WESTFIELD – The New Britain Bees hit a three-run home run in the first inning and never looked back in an eventual 15-1 win over the Westfield Starfires on Sunday.Westfield fell to 11-12 on the season.In a harbinger of things to come, Brady Paul led off for the Bees, and on a 3-2 pitch, hit a pop-up to shallow center field that Westfield’s defense could not find in the sun; it fell in for a double. A strikeout, a walk, and a pop-up put Westfield on the brink of escaping the inning, but Tim Hennig fouled off five straight pitches before cranking a 2-2 offering over the right-field fence for a three-run shot.Westfield did get a run back in its half of the inning; University of Saint Joseph’s senior JJ Fox slapped the first pitch he saw down the left-field line for a double, and ultimately came home on a groundout by Louisiana Tech sophomore Easton Sanders.That was the only hit for the Starfires, however, and New Britain hit its stride midway through the game. Three straight singles in the fourth plated another run, and another single thereafter made it 5-1, but the real blow was in the fifth as a leadoff fielding error precipitated an inning where the Bees sent 11 men to the plate, including Paul crushing another three-run blast to right and Hennig driving in another run. When the dust settled, the Bees led 11-1.Not content with a 10-run lead, the visiting side batted around again in the sixth, sending 10 players to the plate and scoring four times. The rest of the game went quickly as the run rule went into effect after the seventh for the 15-1 final.Incoming Franklin Pierce University freshman Jayden Ortiz took the loss in his first collegiate-level start, despite striking out three.Westfield will get another chance to beat the Bees. The teams were expected to meet in New Britain, Connecticut, on Monday for the second game in the four-game stretch, but due to inclement weather was postponed and will now be made up as part of a double header Tuesday. The first pitch is scheduled for 4:35 p.m.Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Kyle Tucker was removed from the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning June 22 with an apparent injury.Tucker went from first to second base on a single by teammate Tommy Edman. After taking a moment to collect himself, the veteran outfielder was replaced by pinch runner Alex Call.Tucker is baseball’s highest paid player this season, at $60 million. He is off to a slow start in Los Angeles, hitting .234 with six home runs and six stolen bases in 74 games.MORE: Phillies sign former Dodgers prospect, 27, after monster monthFor all the shortcomings of Tucker’s first season since signing a four-year, $240 million contract in January, availability was not among them. He has appeared in all but one game this season. In his first plate appearance against the Twins, Tucker drew a walk against Zebby Matthews.More to come on this story.

For the fifth consecutive year, former Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg has been left waiting for a call from the Hockey Hall of Fame.The Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Monday, and Zetterberg was not among the players selected for induction. Instead, Patrice Bergeron, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, Keith Tkachuk, Cindy Curley, and executive Brian Burke earned enshrinement this year.For Red Wings fans, the news is likely to reignite a familiar debate: How much longer will Zetterberg have to wait?Another Year of Waiting for Henrik ZetterbergThis marked Zetterberg’s fifth appearance on the Hockey Hall of Fame ballot since becoming eligible.To gain induction, a candidate must receive support on at least 75 percent of the ballots cast by the Hall’s 18-member selection committee. Specific voting totals are not made public, leaving little insight into how close Zetterberg came to earning a spot this year.Despite falling short once again, his résumé remains one of the strongest among eligible candidates.A Career Built on WinningZetterberg spent his entire 15-year NHL career with the Red Wings, appearing in 1,082 regular season games while recording 337 goals and 960 points.His greatest accomplishments often came on the biggest stages.Zetterberg played a pivotal role in Detroit’s 2008 Stanley Cup championship and captured the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after posting 27 points during the postseason. He later succeeded Nicklas Lidstrom as team captain and helped guide the franchise through a period of transition.Known for his elite two-way play, leadership, and ability to perform in clutch moments, Zetterberg earned widespread respect throughout the hockey world.Will His Time Come?Many Hall of Fame observers continue to believe Zetterberg’s eventual induction is a matter of when, not if.His combination of individual success, playoff excellence, international accomplishments, and Stanley Cup pedigree makes a compelling case. However, the Hall of Fame process can be unpredictable, particularly when multiple first-ballot candidates enter the discussion.For now, the former Red Wings star remains on the outside looking in.But as Detroit fans know all too well, Zetterberg built his career on patience, perseverance, and delivering when the moment mattered most. Those same qualities may ultimately carry him into hockey immortality.

MotoGP riders completed their first official test on Pirelli prototype tires ahead of the Italian brand replacing Michelin as the sole tire supplier for the 2027 season. The test will help provide vital data ahead of next season, when MotoGP changes both the tire supplier, sees a reduction in engine capacity to 850cc, and introduces other new rules.The test, held at Autodrom Brno, involved contracted riders for the very first time, alongside test riders, representing all five manufacturers currently competing in MotoGP. The list of riders participating included:Marc Márquez and Fermín Aldeguer for DucatiMarco Bezzecchi and Raúl Fernández for ApriliaLuca Marini and Joan Mir for HondaToprak Razgatlıoğlu and Augusto Fernández for YamahaPedro Acosta, Daniel Pedrosa and Pol Espargaró for KTMEach manufacturer brought two bikes to the test, including a mix of prototypes of the 850cc machines set to compete in 2027, and current 1,000cc race bikes detuned to simulate the performance of the smaller-capacity engines.The test was the first of three scheduled to take place. Testing will continue September 21 after the Grand Prix of Austria, and December 1 after the season ending Grand Prix of Valencia. Begin Press Release:Pirelli completes MotoGP 2027 tyre test – the first open also to contracted riders - in BrnoAll five Manufacturers took part in the test, each choosing the riders who would test out the tyres, on both the prototypes of the 850 cc bikes that will debut in 2027 and on current bikes, detuned and modified to simulate the new configurationOn track, racing riders Toprak Razgatlıoğlu, Luca Marini, Raúl Fernández, Joan Mir, Pedro Acosta, Fermín Aldeguer, Marco Bezzecchi and Marc Márquez, alongside test riders Daniel Pedrosa, Pol Espargaró and Augusto FernándezAccording to Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director, "The overall test outcome was positive, both in terms of feedback quality and constructive contribution made by riders and Manufacturers. All developments are progressing according to plan"Today, at Autodrom Brno, Pirelli completed the test on its MotoGP™ 2027 tyre prototypes, involving for the first time the contracted riders selected by the teams. This in an important milestone in the development journey that will lead the company towards its role as the sole tyre supplier for the premier class of the FIM Road Racing World Championship from 2027 onwards. The solutions developed by Pirelli were tested by Marc Márquez and Fermín Aldeguer for Ducati, Marco Bezzecchi and Raúl Fernández for Aprilia, Luca Marini and Joan Mir for Honda, Toprak Razgatlıoğlu for Yamaha, and Pedro Acosta for KTM, along with test riders Daniel Pedrosa and Pol Espargaró for KTM, and Augusto Fernández for Yamaha.The test day - held mostly in sunny weather in the morning and under slightly cloudier skies from mid-afternoon, with air and track temperatures similar to those registered during the race weekend - was attended by all five Manufacturers competing in the FIM Road Racing World Championship, with two bikes each. In some cases, they were prototypes of the 850 cc machines that will debut next year, and in others the current bikes adapted to simulate the 2027 technical configuration. Pirelli asked each Manufacturer to provide at least one racing rider, plus one or two test riders on the second bike. The testing programme was agreed in advance with the Manufacturer and IRTA, included different run plans for the two bikes provided by each Manufacturer to maximise data collection and allow Pirelli technicians and the Manufacturers engineers to evaluate the development solutions being tested more effectively. The contracted riders' presence allowed the integration of information already collected in previous tests with actual feedback of the MotoGP™ performance level, providing useful elements that will be helpful in defining the tyres designed for the new generation of bikes.At the end of the test, Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli Motorcycle Racing Director, said: "I would like to thank the riders and Manufacturers for their helpfulness and for the enthusiasm they showed in such a significant test on our journey toward the MotoGP™ 2027. The run plans were demanding, with many solutions to evaluate, after a race weekend characterised by high temperatures, and just a few days before the next Grand Prix. After the private sessions that were so far held only with test riders, in Brno we were finally able to gather useful feedback on 2027 tyres for the future 850 cc bikes also from some contracted riders.All Manufacturers completed the programmes we'd agreed on, with differentiated run plans for the two bikes to maximise data collection, and some riders also carried out Sprint Race simulations and full race-distance runs. The collaboration with riders and Manufacturers continues to be highly constructive and developments are progressing according to plan. The data collected today, along with those from the next private tests and from the September test after the Austrian GP and the end-of-season test in Valencia, will be fundamental in defining the final characteristics of the 2027 range".Today's test was the first of three sessions scheduled during the season with racing riders. The next ones will take place on the Monday following the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, and on the Tuesday after the final Grand Prix of the season in Valencia.Pirelli's journey towards joining the MotoGP™ in 2027 began last year at the Misano circuit, on the Tuesday following the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix, with a first test completed by test riders. This was followed by numerous private sessions, still with test riders, to continue the developments that led to the definition of the tyres tested today at Brno.Indeed, 2027 will mark a major change for MotoGP™, with the engine capacity decreasing from the current 1000 cc to 850 cc, and other significant changes being introduced in terms of aerodynamics and bike set-up, including the elimination of front and rear ride-height devices. In this scenario, the joint work between Pirelli, the riders and the Manufacturers is and will be crucial to reach the new technical era, while delivering the performance, safety and show worthy of the FIM Road Racing World Championship's premier class.Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here.

A popular college football predictive algorithm has Michigan State struggling again this season.ESPN's SP+ predictions have been released for the upcoming season, and to little surprise, Michigan State is not projected to experience much success. The algorithm has the Spartans averaging 4.4 wins, which if you're rounding to the clearest non-decimal number, you get only four wins in 2026. That would be an identical record to what Michigan State put up last year as well.SP+ is a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency and a predictive mathematical model. The model was created by Bill Connelly and is widely considered one of the top predictive tools out there for college football.The Spartans have a low projected record does not come as a surprise given the recent lack of success and also the number of key contributors that left via the transfer portal this offseason. But the predictive algorithm could also be slightly behind on the Spartans should someone like starting quarterback Alessio Milivojevic outperforms his mathematical projection. Or if there is a notable coaching upgrade from last year's staff to this year's led by new head coach Pat Fitzgerald. Those are the kind of things that would need to occur for Michigan State to get closer to reaching bowl eligibility -- something they haven't done since 2021.ESPN’s Bill Connelly has Michigan State at 4.4 wins in 2026Michigan is only projected at 7.5Clear gap between Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana & Everyone else in the @bigtenpic.twitter.com/zKULjFNASI— Intrinsic (@intrinsicvalyou) June 17, 2026Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Popular predictive model has Spartans missing bowl game again in 2026

Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Kyle Tucker left Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Twins with back spams.Tucker appeared to sustain the injury while running the bases in the top of the second inning. Tucker reached first on a one-out walk, then advanced to second on a Tommy Edman single. With Dalton Rushing at the plate, Tucker knelt to a crouch at second base in apparent pain. The Dodgers called for time, and Tucker jogged off the field to the dugout. Manager Dave Roberts replaced him at second with Alex Call.The Dodgers later announced that Tucker had left the game with back spasms. The severity of Tucker’s injury wasn’t initially clear. This story will be updated.

The Atlanta Falcons are aiming to reach the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2017. However, one of the key players expected to help them achieve that goal found himself in serious legal trouble this offseason.James Pearce was arrested in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and charged with two counts of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Authorities also charged him with one count of aggravated stalking. The alleged victim is WNBA player Rickea Jackson.MORE: George Kittle rips Brandon Aiyuk with sarcastic comments on him playing elsewhereSince then, Pearce has entered a pretrial diversion program and has rejoined the Falcons for offseason activities. It appears the organization not only expects a suspension but may also have a good idea of how long it will last.Oct 19, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive end James Pearce Jr. (27) during halftime against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesAccording to reports, the Falcons are preparing for Pearce to receive at least an eight-game suspension. That expectation is based on precedent from a similar case involving former Detroit Lions defensive back Cameron Sutton.Precedent set years earlierSutton was arrested on a domestic violence charge and entered a pretrial diversion program in 2024. The Lions released him shortly after his arrest. The NFL later suspended Sutton for the first eight games of the 2024 season before he returned to the Pittsburgh Steelers.The allegations in Pearce’s case are just as troubling as those in Sutton’s case—if not more so.MORE: J.J. McCarthy’s lone advantage over Kyler Murray evaporating before Vikings campThe Falcons are now waiting for the NFL to complete its investigation. Based on the information that has become public, a suspension appears all but inevitable. Once the league concludes its review, a decision is expected to follow quickly.Aug 24, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton (20) runs upfield after intercepting a pass against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn ImagesThe NFL has taken a much stricter approach to domestic violence cases since its mishandling of the Ray Rice situation in 2014. Initially, the league issued Rice a relatively light suspension, although the Baltimore Ravens released him in September of that year.After video footage of the incident became public, the NFL suspended Rice indefinitely, drawing widespread criticism and damaging the league’s public image.Given the serious allegations in Pearce’s case—including claims that he attempted to strike Jackson with his vehicle—it is difficult to envision a scenario in which he avoids significant discipline. The only remaining question is how severe the NFL’s punishment will be.

Jun. 22—GRAND FORKS — Grand Forks Red River's Max Mannausau didn't need any time to pull the trigger on an offer from UND football.After a talk with Fighting Hawks head coach Eric Schmidt, Mannausau became a member of UND's 2027 recruiting class."All the coaches were there and committing there felt like the right place," Mannausau said of his weekend commitment. "I've always dreamed of it since I was a kid. This is the place I wanted to go."Mannausau has deep ties to UND from both of his parents. His mother, Tiffany Pudenz Mannausau, is a former national champion women's basketball player (1997 and 1998) and member of the UND Athletics Hall of Fame. She scored more than 1,600 career points and graduated as the program's all-time leader in assists and steals.His dad Mike Mannausau, originally from International Falls, Minn., was a linebacker for UND from 1994-98, earning first team all-North Central Conference honors in 1998 and was an honorable mention All-American. He spent nine years on the UND football coaching staff, including seven as defensive coordinator.Mike is now the Vice President of Development for the UND Alumni Association."They were pretty hands off and let me choose everything," Max said.Mannausau is a 6-foot, 183-pound wide receiver and two-year captain for the Roughriders. He was an all-EDC selection last season with 28 catches for 605 yards and an average of 21.6 yards per catch. He had five touchdowns.Mannausau was limited to six games last season due to injury. He said the UND coaching staff is projecting him as a slot wide receiver with returner capabilities.Mannausau is also in basketball at Red River and is a sprinter on the track team. He ran in Red River's 4x100 relay team at the state meet this spring.Although Mannausau said he's excited to be at the school his parents excelled, he also knows the work that goes into it."I realized young I really have to earn it," Max said. "Thankfully, I knew that earlier than later. I'm very proud of the work I've put in. I worked really hard for this."As UND's commitments slowly roll in from two prospect camps this month, the 2027 class is around 20 members."I had a meal with the other commits, and I was excited ... it's been great," Max said. "I've been really happy but also disciplined and embracing all the work. I'm really excited but still hungry."Mannausau is the second North Dakotan of the 2027 class, joining Minot North edge Ethan Howey, who was the first verbal of the 2027 class.

The plume from the stubborn blaze in a cold-storage facility has dissipated, but people in the Boyle Heights neighborhood say they are in a toxic miasma.

Not even the rain could stop Kylian Mbappé. For the second World Cup game in a row, the French captain notched a brace to help lead Les Bleus to victory, this time with a 3-0 win over Iraq.Mbappé also shared the glory with Ousmane Dembélé, with the midfielder giving Mbappé an unselfish assist on his second goal before finally scoring his first goal of the 2026 tournament.France’s pressure in the attacking third was clear early on, and in the 14th minute, Mbappé broke through. The forward powered a stellar left-footed strike past Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil to give France a 1-0 lead.The rain began partway through the half, though, picking up in earnest as the half went on. At halftime, the game entered a lengthy weather delay due to a passing thunderstorm in the area of Philadelphia Stadium, with fans being instructed to shelter in place.After the two-hour delay, the two teams finally returned to the pitch shortly before 8 p.m. ET, continuing the match on a field visibly soaked with rain. But France picked up right where it left off: In the 54th minute, Dembélé broke up a poor pass back to Basil and then selflessly passed to Mbappé, who sent the ball into the back of the net.Dembélé, another of France’s main stars heading into the tournament, hadn’t quite lived up to expectations the way that Mbappé had. But in the 66th minute, Dembélé finally scored, off a great cutting pass from Michael Olise.This story will be updated.

World Cup: Mbappé and Olise shine in France's rain-soaked victory over IraqFrance, at least for the time being, have taken full control of Group I with a 3-0 rout of Iraq this evening in Philadelphia. Fears that the game could be postponed midway through due to thunderstorms was perhaps the biggest threat for Didier Deschamps' side to contend with.A dominant 15-minute spell eventually culminated in the breakthrough for Les Bleus. Bayern Munich's Michael Olise recycled play back to Kylian Mbappé on the right, requiring a solitary touch before bending into the far corner beyond Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. The hydration break came at the right time for the underdogs who caught their breath. Sadly, they would lose their talisman Aymen Hussein to injury. His replacement Ali Alhamadi was trigger-happy from the get-go, albeit never truly tested Mike Maignan as rain poured from the heavens.With threats of lightening eight miles away, the second-half was delayed for the guts of an hour. The players eventually returned to a half-waterlogged pitch, where France required all of 9 second-half minutes to double their advantage from a calamitous Iraqi error. Full-back Hussein Ali's short free-kick had too much pace for goalkeeper Basil to control, allowing Ousmane Dembélé to square it and set up Mbappé for his brace. The crossbar rattled soon after via a cheeky Olise chip, while Adrien Rabiot couldn't head home to a half-empty net. Ex-BVB talisman Dembélé would get his goal with 23 minutes to go. Olise provided the killer pass for his compatriot to plunge inside the left upright. Aside from an Mbappé chance spurned late on, France eased off the gas and coasted to a second victory in Group I.

Patriots HOF WR Wants To See Drake Maye And A.J. Brown For '4-5 Years' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.A.J. Brown joining Drake Maye, Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots feels like a match made in heaven. But many fans, myself included, are embracing the new All-Pro wide receiver with the assumption that, in the words of George Strait, he is here for a good time, not a long time.He is technically under contract until 2029, but there is a clean break built into the fine print in 2027 if both sides are interested. Not to mention the fact that he will be more than three times more expensive in 2029. Then one also has to consider the fact that Brown famously became a big distraction in the Philadelphia Eagles locker room before being moved, and you start to see why many view him as a pseudo-rental. However, Patriots Hall of Fame wide receiver Troy Brown is viewing the trade through rose-tinted lenses. Troy Brown sees A.J. Brown being a mainstay in New England's offense for years to come."What great players do is they bring other players along with them," Brown said to ESPN's Mike Reiss. "Let's see how many of these guys he can bring along with him with the way he practices, the way he plays, and the passion he has for the game."For Drake, it's a guy he can have confidence throwing to, which means a lot to a quarterback. And they have a chance to build on that chemistry together more than just one year. They could keep going together for the next 4-5 years."I am typically overly cautious when it comes to tempering my expectations for the Patriots (who I admittedly love too much). So seeing that Troy Brown believes A.J. Brown's era in Boston could be a lot longer than Stefon Diggs's brings me a little comfort. More NFL: Patriots Announce Joint Practice With Eagles, Juicy A.J. Brown Reunion

France 3-0 Iraq: Le Bleus cruise into knockout rounds despite two hour weather breakFrance secured their spot in the Round of 32 this evening, with a comfortable win against Iraq, despite a two hour delay due to severe weather conditions.Kylian Mbappé marked his 100th international cap with an early thunderbolt from the edge of the box to open the scoring after just 13 minutes. The forward doubled his tally early in the second half when he pounced upon a mistake from the Iraq goalkeeper.Ousmane Dembélé netted his first goal at an international major tournament in the 66th minute when he picked out the bottom corner for France’s third goal.This match was the first at this World Cup to experience a weather delay, with half-time transpiring to be over two hours long due to lightning strikes in the surrounding area to the stadium.As it happenedDidier Deschamps made three changes to his France side for this clash, with Aurélian Tchouaméni, Theo Hernández and Désiré Doué replaced by Bradley Barcola, Lucas Digne and Kouadio Koné. Graham Arnold also made a trio of changes, with Ahmed Basil Fadhil, Zidaane Iqbal and Ibrahim Bayesh replacing Ali Al Hamadi, Ali Jasim and Jalal Hassan following their 4-1 defeat to Norway last time out.Mbappé almost found the net inside the first minute, but his outstretched boot was unable to reach Koné’s pass. The first yellow card of the match was shown to Amir Al-Ammari in the fifth minute, after he took down Mbappé to halt a dangerous French attack.The onslaught continued from France, but to no avail just yet, with Mbappé and Michael Olise failing to find the target with volleyed efforts. They got their opening goal courtesy of Mbappé in the 13th minute, who unleashed a thunderous left-footed strike into the far corner from just outside the penalty area to give his side an early lead.Iraq made a change during the hydration break, which saw Aymen Hussain, who appeared injured, replaced by Al Hamadi inside the first half an hour. Al Hamadi came close to making an immediate impact off the bench, but he was unable to find the target with a header.Mbappé got on the half-turn in the 39th minute and tried to catch the keeper off his line from distance, but his shot flew well over the crossbar. The Frenchman came flying forwards again moments later, dancing through the Iraqi defence before Hussein Ali made a brilliant last-ditch tackle inside the area.Iraq won a free-kick in a dangerous area as they hoped to find an equaliser before the break; however, the threat was well dealt with by the French defence, meaning they held on to their 1-0 lead at half-time.As previously mentioned, half-time was over two hours long due to severe adverse weather delaying the restart. The game eventually got back underway at 1:00am BST…three hours after its initial kick-off. However, the good news was that they scrapped the second-half’s hydration break due to the delay.It didn’t take long for Mbappé to double his tally for the night, when Dembélé pounced upon a mistake from Fadhil before squaring it for the centre forward to tap into an empty net. Olise almost added a third moments later, but his looping effort rebounded off the crossbar before being cleared away.Adrien Rabiot missed a guilt-edged opportunity to find the net shortly before the hour mark, heading wide from inside the six-yard box. Further changes followed for Iraq, who replaced Zaid Ismael and Zaid Tahseen with Yousseff Amyn and Rebin Sulaka.Dembélé got on the scoresheet himself in the 66th minute, finally scoring his first goal at a major international tournament when he broke free and fired into the bottom corner from inside the area following a lovely ball through from Olise.A double change followed for France, which saw Olise and Dembélé replaced by Doué and Rayan Cherki. Meanwhile, Aimar Sher and Marko Lawk Farji replaced Al-Ammari and Bayesh for Iraq. The Lions of Mesopotamia looked to try and get themselves a lifeline; however, Sulaka could only fire over the bar. They came even closer moments later, but Al Hamadi’s stretching effort dribbled wide.Mbappé had a penalty appeal waved away by the referee with 10 minutes of regular time remaining, before firing wide of the post mere moments later. Barcola was next up to try and add a fourth for Les Bleus; however, his cut back was deflected behind for a corner, which France were unable to make the most of.Two further changes followed from Deschamps, who introduced Malo Gusto and Maghnes Akliouche in place of Jules Koundé and Barcola. Mbappé almost completed his hat-trick in the final minutes of the 90, but his tame effort was held by Fadhil. The forward came even closer a few moments later when his rapid pace sent him in behind the Iraqi defence, but he could only fire high and wide before being replaced by Marcus Thuram to a standing ovation.That was all she wrote in a strange old night for the tournament, given the lengthy break between the two halves. However, France secure a crucial three points and their spot in the knockout rounds.

France x Iraq - Highlights, Summary and Match ReportIncidents: The story of the match1': The match begins14': GOAL France: Kylian Mbappé (France) scores! Kylian Mbappé scores goal number 3 in the competition (2 matches)54': GOAL France: Kylian Mbappé (France) scores! Kylian Mbappé scores goal number 4 in the competition (2 matches)66': GOAL France: Ousmane Dembélé (France) scores! Ousmane Dembélé scores goal number 1 in the competition (2 matches)90 +3': The referee whistles for the end of the match

EAST RUTHERFORD – His coach calls him the best goal-scorer in the world.In his debut on New Jersey soil, Erling Haaland showed why.The Norwegian striker scored in the 48th minute to give his team a 2-0 lead over Senegal in Monday night’s World Cup group stage match at MetLife Stadium.Haaland, wearing Norway’s No. 9 shirt, drilled a left-footed shot to the top right corner after Martin Odegaard laid off a pass.HAALAND GOOOAAL to double Norway's advantage! 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/a6wPnRRk7E— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 23, 2026This World Cup is Haaland’s first, and only the fourth time Norway has ever qualified for the tournament. The Scandinavian nation reached the Round of 16 in 1938 and 1998, but has never won multiple matches at a single World Cup.Haaland entered the match after scoring twice in Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq in Foxborough. That followed a dominant 2025 qualifying campaign in which he scored in all eight matches, totaling 16 goals. After the Iraq win, coach Ståle Solbakken called him the “best goal-scorer in the world.”Haaland brushed it aside.“I would say I'm up there,” Haaland said. “I don't think I scored the most goals this season, so statistically no. I'm not because I think Harry Kane and [Kylian] Mbappé scored more goals than me. That's the reality. So no, I'm not.”The 25‑year‑old Manchester City striker also arrived in New Jersey with three Premier League Golden Boots in the last four seasons, the record as the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals (111 matches), and two seasons as the Champions League’s top scorer.His goal against Senegal comes less than a week after another global superstar left Bergen County buzzing. Kylian Mbappé scored twice at MetLife Stadium in France’s 3-1 win over Senegal on June 16 to become his country’s all‑time leading scorer.Monday’s match is part of an eight‑game World Cup slate at MetLife Stadium. Norway will wrap up group play against France on June 26 at “Boston Stadium” in Foxborough.This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Erling Haaland scores World Cup goal for Norway at MetLife Stadium

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 31: Kyle Bradish #38 of the Baltimore Orioles pitches in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 31, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images Fresh off taking two of three games on the road against the Dodgers, the Orioles are on the verge of possibly helping people to feel a little bit better about their fortunes. What is standing between now and that possibility occurring is a series against the Angels. The Orioles need to actually keep playing well now that they are playing a much worse team.At every other turn this season, when presented with one of these opportunities, the Orioles have largely if not entirely wasted it. That’s why they bring a 37-42 record into this game. I keep bringing this up because it keeps amazing me: They haven’t won more than three games in a row all season. They have had five separate three-game winning streaks and zero have gone to four games. That’s not even what’s at stake tonight. They’ve only won the last two. But they won’t be able to break that futility tomorrow if they don’t extend the streak today.These Angels have lost more games than any other American League team to date. Their best hitter, a resurgent Mike Trout, recently hit the IL. They were desperate enough that they recently had former Oriole Trey Mancini around for a handful of games. He got four hits in 13 at-bats, which is nice for him. Three of their six most frequent starting pitchers are on the IL, including former Oriole Grayson Rodriguez.The Orioles are going to have to actually play well to make something good happen here. They are capable of doing that. They are also capable of not doing that. That is the frustrating thing about them this season. I would like it to go a better way tonight. That doesn’t mean it will. It’s up to the Orioles.Note: The schedule of this west coast road trip is not kind to the availability of Camden Chat staff. The recap for this game will not be posted until I wake up and write it on Tuesday morning. Don’t stay up waiting for it!Orioles lineupTaylor Ward – LFGunnar Henderson – SSPete Alonso – 1BCoby Mayo – DHTyler O’Neill – RFBlaze Alexander – 3BColton Cowser – CFJeremiah Jackson – 2BSam Huff – CThis is the lineup in support of Kyle Bradish. He was very good last time around!Huff is catching after Samuel Basallo caught the four previous games. He’s earned the day off. Jackson Holliday remains out of the lineup. That’s probably due to ongoing concern about his groin soreness, though the fact that the Angels are starting a lefty, Sam Aldegheri, surely also contributes.Angels lineupZach Neto – SSNolan Schanuel – 1BJo Adell – RFJorge Soler – DHWade Meckler – LFDenzer Guzman – 3BDonovan Walton – 2BLogan O’Hoppe – CJose Siri – CFAldegheri, the Angels starter, was born in Verona, a location notably invoked in the opening lines of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet:Two households, both alike in dignity,In fair Verona where we lay our scene,From ancient blood break to new mutiny,Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean…When I was in ninth grade, students had to memorize a 15-line portion of Romeo and Juliet and recite it in front of the class. A friend of mine read the 14-line opening sonnet that begins with the above and then, since that was only 14 of the 15 required lines, had to finish with the first non-prologue line: “Gregory, o’ my word, we’ll not carry coals.” Does that have anything to do whatsoever with this game? No, but it lives in my head forever.

George Kittle has some good news and some bad news for the Washington Commanders – the apparent top suitor for Kittle's teammate and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.Kittle joined Barstool Sports podcast "Pardon My Take" on an episode that aired on Monday, June 22. During the episode, the San Francisco 49ers' tight end shared his thoughts on Aiyuk's apparent looming departure from the Niners.The good news was that the wideout appeared to be healthy the last time Kittle saw him, around October of last year. Aiyuk had missed the back half of the 2024 season and the first few games of the 2025 season after injuring his knee in a Week 7 game. Kittle said he saw his teammate on the field and running some time between Week 6-8 of the 2025 season.BRANDON AIYUK: 4 reasons Commanders might take risk on veteran WR despite messy 49ers exit“You guys have fun with that I guess.”George Kittle when asked by Commanders fan PFT Commenter if he should be excited for Brandon Aiyuk.🎥 @PardonMyTakepic.twitter.com/pCYqTVaZ9C— KNBR (@KNBR) June 22, 2026

PREVIEW | Czech Republic vs Mexico: team news, lineups, predictions (World Cup 25/06)Czech Republic and Mexico face off this Thursday at the Estadio Azteca in World Cup. The match will be broadcast live at 02:00 on BBC One.In their last outing, Czech Republic drew 1-1 against South Africa (World Cup 2026). In their last fixture, Mexico won 1-0 against South Korea (World Cup 2026).UnavailableChéquiaMéxicoLast starting XIsCzech Republic ( vs South Africa 2026-06-18): Matej Kovár, Robin Hranác, Tomás Holes, Ladislav Krejci, Vladimír Coufal, Michal Sadílek, Alexandr Sojka, Lukás Cerv, Vladimir Darida, Patrik Schick, Adam HlozekMexico ( vs South Korea 2026-06-19): José Rangel, Jorge Sánchez, Edson Álvarez, Johan Vásquez, Jesús Gallardo, Brian Gutiérrez, Erik Lira, Luis Romo, Roberto Alvarado, Raúl Jiménez, Julián Quiñones

Kylian Mbappe scored twice to take his World Cup scoring tally to 16, two behind new record holder Lionel Messi (FRANCK FIFE)Kylian Mbappe marked his 100th cap by scoring two more World Cup goals on Monday as France eased to a 3-0 win over Iraq in a game delayed by two hours by a severe storm.Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute and added another nine minutes into the second half, with last year's Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele getting the other goal for the tournament favourites in Philadelphia.Mbappe moved to 16 World Cup goals in his career, two behind Lionel Messi who set a new record of 18 goals by netting twice for Argentina against Austria earlier on Monday.The match in Philadelphia kicked off at 5:00 pm local time (2100 GMT) and had to be halted at half-time as a huge storm passed over the city.Having started in dry conditions, torrential rain began to fall late in the first half, and supporters were told as soon as the half-time whistle was blown to "exit the open seating area and seek shelter in covered areas".The vast majority of the 68,324-capacity Lincoln Financial Field is uncovered -- leaving most of the capacity crowd to pack into the concourses.The second half eventually got under way more than two hours behind schedule, in what was the first match at this World Cup to be held up by bad weather.There are strict protocols in place in the United States that mean a game must be halted if a storm is detected in the area.It is also raining goals at this World Cup for Mbappe, whose brace here followed two in France's opening 3-1 win over Senegal last Tuesday.The 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar and France captain became his country's all-time top scorer with his goals against Senegal, overtaking the previous best tally of 57 for Olivier Giroud.He now has 60 goals for Les Bleus in a century of appearances, and 16 of them have come at the World Cup in just 16 matches at the tournament.- Shoot-out with Messi -Mbappe is now level on the all-time list of World Cup goals with Germany's Miroslav Klose, who started the tournament as the all-time leading scorer.He has overtaken the 15 goals scored by the Brazilian Ronaldo and seems set for a shoot-out at this year's World Cup with Messi.Next up for Mbappe and France is a meeting with Erling Haaland's Norway in Boston on Friday, but the 2022 beaten finalists are already certain of reaching the last 32 after notching two wins from two games in Group I.Iraq, meanwhile, are staring at the prospect of early elimination after this defeat followed a 4-1 loss to Norway in their opening game -- they have now lost five games out of five across two World Cups, 40 years apart.France made three changes from their opening game, with Bradley Barcola replacing Desire Doue on the left wing, Manu Kone stepping in for Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield, and Lucas Digne preferred to Theo Hernandez at left-back.Mbappe opened the scoring before the quarter-hour mark when he controlled a pass with his right foot and sent in a shot from 20 metres which was too powerful for Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.Graham Arnold's side were then dealt a blow as captain and striker Aymen Hussein had to come off with just 26 minutes gone.The weather delay made for a surreal atmosphere as the storm passed overhead, leaving supporters drenched, and forced the players to sit it out in the dressing room.When play resumed, Iraq caved in, with a calamitous passage of play gifting Mbappe and France their second goal on 54 minutes.A goal-kick was taken by defender Zaid Tahseen who tried to give it goalkeeper Basil, but he hit it too hard and wide, and Dembele was able to set up Mbappe for a simple finish.Michael Olise then hit the bar with a delicate chip before the Bayern Munich man set up Dembele to fire in on 66 minutes for 3-0.as/gj

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance pointed to progress on Iran’s nuclear program, but officials in Tehran said “no new commitments” had been made.

Our reporter John Ismay, who served as a Navy explosive ordnance disposal officer and deep-sea diver for eight years, explains why mines in the Strait of Hormuz may outlast the war. This video was originally published June 19 and was updated on June 22 to reflect news developments.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 22: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Dallas, United States. (Photo by Tullio Puglia - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)FIFA via Getty ImagesThe mark of a great player?Not letting an early blunder affect his or her game.Exhibit A today is one Lionel Messi, who overcame an embarrassing penalty kick miss to connect twice to power Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Iraq at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Monday.Of course, we're not talking about an ordinary player here.He can bend steel with his bare feet and make friends, foes, fans, and media shaking their heads in amazement.There is a reason many soccer observers call him the GOAT.Messi, who turns 39 on June 24, is playing like someone almost half his age, collecting goal after goal after goal.Through two games, he has tallied a World Cup-best five times, and in the process snapped former German star Miroslav Klose's record of 16 career World Cup goals. Messi has 17 and counting, with at least two other matches - in Argentina's final Group J match in Arlington on June 27, and the Round of 32."For me, Lionel Messi is the best of all time," Klose told Süddeutsche Zeitung after the Argentine superstar broke his record. “Congratulations, champ!”FORBES | By Michael LewisCape Verde Has Become World Cup Darlings Without Winning A GameARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 22: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina reacts after missing the penalty kick during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Alex Pantling - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)FIFA via Getty ImagesThe good, bad and ugly of Messi vs. AustriaNot bad for someone who botched a penalty kick.That came in the 12th minute when he somehow shanked his left-footed attempt wide right of the net. It was his third penalty kick miss in the World Cup."The truth is that it is spectacular how it happened," Messi said. "Today I had the penalty that I could have increased the score with, but if I had made the penalty, perhaps I wouldn't have reached the other two either. You never know, but I'm happy with the result, the participation, and the work of the team."Messi, who has tallied all five Argentina goals, atoned for the miss, breaking Klose’s record in the 38th minute with a 20-yard shot. He caught Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facundo Medina’s pass go by him and directly to Messi.Five minutes into stoppage time, Messi put away a rebound save of his own shot, slotting the ball home from the left side of the area, to give the South Americans some breathing room.Austrian head coach Ralf Rangnick walked away impressed.“Someone who is 39 years old and can score two goals, and five goals overall at the beginning of the World Cup, well, that makes a difference,” he was quoted by the Associated Press. “We knew that he is on a level of his own, and Lionel Messi showed us today that he’s one of the best, and he is the best.”FORBES | By Michael LewisHow USMNT Can Take Advantage Of Finishing 1st In Its World Cup GroupMessi leaves his teammates speechlessARLINGTON, TEXAS - JUNE 22: Alexis Mac Allister of Argentina celebrates the win with Lionel Messi during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Masashi Hara/Getty Images)Getty ImagesMessi has not only wowed opponents, but he has also left his teammates mesmerized.“There are no words to describe what he does,” midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said on the FIFA website. “Obviously, he’s small, but whenever you watch him, it’s a dream. And today, being able to experience it first-hand, I’m really enjoying it.“The other day, I heard my dad say that it’s one thing to watch him from the stands, and another to watch him on TV. And I’d say it’s something else entirely to watch him out on the field, right there with the rest of them. The things he does are simply incredible. The way he reacts at the last moment to whatever’s happening. So, anyway, I’m just happy that he’s able to enjoy himself and score goals.”Added forward Julian Alvarez: “I don't even know what to say. It's impressive. Honestly, there aren't many more words to add. We see it every day, so many years showing off his magic, his talent. He's the greatest of all time and we just try to enjoy him every time.”Messi is a changed player from his prime. He knows that he can't beat players 1 v 1 on a consistent basis as he did in the past. He once had a signature move in which he would catch an opponent on the wrong foot and then speed away.Instead, he has adapted, using his ridiculously high soccer IQ to be in the right place at the right time to put the ball into the back of the net for Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer. He lets his teammates join in on the action.Again, the mark of a great player.And that's not to forget how he can target teammates with passes, short, medium, or long.FORBES | By Michael Lewis10 Players Who Are Expected To Leave Their Mark At The World CupPHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 22: Kylian Mbappe #10 of France celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hannah Peters - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)FIFA via Getty ImagesMbappe is right behind MessiRegardless of what transpires, this will be Messi's sixth and final World Cup. As marvelous as he has been, Messi might not wind up as the all-time goal-scoring leader, because a much younger star is keeping pace with him. That would be French striker Kylian Mbappe, who has 16 after the 27-year-old forward scored twice in a 3-0 triumph over Iraq in Philadelphia later on Monday. That match was delayed by a thunderstorm for more than two hours.While Argentina and France likely won’t meet until the knockout rounds, they have won the last two World Cups, the French in 2018, the Argentines in 2022.The Messi-Mbappe goal-scoring battle has emerged as the intriguing subplot of this World Cup.And the fun has just begun.Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

CBS Analyst Absurdly Ranks Patriots 'Biggest Offseason Loser' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.There are 32 teams in the NFL. Only one of them made a trade to acquire a three-time All-Pro wide receiver to fill its biggest roster weakness. That same team, the New England Patriots, also brought in a second reliable pass catcher from a perennial playoff team. The Miami Dolphins lost their starting quarterback, their head coach and their two best wide receivers. But even that was not enough to land them on CBS Sports analyst Jordan Dajani's "biggest offseason losers" list. That honor was reserved for the reigning AFC Champion Patriots (who added talent at their three biggest needs)."There's a narrative that some are afraid to address the Mike Vrabel drama," Dajani wrote. "It's the biggest story of the offseason, yes, but we also deal in facts, and neither party will come out and admit what we saw in the photos published by the New York Post/Page Six. We have a resignation letter from Dianna Russini and worthless word salad from the Patriots head coach in his press conferences instead."Dajani wrote three more lengthy paragraphs about New England's offseason without once mentioning the names A.J. Brown or Romeo Doubs. I'm not sure how it is even possible to tell the story of the NFL offseason, let alone the Patriots' specifically, while omitting these two names. Dajani clearly aimed to retell the story of the Russini/Vrabel scandal, and I understand that, but we are still talking about football, are we not?"To make a list of NFL teams that had the worst offseasons and not include the Patriots would be disingenuous," Dajani continued. "To make matters worse, the Patriots are the prime regression candidate in 2026. After going 14-3 last season with help from the easiest schedule since the turn of the millennium, the Patriots have the sixth-toughest schedule in 2026..."Dajani is willfully ignorant of the fact that, regardless of the offseason drama, the games will still be played. The Patriots will still win 10+ of those games. New England will dominate the AFC East, and, thanks to their offseason additions, make a second consecutive playoff appearance. No disrespect, but I don't think Dajani could be more wrong about the scope of the NFL offseason if he tried. The situation in New England is more of an "honorable mention" than the third-biggest loser in the league. More NFL: Patriots HOF WR Wants To See Drake Maye And A.J. Brown For '4-5 Years'

Florida Atlantic University introduces Brian White as the school's athletic director on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 in Boca Raton, Fla. (Jim Rassol/Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) Brian White, former Vice-President and Athletic Director of Florida Atlantic University is hired to replace retiring Whit Babcock. He has a reputation as a big fundraiser, but there will be questions since FAU is a Group of 6(5) university with a bumpy football record.That’s Sort of Out of Left FieldVirginia Tech hires Brian White to head up the Athletic Department, a title which also comes with the Vice-Presidency of the university. A new chapter begins. Welcome, Brian White!➡️ https://t.co/Djvyh0WtSGpic.twitter.com/0rz8boB4fh— HokieSports (@hokiesports) June 22, 2026For a full resume and introduction, we have to rely on Hokie Sports for the superficial information. Brian White named Virginia Tech’s Vice President and Director of Athletics – Virginia Tech AthleticsThe Standout Realities Don’t Shout Very LoudlyThe main thing to look at the CV of Mr. White is that is experience at the P4 level is non-existent. His last university program, Florida Atlantic University. FAU’s football program has struggled in the 22 years of its existence with only 5 years of greater than .500 records. During his tenure from 2018-2025 as AD, the Owls only had a single season over .500 with the mercurial Lane Kiffin as head coach. That was in White’s second season with the team in 2019 when FAU played in Conference USA. Since then, other than a .500 year in the bogus 2020 season at 5 and 4, FAU never posted a season better than 5 and 7. Kiffin blew town before the team won the Boca Raton Bowl in 2019, but we can’t hold that against White since Kiffin bolts for bucks faster than rabbits make bunnies.The Owls’ Men’s basketball team fared a bit better making it into the NCAA Beeg Shew in 2023 and 2024 with a trip to the finals in 2023. This Will Be a Work in ProgressMr. White will have much to learn and navigate. The fanbase will be hyped up about some things, but many deep diggers will be a bit perplexed as to why this choice was made. Since the Hokies are in a total administrative rebuild, the results will all happen as they do and success remains to be seen.Good Luck to Brian WhiteThis program is hungry for success, and it’s going to be a tough assignment with very little leash to count on.GO HOKIES!!!!

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 22: Kylian Mbappe #10 of France is tackled by Hussein Ali #3 of Iraq during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) | Getty Images Adverse weather conditions caused France’s 3-0 win over Iraq to be hit by suspension amid a torrential downpour and lightning. But it wasn’t enough to stop Kylian Mbappé.Mbappé was making his 100th appearance for France at the age of 27, having become his country’s record goalscorer by scoring two against Senegal last time out. Here, he extended that record to 60 goals, first breaking the deadlock as he fired a left-footed effort from outside the box beyond Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil Fadhil.With the game disrupted by an hour-long break at halftime due to the storms, the French captain had to stay on his toes. He added a second goal nine minutes into the second period, providing a neat finishing touch to excellent work from Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé.The forward was active throughout with eight shots and 10 touches in the opposition box both ranking him ahead of any other player on the field of play. He even missed three big chances, most notably on 14 minutes as he fired straight at Fadhil from short range with a shot worth 0.41 xG.He was the only Real Madrid player in the France squad to be selected to start the encounter. Midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni was benched with Roma’s Kouadio Koné coming in to join Milan’s Adrien Rabiot in the double pivot.Defender Ibrahima Konaté confirmed he would join Los Blancos this summer last week, but he is yet to get any minutes of game time in the United States as Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano and Arsenal’s William Saliba continue.France will pay close attention to Norway’s fixture against Senegal, knowing that a win for the Africans would ease the pressure on Les Bleus in their final group game.While France have won both of their opening two games, a draw (if their goal advantage is superior) or win for Norway when they meet in Boston on Friday could prevent them from going through in top spot. That would pitch them in the same part of the draw as Brazil and England in the round of 16-!: quarterfinal.

Bill Simmons: I’m just gonna say…. I would be absolutely shocked if Hugo was/is thrown into any Giannis trade offer. The entire organization is all-in on him - Stevens prob the most. They could not be higher on him. I genuinely don’t believe he’s involved. Guess we’ll see.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Celtics want to keep Hugo Gonzalez

A federal judge ruled that the Agriculture Department lacked the authority to approve state waivers that restrict what SNAP participants can buy with their benefits.

Editor's note: This article was originally published June 12, 1994 in The Oklahoman.OMAHA, NE — The Oklahoma Sooners are champions of college baseball.OU put the finishing touches on an incredible run through the NCAA Tournament by posting a 13-5 victory over Georgia Tech in the national title game Saturday afternoon at Rosenblatt Stadium.While Gov. David Walters and OU officials waited to offer their congratulations, Sooner players dogpiled one another in front of the mound in celebration. It's the second time OU has won the NCAA baseball title, the other coming in 1951."This is the greatest feeling in the world," said OU shortstop Rich Hills. "I just thank God we got the chance to do it and we came through. I can't describe how good it feels. " The 13 runs were the most scored in the title game in the College World Series' 48-year history. The Sooners, finishing 50-17, never trailed. They scored five runs in the fourth to break a 2-2 tie, added four in the sixth to blow it open and added two more in the seventh that allowed fans back home to start celebrating early."Players make the coach and these guys made me look good. I'm happy for them, I'm happy for the administration who made the commitment to make it happen, and I'm happy for all the Sooner baseball players over the years. I hope they cherish this as much as we do," OU coach Larry Cochell said.LIVE UPDATES: OU baseball vs UNC live updates, College World Series score, Game 3 time, TV, highlightsEvery starter except Ryan Minor had at least one hit in the title game as the Sooners rapped out 16 hits to coast to an easy victory. OU hit two homers, both coming in the sixth inning. Damon Minor slammed a monster three-run homer to make it 10-3 and Chip Glass blasted a solo homer to give the Sooners a commanding eight-run cushion.Five OU players were named to the all-tournament team: first baseman Ryan Minor, second baseman Rick Gutierrez, right fielder Darvin Traylor, pitcher Mark Redman, and center fielder Chip Glass, who was named the event's Most Outstanding Player."I would have never imagined that could happen to me," said Glass, who hit three homers in the College World Series. "I just happened to come up with some hits. " Tim Walton, the third of four OU pitchers, picked up the win to improve to 7-3. Bucky Buckles recorded the final 11 outs to extend his Big Eight single-season saves record to 14."This is exactly what I wanted all year, to be on the mound when we got the final out," Buckles said. "This is great. We're No. 1." It was OU's first national championship in any sport since the men's gymnastics team won in 1991 but it was the first national championship game in any sport for Georgia Tech."You can't ask for much more than to play for a national title.That's what every kid and every coach dreams about," GT coach Danny Hall said. "I was disappointed we lost, but I'm proud of what we accomplished. CARLSON: OU baseball will play for a national title. How crazy is that? Let's count the waysThis article originally appeared on Oklahoman: When did OU baseball last win College World Series? Meet 1994 Sooners

DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene homered and Kevin McGonigle drove in two runs as the Detroit Tigers beat Gerrit Cole for the first time in 10 years, winning 5-3 against the New York Yankees on Monday night.Framber Valdez (4-5) outpitched Cole, giving up one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. The left-hander struck out eight as the Tigers won their fourth straight game.Cole (2-2) entered 10-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 14 career starts against Detroit, with his only loss coming as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 14, 2016. But the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner wasn't very sharp this time, allowing five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out five.Minus injured slugger Aaron Judge, the Yankees have lost three in a row and four of five. They still have the best record in the American League at 46-31.New York got a run in the second when José Caballero walked, stole second and scored on Ali Sánchez's double.Detroit took the lead with three runs in the third.Zack McKinstry led off with a triple and scored on McGonigle's groundout. Cole struck out Dillon Dingler for the second out, but the next four hitters reached base, including RBI singles by Spencer Torkelson and Colt Keith.McGonigle's RBI double gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead in the fourth, and Greene's 422-foot homer made it 5-1 in the fifth.Sánchez exited in the seventh after being hit on the left wrist by a pitch. Amed Rosario homered two pitches later to make it 5-3.A pair of infield singles brought Jasson Domínguez to the plate with two on and two outs in the eighth, but Will Vest came out of the bullpen to strike him out. Vest also pitched the ninth for his second save.The game was delayed for seven minutes in the fourth when a camera installed in front of second base popped up through the grass. Despite the best efforts of Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. to rebury the camera, the grounds crew had to come out to fix the field.Up nextThe teams continue their three-game series Tuesday night, with Detroit RHP Casey Mize (2-4, 2.58 ERA) scheduled to face LHP Carlos Rodón (3-2, 3.50).___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is dealing with an unexpected off-field NFL situation involving quarterback Geno Smith and allegations related to his personal life.According to multiple reports, a woman identified only as “Kristen” has accused Smith of assault. In an 85-second video clip that has circulated on social media, she makes several allegations against the Jets quarterback, including claims that he assaulted her.She also accuses Smith of neglecting their special-needs child, breaking her computer, and chasing her during the incident. Police officers appear in the video and responded to the scene, but reports indicate that no arrests were made and no one was taken into custody.MORE: Atlanta Falcons’ James Pearce expected to receive hefty suspensionIt remains unclear whether authorities have closed the case or if the matter is still under investigation. Reports from various outlets have provided conflicting information, making the status of the case difficult to determine.Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith looks to throw against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesUncharacteristic accusationsThe allegations come as a surprise given Smith’s relatively clean off-field record throughout his NFL career. The most notable controversy involving Smith previously occurred during his time with the Jets when he was involved in a locker-room altercation with former teammate IK Enemkpali.The incident stemmed from a dispute over a $600 debt after Smith missed Enemkpali’s youth football camp. Enemkpali punched Smith during the confrontation, leaving the quarterback with a broken jaw that sidelined him at the start of the 2015 season.MORE: Shedeur Sanders landing spots after latest Browns trade rumorSmith joined the Jets this offseason after spending last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Originally selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, he played for New York from 2013 to 2016. His early years in the league were marked by inconsistency and several benchings.Dec 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) looks to throw in the third quarter against the New York Giants at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesAfter stints with multiple teams, Smith revived his career with the Seattle Seahawks. He served as Seattle’s full-time starter from 2022 through 2024 before the Seahawks traded him to the Raiders.It is also unclear whether the NFL has begun its own investigation into the allegations or plans to do so.

Several crew members from McDonald’s locations across metro Atlanta have been chosen as FIFA Flag Bearers.One of them, 17-year-old Peter Mitchell, told Channel 2’s Berndt Petersen that, as a fry cook at McDonald’s, he knows how to handle pressure.“I imagine it’s going to be hard. My heart is racing so much to think about trying to keep my cool out there,” Peter Mitchell said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]He’s headed to a FIFA World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium where he’ll be on the field, known in soccer as the pitch, during some of the upcoming matches.“I can’t imagine what it’s going to feel like for a 16-year-old, 17-year-old at a World Cup match: a lifetime memory,” local McDonald’s owner and operator D.J. Mitchell said.On Monday, the McDonald’s on Northside Drive threw a party for the local flag bearers, invited all the kids from the neighborhood, and presented a World Cup sized donation to the local nonprofit Soccer in the Streets, which has spent the last 37 years making the game more accessible to metro area children.With 11 years experience, Peter Mitchell is quite the soccer player himself, but never an experience like the one he’s about to have.“It’s unreal, just wonderful to be able to go out there on the field and be a flag bearer,” Peter Mitchell said. The next World Cup match at Atlanta Stadium is set for Wednesday.[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

Atletico Madrid star open to move away amid heavy Barcelona interest originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.While the Summer transfer window will see tons of players have their names included in some rather big-money moves across the globe, one player has risen to the top of the rumor mill for some time now: Julian Alvarez. The Atletico Madrid player lit up the Metropolitano this season, getting involved in the creation of 29 goals, 20 of which came from his own foot. While this is a seven-goal involvement reduction from his debut with the Madrid-based club, he'd play a huge role in Atletico's trip to the semi-finals of the Champions League.These efforts haven't gone unnoticed by some of the top names across the continent, as Real Madrid was linked with a €150 million bid for the Argentine after Florentino Perez secured victory in Bernabeu's recent election for the club presidency. But this bid would be instantly rejected by Los Blancos' cross-town rivals, which would also impact the interest by Barcelona, who were interested in Alvarez, as they would now have to fork up some serious money in order for a move to be made.The Catalan club was looking towards the Metropolitano star as a replacement for Robert Lewandowski, who left the Camp Nou after the expiration of his contract with the La Liga champions. Alvarez's 20 goals are more than what the Polish forward put up in Catalonia this season, but aren't anywhere near what he was known to put up in recent years. He'd still more than fit into the system present at Barcelona.Yet the Alvarez transfer saga is set to open a new chapter after the World Cup winner made a shocking admission on Monday.Alvarez's blunt admissionAlvarez dropped a quote, following his national team's victory over Austria in the second match day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, that would send the football world in motion.🚨💣 BREAKING! Julián Álvarez: “The best thing for me is a TRANSFER and I want to FULFILL MY DREAM”. 🔥As always reported, Julián has agreed to join Barça and wants the move. It depends on clubs now……after €100m bid rejected few weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/gELXmZhcqr— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 22, 2026I try to be an honest person," Alvarez stated to reporters on Monday afternoon. "I spoke with Atletico de Madrid, and I think a transfer is the best option. I want to fulfill my dream.”Given that the Argentine has only recently made this shocking admission, the Catalan-based club has yet to make any move, but it appears that they could have to pay up to €500 million, which is the release clause that is located in Alvarez's contract with Atletico. If the Catalan club isn't to pay that fee, any bid they could submit will have to be quite substantial given the time that Alvarez has left on his existing deal, which isn't set to run out until June 2030.MORE TRANSFER NEWSAston Villa among six Premier League teams eyeing Barcelona wingerArsenal, Manchester United among teams eyeing Brazilian wonderkidArsenal, Liverpool among teams interested in Moroccan wonderkidLiverpool, Manchester United tied to relegated West Ham starFormer Champions League winning striker's move to MLS on the cardsLiverpool, Bayern Munich lose race to sign German wonderkidBayern Munich's €65m transfer target has stellar World Cup debut