for a six.
"The biggest learning was that bowling a no-ball is a sin. Seekha ye ki thodi planning karni chahiye. Tez ball se aaj kal koi nahi darta chaahe aap 155 pe daal rahe ho (I have learnt that you need to plan a bit. These days, no one is afraid of sheer pace, even if you are bowling at 155 kmph)."
A few weeks later, while playing the Sher-e-Punjab Trophy - Punjab’s domestic T20 tournament - Brar learnt another valuable lesson, this time about his body.
"After the IPL, we had the Sher-e-Punjab league. During that tournament, I suffered a disc bulge, which later turned into a fracture. I missed the 2023-24 season because of that injury. Obviously, I did not take care of these things. I was not educated about workload and fitness. The load increased, I was not doing enough recovery work and then I got injured," says Brar, who hails from village Kheo Wali in Punjab’s Sri Muktsar Sahib district.
With no IPL contract and having missed an entire season, Brar received support from Gill, who called to check on him and offered him a chance to join Gujarat Titans as a net bowler for IPL 2024.
"He asked me to come to GT as a net bowler. Tu ja, kaafi seekhega (Go there, you will learn a lot). Shubman pushes you a lot. He never gets satisfied and does not let his teammates be content. His grind is extreme and it has made him mentally strong as well," Brar says.
At Gujarat Titans, Brar found a mentor in Ashish Nehra. For a bowler returning from injury, Nehra shared stories from his own injury-ridden career.
"He always tells me about his injuries and the mistakes he made in his career, like not taking care of his body and working excessively. He says working hard is important, but you must listen to your body. He keeps telling me to manage my workload and allow enough time for recovery," Brar shares.
After spending a year at GT as a net bowler, Brar was signed by the Ahmedabad franchise for Rs 30 lakh in the 2025 IPL Auction and has been retained for the 2026 edition.
"It has been a great learning curve for someone like me who started playing the sport so late," he says.
At GT, Brar also forged a close bond with Kagiso Rabada, with whom he had previously shared the dressing room at Punjab Kings.
"KG watches my bowling closely. Once he finishes his spells, he stands and watches me bowl. He tells me to keep it simple and hit the good length with good pace," Brar says.
Brar has played 18 first-class matches and is a regular for Punjab. His height and ability to generate pace have caught the selectors’ attention and he is now a regular in India A squads, having taken 12 wickets in three matches so far.
BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar has identified Brar as 'one for the future.' "We are always looking. We do not have an overseas tour for a while, so we have more time. He shows promise and the India A tour gave us a chance to see him," Agarkar had said.
131197985 With only one ball now used in domestic cricket, Brar has also learnt the art of reverse swing with the help of his coaches.
"As far as reverse swing is concerned, the faster you bowl, the more it tends to reverse, provided the ball is well maintained," Brar says.
"When I get the old ball, I have only one thought in mind: bowl fast and attack the stumps. If I see even a slight hint of reverse swing, I go full throttle.
"In my List A debut, when two balls were used, I remember bowling 18 yorkers on the trot with the old ball because it was reversing slightly. It is a great weapon to have and I am still learning."
With India’s pace-bowling backup looking thin and injury-prone, a couple of strong performances could bring Brar into national contention.
Drake Baldwin performed like one of the best hitters in the majors this season.
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One of MLB’s biggest breakouts is about to have his season temporarily halted. Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin was placed on the injured list Tuesday due to an oblique strain, the team announced.
Baldwin, 25, was in the midst of an excellent season. Through 48 games, he was hitting .303/.389/.543, with 13 home runs. The team called up catcher Chadwick Tromp to serve as Baldwin’s replacement.
When shortstop Mookie Betts returned from the injured list last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Alex Freeland to Triple-A to make room on the roster for the four-time World Series champion. The Dodgers had to make a decision between optioning Freeland, optioning Hyeseong Kim, or designating Santiago Espinal for assignment. Los Angeles ultimately decided […] The post Alex Freeland Shines in Triple-A After Getting Optioned By Dodgers appeared first on LA Sports Report.
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When shortstop Mookie Betts returned from the injured list last week, the Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Alex Freeland to Triple-A to make room on the roster for the four-time World Series champion.
Apr 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Alex Freeland (76) tosses the ball to first base to force an out against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The Dodgers had to make a decision between optioning Freeland, optioning Hyeseong Kim, or designating Santiago Espinal for assignment. Los Angeles ultimately decided to send Freeland down to Triple-A.
Freeland Earns Big Weekly Award in Triple-A
Since then, Freeland has shined with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets and was named the Pacific Coast Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Sunday.
In his first week in Triple-A, Freeland slashed 400/.464/.920 with three home runs, eight runs scored and 11 RBIs across five games with Oklahoma City. He made three starts at third base and two at second base in those five games.
Freeland is the second player within the Dodgers’ organization to with the PCL Player of the Week Award this season. First baseman and outfielder James Tibbs III won the award for the week of March 31-April 5.
If Freeland can keep this momentum going, he could eventually find his way back to the Dodgers’ MLB roster. Last season, Freeland made his MLB debut with the Dodgers on July 30 and went on to play in 29 games, making starts at second and third base for Los Angeles.
Kentucky beats out Ole Miss, Louisville, and Tennessee for one of the top defensive backs in the 2027 recruiting class.
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Westview's Miles Brown (3) celebrates after coming down with his third touchdown of the game during a TSSAA Football Playoff match between Melrose versus Westview in Martin, Tenn., on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. | Jamar Coach / The Jackson Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Kentucky Football picked up a major recruiting victory on Tuesday, as class of 2027 4-star cornerback Miles Brown announced his commitment to the Wildcats over Ole Miss, Louisville, and his home state of Tennessee.
Brown, a 5-foot-11, 188-pound corner back from Martin, Tennessee, is considered one of the top prospects in the country. According to the 247 Sports Composite rankings, Brown is ranked No. 434 nationally, the No. 42 cornerback in the 2027 class, and the No. 19 overall player in Tennessee.
The commitment marks a significant recruiting win for Kentucky head coach Will Stein and the coaching staff, especially considering the level of competition involved. Beating SEC rivals and pulling a highly rated prospect out of Tennessee is viewed as a major statement for Kentucky’s recruiting efforts moving forward.
Kentucky cornerbacks coach Allen Brown played a key role in the recruitment process and made multiple trips to Martin in recent weeks. Brown visited the talented defensive back on May 5 before returning alongside defensive coordinator Jay Bateman one week later.
During the 2025 season, Brown recorded 40 tackles, six pass breakups, two forced turnovers, and four interceptions. He additionally starred on special teams, making him one of the most versatile prospects in the class.
Brown now joins an impressive Kentucky 2027 recruiting class that continues to grow under Will Stein and the Wildcats staff.
Kentucky Football 2027 commits so far:
Jake Nawrot — QB, 6-4, 190 (Arlington Heights, IL)
Alain Gomez-Gudino blasted a two-run homer in the first inning, leading Saguaro to an 11-4 win over ALA Gilbert North and the 4A state title.
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Scottsdale Saguaro took advantage of ALA Gilbert North miscues in a five-run second inning on its way to an 11-4 win in the 4A state baseball championship game on Monday, May 18, at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Senior catcher Alain Gomez-Gudino finished his high school career with a home run, the MVP award and a second state title.
"This was a really great experience for me," Gomez-Gudino said. "I couldn't ask for anything better for my life."
Gomez-Gudino's journey to Arizona was chronicled by The Arizona Republic two years ago, when he was a sophomore. He traveled, with his family, from Venezuela, some of it by foot, surviving on one meal a day, to find a better life.
He was embraced by the Saguaro community and wound up with two titles in his career under two different coaches The first came his sophomore year when Cam Caminiti was a dominant pitcher for the Sabercats and Joe Muecke led the program.
"All my family, all my friends, supported me every day," Gomez-Gudino said. "It means everything to me."
Former major league catcher Gerald Laird, in his first season leading the Saguaro baseball program this season, sees a great future at catcher for Gomez-Gudino, who could go in the MLB draft this summer.
"I've talked to some scouts," Laird said. "He's ahead of the game. You can see how he takes at-bats, the way he catches and controls the game. You don't see that very often at a young age. Whatever route he takes, he's going to be successful.
"I think he's ready to go now. But it's obviously his decision. But he's a tremendous talent. You're going to see him play a lot of baseball."
The championship matchup was a back-and-forth game early, with No. 3-seed ALA Gilbert North (25-8) putting up four runs off starter Jude Dravecky, the grandson of former San Francisco Giants pitcher Dave Dravecky, in the bottom half of the first inning.
Luke Genet and Nash Bigham drove in runs with hits in the inning for the Eagles.
Dravecky got through the second and third innings without giving up a hit, before left-hander Nate Wachinski came on to start the fourth and finish the game, giving up two hits.
"We kind of settled in with our pitching," Laird said. "Our pitching has been really good the second half. They really trust Gudino back there. He does a really good job of calling the game, getting guys to settle in. You saw that tonight."
No. 4 Saguaro (25-8) responded with five runs in the second, taking advantage of two errors and a wild pitch. Gomez-Gudino had a single in the inning. No. 9 batter Chasen Niemann had an RBI triple.
Zander Bratspis put the finishing touches on the scoring with a two-run single in the seventh.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. Please sign up for Azcentral Preps Now newsletter. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
Already unable to defend his French Open title due to injury as play begins this week, Carlos Alcaraz reveals he'll miss the next Grand Slam as well.
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Already unable to defend his French Open title as play begins this week, seven-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz is skipping Wimbledon as well.
Alcaraz announced on social media Tuesday, May 19, that he will not play at the All-England Club as he continues to recover from a nagging injury to his right wrist.
The 23-year-old Spaniard has been sidelined since withdrawing from the Barcelona Open last month.
"My recovery is going well and I feel much better, but unfortunately I'm still not ready to be able to play, and that's why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen's and Wimbledon," the 2023 and 2024 Wimbledon champion posted in Spanish on X.
Alcaraz became the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam when he won this year's Australian Open.
His absence will deprive tennis fans of another epic showdown with top rival Jannik Sinner, who has won 29 consecutive matches dating back to March.
The rest of the West—and perhaps the NBA at large—must be sitting at home and wondering what they can possibly do to catch up to the Spurs and Thunder.
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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA - MAY 18: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs drives to the basket against Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter in Game One of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Paycom Center on May 18, 2026 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs kicked off the Western Conference Finals in epic fashion on Monday night.
Led by Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs stole home-court advantage with a 122-115 double-overtime victory on the road against the reigning NBA champions. Wembanyama finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists and three steals, which made him the youngest player in league history to have a 40-20 game in the playoffs.
Only 14 players in league history have ever had 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone and Charles Barkley are the only other three who did it in the conference finals.
The Spurs needed every one of those points and rebounds—including an audacious game-tying three-pointer in the final 30 seconds of overtime—to knock off the defending champions. Although Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 points on 7-of-23 shooting) and Chet Holmgren (eight points on 2-of-7 shooting) struggled on the night, Alex Caruso (a playoff career-high 31 points) and Jalen Williams (26 points) nearly helped the Thunder overcome the heroics of Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper.
The rest of the West—and perhaps the NBA at large—must be sitting at home and wondering what they can possibly do to catch up to the Spurs and Thunder.
If both teams maintain that level of play throughout the rest of the Western Conference Finals, that could spark a leaguewide team-building crisis this offseason.
Keeping Up With The Wembys
The Thunder and Spurs were the only two West teams to win even 55 games during the regular season this year. The Spurs won 62, while the Thunder won 64.
The Thunder are led by Gilgeous-Alexander, who just won his second straight MVP award, and they also have a pair of other All-Star-caliber players in Williams and Holmgren. The Spurs are led by Wembanyama, who became the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year in league history this year, along with a triumvirate of dynamic guards in Castle, Harper and De'Aaron Fox.
If both the Thunder and Spurs were top-heavy squads with thin benches, other West teams would have hope in the near future. That isn't the case, though. Both are teeming with depth and future draft picks that will allow them to continually replenish their supporting cast as they begin to shed talent for financial reasons.
Nothing is set in stone in the NBA, particularly in the second-apron era. But the Thunder and Spurs appear poised to dominate for at least the next few seasons.
That raises some uncomfortable questions for the rest of the West, particularly after some demoralizing playoff beatdowns.
The Thunder will begin to feel the financial crunch this offseason when Williams and Holmgren begin their max contract extensions. Gilgeous-Alexander also has an extension starting in 2027-28 that begins at 35% of the salary cap that year.
They've already begun to plan accordingly.
It's no coincidence that the Thunder have team options on Isaiah Hartenstein ($28.5 million), Lu Dort ($18.2 million) and Kenrich Williams ($7.2 million) in 2026-27 along with Isaiah Joe ($11.3 million) and Jaylin Williams ($7.8 million) in 2027-28. They won't have much financial flexibility to add to their core moving forward, but they've built themselves enough escape hatches to avoid the second apron for now.
The Spurs are further removed from those concerns. Wembanyama becomes extension-eligible this offseason and will undoubtedly receive a max contract that could rise as high as 30% of the 2027-28 salary cap if he wins MVP or Defensive Player of the Year or gets named to an All-NBA team next year. Castle still has two years left on his rookie-scale deal, while Harper has three.
The Spurs have Devin Vassell locked up for three more years on a contract that descends by $2.35 million right as Wembanyama's new deal kicks in. They also have Keldon Johnson on a $17.5 million expiring contract and Luke Kornet on a three-year deal with only $2.5 million in guaranteed money remaining after 2026-27. They have a $3.0 million team option on Justin Champagnie in 2026-27, too.
Both the Spurs and Thunder will have to reconfigure their supporting casts in the coming years as contracts expire and role players get priced out. But both are sitting on a mountain of future draft picks that should allow them to replenish the talent around their star-laden cores.
Other teams around the West in particular have to ask themselves how—or if—they can get on the Spurs' and Thunder's level anytime soon.
"You've either got to be a problem or have a solution," Minnesota Timberwolves head coach Chris Finch told reporters after the Spurs knocked his squad out in the Western Conference Semifinals. "You've got to either be built in a way that troubles your opponent, that's something they don't have, or you've got to have a counter to what they do have, so I'm sure GMs across the league, these are things that they wrestle with all the time."
Teams already wrestled with that question during the height of the Golden State Warriors' dynasty in the late 2010s.
"It's the only thing we think about," then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey told ESPN Radio's Ryen Russillo in 2017. "I think I'm not supposed to say that, but we're basically obsessed with 'How do we beat the Warriors?'
"Last year, the Spurs knocked us off, so we're very worried about the Spurs. They're always one step ahead of every organization and guard us better than anyone. But we calculated it -- it's like 90 percent if we're gonna win a title, we've gotta obviously beat the Warriors at some point. So we're extremely focused on that. A lot of our signings and what we do during the year is based on that."
Morey and the Rockets weren't afraid to take the Warriors head-on back then, but other teams punted on even trying to bother. And that was just when there was one superteam in the West. What happens when there's two?
Again, the Thunder and Spurs won't be able to retain everyone on their current rosters. The Thunder in particular may start hemorrhaging bodies from their supporting cast this offseason. The Spurs won't be far behind.
But the rest of the league may need to adopt Morey's mindset from 2017 if they're hoping to contend for a championship anytime soon. Building a roster is no longer a question of "how do we put the best talent together?"
It's now "how do we beat the Spurs and/or Thunder in a seven-game series?"
Here are the Upstate boys and girls standouts in baseball, softball and soccer SCHSL playoffs in the Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson areas.
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Here are the Upstate high school boys and girls top performers for May 18-24 with baseball and softball in the Upper State finals, and the soccer teams in the state championships.
Monday, May 18 Baseball
Grayden Humphries, Chapman: Humphries was 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles as Chapman beat Woodruff, 11-1, in the Class 3A Upper State finals.
Chapman advanced to play 5 p.m. May 20 at Southside Christian and must win twice to make the state championship. Humphries had three RBIs and three runs scored. The Panthers scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to win by the 10-run rule.
Softball
Addie Durrah, Byrnes: Durrah was 4-for-4 with a double, tripled and five RBIs as Byrnes beat Boiling Springs, 11-1, in the first game of their best-of-three Upper State finals series in Class 5A Division 1. Boiling Springs will play host May 19 in the second game.
Addy Waters, Byrnes: Waters was 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and three runs scored
Braley Richardson, Mountain View Prep: Richardson homered, doubled and drove in four runs, but Mountain View Prep lost to West-Oak, 6-4, and was eliminated from the Class 3A playoffs.
Todd Shanesy covers high school athletics for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail in the USA TODAY Network. Contact him by email at todd.shanesy@shj.com. Follow him on X, formerly called Twitter, at @ToddShanesySHJ.
The Dodgers are optimistic that the procedure will allow him to return to the mound earlier than other treatment options, although the $182 million starter will still be sidelined for a significant amount of time.
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SAN DIEGO — Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell will undergo surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow, general manager Brandon Gomes said.
The Dodgers are optimistic the procedure will allow Snell to return to the mound earlier than other treatment options, although the $182 million starter will still be sidelined for a significant amount of time. Gomes said Snell will have the same surgery as Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who has the same elbow problem, with the intention of returning this season.
“Hopefully it’s the shorter timeline,” Gomes said. “That’s the hope and the expectation right now. Obviously don’t know 100% until we’re in there, but that’s what we expect.”
The injury-plagued World Series champions also signed veteran reliever Jonathan Hernández and optioned reliever Chayce McDermott back to the minors after one appearance, making their latest pitching shuffle before they faced the NL West rival San Diego Padres for the first time this season.
Hernández opted out of his minor league contract with Philadelphia after making 13 appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 15 innings.
Hernández appeared in parts of five seasons for the Texas Rangers before bouncing through the minors with Seattle, Tampa Bay and the Phillies over the past two years. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since making three appearances for the Mariners in August 2024.
McDermott made his Dodgers debut with one scoreless inning in their 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels to complete a three-game sweep. The Dodgers acquired the right-hander in a trade with Baltimore in April.
The Dodgers are going through another year of significant injury problems for their pitching staff, forcing them to shuffle their rotation and bullpen on a weekly basis yet again. Los Angeles still has the majors’ second-lowest ERA at 3.21 entering its trip to Petco Park.
“We’ve dealt with this in the past,” Gomes said. “It’s the reason you try to go in with as much depth as you can, knowing that things can happen. You hope that they don’t pile up at the same time, which has been happening as of late, but we’ll keep navigating it and work through it like we have in the past.”
High-priced starters Snell and Tyler Glasnow are out of the Dodgers’ rotation due to injuries.
Manager Dave Roberts said Glasnow’s injured back recently “flared up,” preventing him from throwing off a mound yet. Snell has made one start for the Dodgers this season, while Glasnow left his seventh start of the year with his injury nearly two weeks ago.
Edwin Diaz, the majors’ highest-paid reliever, likely is out for at least three months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow after just seven appearances with his new team. The Dodgers then lost left-hander Jack Dreyer, their most-used reliever this season, to shoulder discomfort.
Roberts also said long-injured reliever Brusdar Graterol has had another setback in his recovery from a back injury. The hard-throwing Graterol, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since the 2024 World Series, had been pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
“He’ll be shut down for a while,” Roberts said.
Gomes said surgery on Graterol’s lower back is a possibility.
The Dodgers’ other injured pitchers with significant major league experience include right-handers Brock Stewart, Evan Phillips, Ben Casparius, Landon Knack, Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller and Jake Cousins.
Utilitymen Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman also have missed the entire season to date with injuries, but both tentatively are expected to be back within the next month.
The Dodgers transferred Casparius to the 60-day injured list to make room for Hernández on the 40-man roster.
New York head coach Aaron Gienn embarks on his second campaign in charge of the East Rutherford-based club somewhat on the hot seat after a disappointing debut season. Glenn will have three first-round picks at his disposal.
Jets Wire made three risky proclamations about the Jets' 2026 schedule.
Cade Klubnik will start the Jets' final five games
The Jets invested a fourth-round pick in rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik. They should give him some playing time before heading into the 2027 draft with three first-round picks. The Jets are scheduled for a Week 13 bye. Assuming they're not in playoff contention, which is probably fair given their rebuilding nature, Klubnik could replace Geno Smith for Weeks 14-18.
Garrett Wilson bounces back
Perhaps this isn't a bold prediction, but Garrett Wilson is coming off an incredibly disappointing, injury-filled season. Wilson had 395 receiving yards in eight appearances in 2025. Expect the WR1 to get back to producing 1,000+ yards with Smith as his quarterback.
Breece Hall rushes for a career-high 1,125 yards
The Jets recently signed Breece Hall to a lucrative multi-year contract extension. He figures to be the focal point of offensive coordinator Frank Reich's run-heavy offense. Hall rushed for a personal-best 1,065 yards last season, and he could one-up himself by rushing for 1,125 (or more) yards in 2026.
Ghana will face fellow West African heavyweights Ivory Coast in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
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Ghana's Antoine Semenyo and Ivory Coast's Amad Diallo are both bound for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, but they are set to come up against one another in qualifying for next year's Africa Cup of Nations [Getty Images]
Ghana have been paired with Ivory Coast in a potentially tricky qualifying group for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals.
The Black Stars were not included in the top pot of seeds for the draw, having slipped down the world rankings after their failure to reach the previous edition of the tournament which was held in Morocco in December and January.
The two West African heavyweights will meet in Group C, where they will also face The Gambia, who made the quarter-finals of the 2021 Afcon on their debut, and Somalia.
"Why always us? This group is a difficult group," said former Ivory Coast international Max-Alain Gradel, who lifted the trophy with the Elephants on home soil in 2022 and was one of the assistants for the draw in Cairo.
"But we will do everything that we can to qualify. I believe in the team so there is no problem."
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will co-host the next Afcon, which will be held from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
The 48 teams looking to reach the finals have been split into 12 groups of four, with the top two sides qualifying after six rounds of fixtures.
However, things are complicated by the fact that the three co-hosts are all assured of a place at the tournament, so only one other team in their respective groups will book a ticket.
Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia all have little margin for error after being drawn alongside one of the three hosts.
Elsewhere, record seven-time champions Egypt have been drawn alongside Angola, Malawi and South Sudan.
The first four rounds of qualifying will be spread across September, October and November this year, with the final two fixtures to be held in March next year.
The identity of the 2025 Afcon champions remains in dispute after Senegal beat tournament hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time in a final marred by controversy on 18 January.
Several Teranga Lions players walked off the pitch in protest at the decision to award Morocco a penalty in second-half stoppage time, with the match delayed by about 17 minutes before Brahim Diaz saw his spot kick saved.
The Senegalese Football Federation has contested that decision and taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which is yet to rule on the matter.
Afcon 2027 qualifying draw
Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho.
Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan.
Group C: Ivory Coast, Ghana, The Gambia, Somalia.
Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Eritrea.
Group E: DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe.
Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic.
Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo-Brazzaville.
Group H: Tunisia, Uganda, Libya, Botswana.
Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi.
Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia.
Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia.
Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau.
Match days one and two: 21 September to 6 October 2026.
Westview Chargers (MartinRivalsKentucky Wildcats Football RecruitingMiles Brown (27 - Westview)Kentucky WildcatsTN)Rivals Football Recruiting
Four-star cornerback Miles Brown committed to Kentucky after the Wildcats won a tight battle with Tennessee for one of the top prospects in the Volunteer State. The Martin (Tenn.) Westview standout, ranked No. 233 in the Rivals Industry Ranking, picked the Wildcats after Kentucky’s new staff quickly made him a major priority once it arrived […]
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Four-star cornerback Miles Brown committed to Kentucky after the Wildcats won a tight battle with Tennessee for one of the top prospects in the Volunteer State.
The Martin (Tenn.) Westview standout, ranked No. 233 in the Rivals Industry Ranking, picked the Wildcats after Kentucky’s new staff quickly made him a major priority once it arrived in Lexington.
“Kentucky got involved as soon as the new staff was hired,” Brown told Rivals. “They have shown love like no other, and it’s been great to see.”
Kentucky steadily built momentum throughout the spring, but one stretch in particular changed everything in the recruitment.
“It was the second visit when they came to my school and just showed a lot of love. They sat down with me and gave me everything I needed to know in a two-hour span. That was a big visit for me.”
That visit and conversation helped separate Kentucky from the rest of the field and led to his commitment.
Kentucky kept pushing for Brown
The Wildcats battled Tennessee heavily down the stretch, and Brown admitted the race stayed tight all the way until the end.
“It was really close and it came down to the wire,” Brown said. “I just stayed neutral until one pulled away. It was a phone call about a week ago that changed everything for me. It was after the second visit that I spoke with the coaches again. That pushed Kentucky to the top.”
The people inside the program became one of the biggest reasons Brown committed to Kentucky.
“The main reasons I chose Kentucky were because of the relationships we have built and also the way they go about things as a team.
“Coach Stein was important too. I like how real he is. The program is trending in the right direction. They are building something special, and I’m ready to be a part of it.”
BBC Scotland charts Ross Stewart's remarkable decade-long rise, which could culminate in him firing Southampton to the Premier League before appearing at the World Cup.
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Ross Stewart could fire Southampton to the Premier League before heading to the World Cup with Scotland [Getty Images]
As blood spurted from his shattered nose and taunts rained down from the ramshackle terraces, Ross Stewart felt his love of football reignited.
Having been discarded by professional clubs, the striker's confidence wasn't the only thing that took a battering as he turned to the junior game to rescue his fledgling career.
It proved the making of Stewart, who was then a raw and gangly 18-year-old and now, a decade later, is a prolific forward whose goals for promotion-chasing Southampton have thrust him into the Scotland World Cup squad.
It's been an unconventional route to prominence for the Ayrshireman, who turned out for local junior clubs Ardeer Thistle and Kilwinning Rangers after several unsuccessful years in the pro-youth system with St Mirren, Celtic and latterly Partick Thistle.
"It has served me well," Stewart told BBC Scotland back in 2022. "When I went and played juniors, being in an adult environment, I really took to it and fell back in love with football, the camaraderie and the banter.
"You're not treated like a youth player, you're treated like an adult. I was playing well and scoring goals and just worked my way up the junior leagues, then got my chance to go back to the senior set-up."
The 'juniors' is something of a misnomer. It is semi-professional football - with its own governing body separate from the Scottish FA - where players can range from promising teens to former internationals in their 40s.
The fiercely competitive and unforgiving environment is no place for shrinking violets, as Stewart can attest. He still has the scars to prove it.
"The one I always think back to is when we played Pollok, who have a big junior ground," adds Stewart.
"I broke my nose that day. I can just remember being sparked out and getting called all the names under the sun. There's no remorse for any type of injury at that level - you've just got to get up and get on with it.
"I tried to turn inside someone and I got a shoulder straight to the nose. There was blood everywhere, my nose was pointing sideways, and you're getting called a 'diving you-know-what' and all that."
His decision to drop down the levels paid off when Stewart's eye-catching form earned him a move to the SPFL with third-tier Albion Rovers - but the deal came with a unique twist.
Kilwinning wanted £1,500 for their prize asset, but Rovers could only pay £1,000. Enter Stewart's dad, Cameron, to make up the difference.
It has proved a savvy investment that has soared in value since, as the forward progressed to St Mirren, Ross County, Sunderland and then Southampton.
"Dad says me living out my dreams is enough for him, but I've probably paid him back in terms of complimentary tickets to watch my games now," says Stewart.
"I've got a lot to thank him for. He played junior football too in his younger days, as a sweeper. So it means we have contrasting opinions on the game a lot of the time. He always gives it: 'You'd have hated playing against me'."
World Cup & Premier League next chapters in Stewart story?
It has been over five years since Stewart swapped a survival battle in the Scottish Premiership with Ross County for the task of trying to get ailing giant Sunderland out of League One.
A barrage of his goals fuelled their promotion to the Championship, turning him into a cult hero among a support who nicknamed him 'The Loch Ness Drogba'.
However, a hellish period of injury trouble has plagued much of his time at Southampton since joining in 2023.
But the 29-year-old has shown resilience in spades to recover and score vital goals towards the Saints' push for immediate promotion back to the Premier League.
Stewart has netted nine times since January, including one against Arsenal in an FA Cup quarter-final win last month and another in Southampton's play-off semi-final victory over Middlesbrough last week.
"From January onwards, he's had a rich vein of form where he's shown that he can score big goals in big games," Scotland boss Steve Clarke said of Stewart, who has been capped twice but not since 2022.
"It's a good story. He was in my squad a few years ago, showing he can come up to this level. He's had a terrible run of injury.
"The Arsenal game in the cup, he shows he can have an impact in games of that level. The World Cup will be a very high level as well."
The striker will have the opportunity to write a new chapter in a storybook rise at Wembley on Saturday when his club season concludes with a Championship play-off final encounter against Hull City.
And his status would only elevate further if his scoring form is replicated for Scotland in their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, capping off a remarkable journey a decade in the making.
Boston Red Sox vs. Kansas City Royals Betting Preview May 19
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The Red Sox (20-27) and the Royals (20-28) meet tonight at Kauffman Stadium in Game 2 of their series. Tonight is a matchup featuring two left-handers, Boston’s Ranger Suárez against Kansas City’s Bailey Falter.
Last night Sonny Gray was dominant, striking out nine Royals over six innings while allowing just a single run in the Red Sox’ 3-1 win. Willson Contreras went yard for the tenth time this season to lead the offense for Boston. Bobby Witt Jr. went 1-4 and has now hit safely in 20 of his last 24 home games. Witt leads all of baseball in fWAR (3.0).
Tonight, Suarez takes the mound riding a heater, having delivered scoreless outings in five of his past six appearances. Falter gets the ball for KC as the result of Kris Bubic being placed on the 15-day DL. The southpaw Falter has appeared in just three games and pitch a mere 5.1 innings this season.
It is expected run production will be at a premium as these are two of the least productive lineups in baseball. The Red Sox have scored the least number of runs in the American League with 170 while the Royals rank fifth worst in the league having scored just 190.
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Red Sox vs. Royals
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Time: 7:40PM EST
Site: Kauffman Stadium
City: Kansas City, MO
Network/Streaming: MLB.TV, NESN, Royals.TV
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Red Sox vs. Royals
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: Boston Red Sox (-131), Kansas City Royals (+109)
Spread: Red Sox -1.5 (+129), Royals +1.5 (-156)
Total: 7.5 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Red Sox vs. Royals
Pitching matchup for May 19:
Red Sox: Ranger Suarez Season Totals: 44.1 IP, 2-2, 2.44 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 40K, 11 BB
Willson Contreras is riding a modest 3-game hitting streak (4-11) including 2 HRs and 4 RBIs
Jarren Duran is 3-27 over his last 7 games
Salvador Perez is just 12-59 (.203) in May with 4 extra base hits
Carter Jensen is 1 for his last 9, but is 7-22 over his last 8 games
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Red Sox vs. Royals
The Sox are 12-13 on the road this season
The Royals are 12-14 at home this season
The Red Sox are 19-28 on the Run Line this season
The Royals are 19-29 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 20 times in games involving the Red Sox this season (20-26-1)
The OVER has cashed 21 times in Royals’ games this season (21-27)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Red Sox vs. RoyalsRotoworld Bet Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s game between the Red Sox and the Royals:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Red Sox on the Run Line
Total: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Game Total OVER 7.5 runs
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His times have drawn national attention, leading to his commitment to the University of North Carolina.
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Episcopal Academy senior Abaas Hunter has built a reputation as one of the Philadelphia area's fastest rising sprinters, earning more than 20 school records and multiple county titles on his way to a Division I track career.
Hunter said his competitive mindset developed early. "Running and growing up, I've pretty much always been that way since freshman year. And then I started racing seniors and juniors and it sat me down a bit but then I picked it back up."
Since then, he has become one of the region's most decorated sprinters.
Last year, he set the Delaware County record in the 200 meters. This season, he added the county record in the 400.
"I ended up getting out super hard in the beginning part, in the first 150, 200," he said. "It's just based on your strength and how much you have in the end."
Hunter said his success comes down to discipline and focus. "It's really just mental and execution. Once you grasp those things and you're able to compete against those top athletes, it's easier and easier as time goes on."
His times have drawn national attention, leading to his commitment to the University of North Carolina.
"It's a great feeling to be wanted. And a college to really see you for the times you ran," Hunter said. "They are building a community that I want to be a part of."
Hunter expects to start from scratch when he arrives in Chapel Hill, but said his experience at Episcopal Academy has prepared him for the next level.
The promotion announced an immediate ban after video showed an exchange between the two champions inside a VIP area. Undisputed
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Getty Images
The promotion announced an immediate ban after video showed an exchange between the two champions inside a VIP area.
Undisputed women’s heavyweight champion Claressa Shields has been banned from all Most Valuable Promotions events after a physical altercation with unified women’s junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner at MVP MMA 1 over the weekend.
ESPN reported that the Claressa Shields MVP ban was announced Monday in a statement posted to X, effective immediately.
Most Valuable Promotions is aware of the incident during MVP’s Rousey vs. Carano event on Saturday night involving physical contact by Claressa Shields toward Alycia Baumgardner.
MVP maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy for hostile, threatening, or aggressive behavior toward… pic.twitter.com/gUbXTsBH4I
— MVP – Most Valuable Promotions (@MostVpromotions) May 19, 2026
“Effective immediately, Claressa Shields is banned from all MVP events until further notice,” the promotion said. “There is a time and a place for fighter tension and banter, but to physically attack a fellow athlete while there as a guest inside a private VIP area is unacceptable.”
Video from the event at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles shows Shields and Baumgardner exchange words before Shields reached across and slapped Baumgardner’s hand away. MVP called the behavior a violation of its zero-tolerance policy. “Physical altercations outside the ring or cage are unacceptable in any MVP environment. MVP does not condone, tolerate, or accept Claressa Shields’ behavior in that setting and it reflects poorly on MVP and women’s sports, which we have worked tirelessly to uplift,” the statement continued.
Shields pushed back on social media after the incident, suggesting Baumgardner had been verbally aggressive and had threatened her physically before the slap.
The ban did not soften Baumgardner’s response. She released her own statement Monday calling the incident “unprovoked and entirely consistent with the individual involved,” adding that she was “physically assaulted without provocation” and that the matter “has been and will continue to be handled legally and professionally.”
Shields and Baumgardner have had a public rivalry for years, trading verbal jabs across social media and at industry events. The ban does not affect Shields’ current boxing contracts.
The free event will also have a Badgers program featuring Matt Lepay, the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for UW football and men’s basketball. There will be food trucks, beverage tents, licensed Badgers merchandise, face painting, balloon animals, a bounce house and a Family Football Combine with a quarterback toss, 40-yard dash, vertical jump and more.
More details of Badger Bash North will be announced in the coming months, including the grand marshal for the marching band parade and plans for a Badgers Give Back component.
Notre Dame will be the home team for neutral-site game against the Badgers at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field. NBC will broadcast the game, which happens ahead of the start of the Green Bay Packers season.
It will be the second major college football game played at Lambeau. Wisconsin hosted the LSU Tigers on Sept. 3, 2016. The night before that game, Titletown Brewing Co. and the UW Alumni Association hosted the official Badgers pep rally with the UW Marching Band and fireworks.
Kendra Meinert is an entertainment and feature writer at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Contact her at 920-431-8347 or kmeinert@greenbay.gannett.com. Follow her on X @KendraMeinert.
Seven athletes are up for this week's award. You have until 4 p.m. May 23 to vote.
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Dispatch.com readers can vote for their favorite girls high school athletes of the week on their desktop, the Dispatch.com mobile web or Dispatch app once per hour by scrolling down to ballots listed below.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center high school Athlete of the Week voting occurs each week during high school sports competition and recognizes athletes across all sports.
If you can't see the ballot when you scroll to the bottom of this story, try refreshing the link or clearing the cache in your browser. You do not have to be a subscriber to vote.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Athletes were nominated over the past few weeks for the vote starting May 12.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Athletes are on this week's ballot based on information made available to The Dispatch and nominations.
Once athletes win during the regular season, they're not eligible to be back on the ballot until the postseason. If athletes haven't won in the regular season, they can be nominated more than once.
The Dispatch staff reserves the right to remove ballots or athletes from the ballot where voting irregularities have occurred.
Please do not email your votes; they will not count. Nominations and votes are not the same things.
Here are this week's Girls Athlete of the Week candidates:
Kira Bailey, Gahanna softball: Went 9 for 9 in three games with 16 stolen bases, including six against Granville and five each against Lakewood and Watkins Memorial. She also had four RBIs and no strikeouts.
Logan Baker, Hamilton Township softball: Went 6 for 8 with four doubles and five RBIs in wins over Whitehall and Beechcroft.
Livie Brannon, Mount Gilead softball: Went 4 for 5 with a double, home run and six RBIs in a 16-10 win over East Knox.
Ireland Bulger, Thomas Worthington softball: Went 6 for 8 in three games with two home runs, a double, three singles and eight RBIs.
Tommi Ewing, Grove City softball: In five games, batted .643 with nine hits, including five home runs and two doubles, 10 RBIs, nine runs and no strikeouts. She had two homers and for RBIs against Olentangy Liberty and two homers and five RBIs against Thomas Worthington. She also didn’t commit an error from her shortstop position.
Abby Herren, Centerburg softball: Set the state record for home runs in a single season, hitting her 24th in a 9-5 win at Loudonville. She tied the record the day before in a 12-1 win over Marion Pleasant.
Madison O’Malley, Dublin Coffman softball: Batted .562 (9 for 16) for the week with a .611 on-base percentage, .875 slugging percentage, two doubles and a home run. In the last two games, she was 6 for 9 with two doubles and a homer. She also has 21 putouts in 23 total chances for a .913 fielding percentage.
The Washington Huskies extended an offer to the top DB in Arizona in the 2028 class as Jedd Fisch looks to build a pipeline to the state.
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The Washington Huskies are trying to make a massive statement in the state of Arizona in the 2028 class.
Jedd Fisch's coaching staff has already developed a relationship with some of the state's top prospects, including five-star defensive linemen Jalanie George and Landen Wade, while secondary coach John Richardson has added UW to the mix for Arizona's third five-star recruit in 2028, cornerback Keaton Fields.
At 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds, the product of Hamilton High School is ranked as the No. 18 overall prospect and No. 2 cornerback by 247Sports, and boasts 25 offers. He has Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas, USC, and several more in pursuit, but Richardson should have a strong pitch to make in his recruitment.
Under Richardson's guise, the Huskies have done an impressive job developing big, long cornerbacks, getting both Tacario Davis and Ephesians Prysock selected in the 2026 NFL draft, while the UW coaching staff has lauded over sophomore Dylan Robinson, stating the 6-foot-3 sophomore possesses first-round traits.
On film, Fields displays a lot of those same elite tools after putting together 43 tackles, 6 for loss, with 5 pass breakups and 4 interceptions during his sophomore year. He shows off great physicality as a tackler, as well as high-end eyes and instincts to break quickly on both poorly thrown passes and run plays, all things that defensive coordinator Ryan Walters covets in an outside cornerback.
As the Huskies continue to build relationships with the 2028 class, it won't be easy to acquire the elite defender, but Richardson should be expected to lead a significant charge in pursuit of his services.
The Crimson Tide play host to the LSU Tigers in the Tuscaloosa Super Regional for the right to move on to Oklahoma City
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April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama batter Alexis Pupillo celebrates her two-run homer in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky. | Gary Cosby Jr. / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Starting on Friday, Alabama will host SEC rival LSU in a best of three series with the winner moving on to the 2026 Women’s College World Series in OKC. The No. 16 seeded Tigers stand at 40 – 17 after dispatching of Akron and Virginia Tech (twice) with very few problems in the Baton Rouge, LA Regional. Although these two SEC teams are rivals, they did not face off against each other this season.
Below are five keys to the Crimson Tide advancing to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.
STAY AGGRESSIVE AT THE PLATE – The Tide has found success these last few weeks by swinging early in the count. They have resulted in big innings and left frustrated pitchers in their wakes. Audrey Vandagriff, especially, has seen a surge by swinging freely with three home runs and six RBI in her last six games.
TIDE PITCHERS KEEP ON KEEPING ON – All four of Bama’s pitchers were excellent in the Regional (Jocelyn Briski, Vic Moten, Kaitlyn Pallozzi, and Alea Johnson). Whatever they are doing, keep doing it. It is important for all of them to stay fresh and stay healthy.
SCOUTING – The Regional foes were one thing. LSU is on a whole different level from those teams. These Bayou Bengals are a good team with pitching and hitting capable of upsetting the Crimson Tide. The hope from Bama fans is that Patrick Murphy and his staff are in the Univeristy of Alabama A/V room watching every inning of video on the Tigers they can get their hands on. With one team to focus all of their energies on this week, there are no excuses to not be prepared for the coming series.
DUGOUT ENERGY – Without a doubt, the Crimson Tide faithful will have Rhoads Stadium rocking. All 21 players in crimson and white need to be feeding off that vibe and make it impossible for LSU.
STAY HUNGRY – There is no place for complacency in the post season. Whatever inspirational message Murphy wants to impart on his team, it better be one of focus and determination.
ALABAMA PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jocelyn Briski is must see TV. With a 1.38 ERA and a 22 – 3 record, she has a great shot at National Pitcher of the Year. Without a doubt, she is the most improved player. She has had a few rough outings this spring but for the most part, she has been outstanding in the circle.
Vic Moten’s performance will be just as vital. As fans saw in the Regionals, college softball teams with one good pitcher is not enough. The Alabama freshman has been way better than advertised She has racked up a 20 – 4 record and a 1.66 ERA and is just as important as Briski is to the success of this team.
Brooke Wells and Alexis Pupillo are one of the most potent 1 – 2 punches in the nation in the batter’s box in 2026. They have combined for 40 homers, 123 RBI, and 91 runs scored. The duo are dynamic hitters and great team leaders.
After Patrick Murphy shuffled the line up several times this season, it appears he has finally found a proper lead off hitter in Jena Young. It is a tough role to play but the freshman has come up with some big plays at the plate in key moments.
As mentioned above, Audrey Vandagriff is back to looking like the frehman who was named All American in 2025. It will be vital to the Tide that she keeps up this tear she is on to propel the bottom end of the batting order into starting and extending rallies. The top of the order cannot do all the heavy lifting of the Crimson Tide hopes to continue to advance in the NCAA Tournamnet.
LSU PLAYERS TO WATCH
Jayden Heavener (13 – 8, 2.75 ERA) has become the ace of this staff as a sophomore. She is regularly handed the ball in big games and pitched two and sometimes three times in a series. Although, the left-hander can be inconsistent at time.
Cece Cellura (San Diego State ace) and Paytn Monticelli (Oklahoma) joined the Tigers via the transfer portal and have filled in the No. 2 and No. 3 spots in the rotation. Cellura is 9 – 5 with a 3.12 ERA. She has not had much success against SEC foes. Monticelli is 9 – 3 with a 2.40 ERA. She struggled early in the season, but has come on stronger as of late.
Shortstop Kylee Edwards transferred in from Mississippi State and has had a fine season, hitting .349 with 10 homers and 40 RBI. The Tigers’ No. 3 hitter has struck out only 10 times, has a .440 OB%, and .628 slugging.
CF Jalia Lassiter leads off and has scored 61 runs. Her BA stands at .348 to go with 9 dingers and 40 RBI. She gets on base at a .463 rate.
1B Tori Edwards is hitting .287 but leads the team with 12 round-trippers and 44 runs knocked in. However, she has struck out 36 times – 8th most of SEC players and 20 times against SEC pitching, 4th most.
SCHEDULE / HOW TO WATCH
Tuscaloosa Super Regional
Friday, May 22 – 6pm/7pm – ESPN2
Saturday, May 23 – 2pm/3pm – ESPN
(if necessary) Sunday, May 24 – Time and TV to be determined
New York YankeesSal LicataMLBYsportshubJoe DavisWFANEvan RobertsNewsNew York MetsRadioLos Angeles DodgersMLB on Fox
Joe Davis has one of the best resumes in all of sports. Not only is he the voice of the World Series on Fox Sports, but he also gets to call one of the biggest brands and best teams in all of sports day in and day out with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s a…
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Credit: imagn images, Fox
Joe Davis has one of the best resumes in all of sports. Not only is he the voice of the World Series on Fox Sports, but he also gets to call one of the biggest brands and best teams in all of sports day in and day out with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s a tough balancing act to walk for any broadcaster when you work both locally and nationally. But it wasn’t calling a Dodgers game on Fox Sports that drew the ire of WFAN’s Evan Roberts. It was calling a Mets game.
Over the weekend, Joe Davis and John Smoltz were calling the Subway Series between the New York Mets and New York Yankees. And Davis had a viral call of “Oh no, the Mets!” when Carson Benge dropped an easy fly ball in the outfield.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 17, 2026
It was a great call in the moment because it not only encapsulated the shock of the error, but how it symbolized the disastrous Mets season so far as they sit in the NL East cellar in spite of their massive payroll.
But it didn’t sit well with past and present New York radio hosts.
On WFAN, Evan Roberts first tried to compliment Joe Davis as a good announcer and “probably a really good guy.” But that’s when they niceties came to an end as he noted the lead Fox announcer mocking the Mets.
“Joe Davis has become a clown for the Los Angeles Dodgers and we all hear it,” Roberts said. He then compared Davis to Joe Buck and said that Buck would never take sides in a national broadcast in spite of his local ties to the St. Louis Cardinals. But he gets a different vibe from Davis.
“I think he’s a Dodger fanboy. I think he wants to just make love to Shohei Ohtani every time he talks about him. I just get that from him and I don’t know, I wish it would stop. He’s a great broadcaster and I’ll admit it. But for now, I think Joe Davis is a Dodgers shill and it’s obnoxious. And I’d give him this advice, not that he cares, he doesn’t care. Don’t go to the Dodger parade and be the emcee. It’s a bad look. It just is. You’re sitting there as the national voice and now you’re pom-pom waving at the Dodger parade. Come on man,” Roberts added.
Davis did have a good reason for being at the Dodgers parade. It’s because he’s… the voice of the Dodgers. While it may seem unusual to use a relatively innocuous line about the Mets to have a go at the Fox announcer for being a Dodgers homer, Roberts wasn’t alone. Former WFAN host Sal Licata also unloaded on Joe Davis on his own show.
“What’s up with Joe Davis, by the way? You Dodger homer. ‘Oh no, the Mets,’ that’s a national unbiased broadcast? You biased Dodger blue fool. How about that? The Mets won that game that you were doing and then they won the next game. So before you ‘oh no the Mets’ which is such a clear Dodger bais, maybe you’re still bothered because of Edwin Diaz and the cockfighting and because he’s out for the year. I’m not sure what your issue is,” Licata said.
“You’re doing a national broadcast. You can’t be unbiased? ‘Oh no, the Mets,’ it wasn’t oh no, the Mets, it was a rookie making a terrible play. Get on him just like I did. That’s what you should do, not ‘oh no, the Mets.’ Get lost Joe Davis,” he continued in calling his work with John Smoltz a “snooze festival broadcast.”
At this point it’s probably worth noting that even the Mets’ own announcers have hammered them for their mistakes throughout the season. Joe Davis has gone on the record to say that he doesn’t try to engage with the criticism of being the voice of the Dodgers while calling national games on Fox because it’s a no-win situation. This is Exhibit A for why that’s probably the best way for him to approach it, especially if he’s getting hammered for being a Dodgers homer while he’s not even calling a Dodgers game.
The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund remains actively involved in running Newcastle United despite limited public presence and ongoing speculation about their lack of interest in staying in Tyneside for long. “The accusations of borderline ‘absenteeism’ levelled at PIF will only continue while they do not have a visible […]
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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 5: Newcastle United fans wearing traditional Saudi Arabian clothing await the kickoff of the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park on February 5, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images) | CameraSport via Getty Images
The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has confirmed that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund remains actively involved in running Newcastle United despite limited public presence and ongoing speculation about their lack of interest in staying in Tyneside for long.
“The accusations of borderline ‘absenteeism’ levelled at PIF will only continue while they do not have a visible presence on the ground on Tyneside,” Waugh said.
However, Waugh explained that communication between the club and ownership is frequent, though it tends to be a bit in the shadows.
“Hopkinson speaks to ownership on an almost daily, if not a daily, basis, while Ross Wilson is also in regular contact with PIF officials,” Waugh said. “Much of their communication tends to be over the phone or via video calls, with PIF involvement in many key online conference meetings.”
“The most prominent point of contact for many senior staff is Jacobo Solis,” Waugh said. “It is Solis who is often involved in internal transfer discussions and who acts as a direct point of contact between the majority owners and the club’s hierarchy.
“Jamie Reuben is also regularly in communication with senior figures and is sometimes involved in transfer negotiations,” Waugh said.
Despite that involvement, the club’s leadership handles daily operations.
“PIF have installed Hopkinson, Wilson and the executive team to run Newcastle on a day-to-day basis,” Waugh said. “They are not physically present at every match or every day, yet nor are they anywhere near as hands-off as some suspect.”
Judging by Waugh’s report, it’s fair to assume that the goals set by PIF might not come as soon as expected, but the Saudi contingent is here to stay and keep pushing for further success down the road happening in Tyneside.
The journey to the top of the division still goes through Philly.
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Jalen Hurts | Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The New York Giants’ offseason is fully underway, and the roster is beginning to take shape under the leadership of John Harbaugh. While the ultimate goal is to bring another Super Bowl title to a once renowned New York Giants franchise, the journey back to contention is built on achieving the smaller milestones that have long eluded the franchise on a consistent basis.
Winning in the division is one of those milestones that the Giants have struggled to achieve. The Brian Daboll era was marred by divisional losses, and New York will look to switch those fortunes; it all starts with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The New York Giants did defeat the Eagles, 34-17, on Thursday Night Football in 2025 – a game where Cam Skattebo scored three touchdowns. Still, the Eagles have won 13 straight home games against the Giants; the last time New York won at Lincoln Financial Field was in 2013 – a game where Matt Barkley started for the Eagles.
Philadelphia has won two Super Bowls since the last time the Giants defeated them on their home turf. Howie Roseman continues to show the NFL how to manage a roster, but Philadelphia has hit a few snafus along the way. Their offensive line is ageing, preeminent offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is no longer with the franchise, questions surround both the head coach and quarterback, and there is some turmoil in the locker room.
Nevertheless, Roseman and the Eagles have seemingly found a way to assuage the AJ Brown situation, albeit the nothing becomes ‘official’ till after June 1. Brown is rumored to be heading to New England in a trade at that time, which is logical when analyzing the trade up for USC wide receiver Makai Lemon and the selection of Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers.
As it pertains to the Giants, New York must find a way to consistently threaten the Philadelphia Eagles. They haven’t been a contender for quite sometime, and challenging Philadelphia – and the Dallas Cowboys – will be the first major steps to become the New York Giants of old. Let’s take a look, though, at how Philadelphia’s off-season went early in 2026.
Key additions: WR Marquise Brown, QB Andy Dalton, edge Jonathan Greenard, WR Dontayvion Wicks, CB Riq Woolen, TE Johnny Mundt, RB Dameon Pierce, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, edge Arnold Ebitketie, CB Jonathan Jones, WR Elijah Moore
Round 7 Picks: Cole Wisniewski (S), Uar Bernard (DT), and Keyshawn James-Newby (EDGE)
With Brown likely on his way out, the additions of Lemon and Stowers give the Eagles two young, quality weapons who aren’t limited to working the middle of the field, though that may be where they’re best utilized. That creates an intriguing dynamic for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ passing attack moving forward. Elijah Moore will compete for a roster spot as well, and is best suited as a middle of the field operative.
Hurts has historically struggled targeting over the middle of the field. He’s now on his seventh offensive coordinator since entering the league in 2020, and Shawn Mannion will be tasked to try and design an offense that can allow Hurts to comfortably see and target the middle of the field – this is Hurts fifth consecutive season with a different OC.
Roseman did add other offensive weapons that will allow the Eagles’ offense to stay vertical. Marquise Brown and Dontavyion Wicks both join DeVonta Smith in the wide receiver room, giving Mannion an effective and explosive 11 personnel package that is diverse. However, the addition of Stowers gave the Eagles a dynamic mismatch 12 personnel package that will dictate to the defense.
Stowers isn’t a blocker, per se, but the combination of Dallas Goedert and Stowers – along with their current offensive line – does give the Eagles a more explosive 12 personnel pairing that can possibly get the play-action passing attack working. Plus, Grant Calcaterra is still on the roster at tight end, and the addition of Johnny Mundt will certainly help the rushing attack.
Andy Dalton is a solid addition as a veteran backup to compete with Tanner McKee behind Hurts, and Dameon Pierce will compete with Carson Steele on special teams for snaps. Big hulking Markel Bell was also selected out of Miami to replenish the offensive line depth; he will be a developmental piece behind Lane Johnson at right tackle, and this could be the future Hall of Famers final season.
The Eagles finished 19th in points scored last year, averaging just 22.3 points per game, after finishing seventh in 2024 (27.2 PPG) on their way to their second Super Bowl title. Last year, though, the Eagles finished 11-6 with another NFC East title, but it was their elite defense that only allowed 325 points against (fifth-best in the NFL) that lead the way.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is one of the best football minds in the sport, and he received plenty of personnel upgrades to replenish the loss of edge Jalen Phillips, safety Reed Blankenship, and linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Roseman traded two fourth round picks for Jonathan Greenard, Arnold Ebiketie, and signed Joe Tryon-Shoyinka to join Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt on the edge. Greenard is just 28 years old and is coming off a 47 pressure season on 270 pass rushing snaps with Brian Flores and the Vikings.
Greenard had 84 pressures in his first seasons with Flores and 53 pressures in 2023 with Houston. He was a massive acquisition by Roseman. Ebiketie returns to Pennsylvania after four solid seasons with the Falcon – he signed a one-year, $4.3 million contract that can reach $7.3 million in incentives.
The trenches were upgraded and filled with depth, with Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell still operating inside, but arguably the most significant upgrade was made at cornerback; Roseman signed Riq Woolen, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, to a one-year, $12-million contract. Woolen replaces Adoree’ Jackson, who was the biggest liability for Fangio’s defense last season. Veteran Jonathan Jones was signed as depth behind Cooper DeJean.
Philadelphia did not draft a defensive player until the seventh round when they selected three. The plan to hone in on young offensive developmental pieces through the draft to become a different type of offense was obvious, but I did also love the swing on Nigerian International Pathway Program player Uar Bernard.
Rosman found All-Pro left tackle, Jordan Mailata, in the seventh round of the 2018 draft, and he attempted a similar swing with Bernard, who possess 36-inch arms and a rare athletic profile in a muscular twitchy body. His foundational traits are uncommon, and he’s well worth the selection in the seventh round.
Final thoughts
The Eagles’ offseason is not over yet, and the Brown domino has yet to officially fall. Still, Philadelphia is in a transitional period — one that places their quarterback in a situation he has yet to consistently prove he can navigate effectively, particularly when it comes to maximizing two top draft assets who would be best utilized over the middle of the field.
Philadelphia is likely losing its best receiving threat, but the Eagles 11 personnel package is more flexible and their multi-tight-end sets are more explosive, while maintaining a physical nature with the addition of Mundt. The loss of Jeff Stoutland could have a deleterious effect on the offensive line, as a whole, and that can’t be understated.
New offensive line coach, Chris Kuper, has legendary shows to fill, but unlocking third round pick Markel Bell’s potential would make the Eagles’ 2026 draft that much more impactful. I do like what the Eagles did defensively, specifically getting Woolen to replace Adoree’ Jackson, but I wouldn’t say there were massive upgrades along the defense, for three quality players did walk out the door in free agency.
Overall, the Eagles had a solid offseason, but questions still remain offensively on the ceiling of the offense with the current personnel. It was a solid offseason, but I wouldn’t say it was spectacular.
Saturday at Paradise. The title on the line. And both sides heading into it battered and bruised. Here’s the full injury picture ahead of the biggest game of the season…It doesn’t get any bigger...
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Celtic v Hearts injury latest as major absentee list shapes the title deciderSaturday at Paradise. The title on the line. And both sides heading into it battered and bruised. Here’s the full injury picture ahead of the biggest game of the season…
It doesn’t get any bigger than this. Celtic host Hearts at Celtic Park on Saturday in a straight shootout for the Scottish Premiership title, with the Jambos arriving one point clear and knowing a draw or better hands them their first championship since 1960. We know what’s at stake. So does every single person inside that ground. The dramatic run-in that brought us to this point has been extraordinary – and now it all comes down to 90 minutes under the lights at Paradise.
Neither manager gets to walk into this one with a full squad, mind you. As reported by the Edinburgh News, across both squads there are 12 confirmed absentees and four players listed as doubtful heading into the weekend. It’s a patched-up title decider in the truest sense.
Celtic Injury News
Martin O’Neill has enough on his plate without the injury list that’s been building at Lennoxtown. O’Neill has already addressed the situation around both Tomas Cvancara and Kasper Schmeichel, and the news isn’t great on either front heading into the weekend. Schmeichel’s long-term absence remains the elephant in the room, but it’s Cvancara’s groin issue that’s the more immediate blow – his season now looks to be effectively over before the biggest match of it.
With senior bodies missing across the park, the door opens wider for fringe players to stake their claim. Martin O’Neill will need every available option and then some – and whoever steps in will be doing so in front of a Paradise crowd that will be absolutely bouncing from kick-off.
Hearts Injury News
Hearts haven’t escaped the treatment table either, and that’s worth keeping in mind when you see that one-point lead on the table. Craig Halkett is the most serious casualty – the defender has ruptured his Achilles and faces seven to nine months on the sidelines. He won’t be anywhere near Gorgie Road until well into next season, let alone Celtic Park on Saturday.
The other major doubt for Derek McInnes is veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who is training but only has an outside chance of making the squad. Gordon’s experience in big games is exactly what Hearts would want in a match like this – if he doesn’t make it, that’s a significant psychological blow for them, whatever way you cut it. McInnes has been leaning on younger squad members in recent weeks as a result of his depleted ranks, and Celtic will be hoping to exploit that lack of depth early.
Hearts dropped points twice in their last five league games, including an Edinburgh derby draw with Hibs, while we closed the gap with some serious form – including that 7–1 demolition of Dundee. The momentum is with us. The crowd will be with us. And now the injury absentees suggest Hearts are coming to Paradise with their squad stretched to the limit.
Ninety minutes. Everything to play for. Mon The Hoops.
Here is what NBA Draft experts think about Michigan F Morez Johnson Jr. following the NBA Combine:
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Neither Dusty May nor the Michigan fanbase have completely ruled out another season of Morez Johnson Jr., whose name remains in the NBA Draft. However, after testing incredibly well at the NBA Combine, and based on various outlets’ draft projections, it feels likely the Wolverines will need to look elsewhere for that final roster spot for the 2026-27 season.
Let’s take a quick look and see where Johnson is at on big boards and mock drafts:
Jonathan Wasserman had this to say on Johnson, whom he compared to the Detroit Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart:
“MorezJohnson could have only helped himself at the NBA combine. After measuring 6’9″ barefoot, 250 pounds with a 7’3.5″ wingspan, he surprised with 17-of-25 makes in the three-point star drill, got up for a 39.5″ max vertical and one of the top lane agility times.
NBA teams understand his offensive limitations, but they also value what he does well and believe that physicality, finishing, defensive versatility and motor are sure to translate.
He could wind up earning lottery consideration if he continues to shoot well during workouts.“
Kurt Helin, who has Johnson paired up with the Toronto Raptors at 19, said, “Morez helped his cause at the NBA Draft Combine, showcasing a combination of size (6’9″ with an 8’11” reach) and athleticism (a 39-inch vertical leap). He also shot well from 3 at the combine, something he didn’t get to show at Michigan. Johnson is a high-energy player who was one of the locker room leaders of a national champion; he’ll fit in with whatever is being built in Toronto.“
Mark Giannotto has the San Antonio Spurs selecting Johnson at 20. Along with the Oklahoma City Thunder, this feels like an ideal landing spot for Johnson (and anyone really) to develop his skills before transitioning into a more relied-upon player.
Additionally, 247Sports’ Zach Shaw had this to add regarding Johnson’s showing at the NBA Combine:
“A case could be made that Johnson elevated his draft stock more than any other player at the NBA Draft Combine. Scouts likely were impressed by Johnson’s toughness, physicality and aggression on both sides of the court before the combine thanks to his strong season at Michigan, but there aren’t too many players with wingspans greater than 7-foot-3, weighing more than 250 pounds and posting testing results like a 10.59-second lane agility time, a 39-inch vertical leap and 17 of 25 3-pointers. Most of the players who do check those boxes aren’t on rookie contracts, but max ones.”
You could argue that without having a lottery guarantee, Johnson could benefit from another year with May and turn into a surefire lottery selection next summer. But even if he expanded his offensive repertoire and continued to wreak havoc on the glass and the defensive end, he will probably never fit the mold of a No. 1 scorer or upper-echelon draft prospect.
Additionally, consistently landing in the Top 20 of these mocks should make this a relatively easy decision for Johnson and his camp. The overwhelming odds are this point are that Johnson will stay in the draft and leave college basketball on top of the mountain as a national champion.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted he remains under contract despite increasing belief around the club that he will leave this summer.The Catalan will be leading his side against Bourn...
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I have one more year on my contract, insists Pep Guardiola despite Manchester City exit reports
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has insisted he remains under contract despite increasing belief around the club that he will leave this summer.
The Catalan will be leading his side against Bournemouth and Andoni Iraola on Tuesday night as they look to keep the title race alive till the final day of the season.
Arsenal extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points with a win over Burnley on Monday night and nothing less than three points will do for Manchester City on the south coast.
Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City at the end of 2025/26 season
Guardiola could be in charge of his final away fixture as City manager at the Vitality Stadium following a flurry of reports in the English press on Monday night that the 55-year-old has decided to bring the curtain down on his tie in England’s north-west.
What is the latest on Pep’s Man City future?
It was reported heavily late on Monday night that Guardiola has decided against seeing out the final year of his Manchester City deal, owing to a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the club this summer.
The Catalan penned a two-and-a-half year deal at the Etihad Stadium in November 2024 to oversee a significant rebuild in the first-team squad, winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup double this term as City remain at a nascent stage of that revamp orchestrated by sporting director Hugo Viana.
There remained hope within the Manchester City fanbase that Guardiola could yet make a u-turn and decide to finish his contract, with reports over the weekend citing that the 55-year-old had fallen in love with his squad in their impressive second half of the season.
However, it is now widely expected that a formal announcement is in the offing to confirm Guardiola’s decision to step down as Manchester City manager after Sunday’s home Premier League clash against Aston Villa.
What has Pep said on his Man City future ahead of Bournemouth?
Speaking in a press conference ahead of Tuesday night’s must-win meeting with Bournemouth, Guardiola was asked what sort of farewell he would like from the club if he knew he were leaving.
Manchester City choose Pep Guardiola replacement with agreement in place
Sighing in frustration at the monotonous nature of a question he has regularly been asked in press conferences since the New Year, the Manchester City manager said: “Next. Allez! I said many times, I have one more year.”
However, Guardiola is likely to have maintained publicly that he is under contract to prevent drawing attention to his own future amid Manchester City’s pursuit of a domestic treble in the final weeks of the season.
City’s title race fate is not in their own hands however, and the Blues will need a favour from Crystal Palace and outgoing Eagles boss Oliver Glasner on Sunday to stand a chance of giving Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Guardiola a title winning send-off at the Etihad Stadium.
FOXBOROUGH, MA - MAY 24: Bryce Ford (24) of Maryland Terrapins in action during the 2025 NCAA Div I Men's Lacrosse Semifinal match between Syracuse Orange and Maryland Terrapins on May 24, 2025, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Joey Spallina did not mince words when he was asked to compare how it felt after getting Syracuse to their second straight Final Four, versus one year ago after getting the Orange back to the Final Four for the first time in 12 years.
“I think we were just, we were fat and happy last year, to be honest. And I feel like there’s just a lot on the bone that’s still there”.
Sitting just a few feet down the table was Billy Dwan, who gently nodded his head up and down while staring out into space when he heard Joey say those words.
There was an agreement between two of ‘Cuse’s senior captains. Last year, they were happy just to make it to the Final Four, to get SU back to the season’s final weekend for the first time in what felt like ages. They had conquered another step in their journey up the ladder, and they felt good about it. ‘Fat and happy’ as Joey put it.
That part of the journey did not end well, as Maryland went on an 8-0 first-half run and quickly turned their first Championship Weekend appearance in a long time into a laugher. Billy summed it up nicely when it was his turn to answer that same question on Saturday:
“I think last year, we were so fired up to get to Championship Weekend, I think when we got there we kind of laid an egg. I think this year, obviously, with the experience that we have from last year…I’m just mostly fired up to go to practice on Monday with the boys”.
"We were fat and happy last year, to be honest."
"I think last year, we were fired up to get to Championship Weekend, when we got there we laid an egg."
Joey Spallina and Billy Dwan III reflect on the difference for Syracuse men's lacrosse between this year and last year 🍊🥍 pic.twitter.com/yyTkojPcUo
This time, Billy confirmed it with more than just a nod. They were so excited just to get there in the first place, that when the moment came, it kind of overwhelmed them and they ‘laid an egg’ against a much more experienced opponent.
But he also alluded to the experience they gained from being there last year, and how it can serve them well in their second go-round.
It’s a much different scenario in 2026. It’s their second trip in as many years. They now have that initial experience with the sport’s biggest stage under their belts. They have the largest and best senior class in the country leading the way in what is their final week playing for Syracuse, and they’re eager to put on a better showing than last year’s short-lived appearance.
It was interesting to hear and see Joey and Billy be so open about their assessment of last year’s mentality, especially given what it was. But I think it’s a sign of maturity that they’re able to be so honest in their self-reflection about how they handled getting to the Final Four for the first time. And it’s also a sign that they feel they’re approaching it differently one year later.
There’s no longer a feeling of contentment with just getting there. Their singular, stated goal of a national championship is there for someone to take in a wide open season and a wide open final weekend.
It will certainly not be easy, starting with a Notre Dame team that beat them by five goals in the regular season. But self-reflection is always a great place to start, and based on what their captains had to say on Saturday, it seems like a new mindset is carrying ’Cuse into their second consecutive Final Four appearance.
Jalen Hurts’ absence from AJ Brown’s wedding has added another layer to an already tense Philadelphia Eagles offseason. Brown’s future in Philadelphia has been surrounded by trade speculation, and a personal event involving his longtime friend and quarterback was always going to draw attention.
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Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
Jalen Hurts’ absence from AJ Brown’s wedding has added another layer to an already tense Philadelphia Eagles offseason.
Brown’s future in Philadelphia has been surrounded by trade speculation, and a personal event involving his longtime friend and quarterback was always going to draw attention.
The absence does not prove a rift by itself, but it gives Eagles fans another detail to weigh while Brown’s name continues to circulate in trade rumors.
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty ImagesJalen Hurts misses AJ Brown’s wedding amid questions
TMZ reported that Hurts was not present when Brown married Kelsey Riley at a beachside ceremony in California.
TMZ wrote, “Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts was NOT at the wedding of his longtime friend and current NFL teammate AJ Brown.”
“Despite knowing each other for years and playing on the same team … we’re told Jalen didn’t make the lavish beachside ceremony. However, it’s unclear if he was invited,” the report added.
The uncertainty around whether Hurts was invited keeps the story from being a clean conclusion, but the optics are still difficult to ignore. Brown’s wedding came during an offseason in which his Eagles future has already looked less secure than usual.
Brown has been linked to trade speculation for months, with reports around possible post-June movement, contract mechanics, and outside interest keeping the story alive.
AJ Brown trade rumors make Jalen Hurts absence louder
The speculation around Brown’s Eagles future made Hurts’ absence feel more significant than a normal offseason scheduling detail
“Jalen’s absence is interesting on a number of levels. He’s known AJ since high school and is the godfather to AJ’s daughter, Jersee,” TMZ continued.
“Jalen tried to recruit AJ to Alabama to play together in college, and pushed hard for the Eagles to acquire him a trade. But after 4 years together in Philly, there are rumors of a rift,” the report concluded.
Publicly, both players have previously downplayed tension and framed any issues as competitive frustration inside a demanding offense. Teammates have also pushed back on the idea that the relationship is broken beyond repair.
The problem is that Brown’s trade rumors have changed how every detail is read. When a quarterback misses a major life event for a receiver he once helped recruit to his NFL team, speculation is inevitable.
Philadelphia can still keep Brown and quiet the noise quickly. Until his future is settled, Hurts’ absence will only feed the feeling that something has shifted.
NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has stated repeatedly that he intends to retire from full-time Cup Series racing at the end […]
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NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin has stated repeatedly that he intends to retire from full-time Cup Series racing at the end of the 2027 season. While there’s still some doubt about him following through on that, it does appear that Joe Gibbs Racing has a succession plan in place.
Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports wrote that O’Reilly Series driver Brent Crews is the “focus on he development driver side” to eventually replace Hamlin in the No. 11 car whenever it happens.
Hamlin, who is coming off a million-dollar win at the NASCAR All-Star Race, easily remains one of the best drivers in the sport. In 2026, he sits atop the Cup Series in laps led (624), and his average finishing position (9.92) is even better than last season, when he won six races.
It’s not as if this is a situation like Michael McDowell or Kyle Busch, where wins have become few and far between. Hamlin is a championship contender who has a legitimate shot at winning at every oval track on the Cup Series circuit each week.
That’s why there’s been plenty of skepticism about whether Hamlin will truly walk away when his contract expires. Whether it happens in 2027 or any subsequent year, JGR seems to have a tentative plan in place.
Crews, who just turned 18 years old in March, has been one of the best drivers in the O’Reilly Series this season. He’s finished inside the top 10 in seven of the 10 races he’s run and placed inside the top five in four races.
Widely regarded as one of the top prospects in NASCAR, with some even viewing him as a better talent than Connor Zilisch, a Cup Series ride is inevitable. Whenever Hamlin decides to walk away, Crews seems ready to step in behind the wheel of the No. 11.
Eberl’s hopeful Neuer can play for FC Bayern in the Pokal final
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MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 16: Manuel Neuer of FC Bayern München looks on during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena on May 16, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In what had initially looked to be a just a gesture of recognition from Vincent Kompany for keeper Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich later confirmed that the keeper’s sub in the second half of the 5-1 win over FC Köln was due to injury as he was replaced by Jonas Urbig. It was later revealed that Neuer had a slight muscular problem in his calf and that he would be “taking it easy” for the time being, putting question marks next to his involvement in this weekend’s DFB-Pokal final against VfB Stuttgart in Berlin. Additionally, Julian Nagelsmann has also said he wants to bring Neuer to the World Cup with Germany, adding more weight to the most recent injury concern.
During Bayern’s title celebrations in Marienplatz, Neuer himself had said his most recent injury was nothing serious, but there’s still no confirmation that he will, in fact, be fit on time for the cup final on Saturday and likewise the World Cup next month. Still, there has been no official confirmation from Bayern or Kompany as far as what Neuer’s status is for the Pokal final at the Olympiastadion.
Despite a level of uncertainty surrounding Neuer’s current status, board member for sport Max Eberl is remaining hopeful that the veteran keeper will be good to go for Saturday afternoon. “This minor injury is a pity, because the cup final is this week. That’s what matters for us right now. We’re hoping he’ll be in goal on Saturday,” Eberl stressed over the weekend (via @iMiaSanMia).
As per a recent update from Bild, Neuer’s injury does not include anything structural with a strain or tear, which is promising in terms of nothing serious or further risk of aggravation, but that’s been the case for a few months now. It will be a tight window for Neuer, especially if he plans on accepting Nagelsmann’s offer to join the national team at the World Cup this summer. Urbig will be more than ready to stand in for Neuer if he’s not able to go for the Pokal final vs. Stuttgart, but it’s still not impossible for Neuer to play in the final and the World Cup, so long as there aren’t any more injury setbacks.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert could be among the league’s top MVP candidates.
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers in action during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert is entering his seventh season with the team and it could be his best one yet.
Herbert has made it to the playoffs in three of the last four years, but has not pulled out a win quite yet. This could be the year where that drought changes. The Chargers have made some changes around Herbert that could lead to him achieving some playoff success soon. In order for the Chargers to get there, Herbert and the team will need to perform better in the regular season.
“Herbert posted Pro Bowl numbers in a less-than-ideal situation. He’ll be able to raise his level of play with a healthy group,” Moton wrote.
“The two-time Pro Bowl signal-caller will also benefit from a change at offensive coordinator. The Chargers hired play-caller Mike McDaniel, who fielded the No. 1 passing offense for the 2023 season with Tua Tagovailoa under center during his time as Miami Dolphins head coach.
“McDaniel can expand his playbook with Herbert, who’s more mobile and has a stronger arm than Tagovailoa. His play-calling could help the Chargers’ star quarterback reach an MVP level.”
The Chargers have the tools to be elite in the NFL. Now they just need someone who can sharpen those tools and use them correctly. If McDaniel can do that, Herbert will benefit and the Chargers can achieve their goals.
BFTB community, does Herbert have what it takes to win MVP? Who is his biggest competition for the award? Let us know in the comments section below.
RKC Waalwijk are set to sign former Hull City and QPR defender Jordy de Wijs on a free transfer. The defender is leaving Fortuna Düsseldorf following their shock relegation from Bundesliga 2 at the w...
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Former Hull City and QPR defender set for a return to Dutch football
RKC Waalwijk are set to sign former Hull City and QPR defender Jordy de Wijs on a free transfer. The defender is leaving Fortuna Düsseldorf following their shock relegation from Bundesliga 2 at the weekend. The 31-year-old Dutch defender was set to be out of contract in the summer and, having rarely featured for Fortuna this season, it was always likely that he would be leaving Germany. De Wijs joined Fortuna back in 2022 from QPR and put in some decent performances before injuries and head coaching preferences saw him lose his spot.
Waalwijk are getting an experienced defender back at the club, with de Wijs having been part of the youth set up before leaving to join PSV. Prior to joining Hull City in 2018, de Wijs played for the PSV first team on five occasions, with two loan spells at Excelsior. De Wijs spent two seasons with Hull City, playing over 70 games for the side. He then joined QPR during the 2020/2021 season, going on to play 22 games for the London club before joining Fortuna.
The PGA Tour heads to TPC Craig Ranch for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson this week. Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka are the star attractions in the field in McKinney, Texas.
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Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The PGA Tour heads to TPC Craig Ranch for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson this week.
Scottie Scheffler, Jordan Spieth and Brooks Koepka are the star attractions in the field in McKinney, Texas.
Scheffler won the CJ Cup Byron Nelson by nine strokes in 2025, after finishing on 31-under par for the tournament.
It’s fair to say that Scheffler will be desperate to defend the CJ Cup Byron Nelson title that he won last year, having won only once so far on the PGA Tour in 2026.
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
However, he obviously won’t have things all his own way, with Koepka, Spieth and Si Woo Kim in the field as well.
That said, one major champion who he was due to come up against will now not be in attendance at TPC Craig Ranch.
Major champion withdraws from CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Aaron Rai has formally withdrawn from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
That’s no surprise, given the energy that he would have expended at Aronimink last week during the PGA Championship.
However, he clearly now needs time to recover both physically and mentally.
Rai’s withdrawal was confirmed by the PGA Tour on Monday and that certainly didn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
Aaron Rai’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson replacement named
With Rai having withdrawn, another player has been given the chance to shine in Texas this week.
S.Y. Noh will replace the newly-crowned PGA champion at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
The 34-year-old has played 244 PGA Tour events. He has one win to his name and has made 147 cuts.
He reigned supreme at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans way back in 2014 when the tournament was an individual event.
Interestingly, Noh’s lowest round on the PGA Tour actually came at TPC Craig Ranch in 2023 when he posted a 60 on day one.
He’ll be hoping that his entry into the CJ Cup Byron Nelson after Aaron Rai’s withdrawal provides him with the spark he needs to rediscover his best form.
This week will be S.Y. Noh’s first start of 2026, so it will be a very big opportunity for him to turn things around.
Just two months ago, when head coach Tim Miles stood at the post game media table in Las Vegas after the Spartan’s Mountain West tournament loss to New Mexico, his message wasn’t just about the game or the hard-luck season. It was about the sport itself. After watching his undermanned Spartans battle for a half […]
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AI-generated San Jose State basketball facilities based on the MWCConnection article, “Knowing the cost of keeping up - a $4M commitment is the first real answer for SJSU basketball”
Just two months ago, when head coach Tim Miles stood at the post game media table in Las Vegas after the Spartan’s Mountain West tournament loss to New Mexico, his message wasn’t just about the game or the hard-luck season.
It was about the sport itself.
After watching his undermanned Spartans battle for a half before the Lobo’s roster depth, size and resources ultimately asserted themselves, Miles distilled San Jose State’s challenge with unusual bluntness.
“With NIL and the portal, it’s like unrestricted free agency every year,” Miles said, before delivering the harder truth: San Jose State was operating near the bottom of the Mountain West financially.
“It’s hard to compete unless we can get up into the top third of the league,” said Miles at the Thomas & Mack Center back in March.
That wasn’t frustration. That was framing.
In hindsight, it was also foreshadowing.
Because while outsiders were watching a gritty season end, Miles had clearly been working behind the scenes on the bigger game of donor cultivation, institutional pressure and making the case that modern college basketball requires far more than coaching acumen and culture. It requires infrastructure. It requires retention capital. It requires visible ambition.
So when SJSU announced its transformational $4 million philanthropic commitment weeks later, it felt less like surprise and more like strategic validation.
Miles had already told you what “modern reality” was.
Now the university is finally trying to respond to it.
Internally, the clearest expectation is player retention.
In today’s ecosystem, finding overlooked talent is only half the battle; keeping that talent is the real test, of course.
SJSU’s biggest basketball problem has not simply been roster construction, but roster vulnerability.
Strong seasons can quickly become recruiting brochures for wealthier programs. This is why the new financial commitment matters beyond symbolism. It creates at least a fighting chance to stabilize rosters, improve NIL positioning and reduce the annual fear of becoming a developmental stop for someone else’s contender.
We all know this. But externally, this gift may be judged even more visibly.
Facilities are no longer cosmetic. They are recruiting arguments.
In the vibrant AI-generated image created for this article, the prompt was to create an image that is not just considering high-cost architecture. It needs to mainly consider the cost-effectivness of creating a true vibe.
One of compression, darkness, lighting, student concentration and thus, identity.
For years, Provident Credit Union Event Center has too often felt like a functional venue in a conference where atmosphere can become identity. The Pit at New Mexico overwhelms. Viejas Arena in San Diego weaponizes pressure. And Grand Canyon built spectacle into a strategic advantage.
San Jose State does not need to replicate all that overnight, but it does need to evolve from merely serviceable to distinctly aspirational.
That means tangible upgrades from court design, lighting, sound, premium spaces, student-section intentionality and game-night production. It must all become part of this next chapter. Recruits need to feel progression. Fans need to see proof. Silicon Valley, perhaps more than any market, responds when vision becomes visible.
And that is where this gift becomes both opportunity and obligation.
Because $4 million is meaningful, but it is not self-sustaining.
The next real financial step is ecosystem building: Silicon Valley corporate sponsorships, recurring donor pipelines, alumni collectives, premium seating reinvestment and broader basketball-specific fundraising that turns one landmark donation into an ongoing architecture.
In all, Miles’ post-game New Mexico comments were also about the price of relevance.
Now San Jose State has made its first major and most signifcant investment.
The next questions come when this true competitive infrastructure starts to take hold and the Spartans are finally in the conversation for the long-haul.
Patrick Vieira has identified several players from the current Arsenal squad whom he believes would have been good enough to start for the famous Invincibles side that won the Premier League title in ...
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Patrick Vieira names the current Arsenal team players who can make the invincibles
Patrick Vieira has identified several players from the current Arsenal squad whom he believes would have been good enough to start for the famous Invincibles side that won the Premier League title in 2004.
That Arsenal team completed the league campaign without suffering a single defeat and remains one of the most celebrated sides in English football history. Since that remarkable achievement, the Gunners have not managed to win another Premier League title.
Vieira Compares Current Arsenal Team
That long wait could finally come to an end this weekend if Arsenal defeat Crystal Palace and secure the championship. The performances of Mikel Arteta’s players this season have clearly impressed Vieira, who believes several members of the current squad would have been capable of featuring in the legendary side.
The former Arsenal captain praised several players across different positions, highlighting both their quality and their importance to the team’s success this season.
As reported by the Metro, Vieira selected a combination of current and former Arsenal stars when discussing who would make his combined team.
He said:
‘I think [David] Raya in goal for [Jens] Lehmann.
‘[Jurrien] Timber at right-back, I quite like him, he can get in the team as well. [Kolo] Toure and [Sol] Campbell, I will change one of the two, I will keep Campbell and change Toure for Gabriel.
‘Of course Ashley Cole, we’re not touching Ashley. [Bukayo] Saka can get in the team on the right hand side over Freddie Ljungberg.
‘Up front we’re not touching Thierry [Henry] and Dennis [Bergkamp]. Declan Rice for Gilberto and keep Robert Pires on the left.’
Invincibles (Getty Images)
Arsenal Still Focused on Title
Vieira’s comments underline how highly the current Arsenal squad is being regarded following an impressive campaign that has placed them on the verge of winning the league title.
Several players have produced performances strong enough to earn comparisons with some of the finest footballers in the club’s history, which reflects the progress Arsenal have made under Arteta.
However, despite the praise and growing excitement around the team, Arsenal still have work to do before they can officially call themselves Premier League champions.
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Herb Dean stands by his call to give Adriano Moraes a submission win at MVP MMA 1
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 16: Adriano Moraes celebrates his technical submission against Phumi Nkuta in their catchweight bout during the preliminary fights of Netflix's Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano at Intuit Dome on May 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix) | Getty Images for Netflix
Herb Dean stands by his decision to award Adriano Moraes a submission win over Phumi Nkuta.
This past Saturday, Moraes and Nkuta fought in a preliminary bout at the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight card in Inglewood, Calif. At the end of the third round, Moraes locked up a rear-naked choke on Nkuta. Herb Dean, who was refereeing the fight, did not stop the bout at that moment, allowing time to expire before pulling Moraes off Nkuta, who immediately slumped to the floor unconscious. Dean and the ringside officials then used instant replay to determine that Nkuta was unconscious before the bell, awarding Moraes a controversial win.
But Dean is positive it’s the right call.
“I’m certain that the right decision was made,” Dean told Yahoo Sports. “What I saw, at the end, he got caught in a rear-naked choke. He was palm-to-palm grip. I believe it was after the clapper, the 10-second clapper, but it was right at the end. So, he was giving it everything he’s got, because here’s the opportunity.
“When I stopped the match, there was a second — not a second, there was a fraction of a second where he held onto the choke. And because of that … I wasn’t exactly sure. I wanted to make sure I saw what happened and when things happened, so I went and looked at a replay.”
Dean then watched the replay again and spoke through exactly what happened and what he was thinking at the time.
“I’m thinking about the bell, that the bell’s going to sound, and I’m going to have to fight hands,” Dean said. “So, my focus — usually in a situation like that, where I’m thinking somebody may go out for a rear-naked choke, I have a bit of a wider focus. I want to see the body, because the hands and often the legs are what’s going to give you your clue that someone’s out, whereas looking at their face won’t. But then, as it’s time for me to stop the fight, I’m looking at his hands, because I’m trying to figure out which grips he has and what I might have to fight if he’s not letting go instantly.
“So, that’s why my focus kind of shifted toward the hands. I saw what his body did, but I wasn’t focused there, and since I had time, I wanted to make sure I got everything right, and wanted to know when things happened, especially in relationship to the bell. I went out to look at the replay, and I’m definitely sure that he went unconscious before the bell, right, like a fraction of a second before the bell. Then I went and stopped the fight. He grabbed for a fraction of a second, let go, and then we went and had the time to look at things.”
Ultimately, the whole affair was made even more difficult to judge because Moraes did not immediately let go of the choke at the conclusion of the fight. Even after Dean intervened following the final horn, Moraes continued to choke for a moment, which Dean acknowledged made everything murkier and could have led to a different way of handling things.
“That made it a little bit more complicated, just for the timing of it,” Dean said of Moraes holding the choke. “I don’t think that at that point in time it was egregious enough for me to disqualify him. Because each fight is the most important fight of your career, and you have seconds to lock something in. Who knows where he went. He’s fighting for everything, for his whole career, and he’s giving it everything he’s got. Sometimes it takes a second for someone to realize it’s over. …
“I spoke to Andy [Foster, Executive Director of the California State Athletic Commission] about it afterwards, and I spoke to John [McCarthy, fellow referee]. There were a lot of different options. One option was just because he did hold just a fraction of a second, some thought would have been, ‘Hey, you held a fraction of a second, you made things a little muddy, now it’s your fault, so I’ll just go to the scorecards.’ But I want to get the right result, and I’m certain that we got it.”
Nkuta is less certain. Shortly after the fight, Nkuta’s team revealed their intent to file an appeal with the athletic commission, saying Nkuta was not out, and the bout should have been allowed to go to the scorecards. That’s significant because, per the scorecards, had the fight not been stopped, Nkuta would have won a decision. And though he doesn’t doubt his call on the night, Dean still supports Nkuta’s right to pursue the legal avenues available to him.
“I think if they feel they should file an appeal, they should,” Dean said. “It’s their right to do it. It’s a very serious thing, and people should fight for everything they can. If they feel that’s the right thing to do. I’m not sure what I’m going to do in this situation. I’ll just wait for the commission to tell me what they want from me, if they need anything.”
Where is your favorite high school softball team going to play in the upcoming state tournament? Find out here:
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The road to Ivy Hill Park, site of the state softball championships, begins on Tuesday, May 26.
The NJSIAA released its brackets for the upcoming state tournament. First-round action will begin on Tuesday and
Sectional finals are slated for and June 4 (Public) and June 5 (Non-Public) . State finals will be played on June 10 (Non-Public and June 12 (Public).
In case there are any adjustments to be made, the brackets are not official until noon on June 20.
South Jersey Group 4
(16) Atlantic County Tech at (1) Kingsway; (9) Williamstown at (8) Cherry Hill East; (12) Millville at (5) Rancocas Valley; (13) Lenape at (4) Southern; (14) Washington Township at (3) Vineland; (11) Egg Harbor Township at (6) Gloucester County Tech; (10) Howell at (7) Central Regional; (15) Toms River North at (2) Cherokee.
South Jersey Group 3
(16) Cherry Hill West at (1) Ocean City; (9) Pinelands at (8) Timber Creek; (12) Mainland at (5) Delsea; (13) Cumberland at (4) Seneca; (14) Shawnee at (3) Clearview; (11) Absegami at (6) Toms River East; (10) Toms River South at (7) Triton; (15) Deptford at (2) Hammonton.
South Jersey Group 2
(16) Haddonfield at (1) Gloucester; (9) Oakcrest at (8) Middle Township; (12) Collingswood at (5) West Deptford; (13) Manchester Township at (4) Cedar Creek; (14) Lower Cape May at (3) Haddon Heights; (11) Salem Tech at (6) Cinnaminson; (10) Sterling at (7) Medford Tech; (16) Overbrook at (2) Barnegat.
South Jersey Group 1
(16) Paulsboro at (1) Audubon; (9) Riverside at (8) Maple Shade; (12) Wildwood at (5) Pennsville; (13) Haddon Township at (4) Pitman; (14) Glassboro at (3) Palmyra; (11) Cape May Tech at (6) Gateway; (10) Schalick at (7) Woodstown; (15) Burlington City at (2) Buena.
South Jersey Non-Public A
(9) St. Rose at (8) Paul VI, winner to play (1) Donovan Catholic; (5) St. Thomas Aquinas at (4) Notre Dame; (6) Union Catholic at (3) Red Bank Catholic; (10) Our Lady of Mercy at (7) Immaculata, winner to play at (2) St. John Vianney.
South Jersey Non-Public B
(9) Wildwood Catholic at (8) Bishop Eustace, winner to play (1) St. Joseph Academy; (5) Gloucester Catholic at (4) Holy Cross; (6) Doane Academy at (3) Holy Spirit; (7) Timothy Christian at (2) Calvary Christian (Old Bridge).
Central Jersey Group 1
(16) Manville at (1) Shore; (9) Florence at (8) South Amboy; (12) Roselle Park at (5) New Egypt; (13) Keansburg a (4) Highland Park; (14) Henry Hudson at (3) South Hunterdon; (11) Point Pleasant Beach at (6) Middlesex; (10) Somerset Tech at (7) Bound Brook; (15) Keyport at (2) Dunellon.
Central Jersey Group 2
(9) Metuchen at (8) South River, winner at (1) Allentown; (12) Ocean Township at (5) Raritan; (13) Point Pleasant Boro at (4) Delaware Valley; (14) Manasquan at (3) Delran; (11) Bordentown at (6) Holmdel; (10) Spotswood at (7) Robbinsville; (15) Wall at (2) Johnson.
Central Jersey Group 3
(16) Pemberton at (1) Steinert; (9) Hopewell Valley at (8) Lawrence; (12) Ewing at (5) Freehold Borough; (13) Westampton Tech at (4) Colts Neck; (14) Moorestown at (3) Middletown South; (11) Brick Township at (6) Middletown North; (10) Brick Memorial at (7) Matawan; (15) Burlington Township at (2) Northern Burlington.
Tom McGurk is a regional sports editor for the Courier-Post, The Daily Journal and Burlington County Times, covering South Jersey sports for over 35 years. If you have a sports story that needs to be told, contact him by email at tmcgurk@usatodayco.com. Follow him on Twitter at @McGurkSports. Help support local journalism with a digital subscription.
There indeed has been magic in Mitch Marner’s play as he leads the Vegas Golden Knights into their Western Conference final series at Colorado.
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LAS VEGAS — Mitch Marner isn’t about to start bragging, to express any kind of feelings of vindication in proving wrong those who questioned and even doubted whether he could deliver at this time of year.
There indeed has been magic in Marner’s play as he leads the Vegas Golden Knights into their Western Conference final series that opens at Colorado.
His 18 points led all NHL skaters through Sunday and includes possibly the goal of the year in a 5-1 close-out victory at Anaheim.
This production is what his hometown Maple Leafs expected when Toronto drafted him fourth overall in 2015. While Marner became one of the NHL’s top play-making forwards, he took the brunt of criticism for the Leafs failing to advance beyond the second round.
“I don’t care what anyone says,” Marner said. “I’ve been in the league a long time now, so I’ll focus on what I can control.”
That includes leading the Golden Knights to the NHL’s final four.
“I think the media in Toronto is pretty big and they put a lot of pressure on the players,” Golden Knights wing Ivan Barbashev said. “He’s showing completely different things over here. He’s been scoring and making a lot of plays, so hopefully he stays the same way.”
Vegas never has been afraid to chase big names and it has a locker room full of such players. Acquiring Marner in a sign-and-trade was the splash deal of last year’s offseason, reaching an agreement on an eight-year, $96 million contract.
This postseason is why the Golden Knights pursued him. They followed their 2023 Stanley Cup title team by getting bounced in the first round the following year and the second round last season.
Marner produced two goals and an assist in Game 6 of the opening series to eliminate Utah 5-1. He had a hat trick and an assist to take back home-ice advantage in Game 3 of Round 2 at Anaheim, and ended that series by setting the tone with a goal 1:02 into the Game 6 clincher that few players on the planet could execute.
William Karlsson began by hitting Marner in stride with a perfect stretch pass to spring the breakaway. But with Jackson LaCombe staying with Marner, he fought off the Ducks defenseman, turned his back to the goal and shot the puck between his legs to put Vegas ahead 1-0.
“His IQ is on a different level,” Barbashev said. “He plays defensively and is a 200(-foot) player. He does it all.”
John Tortorella, who became the Golden Knights coach with eight games left in the regular season, sees the same thing about Marner.
“When you’re with him every day, you can see his habits,” Tortorella said. “You can see the little things he does in the game. Other people see his goals and assists, maybe like the goal he scored the other night. I look at the small things. A lot of people don’t realize how the small things turn to bigger things.”
Tortorella, like Bruce Cassidy before him, hasn’t been afraid to use Marner in a number of ways, be it at center or wing, the first line or the second.
When the Golden Knights ran a five-forward power play, Marner was the quarterback at the top. Now with defenseman Shea Theodore in that spot with the top unit, the Golden Knights have deployed Marner down lower to better use his ability to score or help someone else find the back of the net.
“There’s even games where the other team carries the game, and they come out on top because of their patience and play-making ability, and Marner has a lot to do with that,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “Power play, short-handed, five-on-five, he plays all situations and is dangerous in all of them.”
It’s not that Marner didn’t play at a high level in Toronto. He scored a career-high 102 points in the 2024-25 season, one of four times he topped 90.
He also produced 13 points in 13 playoff games last year and 14 points in 11 postseason games two years earlier.
But the Maple Leafs as a team didn’t play up to expectations, and thus the deal to send Marner to Vegas. Now the Golden Knights are a series away from potentially competing in their third Stanley Cup Final in their nine years in the league, and the Maple Leafs failed to reach the playoffs but won the draft lottery.
Maybe there’s another Marner in their future.
“I’ve always believed I’m a good player,” Marner said. “I’m not thinking of anything, just go out there and try to play hockey.”
Cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran is standing by his decision to call off Nate Diaz‘s fight against Mike Perry, telling MMA […]
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Amanda Westcott
Cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran is standing by his decision to call off Nate Diaz‘s fight against Mike Perry, telling MMA Junkie Radio that his fighter’s safety left him no other choice.
Duran was brought in specifically to work Diaz’s corner at the event, present solely at Diaz’s request. When the fight deteriorated, he made the call to intervene and advise the referee to stop the bout.
Diaz was cut in multiple spots during the fight, with a gash on the right side of his forehead drawing significant blood that Duran could not stop. Diaz also broke a finger during the bout and later told Duran he could not see due to the bleeding. Diaz finished the night with 15 staples and 20 stitches combined.
‘Stitch’ Duran on Nate Diaz stoppage: ‘He was beat up’IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectCredit: Esther Lin / Most Valuable Promotions
“He was beat up,” Duran told MMA Junkie Radio. “Mike was just too strong, too aggressive.” Duran said he told the referee Diaz was not going back out, despite pushback from the official to continue.
The crowd at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. responded with boos, and criticism followed on social media. Duran said neither changed his view. The reassurance he needed came from Diaz directly. Duran said Diaz thanked him after the fight and embraced him when they said their goodbyes, with Diaz’s father also present to offer thanks. Duran said Diaz acknowledged he could not see, which he described as the deciding factor.
“My job is to protect the fighter,” Duran said. “That’s exactly what I did with Nate.”
The stoppage drew additional attention, given the night’s co-main event, a bout between Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano on Netflix, also ended in a stoppage between rounds two and three. Duran said he has since received praise from within the combat sports industry, including a message from boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera.
“I got a lot of compliments from guys within the industry,” Duran said. “They understand.”
Ole Miss Rebels football coach Pete Golding has what CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford deems a team with an open championship window in 2026, given the return of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy.
Crawford believes there are still issues elsewhere, though, including the loss of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. to the LSU Tigers during Lane Kiffin’s hostile raid of the Rebels. In fact, Crawford fully put the pressure on Ole Miss’s leadership – Golding, because the “volatility” is high within the program relative to other SEC contenders, and Chambliss, because he has to make the new receiving corps work.
“Roster turnover may finally catch up to the Rebels in several critical areas, but Pete Golding's portal strategy deserves the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. That's why Ole Miss lands at No. 4 here as the final projected SEC playoff team. That said, volatility feels more likely in Oxford than at the three programs ahead of the Rebels exiting spring. Watch the wide receiver replacements closely, including Horatio Fields, Darrell Gill Jr. and Johntay Cook. Ole Miss must replace significant production there,” Crawford wrote.
Crawford had the University of Mississippi at No. 4 in his SEC post-spring rankings, behind the Tigers at No. 3, the Georgia Bulldogs at No. 2, and the Texas Longhorns at No. 1 overall.
Ole Miss has a one-year window to keep hope alive in Oxford
You could see the headlines now if Golding doesn’t maintain a high standard from last season with many of the team’s core components, not just with offensive skill-position players, either.
Kiffin and his assistants will be deemed the reason the Rebels were ever in a position to make the CFP and advance to within one game of the championship game. Weis will especially get credit if Chambliss and Co. don’t touch their No. 2 rank in the FBS in total offense (489.7 yards per game) and No. 3 rank in the SEC for scoring offense (36.9 points per game). Golding will be seen as a lame duck who can’t do much with the resources gathered and earned by his predecessor.
There’s a lot of hope riding on what Ole Miss can accomplish this season. That urgency could either fuel something great or weigh down the locker room as it chases the ghosts of Kiffin’s past glory in Oxford.
Mizzou has hired Jason Crowe Sr., Zach Reynolds, Jimmie Foster and Tavaras Hardy as assistant coaches, according to a news release from the program Tuesday, May 19.
Crowe and Reynold have direct ties to two of Mizzou’s incoming five-star freshmen, while Hardy is the former head coach of Loyola (Md.) and Foster has been a successful longtime college assistant at the mid-major ranks.
In the same release, the Tigers announced that returning assistant Ryan Sharbaugh will join Kyle Smithpeters as an associate head coach next season, and David ‘Dickey’ Nutt will return to his role as an assistant to the head coach after one season as an on-court assistant.
Missouri is returning Matt Cline as an assistant coach for next season, while one-year assistant Steve Wright left the program earlier this offseason to become an assistant at Memphis. Tim Fuller returns as Mizzou's general manager, Griffin McHone returns as the Tigers' director of basketball operations and Sean Conaty returns as Mizzou's director of athletic performance.
Crowe is the father of highly touted incoming Mizzou freshman Jason Crowe Jr., the all-time points leader in California high school history. Andscape reported in a feature on Jason Crowe Jr. that his family planned to relocate to Columbia, and multiple reports indicated that Jason Crowe Sr. would take on an assistant coaching position with Mizzou after coaching his son at Inglewood High.
Crowe Sr. will be an assistant coach for player development with Missouri — the same role as another one of MU’s hires with ties to an incoming five-star rookie.
Reynolds was previously the coach at Zephyrhills Christian Academy, where he coached incoming five-star freshman forward Toni Bryant for much of his high school career.
“Jason and Zach have proven to be successful coaches at the high school level, winning multiple state titles, while molding their players into Division I talent,” Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates said in a news release. “As player development coaches at Mizzou, we look forward to their perspective and their ability to maximize our student-athlete's potential.”
Hardy, the former head coach of Loyola (Md.), appears to be taking over the most significant X’s and O’s assistant role, as he has been named the team’s offensive coordinator while working directly with Mizzou’s post players.
Hardy was 66-110 over six seasons as Loyola’s head coach. Mizzou defeated a Hardy-coached Loyola team 78-70 on Nov. 25, 2024, at Mizzou Arena.
Foster also looks set to take on a role coaching Mizzou’s post players, a position previously occupied at Mizzou by current Cleveland State head coach Rob Summers.
Foster was most recently an assistant at Colorado State last season, but his biggest impact came as an assistant at Bradley between 2015-25, helping the Braves to three league titles. According to Mizzou’s release, Foster has helped coach five NBA draft picks and signees: Alec Brown, Alfonzo McKinnie, Keifer Sykes, Malevy Leons and Jayson Kent.
Mizzou won’t have a shortage of post players for the new assistants to coach.
The Tigers have a roster loaded with size after adding Kansas forward Bryson Tiller and Tennessee big man Jaylen Carey out of the transfer portal. Mizzou also returns an expected contributor in 7-foot-5 center Trent Burns, while Bryant and returner Trent Pierce also check in at 6-9 or taller and could play some forward.
“Both Tavaras and Jimmie have had tremendous success building winning cultures at the collegiate level and turning student-athletes into NBA players,” Gates said in a release. “Tavaras brings a great offensive mindset to our program with a unique perspective as a former head coach in addition to his time as an assistant in the Big Ten, Big East and ACC.
“Jimmie coached at one of the top defensive teams in the Missouri Valley Conference for the past decade, helping build a program into a team that won three conference championships.”
Mizzou recently rounded out its roster for next season with six transfer portal additions, taking the team to the NCAA maximum of 15 players on the roster.
The Tigers have 247Sports’ 12th-ranked transfer portal class nationally this year, and they’re one of six teams who have multiple five-star freshmen in this signing class.
This is, by all accounts, Gates’ most talented roster since becoming MU’s head coach in 2022.
The coaching staff is now finalized for what will be a significant fifth season for Mizzou’s head coach. Mizzou typically begins its offseason workouts in June, which will be the first time MU’s new players and coaches come together.
"We have assembled a winning roster for this season, both on the court with our student-athletes and on the sideline with our staff," Gates said in a release. "We feature a lot of experience in our coaching staff that has won at every level of basketball — from high-major to mid-major and to high school. It is a very diverse staff that compliments each other well and brings proven track records to Mizzou. They have all shown the ability to develop players at a high level and set up their student-athletes to have success at both the college and professional levels.”
For the first time this postseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost a game. It took two extra overtime periods, but the San Antonio Spurs were able to pull out a 122-115 victory over the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Freshly-minted back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an uncharacteristically quiet performance, finishing with 24 points and 12 assists in 51 minutes while converting just 7 of his 23 attempts from the floor.
It took two extra overtime periods, but the San Antonio Spurs were able to pull out a 122-115 victory over the Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.
Freshly-minted back-to-back NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had an uncharacteristically quiet performance, finishing with 24 points and 12 assists in 51 minutes while converting just 7 of his 23 attempts from the floor.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoulders blame for Thunder's Game 1 loss to Spurs
Gilgeous-Alexander's production wasn't enough to propel the Thunder to victory, and after the game he shouldered the blame for the outcome of the contest.
"We just got to be better -- me, in particular. I have to be better, especially against a team of this caliber. Nothing more than that," Gilgeous-Alexander said.
"I know what my teammates are capable of, what we're capable of as a team when we bring it. It's just unfortunate that I wasn't able to bring my best game tonight, but that's how it goes sometimes. Sometimes, you're your best version, sometimes you're not. You've got to roll with the punches, don't get discouraged and stay true to who you are."
Now for the first time all postseason, the Thunder will be tasked with responding to a loss. Part of that response will be finding out a way to open things up more offensively for Gilgeous-Alexander. Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault is up to the task.
"We're going to have to figure that out," Daigneault said. "They're good schematically. They obviously have a lot of tools with the point-of-attack defenders and with Wembanyama. There's a reason they are where they are, but there's a reason we are where we are, and one of the things that I love about this team is our problem-solving."
The Thunder won't have long to dwell on that Game 1 loss to the Spurs, as they'll be right back in action for Game 2 on Wednesday night.
The Miami Dolphins clearly believe in De'Von Achane's talent.
That's the main reason they recently signed him to a four-year contract extension worth a total of $64 million, which is a record for a RB after his rookie deal.
But that's not the only reason they signed Achane like this.
They also decided they wanted to set a precedent for how they treat their players.
“I think it sends a good message when you have a player who was here on his first contract, and has produced and had success, to reward that player with a second contract,” Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley told reporters at OTAs. “I know that’s important to Sully and I.”
Hafley is the Dolphins' new head coach, and he's referring to their new GM, Jon-Eric Sullivan. Both come from the Green Bay Packers, an organization known for doing things the right way.
Obviously, teams don't want to get too sentimental with players. But on the flip side, if players who perform know that their front office is watching and will potentially reward them, that can only help create positive vibes in the building.
Achane is clearly one of the NFL's most impactful running backs, so even as RBs get a bit underpaid around the league, he earned his payday.
“It’s not like he just showed up after he signed his contract,” Hafley said. “So, excited that it’s done and he’ll be here going forward. He’s a great player and I’m really glad we have him.”
Coming off a season with 1,350 rushing yards, 67 catches and 12 total touchdowns, Achane is now compensated accordingly.
Liverpool Leadership Void Looms as Van Dijk Reflects on Mo Salah ExitVan Dijk Pays Tribute to Salah StandardsVirgil van Dijk has offered a telling insight into what Liverpool will lose when Mo Salah l...
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Virgil van Dijk pays tribute to Mo Salah ahead of Liverpool exitLiverpool Leadership Void Looms as Van Dijk Reflects on Mo Salah ExitVan Dijk Pays Tribute to Salah Standards
Virgil van Dijk has offered a telling insight into what Liverpool will lose when Mo Salah leaves Anfield, focusing not only on goals, penalties and match winning moments, but on the daily standards that shaped an era.
Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, Van Dijk said: “In terms of Mo, I think for me personally, obviously looking from behind and seeing what he did and the beautiful goals he scored, how strong he is like when there’s a one-v-one and no-one can get him off the ball or the important penalties he scored.
“Obviously Mo is not a big talker but obviously he’s a leader by example. So, it’s those types of things I’m 100 per cent going to miss.”
Those words matter. Salah has never needed volume to command respect. His authority came through repetition, resilience and relentless end product. For Liverpool, replacing that influence will demand more than signing a new forward.
Robertson Exit Deepens Liverpool Concern
Van Dijk also reflected on Andy Robertson’s expected departure, another significant blow to the leadership group built during the Jurgen Klopp years.
On Robertson, Van Dijk said: “I’m going to 100 per cent miss having him as a character around us as a team, but also [as] one of the guys that experienced and dealt with so many tough moments and also good moments, because good moments shouldn’t be underestimated as well that could have such an impact on you. So yeah, it’s definitely something I’m going to miss.”
Slot Faces Defining Summer
Arne Slot now faces a pivotal rebuild. With Mo Salah leaving, Robertson moving on and questions around Alisson Becker’s future, Van Dijk may soon stand as the last senior pillar from Liverpool’s greatest modern period.
That presents a footballing problem and a cultural one. Goals can be recruited. Pace can be bought. Leadership, especially the quiet kind Salah brought every day, is harder to replace.
Liverpool need talent this summer, but they also need presence, maturity and authority. Van Dijk’s comments made that painfully clear.
Magic Johnson believes the Western Conference may already have its next long-term power struggle. His view came after Game 1 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, a double-overtime thriller that immediately raised the level of the series.
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Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Magic Johnson believes the Western Conference may already have its next long-term power struggle.
His view came after Game 1 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, a double-overtime thriller that immediately raised the level of the series.
San Antonio won 122-115, but the bigger picture was the quality of both teams and how difficult they could be to catch.
Magic Johnson warns Western Conference after Spurs beat ThunderPhoto by Luiza Moraes/Getty Images
The five-time NBA champion wrote on X after the match: “I hate to break the news to the rest of the Western Conference, but they may not have a chance to win the Western Conference Finals for the next 5-7 years.
“The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are just that good! They are talented, deep, athletic and both teams are well coached.”
The claim was bold, but Game 1 supported the wider point.
The Spurs won without De’Aaron Fox, who missed Game 1 with an ankle sprain, a detail which only strengthens Johnson’s argument.
Fox is San Antonio’s second-best scorer and playmaker, so his return would make an already dangerous team even harder to defend.
Young superstar Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks, while Dylan Harper also delivered in Fox’s absence. He finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and seven steals while stepping into a bigger role.
Oklahoma City still had enough to push the game to the limit, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso keeping the Thunder alive.
That is why Johnson’s post landed. Both teams look built for now and later, which is a worrying message for the rest of the West.
The Green Bay Packers announced promotions for nine different members of Brian Gutekunst's player personnel staff on Tuesday, following the 2026 NFL draft.
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The Green Bay Packers announced promotions for nine different members of Brian Gutekunst's player personnel staff on Tuesday, following the 2026 NFL draft.
Gutekunst promoted Milt Hendrickson to vice president of player personnel, John Wojciechowski to director of football operations, Richmond Williams to director of player personnel, Lee Gissendaner to director of pro scouting, Matt Malaspina to senior player personnel executive, Pat Moore to director of college scouting, Sam Seale to senior national scout, Luke Benuska to national scout and Mike Owen to assistant director of pro scouting.
The promotions are the necessary reorganization underneath Gutekunst after Jon Eric-Sullivan departed the organization to take over as the Miami Dolphins general manager during the 2026 hiring cycle.
Hendrickson, who is entering his eighth season in Green Bay, is now second in command under Gutekunst, taking over Sullivan's former title.
Williams appears to be on the fast track to a future general manager job. After spending five years as a college scout, two years as a pro scout and the last five years as director of pro personnel, Williams is now director of player personnel -- a title Sullivan held for four seasons before getting his last promotion in Green Bay.
Lewis was selected first overall in the 2017 MLB Draft.
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The Twins are sending down third baseman Royce Lewis, per The Athletic’s Dan Hayes. Lewis has been struggling at the plate, and Minnesota is hoping he can reset in Triple-A.
This is the second move the Twins have made in the last week to try to help a struggling player get right in the minors. Minnesota opted to send down outfielder Matt Wallner.
A corresponding call-up has not yet been announced by the team.
“Was it an easy decision? No,” says McVay of drafting Simpson
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Dec 29, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts on the sidelines during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Sean McVay acknowledged that drafting Ty Simpson was not an easy decision, but that as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams it’s important to balance moves that will be better both for the short-term and the long-term. In an interview with the podcast Bussin’ with the Boys on Tuesday, McVay told hosts Will Compton and Taylor Lewan that he had a conversation with Matthew Stafford before drafting Simpson that “wasn’t exactly agreed upon” but that the reigning MVP understood where the franchise was coming from in terms of his timeline and needing a backup plan in case he retires next year.
Based on how McVay tells the story of drafting the Alabama quarterback and the fallout after the fact by fans and media members skeptical of making a long-term move while Stafford is in a Super Bowl window right now, the Rams became comfortable with Simpson’s lack of experience based on the film and some of the maturity he showed as a leader by waiting for his turn instead of transferring and accepting responsibility for mistakes instead of blaming others.
“I like that it wasn’t easy. I like that he had to wait at Alabama,” said McVay. “And the easy thing, especially nowadays, would’ve been able to run away (in the transfer portal). I like that they lose to Florida State and the sky is falling and they find a way to kinda have some resolve and they get into the SEC Championship and there’s a lot of good things in the midst of it. I like the way that he responded when guys would drop balls and he didn’t flinch. Or guys would give up a free runner and he didn’t say a word except, “Where can I be better?” Those were the things that the tape communicated to me.“
The Rams head coach also got into the “special” relationship he has with Stafford, how close the Rams were to putting him on injured reserve with a back injury last year (“We were nervous as hell”), and gave a hint that the quarterback does not agree with the team’s decision to draft a quarterback. But that it’s not going to stop him from trying to win a new Super Bowl for L.A., and in L.A., next season.
Here’s more of what McVay had to say about Simpson and Stafford:
“We have to plan for the short and the long term and what does that look like? Let’s go it right now but let’s also be able to sustain over a long period of time. We’ve got the reigning MVP of the league. (Stafford) is like a fine wine, he’s getting better with age. My relationship with him is special. There’s a connection. I think our personalities really balance each other out. It’s a really cool thing that we have and I don’t take that for granted. But he’s earned the right to walk away whenever he wants to. Going into year 18, we have to be mindful that we’re so lucky to have him be doing his thing. But if he said at the end of next year that it’s it for him, he’s earned the right to do that.”
It’s interesting to think about how close the 49ers were trading for Stafford instead of the Rams in 2021, and how different the last five years would have gone if that happened. McVay’s ability to connect with Stafford as someone slightly younger than Kyle Shanahan (Stafford is 38, McVay is 40, and Shanahan is 46) could help the two have a smoother relationship than most HC-QB combos.
On Simpson, McVay explained why the small sample size wasn’t too big of a concern.
“If there’s an opportunity to get someone at 13 to upgrade his team. We addressed some needs in free agency … You got a lot of continuity from last year but you’re saying ‘Okay, there’s some really good players at 13, but you also say that there’s a guy that based on the film, you project this guy to potentially be a starting caliber quarterback. You like the body of work because of the way that (Simpson) played the position.
Is it a short sample size? Yeah, it is. But it’s easier to evaluate that short sample size because it’s easier to evaluate because you’re evaluating all parts of, in the drop-back pass game, the 3-step, the 5-step, the 7-step; the way the field is distributed; the types of coverage contours he’s seeing in the SEC are similar to what he would see in the NFL; reading with his feet with a timing and rhythm; he’s re-directing protections; he’s under center and throwing play action under 7-step, 1-hitch, or 8-step, 1-hitch timing; anticipating second-level in-cuts with frontpad throws; making a little bit of plays off-schedule.“
But McVay said it was not an easy decision and specifically called out three draft prospects who many feel the Rams should have drafted instead, saying that they “appreciate” those guys but clearly they didn’t blow L.A.‘s front office away.
“But with that being said, was it an easy decision? No. Because how are we always balancing? If you told me that we could ensure that if we took a player at 13, like if we took Makai Lemon, Kenyon Sadiq, players that we had a lot of appreciation for, Rueben Bain’s still on the board at the time, if drafting them would’ve ensured that we’re going to show at SoFi Stadium next year (for the Super Bowl), I’d say sign me up. We’re taking that guy.
It doesn’t work that way. I’m hopeful Matthew plays as long as he can. I don’t take for granted how lucky I am.“
Although Matthew Stafford might support McVay and Les Snead, it does not sound like he was necessarily encouraging the Rams to draft a quarterback instead of someone who could help the team right now.
“He handled it exactly like you want somebody to handle it. But he also understands. He’s been in this thing and even if it doesn’t have to be exactly agreed upon, he’s like “I get it.” Because this guy can think from an empathetic perspective He understands the positions that I’m put in as a leader to make those calls. Do I know if it’s going to be right? We’ll see down the line. I’m grateful having #9.“
One of the reasons that the Rams might have felt the pressure to draft a quarterback in preparation for next year was how worried McVay was that Stafford would miss at least part of last season. As McVay tells it, other teams were telling Stafford he was lucky to get so much off-time last year, but that it wasn’t a vacation. Noting that he all but told Stafford he was going on IR, until “the chamber” and other unique methods got him back on the right track for Week 1.
“We were nervous as hell about Matthew Stafford’s back injury. That was real. People don’t realize how close…he and I sat down, this isn’t responding how we had hoped, let’s put you on temporary IR, where we feel this anxiety of having to have a timeline of being ready to go. Jimmy Garoppolo had taken all the reps (in practice). This alien decides, he did some different things that only he could articulate in terms of unique treatments and outside-the-box thinking where he’s going to a torture chamber for 48 hours. But you could also see that there’s mindset there that is only in the greats, where he was like ”F—- it, I’m going to swing“ and he did it and he never looked back.”
The Rams reportedly plan to take a very similar approach with Stafford this offseason, giving him as many rest days as possible so he’s fit for Week 1. That’s another reason to draft a quarterback, especially with Garoppolo looking at retirement.
You just never know when a player might choose to walk away. Today it could be Garoppolo, tomorrow it could be Stafford, and that’s why last month the Rams drafted Simpson.
Where's Auburn baseball expected to wind up in this year's NCAA Tournament? Here's a look at the latest projections before the Tigers head to Hoover.
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AUBURN — Fifty-four games later, Auburn baseball has another regular season behind it and plenty to look toward.
The sixth-ranked Tigers wrapped up their regular season over the weekend with their first series loss in more than a month, having won six consecutive series between April 4 and May 9.
Now, ahead of Auburn's appearance at this week's SEC Tournament, which starts Wednesday, May 20 (TBA, SECN), there's plenty of reason to believe the program will land a national seed in the NCAA Tournament for a second consecutive season, playing the nation's strongest schedule and boasting the country's third-best RPI.
"I feel like I'm one of a handful of coaches that every time we take the field, because of the schedule and what we've been through and the wins we look at that we've had, that I think we have a chance to win a baseball game against anybody in America," head coach Butch Thompson said.
Here's a look at the latest projections, as well as Auburn's postseason résumé as the Tigers head to Hoover.
Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 2, is dealing with a bothersome wrist injury ahead of Wimbledon.
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Carlos Alcaraz won't have a chance to close the gap on world No. 1 Jannik Sinner anytime soon.
The Spanish tennis star announced on Instagram he won't play in Wimbledon next month because of a wrist injury he suffered in April's Barcelona Open. Alcaraz, the world No. 2, fell to Sinner in the 2025 Wimbledon final. The rivals have collectively won the last nine men's singles Grand Slam titles, establishing themselves as the sport's clear bellwethers.
Since suffering the wrist injury, though, Alcaraz has missed the Madrid Open, the Italian Open and the French Open, all of which he was won before. Sinner has already won in Madrid and Rome with the French Open set for next week. Alcaraz, of course, will not play in Roland-Garros.
"My recovery is going well and I’m feeling much better, but unfortunately I’m still not ready to compete, which is why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon," Alcaraz, a seven-time Grand Slam champion, wrote on Instagram. "They are two truly special tournaments for me and I will miss them a lot. We’ll keep working to come back as soon as possible!"
With Wimbledon off the table, the next Grand Slam for Alcaraz to make an appearance is the US Open in late August. Perhaps the 23-year-old will be healthy enough to challenge Sinner's perch atop men's tennis by then.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin said the procedure would take place “as soon as possible” to repair damage from overall wear and tear, not in response to any specific injury that occurred during the playoffs.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson will have offseason surgery on his hip, putting his readiness for the beginning of training camp in question.
Wild general manager Bill Guerin said the procedure would take place “as soon as possible” to repair damage from overall wear and tear, not in response to any specific injury that occurred during the playoffs.
Gustavsson slumped down the stretch of the regular season and was benched for the start of the playoffs when rookie Jesper Wallstedt took over as the No. 1 goalie. Gustavsson made one postseason start, a 5-2 loss at Colorado in Game 2 of the second-round NHL playoff series. The Avalanche ousted the Wild in five games.
Gustavsson signed a five-year, $34 million contract extension last October that kicks in with the 2026-27 season and carries a full no-trade clause for the first two years. He went 28-15-6 in 49 starts during the regular season with a 2.69 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage and four shutouts in his fourth year with the Wild.
Wallstedt was 18-9-6 in 33 starts with a 2.61 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and four shutouts. During the playoffs, he won five of 10 starts, gave up three or fewer goals seven times, and made 30-plus saves in half of his appearances.
Given the commitment the Wild made to Gustavsson after the retirement of Marc-Andre Fleury and the performance by Wallstedt during his debut season, the 2021 first-round draft pick would be one of the club’s most valuable trade chips to use in the long-running quest to find a true No. 1 center.
That path, though, would come with considerable risk.
“I like our goaltending situation, to be quite honest with you,” Guerin said at his season-ending news conference. “Both of our goalies are No. 1 goalies, you know? The luxury of it is being able to put a fresh rested goalie in the net every night, and you know both guys are signed. They’re both very good. They work well in a tandem. They support each other. I’m very comfortable with where it is.”
For their part, both Gustavsson and Wallstedt endorsed the time share in exit interviews with reporters. The fact that they’re both natives of Sweden and recent Olympic teammates doesn’t hurt the dynamic, either.
“I thought our competition was really good in everything, from every day being in practice, to competing in drills, to what we did off ice, and to competing to play the games,” Wallstedt said. “I thought it made us both better.”
Extending Quinn Hughes’ contract would be the Wild’s easiest offseason move
The headliner trade of this NHL season was the deal that sent star defenseman Quinn Hughes from Vancouver to Minnesota for recent first-round draft picks Zeev Buium, Liam Ohgren and Marco Rossi and the Wild’s first-round selection. Hughes played up to his billing, with 53 points in 48 regular-season games and 15 points in 11 playoff games.
“The impact that he had on our team was incredible,” Guerin said. “So, yeah, priority one.”
Hughes, who has one year left on his current contract with a $7.85 million salary cap hit, has said nothing to suggest he’s hesitant to commit to Minnesota long term.
“I love the team. I love the city and the fans. Just being in that locker room, it’s a special group,” Hughes said last week. “I would definitely be open to re-signing here.”
Navigating expiring contracts and the salary cap will be trickier
With Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy up front and Hughes and Brock Faber leading the blue-liners, the Wild have their most talented group of core players in team history. Missing center Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin during the entire second-round series, though, eroded their depth. The absence of first line right wing Mats Zuccarello during half of the first-round series also loomed large.
Zuccarello, who turns 39 before training camp begins in September, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer along with four other forwards who were fixtures during the playoffs: Michael McCarron, Marcus Johansson, Vladimir Tarasenko and Nick Foligno. McCarron is the youngest of that quintet at age 31, and regardless of age and performance they probably wouldn’t all fit under the salary cap when the Wild have depth at center and defenseman to address.
“We have cap space. We have assets. We’ll do whatever we can to make this team better and better so we can win a championship,” Guerin said. “I’ve shown you — and our fans, and everybody involved — that if there’s something out there that can make our team better, I am willing to do it, and I won’t sit on my hands.”
Afonso Eulálio surprisingly remained in the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia after Tuesday's lengthy individual time trial, which was won in dominant fashion by Filippo Ganna of Italy. No one could come close to Ganna, a time trial specialist who completed the flat, 42-kilometer (26-mile) route along the coast from Viareggio to Massa in 45 minutes, 53 seconds. Thymen Arensman was second, 1:54 behind Ganna, with Rémi Cavagna another five seconds back.
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MASSA, Italy (AP) — Afonso Eulálio surprisingly remained in the overall lead of the Giro d’Italia after Tuesday's lengthy individual time trial, which was won in dominant fashion by Filippo Ganna of Italy.
No one could come close to Ganna, a time trial specialist who completed the flat, 42-kilometer (26-mile) route along the coast from Viareggio to Massa in 45 minutes, 53 seconds.
Thymen Arensman was second, 1:54 behind Ganna, with Rémi Cavagna another five seconds back.
Pre-race favorite Jonas Vingegaard, who is also an expert time trialist, was expected to move into the overall lead after the 10th stage, despite starting the day 2:24 behind Eulálio.
However, an impressive ride from the young Portuguese rider — who is relatively untested in time trials — saw Eulálio keep hold of the pink jersey with a 27-second advantage over Vingegaard. Arensman moved into third overall, 1:57 behind Eulálio.
It was the only time trial in this year’s race.
Wedesday’s 11th stage is a 195-kilometer (121-mile) route from Porcari to Chiavara that features three categorized climbs.
The 109th men’s Giro ends on May 31 in Rome.
The women’s Giro runs from May 30-June 7 with Italian rider Elisa Longo Borghini as the defending champion.
110th Running of the Indianapolis 500Graham RahalRahal Letterman Lanigan RacingSportIndianapolis Motor SpeedwayBobby RahalRyan BriscoeCarMick SchumacherLouis FosterIndyCar
There are several mentors for the German to learn from ahead of his debut in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing”
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Motorsport photo
Mick Schumacher has a lot of options when it comes to advice in preparation for his first Indianapolis 500.
In the midst of a rookie campaign in the IndyCar Series with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL), the 27-year-old German has already been able to lean on the likes of veteran Graham Rahal, driver coach and 2012 Indy 500 pole-sitter Ryan Briscoe, along with team co-owner and 1986 Indy 500 champion Bobby Rahal.
Since the Indy 500 Open Test in April, though, Schumacher has another resource in two-time Indy 500 Takuma Sato, who is back for another one-off with RLL after leading the most laps in last year’s race.
With the plethora of information likely hitting Schumacher like he’s drinking through a firehose, it’s a curious topic in understanding how he absorbs and applies it all.
“I guess you can try and take whatever works best for you,” said Schumacher. “I've been talking a lot to Graham, Ryan especially. I feel like he's been obviously on my stand, so that's been very helpful. I don't have to go back to these guys [pointing to Sato, Graham Rahal and teammate Louis Foster] and talk to them whilst they're in the car. That definitely helps.
“I think overall, like the whole team has just been really good at not overloading me with information. I think that's also one thing that I've been told right at the start is, make sure you funnel it down to what really matters. A lot of people will come up to you and try and help you, which is really nice, great to be in a position like that. I think it's better that way than the other way around.
“Yeah, no, I learned a lot. It's also about making this experience. Everyone can tell you what it feels like, but actually you're only going to know once you've experienced it.
“The first day was really not great. I felt pretty uncomfortable in the car. Then the next day we felt a lot better. It's progress. Obviously wind and conditions have a lot of impact on how the car feels. I definitely felt that.”
Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda Mick Schumacher, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda
Schumacher qualified 27th for Sunday’s 110th edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the highest among all rookies after AJ Foyt Racing’s first-year driver Caio Collet’s time was disallowed after officials found an issue with the car after qualifying.
“Unfortunately, it felt like we lost a little bit of speed during qualification,” said Schumacher, son of seven-time Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher.
“We weren't quite on it. I think there were a couple things here and there, which we found out yesterday that were maybe not a hundred percent.
“Obviously taking that into account, we kind of look ahead to the race now. I think we have a good understanding of what we need to do to be better there and hopefully come back through the field and go forward.”
A year after being the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl, a 5-12 season took its toll.
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The disappointing 2022 season for the Los Angeles Rams nearly led head coach Sean McVay to walk away and take a break from the sidelines, he told the “Bussin’ with the Boys” podcast this week.
The 2022 Rams were coming off a Super Bowl victory, but they finished 5-12 and out of playoff contention in the NFC. Their 12 losses were the most by a reigning champion since the 1999 Denver Broncos and they were the first Super Bowl winner to follow that up with losing season since the 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
It didn’t help that quarterback Matthew Stafford (concussion, spinal cord contusion), defensive tackle Aaron Donald (high ankle sprain) and wide receiver Cooper Kupp (high ankle sprain) all missed a combined 22 games.
McVay, 40, told former NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan that the losing took its toll — so much so that he was eagerly anticipating the end of that season.
"It took that 5-12 year where you're really getting broken down and I almost quit coaching," McVay said. "You could use the narrative that I was going to go to media or whatever, but the truth would have been I was quitting because I couldn't handle the losing."
McVay added that due to several players signing extensions or having their contracts restructured, there would need to be a turning over of the roster with talent having to be released. That played a part in his thinking and lack of enthusiasm for the 2023 season.
As he was contemplating his future with the franchise, McVay’s wife was the one who snapped him out of his funk and made him question the decision of quitting following a tough year.
"I remember explaining the situation to my wife Veronika. She is so tough, so steady, so loving and considerate, but so real to me," McVay said. "She's so independent, born and raised in Ukraine — and you talk about real perspective from what her family has gone through and how she's handled it. I was explaining to her, maybe I'll step away, it's going to be a really tough upcoming season.
"I had some [media] opportunities and if I had done that I would have conveniently hid behind that, but the reality is I would have been quitting. Basically, I was trying to rationalize and justify why I should [step away]. It's like 'OK, let's step away, maybe even come back to coaching. We're going to have a lot of tough decisions to make.’ And it coincided with her being pregnant with our oldest, Jordan. She just kind of looked at me, and it was very loving and supportive, but it was like it is only coming from your wife where it really landed the punch and she's like, "You know, that never really sounded like the kind of leader you wanted to be."
Veronika's words hit McVay hard. Had he gone through with quitting, McVay said he wouldn't have been able to live with himself and be the kind of father he wanted to be.
Fortunately for McVay, the people in his world — his wife, friends, and a phone call from college football coach Chris Petersen — convinced him that he would regret stepping away from coaching.
The Rams have followed up that 5-12 season with three straight 10-win seasons, another NFC West title and three playoff appearances, including 2025 when they reached the NFC championship game.
In February, McVay, along with general manager Les Snead, signed a multi-year extension just like they did after winning Super Bowl LVI.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will not play at this year’s tournament. The 23-year-old, who won the title in 2023 and 2024 before losing to Jannik Sinner in last year’s final, has been struggling with a wrist injury which has already forced him to pull out of the French Open.
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FILE PHOTO - Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after defeating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in their men's Singles final of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
Two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will not play at this year’s tournament.
The 23-year-old, who won the title in 2023 and 2024 before losing to Jannik Sinner in last year’s final, has been struggling with a wrist injury which has already forced him to pull out of the French Open.
On Tuesday the Spaniard confirmed he would not participate at the All England Club in June and July.
“My recovery is going well and I feel much better, but unfortunately I’m still not ready to be able to play, and that’s why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon,” a post on Alcaraz’s official X account read.
“They are two really special tournaments for me and I’ll miss them a lot. We keep working to return as soon as possible!”
The year began well for Alcaraz. He beat Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open to complete a career Grand Slam, adding to his two Wimbledon crowns and two French Open triumphs in 2024 and 2025.
Aged 22 at the time, he became the youngest man to achieve the feat, having also won the US Open in 2022 and 2025.
Alcaraz appeared to sustain the injury in a match at the Barcelona Open last month, with tests showing it was more serious than first thought and ruling him out of a tournament in Madrid and the upcoming French Open.
Now he will miss the grass grand slam too as Sinner looks to dominate for the rest of the year.
Art But Make It Sports meme account pairs viral sports photos with images of paintings, drawings and sculptures in LJ Rader's unexpected mashups.
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You’ve heard about phones blowing up. Well, LJ Rader’s actually did once.
He got so many mentions and DMs and new followers that his phone overheated and stopped working. (To be fair, it was already low on battery. But still.)
This is what happens when the NFL asks you, the genius behind the Art But Make It Sports meme account, to do something with a photo of a shirtless Jason Kelce leaning out a stadium window with a beer in his hand, and you respond with Phillips de Koninck's “The Feast of Bacchus.”
Your phone, and your account that pairs photos of viral sports moments with images of fine art, blows up.
"You're taught you have to pick one. You have to be an athlete or an artist, you can't do both. I've kind of shown people that you can like both art and sport," Rader said during a talk last week at the Art Institute of Chicago.
An Art But Make It Sports meme is going viral again after Victor Wembanyama's monster performance that gave the San Antonio Spurs the double-OT win over the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Rader's pairing of a photo of Wemby in front of his delirious teammates with Henry Ossawa Tanner's "Angels Appearing Before the Shepherds" has about 40,000 likes and 3,500 shares less than 12 hours after the game's conclusion.
"Literal perfection with this one friends," one of the comments on Instagram said.
Art But Make It Sports has become a favorite of fans of both art and sports, with more than 1 million followers on X, Instagram, Threads and Bluesky. Caitlin Clark and Ben Stiller follow the account, as do most leagues and teams and several art museums.
It's quite a change from the account's early days, when Rader was posting "into the abyss."
Rader has spent his career in sports. He worked at NBC Sports – he won an Emmy as a producer for the network's Olympics coverage – and eventually got into the business side of sports data. But he's been an art fan since he was a kid, when his grandparents would take him to museums and galleries.
They also had friends who were yet-to-be discovered artists, including abstract painter Michael Goldberg.
Rader considered minoring in art history at Vanderbilt, but his parents didn't love the idea. Instead, when he traveled the world on work and personal trips, Rader would visit museums and take photos of the paintings and sculptures he saw. One of his folders now has more than 15,000 images of artwork.
LJ Rader started with art imitating sport, then flipped it on its head
In 2019, Rader started posting images of the artwork with sports-related captions. "Let me tell you about my fantasy team," was his caption of Berthold Woltze's The Irritating Gentleman. By mid-2020, he realized he could pair the artwork with photos of actual sporting events.
"I had friends reach out and say, 'You should turn this into a thing,'" Rader said.
Art But Make It Sports gradually picked up followers. When Sarah Spain, then predominantly with ESPN, mentioned the account, it took off. Now fans, photographers, teams and leagues will tag Rader when there's a photo they think is a good candidate for Art But Make It Sports.
Not everything makes it, of course. Rader doesn't post photos of injuries. The photo has to be funny, like the Kelce one. Or evoke emotion, like one of Bad Bunny's halftime show at the Super Bowl that was paired with The Sermon on the Mount by Beryl Lewis.
And, of course, Rader has to have artwork to go with it.
Contrary to what many assume, Rader doesn't use AI or a computer program. The memes are all him.
Though Rader occasionally will pull from a museum's archive, almost all of the artwork he uses is from the collection of images he's taken over the years. After he takes the images, he studies them, "cataloging" them in his mind. So when he sees a photo from a sporting event, he can recall a specific work of art in his collection, a theme in art or, his favorite, the style of a particular artist.
"That then tests my knowledge of art history," he said. "That tends to be the most gratifying, the most exciting."
Though Rader is partial to abstract art, he also loves tavern scenes and the Dutch golden age. Basketball is very meme-friendly while football, soccer and tennis are less so. He'd love to feature more women's sports, the PWHL in particular, but there aren't as many photos available.
"Anyone out there, if you're a women's sports fan, feed me images," Rader said.
While the Kece meme might be the most famous one Rader has done — the NFL is king, after all — his favorite is one he calls "The Blue Dunk," a Walter Iooss photo of Michael Jordan dunking on a blue court that is paired with Clyfford Still's PH-923.
People have asked why Rader doesn't try and monetize Art But Make It Sports; he released a coffee table book earlier this year, but that's it. Aside from already having a day job — he just co-founded FanFlare Sports, a hybrid social media and sports data platform for women's volleyball — Rader does Art But Make It Sports because he loves art and sports, and gets joy when other people do, too.
"If I made it my full-time job, I think that will make it feel like work," Rader said. "... At the end of the day, I still kind of think these are my dumb musings."
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
Afonso Eulalio’s dream week continued as he retained the maglia rosa, with the gaps between many of the general classification favourites shrinking
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Filippo Ganna produced a blistering ride to dominate stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia, winning the race’s only individual time trial by nearly two minutes.
The Italian is widely regarded as one of the best time-triallists in the world and enjoyed a serene run to the finish line in Massa, with the pan-flat, 42km run from Viareggio perfectly tailored to his strengths.
It marked his seventh TT victory at his home Grand Tour, putting him level with the legendary Eddy Merckx.
While Ganna’s domination was expected, the major story of the day was how the TT panned out for the general classification favourites, with the gaps between many of the major favourites shrinking and setting up a closer second half to the race.
The fast, flat run along the Tuscan coastline was always going to be one for the specialists while the pure climbers were expected to haemorrhage time.
It was a huge success for Ganna’s teammate Thymen Arensman, who made it a Netcompany-Ineos one-two on the podium as he crossed the line 1’54” down on the Italian, with Frenchman Remi Cavagna of Groupama-FDJ United third, a further five seconds back.
Ganna said: “I think we did an amazing job this winter, especially with the GC riders, Thymen with the second place, it was an amazing team job.
“It’s a good victory for us here. We hope to be able to enjoy tonight and stay focused for the last 14 days. I’m really happy to finally find a good TT for me, without a climb! This was a massive goal for me.”
Race favourite Jonas Vingegaard put in a solid enough performance but was far from his best as he finished three minutes down on Ganna in 13th place.
Afonso Eulalio saw his lead slashed but managed to hold onto it (Reuters)
He gained 32 seconds on Australian rival Jai Hindley and 1’22” on Felix Gall, so far his biggest challenger in the mountains, but lost a minute and six seconds to Arensman. Austrian Gall finished 4’22” down on Ganna in 33rd place.
Portugal’s Afonso Eulalio put in a heroic ride to maintain his position in the race leader’s maglia rosa, with his lead slashed from over two minutes over Vingegaard to 27 seconds.
The GC standings reshuffled as Arensman leapt up three places in the rankings to third overall, 1’57” behind Eulalio and 1’30” behind Vingegaard, with Gall dropping to fourth, 2’24” behind Eulalio and just under two minutes behind his Danish rival.
Derek Gee was the next-best-placed of the general classification riders, fifth at 2’16” behind Ganna, moving up six places to eighth overall.
The time trial also made the hierarchy within Netcompany-Ineos clearer as former Giro and Tour de France champion Egan Bernal lost further time to Vingegaard, while Arensman rode the TT of his life to throw down the gauntlet to the Dane.
Reports circulated before the stage that multiple Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe riders were taken ill, with co-leaders Hindley and Giulio Pellizzari among those affected.
Given the circumstances Pellizzari did well to limit his losses, finishing 18th, 3’18” behind Ganna, and maintaining ninth place overall, with Hindley crossing the line four places below and 13 seconds after him in Massa.
During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected an outside linebacker named Janarius Robinson, who never really took off […]
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Eric Canha
During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings selected an outside linebacker named Janarius Robinson, who never really took off in the Twin Cities. Five years later, he’s getting a look from the Super Bowl runner-ups.
Robinson could turn a June audition into a roster battle if New England wants more depth.
The veteran EDGE will work out for the Patriots this week, and a summer roster spot could be the result.
Robinson’s NFL Path Has Included Many Stops
Do you remember Robinson from the Mike Zimmer era?
Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Janarius Robinson lines up during preseason action against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Robinson continued competing for a depth role on Aug. 17, 2023, after joining Philadelphia following his brief tenure with the Minnesota Vikings organization and practice squad during the early stages of his NFL career. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
NE Auditions Robinson
Robinson could make it five NFL teams in five years. NBC Sports‘ Josh Alper wrote Tuesday morning, “The Patriots will be checking out a potential addition to their defense on Tuesday. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that defensive end Janarius Robinson will be working out for the team.”
“Robinson spent last season with the Chiefs, but he did not appear in any games after fracturing his foot in the offseason. Robinson was a Vikings fourth-round pick in 2021 and moved on to the Eagles in 2022, but spent most of both seasons on injured reserve.”
Through three months of open free agency, Robinson has no known nibbles from EDGE-needy teams. That could change as early as this week.
The Patriots’ EDGEs
Do the Patriots need more pass-rush help? From a role player and fringe roster bubble commodity like Robinson — probably not. Still, here’s the embattled Mike Vrabel’s OLB group in mid-May:
Harold Landry III
Dre’Mont Jones
Gaba Jacas
Namdi Obiazor
Bradyn Swinson
Quintayvious Hutchins
Jesse Luketa
Xavier Holmes
If signed, Robinson would likely slide onto the depth chart behind Jacas, a 2nd-Round rookie, and above Obiazor, a 6th-Round rookie.
Robinson’s Career to Date
Robinson initially arrived in Minnesota via the 2020 Stefon Diggs trade with the Buffalo Bills. After sending Diggs to Buffalo, the Vikings leveraged the returned draft capital to select several players, including Justin Jefferson, Camryn Bynum, Zach Davidson, Kenny Willekes, and Robinson.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Janarius Robinson and linebacker Amari Gainer greet Chargers defenders Asante Samuel Jr. and Derwin James Jr. after a divisional matchup at SoFi Stadium. The postgame moment unfolded on Sep. 8, 2024, following Robinson’s continued effort to carve out a rotational NFL role after stops with multiple franchises. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Drafted by former general manager Rick Spielman in the 4th Round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Robinson’s tenure with the Vikings was short-lived and unproductive. His rookie season in 2021 was cut short by a season-ending injury, and he failed to make the 53-man roster in 2022, instead being relegated to the practice squad. During that 2022 season, Patrick Jones and D.J. Wonnum served as the primary backup EDGE rushers behind starters Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith.
The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Robinson in September 2022, signing him after defensive end Derek Barnett tore his ACL and was placed on injured reserve. Notably, Barnett himself had a prior connection to Robinson’s former team, having joined the Vikings in 2016 as part of the Sam Bradford trade.
Robinson never played in a regular season game for Minnesota before the Eagles acquired him.
Since entering the league, Robinson has appeared in 16 career games, making 3 starts. His career totals include 13 tackles, 4 quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks. He has logged 187 defensive snaps and an additional 77 on special teams. His 2024 season was his most active as a professional, despite receiving a stinky 42.6 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus.
His full work history:
Minnesota Vikings (2021–2022)
Philadelphia Eagles (2022)
Las Vegas Raiders (2023–2024)
Kansas City Chiefs (2025)
ArrowheadAddict‘s Matt Conner on Robinson, “Before the 2025 draft, Robinson sounded excited to join the Chiefs and said he was a ‘perfect fit’ for Kansas City. However, the Chiefs spent two early picks on the defensive front — a second-round choice on Omarr-Norman Lott and a third-round pick on Ashton Gillotte — and Robinson was buried on the depth chart early.”
“From there, a fractured foot landed him on injured reserve before the regular season even began. Robinson will now hope to prove he’s healthy as a journeyman defensive end for a team fresh off of a Super Bowl appearance.”
The Big-Name EDGEs Left in Free Agency
Suppose the Robinson tryout does not net a contract. The Patriots — and other teams that need EDGE rushers — still have an accredited list of alternatives, including these men:
Denico Autry
Derek Barnett
Joey Bosa
Jadeveon Clowney
Marcus Davenport
A.J. Epenesa
Leonard Floyd
Cameron Jordan
Von Miller
Haason Reddick
Kyle Van Noy
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Janarius Robinson watches practice during training camp activities at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Robinson participated in workouts on Jul. 29, 2022, while attempting to earn a roster spot entering his second NFL season after missing his rookie campaign because of injury rehabilitation and developmental setbacks. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
The Vikings, too, may need an OLB3 behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, depending on the summer performances from Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and rookie Jake Golday (an inside linebacker).
Robinson turned 28 two weeks ago. New England’s defense ranked 11th in the last year per EPA/Play, a propelling force for their Super Bowl appearance.
The Chicago Sky suffered a major setback on Tuesday after confirming star forward Rickea Jackson will miss the rest of the 2026 WNBA season with a torn ACL. The team announced on X that Jackson underwent an MRI, which revealed…
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The Chicago Sky suffered a major setback on Tuesday after confirming star forward Rickea Jackson will miss the rest of the 2026 WNBA season with a torn ACL.
The team announced on X that Jackson underwent an MRI, which revealed a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. The injury happened during Chicago’s May 17 victory over the Minnesota Lynx. The Sky added that Jackson will undergo surgery and begin a long recovery process.
The franchise wrote, “Rickea Jackson underwent an MRI… Jackson will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and undergo surgery to repair the injury. We’re with you every step of the way, Rickea 🩵.”
The injury came during the second quarter of Chicago’s 86-79 win over Minnesota. Jackson was attacking the basket in transition when her left knee buckled while planting her foot to change direction. The non-contact collapse immediately raised concern as Jackson screamed in pain before being helped to the locker room.
Before the injury, Jackson was enjoying the best stretch of her young career. The 2024 first-round pick averaged 22 points per game through Chicago’s opening four games and looked ready to become one of the league’s biggest stars.
Chicago Sky loses its early-season leader in Rickea Jackson
Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca called the injury heartbreaking for the organization.
“We’re devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery,” Pagliocca said. “Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season. We are certain she was primed for a career year.”
Pagliocca backed the team’s medical staff to guide her recovery.
“Our world-class medical staff will work hard with Rickea, who is one of the toughest players in the league, to get her back on the court,” Pagliocca added.
Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson (5) lays on the floor after an injury against the Minnesota Lynx in the second quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
The loss leaves Chicago facing major questions despite its strong 3-1 start. Rookie Gabriela Jaquez stepped up with career highs of 20 points and eight rebounds against Minnesota, while Kamilla Cardoso added a double-double.
Still, replacing Jackson’s scoring, athleticism, and defensive presence will be nearly impossible as the Sky attempt to stay competitive in a loaded WNBA season.
General manager Brian Gutekunst announced promotions for Milt Hendrickson, John Wojciechowski, Richmond Williams, Lee Gissendaner, Matt Malaspina, Pat Moore, Sam Seale, Luke Benuska and Mike Owen.
Hendrickson, entering his eighth season with the Packers, was previously the team’s director-football operations. He was elevated to vice president of player personnel, Sullivan’s previous role. He’ll replace Sullivan as Gutekunst’s top lieutenant in the personnel department.
Wojciechowski, entering his 14th season with the Packers, will replace Hendrickson as the team’s director-football operations. He was the co-director of player personnel during the past eight seasons.
Williams, entering his 19th season with the Packers, has been promoted to director of player personnel. He spent the past five seasons as director of pro personnel.
Gissendaner, entering his 26th season with the Packers, adds director of pro scouting to his title after spending the past four seasons as senior player personnel executive.
Malaspina, entering his 10th season with the Packers, was promoted to senior player personnel executive. He has been the team’s director of college scouting since 2018.
Moore, entering his ninth season with the Packers, has been promoted to director of college scouting. He was previously assistant director of college scouting under Malaspina.
Seale, entering his 32nd season with the Packers, was promoted to senior national scout. He was previously the team’s national scout for the past eight seasons.
Owen, entering his 15th season with the Packers, was promoted to national scout. He has been a college scout for the team the past eight seasons.
General manager Brian Gutekunst announced promotions for Milt Hendrickson, John Wojciechowski, Richmond Williams, Lee Gissendaner, Matt Malaspina, Pat Moore, Sam Seale, Luke Benuska and Mike Owen.
Hendrickson, entering his eighth season with the Packers, was previously the team’s director-football operations. He was elevated to vice president of player personnel, Sullivan’s previous role. He’ll replace Sullivan as Gutekunst’s top lieutenant in the personnel department.
Wojciechowski, entering his 14th season with the Packers, will replace Hendrickson as the team’s director-football operations. He was the co-director of player personnel during the past eight seasons.
Williams, entering his 19th season with the Packers, has been promoted to director of player personnel. He spent the past five seasons as director of pro personnel.
Gissendaner, entering his 26th season with the Packers, adds director of pro scouting to his title after spending the past four seasons as senior player personnel executive.
Malaspina, entering his 10th season with the Packers, was promoted to senior player personnel executive. He has been the team’s director of college scouting since 2018.
Moore, entering his ninth season with the Packers, has been promoted to director of college scouting. He was previously assistant director of college scouting under Malaspina.
Seale, entering his 32nd season with the Packers, was promoted to senior national scout. He was previously the team’s national scout for the past eight seasons.
Owen, entering his 15th season with the Packers, was promoted to national scout. He has been a college scout for the team the past eight seasons.
Egon Durban hopes to buy another 11 percent of the team, which would push his personal holdings to 22 percent. Michael Meldman targets another 5.4 percent, for a total of 12.9 percent.
"Small chunks" of the team also will be purchased by Dell founder Michael Dell, Blackstone executive Joseph Baratta, WME CEO Ari Emanuel, and TKO president Mark Shapiro.
Earlier this year, Davis created a succession plan that would give Durban an option to buy controlling interest in the team, if/when Davis decides to cash out entirely.
For now, Davis is cashing out partially. He still has enough to run the team. It's starting to feel like Davis is inching toward exiting the business he inherited when his father, Al Davis, died in 2011.
As Davis, who turned 72 on Monday, said earlier this year, he's not married. He has no children. He can't take it with him, and he can't pass it on. Why not turn it into a mountain of cash while he's still young enough to properly spend it?
Manchester United are stepping up their interest in Club Brugge’s flying winger Christos Tzolis.Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming United have made enquiries about Tzolis, who is...
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Christos Tzolis: Man United intensify chase for Club Brugge wizard
Manchester United are stepping up their interest in Club Brugge’s flying winger Christos Tzolis.
Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming United have made enquiries about Tzolis, who is “whirling through” the Jupiler Pro League, beating teams on his own week by week.
However, the Red Devils face strong competition for his services from their Premier League rivals.
Manchester United battling to sign Christos Tzolis
According to TEAMtalk, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all intensified their interest in Greek star Christos Tzolis.
Tzolis, who has had experience of English football with Norwich City, has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Belgium, impressing with his quick feet and sharp vision in the final third.
Tzolis has amassed an incredible 27 assists in 50 appearances across all competitions this campaign. To put that in perspective, United maestro Bruno Fernandes has registered 22 assists during the same period.
The report states that the Greek left-winger has firmly established himself as “one of the most dangerous and creative forwards currently operating outside Europe’s traditional elite leagues.”
Christos Tzolis ready for Premier League move
TEAMtalk claims Arsenal, Chelsea and United all had representatives in attendance over the weekend to watch Tzolis against Union Saint-Gilloise. The 24-year-old was directly involved in four of his side’s five unanswered goals in the emphatic victory.
Club Brugge are reportedly “increasingly expecting” their best attacker to leave this summer amid growing interest. However, Brugge would demand a fee that would surpass the current Belgian transfer record.
Christos Tzolis Stats: 2025/26 Season
That record is held by Charles De Ketelaere, who left Brugge for AC Milan in a £32.5 million deal four years ago.
It is understood United are exploring multiple attacking reinforcements and Tzolis’s “creativity, directness and productivity have attracted significant admiration internally.”
The Greece international allegedly feels he is fully ready for another opportunity in English football.
Featured image Alex Bierens de Haan via Getty Images
With Pep Guardiola's Premier League farewell upon us, it's rather fitting that today marks 13 years since Sir Alex Ferguson managed his final game for Manchester United. The only man to have won more...
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🎥 OTD 2013: A final PL record was made in Sir Alex Ferguson's last game 🔥
With Pep Guardiola's Premier League farewell upon us, it's rather fitting that today marks 13 years since Sir Alex Ferguson managed his final game for Manchester United.
The only man to have won more English League titles than the Manchester City boss - lifting an incredible 13 in the first 21 years of the post-1992 division - Ferguson bowed out in some style.
Having won his final title at a canter, he left the league with a final record to his name and one that still stands to this day.
An incredible 5-5 draw with West Brom at the Hawthorns was the first and only 10-goal draw in the Premier League era.
It featured a 26th of the season from golden boot winner Robin van Persie as well as a hat-trick from future United striker Romelu Lukaku as the Baggies came from three behind to claim a point.
Like Ferguson, Guardiola could yet sign off with a title but a score line like this feels even more unlikely than Arsenal drawing at Crystal Palace!
Jamie Carragher has called out one Liverpool player over his response to Mo Salah’s social media post which contained a thinly-veiled swipe at Arne Slot.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP F...
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‘Steady on, son’ – Liverpool player called out over response to Mo Salah’s social media comments
Jamie Carragher has called out one Liverpool player over his response to Mo Salah’s social media post which contained a thinly-veiled swipe at Arne Slot.
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Several of his teammates seemed to show solidarity with the 33-year-old by liking or commenting on the post, with Curtis Jones replying on Instagram with a clapping emoji.
Carragher calls out Jones over emoji response to Salah
That particular interaction struck a nerve with Carragher, who quipped that the midfielder is part of the reason why Liverpool haven’t played the ‘heavy metal attacking’ football that Salah craves.
The Sky Sports pundit said on the latest episode of Stick to Football: “I think Curtis Jones commented on it, didn’t he? He put like a clapping emoji. I thought that was a bit strange. I thought ‘Jesus, this is why we don’t play heavy metal football because of players a little bit like Curtis Jones in the squad’.
“He takes six touches on the ball before he passes it. I thought, ‘Steady on, son; stay out of that one! Let Salah do whatever he wants to do. He’s leaving in a week’.”
(Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
On Liverpool players liking Salah’s social media posts, Carragher said: “I’m not too bothered really, and maybe they all look up to Salah, you can imagine that. He’s a big figure in the dressing room, a world-class player… I think it was daft for them to do, but I’m not overly fussed by that, to be honest.”
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It’s harsh on Jones to be singled out
It seems peculiar to us that the pundit has no general issue with Salah’s teammates interacting with his comments on social media, but singled out Jones over his use of the clapping emoji and then aimed a football-related criticism at him.
Admittedly the 25-year-old can be culpable of slowing down the play by taking more touches than necessary rather than executing a quick pass, but he certainly can’t be scapegoated for how poorly the team has performed all season.
(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
We think it’s unnecessary from Carragher to single out one player over an issue which affects the entire squad, and in a week which’ll decide Liverpool’s Champions League qualification fate, it’s paramount that fans, players and coaching staff present a united front.
Jones has been vital to the Reds this term for his readiness to adapt to an unfamiliar right-back role through necessity, playing out of position for the good of the team due to injuries in that area of the pitch.
If he plays against Brentford on Sunday, hopefully he can make a decisive contribution towards getting Liverpool over the finish line for Champions League qualification, if it hasn’t been decided beforehand.
ESPN’s “mouth of the South” and lauded SEC analyst Paul Finebaum is back on Texas football’s side, it seems. Or at least for now. Per a recent KCEN report, Finebaum thinks the program can win it all in the College Football Playoff this year. See for yourself at th WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT THE LONGHORNS […]
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 07: Paul Finebaum (left) interviews Fiesta Sports Foundation executive director Erik Moses on the Paul Finebaum Show at State Farm Stadium on January 07, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) | Getty Images
ESPN’s “mouth of the South” and lauded SEC analyst Paul Finebaum is back on Texas football’s side, it seems. Or at least for now. Per a recent KCEN report, Finebaum thinks the program can win it all in the College Football Playoff this year. See for yourself at th
KKR vs MI: KKR's playoff hopes collide with a resurgent Mumbai Indians side as Rohit Sharma returns to Eden Gardens.
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Kolkata Knight Riders have rediscovered their best cricket at precisely the right moment. Five wins from their last six matches have transformed a campaign that looked beyond saving yet Ajinkya Rahane's side know that anything less than victory on Wednesday effectively ends their playoff aspirations.
Finn Allen has been explosive at the top, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been composed in the middle and Cameron Green's belated form at number four has given KKR genuine balance. The fitness of Matheesha Pathirana, however, casts a shadow over their bowling attack.
Mumbai Indians on the other hand comes into this contest eliminated but reinforced. Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav both return which bolsters a batting lineup that already features Ryan Rickelton, one of the outstanding performers of this entire season. Jasprit Bumrah carries only three wickets but remains the most dangerous bowler in the competition on his day.
KKR vs. MI prediction: Who Will Win
Mumbai Indians have dominated this fixture historically, winning 25 of 36 meetings, and arrive significantly strengthened with Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav returning.
Ryan Rickelton's outstanding form at the top gives them a platform every single time. KKR's injury concerns around Pathirana are a genuine worry.
Despite KKR's recent resurgence and desperate need for victory, Mumbai Indians have too much quality and experience for their opponents on this occasion
Eden Gardens is one of cricket's most iconic venues, hosting IPL T20 matches since 2008. With 105 matches played, teams batting second hold a clear edge, winning 56% of the time. The ground witnessed Punjab Kings' record-breaking 262/2 chase in 2024.
Stat
Value
Details
City
Kolkata
India
First Match
20 April 2008
—
Last T20 Match
16 May 2026
—
Matches Played
105
—
Won Batting First
44
41.90%
Won Batting Second
59
56.19%
Won Winning Toss
52
49.52%
Won Losing Toss
51
48.57%
No Result
2
1.90%
Highest Individual Innings
112* — R M Patidar (RCB)
vs Lucknow Super Giants, 25 May 2022
Best Bowling
5/19 — S P Narine (KKR)
vs Punjab Kings, 15 April 2012
Highest Team Innings
262/2 — Punjab Kings
vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 26 April 2024
Lowest Team Innings
49 — Royal Challengers Bengaluru
vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 23 April 2017
Highest Run Chase
262/2 — Punjab Kings
vs Kolkata Knight Riders, 26 April 2024
Avg Runs per Wicket
28.13
—
Avg Runs per Over
8.60
—
Avg Score Batting First
165.36
—
Head-to-Head: KKR vs. MI
MI has won 3 of the last 5 which includes back-to-back wins in 2025, while KKR dominated 2024 with two victories.
Stat
KKR
MI
Matches Played
36
36
Won
25
11
Lost
11
25
No Result
0
0
Highest Score
232
224
Lowest Score
67
108
KKR vs. MI Betting Tips
Here is our favourite betting angle for the KKR vs. MI match.
Victor Wembanyama is not going to get any shorter before Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. It took historic efforts — namely a 41-point, 24-rebound game from Wembanyama and a 24-point, seven-steal gem from rookie Dylan Harper — for the Spurs to grab the double-overtime thriller that was Game 1 on Monday. Game 2 is Wednesday, and it's the Thunder who have to answer.
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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Victor Wembanyama is not going to get any shorter before Game 2 of the Western Conference finals. He's not going to get less skilled, and the San Antonio Spurs surely aren't going to become less confident, either.
It took historic efforts — namely a 41-point, 24-rebound game from Wembanyama and a 24-point, seven-steal gem from rookie Dylan Harper — for the Spurs to grab the double-overtime thriller that was Game 1 on Monday. Game 2 is Wednesday, and it's the Thunder who have to answer.
“You've just got to be aggressive, just be smart, I think, more than anything,” Thunder guard and two-time Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said of facing the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama. “He obviously is very big at the rim, but we still found cracks in (the defense) at times. We've just got to be willing to work possessions and make sure we get the best shot each time down.”
In other words, the Thunder have some learning to do.
And that's a bit ironic, because that's been the Spurs' mantra.
San Antonio ruled De'Aaron Fox out an hour or so before Game 1, meaning the Spurs were rolling out the youngest starting five in NBA conference finals history — a 20-year-old in Harper, a 21-year-old in Stephon Castle, a 22-year-old in Wembanyama, a 24-year-old in Julian Champagnie and a 25-year-old in Devin Vassell. Most of those guys should still be in college, so maybe the various “we're learning” claims that Wembanyama often offers are both accurate and fitting.
“We want to win everything, and we have the chance to. We have people above us in the organization that know how to do that,” Wembanyama said. “And, so far, it looks like they’ve put the right people together to give us a chance — because right now, we've got a chance. We still got a lot to do, lot to learn, lot of trials to go through that we don’t even know of, but we have a chance.”
Without question, the masterminds of the Spurs — the likes of Gregg Popovich and R.C. Buford, the newer wave in general manager Brian Wright and coach Mitch Johnson — know what they're doing. There are banners swaying in San Antonio as proof.
Same goes in Oklahoma City; the Thunder proved last year, by winning a title, that they know what they're doing. And when Game 1 was over, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault — as per his nature — was calm and cool.
“I’m never going to discredit an opponent when they come in here and win like that,” Daigneault said. “But we have a lot of runway to improve. We have a lot of players that can play better. We collectively can play with more intentionality on both ends of the floor, certainly on the offensive end of the floor. We can play better collectively.”
No matter what happens Wednesday, Daigneault will likely say the same thing after Game 2 as well.
“Game 2 is going to end and then we'll need to be a better team in Game 3,” Daigneault said. “That’s how these work.”
The Spurs have reasons to feel good, obviously: They're up 1-0, and they hope they can get Fox back for Game 2. The Thunder, who got 31 points from Alex Caruso in the series opener, might not have reasons to feel good but they shouldn't be in panic mode either: It's highly unlikely that Gilgeous-Alexander (7 for 23 in Game 1) struggles that much from the field again anytime soon, and the minus-21 rebound differential — the team's worst since November 2024 — can be easily addressed.
“That’s what this time of year is about,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “It’s the highest level of basketball and you’re going to find out exactly what type of player you are, what type of competitor you are and exactly what you need to get better at.”
The Kentucky Wildcats and coach Mark Pope continue to offer the top players in the 2027 recruiting class, and have now offered a five-star guard.
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Mark Pope wasn't able to land any of the top recruits in the 2026 class for the Kentucky Wildcats, but that isn't stopping him from targeting the top players in 2027. On Monday, Pope officially offered a scholarship to guard King Gibson.
Gibson is a 6'4", 185 lb guard out of North Carolina who is currently rated five stars by 247Sports and ranks as their No. 6 overall player in the 2027 class. He announced the offer via his account on X.
Kentucky joins an already long list of schools to offer Gibson. It includes nearly every top program in the country and a slew of SEC teams who all view him as a play-maker capable of dominating at the college level with both his scoring and his passing.
Gibson has been shining during on the Nike EYBL circuit, averaging over 16 points per game through two sessions. He has shot the ball well from three-point range, and has even rebounded effectively as well. Landing him won't be easy, but Pope has joined the battle for him, and hopes Gibson will be his first big recruiting victory.
Why Bijan Robinson is one of the best candidates to grace cover of Madden this year
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The Atlanta Falcons have been steadily ignored for most of the last decade by the NFL, but there are signs that they're starting to become relevant again.
In addition to being featured in three prime-time games this coming season, there's buzz about star running back Bijan Robinson potentially being on the cover of this year's Madden game.
"So, why would EA Sports elect to go with a ball-carrier yet again? Because Bijan is the most video game-like player in the NFL right now. He destroys opponents by air and by ground, snatches ankles with reckless abandon and can break any run wide open -- as evidenced by his 93-yard touchdown scamper in Week 17 standing as the NFL's longest run last season. An All-Pro for the first time in 2025 after leading the league with 2,298 scrimmage yards, Robinson delivers the type of play style gamers envision when they pick up the sticks."
This is right on the money - as Robinson is the most-dynamic running back in football right now - and he may be about to explode to a whole other level now that he no longer has to share carries with Tyler Allgeier, who's moved onto the Arizona Cardinals.
The Falcons of course have a legacy to uphold here, as Michael Vick was the Madden cover athlete in 2004 - and the most famous cover athlete at that, as Vick was something like a video game boss in that version of the game.
Kownack also lists Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matt Stafford, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. All are worth consideration, but it would come as a surprise if a player as old as Stafford made the cover.
Madden covers are all about featuring young, rising stars who are freakish athletes, and perhaps no other player in the NFL has a better claim to that title right now.
Antonio Conte will leave Napoli at the end of the season.Watch all Serie BKT matches live on OneFootball for just €9.99 per month. Click here to purchase the LaB Channel Monthly Pass with no automat...
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🚨 Breaking | Conte-Napoli, it's over: decision made weeks ago
Antonio Conte will leave Napoli at the end of the season.
According to Fabrizio Romano, though already reported in recent hours by Sky Sport, the decision had reportedly been communicated to president Aurelio De Laurentiis about a month ago, with relations between the two said to have remained excellent despite the imminent split.
There were reportedly no financial disagreements or discussions over the technical project: simply put, Conte’s cycle with Napoli had come to an end. The coach will say goodbye to the Azzurri after the final match of the season, scheduled for Sunday at 18:00 against Udinese.
Pimblett (23-4) is scheduled to fight St. Denis in a lightweight
matchup at UFC
329on July 11 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Poirier is
backing Pimblett to beat St. Denis. Poirier notes that Pimblett’s
chin survived the test in the Liverpudlian’s last loss against
Justin
Gaethje. Poirier believes Gaethje would have knocked out St.
Denis had they fought.
Having shared the Octagon with St. Denis, Poirier claims the
Frenchman isn’t very clean on the feet. “The Diamond” believes
Pimblett’s striking, which he finds better than St. Denis,’ will be
the deciding factor. However, Poirier also acknowledges that St.
Denis isn’t scared to take risks to land his own shots.
An Edge on the Feet
“I got Paddy… I just compare it to the Gaethje fight,” Poirier said
on Deep Waters. “I think if BSD fought Gaethje, Gaethje would stop
him on the feet. Paddy took it and was still able to keep walking
forward. He definitely has a chin. I just don’t know if BSD’s gonna
be able to get him down. I think Paddy probably wins on the feet.
BSD’s not that slick on the feet. He might have power; he is not
scared to take chances, he will walk in front of you, get in your
face, and put himself in harm’s way to land his shots. I just think
Paddy is probably a little bit better on the feet.”
St. Denis (17-3) was riding a five-fight finishing streak when he
faced his biggest step up in competition in Poirier in 2024. It
looked like a passing of the torch was inevitable when “God of War”
dominated Poirier on the ground in the first round. However,
Poirier showed that there are levels to the game as he shut St.
Denis’ lights out in a slugfest in the second
round.
Dana White has revealed he tried to include a Chinese fighter on UFC Freedom 250, but the plan did not work out. The event will be staged on the White House lawn as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, making the card unusually symbolic.
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Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
Dana White has revealed he tried to include a Chinese fighter on UFC Freedom 250, but the plan did not work out.
The event will be staged on the White House lawn as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations, making the card unusually symbolic.
White did not explain why the Chinese fighter could not be added, although recent political tension between the United States and China gives the issue wider context.
Dana White says UFC Freedom 250 will reflect immigrant rootsPhoto by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
White told Steve Inskeep during NPR’s Newsmakers series: “We’re celebrating America’s 250th birthday on the lawn of the White House. And, you know, there possibly couldn’t be a greater honor than that, especially for me as an American.
“And I think that everybody thought that I was going to build a card, America versus the world, where we did the exact opposite.”
The 56-year-old businessman said the card is meant to represent America’s immigrant identity, rather than set up a simple patriotic rivalry.
“America is a country of immigrants that all came from somewhere else. And they’re all going to be represented.”
He added: “I tried hard to have a Chinese fighter on the card, too, but didn’t work out.”
That stance may surprise some observers because White is closely associated with Donald Trump, whose immigration policies remain a major political issue.
The Chinese fighter detail adds another layer. The UFC boss avoided blaming politics, but the current US-China climate makes the absence harder to ignore.
The Toronto Maple Leafs chose to move on from head coach Craig Berube after two seasons.
That means they need a replacement, and one of the names being rumored about is David Carle.
The Leafs seem likely to look in a lot of different directions here, but Carle is a particularly fascinating target.
Elliotte Friedman: Re Maple Leafs coaching search: Someone that they're interested in is David Carle; I think there's been some early contact there and I think they're gonna talk again - NHL Now (5/18)
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) May 19, 2026
Carle isn't in the NHL at the moment, though, and so he might not be as well known as some of the other candidates.
Carle is the head men's ice hockey coach at the University of Denver in the NCAA ranks.
He played as a defenseman for Denver in the college ranks, then spent time as an assistant there, along with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL, before being named Denver's head coach in 2018.
He has a 179-74-17 record as a college head coach.
He has also led Denver to national championships in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
Carle adds coaching experience for the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championships, twice leading Team USA to gold medals (2024 and 2025).
He's the younger brother of Matt Carle, who played 11 seasons in the NHL.
Carle has never coached a single team higher than the NCAA or USHL level, so a hire by the Maple Leafs would be a bold move.
Athlon's annual anonymous SEC coach quotes include a glowing endorsement of Texas A&M HC Mike Elko, and lingering question for QB Marcel Reed.
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We've reached the point in the 2026 offseason when anonymous coaches from every Power Four program discuss opposing players, offering casual or in-depth takes on a team's many strengths and weaknesses, especially at quarterback. For Texas A&M, redshirt junior signal-caller Marcel Reed will continue to be the general talking point for the other 15 SEC coaching staffs, especially the programs that will face the Tennessee native in 2026.
Entering his third and second full starting seasons, Reed's dual-threat status was questioned in several games last fall, while his most complete performance came during the Aggies' blowout road win vs. LSU, throwing for over 200 yards and two scores while rushing for over 100 yards and two touchdowns.
However, in an effort to prevent injury, Reed rushed attempts for highly strategic reasons, which set the Aggie offense back in losses to Texas and Miami in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Finishing with a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, it's clear that Reed is capable of leading the offense through the air and will continue to refine his mechanics this offseason with QB coach Joey Lynch.
Well, even career numbers haven't changed the mind of one anonymous SEC coach, who, in an interview with Athlon Sports, stated that Reed's athleticism and playmaking ability early in the season have yet to come through in "big games," especially against rival Texas.
“I always thought [QB Marcel Reed] was a great athlete. Respect him, but I always judge those guys on, ‘Do they win those big games? Are they the main difference?’ He’s got a year under his belt, but there’s gonna be more pressure on him facing the top half of the league and not have it just come down to the Texas game at the end.”
Entering his third season at the helm, head coach Mike Elko is nationally regarded as one of the best defensive minds, and taking the Aggies to the CFP for the first time in program history during his second season at the helm earned the New Jersey native a lucrative contract extension this offseason.
On a more positive note, Elko earned substantial, yet anonymous praise for his culture-building tactics and physical play on both sides of the ball. A "real-deal ball coach," Elko's biggest challenge comes in 2026, when the team takes on a schedule that includes road games vs. LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
“Mike Elko is a real-deal ball coach. The way they carry themselves, the way they compete, how physical they are on both sides of the line of scrimmage. They play complete team football. You watch them and you see the way they handle adversity at times throughout the season — that doesn’t just happen unless you’ve got a culture.”
Mike Elko and Marcel Reed will either make or break the Aggies changes of getting back to the CFP this fall, but the good news is that nothing is new after finishing 11-2 last season.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Monday's Game 1 supernova didn't establish Wemby as the best player in the galaxy. Because he already snatched that mystical accolade weeks ago.
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I won’t blame you if your jaw hit the floor watching Victor Wembanyama score his 41 points in the thrilling Game 1 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 30-foot, Steph-esque 3-pointer in overtime. The mind-melting dunks all over OKC’s defense. Pure cinema.
Feel free to shake your head at the fact that he pulled down 24 rebounds, which was more than the entire OKC starting lineup. Add in that he swatted away three OKC offerings and held the Thunder to 35.7% shooting on twos while he was on the floor. That’s all great.
But the craziest number of all is 22 — the number of years that Wembanyama has been alive.
“Best player in the f***ing world,” his teammate Stephon Castle said after the game.
To be clear, that was a reminder, not an announcement. I understand why folks have been reluctant to crown Wembanyama as The Best Player In The F’ing World because we’ve been conditioned to wait until it feels safer. Wait until they hit their prime. Wait until their team has won the championship. Wait until … well, they’re older than 22 f***ing years old.
But as a basketball species, Wemby is different, hence the alien moniker. He’s taller than everybody, yes, but the true differentiator is that he’s processing the game quicker than anyone. I noticed his processing power two years ago when I wrote that he was on the GOAT path. I doubled down this season when I predicted in October that he’d win MVPthis season(he qualified under the 65-game rule, but I don’t think he played enough minutes to convince voters).
So as someone who has been touting Wemby perhaps earlier than most (too early at times!), let me say this: Monday’s Game 1 supernova didn’t establish him as the best player in the galaxy. Because he already snatched that mystical accolade weeks ago from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić or whichever name you throw into that pile.
We can look at the measurables, which have been admittedly warped downward by Wembanyama’s unexpected absences. The Game 2 concussion against Portland and Game 4 ejection against Minnesota threw a wet blanket on his per-game averages because he only played a handful of minutes in those games.
But rest assured, when Wembanyama was on the floor, he was putting up numbers. Wembanyama was averaging 25.4 points, 13.9 rebounds and 5.2 blocks per 36 minutes heading into Monday’s Game 1, hinting that a monster 41-23-3-3 outing was within reach. But judging by his more pedestrian 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 4.1 blocks (OK, that last one isn’t pedestrian), you might not have guessed that Wemby made another leap.
Make no mistake about it, Wemby leveled up. Those gaudy box-score numbers don’t do justice to Wemby’s recent impact, especially on the defensive end. Even before Game 1, he has been neutering opposing offenses in ways that we haven’t seen. The Blazers entered the first-round series averaging 113.1 points per 100 possessions, per NBA advanced stats. With Wembanyama on the floor in the series, that scoring rate plummeted from 113.1 to 95.7 — a near 20-point drop.
OK, but that was a play-in team, right? What about a team that went to back-to-back Western Conference finals? With Wemby on the court, the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had just scored 112.8 points per 100 against Denver, saw their scoring rate crash to 96.8 in the second round — another near 20-point drop.
Well, they were short-handed in the backcourt! Wait until Wemby faces the undefeated defending champs! The Thunder torched the Suns and Lakers to the tune of 126.3 points per 100 possessions this postseason. And now they have Jalen Williams!
In Game 1, Wembanyama held the Thunder to 96.8 points per 100 possessions — a near THIRTY-point drop.
Welp.
Again, this guy was posting a higher scoring rate than Nikola Jokić this postseason, and I can promise you that Jokić wasn’t single-handedly making every opponent crash out offensively on every possession down the floor. Even before Game 1, no player was controlling the game like Wembanyama.
Need more cold, hard evidence that Wembanyama had already taken the torch from SGA and Jokić? We can look at the advanced impact numbers at Dunks and Threes, headlined by Estimated Plus-Minus, which attempts to measure a player’s per-100 possession impact on the scoreboard according to a variety of factors including box-score data, opponent strength, teammate quality and on-off splits.
When the season started, EPM agreed with the conventional wisdom that Jokić and Gilgeous-Alexander were head and shoulders above the competition, posting a +7.5 and +7.4 EPM, respectively. No one else was higher than +6.5, and Wemby sat at +3.8 EPM.
And then the regular season happened. Wembanyama migrated closer to the basket just as we saw in the preseason and became an unstoppable force.
The gap closed. For those clocking BPITFW (Best Player In The F-Ing World) status, Wemby flew past the competition in the impact metrics by the end of the regular season, registering a +8.5 EPM compared to SGA’s +8.4 figure and Jokić’s +7.7 mark in early April. Take a look at how Wembanyama’s green line — depicting the trendline of his in-season EPM marks — soars upward toward SGA’s blue line and Jokić’s yellow line. He eclipsed them a month ago.
via Dunks and Threes
On Tuesday morning, as one would imagine, Wembanyama’s lead remains.
If you’re suffering from Wemby whiplash, I get it. This happened quickly. Wemby went from All-Star (+4.0) to BPITFW status (+8.0) this past season, a tiny span which is basically unheard of. It’s hard to see in the above graphic, but a cluster of Wemby’s green dots illustrating his recent games hovered above the yellow and blue ones — even before Monday’s Game 1.
If you want analytical evidence that a passing of the torch has already happened, there you go.
I’ve been tracking this in real time. Ahead of the playoffs, I said that if I needed to win one game, I’d pick Wemby over the rest — yes, SGA and Jokić included. Most people didn’t see it that way because the Spurs’ core hadn’t won a playoff game yet, but from my view Wemby was already the most dominant force in the game. And now we’re here.
I will keep banging this drum because I don’t think people have quite grasped what we’re witnessing: this is the worst version of Wembanyama that we will see for the next decade. This is only the beginning. Wembanyama is going to get stronger, smarter and more refined. Like any player, we have to slap on the annoying caveat, barring injury, but this will be the worst version he’ll be for the foreseeable future.
Let me put this a different way. Imagine if Wembanyama was playing against his peers at the University of Texas, the Austin campus sitting just 80 miles down the road from the Spurs’ Front Bank Center. It’s a preposterous thought. But he’s young enough to fit in there as a college senior.
Think about that. At 22, Wemby just put up 41 points, 24 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 assists in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals. Against the defending champs. In their building. Without the benefit of his starting All-Star point guard.
And he did all that while being a year younger than lottery prospect Yaxel Lendeborg, who has NBA execs drooling after winning the national championship at University of Michigan. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — then Lew Alcindor — was Wemby’s same age when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 (well, technically he turned 22 about a week after draft night). By most accounts, he was the best collegiate ever, winning three championships in his time at UCLA.
Now envision this Wemby in college as the modern Kareem. You thought tanking was bad this year? Just imagine for a second if this version of Wembanyama was in this draft. We’d have our first 0-82 team, I’m convinced. And I’m saying only one because it’s mathematically impossible to have multiple winless teams. I think owners would be suiting up their GMs just to have a chance at this guy in the draft lottery.
Because what we just witnessed from Wemby on Monday was prime Shaq, the one that bulldozed his way through opposing centers like a freight train slamming through tumbleweeds. In fact, according to Stathead, Wembanyama became the first player to put up at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in the conference finals game or later since Shaquille O’Neal in the 2001 NBA Finals.
But Shaq was 29 years old then, at the peak of his powers. Wembanyama has seven years to go before he reaches that physical apex. With his Game 1 performance, Wemby etched his name in NBA history as the youngest player to record at least 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
As crazy as it sounds, this might not be his best performance of the season. The Frenchman didn’t have the luxury of De’Aaron Fox in Game 1 and the center’s numbers get even better when next to his All-Star point guard. Once Fox comes back, there’s a chance Wemby’s next big moment will be even gaudier than 41-24-3-3. Don’t wait for conventional wisdom to catch up. Wembanyama isn’t waiting for anybody.
Reports in Italy claim that centre-back Gleison Bremer might have played his final match for Juventus as Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United consider triggering the Brazilian’s rele...
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Bremer might have played final Juventus game as Liverpool and Man United loom
Reports in Italy claim that centre-back Gleison Bremer might have played his final match for Juventus as Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United consider triggering the Brazilian’s release clause.
Liverpool and Man United looking at Bremer release clause
Outlets such as La Gazzetta dello Sport and TMW ponder whether the Fiorentina loss might have been Bremer’s final ever game for Juventus, though. The Brazilian has long been a stand-out member of the Old Lady’s defensive unit and continues to attract attention from the Premier League.
TURIN, ITALY – MAY 03: Bremer of Juventus FC is challenged by Kieron Tom Bowie of Hellas Verona FC during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and Hellas Verona FC at Allianz Stadium on May 3, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
He has a release clause in his contract said to be worth €58m, which can be activated during the first 10 days of August according to TMW. Premier League rivals Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly at the front of the queue for Bremer’s signature.
Bremer has spent the last eight seasons in Turin, joining Torino ahead of the 2018-19 campaign, before joining rivals Juventus in a deal worth €41m plus add-ons ahead of the 2022-23 campaign.
He has since made 121 appearances across all competitions with the Bianconeri, scoring 12 goals, 11 of which have come in Serie A.
On May 18, Smith-Njigba revealed on his social media that he received a trophy mistakenly labeled for a defensive award. The trophy also had a grammatical typo; there was no space in between “the” and “year” in the description.
”Nah, I really want to expose them, though,” Smith-Njigba said on his Instagram story. “It’s getting disrespectful, guys.
Smith then pointed out both mistakes on the award’s description.
“Just keep the award at this point,” Smith-Njigba wrote in a separate post. “Leave it in the history books.”
Smith-Njigba had 119 receptions for 1,793 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in his third NFL season. With 54.4% of the vote share, Smith-Njigba beat San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey for the AP Offensive Player of the Year award.
Smith-Njigba also won Super Bowl LX with the Seahawks.
Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson will miss the rest of the 2026 season with an ACL tear, the team announced Tuesday. This comes just two days after Jackson suffered a non-contact injury against the Minnesota Lynx. Following the game, Jackson’s teammate, Natasha Cloud, called out the contest’s three referees by name during a press conference, […]
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Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson will miss the rest of the 2026 season with an ACL tear, the team announced Tuesday. This comes just two days after Jackson suffered a non-contact injury against the Minnesota Lynx.
Following the game, Jackson’s teammate, Natasha Cloud, called out the contest’s three referees by name during a press conference, saying that the injury could have been prevented with better officiating.
“The ultimate job is to control and protect the players in this game. And I think that this group today failed to do so,” Cloud said. “They failed to protect Rickea, they failed to control the game.”
Cloud said that she was “popped in the face” and told officials that the game was getting out of hand, and that on the subsequent play, there were “hands all over Rickea.” After Jackson’s injury, Cloud was issued a technical foul for yelling at the officials.
During the second-quarter play where Jackson was hurt, she briefly bumped into the Lynx’s Nia Coffey while dribbling up the court, but then her left knee buckled before she fell down. Jackson had to be helped to the locker room and did not return for the rest of the game.
“I will be damned if a player gets hurt on our team. That was something that was controllable by the referees, that was part of their job, and there was no foul call as well,” Cloud said.
Officiating has been a major point of emphasis to kick off the 2026 WNBA season, after commissioner Cathy Englebert created a task force to address it. With that task force came tighter calls—through the league’s first 11 games this season, teams averaged 22.3 fouls per game compared to 17.5 last season.
However, figures like Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, Breanna Stewart, and Azzi Fudd have already complained about the increasing number of calls to start the season. Reeve specifically said that officials were calling “marginal fouls” when the issue at hand was more about “unnecessary physicality.”
Cloud, on the other hand, seemingly feels that there aren’t enough calls. She also said that the Sky would send footage from the Lynx game to the WNBA for review. Neither the league nor the Sky has confirmed whether she has been fined for her statements.
“The points of emphasis is great, but I also think it’s a little bullshit, they need to let us play but there also needs to be control of the game,” Cloud said. “I don’t think for the majority of the game tonight these refs had control.”
Cloud and Jackson are both new additions to the Sky roster, which experienced one of the largest turnovers within the league. Jackson was traded from the Sparks in exchange for Ariel Atkins, while Cloud signed with the Sky just five days before their season opening.
Representatives for Cloud have not responded to a request for comment.
Former Duke alum Jared McCain spoke to the media after a disappointing loss where he scored seven points off the bench in 18 minutes.
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Former Duke Blue Devil Jared McCain was in action once again Monday night as the Oklahoma City Thunder put their perfect 8-0 playoff record this postseason on the line against the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite trailing for 81 percent of the game, the Thunder hung around, ultimately putting together a fourth-quarter comeback to force overtime. The two teams remained even through the first extra period, until the Spurs prevailed in double overtime, completing a 122-115 win.
McCain was a solid spark for Oklahoma City off the bench, finishing with seven points in 18 minutes on 3-for-6 shooting. McCain also led the team in plus-minus, finishing +9 on the night. However, his scoring wasn't nearly enough, as the Thunder finished with just three scorers in double figures, two of which were starters.
Following the game, McCain admitted that despite playing 90 career regular season games through two years in the league, that was his first time facing Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio, having missed all previous matchups due to injury. McCain also recognized the weight of the moment, saying, “That was the most playoff (like) game that I’ve felt since I’ve been here.”
McCain and the Thunder will have a day off Tuesday before aiming to tie the series at 1-1 Wednesday.
Manchester City's players will be feeling pretty good about themselves anyway after winning the FA Cup on Saturday, but now they must be thinking 'let's give one last push for Pep', with manager Pep Guardiola looking set to step down at the end of the season. Arsenal are in still in control of the title race after beating Burnley on Monday but City will be desperate to take it to the final day, and I think they will. Bournemouth are a very good team and they have plenty to play for too - this is Andoni Iraola's final home game in charge and the Cherries know sixth place will get them in Europe and could even get them in the Champions League.
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[BBC]
Manchester City's players will be feeling pretty good about themselves anyway after winning the FA Cup on Saturday, but now they must be thinking 'let's give one last push for Pep', with manager Pep Guardiola looking set to step down at the end of the season.
Arsenal are in still in control of the title race after beating Burnley on Monday but City will be desperate to take it to the final day, and I think they will.
Bournemouth are a very good team and they have plenty to play for too - this is Andoni Iraola's final home game in charge and the Cherries know sixth place will get them in Europe and could even get them in the Champions League.
It would not surprise me if they got something from this game but, with what is at stake for City, I am backing them to find a way to win.
Bournemouth are an attack-minded team, can be quite direct when they want to be and they will get after City and have a go at them - but I think City will exploit the space they leave behind.
Having spent significant time with Enzo Maresca during his 18 months at Chelsea, it is clear he would slot seamlessly into City. You would be hard pressed to find a coach more similar in style to Pep Guardiola, whom Maresca idolised while facing his Barcelona side as a player in La Liga. Despite the tension, and partly blaming him for a drop in form that followed his mid-season exit and Chelsea's decline this season, the hierarchy respected much of his work with the players, and he remained popular with the majority of the dressing room.
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[BBC]
Having spent significant time with Enzo Maresca during his 18 months at Chelsea, it is clear he would slot seamlessly into City.
You would be hard pressed to find a coach more similar in style to Pep Guardiola, whom Maresca idolised while facing his Barcelona side as a player in La Liga.
He transformed Chelsea into a possession-based side built on slow, patient build-up. They lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in almost every match, although the fluid movement of players allowed them to adapt to opponents and keep them guessing from game to game.
His final six months at Chelsea were marked by a fractured relationship with the club's ownership, who were aware of City's interest early in the season through the Italian's agent Jorge Mendes, alongside hearing his complaints over transfers at Stamford Bridge.
Despite the tension, and partly blaming him for a drop in form that followed his mid-season exit and Chelsea's decline this season, the hierarchy respected much of his work with the players, and he remained popular with the majority of the dressing room.
That said, the London club say they are due compensation under the terms of Maresca's departure, and are exploring their legal options.
Chelsea expect a compensation package to be paid by either Manchester City or the manager himself, but it remains unclear either how much or when it would be resolved.
Maresca would argue that an agreement has only recently been reached with City and this is the basis of ongoing legal discussions between the two parties.
Asked about his exit at CAA World Congress of Sports, influential Chelsea owner Behdad Eghbali said last month: "The change wasn't the club's decision, for reasons I can't speak about legally.
"I think the reasons will become kind of clear in due course. But no, it's not a change we wanted to make."
Victor Wembanyama created the kind of NBA playoff moment that immediately drags history into the present. The San Antonio Spurs star hit a 28-foot three against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, tying the game at 108-108 in overtime.
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Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama created the kind of NBA playoff moment that immediately drags history into the present.
The San Antonio Spurs star hit a 28-foot three against the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, tying the game at 108-108 in overtime.
San Antonio then beat Oklahoma City 122-115 in double overtime, taking a 1-0 series lead and turning Wembanyama’s shot into the defining image of the opener.
The Stephen Curry comparison was instant, obvious and fair. It was also incomplete.
Victor Wembanyama turned a Stephen Curry echo into his own momentPhoto by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Curry’s famous Oklahoma City shot in 2016 still sits near the centre of modern NBA memory.
He pulled up from absurd range in overtime, stunned the Thunder crowd, and gave the league one of the clearest images of his influence. The NBA later looked back on Stephen Curry’s 2016 winner as one of the signature moments of his career.
That is why Wembanyama’s shot instantly carried the same visual charge.
Same city. Same opponent. Same overtime tension. Same feeling that the shot should not be reasonable, until the ball drops and makes every normal defensive rule feel outdated. But the details matter.
Curry’s shot was a regular-season masterpiece. Wembanyama’s came in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Curry’s shot was a game-winner. Wembanyama’s was a game-tying shot that dragged the Spurs into a second overtime, where they finished the job.
That does not make one moment better than the other. It makes the comparison more interesting.
Curry made logo-range confidence feel like a real basketball weapon. Wembanyama has now shown what happens when that confidence belongs to a player built like no one else in the league.
Wembanyama’s Game 1 numbers made the comparison feel too small
This was not just a viral shot attached to a normal performance. Wembanyama finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks, adding three assists in a road playoff win.
That is the part that pushes the night beyond a Curry tribute act. The shot mattered because it saved the game. The full performance mattered because it explained why San Antonio could trust him to take it.
There is a difference between a big man making a desperate three and a superstar calmly choosing a deep three because he believes it is the correct shot.
Wembanyama’s attempt looked outrageous only because normal basketball logic still has not caught up with him.
It changed the mood of the building. It changed the shape of the game. It changed the way the moment will be remembered.
Oklahoma City did not lose because of one shot alone. But that shot made the Thunder deal with the most frightening version of Wembanyama, the version that does not need to be near the rim to control the game.
Stephen Curry changed range, Wembanyama is changing who can own it
Curry’s revolution was never just about making deep threes. It was about changing what a good shot could look like. He stretched the floor so far that defenders had to pick him up in places they were never trained to guard.
That is the part Wembanyama now seems to be expanding. He is not Curry. He does not need to be Curry. That is the point.
A 7-foot-4 centre with elite rim protection, a massive rebounding radius and the nerve to take a logo three in overtime is a different kind of basketball problem.
The Spurs took a 1-0 series lead because Wembanyama gave them everything at once.
He gave them size. He gave them defence. He gave them scoring. Then, with the game slipping away, he gave them the one shot that made everyone reach for Curry as the only available reference point.
That is understandable. Curry is the player who made this kind of shot part of the sport’s modern language. But Wembanyama’s version felt like a new dialect.
It was not a guard bending the floor. It was a centre breaking the boundaries of what his position is supposed to be.
Curry’s Oklahoma City shot remains iconic because it announced where basketball was going. Wembanyama’s Oklahoma City shot matters because it suggested the next version may already be here.
Tusky Valley erupted for four home runs while Brennen Reichman tossed another dominant outing in a district semifinal win against Buckeye, winning 10-0.
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ZOARVILLE – On the heels of tossing a no-hitter on May 13 against John Glenn, Tuscarawas Valley’s junior pitcher, Brennen Reichman, logged five innings, struck out 14 batters and zero hits in the Trojan opening tournament game against Buckeye.
“She is stoic on the mound,” Tusky Valley head coach Staci Martin said. “Once she settles in and takes command she becomes very hard to touch.”
Over her last 12 innings pitched, Reichman has struck out 31 batters, surrendered zero hits and has allowed four walks.
After a quiet start offensively, scoring one run through two innings, the Trojans bats came alive in the fourth inning as they smacked three home runs.
“I was happy with the way we were able to make adjustments,” Martin said. “We went from striking out to be able to put the ball over the fence.”
The Trojans defeated Buckeye 10-0 in five innings.
Being able to settle into a tournament game is key, Martin said.
“I could tell we were playing a little nervous,” she said. “We’re starting a tournament run and took our girls a little bit to get settled, but once we got to our style of play things started to click.”
During the fourth inning, Elliot Wallick hit a two-run home run; Reichman and Hallee Borell hit solo home runs.
After striking out the side in the bottom half of the inning, Reichman stepped up to the plate with runners on second and third, sitting in a 3-0 count she smacked a home run to center field.
With the homer, Reichman tied the Tusky Valley’s school record of 11 home runs in a single season.
“It felt amazing,” she said. “After not being able to hit much in travel ball I feel like I have gained a lot more confidence stepping in the box.”
With the four home runs during the game, the Trojans broke the team record with 33 home runs in a season.
Also, during the game, Reichman reached 700 career strikeouts and 100 career hits.
“It means a lot to achieve that,” she said. “I’m proud of myself and it’s just reassurance for me and that all my hard work is paying off.”
After winning districts a season ago, Martin and Reichman said the lesson learned was managing her on the mound throughout the regular season.
“We have to give her rest,” she said. “We’ve done a good job of that as the regular season came to an end so she’s ready for tournament play.”
“The way we structured games throughout the regular season, so I wasn’t pitching as much early in the season,” Reichman echoed.
The excitement of tournament games brings a new atmosphere of play.
“There’s just something to lose,” Reichman said. “I think it lights a fire under all of us, making us play that much better. We’re just so much more excited.”
“We’re trying to take it one game at a time,” Martin added. “Looking forward to the opportunity to move onto the next level, watching the caliber of ball my girls are playing right now just makes it that much better”
With the victory, Tuscarawas Valley will play in the district championship, taking on Coshocton on Wednesday, May 20 at 5 p.m. the game will be played at Indian Valley.
“I want them to continue playing like they have been,” Martin said. “When the ball gets put into play for them to make good defensive plays and continue making adjustments when they’re in the box.”
The Tampa Bay Rays have called up top prospect Carson Williams following Jake Fraley’s move to the injured list. Fraley needs hernia surgery and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, per Kevin Cash.
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Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
The Tampa Bay Rays have called up top prospect Carson Williams following Jake Fraley’s move to the injured list. Fraley needs hernia surgery and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, per Kevin Cash. Williams is a shortstop by trade, which gives the Rays room to rework more than just the outfield.
The Rays have managed plenty of regular-season innings with a defense-first approach and flexible matchups. Williams brings a different kind of profile to the conversation.
The call-up reshapes more than the outfield
Tampa Bay called up the most promising infield prospect in the system to fill an outfield opening. The move creates room for more Richie Palacios in the outfield, added flexibility at second base, and fewer nights leaning solely on Taylor Walls’ glove at shortstop.
Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Vilade can handle more of Fraley’s direct workload, while Palacios offers another way to keep a left-handed bat in the lineup without blocking Williams in the infield.
What Williams brings
Williams has three straight 20-homer, 20-steal minor league seasons behind him and pairs that with top-tier defense at shortstop.
The Triple-A line carries warning signs. Williams hit .213/.318/.447 with 23 homers, 22 steals, and a strikeout rate north of 34 percent, with the swing-and-miss showing up most against secondary pitches.
Taylor Walls and the offensive question at shortstop
Walls still provides steady shortstop defense, and his value shows up most when games tighten late. His stability and versatility matter during that stretch.
Through mid-May, Walls had a .582 OPS and a .212/.310/.273 line, with most of his contributions coming from defense and baserunning. Williams gives Tampa Bay a different way to address the spot without giving up defense.
The ripple effect
If Williams claims shortstop, Walls slides into a more natural utility role. Palacios can shift based on matchups, while DeLuca and Vilade shoulder more of the outfield load while Fraley is out.
That kind of flexibility is where the Rays often find value, and Williams opens the door to it.
The playing-time question still has to be answered
Prospect promotions are easy to celebrate in theory. The real test comes when at-bats need to be found.
Tampa Bay can use Williams as a rotation piece around the existing alignment, or they can use Fraley’s six-to-eight-week absence as a runway to give him every-day shortstop reps. The roster has room for both versions.
No Offseason Newsletter 🏀 | This is The Athletic’s women’s basketball newsletter. Sign up here to receive No Offseason directly in your inbox. Week 3, here we go! We’re seeking reader questions for the newsletter and an upcoming episode of the “No Offseason” podcast at nooffseason@theathletic.com. Coming up today: 📍 Connecticut and L.A. observations 📊 Vegas back atop power rankings 🎧 WNBA officiating deep-dive On the Ground: Heartbreak in CT, Clark in L.A. This week, Sabreena and I are checking
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No Offseason Newsletter 🏀 | This is The Athletic’s women’s basketball newsletter. Sign up here to receive No Offseason directly in your inbox.
Week 3, here we go! We’re seeking reader questions for the newsletter and an upcoming episode of the “No Offseason” podcast at nooffseason@theathletic.com. Coming up today:
📍 Connecticut and L.A. observations
📊 Vegas back atop power rankings
🎧 WNBA officiating deep-dive
On the Ground: Heartbreak in CT, Clark in L.A.
This week, Sabreena and I are checking in from the East Coast and West Coast.
I was in Connecticut for the Las Vegas Aces’ two-game series against the Sun when the WNBA and NBA board of governors’ approved the sale of the Sun and their relocation from the Mohegan Tribe to Tilman J. Fertitta in a unanimous vote.
Fertitta, who also owns the Houston Rockets, purchased the franchise for a record-breaking $300 million.
The Sun will be rebranded as the Comets, the WNBA’s original dynasty team, which folded in 2008.
Being in Uncasville, Conn., when this news broke, I can tell you fans are still reeling over this season being the franchise’s last in Connecticut. I spoke to a group of four friends who have been season ticket holders since the Sun’s 2003 inaugural season in Uncasville, and they were distrusting of the WNBA and its handling of the sale. They also felt concern for the Sun’s history and heartbreak over the loss of relationships with fellow season ticket holders they’ve sat next to for over two decades.
But for three more months, Sun fans will at least get to enjoy visiting teams’ final appearances in Uncasville, which brings me to the second noteworthy story from last week: Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson made history in the Aces’ 101-94 win over the Sun on Friday, becoming the first WNBA player to record multiple games with 45+ points. She finished the game with 45 points, shooting 15-for-18 from the field.
Over in Los Angeles, Sparks fans welcomed Caitlin Clark back to Crypto.com Arena for the first time since May of her rookie season, where she won her first-ever WNBA game. The Clark Effect has somewhat dimmed since then — the Sparks didn’t even make tickets in the upper bowl available — but Clark is vastly improved since that first game. It’s the passing that always stands out — my personal favorite was a bouncer to Ty Harris off an inbound, a real beaut.
🏆 The Liberty, previously No. 1, fell down our latest power rankings, while the Sky saw a big boost.
🌎 Competing in both the WNBA and abroad can be complicated. One Mercury forward from France wasn’t available for the first two games because of FIBA clearance issues.
🔥 Aliyah Boston missed her first game, between her WNBA and college career, in eight years on Sunday. It snapped a 275-game streak.
🏀 “Egregious”officiating mistakes were made last offseason, the WNBA’s head ref said. To combat that, the league established a task force. Learn more about its job here.
🎙️On the “No Offseason” podcast, Zena, Annie and Sabreena further break down the task force and the league response to officiating. Can it improve the overall flow of the game, and better protect players? Listen wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
You Gotta See This
Olivia Miles’ wild inbound pass
Olivia Miles has already made history in a Lynx uniform. After finishing with 15 points and six assists against the Wings, she joined Sue Bird and Candace Parker as the only players in WNBA history with at least 10 points and five assists in each of their first three career games.
In a game full of breathtaking dimes, Miles’ best may have been on a sideline out-of-bounds play in the fourth quarter. Lynx guard Kayla McBride came off a screen set by forward Natasha Howard at the top of the key, putting Wings guard Azzi Fudd on her back. From the right sideline, Miles perfectly timed and placed the pass to McBride under the basket and she was fouled from behind by Fudd.
Miles has drawn high praise from around the league, with many comparing her passing style to Aces guard Chelsea Gray. I caught up with Gray in Connecticut to ask her thoughts:
“I love watching her play. She’s faster in the way she gets downhill. But I’m different in the way I’m able to rise on the pull-up. So, it’s just different, but our passing is very, very similar. It’s kind of crazy.”
Speaking of Gray …
Remember when WNBA GMs were asked who they would want taking a shot with the game on the line? Gray tied for first in that poll, and she showed why in the final 10 seconds of the Aces’ 85-84 win over the Dream on Sunday.
Trailing by one point, Aces forward Stephanie Talbot secured a jump ball and handed it off to Gray. Gray drove hard to the left before spinning to her right and pulling up for a fadeaway in the paint over her defender, putting the Aces up by one with 3.6 seconds on the clock. You can watch it here.
Now, Gray can say she should have the ball in her hands on offense and the main assignment on defense with the game on the line.
Foultopia
Orrrrr …. maybe not. The WNBA is adjusting to new refereeing points of emphasis, following the task force implementation. There have been some growing pains as players figure out what contact they can and cannot get away with. Sunday in Los Angeles? Everything was a foul, setting a high-water mark for the season of 59 fouls in one game — it is the only contest this season that has surpassed 70 free-throw attempts, as the teams combined for 72.
Players and coaches were united in their belief that the physicality of the game needed to be toned down after a rough 2025. For now, that means all but four games (out of 30) all season have lasted at least two hours, the default national television window.
3: Only one player has ever fouled out of her first two WNBA games … or her first three. Washington Mystics guard Cassandre Prosper’s debut has been promising nonetheless.
9: Paige Bueckers scored a game-high 18 points to go with seven assists in the Wings’ Monday night win over the Mystics. She’s put up at least 15 points and two assists in nine consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the WNBA.
12: In the Aces’ win over the Dream, Jackie Young set a record for the most field-goal attempts in a game (12) without scoring a point. Still, Las Vegas doesn’t win without Young, who had two steals, two blocks, seven assists and seven rebounds and won the jump ball with 8.5 seconds left to set up Gray for the game-winner.
48: Frieda Bühner became the first player in WNBA history to suit up for a game in No. 48, a jersey that didn’t even have her name on it on opening night. Bühner got her regular No. 20 back by the second game. The funny thing is, Basketball Reference has no record of Bühner’s number in her first game, so other No. 48s may have been lost to history. The Fire rookie is part of an exclusive club — but just how exclusive is unknown.
Watch Guide
Here are the top games we’re monitoring this week (all times ET):
📺 Tempo-Mercury
Tonight at 10 p.m., League Pass
The Tempo’s four-game road trip continues with a tough matchup against the WNBA Finals runners-up.
📺 Wings-Sky
Tomorrow at 9 p.m., USA Network
The 2-2 Wings will look to start their three-game road trip off with a win against the 3-1 Sky in Chicago.
📺 Valkyries-Liberty
Thursday at 8 p.m., Prime Video
The 3-1 Liberty have not been at full strength, but Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally were both full participants in practice this week.
📺 Sun-Storm
Friday at 10 p.m., Ion/League Pass
Will the 0-5 Sun still be searching for their first win of the season come Friday?
📺 Sparks-Aces
Saturday at 8 p.m., CBS/Paramount+
As the 1-3 Sparks continue to search for their defensive identity, the Aces present a daunting challenge.
📺 Wings-Liberty
Sunday at 3:30 p.m., Peacock/NBC
This is the WNBA’s Sunday primetime matchup, but will it live up to the billing as the Wings navigate early setbacks?
📺 Fire-Liberty
Monday at 8 p.m., Peacock/NBC
The Fire took advantage of a depleted Liberty roster in Portland, but how will they fare against them on the road?
The Killie game closed the curtain on a dismal season and demonstrated why we were relegated. It's also goodbye to Danny Wilson, who put in a good shift over the past few years and was there giving 100 per cent at the end too, which is a credit to his professionalism.
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[BBC]
The Killie game closed the curtain on a dismal season and demonstrated why we were relegated.
We played well for large parts of the game, with Stevie May rolling back the years with a turbo-charged performance.
Then we were all over the place, gifted goals, and self‑imploded to be miles off it at the end.
The big news before the game was players who were due to leave the club said they'd rather not play in case of injury.
I can understand the fear of an injury that scuppers a potential move and impacts your livelihood, but in how many other jobs would you get paid while asking not to do your work? I guess it's goodbye and see you later from those guys.
It's also goodbye to Danny Wilson, who put in a good shift over the past few years and was there giving 100 per cent at the end too, which is a credit to his professionalism.
There have also been a few signings announced by the club, which is a real positive. There's a lot of experience incoming with Sam Nicholson and Liam Polworth.
If we learned one thing from the "mature" signings we dragged out of retirement, it's that we also need young legs who are willing to put the hard yards in.
I'm very keen to see what winger Tyrese Sinclair and young Arbroath defender Jack Wilkie will bring.
It's clear now that we are recruiting for a coach who will have to be on board with someone else's signings.
Will it be someone else at the club, other than the new coach, picking the team, tactics, and all that stuff? Who knows, but I'm intrigued to see who will take the job - and how long it all lasts.
With the firing of Kris Knoblauch, the Edmonton Oilers are once again searching for a head coach. Today, we take a look at four enticing candidates to become the bench boss in Edmonton.
After a disappointing 2025-26 season that ended in a first-round series loss to the Anaheim Ducks, the Edmonton Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch from his head coaching duties.
It wasn’t necessarily surprising to see Knoblauch let go, as the Oilers took a notable step in the wrong direction this season. However, whether it was fair that he was fired is worth debating.
Regardless, the Oilers now need to find a new head coach after firing Knoblauch. Because of this, let’s look at four potential coaches who could make sense for the Oilers to hire.
Bruce Cassidy
Frank Seravalli of Hockey 24/7 recently reported that the Oilers have already tried to interview Bruce Cassidy, but the Vegas Golden Knights blocked them from doing so. Given this, Edmonton is already known to be interested in Cassidy, so it certainly feels fair to include him on this list.
Cassidy could be an amazing fit for the Oilers’ head coaching gig. He has had a ton of success as an NHL head coach, including leading the Golden Knights to their Stanley Cup triumph in 2023. With the Oilers being in their Stanley Cup window, bringing in a coach like Cassidy would make a lot of sense.
Like Cassidy, Berube is a head coach who has already won a Stanley Cup during his coaching career. This certainly adds to his appeal, and he could help an Oilers club looking to improve in 2026-27.
If the Oilers want to take a chance on someone new, Manny Malhotra stands out as a fascinating potential option. While he has yet to be a head coach at the NHL level, he previously served as an assistant coach for both the Vancouver Canucks and the Toronto Maple Leafs.
He also helped lead the Abbotsford Canucks to their Calder Cup championship in his first season as head coach of the AHL squad.
With this in mind, Malhotra could be a very good coach for the Oilers to take a chance on. While he may not have the same kind of experience as Cassidy and Berube, he has the potential to emerge as a top NHL head coach.
Could the Oilers try to lure David Carle to the NHL? The 36-year-old has had a plethora of successes as the head coach of Denver University, leading the school to three NCAA titles since 2022, including this season.
With how much success Carle has had coaching at the collegiate level, it should only be a matter of time before he lands his first NHL gig. He has already generated interest from NHL teams in the past and could be a great young coach for the Oilers to take a chance on.
Daniel Ricciardo wants to set the record straight on how Formula 1 drivers look at IndyCar. Several Formula 1 drivers have tried their luck in IndyCar, with over 150 drivers taking part in both competitions.
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Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images
Daniel Ricciardo wants to set the record straight on how Formula 1 drivers look at IndyCar.
Several Formula 1 drivers have tried their luck in IndyCar, with over 150 drivers taking part in both competitions. However, only four Formula 1 drivers have managed to win the IndyCar Championship.
Despite the challenge that IndyCar has posed to them, there has been a notion that Formula 1 drivers don’t respect IndyCar as a competition. But Daniel Ricciardo has rubbished this claim.
Photo by Qian Jun/MB Media/Getty ImagesDaniel Ricciardo explains how Formula 1 drivers truly feel about IndyCar
Speaking to Dreyer & Reinbold Racing driver Conor Daly, former Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo explained why the idea that he and other Formula 1 drivers not respecting IndyCar isn’t true.
Ricciardo admitted that Formula 1 was always the goal, but they look at all motorsport with respect and admiration. Daly echoed the same sentiment on behalf of IndyCar and NASCAR drivers.
Ricciardo: “There’s definitely respect for it. There was never a discussion like, ‘We’re the best, F1 is this, we’re up here’. As a kid, sure, for me, F1 was where I wanted to be, and I was a fan of Senna and all of that growing up.
“That was a big part of what I wanted to do, but it was never like we’re here, and everyone else is there. I think when you get to a level, you know what’s involved in racing.
“Even go-karting, like to win a go-kart race, is hard; there’s just so much that goes into it. So, yes, everyone’s competitive, but you get to a point where you realise everyone’s kind of a bada—.”
Daly: “I think we all have respect for you guys, too. Everyone knows if you’re at the top, no matter where it is, there’s kind of a general respect. Even the guys in NASCAR, I respect the heck out of those guys, they respect the heck out of Formula 1.”
Daniel Ricciardo admits IndyCar ‘scares’ him, but he still ‘loves’ it
Speaking further, Ricciardo reiterated the love and respect for all racing that F1 drivers have for all motorsport, even acknowledging the respect a legendary driver like Max Verstappen has.
“Yeah, there’s definitely not a ‘We’re cooler than you guys’. There’s none of that, at least I never experienced that. I think we all just ultimately love racing, and you guys do a very different discipline.
“Obviously, the oval stuff compared to the circuit racing, what we do with a ton of downforce and all that, but it’s different.
“I think you said Max said it, I’ve said it for many years, too: it scares the s— out of me. But I love it, it’s freaking awesome.”
It’s good to know that F1 drivers do not look down on IndyCar and NASCAR, especially given how challenging both racing leagues are.
And with the Indy 500 this weekend, where several former F1 drivers are set to participate, it is a clear sign that IndyCar poses a challenge that the best drivers in the world want to conquer.
Giorgio Chiellini has reacted to Juventus’ home defeat against Fiorentina in Serie A this weekend, a result that saw the Bianconeri drop out of the Champions League qualification places with just on...
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“We’re taking it one day at a time” Chiellini responds to Juventus’ latest setback
Giorgio Chiellini has reacted to Juventus’ home defeat against Fiorentina in Serie A this weekend, a result that saw the Bianconeri drop out of the Champions League qualification places with just one match remaining.
In recent weeks, the team in black and white had appeared to understand the importance of the situation and had produced a steady run of performances to keep their top four hopes alive.
Supporters had grown increasingly confident that Juventus would maintain their momentum and secure a place in the top four, which would guarantee Champions League football for the 2026/2027 season.
Juventus Under Pressure in Top Four Race
As one of the biggest clubs in world football, Juventus are widely expected to compete in the Champions League each season, with the financial and sporting consequences of missing out considered significant.
The club has continued to work towards that objective, but the defeat to Fiorentina has delivered a major setback at a crucial stage of the campaign. As a result, missing out on Champions League qualification has become a real possibility heading into the final match.
Despite the disappointment, Juventus are expected to approach their final fixture of the season against Torino with full commitment as they attempt to salvage their European ambitions.
Chiellini Reflects on Defeat
When asked about the loss to Fiorentina, Chiellini offered a brief and measured assessment of the situation, as reported by Il Bianconero.
He said:
“It was definitely a bad day.
“We’re taking it one day at a time, now we’re waiting to finish this season.”
Chiellini’s comments reflect the frustration within the club following a damaging result, while also highlighting the need to remain focused as Juventus prepare for a decisive final match that will determine their European fate.
It was a highly emotional weekend for Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker officially announced his departure from FC Barcelona at the end of the season and was able to say goodbye to the Spotify Ca...
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Lewandowski’s inspiring farewell message to the Barcelona squad
It was a highly emotional weekend for Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker officially announced his departure from FC Barcelona at the end of the season and was able to say goodbye to the Spotify Camp Nou during the match against Real Betis.
The 37-year-old striker will bring an end to a four-year spell filled with goals and remarkable professionalism, which helped Barcelona return to the top, even if the UEFA Champions League ultimately remained out of reach.
Lewandowski’s message to Barcelona players
Ironically, the Champions League itself became one of the central topics of Lewandowski’s farewell speech to the Barcelona squad this past weekend.
Lewandowski said goodbye to Camp Nou on Sunday. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Indeed, according to Cadena SER, the veteran superstar delivered the following message to his teammates after the final training session before the match against Real Betis:
“You’re ready to win the Champions League.”
Lewandowski, reportedly in tears, told the Barcelona players that he was leaving very proud of the work he had done and of the legacy he was leaving behind at Camp Nou.
After his words, every player in the squad approached him to embrace him. Captain Ronald Araujo and head coach Hansi Flick also gave speeches on behalf of the team.
Jim Furyk has responded to the suggestion that the European team care more than the Americans when it comes to the Ryder Cup. The PGA of America still appear to be working towards trying to find the magic formula in the Ryder Cup.
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Photo By Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile via Getty Images
Jim Furyk has responded to the suggestion that the European team care more than the Americans when it comes to the Ryder Cup.
The PGA of America still appear to be working towards trying to find the magic formula in the Ryder Cup.
There have certainly been high points, with Steve Stricker overseeing a record victory in 2021. Meanwhile, Paul Azinger introduced a system that should have arguably created a much stronger culture for years to come.
But the fact remains that Team USA have won the Ryder Cup on just three occasions since the turn of the century.
Jim Furyk responds to the perception that the American team do not care about the Ryder Cup as much
They have often had the better players on paper. Because of that, a narrative has developed that the European team care a lot more.
There is certainly a unity among the European side that seems incredibly difficult to replicate. But speaking on Straight Facts Homie, Furyk insisted the perception is extremely unfair on the American players.
“It’s a good way to preface it. I mean, I’ve always been asked, hey, it looks like the Europeans are having more fun. They look like they’re closer. They bond. They just have something that the Americans don’t. And for that, I would say they’re not in our team room. They’re not seeing the joy after wins. They’re not seeing the heartbreak, the tears after losses,” he said.
“I’ll go back to my career and you look at ’97, ’99. 99’s the first time I was involved in a winning Ryder Cup team, but we came from dead. I mean, we were four points down. We were getting trounced all week. Hal Sutton played beautifully and kind of won some points and kept us in there and gave us an opportunity. And then we had that epic Sunday. So, you know, I remember the party and I remember the jubilation, but during the week, we didn’t look like we were having a lot of fun because we were getting our tails kicked.
“Well, the first time I got to witness that was in 2008, playing under Zinger. Our team got off to a really hot start. We kind of led, from day one, day two, we were always ahead, and Saturday night, I remember, the teams always kind of huddle. You’re watching the last group. It went to the 18th hole. I’m there with my wife and we’re watching the guys on the green and we’re like loose. We’re hugging, we’re laughing. We’re telling jokes. Everyone’s smiling, having fun, and I looked across the green at the Euros. Man, quiet, tight, concerned looks on their faces, and I leaned over and whispered to my wife, and I go, they look like us every other year. And a lot of that is really, I mean, winning’s fun.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
“I mean, kicking someone’s a– is a lot of fun, to be honest with you. And so, I think the look that we have on our faces is a lot more concerned. It’s a lot more, we play tight in the Ryder Cup often and I think it gets portrayed as it doesn’t matter. I think it’s easy to just say, look at how talented these guys are. And, you know, they’re losing the Ryder Cup. How can that be? I think the low hanging fruit, it’s easy to just say they’re individuals, they don’t really play a team sport.
“I think the Euros do a really good job with the media, with their social media, they portray this closeness that they have. We don’t do a good job at that at times. So our guys, you know, I think going into a Ryder Cup for the first time, like say J.J. Spaun was, there’s a lot of unknown. I love J.J., a lot of fun, great team guy. You know, I heard a lot of his quotes and read a lot of the stuff that he said about the Ryder Cup, and you know, I’m not sure we did a good job of really kind of letting him know what was coming, what was going to happen, how much fun it was going to be, how big of a presence the fans and the course and the entire thing was. And so, I love that coming out of that, he’s like, you know, wow, that was really cool. And yeah, I want to be in that position and I’d love to have that opportunity.
“I think when you get a taste of something, when I won my first professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour, I was almost like, God, I’ve got to get that again. That feeling was so amazing. And then you start pressing, you get impatient. Man, when I made my first Ryder Cup team in ’97, I mean, I won’t say I was unknown, but no one expected me to make the Ryder Cup team that year. And I ripped off like eight top 10s in a row that summer and easily qualified for the team. Now, when I got a taste of team play for the first time, that was my goal each and every year. I want to be on the Ryder Cup team. I want to be on the President’s Cup team. And one of the things I’m most proud of, to be honest with you in my career, I got to play on 16 teams. I think I qualified for 17. And now I’ve been involved as a captain a lot. So, you know, the want, the heart, the grit, the passion, it’s there. It really is.”
What Shane Lowry said after the 2025 Ryder Cup that exemplifies the European spirit
The quotes from Spaun were referring to the US Open champion being caught completely off-guard by just how much the Ryder Cup would get under his skin.
Shane Lowry referred to the putt he faced to retain the Ryder Cup in New York as the opportunity to enjoy the best moment of his career to date.
Lowry, of course, is a major champion himself having won The Open Championship back in 2019.
It would be unfair to say that the American players do not care. Incredibly stoic figures such as Cameron Young and Patrick Cantlay have shown sides to themselves that are rarely seen while playing in the Ryder Cup.
Meanwhile, no one can accuse Justin Thomas or Bryson DeChambeau of not being bothered.
The American team cannot force the camaraderie that the Europeans have. That has been built over a number of decades, with someone like Seve Ballesteros remaining such a crucial presence among the team more than 15 years after his passing.
But lessons can definitely be learned. And perhaps it will be a lot easier to start putting those foundations in place now that the American team head to Adare Manor in 2027 having been written off by so many.
Chelsea take on Tottenham tonight at Stamford Bridge, knowing the crowd are desperate to see a performance.If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source o...
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Predicted XI: Chelsea line up strong side to take on Tottenham – with some key absences
Chelsea take on Tottenham tonight at Stamford Bridge, knowing the crowd are desperate to see a performance.
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.
Chelsea take on Tottenham this evening at Stamford Bridge, Calum McFarlane’s penultimate in charge.
It’s a weird one – the Blues don’t have a lot to play for, while Spurs can save themselves from relegation with a win. But the home team are surely going to play for pride against their old rivals. So who will McFarlane pick?
Chelsea to avoid playing at risk stars – but keep strong side
Robert Sanchez is a no brainer in goal, even with Filip Jorgensen fit again.
At the back, Reece James likely won’t be risked having played on Saturday, so expect to see Malo Gusto at right back. It’s the same story with Levi Colwill, who will likely drop out and be replaced by Trevoh Chalobah.
Even Wesley Fofana has played a fair amount recently considering his injury history, but we’d imagine he’s risked to avoid changing the back line too much. Marc Cucurella should play at left back, assuming McFarlane doesn’t persist with the back five he used against City.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia is a doubt so expect Andrey Santos to start alongside Moises Caicedo, with Enzo Fernandez ahead of them.
Pedro Neto should be fit enough for a first start in a few weeks, with Cole Palmer on the other flank and Joao Pedro leading the line.
In other news…
Xabi Alonso is reportedly keen to change one thing at Chelsea that has been majorly holding them back in recent years.
Paige Bueckers has needed only 40 WNBA games to force her name into statistical conversations with some of the league’s biggest stars. The Dallas Wings guard’s start is not just impressive for a young player because the early numbers already stack up against elite names across several categories.
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Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Paige Bueckers has needed only 40 WNBA games to force her name into statistical conversations with some of the league’s biggest stars.
The Dallas Wings guard’s start is not just impressive for a young player because the early numbers already stack up against elite names across several categories.
Some of the comparisons require context, but the larger takeaway is clear enough. Bueckers has entered the league with rare scoring balance, playmaking control, and shooting efficiency.
Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesPaige Bueckers hits 40th game WNBA marker in style
Real App highlighted Paige Bueckers’ production through 40 career games, comparing her early numbers with Caitlin Clark, Chelsea Gray, Kelsey Plum, A’ja Wilson, and Diana Taurasi.
The claim stated that Bueckers had more points than Clark, more assists than Gray, more threes than Plum, a higher field-goal percentage than Wilson, and a higher three-point percentage than Taurasi through the same career stage.
Bueckers reached 772 points and 216 assists through 40 games, putting her slightly ahead of Clark’s 769 points from her 40-game rookie season and well ahead of Gray’s early assist pace.
The Plum comparison is more layered because several trackers emphasize Bueckers matching Plum in points and assists through 40 games, while the three-point total requires more precise historical game-log confirmation.
Bueckers’ three-point mark has clearly been strong enough to beat Taurasi’s early-career percentage, while the A’ja Wilson field-goal comparison varies slightly depending on the tracker used.
Paige Bueckers shows why the hype is different
Bueckers’ start matters because her game has translated without needing one extreme strength to carry everything. She is scoring at a star level, creating for teammates, and shooting with the kind of balance that usually takes guards years to develop.
Clark’s rookie season still stands as one of the most important in WNBA history because of her volume, range and league-wide impact. Bueckers’ case is different because it leans more on efficiency and controlled decision-making.
Comparing her with Wilson or Taurasi is not about saying she has already matched their careers. Wilson became a dominant interior force, and Taurasi built one of the greatest guard resumes the sport has seen.
What Bueckers has done is show that her first 40 games belong in the same statistical conversation. For Dallas, that is the most important part.
Gil McDougald never became the face of the Yankees dynasty, but the versatile infielder helped hold it together.
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NEW YORK - 1956: Thirdbaseman Gil McDougald #12 of the New York Yankees takes a practice swing prior to stepping into the batter's box during a game in 1956 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York. (Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
Yankees dynasties are usually remembered through their biggest stars. In the 1950s New York featured the likes of Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, and Joe DiMaggio. Lost underneath all those legends, however, are the players who quietly held everything together year after year, like Gilbert “Gil” McDougald.
The 1951 Rookie of the Year winner, six-time All-Star, and five-time World Series champion, McDougald spent his entire Major League career in pinstripes. He was versatile, dependable, universally respected, and seemingly always in the middle of winning baseball. In many ways, McDougald feels like the Bernie Williams of his generation. He may not have become the face of the dynasty, but he was an essential part of it.
Gilbert James McDougald Born: May 19, 1928 (San Francisco, CA) Died: November 28, 2010 (Monmouth County, NJ) Yankees Tenure: 1951-1960
McDougald’s path to the Bronx began down by the bay in California. After graduation from Commerce High School, McDougald attended City College of San Francisco and the University of San Francisco. While in school he played semipro baseball with a local Boston Braves feeder team called the Bayside Braves.
Many scouts immediately wrote McDougald off due to his unorthodox batting stance. To better hit breaking pitches, McDougald splayed his legs open to the pitcher and let his bat stay down by his waist. However, Yankee scout Joe Devine was not deterred from the batting stance and took note of McDougald’s instincts and spirit as a player.
Devine signed McDougald to a $200-per-month contract with a $1,000 bonus in the spring of 1948. The move would pay off for both as McDougald would play the 1948 season for the Twin Falls Cowboys of the Class C Pioneer League. After a stellar season he was promoted to the Victoria Athletics of the Class B Western International League. In his first two professional seasons McDougald was selected as an All-Star at second base.
The 1950 season would see McDougald jump to the Double-A level with the Texas League’s Beaumont Roughnecks. Rogers Hornsby, the Hall of Fame second baseman, was the manager of the club and really took a liking to McDougald. Under Hornsby’s guidance McDougald made yet another All-Star team and was even named league MVP for the season.
The Yankees at the time were coming off back-to-back championships and had their infield returning for another season. It would appear that McDougald would not have a spot on the roster. However, as the Korean War started the Yankees decided to bring McDougald to spring training in case the club lost the services of second baseman Jerry Coleman or third baseman Bobby Brown to the military.
Like all his managers before, Casey Stengel took a real liking to McDougald. Stengel played McDougald at both second base and third base that spring. Liking what he saw from the young player at both positions Stengel decided to bring the almost 23-year-old north.
McDougald played little at the start of the season. However, Stengel, now smitten with the young rookie, gave him a shot to play in late April. McDougald would make the most of the opportunity and earn a role on the team platooning at third base with the lefty Brown and filled in for Coleman who would be injured on and off over the season.
McDougald would play 131 games in his rookie season hitting .306 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI. He placed among the American League top ten in batting, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and stolen bases. His strong rookie campaign earned him the American League Rookie of the Year Award and helped the Yankees win the 1951 World Series championship besting the New York Giants in six games.
The 1952 season cemented McDougald as one of the Yankees’ most important players. He earned his first All-Star selection while primarily playing third base and once again helped New York win the World Series this time topping the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games.
The Yankees and McDougald kept rolling in 1953. McDougald, playing third base would set his career high in RBIs that season and the Yankees would defeat Brooklyn again in six games to win yet another World Series.
Before the 1954 season the Yankees moved McDougald to his original primary position of second base to accommodate Andy Carey. The move led to a 103-win season, but the Yankees would not take the pennant as the Cleveland Indians would post a 111-win season to end the Yankees’ run and mark the first time McDougald would not play in a World Series to finish off a season.
The Yankees would retake the pennant in 1955. However, the Yankees would fall to the Brooklyn Dodgers in the World Series. The 1955 season also saw McDougald suffer a freak injury. During batting practice before a game in August, he was struck in the head by a Bob Cerv line drive. Diagnosed with a mild concussion, McDougald returned to game action within days. Unknown to all though, there was a small skull fracture and damage to the left inner ear. Over time, McDougald would suffer a loss of hearing in that ear, but it would not affect his playing career.
McDougald would again change positions in 1956. This time he would replace an aging Phil Rizzuto as the Yankees shortstop. McDougald’s mindset was simple, “I will play anywhere as long as I get to play.”
Much like his unorthodox batting stance McDougald was ungraceful to watch as a fielder, but very effective. He was able to use his knowledge of the game and strong all-around ability to fill the position. McDougald would earn another All-Star selection in 1956 this time as a shortstop.
The Yankees breezed to yet another AL pennant and beat Brooklyn in seven games to win another World Series. McDougald provided one of the fielding gems that preserved Don Larsen’s perfect game, snaring a hot shot deflected by Andy Carey deep in the hole and throwing out Jackie Robinson at first. After the season ended the Better Sports Club of Arlington, Virginia, honored McDougald as Baseball Sportsman of the Year for his off-the-field work with civic and charitable organizations.
While McDougald’s career was filled with winning, one moment forever changed the way he viewed baseball. On August 16, 1957, McDougald lined a pitch directly into the face of Cleveland pitcher Herb Score. The terrifying injury damaged Score’s eye and permanently altered the trajectory of one of baseball’s brightest young pitchers.
McDougald was devastated by the incident and reportedly blamed himself for years afterward despite understanding it was an accident. The moment deeply affected him personally and emotionally, showing the kind of compassion and humanity teammates and opponents consistently praised throughout his life. Many said McDougald continued playing hard after the incident, but some of the boyhood joy he once carried for the game never fully returned.
That story also feels especially relevant today watching Cam Schlittler deal with the frightening number of comeback shots hit back at him already this season and watching Spencer Jones break Clay Holmes leg. Modern pitchers continue throwing harder than ever while hitters produce increasingly violent contact. Every sharply hit comebacker serves as a reminder of how dangerous a baseball can become in an instant.
The 1957 Yankees claimed yet another pennant, but New York was an upset loser to the Milwaukee Braves in a seven-game World Series. Over the course of the 1957 season Tony Kubek would start to earn some playing time at shortstop. Kubek’s emergence would shift McDougald back to primarily second base for the 1958 season.
Accolades kept coming for McDougald in 1958 as he was voted “most popular Yankee” by the CYO of the Archdiocese of New York. McDougald was starting to see his stats decline but was still good enough to earn another All-Star nod and was also the recipient of the Lou Gehrig Award, the first Yankees player ever to receive the honor. The Yankees would go on to avenge the 1957 World Series loss and take down the Brewers in seven games, McDougald going yard in the 10th inning of Game 6 to force a seventh game.
When the 1959 season rolled around the Yankees decided to roll with Kubek at shortstop and Bobby Richardson at second base. This move pushed McDougald back to third base as his primary spot in the lineup. McDougald made yet another All-Star team that season, but the Yankees had yet another newcomer threatening to take playing time in Clete Boyer.
Seeing the writing on the wall McDougald informed the Yankees that the 1960 season might be his last. The famous 1960 season of Mantle and Roger Maris would be the last season for McDougald. The Yankees fell in the World Series at the end of that season in seven games to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Following the season and with Major League Baseball set to host an expansion draft McDougald informed the Yankees and the public that he would be retiring. New York general manager Roy Hamey was unhappy and stated that McDougald would not be replaced on the list of Yankee expendables, for fear of setting “a bad precedent, giving other veteran players the idea that they could threaten to quit rather than be sent to one of the fledgling franchises.” However, pretty much everyone else saw the move for what it was, a man of high character informing everyone he had no intention of uprooting his family.
In his ten years in pinstripes McDougald played in 1,336 games, got 1,291 hits, and had a final slash line of .276/.356/.410 good for an OPS of .766. Additionally, he was a six-time All-Star at three different positions and won five World Series. McDougald appeared in 596 games at second base, 512 at third base, and 284 at shortstop. McDougald was one of baseball’s ultimate utility infielders before the term was really invented.
Even after his playing days ended, McDougald remained beloved throughout the baseball world. He later worked as a coach for Fordham University and continued impacting younger generations of players through local youth sports. That was until the 1980s when McDougald almost completely withdrew from normal life due to hearing loss.
In 1994 McDougald was featured in a report by the New York Times covering the struggle of his hearing loss. His Yankees connection would come in handy as Dr. Noel Cohen, chief of otolaryngology at New York University Medical Center, would perform a cochlear implant. The surgery restored McDougald’s hearing and he went on to champion the treatment for children and others suffering from hearing loss.
Former teammates consistently described him as humble, intelligent, and selfless, traits that helped make him one of the most respected players of his era. McDougald will never be the first Yankee fans remember from that era, but he remains one of the most important. Dynasties are held together not just by superstars, but by the dependable players every superstar needs beside them. The glue guys who simply want to play ball.
Happy birthday Gil!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
LeBron James is already drawing major interest from contenders ahead of NBA free agency.
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LeBron James' impending free agency has ignited immense fan interest, and according to the latest report, a league-wide pursuit of the Los Angeles Lakers star is already underway. As LeBron's long-time agent, Rich Paul, reportedly told ESPN's Shams Charania, if the 41-year-old four-time MVP wants to join a contender, there's no shortage of interest from teams.
"I do know a lot of teams are calling him and his camp," Charania said. "I spoke to Rich Paul the other day … he told me like every contender in the NBA has essentially, since the season ended, placed a call."
Shams on Lebron:
"I do know a lot of teams are calling. I spoke to Rich Paul the other day...he told me like every contender in the NBA has essentially since the season ended placed a call" pic.twitter.com/AKqebnlTTj
It's not surprising to hear that there's plenty of interest in James, should he opt to leave the Lakers in free agency. However, as Charania pointed out, LeBron's comfort level in Los Angeles, paired with the Lakers' interest in re-signing him, could also play a big part in the future Hall-of-Famer's decision.
Deciphering the latest on LeBron James' free agency, Lakers' future
If James were to join another contender in free agency, he'd almost certainly do so as the second or third option, a role he took on frequently with the Lakers this season. But what's important here is that this likely means that teams were impressed with his willingness to accept that role and even take a backseat offensively at times.
Considering the Lakers' interest in bringing James back, they obviously have little concern about how things went when he shared the floor with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. That part is telling, and James' comments after the Lakers' playoff loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder also signaled that he's willing to be in that position again, should he return for the 2026-27 season.
"I'm not looking at my year as a disappointment, that's for damn sure," James told reporters. "I was put into some positions that I've never played in my career before -- actually, in my life. I've never been a third option in my life."
Although the free agency interest is bound to be high in James, it'd be tough to envision him leaving Los Angeles for what could be his final NBA season. After all, if he stays, it means another year playing alongside his son, Bronny, and there's plenty of interest in what the Lakers' ceiling could look like with Doncic back healthy.
SportNewsWorld Cup 2026BrazilFootballLatin America
Oft-injured superstar hasn’t played for the national team since 2023, but he’s back in the squad before World Cup 2026.
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When coach Carlo Ancelotti read aloud the list of players who made the cut to Brazil’s World Cup squad, one name earned the loudest cheers: Neymar Jr.
After months of sweating over his fitness, the 34-year-old forward breathed a sigh of relief as he earned a place in Brazil’s 26-man squad for the tournament in North America, which begins on June 11.
His return to the national team, following a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, has come with its own share of drama and doubts.
Here’s everything to know about Neymar’s surprise World Cup call-up:
Why was Neymar selected in Brazil’s World Cup squad?
Brazil coach Ancelotti said he chose Neymar among the nine attackers after seeing an improvement in his fitness levels.
Neymar da Silva Santos Jr is Brazil’s all-time leading scorer. But his selection to the squad was considered doubtful after a series of injuries kept him out for much of the Selecao’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament, where they are aiming for a record-extending sixth title.
“We evaluated Neymar throughout the year and noticed that recently he has been playing consistently and has improved his physical condition,” Ancelotti told reporters during Monday’s squad announcement in Rio de Janeiro.
“He has the same role and responsibilities as everyone else, but he is an experienced player. It’s true that in some positions we prioritised experience.”
Why was Neymar’s selection so controversial?
The simple answer is injuries.
Neymar struggled to return to top fitness and had not been part of the national team since suffering a serious knee injury – an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear – in October 2023. An injury-marred spell at Saudi club Al Hilal and an underwhelming return to his boyhood club Santos last year further cast doubts over the veteran’s inclusion.
Whether Ancelotti would call him up for the World Cup became a national debate – and only time will tell whether the decision backfires or is another coaching masterstroke by the Italian manager.
While the dressing room could benefit from Neymar’s veteran presence, and more notably, his experience of playing at major tournaments, there are doubts about whether his physique can keep up with the demanding nature of an expanded World Cup.
Earlier this week, Neymar made global headlines, albeit for a different reason: a substitution error during a Santos game left him fuming, and videos of the incident went viral on social media.
Neymar in 2026 is not the same player who starred for Brazil at past World Cups, due to age and constant injuries [Nelson Almeida/AFP]How have fans and experts reacted to Neymar’s selection?
Despite being away from the national team since late 2023, Neymar still holds a special place in the hearts of Brazil fans and players alike.
As World Cup selections were revealed, hundreds of fans gathered outside Rio de Janeiro’s Museum of Tomorrow, holding up their phones, frantically waiting for Ancelotti to announce the name of their beloved superstar.
And when Neymar’s inclusion was finally confirmed inside the venue, a party-like atmosphere swept across parts of the football-crazy South American nation.
Players, too, have been vocal about their support for Neymar.
Marcelo, the former Brazil defender, celebrated Neymar’s inclusion with a post on Instagram, punching his fist in the air after seeing the announcement on a TV screen, while Barcelona star Raphinha, who was also called up, told TV Globo earlier this month that Neymar is “the guy to take us to our sixth World Cup title”.
Captain Marquinhos was at the forefront of the players’ public lobbying for Neymar’s inclusion, saying to Brazilian website UOL in March: “As teammates, as Brazilians and as fans, we want him at the World Cup”.
Yes. On Tuesday, Pedro was named Chelsea’s player of the season 2025-26. But that was not enough to earn him a place in Brazil’s star-studded squad named a day before. The versatile forward was snubbed alongside Richarlison, while Eder Militao, Rodrygo and Estevao all missed out due to injuries.
How many World Cups has Neymar played? And will this be his last?
The 2026 tournament will be Neymar’s fourth World Cup.
He played at the 2014 edition on home soil, followed by Russia 2018 and then the last World Cup in Qatar four years ago. In 13 games across three World Cups, Neymar has scored eight times and registered four assists.
He also boasts the impressive record of being Brazil’s highest scorer with 79 goals, a feat he achieved by surpassing Brazilian great Pele, who was their outright leading marksman for 60 years.
But will this be Neymar’s last dance? Probably.
With his history of injuries and fitness issues, a declining skill set, as well as his mounting age (he would be 38 by the 2030 tournament), it’s highly unlikely that Neymar will feature at another World Cup.
How many goals has Neymar scored in 2026?
His four goals and two assists in the Brazilian Serie A 2026 – following his return from surgery in February – are a far cry from his usual top form, one that once saw him win two La Liga titles and a Champions League trophy with Barcelona, and five Ligue 1 crowns with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
It sounds like we're finally nearing an end to the Chicago Bears' ongoing stadium saga, according to Ian Rapoport.
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There's been plenty of frustration surrounding the Chicago Bears' ongoing stadium saga, which has spanned years but shown no signs of coming to a conclusion. But it sounds like we might finally be nearing the end. Hopefully.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, he expects "some finality" with the stadium situation in the "coming weeks and months."
There hasn't been much movement on the stadium front, but the biggest news has been the Bears narrowing the stadium site options to Arlington Heights, Illinois, and Hammond, Indiana. So regardless of the team's decision, the Bears' stadium will no longer reside on the Chicago lakefront.
While the Bears will present an update to the NFL's other 31 team owners on their stadium plans on Tuesday afternoon, we won't learn the location site just yet. That's expected in the next couple of months.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones shared that it should be "a month or two" before we know exactly where the Bears will build their new stadium.
For Steph Curry truthers, it will always be one of the most magnificent shots of his legendary NBA career.
The Golden State Warriors all-time great pulled up from what felt like the other side of the world and drilled a game-winning 3-pointer in Oklahoma City to stun the Thunder as part of the season in which the Warriors won 73 games in the regular season.
On Monday night, Victor Wembanyama channeled Curry, right down to the spot on the floor.
His San Antonio Spurs were down three points with the clock winding down, trying to force overtime.
Wemby pulled up from almost the exact Curry spot. The Spurs superstar had more time than Curry, but he chose to stop and pop from where he had space.
The result was the same. Money.
Even the missed shots that preceded the deep 3-pointers were almost the same.
Wemby's only forced OT, though. It didn't win it yet.
He and his teammates actually had to pull it out in double overtime.
It was the opening act in what promises to be a thrilling Western Conference Finals. Curry's shot was only in the regular season, but it won't soon be forgotten.
Neither will Wemby's, particularly if this Spurs playoff run keeps going.
The Philadelphia Phillies did not look like a team that would be trade deadline buyers just a few weeks ago, as they sported one of the worst records in baseball at 9-19.
But, since firing Rob Thomson and Don Mattingly's takeover, the Phillies have gone on a serious run, and are now 25-23, looking like one of the hottest teams in baseball and clear buyers at the deadline.
While Philadelphia might be ready to buy, what exactly do they need this year? Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden, for The Athletic, revealed each team's trade deadline needs and plan, and for the Phillies, three positions emerged as targets this year.
Phillies revealed to have three trade deadline targets
"Trade deadline position: Buyers," Bodwen writes. "... They could use an upgrade at third base or right field and more quality bullpen arms."
While the trade deadline is still a few months away, the needs for this team have become quite clear. Third base, reliever, and right fielder are the top needs for the team.
For starters, Alec Bohm at third base has been a huge disappointment this season. He has been a lot better lately and has finally raised his OPS back above .600 to .604, but the team could still look for an upgrade.
Looking in the bullpen, Jhoan Duran is an incredible closer, but with Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado's inconsistencies, along with some of the depth being questionable, another solid reliever could be nice.
Ideally, a left-handed reliever would be worth targeting, as Tanner Banks has a 5.89 ERA this season, and the lefty reliever depth isn't the best for the team.
Lastly, right field, upgrading over Adolis Garcia, would not be a bad idea either. He's hitting .214 with a .622 OPS this season, and while his defense is a nice positive, the offensive production is well below expectations.
If the Phillies could add another outfielder, ideally a right-handed hitter with much better offense, then it would be a move well-worth considering.
Dave Dombrowski has a few areas to address at this year's deadline, with reliever, third base, and right field as the top three needs for this team.
Game 1 looks to be just a snippet of what this long-awaited series will bring to the table, but can it break the record for the longest NBA Playoff game on record? It's possible.
The May 18 game between the Thunder and Spurs lasted 58 minutes, but the longest playoff game in history is a tie between two matchups, both lasting two overtimes for a total of 68 minutes of play. While the first one was 73 years ago, between the Boston Celtics and the Syracuse Nationals, now the Philadelphia 76ers.
Here's what happened in the longest NBA Playoff games in history.
What are the longest NBA Playoff games in history?
The Guinness World Record book lists two games as tied for the most overtime games in NBA Playoffs.
On March 21, 1953, in Game 2 of the Eastern Division Semifinals, the Boston Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers) 111-105 in four overtimes for a total of 68 minutes played.
The Nationals and the Celtics held that record for 66 years, when it was tied by the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers.
On May 3, 2019, in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals, the Trail Blazers took down the Nuggets 140-137. Nuggets star Nikola Jokić played 65 of the 68 minutes. Jokić holds the record for the longest time played in a single playoff game and ranks second overall.
What is the longest NBA game of all time?
The longest NBA game of all time was a six-overtime 75-73 win for the Indianapolis Olympians (folded 1953) over the Rochester Royals (now Sacramento Kings), played in 1951.
The Thunder's direct ancestors, the Seattle SuperSonics, rank second in the list after losing to the Milwaukee Bucks 155-154 in five overtimes in 1989. Former SuperSonic Dale Ellis holds the record for the most minutes played in a single NBA game, with 69 minutes.
The Syracuse Nationals and the Anderson Packers (folded in 1951) are tied for second with five overtime games in 1949.
Isa Almeida is a trending reporter for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Isa? She can be reached at ialmeida@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @ialmeidasports. Support Isa's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
The forecast highlights the governing body's growing financial reliance on tours by the Indian national team.
While the ECB's accounts for the year ending January 31, 2026, paint a picture of robust health – reporting a £12.6 million profit on ordinary activities and an improved year-on-year turnover of £89.4 million – these figures are largely attributed to the lucrative overseas broadcast deals accompanying India's visits.
Last summer saw a gripping five-match Test series against India, which concluded 2-2, and the team is set to return this season for a sequence of five T20s and three One Day Internationals against Brendon McCullum’s team.
England's reliance on India is becoming clearer (Getty)
The financial statement reveals that ringfenced profits of £522.3 million from the sale of the eight Hundred franchises, alongside increased cash reserves of £72.8 million, also contributed to the positive outlook.
However, the projected deficit in 2027, even with the traditional money-spinning Ashes series against Australia, underscores India's unparalleled ability to drive revenue for English cricket.
The ECB financial report explicitly stated: "Turnover in the year ended 31 January 2026 amounted to £408.9m, an increase of £89.4m compared to the prior year. This is largely attributed to increased broadcast and ticketing revenues due to hosting an India men’s Test series in 2025.
“Attention should be drawn to the fact that the ECB’s revenues are inherently cyclical, reflecting the scheduling of high-value broadcast series by opposition, and while this profile is advantageous in the current year and in 2026, it is expected to result in a significant loss position in the 2027 season when the England men’s team does not host a series against India."
England are set to kickstart their 2026 summer schedule when they face New Zealand at Lord’s in a Test match beginning on 4 June.
In other news from the annual general meeting, former England batter and national selector Ed Smith was formally appointed as a non-executive director to the board. He is scheduled to commence his role on October 1, following his tenure as chair of Marylebone Cricket Club.
And now, the WNBA superstar is crossing over into motorsports.
Clark will serve as the grand marshal for the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. She’ll give the command for drivers to report to their cars during the official pre-race ceremonies. That will be shown live on FOX during its pre-race broadcast, which begins at 10 a.m. ET on May 24.
"I'm honored to represent Gainbridge as grand marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
The former Iowa Hawkeye — who is the all-time leading scorer in the history of Division I NCAA women’s basketball — was selected No. 1 overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Clark went on to have a stellar rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year, earning an All-Star and All-WNBA nod, and leading the league in assists with 8.4 per game.
After battling several injuries last season, Clark seems to have returned to form so far this season. Through four games she’s averaged 24.3 points and 9.1 assists per game, and is a perfect 23-of-23 from the free throw line.
“Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 Race Day with Caitlin,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said in a statement. “Through our incredible partnership with Gainbridge, everyone joining us for the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event will get to do just that. Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle.”
This isn’t Clark’s first foray into motorsports, though. At the 2024 Brickyard 400, Josh Berry drove a car sponsored by trading card company Panini that had an image of Clark emblazoned on the hood of his No. 4 Ford. And last year at the NASCAR All-Star race, Carson Hocevar wore a Clark’s Fever jersey during driver introductions.
Having a record-setting woman athlete be the grand marshal for this year’s Indy 500 is fitting since it will feature a driver chasing her own history, as Katherine Legge attempts to be the first woman to pull off “The Double” — racing in the Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
Thai teenager Panchaya Channoi claims the Women's World Snooker Championship title after a 6-2 victory over Reanne Evans in the final.
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Reanne Evans won the Women's World Snooker Championship for 10 years in a row from 2005 [Getty Images]
Thai teenager Panchaya Channoi claimed the Women's World Snooker Championship title after a 6-2 victory over Reanne Evans in the final.
Evans was bidding to win the tournament for a record-extending 13th time but the Englishwoman, 40, was comfortably second best against Channoi in Dongguan, China.
A century break from Channoi in the first frame set the tone for the 18-year-old who subsequently remained in control at 3-1.
Evans, widely regarded as the most successful player in the history of women's snooker, pulled a frame back but Channoi's break of 107 in the sixth frame put her 4-2 up.
Channoi then took the seventh frame before a break of 59 in the eighth helped her secure the Mandy Fisher Trophy.
The Thai player also became the second player to win both the world and Under-21 title double following China's Bai Yulu in 2024.
Channoi is the third Thai winner of the event, following in the footsteps of Mink Nutcharut and Siripaporn Nuanthakhamjan.
Evans was playing in her first World Snooker Championship final since 2019 and was beaten in the tournament decider for the first time in her career.
RJ Luis will become the latest athlete to test the NCAA's eligibility rules.
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RJ Luis, the 2025 Big East Player of the Year, is heading back to college basketball … if he’s allowed. Despite forgoing his final year of college eligibility to enter the 2025 NBA Draft, where he was not selected, Luis reportedly signed with LSU on Tuesday, per On3.com.
Luis, 23, turned in a standout season at St. John’s in 2025, averaging 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds as a junior. Following that performance, he declared for the NBA Draft.
Luis was not selected, though did sign a two-way contract with the Utah Jazz in June. Luis did not see time in an NBA game and was eventually traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Georges Niang. Luis failed to impress enough to make the Celtics, however, and was cut from the team in October. Luis was supposed to join the team’s G-League affiliate, but underwent surgery instead, keeping him off the court.
That paved that way for Tuesday’s reported signing with LSU. Since Luis does not have college eligibility, it’s expected he’ll file a lawsuit in an attempt to get reinstated.
It’s unclear whether that tactic will work. Other players have challenged the NCAA and been allowed to return to college, but with mixed results. James Nnaji played 19 games with Baylor this season despite being drafted by the Detroit Pistons in 2023. Charles Bediako was allowed to play in five games with Alabama this season despite entering the 2023 NBA Draft, where he went undrafted. Bediako, however, was eventually ruled ineligible after his temporary restraining order expired.
If he’s allowed to play, Luis would provide a significant boost to LSU, which went 15-17 last season. Because of that record, LSU has not appeared on early top-25 projections. Luis’ addition likely wouldn’t propel the team to that level, but would certainly help as Will Wade tries to get off to a strong start in his second stint with LSU.
The Tulsa Drillers outfield now has three top-100 prospects, with the Dodgers promoting Mike Sirota to Double-A after he romped through the Midwest League with High-A Great Lakes. Sirota hit .325/.478/.602 with seven home runs, 11 doubles, and a triple, with 37 runs scored, 22 RBI, and eight steals in 35 games for the Loons. […]
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 20, 2026: Mike Sirota #08 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats during the sixth inning of a spring training game against the San Diego Padres at Camelback Ranch on March 20, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
The Tulsa Drillers outfield now has three top-100 prospects, with the Dodgers promoting Mike Sirota to Double-A after he romped through the Midwest League with High-A Great Lakes.
Sirota hit .325/.478/.602 with seven home runs, 11 doubles, and a triple, with 37 runs scored, 22 RBI, and eight steals in 35 games for the Loons. His 177 wRC+ ranks fourth among all minor leaguers with at least 150 plate appearances, and he won Midwest League player of the week for the week of April 27-May 3.
Acquired by the Dodgers from the Reds in the Gavin Lux trade in January 2024, Sirota reached base in his final 30 games for Great Lakes, the longest streak by a Loons player since Miguel Vargas in 2021.
— Great Lakes Loons (@greatlakesloons) May 1, 2026
Sirota in the offseason was ranked in five top-100 prospect lists. Among the various Dodgers highly-ranked outfield prospects — including his new teammates Josue De Paula and Zyhir Hope in Tulsa — Sirota is the oldest at age 23, but his rise last year was hampered by a knee injury that ended his season in July. Between 2025 and 2026, Sirota played a total of 70 games in High-A, and hit .321/.468/.579 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, two triples, and 12 steals.
On May 1, Kiley McDaniel at ESPN updated his team top-10 prospects and had Sirota fifth in the system, noting “Sirota is still in A-ball for some reason.”
Feb 19, 2026; Port St. Lucie, FL, USA; New York Mets outfielder Nick Morabito (70) poses for a photo during media day at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
In what appears to be a corresponding move for designating Austin Slater for assignment, the Mets are reportedly calling up outfield prospect Nick Morabito. Morabito marks the third Mets’ outfield prospect to be called up since the start of the season, and the third to have limited time at the Triple-A level.
Morabito, who ranked #15 on the Amazin’ Avenue 2026 Prospect List, is a 23-year old outfielder who the Mets drafted in the second round of the 2022 draft. At the time, the Mets going over slot to draft Morabito seemed like a strange move, but he’s turned himself into a legitimate prospect after a somewhat mixed high school career.
Speed is Morabito’s best tool, and his ability to leg out ground balls has kept his minor league batting average and BABIP inflated. A true plus runner, he has posted 90th percentile outcomes in various speed-quantifying metrics since being drafted. He is pesky on the base paths, taking extra bases when possible, and has begun to come along as a base stealer, not just posting high volumes but better success-to-failure ratios as well.
A shortstop in high school, Morabito was drafted as an outfielder and has not played anywhere in the infield save a handful of games where he manned second base in 2023. While he has some experience in left and right fields, the overwhelming majority of his time in the outfield has come in center, where his plus speed is a major boon.
In 41 games at Triple-A, Morabito has hit .253/.364/.390 with seven extra base hits and 14 stolen bases. Morabito had a very good showing in the Arizona Fall League last autumn and had one plate appearance for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic.
With the number of injuries the Mets are currently contending with, it might make sense for Juan Soto to be relegated mostly to designated hitter and letting the three outfield prospects (Morabito, A.J. Ewing, and Carson Benge) man the outfield for the time being. Things may change if and when players like Luis Robert Jr. and Jorge Polanco come back and shake up the roster, but for now, we are getting a serious youth movement in Queens, especially with Zach Thorton joining the club tomorrow.
As of the morning of May 19, they are already 11 games out of first place in the AL East. As things stand, it may be a two-team race between the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees.
If the Orioles want to turn their misfortunes around, they'll need to have a strong summer leading up to the trade deadline.
"The starting pitching has been the biggest disappointment, as Shane Baz, Trevor Rogers, and Chris Bassitt all have inflated ERAs," The Athletic's Jim Bowden wrote Tuesday.
Bowden feels that Baltimore will need at least a few moves for the pitching staff if they are serious about making a deep postseason run.
"Likely buyers. Despite the slow start, this team is much better than its record, and a wild-card spot is well within reach," he added. "They’ll likely need more pitching, both in the rotation and bullpen."
The problem the Orioles face is just getting to that point. If the trade deadline were today, they would not be buyers.
At six games under .500, they'll need at least a few extended winning streaks, which means offensive juggernauts Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson have to get going at the plate.
After losing his top video coordinator to the NFL, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz is poised to refill the post with an award-winning replacement.
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Eli Drinkwitz has a new, award-winning video coordinator for his Missouri Tigers football program, USA TODAY Sports has learned.
Drinkwitz is hiring away Aaron Sisk from Troy, according to two people with direct knowledge of the move but not authorized to speak publicly.
Sisk, behind the camera for Troy as it captured the 2025 Sun Belt Western Division championship, was named the College Sports Video Association’s Sun Belt Conference Video Coordinator of the Year after last season.
At Missouri, Sisk will take over for previous Tigers video coordinator John Karadeema, who departed to take the assistant director of video post with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers.
A two-time graduate of North Dakota State, the Minnesota native Sisk has previous experience in the Southeastern Conference, as well as the NFL.
Prior to this return to the SEC at Missouri, Sisk was the assistant director of football video at the Arkansas.
He worked as a video assistant for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Missouri, which has won 29 games in its past three seasons, rewarded Drinkwitz with a lucrative contract extension after the 2025 season.
The Tigers open their 2026 schedule Thursday, Sept. 3 at home against FCS program Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
McKINNEY, Texas — Aaron Rai has withdrawn from the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament, less than 24 hours after winning his first major at the PGA Championship.
He’ll be replaced in the field by S.Y. Noh.
Rai made six birdies over the last 10 holes at Aronimink in his breakthrough performance, taking the lead for good on the 13th and pouring it on with a 70-foot birdie putt across the 17th green. He closed with a 5-under 65 for a three-shot victory to become the first English-born player in more than a century to capture the PGA Championship.
The 31-year-old Rai finished with a back nine that ranks among the best in major championship history. The previous two players to go 6 under or better over the final 10 holes of a major were Cameron Smith at St. Andrews when he won the 2022 British Open, and Jack Nicklaus when he won the 1986 Masters.
Caitlin Clark continues adding to her rapidly growing legacy, and this latest honor goes beyond basketball. Clark has officially been named Grand Marshal of the 110th Indianapolis 500, which will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2026, making her one…
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Caitlin Clark continues adding to her rapidly growing legacy, and this latest honor goes beyond basketball. Clark has officially been named Grand Marshal of the 110th Indianapolis 500, which will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2026, making her one of the featured faces of one of the biggest sporting events in the world. For Indiana sports fans, it feels like a perfect match.
A Massive Honor for ClarkApr 30, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) shoots the ball in the second half against the Dallas Wings at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images
The role of Grand Marshal at the Indianapolis 500 carries major significance. The position has historically been reserved for influential athletes, celebrities, cultural icons, and major public figures. Now Clark joins that list. Speaking about the opportunity, Clark said: “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
Ever since arriving in Indiana, Clark has become far more than just a basketball star. The Indiana Fever superstar has quickly turned into one of the biggest names in sports, bringing unprecedented attention and excitement wherever she goes.
Her influence has extended beyond basketball arenas, television ratings, and merchandise sales. She has become a central sports figure across the entire state. That makes this Indianapolis 500 connection feel natural.
The Indianapolis 500 and Indiana Sports CultureIndiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark (22) sits with New York Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant on Friday, July 18, 2025, ahead of the WNBA All-Star 3-point and skills contests at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Credit: Grace Hollars / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Indianapolis 500 is one of the most iconic events in motorsports and remains one of Indiana’s most cherished traditions. Known as “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the event annually draws massive crowds and worldwide attention. Now, adding Clark only increases the spotlight surrounding race weekend.
It feels like Clark’s influence continues expanding almost weekly.
Whether it is:
Breaking attendance records
Driving television ratings
Becoming one of the biggest names in women’s sports
Now being selected as Grand Marshal for one of the biggest racing events on the planet, Clark’s profile just keeps rising. Caitlin Clark has already become one of Indiana’s biggest sports stars. Now she gets to stand at the center of one of the state’s most iconic traditions.
Basketball made her famous. But her impact is now becoming much bigger than the game itself.
LeBron James and his future with the Los Angeles Lakers could be one of the NBA’s biggest storylines this offseason. […]
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IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
LeBron James and his future with the Los Angeles Lakers could be one of the NBA’s biggest storylines this offseason. While James has enjoyed his time in Los Angeles, he also wants to win another championship, and retirement could be on the table as well. So, could the four-time NBA champion retire this offseason?
All indications throughout the 2025-26 campaign have been that James will play in the NBA next season, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania on The Pat McAfee Show. The expectation is that James will return for at least one more year, but that decision hasn’t been fully made yet.
If James returns for another NBA season, which organizations would be the best landing spots in free agency?
Potential destinations for LeBron James in NBA free agencyMay 10, 2023; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) dribbles the basketball against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) during the fourth quarter in game five of the 2023 NBA playoffs conference semifinals round at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
James could return to the Lakers for another NBA season, but will they be his best destination? The 41-year-old star wants to win another championship, and it is unclear if Los Angeles can make the moves needed to accomplish that goal. If not, where else could James go this summer?
A return to the Cleveland Cavaliers could be on the table. The Cavaliers made the 2026 Eastern Conference finals, and the story isn’t over yet. Cleveland could be on the verge of another NBA Finals berth, but its first without James. If the Cavaliers fall short, James could return to Cleveland for one more season and chase a storybook ending.
If Cleveland doesn’t want a reunion or the money doesn’t work, James could join the Golden State Warriors instead. The NBA legend would be paired with Stephen Curry, as Golden State builds around the dynamic duo. The Warriors brought back head coach Steve Kerr, and the next few years could be a “Last Dance” for this core.
Finally, what about the Los Angeles Clippers? James would stay in Los Angeles, and if he believes the Clippers have a better chance of winning, jumping ship could be a good option. It might be the most unlikely outcome, but staying in Los Angeles could be a priority for James.
As of now, James is expected to come back for one more NBA season, but his next team is uncertain.
The Northern Irish golf professional infamously experienced a similar incident with an unruly fan at the 2025 Ryder Cup
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026. Credit: Jamie Squire/GettyNEED TO KNOW
Rory McIlroy lashed out at a heckler during the final round of the PGA Championship on Sunday, May 17
The two-time Masters champion cursed at an unruly fan who yelled out to him after he hit a poor shot into a bunker on the 16th hole
McIlroy has a history with hecklers, infamously facing them at the 2025 Ryder Cup
The professional golfer, 37, lost his cool when a heckler shouted at him during a crucial moment in the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Penn. on Sunday, May 17.
The heated exchange occurred after Northern Ireland's McIlroy hit a poor shot on the 16th hole, which sent the ball straight into a bunker. A disruptive fan in the crowd then rattled him with a "USA!" chant, prompting the frustrated golfer to lash out with profanity.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 17, 2026. Credit: Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/PGA of America via Getty
"Shut the f--- up!" McIlroy appeared to quip back, per videos circulating on social media.
He then seemingly pointed with his club in the direction of the heckler in the crowd, as seen in the social media clip, presumably to have the unruly spectator ejected by security from the tournament.
Ultimately, McIlroy tied for seventh place, finishing five strokes behind the winner, Aaron Rai. While the pro golfer didn't acknowledge the incident in his press conference after the tournament, he confessed he wished he could have a few shots back.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland at the 106th PGA Championship on May 16, 2024. Credit: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
"I think not birdieing the two par-5s and making the bogey at the drivable par-4 13th,” he told reporters after the match, of what he thinks led to his downfall. "To me, I felt like I played the golf I needed to play the rest of the way. If I birdied the two par-5s and turned that 5 into a 3 on 13, the day looks very different."
McIlroy said he plans to skip the CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament in Texas next week, but will return for the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, which gets underway on June 4.
"I'm going to take a couple weeks off, and then Memorial will be my next one," he shared.
Rory McIlroy (right) and Tommy Fleetwood of Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup. Credit: Vaughn Ridley/Sportsfile/Getty
Dealing with hecklers is nothing new for McIlroy, who was involved in a similar situation during the 2025 Ryder Cup, held in Long Island, where he repeatedly sparred with unruly fans.
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In what may go down as the most infamous moment from the weekend, McIlroy snapped at a heckler before making an impressive approach shot on the 16th hole, turning and telling the fan to “shut the f--- up” during his shot.
McIlroy called the moment “very f---ing satisfying” after he nestled the 149-yard shot from the rough just three feet from the hole, according to Golf Digest. He sank a birdie on the next shot, the outlet reported.
Central Kitsap's season-ending playoff loss May 16 featured the removal of an assistant referee who cursed at a Cougars player during competition.
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Occasionally in high school soccer, fans might witness a player being ejected from a game for directing unkind words toward an official.
An official being removed from a contest after directing profanity toward a player? That occurred in Central Kitsap's season-ending boys soccer playoff loss May 16 against Decatur at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.
In the 68th minute of a scoreless Class 3A West Central District tournament game, Central Kitsap senior forward Myles Peterson fell to the turf in the right corner of the pitch after being run into by a Decatur defender. There was no foul called by the assistant referee. Instead, the referee threw an insult at Peterson, cursing while questioning his playing abilities.
Central Kitsap athletic director Jodie Woolf said both she and Mount Tahoma athletic director Rhonda Stinson, who was serving as site manager on behalf of the West Central District, witnessed the interaction between the referee and player. Woolf said Peterson appeared to raise his hands to question whether a potential foul occurred on the play. The referee responded with comments she described as unprofessional.
"Rhonda and I, we both heard it," Woolf said. "I literally heard it and it took me a second to register just what happened."
As play continued toward midfield, Peterson jogged toward the center referee to alert him of the assistant referee's behavior. Woolf said Stinson conferred with the center referee and the game paused for nearly 10 minutes. Peterson and the rest of Central Kitsap's players gathered on the sidelines near the team's bench to discuss the incident while stadium and game officials discussed how to proceed.
"Genuinely speechless," Central Kitsap head coach Patrick Leonard said regarding his reaction to the assistant referee's comments. "Myles Peterson is an incredible player and captain, but above all that, he's an incredible person. To be verbally abused by a referee is a disgrace."
Leonard made it clear that his team would not retake the field unless the assistant referee was removed from the game. Woolf said a referee assigner quickly arrived at the stadium and made alterations to the officiating crew, removing the assistant referee who'd cursed at Peterson. The game resumed following a 10-minute delay.
"The people in charge did the right thing in the moment and handled it very well," Woolf said.
Central Kitsap eventually lost the game in a shootout, which lasted eight rounds.
Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League, but when can they officially win the title?
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[BBC]
Arsenal could win their first Premier League title in 22 years on Tuesday evening, should Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth.
The Gunners sit top of the table and have a five-point advantage over Pep Guardiola's side, having played 37 of their 38 Premier League games.
City have two matches left to play, with the first of those coming at the Vitality Stadium against the Cherries.
The Gunners are already on 82 points and can reach a maximum of 85 this season. City are on 77 at present and can reach 83 at best.
A defeat for City against Bournemouth means they could only reach a maximum of 80 this season, while a draw increases that to 81.
In either scenario, Mikel Arteta's Gunners will be guaranteed a first league crown since the 2003-04 term with a game to spare if Bournemouth avoid defeat.
If City were to beat Bournemouth, they will go into the final day of the season two points behind Arsenal.
Should that happen, it means City would need to win their final match against Aston Villa on Sunday, and hope that Arsenal also fail to win away at Crystal Palace.
City could then win the title on goal difference if they win and Arsenal draw, or by a single point should they win and Arsenal lose.
Opta's calculations put Arsenal's current chance of winning the title at 86.44%.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.
The Cleveland Browns are set to sell a three percent stake in the team to Arctos, a private equity firm.
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Arctos, a private equity firm, will purchase a 3% stake in the Cleveland Browns, according to multiple reports.
Private equity firms’ entry into NFL ownership represents a recent trend. The league approved the sale of such small stakes in August of 2024. Such a move allows owners to tap into almost instant cash liquidity.
While it’s difficult to know what the Browns are currently worth, recent valuations from Forbes - $6.4 billion – and CNBC - $7.15 billion – could provide $192 million-$214.5 million in cash.
Given the investment the team is making in a new facility in Brook Park and a degree of uncertainty that surrounds a portion of the financing courtesy of a lawsuit tying up the use of unclaimed funds, the move could prove significant.
The Browns previously sold a 0.1% ownership stake in the team to Pro Football Hall of Fame member Charles Woodson. It was later undone due to Woodson's ownership of a liquor company.
Arctos owns parts of more than 30 professional sports teams, including the Los Angeles Chargers and the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has built a justified reputation as one of the most electrifying receivers in the NFL. Smith-Njigba actually won the NFL’s offensive player of the year after setting franchise records with 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards last season. Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168.6m contract extension this offseason after his stellar 2025 campaign, which culminated in the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl.
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks last season. Photograph: Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has built a justified reputation as one of the most electrifying receivers in the NFL. So it was understandable that the Seahawks star was surprised when he received a trophy for the league’s defensive player of the year.
Smith-Njigba actually won the NFL’s offensive player of the year after setting franchise records with 119 receptions and 1,793 receiving yards last season. But when he received his trophy the engraving read “Defensive Player of TheYear”.
“I really want to expose them. It’s getting disrespectful, guys,” Smith-Njigba said in an Instagram video.
He then pointed to “TheYear” and said, “One word? Man.”
The 24-year-old said he was considering returning the trophy. “Just keep the award at this point,” Smith-Njigba wrote in a caption. “Leave it in the history books, tho”.
Smith-Njigba signed a four-year, $168.6m contract extension this offseason after his stellar 2025 campaign, which culminated in the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl.
Here's how Colin Cowherd ranks the Bills' Josh Allen among quarterbacks heading into 2026.
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Longtime NFL and sports analyst Colin Cowherd has released his quarterback rankings ahead of the 2026 season.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is sitting in the best position.
While Los Angeles Rams quarterback is returning next year as the reigning NFL MVP, he is not on top. Instead it is Allen who leads the way.
"He doesn't have a Super Bowl but I'm not going to punish him. He's been very good in the playoffs," Cowherd said on Allen. "He's won 70 percent of his games."
"I'm sorry, folks, he's been better than [Patrick] Mahomes the past two years," he added.
Much of the last few months have involved links between Barcelona and Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, yet in Italy there is now talk that one of the Blaugrana defenders is of interest to the Nerazz...
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Inter monitoring Barcelona defender amid doubts over Alessandro Bastoni deal
Much of the last few months have involved links between Barcelona and Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni, yet in Italy there is now talk that one of the Blaugrana defenders is of interest to the Nerazzurri. After several seasons of speculation over his future, captain Ronald Araujo is likely to be a talking point after another year without a starting spot.
The latest is that talks for Bastoni have been frozen by Barcelona manager Hansi Flick. Sporting Director Deco has agreed terms with the Italy international, and has a rough price tag in terms of negotiations with Inter, yet Flick supposedly has doubts about his fit in his system.
Inter monitoring Ronald Araujo this summer
As per CdS (via Sport), Inter are also monitoring Araujo’s situation as one of their primary options for a summer move to strengthen their defence. It is not clear whether Inter would consider including him in a deal for Bastoni should Flick give the green light. On the other hand, another Barcelona target Luka Vuskovic is also on their agenda.
Araujo reluctant to leave Barcelona
That said, Araujo has thus far shown no desire to leave the club. Flick is also set to meet with Araujo to discuss his future, the Uruguayan has said that he is happy at Camp Nou, and is still under contract until 2030. Yet Deco will no doubt be conscious of the fact that Araujo is one of the higher earners at the club, and has barely featured in the second half of the season even after recovering from his mental health break.
The 27-year-old has struggled to earn Flick’s trust, and while he has appeared 37 times this year, scoring four goals, he only has 1,570 minutes under his belt. Just 15 of those appearances were starts, and he was clearly behind Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi and Gerard Martin in the pecking order.
Pep Guardiola’s methods have sent ripples through English football throughout his ten years of service at Manchester City winning 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles at the helm.The Spa...
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How has outgoing Guardiola impacted the English game?
Pep Guardiola’s methods have sent ripples through English football throughout his ten years of service at Manchester City winning 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles at the helm.
The Spaniard’s stylistic mark on English football is indelible. From grassroots to the elite stage, many of the methods Pep has implemented have filtered through the full pyramid over the last decade – for better or worse.
Stubbornness to play out from the back tempts fate and invites unnecessary pressure for teams who are less fruitful when attempting to emulate Manchester City’s incessant possession.
The tedious recycling of possession sometimes irks the spectator and pushes them to favour more pulsating sides, like Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool or the current Champions League holders PSG under Luis Enrique.
Nonetheless, the control that Guardiola’s Manchester City teams use to consistently wear down opponents has overcome the very best teams across Europe, prevailing even when competing managers thought they had devised the best defensive antidote.
The spotlight rightly hones in on the possession-oriented approach Guardiola inculcates, including the inventive fluidity of positions and inverted full-backs breathing life into a new tactical era.
However, also paramount are Guardiola’s tactics when out of possession and particularly in the counter press.
Tireless midfielder Bernardo Silva, who will also leave Manchester City at the end of this season, has long epitomised the work rate and willingness to break up play necessary to achieve their numerous years of glory under Guardiola’s watch.
Yet despite his packed trophy cabinet at the club being a product of his commitment to his own brand of football, Guardiola has frequently valued the diversity of different styles in the upper and lower reaches of the English game.
The style he has helped to shape and become synonymous with, ‘tiki-taka’, has proven successful by adapting to the various players who have walked through the door over the years, and at previous clubs Barcelona and Bayern.
January acquisition Antoine Semenyo was tasked with integrating quickly in City’s pursuit of toppling league leaders Arsenal, who are now tantalisingly close to claiming the title after a 22-year wait.
Guardiola would stress how important understanding the former Bournemouth winger’s strengths was. The same could be said for Erling Haaland when the marksman joined in the summer of 2022.
The hunger to continue winning coexists with the drive to keep tinkering his toolkit to match the current requirements, with his emphasis on patient build-up moulding to suit the rigours of the Premier League and the players at his disposal.
That flexibility was further underlined when Manchester City recruited former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders as his right-hand man at the beginning of this term.
As Guardiola is reportedly set to close the third chapter of his managerial career, styles will continue to collide and evolve from his methods.
Just like his apprentice Mikel Arteta, it is not incumbent upon potential successor Enzo Maresca to staunchly preserve the brand of football entrenched into City’s modern identity.
It is more than likely that any seismic shifts will still derive from Guardiola’s tactics and how high the Spaniard has set the bar for developing and managing elite players.
Pereira is scheduled to fight Ciryl Gane
for the interim heavyweight title at
UFC White House on June 14. Meanwhile, Hokit is scheduled to
fight Derrick
Lewis in a heavyweight matchup on the same card.
During a promotional presser for UFC Freedom 250 at Newark last
month, Hokit went on an unprovoked rant against Pereira. Meanwhile,
Ilia
Topuria looks to defend his lightweight title on the same card
against interim champion Justin
Gaethje on the same card. Topuria was sitting next to Pereira
at the presser when Hokit launched his tirade. With a fast-growing
friendship between the Topuria and Pereira, “El Matador” stood up
to defend his friend against Hokit’s insults. While Pereira isn’t
fluent in English, Topuria was enraged when Hokit said he would
“Chama on Pereira’s Mama.” Topuria told Hokit that Pereira doesn’t
need to answer him before throwing a bottle of water at the
heavyweight fighter. Security personnel stepped in before things
could escalate and escorted Hokit out of the media scrum.
Pereira (13-3) is grateful to Topuria for having his back. As for
Hokit, “Poatan” doesn’t want to give him undue attention. The
former two-division champion, aiming for a third title, believes
Hokit is a “problematic” character who doesn’t get along well with
his own family and friends. Pereira plans to maintain his composure
in the face of Hokit’s antics during the UFC Freedom 250 fight
week. However, if Hokit is able to get physically close to pull off
some stunt, Pereira will blame the
UFC for the lapse.
Planning to Keep His Cool
“I don’t understand English, and I think Topuria felt bad,” Pereira
told
The Patriots are reportedly working out former Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher Janarius Robinson on Tuesday.
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Kansas City Chiefs free agent defensive end Janarius Robinson is reportedly working out with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
Robinson signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs before the 2025 season. However, he suffered a season-ending foot fracture in training camp in August.
He has played in 16 career games and has recorded 13 total tackles, a sack, and a pass deflection. The defender started his career with the Minnesota Vikings after being selected by the organization in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He has also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Las Vegas Raiders.
The Patriots have improved their depth at edge rusher with Harold Landry and Dre'Mont Jones currently serving as the top two veteran options. They might also have intriguing pass-rushing depth in rookie Gabe Jacas, who has the chance to develop into an immediate contributor.
There is also hope that the team gets more contributions from second-year players, like Bradyn Swinson and Elijah Ponder. Robinson could provide additional playmaking and pass-rushing depth to what the Patriots hope to be a strong group in 2026.
FC Bayern are aiming to cap off a standout 2025/2026 season on Saturday by winning the DFB Cup and securing their first domestic double since 2020. The 35th German championship, the most lethal attack...
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Ahead of Berlin: Your message to the FC Bayern men
FC Bayern are aiming to cap off a standout 2025/2026 season on Saturday by winning the DFB Cup and securing their first domestic double since 2020. The 35th German championship, the most lethal attack in Bundesliga history, numerous debuts from Campus players, and the spectacular Champions League matches against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid – this season will remain in Bayern fans’ memories for a long time to come.
That’s why we’d like to give you the chance to send a personal message to the FC Bayern men ahead of the final in Berlin. Feel free to say a few words to coach Vincent Kompany’s side, look ahead to the final against Stuttgart, or look back on the highlights of the season.
We'll publish selected messages on the German record champions’ social media channels in the near future.
Here’s how to take part:
Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.com
Oconee County girls tennis was crowned runner-up in the GHSA Class 3A tennis state championships on May 13. Here's how the whole tournament went.
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Oconee County girls tennis was crowned runner-up in the GHSA Class 3A tennis state championships on May 13.
The Warriors fell to LaGrange in the finals, 3-0.
Oconee County's number two doubles team of juniors Mehek Desai and Caroline Smith fell in two sets, 6-4 and 6-3, to LaGrange's doubles team of Del Angel and Elly Sanchez, while freshman Divya Stratton fell in two sets to Ava Edelson, 6-4 and 6-0, and senior Mary Linda fell in two sets to Molly Edelson, 6-3 and 6-2.
Freshman Nyasa Patel won her first set but did not get to finish the match, as was the case for Oconee County's number one doubles team of senior Ellie Johnson and freshman Audrey Stephens.
Oconee County went 3-0 over Dougherty in round one, 3-0 over Pickens in round two, 3-0 over Bainbridge in the quarterfinals and 3-0 over North Hall in the semifinals to advance to the finals.
As for the rest of the girls tournament:
In Class 5A, Jackson County fell in the second round to Roswell, 3-0, and Clarke Central fell in the first round to Lakeside (Evans), 3-0.
In Class 4A, Madison County fell in the second round to Allatoona, 3-1, and North Oconee fell in the quarterfinals to Northview, 3-2.
In Class 1A-Division 1, Commerce fell in the second round to Banks County, 3-0, while in Class 1-3A Private, Athens Academy fell 3-1 to Mount Bethel Christian and Prince Avenue Christian fell 3-1 to Wesleyan, both in the quarterfinals.
As for the boys tournament:
In Class 5A, Clarke Central fell in the second round to Woodward Academy, 3-0, and Jackson County fell in the first round to Lakeside (Evans), 3-0.
In Class 4A, North Oconee fell in the second round to Midtown, 3-0, and Madison County fell in the first round to Benedictine, 5-0.
In Class 3A, Jefferson fell in the quarterfinals to LaGrange, 5-0, before Oconee County then fell in the semifinals to LaGrange, 3-0 — LaGrange won the state title on both sides of the bracket.
In Class 1A-Division 1, Commerce fell in the first round to Thomasville, 3-1, while in Class 1-3A Private, Prince Avenue Christian fell to Mount Pisgah Christian in the second round, 3-2, and Athens Academy fell to Darlington in the semifinals, 3-0.
Anthony Edwards’ postseason ended with a heavy defeat, and Nike did not miss the chance to respond with a pointed social media post. The Minnesota Timberwolves were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs, losing Game 6 by a 139-109 score at home.
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Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images
Anthony Edwards’ postseason ended with a heavy defeat, and Nike did not miss the chance to respond with a pointed social media post.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were eliminated by the San Antonio Spurs, losing Game 6 by a 139-109 score at home.
That mattered beyond the result because Edwards is signed to Adidas, while Spurs star Victor Wembanyama is one of Nike’s leading basketball names, and it generated a funny swipe at the 24-year-old guard on social media.
Nike turns Anthony Edwards’ Adidas slogan back on himPhoto by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images
Nike’s post played off Edwards’ Adidas slogan, “Believe That,” by changing the line to “Believe This” after San Antonio advanced.
The graphic also leaned into Wembanyama’s alien branding, using his Nike logo after the Spurs had removed Minnesota from the playoffs.
The timing made the response sharper. Edwards’ Adidas campaign had previously referenced Wembanyama through an alien-style spot, making Nike’s reply feel deliberate.
On the court, the ending was decisive. San Antonio won the series 4-2, with the final game turning into a 30-point blowout at Target Center.
Edwards still led Minnesota with 24 points in Game 6, but he shot 9-of-26 as the Timberwolves failed to extend the series.
Wembanyama finished with 19 points in the clincher, while Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 32 points and 11 rebounds, giving Wembanyama and Nike the final say this time around.
The controversial event will be held Memorial Day Weekend in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Every two years, a version of the Olympics — either Summer or Winter — brings together the world's best athletes to determine the best of the best.
This has led to some truly impressive human feats over the years, but the company Enhanced — which describes itself as “a global movement that develops scientific insights, medical discoveries and record-breaking sports events to unite humanity and inspire scientific innovation” — wants to see if humans are capable of more.
The Olympics have intense doping and drug regulations that do not allow for the use of performance-enhancing drugs. Enhanced had the idea to see what humans can do in the same events, given the safe administration of certain PEDs, to see how much science can elevate performance.
The Enhanced Games will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, over Memorial Day weekend. There will be events held in swimming, track and weightlifting, as well as a strongman exhibition.
The event has sparked plenty of controversy among athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), who are worried about the message that comes from supporting and encouraging an event like this.
Here is everything you need to know about the Enhanced Games.
What are the Enhanced Games?
The Enhanced Games will be a series of competitions across track, swimming and weightlifting.
It will be very similar to the Summer Olympics, except Enhanced wants to use the science at its disposal to safely enhance athletes and see what humans can achieve.
Per the company’s website, “Enhanced Games is a new global sports competition designed to push the boundaries of human performance. The Games challenge traditional models of sport by embracing science, innovation, and measurable performance enhancement under regulated conditions.”
When are the Enhanced Games?
The Enhanced Games will be held over Memorial Day weekend on May 24. Earlier in the weekend, there will be media availability and a medical symposium, as the company claims it wants to be transparent about the science behind the event.
The events will be held in front of an invite-only crowd of 2,500 people on Sunday.
How to watch the Enhanced Games
The Enhanced Games can be streamed through the Roku Sports Channel. The companies announced the deal on May 11, and the stream will start at 9 p.m. ET.
The Enhanced Games opening events will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET and will stream on the company’s YouTube, Rumble, Twitch and Kick accounts.
Lights. Camera. Action.
Behind the scenes of production week for the Enhanced Games.
There will be 40 athletes competing in the event. Each participant can choose whether to participate “enhanced” or not. Athletes will be able to pick what form of PEDs they would like to use, and some are choosing to remain clean.
There are some Olympic athletes in the mix. British Olympian Ben Proud, American Olympians Fred Kerley and Hunter Armstrong, Barbados Olympian Tristan Evelyn and Olympic weightlifter Boady Santavy are among the 40 athletes slated to compete.
Weightlifter Thor Bjornsson, who portrayed The Mountain in “Game of Thrones,” is also expected to compete.
What is the controversy?
The main controversy comes from how strict the anti-doping policies are for all other competitions, yet this event encourages it.
The IOC and WADA athletes’ commission released a statement discussing how the games were a “betrayal of everything that we stand for.”
“Promoting performance-enhancing substances and methods sends a dangerous message, especially to current and future generations of athletes.
“Such substances can lead to serious long-term health consequences, even death — and encouraging athletes to use them is utterly irresponsible and immoral. No level of sporting success is worth such a cost.”
To show how serious it is, World Aquatics adopted a new rule that bans any athlete who participates in the Enhanced Games, whether they choose to enhance or remain clean.
What are Enhanced Games participants competing for?
Each athlete has a signed contract to participate in the event. There is a total prize pool of $25 million up for grabs.
While each athlete received a base pay and “unmatched athlete care,” there are bonuses available.
“For every sprint world record, over 50m freestyle in the pool and the 100m sprint on the track, $1m has been promised, while winners of each event will receive $250,000.”
"My recovery is going well and I'm feeling much better, but unfortunately I'm still not ready to compete, which is why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen's and Wimbledon," Alcaraz wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
"They are two truly special tournaments for me and I will miss them a lot.
"We'll keep working to come back as soon as possible."
Alcaraz was the two-time defending champion at last year's Wimbledon but lost in the final to rival Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz began the year by winning his first Australian Open title and becoming the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.
He would have been looking to kick on further in 2026, but will now miss the entire grass court season along with the majority of the clay court swing.
Alcaraz lost the world number one ranking to Sinner last month and he is set to lose even more ground in the rankings to the Italian, who has won three clay-court Master 1000 tournaments in the last five weeks.
The Packers have filled the opening in their personnel department that was created when Jon-Eric Sullivan left the team to become the Dolphins' General Manager.
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The Packers have filled the opening in their personnel department that was created when Jon-Eric Sullivan left the team to become the Dolphins' General Manager.
Milt Hendrickson has been promoted to vice president of player personnel, which was the title Sullivan held before heading to Miami. Hendrickson was the director-football operations and had been in that role for seven seasons.
The Packers also announced that John Wojciechowski has been named the new director-football operations along with several other promotions.
The other members of the organization with new titles are director of player personnel Richmond Williams, director of pro scouting Lee Gissendaner, senior player personnel executive Matt Malaspina, director of college scouting Pat Moore, senior national scout Sam Seale, national scout Luke Benuska, and assistant director of pro scouting Mike Owen.
May 19th Daily Slop: ESPN projects Sonny Styles to lead NFL rookies in tackles; Does QB Athan Kaliakmanis have a future in DC?
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Editor’s note: Each day, Hogs Haven compiles a collection of articles, podcasts & tweets from around the web to keep you in touch with the Commanders, the NFC East, the NFL and sports in general, with a sprinkling of other stuff. Enjoy!
1. Sonny Styles, Washington Commanders: 123 2. Arvell Reese, New York Giants: 116 3. CJ Allen, Indianapolis Colts: 94 T-4. Caleb Downs, Dallas Cowboys: 82 T-4. Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears: 82
Shaquille Leonard’s 163 tackles in 2018 are the most by a rookie over the past decade, though he is one of only four rookies (all picked in the first two rounds) to reach 125 during the span. In fact, zero rookies reached 100 tackles in 2023 or 2024 prior to three (Carson Schwesinger, Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter) hitting that total in 2025.
Styles’ projection is a big one, as 122 would be sixth most among rookies over the past decade. The large number isn’t by accident, as the No. 7 overall pick is expected to replace Bobby Wagner as a near-every-down player in the middle of Washington’s defense. Reese (No. 5 overall) was selected before Styles, but his role (is he more of an edge or an off-ball linebacker?) is a little less clear. Considering the underwhelming state of the Colts’ off-ball linebacker room, Allen has a path to a full-time role as a second-round pick.
The most tackles by a rookie safety over the past decade is 147 by Jalen Pitre in 2022. Only 12 others reached 80 during that span, with three hitting 100. First-rounders Downs and Thieneman are positioned as every-down starters in Dallas and Chicago, respectively. Both should put up solid tackle numbers in Year 1.
It was a little surprising to see the Washington Commanders select quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the seventh round. Such late-round picks are dart throws, but he feels like a known asset after making 42 college starts. Marcus Mariota is among the better backup quarterbacks in the NFL behind Jayden Daniels. Will the Commanders carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, or will Adam Peters attempt to sneak Kaliakmanis onto Washington’s practice squad? He makes full-field reads with mechanics, but maintaining poise under pressure has been an issue.
While Washington brings backup Marcus Mariota back for a 3rd season on a 3rd consecutive 1-year contract to play behind Daniels, they showed they don’t have as much confidence in their 3rd quarterback spot, occupied by popular reserve Sam Hartman the last 2 seasons.
The Commanders drafted Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis in the 7th round (No. 223 overall) of the 2026 NFL draft — a move that seems to show they’re keen to move on from Hartman.
“Jayden Daniels is the runaway No. 1 QB, Marcus Mariota the clear No. 2,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote. “Kaliakmanis enters after that, as he must unseat Sam Hartman for the No. 3 job. Hartman struggled last preseason, and Washington clearly views Kaliakmanis as someone who can win the job. He is also a good fit in new coordinator David Blough’s play-action system. The question is whether Kaliakmanis is able to develop into a No. 2 option, but we’ll have to wait a couple years to answer that.”
The Commanders essentially showed they have zero faith in Hartman at the end of the 2025 regular season when, having already been eliminated from the playoffs, they decided to bring in journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson to start 2 games late in the season with both Daniels and Mariota out.
If Hartman didn’t know the Commanders’ offensive system after 2 years playing there, there’s some question as to why they would even be keeping him on the practice squad, where he’s been parked most of the last 2 seasons.
Kaliakmanis is joining the Commanders’ roster with no mystery about his role. Jayden Daniels is the undisputed starter on the team, and Marcus Mariota is the primary backup. Kaliakmanis is here to compete for the third spot on the depth chart — a role that will require him to play few, if any, reps in the best circumstances. If he wins that job from incumbent Sam Hartman, he will learn the offense and focus on his development to possibly compete for the primary backup role in the near future.
Kaliakmanis isn’t shying away from that. It’s actually what excites him the most that he can learn from the “greatness” he said exists in the Commanders’ quarterback room.
“These are great QBs with historic stats,” Kaliakmanis said. “All three of them have historic stats. I’m excited to learn from them. I’m excited to come in and compete but learn; take as much as I possibly can from each one of them. They’ve done great things in their careers, and one day, I hope to do what they do.”
And when it comes to what he can bring to the room in the immediate future, it’s a lot of what already exists: competitiveness, a good work ethic and his intelligence.
“I feel like I’m getting smarter as a football player,” Kaliakmanis said. “If they have questions or if I have questions, we’re just gonna work together as a team, and we’re gonna help each other get better.”
Have a feeling AK is going to be a new fan fav. If he were in an 80s football movie, he would play “The Bean.”😂 #RaiseHailpic.twitter.com/zBj6hKOsza
It’s been seven years since the Washington Commanders had one kicker for a full season who finished above the league average in field goal percentage.
Seven. Years.
In the span since Dustin Hopkins made 83.3 percent of his field goal attempts in 2019, Washington’s NFL team has rebranded twice, changed its uniforms at least three times, started nearly a dozen quarterbacks, hired two head coaches, had a change in ownership and broken ground on a new stadium in D.C. And yet, the franchise is still searching for that consistent specialist to spell the offense and do what so many kickers now do routinely: hit 50-plus-yard field goals with consistency.
Kicker Drew Stevens, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound undrafted rookie out of Iowa, signed with Washington after the draft and will compete with incumbent Jake Moody for a spot on the initial 53-man roster. The team re-signed Moody to a one-year deal in March after acquiring him during the season amid issues with former kicker Matt Gay.
Kicker is one of multiple jobs up for grabs in Washington, but it could be one of the most impactful — for better or worse.
At a time when special teams are significantly influencing the outcomes of games, and when kickers are proving their value well beyond routine 33-yard extra-point attempts, Washington’s shortcomings at the position have been costly.
The value of the 40-yard kick, a specialty of Hopkins’ in his seven seasons in Washington, has diminished. Kickers are bigger, stronger and arriving at the pro level with more specialized training.
Stevens will be No. 9 on the Commanders’ list of recent kickers, but he has a resume that fits what Washington has been searching for at the position.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Stevens as the third-best kicker in the Class of 2026 with the projection he could go in the seventh round of the draft.
A former high school soccer player, Stevens set or equaled school records at Iowa for the most made field goals (76), 50-plus-yard field goals (12) and longest field goal (58 yards) and was one of three kickers invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.
In his four seasons of kicking at Iowa, he connected on 80.0 percent of his field goal attempts (76 of 95) and missed only two of 126 extra-point attempts.
It sounds like Alvin Kamara's future with the Saints is in doubt. If New Orleans moves on from him, he'll have options. The Commanders make sense.
The Washington Commanders attempted in 2025 to host a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, but the two teams ultimately canceled it, with head coach Dan Quinn citing scheduling conflicts as one of the drivers behind the decision. This preseason, the two geographical neighbors will take another run at it (this time at the Ravens’ home), while the Burgundy and Gold will also play host to one day of joint practice with the Miami Dolphins.
Dolphins Coming to Ashburn: The Commanders are locking in a one-day joint practice session with the Miami Dolphins at Commanders Park on August 12 ahead of their preseason Week 1 matchup.
Breaking the Drought: This represents the first time the franchise has hosted a visiting NFL team for a joint practice session since 2018.
Baltimore Locked In, Detroit Out: The Ravens officially announced a road joint practice with Washington for August 26 in Owings Mills, while logistical constraints have completely ruled out a Week 2 session with the Detroit Lions.
In addition to their joint practice with the Dolphins in Ashburn on Aug. 26, the Commanders will have another joint practice with the Ravens in Owings Mills on Aug. 12.https://t.co/Y7HYCaRItb
Hard Open – Starting the 2026 NFL season with back-to-back division games on the road presents a difficult task for Washington. Following that up with a home opener against the freaking Super Bowl champs makes it among the hardest opening stretch in football. Seriously: @ Philly, @ Dallas, home against Seattle. The Commanders will likely be underdogs in all three contests, and after that get “rewarded” with a home game in London. Seattle at home does present an immediate chance for Washington to show improvement from last season. As much as the Commanders got blown out in 2025, no game was as lopsided as the home loss to the Seahawks. It was 31-7 at halftime and Jayden Daniels got hurt late in that game. Remember the whole “Dan Quinn was going to take Jayden out and then he got hurt” storyline? Week 3. It’s back.
Wood chopping season – From Week 10 to 13 the Commanders don’t face a single playoff team from last season. Three of those four teams had worse records than the Commanders last year (NYG, Arizona and Tennessee). Granted, Washington also missed the playoffs last year, but if the Commanders can get through the first nine weeks of the year hovering close to .500 then real opportunities open up to rip off a 3 or 4-game win streak.
[A]nalysis shows there are structural advantages baked into Washington’s calendar — and they come with an uncomfortable asterisk.
According to NFL analyst Warren Sharp’s annual rest disparity analysis, Washington enters 2026 with more than nine days of net rest over its opponents — meaning across 17 games, the Commanders will enjoy substantially more rest than their opponents on a cumulative basis. That figure ranks fourth in the entire league, alongside Dallas, Buffalo and Chicago.
“In four of the last five seasons prior to this year, they have had negative net rest handed to them by the NFL,” Sharp told WTOP. “So to get not just positive net rest, but plus nine days of net rest should stand out.”
Furthermore, the Commanders will face zero opponents off a bye week, have only one short-week road game and a Week 7 bye placed near the midpoint of the schedule. Sharp noted that Washington’s one rest-disadvantage game is almost an advantage itself.
“They only have one game where they play at a rest disadvantage all year, and it’s only a one-day rest disadvantage that happens to come Week 12 against the Arizona Cardinals, the worst team in the NFL this year,” Sharp said. “So if there’s ever a period where you want to be playing with a rest disadvantage, it’s against the worst team in the NFL.”
And when Washington has had that rest edge, it’s shown up in the results. According to Sharp, the Commanders over the last two seasons are 4-2 straight up in games where they’ve had a rest advantage — and 3-4 when they haven’t.
Commanders are once again on track to get a good chunk of the spotlight
You can’t complain about the lack of spotlight when it comes to the Commanders’ 2026 schedule, that’s for sure!
Right now, the team has eight games that are considered either primetime, standalone, or 4:25 p.m. ET kickoffs: Eagles, Cowboys, Colts, 49ers (MNF), Eagles (SNF), Giants (TNF), Bengals (MNF), and Cardinals.
That’s nearly half the schedule and more could be added down the line considering the final three games are TBD. It looks as if the league is giving the team a pass for last year’s disaster and believes it can get back to the 2024 version that captured the NFL.
Monday Night Football after TNF
The NFL did the Commanders a big favor by giving them a Monday night game after their TNF matchup. The days in-between games after Thursday night are already considered a “mini-bye”, so getting that extra day is pretty clutch.
Episode 1,328 – Guest: @BBurkeESPN on him having Washington tied with Dallas for No. 3 in the NFL in Net Rest at +11. Also, why travel & home-field advantage don't matter like they used to. What matters more, injury luck or quality of opponents? And more.https://t.co/nbhDSFFgwV
Josh Downs is not a pure vertical receiver, he is a chain-mover and leverage winner. His 2025 line was 58 catches for 566 yards and four touchdowns, but the important number is 36 first downs on those 58 catches, a 62.1% first-down rate. In 2024, when his role was bigger, he posted career highs with 72 catches, 803 yards and five touchdowns. Over three NFL seasons, he has 198 catches for 2,140 yards and 11 touchdowns. The deeper numbers show why Josh is a difficult matchup for a rookie nickel. He had an 18% target share, a 66% catch rate and a 8.4 yard average depth of target in 2025. That profile says the Colts use him in the underneath and intermediate areas where separation is created by timing, stems, leverage and quarterback trust rather than raw speed.
Caleb Downs
Caleb’s case is built on a different kind of evidence. At Ohio State in 2025, he produced 68 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and two interceptions in 14 games. He allowed a 53.4 passer rating when targeted, surrendered 25 receptions in coverage and recorded two interceptions. That is the profile of a defensive back who does not need gaudy interception totals to control space.
If the standard is impact per target, Caleb should be favored. Josh’s 2025 usage was efficient but not explosive at 9.8 yards per catch and only four 20-plus-yard receptions. Caleb’s best traits are route recognition, physical tackling, zone awareness and versatility. He’s built to squeeze short-area windows, force throws underneath and prevent catch-and-run damage.
The decisive stat is first-down prevention. Josh converted over 60% of his 2025 receptions into first downs, so Caleb’s job is not merely to hold him under 60 yards. It is to make catches harmless. If Josh catches six passes but only two move the chains and none gain 20 yards, Caleb wins. If Josh catches five passes, converts three or four first downs and scores in the red zone, Josh wins. That is the real battle, not receptions, but leverage snaps.
Final Analysis
The verdict then? Caleb Downs should win the individual matchup, narrowly, because his profile is almost purpose-built for this assignment. He has the size advantage, the coverage production, the tackling résumé and the versatility Dallas wants in the nickel. Josh has the experience and route craft to steal reps, especially early, but the deeper data points toward Caleb limiting explosive damage and forcing the Colts to win elsewhere. Expect Josh to get catches, expect Caleb to win the battle.
[O]ne acquisition that remains largely undiscussed is free agent defensive tackle Otito Ogbonnia. Today, we’ll take a closer look at the big fella and get a better sense of what the Cowboys have in their latest man in the middle acquisition.
In 2024, he looked like a legit force [for the Chargers]. He was finally healthy, starting all 17 games and logging 37 tackles. He effectively transformed from a developmental depth piece into a certified fixture along the interior of the defensive line. It wasn’t a large sample, but it was enough for the Cowboys to be interested in him, signing the 25-year-old to a one-year $2.75 million deal in March.
Here’s some fun little trivia. Ogbonnia played alongside Osa Odighizuwa for three seasons at UCLA. Ogbonnia was signed on March 10th, and Odighizuwa was traded to the 49ers on March 11th. On paper, these two former Westwood walls were teammates again for one day. Ironically, it was a change in defensive scheme that made the Cowboys go from one double-O to another.
He’s an unselfish nose tackle anchor to absorb punishment in the middle. By taking on those grueling interior double teams, Ogbonnia essentially acts as a human shield for the linebackers behind him. This setup ensures the second-level defenders stay clean, allowing them to fly downhill and make plays without an offensive guard climbing up and getting in their grill.
Furthermore, he is perfect for the gap-and-a-half technique that Parker relies on. Ogbonnia uses his raw power to control the primary A-gap, striking the center with enough force to halt any forward momentum. He keeps his eyes in the backfield to track the ball. Once the running back commits, Ogbonnia uses his strength to shed his blocker and choke out the play. It is a highly disciplined style of play that requires patience and brute strength, two traits he has mastered.
His role in the [Cowboys] defense
Looking at the blueprint for the upcoming season, his projected role on this defense is well-defined. He is going to be a classic two-down player, acting as an early-down run-stopping specialist who leaves the field when it is time to rush the passer. You should not expect him to light up the stat sheet with flashy sacks, forced fumbles, or, quite honestly, any type of splashy play except the occasional running back takedown at the line of scrimmage. Instead, he provides a solid floor for their third DT piece and allows the coaching staff to get Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark some occasional rest, keeping the entire defensive line fresh and energized down the stretch.
Ultimately, this signing represents a sound piece of roster building by the Cowboys. While everyone loves the flashy trades and higher-priced signings, Ogbonnia provides low-cost muscle and grit required to keep opposing teams in third-and-long situations. He brings the exact type of unselfish, tone-setting physicality that great defenses need. Cowboys fans should be excited to watch this absolute unit clog up the trenches and bring some old-school toughness back to the defensive interior.
With Brian Burns, 2026 No. 3 overall pick Abdul Carter, 2022 No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux, and 2026 No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese the Giants have an embarrassment of riches as potential stand-up pass rushers. How will Wilson deploy them? It is unlikely we will see everything Wilson has in mind this spring, but we will get an idea.
Opportunity at wide receiver
No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers is not expected to practice until at least late in training camp as he continues an arduous recovery from a pair of surgeries for a torn ACL. Veteran Darius Slayton will not participate in spring workouts as he recovers from core muscle surgery.
That means we will get a good look at newly-signed veteran wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin over the next few weeks. Rookie Malachi Fields, too.
It also means there will be plenty of opportunity for players competing for the final one or two spots on the depth chart to show what they can do.
That group includes Dalen Cambre, Beaux Collins, Xavier Gipson, Ryan Miller, Isaiah Hodgins, and — yes — Jalin Hyatt. Can one or more of those players take advantage of the extra reps?
Overall, it’s easy to see what Dan Quinn is attempting to do – get younger and faster on defense while adding explosive weapons on offense. There’s still a void in overall proven talent on offense, although Williams may be a diamond in the rough. Okonkwo will provide a different level of athletic ability than Ertz did, and perhaps Ben Sinnott will take a year three jump.
I was a massive Sonny Styles fan and believe he is the perfect piece for Quinn. Still, the overall personnel of Washington remains a question mark. Much of their 2026 success is contingent on Daniels’ health and development. A step from Josh Conerly Jr. on the offensive line may really assist the stability of the offense under new coordinator David Blough. I understand the vision, but remain skeptical of how it translates and if there’s enough skill around Daniels that can allow him to unlock his potential. At the very least, though, the defense should be much improved.
[S]ports media executives like John Skipper are sounding the alarm that the league could “kill the golden goose” when it comes to its broadcast partners.
As the industry knows full well, the NFL wants to opt out early from its $111 billion, 11-year deals with CBS, NBC, Fox, ESPN, and Amazon Prime Video, which were signed in 2021. The league is seeking increases of roughly 50% or more from media partners. The talks have already started with CBS Sports, which could see its annual payout rise to more than $3 billion a year from the current $2.1 billion for its Sunday afternoon game package.
Yes, the NFL believes its rights are undervalued. Yes, legacy broadcast networks should kiss Commissioner Roger Goodell’s ring to ensure their futures at a time when scripted Hollywood dramas, sitcoms, and reality TV shows are falling by the wayside.
But Skipper, the former president of ESPN, is raising eyebrows by warning that the NFL is getting too greedy. In the future, only the tech giants will be able to afford $4 billion to $5 billion media deals, he warns. By playing hardball with legacy media partners like Fox Corp., Goodell’s league could price them right out of the football business.
[W]hat happens when leverage flips the other way? Tech giants like Netflix, Amazon, and Apple don’t have to have the NFL to survive. They could walk away from the table if the prices get too high. That gives them leverage. Especially if the legacy bidders are financial non-factors. As Skipper learned the hard way at ESPN, these trillion-dollar tech giants can be brutal negotiators. If Goodell doesn’t know it yet, his successor will find out in a hurry. The NFL is “tempting fate” by playing legacy media partners off streamers, according to Skipper.
“The next Commissioner is going to deal with the fact that these big tech companies have more leverage over you–and they don’t need your product as much as the traditional broadcasters do,” the Meadowlark Media co-founder said. “The NFL is at this position right now because these traditional media companies cannot exist without an NFL package. If the delta gets to be billions of dollars, they will have to decide to exist without it. They’ll decline faster. Cable TV will decline faster. And the only people who will be able to afford the NFL’s packages will be great, big, trillion dollar market cap companies. But they are also tough, mean companies.”
Former ESPN president John Skipper on the "dangerous scenario" the NFL is headed towards — where tech and streaming giants don't need an NFL package in order to exist. pic.twitter.com/edkqLqvgXc
— Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) May 16, 2026
It’s in the NFL’s interest to keep struggling legacy partners alive for more reasons than one. It gives the league more bidders for a limited inventory. Keeping a high percentage of games on free, over-the-air television should help keep critics like FCC chairman Brendan Carr at bay. Don’t forget, the league now owns 10% of Disney’s ESPN. It also holds an equity stake in CBS following Skydance Media’s acquisition of Paramount Global, the network’s parent company. So the NFL has a bottom-line financial interest in keeping some of its legacy partners afloat.
ESPN sources: The 2028 NFL Draft is expected to be awarded to Minneapolis at this week’s league meeting. The NFL’s fan engagement and major events committees have been working with the city and the Vikings on plans for the 2028 Draft. pic.twitter.com/sqYjceGu0Q
The NFL is eyeing a late-spring or early-summer 2027 launch for its two professional flag football leagues — one for men and one for women — Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of club business, international and league events, said during a Monday interview on the “Up & Adams” show.
“We’re in the lab, if you will, of really building what that league’s going to be like,” O’Reilly told host Kay Adams. “Thinking about what’s the structure of it, where are we playing games, how does it roll out? Incredibly exciting to be having conversations with the athletes who are going to play in this league, who maybe dreamed one day there might be a professional flag league, and now we’re saying, ‘This is real.’
“There’s going to be a combine for this pro flag league. There’s going to be a draft. There’s going to be an opportunity to play this sport at the highest level, and it’s going to be awesome.”
In March, the NFL announced the selection of TMRW Sports as its developmental and operational partner in launching professional flag football. TMRW Sports has made a name for itself through the development and launch of the primetime golf league TGL, which capped its inaugural season in March and was seen as a general success ratings-wise.
Flag football is becoming more established at the high school and college levels across the country. The National Federation of State High School Associations says the sport is offered at the high school level in 39 states: 17 have it as a sanctioned sport, while 22 are pilot programs. In April, eight teams participated in the first college women’s flag football tournament, which signaled the latest step toward the sport being recognized by the NCAA.
O’Reilly described the future of flag football as “limitless.”
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 19, 2026
Jordan Magee was drafted in 2024 as a potential heir to Bobby Wagner, but where does he fit into a 2026 Commanders defense that just drafted Sonny Styles, added Leo Chenal, and still has Frankie Luvu? #NFL#Commanderspic.twitter.com/uD73knUZl6
— Inside Maryland Sports (@Terrapins247) May 18, 2026
🚨 Exclusive interview alert 🚨 @Commanders General Manager Adam Peters does his first local radio 1-on-1 interview since the 2026 NFL draft with @bigrig98rock
NFL owners will vote today on limited partners Egon Durban and Michael Meldman buying further into the @Raiders, per sources. Durban will buy another 11%, pushing his total interest to 22%. Meldman will buy another 5.4%, pushing his total to 12.9%.
The owners could vote Tuesday in Orlando to increase the number of league-run international games per season from eight to 10, from earlier. https://t.co/TOCjMJBfPx
From @GMFB with @JudyBattista: Along with the coming news of the Super Bowl in Nashville and the Draft in Minnesota, we discuss why you’ll start seeing full referee crews at training camps. pic.twitter.com/tIEhLihe1N
German national team players pleaded for Manuel Neuer’s return.
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17 May 2026, Bavaria, Munich: Soccer, men: Bundesliga, FC Bayern Munich championship celebrations on Marienplatz. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern Munich) celebrates on the balcony of the town hall with the championship trophy. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)
There was a theory floating that once Manuel Neuer decided to extend his Bayern Munich contract for one more season that the veteran also made his mind up to return to Germany.
That might not exactly be the case.
Per Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), “key national team players” made a push to head coach Julian Nagelsmann for Neuer to return to the squad for the World Cup. In addition, the player’s family also gave him the blessing to return:
Key national team players strongly advocated for Manuel Neuer’s World Cup call up to Julian Nagelsmann. Neuer’s performances in the Champions League reinforced the arguments of his Germany teammates. His Bayern teammates urged him to reconsider his retirement from the national team. Neuer’s family also encouraged him, giving their approval for both another season with Bayern and a potential World Cup appearance.
Dating back to their days together at Bayern Munich, Nagelsmann and Neuer were rumored to have a strained relationship — something that harkens back to Nagelsmann sacking Neuer’s preferred goalkeeper coach, Toni Tapalović. Some stories have recently broken indicating that there is no rift — or at least no longer a rift — which points to the suddenly open line of communication between Nagelsmann and Neuer:
This new direction regarding Neuer was then communicated to the DFB. Up to that point, there had been little to no contact between Nagelsmann and Neuer for a long time. Then phone calls have become more frequent, and the idea of a comeback was discussed between the two sides, as well as internally at the DFB. The national team coaching staff was in agreement that Neuer’s willingness to play in the World Cup opened up a new option for them. Ultimately, the decision was made to bring him back as #1.
While there has not been a formal announcement as of yet, things certainly seem like they are trending for Neuer to make his long-anticipated return to the German national team.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Chelsea vs Tottenham Preview: Blues Seek European FinishQuick Turnaround After Wembley PainChelsea return to Stamford Bridge tonight with little time to dwell on Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat. The ...
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Chelsea Starting XI vs Tottenham Hotspur: Confirmed Team News and Predicted LineupChelsea vs Tottenham Preview: Blues Seek European FinishQuick Turnaround After Wembley Pain
Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge tonight with little time to dwell on Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat. The 1-0 loss to Manchester City at Wembley hurt, but the Premier League table still offers incentive, with European qualification within reach.
McFarlane Faces Selection Calls
Interim head coach Calum McFarlane is expected to freshen up his Chelsea side for Tottenham, with the final two league fixtures now carrying real weight. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho are both available after returning in the cup final, having missed two matches with knocks sustained in training.
Levi Colwill’s situation requires greater caution. McFarlane said Chelsea “must be careful” with the defender, who has only recently returned from a serious injury and may be protected from the start.
Photo IMAGO
Tottenham Test Demands Control
Chelsea’s shape remains a key question. McFarlane must decide whether to continue with a back three or move back to the 4,2,3,1 system previously favoured by Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.
Robert Sanchez is expected to continue after returning against City, despite wearing a Petr Cech style skull cap. Romeo Lavia, however, remains a doubt after suffering a knock near his eye before the FA Cup final.
Benoit Badiashile and Mamadou Sarr have been absent recently due to selection decisions rather than injury, meaning either could feature before the season ends.
Doubt: Lavia.Injured: Estevao, Gittens, Derry.Time and date: 8:15pm BST, Tuesday May 19, 2026.Venue: Stamford Bridge.How to watch: Sky Sports.
Chelsea need composure, energy and edge. Tottenham will arrive sensing opportunity, but for the Blues this is about finishing a difficult season with purpose, pride and a place in Europe still alive.
Victor Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history to record 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
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There has long been a feeling that San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is going to become the best player in the NBA at some point, and that point may be arriving in the playoffs.
The 7-foot-4 Frenchman dominated the San Antonio Spurs’ 122-115 double overtime win against Oklahoma City in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals with a record-breaking performance, becoming the youngest player in league history to put up at least 40 points with 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
This came on the night his rival, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City, was formally announced as the league MVP.
Victor Wembanyama MVP
The NBA officially announced its MVP for the 2025-26 season Monday night, and for the second consecutive year, it was Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Wembanyama proceeded to outplay him in San Antonio’s Game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals, but downplayed any significance to that or that he was trying to send a message.
“The message would be that we as a team are ready to go into any environment, any place against anybody," Wembanyama said afterward. "Even though we've still got a lot to learn, our effort should be over everybody else's. Tonight, we were relentless."
Wemby stats last game
Victor Wembanyama scored 41 points with 24 rebounds, making him the youngest player in NBA history at 22 years, 134 days to put up at least 40 Optimus and 20 rebounds in a playoff game.
He was 14-25 from the field, 12-13 from the free throw line with three assists, three turnovers and three blocks.
Wembanyama standing reach
Victor Wembanyama has an official standing reach of 9 feet, 7 inches, just five inches shorter than the 10-foot rim. He can basically dunk flat-footed.
Wembanyama hand size
Victor Wembanyama never participated in a draft combine, so there is no official measurement on his hand size, but it is estimated to be 10 1/4 inches in length and 10 3/4 inches in span. He can easily palm a basketball.
Wemby elbow
Victor Wembanyama was ejected from Game 4 in the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves for elbowing Naz Reid. There was speculation that he could face suspension for Game 5, but ultimately no further punishment was imposed.
That marked his first career ejection.
San Antonio Spurs record without Wembanyama
The Spurs went 12-6 this year in games without Victor Wembanyama and 50-14 in games with him.
Wembanyama stats
In the regular season, Wembanayama averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, flooding 51.2% from the field.
In the playoffs, he is averaging 20.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 4.1 blocks per game.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was blown away by one rookie’s work ethic.
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A Pittsburgh Steelers rookie is apparently impressing all the right people, as veteran wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. couldn’t stop singing his praises.
Speaking with reporters during media availability, Pittman commended rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard’s work ethic and was surprised by how fast the young wideout is picking up the offense.
"He came in the right way," Pittman said. "He has put his head down, and he’s working hard and executing the plays. I mean, he’s been here for two weeks now, and I feel like he already knows everything. Whatever he’s doing is working, and I think he’s going to keep on getting better."
Pittman Jr on Big Germ: “He came in the right way. He has put his head down and he's working hard and he's executing the plays. He's been here for two weeks now, and I feel like he already knows everything. Whatever he's doing is working, and I think he's going to keep on getting…
Bernard, selected by the Steelers with the 47th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, played at Michigan State (2022), Washington (2023), and Alabama (2024-2025) over the past four years. Possessing impressive versatility to line up outside, in the slot, or out of the backfield, Bernard recorded 2,387 yards from scrimmage and 18 total touchdowns in his collegiate career.
It’s promising that a wide receiver with Pittman’s talent is already impressed with Bernard, as some expect the young receiver to be a Day 1 contributor for the Aaron Rodgers-led offense.
For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
Dean was the third man in the cage when Nkuta and Moraes clashed in
a bantamweight tilt at
Most Valuable Promotions "Rousey vs. Carano" last weekend in
Los Angeles, California. While it was a competitive fight, Nkuta
was apparently edging past Moraes in the final round.
However, Moraes caught Nkuta in a guillotine with 10 seconds left
in the fight. While Nkuta tried to survive till the bell, Moraes
held on to the choke for a few moments after the final bell despite
Dean’s intervention. As Nkuta was choked unconscious, Dean took a
long look at the replay before declaring it a submission win for
Moraes.
The controversial ending faced massive backlash from fans and
pundits alike. However, Dean recently defended his call of a
submission win for Moraes. Dean explains that he is usually focused
on a fighter's limbs when they are caught in a choke, where they
can pass out. However, Dean briefly shifted his focus to Moraes’
hands before the final bell to figure out how to pull him away
immediately after the bell. Since his focus was diverted in the
final seconds, Dean decided to take a long look at the replay.
According to Dean’s judgment based on the replay, Nkuta was
unconscious just a fraction of a second before the final bell,
which made him declare it a win for Moraes.
Defending His Call
“I want to see the body because the hands and often the legs
are what’s gonna give you your clue that someone’s out,” Dean said.
“Whereas looking at their face won’t. As it’s time for me to stop
the fight, I’m looking at [Moraes’] hands because I’m trying to
figure out which grips he has and what I might have to fight if
he’s not letting go instantly. So that’s where my focus kind of
shifted towards the hands… I went out to look at the replay. And it
definitely showed that he went unconscious before the bell, right a
fraction of a second before the bell.”
Paul Skenes is one of the best pitchers in the world, if not the best. Oneil Cruz is having a stellar year at the plate, and rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is bringing energy into PNC Park.
The cloud hanging over the Pirates' heads is the fact that they haven't made the postseason in over a decade. They lost to the Chicago Cubs in the 2015 NL Wild Card Game.
But The Athletic's Jim Bowden believes the organization is trending in the right direction. So much so that he predicts the NL Central club will be a buyer at the trade deadline.
"Likely buyers. The Pirates need another middle-of-the-order bat for either third base, catcher, or designated hitter, and to improve their bullpen quality and depth," Bowden wrote.
The Pirates reportedly made attempts to sign Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suarez during the offseason, failing to land either. A power hitter like one of those two players should be someone the Pirates target for third base.
These players have earned the most cash on the the PGA Tour in 2026.
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The season-long race to see which players can earn the most cash on the PGA Tour is off and running. With more than $400 million in combined purses up for grabs in 2026, there's plenty of money to go around.
Ludvig Aberg jumped into the top 10 on the season list by virtue of his T-4 finish at the PGA Championship at Aronimink. Also, winner Aaron Rai went from outside the top 25 into the 15th slot, thanks to his $3.69 million payday.
Scottie Scheffler concluded the 2025 season by leading the Tour with $27.7 million in winnings, followed Tommy Fleetwood ($18.5 million) and Rory McIlroy ($17 million). Here's a look at where the top pros stand on the season money list as of May 19, 2026.
The Atlanta Braves have been one of the best teams in Major League Baseball during the 2026 season so far, and Drake Baldwin is one of the main reasons why.
At 32-16, the Braves are well on their way to the top spot in the NL East with a seven-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. However, after a 12-0 loss to the Miami Marlins, the Braves got some bad news.
As the Braves announced on Tuesday morning, Baldwin is going on the injured list due to an injury. The announcement revealed why, and it's an issue worth being concerned about.
Why Braves placed Drake Baldwin on IL
"The Braves today selected C Chadwick Tromp to the major league roster and placed C Drake Baldwin on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique muscle," the Braves announced.
This is some terrible news for the Braves, as they're losing one of their best players due to injury, seemingly out of nowhere.
He played during the loss to the Marlins, but was pulled for Sandy Leon partway through. But, with the game a blowout, it wouldn't have been a bad idea to try to lessen the wear-and-tear.
The two-time champion will also miss Queen’s, while it was already confirmed that he would be absent from the French Open, which began this week
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Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out of Wimbledon while citing an ongoing injury, following his withdrawal from the French Open.
Alcaraz took to social media on Tuesday to announce the news, which will also see him miss Queen’s, the London grass-court tournament that many players use as a warm-up for Wimbledon.
The update follows news in April that the Spaniard, 23, would not compete at the French Open in Paris, which began this week.
“My recovery is going well and I feel much better, but unfortunately I’m still not ready to be able to play,” Alcaraz wrote on Tuesday.
“And that’s why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon. They are two really special tournaments for me and I’ll miss them a lot.
“We keep working to return as soon as possible!”
Alcaraz is a two-time champion at Wimbledon, having beaten Novak Djokovic in back-to-back finals in 2023 and 2024. He then finished as runner-up last season, as he was defeated by Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz, a former world No 1 who is currently ranked second in the world, is also a two-time champion at Queen’s. He lifted the trophy there in 2023 and 2025.
After a lengthy courtship both sides finally said yes. Peteris Pinnis is joining the Oregon State Beavers. A Latvian big, Pinnis played for Providence in 2025-26 where he averaged just 4.2 minutes a game in his first NCAA season. Looking for a larger role, the Beavers turned out to be the perfect fit where the […]
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After a lengthy courtship both sides finally said yes. Peteris Pinnis is joining the Oregon State Beavers.
A Latvian big, Pinnis played for Providence in 2025-26 where he averaged just 4.2 minutes a game in his first NCAA season. Looking for a larger role, the Beavers turned out to be the perfect fit where the seven-footer will see much more playing action than he did with the Friars.
“We are thrilled to welcome Peteris Pinnis to our program here at Oregon State University,” Joyner said. “Peteris is a unique frontcourt player with tremendous size at 7-foot-1, but what really separates him is how well he moves and how hard he plays. He runs the floor extremely well, rebounds at a high level, and brings a physical presence that impacts the game on both ends every possession.
That physicality inside is something the Beavers have been desperately needing. Last season the team allowed 74.2 points per game, and lacked a reliable rebounder outside of center Johan Munch, who entered the portal himself. So without Munch, the team turned to Pinnis — and it should be a relationship that’s mutually beneficial.
Look for Pinnis on the court this fall where he can show off his length and hopefully help the Beavers continue to grow.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will not play at this year’s tournament, he has announced. The 23-year-old, who won the title in 2023 and 2024 before losing to Jannik Sinner in last year’s final, has been struggling with a wrist injury which has already forced him to pull out of the French Open.
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FILE PHOTO - Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after defeating Serbia's Novak Djokovic in their men's Singles final of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
Two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz will not play at this year’s tournament, he has announced.
The 23-year-old, who won the title in 2023 and 2024 before losing to Jannik Sinner in last year’s final, has been struggling with a wrist injury which has already forced him to pull out of the French Open.
On Tuesday the Spaniard confirmed he would not participate at the All England Club this year.
“My recovery is going well and I feel much better, but unfortunately I’m still not ready to be able to play, and that’s why I have to withdraw from the grass-court swing at Queen’s and Wimbledon,” a post on Alcaraz’s official X account read.
“They are two really special tournaments for me and I’ll miss them a lot. We keep working to return as soon as possible!”
There has been plenty of debate over who should be sat in Liverpool’s dugout come the start of next season. The Anfield faithful made their frustrations with current head coach Arne Slot known when...
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Why Mohamed Salah should be Liverpool's next manager
There has been plenty of debate over who should be sat in Liverpool’s dugout come the start of next season.
The Anfield faithful made their frustrations with current head coach Arne Slot known when Liverpool clashed with Aston Villa at Anfield last weekend, with boos audible on several occasions throughout the match.
Online there is very little support left for the Dutchman who delivered a Premier League trophy at the first time of asking.
One of the biggest issues supporters have with Slot off the pitch is the rift that has formed between the boss and Mohamed Salah, who is leaving the club next month.
Salah shouldn’t be leaving Anfield though, in fact he should be taking Slot’s job.
Mohamed Salah should be the man to replace Arne Slot
It is a sensationalist idea, but the prospect of Salah as a player-manager at Liverpool is the stuff of dreams.
The Egyptian King spoke out against the direction of the club on social media on Saturday night, and almost the entire squad showed their support for the 33-year-old by liking the post.
He has been Liverpool’s best player for almost a decade, and he knows the club better than almost any option available to FSG to replace Slot if they decide to move on.
Salah clearly has the backing of his teammates, and him taking his place in the dugout would be an excellent alternative to moving on from a club he clearly loves.
Kenny Dalglish made the jump from Liverpool talisman on the pitch to player-manager, and Salah should follow suit this summer.
Player-managers are a rarity in the game today, so the suggestion is unrealistic, but it is interesting to imagine what Salah could do with a good support group of coaches around him in the Anfield dugout.
Salah shared his desire to see Liverpool change on X, saying: “I want to see Liverpool go back to being the heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear and back to being a team that wins trophies.”
“It cannot be negotiable and everyone that joins this club should adapt to it.”
That attitude is exactly what Liverpool need in their next manager and, even if it isn’t going to be Salah, they should look for someone who thinks along the same lines to replace Slot.
It has been a turbulent season for Real Madrid, both on an off the pitch. A dressing room in absolute turmoil, and a managerial situation that has been far from stable have led to a second consecutive...
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Real Madrid had approached incoming Man City manager after Xabi Alonso sacking
It has been a turbulent season for Real Madrid, both on an off the pitch. A dressing room in absolute turmoil, and a managerial situation that has been far from stable have led to a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
Changes are already underway, with Jose Mourinho now poised to take over from Alvaro Arbeloa in the coming week, once the season comes to an end.
However, it could have turned out very different for Real Madrid as they seemingly had different plans earlier in the campaign.
Real Madrid had made an approach for Enzo Maresca
Indeed, according to journalist Ben Jacobs, Real Madrid had made an approach to hire Enzo Maresca immediately after the sacking of Xabi Alonso in January.
Maresca is set to become the new Man City manager. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
The 46-year-old was relieved of his duties at the turn of the year by Chelsea despite having led them to the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup titles last year.
Los Blancos made a move for the former Chelsea manager by getting in touch with superagent Jorge Mendes, but nothing came of it.
Real Madrid were not the only ones to approach Maresca as the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan too explored a move for the Italian.
Nothing materialised, though, as Maresca always wanted to take over from Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, which he is now poised to do.
Indeed, the manager has agreed a three-year contract with the Premier League heavyweights and will replace his mentor at the Etihad Stadium in the summer.
Mourinho the man for Madrid
Returning to Madrid. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
While contacts with Jorge Mendes with Maresca did not bear fruit, Real Madrid have successfully negotiated with the superagent for Mourinho to return to the club.
Bradford City have provided a transfer update on Manchester United starlet Ethan Wheatley in an official statement.Loan stintWheatley joined Bradford during the January transfer window and has spent t...
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Bradford provide Ethan Wheatley transfer update in official statement
Bradford City have provided a transfer update on Manchester United starlet Ethan Wheatley in an official statement.
Loan stint
Wheatley joined Bradford during the January transfer window and has spent the latter half of the campaign with the Bantams.
He was at Northampton Town for the first half of the campaign, having signed for them last summer.
A report covered by The Peoples Person relayed that United considered Wheatley’s loan spell at Northampton a success but they felt his development would be best served by going somewhere else.
Kevin Nolan, who was manager at the time before he was sacked on 9 March, expressed his disappointment with United’s decision to recall Wheatley.
The United academy product made 37 appearances for Bradford in all competitions, contributing three goals and four assists in a season that saw him earn regular senior playing time in the tough League One setting.
Bradford released a statement on Monday, confirming that Wheatley has returned to United following the conclusion of his loan stint.
Wheatley update
Graham Alexander’s side announced their retained list after the 2025/26 season and included the United striker among the players departing Valley Parade this summer.
The club’s statement reads, “The club would like to take this opportunity to thank all departing players for their efforts while at Bradford City AFC, and wish them the very best for the future.”
United now face a call on Wheatley’s future ahead of the summer window. The Red Devils can either keep him and look to get him involved with the first team under Michael Carrick next season, or loan him out.
If suitable offers arrive and the striker expresses a willingness, United could also potentially explore a permanent sale and use the money from his exit to strengthen the squad.
Wheatley became the 250th academy graduate to feature for United’s first team when he came off the bench during a win over Sheffield United in April 2024.
Mumbai Indians face a double injury blow as Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa are ruled out of IPL 2026. De Kock sustained a wrist tendon injury, while Bawa suffered a thumb ligament tear. Both players are recovering at home, marking a disappointing season for the already eliminated five-time champions.
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Mumbai Indians have suffered a double injury setback ahead of the final phase of their IPL 2026 campaign, with both Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The five-time champions, who are already out of the playoff race, confirmed that both players are currently recovering at home after sustaining separate injuries during the tournament.
De Kock picked up a tendon injury in his left wrist ahead of Mumbai’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, ending a difficult season for the experienced South African wicketkeeper-batter.
The left-hander last featured for MI on April 23 and managed 132 runs from three innings this season, including a stunning unbeaten 112 against Punjab Kings.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh all-rounder Bawa suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb during Mumbai’s previous fixture against Punjab Kings. The 23-year-old played three matches this season after also featuring in three games during IPL 2025.
Mumbai Indians stated that replacements for both players will be announced later in accordance with IPL regulations.
IPL 2026 has been a disappointing campaign for MI, who currently sit ninth on the points table with just four wins from 12 matches and a net run rate of -0.504.
They still have two matches left to play this season — against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on May 20 and Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai on May 24. While Mumbai are already out of playoff contention, they could still play a major role in shaping the top four race, with both KKR and RR still fighting for qualification.
Scottie Scheffler tied the PGA Tour scoring record at 253 last year at TPC Craig Ranch when he won by eight shots a week after capturing the PGA Championship.
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Scottie Scheffler tied the PGA Tour scoring record at 253 last year at TPC Craig Ranch when he won by eight shots a week after capturing the PGA Championship. The tournament dates to 1944 when Byron Nelson won by 10 shots.
Scheffler tied for 14th at the PGA Championship, his first finish outside the top 10 in a major since the 2024 U.S. Open. His only victory this year was The American Express in January. PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai withdrew from the field on Monday.
Jordan Spieth has six finishes in the top 20 this year but has yet to register a top 10 since the Memorial last year.
TPC Craig Ranch went through a $25 million overhaul in 2025 for the first major work on it since it opened in 2004. Lanny Wadkins advised on the changes.
The Boston Bruins’ pipeline from Boston College took another hit on Tuesday morning. Rögle BK of the Swedish Hockey League […] The post Bruins Fifth-Round Pick Signs in Sweden appeared first on Boston Hockey Now.
A native of Täby, Sweden, Jellvik played his youth hockey with IFK Täby and Djugårdens IF. He previously appeared in three SHL games with Djugårdens during the 2020-21 season, but did not record a point.
Jellvik, 23, played four years at Boston College, though dealing with injury in the last two. He played in nine games with the Eagles this season, scoring twice and recording three points. Over 107 NCAA games in four years, he totaled 23 goals and 52 assists. He had a 42-point season (13-29–42) during his sophomore year.
This season, he was out of the lineup from November to February and rejoined the BC lineup on February 27. Last season, he was injured in the opening round of the 2025 Beanpot and missed both the rest of his junior year and the Bruins’ development camp last summer.
Jellvik looked to be a late-round steal for the Bruins’ front office, especially after his breakout sophomore year. But injuries derailed the back end of his collegiate career and disrupted his development.
The Bruins drafted Jellvik in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, taking him with the 149th overall pick.
Jellvik’s move to Sweden continues a recent trend with the 2021 Bruins’ draft class. Only Fabian Lysell and Ty Gallagher are with the organization. Jellvik’s teammate at Boston College, Andre Gasseau (2021, Rd. 7), is not expected to sign with the Bruins, either. Providence College goaltender Philip Svedebäck also remains unsigned, and the Bruins will hold his signing rights until August 15, 2026.
If these young men take a step forward, watch out!
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Nov 2, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) celebrates scoring a touchdown with wide receiver Tory Horton (15) against the Washington Commanders during the first half at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images | Amber Searls-Imagn Images
In Today’s Links: another look at the Seattle Seahawks’ 2026 schedule and their advantages there within, odds (if you are into that sort of thing), the sophomore class, lessons from the GM, and a little bit more of what you are looking for from us here at Field Gulls. Thanks for being here. Go, ‘Hawks!
Robert Irving was a giant in junior hockey. The legendary owner of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats passed away just two days after his team fell just short of a second-straight Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league champion. Irving had owned the team since 1996, when he purchased the club and renamed them from the Moncton Alpines to the Moncton Wildcats.
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Robert Irving was a giant in junior hockey. The legendary owner of the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats passed away just two days after his team fell just short of a second-straight Gilles-Courteau Trophy as league champion.
Irving had owned the team since 1996, when he purchased the club and renamed them from the Moncton Alpines to the Moncton Wildcats. Under his stewardship, Moncton became one of the premier organizations in all of junior hockey.
That was only solidified after the team moved into the Avenir Centre in 2018, largely considered one of the true jewels of junior hockey arenas with a seating capacity just shy of 9,000. It was a co-host venue for the 2023 World Junior Championship and has become a central hub of activity in Downtown Moncton.
Among the wealthiest people in all of Canada as the co-CEO of J.D. Irving Limited and president of Cavendish Farms, Irving was lauded for his philanthropic endeavors both in and outside of hockey.
On the ice, the Wildcats were an annual competitor in the QMJHL. They won the league championship three times including most recently in 2025, hosted the Memorial Cup in 2006 and helped develop numerous NHL players.
Among Moncton’s alumni: Brad Marchand, Keith Yandle, Corey Crawford, Phillip Danault, David Savard, François Beauchemin, Johnny Oduya, Ivan Barbashev and Conor Garland. Additionally, current Moncton captain Caleb Desnoyers made history at the 2025 NHL Draft when he was selected fourth overall, the highest a Wildcat had ever been selected.
The team was a two-time finalist at the Memorial Cup as well.
The QMJHL has a beautiful tribute to the legendary owner detailing his many endeavors both inside the league and beyond, which you can read in full here.
“The departure of Robert Irving is extremely sad. He was a pillar and a builder within the QMJHL. There are so many moments to remember from his career. What I remember above all is his passion for the players and his team. He took incredible care of them, encouraging and supporting them to make their years in Moncton nothing short of memorable. He could always be counted on for all the discussions at the league level, and always with a clear position. Thank you Robert”, said QMJHL Commissioner Mario Cecchini in a statement released by the league.
When the Wildcats fell just short of winning a second consecutive QMJHL title, falling in six games to the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, the players clearly were especially saddened knowing that their owner was dealing with health complications.
After the game, captain Caleb Desnoyers told reporters that he felt like he let Irving down, underlining how much respect the players had for their team owner.
"Everyone doubted us. There weren’t many people who believed in us, apart from us. And it started with Mr. Irving. That’s what hurts me the most," Desnoyers said (via le journal de quebec).
GM Taylor MacDougall assured everyone and Desnoyers that he didn't let anyone down.
Given Irving's reputation, especially for taking care of his players and ensuring they had the best junior hockey experience possible, he certainly had to be proud of his team and one of the players that will be part of a long legacy of great players to come through Moncton.
Robert Irving was 71 years old.
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After numerous top performances in the NCHSAA and NCISAA track & field championships, here are 12 nominees that highlight May 11-15, 910Preps Athlete of the Week poll.
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As high school sports come to a close in the Fayetteville area, it's time to recognize last week's top performances.
Several track and field athletes participated in the NCHSAA and NCISAA state championships, and Fayetteville Academy claimed its first-ever NCISAA state title.
After numerous Fayetteville-area athletes placed at the top of their events at the track and field state championships, here are 12, 910Preps Athlete of the Week nominees to choose from for May 11-15.
Voting is unlimited and open until Friday, May 22 at 9 a.m.
Please be sure to send a clear headshot photo (head and shoulders) to jfmoore@usatodayco.com when nominating your choice to recognize your athlete.
910Preps Athlete of the Week nominees for May 11-15
Antonio Clark Jr., E.E. Smith track & field — Clark finished second in two events at the NCHSAA boys' 6A championship. He ran a 10.84 in the 100 meters and 21.72 in the 200-meter dash.
A'narri Copeland, Gray's Creek track & field — Copeland, the sophomore, finished fourth in the girls' high jump with a 5-4, and six in the 400-meter dash with 57.70.
Aiyana Cox, Seventy-First track & field — Cox finished second in the 200-meter dash at the NCHSAA 6A championships with a 24.66 time.
Chase Ann Crisafulli, Terry Sanford girls' soccer — Crisafulli scored a goal and assisted on another in the Bulldogs' second-round win over Harnett Central.
Brianna Davis, E.E. Smith track & field — Davis finished fifth in the NCHSAA 6A girls' shot put with a 36-4.75 distance.
Micah Dawson, Gray's Creek track & field — Dawson, the sophomore, placed fourth in the NCHSAA 6A discus championships with a 157-9.
Layla Fox, Gray's Creek track & field — Fox finished seventh in the NCHSAA girls' 6A shot put with a 34-5.25 mark, and 13th in discus with a 90-0 throw.
Jonas Haygood, Fayetteville Academy track & field — Jonas played a major role in helping Fayetteville Academy’s boys' team capture its first-ever NCISAA team state title. Individually, he placed 2nd in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.06 and finished 1st in the 200 meters with a time of 21.86.
Kamari Herbert, Gray's Creek track & field — Herbert finished fourth in the NCHSAA 6A boys' 110-meter hurdle with 15.16.
Charlie Horne, Terry Sanford golf — Horne, the Appalachian State commit, finished second in the NCHSAA 6A golf championship with a 139.
Bella Ross, Jack Britt track & field — Ross finished second in two 7A events in the NCHSAA championship. She finished second in the girls' long jump with a 18-11, and in the 100-meter dash with a 11.61 time. She also finished fourth in the 200-meter dash with 24.41.
Jalen Turner, Pine Forest track & field — Turner finished second in the NCHSAA 7A boys' 400-meter run with a 48.02 time.
Put Stephen A. Smith in the column of people who are not happy with the Pittsburgh Steelers re-signing Aaron Rodgers.
Pittsburgh made the re-signing of the 42-year-old quarterback official on Monday, and Rodgers, who led the Steelers to an unimpressive 2025 showing that led to another first-round exit in the playoffs, took part during the first day of OTAs.
It's safe to say there isn't much excitement about the move, with many believing the results will be the same, at best.
"He's good enough to allow them to continue to be mediocre," Smith proclaimed. "You should be able to do a better job finding a quarterback than the Pittsburgh Steelers have done all of these years."
Smith's issue with the Steelers is one fans have had for years now.
Ever since the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers have failed miserably at finding his successor.
The draft selection of Kenny Pickett was a bust, and guys like Mitchell Trubisky, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson have all come and failed as the starter.
The Steelers have tried to hedge their bet in finding a franchise quarterback over the last two drafts, with the team taking Will Howard in 2025 and Drew Allar in 2026.
But Howard didn't take a single snap last season and Allar is starting from the ground up. As long as Rodgers is healthy, we won't see either in 2026.
There is reason for some optimism with Rodgers and the Steelers, though.
The veteran signal-caller will have a much better situation at wide receiver than he had in 2025, with the Steelers acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts.
That gives Rodgers a much better one-two punch at the position than he had in 2025, when it was DK Metcalf and basically nobody else.
Whether or not that makes a difference remains to be seen, but at least there's some semblance of hope that things will get better in Pittsburgh.
Caitlin Clark is finally going to the Indianapolis 500 and she'll do it in style — giving the starting command before Sunday's sold-out race. Race organizers announced Tuesday they had chosen the two-time WNBA All-Star as this year's grand marshal. Last May, the Fever played a home game the day before a rare Indianapolis 500-Indiana Pacers race day doubleheader.
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INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Caitlin Clark is finally going to the Indianapolis 500 and she'll do it in style — giving the starting command before Sunday's sold-out race.
Race organizers announced Tuesday they had chosen the two-time WNBA All-Star as this year's grand marshal. Her basketball schedule had prevented the former Iowa star from previously participating in race week activities.
Last May, the Fever played a home game the day before a rare Indianapolis 500-Indiana Pacers race day doubleheader. They also played on race weekend during her rookie season in 2024. This week, though, they host the expansion Portland Fire on Wednesday and Golden State on Friday before getting a six-day break.
"I’m honored to represent Gainbridge as grand marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said in a statement. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
The Indiana Fever star has helped push women’s basketball to new heights in both the college and professional ranks, routinely attracting sellout crowds and prompting some opponents to move games to larger venues.
Clark was the WNBA's No. 1 draft pick in 2024 and earned the league's Rookie of the Year Award that season, breaking multiple records including the WNBA's single season assists mark. She's also the NCAA's career scoring leader and recently became the first player in WNBA history to record a second double-double with 30 or more points and 10 or more assists.
Earlier this year, Clark also was selected MVP of the 2026 FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament as she returned from an injury-plagued second pro season.
She joins a long list of celebrities who have given the starting command at the Brickyard. Among those are former baseball stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, award-winning singer Blake Shelton, actor Dylan Sprouse and actor Stephanie Beatriz.
“Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 race day with Caitlin,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway President Doug Boles said. “Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle.”
Clark has been a brand ambassador for Gainbridge, a race sponsor that also holds naming rights to the home arena of the Fever, since her senior year in college. She's currently appearing in a second ad campaign with the company.
LONDON (AP) — Two-time Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday said he is pulling out of the grass-court Grand Slam event next month because of his lingering wrist injury.
Alcaraz injured his wrist at the Barcelona Open last month, forcing him out of the French Open that starts this weekend.
Alcaraz started the year by winning the Australian Open final to become the youngest man ever to win all four major titles in tennis.
Dobson put Auburn in his top five schools last month, with Auburn joining LSU, Michigan, Texas A&M, and South Carolina as the top contenders for the No. 1 player from the state of North Carolina for the 2027 recruiting cycle. At the time, Dobson locked in official visits to Auburn, South Carolina, and Texas A&M, but not to LSU or Michigan. He ultimately scheduled an official visit to LSU, but has since switched gears and will now visit Michigan during the weekend of June 12.
The good news for Auburn in all of this is that the Tigers still hold the first visit, which is set for the final weekend of May. After his Auburn visit, Dobson will check out Texas A&M on June 5, Michigan on June 12, and South Carolina on June 19. A decision date has not yet been revealed for the heavily pursued defensive back.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
Vikings offensive tackle Brian O'Neill talked about his starting quarterback from last season recently.
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The situation around J.J. McCarthy remains a fluid one as he gets ready to enter offseason programs and training camp with his starting job up in the air. The team expected him to come out of the gates firing in 2025, and to their chagrin, that never materialized.
Instead, McCarthy played so much of an up-and-down pace that the team has now brought in competition in the form of Kyler Murray. While we get closer and closer to camp, we are now hearing from offensive tackle Brian O'Neill as it relates to J.J. McCarthy and how the team views him.
O'Neill explains his thoughts on the situation around J.J. McCarthy, writing, "If I was judged after my first 10 games in the NFL, I’m not playing right now. It’s still so fresh, and he’s only going to continue to get better… you hear the term lose the locker room. He had the locker room more than anybody I’ve seen ever.”
That is a ringing endorsement from one of the leaders of the team. The competition is going to be worth following throughout camp, and it seems that McCarthy may even be the leader in the clubhouse heading into things. At the very least, having the support of his teammates is the first hurdle he has cleared.
If the Jets are to surpass expectations in 2026, they'll have to take advantage of easier stretches on their 2026 schedule. Win-total predictions are low.
Jets Wire identified the easiest three-game stretch on the Jets' 2026 schedule.
The Jets will face their division rival Miami Dolphins for the first time in East Rutherford in Week 7. Many analysts around the league view the Jets and Dolphins as being in contention for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2027 NFL draft. The late October meeting qualifies as a winnable matchup for the Jets.
The following week, the Jets host their second consecutive home contest, this time against the Las Vegas Raiders. Will Raiders No. 1 overall quarterback Fernando Mendoza be starting for the Raiders? Teams with rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle.
The Kansas City Chiefs don't feel like an easy matchup, but quite frankly, the Jets don't have an easier three-game stretch. The Chiefs did struggle to a disappointing 6-11 record in 2025. If they fall short of expectations again, perhaps the Jets can execute an upset.
The Boston Red Sox's pitching staff has largely done their job this season, tying for the MLB lead with six shutouts and ranking fifth in the American League with a 3.75 team ERA.
The Red Sox's offense, however, has mostly struggled.
Boston enters Tuesday at 20-27, in last place in the AL East and hasn't scored more than four runs in a game in two weeks.
The Red Sox rank last in the AL in runs scored (170), home runs (34), RBIs (163), slugging percentage (.357) and OPS (.667).
MLB senior writer Tim Britton of The Athletic said on Tuesday that Boston badly needed an additional bat for their infield over the offseason.
"It doesn’t have to be Alex Bregman, who is off to an only decent start with the Cubs. But Boston pretty clearly needed one more infield bat coming into the season, and that need is only more acute now," Britton wrote. "Entering Monday, Marcelo Mayer, Trevor Story and Caleb Durbin have combined to hit .196/.256/.287. That’s a .544 OPS from three-quarters of the infield. That’s a big reason why the Sox, unlike the Phillies, haven’t made a run since making a change at manager."
Britton mentioned second baseman Marcelo Mayer, shortstop Trevor Story and third baseman Caleb Durbin, two of whom didn't play in the team's 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday.
Durbin was on the bench for the second straight game and Story was placed on the injured list on Saturday.
Story joins fellow top-of-the-order hitter Roman Anthony on the IL.
Thus far, the Red Sox' two most consistent hitters have been outfielder Wilyer Abreu and first baseman Willson Contreras, who are tied for the team lead with 21 runs scored.
Contreras leads Boston in home runs (10), RBIs (27), slugging percentage (.481) and OPS (.841) and could be on his way to his fourth All-Star team this summer.
ATLANTA, GA - MAY 15: Drake Baldwin #30 of the Atlanta Braves runs after hitting a solo home run in the first inning during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Truist Park on May 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Jack Casey/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Despite the wonderful start that the Braves are off to here in 2026, the one lingering nuisance from the past two seasons has been the team’s absolutely horrible run of luck when it comes to injuries. The injury bug has now apparently come for Drake Baldwin, who will be heading to the 10-day IL with a strained right oblique muscle that he apparently sustained during Monday night’s debacle against the Marlins.
The #Braves today selected C Chadwick Tromp to the major league roster and placed C Drake Baldwin on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique muscle. Atlanta also returned LHP Dylan Dodd from his rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the injured list…
This is just one day after Ronald Acuña Jr. was activated from the IL after he strained his hamstring and this isn’t even the first time that we’ve seen one Braves player get activated either shortly before or after another one lands on the IL. It’s just one of those things that kind of elicits an “Are you kidding me” type of reaction every time it happens at this point.
Anyways, Baldwin will be heading to the IL with a .303/.389/.543 slash line with a .407 wOBA, 160 wRC+ and 13 home runs. He is going to be sorely missed for however long he’ll be gone and considering it’s an oblique injury, there’s no telling how long he’s going to be gone and how long it’ll take him to get back to full strength.
For now, the Braves will have to deal with an injury crisis at a position that seemed to be very well fortified at the end of last season. Sean Murphy has a fractured finger and likely won’t be back any time soon and now the Braves will be missing arguably the best-hitting catcher in the game for a very nebulous period of time. Frustration continues to abound when it comes to this team staying healthy.
Fortunately, the Braves are getting a player back from the IL, as Dylan Dodd will be returning to the fold after a rehab assignment. This is also apparently the end of the road for Aaron Bummer’s time with the Braves, as the corresponding move in activating Dodd was releasing Bummer.
Bummer has always been a controversial figure around here due to the fact that his steady numbers were seemingly outweighed by the fact that he had a knack for giving up hits at the most untimely moments. In 2026, however, Bummer just got hit left and right and ended up with a 7.63 ERA (187 ERA-) and an 8.65 FIP (216 FIP-) over just 15.1 innings of work — good for -0.8 fWAR on the season so far. Things were clearly trending in the wrong direction and Bummer will be leaving the team on a sour note after the Marlins absolutely tore him to pieces on Monday night.
Struggling Caleb Durbin: “It’s tougher honestly away from the field and pre-work. It’s all I think about. This is our life."
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KANSAS CITY — Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin has the worst OPS (.492) among qualified major league hitters, and he has two minor league options remaining.
So it might make sense for the Red Sox to option him to Triple-A Worcester to give him a chance to work to get on track in a less demanding environment.
Durbin said a potential demotion to the minors hasn’t been on his mind.
“At the end of the day, I want to be here,” Durbin said. “I want to be in the fight with these guys. I’m happy to be a Red Sox, and I’m confident that moving forward, it will turn eventually. But it’s like you want it to turn right now.”
BETTING: For Tuesday’s clash between the Red Sox and the Royals, the over/under is currently set at 7.5 total runs on BetMGM. Our complete BetMGM Sportsbook review provides an in-depth guide on how to sign up and use their app.
But Durbin is in the bottom 10th percentile in the major leagues in hard-hit percentage (29.3%), average exit velocity (84.8 mph) and barrel percentage (0.9%).
The 26-year-old is 23 for 139 (.165) with a .247 on-base percentage and .245 slugging percentage in 43 games (155 plate appearances).
“I care about these guys so much and that’s the tough part,” Durbin said. “Coming over here, first year here, obviously you want to make a good impression and you want to come through for the guys. I haven’t played to my capabilities, but it’s not for a lack of effort and they know that.”
He said “the most frustrating part” is feeling like he’s not helping the team.
“Worst thing that you can go through is you feel like you’re not contributing,” Durbin said. “So for me, it’s like, lose the ego and just work through it and grind it out.”
Asked whether a stint at Triple-A might help him, Durbin expressed confidence in his ability to figure it out in the majors.
“I’m not where I want to be (offensively), and the tough part is I don’t think it’s because I’m getting sped up because of the competition,” Durbin said. “I’ve felt good at this level. At the same time, it’s like you do feel bad that you’re not helping the team the way you feel like you should.”
Durbin overcame great odds to make the majors. He’s only 5-foot-6. He played college ball at Division III Washington University in St. Louis. He was a 14th round pick in 2021. He made it here through hard work.
“That comes with this level,” Durbin said. “We’re in the big leagues. And for me, obviously you want to play well and you want everything to be good. You want to play well, you want the fans to be happy, you want to win. That’s the biggest thing is like when you’re winning, everyone’s happy. For me, obviously as a team we’re not where we want to be, which makes it tougher individually when you are going through it.”
His struggles have weighed on him when he has more time on his hands to think about it.
“It’s tougher honestly away from the field and pre-work. It’s all I think about,” he said. “This is our life. For me, like I know what I’m capable of. And like coming into the year, I had really high expectations. Obviously as a team we did and still a lot of ball left, but obviously the games we’ve played up to this point matter a lot, too. Every game matters. So it’s kind of where we’re at.”
Durbin is confident he can be the offensive player he was last year when he had a .334 on-base percentage.
“You don’t get to this level without hitting,” he said. “So that’s kind of where we’re at right now, is getting back to there.”
Durbin had success last year because he didn’t chase many pitches outside the strike zone and had a low strikeout percentage. He’s continued that this year. He ranks in the 91st percentile in whiff percentage (16.0%), 87th percentile in squared-up percentage (31.6%), 84th percentile in strikeout percentage (15.5%) and 69th percentile in chase percentage (26.3%). But while all those stats resemble last year’s numbers, the hits haven’t come this year.
“It’s a bad start, but it’s a long year and you’ve gotta try to find the reason why. Why are the results not where you think they should be, where they’ve been in the past?” Durbin said. “So it’s a daily grind to grind through it. And that’s the thing is you gotta keep a good attitude. As hard as it is sometimes, you’ve gotta accept it for what it is and just keep moving ahead and looking forward.”
Interim manager Chad Tracy said Durbin’s slump is not for a lack of effort or work. Durbin has been taking early batting practice and working diligently with interim hitting coach Collin Hetzler. Tracy said Durbin is “working his butt off.”
“I know when I’m going good, I’m using the whole field,” Durbin said. “And I feel like I’m not using the big part of the field as much as last year. Whether that’s an approach or mechanical thing is kind of where we’re at right now of working through it. Because the feels aren’t quite there, but it’s not far off. When I’m swinging at good pitches, I’m not gonna swing and miss a ton, but when I’m swinging at good pitches, the results are usually good. So that’s where it’s like head-scratching a little bit of, ‘Where are the results at?’”
Using the whole field is something Durbin and the Red Sox believe can help him get back on track.
“Trying to loosen up a little bit in the box, trying to release some tension,” he said. “Whether it’s physical tension or just pressing to try to get those results. I don’t think I’m pressing. I feel like I’m controlling the zone well still and not swinging out of my shoes, trying to do too much.”
He said part of the game is working hard to find the answers but it not usually a quick fix.
“You can dig yourself deeper mentally by trying to find a quick fix instead of just kind of loosening up, relaxing, playing the game,” he said. “So when it’s between the lines, it’s just compete mode.”
He is contributing defensively. His six defensive runs saved are the most among American League third basemen.
“That’s the thing with this game is like the hitting is the thing that will go kind of up and down,” Durbin said. “You never want it to go too far down. You want to keep the dips pretty minimal, but I’ve felt really good on the defensive side of the ball. So that definitely feels good.”
Tershawn Wharton’s recovery has already become one of the Carolina Panthers’ most important summer storylines. The defensive lineman is expected to begin training camp on the PUP list after undergoing offseason neck surgery, which immediately changes the pressure around Carolina’s defensive front.
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Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images
Tershawn Wharton’s recovery has already become one of the Carolina Panthers’ most important summer storylines.
Dave Canales has offered some reassurance, saying Wharton is “recovering great”, but there is still no clear return timetable. That matters because Carolina did not add Wharton to be a minor rotational piece.
Tershawn Wharton injury leaves Panthers with an immediate depth problemPhoto by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Wharton was brought in to give Carolina another credible interior presence alongside Derrick Brown. His 6.5 sacks in 2024 showed why the Panthers viewed him as more than a run-stopping body.
That is why this injury feels significant. Carolina can be patient with Wharton’s recovery, and it should be, but the football impact cannot be ignored.
Brown remains the anchor, but the wider defensive-line picture now looks more fragile. The Panthers need more than one proven force inside if this rebuilt front is going to hold up.
Lee Hunter and Cam Jackson now have to prove Carolina has built real depth
This is where the pressure shifts to the younger tackles. Carolina selected Lee Hunter at No. 49 overall, and his path to meaningful camp reps now looks much shorter.
Hunter does not need to become Wharton immediately. He does need to show why the Panthers were aggressive enough to invest second-round capital in him.
The same applies to Cam Jackson, who enters his second NFL season with a clearer chance to earn a larger role. That is how depth gets tested in the NFL.
Wharton’s recovery remains the priority. Still, his absence has turned Carolina’s interior depth from a background camp question into a major test of the Panthers’ roster construction.
Jake
Paul’s MVP hosted its first MMA card last weekend at the Intuit
Dome in Los Angeles,. Jason
Jackson knocked out Jefferson
Creighton just 20 seconds into their welterweight clash on the
card.
However, Jackson believes he wasn’t appreciated enough while going
into the fight as well as for his performance. The former Bellator
champion believes he didn’t deserve to be on the prelims. While
Jackson had told his friends and family that his fight would be
broadcast on Netflix, the prelims were available for free on
YouTube.
Francis
Ngannou earned the $100,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus
for his first round knockout win over Philipe
Lins. Jackson thinks that was a foregone conclusion with
Ngannou weighing 34 pounds more than Lins. With all respect to
Ngannou, Jackson believes he should have earned the performance
bonus instead of “The Predator.”
Feeling Underappreciated
The most promoted fights on the card were Ngannou vs. Lins,
Nate
Diaz vs. Mike Perry,
and Ronda
Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
Jackson believes the former
UFC fighters were treated better than the rest by MVP. Jackson
is teasing a brief stint in the UFC to make MVP realize his true
worth.
“I didn’t feel like one of the valuable players,” Jackson
said on "The Ariel Helwani Show” “… Little small
things like walking out – I didn’t get an entry… I don’t think I
deserved to be on the prelims on the first place. My credentials
hold more weight than other fighters. And I felt like I deserved
the bonus… No disrespect to Francis but we knew what he was gonna
do. [Francis] was like 30 pounds heavier than [Lins]. And he kind
of struggled a little bit with the guy… I wasn’t feeling the love
at all… I felt disrespected… My fight was on YouTube. I was excited
to compete on Netflix. I told my whole family, everybody… The [ex]
UFC fighters were being treated like the valuable fighters. So
maybe I need to go to the UFC and make a statement and then
probably come back to MVP and show them I am a valuable
player.”
Jackson suffered an unfortunate ankle injury in his
Dana White's Contender Series opportunity in 2017. “The
Ass-Kicking Machine” then went on to build a career in Bellator
where he beat the likes of Benson
Henderson and Neiman
Gracie. Jackson (20-6) is also the only man to beat former
Bellator
MMA champion Yaroslav
Amosov, who is now making headlines in the UFC.
Organization will honor its first Super Bowl-winning team.
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The New York Giants on Tuesday announced a full slate of events to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1986 Super Bowl-winning team, the first of four Giants championship teams in the Super Bowl era.
“This anniversary is about honoring a team that defined Giants football and delivered one of the most dominant championship runs in NFL history,” said President and CEO John Mara in a statement released by the team. “We look forward to celebrating these Legends while giving our fans unique opportunities to relive and connect with that unforgettable season.”
The Giants will hold a dedicated celebration of the 1986 team at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Oct. 4 when the current Giants host the Arizona Cardinals.
Fans will have the opportunity to welcome Legends during a pregame walk-in in the plaza, followed by an on-field halftime ceremony honoring members of the 1986 team.
The first 25,000 fans through the gates will receive a Mark Bavaro bobblehead, courtesy of Quest®. Fans will also have the chance to win a VIP ticket bundle and autographed memorabilia by visiting Giants social media accounts.
The celebration will also include exclusive content, alumni-driven community events, and what the team is calling “fan-focused activations”, presented by Starter.
The team will launch a retail collection, the ’86 Championship Capsule, celebrating the 1986 Championship season. The collection will include original Super Bowl locker room gear, iconic satin jackets, and other sideline pieces worn by players and staff during that season. The full collection will be available later this season with select pieces now available at the Giants online shop.
Carl Banks, a member of that team, is now Chairman of GIII Sports/Starter.
“This capsule brings back that championship feeling and celebrates the players, coaches and fans who made it happen,” Banks said.
See where and when your favorite Livingston County team is competing in MHSAA spring tournaments.
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The Michigan High School Athletic Association postseason began last week in lacrosse, begins this week in girls soccer and takes place next week in baseball, boys golf, softball and the new sport of boys volleyball.
Regionals have already taken place in girls tennis and track and field.
The most noteworthy matchup already in place for Livingston County fans takes place in baseball. Brighton and defending state champion Hartland, who have both been ranked in Division 1 this season, will face one another in a pre-district game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 26 at Hartland.
It will be the fourth straight season and seventh time in nine seasons that Brighton has had to play a pre-district game to reach the Saturday semifinals.
Howell and Hartland will meet in a district semifinal softball game at noon Saturday, May 30 at Howell.
Baseball
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT HARTLAND
Tuesday, May 26
Brighton at Hartland, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Okemos vs. Brighton-Hartland winner, 10 a.m.
Howell vs. East Lansing, 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals against Dexter district winner at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Hartland.)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT AT CHELSEA
Saturday, May 30
Pinckney at Chelsea, 10 a.m.
Fowlerville vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals against Parma Western district winner at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Chelsea.)
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT AT PLYMOUTH CHRISTIAN
Tuesday, May 26
Dearborn Heights Robichaud at Plymouth Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Robicaud-Plymouth Christian winner vs. Charyl Stockwell, 10 a.m.
Ann Arbor Greenhills vs. Stockbridge, 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 3 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals against Erie Mason district winner at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Plymouth Christian.)
Boys golf
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL AT DUNHAM HILLS
Tuesday, May 26 (9 a.m.)
Teams: Battle Creek Lakeview, East Lansing, Flushing, Grand Blanc, Hartland, Holt, Howell, Kalamazoo Central, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix, Mattawan, Midland, Midland Dow, Okemos, Portage Central, Portage Northern, Saginaw Heritage.
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL AT POLO FIELDS C.C.
Tuesday, May 26 (10 a.m.)
Teams: Ann Arbor Huron, Ann Arbor Pioneer, Ann Arbor Skyline, Belleville, Brighton, Canton, Dexter, Gibraltar Carlson, Monroe, Northville, Plymouth, Salem, Saline, South Lyon, South Lyon East, Temperance Bedford, Wayne Memorial, Westland John Glenn, Woodhaven, Ypsilanti Lincoln.
Boys lacrosse
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL AT BRIGHTON
Thursday, May 14
Brighton 16, Jackson 2
Walled Lake Northern 12, Novi 1
Friday, May 15
Northville 17, Lakeland 3
Monday, May 18
South Lyon East 17, Howell 7
Wednesday, May 20
South Lyon East vs. Walled Lake Northern at Brighton, 5 p.m.
Northville at Brighton, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27
Championship at Brighton, 6 p.m.
(Winner advances to state quarterfinals at 7 p.m. Friday, May 29 against Detroit Catholic Central regional winner at Birmingham Seaholm.)
DIVISION 3 REGIONAL AT HARTLAND
Wednesday, May 13
Bay City Central 12, Davison 9
Thursday, May 14
Hartland 19, Swartz Creek 0
Friday, May 15
Grand Blanc 20, Brandon 4
Oxford 15, Waterford Kettering 2
Wednesday, May 20
Oxford vs. Grand Blanc at Hartland, 5:30 p.m.
Bay City Central at Hartland, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27
Championship at Hartland, 6 p.m.
(Winner advances to state quarterfinals at noon Saturday, May 30 Holland West Ottawa regional winner at Lowell.)
Girls lacrosse
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL AT GRAND BLANC
Thursday, May 14
Grand Blanc 13, Midland Dow 2
Clarkston 9, East Lansing 8
Tuesday, May 19
Clarkston at Howell (Parker M.S.), 6 p.m.
Grand Blanc at Lake Orion
Wednesday, May 20
Lakeland at Hartland, 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Utica Eisenhower at Walled Lake Central, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 26
Clarkston-Howell winner vs. Grand Blanc-Lake Orion winner at Grand Blanc, 5:30 p.m.
Utica Eisenhower-Walled Lake Central vs. Lakeland-Hartland winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Championship at Grand Blanc, 7 p.m.
(Winner advances to state semifinals vs. Forest Hills Eastern regional winner at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at East Lansing.)
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL AT NORTHVILLE
Thursday, May 14
Novi 16, Canton 4
Friday, May 15
Ann Arbor Huron 7, Farmington 6
Plymouth 13, West Bloomfield 3
Monday, May 18
Livonia Stevenson 11, Ann Arbor Pioneer 10
Plymouth 9, Salem 8
Tuesday, May 19
Ann Arbor Huron at Brighton, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 20
Novi at South Lyon, 6 p.m.
Livonia Stevenson at Northville, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27
Plymouth vs. Brighton-Ann Arbor Huron winner at Northville, 5:30 p.m.
Novi-South Lyon winner vs. Livonia Stevenson-Northville winner at Northville, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Championship at Northville, noon
(Winner advances to state semifinals vs. Troy Athens regional winner at 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Fenton.)
Girls soccer
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT HARTLAND
Wednesday, May 20
Walled Lake Central at Bloomfield Hills, 6 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
West Bloomfield at Milford, 4 p.m.
Lakeland at Walled Lake Northern, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 26
Walled Lake Central-Bloomfield Hills winner vs. West Bloomfield-Milford winner, 5 p.m.
Lakeland-Walled Lake Northern winner at Hartland, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 28
Championship, 6 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 vs. Lansing Eastern district winner at Clarkston.)
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT LANSING EASTERN
Wednesday, May 20
Lansing Everett at Brighton, 5:30 p.m.
East Lansing at Lansing Eastern, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Howell at Holt, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 26
Howell-Holt winner vs. Okemos, 5:30 p.m.
Lansing Eastern-East Lansing winner vs. Lansing Everett-Brighton winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 28
Championship, 6 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 vs. Hartland district winner at Clarkston.)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT AT SWARTZ CREEK
Wednesday, May 20
Swartz Creek at Linden, 6 p.m.
Fowlerville at Fenton, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Lansing Waverly at Haslett, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, May 26
Swartz Creek-Linden winner vs. DeWitt, 5 p.m.
Fowlerville-Fenton winner vs. Waverly-Haslett winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday, May 28
Championship, 6 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 vs. Birmingham Marian district winner at Waterford Mott.)
DIVISION 3 DISTRICT AT A.A. GABRIEL RICHARD
Wednesday, May 20
Ann Arbor Greenhills at Onsted, 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 21
Pinckney at Milan, 5:30 p.m.
Dundee at Grass Lake, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 27
Greenhills-Onsted winner at Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 4 p.m.
Pinckney-Milan winner at Dundee-Grass Lake winner, 5 p.m.
Friday, May 29
Championship, 5 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 vs. Hazel Park district winner at Ann Arbor Huron.)
DIVISION 4 DISTRICT AT LAINGSBURG
Wednesday, May 20
Perry vs. West Bloomfield FJA at Farmington Hills Mercy, 5 p.m.
Byron vs. Livingston Christian at Merrill Park, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, May 26
Perry-West Bloomfield FJA winner at Bath, 5:30 p.m.
Byron-Livingston Christian winner at Laingsburg, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 28
Championship, 5:30 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 vs. Oakland Christian district winner at Royal Oak Shrine.)
Softball
DIVISION 1 DISTRICT AT HOWELL
Tuesday, May 26
South Lyon at South Lyon East, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
South Lyon-South Lyon East winner vs. Brighton, 10 a.m.
Howell vs. Hartland, noon
Championship, 2:30 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals against Mason district winner at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6 at Hartland.)
DIVISION 2 DISTRICT AT CHELSEA
Tuesday, May 26
Fowlerville at Chelsea, 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Fowlerville-Chelsea winner vs. Canton Prep, 10 a.m.
Pinckney vs. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, noon
Championship, 2 p.m.
(Winner advances to regional semifinals against Carleton Airport district winner at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6 at Fowlerville.)
Boys volleyball
DIVISION 1 REGIONAL AT GRAND BLANC
Wednesday, May 27
Lansing Eastern at Grand Blanc, 5:30 p.m.
Okemos at Hartland, 6 p.m.
Davison at Grand Ledge, 6 p.m.
Midland Dow at Holt, 6 p.m.
Friday, May 29
Okemos-Hartland winner vs. Lansing Eastern-Grand Blanc winner, 3 p.m.
Midland Dow-Holt winner vs. Davison-Grand Ledge winner, 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 30
Championship, noon
(Winner advances to state quarterfinals at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 2 against Northville regional winner at Novi.)
Contact Bill Khan at wkhan@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
While Cleveland's second-round series with the Detroit Pistons went the full seven games, the Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round, so they've had an extended period of time off in between rounds.
That long layoff was beneficial for the Knicks, as it afforded them time for a key contributor to rest and get healthy.
OG Anunoby expected to play in Game 1 of Eastern Conference finals vs. Cavaliers
After missing the final two games of New York's series with the Sixers due to a right hamstring strain, Knicks star forward OG Anunoby is expected to return for the start of the series with Cleveland.
Anunoby is listed as probable on the official injury report, indicating that he'll be available for the game, barring any late setbacks.
This is obviously great news for the Knicks, who will need Anunoby's elite defense to slow the likes of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in the conference finals, along with his productive play on the offensive end.
Outside of Anunoby, the Knicks have no other players listed on the injury report for Game 1.
David Lynch has expressed sympathy for one Liverpool player who he believes has ‘been made to look stupid’ by the team’s collective failings this season.The only positive from the soul-destroyin...
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David Lynch has sympathy for Liverpool player who’s ‘been made to look stupid at times’
David Lynch has expressed sympathy for one Liverpool player who he believes has ‘been made to look stupid’ by the team’s collective failings this season.
The only positive from the soul-destroying defeat to Aston Villa last Friday was that Virgil van Dijk helped himself to two goals, taking his tally for the campaign to eight, which remarkably is the fifth-highest of anyone in the Reds’ squad.
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It’s been a horrific season for LFC defensively, with their tally of 52 goals conceded the highest in the Premier League since leaking 55 in 1993/94, when it was a 22-team division rather than the current 20.
However, Lynch suggested that Van Dijk should be exempt from the criticism of the team in general, voicing his belief that the Liverpool captain is still the best centre-back in the English top flight.
(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Lynch staunchly defends ‘incredible’ Van Dijk
Speaking on the Media Matters podcast for Anfield Index, the journalist felt that the Dutchman was the only Reds player to ‘come away with credit’ from the defeat at Villa Park.
He added: “I think his defensive performance generally this season has been incredible as well. He won’t get praised for that because Liverpool as a defensive unit, as a football team, as a unit, are in absolute shambles.
“I still think he’s the best [centre-back] in the league by a mile. Maybe he’s not 2019 Van Dijk, but I still think he’s comfortably the best. He’s had way too much to do and been made to look stupid at times. I just think he’s in an awful team. I think his quality hasn’t declined in the slightest.”
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Van Dijk has been one of Liverpool’s best players in a tough season
The captain’s performances this season have oscillated between good and bad, with Troy Deeney praising him for coming up clutch with a stoppage-time Merseyside derby winner last month, but Pat Nevin claiming after a costly error at Bournemouth in January that the 34-year-old is in irreversible decline.
Van Dijk hasn’t performed with the same consistency this term as in previous campaigns, but we fully agree with Lynch when he says that the centre-back hasn’t been helped by poor performances of many teammates, particularly those in defence.
Ibrahima Konate has had to cope with the death of his father earlier this year, but objectively he’s been culpable of far too many hideous mistakes this season. That said, he most certainly isn’t alone in that regard.
Figures from WhoScored rank the captain as Liverpool’s second-best player in 2025/26 with an overall rating of 7.06, and he’s still been the market leader (or close to it) for several metrics throughout the campaign.
*Note: Excludes players with zero league starts this season
Crucially, Van Dijk has been ever-present in a season which has seen the Reds suffer numerous defensive injuries, and it’s frightening to think of how much worse things would be if he had been sidelined for a lengthy period of time.
The Dutchman is still going strong in his mid-30s, and his successor as the general of Liverpool’s defence will have an incredibly hard act to follow after he departs.
John Harbaugh got Giants fans fired up with his thoughts on the Cowboys' recent dominance over his team, almost 4 months ahead of their meeting.
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It's only the middle of May. But the fireworks have already started.
With nearly four months to go before the Cowboys and Giants kick off their 2026 regular-season schedules against one another at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 13, the smack talk has gotten a rather early start, at least for Big Blue.
The Giants on Monday held their annual Town Hall, where some of the team's coaches, current players, past legends, and front office executives gather with fans for an event that's part state-of-the-franchise press conference, part preseason pep rally.
New head coach John Harbaugh leaned heavily into the latter at one point, providing the first bit of bulletin-board material for the Cowboys well in advance of their Week 1 Sunday night showdown.
As a fan started a question about the Giants' rivals across the NFC East, a "Cowboys suck" chant broke out within the Manhattan theater, with Harbaugh smiling and pumping his fist in time with the crowd.
The question continued, with the fan bemoaning the fact that, especially of late, "they just kick our butts."
It's a spot-on assessment. The Cowboys have won 16 of the last 18 meetings between the two clubs, with the only two Giants victories coming in meaningless Week 18 matchups (to end the 2020 and 2025 seasons). The Giants' recent head-to-head marks against the Eagles and Commanders haven't been much better.
"How confident are you, Coach," the fan went on, "that going into this season, we’ll go into those Dallas games, those Eagles games, and those Commanders games, and we’ll take them down?”
The 14th-winningest head coach in NFL history wasted no time working the crowd into a lather with his response.
“I'll be nice and politically correct," Harbaugh said with a smile. "I could care less about what’s happened last year, or the year before that, or ten years before that. Honestly, I don’t give a crap about any of it. Not one bit. All I care about is tomorrow’s practice. Because if tomorrow’s practice is the way it’s supposed to be, that’ll be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys’ ass.”
Harbaugh pretty clearly implied that his squad is not there yet, pointing out, "We've got to make ourselves good enough to do that."
But by then, the audience had already exploded into wild cheers at the coach's swagger.
Time will tell if Harbaugh has the Giants players looking like a different opponent than the one the Cowboys have grown used to seeing.
But he already has the Giants fans ready to go with a new outlook.
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh believes the team may have the best tight end room in the NFL.
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When the New York Giants signed former Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely in free agency in March to a three-year, $40 million deal, many fans scratched their heads.
The Giants needed a wide receiver, not a tight end. Likely is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound tweener who was a No. 2 for the Ravens behind Pro Bowler Mark Andrews. New York already had a fine receiver at the position in Theo Johnson and a top blocker in Chris Manhertz, so why the need for Likely?
Likely was brought in along with another former Raven, fullback Patrick Ricard, to add a physical dimension to the Giants' offense under new Giants head coach John Harbaugh, their former coach in Baltimore.
Like Ricard, the All-Pro they call "Pancake Pat," Likely understands how to play the Harbaugh way. That's why he's here.
"Up front you're going to be physical, you're going to be violent, you're going to play the whole sixty minutes like you're winning the whole game, and you're going to fight until you get the W," Likely said back in March.
"I mean, from the first snap to the last snap, that's the thing that Coach Harbs preaches every day, every practice, every meeting, every team meeting, you're going to understand that what you're getting out of Coach Harbs is what you're going to get from the first day that you have him until the last day that you have him."
On Monday night at the Giants' annual Town Hall at the Beacon Theater in New York City, Harbaugh told the crowd how he feels about his tight end room heading into the team's OTAs this week.
"There's not a better tight end group, I don't think, in the league, potentially," Harbaugh said, via the New York Post. "Jaxson has a bunch of guys to go to."
Jaxson, of course, is second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart. He and Likely have already hit it off at the team's offseason program. A new top pitch-and-catch combo could be brewing.
Likely knows how Dart loves his tight ends, and that was another reason why he chose to come to New York.
"Man, Jaxson, you know, a great quarterback, a great young quarterback," Likely said. "Obviously shows a lot of charisma when he's out there. Excited to get out there and play with him. When you watch him, you see the type of drive he has to win any game by any means necessary. You love that when you have a quarterback like that that's ready to do whatever it takes to win the game."
Harbaugh has been excited about what Likely brings to the Giants' tight end mix from the very beginning.
"He's a playmaking football player," Harbaugh said of Likely last month. "I have seen him in every kind of circumstance... He's got a big catch radius. He can make plays after he makes a catch. He can get upfield. He can make people miss. He can run people over. He's a very good perimeter blocker. You'll see that. That will be good for our run game."
Pro Football Focus recently released their 2026 all-breakout sophomore team. They are projecting the next NFL stars at every position. Unsurprisingly, Zabel qualified for the list at guard.
"Seattle’s draft picks were instrumental in the team winning Super Bowl 60," Bradley Locker wrote. "That certainly included Zabel, who’s now poised to be a step better in 2026. His 86.8 overall grade from Week 17 onward led all guards, and he permitted just nine pressures over those six contests. With a full playoff run under his belt — and one featuring very strong competition from standouts like Milton Williams, Kobie Turner and Christian Barmore — Zabel could very well be a 2026 All-Pro candidate."
The Seahawks are expected to continue running zone-heavy concepts under new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury, who learned the system from Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. Fleury is expected to follow in Klint Kubiak's footsteps in that respect. Zabel thrived in zone concepts last season, and as PFF highlights, has every trait to develop into an All-Pro player in 2026.
Alex Bowman has been linked to a surprising NASCAR Cup Series organization for the 2027 season. Find out who could sign Bowman!
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Alex Bowman's future in the NASCAR Cup Series is very uncertain. Everything could be on the table, including a return to Hendrick Motorsports, a new team, and possible retirement. With rumors swirling about his future, the driver of the No. 48 car has been linked to another NASCAR organization in the Cup Series.
Spire Motorsports could be a landing spot for Bowman if Hendrick Motorsports needs to find a spot in the Cup Series for one of its drivers, as reported by FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass. Hendrick Motorsports has been connected to Bowman, Corey Day, and Connor Zilisch for the No. 48 car in 2027 at this point.
It may not be the most likely outcome, but Bowman would be a good fit at Spire Motorsports. The organization has shown great speed during the 2026 NASCAR season and continues to be in the mix for the Chase. A return to Hendrick Motorsports might be the most realistic outcome for Bowman, but Spire Motorsports would be a solid backup plan.
Jalen Williams shows little rust in return as Oklahoma City Thunder drop Game 1 loss to San Antonio Spurs.
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Hoping for the dagger, Jalen Williams instead played a role in Victor Wembanyama's career-defining shot. Feeling himself after a transition dunk to put the Thunder ahead, his pull-up jumper was way off. So off that it fueled the Spurs' fastbreak offense to allow their MVP finalist to nail the Curry-esque outside jumper and tie things up.
Williams finished with 26 points on 11-of-25 shooting, seven rebounds and three assists. He shot 1-of-3 from 3 and went 3-of-3 on free throws. He also had one block and one steal.
Say what you want about Williams' shot selection and aggressiveness in the two overtime periods, but he's near the bottom of the reasons why the Thunder dropped this one. Among their triumvirate, he was the only one who looked like his usual self from the jump with 10 points in the first quarter — which is poetic, considering his month-long absence from a hamstring strain.
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault detailed Williams' past month. He missed six playoff games as he sustained a third hamstring strain in five months during an injury-riddled year. Despite that, he kept his head down and went to work to be ready to play right now.
"He's borderline manic at the end of his rehabs. His workouts are intense. He kinda gets into a zone at the end of a rehab as he's getting close. He can smell the floor, and it really readies him. He's shot out of a cannon when the ball goes up in the air. He's always been like that," Daigneault said about Williams. "He's got an unbelievable motor. He's had to overcome some different obstacles this year with the injuries to get himself to that point, but he's done a great job."
Like everybody else who has run into the Spurs, Williams dealt with the same migraine of problems against Wembanyama. When the seven-footer was on the floor, he had to completely rethink his usual line of thinking when it comes to slicing through defenses and getting to the rack.
Wembanyama's rim protection has left a trail of broken brains. Nobody has quite yet figured out the best way to solve his calculus-esque presence. And Williams was no different. At least he left it all on the floor. Others would take the passive route and pass up contested shots. The 25-year-old showed he's not afraid to put up an inefficient night.
"Just figuring out different ways to move him around and still be aggressive. I thought we had a good process. I think we got a lot of good shots. Just got to make them at the same time, too. It's like defensively, I think we've got to be a lot better and kinda stick to our identity there," Williams said. "I don't want to get too much into the X's and O's. I think I would've liked to make the last two shots I shot for the double overtime as well. I think that kinda hurt us, but other than that, just figuring out different ways to move them around. Also not be too hesitant on offense."
Like everybody else on the Thunder, Williams had his handful of storybook moments that would've been given a brighter spotlight if they handled business. Instead, his go-ahead transition jam in the first overtime will get lost in NBA history as Wembanyama and the Spurs snatched this game's story.
We'll see how the Thunder respond in a big-time Game 2. But if you're looking to make complaints about some of Williams' shot attempts in overtime, you'd better first bring up how bad Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren were. The All-NBA talent played well enough to come away with a win. It was the rest of OKC sans Alex Caruso who didn't carry their weight.
"I hate to say it, but we've lost Game 1 a couple of times. So we do have experience there. I think for me, from a personal standpoint, I think everything in the past has happened for a reason. We get another opportunity to be great and figure out a way to kinda hone back in and get Game 2 at the same time," Williams said. "We understand it's a series. So we could've lost this game by 30 or won by 30. It's just one game. That's how we approach it."
The Duke Blue Devils have offered UNC target Beckham Black.
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Michael Malone has done a good job in his first few months on the job in terms of the 2026 recruiting class for the program. He was able to keep commitments from Maxio Adams and Malloy Smith while also landing Kevin Thomas last week.
But now the focus has shifted to the 2027 class. The Tar Heels have a handful of offers out and Malone even reaffirmed some offers, including to five-star guard Beckham Black. The 2027 guard is a top-five player who had a big outing in Memphis over the weekend on the AAU circuit.
Black has drawn interest from several programs, including some of the top ones in college basketball. Now, UNC's archrival is getting involved.
Black now has 22 offers in his recruitment as things are starting to pick up more. And rightfully so. He's been fantastic this season and has ascended in the rankings.
Black is ranked No. 3 nationally, the No. 1 point guard and No. 2 player in the state of Florida per the 247Sports recruiting rankings.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
UNC's 2026 football recruiting class is set, with an eye already on the future. The Tar Heels will get a class of 2027 visit in mid-June.
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Just three months stand between UNC and the start of its 2026 football season, one which needs to end with a bowl appearance for Bill Belichick to stay head coach.
Some of the Tar Heels' most-anticipated roster additions come via the transfer portal, like quarterback Billy Edwards and defensive lineman Tarvorise Brown. North Carolina also sports a nationally-recognized 2026 recruiting class, headlined by 4-stars like Travis Burgess and C.J. Sadler.
UNC also has five commitments in its 2027 class, with hopes for a sixth soon. On Monday, quarterback Grant Sweeney announced a June 12 visit to Chapel Hill.
According to his 247Sports recruiting profile, Sweeney, who plays his high school football at Boerne (Tx.), is his home state's 103rd-ranked prospect and the nation's 45th-ranked quarterback prospect . Arkansas State, East Carolina, North Texas, UTSA, Coastal Carolina, Colorado State, Delaware, San Diego State, Mass, UNLV, UTEP and Fordham are also showing interest in the Texas gunslinger.
NEW: Texas QB Grant Sweeney schedules UNC official visit for next month👀
The 6-foot-3, 196-pounder threw for 4,296 yards and 39 TDs as Boerne High went 13-2. Also rushed for 1,075 yards.
The Tar Heels recently added to their 2027 recruiting class, landing a commitment from 3-star defensive back Trey Johnson (May 15). North Carolina also has commitments from safety Charles Roberts, linebacker Tasheem Butler, running back Isaiah Stephens and Skylar Robinson.
As UNC gets deeper into its offseason, expect more offers and recruiting visits. Belichick proved his ability to land talent during the Tar Heels' 2024-25 offseason, but those efforts turned into minimal on-field victories.
If Sweeney commits during his June visit, North Carolina will have its first class of 2027 quarterback. Can Belichick generate another solid recruiting class, but this time turn those efforts into wins?
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
Brentford B defender Ollie Shield has been named the 2025/26 Mary Halder award winner following an impressive campaign for the young Bees.Shield featured prominently for Sam Saunders' B team across th...
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Ollie Shield wins Mary Halder awardBrentford B defender Ollie Shield has been named the 2025/26 Mary Halder award winner following an impressive campaign for the young Bees.Shield featured prominently for Sam Saunders' B team across this season, while also training with the first team and featuring in numerous matchday squads for Keith Andrews’ side.
The Mary Halder award is given to a B-team player each season and recognises a campaign of progression, fantastic attitude and professionalism, whilst adhering to the values that the club holds close.
Speaking in front of the Gtech Community Stadium crowd, Shield reflected positively on his campaign.
“It’s a really proud moment for me, obviously we’ve had a really good season in the B team,” he said.
“My leadership, communication and attitude has helped me win this award, so it’s a proud moment for me and my family.
“The connection’s so close to the first team, so it’s been a great experience for me and I’m thankful for the opportunity that Keith’s given me with being on the bench.”
Playing at right-back and right wing-back across the season, Shield impressed for Saunders’ side, scoring three goals and picking up 11 assists.
He provided two assists in a game twice throughout the season, firstly in a 3-0 Premier League Cup win over Exeter City, the second occasion coming in a 6-1 victory against Fleetwood Town at the Gtech.
Saunders praised Shield for his attitude and commitment across the season.
“First and foremost, we always talk about being good human beings and I think Ollie's up there with the very best," he said.
"His work ethic, the way that he goes about his business, how he wants to get better, he's coachable, he wants to help other people. That's why he was up there for this award.”
Xabi Alonso has his work cut out in improving Chelsea’s “mentality” as their young team continues to struggle with setbacks.If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us ...
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Alonso names “key area of improvement” Chelsea need to fix under him
Xabi Alonso has his work cut out in improving Chelsea’s “mentality” as their young team continues to struggle with setbacks.
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The long reads about Xabi Alonso’s appointment are coming out, and there are some interesting angles about what Chelsea want from their new man.
The Athletic’s piece had a whole section about how the new man needs to improve the mentality at the club, and has already made clear that’s top of his priorities.
Alonso keen to improve Chelsea’s weak mentality
“According to Chelsea sources, Alonso spoke during his discussions with the club of his desire to build a team of “mentality monsters” at Stamford Bridge,” they wrote.
“Mentality has been identified internally as a key area of improvement for a young squad that has consistently racked up unnecessary yellow and red cards over the last three years and struggled to deal with on-pitch setbacks in recent months.
There’s no doubt that mentality is a big problem – more than just the immaturity that brings the red and yellow cards, there’s also a resignation to defeat when things are going against us.
We’ve seen some pretty egregious examples of players conceding an early goal and then giving up hope of getting back into the game this season. That desperately needs to change.
Antonio Conte and Napoli seem destined to part ways, although the game isn’t totally over, and president Aurelio De Laurentiis could make a last-ditch effort to convince the boss to stay. However, h...
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Reasons Behind Likely Coaching Change at Napoli
Antonio Conte and Napoli seem destined to part ways, although the game isn’t totally over, and president Aurelio De Laurentiis could make a last-ditch effort to convince the boss to stay. However, he’s less adamant about it and more open to letting him out of his contract, Sky reports.
The gaffer has a year left on it. A renewal is improbable, as his salary is too large. He’d like to leave on good terms, as he’s fond of his stay overall. A lame-duck campaign could endanger that.
On the other hand, Conte is drained, and the Napoli brass would like to go back to a more sustainable way of doing business after spending big to please him in the last two seasons. The Partenopei are plotting to reduce the payroll and contain the spending this summer. The permanent acquisitions of Rasmus Hojlund and Alisson Santos have already put a dent in their budget.
The Azzurri have shortlisted Maurizio Sarri, Fabio Grosso, and Massimiliano Allegri in particular, with the first one topping the leaderboard, but the call isn’t imminent. De Laurentiis has doubts about the other candidates. If their search doesn’t yield acceptable results, he’ll ask their current manager to reconsider his stance. If he indeed leaves, he’ll either accept the Italy job or take a sabbatical. Despite some links to Juventus and Milan, it’d take a lot of convincing for him to jump onto another major project.
Our Take on Napoli and Conte
While their season is still somewhat successful, considering their injuries and what happened to other big sides, the fact that his golden touch took a hit and that he doesn’t seem headed to an arch-rival, and the club’s strategic shift make a divorce much less painful and somewhat understandable.
Tottenham Handed Vicario Boost Before Chelsea ClashVicario Return Sharpens Selection CallRoberto De Zerbi has been given a timely lift before Tottenham travel to Chelsea, with Guglielmo Vicario availa...
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Man City Starting XI vs Bournemouth: Confirmed Team News and Predicted LineupTottenham Handed Vicario Boost Before Chelsea ClashVicario Return Sharpens Selection Call
Roberto De Zerbi has been given a timely lift before Tottenham travel to Chelsea, with Guglielmo Vicario available again after hernia surgery.
The Italian goalkeeper had been sidelined since the March international break and, only last week, De Zerbi admitted ahead of Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Leeds that Vicario had not yet returned to training.
Now the picture has shifted. Ahead of Tuesday evening’s trip to Stamford Bridge, De Zerbi confirmed the 29-year-old is available for selection, giving Tottenham a major decision in goal.
Photo IMAGO
Antonin Kinsky has impressed in Vicario’s absence, showing composure and authority at a difficult point in Spurs’ season. That leaves De Zerbi weighing loyalty to recent form against the pedigree of his first-choice keeper.
Solanke Blow Clouds Chelsea Trip
Dominic Solanke remains a concern for Tottenham after missing the last two matches with a hamstring injury suffered during the 1-0 win over Wolves.
Reports had suggested Solanke could miss the rest of the season, although De Zerbi said last week that he hoped to have the England striker back for the Chelsea game.
That hope has faded. With De Zerbi confirming Solanke will not be fit for the Stamford Bridge clash, his chances of forcing his way into Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad now look increasingly slim.
Maddison Comeback Offers Encouragement
Tottenham did receive a welcome lift against Leeds, as James Maddison made his first competitive appearance in over a year.
The 29-year-old had been out since suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury during Spurs’ pre-season friendly against Newcastle in August 2025.
Maddison came on in the 85th minute, a symbolic moment more than a tactical one. His return is significant, but Tottenham are unlikely to push his minutes too aggressively before the end of the campaign.
Injury List Still Tests Tottenham Depth
Spurs remain without long-term absentees Dejan Kulusevski, Wilson Odobert, Ben Davies, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Cristian Romero.
Predicted Tottenham XI, 4-2-3-1, Kinsky, Porro, Danso, Van de Ven, Udogie, Bentancur, Palhinha, Gallagher, Kolo Muani, Tel, Richarlison.
Tremors were sent through the world of football on Monday night, when the news broke that Pep Guardiola would be leaving Manchester City after a decade at the club. Real Madrid see a way in which the ...
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Real Madrid line up move for Manchester City after Pep Guardiola exit
Tremors were sent through the world of football on Monday night, when the news broke that Pep Guardiola would be leaving Manchester City after a decade at the club. Real Madrid see a way in which the situation could work to their advantage.
In the past, Los Blancos have often been linked to Erling Haaland, with prior reports stating that the Norwegian forward could be easier to attract once Guardiola leaves the club. In the last week, it has also emerged that Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol has supposedly offered himself to Real Madrid.
Real Madrid reignite interest in Rodri Hernandez
If there is one City player that has been linked to Real Madrid more than any other over the last two seasons though, it’s Rodri Hernandez. Although in recent months it has been suggested that their interest in Rodri had cooled, Cadena SER say that his name is back on the agenda. They note that Rodri would be delighted to move back to Spain, something he has hinted at in the past.
They say that Rodri is top of their shortlist for the midfield position, and that they are awaiting the green light of manager to be Jose Mourinho to pursue him. Nevertheless, it is noted that it will be a ‘financially difficult’ deal to pull off.
Manchester City looking to hold onto Rodri
City are unlikely to give up Rodri without a fight though. Although the 29-year-old is out of contract next year, Manchester City have made him a contract offer to extend his stay, and are desperate to keep him. Real Madrid are yet to take any formal steps, and last week it was reported that Rodri’s decision on the renewal offer was imminent. That said, the longer the delay is, the more doubts will creep in for Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola might have helped launch Enzo Maresca’s coaching career, but the Spaniard’s influence on the former Chelsea head coach began long before the Italian stepped into the world of managem...
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Guardiola’s influence on Maresca began long before coaching career
Pep Guardiola might have helped launch Enzo Maresca’s coaching career, but the Spaniard’s influence on the former Chelsea head coach began long before the Italian stepped into the world of management: ‘I realised I wanted to be a coach while playing against Barcelona’.
Guardiola is expected to walk away from the Etihad stadium after 10 seasons in charge, during which time he won six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five EFL Cups, three Community Shields, the 2022-23 Champions League, the 2023 Super Cup and the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Maresca has twice previously worked for Manchester City, initially as the head of their Elite Development Squad between 2020 and 2021 before leaving to take charge of Parma in Serie B. Maresca returned to City in 2022 to serve as an assistant coach under Guardiola. They would go on to complete an historic treble together that season.
Now, Maresca looks set to return to Manchester for a third time, this time to replace the man that inspired him to become a head coach.
What Maresca said about Guardiola’s influence
Maresca spoke about the influence that Guardiola has had on his career during an interview at the Festival dello Sport in Trento back in October.
“I’ve been lucky to have a lot of great coaches, from Ancelotti to Lippi, but the style of football that has always fascinated me has been Guardiola’s,” Maresca said. “Playing against that Barcelona team with Sevilla made me realise I wanted to become a coach.”
WROCLAW, POLAND – MAY 28: Enzo Maresca, Manager of Chelsea, acknowledges the fans as he walks past the UEFA Conference League trophy following his team’s victory in the UEFA Conference League Final 2025 between Real Betis Balompie and Chelsea FC at Stadion Wroclaw on May 28, 2025 in Wroclaw, Poland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Maresca has worked under another one of Manchester City’s Premier League-winning head coaches in Manuel Pellegrini.
“I was lucky enough to score two goals in the Europa League final, and to have a coach like Pellegrini, from whom I learned a lot. I also met my wife in Spain, the mother of my four children. There’s no comparison between the job of a coach and that of a father. The latter is much more difficult because you never know the right solution.”
But Guardiola is still the one that Maresca holds in the highest esteem.
“Being close to someone like Pep was fantastic, seeing how he looks at details and how he manages the team, that was fundamental for my growth.”
epa10675973 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (L) speaks to assistant manager Enzo Maresca during a training session on the UEFA Champions League media day at the City Football Academy in Manchester, Britain, 06 June 2023. Manchester City will play Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul on 10 June 2023. EPA-EFE/ADAM VAUGHAN
Maresca also shared his amusing philosophy on the relationship between players and coaches: “When I was a player, my mother used to think that the players were always right and never the coaches. Now, she thinks that the coaches are always right and never the players. My wife, on the other hand, used to agree with the coaches, now she agrees with the players.”
There will be no full-time NASCAR driver attempting The Double this weekend, with Kyle Larson’s last two failed attempts seemingly […]
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There will be no full-time NASCAR driver attempting The Double this weekend, with Kyle Larson’s last two failed attempts seemingly discouraging others to give it a shot. However, Ross Chastain will attempt his own impressive feat this weekend.
As noted by Austin Konenski, Chastain will try to complete 1,101 miles of racing this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
It all begins Friday with the Truck Series race, the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chastain will drive the No. 45 truck for Niece Motorsports, with crew chief Phil Gould. He isn’t the only Cup Series driver in the field, as Shane van Gisbergen, Carson Hocevar, Kyle Busch and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. are also on the entry list.
If all goes well, Chastain will complete all 201 miles for the Truck race and then ready himself for a busy Saturday at the track. Driving the No. 9 car for JR Motorsports in the O’Reilly Auto Parts race, he’ll first have O’Reilly practice at 11:00 AM and then qualifying at 12:05 PM.
Once that’s wrapped up, he’ll have a very short break before getting into his traditional seat behind the wheel of the No. 1 car for Trackhouse Racing, with Cup practice at 1:30 PM followed by qualifying at 2:40 PM.
If Chastain completes both races in the lower series, he’ll have driven 501 miles in two nights. That will just be the warmup for Sunday night, when he gets behind the wheel at the track where he won his last Cup race (the 2025 Coca-Cola 600) to cap off his weekend with over 1,000 total miles of driving.
Rob Green has admitted that Arsenal’s performance against Burnley was not among their best displays of the season, although the Gunners still managed to secure an important victory in their pursuit ...
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“It was tight and tetchy” Rob Green discusses Arsenal’s win against Burnley
Rob Green has admitted that Arsenal’s performance against Burnley was not among their best displays of the season, although the Gunners still managed to secure an important victory in their pursuit of the Premier League title.
Arsenal entered the fixture as clear favourites, particularly with Burnley already relegated from the Premier League, and many supporters expected a comfortable win with several goals scored.
Arsenal Grind Out Important Victory
The Gunners started the match strongly and controlled large parts of the opening stages, creating a number of opportunities that could have allowed them to establish a more comfortable advantage.
However, despite their positive start, Arsenal were unable to add to their lead after taking their chance in the first half. Burnley remained competitive throughout the contest and ensured the game stayed tense until the final whistle.
The pressure on Arsenal was significantly greater than that faced by Burnley, with the title race demanding another victory from Mikel Arteta’s side. That pressure contributed to a cautious approach during the latter stages of the game as Arsenal prioritised defensive organisation and avoiding mistakes.
Although Burnley lacked cutting edge quality in attacking areas, they still managed to test Arsenal’s composure and discipline during a difficult second half.
Green Reflects on Arsenal Performance
Speaking as reported by the BBC, Green acknowledged Arsenal’s defensive strength while also noting that the overall performance was not as convincing as supporters may have hoped.
He said:
“Defensively sound, another step closer. They played well in the first half and saw the job through in the second, but not in the way they would have liked.
“It was rather subdued celebrations at the end compared to the party atmosphere before. Burnley did not have the quality in and around the goal. It was tight and tetchy but Arsenal are one step closer.”
Green’s assessment reflected the mood surrounding the match, with Arsenal ultimately valuing the result more than the quality of the performance as they moved closer to potentially securing the Premier League title.
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Shields was in attendance at MVP’s first MMA event last Saturday at
the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. The three-division
women’s boxing world champion confronted fellow boxer Alycia
Baumgardner backstage and slapped her.
Tony Kanaan and Bryan Herta were some of the original masterminds behind the elaborate pranks of the Indy 500.
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Editor's note: This story was originally published in 2022. We are republishing it as part of our coverage of the 2026 Indy 500.
Conor Daly wanted to have a little extra fun at his motorhome as part of his ninth appearance in the Indianapolis 500. So he took a page out of former IndyCar racer -- and his hero -- Tomas Scheckter’s book and brought a miniature hot tub to the paddocks.
Daly just wanted to see what that experience was like and enjoy some relaxation during his time away from the track. While Daly flaunted his hot tub on social media, other drivers began plotting against the then Ed Carpenter Racing driver.
On Tuesday morning, Daly woke up to his hot tub filled with hundreds of thousands of Orbeez, which are tiny balls that expand once submerged in water. What started as a fun addition to his motorhome has become a minor headache.
“I was very excited about it at first,” Daly said. “Now it's become a lot of work. Alex Rossi brought me one of those like pool scoopers where you clean out debris because as I refilled it with water (Thursday) for the weekend turns out there's still a lot of debris in there.”
But on Thursday afternoon, Daly still didn’t know who pulled off the prank.
“A bunch of snakes out here in the paddock,” Daly said. “I've got no answers to who has delivered all of the debris to my hot tub. But I hope to find out someday and when I do find out, they better run and hide.”
Just hours before Daly spoke with the media on Thursday, however, veteran driver and known prankster Tony Kanaan nearly outed himself to IndyStar.
When first asked about the Orbeez prank, Kanaan — with a grin on his face — claimed to know nothing about it. But after some prodding, Kanaan began to use the word “we” when referencing the situation.
“Oh, the hot tub. I heard, yeah. Well, let me put it this way, when somebody brought the idea up, because we — some people — discussed that the idea was to put a couple of them there. Well, we put 400,000 of them in there, so that's all I'm going to say,” Kanaan said.
Colton Herta of Andretti Autosport went as far as saying Daly was asking for it by bringing a hot tub to the paddock and posting a picture of it on Instagram. Herta claimed to have no idea who pulled off the prank but gave kudos to the person who did.
While Daly disagrees that he was asking for his hot tub to be invaded by Orbeez, he welcomes the lighthearted pranks. He appreciates the longstanding tradition of the drivers pulling pranks on each other, which started more than 20 years ago.
By now, all of the drivers know to expect some elaborate pranks at the Indy 500. Kanaan and Bryan Herta, the father of Colton Herta, were some of the original masterminds. While in Japan in 2004, the pair, along with Dario Franchitti, pulled one of the biggest pranks of all time. They stole every left shoe of teammate Dan Wheldon and shipped them back to the United States.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to host an alum as Matthew Graves and Indiana State are slated to return to Hinkle Fieldhouse.
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INDIANAPOLIS — Butler basketball fans will get their first look at the 2026-27 team when the Bulldogs host an exhibition against Indiana State at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
The first game of the Ronald Nored era will be Oct. 10. The start time has not been announced, but it will follow an afternoon Butler football game at the Sellick Bowl. The exhibition against the Sycamores will be the first of three exhibition games the Dawgs will play in October.
The exhibition joins nonconference games against Lafayette (Nov. 2), Fairleigh Dickinson (Nov. 4), Western Carolina (Nov. 17) and Bellarmine (Nov. 27) on Butler's schedule. The date for Butler's nonconference against North Carolina, part of a home-and-home with the Tar Heels, has not yet been announced.
Indiana State returns to Hinkle after the teams played an exhibition last season. Butler alum Matthew Graves is in his third season as ISU's coach. Graves did not coach the Sycamores at Hinkle last season as he recovered from triple bypass surgery.
Nored and Graves are two of the four Bulldog alums currently leading NCAA Division I programs, joining Baylor's Scott Drew and Miami (Ohio)'s Travis Steele.
Herm Edwards and Judy Battista relived the former New York Jets coach's iconic news conference, where he famously stated, "you play to win the game."
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Herm Edwards delivered one of the most iconic lines in NFL history when he passionately stated during a 2002 news conference, "You play to win the game."
He and Judy Battista – the reporter who asked him the question that prompted the famous spiel, during which Edwards encouraged any players who didn't care about winning to retire – reminisced about the moment during a May 19 appearance on NFL Network's "Good Morning Football."
"It was instincts," Edwards explained of his passionate response to Battista's question. "I never knew it would take the avenue that it took."
Edwards explained he was blissfully unaware of the virality of his press conference moment until he returned home from work.
"As a coach, you go to work, you go back up to the office and you start working," Edwards explained. "And I can just remember going home that night, and I get home at about 12 o'clock at night, and my wife opened the door. She said, 'What did you say?' And I forgot everything I said. I don't remember. And she said, 'It's everywhere!' And I looked at her and said, 'Is it good?' And she said, 'It was good. It's OK!"
Edwards also detailed that his speech had occurred during the week, when players were not in attendance at the team facility. He saw them the next morning at a team meeting and recalled getting a positive response from the team.
"I looked at the team. I literally looked at all these guys and said, 'Are we good?' They looked at me and said, 'Coach, we're good,'" Edwards said. "'Go to work.' Then we went on a run. Ended up winning the division."
Indeed, the Jets finished the 2002 season with a 9-7 record, which was good enough to win the AFC East. They went 7-2 after Edwards' rant and crushed the Indianapolis Colts 41-0 in the wild-card round before falling to the then-Oakland Raiders in the divisional round.
Thanks to that, Edwards' one-liner has been permanently entered into the NFL's proverbial lexicon, with it being frequently referenced by coaches and analysts alike. A clip from the presser was also included in a Bud Light commercial while Edwards titled his self-help book after the line.,
But Edwards also contends there is a key word that is often omitted from his legendary quote.
"I tell people all the time, don't forget the jingle. The 'hello.' That's important," Edwards said. "A lot of people say, 'You play to win the game.' I always correct them. Make sure you say hello first."
As for Battista, she fondly remembered Edwards' response and shared her thoughts as the iconic moment unfurled before her and the other reporters present for the news conference.
"I remember thinking, 'This is the easiest story we're ever going to write as a beat reporter for the New York Jets,'" she said. "He just laid it on a platter for us."
The Miami Dolphins will take on the New York Giants for the team's second game of the preseason, but before the contest, they'll have joint practices.
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Last week, the Miami Dolphins revealed their 2026 regular-season schedule to plenty of excitement, but they also announced the dates, times and opponents for their three season games as well.
In Week 2 of the preseason, Miami will take on John Harbaugh's New York Giants, and on Tuesday, new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley revealed that his team will host their NFC East opponent for joint practices leading up to the game.
Joint practices are an excellent exercise, especially for a team with a new coach. They provide a competitive atmosphere where the coaches can control the situations, unlike in a game scenario. They're also great for fans, as they get an up-close view at the players on the practice field, which you don't get during the season.
This does mean that it's unlikely that many starters play significant snaps in the game following joint practices, as coaches typically use those sessions as the meaningful reps rather than a live-game setting where injuries could happen.
Hafley also announced that ahead of their first preseason matchup with the Washington Commanders, the two teams will battle in joint practices on the road.
The San Francisco 49ers could very well make the 2026 season a family affair.
All offseason long the 49ers have been widely viewed as a possible landing spot for Buffalo Bills free-agent edge rusher Joey Bosa, who is, of course, the brother of Niners edge rusher Nick Bosa.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay isn't going to let that idea die, either. He suggested the Niners as an underrated landing spot for the veteran EDGE.
Kay points to the Niners' injury issues in recent campaigns and the uncertainty surrounding Mykel Williams as reasons why San Francisco should sign Bosa.
With Williams coming off a torn ACL and not guaranteed to be ready for the start of the season, the elder Bosa could be the perfect fill-in. Sam Okuayinonu currently profiles as Williams' replacement for Week 1, which is a less-than-ideal situation that San Francisco should try to avoid by signing a more talented edge-rusher.
Don't forget that the 49ers have been dealing with a slew of injury-related defensive attrition in recent years, making it critically important to add more depth before training camp begins.
Along with the uncertainty surrounding Williams, Nick Bosa is a bit of a question mark in his own right as he comes back from a torn ACL.
Joey Bosa signed a one-year deal with the Bills last offseason.
While the signing was on pace to be a success after Bosa posted four sacks over his first eight games in Buffalo, the veteran had just one the rest of the way and, more importantly, zero in the playoffs.
His lackluster finish was the driving force behind the Bills allowing Bosa to walk in free agency earlier this offseason.
Depending on Bosa for major production is a shaky proposition, as he hasn't posted more than 6.5 sacks in any season over the last four, and he has had no shortage of injury issues during his entire career.
But the Niners don't need Bosa to anchor their pass-rush and instead just need him to provide adequate depth. That's why signing him makes sense.
With the Serie A season now entering its final stages, European football is getting ready for its hottest nights, with continental finals, outcomes still to be decided, and targets still to be achieve...
With the Serie A season now entering its final stages, European football is getting ready for its hottest nights, with continental finals, outcomes still to be decided, and targets still to be achieved.
But while everything is being decided on the pitch, the transfer market is already starting to move away from the spotlight: first farewells, contacts, meetings, strategies, and names set to light up the summer. Let’s take a look at the day’s most important news.
Juventus, derby and decisive meeting
According to TuttoJuve, Juventus took a day off after the win over Fiorentina and will return to training at Continassa tomorrow to begin preparations for the derby against Torino, a key step in the race for the Champions League.
Bremer will miss the city derby due to suspension, while Gatti is still doubtful to start. At the same time, attention also remains on the club side of things: a meeting between John Elkann and Luciano Spalletti is expected this week and is seen as important for planning Juventus’ future.
Milan, is Cardinale really changing everything?
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, these are decisive days at Milan: Gerry Cardinale has reportedly called a summit to analyze a season considered below expectations and to plan the new structure of the Rossoneri club.
The discussion is said to focus on executive roles and the technical area, with evaluations also underway regarding Ibrahimovic’s future influence and the club’s overall structure. Cardinale wants to speed things up so he is fully prepared for the summer and can immediately begin shaping next season’s Milan, amid possible internal changes and new sporting strategies.
Inter, Pavard returns but they will try to sell him
Benjamin Pavard officially said goodbye to Marseille with a long message posted on social media, bringing his experience with OM to an end after just one season. The French defender thanked the club, staff, and fans, describing it as an intense year and a dressing room that stayed united until the end.
Pavard will now return to Inter, but — according to what was also reported in recent days by La Gazzetta dello Sport — the Nerazzurri club does not intend to keep him in the squad for next season. The former Bayern Munich player is therefore expected to leave Milan this summer, with Inter trying to find him a permanent move.
Napoli, Manna pushes to complete the signing
According to the Corriere dello Sport, Napoli are pushing hard to complete one of their first signings for next season: in their sights is Anan Khalaili, a 2005-born Israeli winger from Union Saint-Gilloise..
Sporting director Giovanni Manna has reportedly already opened concrete talks both with the player’s entourage and with the Belgian club, which values him at close to €20 million. Khalaili is appreciated for his attacking versatility and the qualities he has also shown in the Champions League, but Napoli will need to move quickly to beat competition from several English clubs interested in the Israeli talent.
Roma, Gasperini wants Pinamonti
Roma continue to work on the transfer market to reshape their attacking department and, according to Tuttomercatoweb, echoed by several sources close to the Giallorossi environment, one of the profiles being tracked is Andrea Pinamonti. The Sassuolo striker has long been admired by Gian Piero Gasperini, who had already asked for him during his Atalanta days.
The 1999-born center-forward is seen as an economically sustainable option and one suited to the Roma coach’s ideas, as he wants a more physical and dynamic attack. Pinamonti finished the season with convincing numbers in Serie A, and his name remains one to watch ahead of the summer, especially if the Giallorossi make major attacking moves through departures and new signings.
Lazio, Thiago Motta leading the race for the bench
Lazio have started planning for the future of the dugout ahead of the possible departure of Maurizio Sarri, who is increasingly close to leaving the Biancoceleste club. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the name at the top of the list is Thiago Motta, followed by Raffaele Palladino and Fabio Pisacane.
More complicated, however, is the track leading to Miroslav Klose, which is currently considered difficult to pursue. Lotito’s club wants to make a decision quickly in order to begin a new technical cycle and define its strategy for next season.
Fiorentina, Bournemouth interested in Fortini
Bournemouth are looking at Fiorentina and have set their sights on Niccolò Fortini. According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the English club have already opened initial contacts for the Viola full-back born in 2006, considered one of the most interesting young players on the Italian scene.
However, Fortini’s future will also depend on the evaluations of Bournemouth’s new coach, Marco Rose, who has been tasked with deciding the strategy for the left flank. Meanwhile, Fiorentina remain on alert: the player is under contract until 2027 and in recent months had already attracted interest from several Italian clubs, including Roma, Juventus, and Napoli.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul (kick-off 20:00 BST). A decision on Amadou Onana's fitness will be made on Wednesday. Emery confirmed the midfielder trained on Monday and is expected to train later on Tuesday.
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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Europa League final against Freiburg in Istanbul (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
A decision on Amadou Onana's fitness will be made on Wednesday. Emery confirmed the midfielder trained on Monday and is expected to train later on Tuesday.
Emery said this is "a new moment and hopefully, a new era" for the club.
On managing the pressure: "We must try to understand the pressure as something positive not negative and the pressure is when you are playing for something important."
He believes they "have played enough matches in Europe" to take the final step and win a European trophy as "those experiences are very important".
More on the possibility of winning: "This is a new challenge we have together. We are confident. The players are here because they deserve it."
He wants his side "to play with personality and with confidence" and to do that they "have to play with intensity".
On their difficult Premier League start and now finishing on a high: "We started so poor at the beginning of the season for different reasons, but how the players responded in difficult moments was amazing. I was very worried – trying to find solutions."
He said they overcame that by being "mature, responsible and professional" and said "this is the consequence" of their hard work and sticking together.
Listen to live commentary of the Europa League final on BBC Radio 5 Live from 20:00 BST on Wednesday.
Bill Belichick is in the midst of quite the offseason. After making a trip to the Kentucky Derby and supporting his girlfriend at her cheerleading competition at Disney World, the former NFL coaching great got to hang out with Sean Hannity on his FOX News podcast.
The two got to talk about his time with the New England Patriots, the Hall of Fame snub, and reflected on some of the major events of his career. While most of the hour and a half interview was lighthearted, Hannity brought the "CBS News Sunday Morning" interview back to the surface. This was the moment Hudson famously stopped anchor Tony Dokoupil from asking about when Belichick's relationship with the 25-year-old started.
Belichick wanted to clear the air about his feelings toward CBS and how he feels mistreated by the network.
"I thought that the interview I had with them was done very deceptively," Belichick said on Hang Out with Sean Hannity. "I've asked for the transcript from them, and they won't give it to me. They've done that with others. I'm not sure what their policy is."
Hannity suggested that Belichick should sue CBS, which the North Carolina Tar Heels coach didn't shoot down the idea and laughed it off.
At the time, Belichick and Hudson defended the stonewalling effort, saying, "The clips make it appear as though we were avoiding the question of how we met, but we have been open about the fact that Jordon and I met on a flight to Palm Beach in 2021," Belichick said in a statement at the time.
CBS responded by saying, "When we agreed to speak with Mr. Belichick, it was for a wide-ranging interview. There were no preconditions or limitations to this conversation. This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place and after it was completed."
The relationship between Belichick and Hudson first became public in 2024. They've received a fair amount of criticism due to the 49-year age gap. Hudson has also leaned on the NFL legend in the business world, securing over 20 trademarks and copyrights tied to the 74-year-old Tar Heels coach. The odd couple seem to make it work in the face of adversity.
Will Wade continues to build his first LSU roster as the Tigers added a veteran guard from the transfer portal on Monday.
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LSU men's basketball added another transfer to its 2026-27 roster. According to a report from On3's Pete Nakos on Monday, Austin Nunez signed with the Tigers.
The move for Nunez follows his fourth stint in the transfer portal. Last season at UTSA, he made 21 starts and averaged 9.8 points, 2.8 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game. The guard shot 30.4% from the field.
A former McDonald's All-American, Nunez was the No. 57 player nationally in the 2022 signing class per Rivals. He began his career at Arizona State then transferred to Ole Miss. After a year with the Rebels, he went back to the Sun Devils as a junior but only played four games due to injury. He went to UTSA ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Nunez became a starter for the Roadrunners. A fifth-year senior, he brings four years and SEC experience to head coach Will Wade's first roster back in Baton Rouge.
Liverpool Summer Transfer Window Will Not Solve Structural ProblemsLiverpool are expected to spend heavily this summer, with multiple wide forwards already linked to the club, but during the latest Me...
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“It’s nonsense” – Liverpool sent warning over summer transfer window plansLiverpool Summer Transfer Window Will Not Solve Structural Problems
Liverpool are expected to spend heavily this summer, with multiple wide forwards already linked to the club, but during the latest Media Matters podcast on Anfield Index, Dave Davis and David Lynch repeatedly questioned whether new signings alone can repair the deeper issues affecting Arne Slot’s side.
Throughout the discussion, Lynch made clear that Liverpool’s recruitment plans are focused heavily on adding pace and athleticism in attacking areas. Yet he strongly rejected the idea that simply signing quick wingers will suddenly transform Liverpool back into an elite team.
As Davis joked while discussing the growing number of transfer links: “These pacey wingers are going to need to fix a lot, aren’t they?”
Lynch’s response suggested he shares exactly that concern.
Liverpool Structural Problems Run Deeper
The central theme of the discussion was that Liverpool’s problems are tactical and structural as much as personnel based.
Lynch repeatedly described the current setup as “a complete mess” and argued that the side are far too easy to play through regardless of who starts in attack.
He openly criticised suggestions that one strong transfer window could suddenly solve everything.
“The idea that summer transfer window solves it as well, I mean, it’s just laughable to me,” Lynch said.
Liverpool continue to be linked with several forwards, including Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola, while recruitment in midfield is also expected. However, Lynch argued that even elite attacking additions cannot compensate for the side’s underlying flaws.
“You could drop peak Mane into this team and he doesn’t sort out the midfield and the defence,” he explained.
Arne Slot Concerns Continue to Dominate
Much of the conversation returned to whether Arne Slot is capable of fixing Liverpool’s tactical structure regardless of who arrives this summer.
Lynch questioned the assumption that incoming players will immediately improve those around them.
“The wingers are going to sort out the defensive structure and Liverpool are suddenly going to be brilliant next season? Come off it. It’s nonsense,” he said.
That frustration stemmed partly from Liverpool’s recent recruitment record. Lynch pointed out that many of last summer’s signings have struggled for consistency, while injuries and tactical confusion have limited overall progress.
“What have we seen from last summer’s signings to make us think that these next ones are going to come in, hit the ground running and suddenly solve all the problems?” he asked.
For him, Liverpool’s issues cannot simply be fixed through speed in wide areas.
Photo: IMAGO
Liverpool Recruitment Under Growing Scrutiny
Lynch acknowledged that Liverpool are right to strengthen in attack, particularly given the lack of pace and depth currently available. Yet he warned that recruitment alone cannot disguise systemic failings.
“I just think it’s crazy that they think the summer can fix this,” he admitted.
Even highly rated targets such as Diomande were discussed within that context. Lynch praised the RB Leipzig forward’s profile and potential, but still cautioned against unrealistic expectations around immediate impact.
“He’s 19 years old coming to the Premier League,” Lynch said. “How much is he going to fix in that first six months?”
That line perhaps captured the wider mood around Liverpool’s upcoming transfer window.
Almost no one thought they could get off to such a hot start. At 27-19, they are right in the mix for first place in the NL Central.
But there's no guarantee the Cardinals can keep this pace. The Major League Baseball season is long, and this game has its ebbs and flows.
That's why The Athletic's Jim Bowden believes it's too early to tell if the Cardinals will be buyers or sellers at this year's trade deadline.
"Wait and see. I still don’t think they have the starting pitching to contend the entire season, but the team is definitely taking a big step forward," wrote Bowden. "They could go either way at the trade deadline based on the standings."
Regardless of the season's outcome, fans in St. Louis have things to be excited about.
JJ Wetherholt should be a staple in the lineup for years to come, and Michael McGreevy has emerged as a mid-tier arm with frontline starter potential.
"The team is playing with positive energy and enthusiasm, which is a direct reflection of their manager, Oli Marmol, who is doing an excellent job developing this young team," added Bowden.
Even if the Cardinals decide to sell, they'll be a team to watch that can play spoiler as the postseason nears.
The Chicago White Sox are having an incredible 2026 MLB season so far through the middle of May. At 24-23, they're right behind the Cleveland Guardians for first place in the AL Central.
Munetaka Murakami, Colson Montgomery, and Miguel Vargas are leading the charge for a surging White Sox offense. It's been a fun year so far, as the White Sox might be real postseason contenders.
Naturally, the question now shifts to what the team's plans might be at the MLB trade deadline. Will they buy and try to contend, or will they sell, which was likely the plan coming into the year? Jim Bowen of The Athletic shared a projection for what they'll do.
"Trade deadline position: Sellers," Bowden writes. "Chicago is making progress but still has a ways to go and won't be able to stay at .500. Continuing their long-term building is the best play for them this season."
Bowden, despite seeing the success of the 2026 White Sox through 47 games, is projecting the team to still be sellers at the deadline. This projection certainly isn't one White Sox fans will like to hear.
White Sox fans won't like this trade deadline projection
The White Sox selling at this year's deadline is a very real possibility. They likely weren't expecting to be this good in 2026, so their plans likely revolved around trading some rentals to further set up their rebuild for success.
But, with Murakami mashing home runs at an AL-leading pace, and the team showing up in clutch situations frequently, it's hard not to hope this team can make the postseason.
However, if the White Sox could get something in return for players like Seranthony Dominguez, Erick Fedde, Andrew Benintendi, and other veterans, they should still consider trading them this year, even if this success continues.
Now, trading someone like Murakami would be a mistake, but some of the others who aren't likely in the team's long-term plans would make sense to part with.
Still, this projection from Bowden would be a disappointing one for the fanbase. With how positive the vibes are this season, to wind up as sellers would be a major letdown.
Even if it might be the right call in the long-term rebuild plans of the team, the White Sox compromising their playoff odds this season to sell at the deadline would be something fans would not want to see.
Surratt prevailed in a 6-for-1 playoff on Monday at Dallas Athletic Club to grab the ninth and final U.S. Open berth out of the Dallas final qualifier.
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Caleb Surratt prevailed in a 6-for-1 playoff on Monday at Dallas Athletic Club to grab the ninth and final U.S. Open berth out of the Dallas final qualifier.
Surratt was one of three LIV players to advance out of this qualifier, joining medalist Peter Uihlein, who shot 9 under over 36 holes, and Graeme McDowell, who tied for fifth at 4 under. Surratt, who left Tennessee after three semesters in January 2024 to sign with Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII, birdied the first extra hole.
Also advancing were three-time PGA Tour winner Tom Kim (8 under), Korn Ferry Tour pro Cooper Dossey (7 under), 34-year-old UCLA product Manav Shah (5 under) and three other players tied with McDowell at 4 under: Tour pros Jimmy Stanger and Adrien Dumont de Chassart, and Dallas resident TK Kim, 35, who hasn’t played a Tour-sanctioned event since 2023 on the KFT.
TK Kim was born in South Korea but grew up with his aunt in Hawaii. He was then adopted at age 15 and moved to Meridian, Idaho, where he’d attend and play college golf at Boise State. He had 11 top-25s as a senior, one shy of Troy Merritt’s record.
Tour pros Chandler Phillips and Henrik Norlander were first and second alternate, respectively, while Eugenio Chacarra bowed out of the playoff after one hole to catch a flight to this week’s DP World Tour event.
Why Falcons-Ravens is one of the best prime-time games of the NFL season
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The Atlanta Falcons are getting their prime-time spotlights out of the way early this year. Atlanta's 2026 regular season schedule has three straight prime-time games starting in Week 3 and culminating in a Week 5 Sunday Night Football game against two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.
"This showdown will likely be a battle between former first-round picks at quarterback, but that doesn’t necessarily make it an excellent one. Baltimore slid to 14th in overall PFF mark last season, finishing 8-9 as Lamar Jackson played just 702 snaps. Outside of the two-time MVP, the Ravens’ defense was liable by ranking 16th in EPA per play. Baltimore should return to contention in 2026 after hiring Jesse Minter as well as adding Trey Hendrickson, Olaivavega Ioane and Jaylinn Hawkins."
Baltimore is usually one of the AFC's most consistent and toughest contenders, but the Ravens fell off last season due to injuries and defensive regression. They were particularly flat rushing the passer, where they finished tied with the Carolina Panthers for the third-fewest sacks in the league last season.
The Ravens front office went out of their way to fix that issue this offseason, signing Trey Hendrickson to a big deal and using a second-round draft pick on Zion Young.
Assuming Lamar Jackson stays healthy, Baltimore should once again be a team to take seriously in the AFC. Whether the new-look Falcons can hang with them under the big lights is another question. The biggest question is what they'll get at quarterback with either Michael Penix or Tua Tagovailoa starting. If head coach Kevin Stefanski can wring a solid season out of either one then the Falcons may become a very underrated dangerous team.
Speaking of coaching, one wild card is on the sideline of the Ravens, where John Harbaugh was dismissed and replaced with Jesse Minter. It's not hard imagining Baltimore falling off without their long-time, very successful coach - but Minter came highly-recommended. Time will tell how this one plays out, but for now we can probably assume that the more-experienced Stefanski will have the edge.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba will look to clear a high bar as an encore to his 2025 season.
The Seattle Seahawks star had one of the greatest individual seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history, totaling 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season before helping guide his team to the Lombardi Trophy.
For his regular season dominance, Smith-Njigba won the 2025 Offensive Player of the Year, an honor he officially appeared to receive on Monday. But the wide receiver took to social media to reveal that the NFL made a glaring mistake on the hardware itself.
Here's a look at the "disrespectful" error Smith-Njigba shared on the NFL's behalf on Monday.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba reveals error on his Offensive Player of the Year award
Smith-Njigba officially won the OPOY award at the NFL Honors show in February, but he appeared to have just recently received the trophy.
On Monday night, he shared a clip to Instagram that showed the trophy he received from the league — except there were two mistakes on the printing.
For one, it listed Smith-Njigba as the "Defensive" Player of the Year, instead of the "Offensive." Of course, in reality, the DPOY went to Myles Garrett in 2025. Additionally, the words "The" and "Year" were mashed together on the award.
"Nah, I really want to expose them, though," Smith-Njigba said. "It's getting disrespectful, guys. ... Come on, bro."
This is INSANE: #Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba just received his Offensive Player of the Year trophy, but there’s one GIANT problem: the plaque actually says “Defensive Player of the Year.” 🤷🏻♂️🤷🏻♂️
JSN’s response: “It’s getting disrespectful at this point.”
The Rams signed Grant Stuard to be their special teams ace, but Sean McVay thinks he'll help on defense, as well.
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Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie were the headliners of the Los Angeles Rams’ offseason, but the team made a couple of other notable additions in free agency. Grant Stuard got overlooked because he’s seen as primarily a special teams contributor, but the Rams see him as more than that.
The former Detroit Lions special teams ace could also help the Rams on defense.
Sean McVay confirmed as much on “Bussin’ With The Boys” this week, saying that Stuard will “find a way to probably be able to contribute defensively, too.” That’s an indication of the Rams’ belief in Stuard as a linebacker, as well as a core special teamer.
“We were able to address some needs in free agency,” McVay said. “We were able to sign Jaylen Watson and obviously trade for McDuffie. You add a long snapper, you add Grant Stuard, who’s a special teams stud – and he’ll find a way to probably be able to contribute defensively, too.”
Stuard didn’t get many chances to play defense for the Bucs, Colts or Lions before signing with the Rams this offseason. He’s played just 299 total defensive snaps in five seasons, 229 of which came in one season in 2024.
The Rams already have Nate Landman as one starter and Omar Speights projects as the second, but look out for Stuard. If he impresses in camp, he could challenge Speights for playing time at linebacker.
At the very least, he and Shaun Dolac will compete to be the No. 3 linebacker, similar to the way Troy Reeder and Dolac battled for that job last year.
The Rams gave Stuard $3.5 million guaranteed and his two-year deal is worth up to $5.05 million.
The league now has 12 teams entering its fourth season, and has doubled in size since the PWHL was established in June 2023. In selecting San Jose, the PWHL adds a region with a population of about 7.6 million, strengthens its geographic footprint with a third Pacific Coast-based franchise, and enters a market with a strong history of supporting women’s sports and girls hockey development.
The team will play out of the NHL home of the San Jose Sharks, the SAP Center, with the bid to land the franchise led by the city and Sharks Sports & Entertainment.
“Between a deeply rooted hockey culture, rapidly booming women’s sports scene, and a community known for growth and innovation, San Jose offers a dynamic stage for the PWHL to expand its reach and build lasting momentum,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president of business operations.
San Jose’s selection closes the league’s second expansion process, which began with the addition of Detroit two weeks ago followed by Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, a week later. They join Seattle and Vancouver, who were added last year, and the PWHL’s original six markets of Boston, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Minnesota.
Scheer has previously said league officials are exploring splitting in either two conferences or multiple divisions. All four newcomers help fill geographical voids in reducing travel time between markets.
San Jose has also become a hockey hotbed in ranking sixth in the nation in girls hockey participation.
“From its humble beginnings with an NHL expansion team in 1991, San Jose is now truly a ‘hockey city,’” Sharks Sports & Entertainment president Jonathan Becher said.
The yet-to-be-named team’s colors will be orange — in a nod to the Sharks — blue and white, representing the coastline and sky.
The PWHL team will be the third major women’s professional franchise to come to the Bay Area in recent years, following Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2024 and the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA in 2025.
Bay FC ranked third in the NWSL in attendance last season and drew 40,091 fans to a game at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the third largest crowd in league history.
The Valkyries made the playoffs as an expansion team when they led the league in attendance with more than 18,000 fans a game at Chase Center. The team was recently valued at a league-high $850 million by Sportico after the ownership paid an expansion fee of $50 million in 2023.
The PWHL controls all of its franchises, and is privately financed by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and his wife Kimbra.
The fast-paced growth represents the surge in attention the league anticipated women’s hockey would enjoy following the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. Another factor is the league preparing for a bumper-crop of high-level talent declaring for this year’s draft.
By growing to 12 teams, including seven in the U.S., the PWHL is also in better position to secure a national broadcast partner. Scripps Sports is the likely candidate with the broadcaster taking the first step this season by airing PWHL playoff games on ION, which reaches 126 million American households.
The selection of Nate Boerkircher has been criticized, but the Jaguars may end up having the last laugh.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars selected tight end Nate Boerkircher with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, and it's a selection that has been heavily criticized by many analysts.
Yet the tide may already have started to change. It's still early, but Boerkircher had an impressive showing during rookie minicamp, and it appears that analysts have begun to change their tune.
Writing for SI, Justin Melo named the most controversial picks of this year's draft, as well as why they might end up working out. Unsurprisingly, Boerkircher made his list.
The most controversial pick of the second round was undoubtedly the Jacksonville Jaguars' decision to take tight end Nate Boerkircher at No. 56 overall. Some thought Boerkircher was a mid Day 3 prospect. The expanded usage of heavy tight end packages (12 and 13 personnel) contributed to the Jaguars' process. The Rams led the charge this past campaign in regards to heavy TE usage, and Jags GM James Gladstone was previously employed by Les Snead and McVay.There's no denying the Jaguars reached for Boerkircher, but consider the following. Three tight ends were selected with the successive 13 picks. Jacksonville's Boerkircher stunner arguably kick-started a positional run, and GMs rather be early than late when positional runs occur.
Boerkircher was also named an instant impact candidate by ESPN, while analysts were forced to admit that his fit within the Jaguars' offense justified the selection.
Liam Coen and James Gladstone have spoken about the need for a strong blocking tight end, which no one denies that Boerkircher is capable of -- he was one of the top blocking tight ends in this year's draft class by PFF's metrics.
Yet there is also reason to believe he can be a reliable pass catcher as well, more so than during his college career. Boerkircher had a great separation rate but was not often targeted, which indicates that there is no issue with his abilities.
Ultimately, there is good reason to believe Boerkircher will do well. And if he does, the doubts and poor draft grades from analysts will have aged incredibly poorly.
The Dolphins’ new brass made a statement by agreeing to terms with running back De’Von Achane on a four-year, $64 million contract extension last week.
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The Dolphins’ new brass made a statement by agreeing to terms with running back De’Von Achane on a four-year, $64 million contract extension last week.
General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley had been consistent in saying that they wanted to keep Achane around on a new deal. But with new leadership, those kinds of plans are never set in stone until they’re actually complete.
In his Tuesday press conference at the start of OTAs, Hafley told reporters that he’s happy for Achane and was confident that the two sides would agree to terms.
“I think it sends a good message when you have a player who was here on his first contract, and has produced and had success, to reward that player with a second contract,” Hafley said. “I know that’s important to Sully and I.”
Achane, who led the league with 5.7 yards per carry in 2025, has been around the building throughout the offseason, Hafley said. The head coach has enjoyed the process of getting to know one of his key offensive players.
“It’s not like he just showed up after he signed his contract,” Hafley said. “So, excited that it’s done and he’ll be here going forward. He’s a great player and I’m really glad we have him.”
Achane finished 2025 with 1,350 rushing yards with eight touchdowns plus 67 receptions for 488 yards with four TDs.
Aaron Rai's golf talent was evident early when the BBC did a news story on him at age 5 and another just before he turned 11
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Grainy videos of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as youngsters launching towering tee shots and knocking golf balls into wash machines have become part of their narratives as kid prodigy turned major champions. Perhaps the same might be coming for Aaron Rai?
In the wake of the Englishman’s three-shot victory at the PGA Championship, old BBC news clips of Rai from his early days have surfaced showcasing his early interest in the game and the talent that would help fuel him to become a major champion.
BBC reporters first introduced people to Rai in April 2000 with he had just turned 5 years old and was already turning heads. His swing looks a little more John Daly like than what you see in a recent swing sequence he put together for Golf Digest, but there’s no doubt Rai looked like he had some talent. The only question back then was whether golf was going to really be his future passion. Asked what he wanted to be when he grows up, the adorable young Aaron said “A racing driver” with a fun laugh behind his answer.
Almost six years later, in January 2006, the BBC caught up with Rai again. This time, the soon-to-be 11-year-old sounded like he knew he found his calling with golf. His humility was already evident when he talked about the fact that he had so far won 25 of 40 competitions. “I’m doing alright I suppose,” he said.
Rai was asked in the interview how many holes-in-one he had made, and the answer of 14 was astounding. His favorite was the first one he made at age 5 at his home club of Three Hammers.
It's been a long road from that time to becoming a major champion, but the spirit that Rai showed at Aronimink was certainly foreshadowed those many years ago.
Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has stepped up his training this week in a bid to be fit for the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain, but Dutch boss Ronald Koeman has warned that his chances of making the game 'do not look rosy'
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Arsenal's Jurrien Timber is pushing to be fit in time for the UEFA Champions League Final -Credit:David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
Jurrien Timber's prospects of being fit for the UEFA Champions League final "do not look rosy."
This is in spite of the Arsenal defender intensifying his training this week in a determined effort to be ready for the game with Paris Saint-Germain on May 30 and the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Timber has been sidelined since mid-March with a groin injury and has already experienced setbacks in previous comeback attempts.
However, the Dutch full-back is understood to be more optimistic this time around, despite his national team manager, Ronald Koeman, expressing concern that he could be deprived of a key player, as per The Mirror.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman is not optimistic about Timber's outlook -Credit:ANP via Getty Images
Koeman, who will announce his World Cup squad on May 27, said: "Jurrien has been dealing with this for quite some time. It has been on and off.
"He is now training up again to see if he can make the Champions League final and if he is available for the World Cup. It does not look rosy at the moment."
The expectation is that Timber will ramp up his training load this week and potentially rejoin the first-team group ahead of Sunday's final Premier League game of the season at Crystal Palace. A return for that match appears highly unlikely, but Arsenal then face a Paris Saint-Germain side in Budapest that features winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, widely considered among the finest players in the world.
It would be a significant risk, but given that they are already missing Ben White, they would otherwise be forced to deploy center-back Cristhian Mosquera as a makeshift right-back.
That is why Arsenal are eager to bring Timber up to speed, giving him a chance to be fit in time, but should he fail to recover, he faces missing the World Cup and potentially requiring surgery on the problem.
To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE
Timber's unavailability would represent yet another blow for Koeman, who will already be without defender Matthijs de Ligt, midfielder Jerdy Schouten, and forward Xavi Simons through injury.
Meanwhile, fellow Arsenal player Mikel Merino is also racing to return to full training ahead of the Champions League following foot surgery. The Gunners midfielder has been sidelined for four months, looks set to miss the World Cup, but has intensified his rehabilitation over the past week.
He acknowledged that watching from the sidelines has been an enormous challenge, admitting he has "suffered" at times alongside the fans, and that it is even tougher when watching at home on TV with his newborn baby.
Merino said: "It's hard because on the one hand I want to be on the pitch supporting my teammates because I was born to play football
"But if you cannot do it, you have to do it in a different way and make an impact and my role is to give advice, give tips and support in the bad times as well. I try to push for my position now and make everyone put a bit on the table now so we can win a trophy at the end of the season.
Mikel Merino has been intensifying his rehab of late -Credit:Jasper Wax/Getty Images
"If I'm in the stadium then I'm quite quiet but if I'm at home then I shout at the TV which is not great with the baby sleeping next to me! But I suffer, you can feel stressed like everyone else. When you're on the pitch you don't feel that pressure, you don't feel it so much and you just want to be out there."
Merino maintained that despite losing a significant portion of the campaign to injury, he remains fulfilled and has relished his time back in training.
He continued: "It's a dream to be honest, what you dream of as a kid and you can win the title, the Champions League, they are the things you can only dream of and now you are living them right now.
"I feel blessed, it's a huge opportunity and I'm enjoying being round these people. It's only been two seasons, but I feel like I've been here for a long, long time and I feel part of the family for sure.
"It's great going to work every day, you work hard, it's tough but when you're in the physio room, when you're in the gym, you have good banter. We have an amazing squad and it's time to use it and get to the final stages of the season with good vibes."
Our NBA handicappers gives his best bets for the Eastern Conference Finals.
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At the start of the 2025-26 NBA season, there were two clear favorites projected to clash in the Eastern Conference Finals, and while both experienced some highs and some tumultuous lows during the regular season, the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers have arrived and are set to play Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.
Here is a betting preview with actionable edges for Game 1 and the series, ordered by the biggest to the smallest perceived edge.
Game 1 best bet: Over 217.5 (-115)
I love this over spot for Game 1.
My model projects this game at 219.6, and the opening market consensus of 216.5 is already creeping up. Based on my number, that would indicate about a 4% edge even after paying the house vig. The unopinionated model and the early market signals from other sharp bettors both indicate an over play. Then we can layer on the subjective reasons.
When the Knicks played Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers last round — a team on short rest coming off a Game 7 road win with 48 hours between tip off — there was a clear emphasis in New York’s gameplan to push the pace and try and tire out its opponent. The Knicks played at a higher pace in that game than they did the second half of the regular season, a rare thing to see in the NBA playoffs.
On the Cleveland side, the adjustments they made against the Detroit Pistons were all shifted towards emphasizing increased guard play. Dennis Shroder played in lineups with Donovan Mitchell and James Harden. Max Strus was moved into the starting lineup ahead of Dean Wade. Jaylon Tyson and Keon Ellis were removed from the rotation in order to play Sam Merrill for longer stretches. All of these changes are intended to boost the offense. I think both teams’ adjustments are reasons to bet the over, and the model and market agree.
Series: Cavaliers to win (+220)/Donovan Mitchell to win ECF MVP (+325)
Starting with a pure numbers play, I show pretty strong value here on the Cavaliers to emerge from the Eastern Conference. My devigged series price (devigged means removing the house cut) would be Knicks -165/Cavaliers +165. That price does not take into account the rest disadvantage the Cavaliers face in Game 1, so adding a Game 1 manual adjustment bumps it to Cavaliers +200. This represents a 6% edge, actually higher than the over for Game 1 on its own merit, but it requires tying up money for a longer period of time.
Simply put: The Cavaliers match up well with the Knicks. New York is led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. Matching up with Towns will be Evan Mobley, the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year. Wade also has excellent numbers guarding Brunson historically, and Strus just showed how capable of a defender he is against Cade Cunningham. Even James Harden has historically been praised for being a decent defender when guarding someone bigger than him, and he likely takes the task of OG Anunoby.
On offense, the Cavaliers have so many ball-dominant players that they will be able to target Brunson and Towns in pick-and-roll actions. This will tire out the New York co-stars, and also potentially get them in foul trouble. I wouldn't be surprised if one week from now, the Knicks are revisiting the Giannis trade rumors and are fed up with Towns' mindless fouls.
I also like Mitchell to win series MVP. His stat set is so condensed for Cleveland that if the Cavaliers were to win, he is extremely likely to lead their team. Based on the numbers — and to use a nerdy betting term — the market implied conditional probability says Donovan needs to be the Cavaliers MVP 75.3% of the time the Cavaliers win for this to be a good bet. Since I think that number is higher and closer to an 85% chance, I also show value there and would split a one unit exposure up between both series and MVP tickets.
Game 1 player prop: Max Strus over 4.5 rebounds (+115)
A big variable in the Strus prop market will be whether he starts for Cleveland in this series. Strus started Game 7 in Detroit, which was a shift away from Wade. While Wade has done very well guarding Brunson, Strus has shown the ability to defend lead ball handlers 94 feet and provide more spacing on the offensive end. The reason I like this prop is that it gets a lift if Strus does start, but I still like it if he is coming off the bench.
The Knicks are gang-rebounders. Josh Hart and OG Anunoby will crash the glass from the wing, while Towns and Mitchell Robinson try and clear the paint. It is a point of emphasis for New York, which means Strus will need to crash the glass and make sure to box out the likes of Hart on defensive rebound opportunities. Strus has been averaging 5.4 rebounds in the month of May (all playoff games), steadily seeing increased minutes, and already went up against great rebounding teams in the Toronto Raptors and Pistons. At +115 and needing to 46.5 hit rate, I see a 2% EV play.
A huge name in the WNBA will have a prestigious position in the 110th Indianapolis 500 as Caitlin Clark of the WNBA's Indiana Fever was named Grand Marshal of Indy 500.
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The biggest name in the WNBA joins the biggest race in the world — the Indianapolis 500.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Photo
The biggest name in the WNBA is going to be part of the biggest race in the world as Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever is the Grand Marshal of the 110th Indianapolis 500 on May 24.
Clark was announced to the prestigious position at 10 a.m. Eastern Time on May 19.
As grand marshal, Clark will give the traditional command for drivers to report to their cars during the official pre-race ceremonies. The command will be shown live on FOX’s Race Day broadcast, which kicks off at 10 a.m. (ET) and runs all the way through the Indy 500 checkered flag.
Caitlin Clark Joins Curt Cignetti In Prestigious Indianapolis 500 Positions
Another sports hero representing the Hoosier State will drive the Indy 500 Pace Car. That honor was announced in March and it’s Indiana University head football coach Curt Cignetti, who led the Hoosiers to a dominant 16-0 season and the College Football National Championship.
"I’m honored to represent Gainbridge as grand marshal of the Indy 500,” Clark said. “I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
Clark, the No.1 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft by the Indiana Fever, finished her rookie season by breaking multiple records, including the all-time WNBA assists record. She earned WNBA Rookie of the Year and was named All-WNBA First Team.
Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever dribbles the ball while defended by Zia Cooke of the Seattle Storm at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on May 17 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
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“Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 Race Day with Caitlin,” IndyCar and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Through our incredible partnership with Gainbridge, everyone joining us for the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event will get to do just that. Caitlin will bring unique energy and presence to a quintessentially Hoosier experience and an absolutely bucket list global sporting spectacle.”
Caitlin Clark Also Has A Major Role With Indianapolis 500 Sponsor
Clark is also a brand ambassador for Gainbridge, the presenting sponsor of the Indianapolis 500.
"Indianapolis is at the center of what we do at Gainbridge," said President Derek Towriss. "We’ve been the presenting partner of the Indy 500 since 2019, and Caitlin has been part of the Gainbridge family since before she was playing home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Having her as grand marshal pulls it all together. We invest in people and places we believe in for the long run. We do the same for our customers, helping people who work hard for their money put it to work for them. This is going to be a Race Day moment we'll all remember.”
In March 2026, Clark was MVP of the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Tournament. Prior to turning pro, she had a historic career at the University of Iowa, graduating after the 2023-24 season as the leading scorer in the history of college basketball, male or female.
A Gainbridge brand ambassador since her senior year at Iowa, Clark recently appeared in her second marketing campaign with Gainbridge, which celebrates every person who grinds, plans, saves and works hard for their money. Gainbridge also has a longstanding relationship with the NTT IndyCar Series and IMS, serving as presenting partner of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” since 2019.
Previous Indy 500 grand marshals include Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Dylan Sprouse, Stephanie Beatriz and Blake Shelton.
FOX Sports is the exclusive home of all IndyCar action, with all 18 NTT IndyCar Series races set to broadcast on network television via FOX in 2026. This includes the world-famous Indianapolis 500, annually the largest single-day spectator sporting event on the globe. Coverage of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be extensive for fans across the country, with a six-hour Race Day window on FOX for the second consecutive year.
For Caitlin Clark, who is used to being on the biggest stage in basketball, she will switch gears and become part of the biggest race in the world at the Indianapolis 500.
IndyCar driver and pole sitter Rober Shwartzman (83) leads the field for the start of 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25, 2025, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Toronto Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees Betting Preview for May 19
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The Yankees (28-20) and the Blue Jays (21-26) continue their four-game series tonight at Yankee Stadium.
New York rallied late and then held on to take Game 1 of the series last night, 7-6. Trailing 5-3 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each belted two-run homers to put the Yankees in front 7-5. Jesus Sanchez doubled home Ernie Clement in the top of the ninth off of closer David Bednar but was stranded there as New York celebrated the win.
Tonight’s matchup features a couple of right-handers who have enjoyed consistent success this season. Toronto sends Dylan Cease, who enters the game with a 3–1 record, 2.41 ERA, and 75 strikeouts. New York counters with Will Warren, who has quietly put together a strong start of his own. Warren comes in at 5–1 with a 3.42 ERA and 59 strikeouts.
The pitching matchup sets the tone for what should be a fun game. Cease’s high‑octane fastball and sharp breaking pitches give him the ability to dominate any lineup, but the Yankees have several hitters who have handled him well in small samples—most notably Aaron Judge, who owns a .308 average and 1.104 OPS against him. On the other side, Warren’s challenge will be navigating Toronto’s right‑handed power, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has started the season hitting .500 in limited at‑bats against him.
The New York offense averages 5.09 runs per game while the Jays’ bats produce one run less per outing (4.09 runs/gm.).
Lets dive into tonight’s matchup and find a sweat or two.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on the how to catch first pitch, odds, recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks & best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
Follow Rotoworld Player News for the latest fantasy and betting player news and analysis all season long.
Game Details and How to Watch: Yankees vs. Blue Jays
Never miss a second of the action and stay up-to-date with all the latest team stats and player news. Check out our day-by-day MLB schedule page, along with detailed matchup pages that update live in-game with every out.
The Latest Odds: Yankees vs. Blue Jays
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
Moneyline: New York Yankees (-137), Toronto Blue Jays (+114)
Spread: Yankees -1.5 (+144), Blue Jays +1.5 (-175)
Total: 9.0 runs
Probable Starting Pitchers: Yankees vs. Blue Jays
Pitching matchup for May 19:
Yankees: Will Warren Season Totals: 47.1 IP, 5-1, 3.42 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 59K, 12 BB
Blue Jays: Dylan Cease Season Totals: 52.1 IP, 3-1, 2.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 75K, 21 BB
Who’s Hot? Who’s Not! Yankees vs. Blue Jays
Anthony Volpe is 4-7 with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored in his last 2 games
Trent Grisham is 3-30 over his last 10 games
Austin Wells is hitting .125 in May (5-40) without an extra base hit or an RBI
Aaron Judge has not gone yard in 8 games
George Springer picked up a couple hits last night but is still just 8-47 (.170) in May
Kazuma Okamoto has struck out 6 times in his last 12 plate appearances
Rotoworld still has you covered with all the latest MLB player news for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Top Betting Trends & Insights: Yankees vs. Blue Jays
The Blue Jays are 8-15 on the road this season
The Yankees are 15-6 at home this season
The Yankees are 25-23 on the Run Line this season
The Jays are 20-27 on the Run Line this season
The OVER has cashed 22 times in Toronto games this season (22-23-2)
The OVER has cashed 21 times for the Yankees this season (21-24-3)
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our MLB Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Expert picks & predictions: Yankees vs. Blue JaysRotoworld Bet Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the MLB calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, ballpark information and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for today’s game between the Yankees and the Blue Jays:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Yankees on the Moneyline.
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Yankees on the Run Line
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 9.0
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Private equity firm, who already owns parts of Bills, Chargers, now trying to buy part of Browns. Jimmy Haslam cashes in
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May 6, 2026; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam speaks at a press conference at Milwaukee Art Museum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images | Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
Nothing is simple in the world of sports, and the Cleveland Browns have been a strong example of chaos since The Return in 1999. Browns majority owner, Jimmy Haslam, who also owns the Columbus Crew and part of the Milwaukee Bucks, hasn’t steadied the ship since he took over in 2012.
Recently, the NFL approved the ability for private equity firms to purchase parts of teams, on a very limited basis. Today, the league owners will vote on whether to approve Arctos to purchase a part of the Browns. The interesting piece of information here is that Arctos already owns parts of the Los Angeles Chargers and Buffalo Bills:
NFL owners are expected to vote later today on the sale of 3% of the Cleveland Browns to the private equity firm Arctos, sources tell @NFLonCBS. Arctos is one of the NFL-approved PE firms, and it already has a piece of Chargers and Bills.
As noted in the opening, nothing is simple anymore.
Arctos Partners found a bit of NFL-related drama last month when InStudio Ventures, which helps fund Arctos, claimed it had found a loophole to be a part of NFL ownership despite not being an NFL-approved private equity firm. A nuanced issue that the NFL took exception to:
Be that as it may, sources familiar with the NFL’s private equity program say the difference between Arctos and InStudio’s position is abundantly obvious, and rules prohibit those lower-tier investors from promoting their association with the league. Everyone in sports knows how carefully the NFL polices anyone trading on its name.
Given that Arctos has already been approved and already owns parts of two different teams, it is likely that Haslam will have an influx of money coming his way in exchange for 3% of Cleveland’s team. According to Forbes, the Browns are valued at $6.4 billion, which would net Haslam around $192 million from the sale.
The Chicago Bears were named the perfect landing spot for free agent edge rusher Von Miller.
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There's been plenty of discussion about the Chicago Bears' pass rush this offseason following a 2025 campaign where they totaled just 35 sacks, which was the seventh-worst in the NFL.
While many expected Chicago to address the pass rush, especially defensive end, this offseason, they didn't make any moves in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft. General manager Ryan Poles, head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen sound confident with the group they have, but does that necessarily rule out a move this summer?
There are still some intriguing free agent options at edge rusher where the Bears could turn to a stopgap option to shore up things alongside Montez Sweat, Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo. In fact, ESPN's Matt Bowen believes Chicago is the best team fit for free agent edge rusher Von Miller.
The Bears are awaiting the return of edge rushers Dayo Odeyingbo (Achilles) and Shemar Turner (torn ACL), and the team didn't take an edge rusher in the draft. That could open the door for Miller as a sub-package defender for Chicago.
At this stage of his career, Miller is best used as a true designated pass rusher. He had a team-high nine sacks for the Commanders last season.
Miller, a former second overall pick in 2011, spent his first 11 seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he was one of the NFL's most dominant pass rushers. He also had stops with the Los Angeles Rams (2021), Buffalo Bills (2022-24) and most recently the Washington Commanders (2025). Miller has totaled 138.5 career sacks (the current active league leader) and, even at 37, he's shown he still has something left in the tank.
The Bears dealt with injuries across the board on defense last season, including at edge rusher with Booker missing the first seven games with a knee injury, Odeyingbo suffering a torn Achilles in Week 9 and rookie Shemar Turner suffering a torn ACL in Week 8. Chicago is expected to have their full complement of defensive ends healthy heading into 2025. But it's difficult to rule out a potential free-agent move, especially once training camp kicks into gear in July.
Foxborough, MA - December 1: New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte celebrates a touchdown in the first quarter. The Patriots played the New York Giants at Gillette Stadium on December 1, 2025. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images
TEAM TALK
Julieann Challacombe tells us the football journey of Patriots 196th overall pick Dametrious Crownover is rooted in transcending footwork, physical growth, and mental strength.
LOCAL LINKS
Alex Barth breaks down the Patriots 2026 schedule from the easiest to hardest games on the slate: There are 5 types of games.
Brian Ferzoco suggests 5 free agents Patriots could still target.
Doug Kyed’s Patriots Mailbag: Is a first-round pick too much for AJ Brown?
Colin McCarthy says the vibe at Gillette reportedly is better than two weeks ago with Mike Vrabel.
Alex Barth notes that over the weekend QB Aaron Rodgers re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers – who the Patriots will host in their home opener.
Meredith Perri highlights Albert Breer on how NFL owners are set to vote for more international games in the 2027 season. /Sure, let’s play ALL the games overseas.
Conor Ryan highlights Bill Belichick on ’Pardon My Take’, as he dove into Brady’s evolution from fourth-string QB to five-time Super Bowl MVP — noting that it was Brady’s own drive and determination that made him grow from a raw prospect into a franchise star.
Pats Procrastination podcast:Clare & Chudders discuss the Pats’ 2026 schedule and all the off season chatter. (32 min.)
Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick take a look at the Patriots top 5 most important year 2 leap candidates for the Patriots. (25 min.)
Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick discuss the top 5 dark horse candidates to make the Patriots roster. (25 min.)
Sam Neumann (Awful Announcing) NFL considering eliminating home game protections for international series.
Conor Orr and Albert Breer (SI) How many international games is too much? (9 min. video)
Sam Neumann (Awful Announcing) Is the NFL’s Wednesday season opener here to stay? “I think you’ll see us certainly playing on a couple of nights, weekday nights to start the year going forward.”
Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Bill Belichick finally explains his “no days off” motto. /..this was a mystery?
Matt Yoder (Awful Announcing) Sports are reaching a breaking point in the endless pursuit of cash.
Conor Orr (SI) Time for the NFL world to move on from the Vrabel–Russini story: After a five-week public humiliation phase, the story is now mostly harming family members who deserve privacy.
John Breech (CBS Sports) Jaguars win $30 million battle against Urban Meyer: Ex-NFL coach reportedly loses arbitration case over firing.
Silva says ending Man City career with FA Cup is special as he reflects on 20 honours in nine yearsMan City captain describes winning the FA Cup as captain as “one of the best days of my career”Po...
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Bernardo Silva reveals Man City still have ‘small dream’ to achieve after FA Cup glory
Silva says ending Man City career with FA Cup is special as he reflects on 20 honours in nine years
Man City captain describes winning the FA Cup as captain as “one of the best days of my career”
Portuguese insists young City squad have “got a taste for trophies” & will “win many more titles”
Bernardo Silva described Manchester City’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea as “one of the best days of my career” as he prepares to bring the curtain down on nine years at the Etihad Stadium.
Silva lifted the FA Cup alongside fellow outgoing Manchester City star John Stones at Wembley on Saturday, adding a 20th major honour to a collection that has defined one of the most decorated careers in the club’s history.
The Portugal international confirmed his departure as a free agent in April, with Barcelona and Juventus among several contenders to sign the 31-year-old as a free agent.
Five Things Learned: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City (FA Cup Final)
Bernardo: Twenty trophies in nine years, it’s not bad!
Speaking to BBC Sport, Silva allowed himself to take stock of what nine years in sky blue has produced before turning his attention to what might still be possible before the season ends.
“Everything about my journey here was fantastic and it’s really nice to finish this way,” he said. “Hopefully we can still have a small dream that we can still fight for the Premier League, we’re going to try against Bournemouth to keep those hopes alive, but today we’re very happy!
“It’s special, being my last season, to give the fans another trophy – hopefully not my last one, but another trophy. Since I arrived, it’s been 20, so it’s not bad. And I’m just really happy to have enjoyed all of these moments, not only with my teammates but with the fans as well!”
The casual mention of 20 trophies – delivered with a smile and an “it’s not bad” – captures precisely the quality that has made Silva such an enduring presence at the club. Exceptional without ever needing to announce it and always putting the collective first.
City manager Pep Guardiola described him as a legend – to be written in capital letters – after the win over Arsenal in April. On Saturday at Wembley, he signed off in the only way he knows how – with a trophy.
This young Man City has a taste for trophies, says Bernardo
In conversation with the Manchester Evening News, Silva’s thoughts turned to the future of a City side he believes is only just getting started.
“That’s his decision” – Bernardo Silva breaks silence on Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City future
“To win the FA Cup as captain makes this one of the best days of my career,” he said. “Having already won the League Cup (Carabao Cup) this year, this young team have now got a taste for trophies. I feel sure they’ll go on and win many more titles in the years to come.”
The observation is a significant one given its source. Silva has played alongside some of the finest players in City’s history and his assessment that this emerging group – built around the likes of Rayan Cherki, Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku – has the appetite and quality to sustain success in the years ahead carries the weight of lived experience.
For a player who has given everything to Manchester City across nine years, leaving with the belief that the best is yet to come for the club he loves is perhaps the most fitting parting gift of all.
Former British No. 1 Predicts Carlos Alcaraz Will Miss Wimbledon
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LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain poses with the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy following victory against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the Gentlemen's Singles Final during day fourteen of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 14, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Carlos Alcaraz has been off the ATP Tour since Barcelona due to a right wrist injury that will prevent him from playing the French Open, where he is the two-time defending champion.
Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski believes the injury will sideline the seven-time major champion and world No. 2 for Wimbledon as well.
The French Open runs May 24-June 7, and Wimbledon runs June 29-July 12.
Speaking about Novak Djokovic’s chances at Roland Garros on Off Court with Greg, Rusedski said: “With Carlos out, I don’t think Carlos is going to be back for Wimbledon this year. I think, you know, that’s where Djokovic is thinking, okay, that’s where I want to peak.
“That’s where I want to be as healthy as possible. But I’m going to try to get my reps in through Paris, maybe play a few tournaments on the grass, and then peak for Wimbledon. Never discount him.
“If Novak’s healthy and the body’s there, he can beat anybody. He’s still that good. But it kind of feels like this is like crunchtime moments coming up from the next few weeks.”
Djokovic is a 24-time major champ and widely considered the GOAT of men’s tennis. He lost to world No. 79 Dino Prižmić of Croatia in his first match at the Italian Open earlier this month.
He’s still seeking a record 25th major and his best chance may come if he doesn’t have to beat Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the same event.
The “New Two” have won the last nine Grand Slam titles in a row.
When he announced in April he would miss Roland Garros, Alcaraz wrote on X/Twitter:
“After the results of the tests carried out today, we have decided that the most prudent thing is to be cautious and not participate in Rome and Roland Garros, while we wait to assess the evolution to decide when we will return to the court. It’s a complicated moment for me, but I'm sure we'll come out stronger from here.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 14: Mekhi Becton #77 of the Philadelphia Eagles walks off of the field after an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on November 14, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
2026 NFL offseason: Best NFL team fits for 14 free agents – ESPN Mekhi Becton, G. Best team fit: Philadelphia Eagles. Becton produced subpar tape last season in L.A. However, a return to Philly, where Becton allowed four sacks and had a 71.2% run block win rate in 2024, makes sense as a depth/competition move. At his best, Becton has the size (6-foot-7, 364 pounds) and physical tools to overwhelm defenders.
Eagles Film Review: Jonathan Greenard is a very good and diverse pass rusher – BGN I’ll get into why below, but I think Greenard is an obvious tier below the elite freakish talents. Elite pass rushers are often superhuman athletes. Greenard is not one of them. He is not Micah Parsons. He is not Maxx Crosby. But he is an excellent pass rusher who wins without help, creates problems for quarterbacks every game, and does it on all three downs. If he can rediscover the finishing ability that produced 12.0 sacks in 2024, he pushes back into the conversation as one of the better edge rushers in the league outside that elite handful. And even if the finishing never fully returns, what he provides in pure pressure generation is already worth a lot.
Patriots mailbag: Is a first-round pick too much for A.J. Brown? – Boston Herald @MasHamburguesa: Why are the Patriots giving up a future 1st round pick for AJ Brown (29, premium position, fringe top 10 at his position, unhappy) when Jon Greenard (28, premium position, fringe top 10 at his position, unhappy) went to the Eagles for two thirds? That’s a good question. I think the most important thing to clarify, though, is that Jonathan Greenard was traded before the 2026 NFL season for a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick. The most widespread speculation is that Brown will be traded before the 2026 season for a 2028 first-round pick. The draft capital in the proposed trade for Brown is still more valuable, but maybe not by as much as you think. The picks traded by the Eagles are worth roughly 54 points on the Rich Hill trade value chart. It’s hard to gauge how much a 2028 first-round pick is worth. Typically, a pick one year into the future is worth roughly half of what a present-day pick is worth. So, a 2027 first-round pick is worth around 82 points. A 2028 first-round pick is valued even less. If it’s valued at 40%, then that would be 76 points. If it’s valued at 1/3, then that would be 63 points. There are other factors in play, though. Greenard wanted a new contract and had a down season in 2025. He missed time with a shoulder injury and produced just three sacks. Brown, meanwhile, generated his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. Edge defenders are generally valued more heavily than wide receivers, but it’s difficult to find elite players at both positions. Brown, based on his contract ($32M/year) is more highly valued than Greenard ($30M/year), though it is close.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Didn’t Attend AJ Brown’s Wedding – TMZ Sports Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback Jalen Hurts was NOT at the wedding of his longtime friend and current NFL teammate A.J. Brown, TMZ has learned. Sources close to the situation tell TMZ that despite knowing each other for years and playing on the same team … we’re told Jalen didn’t make the lavish beachside ceremony. However, it’s unclear if he was invited. Jalen’s absence is interesting on a number of levels. He’s known A.J. since high school and is the godfather to A.J.’s daughter, Jersee. Jalen tried to recruit A.J. to Alabama to play together in college, and pushed hard for the Eagles to acquire him a trade. But after 4 years together in Philly, there are rumors of a rift.
What’s Next: Eagles, Chargers Face Rest Deficiencies, But NFL Disputes Disadvantage – FOX Sports Two analysts for the NFL, Mike Lopez and Tom Bliss, wrote a paper in 2024 titled “Bye-bye, bye advantage: estimating the competitive impact of rest differential in the National Football League,” laying out their research. Before the Collective Bargaining Agreement that was agreed to in 2011, teams coming off a bye had a 2.2-point advantage on other teams. But once the CBA mandated time away from the team for players, that advantage lessened, suggesting the edge was in additional practice time, not just time to rest and prepare. Their estimate in the 2024 paper was that teams coming off a bye week have a 0.3-point advantage, nearly negligible in a game’s outcome.
Why two holidays for the Eagles, why the Rams’ game is at 1 p.m., and more schedule questions answered – Inquirer North said when the league first began scheduling international games, they largely let teams dictate the terms surrounding their travel, including a home game before and a bye week after. That’s no longer the case. “We talked to everybody. I like to think we’re pretty honest and transparent, I hope the clubs would say the same, but nobody gets to dictate,” North said. To add insult to injury, the Carolina Panthers will be coming off their bye week when they face the jet-lagged Eagles after their London trip in Week 6. NFL teams that don’t have a bye week following an international matchup are 27-21 in the following game, according to the league. Teams that have a bye are 36-39-1 in their next game.
Jordan Mailata talks Philadelphia Sports Legacy Honors – NBC Philadelphia A special award ceremony will take place this week honoring Philadelphia sports figures for their work both on the field and in the community. Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Tackle Jordan Mailata and Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative Executive Director Beth Devine speak with NBC10’s Erin Coleman about the event.
AG Gaston Boys and Girls Club celebrate 60 years of impacting Birmingham youth – CBS42 During the dinner, attendees took a look back over the last 60 years at how far the organizations’ efforts to mentor and provide a safe space for Birmingham youth have come. With words from sponsors and city leaders, there was also a fireside conversation with special guest Jalen Hurts, who also spoke on the vital impact of investing in the youth.
Next Woman Up: Steph DeAngelis, Facility Operations Coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles – NFL.com Women are rising up the ranks throughout professional football, earning positions of power in a space that for too long was ruled almost exclusively by men. We’re seeing more and more women breaking barriers in the sport, but what are the stories beyond the headlines? Who are the women shaping and influencing the NFL today? Answering those questions is the aim of the Next Woman Up series. While the conversational Q&As are edited and condensed for clarity, this is a forum for impactful women to share experiences in their own words. Without further ado, we introduce: Steph DeAngelis, Philadelphia Eagles. Position: Facility Operations Coordinator.
Patriots host speedy edge rusher on free agency workout – Pats Pulpit Janarius Robinson suffered a season-ending leg injury during his rookie training camp and the following summer was waived ahead of roster cutdowns. He ended up on Minnesota’s practice squad but was poached by the Eagles shortly thereafter. When he left Philadelphia in August 2023, he was still waiting for his NFL debut.
The Cowboys have sneaky depth at this position – Blogging The Boys Trevor Keegan arrived in Dallas thanks to a little bit of division rival thievery. The team monitored the waiver wire closely during final roster cuts last year, and the second the Philadelphia Eagles exposed him, the Cowboys pounced. Of course, making room for him also required some roster gymnastics as the team opted to release wide receiver Ryan Flournoy. It was a risky gamble, and the Cowboys were incredibly lucky that Flournoy managed to clear waivers unclaimed so they could stash him back on the practice squad. For them to even be willing to take that risk, it tells you everything you need to know about how highly they viewed Keegan.
The 10 worst contracts in the NFC East – PhillyVoice 1) Dak Prescott, QB, Cowboys: Prescott had the best season of any quarterback in the NFC East in 2025, and he made our First-Team All-NFC East team. So, you know, he’s a good player, though inconsistent from year to year. However, if you were asked to make a list of all the quarterbacks you would want to have heading into the 2026 season, would Prescott make your top 10? (Personally, I think he’s borderline. I’d have him somewhere in between 9 and 12.) The Cowboys have botched Prescott’s contract situation since 2019. For the sake of brevity we won’t get into the ugly year-by-year details, but the end result was that he was able to score the league’s first $60 million per year contract, and he remains the highest-paid player in the NFL, still by a fairly decent margin. I imagine Cowboys fans will object to Prescott’s placement on this list, given his productive season in 2025. I get that. Certainly, there are plenty of teams around the league who would take Prescott over their trash at quarterback. But ultimately the highest-paid player in the NFL should be elite, not a guy who has been in the league for 10 years who only has two playoff wins.
Why Washington Commanders should sign veteran receiver Stefon Diggs – Hogs Haven It sure seems like Peters will win this game of chicken with his willingness to wait. Even if there’s leverage in that stance, should the Commanders go big on a talented, yet mercurial receiver in Aiyuk who hasn’t played since 2024 and hasn’t starred since a 2023 campaign where he had 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns? Maybe. But also maybe not. Especially with Stefon Diggs on the open market. There are several pros to signing the steadily productive veteran pass catcher. For one, the dude’s from the DMV. The Gaithersburg, Maryland, native and University of Maryland alum is proud of his roots and might be drawn to a team with potential that he could push over the top.
8 storylines as the NY Giants begin first OTAs with John Harbaugh as head coach – Big Blue View Jon Runyan Jr. has been the starting left guard for the past two seasons, and he remains at the top of the depth chart. He is the starter. Until he’s not. After an active offseason of remaking the depth on the offensive line, the Giants have options at left guard should they want to explore them. Daniele Faalele has never played left guard, but he started at right guard for Harbaugh in Baltimore the past two seasons. He would likely have beeen the starter at that spot in New York had the Giants not drafted Sisi Mauigoa. The Giants surprisingly have given Evan Neal another chance to revive his career. Could he win the job? How about Josh Ezeudu if the Giants let him concentrate on playing guard? Lucas Patrick has 65 NFL starts at center and both guards across a nine-year career. Could he push to be more than a key interior offensive line reserve? What about second-year man Marcus Mbow or rookie J.C. Davis? Could one of them get moved inside? Runyan is an adequate NFL starting guard, not more or less. The Giants could save $9 million against the salary cap if they were to decide they could get the same level of play for less from someone else.
Brendan Sorsby’s gambling allegations could end his college football career. Is NFL Supplemental Draft next? – SB Nation Brendan Sorsby was one of college football’s highest-paid players in the transfer portal, and he was considered a possible first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The 6’3 quarterback left Cincinnati for Texas Tech after a tremendous junior season for a reported sum of $5 million. Just when the Red Raiders were celebrating the addition of one of the country’s top QBs, Sorsby was caught up in gambling allegations that sent him to rehab and likely ends his college career. It now looks like the best bet for Sorsby’s immediate future is to turn pro through the NFL Supplemental Draft, which is expected to be held in mid July. What is the Supplemental Draft? How much interest would Sorsby really draw? Let’s dive into the history of the NFL’s other draft, with more context on what makes Sorsby such an enticing prospect.
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Luis was an All-American at St. John's and the Big East Player of the Year in 2025, but went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft. He then signed a two-way deal with the Utah Jazz and was traded to the Boston Celtics, who waived him and signed him to an Exhibit 10 contract with their G League Team, the Maine Celtics. He never played in a professional game and will be looking to gain eligibility for the 2026-27 season.
He started his career at UMass before transferring to St. John's after a solid season. He played in 23 games and made 10 starts as a sophomore for Rick Pitino before taking a leap as a junior and becoming one of the best players in the country.
Luis averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 31.8 minutes per game, making 32 starts across 35 appearances. He scored in double figures in 22 of their games, scoring 20 or more 14 times, and finished with 10 double-doubles.
If he can receive more eligibility, he will enter the season as one of the top players in the SEC and is the type of wing Wade needs to lead the Tigers. He is the fifth player that LSU has signed this offseason, joining transfer guards Austin Nunez (UTSA), Abdi Bashir Jr. (Kansas State), and Divine Ugochukwu (Michigan State), and forward Mouhamed Dioubate (Kentucky). They are currently the only players on their team as Wade has plenty of work remaining to fill out the roster.
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The Philadelphia 76ers select Stanford forward Allen Graves with the No. 22 overall pick in the latest mock draft.
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The Philadelphia 76ers are in the midst of looking for a new leader for their basketball operations department, but in the process, they also need to prepare for the draft. The Sixers have the No. 22 pick in the draft due to the trade deadline move they made with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As the Sixers move forward, they will have plenty of options at No. 22 in a draft that many consider one of the deepest in NBA history. Philadelphia will do its research and look into every prospect as it looks to ensure the best selection on June 23.
A mock draft performed by USA Today has the Sixers selecting Santa Clara forward Allen Graves with the No. 22 pick. He stands at 6-foot-9 and can do a number of different things on the floor. Versatility is so important in today's NBA and Graves would fit the bill for this group on a regular basis. He is the type of player coach Nick Nurse would like to have on his roster.
As a freshman, Graves averaged 11.8 points and 6.5 rebounds along with 1.9 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 51.2% from the floor and 41.3% from deep. He has the makings of a very good and reliable NBA player. When considering the Sixers could use some more depth for the bench unit, Graves may be worth a look on draft night.
Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after tearing her left knee ACL, the team announced Tuesday. Jackson was injured in the Sky’s victory against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday with 5:24 left to play in the first half. She bumped Lynx forward Nia Coffey on a drive before coming to an abrupt stop and planting her left foot as her knee gave out. She was helped to the locker room by Sky staff and ruled out for the remainder of the game. “We’re devastated that
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Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after tearing her left knee ACL, the team announced Tuesday.
Jackson was injured in the Sky’s victory against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday with 5:24 left to play in the first half. She bumped Lynx forward Nia Coffey on a drive before coming to an abrupt stop and planting her left foot as her knee gave out. She was helped to the locker room by Sky staff and ruled out for the remainder of the game.
“We’re devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a statement.
The Sky acquired Jackson this offseason in a trade with the Los Angeles Sparks for veteran guard Ariel Atkins, adding to Pagliocca’s noteworthy moves in an effort to retool the roster. After he traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dream for two first-round draft picks, Jackson was brought in to be a cornerstone pairing with center Kamilla Cardoso. Through four games, she was the Sky’s leading scorer averaging 18 points per game.
“Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season,” Pagliocca’s statement added. “We are certain she was primed for a career year. Our world-class medical staff will work hard with Rickea, who is one of the toughest players in the league, to get her back on the court.”
Sky guard Natasha Cloud took issue with the officiating in Sunday’s game.
Cloud was given a technical foul in the immediate aftermath of Jackson’s injury for an exchange with the officiating crew during which she expressed frustration with their calls. During her postgame media availability, Cloud told reporters that officials failed to control the game and protect players. Sky coach Tyler Marsh said after the game: “We expect the officials to officiate in a way that protects players.”
Jackson was selected with the No. 4 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft — when the Sky selected Cardoso with the No. 3 pick and Reese at No. 7 — and played 78 of the 84 games in her first two seasons. She started all four games when she was available for the Sky this season.
Chicago has been hit hard by injuries to start the 2026 campaign.
Veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot is still working her way back from an ACL tear she sustained in her right knee seven games into the 2025 season. The Sky have also been without key free agent acquisitions forward Azurá Stevens (knee) and guard DiJonai Carrington (foot). Point guard Skylar Diggins was ruled out against the Lynx after suffering an eye injury in the Sky’s loss to the Mercury last week.
The Sky play the Dallas Wings in their home opener on Wednesday, and Marsh expressed confidence that Diggins would be available.
What to make of Game 1 of the Western Conference finals? And what will Game 2 bring? Let's break it down.
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OK, what did we just witness? Victor Wembanyama delivering a performance for the ages — a 40-20! — and leading the Spurs to a 122-115 win in double OT against the defending champion Thunder in Game 1 of a Western Conference finals matchup that delivered on all the hype? We must break this down.
What's your take on Wemby's Game 1 performance?
Steve Jones: The image of Wemby staring at the Spurs bench and all of them reacting in different ways says it all.
It was an unreal performance on both ends of the floor. Disruptive on defense, making adjustments to keep OKC in a box. Timely and loud on offense. That deep logo 3 to tie the game will echo in the headphones of history. I remember the first time these two teams matched up this season and the overwhelming feeling that Wemby did not enjoy the Thunder. For that to progress into 41 and 24 in OKC’s building to take Game 1 of the WCF is something special.
Tom Haberstroh: It was a global inflection point. NBA junkies have been talking about Victor Wembanyama’s takeover for months, if not years, but the general public probably needed something like 41-24-3-3 for it to really, REALLY sink in. He’s the best player in the world and now people are starting to see what us sickos have been preaching throughout the season.
Dan Devine: I can’t believe he finished that strong. Watching Wembanyama late in the fourth quarter and in the first overtime, I thought he was completely gassed. He was fouling on both ends, gettinggot by unrequited nemesis Chet Holmgren, and walking back up the floor. He was just a split-secondlate on rotations, and just off-balance enough that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could bump him off to finally create some space. He lost the ball in the paint, and missed a bunny at the rim.
And, like, of course he was exhausted! With 30 seconds left in OT, Wembanyama had played just under 43 minutes — mere seconds shy of his previous high-water mark for playing time, which came in the dying days of his rookie season, in a game featuring nothing approaching the absurd level brand of intensity, focus and execution that Game 1 of the Western Conference finals against an all-time opponent requires.
Minutes 43 through 49 saw Wembanyama take four shots, make four shots, snuff out (by my count) at least a half-dozen would-be Thunder attempts, and outscore Oklahoma City by himself 12-7. Just an unreal closing kick — emphatic, imperial. Sovereign.
What's your take on Spurs-Thunder after Game 1?
Haberstroh: The Thunder still have no answer for Wemby. Just when you thought the smaller Alex Caruso matchup was giving the Spurs center fits, Wembanyama took over in the second overtime. He outscored the entire Thunder team from the moment he pulled up from 30 feet at the end of the first overtime, and that was that. If Wemby can be a star offensively, this series is over. The defense is already suffocating.
Devine: All of the reasons why San Antonio was a brutal matchup for Oklahoma City during the regular season still stand, and the Thunder have to be able to meet the Spurs’ level of physicality — looking at you, Chet Holmgren, unable to anchor against Dylan Harper down low and getting packed at the rim by Devin Vassell — to renegotiate the terms of engagement.
Jones: An incredible basketball series already. Just swing after swing after swing. Alex Caruso making eight 3s. Dylan Harper tallying a 24/11/6/7. Wemby’s presence on defense throwing a hitch into the OKC machine. The Thunder trying to move Wemby around the board to find gaps. The Spurs adjusting to counter. The Spurs trying to establish their guards, and the Thunder working to take that away. Multiple people trying to guard Wembanyama, and the Spurs saying, “We are absolutely attacking this.” How can you not love the game of basketball?
Devine: This is a real “momentum is tomorrow’s starting pitcher”-ass question. You ask it on March 9, it’s SGA; you ask it on April 4, it’s Jokić; you ask it on May 19, it’s Wemby. All of which is to say: I don’t know if he always is, definitively. But he sure as hell can be.
Jones: There is an argument to be made and I would listen and nod. He is a one-of-one defensive player (not just because of the size, but because of his mind), but I am not quite there yet because — and it feels odd to type this considering he dropped 41 points — his offense hasn’t fully gotten to “not much we can do.” However, he’s a pending charge, he’s autopay, it’s coming whether you are ready or not.
Haberstroh: True.In my mind, it happened even before his masterpiece in Game 1 on Monday night. Wembanyama bends worlds on defense so he can control the game without even scoring a point. Because of the two-way dominance of Wemby, SGA would have to average something like 40 points in this series for me to believe Wemby hasn’t snatched the torch.
What will you be watching in Game 2?
Jones: What adjustments will OKC make to get its offense going? The Spurs gave it their all, but OKC not only hung around but was in position to win in the 4th and OT. We have seen the nights where SGA makes the shots regardless of the defensive scheme. If he combines that with drives, what does that do to the Spurs’ defense? Will OKC be more decisive on offense and do a better job containing the Spurs guards? How do the Spurs handle the minutes when Wemby is off the court? Is this “J-Dub/Chet play better” at the end of the day?
Devine: Does Thunder coach Mark Daigneault feel like the game plan to primarily guard Wembanyama with smalls — Caruso, Jalen Williams, Luguentz Dort — and then shading a second defender his way or bringing a hard double worked well enough to stick with it? It’s hard to see the forest for the trees after a performance like that, but OKC was up by three with the ball with 40 seconds to go in overtime despite Wembanyama’s monster first 43 minutes, and that the Spurs’ offensive rating in Wemby’s floor time — 109.3 — would’ve ranked 29th in the NBA during the regular season. When he looks back at the film, will he feel pretty good about OKC’s defensive process, or will he think he needs to shake it up and play it straight by having Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein and Jaylin Williams take more of the matchup?
Haberstroh: Fatigue, fatigue, fatigue. Not just Wemby, who played more minutes than he has in his entire NBA career, but I’m also watching Jalen Williams on the OKC side. He played with impressive zip and aggression in Game 1 coming off his hamstring injury, but those muscle fibers are notoriously temperamental. I don’t think anyone will look fresh in Game 2 on Wednesday night, but the J-Dub factor will be fundamental to the Thunder avoiding a dreaded 2-0 deficit going to San Antonio.
It might be hard for the 49ers to move on from two of the most stabilizing men in the franchise's history.
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The brain trust running the San Francisco 49ers isn't going anywhere — at least that's the word from one of the league's most plugged-in reporters.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero recently noted on The Rich Eisen Show that, even if the 49ers' 2026 draft class doesn't perform well, neither general manager John Lynch nor head coach Kyle Shanahan is in any danger of losing their jobs.
"I don't see a world where John Lynch ever gets fired by the 49ers. Same thing with Kyle Shanahan," Pelissero said. "They have stabilized that franchise ... The 49ers are competitive year after year. They certainly, I think it's fair to say, have supplemented a lot through trades and at times free agency because they've had some misses in the draft."
Pelissero explained that the post-Jim Harbaugh era produced some forgettable names like Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly that led nowhere following the success of the early-2010s. Lynch and Shanahan arrived in 2017 and steadily rebuilt the organization into a perennial contender. Since 2019, San Francisco has made four NFC Championship game appearances, reached the Super Bowl twice, and become one of the most consistently competitive teams in football.
And yet, the elephant in the room remains. For all the winning culture they've built, a Lombardi Trophy has eluded them. Two Super Bowl appearances — losses to both the Chiefs — sting.
Pelissero also acknowledged what draft critics have noted for years: the front office has leaned heavily on trades and free agency to supplement the roster because its drafting record has been uneven. Players like Trent Williams and Christian McCaffrey paper over the misses of the Lynch-Shanahan glasses. The hits, however limited, have been massive, led by Brock Purdy and Fred Warner.
It wouldn't make sense for the 49ers to move on from their most successful head coach and general manager duo since George Seifert and Carmen Policy in the 1990s, But, at some point, the 49ers will need to produce hardware for fans to agree.
Pelissero did note Lynch could eventually transition to an emeritus role if the organization wanted a new GM voice, but even that would represent evolution rather than exile.
Ravens offensive coordinator Dwayne Ledford says the team's run game will be flexible, not limited to one scheme.
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The Ravens are expected to remain one of the NFL's most physical rushing teams, but Dwayne Ledford says Baltimore's offense won't be limited to one run scheme.
Appearing on The Lounge Podcast with Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing, Ledford discussed his offensive philosophy and explained how the Ravens plan to build their rushing attack moving forward.
Ledford acknowledged that the wide zone system has been a major part of his coaching background, dating back to his college days and later to his time with the Atlanta Falcons. However, he emphasized that Baltimore wants to stay flexible and build around what the roster does best.
“The wide zone system is something that in college all the way into the NFL when I was in Atlanta… I kind of cut my teeth on early on in coaching and I’ve kind of ran that at all stops. So it’ll certainly be a part of it here. But at the same time, we want to be able to take things that we know our guys do well and also have answers… and be multiple in our approach.”
That approach could allow Baltimore to continue evolving offensively throughout the season instead of becoming predictable. The Ravens have traditionally succeeded by forcing defenses to prepare for multiple styles and formations, and Ledford's comments suggest that philosophy will continue.
The focus early in the offseason also appears to be on building chemistry and communication within the offensive line room as players learn to play together in the new system.
After falling in the losers bracket, Xavier worked its way out and took down a familiar foe for the third straight year to cement itself as a dynasty.
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It’s hard to miss.
In the Xavier Prep softball dugout, there’s a giant inflatable buffalo. He goes by the name “Stormy” and has become a sort of symbol for this year’s team.
“We have a running joke that we’re the buffalo, because buffalo run right into the storm,” Xavier co-coach Sydnie Steffen said.
Stormy was needed during Xavier’s run to the 6A state championship after losing to Queen Creek earlier in the 6A tournament on May 8, sending the Gators to the losers bracket. Xavier won its way out of that bracket after beating Phoenix Sandra Day O’Connor and Phoenix Pinnacle.
That set up a rematch with Queen Creek in the title game for a third straight season. This time, Stormy was not needed as Phoenix Xavier Prep again defeated Queen Creek 6-0 in the 6A state championship at Grand Canyon University on May 18 to win its third straight title.
Junior Sariah McNabb, the daughter of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, got the scoring started with an RBI double in the top of the second. Junior Angie Falls added to the lead in the next inning with a two-out RBI double to go up 2-0. The next batter, freshman Sophia Jaramillo, knocked in another double to bring in Falls and go up 3-0.
From there, Queen Creek senior pitcher Alexis Mendez settled in after coming on for junior Aubrey Chavez in relief. She pitched three scoreless innings.
Then the game unraveled in the top of the sixth for Queen Creek. Three consecutive infield errors from the Bulldogs extended the lead to 6-0 after base hits from juniors Nora Wickers, Noelani Romo and Falls, sealing the game.
Sophomore Sydney Root was dominant in the circle, finishing with a complete game shutout effort. On the season, Root went 19-3 and had 225 strikeouts.
“So tenacious,” Steffen said. “Not afraid. Exciting. She’s such a great teammate as well. She’ll do anything that we ask her.”
The past two title games had seen Falls get the start. This season, the decision was made to have Root shoulder most of the pitching duties.
“This whole time, it’s been about the team,” Falls said. “When I was a freshman, I mean I was good, but I wasn’t shutting all these teams out. It was more about giving the team what they needed. Having Sydney come in and do so amazing this year, it has been a blessing. I haven’t had to throw a ton of innings. It’s been so nice.
Root was grateful the transition was seamless between the two.
“She’s so special, I love Angie,” Root said. “I think we work great together as a staff. I’m really excited for next year.”
It is the the fifth title overall for Xavier since 2021. The first four came with Bradley Downes at the helm. Downes, who is an attorney, stepped away after the 2025 season to focus on his full-time job.
Downes is back with an Xavier as an assistant, watching his former staffers complete the three-peat. There’s been no stepback with the change at coach. Steffen is co-coaching with her father, Tom Sahhar.
Xavier won the title in the last sporting event for legendary athletic director Sister Lynn Winsor, who was watching the game. The ending was a fitting one for Winsor, who has overseen 165 state titles at Xavier, including 37 as the golf coach since the mid-1970s.
“These girls have tried so hard during the year, as all our girls on all our sports teams,” Winsor said. “They said they wanted to win it for 'sistah,' which is me. And they did it. I couldn’t end my career on a happier note. I’ve never seen a dugout so happy. I’m so proud of these girls.”
The Giants hope that the hiring of John Harbaugh as their head coach ushers in a new era of success for the team and Harbaugh's first season on the job will include a celebration of the franchise's first Super Bowl win.
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The Giants hope that the hiring of John Harbaugh as their head coach ushers in a new era of success for the team and Harbaugh's first season on the job will include a celebration of the franchise's first Super Bowl win.
The Giants announced that they will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their Super Bowl XXI champions during their Week 4 home game against the Cardinals. They went 14-2 during the 1986 season and then beat San Francisco and Washington in the playoffs by a combined score of 66-3 to advance to the Super Bowl. They beat the Broncos 39-20 at the Rose Bowl to secure the Lombardi Trophy.
"This anniversary is about honoring a team that defined Giants football and delivered one of the most dominant championship runs in NFL history," Giants owner John Mara said in a statement. "We look forward to celebrating these legends while giving our fans unique opportunities to relive and connect with that unforgettable season."
Former Giants players will be on hand at the game and the first 25,000 fans to enter MetLife Stadium will receive Mark Bavaro bobbleheads. There will also be a halftime ceremony commemorating the team, which featured head coach Bill Parcells, quarterback Phil Simms, linebacker Lawrence Taylor and many others.
Newcastle United have made a significant move as the club looks to construct a bigger stadium, purchasing a sizeable portion of the Grade 1 listed Leazes Terrace next to St James' Park, including all areas facing the ground. A final decision is yet to be made on whether Newcastle build a new stadium or expand their current home, but the club acknowledges this deal provides "greater flexibility". Newcastle have made it clear they are committed to the preservation of a building with "historic and architectural significance", which cannot be demolished.
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[AFP via Getty Images]
Newcastle United have made a significant move as the club looks to construct a bigger stadium, purchasing a sizeable portion of the Grade 1 listed Leazes Terrace next to St James' Park, including all areas facing the ground.
A final decision is yet to be made on whether Newcastle build a new stadium or expand their current home, but the club acknowledges this deal provides "greater flexibility".
A statement read: "This strategic purchase is part of the club's long-term planning as it continues to assess all credible and feasible options for the future of its home stadium."
Newcastle have made it clear they are committed to the preservation of a building with "historic and architectural significance", which cannot be demolished.
There are no plans to change the current use of Leazes Terrace, which is currently let for student accommodation, and the club will retain the building's existing property management operator.
However, this still feels a notable step in at least giving Newcastle more options.
Owning the majority of Leazes Terrace could, in theory, make the expansion of the problematic East Stand a little more feasible if the club chose to change the building's use as right to light objections from tenants opposite would no longer be such a barrier.
However, by the same token, if Newcastle were to move, the club would have greater control of the footprint of the original site.
The New York Mets are calling up another one of their prospects, as outfielder Nick Morabito is the third top 13 prospect to debut for the Mets this season.
The New York Mets have shown a willingness to promote their prospects to help turn around what has proven to be an abysmal season (21-26). Outfielder Carson Benge made the Opening Day roster, while outfielder A.J. Ewing was added on May 12.
The Mets will also add left-hander and No. 13 prospect in the organization, Zach Thornton, to the roster to start Wednesday's game versus the Washington Nationals. Not stopping there, the Mets are calling up another one of their outfield prospects, with No. 11 prospect Nick Morabito receiving a promotion from Triple-A Syracuse, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo and The Athletics Will Sammon.
Morabito, 23, will be having a homecoming, returning to Washington, D.C., as he attended Gonzaga College High School, where he was drafted in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Mets.
The New York Mets outfield is entirely made up of rookies looking to make their mark in the big leagues
Outfielder Juan Soto was the Mets' starting left fielder (15 games) before suffering a calf injury, but he has also been used as the designated hitter (15 games). Given that he is coming off the calf injury and infielder Jorge Polanco is still mending his left Achilles bursitis injury, Soto will likely be the primary designated hitter moving forward.
With this possibly being the case for the Mets, Morabito will likely play left field, with Ewing manning center field and Benge in right field. In 41 games with Syracuse, Morabito batted .253 with a .754 OPS and four home runs.
After less than two weeks with the team, the Cleveland Browns are saying goodbye to one of their undrafted free-agent signings.
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It has been less than two weeks since the Cleveland Browns signed a slew of undrafted free agents after the NFL Draft and one of them is already getting cut.
Gooden played his college ball at Wake Forest, South Florida and then LSU, where he spent his final collegiate season.
In 2025, Gooden posted four tackles for loss, two sacks and 24 combined tackles.
He was facing an uphill climb to make the roster, so his getting cut isn’t a surprise.
That said, it is surprising to see him done in Cleveland this quickly.
Browns announce more roster moves
Feb 28, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU wideout Aaron Anderson (WO01) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Along with cutting Gooden, the Browns also said goodbye to tight end Caden Prieskorn and wide receiver Isaiah Wooden.
Taking their spots on the roster are wide receiver Aaron Anderson and linebacker Reid Carrico, both of whom are undrafted rookies and took part in the Browns’ rookie minicamp, and defensive end Markees Watts.
Watts is the most notable name of that group.
The 26-year-old went undrafted out of Charlotte in 2023 and has spent all three seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In that span, Watts tallied 1.5 sacks, 13 combined tackles and one tackle for loss. He’ll now compete for depth and special teams roles in Cleveland.
Intel on Browns’ newest rookies
Cleveland Browns linebacker Reid Carrico (35) during the first day of rookie minicamp May 8, 2026, at Cross Country Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio.
Anderson spent the last three years at LSU, where he compiled 1,341 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
In 2025, the 5-foot-8, 191-pound wideout posted 398 receiving yards. His best season came in 2024, when he tallied personal bests in receiving yards (884) and touchdowns (five).
“Anderson is a short but stocky slot receiver with good speed but below-average hands,” said Lance Zierlein of NFL.com in his scouting report. “Injuries and quarterback play slowed his production in 2025, so a heavier dose of 2024 tape is needed for his evaluation.”
“His routes are rhythmic and fairly disciplined, but he fails to create enough separation from his break points. He has the play strength to compete for the contested throws he’s likely to see against tight press man. Anderson has the talent and toughness NFL teams like to see, but his lack of size/explosiveness could make it challenging for him to earn a spot as a backup,” Zierlein added.
Carrico comes over from West Virginia after two years with the program following a three-year stint at Ohio State.
The 6-foot-2, 228-pound linebacker finished with career-highs in tackles (69), tackles for loss (eight) and sacks (4.5) in 2025.
The New York Yankees might not be the first-place team in the American League East, but there's no denying that this team is a top-tier World Series contender.
So, when discussing the August 3rd trade deadline, it would come as no surprise to view the Yankees as prospective buyers. The much more interesting question is what does this team need?
Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic revealed the two top needs the Yankees have this upcoming trade deadline, and both were, ironically enough, positions they tried addressing last year.
Yankees' top two trade deadline needs revealed by former MLB GM
"Trade deadline position: Buyers." Bowden writes. "... They are still not getting enough offense from third base and could improve the bullpen as well going forward."
Starting with the bullpen, the Yankees have gotten inconsistent production from their relievers this season, especially those they acquired last year at the deadline.
David Bednar has a 5.14 ERA, though he's recorded 11 saves and blown two. Camilo Doval has a 5.19 ERA, while Jacob Bird has a 4.91 ERA.
Fernando Cruz has a 2.25 ERA, Brent Headrick has a 2.31 ERA, and Tim Hill has a 1.45 ERA. Those are three solid reliever options, but realistically, the Yankees need more out of their bullpen.
Their third base spot is similar, with 2025 trade deadline pickup Ryan McMahon producing well below expectations this season. He has a .183 batting average, three homers, and a .541 OPS on the year in 120 at-bats.
Amed Rosario and Jose Cabellero could be in-house options at third with Anthony Volpe's return to shortstop, but a trade deadline pickup could be in the cards as well.
The 29-19 Yankees are expected to be buyers come the August 3rd deadline, barring a historic collapse. And according to Bowden, if they are buying, third base and reliever are the two spots fans should be keeping an eye on for Aaron Boone's club to acquire.
His idea? For the Big Ten and SEC to "break away" from the Big 12, the ACC, and other NCAA-member conferences in every sport, and "see how fun" it is for those conferences to compete only against themselves in an NIL era without the College Sports Commission.
Pollard’s point — and frustration — stem from the same place: the Big Ten and SEC not wanting to "adhere" to the College Sports Commission, the NIL oversight system that Power Four commissioners invested heavily in creating last June.
"The four commissioners spent a lot of money creating the CSC. Then to have two of the conferences not want to adhere to it is perplexing to me, because then, why did we spend the money? If you didn't want rules, then why did you create this entity? That's what's frustrating to me, the same people that say they want rules only want rules if they don't apply to them," Pollard said on Monday.
"I said it three years ago, let (them) break away. I would turn it around and say we should break away from them. Let them go, but they have to go in all their sports and see how fun it is to play baseball and softball and track when it's just the 20 of you.
"That's what I think we should do, but I'm one person, and you know that's probably a little more draconian, but that's how I feel about it. Let's quit talking about it, quit threatening, go do it. But if you're going to do it, you don't get to just do it in football and then keep all your other sports with us. No, take them all, see how fun it is."
Jamie Pollard expresses his frustration with the Big Ten and SEC for not adhering to the rules of the College Sports Commission. He adds he would be okay with the two conferences splitting from the NCAA.
Pollard's stance appears to stem from a monetary standpoint, with the Big Ten and SEC leading the way with NIL resources by a considerable margin. The Big Ten has won three straight College Football Playoff championships, and swept both the men’s and women’s basketball. UCLA, in the second year of its Big Ten membership, is the No. 1 team in college baseball.
The College Sports Commission was created following the NCAA vs. House Settlement last summer, with CEO Bryan Seeley reporting directly to the Power Four Conference commissioners and a group of additional athletic directors.
The CSC oversees the system that "allows schools to share revenue from the House settlement directly with student-athletes and ensures that NIL deals made with student-athletes are fair and comply with the rules." It also facilitates "more opportunities for student-athletes to benefit from their participation in intercollegiate athletics and will bring much-needed stability and structure to college sports."
It also notes on its website that it "oversees compliance with the new rules around roster limits, revenue sharing and student-athlete third-party NIL deals."
The CSC most recently came out with a win in its NIL arbitration case against 18 University of Nebraska athletes. A third-party arbitrator ruled the CSC properly applied the rules and parameters of the House settlement in deal proposals involving Cornhuskers athletes and the school’s multimedia rights partner, Playfly.
"We are pleased with the arbitrator’s decision to affirm the CSC’s fact-based application of the rules," Seeley said in a statement obtained by USA TODAY Sports. "This process shows the system is working as intended: A decision we made was challenged and a neutral arbitrator assessed the facts to inform a final decision.
"We hope and expect that the student-athletes will submit new deals that comply with the rules, so we can promptly review them."
Everyone has an opinion, and all we really know is, something will happen to the format, and something should.
On Groundhog Day, it’s basically a coin flip as to whether Phil sees his shadow or not. But the day each year when NASCAR would release the “updated” All-Star Race format had become a real grab-bag of possibilities.
You just never knew what the new twist(s) would be from year to year. Some worked better than others, and frankly, that’s excusable because things sometimes look better on paper than they do on asphalt — or, in the case of Dover, concrete.
But if we’re being honest, how did anyone ever suggest this year’s format looked decent on paper? What’s all-starry about inviting all 36 chartered teams to the main event?
Let’s add that to the mix of topics this week as we go through the gears ahead of the biggest annual weekend in automobile racing, where the formats are familiar, if not all the locales.
First Gear: Dover deserves to stay in NASCAR, but maybe not like this
For five decades (DECADES!), Dover was a twice-a-year venue for NASCAR’s Cup Series. That ended in 2020, and through 2025, it was still host to one Cup race each year … until this year.
Dover is often a very racy track and obviously fast for a one-miler — those high banks are horsepower facilitators. The track, given its racing nature and, maybe as important, its geographical base, deserves to stay on the schedule going forward.
45 years ago today, Jody Ridley won the 1981 Mason-Dixon 500 @ Dover. Ridley's only NASCAR Cup win. Junie Donlavey's only NASCAR Cup Points win. pic.twitter.com/1g0qCt9bKH
Just a hunch, but perhaps due to everything said in the previous paragraph, NASCAR looked at the 2026 schedule, with Dover now host to the All-Star weekend, and said something like this: “Since we took away their regular-season race, let’s at least make this look like a regular-season race.”
And that’s basically what you got, a regular Sunday afternoon race that didn’t count for anything except sponsor commitments and the Fox Sports contract.
Everyone has their own ideas for how an All-Star weekend should look in a non-traditional league like NASCAR. We’ll never get everyone to agree on a format, but let’s assume everyone agrees this ain’t it.
Second Gear: Denny Hamlin won't go quietly
Oh yeah, Denny Hamlin won at Dover, continues to be productive in his 21st full-time Cup season, and though you can’t add it to his 61 career victories, the win yet again let everyone know he’s not done chasing that elusive championship.
Denny is a bit of a throwback with his ability to divide the bleachers. But even the Anybody But Denny crowd has to respect what he said, post-Dover, about his ongoing status within the upper rung of stock-car racin’.
“If we're going to a track that turns left, I expect to win every single week,” he said. “This is just very unique, especially in the era where all the cars are so similar, and I'm racing guys that have all my information. They see my setups, things like that, and I still can get it done in the end.”
Less than a generation ago, it would’ve been odd to hear a 45-year-old racer talk like that, because 45 was still very much within the presumed wheelhouse of a NASCAR driver’s prime. But then stars started retiring at younger and younger ages, and now we’re ushering those guys to the exit.
Third Gear: Time for Joey Logano to shift gears
The points-paying schedule resumes this coming weekend with the 600-miler at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
It’ll be the 13th race of the season, which means, by my math, we’ve had 12. A bit of advanced math says that puts us a third of the way into the 36-race schedule. And after this week, we’re halfway through the 26-race regular season, which will end with the top 16 points earners recalibrating for the 10-race championship push.
We say all that to say this: Some dudes need to get it in gear, and others need to keep one eye on the mirror.
In the current standings, the bottom four drivers in the top 16 aren’t just mathematically more vulnerable to falling below the top-16 cutoff, but also seem to be the most vulnerable. Those four: 13. Ryan Preece, 14. Daniel Suarez, 15. Austin Cindric, 16. Shane van Gisbergen.
The highest average finishes at Charlotte in the NASCAR Cup Series (active drivers):
10.3 Tyler Reddick 11.0 Josh Berry 12.5 Denny Hamlin 13.1 Christopher Bell 13.3 Joey Logano 13.6 Brad Keselowski 13.7 William Byron 13.8 Kyle Busch 14.2 Chase Elliott pic.twitter.com/bA4q8yePdb
— Racing Territory (@RacingTerritory) May 18, 2026
This, of course, assumes Ty Gibbs and Carson Hocevar, currently sixth and seventh, aren’t just early-season flashes who’ll return to non-playoff form going forward. Don’t bet on that, by the way.
As for those outside the current top 16 — some surprisingly so — who seem most likely to gather steam, they’re conveniently located right on the rear bumpers of the four men holding down the bottom four playoff spots: 17. Chase Briscoe, 18. Joey Logano, 19. Ross Chastain.
Ross the Boss is the biggest question mark, given the team-wide struggles for Trackhouse this year. Kyle Busch sits 24th, and that would’ve sent shockwaves in earlier years but, well, you know …
Fourth Gear: F1 tweak means Indy 500 now leads off racing's biggest Sunday
Earlier we mentioned the biggest weekend of auto racing that’s now upon us. This year, there’s a tweak, assuming you can make a tweak of nearly 4,000 miles.
You know the old routine on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend: Formula One in the morning, Indy 500 around noon, Coke 600 in the evening — it made for a leisurely day for those who love all forms of motorsport but also want to get out and about, since there’s always chunks of time between the three events.
🚨 Montreal strippers have announced a STRIKE for Saturday of the Canadian GP weekend. 🇨🇦
🗣️ “The F1 race is the busiest period of the year.”
“We believe the Grand Prix is the best time to take action.”
— Everything Formula (@evrythngformu1a) May 18, 2026
Not anymore. Things are tightly condensed this year since F1 moved the splashy Monaco Grand Prix to June and gave the May date to Canada. It’s an all North American weekend now, with the Canadian Grand Prix wedged between the noonish Indy 500 and the 6-ish start to NASCAR in Charlotte.
The Canadian GP is slated for 4 p.m. and will end no later than 6, which means it should fit snugly between the Brickyard and Charlotte.
Um … should.
The Allstate “Mayhem guy” on the commercials has nothing on an Indianapolis weatherman when it comes to disrupting plans. The forecast suggests Mr. Doppler is cracking his knuckles and considering a reminder of who’s boss.
Multiple weather services are calling for at least some chance of rain for Sunday, May 24. https://t.co/RbQCv7SfHA
Though Old Trafford has been home to some of the most exciting footballers on the planet, Manchester United have never been particularly adept at knowing when and how to sell players for a profit. In ...
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Man United’s record transfer sales – every player sold for more than £20 million
Though Old Trafford has been home to some of the most exciting footballers on the planet, Manchester United have never been particularly adept at knowing when and how to sell players for a profit. In recent years, many players have stayed at the club despite being past their prime and no longer capable of making an impact on the squad.
That being said, the Red Devils do often sell players, whether that is because the player wants a new challenge or feels they have achieved everything there is to achieve at Old Trafford. Of these sales, 11 players have moved on for a fee of £20 million or more, with United receiving healthy profits on just some of these deals.
Here we take a look at the seven players for whom United have received the highest transfer fees.
Dan James
Dan James made the perfect start to his United career by scoring on his debut against Chelsea and quickly became a key element of Manchester United’s counter-attacking threat. His blistering pace was an incredible asset that gave defenders nightmares and helped him register 18 goal involvements during his time at Old Trafford.
Unfortunately, there were limits to James’ game and it soon became clear he was not quite at the level required for United to kick on and become a team that challenged for titles. As a result, the Welshman was sold to Leeds United for £25 million in September 2021, earning the Red Devils a £10 million profit on the deal.
Scott McTominay
Scott McTominay did not quite get the respect his tenacity and excellent finishing deserved during his time at Old Trafford. The Scottish international was often used as a scapegoat when the team lost, despite the former academy star making over 250 appearances for the club and scoring 29 goals.
Rasmus Hojlund arrived at Old Trafford amid a transitional period for the club and, despite being just 20 years old, was tasked with leading the line for the Red Devils. Although he did produce some excellent performances, the task proved too big for the Danish international, who managed just 26 goals in 95 appearances.
Hojlund departed Old Trafford last summer, heading to Napoli on an initial season-long loan that would become an obligation should the Italian side qualify for the Champions League. The striker’s incredible performances across the season helped secure qualification to Europe’s elite football competition and, as a result, made his transfer permanent.
Alejandro Garnacho
It once seemed as though Alejandro Garnacho would be the future of United’s attack, with the academy product bursting onto the scene with his explosive pace and mind-boggling skills. The Argentinian international made 144 appearances for the mighty Reds, registering an impressive 48 goal involvements.
Unfortunately, a breakdown in the relationship between Garnacho and Ruben Amorim led to the academy graduate joining Chelsea for £40 million in 2025, in what is the biggest ever fee United have received for an academy graduate.
Angel di Maria
Excitement was high when Angel di Maria arrived at United in the summer of 2014. The former Real Madrid winger was seen as one of the best attackers in the world and fans believed he would transform United’s attack, which was stuttering at the time.
Unfortunately, the playmaker never settled in Manchester, mostly due to a horrific robbery that took place at his family home. As a result, Di Maria was sold to PSG just a year after he arrived at Old Trafford for a fee of £44 million.
Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku is another example of a United player who hit the ground running at Old Trafford only for his performance levels and goal-scoring prowess to fade away as time went on. The Belgian striker scored just 12 times in his final season at Old Trafford, despite making 32 appearances.
Lukaku signed for Inter Milan in 2019 for an eye-watering fee of £73 million, with the Belgian international quickly rediscovering his form and re-establishing himself as one of the best strikers in the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Unsurprisingly, Portuguese superstar and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is the player United have sold for the highest fee. It was, of course, a reluctant sale, with Sir Alex Ferguson desperate to keep hold of his star man. But Ronaldo had his heart set on a dream move to Real Madrid and the legendary Scottish manager granted his wish.
Madrid signed Ronaldo in the summer of 2009 for a then world-record fee of £80 million, reflecting his status as one of the best players in the world. Ronaldo was a monumental success in Spain, scoring 450 goals in just 438 appearances.
Featured image Marco M. Mantovani via Getty Images
Ahead of a crucial IPL 2026 clash, Rohit Sharma lightened the mood with a hilarious impression of KKR coach Abhishek Nayar during Mumbai Indians' training. While Rohit's antics brought laughter, Kolkata Knight Riders face immense pressure to win against MI to keep their playoff hopes alive, despite a recent resurgence.
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NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma may be enduring a stop-start IPL 2026 campaign, but the former Mumbai Indians skipper ensured there was no shortage of laughter at Eden Gardens on match eve.
Ahead of Mumbai Indians’ league game against Kolkata Knight Riders, MI shared a fun training-ground video featuring Rohit mimicking KKR coach Abhishek Nayar — one of his closest friends in Indian cricket.
In the clip, Rohit copied Nayar’s bowling action during nets, running in theatrically before delivering to an empty set of stumps. To everyone’s surprise, the ball crashed into the middle stump, leaving players around him in stitches.
Rohit, unable to contain his excitement, was heard shouting: “Kya middle stump udaya bey.” Even Nayar, watching from the KKR camp nearby, burst into laughter at the scene.
WATCH:
— mipaltan (@mipaltan)
KKR’s season on the edge
While Rohit’s antics lightened the mood, Wednesday’s contest carries far greater weight for KKR. The side led by Ajinkya Rahane must beat Mumbai Indians to stay alive in the race for the final playoff berth.
A defeat would officially end KKR’s campaign, while even a victory may still leave them dependent on other results. Punjab Kings’ clash against Lucknow Super Giants later this week could ultimately decide Kolkata’s fate.
KKR have staged a late revival after a disastrous start, winning five of their last six matches. Yet that surge may have come too late after their six-match winless stretch at the beginning of the season.
MI seek one final statement
Mumbai Indians, already out of contention, now have the chance to spoil KKR’s push. The five-time champions have endured a forgettable campaign, with injuries and inconsistent form hurting their season.
Rohit has shown flashes of touch despite fitness concerns, while skipper Hardik Pandya is expected to return after injury.
May 19—GRAND FORKS — It has been a chaotic spring for Grand Forks Central senior Jacie Reardon. Reardon is a thrower on the Knights' track and field team and a forward/striker on the soccer team. Luckily, the practices don't overlap. But Reardon attends both every weekday, and occasionally, meets and matches land on the same day. Reardon competed in the Shanley Invitational in Fargo on April ...
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May 19—GRAND FORKS — It has been a chaotic spring for Grand Forks Central senior Jacie Reardon.
Reardon is a thrower on the Knights' track and field team and a forward/striker on the soccer team.
Luckily, the practices don't overlap. But Reardon attends both every weekday, and occasionally, meets and matches land on the same day.
Reardon competed in the Shanley Invitational in Fargo on April 23. After she wrapped up her events, Reardon's father drove her back to Grand Forks for the Knights' home soccer match against West Fargo.
Reardon made sure to get in a nap on the trip home.
"Those are probably the more stressful days," Reardon said. "But other than that, I enjoy it a lot. I probably wouldn't work so hard to make time for it all if I didn't love both of the sports. That's just what it comes down to — because I love them so much, it's easy to find time and easy to make time and go out of my way to compete at a high level in both of those."
The loaded schedule hasn't slowed Reardon, who has continued to excel in both sports.
She will enter this week's North Dakota Class A track and field state meet in Bismarck ranked No. 1 in the shot put (42-10), No. 2 in the javelin (132-4) and No. 3 in the discus (139-2).
"She's a pretty awesome kid," Central assistant coach Lexi Stein-McAndrew said. "She has the natural talent, but I think one thing that really sticks out with her compared to others is the natural competitiveness that she has — the drive and the grit not only to beat others, but to beat herself."
Reardon finished second at state in the shot put last year. She also placed seventh in the discus and eighth in the javelin.
"I'm so excited," Reardon said. "It's been a fun experience, and now this year the stakes are higher. I'm just really excited to go out there and compete and be with my coaches and teammates who I've been with for a long time. I just hope I can make all my coaches proud, and I'm excited to have one final go with them at the state track meet."
Reardon picked up the shot put in seventh grade. She was partially inspired by her cousin, Briona Reynolds, who had a storied career as a thrower at Grand Forks Red River.
"I just remember my parents would talk about her, so I was like, 'Hey, I'll try this out,'" Reardon said. "I had a lot of fun with it."
Reardon quickly fell in love with throwing. She faced a setback when she broke her hand as a freshman, but she worked hard in the offseason and made state as a sophomore.
Reardon has made it to state each year since.
"Over the past three years, it's just been gradual growth," Reardon said. "I have the most amazing coaches ever, and they make it very easy to come to practice every day and enjoy it."
Reardon believes her participation in multiple sports has also helped her develop. In addition to track and field and soccer, she also plays volleyball and basketball.
"I just feel like they've all helped me in different ways," Reardon said. "In volleyball, for hitting, when you torque and use momentum from your upper body and lower body, that reminds me a ton of throwing, because that's kind of the same motion. Same thing with soccer. I think soccer and basketball kind of piggyback off each other, endurance-wise."
Reardon is hoping to end her prep throwing career on a high note, and she's already off to a strong start. She captured first place in the shot put at last week's Eastern Dakota Conference meet with a throw of 40-9.75.
However, Reardon understands the weight of expectations. The mental side of the sport is an area in which she has grown over the past few years — she's entering the state meet with "a positive, open mindset."
"I don't want to give myself too high of expectations, where if I don't meet it, it's going to upset me the rest of the weekend," Reardon said. "I try to set reasonable goals and just go out with a positive, open mindset and try to do the best I can."
Real Madrid are a signature away from appointing a new manager, if the latest reports from the Spanish capital are to be believed. Los Blancos have now agreed terms with Jose Mourinho to return for a ...
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Real Madrid finalise terms of Jose Mourinho contract
Real Madrid are a signature away from appointing a new manager, if the latest reports from the Spanish capital are to be believed. Los Blancos have now agreed terms with Jose Mourinho to return for a second spell at the club 13 years after leaving the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mourinho emerged as a shock contender for the job when it became clear that they would not be offering Arbeloa the chance to continue next season. Yet President Florentino Perez has make an executive decision that Mourinho is the one to turn their fortunes around. For his part, Mourinho, who still has a year left on his Benfica contract, has been giving contradictory answers on his future.
Real Madrid agree terms with Mourinho on contract
According to Diario AS, Mourinho and Real Madrid have finalised terms on a contract, and only the signature is missing to make it official. The former Chelsea coach will sign a deal for two years at the Santiago Bernabeu, with an option for a third. If Los Blancos secure a La Liga title during his first two years, the third year will automatically come into place.
The plan for Real Madrid is to have Mourinho in place at the start of June, but Perez’s decision to call elections could muddle with that. If no candidate opposes Perez, then he will be declared President again on Sunday the 24th of May, and Mourinho will be announced as the manager the following day. Despite having the power to do so, Real Madrid will not appoint Mourinho until the elections are settled, to avoid a potential situation where another candidate and Mourinho are tied into a deal they did not agree to.
Jose Mourinho is all set to return to Real Madrid as the new manager, with the announcement only a matter of time.Indeed, everything has been agreed between the club and the Portuguese tactician over ...
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Mourinho to bring three of his current staff members at Benfica to Real Madrid – report
Jose Mourinho is all set to return to Real Madrid as the new manager, with the announcement only a matter of time.
Indeed, everything has been agreed between the club and the Portuguese tactician over a return to the Santiago Bernabeu 13 years after his first stint.
Now, according to AS, Mourinho will bring his assistants from Benfica with him to Real Madrid.
Mourinho will bring his staff members from Benfica to Real Madrid. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
His trusted inner circle – Joao Tralhao and Pedro Machado, his assistants, and Roberto Merella, his current analyst – will also be part of the move from Benfica to Madrid.
Tralhao happens to Mourinho’s right-hand man – the first assistant manager and the person that the Portuguese boss trusts the most.
Tralhao was the man on the bench when Benfica faced Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in February in the UEFA Champions League, with Mourinho missing the match due to suspension.
Madrid is not unfamiliar territory for him either. In 2023 and 2024, he worked as a professor in Real Madrid’s football coaching and sporting management master’s program. Now, he is expected to become the club’s assistant coach.
Joao Tralhao will be Real Madrid’s assistant manager under Mourinho. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Pedro Machado, Mourinho’s second assistant at the Portuguese club, will also follow him to the Bernabeu. Like Tralhao, Machado too has been working with the former Chelsea boss since his spell at Fenerbahce.
Finally, Roberto Merella has been working as Mourinho’s analyst since 2022 when they crossed paths at AS Roma. Since then, he has become another highly trusted figure for the Portuguese tactician.
The Italian followed Mourinho to Fenerbahce, then Benfica, and now is expected to move with him to Real Madrid.
What about in-house staff at Real Madrid?
Meanwhile, as reported earlier this week, Mourinho is expected to keep Real Madrid’s current fitness coach, Antonio Pintus, in his staff as per the request of club president Florentino Perez.
There has also been speculation about current manager Alvaro Arbeloa becoming a part of Mourinho’s staff, but that seems unlikely now, with Tralhao expected to be the new assistant coach.
ESPN’s latest NBA Mock Draft projects the Detroit Pistons to select Duke standout Isaiah Evans with the No. 21 pick.
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The Detroit Pistons are already being linked to one of college basketball’s rising scorers following their playoff exit.
In his latest 2026 NBA Mock Draft for ESPN, Jeremy Woo projects the Pistons to select Duke shooting guard Isaiah Evans with the No. 21 overall pick, a move that would address one of Detroit’s clearest roster needs heading into next season.
And after watching Detroit’s offense struggle throughout portions of the postseason, especially in the team’s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the fit makes a lot of sense.
Isaiah Evans could fill major need for Detroit Pistons
Woo’s analysis focused heavily on Evans’ ability to space the floor and provide perimeter scoring around Cade Cunningham.
According to the mock draft, Evans projects as a movement shooter with long-term offensive upside, something Detroit badly needs after its playoff offense became inconsistent against elite defenses.
The Pistons finished their postseason run struggling to consistently knock down perimeter shots, and Cleveland’s defensive pressure exposed Detroit’s lack of reliable floor spacing at times.
Adding a player like Evans could directly address that issue.
Duke standout brings shooting upside
Evans, a sophomore at Duke, measured in at:
6-foot-5½ without shoes
186 pounds
6-foot-8¾ wingspan
8-foot-8½ standing reach
Woo noted that Evans weighed in somewhat light and did not have the strongest overall combine testing numbers, but the offensive skill set remains intriguing enough to keep him projected firmly in the first round.
The report also mentioned Evans’ ability to develop into a valuable floor spacer with positional size, a trait that becomes increasingly valuable in today’s NBA.
Detroit Pistons entering critical offseason
This offseason suddenly feels massive for Detroit.
After winning 60 games and earning the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, expectations around the franchise have completely changed. The Pistons are no longer rebuilding. They are trying to build a championship-level roster around Cunningham and their young core.
That means improving offensively becomes a priority.
Detroit’s playoff run exposed a few weaknesses, particularly when opposing defenses packed the paint and forced the Pistons into difficult perimeter shots. Adding more shooting and offensive versatility through the draft would be a logical next step.
Woo specifically pointed to Detroit’s need for additional shooting around Cunningham, something that became “apparent throughout the Pistons’ playoff run.”
Could Isaiah Evans actually fit in Detroit?
On paper, the fit is easy to see.
Cunningham thrives when surrounded by shooters who can punish help defense and create spacing. Evans’ projected shooting ability would complement Cunningham’s playmaking while also giving Detroit another young offensive weapon to develop.
Of course, the NBA Draft process is still just beginning, and plenty can change over the coming weeks.
But if ESPN’s latest projection proves accurate, the Pistons may already have their eye on a Duke scorer capable of helping unlock another level of Detroit’s offense.
Dolphins will not conduct joint practices with Atlanta Falcons ahead of preseason contest.
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PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 15: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins makes a pass during the first quarter of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 15, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The full schedule for all 32 teams in the National Football League came out last week — including all preseason games for each club. Eagle-eyed Dolphins fans quickly spotted a preseason tilt against the Atlanta Falcons taking place on Friday, August 28th at Hard Rock Stadium, which meant former starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would be returning to South Florida to square off against the team that drafted him with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
On Tuesday, Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley met with the local media following the team’s OTA practice and was questioned about Miami’s plans for joint practices with preseason opponents.
According to Miami’s new coach, the Dolphins will not be conducting joint practices with the Falcons prior to their preseason matchup — which means Miami’s fans and media will not be seeing Tagovailoa going to work against the Dolphins prior to their scheduled exhibition battle. It’s also possible that the lefty signal-caller could sit out that preseason game due to it being the final one for Atlanta prior to the regular season. If that happens, curious eyeballs would have to wait even longer until they could witness Tagovailoa suiting up for an opposing team against Miami.
We’ll have to wait and see what comes to pass on game day, but one thing we know for certain is that Tagovailoa and the Falcons will not be squaring off with Hafley’s Dolphins any sooner than their preseason matchup.
During the same availability, Hafley did confirm the Dolphins would practice against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants ahead of their preseason clashes against each other, so the Dolphins will not be missing out on the “iron sharpening iron” portion of the NFL preseason.
New York Mets star prospect Carson Benge and AJ Ewing are about to be joined by another one of the […]
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Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
New York Mets star prospect Carson Benge and AJ Ewing are about to be joined by another one of the club’s top minor league outfielders this week.
Entering May, things looked pretty grim for the Mets. They lost 12 straight at one point in April and had one of the worst records in MLB. However, they started to show some life early this month, and to the joy of New York fans, have gathered some real steam over the last two weeks.
They have won six of their last seven, including getting two of three off in-city rivals the New York Yankees over the weekend, and a wild 16-7 win on Monday against the Washington Nationals, where they scored 10 runs in the 12th inning. Interestingly enough, both Ewing and Benge have played a role in the team’s improved play of late.
The youngsters are bringing life to the clubhouse and energy on the field. Well, it seems the Mets’ decision-makers want to mine more of that electricity to the benefit of their big league roster. According to The Athletic’s Will Sammon, the team plans to promote stud outfield prospect Nick Morabito this week.
What can Nick Morabito bring to NY Mets roster?Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Morabito is ranked 11th in the Mets’ farm system on MLB.com and brings more versatility in the outfield because he can play all three spots. The righty was the 75th pick in the 2022 MLB Draft and has gradually moved up their system over the last four years.
He made his Triple-A debut in 2026 and has played well over his first 41 games. Posting a .253/.364/.390/.754 slashline with four homers, 17 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases. While he doesn’t have notable pop in his bat, he has shown good plate discipline and bat-on-ball skills in the minors. But his speed is his big calling card. Making Morabito a base-stealing threat at all times.
The Mets plan to designate outfielder Austin Slater for assignment, and Morabito will be brought in to take his spot. He will get opportunities against lefties and as a pinch runner and defensive replacement option. The idea is to get a look at him and get him a taste of the big leagues before some of their injured veterans come back in the next few weeks.
If it wasn't for bad luck, Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel wouldn't have any luck at all.
The club announced Monday Teel suffered a sprained right knee which will sideline him for three to six weeks. The Chicago Tribune's Lamond Pope reports Teel went down Saturday while playing for Triple-A Charlotte. Teel had been on a rehab assignment with the Knights for a right hamstring strain he suffered in March during the World Baseball Classic.
“Really disappointing,” White Sox manager Will Venable said Monday, according to Pope. “Happy that it wasn’t a tear or anything. With the sprain, hopefully it’s just a matter of weeks and not months that he’s back healthy and running around and playing.
“Talked to him today, he’s optimistic and in good spirits. But just disappointing.”
According to Venable, Teel suffered the injury in his fourth at-bat on Saturday when he caught a cleat in the batter’s box during a swing.
Teel, 24, made his MLB debut last season, hitting .273 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 78 games. Chicago acquired the backstop in the December 2024 trade which sent ace left-hander Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox. Also going to Chicago in the deal were infielders Braden Montgomery and Chase Meidroth, as well as right-hander Wikelman González.
Boston made Teel its first-round pick (14th overall) in the 2023 MLB Draft.
Pope reports Drew Romo and Edgar Quero are set to continue handling things behind the plate for the White Sox while Teel is sidelined.
During the ceremony, the football manager encouraged others to follow their dreams and work hard.
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Steve Cotterill played football at Elmfield Park in Cheltenham in his youth [Cheltenham Borough Council]
A football club manager has encouraged others to "keep dreaming" after he was awarded his home town's highest honour.
Cheltenham Town's Steve Cotterill accepted the Freedom of the Borough of Cheltenham - the highest award the council can bestow - at a Town Hall ceremony on Monday night.
In his speech, Cotterill thanked his family for their support and reminisced about playing football at Elmfield Park as a child.
A petition calling for the football manager to receive the honour gained more than 1,300 signatures. Rowena Hay, leader of the council, said: "These awards reflect the very best of Cheltenham."
Cotterill was first appointed manager of Cheltenham Town in January 1997 and achieved three promotions and an FA Trophy victory.
He left in 2002 and went on to manage nine other clubs, including Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion and AFC Bournemouth, before returning to the Robins in October last year.
The club said: "He took over with the Robins having just four points from 11 games and managed to lead the club to safety with five games to spare, something many thought was impossible given the start."
Steve Cotterill returned to Cheltenham Town FC after 23 years in October 2025 [BBC]
In his speech, the Cheltenham Town manager said: "There was always a reoccurring theme in my school reports: 'Stephen must stop talking about football in class as he'll never make a living out of it'.
"I don't know whether that was motivational or whether it was the truth at the time.
"If you spot somebody that you think has something special to give, embrace it and encourage them because life is nothing without dreams.
"And if you can dream and keep dreaming and keep dreaming hard, you might just end up achieving what was the dream.
"But you have to work hard at it; there are no shortcuts in this life," he added.
Cotterill also thanked his "incredibly supportive family" - his wife and two daughters - those who signed the petition, and board members.
Cheltenham Borough Council said the award is granted to local people who have "made an outstanding commitment to the local community and through their service, dedication and expertise have been able to enhance the standing of Cheltenham and its residents".
Clare Seed was also granted the honour in recognition of her work with Public Hearts CIC, along with Dave Bath, who has volunteered with many organisations.
Rick Cerone celebrates his 72nd birthday today. Cerone was one of the original Blue Jays. Four months and one day before their inaugural game, Toronto traded for Rick and John Lowenstein, sending Rico Carty to Cleveland. The Jays had selected Carty from Cleveland in the expansion draft and reacquired him in March 1978. Cerone appeared […]
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UNDATED: Rick Cerone of the Toronto Blue Jays poses for a portrait. Rick Cerone played for the Toronto Blue Jays from 1977-1979. (Photo by Louis Requena/MLB via Getty Images) | MLB via Getty Images
Rick Cerone celebrates his 72nd birthday today.
Cerone was one of the original Blue Jays. Four months and one day before their inaugural game, Toronto traded for Rick and John Lowenstein, sending Rico Carty to Cleveland. The Jays had selected Carty from Cleveland in the expansion draft and reacquired him in March 1978.
Cerone appeared in the Blue Jays’ first-ever game, going 2-for-4 with a double in a snowy victory over the White Sox. He played four games that first week before being sent to AAA. Cerone returned for a game in May and rejoined the team for good in mid-August, finishing the season with a .200/.245/.270 line in 31 games.
In 1978, Cerone played 88 games, hitting .223/.284/.298 with 3 home runs while sharing catching duties with Alan Ashby. After the season, Toronto traded Ashby to the Astros, making Cerone the full-time catcher in 1979.
Cerone improved at the plate in 1979, hitting .239/.294/.358 with 7 home runs over 136 games.
Following the 1979 season, Cerone, along with Tom Underwood and Ted Wilborn, was traded to the Yankees for Chris Chambliss, Damaso Garcia, and Paul Mirabella. The Jays then sent Chambliss to the Braves for Barry Bonnell, Joey McLaughlin, and Pat Rockett. Damaso Garcia went on to play seven seasons with Toronto. Both trades proved beneficial for the Blue Jays.
Yankees catcher Thurman Munson tragically died during the 1979 season when he crashed his plane while taking flying lessons.
Cerone had an outstanding 1980 season, hitting .277/.321/.432 with 14 home runs—by far his best offensive performance—while helping the Yankees finish first in the AL East. He finished 7th in MVP voting. Rick would go on to play five seasons with the Yankees, reaching the World Series once, where they lost to the Dodgers in 1981.
After his time with the Yankees, Cerone played for the Braves, Brewers, Yankees again, Red Sox, Yankees yet again, Mets, and finally the Expos, where he became the backup to my favourite player, Gary Carter.
Cerone enjoyed an 18-year MLB career, hitting .245/.301/.343 with 59 home runs in 1,329 games. While he was never a great hitter—he had only two seasons with an OPS+ over 100—he embodied the hard-nosed catcher. Cerone was sound defensively, possessed a strong arm, and excelled at blocking the plate. My lasting memory of him is his perpetually dirty uniform.
Of all the Blue Jays who played in the team’s first game, Cerone had, by far, the best career.
After retiring, Cerone worked in broadcasting for a few years. It would be fascinating to hear his thoughts on the early days of the Blue Jays and his reaction to the trade to the Yankees. I imagine he was thrilled to join a contending team.
Clark will summon drivers to their cars on Sunday.
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Caitlin Clark will summon drivers to their cars ahead of the Indianapolis 500.
The Indiana Fever guard was named the grand marshal of the 110th running of the iconic race on Tuesday. She was an obvious choice for the role given her level of fame, both in Indiana and across the country, and because she has a marketing deal with Gainbridge, the presenting sponsor of the race.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,’” Clark said in a statement.
It’s the first Indy 500 role for Clark, who had been rumored as a potential pace car driver in previous years.
This year, the pace car will be driven by Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti after the Hoosiers went 16-0 and won the College Football Playoff in January. Cignetti was named as the pace car driver in March and will lead the field around the track in a Chevrolet Corvette ahead of the green flag.
“His Hoosiers have been nothing short of remarkable, and their national championship run inspired our entire state,” Indianapolis Motor Speedway president Doug Boles said in a statement. “[Cignetti’s] the perfect choice to drive the Chevrolet pace car, and I know his introduction on race day will bring out a special roar of appreciation from our crowd.”
That roar just may not come from the thousands of Purdue fans in attendance, however.
Cignetti and Clark will also be joined at the track by former tight end Rob Gronkowski. The “Fox NFL Sunday” analyst is back for another run as the “grand marshal” of the snake pit during the race. The snake pit in the Turn 3 infield features an EDM music party that begins the morning of the race and will continue even after the race starts.
Then, in the bottom of the seventh of a non-league game on Monday, May 18, Xaverian found a way to break through the 6-foot-9 southpaw.
The Hawks became the first team this spring to find success against the University of Texas commit, putting up 4 runs, 3 of which were credited to Bumila, in the seventh to tie things up with the Shamrocks and see Feehan pull its dominant ace. Bumila finished the afternoon going 6⅓ innings giving up 4 runs (3 earned) on a hit and 5 walks while striking out 14, recording a no decision as the Shamrocks went on to win 5-4 in 11 innings.
Bumila had been virtually lights out through the first 6 innings, surrendering just a single and a pair of walks before senior center fielder Jack Coen hit a grounder to second but made it safely to first due to a throwing error by senior second baseman Nolan Harvey.
Walks to junior Charlie Gallagher and and senior second baseman Beckett Delleo followed, with a pop out by sophomore pinch hitter Nick O'Neil in between, to load the bases. Then, junior outfielder Liam Doherty was able to draw a walk on 8 pitches to bring home Coen.
After that, the Shamrocks pulled Bumila for fellow senior pitcher Ryan Bessell, though the Catholic Conference powerhouse was able to get to him too. A walk to senior left fielder Gavin Heneghan to score Doherty brought in another run before a double to left by senior designated hitter Jake Lonardo plated the other two baserunners and helped the Hawks force extra innings.
Feehan finally broke through the stalemate in the top of the 11th as junior Brody Alves, pinch-hitting for Bumila, singled to left to drive in Harvey and give the visitors the advantage, which the Shamrocks were able to hold onto for the 5-4 win.
Bumila performed solidly at the plate, going 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs. After today's outing on the mound, he has now gone a combined 33⅓ innings giving up 5 runs (4 earned) on a pair of hits and a pair of walks while striking out 73. At the plate, he's batting .410 (16-for-39) with 4 doubles, a pair of home runs, 9 runs and 13 RBIs.
Bumila and the Shamrocks return to action on Wednesday, May 20, hosting cross-town rivals Attleboro at 7 p.m. before hosting Hockomock Kelley-Rex champions Taunton in the regular season finale on Friday, May 22, with a 7 p.m. first pitch also scheduled.
The 2025-2026 NHL Conference Finals matchups are set. It took a month to reach this point in the season, and the previous series was nothing short of sensational. The final four teams have everything at stake. Colorado is looking for…
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The 2025-2026 NHL Conference Finals matchups are set. It took a month to reach this point in the season, and the previous series was nothing short of sensational. The final four teams have everything at stake. Colorado is looking for its second Stanley Cup in five seasons, while Vegas is ready to be crowned champion for the second time since 2023.
In the East, Carolina aims to be the final Eastern Conference team standing while winning its first Stanley Cup in 20 years. Standing in Carolina’s way is a Montreal team poised to win its first championship since 1993, the last time an NHL team from Canada was crowned Stanley Cup Champions. Here are the updated Stanley Cup power rankings ahead of the Eastern and Western Conference Finals.
4. Montreal CanadiensMay 10, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN. Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook (15) celebrates with teammate defenseman Lane Hutson (48) after scoring a goal against the Buffalo Sabresduring the first period in game three of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Montreal played with grit throughout the playoffs. The team won its first-round series in seven games while ending the previous round in seven games. Now, attention shifts to the Eastern Conference Finals and a tough battle against the Carolina Hurricanes. The conference final matchup will feature a high level of defense and goaltending. In the playoffs, Montreal ranks 3rd in defensive efficiency, and Carolina ranks 1st. The team is ready to claim its place as the Eastern Conference representative in the Stanley Cup Finals while completing the objective of winning its first Stanley Cup since 1993 – the last time an NHL team from Canada won the Stanley Cup.
3. Vegas Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are in the Western Conference Finals and saw an unprecedented turn of events before the regular season ended. On March 29th, the head coach Bruce Cassidy was relieved of his duties, and John Tortorella replaced him behind the bench. Tortorella led the team to a 7-1 finish and has the Golden Knights in the Conference Finals. Vegas has the daunting task of upending the top NHL team in the regular season and playoffs. Vegas’ offense and defense will be on alert facing a Colorado team that ranks 1st in offense efficiency and has one loss in the playoffs.
2. Carolina HurricanesApr 25, 2026; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN. Carolina Hurricanes center Logan Stankoven (22) celebrates his goal scored in the third period against the Ottawa Senators in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn
The Hurricanes had the best odds to reach the Eastern Conference Finals and proved why in the first two rounds. Carolina enters the Conference Finals as the top-seeded conference team and the only playoff team to go undefeated in the first and second rounds. The team was one of the league’s most consistent throughout the regular season and has produced in the playoffs. The Hurricanes’ defense has been the best unit these playoffs and rank 1st in goals allowed per game. The defense will be relied upon facing a Canadiens offense that has a playoff ranking of 3rd in goals scored per game.
1. Colorado Avalanche
Colorado was the NHL’s top team throughout the regular season and enters the Western Conference Finals with the playoffs’ top-ranked offense. The Avalanche haven’t been tested in their first two rounds. During round one, they swept the Kings and won round two, against the Wild, in five games. Now, the team faces a Vegas team eager for the chance to upset the favorite to win the Stanley Cup. Colorado’s offense has been on fire during the playoffs and will be the focus in the Western Conference Finals. During the regular season and playoffs, no team has proven to be on the same level as the Colorado Avalanche.
The Chicago Cubs have a strong roster on both sides of the ball.
But the injury bug has not been kind to their pitching staff. Cade Horton is out for the year, and Matthew Boyd will be out for at least a few more weeks after a freak accident playing with his children.
Not to mention, left-hander Justin Steele suffered a setback in his rehab from Tommy John Surgery.
That's why former Major League general manager and The Athletic's Jim Bowden believes the Cubs will prioritize starting pitching help at this year's trade deadline.
"Chicago is already making phone calls regarding starting pitching help, and I would expect between now and the trade deadline they land a starter because they have the prospects to make a deal," Bowden wrote Tuesday.
Crewe boss Lee Bell would love to keep his two loan signings but says its likely they will play at a higher level.
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Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell said although he would "snap your hand off" at the opportunity to re-sign striker Emre Tezgel and midfielder Tommi O'Reilly next season there is "no chance" of the pair returning to the League Two club.
Both players were integral parts of the Alex side in 2025-26, with Stoke loanee Tezgel scoring 10 goals from 31 appearances, despite missing nearly three months of the campaign through injury.
Aston Villa's O'Reilly, 22, started all 46 league games and contributed 12 assists as Crewe's play-off challenge ultimately ran out of steam over the last six matches as they finished 11th, 11 points off the top seven.
As Bell plans the club's summer recruitment, he said the impact Tezgel and O'Reilly had showed him that they will not be coming back to League Two level any time soon.
"If one of them could come back to this club, I'd snap your hand off, but there's not a chance," Bell told BBC Radio Stoke.
"I'd be very surprised to see them playing in League Two ever again - not until they get about 35 and they're winding down.
"No, we definitely won't be able to get them. I'll try, but there's no chance."
Although admitting defeat on their potential return, Bell said using the loan market to help develop talented young players like Tezgel, O'Reilly and Wolves defender Alfie Pond, will be something Crewe will try to replicate this summer.
"Loans will be important again and I think they will be for a long time. If we're able to get your Tezgels and your Tommis for what we pay and they perform the way they do and it benefits both parties, I don't think there's a reason why we shouldn't do it," Bell said.
"[Technical director] Josh [Kennard] will be working hard. We're working on the more permanent ones. If we can, there'll be a couple of them coming in.
"The loans, generally, we're getting them from Premier League clubs, will happen during pre-season because they'd like to keep them in for a little bit and send them to wherever they go and we'll move it on from then.
"They're going to be massively important. Tommi and Tez have been exceptional this year, they're way above the standard that they were playing at, so we've got a look at doing it again."
Having overseen the release of seven players, and with seven more considering the club's offer of new contracts, Bell said the club will be "very selective" over their targets with any potential recruit's personality "key to what we want to do".
"We've got to really take our time and make sure it's right for everybody.
"The right players are coming to the club, so it's not going to be done in the next couple of weeks."
Former Tennessee soccer forward Ali Howard transfers to Syracuse.
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Former Lady Vol soccer forward Ali Howard transferred to Syracuse following the 2025 season. She accepted a written offer of athletic aid to join the Orange.
Howard earned a redshirt with the Lady Vols in 2025. Tennessee finished its 2025 season with a 12-4-3 record and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.
Howard committed to Tennessee on April 24, 2024. She is from Briarcrest Christian School in Eads, Tennessee. The 5-foot-7 Howard earned offensive most valuable player honors during her final three years at Briarcrest Christian.
She is the daughter of former professional and United States men's national soccer team goalkeeper Tim Howard.
He was the United States men's national soccer team goalkeeper from 2002-17, appearing in 121 matches. Tim Howard was also a goalkeeper for the United States' U23 (1999) and U20 (1999) teams.
He played for Manchester United (2003-07) and Everton F.C. (2006-17) in the Premier League, while also competing in Major League Soccer for the New York Red Bulls (1998-2003) and Colorado (2016-19).
As Ross Stewart receives a Scotland recall while Oli McBurnie, Kieron Bowie and Lennon Miller miss out, Tom English delves into the thinking behind Steve Clarke's World Cup squad.
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Ross Stewart is recalled to the Scotland squad, but Oli McBurnie misses out [Getty Images]
A little after midday on Tuesday, the Scotland head coach power-walked into the Hampden auditorium in the manner of a wrestler heading for the ring; Stone Cold Steve Clarke was in the building.
Clarke threw his World Cup squad sheet on the table and cupped his ears to the assembled media. "What are you saying to it?" he demanded.
Then, with a mad flourish, he put his hands to his eyes as if looking through binoculars. "America, here we come," he cried. "Yeah, baby!"
If only. Clarke's aversion to theatre meant the first Scotland World Cup squad announcement in nearly 30 years was about as humdrum as could be, no fanfare from the manager, nothing to separate it from any other squad announcement.
On social media, the Scottish FA did its best to bring an element of drama to it, but Clarke was never going to play along with that.
A friendly game against, er, whoever, or a momentous day for the Scottish national team and the chosen ones bound for the States - same difference. It's his way. Consistency, normality, an unchanging vibe.
Beforehand, we knew most things, pretty much. We knew because Clarke said a few weeks ago that the squad was more or less set in his head already.
He values loyalty like he appreciates his next breath, so while others made the case for Oli McBurnie, Oliver Burke, Kieron Bowie, Stephen Welsh and others, Clarke would barely have noticed.
You got the sense that McBurnie could have scored a hat-trick in every game in the last two months of the season and Clarke would have been unmoved. Maybe he doesn't fancy him as a footballer, maybe he doesn't fancy him as a human being. Whatever.
We weren't expecting fireworks, but there was, at least, a story or two. Findlay Curtis, the bit-part and underappreciated 19-year-old from Rangers, is included after a productive loan spell at Kilmarnock. In taking a few steps down the Premiership table, Curtis propelled himself forward into a promised land.
Ross Stewart, a striker injury-plagued and largely ignored in the Clarke era, was selected on the back of stellar form for his club, Southampton. Stewart's goals and power and all-round work-rate is obvious. Sadly, his injury profile has been just as prevalent.
Clarke had him in a squad previously - in the summer of 2022 - but there's a long list of strikers who have appeared in Scotland squads since Stewart was around - not just the stalwarts of Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes and Lawrence Shankland, or the more recent arrivals George Hirst, Tommy Conway and Bowie, but also James Wilson, Kevin Nisbet and Jacob Brown.
The manager remembers Stewart well as a player and as a personality. Clarke places great store in upbeat characters.
It's why Liam Kelly is the third goalkeeper. He probably won't see any minutes, but he'll be good around the place; selfless and positive.
After missing out on so many club games because of a body that broke down too often, Stewart gets his reward for resilience. He only has two caps and, relatively speaking, has come from nowhere these past months. He's been outstanding.
Up front, there is no McBurnie despite his terrific season with Hull City. McBurnie might be playing Premier League football next season - it's Hull versus Stewart's Southampton in the play-off final - but he won't be anywhere near a Scotland squad while Clarke is in charge.
McBurnie has been one of the best strikers in the Championship this season, but Clarke was never having him. A personality thing, most likely. On pure footballing merit he deserves to be ahead of Dykes.
The 29-year-old has scored 18 goals in 41 games this season. Dykes has six in 51. If you include Dykes' past three seasons - 140 games - he has scored only one more goal than McBurnie has claimed this term, a campaign that was impacted significantly by injury.
'Bowie unfortunate, Miller a minor surprise'
Bowie can consider himself deeply unfortunate, too. His move to Hellas Verona in Serie A has been a personal success, even if his club got relegated.
Recently, he has scored against runaway champions Inter Milan, Juventus (who finished sixth) and Bologna (who finished eighth, fully 34 points ahead of Bowie's strugglers). Since early March, Verona have scored five goals in Serie A and Bowie has got four of them.
Dykes and Hirst are in because they're usually in, because Clarke knows them and trusts them and is happy to look beyond their lack of goal threat while focusing on other attributes - work-rate, experience, familiarity with the way Clarke works.
There's no Lennon Miller, which was only a minor surprise given the 19-year-old midfielder was in the last squad for the friendlies against Japan and Ivory Coast but didn't see even a minute of action.
No curveballs, but then there was never going to be. Those hoping Burke's raw pace or Calvin Miller's ability to beat a player could put them into contention didn't reckon with Clarke's way of doing things.
Clarke is short of width and pace - an age-old problem. He's resisted whatever urge he may have had in calling up James Forrest. Conway would have been considered a wide player, but injury has claimed him.
Ben Gannon-Doak is the one genuine speedster - Curtis is the only other winger - and a heavy burden rests on his young shoulders.
Gannon-Doak got injured early on the famous night against Denmark in November - not long after he dinked in the cross for Scott McTominay's overhead kick - and has been seen only fleetingly since then.
In six months, he's had three minutes for Bournemouth against Manchester United on 20 March, 12 minutes against Newcastle United on 18 April and four minutes against Crystal Palace on 3 May.
In his own way, he's as important to Scotland as any of the established stars. Clarke, and the nation as a whole, will be watching and praying he's fit and well come Haiti.
For the 26, the easy bit is now complete, with the hardest bit yet to come. They're not going to America just for the experience, they're travelling, as Clarke kept stating, to make history as the first Scotland team to make it out of a group in a major championship.
Time is passing quickly. Before we know it, they'll be in the midst of it.
Kieron Bowie and Lennon Miller miss out despite playing in Serie A [Getty Images]
The 2026 Serie A season has become one of the most competitive Italian campaigns in recent years. The fight for Champions League places is extremely tight, with several clubs still battling for Europe...
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Serie A 2026: Race For European Spots and Relegation Battle Explained
The 2026 Serie A season has become one of the most competitive Italian campaigns in recent years. The fight for Champions League places is extremely tight, with several clubs still battling for European qualification, and the relegation race is still changing almost every week.
Italian football discussions now extend far beyond stadiums and television broadcasts. Fans spend hours online debating tactics, transfers, title predictions, and relegation scenarios while also following poker streams, roulette tables, slot tournaments, and football betting discussions on platforms like cowboyspin casino.
This season stands out because nearly every section of the table remains active deep into the calendar. Very few clubs secured their objectives early, which keeps pressure high across the league.
Inter crowned Serie A champions
Inter won the fight for first place, which involved multiple clubs in the first part of the campaign.
Several factors explained the tight standings in the first half of the season.
Inconsistent away performances
Heavy fixture schedules
Injuries during key months
Strong defensive organisation across the league
Unlike some previous seasons, no single club managed to dominate consistently from start to finish, but Inter emerged on top in the final months.
Defensive football still shapes Serie A
Italian football continues to prioritise tactical discipline and defensive structure.
Most top clubs rely heavily on:
Many matches remain balanced for long periods before one mistake changes everything.
MILAN, ITALY – MAY 17: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, poses for a photo with the Coppa Campioni d’Italia and Coppa Italia trophies following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Squad depth is becoming decisive
The modern football calendar continues to create physical pressure.
Clubs competing for titles and European qualification must handle:
Teams with stronger rotation options are managing fatigue more effectively during the final months.
Several clubs lost momentum because injuries exposed weak bench depth.
MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 21: A general view of the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium San Siro ahead of the Coppa Italia match between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at San Siro on April 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Some clubs perform dramatically better at home because of:
Crowd pressure
Familiar tactical rhythm
Travel reduction
Stronger defensive confidence
This season especially highlights how difficult away matches remain across Italy.
Even lower-table teams regularly take points from stronger opponents at home.
European qualification remains highly competitive
The battle for Champions League and Europa League spots looks almost as intense as the title race itself.
Several clubs remain separated by only a few points.
Current battles focus heavily on:
One positive or negative month can completely change league position.
Tactical flexibility matters more now
Managers increasingly adjust systems depending on opponents.
Many clubs regularly switch between:
Back-three formations
High-pressure systems
Compact counterattacks
Possession-focused setups
Rigid tactical structures often struggle against teams prepared to adapt during matches.
This flexibility has become one of the defining features of modern Serie A.
Younger players continue to gain importance
Several younger players have played major roles during the 2026 season.
Clubs increasingly trust younger talent because of:
Many emerging players now contribute directly in high-pressure matches instead of waiting years for opportunities.
Financial pressure still affects many clubs
Economic stability continues to heavily influence league performance.
Important financial factors include:
Clubs qualifying for Europe gain major advantages for future seasons.
Relegation battles remain unpredictable
The bottom section of the table changes constantly.
Several struggling teams continue fighting to avoid relegation through:
Defensive discipline
Coaching changes
Emergency winter signings
Strong home performances
One victory can suddenly move a club several positions upward because the standings remain extremely compressed.
Coaching changes continue shaping results
Serie A clubs still react quickly to poor form.
This season already featured multiple managerial changes.
Common reasons include:
Some coaching changes improved performance immediately, while others led to greater inconsistency.
Goal scoring remains uneven across the league
Several clubs continue struggling offensively despite strong organisation.
The biggest attacking issues involve:
Defensive structure often compensates temporarily, but scoring problems usually return later.
Mid-table clubs continue to affect the title race
One major feature of Serie A 2026 is the presence of competitive mid-table teams.
These clubs frequently:
Take points from title contenders
Control possession effectively
Defend aggressively
Create tactical problems for stronger sides
This balance prevents the league from becoming predictable.
Top teams rarely receive easy victories.
VAR discussions remain constant
Video review technology still creates debate almost every week.
The main complaints involve:
Handball interpretations
Offside margins
Penalty decisions
Inconsistent review timing
Fans and managers continue to question the consistency of decisions during high-pressure matches.
Despite criticism, VAR remains central to league officiating.
Italian clubs continue to emphasise tactical preparation
Serie A still prioritises tactical detail more heavily than many leagues.
Managers spend extensive time preparing:
This tactical culture continues to define Italian football identity.
Stadium atmosphere still influences performance
Several clubs rely heavily on home crowd intensity.
Supporters often influence matches through:
Continuous pressure
Emotional momentum
Strong defensive encouragement
Aggressive atmosphere during key moments
This factor becomes especially important in relegation battles and title-deciding matches.
Physical intensity has increased
Serie A today looks faster and more physically demanding than earlier generations.
Modern teams now emphasise:
Athletic pressing
Recovery speed
Defensive transitions
Constant movement without possession
The league still values tactical structure, but physical preparation now matters as much.
European schedules continue to create problems
Clubs involved in European competitions often struggle domestically afterwards.
Common issues include:
Several clubs lost league momentum because of overloaded schedules.
The final weeks may change everything
The standings remain unstable as the season enters its closing phase.
Critical factors now include:
Injury management
Psychological pressure
Fixture difficulty
Squad depth
Even clubs leading the table still face dangerous fixtures against relegation-threatened opponents fighting for survival.
Serie A remains tactically distinctive
While other leagues increasingly prioritise constant attacking football, Serie A still values control and structure.
This season especially highlights:
Tactical adaptability
Defensive discipline
Strategic game management
Match-by-match preparation
These qualities continue attracting football fans who enjoy detailed tactical battles.
Conclusion
Serie A 2026 remains highly competitive from top to bottom. The title race continues without a clear dominant side, European qualification battles remain crowded, and relegation pressure affects several clubs entering the final weeks.
Tactical organisation, squad depth, defensive discipline, and physical consistency all continue shaping results across the table. Small margins separate success from disappointment this season more than usual.
The final stretch of the campaign may still produce major changes across the standings, which explains why Serie A remains one of the most unpredictable leagues in European football.
His 374-foot drive into the gap in left-center field during the fourth inning marked his first triple since July 16, 2023.
He also had his first assist since Sept. 26, 2023, throwing out Michael Massey at home plate for the second out of the fifth inning to keep the game scoreless.
Massey tried to score on Kyle Isbel’s one-out single to left field.
“He makes a great throw to the plate,” interim manager Chad Tracy said. “That’s also a turning point in the game because they score first if we don’t get that there.”
Yoshida was disappointed at himself for not catching Massey’s 342-foot double to left-center field on the play right before.
“I put us in that situation,” Yoshida said through translator Yutaro Yamaguchi. “So I’m glad I was able to kind of make up for it. I saw the runner kind of running the bases. So I thought I had a shot.”
It was just Yoshida’s fourth outfield start this season. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela had hamstring tightness and so he sat and left fielder Jarren Duran played center field while Yoshida played left field.
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Yoshida charged in to field the ball and threw a one-hopper to catcher Connor Wong.
“The grass was kind of long so it was kind of killing the momentum of the ball so I was kind of trying to charge to the ball well and it worked out,” he said.
The Red Sox took the lead in their next time up. Willson Contreras put the Red Sox ahead 2-0 in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run.
“That was awesome,” Red Sox starter Sonny Gray said about Yoshida’s throw. “I think scoring first in this league is (important). You win the game if you score first, I don’t know, but maybe like over 70% of the time. So to keep them off the board was massive.”
Scoring first is critical. The Red Sox are 4-20 in games when their opponent scores first. They are 16-7 when they score first.
Yoshida isn’t known for his speed and he just beat the throw to third base on his triple.
“It’s a big outfield,” Yoshida said. “So I think whoever hit it, anyone could have gotten a triple if they hit it that way.”
Aiden Markram has departed the Lucknow Super Giants camp for personal reasons. He will miss the remaining IPL 2026 league matches. This impacts LSG's final two games against Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings. Rajasthan Royals are still in contention for a playoff spot. Their upcoming matches are crucial for their qualification hopes.
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Aiden Markram has left the Lucknow Super Giants camp midway through IPL 2026 and is set to miss the remainder of the tournament due to personal reasons, handing LSG a major setback ahead of their final two league matches.
Markram has flown back to South Africa due to personal reasons, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo. The development came just hours before Lucknow’s clash against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur and means the South African batter will also be unavailable for LSG’s final league fixture against Punjab Kings on May 23.
While Lucknow are already out of the playoff race, Markram’s absence could still influence the shape of the top four. LSG’s remaining matches are against Rajasthan and Punjab — two teams still fighting for the final playoff spot in IPL 2026.
The timing of Markram’s departure is particularly significant given Lucknow’s recent improvement after a disappointing campaign. Although their playoff hopes are over, LSG have looked far more competitive in recent games, winning two of their last three matches.
For Rajasthan, meanwhile, Tuesday’s game carries enormous playoff implications. RR currently sit sixth on the points table with 12 points from 12 matches and remain firmly alive in the qualification race despite a worrying slump in form.
The Royals have lost three consecutive matches, including two defeats against Delhi Capitals, and have also suffered three straight defeats at their home venue.
However, qualification scenarios are still open for RR. Wins against Lucknow and Mumbai Indians would take them to 16 points, which could be enough for a playoff spot.
They could even qualify with 14 points if other results fall their way, making every remaining match critical — including Lucknow’s now Markram-less final fixtures.
Now you can access a level of personalized instruction once reserved for private lessons right on your phone
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On a Saturday last August, Patrick Knott was in full prep mode on the range at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., after a morning win in the club championship quarterfinals. His next match was in an hour, but he didn’t like what he was seeing from his iron shots. So he grabbed his phone, filmed his swing and sent it out for a quick look.
“The feedback told me what I thought—I was pushing my hips toward the ball on the downswing,” says Knott, 40, who is a +3-handicap. “I watched a quick drill video and a clip from Justin Rose to get a feel to play with. I knew right away this was going to help.”
Patrick found the groove and won his semifinal that afternoon, and a week later he was celebrating his fourth championship at Merion.
Where did Patrick send his swing? He uploaded it into an app called Mustard Golf, which he’d been using for a few months to learn about his technique and how to improve it. Mustard provides users with swing advice using a motion-analysis algorithm that measures every position in the golf swing, prioritizes any outlier moves and creates a personalized plan for improvement with top teachers.
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Many golfers looking to play better either seek out a local pro for lessons or try to find tips themselves, usually online. Both methods can work but present potential problems, like the cost and inconvenience of private lessons or the generic nature of mass-market instruction. In short, golfers don’t always get what they need when they need it.
Golf Digest saw this gap and partnered with Mustard to develop the app, which is inspired by the personal attention golfers get from face-to-face instruction and the easy access of online learning. It’s a fully remote, user-driven platform with lesson-level reliability.
Call it DIY with an expert eye.
Golf Digest and Mustard, a sports-technology company that has roots in baseball and was co-founded by legendary MLB pitching coach Tom House, had one goal: to put great coaching in the golfer’s pocket. Through motion-capture technology and a digital filtering system, golfers using the app can access instructional content from Golf Digest coaches that applies specifically to their swing. The result is personalized coaching delivered at scale.
How It Works
To get started with the Mustard Golf app, users record a single swing video looking down the target line or upload one from their mobile phone. The app then uses an AI-powered analysis program built on data from thousands of pro and amateur swings to produce a report—in about a minute—on the basic structure of the swing.
Although swing metrics drive the analysis, the app does not share raw swing data with users. Instead, it uses the data to grade various parts of the swing on a simple 1-10 scale. The data informs the grading but is not a deliverable to the user. This mirrors the way top golf instructors use technology in lessons: They share what students need to know, not everything the technology reveals.
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For simplicity, the Mustard analysis breaks down the motion into the backswing and downswing and looks at two movement patterns: (1) how the hands and arms direct the club and (2) how the body moves to support the swing. The “expert eye” in the app is powered by computer-vision technology, which locates all the major joints in the body, tags them and tracks their movement throughout the swing.
But capturing motion is only the first step. The app ultimately relies on teaching smarts—the ability to search for certain swing positions and quickly assess them. Mark Blackburn, who is Golf Digest’s No. 1 Teacher in America, Justin Rose and a team of top instructors and 3D-motion experts identified the most consequential movements in the golf swing—the ones that most affect the shots a player hits—and developed a protocol for measuring and prioritizing them.
The result is a set of 12 swing variables that describe the movement of the hands, arms and body, including things like swing path, shoulder and hip turn and dynamic posture. These pieces in large part determine the functionality of a player’s swing. Blackburn and team established tolerances for each variable to create, in effect, a pass/fail system that drives the user’s improvement plan in the app.
But not all swing variables are created equal. Blackburn and team developed a swing hierarchy to assign relative importance to each piece. When a variable doesn’t measure up, the app flags it and looks at where it sits in the hierarchy and when it occurs in the swing. The lowest grade in the most important area gets priority, the same process great teachers use with their students.
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“When I’m looking at a player’s swing, I look for the first domino to fall,” Blackburn says. “If I can find something in the setup or backswing that’s negatively affecting impact, I’m going there. Faults early in the swing tend to snowball, plus you have more time and space to fix them before impact. We built that logic into the app.”
Mustard’s system of identifying what’s working and not working and knowing the comparative value of each variable is the app’s secret sauce. It drives a core directive: what to work on first. This is the very issue that plagues most golfers—they don’t know where to start, so they pick blindly or skip around. The app’s ability to determine a clear direction by sorting out what matters most in a specific swing is the unique promise of Mustard.
Once a user’s swing analysis is complete, the app presents a step-by-step plan for improvement, starting with the swing variable that emerges as the top priority. The app then takes the user through the potential causes of the problem, like a faulty setup, an off-line takeaway or a misconception about how to create power. Understanding the why in the what is critical to fixing technique.
The app then turns to personalized instruction, which is the centerpiece of the user’s experience. The instruction hub contains hundreds of videos on corrections and practice drills keyed to the 12 swing variables. In this part of the app, there is some personal choice because learning is never one-size-fits-all.
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“I might think a certain drill is perfect for a student, but if it doesn’t connect with them, it’s useless,” Blackburn says. “Good teachers have many ways to attack a single issue. We designed the app to let players experiment, after we get them on the right track.”
“I’ve worked with some great teachers, and they’ve always given me multiple drills to cycle through,” says Knott, the Merion club champ. “I use Mustard the same way—going back and forth with the different drills for my specific issue. Having a single focus and lots of ways to address it, that’s the best thing about Mustard.”
Users are prompted to pick instructional content that fits their learning style, feels at the right level for them and produces noticeable results. They also can favorite lessons and drills, and the app provides many tools for them to manage their practice, find fresh content and adjust their plan as they go.
Your browser does not support the video tag. Taking a Deeper Dive
The Mustard Golf app’s methodology and capability also draw from the top echelons of the game. Rose, a major champion and former World No. 1, is a Mustard investor and advisor and helped develop the app's diagnostics. The process Rose uses to keep his own game on point is part of the Mustard experience.
“When I’m not hitting the shots I want, I almost always go back to things I’ve worked on for years,” Rose says. “Every golfer has a swing pattern, and when you understand those things that keep cropping up, improvement comes a lot quicker. This app can help you find and fix them.”
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Going a step further, the app also looks for combinations of moves; for example, what’s happening in the backswing to cause the structure of the downswing? When the app detects a common combination, the analysis follows Blackburn’s “first domino” approach: It favors the swing variable that promises the quickest, most doable change.
“As teachers, we always see swing combos, like a backswing that’s too far inside leading to a casting motion with the arms from the top to try to get the club back on line,” says Michael Jacobs, another Golf Digest top-10 teacher on the Mustard instruction team. “Just about every golf swing has offsetting moves like that.”
These adjustments, called matchups, are the most effective way to move technique that is too far one way or another back toward neutral. Trying to create a textbook-perfect swing is widely considered unrealistic; effective swings have the right corresponding pieces. This reasoning is behind much of the app’s instructional content, mainly lessons and drill demonstrations from Blackburn, Rose and other leading experts.
The last critical piece in swing improvement is progress tracking, which in the app starts with uploading additional swings for analysis. With a new set of measurements, the app assigns revised grades on the 12 swing variables. This process either confirms the user’s original plan or presents a new one, again simulating how golf instructors adapt on the lesson tee.
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Mustard user Shaun Corpron, a 5-handicap from Lexington, has had his swing analyzed many times at a high-tech golf facility. “When I got the app, I already knew my problem was too much upper body on the downswing. Mustard nailed it in one swing, so I dug into the drills. In a few weeks, I went from scoring a 4 or 5 in that area to a 9 or 10. I was blown away, and I could do it all on my own.”
Another tool instructors use to help golfers check progress is the use of slow-motion swings. Motor learning relies on clear, repeated training, and slower is better when trying to acquire skills or break habits. The app’s slow-motion feature allows users to check their swing positions in real time using their phone camera.
As the user makes a slow practice swing, watching their phone screen as if looking in a mirror, the app gives an auditory grade of 1-10 for each swing position. By pausing and making adjustments to their club or body, the user can see the difference between, say, a “5” and a “10.”
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“It’s much easier to perform something slowly, then add speed as you get better at it,” Blackburn says. “Mustard’s Slow-Mo Drills give immediate feedback, showing the player what perfect feels like and how to get from where they are to where they want to be.”
Like with any form of learning, commitment comes from confidence. The golfer has to trust the accuracy of the analysis, the organization of a plan and the credibility of the advice. Mustard’s industry-leading technology and partnerships with the game’s top instruction experts have set the stage to democratize great coaching.
To check out the Mustard Golf app, have a swing clip handy or shoot one in the app (first swing analysis is free). Get the app here.
A dad drives 15 hours to surprise his daughter at her basketball game creating the moment she always wished for.
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For Aariele Alford, the only thing missing from her basketball games was her dad.
Ever since her parents split up when she was 2, her father, Aaron Alford, made a promise never to miss her birthday. But when Aariele and her mother, Sophilia, moved from Jackson, Mississippi, to Houston, the 15-hour drive made keeping that tradition difficult.
Knowing his daughter wished he could see her play for the first time, Aaron secretly teamed up with Sophilia to plan the long-awaited surprise for Aariele’s 15th birthday.
On game night at CE King High School, Aaron snuck onto the bleachers. Sophilia got her daughter’s attention, and when Aariele scanned the crowd and caught a glimpse of her dad, the teenage basketball player froze stiff on the court.
Watch the moment a teenage basketball player catches sight of her doting dad
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Districts for Gaylord, St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston baseball/softball have been set. Check out who, when and where area teams are playing.
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GAYLORD ― We've nearly reached the end of the 2025-26 school year around Michigan, meaning the end of the spring high school sports season is almost upon us.
Districts for high school baseball and softball begin on Tuesday, May 26, followed by semifinals and finals action from Thursday, May 28 to Saturday, May 30. The district pairings are set for Gaylord, St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston as the postseason quickly approaches, and it's time to find out when and where Gaylord-area teams are playing.
Gaylord baseball and St. Mary softball are hosting district tournaments, while the other area teams will be spread out around Northern Michigan. Take a look at the destinations and brackets for all six area baseball and softball teams:
Gaylord baseball, Division 2, District 34 (Gaylord host)
First round, Tuesday, May 26: Petoskey vs. Sault Ste. Marie, 4 p.m.
Semifinals-Finals, Saturday, May 30: Sault/Petoskey vs. Cheboygan, 11 a.m.; Gaylord vs, Grayling, 1:30 p.m.
Gaylord softball, Division 2, District 34 (Sault Ste. Marie host)
Semifinals-Finals, Thursday, May 28: Grayling vs. Petoskey, 11 a.m.; Gaylord vs. Sault Ste Marie, 1 p.m.
Gaylord St. Mary baseball, Division 4, District 103 (Bellaire host)
First round, Tuesday, May 26: Ellsworth vs. Central Lake, 4 p.m.; Bellaire vs. East Jordan, 5:30 p.m.
Semifinals-Finals, Saturday, May 30: Ellsworth/Central Lake vs. Boyne Falls, 4 p.m.; Gaylord St. Mary vs. Bellaire/East Jordan, 12 p.m.
Gaylord St. Mary softball, Division 4, District 103(Gaylord St. Mary host)
First round, Tuesday, May 26: Gaylord St. Mary vs. Wolverine, 5 p.m.
Semifinals-Finals, Friday, May 29: St. Mary/Wolverine vs. Inland Lakes, 12 p.m.; Boyne Falls vs. Onaway, 2 p.m.
Johannesburg-Lewiston baseball, Division 4, District 101(Hillman host)
First round, Tuesday, May 26: Onaway vs. Posen, 3 p.m.; JoBurg vs. Atlanta, 5 p.m.
Semifinals-Finals, Saturday, May 30: Onaway/Posen vs. Hillman, 10 a.m.; JoBurg/Atlanta vs. Rogers City, 12 p.m.
Johannesburg-Lewiston baseball, Division 4, District 101 (Hillman host)
First round, Tuesday, May 26: JoBurg vs. Posen, 4 p.m.
Semifinals-finals, Saturday, May 30: JoBurg/Posen vs. Hillman, 10 a.m.; Rogers City vs. Atlanta, 12 p.m.
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
Just a few days before he is due to announce his World Cup squad, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly made a U-turn and decided to call up Manuel Neuer as his No. 1 for the tournament.Neuer...
Just a few days before he is due to announce his World Cup squad, Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly made a U-turn and decided to call up Manuel Neuer as his No. 1 for the tournament.
Neuer actually retired from international duty after Euro 2024, but there has been ongoing speculation ever since about whether the 40-year-old could reverse his decision, particularly after his designated successor Marc-André ter Stegen suffered another injury setback.
However, while Neuer consistently dismissed questions about a potential comeback, Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann played the whole World Cup qualifying campaign.
According to Abendzeitung, Baumann was assured by Nagelsmann during the March international break that his status as first-choice goalkeeper wouldn't change, regardless of whether Neuer would be called up for the World Cup.
Although disappointed, the 35-year-old is said to have accepted the decision and told the DFB coach he remains available for the tournament as second choice.
“Breach of trust”
Nagelsmann’s decision has drawn criticism from some German pundits, with former DFB goalkeeper Jens Lehmann describing it as a “breach of trust” towards Baumann in an interview with Bild.
“Other players may also start questioning whether they can trust the national team coach’s statements,” Lehmann said.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper added that while competition is part of the game, it is essential for players to have “clarity” and be able to “rely on the coach”.
Germany legend Lothar Matthäus also addressed the situation in his latest column for Sky Deutschland, arguing that while bringing Neuer back makes sense from a sporting perspective, the process should have been handled better.
“From a purely sporting perspective, this consideration is completely understandable to me. What I don’t like, however, is the way it has been communicated,” Matthäus stated.
“Nagelsmann has taken a path that may have been the right one for him, but it has triggered unnecessary discussions. I don’t personally blame him – the issue concerns the entire DFB. Experienced decision-makers work there. Such situations should have been avoided early on," he continued.
“They could have spoken to Oliver Baumann weeks or months ago and told him: ‘You are my number one, but if Manuel Neuer performs and stays fit, you will also understand that we want to take him. Because we have a responsibility to bring the best players for Germany.’ That would have been honest and transparent.”
Sammer on Baumann: “I don't feel sorry for him at all”
Matthias Sammer, meanwhile, argues that bringing back Neuer is the right decision, insisting that if he is the best option and available for selection, he should play.
“Excuse me: are we on a leisure excursion, or are we in high-performance sport, where the brutality of such decisions can sometimes seem absurd to people on the outside at first glance? Because the goal must be to have the best goalkeeper at this moment in time,” Sammer told Sky, adding that he considers Neuer the best option in goal.
When asked if he feels sorry for Baumann, the former German international replied:
“Not at all. First of all, he is a wonderful person, as I perceive him. He had a good season in Hoffenheim. They didn’t achieve their big goal – even though they were constantly in a position to qualify for the Champions League – but he is a good goalkeeper.
“It may be unfair, but that’s just how it is. With goalkeepers there is even less room than with other players, so I don’t feel sorry for him at all. What matters to me is: Germany must make the best decision. And if it involves him, I congratulate him. If it doesn’t, I congratulate the other. But the best option is Manuel Neuer,” Sammer concluded.
Nagelsmann will announce his full Germany squad on Thursday.
New York Knicks star OG Anunoby is carrying a "probable" status heading into Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks will look to start strong after sweeping the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
Onunoby seems to have recovered from his right hamstring strain and has reportedly participated fully in practices during the week. Therefore, the forward is expected to play barring any last minute setback.
Apart from Onunoby, everyone else on the Knicks is healthy and ready to go. This includes Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and Miles McBride.
On the other hand, the Cavs are also healthy despite coming off a seven-game series against the Detroit Pistons in the other Eastern Conference NBA playoff semifinal.
OG Anunoby suffered a hamstring injury during Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the 76ers. He missed the final two games of the series.
Imaging showed that the Knicks forward reportedly avoided a serious tear and after getting a weeklong rest, he is looking forward to reclaiming his starting role on the Knicks. To do so, the Knicks will have to send Miles McBride back to the bench role.
Anunoby has proven to be valuable for the Knicks in these playoffs, averaging 21.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He is shooting over 61% from the field, including 53% from the 3-point range.
With Anunoby returning, the Knicks have raised the hopes for a 1-0 start against the battle-hardened Cavs.
The Carolina Panthers have big plans for rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II and what he can bring to the team's passing game, but one ESPN analyst isn't projecting big things for the team's new weapon.
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Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazzell II (17) poses after a catch during Tennessee’s home opener against ETSU at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 6, 2025. Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Carolina Panthers have big plans for rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II and what he can bring to the team’s passing game, but one ESPN analyst isn’t projecting big things for the team’s new weapon.
The Carolina Panthers believe they have a real weapon in third-round rookie wide receiver Chris Brazzell II and are excited to start getting his connection going with the rest of the offense during OTAs.
Brazzell brings a rare blend of size and speed while having ridiculous body control. He’s an explosive play waiting to happen every time he’s on the field and head coach Dave Canales is thrilled to finally have a reliable player that can stretch the field.
“I really just, fell in love with, and was really excited to get an opportunity to work with those skills,” Canales said of Brazzell after the draft.
Chris Brazzell II was the standout of minicamp Day 2 🔥
Canales has been high on him since the combine and says his skillset at his height is rare.
Brazzell now joins 2025 Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan, former first-round pick Xavier Legette, and Jalen Coker in Carolina’s wide receiver room. Despite the competition, Brazzell is expected to have an immediate role in the passing game. However, one analyst’s 2026 stat projections are disrespecting his potential in Year 1.
ESPN Mike Clay’s projections for the Carolina Panthers’ offense overlook Chris Brazzell II
Clay’s projections have Brazzell finishing his rookie season with 22 receptions, 288 yards, and two touchdowns as the team’s fourth leading wide receiver. McMillan was projected 1,190 yards, Coker was projected 692 yards, and Legette was projected 308 yards.
Now, I’m not saying Brazzell is going to post 1,000 yards as a rookie or anything like that, but 288 yards is severely overlooking the impact he will have as the vertical threat in this offense. I easily see Brazzell doubling that number as a rookie and finishing as the second-leading receiver on this offense behind McMillan.
One player that Clay’s projections did do some justice for was running back Jonathon Brooks, who’s projected to have 573 yards and three touchdowns on 136 carries. If Brooks is indeed back to full health in 2026, his explosiveness will be a real weapon in the run game and projecting 4.0+ yards per carry is a safe bet to make.
I really think the national media is just overlooking what Brazzell is going to bring to this offense. He will quickly push Legette for opportunities and will be a much more reliable pass catcher while being a deep threat. Only 288 yards projected is criminal for a player with his skillset.
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — The 102 players who have qualified or are exempt from qualifying for the 126th U.S. Open, to be played June 18-21 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Players listed only in the first category for which they are eligible (a-amateur):
U.S. Open champions (10 years)
J.J. Spaun, Bryson DeChambeau, Wyndham Clark, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm, Gary Woodland, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson.
Top 10 and ties from the 2025 U.S. Open
Robert MacIntyre, Viktor Hovland, Cameron Young, Tyrrell Hatton, Carlos Ortiz, Sam Burns, Scottie Scheffler, Ben Griffin, Russell Henley.
2025 U.S. Senior Open champion
Padraig Harrington.
2025 U.S. Amateur champion and runner-up
a-Mason Howell, a-Jackson Herrington.
2025 U.S. Junior Amateur champion
a-Hamilton Coleman.
2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
a-Brandon Holtz.
Masters champions (5 years)
Rory McIlroy.
PGA champions (5 years)
Aaron Rai, Xander Schauffele, Justin Thomas.
British Open champions (5 years)
Brian Harman, Cameron Smith, Collin Morikawa.
2025 BMW PGA Champion
Alex Noren.
2025 Tour Championship field
Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Cantlay, Corey Conners, Keegan Bradley, Chris Gotterup, Akshay Bhatia, Harris English, Shane Lowry, Harry Hall, Nick Taylor, Ludvig Aberg, Justin Rose, Maverick McNealy, Andrew Novak, Jacob Bridgeman, Sungjae Im, Hideki Matsuyama, Sepp Straka.
Multiple winners of PGA Tour events with full FedEx Cup points dating to the 2025 U.S. Open
TBD.
Top 5 players in the 2026 FedEx Cup standings not already exempt on May 18
Alex Fitzpatrick, Sahith Theegala, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Patrick Rodgers, Matti Schmid.
Points leader from the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour (regular season and postseason combined)
Johnny Keefer.
Top 2 players from the 2025 Race to Dubai not already exempt on May 18:
Laurie Canter, Adrien Saddier.
Top player from the 2026 Race to Dubai not already exempt on May 18
Jayden Schaper.
British Amateur champion
a-Ethan Fang.
Mark H. McCormack Medal winner in 2025
a-Jackson Koivun.
NCAA champion
TBD on June 1.
Latin America Amateur champion
a-Mateo Pulcini.
The top 60 players from the May 17 world golf ranking
Patrick Reed, Si Woo Kim, Kristoffer Reitan, Nicolai Hojgaard, Kurt Kitayama, Min Woo Lee, Ryan Gerard, Rickie Fowler, Jake Knapp, Jason Day, Alex Smalley, Marco Penge, Daniel Berger, Michael Kim, Matt McCarty, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott, Nico Echavarria, Sam Stevens, Ryan Fox, Michael Brennan, Pierceson Coody, David Puig, Ryo Hisatsune.
The top 60 players from the June 14 world golf ranking
TBD.
The top player not already exempt from the top three in the final 2025 LIV Golf standings on May 18
Joaquin Niemann.
The top player not already exempt and in the top three of the 2026 LIV Golf standings on May 18
To find a star worthy enough of filling one of the Indy 500’s most iconic roles, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway didn’t have to look far this year. Indiana Fever megastar Caitlin Clark, whose seismic impact on the game of women’s basketball has made her a global name, has been named grand marshal for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. The grand marshal’s role at most races is to give the command to start engines, but that is reserved for Roger Penske at Indy (part of a long his
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To find a star worthy enough of filling one of the Indy 500’s most iconic roles, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway didn’t have to look far this year.
Indiana Fever megastar Caitlin Clark, whose seismic impact on the game of women’s basketball has made her a global name, has been named grand marshal for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday.
The grand marshal’s role at most races is to give the command to start engines, but that is reserved for Roger Penske at Indy (part of a long history of the track owner saying “start your engines”). So Clark’s job will be to call drivers to their cars during the pre-race ceremonies, which are steeped in tradition.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,'” Clark said in a press release.
The ties between Clark and the Indy 500 are not just local. Gainbridge has been the presenting sponsor of the 500 since 2019, and Clark has been a brand ambassador for the company since her senior year of college (before she even began playing games at the Fever’s home arena, Gainbridge Fieldhouse).
IMS has wanted Clark to attend the Indy 500 for several years, and this year the timing finally worked out.
“Since being drafted by the Fever, fans have been clamoring to share the epic celebration and thrilling excitement of Indy 500 race day with Caitlin,” IndyCar and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “Through our incredible partnership with Gainbridge, everyone joining us for the world’s largest single-day spectator sporting event will get to do just that.”
The Indy 500 has already announced a grandstand sellout for the second consecutive year. With approximately 275,000 grandstand seats plus a massive infield, attendance is expected to be similar to last year’s 350,000 number on Sunday.
Recent grand marshals at the Indy 500 have included names like Major League Baseball legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez (who shared the role last year), actor Dylan Sprouse, “Encanto” star Stephanie Beatriz, and country music star Blake Shelton.
Clark isn’t the only big Indiana name involved in this year’s 500. Indiana University head football coach Curt Cignetti will be the honorary pace car driver and will drive a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X around the track before the race.
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons says trading T'Vondre Sweat to New York Jets "was a surprise to me."
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The Tennessee Titans' coaching staff underwent a complete overhaul during the offseason, and new head coach Robert Saleh wasted no time in making roster moves. One of the first things he did as head coach was to trade nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat to the New York Jets for defensive end Jermaine Johnson II.
The trade came as a surprise to many, including Titans' veteran defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
Simmons took Sweat under his wing upon his arrival in Nashville, and recently revealed that he was caught off guard.
"It was a surprise to me," Simmons told CBS Sports' Offseason Playbook. "Just trying to get a feel for why. I feel like Sweat still has some potential that sometimes he doesn't understand. For me, that's the reason why I'm like Sweat, you're coming down to Dallas with me this offseason. I wanted to pull that out of him to be able to be like: 'I have so much potential. I can be the best nose tackle in football.' And he has the potential to do that. I hate it, but it's a business."
Sweat does have a ton of upside and loads of potential, which is why most people were surprised at the trade. But he's lacked discipline and consistency in his off-field habits, which is why Simmons set Sweat up with his workout crew in Dallas.
Simmons was in Tennessee for rehab when the trade happened, and learned of the move when Sweat called him from Dallas.
If Sweat can nail down his off-field habits and workouts and become more disciplined and consistent, then his on-field play will follow suit. He is a powerhouse and a terror on the defensive line, and if Jets' veteran defensive tackle Harrison Phillips can pick up where Simmons left off, then the Jets have a gem on their hands.
Jorge Masvidal gives Conor McGregor no shot in his UFC 329 comeback fight.
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Jorge Masvidal thinks Conor McGregor is in for a rough return at UFC 329.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will fight for the first time in five years when he meets Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the main event of the July 11 card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). "The Notorious" is a sizeable underdog going into the fight, and Masvidal thinks that's on point.
"I think Max smokes him like a brisket," Masvidal said on Paramount's "Deep Waters" podcast. "I don't think Max has gotten bad where certain fighters have been around for so long where they're not the same. Max had a good fight with Charles (Oliveira). Max is still Max, I think. Still think he can go out there and win a world title, do a lot of things. I think it's a bad fight for Conor, confidence or no confidence."
McGregor's ability to return and fight at the highest level will be a prime focus of pre-fight narratives. Masvidal said he has not observed a person who done the right things while out of the cage to make his comeback successful.
"Conor lives a certain lifestyle that we've all seen and you can kind of tell it's not (good)," Masvidal said. "Max lives a complete different lifestyle. I've never seen Max at a club drunk. I've never seen him in a headline doing anything bad. That guy lives a different life where it's gym, family, gym, family. I think that's going to pay the biggest difference. You can be away from the sport for five years like nothing happened, if you live that life."
Cleveland CavaliersYsportshubSan Antonio SpursNewsMichael Wilbonoklahoma city thunderGet UpESPNNBA2026 NBA Playoffs
The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks haven’t even started their Eastern Conference finals series yet and they are already taking fire from Michael Wilbon. Monday night saw the NBA’s Final Four tip off in the 2026 Playoffs with an epic contest between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western…
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Credit: imagn images, ESPN
The Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks haven’t even started their Eastern Conference finals series yet and they are already taking fire from Michael Wilbon.
Monday night saw the NBA’s Final Four tip off in the 2026 Playoffs with an epic contest between the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. And Game 1 did not disappoint as it was one of the best playoff games in years with the Spurs and Victor Wembanyama finding a way to outlast the Thunder in double overtime.
As the nation was in awe over Wemby’s performance and the quality of basketball on both ends of the floor, it certainly looked and felt like an NBA Finals caliber series. And in talking about the Spurs-Thunder on Tuesday morning on ESPN’s Get Up and looking ahead to Knicks-Cavs, Wilbon couldn’t resist calling it as he saw it. And if it trolled some Knicks fans in New York, that was just a bonus.
“This is the junior varsity series. … Nothing we’re gonna see, out of Madison Square Garden, is gonna come close to last night.” @RealMikeWilbon doesn’t believe the Knicks-Cavs series can compare to the Spurs-Thunder pic.twitter.com/ufoAAOryuG
“Can I just be annoying and anger everybody in New York,” Wilbon asked host Mike Greenberg. “Nothing that we see here in this series in the Eastern Conference is going to approach last night. Nothing. Ok? This is the junior varsity series. It may be great. By the way, the winner if it’s the Knicks could survive and win the whole thing because these two could kill each other, go Ali-Frazier in Manilla and nothing’s left. But nothing we’re gonna see out of Madison Square Garden is gonna come close to what we saw last night.”
Maybe it’s not entirely fair to make that proclamation before the East finals even gets underway. And to compare it specifically to Game 1 of the West finals, which was one of the best playoff games in years, might not be entirely fair either. But the oddsmakers, and the vast majority of basketball fans, certainly agree with Michael Wilbon. The Thunder and Spurs are +125 and +155 to win the championship while the Knicks and Cavs are at +475 and +2000 respectively on DraftKings.
If there’s one thing the Knicks and Cavs have going for them it’s that Tony Kornheiser proclaimed the NBA Playoffs had too many blowouts and were lacking drama before the Thunder-Spurs instant classic. So judging by that reverse jinx philosophy from PTI hosts, Knicks-Cavs will be the greatest NBA playoff series of all time.
Austin Reaves might be the best player available in free agency this summer.
The Los Angeles Lakers guard enjoyed a breakthrough 2025-26 season. Across 51 games, he averaged 23.3 points on 49 percent shooting while forming a close bond with Luka Doncic, the franchise's superstar.
Reaves' closeness with Doncic means the Lakers will prioritize retaining the 27-year-old in the summer once he declines his player option for next season. And for Reaves, it is financially advantageous for him to remain Los Angeles as opposed to heading elsewhere.
Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus predicts that Reaves will re-sign with the Lakers on a five-year, $168 million deal, far below the maximum he could make in Los Angeles but still worth close to $35 million per year.
But rebuilding teams willing to give Reaves a starring role could raise his price past the Lakers' comfort level.
"The challenge will be finding teams capable of spending if the Brooklyn Nets or Chicago Bulls are willing to drive up the price," Pincus wrote. "Other franchises could get involved by trading to create cap room or by attempting to initiate a sign-and-trade with the Lakers."
It all depends on what Reaves wants. And if he only has eyes on the Lakers, that gives leverage to Rob Pelinka in the LA front office.
The connection between Caitlin Clark and the state of Indiana continues to grow.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the Indiana Fever superstar has been named the Grand Marshal for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500, which takes place Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
The role of Grand Marshal is one of the most recognizable traditions tied to the Indy 500. The honorary position includes giving the ceremonial command for drivers to report to their cars during pre-race festivities before one of the biggest events in motorsports.
Caitlin Clark joins legendary Indy 500 company
Clark now joins a long list of notable figures who have served as Grand Marshal over the decades. Previous names connected to the honor include Bob Hope, Larry Bird, Peyton Manning, Tamika Catchings and even the 2012 Indiana Fever championship team.
News: Caitlin Clark has been named Grand Marshal of the 110th Indianapolis 500, to be held on Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to experiencing an iconic piece of what makes Indiana so special and being part of the time-honored tradition of ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.’”
The Indianapolis 500 has long embraced major figures connected to Indiana sports and entertainment, making Clark a natural choice as her popularity continues to reshape the sports landscape in the state.
Clark’s arrival in Indianapolis has already had a major impact on the Fever and the WNBA overall. Attendance, television ratings and national attention around the franchise have surged since she entered the league.
Indiana sports spotlight keeps growing
The Indy 500 announcement is another reminder of how quickly Clark has become woven into Indiana sports culture beyond basketball.
From sold-out Fever games to national television appearances and community events around Indianapolis, Clark has become one of the most recognizable athletes in the country while helping introduce new fans to women’s basketball.
Now, she will add another memorable moment to her growing list of Indiana sports milestones when she helps lead pre-race ceremonies at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” on Sunday.
The Eastern AA divisional track meet is set for noon on Friday, May 22, at Memorial Stadium.
The C.M. Russell High and Great Falls High squads will host the eight-team meet as athletes look to improve state-qualifying marks or earn their way to next week’s state meet by way of a top eight finish.
Here are the Eastern AA boys leaders by event heading into the penultimate meet of the season.
Colt Emerson could hardly have scripted a better first Major League hit. The Seattle Mariners rookie announced himself with a three-run home run for his first MLB hit, turning an important personal milestone into a decisive team moment.
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Photo by Maddy Grassy/Getty Images
Colt Emerson could hardly have scripted a better first Major League hit.
The Seattle Mariners rookie announced himself with a three-run home run for his first MLB hit, turning an important personal milestone into a decisive team moment.
That swing mattered because it was not empty theatre. Emerson’s eighth-inning blast helped seal a 6-1 win over the Chicago White Sox and gave Seattle immediate evidence that their aggressive call-up made sense.
Colt Emerson gives Mariners instant return after Triple-A call-upPhoto by Maddy Grassy/Getty Images
Seattle brought Emerson up after Brendan Donovan’s left groin issue opened a roster spot, and the timing only sharpened the pressure around the move.
The Mariners entered Tuesday at 23-26, one game back in the AL West, and badly needed a spark after a difficult recent run.
Emerson supplied one immediately. His first Major League hit was a three-run homer in the eighth inning, extending a 3-1 lead into a 6-1 advantage.
That does not mean one swing should turn him into a finished product. It does mean Seattle got the perfect early response from a player they have clearly decided is part of something bigger.
Seattle have already made their belief in Colt Emerson clear
The Mariners were not treating Emerson like a standard emergency replacement. They had already handed him an eight-year, $95 million extension with a ninth-year club option before he had played a Major League game.
That is the context that makes this moment feel bigger than a rookie highlight. Emerson was also Seattle’s youngest debutant since Félix Hernández, and Justin Hollander said this was not a “15-at-bat or a 20-at-bat tryout”.
Still, Emerson’s first hit gave the Mariners a powerful first return on that belief. For a team searching for momentum, their new franchise piece could not have chosen a better way to arrive.
Takeaways from the NY Giants raucous town hall previewing the 2026 season
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New York Giants Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo record a video after beating the Los Angeles Chargers | Brad Penner-Imagn Images
The New York Giants enter the next phase of their off-season program with the start of OTAs this week. The team celebrated the milestone in their calendar by holding a town hall at the Beacon Theater in NYC to preview the 2026 season.
Some of the biggest names around the Giants franchise were in attendance, including general manager Joe Schoen, head coach John Harbaugh, quarterback Jaxson Dart, running back Cam Skattebo, edge defenders Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. The Giants also had their rookies on the stage as well, with Arvell Reese, guard Francis Mauigoa, and cornerback Colton Hood all there.
Harbaugh was introduced to thunderous applause and praised Giants fans as “unbelievable” and shared a story from his decision to join the Giants earlier this year.
Harbaugh added that the team needs to win games for their fans.
The season starts as a clean slate for everyone, and it doesn’t matter what any of the Giants’ division rivals did a year ago. “All I care about,” Harbaugh said, “is tomorrow’s practice.”
That practice is the start of the Giants’ OTAs on Tuesday. “The guys have been working hard,” he said. “They’re ready to start OTAs tomorrow.”
Harbaugh believes his team will surprise people this year and wants the team to dictate terms for their opponents on offense in addition to defense.
There haven’t been many clues yet as to what the Giants’ offense will look like, but Harbaugh said that they want to be unpredictable on first and second down. “I don’t want to be at the mercy of the (opposing) defense,” he said. “We’ve got to make them decide if it’s run or pass.”
He added that he believes the Giants could have the best tight end room in the NFL between Isaiah Likely, Theo Johnson, Chris Manhertz, Thomas Fidone II, and Tanner Conner.
According to edge defender Kayvon Thibodeaux, it will all start with the head coach as Harbaugh is always testing the players’ limits. He believes that the pressure to meet and exceed their limits will pay dividends for the team. “This is a perfect year for a miracle story,” Thibodeaux said.
Jaxson Dart added that the coach holds himself to the same standards. “He’s working out in the weight room at 4:30 in the morning before we even get there.”
“That’s the type of pressure you want,” he said. “I’d rather it be on me than anybody else.”
Second-year running back Cam Skattebo, who took the stage in typical fashion, is probably just as happy to see Mauigoa in Giants blue as Dart is. Skattebo told fans that he’ll be ready to go for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys. He also added, “Wait until you see me for 17 games.”
Skattebo is predicting a big year for himself and the Giants. Not only is he predicting a playoff berth and a “17-plus” game schedule, but he’s set lofty expectations. “it’s going to be 300 carries for over 2,000 yards,” he said.
Turning to the defensive side of the ball, Harbaugh seemed almost giddy at how the defense has been transformed from a year ago.
He noted that he believes the Giants’ cornerbacks are wildly underrated and the “two safeties” (Jevon Holland and Tyler Nubin) have Pro Bowl potential. Likewise, he believes the Giants have four “high level” linebackers in Micah McFadden, Arvell Reese, Tremaine Edmunds, and Jack Kelly, to go with their three starting outside linebackers in Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and Abdul Carter.
Here was the reaction to John Harbaugh‘s mention of Dexter Lawrence and his response at Giants Town Hall pic.twitter.com/5BcVu9TSxm
Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson suffered a torn ACL in her left knee in a win over the Minnesota Lynx, the team announced Tuesday. Jackson injured her knee in the second quarter on Sunday and an MRI revealed the tear. "We’re devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery,” Chicago general manager Jeff Pagliocca said.
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CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson suffered a torn ACL in her left knee in a win over the Minnesota Lynx, the team announced Tuesday.
Jackson injured her knee in the second quarter on Sunday and an MRI revealed the tear.
"We’re devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery,” Chicago general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season. We are certain she was primed for a career year. Our world-class medical staff will work hard with Rickea, who is one of the toughest players in the league, to get her back on the court.”
The Sky were already dealing with a handful of injuries as DiJonai Carrington (foot), Azura Stevens (knee) and Courtney Vandersloot (knee) are yet to make their season debuts. Skylar Diggins, who signed as a free agent this offseason, missed Sunday’s game with an eye injury.
The Sky had gotten off to a strong start with wins in three of their first four games — all on the road. Chicago plays its next four at home, starting with Wednesday night's game against Dallas.
The Montreal Canadiens booked their place in the NHL‘s Eastern Conference Final after a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 on Monday night. While the victory sparked huge celebrations across Montreal, the scenes outside the…
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The Montreal Canadiens booked their place in the NHL‘s Eastern Conference Final after a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 on Monday night.
While the victory sparked huge celebrations across Montreal, the scenes outside the Bell Centre later turned chaotic as police used tear gas to control a section of the crowd.
Forward Alex Newhook scored the decisive goal 11:21 into overtime at KeyBank Center. The 25-year-old delivered his second Game 7 series-clinching goal of the playoffs and helped Montreal complete a dramatic comeback run to the Eastern Conference Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Soon after the winning goal, thousands of Canadiens fans poured into the streets around the Bell Centre. Sportsnet shared a video on X with the caption, “What a scene in the streets of Montreal 😅.”
The clip showed fans celebrating wildly inside the arena and across downtown Montreal. Fireworks could also be seen shooting high into the sky beside towering buildings as supporters waved flags, screamed in joy, and lit flares.
Celebrations after Canadiens’ win turn tense in downtown Montreal
The celebrations later became tense near Peel Street and Sainte-Catherine Street. Montreal Gazette reporter Harry North posted a video on X and wrote, “Riot police charging at and also deploying some kind of tear gas/chemical irritant against #Habs fans in downtown Montreal.”
According to Montreal police, most supporters left the Bell Centre area peacefully after the overtime victory. However, officers said a small group became aggressive and threw trash bins and bottles toward police near the downtown intersection.
Riot police then moved in and used chemical irritants (tear gas) to disperse the crowd. Police loudspeakers also issued repeated warnings asking people to leave the area.
Authorities later confirmed that fireworks and pyrotechnics were also launched toward officers during the unrest. Two people received fines for public mischief, though no arrests were reported as of midnight.
Despite the late-night chaos, the Canadiens’ dramatic playoff victory remained the biggest story in Montreal. Jakub Dobes made 37 saves, while Phillip Danault and Zachary Bolduc also scored in the memorable Game 7 triumph.
The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to d all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job, Ezek, Valyrian Steel, Kung_Fu_Zizou, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco and yours truly, Felipejack. Mourinho coaching staff Other updates regarding Mourinho Will Paz return? Honestly, with the […]
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The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to d all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It’s in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job, Ezek, Valyrian Steel, Kung_Fu_Zizou, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco and yours truly, Felipejack.
Mourinho coaching staff
🚨 JUST IN: José Mourinho is coming to Real Madrid with his Benfica coaching staff:
– João Tralhão: assistant coach. – Pedro Machado: assistant coach. – Nuno Santos: goalkeeping coach. – Roberto Merella: analyst.
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) May 19, 2026
Other updates regarding Mourinho
Per report, Mourinho will also request a second medical opinion on every injury.
The contract will be signed only after Perez is re-elected Madrid’s President, especially considering that everything indicate that Riquelme is going to be an candidate (look below).
Will Paz return?
🚨 Nico Paz is waiting to understand what José Mourinho wants to do with him, specifically looking for clarity on the incoming manager's tactical system and what his role would be in terms of importance.
Honestly, with the issues we already have to play many players, aka Arda and Jude, I don’t think it’s wise to bring back Paz, unless there are sales/departures (and, to be clear, I don’t mean Ceballos)
Riquelme set to announce his candidancy
🚨 BREAKING: Enrique Riquelme has now finalized his candidacy to run for Real Madrid president.
He will announce it this week and will demand 2 direct debates against Florentino Pérez.
The LSU Tigers have signed former St. John's star RJ Luis, who spent last year in the NBA G League with the Boston Celtics.
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The LSU Tigers made a massive addition to their men's basketball roster on Tuesday morning, adding the former 2025 Big East Player of the Year. However, there are some questions about the situation going forward.
According to multiple reports, former St. John's star RJ Luis has officially signed with LSU, coming off of a 2024-25 season where he averaged 18.2 points per game and was named the Big East Player of the Year. After not being selected in the 2025 NBA Draft, Luis went the G-League route, signing with the Utah Jazz and throwing his eligibility for the 2026 season into question.
Luis was later traded to the Boston Celtics in August as part of a package for forward Georges Niang. He didn’t appear in any G-League games and is now trying to jump-start his career again at the college level, something we've seen a handful of players attempt over the past couple of years.
According to On3's Pete Nakos, Luis is currently ineligible to play at the college level due to his NBA affiliation, but there is an expectation that he will take this issue to court, hoping to regain his final year of eligibility.
Should Luis be ruled eligible for the 2026-27 season, it would be a massive addition for the Tigers, who are looking for a spark on the hardwood, having missed out on the NCAA Tournament in each of the last four seasons. This offseason, LSU rehired head coach Will Wade to lead the men's program, hoping to infuse some life into the team.
Adding a former Second-Team All-American would be a good start.
Hello everybody, and welcome back to another week of the WWE’s Men’s Power Rankings. With the Clash in Italy PLE next week on Sunday, May 31st, you can expect a new face on these rankings. That wrestler was on this…
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Hello everybody, and welcome back to another week of the WWE’s Men’s Power Rankings. With the Clash in Italy PLE next week on Sunday, May 31st, you can expect a new face on these rankings. That wrestler was on this list for a very long time before coming back and making a statement. Who is that wrestler? You’ll see soon enough. With that being said, let’s get to this week’s list after what turned out to be a great PLE. Have a great day, everyone, and may the slams be with you.
Making his return to the list at number 10 is none other than the number one-ranked wrestler to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship. That happened when Gunther defeated Royce Keys on SmackDown last week. This match will take place at the Clash in Italy, where Rhodes should most likely retain.
9. Seth Rollins:WWE wrestler and Chicago Bears fan Seth Rollins taunts the crowd before announcing the team’s selection with the 56th overall pick during the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft runs through April 26. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Seth “Freakin” Rollins makes his triumphant return to my list by taking over the ninth spot, while pushing Logan Paul out of the top 10. After losing to Bron Breakker at Backlash, Rollins was looking for some revenge on RAW last week, but couldn’t find any, as the Street Profits and he were beaten to a pulp by the Vision.
8. Trick Williams:
Trick Williams had a non-title match against the Miz, who still seems to be cursed by Danhausen. Regardless, Williams didn’t need much help to dispatch the Miz, leading to another victory for him.
7. Oba Femi:
Oba Femi issued an open challenge again this week, which was answered by Los Garza. Los Garza decided to bring Angel and Berto to the ring with him, which made the match a handicap match. That didn’t match as Femi destroyed them all and left them all lying in the ring.
6. Penta:
Penta came out on RAW last week and called out Ethan Page for being a thorn in his side. The two bickered back and forth before Rusev had had enough. After Rusev interrupted them both, he turned his attention toward Page by saying he’s the one who carried them in their tag team match last week. After putting Page in his place, Je’Von Evans came out to complicate the Intercontinental Championship scene even more.
5. “Main Event” Jey Uso:Feb 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Jey Uso in action Men’s Royal Rumble match during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Jey and Jimmy Uso have been up to their usual stuff, like backing up Roman Reigns and kicking some butt in their matches. However, Jacob Fatu had been beating them down pretty easily, which u feel is going to lead to Jey doing something outrageous, eventually. YEET!
4. Bron Breakker:
Bron Breakker and the Vision kicked off Monday Night RAW last week to run their mouths, like usual. Instead of Rollins coming out, Joe Hendry and the Street Profits came out to sit them up. Unfortunately for them, they ended up getting beaten down after the match by Breakker and the Vision.
3. C.M. Punk:
C.M. Punk lost his World Heavyweight Championship to Roman Reigns in the main event at Wrestlemania. After cutting a promo with Reigns, he decided to say some things to Cody Rhodes, who seems to be Punk’s next target. While he was leaving the ring and walking up the ramp, Rhodes spoke up and told Punk he could have a shot anytime he wanted. Since then, Punk hasn’t been on T.V. much, but you can expect him back at some point soon.
2. Roman Reigns:Feb 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Roman Reigns during the Men’s Royal Rumble match during the WWE Royal Rumble at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Roman Reigns and the Usos decided to have an acknowledgment ceremony in RAW last week that was brutally ended by Jacob Fatu. After Fatu laid out the Usos, he turned his attention toward Reigns, who used a chair to subdue the raging werewolf. That only worked for a few moments, because after that, Fatu got the upper hand and put Reigns through a table.
1. Cody Rhodes:
Cody Rhodes is the number one, pound-for-pound, wrestler in the world, and whether you love or hate it, I’m right. Rhodes had it easy last week, but he still had to put up with some antics from Gunther. While they were getting ready to sign their contract for their match at Clash in Italy, Royce Keys came out and challenged Gunther to a number one contender’s match. Of course, Gunther won that match, meaning this week, Rhodes will most likely have to put up with some crap from Gunther for the next two weeks.
William Schmidt gets the nod on the bump for LSU's first-round game vs. Oklahoma. The right-handed pitcher made 13 starts in his first full season as part of the weekend rotation. He comes into the game against the Sooners fresh off a 10-day break.
The sophomore leads the team with a 1.33 WHIP, 64 innings pitched and 85 strikeouts. Schmidt posted a 4.22 ERA in the regular season. His last appearance came at Georgia on May 8.
Schmidt pitched during the second game of a three-game set against Oklahoma in the regular season. Over four innings, He allowed one run on six hits and finished with seven strikeouts.
LSU's bullpen got its work over the weekend against Florida without Schmidt or fellow regular weekend starter Casan Evans available to begin the games. It hopes to get much-needed rest and a win out of Schmidt to keep the season alive.
LSU baseball vs. Oklahoma is the final game of the day on Tuesday with a tentative start time of 8:00 p.m. CT.
SEC Baseball Tournament ScheduleTuesday, May 19
Game 1: No. 16 Missouri vs No. 9 Ole Miss
Game 2: No. 13 Kentucky vs No. 12 Vanderbilt
Game 3: No. 15 South Carolina vs No. 10 Tennessee
Game 4: No. 14 LSU vs No. 11 Oklahoma
Wednesday, May 20
Game 5: Missouri OR Ole Miss vs. No. 8 Mississippi State
Game 6: Kentucky OR Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Florida
Game 7: South Carolina OR Tennessee vs. No. 7 Arkansas
Game 8: LSU OR Oklahoma vs. No. 6 Auburn
Thursday, May 21
Game 9: Missouri, Ole Miss, or Mississippi State vs. Georgia
Game 10: Kentucky, Vanderbilt, or Florida vs. Alabama
Friday, May 22
Game 11: South Carolina, Tennessee, or Arkansas vs. Texas
Game 12: LSU, Oklahoma, or Auburn vs. Texas A&M
Semifinals and Championship
Both semi-final games will take place on Saturday, May 23. The first semi-final, Game 13, is slated for 12:00 p.m. CT. The second semi-final, Game 14, is slated for 4:00 p.m. CT.
The SEC Championship will be played on Sunday, May 24. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT on ABC.
Leonardo Bonucci has said that having Pep Guardiola as the Italy coach would be a ‘dream’, but for now, there are no concrete signs of this scenario materialising, with three main candidates emerg...
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Guardiola to coach Italy after Man City? What we know so far and the 3 main candidates
Leonardo Bonucci has said that having Pep Guardiola as the Italy coach would be a ‘dream’, but for now, there are no concrete signs of this scenario materialising, with three main candidates emerging in the Italian media: Antonio Conte, Massimiliano Allegri and Claudio Ranieri.
With Italy seeking a new coach after another World Cup heartbreak, Guardiola’s name has been mentioned for the job, not only by Italian media.
Why Guardiola is being linked with Italy job
Azzurri legend Bonucci, who served as Gennaro Gattuso’s assistant until March, said that the Spaniard would be the ideal man for the job: “I think it’s very hard, but dreaming doesn’t cost anything,” argued the ex-defender.
It remains unclear what Guardiola will do after leaving Manchester City, and, as highlighted by Goal.com, the Spaniard may take a sabbatical after ten years at the Etihad Stadium.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Of all the Italian media, Gazzetta dello Sport has been the only one to truly advocate for Guardiola’s appointment, extensively reporting on Pep’s strong ties to Italy stemming from his previous role as a midfielder for Roma and Brescia.
Italy will not hire a new coach before June 22, 2026, when the FIGC presidential election occurs, and a new chief of the Italian FA is appointed.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, gives the team instructions during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Contact has not yet been made with potential candidates, as the role of President of the Italian Federation remains vacant, with outgoing President Gabriele Gravina handling only administrative duties until next month.
As of today, however, the main candidates for the Azzurri job are Conte, Allegri and Ranieri.
The latter already turned down the opportunity to coach the Azzurri in June, following Spalletti’s dismissal.
Manchester United will reportedly look to utilise Joshua Zirkzee in a player-plus-cash proposal for Rafael Leao.That’s according to CaughtOffside, which adds that AC Milan would be willing to explor...
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Man Utd to use 74-app attacker in proposal for Portugal whiz who’s just received World Cup call-up
Manchester United will reportedly look to utilise Joshua Zirkzee in a player-plus-cash proposal for Rafael Leao.
That’s according to CaughtOffside, which adds that AC Milan would be willing to explore ‘creative offers’ that arrive for their star attacker this summer – despite his contract containing a £151.6 million release clause.
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It was confirmed today that the 26-year-old, who’s tied to I Rossoneri until June 2028, had been included in Roberto Martinez’s World Cup squad ahead of the tournament getting underway next month.
Alas, it’s pretty safe to say that Leao won’t be focusing on the transfer speculation until Portugal’s campaign is finished, but that won’t deter United from testing the water once the window opens.
The Sporting CP graduate has returned 10 goals and three assists in 30 appearances across all competitions in 2025/2026.
His most prolific Serie A campaign for Milan came in 2022/2023, when he netted 15 goals and contributed a further 10 assists in 35 games and 2,430 minutes of action.
Leao’s record in all competitions for Milan
How is Zirkzee faring as of late?
As for the out-of-favour Zirkzee, he has endured yet another quiet season at Old Trafford, once again only being used in a sporadic role.
Of the 23 appearances the Dutchman has made, just five have come from the off, and only one of those starts has been under Michael Carrick.
He has scored twice and assisted once, making it no surprise that Carrick has had reservations over Zirkzee’s ability to lead the line or impact a fixture.
The 24-year-old is contracted to United until 2029, though it’s widely anticipated he will be on the move in the coming months.
Atletico Madrid fans will still be recovering from the departure of Antoine Griezmann, which to all intents and purposes took place on Sunday, when he bid an emotional farewell to the Metropolitano. L...
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Second Atletico Madrid legend could leave this summer
Atletico Madrid fans will still be recovering from the departure of Antoine Griezmann, which to all intents and purposes took place on Sunday, when he bid an emotional farewell to the Metropolitano. Los Colchoneros will have to brace themselves for more emotional exits in the coming seasons though.
Despite refusing to give a straight answer in recent weeks, Koke Resurreccion is expected to extend his contract at Atletico Madrid for another year. Yet there are other veterans that could yet leave this summer. Veteran goalkeeper Jan Oblak told DAZN (via Diario AS) that “I always say that you never know what is going to happen in the future. I have a contract, but the summer is always long.” The Slovenian certainly left some doubt over his continuity.
Jan Oblak departure possible this summer
The 33-year-old has been linked with an exit in the past too, and still has two years left on his current deal. It is precisely because he is one of the larger earners at the club that his exit could be more appealing for Los Colchoneros though. AS suggest that Oblak is considering a change of scenery currently, after seeing his number one position seriously threatened by Juan Musso for the first time since he won the number one spot from Miguel Angel Moya in 2014. They add that his €10.4m salary, the highest in the squad, mean Atletico will not stand in his way if he decides to leave.
Uncertainty over Jose Maria Gimenez too
Another veteran that could leave is defender Jose Maria Gimenez, the third captain behind Koke and Oblak, and ahead of the departing Griezmann. The Uruguayan has been hampered by injuries again this season, playing less than half of the minutes this year. Marca add that if an attractive offer appears, then Gimenez, also under contract until 2028, could also depart.
Meanwhile Thomas Lemar is another long-standing member of the squad who could exit. Currently on loan at Girona, the Catalan side will not move to hold onto Lemar, and the Frenchman still has another year on his deal too, but seems unlikely to have a place in the Atletico squad. Like Gimenez, Lemar has been battling injuries, making 27 appearances, but accumulating 1,291 minutes.
The Panama City Panthers football secured an 18-8 victory over the Tri-State Phoenix, improving to a franchise-best 6-3 record.
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FOREST PARK, Ga. — The Panama City Panthers bounced back in a big way Saturday night, making the five-hour road trip worthwhile with an 18-8 victory over the Tri-State Phoenix.
The Panthers endured a rough start as quarterback Gray Stille threw two first-quarter interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, giving the Phoenix an early 8-0 lead. Panama City’s defense, one of the league’s best, settled in quickly and shut down Tri-State.
Cornerbacks Tyvaugh Alexander and Travis King II recorded interceptions, while defensive linemen Adebanji Bamidele, Treysean Prentice, Silvio Martinez and Amos Bostick each registered sacks.
Stille responded before halftime, connecting with wide receiver Cordell Broy on a 30-yard fourth-down touchdown pass to trim the deficit to 8-6 at the break.
The Panthers controlled the second half behind relentless defensive pressure. Linebackers Zay Ross and Dontell Baxter delivered several hard hits, while safety O’Shea Williams and defensive backs Goldie Dorsey and Darrell Truitt helped keep the Phoenix at bay.
On offense, running back Jason Lewis provided the game’s biggest highlight, turning a fourth-down reception into a 50-yard touchdown after breaking five tackles. Running back Tyliek Mears sealed the win with a 2-yard rushing touchdown late in the game.
With the victory, the Panthers improved to 6-3, adding to a historic season as the APDFL playoffs approach.
Panama City will host its regular-season finale May 23 against the Port City Vikings.
1. JXN Iron-Hide (4–1), 2. Alabama Wardawgs (5–2), 3. Panama City Panthers (6–3), 4. Port City Vikings (5–3), 5. Louisiana Gators (0–3), 6. Alabama Bandits (0-7).
Adebanji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.
FC Barcelona are scanning the striker market far and wide in their search for a new No. 9 to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is leaving at the end of the season.Julian Alvarez was seen as the top targ...
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Barcelona revive interest in €60 million-rated Manchester City forward – report
FC Barcelona are scanning the striker market far and wide in their search for a new No. 9 to replace Robert Lewandowski, who is leaving at the end of the season.
Julian Alvarez was seen as the top target, but that option is now practically ruled out due to the cost of the operation. Instead, the Blaugrana are now focusing on a move for Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, although the Blues remain reluctant to sell.
As such, the newly-crowned La Liga champions are also keeping an eye on other options that are liked internally and may be easier to negotiate.
Omar Marmoush back on the agenda
As such, SPORT reports that Barcelona are considering reviving their pursuit of Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush if moves for none of their priority targets work out.
The Manchester City forward is considering leaving the Premier League and is waiting for developments from the Catalans in the coming weeks.
Marmoush is behing Erling Haaland at Man City. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Marmoush has already decided to reject offers from Saudi Arabia because he wants to continue competing at the highest level in Europe.
Once the season ends and before joining his national team camp for the World Cup, he and his representatives are expected to meet with Manchester City to define his future.
Signed as a major arrival, he currently finds himself behind Erling Haaland and with limited chances of becoming a regular starter.
He does not want to play a secondary role and already has interest from major clubs across Europe, which could lead him to push for a move away.
Barcelona like Marmoush, but face competition
Marmoush has many suitors. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Barcelona have been monitoring Marmoush since January. He is a player liked by both Deco and Hansi Flick. Internally, they believe he can operate across every attacking position and that his combination play would fit perfectly with Barcelona’s style.
From a sporting perspective, he suits the team, even if he may not be the type of signing that creates major excitement from a media standpoint.
However, Atletico Madrid are also following his situation closely, while AC Milan have him on their shortlist. Galatasaray, too, are said to be willing to spend heavily to secure him.
Manchester City invested €75 million in Marmoush’s signing and would want to recover that, although his current market valuation is considered lower. If his situation develops into a genuine market opportunity, Barcelona could seriously consider a move.
*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.
Kevin Horlock departs two weeks after Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow's arrest on rape charges.
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Kevin Horlock had managed the club since February 2025, as well as a previous period from 2016 to 2018 [PA Media]
The manager of Maldon & Tiptree Football Club has confirmed he has stepped down from his role with immediate effect.
Kevin Horlock took charge in February 2025 for the second time, after previously managing the club between 2016 and 2018.
This season, he steered the team to the first round of the FA Cup - losing to Port Vale - as well as winning the Isthmian League North Division.
His departure comes two weeks after the arrests of Barrie and Scott Drewitt-Barlow - who have been high-profile figures since the Drewitt-Barlow Organisation took over the club.
'Commitment and dedication'
In a statement on social media, Horlock said: "Unfortunately, my time as manager of Maldon & Tiptree FC has come to an end."
He thanked staff, players and supporters for their "incredible backing", paying tribute to their "commitment, hard work and togetherness".
Reflecting on the FA Cup journey - as well as securing promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division - Horlock said: "I'll always be proud of what we achieved together as a group.
"Thank you all."
The club offered Horlock its "sincere thanks… for an incredible year" and for his "hard work, commitment and dedication".
"Everyone at the club wishes Kevin all the very best for the future," a spokesperson said, adding that the club was inviting applications for the position of first team manager.
The club said some players and fans had been subjected to verbal and online abuse following the arrests earlier this month.
Barrie, 57, and Scott Drewitt-Barlow, 32, appeared in court on 8 May accused of offences including rape and modern slavery trafficking for sexual exploitation.
Defence barrister Oliver Snodin said the pair "strenuously denied" the allegations.
The two men, of Southwood Close, Danbury, are due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 5 June.
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Formula 1Red Bull Racingmax verstappenMotorsportsRalf Schumacher
Red Bull Racing is enduring an absolute nightmare to kick off the 2026 Formula 1 regulation cycle. But do not blame the guy behind the wheel. A viral graphic from the X account @racepluscom highlighted a striking quote from former…
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Red Bull Racing is enduring an absolute nightmare to kick off the 2026 Formula 1 regulation cycle. But do not blame the guy behind the wheel.
A viral graphic from the X account @racepluscom highlighted a striking quote from former F1 race winner and current Sky Sports Germany pundit Ralf Schumacher. According to Schumacher, despite the team’s massive performance drop-off, Max Verstappen remains “at least 0.2 faster than the rest of the Formula 1 grid” based strictly on raw human ability.
It is a brutal, direct reality check for the rest of the paddock. The message is clear: Red Bull’s current technical decline would have completely ruined any other driver’s season. Verstappen is simply masking the cracks.
Verstappen on a Bulletproof Tractor
To say Red Bull has dropped the ball in 2026 is a massive understatement. The internal management collapse from last season has bled directly onto the racetrack. This leaves Verstappen to wrestle an incredibly uncompetitive car.
The statistics from the opening rounds paint a horrific picture for the Milton Keynes squad. Verstappen’s new power unit is massively down on top-end speed. This left him nearly two seconds off the pace at a power-heavy circuit like Shanghai.
May 2, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (3) during the F1 Miami Grand Prix Sprint Race at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Furthermore, the car is plagued by severe mechanical imbalance and power delivery issues. This caused Verstappen to spin out of contention from the front row in Miami. He also crashed completely out of Q1 in Melbourne due to a locked rear axle.
Yet, despite driving what can only be described as a corporate disaster, Verstappen is still dragging the car into positions it has absolutely no right to be in. Schumacher’s point-two-second assessment reinforces a widely accepted paddock truth: Verstappen is performing at a level that completely transcends his machinery. He is out-driving an undriveable concept.
The Real Danger for Red Bull
This isn’t just Ralf Schumacher praising a generational talent. It is a massive, flashing red warning sign for Red Bull’s future.
Schumacher has already publicly warned Verstappen against making an emotional switch to Ferrari. Speaking via MotorsportWeek, Schumacher noted, “Many drivers desperately want to go to Ferrari – it’s something very special as a brand in Formula 1… But I think Max feels very comfortable at Mercedes.” Schumacher pushed heavily for a partnership between the Dutchman and Mercedes. And it kinda makes sense.
Because currently the Silver Arrows boasts the best engine package on the 2026 grid. The team also allows Verstappen to run his favorite GT3 side-projects. Because of this, the visual of Max jumping ship looks more real by the day.
If Verstappen is truly a quarter of a second faster than every other human being on Earth, Red Bull is wasting an irreplaceable asset. Once the reigning four-time World Champion realizes his driving talent is the only thing keeping the team from sinking into the midfield entirely, he won’t hesitate to walk out the door.
Bleacher Report projected the kind of start to the 2026 season the Vikings will have.
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The Minnesota Vikings are entering a pivotal season in 2026. They are having yet another offseason that will be swirtled in quarterback controversey, they have a defense that lost some pieces, and yet, optimism remains. Fans and coaches alike think this roster is good enough to compete for an NFC North title.
What could be the ultimate decider on that front is whether or not the Vikings come out the gates firing on all cylinders. Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport gauged the start for all 32 NFL clubs and he came down to the Vikings and predicts they will have a "mild" start.
He explains, "The key to the start of the Kyler Murray era (He's starting at quarterback. You know it. I know it.) will be surviving the first couple games of the season—NFC North tilts at home against the Packers and at the division champion Chicago Bears. Get past that, and the road gets exponentially easier—the Vikings are at Tampa, at home against the woeful Dolphins and at New Orleans. A 3-2 record when the bye arrives is a reasonable expectation."
The Bucs matchup is far from a given for them as they, too, have retooled, and the same goes for the Saints. So while a mild start is predicted, a poor one could happen, where their lone win comes from the Miami Dolphins. But of course, the games have to be played, but the overall message is Vikings fans should temper expectations at the very least.
The Ohio Cardinal Conference has announced its postseason softball honors for the 2026 season.
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The Ohio Cardinal Conference has announced its postseason softball honors for the 2026 season.
Madison's Caliyah Clapper and Lexi Lewis were first team honorees. Clapper hit .514 with 36 hits, 12 doubles, a triple, 26 RBIs and 20 runs scored while also going 8-6 in the circle with a 3.17 earned run average with 98 strikeouts in 75 innings of work. Lewis hit .341 with 28 hits, nine doubles, 23 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Lexington's Alexis Cantrell and Quinn Patrick were first team honorees. Cantrell hit .382 with 29 hits, seven doubles, two triples, a home run, six RBIs and 33 runs scored. Patrick hit .380 with 27 hits, six doubles, 18 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Ashland's Rowen Garn also earned first team honors after hitting .534 with 31 hits, a doubles, four triples, a home run, 18 RBIs and 21 runs scored.
Madison Campbell Kiser and Allie Shrader joined Lexington's Kylie Thornton and Addi Williams as second team selections. Ashland's Isla McFrederick and McKenna Chandler, Lexington's Mariana Molton and Kyra Boyd and Madison's Izzy Wamsley and Chloe Jeffers were all honorable mentions.
Here is the complete list of All-Ohio Cardinal Conference softball honorees for the 2026 season.
2026 Ohio Cardinal Conference Softball Teams
Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year: Kayla Reid, Wooster.
Ohio Cardinal Conference Pitcher of the Year: Kara Lint, Dover.
Ohio Cardinal Conference Coach of the Year: Hannah Duff, Dover.
FIRST TEAM: Kayla Reid, Wooster; Kara Lint, Dover; Rowen Garn, Ashland; Sara Cardani, New Philadelphia; Caliyah Clapper, Madison; Zalina Proper, West Holmes; Abbey Lint, Dover; Alli Hupp, Dover; Ariana Immel, Dover; Avery Williams, Wooster; Lexi Lewis, Madison; Alexis Cantrell, Lexington; Quinn Patrick, Lexington.
SECOND TEAM: Campbell Kiser, Madison; Olivia McCue, Dover; Sophie Bantum, Dover; Madi Bantum, Dover; Kylie Thornton, Lexington; Addi Williams, Lexington; Briar Cline, West Holmes; McKenzie Dorris, Wooster; Easton Miller, New Philadelphia; Allie Shrader, Madison; Brylinne Smith, New Philadelphia.
HONORABLE MENTION: Isla McFrederick, Ashland; Jillian Howard, New Philadelphia; McKenna Chandler, Ashland; Abbey Sweitzer, New Philadelphia; Hailey Kuecher, Dover; Emma Miller, West Holmes; Elle Tonya, Dover; Gabby Fowler, West Holmes; Mariana Molton, Lexington; Sydney McAfoos, Wooster; Kyra Boyd, Lexington; Averee Karazsia, Wooster; Izzy Wamsley, Madison; Chloe Jeffers, Madison.
The vote for Liverpool’s most disappointing player of 2025-26 should be more competitive than the vote for the best.
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Yesterday we talked about which Liverpool players impressed fans most this season. The pickings were slim, with most agreeing the only real answer was industrious midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai and that the only real runner-up then was entertaining striker Hugo Ekitike.
With that out of the way, then, we’re on to trying to figure out which Liverpool player disappointed us the most this season. And whew lad are the pickings not slim on this side of the conversation.
That isn’t perhaps entirely fair to the players, as when everybody is bad it’s probably less about the players and more about larger issues. Team construction by the sporting director and upper management, tactical choices by the head coach, and a general de-emphasis on team fitness have all clearly made things more difficult than they had to be and many of the players struggled as a result.
Still, mitigating reasons aside an awful lot of Liverpool players were pretty, pretty bad. So. Let’s get to it.
Alexander Isak
It’s not Alexander Isak’s fault he’s injury prone and spent more of the season injured than available. It’s not his fault he missed pre-season as Liverpool pushed to get his transfer across the line. And it’s not his fault Liverpool paid £100M+ to sign him after already getting Hugo Ekitike and left themselves recklessly thin at other positions.
So while none of that might be Isak’s fault, there’s simply no way to look at the £100M+ Liverpool spent on him and be happy about what the club got in return over the past 12 months.
Alexis Mac Allister
Over two seasons, Mac Allister seemed to have established himself as the successor to Gini Wijnaldum, the tireless and tactically astute jack-of-all-trades who arrived with more of an attacking profile and grew into the glue that held together Liverpool’s midfield.
In 2025-26 he wasn’t that. He lacked fitness, he lacked sharpness, he was often outshined by Curtis Jones, and when paired with consistently poor performances his tendency to dive and flop began to rankle.
Cody Gakpo
The degree to which Gakpo became the scapegoat for everything wrong with Liverpool’s attack was probably harsh on the Dutch winger, but the departure of Luis Diaz and a tactical shift to move Mohamed Salah further from goal put a real spotlight on Gakpo—and fans didn’t like what they saw.
In a team that too often slowed things down, nobody slowed things down more than Gakpo. In a team that was far too predictable on the ball, nobody was more predictable than Gakpo. Ignore the overlapping fullback, shift inside, and blast a shot into the first defender before jogging back to defend half-heartedly. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Giorgi Mamardashvili
Liverpool’s second choice goalkeeper was never the biggest problem when he played, but for a player bought two years ago as the succession plan to Alisson Becker the Georgian international looked shockingly unprepared.
Regularly pressed into service as the Reds’ number one dealt with up his usual injury injuries, probably nobody will now be feeling confident about a post-Alisson future.
Ibrahima Konaté
Konaté went through a lot in his personal life last season and for many that will earn him something of a pass, yet even when the French international seemed to have returned to something resembling his best form he remained the Liverpool defender most prone to a shockingly sloppy individual error.
A lack of midfield help and rotating cast of never-fit and stop-gap right backs didn’t make things easy, but as with everyone else on this list the fact there are mitigating factors doesn’t change the fact that Konaté was the opposite of good this season.
Florida State shortstop Isa Torres has been named one of three finalists for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.
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Isa Torres is being recognized on the sport's biggest stage. USA Softball announced Monday that the Florida State shortstop Isa Torres is one of three finalists for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, widely regarded as the highest individual honor in NCAA Division I softball.
Torres joins Nebraska senior Jordy Frahm and UCLA senior Megan Grant as the three finalists for the award. The announcement places Torres in elite company as she looks to become just the second Seminole to win the award, following former FSU standout Jessica Van der Linden, who won the award in 2004.
The case for Torres is as complete as any individual season in the ACC this year. The junior shortstop ranks among the top 5 nationally in batting average (3rd — .530), hits (3rd — 98), total bases (3rd — 181), doubles (5th — 21), on-base percentage (5th — .591), and runs per game (5th — 1.44). She also ranks in the top 10 nationally in runs scored (7th — 78), triples (8th — 7), doubles per game (9th — .39), and slugging percentage (10th — .978).
Her dominance was not limited to the plate. Torres earned 2026 ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors after posting a .989 fielding percentage at shortstop, adding to her ACC Player of the Year recognition as a player who leads the conference in batting average, hits, doubles, and triples. The double conference honor is a testament to the complete, two-way nature of what has been one of the most remarkable individual seasons in program history.
The competition is formidable. Grant leads the nation in home runs (40), home runs per game (.69), on-base percentage (.647), and slugging percentage (1.342) after breaking the NCAA single-season home run record during the Big Ten Tournament, surpassing the previous mark of 37 set by Lauren Espinoza of Arizona in 1995. Frahm, earning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, ranks first nationally in saves (12) and fourth in earned run average (1.15) while accumulating 225 strikeouts — a finalist for the second straight year.
The 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be announced on May 26 at the athlete banquet prior to the NCAA Women's College World Series, set to take place at the Softball Capital of the World from May 28 through June 5.
For a program that produced the 2004 winner in Van der Linden, Tallahassee knows exactly what it looks like when a Seminole is the best player in the country, and in 2026, Torres is making her case.
Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.
The NFL Honors represent one of the sport’s biggest stages for recognizing the incredible accomplishments of the NFL season. Not only on the field, but off it as well. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba was among the many players…
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The NFL Honors represent one of the sport’s biggest stages for recognizing the incredible accomplishments of the NFL season. Not only on the field, but off it as well. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigba was among the many players honored after an incredible 2025 campaign.
Unfortunately for Smith-Njigba, much of the attention surrounding his Offensive Player of the Year award had little to do with his performance on the field. Even now, the awkward storyline continues.
During the 2025 NFL Honors ceremony, social media influencer Druski repeatedly mispronounced Smith-Njigba’s name while presenting the award. It wasn’t a simple mistake, either. The repeated errors came across as exaggerated for comedic effect. Although Druski later maintained the mishap was unintentional, the moment still cast an unfortunate shadow over Smith-Njigba’s night.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at Lumen Field. Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
Now, the award itself has added another layer to the strange saga. On Monday, Smith-Njigba received his official trophy — only to discover it labeled him as the “Defensive Player of the Year” instead of Offensive Player of the Year. Smith-Njigba posted the mistake on social media and wrote, “It’s getting disrespectful at this point.”
In a follow-up post on his Instagram story, Smith-Njigba added, “Just keep the award at this point. Leave it in the history books though.”
At this point, it’s hard to blame him for feeling slighted. First, the presenter appeared to mock the pronunciation of his name during the ceremony. Then, the NFL sent him the wrong trophy entirely. What should have been a celebration of one of the league’s best individual seasons instead became an increasingly bizarre series of missteps.
Still, none of the distractions should overshadow what Smith-Njigba accomplished in 2025.
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a c atch against New England Patriots cornerback Carlton Davis III (7) during the first quarter in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The former Ohio State standout continued to prove why many consider him the best wide receiver from the 2023 NFL Draft class. More importantly, he may have established himself as one of the NFL’s elite receivers overall. Smith-Njigba finished the season with 119 receptions, 1,793 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns. He also added 17 catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns during Seattle’s postseason run to a Super Bowl victory.
His signature performance came in the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. The Rams’ defense had no answer for him as he hauled in 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown, helping send Seattle to the Super Bowl.
Despite the controversy surrounding what should have been one of the defining moments of his career, Smith-Njigba’s 2025 season will still stand among the best in recent NFL history. The only remaining question is whether he can build on it enough to enter the NFL MVP conversation in 2026.
Georgia football remained as a top-three landing spot for five-star offensive tackle Mark Matthews until head made a final decision
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Five-star offensive lineman Mark Matthews has committed to the Texas A&M Aggies. Matthews’ top three programs included the Georgia Bulldogs, who were a hat on the table for the five-star. However, the star lineman, who is a member of the class of 2027, has decided to play for the Aggies.
At 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, Matthews was one of the Dawgs’ top targets from the 2027 class. Matthews chose Texas A&M over Georgia and Miami. The Bulldogs were considered to be a top landing spot for the lineman until the very end of his recruitment. The talented big man had a hilarious commitment, where Matthews threw his Texas A&M hat into crowd before taking his sweater off to reveal an Aggies jersey. The Georgia and Texas A&M hats both got pushed off the table during Matthews' hyped up commitment announcement.
Matthews is ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 3 player from the class of 2027, per the 247Sports Rankings. He is the top recruit from Florida. The five-star plays high school football for St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Coach Kirby Smart and his staff will now turn elsewhere following Matthews’ commitment. Georgia’s defensive line could play against Matthews when the Dawgs travel to College Station in 2027.
Georgia has begun submitting offers to some of the top overall talent from the class of 2028 recently. The Dawgs have jumped in the mix for four-star quarterback Lukas Prock, while also submitting an offer to quarterback Kingston Preyear as well.
Mark Matthews commits to Texas A&M
The moment 5-star OT Mark Matthews committed to Texas A&M:
With the 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament set to begin Tuesday morning, our staff picked a winner and potential sleepers for this year's bracket.
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The stakes are at an all-time high this weekend in Hoover, Ala., as the league's teams compete in the 2026 SEC Tournament.
According to D1 Baseball's latest Field of 64, the conference has 12 teams in the running to compete in an NCAA Regional following the league tournament. The results of this week's bracket at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium will play a massive role in the seeding of teams, including Texas A&M.
While most college baseball analysts project the Aggies to reel in a top-eight national seed, a solid performance against some of the top programs in the country will only help their odds of hosting a potential super regional at Blue Bell Park. Texas A&M still has a long way to go, but hosting postseason baseball at Olsen Field would give Michael Earley's crew a massive advantage, just one season removed from completely missing an opportunity to compete in the tournament.
As far as dominance goes, look no further than Athens, Ga., where Wes Johnson has renovated Georgia baseball into one of the most dangerous teams in the country. The Bulldogs secured the regular-season title with a 23-7 mark in conference play. Johnson was also named the SEC Coach of the Year for his remarkable job leading his club to become the top team in the league, while also locking down a national seed.
With another talented field of teams eager to garner momentum entering regional play, this week's ventures in Hoover will be intriguing and electrifying.
The first game of the SEC Tournament begins at 9:30 a.m. CT, as No. 9 seed Ole Miss takes on No. 16 seed Missouri. Game 2 features No. 12 seed Vanderbilt taking on No. 13 seed Kentucky shortly after Game 1, followed by No. 10 seed Tennessee taking on No. 15 seed South Carolina at 4:30 p.m. CT. The final contest on Tuesday between No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 14 LSU is scheduled for the nightcap at Hoover Met.
From our staff here at Aggies Wire, here are our SEC Tournament picks, including potential winners and sleepers you should look out for this week:
SEC Tournament Staff Predictions
Cameron Ohnysty - Lead Writer
Winner: Georgia
Sleeper: Ole Miss
Jarrett Johnson - Contributor
Winner: Mississippi State
Sleeper: Auburn
Dylan Flippo - Contributor
Winner: Georgia
Sleeper: Tennessee
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.
Bill Belichick was on to the next topic after his Hall of Fame snub was brought up.
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Over his coaching career, Bill Belichick achieved the highest highs. He won six Super Bowls, has the most playoff wins in NFL history and sits third in regular-season victories.
But it wasn’t enough to get Belichick inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during his first year on the ballot. You might have heard about that. It was a pretty big deal.
While early reports suggested Belichick was “puzzled” and “disappointed” by the decision, the coach hasn’t spoken much publicly about the snub. But Belichick did offer up some thoughts during an appearance on the “Hang out with Sean Hannity” podcast, which drops Tuesday.
When asked about the snub, Belichick responded in the most Belichick way possible, saying the decision was, “Out of my control.”
Bill Belichick reacts to not getting into the Hall of Fame and the support he received afterward.
He very quickly pivoted to talking about North Carolina, saying coaching the team is his primary focus right now, not whether he makes the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Belichick, however, did admit that he was happy to see so many come to his defense after the Hall of Fame’s decision went public. He said it was meaningful to see people outside the football realm throw their support behind his candidacy. While a number of current and former NFL players and personalities defended Belichick, he also received support from President Donald Trump and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Bill Belichick reflects on relationship with Tom Brady
Belichick was also asked about his relationship with former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. The coach had nothing but good things to say about working with Brady.
“Tom saw the game through a quarterback’s eyes. I saw the game through a coach’s eyes.”
Bill Belichick on what made his relationship with Tom Brady so successful.
That shouldn’t necessarily come as a surprise. While there were reports of a schism between Brady and Belichick around the time Brady left the franchise, the two seem to have patched that up in recent years. Belichick and Brady have appeared together at a number of functions and have treated each other lovingly at those events. Brady was among the many who offered support to Belichick following the Hall of Fame snub, saying he didn’t “understand it.”
Bill Belichick on now-infamous CBS interview
Belichick also spoke about his now-infamous interview with CBS, which was interrupted by his girlfriend Jordon Hudson. When Belichick was asked during that interview how the pair met, Hudson stepped in to shut down the question. That reportedly happened a number of times during the interview, though CBS cut out some of Hudson’s interruptions.
Belichick said during his chat with Hannity that he believes that interview was “done very deceptively.” Belichick said he’s asked CBS for the transcript of that interview, but it hasn’t been given to him.
The full interview with Belichick will drop Tuesday, and could provide a few more tantalizing clips. Then again, Belichick made a career on being gruff and not saying much, so perhaps the teaser clips are the best we’ll get from the coach’s chat with Hannity.
Rutgers will host Senegal’s national team for the 2026 World Cup, bringing global attention, tourism and economic activity to Central Jersey.
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Rutgers University will host one of the world’s top soccer teams during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bringing global attention — and economic impact — to Central Jersey.
Senegal’s national team has selected Rutgers’ Miller Practice Fields as its official training base, making the Piscataway campus part of a historic buildup to the tournament, which includes matches at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
The decision places Rutgers at the center of a once-in-a-generation moment for New Jersey — and one that will extend well beyond game day.
Rutgers campus to host World Cup team
Senegal will train at Rutgers’ Miller Practice Fields, which include two natural grass pitches built to international standards with modern irrigation and drainage systems.
University officials said the selection reflects both the quality of Rutgers’ athletic facilities and its location within a region with deep ties to global soccer.
“Rutgers University provides the facilities and environment our team needs to train at the highest level,” Abdoulaye Fall, president of the Senegalese Football Federation, said in a statement.
Rutgers President William F. Tate IV called the selection an honor and emphasized the broader significance for the state.
“New Jersey is the number one state in the country for soccer interest,” Tate said, adding that hosting a World Cup team highlights the university’s role on an international stage.
Why it matters for Central Jersey
The presence of an international team for several weeks during the World Cup is expected to bring increased activity to the Rutgers area and nearby communities.
That includes:
Hotel stays and tourism spending
Visibility for local businesses
Opportunities for fan engagement beyond stadium matches
The New York/New Jersey region is hosting eight World Cup matches, including the final, and has attracted one of the largest clusters of team base camps in North America.
A global event reaches local communities
Senegal is scheduled to play two group-stage matches at MetLife Stadium — against France on June 16 and Norway on June 22 — meaning thousands of fans are expected to travel through the region.
Officials say that footprint will extend into communities like Piscataway, where teams live and train during the tournament.
Rutgers athletic director Keli Zinn said the selection underscores the role universities play in major global events.
“Hosting a World Cup team reflects the quality of our athletic facilities and the passion for soccer across this region,” Zinn said.
New Jersey hosts multiple teams
In addition to Rutgers, several other New Jersey locations will host teams:
Brazil: Columbia Park Training Center, Morris Township
Haiti: Stockton University, Galloway
Morocco: Pingry School, Basking Ridge
Together, those sites highlight New Jersey’s infrastructure and accessibility — factors that helped draw multiple international teams.
What’s next
Teams will arrive ahead of the June 2026 tournament, with training sessions and related activities expected to draw attention from fans and media alike.
For Central Jersey residents, the World Cup won’t just be happening up the Turnpike — it will be in their backyard.
This story was created by reporter Joe Martino, jmartino@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
With Aaron Rodgers officially on the roster, the Steelers currently have four quarterbacks.
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With Aaron Rodgers officially on the roster, the Steelers currently have four quarterbacks.
Veteran Mason Rudolph, second-year QB Will Howard, and rookie Drew Allar fill out the rest of the room.
Rodgers’ presence means there are now fewer reps to go around for the younger players, Howard and Allar. But offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio told reporters on Tuesday that is not an issue.
“You can never have enough quarterbacks,” Angelichio said, via Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “With the system that's in place here, it's great that we have four quarterbacks. We have a plan on how all those guys are going to get reps.”
Angelichio is familiar with Rodgers from their shared time with the Packers, as Angelichio served as Green Bay’s tight ends coach from 2016-2018. With Rodgers potentially going into the final season of his career, Angelichio praised the QB for his willingness to help out his teammates.
“Aaron’s such a great mentor ... His feedback and the information he provides, you can't beat that,” Angelichio said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “He is very willing to help the players … I think that certainly is a big plus for us.”
With Rodgers set for at least one more ride with the Steelers in 2026, we likely won’t see the effects of his mentorship on the crop of younger QBs until a while down the road.
Wigan Warriors make a sweeping 10 changes to their matchday squad for Thursday's match against Challenge Cup final opponents Hull KR.
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Matt Peet is looking to win the Challenge Cup for the third time as head coach later this month [SWPIX.COM]
Wigan Warriors have made 10 changes to their matchday squad for Thursday's Super League trip to Challenge Cup final opponents Hull KR.
The Warriors visit the reigning treble winners this week before facing them again at Wembley on Saturday, 30 May.
Only 11 of the 21-man squad Matt Peet named for last Friday's win over Leeds Rhinos have been selected this week, with just a handful of regulars named.
Among a number of potential debutants from the club's academy is centre George O'Loughlin, the 19-year-old son of former Wigan skipper and current assistant coach Sean.
Wigan are the Challenge Cup's most successful team with 21 victories and most recently won the trophy in 2024, on the way to their single season quadruple.
Fourth-placed Hull KR, who are on the same number of points as the Warriors having played a game less, are without Arthur Mourgue who came off with a recurrence of his pectoral injury in their win over Leigh Leopards on Saturday.
Meanwhile Joe Burgess and Jack Charles drop out for Thursday's hosts.
Salford Red Devils were deducted two points last term having breached "a number of RFL operational rules" surrounding their team selection against St Helens.
The club, who were under the shadow of financial troubles at the start of last season, had named just 16 players for their 2025 opener, including eight debutants.
BBC Sport has contacted the Rugby Football League for comment.
Hull KR (from): Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Tom Amone, Dean Hadley, Elliot Minchella, Jack Broadbent, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Rhyse Martin, Jack Brown, Karl Lawton, Jordan Dezaria, Noah Booth, Bill Leyland, Harvey Horne, Ryan Hampshire.
Wigan Warriors (from): Zach Eckersley, Junior Nsemba, Patrick Mago, Jack Farrimond, Sam Eseh, Tom Forber, Kian McDermott, Taylor Kerr, Nathan Lowe, Lukas Mason, Noah Hodkinson, George O'Loughlin, Finlay Yeomans, Finn McMillan, George Marsden, Josh Cartwright, Austin Daniel, Charlie Yeomans, Lewis Daniels, Shea O'Connor, Kalum Rathbone.
The Pac-12 wouldn't give USC the revenue share it deserved. The Trojans joined the Big Ten. Schools left behind suffered. They made the wrong move
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The implosion of the Pac-12 was the conference's own fault. There were many reasons for this collapse. It was preventable, but no one was willing to stand up and do the right things. One of the right things was to give USC an uneven (extra) revenue share, given that the Trojans have long been the bellcow football program in the conference. The conference refused to do that, however. It paid a price, as USA TODAY Sports reports upon gathering a recent Pac-12 tax return:
"Ten teams left the Pac-12 in 2024 for two big reasons: more money and stability. This and other tax returns show how that played out. Oregon State and Washington State each received $29 million from the league, down from the $46 million each received in fiscal 2024. The other 10 Pac-12 members received about $30 million in fiscal year 2024 as part of a negotiated settlement.
"By comparison, former Pac-12 members UCLA and USC received $76 million and $78 million from the Big Ten in their first year as members of the Big Ten Conference, according to the Big Ten’s tax return for fiscal 2025. Former Pac-12 members Oregon and Washington received $47 million and $48 million – which are only partial shares as new members of the Big Ten. Both eventually will earn full shares as part of their agreements to join that league."
The math could not be any clearer. Conference members lost more than $15 million while USC's revenue soared in the Big Ten. Imagine if the Pac-12 had given USC an expanded distribution. The conference could have kept USC and UCLA in the fold, and its members would not have suffered a huge cut in revenue. This tax return shows, very clearly, how badly the Pac-12 miscalculated by playing hardball with USC instead of accommodating the Trojans.
Amen Thompson is expected to land a major extension with the Houston Rockets, but a full maximum contract is not guaranteed. The 23-year-old is now eligible after averaging 18.
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Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images
Amen Thompson is expected to land a major extension with the Houston Rockets, but a full maximum contract is not guaranteed.
The 23-year-old is now eligible after averaging 18.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists last season, all career-high marks.
Houston still has to balance Thompson’s upside with roster flexibility, especially after consecutive 52-30 seasons ended in first-round playoff exits.
Houston Rockets could push for team-friendly Amen Thompson extensionPhoto by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
The key issue is not whether Thompson is valued. It is whether Houston believes his next deal should reach the full 25% max.
A report from Houston Chronicle suggests the Rockets could target a contract worth around 20% to 23% of the salary cap instead.
That range would still give Thompson a five-year deal worth roughly $201 million to $231 million, but below a projected $251 million max.
The argument is tied to his offensive profile. Thompson is already a high-level defender and transition threat, but questions remain over his shooting and half-court creation.
Houston also has precedent. Alperen Sengun signed a five-year, $185 million sub-max extension after becoming an All-Star.
That structure gave the Rockets more flexibility, and Rafael Stone could try to repeat the approach with another core player.
There is also timing pressure. If no extension is agreed before the 2026-27 regular season, Thompson can enter restricted free agency in 2027.
That still leaves Houston with matching rights, but an early deal would give both sides clarity before his rookie-scale salary jumps in 2027-28.
New Ravens draft footage revealed Baltimore’s reaction when the Lions traded up for Derrick Moore.
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The Detroit Lions made one of the more aggressive moves of the 2026 NFL Draft when they traded up in the second round to select Derrick Moore.
Now, thanks to newly released behind the scenes footage from the Baltimore Ravens draft room, fans can see exactly how Baltimore reacted when Detroit jumped in front of them.
And yes, there was definitely some frustration inside the Ravens war room.
Lions jumped Ravens to land Derrick Moore
Detroit moved from Pick No. 50 to Pick No. 44 in Round 2 to secure Moore, one of the draft’s most intriguing edge rushers out of University of Michigan.
The move immediately sparked speculation because Ravens head coach Jesse Minter previously coached Moore at Michigan.
Many believed Baltimore had significant interest in selecting him.
But according to the Ravens’ war room footage, the organization may actually have preferred another player.
Ravens appeared focused on Zion Young
Throughout the video, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta repeatedly discussed the team’s high grade on defensive end Zion Young.
Instead, Detroit pivoted and completed essentially the same deal one spot earlier, jumping Baltimore entirely to secure Moore.
The Ravens eventually selected Young at No. 45 overall.
Brad Holmes once again showed aggressive approach
The sequence was another example of Brad Holmes trusting his instincts and aggressively targeting players the Lions valued highly.
Detroit clearly viewed Moore as worth the move.
And if Moore develops into the disruptive pass rusher the Lions believe he can become, nobody in Detroit will care about surrendering the No. 128 pick to get him.
The Premier League looks set to lose one of its greatest managers this year, with reports claiming Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of this season. The Catalan coach has been the m...
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The managers who have won the most Premier League titles
The Premier League looks set to lose one of its greatest managers this year, with reports claiming Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City at the end of this season.
The Catalan coach has been the most dominant figure in the English top flight since his arrival a decade ago, winning every piece of silverware available to him.
Guardiola is one of only four managers to have ever won the Premier League title multiple times, while eight have lifted the trophy just the once. But where does the 55-year-old rank among the most successful managers in the division’s history?
The managers who have won the most Premier League titles:=3. Jose Mourinho – 3
Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea in 2004 on the back of his incredible UEFA Champions League win with FC Porto and made an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge. The Special One won the Premier League in his first season on the foundation of a watertight defence; they conceded just 15 goals in 38 games, a record that stands to this day.
The Blues retained their crown the following season, but relinquished it to Manchester United in 2007. Mourinho departed in September of that year, but he returned in 2013 and claimed his third title in his second season back in charge. That remains his last league winner’s medal, almost a decade on.
Arsene Wenger reinvented Arsenal from George Graham’s defensively disciplined and organised side into a silky, attack-minded outfit, and it led to great success in his first decade at the club.
Le Professeur ensured Manchester United didn’t hold a monopoly on the Premier League title, winning three of them between 1998 and 2004, the last of which saw the Gunners go unbeaten for an entire season.
The takeover of Chelsea by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2003 proved a huge obstacle to the Gunners, however, and Wenger’s insistence on trusting youth instead of buying star talent meant they seldom challenged for the title again. Their 22-year wait for the trophy may finally come to an end this year, though.
It might be hard to believe now, but when Guardiola first arrived at Manchester City in 2016, there was a sizeable contingent of football fans and members of the media who questioned his ability to adapt to the English game. They were briefly proven right when City finished third in his first season, a distant 15 points off winners Chelsea.
But the Catalan tactician inevitably proved them all wrong, winning six of the next eight Premier League titles. There is still a chance he could win his seventh before riding off into the sunset, although it’s looking more likely he will go two consecutive years without a league title for the first time in his managerial career.
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Alex Ferguson looks down on everyone from atop this list with an astonishing 13 Premier League titles. The Scot lifted the trophy in three different decades, rebuilding his team every few years to maintain a remarkable level of consistency.
Ferguson’s first title came in the maiden season of the Premier League following the breakaway in 1992/93 and he won it for the final time in his last season as a manager before retiring in 2013.
The goaltender has been the starter in all 12 playoff games for Vegas.
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The Vegas Golden Knights Carter Hart #79 blocks a goal attempt during an NHL playoffs game against The Anaheim Ducks on May 10th, 2026 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
LAS VEGAS — To get this far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, you need good goaltending.
Carter Hart has been that for the Vegas Golden Knights. He may have to be better than good for his team to get past the Colorado Avalanche when the Western Conference Final begins Wednesday at Ball Arena.
The 27-year-old from the Edmonton suburbs has been in net for all 12 games in the postseason and has a 2.30 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. He has faced some pretty good shooters so far, including Logan Cooley and Dylan Guenther of Utah and Anaheim’s Beckett Sennecke and Alex Killorn and has managed to come out on top.
Now, the challenge is to get the better of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Martin Necas and the rest of the Avalanche, which have lost only once in this year’s playoffs. That’s not going to be an easy task and it will likely take a total team effort in order to help Hart come out on top in a series that figures to be high scoring.
That means forwards coming back to help in their own end. It means the defensemen not getting caught in pinches and creating odd-man rushes for the Avs, who have speed to burn.
And ultimately, it means Hart delivering. not just making the routine saves, but perhaps being spectacular at times to deny Colorado’s explosive offense which has generated 37 goals and 95 total points to date in its nine games.
And while Hart has been good so far, there have been times where he hasn’t been. He’s been beaten from distance to his glove side on more than one occasion in the playoffs and I’m sure he and Sean Burke, the Knights’ goaltending coach, are aware of it and have discussed that part of his game.
Coach John Tortorella doesn’t seem too concerned about his goaltender. He has stuck with Hart through the rough patches of games and has been rewarded with overall quality playoff goaltending.
“To me, with him, it’s his mental growth,” Tortorella said. “The play itself speaks for itself. His preparation, how he’s handled a couple of situations he’s gone through in both series where he may struggled in a couple of games, how he’s bounces right back.
“I’ve been fortunate to have him for a few years. I think he really cares. I think that’s the bottom line with Carter, he cares about how he plays. He knows how important that position is for our team and he’s gotten stronger mentally.”
The mental aspect of preparation has been a big part of Tortorella’s overall plan for this team. At this point, being on the ice isn’t as important as being ready mentally to play. So it’s more about video sessions rather than on-ice practices.
“I think practice is overrated at this time of the year,” Tortorella said. “It’s more important to be mentally prepared to play.”
Mitch Marner, the NHL’s leading playoff scorer with 18 points, said it’s a good way to prepare.
“t’s going to be a challenge playing against this team,” he said Monday. “You take care of yourself as much as you need, keep the vibe light and go out and have fun.”
The Knights are still without Mark Stone, who was injured during the Anaheim series and Jeremy Lauzon, who did not play against the Ducks. Their availability for the Western Conference Final remains unknown as Game 1 approaches. Vegas advanced despite their captain’s absence and Dylan Coghlan has done a decent job replacing Lauzon in the lineup. But it would certainly enhance the Knights’ chances if they had Stone and Lauzon in the lineup.
But you play who you can play and that’s Tortorella’s focus. He knows what’s at stake and what it’s going to require to take the next step. And it starts with his goalie, who he has complete confidence in.
“I know their team is going to be prepared,” he said. “I know this team is going to be prepared, so let’s play.”
When the BCCI announced India's squads for the Afghanistan Test and ODI series on May 19. The two most striking absentees were Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, who have, between them, dominated India's spin bowling for the better part of a decade.
Ravindra Jadeja rested for the Afghanistan series but confirmed as India's number one Test spinner.
Axar Patel dropped from both squads amid poor form across IPL and international cricket.
Young left-arm spinners Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar called up as future investments.
Ravindra Jadeja rested, Axar Patel dropped: India's spin plans shift ahead of Afghanistan series
When the BCCI announced India's squads for the Afghanistan Test and ODI series on May 19, the two most striking absentees were Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, who have, between them, dominated India's spin bowling for the better part of a decade.
Chief selector Ajit Agarkar was careful to frame Jadeja's absence as a rest rather than a drop, and confirmed that he remains India's premier spinner in Test cricket. However, the fuller picture carries more nuance than that reassurance suggests.
Jadeja missed Rajasthan Royals' previous IPL 2026 match due to a niggle and since the standalone Test against Afghanistan falls outside the World Test Championship cycle, the selectors chose to manage his workload.
“Ravindra Jadeja has been rested for the Test. He remains an integral part of the Test team and remains our No 1 spinner. About One-day cricket, there are still 15-16 months to go for the ODI World Cup. We wanted to try and assess our options, particularly keeping in mind the conditions in South Africa,” Agarkar explained.
Harsh Dubey, 23, and Manav Suthar, also 23, are both left-arm spinning all-rounders who have made strong impressions in domestic cricket. Suthar claimed 18 wickets across five Ranji Trophy innings and contributed a century, while Dubey took 14 wickets in the same competition. They have been the latest entrants to the national setup.
Axar Patel's omission from both squads reflects a difficult run across formats.
In the only Test he played against South Africa, he was used sparingly, just 20 overs across the match, suggesting the team management views him more as a backup option than a regular red-ball bowler.
In IPL 2026, he has bowled 40 overs for 10 wickets, and his batting average before back-to-back contributions of 56 and 34 in his final two matches was a deeply concerning 6.28. His overall IPL batting average this season stands at 16.75 at a strike rate of 125.23.
These are modest numbers for a player expected to contribute meaningfully in the lower middle order. A break from the pressure of selection may help him reset.
His return to the T20I setup for the Ireland and England tour later this year looks likely, but for Tests and ODIs, the selectors continue to place their trust in Kuldeep Yadav and fresher players.
The Cricket News Opinion: India's spin transition is inevitable, but must be managed carefully
Jadeja and Axar have served Indian cricket exceptionally well, and the instinct to protect and rest rather than abruptly discard is the right one.
But selectors must also be honest with themselves and with the players about what the future holds. Bringing in Dubey and Suthar is a sensible long-term move, but they will need consistent opportunities and clear roles to develop into reliable international options.
The worst outcome would be to use them for a series or two before reverting to the familiar names when things get tough. India's spin bowling has been a strength for years, and maintaining that while transitioning to a new generation requires patience, honesty and a clear plan. The Afghanistan series is the first step in that process.
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook and X (Twitter) pages.
With the NFL awarding the 2028 NFL Draft and 2030 Super Bowls to cities this week, when will Dallas get another shot at each?
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Have the Dallas Cowboys run out of opportunities? The NFL has paraded around their crown jewels for the greater part of a decade. The league has shifted from their 1980s and 1990s philosophies, allowing the Super Bowl to be played in team cities that wouldn't normally be a part of the rotation. Deathly afraid of bad weather, the league routinely had The Big Game take place in either California, New Orleans or Florida. Occasionally a different city was thrown a bone, but it wasn't until the 2000s when the rotation moved to other parts of the country.
The NFL Draft was even more static. For decades it only took place in New York City. From 1965 until 2004, it was New York, New York, New York. Then the league got smart and realized that it could make the three-day event a galvanizing spectacle and it's rotated between numerous cities and become an outdoor festival.
The City of Dallas has had a taste of both events, but will they ever see another?
The Tennessee Titans will be moving into their new stadium for the 2027 season, and with the heavy investment cities make to build shrines for the billionaire owners, they are often rewarded with one of these events.
Dallas hosted the Super Bowl XLV, following the 2010 season, following the second season of AT&T Stadium's existence. It was seen as an unsuccessful event as a major ice storm impacted the area during Super Bowl week and Texas isn't exactly accustomed to dealing with that level of inclement weather.
Also, the walkability of the DFW area, specifically around the stadium in Arlington, was seen as a detriment to people's enjoyment of the week. Earlier this year, vice president Stephen Jones spoke of other difficulties in getting the next Super Bowl to town (via Dallas Morning News).
"I will say with all these new stadiums coming on board, that makes it hard," Cowboys co-owner Stephen Jones said. "When you build a new stadium, a part of that is in many cases, a Super Bowl is awarded. We'll see how it goes.
Owner Jerry Jones is betting that Dallas will see another sooner rather than later.
"I know the kind of venue we got," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "I know where we're located in the central part of the United States for people to be involved. We look good on television in the venue. All of those things, we have and I can promise — I'll bet on it — no ice storm the next time. I stand ready to bet on that."
But NFL clubs have to bid to be considered, and the Cowboys haven't pulled that lever in recent years. Now, the earliest it could happen would be following the 2030 season in February 2031.
The DFW hosted the NFL Draft in 2018, after Chicago hosted twice and then Philadelphia the year prior. With the cold-weather restrictions not in play for late April, it could be more than a decade before the event returns to Texas.
About once or twice per year, VikingsTerritory publishes an article detailing the fruit of Jordan Ta’amu’s labor in the UFL. […]
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About once or twice per year, VikingsTerritory publishes an article detailing the fruit of Jordan Ta’amu’s labor in the UFL. The 2026 campaign is no different, but there’s a catch: Ta’amu is now hurt.
Ta’amu’s spring football rise added another unfortunate turn before the Defenders’ postseason push.
The man was cooking, but the Defenders must improvise.
Ta’amu’s Minnesota Stay Was Brief but a Bit Memorable
It’s a blow for the champs.
DC Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu watches the action from the sideline during a road matchup against the St. Louis Battlehawks. The veteran passer continued building his spring-football résumé on Jun. 8, 2025, while leading one of the UFL’s top offenses during the regular season at The Dome at America’s Center in Missouri. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images.
Ta’amu Out for Year
NBC Sports‘ Mike Florio wrote Monday, “Even though the UFL has been generating solid TV ratings, it’s had a hard time moving the needle. That’s largely because the NFL continues to dominate the calendar, even in the months when NFL games aren’t being played. Still, certain developments merit a mention.”
“Like this one: D.C. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has been lost for the season due to an injury suffered in a Week 8 loss to Louisville. The specific injury was not specified.”
Defenders head coach Shannon Harris said of the setback, “We never want to lose a quarterback of that caliber, especially a guy who’s been an MVP-level player and championship leader for us. But we still have a really good football team, and we are going to rally behind Spencer Sanders and Jason Bean.”
Time with the Vikings
Just before the 2023 regular season, the Vikings signed Ta’amu to bolster their preseason quarterback depth. He arrived with significant spring buzz, having won the XFL’s 2023 Offensive Player of the Year award five months earlier.
However, his tenure in Minnesota was brief. Ta’amu lasted only a week before being cut, eventually returning to the Defenders on February 22, 2024. The Vikings, already boasting Kirk Cousins, Nick Mullens, and Jaren Hall on their roster for the 2023 season, further solidified their quarterback room during that season by trading for Joshua Dobbs a couple of months later.
Last Year’s Masterclass
In 2025, the Defenders won the UFL Championship, as Ta’amu passed for 2,153 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, along with 178 rushing yards and 2 scores, in nine games. Nearing the end of the current campaign, the Defenders have a 5-3 record, so they’re trending toward another championship push. Ta’amu has produced 1,516 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and 9 picks, in addition to 196 rushing yards in 8 games.
Former Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jordan Ta’amu speaks with reporters during SEC Media Days at the College Football Hall of Fame. The dual-threat passer fielded questions from the media on Jul. 17, 2018, before entering his final college football season with Ole Miss and later beginning a professional career across multiple leagues. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.
Of course, the injury ends his dream of back-to-back titles and MVP awards. A brutal blow.
Pro Football Newsroom‘s James Larsen on the Defenders’ without Ta’amu: “Earlier this year, the Defenders traded for Jason Bean from the Kings. He seems like the perfect prospect to fill in, with his mobility – and ability to push the ball down the field. Through four weeks of play with the Louisville Kings, no QB in the UFL had more big-time throws than Bean, with 10.”
“The clock is ticking on what was shaping up to be another big year for DC. If any team can manage this instability – it’s the Defenders. Shannon Harris has chartered strange waters before, and now will have to lead DC to success without their signal caller of the past four seasons.”
Bean might be the meal ticket sans Ta’amu.
Larsen concluded, “Hopefully, this isn’t the last we’ll see of Jordan Ta’amu. He has been one of spring football’s best over the past several years, with two Championship appearances (and a win) in DC. The veteran is, no doubt, on the Mount Rushmore of spring football.”
Lucky Jackson Thriving
Another former Viking has stood out in the offshoot league: Jackson. He plays for the Louisville Kings, a club with a 4-4 mark through eight games, and has tabulated 27 receptions for 341 yards and 2 scores in eight games. Much in part due to his first name, Jackson is well-known in recent Vikings lore as a summer attraction and preseason stud.
UFL owner Dany Garcia hands the championship MVP trophy to DC Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu after the title game victory over the Michigan Panthers. Ta’amu earned the honor on Jun. 14, 2025, following a standout performance that helped deliver a league championship at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Le-Imagn Images.
And he’s been associated with the Vikings for a while, beginning around the time that Ta’aum initially entered the mix. Jackson signed with the Vikings in May 2023, sticking around for the whole summer and later reaching the 2023 practice squad. He earned active roster placement in late 2023 and signed a futures contract at the start of the 2024 offseason.
Then, he encountered the same arrangement from the summer prior in 2024 — an August cut, followed by a practice squad assignment. In 2025, Jackson actually flirted with becoming the team’s WR4 due to a notable training camp and preseason. But in the end, Minnesota dropped him on September 23, 2025. He signed with Louisville on February 18th — three months ago.
Overall, he’s known for his 4.36 speed coming out of college (Western Kentucky) in 2020.
The Ta’amu-less Defenders’ next game is Friday at the Orlando Storm. Ta’amu will turn 28 in December.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported before the 2026 NFL Draft that Boutte was available, and Breer still believes teams can acquire him for a Day 3 pick.
“Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte, I think, could be had for a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick right now, if anyone has an interest in him,” Breer wrote.
Chances are there will be interest in Boutte, who has posted back-to-back 500-yard seasons.
The negative is that Boutte is in the final year of his deal, but at a reasonable price, that won’t be too big of a problem.
If Boutte is indeed available, here’s some teams that could look to acquire his services.
Philadelphia EaglesMay 1, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during rookie minicamp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
If the Eagles and New England Patriots are going to be pulling off a trade involving Brown, the Eagles could have interest in Boutte.
Granted, Philly has added Makai Lemon, Hollywood Brown and Dontayvion Wicks, but Lemon is unproven, Brown has had injury issues during his career, and Wicks only has one 500-yard season under his belt.
It might take a village to replace Brown if he gets traded, and Kayshon Boutte would be a strong resident in that village.
Chicago Bears
With DJ Moore traded to the Buffalo Bills, the Bears are relying on two unproven wideouts in Luther Burden and Rome Odunze to lead the room in 2026.
Chicago’s depth options aren’t great, either, with guys like Kalif Raymond, Scotty Miller, Jahdae Walker and rookie Zavion Thomas competing for significant snaps.
The problem with that group is Walker and Thomas are unestablished and Miller and Raymond haven’t produced much in recent years.
Kayshon Boutte could instantly step into the WR3 role in Chicago.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have a solid No. 1 receiver in Zay Flowers but nothing but question marks behind him.
Rashod Bateman struggled with injury last season and wasn’t very effective when on the field, and there isn’t enough of a track record to trust Devontez Walker and rookies Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt for big roles.
The Ravens need another veteran in that group and Boutte would be just what the doctor ordered for Lamar Jackson and Co.
Kansas City Chiefs
We love the promise Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy have shown, but the latter was a total disappointment amid an injury-plagued campaign last season.
The depth options aren’t great, either.
Tyquan Thornton mostly disappeared after a few big games early in 2025 and the jury is still out on guys like second-year wideout Jalen Royals and rookie Cyrus Allen.
For a team looking for a bounce-back campaign after missing the playoffs last season, the Chiefs need more options for Patrick Mahomes.
Las Vegas RaidersMay 2, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs through a drill during a Rookie Minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
The Raiders have one of the most lackluster wide receiver rooms in the NFL and that’s bad news for Fernando Mendoza’s chances of succeeding in Year 1.
Las Vegas’ projected top three on the depth chart are Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker and 2025 draft pick Jack Bech.
Nailor and Tucker have never been more than No. 3 options in a passing attack and Bech is coming off a very disappointing rookie campiagn.
While Boutte wouldn’t be the No. 1 the Raiders desperately need, he would at least add more depth to the room.
New York Giants
If the Giants want Jaxson Dart to take a step forward in 2026 under new head coach John Harbaugh, they should seriously consider adding more help at wide receiver.
The biggest issue is the uncertain status of Malik Nabers, who is a candidate to start the season on the PUP list as he recovers from a torn ACL.
If Nabers does sit out the first four games, the Giants will be relying on Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin and rookie Malachi Fields to pick up the slack for almost a quarter of the season.
Nothing about that room is inspiring, so a trade for Boutte should be on the table.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have a true No. 1 target in Drake London, but the rest of the room leaves a lot to be desired.
After cutting Darnell Mooney, the Falcons are depending on one of Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus and rookie Zachariah Branch to step into the No. 2 role.
The issue there is Zaccheaus and Dotson are No. 3 receivers, at best, and there’s no telling what Branch will provide in his first NFL season.
That’s not exactly an ideal situation for whoever starts at quarterback, whether that be Michael Penix Jr. or Tua Tagovailoa.
Retired UFC lightweight Dustin Poirier spent six of his pro fights competing against former champions Max Holloway and Conor McGregor, compiling a combined record of 4-2 while registering a submission victory over “Blessed” at UFC 143 and a knockout win over “Notorious” at UFC 257. If anyone can tell you what it’s like to face […]
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BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 17: (L-R) Conor McGregor punches Max Holloway in their UFC featherweight bout at TD Garden on August 17, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) | Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“I think Max smokes him like a brisket,” Poirier told Paramount’s Deep Waters” podcast. “The thing is, Conor has the power. No matter the injury, that’s going to be there still. The timing, other things matter. But the power’s going to be there. He has a puncher’s chance. Max for sure is a volume puncher, but at 155 when I fought him last, he has power behind his shots, and I’ve got to think at 170 he’s got to have even more power.”
But don’t run to the betting window just yet.
“Max can punch now,” Poirier added. “He’s not just a volume puncher. He can finish fights. The thing that I keep thinking about is in Max’s last three fights, he’s touched the canvas more times than he’s touched his whole career. (Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria) dropped him. I dropped him. That’s his last few fights. If Max’s chin is finally catching up to the style of fighting he does, Conor could put him down.”
The former Auburn forwards talked about how he will translate to the next level at the 2026 NBA Combine
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After being a prolific scorer in college, Keyshawn Hall is looking to make an impact in the NBA. Hall led Auburn in scoring for the 2025-26 season with 19.3 points per game and 7.1 assists per game. He is projected by most draft analysts as a mid-to-late second-round pick or an undrafted free agent.
Hall was asked at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine on what part of his game could translate to the next level. Hall would answer by saying, "I'm gonna come in, play my role, what I have to do for a team to win." That is the right attitude for Hall to have, knowing where he will be drafted. However, his ability to take the basketball in isolation to either create an opportunity for himself or a teammate matches well with the current NBA. Also, he mentioned that the physicality, speed, and athleticism in the SEC prepared him to play in the NBA.
Overall, in his career, Hall showed how capable a scorer he was. During his four-year college career, he averaged 16.3 points per game. Before transferring to Auburn, he led the Big 12 in scoring for the UCF Golden Knights with 18.8 points per game. He played his first two seasons with UNLV and George Mason. Hall was named to the First Team All-SEC Team following his only season with the Tigers. He was a key player for Auburn, winning the 2026 NIT Championship. In the tournament, he averaged 15.8 points per game and nine rebounds.
“I’m gonna come in, play my role, what I have to do for a team to win”
Talked with Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall about his on-ball playmaking ability and how the SEC prepared him for the NBA: pic.twitter.com/5FRvTL34n1
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Phillip on Twitter@PJordanSports
The PWHL has officially unveiled all four of its expansion markets for the 2026-27 season: Detroit, Las Vegas, Hamilton, Ont., and San Jose, Calif. San Jose was the latest (and final) new franchise to be announced Tuesday morning. The Athletic also reported the development Monday. The San Jose team will play its home games at the SAP Center, home of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, which is getting a $425 million renovation. The team will also use Sharks Ice as a training facility. As part of Tuesday’
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The PWHL has officially unveiled all four of its expansion markets for the 2026-27 season: Detroit, Las Vegas, Hamilton, Ont., and San Jose, Calif.
San Jose was the latest (and final) new franchise to be announced Tuesday morning. The Athletic also reported the development Monday.
The San Jose team will play its home games at the SAP Center, home of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, which is getting a $425 million renovation. The team will also use Sharks Ice as a training facility.
As part of Tuesday’s announcement, the league also revealed San Jose’s colors: orange, blue and white.
The Athletic reported earlier this month that San Jose was a strong contender for expansion due to the Bay Area’s women’s sports boom. California ranks sixth in the nation in girls’ hockey participation behind five hockey hotbeds, four of which (Minnesota, Massachusetts, New York and now Michigan) already have PWHL teams.
“Between a deeply rooted hockey culture, rapidly booming women’s sports scene, and a community known for growth and innovation, San Jose offers a dynamic stage for the PWHL to expand its reach and build lasting momentum,” said Amy Scheer, the PWHL’s executive vice president of business operations.
With the addition of San Jose, the PWHL will have 12 teams across North America in 2026-27, doubling the league’s size since its inaugural season less than three years ago.
The PWHL debuted in January 2024 with six teams in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York and Minnesota. It expanded for the first time last year, adding Vancouver and Seattle.
The league introduced Detroit as the first of four new expansion teams on May 6, then followed with the announcements for Las Vegas, Hamilton and San Jose in a busy two-week sprint concurrent with the ongoing PWHL playoffs. The league will continue to operate under a single-entity ownership model, which means that Mark Walter — the billionaire owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers — and his wife, Kimbra, own the league and its 12 teams.
The new markets will continue expanding the league’s footprint beyond its predominantly Northeastern first six, with more teams in the West and another in the Midwest. Next season, the PWHL will have four teams in the Pacific time zone, which will offer “more balance for scheduling and travel,” the league said Tuesday in a news release.
The league has yet to announce the roster-building process for expansion or how the four new franchises will be integrated into the 2026 PWHL Draft, which will be held in Detroit on June 17. Earlier this month, the PWHL Players Association sent its members a guide to the expansion process that included multiple signing windows and no traditional expansion draft.
The new process, PWHLPA executive director Malaika Underwood wrote in a May 3 email to players, “is a significant change that gives players more opportunity to participate in the process through negotiation and choice.”
The Indy 500 is just days away, and there are only a couple of hours of practice left before the field of 33 takes the green flag at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Qualifying itself ... Read more
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Penske Entertainment/IndyCar
The Indy 500 is just days away, and there are only a couple of hours of practice left before the field of 33 takes the green flag at the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. Qualifying itself was full of drama, as rain meant the entire weekend was condensed into just one day, with Chip Ganassi Racing driver Alex Palou taking pole position.
However, even before the race itself, we have had two disqualifications that have reorganized the field of 33. All cars must go through post-qualifying inspection, and two cars were found in violation of the rules. These were the #4 entry from A.J. Foyt Racing, driven by rookie Caio Collet, and the #24 car entered by Dreyer & Reinbold Racing for Jack Harvey. The disqualification is particularly gruelling for Collet, who starred as a rookie with an impressive performance around the speedway.
These disqualifications follow on from the Penske saga of 2025, after the team's cars were found to have illegal rear attenuators, although this year's disqualifications have not been anywhere near as controversial as what we saw a year ago. Despite that, no team wants to suffer a qualifying disqualification, especially before the biggest race of the year.
Why the Two Cars Were Thrown Out of Indy 500 QualifyingPenske Entertainment/IndyCar
Collet had qualified 10th and had advanced all the way into the top 12 in what was an impressive run. For Harvey, the disqualification won't hit as hard as he had only qualified 29th, and will instead start 33rd, with Collet one place ahead of him. This means Mick Schumacher for the Rahal team is now the top rookie, starting in 26th place for his first-ever Indy 500.
IndyCar released a statement on the disqualifications and why they had taken place. It said, "During post-qualifying inspection of car Nos. 4 and 24, INDYCAR Officiating discovered modifications to the Dallara-supplied Energy Management System (EMS) covers and cover-to-A-arm mounting points with unapproved hardware."
"According to the INDYCAR rulebook, EMS covers must be used as supplied," added the series. The two teams violated rule 14.12.1.1. EMS must be used as supplied by Dallara and approved by INDYCAR and rule 14.12.1.6. EMS covers may only be attached with the supplied hardware and Helicopter Tape. With this conclusion, both cars had their times disallowed, and they were re-ordered to the rear of the field, in order of their entrant points, hence Collet starting ahead of Harvey's one-off entry for the race.
Memories of the Penske Scandal of 2025Penske Entertainment/IndyCar
While it is nowhere near the same level of controversy, the disqualifications have rekindled memories of the Penske situation from 2025. At least years Indy 500, the Penske cars of Josef Newgarden and Will Power had passed through technical inspection ahead of fast 12 qualifying. Suddenly, Penske mechanics began working frantically on the back of the two cars, with the third entry of Scott McLaughlin seemingly escaping whatever was happening.
It transpired there was a 'body fit violation' on the rear of Newgarden's car, while a re-check of Power's car saw that it too fell foul of the same violation. What made it worse was that Roger Penske, team owner, also owns both the IndyCar series and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It came a year after the push-to-pass scandal of 2024, again involving the Penske team, when they used it at that year's season opener on restarts, which at the time was against the rules.
At the Indy 500, it was found that the seam between the parts of the rear attenuator had been filled and smoothed out, which isn't allowed in the rules. This potentially could have led to an aerodynamic advantage. Something that angered more people after the same modification was found on Newgarden's 2024 Indy 500 winning car on display at the IMS museum. Both Newgarden and Power were excluded from qualifying, and Penske then fired some of his most loyal team members, including president Tim Cindric.
Accident Mars Indy 500 Practice After Qualifying
NEWS: ECR announces Alexander Rossi underwent successful outpatient procedures to repair minor injuries to his left hand and right ankle sustained in today’s practice incident at @IMS.
The No. 20 driver remains under evaluation with the intent to compete in Friday's Carb Day… pic.twitter.com/St2Nz1hKTr
While the disqualifications of Harvey and Collet were a big talking point this year, a more terrifying one was all anyone could talk about after Monday's practice session. During the post-qualifying practice, front-row starter Alexander Rossi spun out of turn two in his #20 Ed Carpenter Racing car and smashed into the wall. McLaren driver Pato O'Ward then spun in avoidance and hit Rossi, while Dale Coyne driver Romain Grosjean was also collected trying to avoid the debris.
Grosjean and O'Ward escaped uninjured, while Rossi was seen limping out of his #20 car. The 2016 Indy 500 winner, who looked to have one of the best packages for race day, had outpatient procedures on his left hand and right ankle after suffering minor injuries, but he intends to compete in final practice on Friday, or Carb Day, and race on Sunday, May 24th.
The Bucs selected WR Ted Hurst in the third round of the NFL draft. What is his 2026 fantasy outlook, and how might he impact his WR teammates?
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The Buccaneers selected WR Ted Hurst in the third round of the NFL draft. What is his realistic 2026 fantasy outlook, and how might his presence impact Chris Godwin, Emeka Egbuka, and Jalen McMillan?
Last summer, rookie Emeka Egbuka became a fantasy thorn in the side of one of the best intra-team fantasy duos of the previous five years: Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. With Evans now in San Francisco, Tampa Bay decided its receiver room wasn’t strong enough and added Hurst.
It’s a fascinating situation that will shake out in the coming months. For now, a healthy Godwin should maintain top-40 value, making him a bargain at his WR40 ADP. Egbuka’s Year 2 breakout potential takes a slight hit, making him a somewhat risky bet at his WR17 ADP. McMillan (WR61 ADP) will begin camp as the #3, but with no guarantees that he keeps the job.
How Hurst transitions to the NFL is one of the big fantasy question marks, and his WR88 ADP suggests it won’t be easy. Managers should recognize that Hurst’s productivity at Georgia State (127-1,965-15 receiving line across two seasons) was due in part to the fact that he played on one of the worst teams in the NCAA Division I FBS. His Panthers had a 4-20 record during his brief tenure, giving up the 18th-most points in the country in 2024 and the fourth-most in 2025.
So, of course, his quarterbacks had to air it out early and often. He posted a 9-105 line against Appalachian State last year in a game where Georgia State trailed 38-6 in the third quarter. He put up 10 catches for 165 yards against Coastal Carolina a few weeks later while falling behind 40-14 in the fourth quarter.
If McMillan secures the #3 job this summer, it will be a clear sign that Hurst is not ready. It would give managers more confidence in McMillan, Godwin, and Egbuka.
However, if Hurst beats out McMillan, managers should be more wary of investing in Godwin and Egbuka, as it would signal that Hurst not only is ready for the NFL but also that he’s an upgrade over McMillan, thereby cutting at least a bit into his fellow starters’ ceilings.
Jamahl Mosley deserved better from the Orlando Magic. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Magic were wrong to move on from him. Sometimes in sports — just like in life — two things can be true at the same time. A franchise can decide it needs a new voice while also acknowledging the old voice did an admirable job. A coach can fall short of postseason expectations while still elevating the ...
That doesn’t necessarily mean the Magic were wrong to move on from him. Sometimes in sports — just like in life — two things can be true at the same time. A franchise can decide it needs a new voice while also acknowledging the old voice did an admirable job. A coach can fall short of postseason expectations while still elevating the organization. A breakup can happen without bitterness.
That’s why Orlando Magic fans should be rooting for Mosley to succeed as the new head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Not because fans owe him anything, but because he earned it. And because the way he carried himself during his five years in Orlando deserves appreciation, gratitude and respect – not petty resentment.
The Pelicans officially hired Mosley Monday, just two weeks after the Magic fired him following a crushing first-round playoff collapse against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. It didn’t take long for another franchise to recognize what many around the NBA already knew: Jamahl Mosley is widely respected, deeply connected to players and viewed as one of the league’s better culture-building coaches.
You don’t get hired that quickly after being fired unless people in league circles believe in you. Clearly, the Pelicans and their iconic head of basketball operations, Joe Dumars, did.
And honestly, they should.
In 2021, Mosley inherited a Magic franchise that was beginning yet another rebuild. The Magic weren’t just losing games back then; they were drifting aimlessly through the NBA wilderness without identity, relevance or hope. Mosley helped change that.
He brought energy, optimism and accountability. He connected with young players in a way that felt authentic instead of manufactured. Paolo Banchero blossomed into a star under his watch. Franz Wagner developed into one of the league’s most versatile two-way players. Jalen Suggs became the emotional heartbeat of the team. Most importantly, Mosley helped establish a defensive-minded culture that restored the Magic’s credibility.
Before Mosley arrived, Orlando had made the playoffs just twice in the previous 10 seasons. Under his leadership, the Magic reached the postseason three straight years. No, they never got out of the first round, and yes, ultimately, that mattered. In the NBA, coaches are almost always judged by playoff breakthroughs, not playoff appearances.
Fair or unfair, that’s reality.
But context matters, too.
The reality is, Mosley spent the last two seasons coaching injury-ravaged rosters that were constantly missing key pieces at the worst possible times. This past season alone, Orlando’s preferred starting lineup barely had a chance to build continuity together. Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs all missed significant stretches, and yet the Magic still won more than 40 games again, still defended at an elite level and still pushed the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference to seven games.
In fact, if Franz Wagner hadn’t been injured (again) in Game 4, the Magic might still be playing.
That’s the part many fans seem to conveniently forget now. Before Wagner’s calf injury in Game 4 against Detroit, Orlando led the series 3-1 and looked poised to pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent NBA playoff history. Once Wagner went down, the entire series shifted. Cade Cunningham suddenly became unstoppable, Orlando’s offense completely unraveled and the confidence disappeared.
Then came the infamous Game 6 collapse — blowing a 24-point second-half lead at home while scoring just 19 points after halftime. Once that happened, the narrative was set. In the NBA, somebody always pays for playoff humiliation, and usually it’s the coach.
Even Magic president Jeff Weltman admitted afterward that Mosley was not solely to blame for the Magic’s lack of success in the playoffs. That’s what made Mosley’s firing feel less like punishment for failure and more like collateral damage from circumstance. Sometimes organizations simply decide they need change even when the person they’re replacing isn’t necessarily the problem. That happens all the time in professional sports.
And judging by the way Weltman spoke about Mosley afterward, this didn’t feel personal. It felt procedural. Necessary, perhaps, from the franchise’s perspective — but still painful.
Which is exactly why Magic fans shouldn’t root against him now.
I understand the temptation because sports fandom is emotional. When a coach leaves, especially after disappointment, fans often treat it like an ugly breakup. There’s an instinctive part of human nature that doesn’t want the ex to suddenly thrive elsewhere. You want validation that moving on was the correct decision.
But rooting against Mosley would completely ignore everything he gave this franchise. He represented the organization with class every single day. He never threw players under the bus. He never publicly complained about injuries, even though he could have easily done so. He never created drama. He consistently absorbed pressure while protecting his locker room. Through all the losing early in his tenure, he never lost belief in what Orlando could become.
That matters.
There’s value in coaches who make organizations healthier, even if they don’t ultimately deliver championships. Mosley made the Magic healthier. He helped stabilize a franchise that desperately needed stability, made players want to compete for each other again and made Orlando respectable again.
That doesn’t disappear just because the ending was disappointing.
If anything, Magic fans should take pride in the fact that another franchise immediately identified Mosley as the kind of leader it wanted guiding its future. New Orleans isn’t hiring a failed coach. The Pelicans are hiring a coach they believe can build culture, develop young talent and establish long-term credibility — the exact same things he did in Orlando.
And honestly, I hope he succeeds.
Not because I want the Magic to regret moving on, and not because I think Orlando made some catastrophic mistake, but because good people in sports deserve good outcomes. Jamahl Mosley is one of the good people.
The NBA can be cold, transactional and unforgiving. Coaches are often disposable, blamed for problems that run much deeper than clipboard decisions and halftime speeches. Mosley handled all of that with grace.
So yes, Magic fans should root for him in New Orleans. They should root for the man who helped drag this franchise out of the irrelevance of yet another rebuild. They should root for the coach who represented Orlando with dignity. And they should root for someone who never stopped believing in the organization – even when the organization stopped believing in him.
Good luck, Coach Mose.
Email me at mbianchi@orlandosentinel.com. Hit me up on social media @BianchiWrites and listen to my radio show “Game On” every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen.
Roy Keane has given a refreshingly nuanced verdict on Mo Salah’s comments on social media over the weekend in which he aimed a thinly-veiled swipe at Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.The Egyptian’s ...
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Roy Keane delivers Cristiano Ronaldo comparison in nuanced take on Salah’s social media comments
Roy Keane has given a refreshingly nuanced verdict on Mo Salah’s comments on social media over the weekend in which he aimed a thinly-veiled swipe at Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.
The Egyptian’s public grievances about the Reds results, tactics and culture this season have predictably received a fiery response from numerous pundits.
Steve Nicol bemoaned a ‘lack of class‘ from the winger, while Wayne Rooney went as far as insisting that our number 11 should be let ‘nowhere near the stadium‘ for what’ll be his farewell appearance at Anfield on Sunday.
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Keane gives refreshing take on Salah’s social media comments
Speaking on Stick to Football, Keane didn’t get worked up over what Salah said on social media, instead claiming that Slot and Liverpool ought to have bigger priorities.
The ex-Manchested United captain said: “It’s not good from the manager’s point of view, but if you’re a player in the dressing room, I think you roll with all of that…I wouldn’t be losing sleep over it. If I was in the dressing room, would I be upset with him?
“I don’t know if it sounds good, but I wouldn’t be going, ‘Oh that’s out of order, that’s scandalous’. For a manager, you’re going, ‘That’s not nice, but it’s not my priority at the moment’. Salah is leaving; let him get off that chest and [Slot] is trying to rebuild the club for next year. If I was Slot, I’d be more annoyed with the players’ performances than that.”
When comparisons were made with the explosive manner of Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit from Old Trafford in 2022, Keane argued that mercurial players like Salah are indulged over such behaviour because they consistently deliver match-winning contributions.
He said: “We mentioned about Ronaldo – why do we let players off with this sort of thing? Pochettino was talking about going back to Maradona. Why do you tolerate all these boys? Because they win you the game at the weekend. You wouldn’t tolerate that from an average full-back.
“What comes with greatness – Ronnie O’Sullivan, go back to George Best – there’s an edge to them. They will get things off their chest, they will go drinking or go missing, but you go, ‘You know what? I kind of need you’.”
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Keane and Salah are of a similar mindset
While Keane isn’t necessarily condoning Salah for airing his grievances on social media, we get the sense that he doesn’t necessarily disagree with what the winger said and doesn’t view it as a particularly egregious thing to do.
With respect to the Irishman, who’s renowned for shooting from the lip in his punditry, his take on the Egyptian’s online activity is a nuanced one, acknowledging that the 33-year-old has so often delivered for his team when it counts the most.
Salah might’ve had his least productive season at Liverpool this year but his legend status among the fan base hasn’t been affected, considering his exceptional output over eight previous campaigns (257 goals, the third-highest in the club’s history).
Rest assured that he and Andy Robertson will both receive the most raucous of send-offs at Anfield next Sunday, and rightly so.
Manchester United took a gamble with Michael Carrick in January, and it has turned out to be a masterstroke. The Red Devils were looking for someone to steady the ship after parting ways with Ruben Am...
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Luis Enrique: Why United could not land their “secret dream” head coach
Manchester United took a gamble with Michael Carrick in January, and it has turned out to be a masterstroke. The Red Devils were looking for someone to steady the ship after parting ways with Ruben Amorim midway through the season.
The Portuguese head coach’s 14-month reign had failed to live up to expectations. Amorim initially replaced former manager Erik ten Hag in November 2024 after a poor start to the season.
However, the former Sporting manager had a mixed first six months at the Theatre of Dreams. He reached the Europa League final but lost 1-0 to Tottenham Hotspur, while the Red Devils ended the season in 15th place in the Premier League table.
Amorim survived the summer, and United even invested heavily in the transfer market. However, the English giants ultimately ended the Portuguese’s stay at the turn of the year, handing Carrick the reins of the first team.
Carrick earned the permanent job
United wanted someone to hold the fort until a more established manager took over at the end of the season. INEOS opted for Carrick, who was part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s backroom staff and had briefly managed the first team after the Norwegian’s departure.
The Englishman was tasked with securing a top-four finish, which would enable qualification for next season’s Champions League. Carrick, however, defied expectation by guiding United to third place in the Premier League with a game remaining, thereby ensuring qualification for the premier European club competition.
United registered 11 wins and three draws in 16 games under the former midfielder, who gifted fans with exciting attacking football and loads of goals. Recent reports suggest that Carrick has already earned the permanent position, although an official announcement is pending.
However, it now appears that the Red Devils wanted a two-time Champions League-winning manager to take over at Old Trafford this summer.
United wanted Luis Enrique
According to acclaimed journalist Fabrizio Romano, Luis Enrique was a dream managerial appointment for some important people at United. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the Italian stated: “Look, on Luis Enrique I can tell you that he was the secret dream of some important, important people at Manchester United.”
“So Man United around January, February tried to understand if there was maybe a chance to land Luis Enrique to the club this summer. Was not possible because Luis Enrique is completely focused on the Paris Saint-Germain Project.”
“At Man United Michael Carrick is staying so that was not a possibility but Luis Enrique is now going to negotiate a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain which is already in the final stages because its very close to being completed. It’s just some small details to clarify, I think it’s going to happen after the Champions League final.”
Enrique could have been a fantastic choice for the hot seat at Old Trafford, but Carrick has also shown promise in his brief spell so far. With the right backing in the transfer market this summer, the Englishman could work wonders at the Theatre of Dreams.
Bragging about being in fourth place doesn't sound quite right. But when you're the Pittsburgh Pirates, and you have a record that's over .500, you take what you can get.
Yes, the Pirates have a long way to go before returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. But Pittsburgh (24-23) could have a winning record come Memorial Day weekend. And that's something to celebrate.
"And Griffin's current .713 OPS is only going to go up as the 20-year-old is already showing rapid improvement from his first three weeks," Schoenfield notes. "Maybe Lowe is a little over his head with his .551 slugging percentage, but it's hard to classify it as a fluke considering he hit 31 home runs last year with the Rays.
"(Oneil) Cruz's numbers are believable, right in line with what he did in 2024 as opposed to last year's .200 batting average. In other words: These offensive gains feels like they can hold all season," Schoenfield adds.
As a result, Schoenfield believes the Pirates' surprising start is too legit to quit and and October could be hammer time in Pittsburgh.
"They need to clean up a few things, such as offense at DH and bullpen depth, but (Paul) Skenes' value is high enough that if the rest of the team is a .500 team, they should make the playoffs," Schoenfield concludes.
The Pirates can back up that vote of confidence this week by taking care of business against the third-place Cardinals, who open a three-game series against Pittsburgh tonight in St. Louis.
The Colts built a high-powered offense last season by avoiding reliance on one player to carry the load. Instead, they leaned on a deep group of skill players that kept defenses guessing about where the ball was going on every play.
As they got deeper into the season, they realized that Alec Pierce, Tyler Warren, and Jonathan Taylor were the true focal points of the offense. When there was a big play to be dialed up, the ball was normally going to go there way.
While I’ve been critical of Michael Pittman Jr. over the years, his role in the offense is still important. He seldomly created big plays after the catch, he didn’t lift the coverage of a defense with speed, and he didn’t separate like some of the best in the league did. But what he did have was reliability. He could run rudimentary routes and you could trust that he would catch it. Over time, he became a lot tougher in the run game and could be relied on to execute difficult blocking assignments. If he was covered he could still make a play on the ball with his size.
It was not worth the contract or a potential extension, but it did offer the Colts some much needed reliability as a Z WR.
Now that spot becomes awfully bare heading into to OTA’s and training camp. The company line seems to be “We love Josh Downs and think he needs the ball more.”
I don’t deny that the Colts love Josh Downs— and maybe with the resurgence of the tiny WR, they believe they can use him similar to how Klint Kubiak and the Seahawks have used Jaxon Smith Njigba.
I have my doubts. But more on that later.
THE SCHEMATIC ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A DEEP WR CORE
If you don’t have one of the elite WR’s in the game on your roster, then you better have a LOT of good WRs. If you can keep defenses guessing on where the ball is going to go, it forces them to defend every blade of grass. As we saw earlier in the year, sometimes that can be just as effective as having the dominant player.
Chiefs Match-3 concept vs. a Sail route by the Colts.
Nice job by Conner (27) opening up to wall the clear out.
Trust the Post to cap the vertical & drops from the top rope onto the Sail.
This is a good example of when that does NOT happen.
The Colts are running a Sail concept. A sail concept is a vertical stretch concept where you’re attempting to create a hi/lo on a defender. Daniel Jones is expecting that nickel defender to match Michael Pittman vertical and create space for Tyler Warren on the Sail route (modified corner route). I wont speculate here but Michael Pittman is either not running this route at full speed, or is not capable of running this route at a speed fast enough to apply pressure on that nickel defender. Either way, it is bad.
What worries me about the Colts heading into next season is what happens when teams can do things like that. Ashton Dulin can play that specific role, but will teams really respect his ability to be a viable option in a progression? Do the Colts think he can do that after sitting on the bottom of the depth chart for numerous years now? Can Nick Westbrook-Ikhine be that guy? Can 7th round pick Deion Burks be that guy? What if there’s an injury at WR?
The Colts need to improve the depth there but it’s not too late either.
WHO MIGHT FIT THE COLTS
There’s been a lot of Deebo Samuel smoke. I do not believe the Colts will look in that direction, personally. Deebo, at this stage in his career, is a gadget piece to an offense. You want to get the ball in his hands, but he’s not a guy who will fit this system in particular.
Two names that are really interesting.
First, Keenan Allen. Keenan has spent time with Shane Steichen in his past and put up a quiet 81 catch sub 800 yard season with the Chargers. Do I think he can replicate that in Indy? No. But could he be a piece that the Colts explore in training camp and see if he can add some depth to the room? Perhaps.
The second is Noah Brown. He’s 30 years old but had some really underrated season with the Cowboys a couple years ago. He’s battled some injuries last year, so that’s a bit of an unknown, but he has some traits I think the Colts like.
after getting to one of their favorite formation looks and having #85 Noah Brown motion in to help block on a zone run (including three straight times on the same drive).
Cowboys run some plays off of the formation and motion. A shovel to Brown and then a bootleg. pic.twitter.com/a6YIlrDXYC
I don’t think Noah Brown is a game changer, but he’s one hell of a run blocker and has some redeemable qualities as a depth player.
BOTTOM LINE
The Colts have to find another WR at some point before week one. At the moment, there is far too much pressure on Alec Pierce and Josh Downs to play a full season.
Additionally, I just find it hard to imagine the Colts replicate their level of offensive success without more depth. There’s just not enough around their existing pieces to keep defenses guessing on where the ball might go.
Bill Belichick talking about Tom Brady’s rise will always matter, but it lands differently in 2026. Belichick has now reflected on Tom Brady’s rise from an overlooked quarterback into the defining player of his coaching career.
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Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images
Bill Belichick talking about Tom Brady’s rise will always matter, but it lands differently in 2026.
Belichick has now reflected on Tom Brady’s rise from an overlooked quarterback into the defining player of his coaching career. That is not just nostalgia.
It comes with Belichick now working as North Carolina head coach, away from the NFL machine that shaped his public image for more than two decades.
Bill Belichick’s Brady reflection carries more weight nowPhoto by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Brady’s story remains the cleanest example of Belichick’s football worldview. Status at the start means very little if the work, timing and development are right.
That is why the reminder still cuts through. Brady was the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, then became the quarterback who changed New England forever.
He later won Super Bowl XXXVI with the Patriots, turning a backup’s chance into the start of the most successful quarterback career in NFL history.
Belichick is most convincing when he talks about that kind of climb. It strips away mythology and returns the Brady story to what made it powerful in the first place.
Jordon Hudson attention shows why Belichick still wants boundaries
The difference now is that Belichick’s public life is no longer only about football. Reports around Jordon Hudson have brought fresh attention, although a representative for the couple denied RadarOnline’s family claims.
That matters because Belichick has already drawn a clear line. He described Hudson as part of a personal relationship and said she does not have anything to do with football.
That is the key contrast. Belichick is navigating a noisier personal chapter, but his clearest public language still comes when the subject is football.
His Brady comments hit harder for that reason. They remind everyone that whatever surrounds Belichick now, his strongest legacy remains the one built through players, pressure and results.
Sonny Gray had arguably the best start of his Boston Red Sox tenure on Monday in the team’s 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals.
Gray was dominant as he went six-plus innings, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out nine. It was a stellar outing from the right-hander, and Royals slugger Vinnie Pasquantino was impressed with how the veteran right-hander pitched in the series opener.
“He spins the crap out of the ball, and he had the breaking ball working all night, running underneath the zone, and we were biting on it,” Pasquantino said postgame on Monday. "He was able to throw the cutter in to lefties. He was backing up the sinker with two strikes. He just did a nice job. We didn’t do enough.”
Pasquantino finished the game going 0-for-4, while he struck out twice, but only once to Gray. The slugger felt like Gray did a good job with the way he sequenced and the spin on the ball was stellar.
Red Sox’s interim manager Chad Tracy was also impressed with how Gray pitched on Monday to lead Boston to the series opener win.
“The same as we've seen the last two outings,” Tracy said. “Just in complete control, in and out, up, down, changing speeds. Had a nice front-door sinker, running it back on lefties, catching the inside corner. He was sensational.”
Since coming back from the injured list, Gray is 3-0 with a 1.06 ERA in three starts.
Agree or disagree? ESPN projects the winner of five Colts' training camp battles.
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ESPN's Mike Clay recently put together his stat projections for the Indianapolis Colts for the 2026 season. Whether or not this was the intention, these projections also tell us the outcomes of some key positional battles that will take place this summer.
Do we agree or disagree with the projected outcomes? Let's take a look.
Running back: DJ Giddens vs. Seth McGowan
As is expected, Jonathan Taylor dominates the carries and production at this position group. But second in attempts and yards is DJ Giddens over Seth McGowan.
Agree: While this battle could go either way, for now, I'll agree that Giddens has the advantage given his experience in Shane Steichen's offense.
Wide receiver: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Ashton Dulin, Deion Burks
The WR3 role behind Alec Pierce and Josh Downs is up for grabs, and presumably, it will be a three-way competition between the players listed above. ESPN has Westbrook-Ikhine finishing third among wide receivers in targets.
Agree -- sort of: I won't be shocked if Westbrook-Ikhine does see more opportunities than Dulin and Burks, but my guess right now is that these three share this role, with the matchup and in-game situations dictating who sees snaps.
Kicker: Blake Grupe or Spencer Shrader
This is one of the more under-the-radar competitions that will take place this summer for the Colts. While ESPN does have projected stats for Grupe, there aren't any for Shrader.
Agree: Grupe has more experience and isn't coming off an injury.
Defensive end: Arden Key, JT Tuimoloau, or someone else
Key finishes second on the team at defensive end in snaps and production. The starting spot opposite of Laiatu Latu is up for grabs.
Agree: Key has had a steady track record of production, and he has far more NFL experience than Tuimoloau.
Safety: AJ Haulcy, Juanyeh Thomas, Jonathan Owens, Hunter Wohler
These four are presumably competing for the starting spot next to Cam Bynum. ESPN's projections have Thomas playing the most snaps of this group.
Disagree: Haulcy's versatility and past ball production will make it nearly impossible to keep him off the field.
Chelsea are reportedly the favourites to sign highly-rated Sweden international forward Felicia Schröder.Schröder is a part of the Häcken team that won the inaugural UEFA Europa Cup this season wit...
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Chelsea favourites to sign Felicia Schröder
Chelsea are reportedly the favourites to sign highly-rated Sweden international forward Felicia Schröder.
Schröder is a part of the Häcken team that won the inaugural UEFA Europa Cup this season with the team having won all four of the opening Damallsvenskan so far this season.
The 19-year-old has impressed since breaking through and has a number of clubs interested including Chelsea and Real Madrid.
According to ESPN Deportes, it is the WSL side who are currently strong favourites to sign the player. Indeed, the Blues will certainly be in the market for new attacking talent with Sam Kerr leaving this summer and Catarina Macário having departed earlier in the season.
Although Sonia Bompastor's side have been strongly linked with a move for the 2025/26 WSL Player of the Season, Bunny Shaw.
Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make history this summer, as he takes to the pitch in the United States with Portugal. The 41-year-old forward has been named as captain for the Selecao ...
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Cristiano Ronaldo makes history after being named Portugal captain for World Cup
Real Madrid legend Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make history this summer, as he takes to the pitch in the United States with Portugal. The 41-year-old forward has been named as captain for the Selecao by Roberto Martinez, who announced their squad for the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday.
The Al-Nassr forward will lead Portugal out at the World Cup, and as Diario AS point out, if injury does not get in the way, it will be record sixth appearance at a World Cup for Ronaldo. No other player has managed the feat, which encompasses 20 years at the top level of football. Ronaldo is currently on 226 caps for his national side and 143 goals.
Lionel Messi can equal Cristiano Ronaldo record
Two players can also equal Ronaldo’s record this summer. Rolling back to the 2006 World Cup, Argentina legend Lionel Messi was also present, as was Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo ‘Memo’ Ochoa. The latter may have a more difficult time of setting the record if he is not first choice in goal for Javier Aguirre. Messi on the other hand seems likely to make Lionel Scaloni’s squad, as he rounds into form for what will surely be his final World Cup. Despite casting doubt on his ability to play, Messi is rounding into form for Inter Miami. He will turn 39 during the tournament.
Four LaLiga players make Roberto Martinez’s Portugal squad
In total, four LaLiga players have been included in Martinez’s 26-man squad, which also features familiar faces suh as Rui Silva, Nelson Semedo, Joao Felix and Francisco Trincao. Three of those played for Barcelona, and this year Joao Cancelo will also be going.
Elsewhere, Villarreal centre-back Renato Veiga, RCD Mallorca midfielder Samu Costa and Real Sociedad forward Goncalo Guedes have also made the cut, the latter rounding into fine form in the second half of the season. The headline absences from Martinez’s squad are Joao Palhinha, Antonio Silva and Rodrigo Mora.
Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli is still hoping to seal a transfer to Al-Sadd after the botched January move.Alessio Romagnoli Already Tried to Leave Lazio in JanuaryThe 31-year-old has been irritate...
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Lazio Wantaway Keen to Join His January Suitors in the Summer
Lazio defender Alessio Romagnoli is still hoping to seal a transfer to Al-Sadd after the botched January move.
Alessio Romagnoli Already Tried to Leave Lazio in January
The 31-year-old has been irritated by Claudio Lotito’s broken promises regarding a pay raise, which dates back to 2023. In January, he was on the cusp of leaving Lazio and joining Roberto Mancini’s Al-Sadd.
The two clubs negotiated until the final hours before the Qatari transfer market deadline, but the move collapsed when the Lazio president asked the defender to waive three months of wages, and the centre-back refused the request as a matter of principle.
Why Romagnoli to Al-Sadd Collapsed in The Winter
While Romagnoli rejoined Maurizio Sarri’s squad in early February, Al-Sadd’s interest never faded away. The Qatari champions had reportedly promised the former AC Milan captain to try to sign him again in the summer. In recent months, the player was said to be reluctant to join due to the ongoing unrest in the Middle East, but he has seemingly put these concerns behind him.
Romagnoli Awaiting a Summer Offer from Al-Sadd
According to Italian journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Romagnoli is still eager to sign for the Arabian club, and he hopes that they’ll keep their word by submitting a new offer in the summer.
The Italian defender still has one year left on his Lazio contract. And while donning the Aquile jersey was a dream come true for the club’s lifelong supporter, his deteriorating relationship with Lotito and the club’s shambolic status prompted him, along with others, to seek an escape rope. Therefore, Saturday’s contest against Pisa could well be Romagnoli’s last appearance in Lazio colors.
Juventus had been in strong form during the second half of the season, and only a few weeks ago it appeared increasingly likely that they would secure qualification for the Champions League.At that st...
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Ex-Juventus president says they have thrown away Spalletti’s hard work
Juventus had been in strong form during the second half of the season, and only a few weeks ago it appeared increasingly likely that they would secure qualification for the Champions League.
At that stage, the Bianconeri had established a healthy gap over the teams chasing them in the league table, and there was growing confidence that they would finish the campaign strongly and confirm a top-four place.
However, recent results have significantly altered the situation. A home draw against Verona, followed by a defeat to Fiorentina in their most recent fixture, has left Juventus in a far more uncertain position regarding their European prospects.
Juventus Face Uncertain European Future
If Juventus win their final match of the season and AS Roma lose theirs, they could still secure qualification for the Champions League. However, at present, it appears increasingly likely that they may instead be competing in the Europa League next season.
Despite this setback, the squad remains determined to finish the campaign on a positive note and demonstrate their quality in the final fixture. The players are expected to approach the match with intensity as they attempt to salvage a strong conclusion to what has become a difficult period.
Concerns have grown within the club following recent performances, particularly regarding consistency and mentality in key matches under pressure.
Criticism of Juventus Structure
Former Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has suggested that recent progress made under the current manager has been undermined by the team’s latest results and broader structural issues within the club.
“Spalletti had put in a decent job, but it was lost yesterday , in a match in which Juve lacked grit and determination. There are problems at Juve: there is a management class that does not appear as it should appear. Spalletti must not speak to Elkann, but to the CEO and the president of Juve. Otherwise, all the hierarchies will be disavowed. This is one of the biggest misunderstandings within Juve.”
His comments highlight ongoing debate around leadership and organisation at Juventus, with questions being raised about decision-making structures and communication between key figures at the club.
As the season approaches its conclusion, Juventus face a decisive moment that will determine not only their European status but also the direction of the club heading into the next campaign.
Enzo Maresca is set to be Man City’s new manager – and Chelsea are expecting to get some compensation out of the move.If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a pre...
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Chelsea expect compensation payment from Man City for major incoming summer announcement
Enzo Maresca is set to be Man City’s new manager – and Chelsea are expecting to get some compensation out of the move.
If you enjoy Chelsea News coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.
It’s not yet confirmed, but all the rumours in the last 24 hours have been clear that Pep Guardiola is leaving Man City after ten years.
The man who will replace him is Enzo Maresca, who walked out of Chelsea in January after a rift with the club spiralled out of control. According to Nizaar Kinsella of the BBC, if Maresca does go to City, Chelsea believe they are entitled to compensation.
City should pay up for Maresca to avoid distracting disputes
Without knowing the details from the inside, that does seem reasonable. Maresca left the job at Stamford Bridge on his own terms, but he had years left on his contract. City would have had to pay to get him out of that deal had he still been at Chelsea, so it wouldn’t be fair for Maresca’s decision to walk to get them off teh hook for that.
Compared to player transfer fees it will be pretty insignificant, and City may decide to just pay up and avoid any disputes. It would be the worst possible way to start their new era under the former Leicester boss.
In other news…
Xabi Alonso has a “progressive” fitness coach who is going to bring something really new to the party at Cobham this summer according to reports.
There were major tactical considerations in appointing Xabi Alonso it seems, with Chelsea trying to avoid the situation they had some years ago when changing between two very different coaches.
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The New York Mets have reportedly promoted outfield prospect Nick Morabito. It may appear like a routine roster move on the surface, but there's a hidden message behind how the team is looking forward after a poor start to the season.
The news, first reported by Will Sammon, came just hours after Austin Slater was designated for assignment. It signals a priority shift within the organization.
After seeing Tommy Pham and Slater both fail to make their mark as platoon hitters, the Mets are moving on from the veterans to give opportunities to their young outfielders. It seems the Mets are done with short-term fixes and are ready to embrace what their internal development looks like.
With Carson Benge and AJ Ewing assuming everyday roles in the outfield, the Mets' message can't be any clearer.
Nick Morabito was selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB draft. He started this season at Triple-A Syracuse and did really well, batting .253 with a .364 on-base percentage, four home runs and 14 steals in 16 attempts.
While he doesn't have extremely strong power numbers, his upside lies in speed, plate discipline and defensive versatility.
It remains to be seen how the move changes the Mets' philosophy not only in the outfield but also in other areas and positions.
Los Angeles Angels fans are expressing their opinions about owner Arte Moreno loud and clear. Fans want Moreno, who bought the franchise in 2003, to sell the team. A group of out-of-state club baseball players recently started a “Tarps Off” trend during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals at Busch […] The post Shirtless Fans Chant ‘Sell The Team’ During Angels Game appeared first on LA Sports Report.
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Los Angeles Angels fans are expressing their opinions about owner Arte Moreno loud and clear. Fans want Moreno, who bought the franchise in 2003, to sell the team.
March 9, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno arrives for a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
A group of out-of-state club baseball players recently started a “Tarps Off” trend during a game against the St. Louis Cardinals and Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium on Saturday. The fans in the right-field seats took off their shirts and waved them around while wildly cheering and chanting during the eighth inning.
The cheers ultimately helped fuel the Cardinals to a walk-off victory over the Royals. And now, the “Tarps Off” trend has carried over into other stadiums, including Angel Stadium on Monday night.
As a group of fans waved their shirts around in the air, they also chanted, “Sell the team!”
Angel Stadium had 'Tarps Off' and "Sell the Team!" chants. 😳
The Angels have struggled through a franchise-record 10 consecutive losing seasons, and the Halos are on track to add an 11th losing season to that record if something does not improve soon.
Under new manager Kurt Suzuki, Los Angeles holds a 17-31 record, which is the worst record across all MLB teams this season. The Colorado Rockies in the National League have the second-worst record in baseball (19-29).
Moreno has expressed some of priorities are keeping Angels game affordable and safe for families to attend.
“The number one thing fans want is affordability,” Moreno told reporters on February 20. “They want affordability. They want safety, and they want a good experience when they come to the ballpark. Believe it or not, winning is not in their top five.”
Although this seems like a good idea, many fans want the franchise to start spending more to land top players that can lead the Angels back to the postseason. The Angels have only been to postseason once since 2010, despite having superstars like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on the roster in previous seasons.
Moreno reportedly explored options to sell the team after the 2022 season. But as of now, it does not seem like Moreno has any intention of giving up the Angels.
“I love being an owner,” Moreno said in February, per MLB. “But then age gets to be a big part of it. But let’s put it this way. I’m not shopping.”
The New England Patriots came into the offseason needing to improve their pass rush. They have addressed the need through the draft, but could still be looking for help.
The New England Patriots came into the offseason needing to improve their pass rush. They have addressed the need through the draft, but could still be looking for help.
The Patriots lost K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency, but replaced him by signing Dre'Mont Jones. They drafted Gabe Jacas in the second round of the NFL Draft and should also be getting a healthy version of Harold Landry III. However, that is not stopping them from still looking for potential help. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team is working out Janarius Robinson.
Robinson was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason, but was placed on season-ending injured reserve before the season started. He was originally drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he suffered a season-ending leg injury in rookie training camp.
After stints on the Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles practice squads, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. In two seasons with the Raiders, he played in 16 games and had 1.5 sacks and 13 tackles. He only played 187 defensive snaps with the Raiders. He was a talented player in college, and the Patriots may be looking to see if he can still be that type of player.
He tested well in the pre-draft process and could be a solid depth piece for the Patriots if he can stay healthy. He has had very limited opportunities in the league so far, but perhaps that could change with the Patriots if they sign him.
San Jose landed a pro women’s hockey franchise on Tuesday with the PWHL completing its ambitious four-team expansion process with a first entry into California. The league now has 12 teams entering its fourth season, and has doubled in size since the PWHL was established in June 2023. In selecting San Jose, the PWHL adds a region with a population of about 7.6 million, strengthens its geographic footprint with a third Pacific Coast-based franchise, and enters a market with a strong history of supporting women’s sports and girls hockey development.
The league now has 12 teams entering its fourth season, and has doubled in size since the PWHL was established in June 2023. In selecting San Jose, the PWHL adds a region with a population of about 7.6 million, strengthens its geographic footprint with a third Pacific Coast-based franchise, and enters a market with a strong history of supporting women’s sports and girls hockey development.
The team will play out of the NHL home of the San Jose Sharks, the SAP Center, with the bid to land the franchise led by the city and Sharks Sports & Entertainment.
“Between a deeply rooted hockey culture, rapidly booming women’s sports scene, and a community known for growth and innovation, San Jose offers a dynamic stage for the PWHL to expand its reach and build lasting momentum,” said Amy Scheer, PWHL executive vice president of business operations.
San Jose’s selection closes the league’s second expansion process, which began with the addition of Detroit two weeks ago followed by Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, a week later They join Seattle and Vancouver, who were added last year, and the PWHL's original six markets of Boston, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Minnesota.
Scheer has previously said league officials are exploring splitting in either two conferences or multiple divisions. All four newcomers help fill geographical voids in reducing travel time between markets.
San Jose has also become a hockey hotbed in ranking sixth in the nation in girls hockey participation.
“From its humble beginnings with an NHL expansion team in 1991, San Jose is now truly a ‘hockey city,’" Sharks Sports & Entertainment president Jonathan Becher said.
The yet-to-be-named team’s colors will be orange — in a nod to the Sharks — blue and white, representing the coastline and sky.
The PWHL team will be the third major women’s professional franchise to come to the Bay Area in recent years, following Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2024 and the Golden State Valkyries of the WNBA in 2025.
Bay FC ranked third in the NWSL in attendance last season and drew 40,091 fans to a game at Oracle Park in San Francisco for the third largest crowd in league history.
The Valkyries made the playoffs as an expansion team when they led the league in attendance with more than 18,000 fans a game at Chase Center. The team was recently valued at a league-high $850 million by Sportico after the ownership paid an expansion fee of $50 million in 2023.
The PWHL controls all of its franchises, and is privately financed by Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter and his wife Kimbra.
The fast-paced growth represents the surge in attention the league anticipated women’s hockey would enjoy following the Milan Cortina Olympics in February. Another factor is the league preparing for a bumper-crop of high-level talent declaring for this year’s draft.
By growing to 12 teams, including seven in the U.S., the PWHL is also in better position to secure a national broadcast partner. Scripps Sports is the likely candidate with the broadcaster taking the first step this season by airing PWHL playoff games on ION, which reaches 126 million American households.
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AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.
Can J.J. McCarthy fix his mechanics? Can Kyler Murray lead? Tyler breaks down the Vikings' QB battle.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings talks with teammates during the first quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 quarterback competition is officially on, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. On the latest episode of The Real Forno Show, Vikings beat writer and NFL draft analyst Tyler Forness breaks down exactly how both J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray can win the starting job — treating it as a true 50/50 competition. The episode also unpacks what Minnesota’s reduced undrafted free agent spending reveals about the current state of the roster.
The QB Battle Breakdown
Forness pulls no punches when evaluating McCarthy’s 2025 struggles. “He ranked last in EPA per play, success rate, and completion percentage over expected” in his first six starts, per advanced metrics from rbsdm.com. However, McCarthy’s final four games showed a dramatic turnaround — finishing fourth in EPA per play among qualifying quarterbacks — though Forness cautions those came against four of the worst defenses in the league. Kyler Murray, by contrast, posted top-15 numbers in EPA per play and eighth in success rate during his last full season in 2024, doing so with inferior weapons and a worse offensive line than what Minnesota offers. As Forness puts it, Murray is now being handed “a Rolls-Royce” in terms of skill position talent.
Key Points from the Episode:
McCarthy’s path to victory requires three things: improved mechanical consistency (“his footwork would be all over the place”), faster processing speed, and better ball placement — he posted a 23% uncatchable ball rate, one of the worst marks in the NFL last season.
Murray’s path is simpler but not guaranteed: “All Murray needs to do is show some improvement in mechanics, handle the offense, and just play like Kyler Murray can play — and I think he runs away with this thing.”
Justin Jefferson weighed in publicly, saying of Murray: “just coming here with a new team and being that vocal leader. — That I feel like that’s the main thing that we’re looking for especially out of him, being more vocal, being that leader that we’re looking for” Forness sees this as Jefferson firing both quarterbacks up rather than a genuine indictment.
The UDFA class tells a roster story: The Vikings spent only $1.408 million on undrafted free agents — down significantly from $2 million-plus last year. Three players — WR Dillon Bell, OL Tristan Leigh, and DL Monkell Goodwine — received $247,500 in fully guaranteed base salary, signaling they’re the most likely to make the roster or practice squad.
Forness on the bigger picture: “The only bad aspect of this conversation is they both stink. We just want a quarterback that’s gonna help lead us to a Super Bowl.”
Producer Dave Stefano noted Warren Moon publicly questioned Murray’s leadership and motivation, “I hope he’s learned over the last couple of years, with all the criticism he’s taken and the injuries he’s gone through, that he has to give more of himself to his football team. He has to show people more about what he’s feeling and thinking. You have to do that as a quarterback in order to get people to follow you.” Adding another layer to an already compelling competition narrative.
Watch:Why You Should Be Watching The Real Forno Show
If you want the sharpest, most analytically grounded coverage of the Minnesota Vikings — from film breakdowns and draft scouting to roster construction and quarterback debates — The Real Forno Show is essential viewing. Tyler Forness and Producer Dave Stefano deliver unfiltered, data-backed takes every week as part of the Vikings 1st & SKOL production. Subscribe on YouTube, leave a five-star review on iTunes, and ring the bell so you never miss an episode. SKOL Vikings.
Do you think the Vikings’ QB competition between J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray is truly 50/50 — or is one of them already the favorite heading into training camp?
Cristiano Ronaldo leads the 27-man Portugal men's national team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coach Roberto Martinez announced Tuesday.
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Striker Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is set to play in his sixth World Cup, a record for a men's player. File Photo by Chris Brunskill/UPI
May 19 (UPI) -- Cristiano Ronaldo leads the 27-man Portugal men's national team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, coach Roberto Martinez announced Tuesday.
Ronaldo is to make his sixth appearance in the tournament, the most of any men's players. Longtime rival Lionel Messi, who is expected to join Argentina for the tournament, also is on track for his sixth World Cup.
Ronaldo, 41, is the only man to score in five separate World Cups. He is Portugal's all-time leader in appearances (226) and goals (143).
Midfielders Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Joao Neves and Bernardo Silva and defender Nuno Mendes are among other notable players on the squad.
Joao Felix, Ronaldo's teammate at Al Nassr, Francisco Trincao, Francisco Conceicao, Rafael Leao, Pedro Neto, Goncalo Guedes and Goncalo Ramos joined Ronaldo as forwards selected for the squad.
Ruben Neves and Samuel Costa joined Neves, Vitinha, Fernandes and Silva as the midfielders on the roster.
Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nelson Semedo, Joao Cancelo, Goncalo Inacio, Renato Veiga, Ruben Dias and Tomas Araujo join Mendes on defense.
Martinez selected Diogo Costa, Jose Sa, Rui Silva and Ricardo Velho as Portugal's goalies.
The Portuguese, who sit at No. 5 in the FIFA world rankings, have the sixth-best odds to win the 2026 World Cup, according to some sports books.
They will host Chile in a friendly June 6 in Oeiras. They will then host Nigeria in their final pre-tournament friendly June 10 in Leiria.
Portugal will open Group K play against the Democratic Republic of the Congo on June 17 in Houston.
Appearing on the latest episode of the Hang Out with Sean Hannity podcast, Belichick said he “couldn’t believe” the way he was treated by CBS and claimed that the network has refused to provide him with a transcript of the interview despite his requests.
After Hannity said he was “stunned” by the interview and suggested the multi-time Super Bowl-winning coach should sue CBS, Belichick responded, per the Daily Mail, “You know, as we’ve seen recently, there have been more editing problems, and they go back over a couple of years—multiple examples of editing and interview process and all that.”
He continued, “You know, I thought that the interview I had with them was done very deceptively. I’ve asked for the transcript from them and they won’t give it to me. They’ve done that with others. I’m not really sure what that policy is.”
The interview aired last April when Belichick sat down with Tony Dokoupil for an edition of CBS News Sunday Morning. During the one-on-one chat, Dokoupil asked the then-73-year-old coach about his relationship with then-24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson attend the Kentucky Derby; Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Churchill Downs
Hudson, who was watching the interview off-camera, interrupted the question, saying, “We’re not talking about this.” Dokoupil also noted that Hudson “was a constant presence during our interview.”
At the time, viewers, including Piers Morgan, described the interview as “utterly excruciating,” while sports writer Jemele Hill wrote, “A 24 year old seems to have more influence over Bill Belichick than Tom Brady. Cold game.”
Speaking to Hannity, Belichick said, “I’m kind of confused about some of the things that they [CBS] say they are, but I don’t really see them living up to the trust that they talk about.”
Two days after the interview aired, Belichick, who serves as coach of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels, emailed Beth Keith, a senior associate vice chancellor in UNC’s Office of University Communication, to clarify the nature of his relationship with Hudson.
“Jordon and I have both a personal [and] professional relationship,” he wrote. “This is not a secret. Jordon assists me with my personal media, which is why I asked UNC to forward media requests (e.g. CBS’ 60 Minutes) to her. Jordon has zero involvement in the UNC football program, beyond the degree that my personal media intersects with it.”
He added that Hudson accompanied him to the CBS interview because his Simon & Schuster publicist wasn’t available. Belichick claimed that after about 35 minutes, the questions shifted away from his book, The Art of Winning, and moved to topics “outlined as off-limits.”
Belichick also claimed Hudson asked to sit “off-camera,” but CBS “secretly had a camera focused” on her throughout the interview.
In a statement at the time, CBS News said that Belichick had agreed to a wide-ranging interview. “There were no preconditions or limitations to this conversation,” the statement read. “This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place and after it was completed.”
Troy Aikman raised doubts about Dak Prescott replicating his 2025 performance during an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up. The former Cowboys quarterback pointed to an important condition for the upcoming season.
“Can the offense continue to play at the level they did last year? That’s a big if,” Aikman said during a recent appearance on ESPN’s Get Up. The comment landed at a time when Dallas expects its roster to improve across the board.
Prescott entered the MVP conversation for half of last season. George Pickens and Javonte Williams each posted career years under Brian Schottenheimer. The Cowboys ranked in the top 10 in scoring and ran the ball effectively.
Those offensive numbers carried a hidden cause. Matt Eberflus directed the worst defense in the NFL. Dallas played from behind constantly and needed shootouts to stay competitive each week.
The inflated production stemmed from necessity rather than sustainable efficiency. When a defense surrenders points at that rate, the quarterback throws more, and the offense accelerates to compensate.
Christian Parker now controls the defensive unit. Several offseason additions and a productive draft class have created reasonable expectations for improvement on that side of the ball.
Jerry Jones invested in defensive upgrades this offseason. The front office added veteran signings and drafted players designed to fix the league’s worst unit from a year ago.
“If you’re a Cowboys fan, you hope the offensive numbers don’t look as good,” Aikman said. The logic follows a clear path.
A functional defense reduces the pressure on Prescott to perform at an extreme level every week. Lower offensive output would signal that Dallas no longer needs 30 points per game to win.
That shift would represent actual progress rather than statistical decline. Dallas opens 2026 against the Giants before hosting the Eagles on Thanksgiving Day. Those games will show whether Aikman’s concern was justified.
Ryan Garcia says he’ll be fighting Conor Benn in September
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THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 2293 -- Pictured: (l-r) Professional boxer Ryan Garcia during an interview with host Jimmy Fallon on Monday, May 18, 2026 -- (Photo by: Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images)
Ryan Garcia announced a fight with Conor Benn last night on “Late Night,” telling host Jimmy Fallon that the fight is set.
Before continuing, it should be said that Ryan Garcia has had a habit in his career of “announcing” fights before they’re actually concrete. The fight has been rumored and buzzed about for a bit now, and it makes sense for both sides, so it’s entirely possible this is all legit, but it is worth noting.
That said, Garcia says the fight with Benn will happen on September 12 in Las Vegas. We know that Canelo Alvarezwill also be fighting on September 12, albeit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, so it’s possible that the two shows could happen on the same date in very different time zones, which would lead to Canelo vs Mbilli wrapping up about when the Garcia vs Benn undercard would be starting.
“I can say that we are fighting September 12th, it will be in Vegas,” Garcia told Fallon. “I’ll just say his name. His name is Conor Benn. And he’s talking a lot, he’s talking crazy. He actually confronted me at an award show two years ago, and my wife was there he just pressed up on me, grabbed me. Yeah, so it’s a little personal.”
Garcia (25-2, 20 KO) beat Mario Barrios to win the WBC welterweight title on February 21 in Las Vegas, while Benn (25-1, 14 KO) labored through a fairly unimpressive decision victory over a clearly physically compromised Regis Prograis on April 11 in London.
Benn, 29, has not actually made the welterweight limit for a fight since April 2022, when he beat Chris van Heerden, the last fight he had before failing a drug test that put his career on hold for about a year and delayed a fight with Chris Eubank Jr for nearly three years.
Garcia, 27, also had a doping scandal in 2024, following a now-overturned win over Devin Haney.
In what will be his 22nd season in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers sits at 527 career touchdown passes
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After much debate and back-and-forth amid media speculation, Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has agreed to terms on a one-year deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers. If he can stay healthy, he could surpass Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning on the all-time passing touchdown list.
In what will be his 22nd season in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers sits at 527 career touchdown passes. Only 13 passes away from surpassing Peyton Manning, who has 539. If Rodgers can stay healthy, the record should be easily attainable before the halfway mark of the 2026 NFL season.
The number two spot is held by Drew Brees with 571, and Tom Brady sits atop the board with 649. In the same season, if Rodgers is a little off the pace as far as QB rating, he could slip down the leaderboard in that category behind the likes of Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson.
Rodgers also holds the all-time low interception percentage, at 1.41 percent. He has only thrown 123 interceptions out of 8,743 career passes thrown.
Ultimately, Rodgers is a competitor and doesn't necessarily care about individual stats, especially while turning 43 years old. He is coming back for a shot at another Super Bowl, and the Steelers are adding pieces to the puzzle to ensure he at least has a shot at it.
Amateur SportsTeam SportsSoftballHigh School SportsSports
NEW MIAMI — The New Miami High School softball team celebrated yet another lopsided postseason victory Monday, May 18. But Vikings coach Donnie Howard knows the biggest challenge of his team’s breakthrough still waits ahead. New Miami rolled past Middletown Christian 20-0 in a Division VII district semifinal, extending the Vikings’ winning streak to eight games and sending the program to a ...
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NEW MIAMI — The New Miami High School softball team celebrated yet another lopsided postseason victory Monday, May 18.
But Vikings coach Donnie Howard knows the biggest challenge of his team’s breakthrough still waits ahead.
New Miami rolled past Middletown Christian 20-0 in a Division VII district semifinal, extending the Vikings’ winning streak to eight games and sending the program to a district final game on Wednesday, May 20 against sixth-ranked Southeastern at West Carrollton.
The win represents another step forward for the Vikings, who are enjoying their best season in more than a decade, Howard said.
New Miami improved to 18-5 overall and has won 13 of its last 15 games — outscoring its three postseason opponents 62-1 and marking the school’s most successful campaign since the 2010 Vikings went 15-6 before falling in a district semifinal.
“There’s been some ups and downs,” Howard said. “I just hope we come play good ball Wednesday. I want to play some more competitive games so our girls can get better and hopefully understand the game more, and then we can go deeper in the tournament.”
The Vikings showed little trouble against Middletown Christian.
Mikaela Lema powered the offensive eruption, driving in seven runs on three hits. The sophomore blasted an inside-the-park home run in the first inning, added a two-run single later in the frame and ripped a three-run triple in the third.
Lema also dominated in the circle, striking out 13 while allowing just three hits over five shutout innings. Lema leads the Miami Valley Conference in strikeouts and wins.
New Miami erupted for 13 runs in the opening inning. Lily Ivy, Brooklynn York and Jalin Williams each delivered RBI hits during the outburst, while the Vikings also took advantage of 15 walks and aggressive baserunning to quickly put the game away.
Ivy and Mariah Powell each collected multiple hits, and Whitney Wilson and Ryleigh Fox each stole multiple bases as New Miami finished with 13 hits and six stolen bases.
Howard believes the foundation for the turnaround is being built by a young core that has bought into the program.
“It’s freshmen,” Howard said when asked what people may not know about the team. “They are buying into the program. … I hope I can get nine more freshmen coming in just like that next year.”
Howard said the program’s recent growth has created optimism for the future, especially with the Vikings returning much of their roster.
“We only have two seniors,” Howard said. “I’m hoping we can get some freshmen to come in and buy into the program.”
The postseason success has also stirred memories of New Miami’s last deep tournament push in 2010, when the Vikings advanced to a district semifinal before suffering a season-ending loss to Felicity-Franklin.
Howard pointed to last season’s tournament run by Felicity-Franklin — which went into the postseason winless — as another reminder that anything can happen in Division VII softball.
“That’s a case in point,” Howard said. “Any given day, any team can be beat.”
The Vikings will try to prove it in a district final game against one of the state’s top-ranked teams. Howard said New Miami may adjust its approach against Southeastern, potentially mixing in more small ball and changing pitching speeds to keep hitters off balance.
“We’ll see what we can start out with,” Howard said. “We just want to go out there and compete.”
May 19—Centerville defeated Walnut Hills 10-0 to open Division I postseason play on Monday, May 18. Caitlyn Belcher racked up 13 strikeouts in a five-inning one-hitter in the circle to lead the way. Shelby Cotterman drove in four runs, Kenley Bakan went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Ava Ponichtera was 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI to pace the Elks at the plate. Centerville bumped to ...
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May 19—Centerville defeated Walnut Hills 10-0 to open Division I postseason play on Monday, May 18.
Caitlyn Belcher racked up 13 strikeouts in a five-inning one-hitter in the circle to lead the way.
Shelby Cotterman drove in four runs, Kenley Bakan went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Ava Ponichtera was 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI to pace the Elks at the plate. Centerville bumped to 21-7 overall, with eight wins in its last nine games, and will face Lakota West at Lakota East on Wednesday, May 20.
Baseball
Fairfield 8, St. Xavier 5: Nathan Lisk doubled and drove in two, Dylan Pogozalski added two hits with two RBI and Fairfield scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take control of the game.
Troy 6, Fairmont 0: Jake Reinhardt struck out seven over seven shutout innings and Logan Akers and Colton Akins each tallied two hits with a run scored to help Troy improve to 21-3 overall. The Trojans will wrap up the regular season at Beavercreek on Wednesday, May 20.
Fenwick 8, Kings 4: Carter Shouse crushed a home run, Conner Enderle drove in three runs and Fenwick turned around a two-game losing streak to head into postseason play.
Monroe 5, Turpin 5: Keegan O'Hara tallied two hits with three RBI for Monroe in a game that was called due to darkness.
Bethel 4, Xenia 3: Troy Hunt whacked a home run, Reece Reittinger picked up the win in relief and Bethel picked up a rally victory.
Softball
TOURNAMENT
Division I
Beavercreek 5, Sycamore 4: Kayta Barrett pitched a complete game along with going 2-for-4 with three RBI at the plate to help Beavercreek win its sectional opener in rally fashion. 'Creek advances to play Lakota East on Wednesday, May 20.
Springboro 13, Wayne 3: Kylene Seibel broke the Springboro single season steals record in the win. 'Boro moves on to face Lebanon on Wednesday, May 20.
Lakota West 10, Seton 2: Ava Gilbert struck out 12 in a complete game while Mia Anderson and Leah Witmer each doubled and brought in two runs each to lead Lakota West.
Hamilton 5, Fairmont 2: Emili Schappacher tossed a complete game along with driving in the go-ahead run on a sac-fly for Hamilton, which moves on to play Colerain on Wednesday, May 20.
Division VII
New Miami 20, Middletown Christian 0: Mikaela Lema drove in seven runs off three hits, including an inside-the-park home run, along with pitching five shutout innings in an eighth consecutive win for New Miami.
Russia 6, Cedarville 4: Macy Smith singled in the go-ahead run to send Russia to the district finals.
Lakota West 10, Seton 2: LW: Gilbert W 12 K, Anderson 2-3 2B 2 RBI, Witmer 2-4 2B 2 RBI.
Lebanon 22, Middletown 0
Milford 11, Springfield 1
Oak Hills 9, Fairfield 2
Springboro 13, Wayne 3
Division III
Jonathan Alder 16, Marion Harding 6
Division V
Georgetown 13, Cin. Christian 6
Liberty Union 13, Madison-Plains 0
North Union 6, Centerburg 1
Northmor 9, Fairbanks 0
Springfield Shawnee 5, Versailles 0
Division VII
New Miami 20, Middletown Christian 0: Lema W 13 K, 3B HR 7 RBI.
Russia 6, Cedarville 4
Southeastern 7, Ansonia 1
Sunday's Results
Division I
Lakota East 11, Colerain 1: LE: Y. Schulte 2-3 2B 3 RBI, Damen W 8 K, Crawford 2-3 3B 2 RBI.
Boys Tennis
SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT
Sunday's Results
At Centerville
Division I
Singles: 1. Lee (Centerville) d. Hunt (Beavercreek), 6-3 6-4; 3. Grismer (Bellbrook) d. Nazarov (Springboro), 7-5 6-3. Doubles: 1. Edwards/Critchfield (Centerville) d. Nelson/Mullins (Springboro), 7-5 4-6 6-4; 3. Wooton/Thambi-Pillai (Centerville) d. Hurlburt/Lipsky (Springboro), 6-3 3-6 6-4.
Division II
Singles: 1. Shope (Alter) d. Jain (Miami Valley), 6-0 6-1; 3. Mabarak (Alter) d. Nabors (Valley View), 6-2 6-3. Doubles: 1. Watson/Boehne (Oakwood) d. Zhou/Crowder (Oakwood), 7-5 2-6 6-1; 3. Petty/Monson (Dayton Christian) d. Monson/Manier (Dayton Christian), 5-7 6-3 6-3.
Girls Lacrosse
TOURNAMENT
Monday's Results
Division II
Madeira 14, Fenwick 4
REPORTING RESULTS
Contact Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News with scores and results as soon as possible after varsity high school athletic contests by email only at COPSports@coxincn.com. Please include any details from your contest that you would like published along with a contact name and phone number.
Oklahoma City lost 122-115 in double overtime to San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals opener. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander accepted full responsibility after the disappointing defeat on his MVP night.
Gilgeous-Alexander received his second consecutive MVP trophy before tipoff. He became the 14th player in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards. The pregame ceremony gave way to frustration.
“We just got to be better — me, in particular,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. San Antonio disrupted the rhythm of the league’s most valuable player throughout both overtime periods on his MVP presentation night.
The Spurs used their length and rim protection to deny driving lanes and contest shot attempts at the basket. Gilgeous-Alexander faced extra defenders on every possession in the extra sessions.
“I have to be better, especially against a team of this caliber,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Nothing more than that.” The admission carried weight from the newly crowned two-time MVP.
The Spurs executed a defensive game plan designed to force the ball out of Gilgeous-Alexander’s hands. His teammates could not convert the open looks when San Antonio collapsed toward the paint.
The loss raised questions about Oklahoma City’s ability to adjust when its primary creator faces elite defensive attention. San Antonio committed additional help defenders toward Gilgeous-Alexander during every overtime possession.
Gilgeous-Alexander has carried the Thunder all season. When his production drops against disciplined defensive schemes, the supporting cast must generate offense independently. That task proved difficult in Game 1.
Oklahoma City remains the defending champion with roster depth and coaching that has answered challenges all year. Coach Mark Daigneault has limited time to install corrections before Game 2.
The Thunder need a response on their home floor to avoid falling behind 0-2 in the series. Gilgeous-Alexander set the standard for accountability with his postgame comments.
His production must now match that standard when the Western Conference Finals resume for Game 2.
Centerville defeated Walnut Hills 10-0 to open Division I postseason play on Monday, May 18. Caitlyn Belcher racked up 13 strikeouts in a five-inning one-hitter in the circle to lead the way. Shelby Cotterman drove in four runs, Kenley Bakan went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Ava Ponichtera was 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI to pace the Elks at the plate. Centerville bumped to 21-7 ...
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Centerville defeated Walnut Hills 10-0 to open Division I postseason play on Monday, May 18.
Caitlyn Belcher racked up 13 strikeouts in a five-inning one-hitter in the circle to lead the way.
Shelby Cotterman drove in four runs, Kenley Bakan went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and Ava Ponichtera was 2-for-2 with a double and one RBI to pace the Elks at the plate. Centerville bumped to 21-7 overall, with eight wins in its last nine games, and will face Lakota West at Lakota East on Wednesday, May 20.
Baseball
Fairfield 8, St. Xavier 5: Nathan Lisk doubled and drove in two, Dylan Pogozalski added two hits with two RBI and Fairfield scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take control of the game.
Troy 6, Fairmont 0: Jake Reinhardt struck out seven over seven shutout innings and Logan Akers and Colton Akins each tallied two hits with a run scored to help Troy improve to 21-3 overall. The Trojans will wrap up the regular season at Beavercreek on Wednesday, May 20.
Fenwick 8, Kings 4: Carter Shouse crushed a home run, Conner Enderle drove in three runs and Fenwick turned around a two-game losing streak to head into postseason play.
Monroe 5, Turpin 5: Keegan O’Hara tallied two hits with three RBI for Monroe in a game that was called due to darkness.
Bethel 4, Xenia 3: Troy Hunt whacked a home run, Reece Reittinger picked up the win in relief and Bethel picked up a rally victory.
Softball
TOURNAMENT
Division I
Beavercreek 5, Sycamore 4: Kayta Barrett pitched a complete game along with going 2-for-4 with three RBI at the plate to help Beavercreek win its sectional opener in rally fashion. ‘Creek advances to play Lakota East on Wednesday, May 20.
Springboro 13, Wayne 3: Kylene Seibel broke the Springboro single season steals record in the win. ‘Boro moves on to face Lebanon on Wednesday, May 20.
Lakota West 10, Seton 2: Ava Gilbert struck out 12 in a complete game while Mia Anderson and Leah Witmer each doubled and brought in two runs each to lead Lakota West.
Hamilton 5, Fairmont 2: Emili Schappacher tossed a complete game along with driving in the go-ahead run on a sac-fly for Hamilton, which moves on to play Colerain on Wednesday, May 20.
Division VII
New Miami 20, Middletown Christian 0: Mikaela Lema drove in seven runs off three hits, including an inside-the-park home run, along with pitching five shutout innings in an eighth consecutive win for New Miami.
Russia 6, Cedarville 4: Macy Smith singled in the go-ahead run to send Russia to the district finals.
Lakota West 10, Seton 2: LW: Gilbert W 12 K, Anderson 2-3 2B 2 RBI, Witmer 2-4 2B 2 RBI.
Lebanon 22, Middletown 0
Milford 11, Springfield 1
Oak Hills 9, Fairfield 2
Springboro 13, Wayne 3
Division III
Jonathan Alder 16, Marion Harding 6
Division V
Georgetown 13, Cin. Christian 6
Liberty Union 13, Madison-Plains 0
North Union 6, Centerburg 1
Northmor 9, Fairbanks 0
Springfield Shawnee 5, Versailles 0
Division VII
New Miami 20, Middletown Christian 0: Lema W 13 K, 3B HR 7 RBI.
Russia 6, Cedarville 4
Southeastern 7, Ansonia 1
Sunday’s Results
Division I
Lakota East 11, Colerain 1: LE: Y. Schulte 2-3 2B 3 RBI, Damen W 8 K, Crawford 2-3 3B 2 RBI.
Boys Tennis
SECTIONAL TOURNAMENT
Sunday’s Results
At Centerville
Division I
Singles: 1. Lee (Centerville) d. Hunt (Beavercreek), 6-3 6-4; 3. Grismer (Bellbrook) d. Nazarov (Springboro), 7-5 6-3. Doubles: 1. Edwards/Critchfield (Centerville) d. Nelson/Mullins (Springboro), 7-5 4-6 6-4; 3. Wooton/Thambi-Pillai (Centerville) d. Hurlburt/Lipsky (Springboro), 6-3 3-6 6-4.
Division II
Singles: 1. Shope (Alter) d. Jain (Miami Valley), 6-0 6-1; 3. Mabarak (Alter) d. Nabors (Valley View), 6-2 6-3. Doubles: 1. Watson/Boehne (Oakwood) d. Zhou/Crowder (Oakwood), 7-5 2-6 6-1; 3. Petty/Monson (Dayton Christian) d. Monson/Manier (Dayton Christian), 5-7 6-3 6-3.
Girls Lacrosse
TOURNAMENT
Monday’s Results
Division II
Madeira 14, Fenwick 4
REPORTING RESULTS
Contact Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun and Journal-News with scores and results as soon as possible after varsity high school athletic contests by email only at COPSports@coxincn.com. Please include any details from your contest that you would like published along with a contact name and phone number.
After adding to their roster and reuniting with Aaron Rodgers this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers are "going for it" in 2026. Rather than trying to rebuild around one of their young quarterbacks, Will Howard or Drew Allar, the Steelers will try to contend with an aging roster and see if they can finally win a playoff game for the first time since early 2017.
On Monday's episode of "First Things First," NFL analyst Danny Parkins explained why he doesn't think that's a good idea.
"I think what frustrates me, the logical side of me is like, it's time for the Steelers to hit the rebuild button," Parkins said. "Jalen Ramsey is 32. T.J. Watt's 32. They still have value, but not if you can't win the Super Bowl. Those are pieces that I think a lot of organizations would trade for draft picks to jumpstart a rebuild."
"It's time for the Steelers to hit the rebuild button."@DannyParkins believes Pittsburgh is in no man's land with Aaron Rodgers 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/opvjlc6Gnc
After losing in the wild card round again last season, Pittsburgh is doubling down on an old core that hasn't won a postseason game in nearly a decade and clearly doesn't have a championship ceiling.
"You've been to the playoffs five of the last six years, and you've come out of it with zero wins," Parkins continued. "They have this old, expensive roster with an old quarterback with a ceiling of maybe a wild card round win. I don't really get it when the whole point in Pittsburgh is put another trophy in the trophy case."
If the Steelers are serious about winning a Super Bowl in the near future, hitching their wagon to Rodgers and Mike McCarthy doesn't make a lot of sense. Rodgers has only reached one Super Bowl in his 21-year NFL career, and that was 15 years ago. He's 2-5 over his last seven playoff games, while McCarthy is 1-4 over his last five.
The Steelers have stubbornly refused to hit the reset button since Ben Roethlisberger retired, which is why they still haven't had a losing season since 2003. It's also why they haven't come close to winning a title recently, and why both of those trends will likely continue this year.
Canada manager Casey Stoney dedicated her induction into the WSL Hall of Fame to friend Matt Beard and described him as a "special" person.
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Mark Beard, Matt's brother, delivered a speech at the WSL Football awards [Getty Images]
Canada manager Casey Stoney dedicated her induction into the Women's Super League Hall of Fame to friend Matt Beard, describing him as a "special" person.
Beard died in September at the age of 47 after an 18-year career in management during which he led Liverpool to back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014.
In an interview with BBC Sport this month, Beard's family urged football to introduce regular, mandatory mental-health checks for managers.
Former England captain Stoney played under Beard at Chelsea for two seasons and managed against him in the WSL during her time as Manchester United boss.
Stoney and Beard were joined in the Hall of Fame by former Birmingham City captain Kerys Harrop, who made 183 WSL appearances.
The inductees were honoured during the WSL Football awards ceremony in London.
"If you look around the room, you see how many people Beardy impacted in a positive way and how many he had time for," Stoney told BBC Sport.
"It didn't matter who you were, what your role was or whether you knew him for one minute or 10 years, he had time for you.
"He had a real innate ability to just make you laugh, even in the crappiest of times, and that is such a skill.
"To be able to stand alongside Matt, figuratively speaking, see his family here, and be honoured at the same time as him, is a privilege."
Stoney is hoping to lead Canada to the Women's World Cup in Brazil next year but has relished seeing the growth of the WSL from afar.
She managed Manchester United when they were reformed as a professional outfit in 2018, guiding them to the WSL and to back-to-back fourth-placed finishes before stepping down in 2021 because of frustrations over a lack of investment by the club.
Marc Skinner has managed the team since but United are yet to win a WSL title.
"It was quite public why I left and we all know the reasons. I think they have invested more since I left. Marc's had a decent budget," said Stoney.
"Are they at the level of the other clubs? Possibly not in terms of wages and recruitment. If they do want to go higher, they are going to have to invest in the squad and get more depth, especially if they play in the Champions League.
"They were doing OK this season until they got to March and the amount of games hit the players. There's not much rotation and they lost vital players at vital times.
"You're only ever as good as the team you can put out on the pitch. It's about the investment you're prepared to put in."
Arsenal may be within one victory of lifting their first Premier League title in 22 years - but midfielder Declan Rice has stressed that the Gunners "haven't won it yet". Mikel Arteta's men edged out already-relegated Burnley on Monday in a nervy ending at Emirates Stadium, meaning Rice and his team-mates are close to achieving what the Arsenal faithful have been desperate for after three second-place finishes in a row. Arsenal will be champions if Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday.
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[Getty Images]
Arsenal may be within one victory of lifting their first Premier League title in 22 years - but midfielder Declan Rice has stressed that the Gunners "haven't won it yet".
Mikel Arteta's men edged out already-relegated Burnley on Monday in a nervy ending at Emirates Stadium, meaning Rice and his team-mates are close to achieving what the Arsenal faithful have been desperate for after three second-place finishes in a row.
Arsenal will be champions if Manchester City fail to beat Bournemouth on Tuesday. If City win, a victory for the Gunners at Crystal Palace on Sunday will be enough to clinch the title.
England international Rice, speaking after Monday's win, said: "It is in our hands. We have turned it around. We have won every [league] game since we last lost [against City on 19 April] and that is all we tried to do, to keep winning and to stay positive.
"We knew on the inside that we had the belief and we could still win it. We haven't won it yet, there is still one to go. And Sunday [at Palace] is going to be proper.
"But it's emotional because where this club has come from over the last 10 years - the ups and downs. I wasn't here before, but I knew about it, I heard about it and to be a part of what is going on now is so special.
"This club deserves really good things and we have worked really hard towards that, so let's keep pushing."
Their latest victory in their final home game of the season was Arsenal's fourth Premier League win in a row without conceding.
Much of the praise for the Gunners' title challenge has been based on their solidity in defence.
"I don't know where this club would be without the back four and the goalkeeper," Rice said.
"It is stuff I have never seen before. The way they commit to training every day, the way they are available every week and what they give to fight for this club is extraordinary.
"They deserve everything, on top of what they have done for the last few seasons, for the work they are putting in for all of us."
As West Ham contemplate possible relegation from the Premier League, BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club pundits are worried about the mood an already "vacuous" and "cavernous" London Stadium will bring next season. "The club will get the odd game, maybe one or two fixtures, where they will be close to a sell out," former West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green predicted.
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[Getty Images]
As West Ham contemplate possible relegation from the Premier League, BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club pundits are worried about the mood an already "vacuous" and "cavernous" London Stadium will bring next season.
"The club will get the odd game, maybe one or two fixtures, where they will be close to a sell out," former West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green predicted. "But, after that, I think we are talking 40,000 seats filled at best."
The Observer's Rory Smith added: "The prospect of playing at the London Stadium in the Championship, to me, means possibly a 30,000 to 35,000 turnout. That's if the club is doing well. The ground won't be full, it will be this cavernous kind of thing.
"They will also have to fill a £100m hole in their budget, which will mean selling Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes. Those three might just do it, but they also might have to lose some others."
However, former Premier League striker Chris Sutton argued: "They have been blaming the lack of atmosphere for so long now. They all have to let that go. The old Upton Park was the old Upton Park - it was great but they can't move back.
"There was also a large part of West Ham fans - I'm not saying all of them - that wanted David Moyes out. They wanted a new brand of football.
"Fans are able to influence owners into making changes, but look at what's happened: they are going down."
BBC Sport has also pinpointed four things that could be knock-on effects if West Ham are relegated:
Stadium complications: London taxpayers may have to pay an extra £2.5m if West Ham are relegated. Under the 99-year lease agreement for London Stadium, West Ham would pay the Greater London Authority about half their current annual rent of £4.4m if they are relegated.
Seven-figure loss in revenue: An expert says relegation would cost the club about £100m. In addition, West Ham have a wage bill four times that of the Championship average.
Jarrod Bowen's future: West Ham's club captain is likely to be top of the list of players the club might look to sell to ease the financial burden of relegation.
Another new manager? Nuno Espirito Santo's future is far from clear, despite signing a three-year contract when he joined in September 2025.
Las Vegas whiffed badly on the wrong offensive lineman
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - DECEMBER 25: Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey (52) during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders on December 25, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri.. The Raiders defeated the Chiefs 20-14. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The thing about a draft bust is that the poor decision usually haunts a team for years.
And that’s certainly the case when it comes to the Las Vegas Raiders’ selection of offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood with the No. 17 overall pick in the 021 draft. Leatherwood didn’t even make it to his second season with the Raiders and is an all-time bust for a franchise that has plenty of them.
A recent post on X by PFF figures puts the Raiders’ choice of Leatherwood, who was widely considered a big reach when he was selected, in further question. You see, the 2021 draft class for offensive linemen was excellent. Check this out:
Watch the panel on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discuss the news that Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the season. "He doesn't have anything else to prove at City," said former Premier League striker Chris Sutton. "I didn't think he wanted to go unless he won the Premier League or Champions League, but at the same time 10 years [in charge at City] is way longer than anyone thought."
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Watch the panel on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club discuss the news that Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
"He doesn't have anything else to prove at City," said former Premier League striker Chris Sutton. "Ten years is a particularly long stint, he's given his all, and maybe he just wants a break or a different challenge."
The Observer's Rory Smith added: "I think City would have had a plan in place regardless and will have known what they want to do, but until recently I don't think their hierarchy knew one way or another.
"They knew it was a possibility Guardiola would go at the end of the season but I don't think they didn't have confirmation.
"I didn't think he wanted to go unless he won the Premier League or Champions League, but at the same time 10 years [in charge at City] is way longer than anyone thought."
The New Orleans Saints are entering a transition under Kellen Moore, and three familiar names now face uncertain futures. Speaking to the press before a charity golf event, according to Associated Press, Mickey Loomis has addressed Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan and Taysom Hill, with each case carrying a different contract and roster question.
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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images
The New Orleans Saints are entering a transition under Kellen Moore, and three familiar names now face uncertain futures.
Speaking to the press before a charity golf event, according to Associated Press, Mickey Loomis has addressed Alvin Kamara, Cameron Jordan and Taysom Hill, with each case carrying a different contract and roster question.
That leaves the Saints balancing respect for franchise veterans with a clear need to reshape the squad and manage resources.
Mickey Loomis leaves Saints veterans facing uncertain next stepsPhoto by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Jordan appears to have the clearest route back, as Loomis said the Saints have made the defensive end an offer after his 10.5-sack season.
Kamara’s situation is less settled. The general manager said New Orleans is assessing how he fits on the roster, while also pointing to a “resource management” element.
That phrase matters because Kamara is entering the final year of his deal, with a 2026 cap hit of roughly $10.4 million.
His future has become more complicated after the Saints signed Travis Etienne, giving Moore another major backfield option as the offense changes direction.
Hill is also unsigned, and his route back looks less advanced. Loomis said further talks are needed and confirmed there is no deadline on the process.
The 70-year-old general manager also stated those players have earned the right to self-determination. The next step is whether that respect turns into new deals or a clean break.
For the Saints, the decisions will show how quickly Moore’s new era moves away from the last one.
Injuries are a part of the fantasy baseball grind. Fred Zinkie helps you navigate them.
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The initial months of the MLB season are often filled with injuries, and this year is no different. Currently, there are 11 hitters and 18 pitchers who are sitting on the IL and have roster rates over 60%.
The good news is that the default Yahoo settings offer relief for those who have a bad run of injuries. Teams are allotted four IL slots, which should allow managers to stash all injured players who have the skills to make a notable impact when they return. But having space to stash an injured player only solves a small part of the problem. There is also the task of replacing injured players while remaining on track for a successful season.
Here are some concepts to consider.
How to rank injured players
A manager who is dealing with a rash of injuries needs to consider these three factors when deciding which players are the most important to them.
1. How soon the player will return.
This is the most obvious criterion, as players who will return soon are much more appealing than those who are set to miss several months. Also, players who are in the midst of a short-term absence are dealing with a minor injury that is less likely than a major injury to impact their skill set.
2. How good the player is expected to be when they return.
An easy way to organize the potential of various injured players is to refer to their ADP during draft season. But March value can’t be everything, as the value of many players has changed in the past seven weeks. Additionally, some injuries are more likely than others to have a lingering effect on a player. For example, Cole Ragans got off to a poor start and is now dealing with an elbow injury. We may not see him at his best when he returns. The same could be said for Francisco Lindor, at least for a few weeks after he returns. After all, Lindor generates plenty of value with his base-stealing ability and is currently dealing with a calf injury.
3. In categories leagues, how much depth the manager has in the categories that the player most frequently impacts.
A manager with Edwin Díaz who has three other save sources may decide that the Dodgers’ closer is not that important to their roster. Conversely, someone who has struggled to secure other closers may view the eventual return of Díaz as a potential turning point in their season.
Finding replacements
Deciding what to do with your injured players is only part of the battle, as finding a useful replacement is vital. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Does the replacement need to have a similar skill set? This question pertains only to those in categories leagues. For example, a manager who loses a speedster may look at their roster and decide to grab the speediest replacement in order to remain competitive in the steals category. But in other situations, a manager may look down their roster and see plenty of potential steals, which gives them the opportunity to shift the balance of their roster by adding a slugger.
Should you take the best available player? If there’s a silver lining to the injury cloud, it’s that an injury opens an opportunity for a manager to grab another player from the waiver wire. In some cases, that player could be a significant contributor who remains on the roster long after the injured player returns. For this reason, managers may want to grab the player whom they believe is the best one available, regardless of position or skill set.
Should you stream the spot? In the absence of an exciting waiver wire option, managers could choose to replace quality with quantity by streaming players through the vacated roster spot. This is an especially good plan for managers in head-to-head leagues who are off to a slow start and need to win their current matchups. Managers can look for hitters who are about to play a series at a hitter-friendly park or face a weak pitching staff. On the pitching side, they can stream hurlers with favorable upcoming matchups. We are here to help at Yahoo, as our Monday and Friday articles always offer short-term solutions.
Should you solve your problem via the trade market? Managers who are dealing with a rash of injuries could choose to improve their missing depth by making a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 deal in which they give up a top player for multiple good players. Although I’m not fully against this type of deal, I usually side against it. By losing one of their stars, the manager is reducing the overall ceiling of their roster.
My advice is to only make this type of trade if the package of players is much better than the combination of the departing star and options on the waiver wire.
I repeat — much better.
If the trade is only fair, the manager is better off keeping their star player and working the waiver wire aggressively. In an article that will be released tomorrow, we will analyze some recent trades involving injured players.
Taking zeros
Managers who are having an especially bad run of injury luck could be faced with a difficult decision to either cut important injured players or leave them in their lineup and settle for zeros. My personal preference in a roto league is to never take zeros. The cumulative aspect of those leagues makes it essential to continue grinding with full lineups. But in head-to-head leagues, whether they are categories or points leagues, taking zeros in a lineup spot is a viable option.
This is especially true for managers who are off to an excellent start and can afford to lose a given week in order to hang onto their best talent for future weeks. In a head-to-head categories league, I would be more willing to work without a pitcher than to leave a hitting spot open. After all, with two of the five standard pitching categories involving ratios, adding a questionable pitcher has the potential to do more harm than good.
Injured player rankings
Here are tiers of players who are currently on the IL, which will help managers make tough decisions.
— Absolutely must be kept: Tarik Skubal, Garrett Crochet, Cal Raleigh, Francisco Lindor, Tyler Glasnow, Max Fried, Hunter Brown, Logan Webb, Josh Hader, Gerrit Cole
— Likely worth keeping: Roman Anthony, Wyatt Langford, Corey Seager, Eugenio Suárez, Cole Ragans, Ryan Helsley, Brandon Woodruff, Edwin Díaz, Hunter Greene, Ryan O’Hearn, Kris Bubic
— High upside and under-rostered: Jared Jones, Shane Bieber, Addison Barger
— Sure, if you don’t have any better stashes: José Altuve, Trevor Story, Heliot Ramos, Luis Robert Jr., Gleyber Torres, Yainer Díaz, Kerry Carpenter, Nick Pivetta, Taj Bradley, Emilio Pagán, Matthew Boyd, Mick Abel, José Caballero, Brendan Donovan, Blake Snell, Corbin Burnes
— Drop ‘em: Jacob Wilson, Giancarlo Stanton, Alejandro Kirk, Jorge Polanco, Carlos Correa, Francico Alvarez, Jordan Westburg, Carlos Estevez, Ryan Pepiot, Spencer Schwellenbach, Cade Horton, Joe Musgrove
Magic Johnson claims Thunder and Victor Wembanyama's Spurs will control the Western Conference for 5-7 years after San Antonio won Game 1 in double overtime 122-115.
San Antonio defeated Oklahoma City 122-115 in double overtime of Game 1 in the 2026 Western Conference Finals. Victor Wembanyama finished with 41 points and 24 rebounds for the Spurs.
The performance pushed Johnson toward a bold claim about the conference. “They may not have a chance to win the Western Conference Finals for the next 5-7 years,” Johnson posted.
I hate to break the news to the rest of the Western Conference, but they may not have a chance to win the Western Conference Finals for the next 5-7 years. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are just that good! They are talented, deep, athletic and both teams are…
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) May 19, 2026
His reasoning follows the roster construction of both teams. Oklahoma City holds the defending championship with SGA winning consecutive MVP awards. Coach Mark Daigneault runs a system built on length and defensive pressure. The Thunder combine speed and depth across every position.
San Antonio counters with Wembanyama who remains just 22 years old and already controls games at both ends. “Talented, deep, athletic and both teams are well coached,” Johnson wrote.
The Spurs assembled their roster through smart drafting and targeted development. Reactions were divided quickly. Fans noted that Johnson, a Lakers legend, seemed to dismiss his own franchise from the conversation entirely.
Others reminded him that injuries and roster moves can shift the balance inside a single NBA season. Two contenders built around stars under 25 with stable coaching remain uncommon in the Western Conference right now.
Both franchises benefit from front office stability and organizational consistency that few teams can match. Denver, Dallas, and Minnesota retain enough assets to pivot quickly within that same window, though.
5 to 7 years covers a long stretch in professional basketball. Wembanyama hit a clutch 3-pointer late in regulation of Game 1. Both teams proved they can deliver on the conference finals stage.
The winner of this series advances to face the Eastern Conference champion in the NBA Finals. Both Oklahoma City and San Antonio have the roster talent to claim the title this season. The series continues with Game 2.
Defensive end Markees Watts tried out for the Browns at their rookie minicamp this month and that went well enough to earn him an extended stay in Cleveland.
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Defensive end Markees Watts tried out for the Browns at their rookie minicamp this month and that went well enough to earn him an extended stay in Cleveland.
The Browns announced that they have signed Watts on Tuesday. They also signed wide receiver Aaron Anderson and linebacker Reid Carrico.
Watts spent the last three seasons with the Buccaneers. He appeared in 27 games and recorded 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Anderson and Carrico were both undrafted this year and also took part in the minicamp on a tryout basis. Anderson had 106 receptions for 1,341 yards and five touchdowns while at LSU while Carrico spent time at West Virginia and Ohio State.
The Browns waived defensive tackle Bernard Gooden, tight end Caden Prieskorn, and wide receiver Isaiah Wooden in corresponding moves.
Last Monday, Alex Freeland was the odd man out in the Dodgers infield when Mookie Betts was activated off the injured list. Freeland was optioned to Triple-A, but made the most of things with Oklahoma City, winning Pacific Coast League player of the week in his first week back in the minors. The switch-hitting Freeland […]
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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 10: Alex Freeland #76 of the Los Angeles Dodgers bats during the game between the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, May 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Last Monday, Alex Freeland was the odd man out in the Dodgers infield when Mookie Betts was activated off the injured list. Freeland was optioned to Triple-A, but made the most of things with Oklahoma City, winning Pacific Coast League player of the week in his first week back in the minors.
The switch-hitting Freeland hit .400/.464/.920 with three home runs — one hit right-handed, two left-handed — and two triples, with three walks, eight runs scored, and 11 runs batted in in five games on the road against the Albuquerque Isotopes, a Colorado Rockies affiliate.
A shortstop by trade, Freeland has played second base and third base in his major league time with the Dodgers last year and this year. Back with Oklahoma City last week, he started three times at third base and twice at second base.
Freeland was not the only Dodgers minor leaguer to capture an award on Monday. Class-A Ontario Tower Buzzers right-hander Isaac Ayon took home California League pitcher of the week after his 10 strikeouts in five scoreless innings last Wednesday at home, allowing only one single and no walks to the San Jose Giants.
— Ontario Tower Buzzers (@towerbuzzers) May 14, 2026
Ayon, drafted out of Oregon in the 18th round in 2024, has a 2.96 ERA in seven games, including five starts for Ontario this season, with 35 strikeouts against only five walks in his 27 1/3 innings. Among all Dodgers minor league pitchers with at least 20 innings in 2026, Ayon’s 28-percent strikeout-minus-walk rate ranks third, trailing only Christian Zazueta (33 percent) for High-A Great Lakes and Ayon’s Ontario teammate Brady Smith (29.9 percent).
Business and EconomyTelevisionAsiaNewsWorld Cup 2026ExplainerFootballIndia
With the World Cup weeks away, FIFA is struggling to find broadcast rights buyers in the world’s most populous country.
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New Delhi, India — When Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel converted a penalty to seal his country’s third FIFA World Cup title in December 2022 in Qatar, Lionel Messi fan Vishwas Banerjee celebrated the Albiceleste’s triumph with abandon in Bangalore, a football-crazy city in southeastern India.
Unable to hold back his excitement, Banerjee screamed and tossed his shirt away as he watched the match on a big screen at a street crossing close to midnight.
“It was one of the best nights, watching Messi lift the World Cup,” he told Al Jazeera.
“Everyone went crazy. We danced on the streets,” Banerjee said, reminiscing about the excitement felt more than 3,000 kilometres (1,900 miles) away in an otherwise cricket-mad country.
While Messi is expected to make his World Cup swan song at the upcoming tournament in North America, football fans in India, the world’s most populous nation, are set to miss out on watching the biggest sporting event.
With just over three weeks to the tournament’s kickoff in Mexico, organisers FIFA have not found any buyers for broadcasting its most coveted product in India.
Here’s what we know about the World Cup broadcast rights crisis in the South Asian nation:
How many people watch the FIFA World Cup in India?
When the World Cup was played in Qatar nearly four years ago, India trailed only China in overall engagement figures, with more than 745 million fans following the action across all media platforms in the country, according to figures released by FIFA.
In television viewing numbers, India was among the top 10 countries – ahead of World Cup participants Germany, France and England – with nearly 84 million viewers.
Digital viewership numbers were also significant in India. For the final alone, an unprecedented 32 million viewers tuned in on Reliance’s JioCinema – a subscription video-on-demand over-the-top streaming service – as the tournament clocked 40 billion minutes of watch time on the platform.
Reliance’s Jio paid $60m for tournament rights in 2022, while Sony Sports secured broadcasting rights for the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Euro 2016 championship, for around $90m in 2013.
So when FIFA began selling media rights for the 2026 tournament and the 2027 Women’s Cup, it expected plenty of takers for an estimated price of $100m.
But with 23 days until the tournament and the asking price reportedly slashed significantly, FIFA is still struggling to find buyers in one of its biggest markets.
Why are there no buyers for the World Cup 2026 in India?
Experts say the kickoff times for the majority of the matches are the biggest concern for Indian broadcasters.
With the tournament being staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico, many games will be played at odd hours for the Indian audience, with a 10-12 hour time difference between the host cities and the South Asian nation.
Only 14 out of the total 104 World Cup games will begin before midnight for fans in India.
The final will be held in New Jersey on July 19, beginning at 12:30am in India (19:00 GMT). By comparison, 98.4 percent of matches at the 2018 World Cup started before midnight, and 82.5 percent at the following edition in Qatar.
Karan Taurani, executive vice president at investment firm Elara Capital, sees TV as a “struggling” medium in India.
“When you have these kinds of sporting events, effectively it is mostly digital that is monetising and raising big money,” Taurani told Al Jazeera. “That is a big reason why no one’s showing interest in the FIFA World Cup.”
Taurani explained that cricket leads the sports economy market in India.
“Only a small fraction of people who watch the Indian Premier League [IPL] will watch the FIFA World Cup,” he said, adding that an even smaller fraction tune in past midnight to watch a match.
For broadcasters and advertisers, Taurani explained, these factors shrink the target audience.
He also pointed out that a recent ban by the Indian government on fantasy real-money betting apps had reduced the macro form of money in the sports entertainment industry.
The World Cup begins 10 days after cricket’s IPL 2026 final, one of the most-watched sports events in India and one where major prime-time advertisers focus the majority of their annual sports spending.
The price of football streaming in India has been going down anyway. The English Premier League rights, which were sold for $145m for three seasons between 2013 and 2016, went for $65m for 2025-28. There are no major takers for La Liga matches in India.
FIFA appears increasingly concerned that weak broadcaster interest in India could dent both revenues and its long-term ambition to grow football in one of the world’s largest media markets.
Indian supporters of Argentina celebrate after the Argentina vs France World Cup 2022 final as they watch Lionel Messi during the match at a screening in Kolkata, India [File: Bikas Das/AP]Why has an Indian football fan taken the issue to court?
In the capital New Delhi, the high court is hearing a plea on the lack of a tournament broadcast deal and has sought responses from India’s information and broadcasting ministry and Doordarshan, India’s state-owned public television broadcaster.
“Without timely judicial intervention by this court, the petitioner and millions of Indian citizens will be irreparably deprived of their fundamental rights with no adequate alternative remedy,” the petitioner, a lawyer and football fan, has said in the plea.
He claims that missing out on the tournament violates the constitutional protections of freedom of speech.
“It is important to note that by denying access to the information in question or by not taking necessary steps to broadcast the FIFA World Cup, the respondents have directly infringed the petitioner’s fundamental right to acquire and receive information, which is an integral part of freedom of speech and expression under the constitution,” the petitioner argued in the plea.
A boy plays next to a mural of Brazil’s footballer Neymar in Kolkata, India [File: Rupak De Chowdhuri/Reuters]How will Indian football fans watch the World Cup?
With China’s state broadcaster signing a late World Cup deal with FIFA last week, there’s still hope and time for football fans in India. However, if no deal is signed, all eyes will turn to Doordarshan, which last beamed the tournament in 1998.
The continuing uncertainty is chipping away at the excitement of the football World Cup. “I’m heartbroken that we will not have any reliable way to watch the World Cup this year,” said Banerjee, the Messi fan from Kolkata.
“But we will tune to pirated streams anyway,” he added. “No one can stop that.”
Why Shai Gilgeous-Alexander must be better after OKC's Game 1 loss to San Antonio Spurs.
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Hoping to put his squad ahead with three-plus minutes to go, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander created space from Dylan Harper. He went with his patented stepback 3-pointer. No dice. On a night filled with kill-shot attempts, none could go down for the two-time MVP winner as the excruciating moments piled up.
Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 24 points on 7-of-23 shooting, 12 assists and three rebounds. He shot 2-of-7 from 3 and went 8-of-9 on free throws. He also had five steals.
I mean, you're just not going to win many high-intense playoff games when Gilgeous-Alexander plays this poorly. It's honestly a testament to OKC's depth that he had a chance to escape with late-game heroics. But the 27-year-old was completely out of character in this one — and it feels like you got to credit Victor Wembanyama's presence for that.
Absolutely zero luck on Gilgeous-Alexander's jumper. It was a mid-range feast as he avoided the paint like most great scorers do when Wembanyama is on the floor. Without his bread-and-butter drives to the basket, he was left scrambling to figure out other dimensions in the halfcourt to get his points.
Instead, Gilgeous-Alexander had a grotesque four points in the first half. He only had 10 through three quarters. He just had no rhythm in his looks. San Antonio's superb-athletic backcourt gave him fits. He couldn't create the separation he usually does in his sleep. It took him until the fourth quarter to finally get going and look like the MVP that he is.
Sparking OKC's late comeback, Gilgeous-Alexander had a dozen points in the fourth quarter. He finally had his first big moment of the series when he tied things up at the end of regulation with a baseline drive. Riding all of the momentum, the Thunder's fate were in his hands in overtime.
Instead, Gilgeous-Alexander only had two points in the two overtimes. Maybe it was exhaustion or just not finding the right angles or crests to attack, but he couldn't turn into the late-game hero he usually is for the Thunder. Instead, he faded into the background as all of his potential big-time shot attempts fell short.
"That's what this time of year is about. It's the highest level of basketball. You're going to find out exactly which type of player you are, what type of competitor you are and exactly what you need to get better," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "It's no different this time going on."
If you're the Thunder, you're hoping this is about as bad as it'll get for Gilgeous-Alexander. It's difficult to envision him playing any worse. I know this game had a lot to unpack in its cinematic 58-minute thriller, but you can really dumb down the final result to OKC's top two players putting up a combined stinker.
"We've been in this situation before. So this feeling is not really new, but it's also a completely different basketball team. But I think the thing that remains the same is that we have to get better with each game. We have to learn from the mistakes from the wins and the losses. Tonight, the losses. And continue to get better," Gilgeous-Alexander said. "We did that in the previous two when we lost Game 1. We have to do it in this series if we want to have a chance."
Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.
During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.
When Christian Wood played in the NBA, he was the type of player who would flash his potential for extended stretches but never managed to put it all together and had serious flaws in his game. He went undrafted in 2015 out of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and it took a while for him to develop, but once he did, he became a tantalizing player.
The 6-foot-8 big man averaged 16.8 points on 52% field-goal shooting and 38.2% from 3-point range and 8.2 rebounds in 27.2 minutes a game during a four-year stretch starting with the 2019-20 season. While he kept bouncing around from team to team, the Lakers saw enough in him to sign him to a veteran minimum contract prior to the 2023-24 campaign.
With them, Wood averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds in 17.4 minutes a game and appeared in 50 regular-season contests. But his efficiency dropped to 46.6% from the field and 30.7% from downtown, and his defense left a lot to be desired. Late that season, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery, and he never played again in the NBA.
Over eight seasons in the league, Wood averaged 13.6 points and seven rebounds in 23.2 minutes per game.
The waiting is finally over. Today is officially voting day for the next NASCAR Hall of Fame class, and the long paddock debates are about to be settled. According to updates from the NASCAR press corps, the voting panel meets…
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The waiting is finally over. Today is officially voting day for the next NASCAR Hall of Fame class, and the long paddock debates are about to be settled.
According to updates from the NASCAR press corps, the voting panel meets at 12:30 p.m. ET. Fans will not have to wait long for the official results. The announcement drops today at 4 p.m. ET. You can stream the reveal live on the NASCAR Channel via Tubi. If you prefer, direct coverage is also running on NASCAR.com.
The Brutal Modern Era Cut for NASCAR
Expect pure drama on the Modern Era ballot. Because only two legends will secure a spot in this class. On top of that, the ballot itself is an absolute gauntlet of stock car royalty
Greg Biffle
Neil Bonnett
Tim Brewer
Jeff Burton
Randy Dorton
Ralph Elder
Ernie Elliott
Kevin Harvick
Randy LaJoie
Jack Sprague
Let’s be completely real. Kevin Harvick is an absolute no-brainer for a first-ballot lock. His modern dominance speaks for itself. But that second available slot? The voting is going to be incredibly tight. And well, the Pioneer ballot faces a similarly ruthless cut. The panel will select just one single inductee from the list. Five historic nominees are fighting for that lone honor.
Ray Fox
Harry Hyde
Banjo Matthews
Ralph Moody (listed as Nab)
Larry Phillips
The math is simply cruel. Only three total spots exist across both ballots. Because the space is so limited, several absolute icons of the sport are guaranteed to walk away empty-handed today. They will just have to wait for another year.
New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart and LB Kayvon Thibodeaux explain how different life has been under head coach John Harbaugh.
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When the New York Giants hired John Harbaugh as head coach in January as part of a much-needed reformation, many players knew the party was over. It was time to work for a living again.
Like many Super Bowl-winning coaches, Harbaugh is a known task-master who is a stickler for details. He likes to practice hard and expects the players to be prepared at every twist and turn.
The new vibe was apparent at the team's annual Town Hall gathering at the Beacon Theater in New York City on Monday night. Fans saw a side to the Giants they haven't seen in years, from the front office all the way down to the new rookie class.
"This [expletive] is different," linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux said of the recent changes, via the New York Post. "It's hard. It's different in a great way. The future is now."
Quarterback Jaxson Dart, who, like Harbaugh, received a thunderous welcome from the audience of mostly fans, also chimed in on how things are changing under the new coach.
"Everything that he wants the team to be is himself when it comes to intensity, attention to detail," Dart said. "From a player perspective, when you see a coach who is able to sacrifice a lot but has a chip on the shoulder at the same time, it’s someone we can all respect and want to play for."
Harbaugh himself had many things to say, mostly to stoke the crowd, but his comments were littered with honesty. When Dexter Lawrence, the All-Pro defensive lineman who forced the team to trade him this offseason, was booed by the crowd, Harbaugh quickly ended any further conversation on the matter.
"That's right," he said in response to the boos. "He's got a life to live. We brought guys in here that wanted to be here."
Cheers. Sitting alongside general manager Joe Schoen, Harbaugh was clearly the star of the evening. In charge and flaunting it. It's time to be the New York Giants again.
"I could [not] care less about what’s happened last year or the year before that or 10 years before that," Harbaugh said. "All I care about is tomorrow's practice, because if tomorrow's practice is the way it's supposed to be, that will be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys' [expletive]."
"That hate is well placed," Harbaugh added. "Could you add a little bit for the Washington Commanders, too? Throw them in there."
Things are different, indeed. And that's exactly what this organization needed.
Ross Chastain will look to complete 1,101 miles of racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway between the three NASCAR levels this weekend.
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Ross Chastain is not attempting "The Double," but he will try to complete an impressive feat this weekend. Chastain will attempt to complete 1,101 miles of racing during the NASCAR weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Trackhouse Racing driver will race in all three NASCAR levels, finishing with the 2026 Coca-Cola 600.
Chastain will drive the No. 45 truck for Niece Motorsports in the Truck Series on Friday before moving to the No. 9 car at JR Motorsports in the O'Reilly Series the next day. Then, Chastain will look to win his second straight Coca-Cola 600 in the No. 1 car for Trackhouse Racing on Sunday after a stunning victory in 2025.
"The Double" is 1,100 miles of racing on one day between the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600; however, Chastain's 1,101 miles would come in three races over the course of three days. It may not include an Indianapolis 500, but Chastain is looking to complete a lot of racing at Charlotte this weekend.
The program had a successful weekend against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Huskers swept the Gophers, winning the first game on Thursday by a 12-7 margin and the second by a 7-6 score. This included a six-run comeback in the ninth inning as the Huskers trailed 6-1 heading into the last frame.
Finally, they completed the sweep on Saturday afternoon, winning 14-11. In this game, they recorded 14 hits while the Gophers committed five errors. The program was to seal the deal and capture another strong series win.
Nebraska will play in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinal game on Friday at 5 PM CT. This should be an exciting matchup, with the postseason play in full swing.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes and opinions.
South African Garrick Higgo missed the cut at last weekend’s 108th PGA Championship by one stroke. It’s easy to pinpoint where the 27-year-old Higgo went wrong. And it happened before he hit his first shot at Aronimink Golf Club. MORE:…
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South African Garrick Higgo missed the cut at last weekend’s 108th PGA Championship by one stroke.
It’s easy to pinpoint where the 27-year-old Higgo went wrong. And it happened before he hit his first shot at Aronimink Golf Club.
Higgo arrived late to the first tee before Thursday’s first round. Tournament officials assessed him a two-stroke penalty.
On Monday, Golfweek reported Higgo split with caddie Austin Gaugert. Golfweek cited Higgo’s agent, who said Higgo will play with Nick Cavendish-Pell on the bag at this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson event in Dallas.
Caddie sounded a warning
After the first round, Higgo said Gaugert yelled at him to leave the putting green.
“No, it wasn’t a surprise. I was late. I mean my caddie was yelling at me to get to the tee. … I was there on time, but the rule is, if you’re one second late, you’re late,” Higgo said, explaining that he made it to the tee by 7:18 a.m., his tee time, but wasn’t there when the clock struck 7:18.
Incredibly, Higgo rallied to shoot a 1-under-par 69 on Thursday before struggling to a 76 on Friday. His total score of 5-over par sent him home for the weekend by one stroke.
Englishman Aaron Rai emerged from the pack to win his first major by three strokes. Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley tied for second.
What’s next for Higgo?
Cavendish-Pell is no stranger to Higgo. He carried the bag for Higgo’s first of two PGA Tour wins, the 2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree. Gaugert caddied during Higgo’s most recent victory, the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship.
Higgo also owns three titles in the DP World Tour, formerly the European PGA Tour, and two in South Africa’s Sunshine Tour.
The CJ Cup Byron Nelson will take place Thursday through Sunday. It will be televised on Golf Channel and CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
The Travelers Championship is New England's only PGA Tour event, with local champion Keegan Bradley representing the region.
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The Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Conn., is the only PGA Tour event in New England.
As longtime golf fans well remember, Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Mass., used to host one as well. From the 1960s through the 1990s, Pleasant Valley was home to 32 PGA Tour events in addition to 13 LPGA Tour events.
Anyone who drives from the Worcester area to the Travelers at TPC River Highlands receives a reminder of Pleasant Valley’s glory days.
About a mile from the road leading to TPC River Highlands, you pass Pleasant Valley Road in Rocky Hill, Conn., just over the town line from Cromwell.
Last October, the Travelers paid homage to Pleasant Valley CC by holding its fall media day at the Sutton club.
“We like to name streets after every place we host media days,” Travelers tournament director Nathan Grube joked during the Travelers media day at TPC River Highlands earlier this month. “So there was a TPC Boston Street. I don’t know if you saw that. And a Pleasant Valley Road.”
In reality, Grube admitted he had never noticed Pleasant Valley Road. There isn’t a TPC Boston road, but he mentioned TPC Boston because in 2024, the Travelers held a fall media day at that club in Norton. TPC Boston hosted 17 PGA Tour events from 2003-2020 and will host the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship for the third consecutive year Aug. 27-30.
Andy Bessette, Travelers executive vice president and chief administrative officer, enjoyed attending the media day at Pleasant Valley CC last fall. He was well aware that Millbury resident Gary Young, the PGA Tour’s chief rules official, was head pro at PV for 12 years before joining the PGA Tour in 2007.
“Pleasant Valley is such a special place,” Bessette said. “To go there was just phenomenal.”
For the past two years, a different Pleasant Valley Country Club, one in Little Rock, Arkansas, has hosted the Simmons Bank Championship, a PGA Tour Champions playoff event.
The Travelers, which will take place June 25-28, embraces its role as New England’s PGA Tour event.
“One hundred percent,” Grube said. “No question. That’s why we do a fall media day. That’s why we do a media day in the spring here. When you look at zip codes of where people are buying tickets, it is New England’s event.”
Grube said people from 38 states purchase tickets to the Travelers Championship, but most are from New England.
Bessette said more people from Massachusetts attend the Travelers than any state other than Connecticut. The number is well into the thousands.
The Travelers also has volunteers from throughout New England and distributes funds to charities across the region.
Defending Travelers champion Keegan Bradley was in attendance during media day at Pleasant Valley last fall and he met with the media via Zoom during the Travelers’ spring media day on May 5.
Bradley, who also won the Travelers in 2023, gives the tournament a champion from New England. He grew up in Vermont, won an individual state golf championship in Massachusetts for Hopkinton High and has a home in Newburyport. His aunt, World Golf Hall of Famer Pat Bradley, grew up in Westford.
“For me,” Bradley said, “I really take representing New England very seriously in terms of golf. There's not a lot of us out there. So I feel an obligation to the region, but also to the younger players to show them that this is possible growing up in that area.”
The Travelers was the first PGA Tour event that Bradley attended as a child.
“Already a crazed golfer,” he said, “and had kicked it into hyperdrive being there. When I got my PGA Tour card, the first thought was, ‘Wow, I get to play in the Travelers, the tournament I always dreamt to play in.’”
Bradley struggled in the Travelers the first few years because he tried too hard to impress his fellow New Englanders.
“I learned how to manage that sort of pressure,” he said. “Now it’s turned into one of my better or best events that I play in. To be the champion of Travelers means everything to me. It truly does.”
“To listen to Keegan talk about how he dreamt about playing in this tournament,” Bessette said, “and being a part of this tournament for so many years is mind-boggling to me. He’s a little kid and he’s dreaming about this. I always think that’s really special.”
Bessette compared Bradley living his dream to when he was 7 years old and he dreamed of making the U.S. Olympic team. Bessette’s dream also came true. In 1980, he threw the hammer a record distance to win the U.S. Olympic Trials, but he didn’t compete in the Olympic Summer Games in Moscow because the U.S. was one of 65 nations that boycotted the Games due to Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan.
“I love it when little kids’ dreams come true,” Bessette said, “because I’m one, he’s one. And I think that’s a special, special thing.”
Grube referred to Bradley, a New Englander, winning two of the last three Travelers Championship events as “storybook.”
“You don’t get a ton of guys from this part of the country that make it in that sport,” Grube said. “Could we have scripted it any better?”
Bradley has won a PGA Tour event in each of the last four years and owns eight PGA Tour victories in all, including the 2011 PGA Championship.
As one of the PGA Tour’s eight Signature Events, the Travelers will be limited to 72 players, but nearly all of the top players are expected to take part to compete for a $20 purse.
“I always say in any professional league, NBA, NHL, baseball, football,” Bessette said, “you never really see the top 72 athletes in that sport in one day. So golf is very unique.”
Bradley said he’s no longer experiencing the twice-a-week nightmares he suffered for quite a while after captaining the U.S. Ryder Cup team to a 15-13 loss to Europe in September at the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y.
Bradley also played for two U.S. Ryder Cup teams that lost to Europe in 2012 and 2014 despite his 4-3 record in those matches.
“It's such a weird thing to love something like the Ryder Cup as much as I do,” he said, “and have it kick the (crap) out of you your whole life.”
Bradley, who turns 40 on June 7, hasn’t given up on returning to the Ryder Cup as a player.
“It’s in the back of my mind certainly,” he said. “I would love to go out there.”
Bradley was criticized after the U.S. Ryder Cup defeat and Grube feels bad for him.
“Whatever team you were rooting for, you knew what it meant to Keegan,” Grube said. “So yeah, watching it was hard, but yet exciting. It’s sports. You’re there to root for things. So it was amazing to watch and he was so open and honest about it.”
The Travelers does not announce attendance numbers, but the event usually draws 125,000-150,000 fans, second only to the WM Phoenix Open.
Last year, the Travelers donated more than $4 million to more than 215 non-profits, both record highs.
Among the media members who attended the Travelers media day at TPC River Highlands was Tom Roche, a coordinating producer for CBS Sports and former longtime producer for ESPN. Roche grew up in the Burncoat section of Worcester and he graduated from St. John’s High School.
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In many ways, today’s couch-bound sports fan has it easy. If there’s a game from one of the top leagues being played somewhere, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to watch it — even if accessing all the sports you want can be a costly affair. Sports fans half a century ago couldn’t…
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Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images, Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images, Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images, John Hefti-Imagn Images
In many ways, today’s couch-bound sports fan has it easy. If there’s a game from one of the top leagues being played somewhere, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be able to watch it — even if accessing all the sports you want can be a costly affair.
Sports fans half a century ago couldn’t say the same. With the exceptions of local broadcasts of hometown teams, if a game wasn’t on network television, you weren’t going to be able to tune in. The spread of cable television broadened the opportunities for live broadcasts considerably, and with streaming services now fully established, it’s easy enough to track down all the sports you can handle.
While you can question the motivation behind the Trump Administration’s sudden interest in fragmented sports broadcasting rights, it’s undeniable that fans who want to stay on top of their favorite teams and sports have to pay more for the privilege. But just how much more? I decided to find out by totaling up just how much a fan would have to pay to have a full selection of games for their streaming pleasure.
How we calculated the cost of sports streaming
To set up parameters for my search into streaming costs, I opted to restrict my search to the four major North American sports leagues — MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and the NHL — along with MLS.
I’m also focusing on streaming services here, as their costs are fairly uniform regardless of where you live. Sports broadcasts remain a big part of cable television — perhaps the main reason to keep cable, you could argue — but cable subscription rates can vary based on region, channel packages, and other services like internet and phone services that get bundled into the cost. Keeping the spotlight on streaming platforms can give us a better fix on the potential monthly cost for sports fans while reflecting the reality that a growing number of games are becoming exclusive to streamers.
We’re going to present our totals as monthly costs. In instances where you’d pay for a full season, we’ll convert it to a monthly rate to keep cost comparisons consistent. And because it’s always the off-season somewhere, we’re going to use the rates for NBA and NHL packages available at the start of the 2025-26 season, while citing the current advertised costs for NFL, MLB, and MLS telecasts.
With the understanding that what you’re willing to pay for each league’s streaming packages might depend on the teams in your area, I decided to drill down and focus on a sports fan living in a city represented by teams from all five leagues I’m considering. That’s why I settled on Philadelphia, creating a hypothetical fan who wants to see as many Phillie, Eagle, Flyer, 76er, and Union games as possible. There’s a non-zero chance this made-up fan has tried to climb up a lamppost and has passionate thoughts about the Tush Push.
With those guidelines in place, here’s what I found out.
The cost of MLB streaming
In-market Phillies games air on NBC Sports Philadelphia, which turns out to be good news for our mythical Philadelphian. Philadelphia is one of the markets where NBC’s regional sports network can be tacked on to a Peacock subscription. That means a fan of the Phillies could bundle those services together to get local coverage of the team plus Peacock’s Sunday Night Baseball games.
The cost of that bundle is less encouraging — getting live sports through Peacock requires a $10.99/month premium subscription, while the NBC Sports Philadelphia add-on is another $24.95. If our hypothetical fan also likes basketball and hockey, that $35.94 monthly total becomes a little more palatable, as NBC Sports Philadelphia also offers Sixers and Flyers games.
Depending on how much you like baseball, though, the costs can be even higher. To get access to Apple’s Friday broadcasts of MLB match-ups, you’ll need a $12.99/month Apple TV subscription. Adding out-of-market games to the mix requires MLB.TV, normally a $149/season package, though that’s been discounted to $139 as of this writing. Spreading the $149 cost over the course of MLB’s eight months of games would add roughly $18.63 to your monthly streaming budget.
A further complication comes with games airing on FS1 and TBS. Sling includes both channels in its various streaming packages, though they’re in separate Blue and Orange tiers, respectively. To get both, you’d have to pay for Sling’s Orange and Blue tier, which costs $60.99/month. Best to do what I do and opt for a $4.99 day pass at Sling if there’s a can’t-miss match-up, though that will only work for TBS games since Sling’s day passes are only available on its Orange tier.
Baseball streaming maximum monthly cost (in- and out-of-market games): $67.56
The cost of NFL streaming
Football fans, take heart — most of the weekly games featuring your favorite team appear on free-to-air TV. For our Philadelphia fan, that means tuning in to Fox or CBS on Sundays if they want to see what the Eagles are up to.
But notice I said “most” there. As Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio has noted, the NFL’s claim that 87% of its games are free really doesn’t hold up to close inspection.
Monday Night Football games, for example, typically require an ESPN subscription, though they are sometimes simulcast on ABC. A standard ESPN subscription would cost $29.99/month, though football fans might be tempted to get the $39.99 NFL+ Premium package, which adds access to the NFL Network and NFL Red Zone. NFL Network will reportedly be included in the standard ESPN subscription before next season, however, as a result of ESPN’s recent equity deal with the NFL.
Adding Prime Video’s Thursday night games adds an additional $8.99 monthly cost, assuming you opt for the standalone Prime Video package rather than the full Prime membership, which is more expensive. And with Netflix adding more games, count on paying at least $8.99/month for an ad-supported subscription.
That’s probably sufficient for most football fans, though it’s worth noting that NFL Sunday Ticket would require a separate subscription via either YouTube TV or YouTube’s Sunday Ticket add-on. The latter option costs $20/month for 12 months for new subscribers, but the fine print notes that you need to pay for a full year — there’s no canceling once the NFL season ends, as you can with a lot of other streaming packages. Returning customers pay $31.50 per month across 12 mandatory payments.
Football streaming minimum monthly cost (includes ESPN, Prime Video, Netflix): $47.99
Football streaming maximum monthly cost (includes Sunday Ticket w/ new subscriber discount): $67.99
The cost of NHL streaming
As with baseball, the option of bundling a regional sports network with a Peacock streaming subscription gives our Philly fans access to local Flyers telecasts. But that’s not the full picture.
ESPN and TNT also carry hockey games, including the Stanley Cup playoffs. An ESPN Select (formerly ESPN Plus) subscription would give you access to plenty of regular-season hockey games for $12.99/month. Access to sports on TNT is available through the $18.49 monthly tier of the HBO Max streaming app. That combined cost is still less than the $45.99 Sling Orange package, which includes both ESPN and TNT, though without it you may be left in the lurch for playoff games airing on ESPN.
Hockey streaming minimum monthly cost (in-market games): $35.94
Hockey streaming maximum monthly cost (in- and out-of-market games): $67.43
The cost of NBA streaming
Another sport, another chance to bundle an RSN with a streaming sports service. And with Peacock also offering NBA games of its own, our Philadelphia-based fan is really getting their money’s worth when it comes to watching the 76ers and other basketball games for $35.94/month.
Beyond that, though, our fan would also want to tack on an ESPN subscription ($29.99/month) to get the NBA action airing on that channel, as well as the standalone $8.99 Prime Video subscription. That said, for $16.99/month, NBA League Pass includes access to Prime Video games along with other out-of-market action.
Basketball streaming maximum monthly cost (in- and out-of-market games): $82.97
The cost of MLS streaming
Say this for Major League Soccer: it’s got the most straightforward path to streaming matches. All you need to do is subscribe to Apple TV, and every single MLS match is available to view. You don’t even have to buy a separate season pass on top of the regular subscription fee, as you have in past seasons. Instead, Apple TV’s $12.99/monthly rate covers it all.
Soccer streaming monthly cost: $12.99
Adding it all up
Getting a firm figure on what it costs to be a TV-watching sports fan these days isn’t simply a matter of toting up the figures across different sports. Seasons overlap, and a single service might provide access to games from multiple teams and leagues. The Philadelphia sports fan in our example could get a lot of Phillies, Flyers, and Sixers games for just $35.94 per month with a Peacock/NBC Sports Philadelphia bundle.
But not everyone’s going to be that lucky. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which means I can also bundle an NBC regional sports network with my Peacock account. However, the San Jose Sharks are on a different RSN from the San Francisco Giants and Golden State Warriors — if I wanted to watch all three teams, I’d have to pay for two separate $17.95 add-ons each month on top of my regular Peacock subscription.
But the big burden on fans isn’t the cost of getting a basic package to see your favorite teams and sports in action. It’s the fact that, MLS aside, leagues are spreading their broadcast rights across multiple venues, forcing fans to scramble to make sure they can see all the games they want.
That’s costly in a couple of ways. This exercise of detailing how much each individual service costs shows how subscription fees can add up, making you feel like your budget is being slowly pecked into pieces. There’s also the administrative hassle of trying to keep all those subscriptions straight, remembering what to cancel once certain seasons are over, and when to renew once a new season gets underway.
It’s certainly true that we have more viewing options for sports than we did a few generations ago. But staring at the list of spiraling costs for streaming services, I’m not sure if it’s much of an improvement over the way things were.
Mark Cuban discusses sports ownership, the rise of NIL, and evolving media landscape.
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In Season 3, Episode 9 of Portfolio Players presented by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, entrepreneur and former Dallas Mavericks majority owner Mark Cuban discusses the changing economics of sports ownership, the rise of NIL, and the evolving media landscape around professional leagues.
Cuban reflects on why he sold the Mavericks, what ownership looks like in today’s NBA compared to two decades ago, and whether he would ever consider buying the franchise again. He also shares how he became involved with Indiana athletics and NIL, including helping support quarterback Fernando Mendoza.
From sports betting partnerships and Vegas expansion to NBA Europe and shifting media consumption habits, Cuban offers a candid perspective on where leagues are headed next. He also explains why traditional TV ratings matter less than ever and why he believes the NBA should shorten games to improve the fan experience.
The Gonzaga freshman went from garbage time bucket-getter to one of the most exciting scorers in college basketball.
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March 10, 2026; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Davis Fogle (4) celebrates against the Santa Clara Broncos during the second half at Orleans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
In August of 2024, I published the first article I ever wrote for this site. It was a preview of Davis Fogle, Gonzaga’s most exciting incoming recruit, and I spent most of it arguing that fans should cool their expectations. Few rarely plays freshmen, I wrote. Fogle would probably come off the bench. He might have to learn a new position. He was closer to Dusty Stromer than Jalen Suggs. The hype, I implied, was getting ahead of the reality.
I wasn’t wrong exactly. But I wasn’t entirely right either, and the gap between those two things is, in retrospect, the most interesting part of Davis Fogle’s freshman season.
Fogle finished 2025-26 having played in all 30 games with one start, averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 16.8 minutes per game on 51.8% shooting from the field and 35% from three. Those are solid numbers for a freshman coming off the bench, and they don’t fully capture what those of us who watched every game already know: Fogle didn’t just survive his first year in Spokane. He grew into it, steadily and visibly, until by March he was one of the more dangerous players on the floor in the WCC Tournament and a genuine factor in the NCAA’s first round. He enters his sophomore year with significant momentum and, among the people paying attention, a reputation as one of the more likely breakout candidates in the conference.
Davis Fogle’s freshman season happened in two distinct phases, and the dividing line between them was January 14, 2026, the day Braden Huff dislocated his left knee in practice.
Before Huff’s season-ending injury Fogle was a bucket-getter in blowouts. Through the opening stretch of the season, the 20z25-26 Zags looked like the deepest team Few had ever assembled, with nine different players averaging between 16 and 26 minutes per night. Fogle appeared in nine of the team’s first 13 games mainly in garbage time, averaging just eight minutes but nearly seven points per contest in that span. When he got bigger minutes he was hard to ignore: 45 points in 43 total minutes across three games against Texas Southern, Southern Utah, and North Florida, shooting 67.8% from the field. The honest read on those performances, though, was that they did not necessarily translate to tighter games, stiffer competition, or a bigger stage. On the year to that point, while he was lighting up teams in the final 10 minutes, he had also recorded four assists and five turnovers.
Before his injury, Huff was averaging 17.8 points per game on 66.2% shooting, leading the nation in total field goals. His absence created a scoring vacuum and, for Fogle, a path into meaningful minutes. January 22nd against Pepperdine: 17 points, 8-of-10 from the line. January 25th against SF: 15 points and 9 rebounds in 32 minutes, the first time Few trusted him in a close game. February 11th against WSU: 17 points, 8-of-11, three blocks, three steals, his most complete performance of the season. Over the 11 games following Huff’s injury, Fogle averaged 10.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.9 steals in 22.5 minutes, scoring in double figures six times.
Defensively, his length produced real results by the season’s post-Huff second half: 14 blocks and 21 steals on the year, a steal-to-turnover ratio of 1.1. The WCC Final against Santa Clara (13 points, eight rebounds, six assists, two steals in 27 minutes) was his broadest stat line of the year. Over the final 14 games including the postseason, he averaged 24 minutes and 11 points per game. That’s not a role player who found a niche. That’s a player who was, by March, one of the five most impactful guys on a 30-win team.
What I Got Right, What I Got Wrong
In the 2024 preview, I made several specific, falsifiable predictions about what fans could reasonably expect from Fogle. The bench call was correct. Fogle started one of 30 games and averaged 16.8 minutes. That’s roughly where my accuracy peaks.
I wrote that he was “skills-wise more akin to Dusty Stromer than he is Jalen Suggs,” and offered the Hunter Sallis scenario as a genuine risk: “a player of jaw-dropping potential who just never got comfortable with his role in the rotation.” Neither comparison held. Fogle shot 52% from the field in under 17 minutes a night, which is a player being selective and efficient, not a player searching for his footing. His scoring efficiency ranked fifth on the roster, ahead of veterans Braeden Smith, Tyon Grant-Foster, and Adam Miller. I spent a fair amount of words in that piece urging fans to temper their expectations. Fogle spent the season making me look like an idiot for it, and I couldn’t be happier about that.
Think Gonzaga's Davis Fogle should be on scouts' radar, assuming for 2027. Big wing, awesome in transition, creates opportunities with his handle, has 3-level shotmaking skill. Strong dunk + D-playmaking rates in 15MPG. Prob gets more national love if he produces in postseason. pic.twitter.com/Vi3ggGSMFV
The one prediction that held up was the Julian Strawther parallel, specifically that Fogle’s size and shooting profile would push him toward the wing regardless of how he was recruited. He’s still listed as a guard, but his 1.2 offensive rebounds per game in 17 minutes, his 14 blocks on the season, and the way his best scoring performances came in space rather than off ball screens all point to a player already functioning like a wing. That one I’ll take.
Why 2026-27 Could Be Something Special
In 2024 I suggested that Davis Fogle was probably closer to Dusty Stromer than Jalen Suggs, urged reasonable expectations, and got humbled for it. So when I tell you the case for a breakout in 2026-27 is genuinely compelling, understand that I am a man who has learned his lesson.
Jalen Warley, Emmanuel Innocenti, Tyon Grant-Foster, Steele Venters, and Adam Miller are all gone. Fogle is understood to be one of the focal points of Gonzaga’s offense as a sophomore, expected to contribute in a much bigger way. He enters the year as a likely starter alongside a healthy Braden Huff and Mario Saint-Supery on a roster that will otherwise be extremely inexperienced and new to the system.
The Strawther parallel is worth taking seriously in this specific context. Strawther averaged 3.4 points per game as a freshman before stepping into the starting lineup as a sophomore and averaging 11.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. By his junior year he was averaging 15.2 points and 6.2 rebounds and went in the first round of the NBA Draft. That trajectory is precisely the arc Fogle is now positioned to follow, with the difference that Fogle’s freshman efficiency was already better than Strawther’s was at the same stage.
Gonzaga's Davis Fogle has been one of the more productive <40% min freshmen in the country this season and his 9 bpm is good enough for 5th among all D1 players with under 40% of their team's total minutes played
Since the season ended, Fogle has been putting up 500-600 shots per day and has been in the film room with assistant coach Stephen Gentry twice daily. His stated priorities are adding strength, refining his three-point shot, and deepening his film work. His 35% from three is functional but not yet a weapon. If that number climbs toward 40%, opposing defenses will have a significantly harder problem on their hands.
The one real caveat is the Pac-12. The competition is meaningfully stiffer than the WCC, and players who look dominant in one conference sometimes need an adjustment period in another. Fogle’s athleticism and finishing should translate. The three-point shot and defensive consistency will be tested more rigorously than they were last year.
The hype two years ago was not misplaced. It was just early.
What Comes Next
Fogle’s 2027 NBA Draft stock has already been climbing, with scouts projecting him as a potential lottery pick if his three-point shooting develops. The consistent scouting concern is an inconsistent release from three and a frame that still needs to fill out. Those are fixable problems. If the sophomore season goes as expected, there is a real chance this is the last full year we get to watch him in a Gonzaga uniform.
Based on his late-season production, his projected starting role, and the departure of the veterans ahead of him, here is a reasonable stat line for 2026-27: 30-32 minutes a night, 15-17 points, 5-6 rebounds, 2.5-3 assists, shooting 48-52% from the field and somewhere in the 38-40% range from three if the offseason work pays off. His 3.1 rebounds per game in limited minutes last year already suggested someone with real instincts on the glass, and more floor time should push his rebounding numbers up significantly. The Pac-12 is a legitimate step up in competition, and a slight efficiency dip wouldn’t be surprising or alarming. What would be alarming is if the three-point shot didn’t improve, because a credible threat from deep is essentially a prerequisite for the next level.
Two years ago I wrote that Davis Fogle had “a tough row to hoe.” He did, and he hoed it. If the sophomore season goes the way the evidence suggests it might, I may be writing a very different kind of recap this time next year, probably one that includes the words “NBA Draft” and “lottery pick.” In the meantime, unlike I did in August of 2024, I am not going to be the one urging reasonable expectations for the 2026-27 season.
The Mets are playing better. But yet, the injuries persist.
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Welcome back to A Pod of Their Own, an all-women led Home Run Applesauce podcast where we talk all things Mets, social justice issues in baseball, and normalize female voices in the sports podcasting space.
This week, we begin by discussing the Mets’ improved run of play in the month of May, mostly driven by the youth movement, and what it would take to believe again. We also talk about the sacrifices that needed to be made the injury gods to make it happen.
Finally, we wrap things up with Walk-off Wins, where each of us talks about what’s making us happy this week, baseball-related or otherwise.
You can listen or subscribe to all of our wonderful Home Run Applesauce podcasts through Apple Podcasts, where we encourage you to leave a review if you enjoy the show. It really helps! And you can find us on the Stitcher app, Spotify, or listen wherever you get podcasts. You can also support our work by subscribing to our Patreon, which will get you bonus episodes, access to our Discord server, livestream experiences, an exclusive monthly playlist, and more!
You can follow A Pod of Their Own on Twitter, Instagram, and Bluesky (@apodoftheirown) and you can follow Home Run Applesauce on Twitter and Instagram (@HRApplesauce). You can also follow our co-hosts on Twitter and Bluesky: Allison McCague (@PetitePhD), Maggie Wiggin (@maggie162), and LindaSurovich (@LindaSurovich). You can also email the show at aa.apodoftheirown@gmail.com.
Look for A Pod of Their Own in your feeds every week and don’t forget: there’s no crying in podcasting!
D-backs found themselves on the good side of a rout for once
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PHOENIX, AZ - MAY 18: Members of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate a win after the game between the San Francisco Giants and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Brendon Baranov/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Game Recaps
Not to be lost on Monday was a solid performance from D-backs starter Zac Gallen, who delivered his first quality start (six-plus innings, three earned runs or fewer) since April 1. That was the game when he blanked the Detroit Tigers for six innings, outdueling Tarik Skubal.
Gallen allowed two runs in the first three innings but settled down, retiring the final seven batters he faced. He only threw 81 pitches in the blowout.
Everyone got into the act with each member of the starting lineup collecting at least one hit, as the Diamondbacks won for the fourth time in their last five games.
Nolan Arenado set the tone with a grand slam as the fourth batter in the first inning, and Gabriel Moreno added a two-run shot in the fifth.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher A.J. Puk is scheduled to face live hitters at Salt River Fields on Tuesday, the first time he will do so since undergoing elbow surgery last summer, manager Torey Lovullo said on Monday.
Puk entered 2025 as a co-closer with Justin Martinez, and they along with starter Corbin Burnes made up the big three, so-to-speak, of key pitchers who needed season-ending elbow surgeries. Puk is ahead of Martinez (potentially August) and Burnes (July target) on their respective return timelines.
If all goes well on Tuesday, Puk could return to game action this weekend in the Arizona Complex League.
Reasons for optimism: Gallen has a 5.65 ERA in nine starts but he still has plenty of time to turn it around. The velocity and pitch movement are largely in line with his career norms and he’s still only 30, so there aren’t many physical reasons to fret too much. Even with the decline he’s shown in recent years, he’s never been this bad, and some ERA indicators (4.69 FIP, 4.51 xFIP) suggest he should be a bit better.
Reasons for concern: That aforementioned decline is hard to ignore at this point. His ERA and overall production has consistently regressed each season since his peak from 2022-23 and there are even more worrying trends this year. His strikeout rate is at a career-low 15 percent (he’s never been below 21.5 percent in a season) as is his 18.5 percent whiff rate. Until the whiffs come back, Gallen will likely continue to struggle.
Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen, in partnership with the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation and the Barrow Women’s Board, will present a sizable donation to the Ivy Brain Tumor Center and Dr. Nader Sanai during Monday night’s pre-game festivities, the team announced in a press release.
Mike Hazen, alongside his sons John and Sam Hazen, will take the opportunity to honor late wife and mother Nicole Hazen, who tragically passed away from a brain tumor in 2022. The donation will be worth $200,000, as part of Brain Tumor Awareness night at Chase Field.
Like a modern Mount Olympus, the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s doors open only to the greatest of the greats, those remarkable ballplayers who stood out from their big league brethren the way the Greek gods towered over us mere mortals.
But for those players who didn’t put together the numbers necessary to reach Cooperstown, they no longer need worry about being forgotten by time’s cruel march forward. Enter: The Hall of Pretty Good.
Yes, in a world where social media seems hellbent on division and discord, there is one place on the internet that is a bastion of baseball positivity. It’s a place where fans and their ballplaying heroes can unite, sharing memories together in the Hall of Pretty Good’s comment section — a space traditionally reserved for only the foulest of trolls.
The incident occurred in the fifth inning after Crow-Armstrong crashed into the wall attempting to catch a fly ball off the bat of White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas. As Crow-Armstrong sat on the ground — in front of fans seated below the bleachers and near the visitors bullpen — a woman heckled him, leading to a vulgar response from the Cubs’ third-year player.
The interaction was captured by camera phones and went viral.
“I saw the cameras in my face, it’s not like I didn’t,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m definitely aware of the fact that it has blown up. … I am intense on the field. In a moment like that, I think I let it get away from me a little bit.”
It would be inaccurate to say that that Blake Snell saw what teammate Edwin Díaz and fellow two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal both had and decided he wanted in. Clusters of injuries, such as the wave of broken hamate bones from this spring or the more recent outbreak of loose bodies in pitchers’ elbows, are just coincidences instead of sudden fads or outbreaks. Nonetheless, like Díaz and Skubal before him, Snell will undergo surgery on Tuesday, with the expectation that he’ll return this season.
The Rangers announced that shortstop Corey Seager has been placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to May 15th, due to lower back inflammation. Infielder/outfielder Michael Helman has been recalled as the corresponding move. Prior to the official announcement, president of baseball operations Chris Young revealed the Seager news on 105.3 The Fan, per Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News and Kennedi Landry of MLB.com noted that Helman was with the club in Colorado.
It’s been a rough campaign for Seager so far. He currently has a batting line of .179/.286/.353. His defensive metrics are also notably worse than last year. He last played on Wednesday, with the back issue keeping him sidelined since then. It was reported yesterday that he had undergone an MRI and would be visiting a specialist. It appears the Rangers decided that he could use a bit more time off. Due to the backdating, he could be back in a week, though it’s unclear if that’s a realistic expectation.
The Bombers weren’t able to gain ground on Tampa Bay, who pounded the Orioles on Monday.
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ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 18: Junior Caminero #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates with teammate Richie Palacios #1 after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on May 18, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
You can’t really call a game in mid-May with the team still in comfortable playoff position and only two games behind the leaders a “must win,” but for vibes reasons, the Yankees sure could’ve used a victory on Monday. They got one, but it was quite the nerve-wracker.
For one, they had to come from behind, taking a lead on a Jazz Chisholm Jr. home run off the foul pole. Then after Sunday’s adventure, they still called on David Bednar for the save, but he made things as stressful as possible before getting Vladmir Guerrero Jr. — of all people — to ground out to end the game.
With the Yankees at least halting their woes for the day, let’s see if the win allowed them to gain any ground anywhere, as it’s time for today’s Rivalry Roundup.
Tampa Bay Rays (31-15) 16, Baltimore Orioles (21-27) 6
Unfortunately for the Yankees, the Rays stayed hot, as they scored early and often to crush the Orioles.
Tampa Bay took an initial lead on Ryan Vilade’s sac fly in the first inning, but they fully broke things open in the second. The Rays batted around, recording five runs on six hits and a walk. The biggest blow came on a two-run double from Johnny DeLuca, which took the lead from four to six.
Baltimore got on the board themselves after that, but the Rays, answered and then kept the offense coming. They cracked double digits by the fifth inning and ended up with 16 runs on 18 hits for the game. Both Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero had four-RBI days, with Díaz going 4-for-5, while only one Tampa Bay starter failed to reach base at least once.
On the mound, Shane McClanahan wasn’t even particularly good, allowing four runs in five innings. The Orioles’ six runs on 12 hits would be enough to win plenty of games, it just didn’t come particularly close in this one.
Other Games
Cleveland Guardians (27-22) 8, Detroit Tigers (20-28) 2: While the Tigers struck first, the Guardians slowly and surely pulled away to gain more breathing room in the AL Central. José Ramírez was, well, José Ramírez, going 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBI, including a late home run to put the game away. The Guardians also got 7.1 good innings from Slade Cecconi, who allowed only two runs on five hits.
Boston Red Sox (20-27) 3, Kansas City Royals (20-28) 1: Willson Contreras’ two-run homer led the way for Boston as they won a low-scoring game over the Royals. Sonny Gray was also solid on the mound for the Red Sox, allowing just one run in six innings, while striking out nine.
Colorado Rockies (19-29) 7, Texas Rangers (22-25) 6: The Rangers made a charge late, but they ended up falling one run short against the Rockies. Led by Ezequiel Tovar and Brenton Doyle, the Rockies jumped out to a 7-3 lead through six innings. Texas chipped away at that deficit in the eighth, getting within one run, and putting the go-ahead run in scoring position, but were unable to complete the comeback.
Seattle Mariners (23-26) 6, Chicago White Sox (24-23): The Mariners cooled off the hot White Sox thanks to a strong outing from Bryan Woo. The Seattle starter allowed no runs on three hits in six innings, while a three-RBI game from recent call-up Colt Emerson, including his first major league hit/home run, allowed the M’s to win without much trouble.
Memphis is serving up plenty of fun this summer with the return of the Memphis Classic at Leftwich Tennis Center! Taking place July 25 through August 2, the WTA 250 tournament is part of the WTA Tour’s U. S.
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Memphis is serving up plenty of fun this summer with the return of the Memphis Classic at Leftwich Tennis Center! Taking place July 25 through August 2, the WTA 250 tournament is part of the WTA Tour’s U.S. summer hard-court season and will bring world-class women’s tennis back to the Mid-South. Organizers recently released first-look renderings of the temporary stadium, along with plans for custom touches designed to make the fan experience even better. And honestly? We’re already ready to grab a courtside seat.
The new stadium will offer a great view from wherever you sit. Image: DCA Memphis
Meant to be one of the largest sporting events in Memphis this year, the return of elite women’s tennis to the 901 is a major win for the city’s sports and entertainment landscape. Taking place at the start of the U.S. summer hard-court season, the tournament will feature eight days of premium-level matches while showcasing what organizers hope will be a world-class atmosphere unique to Memphis.
“The Memphis Classic will deliver eight days of elite competition, creating new opportunities for fans, partners, and the community to connect with the global game,” says Sam Duvall with Topnotch Management, who counts the Memphis Classic among its portfolio of tennis events produced nationwide.
The temporary stadium buildout at Leftwich Tennis Center will include seating for more than 2,000 spectators, along with premium hospitality experiences such as VIP suites, end-court suites, and exclusive courtside boxes.
This increased capacity offers a more intimate atmosphere, high energy, and closer seats to the action. The buildout is part of a long-term goal to cement Memphis as a “must-stop” on the professional tennis circuit, and it’s well on its way!
The Topnotch Sky Lounge will offer a unique viewing experience of the match. Image: DCA Memphis
“Memphis knows pro tennis, and we are so excited to bring it back. No pun intended, but it really was a perfect match,” says Cara Greenstein, VP Public Engagement of DCA Memphis. “We chose this market for many reasons, one of which is how great a facility Leftwich is. It’s a perfect foundation with practice courts and plenty of room for hospitality, and from there we’ll construct our custom-built grandstand stadium for the matches themselves.”
Along with the stadium reveal, The Memphis Classic launched a limited-time “First Come, First Served” premium ticket deposit program.
Courtside box and premium tickets are now on sale, with weekend-long options for tennis matches that include perks like priority access for next year’s tickets, VIP lounge access, appetizers and snacks, and much more. Tickets go on sale May 20, and the player draw will be announced four weeks before the tournament.
VIPs can enjoy snacks and drinks at the bar during the tennis match weekend. Image: DCA Memphis
For longtime tennis fans in Memphis, the tournament (operated by Topnotch Management in partnership with Tennis Memphis and a coalition of civic and corporate partners) marks the highly anticipated return of professional women’s tennis to the Bluff City.
Tennis Memphis is also involved in expanding the sport citywide. This local organization offers year-round tennis and educational programming for kids and adults through after-school programs, free clinics, outreach and inclusion efforts, and USTA programming.
It’s one of only 10 organizations nationwide selected as a USTA Community Impact Hub and currently manages seven City of Memphis public tennis centers, including Leftwich Tennis Center, where the Memphis Classic will take place.
“Across the eight days of exhibitions and programming (which includes both a Kids Day and College Night), attendees can expect local vendors and partners, from food and beverage to live entertainment,” Cara tells us. “Volunteers are also invited to submit their interest now to support guest services, credentials, and even ball persons on the court.”
SACRAMENTO, CA - MAY 13: J.T. Ginn #35 of the Athletics throws the ball to first base during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Welcome to Tuesday everyone!
We were treated to some grade-A pitching last night from young right-hander J.T. Ginn. For eight innings the 26-year-old only allowed one walk while taking a no-hitter into the ninth. We’re going to ignore what happened in the final inning from last night’s game because we can.
That performance dropped Ginn’s season ERA to a nice 2.98 through 11 games. That number alone is good for ninth-best in the American League but his dominance goes deeper than that. One must remember that Ginn didn’t even begin the season in the starting rotation, instead acting as a long man out of the bullpen for the first couple turns through the rotation. If we’re only looking at his starting appearances that number drops to 2.64 in eight starts.
Not a lot of people expected Ginn to take off quite like he has this year. In his first cup of coffee in 2024 he showed glimpses of what had the A’s so high on him. He had some bumps and bruises in his first extended action last year though, going from starter to reliever and back to starter again as a rookie. Not an easy situation for anyone to deal with, especially someone who is still trying to find their footing in the big leagues. Add on top of that Ginn allowing 17 runs in 16 innings of work this spring and no one would blame you for being caught off guard by Ginn’s ascent.
Since getting his shot he’s done what tons of pitchers in this league try and fail to accomplish: take advantage of their opportunity. Ginn could have very easily been a spot-starter had he struggled, with someone like Mason Barnett waiting in the wings for his own chance. Instead he’s relied on terrific command while keeping the ball in the ballpark. The strikeouts aren’t the name of his game as he’s instead relying on that heavy sinker to get the ground balls he wants. That’s especially useful in a hitter’s park like Sutter Health Park.
Going forward it’s good to be hopeful that Ginn has truly unlocked something and this isn’t just a hot streak. Every A’s fan was perfectly happy to let Ginn go for history tonight, pitch count be damned. That said, it may be prudent to keep a handle on his innings count going forward. Acquired in the trade that sent Chris Bassitt to New York, Ginn already has a Tommy John surgery on his ledger and he pitched a career-high 112 1/3 frames last year. He’s already departed one game earlier this year with “arm soreness”.
How high is the limit for Ginn? Scouts always believes he would, at best, settle in as a backend 4th/5th starter type but he’s making everyone rethink that calculus. And if he keeps this up he’s going to be in the rotation long-term, waiting for guys like Gage Jump and Jamie Arnold to hurry up and join him in the big league rotation.
Same time same place for tonight’s game. Have a great day A’s fans.
A’s injuries: – Denzel Clarke will continue rehab with Triple-A Las Vegas tomorrow – Jacob Wilson continues to strenghten and stabilize his shoulder. No timetable for return – Max Muncy has begun a swing progression. Still no timetable – Gunnar Hoglund shut down from throwing
Baseball America's updated top 10 A's prospects list: 1) SS Leo De Vries, 2) LHP Jamie Arnold, 3) LHP Gage Jump, 4) LHP Wei-En Lin, 5) SS Johenssy Colome, 6) OF Henry Bolte, 7) RHP Braden Nett, 8) SS Edgar Montero, 9) SS Joshua Kuroda-Grauer, 10) OF Devin Taylor
— Bill Moriarity – A's Farm (@AthleticsFarm) May 18, 2026
Stefanic heading down to Triple-A:
Michael Stefanic has been outrighted to Triple-A Las Vegas.
First-year head coach Ryan Beard has overhauled the Chants’ roster, but questions at quarterback and along the offensive line loom large
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CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 25: Chauncey, mascot for the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, sits on a vehicle before the James Madison Dukes take on the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Brooks Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Conway, South Carolina. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Over the next six weeks — every Tuesday and Thursday through late June — I’ll have a first look opponent preview for each of WVU’s 12 regular season opponents. I’ve been digging through spring game footage, press conference transcripts, and whatever else I could find to get a real idea of who these teams are right now, before depth charts get shuffled in August and everything changes anyway.
We’re starting with the season opener. Here’s your First Look at Coastal Carolina.
Game Vitals
When: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Where: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West Virginia
Series Record: West Virginia and Coastal Carolina have only met once — a 31-0 WVU shutout in the 2010 season opener, back when the Chanticleers were still an FCS program.
2025 Record: 6-7 (5-3 Sun Belt)
Head Coach: Ryan Beard (1st year)
Preview
Tim Beck went 8-5 in his first year at Coastal Carolina, won the Hawaii Bowl, and then went 6-6 twice in a row and got fired the day after the regular season finale. Ryan Beard was hired less than two weeks later and while roster turnover with a new coaching staff is expected, Coastal didn’t hemorrhage players the way most programs do. Beard painted his “out-hit, out-hustle” message everywhere around the Chants’ facility, and by all accounts it landed and the energy around the program feels genuinely different from the Beck years.
Off the field, it appears Beard has done everything right so far. On it, there are still a lot of questions.
Coastal’s offensive line is unsettled with two projected starters missing all of spring due to injury. The quarterback competition features four guys learning the offense — Missouri State transfer Deuce Bailey, FCS transfer Tre Guerra, Arkansas transfer Trever Jackson, and freshman Osiris Lopez — and Beard says no clear frontrunner has emerged. The offense is run by Nick Petrino, who made the move with Beard from Missouri State and operates the same system his father Bobby made famous — and who also happens to be Ryan Beard’s brother-in-law. Petrino has acknowledged he’s still figuring out his own personnel as much as his players are figuring out the scheme. Receiver Tristan Gardner projects as the alpha in the passing game, with Robby Washington and Clayton Coppock Jr. behind him, and Dominic Knicely looks like the early frontrunner at running back.
The one unit that looks the most legit for Coastal right now is their defensive front. Defensive coordinator L.D. Scott rebuilt the d-line almost from scratch, bringing Mitchell Toney and Ahmad Poole with him from Missouri State and leaning on Ibrahim Diawara as the unit’s veteran anchor and de facto team leader all spring. They’re physical and can generate interior pressure. Scott switched his scheme from a 3-3-5 to a 4-2-5 specifically to get more athleticism on the field, and linebacker Se’Von McDowell said he feels more comfortable in the two-linebacker set. The Chants’ defensive front should be one of the better units in the Sun Belt by September.
There are a couple storylines worth knowing beyond the X’s and O’s. Zeke Durham-Campbell transferred to WVU from Coastal this offseason after posting 5.5 sacks for the Chanticleers last season. He’ll be lining up against his former team, who already know exactly what he can do. On the other side, Obinna Onwuka, one of Coastal’s defensive ends, previously played for the Mountaineers. He was a part of Neal Brown’s last recruiting class. Also worth noting, Grayson McCall, the quarterback who piloted Coastal’s 11-1 run in 2021, is now on Beard’s staff.
Way Too Early Prediction
A new staff, an unsettled offensive line, and four quarterbacks competing for one job is too much uncertainty for a road opener. The Mountaineers’ defense should be able to create havoc and force Coastal into a hole the offense can’t climb out of. If WVU’s offensive line holds up, this one’s comfortable by the fourth quarter.
Today, we examine the goaltending matchup between Colorado and Vegas heading into the Western Conference Final!
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May 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) looks on during the third period against the Minnesota Wild in game two of the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images | Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
We’ve looked at the forwards and the defense; now, we’ll examine the final and, as some may argue, the most critical position for both the Colorado Avalanche and Vegas Golden Knights: goaltending.
Colorado Avalanche
Projected Starter: Scott Wedgewood
Projected Backup: Mackenzie Blackwood
Colorado Avalanche
The tandem effort of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood powered the Avalanche to the top of the NHL for the near entirety of the NHL regular season, but it’s been Scott Wedgewood who has emerged as Jared Bednar’s go-to netminder for the Avs’ 2026 playoff run. Wedgewood, who’s had a storybook year as one-half of the Jennings Trophy winning duo for Colorado, has put together an impressive, albeit small, body of work. On the eve of his first Western Conference Final as a starter, Wedgewood’s 2.21 goals against average and .914 save percentage rank seventh and sixth, respectively among playoff goaltenders. His only blemish was the 5-1 loss in Game Three to Minnesota, which snapped a six consecutive win streak that stretched over a first round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings and halfway through the second round against the Minnesota Wild.
Not bad for a goaltender who never started in a playoff game before.
The solid play of Wedgewood has limited Blackwood to relief duties to this point in the Avs playoff run. To his credit, Blackwood provided stability in a critical Game Four, stopping 19 of 22 shots to put the Avs in position to eliminate Minnesota two nights later. Unfortunately, a flaccid first period by the Avs in Game Five spelled an early exit for Blackwood, but a vastly improved effort by the Avs—and seven saves by the returning Wedgewood—led to the eventual knockout blow in overtime. Without Blackwood’s solid play in Minnesota, things could have played out much differently. Even though he got the hook in Game Five, his efforts in Game Four played a pivotal role in the Avs success in the second round.
Thanks to the Avs making quick work of their opponents, Wedgewood’s 435 minutes of game time puts him at ninth overall among playoff goaltenders. However, two other active goaltenders, Montréal’s Jakub Dobeš and Vegas’ Carter Hart (more on him later) have played more postseason minutes. Despite playing fewer games than Hart through two rounds, the reduced workload could favor Wedgewood and the Avs if this series goes the distance.
With only one postseason loss, and an incredible comeback win to close out Minnesota, Wedgewood certainly shouldn’t be lacking in confidence heading into this series against Vegas. Wedgewood is undefeated on Ball Arena in postseason play, and both of his regular season victories over Vegas—including another remarkable 6-5 comeback win—took place at T-Mobile Arena. Should he stumble, the Avs have the option to go to Blackwood for that opportunity to reset.
Just don’t expect the reset to last for very long.
Vegas Golden Knights
Projected Starter: Carter Hart
Projected Backup: Adin Hill
Vegas Golden Knights
When Vegas succeeded Colorado as Stanley Cup champions in 2023, they did so off an incredible run by Adin Hill. Three years later, injuries limited Hill to twenty-seven regular season games, and controversial free agent signee Carter Hart has since guided Vegas into the playoffs. Hart’s signing back in October certainly raised eyebrows, but his play in the postseason has paid dividends for a franchise that leans into controversy instead of shying away from it.
Hart has started all twelve playoff games for Vegas and is tied with Dobeš and Carolina’s Frederik Anderson for the lead in playoff wins (8). Having defeated both Utah and Anaheim in consecutive six game series, Hart has compiled a 8-4 record as he makes his first appearance in a Western Conference Final. His 2.37 goals against average and .917 save percentage eighth and fifth, respectively, among playoff goaltenders. Going head to head by these numbers, Hart fares slightly worse than Wedgewood when it comes to GAA, but owns a slightly better save percentage.
Hart’s 322 total saves also ranks second to Dobeš (363) among playoff goaltenders. While this certainly is an impressively high number, the problem is that it is an impressively high number: while Wedgewood’s 171 total saves—eighth among playoff goaltenders—can be attributed to playing fewer games through two rounds, Hart’s total also points seeing an average of just over 29 shots per game. With Colorado averaging over 31 shots on goaltenders per game in these playoffs, Hart will continue to stay busy in this series. Staying busy hasn’t been an issue for Hart (yet), as his 758 minutes of playing time trails only Dobeš among playoff goaltenders (858).
Despite the high save volume, Hart didn’t get off to the best start in the first round. He gave up nineteen goals against Utah—including four goals in three consecutive games—compared to the six goals allowed by Wedgewood in Colorado’s first round sweep of Los Angeles. He improved through the second round, however, limiting Anaheim to two goals or less in each of his wins. Despite allowing twelve total goals in the series against Anaheim, this figure bests both Wedgewood and Blackwood’s seventeen allowed goals against Minnesota.
Hill, who last played on April 9 (a 4-3 shootout decision over Seattle), could be pressed into service should Hart struggle against the potent Colorado offense. If Vegas is forced to roll the dice on Hill, it wouldn’t be the worst gamble to turn back to the goaltender that backstopped them to their first championship. Hill has met the pressure of the moment before, and already knows the expectations to meet that moment again.
Stepping into that moment, especially against the playoff juggernaut that is the Colorado Avalanche isn’t for the faint of…heart.
How do the second four games of the Panthers season look?
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 08: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles talks with Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers after the Eagles defeated the Panthers, 22-16, at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This group of articles will take a look at the newly released Panthers schedule, review the opponents, and take our best guess at predicting the outcomes of each game. Here, we’re starting with the second “quarter” of the schedule, the second four games just after the Week 5 bye.
Week 6: @ Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are a tough team to figure out this year. They drafted Makai Lemon in the first round and added a couple other wide receivers, and rumors are swirling about AJ Brown’s impending trade. They also added to an already elite front four by trading for former Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard and retaining Nolan Smith. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are young superstars, and the team added Riq Woolen in free agency to bolster that group even more. While Nakobe Dean walked in free agency, the team drafted Jihaad Campbell last year to help fill that void. Eli Stowers was drafted as well, combining with Dallas Goedert to make a quality tight end group.
The Eagles are always talented, but oftentimes they are a bit Jekyll and Hyde. This might continue this year as Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni are still in town. Their defense is still elite, especially along the line and in the secondary. Saquon Barkley is not exactly in his prime, but Tank Bigsby was added as depth. DeVonta Smith combines with the other pass catchers to make a deep and versatile group. Any time a player of AJ Brown’s caliber leaves your team, however, there is bound to be some growing pains.
Final: Eagles 24 – Panthers 13
Week 7: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A couple notorious Panthers killers are no longer in Tampa Bay as Lavonte David retired and Mike Evans and Rachaad White left in free agency. They did add quite a bit to their defense, though, signing veterans Alex Anzalone and A’Shawn Robinson. They also drafted Rueben Bain and Josiah Trotter. Baker Mayfield and the coaching staff is mostly intact from last year, though they do have yet another new offensive coordinator. Todd Bowles is undoubtedly on the hot seat, however.
The Bucs do still have some talent, including Vita Vea plugging up the middle with Calijah Kancey. Ted Hurst was drafted in the third round to help replace the loss of Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin should be back healthy this season after missing a good chunk of last year.
Final: Panthers 28 – Buccaneers 20
Week 8: @ Green Bay Packers (TNF)
The Panthers second prime time game of the year is a Thursday night game at Lambeau. Luckily it’s early enough in the season that the weather should not be too bad. The Packers lost a couple wide receivers in Romeo Doubbs and Dontayvion Wicks. Rashan Gary was traded this offseason, largely because the team hopes Micah Parsons will be back and fully healthy at some point this season. Jordan Love is still the man under center, but they also added Tyrod Taylor as a fully capable backup.
The team largely revolves around Love and that dynamic offense. Christian Watson is joined by second year receiver Matthew Golden, free agent Skyy Moore in the receiver room. A relatively weak secondary was addressed in the draft by taking Brandon Cisse and in free agency by signing Benjamin St-Juste. The depth at edge is also a bit of a weakness, especially with Parsons coming back from a torn ACL. The Packers are also going through some transitions on the offensive line, which could cause some issues. Starting left tackle Rasheed Walker left for the Panthers and Elgton Jenkins left in free agency as well.
Final: Packers 27 – Panthers 23
Week 9: vs Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos surprised a lot of people last year, ripping off a 14-3 record largely led by their elite defense. To help on offense, the team added Jaylen Waddle and JK Dobbins. Bo Nix is still under center, and old nemesis Sean Payton and his permanent duck face is still the head coach. The team also still has a very good offensive line together, which will be important with Nix coming off a major ankle injury. The Broncos did not have a pick this year until the third round, so an influx of big name young players did not happen.
The Broncos still have possibly the best defense in the league, especially in the secondary. Pat Surtain II is about as good as it gets at corner (along with Jaycee Horn). The additions made on offense should make that group more reliable and explosive, though Bo Nix could experience a regression especially coming off an injury. Overall, the Broncos are a very talented roster, and their 14-3 record wasn’t much of a fluke.
The Detroit Lions clearly pushed to host their game in Munich this year, despite some downsides. Was it the right move?
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25 June 2023, North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne: American Football: St. Brown Youth Football Camp. Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Detroit Lions at practice. Photo: Federico Gambarini/dpa (Photo by Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images)
While NFL teams don’t get to outright choose which international game they want to play it, it’s clear the Detroit Lions made a push in 2026 to get the game in Munich. They already had international marketing rights in Germany, Amon-Ra St. Brown is an instant draw to the local crowd given his German roots, and the Lions were overdue for an international trip given their last overseas game was in 2015.
So, as the NFL said on a conference call last Friday, the Lions (via president Rod Wood) and the league essentially came to an agreement.
“We knew that Germany game was going to be a mere two weeks before Thanksgiving, and it was important enough to Rod, to the organization, to our international folks, certainly to your wide receiver [St. Brown] that it made a lot of sense for the Lions to play in that Germany game,” NFL vice president of broadcasting planning Mike North said.
But that choice came with a price for the Lions. With the game so close to their annual Thanksgiving Day game, it meant the league was almost certainly not going to give them a bye week following their international trip, setting up a tough 12-day stretch that includes three games and an intercontinental flight. This was a risk the Lions were apparently well aware of and okay with. Wood only asked that after their Thanksgiving game, that the Lions would not have to play another Thursday game. That way, they’d at least have a mini-bye. That request was granted by the league.
The question becomes whether that trade-off was worth it. Should the Lions have pushed for a different international game and potentially been given a bye week? Or did Rod Wood make the best out of a tough situation? One thing to consider: only three of 16 teams playing an international game this year will get a bye week immediately the game.
We debate that all on this week’s PODcast, where we break down all of the Lions’ 2026 schedule, make some record predictions, and even talk about Detroit’s schedule release video.
Catch the episode in the Spotify embed below, or on your favorite podcasting platform by searching “Pride of Detroit.” Don’t forget to give us a review on Apple Podcasts, as we try to reach 1,000 reviews by the start of the season.
You can also catch the video portion of our podcast on our YouTube and Twitch pages.
The Atlanta Braves minor league pitching has seen some change, and struggles this season.
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Nov 9, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Atlanta Braves general manager Alex Anthopoulos answers questions from the media during the MLB GM Meetings at The Conrad Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
Back on October 9th of last year, an announcement came from the Atlanta Braves that may not have raised a ton of eyebrows at the time. However the effects of that move are being felt right now in a very noticeable way in the team’s farm system.
That move in question is the Braves parting ways with Paul Davis, who had been the team’s director of pitching development since 2020. Davis was there for the rise of pitchers like Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, AJ Smith-Shawver, and Hurston Waldrep among others who have already established themselves in the big leagues, and the likes of JR Ritchie, Didier Fuentes, Jhancarlos Lara, and Owen Murphy who are now right there or just on the doorstep.
How big of an impact is this move having? Well let’s take a look at the ERA’s of the Braves full season affiliates for this year against the last few years to give you a better idea. Note that the FCL isn’t being mentioned due to the small sample size, and the DSL is yet to begin their season.
Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A)
2021 was a team 3.72 ERA, 2022 was a 4.37 ERA, 2023 was 4.95, 2024 was 4.33, and 2025 was 4.07. Through 45 games the ERA is 4.33 this year. Note this is probably the level least effected, as a lot of these guys are more veterans than true prospects.
Columbus Clingstones (Double-A)
2025 had a 3.92 ERA, and is as far as we will go back here as the team was in Mississippi before 2025, and different park factors are at play. This year the ERA is 5.60 through 38 games, or almost 2 full runs higher than last year.
Rome Emperors (High-A)
2021 was a 3.97 ERA, as was 2022. In 2023 it was 4.09, followed by 3.47 in 2024. Last year it was 3.72. Through 39 games it is 4.82 this year, more than a full run higher than two of the five previous years and almost a full run higher than two more.
Augusta GreenJackets (Low-A)
2021 had a 5.11 ERA, which went down to 4.52 in 2022. In 2023 it was 4.41, then 4.04 in 2024. Last year it was at 3.70. Through 39 games it is 4.65 this year, which is quite a bit higher than four of the five years we have looked at.
It’s not just the affiliates that have struggled this year. In fact multiple Braves pitching prospects have seen their results go backwards as well, without many making the big leap in their development.
Jhancarlos Lara is pitching to a 9.28 ERA in Double-A and walking nearly two guys per inning through 10.2 innings. Fellow Columbus reliever Elison Joseph has also seen the walks skyrocket, while dropping nearly four off his K/9 total from the same level last year, and hasn’t looked to have the same stuff.
While it’s not an apples to apples comparison since he spent last year in Low-A and is in High-A this year, Cam Caminiti has also seemed to regress a bit. Cam is missing less bats, while giving up nearly 10 hits per nine innings pitched. Fellow top prospect Owen Murphy is in a similar boat, facing better competition this year and struggling more with his command than we had ever seen from him.
The examples there could go on and on, like Lucas Braun missing less bats. After making his big league debut last year following complete domination across the minors, Hayden Harris is walking guys at a career high rate and has 1.64 WHIP in 17.2 innings. Sixth round pick Landon Beidelschies is giving up almost two hits per inning in Low-A. Even Garrett Baumann is having more issues with his command than we’ve previously ever seen from him, leading to more hits and walks allowed than we’ve ever seen from him.
Conclusion
It may or may not have been the right call to move on from Davis after last season ended, as the pitching injuries had been an issue for the past couple of seasons for young Braves pitchers. However the changes they have made have had the opposite effect to date, and the Braves are going to need to take a really close look at this as soon as possible, in order to do something to right the ship and not cost all of these pitching prospects a year of lost development.
Note that I initially wrote this article last week, and over the last four to five games, things have gone slightly better overall. Team ERA’s have actually dropped by a little, while some of the individual pitchers have actually improved their numbers a bit – Lara, Baumann, and Cade Kuehler in particular. Still to this point, we have seen far more pitchers take a step backwards this year than forwards – really only Ethan Bagwell seems to have taken a step forward, and some of that is simply on the fact he is now healthy again after dealing with injury last season.
Newcastle United are monitoring PSG striker Goncalo Ramos as they look to strengthen the forward corps this summer. “Newcastle are keeping tabs on Ramos’ availability as he struggles to nail down a consistent starting berth with the Parisians,” Football Insider reported on May 10. The striker has struggled to secure a consistent role at Paris […]
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Paris, France - April 19: Gonçalo Ramos of Paris Saint-Germain reacts during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Parc des Princes on April 19, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Newcastle United are monitoring PSG striker Goncalo Ramos as they look to strengthen the forward corps this summer.
“Newcastle are keeping tabs on Ramos’ availability as he struggles to nail down a consistent starting berth with the Parisians,” Football Insider reported on May 10.
The striker has struggled to secure a consistent role at Paris Saint-Germain, prompting interest from clubs seeking attacking reinforcements. However, that doesn’t mean the Champions League reigning champions and finalists will give him away for free.
“PSG will only allow Goncalo Ramos to leave for a sizeable fee this summer as Newcastle United eye a move for his services,” the report says. “He’s under contract until 2028 at PSG, so it wouldn’t be a cheap deal to do either because they’d be looking to recoup a huge transfer fee for Ramos.”
Eddie Howe’s side are expected to prioritize a forward addition after issues in front of goal this season, with the trio of Will Osula, Yoanne Wissa, and Nick Woltemade underperforming wildly.
“Eddie Howe wants to bolster his attacking ranks in the summer window as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have each failed to score regularly,” the report adds.
PSG bought Ramos from Benfica for €65 million in Jan. 2024 following a loan spell at Paris the prior few months.
Reviewing how Beau Stephens fits the Seahawks and how he fits the kind of player coach Mike Macdonald is looking for.
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Running the football is etched into the culture of the Seattle Seahawks. Whether its Curt Warner, Shaun Alexander, Ricky Watters, Marshawn Lynch, or recent Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, the Seahawks have had their offense go through the run game. With that comes the need for offensive lineman who create holes for the running backs to run through. In the 2025 draft, the Seahawks added Grey Zabel, Mason Richman, and Bryce Cabeldue to help establish that stout offensive line. In 2026, the Seahawks traded up into the 5th round and used their 4th pick in the draft on Iowa guard Beau Stephens to continue to add to the offensive line.
As the video above shows, Beau can definitely assist in the run, with Iowa being a run heavy team. Emory Hunt notes in his Draft Guide that Beau, “Does a good job of using the defender’s momentum against him, will effectively wash/escort him to the side in which he’s going, clearing out space in the run game.”
The question is, though, is how well will Beau fit in with the Seahawks? In my continued series on deep diving into the Seahawks draft picks, we will take a look at Beau and what he brings to the team.
Beau coming to Seattle is reunited with fellow Iowa offensive lineman Mason Richman, which will help settle in with the team. That continuity and connection with a college teammate seems to be something that coach Mike Macdonald does key in on, with Zabel and Jalen Sundell being a recent example of that. It has worked out in the Seahawks favor, going from ranking around 32nd in 2024 to 15th per PFF in 2025. It is not all on Zabel and Sundell; offensive line coach John Benton, assistant offensive line coach Justin Outten and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak had a lot to do with the offensive line’s success. It is true, though, that continuity is big in an offensive line’s success, and having Zabel and Sundell play side-by-side definitely played a part. Bringing Beau into the Seahawks and reuniting with Richman will continue on with that philosophy.
Another note is scheme fit. Iowa runs a wide zone offense, which is the kind of offensive scheme that Mike wants the Seahawks to run. He hired Klint with that in mind in 2025, and did the same with new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. Beau will have a smooth transition with learning the scheme. He did not allow a single sack the last three seasons, and allowed no quarterback hits and only four hurries in 2025. Beau also ranked in the 89th percentile in zone run-blocking grade, which is a hand-in-glove fit for the Seahawks. He will have to compete at right guard, with Zabel solidly situated at starting left guard. With Anthony Bradford on the last year of his deal, Cabeldue, Beau, Christian Haynes, and Richman will all be pushing him for that position. It is a deep competition, with Bradford having won the starting position each of the last two years with two different coaches. With Beau’s physicality and refined technique, he will have a chance to become a contender for starting RG.
While it will be tough for the rookie to become a year one starter, it is within the realm of possibility. He was a part of the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line, which is awarded to the best offensive line in college football, and Beau was a central part of its success. At 6’5” and 315lbs, he is around the archetype of offensive lineman Mike wants on the team (average on the Seahawksis around 6’4” and 311lbs with a few outliers). With a Relative Athletic Score of 7.73, he is solidly athletic for an offensive lineman, with a size and athletic testing comp being Will Clapp, who had a solid eight-year career with the Saints, Chargers and Bills. While his combine testing numbers were seen as average, his play tape tells a different story. He would push defenders back to the second level to open run lanes for runners, creating an anchor to prevent defenders from getting to the quarterback, and as shown in the video below, would pancake defensive tackles.
Beau also has experience playing both left and right guard in college and taking snaps at center at the Senior Bowl, showing his versatility, which as previous deep dives have noted is something the coaching staff values. He is also a silent leader. Dane Brugler pointed out in The Beast, Beau would pull younger teammates aside to help them out, which shows his maturity and willingness to be a mentor. Fits the Seahawks Mission Over BS philosophy, and having leaders on the team.
Will Beau make an impact in 2026? With the team trading up to get back into the 5th round, it seems as though the team has high hopes for the young man. Benton had a large grin speaking the Beau on the phone as they prepared to draft him. While he will need to compete to get a starting position, he has the proper mentality and work ethic to fight for it. Beau fits the culture, the philosophy, and the athleticism of a Seahawks player, and has the chance to be a long term contributor to the offensive line.
Dylan Harper turned a desperate San Antonio Spurs situation into a historic rookie statement in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. Victor Wembanyama owned the night, but Harper made sure San Antonio’s double-overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was not a one-man story.
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Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Dylan Harper turned a desperate San Antonio Spurs situation into a historic rookie statement in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals.
Victor Wembanyama owned the night, but Harper made sure San Antonio’s double-overtime win over the Oklahoma City Thunder was not a one-man story.
The rookie guard stepped into a massive role and left with a stat line that placed him beside some of the sport’s biggest names.
Photo by Soobum Im/Getty ImagesDylan Harper joins Larry Bird’s rare Conference Finals club
StatMuse highlighted Dylan Harper becoming the first player since Larry Bird with a 20-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist, and 5-steal Conference Finals game.
Harper finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, and 7 steals as the Spurs beat the Thunder 122-115 in double overtime.
The rookie part is what makes the line feel absurd. Conference Finals games usually expose young guards, especially on the road against a team as physical and disruptive as Oklahoma City.
Harper did not just survive the stage. He controlled large stretches of it with defensive reads, downhill pressure and poise late in possessions.
The Larry Bird comparison adds real weight because this was not a cherry-picked scoring record. It was an all-around playoff line built on production, toughness and feel.
Dylan Harper also matches Magic Johnson’s history
NBA on X noted that Harper joined Magic Johnson as the only rookies since 1973–74 to record 15-plus points, 5-plus rebounds, and 5-plus steals in a Conference Finals game.
That cutoff matters because 1973–74 was the first season steals were fully recorded. Harper did not just land in rare rookie territory, he reached a historical marker that has barely been touched in 50 years.
The seven steals also showed why his performance mattered beyond offense. Oklahoma City forces guards into mistakes, but Harper flipped that pressure back on the Thunder.
He played 47 minutes, shot 8-of-20 from the field, and made all seven of his free throws. More importantly, he committed only one turnover in a game that lasted two overtimes.
San Antonio needed that steadiness with De’Aaron Fox sidelined by ankle soreness. Harper answered with the kind of mature, two-way performance teams usually hope to get from veterans.
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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 19: The 2026 CFP logo during the Indiana Hoosiers versus the Miami Hurricanes College Football Playoff National Championship Game Presented by AT&T on January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 25: Jamir Brown of the Rowan Profs competes against Terrel Williams of the UConn Huskies in the College Men's 110 Hurdles during the Penn Relays at Franklin Field at the University of Pennsylvania on April 25, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Syracuse Orange track teams wrapped up competition at the ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships over the weekend.
Sophomore Jamir Brown continued to excel in his first season with the Orange as he took the title in the 110m hurdles in a new Syracuse record of 13.25 seconds.
The meet was delayed by weather for three and a half hours, but that didn’t stop Brown from becoming the third Orange hurdler to win an ACC 110m title joining Donald Pollit and Freddie Crittenden. He’ll head into the NCAA Regionals as one of the favorites to advance to Eugene.
Another Syracuse runner with a good chance to get to Nationals is Benne Anderson, who finished 3rd in the men’s 1500m run in a time of 3:41.07. Joining Anderson in the scoring column in the event was Drew Zundell who placed 6th in 3:42.15.
Assaf Harari and Conner Ackley finished 7th and 8th respectively in the 10k to complete the scoring for the men who finished 14th. The Syracuse women completed the meet without earning a point, but several Orange have a chance to compete at Regionals with hopes of advancing to the NCAA Championships.
The Clemson women and Virginia men were the team champions this year. Eastern Regionals will be held next week in Lexington, Kentucky and we will have a preview once the final entries are declared.
A combination of weaker opposition and favorable timings make it a possibility.
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 12: A New Orleans Saints fan looks on from the stands during the NFL 2025 game against the New England Patriots at Caesars Superdome on October 12, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana."" (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When the NFL schedule is released, it always leads to some of the boldest predictions one will come across throughout the year. Almost everyone sees a path to the playoffs; some fans even struggle to see where their team will lose more than a couple of games.
Alas, the Who Dat Nation is no different. Optimism abounds at this time of the offseason. But looking at the schedule released this week, might the Saints have a realistic chance of winning every game at home?
While we already knew the opponents on the calendar, the finalization of the schedule has given me even more reason to believe in the Caesars Superdome (and the Stade de France!) becoming a fortress for the black and gold. Here’s why.
Barring the Monday Night Football tilt with the Falcons that precedes the visit of the Vikings six days later, the Saints don’t face the prospect of a home game on short rest. The bye week sits nicely between the Steelers matchup overseas and the Browns game set for Week 9.
Outside of those four games, there remain the other pair of always winnable divisional matchups, the lowly Cardinals and Raiders, and the Packers.
After two formidable road games to start the campaign, six of the next seven games are at home (including, of course, the Paris game), presenting a real chance for Kellen Moore’s team to take advantage of their home crowd and string some wins together.
New Orleans has flirted with an undefeated home campaign in recent times, most notably in 2017 when they won out after dropping the home opener to New England. But it’s something they haven’t achieved since doing it twice in three years on either side of Sean Payton’s suspension in 2012.
Nevertheless, the list of home opponents this season leads me to believe that with some injury luck and the type of performances many believe the roster to be capable of, it might be the best chance the Saints have had to win every game on home turf since Drew Brees retired.
Do you agree? Which home games do you think will give the black and gold the most trouble? Let us know in the comments below!
Chelsea host relegation-threatened Tottenham aiming to move into contention for European football next season in the penultimate game before Xabi Alonso’s arrival to Stamford Bridge.The Blues have c...
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PREVIEW: Chelsea host relegation-threatened Spurs with Europe hanging in balance
Chelsea host relegation-threatened Tottenham aiming to move into contention for European football next season in the penultimate game before Xabi Alonso’s arrival to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues have cycled through two permanent managers and fallen out of the top eight, with Europe now hanging in the balance, and require wins against Spurs and Sunderland in their final two games to give themselves a chance of qualifying.
But their opponents will be just as desperate for a victory that would keep them in the English top flight while relegating fellow London rivals West Ham, who lost at Newcastle 3-1 yesterday, with one game to spare.
Calum McFarlane, fresh off of a 1-0 defeat to Man City in the FA Cup final, will be keen to end the rot of seven games without a win, last tasting victory in March when they impressively beat Aston Villa 4-1 and rose to fifth under Liam Rosenior.
That win came as the former Chelsea boss claimed that his side were running out of time to reduce the gap to the Champions League, but their chances of qualifying for the prestigious club competition have since vanished.
Chelsea are 10 points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, on 59 points, with only six left to play for.
McFarlane has struggled to get the Blues firing again, winning just one of his five games in charge and has the task of safely guiding the club through the transition into a new era Alonso was announced as the team’s new manager on Sunday.
Joao Pedro, who has a point to prove after his omission from Brazil’s final World Cup squad, was taken off as a precaution in the FA Cup final but his injury doesn’t seem bad enough to keep him away from the first-team.
Midfielder Romeo Lavia missed the FA Cup final with a knock, yet may been available to feature this evening, but wingers Estevao and Jesse Derry are still recovering from their hamstring and head injuries respectively.
Jamie Byone-Gittens will miss the remainder of the season, also suffering from a hamstring injury, adding to a further set of frustrations for Chelsea fans as he has yet to deliver on his £55m price tag.
As for Spurs, Roberto De Zerbi has done exactly what White Heart Lane were praying for by steering the side out of the relegation zone with two games to go.
Draws to Brighton and Leeds were either side of victories over Wolves and Aston Villa that has them within touching distance of confirming their Premier League survival after a dismal season.
Thomas Frank was sacked in mid-February with just two wins in 17, but his former club have recorded as many wins in the whole of 2026 and have also hired and fired Croatian Igor Tudor before De Zerbi’s arrival.
The Italian has since steered the ship and Spurs appear almost certain of Premier League survival, especially thanks to West Ham’s fall of in form that came to ahead in a 3-1 defeat at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
Spurs’ massive injury crisis has been well-documented and consistent this season, as Xavi Simmons, Wilson Odobert, Dejan Kulusevski have all sustained anteriror cruciate ligaments over the past year while captain Romero will miss the remaining games and the World Cup with a knee injury he sustained at Sunderland.
Winger Mohammed Kudus is also out with a thigh injury that De Zerbi has confirmed will require surgery and Dominik Solanke will potentially be available on Sunday but will definitely miss this game at the Bridge.
There is a smidge of good news for Tottenham, however, as goalkeeper Gugliemo Vicario has recovered from his surgery and will be fit to make the squad.
Tuesday’s game represents a chance for Tottenham to finally rescue their season once and for all, but with no defeats at home to De Zerbi’s men for Chelsea since 2018 there may be an air of doubt despite the hosts’ poor recent form.
TKO president Mark Shapiro details why the UFC ultimately had no desire to promote Rousey vs. Carano
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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 16: Ronda Rousey forces Gina Carano into an armbar submission in their featherweight bout during the main card of Netflix's Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano at Intuit Dome on May 16, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images for Netflix) | Getty Images for Netflix
Dana White and Hunter Campbell had a good idea that Ronda Rousey was going to dispatch Gina Carano rather quickly and that ultimately played a part in deciding not to promote the fight, which eventually ended up under Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions with the event airing live on Netflix this past Saturday night.
In her first fight back in a decade, Rousey scored an early takedown and snatched her signature armbar submission to finish Carano in just 17 seconds. Of course, Rousey was a massive favorite heading into the fight and the result wasn’t totally unexpected, especially after the Olympic bronze medalist in judo became a superstar dismantling her opposition in similar fashion after arriving in the UFC.
In the leadup to the event, Rousey routinely bashed Campbell, who is the UFC’s chief business officer, and it turns out her anger might have stemmed from his opinion on the fight against Carano.
“We’re in the true MMA business in a meaningful, consistent basis,” TKO Group Holdings president and chief operating officer Mark Shapiro during the J.P. Morgan Global Technology, Media and Communications Conference on Monday. “When we looked at this potential matchup, keep in mind there’s a real art and skill to matchmaking. When you ask Hunter Campbell and Dana White what they think about that matchup prior to the fight happening, the answers we got back — and I mean Ari Emanuel and myself — was that fight will be over in 20 seconds. They were off by a few seconds.”
Shapiro argued that kind of mismatch and quick ending for a fight that wasn’t ultimately going to build towards anything else with Rousey openly stating she was only returning to face Carano and then retiring again just wasn’t made for the UFC.
“I don’t believe that a fight like that, just the way that it played out, is really good for MMA,” Shapiro said. “Especially because it’s Netflix, and they have such an incredible global audience and it’s a massive audience, a highly engaged audience that is going to sample — depending on what comes up on the front page with Netflix — for them to then go to that fight and think that’s what MMA is, I don’t believe is good for the sport longterm. We saw it that way and decided to pass on it.”
While Rousey maintained that she would never say a bad word about White or the UFC’s former owners, Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, a huge part of every interview and press conference leading up to the event was spent with her bashing TKO Group Holdings and how the UFC is running these days.
For his part, Shapiro said the company still has the utmost respect for Rousey and her long list of accomplishments but they just had no interest in promoting the Carano fight.
“Taking nothing away from the legend obviously that Ronda Rousey is and the win that she got,” Shapiro said. “I guarantee incredible viewership numbers that Netflix will soon report. But for us, it was more of a stunt than a meaningful MMA event.”
Of course, Shapiro understood why the event appealed to Netflix because the executives behind the largest streaming platform have repeatedly stated that the company is only interested in big marquee events when it comes to sports programming.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has stated that the streamer doesn’t want to invest in a full season package for any major professional sport but landing special events like the deal with the NFL to air games on Christmas make perfect sense.
That’s why Netflix was previously pursuing part of the UFC’s broadcast rights package but the network was only interested in the numbered events (pay-per-views) rather than the multitude of Fight Night cards that decorate the calendar.
“It was pitched to us beforehand and we did turn it down,” Shapiro said about Rousey vs. Carano. “That’s to take nothing away from Netflix. First of all, they’re a great partner and clearly they know what they’re doing. Across the board in every genre right now. You don’t get to 300 million or 350 million [subscribers] for nothing. Their content offering is unique and really distinct and really has something for everyone.
“They’re in the big event business. They’ve been very clear about that. They’re not looking necessarily to buy out leagues. That’s why they did the Major League Baseball opener. That’s why they’ll do the Homerun Derby. That’s why they just did a five game package with the NFL. They want big, spectacle events and they saw this as a big spectacle event.”
Arsenal has won 13 English league titles, third-most all time behind the 20 for both Liverpool and Manchester United, but it has been 22 years since the Gunners last raised the Premier League trophy. Now, the club is on the verge of ending that drought. Arsenal sits five points ahead of Manchester City, who have …
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Arsenal has won 13 English league titles, third-most all time behind the 20 for both Liverpool and Manchester United, but it has been 22 years since the Gunners last raised the Premier League trophy. Now, the club is on the verge of ending that drought.
Arsenal sits five points ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand, and both teams are playing their season finale on Sunday. Kalshi has Arsenal trading at 86% chance of winning a title, up from 47% a month ago. The club has also punched its ticket to the Champions League final on May 30 against Paris Saint-German; Arsenal has never won the European competition.
An Arsenal crown or two would continue a stunning sporting run for owner Stan Kroenke. And Arsenal isn’t the only Kroenke-owned team near a title right now; the Colorado Avalanche are one of the last four standing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Avalanche are the Cup favorites, according to FanDuel.
Kroenke has accumulated the most valuable portfolio of assets in team sports, worth $23 billion, according to Sportico’s most recent team valuations. In addition to Arsenal and the Avalanche, his Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) holdings include the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, the NBA’s Denver Nuggets, MLS’ Colorado Rapids and National Lacrosse League’s Colorado Mammoth.
The Rams ($10.43 billion) rank as the third most valuable sports team in the world behind the Dallas Cowboys ($12.8 billion) and the Golden State Warriors ($11.33 billion).
Kroenke, who will turn 79 in July, bought his first stake in a sports team in 1995—a minority interest in the Rams that helped Georgia Frontiere move the team from Los Angeles to St. Louis. In 2000, he added the Nuggets, Avalanche and their arena—Pepsi Center, since renamed Ball Arena—to his roster for $450 million. A decade later, Kroenke exercised his right to buy the 60% of the Rams he didn’t already own in a deal that valued the team at $750 million. He bought the Rapids in 2004, and shortly after started buying shares in Arsenal, becoming the sole owner in 2018.
Winning on the field is not new for Kroenke. During the first six months of 2022, the Rams, Avalanche and Mammoth all won their respective league championships. A year later, the Nuggets captured their first NBA title.
Since taking full ownership of Arsenal, Kroenke and his son Josh have looked to impart a common DNA across all teams in the KSE organization, sharing best practices on the sporting and business side. KSE’s training and analytics staff swap information liberally, and the U.S. team employees gather every summer for a summit (during that time, Arsenal is typically on an exhibition tour, with European soccer having almost no offseason).
Rams head coach Sean McVay and Arsenal manger Mikel Arteta have built a friendship during their KSE tenures; both took over their respective teams in their 30s and led franchise turnarounds. McVay joined Josh and Kevin Demoff, KSE president of team & media operations, at the Champions League semifinal second leg against Atlético Madrid at Emirates Stadium.
On the business side, Arsenal has played a pair of exhibition matches at the Rams’ SoFi Stadium home. Visit Rwanda’s eight-year Arsenal sleeve sponsorship will expire after this season, but the country’s tourism board tapped the Rams last year in a multiyear sponsorship. KSE is exploring more ways to expand the business connections across clubs.
Kroenke was a pioneer in the multi-team ownership model across leagues that has picked up in recent years, as David Blitzer, Josh Harris, Jimmy Haslam, John Henry, Rogers Communications and others have expanded their team assets.
The success of Arsenal’s 2025-26 season won’t mean the club sitting out the summer transfer window. “Between us, we are building something very special and, wherever this month of May takes us, there will be no standing still when the season ends,” Stan and Josh wrote in a Monday letter to fans, indicating potential moves.
The Kroenkes’ winning streak likely still has some legs. The Rams are the favorites at almost every sportsbook to win next year’s Super Bowl.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 07: Josh Jacobs #8 of the Green Bay Packers runs after a catch during the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on December 07, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Cards on the table: as annoying as the pre-release stuff is for the NFL schedule, I do like digging into some of the nitty gritty of the ins and outs of the schedule.
And there are real mechanisms that spring into action once the actual schedule is published. When you know when games are going to take place, all sorts of downstream industries like hotels and travel start to feel the effects.
So no, the NFL doesn’t need to drag it out as long as they do, but it does matter, and it matters well beyond the field itself.
Michigan Football is expected to take a step forward under new head coach Kyle Whittingham, but will the standings reflect that? Here’s how the Wolverines’ strength of schedule could impact their 2026 season:
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Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings (3) and Marvin Jones Jr. (97) bring down Michigan Wolverines running back Jordan Marshall (23) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Michigan Wolverines at Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. | BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The 2025 season was a painful one for Michigan football for a multitude of reasons. The team didn’t develop as much as anticipated, the hated Buckeyes escaped Ann Arbor with a win, and Sherrone Moore was dismissed with cause. An added pain to consider is the Wolverines’ 2025 schedule was pretty easy, and Michigan didn’t capitalize on it.
The same cannot be said of the 2026 schedule.
Last season, Michigan ended the season with the 24th-toughest strength of schedule in the nation, according to ESPN’s FPI. While that may sound impressive, it shouldn’t, as the Big Ten and SEC front-load the nationwide SOS rankings — 17 of the 18 Big Ten teams landed in the top-45, with 11 Big Ten teams taking up spots in the top-25. By all accounts, Michigan’s schedule was pretty lenient by avoiding Indiana and Oregon, while playing Ohio State at home. Yes, playing at Oklahoma was always going to be tough, but nine Big Ten teams had tougher paths than the Wolverines.
Things look vastly different in 2026. The program has renewed hope with a mostly brand new coaching staff. The staff was able to retain most of last year’s key players and appears set to take a step forward this fall.
However, the schedule is an entirely different animal. While you can only trust preseason projections as far as you can throw them, CBS Sports has the Wolverines with the fourth-toughest schedule among top-25 teams. College Football News has the Wolverines with the seventh-toughest schedule in the land.
The Wolverines have their first four games of the year at home. Key among those games is a Week 2 showdown with Oklahoma with a chance for revenge. In mid-October, the Wolverines host a newly revamped Penn State squad and the Indiana Hoosiers in back-to-back weeks. A month later, Michigan has to travel to Autzen Stadium to face an Oregon team with championship aspirations. Two weeks later, the season concludes at Ohio State.
There’s a very real chance the 2026 Michigan Wolverines are vastly improved from last year, but they could still end up with the same record or worse. It’s not far-fetched to envision Michigan losing three or four games despite being a much better team, on paper at least, than last year. Michigan will likely need to win at least two of its toughest games in order to stay in the College Football Playoff picture by season’s end. That is a tough hill to climb for a brand new coaching staff, but not impossible by any means.
Who’s getting on the train? Who’s staying on the platform?This carousel lists all the national teams that have unveiled their squad for the 2026 World Cup.At the start of this week, Portugal and B...
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🚨 Official: all the squads already named for the 2026 World Cup
Who’s getting on the train? Who’s staying on the platform?
This carousel lists all the national teams that have unveiled their squad for the 2026 World Cup.
At the start of this week, Portugal and Brazil officially announced their World Cup squads.
Applications are now open for football coaching courses at Glasgow Clyde College starting this August, in partnership with the Celtic FC Soccer Academy!If you’ve always dreamed of working in footbal...
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: Football coaching courses with Celtic FC Soccer Academy & Glasgow Clyde College
Applications are now open for football coaching courses at Glasgow Clyde College starting this August, in partnership with the Celtic FC Soccer Academy!
If you’ve always dreamed of working in football and are looking to develop your coaching skills, these courses are the perfect way to turn your dreams into a reality.
Two 18-week NQ Level 6 courses will help you brush up on your performance on the pitch and give you the essential coaching skills for a career in football. You’ll develop your technical abilities and your tactical game via weekly coaching sessions from the Celtic Soccer Academy, and earn a range of SFA Awards along the way. As this is a pathway course, it can also lead to further studies or even possible opportunities with Celtic Football Club, Celtic Soccer Academy or the Celtic Foundation.
For a more in-depth education, there’s a two-year full-time course to earn an HND in Football Coaching and Developing Sport. You’ll gain the knowledge and skills you need to pursue a career in sport and you’ll also get the chance to be involved in specialised football coaching sessions.
You’ll learn about support structures for players and athletes while developing the skills, expertise, and vocational qualifications essential for a future in the football industry. You’ll also be on the path for certification as a football coach, potentially paving the way for employment opportunities. There’s even a chance to hear from some top coaches, including the First Team Manager and coaching staff.
The Soccer Academy has been partnered with Glasgow Clyde College for the past 10 years and they work hard to provide students with first-class education and plenty of invaluable opportunities like observing sessions at Barrowfield and attending our International Coaches Convention.
Find out more about the courses through Glasgow Clyde College and submit your application now ahead of the start dates in August 2026.
SEATTLE, WA - MAY 18: Bryan Woo #22 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Monday, May 18, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Eric Hiller/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Good morning! Last night’s Mariners win had just about everything: a first inning Julio homer, a wacky obstruction call in the third inning, a dominant Bryan Woo outing, and an incredible moment for Colt Emerson’s first major league hit in the form of a three-run home run.
Bryce Miller will hope to build on the momentum from the 6-1 win as he takes the mound tonight at 6:40 PM against Chicago White Sox LHP Anthony Kay.
Jackson went down with a non-contact injury during a game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 17. The Sky announced May 19 that Jackson's MRI revealed a torn ACL, and she would miss the remainder of the 2026 season.
"We're devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery," Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a statement. "Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season. We are certain she was primed for a career year.
"Our world-class medical staff will work hard with Rickea, who is one of the toughest players in the league, to get her back on the court."
This will be the second straight season that a former Lady Vol has missed the season due to a torn ACL. Former Lady Vols star Jordan Horston tore her ACL ahead of the 2025 season and just made her return to the court May 8.
Rickea Jackson underwent an MRI that revealed a left torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an injury she sustained in the May 17 game against Minnesota. Jackson will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and undergo surgery to repair the injury.
Jackson was averaging 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, two assists and 1.8 blocks in 29 minutes per game. She was the only player in the league to rank top 10 in scoring and blocks before her injury.
The game before she tore her ACL, Jackson had 29 points on 10-for-22 shooting with six rebounds and three blocks against the Phoenix Mercury. She also shot 40% on 10 attempts from 3-point range.
Jackson was traded to the Sky in free agency after playing the first two seasons of her career. The Sparks traded her for Ariel Atkins in a straight-up player swap.
Jackson was a key player for the Sparks the last two seasons, and she earned WNBA All-Rookie honors in 2024. In her two seasons in Los Angeles, Jackson averaged 14 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and shot 43.9% from the field and 34.7% on four attempts from 3-point range per game. She started in 72 of her 78 games and averaged 29.8 minutes.
Jackson started her college career at Mississippi State as a five-star McDonald's All-American out of Detroit. She transferred to Tennessee and played for the Lady Vols for two seasons, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
Jackson left Tennessee ranked sixth all-time in career scoring, her 2,261 career points only trailing Cindy Brogdon, Chamique Holdsclaw, Jill Rankin, Bridgette Gordon and Patricia Roberts.
She scored 1,176 points in 60 games with the Lady Vols, and that alone ranks 34th in the program's all-time scoring list. Jackson led Tennessee in scoring both of her seasons and averaged 20.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists as a senior.
How will teams balance depth and talent in the NIL era? Player compensation provides athletes a real choice to delaying their entry into the NFL. Surprisingly there isn’t a lot of multi-year information available, but references were all similar to those in this chart. It still generally holds true that a player not projected to […]
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 01: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Johnnie Dixon (1) hauls in the pass for a big gain during the Big Ten Conference Championship game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 01, 2018 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis IN. (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
How will teams balance depth and talent in the NIL era?
Player compensation provides athletes a real choice to delaying their entry into the NFL. Surprisingly there isn’t a lot of multi-year information available, but references were all similar to those in this chart.
It still generally holds true that a player not projected to go in the 1st 3 rounds should finish their eligibility before entering the draft.
Nil provides an incentive for players projected to be drafted in the 1st 2 rounds to try to improve their draft stock. With NFL draft contracts set for 4 years, a player can make up a loss by delaying entry just by moving up in the draft approx. 1/3 a round.
Program shared revenue has helped balance the player compensation amounts among P4 teams. Most programs are allocating approx. $15 million of the allowed shared revenue to football. For example, in 2024 OSU is reported to have compensated their roster to the tune of about $25 million from NIL. If another program raised $10 million NIL, it is only 40% of OSU’s expenditures.
In 2025 OSU is reported to have compensated players $40 million, about $25 million from NIL plus $15 million from shared revenue. If another program followed suit, they would have their $10 million from NIL plus $15 million from shared revenue for a total of $25 million, closing the gap from 40% to over 60% of what OSU spent, an amount that can be made up on depth and a few players.
Recruiting is still key. Programs usually pay less to retain players than try to attract talent through the portal. Before the modern age I would claim you could take assemble a roster from the best talent in the MAC and challenge for the B1G title. The portal made it easier to bring in transfers, NIL and shared revenue provides a strong incentive.
We see a lot of overlooked HS talent blossom in college, I suspect the result of talented athletes without the resources to attend development camps, playing for schools whose system or overall lack of roster talent doesn’t allow them to stand out, generally poor position coaching at the HS level, and getting little attention at schools not heavily scouted (there’s over 14,000 high school football programs, some players are certain to get overlooked). This seems particularly true for the OL and DL positions.
Enter the Age of NCAAF Moneyball. Over time programs will develop roster strategies to remain competitive; the unpredictability of relying primarily on a favorable conference schedule will become less common.
Programs can adjust how they play, this was key to baseball’s moneyball approach. For example, there are bargains to be had at RB, interior linemen on both offense and defense, and LB. Lower budget teams might find success focusing on these positions, becoming run first, using 2 TE sets and throwing more to the TE, switching to a 3-4 defense using LBs to get a pass rush, rely on a smaller faster DL, etc. (essentially think of what the academies do to remain competitive). In hindsight, Wisconsin shifting away from a run dominated offense was the opposite of what they should have done to keep pace.
Programs could try to make runs every other year or every 3rd year (let the 2010s NW be your goal). Unlike shared revenue, NIL money can be accumulated. Programs could try to be average across their roster, then dig into their NIL reserves to boost spending when they discover they recruited some hidden gems and just need to bring in a few top players.
Relying on the portal for OL and DT could become the norm. These positions typically take longer to develop and success is harder to predict than other positions, so it can be better financially to snipe after they’ve developed for 2 or 3 years on someone else’s dime.
Expect all programs to pay little for depth. Programs are now incentivized to be quicker to cut highly compensated juniors, seniors, and injured players who aren’t expected to start to break their NIL contracts – they will no longer be maintained on the roster for depth and special teams.
Thanks to ProveIt for a great series, and my apologies for not being a more faithful steward of these articles — I’m grateful for the off-season content and hope you’ve all enjoyed it. We’ll have the horseshoe sandwiches coming out just as soon as I’m done with Finals grading. Be well in the meantime. —MNW
The Green Bay Packers are signing rookie cornerback Marlon Jones, an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt.
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The Green Bay Packers are signing rookie cornerback Marlon Jones, an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt, per Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.
Jones (6-0, 190) was Dane Brugler's No. 215 ranked cornerback in the 2026 draft class. An Eastern Washington transfer, Jones missed the 2024 season while undergoing cancer treatment but returned to the field in 2025, playing 122 snaps for Vanderbilt.
More on Jones beating stage 3 cancer can be found here, at The Athletic.
According to Brugler, Jones ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds (1.53 10-yard split), hit 39" in the vertical leap, covered 10-6 in the broad jump, finished the short shuttle in 4.44 seconds and the 3-cone drill in 7.09 seconds and completed 16 reps on the bench press during the pre-draft process. His Relative Athletic Score is 8.26 out of 10.0, with elite measurements in the leaps and an elite 10-yard split.
Per PFF, Jones allowed nine touchdown passes but also intercepted nine passes over four seasons at Eastern Washington. In 2023, his final year at the school, he earned an 84.3 coverage grade and allowed a passer rating into his coverage of only 49.2. Jones got experience playing inside in the slot and outside at perimeter corner at Eastern Washington.
In Green Bay, Jones will join a cornerback room featuring free agent signing Benjamin St-Juste, second-round pick Brandon Cisse, sixth-round pick Domani Jackson and waiver wire addition MJ Devonshire.
The Packers have an open roster spot and do not need to make a corresponding roster move.
The Boston Bruins had a chance to have the sixth or seventh overall pick as well as their own first-round pick, but after the Toronto Maple Leafs won the draft lottery, Boston will only have the 23rd overall pick.
Although not getting a top-10 pick is disappointing, the Bruins still can add a solid prospect at 23rd overall to be a future impact player for Boston. Ahead of the NHL Draft, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman released their latest mock draft and had Boston selecting right winger Elton Hermansson out of MoDo.
“The Bruins had success drafting a talented winger out of HockeyAllsvenskan in the late first round once before,” Wheeler wrote in an article published on Tuesday. “We won’t set those kinds of expectations for the highly skilled Hermansson, but the Bruins are willing to try to go two-for-two. His 21 points in 38 games isn’t far off from the 24 points in 36 games that a certain someone produced in 2013-14, either!”
Hermansson played his first season in the top Swedish league and as an 18-year-old rookie, recorded 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 38 games. And, as Wheeler noted, his point total in the top Swedish league as an 18-year-old isn’t far off from what David Pastrnak did, which should give Boston fans some excitement.
The 6-foot-1 right winger would add some more offense to the Bruins top-six, but would likely be a year or two away from reaching the NHL.
The 2026 NHL Draft is set for June 26-27 in Buffalo.
In a behind-the-scenes video by the Ravens, the Lions appeared to back out of trading a fourth-round pick and 2027 third-rounder to move up in Round 1
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Brad Holmes “strongly” considered moving up in the NFL draft before selecting Blake Miller with the 17th overall pick, and one of the deals the Detroit Lions general manager had in place but chose not to execute was with the Baltimore Ravens.
In their behind-the-scenes draft video released Monday, May 18, the Ravens are shown exploring two trade-downs with the Lions, including one in the first round.
Around the 24-minute mark of the video, during the string of picks that came off the board in front of them – Caleb Downs to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 11, Kadyn Proctor to the Miami Dolphins at No. 12 and Ty Simpson to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13 – general manager Eric DeCosta tells his draft room, “We have a trade offer.”
DeCosta never mentions the Lions by name, but Ravens vice president of football administration Nick Matteo explains the deal: The Ravens’ pick at No. 14, for Picks No. 17 and 118 – the Lions’ first- and fourth-round choices – and a third-round pick in the 2027 draft.
Moments later, after the Rams made Simpson the surprise pick of the first round, Matteo phones an unnamed Lions executive and asks, “Would you do your original offer, 14 for 17, 118 and next year’s three?”
With a couple minutes left on the clock, the Lions appeared to think better of the trade.
“You’re out?” Matteo repeats into the phone. “All right, thanks.”
The Ravens took Penn State guard Vega Ioane with the 14th pick, and after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers followed with defensive end Reuben Bain Jr. and the New York Jets took tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the Lions took Miller at No. 17 to be their right tackle of the future.
Holmes said after the draft he talked to teams about moving “way up” but decided to stay put after the Rams’ selection.
“We definitely explored strongly about trading up and just kind of seeing how it started to fall,” Holmes said. “Probably about ... right after L.A. took the quarterback, I felt pretty good that we might be able to just get Blake. Because the other thing is that there’s just a little scare of, OK, I felt like from the outside looking in we had this big tackle target on our back, so if a team behind us was in the tackle market, then they might want to jump us, as well. So we definitely explored that. But right about 14, I felt pretty good that we’d be able to keep our assets and still get Blake.”
Miller was the fourth offensive tackle and fifth offensive lineman taken, and two other tackles went in the next four picks.
Holmes did pull off a second-round trade, sending the Lions’ second fourth-round pick, No. 128 overall, to the New York Jets to move up six spots and take Michigan defensive end Derrick Moore at No. 44.
In the New York Giants’ behind-the-scenes draft video, general manager Joe Schoen rebuffed the Lions’ offer of both fourth-round picks and a fifth-round choice to move down from No. 37 to No. 50.
Matteo also shared a text with a second-round offer from the Lions: The Ravens’ pick at No. 45 for the Lions’ Picks No. 50 and 128 “if their guy is there.”
When the Lions made the same deal with the Jets, DeCosta worried they were moving up for Missouri defensive end Zion Young – whom Baltimore took with its pick at 45.
Holmes said after the draft Moore was the Lions’ top available edge rusher entering Day 2 and the last player left in the cluster of players they had atop the board at the start of the round.
Asked if he felt the need to trade up in front of the Ravens because he worried they would take Moore, Holmes said, “I don’t know if they wanted him or not, but kind of got a sense that they were in the edge rusher market, though.”
2026 IIHF World ChampionshipHockeyNorwayGeneralItalyIIHFIIHF world championship
Italy and Norway meet on Tuesday in Group B play of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Tune in to NHL Network to see what happens in this matchup. How to Watch Italy vs Norway Italy’s hopes of advancing to the…
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Italy and Norway meet on Tuesday in Group B play of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. Tune in to NHL Network to see what happens in this matchup.
Feb 20, 2018; Gangneung, South Korea; Norway defenseman Alexander Bonsaksen (47) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game-winning goal in overtime against Slovenia in a qualification match for the quarterfinals during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Gangneung Hockey Centre. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Italy’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage look thin at the moment, as the team sits seventh out of the eight teams in the group with two losses in two games. At this point, the bigger question for Italy is if the team can avoid dropping to Division I A for next year, which would mean the team wouldn’t qualify for the 2027 IIHF World Championship. At the moment, the team has a -9 goal differential, two better than Denmark, though the Danes have played one extra game.
Norway, meanwhile, is currently in a position to advance to the quarterfinals. The team sits in fourth in the group standings with three points and currently holds the tiebreaker over Sweden by one goal in goal differential.
The IIHF World Championship continues through May 31, with U.S. television coverage on NHL Network. Last year, the United States won the title for the third time, with Switzerland finishing second, Sweden third, and Denmark fourth.
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It's been a tough old season for the Killie faithful but our excellent form in the closing weeks gives us all great hope for the next campaign. The manager will now be working hard at strengthening the squad and the fans let it be known they would like to see Findlay Curtis here for another year.
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[BBC]
It's been a tough old season for the Killie faithful but our excellent form in the closing weeks gives us all great hope for the next campaign.
Our final fixture at Livingston may have been meaningless but 1700 fans travelled to show their appreciation for the management and players with their excellent run since the turn of the year.
The manager will now be working hard at strengthening the squad and the fans let it be known they would like to see Findlay Curtis here for another year.
The young winger - who is World Cup bound with Scotland this summer - has been superb and although Rangers will probably want him back I can't help but think his development would be best served at the Theatre of Pies where he would play every week.
I have a good feeling that Max Stryjek will sign a new deal and if we can add some quality in defence and midfield we may just be next year's surprise package.
Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine
The Astros dynasty did not end with one swing. It ended with an injury report that makes the truth impossible to ignore. One of the most dominant dynasties of the past 25 years in MLB might have had its last…
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The Astros dynasty did not end with one swing. It ended with an injury report that makes the truth impossible to ignore. One of the most dominant dynasties of the past 25 years in MLB might have had its last domino fall. Jose Altuve is going on the injured list with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, confirmed after an MRI, and Houston manager Joe Espada did not offer a timeline for his return. Altuve got hurt on an eighth-inning swing, grimaced after contact, did not run out a grounder, and had to leave before the ninth.
The Injuries Keep Getting WorseSep 7, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Jose Altuve (27) walks to the on-deck circle during MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
One injury doesn’t signal the end. But Houston is not just missing one star. The Astros are already without Carlos Correa, who had season-ending ankle surgery, and Jeremy Peña, who has been out since April 11 with a hamstring injury (though he could return soon). And that is just the beginning of a long injury list that includes names like Hunter Brown, Josh Hader, Yainer Diaz, and Jake Meyers. At 19-29, this is not a slump – it’s erosion.
Altuve’s numbers this season were not vintage anyway – .245, four homers, 12 RBIs in 42 games. But stopping there underestimates the real impact – he is the remaining connective tissue from the championship core. He is the player whose standard follows him around the clubhouse. Sets the tone.
Now the younger guys get the opportunities not because they’ve earned it, but because Houston has no choice. Espada said the young players will continue getting chances, which is basically saying “rebuild incoming.”
This Feels Like the End of an EraSep 24, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) throws the ball to first to record an out against the Athletics in a MLB game in the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
That is why this feels like the official end. Dynasties do not usually just collapse in one clean moment (ahem, Chicago Bulls). They get older, thinner, more expensive, more injured, and less inevitable. The snowball that becomes the avalanche.
With the Altuve injury, everybody should stop pretending. The Astros are not just hurt – they look finished.
The forward leads the Sky in scoring after averaging 18 points per game.
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Chicago Sky star Rickea Jackson suffered a torn ACL in her left knee and will miss the remainder of the season, the team announced on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old leader scorer for the Sky suffered the injury during the first half of Sunday's win over the Minnesota Lynx. Jackson went down after planting her left leg following a drive to the backet. After being tended to for a few minutes on the court, she was taken back to the dressing room to be further evaluated.
"We're devastated that Rickea suffered this injury, but we are confident she will make a full recovery" said Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca in a statement. "Rickea was playing at an All-Star and All-Defensive level early in the season. We are certain she was primed for a career year. "Our world-class medical staff will work hard with Rickea, who is one of the toughest players in the league, to get her back on the court."
Rickea Jackson underwent an MRI that revealed a left torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), an injury she sustained in the May 17 game against Minnesota. Jackson will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season and undergo surgery to repair the injury.
Alexander Rossi underwent a pair of surgeries following a scary crash ahead of the Indianapolis 500
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Despite a scary crash during Monday’s practice session for the 110th Indianapolis 500, and subsequent surgeries, Alexander Rossi is expected to drive in the race later this weekend.
During Monday’s practice session at the Indianapolis 500, Rossi lost the rear end midway through Turn 2, sliding into the wall at substantial speed. Rossi then endured a second impact from Pato O’Ward, who was behind him on the track and despite his best efforts, could not avoid a collision.
You can see the incident here:
A big incident in Indy 500 Practice as Alexander Rossi hits the wall. Pato O'Ward also involved. pic.twitter.com/gqK1ceUfVS
Grosjean spoke after the accident, calling the incident “not ideal” but expressing gratitude that everyone was “okay:”
Earlier from the care center, Romain Grosjean on the crash where he spun when trying to avoid Alexander Rossi and Pato O’Ward. @IndyCarOnFOXpic.twitter.com/u64hW5NkMW
Like Grosjean, Rossi was taken to the care center, and was then taken for a pair of outpatient procedures on Monday night to repair what Ed Carpenter Racing described as “minor injuries to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle.” According to the statement from the team, he will be monitored “with the full intent of participating in final practice on Friday, May 22 and the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24.”
[UPDATE] ECR driver Alexander Rossi underwent successful outpatient procedures this evening to repair minor injuries to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle. He sustained the injuries earlier today during an on-track incident while practicing for the Indianapolis 500.… pic.twitter.com/icuOJXfKvd
Your source for all Chargers and NFL news from around the web.
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FOXBOROUGH, MA - JANUARY 11: Benjamin St-Juste #24 of the Los Angeles Chargers greets Ladd McConkey #15 of the Los Angeles Chargers in warm up before an AFC Wildcard game between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Chargers on January 11, 2025, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Liverpool Squad Reaction to Mohamed Salah Post Speaks VolumesMohamed Salah’s social media statement may have dominated headlines across Liverpool, but during the latest Media Matters podcast on Anfi...
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David Lynch: Liverpool squad’s reaction to Mo Salah’s post ‘completely undermines’ Arne SlotLiverpool Squad Reaction to Mohamed Salah Post Speaks Volumes
Mohamed Salah’s social media statement may have dominated headlines across Liverpool, but during the latest Media Matters podcast on Anfield Index, the discussion quickly shifted towards something David Lynch considered even more significant, the reaction from the Liverpool squad itself.
Speaking alongside Dave Davis, David Lynch argued that the response from Liverpool players online revealed a dressing room increasingly unconvinced by the direction under Arne Slot.
Salah’s original statement criticised Liverpool’s performances this season and called for the club to return to an identity built around aggressive attacking football and trophy success. Lynch admitted the message carried clear criticism of Slot.
“Without question it’s another dig at Slot,” he said.
Yet for Lynch, the bigger issue was not the statement itself. It was the number of Liverpool players publicly engaging with it on social media.
Mohamed Salah Post Resonates Inside Liverpool Squad
Dave Davis pointed out that several senior Liverpool players appeared to support Salah’s comments online, saying: “The players will be against him. Well, funnily enough, as he put the statement out, he was enjoying dinner somewhere, wasn’t he, with pals who are liking his statement and don’t seem too dismayed.”
Lynch believed that reaction was hugely revealing.
“So many players liked that when there is a criticism of Slot there,” he said. “That to me completely undermines his authority.”
The point carried weight because the discussion throughout the podcast repeatedly questioned whether Liverpool’s squad still fully believe in Slot’s methods. Liverpool’s performances this season have been described by Lynch as “a complete mess”, with the team lacking structure, cohesion and tactical clarity.
Against that backdrop, the public support for Salah’s comments felt impossible to dismiss.
Arne Slot Facing Dressing Room Doubts
Lynch argued the reaction to Salah’s statement now extends beyond supporter frustration or media criticism.
“It’s not just the fans,” he explained. “It’s also the players who have to produce the performances on the pitch are now convinced that he’s not the right man to do this job.”
That comment perhaps represented the strongest warning sign of the entire discussion. Managers can often survive difficult periods when dressing room support remains intact, but Lynch suggested Liverpool may now be moving into more dangerous territory.
He also warned that the situation leaves Liverpool’s owners in a difficult position.
“FSG can be as determined as they want to stick with Slot,” Lynch said, before stressing that the growing disconnect inside the squad could become impossible to ignore.
Photo: IMAGO
Liverpool Dressing Room Concerns Continue to Grow
Interestingly, Lynch did not entirely agree with Salah making the statement publicly. He admitted he would “rather it hadn’t been said” and questioned whether the timing helped Liverpool ahead of a crucial fixture against Brentford.
Even so, he understood why the message resonated so strongly within the squad.
“They’re obviously talking about this stuff and they’re obviously agreeing and they feel similarly,” Lynch said when discussing Salah and his teammates.
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Stamford senior McKenna Hoyt made Class D First Team All-State in the girls basketball post-season awards given out by the New York Sportswriters Association, which were announced Monday, May 18. Hoyt, who led her team to Delaware League and Section IV titles, as well as the Class D Final Four, will play college basketball at Division I Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia. According to ...
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Stamford senior McKenna Hoyt made Class D First Team All-State in the girls basketball post-season awards given out by the New York Sportswriters Association, which were announced Monday, May 18.
Hoyt, who led her team to Delaware League and Section IV titles, as well as the Class D Final Four, will play college basketball at Division I Longwood University in Farmville, Virginia.
According to league and section records, Hoyt is the leading scorer in girls basketball history for the Delaware League. She is third all-time in Section IV girls basketball scoring, finishing with 2,372 points. She is also third all-time in girls basketball in the state in rebounding, with 1,526 rebounds. Hoyt averaged 27 points per game this season.
Hoyt was The Daily Star’s Player of the Year for girls basketball in 2025-2026.
Stamford/Jefferson went 22-3, losing in the state semifinals to eventual Class D champion Notre Dame from Batavia.
Two local players were named Second Team All-Stars, Delaware Academy freshman Danielle Ennist in Class C and Richfield Springs senior Issy Seamon in Class D. Delaware Academy also won a section title and made the Final Four this season, losing in the state semifinals to eventual champion Frewsburg. Seamon led the Eagles to a section title in soccer last fall and was the Star's Co-Player of the Year in 2025. She scored her 1,000th varsity point in basketball early this year. The Eagles lost to Hoyt’s S/J team in the section semifinals.
Ennist’s teammate, junior point guard Tyler Abts, made Fourth Team in Class C.
The highest honored Class B players locally were Nayla Miley from Sidney and Grace Walley from Walton, who were both Fifth Team All-Stars.
Also making Fifth Team All-Stars were Cooperstown eighth grader Emma Johnson in Class C, and Laurens senior Kyrah Andrades and Cherry Valley-Springfield sophomore Mackenzie McGovern in Class D.
In Class D, S/J’s Tierney Turner and Zarie Barbic from Sharon Springs were Eighth Team All-Stars and Edmeston junior Brenna Bolton was Ninth Team.
In Class C, Cooperstown freshman Lanie Nelen was named to the 10th Team.
Honorable mention in Class B were: Bella Conroy and Chloe van der Sommen from Sidney.
Honorable mention in Class C were: Lexi Davis and Rebecca Verspoor from Delaware Academy, Marissa Mayo and Jayslin Henderson from Bainbridge-Guilford, and Raelynn Parks and Harly Birdsall from Unatego.
Honorable mention in Class D were: Brinlee Wright from Charlotte Valley, Rylee Rupakus from Afton, Lily Constable from Hunter-Tannersville, Bella Garlick from Milford and Gabby Seamon from Richfield Springs.
When the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins as a free agent, they added a veteran quarterback with experience playing for head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko from their time in Minnesota.
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When the Raiders signed Kirk Cousins as a free agent, they added a veteran quarterback with experience playing for head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko from their time in Minnesota.
Fernando Mendoza does not share that background. The first overall pick has been getting to know the offense over the course of the offseason and Janocko said that the fresh eyes have been beneficial to all involved. Janocko called Mendoza "a sponge" who "wants to know the whys of everything, the story behind everything" that the team is doing.
"He's asking questions that you might not have thought about in a couple of years," Janocko said, via the team's website. "It also makes you evaluate everything. 'I know we've had some success doing it one way, but we could do it another way and be even better.'"
It remains to be seen if Cousins or Mendoza is on the field against the Dolphins in Week 1, but Mendoza is the long-term answer for the franchise and anything he does now to create a fit for himself in the offense will pay dividends for the Raiders whenever he's under center.
Victor Wembanyama entered the Western Conference Finals with individual context following him, after finishing third in the NBA MVP race behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. The Spurs centre had already won Defensive Player of the Year unanimously, but the MVP result placed him behind two more established offensive stars.
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Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Victor Wembanyama entered the Western Conference Finals with individual context following him, after finishing third in the NBA MVP race behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
The Spurs centre had already won Defensive Player of the Year unanimously, but the MVP result placed him behind two more established offensive stars.
His answer came on the floor first. Wembanyama produced 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks as San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 122-115 in double overtime.
Victor Wembanyama gives clear answer on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s second MVP awardPhoto by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images
After Game 1, Wembanyama was asked about how he felt about Gilgeous-Alexander winning MVP before the series opened in Oklahoma City.
“Feels like I still got a lot to learn, and I want to get that trophy many times in my career,” the Frenchman said.
The answer was brief, but it fitted the night. Wembanyama did not dismiss Gilgeous-Alexander’s award, yet he made clear that MVP is now part of his own long-term target.
That matters because the matchup put the league’s present and future together. The Canadian guard had the trophy, while Wembanyama had the decisive Game 1 performance.
The wider numbers strengthened that point. The talented center became the youngest player to record a 40-point, 20-rebound playoff game, moving the conversation beyond regular-season voting.
For San Antonio, the win gave them an important 1-0 series lead as they started the series away.
On the other hand, for Wembanyama, it was a sign of what could be expected from him in future MVP races.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have the 22nd overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft after reaching the playoffs this past season.
Pittsburgh surprised many by making the playoffs, but the Penguins were eliminated by the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. Although Pittsburgh made the playoffs, general manager Kyle Dubas believes the team still has a long way to go to be a Stanley Cup contender.
With that, adding talent in the draft is key, and The Athletic’s Corey Pronman has the Penguins selecting Russian center Ilia Morozov out of Miami Ohio in the NCAA.
“The Penguins get a versatile two-way center with size in Morozov, who had a productive 17-year-old season in the NCHC while also displaying a detailed, physical game off the puck,” Pronman wrote in an article published on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-3 Russian centerman played 36 games at Miami (OH) and recorded eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 36 games. Before that, he played in the USHL and had 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 59 games.
Morozov likely is a couple of years away from turning pro, but the versatile Russian would add some more depth to the middle of the ice, and can be a solid second or third-line center in the NHL if he continues to develop.
The 2026 NHL Draft is set for June 26-27 in Buffalo.
IndyCar drivers are simply wired differently. Case in point: Alexander Rossi. During Monday’s practice session for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, the former race winner suffered a severe on-track incident. The crash into the IMS retaining wall was…
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IndyCar drivers are simply wired differently. Case in point: Alexander Rossi.
During Monday’s practice session for the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500, the former race winner suffered a severe on-track incident. The crash into the IMS retaining wall was violent enough that the Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) driver required immediate medical intervention.
According to an official statement released by ECR INDY, Rossi underwent “successful outpatient procedures this evening” to treat his injuries. The team confirmed the surgical procedures were required to repair “minor injuries to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle”.
No Backup Plans, Just a Backup Car for Rossi
In most other professional sports, undergoing surgery to repair your hand and foot would completely sideline you for weeks. In the NTT IndyCar Series, it just means you have a tighter schedule for Carb Day.
Because the team confirmed that Rossi is currently in “good spirits and has no additional injuries”. Even more incredibly, ECR explicitly stated that Rossi is progressing with the “full intent of participating in final practice on Friday, May 22, and the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24”. As of now, Rossi’s aggressive recovery timeline is currently being overseen by INDYCAR Medical Director Dr. Julia Vaizer and the series’ medical team.
Ed Carpenter Racing driver Alexander Rossi’s (20) car is towed to the garage following a crash Monday, May 18, 2026, during practice for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
However, while the driver is recovering, his mechanics are facing their own brutal, sleep-deprived endurance test in the Gasoline Alley garages. The practice crash heavily damaged his primary machine. ECR noted that the “No. 20 Java House Chevrolet crew will prepare a backup car and return to the track for final practice on Friday”.
Wrestling a downforce-heavy IndyCar around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 230 mph is arguably the most physically punishing task in motorsport. Attempting to do it in a hastily prepared backup car, just days after surgeons repaired your shifting hand and throttle foot, proves that Rossi possesses a terrifying level of grit.
Bobcats' top seed Jacob Vincent suffers leg cramps to hamper his bid for state tournament
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DOVER – High temperatures during the Division II district tennis tournament proved difficult for Cambridge's Jacob Vincent that ultimately cost him a chance to advance to the state tournament.
Vincent who entered the district tournament as the top seed, a distinction he earned last week by winning the sectional and the district seeding matches against the same competition. But Vincent battled with bad case of leg cramps during the action at Dover City Park
On Monday, Vincent won his first match beating Claymont's Cooper Newton 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 to move into the championship match. Vincent would face off against Zanesville's third seed Subh Patel who upset his teammate Conner Baldwin in the first round.
Vincent came out strong winning the first set 6-2 but started developing severe leg cramps. The second set went to Patel 3-6, with Vincent stopping again with leg cramps. The third and final set ended up 3-6 in Patel's favor.
"Jacob had a great season ending up 15 and 2 in singles play,” Cambridge head coach Tim Gibson said. “I know this was not the way that Jacob wanted to end the season. We didn't play in any heat all season long and today it became a stumbling block.”
Also in action in doubles play, the Bobcats team of Silas Hutchison and Quentin Stora faced a tough round one match-up versus the top-seeded St. Clairsville team of Mavrik Malin and Caiden Straub and dropped a 6-0, 6-1 decision to end their day.
“They played much better than the scoreboard showed,” Gibson said. “The good news is both Silas and Quentin will return next season.”
The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, and the ticket market has already made the point before tip-off. This is not being priced like a normal playoff opener.
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Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images
The New York Knicks host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, and the ticket market has already made the point before tip-off.
This is not being priced like a normal playoff opener.
That number matters because it says what the city already feels. Knicks against Cavaliers is a serious Eastern Conference Finals matchup, but at Madison Square Garden it is something bigger.
It is a Brunson night. It is a Mitchell night. It is a chance for New York to turn belief into something real.
Knicks-Cavs ticket prices prove MSG understands the momentPhoto by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
The Knicks and Cavaliers are scheduled to open the series with Game 1 at Madison Square Garden, before Game 2 also takes place in New York.
The Knicks also hold home-court advantage, with Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 scheduled for MSG if the series goes the distance.
That setting is driving a huge price. The get-in cost alone has climbed past $500, which is already enough to show how much demand surrounds this matchup.
The stronger number is even more telling. A separate ticket-market report said Game 1 had an average purchase price of $1,078, a figure that puts the opener in rare territory.
That is the real story. Fans are not just paying for a seat. They are paying for the feeling that this Knicks team has reached a moment worth seeing in person.
There is always a New York premium. MSG always carries weight. But this is different because the basketball case matches the market noise.
Jalen Brunson against Donovan Mitchell gives New York the right star matchup
The price would feel hollow without the players to justify it. Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell give this series the star power it needs.
Brunson has been the face of the Knicks’ rise, and his playoff production entering the series backs up the demand around him.
He is not just a popular New York guard. He is carrying himself like a postseason centrepiece.
Mitchell brings the other side of the argument. His scoring threat gives Cleveland the type of lead guard who can walk into MSG and make the building nervous.
That is exactly why this series has bite. New York has the home crowd and the belief. Cleveland has the star capable of turning that noise into pressure.
Mitchell already acknowledged the challenge, saying the Cavaliers had to be “locked in and ready to go” because the Knicks are a tough team.
That is the right tone for this series. No gimmicks are needed. The matchup sells itself.
This feels bigger because the Knicks are close enough to make it believable
The Knicks enter this series with a real basketball advantage, not just a louder arena.
They had nine days of rest after completing their sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers, while Cleveland had to finish a seven-game series against Detroit.
That gap matters in May. Legs matter. Recovery matters. So does having time to prepare for a matchup this large.
New York also expects OG Anunoby to be available after his hamstring issue, with his Game 1 status offering another boost before the opener.
That does not guarantee anything. It does explain why Knicks fans are treating this as more than a celebration of getting this far.
The bigger historical shadow is still there. New York has not reached the NBA Finals since 1999, and that drought gives every home game in this series extra weight.
That is why the ticket prices do not feel random. They feel like a market reading the room correctly.
MSG is expensive because New York believes this team has earned a night like this. The Cavaliers can still spoil it, and Mitchell is dangerous enough to do exactly that.
But before Game 1 even starts, the price of admission has already said something clear. This is not just another Eastern Conference Finals opener. In New York, it already feels bigger than that.
The Boston Celtics season is over, but Jaylen Brown and Stephen A. Smith are giving fans plenty to pay attention to.
The tw have been exchanging words through the media. It started when Smith called out Brown's comments about officiating in the playoffs and his saying that last season was his favorite. It escalated to Smith saying the Celtics should trade Brown and saying that Brown needs to "be quiet." Brown recently called out Smith, saying he is using his platform as a journalist to spread clickbait.
"Did he just say I needed to be quiet? Be quiet for who?" Brown said Sunday night. "Man, (expletive) Stephen A. Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. My offer still stands. You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well, I want you to be quiet and get off these networks because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism. You’re using your platform to use clickbait. Tell this (expletive) to retire because he’s the face of clickbait media at the point and maybe with his retirement we can spark a movement to get the rest of these (expletive) out of here — or to also have some type of … forget journalistic integrity, actual integrity in order to hold themselves accountable to the (expletive) takes they put out."
Smith responded on "First Take" by warning Brown that Smith could start reporting on how Brown is perceived in Boston, but he may not like what he hears.
"Jaylen Brown, be careful what you wish for," Smith said on Monday. "You really want me to start reporting on that level? You understand? Locker room, how the organization might think about you, how the city may feel about you, how Jayson Tatum may or may not feel about you, sneaker deals, endorsement deals, the list goes on and on. The season is over bro. You're on Twitch trying to do what I do and talking about me needing to step away. It makes no sense."
Well, now Dave Portnoy, owner of Barstool Sports and an avid Boston Sports fan, has come to defend Brown on social media. He responded to Smith insinuating that the city of Boston may not love Brown like he thinks they do.
"JB won a title," Portnoy commented on a clip of Smith's comments on X. "City loves him."
It's safe to assume Brown will respond to Smith again soon. Smith is essentially claiming that Brown is not as loved by the city, organization and team as much as he thinks.
J.T. Ginn was three outs away from a no-hitter against the Angels. Then everything changed
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MAY 18: J.T. Ginn #35 of the Athletics reacts after an out at first base during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 18, 2026 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) | Getty Images
On Monday night, Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn was cruising. He reached the bottom of the ninth against the Los Angeles Angels without allowing a hit, and had ten strikeouts to his credit as he took the bump to close out the contest.
Six pitches later he had lost the no-hitter, and the game.
Ginn was masterful through the first eight innings, allowing just two batters to reach base, one via a walk and another via a hit-by-pitch. He was also perfect through the first 4.1 innings of the game, the Angels failed to even put a runner on base. As the ninth inning began the Athletics held a slim 1-0 lead, but with Ginn on just 99 pitches and yet to allow a hit, he took the mound hoping to close out his third win of the season, and a no-hitter.
But the tide turned, and rather quickly.
Infielder Adam Frazier, the number nine hitter in the Angels’ lineup, led off the inning and laced an 0-2 pitch low and away over the shortstop’s head for a single, breaking up Ginn’s bid for a no-hitter:
Ginn fell behind in the count 2-0, and Neto drilled a 93-mph sinker low in the zone to deep center field, giving the Angels a 2-1 win.
Had he completed the no-hitter, Ginn would have thrown the first no-no since Shota Imanaga combined with Chicago Cubs relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge for a 12-0 win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 2024.
Instead, he fell to 2-2 on the season with a loss.
If Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was any indication, Victor Wembanyama is out for blood against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He has plenty of reasons for extra motivation; not only is a trip to his first NBA Finals on the line, but the Spurs and Thunder also built a rivalry in the regular season that saw Wembanyama's side win four different games, some of the few OKC losses all year.
When Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was named the NBA's back-to-back MVP on Sunday, it gave Wembanyama yet another reason to take the matchup personally — and he showed out by dominated Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.
Here's a look at the Game 1 numbers from Wembanyama and Gilgeous-Alexander, and what the Spurs star had to say about his MVP snub.
Victor Wembanyama vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Game 1 stats
The final numbers for Gilgeous-Alexander were much more on-par with his stardom, masking an extremely slow start. But it's also no understatement to say that Game 1 on Monday night may have been one of his worst performances of the 2025-26 season.
Coming off the heels of his MVP announcement, Gilgeous-Alexander went for 24 points, but on 7-of-23 shooting (30.4%) from the floor. He did add 12 assists and five steals with five turnovers, but his plus-minus sat at -15, the worst on the Thunder.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander missed more shots in Q4/OT tonight than he did the previous two months COMBINED pic.twitter.com/7tyXQRl2iV
Wembanyama, meanwhile, put forth perhaps the most dominant performance of his career to date, considering the circumstances: in his first playoff run, he guided his team to a Game 1 win on the road of the Western Conference Finals by commanding both ends of the floor.
Not only did Wembanyama play a new career-high 49 minutes, but he was outstanding in all 49. He finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and three turnovers while shooting 14-of-25 (56.0%) from the floor, with his plus-minus of +16 being the Spurs' best.
Between his total figures, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to post 40 points and 20 rebounds in a playoff game, and his collection of clutch plays, including a stunning 3-pointer from near the logo to tie it at 108 in overtime, Wembanyama looked like the best basketball player in the world on Monday night.
Victor Wembanyama 41 PTS, 24 REBS (9 Off), 1 STL, 3 BLKS, 12/13 FT, 67% TS on 14/25 FG
Wembanyama's performance came just one day after Gilgeous-Alexander officially finished first on MVP ballots, receiving 83 first-place votes, while he finished in third with five first-place votes.
Postgame, Wembanyama was asked if "any part of tonight" felt personal due to the MVP results.
"Yeah, for sure. Everything you just said," Wembanyama said, agreeing with the notion that he took the matchup personally.
It's not every day you see a cutman step in and stop a fight, but that's what "Stitch" Duran did to help save Nate Diaz from further damage.
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It's not every day a cutman intervenes in a major fight and advises the referee to call off the bout.
Jacob "Stitch" Duran understands the weight of such a decision. Nate Diaz trusts him so much so that Duran's presence at Saturday's event was solely to work the corners Team Diaz. Even as uncomfortable as it was, he prioritized his fighter's health and safety when he called off Diaz's bout vs. Mike Perry.
Diaz (21-14) was split open in multiple spots. The cut on the right side of his forehead was squirting blood. Duran gave it his best effort to stop the bleeding, but he's a cutman, not a magician.
"He ended up with 15 staples, 20 stitches all together," Duran said in an interview Monday with MMA Junkie Radio. "He was beat up. He was too strong for him. I always look at it as a judge, and at that point, he was getting his ass whooped. Mike was just too strong, too aggressive and he was working him. Then, Nate broke his finger right about here. He said, 'I couldn't do nothing.' The cuts were so big here, it kept pulsating. It kept going and then his nose kept bleeding. It was the sign of maybe a broken nose. I told Nate, 'I'm going to have the doctor stop the fight, man.' I said, 'It's too much blood and you keep bleeding.' The referee said, 'Come on, let's go.' I said, 'No, no, no. He's not going out.'"
The crowd at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. didn't love Duran's decision, and they let him know with boos. Duran saw the detractors commenting on social media, as well.
Two days later, he's as confident as ever he made the correct call. And what better reassurance than words of appreciation from Diaz himself.
"Nate thanked me," Duran said. "He said, 'Thanks.' I said, 'Of course.' I was there to take care of him. That was a proper move. The thing about it is he said he couldn't see. That's always No. 1. It wasn't a hard decision to make. ... He had blood everywhere. So it wasn't that hard of a decision to make. My job is to protect the fighter. That's exactly what I did with Nate. At the end, when we were saying goodbye, he gives me a hug, 'I love you.' His dad was there. He thanked me. So of course I did the right thing. No question about it."
While fans want to see action and the co-main event of Netflix's Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano bout ending in anticlimactic stoppage between Round 2 and Round 3 put an end to that potential, Duran said he's received compliments from other industry experts – including a boxing legend.
"You know what's cool?" Duran said. "I got a message from Marco Antonio Barrera from Guadalajara. He thanked me. He said great job. I got a lot of compliments from guys within the industry. They understand. My only job is to give that guy one more round and if he can't go one more round, to take care of him. So I'm glad I was there for Nate."
Golden State WarriorsNBA on PrimePrime VideoYsportshubDraymond Greenshams charaniaShai Gilgeous-AlexanderESPNNBANewsadam silverAmazonInside the NBA
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania faced plenty of criticism for reporting the 2026 NBA MVP award several hours ahead of Prime Video’s official announcement on Sunday. “Multiple sources tell me this morning that Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been voted as the NBA’s most valuable player,” Charania said on a Sunday edition of…
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Credit: The Draymond Green Show; ESPN
ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania faced plenty of criticism for reporting the 2026 NBA MVP award several hours ahead of Prime Video’s official announcement on Sunday.
“Multiple sources tell me this morning that Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been voted as the NBA’s most valuable player,” Charania said on a Sunday edition of SportsCenter after initially breaking the news in a post on X. “This means he’s won back-to-back MVP awards.”
During the pregame show ahead of Game 7 of the second-round series between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons, the NBA on Prime crew called out Charania for the early announcement before they officially delivered the news.
Well, more criticism of the early report from Charania arrived on Monday, from four-time NBA champion Draymond Green.
Along with being a forward for the Golden State Warriors, Green has been an analyst on Inside the NBA over the years, including earlier this month. He will also serve as an Inside the NBA guest analyst during the Eastern Conference Finals. And Inside the NBA is now, of course, on ESPN, the same network on which Charania serves as the prominent lead NBA insider.
Green, who has certainly never been afraid to speak his mind, called the Charania reporting the NBA MVP before Prime Video’s official announcement “embarrassing” for the NBA, and he said that the NBA “has to do something about that.” He also referred to the early report as “pathetic.”
Draymond Green on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP announcement blunder:
“I think the NBA has to do something about that. You’re the NBA. You control the media… To tweet at 6 o’clock in the morning who the NBA MVP is, it’s actually embarrassing. Like, it makes our league look like… pic.twitter.com/fhx2v1JOIi
“Listen, I think the NBA has to do something about that,” Green said on his podcast. “Ultimately, you’re the NBA. You control the media. Shams is an NBA reporter with ESPN, who’s a partner of the NBA. To tweet at six o’clock in the morning who the NBA MVP is, it’s actually embarrassing. It makes our league look like we have no organization. It makes our league look like… That’s child’s play. We can’t hold the winner of the most prestigious individual award in the NBA; we can’t hold those results until it’s actually time to be announced?”
“That was a little disappointing,” Green continued. “There’s no way that can happen. If there’s supposed to be an announcement on Amazon Prime, the announcement has to happen on Amazon Prime. This is something Commissioner Silver has to do something about. This can’t happen. Come on. You leak it on Twitter? It also can’t be that important to leak information. Come on. I thought that was pretty pathetic, if I’m being honest. The NBA has to do something. That can’t be the case. The MVP gets leaked at six o’clock in the morning.”
“I actually thought it was fake, because I saw somebody else tweet it,” Green explained. “I had to start searching… and then go on Instagram, and, like, oh, no, it’s true…. Come on. Something has to be done. That cannot happen. The leak of the NBA MVP.”
“What are we doing?” Green added. “It would be one thing if it’s not a prominent reporter in the NBA. But, like, it’s Shams. Shams has to be in partnership with the NBA to be as prominent as he is. That can’t happen. I thought that was embarrassing.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder were widely viewed as the team capable of slowing down Victor Wembanyama’s postseason dominance. Instead, the San Antonio Spurs star handed them their first playoff defeat of the season after Oklahoma City had swept both the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers to open the playoffs.
Wembanyama’s momentum had briefly stalled when he was ejected in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, he avoided suspension and has been on a strong run ever since, triggering a conspiracy-style comment from former NFL player Breiden Fehoko.
“What did Gregg Popovich tell Wemby at the airport cause since that ejection this mf been playing unearthly,” Fehoko tweeted.
For context, after Wembanyama’s ejection, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made a notable gesture by meeting the young star directly on the tarmac when the team plane returned to San Antonio.
As for Wembanyama’s historic performance on Monday, he dropped 41 points and ripped down 24 rebounds across 49 minutes of play. He forced overtime with a clutch three-pointer and scored 9 of the team’s final 14 points in the closing stretch to seal the win.
When asked if Wembanyama considers himself the best player in the world, he had a response.
“Do I feel like it right now? I feel tired,” Wembanyama said. “But it’s not a question I’m wondering right now. We’ll see. The world is 8 billion people, so it’s 8 billion opinions.”
As Nick Wright noted, on May 24, 1995, Hakeem Olajuwon watched David Robinson win the MVP he believed he deserved and responded with a 41-point, 16-rebound performance in a win. Nearly three decades later, to the same approximate date, Wembanyama saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander win the MVP he had been campaigning for and answered with the 41-point performance.
The Boston Red Sox sit in last place in the American League East which means chief baseball officer Craig Breslow could be working the phones to upgrade the club's roster.
It's getting late early for the Boston Red Sox, thanks to their 20-27 record which has them in last place in the American League East, 11.5 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays.
But if Boston is going to make a playoff push, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow needs to find ways to improve the club down the stretch.
Yes, we are still a long way off from the MLB trade deadline. But here are a couple of names to keep in mind: Robbie Ray and Freddy Peralta.
Wait. Why would the Red Sox target starting pitching, you ask. After all, Sonny Gray, Connelly Early, Payton Tolle and Ranger Suarez all look locked in right now. If Garrett Crochet can return from the injured list and recapture the form which made him a Cy Young contender last season, there's no reason to doubt the Red Sox starting rotation.
But if there's one thing Breslow knows all too well is that you can never have enough starting pitching. At some point, someone will struggle or someone will get hurt. Should neither of those things happen, a sixth arm would allow interim manager Chad Tracy to give his starters some breathing room by building in extra days off.
The 34-year-old Ray is in his third season with the San Francisco Giants. Currently he's 3-5 with a 3.04 ERA in nine starts. And he's no stranger to the AL East, having won the 2021 American League Cy Young Award while pitching for the Toronto Blue Jays. The two-time All-Star will be a free agent after the season, meaning it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to add the expiring contract before the trade deadline.
Then there's Peralta, who like Ray will be a free agent this winter. The New York Mets traded for the righty in January when the club had World Series aspirations. But if the Mets can't climb out of last place in the National League East, Peralta could be on the trade market.
The 29-year-old is 3-3 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts this season. Also a two-time All-Star, Peralta finished fifth in voting last year for the National League Cy Young Award.
On Monday night, the Giants held their annual Town Hall event.
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On Monday night, the Giants held their annual Town Hall event. For the first time arguably since the days of Bill Parcells, the team has a good head coach who is also a clear and direct (and at times blunt) communicator.
Art Stapleton of USA Today has posted a snippet from the event that will be music to the ears of Giants fans.
Here's the question to John Harbaugh, from one of the folks in the crowd: "We turn on the TV on Sundays, and then we face the Eagles and the Cowboys, and a lot of the time they just kick our butts. How confident are you, Coach, that going into this season we'll go into those Dallas games, those Eagles games, and those Commanders games, and we'll take them down?"
"I could care less about what's happened last year, the year before that, or ten years before that," Harbaugh said. "Honestly, I don't give a crap about any of it. Not one bit. All I care about is tomorrow's practice. Because if tomorrow's practice is the way it's supposed to be, that'll be one more step in the direction of being a good enough football team to kick the Cowboys' ass."
And with that, the room exploded in cheers.
"That's our job," Harbaugh added. "That's our job to be good enough to do that. We gotta make ourselves good enough to do that. That's our responsibility."
And the countdown to Week 1 continues. With the Cowboys coming to town to face the Giants in Harbaugh's first game of his first year in New York.
While the proof will be in the proverbial pudding, Harbaugh has the fans more excited than they've been in a long time.
The 46-year-old Italian is reportedly in advanced talks to take over from Guardiola, whose 10 years at City are set to come to an end following Sunday’s final game of the campaign against Aston Villa.
Here, the Press Association looks at whether former Chelsea boss Maresca is the right fit for City and what are the challenges heading his way.
What is Maresca’s background?
After a playing career as a midfielder that began at West Brom and stopped off in Italy, Spain and Greece, Maresca spent 18 months as one of Manuel Pellegrini’s assistant managers at West Ham until December 2019.
He was appointed manager of Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad in August 2020, winning the Premier League 2 title before a short-lived spell in charge of Italian Serie B club Parma.
So he knows the City way then?
Yes. Maresca returned as Guardiola’s assistant for the 2022-23 season.
It would prove to be a historic campaign as City won the treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.
But Maresca did not hang around in Manchester and became manager of Championship club Leicester in June 2023.
Maresca has previously worked under Guardiola (PA Wire)Does he have a good record as manager?
Maresca led Leicester City to the Championship title in 2024, overcoming a mid-season wobble to hold off Ipswich by one point.
A month later, he was on his way to Chelsea after signing a five-year deal as head coach with an option to extend for a further year.
Chelsea’s fast start under Maresca saw them labelled title contenders, but a young Blues side eventually fell away to finish fourth.
Silverware came in the Conference League and last summer’s expanded FIFA Club World Cup, with the future looking bright at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca won the Conference League with Chelsea (PA Wire)What went wrong at Chelsea?
Maresca’s 18 months in charge came to an end on New Year’s Day 2026 with the club fifth in the Premier League table – 15 points adrift of leaders Arsenal – and after one win in seven top-flight games.
Speculation about Maresca’s future had intensified amid reports he endured a strained relationship with key club figures.
It was reported that Maresca had informed Chelsea he had been in contact on multiple occasions with City about taking over from Guardiola, despite having three-and-a-half years of his contract to run.
Maresca left Chelsea at the start of the year (PA Wire)What does City in-tray look like?
Guardiola is leaving a squad expected to challenge for major honours next season.
Heavy investment over the last two windows has seen Antoine Semenyo, Marc Guehi, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Ryan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders all signed.
Nottingham Forest’s England midfielder Elliot Anderson is one potential target with club greats Bernardo Silva and John Stones leaving and rumours linking midfield lynchpin Rodri to Real Madrid.
But Maresca’s biggest task could simply be following Guardiola – a man who won 20 trophies in 10 years at City.
Victor Wembanyama is a living, breathing cheat code. The kind of player you build in a lab and on whom anyone can project their wildest basketball fantasies.
Wembanyama isn't just a fascination at 7'5'' -- he's blossoming before our eyes into becoming one of his generation's defining players.
In Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Monday night, Wembanyama delivered a historic performance: 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks in 49 minutes. He did it all as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, 122-115, in double overtime.
Victor Wembanyama in Game 1 win vs. Thunder:
41 PTS 24 REB 3 AST 3 BLK 14-25 FG 12-13 FT 49 MIN
Joins Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Moses Malone as the only players in NBA history with 40+ PTS and 20+ REB in a conference finals game. pic.twitter.com/cCfIcypev1
A player whose length and height have changed opponents' entire offensive strategies being the same player who can drill a logo 3-pointer in overtime is easily one of the most unique talents in the history of basketball.
And all that's left to decide is how much the Spurs are going to pay him next year.
By the time Wembanyama signs a contract extension -- which Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus says should be worth "all the money" -- he may already be an NBA champion, in addition to the Defensive Player of the Year trophy he secured last month.
If he plays 65 games next season, Wembanyama will be eligible to sign a contract extension worth $306 million over five years. Even that feels like an underpay, given the value that Wemby offers the Spurs franchise at just 22 years old. He's already the Thunder's biggest nightmare, and figures to be so for years to come as the two teams jostle for prominence -- and titles -- in the West.
Amie Wells, the Tennessee Titans' director of broadcast and content strategy, has departed the organization.
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Now that the Tennessee Titans have locked up Ramon Foster to be their next gameday color analyst for Titans Radio, the broadcast team took another hit and will have to again find someone to help round out their coverage.
Titans’ reporter Paul Kuharsky took to social media to announce that Amie Wells, Tennessee’s director of broadcast & content strategy and home game sideline report, has decided to move on from the organization.
Amie Wells, #Titans director of broadcast & content strategy, has left the team.
She joined the franchise in 2013 in the online department, quickly moved to communications and joined the broadcast team in 2020.
Wells originally joined the Titans’ online department in 2013, after two public relations internships with the Baltimore Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts, and quickly found her footing by moving into communications, eventually joining the broadcast team in 2020. The University of Missouri graduate continued to grow throughout her 13-year career, eventually moving into the director of broadcast & content strategy role.
There has been no official announcement from the organization about her departure or what is next for the sideline reporter position. Stay tuned to Titans Wire for all of the updates as the Titans continue to make changes throughout this offseason.
Where bodies like Mikael Mandron and Killian Phillips needed some respite, they got it. Miguel Freckleton and Mark O'Hara steered the ship for a half before presumably being bundled into the proverbial cotton wool. Marcus Fraser got an hour back in the tank, Liam Donnelly wasn't risked; so far, so sensible.
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[BBC]
Sunday's team selection found Craig McLeish between a rock (please, just win something before the play-off and create some momentum, score at least once) and a hard place (please, don't get injured, don't get suspended).
In the end, McLeish listened to his better (play the weans!) angels and took a pragmatic approach to a game against opponents firmly locked into seventh place and their first airport pints.
Where senior players needed minutes, they got them. Where bodies like Mikael Mandron and Killian Phillips needed some respite, they got it. Miguel Freckleton and Mark O'Hara steered the ship for a half before presumably being bundled into the proverbial cotton wool. Marcus Fraser got an hour back in the tank, Liam Donnelly wasn't risked; so far, so sensible.
What, then, did we learn from this most deceased of elastic, waterproof polymers (thank you Wikipedia)?
We learned that Luke Douglas, recognised by Scotland regularly at age group level and touted as the natural successor in Paisley to Evan Mooney's "get him on the pitch, he's better than them surely" crowd moniker, might well be the real deal.
Highly familiar to the Saints interim gaffer from his journey through multiple age rungs of the academy, Douglas had made cameo appearances in recent weeks as squad depth demanded. However, Sunday offered the 16-year-old the opportunity to start a senior fixture for the first time - and, boy, did he make the most of it.
The teen was denied a dream arrival on the top-flight stage by only the offside flag, a half yard of daylight and a half second's delay on Freckleton's through ball.
Despite this, the youngster showed the kind of movement, grit and bullishness in front of goal the frustratingly profligate Saints have missed for most of the league season.
Reconciling the cup side that crashed in nine goals at Hampden this season with the league side that sit bottom of the goals scored standings by a full 10 is a brain-scratching task.
Douglas was not alone in grabbing his opportunity and sparking some intrigue amongst the PA3 crowd. In a squad depleted of left-sided strength in the absence of Declan John (injury, definitely) and Conor McMenamin (injury, probably), Thomas Falconer starred in his second-half runout.
His strike off the base of the post came so close to writing the following day's headlines, not to mention his impressive running to cover his flank at both ends of the pitch.
Caiden McMillan, in making his senior debut, made it four teenage appearance makers on the day when he joined loanee Jacob Devaney on the pitch to see out the final stages. Although his cameo was altogether briefer, he had sufficient time to drive forward as the Saints chased a winner and looked far from out of place in his surroundings.
A point, in the end, did little for the Saints' final points tally or in making a statement of intent before Thursday's away leg in Maryhill.
However, the green shoots of young reinforcements bolstering a squad that has looked tired since lifting the League Cup in December gave rise to a little bit of cautious optimism to a following crowd much in need of it.
The demand, now, is simple. Get it done over the next week and ensure the 150th chapter in Saints' history is written in the top flight.
Multiple weather services are calling for at least some chance of rain for Sunday, May 24.
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The Big Race is drawing near and Indy 500 fans face some tough questions: What's on the menu at Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Where is the best parking? And, of course: Will I need to bring an umbrella?
IndyStar is helping race fans prepare their outfits and accessories for the spectacle by publishing daily updates as race day draws near.
IndyStar's historic weather analysis (provided below) shows that it's rained only once on May 24 since 2006 and the average temperature for the past 20 years has been in the upper 60s. That said, multiple current forecasts call for some precipitation this year on Sunday, May 24.
What will weather be like for the Indy 500?
The National Weather Service predicts a 30% chance of rain for the Indy 500 with possible thunderstorms in the mix. Skies will be mostly cloudy with temperatures peaking around 81 degrees.
AccuWeather forecasters are also calling for a 30% chance of rain on Race Day with variable clouds and a thunderstorm possible. Meteorologists there wrote, "rain can delay or cancel the race," on the service's website. High temperatures will be near 75 degrees.
An hour-by-hour forecast from Weather Underground shows a 60% chance of rain with precipitation beginning at 12 a.m. and lasting throughout the entire day except for a short window of dry conditions at 8 p.m. Temperatures will top out around 75 degrees.
What is the weather forecast for Memorial Day if there's a delay?
The National Weather Service is predicting a 40% chance of rain for Memorial Day with mostly cloudy skies and a high around 83 degrees.
Weather Underground shows a 41% chance of rain for Monday, May 25, with temperatures reaching 75 degrees.
What will weather be like for Legends Day?
This year's Indy 500 Legends Day takes place Saturday, May 23, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The National Weather Service forecast shows rain and thunderstorms mid-morning with precipitation lasting through the afternoon. Thunderstorms could pick up again into the evening. Temperatures will reach highs near 78 degrees.
The National Weather Service forecast says showers are likely Friday with a chance of thunderstorms beginning after 2 p.m. Chances of rain are 90% and temperatures will be in the low 70s.
Indy 500 weather history
IndyStar analyzed 20 years of historic data from Weather Underground for May 24, this year's Race Day.
Daily temperatures averaged in the high 60s and it has rained only one day out of the last 20 since 2006. Precipitation totals on rainy days were light, with the highest on record at only one-tenth of an inch.
The most rain fell on May 30, 2004, when Race Day was inundated with nearly 4 inches of precipitation. The race eventually ran but was cut short due to a tornado in the area.
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk
IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
Multiple weather services are calling for at least some chance of rain for Sunday, May 24.
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The Big Race is drawing near and Indy 500 fans face some tough questions: What's on the menu at Indianapolis Motor Speedway? Where is the best parking? And, of course: Will I need to bring an umbrella?
IndyStar is helping race fans prepare their outfits and accessories for the spectacle by publishing daily updates as race day draws near.
IndyStar's historic weather analysis (provided below) shows that it's rained only once on May 24 since 2006 and the average temperature for the past 20 years has been in the upper 60s. That said, multiple current forecasts call for some precipitation this year on Sunday, May 24.
What will weather be like for the Indy 500?
The National Weather Service predicts a 30% chance of rain for the Indy 500 with possible thunderstorms in the mix. Skies will be mostly cloudy with temperatures peaking around 81 degrees.
AccuWeather forecasters are also calling for a 30% chance of rain on Race Day with variable clouds and a thunderstorm possible. Meteorologists there wrote, "rain can delay or cancel the race," on the service's website. High temperatures will be near 75 degrees.
An hour-by-hour forecast from Weather Underground shows a 60% chance of rain with precipitation beginning at 12 a.m. and lasting throughout the entire day except for a short window of dry conditions at 8 p.m. Temperatures will top out around 75 degrees.
What is the weather forecast for Memorial Day if there's a delay?
The National Weather Service is predicting a 40% chance of rain for Memorial Day with mostly cloudy skies and a high around 83 degrees.
Weather Underground shows a 41% chance of rain for Monday, May 25, with temperatures reaching 75 degrees.
What will weather be like for Legends Day?
This year's Indy 500 Legends Day takes place Saturday, May 23, at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
The National Weather Service forecast shows rain and thunderstorms mid-morning with precipitation lasting through the afternoon. Thunderstorms could pick up again into the evening. Temperatures will reach highs near 78 degrees.
The National Weather Service forecast says showers are likely Friday with a chance of thunderstorms beginning after 2 p.m. Chances of rain are 90% and temperatures will be in the low 70s.
Indy 500 weather history
IndyStar analyzed 20 years of historic data from Weather Underground for May 24, this year's Race Day.
Daily temperatures averaged in the high 60s and it has rained only one day out of the last 20 since 2006. Precipitation totals on rainy days were light, with the highest on record at only one-tenth of an inch.
The most rain fell on May 30, 2004, when Race Day was inundated with nearly 4 inches of precipitation. The race eventually ran but was cut short due to a tornado in the area.
Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk
IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.
The WNBA knew it had an officiating problem last season. What the league may not have expected is how quickly its attempt to fix that problem would create a brand-new debate across the sport.
After years of complaints about missed calls, escalating physicality and inconsistent whistles, the league responded by forming an offseason officiating task force that included some of the biggest coaching and front-office voices in the game. Now, only days into the 2026 season, the results are impossible to ignore. Fouls are up. Free throws are soaring. Coaches are frustrated. Players are openly confused. And games are suddenly taking much longer to finish.
What started as an effort to restore control may now be testing the balance between physical basketball and over-officiated basketball.
The Fever-Sun chaos became the breaking point
The league’s renewed officiating emphasis traces directly back to one game.
Indiana’s June 17 win over Connecticut last season became the example league officials repeatedly referenced when explaining why changes were necessary. That game spiraled physically and emotionally throughout the night before boiling over late when Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham wrapped up Connecticut Sun guard Jacy Sheldon under the basket, leading to multiple ejections.
Caitlin Clark was poked in the eye. Marina Mabrey delivered a hard body check that league officials later believed should have resulted in an ejection. Hair pulls reportedly went uncalled. The physicality escalated possession by possession because, in the league’s view, officials failed to establish control early enough.
That game became the symbol of everything the WNBA wanted to eliminate entering 2026.
The numbers already show how dramatic the adjustment has been.
Through the opening stretch of the season, foul calls and free throw attempts have jumped significantly compared to last year. Coaches involved in the offseason discussions admitted they expected tighter whistles, but the early reaction around the league suggests many believe things may have swung too far in the opposite direction.
Stephanie White acknowledged that the league essentially asked officials to “call everything” after years of complaints about missed contact. Cheryl Reeve quickly pushed back after Minnesota played in a whistle-heavy opener featuring 52 free throws. Breanna Stewart called the lack of flow “insane” after one Liberty game stretched nearly three hours.
Even rookie Azzi Fudd admitted she was unsure how physical defenders are even allowed to be anymore.
That may be the biggest challenge facing the WNBA now. The league wanted to eliminate unchecked physicality, especially after several nationally discussed incidents involving Caitlin Clark and the Fever last season. But basketball rhythm matters too, and right now many players sound like they are still trying to figure out where the line actually exists.
The WNBA is treating officiating like a league-wide priority
What makes this different from previous seasons is the structure behind it. The league created a dedicated officiating task force separate from the normal competition committee. Prominent coaches and executives across the WNBA are involved, including White, Reeve and Becky Hammon. Officials are being graded constantly through an internal review platform, and performance can directly impact assignments and promotions throughout the season.
The WNBA is also openly discussing additional accountability measures, including a potential Last Two Minute Report system similar to the NBA’s. That level of transparency matters because officiating criticism around the league has been building for years. Coaches have routinely blasted inconsistency. Players have questioned standards from crew to crew. Last postseason only intensified the scrutiny.
Now the WNBA is trying to prove it is taking those concerns seriously.
The next step is consistency, not just more whistles
The biggest question now is whether the league can find a middle ground before frustration grows louder. Nobody around the WNBA seems to disagree that last season featured too many dangerous or missed situations. The Fever-Sun matchup became too chaotic for the league to simply ignore. But players and coaches also do not want every possession turning into a parade to the free throw line.
That is why the next few weeks could be critical. The WNBA appears committed to enforcing freedom-of-movement rules more aggressively than ever before. The challenge is making sure tighter officiating improves the game instead of disrupting it.
Right now, the league may still be searching for that balance.
Fresh off scoring the decisive goal in Manchester City’s FA Cup Final victory over Chelsea, Antoine Semenyo is turning attentions back to the Premier League.Semenyo jokingly labeled himself “the p...
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“I was the problem!” – Antoine Semenyo looks ahead to ‘being kicked’ during Bournemouth reunion
Fresh off scoring the decisive goal in Manchester City’s FA Cup Final victory over Chelsea, Antoine Semenyo is turning attentions back to the Premier League.
Semenyo jokingly labeled himself “the problem” at Bournemouth, pointing out the Cherries’ spectacular unbeaten run since his January departure to the Etihad Stadium.
The Ghanaian forward is set to return to the Vitality Stadium this week for a crucial clash with significant implications for both the title race and Europe.
Semenyo revealed his former teammates have been teasing him daily, promising they are going to “kick” him when they meet on the pitch.
Antoine Semenyo has taken a light-hearted approach to his reunion with Bournemouth this week, jokingly suggesting that he was “the problem” at his now-former club amid their surge in exceptional end-of-season form.
The 26-year-old forward is currently riding the highest wave of his career to date after writing his name into Manchester City history on Saturday afternoon by expertly steering home an Erling Haaland cross to secure a 1-0 FA Cup Final victory over Chelsea.
Victory at Wembley Stadium handed Manchester City and Pep Guardiola their 20th trophy of the Catalan’s tenure at the club, whilst simultaneously wrapping up a domestic cup double this season.
However, the relentless nature of the 2025/26 campaign leaves little time for celebration with City immediately pivoting back to Premier League action for a midweek trip to the South Coast.
Semenyo will be returning to face an incredibly in-form Bournemouth side that has completely transformed under Andoni Iraola since the turn of the year, hurtling towards qualification for one of UEFA’s European competitions next season.
Semenyo: “They’ve been giving me a lot of cr*p!”
Speaking to reporters off the back of his FA Cup Final success against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, Antoine Semenyo has looked ahead to returning to the Vitality Stadium for the first time since leaving the club in January.
“I was the problem,” Semenyo joked, with Bournemouth currently unbeaten in the Premier League since the Ghanaian’s exit from the South Coast side during the January transfer window.
“I am happy they are doing so well and hopefully they get into Europe too,” he continued. “It’s going to be tough. They’ve got something to fight for so they’re going to make it tough for us. It won’t be weird going back.”
Semenyo added, “It’ll be good to see everyone again. I still speak to them every day, to be honest, they’ve been giving me a lot of cr*p, just like they’re going to kick me and this and that but it’ll be good to see them all.
“And obviously, it’s going to be a tough game. So I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we win.”
A significant moment in the 2025/26 season
While the banter between Antoine Semenyo and his former teammates remains light-hearted off the pitch, the stakes could not be higher when referee Anthony Taylor gets the action going on Tuesday night.
Manchester City continue to find themselves in a cutthroat, final-week sprint against Arsenal for the Premier League crown, meaning anything less than three points on the South Coast could prove fatal to their title defence depending on the Gunners’ result against Burnley.
Bournemouth’s staggering post-January form has put them firmly in the hunt for a historic European qualification spot, and Iraola’s men will have no intention of rolling out the red carpet for their former talisman this week.
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