Director

A journalist browses the Messina museum website showing a picture of the Early Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina's artwork where three of the five panels belonging to the Polyptych of San Gregorio and the double-sided panel with the Madonna and the Christ in Pietà, stolen from the Sicilian museum on Aug. 15, in Rome, Sunday, Aug. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)2026-08-16T11:22:16Z MILAN (AP) — Thieves stole four works attributed to the Sicilian Renaissance painter Antonello da Messina from a regional museum in the Sicilian city of Messina on the Italian Ferragosto holiday, the news agency LaPresse reported Sunday.The thieves bypassed alarm and security systems Saturday evening at the MuMe regional museum to make off with three of the five surviving panels of the San Gregorio Polyptych, dated from 1473, as well as the double-sided panel depicting the Virgin Mary and dead Christ in Pietà, which was removed from an armored display case, LaPresse reported.“We are devastated by what happened. They were two of Antonello da Messina’s most important and best-known works. It is a tremendous loss for the museum, the city, the community and the art world,” MuMe director Marisa Mercurio told the ANSA news agency. She said the theft occurred just before 10 p.m. The Italian government in March bought a devotional painting titled “Ecce Homo” by da Messina for $14.9 million from Sotheby’s auction house in New York — raising the profile of the early Renaissance painter. Lynda Albertson, an art-crime analyst, said the works are instantly recognizable, impeding any effort to sell them through reputable channels. “Stealing an Antonello may be far easier than selling one. If these are ordinary thieves, they will soon discover that — to their cost,” Albertson, who is the chief executive of the ARCA art crimes research association, told the Italian daily La Repubblica. She said such famous artworks often pass from one criminal to another, serving as collateral for other illicit activity. The museum was closed Sunday while investigators gathered evidence. Neither museum officials nor the Carabinieri could immediately be reached for comment. Read More The Ferragosto holiday, which marks the feast of the Assumption of Mary, marks the height of the Italian summer holiday season. The theft comes just days after police in the northern Italian city of Parma announced that they had recovered three stolen artworks by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse worth about 10 million euros ($11.5 million). Five people have been detained in the March 22-23 theft from the Magnani Rocca Foundation located in the Parma province.

Are you a renter feeling limited, home improvement-wise, by the terms of your lease or by the fact that you might someday move? Heed this advice from Lily F Tsutumida: “Do the math and consider what it’s worth for you to be happier in your space while you’re there; if it’s feasible, go for it! READ MORE...

Koch updateEintracht’s captain has suffered a mild concussion and will go through the corresponding recovery protocol.After a clash during Saturday’s friendly with Brentford, captain Robin Koch underwent medical tests, which did not reveal any structural damage.The 30-year-old nevertheless suffered a mild concussion and will go through the corresponding recovery protocol.

Aug. 16—PULLMAN — Maxwell Woods is no stranger to opportunity.The sophomore Washington State running back seized the day in December, racking up 152 all-purpose yards on Boise's blue turf in a Potato Bowl victory over Utah State.Woods again stole the show in April, emerging as one of the finer performers in several spring scrimmages.So his performance Saturday — during WSU's first of two fall camp scrimmages at Gesa Field — was hardly a surprise.With teammate Kirby Vorhees sidelined but expected back next week, Woods stepped right up, carving out runs of 16 and 13 yards, respectively, within the scrimmage's first three plays with the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense. Woods finished with an unofficial seven carries for 34 yards.It's likely not a question of if Woods will overtake Vorhees for the RB1 role. At this point, rather, it's more about how much Woods will factor into the offense alongside his teammate of two years.And with the last eight months alone as evidence, Woods may play quite a bit."Max, first thing I'm going to say is he does more than what's expected," first-year WSU coach Kirby Moore said. "He is one of the first guys in this building. If I'm getting a morning workout in, he's usually in there at 6:30, 6:45. Breakfast doesn't open till 7:00, so he is always in there getting extra work, and I think that's showing up on the field."AdvertisementThe WSU offense — with rotational reps for the three starting quarterback candidates — split the first half with the defense, then responded, claiming the red zone lockout period off QB Julian Dugger's rushing touchdown.Freshman running back Tre Hill Jr. accounted for an 11-yard touchdown later in the scrimmage with the No. 2 offense.It's that response by the offense, which lost a lockout period and the associated award of Ferdinand's ice cream earlier in the week, that Moore said impressed him the most."Offense had two good initial drives right there," Moore said. "Defense did a good job holding (them to) field goals. Then defense responded, I thought, for the next couple drives, forcing some three and outs."Defense won the lockout on Monday. Offense won it today. So you like that back and forth."While the Cougars' energy was solid, Moore said that he wants his team to clean up the penalties. WSU accumulated about 12 penalties on the day."You've just got to keep teaching technique," defensive coordinator Trent Bray said. "A lot of it (is) they don't trust themselves. They're in good position, they panic and they reach. That's really what a lot of the holding calls were."What to make of the QB competitionSaturday was the latest installment in a three-way starting quarterback competition between sophomore Caden Pinnick, last year's Big Sky Freshman of the Year at UC Davis, redshirt freshman Owen Eshelman and Dugger, a former Pitt signal-caller in his second year at Wazzu.Pinnick took the opening reps with the No. 1 offense, leading a 13-play field-goal drive to kick off the scrimmage. He found redshirt freshman tight end Cash Landau in the end zone late in the scrimmage and completed 13-of-19 passes for about 80 yards.Dugger had the most explosive day, leading scoring drives on the majority of his series and finding Pullman High alum Caleb Northcroft for a 51-yard completion with the No. 3 unit.Eshelman didn't manage any particularly flashy plays, but kept the offense moving down the field to set up a Jack Stevens field goal. The sophomore kicker, back from last year's roster, was 4-for-4 on the day.Some reps were conducted directly in front of two staffers wheeling dual dollies stacked with three speakers each and covered in trash bags to protect the equipment from the light rain that serenaded the scrimmage. The speakers blared crowd noise, the "Jaws" theme on third down and other music to simulate a gameday atmosphere."I thought at times all three made their plays," offensive coordinator Matt Miller said, offering the asterisk that the finer details would be most visible on tape. "I also thought at times all three did not make their plays and left some things out there, whether it was a decision here, decision there, operating in the pre-snap, things like that."While the Cougs may narrow the QB competition from three to two soon, both Moore and Miller said that further evaluation would take place."It's probably too early to say. I really need to watch the film and see," Moore said. "Sometimes, the quarterback gets too much credit, too much blame. (We'll) See some of the route distribution (and) protection. There were a couple situations where we've got to make sure we stay on schedule."Defensive line dangerousThere is a flattering disagreement between WSU's two presumptive starting defensive ends."It seems like every time I'm rallying to the ball, Matyus (McLain) already has the ball carrier on the ground," Vanderbilt transfer DE Linus Zunk said.McLain, a former Idaho Vandal from Priest River, had a different perspective."I feel like it's the opposite. I see it from the other point of view that Linus is always there," McLain said. "Like today, he got two sacks, and I was like, 'Oh, I was right there.' But I mean, I'm so happy for him because with both of us rushing off the edge, we've got such a good chance."A good chance to wreak some havoc, which the WSU defensive front did Saturday, continuing what has been a solid fall camp all around.It was McLain, during the scrimmage's first half, who delivered the final hit on Woods for a loss of yardage after the defense swarmed the line of scrimmage.While Zunk was counted for two simulated sacks on the day, the requiem of laying off the quarterback left something to be desired for the 6-foot-6, 264-pound sixth-year player from Berlin, Germany."That is a big part of the game, getting the quarterback on the ground, and for us not really being able to do that ever until that first game, I want to say it's frustrating, but that's just part of football," Zunk said. "It's something that we're going to have to focus on and try to imitate as good as we can during individual (drills)."Cornerback Elmo Wartson, a 6-3, 180-pound Modesto Junior College transfer, made three head-turning hits, while CB Jahil Tucker took reps with the No. 1 defense in his return from an injury.Another tight end injuryEarly in the scrimmage, senior tight end Hudson Cedarland, who has a history of injuries, fell and remained on the ground following a play, seemingly grasping his knee.After the trainers ran out to treat him, a staffer drove the cart onto the field to escort the fifth-year Coug, who switched from linebacker to tight end last year, off the field.With sophomore Trey Leckner out until midseason and Beau Baker missing time this week with what Moore said is "a mild foot sprain," Reed, Landau and UCLA transfer Jack Pedersen have taken on bigger roles at tight end.Moore said he did not know the specifics or severity of Cedarland's injury, but would meet with the training staff later in the day.Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

Bills receiver Khalil Shakir looks for extra yards after a catch. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Co The Buffalo Bills had a wide receiver problem last season. In short, they didn’t have a player who profiles as a true “alpha” in the receiver room. Sure, they had some good players, but most football people viewed those players as good pieces, not true game-wreckers who can thrive regardless of the situation or defense they face.Is that underselling Buffalo’s top wideout for the last two seasons? Perhaps it is; however, just from a statistical standpoint, that “top” wideout wouldn’t have been the top guy in nearly every other top-flight passing offense in the NFL. What he was asked to do in terms of his route tree also seemed to be a limiting factor. Was that a design flaw, or a product of having a rough supporting cast?In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss the man who has been Buffalo’s top wideout over the last two seasons._____________________________________________________________________________Name: Khalil ShakirNumber: 10Position: WRHeight/Weight: 6’ 190 lbs.Age: 26 (27 on 2/3/2027)Experience/Draft: 5; selected by Buffalo in the fifth round (No. 148 overall) of the 2022 NFL DraftCollege: Boise StateAcquired: Fifth-round draft choiceFinancial situation (per Spotrac): This season marks the first year of Shakir’s four-year, $52.866 million extension that he signed in February 2025. His cap hit for this season is $6.792 million. If Buffalo releases him, they’ll carry a dead cap charge of $25.796 million.2025 Recap: Shakir once again slotted in—literally and figuratively—as Buffalo’s top wideout, and he once again led the team in nearly every receiving category. He played in one more game last season than he did in 2024 despite suffering a high ankle sprain in Buffalo’s Return of the Blue and Red scrimmage. In fact, Shakir missed no game time due to that sprain, as he returned to practice ahead of Buffalo’s Week One win over the Baltimore Ravens and played in that game. The only game he missed was the regular-season finale, and he sat alongside multiple other starters as Buffalo rested ahead of their Wild Card date with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Shakir led the team in targets (95), receptions (72), and receiving yards (719). Dalton Kincaid led the team with five receiving touchdowns, but Shakir was second with four. In the playoffs, Shakir was once again quarterback Josh Allen’s go-to guy, leading the team by a wide margin in targets (21), receptions (19), and receiving yards (157). Shakir also was used as a punt returner at multiple points throughout the season. In the regular season, Shakir returned 16 punts and averaged 7.8 yards per return. Both totals led the Bills. He did not return a punt in the postseason, but he was back there to do so a few times; he fair caught a punt in Buffalo’s 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Throughout the season, Shakir was used mainly at or near the line of scrimmage, as his average depth of target was the lowest among all wideouts who saw at least 50 targets last year. Shakir averaged just 3.8 yards per target.Positional outlook: Shakir is one of fourteen wideouts on the current roster. Mac Dalena, Ja’Mori Maclin, Max Tomczak, Stephen Gosnell, Mecole Hardman Jr., Trent Sherfield, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, Skyler Bell, DJ Moore, Tyrell Shavers, Quentin Skinner, and Dante Pettis are the others.2026 Offseason: Shakir is healthy, and he’s already looking like he might have a different, more diverse role this season. He’s been used much more downfield in practices so far.2026 Season outlook: Maybe I’m crazy, but I think that the addition of DJ Moore will actually help Shakir’s production this season, not harm it. Sure, he might not see 100 targets—especially if tight end Dalton Kincaid can actually stay healthy—but Shakir will likely see more passes in downfield areas. Yes, he’s excellent at handling screen passes and turning them into long gains, but he’s also an adept route runner who has plenty of untapped downfield upside. In a more diverse role, he could come closer to his 2023 production where he averaged 16.8 yards per reception. Not coincidentally, that was the last season that the Bills had a true alpha in the receivier room in Stefon Diggs.Shakir is a phenomenal wideout, and if he fills the proper role, he could help any offense be better. He’s been miscast over the last two seasons as the top dog in Buffalo’s passing attack. Adding Moore will help him to improve, and if the Bills can also limit his use on punt returns by deploying someone they can trust to handle the gig, it will also help keep Shakir out of harm’s way with more unnecessary snaps. Again, Shakir is a good punt returner, and if he did it more consistently, I think he might even be able to be great at it. However, I don’t think it’s a good use of resources for the Bills to have their WR2 exposing himself to more hits on special teams if they can avoid it.Look for Shakir to continue doing plenty of damage on short passes and screens this season, but don’t be surprised when he sees more downfield targets, either. He’s a legitimate threat at all three levels of the defense, and I’m excited to see his next level unlocked.

[Getty Images]This was a pre-season finale to forget for Manchester United.Just a week away from their Premier League opener at promoted Hull City on Saturday, Michael Carrick's men took the lead twice against AC Milan before finishing on the wrong end of a 4-2 beating.First, the positives.Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo and Lisandro Martinez all made their first appearances of pre-season. Skipper Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans played for the full 90 minutes.From the looks of it, there are no fresh injury concerns for Michael Carrick at the end of a six-match pre-season that has been largely positive, albeit with a foot issue for Mason Mount in Gothenburg seven days ago that was initially shrugged off as a precaution but has now kept the in-form midfielder out for almost three full games.The problem, whether in pre-season or when the campaign proper begins, is that results shape narratives. And losing 4-2 in Wroclaw to a Milan side led by former United boss Ruben Amorim is not a good look.Three of the four Milan goals were close-range efforts. Those with the benefit of replays – there was no VAR in operation in Wroclaw – felt one of them was offside.Ruben Loftus-Cheek rounded things off by racing beyond Martinez and not getting caught before he drove a shot past Senne Lammens, without whom the overall damage would have been worse.Manchester United seemed to have a particular issue when AC Milan switched play to the right as Luke Shaw, who also played for the full game, had too much space to cover to get to the wing and not enough support.The gaps between defence and midfield were not big, but they were not covered adequately by United. After an eye-catching first five games this summer, this was also a day when recent signing Andrey Santos' inexperience was exposed.Such matters will give Carrick something to think about on the flight back to Manchester as he assesses how best to go about starting the Premier League campaign."We are disappointed with today," Carrick told MUTV afterwards. "We didn't play very well. There are no excuses."

Clay Matthews is no stranger to being in front of the camera. During his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, he appeared in movies, a TV sitcom and many commercials.And most recently began appearing on FanDuel’s “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast, a platform started by two former NFL players. Matthews might be as comfortable in that role as he was chasing down and sacking quarterbacks.Now, he’s set for a new gig as an NFL studio analyst for Netflix.And he’s making his debut for the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia in Week 1.Matthews will be part of the Netflix coverage team for the Los Angeles Rams-San Francisco 49ers game that will be played in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, Sept. 10. He’ll be joined by host Elle Duncan and fellow former NFL players, Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles.Matthews, 40, will appear during the pregame, at halftime and postgame. Congratulations to my brother, @ClayMatthews52, on his new @netflix gig! I’m so excited to watch him, starting with Week 1 in Australia!! I’m a proud sister. 💙 https://t.co/qAtg2iW7vf— Jennifer Matthews (@JennMatthews57) August 15, 2026Noah Eagle will be the play-by-play announcer for the game with 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Luke Kuechly, a former NFL linebacker, as the booth analyst.Here’s what to know about the Week 1 Netflix game and more on Matthews:When is the Netflix NFL Week 1 Australia game? Date, start timeThe Rams and 49ers play in Melbourne, Australia, in Week 1 on Thursday, Sept. 10.Kickoff is set for 7:35 p.m. CT from the Melbourne Cricket Ground.The game is streaming exclusively on Netflix, the streaming giant that has entered the NFL world in recent years. Netflix NFL schedule 2026The Melbourne game is one of multiple games that will be streamed exclusively on Netflix this season. The Packers are part of two Netflix games, meaning Matthews will be in the studio providing analysis for those matchups. Stream NFL on FuboThis includes the NFL’s first-ever Thanksgiving Eve game on Nov. 25 when the Packers play at the Rams at SoFi Stadium.And like in recent years, Netflix will air two Christmas Day games. The Packers play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in one of the games on Dec. 25. The Buffalo Bills-Denver Broncos matchup at Empower Field at Mile High is the other. Both are playoff rematches from last season.Netflix will also have a Week 18 game.Clay Matthews was a Packers superstar A first-round pick by the Packers in 2009, Matthews played all but one season of his 11-year career in Green Bay. Matthews is the Packers’ all-time sacks leader, he earned six Pro Bowls and had one of the biggest plays in Green Bay’s Super Bowl victory in 2010 when he forced a fumble in the fourth quarter. He wasn’t just a star on the field but he was off it as well. Matthews’ celebrity status grew during his career as he dabbled into acting with cameo appearances in film and TV. Last year, Matthews stepped to the stage at the NFL Draft in Green Bay and had one of the viral moments of the week. He shouted in the microphone to kick off the festivities that the “Bears still suck.”Matthews retired from the NFL following the 2019 season. He was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 2024.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Clay Matthews has new gig as NFL studio analyst, where you can see him

You can set up all kinds of shelves, bins, and boxes in your home, but somehow it always feels like you could use more storage — especially in high-traffic areas like your home’s entryway. I don’t have a ton of room by my front door, and the area can get cluttered and overwhelmed very fast. READ MORE...

More Tools on Mobile, available now! (Photo by Stephen Hull/Yahoo Sports)Some of the Yahoo Fantasy tools you've relied on only from the web are finally in your pocket. This year, we brought a set of favorite features to the mobile app for the first time so you can manage your league and prep for the season without leaving the Fantasy app.Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonThree tools will make the jump to mobile this season:Record Book: Your league's Record Book is now on the app. See who the top scorers are in your league over time, who put up the best (and worst) performances ever and relive your league history season by season. All the bragging rights and long-running rivalries, now in the app. Pre-draft rankings: Set your rankings on mobile before you're on the clock, so you can prep for draft day right from the app.Edit pre-draft rankings, right from your app.Draft ordering: For the first time, set your league's draft order in the app, so you can handle it without switching to the web.Set your draft order in your app.To find your league Record Book, navigate to the League tab for any returning league and tap Record Book in the list.Check your league's history.New Tools on App mark day 7 of our 29 Days of Fantasy. Follow it all here.FAQ:Where do I find the Record Book? Navigate to the League tab for any returning league and tap Record Book in the list.What will I see in the Record Book? Top scorers over time, all-time best and worst performances and league history from previous seasons.

Dallas Wings vs. Indiana Fever - 2026 WNBA regular season © Reuters ConnectAfter the Indiana Fever defeated the Dallas Wings on Friday, Sophie Cunningham was seen at Clayton’s Country Bar in Indianapolis. Clayton Anderson, the country music singer who happens to own the bar, spotted the Fever guard and asked her to sing alongside him. Cunningham obliged, and they ended up belting out Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue.”The clip of Cunningham and Anderson singing, which has been viewed 1.5 million times, drew a positive reaction from former college swimmer Riley Gaines.“America’s sweetheart,” gaines wrote on x.This is the latest compliment Gaines has given Cunningham in recent weeks. Since Cunningham’s ESPN profile came out last month, the former Kentucky swimmer has thrown her weight behind the Fever star.Gaines took the opportunity to pose for a picture with the Fever guard after Cunningham’s squad visited the Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 2. Gaines tweeted the picture, in which she recreated Cunningham’s viral finger-pointing meme, and posted a short statement in the caption: “Little girls belong.”When DiJonai Carrington committed a hard foul against Cunningham a week later, Gaines was at it again, claiming that the physicality endured by the Fever guard was “because she said men have no place in women’s sports.”Gaines has staunchly opposed the participation of trans athletes in women’s sports after she tied with trans athlete Lia Thomas at a 2022 NCAA swimming event.“A Role Model Off the Court”: Enes Kanter Freedom Praises Sophie Cunningham Amidst Buzz Surrounding His “Declaration” for WNBA DraftAnother athlete who has given Sophie Cunningham her flowers is Enes Kanter Freedom, who’s made headlines of his own amidst the discourse on transgender athletes.In a sit-down interview with Bruce Pearl of the America First Policy Institute, Freedom hailed Cunningham for her remarks.“She’s becoming a role model off the court as well. She’s actually pushing people to think.”Freedom, who “declared” for the WNBA draft to challenge the league’s eligibility guidelines, also called Cunningham “the player I want to be like one day.”READ MORE:“Why Are You Gaslighting Us?”: Former CFB Player Tears Into Fever Coach Stephanie White Over Sophie Cunningham Foul FalloutPew Reshares 2025 Poll Showing 73% of Americans Uncomfortable With Trans Athletes Amid Sophie Cunningham-WNBA DebateCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

It has welcomed marathon runners, rock stars and the first modern Olympic athletes. Now it’s time for a monumental scrub.Athens’ U-shaped Panathenaic Stadium — made entirely of white marble — is getting its first systematic cleaning in more than a century.Rebuilt for the first modern Olympics in 1896, the site is the ceremonial send-off point for the Olympic flame, including for Los Angeles 2028.A fresh look in Athens ahead of LA 2028The stadium is made of the same glittering marble used on the Acropolis, making the cleanup job delicate.The work is revealing a monument changed by time, weather and millions of visitors. Cleaners in white and blue overalls move across the stadium’s 47 steep tiers with thin spray lances, using clean water at carefully controlled, low pressure. Machines vacuum up the runoff as they go.“The goal of cleaning is not to make everything white. It’s to remove the dirt and the first layers of organic material that are deposited on the surface,” said Dimitris Selemis, a senior conservator at the site.“The idea is to clean all the material that (contains) dirt from the surface, so we have a better understanding of the monument,” he said, noting that there is more weed growth and dirt in areas that receive less direct sunlight.Dealing with chewing gum, high heels and soft-drink stainsCrews are also using steam to remove blotches of chewing gum, which have turned black over time. Stadium officials say chewing gum, high heels and soft-drink stains are among the main culprits that stain the marble.Now slowly being revealed, the original gleaming look of the venue earned it the widely used Greek nickname “Kallimarmaro,” or beautiful marble.“We call it Kallimarmaro because it is made of the finest marble, the best that was ever produced ... We are very proud of it,” Isidoros Kouvelos, president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, told The Associated Press in an interview.“It needed to be cleaned of everything that has accumulated over all these years,” he said. “This way the Panathenaic Stadium will show all its brilliance and will once again be the foremost monument of humanity for the Olympic Movement.”Built into a natural ravine, the stadium’s site was used for ancient Greek athletic contests and later Roman spectacles before falling into centuries of disuse.An African celebration planned in AthensSince its 1896 revival, it has staged fashion shows, rock concerts, boxing matches and national celebrations — as well as lavish patriotic ceremonies ordered by a military dictatorship in the 1960s.Today, it’s a popular draw for tourists. Apart from the cleanup, the Kallimarmaro is also getting a new track, upgraded lighting and fresh support facilities. The project is privately funded by a shipping company and overseen by the Hellenic Olympic Committee with guidance from Culture Ministry experts.The work will continue through 2026 but is currently concentrated on the stadium’s “sling,” or curved end, in time for the next torch-passing ceremony on Sept. 10.That will be for the Dakar Youth Olympics, scheduled for Oct. 31-Nov. 13 in Senegal, which will be the first Olympic competition ever hosted in Africa.IOC President Kirsty Coventry, a swimming gold medal winner from Zimbabwe, is due to attend the Sept. 10 ceremony, Kouvelos said.2028 Los Angeles Olympics: Potential breakout U.S. star athletesThe Los Angeles Olympics, with a record 353 medal events, open July 14, 2028. Nick Zaccardi,

Ten NFL teams changed head coaches during the last cycle. That tied the record for the most in a single hiring cycle. Since 2020, the league has averaged more than six head coaching changes per offseason. So the job comes with a short shelf life. Owners want playoff berths quickly, and they stop waiting once the losses pile up. Five coaches enter 2026 who appear to be on the hot seat. Each one runs a team that enters the year with varying degrees of expectation. Ultimately, they are the frontrunners for who might be first fired this year. Let’s break down which coaches are at risk and close with my prediction for which NFL head coach will be fired first this season.Dan Quinn: Commanders defense finished last in yards allowedWashington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is on the hot seat and could be fired. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn ImagesWashington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn went 12-5 in his first season and reached the NFC Championship Game. Then came a 5-12 year in which the defense allowed the most yards per game in the league (384.3) and the sixth-most points (26.5). Quarterback Jayden Daniels played only four full games because of injuries. Washington answered with $159 million in guaranteed free-agent money and first-year coordinators on both sides. Neither David Blough nor Daronte Jones has called plays in the NFL. Multiple people inside the building have used the same phrase about a coach’s job security, saying “it’s a results business.” The vibes don’t seem good, and a bad start could lead to Quinn getting fired.Todd Bowles: Buccaneers’ streak of NFC South titles endedTampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles looks up during the second half of an NFL football game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Monday, October 20, 2025 (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles watched a 6-2 start turn into an 8-9 finish last season. That ended a run of four straight NFC South titles. Bowles is 35-33 in Tampa Bay with one playoff win in four seasons. He lost wide receiver Mike Evans and linebacker Lavonte David this offseason and handed the offense to new coordinator Zac Robinson. The defense ranked 22nd in coverage grade and tied for 20th in explosive pass plays allowed. Tampa Bay spent its first two picks on defense, taking Rueben Bain Jr. and Josiah Trotter to try to patch up what has been a struggling defense over the years.Zac Taylor: Bengals have not made the playoffs since 2022Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor speaks with media during the 2026 NFL Draft, Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati.Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has missed the postseason for three straight years. Last season was the first losing year of quarterback Joe Burrow’s career outside his rookie season. Cincinnati added DT Dexter Lawrence and drafted DE Cashius Howell 41st overall to bolster the team’s defensive front. Taylor called it the best defensive line he has coached in Cincinnati, saying, “Obviously, we have high-end talent, but I think top to bottom overall, the depth is something that you’re really excited about.” Burrow has said this is the best team he has been part of in the NFL. This team might be setting the bar too high.Aaron Glenn: Jets in a perpetual rebuildJun 10, 2026; Florham Park, NY, USA; New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn speaks at a press conference during minicamp at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn ImagesNew York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn had the worst first season of any coach in team history. New York went 3-14 and became the first team since the 1987 Atlanta Falcons to finish last in points differential, yards differential and turnover differential. The Jets did not record a single interception. Glenn replaced half his assistants, bringing in Frank Reich to run the offense. He opened camp without ceremony, saying, “So no slogans, no hype speeches.” Linebacker Demario Davis backed him, saying, “You have 90 men in that locker room who will run through a wall for him.”Shane Steichen: Colts will be first to fire head coach in 2026Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen on the SiriusXM NFL radio set at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has the schedule working against him. Indianapolis went 8-9 last season after sitting at 8-2, missing the playoffs for a fifth straight year. Steichen is 25-26 with no postseason appearances. The Colts open against Baltimore at home, then travel to Kansas City, host Houston, play Washington in London, then go to Pittsburgh. The bye does not come until Week 13, so Indianapolis plays 12 straight games to start the season. Carlie Irsay-Gordon already set the terms in January, saying, “We have been very clear with Chris and Shane that giving them another opportunity means that the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher.” She repeated it at camp, saying, “I know and believe that on our roster and in our organization we have everything we need this year to get where we need to go.” This franchise fired Frank Reich on November 7, 2022, one day after a bad offensive showing dropped it to 3-5-1. The Colts play at Houston on Thursday night in Week 11. That stretch is where the NFL’s first firing could come.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —

Aston Villa make move for World Cup star after breakdown in European giants talksZion Suzuki to Aston Villa latest as Emi Martinez uncertainty drives key transfer moveAston Villa are moving with purpose in the goalkeeper market, with talkSPORT reporting that Zion Suzuki is now in advanced talks over a switch from Parma. The 23-year-old Japan international has emerged as a serious target at Villa Park, at a time when fresh questions continue to surround Emi Martinez and his long-term future.The timing is significant. Villa’s interest in Suzuki has accelerated as Juventus revive their pursuit of Martinez, a goalkeeper who remains central to the club on paper, but whose situation appears more complicated behind the scenes. According to the report, Martinez had already informed Villa before the World Cup that he wanted to join Juventus, a development that naturally sharpens the focus on succession planning.Zion Suzuki transfer gathers paceSuzuki had looked set for Paris Saint-Germain after the French side agreed a fee of around £29m with Parma. That move has now broken down. The reason, as reported, is that “a change in commissions surrounding the deal prompted PSG to withdraw.” That collapse has opened the door for Villa, who are now pushing to take advantage.Photo IMAGOThere is clear logic to the pursuit. Suzuki has built an impressive reputation since joining Parma in July 2024 and is widely viewed as one of the game’s most promising young goalkeepers. Villa are effectively positioning themselves early for a player whose value and profile could rise further if he continues on this trajectory.Emi Martinez stance remains pivotalThe public message from Villa has been firm. Damian Vidagany said, “The goalkeeper’s future is settled, he is staying with us, and we have no intention of letting him go this summer.” He added, “The team needs his efforts and extensive experience, and he is a very important element in our project for next season.”Vidagany went even further, stating, “All the news published by the media about his departure to Juventus does not reflect the club’s true position.” He also stressed, “Martinez is a very important player for us, and we expect him to continue delivering his outstanding performances alongside his teammates.”Even so, Villa do not appear passive here. Exploring a deal for Suzuki suggests the club are preparing for multiple outcomes. Martinez is contracted until 2029 and has made more than 250 appearances, so any change would carry weight across the squad and dressing room.Aston Villa summer rebuild taking shapeThis is already a summer of major change. Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans have all departed, while Ezri Konsa has also attracted interest. Against that backdrop, Suzuki would represent more than cover. He would be a statement signing, a long-term investment and potentially the next key figure in Villa’s spine.If the talks continue on their current course, this could quickly become one of Aston Villa’s most important deals of the window.Our ViewAs Aston Villa supporters, it is hard not to feel excited by this one. Zion Suzuki looks like exactly the sort of signing the club should be making, young, ambitious, already tested in a major European league, and still with huge room to grow. If this report is accurate, then Villa are showing smart planning rather than waiting to be forced into a reaction.Of course, every fan would rather keep Emi Martinez. He is a massive personality, a proven winner and one of the biggest reasons Villa have grown into a side with real European credibility. When the club says, “The goalkeeper’s future is settled, he is staying with us,” every supporter will want that to be true. But football moves quickly, and if Martinez truly wants Juventus, then Villa must protect themselves.That is why Suzuki feels so exciting. He would not be a panic buy. He would be a forward-thinking move. After losing players like Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, fans want to see ambition matched by recruitment quality. This deal would do that. Villa have reached a level where they cannot stand still, and bringing in one of the brightest young goalkeepers in the game would send a serious message. If Suzuki arrives, supporters will back him immediately and see him as part of the next era at Villa Park.

If you want or need any superhero right now, you’re better off with Spider-Man.

Now the apartment’s flow is so much better. READ MORE...

After picking up her 30th career double-double with 29 points and 10 assists in Indiana's 98–87 Friday night win over Dallas, Caitlin Clark set yet another impressive statistical milestone.Clark became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 700 career assists, accomplishing the statistical milestone in just 83 career games. Clark also reached 700 career assists faster than any NBA player in the last 30 years.Additionally, Clark recorded her 20th career game with 20 or more points and 10-plus assists. Clark's 20 such games are 10 more than any other player in the history of the WNBA. It was Clark's 11th double-double this season and her third straight points-assists double-double.PG1 🔥in just 83 career games, Caitlin Clark has become the fastest player in WNBA history and faster than any NBA player in the last 30 years to reach 700 career assists. pic.twitter.com/maR6VZZ53d— Indiana Fever (@IndianaFever) August 15, 2026Clark crossed off a scoring milestone in the win, too. With her 29 points, Clark moved past Candice Dupree (1,621) for the ninth-most points in franchise history. Clark has now scored 1,640 points in her career.Clark and Indiana will look to extend their three-game winning streak when they begin their longest road trip of the season on Sunday afternoon against the Atlanta Dream from State Farm Arena. The Fever and Dream tip off at 4 p.m. CT in a game that will be nationally broadcast on ESPN.Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNewsThis article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Caitlin Clark sets historic WNBA, NBA assists milestone

Red Sox Officially Place Masataka Yoshida On Injured List In Latest Lineup Blow originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox officially will be without Masataka Yoshida after the veteran suffered a hamstring injury against the Pittsburgh Pirates.Boston is placing Yoshida on the injured list and calling up utility player Mickey Gasper from Triple-A Worcester to take his roster spot, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier.Yoshida suffered a left hamstring strain while running out a double during the third inning of Saturday’s 4-0 win at PNC Park. He reached second base but stumbled as he approached the bag and immediately grabbed the back of his left leg.The 33-year-old was able to walk off the field, but Boston quickly determined that he would require time on the injured list. Yoshida also revealed that his only previous hamstring injury, which occurred while he was playing in Japan, sidelined him for approximately one month. That does not guarantee an identical recovery timeline, but it creates concern that he could remain unavailable until September.Red Sox Lose Masataka Yoshida At Difficult TimeYoshida’s injury interrupts one of his most productive stretches of the season. The left-handed hitter recorded 11 hits in his previous 33 at-bats before Saturday. He entered the weekend batting .274 with a .347 on-base percentage, five home runs and 28 RBIs.Masataka Yoshida is being placed on the IL with a hamstring injury and it’ll be Mickey Gasper getting the call-up to take his spot, per @alexspeier. pic.twitter.com/jYt2eGDIeE— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) August 16, 2026Yoshida also provided Boston’s only extra-base hit against Pirates starter Jared Jones. His double left the bat at 103.6 mph before the play ended with him suffering the injury. The Red Sox have enough outfield and designated hitter options to cover Yoshida’s at-bats temporarily. Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu and Willson Contreras could receive additional time at designated hitter depending on matchups.The larger concern is the growing number of unavailable players.Boston already has Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Curtis Mead and Garrett Whitlock on the injured list. Garrett Crochet also remains sidelined by left shoulder inflammation.Story began a minor league rehab assignment with Worcester on Sunday, while Anthony is expected to begin playing for Double-A Portland on Tuesday. Their potential returns should eventually help Boston absorb Yoshida’s absence.Neither player, however, is ready to immediately replace him.MORE: Red Sox Catch Massive Break Before Pirates Series FinaleMickey Gasper Earns Another Red Sox OpportunityGasper returns to Boston after producing impressive numbers with Worcester. The versatile 30-year-old was batting .337 with nine home runs, 42 RBIs and a 1.016 OPS across 196 Triple-A at-bats this season. Gasper can play catcher, first base and second base, giving interim manager Chad Tracy additional flexibility.His major league results have been more modest. Gasper batted .243 with seven RBIs and a .613 OPS in 34 games for Boston earlier this season. He did not hit a home run in 107 at-bats, but his performance since returning to Worcester made him a logical replacement.The Red Sox do not need Gasper to completely replace Yoshida’s production. They need him to provide competitive at-bats and cover multiple positions until Anthony or another injured regular returns. Boston managed to overcome Yoshida’s departure Saturday behind Sonny Gray’s seven scoreless innings and a late offensive surge. The Red Sox scored three insurance runs in the ninth to secure their second win in three games following a five-game losing streak.They will now attempt to keep that momentum without another important hitter.More Red SoxLatest Red Sox news2026 Red Sox schedule2026 Red Sox rosterComplete history of Red Sox championships

Wrexham's fortunes on and off the pitch have flourished since Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds's takeover of the club (Oli SCARFF)Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Hollywood owners of English second-tier side Wrexham, have restated their ambition for the club to win the Championship title and so complete a remarkable journey from National League to the Premier League.Wrexham begin their 2026/27 Championship campaign with a Welsh derby away to Cardiff on Monday, having narrowly missed out on a play-off spot last term after finishing seventh in the regular season.They went into the final day in sixth place, but a 2-2 draw at home to Middlesbrough allowed Hull to leapfrog Wrexham into the play-offs, with the Tigers going on to win promotion to the Premier League.Deadpool star Reynolds said he felt "obscene pride" at Wrexham's league finish and co-owner McElhenney has underlined their determination to reach the top flight after playing in the fifth tier of English football as recently as 2023."What we say (to players) is we want to win –- and we want to win right now," "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia" creator McElhenney told the Men in Blazers video podcast."We don't want to win at all or any cost. But believe us when we say, we want to win the Championship, go to the Premier League, become the best, because that is the entire endeavour of what football is about."But it's not just winning. It's about becoming the best version of yourself on a day-to-day basis."The actors celebrated their fifth anniversary as owners in February, with the duo's involvement in football reaching a global audience thanks to the "Welcome to Wrexham" documentary series that has also shone a light on the local community.It was reported last week that Texan couple Jeff and Janice Ivey are moving to Wrexham, having fallen in love with the city after watching the Disney show and making numerous visits over the past two-and-a-half years.Reynolds had playfully posted on X he was thankful the Iveys "didn't watch 'Chernobyl'", and was also reminded on the podcast that at his first appearance at the Racecourse Ground in 2021 he said playing top-flight football was Wrexham's aim."The expectation was set so indelibly in that first press conference when you even say the words 'Premier League' and there’s a wave of tittering laughter that extends up the stands, out the front door of the Racecourse Ground, across Wales, and then eventually all of the UK," Reynolds said."I think that in some ways (it) really worked in our favour. It allows that thing where we are right now that Wrexham is so well-known that a couple in Texas decide to move to Wales… five years ago I would probably have said you're crazy."jdg/gj

Roberto De Zerbi, manager of Tottenham Hotspur, is pictured during the pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Hoffenheim at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harvey Murphy/News Images/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Tottenham Hotspur concluded an unbeaten preseason campaign with a 2-2 draw against TSG Hoffenheim.Following yesterday’s 3-0 win against the Bundesliga side, this was a more casual affair with the match held at Spurs’ training ground as Roberto De Zerbi named a heavily rotated side. It was the visitors who opened the scoring via a penalty, as James Maddison dragged down Leon Avdullahu, before Spurs struck twice before half-time courtesy of Ben Davies and Luca Williams-Barnett. An equalizer by The Kraichgauers as Valentin Gendry smashed home a volley was the lone goal of the second half.Here are my top ten talking points from Spurs’ final match of preseason against TSG Hoffenheim (again).1. Return of (some of) the absenteesAs predicted in yesterday’s takeaways piece, many of the players that had either been absent this preseason or had seen limited involvement thus far were named in today’s XI. James Maddison, Pape Matar Sarr, Rodrigo Bentancur, Souza, and Damola Ajayi made their first appearances of preseason, with Kevin Danso and Mateus Fernandes returning to the side after having limited involvement.It was a promising sign for the strength of the coming weekend’s squad, with De Zerbi potentially having a deeper set of players from which to choose a more well-rounded side.2. FrankensquadYou could’ve been forgiven for looking at the side named though and wondering what in the name of Pep Guardiola was Robert De Zerbi thinking as he named approximately 10 central midfielders in his XI. Okay, not quite, but it was an unusual lineup with three players who you would classify as a CM in the XI, and two attacking midfielders, with one winger and no striker.Instead though of playing some unusual and exotic formation, De Zerbi stuck largely to what was nominally his preferred 4-2-3-1, with Fernandes and Bentancur in midfield, Sarr at the #10 flanked by Luca Williams-Barnett and Ajayi, and Maddison in a false #9 role. Maddison especially looked not totally comfortable in his position, spending a lot of time dropping into deeper areas to try aid buildup, with Sarr at times doing the same. That said, it wasn’t the worst way to try get all these players minutes, and it was forced in part by the lack of options available to De Zerbi.3. Okay, but where’s Micky?It’s concerning that Micky van de Ven is still to play a single minute in preseason. Though some in Spurs’ squad have had some (apparently minor) injuries, such as Dominic Solanke and Destiny Udogie (with information on the latter not exactly forthcoming), van de Ven’s absence has been more of a mystery.Though he was a late returnee to the club following his appearances for Netherlands at the World Cup, his involvement there ended earlier than some players who have already made appearances, and the worry given his injury history will be he is carrying some sort of knock. It’s becoming more and more difficult to think otherwise, and Spurs will be worse off for not having come the start of the season.4. The Hoffenheim pressNot too dissimilarly to yesterday’s fixture, Hoffenheim pressed high, seemingly aware of Spurs’ penchant to play out from the back as they attempted to capitalize on Spurs mistakes. Hoffenheim seemed to especially target Tye Hall at right back, as well as Brandon Austin.Both of those players were arguably less comfortable on the ball than their teammates, often being rushed into poor decisions and giveaways. At times, Hoffenheim would wait for Austin to try pass the ball into midfield before triggering their press to immediately pounce on anything even slightly loose. It was that tactic that created their opening goal.5. Maddison’s (lack of) readinessIt was fantastic having James Maddison back in a limited manner through the run-in last season. Even though he wasn’t quite fit, he made up for that with his passing ability, a skill that was painfully absent through most of the rest of the squad.Today, he demonstrated a similar level of rust, struggling at times to make an impact on the match but popping up here and there to play a clever pass. The rust was once more evident, however, as he was pressured by Leon Avdullahu as he dropped deep to receive a pass from Brandon Austin. Avdullahu robbed Maddison of possession, with the Englishman then dragging down the Hoffenheim winger to concede a penalty, which was duly dispatched by Adam Hlozek. Maddison will need some time to get back up to the level of match sharpness Spurs will need.6. Fernandes: Lord of the PingsMateus Fernandes is known for being an aggressive passer of the ball, but that wasn’t on full display in the first half of this match. What was impressive, though, was his delivery around the box. An early low cross from the right was inches in front of an onrushing Sarr, before his one-two from a corner kick before crossing into the box created Ben Davies’ headed goal.In the second half, however, things started to open up a little and we got to see more of Fernandes’ passing range. Some of his crossfield balls were sumptuous, as he stretched Hoffenheim with driven and looped passes from on side of the pitch to the other. That ability to pick out a pass could be key for Spurs’ hopes this coming campaign, given their lack of ability in that department last season.7. Spurs’ solid custodiansBrandon Austin was impressive today, making a couple of key saves. A sharp stop at the near post kept out a Nathan De Cat flick-on, before he made an excellent intervention as Adam Daghim bore down on goal, essentially one-on-one with Austin. It was a solid display by Spurs’ third choice keeper, and there’s an argument that between he, Martin Dubravka, and Antonin Kinsky, though Spurs arguably don’t have an elite-level keeper in the bunch (though Kinsky could reach those heights), they are potentially the most well-rounded goalkeeping trio in the Premier League. And that’s without even taking into account Guglielmo Vicario!8. Williams-Barnett shines (again)Luca Williams-Barnett was arguably the best player on the pitch in what was a rather messy match. He regularly beat Vladimir Coufal on the dribble with ease, but what was impressive is his learnings following the likes of the Sydney FC fixture: rather than keep going, head down, and look for a goal, his decision-making and passing once initially beating his marker was much improved with some crisp, incisive passes helping create for his teammates.It was yet another impressive display by the teenager, and that’s before talking about his well-taken goal. After a fantastic Sarr dribble to avoid the attentions of Albian Hajdari, he met Sarr’s reverse ball first time, passing it into the back of the Hoffenheim net to ensure a half-time lead for the Lilywhites. Though it’s too early for Williams-Barnett to head out on loan, these sorts of displays could see him get minutes with the senior team this season; especially with the relative lack of depth in attacking positions.9. New kids in townThough De Zerbi has utilized the academy extensively through preseason, most of the names and faces have been familiar to those reasonably well-versed in the U-21 setup. That changed today.One player named on the bench, Mikel Jack, didn’t even have a squad number, with the 15-year-old the son of former Trinidadian keeper Kelvin Jack; and two other youngsters in the shape of Reiss Elliot-Parris and “Do you believe in” Miracle(s) Adewole graced us with their presence for the first time in Lilywhite. Neither made much of a meaningful impact on the match, but seeing two 18-year-olds step onto the pitch for the senior squad is always heartwarming.10. More minutes managementOnce more it was clear that the priority was building fitness: match readiness for those returning from injury, and full 90-minute match fitness for those further along in their preparations. As such, Maddison departed from the pitch early, subbing off at half-time for Elliot-Parris (who at least was an actual striker), before Souza and Ajayi, both also returning from injury, left the field around the 70-minute mark.What was deeply encouraging was summer signing Mateus Fernandes going the distance, with Sarr and Williams-Barnett the only others to be subbed off, playing the majority of the match. With mostly one match a week this season and the strategic approach to managing minutes through preseason, it seems Spurs are well-prepared from a fitness point-of-view at least to bring the fight this coming campaign.Screw it, we’re gonna win the league.

Manchester Super Giants and Sunrisers Leeds are two of the franchises to have changed their names and kit colours this season [Getty Images]The cry echoes around the changing room: "Marching on together!"Except this isn't Leeds United's players belting out their club anthem, but the Sunrisers Leeds Hundred squad, awkwardly singing a new version.There are lyric sheets involved, and some players are laughing as if struggling with a task set by a self-proclaimed comedy best man at a wedding.The video is shared on social media by Sunrisers after a win and soon deleted.It illustrates a key issue facing The Hundred after its first year since the private investment that has resulted in several rebranded teams - including Sunrisers, who took the place of the Northern Superchargers.History and tradition are, by their nature, impossible to manufacture.But creating a clear team identity is a vital part of reaching those all-important new audiences.What has been the impact of new owners on The Hundred? Has it been positive? And what are the reasons behind some of their changes?Soaring heat, falling crowds - The Hundred's peculiar summerThe Hundred 2026 tables, top run-scorers & wicket-takersWho would win combined men's and women's trophy in other sports?More benefit to bolder changes?Lancashire chief executive Daniel Gidney - also on the board of the Manchester Super Giants (MSG), who rebranded from the Originals and changed their team logo and colours - says there's no choice but to be bold."If you're trying to launch a new brand in a new market, in the UK particularly, in a city that is dominated by football, you've got to go big and loud," Gidney told BBC Sport.One daring 'brand activation' resulted in almost 30,000 free shirts being given to Super Giants fans."To give everybody a free jersey who bought a ticket is extraordinarily different," said Gidney."You can't normally do it because a kit manufacturer will go, 'No, no, no. I've got to sell that kit for £60-80.'"You never get anything for free. It's had a massive impact, much more than I thought."The decision was made this first year to forego a potentially lower kit deal for the opportunity to build the MSG brand, get fans in the team colours, and then strike a more lucrative supplier deal in years to come.But how does that benefit Lancashire more broadly? The county's merchandise continues to be sold at Old Trafford on matchdays, while at the moment you won't find MSG products in the club shop.Gidney says Lancashire were able to "retain effectively 50% merchandise arrangements" with MSG, who they can use as a "bit of a pilot" - possibly bringing some of what they learn into the T20 Blast competition.Other models have proved effective.Lord's-based London Spirit kept the blue and black colours of their previous kits but also added red and yellow stripes of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).Their replica shirts cost £55, but Spirit have already exhausted the supply they had earmarked for both 2026 and 2027.Spirit, the most valuable franchise following a huge £145m investment from a consortium of tech billionaires, have seen their popularity grow among new and established cricket fans - the number of MCC members attending Hundred fixtures doubled from last year to this.However, overall crowd numbers and ticket sales are marginally down compared to last year - though tournament director Vikram Banerjee is keen to point out the competition has undergone a transformation."It's impossible to overstate the scale of operational change the competition has gone through this season, but we're really happy with where we are and what has been delivered this year," he told BBC Sport.It has been noticeable at certain venues that the loyalty to previous franchises has had a slightly complicated transition.Oval Invincibles felt like a coherent brand, with their unique mint green colour scheme. Helped by sustained success in winning five of the 10 titles across the men's and women's competitions so far, fans clearly bought into the team.The team are now MI London, whose blue kit matches the owners' other franchise teams including Mumbai Indians but is very generic. Time will tell if fans feel quite as loyal to that franchise as they did.Widening cricket's reach despite divisions?Regardless of any rebranding this season, there remains a deep divide within cricket over the very existence of The Hundred.One prominent investor told BBC Sport that while the relationship between their Hundred franchise and the county who hold a stake was excellent, they were surprised by the negativity of the reaction from 'traditional County Championship fans'.Of course, it's not just about how many are coming through the doors, but who they are."The most important thing is that it's brought a completely different and younger demographic into the sport," says Glamorgan chair Mark Rhydderch-Roberts.He adds: "46% of ticket buyers are new to Sophia Gardens, 30% are female buyers, and 46% are family tickets."These are the sort of numbers that will have chief executives from Leeds to Lord's purring."It's down to my job to try and convert those to come and watch the Blast and ultimately the County Championship," says Lancashire's Gidney. "It's lifting everybody up."Whether or not that theory holds true might be disputed by fans of those counties who don't host a Hundred franchise, but Rhydderch-Roberts is clear about the impact in Wales."The Hundred has given us the chance to really transcend what's a difficult and fairly challenging macroeconomic environment and take us in a different direction," he says.One eye on India?Aside from fans visiting the ground, perhaps the key metric will be the television audience and future wealth that can potentially be unlocked.In India, online streaming platform FanCode was previously the only place to watch The Hundred, but this year the tournament is front and centre on JioStar - the same place where fans would watch the Indian Premier League (IPL).So far this year, modest broadcast audience growth is an encouraging start. And next year negotiations will begin over a new broadcast deal, which the owners will clearly have an eye on.Some might feel too much focus is given towards the IPL link, with four of the eight Hundred teams owned by group also involved in IPL franchises.Things certainly look and sound different at the grounds - the booming call of "MSG! MSG! MSG!" at Old Trafford has a very IPL feel to it.However, ECB chief executive Richard Gould says India isn't the be-all and end-all."The Indian market is marginal to us when you look at the relative broadcast values from overseas," he says."This is a UK competition, largely for a UK fanbase and a UK market, and that will always be our strength and our focus."Gould adds that while The Hundred would "love" to be like football's Premier League where "50% of your revenue comes from overseas", there must also be an awareness of where cricket sits in terms of global appeal.He says: "We're at the start of that journey. We need to make sure that we focus on what's right for our market."A future move to T20 competition?Through it all, there is the ongoing question as to whether The Hundred will one day become another T20 league.Banerjee says for the time being the tournament's identity is built around its unique 100-ball format."What's really important for any sporting tournament is the strength of foundations within its home country," he says."Whether you're the NFL, the Premier League, the IPL, the strength in their home territory is important."And Gidney says shifting to T20 would not be something investors would necessarily even want."Everybody sees the uniqueness of The Hundred, and that's one of the big appeals to broadcasters," he adds."If we become a T20, I don't think we can say that. The Hundred gives the UK a real opportunity to say, 'Do you know what? In certain elements we can be as good as, if not better than, the IPL.'"The Hundred will remain controversial. It'll never be for everyone, but then is any cricket format?What can't be denied is the tournament has generated vast revenue and given English cricket a chance to reach audiences, both local and globally, that might not have been accessible without this radical change.What that change will look like in 10 years' time remains to be seen.Who knows if the English game will be marching on together as hoped by those that have staked so much on this direction?The Hundred 2026 tables, top run-scorers & wicket-takersWho owns the teams competing in The Hundred?Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Trump administration cuts off CHIP and Medicaid funding for trans health care What happened: The administration implemented a new rule that bars the two joint federal-state programs that help provide health care to low-income families from covering gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Why it matters: Gender-affirming care is already only available to trans youth in blue states, and this rule means that the care will only be available for youth whose parents are on certain private health care plans. Trump administration finalizes plan to strip federal funds from trans youth health care 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 71 men are facing charges for “unnatural acts” in Senegal this year What politicians are saying: “Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country. Homosexuals will no longer have freedom of expression in this country,” said lawmaker Diaraye Ba as the country passed a bill stiffening penalties for homosexuality earlier this year. Around 100 people have been arrested for homosexuality in the West African nation, but charges were dropped for 28 of them. Why it matters: The people being arrested and charged are just the tip of the iceberg, as several countries in the region make life harder for LGBTQ+ people. 71 men arrested in Senegal for “unnatural acts” as crackdown on homosexuality continues MAGA NBA players say they’ll sue if they don’t get to participate in WNBA draft What’s going on: The right has been hammering the WNBA for weeks about its policy that allows all women to participate, even though there are no trans women who are current WNBA players. Now these two men are saying they should be allowed into the WNBA because they don’t see a difference between trans women and cis men. Why it matters: It shouldn’t, but right-wing media has breathed enough life into this story for the WNBA to meet and respond to the “bad faith” criticism, and the critics looks like they’re not going to let go any time soon. Two MAGA NBA players say they want to play women’s basketball in anti-trans stunt Slovakia defies EU and refuses to accept marriage performed in Austria How this conflicts with the EU: A European Union (EU) court ruled last year that EU member states must recognize marriages performed in other member states. A gay couple from Slovakia married in Austria and petitioned to have their marriage recognized in their home country. The prime minister allegedly intervened to prevent the registry office from doing so. Why it matters: Slovakia is the second country (after Poland) to defy the EU court’s ruling, which is supposed to take precedence in cases like this one. It remains to be seen how the EU will enforce its treaty obligations. Slovakia defies EU & refuses to register gay couple’s marriage HHS releases report accusing hospitals of committing fraud to push kids into “lucrative” gender-affirming care A new strategy: The administration has been trying to shut down gender-affirming care across the country for over a year now. JD Vance is now directing the Department of Justice to use this new Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report to investigate hospitals for fraud. Why it matters: Hospitals can be intimidated into denying trans people health care that they should legally have access to. JD Vance & HHS are now accusing hospitals of fraudulently providing trans health care Picture of the Week Several states had primary elections this past Tuesday, including Wisconsin. Here, a queer supporter for gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong shows her support on election night. Hong ultimately lost to Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. April Brown shows her support at a primary election watch party for Francesca Hong at Atwood Music Hall Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Madison, Wisconsin. | Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Some more great queer and trans reads Columnist John Gallagher explored whether the going theme for 2026 Democratic primaries – progressives vs. centrists – is really a helpful framing for understanding where the party is going. Democrats’ intra-party battle isn’t about left vs. moderate. It’s about who is listening to voters. Editor-in-chief Alex Bollinger compared how the right has more ire for queer parents than for negligent ones. Lauren Boebert’s son is such a bad dad he’s going to jail but she thinks queer parents are worse Contributor Warren Blumenfeld discussed how the Senate’s confirmation of Attorney General Todd Blanche weakens the rule of law. Senate Republicans just gave the administration carte blanche to weaponize the Department of Justice Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

As the Los Angeles Rams await word from Aaron Donald on whether he'll be returning to the football field after two years away, the team won't be putting extra pressure on the three-time defensive player of the year to make a decision before he's ready.Though Rams head coach Sean McVay said Saturday he's "hopeful that it will be sooner than later," via the Los Angeles Times, he added there's no "invisible deadline" that exists for Donald to decide.CPOY: Award odds hint at possible Aaron Donald NFL comebackIn other words, Donald can take as long as he needs to determine whether he's mentally and physically prepared to come out of retirement and be something close to the all-pro player he used to be. ProFootballTalkreported that Donald had a target of early last week that shifted to late last week to make his decision, which he missed. If true, those were apparently personal deadlines and not ones set by the team based on what McVay said.Is Aaron Donald coming back to Rams?Donald's return remains uncertain. If he does come back, it'll be with the Rams, who he spent his entire 10-year career with. Donald still had one year remaining on his deal with the team when he retired after the 2023 season.The Rams' offseason trade for Myles Garrett sparked initial rumors of Donald's potential return. Now, he's working out and taking time to determine if he wants to come back at 35 years old.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Sean McVay gives update on deadline for Aaron Donald's return to the Rams

CHICAGO — Joshua Báez smashed the first pitch he saw in the majors about 450 feet, then flashed a grin to the St. Louis dugout as he began his home run trot.“There was a calmness and a smile, like, ‘I’m here,’” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “It’s rare for me to pick my head up to enjoy parts of it. He didn’t exactly give us an option but to actually take a step back and enjoy the heck out of what was going on there.”There has never been a show quite like it.Báez became the first player to hit a home run in each of his first three at-bats in the majors, leading the Cardinals to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.Called up from Triple-A Memphis before the game, Báez had 30 members of his family in attendance at Wrigley Field. The traveling party, which included his mother, Yris, gathered on the field for photos afterward in spite of rain.“It’s just unreal,” the 23-year-old Báez said. “To not only get a hit, but three home runs? It’s crazy.”He did it with flair, too. The first came on the first pitch he saw from Matthew Boyd and landed an estimated 449 feet away in the bleachers in left-center. The left fielder’s next at-bat ended with a solo shot down the left-field line and the third, on his ensuing at-bat, went the opposite way, giving him five RBIs.Major League Baseball said Báez was the first player in modern baseball history to hit three home runs in his debut. The league cannot say with certainty whether the feat happened before 1901 due to a lack of game logs.“He hit three different pitches for home runs. He had a great game. He beat us for sure,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.Báez showed plenty of power in the minors this season. When he was called up, he was leading all Triple-A hitters with 34 home runs, including four multihomer games.He’s the ninth player to make his major league debut for the Cardinals this season.Báez also is the 11th St. Louis player to homer in his first career at-bat (the last was Lane Thomas in 2019) and sixth in club history to homer on the first pitch. Former pitcher Adam Wainwright last did it in 2006.

Yanhan Zhou did something hardly accomplished in the game of golf.The 18-year-old professional hit a 514-yard tee shot Saturday during the third round of the DP World Tour's Danish Golf Championship. The par-5 fifth hole at Great Northern is a downhill tee shot with a cart path along the right side of the hole. It measures 598 yards, but Zhou's ball was hammered and then had some concrete assistance on its way to a monster mash.18-year-old Yanhan Zhou has just hit a 514 YARD drive 🤯#DanishGolfpic.twitter.com/VKNWpwBmbP— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) August 15, 2026Perhaps the worst part of this incredible tee shot is there is no video of it. Only evidence on the DP World Tour's website via shot tracing.Zhou got relief for his second shot and had to drop in the rough, hitting a stellar shot onto the green and two putting for par. He had only 104 yards left for his approach on the nearly 600-yard hole.He remains in contention as play winds down Sunday in Denmark. During the second round of the 2013 Ballantine's Championship at Blackstone Golf Club in South Korea, Louis Oosthuizen hit a 500-yard drive on the opening hole. There have been other documented instances of 500+ yard drives, some by long drivers at high altitude and more. But what Zhou did Saturday, in contention on one of the world's biggest tours, is a remarkable achievement.Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 18-year-old pro Yanhan Zhou rips astonishing 514-yard drive at DP World Tour event

[Getty Images]Japanese midfielder Tatsuki Seko has left Stoke City to join J1 League side Urawa Reds for an undisclosed fee.The 28-year-old returns to Japan after two seasons in the Championship with the Potters, having arrived from Kawasaki Frontale in the summer of 2024.He played 75 times for Stoke across all competitions, but has not featured in the early weeks of the latest campaign."Tatsuki and his family were open to exploring a return home and, after we reached an agreement with Urawa, he leaves with our gratitude for his commitment as a Stoke City player," Stoke's sporting director Jonathan Walters told the club website.Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page

Arsenal and Man City set for Community Shield curtain raiser 2026-08-16T13:42:20ZHow are Arsenal and Man City expected to get on in the Premier League season beyond today's meeting? Let Opta guide you. 2026-08-16T13:40:42ZAnd as always, if you'd like some pre-match reading, The Athletic has got you covered. 2026-08-16T13:39:15ZBoth managers will be giving full competitive debuts to their key midfield additions, with Bruno Guimarães and Elliot Anderson both included, with Christos Tzolis also given the nod on the left for the Gunners. 2026-08-16T13:37:53ZIn case you missed it, here are the XIs for the afternoon showdown... 2026-08-16T13:36:40ZPremier League title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City are primed to kick off the English football calendar across 2026/27, when they come to grips in Cardiff for the annual Community Shield curtain raiser.Stick with us as we bring you all the action as Mikel Arteta's Gunners try to start the season off in style against new City boss Enzo Maresca, who attempts to bank a first piece of silverware in the post-Guardiola era.

FILE- Bou Meng, center, former S-21 prison survivor, leaves the courtroom after the verdict is announced for Khieu Samphan, former Khmer Rouge head of state, at the U.N.-backed war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, file)2026-08-16T12:59:31Z PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — Cambodian artist Bou Meng, one of only seven people known to have survived a notorious Khmer Rouge torture center in the Southeast Asian country in the late 1970s, has died. He was 85.His ability to paint portraits of the then-leader Pol Pot was why he was kept alive.The Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, a U.N.-backed tribunal that sought to try Khmer Rouge leaders for genocide and other crimes against humanity, said he died late Friday due to age-related illness.“The passing of Mr. Bou Meng represents the loss of an important historical witness to the grave crimes committed during the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, particularly to the history and tragedy that took place at the former S-21 Security Centre,” referring to the prison, also known as Tuol Sleng, where he had been held for almost two years starting in 1977. The Khmer Rouge group that ruled Cambodia from 1975–79 was accused of genocide for causing the deaths of so many of their countrymen from executions, starvation, and lack of medical care due to its radical policies. An estimated 1.7 million Cambodians died from forced labor, starvation, medical neglect, and executions.An estimated 16,000 women and children were kept at S-21 over the course of nearly four years before being killed. Now it serves as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, named after the high school it had been before the Khmer Rouge takeover. Bou Meng, along with two other survivors, artist Vann Nath and mechanic Chum Mey, testified in 2009 at the trial of Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch, who had been the S-21 commandant. Read More Duch was found guilty of crimes against humanity, torture, and murder in 2010 and ultimately received a sentence of life imprisonment. He died in prison in 2020 at the age of 77.In 2010, Bou Meng testified that painting larger-than-life images of Pol Pot and portraits of other communist icons helped save his life.It took three months to complete his first outsized work. Kaing Guek Eav then ordered him to make three more Pol Pot paintings and portraits of other communist leaders. These included Mao Zedong of China and North Korea’s Kim Il Sung, as well as one mocking Ho Chi Minh, the father of Vietnam’s communist revolution. “I was ordered to paint a picture of Ho Chi Minh’s head on the body of a dog,” Bou Meng told the U.N.-backed tribunal. Cambodia’s archenemy was neighboring Vietnam, which eventually invaded to oust the Khmer Rouge in 1979. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Youk Chhang, head of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, which has collected voluminous archives about the Khmer Rouge tragedy, said on Sunday that Bou Meng’s life journey for justice has been documented and “will not be forgotten by genocide history around the world.”“I urge action to preserve stories of the millions who survived the Khmer Rouge and provide them with both mental and physical health support,” Youk Chhang told The Associated Press in a text message.Like many who were taken to Tuol Sleng, Bou Meng had joined the Khmer Rouge in its war from 1970–75 to unseat a pro-American government, but was detained in one of its many internal purges after victory. He was brutally tortured before being assigned his painting duties.Bou Meng’s first wife was arrested with him and disappeared from the prison, and presumably was executed. He never found their two children, who were taken to the countryside, where they were likely killed. In his later years, Bou Meng, who remarried, often spent his days at the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where he sold copies of a book about his experience.

A resident carries supplies during Hurricane Lala in Hawaiian Ocean View, Hawaii, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)2026-08-16T12:56:05Z Hurricane Lala weakened to a tropical storm Sunday after skirting Hawaii without making landfall, but it wasn’t done punishing the Big Island with hurricane-force gusts. Total rainfall of nearly three feet (one meter) was expected on the higher windward slopes, turning rivers into raging torrents and threatening mudslides.Tropical storm conditions were spreading westward Sunday from Maui to Oahu and then Kauai, and the National Hurricane Center warned that wind speeds atop mountains and on the windward and leeward slopes are often up to 30% stronger than the near-surface winds used to categorize storms.Powerful waves pounded the Big Island’s coast as Lala slowly passed by. Howling winds whipped palm trees and waterways swelled with fast-moving runoff from relentless rain that blew nearly sideways. More than 60,000 households were without power, along with three hospitals that switched to generator power, Gov. Josh Green said. At least one person died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island, while 19 roofs were lost in the “enormous storm,” the governor said Saturday evening. “There have been a lot of roads impacted, our crews have already been out to more than 30 sites.”A search-and-rescue mission including Civil Defense, the National Guard and Coast Guard was launched after flash floods apparently swept several occupied homes off their foundations in Na’alehu and Wai’ohinu, Hawaii County Mayor Kimo Alameda said after midnight.“What makes this very challenging is that there’s rushing water, there’s debris, and there’s boulders on the road and it’s dark,” Alameda said. What’s next for LalaTropical storm warnings were in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Oahu, Kauai and Niihau as the storm moves west, raising the possibility of destructive flooding and even wildfires kicked up by strong winds. As of 2 a.m. Sunday in Hawaii, Lala was centered about 105 miles (170 kilometers) west-northwest of Kailua-Kona and about 100 miles (160 kilometers) south of Honolulu, with tropical-storm-force winds extending as much as 175 miles (280 km) from its center. Your browser does not support the iframe HTML tag. Try viewing this in a modern browser like Chrome, Safari, Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later. Lala was sustaining top winds of 70 mph (110 kph) and moving northwest at about 15 mph (24 kmh). Forecasters expect it to regain hurricane strength midweek once it’s well west of the island chain.By the time Lala’s completely gone, some higher-altitude places on the Big Island, dominated by the towering Mauna Kea volcano, will have been hit with as much as 35 inches (89 centimeters) of rain, forecasters said, enough to loosen steep slopes where some of the 210,000 islanders live off the grid in improvised housing. Read More Residents prepared for worstAs the hurricane approached, shelters were opened, events were canceled and ranchers were urged to leave their cattle in pastures rather than structures that might collapse. Many residents are still dealing with the aftermath of devastating floods in March and were taking precautions. Bobby Camara, a 75-year-old lifelong resident, said he planned to “hunker down, cross my fingers, hope the lights don’t go out” at a care home just outside Hilo. He said gas stations were busy as people sought fuel for chain saws and vehicles. “I think stocking up is part of life over here. ... You learn to be self-reliant,” Camara said.Mike Caputo, who lives in Keaau, near the Big Island’s east coast, said his power generator was ready and a 10,000-gallon (37.8 kiloliter) home water tank was full. His main concern was flash flooding and fallen trees, especially albizia, a common tree. “They’re not very sturdy, but they grow extremely large,” said Caputo, 50, a local fire captain. “They can make roads impassable.” Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Warnings posted everywhere Christine Matsuda, who lives in Waimea, on the northern side of the island, said “big gusts every few minutes rattle the whole house.”“We’re finding unexpected leaks in places that don’t see water under normal conditions,” Matsuda said.The hurricane center predicted 8 to 12 inches (20.3 to 30.5 centimeters) of total rainfall across Maui and the lower elevations of the Big Island, and 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) across the island chain.___Associated Press writer Jennifer Sinco Kelleher in Honolulu contributed. ALEXA ST. JOHN St. John is a climate reporter for The Associated Press based in Detroit. She covers environmental and energy policy, breaking climate news and extreme weather. twitter mailto

In my condo, my kitchen is not just a kitchen. A lot of the time, it’s an office, or a workshop, a first aid station, or a general dumping ground for any and all of life’s minutia. As a result, my kitchen collects a wide range of clutter that is hard to maintain day-to-day. READ MORE...

Red Sox Look To Win Pirates Series Before Returning To Fenway Park originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox will try to finish their road trip with a series victory Sunday afternoon. Boston and the Pittsburgh Pirates will play the rubber game of their three-game series at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.The Red Sox split the first two games after arriving in Pittsburgh on a five-game losing streak. The Pirates won Friday’s opener 8-4 before Boston responded with a 4-0 victory Saturday.“Last one before we head home,” the Red Sox wrote on X while announcing their lineup for the finale.Boston enters Sunday with a 66-57 record and sits third in the American League East. Pittsburgh is 60-65 and last in the National League Central.Patrick Sandoval Starts Rubber Game For Red SoxPatrick Sandoval will start Sunday’s finale for Boston. The left-hander enters with a 1-1 record, 3.30 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 30 innings. Sandoval has allowed 38 hits and 13 walks, giving him a 1.70 WHIP.Last one before we head home! pic.twitter.com/x2fRfpI05b— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 16, 2026Pittsburgh will counter with right-hander Lake Bachar, who is 1-2 with a 3.97 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings.Bachar is starting in place of Paul Skenes. Pittsburgh pushed Skenes’ scheduled appearance back three days to provide additional rest after his recent velocity decline. The Pirates said the decision was not related to an injury.Boston evened the series Saturday behind another strong performance from Sonny Gray. The veteran pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out seven. Gray improved to 15-3 and lowered his ERA to 2.99.Wilyer Abreu supplied much of the offense with a home run and two doubles. The Red Sox carried a 1-0 lead into the ninth before Jarren Duran, Andruw Monasterio and Jahmai Jones helped produce three insurance runs.Red Sox Enter Finale With Lengthy Injury ListBoston will play the series finale without two more players after making multiple injured-list moves Sunday. Masataka Yoshida is going on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. He suffered the injury while running out a double during Saturday’s third inning. Mickey Gasper was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to replace him.The Red Sox also placed Justin Slaten on the injured list with elbow soreness and recalled left-hander Raymond Burgos. Slaten’s injury further reduces Boston’s late-inning bullpen depth. Setup man Garrett Whitlock went on the injured list Thursday with right elbow inflammation.Boston also remains without Roman Anthony, Trevor Story, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Curtis Mead and Garrett Crochet. Several reinforcements are progressing toward returns. Story is beginning a rehab assignment with Worcester, Anthony is scheduled to start one with Double-A Portland on Tuesday, and Kiner-Falefa is expected to begin playing for Worcester on Wednesday.MORE: Red Sox Catch Massive Break Before Pirates Series FinaleRed Sox Return Home For Six GamesFollowing Sunday’s finale, the Red Sox will return to Fenway Park for a six-game homestand. Boston will host the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games beginning Monday night. The first two games are scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, followed by Wednesday’s series finale at 4:10 p.m. ET.The Red Sox then will host the San Francisco Giants for three games beginning Friday. Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET, with the homestand concluding Sunday afternoon. Before returning home, Boston has an opportunity to secure a winning series in Pittsburgh and finish its six-game road trip on a positive note.More Red SoxLatest Red Sox news2026 Red Sox schedule2026 Red Sox rosterComplete history of Red Sox championships

On Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their preseason schedule with a resounding 28-9 win over the Green Bay Packers. Here are the best and worst from Pro Football Focus' grades on offense and defense. Best on offenseTE Robert Tonyan (93.5)WR Kaden Wetjen (88.0)QB Mason Rudolph (87.3)QB Will Howard (86.5)WR Ben Skowronek (83.4)Best on defenseCB Asante Samuel Jr. (90.6) LB Malik Harrison (89.9)DE Anthony Goodlow (86.9)CB D'Shawn Jamison (77.9)CB Doneiko Slaughter (77.8)Worst on offenseC Greg Crippen (49.8)RB Eli Heidenreich (49.4)FB Riley Nowakowski (47.8)OT Troy Fautanu (44.4)TE Jaheim Bell (42.3)Worst on defenseLB Nick Herbig (54.3)LB Cole Holcomb (53.4)CB Daylen Everett (52.3)DT Derrick Harmon (51.7)DT Kevin Jobity Jr. (51.2)This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers PFF grades: Best and worst from Thursday's preseason game vs Packers

Kovac & Co. are pleased to have Karetsas on board and will give him timeCoach Niko Kovac put his arm around Konstantinos Karetsas, then gave him a light pat and a friendly look as he made his way to the bench. The new signing had received spontaneous applause from the fans on several occasions. Only the crossbar prevented him from scoring a goal, and a strong save by the opposing goalkeeper (against Samuele Inacio) thwarted a direct assist. Nevertheless, he was involved in both of BVB’s goals in the match against Roma: Before Julian Ryerson’s goal to make it 1–2, he played the penultimate pass; on Serhou Guirassy’s goal to tie the game at 2–2, he was involved in a free-kick feint.“You could see how confident he is on the ball,” Kovac praised the 18-year-old, delighting in the fact that “it means a lot to have someone who can draw one or two defenders toward him, thereby freeing up others. And he has a really good eye.” Sporting director Ole Book also noted: “He showed a lot of promise, brought a lot of enthusiasm to the game, and was a threat in front of the goal. It was a good game for him.”Karetsas is a solid short-term solution, no question. But he won’t be able to play 60 games for both the club and the national team. “We’ll all still be happy with him, but we also have to be very clear about this: He still needs time. He certainly won’t be able to play 90 minutes every third day – he doesn’t have the stamina for that,” said Kovac, adding: “And we also have to be careful not to push him into an injury. But if he plays the way he did today, then we’ll all be very happy.”Kovac was also “very happy” in the end with the two most recent friendlies against Arsenal (a 3-2 win) and AS Roma (a 2-2 draw). “Well, I’m very satisfied,” he stated for the record, and his facial expression said it all: “We created a lot of chances today, too. That increases our chances of winning games.” We need to work intensively on defensive stability– and that doesn’t just apply to the back line, where three potential starters – Emre Can, Waldemar Anton, and Nico Schlotterbeck – were unavailable. But everyone knows: that’s Kovacs’s core strength. Turning to a reporter with a smile, he said: “If we’d kept a clean sheet and won only 1–0, you would have said: ‘Yeah, Niko, that was another bust .’ But now it’s the other way around…”Boris Rupert

Ceyair Wright was among the crop of undrafted free agents signed by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year after a solid collegiate career that began at USC and ended at Nebraska. And now, the UDFA cornerback has left the team, but there's a reported specific reason why: He's also an actor.It was Wright who played Darius James in Space Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.Notes from Zac Taylor’s press conference:-Only injury from the game restricting someone today is DT McKinnley Jackson.-Says they “weren’t great” operationally on offense. “I expect us to be cleaner this week.”-Taylor said his main takeaway with how backup OL played was…— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 15, 20262. Rookie CB Ceyair Wright, who has several acting credits, left camp to pursue TV/Film opportunities.He’s been replaced by rookie Matthew McDoom (#41) who was released by the Ravens last week.If the name sounds familiar, McDoom was the UC Bearcats’ best corner last year.… pic.twitter.com/y39ef8QHTp— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) August 15, 2026Was Ceyair Wright in Space Jam 2?Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.What did Zac Taylor say about Ceyair Wright leaving the Bengals?There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."What acting role is Ceyair Wright leaving the Bengals for?No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why a Bengals rookie shockingly left the team mid-camp: 'Two of his passions were colliding'

Ceyair Wright was among the crop of undrafted free agents signed by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year after a solid collegiate career that began at USC and ended at Nebraska. And now, the UDFA cornerback has left the team, but there's a reported specific reason why: He's also an actor.It was Wright who played Darius James in Space Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.Notes from Zac Taylor’s press conference:-Only injury from the game restricting someone today is DT McKinnley Jackson.-Says they “weren’t great” operationally on offense. “I expect us to be cleaner this week.”-Taylor said his main takeaway with how backup OL played was…— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) August 15, 20262. Rookie CB Ceyair Wright, who has several acting credits, left camp to pursue TV/Film opportunities.He’s been replaced by rookie Matthew McDoom (#41) who was released by the Ravens last week.If the name sounds familiar, McDoom was the UC Bearcats’ best corner last year.… pic.twitter.com/y39ef8QHTp— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) August 15, 2026Was Ceyair Wright in Space Jam 2?Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.What did Zac Taylor say about Ceyair Wright leaving the Bengals?There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."What acting role is Ceyair Wright leaving the Bengals for?No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why a Bengals rookie shockingly left the team mid-camp: 'Two of his passions were colliding'

Nearly three dozen men were arrested in Indonesia this week for allegedly organizing and attending a gay sex party. Police in Surabaya reportedly raided a private gathering at the Midtown Hotel in the city’s Wonokromo district sometime between 11 p.m. local time on October 18 and the early hours of October 19. According to both the Daily Mail and News Ghana, police were responding to reports of unusual activity on one of the hotel’s floors. Related Two men will be hit with a cane 80 times each for hugging & kissing in private Police arrested 34 men and collected evidence from the scene, including contraceptives, cell phones, and other electronic devices. The men were taken to Surabaya Police Headquarters for questioning, and on Tuesday afternoon, AKBP Edy Herwiyanto, head of the Surabaya Police Criminal Investigation Unit, identified all 34 men as suspects, with some accused of organizing and financing the alleged sex party. Photos show the suspects barefoot and bound together at the wrists by zip ties being paraded in front of a press scrum on October 22. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The hotel’s management reportedly told local media that they were unaware of the alleged event at the time, describing the hotel’s rooms as private areas, according to the Daily Mail. While formal charges have not been announced yet, News Ghana notes that the case is similar to several others in which suspects have been prosecuted under Indonesia’s controversial anti-pornography law. The 2008 law defines pornography broadly as encompassing material that contravenes “norms of community morality.” The law bans activities as well as explicit material, specifically “deviant sexual intercourse,” which includes, News Ghana notes, consensual same-sex activity between adults. In 2022, Indonesia’s government also revised its criminal code to ban sex outside of marriage. Unmarried couples caught having sex can be jailed for up to a year. While same-sex relationships are not explicitly criminalized under Indonesia’s national criminal code, same-sex marriage is illegal in the country, meaning that all same-sex sexual acts fall outside the law. As News Ghana notes, Indonesian police have increasingly used the country’s anti-pornography law as a pretext for raids on LGBTQ+ gatherings. In June, police arrested 74 men and one woman in Jakarta who they accused of attending a “gay party.” Police detained nine people following a raid on a “gay sex party” at a hotel in South Jakarta in late May, and in February, 56 individuals were detained for participating in “a gay party” at a different hotel in South Jakarta. Following the June raid in Jakarta, Amnesty International called on Indonesian authorities to end “these hate-based and humiliating raids” and to release those who have been arrested. Human Rights Watch senior LGBT rights researcher Kyle Knight said Indonesia’s pornography law has been used as “a weapon to target LGBT people,” according to News Ghana. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during the FA Community Shield final soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester City in Cardiff, Wales, Sunday, Aug.16, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)2026-08-16T14:19:50Z Arsenal has made an explosive start to the English soccer season, scoring inside 25 seconds in the Community Shield against Manchester City.Riccardo Calafiori was the scorer at the Principality Stadium on Sunday in the annual season curtain-raiser between last year’s Premier League champions (Arsenal) and FA Cup winners (City).The match in Cardiff marks Enzo Maresca ‘s competitive debut as City manager after he replaced Pep Guardiola.___Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80___See AP’s full soccer coverage here STEVE DOUGLAS Douglas is a Europe-based sports writer who has covered some of the world’s biggest events for The AP over the last 15 years, notably the men’s soccer World Cup final in 2022. As well as soccer, he handles a range of other sports including golf, cricket and rugby. mailto

Israel's Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, prays during the mourning ritual of Tisha B'Av at the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in Jerusalem's Old City, Wednesday, July 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)2026-08-16T14:17:21Z JERUSALEM (AP) — An extremist Israeli lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition publicly advocated for killing “30 to 40” people in Gaza each night, comments that surfaced Sunday and were quickly shared by Palestinian media.Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir made the statement while speaking to a former Gaza-held hostage, Rom Braslavski, on Braslavski’s podcast. The two were discussing Israel’s recovery from the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, when Ben-Gvir criticized Israel’s recent drawdown of strikes in Gaza.“It’s no secret, I disagree with the prime minister,” he said. “I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night. Not just those who pose an immediate threat — there are people there who are not worthy of life. They shouldn’t live. They’re not even people.” In the past, similar statements by Ben-Gvir and other Israeli officials were widely condemned. Many have been presented to the UN’s world court as evidence of genocidal intent. Israel denies it has committed genocide in Gaza.Israel’s domestic media has made scarce mention of the statement, highlighting how once-fringe ideologies like Ben-Gvir’s are surging in the leadup to Israeli elections Oct. 27. Figures like Ben-Gvir have become more popular among Israelis since Hamas’ brutal attack in 2023, when the militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. Many hostages have recounted long-term starvation, physical and psychological abuse and, in some cases, sexual abuse. Ben-Gvir oversees Israel’s police force and prisonsBen-Gvir does not have power over the country’s military and cannot order strikes on Gaza. But, after operating for decades within Israel’s far-right fringe, he is now one of the most influential people in the country. He has substantial control over key parts of Israel’s security apparatus, running the country’s prisons — where thousands of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank are incarcerated — as well as the national police force.He has previously boasted of lessening food rations for Palestinian prisoners. Israel’s top court ruled in 2025 that the prison service under Ben-Gvir was depriving Palestinians of a minimum subsistence diet. Read More Ben-Gvir criticizes drawdown of Israeli strikes in GazaUntil recently, Israel was striking Gaza nearly every day, attacks that have killed over 1,250 people since an October truce deal came into effect, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Israel’s military, which says the strikes have targeted Hamas militants, appeared to ease off on the attacks in a quiet concession to U.S. President Donald Trump after Netanyahu rejected the president’s latest attempt to move the truce forward.Israeli media last week reported that the authority for carrying out strikes has now been limited to the army’s chief of staff, raising the ire of right-wing lawmakers such as Ben-Gvir. Ben Gvir advocates mass emigration, expulsion of Palestinians from GazaIn the same taped appearance, the lawmaker advocated for mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza — a proposal that international lawyers say could amount to ethnic cleansing — and resettlement of Gaza by Israel.Twenty years ago, Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip, dismantling a block of 21 Jewish settlements known as “Gush Katif” and pulling out its forces. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. “I see all of Gaza as ours,” said Ben-Gvir in the interview. “Settlements not just in Gush Katif but throughout Gaza, encouraging as much emigration as possible, sending them to their countries, and for the terrorists, no emigration, nothing, just to kill them one by one.”Trump’s latest proposal involves Hamas gradually giving up its weapons while Israeli forces halt their attacks and begin withdrawing from Gaza. Hamas accepted the deal, although the group linked the surrender of its heaviest weapons to the creation of a Palestinian state, something Israel’s current government and most of its political class adamantly reject. Netanyahu says Israel will not retreat from any of its positions in Gaza until Hamas has been completely disarmed. The stance leaves other elements of the ceasefire, including the deployment of international forces and any reconstruction of the devastated territory, on hold. JULIA FRANKEL Frankel, based in Jerusalem, has reported from across Israel and the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Her reporting focuses on war, human rights, displacement and criminal justice. twitter mailto

2026-08-16T14:34:52Z LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Police in Kentucky said one person was killed and four others were injured in a shooting at a park Saturday evening.Lexington police officers responded just before 7 p.m. to a report of shots fired and found five victims, according to a department statement. One person was declared dead at a hospital while the other four were believed to have non-life-threatening injuries, police said.Local news outlets reported that Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said two children, aged 4 and 14, were among those shot at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington. Weathers declined to share any information on a suspect but told reporters he did not believe there was an ongoing threat to the public.“If you know of somebody who might be inclined to use a weapon, please let us know,” Weather said. “Anything that you can do to let us know before something happens, we’ll greatly appreciate.”The chief urged anyone with information about Saturday evening’s shooting to call police. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

Calafiori slots in opener within 30 seconds before Havertz secondGrealish on as half-time substitute for Man CityArsenal looking for new signings before campaignHow are Man City shaping up ahead of new seasonWho are the young players to watch this season? Community Shield: Odegaard scores Arsenal third as Grealish on for struggling Man City

The New England Patriots are down an offensive lineman.According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots placed guard Andrew Rupcich on injured reserve on Saturday.Rupcich went down with a leg injury at the Patriots' training camp practice on Thursday. He is set to miss the entire 2026 NFL season as a result of the move. The veteran offensive lineman was set to be a key reserve for the Patriots at left guard, as well as at center next season.The Culver-Stockton product last played in the 2024 season for the Tennessee Titans. He played two seasons with the team prior to signing with New England in 2025.The Patriots added to their offensive line just before Rupcich was placed on IR, by signing offensive linemen Darrian Dalcourt and Joe Michalski. New England also had offensive lineman Ryan Mosesso in for a tryout.Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots offensive line suffers another blow, vet OL done for season

San Francisco (51-72) defeated Colorado (49-74), 7-1, on Aug. 15 at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California.Former Vol Drew Gilbert started in center field and served as the Giants' leadoff batter. He went 3-for-4 and hit a solo home run 361 feet with one out in the third inning. Gilbert also hit a two-run single in the fourth inning.He totaled three RBIs, two runs, one walk and one strikeout in the second contest of a three-game series.The series is tied, 1-1. A series finale between the Giants and Rockies will be contested on Sunday with first pitch slated for 4:05 p.m. EDT.Gilbert played at Tennessee from 2020-22 and appeared in 141 games, including 134 starts, as a batter for Tennessee. He recorded a .314 batting average, 22 home runs, 140 RBIs and 116 runs with the Vols.Gilbert also appeared in 11 contests as a relief pitcher and had a 2-0 record.He was selected by Houston in the first round (No. 28 overall) of the 2022 MLB draft.More: Drew Gilbert hits home run, Blade Tidwell starts for GiantsFollow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Drew Gilbert records three hits as Giants' leadoff batter

There's more than prize money on the line as Scottie Scheffler takes a two-stroke lead into the final round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship on Sunday, Aug. 16.\nThe golfers who qualified for the season-ending FedEx Cup playoffs will need to make it into the top 50 in the points standings to move on to next week's BMW Championship. Doing so will give them an opportunity to ... win more money. So yes, the financial incentives are significant as the players look to go low at TPC Southwind in Memphis.\nSam Burns, who shot 62 on Saturday, is tied with Sungjae Im for second place at 11 under as Sunday's round begins. Tommy Fleetwood and Jake Knapp are at minus 8, five strokes behind Scheffler. \nLIVE SCOREBOARD:FedEx St. Jude Championship final round\nHow to watch FedEx St. Jude Championship final round\nThe FedEx St. Jude Championship from TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee, enters the final round on Sunday. The tournament is being broadcast by CBS, with additional coverage on Golf Channel and ESPN+.\nTVGolf Channel (noon-2 p.m. ET)CBS (2-6 p.m. ET)StreamingESPN app, coverage begins at 7:45 a.m.Sling (Golf Channel)Fubo (free trial, for CBS)Paramount+ (CBS)\n\nFedEx St. Jude Championship purse, payouts\nThe FedEx St. Jude Championship has a total purse of $20 million, with $3.6 million going to the winner. Here's how each of the finishing positions pays out:\n1: $3.6 million2: $2.16 million3: $1.36 million4: $960,0005: $800,0006: $720,0007: $670,0008: $621,0009: $581,00010: $541,00011: $501,00012: $461,00013: $421,00014: $381,00015: $361,00016: $341,00017: $321,00018: $301,00019: $281,00020: $261,00021: $241,00022: $224,50023: $208,50024: $192,50025: $176,50026: $160,50027: $154,50028: $148,40029: $142,50030: $136,50031: $130,50032: $124,50033: $118,50034: $113,50035: $108,50036: $103,50037: $98,50038: $94,50039: $90,50040: $86,50041: $82,50042: $78,50043: $74,50044: $70,50045: $66,50046: $62,50047: $58,50048: $55,30049: $52,50050: $51,00051: $49,80052: $48,60053: $47,80054: $47,00055: $46,60056: $46,20057: $45,80058: $45,40059: $45,00060: $44,60061: $44,20062: $43,80063: $43,40064: $43,00065: $42,60066: $42,20067: $41,80068: $41,40069: $41,000\nThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How much money can PGA Tour golfers earn at FedEx St. Jude Championship?

Current Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton recently made a podcast appearance, opening up about the early days of his career and what could have been. During that discussion, Haliburton spoke about some of his potential landing spots on draft day and his pre-draft workouts.Although Haliburton eventually wound up with the Sacramento Kings as the No. 12 overall selection, he recalled having his best workout with the Warriors, who owned the No. 2 overall pick. "That was the best workout of my life, the best workout of my life," Haliburton said."I swear I didn't miss and then Steve [Kerr] stepped into my workout and was like 'He needs to do conditioning shooting; we need to see it full court' and then I didn't miss again, and I was like 'They're drafting me at two' and then in the interview they were like 'We know you fit us perfect. We know you fit us perfect, but we don't know if we could draft you at two.'"Ultimately, the Warriors went on to select Memphis center James Wiseman. Wiseman lasted just 60 games with Golden State and has yet to live up to the hype of a No. 2 overall pick. At the moment, he's made just five appearances in his last two NBA seasons and is currently a free agent. That said, Wiseman has experienced his fair share of injury issues, tearing his meniscus with the Warriors and his Achilles later on in his career.However, given how their careers have panned out, Golden State would have been much better off with Haliburton, Devin Vassell or even LaMelo Ball.For more NBA content, check out the BasketBaltes podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@BasketBaltes/videoshttps://www.instagram.com/basketbaltes/This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Pacers guard talks about the Warriors passing on him during 2020 NBA Draft

An unknown vandal knocked down and crushed a pro-LGBTQ+ display of rainbow-colored doors outside of the First Congregational Church of Fresno in California. While neighbors quickly restored the welcoming display, local police are searching for the vandal (but are not investigating the incident as a hate crime). The church is now working to build a new, welcoming installation in its place. At around 6 am on Sunday, August 9, the church’s Rev. Simon Biasell-Moshrefi was notified that someone had knocked down and crushed some of the six doors outside, each of which is painted in a different color of the Pride flag and bears a single word in the phrase, “God’s doors are open to all.” Related This church has two giant red ribbons to let “the community know they were loved and accepted” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “This is unfortunately not the first time that these doors have been vandalized. It happened earlier this summer as well,” Biasell-Moshrefi told the news station KSEE/KGPE, adding that it has received negative responses to its affirmation of LGBTQ+ people. “Our church members unfortunately have gotten used to that kind of hate language, that treatment. So while this wasn’t anything new, it’s still painful to experience that kind of treatment.” The church—also known as The Big Red Church because of its tall red-brick exterior—erected the display during the most recent Pride Month. Despite the recent vandalism, neighbors had set the doors back by the time the church’s Sunday morning service had ended. “By the time everybody exited church, our neighbors had reinstalled the doors and put it back up, which is one of the wonderful things about this neighborhood, the Tower District,” Biasell-Moshrefi said. “These doors weren’t just built by a congregation, they were built by kids, teens, and adults who believe that the Big Red Church and its doors are open to everyone,” the church wrote in an August 13 Instagram post advertising a fundraiser for local artists to help build a new installation outside of the church. The Fresno Police Department told KMPH that the vandalism is not being investigated as a hate crime. The church has existed in its current location since 1949. Its website proclaims, “We believe that all people are sacred creations of a loving God. We affirm the diversity that exists among us…. As Christians, we experience God’s reconciling love. In response, we stand with those who suffer discrimination, isolation, and alienation.” “We welcome all people to participate fully in our church’s life and ministry,” the website continues. “We celebrate the variety of talents and perspectives that flow into our spiritual community.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Jul 27, 2026; Westchester, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) throws the ball during training camp at Loyola Marymount University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesWill the new quarterback of the Super Bowl contender team, the Los Angeles Rams, Ty Simpson, be able to silence those who were questioning his ability against the Kansas City Chiefs? Everyone was wondering whether a rookie could handle the pressure, emotions, and nerves of a big NFL game and run the offense with full confidence.On Saturday, when Simpson took charge of the game, he showed the same calm and composure that he had shown during the training camp. Although in the first part of the game the Los Angeles team had them retreat three times, Simpson's second attempt was really excellent. He completed all four of his passes accurately for 41 yards.Aug 15, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) on field against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to a pre season at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn ImagesIMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectAug 15, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Ty Simpson (15) on field against the Kansas City Chiefs prior to a pre season at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn ImagesTalking about his first NFL game, Simpson said that he felt much more comfortable playing this game. “I definitely felt more comfortable than I ever had coming into a game, but I also didn't know what to expect,” said Simpson.Just before halftime, Simpson handled the time very smartly when it was running out. He passed to tight end Max Klare and wide receiver Xavier Smith and took the Rams up to midfield. In the fourth quarter of the game, Smith had an amazing 40-yard punt return, which cleared the way for Simpson's first touchdown pass.Simpson gave running back Dean Connors a 9-yard screen pass, which became his first preseason touchdown.For the second touchdown, Simpson led a long 87-yard drive, in which he threw an impressive 22-yard pass to tight end Mark Redman. Simpson finished the game with 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards. Threw two touchdowns to Connors. His passer rating was 125.0, which is considered really awesome.None of his passes were intercepted. Rams won this game 20-12. Head coach Sean McVay said Simpson had 'great command' over the game all day. "I thought Ty had great command all day," McVay said. "He was able to get through good progressions, got a lot of different guys involved."A very well-developed plan was made for Ty Simpson. First, he was put into easy plays, and then gradually his responsibilities were increased, like full progression reads and 5-to-7-step drops (QBs' special techniques). This amazing start showed everyone why the Rams drafted him at 13th overall. He completely shut down critics who were doubting him, proving himself as the true heir to Matthew Stafford.

The Baltimore Ravensopened the Jesse Minter era with a 24-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, but the preseason opener was about much more than the final score. With nearly all of Baltimore's projected starters watching from the sideline, the Ravens used Saturday night to evaluate a large group of young players and roster hopefuls. Baltimore ultimately played 76 offensive snaps and 64 defensive snaps, giving the coaching staff plenty of film to study.The unofficial snap counts also provide some insight into which players received extended opportunities.1. Joe Fagnano received the biggest quarterback workloadJoe Fagnano played 51 offensive snaps, or 64%, by far the largest workload among Baltimore's quarterbacks.The undrafted rookie completed 22 of 28 passes for 224 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also operated the offense for much of the game after Tyler Huntley played 15 snaps and Austin Reed played 14.Fagnano's performance was one of the biggest stories of the night. Baltimore is looking for depth behind Lamar Jackson and Huntley, and Fagnano gave the coaching staff plenty to evaluate.2. The Ravens gave their young offensive players significant opportunitiesTight end Josh Cuevas played 36 snaps, while running back Adam Randall also played 36. Matt Hibner played 32 snaps and rookie receivers Elijah Sarratt and Dayton Wade each played 30.Ja'Kobi Lane played 27 offensive snaps, or 34%, but made the most of his opportunities with three catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. His workload was enough to make another strong case for a significant role moving forward.3. Keyon Martin's workload tells part of his storyKeyon Martin played 16 defensive snaps, or 36%, but he made a major impact.Martin recorded a sack and a tackle for loss in the second half, continuing the momentum he established during training camp. The Ravens' official stock report specifically highlighted the young cornerback's ability to consistently make plays.His production demonstrates that snap count alone doesn't tell the entire story of a preseason performance.4. Baltimore spread the defensive workloadThe Ravens rotated heavily on defense. Keondre Jackson and K'Von Wallace each played 29 defensive snaps, while Reid Williford played 29 and Dominic DeLuca played 28.T.J. Tampa received 24 snaps, Zion Young 22, Amani Oruwariye 20 and Chandler Rivers 17.That distribution gave Baltimore an extensive look at its young defensive depth while established starters remained out.5. The rookies received exactly what the preseason is designed to provideBaltimore's young players dominated the snap counts, and several turned those opportunities into meaningful performances.Lane scored a touchdown. Hibner caught five passes for 61 yards. Sarratt caught six passes for 66 yards. Adam Randall carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards and a touchdown, while Fagnano threw for 224 yards.That is the real value of Baltimore's 24-7 victory.Minter got an extended look at players competing for roster spots, and several responded with performances that will make the Ravens' upcoming roster decisions more difficult. The preseason opener provided Baltimore with a strong first evaluation period, particularly for a rookie class that already generated considerable buzz during training camp.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens snap count vs. Eagles: Takeaways from preseason opener

Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota played just four snaps during Friday’s preseason opener versus Miami. The veteran didn’t get a quick hook. He got hurt on the first offensive drive. Mariota suffered a presumptive knee injury in Washington’s 20-7 victory over the Dolphins at Northwest Stadium. That assumption was confirmed in a Sunday reported from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who stated that he sprained the MCL ligament in his knee and is expected to miss the rest of the preseason. Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL that is now likely to sideline him for the remainder of the preseason, per sources. pic.twitter.com/e7P01GaN8w— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2026All things considered, that’s a positive outcome for the Commanders. They’ll get their No. 2 quarterback back before games that count. Mariota got hit hard on an explosive, 22-yard pass completed to Dyami Brown, and came up lame after a handoff on the next play. Good to have ya back, @deuce2_📺 #MIAvsWAS@wusa9pic.twitter.com/PUhHgsMJXN— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 14, 2026Mariota was treated on the field and eventually in the blue medical tent before eventually leaving for the locker room with a trainer. Marcus Mariota is headed back to the locker room with assistant head athletic trainer Mark McCracken. pic.twitter.com/mlwVDhnkWT— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 14, 2026Mariota walked off the field without a clear limp or support from another person. He obviously did not return to a game that didn’t count, especially with his immense value backing up starter Jayden Daniels. Mariota has been called into action 14 times under Daniels, including 11 games and eight starts in 2025. The Commanders have Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis behind them on the depth chart, but neither player is ready to be a primary backup.

The Philadelphia Eagles' 24-7 preseason loss to the Baltimore Ravens gave the coaching staff an extended look at players competing for roster spots, especially since several established starters and veterans did not see action.QB 1 J.Hurts, CB 2 T.Woolen, OLB 3 N.Smith, WR 6 D.Smith, WR 9 M.Lemon,WR 13 D.Wicks, S 21 C.Wisniewski, S 24 A.Mukuba, RB 26 S.Barkley, CB 27Q.Mitchell, S 29 M.Epps, CB 32 J.Jones, DB 33 C.DeJean, RB 39 D.Pierce, DB41 T.Castro-Fields, OLB 50 K.James-Newby, C/G 51 C.Jurgens, OLB 52J.Greenard, LB 53 Z.Baun, G 56 T.Steen, OLB 58 J.Hunt, LB 59 C.Campbell, T65 L.Johnson, T 68 J.Mailata, G 69 L.Dickerson, TE 83 J.Mundt, TE 88D.Goedert, WR 89 J.Wilson, DT 90 J.Davis, DT 97 M.Ojomo, DT 98 J.CarterThe unofficial snap counts offer another layer of context to the opening preseason game. Philadelphia played 40 offensive snaps and 64 defensive snaps, giving several young players significant opportunities to make an impression.Eagles-Ravens snap counts: pic.twitter.com/qx5zIlkw9S— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 16, 2026Here are five takeaways from the Eagles' snap distribution.1. Mac McWilliams led the Eagles in defensive snapsCornerback Mac McWilliams played 65 defensive snaps, or 81%, the highest total on the Eagles. Ambry Thomas followed with 57 snaps (71%), while Andre' Sam, Smael Mondon Jr., Zion Wilson and Ty Robinson each played 47 snaps.McWilliams' workload is particularly notable as the Eagles evaluate their secondary depth. With Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean not playing, McWilliams had an opportunity to take on an expanded role.2. The Eagles spread the offensive snaps aroundMicah Morris and Jake Majors each played 34 offensive snaps, leading the Eagles at 77%. Darius Cooper followed with 29 snaps (66%). The Eagles rotated heavily along the offensive line, with Cameron Williams, Will Lampkin and Joshua Ojukwu each playing 23 snaps. That type of distribution reflects the evaluation process taking place throughout the preseason.3. Tanner McKee got the most quarterback snapsTanner McKee played 19 snaps (43%), while Cole Payton played 15 and Andy Dalton played 10.McKee finished 6-of-10 for 35 yards and was sacked once. Payton completed 4-of-9 passes for 37 yards with a touchdown and added 45 rushing yards on three carries.4. Several young defenders received heavy workloadsJeremiah Trotter Jr. played 37 defensive snaps, while Kelee Ringo also played 37. David Blay Jr. played 35, Maximus Pulley 33, and Kapena Gushiken 33. Those workloads should provide the Eagles with plenty of film to evaluate as they sort through their defensive depth.5. The snap counts reinforce the importance of the preseasonThe biggest takeaway is that Philadelphia used the opener primarily as an opportunity for evaluation.The Eagles gave substantial workloads to young players and roster hopefuls while keeping several key contributors out of action and saving them for joint practice with New England. The result was statistically a difficult night, but the individual snap distribution may be more meaningful than the final score.The next preseason game should provide another important round of evaluations, particularly for players whose heavy workloads indicate that the coaching staff wants more information before making roster decisions.This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles snap count vs. Ravens in preseason opener: 5 takeaways

SDSU quarterback Jayden Denegal (4)participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..San Diego Calif. - The SDSU Aztecs held the First Saturday Scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on August 15th, 2026 and The Sporting Tribune's Ardie Crenshaw was there to capture the following TST Images.SDSU Offensive lineman Isaac Lucas (56) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie - Crenshaw The Sporting TribuneSDSU Offensive lineman Isaac Lucas (56) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU linebacker Sione Hala (56) SDSU offensive Lineman Isaac Lucas participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU linebacker Sione Hala (56) SDSU offensive Lineman Isaac Lucas participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU offensive lineman Justice Turner (66) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU offensive lineman Justice Turner (66) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU offensive lineman Evan Lawrence (71) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU offensive lineman Evan Lawrence (71) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU defensive lineman Djibril Rahman (59) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU defensive lineman Djibril Rahman (59) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.SDSU offensive lineman Cam May (77) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU offensive lineman Cam May (77) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU safety Cammeron Purnell (19) and SDSU safety Jalen Thomeson (30) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU safety Cammeron Purnell (19) and SDSU safety Jalen Thomeson (30) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif.SDSU offensive lineman Dennis Jones (72) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU offensive lineman Dennis Jones (72) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU linebacker Dean Harrington (34) and SDSU quarterback Jayden Denegal (4) and SDSU linebacker Brady Nassar (33) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU linebacker Dean Harrington (34) and SDSU quarterback Jayden Denegal (4) and SDSU linebacker Brady Nassar (33) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU running back Javion Kinnard (21) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU running back Javion Kinnard (21) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..SDSU wide receiver Daishaun Davis (85) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting TribuneSDSU wide receiver Daishaun Davis (85) participates in the First scrimmage at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday August 15, 2026 in San Diego, Calif..

Athletes race in the men's 10,000 meters final at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, England, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)2026-08-16T15:03:10Z BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Police have made one arrest after a security incident caused transportation delays for fans and athletes leaving Alexander Stadium following Saturday night’s session at the European track-and-field championships in Birmingham.Medal ceremonies were postponed to Sunday, when West Midlands Police said that a man in his 30s had been arrested on suspicion of fraud. He remains in custody.Police said in a statement that around 8:15 p.m. Saturday “concerns were raised after a man was found in an area of Alexander Stadium with the wrong accreditation.”“As a precaution, security measures were put in place and transport for the championship staff and athletes were suspended,” the statement said. “This then led to delays to transport from the stadium for the wider public.”Police said there was “no immediate risk to the public.” Fans had waited in long lines while transport was suspended. Just past 11 p.m. Saturday, organizers posted an apology on social media for “significant delays” and that bus service would “gradually begin to take place.”“The safety and wellbeing of our spectators, athletes, workforce and the wider championships family will always be our first priority,” Birmingham 2026 said in a statement.The stadium is located outside the city center.“We recognize that the delays presented challenges for those affected and would like to thank everyone for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the evening,” organizers said.___See full AP coverage of European sports here