If you have index funds — such as in a 401(k) — they may soon include shares of the mega company. Here’s a rough calculation.

IND vs AFG 1st ODI predicted playing XI: India's No. 3 dilemma between Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:India assistant coach Morne Morkel has confirmed the No. 3 batting position is up for grabs, with Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal all in the frame for the roleKL Rahul is expected to retain his role at No. 5, where he has been batting consistently and keeping wicket for India in ODIsHardik Pandya and Virat Kohli are both unavailable for the series, opening up spots in India's middle order against AfghanistanIndia's No. 3 dilemma between Ishan Kishan, Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL RahulIndia's three-match ODI series against Afghanistan offers Shubman Gill's side an ideal opportunity to settle some key batting questions ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. The most pressing of those concerns the No. 3 position, a slot India has been unable to fill with consistency since Virat Kohli's retirement from Test cricket.India assistant coach Morne Morkel addressed the uncertainty at the pre-match press conference, confirming that the team will use this series to try out multiple middle-order combinations. His comments represent a clear signal that nothing is set in stone heading into the first ODI at HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, on Saturday.MORE:How to watch IND vs AFG ODI series 2026 live"In terms of that number three slot, that's something that in this series we'll play around with. Even if it's Ishan or KL or Yashasvi, it's a nice opportunity now. We've got a couple of one-day games coming up and we'll give guys opportunity in different slots," Morne Morkel said.Why Ishan Kishan gets the nod over Rahul and JaiswalOf the three candidates, Ishan Kishan appears the likeliest to take the No. 3 slot for the first ODI at Dharamsala. The left-hander is making an ODI comeback and offers a different dimension to India's top order, with his attacking intent capable of putting pressure on opposition bowlers early in the innings.Yashasvi Jaiswal remains an option but is more naturally suited to opening and could be held back, while KL Rahul is better served staying at No. 5, a position where he has established himself with consistent performances for India. His wicket-keeping role and ability to anchor innings while accelerating in the death make him ideal at that spot in the order.MORE:From the time I started playing cricket': Sachin Tendulkar's words may be the ultimate retirement tribute to Kane WilliamsonIndiapredictedXIvsAfghanistan (1stODI)Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Harsh DubeyAfghanistanpredictedXIvsIndia (1stODI)Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor AhmadTo keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics, visit our Facebook, Instagram and X(Twitter) pages.

NEW DELHI: Team India, led by Shubman Gill, are all set to begin their preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup with a three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, starting at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Saturday.India head into the series brimming with confidence after recording their biggest-ever Test victory - an innings and 300-run demolition of Afghanistan in the one-off Test in Mullanpur earlier this week.However, the hosts will be without one of their biggest stars, Virat Kohli.Why is Virat Kohli not playing against Afghanistan?Kohli has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series due to a hamstring injury. The injury comes at a time when the former India captain has been in outstanding form in the 50-over format.Having retired from T20 Internationals in 2024 and Test cricket in 2025, Kohli has shifted his complete focus to ODI cricket. The move has paid rich dividends, with the veteran batter continuing to dominate attacks around the world.Since the start of 2025, Kohli has scored 891 ODI runs at an impressive average of 68.53, including four centuries and five half-centuries. He carried that form into 2026 as well, scoring 240 runs in just three matches against New Zealand.The batting great also enjoyed a prolific 2025 season, amassing 651 runs in ODIs with three centuries and four fifties to his name.India are scheduled to play 20 ODIs before the start of 2027, beginning with the Afghanistan series, making Kohli's fitness a key concern for the team management.The Indian camp will be hoping that Kohli recovers in time for the important ODI tour of England next month. India are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series in England from July 14 to July 19.India vs Afghanistan ODI Series Schedule1st ODI – June 13, 2026HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala2nd ODI – June 17, 2026Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow3rd ODI – June 20, 2026MA Chidambaram Stadium, ChennaiIndia vs Afghanistan squads:India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Prince YadavAfghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi 131686409

When Ghana opens World Cup group play on June 17 in Toronto, it will be without midfielder Thomas Partey.Partey, 32, will remain at the team's base camp in Rhode Island after it was reported on Friday that he had been denied entry to Canada. Partey is facing five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault after being charged in July 2025 by London police. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges. He was then charged with two more counts of rape in February, according to The Athletic. He pleaded not guilty to the additional counts in April.FIFA confirms Partey will not play in Canada The Ghana national team arrived in Providence on Thursday night with a welcome ceremony at the Graduate hotel in downtown Providence. The team will practice at Bryant University in Smithfield for its World Cup matches. The Black Stars are scheduled to face Panama on June 17 (in Toronto), then England on June 23 (at Boston Stadium) and Croatia on June 27 (in Philadelphia). Partey is expected to be on the field for the latter two matches.According to a FIFA statement to The Athletic, the league said, “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government. FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”Partey played for Arsenal of the English Premier League through the 2024-25 season and for the Spanish club Villarreal of La Liga this season, where his contract runs through the end of this month.This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ghana player denied entry to Canada over rape charges, to remain in RI

Bruno Fernandes in line for another top recognition after latest award nomination Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has landed a nomination for another award, following his stellar 2025/26 season.Record breakerThe just-concluded Premier League campaign was a magical one for Fernandes, who proved crucial as United finished in third place and secured Champions League football.Yet again, he led from the front, delivering week after week. He especially kicked up an extra level following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal and Michael Carrick’s appointment as his replacement.One of Carrick’s very first moves was to restore Fernandes to his favoured playmaking role – a tactic that worked wonders for the Red Devils.Fernandes finished the campaign with nine goals and 21 assists. This means that he now holds the record for the most assists by a player in a single Premier League season. He had been jointly holding the record with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne but has now surpassed the pair.The Portugal international not only won United’s Player of the Year and Player’s Player of the Year awards, but also the Premier League Player of the Season and Football Writers’ Player of the Year prizes.He is considered the heavy favourite to bag the PFA Player of the Year accolade, which will be handed out in August.Now, it has been confirmed that Fernandes is in the running to win the PFA Player of the Month award for May.Fresh nominationMay was a good month for Fernandes. United faced three of the four games they played, beating Liverpool, Nottingham Forest and Brighton & Hove Albion.Carrick’s men were only held back by Sunderland in a goalless stalemate at the Stadium of Light.Fernandes proved decisive against Liverpool as it was his header that sparked chaos for Freddie Woodman, who could only spill it into the path of Benjamin Sesko for United’s second of the game.Fernandes notched his 20th assist against Forest, creating Bryan Mbeumo’s goal. He then got on the scoresheet himself and claimed his 21st assist on the final day of the season, as United cruised past Brighton.To win the PFA Player of the Month award for May, Fernandes will have to ward off competition from Erling Haaland (Manchester City), William Osula (Newcastle), David Raya (Arsenal), Adrien Truffert (Bournemouth) and Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).You can vote for Fernandes here.Featured image by Molly Darlington/Getty online pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

WASHINGTON — A federal lawsuit aimed at halting the upcoming UFC Freedom 250 at the White House has failed, as a judge has denied a petition to hit the event with a temporary restraining order or a preliminary injunction.Less than a week after the Public Integrity Project filed the complaint on behalf of two Virginia residents, U.S. District Court judge Amit Mehta said Friday afternoon that the plaintiffs failed to show a specific potential of irreparable harm.“Concluding the plaintiffs have not satisfied their burden as to these elements, the court does not reach the merits,” wrote Mehta, a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in his ruling. “An injury in fact cannot be conjectural—it must be ‘definable and discernible.’”The plaintiffs had alleged that the National Park Service, which oversees the public grounds at the White House, and the U.S. Department of Interior that oversees the NPS violated strict regulations when allowing UFC Freedom 250 to happen, failed to secure Congressional approval for the event, and did not secure a required environmental review.The U.S. Department of Justice, responding on behalf of the sister federal agencies, said earlier this week that “a more starkly mismatched balance of harms would be difficult to conceive.”The Money MattersTo that end, Mehta directly noted the $60 million that UFC has spent to produce the event as he sided with the government. “The potential loss of those dollars resulting from a last-minute, court-ordered stoppage cannot be ignored,” Mehta wrote. On Thursday, Mehta said that he would not be holding a hearing on the petition, and would instead rule based on the written briefs.The Public Integrity Project did not immediately respond to the ruling on Friday afternoon. UFC Freedom 250, a spectacle unlike anything in the history of mixed-martial arts promotion, is now fully on track to happen on Sunday night. UFC and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings, were not parties to the lawsuit. That $60 million in production expenses includes the development of “The Claw,” the 92-foot apparatus directly adjacent to the White House and hanging over the octagon.The post Judge Rejects Bid to Stop UFC White House Show appeared first on Front Office Sports.

A state judge in Maine agreed on Thursday that “Protect Girls’ Sports,” an anti-transgender activist group, tried to get a referendum on sports participation on the ballot this fall but failed to collect enough valid signatures. Earlier this year, Protect Girls’ Sports, a campaign that was bankrolled by out-of-state billionaire Richard Uihlein, submitted 79,692 signatures — well over the 67,682 required to qualify — to get a measure on the ballot this fall that would ban trans kids from participating in school sports. Related Graham Platner wins big in Maine Senate primary despite problematic history on LGBTQ+ issues But Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (D) ruled in May that, because 12,542 of those signatures were possibly fraudulent, Protect Girls’ Sports did not succeed in obtaining enough signatures. Now, Superior Court Justice Deborah Cashman has affirmed Bellows’ decision and rejected the anti-trans campaign’s appeals. Cashman’s 13-page decision focuses on the technical claims and even notes that there was “substantially more evidence of circulator wrongdoing than what the Secretary ultimately chose to rely on upon making her Revised Determination.” Your LGBTQ+ guide to Elections Stay ahead of the election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Bellows threw out some of the signatures because the collectors didn’t witness the signing (as required by state law). Others were invalidated because the signatures did not match the voters’ signatures on voter registries, because the signatories signed more than once, because the signers weren’t registered voters, or because the signatures were forgeries. Collectors were paid $3 to $4 per signature. “The rules are in place to make sure that when a question goes on the ballot, that voters can trust that it qualified fair and square,” David Farmer of the Campaign for Free and Fair Schools told Maine Public Radio. “And in this case, it did not. They took some shortcuts and got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.” Protect Girls’ Sports said in a statement that they would continue to appeal the decision. “The committee remains confident in the challenges it raised to the Secretary’s decision and will seek review by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court,” the statement said. The ballot measure would’ve defined a student’s sex as “a biological status as male or female recorded at birth on the person’s original birth certificate,” effectively ending any legal recognition of trans students, not just in the cases of restrooms and sports. The measure also would’ve carved trans students out of legal protections enshrined in the Maine Human Rights Act (a statewide anti-discrimination law), and would’ve allowed cisgender students to sue any school that allowed trans students to use sex-segregated school spaces alongside them. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Shinnecock Hills is the only golf club to host the U.S. Open over three centuries. In the five previous championships, only three players have finished under par.That's what awaits Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and the rest of the field for the 126th edition of golf's second-oldest championship. And if they are not on edge about the toughest test in golf, the USGA might be.The last two U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills are remembered for more than just the winners. The greens were so firm and fast in 2004 officials had to spray water on the seventh green between groups because golf balls wouldn't stay on the putting surface. The greens and pin positions were so severe in 2018 that none of the last 45 players to tee off in the third round broke par.What awaits this year? The USGA is promising to let Shinnecock Hills be itself, with the hope that the wind and the course is enough to identify the best player.Here's what you need to know going into the U.S. Open:When does the US Open start?The 126th edition of the U.S. Open is June 18-21. Dating to 1976, the U.S. Open plays the final round on Father's Day. The lone exception, except for a Monday playoff, was in 2020 when the U.S. Open was held in September because of the COVID-19 pandemic.How can I watch the US Open?There will be wall-to-wall coverage when the U.S. Open starts Thursday, a total of of 47 hours.It begins at 6:30 a.m. Thursday on USA Network and goes to 5 p.m., when Peacock takes over until 8 p.m. The second round Friday starts on Peacock from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., with NBC Sports picking it up until 7 p.m. and then another hour on Peacock.USA Network is the channel Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, and then NBC until 8 p.m. Coverage of the final round will start at 9 a.m. on USA Network until noon, and then NBC takes it to the conclusion.Who's playing in the US Open?The 156-man field has everyone from 17-year-olds Miles Russell and Giuseppe Puebla — Nos. 1 and 2 in the American junior ranking — to 54-year-old Padraig Harrington, who qualified as the U.S. Senior Open champion.The USGA is saving seven spots for late qualifiers. When the field is set, it is likely to have about 68 players who had to go through 36-hole qualifying and 88 players who were exempt through various categories. It remains the major that requires the most players to qualify.Who are the favorites?Scheffler is the favorite at every major as the No. 1 player in the world for three straight years, and the winner of three of the last 10 majors. BetMGM Sports book has him at +550, followed by Masters champion Rory McIlroy at +1000.They are followed by Jon Rahm (+1200), Cameron Young (+1800) and Bryson DeChambeau (+2000).What's at stake in this US Open?All eyes will be on Scheffler, who can become the seventh player to complete the career Grand Slam if he wins the U.S. Open. This will be his first chance at that. In the modern era of the slam that dates to 1960, Tiger Woods is the only player to get the last leg on his first try.Scheffler got into this position by winning the PGA Championship and British Open last year.A victory by Xander Schauffele would give golf three active players with three legs of the Grand Slam. Schauffele already has won the PGA Championship and the British Open. Jordan Spieth has every major but the PGA Championship. The other would be Scheffler.For everyone else, a U.S. Open champion gets the Jack Nicklaus gold medal, a 10-year exemption into the U.S. Open, a five-year exemption to the other three majors and a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour. The prize money hasn't been announced, but last year the winner received $4.3 million.What is the format?Just like the other three majors, the format is 72 holes of stroke play. If there is a tie between two or more players at the end of regulation, there will be a two-hole aggregate playoff, and if it's still tied, a sudden-death playoff after that.The two-hole system has never been used. In fact, there hasn't been a playoff at the U.S. Open since Tiger Woods defeated Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines in 2008. It's the longest any major has currently gone without a playoff.Is there a 36-hole cut?Yes. The top 60 players and ties advance to the weekend. The U.S. Open used to include anyone within 10 shots of the lead, but that was scrapped in 2012.What is the history of Shinnecock Hills?A long one. Shinnecock Hills dates to 1891 when members of the Shinnecock tribe were paid to help shape the golf course. The current design was by William Flynn in 1931 when the club obtained more property. But it's claim is the oldest golf club in America that never moved off its original site.Shinnecock Hills hosted the second U.S. Open in 1896, and then waited 90 years for another one. It is the only golf club to host the U.S. Open in the 19th, 20th and 21st century.Do any other New York golf courses host the US Open?New York has the richest history of U.S. Opens. Shinnecock Hills will host it for the sixth time, tied for most in the Empire State with Winged Foot. The other New York courses that have held the U.S. Open are Oak Hill (three times), Bethpage Black (twice), Fresh Meadow, Inwood, Country Club of Buffalo and Garden City Club. That's a total of 21 times the U.S. Open has been in New York.What's the forecast?A few showers are in the forecast for parts of Thursday and Sunday, and temperatures should be on the pleasant side. Key to the forecast is the wind, which is expected to be about 15 mph for most of the week. That's all Shinnecock Hills needs to challenge the best players.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Thomas Partey has been selected by Ghana for his second World Cup [Getty Images]Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his nation's first World Cup game in Toronto against Panama, after being denied entry to Canada. Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He is due to stand trial next year.In a statement, Fifa confirmed the former Arsenal player, who is now with Spanish side Villarreal, will be unable to travel from Ghana's training base in Boston after having his "visa application was refused by the Canadian government".World football's governing body, added: "Fifa is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. "The host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country."On the Canadian government website rules around visiting the country state: "If you have committed or been convicted of a crime, you may not be allowed into Canada." Partey has pleaded not guilty to all charges but is awaiting trial and has not been convicted.Ghana boss Queiroz no qualms over Partey selectionPrior to the tournament, Ghana head coach Carlos Queiroz, said he had no qualms over selecting Partey, who was at Atletico Madrid before moving to London in 2020 to join the Gunners."If the player is here with me, my answer is clear," said Queiroz."I don't have any comments about my own decisions. He is here so what are we talking about?"This is not for me or you to make a judgement about."Let the events run their normal course; let the river flow and one day when the river meets the ocean we are going to find the truth."Ghana are set to face England in their second Group L match at the Boston Stadium, Foxborough, on 23 June (21:00 BST) before taking on Croatia on 27 June in Philadelphia (22:00 BST) - both games in which Partey could still feature.Partey's situtation is not the first to involve the authorities of the host nations - the United States, Mexico and Canada - as the tournament gets under way.Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for several hours at a Chicago airport before being allowed into the country. Iran have been forced to switch their base location to Mexico, their fans have had their tickets revoked, while members of their delegation were refused visas.Meanwhile, Somali referee Omar Artan was not allowed into the US because of his "association with suspected members of terror organisations", according to a source from President Donald Trump's administration.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameWorld Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

The Ultimate Fighting Championship Freedom 250 arena is seen from the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPIJune 12 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Friday refused to halt a planned UFC fight on the White House's South Lawn in response to a lawsuit saying the event violates government regulations.District Judge Amit P. Mehta of the District of Columbia said the lawsuit brought by Susan Douglas and Paul Romano, both residents of Virginia, failed to show how the event scheduled for Sunday would harm either of the plaintiffs.The Trump administration is in the process of building a 92-foot-tall, 600-ton steel structure on the South Lawn to hold the UFC event on Sunday, which is President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The event has been advertised as being part of the celebration of the United States' 250th anniversary, which is July 4.The lawsuit, in which the plaintiffs are represented by the Public Integrity Project, accuses the Trump administration of circumventing congressional authority and violating National Park Service regulations to construct the structure, which they said is destroying much of the South Lawn. The suit said the erection of such a structure on national monument grounds must be authorized by Congress.Mehta said the construction of the so-called "Claw" structure on the South Lawn "is an ostensible injury to [the plaintiffs'] aesthetic interests."President Donald Trump is hosting a series of fighting matches on the South Lawn on Flag Day and his 80th birthday, June 14, in honor of America's 250th birthday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI"But Plaintiffs fall short of showing they are 'directly affected' by Defendants' actions," he wrote."The president is giving [UFC CEO Dana] White and his company what none have enjoyed before: unfettered access to the White House and Lincoln Memorial to stage a private, for-profit sports event, with all the promotional and branding opportunities that accompany such access," the original lawsuit reads.The UFC arena is seen as preparations continue for the UFC Freedom 250 event. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI"The UFC is not being coy about the event's pecuniary nature. One executive recently called it 'the greatest earned-marketing tool of all time.' And he is far from the only one salivating at the business upside."The lawsuit alleges that Trump also stands to benefit financially from the event. In May, Trump bought $50,000 in TKO stock; TKO owns the UFC and WWE.U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds conduct a trial flyover over the White House ahead of the Sunday's Ultimate Fighting Championship match. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPIThe lawsuit says the UFC is selling VIP packages to the event for between $1 million and $1.5 million.Mehta said blocking the event two days before it is scheduled after a near yearlong planning would "cause substantial harm to other interests," including time, money and effort spent in preparation.Defendants "point to the reliance interests of thousands of expected spectators, some of whom have planned visits to the District of Columbia," Mehta wrote.

Ohio State Buckeyes defensive back Caleb Downs gets measured during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026. We are firmly in the Summer Scouting portion of the 2027 NFL Draft class. As spring grades leak out, it is important to use them in the right way. For all the devout film watchers and draftniks out there, the Summer is always a fun place. For months, the space is dedicated to watching as many future NFL Draft prospects as possible. We are right in the middle of the 2027 NFL Draft early work. You set yourself up with a baseline for the class, a new season of film comes, final evaluations and scouting reports are filed, the NFL Draft comes and goes, and the process begins all over again. It's a cyclical world that most roll their eyes at. For the real draft nerds like myself, it's a wonderful world, and it can be even more fun to look back on past hits, misses, and reevaluate your individual scouting process. Around this time every year, NFL spring grades begin to leak to the public, and they have already been doing so over the last several weeks. Two services supply these early grades for potential 2027 NFL Draft prospects: BLESTO and NFS. Once those grades are out, the Twitter space is littered with verified measurements, draft feedback, and folks pretending like they have discovered every hidden gem. Should the public have access to these grades? No, but don't tell the Angry NFL Scout Vet. They're incredibly easy to get as long as you know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy, and sometimes it's even easier than that. BLESTO and NFS can be valuable resources for some, while others can use them for all the wrong reasons. Context is important with spring grades, but not as much as the process that they fall into. What is BLESTO? BLESTO is probably the more interesting of the two services. Perhaps starting with the acronym would be a solid starting point. BLESTO stands for Bears-Lions-Steelers- Talent-Organization. They are a private, national scouting service that multiple NFL teams subscribe to for help evaluating college football prospects for the upcoming draft. The member franchises share resources, such as verified measurements, 40-yard dash times, character reports, and tiered grades, to help lay the foundation for the process. While the teams supply the BLESTO scouts, they function as an individual entity. During the spring, these BLESTO scouts travel around the country to visit schools and create the product. While these BLESTO scouts are usually the low man on the totem pole and therefore more inexperienced, this early information can be very beneficial across the league. The grades, however, can be imperfect. With the team being composed of those aforementioned inexperienced scouts, the information, such as the verified measurements, is generally the more useful piece of the pie. Some BLESTO scouts are good evaluators, but a large portion have supplied questionable early grades in the past. Like anyone, they have their hits and misses every year. Here were their top graded prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft last preseason. S Caleb Downs (Ohio State) EDGE Keldric Faulk (Auburn)RB Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) OT Xavier Chaplin (Auburn) LB Harold Perkins (LSU)OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami) EDGE TJ Parker (Clemson) OT Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) DT Peter Woods (Clemson) TE Max Klare (Ohio State) WR Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)EDGE LT Overton (Alabama) There are certainly some hits in that group, while Chaplin, Perkins, and Overton were big misses. BLESTO has a few weird blunders each year, like having a seventh round grade on former Dallas Cowboys first rounder Tyler Booker. It's human nature to miss, and we're far from perfect. While that's true, the NFS track record might be even worse, at least recently. What is NFS? Every year, around late February-early March, folks from all over travel to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine, which is an annual multi-day event where top draft prospects are evaluated by NFL teams through physicals and mental tests, interviews, medicals, and on-field testing. The folks who handle the logistics of that event are National Football Scouting (NFS).NFS is one of the premier centralized scouting services utilized by NFL front offices. It is primarily responsible for generating preliminary fall player evaluations, distributing grades, and running logistics for the aforementioned NFL Scouting Combine. Unlike BLESTO, NFS does not have any direct affiliation with NFL teams, but is an outside resource. Functionally, both NFS and BLESTO do largely the same job. I must say, at least based on recent results, the NFS grades have left a lot to be desired. Here were their top-rated 2026 NFL Draft prospects from a year ago, in order. QB Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) OT Drew Shelton (Penn State) RB Nick Singleton (Penn State) EDGE Zion Young (Missouri) WR Germie Bernard (Alabama) OT Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) WR De'Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) OT Isaiah World (Oregon)OT Trey Zuhn (Texas A&M) CB Will Lee III (Texas A&M) Of that list of their 12 highest-rated players from last class, a total of one player went in the first round. It was composed of one first rounder, three second rounders, one third rounder, two fourth rounders, one fifth rounder, one seventh rounder, and one priority free agent. That's… not great. What matters most with BLESTO and NFS As you can see, the grades can be all over the place between the two services. Most folks, at least the ones who have a solid process, don't even look at those grades. Having that information, unfortunately, can morph an evaluator's perspective and cause them to overvalue players that they think "the NFL is higher on". Sometimes, believe it or not, the NFL gets things wrong. That's especially true when it's their most inexperienced scout or a third-party source of information. Instead of using those grades, the verified measurements are what should matter most. If you are convicted as an evaluator, someone else's opinion on a player shouldn't cause you to change yours. The verified measurements, however, can assist with a nice cross-checking exercise as you work through your summer list of prospect watches. If an offensive tackle plays long on film, for example, it can be beneficial to verify that they are long with an arm measurement. Let these spring grades verify your opinions. Don’t let them create them. Make Summer Scouting great again. This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: The cautionary tale of NFS and BLESTO grades – Sorting through what actually matters most in the NFL Draft space© 2026 A to Z Sports.

Jun. 12—Here are the results of the Cabinet View Women's Golf Scramble League results. In round 1 of couples week, Mahalah and Jared Winslow scored a 31 to win the first flight. In the Second Team Gross, Nikki and John Mee won a tiebreaker on No. 15 and finished with 36. In the First Team Net, Tanya and Brandon Holzer led the way with a 31. In Second Team Net, Sarah and Levi Roadman scored 32. In the second flight, First Team Gross, Callie and Teagen Blaz led with a 39. In Second Team Gross, Candace Hendrickson and Brian Sharp scored a 40. In First Team Net, Nicci Lira and Steve Fahland scored a 31. In Second Team Net, LaRona and JR Rebo scored a 34. Here are the skill prize winners: — Men's Longest Drive, Hole 10 — Jared Winslow — Women's Closest to the Pin, Hole 13 — Ruth Fenn — Open Longest Putt, Hole 15 — Angie Johnson — Men's Closest to the Pin, Hole 17 — Joe Flores — Women's Longest Drive, Hole 18 — Teri Berschneider CVWL June 3 results The Cabinet View Women's League played a fun round of baseball golf June 3, 2026. Each player could throw out their worst three holes. Flight A winner was Nancy Hulol and Connie Stantus was Flight B winner. Low gross Flight A was Nancy Hull and Connie Stantus Flight B. Sharron Sverdrup took low net in Flight A and Shirley Chase in Flight B. All women are welcome to join us on Wednesday mornings for fun games of golf.

An FBI seal is displayed on a podium before a news conference at the field office in Portland, Ore., Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)2026-06-12T17:04:10Z FBI agents have searched the office of an Ohio group that supports voter registration efforts, seizing documents and computer files, a board member of the organization said Friday.It’s the latest action by the Trump administration connected to voting or election operations in the states, and it comes in a state that is expected to have hotly contested races this fall for governor and U.S. Senate.Federal agents showed up at the Cleveland office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative on Thursday and spent hours questioning staff, said Prentiss Haney, a board member of the grassroots organization. The organization was founded in 2007 and describes its mission as fighting for criminal justice reform, racial justice and an expansion of voting rights.Federal agents also went to the homes of people who have worked with the organization, seeking interviews and information about alleged voter fraud, Haney said. He accused the agents of “intimidation tactics and harassment” and expressed concern that the investigation was designed to sow doubt in the coming elections. The focus of the probe was unclear, but a person familiar with the matter said Friday that investigators were examining potential fraud violations. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department declined to comment on Friday, and a spokesperson for the FBI in Cleveland did not respond to messages seeking comment. Read More To obtain a search warrant, federal authorities must convince a judge that probable cause of criminal activity exists. Though the information authorities presented was not immediately released, Democrats expressed skepticism about the basis of a search that unfolded against persistent concerns of a politicized FBI and Justice Department.The party’s nominees for the state’s top races issued statements Friday saying they were troubled by the FBI raid. “Any attempts by federal law enforcement to intimidate eligible Ohioans from registering to vote are unacceptable,” said Dr. Amy Acton, the state’s former public health director, who won the state’s Democratic primary for governor and is challenging Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.Democrat Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted in the fall, called on the FBI to make public “any and all activities around these raids.”He added, “Any attempt to intimidate Ohio voters is wrong, and will not work.”Republicans have held the state’s top elected seat for 20 years and hold both U.S. Senate seats but are concerned that Democratic momentum in this year’s midterms could make them vulnerable.The Justice Department during President Donald Trump’s second term has launched several legal actions or investigations related to voting or state election operations.The FBI has seized ballots and other records from the 2020 election for Georgia’s Fulton County and Arizona’s Maricopa County and from the 2024 election in Michigan’s Wayne County. It also has been questioning election workers in Wisconsin’s Milwaukee County. All four are in presidential battleground states. The Justice Department has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia after they refused to hand over detailed voter data that includes dates of birth and partial Social Security numbers. It has said in court filings that it wants the information so it can run it through a Department of Homeland Security program that checks U.S. citizenship, although the program’s accuracy has been questioned. The Justice Department has so far been on a losing streak in its lawsuits seeking to extract the data from the holdout states.Early in his second term, Trump, a Republican, also ordered the Justice Department to investigate ActBlue, the top fundraising platform for the Democratic Party.Allegations of fraud in voter registration efforts are typically investigated by states and usually involve people working for groups that pay for sign-ups. Earlier this year, California officials opened an investigation into whether signature-gatherers were offering to pay people for signing a ballot petition. In 2025, Pennsylvania officials brought criminal charges against seven people for submitting fraudulent voter registration forms.___Lauer reported from Philadelphia, and Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed from Washington. ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Richer covers the Justice Department and federal courts. She joined The AP in 2013 and is based in Washington. twitter

As Major League Cricket gears up for another season, it is worth revisiting the campaign that delivered dramatic finishes, standout performances and another glimpse into the rapid growth of cricket in the United States. From championship glory to breakout stars and record-breaking feats, here's a look back at everything that defined MLC 2025. How the MLC 2025 season unfoldedThe Major League Cricket follows the T20 format, much like other franchise leagues like IPL and Bigbash. Over the years, the tournament has seen two champions, with MI New York securing two titles in 2023 and 2025, defeating Seattle Orcas and Washington Freedom, respectively. Whereas, Texas Super Kings beat San Francisco Unicorns in 2024 to claim the title. MI finished fourth alongside TSK in second spot in 2025, with Washington Freedom leading the table and San Francisco Unicorns finishing in third place. MI NY’s Monank Patel ended his campaign with the most 478 runs in the tournament, while San Francisco’s Xavier Bartlett was the top wicket taker with 18 wickets in 11 innings. Los Angeles Knight Riders concluded last in the points tally with just 4 points in the standings. LAKR conceded 8 losses in 10 fixtures, losing their hopes for the playoffs.How the champions lifted the trophyMI NY climbed their way to the playoffs with 6 points on the table. In their first playoff encounter against SFU, they managed a crucial must-win victory, edging towards the final. The fixture was followed by the tournament’s last knockout game against the 2024 defending champions, TSK. MI overcame the challenge posed by Texas Super Kings to book their place in the summit clash.In the final clash, MI NY took the field against Washington Freedom, posting a strong 180/7 in the first over. With Trent Boult and Rushil Ugarkar’s fierce bowling performance, Quinton De Kock’s side managed to reduce Washington to 175, claiming the trophy.The stars of MLC 2025Leading run-scorersPlayer NameTeamScoreMD PatelMI New York478F Du PlessisTexas Super Kings468Q de KockMI New York373MW ShortSan Francisco Unicorns360N PooranMI New York360Leading wicket-takersPlayer NameTeamWicketsXC BartlettSan Francisco Unicorns18Haris RaufSan Francisco Unicorns17TA BoultMI New York15Noor AhmadTexas Super Kings15AF MilneTexas Super Kings14Player of the tournamentMitchell Owen claimed the title of player of the tournament in the 2025 season. The Washington all-rounder displayed spectacular cricket posting with over 300 runs at a strike rate above 190 and registered 14 wickets to his name. The 24-year-old put up quite a show with his all-round ability.Records and milestones from the seasonCategoryRecord / AchievementDetailsHighest TotalSan Francisco Unicorns – 269/5vs Washington FreedomMost SixesFinn Allen35 sixesFastest HundredFinn Allen100 in 34 balls vs Washington FreedomHighest Individual ScoreFinn Allen – 151vs Washington FreedomBest Bowling FiguresMJ Owen5 wickets for 17 runs in 3 overs (Economy: 5.66)Team-by-team report cardWashington FreedomWashington won 8 out of 10 games while conceding only 2 losses, and they finished at the top of the MLC 2025 points table with 16 points.Texas Super KingsTexas concluded their MLC 2026 campaign with 7 wins and 3 losses in 10 games, and they finished second in the points table with 14 pointsSan Francisco UnicornsSan Francisco also concluded their MLC 2026 campaign with 7 wins and 3 losses in 10 games, and they finished third in the points table with 14 pointsMI New YorkNew York claimed the MLC 2025 title despite their adequate performance in the league stage. They won 3 out of 10 games while conceding 7 losses in the tournament; they finished in the fourth spot of the MLC 2025 points table with 6 points.Seattle OrcasSeattle won just 3 out of 10 games while conceding 7 losses, and they finished in fifth spot of the MLC 2025 points table with 6 points.Los Angeles Knight RidersLos Angeles finished last on the points table after a rough MLC 2026 campaign; they concluded with 4 points on the tally. The teams conceded 8 losses in the tournament while securing only two victories

Florida soccer fans may be reaching for pizza boxes during next year’s World Cup, according to a new study.Vegas Insider ranked Florida as the No. 9 state most likely to order pizza during the 2026 World Cup.The study looked at Google Trends search interest for “pizza near me” across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., during eight major soccer events in 2025.Researchers used those events as a way to project possible pizza delivery demand during the World Cup.Florida had a 2025 game-day average score of 59 and a next-day average score of 65, according to the study.The study said Florida was the largest state in the projected top 10 and the only Sun Belt “mega-market” to make the list.Researchers pointed to Miami’s Latin soccer fanbase as a driver of match-day demand, with Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville also adding consistent volume.Miami is one of the U.S. host cities for the 2026 World Cup.Rhode Island and Delaware topped the list, followed by Ohio, South Dakota and Pennsylvania.The study also found that pizza demand appeared to rise after matches in most places. In 44 of 51 measured markets, search interest for “pizza near me” was higher the day after a soccer match than on game day itself.Vegas Insider said the rankings are based on search interest, not actual pizza sales.Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The beginning of Dana White and the UFC’s road to the White House can be traced back 25 years to when a fringe mixed martial arts promotion — at the time still unable to shake the “human cockfighting” label applied to the sport years earlier by a U.S. senator — ran a modest event called “Battle on the Boardwalk.”Making his first appearance as UFC president, White was asked about his goals for the fledging promotion. Sporting close-cropped hair, thinner, dressed in a suit, and using restraint in his words, White still offered a sneak peek of his future bombastic plans.“We want to make this the Super Bowl of mixed martial arts,” White said.The site of this seemingly absurd proclamation: Trump Taj Mahal.A quarter-century later, after larger fights outside the cage for legitimacy and legalization, UFC is back at President Donald Trump's home this weekend, though both the promotion and the businessman have long since leveled up in status and stature. Unimaginable that night in February 2001 in Atlantic City, UFC is staging seven fights under the Freedom 250 banner Sunday night on the South Lawn of the White House to celebrate Trump's 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing. “It’s really quite shocking and really puts the UFC in the spotlight,” said Lavie Margolin, author of the book “Ultimate Fighters” that chronicled the White-Trump relationship. “The potential negatives of it are, it could be too much. Some people do interpret that it’s too much of the MAGA movement. Can I digest this? Thus far, it doesn’t seem to have turned off those who are UFC fans.”It's the pinnacle of the relationship between White and Trump that has yielded personal, political and financial dividends for both parties. White earned the mainstream visibility for himself and the sport he craved as he stumped for Trump at GOP conventions, while the emboldened right-wing “ manosphere ” that soaks up UFC fights threw its support behind Trump in the elections.Against the backdrop of a three-month-old war with Iran that’s been broadly unpopular with Americans and has rattled global oil markets and with inflation spiked to the highest level since April 2023, the White House — long known as the people's house and a symbol of American democracy — opened its backyard to host a made-for-television smackdown that has UFC as a tentpole event on the global sports calendar.“It's huge for the brand,” the 56-year-old White said. “People are talking about this thing all over the world.”Not always in a positive light.Rain, though, seems like the more pressing challenge to pulling off a successful fight night. White said the $60 million card will go on even “if it snows," and —- much like his ally in Trump — is dismissive of any critic who accuses the show of being too garish, too expensive, too out-of-touch and out-of-place at a site such as the White House, especially with the country at war.“I’m in an international business. There’s always something bad going on,” White said. “If you want to move your business around every time something bad goes on in the world, you’d never do business.”White and Trump have embraced the sports and political crossoverTrump and White are aligned culturally, as much as they may be politically, and their rise can be linked in part to reality TV. Trump's brashness was on display as a reality TV boss on “ The Apprentice, ” a show that propelled him to national prominence following a string of bankruptcies and bad business deals in the 1990s. White got a lifeline from Spike TV in the early 2000s with “ The Ultimate Fighter, " which has become a UFC staple and is widely regarded as one essential in the survival and eventual expansion of the company.The early iteration of unregulated mixed martial arts was decried by the late Sen. John McCain as “human cockfighting” and it took until 2016 for New York to become the final state to legalize the sport. UFC — then featuring bankable stars such as Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor — became less of an eyeroll and more socially tolerable to favorably link with more traditional and successful stick-and-ball leagues.Trump has attended four UFC cards as a sitting president, walking to the cage amid rock music and patriotic chants from fans much like the fighters themselves. White had introduced Trump at two Republican National Conventions. White also attended the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner in April that was cut short by a shooting. White said the incident did nothing to affect his desire to stage the card in Washington.“Less than zero,” White said. “What it did do was definitely raise the awareness on security. The White House is the most secure place in America. If anything, the correspondents’ dinner helped as far as security goes. I’m not worried.”One of the turning points in the relationship came during the COVID pandemic. While other sports shut down for months before resuming in some sort of bubble format, UFC pressed on after a short hiatus with fan-free shows in Florida or “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. Trump supported White and taped a message before a May 2020 card that said in part: “We love it. We think it’s important. Get the sports leagues back. Let’s play."Is Freedom 250 a political statement?White threw his weight behind political causes in the past, notably stumping in 2010 for Nevada Sen. Harry Reid. A democrat.White has argued Freedom 250 is not about politics, though the optics surrounding the event, such as his sports diplomacy meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suggest otherwise.“I think for the most part he's actually sharing his love of Trump,” Margolin said. “I think Trump wants it because he wants the people to like him and he loves the UFC. It is political that it's highlighting Trump on the world stage and his administration. Without going too far over a cliff, when you have cage fighting, it's demonstrating strength, exerting your will over another, the power over someone else.”The fight corners are always red and blue — for any newcomers watching Sunday on Paramount+, which is controlled by the Ellison family, also close allies of Trump. White and his fleet of like-minded fighters howl that fight night has nothing to do with a political agenda; that the company is running a show at the White House because it was asked to and would in any circumstance no matter the political party of the president.“Let's take my American patriotism out of it, let's take my love for the country out of it,” said Michael Chandler, a 40-year-old Missouri native fighting on the card. "When you get into mixed martial arts, when you get into any sport, you want the biggest platform as possible, the most amount of viewers, the most amount of eyeballs, the highest stakes, the brightest lights.“This is the biggest fight in mixed martial arts. The biggest fight event in UFC history.”___AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts

Feb 8, 2025; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope talks with guard Otega Oweh (00) during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. © Jordan Prather-Imagn ImagesKentucky are looking like a formidable team as the new college basketball season comes closer, with the addition of Milan Momcilovic in particular seeming like the best bit of business the Wildcats have done in a few years.Momcilovic will add some much needed size and shooting ability, with his scoring numbers from last season proof that Kentucky won’t be lacking in that department this time around.And a Kentucky analyst has now made the comment that the addition of players like Momcilovic should make Mark Pope’s side look a lot like some of their competitors in the NCAA first division.“Kentucky should fly up and down the floor. They should spread teams out,” Lance Dawe said on Locked on Kentucky.“They should look more like an Alabama and Arkansas or a Florida in terms of their pace and their aggression and they should score a lot of points. Plus they just got the best shooter in the nation (Milan Momcilovic) who has the best gravity in the country.”“It’s going to make things a bit easier for everybody else. This on paper works. It makes a ton of sense.”John Calipari’s Arkansas Razorbacks are known for just what Dawe just mentioned, and while Pope wouldn’t want to outright copy his style of play, there cannot help but be some similarities with the players coming to Kentucky.What’s Next for Mark Pope’s Men?Milan Momcilovic’s addition is bound to make a huge difference, but the return of Malachi Moreno after his withdrawal from the NBA draft means just as much.And it seems like that might not be all the business Pope has planned for the off season, as there is enough indication that a player more could be joining the team. Ryan Hampton was the latest to be recruited, and an assistant coach could be joining the fray soon too.It’s a busy time in Lexington, and it might even be a winning time if things go according to plan for the Kentucky Wildcats.Read more:John Calipari Shares Heartwarming Moment With Karl-Anthony Towns’ Dad After Knicks Victory‘It Wasn’t Like That’: Cameron Boozer Opens Up About Carving His Own Path Beyond His Father’s LegacyCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in baseball,tennis, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCIlia Topuria is just days away from UFC Freedom 250, where he will face Justin Gaethje in another major lightweight test.Ahead of that fight, Topuria has shown respect for Charles Oliveira, the man he beat to win the lightweight title in June 2025. He praised Oliveira’s comeback performance against Max Holloway, calling it a display of “lion heart” and a “special mindset”.And now, his words drew a gracious response from a rival still chasing the belt.Charles Oliveira responds to Ilia Topuria’s praisePhoto by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLCOliveira replied on X with a message that mixed gratitude, humility and competitive focus.“Thank you, Ilia Topuria. After every defeat I had, I try to improve mindset and technically. And not losing my focus – learning lessons from fights where my opponent performed better. Good luck in the UFC White House. God bless, folks, and have a nice weekend,” he wrote on Friday.It was a respectful exchange, but there is still competitive tension behind it. Oliveira has made it clear he wants another shot at the lightweight belt, and a rematch with the Spaniard could happen if the division opens that path.However, the path back to Topuria is crowded. Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan remain major possibilities, while Gaethje could change everything with a win at the White House card.Still, Oliveira’s intentions are clear. There may be respect between the two, but his drive to reclaim UFC gold has not faded. And it could happen against ‘El Matador’.Read more:Judge rules on if UFC White House event can go ahead following lawsuitCharles Oliveira names 9-4 UFC star he thinks would beat Conor McGregorMarco Rubio suggests UFC Freedom 250 will reach World Cup final territory in audience terms

Former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg slammed Donald Trump for saying that he loves inflation. “We have a president and a White House that clearly don’t care,” Buttigieg said in a video posted to social media. Related Pete Buttigieg will be the next president. Here’s why. Buttigieg was referring to comments Trump made on Wednesday in the Oval Office when he was asked about the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), which showed an annualized rate for May of 4.2%, higher than the Federal Reserve’s 2% target and higher than it has been in three years. “No, I love it, the numbers are great,” Trump told a reporter who asked him about rising inflation. “You know what I really love? I love the inflation.” Your LGBTQ+ guide to Elections Stay ahead of the election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Democrats have attacked Trump for those comments, saying that they show that he likely doesn’t care about the cost of living for people who are not himself. Hillary Clinton compared Trump to Marie Antoinette. Who said it best?— Hillary Rodham Clinton (@hillaryclinton.bsky.social) 2026-06-11T20:08:13.416Z Buttigeig pointed out that the U.S. wholesale inflation rate is even worse at an annualized rate of 6.5% for May, up from 4.3% in March and the highest it has been since 2022. Trump, Buttigieg said, is “focused on things like building a new ballroom and shielding the president’s family from ever having their taxes audited” instead of lowering the cost of living, even though it was the number one promise that got him into office.” Buttigieg said that the current increase is a result of Trump’s war on Iran. He then said that this shows how important it is for people to vote in the midterm elections later this year and get involved in the election. Who knows what the President meant when he said he loves the inflation – but it's clear that inflation keeps getting worse, while he stays focused on anything but the cost of living.— Pete Buttigieg (@petebuttigieg.bsky.social) 2026-06-11T18:21:09.841Z Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

If there’s one controversy that has united the college football world, it is the bizarre handling of Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Brendan Sorsby. In an unprecedented and baffling decision, a Texas court granted Sorsby an injunction that makes him eligible for the 2026 season because the trial date falls after the season concludes.The ruling has sparked widespread criticism from fans, media members, and even politicians. After the Big 12 met to consider sanctions against Texas Tech, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to sue the conference for antitrust violations. One U.S. congressman publicly pushed back.MORE: Texas Tech threatening to sue Big 12, other conferences over potential schedule removalsRepresentative Hakeem Jeffries took to social media with a sharp message aimed at Paxton and Texas Tech.Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaks at Texas Tech University’s chapter of Turning Point USA’s event for speakers at Cook’s Garage in Lubbock, Texas, Oct. 7, 2025.“So let me get this straight. The corrupt, impeached and criminally-indicted Texas Attorney General is vouching for the integrity of the Texas Tech football program,” Jeffries wrote on X.“Maybe they should find a better character witness.”Texas Tech vs The WorldJeffries joins a growing group of voices criticizing the stance taken by Texas Tech officials and supporters. Outside of those closely tied to the university, few appear to believe Sorsby should play college football in 2026.MORE: Tyrann Mathieu trolls NCAA after Brendan Sorsby ruling, raises fair questionCritics are not blaming Texas Tech for supporting its player. They are criticizing the school for pushing to play him and threatening legal action against those who disagree. The injunction has drawn intense scrutiny, particularly because of reported involvement from influential Texas Tech athletic boosters.Brendan Sorsby runs with the ball during the Texas Tech football team’s spring game, Friday, April 17, 2026, at Jones AT&T Stadium.It remains unclear what action the Big 12 will ultimately take. Several programs outside the conference have reportedly paused future scheduling discussions with Texas Tech or canceled planned games altogether. Additional meetings involving conference leadership and key decision-makers are expected next week.For many across college football, the conclusion seems straightforward: Sorsby should not be on the field. He violated established gambling bylaws, and precedent suggests a significant punishment should follow.The larger controversy now centers on how a judge agreed to grant an injunction that effectively bypasses those established rules.

We’ve reached the quarter mark of a thrilling 2026 WNBA season. All-Star voting just opened up, and I’m sure the debates surrounding it will all be reasonable and not-at-all contentious as votes are cast for the league’s best players.[receives signal from earpiece]Oh … oh dear. Well, we’ll hope for the best!With every team logging at least 11 games at this point, it’s a good time to check in on this year’s MVP race. I emphasize that this is a check-in, not a prediction. We have months to go in the season, which means there’s plenty of time for things to change. Look no further than last season; it felt like Napheesa Collier would run away with the award at this point last year, but the combination of A’ja Wilson’s dominance, that dominance spearheading an absurd win streak to close the season, and Collier missing time due to injury ultimately flipped the race. Still, we have enough of a sample to start parsing through who the major players are.Let’s dig in, shall we?The Leader: A’ja WilsonThe voting doesn’t end today, but if it did, another unanimous MVP selection wouldn’t shock me.Wilson leads the league in scoring (26.4 points) while doing so on insane shooting splits: 51% on 2s, a typo-worthy 55.2% on 3s (2.4 attempts is low volume, but the confidence is growing), and 84% from the line — good for a 61.8 true shooting clip. Add in 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists (a career high if it holds), 1.1 steals and a league-leading 2.3 blocks and the statistical case is pretty ironclad.Not only is Wilson putting together eye-popping numbers, the Aces also have the wins to boot. They’re sporting the league’s second-best record (9-3) as of this writing, with a chance to take over the top seed with a win over the Minnesota Lynx on Saturday. 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One: The group stage is here, make your picks now! It also helps that the on-off numbers, however much you care about them, are firmly in her favor: the Aces outscore opponents by +11.1 points per 100 possessions with her on the court, and are outscored by -7.7 when she sits. The scary part is that Wilson could, and conceivably should perform better. She’s converting 35.2% of her midrange jumpers to start the year, on pace for the worst mark she’s had since 2021. That should normalize. It’s been an up-and-down year for her as a screener and defensive rebounder, though that’s rounding into form as of late (9.1 defensive rebounds across her last seven games). With all due respect to the rest of the field, she’s in her own tier right now.The Contenders: Breanna Stewart, Olivia Miles, Paige BueckersWhile it’s been odd watching Stewart’s 3-point shot continue to disappear (3.1 attempts, 17.5%), she remains arguably the second-best player in the league because of her ability to do everything else. Stewart’s box score is loud enough — 20.4 points on 52/18/90 splits (57.3 true shooting), 8.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.9 blocks — and the Liberty are, predictably, a much better team with her on the floor. Still, watching her morph roles within a game, within a quarter, within a possession, remains a blast. She initiates, posts up, screens, seals, and drives offensively. Her positional versatility on defense allows the Liberty to toggle matchups and schemes on the fly. She can be an on-ball menace, off-ball roamer, or command any area of the Liberty’s press-to-zone look. The Liberty aren’t where they are without her play.In what has arguably been the league’s most pleasant surprise, Lynx rookie Olivia Miles has thoroughly exceeded expectations. It wasn’t hard to imagine her pick-and-roll prowess, juice as a driver, and audacity as a passer to translate in the W. I’m not sure anyone had her leading the league in pick-and-roll volume, generating over 1.2 points (!) on possessions featuring a drive, and ultimately spearheading the Phee-less Lynx to the league’s best record in the process.Miles is filling the stat sheet — 17.8 points on 59/37/91 splits (64.9 true shooting), 5.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.4 steals, 0.8 blocks — while sporting one of the wildest on-off splits in the league. The Lynx transform from a firmly “meh” team (-0.3 net rating) with her on the bench, to a fire-breathing dragon (+21.7) with her on the floor. Saturday’s matchup with the Aces will be must-see television.From a broader league perspective, it’s also incredibly cool that she has followed Paige Bueckers and Caitlin Clark to continue the trend of elite guard prospects hitting the ground running. Speaking of Bueckers, what an impressive season this has been for her. I’m not sure enough has been made of the way her role on both ends of the floor has shifted following the hiring of Jose Fernandez — a Coach of the Year candidate in his own right. She’s been moved around the board: ball screens, handoffs, a curious-but-exciting uptick in post-ups. After logging 34 post touches in 36 games last year, she’s at 16 (1.56 PPP, somehow) through 12 games this year. In light of the Wings trending smaller with their lineup constructions, Bueckers has had to take on tougher assignments defensively. Per Second Spectrum, here are Bueckers’ 10 most frequent half-court matchups in order: Rhyne Howard (66 matchups), Chelsea Gray (37), Sonia Citron (34), Courtney Williams (33), Kayla McBride and Satou Sabally (28), Caitlin Clark, Natasha Cloud and Moniqua Akoa Makani (28), and Kelsey Plum (22). That’s a pretty wide variety of All-Stars and archetypes.The defense has understandably been a mixed bag in light of the uptick in responsibility, but she’s navigating that responsibility while averaging 19.8 points on 57/43/79 splits (62.2 true shooting) and dropping nearly six dimes a game on the other end. And honestly, the assist count doesn’t really do her justice: factoring in the variety of passes she’s had to make this year, she’s been one of the best facilitators in the league this year.Dark horses: Kelsey Plum, Rhyne Howard, A Fever RepIf the MVP was simply about which player had performed the best in their minutes, Plum would have an argument for contender status. In Year 2 of her Lead Guard Era, Plum is leading the entire league in points generated (41.6); her scoring (24.8 on 67/41/80 splits, 68.6 true shooting) places her second in the league, while her points via assist (16.8 on 6.9 assists) place her behind Alyssa Thomas (19.5 on 7.8 assists), Caitlin Clark (18.1 on 8.1 assists; more on her shortly), and Jordin Canada (16.8 on 6.7 assists). Plum’s drives have been electric, with the Sparks generating nearly 1.3 points per possession when she attacks the basket. Her first step has been nearly impossible to deal with, and she’s had the audacity to mix in shoulder nudges and tempo-altering strides to further flummox defenders. The Sparks are currently treading water with Plum on the floor (+0.4 net rating), but falling apart (-7.3 net rating) when she sits. That vibes with their record split: 5-4 when she plays, 1-2 when she doesn’t. More games played and more wins should see Plum shoot up the rankings if she maintains this level.Howard has long been the Atlanta Dream’s franchise player. Their most recognizable name, most important player to their future, and, of course, a tremendously skilled basketball player. Through the early portion of this season, Howard has (finally) overtaken Allisha Gray (having another great season, by the way) as the Dream’s best player on top of this.The offense will make the headlines; she’s averaging a career high in points (18.5 on 58.2 true shooting) behind the best 3-point shooting season of her career (38% on 9.1 attempts). The Dream continue to trust her as an initiator — 3.5 assists, plus narrowly slotting behind Canada for the team lead in pick-and-rolls. The real story has been what Howard is doing defensively. She isn’t just leading the league in steals (3.2), she’s on pace to join Tamika Catchings and Teresa Weatherspoon as the only players in league history to average at least 3.0 per game.It’d be one thing if Howard was just jumping passing lanes, but it’s been a complete effort for her. She’s been a sticky screen navigator on and off the ball. She routinely takes on tough defensive assignments, if not the toughest assignment. And she’s managed to create this amount of havoc, take on these assignments, and lower her foul count (2.9 to 2.7) at the same time. If Howard takes another leap as an interior scorer — she’s converting a career-best 47.3% of her 2s, but doing so on career-low volume (5.0 attempts) — her MVP candidacy will become louder.Finally, we tap in with the Indiana Fever. Their three-headed monster of Clark, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell have each been very good in their own right, but all have MVP-level drawbacks.Clark is, once again, putting together an unmatched box score (19.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.7 blocks). Factoring in points via assist, only Plum is generating more total points per game than Clark (38.0). Even more so than the Bueckers point from earlier, Clark’s assist numbers don’t really do her passing ability justice. There are very few humans that can see the windows she does, much less make the passes to actually take advantage of those windows.On the flip side, Clark’s efficiency (46/32/91 splits, 54.8 true shooting) trail the other candidates we’ve mentioned, her turnover numbers have improved (5.1 to 4.4) but still pace everyone else, and the defense has been … an adventure. A multilayered adventure — some of this is on her, some of this is on the defensive structure and execution around her, some of this is on opposing offenses scheming things up in a way to specifically ding (and counter) their structure — but an adventure nonetheless. Boston is putting together another all-around campaign — a career-high 17.4 points (53/41/88 splits, 61.0 true shooting), 8.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.3 blocks. The 3-ball seems to be a real weapon for her now, a terrifying development considering how comfortable she is as a driver and (high) post hub.But between lower body injuries (and maintenance) and an uptick in fouls (career-high 3.7), we haven’t actually gotten to see Boston as much as we’d like. She’s averaging a career-low 25.7 minutes, nearly five fewer minutes than last season (30.2). And because Boston hasn’t had the same mobility, the defensive impact hasn’t reached the same heights as last season’s All-Defense campaign — at least not yet. I’ve pondered if Boston’s health, and the understandable maintenance around that, is part of the reason why the Fever have dialed back their at-the-level pick-and-roll defense from last year. It’s also a tad odd that, while the Fever have won her minutes (+1.4), they’ve performed notably better with her on the bench (+6.8).(Honestly, if you have a moment — and I assume you do if you’ve read this far — please look at the Clark/Boston on-off stuff. It is stark how well they’ve performed when they’ve been split up.)Then there’s Mitchell, once again lighting up the scoreboard (career high 20.4 points on 52/34/81 splits, 56.4 true shooting) and throwing defenses for a loop with her blend of on- and off-ball usage. She doesn’t have the same playmaking responsibility of Clark, nor does she hold down the fort defensively like Boston is tasked with, and yet, it’s Mitchell with the most favorable on-off splits of the three: +6.4 with her on, -5.9 with her off. A Fever candidate will undoubtedly emerge — I’d bank on it being Clark or Boston largely because of the volume of responsibility — but it’ll be interesting to see how (quickly) that unfolds.

As his PGA Tour-bound peer Jackson Koivun was announcing his professional plans to the world, Ben James was already at work.James, the 23-year-old University of Virginia product who earned his PGA Tour card by finishing No. 1 in this year’s PGA Tour University class, teed off at 8:28 a.m. ET Friday at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ontario, site of this week’s RBC Canadian Open. About a half hour later, Koivun, who just wrapped his junior season at Auburn by leading the Tigers to a second NCAA title and again sweeping national player of the year honors, posted that he would be joining James on Tour in a couple weeks, activating his card earned through PGA Tour U’s Accelerated program.Much is expected of Koivun, the world’s top-ranked amateur.But don’t forget about James, who reminded us Friday why he – and not Koivun – is one of just five college players to ever garner first-team All-America status all four years.James fired a 7-under 63 to vault to 10 under and into the lead midway through the second round of his first start as a PGA Tour member. A prolific ball-striker, particularly off the tee, James began his day with an eagle at the par-5 first, the second time in as many rounds he’s eagled the hole, hitting his second shot 220 yards to 22 feet and getting the putt to drop. He added five more birdies and no bogeys as he currently sits a shot clear of Sam Burns, Haotong Li, Jesper Svensson and Jackson Suber, the latter of whom played alongside James and Neal Shipley.“It all kind of came together today,” James said. “It was just one of those days, the putter was good, hitting fairways, had good numbers, and was able to capitalize on a pretty tricky scoring day.”A little more background on James: The Milford, Connecticut native verbally committed to UConn at just 11 years old before developing into one of the top juniors on the AJGA circuit, up there with Nick Dunlap, Caleb Surratt and Luke Clanton. James won the Phil Mickelson Award as the nation’s top freshman in 2023, but he then lost his game and confidence that summer. He retreated to a log cabin in Linville, North Carolina, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains and where there are fewer than 300 people, in hopes of a total reset. James returned at the U.S. Amateur and made the quarterfinals, then helped the U.S. win the Walker Cup at St. Andrews; he’d go on to make the 2025 team as well. Starting with that U.S. Amateur, James finished 12th or better in 32 of his final 39 amateur and college tournaments, including a senior season for the Cavaliers where he cracked the top 5 in every start until a T-16 at the NCAA Championship.“I wasn't really thinking about really results at all this week,” James said. “Just worried about getting comfortable, making new friends and having fun, and just seeing where everything kind of falls, just seeing where my game stacks up. Obviously, I have some stuff to work on, just trying to see where everything goes because this is just the baseline, it's my first professional debut.”James is also into next week’s U.S. Open after getting through final qualifying, plus the Travelers Championship on a sponsor exemption the following week. He’ll have full status through next season.As for the weekend in Canada, James isn’t sure what to expect should he find himself in the final group on Saturday and/or Sunday.“I got no clue,” James said, “because I've never been in this position, so I'm very excited to find out.”

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has officially arrived on home soil for Canada, bringing a wave of national excitement and historic expectations. While hopes are high for the Canadian national team, they'll be tested across the group phase, and are still seeking their first-ever World Cup victory.Placed in Group B alongside Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Qatar, the co-hosts are a popular choice to emerge from the group and potentially win it. Led by head coach Jesse Marsch and a roster featuring stars like Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, Les Rouges kick off their tournament against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto. Here is everything you need to know about Canada's Group B schedule, tournament predictions, and path to the knockout stages.Canada's full 2026 World Cup schedule: Dates, times and match locationsHere's a rundown of Group B, with Switzerland and Canada entering as the two highest-rated teams in the FIFA world rankings.Group B:SwitzerlandCanadaBosnia-HerzegovinaQatarThe Bosnia-Herzegovina matchup is a noteworthy opener for Canada, as they boast a stout defensive group. However, Canada's speed should be enough to overcome and help them get several strong goal-scoring opportunities. Below is Canada's full World Cup schedule, including kickoff times and locations.June 12: Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina at 3 p.m. ETLocation: BMO Field, Toronto, CanadaJune 18: Canada vs. Qatar at 6 p.m. ETLocation: BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaJune 24: Switzerland vs. Canada at 3 p.m. ETLocation: BC Place, Vancouver, CanadaAll three of Canada's World Cup games are played on home soil, an obvious benefit of being one of the three host countries. The matchup on June 24 against Switzerland is one many fans may already have circled, but much will depend on how the first two games for both sides play out.Canada World Cup predictions: Switzerland likely to pose the biggest Group B threatAhead of Group B's first 2026 World Cup match, Canada entered with odds of +180 to win the group, behind only Switzerland (-135). They do remain a popular choice to emerge from the group, though, regardless.Switzerland finished atop Group B in the World Cup qualifiers, doing so in impressive fashion, allowing just two goals and finishing unbeaten. They won four of six games and drew two, with convincing victories over Sweden (4-1 and 2-0) and Slovenia (3-0).Although Switzerland enters the tournament ranked No. 19 in the world and Canada No. 30, Qatar (No. 56) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (No. 64) have each shown upside capable of pressuring either of the two group favorites. Canada boasts some strong star power, but with key starter Alphonso Davies sidelined for at least the opener, I'm going to take them to finish second in Group B behind Switzerland.Canada World Cup prediction: Second in Group B, advance to the knockout stageThis article originally appeared on For The Win: Canada World Cup schedule 2026: Next game, predictions and group breakdown

Free agent wide receiver Stefon Diggs is still without a home, but an interesting tidbit came out this week about his possible return to the New England Patriots.While teams like the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders are rumored to have interest in him, there may be the slightest bit of hope that the Patriots may bring him back.Head coach Mike Vrabel discussed the possibility of Diggs returning to the team. Although he didn't think it could happen, he still held hope that he could return.“I think we are probably at the number that we would need right now,” Vrabel said Wednesday via WEEI, but left the door open just a crack for the future. “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.”The Patriots recently traded for A.J. Brown, and they have an up-and-coming receiver in Kayshon Boutte, who recently said he intends to stay in New England. But Vrabel says never say never about Diggs returning.“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,” Vrabel said.Diggs will find out soon what his future holds in football. This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Mike Vrabel talks about the possibility of Stefon Diggs returning

Nature, Published online: 12 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01902-0Video blogger’s viral accusations of data manipulation in Nature journals have sparked intense debate and speedy institutional investigations.

A “memorandum of understanding” between the two sides is under discussion. Both sides are keen to frame it as a victory.

World Cup 2026 analyst Alexi Lalas left his fellow Fox panelists stunned after hurling a profane insult at James Corden on live television.During Friday’s World Cup coverage on Fox, a video package played advertisingFIFA World Cup on FOX After Hours with James Corden, after which Lalas was asked his thoughts on the divisive TV host.“Can we talk about James Corden for a second?” presenter Rebecca Lowe asked.Lalas was first to jump in, responding, “What do you guys call them? A ... full kit w*****, right?”Lowe, and fellow panelists Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović, were stunned. But Lalas continued, “He’s all dressed up and ready to go.”Rebecca Lowe, Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimović were gobsmacked by Alexi Lalas’s profane insult (Fox Sports)After stuttering for a moment and taking a beat to recover from Lalas’s off-the-cuff remark, Lowe joked, “Okay, lucky we’re on American TV.”“Because the W-word on British TV ...” she continued before indicating that it was a major no-no.A “full kit w*****” is British slang used in soccer culture to mock an adult who wears the complete professional playing uniform — including the jersey, shorts, and socks — outside of actually playing a match. Corden appears in a full Team USA training kit in the promo videos for the new after hours show.Several World Cup viewers were quick to catch the remark. “I dont know if Alexi knows how crazy that is. W***** means J***-o**. For real, James Corden IS a full kit w*****, but wow,” one person wrote on X.World Cup 2026 pundit Alexi Lalas stunned Fox News panelists with an expletive-filled James Corden remark on live TV (Getty)Some misheard the remark, with one person writing, “Alexi Lalas just called James Corden a “f***ing w*****” on live TV and the reactions were incredible. Hero moment for him, IMO.”The 2026 World Cup officially kicked off Thursday as Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. Team USA will play Friday night against Paraguay.Corden’s late night show premiered Thursday on Fox and will run through July 15. Alongside former England soccer captain Rio Ferdinand and comedian Ian Karmel, the former Late Late Show host will recap all of the day’s World Cup action during each hour-long episode.Speaking about the show at a Fox upfront presentation, Corden said: “Every night after the games, we’re going to be trying to have a lighthearted look at the World Cup, talking about the games, talking about anything that may have happened that day, and what we’re going to do is make it feel like if you couldn’t be out with your friends in a bar that night, we’ll be there to have some fun.”

4 Maple Leafs players who could be traded before 2026 NHL draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Toronto Maple Leafs will be a team to watch this month. After a tough 2025-26 season, the Maple Leafs could look to shake up their roster under their new management.The Maple Leafs need to get younger and faster, and to do so, they need to trade some players off their roster.Because of this, let’s look at four Maple Leafs who have the potential to be traded before the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. Anthony Stolarz, G With Dennis Hildeby looking ready for the NHL and Artur Akhtyamov looking stellar in the AHL Calder Cup playoffs, Anthony Stolarz could be made available by the Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old goalie could be a perfect addition for a team that is looking for a 1B goalie. Stolarz had a 10-10-3 record, a 3.28 goals-against average, and an .893 save percentage in 26 games this season for Toronto. This is after he had the best save percentage in the NHL in 2023-24 (.925) and 2024-25 (.926). MORE: Three NHL Teams Who Could Trade For Maple Leafs' Anthony StolarzMorgan Rielly, DQuestions about Morgan Rielly’s future in Toronto have been coming up often now that the Maple Leafs’ season is over. The 32-year-old defenseman could clearly use a fresh start, and he will likely generate trade interest. Teams looking for help in their top four should be kicking tires on the 13-year veteran. In 78 games this season with Toronto, Rielly had 11 goals, 36 points, and a minus-18 rating. MORE: 3 potential NHL trade destinations for Maple Leafs' Morgan RiellyBrandon Carlo, D The fit hasn’t been there with Brandon Carlo and the Maple Leafs. Due to this, it would not be particularly surprising if they moved on from the 29-year-old this summer.Teams are always on the hunt for big right-shot defenseman who can play top-four minutes, so Carlo could get the Maple Leafs a nice return if dealt. Carlo appeared in 55 games this season with the Maple Leafs, where he recorded zero goals, seven assists, 98 blocks, and a plus-4 rating. Matthew Knies, LWMatthew Knies generated a lot of interest leading up to this year’s trade deadline, and it would be understandable if he does again this summer. This is because Knies is not only an impactful top-six power forward, but is also only 23 years old. Because of this, he can be a fit on both contenders and non-playoff teams. Knies posted 23 goals, 43 assists, 66 points, and 152 hits in 79 games this season with the Maple Leafs. A reported trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs fell through. Under new management, reports indicate the Maple Leafs aren’t as willing to move on from Knies, but he remains an interesting case to watch.More NHL NewsPatrick Roy is the best NHL coaching candidate for the Maple LeafsJets pass on Caleb Malhotra meeting at NHL Combine, sparks questions on potential fall in draftWith each NHL Stanley Cup final point, Hurricanes’ Nikolaj Ehlers proves the Jets wrongMitch Marner isn't allowed to pick and choose when he talks about his past with the Maple Leafs4 NHL teams who can trade for Red Wings' Dylan Larkin following his trade request

Why Diego Luna isn't on USMNT World Cup roster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It seemed clear that Diego Luna was going to play for the United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Instead, though, the talented midfielder was left out of the USMNT squad by Mauricio Pochettino. Luna had featured in the vast majority of games since Pochettino took charge of the U.S. team.Despite that, he misses out of a World Cup on home soil.It's a bummer for the creative Luna, and it could leave the United States lacking in moments when they need a bit of a spark. Luna certainly brings a spark.MORE: Mexico has a World Cup… duck?Why didn't Diego Luna make the USMNT?It appears Mauricio Pochettino has valued European and high-level experience over current form or availability.Luna still plays in MLS, and that appears to have lost him at least a bit of respect.The U.S. appears to have kept Gio Reyna over Luna.MORE: Tim Howard commercial disrespects USMNT legendReyna has the big-game experience, and maybe that's the difference here. He was in the U.S. World Cup squad at 19 years old in 2022, although he got just two matches and 53 minutes total. He has played in 25 matches overall for his country.Reyna could certainly make his mark in this tournament. It's just a bummer for Luna that he won't get the chance to do so himself.More FIFA World Cup news:How playing for South Korea removed mandatory military service for Son Heung-minLamine Yamal hanging out at a WalmartHarry Kane reveals blunt feelings about potential England issues in U.S. heatLawrence, Kansas has fallen in love with the Algerian national teamGermany fan Freddy is going viral for his journey through the American South

After four years of waiting, the World Cup is finally here. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, the United States is one of the host nations for the tournament. To make matters even better for New England soccer fans, Gillette Stadium will host seven World Cup games: five group stage matches; one round of 32 game and one quarterfinal. The home of the New England Patriots and New England Revolution will be referred to as Boston Stadium during this World Cup. This can be confusing, because the stadium is not in Boston, it’s in Foxborough. During a friendly match between Brazil and France played at Gillette Stadium on March 26, fans were surprised how long it took to get there from Boston. Some, seen in viral social media posts, went as far as abandoning their cars and walking to the stadium to escape the traffic. If you’re driving from Boston to see a World Cup game at Gillette Stadium, it’s important to be prepared. Here’s a look at how far Gillette, or Boston Stadium, is from Boston. How far is Boston from Gillette Stadium? Boston is 28 miles from Gillette Stadium, which translates to a 53-minute drive on days when there are no events there, according to Apple Maps. However, it will likely take significantly longer on game days. Because of the traffic the World Cup games will cause, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is encouraging fans attending the matches to take public transit to and from Gillette Stadium. In addition to the traffic, MassDOT says parking for the World Cup games is by pre-paid reservation only and is very limited. MassDOT added that those who choose to drive to the World Cup games at Gillette, should expect significantly longer travel times. Travelers not attending the games should allow extra travel time or consider alternate routes and may wish to avoid the Route 1 corridor in the stadium area. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Going to the World Cup? How far Gillette Stadium is from Boston

TORONTO (AP) — Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not play in his team's World Cup opener Wednesday after Canada denied his visa application while he awaits trial in London on multiple charges of rape.FIFA said Friday in a statement that the 32-year-old Partey won’t be able to travel from his team's base camp in Smithfield, Rhode Island, for Ghana's opening match with Panama in Toronto.“His visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” the governing body of world soccer said. “FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas. As with previous FIFA events, the host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and is admitted into the country.”Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Nor did the Ghana soccer association.Partey was traveling back to Ghana's base camp in Rhode Island after his visa denial. He will be able to play June 23 when Ghana plays England in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Ghana concludes group play June 27 against Croatia in Philadelphia.Partey is scheduled to stand trial in November or later on allegations dating to his time with English club Arsenal from 2020-25. Partey, who now plays in Spain for Villarreal, has pleaded not guilty.A second World Cup player, Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi, is awaiting trial on similar charges in Paris.Ghana is making its fifth appearance in the last six World Cups.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Ten years after the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub, survivors, family and friends of the 49 victims are gathering in Orlando to honor the dead. Several events around the city will pay tribute to those lost in what was then the largest mass shooting in American history. 58 clubgoers at the Latin-themed night during Pride Month were injured in the massacre, many of them severely. Others still suffer the emotional fallout. Related Orlando is about to demolish the Pulse Nightclub to make way for a permanent memorial “I’ve been crying all day,” out Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan told the Orlando Herald-Tribune. Sheehan was on-site at Pulse as the tragedy unfolded and helped lead the city’s response in the aftermath. Brandon Wolf, a survivor and advocate following the tragedy, lamented “ten years of missing faces at birthday parties, empty seats at dinner tables, and voicemails never returned.” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Now senior communications director at Equality Florida, Wolf said missteps honoring the victims and the current hateful political climate have only added to the tragedy. “But one thing has not changed: the strength of our community to, in the face of hate, shine brighter and bolder than before,” he said. Orlandoans will come together to remember at several memorials today and through June. First United Methodist Church will commemorate the victims at the 2026 Pulse Remembrance Ceremony, featuring the Orlando Gay Chorus and more musical performances by local artists, a presentation by Orlando Poet Laureate Camara Gaither, and a candlelight ceremony and reading of the 49 names. City Hall Plaza in Orlando will host a prayer ribbon memorial exhibition through June 14. Ten years ago, Jay Critchley and a group of fellow Provincetown artists sent colorful ribbons inscribed with each victim’s name to Orlando. 49 black ribbons honor the dead on the tenth anniversary of the shooting. An exhibition at the Terrace Gallery in Orlando features 49 portraits honoring those who died at Pulse. For Created in Community: Portraits of Pulse, artist Jeff Sonksen provided a kind of paint-by-numbers start for each picture, which family and friends completed. Orlando City Commissioner Sheehan was instrumental in organizing an on-site blood donation drive as the Pulse nightclub shooting unfolded. That life-saving effort is honored and repeated at the Day of Remembrance Blood Drive at City Hall on Friday. Donors can reserve a spot with the local blood donation organization, OneBlood. The future Pulse Memorial site will be lit in rainbow colors overnight through June 15. On Saturday, the Human Rights Campaign and Equality Florida will lead a panel discussion called 10 Years Since Pulse: Honor Them With Action Memorial Panel, featuring Equality Florida’s Wolf and out Florida state Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D). The panel looks back, and forward, to talk about ways to honor the victims with action. The event is at 10 a.m. June 13 at a private location. Register at mobilize.us. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

We’ve been here before, but never so close.

Why “top Republicans should actually be more concerned.”

Co-hosts Canada face Bosnia-Herzegovina at World Cup - watch live at top of pageBBC Radio 5 Live commentary also available via 'watch & listen' tabLukic heads Bosnia in front at Toronto StadiumEx-Man City forward Dzeko on bench for Bosnia - full team news hereHow to watch the World Cup on BBC | Team-by-team guide | Pundit predictions Watch live as Lukic heads Bosnia in front against co-hosts Canada at World Cup

The USMNT is ready for the 2026 World Cup. After months of training, the team will take the pitch Friday, looking for a win over Paraguay. The men’s national team should have plenty of support during the contest, as the World Cup is being hosted by the United States for the first time in 32 years. In an attempt to further motivate the players, President Donald Trump called the team ahead of its first game, wishing them luck and letting them know he thinks the team can go “all the way.”Trump, who spoke to USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, called Pochettino a “fantastic guy, a fantastic coach.” Trump then complimented the players before saying, “I think you’ve got a really good chance of going all the way.”That’s quite a bit of pressure to put on the men’s national team, which hasn’t had a ton of success at the World Cup in its history. Other than the inaugural World Cup in 1930 — where the USMNT finished third — the men’s national team has reached the quarterfinals just one other time (2002). During the last three World Cups in which they’ve qualified, the men’s national team has been eliminated in the Round of 16. In the lead-up to the 2026 World Cup, Trump has worked closely with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, leading to Trump receiving the first FIFA Peace Prize award ahead of the event. That decision drew criticism from Norwegian Football Federation president Lise Klaveness, who questioned whether FIFA remained politically neutral when giving the award to Trump.Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the ACLU put out a travel advisory to those planning to come to the United States for the event. The advisory cited “potential human rights abuses” as a reason fans should “exercise caution” while in the country.In its advisory, the ACLU warned of possible “denial of entry” into the United States, something one official and one player have already experienced in the lead-up to the games.

Red Sox Lineup Has Massive Jarren Duran Change For First Time Since Alex Cora's Firing originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran will bat fifth in the team's starting lineup for their series-opener against the Texas Rangers on Friday night at Fenway Park.It's the first time since April 25 that Duran has batted anywhere other than leadoff, but it's far from the only surprise in Boston's starting nine."Fenway Friday," the Red Sox's official account posted on Bluesky.Duran hit sixth during Boston's 17-1 win vs. the Baltimore Orioles on April 25, which was Alex Cora's final game as the Red Sox's manager before he was fired.The 2024 All-Star slotted in as Boston's leadoff man for the last 35 games, dating back to May 1.Duran had a solid May with nine home runs and an .879 OPS but is just 5-for-33 with no walks and 14 strikeouts in June.Friday will be Mickey Gasper's first time leading off this season as he plays his 25th game since being called up in early May. The 30-year-old has gone 21-for-77 with no home runs and five RBIs across 85 plate appearances with the Red Sox in 2026.Infielder Marcelo Mayer is also back in the lineup after missing Wednesday's loss against the Tampa Bay Rays with back and neck stiffness.More MLB: Former All-Star, World Series MVP Shortstop Bumps Red Sox Legend From MLB Top-10 Home Run List

Troy vs. West Virginia baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Baseball Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The biggest event in college baseball opens up with the Troy Trojans and West Virginia Mountaineer on Friday in Omaha, Nebraska.These two got here on two very different paths. The Mountaineers swept Cal Poly in their best-of-three series in the Morgantown Super Regional. The Trojans fought to move on and will give West Virginia a test. First pitch from Charles Schwab Field will be at 2 p.m. ET. 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship123456789RHETroy (38-30)013471West Virginia (45-15)120331Troy vs. West Virginia baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Championship Super RegionalTroy TrojansBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP2Aaron PiaseckiSS200000.343.45232Josh Pyne3B100000.290.37334Blake Cavill1B211001.281.4395Jimmy JanickiC211000.342.4131Steven MeierCF100100.319.45822Drew NelsonLF211101.309.39237Sean Darnell2B212100.255.3768Jabe BoroffDH101110.272.40423Houston MarkhamRF201000.327.363Total15474122B: Janicki 1 (25)Darnell 2 (9)RBI: Meier 1 (45)Nelson 1 (50)Darnell 1 (46)Boroff 1 (33)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA31Benjamin StubbsP2.033213115.0Total2.03321311Stubbs 44 (30 strikes)West Virginia MountaineersBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP5Armani GuzmanRF210000.309.4062Gavin Kelly2B200001.380.4816Paul SchoenfeldCF100001.340.43511Sean SmithDH101000.323.414Matthew GravelineC100001.291.36917Matt IneichSS010010.296.44112Brodie Kresser1B111000.302.40524Ben LumsdenLF000000.280.4158Tyrus Hall3B101200.282.404Total9332132B: Hall 1 (8)RBI: Hall 2 (36)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA35Chansen ColeP2.274402163.118Ian KornP0.10001023.1Total3.07441218Korn 7 (3 strikes)Cole 52 (33 strikes)How to watch: Troy vs. West Virginia 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship Game Date: Friday, June 12Time: 2 p.m. ETTV: ESPNMore NCAA NewsCal Poly vs. West Virginia baseball box score: Game 1USC vs North Carolina baseball box score: Game 1Little Rock vs. Troy baseball box score: Game 1Texas vs. Texas Tech softball box score: Final Women's College World SeriesDemond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSU

The Jacksonville Jaguars lost running back Travis Etienne in free agency, and the running back room has been a constant source of questions ever since. Analysts have been skeptical that anyone on the Jacksonville roster can replace Etienne, but Liam Coen doesn't appear to be trying to.Rather than focus on one strong RB1, Coen — along with general manager James Gladstone — appears to favor a well-rounded group of strong running backs who will all see heavy rotation throughout the season. It's assumed that Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez will get the majority of the snaps, with LeQuint Allen seeing regular action as well on passing downs.And judging by recent comments from Allen, he's more than willing to play his part, whatever it may be. Appearing on the O-Zone podcast, Allen said he likes the direction the Jaguars are taking, and that he will do whatever is best for the team as a whole. "We have to move as one. We're a unit. We need everyone. The coaches determine my role. I determine my effort and what I establish on the field when it's time," he said, adding, "I want to be prepared for this season. The train is leaving. We're going toward a common goal. We're going to dominate every opponent who comes our way because we've worked too hard."Under Coen, Jacksonville has become a tough, physical team, and it's a culture that Allen seems to embrace."I've got to mess with everyone that's not on the Jaguars," he continued. "That's my mindset. You're trying to stop us from getting to our goals. I don't like that too much. I feel like everyone with the opposite jersey, attack them. That's football."Above all, Allen said he wants to ensure not only that he is playing his best, but that he's lifting up his teammates as well. "I love football," he said. "I love everything that has to do with football. Football is a collective sport. That means I have to make sure my teammates are in their best state of mind and moving right and that they're not thinking about anything negative."He continued, "I tell them, 'Always think positive. I'm right by your side all the time. No matter what. If you're winning or losing, I'm going to be right there helping you.' That comes with loving the game of football and living the process over the results. I just love the game and everything that comes with it."While Allen has been all-but-forgotten in the Jaguars' running back conversation, Coen has said the room is wide open, and that each of his three backs have different skills they can use to contribute on the offense. Last season, Allen was strong in pass protection, but he is expected to do more in both the pass and run game this year. This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars' RB LeQuint Allen discusses upcoming NFL season

I might have chosen an entirely different look. READ MORE...

The negotiations for Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn hit a major roadblock this week as Golden Boy Promotions issued Zuffa Boxing and TKO with a cease-and-desist order, instructing the pair to halt its alleged tortious interference with WBC welterweight champion Garcia.Zuffa Boxing — spearheaded by UFC CEO Dana White, WWE President Nick Khan and Saudi Arabian fight financier Turki Alalshikh — is thought to be finalizing a Sept. 12 fight in Las Vegas between Garcia and Benn, the latter of whom it recently signed to a multi-fight contract.Golden Boy's exclusive promotional agreement with Garcia ended after his win over Mario Barrios in February, however Golden Boy retained a multi-fight co-promotional option over Garcia's boxing matches alongside Garcia's King Ryan Enterprises, sources close to the situation told Uncrowned.That option means that Zuffa Boxing cannot make a deal with Garcia's company without the agreement of Golden Boy, who has a mutual say on all of his fights. Golden Boy claimed in the letter to Zuffa Boxing and TKO that it has not been involved in any of the negotiations for a potential bout between Garcia and Benn.The promoter also claimed that its deal with Garcia ensures that sports streaming service DAZN is Garcia's broadcast platform. Zuffa’s negotiations called for a Garcia vs. Benn fight to take place on Netflix or with Zuffa's television partner, Paramount+. DAZN has sent Zuffa Boxing and TKO a separate cease-and-desist letter enforcing its exclusive television rights, according to comments from promoter Eddie Hearn.There have been suggestions that a Garcia vs. Benn bout would be announced Sunday during the historic UFC Freedom 250 card on the U.S. White House’s South Lawn.

It's that time of the year when players are looking to get paid and teams are hoping to improve.Let's break down the top available shooting guards in this year's free-agent market.(Note: Positions are determined off Basketball-Reference's positional breakdowns, meaning a player will be listed at the position in which he played the most minutes.)Free-agent position rankings: Point guards1. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles LakersStatus: Player optionValue of option: $14.8 millionThe Austin Reaves breakout is upon us. The 6-foot-5 pick-and-roll decision-making maestro will unquestionably decline his modest option and enter into unrestricted free agency to cash in — and he certainly will.Reaves is too attractive to not garner plenty of interest. He's a three-level scorer, has greatly improved his playmaking and could help raise both the floor and ceiling for several franchises as a pending All-Star who's entering the best years of his career.What makes sense: A four-year deal in $150 million-160 million territory would seem fitting for Reaves, whether he stays in Los Angeles or signs elsewhere.2. Zach LaVine, Sacramento KingsStatus: Player optionValue of option: $48.9 millionLaVine had an off-year with the Kings and is a prime candidate to land on the trade market if he picks up his option and becomes an expiring contract.The 31-year-old can be enormously efficient, often sporting a TS% in the mid-60s, and that efficiency is bound to increase as soon as he's cast in a proper role next to an elite playmaker who can set him up consistently and allow him to lean into more of an off-ball role.What makes sense: If the Kings can persuade LaVine to decline his option so they can offer him an extension at a lower price point, that could be worth an exploration. Of course, he'd have to get compensated thoroughly for turning down almost $49 million. Would $100 over three years get it done?3. Norman Powell, Miami HeatStatus: Unrestricted free agentPowell is a ridiculously efficient scorer — 60.9 TS% — who plays well within the fabric of an established offense and who fully embraces the fact that he's not a creator. He can easily function next to a primary lead guard while maintaining a high volume of shooting responsibilities.There is tremendous value in a player of such quality who understands his own limitations, yet who can still dominate in certain aspects of the game. As such, Powell should have plenty of interest on the open market.What makes sense: At 33, Powell is who he is, and a long-term deal might not be in the cards. A jumbo deal for two years for $55 million or a slightly more modest three years for $70 million is probably is within reason.4. Ayo Dosunmu, Minnesota TimberwolvesStatus: Unrestricted free agentDosunmu, who was viewed as one of the better trade-deadline acquisitions, lived up to that hype as a Wolf, playing formidable ball in the postseason (including a 43-point eruption) and ultimately looking every bit the long-term backcourt fit next to Anthony Edwards.With his ability to play both on and off the ball, Dosunmu will have plenty of interest from teams around the league, looking to nab a reliable two-way player who occasionally can run the offense.What makes sense: Sticking in Minnesota makes the most sense, as he could step into a ton of minutes, major responsibility and the chance to prove himself as one of the better guards in the league. Anything under $20 million per year would be a steal.5. Quentin Grimes, Philadelphia 76ersStatus: Unrestricted free agentThis was an odd season for Grimes, who picked up his qualifying offer last summer and decided to bet on himself after a ridiculously strong finish to the 2024-2025 campaign.The 6-4 off-guard had moments when he looked like a future full-time starter and moments when he looked barely playable due to his passivity. Yet Grimes also had to deal with a changing role, more competition in the backcourt and having to adjust to several injuries to teammates. So while he assuredly lost money this season, there's still potential.What makes sense: Grimes' inconsistent season was a problem, and you have to wonder if signing a short-term contract actually is the best bet moving forward so he can redeem himself. If he's offered the full non-tax MLE, however, he should probably take it.Best of the rest6. Luke Kennard, Los Angeles LakersStatus: Unrestricted free agentKennard remains one of the very best 3-point shooters in the NBA, a major talent to have firmly in place next to Luka Dončić. Just off that fact alone, it makes sense for the Lakers to have interest in bringing him back.7. Kevin Porter Jr, Milwaukee BucksStatus: Player optionValue of option: $5.4 millionPorter has always had big numbers, but questions remain about his actual influence. If he opts out, teams will have questions about his fit on a good team and whether he can integrate in a meaningful way.8. Keon Ellis, Cleveland CavaliersStatus: Unrestricted free agentEllis is a player who is easy to implement, given the combination of his off-ball gravity and defensive acumen. While it isn't clear how much he'll earn on the open market, several teams should have interest.

Canada head coach Jesse Marsch has gotten under the skin of former United States men's national team player Clint Dempsey after saying that he "had to beg" American players to sing the national anthem while he was an assistant coach.As Marsch was explaining the level of patriotism within his Canada squad during a Thursday press conference, he also took a shot at the U.S. team where he served on Bob Bradley's staff from 2010-11."Every one of these boys is incredibly Canadian," Marsch said. "And the pride that they have in putting on the jersey, representing the country, hearing the national anthem ..."In the U.S., sometimes we had to beg players to sing the national anthem. These guys [the Canadian players] sing the national anthem, belt it out to the top of their lungs, because they want to show the country how proud they are to be here, to be Canadians and to represent what Canada is."During Fox's pregame before Canada's opening World Cup match Friday against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Dempsey was told of Marsch's comments by host Rob Stone and was none to pleased to hear what was said."He really said that?" Dempsey asked. "Man, I can't take this guy too seriously. It was an honor for me growing up and represent my country. When the national anthem happened, I wasn't someone who normally would sing. I put my hand over my heart and I'd pray to the good man upstairs. I'm someone who's bled for this country. I broke my nose playing for this country. I've come back from two heart procedures and played for this country. "I'm not going to take advice from someone who switched to the other side and singing another country's national anthem. And as my boy [Thierry Henry] would say, stay in your own lane. It looks like he's in a dang moped, so worry about your own team."Prior to getting into coaching, Marsch played 321 games as a player and appeared in two matches representing the U.S. Dempsey suited up 141 times internationally and was a part of three USMNT World Cup squads.Marsch has been in charge of Canada since May 2024, becoming the first American to coach the country's men's national team. When Gregg Berhalter was fired as U.S. coach following Copa América in 2024, Marsch's name was linked with the opening after he was a candidate two years earlier before Berhalter was rehired.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty pointed to the fans filling up Sutter Health Park before the Athletics took on the New York Yankees in a recent series, including several wearing jerseys with Sacramento on the front.A region that has often been considered minor league in comparison to bigger California markets like the Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego is relishing its role as a way station for the vagabond A’s and hopes one day to have a Major League Baseball team to call its own to go along with the NBA’s Kings.“It would mean everything,” McCarty said. “I think we’ve always fancied ourselves as a big league city. Having a team here in Sacramento would mean a lot to our city, bring a lot of economic groups to both sides of the river.”The region is making what it has dubbed the “Sacramento Pitch” to be considered for expansion, announcing late last month a commitment of $1 billion in public funding and nearly $800 million more in private investment to the effort.There are still major parts missing in the plan. Most notably, the search for a lead investor to own the team has just started with several candidates expressing interest. There’s also uncertainty about if and when MLB plans to expand, and where Sacramento stands on the list of possible candidates.“What we have is just only one major league team here. So we have definitely room for having another team,” West Sacramento Mayor Martha Guerrero said. ”We have a strong media market, the population is growing. We have a good economic growth here as well. We have the potential to develop a strong market for a Major League Baseball team here.”Sacramento has one major team in US’s 20th biggest marketSacramento is the 20th biggest television market in the country and is the largest with only one team in either MLB, the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLS and WNBA. There are about 2.7 million people in the metropolitan area that is still viewed by some as an offshoot of the more glamorous San Francisco Bay area.The region is getting a trial run as a major league city as the temporary home of the A’s, who are playing their second of three planned seasons in West Sacramento after leaving Oakland and waiting for their new stadium to be built in Las Vegas. The A’s are set to play one more season here before the move, and the team is already playing two series this week in the Las Vegas area.Attendance has risen from 9,487 fans per game last season to 10,820 through 28 home dates this season, with 12 announced sellouts in a ballpark that can fit a little more than 12,000 fans a game. But local officials are confident a full-time team would have even more support at a new stadium built right next door to the existing Triple-A park.“From our perspective, landing Major League Baseball is really a market demonstration statement about who we are,” said Barry Broome, the President and CEO of Greater Sacramento Economic Council. “We do love baseball. Everybody deep down inside prays we’ll get a phone call from (A’s owner) John Fisher and he says, ’Psych, I’m staying.’ No one wants to admit they pray for that every day. But we love the Athletics. It’d be awesome, but we didn’t. They’re going to Vegas, so we have to bring in our own team which is fine with us.”Sacramento has $1.8 billion in commitments for a new stadiumThe group in Sacramento has raised $800 million in land near the current minor league ballpark and private investment and has access to $1 billion in public funding that comes mostly from property taxes in the area.While economists have expressed doubts about the value of public investment into stadiums and McCarty himself voted against funding Sacramento’s NBA arena when he was on the city council, he believes this plan makes more sense.“That was more of an impact on the general fund,” he said of the plan that led to building Golden 1 Center that opened in downtown Sacramento in 2016. “This one I think is the fairest deal for taxpayers and partners to do big projects that we have on the books.”There’s no timeline yet for MLB expansionMLB’s first priority is negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement with the union. Commissioner Rob Manfred said last week that MLB has told interested cities that a decision on whether to expand won’t come until the CBA is complete.Among the other cities vying for a team if it does happen are Charlotte, North Carolina; Montreal; Nashville, Tennessee; Portland, Oregon; and Salt Lake City. Sacramento’s biggest competition would likely be the other cities out West.“I think the size and scope of the market is really our key advantage,” Broome said. “We’ve also demonstrated we have a turnkey stadium deal now. That can happen under the mayor and the city manager’s signature. We don’t have to pass a bond or anything like that. It took us four months to raise $800 million. I think people underestimate Sacramento. There’s a lot of money in this town. There is a lot economic power in this town. We can do this.”

The sooner Texas Tech stops attempting to defend itself, the better.By now, you probably know that Red Raiders quarterback Brendan Sorsby has been ruled eligible to play after the first two games of 2026 by a Texas judge even though he placed thousands of sports bets as a college athlete and even bet on his own team when he was a redshirt freshman at Indiana.It's a decision that has angered coaches and administrators at universities across the country. Schools are threatening to not play Texas Tech in any sports. Tech's compatriots in the Big 12 are upset too.But instead of simply letting emotions subside and quietly weathering the hyperbolic fire, Tech has decided its strategy is to publicly dig deeper.And deeper.And deeper.Thursday morning, just as the World Cup was getting started, the school inexplicably released a 20-plus-minute video including school president Lawrence Schovanec, athletic director Kirby Hocutt and coach Joey McGuire talking about Sorsby and the the ruling.Yes, really. It was a roundtable video as long as a standard sitcom on your favorite streaming service. The immediate reaction — even from other schools — was predictable. And sometimes even funny.Yahoo Sports’ own Dan Wolken wrote earlier in the week that Tech deserved more hate for the way it's behaved in the push for Sorsby to be reinstated. The heavily clipped video sure helped his cause."This is hard for our profession and I understand where my colleagues are coming from in some of their comments being made … [Sorsby's] made mistakes," Hocutt said. "He looked me in the eye this morning, again, and reassured me that he has done nothing to jeopardize the integrity of a game he's competed in. He's not given information about a game he's competed in. He's not jeopardized the competition or affected the outcome of any game that he has competed in."But Sorsby did, admittedly, place dozens of bets on Indiana while he was a part of the team. Betting on or against your own team in any fashion even if you're the fifth-string QB is the most obvious no-no in sports. It's possible to both have empathy for Sorsby, his addiction and the rehabilitation process ahead while also remembering that NCAA rules prohibit players from betting on college and pro sports. Just a few years ago, Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers was among those who lost their eligibility for betting on the Cyclones while not seeing any playing time.Sorsby's case is different, Tech says, because he has a gambling addiction. The video repeats many of the same talking points the school has trotted out since the push for Sorsby to play began; that Sorsby's addiction to betting is a medically diagnosed condition and should be considered a mitigating factor in his punishment. Oh, and that Tech officially didn't have anything to do with Sorsby's lawsuit."Here it's important to note that Texas Tech University, Texas Tech athletics was not a party in his legal case," Hocutt said. "Nor did Texas Tech or Texas Tech athletics pay for his legal fees. This was all an individual initiative that Brendan and his legal team did. And by the same token, it was not a claim that sports wagering should be permitted. It was 'look at other mitigating factors.' Look at the situation of a young man who needed help, who went to a rehabilitation center, who was diagnosed with various situations and let's take this into account as you factor in your ultimate decision, NCAA.""This was a legitimate legal process. This is a judge that was not from Lubbock, Texas. This was a judge that actually lives 300 miles away from Texas Tech University. The judge heard the arguments and ultimately made a ruling. A lot of people don't agree with that ruling, and that's their right. But it was a legitimate legal process that he received an injunction."In a May letter outlining the expansive levels of support that the school would give Sorsby after he returned from his inpatient rehabilitation stay and was still ineligible to play football, Schovanec said that Sorsby would have software installed on his personal electronic devices that would block all betting sites. In Friday's video, Hocutt said that software was not installed on Sorsby's items until the injunction was granted."In fact, the morning the injunction was awarded, Brendan immediately came to the football stadium to meet with our IT department, our compliance department, to put the monitoring technology on his devices that allows us to monitor the sites that he visits and block certain sites from him going to," Hocutt said. "And he does not have the ability to uninstall those programs that are on his phone."When Dekkers or Iowa defensive lineman Noah Shannon lost their eligibility for betting, there was nothing like this public push for reinstatement. Then again, Iowa State wasn't coming off the first Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance in school history and thought it was an elite quarterback away from a national title contender, either.Hocutt, McGuire and Schovanec again reiterated Thursday that their concern is first with Sorsby the student and person and then Sorsby the football player. And that the best environment for Sorsby to continue his recovery is by being a full-fledged member of the Texas Tech football team.That may be entirely true. It is undisputedly also true that it's the best outcome for Texas Tech. Whether or not every single athlete in Texas Tech's athletic department would also get this full-throated of a defense is a hypothetical that you can ponder.What isn't a hypothetical is that the Red Raiders are much more well-positioned for a second straight playoff appearance with Sorsby on the field. That's why the school paid him north of $4 million to transfer from Cincinnati.Board of Regents chairman Cody Campbell let that cat out of the bag in an interview earlier in the week when he said that Tech had a contract with Sorsby "not only to pay him, but to play him" before adding, "So how do we not play a kid when we are obligated and instructed by a court that he can play?"Can play and has to play, are, of course, two separate things. And McGuire has continued to be publicly non-committal about a timeline for Sorsby's return to game action. But given the lengths that Tech has gone to defend itself while saying it's only acting in Sorsby's best interests, it's hard to see any scenario where he isn't on the field shortly after his two-game suspension is over.

Constant rains throughout the week have postponed a weekend boxing match.Originally scheduled for Saturday, June 13, the Rumble on the River boxing match is going to be pushed back several months. The new date is now Saturday, Sept. 19 at Sparrowhawk.With already high and muddy water on the Illinois River, more rain is expected to hit Cherokee County, Thursday, June 11 at night and Friday, June 12, in the morning.The event was scheduled to be headlined by local boxers from Booyah Boxing: Phoenix LaRoque and Isaiah Ruiz.Ruiz was set to fight Josue Mendoza Ortiz from Liberty, Kansas. LaRoque was set to fight Josue Hernandez from Tulsa. But with the move, the card is subject to change.This marks the second straight weekend the Booyah Boxing duo has had an event moved. Last Saturday, June 6, the pair was supposed to be involved in the Oklahoma Junior Olympics, but that was also pushed back to September due to a lack of officials.

Stefon Diggs won't be facing any discipline from the NFL after a league review determined that there wasn't enough evidence to punish him under its personal conduct policy. “The league notified Stefon Diggs today that it concluded its investigation and there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of a personal conduct policy violation,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in statement to The Associated Press. ESPN was first to report the league's finding. Diggs was found not guilty last month of assaulting his personal chef. The charges stemmed from a Dec. 2 incident at his house in Massachusetts where Jamila Adams, a former live-in personal chef, testified that Diggs slapped and choked her during an argument. He had pleaded not guilty to a felony strangulation charge and a misdemeanor assault and battery charge. The jury deliberated for less than two hours before clearing Diggs of all charges.Diggs spent last season with the New England Patriots, helping them reach the Super Bowl, where they lost to Seattle. He was released in March and remains unsigned. Several NFL players, including Ben Roethlisberger, Jameis Winston and Ezekiel Elliott, have been suspended for violating the personal conduct policy despite not being arrested or charged with a crime.Diggs led New England with 85 receptions and 1,013 yards receiving with four touchdowns in his only season with the team. He was the go-to option for Drake Maye, who finished runner-up to Matthew Stafford for the AP NFL MVP award.Diggs, who turns 33 on Nov. 29, has played for three teams in the past three seasons. He began his career in Minnesota in 2015 and went from fifth-round pick to No. 1 receiver in five seasons with the Vikings.He was traded to Buffalo for a first-round pick in 2020 and had an All-Pro season that year. Diggs spent four seasons with the Bills. He played for the Texans in 2024.___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

[Reuters]Canada's moment in the 2026 World Cup spotlight has arrived with a joyous opening ceremony featuring home-grown music stars Alanis Morissette and Michael Bublé. Canadian fans arrived in a sea of red ahead of the first match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they broke out into an impromptu rendition of the national anthem O Canada as they entered Toronto Stadium.It comes a day after the global tournament began in Mexico City on Thursday with another opening ceremony that featured Shakira and Nigerian artist Burna Boy.Meanwhile, the first US game in Los Angeles, held later on Friday, will feature performances from chart-topping artist Katy Perry and Atlanta rapper Future. The 2026 tournament is being hosted in all three countries and is set to be the largest ever, with 48 nations competing."We've very excited. This is a long time coming," said Peter Giacobbe, a Toronto native who is attending Canada games in both Toronto and Vancouver, the country's second host city, along with his friend Robert McIntosh. "We woke up this morning realising that this is making Canadian history together," McIntosh said.Peter Giacobbe (left) and Robert McIntosh are cheering on Canada across all three games in Toronto and Vancouver. [BBC]Alanis Morrisette performed Canada's national anthem [Getty Images][Reuters][Reuters]Fans of the national Bosnian team were equally excited. Hundreds arrived to the stadium in a separate march following the Canadian fans. Some told the BBC they travelled from their home country to watch their team play in the World Cup for the first time since 2014.Others, like Bosnian-Canadian Layla Mesic, were closer to home. Mesic was at the stadium with her Canadian mother, who donned a Team Canada jersey while Mesic proudly sported Bosnia's yellow and blue. "To even qualify to the World Cup, it's a big point of pride of us," Mesic said. "Today I'm 100% Bosnian."She added that, to her, this is a once-in-a-life-time experience. "It might have cost an arm and a leg, but I'm here."Morissette performed the national anthem to a cheering crowd. Bublé, who performed with a choir, led the fans in the stands in a rousing rendition of Bring It on Home to Me, by Mississippi soul singer Sam Cooke.Along with Bublé and Morissette, performers for Canada's opening ceremony included Canadian singer Alessia Cara, Palestinian singer-songwriter Elyanna, and Toronto natives Jessie Reyes and Nora Fatehi. William Prince, an indigenous artist from Manitoba, also performed.Organisers said the list of performers was inspired by Canada's communities and "rich diversity".Ahead of the match, the announcer in the Toronto Stadium asked the crowd to "join us in a round of applause for peace".Layla Mesic, a Bosnian-Canadian attending Friday's match, said she is "100% Bosnian today". [BBC]Elyanna and Jessie Reyez perform [Getty Images][Getty Images]GUIDE: Everything you need to know EXPLORE: All 48 squads confirmedDOWNLOAD: The World Cup 2026 wallchartLater in the day, the match between the US and Paraguay in Los Angeles will be opened by performers including Katy Perry, Future, Brazilian singer-songwriter Anitta and Blackpink alumna and actress LISA.Grammy-winning South African singer Tyla will also perform.While big-name celebrities are expected to be in attendance, neither US president Donald Trump nor Canadian prime minister Mark Carney will be at either of their countries' opening matches.Instead, US state secretary Marco Rubio will be in LA. Carney, meanwhile, in France for a working trip ahead of next week's G7 summit. He is expected to meet with French president Emmanuel Macron on Friday. Mexico's president Claudia Sheinbaum also skipped her country's first game on Thursday, saying she did so in protest over the tournament's high ticket prices.Fifa is also planning a star-studded show for the closing ceremony on 19 July, where it will host its first-ever halftime show in its near 100-year history, modelled after similar spectacles at the Super Bowl. Headliners include Coldplay's Chris Martin, Madonna and Shakira.The final game will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. World Cup kicks off in Mexico with Shakira, dancing, and protestsEverything to know about Canada's men's team at the 2026 World CupEverything to know about the US men's team at the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 season certainly didn’t end the way the UCLA Bruins had hoped, with the No. 1 team in the country falling in the Los Angeles Regional but the end result doesn’t take away the greatness that UCLA showed throughout the regular season.The Bruins are still being rewarded for their efforts, with two Bruins being named All-Americans on Thursday. Star shortstop Roch Cholowsky was named to Baseball America’s First Team All-American while relief pitcher Easton Hawk was named to their Third Team All-American. More accolades for our guys 💪🗞️: https://t.co/c14urhDcJj#GoBruinspic.twitter.com/0gWmjzWzNS— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) June 12, 2026Hawk shined out of the bullpen for UCLA this season, registering a 1.93 earned run average with a record of 7-4. Hawk appeared in 34 games for the Bruins, striking out 52 batters in 42 innings.In addition to a handful of All-American nominations, Cholowsky was named a finalist for college baseball’s most prestigious award, the Golden Spikes Award. Cholowsky is one of three finalists, joining Georgia’s Daniel Jackson and Arizona State’s Landon Hairston.His spikes are starting to 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞. Roch Cholowsky is officially a @USAGoldenSpikes Award Finalist!🗞️: https://t.co/v1sV3JZbhn#GoBruinspic.twitter.com/mmEy0nI7rF— UCLA Baseball (@UCLABaseball) June 10, 2026The Golden Spikes Trophy was introduced in 1978 and since then just one UCLA Bruin has won the award. Right-handed pitcher Trevor Bauer won the award in 2011, when he posted a 1.24 earned run average with 203 strikeouts in 138.1 innings pitched for UCLA.Cholowsky posted some gaudy numbers in his own right for the Bruins this season, batting .320 with 21 home runs and 61 runs batted in. For his efforts, Cholowsky won his second-straight Big Ten Conference Player of the Year Award, with the UCLA shortstop being expected to hear his name called within the top few picks of this summer’s MLB Draft.This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Roch Cholowsky named a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The University of Florida is planning the most expensive — and potentially most comprehensive — stadium renovation in college football history, a $1.45 billion overhaul of Ben Hill Griffin Stadium that school officials believe will nearly double annual revenue from their “$75 million ATM machine.”The Gators unveiled renderings and details of the burgeoning project at a board of trustees meeting Thursday, providing the total budget (up from $400 million) as well as a start date (2027 offseason) and a completion date (2030 offseason). The board said the transformation will “breathe new life into one of the nation’s most iconic college football venues and elevate it into the premier collegiate athletic destination that sets the standard for everyone else.”“Every inch of this stadium is going to be affected,” athletic director Scott Stricklin added.Florida started looking at ways to upgrade “the Swamp” in 2018. The process was delayed by COVID-19 and ended up morphing into a “50-year solution” instead of a “short-term fix,” Stricklin said.Florida generates $75 million a year from the nearly 100-year-old stadium from tickets, concessions, parking and contributions. Stricklin called it “a $75 million ATM machine” and the athletic department’s “most important asset.”The remodel is expected to provide “a $65 million lift annually,” bringing total revenue from the venue to $140 million at a time when every dollar matters as the Gators look to better compete in 21 sports.The venture is expected to be funded through a combination of private donations, capital reserves and long-term debt approved by the Florida Board of Governors.The undertaking will revamp 82 current suites, add 63 more atop the east side of the stadium, create additional premium seating areas and install state-of-the-art video boards and audio capabilities. It includes $500 million in deferred maintenance costs, infrastructure improvements and wider aisles and handrails to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.Capacity, however, will remain at 88,548 despite losing thousands of seats in the lower bowl. New suites will make up the difference, and all of those premium areas — current ones are behind glass — will be open air.“I don’t think holistically it will change at all,” Stricklin said. “Our tagline for this is going to be, ‘Bigger, Better, Louder.’ More structure is going to hold in more sound. This is going to be a louder environment.”Florida annually ranks as one of college football’s toughest places to play. And the Gators vowed to keep intact as much of what makes the Swamp unique: the orange wing walls and a bowl design that includes a below-ground-level playing surface.Florida officials toured Fenway Park, Wrigley Field and Lambeau Field to find a landing spot between preserving the past and modernizing for the future. The Swamp’s design ended up mostly resembling what took place at Lambeau in 2012-13, where the Green Bay Packers kept the lower bowl intact and built above it.“It’s a big checklist of what we’re trying to accomplish,” Stricklin said. “I’m very excited because I think when people walk in it for the first time, they’re going to be blown away, and the money’s going to seem very well spent.”Stricklin said recent projects even remotely close to Florida’s scope include Texas A&M’s $450 million overhaul to Kyle Field in 2013-14 and Penn State’s $750 million renovation to Beaver Stadium that’s expected to be completed in 2027.“There are a lot of sponsorship areas that we’ve never really leveraged,” Stricklin said. “I think we can be really aggressive, and this will generate a lot of excitement, not only among fans but also among businesses that want to figure out how to be a part of it. We can leverage that to not only help pay for the stadium, but we can also leverage that for NIL opportunities.”