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Arman Tsarukyan says Khamzat Chimaev's rough weight cut for UFC 328 had him questioning himself.

Chimaev (15-1 MMA, 9-1 UFC) lost his middleweight title to Sean Strickland (31-7 MMA, 18-7 UFC) by split decision last Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

Chimaev visibly slowed down in Round 2, when he pulled guard after a failed takedown. There was controversy surrounding his weigh-in after his weight was read rather quickly by officials, but Tsarukyan assures Chimaev made weight – but definitely struggled.

"He had to cut 13 pounds," Tsarukyan said of Chimaev on the JAXXON Podcast. "Last day, he had to cut 12 or 13 pounds. First nine pounds was easy, and then he felt bad during the night, and then he woke up and said to us, 'I feel so weak and, like, no energy. I don't know how I'm going to cut this last four pounds.' But we just pushed him so hard. He didn't want to do that. He didn't want to finish the cut, but the team, me and the coaches, we tried to push him to make the weight, and he made weight."

Immediately after the fight, Chimaev told UFC CEO Dana White that he wants to move up to light heavyweight, something he was gearing up for before drawing Strickland. However, the former champion is now "obsessed" with running things back with Strickland.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Chimaev had 'no energy' cutting weight for UFC 328, says teammate

Xabi Alonso’s impending arrival at Chelsea already carries the feel of a structural reset rather than a simple managerial change. According to Caught Offside, the Spaniard will begin work on July 1, 2026, after agreeing a four-year contract and he has already identified three major transfer targets.

Chelsea have invested heavily in young talent, yet balance, leadership and reliability have too often been missing. As the report states, “Chelsea’s ownership has spent heavily on emerging talent in recent years, but the team has often looked short of leadership, experience and consistency.”

That line captures the central issue. Chelsea do not lack ability. They lack certainty.

The most eye-catching claim surrounds Victor Osimhen. Caught Offside report that “Alonso wants an elite no.9 at the club and their top target is striker Victor Osimhen.”

That would be a serious statement. Chelsea have used several attacking profiles in recent seasons, yet none have fully solved the No.9 problem. Osimhen would bring aggression, movement, physicality and penalty-box authority.

Photo IMAGO

The original article rightly notes that he would offer “chaos, aggression, penalty-box movement and guaranteed fear factor.” For a side that has often looked polished until the final action, that edge could be transformative.

Goalkeeper is another key area. Robert Sanchez has produced good moments, yet inconsistency has remained an issue. Caught Offside suggest Mike Maignan is being considered, describing him as “30, experienced, calm with the ball and used to playing for a huge club at AC Milan.”

Photo IMAGO

That profile makes sense for Alonso. His teams need composure in the first phase of build-up, but also authority when matches become chaotic. Maignan would not be a development punt. He would be a senior signing designed to raise standards immediately.

At centre-back, Ousmane Diomande is named as a target. His athleticism and comfort in possession would suit a manager who values control, spacing and clean progression through the thirds.

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That should be pinned to the wall at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s recruitment has often looked ambitious, but not always coherent. Alonso’s challenge will be to make signings that fit a system, not merely a spreadsheet.

Osimhen, Maignan and Diomande would give Chelsea a stronger spine. More importantly, they would suggest a move towards clarity, experience and tactical purpose.

From a Chelsea perspective, this is exactly the sort of report that gets the blood pumping. Alonso walking into Stamford Bridge with a clear idea, a proper spine in mind and elite targets already being discussed feels like the first real sign of direction in years.

Osimhen would be the dream. Chelsea have had flair, pace and promise, but they have lacked that snarling, ruthless striker who makes defenders panic before a ball is even played. If he arrives, Stamford Bridge changes overnight. Suddenly, all that creative talent has a focal point.

Maignan also feels like a grown-up signing. Chelsea need fewer experiments and more players who have lived under pressure. A calm, commanding goalkeeper behind this defence could change the entire mood of the team.

Diomande would be exciting too, especially if Alonso wants Chelsea to dominate possession properly. He looks like the type of defender who could grow into a major figure.

The key is discipline. Chelsea cannot treat this like another shopping spree. But if Alonso gets Osimhen, Maignan and a ball-playing centre-back, supporters will believe again. Not cautiously, either. Properly.

Victor Wembanyama may have sent SGA NBA’s coldest MVP message yet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Hakeem Olajuwon was very angry on May 24, 1995. He watched David Robinson get the NBA Most Valuable Player award. Hakeem thought he was the best player, not David. So, Hakeem went on the basketball court to prove it. 

He played a magic game for the Houston Rockets. He scored 41 points. He grabbed 16 rebounds. He passed for 4 assists. He got 3 steals and blocked 2 shots. It was a giant win. He showed the whole world who the real king was.

Almost 31 years later, history repeated itself. Victor Wembanyama, the young star everyone calls Wemby, felt the exact same way. He wanted the MVP trophy, too. 

But the big prize went to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, aka SGA. Wemby watched SGA celebrate the big award. It made Wemby want to play harder than ever before.

Wemby went out and did something amazing for the San Antonio Spurs. He played a game that looked just like Hakeem’s old game. 

FS1 co-host Nick Wright could stay out of this and shared his thoughts on social media. “On May 24, 1995, Hakeem watched David Robinson win the MVP that he thought he deserved, and responded with a 41-16-4-3-2 in a win,” he said. “Nearly 31 years later to the day, Wemby watched SGA win the MVP that he campaigned for, and responded with a 41-24-3-1-3. Total brilliance.”

On May 24, 1995, Hakeem watched David Robinson win the MVP that he thought he deserved, and responded with a 41-16-4-3-2 in a win.

Nearly 31 years later to the day, Wemby watched SGA win the MVP that he campaigned for, and responded with a 41-24-3-1-3.

Total brilliance.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 19, 2026

In Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, Wembanyama delivered an absolute masterpiece to snap the defending champion Thunder's nine-game postseason winning streak. 

Beyond the staggering rebound, assist, block, and steal totals mentioned, the 7-foot-4 phenom also poured in 41 points while playing a career-high 49 minutes. 

He came up incredibly clutch down the stretch, knocking down a game-tying 27-foot three-pointer with late ticks on the clock to force the second overtime period.

Basketball fans could not believe their eyes as it was pure magic and total brilliance. Both great big men used their sad feelings to play their best. They turned their anger into points and wins. 

Today, sports fans and analysts like Nick Wright are calling Wemby's game a modern masterpiece. It proves that history always finds a way back into the game of basketball.

• Thunder's defense faces Victor Wembanyama test against Spurs in playoff
• Spurs’ secret weapon isn’t just Victor Wembanyama – it’s this 3-headed playmaking monster
• Bronny James and Bryce James look more like LeBron James than ever after this viral transformation
• Warriors' Steve Kerr news means it's time to talk about LeBron and Steph
• Victor Wembanyama is breaking the playoff blueprint in real time and Thunder can’t ignore it

Why Victor Wembanyama's clutch 3-pointer is drawing eerily similar comparisons to Steph Curry's 2016 shot vs. OKC originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Victor Wembanyama did things that only he can do to stun the Oklahoma City Thunder home crowd on Monday night.

As the San Antonio Spurs stole Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on the road, Wembanyama was unreal, dropping 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists and three blocks to put his squad up 1-0. The star center hit just one 3-pointer — but it was simultaneously the boldest and clutchest shot of the evening.

To eventually force double-overtime, Wembanyama connected on a three from near the "OKC" logo — territory that instantly reminded fans of one of the most ridiculous clutch shots of Stephen Curry's career.

Here's a look at Wembanyama's huge three vs. the Thunder and why it drew Curry comparisons.

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ:Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket

San Antonio and Oklahoma City were already putting on a classic by the time the first overtime period was coming to a close. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was heating back up after a slow start, and the Thunder had a 108-105 advantage with around 30 seconds remaining.

Wembanyama, with a "two-for-one" chance to get a quick shot up and keep the Spurs in it, didn't let his team settle for two points. After letting Stephon Castle bring the ball up the floor, Castle fed him right back, and Wembanyama launched from the border of the "OKC" logo on the court.

Completely uncontested, he drained it, tying the game at 108 and silencing the Oklahoma City crowd.

WEMBY, WOW!

WHAT A SHOT TO TIE THE GAME AT 108. pic.twitter.com/HELQUpxww7

— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2026

With the Spurs going on to win 122-115 in double-overtime, it was that Wembanyama 3-pointer that left fans in amazement during his 40-20 performance.

STILL NOT OVER THIS SHOT 😭

WHO WAS WEMBY FEELING LIKE?? pic.twitter.com/412oW4W8bM

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 19, 2026

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA FROM THE LOGO FOR THE TIE

THIS GAME IS UNBELIEVABLE

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/BBfecSdajs

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 19, 2026

Wemby Man…. Unbelievable! 💪🏽

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) May 19, 2026

Wemby

Wow

— Ben Stiller (@BenStiller) May 19, 2026

Wemby shot from here with the game on the line man

What the hell pic.twitter.com/QAcRm1HVTo

— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) May 19, 2026

His teammate, Keldon Johnson, even compared it to a "Call of Duty" kill streak.

“If you ever play Call of Duty, and you get a 25 kill streak, it felt like he dropped a nuke down on the court. It was crazy, that was a big time shot," Johnson said. 

Keldon Johnson on the insane game-tying 3 by Wemby:

“If you ever play Call of Duty, and you get a 25 kill streak, it felt like he dropped a nuke down on the court.

It was crazy, that was a big time shot.”

😭😭😭#GoSpursGo#PorVidahttps://t.co/EQv7JCEztapic.twitter.com/rncWXKRELR

— Wemby Alien Era (@WembyAlienEra) May 19, 2026

MORE:How Victor Wembanyama made 40-20 NBA playoff history 

Ten years ago, although it was in a regular season game and not the Western Conference Finals, Curry left Thunder fans just as stunned in a Saturday prime-time matchup.

Tied at 118 as the overtime period was set to expire, Curry launched a 3-pointer from the logo — a similar area to Wembanyama's launch on Monday — with a defender in the area, making it with 0.6 seconds remaining.

Mike Breen's "double-bang" call became famous, and the shot, which came right in the middle of Curry's 2015-16 MVP candidacy, went down as one of the Warriors star's all-time best.

Wemby really made the SAME SHOT in the SAME BUILDING as Steph a decade ago 🤯

Both in overtime too 😮

(h/t @WorldWideWob)#nba#basketball#spurs#wemby#currypic.twitter.com/laXNcSt0qr

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 19, 2026

MORE: Where Victor Wembanyama ranks among best remaining players in NBA playoffs

The 2025-26 Women’s Super League season was all about change.

The beginning of a new broadcast deal, the promise of expansion and the fall of a domestic dynasty were all key factors in this campaign. Not to mention, the ongoing transfer saga of one of the league’s biggest stars.

With the boost of another England national team win at the 2025 Women’s European Championship and a broadcast deal with Sky Sports and the BBC worth £65million ($84.3m) over five years, the WSL showed what its next phase of growth looks like. There were surprising giant slayers in Brighton & Hove Albion, record transfers settling in at their new clubs from Olivia Smith to Alyssa Thompson and upsets at the top of the table with Manchester City taking their first league title in a decade and ending Chelsea’s run of six.

With the expansion to 14 teams next season, the WSL will look to continue that momentum into a new era. But before we get there, The Athletic’s Cerys Jones and Charlotte Harpur share their key takeaways from this season …

Cerys Jones: Status quo disrupted.

Charlotte Harpur: Bridesmaid turned bride.

Harpur: Who had Brighton down to be such a tease come the business end of the season?

With three games left to play, they threw the cat among the pigeons, defeating City 3-2. Nerves jangled among the league leaders as the result opened the door for Arsenal whom Brighton had just knocked out of the FA Cup.

A week later they punctured Manchester United’s chances of qualifying for Europe by holding them to a 1-1 draw. And just as quickly as they had given Arsenal hope they snatched it away, denying them the three points the north London side needed and handing City the title.

Harpur: Leicester City headed into the 2025-26 season coming off the back of their best points tally in the WSL and an unbeaten pre-season. But manager Amandine Miquel was sacked before the campaign even got started.

Her successor, Rick Passmoor, ranks fourth-worst in win percentage (20.5 per cent) and points per game (0.87) among managers who have taken charge of 40-plus games in the competition. Leicester won just one of their last 20 WSL games and lost their last 11. Only Doncaster Rovers Belles and Yeovil Town have ever had a longer losing streak in the competition’s history.

Jones: Last season’s top three teams would all have hoped for more this season.

The title race was interesting in the sense that a team other than Chelsea was leading it, but in truth the fact Manchester City only won by four points in the end feels surprising. Their victory seemed like a safe bet early on, simply because no rival could match their consistency.

For Chelsea, the disappointment of this season is obvious: the aim was to supplement their domestic dominance with a European crown, and they finish with neither.

On the other side of that coin, Arsenal were supposed to build on their Champions League victory by pushing on to reclaim their place at the top of the English game and instead end the season trophy-less, having failed to capitalise on the Chelsea slip-up they have been hoping for. As for Manchester United, a run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on their debut in the competition proper is impressive, but failing to qualify for the next edition feels like stalled progress. All three sides will have regrets.

Jones: Whether the striker, fresh from claiming her third consecutive WSL Golden Boot, stays at champions Manchester City is already the burning question of the window. Shaw’s preference is to stay with City, and they surely want to keep her — who wouldn’t?

Shaw, 29, is the most formidable goalscorer in the WSL, was crucial to City’s title drive, and losing her would undoubtedly be a blow to their ability to defend the league title next year. Shaw departing for a WSL rival would only add insult to injury.

The fact that Shaw has voiced her desire to stay perhaps buys City more time to see if they can find a solution, but it is clearly not a simple answer — meaning we can expect this to rumble on for a while.

Her future is emblematic of wider questions over the WSL’s financial landscape.

As The Athletic have reported, Chelsea have made the striker a contract offer worth at least £1m per year — if those sort of figures become common, it will signify a gear shift in the women’s game. Shaw’s extraordinary ability demands extraordinary recognition, but it is unlikely that would deter other agents from using her salary as a benchmark or target. The risk is that only a handful of clubs will be able to cough up those sums, unbalancing the market.

Jones: More football! The WSL has been crying out for expansion for so long; having the same teams competing against each other season after season with a rarely rotating cast can mean the competition stagnates.

The season is also simply too short. Expansion needs to be handled carefully to ensure the promoted teams can compete properly, and that the players who feature internationally, in the Champions League, and in the WSL and domestic cups are not overloaded — but if done well, adding more teams should revitalise the league.

Jones: “Will Lucy Bronze really be able to play through *insert injury here* at the World Cup?” (Spoiler alert: she will).

Harpur: “I don’t want to see Kim Little leave Arsenal.”

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.

Women's Soccer

2026 The Athletic Media Company

WASHINGTON, D.C. — For close to 15 minutes after the completion of the Mets' chaotic 16-7 victory in 12 innings over the Nationals, Mets brass met to discuss the state of the team's pitching staff.

Carlos Mendoza had emptied the tank to try and score the team's third straight win. The Mets manager deployed six separate relievers across nine innings to keep the Nationals down. Another — Mets newcomer Daniel Duarte, who was called up earlier in the day — was warming in the 12th.

It is one of the fears with the way the Mets rotation is constructed at this point in the season. Sean Manaea and David Peterson, who were once in the rotation, now find seats in the bullpen, albeit in different roles. And the starting unit has been tagged by injuries, with Kodai Senga working back from lumbar spine inflammation and Clay Holmes now down with a fractured fibula.

That construction makes the job of the team's starting pitchers to get deep in games all the more important.

"At whatever point in the regular season, starting pitching is always the key for guys to go deep in games," Mendoza said before the game. "But I also feel like we've been able to do a good job of protecting guys, giving guys days off and we feel very good with where they're at and how they're throwing the baseball."

Now more than ever, that task looms large on the heels of a 12-inning marathon and seven games into a stretch of 17 days without an off day. Here is how the Mets' starting rotation is currently situated:

Holmes had been arguably the Mets' most dependable starting pitcher before he took a 111 mph line drive from the Yankees' Spencer off the right leg.

Now, even more could fall on the shoulders of Nolan McLean, who has been up to the task in every way 17 games into his major league career, dating back to last August.

McLean is coming off his second win of the season as he improved to 2-2 with a gutsy seven-inning effort against the Tigers. He gave up a three-run home run in the first inning then gave up four hits and two walks from that point on to match his longest outing of the season.

With the third-most strikeouts in the NL (64), along with a 2.92 ERA and 0.96 WHIP, McLean is putting himself in the early conversation for Rookie of the Year.

Freddy Peralta has pitched at a similar level before - he finished fifth in Cy Young voting last season - but only three of his 10 starts have gone six innings this season. That has been the lone flaw for Peralta in his first season with the Mets. He tends to keep opponents down and keep the Mets in the game; he's only allowed more than three earned runs once. But free passes have hurt him. He's allowed 2.5 walks per game so far this season.

The bulk role out of the bullpen behind an opener has suited David Peterson since the middle of April.

While Peterson is not taking the ball in the first inning, he has pitched pretty much every six days, mostly behind Huascar Brazoban.

Peterson is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 20 innings across five bullpen appearances, compared to 0-4 with a 8.10 ERA and 1.89 WHIP in 23⅓ innings in five starts.

Christian Scott's efforts have grown substantially in recent weeks after he began the season in Triple A.

The righty has also kept the Mets in games, avoiding any major blow-ups but laboring through some lengthy innings. He has only thrown five innings once this season but never given up more than three earned runs.

In Scott's latest outing, he showed flashes with five straight outs out of the gate, but needed 52 pitches to get through the second and third innings, allowing three runs on four hits, two walks and a hit batter in those frames.

Scott's WHIP is 1.47 through five starts after missing all of the 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The first glimpse of 24-year-old left-hander Zach Thornton will come on Wednesday on the day that Holmes would have started.

Thornton will either start or piggyback another reliever, similar to Peterson's role, in his major league debut in the third game of the series.

Thornton has only pitched in two games at the Triple-A level, but showed promise, allowing a combined three earned runs in 12 innings across two quality starts. While he does not blow opponents away, he has shown some of the best control in the minor leagues, after walking 11 total batters in 72⅔ innings last season.

The Mets went with Thornton at least in part because the Nationals boast a lefty-heavy lineup, with their key pieces, James Wood, CJ Abrams and Daylen Lille, all batting from the left side. The Mets could go a different direction in next turn depending how Thornton performs.

Jonah Tong was in consideration for Wednesday's start. After making his big league debut last season, Tong returned to Triple A to get more seasoning this season and has seen mixed results. He's 1-3 with a 5.68 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in nine starts for Syracuse.

Jack Wenninger has been a marvel in his first Triple A season. The 24-year-old right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.51 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 39 strikeouts in 35⅔ innings but has only made nine starts at the top minor league level.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: State of Mets' rotation with Zach Thornton instead of Jonah Tong

As teams release their 2026 NFL Draft war room videos, it can sometimes tell us more about the Detroit Lions’ process. We’ve already seen the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens reveal tarde offers they received from the Lions that ended up not going through.

But there’s another moment from the Ravens video that involves a critical point in the Lions’ draft. In the second round, Detroit moved from Pick 50 to 44 to select Michigan edge defender Derrick Moore. In order to make that move, the Lions had to jump right in front of the Ravens, and many have speculated that because Ravens head coach Jesse Minter had coached Moore at Michigan, that it was smart of Detroit to jump Baltimore to get him.

The Ravens’ video shows their reaction as the Lions trade in front of them and select Moore.

The way the moment is framed, it appears Baltimore instead wanted Missouri defensive end Zion Young, who was their eventual pick at 45. Throughout the few minutes leading up to the moment, several members of the Ravens front office continue to mention Young and the team’s comfortability in drafting him.

“I think Young is worth taking, right?”Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta says to the room at some point. “I feel strong about Young, don’t you Oz(zie Newsome)?”

“Yeah,” Newsome replies.

“We got a first-round grade on Young,” DeCosta continued.

In the video, the Ravens claim Young was their second-best player available starting on Day 2 of the draft. They never reveal who that top player was.

So, when the Lions traded up ahead of them, their immediate thought was that it was for Young.

“Yeah, that’s gonna be for Zion Young… GOD!” DeCosta said to the room, clearly expressing some frustration.

When the pick was announced to be Moore, it’s hard to read the Ravens’ reaction. We see the pick announced, and then there is a quick editing cut, and a very quiet room. They calmly decide on Young, who they say aloud was the “20th player on [their] board.”

Overall, it appears to suggest the Ravens liked Young more that Moore, but we never really get a good sense of what their thoughts were on Moore. Maybe they preferred Young, maybe some savvy editing made it look that way. It’s possible Moore was their top preference, but DeCosta’s initial frustration when he thought Detroit was going to take Young suggests otherwise.

Ultimately, though, it doesn’t matter all that much what the Ravens preferred. If Detroit gets the player they are hoping Moore will be, the cost of spending the 128th overall pick to trade up and get him will be long forgotten.

Another small revelation in the video is the fact that Baltimore took calls from both the Lions and Packers for a trade up to the 45th overall pick. It appears the Lions had an option in place to trade with the Ravens (Picks 50 and 128 for 45), but opted to trade ahead of them instead at the exact same price.

You can watch the entire sequence of events in the Ravens 2026 war room video here, with the second round scenes taking place around the 30:05 mark.

The 2026 NFL schedule was released for the Indianapolis Colts, and while the release itself was perfection, the path ahead is wrought with peril. Like all seasons, teams can go a totally different direction than the previous year, so nothing is easy to predict. With that said, the first third of the season is potentially so brutal that it could create some major disruption and cost players and personnel their jobs if things stumble out of the gate.

Baltimore took a step back last year but still made a late-season push with a healthy Lamar Jackson. Expect him to be back and have the Ravens in the upper echelons of the AFC. A new coach in Baltimore might be the only break the Colts get to open the schedule. The Texans and Steelers in the first five could spell trouble as well. The Texans have owned the Colts in previous years, and the Steelers have always owned the Colts. Playing in Pittsburgh again should make fans wince.

The Chiefs game is slated for Sunday Night Football. That’s odd because who the heck is at quarterback for either team? This is a huge question mark for the Colts. Shane Steichen better have whichever quarterback suits up ready to go. Patrick Mahomes or not, Arrowhead is a difficult environment. Let’s throw in a road game in London against a down but not out Commanders team, with the cherry on top being that the Steelers game follows with no bye in between.

This isn’t to say the Colts won’t win any of these games. It simply points out that the degree of difficulty to start is high. If they can go 2-3, 3-2, or better, they will be fine. Start with one or fewer victories and the patience for Steichen and Chris Ballard might vanish. Neither man should have a long leash this year, and a slow start might be the death knell. Steichen needs his quarterback ready, and Ballard better hope the rest of the team steps up as well.

Looking towards the start of a new season is always exciting. To say I am not a little nervous about the start would be a lie, though. The bar isn’t low in Indy, so if the Colts can at least survive the first five weeks, there is hope. Perform, and the band stays together a little while longer. We might be in store for the inverse of last year, however. If that occurs, Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard might not be with the Colts to conclude the year.

To the surprise of many, Neymar has been included in head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

The 34-year-old, currently playing for Santos, is Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer with 79 goals in 128 appearances. However, he has not represented the Selecao since 2023 due to injury struggles.

In a move which few RightBet users could describe as against the odds, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star will return to the Brazilian national team setup for the first time in three years to compete this summer.

This inclusion marks Neymar’s fourth World Cup appearance, having previously represented Brazil in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments. 

The announcement of his inclusion was met with cheers from fans at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

To what extent Neymar will be a key figure in Ancelotti’s plans in the USA, Canada and Mexico remains to be seen, but he is on the plane and going to the World Cup

.

Liverpool’s Alisson Becker, who has missed the last 10 games for his club, Liverpool, due to injury, has also been selected. Other notable Premier League inclusions are Manchester United’s Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes, Arsenal’s Gabriel, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, and Bournemouth’s Rayan.

However, Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, despite being the Blues’ top scorer in the Premier League this season with 15 goals and five assists, has not made the cut. There will be plenty of Brazil fans wondering whether or not Joao Pedro deserved the opportunity more than Neymar.

Other players who have made the squad include LaLiga stars Vinicius Junior of Real Madrid and Raphinha of Barcelona, as well as 19-year-old striker Endrick, currently on loan at Lyon from Los Blancos.

Five-time winners Brazil will face Morocco on 13 June, Haiti on 20 June, and Scotland in their final Group C game four days later.

The expanded 48-team World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, kicks off on 11 June.

Here is the full Brazil squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio).

Defenders: Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Danilo (Flamengo), Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibáñez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Gabriel (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg).

Midfielders: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo).

Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth).

This selection reflects a mix of experienced players and young starlets, promising an exciting performance from Brazil in the upcoming World Cup.

Perhaps most interestingly of all, Neymar will be part of it all once again. Could he make an impact as ageing stars sometimes do, or will he go unnoticed this summer? Only time will tell.

VfB Stuttgart trio Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling and Angelo Stiller will be called up to Germany’s World Cup squad, according to Sky Germany.

The German outlet reports that they were all informed of their involvement in the upcoming tournament by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Tuesday.

Their teammates Chris Führich, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Josha Vagnoman are not expected to be included in Nagelsmann’s squad, however.

Meanwhile, it's current unclear if Alexander Nübel, who has spent the last three seasons on loan at Stuttgart from Bayern Munich, will make the squad.

Earlier on Tuesday, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that Nagelsmann is considering taking four goalkeepers to the World Cup – and if he does, it would be surprising not to see the 29-year-old included.

With Rico Verhoeven on the biggest stage of his career this weekend when he takes on champion Oleksandr Usyk for heavyweight glory in Egypt, DAZN takes fans behind the scenes of Verhoeven’s training camp where he’s been working alongside trainer Peter Fury for what’s to come.

Fury would reflect on linking up with Verhoeven many years back in the gym and how their relationship naturally progressed from there.

“I think you become closer from knowing each other and being respectful, you become closer,” Fury said. “That’s how we’ve been since we met, so we’ve always been together.”

Verhoeven would also share his perspective on his alignment with Fury and tailoring their preparations for a boxing match against the obvious cream of the crop in Usyk.

“Starting this whole adventure, it’s like we got to take a different approach,” Verhoeven said. “I think we found our sweet spot in kickboxing, like if we use this approach, this works.’ We know how to get fit, we know how to keep the knife sharpened — that works to stay the best, and that’s what we did. But this, again, was something different. This whole approach was different. I don’t know if it was ‘more serious,’ but it needed to be more intense to get everything out of me.

“I think advantages you have as a kickboxer getting into boxing is that boxing is what I feel — it’s my opinion — it’s much more of a controlled environment, especially in the beginning…It’s a different approach and I think that gives you more mental toughness in the later fights.”

You can check out the full video interview with Verhoeven and his trainers before this Saturday’s big event in front of the pyramids.

Liga MX Femenil never disappoints when it comes to finals, and this time was no exception. Rayadas de Monterrey had the chance to win its fifth star while Club América was pushing for its third.

Rayadas came to this match having won the first leg 1-0. América had its chances but couldn’t find the back of the net, while Monterrey maybe could’ve scored one more but at the end of the day, only Alice Soto was able to beat goalkeeper Sandra Paños.

The general consensus was Rayadas had things under control, being the second-most winningest team in Mexico and having the aggregate in its favor.

On the other hand, América’s fans were nervous and tried not to be too optimistic since the team had a record of losing finals. In this case, they were one goal down and even though it wasn’t impossible to reverse, it added to the whole atmosphere.

Despite that, fans knew the importance of showing up and therefore, they showed up in numbers. At the end of the game, it was announced that 26,670 were present at Ciudad de los Deportes stadium.

With the fans behind them, América started to push early for that equalizer. They found it through Montse Saldívar before the 10th minute. Nonetheless, VAR intervened and the goal was disallowed due to a previous foul.

They continued to attack over and over. It was midfielder Irene Guerrero who tapped the ball to level the proceedings.

Brazilian international and former Manchester United Geyse enjoyed herself the entire game and capitalized on goalkeeper Paola Manrique’s mistake only five minutes into the second half. That goal allowed América to balance things in its favor and play without feeling the pressure of the score.

However, they wanted to secure the title and so kept looking for another goal. Captain Scarlett Camberos had the chance to do so after a PK was conceded to América due to a foul on Geyse inside the box.

“Scoring that goal meant to be close to lift the title, so I had to keep a cold mind,” said Camberos after the match.

It was the 80th and the hosts had one hand on the title. They couldn’t relax, though; they didn’t want to let it escape, as it had happened to them before.

Rayadas didn’t show up to this match, though. That made things easier for the Eagles. And at the end of the day, América got the title with three unanswered goals.

After the match, Goalkeeper Sandra Paños was chosen as the final’s goalkeeper, Irene Guerrero was the top goalscorer in the playoff after five goals, Geyse was chosen MVP, and Ángel Villacampa was chosen as the final’s coach.

However, many players were pivotal for América to win its third star. One of them was the 20-year-old Sofía Ramos. She has forged her career in the club and after Boston Legacy’s Nikki Hernández left, she had to fill that position, going from winger to left fullback and making the transition quite seamless.

Amid the celebrations, some players announced their futures and one of them was Paños. The former Barcelona goalkeeper announced she’s leaving the club.

“My time with América ends here. I’m very happy to finish it like this and I can say that now América has another fan,” said the goalkeeper after the match.

One day after the final, official numbers regarding television ratings for this final were known. The match was available to watch on Liga BBVA MX Femenil official channels on YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok but also on national television, on Televisa Univision. A total of 6.8 million tuned in to the match, plus the 632k that watched on YouTube and 54.9K that watched on Facebook, show that, once again, everybody watches women’s soccer.

Regarding Monterrey, they were a true contender this season and coach Amandine Miquel took them to this final in her first season at the helm. The results she got are worth praising after giving Rayadas its identity back; she showed that the roster they have is a competitive one.

General manager Eva Espejo spoke after the game, saying that they’re planning to add a few pieces to the roster, just like they did for this season, but basically, just work with what they have.

Teams in Liga MX Femenil will have two months to rest and be prepared for the next season, one that won’t have Mazatlán Femenil anymore, while Atlante will play its rookie season after buying Mazatlán’s spot in the league.

There won’t be too much rest for the champions, though, since they’re playing Gotham next Wednesday for Concacaf W.

As a Southampton supporter, I had been counting down the days to the play-off final on Saturday.

After a season where Saints produced some of the best football and consistency I've seen in years, it finally felt like the club was building real momentum again.

But over the last week and a bit, that excitement has been completely overshadowed by the allegations surrounding the club.

When the first stories emerged accusing Southampton of spying on Middlesbrough, I honestly thought it was just an attempt to unsettle Saints before such a massive game.

But once the EFL confirmed charges had been brought against the club, the mood amongst supporters quickly changed from disbelief to concern.

Suddenly, everyone was asking the same questions - how could this happen, who was responsible, and why was it allowed to reach this point?

What makes the whole situation even more disappointing is that Southampton Football Club is full of hardworking and genuine people.

From the incredible work done by the Saints Foundation to the staff behind the scenes, there are so many people connected to the club who care deeply about its reputation.

That is why these allegations feel so damaging, regardless of what the final outcome may be.

If wrongdoing is proven, then there absolutely has to be accountability within the club.

I just hope we can all go to Wembley on Saturday and enjoy the occasion, although, with everything that has happened it's hard to pretend it will feel quite the same as two years ago should we win.

Find more from Martin and his Southampton FC content on Youtube.

Julian Nagelsmann will not announce the DFB squad for the World Cup until Thursday, but more names are already leaking out. After reports of Manuel Neuer’s comeback and Felix Nmecha’s call-up, a VfB trio now also has reason to celebrate. 

As both 'Bild' and 'Sky' report, Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling and Angelo Stiller are set to receive World Cup tickets. 

The trio will still be in action on Saturday in the DFB Cup final against Bayern before the Germany national team meets up. 

Alexander Nübel, meanwhile, is apparently still waiting for a call from the national coach. However, he could still receive the nod, as 'SZ' reports that Nagelsmann is planning to take four goalkeepers to the World Cup. Alongside Manuel Neuer, Oliver Baumann and Nübel, Jonas Urbig is also expected to make the trip.  

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

The Kentucky Wildcats basketball team's current roster sits at 12 players, leaving three open spots to fill. They would like for Milan Momcilovic to take one of them, but still need a few good players. To that end, Mark Pope is looking internationally once again, but this time to a player who has SEC experience.

Savo Drezgic is a 6'4", 200 lb guard who was a three-star guard in the 2024 recruiting class. He commited to the Georgia Bulldogs, but after one season headed to Europe to play for Mega Superbet. Now, he tells Kentucky Sports Radio that Kentucky has been in contact.

This past season, Drezgic averaged 15 points and 4 assists per game while shooting 36% from three-point range. In his lone season at Georgia, he posted averges of 3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist in just 6 minutes per game.

Drezgic is expected to make a decision quickly, and several top schools are reported to be in contact. Can Pope close on a talented international player? Fans should find out soon. It should be noted that Pope landed another Mega Superbet player in forward Andrija Jelavic last season. He's hoping lightning will strike twice.

This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky basketball contacts former Georgia guard Savo Drezgic

It was announced early Monday morning that the Super Bowl will be held in Nashville, Tennessee.

This will be the first time Nashville has hosted the Super Bowl.

By then, the Tennessee Titans will have moved into their new stadium.

The owners are expected to vote and make it official during the spring meetings.

But with all the political upheaval in the South recently, some are calling for the NFL to boycott Nashville over redistricting.

Tennessee government officials just recently decided to take away the state’s only black district in Memphis. 

Now, some are calling on the NFL to boycott Nashville because of these recent changes. 

“Time to flood the NFL and its advertisers with calm professional calls & letters calling for a boycott if TN is given the Super Bowl.”

Time to flood the NFL and its advertisers with calm professional calls & letters calling for a boycott if TN is given the Super Bowl.

— Jodi K 🇺🇲🦅 (@jodikyman) May 18, 2026

“Massive Boycott for racially gerrymandering against black representation. Black players, they don’t want anybody that looks like you to represent their cities/states. I won’t watch it.”

Massive Boycott for racially gerrymandering against black representation. Black players they don’t want anybody that looks like you to represent their cites/state. I won’t watch it.

— David Stevens (@DavidSt41149847) May 18, 2026

This has become a major issue across several Southern states, and there has even been a call for a boycott of the SEC over the ongoing redistricting fight.

But while some think there should be a boycott, others think this Super Bowl will benefit the state.

“All of your trees bear sour fruit.  What is your solution for Nashville?  All businesses would benefit from this.”

Y’all going to fuck this up cause you lost a political fight aren’t ya. Just like Atlanta missing the All Star game over basic election security measures.

— 17 Miles from Graceland⚡️ (@DisidentUSA) May 18, 2026

It will be interesting to see whether the NFL bows to pressure if civil rights officials and some NFL fans call for a boycott.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: The NFL may face backlash if Super Bowl held in Nashville

The Washington Commanders need another real wide receiver, someone with NFL experience, who can make a difference, and the best available answer is sitting there with a DMV connection, a 1,000-yard résumé, and no contract. That is why Washington should make a real push for Stefon Diggs.

MORE: Jacoby Brissett’s holdout is a strongly miscalculated risk

Diggs became an unrestricted free agent after the Patriots released him this spring, and he has not signed with a new team yet. He is from Gaithersburg, Maryland, played high school football in the area, went to Maryland, and recently acknowledged the hometown angle when asked about the Commanders. He said he knows the city and the people, and that he might “go check them out for a little bit.” That is an opening, and the Washington Football Team should walk through it.

The Commanders need to receive help opposite Terry McLaurin, and the room needs more talent around Jayden Daniels. The draft helped, but relying on an R3 rookie to immediately solve WR2 is a terrible plan. Diggs gives Daniels a professional route-winner, a boundary option, and a veteran who has seen every coverage trick in the books.

Diggs had 1,013 receiving yards last year and has cleared 1,000 yards in seven of the last eight seasons. I’m not worried about him being washed. At all. And that is useful, especially for a team trying to turn a promising offense into a playoff offense. Washington does not need Diggs to be a savior. They just need him to be better than the current options fighting for WR2 snaps.

Diggs will be 33 when the season starts, and he dealt with legal issues this offseason, though a Massachusetts jury found him not guilty of felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery charges. That does not make him risk-free, but teams can now evaluate the football fit without worrying about the court outcome.

It’s simple: sign the veteran. Give Daniels another real weapon.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Tennis icon Billie Jean King graduated from college at the age of 82, more than six decades after pausing her studies to pursue professional tennis full time.

Last year, King resumed her studies to finish her degree in history and on Monday she graduated for the California State University in Los Angeles.

"It is a privilege for me to be here as a member of your graduating class," King said at her commencement. "Yeah baby, only 61 years!"

"Like so many of my fellow graduates, I am the first member of my immediate family to graduate college, like many of you."

During her active career, King won 39 Grand Slam titles: 12 in singles, 16 in women's doubles and 11 in mixed doubles.

Until today, she advocates for gender equality and has long been a pioneer for equality and social justice. She's the founder of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) and the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF).

Manchester United have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Hoffenheim winger Bazoumana Touré, according to a new report from Germany.

Touré, 20, has enjoyed a breakout campaign in the Bundesliga this season, returning five goals and 12 assists in 32 appearances. T

he Ivory Coast international, who played alongside Amad at the Africa Cup of Nations, possesses electric pace, ranking as one of the fastest players in Germany with a top speed of just under 36km/h.

But his acceleration over the first five yards is even more devastating, leaving defenders for dead with a quick feint and a fleet-footed burst. A nickname of “The Hurricane” has been well earned.

Operating primarily on the left, Touré is an old-school winger who relishes the chance to dribble with the ball, capable of cutting inside or going down the line. While there is room for improvement in terms of decision-making, his ability to isolate an opposition full-back and beat them with ease is an essential trait for overcoming the increasingly prevalent man-to-man defensive systems.

These impressive performances for Hoffenheim, who he joined from Swedish side Hammarby for €10 million in 2025, have caught the attention of clubs in England – including United.

Initially, it was understood Die Kraichgauer would look to bank a club-record fee to let Touré leave the PreZero Arena this summer. This currently stands at the €38m Newcastle United forked out to sign Brazilian midfielder Joelinton in 2019, with Hoffenheim believed to be asking for a fee in the region of €50m for their young winger.

However, the southwest German club faced heartbreak on the final day of the season as they missed out on a Champions League spot after a 4-0 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach, leaving them one point behind rivals VfB Stuttgart in fifth place.

This development has weakened Hoffenheim’s ability to command top dollar for Touré, with Sky Sports DE revealing Champions League football is the only way they “would have kept the Ivorian talent.”

There is no release clause in his contract, but the report states Hoffenheim are now “demanding around €30-40 million” – a significant price slash, and one which is likely to put United on red-alert over a summer swoop.

The Red Devils are joined in the hunt by Premier League rivals Arsenal, Aston Villa, Liverpool and Newcastle United, with INEOS said to view Touré as the “missing piece” of the jigsaw for the frontline at Old Trafford.

United’s focus this summer is a revamp in midfield, with the bulk of the war chest set to be invested in a successor to the departing Casemiro. But a more natural winger on the left, given both Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu are more comfortable in other areas of the pitch, is also an important consideration.

The club’s leading targets are RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande and Aston Villa talisman Morgan Rogers. However, a move for either would cost up to €100m – the same type of outlay required to replace Casemiro.

This makes the prospect of signing a highly-rated option like Touré at a price potentially as low as €30m (£26m) a major boost to United’s plans this summer.

Featured image by Alex Grimm via Getty Images

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Liverpool have lacked the ruthless attack that has made them so dangerous over the past decade this season.

For several reasons, the Reds have struggled in front of goal this campaign and it has cost them points on more than one occasion.

Major improvement is needed this summer, and the club will almost definitely turn to the transfer market to make that improvement.

With Mo Salah leaving, there is a clear gap to fill on the right-hand side of Liverpool front line and Jarrod Bowen is one of the names most frequently linked with an Anfield switch.

West Ham will be reluctant to let their captain go though, and a new report has offered some clarity on the situation.

Bowen has been linked with a Merseyside move for years, but talk of a deal intensified after Salah announced his departure in March.

The Englishman has become a key figure at the London Stadium but, with West Ham’s relegation almost certain, the time may have come for the 29-year-old to move on from the capital.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Irons will do everything they can to keep Bowen at the club beyond this season, regardless of their relegation.

If the player decides it is time to move on it will be very difficult to keep him, so the East London club are doing all they can to convince Bowen that he should stay put amid interest from Liverpool.

The Reds aren’t the only Premier League club keeping an eye on the situation either, with both Newcastle and Everton also keen on a move for the forward.

If West Ham are relegated to the Championship, Bowen’s future will likely come down to who can convince the Englishman they are the best fit for him.

Salah’s spot would be Bowen’s to fill, so the Reds will be able to make a tempting offer, but West Ham may still convince their captain to stay put.

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti says he is “sorry” for Joao Pedro after leaving him out of his final Brazil squad for the World Cup.

The Chelsea forward has scored 20 goals in all competitions for the club this season but did not make the final cut for his national team.

“I understand that people say European soccer is different, that it’s more intense, but we have to take many things into account,” Ancelotti explained.

“As we’ve said before, playing soccer here is very complicated-a grueling schedule, travel, the heat-it’s hard to compare.

“Then there are the players’ individual characteristics. Of course, we’re sad about João Pedro.

“Given the season he had in Europe, he probably deserved to be on this list, but, unfortunately, with all due awareness and respect, we chose another player. I’m sorry for João Pedro and everyone else.”

Reacting to the news on social media, the Chelsea attacker said: “I tried to give my best at all times,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfil this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be.

“Joys and frustrations are part of football. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home.”

Ancelotti did, however, opt to call up Brazil legend Neymar for the tournament despite leaving him out of recent squads.

Despite having not played at the weekend, Bournemouth fans strapped themselves in for a rollercoaster of emotions, as both the FA Cup final and a plethora of Premier League fixtures were of great importance for the Cherries and their European aspirations.

It all started on the Saturday, when ex-Bournemouth man Antoine Semenyo fittingly bagged the winner for Manchester City in the FA Cup final. That itself handed the Cherries a significant boost in their pursuit of European football, as the victory over Chelsea ensured that the top eight in the Premier League will have European football next season. So this was the first checkbox of the weekend ticked for Bournemouth fans, before their attention then deviated to Sunday's league fixtures.

Following plenty of twists and turns, it was again another former Cherry who made a significant impact. This time, however, Dango Ouattara was villain rather than hero, scoring a late leveller for Brentford against Crystal Palace, ensuring Bournemouth could not quite secure their place in Europe - but it certainly got a little bit closer. A Palace win would have made Bournemouth's first-ever European qualification official.

Leeds' surprise victory over Brighton and Sunderland's win away at Everton further strengthened Bournemouth's position in the race for Europe, ensuring the afternoon turned into a very positive one for the Cherries.

So Andoni Iraola's men remain in a remarkably strong position heading into their final couple of fixtures. Whether it be the Conference League, Europa League or the Champions League, the Cherries are in an extremely exciting position and the fans may be eagerly getting their passports ready very, very soon.

Find more from Tom Jordan at Back of the Net

Jadeveon Clowney is one of the best remaining free agents that the Las Vegas Raiders have the chance to sign this spring. The Raiders have a roster that has the potential to wage a playoff run with a couple of additional marquee acquisition this offseason.

The Raiders’ defense is led by star defensive end Maxx Crosby. Las Vegas selected DE Keyron Crawford with the No. 67 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Crawford recorded five sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss in 2025 at Auburn, but needs to prove that his game will translate to the NFL level as a difference-maker for Las Vegas.

Clowney was one for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025. The South Carolina native recorded 8.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and four passes defended in only 13 games played for the Cowboys last season. Clowney had that it factor that the Raiders need on their defense, and figures to still have it next season with no signs of slowing down.

Las Vegas’s biggest remaining need is a No. 1 wide receiver. However, more pass rush is always welcome and Clowney has the athleticism at 33 years old to pair well with Crosby on the edge for the Raiders next season.

The Raiders still have $24.4 million in cap space this spring according to overthecap.com. Las Vegas has the money to sign Clowney to a short-term deal to strengthen their defense for next season.

This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Should the Raiders look to sign DE Jadeveon Clowney in free agency?

NFL makes 'disrespectful' mistake on Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba's trophy originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It appears the NFL missed the part where Seattle Seahawks WIDE RECEIVER Jaxon Smith-Njigba plays on offense.

Smith-Njigba had a phenomenal third season in the NFL, so it's hard to miss that fact. Smith-Njigba tallied a league-high 1,793 receiving yards and scored 10 touchdowns en route to securing the Offensive Player of the Year award.

He has since been rewarded with a monster contract extension worth $168.6 million over four years.

Despite all of that, the NFL found a way to mess up his Offensive Player of the Year trophy.

JSN posted to social media to show that his trophy actually says "Defensive Player of the Year."

"It's getting disrespectful at this point," JSN said in the caption of his post.

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.”

(🎥 @jaxon_smith1) pic.twitter.com/GNdNGIGLwW

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 19, 2026

How that award gets out without someone noticing such a huge mistake is beyond my comprehension.

You'd think a billion-dollar league like the NFL wouldn't make that kind of blunder with one of its best offensive players, but here we are.

A former first-round pick in 2023, Smith-Njigba has gotten better each year in the league and is now considered one of the best in the business at his position.

And he's still only 24 years old, so he figures to have plenty more big years ahead of him.

Coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Seahawks are poised to have another big year in 2026, as their roster remains one of the very best in the NFL — and Smith-Njigba plays a huge role in that.

More NFL News

• How Eli Manning was almost a Cleveland Brown
• Bucs coach basically just told fantasy player to avoid Bucky Irving
• Chiefs, Commanders, Rams linked to 4-time Pro Bowl WR
• Deion Sanders upset with Jags over Travis Hunter issue

There were two Game 7s last night, the last Boston Bruins’ minor league affiliate standing was knocked out, and their longtime rival is headed to the Eastern Conference Final. 

Seven Bruins played in the World Championships yesterday; all eight were on the schedule. One scored, one had an assist. In other B’s news, the ECHL affiliate up in Maine went 0-4 on the road in Round 2, and their season ended last night. 

There is another Bruins’ prospect still going in Russia.

Elsewhere in the league, a former BC Eagle sent the Canadiens to the third round, ending the fun playoff run in Buffalo after 13 games. One team out west is complicating the head coach search for some teams, and the Oilers landed an interview with a different Stanley Cup-winning head coach. 

And the Blackhawks have an expiring contract they are looking to move. 

Happy Tuesday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:

IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Seven of the eight Bruins played at the World Championships yesterday. None of them play today, though there is another four-game schedule. 

From yesterday:

Finland beat the United States 6-2, Canada beat Denmark 5-1, Switzerland beat Germany 6-1, and Czechia beat Sweden 4-3. 

• James Hagens (USA): 4LW; 2 shots on goal, 10:56 TOI
• Alex Steeves (USA): 1LW; -1 rating, 3 shots on goal, 12:56 TOI
• Mason Lohrei (USA): 1LD; 1 shot on goal, 18:37 TOI
• Henri Jokiharju (FIN): 2RD; 2 PIMs, 15:31 TOI
• Joonas Korpisalo (FIN): did not play
• Fraser Minten (CAN): 4C; -1 rating, 13:32 TOI
• Lukas Reichel (GER): 2LW; 1 assist, -1 rating, 15:17 TOI
• Matej Blümel (CZE): 1RW; 1 goal, +1 rating, 2 shots on goal, 17:35 TOI

TSN (video via 𝕏): Here is Blümel’s goal that gave Czechia a 1-0 lead over Sweden early in the first. 

MAINE: The last Bruins’ affiliate standing was the Maine Mariners, but they were knocked out in Game 7 of Round 2 last night. The Wheeling Nailers (PIT) went up 2-0, Owen Gallatin scored in the second period, and then the Nailers made it 4-1 late in the third. With the net empty, the Mariners scored twice, but their push was not enough. 

• Game 1: at Wheeling – WHL wins 4-3 (OT)
• Game 2: at Wheeling – WHL wins 4-1
• Game 3: at Maine – MNE wins 6-3
• Game 4: at Maine – MNE wins 2-1 (2OT)
• Game 5: at Maine – MNE wins 5-3
• Game 6: at Wheeling – WHL wins 2-1 (OT)
• Game 7: at Wheeling – WHL wins 4-3

YEMELYANOV: Kirill Yemelyanov is still going! He and Loko are in the Kharlamov Cup Finals (Russia-MHL). They are down 2-1 to JHC Spartak in the best-of-seven series. 

Game 4 is tomorrow at 12:00 PM. 

Yemelyanov has seven goals and an assist through Loko’s 15 playoff games.

Montreal Hockey Now: The Canadiens went up 2-0, but Rasmus Dahlin tied it in the third period. Game 7 needed overtime. Marc Dumont has the highlights from Montreal’s series-clinching win.

NHL (video via YouTube): Here is Alex Newhook’s game-winning goal. 

PLAYOFFS: 

• A1 – Sabres (3) vs. A3 – Canadiens (4)
• M1 – Hurricanes (4) vs. M3 – Flyers (0)
• C1 – Avalanche (4) vs. C3 – Wild (1)
• P1 – Golden Knights (4) vs. P3 – Ducks (2)

• M1 – Hurricanes (0) vs. A3 – Canadiens (0)
• C1 – Avalanche (0) vs. P1 – Golden Knights (0)

Pierre LeBrun (via 𝕏): As of yesterday morning, the Vegas Golden Knights have not granted any team permission to speak with former head coach Bruce Cassidy. Though unfair, he’s signed by the Golden Knights through the 2026-27 season. 

Sportsnet: The Oilers, who have been reported to ask about Cassidy, were granted permission to speak to Craig Berube. The Maple Leafs let go of Berube after a 32-36-14 record and a front office change, and the Oilers relieved Kris Knoblauch last week. 

Berube coached the Blues to the 2019 Stanley Cup (sorry), and he has a 365-252-90 regular-season record as a coach. 

Chicago Hockey Now: The Blackhawks have been trying to sign Ilya Mikheyev to an extension this offseason, but the two sides cannot meet. Elliotte Friedman reported that the Blackhawks made the UFA’s negotiating rights available for trade. Jack Bushman has more.

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils have the No. 12 pick at the draft. They can trade it, or they can make the pick. Daniel Amoia has a prospect that, if available, the Devils should take with their first-round pick. 

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins made some trades this season, namely acquiring both Egor Chinakhov and Samuel Girard. Chinakhov, acquired in December, made a name for himself after joining the Penguins. Girard fit in, but not nearly as well as Chinakhov. Dan Kingerski has his grades on the two. 

Eastern Conference Final:

• Game 1: at Carolina – Thursday, May 21, 8:00 PM
• Game 2: at Carolina – Saturday, May 23, 7:00 PM
• Game 3: at Montreal – Monday, May 25, 8:00 PM
• Game 4: at Montreal – Wednesday, May 27, 8:00 PM
• Game 5*: at Carolina – Friday, May 29, 8:00 PM
• Game 6*: at Montreal – Sunday, May 31, TBD
• Game 7*: at Carolina – Tuesday, June 2, 8:00 PM

Western Conference Final: 

• Game 1: at Colorado – Wednesday, May 20, 8:00 PM
• Game 2: at Colorado – Friday, May 22, 8:00 PM
• Game 3: at Vegas – Sunday, May 24, 8:00 PM
• Game 4: at Vegas – Tuesday, May 26, 9:00 PM
• Game 5*: at Colorado – Thursday, May 28, 8:00 PM
• Game 6*: at Vegas – Saturday, May 30, 8:00 PM
• Game 7*: at Colorado – Monday, June 1, 8:00 PM

Latvia vs. Austria – 10:20 AM (CA: TSN4)

Italy vs. Norway – 10:20 AM (US: NHLN; CA: TSN1)

Hungary vs. Great Britain – 2:20 PM (CA: TSN4)

Slovenia vs. Slovakia – 2:20 PM (US: NHLN; CA: TSN1)

(all times ET)

The post Daily Bean: Canadiens Win, Mariners Lose, IIHF Worlds, Conference Final Schedule appeared first on Boston Hockey Now.

Why is Pep Guardiola leaving Man City? Ten years, 20 trophies and the multiple reasons to call time originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

For a man who has stayed so long, become part of the Premier League furniture, the British sporting landscape and Manchester's wider culture, Pep Guardiola has always felt a bit like he might be leaving.

Speaking at his first City press conference in July 2016, wearing an immaculate grey three-piece suit, he expressed reverence for English football's traditions that made him sound like a man passing through.

"To come to the country which created football and believe you have to change something would be a little bit presumptuous," he said. "I'm not good enough to change everything. To change the mentality of a club of more than 120 years would be presumptuous."

Presumptuous, yes. But he did. He has. Manchester City and English football will never be the same after Guardiola. They will both carry his imprint for a very long time when he leaves the Etihad Stadium dugout for the final time after Sunday's concluding Premier League match against Aston Villa.

Even this season, when the Premier League has been more physical, set-piece dominated and transition-oriented than at any time since Guardiola bent the league to his will with six titles in seven years, the 55-year-old Catalan is the reason. 

MORE:All trophies won by Pep Guardiola in storied coaching career

The present state of English football's post-Pep evolution, beyond the copyists who yielded mixed results (Guardiola has frequently warned that you cannot simply "copy and paste" coaching ideas and hope for success to follow), has been an almost league-wide response to the City manager's signature style being the prevailing one. His old assistant Mikel Arteta is on the cusp of a maiden league title with Arsenal, but only after something of a 'dark side' conversion.

And Guardiola has relished it. Jurgen Klopp's old No. 2 Pep Lijnders and former Arsenal and City defender Kolo Toure have brought new impetus and enthusiasm to the training ground as a young squad, hastily and expensively revamped over the past three transfer windows, has adapted to Pepball.

Getty Images

"The way we pressed this season was different, different ways. To find the perfect comfort on the field, maybe we took more time," he said at a press conference before Tuesday's trip to Bournemouth. The three-piece suit is long gone, currently replaced by a signature Puma hoodie with a giant "P" on the front that strongly brings to mind Alvin from The Chipmunks. This is more relaxed, forthcoming Guardiola, who has come to chuckle through press conferences, giddily fumble punchlines and accuse journalists of using Chat GPT for their research (not guilty!).

"The game this season has been many, many different ways, like never happened before in my career. I always have more or less [changed] one slight detail, but here, we changed more. On the other side, it has been fun. It has been more entertaining, I would say."

Fun, entertaining, relaxed — although not relaxed to the extent he isn't as manically engaged in every kick of every game as he ever was. Games where, through all those changes in personnel and tactical demands, City have emerged with two trophies. They still have an outside chance of sweeping the board domestically. So, why now?

"You go to the ChatGPT, right?" 👀

Pep Guardiola is suspicious of the reporter's knowledge 🤣 pic.twitter.com/fM5BQSDpi8

— Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) May 18, 2026

There are a combination of factors, but the first thing to point out is that Guardiola was never supposed to be here this long. He worked for four years at Barcelona between 2008 and 2012 on rolling one-year contracts. The exhaustion brought about by Camp Nou's entorno led him to take a one-year sabbatical. Then he took the reins at Bayern Munich, cycled through a stack of bold, new tactical schemes, but grew restless in the final year of a three-year contract and agreed to come to City.

In Manchester, his old Barcelona allies Ferran Soriano and Txiki Begiristain, City's CEO and erstwhile sporting director respectively, laid the groundwork for Guardiola. The City Football Academy was set up to be his perfect working environment. There was none of the political ructions that accompanied a Catalan being Barcelona coach or the overly opinionated retired club icons from Bayern. Early in his tenure, Guardiola sought information about the British game from City's great former England winger Mike Summerbee, safe in the knowledge he would not receive unsolicited tactical advice in return.

Guardiola's first contract was for three years and he extended by a further two in May 2018, when City swept to their record-breaking 100-point Premier League title success. This Noah's Ark approach continued, bolting on another two years at a time, although it felt feasible he might have left in 2018/19, had City accompanied their unprecedented domestic treble with a Champions League crown, football completed. Instead, they suffered dramatic heartbreak in a thrilling quarterfinal against Tottenham Hotspur, going out on the now-defunct away-goals rule after Raheem Sterling had a hat-trick and a tie-sealing goal deep into stoppage time ruled out by VAR.

It was not the last time the Champions League would bring Guardiola to his knees at City and there were four more years of yearning until the treble moment in Istanbul. By that point, he'd pipped Jurgen Klopp's formidable Liverpool side on the final day of the Premier League season in 2019 and 2022. The Reds' storming run to rip the title away from City in 2019/20 gave Guardiola something else to prove. He signed a two-year extension in November 2020 as City grappled with the vagaries of COVID-19 football and emerged as a whirling false-nine winning machine.

The November international break became a favourite of Guardiola's when it came to plotting his next move. He penned extensions that month in 2022 and, during the worst on-field crisis of his City career, in 2024. His squad had won a fourth consecutive top-division title in 2023/24 – a feat never previously accomplished in English football – but a couple of uneven summer transfer windows, along with understandable but misguided loyalty to ageing veterans, meant City collapsed in autumn and winter 2024, winning just one of 13 games in all competitions at their prolonged nadir.

At this time, as at any point of turbulence since the Premier League's hefty charge sheet dropped in February 2023, plenty of observers wondered aloud whether 'the 115' was affecting City and their manager. Guardiola has stridently backed his club, which denies all allegations of serious financial wrongdoing, ever since their two-year UEFA ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in August 2020.

It feels unfair and deeply unsatisfactory that the interminable wait for a verdict in the Premier League case will persist beyond Guardiola's tenure, but this is not a factor in his decision. The "rat deserting a sinking ship" prognosis is no more than the stuff of social media fantasy. A day-to-day details obsessive and a glacial legal process were never likely to align their schedules.

Guardiola recognised his part in the summer 2024 market misjudgement and endeavouring to make it right was a big motivation for him to sign another two-year renewal until 2027. Over recent weeks, his recited mantra of "I have one more year contract" when asked about his future has come to sound a bit like a man pleading the fifth. He did not want to hand over a bedraggled City to a successor in summer 2025. Now, a retooled playing squad imbued with fresh ideas on the training ground are primed for a new cycle, widely presumed to be under ex-Chelsea boss and Guardiola's 2022/23 treble-winning assistant Enzo Maresca.

The rebuild was initially overseen by Begiristain in January 2025, but with incoming sporting director Hugo Viana also part of the conversations. Begiristain had intended to bow out alongside Guardiola, only for his old friend to decide he wished to go on and on. Viana and Guardiola enjoy a strong and productive working relationship, but it's not Pep and Txiki. It never could be. And so much has changed, beyond the end of Guardiola's most enduring football partnership.

There's not really anyone left from 2016, aside from his ever-present confident Manel Estiarte. Assistant coaches have moved on, some to fine careers of their own, such as Arteta and Maresca. Guardiola's mentor Juanma Lillo has spent two spells on the coaching staff but left for the last time prior to this season. John Stones was Guardiola's second signing, and the England centre-back's departure means there is no one remaining from the 2016/17 playing squad. Club captain Bernardo Silva following Stones through the exit doors means there is no one left from the 2017/18 'Centurions'. Phil Foden, once Guardiola's teen protege and pet project, is City's longest-serving player by some distance.

The same applies to rivals. The managers filling Premier League jobs look very different to the class of 2016 that Guardiola entered. Plenty of them are there in part due to his influence, both directly and indirectly. His greatest sporting foe, Jurgen Klopp, left Liverpool exhausted in 2024. Guardiola wept in his end-of-season press conference when he paid tribute to the gegenpressing maestro.

There's also a personal element. Guardiola's three children came to Manchester a decade ago; they're now grown up, young adults who have flown the nest. In December 2025, Guardiola separated from his wife and partner of 30 years, Cristina. 

In short, an awful lot of life has happened. A friend of Guardiola told The Sporting News that the coach's inner circle has remained very tight on the precise motivation for his departure. Press conferences over the coming days will shed some light, but only as much as Guardiola wants to let in.

"I don't know the reason. I think it's very personal," they said. "I suppose he's very tired after 10 years. His family is far away; he's been in the same place for 10 years. He's already achieved complete success — he doesn't need to prove anything.

"I suppose all this is what's driving him to say goodbye. Pep doesn't need any more trophies. I think he needs to take a breather, play golf, live a bit, go to the beach. And then, a national team."

Ah yes, a job at a national team. You didn't think we'd get rid of him that easily, did you?

BASEBALL

Class 2A semifinal

Trinity Christian 7, Lakeland Christian 2

Lakeland Christian;200;000;0;--;2;5;0

Trinity Christian;101;401;x;--;7;8;1

W: Wheeler. L: Walker.

3B: Harris (TC) 2. 2B: Ellis (TC), Reali (TC), Irby (LC).

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville-area high school sports scores, May 18-23

The New York Knicks begin the Eastern Conference Finals tonight with a chance to move closer to ending one of the NBA’s longest waits.

New York have not reached the NBA Finals since 1999, when their surprise postseason run ended against the San Antonio Spurs.

That history now follows them into a series where expectation has grown. The Knicks are rested, at home, and facing a Cleveland Cavaliers team coming off a longer route.

The Knicks swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the previous round, giving them valuable recovery time before the conference finals opener.

Cleveland arrive in a different condition. The Cavaliers needed seven games to beat the Detroit Pistons, extending their workload before the biggest series of their season.

That contrast adds to the pressure on New York. Home-court advantage gives the Knicks a clear opportunity, but it also removes many of their excuses.

Madison Square Garden will expect a fast start. Games at this stage often turn on small margins, and the Knicks have the schedule position they would have wanted.

The wider context is harder to ignore. A quarter of a century has passed since New York last played for the title, and this roster can change that.

The challenge is turning favourable circumstances into control. Rest, rhythm and home court matter, but Cleveland’s seven-game route also shows they have already survived pressure.

For the Knicks, this series is not only about reaching the Finals. It is about proving that a historic absence can finally end on their terms.

Read more:

• Victor Wembanyama dominates Game 1: new face of the NBA is born
• Udonis Haslem makes ‘just like us’ admission about Victor Wembanyama after Game 1 heroics vs. Thunder
• Draymond Green says NBA looked like ‘child’s play’ after damaging leak

Manuel Ugarte has expressed his gratitude to his family and partner for helping him through a ‘difficult’ season.

It comes ahead of a summer transfer window in which the midfielder looks nailed-on to leave Manchester United.

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While fans have been less than impressed with Ugarte’s performances this season, you can understand why his morale will have taken a substantial hit, especially in recent months.

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Of the 29 Premier League appearances he made in his maiden term, 22 came from the off. 

This time around, however, the Uruguayan has made only 22 appearances overall, with just eight of those being as a starter.

When he oversaw a particularly shoddy display in the defeat to Leeds United at Old Trafford, reports claimed that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had personally green-lit Ugarte’s summer exit while on a visit to Carrington.

Michael Carrick’s mind was also made up regarding the 25-year-old after the loss, as he has yet to feature since – not even for a minute to see out some of the recent wins.

While his impending departure has not been confirmed, there is a general expectation amongst fans that Ugarte has played his final game for United.

The fact that he wasn’t used in Saturday’s win over Nottingham Forest meant he was unable to play in front of the M16 faithful for the last time or get a send-off, although he did take part in the post-match lap of appreciation with the rest of his teammates.

Ugarte shared a snap of himself and his partner on the pitch to Instagram today, and the caption simply read: “[A] season with many difficult moments, but always smiling. Thank you to my family who always supported me from afar and to you, love, who stood by my side on the toughest days.”

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Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images

Arsenal are doing everything they can to have Jurrien Timber available for their final matches of the season, with the right-back now in his third month out of action.

Recent reports have suggested the defender is back in training, and the Netherlands’ manager Ronald Koeman has now confirmed as much. But Koeman added that the chances of Timber featuring in the Champions League final and the World Cup still aren’t great.

“Jurrien has been dealing with this for quite ​some time. It has been a rollercoaster ride,” Koeman said. “He is training again to see ​if he can make the Champions League final, and be available ​for the World Cup, but it does not look rosy at the moment.”

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Ben White has already been ruled out for Arsenal’s last couple of games, with testing on his knee issue revealing he’ll be out for the remainder of the season.

The only good news on that front is that White doesn’t require surgery, and that he has plenty of time to recover before 2026/27.

White’s absence has put extra pressure on Timber’s situation, with Arsenal having to manage without a natural right-back against Burnley on Monday.

Cristhian Mosquera filled in well, but it would obviously be preferable to have Timber available against Crystal Palace and Paris Saint-Germain in the final couple of games, with two trophies at stake.

Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images

As it stands, Koeman’s suggestion is that Timber’s involvement isn’t particularly likely, and the player may instead end up focusing on recovering in time for the World Cup a couple of weeks later.

And if Koeman decides against including a player who hasn’t featured on the pitch since March 14th, then Timber would be starting his holidays early.

A coach’s playcalling tendencies should not, under any circumstances under the sun, be your guiding light in valuing one player over another for fantasy football purposes. My spreadsheets are not certain on much, but they’re certain on this: There are a bunch of factors to consider before you get to playcalling as a determining factor in building a fantasy roster.

It is something to consider though, and it can serve as a tiebreaker in the middle or later parts of a draft. In that way playcalling trends — especially where it counts the most (the red zone) — is similar to considering which players ran cold last season.

Below is a look at five NFL offenses that were among the league’s pass-heaviest units inside the 20 (red zone) and inside the 10 (green zone), and how that trend might carry over in 2026 and affect players’ touchdown-based upside. I used teams’ pass rate over expected in the red (and green) zones in neutral situations, or when the game is within one score outside the final two minutes of each half.

We like touchdowns. We want as many of them as we can get, for they supercharge a player's best-case scenario and serve as deodorant for the less-than-efficient players.

RELATED: 2026 Sunday Night Football schedule for NBC and Peacock

• Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 6.4 percent (1st)
• Neutral PROE inside the 10: 7.2 percent (4th)

Sean McVay has established the dang pass near the goal line during his run with Matthew Stafford under center. Those who drafted Davante Adams last season — and those who faced Adams — know this well. McVay’s commitment to the pass inside the 20-yard line turned a lot of low-volume target days into big statistical outings for Adams.

The thing we nerds should remember about a good offense is that even a pass-heavy approach where it counts the most doesn’t leave the team’s running backs without scoring opportunities. The Rams in 2025 had the third most inside-the-five rushing attempts. Kyren Williams ranked fifth among all running backs with 30 inside-the-10 carries while Blake Corum saw 16 green zone opportunities.

McVay’s Rams offense is one of the rare units that can produce bountiful touchdown opportunities for both the team’s pass catchers and rushers. If either LA back misses time in 2026, the one left standing should have as much touchdown-based upside as anyone in the NFL.

• Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 3 percent (3rd)
• Neutral PROE inside the 10: 0.1 percent (10th)

This isn’t a stunner for anyone who has watched Andy Reid get weird with red zone playcalling in recent years. Handing the football to the big running back and letting him trundle into the end zone seems beneath Reid. That’s been excellent for the statistical upside of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ pass catchers (at least it was excellent before the KC became one of the game’s most vanilla and boring offenses).

Kansas City last season ranked 20th in inside-the-five rushes, with Kareem Hunt seeing 13 of those 20 attempts and scoring seven times. Meanwhile, Mahomes ranked third in red zone pass attempts before his season-ending knee injury — not at all an unusual spot for him.

Chiefs officials and coaches have hinted this offseason that the team might mess around and get more balanced on offense to help Mahomes get back to full health before, I suppose, letting it rip with the pass-heavy checkdown system Reid has deployed over the past few years. If that’s the case, Kenneth Walker III might not see anything close to a big number of high-value green zone rushes in 2026.

Walker has been fine as an inside-the-ten runner. Over the past two years he’s turned seven of his 25 green zone chances into touchdowns. The hope for Walker drafters is that the Seahawks’ refusal to use him near the goal line over the past couple seasons was a unique decision and does not carry over into his first season in Kansas City.

• Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 2 percent (7th)
• Neutral PROE inside the 10: -5.6 percent (20th)

Sean Payton over the past two seasons has leaned heavily on the pass inside the 20 while skewing run heavy inside the 10. It’s a curious mix you don’t see all that often when you parse red zone playcalling trends.

Payton, as you surely know, is giving up playcalling this offseason and handing the reins to offensive coordinator Davis Webb. It’s hard (impossible) to say if Webb will continue this sort of inside-the-20 approach in 2026. I mostly agree with RotoPat’s assessment that a lifelong offensive mastermind like Payton will keep one hand on the offensive steering wheel even if Webb was given the OC/playcaller title to keep him in Denver for one more year.

Bo Nix’s 80 red zone pass attempts ranked fourth among all QBs in 2025 and his 68 red zone throws ranked tenth in 2024. Nix has been highly efficient as an inside-the-10 passer over his first two pro seasons, turning 68 throws into 24 touchdowns (35 percent). Courtland Sutton has made much of his fantasy money in this part of the field thanks largely to Denver’s commitment to the pass near the end zone. I’m not sure we can bank on that in 2026 with Jaylen Waddle coming aboard as the team’s clear WR1. Perhaps Sutton being a shifty big-bodied wideout will keep him locked in as Nix’s primary red zone target, however.

The Nix-era Broncos’ pass-heavy red zone ways, you may have guessed, have severely limited rushing opportunities near the end zone. The Broncos logged a grand total of 19 inside-the-five rushes in 2025, the 11th fewest in the league. JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey last year combined for a meager 24 rushing attempts inside the ten. That total would have equaled the green zone carries for D’Andre Swift, who finished 11th in that category in 2025.

This was hardly new in 2025. Denver was 7 percent above its expected green zone pass rate in 2024 (6th) and 3 percent over inside the 20 (7th). Nix’s rushing ability — assuming he fully recovers from his January ankle break — has also siphoned valuable goal line opportunities for Denver’s backs. It’s something to consider when drafting Dobbins, Harvey, or Jonah Coleman, who I like very much.

• Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 1.1 percent (6th)
• Neutral PROE inside the 10: 1 percent (8th)
  

The Bengals, when Joe Burrow isn’t dealing with a two-month toe injury or a six-week pinky injury, are ultra-super-giga-turbo pass heavy inside the 20. It’s been quite fun for fantasy.

In 2024, when Burrow somehow managed to play 17 games, he led all quarterbacks with 122 red zone attempts. That’s 23 more than the next closest guy, Patrick Mahomes. With Zac Taylor’s offense going 15.5 percent over their expected pass rate in the red zone, 30 of Burrow’s 41 touchdowns in 2024 came in that part of the field. Ja’Marr Chase, naturally, led the NFL in both red zone and green zone looks. Tee Higgins, also naturally, was third among wideouts in green zone targets.

In 2025 Burrow starts beginning in Week 12, Cincy ranked seventh in PROE inside the 20; they were 17 percent over their expected pass rate in the green zone, second only to the Jets for some reason. Usually this sort of pass-crazy approach near the end zone would be annoying, bordering on disastrous for the team’s lead back. That’s not the case for Chase Brown though. Last year from Week 12-18 Brown led the Bengals with seven inside-the-20 targets. He also saw four end zone targets during that span — not half bad for a running back.

Brown’s pass-catching role in the high-powered Cincinnati offense makes him too big to fail. There are not many game scripts in which he can’t thrive thanks to his pass game involvement. Last season from Week 12 to 18, only three backs had more targets and receptions than Brown. Only Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs had more receiving yards.

• Neutral pass rate over expected inside the 20: 0.2 percent (10th)
• Neutral PROE inside the 10: 12.4 percent (2nd)

Kevin O’Connell is so into red zone passing that he continued the bit even with J.J. McCarthy under center in 2025. The Vikings last year were over their expected inside-the-20 pass rate in 13 of 17 regular season games after going ultra run-heavy in the red zone in Week 1. It didn’t work, but that’s beside the point.

In 2024 only the Jets and Bengals were more pass-heavy inside the 20 than O’Connell’s Vikings. Justin Jefferson enjoyed 25 red zone looks that season, the third most among receivers. That number fell to 17 in 2025. That’s what happens when your offense averages a pedestrian 2.9 red zone possessions per game. That Jefferson only caught five of those 17 red zone targets for two touchdowns speaks to the, um, questionable quality of McCarthy’s throws (Vikings fans aren’t doing well with the downfall of Nine).

Jefferson in 2025 had the same number of inside-the-10 looks as Colby Parkinson and Hunter Henry. That, to this humble football blogger, seems suboptimal. Theoretically, Jefferson should see a glut of green zone looks if the Vikings offense can run a little more smoothly in 2026 and O'Connell continues to shun the run near the goal line.

O’Connell leaning heavily toward the pass in the red and green zones in 2025 had an outsized impact on his running backs’ touchdown opportunities because the offense was inefficient and generally unproductive. Jordan Mason led the Vikes with nine carries inside the 10 while Aaron Jones had six. The entire team managed a mere 15 rushes inside the five yard line, fewer than all but three teams. Without marked improvements in the Kyler Murray era — however short-lived — Minnesota backs are not going to have much in the way of short-range touchdown opportunity in 2026. So it goes.

As for Kyler, his green zone passing has been spotty. Last season Murray over his five-game campaign completed five of 10 inside-the-ten passes for four touchdowns. Justin Herbert, Sam Darnold, Patrick Mahomes, and Brock Purdy were the only QBs with a higher green zone completion rate than Murray. In 2024 he completed 17 of 35 attempts for 12 touchdowns, the 11th most that season. It's fine. Better than I thought, anyway.

The Georgia Bulldogs remain at the No. 4 spot in the May 18 USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll after winning two of three games on the road against the No. 6 Auburn Tigers. The Bulldogs even earned one first-place vote.

Georgia is ranked behind No. 1 UCLA, No. 2 North Carolina and No. 3 Georgia Tech. UCLA received 28 of 30 first-place votes with Georgia Tech receiving the other.

Entering the Auburn series, Georgia had already won the SEC regular season championship. Georgia is red hot and has won 11 of its last 12 games entering the SEC Tournament.

The Bulldogs (43-12, 23-7 SEC) have lost only one SEC series all year (at home to Florida). Georgia is the only team in SEC history to win all five SEC road road series. Georgia is a lock to earn a top eight seed in the NCAA Tournament after beating Auburn on the road.

The Dawgs are the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament and an automatic berth into the quarterfinals. Georgia's opening SEC Tournament game will be at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 21 in Hoover, Alabama.

No. 24 Boston College; No. 25 Jacksonville State;

Jacksonville State 43; Wake Forest 22; Boston College 18; UC Santa Barbara 10; Oklahoma 10; Mercer 6; California Baptist 5; East Carolina 3; Miami (FL) 2; Kent State 2; UTSA 1; UCF 1; Campbell 1;

Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X or Threads for more Georgia baseball coverage!

This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Where Georgia is ranked in the coaches poll after series win at Auburn

LISBON (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo is set to make a record sixth World Cup appearance after being included in Portugal's squad for the tournament on Tuesday, and coach Roberto Martínez said the late Diogo Jota will be on everyone's minds when the team tries to win soccer's showcase event for the first time.

The 28-year-old Jota, a regular in Portugal's squad, was killed in a car crash in Spain last year.

Martínez picked the 41-year-old Ronaldo and 26 other players to try to give Portugal its first World Cup title.

It will likely be Ronaldo's final attempt at winning soccer's most coveted trophy. It will be his first World Cup since he left elite soccer in Europe to play in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo and his great rival Lionel Messi of Argentina could become the first men to play in six World Cups.

Ronaldo is the all-time leader in appearances (226) and goals (143) for a men’s national team. He is also the only man to have scored in five World Cups.

Ronaldo told CNN in November that this one “definitely” would be his last World Cup.

Also included in the list were Ronaldo's Al Nassr teammate João Félix, Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes. Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, João Neves and Gonçalo Ramos also made the list.

Martínez selected four goalkeepers to his squad.

Portugal is in Group K along with Colombia, Uzbekistan and Congo. Portugal opens against Congo on June 17 in Houston.

___

Portugal squad:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), José Sá (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velho ( Gençlerbirliği)

Defenders: Rúben Dias (Manchester City), João Cancelo (Barcelona), Diogo Dalot (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain), Nélson Semedo (Fenerbahce), Matheus Nunes (Manchester City), Gonçalo Inácio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villarreal), Tomás Araújo (Benfica)

Midfielders: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City), Vitinha (PSG), João Neves (PSG), Rúben Neves (Al Hilal), Samú Costa (Mallorca)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr), Rafael Leão (AC Milan), João Félix (Al Nassr), Gonçalo Ramos (PSG), Pedro Neto (Chelsea), Francisco Conceição (Juventus), Gonçalo Guedes (Real Sociedad), Francisco Trincão (Sporting Lisbon).

___

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Following an unforgettable start to his Longhorns career, Carson Tinney is making national headlines. The star catcher has been named one of the 16 semifinalists for the 2026 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award. The honor is given each year to the college baseball's top catcher. 

In 52 games this season, the Colorado native has posted a .321 batting average and driven in 54 runs. Through 187 at-bats, he has 30 extra-base hits and has only grounded into one double play. While the future MLB draft pick is playing in a new conference, he has not looked out of place. 

caught himself a semifinalist nod 🏆#HookEm | @carson_tinneypic.twitter.com/lH6oITfUy8

— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) May 18, 2026

Entering play on Monday, Tinney ranked in the top five in multiple categories in the SEC. That included home runs, walks, and OPS. He also ranks in the top ten in on-base percentage, runs, and RBI. That is not a bad way to make a good first impression. 

While has Tinney thrived at plate, he has been just as good in the field. He owns a .996 fielding percentage which is one of the best in the SEC. With the former Notre Dame star getting most of the starts behind the plate, Texas has the third-lowest FIP and the sixth-best WHIP in the nation.

please accept this as our nomination for @SEC Player of the Week 🤘#HookEm | @carson_tinneypic.twitter.com/AmNNwDT97o

— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) May 17, 2026

If Tinney were to win the Buster Posey Award, he would be making history. No player in program history has ever taken home the honor. Last year, Ryan Galvan came close when he was named a finalist. 

Regardless of how voting plays out, Tinney has proven that he is one of the best catchers in the nation. His ultimate goal is to win a national title, but taking home the Buster Posey award would not be a bad way to end the season. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas baseball Carson Tinney moves closer to wining Buster Posey Award

Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba established himself as the best receiver in football in 2025. Smith-Njigba led the NFL with 1,793 receiving yards, scoring 10 touchdowns en route to an All-Pro season. While that wasn’t enough to win him the MVP award, Smith-Njigba took home the next best thing: The offensive player of the year award … or so he thought.

Turns out, someone made a pretty glaring mistake on Smith-Njigba’s physical award. Upon first blush, you might think it had something to do with the receiver’s name, which isn’t the easiest to spell, but you would be wrong. It was more embarrassing than that.

Smith-Njigba received the “2025 defensive player of the year” award … according to his trophy.

#Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba received his Offensive Player of the Year trophy … but the plaque says Defensive Player of the Year. 🤦‍♂️

“It’s getting disrespectful at this point.” pic.twitter.com/mzDlTvACDk

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 19, 2026

He was the one who called attention to the issue, sending out a short story on his Instagram page pointing out the error.

It’s an unfortunate mistake for all involved, as Smith-Njigba’s excellence extended far beyond the regular season. During the team’s Super Bowl run, Smith-Njigba caught 17 passes for 199 yards and two scores, including a 153-yard explosion that propelled the Seahawks past the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game.

Naturally, one has to wonder whether Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett — the actual defensive player of the year — erroneously received the “offensive player of the year” trophy. Garrett hasn’t provided any evidence suggesting there was a mixup on both trophies yet.

Either the league got that one right or Garrett hasn’t noticed. He already has another defensive player of the year award sitting around his house, so you can’t fault him if he didn’t look too hard at his second one.

Given the mixup, it seems likely Smith-Njigba will receive a corrected trophy in the coming weeks.

He may not have won this season's NBA MVP award, but San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama was unquestionably the best player on the court in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals.

In a performances for the ages, Wembanyama delivered when it mattered most in the Spurs' 122-115 double-overtime victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. He scored from every angle, was an unstoppable force on the boards and in the paint – and even buried a ridiculous game-tying 3-pointer from way beyond the arc in the waning seconds of the first extra period.

In the process, Wembanyama became the youngest player in NBA history (22 years, 134 days) to score at least 40 points and grab at least 20 rebounds in a playoff game.

In the double-overtime win over the top-seeded Thunder, Victor Wembanyama was on the court for the most minutes he's ever played in an NBA game. And his stat line might not even do him justice.

• Minutes played: 49 (out of a possible 58)
• Points: 41
• Rebounds: 24
• Assists: 3
• Blocked shots: 3
• Field goal shooting: 14-25 (.560)
• Three-point shooting: 1-2 (.500)
• Free throw shooting: 12-13 (.923)
• Steals: 1
• Turnovers: 3

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Victor Wembanyama stats: Spurs star dominates Game 1 of West finals

Golfers took advantage of the warm weather to raise money for a good cause in Torresdale on Monday.

The Mike Quick Celebrity Invitational was held at the Union League Golf Club.

Action News' own Matt O'Donnell was among the golfers who took part. Eagles legends Jason Kelce and Brandon Graham were also there.

Proceeds from the tournament benefits the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia.

May 19—OXFORD — Two local teams are still fighting after the first day of the state softball tournament on Monday.

Hartselle and West Limestone will both return Tuesday morning for the losers bracket semifinals at Choccolocco Park in Oxford.

Class 6A's No. 1 Hartselle took an early loss but rallied to outscore opponents 18-1 after the first game. That includes a win over No. 3 Wetumpka.

"Aubree Peak did great. I think that game (versus Wetumpka) is the best she's ever pitched in this type of situation," Hartselle head coach Anna Hall said. "I thought she did an amazing job."

The Tigers will advance to face the team that handed them their only loss of the tournament, Spain Park at 10:45 a.m.

"When someone beats you, you've got to want to go again," Hall said.

In West Limestone's first game, the No. 2 Wildcats took a loss to six-time consecutive state champions and Class 4A's No. 1 Orange Beach.

After the loss, the Wildcats responded with wins over Hamilton and West Morgan.

"Our girls are going to give it everything we've got," said West Limestone head coach Molly Fenn. "It's been a long day, but these girls found a way to push through and stop two really good-hitting teams."

West Limestone will play No. 7 American Christian Academy at 9 a.m.

Athens and West Morgan saw their seasons end after each taking two losses.

—

Spain Park 7, Hartselle 4: The No. 1 Tigers lost in the first round of the state tournament and fell to the Class 6A loser's bracket.

Amelia Fox led the way with two RBIs on a base-hit. Katie Norgard and Ryley Wold had an RBI each. Aubree Peak pitched five innings, allowing two runs and five hits with four strikeouts.

—

Hartselle 17, Oxford 1: The Tigers outhit the hometown team 16-5 for their first win of the state tournament in the loser's bracket.

Katie Norgard was 3-for-4 with a double and triple for three RBIs. LC Raley knocked in three runs while going 3-for-3. Aubrey Mize was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Hatsumi Peterson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Abigail Kubica was the winning pitcher with two innings, allowing two hits and one strikeout.

—

Hartselle 1, Wetumpka 0: Hartselle's Aubree Peak pitched a complete game shutout versus No. 3 Wetumpka to advance the Tigers to day two of the state tournament.

B Lawrence had Hartselle's only RBI, with a bunt. Ryley Wolf and Peak had a hit each. Peak allowed five hits and earned six strikeouts in seven innings.

—

Orange Beach 2, West Limestone 0: The Wildcats were held to just one hit against Class 4A's No. 1 Orange Beach in the first round of the state tournament.

Brylie Posey had West Limestone's only hit.

—

West Limestone 3, Hamilton 0: West Limestone allowed six Hamilton hits, but none of them scored for a win in the losers bracket on Monday.

Lilee Legg was 3-for-3 with a double and RBI. Lucee Legg had an RBI and a double while going 2-for-3. Jaidin Hargrove picked up an RBI. Katie Kyle threw three innings with six strikeouts and two hits to pick up the win.

—

West Limestone 6, West Morgan 1: The Rebels grabbed 11 hits off of West Limestone pitching, but only one of them came home to score. The loss ends West Morgan's season in the state tournament.

For West Limestone, Lucee Legg knocked in a pair of runs while going 2-for-4. Lilee Legg was 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Katie Kyle knocked in a run with a double. Anna Hardiman pitched a complete game, allowing 11 hits, one error and three strikeouts.

For West Morgan, Payson Terry was 2-for-2 with the Rebel's only RBI. Melea Harris was 2-for-4.

—

West Morgan 14, Munford 3: The Rebels scored six runs in the first inning to run away with a win in the first game of the state tournament.

Chasity Rikard had three RBIs and a home run while going 2-for-2. Alyssa Cleveland picked up two RBIs on a triple. Ailey Sackett was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Hatleigh White, Payson Terry, and Adi Grace Rodgers all had an RBI.

—

Plainview 6, West Morgan 5: Plainview walked off the Rebels with two runs on one hit in the bottom of the seventh, sending them to the loser's bracket

Hatleigh White was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. M Harris picked up two RBIs with a double. Chasity Rikard was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

—

Helena 13, Athens 3: Despite recording seven hits, Athens could only score three runs in the first round of the state tournament on Monday, sinking to the losers bracket.

Caitlyn Tedeford was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Abby Lopez had an RBI while going 2-for-2.

—

Gardendale 9, Athens 7: The Golden Eagles plated six runs in the top of the seventh but it wasn't enough for a comeback in the losers bracket.

Jazz Davis had a triple and three RBIs while going 3-for-4. Kara Crews knocked in two runs with a base-hit. Jaicey Harty and Paisley Howell both had an RBI each.

The SEC baseball world is descending on Hoover, Alabama.

Hoover Metropolitan Stadium will play host to the 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament, which kicks off Tuesday, May 19, culminating in a tournament championship game at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 24.

Vanderbilt, which won the 2025 SEC Tournament, will enter 2026 as a No 12 seed, while Georgia, the No. 1 seed heading into this season's bracket, will look for its first tournament championship in school history.

2026 SEC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT: SEC Baseball Tournament bracket, full TV schedule, seedings for 2026 championship

SEC BASEBALL POWER RANKINGS: SEC baseball power rankings after regular season as tournament begins

Follow along for updates as SEC teams battle it out in Hoover.

• When: May 19-24
• Where: Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Ala.

The 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament will take place at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover from May 19-24.

• TV channels: SEC Network, ABC
• Streaming: ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

The 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament will air on SEC Network and ABC. SEC Network will show games from the first round through the semifinals. The SEC conference championship game will air on ABC.

Streaming options include the ESPN app and Fubo.

Click here to see the full 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament bracket.

1. Georgia (23-7)
2. Texas (19-10)
3. Texas A&M (18-11)
4. Alabama (18-12)
5. Florida (18-12)
6. Auburn (17-13)
7. Arkansas (17-13)
8. Mississippi State (16-14)
9. Ole Miss (15-15)
10. Tennessee (15-15)
11. Oklahoma (14-16)
12. Vanderbilt (14-16)
13. Kentucky (13-17)
14. LSU (9-21)
15. South Carolina (7-23)
16. Missouri (6-24)

All times Central

First round (Tuesday, May 19)

• Game 1: No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 16 Missouri | 9:30 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 2: No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 13 Kentucky | 1 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 3: No. 10 Tennessee vs. No. 15 South Carolina | 4:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 LSU | 8 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

Second round (Wednesday, May 20)

• Game 5: No. 8 Mississippi State vs. Game 1 winner | 9:30 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 6: No. 5 Florida vs. Game 2 winner | 1 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 7: No. 7 Arkansas vs. Game 3 winner | 4:30 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 8: No. 6 Auburn vs. Game 4 winner | 8 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

Quarterfinals (Thursday, May 21)

• Game 9: No. 1 Georgia vs. Game 5 winner | 3 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 10: No. 4 Alabama vs. Game 6 winner | 7 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

Quarterfinals (Friday, May 22)

• Game 11: No. 2 Texas vs. Game 7 winner | 3 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 12: No. 3 Texas A&M vs. Game 8 winner | 7 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

Semifinals (Saturday, May 23)

• Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner | 12 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
• Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner | 4 p.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)

Championship (Sunday, May 24)

• Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner | 1 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament live scores, updates, highlights

Johann Zarco is facing what is likely to be a lengthy recovery period following his left leg injury - primarily to the knee - sustained at the Catalan Grand Prix.

After being examined by knee specialist Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet, Zarco knows he will need surgery but the procedure won’t be possible for a few weeks.

During the second restart in Barcelona on Sunday, Zarco crashed into the bikes of Francesco Bagnaia and Luca Marini, and his left leg became trapped between the wheel and the upper part of Bagnaia’s bike.

It was confirmed that evening that he had sustained injuries to the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, the medial meniscus and the fibula of his left leg.

Zarco flew back to France, and on Tuesday he met with Dr. Sonnery-Cottet, a leading specialist in knee injuries who has treated numerous athletes, including several famous footballers. Surgery will be necessary, but it will be some time before it can be scheduled.

"On Tuesday 19th May, Johann Zarco visited doctor Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet in Lyon, a world-renowned consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Centre Orthopédique Santy in Lyon, France, specialising in the management of knee ligament injuries and sports trauma, to further assess his physical condition," read a statement from LCR.

"Following a thorough examination, it is estimated that he will need to wait a couple of weeks before undergoing surgery for the damage to his ligaments, allowing the initial trauma and other injuries to his knee some time to heal before the procedure.

"Following the surgery, a detailed recovery plan will be established, allowing the medical team to evaluate a possible timeline for his return.

"The whole Castrol Honda LCR team is in close contact with Johann Zarco and will continue to provide updates as the date gets closer."

Several riders are scheduled for medical evaluations following the Catalan Grand Prix, which was marked by several major accidents. Alex Marquez, who suffered a heavy crash in a separate incident from Zarco’s on Sunday, is also set to undergo tests this week to determine whether surgery is necessary on his slightly fractured C7 vertebra. An operation on his collarbone was already performed on Monday.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, struck by debris from Marquez’s bike, won the race but missed Monday’s test due to pain in his left hand. Bagnaia, meanwhile, is set to undergo an examination of his left wrist following the crash with Zarco.

Jorge Martin also made a trip to the hospital after a crash during Monday’s test. Tests revealed no fractures.

Johann Zarco recounts Barcelona MotoGP crash: "It was absolutely terrifying"

MotoGP chief Carlos Ezpeleta defends decision to restart Catalan GP twice

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

J.T. Ginn took a no-hitter into the ninth inning for the Athletics against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim on Monday night. Two batters later, he suffered the loss.

In a hard-to-believe finish, Zach Neto hit a two-run homer to give the Angels a 2-1 walk-off win over the A’s.

The game was 0-0 entering the ninth inning, but the A’s got one run to take a 1-0 lead, setting up Ginn for the chance to finish off the no-hitter in the bottom of the ninth.

On pitch No. 102 of the night for Ginn, the Angels’ Adam Frazier hit a line-drive single to break up the no-hitter while leading off the bottom of the ninth.

Here’s how that looked on the NBC Sports California broadcast, with Jenny Cavnar on the A’s play-by-play call:

J. T. Ginn loses his no-hit bid in the 9th. pic.twitter.com/iWx2xQOGuA

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 19, 2026

So, the first-place A’s no longer had hopes of their first no-hitter since 2019 (Mike Fiers), but they still had the chance to secure a shutout road victory.

But three pitches later, Zach Neto crushed a 2-0 offering from Ginn over the center field wall for a walk-off blast.

Angels play-by-play announcer Wayne Randazzo had the call for FanDuel Sports Network West:

A’s pitcher J.T. Ginn entered the bottom of the ninth with a no-hitter.

Two batters later, Zach Neto and the Angels walk it off!

Wayne Randazzo has the Angels call. #MLBpic.twitter.com/mdaaUwpRfL

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2026

Randazzo: “HERE’S A FLYBALL, CENTER FIELD! IT’S HIT WELL! BOLTE IS BACK NEAR THE WALL! AND IT’S GONE! UNBELIEVABLE! WHAT A FINISH! ZACH NETO SAYS ‘GOOD NIGHT’ TO THE A’S AND J.T. GINN! WALKS IT OFF WITH A HOME RUN!”

The A’s broadcast call, on the other hand, was much more somber after the stunning turn of events. Here’s how that sounded with Cavnar alongside color commentator Dallas Braden:

The heartbroken A’s call, with Jenny Cavnar on play-by-play and Dallas Braden on color commentary.

Cavnar: “What a gut punch for the Athletics.”

Braden: “Just an incredibly unfortunate series of events… Jenny, it’s about as rough of a finish as I think you could expect.” https://t.co/YiPUdmOvxBpic.twitter.com/8dSjBFAQvw

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2026

Cavnar: “To center field. Going back is Henry Bolte. At the track, leaping up. And a home run for Zach Neto. A 2-1 walk-off win on a home run. What a gut punch for the Athletics. On a career-high night for J.T. Ginn; had a go-ahead hitter going into the ninth. Athletics able to scratch across the run they needed. And Dallas, they leave losing this game 2-1.”

Braden: “Just an incredibly unfortunate series of events… Jenny, it’s about as rough of a finish as I think you could expect, when you consider how the entire evening went. From first pitch, it was a pitcher’s duel. J.T. Ginn outpaced (Walbert) Ureña. But unfortunately, the last team standing here tonight not wearing green and gold.”

Along with securing an amazing walk-off victory, the Angels extend their longest active streak in MLB without being no-hit, going back to Sept. 1999.

The Angels have now gone 4,227 consecutive games, including postseason, without being no-hit

That’s the longest active streak in MLB and the 15th-longest all-time

h/t @EliasSportshttps://t.co/tsJat29kzl

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) May 19, 2026

The post Listen: Angels, A’s TV calls of insane finish in Anaheim appeared first on Awful Announcing.

In-form Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to put up another show at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Tuesday evening during Rajasthan Royals' clash against Lucknow Super Giants.

The boy wonder has been in majestic form in the ongoing season, having already scored close to 500 runs in the 12 innings before the LSG clash. 

All eyes are on the young southpaw once again as Rajasthan Royals are looking for a win and to solidify their place in the IPL 2026 playoff race.

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is expected to open the innings for RR, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, against LSG.

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Sandro Tonali is now reportedly expected to leave Newcastle United at the end of the season, and the midfielder’s situation is continuing to attract attention from Juventus.

The Italian has been monitored by the Bianconeri for several months as the club searches for midfield reinforcements capable of improving the quality and balance of the squad ahead of next season.

Reports in recent months have suggested that Tonali would welcome a return to Serie A in the future, which initially appeared to provide encouragement for Juventus as they considered a possible move for the midfielder.

Juventus are expected to be interested in any opportunity to sign a player of Tonali’s quality and experience, particularly given his understanding of Italian football and his reputation as one of the country’s leading midfielders.

However, developments surrounding his future may not favour the Bianconeri as much as initially hoped. Competition for his signature is expected to be intense, particularly from clubs within the Premier League.

According to Tuttojuve, Tonali is now more likely to remain in England even if he leaves Newcastle United during the upcoming transfer window.

The report claims that Arsenal and Manchester United are currently leading the race for the midfielder and are both prepared to continue pushing strongly to secure his signature.

Tonali is expected to join the club capable of offering Newcastle United the most attractive transfer package while also presenting him with a highly competitive personal contract.

That situation could create major difficulties for Juventus, especially if they fail to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Missing out on Europe’s top competition would significantly reduce their financial flexibility and overall appeal when competing against Premier League clubs.

For now, Juventus remain focused on finishing the current campaign strongly before turning full attention towards the transfer market and potential squad improvements.

However, if they are limited to Europa League football next season, attracting elite players such as Tonali could become increasingly challenging as competition for top talents continues to grow across Europe.

On Tuesday in Omaha, the Big Ten baseball tournament gets underway.

While the Big Ten is projected to see four teams get into the field of 64, the conference might have the top-overall seed in the UCLA Bruins. UCLA finished the year with a 48-6 record overall, and is the first team in the history of the rankings at D1Baseball.comto go wire-to-wire in the No. 1 spot.

But with Oregon, Nebraska, and USC also expected to earn spots in the field of 64 — and Michigan and Purdue fighting for their tournament lives this week — there are several reasons to keep an eye on this tournament.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 Big Ten baseball tournament.

Unlike the ACC baseball tournament, which flipped to a single-eliminaton format for the 2025 season, the Big Ten tournament consists of both a double-elimination portion, and a single-elimination portion.

At the outset, only 12 teams qualified for the Big Ten baseball tournament. Minnesota, Indiana, Maryland, Penn State, and Northwestern will be watching along with the rest of us.

Teams seeded No. 5 through No. 12 — Purdue, Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Rutgers, Washington, and Michigan State — will play a double-elimination tournament with those eight teams split into two brackets of four teams each. Purdue, Michigan State, Iowa, and Illinois are in one while Michigan, Rutgers, Ohio State, and Washington are in the other.

This double-elimination portion will determine the four “qualifiers” for the single-elimination portion. That is when the top four seeds (UCLA, Nebraska, Oregon, and USC) join the fun, for the single elimination portion.

Here is how the teams are seeded, along with their regular season and Big Ten records:

1. UCLA (48-6, 28-2 Big Ten)
2.  Nebraska (41-14, 23-7 Big Ten)
3.  Oregon (38-15, 20-10 Big Ten)
4.  USC (42-14, 20-10 Big Ten)
5.  Purdue (35-18, 18-12 Big Ten)
6.  Ohio State (29-23, 18-12 Big Ten)
7.  Michigan (32-22, 17-13 Big Ten)
8.  Iowa (32-21, 15-15 Big Ten)
9.  Illinois (28-25, 14-16 Big Ten)
10. Rutgers (26-28, 13-17 Big Ten)
11. Washington (23-31, 12-18 Big Ten)
12. Michigan State (22-31, 11-19 Big Ten)

Here is the bracket for the Big Ten tournament, courtesy of the conference:

As noted above, this tournament features both a double-elimination stage, as well as a single-elimination stage. Teams seeded No. 5 through No. 12 participate in the double-elimination stage, leading to the four qualifiers who advance to the single-elimination stage.

We start with the Bruins.

UCLA rolled through its schedule, losing just two games in the Big Ten and six overall. The Bruins won all 14 of their weekend series this season, and the team’s 48 wins set a new program record. Not only did the Bruins win every regular-season series this year, but they were the only program in the nation to take at least two of three games over each weekend series.

Leading the Bruins is shortstop Roch Cholowsky, widely considered the top prospect in this year’s MLB Draft. After slashing .353/.480/.710 during the 2025 season, Cholowsky posted a slash line of .330/.465/.684, while belting 21 home runs. But a big key for UCLA’s season has been the development of Will Gasparino into a true two-way threat. Gasparino was considered one of the best defensive outfielders in the nation, but the transfer from Texas had his best season at the dish for UCLA, slashing .305/.405/.645, all career-high numbers. Add in ace Logan Reddemann and top-flight starter Wylan Moss on the bump, and you have a team built to be the top seed in the nation.

Oregon and Nebraska are both teams that could be hosting regionals come Selection Monday. The Cornhuskers finished second in the Big Ten, and while they did not face the Bruins during the regular season, they finished the year on a seven-game winning streak. In addition, this Nebraska team ended the year with 41 wins, including 23 in the Big Ten, the most conference wins in school history. And this senior-heavy team has enjoyed success before, as the Cornhuskers won the last two Big Ten tournaments.

And they’ll be playing close to home.

As for Oregon, the Ducks are one of just two teams from the Big Ten to beat UCLA this year, the other being Washington just a few days ago. And Oregon is coming off a dramatic win against USC in extra innings, using a squeeze bunt from catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus in the bottom of the 14th to knock off USC 6-5:

Mabeus was also named a semifinalist for the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award on Monday, the first Oregon catcher to be named a semifinalist for the award. He finished the regular season with a slash line of .313/.411/.556, and threw out 10 of the 23 attempted base stealers he saw this year.

Here is the schedule for the 2026 Big Ten baseball Tournament. All games are in Omaha, and the lower-seeded team will be the visiting team in each game.

Tuesday, May 19

Game 1: No. 5 Purdue vs. No. 12 Michigan State, 10:00 a.m. Eastern
Game 2: No. 8 Iowa vs. No. 9 Illinois, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 3: No. 7 Michigan vs. No. 10 Rutgers, 6:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 4: No. 6 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Washington, 10:00 p.m. Eastern

Wednesday, May 20

Game 5: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 10:00 a.m. Eastern (Loser eliminated)
Game 6: Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Loser, 2:00 p.m. Eastern (Loser eliminated)
Game 7: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 6:00 p.m Eastern (Winner is Qualifier 1)
Game 8: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Winner, 10:00 p.m. Eastern (Winner is Qualifier 2)

Thursday, May 21

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. Game 7 Loser, 3:00 p.m. Eastern (Loser eliminated, Winner is Qualifier 3)
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser, 7:00 p.m. Eastern (Loser eliminated, Winner is Qualifier 4)

Friday, May 22– Single-elimination Bracket

Game 11: No. 4 USC vs. Game 7 Winner/Qualifier 1, 10:00 a.m. Eastern
Game 12: No. 1 UCLA vs. Game 9 Winner/Qualifier 3, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 13: No. 2 Nebraska vs. Game 10 Winner/Qualifier 4, 6:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 14: No. 3 Oregon vs. Game 8 Winner/Qualifier 2, 10:00 p.m. Eastern

Saturday, May 23

Game 15: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 3:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 16: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner, 7:00 p.m. Eastern

Sunday, May 24 – Championship

Game 17: Game 15 Winner vs. Game 16 Winner, 3:00 p.m. Eastern

The Mets won an absolute insane baseball game, becoming the first team since 1983 to score double digit runs in extra innings as they prevailed 16-7 over the Nationals in twelve innings. It was the club’s third straight victory and their sixth win in their last seven games.

Choose Your Recap: Amazin’ Avenue, MLB.com, Daily News, NY Post, ESPN

After the game, the team designated Austin Slater for assignment.

The Mets brought up Daniel Duarte and optioned Joey Gerber to Triple-A. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Mets transferred A.J. Minter to the 60-day IL.

Will Sammon shared the story of Joe Raccuia, the scout who discovered A.J. Ewing. Raccuia is recovering from a stroke and the loss of his son, but has found solace in watching Ewing’s rise to the majors.

Bo Bichette discussed his slow start and how he’s trying to get back to being the player the Mets signed.

Bichette did break through with a three-hit game last night.

Juan Soto discussed the difference between his reception at Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium.

The Mets are calling up Zach Thornton to pitch on Wednesday. Nolan McLean will remain on turn and pitch on Tuesday for the Mets.

Anthony DiComo explored why they picked Thornton over some of the other options.

Tim Britton offered a blueprint for the team’s turnaround on the latest edition of This Week in Mets.

There is a chance Francisco Lindor could be back in June.

Jorge Polanco has begun the strengthening phase of his road back to the majors, with the hope being that he could begin a rehab assignment in a week or so.

Kodai Senga tossed 46 pitches during a Sunday bullpen session as he tries to work his way back from injury.

Jared Young will move his rehab to Triple-A as aims to return from his injury.

Dave Kerpen, CEO of Kerpen Ventures, talked about how being a Mets fan, moreso than exiting companies or getting an MBA, was the best training to becoming a founder.

The Braves activated Ronald Acuña Jr. from the injured list and played Kyle Farmer on the 10-day IL.

Atlanta topped the latest MLB Power Rankings.

The Phillies scored two in the eighth to top the Reds 5-4.

The Marlins cooled off the red-hot Braves, shutting them out 12-0.

Gerrit Cole could make his next start in the majors after touching close to 100 mph in his latest rehab start.

Tarik Skubal was encouraged by his latest symptom-free rehab start.

Roman Anthony of the Red Sox has hit a snag in his rehab and has hit pause as he tries to work his way back.

Pete Crow-Armstrong expressed regret at his ‘choice of words’ with a White Sox fan in a recent exchange.

An Astros fan who did not interfere with Brandon Nimmo stealing back a home run was rewarded with a signed ball and a nice message from the ex-Mets outfielder.

The Guardians beat up the Tigers 8-2.

The Rays walloped the Orioles 16-6.

The Yankees held off the Blue Jays 7-6, as David Bednar buckled down to secure a comeback win one night after his ninth inning collapse.

The Red Sox topped the Royals 3-1.

The Twins doubled up the Astros 6-3.

The Brewers earned a decisive 9-3 victory over the Cubs.

The Rockies held on to defeat the Rangers 7-6.

The Angels were being no-hit heading into the ninth, but ended up winning 2-1 in walk-off fashion.

The Padres blanked the Dodgers 1-0. Mason Miller showed his human side but still recovered to shut down L.A.

The Diamondbacks toppled the Giants 12-3.

The Mariners easily handled the White Sox 6-1. In the win, Colt Emerson hit his first major league home run, and after missing his debut, his family did not miss this feat.

Seth Ashby looked at what might be wrong with Bo Bichette.

Chris McShane previewed the team’s series against the Nationals.

Linus Lawrence provided a Monday Stat Party.

Allison McCague brought us the position player and pitcher meters for the week.

David Wright hit a memorable walk-off hit against Mariano Rivera to give the Mets a series-opening victory against the Yankees on this date in 2006.

Joao Pedro has responded with class after missing out on Brazil’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Chelsea forward had pushed himself into the conversation through his club form, but Brazil’s depth in attacking areas left him on the outside.

His reaction made clear that the decision hurt, while also showing the calm and maturity expected from a player still trying to force his way into the national-team picture.

Chelsea forward Joao Pedro shared an emotional Instagram message after being left out of Brazil’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad.

He wrote, “I tried to give my best at all times. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup. But I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be. Joys and frustrations are part of football.”

Pedro added, “From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home.”

It was a measured response from a player who could have easily let disappointment dominate the message. Instead, Pedro kept the focus on respect, perspective and support for the squad that did make it.

The wording still showed how much the snub meant. Representing Brazil at a World Cup remains one of the biggest honors in football, and missing out during a strong season will sting.

Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti also made it clear that Pedro’s omission was not an easy call. His explanation showed sympathy for the Chelsea forward, even while defending the selection decision.

Ancelotti said, “Believe me, I feel sad for Joao Pedro. With the season he’s having, he probably deserved to go to the World Cup.”

He added, “However, with all due respect and so much competition for places, we chose other players ahead of him… But we truly feel sorry for Joao Pedro. I’m sorry.”

That admission will not remove Pedro’s disappointment, but it does underline how close he came. Ancelotti effectively acknowledged that form was not the issue, competition was.

For Chelsea, the response should still feel encouraging. Pedro has clearly done enough to make Brazil’s manager think seriously about him, and that matters for his long-term international future.

The World Cup dream is paused rather than finished. Pedro’s next challenge is to turn the frustration into another season that makes him impossible to ignore.

Read more:

• Neymar’s Brazil World Cup call-up chances shift drastically before Carlo Ancelotti’s list
• Casemiro backs Neymar call-up but warns it should be in a special World Cup role
• Ronaldinho makes clear Neymar World Cup stance before Carlo Ancelotti’s call

Kai Havertz was shown only a yellow card following his challenge on Lesley Ugochukwu during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Burnley, and the decision has generated considerable debate among supporters and pundits.

Many observers believed the challenge warranted a red card, with the incident quickly becoming one of the major talking points from the match. Havertz avoided dismissal despite concerns over the height and nature of the tackle.

Arsenal have been one of the strongest defensive sides in the Premier League this season, yet they have still managed to avoid conceding both a penalty and a red card throughout the campaign.

The decision involving Havertz has intensified discussion surrounding consistency in Premier League officiating, particularly as some supporters and neutral viewers believe similar challenges have resulted in harsher punishments in other matches.

There is also growing scrutiny regarding Arsenal’s recent matches after some observers claimed the club benefited from favourable officiating decisions in consecutive fixtures, including their previous 1-0 victory against West Ham.

Despite the controversy, Arsenal successfully held on for another important win as they continued their push during the closing stages of the season.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher strongly criticised the decision not to dismiss Havertz and suggested the Arsenal player was fortunate to remain on the pitch.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher questioned both the referee’s judgement and the VAR review process.

He said:

“He’s very lucky. I think the fact the referee has such a good view and gives a yellow makes it maybe difficult for VAR to go against it.

“How the referee hasn’t given a red straight away, I don’t know. He can’t have a better view. It has to be a red card.

“The idea will be the force, that’s the one thing that’s saved him. I just struggle to see how you can get away with that with how high up it is on the calf.”

The incident is likely to remain a subject of debate as discussions around refereeing standards and VAR consistency continue across the Premier League.

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19 May 2026, 10:30

Celtic Football Club have confirmed via their official channels that the Hoops are Scottish Premiership champions for the fifth season in succession – 14 titles in the last 15 years, the latest secured in the most nerve-shredding of circumstances on the final day of the campaign. It is the official confirmation supporters have been waiting for, and it is every bit as sweet as it should be.

To understand the scale of what this club has achieved, consider this: since 1985–86, Celtic have now captured 23 Scottish top-flight titles to the Ibrox club’s 18 – no other club has won the league in that period. This fifth consecutive title also draws Celtic level with Rangers on 55 overall Scottish league championships. The next one puts us ahead outright. Let that sit for a moment.

The season itself – under Martin O’Neill, returning from retirement in the most extraordinary of circumstances – was anything but comfortable. O’Neill inherited a side six points behind Hearts and turned the campaign on its head, finishing two points clear after a final-day win to claim what Sky Sports described as Celtic’s “fifth in a row and 14th in 15 seasons.” As we flagged all along, this was a three-way title race with no certainty until the very last kick – Celtic, Hearts, and the Rangers all in the mix deep into the run-in.

We were on the knife’s edge going into the final day – Hearts sitting a point ahead on 80 points, Gorgie rocking with belief that the title was theirs. The spirit of ’86 had been looming over Hearts’ title hopes all season, and in the end it came for them again. The Bhoys delivered when it mattered – that dramatic win at Fir Park the moment the trophy turned green. We were there for every agonising, glorious minute of it.

The official Celtic FC announcement confirmed the championship with the pride it deserves – the club recognising not just the title, but the character shown across an entire campaign to drag it home when Hearts made them fight for every single point. This one was earned the hard way.

Now we look ahead – to a summer of reinforcement, to building on the Champions League knockout breakthrough against Bayern Munich that showed the world Celtic belong at that level again, and to the prospect of title number 56 that would put us ahead of the Ibrox club in the all-time standings for good.

But right now? Right now we celebrate. Five in a row. Champions of Scotland. Again.

Mon The Hoops.

The Celtic Star

Let’s dial back to Sunday. With the caveat that I’m surprised Sean Manaea is still on an MLB roster, Aaron Boone hit all the right buttons. Pinch-hitter Paul Goldschmidt gets dotted to load the bases with one out, Max Schuemann comes into run for him. Anthony Volpe has his big two-run single, and Boone goes to his bench one more time, eschewing J.C. Escarra in favor of Amed Rosario. Rosario gets a ball in the air, Schuemann scampers home, and the Yankees have their third run of the frame. Not a bad bit of managing from Aaron Boone, and more importantly, highlights this reported sense of “urgency” the team seems to be running with.

From in-game snap decisions to broader choices like optioning Volpe to Triple-A, cutting Randal Grichuk, sending down Luis Gil, this does feel like a Yankee team that’s less interested in waiting out the first half of the season than most years. Of course the great irony is that while Boone made all those good moves in the top of the sixth, the Yankees actually lost that game because the bullpen collectively allowed six runs across five remaining innings.

And that’s the circle that we’re here to square today. The Yankees have some very obvious holes. It starts with the bullpen, where the team hovers around the median of baseball and can creep into the top ten depending on what metric you want to use. However, when we pair the relative weakness of the bullpen with the inconsistency of the offense — holes at catcher, third base, and a newly-discovered lack of depth in the outfield — and you start to get a picture of a team that can’t hit its way out of trouble.

I know people don’t like to hear this, but it is still early. I don’t think anyone should be doing serious roster analysis until a team has played 50 games, but I’m writing this a couple of hours before Game 48 with the Blue Jays kicks off. It’s early, but it’s starting to get not early. The trade market hasn’t quite kicked off yet, but one wonders just how far the Yankees are going to take this supposed sense of urgency. The club seems to perennially trade for relief pitchers that on paper improve the club, even if the 2025 version of that plan leaves some things to be desired.

Neither Escarra nor Austin Wells seems particularly interested in hitting a baseball, or are perhaps even aware there is a baseball to hit, and a change in the backup catcher slot seems inevitable. Ryan Jeffers’ 166 wRC+ will not hold up over a full season, but in a contract year for a pretty tough Twins team, he might be the type of target these oh-so-ruthless Yankees need to slightly overpay for.

Improving the outfield depends on how confident you can be in Jasson Domínguez’s return, and how he’ll hit upon returning. Spencer Jones, in at least his first taste of MLB action, doesn’t seem to have it, and while I’m going to be a little skeptical Domínguez has it long term, at least he’s shown more flashes than Jones has. That the Martian avoided a concussion while colliding with the wall should make us all optimistic, but outfield support could still be needed.

I know there are a lot of people who will probably stop reading the moment I type this, but this is a good baseball team. More than that, the club is combining yet another, improbable, year of Aaron Judge’s prime with performances by Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice that we may never see again. You can’t bank on a 1.35 ERA in perpetuity, even if Cam continues to soar across 2026 every reasonable bettor in the world would hedge on him being worse next year. The Yankees have wasted potential seasons of destiny before — the nice thing this year is you know exactly where the holes are. Want to prove you’re feeling the urgency? Fill them.

Bryson DeChambeau had a disastrous PGA Championship.

Entering the year’s second major, it was hard to see how the PGA Championship could have gone any worse than The Masters did for DeChambeau. He missed the cut at Augusta National after an embarrassing triple bogey on the final hole.

But somehow, he outdid himself. His seven-under final score flattered him, as he made three straight birdies on Friday to recover some pride. DeChambeau looked completely out of his depth around the difficult setup and never even threatened the cut line.

This was a big blow for DeChambeau, who has been at the center of attention lately with his future hanging in the balance. LIV Golf’s funding has been pulled for next season, so all eyes are on the two-time US Open winner to see what he’ll do with his career.

With that in mind, LIV Golf ambassador Rick Shiels expressed his frustration at the PGA Championship broadcast for their coverage of DeChambeau.

DeChambeau’s struggles over the first two days at Aronimink was one of the biggest stories of the tournament, as he was seen taking a scenic view of the course with wayward drives and poor approach play.

But Shiels thinks that DeChambeau’s poor play was shown too much on the broadcast, and that’s because they wanted to show the LIV golfer up.

Speaking on The Rick Shiels Golf Show, he said, “I know people will read into this however which way they wish. I really feel like the media, and the social media world, and the TV coverage was reveling in the fact that Bryson was not doing very well. I did not like it at all.

“I felt like we did not see someone like Max Homa. He did worse than Bryson, but they are not showing the highlights of when he made triple, or when he duffed a chip, or when he didn’t hit the green from 20 yards.

“When Bryson seemed to do it, it was all over everywhere. I feel like the TV coverage, certainly, when they are Sky Sports, or people like that, just love to pick on or highlight bad rounds or bad shots from LIV players when they are not playing well.

“I know people are going to say, Rick you are going to say that, you are with LIV. But I feel like

that is what happens. I just feel like it’s harsh for the LIV guys. As soon as they do something that is not right or they miss a green, it gets highlighted so much, I feel like they are attacking these guys at the moment when they should not be, in my opinion.

“It was like they were laughing at him. It was like they were using him as an example to go look at this guy. He should just be sticking to making YouTube videos. I just did not like it. I thought it was petty from the TV coverage.”

Again, it’s worth reminding everyone that Shiels is a paid LIV Golf ambassador, so take what you will from that. His comments on LIV should be taken with a pinch of salt.

These comments from Shiels are totally wrong. Surely it’s blatantly obvious to everyone that DeChambeau struggling at his second major of the season is a far bigger story than Homa missing the cut.

Homa has been a good player who has also been struggling of late. While his missing the cut is a shame, and a sad reality of where his game is at the moment, the magnitude of that story doesn’t hold a candle to what happened to DeChambeau.

DeChambeau is one of, if not the single biggest star in golf, which is something LIV Golf fans are quick to point out when he’s performing well. That means it’s as much of a story when he’s playing poorly as it is when he’s doing well.

If Rory McIlroy or Scottie Scheffler had the same round, it would have been front-page news. That has to be common sense, right?

Shiels’ blind defense of DeChambeau and LIV Golf in this instance just feels like he’s clutching at straws.

• READ MORE: What Jon Rahm has done recently labelled ‘weird’ after his second place finish at the PGA Championship

The Miami Dolphins wrapped up the first two phases of their offseason program and started their organized team activities at their Baptist Health Training Complex on Monday.

While the media wasn't allowed to attend this session, the team did everyone a favor and released some small clips of their players running through a few drills on Monday.

Let's see what this session looked like.

🎥 Dante Trader Jr. in practice today. (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/JbCMw1jp4t

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) May 18, 2026

🎥 Chop Robinson in practice today. (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/wwB63cNiad

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) May 18, 2026

🎥 Zeek Biggers in practice today. (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/Lzhk1mBF7h

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) May 18, 2026

🎥 Chris Johnson in practice today. (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/KqDqJ1Wan6

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) May 18, 2026

🎥 Marco Wilson in practice today. (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/ajND4uCuIl

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) May 18, 2026

🎥 Michael Taaffe in practice today. (@MiamiDolphins) #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/o4o4iuxtXa

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) May 18, 2026

More Dolphins: Dolphins coach called Day-2 pick their "No. 1 ranked guy" in the draft

This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Watch Dolphins players participate in drills at first day of 2026 OTAs

RR vs LSG IPL 2026 live score, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from Jaipur originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

• Venue: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
• Captains: Riyan Parag (RR), Rishabh Pant (LSG)
• Toss result: TBD 
• Live Telecast: JioHotstar (India), TBD (Bangladesh), No Broadcast (Pakistan), CricLife Max, StarzPlay (UAE), Willow TV, Fubo, Willow TV app, Sling TV (USA & Canada)
• Umpires & Match officials: Rajiv Seth (Match referee), Saiyed Khalid, Virender Sharma (On-field Umpire), Sam Nogajski (TV Umpire), Ajitesh Argal (Fourth Umpire)
• Match result: TBD
• Player of the Match: TBD

IPL 2026 HUB:Latest IPL News | IPL Points Table | Team Stats | IPL 2026 Squads

Follow along with the latest live scorecard here as the match unfolds, or click here for key text commentary updates from the action.

RRpredictedplaying XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal (c), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Brijesh Sharma, Tushar Deshpande, Yash Punja

Impact subs: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Adam Milne, Ravi Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra

LSG predictedplaying XI: Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Prince Yadav

Impact subs: Josh Inglis, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Himmat Singh, Ayush Badoni

MORE: What happens if an IPL match is cancelled due to rain? Rules and refund details

Hello everyone, and welcome to the live blog for the Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. 

Toss result: TBD

Let's take a look at the hourly temperatures and the probability of rainfall in Jaipur on Tuesday.

• 6:00 PM: 37°C (0% chance of rain)
• 7:00 PM: 37°C (0% chance of rain)
• 8:00 PM: 35°C (0% chance of rain)
• 9:00 PM: 34°C (0% chance of rain)
• 10:00 PM: 32°C (0% chance of rain)
• 11:00 PM: 31°C (0% chance of rain)

MORE:IPL 2026 schedule: Fixtures and full list of matches for Indian Premier League 2026 season

• RR vs LSG Dream11: Lineups, pitch report and score predictions

• IPL playoffs qualification: What happens if two teams have same points and Net Run Rate?

• How many catches has Sooryavanshi taken in IPL?

To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Phillies late-inning win capped by two players turning a corner originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Philadelphia Phillies picked up their fifth straight win on Monday thanks to a solid starting pitching performance from right-hander Andrew Painter and second baseman Bryson Stott's game-winning home run. Interim manager Don Mattingly allowed his rookie right-hander to go an inning and seven pitches more this start than his last, which proved to add to Painter's confidence level. 

Painter has become more trusting of Mattingly's decisions and looks forward to the Phillies winning as a team rather than his individual successes. 

“I trust every move that's being made out here,” Painter said to MLB.com's Paul Casella. “I just want to help the team win, and whatever that is, it's what I'm willing to do.”

More News: Athletics' J.T. Ginn holds his head high despite devastating loss to Angels

Painter showed more consistency with getting his pitches in the strike zone; 44 of his 69 pitches were strikes. Despite not factoring in the decision, the 23-year-old received a compliment from Stott, who said once Painter figures out, he had "elite stuff," Phillies fans should see a lot more outings like Monday nights. 

“He looks really good,” Stott said to Casella. “He's got elite stuff, and I think once he knows that, I think you'll see a lot more outings like this.” 

After only scoring two runs in the first off left-hander Nick Lodolo, who got sharper as the game went on, and one in the sixth inning, the Phillies' late-inning comeback was led by Stott, who has swung a better bat as of late. In his last seven games, Stott is batting .292 with a .958 OPS and has two home runs in back-to-back games. 

Stott knew he had at least a double off the bat, telling Casella that when he looked up at the board as he rounded first, he saw his launch angle of the ball was at 44 degrees.

“When I was going to first, I saw the exit velo board said 44 degrees,” Stott said. “So I was hoping for a double at that point.”

With Stott getting himself going and third baseman Alec Bohm also swinging a hot bat -- Bohm broke the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 409-foot shot to center field -- the Phillies lineup has gotten "deeper," as Mattingly put it. 

“With the lineup, the deeper it gets, the more guys who are contributing, it takes pressure off the top,” Mattingly said to Casella. “Those guys are going to carry the load for the most part, but if you're going to have a good year, you need everybody kind of having good years.”

More News:

• Braves reinstate Ronald Acuna Jr. from IL, while placing infielder on IL
• Phillies are giving a 2nd chance to a 26-year-old outfielder
• Phillies' Brandon Marsh's stubbornness has led to his success at the plate
• Mets' Carlos Mendoza is happy his club is 'winning series'
• Phillies' Don Mattingly addressed Red Sox's 'sign stealing'
• Phillies creep closer to being a top 10 team in MLB
• Braves leapfrog the Dodgers for the best team in MLB
• Mets' Bo Bichette needs to 'breakout' after a rough start
• Diamondbacks' Zac Gallen has been one of the weak links
• Phillies rookie Andrew Painter labeled as someone who needs to 'breakout'

Mets chose to DFA Austin Slater for this simple reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Mets have designated Austin Slater for assignment. He was brought in late April after the Mets cut ties with Tommy Pham. However, in less than a month, the Mets have also parted ways with Slater.

MLB insider Jon Heyman shared the news on X:

Mets DFA Austin Slater

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 19, 2026

Slater was supposed to provide production against left-handed pitchers in the first place. The outfielder batted  .250/.286/.300 with a 69 wRC+ in 21 plate appearances.

Earlier in February, Slater signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers but he was released on March 21 as he failed to earn a roster spot after spring training. The Miami Marlins then signed him to a major league contract three days later. In 12 appearances, he hit .174 with one RBI and one stolen base. On April 23, he was released by the Marlins and he subsequently opted free agency after clearing waivers. Three days later, the Mets signed him.

MORE:Mets’ higher-ups believed to be on the hot seat entering MLB trade deadline

After Tommy Pham couldn't produce well against the southpaws, the Mets saw a right-handed platoon hitter in Austin Slater. However, his offensive numbers were not on expected lines.

As a result, the Mets chose to go with their young outfield options rather than using the veteran with no long-term upside.

For the Mets now, Carson Benge and AJ Ewing are everyday outfielders. They have the option of Tyrone Taylor and Vidal Bruján on the bench. Another less experience outfield option is Brett Baty. Thus, the Mets have plenty in that area.

Mets have obvious Bo Bichette trade to make with this one team

Blue Jays hitting coach sends Vladimir Guerrero Jr. message to Yankees during Toronto-New York series

Mets should cut ties with young former fan favorite in deal with Giants for Robbie Ray reason

MLB trade rumor should cause Cubs to go out and trade for former Cy Young Award winner

Atlanta Braves should reunite with World Series hero after latest MLB trade deadline rumor

Veteran Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo will lead his country into the 2026 World Cup this summer after coach Roberto Martinez named the 41-year-old in his squad on Tuesday.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star, now at Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, is set to appear at a record sixth World Cup.

Portugal and Ronaldo, the all-time leading men's international goalscorer with 143 goals, have never won the competition.

Ronaldo could face former Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, who is also set to play at a sixth World Cup after leading Argentina to glory four years ago in Qatar.

The Portuguese forward avoided a three-match ban despite being sent off against the Republic of Ireland in their last qualifying match for an elbow.

Spanish coach Martinez selected a 27-man squad with no major surprises, including Ronaldo's Al-Nassr team-mate Joao Felix.

Paris Saint-Germain stars Vitinha, Joao Neves, Nuno Mendes and Goncalo Ramos are also included, along with Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes and a contingent from Manchester City, including Bernardo Silva.

In the run-up to the tournament Portugal will face Chile and Nigeria in friendlies, before their World Cup campaign begins against DR Congo on June 17.

Portugal will also face Uzbekistan and Colombia in Group K on June 23 and 27 respectively.

Portugal 27-man squad list:

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa (Porto), Jose Sa (Wolves/ENG), Rui Silva (Sporting Lisbon), Ricardo Velho (Genclerbirligi/TUR)

Defenders: Diogo Dalot (Manchester United/ENG), Matheus Nunes, Ruben Dias (Manchester City/ENG), Nelson Semedo (Fenerbahce/TUR), Joao Cancelo (Barcelona/ESP), Nuno Mendes (PSG/FRA), Goncalo Inacio (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Veiga (Villareal/ESP), Tomas Araujo (Benfica) 

Midfielders: Ruben Neves (Al-Hilal/KSA), Samu Costa (Mallorca/ESP), Joao Neves, Vitinha (PSG/FRA), Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ENG), Bernardo Silva (Manchester City/ENG)

Attackers: Cristiano Ronaldo, Joao Felix (Al Nassr/KSA), Francisco Trincao (Sporting Lisbon), Francisco Conceicao (Juventus /ITA), Pedro Neto (Chelsea/ENG), Rafael Leao (AC Milan/ITA), Goncalo Guedes (Real Sociedad/ESP), Goncalo Ramos (PSG/FRA)

bur-rbs/ea

Selecting a squad for the World Cup should be easy.

Choose a list of the best players from a nation, balance them out in every position, tot it up to 26 and press send.

It's that simple, right? If only.

Picking a successful World Cup squad is about more than cramming as much of a nation's talent as possible onto a plane - although it does help – it's about creating a group that fits together for the duration of a tournament.

Like any manager in any industry, the best international bosses know building a good team is more of an art than an exact science. There needs to be the right blend of personalities, leaders and ambition.

Most importantly when it comes to a high-pressure environment like a World Cup, the players need to get on. Because when they’re stuck in a training camp for six to eight weeks that can quickly feel like a goldfish bowl, minor gripes can soon become major issues.

One of the most common is if players become unhappy because they’re not getting as much game time as they’d expect. Sitting on the bench is always hard to take, but if managers have a squad brimming with talent, that will often see some big stars missing out on starting XIs – cue unrest building.

It’s a problem many international coaches have fallen foul of before. Options are great, but when they’re miffed because they’re not accepting their role in the squad and doing more training than playing, that becomes tricky to manage.

In the club game, fixtures lists are packed so minutes can be managed more easily, but there’s little chance for rotation at a World Cup. So if there are too many stars vying for the same spot, some bosses decide to leave senior players out of their squads altogether instead to keep the peace. It’s all about balance and harmony.

It was one of the key considerations for former England boss Glenn Hoddle when he left Paul Gascoigne – the architect of two runs to major tournament semis in the past – out of his squad in 1998. If Gazza wasn’t in the starting XI, he could become a distraction as a squad player due to the media attention he’d inevitably receive and the unspent energy he’d have from not playing.

France manager Didier Deschamps was more explicit about his reasons for leaving out Samir Nasri in 2014, saying it could be “felt in the squad” when the midfielder wasn’t a starter.

This helps to maintain a clear hierarchy among a squad. There can’t be too many leaders or senior figures that could clash, with a mix of experienced voices working alongside ambitious young bucks the recipe for the best squads historically. Even among groups that have a core of players who have grown up together, there has to be an element of structure to know who sets the standards and who follows.

Historically, certain managers have devised smart ways of testing the mettle of their players to look for indications that they might not be the right fit for a squad.

One of the most notable examples ahead of the current World Cup is how Thomas Tuchel has spoken about Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham in the press, left him out of his squad in October and started him on the bench at times too. It becomes a low-stakes test of how he’ll react.

Some are less public than others, such as the USMNT coach for the 1994 World Cup, Bora Milutinovic.

“Bora was the ultimate man manager in that he was constantly testing us,” defender Alexi Lalas said in the book, How to Win the World Cup: Secrets and Insights from International Football’s Top Managers. “He knew he had to assess who these players were, not just by kicking a ball, but who they were to get that best group of players. Whether it was making me cut my hair when I first got to camp, how a player tied his shoes or plays soccer tennis.”

These subtle tells explain why some players appear to be immune to form in squad selections, much to the chagrin of fans. These squad members are offering more than just what they do on the pitch, they’re important pillars of how the group works together.

Keeping a level of consistency backs that up, meaning that despite large gaps between some international windows, players have a familiarity of the sort of environment to expect when they join up with their national teams. This is built over months and years, with a manager normally relying on a set core for an entire tournament cycle, instead of mixing things up too much each time – especially ahead of a World Cup.

That makes the windows for late inclusions much smaller, but there is still space for a wildcard pick within a squad. It’s often felt that one or two of the lesser spots in a squad can be used to gamble on a younger player who has only recently emerged on the scene, an injury doubt, or an older head who thought their time had passed.

Take Neymar’s selection for Brazil this summer – he’s unlikely to be relied upon by Carlo Ancelotti, but his experience and aura could make a crucial difference if introduced late on in games.

It’s worked before. Take the inclusion of Paolo Rossi in Italy’s squad at the 1982 World Cup, having only just returned from a match-fixing ban. He was considered unfit and undeserving of selection by many, but he grew into the tournament and ended up playing a key role in leading the Azzurri to glory that summer. The gamble paid off.

For international managers, that’s all they want – pick a squad that won’t self-destruct and provide a platform for them to achieve their goals. The even harder work starts when the tournament begins, but it starts with getting the selection right.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Miami routed Atlanta 12-0 on May 18th, and Max Meyer turned in six scoreless innings on 97 pitches. The Marlins have been waiting for a starter who can give them a stable middle six days at a time, and Meyer is starting to look like that arm.

Meyer has done it enough now to change the shape of the staff. Monday let Miami play the rest of the game from a position of comfort.

The Braves can punish mistakes and force starters into shorter nights. Meyer attacked the zone, limited hard damage, and worked deep enough that the bullpen only had to finish a game that was already under control.

Against a strong lineup, he looked like the pitcher setting the terms.

The Marlins have rotation names that sound interesting. Meyer’s 97-pitch outing showed he can carry volume without the start unraveling in the fifth or sixth.

When one starter consistently covers six innings, the bullpen can be used more aggressively on other nights, and the staff stops chasing bulk relief every series.

Meyer’s path here has included major injury recovery, which is why pitch-count stability matters. The stuff has to hold across the summer, and so does the body of work.

Each outing like Monday’s makes that easier to believe. He is pitching like a rotation piece Miami can plan around.

Sandy Alcantara still sets the top of the staff, and Miami has other live arms behind him. Meyer’s job right now is keeping the rotation from having soft middle days.

Six clean innings often enough to keep the staff organized is the assignment, and Monday’s shutout against Atlanta was the clearest version of it yet.

Read More: Jose Altuve hit the IL just as Jeremy Peña came back, and the Astros are not as whole as it looks

Congress' attempts to fix college sports hit another roadblock.

The SCORE Act, which was set to be voted on this week in the House of Representatives, was pulled, per a Yahoo! Sports report.

This comes after the Congressional Black Caucus announced united opposition against the bill Monday, May 18: “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."

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Washington) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) continue to work on a bipartisan plan in the Senate as an alternative to the SCORE Act. Members of President Trump's Council on College Sports sent a letter to both senators "applauding" their efforts.

"It is time for all interested parties to set aside past differences and coalesce around legislation in order to get it to the President's desk without delay," read the letter signed by the likes of Nick Saban, Cody Campbell and others who attended President Trump's March 6 college sports summit. "Our universities, student-athletes, alumni, and fans across the entire nation deserve nothing less."

OPINION: Who owns college sports? The American people do, and Congress must protect it

OPINION: NCAA’s SCORE Act comes with constitutional and moral traps

The SCORE Act (Student Compensation And Opportunity Through Rights and Endorsements) sought to provide more regulation and calm the chaotic environment created by the introduction of name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation, revenue sharing and the transfer portal to college sports. It was scheduled to be up for a vote in December too, but was pulled due to bipartisan backlash.

"The SCORE Act is well-intended but falls short and is not ready for prime time," Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) posted at the time.

On Monday, prior to the bill being pulled for a vote, Athletes.org posted an open letter urging Congress to not pass the SCORE Act.

"Congress is on the verge of making a massive mistake," the letter read. "If lawmakers want to 'save' college athletics, ramming the SCORE Act through the House is exactly the wrong way to do it. Not because college sports are beyond saving, but because this bill risks codifying the same power imbalance that created this chaos in the first place."

The SCORE Act was recently amended and the latest version, made available May 11 on the rules portion of the House of Representatives website, sought to establish “parameters for the manner in which an institution (or any person on behalf of an institution) may engage in public or private communication with respect to the employment of, or solicit, recruit, or enter into an employment contract or other arrangement with, any coach employed by another institution with respect to a varsity sports team, if such rules prohibit an institution (or any person on behalf of an institution) from engaging in any such communication, solicitation, recruitment, contract, or other arrangement with any such coach during a season of competition of the varsity sports team of such coach.”

In a May 7, 2026, op-ed published by The Hill, NCAA President Charlie Baker urged the advancement of the SCORE Act in this next legislative session. Outlining that the NCAA has data that reflect student-athletes do not wish to become full-time employees of their respective institutions and also that additional oversight is needed before more opportunities and sports are sacrificed, Baker wrote that NIL should be an element upon which athletes can earn payment but that current spending levels in college athletics are not sustainable.

“Less than 1 percent of college sports programs nationwide generate meaningful revenue,” Baker wrote, “so the additional cost of an employment mandate would create enormous financial pressure, likely resulting in widespread program cuts — with women’s sports, Olympic sports, historically Black college and university programs, and Division II and III bearing the brunt. Beyond that, coaches would become bosses, and scholarships could be taxed. I speak with student-athletes daily, and this is not an outcome they desire.”

Baker further added, “This includes codifying student-athletes’ right to capitalize on their name, image, and likeness and mandating the health and wellness benefits they deserve, while finally establishing the guardrails necessary to protect young people from predatory agents and “bad actors” currently operating in an unregulated NIL market. Because of this balanced, holistic approach, the SCORE Act has earned the support of student-athlete leaders and nearly every conference — including all four HBCU conferences — across all three divisions.”

The SCORE Act also aims to tackle age-based eligibility issues in the NCAA, advocating against the return of professional players to the collegiate game, and it also pushes for student-athletes to be in residence at a school for a minimum of one year before transferring. It urges institutions to keep academics and progress toward a degree as critical components.

USA TODAY Sports reporter Mark Giannotto contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Congress pulls SCORE Act — raising new questions about college sports reform

Real Madrid are preparing for a major leadership transition ahead of next season following the confirmed departure of club legend Dani Carvajal.

The veteran defender’s exit will not only leave an emotional void inside the dressing room but also force the club to restructure its captaincy hierarchy for the beginning of a new era under incoming manager Jose Mourinho.

According to reports from MARCA, if Real Madrid continue following the traditional seniority-based system for selecting captains, Federico Valverde would become the first captain next season.

Behind him in the hierarchy would reportedly be Vinicius Jr., followed by Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin.

The possibility of Valverde becoming captain is especially striking considering the difficult and controversial season the Uruguayan has experienced behind the scenes at the club.

Valverde would be the first captain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Only months ago, Valverde appeared untouchable at Real Madrid. The midfielder was widely viewed as one of the leaders of the dressing room, but recent events have complicated that image significantly.

The Uruguayan became one of the central figures in the season’s biggest dressing room controversy following his altercation with Aurelien Tchouameni.

Reports surrounding the incident created enormous tension, especially after the confrontation escalated physically and forced Real Madrid’s hierarchy to intervene.

On top of that, there were also reported disagreements between Valverde and former manager Xabi Alonso regarding the playing position earlier in the season.

Despite all of this, the club’s traditional seniority system would still place Valverde first in line for the captain’s armband once Carvajal officially departs.

Courtois and Lunin will be third and fourth choice. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Even though the seniority rule traditionally determines Real Madrid’s captaincy structure, Mourinho’s arrival could still change everything.

The Portuguese manager has never been the type to blindly follow dressing room politics if he believes stronger leadership decisions are needed for the team’s benefit.

That is what makes this situation particularly interesting.

Mourinho is arriving with the intention of rebuilding authority, discipline and competitive mentality inside the squad after a season where several internal situations spiralled out of control publicly.

For now, Real Madrid’s traditional structure places Valverde at the top of the hierarchy, but with Mourinho arriving, nothing about the leadership dynamic feels fully guaranteed anymore.

Rangers ended with a win but overall the season was a massive failure. There can be no sugarcoating things.

It's certainly not a campaign I will be looking back at fondly, from the protests against Russell Martin, Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart, to Danny Rohl giving us hope and then the collapse after the split.

We have spent a lot of cash to become worse than last season.

Europe, something we as a support could cling on to, was ruined and in the cups we were just nowhere near.

Chairman Andrew Cavenagh has backed Rohl and is keeping him in charge. I'm 50/50 on it - I can see both sides of the coin. I'm not vehemently he must stay or get him out.

However, he has to show improvements, especially regarding his in-game tactical skills.

Rohl has said he will be a better coach next season - he will have to be to prove that Cavenagh was right to back him.

As if we didn't have enough chaos, the James Tavernier situation was a shambles. I don't think anyone comes out of it with credit.

But Tav gave this club 11 years and it seems poor the way he was treated. Something else you hope everyone learns from going forward.

All in all, I'm glad this season is over.

As I seem to write at the end of every season, you only have to hope the recruitment is pretty much bang on. It has to be or we will be in the same situation this time next year.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo said on Monday that he will be “ready to go” for Week 1 after suffering a broken right fibula and dislocated right ankle last season.

Appearing at a team town hall event in New York City, the 24-year-old updated his status with fans in attendance at the Beacon Theatre.

“Obviously there’s ups and downs in the injury process and coming back and rehabbing, but the mental battle has been the hardest part: making sure that I trust it fully,” Skattebo said. “I’m a little ways out. Not too far, but I’ll be ready to go. Week 1, I’ll be ready to go.”

The Giants kick off the 2026 season with a Sunday night matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournament

Skattebo, a fourth-round draft pick in 2025 out of Arizona State, quickly became a favorite among Giants fans for his aggressive running style and personality on and off the field. His rookie season ended prematurely, however, after needing season-ending surgery following the Week 8 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Despite being an impactful player during his short time on the field last season, Skattebo, who rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns, is eyeing big production when he returns to the Giants’ backfield.

“I do not consider that successful for me,” Skattebo said. “I had 400 yards on 100 carries. When I play 17-plus games this year, it’s going to be 300 carries for over 2,000 yards.”

No Sanju Samson in India squad for IND vs AFG ODI series 2026 as Ishan Kishan picked over CSK star originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

• Ishan Kishan was picked as backup India keeper ahead of in-form Sanju Samson for India's ODI squad vs Afghanistan.
• Kishan returns to ODI cricket after more than two years away from the format.
• Rishabh Pant loses vice-captaincy and ODI spot after a poor IPL campaign. 

Sanju Samson has been left out of the squad for India's upcoming series against Afghanistan despite being in the best of form with the bat in IPL 2026.

The selectors have instead recalled Ishan Kishan as the backup keeping option in the ODI setup. This ends a wait of over two years for the Jharkhand stumper. KL Rahul remains the first-choice keeper. 

The Afghanistan assignment gets underway shortly after the IPL 2026 final, which is set for May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

India will then host Afghanistan for a standalone Test in Mullanpur beginning June 6, before the two sides move across three ODI venues, Dharamsala, Lucknow and Chennai, for the white-ball leg of the tour.

MORE: India squad for Afghanistan Test and ODI series 2026: Full team lists

The numbers Samson has produced for Chennai Super Kings make his omission particularly hard to justify on cricketing merit alone. 

He has accumulated 450 runs from 12 innings at a strike rate of 164.23, including two unbeaten centuries against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians. Those knocks made him only the fourth player in CSK's entire franchise history to record multiple centuries in a single IPL season. 

Meanwhile, Kishan's last ODI appearance coincidentally came against Afghanistan in October 2023. After leading Jharkhand to their first-ever Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title, he forced his way back into the T20I setup, carried that form into the T20 World Cup, and has continued to impress in IPL 2026. 

MORE: Rishabh Pant loses India Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul and dropped from ODIs for IND vs AFG series

• Shubman Gill (Captain)
• Yashasvi Jaiswal
• KL Rahul (Vice-Captain)
• Sai Sudharsan
• Rishabh Pant
• Devdutt Padikkal
• Nitish Kumar Reddy
• Washington Sundar
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Mohammed Siraj
• Prasidh Krishna
• Manav Suthar
• Gurnoor Brar
• Harsh Dubey
• Dhruv Jurel

• Shubman Gill (Captain)
• Rohit Sharma
• Virat Kohli
• Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain)
• KL Rahul (Wicketkeeper)
• Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)
• Hardik Pandya
• Nitish Kumar Reddy
• Washington Sundar
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Arshdeep Singh
• Prasidh Krishna
• Prince Yadav
• Gurnoor Brar
• Harsh Dubey

MORE: CSK's IPL 2026 playoff chances: Qualification scenarios, wins and points required

There will be times when selectors make calls that prioritise long-term planning over short-term form. And perhaps that is what has happened here.

Kishan's left-handedness, his T20 World Cup contributions and his overall trajectory appear to have swayed the committee. But Samson's case deserved a more transparent explanation.

Two unbeaten hundreds, a strike rate north of 164 and a string of match-defining performances are not numbers that should be quietly passed over. If India's selection philosophy is moving toward rewarding consistency and peak IPL form, Samson should have been named in the ODI squad.

He will feel hard done by, and few who watched him bat in IPL 2026 would disagree.

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.

Roberto Martínez announced, this Tuesday, Portugal’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

See the call-ups:

Martínez chose to call up Tomás Araújo, Samu Costa, and Gonçalo Guedes. In total, there are five full-backs on the list.

On the other hand, names such as João Palhinha, Rodrigo Mora, Ricardo Horta, and Pedro Gonçalves were left out.

The list also includes four goalkeepers, which is why the squad has 27 names + 1. According to Martínez, Ricardo Velho is the fourth option in goal. He explained that, although Ricardo Velho will not be on the bench, he will be used in training. 

Martínez also revealed that the “+1” on the list is a tribute to Diogo Jota, who passed away last year in an accident.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Victor Wembanyama delivered the biggest playoff statement of his young career as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 122-115 in double overtime.

The French centre finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds and three blocks in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, giving San Antonio an immediate series lead.

It was not only the volume of his production that stood out. Wembanyama also made the defining shot, a late three-pointer that forced a second overtime.

Oklahoma City had the chance to close the game, but Wembanyama kept San Antonio alive with a composed perimeter shot under heavy pressure.

“For that one I was just thinking, take my time. But for the rest, there were some plays I wish I would’ve taken more,” Wembanyama said (via Spurs Nation).

“I think it was the regulation last shot. I had an open look against a way smaller defender. I should’ve just taken it.”

That answer reflected the standard he is already holding himself to, even after a performance that shaped the opening night of the conference final.

The Spurs needed every part of his display. His scoring carried the offence, his rebounding gave San Antonio second chances, and his rim protection remained central late.

For Oklahoma City, the defeat was a missed opportunity at home. For San Antonio, it was proof their young core can survive playoff pressure against elite opposition.

Read more:

• Udonis Haslem makes ‘just like us’ admission about Victor Wembanyama after Game 1 heroics vs. Thunder
• Draymond Green says NBA looked like ‘child’s play’ after damaging leak
• Knicks star Josh Hart drops blunt take on ‘trash’ Arsenal’s PL Championship charge

Netherlands national team boss Ronald Koeman says it “does not look rosy” for Jurrien Timber when asked about the Arsenal defender’s recovery.

Timber has been sidelined since last month for the Gunners and Koeman says that while he is trying his best to return to for the Champions League final on May 30, it is not looking promising.

“He is training again to see if he can make the Champions League final, and be available for the World Cup, but it does not look rosy at the moment.”

Timber will at least be hoping to be fit in time for the World Cup with the Netherlands in June, but it is unclear how long he could still be sidelined for.

Stay up to date with all the latest Arsenal news by joining our Arsenal WhatsApp channel. 

Speaking about the defender’s injury earlier this month, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta explained: “He has progressed a little bit in the last few days,” he said.

“We will try to get him back. He is a really important player for us and he’s doing everything he can to help the squad in any way possible.

Asked if there is a chance he could return this season, Arteta replied: “There is a chance but how big that chance is I cannot tell you. He is going to try and do everything he can to convert that chance, and that’s the challenge ahead.”

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Julian Nagelsmann has informed Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha (25) that he will be called up to the German national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Bild report that Nagelsmann intends to personally inform all candidates of whether of not they will be nominated for his 26-man World Cup squad, which is set to be announced on Thursday, having already informed Nmecha.

It’s good news for the Dortmund star, who didn’t feature in April due to a knee injury but did play the full 90 minutes against Werder Bremen in BVB’s 2-0 victory on the final matchday of the season. Speaking at the end of March, Nagelsmann said: “There’s definitely a risk that he won’t be able to play at the World Cup.”

But, bouncing back from injury, the 25-year-old is set to play a key role for Germany.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder

• Antoine Semenyo credits ‘mad man’ Pep Guardiola for making him a better player at Man City
• FA Cup final hero has enjoyed brilliant start to life at City since £65M January transfer
• Semenyo insists Tuesday’s trip to Bournemouth is the immediate focus, no time to party

Antoine Semenyo has credited Pep Guardiola’s passion and the quality in the Manchester City squad for transforming him as a footballer since his January arrival.

Semenyo scored the only goal of the game at Wembley on Saturday, converting a clever back-heel from Erling Haaland‘s cross to give City a 1-0 victory over Chelsea and complete a domestic double in what has been a remarkable five months since joining from Bournemouth for £65 million in January.

In post-match media duties, the 26-year-old reflected on his development, his admiration for his manager and a childhood dream finally realised at the home of English football.

Antoine Semenyo admits to “laughing” on his own during first Pep Guardiola meeting

Semenyo was asked about Guardiola in conversation with TNT Sports and the Manchester City forward did not hold back.

The Ghana international said: “He’s a mad man! We all love him, he’s so passionate, you can see it, he wants to win trophies.

“And what he’s done for the club is amazing – and I’m so grateful to be here, so grateful that he gets to coach me and make me a better player. He’s just a top man!”

The description of Guardiola as a “mad man” – delivered with obvious affection – echoes what playmaker Rayan Cherki said earlier in the season when he called the City manager “crazy” in his love for the game.

Both players arrived at City less than a year ago and both have offered the same immediate verdict – a manager whose passion is impossible to ignore and whose effect on those around him is transformative.

Semenyo was equally warm in his broader reflections on his first five months at the Etihad Stadium. “It’s been hard work to be honest,” the winger added. “I’m learning a lot. I’ve got top pros around me, a top coach, and it’s been a great five months – and long may it continue!”

Manchester City and Pep Guardiola announce end-of-season bus parade after FA Cup win

Speaking to official club media, Semenyo reflected on what winning trophies of this magnitude means for a player who has never experienced it before.

“As a kid I always wanted to play for the top teams, competing for trophies and shining,” the forward said. “I’m grateful. I just had to keep working hard and you get your chance. I’ve never competed for trophies like this before. Everything is new to me.”

The honesty in the words is striking. Semenyo spent his career at Bristol City and Bournemouth before Saturday’s winner at Wembley – a trajectory that makes the moment all the more meaningful. His childhood dream of playing for top teams and competing for silverware has been realised in the space of five months.

Despite the magnitude of the occasion, Semenyo made clear his focus had already shifted to City’s next fixture – a Premier League trip to Bournemouth on Tuesday that keeps alive any remaining hope of catching Arsenal in the title race.

“I don’t think there will be much celebrations tonight, it’s about getting ready for Tuesday. Just train the same way and hopefully results fall in our hands,” Semenyo added.

“So we just have to pray it happens. I’m enjoying every day and enjoying all these trophies. Hopefully we can finish off the job by the end of the season.”

Five Things Learned: Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City (FA Cup Final)

The reference to “finishing off the job” is pointed. City face Bournemouth on Tuesday before hosting Aston Villa on the final day of the season – with Arsenal needing to drop points in their remaining games for the title to return to the Etihad Stadium. For Semenyo, the celebrations can wait. The season is not over yet.

With Maurizio Sarri seemingly on his way out, Raffaele Palladino and Sergio Conceicao are now considered the main candidates for the Lazio hot seat.

Over the past few days, several sources in the Italian media have been expecting Antonio Conte to part ways with Napoli. The Lecce native’s exit will spark a domino effect, beginning with Sarri, who is the ultimate favorite to replace him at the Stadio Maradona.

Il Messaggero confirms that the 67-year-old is destined to leave Lazio, especially following Claudio Lotito’s recent statements. The Biancocelesti president insisted that no one at the club is indispensable when answering a question regarding the manager’s future.

As the newspaper put it, Sarri has been given a choice: Either he sticks around and accepts Lotito’s transfer strategy, or he should find himself a new club. Needless to say, the Tuscan manager has made up his mind, but he won’t resign from his post before he secures himself an agreement in Napoli. Therefore, the next few days should bear major developments on this front.

In the meantime, Lazio have begun their search for a new head coach. Il Messaggero believes that Palladino and Conceicao are the current frontrunners, even though both men are tied to other clubs.

The 42-year-old Italian took over at Atalanta last November. However, the club is about to appoint Cristiano Giuntoli as the new sporting director, and the latter might decide to start with a clean slate, thus sending Palladino packing. The former Juventus player had impressive stints at Monza and Fiorentina in recent years, and is considered one of the best young managers in Serie A.

For his part, Conceicao is a familiar face at Lazio, having had two stints at the club during his playing days. The 51-year-old enjoyed a long and successful managerial tenure at Porto between 2017 and 2024, but endured a rough six months at Milan last season.

The Portuguese is currently tied to Al-Ittihad with a contract valid until 2028, but the Saudi giants might be willing to release him after a disappointing campaign.

The source also mentions three other profiles in Sassuolo’s Fabio Grosso, Cagliari’s Fabio Pisacane, and Gennaro Gattuso, who is currently unattached after leaving the Italian national team following another failed World Cup qualification campaign.

Wrexham captain Dom Hyam is heading to the World Cup after being named in the Scotland squad for this summer's tournament.

Centre-back Hyam was rewarded for his fine Wrexham form when he won just his second senior cap - and first in three years - in Scotland's friendly defeat to Ivory Coast in March.

The 30-year-old former Blackburn and Coventry player has now been included in Steve Clarke's squad for the World Cup, which is being staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Hyam is one of 10 defenders at Clarke's disposal for group games against Haiti (14 June), Morocco (19 June) and Brazil (24 June).

Hyam will join Wrexham team-mate Liberto Cacace at the tournament after he was named in the New Zealand squad last week.

Gina Carano has admitted she would have faced serious harm if she hadn’t tapped out of her comeback fight against Ronda Rousey on Saturday night.

The 44-year-old hadn’t fought since 2009 when she faced Rousey in the contest, which was part of a high-profile MMA card on Netflix. The fight was a complete mismatch and lasted just 17 seconds, with Carano tapping out after Rousey, who was making her own comeback after nearly a decade away from competition, put her opponent in an armbar.

Related: Ronda Rousey v Gina Carano was an absurd mismatch but it showed what UFC is missing

“I wanted throw, battle, win, but I kicked when I should have moved and was down and done,” Carano wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. “If I hadn’t tapped she would’ve broken my arm, as it had begun to crackle. The disappointment of losing like that is very humbling.”

Carano turned to acting after her fight career initially ended in 2009. However, she was fired from The Mandalorian after a series of controversial social media posts, which all but ended her mainstream acting career. In Monday’s post she hinted she may return to fight again, despite her one-sided loss to Rousey.

“Now I feel like this is just the beginning,” Carano wrote. “I can’t wait to see where I can push my body to go next.”

Rousey has repeatedly said Saturday’s fight was the final bout of her career. Carano paid tribute to her opponent in Monday’s post.

“I’m so glad the world got to experience this version of [Rousey] I found a beautiful woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister and legend. I adore you lady,” she wrote.

• PBKS to lose at least one of their remaining matches against LSG
• KKR to drop one of their two games against MI or DC
• DC to lose to KKR
• CSK to lose to GT

• Beat LSG
• RR lose at least one of their two matches
• KKR fail to win both games
• DC win vs KKR with a close margin
• CSK lose to GT

• Beat GT
• RR to lose both remaining games and stay on 12
• PBKS to lose to LSG and remain on 13
• KKR to lose at least one match and stay on 13 or below
• DC to lose to KKR and remain on 12

• KKR beat MI and DC
• RR lose at least one of their remaining two matches
• PBKS lose to LSG and remain on 13
• GT beat CSK

• Beat KKR
• RR to lose both remaining matches and stay on 12
• PBKS to lose to LSG and remain on 13
• CSK to lose to GT

Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson says up-and-coming opening batter Daniel Lategan is "learning on the job" and can only get better after a promising start to his first-class career.

The 19-year-old South-Africa born left-hander is the Pears' leading run-scorer after the first block of six matches in the second division of the County Championship with 431 runs at an average of 39.

In 11 innings, he has notched three half-centuries plus innings of 49, 48 and two scores in the 30s.

He scored 53 and 48 in Worcestershire's draw against Lancashire, facing bowlers including England great Jimmy Anderson.

Having seen off Anderson and with the Pears aiming to bat the game out for a draw, Lategan was out caught behind off Paul Coughlin two runs short of his second half-century of the match having spent 40 overs and nearly three hours at the crease.

"He's very frustrated that he got out in the way that he did," Richardson said.

"I think he's done really well again, and he's gaining experience the whole time and developing his skill sets.

"In his very brief career, he's faced some fine bowlers and obviously no more so than Jimmy, who's a world-class operator still, so for him to get through that and play as well as he did it's something that he should really take some heart from and hopefully it'll continue evolving in his journey."

• Pears sign Zimbabwe T20 captain Raza for Blast
• Pakistan spinner Mir set for Worcestershire return

Lategan is a product of Worcestershire's academy pathway having played his formative cricket in South Africa.

After finishing with the development programme at New Road, he mixed casual work at the club's bar with some trial games for the second XI and eventually earned a three-year contract in July 2025, off the back of some strong performances.

Lategan, on the Worcestershire books as an overseas player, qualifies to play for England in 2028.

After an impressive debut campaign in Worcestershire's One-Day Cup winning run in 2025 where he averaged 54.50 from six innings, he played the last four Championship games of last season, scoring 145 runs from six innings.

In his first knock of this season, he hit his top score of 89 against a Derbyshire attack including Pakistan star Mohammad Abbas before adding 49 in the second innings.

"I think he's learning on the job," Richardson told BBC Hereford and Worcester.

"He's barely played any multi-day cricket coming into his first-class career. He played a lot of one-day cricket in South Africa and in academy cricket and in school cricket.

"So for him to learn how to go up and down the gears, and he's faced some really good bowlers in the last couple of weeks."

Richardson said he is sure a maiden century "is just around the corner" as Lategan continues to "evolve".

With Worcestershire set to go with overseas recruits Sikandar Raza and leg-spinner Usama Mir for their T20 Blast campaign, Lategan is likely to have to be patient for his chance in the Rapids side.

"It'd be lovely for him to play some T20 cricket," Richardson said. "I think he did really well in the 50-over competition for us so he'll have to wait and see.

"But for now it'll be Usama and Sikandar who start for us and they'll be a huge part of our T20 campaign."

Worcestershire begin their T20 Blast campaign away to Leicestershire on Friday [18:30 BST].

Last night in the Red Sox 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals, Masataka Yoshida hit a triple and threw out a runner at the plate. When I think about Masataka Yoshida, hitting triples and throwing runners out at the plate aren’t things that come to mind. In fact, it was his first of each statistic since 2023.

What are some other uncharacteristic games that come to mind? Did Mo Vaughn ever steal two bags in a game or something? I’m young(ish), educate me! Talk about what you want and be good to one another. Go Sox.

The Cleveland Cavaliers face the New York Knicks in the NBA Eastern Conference finals. The New York Knicks have been the most dominant team this playoffs so far. The Cavaliers will be looked at as heavy underdogs, but they have the talent to make this closer than many expect. It starts with USC's Evan Mobley.

Many will pay close attention to the Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell matchup. The Cavaliers will not win this series without Mitchell and James Harden being effective and at their best. However, the Cavaliers have no chance if their frontcourt is not taking care of business.

Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley need to dominate on the glass and be effective scorers. I think it is not likely that Mobley and Allen both average 20 points in this next series, but if they can consistently make things tough for Karl Anthony Towns and be productive, this series will be close.

The Knicks are on quite a run this postseason as they have just outmatched their opponents in their first two series. The Cavaliers will need everything to go their way and then some. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley will be two really big deciding factors on whether or not this series ends up reaching a Game 6 or 7.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are big X-factors for Cavs versus Knicks

May 19—COMMENTARY

It's a tradition.

That's what the banners, posters and signs that decorate Lewiston ahead of the 69th annual Avista NAIA World Series would suggest.

Every May, folks from throughout the LC Valley and beyond gather at Ed Cheff Stadium on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston to watch the NAIA's best baseball teams determine a national champion.

This year, the home team, Lewis-Clark State Warriors, are back in the World Series after a two-year hiatus. As the third seed, LC welcomes eighth-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan for the fourth and final game of a jam-packed Day 1 of the Series at 7 p.m. Friday.

With the exception of Sunday, the Series runs continuously through next week, concluding Friday, May 29 or Saturday, May 30, if necessary.

LC State isn't the only local school that gets to enjoy America's Pastime in late May.

For the first time since 2010, the Washington State baseball team is playing in the postseason, having qualified for the Mountain West Conference Tournament.

More on the Cougs in a bit.

The World Series is a big deal to the participating schools and the collection of local communities divided by the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, and — magnified by a glance at social media — also divided by a myriad of other things both trivial and deeply consequential.

Sports, and the NAIA World Series in particular, have the unique ability to rally hundreds of otherwise strangers under one banner, casting aside whatever differences and biases they may harbor for a couple hours of bliss.

For a matter of hours as the sun sets over the distant hills, hundreds live and breathe off every pitch, every swing, every failure, every triumph. It's a beautiful thing.

However, as someone who spent three years 34 miles up the road from Harris Field's home plate, it wasn't until getting a job at the Lewiston Morning Tribune and moving to our dear valley from Pullman that I even heard of the NAIA World Series.

Of course, school was out of session and I was not in Pullman during past iterations of this sacred event. In my nearly two years of living in the valley, I've come to realize how both interconnected and isolated Lewiston and Clarkston can be from the Palouse.

Now, I'm sure that there are a slew of World Series regulars who make the trip down the Lewiston hill every year for the event. There's a major difference between a student in these towns and a local.

Regardless of how broad or contained local excitement for the World Series is, there are a lot of reasons you should care about the event this year, no matter where you live.

For one, the Lewis-Clark State Warriors are back.

After LCSC was eliminated in the Opening Round each of the last two years, the school made a change at the top and brought back its former coach, Jeremiah Robbins.

Robbins, whose LC Warrior squads played for the national championship in five of his six years and won it all in three straight years from 2015-17, has the Warriors back in the World Series with a reimagined roster that boasts perhaps the most complete pitching staff in the NAIA and an offense rich with heavy hitters.

Other teams in the World Series include top-ranked Taylor (Ind.), series regular Georgia Gwinnett and reigning national runner-up Southeastern (Fla.).

With attendance dipping during consecutive LCSC-less Series, it will be refreshing, perhaps even mesmerizing, to see the community rally around the home team as they have so many times before en route to an NAIA-best 19 national championships.

For Washington State baseball fans, these are uncharted waters for this iteration of the program.

There hasn't been much to write home about regarding the WSU baseball program during a 16-year postseason drought. Coaches have come and gone — fired or hired away — and the Cougs got close under former coach Brian Green, who left WSU for Wichita State in 2023.

A once-winning program needed a new leader in a rapidly changing college athletics landscape.

As a pitcher by trade and the former head man at Loyola Marymount, WSU coach Nathan Choate inherited a program with a rich history that just hadn't gotten over the hump of even qualifying for a recently introduced conference tournament structure.

Now Choate, in his third year at the helm after sailing the Cougars through the collapse of the legacy Pac-12 and through two years of the Mountain West, has the Cougars in a spot where they haven't been in a long time.

At 27-25 overall and 15-9 in MWC play, WSU earned the No. 2 seed in the MWC Tournament, happening this weekend in Mesa, Ariz.

The Cougars will play the winner of Thursday's Air Force/UNLV game at 6:05 p.m. Friday. Survive the bracket over the weekend, and the Cougars would be headed for an NCAA Regional.

So, it's going to be a rather eventful weekend for the region's two college baseball teams, with LC State making its triumphant return to the World Series at 7 p.m. at Harris Field and the Cougars playing in the postseason down in Arizona. That's not even including the Gonzaga baseball program, which boasts a 22-5 West Coast Conference record — its best WCC record in program history.

Whether you're in the crowd in Lewiston or Mesa, make time for America's Pastime this weekend.

You probably won't regret it.

Radio

Mountain West Conference Tournament: No. 2 Washington State vs. Air Force/UNLV winner, 6:05 p.m., KQQQ-AM/FM (1150/102.1).

Avista NAIA World Series: No. 3 Lewis-Clark State vs. No. 8 Tennessee Wesleyan, 7 p.m., KOZE-AM (950).

TV

Mountain West Conference Tournament: No. 2 Washington State vs. Air Force/UNLV winner, 6:05 p.m., ESPN+ (streaming).

Avista NAIA World Series: No. 3 Lewis-Clark State vs. No. 8 Tennessee Wesleyan, 7 p.m., Urban Edge Network (streaming).

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

The summer is almost here, and in NFL speak, that’s the prompt to study rosters around the business. Down in Carolina, a former Minnesota Vikings pass rusher, Patrick Jones II, could be an odd man out for the Panthers, according to Bleacher Report.

Jones’s Carolina stint may already be shaky, despite signing a two-year deal just last offseason.

Jones II signed with the Panthers in 2025 after his rookie contract in Minnesota, and if BR has it right, he may be looking for his next chapter in late August.

Roster bubbles will flow to the surface in a few months.

BR: Jones II Could Be Released in CAR

Maurice Moton of BR undertook the task of sizing up a surprise cut candidate for each NFL team last week, and in Carolina, that man was Jones II.

He explained, “The Carolina Panthers signed a top-tier free agent in Jaelan Phillips. He’ll likely start opposite Nic Scourton on the edge. As a third-rounder from the 2025 draft, Princely Umanmielen could see more time on the field in his second year.”

With an established pass-rusher and two high-upside outside linebackers on the depth chart, Patrick Jones II may be in a battle for a limited role after he missed 13 games with a back injury last season. Don’t be surprised if Carolina cuts him and saves $4.75 million in cap space.”

For the Vikings, Moton pointed to veteran safety Theo Jackson.

Panthers’ Current EDGE Room

To be clear, Jones II has not been cut yet; it’s just a theory from a guy at Bleacher Report. Here’s a look at the Panthers’ outside linebackers from a May viewpoint:

• Jaelan Phillips
• Nic Scourton
• Patrick Jones II
• Princely Umanmielen
• Nick Hampton
• Trevis Gipson
• Jamil Muhammad
• Thomas Incoom
• Isaiah Smith

Phillips is obviously the big-name addition, and by default, the man who would shove Jones II out if Moton has it right. Umanmielen would basically take his job at OLB3.

ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote about Phillips in March, “Phillips’ career pressure rate of 10.6 percent shares good company. Brian Burns and Maxx Crosby had pressure rates of 10.8 percent through their age-26 season; Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt were at 10.6 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively.”

“Phillips’ sack rate of 2.0 percent is far lower than his pressure performance would indicate. It’s fair to expect, even if he remains more of a pocket breaker who creates sacks for others, that a double-digit sack season is in his imminent future (assuming he stays healthy).”

The Panthers’ defense ranked 23rd in the NFL per EPA/Play in 2025.

Jones II in MIN

Jones II signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Panthers 14 months ago, concluding his four-year tenure with the Vikings. His departure made him one of the most notable free agents to leave the team that offseason.

The Vikings originally drafted Jones in Round 3 during Rick Spielman’s final draft class. He slowly but surely carved out a role as a rotational EDGE defender, occasionally flashing starting-caliber play.

However, 2024 marked a significant turning point for Jones. He recorded 24 quarterback pressures and 7 sacks, establishing himself as a dependable part of Brian Flores’ pass-rush rotation. Throughout that season, Jones, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Jonathan Greenard consistently generated pressure off the edge. This effective trio, in turn, naturally limited rookie Dallas Turner’s opportunities.

Career Trajectory

If one assumes that Carolina offloads Jones II — that may or may not happen — his outlook in the NFL isn’t dire. He’s more than capable as an OLB3 or OLB4 and would have no problem finding work. In fact, the Vikings could have an OLB3 opening, and with Jones II’s relative success in 2024, a reunion could not be ruled out.

Jones II is also just 27 years old. He’s right in the middle of his prime. The ex-Viking will find a job quite quickly if Moton is correct about the roster cut.

Oddsmakers expect the Panthers to win seven or eight games in 2026. For the Vikings, the win total is around eight or nine.

There’s not a whole lot out there right now.

If you missed it, some website called College Front Office came out and published “estimated” roster valuations and it’s been making waves in social media.

Do we think there’s much of anything legitimate about this? Probably not. It seems like a lot of hand-waving to come up with “math”. I also find it highly unlikely that Austin Mack is by far and away the highest paid player on the team. But hey, it’s the offseason, we might as well argue about something.

Isn’t this fun? It’s like all the salary cap arguments you get while being a fan of the NFL, but without any real numbers.

Now, we do have number for the coaching staff salaries.

According to financial reports submitted by the league’s schools to the NCAA and obtained by AL.com through a series of open records requests, Alabama’s football support staff spending ranked sixth in the SEC. Vanderbilt was not included due to its status as a public school, not subject to open records laws.

The Crimson Tide spent $7.2 million on its football support staff during the fiscal year, which ran from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, and included the 2024 football season. That number would have ranked second in the SEC during the 2023 fiscal year, when UA spent $6.7 million and still trailed only Georgia.

This is interesting. The Tide has increased staff spending a little bit since 2023, but have dropped from 2nd to 6th in the SEC in spending. I wonder what has got so many other schools rocketing up the spending over the last two seasons?

ABC, the unofficial home of Georgia and Alabama football. Georgia has played 19 regular-season games on ABC over the past two seasons (aided by SEC Championship appearances in both seasons). Alabama was second at 18 (again, including the 2025 SEC title game). The Bulldogs were aided by playing non-conference games against Clemson and Georgia Tech, ACC teams both whose rights are also owned by ABC/ESPN. Even still, seven of Georgia’s eight regular-season conference games aired on ABC in each of the past two seasons. All nine of Alabama’s SEC games aired on ABC in 2025, plus non-conference games at Florida State and home against Wisconsin. The Tide also played a road game that aired in Fox’s “Big Noon” window at Wisconsin in 2024.

We’ve been fully Disney-fied.

The University of Florida is one step closer to having a permanent university president after the search committee announced its pick following a months-long search.

The UF Presidential Search Committee announced it had selected Dr. Stuart Bell as the sole finalist for the next president of the university. The nominee must also be approved by the UF Board of Trustees and the Florida Board of Governors.

Bell most recently served as the President of the University of Alabama for 10 years.

“The Search Committee has put forth a candidate whose academic achievements and experience at a flagship state university makes him the obvious choice to lead UF going forward,” said Mori Hosseini, Chair of the UF Board of Trustees. “I fully support the committee’s unanimous recommendation.”

Congrats to Stuart Bell for landing a new gig after his decade at Alabama.

Congrats to Germie! The Steelers really got a good one.

In the legal filing, Sorsby admitted he previously gambled on his own team, but only did so with pro-Hoosiers bets and did not specify whether any wager on Indiana or college football ever exceeded that $50 amount.

“I rationalized placing those bets as a way to feel more connected to the team, to root for my friends, and to feel like I had a real ‘stake’ in the games that I otherwise was not involved in,” Sorsby said in the affidavit.

Sorsby did say he lost most of his bets, due to 2022 Indiana not being a “strong competitor,” and all of the bets were in favor of Hoosiers sports. He also clarified he did not place bets when he was part of the dressed team, only doing so as a scout team member without knowledge of the team’s gameplan, per the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, part of the USA TODAY Network.

“… I began placing small bets on the Indiana football team, typically in amounts between $5 and $50,” he wrote. “All of these bets were in support of Indiana. In other words, I placed bets on Indiana to win a game or score more than a certain number of points or for the quarterback to throw for more than a certain number of touchdowns or yards.”

Well… I suppose that’s one way to argue to try to get the NCAA to give some lenience. Sorsby has now sued the NCAA to try to get reinstated. And his main argument is that his team was just bad and he was always betting they’d be good.

Tuesday night in the Premier League could bring defining moments at both ends of the table, with plenty more than just the title race and relegation battle at stake.

Bournemouth’s meeting with Manchester City, along with the London derby between Chelsea and Tottenham, comes loaded with tensionand emotion.

There is a strange mood surrounding Manchester City heading into the evening - one shaped by growing reports that Pep Guardiola is preparing to walk away at the end of the season. Even by modern football standards, the news has landed heavily. Guardiola has been at the Etihad since 2016 and still has another year left on his contract, but there is an increasing sense that one of football’s great managerial eras may be nearing its conclusion.

His impact on City is impossible to overstate. Six Premier League titles, the club’s first Champions League triumph, and a style of football that changed the landscape of English football have cemented his legacy long ago. Whether he returns quickly to management remains unclear, though many believe he could follow the route taken by his old rival Jürgen Klopp and step away from the game for a while after years of constant intensity.

For City, the equation is simple. Anything other than a win at Bournemouth would end their title hopes and leave Arsenal on the verge of celebration.rat

And if there is emotion surrounding Guardiola, there is just as much on the south coast side. The Cherries are still chasing a historic first-ever qualification for the Champions League, in Andoni Iraola's final home game in charge of the club. Few could have imagined Bournemouth being in this position at the start of the season, but Iraola has transformed them into one of the Premier League’s most exciting sides and turned the Vitality Stadium into one of the toughest away grounds in the division.

As for Arsenal supporters, nerves are beginning to give way to disbelief. After years of false dawns, collapses and frustration, they are now within touching distance of a first league title since Arsène Wenger’s Invincibles in 2003/04.

At the other end of the table, Tottenham have at least given themselves breathing room. Four league matches without defeat have eased some of the anxiety, although survival is not quite secured yet. A result against Chelsea would change that.

Spurs begin the night two points clear of 18th-placed West Ham and know that victory over their London rivals would mathematically guarantee their safety with one match remaining. Even a draw would leave the Hammers needing something extraordinary, given Tottenham’s far superior goal difference.

Inter coach Cristian Chivu met Nerazzurri directors this morning to discuss plans for the future and a contract extension until 2029.

Sky Sport Italia reports that Inter coach Chivu met Nerazzurri directors at the club headquarters this morning.

According to the report, President Beppe Marotta, directors Piero Ausilio and Dario Baccin attended the meeting alongside representatives of Oaktree Capital Partners.

Inter are said to have discussed a two-year contract extension with their coach.

Chivu’s current deal runs out in June 2027, but the Nerazzurri have already prepared a new agreement to 2029 with a substantial pay rise.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 03: Cristian Chivu, Head Coach of FC Internazionale Milano, celebrates after being confirmed as Serie A champions following victory in the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Parma Calcio 1913 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 03, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

The two parties have also discussed future plans regarding key players, particularly Alessandro Bastoni, who is being pursued by Barcelona, as well as potential new signings to strengthen the team for the 2026-27 season.

Chivu has just completed his first full Serie A season, winning the Scudetto and Coppa Italia.

A former Inter defender, the ex-Romania international previously served as an Inter Primavera coach and won the 2010 treble as a footballer at the Stadio Meazza under José Mourinho

For years, the Baltimore Ravens football team carried a familiar promise. Physicality. That identity began in the trenches, where the offensive line often helped establish the bruising style that made life easier for Lamar Jackson and the running game. Last season, however, that standard slipped.

Too often, Baltimore's offensive front looked vulnerable. Protection was inconsistent. Interior stability became an issue. The push that once defined this group occasionally disappeared. Then came an even harsher offseason reality. Tyler Linderbaum, arguably the Ravens’ best offensive lineman, departed. That alone was enough to create even more anxiety.

ESPN's Mike Clay recently ranked all 32 NFL offensive lines, and Baltimore landed at No. 21 overall. Ouch. That is not flattering. It is also not entirely unreasonable. Sure, the Ravens made additions, but did they do enough? Losing Linderbaum hurts. Continuity matters on offensive lines, and Baltimore is now asking several moving parts to come together quickly. Daniel Faalele is gone as well, now joining John Harbaugh's New York Giants, creating even more turnover.

The good news is the Ravens did respond aggressively. Some might see John Simpson as an upgrade over Faalele. Simpson arrives as a proven veteran reinforcement and has already said he is ready to bring physicality back to the Ravens.

Current 2026 NFL Offensive Line projected starters: pic.twitter.com/oGq7k4anGY

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) May 12, 2026

Jovaughn Gwyn and Danny Pinter add additional depth. Baltimore used a premium first-round pick on Vega Ioane, and he is widely viewed as the best guard in the 2026 draft class. They also added developmental depth by bringing in Evan Beerntsen, Diego Pounds, and Nick Dawkins.

That is a lot of activity. Still, activity and certainty are not the same thing.

This ranking is less about disrespect and more about unanswered questions. Can Ioane contribute immediately? Can Simpson stabilize things? Can Baltimore recreate chemistry after significant turnover? Is it fair to ask whether this group can consistently protect Lamar Jackson while restoring the downhill rushing identity Ravens fans expect? Those are legitimate concerns.

That said, rankings in May rarely survive contact with reality. If Baltimore's younger additions grow up quickly and the veteran pieces fit, No. 21 could wind up looking overly pessimistic. If not, Ravens fans may spend another season watching Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry improvise behind an offensive line still searching for itself. Fingers are crossed throughout the Ravens fan base that they won't have to do so.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens offensive line earns an underwhelming national ranking

Cambridge United are out-performing their plans to rebuild the club, according to director of football Mark Bonner.

The U's have made an immediate return to League One after relegation last season, finishing third in League Two this year and Bonner says it is down to having a long-term strategy.

"At the start of the season we spoke about getting back into League One within a couple of years so we're ahead of the curve on that," he told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

"It's proven to be very hard to bounce straight back, we've never done it in our history so it's some turnaround from where we were last season.

"We massively improved as the season went on which is testament to the environment, the coaching and the management of the squad.

"It probably followed a pattern we set out for it to, so we're not surprised by the way we developed."

Cambridge lost only two of their final 17 League games of the season under boss Neil Harris to pip Salford to the third automatic promotion place by one point.

"If you'd have offered us top three at the start of the season we might have thought it would have been a bit of a stretch," said Bonner.

"For us with the seventh biggest budget in the league to finish in the top three is huge credit to Neil, the staff and the players for the achievement."

With the likes of Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Oxford United, Plymouth Argyle and Huddersfield Town in League One next season, Mark Bonner accepts they will be one of the smaller clubs in the division but believes they have a plan to try to compete.

"We know the challenge of building a League One squad, the difference in level and the difference in finances required and we need to make sure we have the money to do it," he said.

"We have to recognise the last time we were in League One we were buying the stadium and building a training ground and we go back to League One with all those things in place which makes a big, big difference in terms of what we have available."

The last time they were promoted to the third tier was in 2021, with Bonner in charge. They survived for four seasons and he is determined they are better prepared for the step up this time.

"The reality is every year we were in League One last time, in my view, the squad got weaker. We were unable to attract the players we wanted and keep our best players and so often you see that play out," added Bonner.

"The smaller clubs that have done well have been able to keep hold of their better players and then keep adding and we have to keep growing the budget and think longer term with some of those signings and try to make sure we've got some asset value.

"One of the only revenues streams we could grow as a club is a bit of a player trading model and there are others who have done that well and that is the model we have to try to follow, as well as build a team that's good enough now to be successful."

Promotion-winning captain Michael Morrison is one of eight players to have been released by Cambridge with long-serving winger James Brophy also departing as they build their squad for the next campaign which kicks-off in August.

"In the short term we have to build a team that's good enough next year and we have to build a team that can hopefully sustain itself and that's a big part of our plan," Bonner concluded.

• Fans react to 'nerve-wracking' United promotion

The 2026 MLB season is entering its ninth week. There has been tremendous baseball played in the early part of the season. Many players are making early cases for All-Star selections and yearly awards. There is a lot of baseball left, and the 2026 season has been extraordinary. Here are the top ten first basemen.

MORE: MLB catcher power rankings entering week 9

Olson is having a phenomenal start to the 2026 season. Entering the week, he leads Atlanta in home runs, RBI, and total bases. Slight regression will occur during the season, but the left-handed power hitter is posting a batting average and on-base percentage well above his career averages.

Rice finished 2025, his first full season, with 26 home runs and 65 RBI. Fast forward to this season and he’s off to a better start. He’s on his way to reaching 35 home runs and 80 RBI.

Vargas’ great story continues. The veteran already has a new career high in home runs and is close to beating his career high in RBI. The statistic that stands out most is the fact that he has fewer than 20 strikeouts in over 140 at-bats.

Murakami continues being Chicago’s power-hitting machine. He is a true two-outcome batter. Among MLB hitters, Munetaka Murakami is ranked in the top three in home runs and strikeouts.

Kurtz is doing well in his sophomore season. After taking MLB by storm in 2025, the Athletics’ first baseman is proving he’s a future star. While his strikeout total is close to 40%, he has shown the ability to draw walks and reach base.

Philadelphia’s offense had a slow start to the season. The front office made a quick decision to change managers, and Don Mattingly has helped right the ship. Harper has played a role in helping the offense get back on track.

Walker is off to a better start in his second season with Houston. After a strong finish to last season, Walker has carried the momentum into 2026. Entering the week, the first baseman is second on the Astros in home runs, RBI, and OPS.

Aranda was off to a monster 2025 campaign before a broken hand forced him to miss an extended period. This season, he’s off to a great start. He leads Tampa Bay in RBI and is second in home runs.

Burleson has become a reliable hitter in St. Louis. This season’s strong start has him on pace for career highs in home runs and RBI. Entering the week, he has the second-most hits on the Cardinals’ roster.

The full-time switch has turned Contreras into a consistent producer. No longer worrying about catching duties has kept his legs fresh, and he is posting the best on-base percentage in his career. Entering the week, Willson Contreras leads the Red Sox in home runs.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

The Eagles will hold their first organized team activity (OTA) next week, when players will try to make a strong first impression.

From May 26 to June 10, the Eagles will have six OTAs and two minicamp practices, and during that time, the Eagles’ coaching staff will begin evaluating Philadelphia’s 2026 roster.

With a deep 90-man roster, Philadelphia will have to make tough final cuts after training camp. The battles for the final few spots will begin shortly and continue throughout training camp, when things will heat up even more.

Rookie quarterback Cole Payton

Payton, who was drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, needs to show that he can pick up the NFL game after arriving from North Dakota State as a raw project.

The Eagles are entering OTAs with four quarterbacks on the roster. Two of the backups, Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton, are among the best in the NFL. Payton won’t be guaranteed a roster spot, but if he makes steady improvements and displays potential the Eagles could opt to trade McKee or release or trade Dalton before the season and make Payton the third quarterback.

But if Payton struggles to make the transition, the Eagles could try to sneak him through waivers to the practice squad.

Last year, the Eagles waived sixth-round quarterback Kyle McCord and kept him on the practice squad. However, after the season, they chose not to bring him back. The Eagles hope for a better outcome with Payton, aiming for him to become their long-term backup quarterback.

Third-year wide receiver Johnny Wilson

Wilson, a 2024 sixth-round pick of the Eagles, struggled as a pass catcher during his rookie season and the first week of training camp last summer. But after the first month of the Eagles’ 2025 training camp, Wilson started using his massive frame (6-6, 228 pounds) to make difficult catches, and he showed more consistency as a route runner. Right after he turned a corner, he suffered a season-ending knee and foot injury.

Now entering his third year in the NFL, Wilson needs to pick up where he left off last summer, or he won’t make the cut in a talented wide receiver room. He’s competing to be the fifth or sixth receiver after entering last year as the favorite to be the No. 4 wide receiver.

Second-year wide receiver Darius Cooper

An undrafted free agent out of Tarleton State, Cooper made many plays during last year’s training camp, forcing the Eagles to keep him on the 53-man roster for the entire year. He made a small contribution during the season as a blocker on offense and played on special teams.

Cooper now faces more competition to make the roster this year. He will have to battle Wilson, veteran free-agent addition Elijah Moore, and other wideouts for the fifth or sixth spot.

Fifth-year tight end Grant Calcaterra

Calcattera, a sixth-round pick of the Eagles in 2022, is a solid pass-catcher, but his struggles as a blocker make him a liability at times. Eagles’ second-round pick, Eli Stowers, will fill the role of a dynamic pass-catching tight end, and he will take the majority of Calcattera’s snaps this year. Unless Calcattera makes major strides as a blocker, he won’t make the roster.

Second-year center Willie Lampkin

Lampkin is an undersized outlier (5-11, 290 pounds) for the center position, but Philadelphia doesn’t care about that. The Eagles liked him enough to claim him off waivers before the 2025 season despite his injury, knowing he would spend his entire rookie season on injured reserve.

An undrafted free agent from North Carolina, Lampkin has great strength for his size, plays with outstanding leverage and is quick off the ball. He sits at the bottom of Philadelphia’s offensive line, but with a good performance this spring and summer, he could become the team’s top backup center.

Second-year offensive tackles Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams

Third-round offensive tackle Markel Bell has become the Eagles’ top developmental tackle. He will surpass Hinton and Williams, two sixth-round picks in 2025, on the depth chart and could knock one of them off the roster. Hinton and Williams will likely battle for one roster spot.

Third-year cornerback Kelee Ringo

Ringo has not developed into the starter the Eagles had hoped he’d become after selecting him in the fourth round of the 2023 draft. Although he provides value on special teams, Philadelphia could give him a fresh start by releasing or trading him before the 2026 season. The Eagles could keep veteran Jonathan Jones and second-year cornerbacks Mac McWilliams and Brandon Johnson on the roster instead of Ringo.

Fourth-year cornerback Jakorian Bennett

MORE BY CAYDEN STEELE

Bennett played poorly whenever he was given the opportunity last season. The Eagles were intrigued by his skill set when they traded for him last summer, but he never emerged as a starter. Now, he’s unlikely to make the 2026 roster.

Sixth-year pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Tryon-Shoyinka could make the Eagles as a fifth pass rusher, but Philadelphia is not invested in him. The Eagles gave him a one-year, $1.4 million contract this offseason, with only $662,500 guaranteed. No team was going to pay him serious money after he finished with zero sacks last year. The former first-round pick could be beaten out this summer by the Eagles’ seventh-round pick, Keyshawn James-Newby.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

A late surge by the Neenah girls track and field team solidified the program's second consecutive Fox Valley Association title May 18 at Lawrence University.

The Rockets leapfrogged Appleton North late in the meet for the team title thanks to a strong overall showing plus a pivotal triple jump victory by Celia Gentile to finish with 153.5 points. North finished with 141.5 points with Oshkosh West third (98.5).

"They should be proud of themselves," Neenah coach Kelly Ellington said. "They put in the work and they did preseason work, and we are so lucky to have a well-rounded team. So we have someone [scoring] in all the different areas. We have good leadership and all the different areas that comes from within, and a fantastic group of coaches that work together every day to bring ourselves to our best. So I'm so proud of the athletes and the whole team."

Kimberly won the boys meet in less dramatic fashion, totaling 145 points with Fond du Lac second with 103. It was the ninth conference title for Kimberly in the past 10 seasons, not counting the COVID year.

Gentile, a junior, won the long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 5.5 inches and was second in the 100 (:12.254 seconds) and third in the 200 (:25.18).

But it was her first-place finish in the triple jump (38-4) that gave Neenah the critical 10 points it needed to overtake Appleton North late in the meet.

"We're definitely really excited and we have a couple of teammates who are really, really excited," Gentile said. "I feel like this gives us an extra boost of confidence going into regionals and sectionals. But I think we're all going to go out there and do our best."

Emma Severson was first in the shot put (48-2) and the discus (153-11) for the Rockets. Neenah also got great production from its relays, with the 800 (Savannah Wendrick, Brynn Fox, Molly Snider, Kobi Meyer) taking first with a time of 1:46.64 along with the team's 3,200 relay (Elsa Gruber, Elise Braaten, Lizzy LaPlant, Anna Benthein) finishing first with a time of 9:44.2.

Izzy Malloy (800, 2:19.0) and Sam Zilm (1,600, 5:05.88 and 3,200, 10:57.29) also took second for Neenah, along with the 400 relay team of Fox, Snider, Meyer and Kate Lenninger in 49.62 seconds.

Those points helped in holding off a stellar Appleton North effort highlighted by titles from Eva Busch in the 1,600 (5:02.04) and the 3,200 (10:55.73) along with first-place finishes from Ashley Parrish (100, :12.252), Ava Helmbrecht (800, 2:18.54), Isabel Parrish (300 hurdles, :45.60) and the team's 1,600 relay team of Ashley Parrish, Isabel Parrish, Jada Ellis and Sophia Busch (4:00.76).

Severson, who reached the state meet last spring in both throws to punctuate a breakout freshman campaign, said Neenah has the ability to generate points from anywhere on the track and in the field events.

"We need points anywhere we can," she said. "And I think what helps us win is that we're a very diverse team. And we have winners in a lot of events. I just go out and throw my number and I know what I can do and what I'm capable of, so I do it for myself and for my team."

Kimberly won two events in its championship victory, both by senior Gavin Salzmann, who earned gold in the 1,600 (4:26.39) and the 3,200 (9:45.53).

The Papermakers' outstanding depth overwhelmed the rest of the FVA field, with the team securing six second-place finishes. That included Tyler Hinn in the discus (143-4), Spencer Pendleton in the 100 (:11.08), Alejandro Pagan Vega in the 200 (:22.38), Turner Behm in the 800 (1:59.24), Adam Bleck in the 1,600 (4:30.5) and the team's 800 relay team of Pendleton, Owen Handschke, Alex Lom and Pagan Vega (1:29.83).

"I'm beyond proud," Salzmann said. "Our distance guys obviously showed up. Our sprints showed up. Our throw guys showed up. Our freshman Titus [Finley] got third in the discus. It's a team effort. It was great."

More: Choose from six nominees for Cellcom Post-Crescent athlete of the week

Kimberly's banner day was perhaps a bit of a surprise to head coach Steve Paske.

"I am very proud of the boys in the way they came out and competed today," Paske said. "We were not feeling terribly confident coming in. It's been a struggle of a season. I think a lot of guys had not seen personal bests or top performances to this point. So for us to come out and have this kind of day, it was just fantastic. And the kids deserve all the credit in the world for competing well. It was awesome. You can't put that kind of point total unless you're getting it from all different areas."

GIRLS

NEENAH 153.5, APPLETON NORTH 141.5, OSHKOSH WEST 98.5, KAUKAUNA 93, KIMBERLY 86.5, HORTONVILLE 79, FOND DU LAC 25, OSHKOSH NORTH 13, APPLETON EAST 10, APPLETON WEST 2

100: 1, Ashley Parrish AN :12.252; 2, Celia Gentile NEE :12.254; 3, Kayana Turner OW :12.60. 200: 1, Kylie Triebold OW :24.99; 2, Ashley Parrish AN :25.00; 3, Celia Gentile NEE :25.18. 400: 1, Kylie Triebold OW :56.14; 2, Hannah Huza HORT :58.99; 3, Sophia Busch AN :59.42. 800: 1, Ava Helmbrecht AN 2:18.54; 2, Izzy Malloy NEE 2:19.00; 3, Hannah Huza HORT 2:19.31. 1,600: 1, Eva Busch AN 5:02.04; 2, Sam Zilm NEE 5:05.88; 3, Ava Helmbrecht AN 5:08.61. 3,200: 1, Eva Busch AN 10:55.73; 2, Sam Zilm NEE 10:57.29; 3, Hailey Falbo HORT 11:06.12. 100H: 1, Sydnee Nelson OW :14.51; 2, Isabel Parrish AN :14.95; 3, Camille Phillips OW :15.52. 300H: 1, Isabel Parrish AN :45.60; 2, Jenna Kinas KAU :46.25; 3, Carly Poggemann KIM :46.85. 400R: 1, Oshkosh West (Kayana Turner, Samantha Panske, Emma Liebergen, Sydnee Nelson) :49.06; 2, Neenah (Brynn Fox, Molly Snider, Kobi Meyer, Kate Lenninger) :49.62; 3, Kaukauna (Madison Koschnik, Addison Banaszynski, Addison Clark, Aubrey Lensmire) :52.02. 800R: 1, Neenah (Savannah Wendrick, Brynn Fox, Molly Snider, Kobi Meyer) 1:45.16; 2, Appleton North (Nora Thornton, Cayden Madlock, Maddie Loken, Emily Thompson) 1:46.64; 3, Hortonville (Jayla Rades, Madison Werner, Kalisa Peppler, Addison Drobnick) 1:48.51. 1,600R: 1, Appleton North (Ashley Parrish, Isabel Parrish, Jada Ellis, Sophia Busch) 4:00.76; 2, Kimberly (Carly Poggemann, Morgan Cutler, Chezney Brittnacher, Madison Krueger) 4:05.31; 3, Kaukauna (Isabelle Maass, Jenna Kinas, Hattie Mader, Kayla West) 4:05.67. 3,200R: 1, Neenah (Elsa Gruber, Elise Braaten, Lizzy LaPlant, Anna Benthein) 9:44.20; 2, Appleton North (Audry Dehlinger, Sophia Scherwinski, Aeryn Weber, Sophia Busch) 9:51.82; 3, Kimberly (Claire Paffel, Mara Meyer, Aleah Karls, Morgan Cutler) 10:00.72.

PV: 1, Asha LyBoualong KAU 11-3; 2, Alena Lewis HORT 11-0; 3 (tie), Resa Goethel NEE and Kaylee Skarda KIM 9-9. LJ: 1, Celia Gentile NEE 19-5.5; 2, Ashley Parrish AN 18-10.5; 3, Emma Liebergen OW 18-2.75. TJ: 1, Celia Gentile NEE 38-4; 2, Emma Liebergen OW 37-7.5; 3, Kayana Turner OW 36-10.25. HJ: 1, Madison Koschnik KAU 5-3; 2, Annabel Schneider KIM 5-2; 3, Norah Eidahl HORT 5-1. Shot: 1, Emma Severson NEE 48-2; 2, Audrey Myers KIM 38-6; 3, Lexington Davis NEE 37-5.75. D: 1, Emma Severson NEE 153-11; 2, Theresa Behnke KIM 133-10; 3, Misty Borchert KAU 126-4.

BOYS

KIMBERLY 145, FOND DU LAC 103, APPLETON NORTH 91, OSHKOSH WEST 90, APPLETON EAST 65.5, NEENAH 62, HORTONVILLE 51, OSHKOSH NORTH 48, KAUKAUNA 33, APPLETON WEST 13.5

100: 1, Jamare Scott ON :10.90; 2, Spencer Pendleton KIM :11.08; 3, Dylan McDonald OW :11.11. 200: 1, Ethan Kolb FDL :22.35; 2, Alejandro Pagan Vega KIM :22.38; 3, Joey Ware OW :22.65. 400: 1, Carter Crowe OW :49.63; 2, Alex Dedecker OW :49.94; 3, Birk Kozlowicz AE :50.92. 800: 1, Cade Mansfield HORT 1:58.96; 2, Turner Behm KIM 1:59.24; 3, Adam Bleck KIM 2:00.31. 1,600: 1, Gavin Salzmann KIM 4:26.39; 2, Adam Bleck KIM 4:30.50; 3, Graham Piette KIM 4:31.10. 3,200: 1, Gavin Salzmann KIM 9:45.53; 2, Jonny Golke FDL 9:58.30; 3, Bennett Scherrer KAU 9:58.80. 110H: 1, Gio Gonzalez FDL :14.91; 2, Abiatar Massingue AE :15.19; 3, Owen Fox NEE :15.33. 300H: 1, Mason Henschel FDL :39.80; 2, Owen Fox NEE :39.96; 3, Alex Lom KIM :40.70. 400R: 1, Oshkosh North (Dalton Clark, Brendyn Sawall, Evan Auler, Jamare Scott) :42.78; 2, Fond du Lac (Ben Kolb, Jaaziel Allen, Karter Osinski, Ethan Kolb) :43.49; 3, Hortonville (Greyson Rankin, Jacob Willner, Calen Plamann, Walt Pitzner) :43.75. 800R: 1, Oshkosh North (Dalton Clark, Brendyn Sawall, Evan Auler, Jamare Scott) 1:29.37; 2, Kimberly (Spencer Pendleton, Owen Handschke, Alex Lom, Alejandro Pagan Vega) 1:29.83; 3, Hortonville (Greyson Rankin, Jacob Willner, Calen Plamann, Walt Pitzner) 1:30.10. 1,600R: 1, Appleton East (Birk Kozlowicz, Preston Schefe, Brady Koplitz, Allan Massingue) 3:28.86; 2, Oshkosh West (Carson Choinski, Carter Crowe, Alex Dedecker, Noah Cardinal) 3:29.63; 3, Kaukauna (Holden Smith, Aiden Ferrier, Cole Smith, Jacek Beyer) 3:29.92. 3,200R: 1, Appleton North (Elias Martinez, Jeremy Clark, Lukas Nahm, Jacob McGinn) 8:11.85; 2, Appleton East (Liam Krainik, Holden Poole, Auden Winkel, Louie Mandich) 8:13.25; 3, Kimberly (Ellis Karls, Turner Behm, Caleb Dorsey, Braylon Hemmersbach) 8:26.59.

PV: 1, Colden Searles OW 13-0; 2, Dalton Phelan FDL 12-6; 3, Jacob Fiedorowicz KIM 12-0. TJ: 1, Collin Hanson AE 45-6; 2, Aaden Gorenc AN 43-1.5; 3, Simon Kairu AN 42-4. LJ: 1, Adrion Rogers AN 21-7.5; 2, Oliver Peterka NEE 21-5; 3, Alejandro Pagan Vega KIM 21-3. HJ: 1, Liam Otterson OW 6-2; 2, Abram Daniels HORT 6-2; 3, Keagan Wilkinson HORT 6-0. Shot: 1, Tyvon Pate FDL 55-11; 2, Hunter Meyers KAU 54-10; 3, Eli Janssen KIM 52-2.25. D: 1, Andrew Oehler ON 156-10; 2, Tyler Hinn KIM 143-4; 3, Titus Finley KIM 141-11.

This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Fox Valley Association high school track and field championships

Roberto Martínez announced this Tuesday Portugal’s 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading the way at 41 years old, in what will be his sixth and final World Cup finals.

Alongside Ronaldo, the list includes names such as Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, João Neves, Rafael Leão and Rúben Dias, making up one of the strongest teams in the world. 

In attack, the Portuguese national team is still feeling the void left by Diogo Jota following his tragic car accident, with Gonçalo Ramos and Gonçalo Guedes the strongest options to partner Ronaldo. 

Portugal will make its debut on June 17 against the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Houston, in Group K.

Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, José Sá, Rui Silva, Ricardo Velho

Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Matheus Nunes, Nélson Semedo, João Cancelo, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Inácio, Renato Veiga, Rúben Dias, Tomás Araújo

Midfielders: Rúben Neves, Samu Costa, João Neves, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva

Forwards: João Félix, Francisco Trincão, Francisco Conceição, Pedro Neto, Rafael Leão, Gonçalo Guedes, Gonçalo Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

NEW YORK - The standing ovation for John Harbaugh from the assembled New York Giants fans inside Beacon Theatre for the team's Town Hall event was only just the beginning.

And Harbaugh, their head coach set to usher in yet another new era for the franchise in its 102nd year, certainly knew how to play to his audience moments later.

With chants of "Cowboys suck" ringing out around him, Harbaugh was asked by a fan if he could promise the Giants were done being kicked around by their NFC rivals and most hated foes: the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders.

That's when the 63-year-old Super Bowl winner with 193 career victories rallied a fan base with a pledge that felt an awful lot like a battle cry he might deliver when the Giants gather Tuesday morning for the next step in this team's evolution in the first OTA (offseason team activity) practice of the spring.

"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' ass."

Harbaugh and Schoen kicked the night off together, taking questions from host Bob Papa and select fans. Then it was the players’ turn with quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Cam Skattebo drawing the loudest cheers. They were joined by defensive captain Brian Burns, edge Kayvon Thibodeaux, tight end Isaiah Likely and inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

“Everything that [Harbaugh] 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.”

Co-hosts Shaun O’Hara and CBS’ Nate Burleson were up next, introducing the Giants’ draft class of first round picks Arvell Reese and Sisi Mauigoa, second round pick Colton Hood, third round pick Malachi Fields and sixth round picks Bobby Jamison-Travis,  J.C. Davis and Jack Kelly.

The Giants will open the season at home against those Cowboys in prime time on “Sunday Night Football” on Sept. 13.

"I hate them," Kayvon Thibodeaux said. "I think it's the right place at the right time with the right people, with the right coaches, with the right fans. This is the perfect year for a miracle story."

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: John Harbaugh’s promise sets stage for new chapter of Giants football

FOOTBALL
Two Premier League matches: Bournemouth v Manchester City at 1830 and Chelsea v Tottenham at 1915

- News ahead of Wednesday's Europa League final Freiburg v Aston Villa, as available

- Report: Neuer to be Germany's number one at 2026 World Cup, moved

- DR Congo to take 'Lumumba' fan to World Cup as part of delegation, moved

_______

TENNIS
ATP and WTA tournaments in Strasbourg and Hamburg, as available

_______

CYCLING
Giro d'Italia, stage 10, individual time trial over 42km from Viareggio to Massa since 1115

_______

SPEED SKATING
Pechstein to take role as Germany speed skating coach in all-round, moved

Chelsea star Joao Pedro will not be at the FIFA World Cup after Carlo Ancelotti omitted him from the Brazil squad going to North America this summer. 

The Italian revealed the 26 players he will be taking to the tournament on Monday, but there was no place for the Blues attacker despite an impressive debut campaign at Stamford Bridge.

Pedro has registered 23 goals and six assists since making the move from Brighton last year, earning him the Chelsea Player of the Season award on Tuesday.

The award is scant consolation for the 24-year-old, who will miss out on his “dream” of playing at the World Cup, but he was philosophical about his omission.

“I tried to give my best at all times,” he posted on social media. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be.

“Joys and frustrations are part of football. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home.”

Read – McFarlane says Chelsea need no extra motivation for Spurs clash

Pedro has been the standout player in a frustrating season for Chelsea, but Ancelotti chose to bring Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli and Santos star Neymar Jr, despite both players struggling for form and fitness respectively.

Ironically, Pedro backed Neymar to earn a call-up for the World Cup. “[I want] Neymar at the World Cup. Neymar is Neymar. Just like Messi is for Argentina, Neymar is for Brazil. Neymar is my idol. He’s a guy I didn’t have the opportunity to play with,” he told TNT Brasil earlier this year.

Pedro was not the only high profile Premier League player to be left out, with Spurs’ Richarlison also missing out on a place in the squad despite being a regular in the Brazil national team since making his international debut in 2018.

Read – Ten football managers who went back to their old club

See Also – Why Xabi Alonso preferred Chelsea to Liverpool

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James Hinchcliffe has expressed concern over Toto Wolff’s handling of Kimi Antonelli, worrying that the team principal’s cautious approach might not be in the young driver’s best interests.

Antonelli currently holds a 20-point lead in the championship after four races. He has won the last three events from pole position and is pulling away from his more experienced teammate, George Russell.

Antonelli is doing what he needs to on track, but Mercedes are keen to keep things in perspective. Wolff has made it clear that they’re not getting carried away with early success.

The Italian press is eager to follow his rise, given he could become Italy’s first world champion since Alberto Ascari. However, Wolff has been careful about managing his media exposure, a move Hinchcliffe feels uneasy about.

Wolff has openly admitted he is ‘scared’ of how Antonelli has started the 2026 season, worrying that the young Italian could make mistakes under the pressure. As Hinchcliffe points out, this isn’t something he needs to do with Russell, who has the experience and maturity to stand on his own.

Speaking via F1 Nation, Hinchcliffe expressed concern that Wolff’s approach might backfire if Antonelli becomes either too discouraged after a setback or overly confident following a win.

He said: “Toto Wolff, even post-Miami, is still saying, ‘We have to protect him. We’ve got to make sure he stays grounded. We’ve got to make sure that the good days don’t big him up too much, that the bad days don’t get him down too much.’

“You don’t have to do that with George. George has a level of experience and a level of maturity that, he can go through a whole season without another phone call from Toto and he’ll be fine.

“Kimi… the team is still outwardly projecting that they kind of have to bubble wrap this kid a little bit because they need to make sure he stays in this place.

“And if anything makes him deviate off that, there could be issues, that’s just one of those things.

“As an investor when you’re looking at betting your life savings on something, that’s an element I think makes me nervous compared to George who’s a bit more of a known quantity in that sense.”

Read more:

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Last week, Real Madrid president held an explosive press conference, during which he lashed out at FC Barcelona over the Negreira scandal.

While claiming that he and Real Madrid had been robbed of multiple La Liga titles because of that, Perez also stated that referees had cost the Merengues 18 points this season as well, in turn helping Barça win the league.

“We’ve been left with nothing, and I’ve been here I don’t know how many seasons and I’ve only won seven European Cups and seven Leagues, which could have been 14 because they’ve been stolen from me,”Perez had said.

“We’ve made a video about the 18 points they’ve taken from us this season.”

Florentino Perez’s remarks did not go down well in the Barcelona camp as one would have expected.

While the club issued an official statement indicating that they are considering taking legal measures, their interim president, Rafa Yuste, and some players have openly addressed the Real Madrid chief’s comments.

Joan Garcia hits back at Florentino Perez. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Following Fermin Lopez’s response, Joan Garcia has now become the latest Barcelona player to respond to Perez’s statements.

Speaking to EFE (h/t MARCA), the Spanish goalkeeper said: “Anyone who has watched LaLiga, all the matches, knows that those words are not true.

“We are calm, happy with the Cup they gave us after the Clasico.”

Following his explosive press conference, Perez sat down for an interview with Josep Pedrerol of El Chiringuito, where he made it clear that the relationship between Real Madrid and Barcelona was completely broken.

“The relationship with Barça is completely broken. When I found out about this, I didn’t want to have any dealings with a club that has been paying referees for two decades,” he said. “We are the ones who have been wronged.”

Florentino Perez did not mince his words against Barcelona. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Standing firm on filing a complaint with UEFA over the Negreira case and refereeing issues, he further stated:

“We will submit all the documentation from these years to UEFA. Ceferin has told me that’s fine, that we are within our rights.It’s documentation from the years they paid and those they claim they didn’t, yet the same referees continue to officiate. 

“It shows all the points they have blatantly taken away from us. This year, between 16 and 17 points.”

The top-priced ticket for next year's Rugby World Cup final will exceed £1,000 for the first time in the tournament's history.

A category-one seat for the 13 November showpiece at Sydney's Stadium Australia is on sale for A$1,950 (£1,035).

The equivalent ticket at France 2023 cost 950 euros (£823 at today's exchange rate).

Japan 2019's most-expensive final seat cost £717, with England 2015 and New Zealand 2011 coming in at £715 and £545 respectively.

However, organisers have defended their pricing strategy, saying the most expensive tickets are in line with other high-profile sporting events and help ensure more than a million tickets can be offered for less than A$100 (£53).

"There's a lot of work that goes into developing our ticketing strategy, and we're really keen to provide as many tickets as we could at the bottom end," Rugby World Cup 2027 managing director Chris Stanley told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"So, to make it accessible, like all major events, there is an element where you have to charge more at the top end."

The cheapest adult seats are A$40 (£21), with A$20 (£11) child tickets available for all games, except the semi-finals and final.

Tickets are also sold at set prices, in contrast to the dynamic pricing system adopted for some matches at football's men's World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico this summer.

All of Ireland's pool-stage campaign - against Portugal, Scotland and Uruguay - are showing as 'high demand' on the tournament's ticketing website, suggesting a repeat of the large numbers who followed the team four years ago in France.

Full ticket prices were revealed at the start of a two-week window during which fans can secure their seats at matches across the tournament.

The window closes on 2 June, with oversubscribed fixtures being allocated by a ballot system. Fans will be notified of the outcome of their application on 23 June.

More than 750,000 of the tournament's 2.5 million tickets were sold in a pre-sale phase.

• Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate
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Houston placed Jose Altuve on the 10-day injured list with a Grade 2 left oblique strain on May 18, just as Jeremy Peña returned from the injured list. That sounds like one veteran out and one veteran back. In practice, it throws the Astros right back into the infield coverage problem they have been trying to survive for weeks.

Altuve was hurt on May 16 against Texas, and the move was made retroactive to May 17. Peña can help, especially if he is healthy enough to hold the leadoff spot, but this does not restore Houston’s original shape. It just changes where the holes are.

Altuve was slashing .245/.326/.380 with four home runs in 42 games before the strain. That is not peak Altuve, but it is still the kind of contact and strike-zone stability that lets a lineup survive when the rest of the infield is moving around.

Oblique injuries are awkward because even a quick return timeline can leave the hitter compromised. Houston is not just losing games played. It is losing the easiest version of its batting-order continuity.

Peña returned to the lineup and hit leadoff on May 18. That gives Houston a real shortstop again and some athletic range back in the middle of the field.

It also asks Peña to replace more than his own position. The Astros are now looking to him for lineup tone, defensive stability, and some version of Altuve’s traffic-setting role at the top of the order while he is still easing back from a hamstring strain.

Houston’s recent roster moves show the churn clearly. With Altuve out and Carlos Correa already out for the season, the Astros are asking Brice Matthews and Braden Shewmake to cover meaningful innings around Peña instead of simply filling the back of the roster.

That is the part that can drag on the lineup even if Peña plays well. The Astros do not have one clean replacement story here. They have a new daily alignment problem.

The optimistic read is that Peña’s return softens the hit. The more realistic read is that he is now responsible for keeping the whole thing playable. That is a different burden than just coming back and slotting into shortstop.

Houston can survive this if Peña quickly looks like himself and the supporting infield spots stop bleeding value. If that does not happen, Altuve’s oblique strain will be remembered less as a temporary injury and more as the moment the Astros’ infield juggling act became the main story again.

Read More: Paul Skenes calls himself too stupid to learn one important skill in pitching

Mahmoud Dahoud is searching for a new club after it was confirmed last month that his expiring contract at Eintracht Frankfurt will not be extended.

According to Sky Germany, the 30-year-old has attracted interest from several clubs – most notably LA Galaxy, where he could link up with former Borussia Dortmund teammate Marco Reus.

Talks between Dahoud, who shares a close friendship with Reus, and the MLS side are already said to be well advanced.

Istanbul Başakşehir, coached by former BVB midfielder and boss Nuri Şahin, are also reportedly interested, alongside clubs from Saudi Arabia.

One of the favorites to win it all?

Portugal unveiled its squad for the 2026 World Cup this Tuesday afternoon!

Roberto Martínez has called up 27 players.

The list includes PSG players Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, Gonçalo Ramos, and João Neves — but above all, at 41 years old, Cristiano Ronaldo, who is set to play in the sixth World Cup of his career!

As a reminder, Portugal is in a group with Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uzbekistan.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

How do you sum it all up when you're a generational athlete in the middle of what was -- up to this moment -- a career-defining game? That's what Victor Wembanyama had to answer toward the end of his masterpiece in the double-overtime San Antonio Spurs win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

His answer? He posed in front of his teammates, in what fans are defining as "aura farming" (ask your Gen Alpha kid to define it). It looked like Superman if you put a cape on him. And his Spurs teammates were so pumped by it.

It was one of the many, many, MANY Wemby moments to take away from Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, as the superstar went off for 41 points, 24 rebounds, three blocks and a steal.

Victor Wembanyama striking a pose in front of the Spurs bench

This is amazing pic.twitter.com/dVFa97WcCU

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 19, 2026

Dawg. Victor Wembanyama just aura farmed/struck a pose on the court in front of his bench for the best screen saver during the OKC Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs Game 1 Second Overtime 😭 pic.twitter.com/mYEGURw7PU

— RashticReport (@RashticReport) May 19, 2026

Victor #Wembanyama striking a pose in front of the Spurs bench

This is amazing pic.twitter.com/smrtPriFcp

— last news (@weat24145) May 19, 2026

Wemby’s “pose” has to be one of the most iconic moments of his young career. pic.twitter.com/iAsE9jFLCP

— Jake Weinbach (@JWeinbachNBA) May 19, 2026

What a moment, what a game, what an athlete.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Victor Wembanyama Superman pose in Spurs - Thunder Game 1 was aura

Madison Square Garden is about to become the center of the basketball world again originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There are playoff games and then there are playoff games at Madison Square Garden. When the New York Knicks host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, the building known simply as “The Garden” will once again deliver one of the loudest and most electric atmospheres in American sports. For a franchise chasing its first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, the stakes already feel enormous. Add in the history of the arena, the celebrity crowd, the surge of Knicks optimism and ticket prices nearing Super Bowl territory, and Game 1 suddenly feels bigger than just another playoff game.

New York has waited decades for nights like this. Now the city gets another one under the brightest lights possible.

There are newer arenas. There are bigger arenas. But no NBA building carries the same mythology as Madison Square Garden. From Willis Reed limping onto the floor in the 1970 NBA Finals to Patrick Ewing’s battles in the 1990s and now Jalen Brunson leading a modern-era resurgence, the Garden has long operated like basketball theater. Even opposing players routinely admit the atmosphere feels different in Manhattan during the postseason.

That energy has only intensified during this playoff run. The Knicks enter the Eastern Conference Finals riding a seven-game playoff winning streak and coming off dominant series victories over Atlanta and Philadelphia. According to Yahoo Sports, New York has outscored opponents by 185 total points during that stretch while looking every bit like a legitimate championship contender.

Now the conference finals return to New York with fans believing this team might finally be capable of ending a title drought that dates back to 1973.

Ticket prices for Game 1 at Madison Square Garden…

$199,200 for one seat.

That could generate you $2500 a month if you had the money invested.

For a 3 hour experience.

What do y’all think? pic.twitter.com/FtdmJhuWUm

— Matt (@3KComeback) May 18, 2026

That belief is showing up everywhere, especially on the secondary ticket market. According to Front Office Sports, get-in prices for Eastern Conference Finals games at MSG are starting around $500 and escalating quickly depending on seat location. Potential NBA Finals tickets at the Garden are already appearing on resale sites for roughly $2,500 just to enter the building. Some premium seats have climbed well into five-figure territory.

Those numbers are approaching Super Bowl-level pricing, which says everything about how massive this Knicks run has become for both fans and the sports business world. It also shows something bigger than basketball. Knicks playoff games at MSG have become cultural events again. Celebrities pack courtside seats. Fans flood Midtown hours before tipoff. Bars around Manhattan overflow long before introductions begin.

The Garden does not just host games during moments like this. It becomes the event itself.

MORE: Spurs suddenly stand 3 wins away from first NBA Finals since 2014

A year ago, simply reaching the Eastern Conference Finals felt like a breakthrough for New York. This year feels different. The Knicks are no longer just a feel-good playoff story. They enter this series as legitimate favorites to reach the NBA Finals. Yahoo Sports noted New York’s offensive explosion during this postseason run, highlighted by Karl-Anthony Towns evolving into a playmaking centerpiece while Brunson continues to deliver superstar-level scoring.

The team’s depth, physical defense and confidence have completely shifted expectations around the franchise. That matters inside the Garden because Knicks fans are notoriously emotional when they sense a championship window opening. Every made shot feels louder. Every defensive stop feels heavier. Every playoff moment feels connected to decades of waiting.

The result is an environment unlike almost anything else in sports.

This is not just Cleveland versus New York. It is basketball tradition versus basketball ambition. It is one of the league’s iconic franchises trying to return to the NBA Finals in front of a city desperate to celebrate again.

Even nationally, the matchup has been treated as the Eastern Conference’s marquee showdown all season. The NBA placed Knicks-Cavaliers on opening night and Christmas Day months ago because league executives clearly believed this rivalry had conference-finals potential. They were right. Now it arrives at the sport’s most famous arena with everything amplified.

The noise. The celebrities. The history. The pressure. The prices.

For one night, the basketball world revolves around Madison Square Garden yet again.

• Spurs suddenly stand 3 wins away from first NBA Finals since 2014
• Golden State Warriors lose top two assistant coaches under Steve Kerr
• Draymond Green issues apology to Charles Barkley after Rockets comment

Braden Fiske was banged up last season. He didn’t look 100% healthy, perhaps due to the surgery he had on his knee following his rookie year in 2024. He also suffered an ankle injury late last season.

But heading into Year 3, he looks ready to roll. After a dip in production last season, Fiske could be poised for a bounce-back season in 2026, especially after seeing him breeze through a footwork drill at practice this week.

He looks as quick as ever, wowing fans with his foot speed and explosiveness in a new video that the Rams posted from their workout program. Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Trent McDuffie and several other players are in the video, but it was Fiske who stole the show at the 10-second mark.

Rampin' up the work 😤 pic.twitter.com/sp7Jc66gZE

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 18, 2026

Fiske works as hard as anyone and while he does need to improve as a run defender on the interior, his quickness is what makes him a dangerous pass rusher alongside Jared Verse, Kobie Turner and Byron Young.

If he can take that next step in 2026, the Rams' defensive line has a chance to do something special.

One practice drill doesn't tell a whole story but it's good to see Fiske healthy and explosive entering Year 3.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' Braden Fiske wows with incredible footwork at practice

The New York Giants begin Phase III of their offseason program, commonly known as OTAs, on Tuesday. That means John Harbaugh will be able to get his team on the practice field and conduct 11-on-11 work, albeit within the offseason practice rules laid out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

That makes Tuesday another first in Harbaugh’s maiden season as Giants head coach after 18 years with the Baltimore Ravens.

The Giants’ OTA schedule will be as follows:

May 19-21, May 27-29, June 1-4.

The offseason program will conclude with mandatory minicamp June 8-10.

Here are some of the storylines to watch over the next few weeks.

Media will have access to three of the 10 OTAs, as well as the mandatory minicamp. Harbaugh, an old-school coach, is expected to push players harder than what many of them are accustomed to. What does that look like on the practice field?

Does it mean front-line players take more reps than we are used to seeing? We saw in rookie minicamp that draft picks took on-field reps, a change from recent years with the Giants. Does it mean more 11-on-11? More conditioning?

Kayvon Thibodeaux said at Monday’s Town Hall that playing for Harbaugh is “hard” because the coach is always testing limits.

OTAs will give us a glimpse of what that looks like.

After trading an unhappy Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Giants quickly remade their defensive line.

New York added D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris, Leki Fotu, and Sam Roberts in free agency, and claimed Zacch Pickens off waivers. They drafted Bobby Jamison-Travis in the sixth round. They still have holdovers Darius Alexander, Roy Robertson-Harris, and Chauncey Golston.

What is all of this going to look like on the field? Who is aligning where? What does the early depth chart look like?

OTAs will give us an indication of how the Giants are planning to deploy their rebuilt defensive line.

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.

The division of left guard reps over the next few weeks might give us a clue as to whether they are considering that.

• Ex-Giant believes the future is bright — at guard — for No. 10 pick Francis Mauigoa
• Giants’ GM Joe Schoen: A ‘pipe dream’ to land Arvell Reese and Sisi Mauigoa
• What can we expect from the Giants’ Day 1 and 2 draft picks as rookies?

When the Giants drafted Arvell Reese No. 5 overall, Harbaugh immediately said Reese would be a starting off-ball linebacker next to Tremaine Edmunds. When they drafted Mauigoa No. 10, Harbaugh immediately said Mauigoa was the right guard.

When they drafted Hood, a cornerback, No. 37 overall in Round 2, Harbaugh did not promise that hood would be a starter from Day 1.

The Giants have an opening at cornerback after losing Cor’Dale Flott to the Tennessee Titans in free agency. They signed former first-round pick Greg Newsome II, who has struggled the past couple of seasons, to compete for that job. They still have their own former first-round pick Deonte Banks.

The belief here is that Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson will give Hood every chance to win that starting job. Honestly, they have to be crossing their fingers that he does.

• NY Giants rejected trio of picks to select CB Colton Hood at No. 37

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.

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?

• NY Giants UDFAs: Can Ben Mann replace Casey Kreiter as long snapper?
• NY Giants UDFA OL Ryan Schernecke a ‘real guy’ with a real chance to stick
• NY Giants UDFAs: Can DT Ben Barten fit into the Giants’ defensive line?

There are almost always a couple of undrafted free agents who work their way to the 53-man roster. Who will it be this time around?

Cornerback Thaddeus Dixon has already lost his opportunity after suffering an Achilles injury.

Could Ben Mann win the long-snapping job from journeyman Zach Triner? The fact that the Giants signed him as a priority free agent tells you they think it’s possible.

Can Dominic Zvada win the placekicking competition with Jason Sanders and Ben Sauls? That will be a fascinating story all the way through training camp.

Could running back Damon Bankston take a practice squad spot away from Dante Miller or Eric Gray?

Can Division II offensive lineman Ryan Schernecke make the leap to the NFL?

Can one of the two undrafted defensive tackles on the roster, Anquin Barnes and Ben Barten, stick?

• NY Giants UDFAs: Can RB/KR Damon Bankston open eyes in training camp?
• UDFA placekicker Dominic Zvada could ‘make some noise’ for NY Giants this summer

The Giants’ offense will look different than it did during the Brian Daboll/Mike Kafka era. We are likely to see a more physical, run-oriented offense. The next few weeks give us a glimpse of how that will look.

A few things I will be watching when I have the chance:

• How are the Giants deploying Isaiah Likely? I expect to see a fair amount of him aligned as a big slot receiver replacing the 5-foot-8 Wan’Dale Robinson.
• How comfortable does Mauigoa look at right guard?
• How heavily does it look like the Giants will rely on newly-signed fullback Patrick Ricard?
• I am expecting play-action to be a passing game staple. Is there is a noticeable uptick in how often the Giants seem to use it?
• With Cam Skattebo’s recovery from a dislocated ankle going more slowly than anticipated, can Tyrone Tracy prove to Harbaugh that he needs to be more than an afterthought in the backfield rotation?

Former ClemsonTigers quarterback Cade Klubnik saw his draft stock take a major hit after Clemson’s disappointing 2025 season, but the New York Jets still saw enough upside to trade up and select him in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Klubnik was once viewed as a possible first-round pick following his standout 2024 campaign, but injuries and inconsistent play during Clemson’s 7-6 season caused him to slide to No. 110 overall.

ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid believes New York could still be a good situation for the former Tiger.

“When protected, Klubnik is a steady distributor who makes consistent throws to all levels, but his game breaks down into erratic, head-scratching decisions when unsettled,” Reid wrote.

Reid also pointed to the Jets’ young offensive line and playmakers like Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson as reasons Klubnik could eventually succeed in Frank Reich’s offense.

Klubnik joins a quarterback room led by veteran Geno Smith, though ESPN’s Rich Cimini said the rookie should still have opportunities to compete for backup reps this offseason.

“The Jets want to give him as much work as possible,” Cimini wrote.

CBS labels Sammy Brown among college football's most feared on defense

📸 Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images https://t.co/ZzoA2zScDBpic.twitter.com/u1VosGkUcr

— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) May 18, 2026

Even after a frustrating final season, Klubnik finished his Clemson career as the school’s all-time leader in completions and pass attempts while ranking among the top quarterbacks in program history in passing yards, touchdowns and total offense.

Klubnik will look to impress with the Jets.

Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.

This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: ESPN talks Cade Klubnik, what to expect from new New York Jets QB

Joan Garcia has become one of the most important figures at Barcelona, and after a dream debut season, the goalkeeper has now opened up on everything from the club’s Champions League ambitions to the recent comments made by Florentino Perez.

After helping Barcelona win both La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup in his first campaign at Spotify Camp Nou, the Spanish goalkeeper believes the club is moving in the right direction, but insists there is still work to do before they can conquer Europe again.

Barcelona have not lifted the Champions League since 2015, and despite coming close in recent seasons, the club continue searching for the consistency required to survive the biggest knockout nights.

“It would be a mistake to think it will happen on its own; that doesn’t happen. We have to keep working. 

“If we don’t improve the small details that are keeping us out of the knockout stages, it won’t happen. We also have to trust the process, in the maturity we are gaining,” he said as per MARCA.

The Barcelona shot-stopper also stressed that the current squad already possesses enough quality to seriously compete for Europe’s biggest trophy.

Joan Garcia is confident of winning the Champions League. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

He said that the club’s youth squad is one of the biggest reasons for optimism moving forward.

“We’re a very young team. We still need to gain a lot of experience in the Champions League. Last year we came very close to the final, and this year we narrowly missed out on the semi-finals. 

“These are the kinds of experiences that will help us know how to play these sorts of matches in the future.”

Away from tactical matters, the Barcelona goalkeeper also praised the environment he found after arriving at the club, especially his relationship with veteran goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

“(At Barça) Both the players and the coaching staff made it very easy for me. I felt very much at home right from the start.”

Garcia also revealed how important Hansi Flick was in convincing him to join Barcelona last summer.

Joan Garcia has responded to Florentino Perez. (Photo by Gabriel Kuchta/Getty Images)

“When you make a decision like this, it’s very important for a player to see that the manager genuinely wants you, that he wants you in his team. 

“And that’s something I felt when I spoke to him, and it’s something that helps you when you take the plunge.”

The interview then shifted towards the controversial comments made by Florentino Perez, who claimed refereeing decisions had cost Real Madrid between 16 and 18 points during the season.

Garcia did not hesitate to reject those claims, stating, “Anyone who has watched La Liga, every single match, knows that those words aren’t true. 

“We’re calm and happy with the Cup we were awarded after El Clasico.”

Juventus need a very favorable set of results to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Missing out would have significant ramifications, although it’s not yet clear who will pay the price for the flop, Corriere dello Sport relays.

Owner John Elkann is mulling it over. He has a direct line with Luciano Spalletti, who’s said to be distraught over the last two home results that compromised their chase. The coach took the blame, but he’s unlikely to step down or be ousted for now. The fact that the Bianconeri collected the most points behind Inter since he took over works in his favor.

Instead, the wrath of the tycoon could engulf the Juventus management, and CEO Damien Comolli in particular. He was hired last summer and promoted a few months later. He could be the fall guy, like Cristiano Giuntoli was before him.

From an economic standpoint, the Old Lady would take a €40M hit from being relegated to the UEFA Europa League, plus all the losses tied to sponsorship deals and game-day earnings. Their patron could simply pour more cash into the club, as he’s done a few times when needed.

We’ll see whether they still have an appetite for Antonio Conte after his about-face last year, but he’s the only hire that would justify a coaching change. Comolli has made big mistakes, but he also operated solo, as the other directors were brought in later on, and with the help of some intermediaries, who didn’t necessarily do the team’s bidding, and with little time to prepare last year. There’ll be some consequences on the transfer market, but this campaign proved they have very few keepers or irreplaceable players. They should opt for continuity for once.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal’s win over Burnley on Monday night put the Gunners one win away from the Premier League title, but they may not need that win if Manchester City fail to win against Bournemouth on Tuesday.

City sit five points behind Arsenal as it stands, so anything other than three points away to Bournemouth would make it impossible for Pep Guardiola’s side to catch up on the final day – confirming Arsenal as champions.

Mikel Arteta was asked by the BBC on Monday night whether he’d be watching the game on TV.

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

“I will watch tomorrow. I will enjoy tonight, and tomorrow we start to prepare for [Crystal] Palace, and we will watch it (the City game) for sure,” Arteta said.

But in his subsequent press conference, Arteta suggested he might not watch the whole game, and he probably won’t watch it with the Arsenal players.

“I don’t know how long I’m going to watch it,” Arteta admitted. “I will be there in front of the TV, but I don’t know how much I’ll be able to watch, I think. That’s the reality.

“No, I haven’t planned to do that (watch with the players). I’m planning to watch it with my family, and again, I don’t know for how long.”

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The one thing Arteta was very clear on is that he’ll be a Bournemouth fan for the day.

“The biggest ever,” Arteta insisted. “For Andoni [Iraola] and all the players, and all the people who are supporters of Bournemouth, I think we all are. We know that means tomorrow they get our support.”

Former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has torn into Bruno Fernandes and his teammates for prioritising the Premier League assist record over victory against Nottingham Forest.

Fernandes has enjoyed a superb season, playing a crucial role in United’s qualification for the Champions League after a two-year absence.

Restored to his preferred playmaking position by Michael Carrick, he has kicked up a new level since the turn of the year and is arguably playing the best football of his career.

The Portugal international ran the show for United yet again over the weekend, helping them to a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nottingham Forest. Beyond the win, the game was even more special for Fernandes because he hit 20 assists, matching Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry for the Premier League record.

He could have gone beyond them and clear at the top, though, considering how many gilt-edged chances he carved out for his teammates, only for most to be wasted.

When Bryan Mbeumo finally put away one of Fernandes’ chances, the relief on the players’ faces was obvious as they rushed over to their captain to celebrate with him and offer their congratulations. Fernandes was honoured with a gift by Omar Berrada at the full-time whistle, while he also drew special praise from Carrick.

That said, not everyone’s happy about what he’s done. Keane took exception to it on the latest Stick to Football podcast episode.

The Irishman said, “I think what I heard at United at the weekend… honestly, I was raging with it. The whole chat about his assists. And everyone’s talking about assists, he did an interview after the match, after the game, and I was watching him and everyone was talking about assists and even the players were… It was all, the game was about his assists.”

“That’s the whole talk.”

“After the game he got interviewed and he said in his interview, the captain of Man United, he said, ‘Yeah, a few times I probably should’ve…’ He said this himself, ‘I should have shot but, uh, I made them passes’. Wow! How can your mindset of a footballer be going out to a match and be talking about some individual recognition?”

“He’s going to get all them stats anyway. But for it to be the main point about Man United’s performance the weekend, I was cringing with all of them. And all the players when he got the assist, going over to him – What about the guy who scored the goal?!”

Gary Neville tried to defend Fernandes by pointing out that the captain had made it clear he prefers team trophies, but Keane wasn’t having any of it.

Keane added, “He won’t be winning trophies. Not with that mindset of the team, where they’ve given up two goals and everyone’s getting all giddy because he’s equalled a record for assists. It’s mind-boggling. It’s mind-boggling.”

“It’s a circus act. Bruno gives a pass and he misses it. What did Bruno do after he missed it? You watched it. Why is he falling on the f***ing floor? Excuse me. He wasn’t disappointed for the striker who’s having a bit of a difficult spell and missed a couple of chances. He’s thinking about his assist, and he doesn’t—he doesn’t get his assist.”

United are next in action on Sunday when they go away to Brighton in their final game of the season.

Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty Images

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The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

With the FIFA World Cup fast approaching, the nations taking part are announcing their 26-man squads for the tournament.

While much of world football’s top talent will be on show, several of the world’s most coveted stars will be watching the World Cup from home this summer.

Here are the squads that have been confirmed so far…

Mexico 

South Africa

South Korea

Jo Hyun-woo (Ulsan HD), Kim Seung-gyu (FC Tokyo), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Jo Yu-min (Sharjah), Lee Han-beom (Midtjylland), Kim Tae-hyun (Kashima Antlers), Park Jin-seop (Zhejiang FC), Lee Ki-hyeok (Gangwon FC), Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna), Seol Young-woo (Red Star Belgrade), Jens Castrop (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kim Moon-hwan (Daejeon Hana), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Paik Seung-ho (Birmingham City), Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord), Kim Jin-kyu (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), Um Ji-sung (Swansea City), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), Lee Dong-gyeong (Ulsan HD), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Oh Hyun-kyu (Besiktas), Son Heung-min (LA FC), Cho Kyu-sung (Midtjylland).

Czechia

Canada

Bosina and Herzegovina

Nikola Vasilj (St Pauli), Martin Zlomislic (Rijeka), Osman Hadzikic (Slaven Belupo), Sead Kolasinac (Atalanta), Amar Dedic (Benfica), Nihad Mujakic (Gaziantep), Nikola Katic (Schalke 04), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo), Stjepan Radeljic (Rijeka), Dennis Hadzikadunic (Sampdoria), Nidal Celik (Lens), Amir Hadziahmetovic (Hull City), Ivan Sunjic (Pafos), Ivan ‌Basic (Astana), Dzenis Burnic (Karlsruher SC), Ermin Nahmic (Slovan Liberec), Benjamin Tahirovic (Brondby), Amar Memic (Viktoria Plzen), ‌Armin Gigovic (Young Boys), Kerim Alajbegovic (RB Salzburg), Esmir Bajraktarevic (PSV Eindhoven). Forwards:Ermedin Demirovic (VfB Stuttgart), Jovo Lukic (Universitatea Cluj), Samed Bazdar (Jagiellonia Bialystok), Haris Tabakovic (Borussia Monchengladbach), Edin Dzeko (Schalke).

Qatar

Switzerland

Brazil

Goalkeepers: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Fenerbahce), Weverton (Gremio).

Defenders: Alex Sandro, Danilo, Leo Pereira (Flamengo), Bremer (Juventus), Ibanez (Al-Ahli), Wesley (Roma), Marquinhos (Paris St-Germain), Gabriel (Arsenal), Douglas Santos (Zenit St. Petersburg).

Midfielders: Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Danilo Santos (Botafogo), Fabinho (Al-Ittihad), Lucas Paqueta (Flamengo).

Forwards: Endrick (Lyon), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Igor Thiago (Brentford), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid), Luiz Henrique (Zenit St. Petersburg), Neymar (Santos), Rayan (Bournemouth).

Carlo Ancelotti has recalled Brazil legend Neymar to the squad but at the expense of Chelsea forward Joao Pedro, who has enjoyed a strong season for the Blues.

Morocco

Haiti

Johnny Placide (SC Bastia), Alexandre Pierre (FC Sochaux), Josué Duverger (FC Cosmos Koblenz),Carlens Arcus (Angers SCO), Wilguens Paugain (SV Zulte Waregem), Duke Lacroix (Colorado Springs), Martin Experience (AS Nancy-Lorraine), Jean-Kevin Duverne (KAA Gent), Ricardo Adé (LDU Quito), Hannes Delcroix (FC Lugano), Keeto Thermoncy (BSC Young Boys II), Leverton Pierre (FC Vizela), Carl-Fred Sainthe (El Paso Locomotive FC), Jean-Jacques Danley (Philadelphia Union), Jeanricner Bellegarde (Wolverhampton), Pierre Woodenski (Violette AC), Dominique Simon (FC Tatran Prešov), Louicius Deedson (FC Dallas), Ruben Providence (Almere City FC), Josué Casimir (AJ Auxerre), Derrick Etienne (Toronto FC), Wilson Isidor (Sunderland AFC), Duckens Nazon (Esteghlal FC), Frantzdy Pierrot (Çaykur Rizespor), Yassin Fortune (FC Vizela), Lenny Joseph (Ferencváros TC).

Scotland

Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), Angus Gunn (Nottingham Forest), Liam Kelly (Rangers).

Defenders: Grant Hanley (Hibernian), Jack Hendry (Al Etiffaq), Aaron Hickey (Brentford), Dom Hyam (Wrexham), Scott McKenna (Dinamo Zagreb), Nathan Patterson (Everton), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers), Kieran Tierney (Celtic).

Midfielders: Ryan Christie (Bournemouth), Finlay Curtis (Kilmarnock), Lewis Ferguson (Bologna), Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth), Billy Gilmour (Napoli), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich), Scott McTominay (Napoli).

Forwards: Che Adams (Torino), Lyndon Dykes (Charlton Athletic), George Hirst (Ipswich), Lawrence Shankland (Hearts), Ross Stewart (Southampton).

USA

Paraquay

Australia

Turkey

Germany

Curacao

Tyrick Bodak (SC Telstar), Trevor Doornbusch (VVV-Venlo), Eloy Room (Miami FC), Riechedly Bazoer (Konyaspor), Joshua Brenet (Kayserispor), Roshon Van Eijma (RKC Waalwijk), Sherel Floranus (PEC Zwolle), Deveron Fonville (NEC Nijmegen), Juriën Gaari (Abha Club), Armando Obispo (PSV Eindhoven), Shurandy Sambo (Sparta Rotterdam), Juninho Bacuna (FC Volendam), Leandro Bacuna (Iğdır), Livano Comenencia (FC Zürich), Kevin Felida (FC Den Bosch), Ar’Jany Martha (Rotherham United), Tyrese Noslin (SC Telstar), Godfried Roemeratoe (RKC Waalwijk), Jeremy Antonisse (AE Kifisia), Tahith Chong (Sheffield United), Kenji Gorré (Maccabi Haifa), Sontje Hansen (Middlesbrough), Gervane Kastaneer (Terengganu FC), Brandley Kuwas (FC Volendam), Jürgen Locadia (Miami FC), Jearl Margaritha (SK Beveren)

Ivory Coast

Yahia Fofana (Caykur Rizespor), Mohamed Kone (Charleroi), Alban Lafont (Panathinaikos), Emmanuel Agbadou (Beşiktaş), Clement Akpa (AJ Auxerre), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting CP), Guela Doue (Strasbourg), Ghislain Konan (Gil Vicente), Odilon Kossounou (Atalanta BC), Evan Ndicka (AS Roma), Wilfried Singo (Galatasaray), Seko Fofana (Porto), Parfait Guiagon (Charleroi), Christ Inao Oulai (Trabzonspor), Franck Kessie (Al-Ahli), Ibrahim Sangare (Nottingham Forest), Jean-Michael Seri (Maribor), Simon Adingra (Monaco), Ange-Yoan Bonny (Inter Milan), Amad Diallo (Manchester United), Oumar Diakite (Cercle Brugge), Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig), Evann Guessand (Crystal Palace), Nicolas Pepe (Villarreal), Bazoumana Toure (TSG Hoffenheim), Elye Wahi (OGC Nice)

Ecuador

Netherlands

Japan

Hayakawa Tomoki (Kashima Antlers), Suzuki Zion (Parma Clacio), Osako Keisuke (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Nagatomo Yuto (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truidense), Tomiyasu Takehiro (AFC Ajax), Itakura Ko (AFC Ajax), Watanabe Tsuyoshi (Feyenoord), Hiroki Ito (FC Bayern Munich), Suzuki Junnosuke (FC Copenhagen), Seko Ayumu (Le Havre AC), Sugawara Yukinari ( SV Werder Bremen), Kamada Daichi (Crystal Palace), Sano Kaishu (FSV Mainz), Tanaka Ao (Leeds United), Endo Wataru (Liverpool FC), Nakamura Keito (Stade de Reims), Doan Ritsu (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ito Junya (KRC Genk), Kubo Takefusa (Real Sociedad), Suzuki Yuito (SC Freiburg), Ueda Ayase (Feyenoord), Ogawa Koki (NEC Nijmegan), Maeda Daizen (Celtic FC), Shiogai Kento (VfL Wolfsburg), Goto Keisuke (Sint-Truidense)

Sweden

Viktor Johansson (Stoke City), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (AIK Fotboll), Jacob Widell Zetterstrom (Derby County), Hjalmar Ekdal (Burnley), Gabriel Gudmundsson (Leeds United), Isak Hien (Atalanta), Emil Holm (Bologna), Gustaf Lagerbielke (Braga), Victor Lindelof (Aston Villa), Eric Smith (St. Pauli), Carl Starfelt (Celta Vigo), Elliot Stroud (Mjallby AIF), Daniel Svensson (Borussia Dortmund), Taha Ali (Malmo FF), Yasin Ayari (Brighton & Hove Albion), Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham Hotspur), Jesper Kalstrom (Udinese), Benjamin Nygren (Celtic), Ken Sema (Pafos), Mattias Svanberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Besfort Zeneli (Union Saint-Gilloise), Alexander Bernhardsson (Holstein Kiel), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle United), Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal), Alexander Isak (Liverpool), Gustaf Nilsson (Club Brugge).

Roony Bardghji’s exclusion from the Sweden squad came as a surprise. Boss Grham Potter said it was “an incredibly tough decision” to leave him out- but did not explain why the Barcelona forward is not in his 26.

Tunisia

Sabri Ben Hessen (Etoile Sahel), Abdelmouhib Chamakh (Club Africain), Aymen Dahman (CS Sfaxien),Ali Abdi (Nice), Adem Arous (Kasimpasa), Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida (Esperance), Dylan Bronn (Servette Geneva), Raed Chikhaoui (US Monastir), Moutaz Neffati (Norrkoping), Omar Rekik (NK Maribor), Montassar Talbi (Lorient), Yan Valery (Young Boys Berne), Mortadha Ben Ouanes (Kasimpasa), Anis Ben Slimane (Norwich City), Ismael Gharbi (FC Augsburg), Rani Khedira (Union Berlin), Mohamed Hadj Mahmoud (Lugano), Hannibal Mejbri (Burnley), Ellyes Skhiri (Eintracht Frankfurt), Elias Achouri (FC Copenhagen), Khalil Ayari (Paris Saint-Germain), Firas Chaouat (Club Africain), Rayan Elloumi (Vancouver Whitecaps), Hazem Mastouri (Dynamo Makhachkala), Elias Saad (Hannover 96), Sebastian Tounekti (Celtic)

Belgium

Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Senne Lammens (Manchester United), Mike Penders (Chelsea FC)

Defenders: Timothy Castagne (Fulham FC), Zeno Debast (Sporting CP), Maxim De Cuyper (Brighton & Hove), Koni De Winter (AC Milan), Brandon Mechele (Club Brugge), Thomas Meunier (LOSC Lile), Nathan Ngoy (LOSC Lile), Joaquin Seys (Club Brugge), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (SSC Napoli), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Nicolas Raskin (Rangers FC), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Girona FC), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta BC)

Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (SSC Napoli), Dodi Lukebakio (SL Benfica), Diego Moreira (RC Strasbourg Alsace), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Matias Fernandez Pardo (LOSC Lille).

Domenico Tedesco raised eyebrows across Belgium by dropping Juventus striker Lois Openda from the Red Devils’ final roster. The marksman has struggled to find consistent starting minutes at his club. In goal, Matz Sels was surprisingly axed despite starting in multiple World Cup qualifiers, with Tedesco opting for young Mike Penders as the third-choice keeper behind Thibaut Courtois and Senne Lammens. 

Eygpt

Iran

New Zealand

Max Crocombe (Millwall), Alex Paulsen (Lechia Gdansk), Michael Woud (Auckland FC), Tim Payne (Wellington Phoenix), Francis De Vries (Auckland FC), Tyler Bindon (Nottingham Forest), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Liberato Cacace (Wrexham), Nando Pijnaker (Auckland FC), Finn Surman (Portland Timbers), Callan Elliot (Auckland FC), Tommy Smith (Braintree Town), Joe Bell (Viking FK), Matt Garbett (Peterborough United), Marko Stamenic (Swansea), Sarpreet Singh (Wellington Phoenix), Alex Rufer (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Thomas (PEC Zwolle), Chris Wood (Nottingham Forest), Eli Just (Motherwell), Kosta Barbarouses (Western Sydney Wanderers), Ben Waine (Port Vale), Ben Old (Saint-Etienne), Callum McCowatt (Silkeborg), Jesse Randall (Auckland FC), Lachlan Bayliss (Newcastle Jets).

Spain

Cape Verde

Josimar Dias “Vozinha” (Chaves), Márcio da Rosa (Montana), Carlos Santos (San Diego), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Wagner Pina (Trabzonspor), João Paulo Fernandes (FCSB), Sidny Lopes Cabral (Benfica), Logan Costa (Villarreal), Roberto Lopes “Pico” (Shamrock Rovers), Kelvin Pires (SJK), Ianique Tavares “Stopira” (Torreense), Edilson Borges “Diney” (Al Bataeh), Jamiro Monteiro (PEC Zwolle), Telmo Arcanjo (Vitória de Guimarães), Yannick Semedo (Farense), Laros Duarte (Puskás Akadémia), Deroy Duarte (Ludogorets Razgrad), Kevin Pina (Krasnodar), Ryan Mendes (Iğdır), Willy Semedo (Omonia), Garry Rodrigues (Apollon Limassol), Jovane Cabral (Estrela Amadora), Nuno Da Costa (İstanbul Başakşehir), Dailon Livramento (Casa Pia), Gilson Benchimol (Akron Tolyatti), Hélio Varela (Maccabi Tel Aviv)

Saudi Arabia

Uruguay 

France

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes)

Defenders: Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal)

Midfielders: Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), N’Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (Roma), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan), Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich).

Real Madrid ace Eduardo Camavinga was once one of the first players on the team sheet for his country, but his injury hit his season and a disappointing campaign means he will not appear in the tournament. 

Despite a promising season for Paris Saint-German, Senny Mayulu could not earn his way into Didier Deschamps’ plan. The versatile player has been capped by the country at youth level but will not be appearing for France any time soon. 

Spurs forward Randal Kolo Muani, who is on loan from PSG, has not made the France squad either. Despite nine goals in 33 appearances for his country, a bitterly underwhelming season in north London cost him the chance to add a few more caps to his international tally. 

Senegal

Iraq

Norway 

Argentina 

Algeria

Austria

Patrick Pentz (Bröndby IF), Alexander Schlager (RB Salzburg), Florian Wiegele (Viktoria Plzeň), David Affengruber (Elche), David Alaba (Real Madrid), Kevin Danso (Tottenham Hotspur), Marco Friedl (Werder Bremen), Philipp Lienhart (SC Freiburg), Phillipp Mwene (Mainz 05), Stefan Posch (Mainz 05), Alexander Prass (TSG Hoffenheim), Michael Svoboda (Venezia), Christoph Baumgartner (RB Leipzig), Carney Chukwuemeka (Borussia Dortmund), Florian Grillitsch (SC Braga), Konrad Laimer (Bayern München), Marcel Sabitzer (Borussia Dortmund), Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig), Nicolas Seiwald (RB Leipzig), Romano Schmid (Werder Bremen), Alessandro Schöpf (Wolfsberger AC), Paul Wanner (PSV Eindhoven), Patrick Wimmer (VfL Wolfsburg), Marko Arnautović (Crvena Zvezda), Michael Gregoritsch (Augsburg), Sasa Kalajdzic (LASK).

Jordan

Portugal

DR Congo

Uzbekistan

Colombia 

England 

Croatia 

Ghana

Panama

NEW YORK — The Yankees’ news cycle isn’t typically busy on a weeknight in May, but the franchise rocked a whopper of an exception on Monday. Here are the moving parts:

*David Bednar almost blew a game again in the ninth inning before recording the save in a thrilling 7-6 win over the Blue Jays. The closer said, “I have faith in myself,” even if most of the crowd was close to freaking out.

*Gerrit Cole is poised to come off the injured list on Friday and make his first start since the 2024 World Series. The ace was clocked at 99.6 mph in his last rehab appearance at Triple-A over the weekend. All systems are go.

*Anthony Volpe had another multi-hit game, which could force manager Aaron Boone to call yet another audible when Jose Caballero is activated on Thursday. There might just be a way to keep both him and Volpe in the lineup.

How about Caballero sliding over to third base? It’s not that crazy of a possibility.

*The Yankees delivered a belated payback to the Jays, who knocked them out of the playoffs last October. Jazz Chisholm said several of his teammates feel like “we owe (Toronto) something.”

All in all, a significant bounce back from Sunday’s devastating extra-inning loss to the Mets. Bednar allowed a three-run home run to Tyrone Taylor with two outs in the ninth inning. But that’s precisely why Boone summoned Bednar 24 hours later.

Unless general manager Brian Cashman acquires another closer at the trade deadline, which is entirely possible, Bednar remains the Yankees’ last line of defense.

But fans better get used to the near-constant traffic and danger. Bednar has a 5.14 ERA and a whopping 1.62 WHIP, though his expected ERA metrics are nearly two runs lower.

Bednar deserves credit for wriggling out of his self-created disaster in the ninth. With the Jays within a run, runners on first and second and a 3-0 count to George Springer, Bednar got the second out.

Bednar delivered three hellacious split-finger fastballs in a row to Springer. Incredibly, the Jays’ slugger – who’d homered earlier for his 18th HR against the Yankees – swung and missed at all three of Bednar’s splitters.

And the showdown with Vlad Guerrero Jr.? Bednar won that war, too. He got the Jays’ slugger to bounce out to Chisholm to end the game. Afterwards, the Yankees couldn’t decide if they were relieved or ecstatic, but the net result was the same. The closer had delivered when it mattered most.

“In a situation like that, that takes some guts,” Chisholm said of Bednar’s wipeout of Springer.

Cody Bellinger endorsed Bednar by saying, “He’s our guy, we have full confidence in him. “I’ve faced him so many times (in the past, in the National League). He’s a really tough at-bat.”

Bednar appreciates the solidarity in the clubhouse, but he wouldn’t be human if he didn’t hear the uncomfortable murmuring in the stands in the ninth inning. Good for him for saying, ”I trust myself,” but Yankee Stadium won’t be a comfortable place for Bednar if he’s constantly in trouble this summer.

Fans have devoured other relievers in the past with Devin Williams the most recent example. He ultimately couldn’t handle the aggressive pressure in the Bronx. Don’t think Cashman is necessarily married to the idea of Bednar as a permanent closer. The GM just might go shopping for another ninth-inning asset before the end of July.

This much is certain in the meantime: The Yankees’ rotation is about to look different. The Yankees are dropping hints that Cole has completed his rehab from Tommy John surgery and will be activated as soon as Friday. That’s great news, considering Max Fried will be out for an estimated 3-4 weeks with a deep bone bruise in his left elbow.

Cam Schlittler is currently the rotation’s most dynamic starter, but he’s still only 25. That’s a heavy burden for a second-year player. Carlos Rodon is struggling to regain 18-win form from 2025.

Will Warren is a terrific No. 5 starter – but only that – while Ryan Weathers’ 5-1/3-inning, five-run outing against Toronto will write his ticket back to the bullpen once Fried is healthy again.

That means the Yankees will turn their gaze towards Cole when they begin a critical series against the Rays this weekend.

“I’ve thrown 80% strikes (during minor league rehab games), which is an absurd amount,” Cole told me last week. “So in terms of getting the ball over the plate, I have a really good feel for that. I have it in my back pocket when the time comes for me to perform.”

MORE BY BOB KLAPISCH

The Yankees believe they’re a better, more confident team than the one that was swept by the Rays in April. Now, their rotation’s pillar is finally returning. It promises to be a heck of a homecoming.

The closer’s narrative, however, is murkier. Raise your hand if Bednar still makes you nervous.

Thought so.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Palm Beach Post traditionally has honored high school athletes from public and private Palm Beach County schools for many years.

What started as All-County teams in all sports evolved into an end-of-the-school-year high school awards ceremony in 2019. For the last 7 years - some virtually during the pandemic - The Post has thrown a bash to laud the best high school sports stars in every male and female sport.

We've usually held the event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center or the Kravis Center. But this year, we're doing something very different.

Welcome to the The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards Show, presented by Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, at ... the SoFi Center.

More high school sports: Santaluces edge rusher Jayvon Dawson commits to Miami Hurricanes

Yes, the home of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL - and soon to be the host of the WTGL - will be the site for this year's Post high school awards show. The honored athletes and guests will be getting an inside view of the indoor golf league and all its technical wonders - with a couple of surprises - as well as receiving their plaques.

The show is Thursday, May 28 at the arena on the Palm Beach Gardens campus of Palm Beach State College. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the awards program at 6:30 p.m.

This special evening celebrating The Post's award-winning student-athletes from the fall, winter and spring high school sports seasons will include a "red-carpet" experience, professional photos, refreshments and the awards presentation. The latter will finish with our Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and a special Courage Award.

Award winners have been getting contacted individually by our staff with instructions on how to RSVP.

Unfortunately, due to space limitations, we will not be able to invite all of our All-County athletes to the event as we have done in the past. However, the spring sport athletes will be honored with a special section - digital and print - just as the fall and winter sports athletes were honored.

The Palm Beach Post High School Sports Awards show is produced by The Palm Beach Post as part of the USA TODAY Network.

Nick Pugliese is the sports editor of The Palm Beach Post. You can contact him at dpugliese@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best of Palm Beach County HS sports will be honored at SoFi Center

The Palm Beach Post traditionally has honored high school athletes from public and private Palm Beach County schools for many years.

What started as All-County teams in all sports evolved into an end-of-the-school-year high school awards ceremony in 2019. For the last 7 years - some virtually during the pandemic - The Post has thrown a bash to laud the best high school sports stars in every male and female sport.

We've usually held the event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center or the Kravis Center. But this year, we're doing something very different.

Welcome to the The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards Show, presented by Baptist Health Orthopedic Care, at ... the SoFi Center.

More high school sports: Santaluces edge rusher Jayvon Dawson commits to Miami Hurricanes

Yes, the home of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL - and soon to be the host of the WTGL - will be the site for this year's Post high school awards show. The honored athletes and guests will be getting an inside view of the indoor golf league and all its technical wonders - with a couple of surprises - as well as receiving their plaques.

The show is Thursday, May 28 at the arena on the Palm Beach Gardens campus of Palm Beach State College. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., with the awards program at 6:30 p.m.

This special evening celebrating The Post's award-winning student-athletes from the fall, winter and spring high school sports seasons will include a "red-carpet" experience, professional photos, refreshments and the awards presentation. The latter will finish with our Male and Female Athletes of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year and a special Courage Award.

Award winners have been getting contacted individually by our staff with instructions on how to RSVP.

Unfortunately, due to space limitations, we will not be able to invite all of our All-County athletes to the event as we have done in the past. However, the spring sport athletes will be honored with a special section - digital and print - just as the fall and winter sports athletes were honored.

The Palm Beach Post High School Sports Awards show is produced by The Palm Beach Post as part of the USA TODAY Network.

Nick Pugliese is the sports editor of The Palm Beach Post. You can contact him at dpugliese@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best of Palm Beach County HS sports will be honored at SoFi Center

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh sent a clear message to fans and rivals ahead of the team's Week 1 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, emphasizing a fresh start and dismissing past struggles in the NFC East.

Speaking at a town hall event in Manhattan on Monday night, Harbaugh addressed a fan's question about the Giants' ability to compete against divisional foes like the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. After a "Cowboys suck!" chant erupted from the crowd, Harbaugh responded directly.

"I’m going to be nice and politically correct," Harbaugh said. "I [couldn't] care less about what happened last year or the year before that or 10 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' [expletive]."

That drew a standing ovation from the fans in attendance.

"That's our job — to be good enough to do that," Harbaugh said. "We've got to make ourselves good enough to do that. That’s our responsibility."

Harbaugh noted that building a competitive team remains the organization's responsibility. That, and sending fans home happy on gameday.

"I'm really not worried about it," Harbaugh said of the pressures of coaching in New York. "I just want to win games. I want you driving home from MetLife Stadium happy."

As the Giants prepare for organized team activities (OTAs) and the highly anticipated season opener, Harbaugh’s no-nonsense approach signals a renewed commitment to building a winner in the NFC East, one practice at a time.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants' John Harbaugh doesn't 'give a crap' about recent NFC East results

In a recent ESPN report, Dave McMenamin recounted a 127-113 win by the Los Angeles Lakers over the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 31. It was their 16th win in their last 18 games, and a number of individual milestones were reached during this victory.

During that game, Luka Doncic went over 15,000 career points, and Rui Hachimura reached 5,000 career points. It was the 100th coaching victory for Lakers coach JJ Redick, and for LeBron James, it was his 1,229th career win. That meant James had surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most combined regular-season and playoff wins in NBA history.

According to McMenamin, when general manager Rob Pelinka awarded the game ball to Redick after that contest, James interpreted it "as yet another example of the Lakers taking him for granted." Rich Paul, James' longtime friend and agent, pushed back on that report and what it suggested.

“I think people are reading too much into whether it was a signed ball or anything,” Paul said on his “Game Over” podcast. “I've never in my life seen LeBron get disgruntled about a basketball or some type of accolade. I can’t tell you how many player of the week, player of the month, MVPs, gold medal, trophies dating back to 1992. This man got so many awards. Another basketball?”

One reason why this story has been talked about as much as it has is the fact that James is about to become a free agent this summer and that there is a distinct possibility that he will leave the Lakers. While he remains a superstar-level player, the Lakers may not offer him a max or near-max salary simply because they have other free agents they want to retain, as well as probably at least one outside free agent they will want to pursue.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Rich Paul downplays report about LeBron being upset over game ball

WWE Raw on May 18, 2026, took place at Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., and featured a singles match between Seth Rollins and Austin Theory.

This week’s show was a big step-up from the Raw after Backlash. Nearly all of the big names made their presence felt, and the in-ring action was strong. Los Americanos picked up a trios win over OG Americano, Bruto and Julio, plus Finn Bálor won a fun street fight against JD McDonagh. LA Knight made an on-screen return in a couple of backstage segments, and Sol Ruca called out Becky Lynch.

Here’s the top takeaways from this week’s show:

The opening segment of the show saw Jacob Fatu beat Roman Reigns to the ring. He was quickly joined by The Usos. Jimmy Uso attempted to talk some sense into Fatu to avoid getting fired and heading back to the life he escaped. Fatu snapped and put the Tongan Death Grip on, prompting Reigns to appear.

Reigns and Fatu went at it. Fatu got the TDG on Reigns, but that was eventually broken up when The Usos recovered. The brothers tied Fatu’s arms in the ropes (which is something that is massively underutilized in today’s WWE), and it was open season on the helpless Fatu. After a series of free shots, Fatu was lined up for a big spear from Reigns.

.@WWERomanReigns and @WWEUsos get the better of Jacob Fatu TONIGHT! 👊 pic.twitter.com/uN5GPheN3Q

— WWE (@WWE) May 19, 2026

As Reigns and The Usos were exiting and Adam Pearce attempted to fire Fatu, "The Samoan Werewolf" grabbed a mic and called for Tribal Combat, which Reigns had no choice but to accept.

TRIBAL COMBAT?!!? ⚔️😳@jacobfatu_wwe lays out the challenge and @WWERomanReigns ACCEPTS!! pic.twitter.com/jGxMSV7dAu

— WWE (@WWE) May 19, 2026

The match will go down at Clash in Italy. Fatu will have the chance to avoid acknowledging Reigns by directly earning the Ula Fala by defeating the Tribal Chief in Tribal Combat. Imagine if Fatu wins this. There are so many directions the story could go, which has always been true with The Bloodline stories, but a new Tribal Chief would be a different level.

The women’s tag titles were on the line this week when Brie Bella and Paige took on Judgment Day’s Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez.

The champs took control of the match early, but eventually, the numbers game came into play. Liv Morgan provided an effective distraction more than once, allowing her team to take advantage. However, she was caught after getting too involved, and the referee kicked her out. While Morgan argued her case, Perez and Rodriguez attempted to hit Bella with a title, but that backfired, and a rollup pin by Bella sealed the deal.

#ANDSTILL

Brie Bella and Paige RETAIN the Women's Tag team Titles! pic.twitter.com/PoRltp9PXG

— WWE (@WWE) May 19, 2026

Morgan attacked the champs from behind after the match, but before Judgment Day could get a beatdown going, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria rushed out for the save.

This was a decent match, and it was good to see the titles on the line, unlike last week. Perez was really the star of this one, even in a losing effort. As long as the titles are defended every time we see Bella and Paige in action, WWE is doing something right.

It was time for the Oba Femi Open Challenge, or so we thought.

As Femi was hitting his signature spotlight pose in the ring, Brock Lesnar attacked from behind. Lesnar hit Femi with four F5s, ripping his jeans in the process. Lesnar did his damage and left the ring as Femi attempted to get back to his feet.

🚨 BROCK LESNAR IS BACK!!!! 🚨

AND JUST HIT OBA FEMI WITH FOUR F-5s!!!! pic.twitter.com/lxmJTicOVO

— WWE (@WWE) May 19, 2026

It was a straight-to-the-point moment, which continued backstage after the break with Adam Pearce and Paul Heyman. Pearce questioned Lesnar’s status, as he said he filed retirement paperwork on his behalf. Heyman agreed that was accurate, but then handed Pearce a contract for a massive rematch between Lesnar and Femi for Clash in Italy.

WOW 😱

Brock Lesnar has already signed to come back for a match with Oba Femi at Clash in Italy! pic.twitter.com/1TPvQOFOSg

— WWE (@WWE) May 19, 2026

Seeing Lesnar and Femi go at it again would be special. It’ll probably be a finisher-fest, but there’s nothing wrong with that with these two. Most importantly, it looks like Femi’s open challenge is unofficially over, thankfully.

After calling out any member of The Vision earlier in the show, Seth Rollins landed a main event against Austin Theory. He wanted Bron Breakker, but Paul Heyman advised against it.

Rollins competed in his first Raw match in months, and got the win after overcoming interference from Logan Paul.

PEDIGREE AND THE WIN!! 🤩 @WWERollinspic.twitter.com/Nivs2o5Scz

— WWE (@WWE) May 19, 2026

After the pin, Paul attacked Rollins. Angelo Dawkins rushed out to assist, but he was overtaken as well. Montez Ford reluctantly ran out to save his partner, and cleared the ring. Ford tried to tell Dawkins again that helping Rollins doesn’t do anything for them, and that’s when Breakker appeared and speared Ford. Dawkins was taken out next, but then Rollins got a few licks in on Breakker.

.@bronbreakkerwwe was just shot out of a CANNON!! 😱

This is a VERY bad man!! pic.twitter.com/k82bUXKsB8

— WWE (@WWE) May 19, 2026

That was short lived, though. The numbers game caught up to Rollins, and The Vision then attempted to severely injure Rollins on the steel steps, but officials, including Adam Pearce put a stop to it. Breakker was able to get one more spear in before the show ended.

The story for Rollins on this week’s show was that he acknowledged he has no allies, but at least Dawkins was that for him, at least for a moment. It’s also interesting to see the Street Profits having disagreements, but it’s too early to tell if that will actually go anywhere or not. Rollins remains outnumbered, though, and if he’s going to take out The Vision as he vowed to do, he’s going to need help or get really creative.

This article originally appeared on Wrestling Junkie: WWE Raw takeaways: Lesnar returns, Tribal Combat set, Rollins needs help

Fresh off a massive weekend series win over the USC Trojans to end the regular season on a high note, the Oregon Ducks head into the Big Ten Tournament later this week as the No. 3 seed, looking to strengthen their postseason resume.

With a strong showing, Oregon could very likely get a spot hosting a regional in the NCAA Tournament, setting them up for a potential trip to a Super Regional, and then a spot in Omaha for the College Baseball World Series.

While the CWS is a ways off, it isn't too early to look at the odds boards and try to forecast how likely the Ducks are to win it all this year and bring a championship trophy to Eugene. According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Oregon is currently listed at +5500 to win it all, right behind the Oregon State Beavers (+4500) and Florida Gators (+4500), among others.

Leading the way in the odds are the UCLA Bruins, at +480. A week ago, the Ducks were a few outs away from winning a series on the road against the No. 1 Bruins, but ended up giving away a grand slam in the eighth inning, losing the series 2-1. However, they did prove that they could play on that stage with the best teams in the nation.

Here's a look at the top of the odds board, per FanDuel:

• UCLA Bruins (+480)
• Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+600)
• Texas Longhorns (+750)
• North Carolina Tar Heels (+1200)
• Mississippi State Bulldogs (+1400)
• Georgia Bulldogs (+1400)

The Ducks' +5500 odds are tied for the 19th-best in the nation.

Now, by earning a top-four seed, the Ducks will get a bye from the first two rounds of the Big Ten Tournament. Oregon won't take the field in Omaha until Friday, May 22. The games the Ducks need to keep an eye on are clear. No. 7 Michigan will take on No. 10 Rutgers, and No. 6 Ohio State will battle No. 11 Washington.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.   

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Latest odds for Oregon Ducks to win 2026 College Baseball World Series

Blake Snell will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Whether his return is expected to be about three months, like closer Edwin Díaz, or perhaps a shorter timetable depends on what Dr. Neal ElAttrache finds during the procedure.

A potential example of the shorter timeline is Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who had surgery on May 6. Skubal’s surgery was also performed by Dr. ElAttrache, who used a smaller NanoNeedle during the procedure. Cody Stavenhagen wrote about the procedure at The Athletic:

In the room with Skubal, ElAttrache explained how the smaller scope could change the procedure. There would be a smaller incision, almost like a poke for an IV. Where a larger arthroscope has to push through layers of tissue, sometimes causing more bleeding, scarring and inflammation, the NanoNeedle could more easily glide to the location. The surgery would require pumping an estimated 65 percent less fluid to insufflate the joint.

Skubal threw his first bullpen session for the Tigers on Monday, just 12 days after the surgery.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes spoke with reporters about Snell and other topics on Monday in San Diego, per Sonja Chen at MLB.com:

“Hopefully, it’s the shorter timeline,” Gomes said. “That’s the hope and expectation right now. Obviously we don’t know 100% until they’re in there, but that’s what we’re expecting.”

Gomes also talked about newcomer Eric Lauer, who was acquired on Sunday and will be activated during this series in San Diego. Lauer will likely pitch in relief this week before slotting into the six-man rotation next week at some point, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Justin Turner through the weekend was hitting .314/.424/.543 in 21 games for the Tijuana Toros in the Mexican League, where he’s managed by Roberto Kelly, another former Dodger. The 41-year-old Turner talked with Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times:

“I love playing,” he said. “I love competing. As long as I feel I’m serviceable and not just here for entertainment purposes, I’m going to keep doing it.”

John Gennaro writes about the Padres at his Bandwagon Beach newsletter, and captured the concept of baseball rivalries quite nicely:

The thing about rivals is that they are necessary. They are the result of multiple teams from the same division going after the exact same piece of glory and hardware. You’re probably not going to get to where you want to go without a rival pushing you to find your absolute peak. That’s what shows you where the ceiling is. That’s how you get to where you want to be.

Colorado football took another swing at strengthening its future up front over the weekend by hosting four-star offensive tackle Dewey Young on an official visit in Boulder.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound lineman from Kalamazoo, Mich., is one of the more important 2027 targets on Colorado's board, and the Buffaloes are trying to keep building momentum in the trenches.

247Sports Composite ranks Young as the No. 20 offensive tackle in the 2027 class. Colorado offered him in April 2025, and he used the official visit to get a closer look at the program, the coaches and the fit. He left Boulder sounding positive, posting, "Great OV this weekend," on social media along with a photo in Colorado gear.

Great OV this weekend @AllenTrieu@CUBuffsFootball@CUBuffspic.twitter.com/ehHRbw26ND

— Dewey Young (4🌟) OL, 27’ (@DeweyYoung2027) May 18, 2026

The visit matters because Colorado football has not landed many highly rated high school offensive linemen since Deion Sanders arrived. The program's biggest prize at the position remains Jordan Seaton, a five-star recruit and No. 1 tackle in the 2024 class. If Colorado were to close on Young, it would mark another significant win for a line that needs long-term stability. Sanders and the Buffs are also in pursuit of another four-star offensive tackle and are in his final three schools.

Colorado's 2027 class is still in the early stages, but the Buffaloes already have commitments from quarterback Andre Adams, cornerback Davon Dericho and defensive lineman Kenny Fairley. Rivals currently ranks the group No. 57 nationally and No. 10 in the Big 12.

The bigger story in Boulder remains roster churn. Colorado has added 43 incoming transfers and lost 36 players to the portal this cycle, showing once again how aggressively Sanders is reshaping the roster. With the 2026 season opening Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech, recruiting wins like Young continue to matter for both the present and the future.

Follow James Carnes on X, Facebook and Instagram.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football OT Dewey Young recaps official visit

You won't find many college baseball teams hotter than the North Carolina Tar Heels, who are gearing up for another deep postseason run.

UNC (43-10-1, 22-8 ACC), which won 40 regular season games for the third straight year, will begin postseason play on Friday in the ACC Tournament. North Carolina awaits either 7-seed Virginia Tech, 10-seed Notre Dame or 15-seed Clemson, previously winning series against the latter two schools.

Thanks to their all-star contributions during the regular season, several Diamond Heels earned All-ACC honors on Monday.

Pitchers Jason DeCaro and Caden Glauber, infielder Jake Schaffner and outfielder Owen Hull are all First Team All-ACC honorees, giving UNC its most since 2017. Reliever Walker McDuffie is North Carolina's lone Second Team All-ACC Honoree, while starting pitcher Ryan Lynch, infielder Gavin Gallaher and catcher Macon Winslow are each All-ACC Third Team.

Glauber added another piece of hardware to his young collegiate career, earning ACC Freshman of the Year honors.

The best of the best 🩵

Our most first team honorees since 2017! pic.twitter.com/3BSwLXufpq

— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) May 18, 2026

Let the honors hit the feed 👏

Our 2nd and 3rd team All-ACC winners! pic.twitter.com/9qk7GJuuq9

— Carolina Baseball (@DiamondHeels) May 18, 2026

Glauber quickly emerged to become UNC's top pitcher, now sporting an 8-0 win-loss record, while hurling a team-high 74 strikeouts. Glauber's 1.96 earned run average is third amongst all Division-I pitchers.

DeCaro is second in Division I with 10 wins, while carrying a 2.03 ERA (fifth in D-I) and striking out 69 batters. Hull is the Diamond Heels' best hitter, leading them with a .370 batting average and 67 runs batter in. Schaffner carries a .354 BA and team-best 75 hits into postseason play, plus a deadly speed threat with 24 stolen bases to lead North Carolina.

McDuffie is UNC's closer, leading his teammates with five saves, while his 73 strikeouts are second behind Glauber. Lynch is 4-4 with a 4.32 ERA and 68 strikeouts, Winslow is mashing .307 with nine home runs and 51 RBI, while Gallaher's 11 round-trippers make him one of two Diamond Heels (Cooper Nicholson) with double-digit home runs.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Tar Heels have eight All-ACC selections

Auburn baseball has four players named to the All-SEC honors for 2026 on Monday, May 18, per the league office.

Four players from this year's team make the All-SEC honors, with the four being Chris Rembert, Ethin Bingaman, Jackson Sanders, and Eric Guevara. Bingaman and Sanders both earned Second Team All-SEC honors, while Bingaman is now the second consecutive Auburn freshman to make the Second Team All-SEC honors. Last year's freshman to accomplish that feat was Rembert, who now makes the list for the second straight year.

Rembert added his name to the First Team All-SEC this year. He finished the season with the team's second-best .349 average on the season and .328 average in conference play. He has gone on a run in the last 21 games for the Tigers by averaging .398 with a now nine-game hitting streak.

Another back-to-back honors player for the Tigers is Guevara, with him making the All-SEC Defensive Team. In 30 SEC games, he started 29 at third base and had a .977 fielding percentage. Overall, for the season, he recorded a fielding percentage of .962 with only five errors in 131 total chances.

The freshman standout Bingaman drove in 32 runs in SEC play, which led the team. It marked the most by a freshman in conference play during the stat crew era. He averaged .333 during the season with a total of 49 runs, 40 RBI, and 10 home runs. His efforts earned him a Second Team All-SEC and Freshman All-SEC Team.

Finally, Sanders rounds off the list for Tigers, bringing home the honors. His role on the team served as a starter and reliever. He finished his season with a 2.79 ERA and a total of 80 strikeouts in 58.0 innings pitched.

The Tigers finished the season with a 36-18 and a 17-13 record in conference play. Postseason play begins on Wednesday, May 20, for Auburn as they will play the winner of Oklahoma-LSU.

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 Jac on Twitter@Jac_Myrick

This article originally appeared on Auburn Wire: Auburn baseball: Four players named to All-SEC teams

MotoGP’s chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta believes the race direction made the “correct” decision in restarting the Catalan Grand Prix twice - but is open to discussions over any potential safety improvements. 

Several MotoGP riders questioned the call to continue racing in Barcelona following two major incidents that left Alex Marquez and Johann Zarco hospitalised, and some others caught up in flying debris.

After the first stoppage caused by Marquez trying to avoid Pedro Acosta’s slowing KTM on the run to Turn 10, the race had to be red-flagged again when Zarco’s leg got trapped in Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati at Turn 1.

The race was restarted, which meant riders had to again negotiate the tricky opening corner after the launch sequence. The final 12-lap dash, however, passed without further major incidents.

Ezpeleta expressed his relief that both Marquez and Zarco escaped even more serious injuries, but dismissed suggestions that the Barcelona circuit is unsafe or that the race should have been curtailed.

“First, I want to say how fortunate we've been on Sunday. Of course, Alex and Zarco have major injuries, but it didn't get worse,” he told Motorsport.com in an exclusive interview.

“The Alex and Pedro incident is very sort of isolated, it can always happen. It’s stuff that can happen in racing, but it's not sort of the normality, and there's not really a safe concern with the track there. 

“All the straights in the calendar of any circuit are similar to that. It’s important that KTM, together with the championship, is investigating everything that happened to Pedro's bike.

"Afterwards, the race direction decided to restart the race, which is normal. Then, unfortunately, we had another crash which can happen again in a race start, but again we were very, very unlucky with the dynamic of that crash, and the result of Zarco in his body, in the position and everything.

"So, again, according to the rules and according to everything, I think race direction and the FIM took all the correct decisions.

“Having said that, we have to debrief with the teams and the riders to see if there's anything that we can improve for the future in any type of way, because for us, safety is really important."

In both cases, ambulances were quickly dispatched to the scene, and Marquez and Zarco were declared conscious by the medical crew before being transported to the hospital for medical checks. The two riders have since returned home to continue their recovery.

Ezpeleta said resuming the race was standard practice as both riders were conscious and not in critical condition.

“Of course, both riders were sort of out of critical condition, were conscious, so you would normally start the race under those conditions, no?," he added.

"Both accidents were very, very graphic and a really shocking image, and that's what probably started the conversation, but in the normality, the normal thing is to proceed with the race."

Francesco Bagnaia fears wrist injury after Johann Zarco crash: “Something’s not quite right”

Why the Catalan GP chaos may finally force MotoGP riders to unite

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Granit Xhaka has not been short of praise this season for his performances in a Sunderland shirt — not just from our fans, but from supporters of other clubs and pundits who have watched on and admired the brilliant job that he’s done as the captain of our team.

One of those pundits that he’s impressed is former Sunderland defender Wes Brown, who, in an interview with NetBet Sport, spoke glowingly of the impact that the Switzerland international has had at Sunderland:

“Granit Xhaka has been fundamental to Sunderland’s season. When the going gets tough, Xhaka can handle it – and also pass that calmness onto the rest of his teammates. Early in the season, he was the standout player who kept on top of everyone else on the pitch, whether that came through advice on game management or having that sixth sense in a match to moderate the tempo and dictate the game.”

“Sometimes, you can have an experienced player in a squad and perhaps not everyone pays attention to the wisdom they have to provide or undermines their experience, but you can see that everyone in that Sunderland dressing room listens to Xhaka and his advice is heard.“

“Sunderland secured the points they needed to avoid relegation very early on, and have been really impressive to watch at times throughout the season, albeit they’ve dropped down a few places. Xhaka’s bravery and courage on the ball has helped drive them up the table and ultimately exceed the expectations of many fans. He deserves a lot of the credit for where Sunderland are in the Premier League table.”

The transfer window is about to get underway, rumours have started swirling and there is one in particular that would be a big surprise.

According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid are looking for a low-cost option to compete with Trent Alexander-Arnold at right back, following the departure of club legend Dani Carvajal, and one of the names mooted is… Trai Hume!

According to the report, Real want a rotation option and, due to the presence of Alexander-Arnold, will not want to spend big, and that has led to Hume’s name being mentioned, with a potential price tag of €22m.

Josh Acheampong at Chelsea, Givairo Read of Feyenoord, Brighton’s Matt Weiffer, and Vanderson of Monaco are also listed as options.

I think we can probably file this one under ‘unlikely to happen’, but hey, credit to Humey for such a brilliant season… he’s clearly doing the right things if he’s being thought of as a potential Galactico!

The Kansas City Chiefs organization is well represented at this year's revamped NFL accelerator program.

According to a report by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, 34 coaches and executives are scheduled to participate. The list includes Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy and front office executive Mike Bradway.

The program, created in 2022 to increase diversity in leadership roles, was canceled in 2025, but returns this week at the NFL owners meetings, Monday and Tuesday in Orlando, Florida.

Before returning to the coaching staff this offseason, Bieniemy spent nine years as an assistant coach and coordinator with Kansas City before pursuing other opportunities ahead of the 2023 season. Bieniemy's tough coaching mindset has been criticized by some but praised by most of the league's better players, with a focus on details.

Bradway joined the Chiefs in 2018. He first held the position of assistant director of player personnel, then was named director of player personnel in 2021. He became the Kansas City Chiefs' assistant general manager in 2025.

The NFL received over 60 nominations from a selection committee that included at least one current head coach and general manager before finalizing the accelerator list, according to Fowler's report. The league source stressed that the simple goal was to get the "strongest people ... regardless of demographics."

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs staff members attend the 2026 NFL accelerator program

When franchise legends leave and later come back to the teams they started with, it is a nostalgic event for both players and fans. And it seems that a former Denver Broncos icon's return could be a possibility.

Over the last few weeks, star pass-rusher Von Miller has been hinting heavily at a return to the Broncos, including posting a picture of himself in a No. 24 jersey. Regardless of whether any of these posts has merit, there is at least one player who would love it if the legend returned.

"Obviously, everybody would love that," current Broncos pass rusher Nik Bonitto said at a recent charity event, via Zac Stevens of DNVR. "Not only the fans but the players. He's a guy that's loved here in Denver so much. My personal favorite player ever to watch. Just being able to share a room with him would be amazing."

Check out Bonitto's full thoughts on Miller's potential return below.

🗣️Nik Bonitto on rumors that Von Miller may return to denver:

"Everybody would love that, not only the fans but the players."#broncoscountry | Powered by: @TheRamosLawFirmpic.twitter.com/PC7sPmXz4z

— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) May 14, 2026

Bonitto has shared his admiration for Miller many times, calling Miller "the GOAT" ahead of playing the Washington Commanders, Miller's former team, during the 2025 season.

Despite Miller's best intentions, he remains unsigned as of the time this post was scheduled, after the Commanders let Miller's contract expire following the 2025 season. Miller currently ranks ninth all-time in sacks, tied with former Denver teammate Demarcus Ware with 138.5 career sacks.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL rumors: Nik Bonitto says Von Miller returning would be amazing

Alabama pitcher Myles Upchurch has been named as the SEC's Freshman of the Week, the conference announced Monday.

Upchurch has been excellent on the mound for the Tide in May. The star freshman recorded seven innings pitched while surrendering just two earned runs and four hits in the victory over Ole Miss on Saturday, as Upchurch ended his freshman regular season campaign at Alabama with a record of 8-3 and a 3.34 ERA.

Upchurch serves as the third Crimson Tide player to earn a weekly SEC honor this spring, and the freshman was excellent across the entire regular season campaign. 

Upchurch made start No. 14 on the year during Saturday’s season-finale against Ole Miss. The freshman is one of only four rookie Power Four pitchers to complete all 14 weekend starts in 2026, as Upchurch has been extremely reliable across his entire freshman season at Alabama. 

Upchurch will look to keep things rolling during the SEC Tournament in Hoover this weekend, as the pitcher has been named as the SEC Freshman of the Week following his efforts against the Rebels on Saturday.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama baseball's Myles Upchurch named SEC Freshman of the Week

Former three-sport queen Stamp Fairtex is officially returning to her roots in “the art of eight limbs.”

The Thai megastar will face Mexican firecracker Cynthia Flores in a high-stakes atomweight Muay Thai clash at The Inner Circle. Broadcasting live in Asia primetime, this highly anticipated battle goes down on Friday, June 26, and streams exclusively for members on live.onefc.com.

As a global superstar, Stamp stands entirely alone in combat sports history. The Fairtex Training Center representative remains the only athlete to ever win ONE World Titles in Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA.

However, it is her infectious charisma and remarkably warm demeanor outside of competition that have transformed her into a universally beloved fan favorite. This unprecedented trifecta of gold, paired with her undeniable star power, cements her legacy as a truly generational competitor on the world stage.

Before dominating the women’s 115-pound MMA ranks and racking up 11 spectacular victories over some of the fiercest athletes on the planet, her martial arts journey began in the stand-up game. The 28-year-old boasts a decorated striking background forged in the unforgiving crucible of Thailand’s stadium circuit.

After capturing the inaugural ONE Atomweight Kickboxing World Title in 2018, the Pattaya resident made history as a two-sport World Champion. She achieved that incredible feat by defeating legendary American Janet “JT” Todd via unanimous decision to claim the inaugural ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title at ONE: Call to Greatness in February 2019.

The Thai fan favorite successfully defended her 26 pounds of gold just four months later, overcoming Australian sensation Alma Juniku in a grueling five-round war at ONE: Dreams of Gold.

Eventually, she dropped the crown via a razor-close majority decision to Allycia Hellen Rodrigues at ONE: A New Breed in August 2020, surrendering the ONE Women’s Atomweight Muay Thai World Title. That narrow defeat prompted a massive shift in focus to MMA, where she ultimately captured her third World Title.

A severe meniscus tear suffered in May 2024 threatened to derail Stamp’s momentum, sidelining her for more than a year. However, the resilient icon persevered through rigorous rehabilitation and battled her way back to prime physical condition.

Defying the odds, she made her long-awaited return at ONE 173 last November against Kana “Krusher Queen” Morimoto in a three-round kickboxing bout. While she dropped a hard-fought unanimous decision to the Japanese standout, those nine minutes of high-paced action only made her hungrier to reclaim her lost martial arts glory.

Now, that arduous journey leads her back to her foundational discipline of Muay Thai for a high-stakes showdown against a dangerous opponent who brings a relentlessly aggressive style to the ring.

Flores dominated the North American regional scene through sheer hard work before making her way to the global stage. Although she suffered hard-fought decision losses to Martyna Dominczak and Tangtang Sor Dechapan, those grueling battles taught the Mexican Muay Thai champion exactly what it takes to compete at the absolute highest levels of the sport.

Now, the 31-year-old gets the opportunity of a lifetime against one of the promotion’s biggest stars. She fully plans to capitalize on this life-changing moment and pull off a monumental upset.

For Stamp, the stakes are equally massive. She desperately needs to return to the win column and definitively prove she is still one of the most dangerous female strikers on the planet when they lock horns on Friday, June 26.

Source

We know that your life is busy, but that doesn’t mean you want to miss any news about your favorite team. So, we are rounding up all of the most important news, analysis, and commentary from LGHL and the rest of the Buckeye beat.

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about cause and effect. We will explore domino-effect scenarios that could impact OSU’s season.

You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”If This, Then That” articles here.

If Bo Jackson gains 1,500 yards, Ohio State will have a top-5 offense
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land

BOOOOM! Four-star 2027 EDGE Wyatt Smith commits to Ohio State
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land

Rivals300: Counting down the top 15 prospects in the updated 2028 rankings
Keegan Pope, Rivals

Developed Here: Ohio State’s 25 NFL Draft Picks Over Last Two Years Prove It’s More Than Just A Motto
Josh Poloha, Eleven Warriors

Unpacking summer to-do list for Ohio State before training camp
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

What we learned and what we still don’t know: Running back
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Ohio State Spring Recap: Nate Roberts Emerges As Likely Starting Tight End While Mason Williams, Hunter Welcing Also Impress in First Spring As Buckeyes
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors

Isaiah West teases Ohio State’s 2026 offense: ‘It’s going to be scary’
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Ian Moore Will Keep Working For His Starting Spot
Tony Gerdeman, Buckeye Huddle

Arrival, ascendance of Earl Little Jr. making waves for Ohio State secondary
Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

Agonis Club to recognize Archie Griffin as 2026 Person of the Year
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

John Mobley Jr. returning to Ohio State after testing NBA draft stock
Adam Jardy, The Columbus Dispatch

Baseball: Domke Claims Final Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Award
Ohio State Athletics

Men’s Tennis: Filin, Carpico to Compete for US Open Entry
Ohio State Athletics

Stephen A. is, was, and always will be garbage and an embarrassment to the journalistic profession.

South African second-row Hyron Andrews and Wales prop Willgriff John are part of 20 players to be leaving Sale Sharks this summer.

They join a list that includes Raffi Quirke, James Harper and Obi Ene who are all bound for Newcastle Red Bulls.

While the du Preez brothers will also depart with number eight Dan heading for Bath and back Rob moving to Top 14 side Bayonne.

"It's been a year of transition and a year of change and a year that I know we'll be the better for going forward," director of rugby Alex Sanderson told the club's website.

"But that's on the back of the efforts and the contributions of the friends who are leaving us and have already left."

Sale are seventh in The Prem with two games to go and will miss out on the play-offs for the first time since 2022.

Andrews, 30, will leave at the end of the season after two years in England while John, 33, has spent six seasons with Sale across two spells.

Also leaving at the end of the campaign are prop Tumy Onasanya, back-row Huw Davies, scrum-half Nye Thomas, wing Albert Bradshaw, centres Tom Curtis and Joe Bedlow and academy players Tom Davis and Frank Chatterton.

The club have also confirmed that Irish hooker Tadgh McElroy, centre Sam Bedlow, second-row Rouban Birch, scrum-half Will Wootton and prop Jack Lightbown have left with immediate effect.

NBC play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico has seen a lot of greatness in his lengthy career of calling major, prime-time sporting events. So, it says a lot about how blown away he was by the performance of San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Spurs held off the Thunder 122-115 in a two-overtime, instant-classic victory on Monday night in Oklahoma City.

Wembanyama, 22, put his remarkable skills on full display with an insane performance that featured 41 points, 24 rebounds, three assists, and three blocked shots to lead the way for the Spurs.

With the game tied 99-99, Wembanyama made a bucket that showed off his mind-blowing combination of length and athleticism to give the Spurs a 101-99 lead with 11.5 seconds remaining in regulation.

WEMBY IS CLUTCH!!!

11.5 SECONDS LEFT. THUNDER BALL.

GET TO NBC AND PEACOCK FOR THE FINISH. pic.twitter.com/HReYGTRTLp

— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2026

Tirico: “Wembanyama… turns, spins, jukes, AND HITS!”

The Spurs trailed 108-105 entering the final seconds of overtime when Wembanyama stunned Tirico and color commentator Reggie Miller with a logo three-pointer to tie the game.

WEMBY! INSANITY!

Mike Tirico with the call for NBC. #NBApic.twitter.com/LxoTAZXol5

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2026

Tirico: “Wemby’s gonna pull a deep three… AND HITS!”

Tirico and Miller mixed in laughter with their amazed commentary.

Miller: “OH HO OOOH MY GOODNESS!”

Tirico: “OH HO HO!”

Miller: “A LOGO SHOT!”

Tirico: “28-FOOTER! TIES IT 108! TIMEOUT, THUNDER!”

Wembanyama delivered a dagger with an alley-oop finish that he made look way too easy in double overtime.

“HE’S UNBELIEVABLE, FOLKS! HE’S UNBELIEVABLE!”

– Mike Tirico on Victor Wembanyama. #NBApic.twitter.com/MqhEyCr3C8

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2026

Tirico: “WEMBANYAMA! HE’S UNBELIEVABLE, FOLKS! HE’S UNBELIEVABLE!”

“The San Antonio Spurs, on an epic night from their superstar! 41 and 24 boards for Victor Wembanyama! The Spurs take Game 1!” – Mike Tirico #NBApic.twitter.com/7hlsu9J3MJ

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 19, 2026

IT WAS WEMBY’S NIGHT.

41 PTS. 24 REB. 49 MIN. SAS W. pic.twitter.com/mctJ3LmXDY

— NBA (@NBA) May 19, 2026

Tirico: “The San Antonio Spurs, on an epic night from their superstar! 41 and 24 boards for Victor Wembanyama! The Spurs take Game 1!”

Each game of what looks like it will be an epic Western Conference Finals will be televised on NBC with Tirico on the play-by-play call. Game 2 will be on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

The post ‘He’s unbelievable, folks!’: Mike Tirico was amazed by Victor Wembanyama’s Game 1 performance appeared first on Awful Announcing.

BLOOMINGTON — Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti did a little research as he prepares to drive the honorary pace car at the 110th Indianapolis 500.

After going out to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a test run, Cignetti wanted to know the fastest speed ever recorded at the event. Cignetti marveled at the answer — Aerie Lytendyk set the mark by hitting speeds of 239 mph in 1996.

“I Googled it, you know I like to Google,” Cignetti joked last week before speaking in Carmel last week. “I didn't come close to that (in the test run), and I can't imagine taking the turns and doing a lap at that speed. It's intense.”

More: What does Indiana football's Curt Cignetti think about CFP expansion?

Cignetti, who will drive the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1X, is getting tutoring lessons from racing vet Sarah Fisher. Fisher holds the record for most Indy 500 appearances by a woman (nine) and will be with Cignetti on Saturday. 

She will be tasked with driving the official pace lap as long as Cignetti can get out of their USA-themed Corvette.

“She's a vet and she knows the ropes and she knows the track,” Cignetti said. “She knows when to start the turn, when to come out of the turn, how the car will function, the trust you've got to have in the car, and she knows the program.

“Most importantly, she wanted to make sure I could get my ass out of that car real fast because she's the official pace car driver when the race starts, and I've got to get out real quick so she can get in.”

Cignetti is scheduled to go out to IMS on Friday night for one more test run, and perhaps take one more “funsy” lap like they did the first time. 

“I gunned it and got it going a little bit,” Cignetti said with a laugh. “I'm probably not allowed to tell you how fast we went, but I think the car went 233 miles (per hour). That's the max it could go. We didn't quite hit that.”

While Cignetti turned down nearly all of the speaking and appearance requests he received after the season, he made an exception for the Indy 500, given the long history of the event and its importance to what he described as the “fabric of the state.”

“We've turned down a lot of nice opportunities so that I can sit in my chair and run that remote back and forth and watch that tape I love to watch,” Cignetti said. 

Curt Cignetti's chair: IU's Curt Cignetti and the 35-year-old recliner he can't let go: 'Brilliance happens there'

The experience has already given him an added appreciation for the sport.

“You think about those guys, what is it, two, two and a half hour race? To go all those 200 laps at the speeds they go and maintain that kind of focus and concentration,” Cignetti said. “Wow.”

Michael Niziolek is the Indiana beat reporter for The Bloomington Herald-Times. You can follow him on X @michaelniziolek and read all his coverage by clicking here.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy 500 pace car driver: Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti: 'It's intense'

How to Watch Knicks vs. Cavs Game 1: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for 2026 NBA Playoffs originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Knicks and Cavaliers will collide at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Since falling behind, 2-1, in its first-round series against Atlanta, New York has won seven consecutive playoff games. The Knicks swept the 76ers in the conference semifinals behind strong performances from their All-Star duo of Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.

The Cavs, meanwhile, will have to make a quick turnaround after eliminating the Pistons in dominant fashion on Sunday. Cleveland will continue to lean on Donovan Mitchell and James Harden as it attempts to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 2018.

Here is everything you need to know about Knicks vs. Cavs, including TV and streaming options for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

• TV channel: ESPN
• Live stream:DIRECTV, ESPN app

Game 1 between the Knicks and Cavs will air live on ESPN. The game will also be available to stream on DIRECTV and the ESPN app.

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• Date: Tuesday, May 19
• Time: 8 p.m. ET

Game 1 between the Knicks and Cavs is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 19. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York.

*If necessary

Knicks 4, 76ers 0

• Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98
• Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102
• Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94
• Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114

Cavs 4, Pistons 3

• Game 1: Pistons 111, Cavs 101
• Game 2: Pistons 107, Cavs 97
• Game 3: Cavs 116, Pistons 109
• Game 4: Cavs 112, Pistons 103
• Game 5: Cavs 117, Pistons 113 (OT)
• Game 6: Pistons 115, Cavs 94
• Game 7: Cavs 125, Pistons 94

Knicks 4, Hawks 2

• Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102
• Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106
• Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108
• Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98
• Game 5: Knicks 126, Hawks 97
• Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89

Cavs 4, Raptors 3

• Game 1: Cavs 126, Raptors 113
• Game 2: Cavs 115, Raptors 105
• Game 3: Raptors 126, Cavs 104
• Game 4: Raptors 93, Cavs 89
• Game 5: Cavs 125, Raptors 120
• Game 6: Raptors 112, Cavs 110 (OT)
• Game 7: Cavs 114, Raptors 102

It’s almost impossible to predict which players will one day turn into a possible NBA MVP. As the league takes steps to address its purported tanking crisis, the last No. 1 overall pick to win the NBA is still Derrick Rose, who taken in 2008. After Rose, you have to go back to LeBron James (2003) and Tim Duncan (1997) for the last No. 1 overall picks to win MVP. Victor Wembanyama will almost certainly break this drought in the next year or two, but the looming ascent of Wemby opens up question: When is the next time an American-born player will win MVP?

The last American-born MVP was James Harden in 2018. Since then, Giannis Antetokounmpo won twice, Nikola Jokic won three times, Joel Embiid won once, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won twice. Embiid was the only one of those players who was drafted in the top-10. It feels like Wembanyama could win the next seven MVP awards even if it’s unlikely because of the 65-game rule of award eligibility. It could be a long, long time before the next American MVP.

When thinking about the next American MVP, a long-term horizon needs to be considered. Given the gap between SGA, Wembanyama, Luka Doncic, and everyone else, it’s totally possible that the next NBA MVP born in America isn’t even in the league yet. Let’s go through some options.

Donovan Mitchell: Mitchell is in the discussion for the best American-born player in the NBA right now. He’s also never finished top-5 in MVP voting, and he turns 30 in September. It’s not happening.

Jalen Brunson: It’s more likely that Brunson wins NBA Finals MVP than NBA MVP, even if that’s also a long-shot. Brunson is obviously terrific as a scorer and shot-creator, but he only has one fifth-place MVP finish to his name, and he’s not getting any better on the brink of his 30th birthday.

Jaylen Brown: He deserves a mention after the year he just turned in, but he’s not even the best player on his own team, let alone the best in the league.

Anthony Edwards: Edwards is one of the front-runners for this honor. He’s already a top-10 player in the league at 24 years old, and he’s also likely going to have a big marketing push behind him as the face of American basketball if he can continue to ascend as a player. Is there a world where the Timberwolves trade Rudy Gobert, Edwards suddenly has more space to drive and create, and he takes a big leap? What if he eventually changes teams? The fact that Edwards has improved so much since being drafted as a hyper-athletic ball of clay — just look at his three-point shooting from college to now — gives him a real shot to keep getting better and eventually win an MVP one day.

Jayson Tatum: Tatum is 28 years old and already has two fourth place MVP finishes on his resume. He looks fantastic returning from a torn Achilles this season, so it’s totally possible he can regain his level of play prior to the injury. Tatum was probably a long-shot MVP candidate even before the injury, since younger players have already passed him. It will be even harder with a reconstructed Achilles. Given that the Celtics consistently churn out great teams and Tatum remains their franchise player, there’s still a chance it happens one day if the other contenders miss the games played cut-off.

Cade Cunningham: Cunningham led his team to 60 wins in his age-24 season to fulfill the promise he showed as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He’s already a borderline top-10 player, and there’s so much low-hanging fruit to clean up in his game. Cunningham can go up another level if he cuts down the turnovers and improves his scoring efficiency, and it’s possible that playing in better spacing one day will get him there. It feels like Detroit might be better served to put another ball handler next to Cade and let him work as more of a wing than a point guard, but who knows if they will actually go in that direction. He’s one of the top candidates on this list …. but he’s nowhere near Wemby, while being 2.5 years old.

Evan Mobley: I would have ranked Mobley higher on my list of the next American MVP candidates a couple years ago, but he really hasn’t gotten much better the last couple years. Does he have another big leap in him? He’s obviously a special defensive player and a good offensive player, but he’s a world away from MVP level.

LaMelo Ball: My toxic trait is that I never stop believing in LaMelo Ball. I had Ball ranked No. 1 in the 2020 NBA Draft, and he finally put it all together this season to both have a big impact on winning and grade out as a top-20 player in some metrics. The Hornets had the best net-rating in the NBA after Jan. 1. If Charlotte keeps that up and finishes at the top of the East next year (a big if, I know), Ball could sneak into MVP conversations.

Chet Holmgren: Holmgren is the closest thing we have to an American Wemby. He already feels like a top-10 player in the world to me, and just celebrated his 24th birthday. I really do think Holmgren can get up another level offensively, but not that’s not the role he’s been asked to play yet on the Thunder, and it’s hard to see a scenario where he’s the best player on his own team if he stays in OKC.

Tyrese Haliburton: Haliburton looked like an MVP caliber player last time we saw him healthy in the 2025 NBA Finals. Can he get back to that level after a torn Achilles? It will be difficult, but not impossible. The Pacers point guard could be a Steve Nash-like candidate where he gets most of the credit of his team’s success if Indiana emerges as a contender again next season.

Cooper Flagg: Flagg was the youngest player in the NBA as a rookie, and he put together a terrific season despite being asked to play de facto point guard for the first time in his life. If an NBA player’s prime is ages 24-28, Flagg won’t hit that rank until the 2030-31 season. There have been eight players in league history to win MVP before they turned 24, and Flagg will be on an all-time trajectory if he can do that. I would like to see the Mavs star get back to his roots and reassert himself as a dominant defensive player after being …. fine on that end of the floor as a rookie while shoulder a huge offensive creation burden. Flagg has the talent to win MVP. No one else born in this country has his defensive ceiling while also being carrying this big of a usage load. It just feels like it will be hard for the Mavs to build a good enough team around him in the West in the near future.

Cameron Boozer: Boozer is the best player in the 2026 NBA Draft for my money. I’ve been touting him a future NBA superstar since he was in high school, and all he did at Duke was win national player of the year with a near-unanimous vote despite being basically the youngest player in the country. Concerns about his athleticism are overblown, but to get to MVP level Boozer would probably have to turn into an excellent pull-up three-point shooter or flirt with averaging a triple-double.

Darryn Peterson: It was only 18 months ago when Peterson was dropping 58 points on A.J Dybantsa in a 40 minute high school game. He never looked healthy at Kansas, but still showed that he can be a deadly three-point shooter. If his bizarre injury issues are over now and he’s really this good of a shooter, there’s a pathway for DP to be one of the most complete scoring guard prospects to hit the draft in recent memory.

A.J. Dybantsa: Dybantsa is an extremely gifted shot-creator for such a gigantic wing. I don’t think he’s really a complete player, but put a team full of dirty work guys around him and it’s possible he could emerge as a superstar engine of an elite team. He would need to take a big leap as a three-point shooter, defender, or both to get to MVP level, but there’s a world where that could happen.

Tyran Stokes: Stokes is the front-runner to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NBA Draft right now as a jumbo shot-creator who stockpiles steals and blocks. There are some questions around his mentality. I asked an NBA scout at the combine if they thought Stokes had enough going on upstairs to eventually be a great player, and they responded by saying he’s currently a one-floor apartment. It’s more likely that he never makes an All-Star team than wins MVP, but he’s still a super talented player with plenty of time to learn winning habits.

Rhys Robinson: Robinson is a 16-year-old who won’t be eligible for the NBA Draft until 2029. He’s a tall, high-feel point guard who has played up three years in international competitions and still performed well. He’s in the international pipeline right now but was born in California. I can’t believe I’m putting someone born in 2010 on this list, but the specter of Wemby’s long run of dominance will do crazy things to a man.

Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje: Enrolling at Duke as a 17-year-old this year, JBB won’t be eligible for the draft until 2028. The Florida native is reportedly close to 7-feet tall with the skill to play on the perimeter. He could be really good 10 years from now in 2036, if the world still exists at that point.

Who will be the next American-born NBA MVP? Here’s how I’d rank the candidates.

7. Darryn Peterson

6. LaMelo Ball

5. Chet Holmgren

4. Anthony Edwards

3. Cade Cunningham

2. Cooper Flagg

1. Cameron Boozer

Let us know who you think will be the next American-born NBA MVP below in the comments.

Joao Pedro is Chelsea’s men’s Player of the Season, after a great debut campaign at Stamford Bridge following a transfer from Brighton.

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Joao Pedro has been named Chelsea’s Player of the Season, the club announced this afternoon. The summer signing picked up more than 60% of the fan vote.

The former Brighton man has bagged 20 goals and 6 assists in all competitions, enough to place him ahead of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the final standings of the vote

Looking back to November, the striker wouldn’t have been in most people’s top 3 favourites for the award. That shows what a strong second half of the campaign he had, and hopefully presages an even better second season at the club.

The Brazilian was one of the few players who really improved under Liam Rosenior, who got more out of him than Enzo Maresca was able to. We hope Xabi Alonso is able to see the difference in the striker’s usage under each coach and can take the lessons from the second half of JP’s impressive campaign. He should be a pillar of this team going forward.

Enzo Maresca is going to replace Pep Guardiola at Man City, and that means Chelsea should get some compensation for their former manager.

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.

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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Last season was disappointing, as most Vikings players struggled to meet their expectations. The result was a 9-8 record and a season that virtually ended around Thanksgiving.

One guy, meanwhile, stood out, or exploded onto the scene, one could argue. Jalen Redmond was the discovery of Minnesota’s 2025 campaign, but he’s still flying under the radar, it seems.

Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report nominated the best-kept secret of every roster entering the summer and he actually landed on Redmond for the Vikings, although his breakout season is already in the rearview mirror.

“Jalen Redmond’s story alone deserves attention after being an undrafted free agent, needing the United Football League as a pathway to the NFL and growing into an underappreciated defensive lineman,” he wrote.

Redmond’s story has been fantastic. After missing time in college due to blood clots and later opting out of the COVID season for the reason, Redmond went undrafted in 2023. The Panthers signed him, but he failed to stick around for the regular season. Ultimately, Redmond joined the UFL.

Four games were enough to catch Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s eye, who eventually signed him to a contract in the 2024 offseason. A solid rotational season in 2024 was followed by a true breakout campaign in 2025.

Sobleski continued, “There’s a standard to his play. It’s shown up every single week, and it goes back a lot before everybody started to notice it,” Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters in November. ‘For us, just felt like he was a guy that we wanted to make sure was on the field as much as possible. He’s a really good player. I think he’s developed throughout his time here and really is starting to understand how he fits within the defense.'”

Appearing in all 17 games with 15 starts, Redmond logged 6 sacks and 62 tackles on Minnesota’s defensive line, slowly carving into the reps from former Pro Bowlers Allen and Hargrave. He ended up as the top defensive lineman on the roster.

While Allen and Hargrave were exed in March, Redmond was re-signed. The Vikings had the exclusive rights and handed him a fresh one-year minimum deal. He’ll be a restricted free agent next year, unless the Vikings sign him to an extension.

PFF analyst Zach Tantillo recently wrote about the two-year Viking, “Redmond emerged as one of the Vikings’ most reliable interior defenders in 2025. He earned a 73.5 PFF overall grade, ranking third among Minnesota defenders. He was especially dominant against the run, where his 30 run stops, 1.46-yard average depth of tackle, and 19.4% positively graded play rate all ranked second-best on the defense.”

In the upcoming season, Redmond will be joined by a couple of rookies, including first-rounder Caleb Banks.

Sobleski finally concluded, “The Vikings employ an attacking defensive front. Redmond fits in nicely, with six sacks and numerous pressures last season. Minnesota wanted a disruptive interior presence, hence the selection of Caleb Banks in this year’s first round. He will join Redmond and give the unit an explosive, upfield duo.”

Redmond and Banks are both penetrating linemen who could benefit from the other rookie, Domonique Orange, whose two-gapping presence can open up lanes for his more explosive counterparts. In base defense, those three project to be the starting trio, unless another depth player, primarily Levi Drake Rodriguez, can surprise this summer.

Vikings fans have already seen Redmond explode, but the national media is a little behind. Another good season should do the trick and give him the attention he deserves.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Udonis Haslem saw more than a stat line when Victor Wembanyama dragged the San Antonio Spurs past the OKC Thunder in Game 1.

Haslem’s reaction was not about nationality, hype or branding. It was about edge, and Wembanyama showed plenty of it in a Western Conference Finals opener that demanded toughness.

The performance gave Haslem a clear opening to explain why he sees something familiar in San Antonio’s franchise star.

Speaking on WY Network, Udonis Haslem praised Victor Wembanyama’s competitive makeup after San Antonio’s Game 1 win over Oklahoma City.

Haslem said, “He’s just like us. I don’t give a damn about being from France. He’s more like us than a lot of these guys from [The US].”

“He is cut from that cloth of ‘I am not trying to be liked by anybody outside of this locker room and organization,’” the Heat legend added.

That is strong praise from Haslem because his NBA identity was built on locker-room standards, physical sacrifice, and a refusal to chase approval. He was not simply calling Wembanyama talented, he was pointing to the mentality behind the production.

Wembanyama has always been viewed as a rare basketball talent, but playoff basketball asks a different question. Game 1 showed he can carry the skill, the pressure, and the attitude into the deepest stage of the Western Conference.

Wembanyama’s numbers against the Thunder explained why Haslem spoke with such conviction. He finished with 41 points, 24 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 1 steal in San Antonio’s 122-115 double-overtime win.

His efficiency made the night even bigger. Wembanyama shot 14-of-25 from the field, 1-of-2 from three, and 12-of-13 at the free-throw line while playing 49 minutes.

The Spurs needed all of it. Oklahoma City pushed the game into a brutal late-stage fight, and Wembanyama kept finding answers as both a scorer and defensive anchor.

He controlled the glass with 9 offensive rebounds, protected the rim, and forced the Thunder to think twice around the paint. His presence changed possessions before a shot even went up.

The defining sequence came in overtime, where Wembanyama’s shot-making and defensive reach kept San Antonio alive before the Spurs finally took control.

Haslem’s point landed because Game 1 was not just about Wembanyama being different. It was about him proving he has the competitive wiring old-school players respect.

Read more:

• San Antonio’s silent crisis: The Thunder puzzle they can’t afford to ignore
• Jeff Teague names another current NBA star as he snubs Wembanyama in best defender claim
• Patrick Beverley delivers highly controversial Victor Wembanyama elbow verdict

Today’s Reflections

….. unless it’s Michael Conforto!

On Sunday, I had posted that “I can’t imagine that there has been a better non-pitcher “backup” free-agent acquisition in recent years that Carson Kelly”. And I stand by that — Kelly is the No. 1 player at his position who takes on all comers at the plate.

Conforto is mostly a DH, hitting only against righthanders. But, Kelly was signed with a specific job in mind — to be the back-up to the pre-injured Miguel Amaya. Conforto was wild-shot-in-the-dark signing. He was a “meh” signing at best. To say his performance, when he is in the game, so far this season is pleasantly surprising is an understatement.

I accept your apology, PCA, but ….. that’s not an apology. “But” is that bit of immaturity that he occasionally shows. Hey, he has amazing skills, but that doesn’t cover anything up. He’s been a pro long enough, and in the majors about a year and a half. We expect more out of PCA.

*means autoplay on, (directions to remove for Firefox and Chrome). {$} means paywall. {$} means limited views. Italics are often used on this page as sarcasm font. The powers that be have enabled real sarcasm font in the comments.

Michael Conforto, please take a bow!

• Brett Taylor (Bleacher Nation): Michael Conforto Continues to Rake When It Matters Most. “The sample is small, yes. But Conforto is absolutely doing deserved, ridiculous things when he has the chance.”

• Kevin Rogers (Deadspin): Michael Conforto adds to mix for Cubs against division-rival Brewers. “Less (than the NLCS) will be at stake in the series opener in Chicago on Monday night, but both sides will be eager to flush recent losses and win in the NL Central rivalry.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cult hero Conforto keeps putting heroics on display for Cubs. “We’ve got a really good option here with Michael Conforto. That’s part of this story, too,” Counsell said. “It’s just hard to deny Michael at-bats right now. It just is. That’s probably the bigger story here.”

The illuminating world of Pete Crow-Armstrong:

• Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Pete Crow-Armstrong’s self criticism stood out after Cubs defeat. “PCA homered in the ninth inning (Saturday), but the Cubs outfielder was far more focused on the opportunities he missed earlier in the game.”
• Michael Cerami (Bleacher Nation): PCA Cuts Down the Runner at 3B … Then Flexes on the Stands. “Jim Deshaies pointed out on the broadcast, he’s also got a CANNON. He isn’t tested often, but when he does, he can really uncork it.”
• KD Jain (Sporting News): Despite hitting struggles, Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong shows why he is still an asset. ““I haven’t gone off yet, either,’’ Crow-Armstrong said. “It’s been hard, it’s been very difficult, but all you can do is continue to work. I’m going to strike out and chase, I know that. That probably won’t change until I have more experience in this game. ….. ”If PCA also starts firing, the Cubs could really go deep this season.“

• Andrew Joseoh (FTWUSA): Pete Crow-Armstrong explained why he had a heated exchange with White Sox fan. “According to White Sox and Cubs reporter Jesse Rogers, Crow-Armstrong said he decided to just talk back to the fan’s heckles. The fan claimed to be attending an engagement party in the seats beyond the wall on ground level.”

• Chris Cwik (Yahoo! Sports): Pete Crow-Armstrong expresses ‘regret’ over heated exchanges with fans during tense Cubs-White Sox series. “Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong happened to be at the center of the two biggest spats over the weekend.“
• Jesse Rogers (ESPN): Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong regrets words in heated exchange with fan. “Cubs manager Craig Counsell is simply hopeful Crow-Armstrong learns from the experience.”
• Randy Holt (North Side Baseball): Trying to Make Sense of Ian Happ, 2026 Edition. “Ian Happ has spent 2026 looking more like his rookie self than the less powerful (but more balanced) player he’s been of late. Are the Cubs better for it?”
• Casey McAleer (Da Windy City): Cubs vs. Brewers series could decide early control of the NL Central. “The Cubs are heading into another major divisional test immediately after surviving a chaotic Crosstown Classic.”
• Elias Shuster (Chicago Cubs On SI): The Cubs Might Have the Hottest Prospect in Baseball Right Now. “The No. 6 prospect in the Chicago Cubs’ system is off to a red-hot start to 2026.”
• Eddie Lemon (Last Word On Sports): Five Third Basemen Who Deserve Hall of Fame Reconsideration. “Ken Boyer, Aramis Ramirez, Graig Nettles, Robin Ventura, and Eric Chavez all built compelling Hall of Fame cases at third base.”
• Curt Bishop (Chicago Cubs On SI): The Case for Each NL Central Team to Come Out. “This may be the best division in baseball.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Cubs News: Another former Astros reliever, Javier Assad’s decision explained, bullpen spending. “Another arm added to the mix.”
• Adam McCalvy and Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): Cubs, Crew renew rivalry in Central showdown. “The teams are set to renew rivalries beginning tonight at Wrigley Field – the deepest into a season they have waited to match up since 2004, when they didn’t see each other until July.”
• Jordan Bastian (MLB.com): How do you capitalize on the oddities of a 112-year-old ballpark? Cubs may have it figured out. “The neighborhood around the Friendly Confines has changed over the decades, but the playing environment has remained consistently chaotic. This year, the Cubs are embracing that chaos and making it their own, turning Wrigley Field’s environment into as much of a home-field advantage as is possible in baseball.”
• Jordan Campbell (Cubbies Crib): Matt Shaw is certain to become an unavoidable topic for Cubs before deadline. “Is Shaw too valuable to the Cubs’ roster this season that Hoyer refuses to include him in trade talks?”
• Charlie Wright (MLBTradeRumors): Cubs Claim Christian Roa. “The Cubs have claimed right-hander Christian Roa, Baltimore announced. ….. Roa permitted five earned runs over 8 2/3 innings with Houston. He had more walks (7) than strikeouts (6) across seven appearances. Roa’s time as an Astro represents his longest MLB look so far.”
• Gordon Edes (Chicago Sun-Times): Cubs’ Jameson Taillon searching for fixes after another homer-heavy outing. “”What I’m doing has worked in the past, and I just had a string of really good starts,“ (Taillon said). ….. ”But home runs are a problem. I just need to find a way to limit those. …..“
• Nick Deeds (Cubbies Crib): 2 overlooked Cubs pitching prospects are demanding more attention lately. “Two pitching prospects have opened eyes so far this year.”

• Sahadev Sharma (The Athletic{$}): Cubs notes: Jameson Taillon’s home run struggles, Jacob Webb stepping up and more. ““(Taillon) threw some badly missed location pitches,” Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said, “And (the White Sox) put ’em in the seats.”….. “Since (his first four outings), Webb has had a 2.45 ERA in 14 2/3 innings with a 27.4 percent strikeout rate and 6.5 percent walk rate.”

Food For Thought:

Blues Deluxe – Jeff Beck Group (((ORIGINAL SONG 1968))) — After leaving The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck established his eponymous group with a lineup featuring Rod Stewart on vocals, Ronnie Wood on rhythm guitar, and a shifting roster of bassists and drummers. The band favored an amplified, blues-heavy, and soul-infused sound that set a new template for rock and roll. The lineup went through months of personnel changes, notably no fewer than four drummers, before settling on Aynsley Dunbar and switching Wood to bass. This lineup spent most of 1967 playing the UK club circuit and appeared several times on BBC Radio. Beck signed a personal management contract with record producer and manager Mickie Most, who had no interest in the group, only in Beck as a solo artist.

During 1967, the band released three singles in Europe and two in the United States. The lineup for that session included guitarist Jimmy Page on rhythm guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, Keith Moon on drums, and Nicky Hopkins on piano.[3] Frustrated that the band were not playing a strict enough blues set for his taste, drummer Dunbar left and was replaced by Roy Cook for one show, before Stewart recommended Micky Waller, a bandmate of his from Steampacket. Waller went on to play with the band all through 1968 and early 1969, and was their longest-lasting drummer.

Jonathan, the giant tortoise, the world’s oldest living land animal ‘is alive’ after getting caught up in alleged crypto scam —Reports of the nearly 200-year-old creature’s demise were posted on X by a hoax vet account and Jonathan was later revealed to be alive and well.

A giant Seychelles tortoise, believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal, is alive and well after claims he had died turned out to be part of an alleged crypto scam. Posts emerged on Wednesday claiming Jonathan, who is thought to be 193 years old according to the official website devoted to him, was dead. Reports of his demise were posted on X by the account @JoeHollinsVet, named after Joe Hollins, a vet who has taken care of Jonathan and previously spoken of his experiences.

The message read that he was “heartbroken” to announce that the “beloved” creature “has passed away today peacefully”. Describing himself as Jonathan’s “vet for many years”, he said: “Rest easy, old friend. You’ll be missed more than words can say” and later thanked people “for the outpouring of love for Jonathan as we mourn his passing”. But the Friends of the British Overseas Territories, quoting the island’s governor, Nigel Phillips, said “the real Joe Hollins does not have an X account, and that Jonathan the tortoise is alive. This account is soliciting crypto donations, has recently changed its username”. Mr Phillips “has confirmed Jonathan Tortoise is alive and well – he has just checked on him”, he added.

In a post on Facebook, Mr Hollins commented on a screen grab of the X post, saying it was “a hoax” and “not even an April Fool”. He wrote that: “IT IS NOT TRUE. The hoaxer is asking for crypto donations. It’s a con. Please forward guys because this has spread. Even our researcher friends in the US unravelling his DNA have just sent condolences.” There was a good deal of negative reaction to the original X post, with one commenter calling it a “nice prank, you scam artist”, while another said “he’s alive, you plonker”, and a third simply told the account it had been “BUSTED”. Guinness World Records summed up many people’s feelings by saying “phew”.

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Ludvig Aberg had a front row seat as Aaron Rai put on an absolute clinic on his way to winning the PGA Championship at Aronimink on Sunday.

Rai produced some truly sensational golf down the stretch at Aronimink, playing his final 10 holes in six-under par to win by three from Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley.

Meanwhile, Aberg finished four strokes adrift of Rai in the end.

Ludvig Aberg was paired with Aaron Rai for the final round of the PGA Championship on Sunday at Aronimink.

Despite failing to win, he would have learned a lot from the way in which the 31-year-old Englishman closed out the PGA Championship in such style.

Aberg enjoyed playing alongside Rai on Sunday at the PGA, with the Swede left hugely impressed by the Englishman’s golfing ability.

However, something that Rai said to Aberg on the final green at Aronimink impressed the 26-year-old from Sweden even more.

Aberg seemed genuinely very pleased for Rai after the Englishman’s victory at Aronimink on Sunday.

Despite failing to win and being obviously disappointed as a result, he was left hugely impressed by something that Rai did on the final green.

Aberg revealed what Rai said to him on the 18th green, just before tapping in his putt to win the PGA Championship.

As quoted by Golf.com, the Swede said: “He’s just so polite. He’s got a putt to win his first major and he still said ‘good putt’ to me?

“He’s taking time to look me in the eye and say well done? That stands out. That’s really impressive.

“If there’s one guy I’d love to lose to, it’s probably him.”

Xander Schauffele raved about Rai after the final round of the PGA Championship.

“I’m super happy for him. He’s such a good dude,“ Schauffele said.

“Rarely do you see people work really hard. I mean, that’s not fair. Rarely do you feel like people work way harder than you is what I was trying to say.

“I feel like I’ve played a pretty good amount of time, and Aaron is always there. He’s always in the gym. He’s always on the range. He’s always — you know, at the Scottish, I’m staying right on site there. I thought it was fun for Austin and I to go putt. Aaron is finishing up his little putting session at 9:00 p.m. and going to the gym at 9:45.

“This was three years ago. I think that’s what it’s about to be a major champion. You put the work in when nobody’s looking. Super pumped for him and his team.

“He’s such a nice guy. All world gentleman, no doubt.“

And while Rahm doesn’t know Rai as well as Schauffele does, he echoed a very similar sentiment about the Englishman.

“I haven’t spent a lot of time with him. But I have heard consistently there’s very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai,“ the Spaniard said.

“Anybody that uses head covers in his irons because he coveted his irons when he was a kid so much that he wanted to respect the equipment so much, and to still do it? Yeah, exactly, him still doing it shows a lot about him as a person.

“I have heard absolutely nothing but good or great things about Aaron Rai. He’s been playing great golf. He’s a fantastic golfer. He’s been able to perform really well. What he did today is nothing short of special.“

The word “commitment” in college sports has changed its meaning drastically in recent years. What used to be thought of as a word set in stone has changed to mean very little in the modern landscape of college sports.

A few years ago, the thought was that Kyle Whittingham was going to retire after the 2026 season as the long-time head coach of Utah. It was then that Utah had private conversations with defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley about being the next head coach upon Whittingham’s retirement.

But at the end of the 2025 season, Whittingham announced he was leaving the program he coached for 21 seasons and not retiring from coaching. Instead, he was looking for a “fresh start” and joked that he was “in the transfer portal.”

That fresh start did not appear to be entirely Whittingham’s choice. What appeared to be Utah pushing him out ultimately landed him in Ann Arbor and taking several of his assistant coaches with him. Despite this being entirely beyond his control, Scalley found himself in the middle of one of the messiest coaching transitions in recent memory.

“I knew that (coaching) could be an option,” Scalley recently told On3’s Pete Nakos ($). “Did I know he would go to Michigan? No. Did I feel like he could go coach somewhere? One hundred percent. He’s a good coach. And if I’m in Kyle’s shoes, he’s got to do what he feels is best for Michigan.

“So, of course, he’s going to lean on contacts. He’s going to lean on what he knows. He knew our players, he knew our coaches, and he knows the recruiting environment here in Utah. That’s just him trying to do what’s best for Michigan. I can’t sit there and fault him. He was doing what he felt was best for their program.”

To his credit, Scalley handled it with grace. He got his team prepared and ready to play against Nebraska in the Utes’ bowl game, winning, 44-22.

“If there’s any misconception that Morgan Scalley had anything to do with pushing (Whittingham) out, there’s no way,” Scalley said. “I was 100 percent loyal to him and have nothing but respect and love for him.”

That loyalty was earned over nearly two decades. Whittingham gave Scalley a graduate assistant job in 2007 after his playing career ended. From there, Scalley climbed the coaching ladder, going from a safeties coach to special teams coordinator, and then to defensive coordinator before earning the head coach gig.

The offseason was really complicated for the Utes. Yahoo Sports previously reported that Utah offered Whittingham a one-year extension to remain as head coach if he agreed to cede some responsibilities. He ultimately signed a $13.5 million separation agreement, one the university contends he violated by taking some of Utah’s assistant coaches. Regardless of all the messy details, the fingerprints on this situation belong less to Scalley and more to Utah’s athletic office.

Scalley acknowledged the chaos of those first two weeks on the job. What was supposed to be an orderly transition became something far more turbulent. Suddenly, he was preparing for his first game as a head coach while simultaneously managing staff uncertainty, transfer portal decisions, and the very real possibility his mentor might try to poach his players and coaches for Michigan.

“It was super chaotic because we were all anticipating him coaching the bowl game and riding off into the sunset,” Scalley said. “Then Michigan happened, and all of a sudden it was like, ‘OK, you’re going to coach your first game right away in the next couple of weeks, and it’s going to be in Las Vegas, where you’ve got to keep kids from doing stupid stuff during their downtime. And you’re going to have the rumors of, is he going to take staff? Is he going to try to take some of our players?’ So you’re trying to manage all of that.”

Scalley wasn’t left with a suffering program, but Whittingham did do some damage on its way out by convincing five players — including edge rusher John Henry Daley and cornerback Smith Snowden — to transfer to Ann Arbor. He also pulled six Utah assistants coaches, including offensive coordinator Jason Beck. At the end of the day, Whittingham had every right to hire some of his former assistants at Utah, and Scalley is handling this as well as possible.

Every media brief Chelsea have put out since hiring Xabi Alonso as their new manager mentions the term ‘mentality monsters’.

Apparently, Alonso wants the club to have a squad full of mentality monsters. Well, if he truly wants that, then the club are going to have to target and sign those types of players, because our squad really does not contain too many of those players right now.

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There are a few who you could put close to that category, but if Alonso wants a squad full of mentality monsters, then the club are going to need to sign a whole bunch of them in. Unless it is something that he believes he can coach or ingrain in the players that he already has, which I find hard to believe.

Either way, he’s got his work cut out for him this summer and going into next season and hopefully beyond.

Wesley Fofana applauds Chelsea fans. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The Athletic put an article out this morning and they stated that upon interview for the Chelsea job, Xabi Alonso sought clarification on the club’s sporting structure and signalled his desire to build a team of “mentality monsters” at Stamford Bridge.

Well, best of luck with that. But truly, Chelsea will need to sign more of those types in if that’s what Alonso wants to build.

Chelsea’s squad should be eager to beat Tottenham tonight and potentially push them to relegation. But will they be? Callum McFarlane believes they will be.

Xabi Alonso has a lot on his plate when he takes over at Chelsea – including sorting out his toxic dressing room. Liam Rosenior reaction says it all.

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Check out the latest edition of Simon Phillips’ SPTC podcast here:

Hello CSR! Welcome to Ask Brian, part one of your weekly Carolina Panthers fan mailbag for everyone! The Panthers are currently in the dead zone of the NFL off-season, however we had our first unfortunate injury news drop in the past days. 2025 priority and high dollar free agent signing, defensive lineman Terk Wharton is “out indefinitely” after unforeseen neck surgery. Dave Canales and the Panthers are being quite vague about the details, but it sounds like his 2026 season is very much up in the air. Injuries are a foregone conclusion in football, but Terk was expected to be relied upon heavily as part of the defensive line rotation. Now, the selection of DL Lee Hunter in the second round of the draft looks to have been very crucial.

You all know the drill, this is your space to ask all your questions, whether they be Panthers related, football related, or even completely off topic! I’ll have some answers to those questions later on in the week. As a reminder, I reserve the right to not answer any question that I don’t feel is appropriate for this column, but I do my best to try and answer as many as I can. Comment down below, and KEEP POUNDING!

The promotions have begun. If you were waiting to go see this year’s possible breakout pitching prospect Joseph Dzierwa in Frederick, tough luck, because he’s headed to Double-A. You’ll have to find him now in Bowie, where the team that once called itself Bowie and now calls itself Chesapeake plays its home games. We can hope this is the start of a summer full of prospects playing so well that they practically have to be promoted. Dzierwa may just be the first to go from Frederick to Chesapeake within this season.

These weekly updates focus on the team’s top prospects, particularly those on Camden Chat’s composite top 20 Orioles prospect list from before the season. They also include other guys who interest me who might develop into prospects over time. I do not tend to spend much time on non-prospect journeymen, though one never knows who might turn into the next Jeremiah Jackson. Or even, over the long haul, whether someone turning into Jackson is worth all that much to the franchise.

Here’s how things went this week:

• Last week: 3-3 at Charlotte (White Sox)
• Coming week: at Jacksonville (Marlins)
• Season record: 18-27, last place (9 GB) in International League East

Norfolk has been simultaneously playing host to the rehab assignments of Jackson Holliday and Heston Kjerstad. The infielder may finally be settling back in to a good groove on this latest assignment; though he had 4-17 hitting, that included a triple and a homer, plus three walks, so it was a good OPS. Kjerstad, on the other hand, had 6-22 batting, with only one double, and no walks, so at .591 his OPS looks much worse.

Tougher to find real prospects in this lineup, particularly with Enrique Bradfield not having played since April 21. One other outfielder made his way back from the IL over this week. That’s Reed Trimble, who is on the 40-man roster right now. Trimble was back for two games and that was enough time for him to hit two home runs. Offseason acquisition Payton Eeles batted 15 times across five games, picking up five hits and five walks. Eeles is now sitting at a .327/.465/.364 line for the season. Gotta like the OBP, even if you also gotta be skeptical he’ll do anything like that at the next level when hitting for so little power.

More interesting are Norfolk’s pitching prospects, or at least they would be if they were pitching well. The trio of Nestor German, Trey Gibson, and Levi Wells each pitched four innings this week. Of these, only Gibson’s approximated something like acceptable, as he gave up one run on three hits and four walks. The others were much worse.

Others of interest

• C/1B Creed Willems – Not a great week for Creed, 5-19 with no walks, but he’s still OPSing .842 in 37 games.

Norfolk season-to-date stats.

• Last week: 1-5 at Akron (Guardians)
• Coming week: vs. Somerset (Yankees)
• Season record: 15-23, fifth place (13 GB) in Eastern League Southwest

Not a good week for the Baysox as a team, but it was a good week for my guy Aron Estrada, so I’m going to tell you about him first. Eight hits in 19 AB, plus a couple of walks and a couple of stolen bases. These were his first two steals of the year. He’s got a .672 OPS after that hitting, so, I’d like to see more hot weeks. Mostly light-hitting infielder Griff O’Ferrall got in on the party as well, batting 6-19 with a pair of doubles, five walks, and three stolen bases. Don’t look at his season batting average. Dang it, I told you not to look.

It was mostly the offense that dragged the Baysox down this week, as they lost four games where they scored 3, 3, 2, and 1 runs apiece. Among pitching prospects worth following, things were mixed, with some decent things if you look only at the earned runs column. My honorary hyphenated cousin Juaron Watts-Brown tossed four scoreless, though he did walk four batters. Lefty pitching prospect Luis De León also had a zero in the ER column, though there were three unearned over a 3.1 inning start. This team has a 5.43 ERA. It’s not great.

Others of interest

• OF Thomas Sosa – 5-21 hitting for the week included a double and a homer. Now a .666 OPS for the season, which is nothing to be superstitious about except that it’s way below a number where he’d be more exciting.
• C/1B Ethan Anderson – Not one of his better weeks so far this season, batting 4-21, also with a double and a homer. Season OPS remains at .816 after 31 games.

Chesapeake season-to-date stats.

• Last week: 6-0 at Hudson Valley (Yankees)
• Coming week: vs. Greenville (Red Sox)
• Season record: 25-13, first place (0.5 games ahead) in South Atlantic League North

There is one affiliate in the Orioles system that has been playing good baseball, and one affiliate only. It is this one. The Keys are winners of seven games in a row and 12 of their last 13. That’s good stuff. They will have to do it going forward without Joseph Dzierwa, since he got the promotion – certainly a deserved one. Dzierwa allowed two runs over five innings in his start this week, picking up six strikeouts. That almost feels disappointing compared to some of his earlier games. Over eight games with the Keys, he had a 2.21 ERA and 0.811 WHIP.

Hopefully they don’t have to do it without Ike Irish; this wasn’t a good week for last year’s first round pick anyway, but also he was removed from the last game of the week after being hit by a pitch on the hand. That is the kind of luck the Orioles are having in 2026. Geez.

Fellow high 2026 draft pick Wehiwa Aloy did not add to his double-digit home run total this week. He still had an excellent week at the plate overall, with nine hits, including a pair of doubles, across 21 at-bats. Leading the way for Frederick on the week, though, was Braylin Tavera. Still just 21 years old, this outfield prospect hit three homers and stole four bases this week, raising his season OPS to .792. Heading in the right direction there.

Dzierwa wasn’t the only Keys pitcher worth following over this past week. Twine Palmer, the pitcher from last July’s Ramón Urías deal, threw another scoreless game, allowing two hits and two walks over four innings. Boston Bateman from the Padres trade also had a zero in the earned run column, though he managed to walk five batters and gave up one unearned run over 4.2 innings.

Others of interest

• OF Vance Honeycutt – This week’s “How many times did Vance Honeycutt strike out?” answer is 11. Eleven times in 21 at-bats! I wanted that spring training stuff to mean something good for the future. It’s just not looking that way.
• 1B/DH Victor Figueroa – 6-22 hitting with nine runs driven in for the week. This big dude from the Padres trade last July is slugging .600 through 32 games. He’s 22, which is old to be a prospect at this level, but I’m keeping an eye on him anyway.
• RHP Yeiber Cartaya – This 6’5” Venezuelan righty is 23, old to be a pitching prospect at this level, but he’s got an 11.3 K/9 and sub-1 WHIP and it’s possible there’s some late blooming going on here.

Frederick season-to-date stats.

• Last week: 1-5 vs. Fayetteville (Astros)
• Coming week: at Wilson (Brewers)
• Season record: 14-25, last place (13 GB) in Carolina League North

It’s the 18- and 19-year-olds on this roster who are probably the ones worth watching; hopefully enough of them can actually do good things. For the youngest guy, outfielder Stiven Martinez (turns 19 in August), this was a good week, as he hit two home runs to give him three on the season. After 25 games in his first taste of a full-season affiliate, he’s hitting .242/.308/.411. A tougher week for another young guy, DJ Layton, who struck out 10 times in 20 AB.

The pitching prospect on this roster who came into the season with the most hype was Esteban Mejia. Like Keeler Morfe before him, I’m just not seeing it in the actual results so far. Mejia walked three guys in a 3.2 inning start where he gave up four earned runs, and has now walked 25 batters in 22.1 innings. No, really, that’s more walks than innings pitched. That takes some work.

Others of interest

• LHP Caden Hunter – A sixth round pick from USC last year, Hunter is old for this level, so it’s only worth so much, but still: Two starts this week, just one hit and three walks allowed over 8.2 innings. 0.95 ERA and 0.842 WHIP for the season.

Delmarva season-to-date stats.

With the option to create polls in The Feed, we are able to once again proclaim a fan-voted minor league player of the week.

Last week, you voted Aloy to be the player of the week. No surprise! He hit five homers. Irish was the choice in the first poll the week before that. Maybe a player from somewhere other than Frederick will win this week? The choice is yours. Vote below:

• Norfolk: at Jacksonville, 7:05. Starter: TBD
• Chesapeake: vs. Somerset, 6:35. Starter: TBD
• Frederick: vs. Greenville, 6:00. Starter: JT Quinn
• Delmarva: at Wilson, 7:05. Starter: Esteban Mejia

Dustin Poirier and Nate Diaz still have unfinished business.

Diaz and Poirier are two of the most popular fighters in UFC history, and were once supposed to fight each other at UFC 230. Unfortunately, that fight fell through, and since then, the two have regularly sniped at each other in the media. That continued this past weekend when Diaz fought Mike Perry in the co-main event of the Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano fight card on Netflix.

Diaz lost to Perry by corner stoppage after the second round, but during his post-fight media, Diaz again spoke about Poirier, saying he has no interest in fighting anybody who is retired, which Poirier did last year. Speaking on his show, Deep Waters, Poirier responded to his rival.

“We’ve been circling each other for years and years and years,” Poirier said. “We could have fought. He knows that. I wish he would be honest with the fans and say he pulled out, or didn’t come to terms with the UFC, whatever it was, for the couple of times we were supposed to fight, that it never happened.

“But dude, after the way he looked on Saturday night, he can’t talk right now. He needs to take a break. He needs to go get some sleep and rest. Not me, you know. He looked like dog shit. He looked horrible. He looked like he didn’t want to be in there, looked like a punching bag, looked off balance, his timing was horrible. I mean, when somebody loses, I don’t like to shit on them too hard, but he knows. He looked horrible.”

Diaz certainly did not have an inspiring performance against Perry, looking out of his depth from the start, and getting battered for much of the fight. And while he may be retired now, Poirier is happy to un-retire to get the fight that got away.

“My invitation is still out there,” Poirier said. “At 170, I’ll go back in the drug testing protocol, whatever. I will knock Nate Diaz complete out. …

“It’s crazy that he’s bringing me up in a post-fight,” Poirier added later. “ Apparently, he wants to fight, or he’s thinking about it. And it’s just like, after a performance like that, it’s like, what am I doing? It’s like I’m picking on somebody if I’m chasing Nate Diaz, the way he’s looking. It’s like I’m picking on the easy fight, easy win. But Nate Diaz, I will knock you clean out if we fight.”

That’s a big if. Poirier would still need to be released from his UFC contract to pursue a fight with Diaz, something that the promotion rarely allows. Otherwise, Diaz would need to return to the UFC, and from Poirier’s perspective, that’s the opposite of what Nate should be considering right now.

“Listen, bro, even though I talk about Nate, and I want to beat his ass, I’m a fan,” Poirier said. “I’ve been a fan of him and his brother for a long time. But that was the worst I’ve ever seen him. …

“He’s just 41 years old and has a million miles. You can’t keep that fighting style, the way he fights, forever. It’s coming to the end.”

Statement. Gina Carano releases first statement after loss to Ronda Rousey: ‘If I hadn’t tapped she would’ve broken my arm.’

Delusions. Jon Jones: Getting out of UFC contract ‘very, very possible.’

Here We Go. Conor McGregor, Max Holloway already engaging in war of words ahead of UFC 329: ‘I’m gonna son you, child.’

Big Mad.‘It made my blood boil’: Ilia Topuria reacts to near-brawl with Josh Hokit at UFC White House press conference; Hokit responds.

Weight. Rousey vs. Carano fight night weights: One fighter gained over 27 pounds after weigh-ins.

Out. Rousey vs. Carano medical suspensions: Junior dos Santos suspended indefinitely after brutal knockout loss.

Farewell. Colby Covington notifies UFC of retirement.

Grades. Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano Report: How do you grade MVP’s first MMA event?

Behind the scenes of UFC 300.

Conor McGregor marathon.

Justin Gaethje fight camp.

Cooking with Volk.

Fighter vs. Writer.

Sean Strickland refuses to stop training.

Mike Perry.

Choices.

Sounds like a celebration.

Tony being Tony.

Good post.

Mailbag!

Yeah, Poirier would slaughter Nate Diaz at this stage of things. No need to have that fight. Let’s all just move on and keep that one in the pile of “Fights We Never Got to See.”

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee of @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and like us on Facebook.

The Miami Hurricanes were 5-0 and flying high heading into a Friday night showdown with the Louisville Cardinals in 2025. Miami had knocked off Notre Dame, Florida, and Florida State before a four interception game from CarsonBeck became a 24-21 upset victory for the Cards.

Malachi Toney was in star-mode by October and the young buck caught nine balls for 15.0 yards per catch, ran in a jet sweep and threw a 2-point conversion to pull within three.

On the ground Miami struggled with Mark Fletcher and the RB room scoring once but being held to 2.3, 3.0 (Jordan Lyle) and 3.0 (Marty Brown) yards per carry.

Above– I broke down the middle screen from Toney and how it works here vs. Louisville. Motion gets eyes off no10, while Mauigoa has to be as solid in space as he is. CJ Daniels holds his block without holding jersey and Brown sets a nice drive out as well. At the 3rd level Cooper destroys the safety and Toney hits on an explosive.

Above– To open the thread, the early slot fade to Toney. I love how he gets his eyes-hips-belt back to the football. Don’t go ‘over the shoulder’ unless you have to. When wearing a helmet and shoulder pads it has a tendency to bounce off and be a body catch which we don’t want.

Above– Miami failed running counter quite a bit so in the red zone they are running more of a zone look. The count is off and Bell and Lofton don’t pick their eyes up. Even CJ Daniels should be blocking inside not outside. With zero 2nd level blocks this is stopped short.

Above– This is a mixture of this is DPI and goes uncalled but also WHY on earth is Beck throwing into three DB’s here? And he under throws them as you’d expect him to (loss of arm strength after an elbow injury) re his ability but can’t have him do re the scheme.

Above– Miami didn’t rush for 3 yards per carry as a group vs. Louisville’s defense. The Cards really put this one on Beck and he failed the challenge. A “CAT” or corner blitz here blows up the counter. The pulling OL don’t see the CB coming and he slips in to make the stop.

Above– Ah the hard deck. If a DB is at 7y or deeper it’s typically a bad idea to challenge them with a deep shot into their area. The CB is right at 7y, if he was to immediately take steps up maybe you can throw this- but only outside and deep, not inside and short. Beck throws it inside and short as the CB has a lead on the WR using a shuffle technique which helps in recovery against a double move.

Above– The Cards did a great job of showing Beck one thing pre-snap and doing something else post-snap. The easy “college” reads weren’t there. This is why I prefer bubbles to be RPO tags vs. set throws. Read that flat guy and when he runs you handoff.

Above– Dawson going 3-man route with half the field cut off with the half-roll is very Dana of him. Beck doesn’t see anything come open and isn’t mobile enough to escape.

Above– It’s the Air Raid play mesh here for the ‘Canes. I’m not sure why Beck doesn’t throw to the open space at the bottom of our screen. Instead he looks intermediate-late-middle which is a huge NO NO for QB’s.

Above– I’ve been saying that the job Coach Mirabal has to do in ‘26 will be his truest test. These are homegrown talents he’s working with and many have shown huge flaws thus far. McCoy gets abused here and the DL is in Beck’s face. That leads to another bad decision and throw. Just take the sack, brother.

Above– Toney is the star. He’s been used on screens, bubbles, a potential jet sweep pass and now just a straight jet sweep. He scores and gives Miami a fighting chance.

Above– Miami can tie it up with a FG after this Toney reverse pass to Daniels. The young fella does it all for The U from passes to catches and runs.

Above– With under a minute to go Beck gets suckered into this throw and it’s a diving INT from the Cards. That’s Beck’s 4th pick of the game and Miami’s 1st loss of ‘25.

It’s been a tough go to watch this one back and see the team so close yet so far from moving on to 6-0. Miami, with all of their faults in this game (penalties, dropped INT’s, turnovers, and limited run game) still came within three points of tying it up and forcing OT.

Transfer QB Darian Mensah is more mobile and less of a turnover threat than Beck. He’ll be behind a truly orange and green OL, but will have his buddy Cooper Barkate, Lofton, and Mark Fletcher to rely on.

Welcome to today’s roundup of New Orleans Saints and NFL news!

We’re going to get an answer on his status and soon.

Not the best, but could be worse.

Both sides are optimistic a deal will get done.

If memory serves me correctly, when Robert Lewandowski signed for Barcelona back in 2022, the general discourse centred on why the club had gone for a player who had, for many, seen better days.

Not only that, but at a sizeable transfer fee and a significant wage, Barca were going to be hamstrung in the transfer market if they wanted to land any other big names.

What’s often forgotten is the position the club were in at the time, and the leap of faith it would’ve also taken from the Polish international to join the Catalans.

Sure, Barca still has cachet all around the world, and will probably always have it, however, joining a club on the premise that they might somehow claw themselves back into the elite, rather than joining an outfit that was already there, takes courage.

Knowing he would have to prove himself all over again at the age of 34 would also have required absolute faith in his own ability to deliver again on the biggest of stages.

Barca needn’t have worried.

It’s difficult to put into words exactly what Lewy has meant to so many, but the show of appreciation for him at the culmination of Barca’s game against Betis said more than words ever could.

He showed that whilst form is temporary, class is indeed permanent, and Robert Lewandowski is all class.

Scoring 119 goals in all competitions shouldn’t be downplayed. After all, in the space of those four years, that output has placed him as a credible 11th on the all-time scorers list at the club.

To give even more perspective, he’d have only needed to score another 12 goals to have placed fifth in the all-time list, so to do so at such an advanced age and in a demanding league is worthy of the biggest of hat tips.

We are all in Lewy’s debt, and he will absolutely be a big miss up front for Hansi Flick, as much for his striking nous and experience as for his goals and assists.

Of course, the club wouldn’t be letting him go without another striker in the pipeline, but as I said in an earlier post, whoever it is will have some very big shoes to fill.

Wherever Lewandowski himself ends up, he should go with the very best of wishes from all culers.

He came, he saw, and he most definitely conquered. Goodbye Robert. Go well, and thank you… for everything.

Longtime leader of UVA’s lacrosse-program Lars Tiffany will officially not return next season, per a statement from the school:

“Virginia Athletics announced today (May 18) Lars Tiffany will not return as head coach of the men’s lacrosse program. Tiffany posted a 108-51 record, including back-to-back national championships in 2019 and 2021, in 10 seasons at Virginia. A national search will begin immediately.“

Chatter around Tiffany’s future peaked early last week after Matt Nestler first reported the longtime UVA coach would not be returning to the school, news that ended up being true days later.

Tiffany took the reins back in 2016, looking to rebuild a historic Cavalier program that had fallen on hard times — and he did just that and more. Under his guidance, the ‘Hoos racked up three ACC titles (two of which came in the on again-off again conference tournament). Tiffany won 68% of his games throughout his decade-long tenure, including six NCAA Tournament berths, four semifinal appearances, and those two national championships in 2019 and 2021.

The 2026 Cavaliers limped out of the gate, starting the season 3-4, despite two of those four losses coming to talented teams in Towson and Richmond. From then-on, the ‘Hoos went on a tear. Becoming one of the hottest teams in the sport in the second half of the season, the ’Hoos ripped off four straight wins, two coming against No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 7 Duke to book a trip to the ACC Tournament. There, they looked much like the UVA teams of old with great goalie play and overwhelming offensive firepower across both games to take home a conference title and successfully work their way into the NCAA’s. The Wahoos ultimately lost in the first round at home to Georgetown as the fifth overall seed.

From the moment UVA’s season came to an end, speculation around the future of its coaching staff arose with Tiffany’s contract set to expire. A report by CVille Right Now covered Tiffany’s desire and expectation to remain in Charlottesville heading into the offseason days ago. But those feelings obviously did not align with the athletic department’s plans. The lack of immediate information on whether it be to re-sign or let Tiffany go from UVA’s athletic department certainly drew a cloud over this story for over a week.

As the school conducts its search for the team’s next head coach, we’ll be sure to have updates as it plays out here at STL.

The Brazilian earned the award before the club's final home game of the season - a 3-1 win over West Ham United - at the weekend.

Bruno has enjoyed his best season to date at the top end of the pitch, with 17 goal involvements and counting since the beginning of the campaign.

Those numbers read even better given the midfielder has missed 15 games through injury this season, with his absence certainly felt in the middle of the park.

To celebrate Bruno's achievement, you can take our bumper quiz on the captain using the interactive tool below.

Good luck!

The Denver Broncos traded up to pick 152 to select NC State tight end Justin Joly in the 5th round of the 2026 NFL Draft. We all expected the Broncos to draft a tight end, and they ended up drafting two, with Joly being the first due to a trade-up.

Joly is a 6-3, 245-pound tight end with 32 3/4 inch arms and 10 5/8 inch hands and profiles as a contested catch move tight end who will be a weapon in the middle of the field and in the red zone.

After starting his college career at UConn, Joly played the past two seasons at NC State and turned into one of the better playmaking tight ends in the nation. During his two seasons, he appeared in 25 games and totaled 92 receptions for 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns. This past year, he totaled 49 receptions for 489 yards and 7 touchdowns

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Justin Joly as his TE5 in this draft and had a 3rd/4th round grade on him. Now, the Broncos trade up to get him in the 5th round. Brugler calls Joly a versatile pass catcher, and due to his athleticism, ball skills, and upside, he profiles as a three-level threat.

Joly is a good-sized athlete who can drop his weight at the top of routes and uncover with foot quicks and savvy. He has large, strong hands and has developed into a ball winner with his ability to frame the catch and finish, regardless of his surroundings. He competes as a blocker and has the coordination to stay attached but lacks the body power to dominate the point of attack. Joly is a versatile pass catcher, because of his athleticism, ball skills and upside as a three-level threat. Built in the mold of Jonnu Smith, he is more Robin than Batman and ideally suited as a “move” tight end in a 12-personnel offense.

Joly was drafted to give the Broncos some life to their tight end room, which was not very good last season. Veteran Evan Engram failed to live up to expectations after being signed to be the ‘Joker’, and Adam Trautman is mostly used to block. Joly is a contested catch monster and can be a receiving threat in the middle of the field and in the red zone/end zone for quarterback Bo Nix.

Most analysts projected Joly to be a late Day 2 or early Day 3 player, but he slipped into the 5th round, and the Broncos had to pounce. They got some good value and a tight end who could turn into a potential playmaker for the Broncos moving forward.

Justin Joly | Tight End | Broncos

• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 245 pounds
• Arm Length: 32 3/4 inches
• Hand Size: 10 5/8 inches
• Age: 21 years old
• Experience: Rookie
• Vertical Jump: 30.5 inches
• Broad Jump: 9-6
• Short Shuttle: 4.65 seconds
• 2025 stats: 49 receptions for 489 yards and 7 touchdowns

Joly should have a role in the Denver Broncos offense this upcoming season. While he’s a 5th-round pick, I am confident in saying he is locked into a roster spot. He is someone who many believed could be in play for the Broncos in Day 2 and certainly in the 4th round. However, he slipped into the 5th round, and the Broncos moved up to get him.

He is your classic “move tight end” who thrives at contested catches and inside the red zone. We could see him used in some two-tight-end sets, be a target in the middle of the field, and be a featured red-zone weapon for quarterback Bo Nix. He has big, strong hands and has thrived in those roles in college, and I believe that is how he will be used in the NFL moving forward.

With that said, veteran Evan Engram is expected to be the featured pass-catching tight end once again this season, so Joly will need to earn his playing time.

Like all pass-catching tight ends, Joly will need to prove himself as a blocker at the next level, too, but Head Coach Sean Payton told reporters that they view Joly more as an “F” tight end while fellow rookie tight end Dallen Bentley is more of the in-line guy.

With Bentley, there’s a more in-line wide, bigger. He does a great job down the field. With Joly, that would put him more in the ‘F’ category. Both are tight ends, and both have unique skill sets. They’re different.”

I believe Joly has a chance to be a standout player for the Broncos during training camp and the preseason. He will be going against the Broncos second and third team defenses and will have an opportunity to make plenty of plays and earn himself more looks with the starters.

With the additions of Joly and Bentley, the Broncos’ tight end room is suddenly a competitive one. Those two, including Joly, will be competing with Nate Adkins, Lucas Krull, and the developing Caleb Lohner, who earned some praise from head coach Sean Payton after the rookie minicamp practices. I like Joly’s chances of making the team and having a role on offense, but he will face some competition for that spot and will need to impress.

I have high hopes for Joly.

If they took Joly with their second-round pick or in the third round after trading back, I would have been perfectly okay with that. He is a play-making tight end with some athleticism who gives the Broncos a much-needed threat in the passing game and in the red zone.

I believe he can be a threat in the middle of the field and will be able to find the open spaces in zone coverage, and can create a little bit after the catch. However, where I believe he will be at his best is inside the red zone. Joly was a contested catch monster in college, and that skill set translates to the next level. Put him one-on-one on a smaller corner or less athletic linebacker in the slot, and I believe he can use his size, athleticism, and strong hands to make the play.

Obviously, veteran Evan Engram is going to be the main pass-catching threat here, but I think Joly will get his opportunities and be someone we are hyped up about this summer after his performance during training camp and the preseason.

The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.

Across 22 iterations of the World Cup, eight different countries have lifted the trophy. But only one had the honor of winning the inaugural tournament: Uruguay, which won the very first World Cup back in 1930.

Home-field advantage likely helped Uruguay’s success, with the country hosting 13 countries that all hailed from Europe or the Americas. All of the tournament’s matches took place in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.

The tournament culminated in a final between Uruguay and Argentina, which had both crushed their opponents 6-1 in the semifinals. Argentina took a 2-1 lead in the first half, but three second-half goals elevated Uruguay to a 4-2 win and the first World Cup victory.

Uruguay was presented with a trophy by FIFA president Jules Rimet, who had overseen the creation of the World Cup. The trophy — a depiction of Nike, the Greek goddess of victory — was later named after Rimet, and was used from 1930 until 1970. (In 1974, FIFA introduced the iconic golden globe-shaped trophy that is still used today.)

Uruguay went on to win the World Cup again in 1950, picking up two trophies early in the tournament’s history, but hasn’t return to the final since. In the 75 years after their second trophy, Uruguay has racked up four fourth-place finishes, including as recently as 2010, but hasn’t made it past the quarterfinals in the past three World Cup appearances. La Celeste will now try to change that this summer.

Kris Bubic heads to the IL.

“It’s frustrating,” Bubic said. “I want to be available. A big goal of mine, I don’t set many numericals, but in terms of just being available, I wanted to make a full season of starts this year. And the goal is to keep this at a couple weeks, which we should. But yeah, it’s frustrating. I’m not gonna lie.”

This is the fourth straight season Bubic has been placed on the IL. He missed part of the 2023 and ‘24 seasons after having Tommy John surgery. A year ago, a strained left rotator cuff ended his season early.

Anne also details Bubic’s trip to the IL.

If Bubic’s recovery goes the way he and the Royals expect it to, though, it will be a short stint on the IL before he slots back into the rotation.

“Very mild in nature,” Bubic said. “It’s not something I want to push, given my history and given the timing of the year. So for me, this is good news in a sense. I’ll talk to [Dr. Vincent Key] when he’s here later, but I expect this to be pretty minimal IL, just a few weeks, and we should be back. That’s the expectation in my head.”

Kevin O’Brien at Royals Keep takes a look at Vinnie Pasquantino’s struggles.

There’s a lot to be said about Pasquantino, who launched 32 home runs, collected 113 RBI, hit .264, posted a 116 wRC+, and accumulated a 1.5 fWAR in 682 plate appearances last year, a career-high. The Royals agreed to a modest extension with him for the 2026-2027 seasons ($11.1 million), and it seemed like Pasquantino was going to continue to be a force in the Royals lineup this year. 

Unfortunately, that’s been far from the case for Pasquantino.

In 189 plate appearances, Vinnie is hitting .201 with a .627 OPS. He also has five home runs, 18 runs scored, 22 RBI, and a wOBA of .278. When it comes to his Statcast percentiles, they haven’t been impressive, though he has been walking more (10.8%) than he did a season ago.

Jac Caglianone talks about recent lineup choices and how he’s sometimes not in them (video interview).

The Sports Business Journal named Kansas City as a top-10 sports city.

Caleb Moody at Kings of Kauffman takes a look at ESPN’s recent mock draft.

Kari Anderson at Yahoo Sports gives a little more detail on Blake Snell’s surgery. Max linked to a story yesterday on this topic; this story just expands it a bit.

Kyle Teel will remain out with a sprained LCL for a bit longer after suffering a setback in rehab.

The Mariners are promoting top prospect Colt Emerson to MLB.

DraftKings is closing its in-person sportsbook at Wrigley Field.

Gio Urshela announces his retirement.

KU Baseball won its first conference championship since 1949.

The KC Streetcar extension to the KC Current stadium is now open.

How John Michael-Gyllenborg could make the Chiefs roster.

The Montreal Canadiens beat the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 Overtime last night to advance to the Eastern Conference finals against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City.

Sports Illustrated is in hot water once again for AI plagiarism accusations.

Urban Meyer lost his arbitration case against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ranking the musical guest performances of SNL’s 51st season.

Your song of the day is That’s How I’m Feeling by Jack White.

MVP made its big MMA debut on Netflix this past Saturday night, putting on a main event triple header that featured Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano, Nate Diaz vs. Mike Perry, and Francis Ngannou vs. Philipe Lins. The event was solid other than the anti-climactic true main event between Rousey and Carano, which was over in 17 seconds and never really made sense to begin with.

But the fight did the job it was meant to do: it drew eyeballs in large quantities.

That’s according to pro wrestling ratings guru Dave Meltzer, who broke down how the event did on X (formerly Twitter).

“Rousey vs. Carano for some reason was listed as a movie and not a TV show on Netflix and first day was No. 6 in the world in that category which is a bigger category than TV shows,” Meltzer wrote. “Keep in mind main event started after midnight Eastern. It beat a big WWE show. Unclear about any records but doesn’t appear to be gigantic, although was No. 1 in US, Canada, Mexico in movies which is substantial viewership.”

“It was No. 1 among movies on Netflix in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and a few other countries on Saturday. It was No. 3 in the US and 2 in Canada on Sunday.”

Contrast that to the performance of the UFC’s Apex offering.

“UFC did its record low on Paramount 13% below what a show like this would normally do,” Meltzer wrote.

For a more apples to apples comparison, Rousey vs. Carano also crushed UFC 328: Chimaev vs. Strickland as far as internet interest went.

“Google searches which is the best metric for mainstream interest were double the Chimaev fight, but that was a stat Rousey fights always dominated,” he continued. “I’d doubt [Rousey vs. Carano did] 20 million views and doubt it hits the [Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos] U.S. number [9.5 million] because FOX at that time is so much bigger in homes and competition is so much more difficult now. Plus, being promoted by UFC is a giant plus.”

“The ONLY thing that matters is the Netflix number,” Meltzer concluded. “Google searches is a number to learn from to find out mainstream interest, but a ton of interest and people actively watching are different. But for a show with one giant mainstream fight that does nearly 3 1/2 hours with the fight going 17 seconds greatly hurts the overall number. Even peak minute because it had no time to build as peak minutes are late in the fight.”

So MVP MMA 1 did well, but did it do well enough for Netflix to keep opening their wallet for more mixed martial arts shows? Are there even enough massive names out there to do more events that Netflix would be interested in? We’ll see what Jake Paul’s MVP puts together next and whether the streaming giant will bite based on how this event turned out.

On Monday, the NFL learned that former college football star Urban Meyer lost his case against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars fired Meyer for cause and won the grievance, saving the franchise more than $30 million.

Meyer is now just a footnote in the NFL’s long history of head coaches who failed to live up to expectations. Unlike Jimmy Johnson and Jim Harbaugh, Meyer could not translate his college football dominance to the professional level. Many college coaches have faced the same challenge.

Here are some of the worst performances by college-to-NFL head coaches in league history.

MORE: Jacoby Brissett’s holdout is a strongly miscalculated risk

Petrino may serve as the ultimate case study in failed organizational due diligence. His hiring by the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 turned into a complete disaster.

He quickly fractured relationships with players, appeared overwhelmed by the job, and eventually quit in the middle of the season. Petrino became the blueprint for how not to lead an NFL franchise.

Meyer’s tenure in Jacksonville was so disastrous that it deserves another mention. He looked overwhelmed from the start, and it quickly became clear he was not suited for the NFL.

From kicking his kicker, to signing Tim Tebow, to getting caught at a college bar during the season, Meyer’s run with the Jaguars became a public embarrassment. It almost raises the question of how he achieved so much success at the college level.

Kelly’s NFL tenure started well enough. He posted 10-6 records in each of his first two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and won an NFC East title. Then everything unraveled.

Kelly lost trust within the organization, made questionable personnel decisions, and appeared uninterested in building meaningful relationships. The Eagles fired him after the 2015 season, and his one-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 went even worse.

His return to the NFL in 2025 as an offensive coordinator somehow proved even more disappointing.

MORE: College Football Playoffs 24-team expansion hits unexpected, major obstacle

Rhule looked overmatched almost from the beginning. Warning signs emerged when details of his massive contract demands surfaced. The Carolina Panthers made him one of the highest-paid coaches in NFL history after outbidding the New York Giants.

Rhule never found stability in Carolina, constantly reshuffling both his coaching staff and quarterback room. He may have regretted leaving Baylor as quickly as he did.

Spurrier built one of the greatest coaching résumés in college football history at Florida, winning multiple SEC titles and a national championship. However, his tenure with the Washington Redskins never came close to matching that success.

He frequently clashed with ownership and the front office, eventually losing influence over roster decisions, including the quarterback position. Spurrier also developed a reputation for bringing in former Florida players who simply were not NFL-caliber talent.

The New York Jets hired Holtz over candidates such as Johnny Majors, Darryl Rogers, and Marv Levy. His lone season in 1976 quickly turned into a disappointment.

Holtz later became a legend at Notre Dame, and most fans eventually forgot about his brief and unsuccessful Jets tenure.

MORE: NFL owners expected to approve historic Nashville 2030 Super Bowl bid

Davis enjoyed tremendous success as the head coach at Miami, leading the Hurricanes to a Sugar Bowl victory in 2000 with one of the most talented teams in college football history.

Unfortunately, Davis chose to join the perpetually struggling Cleveland Browns franchise. He became another casualty in the organization’s long line of failed head coaches after the team returned in 1999.

Schiano did an impressive job rebuilding the Rutgers football program, which earned him the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coaching job in 2012. Two seasons later, the Buccaneers fired him.

Still, Schiano successfully returned to Rutgers, where he will likely remain unless the program eventually decides to move on.

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Back during spring training (which seems like a lifetime ago, frankly), Purple Row caught up with the Colorado Rockies new hitting coach Brett Pill. (Read that interview here.) In mid-February, Pill was focused on clear communication and individualized instruction for players.

Consider where the Rockies are this year compared to 2025 with the (significant) caveats that 2026 is just past the quarter pole and this lineup is very different than it was last season.

So far, the Rockies have a collective 25.1 K%, second-highest in MLB. (The Los Angeles Angels are first at 25.8%.) That number is down from 25.9% in 2025. As another comparator, this season, the Rockies have collective OBP of .314 (21st in MLB) compared to .293 in 2025 (30th in MLB), so they’ve seen significant improvement. As a third metric, in 2026, the Rockies are slugging .396 (9th in MLB) in contrast with a SLG of .386 (24th in MLB) in 2025.

In other words, the Rockies have raised the floor and seen improvement at the plate.

A number of factors have contributed to this, including bringing Pill on as hitting coach. So far, he’s is working his way through the process.

Hitting at elevation

For Pill, his time with the Rockies has been focused on learning, starting with the challenges that come from hitting at elevation, and that means constant adjusting.

“It’s definitely different,” Pill said. “We come back home, go on the road, and the ball moves a little different. Pitchers come in and pitch a little differently, use some different stuff, so it’s kind of just reading and reacting, looking at past times that they’ve pitched at Coors before. And then on the road, being ready for bigger spin and bigger shapes. So I’m trying to train that and get (players) ready for it, also not freak them out about it too much at the same time.”

For Pill, keeping that balance means helping players prepare for the next game, whether it’s at Coors or on the road.

“Every game we play here, we talk about the starter — what they probably are going to do, how (the ball) might move different — and then, obviously, on-field stuff. We try to try to train a little bit different here. The ball moves different, so we try to get them acclimated to stuff that doesn’t move as much, like a little more velocity.”