The Cleveland Browns got the news Tuesday that many fans expected: All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio announced his retirement from the NFL. Bitonio spent his entire 12-year career with the Browns and said he could never see himself in another uniform because he was, and always will be, a Brown.Bitonio was drafted out of Nevada in the second round of the 2014 draft and was basically the only player in that class to have a great career. Linebacker Christian Kirksey had some good seasons with the Browns, but no one else the team took that year did. Bitonio was the Browns' third player selected in the 2014 class behind corner Justin Gilbert and quarterback Johnny Manziel. During his retirement speech on Tuesday, Bitonio cracked a joke about his draft class and roommate. “I was drafted the same year as Johnny Manziel. And we actually roomed together. I learned some things NOT to do from him.”Browns' Joel Bitonio highlighted several key figures who he learned from early on in his career...and his 2014 draft classmate Johnny Manziel, who he "learned some things not to do" from 😂 pic.twitter.com/1IC3KGgZUZ— 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚛 𝙶𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚊𝚗 (@Spencito_) June 9, 2026This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns legend Joel Bitonio cracks joke about his draft class

It is unclear if the U.S. intentionally struck the facility or knew what it was. Deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure could constitute a war crime.

David Rush, the C.I.A. employee, worked on a highly classified China spying program with Stephen A. Feinberg, the Pentagon’s second-ranking official.

Haiti have been forced to change their World Cup kit after it featured war imagery (CHANDAN KHANNA)Haiti have been forced to change their kit design just days before their World Cup opener against Scotland after FIFA banned a depiction of a war scene on the shirts.An illustration of the Battle of Vertieres in 1803, which secured Haiti's independence, with the Haitian flag had been embedded on the shirts worn by the players in two warm-up friendlies in Florida.Colombian manufacturer Saeta said on Wednesday that they have modified the kit to meet FIFA's regulations."The final design presented by Saeta was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti's future and was not intended as a political statement," Saeta said in a statement posted on Instagram."During the review process, FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulations and ultimately requested modifications to the design."While this interpretation differed from our intention, Saeta respected the process and implemented the final requirements communicated by FIFA."Haiti begin their first World Cup campaign in 52 years against Scotland in Boston on Saturday.The Caribbean minnows, ranked 83rd in the world, then face the might of five-time winners Brazil and African champions Morocco in Group C.Haiti's qualification is one of the most inspiring tales of the tournament.Despite a backdrop of domestic chaos, with the impoverished nation grappling with gang violence that meant they were unable to play home qualifiers in the country, they have reached just a second World Cup in their history."We know people might have a bad image of our country, that it has lots of problems, but this will do the country, the people, my family so much good," star midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde told AFP.kca/nf

The LA28 Olympic Games organizing committee on June 10 announced the official timeline and dates for its upcoming "Drop 2" ticket draw.It allows the general public to join in on the second wave of Olympic event tickets when Los Angeles serves as the host city from July 14 to July 30, 2028.The first opportunity to purchase tickets happened in early April for Southern California residents.Registered applicants for the LA28 Olympic Ticket Draw are automatically included in the general pool, but qualifying Visa cardholders have an opportunity to secure an early ticket-purchasing time slot, as well.Those who secure a cardholder time slot will be ineligible for a Drop 2 time slot that follows.The ticketing process will take place over the summer, beginning on July 22, which will serve as the deadline for cardholders to opt in at tickets.LA28.org. A notification will be sent out on July 27 to those qualified cardholders and will present them with a time slot.Non-cardholders and the cardholders who did not receive a time slot will be notified of their purchase date for the standard draw results on Aug. 6 or 7. The active purchase window for that standard drop is expected to be open from Aug. 10-20.It is not known what the volume of tickets and for what sports/sessions will be made available.Not all tickets were available at the first drop, and a vocal portion of those interested in buying tickets expressed concern about the prices shown during the first early access period.Part of the first early access window was said to include select tickets marked at $28 for residents of both Los Angeles and Oklahoma City.While a majority of the Olympic events will take place across Southern California, Oklahoma City will host softball and Canoe Slalom. Oklahoma is considered by many to be the home of softball, having hosted the Women's College World Series for decades at Devon Park — the same venue where Olympic softball will be held.Allison Katz-Mayfield, LA2028’s SVP of Games Delivery Revenue, spoke to FOX LA earlier this year about the original early access prices and addressed the concern about the ticket prices.“We have a wide range of price points and we were so excited by the demand we saw during the locals’ presale,” Katz-Mayfield said. “We actually sold hundreds of thousands of $28 tickets already to local OKC and LA residents.“Not unexpectedly, those tickets sold quickly. Residents wanted those tickets that were $28.”Katz-Mayfield alluded to the possibility that more tickets priced under $100 would be made available later this year.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2028 LA Olympics 'Drop 2' ticket draw timeline revealed

FOXBOROUGH, Mass — While A.J. Brown has only been in the building for roughly a week since being traded to the New England Patriots, quarterback Drake Maye has already noticed an important trait that one key playmaker had last season.When speaking with reporters, Maye said that it's "hard not to get excited," adding that he's been a "great teammate so far." With that, it reminds him of Stefon Diggs' contributions during the 2025 season. "He knows what it’s like to win and he adds something in that room that we’ve kind of been looking for," Maye said of Brown. "I think Steph provided for us last year, and there’s been guys that are growing in the roles, but just coming in with that stature and his ability and his size and just the respect that you walk in there with that kind of Steph had. A.J.’s got it, too.”However, there has also been a lot of speculation that even with the acquisition of Brown, the Patriots could be looking to bring back Diggs. So, is there any truth to that? "I mean, I think we are probably at the number that we would need right now," Patriots coach Mike Vrabel said. "I would not say anything is off the table. We would want to add anybody that could help us. I am not going to give a percentage on it, but I think we are happy with where we are at right now with the numbers and the people in the receiver room."I appreciate Stefon as a person, as a player and what he did for us last year. I value that. He helped us win football games, helped us get to where we got. But right now I don’t think that that is something that I think we are exploring. But I would never say no."Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Drake Maye links A.J. Brown and Stefon Diggs amid reunion speculation

Texas A&M football's time slots for the 2026 season were released as part of the SEC Network's full schedule drop on Wednesday night. After achieving an 11-0 start since 1992 and its first appearance in the College Football Playoff last season, Texas A&M returns to the gridiron for the third campaign under head coach Mike Elko. The Aggies added a league contest this year as part of the SEC's newly implemented nine-game conference schedule, which means a much more difficult slate compared to 2025.Standout quarterback Marcel Reed returns for his junior campaign with talented wide receivers like Mario Craver, Terry Bussey, Ashton Bethel-Roman and Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton to target, as he looks to take the next step as one of college football's elite signal-callers.With four of five starters missing in the trenches, the newcomers up front for the Aggies must be prepared to face some of the top defensive units in the country, with games against top-25 foes like LSU, Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas on the slate. Here is Texas A&M's full schedule, including time windows, for each contest in 2026:Sat, Sept. 5 vs. Missouri State - 6 p.m. CT on ESPNSat, Sept. 12 vs. Arizona State - 11 a.m. CT on ABCSat, Sept. 19 vs. Kentucky - 2:30 p.m. CT on TBASat, Sept. 26 at LSU - Flex (Afternoon or night) on TBASat, Oct. 3 vs. Arkansas - Flex (Afternoon or night) on TBASat, Oct. 10 at Missouri - Early (11 a.m. to noon CT) on TBASat, Oct. 17 vs. The Citadel - Noon CT on SEC Network+Sat, Oct. 24 at Alabama - Flex (Afternoon or night) on TBABYE WEEKSat, Nov. 7 at South Carolina - Afternoon (2:30 p.m. CT to 3:30 p.m. CT) on TBASat, Nov. 14 vs. Tennessee - Flex (Afternoon or night) on TBASat, Nov. 21 at Oklahoma - Early (11 a.m. to 12 p.m. CT) on TBAFri, Nov. 27 vs. Texas - 6:30 p.m. CT on ABCContact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Dylan on X: @dylanmflippo.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: When will Texas A&M football play? Full 2026 kickoff times released

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on during the fourth quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images Where: Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)When: Wednesday, June 10 at 8:30 PM ESTHow to watch: ABCBetting Line: NY -2.5 (subject to change), O/U 216.5 (subject to change) via FanDuel

Passengers heading from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle will now clear U.S. customs before boarding instead of stopping once they’ve crossed the border.

Researchers are at a loss for why people across cultures and ages, regardless of their dominant hand, have a natural bias toward wandering in a counterclockwise direction.

The Kansas City Chiefs just can't stop giving Patrick Mahomes more money, and in doing so they've broken a Dak Prescott streak of sorts. The way things are shaping up, the Hunt family must be counting their lucky stars. Not only did they draft a multi-MVP and Super Bowl winner, but no team with a star quarterback looked to surpass what Jerry Jones gave Prescott a few years ago.The Chiefs and Majomes agreed to a reworked contract on Wednesday, making him once again the highest-paid player in NFL history. The new money, $504 million, and years, eight, of the deal add around $63 million for those seasons, clearing Prescott's $60 million which stood up for an unexpected period of time.Record deal: The Chiefs are adding two years to Patrick Mahomes’ contract, tying him to Kansas City through the 2033 season at a value of $504.75 million, making it the first NFL deal valued at over a half-billion dollars, per @RapSheet and me. Equity Sports CEO Chris Cabott,… pic.twitter.com/7zTpxPFrLT— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 10, 2026Mahomes originally signed a 10-year, $450 million deal in July of 2020. In September 2023, they reworked the pact to move $48 million into the next four seasons, guaranteeing $208 million and essentially giving him $52 million a season for the last four years. Now that has expired, and the sides have now worked out another massive pay raise.Prescott signed his four-year, $240 million extension in September of 2024, clearing the then top-paid QB, Joe Burrow, by a whopping $5 million a year. Buffalo's Josh Allen, among other franchise QBs to ink extensions since Prescott, all landed at or below Burrow. It was basically the NFL owners making a referendum on the deal a cornered Jones got painted into.It was the more-palatable cousin of the ridiculous deal the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson; no precedent was set.Now, the rightful king of QBs has regained his perch atop the totem. Prior to Wednsday, Mahomes had technically slipped all the way down to 13th-highest paid QB. Here's a review of the Top-10 current NFL Quarterback average salaries.Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs: $63.1 million per year (reported)Dak Prescott, Cowboys: $60 million per yearJoe Burrow, Bengals: $55 million per yearJosh Allen, Bills: $55 million per yearJordan Love, Packers, $55 million per yearTrevor Lawrence, Jaguars: $55 million per yearMatthew Stafford, Rams: $55 million per yearJared Goff, Lions: $53 million per yearBrock Purdy, 49ers: $53 million per yearJustin Herbert, Chargers: $52.5 million per yearThis article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Where Cowboys Prescott ranks in NFL QB salaries after Mahomes deal

Alvaro Arbeloa in talks with Premier League club following Real Madrid exitEarlier this week, Real Madrid confirmed the departure of head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, whose exit had been taken for granted for a number of weeks. The 43-year-old took over from Xabi Alonso in January, but he failed to lead the club to any silverware, which meant that it was inevitable for him not to be offered a contract extension.However, Arbeloa could be about to put the disappointment of failing to hold on to the Real Madrid job behind him, as he’s in contention to make an immediate return to the dugout. According to The Athletic, he’s held talks with Premier League club Fulham, who have a vacancy after Marco Silva left – interestingly, to join Benfica as the replacement for Jose Mourinho, who will be taking charge of Real Madrid from the summer onwards.Arbeloa’s stock within the management circle has significant increased on the back of his spell as Real Madrid head coach – despite the fact that he failed to secure silverware. The opportunity to manage in the Premier League is likely to be one that appeals to him greatly, so if an offer came in for him to take charge at Craven Cottage, it’s one that he would surely jump at.Arbeloa could be very busy this summerThe Fulham job isn’t the only one Arbeloa has been linked with, as he was previously mentioned as a possible candidate to take over at Bayer Leverkusen. His name was removed from consideration in that case, but there is every chance that he manages to convince Fulham to take him on as their manager.But even if they don’t, it seems inevitable that Arbeloa will make a swift return to management. There are a number of jobs across Europe that are available or could open up in the next few weeks, and he is sure to be attentive to any and all of those situations.

Spurs vs Knicks box score: Full stats from NBA Finals Game 4 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.On Monday, the Spurs ended the Knicks 13-game winning streak. They won their first game of this series on the road. The Spurs win defied expectation. Game 3 in the Garden represented the first NBA Finals home game for the Knicks in 27 years. Adding to the moment was a real, tangible excitement in New York City. Yet San Antonio controlled the entire 4th quarter. The series now looks very different than it did even four days ago. A 3-0 Knicks lead would have spelled the practical end of this series as no team has ever come back from being down 3-0. Win probability in the series going down 3-0 is zero percent. The probability improves some after the Spurs won Game 3, but it is still only 14%. If New York can win Game 4, the chances of winning the title are still incredibly good. However, if the Spurs can tie the series by winning game 4, the likelihood of winning the series goes up significantly, north of 70%. Leading into the all-important Game 5. The team that wins Game 5 in the event the series was tied after Game 4 is over 80%. Jalen Brunson has not yet had a "good" game in this series. If Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns can have games that resemble their season averages and get noteworthy defensive and scoring help from even two other players, the Knicks will be in a great position.Conversely, San Antonio need a 30/20, rim protector type game from Wemby. If they can combine that with a good defensive effort and getting timely scoring from their role players, San Antonio will be in good shape. The concern is that both of those team ideas have not been present in the same game. Whichever team can do either, will likely be victorious. Finally, how will the fans at Madison Square Garden react tonight? Will they bring the same energy and create an atmosphere that is difficult for the opponent? Or did the wind get completely taken out of their sails after the Game 3 loss? More: Spurs vs. Knicks live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NBA Finals Game 4Spurs vs Knicks NBA Finals Game 4 Box ScoreGame leading stat line: Win Probability: San Antonio SpursPlayerMinPtsFG%3P%FT%+/-RebAstStlBlkV. WembanyamaC29:0925.051.234.982.7+68211.53.11.03.1D. FoxPG30:5918.648.633.276.0+4523.86.21.20.3S. CastlePG29:5816.747.133.273.4+4085.37.41.10.3D. VassellSG30:3013.943.738.481.5+4924.02.50.90.4K. JohnsonSF23:1813.251.936.379.4+3175.41.40.60.1D. HarperSG22:3511.850.534.375.6+3033.43.90.80.3J. ChampagnieSF27:3811.143.738.184.4+5925.81.50.80.5H. BarnesPF25:489.945.638.882.9+3292.81.90.60.2L. KornetC21:026.564.3082.5+1186.11.90.51.0C. BryantPF11:314.240.833.571.4-42.50.70.20.3J. SochanPF12:474.147.525.768.8-922.61.00.40.2K. OlynykC8:343.249.025.571.1-381.81.20.40.1R. MinixSF2:403.066.733.30+130.70.30.30.0D. Jones GarciaSF6:112.952.060.050.0+381.21.60.50.1L. Waters IIISG7:082.437.534.266.7-50.70.50.20.0J. McLaughlinPG6:252.041.842.585.7-610.70.90.50.0H. IngramSF3:431.683.3100.00-60.40.10.00.0S. UmudeSG3:301.050.00.00-170.00.50.50.0B. BiyomboC5:380.960.0071.4-1001.00.20.20.1M. PlumleeC7:500.8100.0050.0-162.20.70.70.0New York KnicksPlayerMinPtsFG%3P%FT%+/-RebAstStlBlkJ. BrunsonPG35:0026.046.736.984.1+3533.36.80.80.1K. TownsC30:5820.150.136.885.8+37811.93.00.90.5O. AnunobyPF33:1216.748.438.682.8+4075.22.21.60.7M. BridgesSF32:5014.449.037.182.7+2983.83.71.30.8J. HartSG30:1312.050.841.372.0+2107.44.81.10.3M. McBridePG26:2012.042.341.378.7+2242.42.60.90.2L. ShametSG22:589.343.739.271.1+1911.81.40.60.2J. ClarksonSG17:468.645.132.783.0+1101.81.30.40.1J. AlvaradoPG16:566.641.433.068.2+1082.03.81.00.1M. RobinsonC19:355.772.3040.8+1578.80.90.91.2T. KolekPG11:444.443.538.670.0+1061.62.70.40.1M. DiawaraSF9:113.642.336.975.0+581.40.80.20.1J. SochanPF6:562.856.720.080.0+342.10.80.40.1G. YabuseleC8:562.739.329.466.7+82.10.40.10.1K. McCullar Jr.SF7:232.442.633.340.0-481.31.00.40.0A. HukportiC9:132.256.325.078.8+352.90.50.20.5P. DadietSG4:411.733.321.981.8-50.90.40.10.0D. JonesSF5:341.322.220.0100.0+81.00.60.40.0T. Jemison IIIC6:181.060.00100.0-291.40.40.10.2T. EvbuomwanSF1:360.00.000-80.40.00.00.0WATCH:Stream Spurs vs Knicks Game 4 with PeacockMore NBA Playoff news:San Antonio has best NBA Playoff win since 198310,170 days: Spurs vs. Thunder Western Conference Finals is a generational NBA Playoff seriesSpurs vs. Thunder: 2026 NBA Western Conference Finals schedule announcedFull stats from NBA Playoffs Western Conference Finals Game 1Spurs vs. Thunder final score, results: Victor Wembanyama goes off with 41 points, 24 rebounds in 2OT thriller

Ever since she arrived on the scene at Iowa, Caitlin Clark has been a box office attraction. Now three years in to her WNBA career, that fact hasn't changed.Clark and the Indiana Fever have smashed WNBA viewership records over the past few years. Basketball fans have fallen in love with Indiana's young and talented squad, led by the former Hawkeye superstar. Even those who aren't Fever fans tune in to see the Clark show.That was apparent once again in Indiana's most recent prime-time matchup.Fever still running hot: Saturday's Indiana-NY among most-watched WNBA games since 2000: https://t.co/7YcHkQgxLo— Sports Media Watch (@paulsen_smw) June 10, 2026The Fever took on the New York Liberty Saturday night in a CBS prime-time showdown. Two teams with championship aspirations and superstars everywhere are usually a recipe for ratings success. The ratings for the game didn't just succeed: They thrived.The Nielsen reports showed that the game averaged 2.56 million viewers, peaking at 3.02 million. It was the third-largest WNBA audience since 2000, trailing the Fever and Sky from last season (2.70 million) and the 2024 WNBA All-Star game (3.44 million). All three of those games involved Clark, showcasing her impact on the sports ratings year after year.In that same Sports Media Watch article, writer Jon Lewis shared an incredible stat that continues to show Clark's star power. The 11 largest WNBA audiences since 2001 have all featured Clark in some capacity. Nine Fever games, the 2024 All-Star game, and the 2024 WNBA Draft make up that number. As long as Clark and the Fever are lighting up the scoreboard, the WNBA's ratings for their games will continue to skyrocket. Indiana will be in action again on Thursday night against the Sky. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on Amazon Prime Video.Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hineyThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Caitlin Clark, Fever draw another near-milestone audience vs. Liberty

Alabama football has officially received the TV schedule for their 2026 SEC slate.The Crimson Tide will face some of the top teams in all of college football throughout conference play this season. Alabama’s first SEC contest of the season will be on the road at Kroger Field against Kentucky, followed by a matchup vs. South Carolina in Tuscaloosa two weeks later. The TV schedule for the first three games of the season were previously announced on May 27, but the Tide now have designated time slot sfor each SEC matchup in 2026 following Wednesday's reveal. Alabama’s SEC home opener against the Gamecocks will be a night game, scheduled for kickoff between 5-7 p.m. CT. The Oct. 3 matchup against Mississippi State will kickoff between 11-11:45 a.m. CT, while Alabama’s highly anticipated matchup vs. Georgia will begin between 5-7 p.m. CT. The Tide will face Tennessee at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville between either the 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. CT window. Alabama could find themselves playing two night contests in a row. Alabama will then host the Texas A&M Aggies in Tuscaloosa in yet another flex window. That matchup could kick off between 2:30-3:30 and 5-7 p.m. CT on October 24. The Tide will also face LSU in either the late afternoon or night window, followed by a matchup against Vanderbilt on November 14 between 11-11:45 a.m. CT. The Tide will conclude SEC play against Auburn, as the Iron Bowl is scheduled to begin between 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m. CT.Alabama will undoubtedly need to be at their best throughout the entirety of SEC play this season, and the Tide now find themselves with multiple prime time matchups in 2026. Follow us at @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook, for ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football officially receives TV windos for SEC slate

The same day Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt released a statement, voicing his department’s support for beleaguered quarterback Brendan Sorsby, Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire defended Sorsby at a luncheon at the Houston Touchdown Club.Making his first public appearance since Sorsby was granted a temporary injunction by a Lubbock County (Texas) judge that allows him to take the field during the 2026 season despite previously being ruled ineligible by the NCAA for gambling, McGuire answered questions from a throng at the Omni Galleria on Wednesday. The Houston Chronicle’s Joseph Duarte reported that, although a news conference is typically held before each college coach speaks at the Houston Touchdown Club, McGuire canceled his. He began his remarks explaining that he’d take inquiries from “Texas Tech fans,” per Duarte. An attendee in the crowd asked if there’s anything that, from this point forward, can prevent Sorsby from playing for the Red Raiders this season.“Brendan Sorsby is recovering from an addiction,” McGuire said, via SportsTalk 790’s Chris Gordy. “He's recovering. I've sat down with this young man multiple times. The things that he is going through and what he's been through is serious.”Sorsby wagered approximately $90,000 on professional and college sports over four years, even placing at least 40 Indiana football-related bets when he was a member of the Hoosiers in 2022. His gambling continued at Cincinnati and, most recently, Texas Tech, where he’s transferred throughout his college career, as reported by ESPN. This spring, he reportedly spent 35 days in an in-patient Arizona rehabilitation program for diagnosed gambling and anxiety disorders. He’s poised to sit out the first two games of the season as a condition of the injunction he received to compete during the 2026 campaign. Those games are against FCS Abilene Christian and Oregon State.Once Sorsby, 22, was granted the injunction, the NCAA formally filed an appeal in Lubbock County, except the ensuing formal judicial case could wind up occurring after the season, in which case it’s legal ruling would esssentially be obsolete.McGuire explained Wednesday, though, that Sorsby’s return-to-play timeline isn’t set in stone.“I have a number of people in my family that were addicted to different stuff, and so I've seen what addiction does to people,” McGuire said, via Gordy.“And so us even saying to the point before we get to the legal part that he can be ready Week 3 against Houston is still a stretch because guess what? He's still recovering. You don't necessarily know between now and then exactly. Do I see a different person? I know it sounds crazy, but I do. Do I see a kid that feels like he's got a thousand pounds of weight lifted off of him? He's made the statement that he feels like this is a moment that can actually change his life.”McGuire is entering his fifth season at the helm of the program. Last time around, with one of the most hefty NIL war chests in the country, he led a talent-laden roster to 12 wins and Texas Tech’s first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.He’s now preparing for a season full of uncertainty, particularly in the quarterback room, where another player is also recovering. Will Hammond is working his way back from the ACL tear in his right knee that cut his season short last year.Hammond suffered the injury while filling in for Behren Morton. Texas Tech is hoping Hammond will be back in time for Week 1 this season so he can lead the offense in Sorsby’s absence.Sorbsy totaled 36 touchdowns last season at Cincinnati. The dual-threat signal-caller has drawn considerable NFL interest and, before his gambling addiction surfaced, was widely regarded as a Heisman hopeful.At the moment, he’s focused on improving his mental health. McGuire said Wednesday that Sorsby is surrounded by mentors and mentioned the “amount of technology” on Sorsby’s devices to monitor his behavior. “He has a person that’s over every single penny that he has,” McGuire said. “The steps in place for him even to get to the points where we can get him playing, there’s a lot of stuff to go through.”That said, the clip from McGuire’s comments that made the rounds online Wednesday was one SEC Network pundit Paul Finebaum posted to X.Here’s the full quote, according to Duarte: “For some reason, as a society, we’ve been OK with other things that happen and allowing players to play, and this has been the one thing that has united people, that that they were against,” McGuire said. “It’s crazy because it’s not murder, it’s not beating somebody — so there’s a lot of things that we’re working through. None of this is OK.”Those words have raised the ire of several fans. Sorsby’s injunction sent shockwaves through the sports world earlier this week, with many objecting to the district court decision and expressing their frustration with the lack of regulation in college athletics, and, by extension, the powerlessness of the NCAA.Despite Texas Tech’s efforts on Wednesday, that paroxysm of rage hasn’t stopped. McGuire emphasized Wednesday that he entered coaching for kids and to help people in general.He’s not wavering in his support for Sorsby.“He’s the first person to tell you that it’s his fault,” McGuire said, via Gordy. “He chose to do this. But if you know anything about addiction, there’s a point that you choose it and then, all of a sudden, you don’t choose it anymore. “[It’s] not something that you can do by yourself to get past where you’re at. So I would never turn my back on him. We’re still working through a lot of stuff.”

England player ratings vs Costa Rica: Three Lions impress in final World Cup warm-upEngland wrapped up their official public preparations for the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over a robust Costa Rica side in Florida.A severe pre-match thunderstorm waterlogged the pitch and pushed kick-off back by an hour, but the sweltering humidity did little to zap the intensity of Thomas Tuchel’s men. Unlike the experimental side that laboured through earlier fixtures, this selection carried the distinct flavour of a tournament dress rehearsal.Declan Rice broke the deadlock inside ten minutes with a heavily deflected strike, set up by the electric Anthony Gordon. The newly minted Barcelona forward then took centre stage himself in the second half, coolly converting a 66th-minute penalty.Substitute Ollie Watkins rounded out the scoreline late on, pouncing on a spilled rebound from a Morgan Rogers shot. In a physically bruising encounter, Gordon’s masterclass and a powerful return to form from Jude Bellingham handed Tuchel exactly the kind of selection headache he would have wanted ahead of the opening group stage clash against Croatia.Here is how the Three Lions rated in OrlandoEngland player ratings vs Costa RicaGoalkeeper & DefenceJordan Pickford – 6/10 Operated practically as a sweeper-keeper in the opening period, routinely stepping well outside his penalty box to keep play moving. One loose clearance almost invited unnecessary danger, but he was otherwise unbothered by a conservative opposition frontline.Reece James – 6/10 Enjoyed a mostly comfortable shift defensively. Kept things simple, tidy, and progressive with his distribution, getting valuable minutes in the tank ahead of the tournament opener.Ezri Konsa – 7/10 Stood tall in what descended into a heavily physical battle. Handled the aerial and ground duels with composure, showing excellent anticipation to shut down any rare Central American counters.John Stones – 6/10 Tasked with building up match fitness before the heavy fixtures commence, his positioning was faultless. Breathed calmness into the backline and stepped into midfield seamlessly before making way in the mass second-half reshuffle.Nico O’Reilly – 6/10 Maintained his fine integration into the senior setup. Less explosive than his previous outing, but he held his tactical shape intelligently and rarely looked out of place.Midfield & AttackDeclan Rice – 7/10 Showed instincts of a seasoned box-to-box midfielder by arriving perfectly at the edge of the box to sweep home the deflecting opener. Shielded the defence reliably before taking a well-earned rest.Elliot Anderson – 6/10 Kept up the momentum from his standout display against Japan. Maintained a high energy level in the engine room, even if the extreme Orlando humidity slowed down the game’s overall pace.Jude Bellingham – 8/10 A complete, all-action display that firmly reminded everyone why the number 10 role belongs to him. Driving past challenges with ease, his press-resistance and power gave England a cutting edge they had been missing.Noni Madueke – 6/10 Guilty of one of the misses of the season when he rounded the keeper only to smash the post with an open net gaping. Flashed a fierce effort just wide in the second half, showing dangerous intent but lacking the final touch.Anthony Gordon – 9/10 (Star Man) The absolute standard-bearer on the night. Left his marker for dead to orchestrate the opening goal, saw a penalty claim controversially waved away by VAR, and ultimately got his reward by firing home a ruthless spot-kick. Marcus Rashford has serious competition on the left wing.Harry Kane – 6/10 Linked play beautifully with a brace of trademark, pinpoint cross-field passes. Denied a goal by a smart first-half save, but his primary victory was coming through a highly physical match completely unscathed.SubstitutesOllie Watkins – 7/10 Displayed true poacher instincts during his cameo. Showed immense hunger by reacting quickest to nod home a spilled ball, making his case as a premier backup option.Morgan Rogers – 6/10 Squandered a golden one-on-one opportunity late on, but redeemed himself shortly after by driving a low effort that forced the goalkeeper’s mistake for Watkins’ tap-in.Dean Henderson – 6/10 Replaced Pickford for the final half-hour. Maintained a clean sheet with minimal fuss as Costa Rica accepted their fate.Marc Guehi – 6/10 Slotted directly into the heart of defence to see out the match with zero complications.Bukayo Saka – 6/10 Injected fresh energy down the right wing and dragged a sharp effort just wide of the far post late on.Marcus Rashford – 6/10 Offered a direct running threat in the closing 20 minutes, though the match had lost its shape by the time he entered the fray.Eberechi Eze – 6/10 Looked to combine in tight spaces and kept the opposition backline pinned deep.Jarell Quansah – 6/10 Earned late minutes to shore up the defensive line in a relaxed party atmosphere.Dan Burn – 6/10 Brought on alongside Quansah to provide extra height and ensure a routine conclusion.Kobbie Mainoo – 6/10 Tested the goalkeeper with a venomous strike from distance in stoppage time during a tidy late cameo.Djed Spence – 6/10 Offered an energetic burst down the flank to ensure no late slip-ups.Read more – Ranking the best managers at the FIFA World Cup 2026See Also- World Cup 2026: Five young stars set to light up this summerFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok

Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty ImagesJeremy Lin has reopened one of the most painful New York Knicks what-ifs by revealing how badly he wanted to stay after Linsanity changed his life.Lin’s 2012 run remains one of the most unforgettable stretches in modern NBA history. For a few weeks, he turned Madison Square Garden into the center of basketball, gave the Knicks a new face, and became a global story almost overnight.That is what makes his latest admission sting. The Rockets had life-changing money ready, but Lin says the ending in New York hurt because he never even had a Knicks offer to consider.Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty ImagesJeremy Lin says New York Knicks crushed him after Houston Rockets offerLegion Hoops shared Jeremy Lin’s comments on how his Knicks exit unfolded after Houston put a major contract in front of him.“The Rockets offered $29,000,000… I would’ve taken $8,000,000 with the Knicks. I was crushed when my agent told me ‘There’s no offer from New York on the table,'” Lin said.That quote changes the emotional weight of the old story. The public focus in 2012 was on Houston’s backloaded offer sheet and whether the Knicks would match it, but Lin’s memory is simpler and harsher.He did not just leave for more money. He says he was ready to take far less to remain in New York, only to learn that the team had not put anything real in front of him.Jeremy Lin’s Linsanity rise made New York Knicks exit harder to acceptLin’s heartbreak lands because of how fast everything had happened. In February 2012, he went from end-of-bench guard to phenomenon, leading the Knicks on a winning streak and producing one viral night after another.His 38-point performance against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers became the defining Garden moment of the run. Days later, his game-winning three in Toronto pushed Linsanity beyond New York and into a global sports obsession.When free agency arrived, Houston’s offer sheet was structured in a way that made it painful for the Knicks to match because of luxury-tax concerns. New York eventually let him walk, after also adding veteran point guards Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton.That decision has always been argued financially, but Lin’s version brings it back to loyalty. For a player who felt his heart was still in New York, the hardest part was not leaving the Knicks; it was realizing the Knicks were willing to let him go.Read more:Karl-Anthony Towns names the legendary role player who made him a New York Knicks fanDave Portnoy wants brutal punishment for ex-NCAA player who compared Caitlin Clark to Jeremy LinJeremy Lin reveals unexpected consequence of confronting Kobe Bryant over leadership style

New England Patriots All-Pro safety Kevin Byard already sees the chemistry building between quarterback Drake Maye and wideout A.J. Brown.He commented on his initial impressions of the duo when speaking with media members on Tuesday. “They're already developing that relationship," Byard said, via Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan. "And like I said, anytime A.J. is backside at X, I know that's where the ball is probably going, so I try to cheat my alignments and stuff like that.”Brown has dominated against man coverage throughout his NFL career, and that is something the Patriots have consistently struggled to win against in games. His mere presence could open up the offense in a major way this season. #Patriots S Kevin Byard sees Drake Maye and A.J. Brown building chemistry.“They're already developing that relationship. And like I said, anytime A.J. is backside at X, I know that's where the ball is probably going, so I try to cheat my alignments and stuff like that.” pic.twitter.com/ydKRO4o9sf— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) June 9, 2026Byard's comments aren't just lip service, either. The video of Maye and Brown's back-shoulder fade touchdown connection at Day 1 of mandatory minicamp has already gone viral. A little over a week of being together, and the duo is already putting words into action. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots All-Pro DB makes strong statement on Drake Maye, A.J. Brown

Photo by Al Bello/Getty ImagesJames Dolan has pushed back on the viral claim that Donald Trump fell asleep during Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden.Trump attended Knicks vs Spurs on Monday, June 8, after being invited by the Knicks owner for New York’s first home Finals game in 27 years.The appearance quickly became its own storyline, from heavy security and loud boos to a clip that appeared to show Trump with his eyes closed during the game.Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP via Getty ImagesJames Dolan denies Donald Trump NBA Finals sleeping claimSNY Knicks shared Dolan’s response after the Trump sleeping accusation spread across social media.Supporting Trump’s version of the night, Dolan said: “I was with him the whole time. We were talking the whole time. He was very much awake, he was very much engaged.”Dolan also defended the significance of Trump attending the game, saying: “That’s the first sitting president of the United States to ever go to an NBA Final. That is a huge honor. And he’s a New Yorker. Whatever you think about him, he’s a Knicks fan. People don’t want to hear this, I think he’s a great guy. I love — I’ve known him for over 30 years, but I’m not going to go on this show and start espousing the president.The remarks came during Dolan’s Wednesday appearance on WFAN’s The Carton Show.Donald Trump sleeping clip became Game 3 talking pointThe accusation began after viral footage appeared to show Trump sitting with his eyes closed during the game.Reports described the clip as brief and disputed. Some online critics said he was asleep, while Dolan and the White House rejected that interpretation.San Antonio beat New York 115-111, cutting the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1.Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 32 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Jalen Brunson scored 32 for the Knicks.Trump is not expected back for Game 4, which is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks still lead, but Game 3 became remembered for much more than the scoreboard.Read more:James Dolan slams NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and says he ‘loves’ Donald TrumpDonald Trump official explains why Somali referee was refused entry to the USA for the World CupNot Donald Trump, but New York Knicks fans should have booed James Dolan, says ex-NBA star

Victor Wembanyama saved his best effort for when the San Antonio Spurs needed it the most in the 2026 NBA Finals.Wembanayama had an NBA Finals high 32 points and was a factor all game long on both sides of the court as he tailled eight rebounds, six assists, three blocks and two steals. Without the effort from the 7-foot-4 Defensive Player of the Year, there's no doubt the Spurs would be down 0-3 hole and on the brink of elimination in Game 4.Here's how Wembanyama's performed so far in Game 4 of the NBA Finals:Victor Wembanyama Game 4 stats in 2026 NBA FinalsPoints: 7Shooting: 3-of-4 from the field, 1-for-2 from three-point rangeRebounds: 2Assists: 1Blocks: 1This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Victor Wembanyama stats vs Knicks in NBA Finals Game 4

North Carolina punched its ticket to the College World Series for the second time in the past three seasons last weekend when they took down USC. After the Tar Heels lost game one, they rallied to win the next two including game three in walk-off fashion.Now, they head to Omaha as one of eight teams trying to win it all over the next week and a half. But where do they rank heading into Omaha?USA TODAY Sports has decided to re-rank all eight teams that are in Omaha after the completion of the super regional round. They have Georgia at No. 1 and Oklahoma at No. 2, meaning UNC has dropped to No. 3 since the latest rankings.Here is what they said about the Tar Heels: North Carolina weathered arguably the best pitching staff to make it to super regionals in USC, and faced a lot of adversity in the process. This is a flawed team, but it is experienced. The Tar Heels are making their second College World Series appearance in three years, the only team to return in that span. Gavin Gallaher was there in 2024, when they won their first game but dropped the next two.North Carolina weathered arguably the best pitching staff to make it to super regionals in USC, and faced a lot of adversity in the process. This is a flawed team, but it is experienced. The Tar Heels are making their second College World Series appearance in three years, the only team to return in that span. Gavin Gallaher was there in 2024, when they won their first game but dropped the next two.UNC may have some flaws, mainly on offense if they go cold, but they do have one of the best pitching staffs going to Omaha. With the experience that they have in high-level games, that could be an advantage for them moving forward.The Tar Heels and Ole Miss Rebels will meet on Friday night in the primetime slot.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 behind two SEC programs in CWS re-rank

FIFA and the FIFPRO players' union said Wednesday they have agreed to a landmark cooperation agreement for major decisions including transfer rules and health and safety standards.The agreement on a memorandum of understanding, which FIFA called “historic," was announced on the eve of the World Cup opener. It comes 10 months after the European Court of Justice ruled some decisions by international governing bodies, such as FIFA and the International Olympic Committee, can be challenged outside Switzerland.The announcement also comes less than two months after a new international group representing soccer players — the Association of International Footballers, or AIF — was founded in Madrid in April to rival FIFPRO.As part of the new agreement, FIFPRO was recognized by FIFA as the global representative for professional soccer players and lawsuits against FIFA will be dropped by FIFPRO, its division and member unions.“This MoU marks a new era in FIFA’s relationship with FIFPRO,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. “Players shape the game we all love, and we must ensure their protection and well-being. That is why we have jointly created a sustainable pathway to ensure that decisions directly affecting them are based on a collective process anchored in social dialogue.”The agreement was announced two days after FIFA said it reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed against it by former France midfielder Lassana Diarra in a case caused by the player missing the 2014-15 season in a dispute with Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow and FIFA.The FIFA-FIFPRO deal, which runs through 2031, means that players, governing bodies, leagues and clubs will have to jointly agree on future decisions.A Global Social Dialogue Platform will be established and chaired by FIFA to discuss rules on the transfer system and regulatory matters, as well as player welfare and occupational safety and health standards, including player rest and recovery, vacation, mandatory rest periods and retraining. Future changes will be subject to collective agreement. The platform will include representatives of the World Leagues Association and European Football Clubs.FIFPRO will appoint representatives to FIFA's Football Tribunal, judicial bodies and several committees, while the union will have a non-voting observer on the FIFA Council. The parties will establish a minimum standards framework for women's national teams and work on allocation of prize money from FIFA senior competitions.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson found his shot back on his home court. After shooting woes through the first two games, Brunson finished 11-of-25 from the field and 3-of-5 from three-point range as he finished with a 32-point performance at Madison Square Garden in Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night.While it didn't result in a win over the San Antonio Spurs it was a much needed sign for Brunson, who shot only 34 percent from the field during the first two games of the Finals in San Antonio.Here's how Brunson has performed so far against the Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals:Jalen Brunson Game 4 stats in 2026 NBA FinalsPoints: 2Shooting: 0-for-2 from the fieldAssists: 2Free throws: 2-for-2This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Jalen Brunson stats vs Spurs in NBA Finals Game 4

Pat Kreke knows baseball.A 1975 Badin High School graduate, Kreke played baseball there and at Xavier University where he graduated in 1978.Just days after graduating, he was hired to teach physical education at Bishop Fenwick High School.In 1981, head baseball coach was added to his job responsibilities at the Catholic high school when he replaced legendary coach John “Butch” Rossi.That first year Fenwick won the Class A state baseball title with a win over Columbus Academy. The following season, the Falcons returned to state, only to lose to Columbus Academy in the semifinal.Now, for the first time since 1982, the Falcons have returned to the state tournament, and Kreke’s grandson, Hudson Kreke, has played a key role in the team’s improbable tournament run, the most recent win, a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Roger Bacon in the Division IV regional final at Day Air Ballpark.The Falcons (22-8) face Fairfield Union (25-6) at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 12, at 7 17 Credit Union Park in Akron in the Division IV state semifinal. The winner plays the winner of Perkins (24-5) vs. Cardinal Mooney (24-3) at 10 a.m. Sunday, June 14.Fenwick, which plays in the competitive Greater Catholic League Co-Ed division, is two wins from its first baseball state championship in 45 years, and the irony isn’t lost on Pat Kreke.“That’s pretty special,” said Kreke, 69, who just finished his 48th year teaching at Fenwick.He plans to retire next year when his grandson graduates from Fenwick.But first Kreke and Hudson, a junior outfielder, would love to put another state trophy in the school’s showcase.“Our goal all season was going to state, winning state,” Hudson said. “We know what we have to get done.”Pat Kreke sees similarities between the Fenwick team he coached in 1981-82 and the one Doc Wieland is coaching this season.“Both teams have a very good nucleus of talent,” he said. “There is a lot of resemblance with the unity and teamwork they have.”He said the 1981 and 2026 teams have “great senior leadership.” He taught most of the players in freshman health and the students are “class individuals,” he said.Kreke, who started playing baseball when he was 7, said watching his grandson and his teammates advance to the state semifinal is “an amazing feeling.”Then he added: “This is such a milestone.”In 29 games, Hudson has 28 hits, seven doubles, 15 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and is hitting .289.Hudson “fills a good role” on the team, his grandfather said.Hudson said he and his teammates aren’t concerned with personal accomplishments. They prefer wins over statistics.“I have great teammates and we have a great brotherhood,” he said. “This season has been a complete blast.”He would love to play a part in bringing Fenwick its first state baseball championship since his grandfather coached.He called his grandfather “one of my biggest inspirations” and said he showed him the importance of being kind to fellow competitors and complete strangers.Hudson said his father, Joe, who played baseball at Fenwick and Wittenberg University, and his grandfather taught him lessons he uses every time he steps on the field.“You can control hustle and hard work,” he said.

Source: Polaris The Baja 500 wrapped up and Polaris is going home carrying the hardware it set out to return with. In a dominating performance, the brand's side-by-side racers took not just the top three but the top nine overall positions in the 57th SCORE Baja 500. This means they snagged the UTV Overall victory, with Branden Sims claiming the top spot in his RZR Pro R Factory race rig. Source: Polaris The 2026 Baja 500 covered 468 miles of brutal desert terrain, and as the checkered flag dropped it was Polaris that won big. Sims has won the Baja 500 and 1000 before, but this marked his first SCORE victory since 2022. Good stuff from him, especially coming back from a 6th-place start."Today was incredible, and it feels so good to get back on top and earn a win," said Sims. "To come away with the overall victory against such a talented field is really special. My new RZR Pro R Factory was absolutely dialed in and performed flawlessly all day long. We had a smart race plan, maintained a strong pace, picked our lines carefully, and put ourselves in position to capitalize when it mattered most. This is only my second race in the car, but the confidence it gives me behind the wheel is unbelievable."Wayne Matlock gabbed second and first-year RZR Factory Racing driver Ethan Groom snagged third, making it an all-Polaris podium. Mitch Guthrie Jr. ended up in fourth, Dallas Gonzalez in fifth, Joe Terrana (and co-driver Rodrigo Ampudia) in sixth, Mike Cafro in seventh, Sebastian Marquez in eighth, and Kristen Matlock in ninth."We couldn't be prouder of our Polaris racers and the entire team behind this program," said Alex Scheuerell, Polaris' Director of Off-Road Motorsports. "To sweep the podium at the Baja 500, secure the top nine overall UTV finishing positions, and see RZR Pro R Factory machines claim the top six spots overall is an incredible accomplishment. The RZR Pro R Factory continues to prove itself as the benchmark in off-road racing, delivering the performance, durability, and reliability needed to win in the toughest conditions. This achievement is a testament to the dedication, talent, and relentless effort of everyone involved in this program."Polaris is shooting to continue its success at the next round of racing which takes place at the Best In The Desert Vegas to Reno event that spans August 12-16.

Lerrone Richards is still trying to come to terms with what happened in Canada last Thursday.After years of inactivity, personal struggles away from the ring, and a shock defeat that threatened to derail his career, Richards, 33, finally landed the opportunity he had been waiting for — a shot at Albert Ramirez's WBA interim light heavyweight title.Twelve rounds later, Richards believed he had seized it. But the judges disagreed."You wouldn't think a fighter would go out and win 10 of the 12 rounds — and that's being harsh on myself — and still not get the decision," England’s Richards told Uncrowned. "It's like incompetence. A lot of people are using the word 'corrupt.' I don't really want to use that word, but yeah, incompetence for sure."The away fighter being denied a decision on foreign soil has become a familiar theme in boxing. This one still felt different. Ramirez vs. Richards wasn't a competitive fight, not in the slightest. Some respected observers argued that Richards won all 12 rounds against Ramirez, yet he still didn't walk away with his hands raised."You know when it's a close fight and you're on away soil, sometimes fights don't go your way — let's say it's like a 7-5 sort of score. But that fight was so convincing,” Richards said. “Like I won 10 of 12 rounds, and that's me being very harsh. I wasn't skeptical [about getting the decision]. I almost felt like there was no way that I couldn't get the decision. I thought I was the clear winner."Lerrone Richards suffered a stunning defeat to Albert Ramirez this past Thursday.Peter Byrne - PA Images via Getty ImagesRichards' team has filed an appeal with the WBA over the verdict, and he hopes that it will be overturned. That outcome, however, would almost be a first in the sport. It is very rare for a sanctioning body to reverse the official decision in a fight. A more likely — but still rare — scenario is that an immediate rematch is ordered.Richards may indeed get a second crack at the whip, but it won't change what a win would've meant for him this past Thursday."There were a lot of tears in the changing room," he said."I have two kids, I have a family. I do this to provide for them — to put food on the table for them. This [win] here would've opened so many doors for me. For me to be able to secure my family's life."[And] that's [only] one of the things that's affected. You've got to think about a fighter's mental state as well. [I'm lucky] that I have a positive and a good family behind me, because situations like this, you need people there to support you."For Richards (19-2, 4 KOs), the fight wasn't just about an interim title. It was the opportunity he spent years waiting for. At the beginning of this decade, Richards appeared destined for major nights and world-title opportunities.Flash back to December 2021. The Brit was unbeaten and coming off the best victory of his career over Carlos Gongora for the IBO title. He had already collected British, Commonwealth and European honors and was promoted by Eddie Hearn's Matchroom.The world seemed to be at his feet.The opportunities, though, never arrived."In life, we all look at it, and we're looking at all the successes and stuff, but there were a lot of things going on in my personal life that I had to deal with,” he said."Once that was all sorted out, I got myself back in the ring. But it was no fault of my own [that I wasn't getting big fights]. I've always been in the gym. I've always been the ultimate professional. I've always been waiting for the phone to ring so I can get a fight. It just never came about."Richards spent years sitting on the sideline waiting for a big opportunity while the likes of Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and David Benavidez dominated the headlines at super middleweight. Richards couldn't get a look in — not even domestically in the UK, where John Ryder and Zach Parker were the ones landing the major fights.Then, in one of the biggest upsets of 2024, Richards was stopped by Steed Woodall. Woodall was a fighter whom Richards should never have lost to, but when you are doing nothing other than treading water for more than two years, anything can happen.And just like that, Richards, who was already down the pecking order, got sent all the way to the back of the queue.But life has a way of working out. It was when Richards was at his lowest point that he finally got a break."This opportunity [to fight WBA interim champion Ramirez] came about from me going out and sparring [light heavyweight contender] Imam Khataev in Canada, and then me being ranked by the WBA,” he said."When this opportunity came about, I snatched it with both hands, and I fought one of the most feared, if not the most feared 175-pounder in the division on his home turf.""I boxed well — career-best performance, everyone was saying. I thought I won every single round, and then the decision didn't go my way, which obviously was devastating for myself and the team. We felt like we got completely robbed of a big opportunity."It should have been the crowning moment of Richards' career. Instead, this past Thursday became yet another setback in a career defined by missed opportunities.If the WBA does not do the right thing and order a rematch with Ramirez, Richards will look toward a thriving domestic scene at 175 pounds, which houses Joshua Buatsi, Anthony Yarde and Ben Whittaker, with the hopes that one of them may step through the ropes against him."I'm top 10 [in the light heavyweight division], so I want all the big fights,” Richards said. “I want all the big names to push my career on for me to continue to prove I'm one of the best fighters in the division, if not the best fighter in the division."Ben Whittaker's a fight that interests me. You've got the likes of Joshua Buatsi as well, Callum Smith. These are the guys that I want to face and test my skills against."

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty ImagesPatrick Mahomes’ latest deal with the Chiefs has turned his already massive NFL contract into an even bigger financial milestone.Kansas City have added two more years to Mahomes’ contract, tying him to the franchise through 2033.The new deal is reportedly worth $504.75 million, with the extension built around a $64 million annual average from 2027.Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty ImagesPatrick Mahomes per-game salary after new Chiefs contractUnderdog highlighted the scale of Mahomes’ new salary by comparing his per-game earnings to Puka Nacua’s entire rookie deal.Based on the reported $64 million yearly average over a 17-game regular season, Mahomes would make around $3.76 million per game.That figure is higher than what some players make across several seasons, which is why the contract has become one of the most talked-about deals in the NFL.The deal could reportedly rise to $522.25 million through incentives, with guarantee structures that push it even further into record territory.Patrick Mahomes contract puts him above NFL rivalsThe extension makes Mahomes the league’s highest-paid player by annual average, ahead of fellow quarterbacks like Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence.Josh Allen is still the closest comparison when it comes to guaranteed money, but Mahomes’ new deal is well ahead in terms of yearly value.It is also a major signal from the Chiefs following a tough 2025 season, when Mahomes suffered a serious knee injury and they missed the playoffs.Chiefs back Mahomes despite tough 2025 seasonMahomes’ track record explains the belief. He has won three Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVPs and two regular-season MVP awards.He holds a reported career record of 95-31, boasts a dominant playoff history and has one of the highest passing-yards-per-game averages in league history.The Chiefs are banking on 2025 being just a blip rather than the start of a decline. At nearly $3.76 million per regular-season game, they are paying Mahomes like their future still depends on him.Read more:From knee brace to week 1? Patrick Mahomes’ OTA return has Chiefs racing the clockChiefs linked with $82m Patrick Mahomes weapon amid Raiders talkShedeur Sanders earns $17.7 million from NFL’s licensing income, even better than Patrick Mahomes

Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty ImagesCharles Barkley turned his Cardi B controversy into a contract joke, saying he would welcome ESPN firing him if it meant getting paid for the years left on his deal.The NBA legend’s remark came after his on-air reaction to Cardi B’s NBA Finals halftime appearance at Madison Square Garden became a viral talking point.Some viewers laughed along with the broadcast crew, while others felt the comment crossed a line.Barkley did not sound worried when he was asked about the reaction. Instead, he leaned into the idea that losing the job might actually work out well for him financially.Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP via Getty ImagesCharles Barkley jokes ESPN firing him would help after Cardi B commentThe Dan Patrick Show shared Charles Barkley’s response when the Cardi B comment and possible ESPN consequences came up.“Dan, you know I’m hoping they fire me. I got 6 or 7 years left on my contract that they know I’ve got no chance of doing.“I would love for them to fire me and have to pay me for the next 6 or 7 years,” Barkley said.The line sounded like classic Barkley, mixing defiance with a joke about his own future. He has previously spoken as if he does not expect to work through the full length of his contract, which made the answer feel less like panic and more like a dare.It also showed why Barkley remains different from most TV analysts. Even when a controversy arrives, he tends to respond with blunt humor rather than a carefully polished apology.Charles Barkley and Cardi B controversy started during NBA Finals halftime showThe issue began during Game 3 of the NBA Finals, when Cardi B performed at halftime as the New York Knicks hosted the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.Barkley made a joke about her stage look while the broadcast showed the performance, and the moment quickly spread online. The reaction was split, with some fans treating it as another wild Barkley line and others saying the remark was inappropriate for a national NBA broadcast.The controversy is not about Cardi B’s performance, but about whether a commentator should make personal remarks about an artist’s body while she is working on a major stage.Barkley’s follow-up did not cool the discussion down. By saying he would be happy to get fired and paid, he turned a broadcast-standards debate into another loud reminder that ESPN inherited one of sports television’s most unpredictable voices.Read more:Why Charles Barkley still ‘hates’ New York Knicks legend Patrick EwingShaq and Charles Barkley just picked a Finals MVP — KAT’s name has everyone talking!Charles Barkley offers blunt take on LeBron James potentially staying with Lakers in free agency

Knicks vs. Spurs Score, Live Updates, Highlights From Game 4 of NBA Finals originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Madison Square Garden will be filled with New Yorkers on Wednesday night for a pivotal Game 4 between the Knicks and Spurs.After losing the first two games of the NBA Finals at home, the Spurs clawed their way back into the series with a 115-111 win in Game 3. Victor Wembanyama led the way for San Antonio with 32 points, and Stephon Castle contributed 23 points, five rebounds and five assists in the victory.After dropping a playoff game for the first time since April 23, the Knicks will look to take a 3-1 lead and move one step closer to a championship celebration. How will Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns respond in front of the home crowd?Follow along right here for live updates and highlights from Game 4 of the NBA Finals.Knicks vs. Spurs score1234FSpurs37Knicks20Knicks vs. Spurs live updates, highlights from Game 4 of NBA Finals9:16 p.m.: Nothing is going right for New York.Now, there is an offensive foul on Robinson with the Knicks down 17. Even worse, it's getting reviewed for a flagrant.9:09 p.m.: The Spurs have the largest lead of either team this finals, with Wembanyama stuffing in his own attempt to go up 15.With 2:53 remaining in the first, Anunoby is at the free throw line.9:06 p.m.: San Antonio can't miss.Now, it's Fox who hits the Spurs' sixth triple of the half, and it's 30-17.9:01 p.m.: San Antonio is 4-for-5 from deep, and behind a 8-0 run is up 12.With 6:05 remaining, Brunson is heading to the line looking for his first points of the game.8:58 p.m.: The Knicks are closing the gap early.After five Anunoby points, Hart drives on Champagnie and picks up the basket and the foul. It's 14-10 San Antonio.8:54 p.m.: Of course, the stars are out.The stars are out for Game 4 at Madison Square Garden 🤩 pic.twitter.com/RWmvsJAQ5w— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 20268:51 p.m.: The Spurs have jumped off to an early 10-point lead.Less than three minutes in, Champagnie gets a steal on Hart and stuffs it home, and San Antonio has a 12-2 lead.The road team has taken the momentum out of the arena.8:49 p.m.: It's a massive overturn early in the game.Instead of it being a foul on Wembanyama, it's an offensive foul on Towns, his second of the game.This call was overturned to a hook on Karl-Anthony Towns.KAT has two fouls in the first 65 seconds of Game 4.pic.twitter.com/ctdfG8ACXl— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) June 11, 2026Less than two minutes in, the Knicks' star big heads to the bench.8:46 p.m.: Towns responds with a basket of his own to tie the game, then Vassell hits a three at the other end.With the score 5-2, Towns is going to the line after being fouled by Wembanyama. But, Mitch Johnson is challenging the call.8:43 p.m.: We are underway at the World's Most Famous Arena.The New York Knicks starters are introduced for GAME 4 of the NBA FINALS 🏆Watch now on ABC! pic.twitter.com/B7UppIXyej— NBA (@NBA) June 11, 2026Wembanyama wins the tipoff over Towns and San Antonio has the first possession. It results in a Towns foul 18 seconds in on Fox.8:33 p.m.: The NBA Finals is minutes away.Both teams are rolling out the same starting fives.8:26 p.m.: New York never disappoints.The MSG crowd cheers the Knicks as they take the floor ahead of Game 4 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/jwFCLEo27r— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 11, 20268:18 p.m.: The teams are about to take the court.Will it be the Knicks or Spurs who take Game 4?8:08 p.m.: New York has it's newest villain: Victor Wembanyama.Boos for Victor Wembanyama in pregame warmups pic.twitter.com/c6ZdwXG4dV— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 11, 20268:00 p.m.: Karl-Anthony Towns has been electric this postseason, but is yet to score a fourth-quarter point these finals.Pregame hugs with KAT and his dad!Spurs (1-2) Knicks NBA Finals Game 4 tips at 8:30pm/et on ABC🍿 pic.twitter.com/Eq2WcFLMPR— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2026Down the stretch, expect him to play much more of a role in what's been a tightly-contested series.7:53 p.m.: Madison Square Garden is going to be a madhouse.calm before the storm. pic.twitter.com/ofYmpFWlfm— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) June 10, 20267:46 p.m.: Game 4 is less than an hour away.SPURS. KNICKS. GAME 4... TONIGHT 🍿 https://t.co/YpVFqlJv37— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 20267:38 p.m.: Here come the San Antonio Spurs.Wemby.Castle.Harper.READY FOR NBA FINALS GAME 4!🏆 8:30pm/et on ABC pic.twitter.com/LBKHFuBJ8o— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2026The Spurs got on the board in the finals with a 115-111 win in Game 3, behind Victor Wembanyama's 32 and Stephon Castle's 23. With a second consecutive win at MSG, the Spurs can send the Finals to a three-game series.7:30 p.m.: After losing their first game since April 23, the Knicks return to Madison Square Garden still in position to take a commanding lead. With a win tonight in front of the home crowd, New York would be one win away from the NBA title.Knicks in the house for NBA Finals Game 4 🗽Tip-off is set for 8:30pm/et on ABC! pic.twitter.com/XxJymawbVr— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2026How to watch Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4: TV channel, live streamTV channel: ABCLive stream: DIRECTV | ESPN app | fuboGame 4 between the Knicks and Spurs will air live on ABC. The game will also be available to stream on DIRECTV, the ESPN app and fubo.Try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live NBA, MLB and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.Knicks vs. Spurs Game 4 start timeDate: Wednesday, June 10Time: 8:30 p.m. ETGame 4 between the Knicks and Spurs is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 10. The game will be played at Madison Square Garden in New York.Knicks vs. Spurs schedule: New York leads 2-1DateGameTime (ET)TV/Live streamJune 3Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95——June 5Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104——June 8Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111——June 10Game 4: Spurs vs. Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, ESPN app, fuboJune 13Game 5: Knicks vs. Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, ESPN app, fuboJune 16Game 6*: Spurs vs. Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, ESPN app, fuboJune 19Game 7*: Knicks vs. Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, ESPN app, fubo*If necessaryNBA Playoffs scores, results 2026Conference finalsKnicks 4, Cavs 0Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavs 104 (OT)Game 2: Knicks 109, Cavs 93Game 3: Knicks 121, Cavs 108Game 4: Knicks 130, Cavs 93Spurs 4, Thunder 3Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)Game 2: Thunder 122, Spurs 113Game 3: Thunder 123, Spurs 108Game 4: Spurs 103, Thunder 82Game 5: Thunder 127, Spurs 114Game 6: Spurs 118, Thunder 91Game 7: Spurs 111, Thunder 103Conference semifinalsKnicks 4, 76ers 0Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114Spurs 4, Timberwolves 2Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109Game 5: Spurs 126, Timberwolves 97Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109First roundKnicks 4, Hawks 2Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98Game 5: Knicks 126, Hawks 97Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89Spurs 4, Trail Blazers 1Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103Game 3: Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108Game 4: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 93Game 5: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 95

MIAMI (AP) — Kyle Stowers and Owen Caissie homered and the Miami Marlins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 on Wednesday night for their seventh victory in eight games.Otto López had two singles and two RBIs and increased his major league-leading batting average to .342. He also leads the majors with 28 multi-hit games.William Kempner (1-0) pitched two innings of relief for his first career victory.Liam Hicks singled and tripled for the Marlins. and Heriberto Hernández singled and scored twice.Stowers and Caissie went deep against Arizona starter Ryne Nelson (2-5) in a six-run fourth. Stowers’ three-run drive that landed in the upper deck in right capped the outburst and made it 7-0. Caissie hit a two-run blast and López added an RBI single.The Marlins padded the lead in the fifth on Caissie’s sacrifice fly.Marlins starter Ryan Gusto was pulled after four innings of three-hit ball and 66 pitches. Lake Bachar and Kempner followed with two innings each before Cade Gibson got the last three outs to complete the shutout.After finishing with 15 hits in the series opener Tuesday, the Marlins had 10 on Wednesday.López’s RBI single in the third put Miami on the board. Liam Hicks reached on a two-out triple before Lopez followed with a line drive up the middle to center.Nelson gave up seven runs and eight hits over four innings. It was Nelson’s shortest outing since he was charged for eight runs and eight hits in a third of an inning against Toronto on April 19.Up nextArizona RHP Merrill Kelly (5-4, 5.71 ERA) was set to start Thursday opposite RHP Tyler Phillips (0-1, 2.08).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MAY 24: Hakeem Butler #88 of the St. Louis Battlehawks catches a pass for a touchdown against Kary Vincent Jr. #0 of the Houston Gamblers during the second quarter at Shell Energy Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Jack Gorman/UFL/Getty Images) | Getty Images Former Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler has made UFL history by becoming the first player to be named the Offensive Player of the Year twice, securing the 2026 title after previously winning in 2024. The St. Louis Battlehawks star was chosen for the award by a committee of coaches, media and league personnel following a stellar regular-season performance.Butler, who also earned a spot on the 2026 All-UFL Team, dominated the league’s receiving categories. Over nine games, he led the UFL in total receiving yards (641), yards per game (71.2), and average yards per catch (22.1). Known for his big-play ability, he recorded nine catches of at least 30 yards and scored three touchdowns, highlighted by a 75-yard score against the DC Defenders.Despite being sidelined for one game, Butler nearly broke his own league and franchise record of 652 receiving yards set in 2024, falling short by only 11 yards. One of his season highlights included a Week 3 performance against the Birmingham Stallions, where his 146 yards and a crucial 64-yard touchdown earned him Offensive Player of the Week honors.Beyond this season’s accolades, Butler became the all-time leader in modern spring football receiving yards. With a career total of 2,192 yards, he surpassed the previous record of 1,801 yards held by Jonathan Adams. His physical size and explosive skill set have made him a consistent challenge for defenses over the past three seasons with the Battlehawks.Butler will be celebrated at the UFL Awards on Friday, just before the United Bowl takes place on Saturday at Audi Field.

MANHATTAN — Kansas State football continued its recruiting momentum for the 2027 class by landing one of the country's top available edge rushers.Sedrick Marsh Jr., listed at 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, announced his commitment to the Wildcats via social media on Wednesday, June 10.I am blessed to be committed with Kansas State @GoPowercat@KStateRecruitspic.twitter.com/Q4xl3HBo8H— Sedrick Marsh Jr (@MarshSedri5998) June 11, 2026From Waxahachie, Texas, Marsh is a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 43 edge rusher, according to the 247Sports Composite. He picked the Wildcats over schools like SMU, Oklahoma State, Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Baylor and others.Marsh was on campus this past weekend as a part of the most recent batch of official visits. Kansas State first offered him in November when the program was led by Chris Klieman.Marsh marks the first true edge rusher commit for Collin Klein's 2027 class, but that doesn't make him any less significant. Considered one of the best defensive ends in Texas, he finished last season with 32 tackles, with five for a loss and a pair of sacks.Sedrick Marsh 247 rankingMarsh is considered a three-star prospect, ranked as the No. 505 player in the country and the No. 43 edge rusher.Kansas State football 2027 commitmentsCanaan Smith, IOL, Prestonwood Christian (Texas)Colton McComb, LB, Edmond Memorial (Oklahoma)Giacamo SanFilippo, LB, Bishop Moore (Orlando)Ben Hynek, TE, Stanley (North Dakota)David Rushing, WR, Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)Cam Kruse, QB, Page (Tennessee)Dawayne Jones, DT, Booker T. Washington (Oklahoma)Anitoni Tahi, DT, Basha (Arizona)Jack Clayborne, OL, Northeastern Oklahoma A&MBryson Dossett, S, Fort Bend Ridge Point (Texas)Brayden Harris, OT, Jackson (Missouri)Logan Davis, DB, Fort Bend Ridge Point (Texas)Kelvin Eiwo, IOL, The Colony (Texas)George Murray III, CB, Apalachee (Georgia)London Goggans, DB, Grayson (Georgia)Correll Buckhalter Jr., RB, Liberty Christian (Texas)Sedrick Marsh, EDGE, Waxahachie (Texas)Kansas State 2027 team recruiting rankingAs of Wednesday night, Kansas State had the No. 28 recruiting class in the country, which ranked second in the Big 12, only behind Texas Tech.Wyatt D. Wheeler covers Kansas State athletics for the USA TODAY Network and Topeka Capital-Journal. You can follow him on X at @WyattWheeler_, contact him at 417-371-6987 or email him at wwheeler@usatodayco.comThis article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Sedrick Marsh picks Kansas State football for 2027 recruiting class

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave missed the Week 18 game against the Falcons with a blood clot in his lung. Five months later, he is still waiting for a return to all football activities.Olave is not fully participating in the offseason workouts, and coach Kellen Moore said Wednesday that Olave's workload is being monitored because of the clot."He hasn’t been able to do the team activities obviously throughout OTAs," Moore said, via Matthew Paras of nola.com. Olave, 25, caught a career-high 100 passes for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns. He has topped 1,000 yards in three of his first four seasons.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Josko Gvardiol of Manchester City during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) | Getty Images Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol is becoming a concrete option for Real Madrid to strengthen their defensive line, according to the likes of Fabrizio Romano, MARCA and AS.Real Madrid have been looking for a left-footed central defender to reinforce their backline this season. Another requirement would be for the player to be able to also play at left-back.Real Madrid were also looking at Riccardo Calafiori as an option, but that option is no longer advancing, according to Romano. Gvardiol has, in the last few days, become a concrete option for the Spanish capital, with the player also being aware of the interest from the Spanish club.Manchester City have offered him a long-term contract and want to keep him, and the only two options that the Croatian defender has are to either renew and stay in Manchester, or to go to Real Madrid.It is an interesting transfer saga to follow, as Gvardiol would raise the defense’s ceiling if he ends up joining Los Blancos.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Jackson Holliday hit his third career grand slam, Brandon Young pitched seven scoreless innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat the Seattle Mariners 7-2 on Wednesday night to snap a four-game losing streak. Holliday became the first player in franchise history with three grand slams before turning 23. The 22-year-old infielder has 25 major league home runs. Young (5-1) gave up two hits, walked two and struck out five. Baltimore is 9-1 in games started by Young this season. Pete Alonso hit a solo homer and singled, and Leody Taveras went 2 for 3 with an RBI double.Alonso's leadoff drive in the sixth opened the scoring. Colter Cowser walked four pitches later, stole second base and scored on a double by Taveras, who then stole third before Blaze Alexander hit a ground-rule double with two outs that made it 3-0.Holliday's slam extended it to 7-0 in the seventh before Seattle got two runs in the eighth. Miles Mastrobuoni scored on a groundout by Julio Rodríguez, and Josh Naylor singled home Patrick Wisdom. Seattle starter George Kirby (5-6) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings. He walked three and finished with a season-high 10 strikeouts. The Mariners are 4-17 this season when they do not hit a home run. Seattle went into the game an MLB-best 11-3 (.786) since May 25. The Orioles went 4 for 13 with runners in scoring position. Baltimore hit .129 (4 for 31) with runners in scoring position, including 1 for 11 on Tuesday in a 6-5 loss in 10 innings, during its four-game skid. The matchup was the third of seven between the clubs in an 11-game stretch, with the Orioles traveling to Seattle for a three-game series next week. Up nextMariners RHP Bryan Woo (5-4, 3.74 ERA) starts Thursday opposite Kyle Bradish (3-7, 3.89) in the finale of the four-game series. ___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani has been battling a blister on his finger recently, and it emerged on Wednesday, but he still allowed just three runs in seven innings of work. Ohtani was battling his command all night long for the most part, pushing his velocity up during the outing to get out of jams. Shohei Ohtani is fighting his command again.Only 44% of pitches are in the strike zone; still, he has only given up two hard-hit balls, one of which was crushed for a no-doubt home run. Ohtani's ERA went up to 0.83 after the 4th inning. pic.twitter.com/0Ij4NjcypU— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) June 10, 2026The command problem has been a recurring issue over his last handful of starts. He has not been pinpointed as he was at the start of the campaign, but his ERA remains a low 1.06, which is shocking at this point in the year, given his workload.Jun 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesWhat Shohei Ohtani did well vs. the PiratesOhanti did an elite job of pumping up his velocity during his start, averaging 0.8 MPH on his fastball, higher than his season average. He got three strikeouts on the pitch, but only four whiffs on 43 total fastballs. Ohtani had another six whiffs on his sweeper and one on his curveball. In fact, his velocity was up on all of his pitches across the board, really amping things up when they are not going smoothly. Ohtani has done this from time to time when he has faced runners in scoring position during the season. He used a similar pitch mix, relying on the sweeper-fastball combination with some curveballs mixed in. Jun 10, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesShohei Ohtani’s blemishesHe had a minimal amount of chase, with only tempting hitters 22% of the time to swing on pitches out of the zone. Ohtani also got behind early on in the count, having a first-pitch strike on 34% of batters faced. Going forward, he could use a healthier mix, adding more curveballs and splitters. Also, more use of his sinker could help with easier outs and some weaker contact. Shohei Ohtani, one out away from seven innings, gave up a double down the foul line with two men on. His ERA is up to 1.06 on the season after giving up 3 runs in 6.2 innings. That number keeps him in the Cy Young race for now.pic.twitter.com/c3iUKta8Zd— Nelson Espinal (@nelson__espinal) June 11, 2026Really, the command stands out as the biggest weakness. He needs to attack hitters more often to go deeper in games if he wants the Cy Young award.Ohtani did enough to earn the win, and all things considered, it was a good start. However, he sets his own bar high and needs adjustments next time to go deeper and keep his run total low.

The New York Knicks got off to such a disastrous start in Game 4 of the NBA Finals, at one point trailing by 25 points early in the second quarter, that it's hard to argue against the obvious. Everyone can see it. And it has nothing to do with seemingly questionable officiating. The San Antonio Spurs, particularly Victor Wembanyama, have taken a firm residence inside their heads. He's also probably not going to have to pay rent. Do you know the particularly cruel twist for the Knicks and their on-edge fans at Madison Square Garden?Wembanyama clearly knows this and is going to poke and prod at Knicks players until they start fighting back. We saw an example of Wembanyama trolling the Knicks during a sequence with New York center Mitchell Robinson. When Robinson threw an unnecessary elbow into Wembanyama's chin while running up the floor, not only was he given a well-earned flagrant foul, but Wembanyama also let him hear it. He knew Robinson got emotional and responded in kind. Wembanyama gestured to Robinson and, through lip-reading, told him, "I'm in your head, boy." Phew:Mitchell Robinson flagrant vs. Wemby 😳"I'm in your head, boy." —Wemby pic.twitter.com/XoXEjHs6k0— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 11, 2026Honestly, given the way the other non-Robinson Knicks are playing in Game 4, Wembanyama is definitely in all of their heads. Not a great development for a team trying to take a 3-1 series lead in the finals!This article originally appeared on For The Win: Victor Wembanyama told Mitchell Robinson, Knicks brutal truth on flagrant foul

The stars are very much out at the world's most famous arena.It should come as no surprise that the New York Knicks playing in the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 is a huge draw, and that certainly includes numerous high-profile celebrities.From the usual faces like Timothee Chalamet, Spike Lee and Ben Stiller to Taylor Swift, Celebrity Row is more alive than usual during this finals matchup against the San Antonio Spurs.Even President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.So who has been spotted sitting courtside and elsewhere at MSG? See our galleries below:Celebrities at MSG for Game 4 of NBA FinalsCelebs seen at MSG for Game 3 of NBA FinalsThis article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Celebrities seen at MSG for Knicks games in 2026 NBA Finals

Photo provided by Matt LynchPITTSBURGH — Tyler Callihan belted two home runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who erased a five-run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-8 and snap a four-game losing streak at PNC Park on Wednesday night. Scoring PlaysTop 4th, 2-0 LAD: The Dodgers (43-25) struck for two runs in the fourth inning against Jared Jones. Max Muncy plated Freddie Freeman with a two-out double to right field and scored when Kyle Tucker ripped a liner up the middle past shortstop Jared Triolo for an RBI single.Bottom 4th, 2-1 LAD: Tyler Callihan launched his first-career home run out of the stadium to right field off Shohei Ohatni. The blast traveled 424 feet. Top 6th, 6-1 LAD: Ryan Ward extended the lead to five with a two-out grand slam to right field off Carmen Mlodzinski. It was the first-career home run for Ward, who ambushed a first-pitch slider.Bottom 7th, 6-4 LAD: Brandon Lowe delivered a two-run double to knock Ohtani out of the game. After the Dodgers turned to Alex Vesia, the Pirates (35-33) tacked on another after a grounder off the bat of Bryan Reynolds trickled under the glove of Muncy at third base, allowing Lowe to score from second.Bottom 8th, 9-6 PIT: Callihan came through for the Pirates again with a go-ahead three run home run to right field off Kyle Hurt (1-1), his second of the game. Later in the inning, Spencer Horwitz capped the five-run frame with a two-run shot off Jack Dreyer. Top 9th, 9-8 PIT: Ohtani hit a two-run home run into the bullpens in center field off closer Gregory Soto to bring the Dodgers back within a run. Key MomentsNick Gonzales and Rafael Flores Jr., who entered the game in the top of the eighth for Endy Rodríguez, opened the eighth with back-to-back walks to spark a huge-five run inning. Tyler Callihan and Spencer Horwitz took care of the rest. CALLIHAN STANS. https://t.co/vMKeP2GLbPpic.twitter.com/QKtqhE34Uh— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 11, 2026Before the big comeback, Bryan Reynolds robbed Shohei Ohtani of a home run with one of the best catches ever at PNC Park.C’mon now! pic.twitter.com/xS8muK0XlB— Danny Demilio (@Demilio22) June 10, 2026Player of the GameTyler Callihan reached base in all four trips to the plate and belted the first two home runs of his career. The Pirates right fielder drove in four runs and scored three. Stat to KnowShohei Ohtani had only allowed been charged with five earned runs in 61 innings this season before the allowing four runs (three earned) against the Pirates in 6.2 innings. The three earned runs and six hits were the most against Ohtani since the Rockies scored five runs and had nine hits against him last year on Aug. 20. Notable PerformancesJared Jones: 4.0 innings, three hits, two runs, one walk, four strikeouts, 75 pitches/45 strikesCarmen Mlodzinski: 3.2 innings, three hits, four runs, three walks, three strikeouts, 76 pitches/44 strikesTyler Callihan: 2 for 2, two home runs, two walks, four RBI, three runs Spencer Horwitz: 2 for 5, one home run, two RBI, one runJake Mangum: 3 for 4, one runBrandon Lowe: 1 for 4, one double, one run, two RBI, one runNoteworthyEvan Sisk (1-0) got his first win of the season. Gregory Soto recorded his ninth save. The Pirates have recorded at least one extra-base hit in 41 straight games, which is the longest active streak in MLB.Endy Rodríguez was removed from the game after the seventh inning with left hip discomfort. The Pirates placed CF Oneil Cruz on the 10-day injured list with non-displaced fourth and fifth metacarpal fractures in his left hand (retro to June 8). OF Billy Cook was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.The Pirates placed C Henry Davis on the paternity list and recalled C/1B Rafael Flores Jr. from Indianapolis. Up NextRHP Mitch Keller (5-3, 4.81 ERA) will look to lead the Pirates to a series win in the finale on Thursday night. The Dodgers will send out LHP Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.62 ERA). First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.Around the NetworkPittsburgh Baseball Now:Pirates Announce 2026 Hall of Fame Class; Candelaria, Wilson Get InPittsburgh Hockey Now:Penguins Grades: McGroarty, Pickering, & Prospects–Projections and AngerSteelers Now:Bell: 2027 NFL Draft Quarterback Rankings 1.0Pittsburgh Sports Now: Rivals 4-star QB Kevin Verpaele commits to USFThe post Pirates Overcome Huge Deficit to Down Dodgers, Snap Skid appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

Oil prices jumped after the United States and Iran exchanged fire for a second day, heightening fears that the two countries could slide back into open conflict.

The San Antonio Spurs simply couldn’t miss in the first half of Game 3 against the New York Knicks and they set an NBA Finals record in the process.The Spurs knocked down a whopping 14 three-pointers over the first two quarters against New York, which is the most made three-pointers in the first half of an NBA Finals game in league history.With the avalanche of three-pointers the Spurs drilled, they have staked themselves to a 27-point lead, 76-49, and are well on their way to evening the series at 2-2.Meanwhile, the Knicks just look lost and a shell of the team that ripped off 13 straight playoff wins, including victories in each of the first two games of this series.If the Knicks are going to come back and win Game 4, they will have to make NBA history to do so, as the biggest comeback in an NBA Finals game is 24 points.We’ve seen the Knicks overcome a 22-point lead in the fourth quarter of a playoff game in these playoffs, but there has been nothing to suggest New York is capable of pulling off a miracle against San Antonio on Wednesday night.NBA Finals scheduleGame 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95Game 2: Knicks 105, Spurs 104Game 3: Spurs 115, Knicks 111Game 4: San Antonio vs. New York | Wednesday, June 10 (8:30 ET, ABC)Game 5: New York vs. San Antonio | Saturday, June 13 (8:30 ET, ABC)Game 6: San Antonio vs. New York | Tuesday, June 16 (8:30 ET, ABC)*Game 7: New York vs. San Antonio | Friday, June 19 (8:30 ET, ABC)*Knicks lead series 2-1*If necessaryMore NBA Finals NewsMSG rips Zohran Mamdani for Knicks watch party decisionAlvarado warns Wembanyama after dirty foul on BrunsonStiller, Mamdani denounce Knicks fans attacking Spurs fansMike Browns’ frustration over officiating is warrantedNBA ruling on Victor Wembanyama is a jokeMike MoraitisMike Moraitis is a freelance writer who covers the NFL and NBA for The Big Lead. Over his nearly two decades covering sports, Mike has also worked for Bleacher Report, USA TODAY, The Sporting News and FanSided.

Jun. 10—The annual Spokane Youth Sports Awards took place Tuesday evening as elite high school teams and individual athletes from around the city and region packed into the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox.The awards ceremony dates back more than a decade and gives student-athletes, who work tirelessly throughout their respective athletic careers, an opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their accomplishments.The 12th edition of the awards began with a red carpet entrance for all the finalists from each category, earning the ceremony the nickname the "Spokane ESPYs," named after ESPN's national annual award show . Some of the nominated teams strolled down the red carpet to flaunt their hard-earned championship rings, while others let their flashy attire do all the talking.The awards are broken into two categories: "Region" awards were presented to schools from Classes 1A, 2B and 1B; "Metro" awards went to Classes 4A, 3A and 2A, encompassing the Greater Spokane League.Colfax boys' basketball swept the boys Region awards, as the Bulldogs won team of the year. The late Reece Jenkin was honored as coach of the year, and his son, Adrik, won boys athlete of the year. Reece Jenkin, who coached the Colfax boys team for 18 years, died on Feb. 27 after a battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.Adrik Jenkin led the Bulldogs to a perfect 27-0 season and State 2B championship. He had several remarkable performances throughout his second state championship season, including a 46-point performance against Northwest Christian in January and a 33-point showing in the state title game.A key reason why Colfax was able to dominate throughout the season, according to Jenkin, was their difficult schedule."Last year, they knew we were going to bring back a lot of good talent, and they knew that we weren't going to have the competition we needed in our league," Jenkin said. "Being able to step out and play against those bigger schools was really good for us and got us prepared for later in the year."Addison Jay capped off one of the most decorated softball careers the GSL has ever seen with Mt. Spokane's first-ever fastpitch state title, as well as a third consecutive slowpitch state title, as the team mercy-ruled their opponent 20 times in 21 games. Jay finished her storied career, which featured seven no-hitters and a perfect game, with a program record of 61 wins and 731 strikeouts.When asked what made this first-ever Mt. Spokane championship team special, Jay said, "we're resilient and we don't quit. It's really exciting to leave a legacy at Mt. Spokane softball. This program is something I wish everyone could experience. The athletes, the coaches, the team, it's just so incredible."Kaitlyn Waters of Northwest Christian earned her second Northeast 2B-North League MVP award, as well as State 2B player of the year honors. The team entered the state tournament as the eight-seed but still captured the title for the first time in school history. Waters described experiencing the magical postseason run as "not real; it was just crazy." Waters also helped lead the Crusaders to their first basketball State 2B title in 2025."I always want to push myself to be the best and compete at the highest level I can," Waters said. "It's just a huge accomplishment, and I'm really proud. It means a lot to me that all my hard work paid off."Lauren Matthew won state titles in the 100-meter and 400-meter dashes in her senior season, finishing her career with school records in the 100, 200 and 400. She also starred on the Eagles' girls soccer team — which outscored opponents 150-0 this season and took home Metro girls team of the year."We had been working so hard to win the state title that it was really satisfying to finally get there because we were like knocking on the door for four years, and it finally happened."Spokane Youth Sports Awards finalists (winners in italics)Region coach of the year: Reece Jenkin (Colfax boys basketball), Mallory McDonald (Freeman boys and girls cross country), Dave Whitehead (Northwest Christian volleyball)Metro coach of the year: Carl Adams (Mt. Spokane softball), CC Collins (West Valley girls soccer), Austin Stuchell (Mead boys cross country)Region girls team of the year: Freeman soccer, Garfield-Palouse volleyball, Northwest Christian volleyballRegion boys team of the year: Almira/Coulee-Hartline football, Colfax basketball, Freeman cross countryMetro girls team of the year: Mt. Spokane slowpitch softball, Mt. Spokane volleyball, West Valley soccerMetro boys team of the year: Mead cross country, Gonzaga Prep basketball, University wrestlingRegion girls athlete of the year: Rylee Russell (Freeman soccer, basketball, track, softball), Regan Thomas (St. George's cross country, track and field), Kaitlyn Waters (Northwest Christian volleyball, basketball, softball)Region boys athlete of the year: Brock Benson (Colville football, basketball), Max Grindy (Almira/Coulee-Hartline football, basketball, baseball), Adrik Jenkin (Colfax basketball)Metro girls athlete of the year: Aylah Cornwall (Gonzaga Prep basketball, track and field), Addison Jay (Mt. Spokane slowpitch softball, fastpitch softball), Lauren Matthew (West Valley soccer, track and field), Kyla Roberts (University cross country, gymnastics, track and field)Metro boys athlete of the year: Brendan Hughes (Mt. Spokane football, wrestling), Simon Rosselli (Mead track and field), Nathan Zettle (West Valley football, basketball)Specialized athlete of the year: Juliette Nau (Lewis and Clark wheelchair track and field, basketball), Jack Coy (Lewis and Clark wheelchair basketball, track and field), Brycen Phillips (Mt. Spokane ambulatory track and field)Dan Fitzgerald Against All Odds Award: Owen Pitts (Medical Lake basketball, track and field), Jenkin Family (basketball)A replay of the broadcast will be available on SWX on June 27 and 28 after Hoopfest coverage concludes at approximately 6:30 p.m.Northwest Christian volleyball players show off their state rings during the Spokane Youth Sports Awards on Tuesday at the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox in Spokane.

The New York Knicks had the worst start possible in Game 4 against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. The Knicks were forced to pull Karl-Anthony Towns only 62 seconds into the game on Wednesday night after the star center picked up two controversial fouls. From there, the Spurs started a two-way avalanche that helped the team take a 19-point lead into the second quarter, and a 76-49 lead into halftime.Towns was called for a foul on the very first play of the game when defending De’Aaron Fox on a drive. A couple possessions later, KAT was called for another foul after the refs reviewed his drive to the basket and determined he hooked Victor Wembanyama on his way to the rim. Those weren’t the only calls the Madison Square Garden crowd was upset about. There was an apparent missed goaltend on Spurs center Luke Kornet, plus a botched out of bounds call that favored San Antonio. Knicks fans also won’t love that big man Mitchell Robinson was called for a flagrant-1 for hitting Wemby with a forearm to the neck after the French star got away with decking Jalen Brunson in Game 3. The refs didn’t tell the whole story for the Spurs dominant start. The Spurs shot 65 percent from the field in the first quarter while the Knicks shot 29 percent. San Antonio didn’t turn the ball over while New York turned it over four times. San Antonio was getting easy looks and hitting everything, while the Knicks’ offense was stuck in the mud.The officiating was a storyline after Game 3, with Mike Brown pleading with the refs for more consistency after the Spurs shot 10 more free throws in a tight win. It’s bound to be a storyline again after Game 4. Watch the calls for yourself and be the judge. First, let’s start with Towns’ first foul on the very first play of the game:The game JUST started and the refs already trying to foul out KATFox RAN INTO KAT 😭 pic.twitter.com/2uO6MA3wav— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) June 11, 2026I don’t love that call so early in the game. The second foul on Towns was more legit to me. This was originally ruled a foul on Wembanyama, but San Antonio challenged, and the refs overturned the call. Towns clearly hooks Wemby on his drive and holds it all the way to the rim before the Spurs star gets a clean block. Watch the play here:KAT heads to the bench after picking up two fouls in the first minute 😯 pic.twitter.com/ZJ5mgKsYYU— ESPN (@espn) June 11, 2026There are sharp basketball minds who disagree with this foul call on Towns, but ultimately Towns hooked him, and I don’t think Wembanyama had the opportunity to get his arm free. I’m not sure how the refs missed this out of bounds call on Wembanyama:WHAT??? This was called out of bounds on the Knicks… pic.twitter.com/0hjhahfOQm— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) June 11, 2026This also should have been goaltending on Kornet in my opinion. Not called goaltending… pic.twitter.com/qoquvy0XOC— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs) June 11, 2026Wembanyama was also taunting Robinson, which appeared to coax the Knicks backup big into a flagrant foul. First, Wembanyama hit Robinson was a beautiful pirouette to finish a layup. Wembanyama started barking on Robinson down the other end, and when the Spurs star got a little too close for his liking, Robinson decked him with a forearm to the neck.The refs reviewed the play and determined it was a flagrant-1 on Robinson. Wembanyama called and pointed to his noggin, appearing to say “I’m in your head.” Mitchell Robinson flagrant vs. Wemby 😳"I'm in your head, boy." —Wemby pic.twitter.com/XoXEjHs6k0— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 11, 2026The refs aren’t the reason the Knicks got smoked in the first half of Game 4. San Antonio’s offense was just too spectacular, while New York couldn’t get anything going. Still, the early foul calls on Towns were a game-changer, and the inconsistent nature of the officiating throughout the series has put players on both teams in a bad spot.The refs allowed a ton of physicality in the first three games. In Game 4, the officials were even calling some ticky-tack fouls, and it clearly took the Knicks out of their rhythm. It also made Madison Square Garden go eerily silent. The Knicks won the first two games in San Antonio. The Spurs won Game 3, and they’re already routing the Knicks through the first half of Game 4. Two days ago, it seemed like this might be a sweep. Not anymore. The 2026 Finals feel like they’re just getting started. This series couldn’t be more intense.

Jun. 10—PULLMAN — Washington State has added a pair of defenders to its future.The Cougars secured two prep commitments on Wednesday, one from in-state linebacker Nate Obasanjo and one from cornerback Noah Clark, good for the 11th and 12th members of WSU's class of 2027. The Cougs beat out Pac-12 foes past and present for each.A three-star prospect from Inglewood, California, Clark took his official visit to Pullman in late May. He turned down offers from Utah, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, UNLV and New Mexico to join the Cougars' class of 2027, which now includes six defenders. During his junior season at Inglewood High last fall, Clark piled up 92 total tackles (one for loss), one sack and three interceptions, which he returned for a total of 72 yards. He also broke up seven passes and forced one fumble.Clark, listed at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, visited UNLV last weekend and has a visit to Boise State scheduled for next weekend. The Cougars are in a good spot to hold on to Clark, but earlier in the week, they saw three-star WR Malachi Garlington flip to Oregon after a four-day commitment to WSU. They would do well to avoid a similar fate with Clark, who has some positional flexibility, also playing nickel and safety.Clark's full list of offers included Georgia State and Sacramento State, along with FCS club Delaware State.For his part, Obasanjo is a native of Seattle, where he plays linebacker for Mount Rainier. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Obasanjo also fielded offers from Utah, Colorado State, San Diego State, UNLV, New Mexico and Idaho.Obasanjo is the second Washington prospect in WSU's class of 2027, joining Anacortes quarterback Ryan Harrington, who announced his commitment in late April. With those two on the hook for the Cougars — and with a few other prospects scheduled to visit Pullman later this month — it's clear that head coach Kirby Moore and assistants are making an effort to reestablish a recruiting footprint in their home state.Obasanjo visited WSU last weekend, becoming one of a host of recruits to make their visits to Pullman in June, which has become a busy month for the Cougars. In the last 10 days alone, coaches have earned a flurry of commitments.WSU's updated class of 2027:—Nate Obasanjo, S/LB, Mount Rainier HS (Seattle)—Noah Clark, 3-star CB, Inglewood HS (Inglewood, California)—Tomas Dixon, WR, San Joaquin Memorial HS (Fresno, California)—Jettson Gillam, TE, Mountain View HS (Bend, Oregon)—Colton Richter, 3-star DE, Shadow Ridge HS (Las Vegas, Nevada)—Adrian Barnett, ATH, the King's Academy (Sunnydale, California)—Owen Yurosek, TE, Bakersfield HS (Bakersfield, California)—Ryan Harrington, 3-star QB, Anacortes HS (Washington)—Josiah Rand, 3-star LB, Chaminade HS (West Hills, California)—Marquez Wimberly, 3-star RB, Nazareth HS (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)—Lopeti Malupo, 3-star DL, Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco)—EJ Coleman, 3-star ATH, Folsom HS (Folsom, California)

MADISON – The Appleton North softball team has officially crashed the WIAA state tournament party.The sixth-seeded Lightning shook off a rough first inning and showed off its offense in a 10-3 victory over third-seeded Stevens Point in a Division 1 state quarterfinal at Goodman Diamond on June 10.North (20-7) advances to play Muskego (27-2) in a state semifinal June 11 at approximately 7 p.m. Second-seeded Muskego advanced with a 14-8 win over Marshfield.North had a precarious start, allowing single runs over the first two innings while also committing a pair of errors.The game was delayed for four hours prior to the start due to inclement weather in the area. That may or may not have had an impact on the youthful Lightning, which has just one senior on its roster.North head coach Chris Nissen said the team works on realizing the moment and not having it overwhelm them."It's something we work on a lot," he said. "We work on a lot of mental imagery, talking about not allowing the moment to get too big for yourself. You could tell the girls were incredibly nervous to start the game, and the delay did not help."VOTE NOW: Choose from seven nominees for Cellcom Post-Crescent athlete of the weekThe team steadied itself and went to work at the plate as the Lightning pounded out 12 hits. It scored four runs in the third inning, another run in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to overwhelm the Panthers.North's Alyssa Wald was 2-for-3, Drew Brown was 2-for-5 with three RBIs, and Charlotte Radtke, Evelyn Frega and Keira Hughes also had two hits apiece. Hughes also drove in two runs.The defense was also special at times with center fielder Valarie Baranczyk pulling down a critical catch by the center field fence that thwarted a potential scoring opportunity for SPASH, which finishes with a 25-5 record.Radtke got the win in the circle, striking out six in the complete-game victory. She allowed seven hits, two earned runs and walked two.This story will be updated.This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: WIAA high school softball Appleton North beats Stevens Point

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 6: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium on June 6, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)Getty ImagesShohei Ohtani did not have a great outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 10. In fact, he stumbled a bit in his bid for his 7th win.Shohei Ohtani is human, after all.The total dominance of Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Shohei Ohtani on the mound this season has been almost unbelievable.Until he faced a determined Pittsburgh Pirates team on June 10, in Pittsburgh.Ohtani has proven he is, indeed, human.Ohtani entered the Pittsburgh game with a 6-2 record in 10 starts for the Dodgers.Ohtani had a minuscule 0.74 ERA, and 0.78 WHIP in his 61 innings pitched.Ohtani had struck out an average of 9.9 hitters per nine innings, while walking only 1.7 batters per nine.Ohtani had been in total control all season on the mound.SAN DIEGO, CA - MAY 20: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers takes the sign from the catcher during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ryan Levy/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty ImagesIn his June 3 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Ohtani had the Diamondbacks players totally off-balanced. He changed the eye levels of the hitters, and threw six innings of two hit baseball. He struck out six, and walked one.In the game against Arizona, Ohtani threw 89 pitches, with 58 of them for strikes.Fast forward to the June 10 game, and Ohtani had a much different outing.The Pirates scored four runs, on six hits, and three walks in 6.2 innings against Shohei on June 10, in contrast to his superb Phoenix outing.Ohtani threw 102 pitches, with 61 of them strikes.One of the hits was a home run by right fielder Tyler Callahan. It was only the second homer yielded by Ohtani all season.Ohtani saw his earned run average climb to 1.06, and his WHIP rose to 0.84 after the Pirates seemed to have their way with his offerings.When Ohtani left the game, the Dodgers had a lead.Ohtani did not get a decision in the game, as the Pirates went on to defeat Los Angels by a final score of 9-8, as they rallied for three runs in the seventh inning, and five more in the eighth.In the five starts prior to Ohtani’s start against the Pirates, he yielded a total of three runs. That’s three runs in five starts. In three games, he yielded no runs. He lost a game against the Houston Astros May 5, by a score of 2-1.He defeated the San Francisco Giants May 13, 4-0.He defeated the San Diego Padres May 20, 4-0.He defeated the Colorado Rockies May 27, 4-1.He defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks June 3, 7-0.Then on Wednesday, June 10, Ohtani got the no decision in the Dodgers 9-8 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 13: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a pitch during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThere wasn’t anything wrong with Ohtani’s offense in the Pirates game.He hit his 12th homer of the season in the 9th inning. It was a two-run blast off lefty Gregory Soto. He also singled, scored a run, and had two RBIs for the evening.Ohtani’s home run in the 9th inning made the score Pittsburgh 9, Los Angeles 8. That’s how the game ended.Conclusions Regarding Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani’s Game Against Pittsburgh:One should not make more of the Ohtani outing against the Pirates than it was.The game wasn’t his best on the mound.It showed that even Shohei Ohtani can have an outing that doesn’t quite meet his norm.He did, however, have two hits, including a two-run homer and single in the game.There remains little doubt in this old scout’s mind that Shohei Ohtani remains the best baseball player on the planet. Ever.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

The Knicks only made 15 total field goals in the first half on Wednesday night, one more than the Spurs made just from behind the arc. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)AP Photo/Ross D. FranklinThe San Antonio Spurs took off on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.The Spurs, led by a dominant first half from Victor Wembanyama, took a massive 76-49 lead over the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The 27-point advantage in the opening half marked the largest road halftime lead in NBA Finals history, excluding the COVID-19 bubble season in 2020, and the third-largest of all-time. But that was all possible thanks to a ridiculous shooting stretch from the Spurs. San Antonio went 14-of-26 from the 3-point line as a group in the first 24 minutes. That marked the most made 3-pointers in a half in NBA Finals history. Devin Vassell led the way from behind the arc in the first half. He went a perfect 4-of-4 from the 3-point line, and entered halftime with 15 points. Wembanyama, despite a team-high 16 points and six rebounds, only went 1-of-5 from the 3-point line. He had 13 of his 16 points in the first quarter, too. But despite his struggles from deep, the Spurs still rolled to the huge lead without much issue. And, by comparison, the Knicks’ shooting was not great. They went just 4-of-12 from the 3-point line in the first half. OG Anunoby accounted for half of their made 3-pointers. In total, the Knicks only made 15 field goals, one more than the Spurs made just from deep. The Knicks entered Wednesday’s game with a 2-1 lead in the NBA Finals. The Spurs, however, picked up a four-point win in Game 3 on Monday night to stun Knicks fans in what was the team’s first home NBA Finals game since 1999 and get on the board in the series. While Wednesday’s contest isn’t over yet, the Knicks would have to mount the largest comeback in NBA Finals history in order to get the win. After how they shot in the first 24 minutes, that doesn’t look like it’d be an easy task.This post will be updated with more information shortly.

WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams speaks with members of the media after an OTA offseason workout at Rams Village at Warner Center on May 26, 2026 in Woodland Hills, California. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images) | Getty Images It was a little while ago, but Sean McVay completed an interview with Jamie Maggio where he broke down what he looks for come schedule release time. He claims it’s not too compliacted as he simply starts by looking at who the team plays in Week One, followed by looking at the team’s bye week and Thursday night games. McVay reflected every year is tough regardless of the opponents, “I don’t know that I’ve ever been part of an easy schedule”, so his approach at this point is to look for extended breaks for his team such as bye weeks and Thursday night games. Many franchises consider the time after Thursday night games “mini-byes” as squads get an extended break following your Thursday night matchup.Of course, this season the Rams will be playing on the first ever pre-Thanksgiving Wednesday night game against the Green Bay Packers. Perhaps that matchup will give McVay something new to consider going forward.McVay on reviewing the schedule when it breaks:“What I look at is who are we opening with?…We already kinda knew that we were going to Australia playing the 49ers so that little bit of buzz that comes out when you release the schedule was down. Then I’m looking at, alright, where are our Thursday night games? Where’s our bye (week)?…all things being equal do you like being able to play in a normal one 0’clock window? Yah you like that, but that’s not what the schedule makers had for us.” One big takeaway for the schedule is that the Rams play the Seattle Seahawks in week 16 and 18. McVay didn’t comment on those matchups directly, but it can be assumed McVay is aware of those games as they could decide the winner of the NFC West and potentially the conference. On some level McVay likely doesn’t care which teams the Rams play and when. Whereas fans have to plan to be at certain games or watch them around their own busy schedules, McVay will be at all the games. His main concerns aren’t when opponents are played per se, but rather who are the Rams playing to start the season? When is each game in terms of what day of the week? And when will the team have down time?There is likely more to the schedule release for the Rams than McVay is letting on, but if you take him at face value, he is giving you an inside look at what him and likely many other teams and coaches around the league focus on when their schedules are revealed.Considering how uptight teams can be around sharing any information, including how they approach their schedule release (and their schedule release videos), McVay seemed to provide a fairly educational response. So, the next time the schedule is coming out for the Rams, keep in mind to look at the Week 1 opponent first, the bye week and the Thursday night games, and you’ll be reviewing the latest Rams schedule just like McVay.

How does Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba stack up against the best players in the NFL under the age of 25?According to Check The Mic’s Sam Monson, Smith-Njigba ranks No. 1 overall above all other players in the league under 25 years old.Smith-Nijgba ranked ahead of Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (No. 2), Los Angeles Chargers offensive lineman Joe Alt (No. 3), Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams (No. 4) and Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 5).The Seahawks’ superstar receiver was lauded above an elite group of players. Maye was the runner-up for the AP NFL MVP award in 2025. Alt allowed only one sack and seven pressures last season and established himself as one of the best offensive tackles in the NFL.Williams emerged as one of the best players in the NFL last season, having recorded 3,942 passing yards on the year. Few players have been able to rack up as many scrimmage yards as Gibbs over the last two seasons, as he’s twice gone for over 1,800 yards in that department. Nevertheless, Smith-Njigba outpaced all of the elite receivers in the league in 2025 and was, plainly put, the most outstanding offensive weapon out there, for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks.This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks Jaxon Smith-Njigba one of the best NFL players under age 25