After another successful recruiting weekend, the Oklahoma Sooners are up to 25 total commitments in the 2027 recruiting class. OU currently has 13 pledges on offense, 12 pledges on defense, and zero pledges on special teams.The Sooners earned commitments from WR Malahn Green, OL Jaxon Lawler, and DB Trenton Blaylock during their last major official visit weekend of the summer for the class. It was yet another strong performance on the trail from head coach Brent Venables and general manager Jim Nagy, who have been putting together quite the class so far.While Oklahoma continues to be ranked highly in the '27 cycle, there's more to the story. When stacked up against the other 15 SEC teams, the Sooners are also bringing in a high number of blue-chip (4-and 5-star) recruits to the class as well.According to Rivals, the Sooners have 12 blue-chip players committed at this time, which is good for third-best in the league, behind only Florida and Texas A&M. At 247Sports, OU's blue-chip number rises to 14, still good for third-best in the conference behind those two teams. Most, if not all, championship teams in college football feature a certain threshold of blue-chippers, and Oklahoma has roughly half of their current haul that fits into that category at this time. Additionally, they're currently out-performing both Alabama and Georgia, who have combined to win the last six SEC titles, and 11 of the last 12, when it comes to this metric.Of course, there's still a long ways to go before the cycle comes to a close, but it's still an encouraging stat for the Sooners. Venables' sixth class and Nagy's second is shaping up to be a very solid group, and that duo certainly isn't done recruiting yet.OU Football class of 2027 commitments (as of 6/16/2026)Jamison Roberts, QBNoah Smith, QBKeldrid Ben, RBJakoby Dixon, RBMalahn Green, WRGreydon Howell, WRSeneca Driver, TEIssac Coughran, OLCooper Hackett, OLJaxon Lawler, OLKaeden Penny, OLTyson Ross, OLLuke Wilson, OLSione Felila, DLElija Harmon, DLKrew Jones, DLSamuel Nelson, DLDeven Robertson, DLTaven Epps, LBCooper Witten, LBTrenton Blaylock, DBMikyal Davis, DBMikhail McCreary, DBGabriel Osborne Jr., DBJaylen Scott, DBContact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X@Aaron_Gelvin.This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Oklahoma's ranking within SEC for 2027 blue-chip commitments

Four Tennessee baseball players and 11 more signees were invited to the 2026 MLB Draft Combine, which will take place June 23-26 at Chase Field in Phoenix.Players from this year's team invited were pitchers Tegan Kuhns and Bo Rhudy as well as third baseman Henry Ford and outfielder/catcher Garrett Wright, which were included on a list of 194 draft-eligible college players.The 11 members of Tennessee’s 2026 recruiting class invited were pitcher/outfielder Jared Grindlinger, outfielder Trevor Condon, pitcher/shortstop Cole Koeninger, catcher Sean Dunlap, pitcher Kaiden McCarthy, pitcher Gary Morse, shortstop Jack Dugan, pitcher Gannon Grant, outfielder AJ Curry, pitcher Tyler Putnam and pitcher Shawn Sullivan.There will be 334 players at the combine, which will also feature 140 high school prospects.Kuhns is Tennessee’s highest ranked draft prospect as a potential first-round pick, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 24 prospect in this year’s class. As a sophomore this season, he went 5-5 with a 3.56 ERA with 106 strikeouts and 16 walks in 81 innings.Ford is ranked as the No. 145 prospect after hitting .293 with 20 home runs and 57 RBIs, while Wright came in at No. 188 after hitting .348 with nine home runs while splitting time between catcher and center field.Rhudy had a 3.38 ERA in 32 innings with 41 strikeouts.Grindlinger is the top draft prospect from Tennessee’s recruiting class and is projected to go within the top 20 picks, most recently ranked No. 18 by MLB Pipeline. Condon has also been mocked as a first-round pick and was ranked as the No. 22 prospect in the class.The MLB Draft will take place in Philadelphia on July 11-12.Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tegan Kuhns among Tennessee players, signees invited to MLB draft combine

The Tartan Army's wonderful takeover of Boston has been the story of the World Cup so far, but on the field it was Cape Verde's stunning draw against European champions Spain that sent shockwaves through the tournament.In their debut match at the World Cup, the Africans – ranked 67 in the world and with a population of less than 500,000 people – put in a heroic defensive display to thwart a star-studded Spanish side tipped by many to become world champions for a second time.Scotland know if they can mirror Cape Verde's result and take a point from Friday's Group C meeting with Morocco at the Boston Stadium, they will be all but guaranteed a passage into the knockout stages for the very first time at a major tournament.So what lessons can the Scots take from Cape Verde's remarkable display?Stag-do drag to World Cup - the rise of Scotland's other national anthem'Cartwheels at breakfast' & kicking about Boston - the culture shift in Scotland campAsk pundits McCann & Crichton your World Cup questions'Defend like lions'Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry showed up well in Scotland's opening game, both making vital interventions as Haiti came on strong in search of an equaliser after John McGinn's strike.Whether head coach Steve Clarke retains that centre-back pairing or reintroduces the fit again Scott McKenna – he could switch to a back five and play them all – the entire Scottish defensive unit will need to show the ferocious desire to protect their goal that Cape Verde did so impressively against the Spanish."One of the big things Cape Verde work at, and the manager has talked about it, is the culture of the country itself and making sure that everybody buys into that. If you do that, everyone will work for each other," said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin after covering the match at Atlanta Stadium for BBC Radio 5 Live."Boy, what a sight of players working for each other we saw. They spent the vast majority of the game on their own 18-yard line, not all of it, and when they broke, they were brave and they broke in numbers."To do that and keep that level of concentration, you don't do that if you're a bunch of individuals, you only do that if you're a group, if you're a team, if you believe in each other. And it shone through."I watched Sidny Cabral start the game and thought, 'oh, my goodness, there's a disaster waiting to happen' because of the way he was tackling - but he got every one of them right."You look at Diney Borges, again, he looked like he was a kitten at the start of the game. By the end of the game, he was a lion."Former Scotland defender Willie Miller was similarly impressed with Cape Verde's defensive discipline and highlighted the concentration levels to shut Spain down, something Scotland will undoubtedly have to display against the attacking threats of Morocco."Cape Verde had the 4-5-1 formation, they defended deep, they closed the opposition down very quickly," said Miller, who played at the at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups."Sometimes you have to have a little bit of good fortune. The goalkeeper was in such good form as well and didn't look like he was going to lose anything but it's a long time to go with that formation."You tend to get mentally fatigued when you're doing most of your work without the ball and I think that could have been a problem - but it wasn't a problem for Cape Verde."They had organisation, the team spirit, the shape, a goalkeeper in fine form, restricting any space between your defence, midfield and forwards, and then just had that belief that they could get it over the line and get the draw. That's what we need against Morocco."Retain an attacking threatWhile defensive organisation and resilience was the foundation of Cape Verde's performance, they still managed to retain some semblance of attacking threat on the counter-attack, especially late in the game, to relieve some of the pressure at the back.They might even have snatched a famous victory, with defender Borges going close with a late header and a couple of late counters threatening to catch Spain out as they poured forward looking for a winner.Scotland will need to give the Moroccan back-line something to think about if they are to avoid a dangerous pattern of being pinned in on the edge of their own box.Former Scotland winger Neil McCann believes the presence of Ben Gannon-Doak, a standout performer against Haiti, will be crucial in getting the Scots up the pitch."Ben Gannon-Doak is obviously a very big weapon for Scotland in terms of how he eliminates people in the wide area," McCann said."He's shown in his Scotland career already that he can play off the left, off the right, and standing people up and just going past them like they're not there."The one thing I want to see him work on is his final ball. Getting past people generally isn't a problem. It's what you do once you're in that position."It doesn't matter who he's playing against, whether it's [Denmark's Patrick] Dorgu, whether it's Achraf Hakimi against Morocco, I still think he'll create chances."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

NEW YORK - White Sox starter Davis Martin is a big part of Chicago's first-half success story. Through 13 starts, the right-hander (9-2, 2.41 ERA) leads the league in wins and in ratio for the fewest home runs (0.3) per nine innings, yielding just three HRs in 78.1 innings. Martin will be on the mound Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, in the opener of a three-game set between the White Sox and Yankees. And it'll be Gerrit Cole (1-1, 2.45 ERA), making his fifth start of the year for the Yanks, and coming off a short outing (4 IP, 2 ER) in a no-decision last Tuesday at Cleveland. Martin went six scoreless innings in his previous start, out-dueling Chris Sale in a 2-1 White Sox's win against the NL East leading Atlanta Braves.Also today, the Yankees announced that catcher Austin Wells (cervical headaches) would begin a minor league rehab assignment tonight at Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.Yankees lineup today vs White SoxBack in the Bronx. #RepBXpic.twitter.com/JgGWRWi5SO— New York Yankees (@Yankees) June 16, 2026White Sox lineup today vs YankeesSam Antonacci, LFMiguel Vargas, 3BAndrew Benintendi, DHColson Montgomery, SSBraden Montgomery, RFChase Meidroth, 2BJacob Gonzalez, 1BTristan Peters, CFDrew Romo, CThis article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees' lineup vs Chicago White Sox for Tuesday as Gerrit Cole starts

Samar Halabi and her husband, Amjad Muhtaseb, both attended the Republican Party of Texas Convention, which was held in Houston from June 11 to 13, because, as Muhtaseb explained to The Texas Tribune, “We believe in Adam and Eve. We don’t believe in this, multiple genders. We don’t drink. We don’t gamble. We are against pornography.” Republicans at the event repeatedly told them and other Muslim delegates to leave the country because they’re a terrorist threat. Other attendees tried to boot them from the event. Convention rules prohibited them from kicking the couple out, but party officials promised to create such rules when the convention meets again in 2028. Related A Muslim teen came out to his mother. Her reaction left them both in tears. Halabi wore a hijab (head covering) at the event. Attendees accused her of being a part of a terrorist organization. When one attendee approached her and told her to leave the country, she turned and wept into her husband’s chest. The married couple said they are trying to bring more Muslims into the Republican Party. But the Texas GOP has spent a lot of time during recent election cycles speaking out against Sharia Law and the so-called “Islamification” of Texas. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The state GOP and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) have deemed the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, a terrorist threat. Hussein’s father founded the organization’s Houston chapter and also attended the convention as a delegate; there’s no proof substantiating CAIR’s alleged ties to extremist organizations. Additionally, Abbott signed a law in September 2025 to ban the establishment of an Islamic community in the city of Joesphine (35 miles northeast of Dallas) after numerous state officials and locals said it intended to enforce Sharia law and exclude non-Muslims, claims which the community’s developers denied. On Saturday at the convention, outgoing state GOP chair Abraham George told two Muslim delegates, “I would strongly advise you to leave our caucus,” adding, “There is a Democrat convention happening in a couple weeks. Join them.” That same day, Muslim conservative Mohamed Hussein attended a Judeo-Christian Caucus moderated by former Southern Baptist pastor Dr. Rick Scarborough, who is also president of the religious political organization Recover America. Scarborough said Muslims will erode Christian values, lie and hide their meanness to win political power, and then use that power to “cut your head off as believers of Christ.” State Sen. Bob Hall (R) echoed that sentiment, falsely claiming that Muslims are “required by Sharia to lie” to “stay below the radar of being aggressive.” At the panel, state Rep. Brent Money (R), founder of the convention’s Sharia-Free Texas Caucus, said political candidates should undergo religious tests and that all Americans should only vote for Christians because, “We’ve proven over 250 years that we’re best … when we’re ruled by Christian men who serve a God that’s bigger than them and that seek the welfare of everyone that’s here.” Horrified by their statements, Hussein spoke out, saying that Sharia law only provides a religious framework that applies to Muslim daily practices. “When they tell you that we’re compelled to lie, they are putting your Texan neighbors in an impossible position where nothing that we can say or do can absolve us from the crimes that they are accusing us of. That is not just, the Bible commands you to be just, and that is not American.” After the panel, Scarborough told Hussein to either convert or leave the country. Hussein then cried in a chair while Scarborough sat next to him and offered to pray to Jesus with him. Muslims pray only to God (Allah) and do not pray to Jesus, seeing him only as a prophet rather than the son of God. Scarborough later told The Texas Tribune, “If you’re going to embrace the values and the teachings that you’re advocating for, there’s no place in America for you. That’s not assimilation. That’s taking over.” Hussein expressed disbelief at being told to convert or leave, noting that the convention’s tagline was, “Unity drives victory.” He said he worries that the party’s anti-Islamic rhetoric could foment violence against Muslims. However, he said he will vote for whichever candidate most supports religious liberty and economic prosperity. “I will vote along those principles, but what I saw at the convention is not conservatism, so I’m going to assess in November and vote along with my values,” he said. “Absolutely, I will be voting for Republicans who denounce this extremism.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The 96th edition of the MLB All-Star Game is right around the corner, and the league’s biggest stars as well as some surprise candidates are making their final pushes toward earning invitations to Philadelphia next month. Not only do we have nearly three months of performance to inform which players warrant a roster spot, but we also have our first round of fan voting results showing which players are in the mix to start on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Our latest power rankings look at players on each team who could be first-time All-Stars this year. These are often some of the best stories during All-Star week, whether they are ascendent young talents appearing in their first of many Midsummer Classics or veterans finally getting their first invite later in their careers. There won’t be room for all of them on the leagues’ stacked rosters, but here are some names to look for as potential first-timers.Jump to a team by clicking on the links below:AL East: Yankees | Rays | Blue Jays | Orioles | Red SoxAL Central: White Sox | Guardians | Twins | Tigers | RoyalsAL West: Mariners | Athletics | Rangers | Astros | AngelsNL East: Braves | Phillies | Nationals | Marlins | MetsNL Central: Brewers | Cardinals | Cubs | Pirates | RedsNL West: Dodgers | Padres | Diamondbacks | Giants | Rockies1. Los Angeles Dodgers (46-27)If you were told before the season that a Dodger would be the leading vote-getter among all National League outfielders in the first round of All-Star fan voting, that wouldn’t be a surprise. But you’d probably assume it was marquee free-agent addition Kyle Tucker (an All-Star the past four seasons) or beloved slugger Teoscar Hernandez, right? Nope! It’s 25-year-old Andy Pages, and deservingly so. Even if the outsized vote totals are partially a product of his team’s enormous and enthusiastic fan base, Pages would be a worthy inclusion on the All-Star roster. He leads the NL with 56 RBI and ranks 13th among NL position players in fWAR. 2. Atlanta Braves (46-25)Even with some missed time due to injury, Drake Baldwin’s outstanding play should earn him his first All-Star invite, and surely not his last. But most intriguing for Atlanta will be whether this is the year Raisel Iglesias finally gets the nod, as the 36-year-old right-hander has never been named an All-Star, despite remarkable consistency in the closer role for multiple teams over the past decade. There are only so many reliever spots available, so Iglesias could fall short again, but his continued excellence (14 saves, 1.16 ERA, 30.4% strikeout rate) on one of baseball’s best teams should not go overlooked.3. Milwaukee Brewers (43-26)Brice Turang — a Platinum Glove winner and a member of Team USA but not yet an All-Star — is the best bet to join super-ace Jacob Misiorowski in Philadelphia, and that would be well-deserved considering his ongoing offensive breakout. Among surprise first-half stars, 30-year-old Jake Bauers (his 148 wRC+ ranks seventh among NL hitters) has mashed his way into serious All-Star consideration, thougha crowded NL first-base crop (Matt Olson, Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper) makes his inclusion less certain.4. New York Yankees (43-27)With his rib injury likely preventing Aaron Judge from participating in his eighth All-Star Game, Ben Rice and Cam Schlittler should snag the spotlight as the Yankees’ representatives. Two tremendous, homegrown player-development stories, Rice and Schlittler have been co-headlining this Yankees campaign all season, and the All-Star Game might be a precursor to their respective pushes for some even more exclusive hardware: MVP and Cy Young.5. Tampa Bay Rays (41-28)The most likely first-timer on this Rays roster is 35-year-old right-hander Nick Martinez, whose 2.60 ERA ranks third-lowest among qualified AL starting pitchers. Martinez’s underwhelming underlying peripherals don’t reflect that of one of the league’s best arms, but Tampa Bay still has to be thrilled with what he has provided as a free-agent addition to the rotation. 6. Philadelphia Phillies (39-33)He hasn’t been an elite reliever for nearly as long as Iglesias, but it’s strange to think that Jhoan Duran also has yet to make an All-Star team, considering how dominant he has been since debuting in 2022. Whether that changes this year remains to be seen, but a near certain first-timer representing the All-Star hosts will be outfielder Brandon Marsh. In fact, Marsh’s terrific season at the plate (133 wRC+) plus the hometown bump in fan voting could make him a starter for the NL.7. Chicago White Sox (38-32)Chicago’s lone representative last season was right-hander Shane Smith, a Rule 5 pick who became a reliable rotation option. Smith is a great story, but his selection was reflective of the complete lack of other compelling options to choose from. How times have changed. This season’s upstart White Sox roster boasts several All-Star candidates, all of whom would be first-timers: rookie sensation Munetaka Murakami, breakout bat Miguel Vargas and emergent ace Davis Martin would be worthy inclusions.8. Cleveland Guardians (39-33)A slow start and recent hamate injury will prevent face of the franchise José Ramírez from making his sixth consecutive All-Star appearance (and eighth overall), so look for a pitcher to represent the Guardians. Closer Cade Smith is MLB’s current saves leader with 23 and trails only Mason Miller among relievers in fWAR; he’s a virtual lock. Right-hander Gavin Williams is another first-time All-Star candidate, as his 28.7% strikeout rate ranks third among AL starting pitchers, behind only Reid Detmers (more on him later) and Jacob deGrom. 9. Seattle Mariners (37-36)Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby and Luis Castillo have all been All-Stars before; could it be Emerson Hancock’s turn? Or even Bryce Miller’s? Hancock has tailed off a bit since a brilliant first month, but he ranks among the top 15 qualified AL starting pitchers in innings pitched (79 ⅔), ERA (3.28), WHIP (1.01) and K-minus-BB% (18.5%). Miller has pitched only 35 innings, but he has been dominant in that abbreviated sample: 1.54 ERA, 0.714 WHIP, 28.8% strikeout rate.Of all the notable Dodgers, Andy Pages is the one leading all National League outfielders in All-Star voting.Bruno Rouby/Yahoo Sports10. St. Louis Cardinals (39-31)His impressive rookie year as a 21-year-old in 2023 suggested an eventual All-Star appearance was in the cards for Jordan Walker, but his immense struggles the past two seasons clouded that projection. But Walker has gotten back on track in a big way in his fourth major-league season, enjoying a slugging surge that has him at or near the top of the NL leaderboards in homers (18), RBI (56) and OPS (.903). His enormous raw power (99th-percentile average exit velocity, 100th-percentile bat speed) also makes him a strong candidate for this year’s Home Run Derby.11. Chicago Cubs (38-35)With Nico Hoernerfalling off hard after an excellent April, we might need to look elsewhere in the Cubs’ lineup for a possible first-time All-Star, and Michael Busch and Seiya Suzuki appear to be the strongest candidates. Suzuki was one of the biggest All-Star snubs last year, but his production has been more good than great this season, so he’d have to heat up over the next few weeks to warrant consideration. Busch’s production is also down from where it was a year ago, but his .381 OBP ranks seventh among NL hitters.12. San Diego Padres (37-34)The Padres’ maddeningly meek offensive output does not offer many All-Star candidates of any genre, let alone first-timers, though Gavin Sheets would be a cool inclusion, considering his career trajectory. On the mound, Michael King has been rock-solid yet nothing special. Things are trending toward Mason Miller rolling solo in Philly.13. Washington Nationals (38-35)Don’t count on Washington garnering All-Stars beyond the fantastic duo of James Wood and CJ Abrams. But the Nationals aren’t a two-man show. They’ve benefitted from promising steps forward from catcher Keibert Ruiz and instant impact from fresh faces Curtis Mead and Foster Griffin. Any of them being named an All-Star for the first time is unlikely as things stand, but their contributions have been crucial to Washington’s unexpected competitiveness. 14. Arizona Diamondbacks (37-35)Eduardo Rodriguez has carried the momentum from his strong showing for World Baseball Classic champion Venezuela into an impressive first half with Arizona. There has been some good luck involved — he has one of the largest gaps between his ERA (2.55) and xERA (4.83) of any starting pitcher — but the results have been great, and the D-backs are 10-4 across Rodriguez’s 14 starts. Of note: Among active pitchers, only Carlos Carrasco has thrown more innings without making an All-Star Game than Rodriguez.15. Pittsburgh Pirates (36-37)Not far behind ace Paul Skenes on the pitching fWAR leaderboard is 26-year-old right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who is quietly enjoying one of the bigger breakouts of 2026. At the same time, this is a continuation of what Ashcraft did in a swingman role as a rookie last season: Among 126 pitchers who have thrown at least 150 innings since the start of 2025, Ashcraft’s 3.03 ERA ranks 15th, tied with Jacob deGrom. Pretty good!16. Athletics (36-36)Two no-brainers here. Shea Langeliers is miles ahead among American League catchers in the fan voting and has been arguably the best-hitting backstop in MLB this season. And Nick Kurtz picked up right where he left off after a historic rookie season and just enjoyed a superboost to his statistics by playing six games in Las Vegas — not that he needed help. He might not get the starting nod like Langeliers, but Kurtz will absolutely be on the All-Star roster for the first time in Philadelphia, where he grew up going to games.17. Texas Rangers (35-37)No active major leaguer has accumulated more baseball-reference WAR in his career without making an All-Star appearance than Brandon Nimmo, who has been solid in his first year as a Ranger, though probably not quite good enough to remove that distinction from his résumé. Instead, keep an eye on lefty closer Jacob Latz, whose .115 batting average against and 0.60 WHIP are both the lowest marks among MLB relievers.18. Toronto Blue Jays (34-38)Dylan Cease exemplifies the flukey nature of All-Star selections, as the right-hander has two top-four Cy Young finishes and a seven-year free agent contract but no Midsummer Classic on his résumé just yet. That should change in the coming weeks, as Cease has made a wonderful first impression in Toronto, with a 2.91 ERA across 68 innings and an AL-leading 103 strikeouts. On track to join Cease in Philadelphia as a first-time All-Star: Ernie Clement, the leading vote-getter among AL second basemen.19. Miami Marlins (36-37)Take your pick: Otto Lopez, leading MLB in hits (97) and batting average (.339) while providing steady defense at shortstop, or right-hander Max Meyer, who has yet to take a loss through 15 starts and is floating on the periphery of the spectacularly loaded NL Cy Young race. Both are huge reasons this young Fish team has surged in June, and both deserve to be in Philadelphia.20. Cincinnati Reds (34-37)In the category of uber-talented youngsters who could make their first of many All-Star appearances, right-hander Chase Burns — currently fourth among NL starters in fWAR, behind Misiorowski, Cristopher Sánchez and Skenes — fits the bill. But how about JJ Bleday? The former fourth overall pick didn’t crack the Reds’ Opening Day roster but has been an impact bat since being recalled from Triple-A. Since April 26, Bleday’s 155 wRC+ ranks ninth among qualified NL hitters.21. Baltimore Orioles (34-39)It has been a bizarre first year in Baltimore for outfielder Taylor Ward, but it might be good enough to earn him his first All-Star invite. Ward has started all 73 games while batting first or second for the Orioles and has hit only three home runs, yet his 16 doubles rank fourth in the AL and his .404 OBP ranks third behind only Kurtz and Yordan Alvarez.22. New York Mets (32-40)It’s slim pickings here. Rookie Nolan McLean came out of the gate hot and could still pitch his way into the All-Star mix, but his ERA has ballooned to a pedestrian 4.01, and the competition among NL starters is stiff. Mets fans can at least look forward to Juan Soto making his first All-Star Game as a Met (and fifth overall) after being snubbed a year ago. 23. Minnesota Twins (34-40)A hamate injury has sidelined him since mid-May, but Ryan Jeffers was raking to a ridiculous degree (163 wRC+) over the first six weeks and could have been well on his way to his first All-Star Game. Depending on when he returns, he could be an interesting name to monitor at the trade deadline before he hits the free-agent market as the top catcher available.24. Houston Astros (33-41)Among active position players, only Randal Grichuk has hit more career home runs (218) than Christian Walker (192) without ever being named to the All-Star Game. The Astros might not get any additional All-Stars beyond MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez, but Walker’s resurgence (121 wRC+) after a lackluster first season (99 wRC+) in Houston warrants consideration. His 52 RBI are third in the AL behind Kurtz and Alvarez.25. Detroit Tigers (30-42)He doesn’t have the same support in the fan vote, but catcher Dillon Dingler nearly matches Langeliers in most offensive categories and is much better on defense, hence his sizable lead atop the fWAR leaderboard (3.2 to Langeliers’ 2.4). Amid a difficult season for Detroit, Dingler’s breakout from stellar starting catcher to all-around star has been a welcome silver lining. 26. Boston Red Sox (29-40)By far the most likely Red Sox All-Stars are veterans who have been there before: Willson Contreras and Aroldis Chapman. But Ceddanne Rafaela has taken a big step forward with the bat (116 wRC+), a notable development in tandem with his exquisite glovework, which remains elite (+10 Outs Above Average, second among center fielders behind only Pete Crow-Armstrong).27. San Francisco Giants (29-43)Count Willy Adamesas another one of the most accomplished active position players who has never made an All-Star Game, and his middling production won’t be altering that status this summer. Jung-Hoo Lee is the potential first-timer to watch, as his advanced hit tool has finally started to translate to the highest level in his third major-league season. Lee’s five three-hit games are the most in MLB, with only three other hitters (Crow-Armstrong, Dingler, Ward) having three such performances. 28. Kansas City Royals (29-44)Does this dismal Royals club deserve any additional All-Stars beyond expected AL starting shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.? No. But sophomore slugger Jac Caglianone has made some encouraging progress (118 wRC+) after a difficult rookie season (46 wRC+) and would be welcome as a dark-horse invite to the Home Run Derby. 29. Los Angeles Angels (29-44)The All-Star headline in Anaheim is that Mike Trout is in good position to make his 12th All-Star Game, joining the 38 others in MLB history who were invited to a dozen or more Midsummer Classics. The leading first-time All-Star candidates are a pair of pitchers. José Soriano was unbelievable through six starts (0.24 ERA across 37 ⅔ innings) but has been more inconsistent in the nine outings since (4.74 ERA across 49 ⅓ innings), while Reid Detmers has gotten better as the season as progressed and currently ranks third in fWAR among AL starting pitchers, behind Schlittler and Martin. 30. Colorado Rockies (27-46)In all likelihood, catcher Hunter Goodman (20 HR, 122 wRC+) will head to the All-Star Game as the lone Rockies representative for the second year in a row. But how cool would it be if Mickey Moniak — 10 years removed from being selected first overall by the Phillies — returned to Philadelphia as a first-time All-Star? His .607 slugging percentage (third among hitters with at least 150 plate appearances, behind Alvarez and Rice) is eye-catching, but an ankle injury has limited him to just 43 games, and he remains on the injured list, so this scenario might be a bit too fanciful.

The NCAA ended up having it both ways in the Brendan Sorsby case. First, it successfully pushed him to the NFL. Second, it seized on the political momentum coming from last week's ruling that restored his eligibility.As a result, the so-called "Protect College Sports Act" is moving forward in the Senate. But there's still a glitch — neither the SEC nor the Big Ten are happy with the current version of the bill.Via Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports, the bill retains the ability for FBS programs to pool media rights and sell them as a package, if at least 75 percent of FBS schools agree to do it.“We are not opposed to other conferences and universities exploring and opting in to media pooling,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told the conference's members this week, per Christovich. “However, the media pooling, as written, exposes the SEC to potential lawsuits forcing the conference into the media pooling practice. . . . It forces the SEC and Big Ten to either play intraconference postseason tournaments or play only other non-pooling conferences or universities in the postseason to replace the CFP.”The two conferences also oppose a portion of the bill that would prevent them from merging into a combined superleague.Further amendments to the bill, before it goes to a floor vote in the Senate, could alleviate the concerns. Or, alternatively, the Senate could ignore the concerns of the SEC and Big Ten and push it forward. While the SEC and Big Ten have plenty of influence, they have zero votes within the 100-member body that matters.

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Although the cheers are still ringing in the Americans' ears after their impressive World Cup-opening victory, this U.S. team says it's prepared for the physical and mental challenges of the weeks ahead — including what's likely to be a physical meeting with Australia on Friday.Midfielder Sebastian Berhalter gives credit for this tenacity to coach Mauricio Pochettino, who has taken over a team that repeatedly flopped on the international stage and infused it with a stronger mentality grounded in a few core beliefs.“I think one is that we’re American. We don’t take s—-,” Berhalter said Tuesday.“I think that’s something that (Pochettino) really put in,” Berhalter continued. “Even though he’s Argentinian, he has that mindset of, like, ‘Look, this is what we do, and this is who we are, and this is what America is about.’ So I think he just, you know, even from an outside perspective, he showed us Americans what we’re about. He really drilled that into us, and I think that’s something that has helped us this last cycle.”That mentality was partly forged last October when the U.S. faced Australia in what turned into a scrappy 2-1 friendly victory in Colorado. Pochettino lambasted his team at halftime, imploring the players to stand up for themselves after the Socceroos delivered physical tackles and punishing play while U.S. midfielder Christian Pulisic left with an injury.“Watching that game last year, you could see they were up for it,” said Berhalter, whose father, Gregg, coached the U.S. team before Pochettino. “They were putting in challenges, and I think that’s one of the reasons Mauricio had that halftime rant, and said, ‘These guys can’t kick us around.’ I think he was right.”The players heard their coach's pleas, and they responded with an increased physicality in a game that ended with a combined 19 fouls and two yellow cards.The Americans have largely kept it up since then, playing with a confidence and assertiveness that manifested throughout their 4-1 victory over Paraguay last Friday in Inglewood, California. Although they haven't racked up a string of impressive victories since Pochettino took over, the team's improvements in temperament and tactics have been obvious, and the World Cup could be the place where everything blossoms.“That game in Colorado was fun,” winger Tim Weah said with a grin. “That experience was fun. It was aggressive. I think from that game, we’ve changed a lot. We’ve gotten a bit more aggressive as well.”Pulisic's health is again a concern for the Americans after he was forced to work out on his own for the second straight training session Tuesday because of the calf injury that limited him to the first half against Paraguay. The team described its playmaking attacker as “day to day” for Friday's match in Seattle.Even if Pulisic is limited again, the Americans believe they can go toe-to-toe with Australia again. Berhalter could play an important role after he made his World Cup debut by replacing Pulisic for the second half against Paraguay.“It’s going to be a physical game, but a fun game, and we’re excited,” Berhalter said. "(The Socceroos) are going to fight. We like teams that have that brotherhood, you know? We like teams that you can see they’re hungry, they want to fight.”___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

The Bears made official the signings of former UFL players Kaden Davis and Tony Fields II. The team announced the moves Tuesday, along with the corresponding waivers of linebacker Dominique Hampton and kicker Gabriel Plascencia.Fields played linebacker for the Columbus Aviators this spring, finishing with 77 tackles, five tackles for loss and a sack in earning All-UFL honors.He originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Browns in 2021 and spent five seasons in the league.In four seasons with the Browns, Fields appeared in 45 games, including 10 starts.Davis, a receiver and returner, played for the Houston Gamblers and returned 10 kickoffs for 275 yards.He has had several brief stints in the NFL, spending time with the Broncos, Cardinals, Lions and Browns. Davis's only regular-season action has been with the Browns, appearing in three games the past two seasons and returning four kickoffs for 135 yards.

One of the best players on the pitch in the World Cup has found the back of the next. France's captain Kylian Mbappe has scored his first goal of the 2026 World Cup. It came in the 66th minute to give his team a 1-0 lead over Senegal in a battle at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.The talented Real Madrid forward was able to convert and find the back of the net.Mbappe notably scored eight goals to receive the Golden Boot (top goal scorer) and had an unforgettable hat trick in the World Cup Final in 2022, but Lionel Messi fell short to Lionel Messi and Argentina. The 27-year-old superstar started his World Cup career in 2018 with four goals for France, who won the World Cup eight years ago.MAGIC MBAPPÉ 🇫🇷He scores his first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for France pic.twitter.com/HcLPFkkp4X— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 16, 2026This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Kylian Mbappe scores his first goal for France at 2026 World Cup

Kylian Mbappe was convinced he had won a penalty in France’s 2026 World Cup opener against Senegal in New Jersey on Tuesday, only to be left flabbergasted as Australian referee Alireza Faghani gave a corner – and then changed his decision to a goal-kick after watching replays.Mbappe dribbled into the box where Senegal’s Sadio Mane slid in to make a tackle. As Mane reached Mbappe, the France captain touched the ball away from his opponent and then collapsed in a heap under Mane’s challenge. Mbappe could only laugh as the referee waved away French appeals and awarded a corner. Follow France v Senegal – live!Referee Faghani was sent to review the decision on his pitchside monitor by his VAR, and as he stepped back on to the pitch, French players and coaching staff began to celebrate. But instead of awarding a penalty, Faghani announced: “The attacker initiated the contact.”To rub salt into French wounds, the corner was overturned after replays clearly showed that Mane made no contact with the ball. Sadio Mane slides in on Kylian Mbappe without touching the ball (Reuters)Mane was not penalised for the challenge (Reuters)Pundits were aghast at the decision. “That is just rubbish,” said Pat Nevin on BBC Sport. “Utter nonsense. No chance at all. How can he [Mbappe] have initiated the contact? The most nonsensical line I have ever heard.”“I don’t get it,” added Alan Shearer. “You can see the lunge from Mane and his left leg catches Mbappe. How can Mbappe initiate contact if he is in front of him? It’s bizarre, it really is.”“I can’t support the referee’s decision to be honest,” said Darren Cann, an assistant referee at the 2010 World Cup final. “For me it is a clear penalty. My phone has blown up with messages from several of the world’s best referees who also can’t understand why a penalty wasn’t given. For me it is very, very clear and I am extremely surprised he did not point to the spot after a correct VAR review.”France were not complaining for long. Minutes later, Mbappe latched on to a cleverly disguised throughball by Michael Olise and turned home a first-time finish to put France into the lead. And substitute Bradley Barcola added a second to put the French two goals clear.

Tim Weah has rebuffed derogatory comments made by U.S. Men's National Team legends regarding the Australian national team -Credit:John Dorton/USSF/Getty ImagesSince the FIFA World Cup draw in December, confidence that the U.S. Men’s National Team would sleepwalk through the group stage has been high amongst several team legends, including Landon Donovan, Alexi Lalas, and Mike Grella.Each was more than comfortable in sharing their thoughts on the USMNT’s Group D opponents, Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye, and it's safe to say their comments did not go down well in Australia.Speaking directly after the draw on FOX Sports, Lalas commented, “I think if you believe in the soccer gods, you should be thanking them. I think this is not just a good group, this is a great group, and this is a group that you should expect this United States team under Mauricio Pochettino to win and go through. So thank you to the soccer gods.”FIFA World Cup referee under investigation for alleged 'white supremacy' gestureDonald Trump to break FIFA World Cup final tradition during trophy presentationAlexi Lalas previously said USMNT fans should be thanking 'the soccer gods' after their group was drawn -Credit:Omar Vega/USSF/Getty ImagesDonovan went on to appear on The Colin Cowherd Podcast, where he said, “The other three teams in our group are significantly, quote-unquote, worse than we are.”Meanwhile, Grella said on CBS Sports immediately after Australia was drawn into the USMNT’s group that the game would be a “lay-up” for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. He continued, “Take nothing away from the Socceroos, they’ve always been competitive and good, but they stumbled a little during qualifying and were not so impressive. This is an amazing first team to have for the U.S.”Grella went on to comment, via FOX Sports Australia, “If we can’t beat them, we shouldn’t go to the World Cup. If USA can’t beat Australia in a football match, stay home.”Such comments seemingly did not sit well with Australia boss Tony Popovic, who said, “Anyone that underestimates us will get a rude shock when it comes to those group games.“We’re always deemed as the underdog or the team that will be fighting for the bottom spot, and we have an opportunity through our actions, our performances, and results to show that that can be different.To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE“And that’s what’s exciting for us, and that’s the challenge that awaits.”Donovan didn’t calm tensions when he called Popovic “smug,” commenting, “Thanks for coming, Aussies. And your smug coach, you can get back on the Qantas airplane and head back home pal.“He just had this smugness about him. I can’t wait, I wish I was on the field, I want to play these guys.”Since then, both the USMNT and Australia have won their World Cup openers, with Pochettino’s side taking down Paraguay 4-1, while Popovic’s team beat Türkiye 2-0.The two sides are set to face off on Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, with winger Tim Weah quizzed on the long-standing tension surrounding this game.Tyler Adams also attempted to distance the current team from comments made by ex-players -Credit:Jamie Squire/Getty Images“All this talk is just nonsense to me,” the OL Marseille star said after rolling his eyes, via The Guardian. “When you look at the Australian team, they’re a young team that has a lot of fight, a lot of grit, and a lot of hunger, just like us.“We respect them in the same way that we respect any other opponent. I think it’s going to be a lovely game. I don’t know what the media is trying to do, but we’re not really focused on that.”Midfielder Tyler Adams mirrored Weah’s decision to distance himself from derogatory comments about the Socceroos, stating, “I don’t think any commentary helps anybody. It’s not going to be a layup. If anything, it’s going to be one of the most difficult games we play.”

Kylian Mbappe has become France's record goalscorer [Getty Images]Just Fontaine, Michel Platini, Jean-Pierre Papin, Thierry Henry, Olivier Giroud.France have had their fair share of brilliant attacking players over the years.But none better - in goalscoring terms at least - than Kylian Mbappe after his goal in his country's World Cup opener against Senegal.The Real Madrid forward has become France's joint record scorer, equalling Giroud in the record books with his 57th goal for Les Bleus, aged just 27."Congratulations Kylian," Giroud said on BBC One, working as a pundit for France's game against Senegal. "I'm happy for him. It's a great finish and we are level now, you need to score another one Kylian."It makes sense, it was expected. He will beat every single record - the number of caps and goals. I think he can easily reach 100 goals and maybe [beat] Miroslav Klose's World Cup record. He's delivered great performances in World Cups and big games."Mbappe's 57 strikes came in just 99 games for France. Tuesday's goal also puts him on 13 in World Cups - just three behind Germany's Klose, who holds the record with 16."A lot of team-mates ask me about him," Giroud added. "For me it's just ambition and confidence."He knows where he wants to go, he is a leader and you could see from a young age he was very at ease. He was mature for his age. He is a good team-mate, he is an incredible talent and I think he is a proper leader on and off the pitch."Mbappe now has 13 World Cup goals. Just three players have scored more in the tournament (Miroslav Klose – 16, Ronaldo – 15 and Gerd Muller – 14) [Getty Images]French football expert Julien Laurens believes Mbappe will become the greatest player in the country's history."There is still a lot more to come from him but if we are to stop it right now, Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini certainly remain the top two French players of all time," said Laurens."After that it is Mbappe ahead of Thierry Henry, Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and others. Even the ones from the old generation like Raymond Kopa."It is not just for his goals, but his leadership now as captain on the field, winning the World Cup in 2018, scoring a hat-trick in the final in 2022."I predict him to be the number one by the end of his career. He has at least one more World Cup after this and the Euros to play in so he will probably become the greatest player we have ever had."The numbers and the accolades Having made his international debut in March 2017, it was not until Mbappe's fourth appearance for France that he scored his first goal in a 4-0 World Cup qualifier against the Netherlands.Earlier in the day, Paris St-Germain agreed an initial season-long loan deal to sign the then-18-year-old striker from Monaco, with the option to buy for £165.7m.The Parisians would, of course, activate their option to sign Mbappe - making him the most expensive teenager in the history of football in the process.By the time Mbappe had completed his move to the French capital, he was already a national hero. He had spearheaded France's run to World Cup glory in 2018, becoming the youngest French player to score at a World Cup and the second teenager - after Pele - to score in a World Cup final. Finishing as the joint second-highest goalscorer in Russia, Mbappe was named the young player of the tournament in recognition of his performances. By the time of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar he had established himself as France's talisman.The then-23 year old became just the second player after England's Geoff Hurst to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final - despite losing to Lionel Messi's Argentina on penalties.A project fulfilled Mbappe and, significantly, his entire family, have always had it in their mind they wanted the striker to reach the top of the global game. And so 'Project Mbappe' was born."Kylian was just school and football," says childhood friend Rayan Viyanga in a BBC Sport documentary called Mbappe. "School, football, home."He was born on the outskirts of Paris in the suburb of Bondy in 1998, just five months after France won the World Cup for the first time.The family flat overlooked the AS Bondy football pitches, where his father Wilfried was a player turned coach."Kylian was already one step ahead of many other players at AS Bondy," Viyanga said. "He was advanced for his age group and wanted to play with the best. That was a strict rule of his, to play with the best."Laurens added: "As a kid, he learned La Marseillaise at the age of three just to be ready to sing it when that first cap would come."Mbappe - whose mother Fayza Lamari is a former professional handball player - pinned up pictures of idol Cristiano Ronaldo and watched old footage of Zidane, another Real Madrid superstar.A bigger influence closer to home though was Jires Kembo Ekoko, his adopted brother, who was selected for the French Federation's national academy at Clairefontaine years before Mbappe himself went there. Ekoko went on to play for Rennes in Ligue 1.Matt Spiro, an author and French football expert, told BBC Sport: "Kylian initially found it a bit difficult at Clairefontaine. He was there for two years and during the first year, he certainly wasn't the best in his group. "Mbappe would play out on the wing and would quite frequently be in a sulky mood."He had a growth spurt, I think towards the end of his first year in Clairefontaine, and by the second year, he was really starting to look the business."But his rapid rise was no surprise, after all even Nike had come calling with free boots, aged just 10.The forward, tracked by Europe's biggest clubs from an early age, left his hometown of Paris for the glamour of Monaco at the age of 14.He had spent time with Chelsea and Real Madrid but the Mbappe family were adamant that their son should stay in France during his teenage years. Aged 16 years and 347 days, he became the youngest player in Monaco's history - beating the record set by Henry in 1994 - when he appeared as an 88th-minute substitute against Caen.Three months later, he became the club's youngest scorer with his first senior goal against Troyes, beating another record previously set by Henry. "When he broke through at Monaco, you could tell the talent was so unique," said Laurens. "We have had great youngsters and talent, but he has something a little bit different."From an ego to a proper leaderSoon after his arrival at Monaco, Mbappe and his new team-mates were set an assignment to design a magazine cover with an image of themselves on the front.The most logical design would be a sports magazine, or perhaps a national weekly magazine such as Paris Match. Mbappe's choice?The internationally recognised Time Magazine.And the headline he chose? El Maestro. The Master.Only four years later, having led France to World Cup glory in Russia and joining Pele as only the second teenager to score in a World Cup final, those big dreams became a reality. His face appeared on the front of Time for real.It was Mbappe's ability to see the bigger picture despite his tender years that helped coin the term 'Project Mbappe'.The somewhat tongue-in-cheek concept, where children are given intense football coaching from an early age, exploded on social media following Mbappe's rapid rise. Its popularity is testament to the plans put in place by Mbappe's family at a young age when they were aware of the precocious talent their son possessed. In 2017, Mbappe became the most expensive teenager in the world when he turned down the lure of Real Madrid to join PSG. Real had to wait another seven years to get their man.And with such hype, comes the inevitable ego."Ego is a necessary drive for success," former PSG performance director Martin Buccheit told BBC Sport. "But it's more about having a hand on the dial to control it."Kylian didn't always have the hand on the on the dial. But for sure the family, the mum and the parents were really behind him. And I could feel that maybe the parents had the volume in their hands."Mbappe, who was made France captain by boss Didier Deschamps in 2023, but, still without a Champions League winners medal and yet to be awarded the Ballon d'Or, you get the feeling Project Mbappe has some way to run yet."He is a very self-centred guy, but once he got the armband he knew he had to be a proper leader," added Laurens."Not only for his goals and assists, but I would be very surprised if he ends his career without winning the Ballon d'Or and at least one Champions League. "In terms of the trophy cabinet, his would be better and bigger than Zidane and Platini but everything else such as the goalscoring record will too."Follow your club with BBC SportListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone

Subscribe to Football 301 with Nate TiceApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeNate Tice & Bill Barnwell dive into Brendan Sorsby’s value in the NFL supplemental draft before breaking down a few NFL trends that make them go “hmmm…”The duo start with Brendan Sorsby planning to enter the supplemental draft, diving into Sorsby’s potential value, how he stacks up as a quarterback prospect, potential landing spots and more.Next, Nate & Bill reveal 7 NFL trends from this offseason that could give us clues to where the NFL is headed in 2026. The duo cover changing under center and pass protection trends, whether the Los Angeles Rams will finally adopt a no-huddle offense, if the Los Angeles Chargers are about to figure out the run game and much more. Class is in session: this one’s for the football nerds.(1:35) - 2026 World Cup thoughts(7:45) - Brendan Sorsby’s value in the NFL supplemental draft(30:45) - Offseason trends that make us go hmm: under center, Rams tempo, pass protection(1:02:10) - Offseason trends that make us go hmm: run game investment, Chargers, meshCINCINNATI, OHIO - OCTOBER 25: Brendan Sorsby #2 of the Cincinnati Bearcats walks off the field after beating the Baylor Bears 41-20 at Nippert Stadium on October 25, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out all episodes of Football 301 with Nate Tice and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

France's Kylian Mbappe got on the score sheet in the 66th minute on Tuesday against Senegal, and it was pretty clear the Real Madrid star went into the match with a premeditated celebration. Apparently, we can thank James Corden for that. No, really. Corden has been teaming up with Fox's World Cup coverage this tournament as the host of After Hours — a Word Cup late-night show. And the show even included a car-ride interview with Mbappe along with a fashion show. That was how we saw Corden's apparent influence play out in Tuesday's France-Senegal match at MetLife Stadium. When Mbappe gave France that 1-0 lead, he went with a flute celebration instead of his typical arms-crossed celly. MAGIC MBAPPÉ 🇫🇷He scores his first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup for France pic.twitter.com/HcLPFkkp4X— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 16, 2026It was the same celebration that Mbappe rehearsed in his appearance on Corden's show. Kylian Mbappé does the flute celebration he promised James Corden. 😂🪈 pic.twitter.com/g7KkEooVKi— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) June 16, 2026This article originally appeared on For The Win: Did Kylian Mbappe really do a World Cup flute celebration for James Corden?

Jensen Huang, president and CEO of Nvidia, listens during an interview before a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion of Coherent's manufacturing facility on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Sherman, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)2026-06-16T20:06:08Z SHERMAN, Texas (AP) — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang — whose work helped enable artificial intelligence — stressed in an Associated Press interview Tuesday that society has no choice but to change in the advent of AI.Huang has been optimistic about the technology’s potential to rapidly change society, creating faster economic growth and more scientific breakthroughs. But as the head of a computer chip company now developing AI systems, Huang has felt obligated to respond to critics who warn of job losses and threats to humanity itself.“We need to create new social norms,” Huang said in an interview. “I would advocate that everybody use AI. Just go engage it.”Huang made his case as AI has emerged as a political flashpoint, with objections to plans to build more data centers and fears that the speed with which it’s being adopted could spur the layoffs of workers who might not have a safety net to recover. Such questions have threatened public support of the technology. His close relationship with President Donald Trump has been a source of criticism among Democrats, even as he makes the case that the computing power created by AI is key to adding the factory jobs that have been promised for decades without much enduring success. He said the ability of AI to build a website, analyze complex documents, guide advanced research or even plan a kitchen remodeling has helped to close the technological divide in America. People can now do advanced work on computers without having to know how to program or write software, he added. Read More Huang stressed that there is a need for government regulation and safety standards for AI, emphasizing that national security also needed to be a priority for the technology that has been powering stock market gains and much of the U.S. economy in recent years.The head of the world’s most valuable company said society will adapt to AI just as it did to automobiles. He said cars were once portrayed as killing children, but the world changed its norms by having sidewalks and crosswalks and stopping kids from playing in the streets.“When I was growing up, I used to play in the streets,” Huang said. “When cars came along, you obviously can’t play in the streets now.” Huang skeptical of what government ownership of AI companies would achieveWith a market capitalization of roughly $5 trillion, Nvidia has soared in valuation in recent years to become the world’s most valuable company. AI modeling companies OpenAI and Anthropic are potentially set to also clear the $1 trillion mark once their stocks are publicly traded.That explosive surge in wealth concentrated in AI companies has prompted renewed worries about economic inequality. Trump has tried to defuse those concerns, recently musing about the prospect that the U.S. government could own some shares in AI firms, so any windfalls would be more broadly shared with the public. That idea has also been advanced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and even OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.Huang expressed skepticism about the idea, saying he expects the country will already benefit broadly from AI advancements. “I’m not exactly sure what they’re trying to achieve,” he said regarding government ownership. “I haven’t had a dialogue with them about that. But just remember that these are American companies. Their success benefits the stock price, of which many Americans are investors in. It generates taxes, which helps many Americans. It creates a lot of jobs.”He noted that AI companies could also lead to higher profits for energy, construction and hardware technology firms.“Americans have a stake in American companies already, naturally, in a whole lot of different ways,” Huang said.Huang says national security needs to be a priority on AIThe Trump administration has recently reversed course from a light touch on regulating AI to taking a heavier hand.It placed export controls on the AI company Anthropic’s latest models, leading the company on Friday to shutter all public access to those models over security concerns. Trump, a Republican, also signed an order to have new AI models voluntarily vetted by the government.Huang said the government was properly focused on national security issues, but it was important to provide clear guidance when taking restrictive actions, as doing so could lead to unintended consequences. “National security should always be the top concern of all technologies,” Huang said. “But having said that, you know, you have to be very specific about the risk that you’re concerned about, before setting up policies for export controls.”During the Biden administration, Nvidia pushed back against export controls that were designed to restrict its ability to sell chips to China, rejecting the administration’s premise that a ban would guarantee an American edge on AI. Huang had warned that the export controls might limit America’s ability to develop the world’s AI ecosystem, as China would respond with its own advanced chips. Huang says energy is key problem for America’s AI developmentHuang stressed that while the U.S. has many strengths on AI, it is vulnerable because of a lacking energy infrastructure. The data centers performing the computations used in AI are creating a huge demand for electricity, which could be a strain on the power grid.Some data centers will be constructed with their own electricity sources, but Huang said the U.S. is starting from a disadvantage on energy. And without more energy, it can be harder to play to American strengths in its AI infrastructure, models and computer chip development.“The United States is woefully behind in energy production,” Huang said. “We just suffocated energy production for too long.”Huang complimented Trump on his approach to seeking to increase energy production. The president has aggressively supported the use of oil, coal and natural gas, but he has scorned the use of solar and wind power.The Nvidia CEO was not commenting on Trump’s opposition to climate-friendlier energy sources, but the gap he identified goes to some of the fears that U.S. households have about AI increasing their utility bills. Huang was speaking Tuesday in Sherman, Texas, at an expansion of the Coherent factory there to develop a laser for transmitting data among chips, which could cut power use by AI systems by up to 50%. JOSH BOAK Boak covers the White House and economic policy for The Associated Press. He joined the AP in 2013. twitter mailto

Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, front center, walks with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as Guterres arrives to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Danica Coto)2026-06-16T20:04:50Z PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres visited Haiti on Tuesday, where surging gang violence has left more than 1 in 10 people homeless.New statistics released by the U.N. reveal that 2,300 people have been killed across Haiti so far this year, with another 100 kidnapped, while 1.5 million have been displaced. Among those abducted is James Boyard, cabinet director of the Defense Ministry, who was kidnapped last week in one of the few relatively safe areas of the capital.Guterres’ one-day visit to Port-au-Prince comes after more than 30 people were killed, injured or missing last weekend in Cité Soleil, a seaside slum, according to Cooperative for Peace and Development, a local human rights organization.His convoy sped past a neighborhood once fully controlled by gangs that left in their wake decimated car dealerships, abandoned homes and dozens of concrete buildings pockmarked with bullet holes. A colorful bus known as a tap-tap rumbled past, its windshield peppered with bullet holes. Graffiti scrawled on a crumbling concrete wall read: “Down with Viv Ansanm, long live the police.” Viv Ansanm is a powerful gang federation that the U.S. government designated a foreign terrorist organization. It is estimated to control 70% of Port-au-Prince. Guterres traveled past dozens of Haitians who fled the clashes and now live in makeshift homes under large pieces of canvas strung up with frayed rope. Read More They are among the more than 300,000 people displaced by gang violence across Port-au-Prince — a record. Among them are more than 18,000 people who fled the Cité Soleil slum in May, according to the U.N. International Organization for Migration.“Haiti’s displacement crisis is entering an even more alarming phase,” Gregoire Goodstein, IOM chief of mission in Haiti, said in a recent statement. Guterres’ first stop was the headquarters of the new gang-suppression force, which the U.N. Security Council approved in September. It replaces a U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police that aimed to help Haiti’s National Police fight gangs but remained underfunded and understaffed. So far, Jamaica, Chad, El Salvador and Guatemala have deployed troops that number less than 1,000 to form part of the growing force, which is due to start operations in the coming weeks. They are expected to work with Haiti’s National Police and its growing Armed Forces, with hundreds of Haitian men and a couple of women lining up on a dusty road hoping to interview to join. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Guterres then met behind closed doors with Prime Minister Alix Didier-Fils-Aimé, who is under pressure to hold elections in the country of nearly 12 million people that hasn’t had a president since Jovenel Moïse was killed at his private residence in July 2021.“We had a frank conversation about what’s happening in Haiti, the vision the government has for the future,” Fils-Aimé told The Associated Press after the meeting.He said security is a priority so the transitional government can hold elections and “get back to republican rule.” Fils-Aimé added that Guterres can help with that effort by ensuring that the countries backing the gang-suppression force “live up to their engagement.” ‘We don’t have a life here’Guterres also stopped by a makeshift shelter in a former school where dozens of the people living there crowded around him.Forced to flee their homes after gangs shot up their community and set fire to it, some had been living there for up to four years.“Solino is not ready,” 31-year-old Clifford Lala said of going back to his community. It was one of the last holdouts in Port-au-Prince until gangs overran it.Guterres ducked into a hot classroom and met privately with a group of six women who decried the lack of privacy at the shelter, even to shower or use the bathroom, and said they worried about their young children.“It’s skin-to-skin and mouth-to-mouth,” said one woman.The shelter houses more than 1,200 people who sleep side by side, and only one meal a day is guaranteed.“We’re going to do our best,” Guterres told the women. Outside, a man began to slap the building’s metal siding and bellowed, “We want to go back home!” His voice grew louder and angrier as security walked into the room and whisked Guterres away.Wendy Cejour, 26, told the AP that he and his family have been living at the school for a year and a half.“As long as we’re alive we have hope, but … things are difficult,” he said. “We ask ... to return to our neighborhood to live better, because we don’t have a life here.”A day before Guterres’s visit, Human Rights Watch published a letter urging him to protect the population and target the root causes of violence and human rights abuses. The organization also called for a “full-fledged U.N. mission” in Haiti.“Even when fully staffed and resourced, security measures alone will not suffice to address this situation,” the rights group wrote. “Any meaningful strategy should include effective protection for victims of violence, credible pathways for disengagement from criminal groups, accountability for abuses, and a coordinated humanitarian response to help restore access to basic goods and services.”___Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Just 14 months after Rory McIlroy became the sixth golfer to complete the career grand slam—winning all four major championships—Scottie Scheffler arrives at the U.S. Open with his first chance at becoming the seventh.Scheffler, the No. 1-ranked golfer in the world since 2023, won the PGA Championship and Open Championship last year to complement his Masters victories in 2022 and 2024. Now he only needs to win a U.S. Open to join McIlroy and Tiger Woods as the only players to win the career grand slam this century.Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Ben Hogan, and Gene Sarazen also completed the career grand slam.While Scheffler said Tuesday that completing the grand slam has “never been a motivating factor for me,” he does think his quest to win all four majors can help golf grow beyond its core fanbase.“I think it would definitely bring more eyeballs to the sport, which is always a good thing,” Scheffler said at his pre-tournament press conference. “I think golf is a great game. I think it’s something that everybody should have a chance to be introduced to.”The final round of McIlroy’s 2025 Masters win—when he completed the grand slam—drew 12.71 million viewers on CBS, which at the time was the most-watched golf telecast on any network in seven years. McIlroy’s second consecutive Masters title this April drew an even higher final-round audience of nearly 14 million viewers.Jordan Spieth is the only other active golfer still in his playing prime with three legs of the career grand slam. He won the Masters and U.S. Open in 2025, and the Open Championship in 2017. His best finish at the PGA Championship since then was tied for third in 2019. Phil Mickelson, 56, won three Masters, two PGA Championships, and one Open Championship—and had six runner-up finishes in the U.S. Open. Katie Goodale-Imagn ImagesMoney GameThe start of Scheffler’s grand slam quest coincides with a key opportunity in his race with McIlroy to the top of the PGA Tour’s career earnings list.Woods, McIlroy, and Scheffler are the only three players to surpass $100 million in career earnings—and with Woods’s competitive career all but over, today’s top two players are set to pass him as soon as this year.Tiger Woods: $120.99 millionRory McIlroy: $115.97 millionScottie Scheffler: $111.49 millionThis week’s U.S. Open purse is yet to be announced, but last year’s champion, J.J. Spaun, won $4.3 million.A win by Scheffler could set him up to surpass McIlroy this summer, and ultimately be the first to overtake Woods, while a McIlroy victory would put the Northern Irishman in prime position to top the list in short order.The PGA Tour’s official money list does not include bonus payouts players receive—like Scheffler’s $25 million bonus for winning the 2024 FedEx Cup and another $18 million in bonus money last year.The post Scottie Scheffler Eyes Grand Slam, Tiger’s Career Earnings Record appeared first on Front Office Sports.

HOUSTON – Detroit Tigers left-hander Framber Valdez received a warm welcome from the Houston Astros.The Astros showcased a 98-second tribute video before the opener of a three-game series Monday, June 16, at Daikin Park, headlined by the return of Valdez after he signed a three-year, $115 million contract with the Tigers in free agency.But what about the Astros?"We didn't have any kind of negotiations," Valdez said in Spanish before Monday's game, interpreted by team employee Carlos Guillén. "I just had talks and conversations with the teams that were interested in me, and I ended up with the Tigers."MONDAY'S ACTION Tigers respond to injuries with power vs Astros in bullpen-only gameThe Astros never contacted Valdez after he reached free agency in November 2025.He pitched for the Astros from 2018-25.During that stretch, the 32-year-old had three top-10 finishes in American League Cy Young voting − 2022, 2023 and 2024. He made the All-Star Game in 2022 and 2023. He also appeared in the World Series in 2021 and 2022, helping the Astros win the championship in 2022."They did not make any contact with me," Valdez said.As a formality in that process, Valdez declined the Astros' one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer – and when the Tigers signed him in February 2026, they were forced to forfeit the No. 98 overall pick in the 2026 draft.If it were his choice, he would've preferred to stay with the Astros on a long-term contract.The Astros didn't want him."I would have loved for my team of eight, nine years to call me back to stay home, but it's part of the business, and I understand that," said Valdez, who signed with the Astros during the international signing period for a $10,000 bonus in March 2015. "No hard feelings at all. I'm very grateful and thankful for them giving me the chance to become the player I am."TWIN TORCHING: Framber Valdez hasn't been good enough for Tigers, who lose to TwinsOnce a champion, always a champion. pic.twitter.com/g8MAhmCV6q— Houston Astros (@astros) June 15, 2026In 2026, Valdez hasn't been worth his record-setting $38.3 million average annual value, the highest in MLB history for a left-handed pitcher.He will start Tuesday's game."I know his time here means a lot to him," said manager A.J. Hinch, who managed the Astros from 2015-19. "He's part of some flags that are hung in left field, so it's impossible to come back to a place where you spent virtually all of your career and not have that emotional tie. He has friends on the other side, so he'll channel that and get pretty competitive. He wants to do well."Valdez has registered a 4.40 ERA with 29 walks and 61 strikeouts across 77⅔ innings in 14 starts in 2026 – and that's after he posted a 6.05 ERA in his final 10 starts in 2025.The underlying metrics explain his 2026 struggles: His 50.4% ground-ball rate is the lowest of his career, which has led to too many sinkers being hit for damage, and his curveball has a career-worst 31.1% whiff rate, which has led to a career-worst 17.9% strikeout rate.He isn't inducing enough ground balls, and he isn't generating enough whiffs.Now, Valdez has to face his old team."It's a lot of feelings," Valdez said. "I'm excited, but I'm also nervous. It's my first time coming here as a visiting player, but I'm happy to be here in the place that saw me grow up and perform and be a professional. It's good to be back."Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Framber Valdez: Astros never contacted before signing with Tigers

AUBURN — There could be plenty of Auburn baseball involved in this year's MLB Draft combine, as the league announced 334 expected attendees for the event, which is set to take place June 23-25.Three Tigers — Alex Petrovic, Chris Rembert and Eric Guevara — are expected to take part, as well as four commitments to Auburn's incoming freshman class.Rembert, a draft-eligible sophomore, has been Auburn's starting second baseman the past two seasons, and the first team All-SEC honoree is considered the 41st-best player in this year's draft, according to MLB.com. Guevara, who's started for Auburn at third base the last two years, was the Tigers' third-leading hitter this spring. Petrovic became part of Auburn's weekend rotation in 2026, and he led the program's qualifying pitchers in ERA, WHIP and opponent batting average.Of Auburn's four commitments set to participate — AJ Rice, Coleman Borthwick, Jace Mataczynski and Ty Tillery — just Borthwick and Rice are considered top-200 prospects, listed at 32nd and 121st, respectively, on the MLB's big board.Auburn baseball players invited to 2026 MLB DraftcombineRHP Alex PetrovicSS Chris Rembert (No. 41)SS Eric GuevaraAuburn baseball commits invited to 2026 MLB DraftcombineRHP AJ Rice (No. 121)RHP Coleman Borthwick (No. 32)SS Jace MataczynskiRHP Ty TilleryPlayer positions listed according to MLB release. Parenthetical denotes player's ranking on top-200 big board.Adam Cole is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at acole@gannett.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @colereporter.To support Adam's work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Three Auburn baseball players invited to 2026 MLB Draft combine

Houston is assembling another star-studded recruiting class.After a run of double-digit commitments to open the month, the Cougars landed another signature addition.Four-star cornerback Kam Roberson committed to Houston on Tuesday, choosing to stay home over opportunities at Vanderbilt, Kentucky, TCU, and others.Houston has been trending in the right direction with one of the nation’s top 2027 prospects out of Cy Springs for long stretches of his recruitment.“I knew Houston was the choice when I saw how good Coach (Marcus) Trice is with development,” Roberson told Rivals. “His style fits me, and I know he can grow my game. Houston was also consistent from the day they offered me. They never switched up, and that showed me it was the right fit.”“Even though I’m originally from Louisiana, Houston feels like home now,” he continued. “I’ve built strong bonds here, and playing in this city still excites me. My game fits what Houston wants — a long, physical corner who can cover, and I get to keep growing in a place that supports me.”The Cougars are surging in the national recruiting rankings. Willie Fritz and co. moved inside the top-50 with a strong start to June, with the arrow pointing up after the addition of Roberson.“Houston made me feel like a priority by staying on me every day and keeping it real,” he said. “They showed me I’m part of their plan. Coach Fritz is building something strong, and you can feel the program going up. I want to be part of that.”

The 2026 NBA Finals were the league’s most-watched championship series since Michael Jordan was on the Bulls.The five-game series between the Knicks and Spurs averaged 20.6 million viewers on ABC per Nielsen data, ESPN announced Tuesday. It’s the most-watched Finals series on ABC and ESPN networks, and the most-watched NBA title series since the 1998 NBA Finals (29.04 million on NBC).That series saw Chicago win its sixth title in eight years, and was Jordan’s last series with the Bulls.The 2026 NBA Finals also drew a 157% increase over last year’s seven-game series between the Thunder and Pacers, which drew just 10.3 million viewers last year, one of the least-watched finals ever.The series-clinching fifth game drew 24.5 million viewers, the most-watched NBA Finals game since Game 7 of the 2016 Finals between the Cavaliers and the Warriors, which featured LeBron James and Stephen Curry (31 million).Knicks star Jalen Brunson scored 45 points in Saturday’s Game 5 to seal the win over Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in San Antonio. New York, the country’s largest television market, won its first NBA title in 53 years.The last time the same two teams met in the finals was 1999, a five-game series San Antonio won. It drew 16.01 million viewers. This year’s series drew about 28% more viewers.Here is the viewership for each game of the 2026 NBA Finals:Game 1: 16.93 millionGame 2: 16.43 millionGame 3: 23.79 millionGame 4: 20.94 millionGame 5: 24.5millionThe series outdrew the top-rated Finals in the mid-to-late 2010s—four consecutive series where James and the Cavaliers faced Curry and the WarriorsThe seven-game NBA Finals series in 2016 between Golden State and Cleveland—when the Cavaliers became the first team to rally from a 3–1 deficit—averaged 20.28 million viewers. The following year, when the Warriors added Kevin Durant, the five-game series against the Cavaliers averaged 20.38 million viewers.Both series were on ABC. The NBA Finals has been on the network since 2002.Compared to other leagues, the World Series is the best comparison for the NBA Finals, given that the one-day Super Bowl consistently draws more than 100 million viewers. The last World Series to outdraw the 2026 NBA Finals was the 2016 series between the Cubs and Indians, which drew 22.8 million viewers. That series saw Chicago snap a 108-year World Series droughtIt’s worth noting that Nielsen Big Data + Panel data was used to measure this year’s numbers. Nielsen has added out-of-home viewership in recent years, boosting viewership numbers across the board.The post Knicks-Spurs Totals Most-Watched NBA Finals Since 1998 appeared first on Front Office Sports.

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SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — We are on the cusp of a magnificent achievement in golf, one that only six legends have managed: the career grand slam. With one victory at the U.S. Open, Scottie Scheffler will have claimed all four majors, a remarkable and career-defining moment. And how is Scheffler approaching this possible date with immortality? “Would it be a dream to win the U.S. Open? Of course,” Scheffler said Tuesday afternoon. “But at the end of the day, the grand slam has never been a motivating factor for me.”Oh. Uh. All right, then. Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer and holder of four majors (2 Masters, 1 Open Championship, 1 PGA Championship), has always been a bit squirrely on the subject of his own achievements. Not on the achievements themselves, to be specific, but on the pomp and circumstance that surround them. What drives him is the act of winning, not the celebration of that winning. Scottie Scheffler plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during a practice round prior to the 126th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.Mike Mulholland via Getty ImagesOver the course of his press conferences prior to the last few majors, Scheffler, with a bit of prompting, has dug deep into his own psyche, revealing a mindset that’s far broader than a Tiger Woods-esque win-at-all-costs one. Scheffler seems to be weighing those costs, and wondering whether he really wants to pay them. Play Golf Pick ‘Em now to make your predictions for the U.S. Open!“I think as a player and as a professional athlete, you're never going to live up to the expectations of people,” he said Tuesday. “I think sometimes that's a little bit of the fallacy in our sport is like, if I win the U.S. Open, then I'm going to be satisfied. I've won all the tournaments, and my career is essentially over, and I've accomplished everything I could want to accomplish. But I think the goal posts are always just moved further and further.” He didn’t specify who, exactly, was moving the goal posts — himself or other people — but in the end, it doesn’t really matter. Accolades are never as fulfilling as achievement, and achievement is only fulfilling in the context of a greater whole. Scheffler’s mindset is reminiscent of an old Don Draper line on Mad Men: “What is happiness? It’s a moment before you need more happiness.”“Yeah, if I win this tournament, that would be amazing,” Scheffler said, “but, I think, then I show up the next week, and it's like, Okay, now Scottie's won the grand slam, he's won all these golf tournaments. Now where do we go from here?’”The pursuit of victory isn’t the goal. The actual victory isn’t the goal. The goal is to put that victory in the context of a larger life. You don’t need to think too hard to imagine athletes who sacrificed everything for winning … and see what it cost them. “I try not to focus too much on my successes or my failures, one, because you get beat up an awful lot in this game. It's a tough sport,” he said. “But, two, if I was feeling so good about all my successes, I probably wouldn't be too much fun to be around either.”With one notable exception, grand slams — for those fortunate enough to have managed them — generally hit pretty quickly in a player’s career. Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods hit the career slam on their first attempt, while Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player needed three tries. Only Rory McIlroy stretched the search for a career grand slam out into a decade-plus chase — a pursuit which happened to overlap with the still-futile hunts of Phil Mickelson (needing the U.S. Open) and Jordan Spieth (needing the PGA Championship). This will be Scheffler’s first attempt after adding both the PGA and Open Championships a year ago. Granted, there’s no guarantee Scheffler will ever claim that slam. Twelve men, including Spieth and Mickelson, have three legs but couldn’t quite manage the fourth. As good as Scheffler is, he’s not a god. And that’s just fine with him. “I always just wanted to be the best version of myself, and that got me this far,” Scheffler said. “So when it comes to this golf tournament, like I said, I'm going to step on the first tee and remind myself I've done everything I possibly could in order to play well, and now it's just a matter of going out there and trying to execute and kind of going back to enjoying the competition, versus feeling like you have to win for some reason.”Scheffler tees off at 8:14 a.m. on Thursday. If things break just right, he’ll be celebrating a grand slam three and a half days later. And if not, well, he’ll be just fine. Annoyed, but fine … which is more than you could say for a whole lot of superstars.

Jim Harbaugh, Mike McDaniel setting sky high expectations for Ladd McConkey ahead of Chargers season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Los Angeles Chargers struck gold on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft with the selection of wide receiver Ladd McConkey.Through two seasons, McConkey has established himself as a key contributor in the Chargers' offense. The Georgia product tallied 82 receptions for 1,149 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024, and though 2025 was a bit of a step back, McConkey was still effective, leading the team in yards (789) and touchdowns (6).Heading into 2026, McConkey is set to reprise his role as the No. 1 receiver for quarterback Justin Herbert, and head coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel are expecting a big-time breakout campaign from their young pass-catcher.Harbaugh and McDaniel expect 2026 to be McConkey's best yearDuring a press conference at the Chargers' mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, Harbaugh said he and McDaniel expect McConkey to turn in the best year of his career in 2026."I think Mike [McDaniel] said it, he said it to them, potential for the best year he's [McConkey has] ever had in pro football," Harbaugh said via Kris Rhim of ESPN. "I see it the same way."McConkey's savvy route-running and speed make him a perfect fit for a McDaniel-led offense. Though most of the 24-year-old's production comes from the slot, he can also move outside and make a difference there.The most compelling aspect of McConkey's game is his work in the intermediate game. The former second-round pick hauled in 19 receptions with zero drops from 10-19 yards last year, along with a 67.9% completion rate when targeted.Overall, McDaniel should be able to get the most out of McConkey and his versatility. Don't be surprised if the 6-foot receiver from Georgia posts career highs across the board this season and earns a mega extension next offseason.

Celtics could be the true frontrunners for Giannis Antetokounmpo after Heat concerns rise originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Now that the NBA is officially in the offseason, rumors are now at an all-time high for trades, both for small and blockbusters. One of the biggest names that’s at the top of everyone’s watchlist is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who looks to break away from the Milwaukee Bucks to contend somewhere else. The Boston Celtics are also another name to watch, as they have been rumored to be heavily involved with Antetokounmpo. While it was recently rumored that the other frontrunner for Giannis, the Miami Heat, were concerned with the Celtics being in the race.Now, it seems the Celtics are the true frontrunners for Giannis.The Celtics/Giannis connection is stronger than ever © David Butler II-Imagn ImagesThe Celtics have always been a potential landing spot for Giannis, as it was said he would sign an extension if he got traded to them. Now, it seems they are in the driver’s seat.According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, the Bucks do not like what Miami is offering for Giannis at the moment. The Heat could upgrade it, but then they would probably lose all their contending assets other than Bam Adebayo, making more of a lateral move for Giannis.The Celtics could make a deal that would still keep their contending core, and at least Jayson Tatum. They have been looking for ways to keep both Jays, but sending Jaylen Brown in a three-teamer might be the way Boston beats Miami. Truly a match made in heaven Apr 12, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo looks on after the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images While some people don’t see the match, Giannis would work perfectly in Boston’s offense. Because of Mazzulla Ball, the Celtics live and die by the three-point line. While it gives them awesome victories when they hit their shots, it gives them brutal defeats when they don’t.Giannis would give them an unparalleled superstar at the rim to drive when the shots aren’t falling, and grab boards for second chance points. When he starts to get double-team or collapsed on, he can kick out to an open shooter for an easy look.Hopefully it comes true Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images While it would hurt to lose Jaylen Brown or any other stars, it would be for the greater good. One of the Celtics’ biggest rivals in the East won the championship this season, and another embarrassed them by making them blow a 3-1 lead in the playoffs.If Boston wants to truly continue it’s reign of dominance, this is the move they need to make.MORE NBA CONTENTCeltics have two ideal trade partners to make Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster happenBoston Celtics may have reopened the door to landing Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseasonGiannis Antetokounmpo rumors put Celtics at crossroads as Boston decides its next championship move

The Cleveland Guardians announced Tuesday, June 16, that star third baseman Jose Ramirez underwent surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone in his left hand."Earlier today, Jose underwent a procedure to remove the hook of his fractured left hamate bone," a press release from the Guardians reads. "The surgery was performed in Lehigh Valley, PA, by Dr. Thomas Graham, who was pleased with the results of the procedure."Injury news: How do Guardians move forward without injured star Jose Ramirez?What's the timetable for Jose Ramirez's return from injury?According to the release from the Guardians, the timeline to return from similar injuries to J-Ram's is typically in the five-to-seven week range.Other hitters around baseball, including Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino and New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, have suffered similar injuries this year.What is the hamate bone?The hamate bone is one of the eight small carpal bones located just above the wrist on the outer (pinky) side of the hand. The wedge-shaped bone has a small, hook-like projection known as the “hook of the hamate,” which is notoriously fragile and susceptible to fractures in baseball players due to the way hitters’ bats rest on their hand and wrist area while swinging. MLB.com notes that "direct compression" on the area over the course of thousands of swings can create stress fractures in this bone, as it did with Ramirez and others.This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians Jose Ramirez undergoes surgery for fractured hamate bone

MIAMI GARDNES, FL - JUNE 09: Miami Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis (2) talks to a coach during the Miami Dolphins OTA on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 at Baptist Health Training Complexr in Miami Gardens, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images For the first time in a long time, a quarterback not named Tua Tagovailoa will be starting the season as the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins after the organization jettisoned the former #5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft this offseason and signed former Green Bay Packers backup, Malik Willis, to a three-year deal worth $67.5 million. Willis being a quality starting quarterback for Miami would go a long way towards expediting the Dolphins’ latest rebuild attempt, as it would allow the organization to skip the “drafting a young quarterback and coaching him up” portion of the process. According to David Furones of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, some patience may be needed in regards to Malik Willis’ development — considering his offseason has seen some “high highs and low lows.”The 27-year old passer has had plenty of highlight plays, according to Furones, but has also had plenty of head-scratching mistakes as well, including multiple interceptions thrown during the six practices the media has been allowed to watch Miami work. One reason to not panic? Dolphins’ offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik has stated that the offense has gone through three phases of play installation with each install going more smoothly than the previous one. Plus, there has reportedly been an emphasis on Willis making pocket throws during the offseason program — not allowing the playmaker to rely on his athleticism and mobility like he did when he was finding success in Green Bay while filling in for normal starter Jordan Love, writes Furones.Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley has said Willis’ connection with his wide receivers is still a work in progress — understandable since the team has only been together for a short amount of time. Slowik thinks that chemistry between the quarterback and his pass catchers will not fully develop until the beginning of the regular season. Let’s hope that that chemistry does eventually develop, or else the Dolphins could find themselves in an all-too-familiar position next offseason — searching for the next “solution” at the quarterback position. For the entire Sun-Sentinel article from Furones, click here.

U.S. President Donald Trump walks away after a group photo of leaders at the G7 summit, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)2026-06-16T20:19:35Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has informed supporters that President Donald Trump has accomplished his goals in the war with Iran despite the details of an initial agreement remaining unclear and negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program still to be held.In a series of talking points sent to Trump supporters and Republican members of Congress this week, the White House proclaimed major victories, such as Iran agreeing to never have a nuclear weapon, reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz and fighting in Lebanon ending.The talking points, on White House letterhead, were obtained by The Associated Press from two recipients of the document and go against some of the realities on the ground, especially regarding what Israel has agreed to in its conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.But the memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran, expected to be signed Friday in Switzerland, is still a closely guarded secret, even among Republican allies in Congress and the Israelis. That has led to confusion, concern and skepticism among all but the most hard-core Trump supporters about what has been agreed to. Republicans acknowledged that the initial deal, by remaining under wraps, has created a vacuum that is being filled by potential misinformation. “You don’t know what’s true and what’s not true — is it in there?” said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. “My speculation is that it’s probably still being written and fine-tuned, and the administration is not ready to release it until it’s all done.” Read More Asked why he was not releasing the terms of the initial agreement, Trump told reporters Tuesday at the Group of Seven summit in France that he would “like to get a formal setting first before we do that.”“I’ll not only release it,” he went on to say, “I’ll probably have a press conference and read it to you word by word, so that the press covers it accurately.” Comparison with the Obama-era nuclear accordTrump said he was open to submitting an eventual agreement to Congress for review and approval.“I like the idea, send it to Congress please,” Trump said. “I mean who wouldn’t approve it?”Yet submitting a nuclear agreement with Iran to Congress is not optional under a law that was passed following the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement reached by then-President Barack Obama, which Trump abandoned during his first administration. Some congressional aides argue that even the presumed memorandum of understanding to be signed Friday would also be subject to lawmakers’ review.The talking points claim that the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, was never signed, which is partly true but misleading. The foreign ministers who negotiated the agreement did sign a copy of the deal, although it was viewed as an informal document meant to memorialize the occasion. More important, the JCPOA was endorsed and approved by the U.N. Security Council, which enshrined its provisions into international law.“President Trump solved a threat Washington spent forty years managing,” according to the talking points. “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” Copies of the talking points were provided to the AP by a congressional aide and an outside government adviser. Iran’s position dating back decades is that it has no desire to develop a nuclear weapon. Many Iran critics doubt that pledge because the country has 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium that is enriched up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels of 90%, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.Reopening the Strait of Hormuz Meanwhile, the talking points say “the Strait of Hormuz is open again, and energy prices American families pay every day are coming down.”“American Families Are the Big Winners,” the document says. “Start with what this means at home. American families no longer have to fear a nuclear-armed Iran. They are going to feel relief at the pump and at the grocery store.”The Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of the world’s oil passed before the war began, had been open to all maritime traffic until Feb. 28 when Trump and Israel began attacking Iran. That means that an agreement to reopen the strait would start to return the situation to where it was on Feb. 27 before the U.S. and Israel spent billions of dollars to go to war. It could take weeks or even months for some normalcy to return.Consumer prices in the United States and elsewhere only spiked after the war began and shipments of oil and other commodities through the strait were interrupted by Iran, which insists it will retain control of access to the crucial waterway no matter what. Sanctions relief for IranThe talking points say Iran will not receive any American taxpayer money for its eventual agreement with and adherence to an as-yet unnegotiated nuclear agreement and will only get financial incentives if it meets certain benchmarks.They suggest that Obama’s 2015 nuclear accord cost U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars, when the monetary sanctions relief provided to Iran then actually came from frozen Iranian assets and not the U.S. treasury.The talking points mention “the pallets of cash” the U.S. sent to Iran after the JCPOA was signed. In fact, the shipment of cash, which came from an Iranian payment for a canceled arms sale to the late Shah of Iran’s government, were unrelated to the nuclear deal. That money was part of a swap that saw the release of several American citizens detained in Iran and of several Iranians imprisoned in the U.S. Israel-Hezbollah fighting in LebanonThe talking points trumpet Trump’s claim that the agreement will end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon. “This signed agreement ends military operations on every front,” they say. “For the first time, that explicitly includes Lebanon, with a commitment to both Israel and Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”However, Hezbollah is not party to talks that have been taking place in the U.S. between Israel and Lebanon, and the Iranian-backed militant group has rejected any agreements reached during them. Israeli officials also have said they will not be bound by the terms of the tentative Iran-U.S. agreement and do not know the details of it.“We’re less encouraged about the fact that it seems that Lebanon has been included in the agreement with Iran,” Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter told NPR. “And we think that that’s unnecessary and unhelpful.”A senior U.S. official told reporters that Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon was not a condition of the memorandum of understanding. The official spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity Monday to discuss outlines of the unreleased agreement.___Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Geneva, Darlene Superville in Evian-les-Bains, France, Koral Saeed in Jerusalem, and Michelle L. Price and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.

If the former president had “passed the torch” and allowed a competitive Democratic primary in 2024, she said in a new interview, the winner “would have beaten Donald Trump.”

Four G.O.P. senators crossed party lines to back the resolution to direct President Trump to halt the war in Iran and seek authorization from Congress, but their support was not enough.

Eric Swalwell resigned in April as he faced sexual assault allegations, prompting a special election to fill out his term. Two Democrats topped the field in a regular primary election this month.

Designer Bailey King transformed her 450-square-foot Upper East Side rental with vintage furniture, family heirlooms, and clever storage ideas that make the small apartment feel warm, functional, and uniquely personal. READ MORE...

Kylian Mbappé is now three goals away from World Cup history after France’s 3-1 win over Senegal on Tuesday.The striker entered Tuesday's opener tied with Pelé with 12 career World Cup goals. Mbappé moved past the Brazil great in the 66th minute with the first goal of the match, equaling fellow countryman Just Fontaine and Lionel Messi.Moments after Senegal cut the France lead to 2-1 in stoppage time, Mbappé fired a long-range shot past goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to reinstate the two-goal lead and not only move ahead of Fontaine and Messi, but also break the deadlock with Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time top scorer with his 58th career international goal.Mbappé's 14th career World Cup goal ties him with Germany's Gerd Müller for third place. The only two players ahead of them are Brazil's Ronaldo Nazário (15) and Germany's Miroslav Klose (16), who is the all-time leader on the men's side.Mbappé needed just 15 World Cup matches to reach 14 goals, while Messi has scored 13 times in his 26 games in the tournament. Klose netted his 16 goals in 24 matches over four World Cups. It will be tough to beat Fontaine's prolificness as he recorded all 13 of his goals over six games in a single World Cup.Mbappé is not only looking at trying to get France to reach a third straight World Cup final, but also achieve his second Golden Boot as the tournament’s top goal scorer. He bested Messi at Qatar 2022 by a single goal (8 to 7).

LSU football missed on a five-star defensive end on Tuesday. Abraham Sesay committed to Notre Dame, picking the Fighting Irish over the Tigers. Rivals and 247Sports both consider Sesay a five-star, with Rivals being the highest, slotting Sesay as the No. 16 overall prospect. ESPN isn't as high on the pass rusher, ranking Sesay No. 145 overall and No. 18 at his position. Sesay visited LSU in May after the Tigers popped up on the radar this spring. LSU made a strong push, but it wasn't enough to keep Sesay away from Notre Dame. Rivals' Charles Power wrote that Sesay was, "a twitchy, fluid mover who looks to have the movement patterns suited for bending around the edge. Loose and flexible in his lower body. Flashes good first step quickness and easily converts speed to power. Punches above his weight from a power perspective and is capable of walking offensive tackles back to the quarterback with his bull rush."LSU was always behind the eight ball in this race. Still, the Tigers have been red hot on the recruiting trail in recent weeks, which includes securing five-star defensive end KJ Green. This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Notre Dame beats LSU football for five-star recruit

Lionel Messi live stats today: Updated World Cup goals, highlights from Argentina vs. Algeria originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.With four years removed from hoisting the trophy in Lusail, Qatar, Lionel Messi and Argentina have made the trek to North America for the 2026 World Cup. Argentina, also known as La Albiceleste, will begin their World Cup trophy defense with their opening group stage match against Algeria at 9 p.m. ET from Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.Messi and his squad will play in Group J at this year's World Cup. The group features Algeria, Austria, and Jordan. The "Little Boy From Rosario" will look to lead his national team to their first opening match victory at the World Cup since the 2014 edition in Brazil, when they emerged with a 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.The Sporting News is following Messi's goals, highlights, and live updates from the Argentina vs. Algeria match tonight. Here is everything you need to know about the eight-time Ballon d'Or and 2022 World Cup winner's level of play during tonight's match.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsArgentina vs. Algeria scoreLionel Messi stats todayThis section will be updated during the match.Minutes: Goals: Assists: Shots: Shots on target: Passes: Pass completion: Touches: Dribble completion: Did Lionel Messi score a goal today?This section will be updated during the match.Lionel Messi highlights, updates from Argentina vs. Algeria at World CupThis section will be updated once the game kicks off.How to watch Messi's World Cup gamesTV channel: FoxLive stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/websiteThis match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)Argentina World Cup 2026 scheduleDateMatchTime (ET)StadiumTues., June 16Argentina vs. Algeria9 p.m.Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas CityMon., June 22Argentina vs. Austria1 p.m.AT&T Stadium, DallasSat., June 27Argentina vs. Jordan9 p.m.AT&T Stadium, Dallas

Thomas Partey previously represented Ghana at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar [Getty Images]Thomas Partey will miss Ghana's World Cup opener against Panama after an appeal against the decision not to grant the midfielder a visa was turned down.Partey, 33, was denied entry to Canada before the match in Toronto because of ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK.The Ghanaian government sought permission for Partey to enter the country briefly to take part in Wednesday's game, with the appeal heard at a federal court in Ottawa on Tuesday.A judge ruled there was "no serious issue in the underlying refusal" of the visa because Partey had "failed to disclose in his application that he is the subject of multiple criminal charges for sexual violence in the UK".Former Arsenal player Partey 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 and is due to stand trial next year.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told the BBC: ''Canada has been consistent that hosting major events does not change Canada's immigration laws."Every person seeking to come to Canada is assessed individually, based on the facts available and the law that applies.''Ghana boss Queiroz no qualms over Partey selectionPartey, who now plays for Spanish side Villarreal, has played more than 50 times for Ghana having made his debut in June 2016.Before the tournament, head coach Carlos Queiroz said he had no qualms over selecting Partey.Asked about the issue again on Tuesday, he said: "My business is to play with the cards that I have in front of me."We are waiting for a decision. When the decision [arrives], we are ready."Ghana play England in Boston on 23 June and Croatia in Philadelphia on 27 June.They could return to Canada in the last 32 if they finish as runners-up in Group L.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

ToplineThe 2026 World Cup has sparked a divide with the inclusion of hydration breaks at this year’s games, with players, coaches and observers expressing mixed feelings about how the breaks disrupt the competitive flow of matches and interrupt games with advertisements.Kylian Mbappe #10 of France looks on during a hydration break in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal.Photo by Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesKey FactsFollowing the sweltering 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. last year, FIFA introduced the three-minute hydration breaks, which take place midway through the two halves of each game and are taken regardless of weather or temperature conditions at this year’s World Cup.The rule divides games into a total of three breaks, or four quarters, a significant difference from the singular 15-minute break taken in the middle of typical 90-minute matches.Virgil van Dijk, star defender for the Netherlands, jabbed at commercials airing during the hydration breaks and said it’s “not great,” for neutral fans watching on TV and that the breaks would be useful for hot conditions but, “I think you have to look at it in every game, separately, in my opinion.”Emma Hayes, the head coach of the U.S. women's national team, characterized the hydration breaks as “momentum breaks,” acknowledging their usefulness for teams on the backfoot and noting, “It’s a shame… but it seems like it could be something that could be here for good,” according to ESPN.U.S. men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters he does not like the water breaks, adding, “I only like it when the conditions are extreme, but when the conditions are good, it is unnecessary.”Hydration Breaks And AdvertisementsFox, one of the U.S. broadcasters covering the World Cup, shows advertisements during the breaks while streaming platform Peacock, which shows Telemundo’s Spanish-language broadcasts, does not show full-screen commercial breaks. A commercial break taken by Fox during the World Cup’s opening game went over the allotted hydration break time by 40 seconds, though FIFA has decided it will not punish the broadcaster for missing gametime. Fans on social media have raised concerns the hydration breaks were being used by networks to capitalize on advertising revenue.ContraGermany head coach Julian Nagelsmann told reporters after his team’s 7-1 rout of Curaçao that the water break helped “to simply reiterate what we had already adjusted on the board,” referring to Germany’s adjustments to Curaçao’s unorthodox formation. Alexei Lalas, former American soccer player and Fox Sports commentator, said Monday he has “no problem” with the hydration breaks, acknowledging it “changes how you play/coach/watch” but that it is a win-win for players and advertisers. “There will be a generation whose version of the beautiful game includes quarters,” he added. TangentThe removal or censorship of sponsored products and stadiums at the World Cup has caught the attention of viewers and media. FIFA’s clean stadium policy removes all non-approved branding from host venues, resulting in food and drink logos being covered and stadiums being renamed. In a press box at Santa Clara, California’s Levi’s Stadium, which has been renamed to “San Francisco Bay Area Stadium” under FIFA’s rules, condiment bottles were taped over to cover their respective brands. Levi’s Stadium leaned into the temporary renaming of its venue, saying in a social media post, “Welcoming the world to the beautiful [redacted] stadium!” Key BackgroundThe 2025 FIFA Club World Cup hosted in the U.S. was the catalyst for the hydration breaks at this year’s World Cup. During the 2025 competition, temperatures in host cities reached as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Atlético Madrid player Marcos Llorente told reporters, “My toes were sore, even my toenails were hurting,” though he said there was “no excuse” because the weather was “the same for everyone.” Temperatures at some of this year’s matchups have reached high 80s and low 90s in states like New Jersey, Philadelphia and Texas. FIFA has not yet confirmed if it will make the hydration breaks a permanent rule for future competitions.Further ReadingMauricio Pochettino and World Cup coaches cleared to use laptops during water breaks (The Athletic)This article was originally published on Forbes.com

Kyle Busch’s Estate Plans Revealed as New Court Filing Names Samantha Busch as Sole BeneficiaryLess than a month after NASCAR lost one of its most recognizable stars, newly surfaced court documents are providing a clearer picture of what happens next for Kyle Busch's estate.According to a newly reported filing, Busch's will leaves his assets to his wife, Samantha Busch, making her the primary beneficiary of the estate built during one of the most successful careers in NASCAR history. The filing also requests the appointment of Clifton Homesley as administrator of the estate.The documents offer one of the first official glimpses into the legal matters following Busch's death on May 21 at the age of 41. While much of the public focus has remained on the loss felt throughout the racing community, the filing marks the beginning of the process of settling the affairs of a driver whose impact on the sport extended far beyond the race track.Busch's death shocked NASCAR fans across the country. Just hours before the announcement, his family had revealed that he had been hospitalized with what was described as a severe illness. Later that day, NASCAR confirmed the passing of the two-time Cup Series champion.The loss reverberated throughout motorsports.Over a career spanning more than two decades, Busch established himself as one of the most accomplished and polarizing drivers the sport has ever seen. Known to fans as "Rowdy," he amassed victories at a pace few drivers in NASCAR history could match. His aggressive driving style, fierce competitiveness, and willingness to embrace the role of villain at times helped build one of the largest fan followings in modern stock-car racing.For many fans, Busch represented a throwback to an earlier era of NASCAR when drivers were expected to show personality as much as speed.Away from the track, however, Busch's life centered around his family. Samantha and Kyle were married in 2010 and built a life together that became increasingly visible to fans through social media, charitable work, and their support of young racers coming through the ranks.In the days following Busch's death, Samantha shared an emotional message thanking fans, friends, and members of the racing community who had reached out with support. She described the overwhelming response as a source of strength during one of the most difficult periods of her life.The couple's two children, Brexton and Lennix, have remained at the center of many of Samantha's recent messages.Earlier this month, she revealed that she had made a promise to Kyle while he was hospitalized. That promise was to continue supporting their children's dreams, particularly Brexton's growing passion for racing. According to Samantha, the bond between father and son was built around countless hours spent discussing race cars, working together, and sharing a love for motorsports.That connection has become especially meaningful as the family navigates life without one of NASCAR's most recognizable figures.The estate filing also reportedly notes that no wrongful death lawsuit is expected to be filed. While the legal process surrounding the estate will continue in the coming months, the focus for many fans remains on remembering Busch's legacy rather than the details of probate proceedings.Few drivers leave behind a résumé that compares to Busch's.His championships, victories, and record-setting accomplishments guaranteed his place among NASCAR's all-time greats long before his final race. Yet many fans will remember him just as much for the intensity he brought every time he climbed behind the wheel.Whether they cheered him or rooted against him, they paid attention when Kyle Busch was on the track.Now, as the legal and personal chapters following his death continue to unfold, the racing world is still adjusting to the absence of a driver who helped define an entire generation of NASCAR competition.For Samantha Busch and the couple's children, the court filing represents another step in that process. For NASCAR fans, it serves as another reminder that one of the sport's biggest personalities is gone far sooner than anyone expected.Source

One of Luka Doncic's former EuroLeague teammates will suit up for the Washington Huskies next season.Croatian forward Boris Tišma committed to the Huskies on Tuesday after a season with Croatian club KK Zadar, where he averaged 11.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 26.1 minutes per game across 39 contests in the Croatian Premier League. Tišma also shot 41.1 percent from three-point range and 73 percent from the free throw line.NEWS: Zadar’s Boris Tišma as committed to Washington, his agent @ArtursKalnitis tells DraftExpress.The 24-year-old 6’9” Croatian forward averaged 10.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists on a 60 2P% and 40 3P% in the Adriatic League and Croatian Premijer liga this season. pic.twitter.com/gfM1kXSPqD— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) June 16, 2026Tišma originally debuted as a 17-year-old for Real Madrid during the 2019-20 season, but signed with the Spanish club in 2015 and teamed with Doncic at the team's youth academy. After a 2021 loan to Real Betis in the Spanish second division, Tišma declared for the 2021 NBA draft but withdrew his name from consideration after signing a multi-year deal with the Montenegrin team SC Derby.He was named to the 2018 U16 Euro Championships All-Tournament team while representing Croatia, leading them to a gold medal with 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.Now, the 24-year-old Tišma will arrive on Montlake looking to fill the shoes of Hannes Steinbach, a projected lottery pick in this summer's NBA Draft. He joins Brazilian forward Wini Braga and Australian guard Tristan Devers as international commitments, making the trip to Seattle for what will likely be a make-or-break season for third-year head coach Danny Sprinkle.Tišma is the 14th player on the Huskies roster, which leaves two spots potentially open after Washington carried 16 players last season. Tišma, Braga, and Devers join Ryan Beasley (San Francisco), Parker Friedrichsen (Davidson), LeJuan Watts (Texas Tech), and Steele Venters (Gonzaga) as experienced new arrivals. Washington also returns bigs Nikola Dzepina, Mady Traore, and Lathan Sommerville, forwards Wesley Yates III and Jasir Rencher, and walk-on guard Brandon Roy Jr., while adding Lattimore Ford from the high school ranks.Shooting has clearly been at a premium this offseason after the Huskies struggled again from behind the arc: Tišma and Friedrichsen especially will be expected to add some more firepower from deep. Time in the rotation will also be at a premium in the frontcourt with Watts, Venters, Traore, Sommerville, Dzepina, and Tišma in the mix to get on the court frequently. Watts' ability as a primary ballhandler may allow Washington to play bigger than they did last season and adjust to their talent - Washington is high on Traore, even though he missed all of last year, Watts nearly declared for the NBA draft, Sommerville played a ton last season, Venters and Dzepina have high-end potential, and Tišma brings eight seasons of professional basketball experience.This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies get commitment from experienced Croatian forward

Mar 5, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; A general overall view of Los Angeles Lakers logo at midcourt at the Crypto.com Arena.The Los Angeles Lakers announced on Tuesday that legendary public address announcer Lawrence Tanter will transition into a new role with the organization after serving as the team's iconic in-arena voice for the past 43 seasons.Tanter has been named Special Advisor for Game Presentation, bringing an end to his tenure behind the courtside microphone while allowing him to continue contributing to the franchise in a new capacity.#Lakers longtime PA, Lawrence Tanter, hangs it up after 43 seasons. pic.twitter.com/0kWfV8zg1q— Carlos Yakimowich (@CarlosYakJr) June 16, 2026His absence was especially noticeable during the latter half of last season when he stepped away and was ultimately replaced throughout the Lakers' playoff run.While another announcer filled the role, the atmosphere inside Crypto.com Arena simply did not feel the same in person. For more than 40 years, Tanter's unmistakable voice had become synonymous with Lakers basketball, and his absence highlighted just how much of an impact he has had on the game-day experience and the franchise's history.In his advisory role, Tanter will use his decades of experience and institutional knowledge to help shape the future of the Lakers' game presentation and fan experience.Mar 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers fans during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena. William Navarro-Imagn ImagesMar 1, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers fans during the second quarter against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena."Lawrence Tanter has been an integral part of the Lakers gameday experience for more than four decades, setting the tone for countless memorable moments with his professionalism, energy and signature booming voice," Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss said in a statement."Since the 1980s, LT has narrated every chapter of Lakers basketball, connecting generations of fans, players, coaches and staff while becoming a trusted and unforgettable part of the Lakers experience. I am incredibly grateful for everything he has given to this franchise."Tanter first became the Lakers' public address announcer in 1982 and quickly established himself as one of the most recognizable voices in professional sports.Over the course of his remarkable career, the Chicago native called games during one of the most successful eras in franchise history. He was behind the microphone for 10 NBA championships, 16 Western Conference titles and countless memorable moments featuring Lakers legends from the Showtime era through the modern day.Mar 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Fans record as the jersey of former Los Angeles Lakers player Pau Gasol is unveiled during halftime at Crypto.com Arena. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesMar 7, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Fans record as the jersey of former Los Angeles Lakers player Pau Gasol is unveiled during halftime at Crypto.com Arena.His voice became a constant throughout decades of organizational change, providing continuity as the franchise welcomed stars across multiple generations while maintaining its identity as one of the NBA's premier organizations.Although fans will no longer hear Tanter's booming voice introducing the starting lineup before tipoff, his impact on the franchise will remain lasting. After more than four decades serving as the "Voice of the Lakers," his legacy extends far beyond the microphone and into the history of one of basketball's most storied franchises.

The decision by beleaguered quarterback Brendan Sorsby to declare for the NFL supplemental draft has triggered a fresh round of questions about the rarely used offseason process for making prospects who weren’t eligible for the primary draft available to the league at large.Before we dust off the rule book and dive in, here's the background:Sorsby, after transferring earlier this year from Cincinnati to Texas Tech, was banished from competition by the NCAA for gambling activity that included wagers on his own team while on the roster at Indiana in 2022.After spending a month in a residential treatment program for a diagnosed addiction that led to thousands of bets while in college on sporting events worth at least $90,000, Sorsby sued the NCAA and gained a court-ordered reinstatement that prompted nationwide backlash toward Texas Tech. The controversy led Sorsby to enter this special draft session that has not been used to select a player since 2019. The deadline for filing is on Monday.Cris Carter's road to the Hall of Fame started with the supplemental draftAfter prematurely signing with an agent, Cris Carter was ruled ineligible for his senior season at Ohio State and later picked by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1987 supplemental draft that started with Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth being selected by the Seattle Seahawks.Carter was waived by the Eagles right before the 1990 season in one of the NFL's all-time roster mistakes and claimed by the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he built a Hall of Fame career and still ranks sixth in league history with 1,101 regular-season receptions.What are the eligibility rules?Article 6 of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement dictates that college players excluded from the pool for the principal draft in the spring — for circumstances like losing academic eligibility or suspension for an off-the-field issue — can apply for selection in a supplemental draft held during the summer. If they're eligible for the regular draft, they're not allowed to simply skip it in favor of the supplemental draft that was created in 1977.If no players file for it, then it doesn't happen. Even if players are entered, the supplemental draft takes place only if a team actually wants to pick. Determination of the supplemental draft order is a complicated processTeams are placed into three groups: those that won six or fewer games in the previous season, the remaining clubs that missed the playoffs and those that made the playoffs. The league holds a lottery, weighted in favor of the teams with the worst records, to order selection within each group.It’s essentially a bidding process conducted by the commissioner, with interested clubs declaring which round — one through seven — they’re willing to select the player in. If players go undrafted, they’re then eligible to sign with any club as a free agent.If awarded the player, a team then forfeits its selection in that particular round in the regular draft the following year. The Seahawks, for example, put a first-round bid on Bosworth and thus lost their first-round pick in the 1988 draft.Who are the other notable past selections?The most recent player picked in a supplemental draft was safety Jalen Thompson, who went to the Arizona Cardinals on a fifth-round bid in 2019 after he violated an NCAA rule and had his final season at Washington State wiped out. Thompson has had a solid career, starting 87 games over seven years.The Cleveland Browns got a bargain in 2012 with a second-round bid for wide receiver Josh Gordon, though his time with the club was cut short by multiple substance abuse policy violations. Gordon, who was suspended for marijuana use the year before while at Baylor, transferred to Utah but decided not to play there and enter the supplemental draft instead.After a promising rookie season, Gordon was an All-Pro selection in 2013, leading the NFL with 1,646 receiving yards.In 2011, the Oakland Raiders used a third-round pick in the supplemental draft for Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who left college after a memorabilia-for-cash scandal that cost coach Jim Tressel his job.Other supplemental draft picks who enjoyed productive NFL careers included two-time All-Pro defensive tackle Jamal Williams (1998, Chargers, second round), 1997 league receiving yards leader Rob Moore (1990, Jets, first round), 1990 Pro Bowl running back Bobby Humphrey (1989, Broncos, first round) and standout quarterback Bernie Kosar (1985, Browns, first round).___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

The Varsity 845 girls softball players of the week polls are online for June 8-14, 2026. Information was utilized on reports gathered by Varsity 845 and nominations. Coaches are encouraged to provide their game reports in order for athletes to be chosen; they may also nominate one player from their team by Sunday afternoon.During the postseason, multiple athletes may be nominated for a poll.The most recent winners were Parker Mullarkey of Newburgh, Julianna Clarino of Newburgh, Sam Maleck of Marlboro and Olivia Hite of Marlboro.Go to RecordOnline.com/sports/high-school and vote as often as you like until Sunday, June 21, at 6 p.m. The winners will be announced each week on the @Varsity845 account on X/Twitter.kmcmillan@th-record.comX / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHRVarsity 845 girls softball player of the week (June 8-14)(candidates are listed alphabetically)Emma Boffalo, Pine BushHer two-run homer capped a six-run sixth-inning rally as the Bushmen beat Massapequa 7-2 in a state semifinal on June 12.Payton Croce, Pine BushHer sixth-inning double cleared the bases to put Pine Bush up for good in a 7-2 win over Massapequa in a June 12 state semifinal win.Keira Filip, Minisink ValleyShe reached base safely all three times, crushing a two-run home run in the third inning to pull the Warriors within 3-2. Minisink fell to Calhoun 14-2 in the June 12 state semifinal. She also had five putouts in center field.Autumn Gove, Pine BushShe had two hits and an RBI single to start the game-tying three-run rally in the third inning, scoring the tying run. She also had what appeared to be a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning, only to have her hit overturned after an umpire’s consultation.Lyla LaBarbera, Minisink ValleyShe had a single in the Warriors’ 14-2 setback to Calhoun in the June 12 state semifinals.Avery Ogden, Pine BushShe struck out nine batters in a five-hit, 7-2 victory over Massapequa in a June 12 state semifinal. She added an RBI double in the sixth-inning rally. In the June 13 state final, she had four hits and the game-tying two RBI in a 4-3, 12-inning loss to Lancaster. She struck out 13 but took the loss.Hannah Ringus, Minisink ValleyShe had a single in the Warriors’ 14-2 setback to Calhoun in the June 12 state semifinals.Audrey Rotolo, Minisink ValleyShe had three assists at shortstop in Minisink’s 14-2 loss to Calhoun in the June 12 state semifinal.Silvana Zamonsky, Pine BushShe had an RBI single in the fourth inning and her sixth-inning single led to her scoring the eventual winning run in a 7-2 victory over Massapequa in a June 12 state semifinal win. In the June 13 final, she had three putouts and threw out two runners at home plate from her right-field position.This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Varsity 845 high school girls softball players of the week poll

Justin Herbert will be throwing passes during all of the Chargers' minicamp practices this week, but wide receiver Ladd McConkey isn't going to be catching many of them. McConkey was working on the side at Tuesday's practice and head coach Jim Harbaugh said that the wideout is working through something when he spoke to the media at a press conference. McConkey had his own session with reporters later in the day and said that he strained his hamstring earlier in the offseason program. McConkey said, via multiple reporters, that he doesn't have any serious concern about the injury and that he expects to be ready to go for training camp. McConkey had 66 catches for 789 yards in 2025 after posting 82 catches for 1,149 yards as a rookie. The hope is that Mike McDaniel's arrival as offensive coordinator will send his numbers in a more positive direction in 2026.

Erling Haaland makes World Cup debut as Norway face Iraq in Group I - full team newsWill Haaland score? Have your say hereThis is Iraq's first World Cup game since 1986 and Norway's first in 28 yearsFrance beat Senegal 3-1 earlier in Group IWorld Cup team guides | Twenty new players to watch | New laws explained Watch as Haaland makes World Cup debut with Norway against Iraq

Davis Martin will make his 14th start of the season against the Yankees, holding a 2.41 ERA. | (MLB Photos via Getty Images) After going 4-1 against two of the top teams in MLB — the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers — the Chicago White Sox are looking to continue their hot streak on the road as they begin a three-game set with the New York Yankees. The Yanks are the best team in the American League after overtaking their division rivals, the Tampa Bay Rays, and hold a 1 1/2-game lead in the AL East. Believe it or not, the South Siders are right there with them, ranking third in the AL while leading the AL Central division.Despite playing without catcher Kyle Teel and their best hitter Munetaka Murakami, the Good Guys have still managed to go 6-4 in their last 10 games, and they remain a top-five team in team home runs with 96 on the season. It certainly helps when the rest of the team steps up, especially as players with less raw power start mashing extra-base hits — aka Tristan Peters, Chase Meidroth, and Sam Antonacci.The Sox offense will have its first challenge in the Bronx with former Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole on the mound for the Yankees, making his fifth start of the year since returning from injury. In six rehab starts in the minors, Cole posted a 4.66 ERA in 29 innings alongside a 1.07 WHIP and 28 Ks, but he’s accumulated better metrics since returning to the majors with a 2.45 ERA in 22 innings. While only two South Siders on the roster have actually hit off of Cole, this isn’t the only run-in he’s had with the White Sox org. In his fourth rehab start, he allowed five earned runs and two home runs while taking the loss against the White Sox High-A affiliate, the Winston-Salem Dash. One of those homers came off the bat of top prospect Caleb Bonemer, whom Gerrit later hit in his third at-bat, because of course he did.The home run in question:View LinkWith the strong righty on the mound, the South Siders are using a lefty-heavy lineup at the plate, hoping to take advantage of the short porch and Mickey Mouse fence in right field. Over the past two weeks, nearly the entire starting lineup has posted an OPS above .700, and six of those hitters are at .775 or better. Ideally, they can continue putting the ball in play and playing their game.Chicago White Sox LineupView LinkSome additional good news for the Good Guys is that they will also have their ace on the mound as Davis Martin makes his 14th start of the season. After a rough outing against Minnesota to begin June, Martin was excellent against the Braves, going six scoreless with six strikeouts to help maintain his 2.41 ERA on the season. Martin’s strong points are that he doesn’t walk a lot of guys (5.4% walk rate), and he has a full arsenal of pitches that he’s able to leverage to get opponents to chase. His fastball averages around 94 mph, but the whiff percentage on his slider is phenomenal at 47%, and this changeup has produced a .150 opponent batting average. As I am writing this, MLB Network is also hyping him up with how great he’s been this season, so it’s not just us White Sox fans realizing how good he has been this year.While the Yanks will be without Aaron Judge, Davis will still have to work against a tough offensive lineup that has plenty of power, as New York ranks first in barrel rate (10.4%) and home runs (102). First baseman Ben Rice holds down the leadoff spot for the Yankees, and he has been an offensive leader across MLB this season, ranking third in OPS, second in slugging, and eighth in homers with 19.New York Yankees LineupView LinkFirst pitch will take place at 6:05 p.m. CT at Yankee Stadium with temperatures in the low-70s: a perfect night for some baseball. Tune in to the TV broadcast on CHSN, or listen in at ESPN Chicago AM 1000. Let’s go, Sox!

It’s only June, but head coach P.J. Fleck and co. may very well be putting the finishing touches on this recruiting class, with California defensive tackle prospect Lemani Fehoko giving the Gophers their 30th commitment.ALL GLORY TO GOD!!! IM HOME!!📍Minneapolis, Minnesota #COMMITTED#RTB#SkiUMah#Gophers@Coach_CJRobbins@Coach_DCollins@Coach_Fleck@PadreFootball_@coachmons@coachwalsh20@ActivatedSP@OfficialKOBros@Minnesota247@GopherFootball@BrandonHuffman@GregBigginspic.twitter.com/oyksJFnirH— Lemani Fehoko 𝟑 ⭐️ (@LemaniFehoko) June 16, 2026Get to know Lemani FehokoHeight: 6’1”Weight: 275Power 4 Scholarship Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Cal, Duke, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Washington247 Sports Composite Rating: .8550Scouting ReportFehoko logged 29 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one forced fumble last season. He is not the tallest or longest interior defensive lineman, but he plays with good strength, leverage, and a sturdy base, which allows him to anchor vs. the run and win with a low center of gravity inside. His frame and play style fit the one‑technique/three‑tech mold who can hold point, shed, and finish when he wins early with his hands. At the next level, Fehoko will need to keep refining his pass rush skills beyond initial power, continue to improve pad level and hand usage snap‑to‑snap, and further develop his get‑off, lateral agility, and closing burst.Hudl Highlights

The Los Angeles Dodgers made one lineup change from Monday’s win against the Tampa Bays Rays as they aim to win the series Tuesday.Catcher Chuckie Robinson steps into the team, giving Dalton Rushing an off day.The Dodgers claimed the first game of the series in a gritty win, where Miguel Rojas played the late hero with a go-ahead, pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the seventh inning.Kyle Tucker also played a part in the win, hitting a three-run homer to tie the game at three in the bottom of the second inning.Who is Starting for the Dodgers?Justin Wrobleski is getting the start for the Dodgers, and will look to continue his solid start to the season. Wrobleski has been a pleasant surprise for the Dodgers, as he has been fantastic since they gave him a starting role.This season, Wrobleski has a 2.95 ERA through 12 appearances, pitching 73.1 innings total. His last appearance came against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he allowed four runs in 4.2 innings pitched.Jun 11, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) delivers a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesWho is in the Dodgers’ Lineup?The Dodgers’ batting order stays the same for the second game of the series, with Shohei Ohtani leading off as the designated hitter and center fielder Andy Pages batting second. First baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Mookie Betts follow him, and third baseman Max Muncy will bat fifth.Tucker plays right field and bats sixth, with left fielder Ryan Ward and second baseman Alex Freeland batting behind him. Finally, catcher Chuckie Robinson rounds out the order.Jun 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) is showered with sunflower seeds after hitting a three-run home run in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn ImagesDodgers Lineup vs. Rays1. Shohei Ohtani, DH2. Andy Pages, CF3. Freddie Freeman, 1B4. Mookie Betts, SS5. Max Muncy, 3B6. Kyle Tucker, RF7. Ryan Ward, LF 8. Alex Freeland, 2B9. Chuckie Robinson, CP. Eric Lauer, LHPWho is Pitching for the Rays?The Rays have a strong starter on the mound yet again for Tuesday’s game, as Drew Rasmussen will take the mound. He has a 2.71 ERA through 13 starts this season, and has struck out 77 batters through 73 innings pitched.Rasmussen is coming off of his two best starts of the season, allowing no runs and three hits through a collective 14 innings of work. He has struck out 22 batters during that time. The Dodgers will look to break his scoreless streak up and start a new streak of winning series in Tuesday’s contest.Are you confident in the Dodgers today?

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