NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar said opener Phil Salt is fit ahead of their IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 clash against Gujarat Titans in Dharamshala on Tuesday, but added that the team management is yet to decide whether he will be part of the playing XI.Salt had missed the latter part of the league stage because of injury after featuring in the first six matches of the season. Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Monday, Patidar said the England batter remains under observation."Salt is fit, he is under observation. But we have not decided yet on our playing XI. We will look at the wicket and then we will decide."RCB finished at the top of the points table with 18 points from 14 matches, edging GT on net run rate after both teams ended level on points. The winner of Qualifier 1 will go straight into the IPL final, while the losing side will have another chance through Qualifier 2 on Friday against the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.Patidar said RCB’s focus has remained on earning direct qualification into the final."Win and go to the final. That is chat we have had from day 1. Topping the table was something we manifested. We will get the rest, if we win this match," he said.Despite topping the point table, Patidar described the clash against GT as evenly balanced."On the given day, the team which will perform better under the pressure, they will win. We just need to hold our nerves."RCB will face a Gujarat bowling attack that has been among the most consistent this season. Patidar, however, backed his own bowlers to respond strongly after a forgettable outing against SRH in the last league game.Bhuvneshwar Kumar had an expensive outing in that match, but Patidar said the experienced pacer remains key to RCB’s plans."He is an experienced bowler. The last game had not gone the way we wanted but bowling is our strength and the way we bowl in the powerplay, I think that will be very crucial (against GT). So we look for early wickets and that is what we have done so far. That is what Bhuvi, Hazlewood and Rasik are doing. So we hope that we continue the same process."

Toronto Blue Jays UTIL Davis SchneiderComing into the season, the Toronto Blue Jays looked to have at least one too many deserving position players to fit into everyday roles. Even as injuries have created opportunities at times, that truth bore fruit on Monday. According to an official team announcement and the transactions log, the Blue Jays optioned utility player Davis Schneider to Triple-A on Monday as the corresponding move for activating outfielder Nathan Lukes off the 10-day injured list. Schneider, who has played 290 major league games since his debut in 2023, has only been optioned one other time (last April) and had been on the major league roster since June 1 of last year. Schneider's role with the Blue Jays has fluctuated drastically, but at his best, he's a viable platoon player with the potential to catch fire. He hit a home run on the first pitch of Game 5 of last year's World Series against Los Angeles Dodgers star Blake Snell and had a .733 OPS in his 24 postseason plate appearances. Overall, he's given the Blue Jays a respectable .714 OPS and 2.5 major league bWAR. As much as it seemed like Schneider deserved a spot on the Blue Jays to open the year, however, he's really struggled at the plate in a short-sided platoon role. In 89 plate appearances this season, he sports a slash line of .127/.295/.211, with only four extra-base hits and 31 strikeouts. After the Blue Jays signed free agent Kazuma Okamoto to be their everyday third baseman, shifting Ernie Clement to a primary second base role, Clement was thrust into a tough outfield mix with Lukes, Daulton Varsho, Yohendrick Piñango, Jesús Sánchez, Myles Straw, and the injured Addison Barger. Do you have a take to get off your chest? Do you want to engage in a growing Blue Jays community? Comment on our content alongside staff and fans alike!From this point forward, nothing is guaranteed for Schneider as the Blue Jays look to climb out of the early hole they put themselves in with poor play. Entering Monday, Toronto stood at 25-28 after going 6-4 in its last 10 games. They're 10 1/2 games behind the first-place Tampa Bay Rays, though the American League Wild Card picture is far less impressive.More MLB: Mets Cut Ties With 9-Time All-Star Craig Kimbrel

Lakers-Mavericks trade pitch sends Dalton Knecht to Dallas for $54 million fan-favorite center originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Could the Los Angeles Lakers complete another headline-worthy trade for the Los Angeles Lakers this season?Perhaps, but given the fact that Los Angeles fleeced Dallas the first time (trading Anthony Davis, who’s no longer with Dallas, to the Mavericks for Luka Doncic, who was an MVP candidate this season). ESPN’s Zach Kram isn’t giving up on the idea, though, citing that swapping Dalton Knecht for a fan-favorite center makes sense for Los Angeles.“After the Mavericks overhauled their front office and parted ways with coach Jason Kidd, it seems that the franchise is ready to fully move on from its previous era into one revolving around Cooper Flagg,” Kram wrote Monday.“So, I have two deals in mind that would trade a pair of veterans who contributed to Dallas' 2024 NBA Finals team, in exchange for more youth and draft picks. The first (Jarred Vanderbilt, Dalton Knecht, and the No. 25 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft) sends (Daniel) Gafford to L.A., where he can rejoin Luka Doncic and thrive once more as a pick-and-roll partner and rim-running threat.”“This deal should be a no-brainer for the Lakers, as they'd address their glaring hole at the center position -- which would still exist even if Deandre Ayton exercised his option for next season -- with a player who's a proven fit next to Doncic. Gafford would certainly help the Lakers more next season than any rookie they could draft with the No. 25 pick.”Doncic doesn’t deserve to play alongside a center who only plays up to his potential on certain occasions (Ayton), making it important for the Lakers to continue searching for the perfect lob threat for the franchise point guard. Gafford is as close as it gets to meeting that requirement, as he’s a 70.2% career field goal shooter, has been a quietly effective rim protector since entering the league in 2019, and isn’t a stranger to throwing down thunderous lobs assisted by Doncic. In Gafford’s first full season in Dallas with Doncic as his teammate, the Arkansas product averaged 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game, shooting 65.5% from the field in 55 contests. Considering that Gafford was at the top of his game offensively when Doncic was his pick-and-roll partner (he averaged 11.2 points on 78.0% field goal shooting on the 2023-24 Mavericks squad that reached the NBA finals), bringing him to Los Angeles should be a priority for the franchise this summer.More NBA news:Lakers named best fit for record-setting $53.8 million starJazz, Hawks, Bulls, Nets named top landing spots for $53 million Lakers superstarLakers predicted to cut ties with Dalton Knecht, acquire $175 million two-time MVP

NEW DELHI: The stage is set for the biggest clash of the Indian Premier League 2026 playoffs as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday. The winner will seal a direct berth in the final, while the losing side will get another opportunity through Qualifier 2.Ahead of the high-stakes clash, GT assistant coach Vijay Dahiya described the encounter as a true battle between two quality teams."The moment you say battle, yes, it's got to be a battle, it's between those two teams we have met twice in this edition and it's 1-1, both of them are really good sides. Yeah, you can say that and equally matched, some big players on both sides and both the teams play as a unit, I think that's what stands out about both the teams," GT assistant coach Vijay Dahiya said ahead of the clash.RCB and GT finished first and second respectively on the points table with 18 points each, separated only by net run rate. The two teams have also shared honours 1-1 this season, while their overall head-to-head record stands level at 4-4.While RCB are eyeing back-to-back IPL titles after ending their long wait for the trophy last season, GT are hoping to recreate the magic of their dream debut campaign in 2022 when they lifted the title in their maiden season.Bowling units could decide Qualifier 1Both teams boast explosive batting line-ups, but Dahiya believes bowling could play the decisive role in the knockout clash.The top two spots in the leading wicket-takers' list are occupied by bowlers from RCB and GT.RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and GT speedster Kagiso Rabada have picked up 24 wickets each this season and will carry the responsibility of leading their respective bowling attacks in the big game."I think at the end of the day, you see teams putting a run on the board, but in the end you have to have a solid bowling unit and that's what is there. But the other thing which is very important if you see in both the sides, the consistency as far as the bowling unit is concerned, it's very much there."And that self-belief in the bowlers and the belief by the captain or the management in those bowlers or bowling unit, you hardly see any change in both the sides and I think that's what pays."Kohli, Gill and Sai Sudharsan in focusDahiya also highlighted the importance of Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan ahead of the blockbuster clash.Kohli has been in sublime touch this season, scoring 557 runs in 14 matches at an average of 50.63 and a strike rate of 163.82. He also has one century and four half-centuries to his name.On the other hand, Gill and Sudharsan are the top two run-getters in the tournament so far. Gill has amassed 616 runs in 13 matches at an average of 47.38 and a strike rate of 161.67, while Sudharsan has scored 638 runs at an average of 49.08 and a strike rate of 157.92."Absolutely, these three are going to play a very very crucial role and one thing that you mentioned, good you mentioned these three names, and that tells you that if you are technically very strong and mentally as well, all three names, if you want to put them in grade, they are there. Very very mentally strong and they can change the game according to the format."This is what they have done. But you have to have that in you to change according to the situation, according to the format and all three have done that."The former India wicketkeeper-batter also had special praise for GT skipper Gill."Virat Kohli has done more than anyone else in this because he has played much more than the other two names that you sent."But this season the way Shubham Gill has played, I think he tells you how strong he is, not only technically, but mentally as well and can change his game according to the situation and according to the demand of the format as well."Big praise for SirajDahiya reserved special praise for GT pacer Mohammed Siraj, who has been one of the standout bowlers of the season.Siraj has claimed 17 wickets in 14 matches this season and has consistently troubled batters with his variations and aggressive bowling."One thing you said, the kind of character that he is, channelising all his energy towards one goal."I think this is very important and he's got a very able partner on the other end as well. The chemistry between the two is phenomenal, not only on the field, but off the field as well. I think they understand each other, not only mentally, I think skill wise as well."They understand the game very well, how the game is going and what I need to do, how do I need to finish my overs to be my partner. Can start in a different way. I think this is what stands out."Dahiya also credited head coach Ashish Nehra for managing the bowling group brilliantly."Normally when you talk about partnership, it mostly goes with batting, but I think they have a very good partnership and a lot of credit needs to be given to Ashish Naira, the way he handles both of them."Different pressures when they play for their different international side, but both of them are top class bowlers and I think they do really, really well."Dharamsala pitch and spin factorWith Dharamsala known for producing high-scoring encounters because of the altitude, Dahiya admitted that spinners may not have a major role to play.Dharamsala hosted three league-stage matches this season and all of them turned out to be high-scoring contests, with teams crossing the 200-run mark regularly at the scenic venue.RCB have already played one game at the venue this season, registering a 23-run win over Punjab Kings, while GT will be playing here for the first time this year."I think it's for everyone to see. It's not only us. Since you start playing IPL games in Dharamshala or whatever games that we have seen playing here, high altitude, we know the number of sixes are much more here than any other ground."There are some in Bangalore as well, but that's what one thing is here. I think it's all come down to dynamics, what sort of a surface you get here, but you are absolutely right. There's not much role to play for Spinners, but they do come in."However, he backed experienced spinners from both camps to still make an impact."I think that's what the quality of Spin in both the sides. The Spinners that you have in both the sides are two very mature spinners in both the teams and I think they will play their part irrespective of what the surface is."

CHICAGO (AP) — Rikuu Nishida was all smiles. There were hugs and laughter. So much laughter.Nishida has brought his infectious enthusiasm to the major leagues.“I just love the game of baseball,” he said.Nishida joined the Chicago White Sox on Monday after he was brought up from Triple-A Charlotte. He played mostly second base in the minors, but he started in right field for his major league debut against Minnesota.The 25-year-old Nishida threw out Orlando Arcia when he attempted to score from second on Alex Jackson's single in the second, earning a loud cheer from the crowd on a sunny afternoon at Rate Field. He struck out swinging in his first at-bat.Jarred Kelenic was designated for assignment. The veteran outfielder batted .226 with a homer and four RBIs in 19 games with the White Sox.Listed at 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds, Nishida hit .347 with a homer and 10 RBIs in 33 games at Charlotte. He also swiped nine bags in 13 attempts and stealing 40 bases in the minors last year.“A guy that plays above-average defense at multiple positions," White Sox manager Will Venable said. "He can play second base. He can play everywhere in the outfield. Really good at-bat quality, where he's making good swing decisions, making a lot of contact. A really good baserunner. A guy that brings us a lot of energy that we're excited to have.”With Nishida and first baseman Munetaka Murakami, Chicago joined Philadelphia (2008) and Seattle (2012) as the teams in major league history with two Japanese-born position players in the same starting lineup, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.Murakami, 26, signed a $34 million, two-year contract with the White Sox in December. He hit his team-high 18th homer in the first inning against the Twins.“He's strong. He has a big leadership,” Nishida said through an interpreter. “He's like a dad to me. You can just rely on him all the time.”Nishida is the fifth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, also joining Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012).He has No. 51 with Chicago in homage to countryman Ichiro Suzuki, a Hall of Fame outfielder who spent most of his MLB career with the Seattle Mariners. He met Suzuki last year and received a bat signed by the Japanese star.“I can't put into words how much of a great player Ichiro is,” Nishida said. “I mean I can't even say Ichiro. I can't even say Mr. Ichiro. He's a legend, and I can't put into words how much he means to me and how much of a player he is.”Nishida played two seasons at Mt. Hood Community College before spending one year at the University of Oregon. He was selected by the White Sox in the 11th round of the 2023 amateur draft.He is the ninth Japan-born player to go in the draft and appear in at least one major league game, according to Sportradar. Stephen Randolph, who was drafted in 1995 and made his debut with Arizona in 2003, was the last player to join the list.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

2. Bundesliga Relegation/Promotion Playoff second-leg preview: Greuther Fürth vs. Rot-Weiss EssenIt is now the turn of the 2. Bundesliga side to host, with third-tier outfit Rot-Weiss Essen travelling to Franconia holding a slender first-leg advantage in their pursuit of promotion.Heiko Vogel’s Fürth head into the decisive encounter with work to do after slipping to a 1-0 defeat in Essen on Friday night. Having secured their playoff place in dramatic fashion on the final day of the regular season, the Kleeblätter now require another huge performance to preserve their second-tier status and avoid dropping out of Germany’s top two divisions for the first time since 1997.For Vogel, the backing of a sold-out Sportpark Ronhof could prove decisive. “They have the ability to be a superpower with their support,” the Fürth head coach said when discussing the home crowd. The 49-year-old has sensed growing anticipation around the club in recent days, adding: “There’s a lot of encouragement and a lot of excitement.” Vogel is embracing the occasion himself, saying: “I’m delighted that we get to play such a game at home tomorrow.”Meanwhile, Rot-Weiss Essen arrive in Fürth knowing that anything other than defeat will secure promotion to the 2. Bundesliga for the first time since their relegation in 2007. While the opening leg was a tense and cagey affair, Torben Müsel’s superb second-half free-kick ultimately proved enough to hand Uwe Koschinat’s side a narrow but valuable advantage.Koschinat hopes the momentum generated from Friday’s victory can carry his side over the line. “I believe the game here at home showed people a little bit that we can do it,” the Essen boss explained. “That naturally makes you very proud and emotional. Now, of course, we hope we can complete the story.”Despite their inconsistent finish to the campaign, Fürth’s home form has remained a major source of encouragement. The Franconians have lost just twice in nine home matches during 2026. Essen’s away form, however, has fluctuated considerably, with three wins from their last five outings on the road. Defensive issues away from home remain a concern for the 3. Liga side though, having conceded 14 goals across those same five matches.Team newsGreuther Fürth: Marco John and Lukas Reich remain unavailable, while Reno Münz faces a late fitness test ahead of Tuesday’s clash.Rot-Weiss Essen: Franci Bouebari, Klaus Gjasula and Jannik Mause are all ruled out.Predicted lineupsGreuther Fürth (4-1-4-1): Prüfrock (GK) - Dehm, Elvedi, Ziereis, Itter - Will - Klaus, Srbeny, Hrgota, Keller - Futkeu Rot-Weiss Essen (3-3-2-2): Golz (GK) - Rios Alonso, Hüning, Kraulich - Hofmann, Swajkowski, Kostka - Mizuta, Müsel - Safi, Cuber Potocnik

The Oregon Ducks are set to host a regional in Eugene as the No. 11 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Making the trip down from Corvallis, the Oregon State Beavers earned the No. 2 seed in the regional and could set up a rivalry matchup between the programs in the postseason.The Ducks and Beavers played twice this season, with both sides scoring a road win. A third game was scheduled at a neutral site in Hillsboro, but the game was canceled due to uncertain weather and a tragic accident involving a Beavers player.Bragging rights and the opportunity to advance to a Super Regional could be on the line this weekend if the two teams meet. The Ducks were visibly excited as the Beavers were announced as the second seed in the Eugene Regional, and there is certainly no love lost between the in-state rivals.Oregon Baseball erupts after finding out the Ducks will host rival Oregon State in Eugene Regional. #GoDuckspic.twitter.com/h5dZ7E3I6W— Erin Slinde (@slindeerin9) May 25, 2026Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski announced that the Ducks and Beavers have agreed to another three-game season series for the 2027 season. The agreement includes one game at PK Park and another at Goss Stadium, with the third at the new Hillsboro Hops Ballpark.Similar to how it played out this season, the games are likely to be spread throughout the season as midweek contests, rather than a weekend set.The Beavers beat the Ducks in Eugene back in March, snapping a six-game winning streak for Oregon in the rivalry dating back to 2024. After the Hillsboro matchup was canceled, Oregon got the best of its rival in Corvallis in April.Oregon State leads the all-time series against Oregon with a 48-31 record. The Ducks are 19-19 against the Beavers at PK Park and just 11-26 on the road in the series.Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Ducks and Beavers agree to three-game season series in 2027

Monday's victory was only Katie Boulter's second match win at Roland Garros [Getty Images]Great Britain's Katie Boulter avoided an early slip-up in the first round of the French Open as she ground out a gruelling win over American wildcard Akasha Urhobo.Playing on clay has never come easy for Boulter, who only won her first WTA Tour-level match on the surface last year - at the age of 28.But she booked her place in the second round at Roland Garros for just the second time with a scrappy 6-4 4-6 6-4 win over 19-year-old Urhobo, who was making her debut in the main draw of a Grand Slam.Boulter's reward is a second-round encounter with Austrian 28th seed Anastasia Potapova.Earlier on Monday, Boulter's Australian fiance Alex de Minaur ended Toby Samuel's breakthrough run after the Briton came through three rounds of qualifying in Paris.Wawrinka bids fond farewell to French Open'A big ask' in Paris - will a stronger Raducanu emerge at Wimbledon?Ranked 114 places higher than Urhobo, Boulter was the favourite on paper - but her limited exposure to clay has sometimes meant she has struggled against lower-ranked opposition on the surface.However, Boulter told BBC Sport earlier this month that she was embracing the challenge of playing on the red dirt more each year."There have been times in the past where I feel like I have had to try to convince myself that I like the clay, whereas at the moment I genuinely believe that I can play great on it," she said.The 29-year-old endured a difficult 2025, dropping from 24th in the world to outside the top 100, and she lost her British number one ranking amid injury issues.Searching for a fresh start, she split from her long-time coach Biljana Veselinovic and appointed Michael Joyce - the former coach of Maria Sharapova - in early 2026.After a first-round exit in January's Australian Open, Boulter returned to the world's top 100 with a WTA 250 title in Ostrava and a run to the third round in Miami.But her form remained inconsistent and she had won just three WTA Tour-level singles matches from four clay tournaments in the build-up to the Paris major.Unforced errors flew freely from both players' racquets and the pair twice traded breaks in the opening set before Boulter served it out at the second time of asking.Back-to-back double faults from Boulter put Urhobo on the front foot early in the second, and although Boulter levelled the scores mid-set, the Florida-born player restored her advantage immediately and forced the decider.Both players raised their level in the third and the quality improved somewhat as Boulter stamped her authority on the contest with a break in the fourth game.Once again, the Briton failed to serve out the set and she eventually grabbed the win - after two hours and 10 minutes - by breaking Urhobo's serve for a sixth time.Ultimately, 58 unforced errors to Boulter's 35 proved too costly for rising star Urhobo, who broke into the top 200 for the first time earlier this year.'More than I ever wanted' - Samuel's dream run comes to an endSamuel, 23, dropped to almost 2,000 in the world rankings after missing much of the 2024 season with bruising in his right arm.But he has climbed more places than anyone else on the men's tour over the past year, rising to 159th amid a run of titles on the ATP Challenger Tour - the second tier of men's professional tennis.Contesting the biggest match of his career on Monday, Samuel produced an encouraging display despite a 6-4 6-4 6-2 against seven-time major quarter-finalist De Minaur - the first top-100 player he has ever faced."The week has been more than I could ever hope for," Samuel told BBC Sport. "To be in the main draw is more than I could have ever wanted."On now aiming for a wildcard to play at Wimbledon, he added: "I'm just taking it one week at a time, trying to do my best and put myself in the best position to get a wildcard."Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesOne of the biggest names in MMA is closing in on the end of his current contract, with just two fights left before hitting free agency.Conor McGregor is finally set to make his return this summer, after more than three years away from the Octagon. The Irishman’s last appearance was at UFC 264 in July 2021 when he suffered a broken leg against Dustin Poirier.Now, five years later, McGregor will headline International Fight Week, taking on Max Holloway at UFC 329 – a rematch over a decade after their first meeting. Back then, it was McGregor who came out on top in Boston.And as far as his future goes, he doesn’t seem interested in signing any extensions.Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty ImagesAriel Helwani says Conor McGregor turned down a contract extension before finalising his UFC 329 returnDuring his time away from the sport, McGregor has been open about the possibility of fighting outside of the UFC.He’s spoken about a possible move into bare-knuckle boxing, and as a part-owner of BKFC, he’s already had plenty of involvement in that world.He’s also suggested another run at professional boxing, where he previously fought Floyd Mayweather in 2017.However, both those options are off-limits while he remains under contract with the UFC. That might not be the case for much longer.With just two fights remaining on his current deal, Ariel Helwani mentioned during an appearance on Schein Time for New York Post Sports that McGregor doesn’t seem interested in extending his stay with the promotion.“This is a massive, massive deal for the UFC and for Paramount+ to get him back in the mix,” Helwani said of McGregor’s UFC 329 return.“Here’s the big story. This is the big business story. Conor comes back, they didn’t sign him to an extension. They wanted to; he didn’t want to.”With streaming giants like Netflix and Amazon investing heavily in sports rights, it’ll be interesting to see what kind of interest there would be if McGregor becomes available. But first, people will want to see how he looks in these last two fights.”The Irishman will face Max Holloway at International Fight Week before presumably making one more appearance under contract between January and June 2027.Read more:Conor McGregor names the punch that could end Max Holloway’s night at UFC 329Ilia Topuria’s roadblock revealed: Dangerous lightweight opponent set before Islam Makhachev date!Shocking reaction: Sean Strickland claims to leave UFC as Jake Paul cracks the highest-paid list

Série D: 14 more clubs qualify for the second roundThe weekend round of Série D, the third-to-last of the group stage, qualified 14 more clubs for the knockout stage. There are now 21 teams in total with their place in the next phase of the competition secured. There are still two rounds left before the end of the opening stage.In all, 64 clubs will advance to the knockout stage. Before the 8th round began, only seven teams had already secured a spot in the next phase: Gama, Uberlândia, Capital, ABC, Iguatu, Ferroviário and Sergipe.Over the weekend, Manauara and Nacional (Group A1), Guaporé (Group A2), Goiatuba (Group A4), Trem and Águia de Marabá (Group A5), América-RN (Group A8), Treze and Sergipe (Group A9), CSA (Group A10), Portuguesa-SP (Group A13), XV de Piracicaba (Group A14), and Marcílio Dias and Blumenau (Group A16) secured qualification.For the first time, the 2026 Série D features 96 teams, a record for the competition. Divided into 16 groups of six, the four highest-scoring teams from each group advance to the next phase.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

US player Marcelo Balboa is fouled by Brazilian Mazinho (R) during their World Cup match at Stanford stadium in San Francisco on July 4, 1994. Brazil win the Round of 16 match 1-0. The 15th FIFA World Cup took place in 1994. The United States hosted the event, which was held at nine locations nationwide from June 17 to July 17, 1994. Despite soccer's relative lack of popularity in the host country, the United States was selected, and the competition was the most profitable in World Cup history. (Photo by Mike FIALA / AFP) (Photo by MIKE FIALA/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images MLB vs FIFA.To write a preview when you have not even one day between the previous series and the upcoming one, on a weekday, definitely adds to the time pressure. Luckily for me, the opponent for the next series is the San Francisco Giants. We saw them just a couple of days ago. That, in general, is no fun for a series preview, even less for a weekday series, but it definitely gives me a bit of stress relief: we saw them a couple of days ago, so there is no news there, and no one is going to read this preview anyhow, given the opponent and the weekday schedule.So, with your approval, I will keep this series preview short.I was a bit surprised to see that San Francisco will host some soccer World Cup matches this summer, but it makes all sense, of course, because it is a major city. My memories of the 1994 World Cup, that was organised in the USA, is limited to watching a weird shirt of Germany, seeing a country like Bolivia play, first time I saw the US soccer team and Alexi Lalas and getting up in the middle of the night to see The Netherlands struggle in their group, for example against Saudi Arabia. It wasn’t the best of performances of the Dutch, but the quarter finals against Brazil were a terrific match, with an, in The Netherlands, legendary commentary when we scored the equalizer after being down 2-0, but we lost anyhow. I still hate Bebeto and his swinging arms. Brazil had eliminated a fiery fighting US the round before. I am sure you join me in my everlasting hatred.San Francisco got to see Brazil in 1994 four times, because they were the group head and had their fixed seat in the group phase in San Francisco. I did not remember that. This year, though, I am inclined to say that the Bay Area has not been spoiled with matches: Paraguay (twice), Qatar, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Algeria, Australia and Jordan (twice) will play a match at the 49ers stadium. Cheapest tickets can be bought from 200$ and up. Holy crap, that is a lot of money for watching some second/third category teams. I am sure most people in San Francisco prefer to see Major League Baseball and why not the Arizona Diamondbacks. After being tarred and feathered on their way out of Arizona, the San Francisco Giants received the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox are surprisingly playing around .500 this season and was therefore not a guaranteed redemption effort for the struggling Giants, but they came out on top. On Friday evening the Giants had a catastrophic 4th inning and were then down 9-0, losing the match eventually with 9-4. On Saturday a 5th inning grand slam from Harrison Bader propelled the Giants to a 10-3 win. On Sunday it was Rafael Devers doing the same in the 5th inning and he launched the Giants to another win, 8-5.Those 22 runs in 3 games might do wonders for that struggling offence. It certainly has boosted their confidence, so the Arizona pitching corps better be warned.Matchups.Game #1 Mon 05/25 2:05 PM MST, Merrill Kelly (ARI) vs Landen Roupp (SFG).Merrill Kelly. 7 GS, 41.0 IP, 4 W-3 L, 5.71 ERA, 5.62 FIP, 1.51 WHIP, 27/18 K/BB. $18,000,000.Landen Roupp. 10 GS, 55.0 IP, 5 W-4 L, 3.27 ERA, 2.59 FIP, 1.15 WHIP, 61/21 K/BB. $800,000.Oh, in the end I do feel time pressure on me because why on earth are they playing the Monday game at 2PM???? Said Imstillhungry95 in his preview: Loupp has had a pretty decent season thus far. Through his first six starts in April, he only gave up more than three runs once. It was a seven run beat down against the Mets in his second start of the season. He had settled down fairly well, though, until the end of the month. Since the calendar has turned to May, he’s pitched three times, and he’s given up four runs twice. This could be a situation of catching a pitcher at the right time.Well, Roupp went strong against the Diamondbacks and pitched 6 innings, giving up just 1 run. Unfortunately for him, so did Ryne Nelson go strong in that game and it came down to moments. In this case it was Ketel Marte who decided that Arizona was going to win.Merrill went strong as well in his game against the Giants, giving up 3 runs in 6 innings, but enough for the win, and the sweep.Game #2 Tue 05/26 6:45 PM MST, Eduardo Rodriguez (ARI) vs Tyler Mahle (SFG).Eduardo Rodriguez. 10 GS, 60.1 IP, 4 W-1 L, 2.24 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 1.19 WHIP, 43/23 K/BB. $21,000,000.Tyler Mahle. 10 GS, 51.2 IP, 1 W-6 L, 6.10 ERA, 4.73 FIP, 1.57 WHIP, 54/21 K/BB. $10,000,000.Said Imstillhungry95 in his preview: That’s a stat line for Mahle that looks like it would fit right in with the Diamondbacks pitching staff. It’s been very much a coin flip for Mahle and the Giants as to what sort of performance he is going to put up. He’s started nine times. Three times, he has held his opponent scoreless. Once he gave up two runs. The other five starts? He’s given up five runs or more. Combine this with an offense that sporadically likes to beat up on pitchers, this could be a very beneficial matchup for the Diamondbacks.Well, Mahle definitely tried but he gave up 6 runs in 5 innings in that matchup against Merrill Kelly, and was tagged with a loss. Said Tyler Mahle after the game: “It’s a bad one, I mean, five innings, six runs is never considered a good start. I don’t think anything was off, just made some bad pitches in some key situations and they capitalized on it. I’ve not given us a chance to win every day [I start]. So that really doesn’t help our record at all.”Except for a couple of hiccups, E-Rod has been very good so far this season (knocking on every piece of wood I can find at my home). His latest performance was 7 strong innings at Coors Field, allowing 4 hits and a walk, without any damage. As a Diamondback, Eduardo Rodriguez has faced the Giants 4 times and got 1 win. That was last season, in September. 14 runs in 20 innings isn’t a great overall performance against San Francisco since wearing Sedona Red, so time to make a statement.Game #3 Mon 05/27 12:45 PM MST, Michael Soroka (ARI) vs Trevor McDonald (SFG).Michael Soroka. 10 GS, 55.0 IP, 6 W-2 L, 3.27 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 1.26 WHIP, 57/14 K/BB. $7,000,000.Trevor McDonald. 4 GS, 22.2 IP, 2 W-1 L, 4.76 ERA, 3.43 FIP, 1.02 WHIP, 21/4 K/BB. $596,453.Unfortunately the Diamondbacks couldn’t get Soroka a win despite going 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run. That was already the third time where you’d say the Canadian should have gotten a win. Soroka has seen the Giants just 3 times in his career as a starting pitcher, the last time last year, when he gave up 3 runs in 6 innings and got the loss, as a Washington National.Trevor McDonald was called up to the major leagues about a month ago after Logan Webb hit the IL. Webb is on his way back though and the biggest question is whether McDonald will stick in the rotation. He did well against Padres, Dodgers and Athletics, but his first non-West coast team knocked him around pretty hard: the White Sox scored 4 runs on him, after hitting two batters and issueing a walk, an anormality for a pitcher who can be proud of his command and control. McDonald was off and not helped by some defensive errors and Borucki allowing two inherited runners to score. Unless Webb makes a surprisingly fast comeback to the majors, it could be McDonald’s final outing in the rotation at the moment, though he has pitched better than his ERA might show.

Colorado football landed two class of 2027 commitments Sunday afternoon, with one coming from four-star offensive tackle Li'Marcus Jones and the other from cornerback Prince Washington.Washington becomes the eighth commitment in the Buffaloes 2027 class and the fifth in the past week. The Houston native becomes the fourth defensive back in the class and the fifth defensive player.Ten schools had offers out to Washington, with the finalists being Colorado, Houston and North Texas. Deion Sanders and the Buffs beat out the in-state programs for Washington's commitment.Washington is unranked by both Rivals and 247Sports, making him more of a depth piece for Colorado. Although less heralded, Washington is a rising recruit who will likely become a ranked prospect before signing day later this year.Colorado's 2027 recruiting class continues to fly up the conference and national rankings, with the Buffaloes now up to eight total commitments.Boulder i’m coming🏠!! pic.twitter.com/0nXletQoXz— Prince Washington (@PrinceWashh) May 25, 2026Follow Charlie Strella on X, Threads and Instagram.Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Colorado football 2027 CB Prince Washington commitment

🎥 Crespi's Puskás stunner, Ascoli thrash Catania: Serie C highlights 🔥Yesterday, the Serie C playoff semifinals took place: here are the highlights of the two matches played.ASCOLI-CATANIA 4-0Ascoli swept Catania aside at the Del Duca and put one foot firmly in the playoff final. The bianconeri broke the deadlock through Corradini before halftime, then ran riot in the second half with goals from Guiebre, Gori, and Milanese. A night to forget for Catania, never really in the game and now needing an almost impossible feat in the return leg. From the next round on, ranking no longer matters: if the teams are level after 180 minutes, it goes to extra time and penalties. SALERNITANA-BRESCIA 1-1At the Arechi, it ended all square between Salernitana and Brescia. The Campania side went ahead early in the second half through De Boer, but were pegged back in stoppage time by a spectacular overhead kick from Crespi, one of the best players on the pitch. The draw leaves everything open ahead of the return leg: Brescia can also rue a shot off the post and two disallowed goals, while Salernitana stay alive thanks to a massive moment of skill late on. An impressive setting: more than 26,000 spectators at the Arechi. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

NBA insider Marc Stein revealed Monday that three teams are said to have "legitimate interest" in trading for Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, one of those being the Houston Rockets. Brown was just named to the All-NBA Second Team Sunday night after posting 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists and one steal.With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the majority of the year, Brown took off, leading Boston to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and finishing sixth in MVP voting. Scheduled to make over $183 million in the next three seasons, Brown would become a likely trade target if the Celtics found his salary paired with Tatum's to be too steep. Houston's interest isn't at all surprising, given Brown's ties to Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, a former Celtics head coach.The other teams interested that Stein listed were the Portland Trail Blazers and the Atlanta Hawks. A Georgia native, Brown has never ruled out suiting up for his hometown team. Either way, before the Rockets, Hawks and Blazers can acquire him, Boston will need to make a decision on trading their 10-year Celtic.This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Houston Rockets said to have 'legitimate interest' in Jaylen Brown

Humble (Texas) Summer Creek four-star wide receiver Benny Easter Jr. has been committed to Texas Tech since Nov. 20 but he continues to give other programs a look ahead of his senior season. Ohio State has remained in the picture for the 6-foot, 200-pounder and he was in Columbus last month for a spring visit. It won’t be his last trip to the Buckeye State, either. Earlier this month, Rivals’ Sam Spiegelman reported that Easter would take an official visit to Ohio State this weekend. Easter confirmed that trip is still a go on Monday via social media:SEE YOU SOON….@OhioStateFB@Coach_Hankton@ryandaytime@OhioStAthletics@SRBuckeyes@CoachJordan82@joeyrkaufman@BillLandis25#AG2Gpic.twitter.com/zxkSFPzDfN— 4 Benny Easter jr (@BennyEaste12886) May 25, 2026[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]“They are very active as well and came to see us this spring,” Benny Easter Sr. recently told Spiegelman about OSU. “Also, the city was amazing, and they know what it takes to get guys to the NFL.”LSU has already had Easter Jr. in for an official visit. After Ohio State, Ole Miss is set to get him over to Oxford for an OV. Texas has kept tabs, too. Texas Tech is currently set to get the last official as it works to fend everyone else off. Easter Sr. told Spiegelman that his son remains “excited about the whole process,” but Texas Tech has his commitment for a reason and the Big 12 program remains in front. Ohio State will try and chip away this weekend, though.Despite the departure of vaunted receivers coach Brian Hartline, the Buckeyes won’t stop recruiting top talent at the position. They continue to hold a pledge from five-star WR Jamier Brown and would love to add someone like Easter Jr. to the fold.It’s Texas Tech that checks in at No. 3 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings, though. Ohio State sits at No. 7, as of May 25. Easter is the No. 38 overall prospect and No. 7 WR in the 2027 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 5 player in the Lone Star State.“Everything is going well with Tech and with what they’re building,” Easter told Rivals in March. “They made it to the Playoff this year and came up short. We’ve got a lot of firepower coming in my class and the class coming in this year, and the program coming up. They’re ready to compete with anybody and everybody.”Scouting Benny Easter Jr.Rivals National Scout Cody Bellaire wrote this about Easter Jr. as a prospect earlier this month:“Multi-level playmaker who can stretch the field vertically and move the sticks consistently with his pass-catching prowess. Strongly built body type with great proportions and length. Stands in at 6-foot, 200 pounds with a nearly 6-foot-5 wingspan. Needs a bit of a runway in order to hit top-end speed, but has the long speed to run by most defenders. Clocked a 22.15 200m dash during his sophomore track and field season. Excellent understanding of leverage in order to box out defenders and attack the football. Strong hands that come down with the majority of 50-50 balls due to high point ability and frame utilization. Has yards-after-catch ability due to play strength and impressive wiggle. Need to see him continue to improve acceleration and precision out of breaks at the top of his routes, but he is a plug-and-play number one option at the next level.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers are honoring Mexican culture and traditions on Tuesday in the middle stint of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.Mexican Heritage Night, which is presented by Hornitos tequila, includes activities in Centerfield Plaza, exclusive food and drinks, and a jersey giveaway as part of a special ticket package. Click here to buy that package, and be sure to use code MH26.The Los Angeles Dodgers are celebrating Mexican Heritage Night on May 25, 2026, including a giveaway of a special-edition jersey. Credit: DodgersThe schedule for Centerfield Plaza is:5:10 p.m.: East LA native DJ Que Madre will play her mix of Mexican classics5:15 p.m.: The Mexican Standoff “will have music lovers of all genres dancing to their vibrant Mexamericana style,” which blends cumbia, mariachi and country influences5:40 p.m.: CMLL luchadores Máscara Dorada and Xelhua will be interviewed on stage6 p.m.: The five-piece band Kinky from Monterrey, Mexico, will “have fans grooving to electro-pop songs that pulse with the energy of live norteño and cumbia sounds”6:35 p.m.: Latin Grammy-nominated DJ Deorro “will have the plaza jumping with his fusion of EDM and musica Mexicana”On the field, Suemy G will sing the national anthem, activist and labor leader Delores Huerta will throw out the first pitch, and Máscara Dorada and Xelhua will kick off the game with “It’s time for Dodger baseball.”Food and drink options for Mexican Heritage NightSeveral locations in Dodger Stadium will have special items for sale:Huaraches (Field 47, Reserve 4)A 14-inch chile relleno burrito (Field 10, Reserve 12)Plato de alambres (Reserve 17, Right Field Plaza) A strawberry jalapeno margarita with a tajin rimView this post on InstagramA post shared by Noel Sanchez (@noisebynoel)When is the game?The matchup with the Colorado Rockies is set for a 7:10 p.m. PT first pitch.May 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Eric Lauer (56) throws a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the fifth inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn ImagesThe newly acquired Eric Lauer will get his first start in Dodger Blue, and the Rockies will start Kyle Freeland.Both pitchers have a 1-5 record on the season and ERAs close to 7.00.Freeland’s is 7.04, while Lauer’s is 6.69.How do you think Eric Lauer will perform on the mound for the Boys in Blue?

NEW DELHI: The winner of Qualifier 1 - be it defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru or Gujarat Titans - will directly book a place in the IPL 2026 final. The summit clash will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. During the pre-Qualifier 1 press conference, RCB captain Rajat Patidar was asked about the defending champions potentially missing out on playing the final at their home ground, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, if they qualify for the title clash.The BCCI shifted the IPL 2026 final to Ahmedabad citing operational reasons."It's not in my control. I think BCCI has to decide where the final is going to be. This is a historic site, so wherever the final is going to be, that's where it is going to be. We are focused on reaching the final," Patidar told reporters.RCB will carry the confidence of defending champions into Qualifier 1 when they take on Gujarat Titans at the scenic HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday.The winner will advance directly to the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday, while the losing side will get another opportunity through Qualifier 2. The loser of Qualifier 1 will face the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.Both RCB and GT finished the league stage on 18 points from 14 matches, with RCB securing the top spot because of a superior net run rate after a consistently strong campaign.Patidar also admitted that bowlers are finding it increasingly difficult to survive in an IPL season dominated by 200-plus totals. The RCB skipper acknowledged that even scores of 220-250 are no longer safe and said the conditions have made life tougher, especially for pacers."I feel it is more challenging for the bowlers. The wickets are batting friendly, boundaries are smaller and there is dew as well. Especially for fast bowlers, even a small mistake goes for six," Patidar said during the pre-match media interaction."But whatever wicket or conditions we get, we just try to do our best on that. It is not in my hands to decide how the wickets should be," he added."Both teams have done pretty well throughout the season. On the given day, whichever team executes its plans better and stays calm under pressure, is going to win," he said.SQUADS:Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Rajat Patidar (captain), Virat Kohli, Tim David, Jacob Bethell, Romario Shepherd, Josh Hazlewood, Nuwan Thushara, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Krunal Pandya, Rasikh Dar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jordan Cox, Suyash Sharma, Venkatesh lyer, Swapnil Singh, Jacob Duffy, Kanishk Chouhan, Abhinandan Singh, Mangesh Yadav, Phil Salt, Satvik Deswal, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra.Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Kumar Kushagra, Glenn Phillips, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Luke Wood, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gurnoor Brar, M Shahrukh Khan 131312717

Florida State football didn't have a good 2025 season, but freshman defensive lineman Mandrell Desir displayed that he was ready for the collegiate stage right from the jump. By season's end, he was one of the Seminoles' most important defenders.He ended up garnering several accolades, and he was recently named one of the top 100 players by On3 heading into the upcoming season. Brad Crawford of CBS Sports feels he'll continue to be a menace in 2026 as he named him one of the sophomores who could affect how things play out in the College Football Playoff.This is the more productive of the Desir twins up front for the Seminoles after he recorded 30 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks last season as a freshman before earning All-ACC Honorable Mention and ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up accolades. Desir's sack total was the third-most in program history for a first-year player, and he ended the campaign with at least 0.5 sacks in five consecutive games. Like his brother, Darryll, Mandrell Desir played in every game, starting twice. Florida State retaining the Desir family on its 2026 roster was imperative to its defensive rebuild.The improvement FSU saw defensively last season in the first year under defensive coordinator Tony White can be attributed in large part to Desir and his ability to cause disruption as a pass rusher and a run defender. If Florida State is to turn things around and make its first bowl game in three years, Desir will have to be a major factor once again.Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscienceThis article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: Mandrell Desir named sophomore standout by CBS Sports

One of the nation's top quarterbacks in the 2028 recruiting class, five-star Cass Technical sophomore Donald Tabron II, has added the University of Washington to his offer list that spans over three dozen programs.The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Detroit, Michigan native announced his 37th scholarship opportunity from the Big Ten program on X (formerly Twitter). Over the past two months, the No. 3-ranked quarterback in next year's class has added Ohio State, LSU, and Vanderbilt to his list of schools—effectively every major Power Four program in college football.Tabron II is the quintessential five-star signal-caller with a 23-1 record as the starter for Cass Tech, back-to-back Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state championship appearances, with 4,502 passing yards, and 52 touchdown passes to his name, and two years left to cement his status in the Great Lakes State record books.What differentiates the five-star and No. 30-ranked prospect, per 247Sports' Composite ranking, is that while Tabron II does possess dual-threat ability as a capable runner, the offense he plays in doesn't offer as many opportunities for him to show how dynamic he can be.Blessed to receive my 37th offer from The University of Washington. #Huskies#DonDotta🎯 #CTFB#GreatDay@Detroit_CTFB@CoachRush_CTFB@ArcStrokeQB@QuarterbackUniv@UW_Footballpic.twitter.com/2sVVXrwXGy— Donald Tabron II (@donaldtabronII) May 20, 2026UW has already offered over a dozen quarterbacks in the 2028 class from eight different states, which includes four-star Titus Huard out of Valor Christian (Littleton, Colo.) and three-star Knox Kiffin in Louisiana, among the sophomores to earn an offer from Jedd Fisch's staff.The Huskies have five quarterbacks on the roster for this coming season, and four-star Blake Roskopf secured in the 2027 class, with none of the current players on the roster scheduled to graduate after the 2026 season.The impending log-jam will surely be suited out by at least one if not two quarterbacks entering the transfer portal after this season, with or without the return or departure of junior starter Demond Williams Jr. Fisch noted that with the change to the five-for-five rule that the Arizona dual-threat quarterback could play two more years for UW, a bit of a twist to what was expected to be at most likely this season and potentially his senior year, depending on what transpires this fall.With that in mind, it's still a wise decision for UW to enter the race for the coveted five-star quarterback now, given that when he does arrive on whatever college campus he ends up at two-plus years from now, he's got the tools to be a day-one starter.This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington Huskies extend offer to five-star 2028 Michigan QB

Credit: The Enhanced GamesEmmanuel Acho thinks the Enhanced Games were a win for everyone.The Enhanced Games held their inaugural competition in Las Vegas over the weekend, billing themselves as the first event to permit athletes to take as many performance-enhancing drugs as they wanted in pursuit of world records. Of the 42 athletes competing across swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting, only one non-enhanced mark was broken: swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev touched the wall in 20.81 seconds in the 50-meter freestyle, edging Cameron McEvoy’s record by seven one-hundredths of a second and collecting a $1 million bonus. In the headliner, Fred Kerley — who predicted before the competition that Usain Bolt’s 9.58-second record would be “destroyed” — ran a 9.97.Acho, who served as co-lead studio anchor alongside Jennifer Stehlin, took to social media on Memorial Day to push back on the criticism of the games, which saw several events won by athletes who were not using performance-enhancing drugs, competing against those who were.Seeing a lot of chatter about the Enhanced Games, and here’s the truth:Both sides of the moral aisle should feel better today, having witnessed the Games, than they did yesterday.The Enhanced Games proved that drugs don’t work unless the athletes do the work. Some athletes didn’t come close to their personal bests. This isn’t because the drugs don’t work, but rather because drugs can only do so much in a two-month time span. Especially for an athlete that’s been retired or hasn’t worked out in 18-36 months… The drugs didn’t make them “slower,” the untrained diet without a professional workout or Olympic lift for years, did.This is incredible news for the sport purists: nothing beats hard work and elite talent. Hence why Hunter Armstrong, a non-enhanced athlete, still dominated his field. Drugs or not, he’s simply better. The same goes for Fred Kerley.Now, for those eager to see how far human potential can really go, the Enhanced Games put that on full display. There were 14 personal bests and 42 athletes, several of whom delivered performances that sparked conversations about what’s possible.Also, let’s put some more respect on *World Records.* 2 months of drug use likely won’t make you greater than anyone that has ever lived, unless you were already close.I’ll leave you with this, each of these athletes finally got the attention, care, and compensation they deserve. Over 7 million dollars were paid out to 42 athletes. $166K on average. Love or hate the Enhanced Games, they challenged societal norms, and the growth of humanity is dependent upon that challenge.Seeing a lot of chatter about the Enhanced Games, and here’s the truth:Both sides of the moral aisle should feel better today, having witnessed the Games, than they did yesterday.The Enhanced Games proved that drugs don’t work unless the athletes do the work. Some athletes… https://t.co/RrIuyojtTd— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) May 25, 2026What Acho failed to reckon with is that the Enhanced Games never secured a broadcast deal and streamed free on Roku, YouTube, and Twitch. The Enhanced Games never secured a broadcast deal and streamed free on Roku, YouTube — which saw 800,000 live stream views — and Twitch. Outside of Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, known to most as The Mountain from Game of Thrones, there was little star power to speak of.Acho signed on for this in April alongside Fox Sports play-by-play man Justin Kutcher, venture capitalist Bryan Johnson, swimming expert Kurt Mills Hanson, NFL analyst Isaiah Stanback, and a broadcast crew assembled around an event that international sporting organizations, athletes, and scientists had spent two years objecting to on health and ethical grounds. He hosted it, he defended it, and he is entitled to do both. But the Enhanced Games positioned themselves as a referendum on human potential, spent two years building toward a weekend in Las Vegas, and produced one world record in the final event.The post Emmanuel Acho defends Enhanced Games after underwhelming debut appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Jodi Jones has triumphed twice at Wembley with Notts County, featuring in the National League promotion final in 2023 and now starring in the League Two play-off final [Getty Images]"It was an outstanding performance. He really did have his moment.""Jodi Jones, what a performance."When it came to man-of-the-match candidates in the League Two play-off final between Notts County and Salford City, there was only one winner for Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth and Bromley counterpart Andy Woodman.Jones stole the show with a virtuoso display at Wembley, playing a part in Notts' two first-half goals before adding the promotion-sealing third in a 3-0 victory.A player who once went more than five years without starting a league game during the darkness of an injury-plagued past, Jones has now helped Notts to two promotions in four seasons.The 28-year-old winger revealed he is back to enjoying his football on a stage he can shine on."I'm over the moon," Jones told BBC Sport, as he revealed an incredible prediction that his first club, Arsenal, former club Coventry and current side Notts County would all enjoy glory this season."I buzz off moments like this where I know I can express myself on a fantastic pitch like this."I'd like to say I'm a big game player and I thrive off opportunities where I can step up and be that brave person that tries to create for our team, score goals and get assists."Today was something else, one of the best days in my footballing career."Jodi Jones' goal to complete the 3-0 win against Salford was his 10th goal of the season for Notts [Getty Images]From 'down and out' to up and in League OneThree anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) knee operations meant Jones was sidelined for a total of 897 days during a spell at Coventry, which meant missing 130 games, between November 2017 and August 2021.He went more than five years between starting league matches, from the day he was first hurt playing for the Sky Blues in League Two, to featuring for Notts County in the National League after being sent out on loan by Oxford United in January 2023.Jones said he spent 1,900-odd days dreaming about having days like Monday, and admitted, while holding the play-off final trophy: "You're making me a bit emotional. "Tough times, I can only thank my family and Coventry for sticking by me and giving me contract after contract when I could have been down and out."They helped me, they stuck by me, whether they thought I would play for them again or not, they thought it was right to help me and give me another contract."I can never ever forget about Coventry, a fantastic club, who I now support, and I am buzzing that they went up this season too."Those days were hard. My family really stuck by me, and the fans. I am back playing football and enjoying myself, that's the main thing."Notts County thrash Salford to win promotion to League OneWe've let people down - Salford boss RobinsonNotts County on BBC SoundsJones' performance wrote another chapter in his Wembley story, which started when he helped Coventry win the EFL Trophy in 2017 and being on their books when they won the League Two play-offs in 2018. His previous visit for Notts involved him scoring a penalty in the National League promotion final shootout against Chesterfield in 2023.He followed that up by representing Malta as a substitute against England in November 2023 before going on to be named League Two player of the year in 2024 after breaking a record shared by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne with 24 assists."I'd like to think there's another chapter at Wembley coming for me," said Jones. "I haven't lost with a club. I'd like to think Wembley is a good place for me."County's promotion was their 14th in EFL history, one short of the all-time record held by Grimsby Town, and Jones says there is no reason why they cannot be optimistic about the future."My godfather said to me when I went to Notts, 'I really believe you can do something similar to what you did at Coventry and go up the leagues. Notts seem like the sort of club who would do something like that, they are a massive club'," said Jones."It wasn't that long ago that I was a Coventry City player and we got promoted against Notts in the play-offs. I hope they have forgiven me for that."Who knows where we can go. We are a fantastic club and I'm sure we'll attract a lot of talent who will want to come and join us."As for it being a third major success among his significant clubs, Jones said he spoke about Arsenal, Coventry and Notts County having fruitful campaigns in a family group chat at the start of the season, saying it "would be amazing"."And it's happened, fantastic."Notts County were promoted via the play-off after finishing fifth in the table [Getty Images]'Magician' Jones comes back to haunt RobinsonMagpies boss Martin Paterson was glowing in his praise of Jones' display - but he also highlighted the work of others within the team for helping the wide man sparkle."He has just got that individual quality, hasn't he, with goals, nutmegs," Paterson told BBC Sport. "He is a magician and flair player."I hope he enjoys the man-of-the-match performance, and enjoys it with his family and team-mates, because what people don't see is the work that others do for him to shine."That is just as important to me – Rod McDonald, Oliver Norburn, Scott Robertson, Nick Tsaroulla, I could go on with AJ [Alassana Jatta] running, defending, scoring goals. It's a team effort and I don't want to single anyone out."From the hard work and framework of a team comes individuals and freedom. And that is what individuals did today - they seized their moments off the backbone of hard work."Salford boss Karl Robinson was in charge of Oxford when Jones was allowed to join Notts on loan in January 2023 and added: "Jodi Jones played for me and I pushed him to Notts County as well, that is the disappointing thing for me."We let him get into the game and once Jodi Jones gets into the game he flows and it's hard to play against him because you give him the confidence to do that."I just felt we gave him the space to find that pass for that first goal."

Aleksandar Rakic has lost four straight UFC outings. | Getty/UFCAleksandar Rakic is officially headed to the big man’s division. The former light heavyweight contender will square off against Marcin Tybura at UFC Belgrade, the Las Vegas-based promotion announced on Monday. UFC Belgrade takes place on Aug. 1 at Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, and is headlined by a welteweight showdown between Uros Medic and Daniel Rodriguez. A middleweight tilt pitting Dusko Todorovic against Robert Valentin was also confirmed for the card.Time for a Change Rakic, 34, has lost his last four Octagon appearances at 205 pounds. In his lone appearance of 2025, “Rocket” suffered a first-round TKO defeat to Azamat Murzakanov at UFC 321 this past October. The Austrian fighter won six of his first seven outings to emerge as a contender in the light heavyweight division before his current skid, which also includes setbacks to Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka and Magomed Ankalaev. A former M-1 Global title holder, Tybura is 15-10 over the course of a UFC tenure that began in 2015. The 40-year-old Pole is coming off back-to-back losses against Ante Delija and Tyrell Fortune. His ledger includes triumphs over the likes of Andrei Arlovski, Stefan Struve, Serghei Spivac, Ben Rothwell and Tai Tuivasa, among others.IDEMO 🇷🇸 👊 Your #UFCBelgrade card is shaping up nicely! 🇷🇸 @Rakic_UFC vs @MarcinTybura 🇵🇱 🇷🇸 @Todorovic_UFC vs Robert Valentin🇨🇭 pic.twitter.com/afKqw917aJ— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 25, 2026

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Charlie Batch believes Aaron Rodgers could deliver an even stronger season in 2026 after the quarterback reunited with NFL coach Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh.Rodgers officially returned to the Steelers on a one-year deal worth up to $25 million, confirming the 2026 season will be the final year of his NFL career. The move reunites Rodgers with McCarthy, the coach he spent 13 seasons with in Green Bay while winning a Super Bowl and four MVP awards.Speaking recently with TMZ Sports, Batch said many people overlooked how productive Rodgers actually was during the 2025 season.“People forget that,” Batch said. “And, of course, I understand around Steelers Nation, they look at the end result, which was the loss in the playoffs to the Texans. And he didn’t play his best game at that particular point. But when you look at overall for the season that he had, it far exceeded anything else that anybody expected around Steelers Nation. That’s why they wanted to run it back with him.”Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks to throw at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn ImagesRodgers helped Pittsburgh finish 10-7 and capture the AFC North title despite operating in a run-heavy system. The veteran quarterback threw for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and a 94.8 passer rating across 16 starts.MORE: Malik Nabers’ knee rehab becoming major concern for GiantsAaron Rodgers & Mike McCarthy reunion changes everythingBatch pointed directly to McCarthy’s arrival as the biggest reason he expects Rodgers to improve in 2026.“I think the biggest thing for me, even though you have the additions at the wide receiver group, it’s the offense that is going to be completely different than what he had last year in Arthur Smith’s system,” Batch said.“Him and Mike McCarthy, they’ve been together for 18 years. He understands this system. So even though he has not been in the offseason program up until this point, he is so far ahead of everybody else because he essentially has a PhD in this offense, something that he’s been able to have four league MVPs.”That familiarity matters for a Steelers offense that struggled under pressure last season. Rodgers absorbed 29 sacks during the regular season and four more in Pittsburgh’s ugly 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans.Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) looks on in a game against the Houston Texans.The Steelers responded aggressively this offseason by rebuilding the offensive structure around Rodgers. Pittsburgh added wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to pair with DK Metcalf, giving Rodgers a far more balanced receiving group than he had in 2025.Batch believes those additions, combined with McCarthy’s offensive approach, could unlock a more efficient passing attack.“The Steelers did a really nice job of retooling that offensive side of the ball, getting him some weapons that he didn’t have last year,” Batch said. “I fully expect him to have a better season this year than he did last year.”MORE: Fernando Mendoza frustrated after being forced to miss practiceSo, Pittsburgh’s strategy is clear. The Steelers are pushing aggressively for one final championship run instead of beginning a rebuild.

The phone call quickly became a FaceTime.The image? A beaming Deontavis Cooper accepting the recruiting pitch from Tulane's football program.That’s what Tulane assistant coach Kanan Ray is remembering Monday, May 25, less than 48 hours after Cooper’s death in a single-vehicle automobile accident. He was killed and two others were critically injured in a late-night crash Saturday.Per the Tallahassee Democrat, part of the USA TODAY Network, the single-vehicle crash happened around 10:55 p.m. when his sedan traveling southbound veered onto the western shoulder, struck a culvert and became airborne. The vehicle then hit a utility pole and overturned before coming to rest on the shoulder.Cooper, an offensive lineman, signed as part of the Green Wave's 2026 recruiting class under first-year coach Will Hall.“I just remember watching his tape, the way he played and his passion for game just immediately jumped out on tape,” Ray, himself a former offensive lineman at Colorado and Tulane, told USA TODAY Sports. “I called ‘Coop,’ and we actually immediately got on FaceTime.“He had this huge smile on his face. We offered him, built the relationship; it’s actually the closest I’ve ever been with a recruit throughout the whole process. He just loved the game of football and was an infectious personality to be around. Lit up any room he walked into.”Cooper, 6-3 and 295 pounds, graduated from Thomas County (Georgia) Central High School on Saturday, May 23, and was headed to a post-graduation event when the accident occurred, Ray said.Cooper had been scheduled to report for summer school and football workouts at the New Orleans-based university Sunday, May 24.He is survived by his mother, Sheila Daniels, and sister, De’Asia Daniels, as well as his younger cousin, Adrianna Mack, whom Cooper called his “little sister” after she lived with the family following the death of her mother.“De’Asia is getting her Ph.D. here at Loyola University, basically right beside our campus,” says Ray. “They grew to be like family, and I sat in that living room multiple times.“The whole entire school loved him, teachers loved him. He had a smile and attitude that was contagious, and he really poured into that program at Thomas Country Central.”Ray believes a snapshot of Cooper’s character is illustrated in the 2025 Georgia Class 5A State Championship.After missing practice all week due to illness and not even being able to participate in pre-game warmups, Cooper’s there on the game video — starting along the offensive line, helping his Thomas County Central squad set a Georgia championship-game rushing record and winning the 5A title.“’Coop’ had the flu real bad, had IVs, didn’t come out for warmups,” Ray said. “He played the game, they beat Gainesville and broke Georgia’s state high school (title game) rushing record.“He was just the ultimate competitor with a really bright future who had just gotten into a top-40 school in the country.”Tulane officials also marked his passing in a lengthy statement:"As an incoming member of the Green Wave, Deontavis exemplified dedication, resilience, and a positive outlook," the college in New Orleans wrote. "His love for the game and his unwavering work ethic showed in everything he did, and he was on the path to making a significant impact both on the field and within the community."Deontavis was admired not only for his athletic ability but also for his kindness and genuine spirit. His bright personality and warm heart touched many, and his absence leaves a profound void in our hearts. In honoring Deontavis, let us remember him for his extraordinary spirit, his kindness, and the joy he brought to those around him."Tallahassee Democrat reporter William L. Hatfield contributed to this story.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Days before joining Tulane, Deontavis Cooper dies in car crash

Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes got off to a slow start in the 2027 class, but Colorado is picking up steam quickly heading into the summer. The Buffs landed their sixth commitment in the past six days on Monday, beating out Illinois, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest to land four-star wide receiver Jaiden Kelly-Murray. The former South Carolina commit came back on the market earlier this spring, and CU’s staff pounced. They were relentless in their pursuit, which paid off with a big-time addition on Memorial Day Weekend.“Ever since they offered me, they always been on me heavy,” Kelly-Murray told Rivals’ Chad Simmons. “The communication made a big difference. It wasn’t like every week, but like every 10 minutes, they were hitting me up. We would be on the phone, then 10 minutes later, they would text me, and that was every day.”As a junior at Summerville (S.C.) in 2025, Kelly-Murray totaled 72 receptions for 1,072 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. He also added two interceptions and 10-plus tackles on the defensive side.The 5-foot-10, 170-pounder is the No. 317 overall prospect and No. 47 wide receiver in the class, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all three major recruiting services.Rivals, however, is much higher on him than ESPN and 247Sports. In the most recent Rivals300 rankings update, he was tabbed as the nation’s No. 193 prospect and No. 30 wideout. Another blue chip-addition for Coach Prime and the BuffaloesNot only is Kelly-Murray the sixth commitment over the span of a week, but he is also the third blue-chip commitment in that same time frame. Four-star safety Gabe Jenkins kicked things off Wednesday, choosing CU over in-state programs Penn State and Pittsburgh in a bit of a shocker. Jenkins was committed to Penn State before the coaching change from James Franklin to Matt Campbell last fall.“Coach Rich from Penn State, he went over there to Colorado, and I got connected with him,” Jenkins told Simmons. “He just put me on the staff, and that is where things started with Colorado.”Four days later, CU won out for massive offensive tackle Li’Marcus Jones out of Brentwood Academy (Tenn.) and secured Kelly-Murray’s commitment less than 24 hours later. With both of them in the fold, the Buffs now have the the No. 2 class in the Big 12 this cycle, behind only Texas Tech.

Sarv Dharavane, 11, of Tucker, Ga., reacts after spelling his word correctly in the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)2026-05-25T18:55:03Z WASHINGTON (AP) — The best young spellers in the English language are competing at the Scripps National Spelling Bee this week, continuing a more than century-old tradition. The three-day competition begins Tuesday and concludes Thursday night.The first bee was held in 1925, when the Louisville Courier-Journal invited other newspapers to host spelling bees and send their champions to Washington. After a long run at a convention center in suburban Maryland, the bee returns to the nation’s capital this year at Constitution Hall, a few blocks from the White House.Another change for this year: ESPN NFL analyst and recent “Celebrity Jeopardy!” champion Mina Kimes has joined the bee as its television host.This is the 98th bee; it was canceled from 1943 to 1945 because of World War II and again in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s champion will be the 111th, because the bee ended in a two-way tie several times and an eight-way tie in 2019.Thirty of the past 36 champions have been of Indian heritage, including last year’s winner, Faizan Zaki. How can I watch the Scripps National Spelling Bee?The bee is broadcast and streamed on channels and platforms owned by Scripps, a Cincinnati-based media company.On Tuesday, preliminary rounds will stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT.Wednesday’s quarterfinals will stream on Scripps Sports Network and spellingbee.com from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and semifinals can be watched on those platforms from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tape-delayed semifinals broadcast on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.Finals will broadcast Thursday on ION from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The semifinals and finals will also air or be streamed on these Scripps-owned channels or services: ION Plus, Bounce, Grit, Laff, The Spot, Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, Laff More, Scripps News and Scripps Sports Network. What are the rules of the Scripps National Spelling Bee?Spellers qualify by advancing through regional bees hosted by sponsors around the country. In order to compete, spellers must not have advanced beyond the eighth grade or be older than 15.Contestants must get through two preliminary rounds, where they are quizzed on words from a list provided in advance. There is one spelling round and one multiple-choice vocabulary round.Those who make it through the preliminaries sit for a written spelling and vocabulary test, with the top 100 or so finishers advancing to the quarterfinals. The words for the test, and for all subsequent rounds, are taken from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary. Read More Throughout the quarterfinals and semifinals, spellers are eliminated at the microphone through oral spelling or vocabulary questions.About a dozen spellers advance to the finals. When only two remain, Scripps has the option to use a lightning-round tiebreaker known as a “spell-off” to determine the champion. Who is competing in the Scripps National Spelling Bee?This year’s bee has 247 spellers representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, three U.S. territories and five other countries: The Bahamas, Canada, Ghana, Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.The top returning finisher from 2025 is Sarv Dharavane of Dunwoody, Georgia, who finished third last year as an 11-year-old fifth-grader. Even if he falls short this year, he has two years of eligibility left.Other possible contenders:— Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Rancho Cucamonga, California, who finished third in 2024. He has dominated the bee circuit in the past year, winning the South Asian Spelling Bee, the SpellPundit National Spelling Bee and the Words of Wisdom Spelling Bee. — Oliver Halkett, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Los Angeles who finished in a tie for seventh last year.— Esha Marupudi, a 14-year-old eighth-grader from Chandler, Arizona, who also tied for seventh last year. What are the prizes for the Scripps National Spelling Bee champion?The winner receives a custom trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes. Here are the prize payouts:— First place: $52,500 in cash, reference works from Encyclopedia Britannica and Merriam-Webster, a custom trophy and commemorative medal, and $1,000 in flight credits from Delta Air Lines.— Second place: $25,000.— Third place: $15,000.— Fourth place: $10,000.— Fifth place: $5,000.— Sixth place: $2,500.— All other finalists: $2,000.___Ben Nuckols has covered the Scripps National Spelling Bee since 2012. Follow his work here. BEN NUCKOLS Nuckols is a sports writer and editor who covers football, basketball, baseball, golf and other sports. He has covered the National Spelling Bee since 2012. twitter mailto 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

What happened to Dylan Cease? Why Blue Jays ace is headed for IL originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Toronto Blue Jays are having a bit of a rough 2026 season, as they've gone 25-28 on the year. After a four-game winning streak had the vibes high, the Blue Jays got some tough news during a 4-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.Unfortunately, both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Dylan Cease left the Sunday game early, sparking injury concerns.One day later, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, the Blue Jays got some confirmed bad news on one of these players, with Cease being the one to hit the injured list due to an injury. But what exactly happened to Cease?Blue Jays to lose Dylan Cease to IL placement"News: Dylan Cease is going to be placed on the 15-day IL (left hamstring) #BlueJays," Matheson reported Monday afternoon.The veteran right-hander, who signed a huge $210 million contract over the offseason, is heading to the injured list due to this hamstring injury.Cease left in the middle of the fifth inning against the Pirates, posting a line of 4.2 innings pitched with four hits and two runs allowed while being handed the loss for Sunday's game.But the far bigger loss for the Blue Jays is that Cease, their right-hander who has a 3.05 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 11 starts this season, is headed for the injured list.MORE: Yankees’ Aaron Judge on track to become first player in MLB history with five 50+ homer seasonsAfter an MRI, Cease is landing on the IL with a left hamstring injury, leaving Toronto to a bleak rotation of Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, Patrick Corbin, and Spencer Miles.Cease, Shane Bieber, and Max Scherzer are all on the IL and could come back this season, while Cody Ponce and Jose Berrios are both done for the year.The injury issues for the Blue Jays' rotation have been a problem, and this Cease injury is only making things exceptionally worse.More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsRoman Anthony might’ve been overhyped for Red SoxDodgers still have a Roki Sasaki problemChase Burns becomes first Reds pitcher with elite stat line since 1922Phillies’ Aidan Miller finally beginning baseball activities amid back injury

CHICAGO (AP) — Munetaka Murakami homered, Anthony Kay pitched six sparkling innings and the Chicago White Sox stopped Minnesota's four-game win streak with a 3-1 victory over the Twins on Monday.Drew Romo also connected for Chicago in the opener of a seven-game homestand. Rikuu Nishida singled in the fourth for his first hit in a successful big league debut.The White Sox have won seven in a row against the Twins for the first time since an eight-game streak in 1995. The opener of the four-game series was the first meeting of the AL Central teams this season.Brooks Lee homered for Minnesota, which had won six of seven overall. Zebby Matthews (1-2) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings.Murakami tied it at 1 when he connected for his 18th homer in the first, a 375-foot drive to right. It was the first homer for the Japanese rookie since he went deep twice during an 8-3 victory over the Cubs on May 16.Romo hit his fifth homer after Tristan Peters reached on a leadoff walk in the second.That was more than enough for Kay (4-1), who allowed five hits, struck out five and walked one. The left-hander improved to 3-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his past four starts.Kay got some help from Nishida in the second. The Japanese prospect threw out Orlando Arcia when he attempted to score from second on Alex Jackson’s single to right, ending the inning.The Twins put runners on the corners with two outs in the fifth, but Kay escaped the jam when Austin Martin fouled out.Seranthony Domínguez handled the ninth for his 11th save in 14 opportunities.Up nextJoe Ryan (3-3, 3.02 ERA) starts for Minnesota on Tuesday, and fellow right-hander Sean Burke (2-3, 4.08 ERA) pitches for Chicago.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

England's most-capped women's international rugby league players Jodie Cunningham and Emily Rudge are to retire at the end of the season.Cunningham is the current St Helens and England skipper and has 34 international caps, one more than Saints vice-captain Rudge who also led her country from 2018 to 2023.Both have been with Saints since the formation of the women's side eight years ago, and have 197 appearances for the club between them.The 2021 Woman of Steel, Cunningham led St Helens to a league title, two League Leaders' Shields, and four straight Women's Challenge Cups between 2021 and 2024."Rugby league has given me everything in life and I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences I have had playing the sport I love," Cunnigham told the club website."There's still a long way to go with a Challenge Cup final, the Women's Super League and, hopefully, a World Cup at the end of the year."But knowing this is my last season just makes me even more motivated to go out and give everything I've got to hopefully lift some silverware."'We didn't want to play without the other'Sharing the same club honours as her lifelong friend, Rudge became only the second women's player to reach 100 match appearances for the club, following Channy Crowl. She has 48 tries in 102 appearances."I think Jodie and I always knew that we would finish together," she said."We've had a long career side by side and, honestly, I don't think either of us wanted to play without the other."I probably do feel like I could carry on for another couple of years, but I'm certain that this is the right decision. I'm excited for other opportunities and being able to experience some new things."Both players are hoping to make the England squad for the 2026 World Cup in Australia which begins in October.Cunningham has begun a career off the field, having become St Helens' head of women's pathways and performance in 2024.St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus compared them with suffragette leaders Christabel, Sylvia, and Adela Pankhurst - daughters of Emmeline Pankhurst - for their impact in the women's game."Jodie and Emily have been at the core of the remarkable rise of women's rugby league, both at St Helens and for England, in recent years," he said."They have driven the pioneering spirit for the women's game, and it is future generations who will really bear the fruit of their incredible efforts. They are truly the Pankhurst sisters of women's rugby league."

Pep Guardiola at an 'after-party' event following Manchester City's trophy parade (Darren Staples)Basketball legend Michael Jordan joined thousands of Manchester City fans paying tribute to Pep Guardiola at the manager's farewell party on Monday.Guardiola is about to step down after a glorious decade in charge of City and the Premier League club gave him a fitting send-off during a trophy parade in Manchester.Jordan, one of the NBA's all-time greats, was a surprise participant in the event, delivering a recorded video message saluting Guardiola."Hey Pep. This is Michael Jordan. I just wanted to congratulate you on an unbelievable career," the former Chicago Bulls star said as Guardiola watched the video on a screen inside the Co-op Live 'after-party' following the parade.Referencing Guardiola's fondness for golf, Jordan quipped "Enjoy your retirement. Good luck on the links and keep them straight. Congratulations."Earlier, fans lined the streets to salute Guardiola as the Spaniard joined City's players and staff on an open-top bus ride to the Etihad Stadium.Guardiola led City to the FA Cup and League Cup in his final season in charge, taking his trophy haul to 20 since arriving in 2016.He masterminded six Premier League title victories, as well as City's first Champions League crown in 2023.City finished second in the Premier League behind champions Arsenal this term and were beaten 2-1 at home by Aston Villa in Guardiola's last game on Sunday, with the boss reduced to tears after the final whistle.The 55-year-old's decision to leave City was officially announced on Friday after several days of speculation that he was set to quit.A host of current and former City players brought every trophy won during Guardiola's reign onto the Co-op Live stage to cheers from the sell-out 19,000 crowd.Guardiola said goodbye for the final time in an interview with Oasis rock star Noel Gallagher at the after-party."I think, first of all, thank you so much for coming tonight to say bye," Guardiola said."To say bye to John (Stones) and Bernie (Bernardo Silva) and all these incredible legends like Vinny (Vincent Kompany), Fernandinho, Eddy (Ederson), Jack (Grealish), all of them and many, many more. "I feel tonight that really shows the connection this club has. (City chairman) Khaldoon Al Mubarak and all the people and all the City fans that were connected from the first minute."Thank you so much, I don't have enough gratitude. Always, for the rest of my life, I will have you in my heart. Thank you so much."smg/iwd

Live updates, score for Maryland MPSSAA Class 2A softball championship between Huntingtown and Mt. Hebron originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Huntingtown Hurricanes and the Mt. Hebron [Ellicott City] Vikings are the last teams standing in Maryland's MPSSAA Class 2A ranks.Huntingtown is the favorite, entering the game as the top-ranked team in Maryland in the latest edition of the MaxPreps rankings for Maryland, while Mt. Hebron checks in at No. 13.Game time is set for 3 p.m. EST local.HOW TO WATCH: Huntingtown vs. Mt. Hebron on the NFHS Network__________Refresh for updates__________FIRST INNING__________They're getting close to first pitch.__________Coming soon!__________How can I watch Huntingtown vs. Mt. Hebron?Date: 3 p.m. EST, Monday, May 25WATCH:Huntingtown vs. Mt. Hebron on the NFHS NetworkMore high school softballCalvary Baptist Academy wins Louisiana's LHSAA Non-Select Division III softball state championshipNorth Carolina's NCHSAA postseason fast approaching with Weddington leading the wayAlabama's AHSAA softball playoffs set to get underwayFlorida's FHSAA softball district tournaments get the postseason started in the Sunshine StateTop-ranked Texas UIL softball squads all advance to the area playoffs

After years of misery, the Chicago White Sox are turning the corner in 2026, thanks in part to rookie slugger Munetaka Murakami.On Monday, they debuted another rookie who looked very much like a difference maker in his first MLB game. The White Sox called up utility player Rikuu Nishida to face the Minnesota Twins. A capable outfielder who prefers to play second base, he made his debut in right field. He looks like he’’s got the goods to play there full time.Nishida draws standing ovation in second inning of MLB debut In the second inning, with runners on second and third and two outs, Twins catcher Alex Jackson hit a line drive to right field that looked destined to break a 1-1 tie. But Mushida charged the bouncing ball from his position deep in the outfield, scooped it up and fired a laser to home plate as Orlando Arcia rounded third. Arcia didn’t stand a chance. Mushida’s throw reached home long before Arcia, and Arcia couldn’t dance around catcher Drew Romo’s tag for an inning-ending and run-saving out. Rikuu Nishida had his arm tested early in his debut …And he threw a perfect strike 🎯 pic.twitter.com/mXLtABXEIJ— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2026This drew a worthy standing ovation from the South Side Chicago crowd. It wasn’t his last of the day. In the bottom of the fourth, Nishida hit a chopper over the middle of the infield that got through to the shallow outfield grass. Nishida legged out a base hit and thought about taking a shot at second before settling on a single.major-league debut: ✅ 1st career hit: ✅ pic.twitter.com/idvUUPpvjz— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 25, 2026This again drew White Sox fans to their feet.The White Sox held on for a 3-1 win to improve to 27-26. Nishida finished 1 for 3 at the plate in addition to his outfield assist that shut down a potential Twins scoring rally in the second.Nishida isn’t Chicago’s highest-rated prospect. In fact, he doesn’t rank in MLB.com’s top 30 White Sox prospects. But he is one of their most intriguing. And he offers a versatile skillset that can make him a valuable player at the major league level.Hitting, speed, defensive versatilityAs established, Nishida is a versatile defender. He’s also a patient contact hitter with speed who gets on base. Nishida slashed .323/.449/.384 with 43 runs scored, 12 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 44 minor league games this season before being called up. He lacks power with two home runs in 306 total minor league games. But he has 110 stolen bases in those games and more walks (201) than strikeouts (174). “He’s one of the best baseball players that we have in our organization,” White Sox director of player development Paul Janish told reporters of Nishida on Saturday. “He is contagious in the best way. “The players around him get better. The teams that he is on win.”As for Chicago’s established standout rookie? Murakami hit a solo home run to get the scoring started in the first inning.Mune knew. We knew. Everyone knew. pic.twitter.com/UAjSNPiXV3— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) May 25, 2026The blast was Murakami’s 18th of the season, moving him ahead of Aaron Judge for the American League lead.

This article originally appeared on PGHBaseballNOW.Henry Davis’ solo home run in the seventh inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 2-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Memorial Day at PNC Park.Scoring PlaysBottom 3rd, 1-0 PIT: Spencer Horwitz drew a leadoff walk against Ben Brown and Brandon Lowe followed with an RBI double off the center field wall just out of reach of the leaping Pete Crow-Armstrong.Top 5th, 1-1: Michael Busch hit a solo home run off Carmen Mlodzinski to center. Busch’s sixth home run, which came on a 2-1 sinker left up in the zone, traveled 409 feet.Click here to read more on PGHBaseballNOW.Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

May 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) delivers a pitch against the Los Angeles Angels in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Well, that stuff about Dylan Cease making his next start? Not so much.The team has put him on the IL. “It doesn’t look too terrible, knock on wood. Just trying to be smart and not have it get worse. Don’t know the exact timeline yet, hoping it’s a minimal stay.”The team hasn’t said who is coming to take his roster spot, but likely a reliever for now and then a starting pitcher when it is Cease’s turn in the rotation again.And Vlad isn’t in tonight’s lineup. They say he is available off the bench, but I have my doubts. Tonight’s lineup: Today’s LineupsMARLINSBLUE JAYSXavier Edwards – 2BGeorge Springer – DHLiam Hicks – 1BNathan Lukes – CFOtto Lopez – SSYohendrick Pinango – LFKyle Stowers – DHKazuma Okamoto – 3BJakob Marsee – CFJesus Sanchez – RFJavier Sanoja – 3BErnie Clement – 2BOwen Caissie – RFAndres Gimenez – SSJoe Mack – CBrandon Valenzuela – CEsteury Ruiz – LFLenyn Sosa – 1BJanson Junk – RHPTrey Yesavage – RHP

MUMBAI: For probably the first time in its history, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has appointed a batch of three specialist women's coaches at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Former India cricketers Nooshin Al Khadeer (bowling coach), Sunetra Paranjpe (batting coach) and Vellaswamy Ramu Vanitha (fielding coach) have all been appointed as the batting, bowling and fielding coaches at CoE.Former India batting great VVS Laxman is the Head of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.Many former cricketers have been appointed as coaches at BCCI's CoE, but this is the first time that a batch of ex-India women's cricketers have been recruited as specialist coaches for women's cricket at the world-class facility, which was known as national cricket Academy earlier. Nooshin, who was an off-spinner, appeared in five Women's Tests (took 14 wickets@26.64), 78 WODIs (100 wickets@24.02) and two T20WIs (one wicket @41.00) for India from 2002 to 2012. She was the head coach of the victorious India Under-19 Women's teams in the 2023 and 2025 U-19 Women's T20 World Cups.Paranjpe, an ex-India allrounder, played three Women's Tests and 28 WODIs from 2002-07. She has been the head coach of the Mumbai women's team for the last three seasons (Mumbai clinched Women’s domestic T20 titles in black-to back seasons in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 during her tenure), and has been the head coach of Baroda for three seasons before that. Vanitha ‘VR’, a former batter, played six ODIs and 16 T20Is between 2014-16. Hailing the BCCI's decision to appoint three former India cricketers at CoE as coaches for the first time, former India women's team captain Diana Edulji told TOI, "It's a good step by the BCCI. It shows how much women's cricket has grown in India, and that the BCCI is taking it very seriously. It's another good development for Indian women's cricket after our team's maiden title triumph in the Women's World Cup last year. This trio will enable us to build the bench strength of women's cricket in the future, since these coaches are likely to go with India A, the Emerging women's team and India Under-19 tours."The BCCI has also hired three fast-bowling coaches-former India pacers Lakshmipathy Balaji and former first-class pacer P Krishna Kumar, at CoE. Former Karnataka batter Yere Goud has been hired as the batting coach, Former Rajasthan wicketkeeper Dishant Yagnik has taken over as a fielding coach at the CoE.Meanwhile, the Indian women’s cricket team is currently in England for an almost two-month long England tour, which also includes the historic one-off Women's Test at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground between India and England, which will be played from July 10-13. The 2026 Women's T20 World Cup will start on June 12, with England playing Sri Lanka at Birmingham on the opening night. India will launch their campaign against traditional arch-rivals Pakistan on June 14 at Birmingham. Placed in Group A, India will face Netherlands, South Africa, Bangladesh and Australia in the group stage. The India women's team will play a T20 warm-up match, Team India vs ECB Development XI at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground in Chelmsford on Monday, and will train under lights at the same venue on Tuesday.JKCA's Rajesh Dhar is manager of Indian men's team for Afghanistan seriesIn possibly another first, Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association's Rajesh Dhar has been appointed by the BCCI as the manager for the short home series, comprising a one-off Test at New Chandigarh, and three ODIs in June.

We want your predictions for UFC Fight Night 277. Our staff picks feature includes the consensus picks from MMA Junkie readers. Simply cast your vote for each bout below, and we'll use the official tallies that are registered by Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT).Those reader consensus picks will be part of the main card staff predictions we release ahead of UFC Fight Night 277 (Paramount+), which takes place Saturday at Galaxy Macau in China.Make your picks below.Jaqueline Amorim vs. Loma LookboonmeRecords: Amorim (10-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC), Lookboonme (10-4 MMA, 7-3 UFC)Division: Women’s strawweightRankings: Amorim No. 13, Lookboonme honorable mentionOdds (as of 05.25.26): Amorim -115, Lookboonme -105

From the Hamptons to Majorca, here are six getaways that invite you to eat, drink, lounge and enjoy idyllic surroundings.

The Los Angeles Dodgers were faced with a difficult roster decision on Monday. Three-time World Series champion Kiké Hernández is returning from elbow surgery to make his season debut in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. To make room for Hernández on the roster, the Dodgers either had to designate Santiago Espinal for assignment, option Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A or place Max Muncy on the injured list. The Dodgers ultimately decided to designate Espinal for assignment, the team announced on social media on Monday.The Dodgers reinstated IF/OF Kiké Hernández from the injured list and designated IF/OF Santiago Espinal for assignment.— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) May 25, 2026Why Was Espinal DFA’d?Espinal and Kim have been on the chopping block twice now. The first was when shortstop Mookie Betts was returning from the injured list, but the Dodgers decided to option Alex Freeland and keep Espinal and Kim on the roster. Hernández’s return forced the Dodgers to make another tough roster decision and put Espinal and Kim at risk of losing their spot on the roster. Designating Espinal for assignment makes the most sense because, like Hernández, Espinal bats right-handed and primarily plays third and second base. May 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Santiago Espinal (21) prior to the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesMeanwhile, Kim bats left-handed and plays second base and shortstop. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he expects Hernández to play third base when he returns.“I see Kiké at third [base], obviously he’s gonna play some second [base] because you just don’t know what’s gonna happen, you just never know what’s gonna happen, what could happen,” Roberts said. “I see him playing some outfield too, just to kind of keep his skills sharp.”At the plate, Espinal went 9-for-41 with a .238 on-base percentage, one home run and four RBIs across 26 games. He joined the Dodgers on a minor league contract in February. Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesThe post Dodgers DFA Santiago Espinal As Kiké Hernández Returns for Season Debut appeared first on LA Sports Report.

Mancini: “Bringing Roma back to the Champions League is a source of pride.”The day following the great feat in Verona was one of sharing and awareness at Roma. Through a post on their official Instagram profile, the Giallorossi club shared moments from today’s team breakfast in Trigoria, where the group, coaching staff, and coach gathered to celebrate a goal they’d been working toward all season. After the 2-0 victory against Verona, the team secured third place in the standings and a return to the Champions League, a goal achieved thanks to a victory that validated the work done in recent months.Le Cronache di Spogliatoio Instagram page echoed Mancini’s words: “Celebrating, rejoicing, and leading Roma into the Champions League after so many years is a source of pride because this shirt has such a significant value. Next year we’ll be in the Champions League! Now we’re resting and always Forza Roma!”

🎥 Guardiola, Bernardo and Stones say goodbye at Man City parade 👋Pep Guardiola has bid a final emotional farewell to Manchester City at an after-party to a parade held to celebrate the club's domestic cup double. Thousands of City supporters lined the streets to celebrate their team before an event was held at Co-Op Live arena to salute the legendary manager, as well as the also-departing Bernardo Silva and Joh Stones. Guardiola spoke on the deep connection he had with the club and fanbase and said he would hold them in his heart "for the rest of his life."Earlier in the day, this was the scene in Manchester's city centre. Despite falling short in their bid for the Premier League titles, the City squad were in high spirits including Marc Guéhi, who was celebrating a second consecutive FA Cup success. Guéhi could line up beside John Stones for England at the World Cup but it was time to say goodbye for the City icon, who was one of Guardiola's first signings and a key man in the 2023 treble win. Bernardo Silva was in tears on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium but it was a different type of emotion today as the City legend toasted to a glorious nine years at the club. As part of the event, all 20 of the trophies won in Guardiola's incredible decade of dominance were brought out on stage. The return of Vincent Kompany - who captained City to their first four Premier League titles - tore the house down. City fans paid tribute to Guardiola with a song that has been sung since his very first game in charge - a 2-1 win against Sunderland in August 2016. The night brings down the curtain on the Pep era in the Premier League, which marks a new day both in Manchester and the wider football world.

Bengals urged to add to a strength, sign 5-time Pro Bowler for 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cincinnati Bengals have high expectations in 2026. The team disappointed in 2025, mostly due to another Joe Burrow injury, so now that the star is healthy, the sky is the limit. The Bengals also made some nice offseason moves on defense, adding Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Dexter Lawrence. The Bengals didn't add much on offense, because the offense wasn't the problem. With a receiving core that features Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and a running back room featuring Chase Brown, and Samaje Perine, the Bengals' offense should be in good shape again. However, that doesn't mean you can't make a strength even better. One writer believes the Bengals should add another useful piece to the pass-catcher group before the season begins. Bengals urged to sign DeAndre Hopkins to pair with Chase, Higgins When you think of the weaknesses on the Bengals' roster, the wide receiver position definitely doesn't come to mind. However, you can never have too many weapons. Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox thinks the Bengals should sign DeAndre Hopkins. Hopkins played for the division-rival Baltimore Ravens last season, and when interviewed recently, Hopkins mentioned a desire to play with Burrow. Knox offered the following analysis: Wide receiver isn't a glaring need for the Cincinnati Bengals, who have Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Andrei Iosivas at the top of the depth chart. However, the Bengals lack dependable depth behind those three, and veteran DeAndre Hopkins looms as a logical addition.During Kentucky Derby Weekend, Hopkins told Sports Illustrated's Claudette Montana that he'd like to play with quarterback Joe Burrow before his career is over.As Knox mentioned, the Bengals have an elite receiver room at the top, but the depth really isn't great. Chase and Higgins are elite, and Andrei Iosivas is a solid WR3, but Charlie Jones and rookie Colbie Young are the top depth options. Hopkins definitely isn't the player he used to be, but he can still be useful and he's one of the best receivers of his generation. In 2025, Hopkins played in all 17 games for the Ravens and caught 22 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. The veteran wasn't a focal piece of the Ravens' offense, but he wouldn't need to be in Cincinnati either. Hopkins would likely only get a couple targets a game, but he'd be invaluable in the locker room. This could be a great final chapter for Hopkins. The receiver has earned five Pro Bowl selections, has been a First-team All-Pro three times, and is fourth in all-time catches among active players. One thing Hopkins doesn't have a lot of is postseason success, which could also be remedied by playing with Burrow. More NFL news:Is Carnell Tate going to be a WR1 for the Titans?Will the Cardinals give up on Carson Beck quickly?Jets get good and bad news regarding the 2027 draftOne analyst loved what the Cowboys did in 2026 draftVikings roasted for questionable 2026 draftJaguars, James Gladstone's 2026 draft graded harshly

Last week, the USGA announced that Southern Hills Country Club, the famed Perry Maxwell design in Tulsa, Okla., was awarded the 2036 U.S. Mid-Amateur, 2039 U.S. Girls’ Junior and 2044 U.S. Amateur Championships, marking the 11th, 12th and 13th USGA championships that will be contested at the historic venue.Southern Hills’ championship lineage extends well beyond its marquee majors. The club has also staged a rich lineup of USGA events, beginning with the 1953 U.S. Junior Amateur won by Rex Baxter Jr. That was followed by Dexter Daniels’ victory in the 1961 U.S. Senior Amateur and Bob Murphy’s triumph at the 1965 U.S. Amateur. It later hosted the inaugural U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in 1987, where Cindy Scholefield claimed the title, and the 2009 U.S. Amateur, won by Byeong Hun An — who, at the time, became the youngest champion in the event’s history.More: Here's how Southern Hills has changed ahead of 2022 PGA ChampionshipFor more than a decade, the USGA has hosted 14 major championships each year, and Southern Hills has either hosted (or is slated to host) 13 of them. The only event that is has yet to welcome or that is is not scheduled to host is the U.S. Women's Open. (Note: The U.S. Adaptive Open has been held for four years, starting in 2022.)"Southern Hills has a long history as host of golf’s biggest championships, and we’re pleased to be returning to this storied venue in the decades to come," said Mark Hill, the USGA's managing director of championships, in a release. "Our relationship with Southern Hills spans more than 80 years, and the club’s dedication to excellence gives us every reason to extend it further. We know they will once again create an outstanding experience for players, fans and the Tulsa community." Southern Hills has evolved with the eras, reshaped by some of the game’s most influential architects. Robert Trent Jones and Keith Foster each left their imprint over the decades, but it was the 2019 restoration by Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner that most deliberately turned back the clock, peeling away layers of modernization to reveal A.W. Tillinghast disciple Maxwell’s original vision.At the 2022 PGA Championship, with help from Mito Pereira’s heartbreaking debacle on the 72nd hole, Justin Thomas hoisted the 2-foot-tall, 27-pound silver Wanamaker Trophy for a second time after defeating Will Zalatoris in a three-hole aggregate playoff.More: Golfweek's Best 2025: Top public-access golf courses in OklahomaThe layout is No. 1 among private courses in Oklahoma in Golfweek’s Best rankings, and it is No. 32 on Golfweek’s Best list of classic courses built before 1960 in the U.S.“This expanded partnership with the USGA is a point of tremendous pride for our club,” said Tim McFerrin, Southern Hills Club president. “These championships speak to our club's reverence for the game's traditions and our enduring commitment to competitive golf at every level." YearChampionshipWinner1958U.S. OpenTommy Bolt1970PGA ChampionshipDave Stockton1977U.S. OpenHubert Green1982PGA ChampionshipRaymond Floyd1994PGA ChampionshipNick Price2001U.S. OpenRetief Goosen2007PGA ChampionshipTiger Woods2022PGA ChampionshipJustin ThomasTim Schmitt is the managing editor of Golfweek.This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Southern Hills to host more USGA championships

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball will need to defeat a team it beat 26-0 earlier in the season, then outlast two other teams that are playing well to win the Starkville Regional in the NCAA Tournament.The Bulldogs (40-17) are the No. 14 national seed, hosting a regional at Dudy Noble Field for the first time since 2021. They are matched up with No. 4 Lipscomb (29-24) to begin the regional on May 29 (1 p.m., ESPN+). No. 2 Cincinnati (37-20) and No. 3 Louisiana (39-23) will play at 6 p.m. (ESPN+).The regional is paired with the Athens Regional, hosted by SEC champions Georgia. The winners of the Starkville and Athens regionals will meet in a best-of-three super regional.Here's what to know about MSU's opponents and a prediction for who wins the Starkville Regional. Mississippi State swept Lipscomb with 26-0 winThe Bulldogs played Lipscomb earlier this season and swept the series at Dudy Noble Field March 5-7. The final game was a 26-0 win, the program's largest margin of victory since 1999 and tied for the fourth-largest in MSU history.But the entire series wasn't an easy breeze. Lipscomb's starting pitcher Alexander Llinas (6-4, 5.40 ERA) gave Mississippi State trouble in Game 1. The Bisons led 1-0 in the sixth inning until Mississippi State pulled ahead for an 8-3 win."I think you can take a little bit from playing somebody in a series," MSU coach Brian O'Connor said. "Now, that was early on. I'm sure they're a different ball club. We've got some different things as well. I just recall that their No. 1 starter pitched really good against us. He had a nice sinker."Lipscomb won the Atlantic Sun Tournament as the No. 2 seed on a walk-off walk. Cincinnati has one of Big 12's best pitching staffsCincinnati won six straight Big 12 series to end the regular season but lost to Arizona State in its only Big 12 Tournament game.The Bearcats have a 4.94 ERA, the third best in the Big 12. Starting pitcher Nathan Taylor (6-3, 3.86 ERA) was an All-Big 12 first-team selection.MORE: Kevin Milewski injury update, latest on Mississippi State catcher for NCAA regionalCincinnati led the Big 12 with 115 stolen bases. The Bearcats were fifth in the Big 12 in batting average (.300) and home runs (84). Freshman designated hitter/catcher Enzo Ifelise won Big 12 Freshman of the Year with a .371 batting average, nine home runs, 44 RBIs and 34 runs.Louisiana led by 2 starting pitchersLouisiana has a 4.96 team ERA, the fourth best in the Sun Belt. They are led by All-Sun Belt second-team starters Cody Brasch (6-2, 2.04 ERA) and Andrew Herrmann (7-5, 4.43 ERA). Brasch, a right-hander, has allowed only two earned runs in his last 25⅓ innings.Louisiana only has two players, Colt Brown and Lee Amedee, who are batting over .300. The Ragin' Cajuns have 111 stolen bases and had the second-best fielding percentage (.980) in the Sun Belt.Louisiana won four consecutive series to end the regular season and made the Sun Belt championship game before losing to Southern Miss. That included going 4-1 against Coastal Carolina, an NCAA Tournament team, in eight days. Mississippi State baseball prediction for Starkville RegionalMississippi State will win the regional, defeating Cincinnati in the final.The Bulldogs have struggled to beat elite teams. They are 3-12 against teams in the top 15 in RPI. But none of the teams in the regional are in the top 20 in RPI. Cincinnati is No. 22, Louisiana is No. 33 and Lipscomb is No. 155.Having Ryan McPherson at full or near-full strength should be a big boost for MSU's pitching. McPherson threw five shutout innings in a team scrimmage on May 23, according to O'Connor.Starkville Regional schedule in 2026 NCAA baseball tournamentAll games at Dudy Noble Field; double elimination format; game times in CentralFriday, May 29Game 1: Mississippi State vs. Lipscomb, 1 p.m. on ESPN+Game 2: Cincinnati vs. Louisiana, 6 p.m. on ESPN+Saturday, May 30Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m., TBAGame 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m., TBASunday, May 31Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m., TBAGame 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m., TBAMonday, June 1Game 7 (if necessary): TBASam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball prediction for NCAA Tournament regional

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs say forward Max Domi will be out indefinitely after offseason surgery for an undisclosed issue.The team said Monday the 31-year-old experienced complications following the procedure after playing through the injury during the 2025-26 season.Toronto said Domi will continue working with the club’s medical staff and will be reevaluated at the start of training camp.The Winnipeg-born forward had 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) and 95 penalty minutes in 80 regular-season games last season.Domi signed a four-year, $15 million contract extension with Toronto in June 2024.Selected 12th overall by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2013 NHL draft, Domi has 486 points (150 goals, 336 assists) in 815 career regular-season games with Arizona, Montreal, Columbus, Carolina, Chicago, Dallas and Toronto.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Pellegrini: “We’ve always believed in the Champions League.”The day following the great feat in Verona was one of sharing and awareness at Roma. Through a post on their official Instagram profile, the Giallorossi club shared moments from today’s team breakfast in Trigoria, where the group, coaching staff, and coach gathered to celebrate a goal they’d been working toward all season. After the 2-0 victory against Verona, the team secured third place in the standings and a return to the Champions League, a goal achieved thanks to a victory that validated the work done in recent months.Le Cronache di Spogliatoio Instagram page echoed Pellegrini’s words: “This year has been great. We’ve been chasing this Champions League qualification for a while, and yesterday we did it: even though it seemed difficult along the way, we always believed in it.”

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY SportsThe Minnesota Vikings have plenty of running backs, so much so that trading for one might be perceived as strange. But down in Arizona, Trey Benson is buried on the Cardinals’ depth chart, desperately needing a fresh start.Benson’s buried role in Arizona could give Minnesota a low-cost chance to add fresh backfield upside.His stock is at its lowest, and Minnesota should inquire about his asking price via trade.Arizona’s Silly Depth Chart Could Open the Door for Minnesota. Again. A late-rounder might drag the deal over the finish line.Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) participates in training camp drills on July 25, 2024 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The rookie runner entered camp with expectations of adding explosiveness to Arizona’s backfield rotation after joining the franchise as one of its notable offensive additions during the offseason. Mandatory Credit: Joe Rondone-The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORKBenson on the Trade Block?CardinalsWire‘s Jess Root wrote earlier this month, “When the Arizona Cardinals drafted running back Jeremiyah Love third overall in the 2026 NFL draft last month, the running back room changed and shifted projections for the final roster. A player the Cardinals once were counting on as a key cog in their offense is now a trade candidate: RB Trey Benson, trade candidate.”“Benson, a former third-round pick who many believed could turn into a starter, is coming off his second straight year that ended with an injury. He has top-end speed. He has averaged 5.4 yards per attempt in his career. He has good size. He has value and upside. As the season approaches, he might be able to be dealt for a late Day 3 pick.”For context, here’s the Cardinals’ RB room as of late May:Jeremiyah LoveTyler AllgeierJames ConnerTrey BensonBam KnightCorey KinerToo many. Benson could benefit from a geographical cure.The History on BensonIn 2024, coming out of the draft, Carolina Panthers halfback Jonathon Brooks and Benson were the two main RB names to watch — for fantasy football and real-life. To date, injuries have plagued both men’s careers to the point that 2026 feels like a make-or-break year.Benson is in a particularly rough spot because he’s essentially guaranteed to get no action in the Cardinals’ offense. They have Love, Allgeier, and Conner for those jobs — proven commodities.Still, Benson is 6’0″ and 220 pounds, an ideal size for a workhorse running back. He’s banked 92 rushing attempts in two seasons, compiling 451 yards on the ground, a touchdown, in addition to 19 receptions. In a career that emphatically has not taken off — he’s missed 50% of all games since 2024 — Benson still averages 4.9 yards per carry. Some team, even if the Vikings are not interested, must take a flyer on him. A man with roughly 5 yards per rushing attempt should not be squandered as an RB4 of the lowly Cardinals’ depth chart.In that regard, this is a golden opportunity. The Vikings can return to the wishing well of poor Arizona decision-making that might propel their season with Murray at the helm. Try it twice.Last Word on Sports‘ David Latham noted on Benson last week, “Benson has no clear path to the field. LaFleur didn’t draft him, which means he’s likely the third or fourth running back on the depth chart.”“Running back is an injury-prone position, but it’s hard to envision Arizona keeping him around with all the depth ahead of him. While they won’t cut him, they could try to trade him to a team that still believes in his natural abilities.”The Trade PriceThis is the fun part. Benson is buried. Like buried-buried. Thirty-one general managers know that Benson is not a hot commodity; he’s staring up at Love, Allgeier, and Conner on a depth chart.Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) carries the football against the Buffalo Bills during the first half on Sep. 8, 2024 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Benson mixed into Arizona’s rushing attack early in the regular season opener as the Cardinals tested Buffalo’s defense on the road. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn ImagesIt won’t take much to acquire Benson. For example, if Arizona got cute and requested a 3rd- or 4th-Rounder for his services, every suitor would decline, and the Cardinals would be stuck with Benson on their roster — doing nothing.For the Cardinals, it’s wiser team-building to nab a 5th-, 6th-, or 7th-Round pick for Benson, knowing the RB room already has too many cooks in the kitchen. Arizona has no leverage; they tipped their hand this offseason by welcoming Love and Allgeier. Quite realistically and reasonably, Minnesota could ship a 6th-Round pick to Arizona for Benson and call it good. They can turn around and put his 5 yards per carry to work in an offense that desperately must fix its rushing efficiency.Two More Years of Team ControlThe final cool perk? Trading for Benson would welcome an affordable asset for two more seasons. Benson’s rookie contract runs out after the 2027 season, at which point he’d hit free agency. Meanwhile, the Vikings’ main running back, Aaron Jones, is old. He may not be with the club in 2027. If the front office already knows that, adding Benson can prepare for the Jones afterlife. Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson (33) fights for a first down against Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) during third-quarter action on Oct. 13, 2024 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Benson continued to showcase his physical running style while Arizona leaned on its ground attack against Green Bay. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesTrade for Benson and incorporate him into the 2026 offense, with upside of becoming an RB1 candidate in 2027 and 2028.He’ll turn 24 in July. Go get him.

Pep Guardiola’s message to incoming Manchester City manager as Enzo Maresca announcement loomsGuardiola’s message to his successor is simple: “Be yourself – the club will support you unconditionally”The outgoing manager praises Hugo Viana as “one of the most surprising and beautiful things I’ve met” this yearGuardiola says he will personally call the new manager once the club confirms the appointmentPep Guardiola has urged the incoming Manchester City manager to be themselves and promising to call them personally once the appointment is confirmed.Guardiola spoke on the subject in his pre-match press conference, in conversation with Sky Sports after the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, and again in his post-match press conference — with his advice consistent across all three: trust yourself, and trust the club.Enzo Maresca has been widely reported as the man set to take over at the Etihad Stadium on an initial three-year deal, with Chelsea understood to be seeking sizeable compensation from City for the Italian’s departure from Stamford Bridge.Pep Guardiola’s long-term future: Manchester City manager offered £75M paydayGuardiola: Be themselves – uniqueAsked in his pre-match press conference what message he had for his successor, Guardiola kept it to two sentences.“Any message? Be themselves. The manager has to be himself. Unique. And the club will be there supporting him unconditionally, like they have done to me, we will do it to him, and to his staff.”The emphasis on unconditional support is a deliberate and generous one. Guardiola knows better than anyone the value of a club that backs its manager in the difficult moments – and his use of “we will do it to him” rather than “they will do it to him” is telling, suggesting a continued personal investment in the club’s wellbeing even after his departure.Guardiola: Hugo has been one of the most beautiful things I’ve met this yearSpeaking to Sky Sports after the game, Guardiola expanded on his belief in the structure the new manager will inherit – and offered his warmest public assessment yet of director of football Hugo Viana.“The next Man City manager has to be themselves, that’s most important. The new manager, for the way they communicate, treat people, the way they’re going to play, work – they have to be them!” he said.“And this club is really, really good in many things, and the transitions always they do really, really, really well!Enzo Maresca, a Spanish manager, and new contracts offered – Ongoing changes for life after Pep Guardiola at Manchester City“Look at Txiki, he has been one of the most important persons and he chose or suggested Hugo, and Hugo in this year has been one of the most surprising and beautiful things I’ve met! It will be good!”The tribute to Viana is significant. Guardiola has spoken warmly of the Portuguese director throughout the season but this is his most glowing endorsement yet, describing him as “one of the most surprising and beautiful things” he has encountered across his entire final year at the club.For an incoming manager stepping into the biggest job in English football, the knowledge that Guardiola rates the infrastructure around him so highly will be enormously reassuring.Guardiola: I will call him and tell him to be free in your ideasIn his post-match press conference, Guardiola went a step further, committing to a personal phone call to the new manager once the appointment is made official.“When the club will tell me which one it is, of course I will call him! And I will tell him, ‘Be yourself, the club will support you unconditionally, that is the biggest compliment, and be yourself.“‘You will be protected in the bad moments, more than any other club, and be free in your ideas, go there, work a lot, and everything will be fine!'”The promise to call his successor personally is the most human detail of all – a manager who has given ten years to a club refusing to simply walk away and leave the next man to figure it out alone.The message of freedom, protection and unconditional support reflects everything Guardiola has experienced at Manchester City since 2016 – and everything he clearly wants the next chapter to be built upon.

Israeli soldiers carry the casket of Staff sergeant Noam Hamburger, who was killed in a Lebanese drone attack on northern Israel, during his funeral in Atlit, Israel, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)2026-05-25T20:42:24Z BEIRUT (AP) — Israel’s air force targeted sites belonging to Hezbollah in Lebanon, including in the country’s eastern Bekaa Valley, late on Monday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to intensify attacks on the Lebanese militant group. Netanyahu’s warning came as Hezbollah has been firing fiber optic drones — a weapon used widely in the war in Ukraine — at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon and northern Israel in recent weeks.“We will hit them. It’s true that they are shooting drones at us, fiber optic drones. We have a special team working on that and we will solve that too,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media. “What this requires of us now is to increase the blows, to increase the intensity. We will smite them hip and thigh.”Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency said that after Netanyahu’s post, some residents started leaving Beirut’s southern suburbs where Hezbollah has large presence. The agency also said several airstrikes hit the eastern town of Mashghara in the Bekaa region on Monday night. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said that it carried out eight attacks earlier in the day, including a drone attack on Israeli troops in Misgav Am in northern Israel. The daily attacks between Israel and Hezbollah have been ongoing despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in place since April 17. A U.S. State Department official said earlier on Monday that Hezbollah has ignored repeated requests to stop firing at Israel, including a recent ultimatum. The official, who was not authorized to talk to the media and therefore spoke on condition of anonymity, added that Israel will never be expected to passively absorb attacks on its forces and civilians. Read More Since the ceasefire went into effect, Hezbollah has fired over a thousand drones and over 700 rockets to try and derail ongoing negotiations between Lebanon and Israel, the official said, adding that “the status quo is untenable.” Last month, Lebanon and Israel began their first direct talks in more than three decades with meetings held in Washington. Lebanese and Israeli military officials are to meet again on Friday, at the Pentagon, to discuss the ceasefire. Israel and the United States are seeking to have Hezbollah disarmed.The State Department official said the direct Lebanon-Israel talks and the implication that Lebanon stands to get significant support from the U.S. is a threat to the Iran-backed Hezbollah, along with a challenge to its narrative of resistance against Israel. “A successful ceasefire led by the government of Lebanon would strip Hezbollah of their power and their narrative,” the official said.Earlier Monday, an Israeli airstrike on the southern village of Kfar Rumman killed four people and wounded three, the Lebanese NNA reported. It said Israeli drone strikes on other parts in the south — including one on a road near the municipality of Kfar Rumman — killed three people.The Israel military said that throughout the day, it struck more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure sites. The latest Israel-Hezbollah war began on March 2, when Hezbollah fired rockets into northern Israel, two days after the U.S. and Israel began their attacks on Iran. More than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon in the latest fighting, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Also, 22 Israeli soldiers and a defense contractor have been killed in or near southern Lebanon, and two civilians have been killed in northern Israel, according to Netanyahu’s office.___Lee reported from New Delhi. Associated Press journalists Isaac Scharf in Jerusalem and Natalie Melzer in Nahariya, Israel contributed to this report.

The full NFL schedule dropped on May 14 which is a big day for NFL fans planning to travel to road games. Lions' fans have represented very well on road games over the past few seasons from my direct observations.Here is the Los Angeles Rams/Chargers stadium review from my NFL Stadium Rankings and Travel Guide 2026 - where I rank 11 stadiums I've visited in recent years:#1 - Los Angeles Rams/Chargers (Sofi Stadium)I’ve been to 2 Lions games in LA - 1 each for the Chargers and Rams. This stadium clearly stands out as the nicest of all I’ve visited.In person, the exterior architecture looks as great as it does on TV. But what makes this stadium special is the ridiculously nice, interior concourses. It’s like you’re walking around a luxury hotel rather than the concrete jungle of typical stadiums.There are an infinite number of escalators connecting all the different sections inside, which also serves to gatekeep the sections. This seems to help prevent some areas from becoming overcrowded which is nice.Food options are plentiful, fancy, and varied. If you want the nicer, premium menu items, you’ll want to get it early before the lines start getting ridiculously long.While the stadium itself is majestic, the immediate surrounds of the stadium are barren, so you’ll need to find somewhere else to hang out before and after the game. This also means that there are no walkable hotels worth staying at.Pro tip: Parking at the nearby Forum is easy and convenient. You need to book a spot in advance. Getting in and out by car was faster than I expected.For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMDThis article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL Stadium Rankings 2026: #1 LA Rams/Chargers - Sofi Stadium

Basketball great Michael Jordan paid tribute to Pep Guardiola as the departing Manchester City manager was given a final sendoff during an open-top bus parade and after-party featuring an on-stage contract announcement by one of the club's top players on Monday.After the parade through the streets of Manchester, a sell-out crowd of 19,000 inside the Co-op Live arena — near City's Etihad Stadium — witnessed a video message from Jordan to Guardiola on the big screen.“Hey Pep, this is Michael Jordan," the six-time NBA champion said. "I just want to congratulate you on an unbelievable career. Enjoy your retirement.“Good luck on the links,” Jordan added, in a nod to Guardiola's hobby of golf, "and keep them straight. Congratulations.”Guardiola is leaving after a record-breaking decade in charge of City in which he won 17 major trophies.Former City captain Vincent Kompany — the current Bayern Munich coach — and Noel Gallagher of Britpop band Oasis attended the event in person. It was arranged to celebrate the domestic cup double of the men's team as well as the club’s Women’s Super League and FA Youth Cup triumphs.In the part of the show dedicated to the women’s team, record scorer Khadija “Bunny” Shaw announced on stage she signed a new four-year contract with City, ending speculation linking her with Chelsea.Shaw has already been with City for five years.Also speaking on the stage was Erling Haaland, who said he was determined to make sure City's success does not end with the departure of Guardiola and long-time stalwarts Bernardo Silva and John Stones.“It has been an up-and-down season," Haaland said, "but we are going to try to keep pushing and try to fight to win the biggest trophies we can.“It has been a pleasure to play with Bernardo and John, and of course for Pep. It has been an amazing journey but we need to keep pushing and fighting even without them."Guardiola was invited to speak after all 20 trophies won during his tenure were carried onto the stage by players, coaches and figures connected to the club, including Gallagher.Other former players in attendance were Fernandinho and Jack Grealish, a member of the 2023 treble-winning team who has spent the past year on loan at Everton.“Thank you so much for coming here tonight to say bye," Guardiola said. "I’ve felt the connection that this club (has) from the first minute.“Thank you so much, I don’t have enough gratitude. I will have (that with me) for the rest of my life.”Guardiola's final game in charge was a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa on Sunday.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer