Documents show the president outsourced trading decisions to brokers. But bucking tradition, his assets are not in a blind trust, exposing him to concerns about conflicts.

Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, samples different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Utah’s top fry sauce might be hidden at the home of the Salt Lake Bees.That’s what the fans decided during the team’s first-ever “Fry Sauce Night” at The Ballpark at America First Square. Yes, the team’s in-house sauce, a mix of mayonnaise and ketchup, along with ranch, barbecue and sour cream, per the team’s chef, Leonard Love, took the crown in a much-anticipated battle of Utah’s favorite condiment.“I’m honored. I’m just a Florida guy who is learning the Utah lifestyle,” Love said, holding a golden condiment bottle he was awarded. Salt Lake Bees executive chef Leonard Love poses with his first place trophy after winning the best fry sauce in a competition where people sampled different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News The award does come with a few caveats. Fans were given a sauce sampler with fries and then asked to vote with their cellphones after the fact. The Bees’ in-house team only competed with some of the juggernauts — and recent entrants — in the fry sauce game: Arctic Circle, Hires Big H and J-Dawgs.Other fan favorite sauces, like Crown Burgers, Tonyburgers or Apollo Burger, weren’t in the mix. Those who came to the table in the right field patio also seemed content with a free sampling without formally voting.One fan called fry sauce “the best thing ever,” telling KSL she has an Olympic pin celebrating fry sauce from the 2002 Games. Another said she was from Arizona but had adopted the sauce in Utah, saying she was a fan of the Bees sauce from the four in front of her. Whitney Matthews, center right, daughter Alia Matthews, 4, center left, and son Henry Matthews, right, all from Syracuse, sample different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Thursday’s festivities celebrated all things fry sauce, regardless of the recipe. It was a quirky minor league baseball night that started with the players — many for the first time — dunking fries in the sauce after batting practice. A youth team recognized before the game fittingly wore fry sauce-colored orange uniforms, which was a coincidence, a Bees spokesperson said.One of fry sauce’s founding fathers also started the night off. Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, walks on the field to throw the first pitch as part of fry sauce night before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Fry sauce’s origin is not as straightforward as its primary mayonnaise and ketchup combination, as Deseret News noted after trying to sort it all out in 2022. One story pins it to Ron Taylor and Max Peay, who came up with it while working at an Arctic Circle franchise in Provo in 1955.The two got tired of ketchup and liked mixing around sauces, and decided to mix it with mayonnaise. They started sharing it with friends and the word got out, with people asking about “that fry sauce stuff.”“Some people said we had a recipe. We didn’t have a recipe. We just looked at the consistency and the color, and we liked it,” he told KSL, reflecting on the moment all these years later. “(The customers) named it. We didn’t give it a name.” Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, center left, is embraced by his daughter Danielle Adams, center right, and son-in-law Kirk Adams, right, after he thew the first pitch as part of fry sauce night before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Fry sauce became a lore after that, being picked up at other Arctic Circle locations. It then became a staple at essentially every restaurant in the state after that.“It just took off. It surprised me, but look what it’s become now,” said Taylor, who tossed out the first pitch Thursday night.He was taken aback as he watched the night’s celebration, too, watching people take delight in what he helped create.It’s unclear if the Bees will bring back the theme night next year or expand the competition. Love, who now owns the newest crown in the condiment’s history, is ready to defend his new title either way.“I guarantee a second win, and I absolutely didn’t pay anyone off to vote for us,” he added, with a grin.Or perhaps the best fry sauce recipe is as mysterious as its origin. Evi Bateman, Salt Lake Bees concessions cashier, serves samples of different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Fans line up and employees prepare the field before Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, throws the first pitch as part of fry sauce night before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Ron Taylor, right, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, talks to Dave Joseph, left, on field host for the Bees, before Taylor throws the first pitch as part of fry sauce night before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Infielder Jeimer Candelario stands for the National Anthem before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers during Fry Sauce Night at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, walks on to the field to throw the first pitch as part of fry sauce night before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, throws the first pitch as part of fry sauce night before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, left, stands with his wife Suzanne Taylor, right, after he thew the first pitch as part of fry sauce night before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News From left, outfielder Bryce Teodosio, outfielder Josh Lowe and infielder Ryan Nicholson sit in the dugout before a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers during Fry Sauce Night at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Saige Clawson, from Farmington, samples different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Salt Lake Bees concessions cashiers Aylen Cruz, left, and Evi Bateman, right, serve samples of different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Molly Johnson, 13, from Fruit Heights, samples different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Salt Lake Bees concessions cashiers serve samples of different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Mark McConaghie, left, and daughter Addie McConaghie, 7, from Lehi, look before trying different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Salt Lake Bees concessions cashiers serve samples of different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Ron Taylor, the first person to mix fry sauce at the Provo Arctic Circle when he was a teen in the 1950s, samples different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News People walk by The Ballpark Classics, where they can request fry sauce with their food, during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News Salt Lake Bees executive chef Leonard Love poses with his first place trophy after winning the best fry sauce in a competition where people sampled different fry sauces from Utah businesses as part of fry sauce night during a Salt Lake Bees game against the Tacoma Rainiers at The Ballpark at America First Square in South Jordan on Thursday, June 18, 2026. | Tess Crowley, Deseret News

Michael Bisping isn't a fan of how Alex Pereira is handling his loss to Ciryl Gane.Pereira (13-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) was finished by Gane (14-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in Round 2 of their interim heavyweight title fight this past Sunday at UFC Freedom 250 from the White House in Washington.In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Pereira accused Gane of cheating by landing numerous illegal blows to the back of his head in the fight-ending sequence. He also said he plans on appealing the loss, but Bisping is confused by his reaction."He lost the fight. There's no shame in that whatsoever," Bisping said on his YouTube channel. "But sitting there, complaining and crying about it, and going on about how he was fouled, it's just not a good look. It is not a good look. I don't know who's advising him and allowing him say this, but someone should pull him aside and say, 'Listen: You were beaten fair and square. The better man was Ciryl Gane.'"Ciryl Gane was not getting tired, by the way. That's another thing that Alex Pereira said. He said, 'Oh, I could see it in his eyes. He was getting tired. That's why he laid on the floor after the fight.' I've laid on the floor after a series of my fights because it's done – it's over. Victory is mine. I've won. All the pressure, all the training that you've done leading up to this moment, it was all worthwhile."Pereira also chastised referee Herb Dean, who later released a video explaining the back-of-the-head rule, in which the focus is on the nape of the neck. "Poatan" requested that Dean no longer referees his fights.This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Michael Bisping: Pereira's reaction to Gane loss 'not a good look'

Rishabh Pant may return to DC from LSG in IPL 2027 trade but could face pay cut and no captaincy originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Cricbuzz understands Rishabh Pant is set to rejoin Delhi Capitals in an IPL 2027 trade, with formal discussions already underway with LSGPant is likely to accept a substantial pay cut from his record Rs 27 crore LSG dealKL Rahul is DC's frontrunner for the IPL 2027 captaincy, with Pant unlikely to get the role backRishabh Pant may return to DC from LSG in IPL 2027 tradeCricbuzz reports Rishabh Pant is set to end his troubled two-year stint at Lucknow Super Giants and return to Delhi Capitals for IPL 2027, with DC having already initiated formal trade discussions with LSG to bring their record ₹27 crore signing back to the franchise.The return will not come at the same financial terms Pant enjoyed at LSG. He commanded a record Rs 27 crore at the 2025 mega auction, but two deeply disappointing campaigns in which LSG finished seventh and then last have significantly reduced his standing in any new contract negotiation.JUST IN 🚨Cricbuzz reliably understands that Rishabh Pant is set to return to Delhi CapitalsDC have already initiated a trade with Lucknow Super GiantsPant is likely to take a substantial pay cut as part of the moveUnlikely that Pant will captain DC pic.twitter.com/4RODbeDMkz— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) June 19, 2026Cricbuzz reports the trade is likely to involve a substantial pay cut for Pant, a drop from both his Rs 27 crore LSG deal and the Rs 16 crore he earned at DC from 2022 to 2024 before the franchise chose not to match LSG's record-breaking bid in Jeddah.MORE:'Save the world from America': ENG vz NZ Test commentary refers to drinks break as 'hydration break' used in FIFA World CupPant's pay cut and role at DCPant earned Rs 1.9 crore at Delhi Daredevils in 2016, climbed to Rs 8 crore from 2018 to 2021 following his international breakthrough, and was retained as captain at Rs 16 crore from 2022 to 2024. His Rs 27 crore deal at LSG, funded by a bidding war between four franchises, proved a financial peak his output at Lucknow never justified.Beyond salary, Pant is also unlikely to return as captain. Cricbuzz reports DC are not expected to hand him the leadership role, meaning he would rejoin as a batter and first-choice wicketkeeper rather than the man who set the team's direction in his previous stint. His recent drop in form will also be a major deal-breaker for the Capitals.The franchise has been struggling to reach the playoffs for the last five seasons, with their last playoff performance coming in 2021, when they topped the group stage.With that in mind, making Pant the captain seems to be unlikely. However, while the wicketkeeper might not be the captain DC needs, his presence in the team will provide the veteran insights that will help them to play better.MORE:IPL 2027 trade rumour: DC and LSG to execute Rishabh Pant's Delhi homecoming with Kuldeep Yadav swapWhy KL Rahul is the likely captainInstead of Pant, there's another player who remains the man to get Delhi's captaincy. The Times of India reports KL Rahul as the frontrunner for the DC captaincy in IPL 2027. The 34-year-old scored 593 runs in 14 matches during IPL 2026, including an unbeaten 152 off 67 balls against Punjab Kings, making him the first Indian to score 150-plus in an IPL match.Kuldeep Yadav is reportedly heading to LSG as part of the trade. The left-arm wrist-spinner has been with DC since 2022 and was retained at Rs 13.25 crore ahead of IPL 2025, but his form collapsed in 2027, and he was dropped from the playing XI entirely.For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.

Derrick White trade rumors give Celtics another path to improve beyond Giannis Antetokounmpo chase originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.It’s well known that the main rumor for the Boston Celtics this offseason is a potential blockbuster trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, as he could reshape the balance of the NBA. However, that’s not the only rumor that could give the Celtics another leg up on the competition. That would be the rumors around Derrick White, which have pointed out that the Minnesota Timberwolves have a strong interest in him. The consensus for a proposed trade would be White would be sent to Minnesota for Sixth Man Of the Year winner Naz Reid, and a MIN 1st round pick.White is on the decline © Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesWhile he just had his best season scoring-wise, it’s quite obvious White is on the decline. In the past three years, his 3pt% has dropped by 69 points, and his overall FG% by 67 points. On top of that, his performance in the playoffs this past season was abysmal. He averaged 11 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 32% from the field, and an awful 27% from deep.So, if Boston can sell high on him for a guy like Reid and a first rounder, they should definitely consider it.Reid is entering his prime © Ron Chenoy-Imagn ImagesReid is only 26 years old, making him five years younger than White. He would give Boston the big man upgrade they have been looking for, as he would start over Neemias Queta. Last season, he averaged 13.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, one steal and one block per game as the sixth man. If he were a starter, all those numbers would go up.He’s also an elite shooter, shooting 37% from deep as a center. This would give the Celtics five shooters on the court, giving them another way to recreate their golden age of Mazzulla Ball when they had Kristaps Porzingis.Reid should be a priority © Jesse Johnson-Imagn ImagesIf the Giannis trade somehow falls through, and the Celtics keep their superstar duo in the Jays, getting Reid is a priority. Payton Pritchard would take his spot in the starting lineup, and Sam Hauser would take the open spot. A starting five of Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, Sam Hauser, Jayson Tatum, and Naz Reid would help the C’s dominate the East. If Giannis falls through, this is a trade to make.MORE NBA CONTENTCeltics could be the true frontrunners for Giannis Antetokounmpo after Heat concerns riseCeltics have two ideal trade partners to make Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster happenBoston Celtics may have reopened the door to landing Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason

OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 20: Defensive tackle Mike Pennel #64 of the Green Bay Packers cheers on the team before a game against the Oakland Raiders on December 20, 2015 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Packers won 30-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) | Getty Images Former Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Mike Pennel, who has also played with the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals, is now being described as a “person of interest” in the possible homicide of a missing woman, according to authorities in the Dominican Republic, per ESPN. In January of 2026, the body of Carli Franchesca Guzmán Roche was discovered on property that was owned by Pennel up until 2025. Guzmán went missing in September of 2021, but her body was not found until this past January, when an excavation crew uncovered her.Here’s what ESPN had to say about Pennel’s connection to Guzmán:Records also show that several people told police early in the 2021 search that Pennel had connections with Guzmán worth investigating. But investigation records show no indication that police interviewed him, despite having visited his property with several of her family members days after she was reported missing.Pennel acknowledged he was never contacted by authorities about Guzmán’s disappearance in 2021.During that September 2021 visit to Pennel’s neighborhood, Guzmán’s grandmother and a family attorney told ESPN, a strong odor of decay was obvious, but police told the family the smell probably was from a dead animal, and they did not expand their search to the place from where the smell was emanating — Pennel’s backyard.…Prosecutors say they are pursuing the case as a homicide, although no cause of death has been released.To ESPN, Pennel said the following: “I don’t understand any of this. I don’t know who you’re talking to, who’s saying this — I don’t know this woman.” Later in the article, Pennel states that it was Lamont Davis, not Pennel, who had a relationship with Guzmán. In 2021, Davis told police that “he and Pennel had a falling out months earlier because of a dispute over a woman.”The grandmother of Guzmán claims that her granddaughter was visiting Pennel, specifically, when she went missing, though.In September 2021, González said, Guzmán told her she was going back north to be with “her athlete friend.” She said her granddaughter called her Sunday, Sept. 5, and said she was still with Pennel. She said she was fine but that she wasn’t feeling well and would come back home Monday morning, González said. By late the next day, no one had heard from her, and the family became concerned. González said she called a friend of her granddaughter, who according to investigation records told police she wasn’t with Guzmán but believed Guzmán had been with Pennel in recent days. González said she then called police, telling whoever answered the phone that her granddaughter was missing.Currently, Pennel isn’t charged with a crime, but as ESPN stated, this could change on a future date.

We have a fun, truly jam-packed episode of The Dunker Spot coming your way! First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones put a bow on the 2025-26 season. They're joined by the great Zach Lowe to talk about the things that brought them joy this season. The trio discusses their favorite games, player performances, stretches of team play, breakout seasons, league trends and more. From there, the guys shift to the W to take stock of the league after Commissioner's Cup group play. Nekias and Steve share their league tiers -- the contenders, near-contenders, hopefuls and rebuilding groups -- before reacting to the first returns for All-Star voting. Finally, the guys are joined by Las Vegas Aces star Chelsea Gray -- the Point Gawd! -- for a wide-ranging interview including the Aces' offense, her relationship with Becky Hammon, the growth of A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young, controlling the team's music, Love Island and much more. If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com3:45 -- What brought us joy with Zach Lowe 51:22 -- WNBA Tier rankings 01:23:55-- WNBA All-Star first returns 01:32:38 -- Chelsea Gray interviewGiannis Antetokounmpo #34, Thanasis Antetokounmpo #43 and Alex Antetokounmpo #29 of the Milwaukee Bucks sit on the bench during the first quarter against the Brooklyn NetsPatrick McDermott🖥️ Subscribe to the all new Yahoo Sports NBA channel on YouTube!🖥️ Watch this full episodeon theYahoo Sports NBA YouTube channelCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

The 2026 FIFA World Cup continues on Friday, June 19, with a loaded TV schedule as the Group Stage continues. Throughout the day, there will be four games beginning with a Group D showdown between the United States and Australia in Seattle.The USMNT will be without star forward Christian Pulisic, who has been battling a calf injury that forced him out of the team’s tournament opener. Other games throughout the day include Scotland vs. Morocco and Brazil vs. Haiti in Boston and Philadelphia, respectively.MORE: 2026 FIFA World Cup TV schedule, full list of gamesIn the nightcap, Turkey and Paraguay will face off in San Francisco. If the United States secures a win against Australia and the nightcap ends in a draw or with a Paraguay win, the United States will clinch the group.June 19, 2026; Washington, U.S.; A United States fan poses for a photo at a screening in Seattle ahead of the match. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn ImagesEvery game throughout the day will air live on FOX or FOX Sports 1, with Spanish broadcasts available on Telemundo. You can stream every game live on Fubo. When and where will your favorite team be taking the field?A full look at the TV schedule for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 19, can be seen below.MORE: How to watch World Cup for free without cable: Live stream every matchWorld Cup TV Schedule – Friday, June 19June 11, 2026; Mexico City, Mexico; General view of a replica World Cup trophy during the opening ceremony before the match. Mandatory Credit: Kai Pfaffenbach-REUTERS via Imagn Images3 p.m. ET — USA vs. Australia (Group D) — Seattle [FOX, Telemundo]6 p.m. ET — Scotland vs. Morocco (Group C) — Boston [FOX, Telemundo]8:30 p.m. ET — Brazil vs. Haiti (Group C) — Philadelphia [FOX, Telemundo]11 p.m. ET — Turkey vs. Paraguay (Group D) — San Francisco Bay Area [FS1, Telemundo]The Group Stage of the World Cup will run through Saturday, June 27, before the Knockout Stages begin the following day on Sunday, June 28, with the Round of 32. A champion will be crowned at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 19.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Morocco right back Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trial on rape charges after a Versailles, France, appeals court said Friday that the case against him could proceed.Hakimi is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in March of 2023 at his home in greater Paris. He plays club football for Paris Saint-Germain and the court’s decision that there was enough evidence for a trial came on the same day that Morocco plays its second group stage game of the World Cup against Scotland.The alleged victim’s attorney told the Associated Press in a statement that the decision for the trial to proceed brought the woman “relief” and “hope.”“Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have her case heard at trial,” Rachel-Flore Pardo said in a statement to The Associate Press. “Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within the world of men’s football.”Hakimi denied the accusations Friday on social media and claimed there would not have been “a case” if he was not famous.“Justice looked me in the eyes and said ‘If you weren’t famous, there never would have been a case.’“I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.“Today, a story that is not mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I’ve become an easy target.I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I will be able to speak.”Hakimi, 27, is one of the best right backs in the world and has been an integral piece of Morocco and PSG’s recent success. PSG won its second consecutive Champions League in May over Arsenal and Morocco finished fourth at the 2022 World Cup. No trial date has been announced.Morocco opened the 2026 World Cup with a 1-1 tie aganst Brazil in Group C.

Photo by Lars Baron/Getty ImagesSouth Africa kept their World Cup hopes alive with a 1-1 draw against Czech Republic last Thursday. Michal Sadilek put the Czechs ahead early in Atlanta, before Teboho Mokoena equalised with an 83rd-minute penalty.The result mattered because both teams had lost their opening matches. Another defeat would have left Bafana Bafana close to elimination, but the late equaliser kept them in the fight for the round of 32.Beyond that, the point achieved was followed by a major reward for the squad and staff.South Africa squad receive Icebox watches and jewelry after 1-1 World Cup drawPhoto by Lars Baron/Getty ImagesAfrican soccer journalist Micky Jnr reported that South Africa’s players and technical team were gifted luxury jewelry valued at over $50,000 each through a partnership with Icebox.Icebox is a major name in the luxury market, especially for diamond watches, custom jewelry and celebrity clients from sport and entertainment.That made the reward stand out even more. South Africa did not win the match, but their response against Czech Republic was enough to keep belief alive.South Africa can still reach the World Cup knockoutsThe draw gave Bafana Bafana their first point of the tournament.They now sit level with Czech Republic on one point, with one group match still to play.South Africa face South Korea next Wednesday, June 24th. A win would put them in position to reach the next stage, and they could even finish second in the group, depending on the result of Czechia vs Mexico.Read more:How FIFA will spend record-breaking $13bn World Cup revenueIsmael Kone breaks silence after horror World Cup injury against QatarPaul Gascoigne calls World Cup ticket prices ‘disgraceful’ amid fan anger

It shouldn't shock anyone to know that a veteran with 11 games of NFL experience and four logged starts (including one in the postseason) is ahead of two undrafted rookies on a depth chart. These are the Baltimore Ravens, though. To 'Play like a Raven', in some ways, means to ignore the depth chart or what's expected based on someone's draft status. It's no longer shocking when a UDFA plays his way onto the 53-man roster. It's a sign of how well leadership builds this team. Take the quarterback position, for instance. With the final pick in Round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft, Baltimore landed Lamar Jackson in a round that saw Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Josh Allen also selected. How about that quarterback class?Jackson has since won two MVP Trophies. He's the unquestioned starter, but in a league of attrition, teams must stock themselves with an insurance plan. That's why the Ravens have Tyler Huntley as their backup. There's a race for the third-string job. It features Skylar Thompson, Joe Fagnon, and Diego Pavia.Thompson seemingly has the leg up, which brings us back to our original statement. He should have the early advantage. He's the veteran. He has logged 269 offensive snaps in ten games of NFL action. So what does that mean for Fagnon and Pavia, exciting as they both are? They may be auditioning for other teams come the preseason. Clifton Brown spoke about this on the team's official website. Thompson holds an early lead in the race for the third-string job with OTAs and mandatory minicamp in the rearview mirror. "I think Skylar Thompson is the frontrunner to be the No. 3 quarterback, due to his edge in experience over a pair of rookies in Diego Pavia and Joe Fagnano. During open practices, I haven't seen Pavia or Fagnano outshine Thompson, who has played in 11 NFL games, including a playoff start with the Miami Dolphins in Jan. 2023. Thompson made one of the most impressive throws of minicamp when he ripped a long pass to the sideline to Dayton Wade, which earned Thompson some kudos from Jackson."Brown also mentions that the Ravens aren't expected to give Pavia a shot at playing running back or returner, but why would they? AS he also mentions, LaJohntay Wester, Elijah Sarratt, Rasheen Ali, and Adam Randall can all handle return duties."With five quarterbacks on the roster and a new offense being installed, Pavia, Fagnano, and Thompson must make the most of limited reps behind Jackson and Tyler Huntley. Thompson looked steady during his practice reps, but it's still early. His future isn't secure either because the Ravens may only carry two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster."Competition is only beginning. It will heat up during training camp. Pavia was a Heisman Trophy finalist and a First-team All-American. Fagnano was Second-team All-CAA in 2020. He threw for 3,448 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 69% of his passes last season. In other words, don't expect either of these gentlemen to go quietly. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Skyler Thompson could land the Ravens third quarterback job

A list of 30 agents working for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) shows that 29 of them have been charged with sexual offenses, and two-thirds committed sexual crimes against children, according to a list published by the Ohio Immigrant Alliance and the Pacific Antifascist Collective. “The off-duty Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who killed Keith Porter, Jr. has a history of racism, child abuse, and explosive tempers. Despite murdering Porter in cold blood, Brian Palacios remains free without charge and employed by ICE,” the groups’ website states, invoking the name of Porter, a Black 43-year-old father of two who was fatally shot by an ICE officer on New Year’s Eve outside his apartment complex . “In February 2025, Palacios was barred from having any contact with two of his girlfriend’s children, after they testified that he beat his own sons and frequently made homophobic and racist remarks.” Related “Really, really embarrassing”: GOP Rep. roasted for copy/paste error in post about ICE The members of the all-male list have been charged with offenses like gunpoint sexual assault; child sex trafficking; aggravated assault; robbery; rape; torture; kidnapping; sexual abuse of a minor; and possession and production of child sexual abuse materials. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “[There is] a real problem with gender-based violence by ICE agents, and the agency is not taking it seriously,” Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, said. “This culture of violence toward women and children is visible in ICE agents’ officially-sanctioned actions, and the Department of Homeland Security’s unconditional support for their acts of violence,” the website further states. The website notes that, according to Ms. Magazine, “Across the country, so-called ‘ICE impersonators’ are on the rise as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) itself has been violently arresting people without warrants, sometimes in plain clothes using unmarked vehicles. Nearly impossible to distinguish between real and fake agents, men have allegedly lied about their identities to intimidate, kidnap, and rape women with precarious immigration statuses, according to survivors’ accounts.” ICE has launched a $100 million effort to attract new recruits that includes sending geo-targeted advertisements directly to the phones of people located near Mixed Martial Arts fights, NASCAR races, and gun shows. The advertisements use futuristic imagery of war and video games, along with slogans about “defending the homeland” against “invaders.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Footage shows a Russian air defense missile traveling toward a fuel silo, which erupts in an explosion around the time of its arrival.

A new rescuer — Colby College, bankrolled by a construction magnate — will vastly change not just the economics of Port Clyde, Maine, but also its cultural and physical fabric.

At some point in time, an artist will come along who’ll depict the before and after shots of each of Justin Gaethje’s opponents, just to illustrate the trauma he introduces to mortal men. This year alone he left Paddy Pimblett in such a state of disrepair that both eyes were swollen shut days after their UFC 324 encounter to kick off the Paramount+ era.Then this past Sunday, in unifying the UFC’s lightweight title at the White House, Gaethje broke two orbital bones on Ilia Topuria’s face, rendering Topuria unable to see (or continue after the fourth round) as blood wheezed out of his cheekbones. Fighting Gaethje is one the most hazardous, perhaps most sadistic things a fighter can do, even when in peak form.Now imagine doing it with one hand.Old-schoolers remember that Nick Newell, a Connecticut-based fighter who was born with a congenital amputation on his left arm, faced off with the game’s most relentless buzzsaw nearly a dozen years ago for the World Series of Fighting (WSOF) lightweight title. Even back then it felt like a bats*** crazy thing to do, stepping with the then-undefeated Gaethje without a full complement of limbs, given he was a lucid zombie.Yet at a remove of a decade, now that Gaethje has broken one of the game’s pound-for-pound best in Topuria, it all feels positively phantasmagoric.“The only way to stop him is to literally kill him,” Newell told Uncrowned this week. “The only way to change anything in his game is to completely knock him unconscious. There's no other way to do it. “There's only two people I've ever witnessed where nothing changes when they're tired. You can see them tired, you can hear them breathing — like, I could hear [Gaethje] breathing in our fight. But nothing changes. His power doesn't change. His output doesn't change. Nothing changes. Him and Dricus du Plessis are the only two people I've ever seen that are like that.”Newell was a marvel in his own right, having won the Michigan-based XFC lightweight title by beating a very tough veteran, Eric Reynolds. He signed to WSOF — the precursor to the PFL — and won back-to-back fights with first-round submissions of Keon Caldwell and Sabah Fadai, respectively, to earn his shot at Gaethje. The fight took place at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, and was broadcast live on NBC. Gaethje had just taken out Richard Patishnock to win the title earlier in 2014, and all but one of his fights to that point had ended in finishes. The lone man to survive long enough to hear the scorecards was a fellow named Marcus Edwards, who faced Gaethje early on the regional scene in Broomfield, Colorado. Yet Newell was the Hollywood story in the matchup, much the same as the one-handed pitcher Jim Abbott was back in the 1980s-90s when he pitched for the California Angels and New York Yankees, among other teams. In 1993, Abbott tossed a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians while with the Yankees, which stands to this day as an astounding feat.Newell was seen as the next Jim Abbott. The difference was Newell was fighting in a cage, against a man who was swinging right hands at his head rather than a Louisville Slugger at a ball. “I’m, like, a tough person,” Newell says. “He didn't break me. But what happens is the way that he fights, he’s so consistent and he’s so much in your face doing things, and he's not brawling — he's actually being technical. He's not just swinging like an idiot. People just see that and think that’s what he’s doing, but he’s not. He's got a game plan. He's got a method, and he knows how to work around his skill set, and he knows how to fight into his skill set, and it shocks your nervous system. “Most people's nervous system can't put up with what he's doing and what he's willing to take. So you have someone like Ilia Topuria, and look — I’m more of a jiu-jitsu guy, maybe to a fault as I shot too many takedowns, but my striking is good. I've knocked people out and I've hurt people, usually by mistake in the gym. I know shots that would knock people out and I hit him with a head kick, a knee and an uppercut that would've knocked out anyone else.”Newell laughs remembering it, the way someone might recall how perilously close they came to toppling down the Hillary Step after scaling Everest.Even in his WSOF days, Justin Gaethje (left) was relentless aggression personified.Ed Mulholland via Getty Images“I'm not lying,” Newell continues, “he told me this when we talked at the beach the next day. He said, ‘I didn't know where I was when you hit me, but I just started fighting.’ And I was like, ‘This man, he's just different.’ I wish that I could have that in me.”Gaethje winning the undisputed UFC lightweight title at 37 years old, in one of the sport’s best weight classes, is its own historical marker. Yet to do it, fighting an unsustainable style that was never meant for longevity, against one of the best fighters in the world in his prime … well, it speaks to the otherness of Gaethje. Not just as a fighter, but as a human being, which Newell has learned to appreciate as Gaethje continues to defy odds. “He's always been a class act,” he says. “He asked me before we got in there, ‘What do you think about our fight?’ And I said, ‘I think I'm going to knock you out.’ It didn't happen, but I thought it. And he said, ‘Hey, man, it’s going to happen sooner or later. If it was you, man, I'd be honored. That'd be great.’ And I was like, ‘This guy's crazy.’“He was like, ‘If you were able to do it, man, I would be happy for you.’ That's what he told me. You have a human being that wants to win. He wants to win with every fiber of his being, but he's not afraid to lose. And how dangerous is that?”In the end, Newell wasn’t surprised to see Gaethje do the same thing he’s been doing his whole career to Topuria, despite being a 6-to-1 underdog.“I mean, you never seen me break or quit or anything like that, but sometimes if I get tired in a fight, I try to push through, but my body can't respond the same way,” Newell says. “And his body can just keep going, and keep going. Even if he's tired, even if he's hurt, or he gets rocked.“I think for someone like Ilia, who’s used to just hitting people and they go out or part of them breaks, he takes a little piece of them and they get scared to keep coming forward. And Ilia hit him with his best shots, and yet this guy wasn't going down. It's hard for someone's nervous system to deal with that. And it's not even like people are afraid of [Gaethje]. It's just he just operates on a different level than most human beings.”Nick Newell won 16 of his 20 professional MMA fights. He last competed in 2021.Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesPerhaps there’s a silver lining to having lasted past the midway point of the second round against Gaethje, especially when trying to deal with his inexhaustible pressure with one arm. Ultimately Gaethje proved too much for Newell, winning via second-round TKO all those years ago, after a massive cut opened up over Newell’s right eye. Newell, who is 40 now and owns and runs the Fighting Arts Academy in Milford, made a memorable run in getting a chance to compete on the UFC’s Contender Series in 2020. He is the centerpiece of a 2021 biopic, “Notorious Nick,” which details him overcoming the odds in combat sports to make a name, even if there were a few liberties taken.“It kind of made my relationship with my dad look worse than it was,” he says, “but if you just take it for being a movie, then it's pretty good. They made Eric Reynolds look like a horrible person when he's actually literally the opposite, which always made me feel bad, but they had to make a movie.” Newell last competed in 2021 in Bellator and hasn’t ruled out a swan song fight. Yet these days he’s content with coaching his fighters and running his gym, along with being a father. Newell just had his fourth kid three weeks ago, a daughter named Daphne Cadhla. One day, at some point in the future, when he’s talking about his own improbable run in mixed martial arts, perhaps his kids will wonder about his encounter with Justin Gaethje. “People ask me about fighting him all the time, ‘Were you scared?’” he says. “I was not scared of this man. And when he hit me, it wasn't particularly hard. I wasn't like, ‘Oh my God.’ I wasn't scared of getting hit by him. That's not what he's good at. He doesn't have any outstanding qualities in terms of technical skill that make him stand out. “But he does a few things really, really well. His footwork is actually better than people give him credit for. His thing is his heart and his determination and his pressure. He's a one-of-one human being. And it doesn't matter if he's hurt. It doesn't matter if he's tired. Nothing matters.”

How becoming a father changes a ballplayer’s perspectiveBaseball — or, at least, being good at it — is often a selfish endeavor.The sport’s best players, the top of the top, are some of the most laser-focused, tunnel-visioned, myopic people on Earth. Baseball’s near-daily schedule intensifies that dynamic, reinforcing the head-down mentality. For as long as most big leaguers can remember, their lives have revolved around four bases and little else. These are elite athletes who, since adolescence, have been hellbent on squeezing the most out of their god-given gifts. Within that, success breeds greediness and feeds narcissism. There’s no “I” in “team,” but there is a “me.”“I think, growing up, all of us out here, our responsibility was to play baseball and be good at it,” Dodgers star Mookie Betts recently told Yahoo Sports.But for Betts, fatherhood transformed everything.“You're suddenly in charge of another human. Your roles and thought processes immediately change,” said Betts, who has three kids with his wife, Brianna. “It’s not really about you as much anymore. Of course, we come here and take care of our jobs and do what we need to do to be successful, but at the end of the day, this doesn’t compare to being a parent.”This is not a phenomenon particular to ballplayers. It’s how most parents delineate their lives: the before and the after. But given the relentless MLB calendar, being a big-league dad is a unique experience, one that many players say has helped them grow on and off the field.“The biggest thing is it kind of puts it all in perspective — it’s a game,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge, whose daughter, Nora, was born in January 2025, explained. “I’m out here giving my all to the New York Yankees, but 4-for-4 or 0-for-4, I come home, [and] I got a little girl smiling at me. She’s not looking at swings. She’s not looking at box scores.”So much of being a successful athlete is not letting today’s failures carry into tomorrow. Try as they might, it’s difficult for ballplayers to not allow on-field struggles to impact off-field temperament. A tough loss or a bad game lingers longer in an empty house. But when parenting takes precedence, it can push players into checking their attitudes and their strikeouts at the door. Compartmentalizing is easier when you have to change a diaper or you get to see a smile that looks like yours.“It can make it easier, that perspective, having that distraction at home,” 38-year-old Yankees slugger Paul Goldschmidt said. “But also it makes it tougher in the fact that you want to spend time with your family but need to go to work.”"That role, that responsibility takes on way more weight than any game you could ever play," Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts said of being a dad.Hassan Ahmad/Yahoo SportsPerforming at the highest level necessitates a number of sacrifices, chief of which might be forgoing an ordinary human existence. To be clear, there are millions of reasons to not feel sorry for these large men and their large houses, yet there is an inarguable cost to chasing athletic greatness. The time at the field, the time on the road, the time away. Missing first steps, first words, first days of school. That’s what gets left behind.“I hate to say, [but] it's also kind of part of this gig, you know?” Betts admitted. “Other people's jobs provide more opportunity to [be] with their families, but they may not provide the same opportunities of life that baseball can.”Those opportunities also allow for a level of support that most American parents cannot afford. But even though many MLB families pay for nannies or night nurses or babysitters, baseball wives still carry an unbalanced burden and perform a disproportionate amount of the parenting labor. That’s on display at the stadium after most games, with moms often wrangling multiple kids or rocking babies to sleep as they wait for their partners to emerge.There’s also the element of a professional life in the spotlight. For the sport’s bigger characters, their conduct and temperament exist under a microscope. Judge’s every word carries weight. When Betts speaks, people listen.For Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso, who spent the first seven years of his career in the New York pressure-cooker, becoming a dad made him more self-aware about how he carries himself in public.“When he grows up, how is he gonna see it?” Alonso said of his son, Finn, who was born last offseason. “Is Dad doing things the right way? How’s Dad acting? Because if I’m acting like an ass hat ... you know, I don’t want my son to act like an ass hat, so why should I?”Sometimes it’s simpler, more straightforward, to be a role model to the masses once you have a little one to be a role model to at home. Kids are also humbling little buggers, while fame can be an intoxicating thing. Children are often too young to understand the scale of it all; they don’t care who Dad is. That has the power to put things back into perspective.“I don’t think [my daughter understands who I am]. I think I kind of like it,” Betts admitted. “But my daughter now starts to ask, ‘Daddy, why does everybody want to take pictures with you?’ Or, ‘Why do they want you to sign stuff?’”Betts is as recognizable a figure as there is in today’s game. His success has fostered stardom and riches and notoriety and more opportunities than most people could dream of. With that comes a responsibility to perform on the diamond, to deliver for the fans indirectly paying for his contract. All of that is important to Betts, but it comes second to being a dad.“That role, that responsibility takes on way more weight than any game you could ever play.”

The United States Men’s National Team got some bad news an hour before kickoff as star man and captain Christian Pulisic was ruled out of action. “Christian is not available. The evolution is really well,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino told Fox ahead of the game.In his place, the Americans will rely on Ricardo Pepi, who plays for PSV in the Netherlands, to add some attacking punch to the lineup. He will be joining Florian Balogun as the two main points of attack for the USMNT. Pepi came in for Pulisic at halftime against Paraguay, meaning he already had some run during the World Cup. June 19, 2026; Seattle, Washington, U.S.; Christian Pulisic of the U.S. arrives at the stadium before the match. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn ImagesStill, it cannot be overstated how much of a loss this is. A matter of years ago, this would have made the United States absolutely weaker, but there is so much attacking talent that they can compensate very well.Pulisic, however, comes with a ton of experience and leadership, having seen some of the lowest points in American soccer and steered the team into a new golden age. Now, the team will need to show what they can do without him, and in terms of potential, they have the ability to thrive. Sadly, Pulisic will only be able to watch rather than join the fun himself. “Today, he was training in the morning in the camp and I’ve seen the feelings are good,” Pochettino added. “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 focussed on our team and the players that are going to play.“We have ahead a very important game and Australia is going to be really tough. A little bit sad because he wanted to stay, wanted to participate today.”With the World Cup being on home soil, the American does not need to go far for support. “I think mentally he’s great,” team leader and midfielder Weston McKennie said. “He’s being able to play in a World Cup, and he’s here on home soil. Family’s out here. We’re not staying at a bad hotel — I mean, we get to wake up and see the beach. So I think it’s really hard for someone’s mental game to be messed up in these type of conditions.”The post USMNT Lose Christian Pulisic vs. Australia in Devastating Blow appeared first on LA Sports Report.

LAS VEGAS – UFC Fight Night 279 weigh-ins took place Friday, and the fighters came face-to-face one final time before Saturday's event.The weigh-ins took place at the Meta APEX, which hosts Saturday's event (Paramount+). Check out the video above to see the athletes from all 12 scheduled matchups come face-to-face, and don't miss the photo gallery below.Photos: UFC Fight Night 279 weigh-ins, faceoffsufc-fight-night-las-vegas-manel-kape-vs-kyoji-horiguchi-weigh-ins-faceoffsCheck out these photos of the UFC Fight Night 279 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.Check out these photos of the UFC Fight Night 279 official weigh-ins and faceoffs at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. (Photos by Ken Hathaway, MMA Junkie)This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC Fight Night 279 weigh-in faceoff highlights video, photo gallery

Blue Jays reveal top trade deadline need, and it's not any one position originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Toronto Blue Jays, after coming so close to a World Series title in 2025, have gotten off to a rough start to the 2026 season so far.While they're in the postseason hunt right now, they really could use some help. With the MLB trade deadline a month and a half away, what could the Blue Jays do at the deadline?Well, according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Blue Jays revealed their top trade deadline need to him, and it's not one player. Instead, it's simply to get healthy and get some players back from injury.Blue Jays' top trade deadline need is simply to get healthy"The Blue Jays just want to get healthy, as they have not been at full strength all season, and they believe once they are, that they'll be right back in the race," Bowden writes.Looking across the Blue Jays roster, it's understandable why their top need by the trade deadline is to get healthy. Alejandro Kirk recently returned from injury, but there are still a lot of players currently banged up.Addison Bader and Daulton Varsho are both on the injured list, and Ernie Clement is now dealing with hip soreness, for another concerning injury this Blue Jays team has to manage.But the pitching staff might be worse off. They lost Cody Ponce early in the season and have also seen Bowden Francis and Jose Berrios get ruled out for the entire 2026 season.MORE:Tarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyUnfortunately, that's not all the injuries in the starting rotation. Shane Bieber has yet to pitch this season, and Max Scherzer has been bouncing between starting and landing on the injured list recently.While Toronto could use more help in the rotation, bullpen, and a right-handed hitter, their top deadline need in the Blue Jays' mind, according to Bowden, is to get healthy.The Blue Jays getting healthy would help fix a lot of the issues with the roster right now, and it's understandable why health is the top trade deadline need for this team, as opposed to one specific position or player.More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsEx-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 successCubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GMYankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

The company’s deep commitment to Mars colonization and Elon Musk’s nearly total control make SpaceX stock an astonishingly speculative bet, our columnist says.

Elmo resurfaced this week to announce his full support of the United States men’s national team before their Friday World Cup match against Australia. The “Sesame Street” star also made sure to emphasize that while he wanted the USMNT to win, he loves everybody, including the Aussies.Elmo also pointed out that he didn’t want his rooting interest to become national news after what happened during the NBA Finals.Prior to the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks tipping off, Elmo posted a message on social media hoping both teams had fun. That didn’t sit well with New Yorkers, who felt betrayed by one of their own. After all, Elmo was “born” in New York City and grew up during the 1990s when the franchise reached two NBA Finals.“Sesame Street” residents have been appearing on Fox during the World Cup. They have been promoting games, interviewing USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino and offering important advice to the players.After seeing some of the reactions to his fence-sitting, which came in social media replies and props brought to the Knicks championship parade this week, Elmo smartened up and picked a side.Much like what “Sesame Street” has provided for decades, lesson learned.

Sabalenka has won 24 WTA Tour-level singles titles [Getty Images]Aryna Sabalenka says she now knows "how it feels to play against me" as she claimed a much-needed comeback win over Nikola Bartunkova to reach the Berlin Open semi-finals.World number one Sabalenka found herself a set and 4-0 down after being overpowered in the early stages by talented Czech Bartunkova.The Belarusian was error-prone, irritable and anonymous on serve in a performance reminiscent of her surprise French Open quarter-final loss.However, Sabalenka steadied herself and refound her rhythm to come through 2-6 7-6 (7-2) 6-4.All four of Sabalenka's Grand Slam singles titles have come on hard courts, and she has had a number of near misses at both SW19 and Roland Garros.The 28-year-old was the favourite in Paris after a string of early exits but her loss to Diana Shnaider from 6-3 4-1 up in the last eight had some questioning her resilience.But this sort of victory - fighting back from a seemingly hopeless position - will give Sabalenka confidence before Wimbledon, where she reached the semi-finals last year."I did not know what to do. I was thinking woah, that's how it feels to play against me," Sabalenka said."Any ball I would give her she would smack it for a winner. What a player - a future superstar for sure."I just tried to bring this little tiger inside of me and fight for this match."Sabalenka will face world number four Jessica Pegula for a place in the final after the American beat good friend Madison Keys 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (10-8).Fery's Queen's run ended by Cerundolo in narrow lossDraper to return at Eastbourne with new coach MurrayBartunkova has had a breakthrough year, beating then world number 10 Belinda Bencic at the Australian Open and finishing runner-up at the grass court event in Birmingham earlier in June.Her flat strokes and booming return of serve confounded Sabalenka, who quickly found herself 5-1 down.Having lost four games in a row, Sabalenka saved four set points on her serve and had two break-back points as Bartunkova tried to close out the opener - only for the 20-year-old to fire two huge first serves beyond her.The world number 62 let out a huge scream of celebration as she took the lead, and her positive play allowed her to take the first four games of the second set.Sabalenka's serve had barely been a factor - one hit the frame of the racquet and sailed out of court at one point - until she held to love to get on the board.Although she had to save another break point, Sabalenka won the next five games to get in front for the first time in the match before taking the tie-break.Momentum swung in the final set, with Sabalenka twice being wrestled back from a break up, but a huge forehand winner set her up to serve for the match at 5-4.Two match points came and went before a trademark forehand cross-court secured victory for the top seed.While the gritty victory will please Sabalenka, she was also icing her right shoulder at the changeovers - an injury that ruled her out of Wimbledon two years ago.Elsewhere, world number two and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Bad Homburg Open with a hip issue.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

TAMPA, Florida (AP) — Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will have his family close by when his team takes on Uruguay on Sunday, days after his standout performance against Spain turned him into one of the most talked about players of the World Cup.The 40-year-old was named player of the match in Cape Verde’s goalless draw on Monday, a display that brought him international attention and a surge in popularity on social media.Among the fans cheering him on in the U.S. are his father, Jose Pedro Dias, and brother, Delmiro Évora Nascimento, who also is a soccer player. Vozinha’s mother, who had initially faced difficulties obtaining a visa, is also expected to arrive in the United States ahead of Sunday’s game.Speaking before Thursday’s training session at Cape Verde’s training base in Tampa, Vozinha said having his family nearby was one of the most meaningful aspects of his World Cup experience.“They always support me in everything I do, so having my mother here is something special. My father is here too, and my brother as well, so I’m very happy,” he said.Vozinha’s full name is Josimar José Évora Dias. His father said he was named after Josimar, a defender in Brazil’s squad in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.“I watched the matches and fell in love with the Brazilian national team,” Dias said. “I really enjoyed it and there were a few players who stood out; one of them was Josimar, a right-back, who scored two goals and really made his mark at that World Cup.”Like other fans cheering on the team at its training base in Tampa, Dias was beaming with pride over Cape Verde’s successful start to its first ever World Cup.“As a father, I feel immense pride. All Cape Verdeans right now feel proud to be Cape Verdean and of Cape Verde’s current performance; it’s something we could never have imagined would be possible,” he said.Vozinha’s brother agreed.“I’ve no words to describe this moment,” he said. “We just have to live it because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime moment for a professional footballer – to be at the World Cup, to play against Spain, to put in the performance he did.”RVs full of Cape Verde fans, dressed in the blue of the nation’s flag and adorned with matching beach hats and flags as capes, arrived in the small parking lot outside the training ground in Tampa.One of them, Benjamin Ferrera, called the draw with Spain “unbelievable.”“I don’t have words for it, because nobody expected it. We are just 500,000 people on small islands. To be on this type of stage with the world watching us is just magnificent,” he said.Ferrera was born in Cape Verde but now lives in Massachusetts, which hosts the largest portion of the Cape Verdean diaspora in the United States and is sometimes called Cape Verde’s 11th island.He is also part of the security team at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, one of the host venues at this year’s tournament.“We’re all about joy,” Ferrera said. “When I grew up, I always heard that Cape Verde doesn’t have football, that we would never make a World Cup. Today I’m proud to say we’re here and we are going to make history.”The archipelago nation off the west coast of Africa was the only one of the four debutants at the tournament to avoid defeat in its first game. If you ask Andreia Levy, an organizer for the Cape Verde supporters’ group, 12 Sharks, it was fate.“Of course, I trusted the guys,” she said. “We knew that it was possible to do something here.”___Zach Pascuzzi is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

ATHENS − The title sequence had barely passed when a voice emerged from the back of the theater, cutting through a brief moment of stillness.“I’m already crying!”These were just the opening moments of the 28-minute film "42 Days: The Grayson Pope Story," which was shown to an audience dressed in orange at the Athens Movie Palace on June 18. The film, produced by Tennessee students Alexie Cowan and Luke Attal, details Grayson Pope’s recovery from an accident that nearly cost him his life and upended his plans to play for Tennessee baseball.Pope, a native Tennessean who grew up just outside of Birmingham, Alabama, committed to play for the Vols as an outfielder in the class of 2025 just weeks before the accident.On June 6, 2023, Pope was playing golf with friends when pop-up storm blew down an oak tree that landed on Pope’s golf cart. He suffered life-threatening brain trauma that caused brain bleeds, swelling and damage to his brain stem.There were moments when doctors weren’t sure he was going to make it. He spent 42 days at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, initially in a coma unable to breathe on his own.But Pope fought and became more alert and responsive. Doctors used familiar stimuli to engage his senses during his recovery, like running his fingers over the seams of a baseball and having him smell pine tar.He eventually was discharged from UAB and transferred to the Shepherd Center rehabilitation center in Atlanta, where he relearned how to walk, talk and eat. As Pope started to regain his independence, he eyed a return to the game he loved.Pope returned to the baseball diamond for his senior night in high school and was able to walk to first base after being intentionally walked. Then it came time for college.Pope wouldn’t be able to play for Tennessee, but coaches Tony Vitello and Josh Elander had stayed in contact with him throughout his recovery and were committed to honoring his scholarship. He spent his freshman year in 2026 with the team.“We don’t take an offer or recruiting anybody lightly,” Elander said in the film. “If we’re going to invite you into the family, we wanted it to be a match.”The documentary, which is available to watch on YouTube, first premiered on May 6 with a screening on UT’s campus.“That was their only day off (that week) and I would say almost the whole baseball team was there,” said Cowan, who graduated from UT in May. “Just hearing them rave in the interviews about him and how awesome a fit he was to the team was really inspiring to see.”Pope couldn’t make this showing because he had doctor’s appointments, but before the film he appeared on the screen wearing a Tennessee baseball shirt in a prerecorded video thanking the audience for coming.The film was particularly moving for some in the audience, like Marsha Masengil of nearby Englewood. Her son Jeremy was in a car accident about two decades ago that required a similar recovery to Pope and also included time at the Shepherd Center. She could see him in Pope, especially in scenes when tubes and monitors surrounded him in the hospital.She also saw another link – their positive spirit and determination to recover.“They have their stories. Everybody has their story,” Masengil said. “Nobody’s story is perfect, but that’s just the way it is. Things sometimes happen to the best.”Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Grayson Pope's journey in Tennessee student film about accident, recovery

ATHENS − The title sequence had barely passed when a voice emerged from the back of the theater, cutting through a brief moment of stillness.“I’m already crying!”These were just the opening moments of the 28-minute film "42 Days: The Grayson Pope Story," which was shown to an audience dressed in orange at the Athens Movie Palace on June 18. The film, produced by Tennessee students Alexie Cowan and Luke Attal, details Grayson Pope’s recovery from an accident that nearly cost him his life and upended his plans to play for Tennessee baseball.Pope, a native Tennessean who grew up just outside of Birmingham, Alabama, committed to play for the Vols as an outfielder in the class of 2025 just weeks before the accident.On June 6, 2023, Pope was playing golf with friends when pop-up storm blew down an oak tree that landed on Pope’s golf cart. He suffered life-threatening brain trauma that caused brain bleeds, swelling and damage to his brain stem.There were moments when doctors weren’t sure he was going to make it. He spent 42 days at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, initially in a coma unable to breathe on his own.But Pope fought and became more alert and responsive. Doctors used familiar stimuli to engage his senses during his recovery, like running his fingers over the seams of a baseball and having him smell pine tar.He eventually was discharged from UAB and transferred to the Shepherd Center rehabilitation center in Atlanta, where he relearned how to walk, talk and eat. As Pope started to regain his independence, he eyed a return to the game he loved.Pope returned to the baseball diamond for his senior night in high school and was able to walk to first base after being intentionally walked. Then it came time for college.Pope wouldn’t be able to play for Tennessee, but coaches Tony Vitello and Josh Elander had stayed in contact with him throughout his recovery and were committed to honoring his scholarship. He spent his freshman year in 2026 with the team.“We don’t take an offer or recruiting anybody lightly,” Elander said in the film. “If we’re going to invite you into the family, we wanted it to be a match.”The documentary, which is available to watch on YouTube, first premiered on May 6 with a screening on UT’s campus.“That was their only day off (that week) and I would say almost the whole baseball team was there,” said Cowan, who graduated from UT in May. “Just hearing them rave in the interviews about him and how awesome a fit he was to the team was really inspiring to see.”Pope couldn’t make this showing because he had doctor’s appointments, but before the film he appeared on the screen wearing a Tennessee baseball shirt in a prerecorded video thanking the audience for coming.The film was particularly moving for some in the audience, like Marsha Masengil of nearby Englewood. Her son Jeremy was in a car accident about two decades ago that required a similar recovery to Pope and also included time at the Shepherd Center. She could see him in Pope, especially in scenes when tubes and monitors surrounded him in the hospital.She also saw another link – their positive spirit and determination to recover.“They have their stories. Everybody has their story,” Masengil said. “Nobody’s story is perfect, but that’s just the way it is. Things sometimes happen to the best.”Emmett Siegel covers Tennessee baseball for Knox News. Email: emmett.siegel@knoxnews.com; X: @EmmettSiegel_This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Grayson Pope's journey in Tennessee student film about accident, recovery

Lewis Steele rules out Liverpool move for Premier League starLiverpool Links to Micky van de Ven Played Down by Lewis SteeleLiverpool’s search for defensive depth was one of the more intriguing threads in the latest Media Matters podcast from Anfield Index, where Dave Davis and Lewis Steele discussed transfer priorities beyond the headline pursuit of Yan Diomande.One name raised was Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven, a player long admired by sections of the Liverpool fanbase. Yet Steele was careful to cool the idea that this is currently a live or advanced Liverpool move.Van de Ven Talk Loses MomentumDavis framed the discussion by referencing reports from Holland about “Liverpool or Barcelona” interest in Van de Ven, while also noting that other journalists had pushed back on the claim.“Alex Crook shot that down. Fabrizio Romano’s now shot that down,” Davis said, before moving the discussion towards other defensive names.That led Steele to offer a cautious view on Van de Ven. His assessment was not that Liverpool had no need for a centre half, but that this particular link did not appear to be gathering pace.“We’ve seen the Van de Ven stuff but it doesn’t sound like that’s a go,” Steele said.He then suggested the source of the noise could be elsewhere.“I do think that’s maybe pushed a bit from the agent side,” Steele added.Agent Angle Raises DoubtsSteele went further by pointing out a possible reason the speculation had emerged.“He shares an agent with a couple of Liverpool players actually,” he said, before clarifying, “or Gravenberch anyway.”That observation matters because transfer windows are often filled with stories designed to create leverage. Steele did not present Van de Ven as a Liverpool priority. Instead, he suggested the speculation may have another purpose.“I do wonder if that is where that’s coming from to get a new Spurs deal,” Steele said.For Liverpool supporters hoping for a major move for Van de Ven, that was a clear note of caution. The player’s profile is obvious enough. Davis referenced that Van de Ven is “a Liverpool fan” and that “if everything was equal, he wants to come to Liverpool,” but the discussion made clear that admiration and action are very different things.Photo: IMAGODefensive Need Still ClearAlthough Steele played down Van de Ven specifically, he did not dismiss Liverpool’s need for another defender. In fact, the opposite came through strongly.“I think they do need to sign a centre-back but it is a bit quiet on that front at the moment,” Steele said.Earlier in the conversation, he explained why Liverpool’s defensive situation remains uncertain.“Konate’s left, we’re not sure how good Leon is going to be and how fit he’s going to be able to keep himself after missing nearly a year,” he said.He also questioned how quickly another defender could adjust.“We’re not sure how quickly Jeremy Jacquet is going to settle into the Premier League and English football.”That leaves Liverpool with a difficult balance. Virgil van Dijk remains central, but Steele warned about the lack of Premier League certainty around those behind him.“You think they probably do need to sign a defender, but it is a bit quiet.”Liverpool May Look ElsewhereDavis then turned the conversation to Crystal Palace defender Max Lacroix, asking whether that name remained viable. Steele’s answer was again cautious, but less dismissive than his response on Van de Ven.“I’ve not had it shot down. Definitely not. I’ve not had it shot up either if that’s a concept.”He added that Liverpool had “definitely looked at him in the past,” while stressing that “in the past is probably the key thing there.”The overall picture from Anfield Index was clear. Liverpool may need a centre back, but Micky van de Ven does not appear to be a serious current pursuit based on Steele’s information. As he put it, “it doesn’t sound like that’s a go.”For now, the Tottenham defender looks more like transfer window noise than a developing Liverpool move.

President Donald Trump has allegedly been subject to offensive chants by some Australian soccer fans -Credit:BASTIEN OHIER, Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty ImagesAustralian soccer fans have made their feelings on President Donald Trump abundantly clear ahead of their FIFA World Cup game against the U.S. Men's National Team.The World Cup has a substantial Trump-sized cloud looming over the tournament as it takes place across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He is scheduled to assume an unusually prominent role in the trophy presentation at next month's final in New York/New Jersey.While USMNT legend Tim Howard rejected the notion that Trump could disrupt the World Cup, his influence on the competition is evident. Ahead of Australia's encounter with the USMNT in a crucial Group D matchup, worries are surfacing that the visiting supporters could ridicule the president yet again, as per The Mirror US.FIFA World Cup referee under investigation for alleged 'white supremacy' gestureEx-England star labels Ronaldinho's 2002 World Cup brilliance 'just beautiful football'Australia is set to take on the U.S. Men's National Team in Seattle on Friday -Credit:Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesLast week, when Australia secured an impressive 2-0 win over Turkiye thanks to goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, their fans went viral for their anti-Trump chants during gatherings and excursions. In footage posted to social media, hundreds of Australian supporters in green and gold are heard singing: "Aussie boys are on a bender, Donald Trump is a s-- offender."The chant spotlights Trump's alleged connections to trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, which are back under scrutiny. Recent releases of the Epstein files from the U.S. Justice Department reveal multiple mentions of Trump, including flight records indicating he traveled on Epstein's private aircraft in the 1990s.Trump has not been charged with any Epstein-related crimes and has denied any involvement with his criminal activity.Given that the USMNT secured a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, Friday's encounter between the two nations at Lumen Field in Seattle will play a significant role in determining the group winner. It remains to be seen whether the Australian supporters will continue bringing the chant into the venue.To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HEREWhile Australia is a close U.S. ally, Trump remains deeply divisive across the globe. He is naturally a representation of the nation, and an easy target for opposing supporters - particularly at a sporting event like the World Cup, where trash talk is so common.Trump also previously had a very public dispute with then-Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The 80-year-old maintains a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and their bond could prompt the organization to crack down on any supporters who sing the chant at Seattle Stadium.According to World Cup regulations, offensive and political chanting in stadiums is prohibited. FIFA also maintains a separate three-step protocol that permits referees to halt or even abandon matches when racist or homophobic slurs don't cease.This chant is neither racist nor homophobic, though, so it's uncertain whether such measures can be implemented in this case.Australia faces the USMNT on Friday, June 19, in Seattle.

Josh Conerly doesn’t look how he did last year. That’s not to say last year’s first-round NFL draft pick was a slouch during his rookie campaign. The right tackle from Oregon played relatively well. He was already built right, but there’s something different about his body comp and his mindset heading into the 2026 campaign. That’s no coincidence. Conerly spent a large chunk of his offseason working with elite Commanders left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who has a workout program that doesn’t miss. Tunsil spends most of his time in Tunsil’s native Auburn, Alabama, working with his own team and to great effect. Conerly showed up to Washington’s offseason program in excellent shape. Tunsil was not surprised. “Come on, now. That’s ‘Bama,” Tunsil said Wednesday in a post-practice scrum with on-site reporters, via 7News reporter Scott Abraham. “That’s us working our asses off. That’s us working every day. Every single day, we ate right. We ate protein for lunch and breakfast. No carbs for dinner. There were supplements every day. We established a routine that we had to live by to change our body.” Laremy Tunsil spoke with us after today's practice.On Jayden, "Dog. I don't really have much to say about 5 man. He's going to get it done."How he defines being a dog? Laremy said, "somebody who wants it. Somebody who's dying just to be great each and every day." pic.twitter.com/bpFi0EAhv3— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) June 17, 2026Tunsil doesn’t work with the team for most of the offseason program, but the organization doesn’t mind. His workout program is legendary, and he always returns to the team in elite condition. Tunsil made a point to show up for the first week of OTAs this time, and again for minicamp. That’s a small sign that he cares about learning David Blough’s new offensive system and helping to develop younger Commanders offensive linemen. Teacher and the pupil.Laremy Tunsil and Josh Conerly Jr. pic.twitter.com/BxEr2rV1Mv— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) June 16, 2026“We’re going to attack a little bit more than we did last year, in the sense of a lot of things,” Tunsil said. “It helps Jayden, it helps the receivers and it helps us.” Tunsil was seen several times counseling Conerly, helping to mold him into a better player. They kept working after practice and without coaches, as Tunsil refines the young tackle’s game. Josh Conerly got some extra coaching after practice today from Laremy Tunsil pic.twitter.com/IVpKYs2WoX— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) June 16, 2026Tunsil considers Conerly a “dawg.” Tunsil called teammates “dawgs” several times, using the term endearingly and with affection. He used it for quarterback Jayden Daniels. He used it for Conerly. Others would use it for him. What exactly does “dawg” mean to him? “Somebody who wants it,” Tunsil said. “Somebody who is dying to be great each and every day. Somebody who simply has to get one percent better. That’s who I think a dog is.”

USA vs. Australia Score, Live Updates, Highlights From 2026 World Cup Match originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.All eyes are on Seattle's Lumen Field as the United States host Australia for its second game in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.The United States opened its World Cup in historic fashion, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in the opener; Folarin Balogun's brace made him the first American to score multiple goals in a World Cup game since 1930. Between Balogun and Christian Pulisic — who is available for today's matchup after injuring his calf against Paraguay — the United States boast an attack as lethal as its had in years.Australia also opened the tournament with a win, defeating Turkey 2-0, meaning this afternoon's winner will go atop Group D. With three points, the United States can clinch a spot in the knockout stages, depending on other results. Though, the focus is squarely on Seattle, where Mauricio Pochettino's squad will look to take control of the group.Get ready for one of the best environments at the World Cup as the United States welcomes in Australia in Seattle. Follow along right here for the latest updates and highlights from the World Cup match between Team USA and Australia.USA vs. Australia score12FUSAAustraliaUSA vs. Australia live updates, highlights from 2026 World Cup2:51 p.m.: The teams are about to come out of the tunnel. With a win, the U.S. advances to the knockout stages; with Australia winning its opener, the winner of the game will also take the top of Group D into Matchday 3.2:43 p.m.: It's almost time.There's tremendous excitement and an amazing atmosphere in Seattle as fans prepare to march to Lumen Field for the US national team's second match against Australia.pic.twitter.com/AnxQuRjap2— The thinker man (@kwekuedilson) June 19, 2026With a win, the United States would clinch a spot in the knockout stages.2:35 p.m.: The fans are ready in Seattle.🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅 pic.twitter.com/Kg5EH7iKxC— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 20262:25 p.m.: Warmups are underway in Seattle, with kickoff under an hour away.Here we go! pic.twitter.com/qSzafoHEFy— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 20262:15 p.m.: Here is the starting lineup for today's match. Pochettino keeps 10 of 11 starters, with Ricardo Pepi taking the spot of Pulisic.STARTING IN SEATTLE! 🫡#USMNT x The @HomeDepotpic.twitter.com/wqyncaR7SS— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 19, 20262:06 p.m.: After the opener in Los Angeles, the United States heads north for today's matchup at Lumen Field in Seattle. Look at the environment before kickoff.🗣️ U-S-A pic.twitter.com/XaPBL4bPnC— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 19, 20262:00 p.m.: The biggest news of today's clash is that Christian Pulisic will not feature. Pulisic suffered a calf injury in the first half of the opener against Paraguay and is not fit to go. EXCLUSIVE: USA star Christian Pulisic is OUT today with a calf injury against Australia and Ricardo Pepi will get the start, USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino tells FOX Sports’ @JennyTaft. pic.twitter.com/ZobSiOfjYx— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026Here is what coach Mauricio Pochettino had to say about the USMNT's star.How to watch USA vs. Australia: TV channel, live streamTV channel: FOXLive stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/websiteThis match will air nationally on FOX in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)USA vs. Australia start timeDate: Friday, June 19Time: 3 p.m. ETUSA vs. Australia is scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Friday, June 19. The game will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle.World Cup schedule today and tomorrow(All times Eastern)Friday, June 19USA vs. Australia (3 p.m.)Scotland vs. Morocco (6 p.m.)Brazil vs. Haiti (8:30 p.m.)Turkey vs. Paraguay (11 p.m.)Saturday, June 20Netherlands vs. Sweden (1 p.m.)Germany vs. Ivory Coast (4 p.m.)Ecuador vs. Curaçao (8 p.m.)MORE:Complete World Cup schedule and fixtures2026 FIFA World Cup FAQsWhen is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men's World Cup hosted by three countries.The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock.When is the 2026 World Cup final?The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA's tournament name for MetLife Stadium.What time do World Cup games start?Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.

Whether it takes place at Wembley Stadium, inside Las Vegas' MGM Grand, or outside my front yard, it's still five years too late.That's really all I have to say about Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. But I have a few hundred more words to play with, so let me explain why.The colossal all-British showdown should've happened — at the latest — in 2021, when the two heavyweights occupied all four belts in boxing's blue-ribbon division. But we missed the boat on what should've been the most important fight in British boxing history. Don't get me wrong, when Fury and Joshua finally lace up the gloves later this year, it will still be the biggest fight Britain has ever seen, or the U.S. has ever seen involving two British fighters — I'll go more into that later — but nothing can hide the fact that it is no longer a meaningful matchup.Fury and Joshua could hang up the gloves at the conclusion of 2026, and it wouldn't really come as much of a shock. Fury has done it about eight times already, to be fair. Back to the point, though, the fight no longer has much value. It is a cash grab. In all likelihood, five years down the line, no one will be reminiscing about it. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have teased this same song and dance for years.Mark Robinson via Getty ImagesCase in point: Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook. That fight could've been made for about a decade during the 2010s, and England would've come to a standstill. Instead, they chose to do it at the end of their careers. It was still massive, but by the time it happened, it was also pointless. Both men retired after the fight, and nobody in Britain has ever mentioned it again — well, not really, but you get the idea. It's been forgotten already. That is probably what's going to happen to Fury vs. Joshua. It will be one of those fights that marks the end of an era — an era of disappointment. An era of over-marination. An era of lost fights.It is an absolute travesty that we never got to see Fury, Joshua and Deontay Wilder all share the ring at the peak of their powers. Instead, boxing gave us only one side of that triangle — the trilogy between Fury and Wilder, probably the most memorable series of fights in the past decade of the sport. Imagine if we had gotten that again with Joshua and Wilder and with the two Brits.Let me take you all the way back to 2010, to a sparring session between a rising contender named after a great heavyweight from the ‘80s and Britain's next hope for an Olympic gold medal. "He rushed out at me, he threw a one-two and left hook and — bash — he hit me with an uppercut right on the point of the chin," Fury recalled to the BBC of sparring Joshua. "If I'd had a weak chin like David Price, I'd have been knocked out for a month.""He's very, very, very good and he's only young. Watch out for that name, Anthony Joshua, he is one prospect for the future."And Fury called it just right. Joshua went on to win Olympic gold after that interview and quickly established himself as a force in the paid ranks of the heavyweight division.In 2015, Fury upset the odds against Wladimir Klitschko, capturing three heavyweight world titles and ending a disappointing period for the division. He was forced to vacate the IBF belt, which Joshua picked up five months later against Charles Martin.Two Brits under the age of 30 suddenly had three of the championships in boxing's glamor division. The stage was perfectly set for the biggest all-British fight in more than 20 years. But it never happened. Instead, Fury was out of the ring for almost three years due to mental health struggles and his prolonged case with UK Anti-Doping.Tyson Fury won his first world titles in 2015. Anthony Joshua followed suit in 2016.Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty ImagesIt was disappointing not to see the contest materialize, however it may have been for the best. The fight became infinitely bigger in 2021 after Joshua's stardom had gone through the roof and Fury was coming off a win over Wilder. Both Brits had all four belts now, and the meeting was set to be the sport’s first post-pandemic superfight. Months of negotiations ensued, and finally a deal was reached. Then an 11th-hour courtroom verdict ordering Fury to face Wilder in a trilogy shattered the dreams of millions of Brits. Fury overcame Wilder in a third meeting that will go down as a fight for the ages, but two weeks prior, Joshua lost his belts to heavyweight newcomer Oleksandr Usyk — and suddenly Britain's sporting event of the century was no more.It has since taken four years, three new British prime ministers, and at least two Fury retirements for the pair to stop circling one another and finally decide to fight. More than 15 years after their names were first linked and more than a decade after both were simultaneously heavyweight champions, they are finally choosing to get it on.But now it is too late. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are finally expected to fight sometime in late 2026.John Walton - PA Images via Getty ImagesOne fighter will be 38 years old and the other 37 by the time they clash. Fury vs. Joshua could've been this generation's Chris Eubank Sr. vs. Nigel Benn, but instead it has ended up as the next Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. A fight postponed to the final stretch of both men's careers — although Pacquiao is still somehow getting the better of welterweight champions — where the eventual in-ring action risks turning off a generation of potential boxing fans.So if Turki Alalshikh and Dana White and whoever else wants to take Fury vs. Joshua to the United States, so be it. Because I'm tired of hearing about Fury and Joshua. Let them fight, retire, and we can move on to the next generation of heavyweights — hopefully ones who actually want to fight when it matters.Here's hoping Daniel Dubois and Moses Itauma fill the void Fury and Joshua have left with their career decisions.And if that doesn't work, who knows? Maybe Joshua or Fury will come out of retirement in 10 years, fight Saul “Canelo” Alvarez in an exhibition bout, and then we can have the geriatric Brits rematch on Netflix?

According to an unsigned statement from the State Department, the U.S. will phase out support for H.I.V. prevention and treatment in South Africa.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Canada midfielder Ismaël Koné had surgery after breaking the tibia and fibula in his left leg at the World Cup.The 24-year-old Koné, coming off his first season with Italian club Sassuolo, was hurt during a tackle from behind by Assim Madibo during the 51st minute of Thursday’s 6-0 win over Qatar.The Canada Soccer Association said Friday that Koné had surgery on Thursday night.Madibo received a red card. He apologized in person to Koné after the game.“You can’t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers,” Koné posted on Instagram.“To Canadian brothers, as I turned myself into (an) assistant coach to support you from the sideline. I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart and our brotherhood is everything to me,” he added. “What you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever. I’ll be back very soon and we’ll keep making more memories together.”___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Majay Thompson let his official visits play out before making one of the biggest decisions of his life.Just a few days after wrapping up his trip to Tallahassee, the dynamic playmaker from Shelby (N.C.) Crest decided he wanted to be a Seminole. He has committed to Florida State over Wake Forest and Georgia.“It was a really tough decision,” Thompson told Rivals. “At the end of the day, relationships play a big part in my recruitment. All three schools showed me a lot of love, not just from the position coach but from the entire coaching staff.“The final decision came after I visited Florida State last weekend. I’d probably say a couple days ago is when I knew for sure. After I took my last visit, it took me about two days to process everything, talk it through with my family and my agent. I just went with my heart.”[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]Wake Forest ultimately finished second in his recruitment, while Georgia rounded out the top three. He almost committed to the Bulldogs earlier this spring, but held off. The Seminoles took advantage of that. “I’d say just the tradition behind it, the guys that have gone through there, and all that have been successful put Florida State on top. The receiver coach (Tim Harris) is also the offensive coordinator, and the head coach (Mike Norvell) played my position as well, so they know a lot about it. Then just the environment — it’s a real college town. I just loved it there.”Florida State had already positioned itself near the top after Thompson’s spring visit, but one lingering question remained.“The coaching stability,” he said. “That was really the one thing I needed answered. Coach Norvell answered all those questions on my official visit. I believe he is going to be there and turn things around.”Norvell was a big part of this decision. “I like the way he carries himself,” Thompson said. “He keeps everything real. He doesn’t try to tell you what you want to hear. Coach Norvell just tells you to keep being yourself and work to achieve what you want. That’s what I like most about him.”That time with Norvell, Harris and the people at Florida State last weekend was key. His official visit provided that reassurance.“I went on my official visit to Georgia and thought, ‘This might be the one,’” Thompson admitted. “I almost committed. But I told myself to take the rest of my visits, have something to compare it to and make my final decision after my last official visit.“That was best for me. I am glad I didn’t rush it. After weighing my options, Florida State fits me best.”

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders was slotted near the bottom of Brett McMurphy's Big 12 coach rankings heading into the 2026 season, a placement that will likely stir debate in Boulder and among the conference. Sanders came in at No. 15, ahead of only first-year Kansas State coach Collin Klein in the 16-team league.The ranking reflects Colorado's rough results under Sanders, who has gone 16-21 since taking over the Buffaloes ahead of the 2023 season. Still, it is a surprising spot for a coach who turned the Buffs into one of the most-watched programs in the country and delivered a 9-4 season in 2024.Colorado's track record under SandersSanders' first season started fast as Colorado opened 3-0 in 2023 with wins over TCU, Nebraska and Colorado State, briefly becoming the biggest story in college football. The season faded quickly after that, and the Buffaloes finished 4-8.Colorado bounced back in 2024, going 9-3 and reaching the Alamo Bowl. Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy, and Shedeur Sanders earned Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors. But 2025 was another setback, as the Buffs fell back to 3-9 and missed a bowl game.NEW: Big 12 head football coach rankings👀(via @Brett_McMurphy) https://t.co/RkSS9lROw7pic.twitter.com/IHQZ3ePMIq— On3 (@On3) June 18, 2026Ranking debateOn3 placed BYU's Kalani Sitake at No. 1, followed by Kenny Dillingham (Arizona State), Joey McGuire (Texas Tech), Sonny Dykes (TCU) and Willie Fritz (Houston). The most notable part of the list for Colorado is that Sanders was ranked behind Utah's Morgan Scalley, despite Scalley entering his first season as a collegiate head coach.That is where the argument starts, as Colorado's recent results have been poor, Sanders has already proven he can win at a high level in Boulder. The bigger question now is whether 2026 becomes the season that pushes the Buffaloes back toward a bowl game and changes how the rest of the league and college football view Coach Prime.Follow James Carnes on Facebook, Instagram, and X.Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Deion Sanders ranked No. 15 in Big 12 head coach rankings for 2026

The United States Men's National Team might be facing concerns about Christian Pulisic's lingering calf injury, but his expected replacement has been preparing for this moment his entire life. As Mauricio Pochettino's side announced its replacement for Pulisic, the nod ultimately went to Ricardo Pepi, who'll now earn a World Cup start against Australia in Friday's pivotal 2026 World Cup clash. The 23-year-old PSV Eindhoven striker has proven his potential and also that he's ready for this moment with strong play building up to the 2026 World Cup. Pepi's emergence came early in his career, when he was scouted by FC Dallas at just 13 years old to join the club's youth academy. Demonstrating a professional mindset and an obviously impressive work ethic, he has achieved impressive results throughout his career.Ricardo Pepi's professional debut kicked off with a hat trickPepi was the first signing for the FC Dallas affiliate club in USL League One, North Texas FC. His professional debut for the club came on March 30, 2019, when he scored in a hat-trick in a 3-2 victory over the Chattanoogan Red Wolves. This performance was followed up by a match against Forward Madison, in which Pepi scored in stoppage time to give his squad a 1-0 victory.Shortly after, Pepi received a call to join the international U-17 squad. He proceeded to join FC Dallas in 2019 and has since played with FC Augsburg, Groningen on loan, and currently, PSV Eindhoven.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic's replacement, scouted by pro club at age 13

Justin Verlander's return to Comerica Park will have to wait.Verlander, 43, scheduled to start Sunday's series finale against the Chicago White Sox, will instead remain on the injured list. Keider Montero will take his turn instead.This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers' Justin Verlander scratched from Sunday start

Ahead of Pride demonstrations this month, two U.K. stores put up window art that supported trans people who had scars from top surgery, one at a LUSH store, and another at an Amnesty bookstore. This particularly angered anti-trans freelance journalist and campaigner Janet Murray, who has raged against the displays on social media, called for the removal of one of them, and riled up other anti-trans activists online. In an open letter posted to X addressing LUSH and Chelmsford Council, Murray noted that she had “half a breast removed last year due to cancer,” and that she wanted the mural removed because “mastectomies are not a fashion statement, an identity marker or something to be celebrated.” Refusing to acknowledge trans masc identities, Murray mused that she didn’t know “the number of women who have elective mastectomies” to “affirm a gender identity.” Related Trans menstruators event moved after extremists target it with hate Many commenters responded to Murray’s letter criticizing her choice to “stoop so low in furtherance of your transphobic agenda that you invoke survivors of breast cancer as a weapon,” and noting that “not everything is about you.” However, other anti-trans campaigners took up the call, with right-wing columnist Julia Hartley-Brewer reposting the letter with an image of the mural and claiming that it was encouraging teen girls to “CUT OFF THEIR HEALTHY BREASTS in the name of trans pride.” Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Ugh. This is DISGUSTING @LushLtd. Teenage girls love to shop in your stores and here you are happily encouraging them to CUT OFF THEIR HEALTHY BREASTS in the name of trans pride. This is beyond repulsive. It's dangerous and sick. No parent should allow their child near your… https://t.co/yfhuGGtL82 pic.twitter.com/h9fRSCXRl5— Julia Hartley-Brewer (@JuliaHB1) June 14, 2026 In the ensuing attacks on trans rights and support, Murray reposted and amplified a picture posted by “TransgenderTrend” of a display in the window of The Amnesty bookshop in Kentish Town. Among a group of people, one person is depicted with top surgery scars with a trans flag above their head. The account criticized the art as “dangerous and irresponsible messaging” and said that “Amnesty’s message to vulnerable young women: get your healthy breasts surgically removed and you can be one of the cool crowd too.” Amnesty's message to vulnerable young women: get your healthy breasts surgically removed and you can be one of the cool crowd too.Amnesty bookshop in Kentish Town uses this dangerous and irresponsible messaging to celebrate Pride.With a backdrop of the trans flag of course. pic.twitter.com/8RFHH1hKyd— TransgenderTrend (@Transgendertrd) June 16, 2026 The display at LUSH, created by queer nonbinary artist Bucky Ringsell, depicts a tiger with pink top surgery scars whose stripes are in the colors of the trans flag. It comes with the slogan “Proud of my stripes.” Both LUSH and Amnesty have a long history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights. In a statement to LGBTQ Nation, Ringsell explained their design and highlighted the way that the anti-trans brigade has co-opted it for their hate. “I designed and painted this tiger to support and represent trans people who have undergone top surgery — myself included. Often, trans bodies are policed, with healthcare being increasingly hard to access. On top of this, the surgeries undertaken by trans individuals often leave considerable scarring, which can be seen societally as undesirable or something to be ashamed of. This design is meant to combat that – Being proud of your surgical scars is something everyone can take inspiration from, regardless of your journey.” “People who want to revoke rights from trans and queer folks will co-opt absolutely anything to get their abhorrent opinions across. This time, unfortunately, it was a mural made with love and compassion. If you’re so blinded by hate that you need to twist the intentions and message of a Pride mural, I fear you’re beyond help. Trans bodies are beautiful, and they deserve to be portrayed and celebrated. If you don’t like it, don’t look.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bucky Ringsell (@your_pal_bucky) Dr. Helen Webberley, who founded Gender GP, an online gender service, and who has been vocal in support of trans rights, responded to Hartley-Brewer’s alarmist take, saying what most people were thinking. “Calm yourself my love. No teenage girls are having their healthy breasts removed, just teenage boys are having their gynaecomastia resolved so they can live in freedom in their bodies.” Calm yourself my love. No teenage girls are having their healthy breasts removed, just teenage boys are having their gynaecomastia resolved so they can live in freedom in their bodies. Also – BTW – puberty blockers prevent the need for top surgery – FYI Oh and well done to… https://t.co/CFqpoW8xCj— Dr Helen Webberley (she/her) (@HelenWebberley) June 15, 2026 Murray has leaned hard into anti-trans activism over the last year or two. In her recent posts, she has rejected claims that gender-affirming care is life-saving, cited the Cass Review as a defense, and reposted comments from renowned transphobe Graham Linehan. While her website cites work with The Guardian, the BBC, and The Telegraph, she has no credits with The Guardian since 2017, and doesn’t appear as an author for the BBC in searches. Murray’s regular work for The Telegraph only began in March, and all six of her pieces since then focus on anti-trans talking points. Her more regular work is for far-right sites such as Spiked and UnHerd, and her most recent Substack piece commemorates being “canceled” last year for a video complaining about the phrase “pregnant people.” Murray may be best known outside anti-trans circles for being schooled by Hugh Laurie when she attempted to criticize House, a TV show that ended over a decade ago. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Tesla sales are rebounding in Europe even though many people have negative feelings about Elon Musk, the company’s chief executive. We want to know why.

NEW DELHI: Matt Renshaw starred with both bat and ball as Australia defeated Bangladesh by seven runs in the second T20I on Friday to seal the three-match series with an unassailable 2-0 lead.Renshaw smashed a career-best unbeaten 89 to power Australia to 196/5, their highest T20I total against Bangladesh, before chipping in with the ball to help restrict the hosts to 189/6 in a thrilling contest.Bangladesh, who had lost the opening match by four wickets, came close in the chase but ultimately fell short despite a strong start. Aaron Hardie was Australia's most successful bowler with figures of 2/40.After opting to bat, Australia got off to a steady start through captain Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis. However, Bangladesh struck back early as left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed trapped Inglis lbw for 11 before pacer Nahid Rana removed Marsh for 20, leaving the visitors in trouble.Australia's innings was revived by a match-defining 97-run partnership off just 50 balls between Renshaw and Tim David for the fourth wicket. David blasted 45 off 26 deliveries, hitting two fours and four sixes before falling to Abdul Gaffar's slower ball.Renshaw continued to dominate, striking four fours and five sixes in his unbeaten 52-ball 89. His late acceleration ensured Australia finished just four runs short of the 200-mark.Bangladesh launched a strong response, racing to 72/1 in the powerplay — their highest six-over total against Australia in T20Is. Tanzid Hasan led the charge with a quickfire 30 off 15 balls.Australia found the breakthrough when Renshaw held onto a return catch to dismiss Tanzid. Saif Hassan then kept Bangladesh in the hunt with 42 off 33 deliveries, but Australia's spinners tightened the screws during the middle overs.Despite a late push from the lower order, Bangladesh could not find the boundaries consistently enough in the final overs and finished on 189/6, seven runs short of the target.The third and final T20I will be played in Chattogram on Sunday.

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Jaylon Tyson #20 of the Cleveland Cavaliers brings the ball up court during the second quarter against the Boston Celtics at Rocket Arena on November 30, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cavs fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.The Cleveland Cavaliers are counting on one of their younger prospects to take another step forward this summer. Whether it’s Jaylon Tyson, Tyrese Proctor, or their upcoming first-round pick, it’s important that one of them turns into a hit. Earlier this week, asked you, the fans, who is the most important prospect out of that bunch. Here are the results.An overwhelming majority chose Tyson. That might not be much of a surprise. Tyson became a fan favorite last season through his hustle on the court. Bringing heart and toughness to this Cavalier team is the quickest way to win over the city. But Tyson was more than just a junkyard dog. He took a huge leap forward as a three-point shooter and showed some skills in the pick-and-roll that make him an intriguing offensive prospect. The Cavs would love to see him continue to improve as a shooter while fleshing out the rest of his offensive game. His playmaking in the short roll, for example, leaves endless opportunities. On paper, Tyson can be a highly valuable complementary piece moving forward. The fans seem to have taken notice. Proctor is a distant second. But make no mistake, he’s someone whom I’d feel just as excited about. Proctor has good size and defensive instincts for his position. I trust his jumper is legit, and the more he can do on-ball, the more helpful he can be. I think there’s a chance Proctor can earn backup point guard minutes in his sophomore season. Finally, the 29th pick in this year’s draft comes in last place. That’s because there’s simply no telling what to expect from a late first-round pick. None of us assumes that this pick will translate to anything tangible in the immediate future. Though it’s still important that whoever they select can develop into someone useful down the line. Cleveland currently holds the 11th highest odds to win the title next season. They won’t get any higher if they strike out on all three of these prospects.

A Cincinnati Bengals defender works to bring down Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (80) on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Through the spring and summer, we will be counting down the Jets roster player by player. We continue the series by discussing Jelani Woods.Name: Jelani WoodsNumber: 86Year With Jets: 2ndProjected Role: Possible third or fourth tight endHis 2025: Woods got caught in a numbers game with the Colts. He was waived on cutdown day as Indianapolis had a deep tight end group. The Jets immediately claimed him off waivers.From there, not much happened. He only dressed in 4 games and had a single catch for 4 yards. Despite the Jets having little other than rookie Mason Taylor and the uninspiring Jeremy Ruckert at tight end, Woods didn’t get much of a look.2026 will be a success if: Woods makes the roster and provides the Jets with reliable depth.It would be fair to say that Woods’ career arc has been unusual. He posted a solid rookie season in 2022 then missed two full seasons due to injury. His 2025 campaign was another lost season. Some players just peak as rookies. Jets fans are somewhat familiar with this concept after players like Jace Amaro and Denzel Mims followed semi-promising rookie seasons with virtually no production after. In Woods’ case it seems likely that injuries have taken a toll.I honestly thought Woods had a shot to see playing time in 2025 after he got up to speed with the offense, but it never really happened. There isn’t a clear path to much playing time after the team selected Kenyon Sadiq in the first round of the NFL Draft along with Taylor returning for year two. Even Ruckert got a nice contract extension for the Jets at the end of the season. But maybe Woods can recapture his rookie form and at least provide depth. It is worth noting Frank Reich was his head coach for that sold rookie season. If we are talking about depth, you could do worse than somebody who at least has a functional season on his resume even if it was four years ago. For whatever little its worth, Woods did receive some positive buzz during the offseason program.Perhaps Woods can beat out Ruckert for the third spot. The Jets might just keep four tight ends anyway. It wouldn’t be the most shocking thing in the world for him to give the Jets functional depth. It also wouldn’t be shocking to see him fail to make the 53.Odds of making the roster: 50/50

NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams is one of the four players on the Nets roster that has a team option for the 2026-27 NBA season after having the best season of his career. Brooklyn is hoping to improve its roster as much as possible this offseason with the goal of potentially competing for a playoff spot next season so should the Nets pick up Williams' option?Spotrac's Keith Smith recently projected that the Nets would decline Williams' $6.25 team option, but with the goal of hopefully re-signing him once free-agency begins. Smith wrote that Brooklyn is likely going to maximize the amount of cap space they have this summer, but in order for them to do so, they would have to decline the options that various players on the roster have.Williams, 24, ended the 2025-26 season with averages of 10.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game while shooting 42.5% from the field and 34.3% from behind the three-point line in 56 games played. While Williams has been known for his defensive ability on the perimeter, he showed last season that he has been working hard to improve his offensive game so that he can be more of a threat on both ends of the floor."It's just about putting in the work. The season [is] so long. It's so easy just to come in, do a little [amount of] shots and walk out," Williams said about his work ethic prior to the end of the season. "I try to take advantage of every optional shooting every time after practice, get extra shots up, just any little chance I can to get better. I truly love working on my craft and working on my game."While Williams has shown the potential to contribute more to the rotation after how he played this season, the Nets will likely approach his free-agency like they did last summer in terms of letting him free-agency before re-signing him. Either way, the real question is whether Brooklyn should do what it can to bring Williams back to the Nets. After how he played this season, the answer to that question should be a resounding yes.This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Should the Nets pick up Ziaire Williams' $6.25 million team option?

NEW YORK - It's a Cam Schlittler night at Yankee Stadium, as the first-place Yankees (45-28) open a three-game series Friday against the Cincinnati Reds (35-38).Cincinnati will send right-hander Rhett Lowder (3-3, 4.60) against Schlittler (7-3, 1.82), coming off last Saturday's no-decision at Toronto - allowing one run in seven innings of a 3-1 Yanks' win. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is back in the lineup at second base, after exiting Thursday night's game against the White Sox. In the fourth inning, he fouled off a pitch that bounced up and caught him in a sensitive area. Ben Rice enters Friday's game having reached safely in 18 of his last 19 games since May 26, batting .325 (25-for-77) with a 1.026 OPS, four home runs and 16 RBI over that period. Here is the Yankees' Friday night lineup:Ben Rice, DHJasson Dominguez, RFCody Bellinger, LFPaul Goldschmidt, 1BJazz Chisholm Jr., 2BSpencer Jones, CFAnthony Volpe, SSRyan McMahon, 3BJ.C. Escarra, CAnd here is the Reds' batting order: Blake Dunn, CFJJ Bleday, LFSal Stewart, 1BNathaniel Lowe, DHSpencer Steer, RFEugenio Suarez, 3BTyler Stephenson, CMatt McLain, SSEdwin Arroyo, 2BThis article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees' Friday night lineup vs. Cincinnati Reds

The history of global soccer, in some sense, is a history of the world’s political problems.

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — The smashed-up locker at Oakmont last year is as much a part of Wyndham Clark’s resume as the U.S. Open title he won two years before that. Such is life in a world teeming with cell phone cameras and viral video. Such is life in professional golf, a sport built on managing failure and harnessing emotions — and where success one week, or one year, doesn’t always carry over to the next.Clark’s spot at the top of the U.S. Open leaderboard after his second round at Shinnecock on Friday brought up expected reminders of his emotion-filled journey through a sport — a life, really — that Clark himself acknowledged nobody truly conquers. “I was on top of the world in my game, at least when I won the U.S. Open, and then had some good years,” the 32-year-old said. “Then, next thing you know, I’m apologizing for breaking a locker."Much as tennis great John McEnroe will always have “You cannot be serious!” alongside the seven grand slam singles titles he won in another of sports' biggest pressure cookers, Clark will always have the broken locker at Oakmont. He will always have the underhanded fling of the driver that smashed an advertising board and snapped off the clubhead at the PGA Championship, a few months before the locker debacle. Because of that, he’ll probably also always have his share of detractors and critics — people watching for some brilliance on the golf course, but also waiting for the next big blowup. “I’m fierce, competitive, love the game, respect the game, and I just had a bad moment,” Clark said. “Hopefully I can win those people back.”His breakthrough three years ago at LA Country Club was tinged with tears and stories of the personal growth Clark had to make to reach that point.Much of it had to do with the emotional residue left from his mom’s death in 2013 — a family tragedy that he conceded had left him spiraling. “I didn’t show any emotion off the course," Clark explained after his victory that day. “But when I was on the golf course, I couldn’t have been angrier.” The easy way for the armchair psychologists (and sports pundits) to explain things after that win was to conclude that Clark’s victory proved he had harnessed the emotion, turned the page and beaten back all the demons. It’s never that simple. “For any of us, this is a process,” Clark’s sports psychologist, Julie Elion, wrote in her new book ’Mastering Your Mental Game.” “Golfers don’t reach the top and then stay there forever.”Clark followed the U.S. Open win with 18 months of good golf, including a win at Pebble Beach. Last year was something different — he only had two top-10 finishes, did not make the FedEx Cup playoffs and was nowhere to be seen at the Ryder Cup. “Mastering our mental game in golf or reaching a state of growth or self-improvement in life isn’t always a permanent condition,” Elion wrote. “It takes more work over more years, and there are frequently hills and valleys.”At Shinnecock, Clark held a four-shot lead after his second round. Heading into the weekend, he finds himself back on the rise again. He recently took to social media to tell the world he had a new girlfriend, Emily Tanner, who held hands with him as they exited the 18th green after Friday’s round of 1-under 69. Four weeks ago, Clark won the Byron Nelson for his first victory in 28 months. “I kind of looked at it objectively and took a bird’s-eye view on it and said, ‘OK, I’m not hitting it good off the tee, I’m not putting as good as I was,’” he explained about his turnaround. “And I said, ‘All right, I’ve got to attack that.’”He hired a swing coach, Pat Coyner at Cherry Hills, near where Clark grew up outside of Denver. He's been hitting his driver straighter of late. His iron game has improved dramatically (up 110 spots in the analytic-driven stat: strokes gained on approach shots). He found a new putter, which has helped him dial in dramatically over the past four weeks, during which he also finished third at the Memorial and played in the final group last Sunday at the Canadian Open. Never more did it look in sync than Friday on No. 18, where he sank a 33-footer to finish the day in red numbers. Now, a chance for another breakthrough at the U.S. Open. With a win, he would celebrate again. But he knows as well as anyone that it wouldn't mean all the problems — or the work, both on and off the course — are behind him.“I just think with the mental game there’s ebbs and flows,” Clark said. “If you think of it as climbing Everest, sometimes you go up, sometimes you have to go down to go back up. I think that’s kind of what happens both on the golf course and off the golf course. Right now I’m trending back up, which is nice.”___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Who scored Australia's own goal? Meet Cameron Burgess, who handed USMNT early lead in World Cup game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.While Australia was riding high after earning a full three points from its first match against Turkey, its second group-stage match against the U.S. got off to a less-than-ideal start.The USMNT came out attacking from the opening whistle, and inside 15 minutes, it scored the first goal. To make matters worse for Australia, the American goal came courtesy of an Australian defender.This is the second game in a row in which the U.S. was gifted a goal by an opponent after its first goal in the previous match came courtesy of a Paraguayan.Here's who had the misfortune of gifting the U.S. a goal off an Australian boot.2026 WORLD CUP HQ:Latest World Cup news | Full World Cup schedule | Buy World Cup ticketsWho is Cameron Burgess?In the 11th minute of the U.S. vs. Australia match, Folarin Balogun whipped in a cross in an attempt to find Ricardo Pepi in the center of the box. The first player to get a boot on the ball wasn't Pepi, but Australian defender Cameron Burgess.The 6-foot-4 center back was unfortunate to redirect the cross into his own net while trying to clear the ball from danger. Instead, the own goal handed the U.S. an early lead.1-0! GOOOOAL FOR USA! 🇺🇸Flo Balogun charges in and the @USMNT finds the back of the net on the own goal pic.twitter.com/GdivDaeNt9— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 19, 2026Burgess is 30 years old, according to Transfermarkt, and plays center back for EFL Championship side Swansea. Burgess has 29 international caps for Australia and has yet to score a goal.MORE WORLD CUP NEWS:Ranking World Cup groups from hardest to easiest10 World Cup teams with best chance to winRanking 7 best matches of the World Cup

Real Madrid Take Massive Decision On Their Star Winger: What Should Be The Best Decision?José Mourinho has barely got his feet under the desk in Madrid, and he is already facing a proper mutiny. A stunning report from Mundo Deportivo, relayed by @DeadlineDayLive on X, reveals the new boss wants a clean sweep. He has put Rodrygo Goes and Eduardo Camavinga on his provisional transfer list. Real Madrid chiefs will not stand in their way either, not after a second consecutive trophyless season. But the players are digging their heels in.Real Madrid transfer defiance: Rodrygo and Camavinga fight for Bernabéu futuresRodrygo has completely rejected the idea of pack-and-go. The Brazilian winger wants to stay put in the Spanish capital. He is ready to fight tooth and nail to win back his spot. It is a massive headache for Mourinho’s planned squad cull.Camavinga is cutting an equally stubborn figure. Inter Milan are sniffing around, with Giuseppe Marotta holding direct talks with Florentino Pérez over an €80 million deal for the 23-year-old midfielder. Camavinga had a dreadful time last season, even losing his spot in the France squad for the ongoing 2026 World Cup. Yet, he has no intention of making life easy for Mourinho. He wants redemption right where he is.What should be the best decision?VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN – APRIL 13: Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Rodrygo during the LaLiga match between Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid CF at Estadio de Mendizorroza on April 13, 2025 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)Mourinho inherits a massively bloated frontline. Keeping Rodrygo makes zero tactical sense when you look at the cold facts. Three goals. That is all the winger managed in 27 matches last term. With Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior locking down the starting berths, Rodrygo is a luxury Madrid cannot afford.Arsenal are reportedly keen. If the Gunners cough up anything near his €90 million price tag, Real must bite their hand off. Pushing Camavinga out the door is a different story altogether. That would be a monumental blunder. The Frenchman had a dip, sure, but his physical profile is unique. He is an elite transitional engine, the exact type of player who can drive a midfield forward for the next decade.Mourinho needs to stop treating them as a package deal. Pocket the money for the underperforming Brazilian, absolutely. But Madrid must protect their French midfield asset at all costs.

Detroit Tigers fans will have to keep waiting for Justin Verlander at Comerica Park.The Tigers scratched Verlander on Friday, June 19, from his scheduled start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox with a left hamstring strain. The 43-year-old right-hander was gearing up for what would've been his first start for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017.It's been nearly nine years.Now, it's going to be at least a couple more weeks."This is not a matter of days," manager A.J. Hinch said before Friday's opener of a three-game series against the White Sox. "It's a matter of weeks."WALKING WOUNDED: Tigers' Wenceel Pérez struck in face by training band in accidentVerlander was supposed to return Sunday from left hip inflammation, but he reported a left hamstring strain after Wednesday's bullpen session in preparation for Sunday's start.He has been on the injured list since April 1.Replacing Verlander, right-hander Keider Montero will start Sunday's game against the White Sox.The Tigers signed Verlander to a one-year, $13 million contract in early February.So far, Verlander has pitched just once in his second stint with the Tigers, surrendering five runs across 3⅔ innings March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.He previously pitched for the Tigers from 2005-17.This story will be updated.Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander injury update: Detroit Tigers RHP won't start Sunday

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into MLB after the organization reprimanded players who wrote Bible verses on their hats in an apparent protest during San Francisco’s annual Pride Night game.Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights at the Justice Department, said the probe was part of the Trump administration's “commitment to combatting religious discrimination.”During the San Francisco Giants Pride Night event on June 12, several team members were observed either adding Bible verses to their caps or declining to wear the Pride-themed headwear altogether. A few nights earlier, two Los Angeles Dodgers players also chose not to wear rainbow-themed caps with their teammates.MLB subsequently cautioned the Giants players, stating that writing on caps violates league policy. The league clarified that its concern was specifically with the modification of the cap itself, not the content of any messages.Dhillon escalated the situation Thursday in a letter to Commissioner Rob Manfred, warning him that MLB had been referred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The Justice Department has launched an investigation into MLB after the organization reprimanded players who wrote Bible verses on their baseball hats during San Francisco’s annual Pride Night game. Giants’ Landen Roupp wrote ‘Gen 9:12-16’ in a silver marker on the front of the black cap, referring to a Genesis passage (Reuters)“The three players expressed their opposition to MLB's pro-Pride orthodoxy,” Dhillon said in the letter. “The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious objections to serving as the League's vehicle for pro-Pride messages.”“Federal law is clear: employers must modify their uniform requirements to reasonably accommodate their employees’ exercise of religion,” Dhillon added. “The Trump administration is committed to combatting religious discrimination.”Andrea Lucas, chair of the commission, shared Dhillon’s letter on X but clarified the agency “cannot confirm or deny any potential action, or the existence of any charge or investigation, absent a court filing or an agreed-upon public resolution.”“Rest assured, however, that EEOC is committed to protecting the religious liberty of all workers,” Lucas added.The players at the center of the controversy were San Francisco Giants’ Landen Roupp, JT Brubaker and Ryan Walker, who added Bible verses to their caps during the 5-1 home loss to the Chicago Cubs.Roupp wrote “Gen 9:12-16” in a silver marker on the front of the black cap, referring to a Genesis passage that is “often held up by Christians opposed to LGBTQ rights to say that the rainbow is not owned by the queer community,” an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle noted.The league issued a statement that writing on the cap violates the league's rules and warned players about future violations but is yet to respond to the Justice Department probe (Getty)“It’s just about God’s covenant and a promise he makes to us and his faithfulness and his mercy,” Roupp told reporters afterward. “Just kind of something I believe in and I stand firm in that and thankfully we live in a country where you know, we have freedom to believe what we want, yeah, and express what we want.”Giants reliever Sam Hentges did not wear the Pride-themed cap and opted instead for the club's regular black version with the “SF” in orange.The league issued a statement that writing on the cap violates the league's rules and warned players about future violations.In a follow-up statement on Tuesday, the league clarified that the “routine verbal warning” had nothing to do with the content of the respective messages but the act of modifying the uniform.“We have given the same warning numerous times in the past to players for messages such as, ‘Dad’, ‘Happy Mother’s Day, I Love Mom,’ and names of family members,” the league said.MLB is yet to comment on the Justice Department investigation.The Independent has contacted MLB for comment.Vice President JD Vance commented on the controversy earlier this week. “Trump won we don't have to do this anymore,” he quipped on his X account, referring to the MLB’s warning to its players.The Associated Press contributed reporting

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