On this day 75 years ago, Bud Stewart played a key role in the upstart White Sox splitting a doubleheader in Yankee Stadium in front of 60,441. | (Photo by The Stanley Weston Archive/Getty Images) 1884Ill-fated hurler and inventor of the knuckleball, Eddie Cicotte, was born, in Springwells, Mich. Cicotte made his MLB debut in 1905 and was up for good as a major-leaguer in 1908. Four years later, he was swapped to Chicago and saw his career take off. Cicotte’s 11.9 WAR to lead the greatest White Sox team in history in 1917 led all of baseball and stands in a tie for 36th-best all-time and second-best in White Sox annals.While he couldn’t have known it then, Cicotte’s popularization of the knuckleball ushered in a tradition of knuckleballers on the South Side, from Hoyt Wilhelm to Eddie Fisher to Wilbur Wood and even briefly to Charlie Hough.Of course, Cicotte consorted with gamblers and famously was a fixer of the 1919 Black Sox World Series. The righty was banned from baseball for 95 years, and despite Hall-worthy statistics has so far been kept out of Cooperstown.1912 Don Gutteridge, at 109-172 the owner of the fifth-worst record among White Sox managers tenured for at least one full season, was born in Pittsburg, Kan. He played for 12 years in the majors as an infielder clearly valued for his knowledge of the game and ability to fill a role as opposed to his prowess between the lines (1.4 total WAR over 1,151 games).Gutteridge had bad fortune on the South Side as skipper in at least three ways: He wasn’t White Sox manager by choice, returning to the White Sox organization only after the surprising return of Al Lopez as manager in 1968 and being forced into the job after Lopez resigned in 1969By taking over as an interim manager 17 games into the season, he was neither prepared to manage in the majors nor establish himself as the leader of the clubThe late-1960s White Sox were severely lacking in talent (over four seasons as a manager in the organization’s minors, his clubs finished with a winning record every yearGutteridge was nonetheless as associated with the record 17 straight winning seasons the White Sox ran off in the 1950s and 1960s, on the MLB coaching staff (mostly as first-base coach) from 1955-66.After retiring from baseball, Gutteridge returned to Pittsburg, which honored him ever June 19 with “Don Gutteridge Day”. He died there in 2008, at 96, and at that time he was one of the 10 oldest living major league baseball players, the oldest living former manager or coach, the last surviving member of the St. Louis Cardinals “Gas House Gang,” and the last living member of the St. Louis Browns to appear in a World Series. 1926The Sox celebrated Eddie Collins Day at Comiskey Park. Collinswould be admitted into the Hall of Fame in 1939 and was one of the finest second baseman in major league history. He played 12 seasons with the White Sox and is the only member of the 3,000-hit club to get that milestone safety in a White Sox uniform.1941Joe DiMaggio went 3-for-3 with a home run in a 7-2 loss to New York at Yankee Stadium. It was the 32nd game of his eventual 56-game hitting streak, with the streak now the 14th-longest of all time, tied with Harry Heilmann of the Detroit Tigers.DiMaggio had started his hit streak about a month earlier, on May 15, against the Eddie Smith and the White Sox. At this point, eight of the 32 games Joltin’ Joe had hit safely in had come against the South Siders. In a month, DiMaggio would hit safely in games 52-55 of the streak in Chicago, before seeing it snapped two games after leaving town, vs. Cleveland.All told, six White Sox pitchers were victimized by DiMaggio’s streak, with Smithand Thornton Lee both getting touched over three games, for four total hits. Johnny Rigney also extended DiMaggio’s streak by three games, and three hits in total.1951The White Sox split a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium in front of 60,441 fans (ranking among the Top 20-attended games in White Sox history), maintaining their 3 1⁄2-game lead in the American League.The Sox dropped the opener, 11-9, despite rallying to tie after falling behind, 5-0, in the first inning. In the nightcap, the White Sox took a 4-3 lead on Bud Stewart’s three-run homer in the eighth, and after the Yankees fought back for one, tallied the eventual game-winner on Bob Dillinger’s double in the ninth.The White Sox would fall out of first for good in July and finish the season in fourth place, 17 games back. But their 81-73-1 record represented their first winning season in eight years — and more importantly, kicked off a string of 17 straight winning seasons on the South Side.1977Wilbur Wood threw his last good game for the White Sox in throwing eight innings of one-run ball in beating the A’s, 2-1, in the first game of a doubleheader at Comiskey Park. But the real star that afternoon was first baseman Lamar Johnson, who did everything in this contest. Johnson’s three hits (and two home runs) were the only Sox hits in the opener. He also sang the National Anthem beforehand!The Sox also won the nightcap 5-1, with Lamar adding a hit and scoring a run.2009Levi Maxwell of the White Sox High-A affiliate Winston-Salem Dash threw a seven-inning no-hitter in a doubleheader opener against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. It was the first no-hitter in the Carolina League in three years, and the first for the Dash since 2001. Maxwell ended up as the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for his achievement.However, it was a bright spot in an otherwise rough season. Maxwell finished 2009 at 4-15 (4.54 ERA) after going 15-5 a year earlier for the Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators. In true Joe Cowley fashion, Maxwell retired (or was released) at season’s end.(The manager of that Intimidators club in 2009? None other than future White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing.)2015In a game against the Texas Rangers at U.S. Cellular Field, Chris Sale recorded his fifth consecutive game with at least 12 strikeouts, as he fanned 14 Texas hitters. That tied him with Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers in baseball history to accomplish that. Sale’s streak began on May 28, and in those five starts he struck out a total of 65 hitters.He got a no-decision in this game, though, as Texas scored two runs in the ninth inning with two outs and stole a 2-1 win.

World Cup's new group tiebreaker rule has brutal side effect — but not for Mexico, United States, England originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The 2026 FIFA World Cup decided on a new tiebreaker rule for this edition of the massive tournament.If there is a tie on points in the group stage, and one of those teams defeated the other team, the team with the head-to-head win takes the spot above the team with the head-to-head loss.It switches the within-group first tiebreaker from goal differential, which now becomes the second tiebreaker.It has a potentially disastrous side effect, though.MORE: How Cristiano Ronaldo cost Portugal in its draw with DR CongoBefore, it was very rare that a team could clinch the group win after just two matches. Now, it's very possible.Mexico has already done it. Mexico beat South Africa on the first matchday, while South Korea beat Czechia. Then on the second matchday, Mexico was playing the Korean side, and whichever won would clinch the group.Mexico pulled out a 1-0 win, which means the third group stage game doesn't matter at all for Mexico. They'll be atop Group A no matter what, because the best South Korea can do is be tied on six points but not hold the tiebreaker.MORE: Messi, Mbappe, Haaland provide a World Cup day made in heavenAs the tournament goes on, this will be a conceptual possibility for group favorites who won their first match of the group stage -- like the United States, and England, and Germany, and the list goes on.It greatly impacts the third matchday of the group, when a lesser team has a much better chance of beating a strong side if the better roster is actually resting all its key players with no group positioning to play for.Because of the new tiebreaker Mexico has clinched their group and can rest their entire team.Czechia in turn has a really good shot at getting 3 points in a game they would’ve been massive underdogs in.FIFA really didn’t think this one through. https://t.co/YEfxYdIeS6— Matt Smith (@SamENole) June 19, 2026MORE: Mexican goalie saves the day against South KoreaIn that situation, it becomes advantageous for a lesser team to play the group's best team third, rather than first or second.For Czechia, they might face a much-reduced Mexican side on matchday three in Group A, rather than the full-strength outfit South Africa had to deal with in the opener.Will it decide who wins the entire World Cup? Maybe not. But will it impact who gets out of the groups? Almost certainly, given that the eight-best third-place teams advance, too.This rule change matters, and we'll just have to see how it all plays out.More FIFA World Cup news:USA, England can't actually play on July 4thWhy Norway brought 600 pounds of salmon to the World CupRef cams are making quite the fashion statementCape Verde pulls off one of craziest results in World Cup historyPink cleats are everywhere at the World Cup

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei distanced himself from the agreement, putting responsibility for it on Iran’s president, and said it does not mean acceding to U.S. demands.

After 27 years, the beloved cowgirl doll voiced by Cusack is finally in charge, but the actress played an important role in shaping the character early on.

After months of shortages and uncertainty, India sees an opportunity to restore a once-crucial energy relationship.

How the film writer David Thomson found himself in a lover’s quarrel with cinema — and America.

Dive bars face an uncertain future with rising costs and changing social patterns.

The best part? It’s light enough to pick up with just one hand. READ MORE...

How did I not know about this colorway sooner? READ MORE...

GREEN BAY − The Green Bay Packers open training camp Wednesday, July 29.Rookies and injured players are schedule to report to Green Bay on Monday, July 27, and the veterans report the following day.The Packers will host fans at Ray Nitschke Field for 12 practices, and at Lambeau Field for Packers Family Night on Friday, Aug. 7.Here are the dates for training camp practices open to the public and preseason games:Wednesday, July 29, 10:30 a.m.Thursday, July 30, 10:30 a.m.Friday, July 31, 10:30 a.m.Sunday, Aug. 2, 10:30 a.m.Monday, Aug. 3, 10:30 a.m.Tuesday, Aug. 4, 10:30 a.m.Friday, Aug. 7, 7:30 p.m. (Family Night)Monday, Aug. 10, 10:30 a.m.Tuesday, Aug. 11, 10:30 a.m.Thursday, Aug. 13, 6 p.m. (preseason game at Pittsburgh)Sunday, Aug. 16, 10:30 a.m.Tuesday, Aug. 18, 10:30 a.m.Friday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m. (preseason game at Denver)Monday, Aug. 24, 10:30 a.m.Wednesday, Aug 26, 10:30 a.m. (joint practice with Arizona)Friday, Aug. 28, 7 p.m. (preseason game vs. Arizona)PRESEASON: Green Bay Packers release 2026 preseason schedule dates, timesThis article originally appeared on Packers News: Green Bay Packers set dates for training camp practices open to public

The Lions have signed another wide receiver out of the UFL. They announced the addition of Lawrence Keys to their group of wideouts. Wide receiver Kyre Duplessis was waived in a corresponding move. Keys played for the Houston Gamblers during the 2026 UFL season. He was second in the league in all-purpose yards after posting 349 receiving yards, 518 kickoff return yards and 134 punt return yards. Keys spent time with the Bills after going undrafted in 2024. The Lions also signed wideouts Lucky Jackson, Tarik Black and Tay Martin this week, so they'll have four former UFLers vying for roster spots at training camp this summer.

The Detroit Lions should not wait for the pass rush to become a problem. They should fix it now. If Detroit wants to win the NFC North, the best division in the NFL, the move is simple: add one more veteran edge rusher before training camp. Not a camp body. Not a developmental lottery ticket. A real veteran who can help Aidan Hutchinson immediately. Joey Bosa is the kind of name that makes sense and can help Dan Campbell’s team get back to the postseason. MORE: Chiefs need to add another offensive weapon for Patrick Mahomes & 2 players stand out as best optionsThere are risks. Bosa is not the same player he was at his peak, and injuries have been part of the conversation for years. But that is exactly why this should be possible. The Lions do not need to pay for prime Bosa. They need a short-term pass-rush boost for a roster that is already good enough to think bigger.Buffalo Bills defensive end Joey Bosa watches the offensive line on the field during second half action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov 16, 2025 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.Detroit has Hutchinson. That gives the defense a star. What the Lions need is another proven rusher who can keep offenses from sliding protection toward Hutchinson on every obvious passing down. D.J. Wonnum can help. Young players can develop. But a team trying to win the division should not rely entirely on hope when it comes to a compliment to its best defensive player. The NFC North is far too good for that. The Packers are not going away. The Bears have Caleb Williams. The Vikings always seem to be annoying enough to matter. Detroit may still be the most complete team in the division, but the margin is not big enough to ignore a premium position.Bosa would bring name recognition, experience, and enough pass-rush upside to make opponents account for him. Even if he is only a rotational weapon, that still plays.The Lions do not need a reckless offensive splash. They need one more player who can help close games. If Detroit wants to win the NFC North, it should make the obvious move and add another pass rusher now.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings pacer Vyshak Vijaykumar has thrown his weight behind newly-appointed India T20I captain Shreyas Iyer, praising the batter's leadership qualities and ability to manage players during pressure situations.Earlier this month, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee named Iyer as India's new T20I captain, moving on from Suryakumar Yadav. Iyer is set to lead the side in the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England in June and July.Having spent the last two IPL seasons under Iyer at Punjab Kings, Vyshak said the Mumbai batter's biggest strength is the way he treats every player equally."I think the way he treats everybody equally, that is the biggest thing because youngsters will be, obviously, under a lot of pressure. So, the way you handle them, speak to them, makes a lot of difference," Vyshak told PTI.The fast bowler also highlighted Iyer's handling of Indian and uncapped players during the IPL."The IPL is a tough competition, and, you know, Indian players are the ones who are going to win the tournament for you. So, the way he handled all the Indian players, uncapped players, was calming and a lot of learnings (from it) for me and everyone, and it makes him a good leader," he added.Vyshak joined Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2025 and has seen Iyer's development as both a captain and a cricketer from close quarters."From the first time that I have seen him in 2025, he has matured so much as a captain and player. Every day he is bringing new things on the table and every day he is eagerly wanting to try it out."He has this fire and aura that he carries every time he goes into the field, as he wants to win it no matter what and the way he handles himself and the way he handles everybody in the team, it's such a pleasure," he said.The 29-year-old, who played 10 matches this IPL season, also credited Iyer for showing faith in him and giving him the confidence to perform."I've always told myself that every time I play, I want to improve at least 1%. Every time I go to practise, I want to improve 1%. So, that has been the motto for me. That is what has been keeping me on my toes every time."Every day I wake up and then tell myself that I want to go and improve myself. And this year (IPL) was a very good opportunity for me because you know, last year I could not play as much."But now I feel very happy that I got more opportunities and I could showcase more of my bowling skills. Obviously, with Shreyas being there, he has guided me so much, and he has always given me the confidence, saying no matter what, don't worry, just back yourself, and we are there to back you," he elaborated. 131857916"So, if you do well, there's a lot of confidence that you carry, and it should help me grow as a cricketer and individually as well," he signed off.

‘A moment of sadness’ – Arsenal defender Gabriel reflects on his missed Champions League final penaltyArsenal and Brazil defender Gabriel has reflected on his missed penalty in the Champions League final shoot-out with PSG.Gabriel’s missed spot-kick meant PSG prevailed after a 1-1 draw in regular time, denying Arsenal a double having already won the Premier League title ahead of the game.But speaking at the World Cup with the Brazilian national team, ahead of their game against Haiti, the 28-year-old says it is important to focus on the positives.“I cannot complain,” he said.“I had a very good season with Arsenal. We managed to achieve the (Premier League) title after 22 years and got to the final of the Champions League.“When you have to score a penalty, there are consequences, but I’m very happy to be here and to be representing my country.”Gabriel also thanked Brazil team-mate Marquinhos, who was on the PSG side in the Champions League final and consoled the Arsenal man immediately after missing his penalty.Stay up to date with all the latest Arsenal news by joining our Arsenal WhatsApp channel. “That was a moment of sadness for me,” Gabriel reflected. “The first thing he did was not celebrate, but give me a hug. What I can say is that he gave me all the support.“I’ve been here with him on the national team for two or three years, and I learn every day whenever I’m with him. I’m a fan of him as a person and as a player. My affection for him grew even more after the Champions League final.”If you enjoy our articles, help us out by making Hayters.com one of your preferred sources on Google by clicking here.

This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss questionable analysis, mysterious parcels, and the Knicks (sorta).SAM: I was in Amsterdam for most of this week and walked by something called a “Mystery Parcel Store.” It was a storefront loaded with mostly Amazon packages of all shapes and sizes, where people could pick out a package to open (and pay for it based on weight) and hope they scored something cool. I didn’t participate on the spot because it seemed like it involved opening the package in front of the lingering street crowd and getting your photo posted to their social media, but now I kind of wish I’d done it anyway. A group doing it while I watched unboxed a bunch of garbagecore plastic trash, which made it less appealing. I think my strategy would be to seek out heavy boxes with lithium battery labels, but that could still mean I got trash or something I wouldn’t want to have to pack home.

If you lived with your parents for nine months or more after graduation, please tell us how you came to the decision and whether the job market influenced your thinking.

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 15: Jonathan Toews of the Chicago Blackhawks celebrates by hoisting the Stanley Cup after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-0 in Game Six to win the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Final. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)Bruce Bennett via Getty ImagesLongtime Chicago Blackhawks forward Jonathan Toews announced his retirement after 16 NHL seasons.“I have to say I’m satisfied; I’m fulfilled. I’m so thankful and grateful for the career I had,” said Toews in a statement. “But at this point it’s one thing to be healthy and to have the hunger. There’s no doubt in my mind that I have the skillset to continue to play at this level and be an offensive player the way I know I can. But it’s just come to the point where it’s taken such a toll, I’m just kind of ready to let the stress level go down.”The 38-year-old Toews was the third overall pick by the Blackhawks in the 2006 NHL Draft. He played his first 15 seasons in Chicago, leading the franchise to three Stanley Cups. He missed the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season after revealing he had been diagnosed with chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS). He returned to the ice for the following two seasons before announcing in Feb. 2023 that he was still dealing with the effects of long COVID and CIRS.That April, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson announced that Toews would not be re-signed. Later that summer, Toews revealed he would use the 2023-24 season to focus on his health. It wasn't until March 2025 that Toews said he still wanted to play.Last June, Toews signed with the Winnipeg Jets, his hometown team and the site of a lake that was named after him following the Blackhawks' 2010 title.Toews retires as a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a four-time All-Star, and winner of the 2010 Conn Smythe Trophy as most valuable player of the player and the 2013 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward, as well as a part of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players, which was announced in Jan. 2017.Internationally, Toews represented Canada at the World Junior Championship, IIHF World Championship, Olympics, and World Cup of Hockey. He helped his country win back-to-back gold medals at the 2006 and 2007 World Juniors and 2010 and 2014 Olympics. He also helped Canada win the 2007 World Championships and 2016 World Cup of Hockey.Toews retires after scoring 383 goals and recording 912 points in 1,149 regular-season games. In the postseason, he recorded 45 goals and 119 points in 137 games.

There are some expectations, and then there are some high expectations, and for the 2026 Oregon Ducks football team, it's definitely the latter.According to ESPN, Oregon is well-stocked on both sides of the ball, especially on defense, and that makes the Ducks one of the big favorites to win the 2027 national championship. In their preseason rankings, the Mothership has Oregon ranked No. 2, only behind rival Ohio State, of course. That Nov. 7 meeting in Columbus between the two teams should be must-see TV.ESPN points out that while the offense is very good, it could be the defense that finally gets the Ducks to their first national title in football."After falling flat in the CFP for the second year in a row, the Ducks got an unexpected boost when quarterback Dante Moore -- a potential top pick in the NFL draft -- decided to return. They'll have two new coordinators after Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi left for head coaching jobs at Kentucky and Cal, respectively," said ESPN writer Mark Schlabach. "Coach Dan Lanning promoted Drew Mehringer to offensive coordinator and Chris Hampton to defensive coordinator. The Ducks should be solid on defense after All-Big Ten selections A'Mauri Washington, Matayo Uiagalelei, and Teitum Tuioti decided to return, along with defensive tackle Bear Alexander. Perich was one of the best safeties in the FBS."Oregon did lose plenty of talent from last year's squad, but Lanning has been able to fill in those holes with the help of some key players coming from the transfer portal, as well as one of the top recruiting classes in the country, to provide some depth.The Ducks kick off the 20026 season Sept. 5 with a home game against Boise State.Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: ESPN has high expectations for 2026 Oregon Ducks football

LIVE UPDATES: USMNT's FIFA World Cup 2026 Journey Continues in Seattle Against AustraliaSEATTLE – The U.S. Men’s National Team is set for its second match at the FIFA World Cup 2026, facing a confident Australia side at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Wash. Kicking off at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT, the match will be carried live on FOX and Telemundo.Follow along for live updates from today’s match.PRE-GAME - Friendly Cascadia ConfinesThe USMNT returns to Seattle for the first time since a 2-1 Quarterfinal victory against Ecuador in the Copa América Centenario on June 16, 2016. The USMNT is an unblemished 6-0-0 at Seattle Stadium—its third-best winning percentage at any domestic stadium—and a near-perfect 9-1-1 all-time in Seattle.PRE-GAME - USMNT AvailabilityAs of Friday morning, Christian Pulisic’s availability is still to be determined for this afternoon’s FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Australia, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed at his pre-match press conference Thursday afternoon at Seattle Stadium.The remaining 25 players are good to go.MORE: USMNT GROWTH, PLAYER AVAILABILITY AHEAD OF AUSTRALIA MEETINGPRE-GAME - USMNT vs. Australia HistoryThe United States and Australia have met on four prior occasions—all non-official matches - between 1992 and 2025. The lone Australia win came in the first meeting, a 1-0 contest at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. in 1992. Since then, the USMNT has gone unbeaten against the Socceroos, settling for a scoreless draw in San Jose, Calif. in 1998 before picking up a pair of victories more recently—first a 3-1 win in Roodepoort, South Africa in 2010 just prior to the World Cup, and later a 2-1 come-from-behind victory in Commerce City, Colo. last October.In the pair’s most recent meeting, striker Haji Wright recorded a brace and Cristian Roldan tallied two assists, while 17 of the 24 players on the matchday squad earned a spot on head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s final World Cup roster.PRE-GAME - Australia Players to WatchPopovic made the decision to bench captain and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan along with vice-captain and midfielder Jackson Irvine for his side’s opening World Cup match against Türkiye. The gamble paid off, as the pair’s replacements—22-year-old Beach in goal and 21-year-old Paul Okon-Engstler in midfield—made key contributions in Australia’s victory: Beach made a record-setting eight saves and Okon-Engstler provided the assist on Irankunda’s match-winner.The pacey winger, Irankunda, made the most of his 61 minutes and 18 touches, scoring the winner to become Australia’s youngest World Cup goal scorer. Additionally, the Socceroos are bolstered by a stoutdefensive unit, composed of Feyenoord Rotterdam’s Jordan Bos, Parma Calcio 1913’s Alessandro Circati, Leicester City’s Harry Souttar and rising Colorado Rapids teenager Lucas Herrington.Further up the pitch, Australia is anchored by midfielders Cristian Volpato of Sassuolo in Italy, Cammy Devlin of Scottish Premier League runners up Heart of Midlothian, and the New York City FC tandem of Aiden O’Neill and Kai Trewin—both teammates of USMNT goalkeeper Matt Freese. The Socceroos’ goalscoring presence is highlighted by 22-year-old Norwich City forward Mohamed Touré and the attack-minded duo of wingers Irankunda and Metcalfe, who both scored against Türkiye last time out.PRE-GAME - The SocceroosAustralia is currently ranked 22nd in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Rankings, its highest ranking since May 8, 2012. At the moment, the Socceroos are ranked as the third-highest AFC team, trailing only Japan (17) and Korea Republic (21).After blitzing through AFC World Cup qualifiers with an 11-1-4 record and +31 goal differential between March 2024 and June 2025, Australia hit the pitch for 10 pre-World Cup tune-ups. Against a pool of nine unique teams from five different confederations boasting an average World Ranking of roughly 43, Australia went 5-4-1, notably losing against Mexico (May 30), Colombia (Nov. 18) and the United States (Oct. 14), picking up a draw against Switzerland (June 6) and securing victories against Canada (Oct. 10) and Cameroon (March 27).The Socceroos earned their fifth World Cup match victory last weekend, shutting out a confident Türkiye side 2-0 at BC Place Vancouver thanks to eight saves from 22-year-old goalkeeper Patrick Beach—a record for an Australian goalkeeper in a World Cup and the most by any goalkeeper on his World Cup debut since 2002—and goals from 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda and FC St. Pauli man Connor Metcalfe. Despite only holding 28.3% possession—Australia’s lowest in a World Cup match—the contest was ultimately decided by Irankunda’s match-winning first-half strike as he became the Socceroos’ youngest World Cup goalscorer.PRE-GAME - How to WatchThe match will be broadcast live on FOX with English commentary. Spanish commentary can be found on Telemundo and Peacock starting at 3 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET.Fans can stream USMNT vs. Australia on the FOX One app with English commentary and Telemundo and Peacock with Spanish commentary starting at 3 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage begins at 1 p.m. ET.Spanish-language commentary can be found on Fútbol de Primera. Coverage of the United States vs. Australia will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET.

Welcome back to the IJF World Tour, and to one of it’s most revered stops, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.The Steppe Arena was the host of the first tournament offering LA Olympic qualification points, so many of the world's biggest judo stars were in action.At -48 kg,KOGA Wakana took on ZHUANG Wenna in the final. An ouchi-gari for yuko proved the slightest of differences in a close battle and saw KOGA take the win.International Judo Federation Education and Coaching Director, Mr Mohammed MERIDJA was on hand to award the medals.The -60kg final was high calibre, World number one Balabay AGHAYEV, and Current world champion NAGAYAMA Ryuju.A yuko score from the Azeri was enough to earn him the gold!The organisation is at a high level, the atmosphere in the arena is at a high level, so what can I say… only thank you to all of them. Balabay AGHAYEV (AZE)He was awarded his medal by Vice President of the Mongolian Judo Association, Mr Turbold BOLDBAATAR.At -52kg, Olympic and five time World champion, ABE Uta looked to be right at her very best, dispatching every fighter in her path to the final.With her opponent there unable to compete. ABE claimed a record breaking 12th Grand slam gold medal… the most by any woman.Wow, with so many people cheering for us, I think it's such a wonderful country.ABE Uta (JPN)She was awarded her medal by Referee Director of the International Judo Federation, Ms Tina TRSTENJAK.Current -66kg world champion TAKEOKA Takeshi looked supreme all day. A strong Waza-ari score in the final saw him best Ramazan ABDULAEV.The medals were awarded by Chair of the Mongolian State Committee of Physical Culture and Sports, Mr Bilegt ERDENESAIKHAN.In the -57kg final, OMORI Akari caught Sarah Leonie CYSIQUE with an opportune sacrifice technique to score and take a fourth title on the day for Japan.She was awarded the gold by Referee Supervisor of the International Judo Federation, Mr Mathieu BATAILLE.Sukhbat BYAMBASUREN gave the home crowd reason to celebrate, taking a hard earned bronze medal for the hosts.Join us tomorrow for the middle-weights and more big judo stars!

West Bromwich Albion left-back Callum Styles has signed a new four-year contract with the Championship club.The Hungary defender, 26, has been with the Baggies since the summer of 2024 and has made 82 appearances since joining from Sunderland.He was named the supporters' player of the season, and the players' player of the season, last term and he told BBC WM in April how "proud" he was of his achievements.Styles' new deal keeps him at The Hawthorns until at least the summer of 2030.West Brom sign Chelsea striker MorganWest Brom sign Falkirk striker StewartWest Brom goalkeeper O'Leary signs new deal to 2029Styles: West Brom 'back to bare brick' under Morrison"As soon as I heard from my agent that the club wanted to extend it, it was a matter of asking 'when can you get the deal done?'" he told the club website."It's just felt like the right connection. Players can go to clubs and not click, but I think it's really clicked for me here."I've embraced every minute and it's been amazing."Styles is the second player in the Albion squad to agree new terms this summer after goalkeeper Max O'Leary signed a three-year contract earlier this month.In preparation for the new season, the Baggies have also brought strikers Barney Stewart from Falkirk and Chelsea's Jimmy-Jay Morgan on permanent deals. Latest West Bromwich Albion news, analysis and fan views

Andy Burnham, a Labour mayor, won a resounding majority in a special election on Thursday, making him eligible to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the country’s leadership.

The room feels so much larger now. READ MORE...

The Saints didn't make the playoffs in 2025, but their play in the second half of head coach Kellen Moore's first season in New Orleans created some positive buzz heading into the 2026 season. That buzz only extended to certain players, however, and right guard Cesar Ruiz was not one of them. Ruiz was a frequent target for criticism from the team's fans and General Manager Mickey Loomis said the team needs more out of a player he drafted in the first round in 2020. Ruiz has heard all of it and he said "challenge accepted" in regard to his approach to the coming season. “I got a lot of disrespect,” Ruiz said, via Matthew Paras of NOLA.com. “And ultimately, I’m not a guy who goes into his turtle shell and blames the world for what’s going on. You’ve got to go figure out how to change the narrative and how to go out there and make it happen. So that’s what I’m doing and I’ve made it happen.”The Saints drafted guard Jeremiah Wright in the fourth round this year, so a failure to change the narrative may mean someone else gets a starring role in the next Saints production.

[BBC][Getty Images]Well, at first glance, Sunderland at home compared with a Liverpool side two years ago that went on to become Premier League champions is a kinder proposition for Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season.However, to say the Black Cats impressed on their return to the top flight last year is an understatement. They will be playing in Europe next season - and three points for Town, or even one point, is far from a given.Ipswich then travel to Manchester United before Liverpool visit in early September. So, as far as the opening few weeks of a campaign on paper go, this could have been kinder.That being said, this is the top table of English football, so what did we expect?See Ipswich's opening fixturesThe club feels it belongs at this level, and there is no doubting the Blues are more prepared for the Premier League this time around in many areas.Impressive enhancements to the training ground will be completed this summer, and the club is in far better shape commercially. There is also less work to do at Portman Road in terms of getting the stadium ready to host some of the biggest names in football, along with more high-profile guests from the media and corporate world.However, with two months to go until matchday one, there are obvious concerns.A new manager is yet to be appointed following Kieran McKenna's recent decision to step down, and the new boss has some of the biggest shoes in English football to fill.McKenna's influence and legacy was massive among the players, the staff and the supporters. His successor will need to get those in the building already on side and oversee a successful first transfer window.We may not be talking the wholesale change of summer 2024, but there are certainly key areas where Ipswich have to strengthen, with a goalscorer capable of finding the net on a regular basis in the Premier League a big priority.

Former British number one Jack Draper has dropped to 113th in the world rankings after playing just 11 matches in the past year [Getty Images]Britain's Jack Draper will make his long-awaited return from injury at Eastbourne next week - and he will be watched by new coach Andy Murray.The 24-year-old has not played competitively since early April and needs match practice before Wimbledon starts on 29 June.After withdrawing from Queen's last week, Draper now feels ready to play at Eastbourne and prove his fitness before the Championships begin.Eastbourne will be Draper's first tournament under the guidance of Murray, who was brought into the 2024 US Open semi-finalist's team last month.Former world number one Murray, speaking exclusively to BBC Sport this week, says he hopes to work with Draper on a long-term basis.Draper had been with Murray's former coach Jamie Delgado before making a surprise announcement that the three-time Grand Slam singles champion would be "supporting" him over the grass-court season.Asked if the partnership is a long-term project, 39-year-old Murray said: "I hope so."I think the number one priority for Jack and the team just now is getting him back on the match court, competing and gaining trust in his body again."Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu has opted not to play in Eastbourne, which starts on Monday.The British women's number one reached the Queen's final last week, but the 23-year-old will continue her Wimbledon preparations on the practice courts next week.Home players Arthur Fery, Jacob Fearnley, Jack Pinnington Jones, Francesca Jones, Alicia Dudeney and Hannah Klugman have been given wildcards for the combined ATP-WTA event.GB's Klugman beaten in Nottingham second roundEvans misses out on Wimbledon singles wildcardMurray has 'no doubt' Draper can challenge the bestDraper seemed to be developing into a genuine challenger to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz at the top of the men's game.In an 18-month period, Draper reached a Grand Slam semi-final, cracked the world's top five and won one of the biggest ATP tour titles at Indian Wells.However, his progress has been derailed by further injury issues.After missing almost seven months with bone bruising in his serving arm, the former world number four returned to the tour in February, but picked up a knee injury at the Barcelona Open at the start of April.Draper has only played 11 matches in the past year and dropped out of the world's top 100 as a result.Over the past few weeks he has been working with Murray on the practice courts at the National Tennis Centre in London and now feels ready to return to match action."I've been incredibly impressed with his tennis on the practice court. He's a super quick learner and a brilliant player as well," Murray said."[I have] no doubt that when he gets back on the match court he will perform well and win matches at the highest level. "But right now the focus is on trying to get him back competing consistently again."Analysis: To play or not to play before Wimbledon?Playing Eastbourne is key to Draper's hopes of being ready for Wimbledon.If Draper felt he was not fit enough for the ATP event - where matches are best-of-three sets - then it seemed inconceivable he would be physically ready for best-of-five at the All England Club.Competing in the idyllic English seaside town was not guaranteed. Sources have said Draper has been ripping his groundstrokes in practice sessions but it has also been suggested a shoulder problem has stopped him serving.Draper has a long history of physical issues and needed to be extremely cautious with the bruised humerus in his serving arm in particular.A lot of patience has been required over the past year and Draper would not be rushing back if he thought it would cause any more long-term damage.While Draper desperately needs court time, Raducanu feels she does not. Raducanu played five matches at Queen's - one fewer than she had played in the previous four months because a viral illness and its after-effects.The 23-year-old believes practising with coach Andrew Richardson, who guided her to the 2021 US Open and was rehired last month, is more beneficial than match time before Wimbledon.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

As the New York Knicks raised the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy after beating the mighty San Antonio Spurs in just five games, it was quite clear their formula worked.Going after prime players, both stars and good two-way starters, was worth the relinquished package of picks and assets, erasing a 53-year title drought and making every single part of the cost utterly worth it.Jalen Brunson is now a Finals MVP. Karl-Anthony Towns a champion. OG Anunoby a champion again. Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart, college teammates along with Brunson, got to celebrate with each other after crucial contributions.Head coach Mike Brown, who leaned into depth and made excellent on-the-fly adjustments — turning Towns into more of a passer in the middle of the postseason, keeping his cool throughout the entire Finals, especially when the Knicks found themselves in a hole — became their emotional anchor.It all just worked.Now the Knicks head into the summer hoping to ready themselves for another push toward the Finals next season.So let's get into it.2025-26 finishRecord: 53-29, third in the Eastern Conference. Won the NBA Finals over the San Antonio Spurs in five games.Highlight of the seasonWell … there was this late vNovember game against the ... OH WHO CARES? The highlight is the trophy. The championship. The parade. It's fulfilled the thirst of Knicks fans who have waited for over half a century. Nothing will beat that moment for a long, long time if you're a Knicks fan.Players signed for next seasonKarl-Anthony TownsOG AnunobyJalen BrunsonMikal BridgesJosh HartMiles McBridePacôme DadietTyler KolekKey free agentsMitchell Robinson (UFA)Landry Shamet (UFA)Jose Alvarado (Player option)Projected salary$200,960,628Draft picksNos. 24, 31 and 55Draft focus: If the team loses Robinson and Shamet in free agency, it's crucial both roles get filled somehow. The draft could prove beneficial in that respect.Roster-building toolsThe Knicks don't have a ton to work with, as they've become quite expensive. For an organization that famous — and now successful — it will likely print money in the foreseeable future. It should obviously go all-in and not worry about cost. Is that realistic? Probably not. But that should be its motivation and ultimate path.Needs and goalsThere's a need for improved depth, but that goes without saying when the vast majority of the Knicks’ salary gos to the five starters. In terms of their goal, it couldn't be simpler: repeat.

Nigeria's Super Eagles saw their 2018 kit fly off the shelves, Cameroon's 2002 sleeveless jersey caused controversy and Asamoah Gyan's missed penalty in the 2010 quarter-finals means he will forever be remembered in red and gold [Getty Images]The World Cup is about goals, drama and emotion - but it is also about great kits.And when it comes to colourful and iconic designs, Africa has had more than its fair share.BBC Sport Africa has picked 10 of the continent's very best for you to rank. Which one is your all-time favourite?Zaire 1974 (home)Zaire's iconic green and yellow 1974 kit featured what was then the name of the country and the team's Leopards nickname [Getty Images]The oldest, and possibly boldest, of our kits, this vision in yellow and green was very much of its time.While the shirt had a big collar and deep V-neck, what really made it stand out was the decision to put both the name of the country and the team's Leopards nickname and logo on the chest.Congolese designer Alvin Junior Mak, who has just gone viral after designing the current squad's leopard print arrival suits, says he went back to the fashions of 1974 for inspiration."When you are in Africa, we say if you want to move forward, you have to see where you come from," he told BBC Sport Africa.While Zaire's tournament 52 years ago, which included a 9-0 hammering at the hands of Yugoslavia, turned out to be a failure, at least the kit was anything but. Algeria 1982 (home)Algeria's 1982 kit copied Zaire by having the name of the country written on the front in Arabic script (Al-Jaza'ir) [Getty Images]Another deep neck and big collar also mark this shiny beauty out as a product of its era.Algeria's first World Cup appearance in 1982 came towards the back end of the country's socialist heyday, meaning the kit was manufactured by state-owned clothing firm Sonitex."The company is defunct now, so there's no copyright protection on the design, hence many smaller clothing companies copying and selling it in Algeria and to the diaspora," said Algerian sports journalist Maher Mazahi."That's also one of the reasons it's so popular among our football hipsters".When will an African side win the World Cup?Cameroon 1990 (home)Cameroon became the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990 [Getty Images]Cameroon's run to the quarter-finals of Italia '90 was memorable for many reasons, including their 1-0 victory over holders Argentina in the tournament's opening match and, of course, Roger Milla's corner-flag wiggle.Aged 38, the veteran striker was called out of retirement by President Paul Biya and bagged four goals to inspire his dancing celebration."The shirt had an iconic lion roaring on the chest, which to many was a symbol of pride, courage and determination," explained Paul Njie, the BBC World Service's man in Yaounde."Many people believe that was the best ever performance of the Cameroon national team and some of them attribute that to the luck which came with the kit."Nigeria 1994 (away)Nigeria made their first World Cup appearance in 1994, when a dancing Daniel Amokachi (right) made his name scoring goals against Bulgaria and Greece [Getty Images]Nigeria made their first World Cup appearance in 1994 and immediately set the standard with this jersey.Rashidi Yekini, Daniel Amokachi and Emmanuel Amunike all scored as the Super Eagles rocked it on their debut, gaining a 3-0 win over Bulgaria.They wore it again for the 2-0 victory over Greece, meaning they won both games while playing in away colors and lost against Argentina and Italy when sporting their green home kit."We see the legends, the players that made the difference for Nigerian football, and if I close my eyes that's the first shirt that comes to mind," former Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong told BBC Sport Africa."Nigeria's greatest set of Super Eagles have worn that shirt and all of us strive to be able to imitate that."South Africa 1998 (home)South Africa qualified for their first World Cup at France 1998, with Quinton Fortune among the team's star players [Getty Images]This geometric classic was an update on the much-loved shirt worn by South Africa as they claimed Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) glory on home soil in 1996.They wore it in all three World Cup group games, but failed to win any of them on their maiden appearance."These days South Africa tend to wear yellow, but back in the 1990s their shirts were much more fun," said Josh Warwick, co-founder of the Cult Kits website."In our opinion, Kappa were one of the great brands from that era."'My brother hid in a rice sack' - The refugee stars at the World CupCameroon 2002 (home)Cameroon were forced to add black sleeves to their 2002 jersey after Fifa ruled that the sleeveless version broke World Cup rules [Getty Images]Originally released as a basketball-style vest, the Indomitable Lions wore the sleeveless version as they romped to the Afcon title in February 2002."The players didn't know we would play with a shirt with no sleeves," midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba told BBC Sport Africa back in 2023."When we came to the dressing room we said, 'Wow, this is a new generation of shirt'. When we went on to the pitch the world was watching and it became famous."Everybody in Africa wanted to wear that shirt."But Fifa were having none of it and forced Cameroon to add black sleeves for the World Cup three months later.Spoilsports.Senegal 2002 (home)Papa Bouba Diop scored the famous goal which saw Senegal beat defending champions France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea [Getty Images]This kit's World Cup debut could not have gone much better.The Teranga Lions' first ever game at the finals saw them shock holders France 1-0 in Seoul, with Papa Bouba Diop grabbing the winner.A giant figure in midfield, he was famously nicknamed 'The Wardrdobe' due to his size, but even on him the baggy fit meant the shirt looked big."Of all our kits, 2002 is the best," said Mamour Insa, a Senegal fan following his team at the current World Cup in New York."All our generation, they wear just that kit. A lot of young people wear it more than new designs. It is very difficult to find."Ghana 2010 (away)Asamoah Gyan missed a penalty in the final minute of extra-time against Uruguay which would have taken Ghana into the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa [Getty Images]Gaudy or golden? Ghana wore this bright sensation as they came agonisingly close to becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final, denied by the width of a crossbar.With the Black Stars and Uruguay tied at 1-1 deep into added time at the end of extra time, Luiz Suarez saw red after using his hands on the line to deny Ghana a certain goal. But Asamoah Gyan's penalty clipped the bar and went over, allowing the South Americans to triumph, ironically via a shootout."Once the fans see it, they remember the Uruguay game," midfield legend Michael Essien told BBC Sport Africa."I think it was a great shirt, the players loved it," added the former Chelsea man, while also cheekily suggesting it's figure-hugging design meant you had to be "well-built" to look good in it.Pick your favourite World Cup kits Nigeria 2018 (home)Nigeria's 2018 World Cup jersey was a smash hit which saw fans queuing outside shops to get their hands on it [Getty Images]This vision in neon green broke the internet and saw long lines of people queueing up outside shops."The best football shirt ever," claimed Troost-Ekong."Everyone was trying to get hold of it, I had so many calls and messages."Elements in the Nike design pay tribute to Nigeria's 1994 kit, taking things full circle from that first World Cup appearance to create another stone cold classic, even if Troost-Ekong and his team-mates only got to wear it once in their 2-0 win over Iceland.Ghana 2026 (home)Ghana's shirt for this World Cup features a colourful spiderweb design on its front [Getty Images]Looking like something Spiderman would wear, there is a cultural reason behind the design of Ghana's stunning new home shirt.It pays tribute to Kwaku Ananse, a character from Ghanaian folklore often depicted as a spider.Ananse is seen as a trickster, and something tricky could happen to this kit at the World Cup, with Fifa already having decreed the Black Stars will not wear their home strip for any of the three group matches.So there is a chance this could be the World Cup classic that never was.

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions made a concerted effort to get younger this offseason, with the average age of their non-rookie external signees coming in at a hair above 26 years old.But they made an exception for Chuck Clark.Clark, 31, is one of three players on Detroit's roster at 31 years or older, along with quarterbacks Jared Goff (31) and Teddy Bridgewater (33). The veteran safety is entering his 10th professional season. He's made 123 appearances and 80 starts, and his 5,383 career snaps on defense in the regular season make him the second-most experienced defensive back on the team, behind cornerback DJ. Reed (5,638). The next closest safety is Avonte Maddox at 3,582 reps."When Chuck's on the field, you know where the safety is, you know what the check is, you know what the communication is, and that's vital and important," Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said June 11. "You talk about explosive plays, well, that's the No. 1 component to limiting those, making sure we're all on the same page. ... Take ability aside, Chuck Clark on the field is rarely to never a mistake or an MA (missed assignment) with the back end, and that's because everybody knows who is in charge, because he makes it known."So, that's the first word I would say: Leader, leader, leader."With regular starters Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) dealing with injuries, Clark worked with the first-team defense throughout OTAs and mandatory minicamp, banking walkthrough and situational reps with his new teammates. He recorded a takeaway Tuesday, intercepting a pass intended for receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.Selected 186th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, Clark played sparingly across his first two seasons before taking on more responsibilities midway through the 2019 campaign, when then-starter Tony Jefferson went down with a torn ACL in October.Clark was a full-time starter for the remainder of his time with the Ravens (2017-22) and held the same role when healthy with the New York Jets (2023-24). He made five starts in 15 games as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, and he was Pittsburgh's highest-graded defender in its wild-card loss to the Houston Texans in January.He's also previously donned the green dot on his helmet, communicating plays to his defensive teammates."Every rep to him is meaningful," Lions safeties coach Jim O'Neil said Wednesday. "He appreciates being here. I think he is stone-cold serious about football. And he takes notes like he's a rookie. But how he can anticipate out on the grass and how quickly he can process and make guys around him better is a quality that's hard to evaluate unless you have them actually in the building. That's really hard to evaluate in a draft, that's really hard to evaluate in free agency. Because you're not experiencing that firsthand."There's not a lot of what I call alpha communicators in the back seven. He's one of them. He can run the whole show. He can run it all back there. So, I've been really, really impressed with him ... and I think he'll really, really help us as the season goes on."Described as an old soul even in his first few seasons, Clark takes an all-business approach to his craft. Sheppard joked he hadn't yet seen Clark smile, "and that's not because he’s a bad guy or nothing," but because "this means something to him."For however long Joseph and Branch remain sidelined, Clark figures to be a reliable understudy, a calming presence in a secondary with questions."When it comes to athletic ability, can he still do certain things? That's still yet to be seen, and training camp will allow us ... to see what he is capable of doing," Sheppard said. "But from everything I have seen so far, this is the player I saw on tape, previous to his career. More importantly, the leadership has been outstanding from that player.”rsilva@detroitnews.com@rich_silva18This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Chuck Clark is 'stone-cold serious' about role with Detroit Lions

Ricardo Santos spent five seasons with Bolton between 2020 and 2025 [Shutterstock]Sheffield Wednesday have signed Swansea City defender Ricardo Santos for an undisclosed fee on a one-year deal.The signing is the club's first since being taken out of administration in a takeover by US consortium Arise Capital Partners in May.The Owls, relegated to League One last season, have the option of a further 12 months on the 31-year-old's contract.Santos joined the Swans from Bolton last summer but only made one appearance for the Championship side.He made 172 league appearances in five seasons with Wanderers and won his first cap for Cape Verde last season."Once I got the call from my agent telling me that Sheffield Wednesday was a possibility, I told him, make sure you get this done," he told the club website.All done deals in June 2026Latest Sheffield Wednesday news, analysis and fan viewsListen to Sheffield Wednesday content on BBC Sounds

The Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers will participate in a joint practice session just ahead of their scheduled preseason game on Friday, Aug. 28, in Green Bay.The joint practice will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Ray Nitschke Field at 10:30 a.m. CT (8:30 a.m. MST). Nitschke Field is just outside Green Bay in nearby Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin.The practice and preseason game will mark the first time brothers Mike and Matt LaFleur will square off as NFL head coaches. Matt, 46, is entering his eighth season as coach of the Packers, and Mike, 39, is in his first season as coach of the Cardinals.This will be the fifth straight year the Cardinals have made joint practices part of their training camp schedule. They did it in Denver with the Broncos before last season, in Indianapolis with the Colts in 2024, in Minnesota with the Vikings in 2023 and in Nashville with the Titans in 2022.The Cardinals, who play in this year's Hall of Fame Game Aug. 6 in Canton, Ohio, against the Carolina Panthers, are scheduled to open training camp July 22.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cardinals will practice with Packers ahead of preseason game

WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) — Jonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after a two-year absence related to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, recording 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg.Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captaining the franchise to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.He finished his NHL career with 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 regular-season games and was recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards.Toews also starred for Canada on the international stage, winning Olympic gold twice in 2010 and 2014, the World Cup in 2016, a world championship in 2007 and consecutive world junior titles in 2006 and 2007.His final season allowed one of Manitoba’s most accomplished hockey players to complete a full-circle return home before stepping away from the game.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

NBA Trade Rumors: Celtics Reportedly Among 'Many Teams' Interested In High-Scoring Breakout Forward originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Giannis Antetokounmpo-Jaylen Brown trade rumors continue to dominate Boston Celtics-related headlines.If the Celticsdon't end up acquiring the Milwaukee Bucks' two-time MVP in a trade this summer though, NBA insider Sam Amick of The Athletic reported Friday that Boston could have its eyes on another high-scoring forward."Boston could forge ahead with the Brown-Jayson Tatum dynamic duo and look for other ways to upgrade the frontcourt. To that end, league sources say the Celtics are among the many teams with interest in the New Orleans Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III (if they don’t land Antetokounmpo)," Amick wrote.Longtime Boston media member Bill Simmons suggested in late May that New Orleans Pelicans small forward Trey Murphy III could be a potential trade target for the Celtics as well.The former first-round pick turned 26 on Thursday and is coming off his best NBA season.Murphy set career highs in points (21.5), rebounds (5.7), assists (3.8), steals (1.5) and minutes per game (35.5) across 66 games during the 2025-26 season. The 2021 17th overall draft pick was the highest scorer for the Pelicans last season, while pacing the group in minutes per contest as well.More NBA: Celtics Would Reportedly Prefer These Trade Terms For Giannis Antetokounmpo

President Trump said the Italian leader had “begged” him to take a photo together at the Group of 7 summit in France. The remarks come as their once-friendly relationship has frayed.

What time is it in Australia? Socceroos fans have to wake up ridiculously early to watch USA match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Time zones were always going to make it tough for the United States to take on Australia at a match start that worked smoothly for everyone.When the USMNT takes on the Socceroos in Seattle, though, it's going to be a particularly early start for those waking up to watch the World Cup game in Australia.And to be clear -- they'll be waking up. The sun won't have risen yet.FIFA chose, a bit oddly, to make the USA-Australia game the first one on Friday in North America. It has a 3 p.m. ET kickoff on the East Coast of the United States, but it's being played on the West Coast -- in Seattle, which has Pacific Time, making it a 12 noon start.Australia will be in a totally different universe when it comes to the start time, though.MORE: How Folarin Balogun's mom being too pregnant to fly led him to USMNTWhat time is it in Australia?To get this right, you actually have to take into account the fact that Australia has five time zones, and that it's ahead of the United States.All the time zones will have this as an early Saturday morning kickoff in Australia.This is how it will break down for a 12 noon kickoff on Friday in Seattle:Norfolk Island Standard Time (Kingston): 6 a.m.Australian Eastern Standard Time (Canberra): 5 a.m.Australian Central Standard Time (Adelaide): 4:30 a.m.Australian Western Standard Time (Perth): 3 a.m.Christmas Island Time: 2 a.m.MORE: Mexican goalie saves the day against South KoreaMaybe someone living in Perth could stay up through the night to prepare. But those are some tough kickoff times overall for the Aussies.More FIFA World Cup news:USA, England can't actually play on July 4thWhy Norway brought 600 pounds of salmon to the World CupMessi, Mbappe, Haaland provide a World Cup day made in heavenCape Verde pulls off one of craziest results in World Cup historyPink cleats are everywhere at the World Cup

France's Adrien Rabiot has called out the state of the turf at MetLife Stadium following their win against Senegal -Credit:Nicolò Campo, LightRocket via Getty ImagesAdrien Rabiot has slammed the playing surface at MetLife Stadium, with the French midfielder questioning whether he could even describe it as 'a pitch.'The 2026 World Cup is now fully underway, with Thursday's action witnessing Jesse Marsch's Canada demolish Qatar 6-0 in commanding style. Yet the match, which was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, was overshadowed by a devastating injury to Canada's Ismael Kone, who was stretchered off following a challenge by Assim Madibo.Meanwhile, during France's tournament opener, they overcame a lackluster first-half showing to beat Senegal 3-1 at MetLife Stadium, with Kylian Mbappe netting twice to give Didier Deschamps' team a perfect beginning. Nevertheless, Rabiot, who featured for the full 90 minutes against Senegal, expressed frustration with the playing conditions France encountered in New Jersey.FIFA World Cup referee under investigation for alleged 'white supremacy' gestureThomas Tuchel calls for FIFA rule change after 'special' England anthem 'ruined' -Credit:Rob Newell - CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images"The pitch, I don't even know if you can call it that," said Rabiot of the MetLife Stadium pitch, via The Mirror US. "It felt more like an artificial surface-quite hard and quite rigid."Because of FIFA regulations, the venue, which hosts the New York Giants and New York Jets, was required to lay a temporary grass field, something NFL players have long advocated for. "Annoying," said Giants lineman Jermaine Eluemunor when asked about the soccer stars getting to play on grass instead of turf. "It's nice playing on grass," he added.Rabiot is not the only player to have taken aim at the pitch at MetLife Stadium. "In the second half, with the heat, the pitch dries out very quickly," said Vinicius Junior following Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco. "The game becomes very sluggish, and we can't get into our rhythm."France head coach Didier Deschamps has also weighed in with his own sharp criticism of the MetLife surface.To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE"It's different," Deschamps said of the pitch when asked about it following France's opening game win. "You have to get used to it. The fact there's a concrete slab underneath means the grass fibers are very short. The bounce is different and the turf changes depending on how much it's watered."He continued: "Some players had already played the Club World Cup here. If there isn't a good thickness of soil, it's different. The players weren't going to put in screw-in studs because there isn't much depth. Since we don't train on it, it's complicated. I warned them, but it's different from what they're used to."In response to the mounting backlash directed at MetLife Stadium and FIFA, the governing body issued a statement asserting it had devoted "more than five years" of research to guaranteeing the tournament's playing surfaces meet the highest possible standards."The pitches at all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums remain in excellent condition from both a playability and player safety perspective," a statement read."While there have been comments regarding the visual appearance of certain areas of the playing surface at NYNJ Stadium, FIFA's Turf Management Team's assessment is that every pitch is healthy and performing as intended for elite competition. -Credit:Nicolò Campo, LightRocket via Getty Images"Variations in the appearance of some surfaces, whether on television or in person, do not necessarily reflect the quality, health or playability of the pitch."FIFA's pitch management teams undertake extensive testing and monitoring before every match, including assessments of moisture levels, firmness and overall playing conditions."

Georgia Tech got on Joshua Sam-Epelle early, Brent Key and company pushed hard late, and the Yellow Jackets closed the deal.The four-star offensive tackle from Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County has committed to the in-state school over Georgia, LSU, UCLA and several other top programs.Sam-Epelle, who measures 6-foot-9 and 330 pounds, ranks as the No. 170 prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking and had long been viewed as a strong Georgia lean. But Georgia Tech never backed down. Late last week, Sam-Epelle made another visit to the Flats, and his most recent trip to campus proved especially important.“I would say the visit back definitely gave me time to think about my decision and helped me decide,” Sam-Epelle told Rivals.After six visits to Georgia Tech, Sam-Epelle bought into the coaching staff’s plan for his development and future.“I believed in Coach Mo (Allen Mogridge) and Coach Torrey to develop me for the next level. Coach Torrey’s years of experience coaching tackles will help me become a better athlete and a better tackle. Those guys were a big part of my decision.”[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]The head coach also played a significant role in the decision. Key’s background resonated with Sam-Epelle, who believes he’ll benefit from having someone with that expertise leading the entire program.“I like that I have an O-line coach as a head coach and that he’ll pour into me as a man and as a player. Who he is, and what he is about as a coach, played a big part in my commitment for sure.”The chance to remain in Georgia only strengthened the appeal too. He is excited about being able to play in front of family and friends inside Bobby Dodd Stadium.“It feels like home there,” Sam-Epelle said. “I have been there a lot and it is a great place.”

Série C: 11th round kicks off this Saturday (20)This Saturday (20), the 11th round of the Brazilian Série C Championship begins, with matches running through Monday (22), when leaders Guarani face Confiança (18th) at Batistão (SE). The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m.Five matches open the round this Saturday. At 4:30 p.m., bottom-placed Anápolis host Itabaiana at Jonas Duarte Stadium. At 5 p.m., Botafogo-PB (17th) take on Volta Redonda (12th) at Almeidão, in João Pessoa. Santa Cruz (9th) and Ypiranga (15th) face off at Arruda, in Recife, at 7 p.m. At Novelli Junior, Ituano (5th) and Figueirense (13th) meet at 8:30 p.m. And Maranhão (14th) vs. Paysandu (4th) close out the day at Castelão, at 9 p.m.On Sunday, there will be four more matches, highlighted by a direct G8 clash: Ferroviária (7th) vs. Inter de Limeira (3rd), who meet at Fonte Luminosa, in Araraquara, in a match scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Earlier, at 11 a.m., Caxias (8th) and Maringá (11th) face each other at Centenário. At 4 p.m., Brusque (2nd) host Floresta (10th) at Augusto Bauer. Also at 6:30 p.m., Barra (16th) await Amazonas (6th) at Arena Barra.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

Manchester United express interest in Real Madrid midfielder with €60m price tag – reportReal Madrid could see at least one major sale from their midfield department this summer, with Jose Mourinho keen on bringing in a fresh face in the position.Eduardo Camavinga, in that regard, has emerged as the likeliest candidate to leave after yet another underwhelming campaign during which he failed to step up as expected.Despite his subpar season, the 23-year-old Frenchman has no shortage of suitors, with PSG showing a keen interest in taking the midfielder back to his homeland.Manchester United also eye CamavingaNow, according to journalist Miguel Serrano, Manchester United have also expressed an interest in signing Camavinga this summer.The Red Devils are undertaking a massive rebuild in their midfield unit, having bid goodbye to Casemiro and expected to part ways with Manuel Ugarte as well.Manchester United want Camavinga. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)Even though there has been interest in Aurelien Tchouameni, the Premier League heavyweights have also taken an interest in the situation of his teammate Camavinga.Manchester United have already asked about the 23-year-old’s situation and conditions required for a transfer, as have Italian giants Juventus.Real Madrid open to offersAs far as Real Madrid are concerned, Camavinga is not considered an ‘untouchable’ player and are open to offers for the French international.In fact, the report states that Los Blancos have slapped a price tag worth €60 million on the 23-year-old ace.Real Madrid want €60m for Camavinga. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)However, Camavinga has expressed zero interest in leaving the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.Despite having struggled for prominence this past season, and having even fallen behind Thiago Pitarch at one point, the midfielder remains determined to fight for his place and regain importance in the team under Jose Mourinho.For now, the situation is very fluid, with a lot likely to depend on whether Real Madrid are able to rope in a new midfielder, in which case they will need to offload one of their current stars.If that scenario materialises, Camavinga appears to the player most expendable as things stand, with Manchester United, Juventus, and PSG emerging as possible destinations for the midfielder. A fee of €60 million is unlikely to be an issue for any of these teams.

It almost feels insulting to go back to the Meta Apex for UFC Vegas 119 after a historic night at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House’s South Lawn last Sunday. At the very least, hardcore fight fans are getting spoiled with a thrilling flyweight rematch.Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi are set to battle for a potential shot at UFC gold nearly a decade after their first battle in Japan. Horiguchi walked away the victor in that one, as he was beginning his legend-making run overseas. But Kape has evolved into a must-see competitor anytime he fights, and has grown significantly since that bantamweight clash.Other than that, bright spots are few and far between for UFC Vegas 119. It's another one-fight card, but as per usual, that one fight in the headliner is an absolute banger.👑 UFC Vegas 119's lineup Crown grade: D-. 👑Kyoji Horiguchi and Manel Kape are set for their sequel.Etsuo Hara via Getty Images125 pounds: Manel Kape (-155) vs. Kyoji Horiguchi (+125)In terms of fight years, Horiguchi and Kape are lifetimes away from who they were in their 2017 RIZIN showdown. The circumstances for Saturday’s rematch are also vastly different, but parallels can still be drawn.For starters, the first fight took place in a ring under the global ruleset, which scores fights as a whole rather than round-by-round. As mentioned, it was also contested at bantamweight, and was also the semifinals of RIZIN’s bantamweight grand prix that year, meaning the winner was expected to fight again in the finals later that same night — in front of 20,000-plus fans rather than some dudes and their friends in a warehouse.Spoiler alert: Horiguchi won it all, finishing Kape in Round 3 with an arm-triangle choke before he knocked out Shintaro Ishiwatari to win the whole thing.Kape was dropped almost immediately by a pinpoint right hand over the top. That set the tone for the rest of the fight, knowing the power Horiguchi was packing. Though their speed was nearly identical throughout, Horiguchi simply had the better timing and has displayed that in his bouts since. As a result, Kape was forced to clinch up and pursue grappling exchanges much more than one may expect after watching him in the UFC.Size may be on Kape's side this time around as he's managed to fit more into the flyweight division over time. That should make it more possible for him to wrestle offensively than in their first fight, when he had next to no success. Horiguchi has always been a perpetually small human, but it's come with the advantages of precision and speed in every facet of his game. Both men have shown championship-caliber chops when at their best, but it's safe to say Kape has underperformed more over the years, even if his latest three-fight stretch has been a nice momentum builder.If we're to look at consistency and improvements over the past decade, Horiguchi is about as shining of an example as it gets. He's been tremendous at bantamweight, but get this: In his 13 fights at flyweight, he's only lost to Demetrious Johnson. It feels insane to say, considering Horiguchi (36-5, 1 NC) has such a crazy track record. At age 35 or older, everyone is winning a UFC title these days. The time is now for the former multi-division RIZIN champion and former Bellator bantamweight titleholder.Pick: Horiguchi205 pounds: Ion Cuțelaba (+260) vs. Navajo Stirling (-325)The odds stun me a bit here for the co-main event of UFC Vegas 119.What Navajo Stirling lacks in name value on his record, he makes up for in great hype and athleticism. He's beating everyone the way he's supposed to beat them, meaning it's time for a step up against Moldova's Ion Cutelaba.Over the years, Cutelaba has been the perfect all-action gatekeeper type at light heavyweight. You know what to expect from the man who paints himself green to resemble the Hulk — and that's oftentimes a smashing in either direction.Stirling has been a much more patient and calculated finisher with his strikes throughout his young career, and this one presents the perfect style matchup for him to light Cutelaba up like a Christmas tree, good and early.Pick: Stirling145 pounds: Hyder Amil (+165) vs. Christian Rodriguez (-200)This has “loser leaves town” written all over it, with each man entering on two-fight losing streaks.Hyder Amil was a promising prospect who went undefeated in his first 11 fights. At age 36, though, his time appears spent after running into more well-rounded and lethal opposition.Christian Rodriguez doesn't necessarily fall into the lethal category, but he is well-rounded and has been a solid spoiler in his UFC run. Just ask Austin Bashi and Raul Rosas Jr.Essentially, youth is on Rodriguez's side, and he's also fought better competition.Pick: RodriguezMelsik Baghdasaryan hasn't fought in a year and a half. Chris Unger via Getty Images145 pounds: Melsik Baghdasaryan (+240) vs. Murtazali Magomedov (-300)Melsik Baghdasaryan disappeared after his tough loss to Jean Silva at UFC Seattle last year. A solid prospect in his own right, Baghdasaryan gets no easy welcome-back party.Murtazali Magomedov is the real deal. He'll make his UFC debut after a win on Contender Series last September. The win kept his streak of finishing all his fights alive, and he'll surely do the same against Baghdasaryan, thanks to the danger he presents everywhere a fight goes. Baghdasaryan can offer some fun challenges on the feet for Magomedov, but in the end he'll have too many avenues of offense to worry about coming back at him.Pick: Magomedov145 pounds: Andre Fili (+240) vs. Vinicius Oliveira (-300)Here's a wild stat for you: Andre Fili has never lost back-to-back fights in his 39-fight career. In fact, he's alternating wins and losses more often than not, currently going back-and-forth in his previous nine. His most recent fight? A loss to Jose Miguel Delgado, which means he's due for that sweet, sweet W again.Unfortunately for "Touchy," this does not look like the matchup to keep his trend alive.Although Vinicius Oliveira was brought back down to Earth (and sent to featherweight) after his main-event loss to Mario Bautista in February, he's still one hell of a fighter. Oliveira's striking is unorthodox in the most concerning of ways if you're standing across from him. A fight with Fili is tailor-made for the Brazilian to shine, thanks to Fili's own consistent willingness to throw down.Despite the weight change, Oliveira should be equipped to out-duel the seasoned vet.Pick: OliveiraPreliminary NotesOutside of the main event, there are only two fights featuring ranked fighters. Coincidentally, both are on the prelims — and in the women's bantamweight division. Yes, the division isn't good right now, but when the UFC doesn't care about it, the viewers aren't going to either.With that said, you should care about the rising submission wizard Beatriz Mesquita. Strangely, the matchmakers misplaced these two fights, as Mesquita should be getting a better test like Karol Rosa instead of Melissa Mullins, who takes on Luana Santos.As I said, the UFC doesn’t care.Quick picks:André Lima (-650) def. Kevin Borjas (+475)Beatriz Mesquita (-650) def. Melissa Mullins (+425)Allan Nascimento (-200) def. Mitch Raposo (+165)Michael Aswell Jr. (-450) def. Gastón Bolaños (+340)Levan Chokheli (-400) def. Leon Shahbazyan (+310)Karol Rosa (-125) def. Luana Santos (+105)Shane Collins (-210) def. Otari Tanzilovi (+170)

Despite their best efforts, the Texas A&M Aggies were unable to land five-star cornerback John Meredith III, who committed to the Texas Longhorns on Friday over the Aggies and Alabama Crimson Tide.Meredith is from Fort Worth, and the Aggies have been prioritizing him since June of 2024, when they extended him a scholarship offer. He returned to College Station several times since then and took his all-important official visit on May 29, but it wasn't enough. Texas got his final official visit on June 5 and took advantage.He is ranked as the No. 2 overall player and No. 1 cornerback in the 247Sports composite. The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder is also the No. 2 player from Texas.Despite his commitment to Texas, expect Mike Elko and Co. to keep recruiting Meredith all the way until signing day. He is rarely tested by high school quarterbacks, but makes the most of his chances and was named a MaxPreps Junior All-American.While missing out on Meredith stings, Texas A&M still has the best recruiting class in the country. The Aggies currently have six five-star prospects committed, and nine top 100 players in the 247Sports composite rankings. They have done great work in the secondary, with five-star cornerback Raylaun Henry, five-star safeties Kamarui Dorsey and JayQuan Snell, and three-star safeties Loia Valade and Errol Kerns III committed. Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M Football: Five-star John Meredith commits to Texas

Kevin Garnett Names Eastern Conference Team LeBron James Should Sign With This Summer originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.LeBron James is a free agent this offseason, and former Celtics star Kevin Garnett has a team in mind for him to sign with.Garnett thinks LeBron should head back to where his career all started and sign a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers."If you're doing a farewell tour and this is his last hurrah, I would like to see him in Cleveland. Take a pay cut, go back somewhere," Garnett said Friday on "KG: Certified".Kevin Garnett wants to see LeBron James take a pay cut and return to the Cleveland Cavaliers for his final season:"If you're doing a farewell tour and this is his last hurrah, I would like to see him in Cleveland. Take a pay cut, go back somewhere."(Via @kg_certified) pic.twitter.com/m26A85bWq8— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 19, 2026The Cavaliers drafted LeBron in 2003, and he spent seven seasons with the team before joining the Miami Heat from 2010 to 2014. He returned to Cleveland in the summer of 2014 and spent four more years there, helping the Cavaliers win their first NBA title in 2016.LeBron has been with the Lakers since 2018, and returning to where it all started would be a great story to end his career. The only issue is that the Cavaliers are currently over the second salary cap apron, which means they would need to make a series of moves to bring LeBron back to their roster.It may not be beneficial for the Cavaliers to make significant moves to bring LeBron back for just one or two more seasons. With LeBron set to turn 42 by the end of the year, this could very well be his final season. The Cavaliers might be reluctant to part with valuable assets that could be important for their future.More NBA: Paul Pierce Tells Lakers Exactly What To Fix Before Next Season

Chicago Blackhawks’ Jonathan Toews (19) reacts to a call during the second period of Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Coyotes in Chicago, Monday, April 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)APJonathan Toews announced his retirement Friday, ending a decorated NHL career that included three Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals and a comeback season with his hometown Winnipeg Jets.The 38-year-old center returned to the NHL in 2025-26 after a two-year absence related to Chronic Immune Response Syndrome and long COVID, recording 11 goals and 18 assists while appearing in all 82 games for Winnipeg.Toews spent 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, captaining the franchise to Stanley Cup titles in 2010, 2013 and 2015 while winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2010.He finished his NHL career with 383 goals and 529 assists in 1,149 regular-season games and was recognized as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards.Toews also starred for Canada on the international stage, winning Olympic gold twice in 2010 and 2014, the World Cup in 2016, a world championship in 2007 and consecutive world junior titles in 2006 and 2007.His final season allowed one of Manitoba’s most accomplished hockey players to complete a full-circle return home before stepping away from the game.

Motorsport photoJorge Martin says persistent front-end issues left him without the “spark to push” after missing out on a direct place in Qualifying 2 for the Czech Grand Prix. The Spaniard could only set the 11th-fastest lap time during Friday Practice at Brno, ending up 0.6s off the ultimate pace aboard the factory Aprilia.He was the only rider from the Italian manufacturer who didn’t progress into Q2; Trackhouse’s Ai Ogura topped the times ahead of works rider Marco Bezzecchi, while Raul Fernandez also made the cut while still recovering from appendicitis. Read Also: MotoGP Czech GP: Ai Ogura leads Marco Bezzecchi in Friday practice, Jorge Martin to Q1 Martin made it clear that his one-lap struggles were not down to his physical fitness, insisting his recent crash at the start of the Hungarian GP had no impact on his performance on track.Instead, he revealed that he simply lacked the confidence to push due to inexplicable issues with the front tyre on his RS-GP.“I had good fun on the bike. I was always on the limit,” he said. “Physically, I feel much better than what I expected, so this is really good. I don't feel any limitation at all while riding. For sure, off the track, I feel the pain, but on the track, everything is good.“Overall, I felt a really low feeling with the front during practice. I think I had some issue with the front tyre. “Then I lost all that confidence. When I went into time attack, I didn't have that spark to push. I was improving every run, but I didn't have it, and I wasn't able to go to Q2.”Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing TeamJorge Martin, Aprilia Racing TeamMartin said the problem he faced at Brno on Friday was similar to the issue that held him back during the previous two rounds in Italy and Hungary."Yes, it's been a few races [where I’ve had this problem]," he admitted. "Mugello, then Balaton, and now here, a bit of the same issue with the front. “I don't really understand why, but we need to analyse and check what is going on.I feel we improved a lot during the practice, but still I'm far from the other guys, so we need to understand for tomorrow.”However, Martin remains optimistic about his chances for Saturday, where he will have another chance to make it into Q2.“I think tomorrow will be another story. Everything will come to normal,” he said. “For sure, we need to work. It's not that it will come just like this, but I feel that the other athletes are going fast. For sure, something was wrong with my motorbike.”Martin will have to serve a double long-lap penalty in Sunday’s race, with the stewards having found him guilty of triggering the opening lap melee at Balaton Park a fortnight ago.The 2024 champion tried the long-lap loop several times during practice to prepare, admitting the asphalt was dirty as expected.Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing TeamJorge Martin, Aprilia Racing Team“It was really dirty in the morning,” he said. “Every lap is a bit better, but you cannot lean like usual. I hope some of the Moto2 riders also have long laps because I was watching the practice, and nobody was going there, just myself.“But every in-lap, out-lap, I'm going there, and I feel now it's much better than in the morning.“Overall, in terms of safety, I think it's safer to go on the green [section], because if somebody comes [in my way], I just go there. I don't lose a lot.“Honestly, I'm cleaning quite a lot, and I hope that I will be losing around 1.5s, so it's not a disaster for each long lap. It's not a disaster, and I think it's one of the fastest things in the calendar.” Read Also: Pedro Acosta calls for instant ban of both holeshot devices: "Everything or nothing!" Marc Marquez explains why he crashed twice in Czech GP practice To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

June is Pride Month for LGBTQ+ communities nationwide — and parades abound! But as we all rev up each June for Pride, many of us also grow more aware of the fault lines of race, gender identities, class, and more that still remain; especially today on Juneteenth. This Pride Month also serves as a reminder that the struggle for LGBTQ+ civil rights is far from over, particularly amid the surge of anti-trans legislation across the country. In Massachusetts alone, six anti-trans bills are currently being tracked. Related “Lord have mercy, they won’t stop us from dancing”: The Black queer activists uniting joy & change However, Black LGBTQ+ communities continue to experience Pride differently. As still a predominantly white event in many cities and towns across the country, many queer people of color (QPOC) revelers experience social exclusion, alienation , and cultural invisibility. Today, in response, Pride celebrations centering QPOC emerged, creating Black-themed performances, parties, gatherings, and getaway weekends rooted in affirmation and belonging. By 1999, Black Pride events had grown into the International Federation of Black Prides, Inc. (IFBP). Recognizing the need to build coalitions beyond their immediate communities, IFBP also established the Black/Brown Coalition to strengthen networks of support and advocacy. Dive deeper every day Join our newsletter for thought-provoking commentary that goes beyond the surface of LGBTQ+ issues Subscribe to our Newsletter today Black Pride: Same month. Different priorities | Shutterstock Black Pride grooves to a different beat. LGBTQ+ people of African descent use these events not only to celebrate, but also to define and advance their own priorities. For example, Sunday gospel brunches, Saturday-night poetry slams, Friday-evening fashion shows, bid whist tournaments, house parties, the smells of soul food and Caribbean cuisine, and the beautiful display of African art and clothing are just a few of the cultural markers that make Black Pride distinct from the dominant queer culture. Health and wellness are also central. At Black Pride events, attendees often encounter health booths offering screenings for sexually transmitted infections, vision care, hypertension, and HIV/AIDS. Black Pride also addresses broader social determinants of health affecting the community, including unemployment, housing insecurity, gang violence, youth homelessness, mass incarceration, prostate health, trans health, domestic violence, and depression. What too often goes unreported, however, are the proactive, community-led efforts to confront and reduce these challenges. The get-aways Despite Provincetown’s reputation for bohemianism and artistic freedom, Provincetown — unlike Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard — did not historically have a Black enclave or a consistent summer influx of African Diaspora vacationers, whether straight or queer. That began to change in the 2000s with the emergence of Black-themed weekends such as Womxn of Color (WoCW) and Frolic (formerly known as Men of Melanin Magic). During these two Pride Month weekends, LGBTQ+ people of the African Diaspora flock to Provincetown to celebrate community, visibility, and joy. For nearly two decades, WoCW’s annual gathering has been a significant cultural anchor — a sacred haven of joy, love, sisterhood, and unapologetic self-expression. In this political era that increasingly targets marginalized communities, WoCW stands as a bold and affirming intersectional space. Year after year, it reasserts our right to exist, to gather, and to be seen in our fullness. | Shutterstock Founded in 2007, Womxn of Color Weekend (WoCW) has become a vital cultural force in Provincetown. Since 2017, the visionary power behind its growth and evolution has been Jha D Amazi, WoCW’s executive producer and director. Under her leadership, WoCW transformed into a nonprofit organization with a bold, unapologetic mission: to bring racial and cultural diversity to Provincetown while cultivating spaces rooted in belonging. “There aren’t enough spaces that center and cater to our experiences as Black, queer, womxn — our expansive gender expressions and our layered identities,” Amazi shared with me. “My hope is that our time together says Black folks, queer folks, women folks don’t just exist here — we thrive here. We belong here.” Frolic welcomes queer men of color from across the globe. Now celebrating its tenth year, P-town is its signature summer event. It’s an embrace of brotherhood culture — a supportive, affirming fraternity that fosters connection, belonging, and pride for all. And for six days, Frolic offers boat cruises, pool parties, club nights, beach takeovers, panels, workshops, group exercise, and much more!! | Shutterstock With more than 1,200 Frolickers filling Commercial Street, the town’s vibrant main drag, the energy is unmistakable with laughter, joy, and celebration rippling through every corner. Attendees arrive from near and far, from Amsterdam to Truro, the next town over. “At its core, FROLIC is a space rooted in joy, belonging, and intentional community-building for queer people of color,” Ronnie Smith, the executive producer of Frolic weekend, told me. This multicultural brotherhood creates a safe, protective camaraderie that sparks lifelong friendships and shared memories. Black joy is both an act of resistance & of visibility The theme for Pride Month 2026 — resilience, liberation, and visibility — is more than a slogan; it is a call to action and radical self-care. WoCW and Frolic themed weekends of joy are both. They are acts of resistance, to take up space, and rebuke erasure in this political climate. Those themed weekends are a bold declaration of our rights as queer people of color to be our authentic selves. On those weekends, we are all fam. It’s the one time each year that I gift myself a weekend of unabashed radical self-care — I only wish there were more events and space for QPOC to keep connecting and growing together. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The ratings numbers are in for this past Sunday’s UFC Freedom 250 event on the White House lawn, and by almost any realistic metric they represent a success. Those key words — "almost" and "realistic" — are doing some important work. We'll get into that momentarily. But let's take it one step at a time.The numbersAn average of about 8.2 million people watched this UFC event live on Paramount+ across the United States and Latin America. Around 17 million viewers watched at least one minute of the live broadcast on Sunday night, making this the biggest live event audience Paramount+ has ever had in its roughly five-year history. (Though this is not a record audience for Paramount+ generally, which has drawn more viewers for scripted dramas like "Dutton Ranch.")Ratings numbers from other areas of the world are expected next week, and these figures don't include people who circle back to watch it later.Fireworks go off as America's Justin Gaethje celebrates his upset of Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250.SAUL LOEB via Getty ImagesThe contextWhen we ask whether or not these numbers are good for the UFC, we have to consider all the variables. This was a Sunday night event that was delayed by weather and didn't really get going until 9 p.m. ET. That right there probably hurts the audience figures, since some people have to get up early and work on a Monday morning.The broadcast was also restricted to the Paramount+ streaming service. Heading into this event, Paramount+ had about 79 million subscribers, according to recent reports, which would put it just outside the top five streaming services in terms of audience size.This was also a busy weekend for sports on TV in general, which included the opening weekend of the World Cup and the conclusive games of the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Finals. All three of those options aired on network TV, with the UFC coming in late on Sunday as essentially the last live sports event of the weekend.The comparisonsThe big question is: How do these ratings stack up against comparable event broadcasts? One previous high-water mark for the UFC was its debut offering on FOX back in 2011. There, a one-fight card featuring a UFC heavyweight title bout averaged 5.7 million viewers, with a peak of 8.8 million viewers for a fight that lasted just 64 seconds.The MVP MMA card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano on Netflix last month beat that figure with a peak of 17 million viewers worldwide and a reported 9.3 million U.S. average. The UFC White House event fell short of these MVP MMA numbers, but it also did so on a much smaller streaming service. (At last report, Netflix had around 325 million subscribers globally, about four times as many as Paramount+ had headed into the weekend.)Beyond MMA, this event doesn't come close to the numbers for something like this year's Super Bowl (126 million viewers worldwide) or the last FIFA World Cup Final (1.5 billion). It also falls well short of this year's NBA Finals, which averaged 24.5 million viewers for Game 5 and peaked with 33 million. It does, however, beat Game 6 of this year's Stanley Cup Finals, which averaged 5.9 million viewers and peaked with 7.2 million.The claimsRemember that part up top about "almost any realistic metric" for this event? Here's where things get tricky. Prior to the UFC White House event, we heard all manner of hype surrounding expected viewership stats. UFC CEO Dana White said he was expecting "Super Bowl numbers." U.S. Secretary of State Marcio Rubio floated the idea that more than 1 billion (not a typo, that's billion with a “b”) people worldwide would be watching. U.S. resident Donald Trump himself at one point suggested that it would be one of the most-watched sports events of all time.Even after the event, UFC commentator and podcast host Joe Rogan claimed on his show that he'd heard as many as 150 million people had watched this event between Sunday and Monday. That estimate turned out to be off by about a factor of 10, which seems … significant.If not for this hyperbolic build-up, the UFC White House event ratings might have been instantly accepted as a clear success. But by setting the bar so high in advance, these various stakeholders essentially guaranteed that the audience numbers would look like a disappointment by comparison. By MMA standards, and given the audience size on Paramount+, these are good numbers. It's only when compared to the entirely unrealistic expectations set by those responsible for promoting this event that it looks paltry.Why did they do that? Maybe because they believed that projecting an image of outsized success would help manifest it on fight night. If you tell everyone that this is the biggest party in town, the thinking seems to have gone, maybe it will make them more likely to show up. It didn't work out that way. Seems like an obvious and totally unforced error on their part.Dana White and Donald Trump shake hands in the Octagon following UFC Freedom 250's main event.Jeff Bottari via Getty ImagesThe case for why we even careIf you're not a television executive, a Trump administration official, or a shareholder of TKO Group Holdings LLC and/or Paramount, you might be asking yourself why it matters how many people watched this thing. It's a fair question.MMA fans were watching and enjoying this sport in relative obscurity for years. It didn't ever diminish our enjoyment of it just because there weren't tens of millions of others watching with us elsewhere in the world.But clearly it matters to the UFC. If it didn't, we wouldn't have heard so many grandiose promises ahead of the event. It also matters to Paramount, which hoped to use this event to drive up subscriber numbers.That's the other key variable in all this. Paramount could have chosen to air part or all of this event on CBS, or simulcast it on both the CBS network and the Paramount+ streaming service. It kept this exclusively for Paramount+ because it wanted to entice people to sign up for a subscription. Drawing the largest possible audience was obviously not the goal for Paramount. If it had been, CBS would have aired this event on Sunday night instead of reruns of "Marshals" and "Tracker."This is, in some ways, the resurrection of an old conversation for longtime MMA fans. In a bygone era, we used to worry a lot about the growth of the sport. We wanted to see it survive and thrive, and for that we felt like we needed audience growth. Viewership numbers are good metric of that, though in the fragmented era of endless streaming services, they're certainly not the only one.The conclusionBeyond just the numbers, what this event managed to do — for better or worse — was to become a cultural event. Even people who never were and maybe never will be fight fans still heard about it. Some drew positive conclusions and others instantly negative ones. Such is the case when the event itself is so closely tied to a polarizing political figure like Trump, who inspires passionate loyalty in some and revulsion in others. A lot of people who never think about the UFC were essentially forced to form an opinion about it.If one of the primary goals was a major gain for the UFC brand in terms of visibility and awareness, then mission accomplished. If the point of all this was to knock the Super Bowl off its ratings podium, well, there's still a long way to go.

SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. star Christian Pulisic will miss Friday's World Cup match against Australia because of a calf injury.American coach Maurice Pochettino made the announcement during an interview with Fox about 90 minutes before the kickoff at Lumen Field in Seattle.The move is a setback for a U.S. team riding high after defeating Paraguay 4-1 in its first game one week ago.Pulisic left the game at halftime. Pochettino said the 27-year-old attacker was kicked in the back of his left calf during a training session ahead of the game and felt tightness during the match.Pulisic trained on his own in the leadup to the game against Australia.Pulisic has 33 goals in 87 international appearances.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 12: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States looks on as he walks off at the end of the first half during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images Update (Friday): United States star Christian Pulisic has officially been ruled out for Friday’s match against Australia.USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino offered this update to FOX Sports on Friday, hours before kickoff. “Christian is not available. The evolution is really well. Today, he was training in the morning in the camp and I’ve seen the feelings are good. I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team. Now, we need to be focused on our team and the players that are going to play,” said the USMNT coach. “We have ahead a very important game and Australia is going to be really tough.“[But] a little bit sad because he wanted to stay, he wanted to participate today.”Previous: The United States got off to a tremendous start at the 2026 World Cup, with a dominant performance against Paraguay in a 4-1 win on Friday. The team was dynamic, creative, and delivered perhaps its best performance yet at a World Cup.However, there is concern about the status of star forward Christian Pulisic.Pulisic was replaced at halftime against Paraguay, after he was kicked in the left calf, reaggravating a training injury he picked up in the days before the World Cup. Following the match, Pulisic downplayed the injury. “I just got a bit of a kick first half, so I’m really hoping that it’s nothing,” Pulisic told Fox Sports. “Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I’m hoping I’ll be fine the next few days.“Just the back of my leg, my calf area. But I’ve had similar things before, and I’m staying positive. I don’t think it’s anything at all.”The next USMNT match is against Australia on Friday, but there are expectations around the team that Pulisic will be available. Teammate Tyler Adams as well as manager Mauricio Pochettino were among those offering positive updates. “Christian will be ready, everyone. Let’s relax,” Adams said before the team’s training session on Monday.“I think that he picked up a knock a few days before the game, and I think he got kicked in the same spot again during the game. And when you go in at halftime, things obviously get tight within the 15, 20 minute break. But he’ll be fine.”“Good,” was how Pochettino described the USMNT’s status.On Tuesday, Tim Weah offered an update of his own. “He looks normal, he’s fit,” said the USMNT winger. “He works with the trainers on the side, but I think he’ll be ready for the game.”Officially, Pulisic is listed as “day-to-day:”USMNT star Christian Pulisic will continue working on the side and his status is day to day with a left calf injury, USSF announces.— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) June 16, 2026According to an update from Jenny Taft during FOX Sports’ coverage of the France-Senegal match on Tuesday, Pulisic worked with trainers again off to the side on Tuesday, ahead of Friday’s match against Australia. Update (Wednesday): Here is the latest updated on Pulisic, as he remains officially “day-to-day” according to the USSF:Christian Pulisic still in the gym at the start of USMNT training, separate from the group for a third straight day due to his injury.He appears to have some sort of compression sleeve around his injured left calf area while doing exercises.Team spox says “day to day” still. pic.twitter.com/1cqO7B0bN9— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) June 17, 2026During halftime of England-Croatia, Jenny Taft shared this report, along with some footage of Pulisic going through a modified training session:“This is the most we’ve seen him on the pitch in action this week.”The latest on Christian Pulisic’s calf injury from our @JennyTaftpic.twitter.com/2MmaEjaO5B— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 17, 2026

Report De Vrij has reached decision on Inter future ahead of June 30 deadlineStefan De Vrij will be out of contract at Inter after June 30, and Friday’s reports indicate that the Netherlands international will not be signing a new deal in San Siro.De Vrij expected to leave Inter on free transferDe Vrij is one of several senior Nerazzurri players whose contracts will be expiring in less than a fortnight’s time, along with the likes of Yann Sommer, Francesco Acerbi and Matteo Darmian.Unlike Sommer, Acerbi and Darmian, the 34-year-old De Vrij had been offered the opportunity to extend his stay in San Siro and has been taking his time to evaluate his next steps.According to the latest updates from Calciomercato.com, all signs point towards De Vrij leaving Inter on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract at the end of this month.BOLOGNA, ITALY – MAY 23: Stefan de Vrij of FC Internazionale competes for the ball with Santiago Castro of Bologna FC during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and FC Internazionale at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on May 23, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)The former Lazio and Feyenoord defender reportedly has an offer on the table from Greek Super League side Panathinaikos and the Dutchman is said to be sold on the idea of Athens as his next destination.Friday’s reports claim that Panathinaikos have presented De Vrij with a two-year contract offer worth €3m per season in wages.

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 10: Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson (77) looks on during the NFC Wildcard playoff game against the Carolina Panthers on January 10, 2026 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Rams offensive tackle Alaric Jackson will not face felony charges for his recent arrest, according to the Los Angeles County Distract Attorney’s Office, but he could still face criminal charges and be suspended by the NFL. Having been suspended for two games in 2024 under the league’s personal conduct policy, Jackson’s second incident in as many years puts him in danger of a longer suspension this time.Jackson was arrested on suspicion of battery on June 9 after an alleged incident with an ex-girlfriend, who is pregnant. The accuser applied for a restraining order against Jackson, alleging that he caused injury when attempting to take a phone from her.The 28 year old is entering the first year of a three-year, $57 million extension that he signed with the Rams in 2025.Per @NBCLA:“Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson will not face felony charges in connection with his arrested on suspicion of domestic battery earlier this month at his San Fernando Valley home…”https://t.co/vmTqhplDT9— 1st & Tuna 🏈 (@1standtuna) June 19, 2026If Jackson is suspended by the NFL, the Rams will have to find a new starting left tackle to start the season. Speculation has pointed to former Lions tackle Taylor Decker, but in house options like David Quessenberry, A.J. Arcuri, and Keagan Trost could be more likely.According to the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy announcement from 2022, the league can be banished “for life” with a chance to apply for reinstatement after one year. However, that policy is directed towards players charged with a felony, so this recent update could give Jackson a chance to return to the Rams during the 2026 season.