It took one match at his first-ever Grand Slam event for Moise Kouame to make history. With his 7-6 6-1 6-1 win over Marin Čilić on Tuesday, Kouame became the youngest man to win a match at the French Open in over three decades. Kouame, 17, notched six aces in his win over the 37-year-old Čilić, a former US Open champ.Remember the name 💎17-year-old Moise Kouame records his first Grand Slam match win 🇫🇷#RolandGarrospic.twitter.com/lhTWSSruP9— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2026With the accomplishment, Kouame became the youngest man to reach the second round of the French Open since Dinu Pescariu pulled off the feat in 1991. This story will be updated.

Here is a look at the schedule for MHSAA baseball districts featuring Greater Lansing teams.DIVISION 1 AT GRAND LEDGETuesday, May 26Everett at Holt, 4 p.m.Saturday, May 30Waverly vs. DeWitt, 10 a.m.Grand Ledge vs. Holt/Everett, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 1 AT MASONTuesday, May 26Richland Gull Lake at Mason, 5 p.m.Saturday, May 30BC Lakeview vs. Mason/Richland Gull Lake, 10 a.m.Jackson vs. Battle Creek, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 1 AT HARTLANDTuesday, May 26Brighton at Hartland, 4:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30Okemos vs. Brighton/Hartland, 10 a.m.Howell vs. East Lansing, 12:30 p.m.Final, 3 p.m.DIVISION 2 AT WYOMING KELLOGGSVILLETuesday, May 26Wyoming Godwin Heights vs. GR West Michigan Aviation Academy, TBDSaturday, May 30Wyoming Kelloggsville vs. Wyoming Godwin Heights/GR West Michigan Aviation Academy, 9:30 a.m.GR Christian vs. Ionia, 11:30 a.m.Final, 1:30 p.m.DIVISION 2 AT WAYLANDTuesday, May 26Hopkins at Wayland, 4:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30GR South Christian vs. Wayland/Hopkins, 10 a.m.Lakewood vs. Hastings, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 2 AT CHARLOTTETuesday, May 26Eaton Rapids vs. Eastern, 5:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30Portland vs. Eaton Rapids/Eastern, 10 a.m.Charlotte vs. Sexton, 12:30 p.m.Final, 3 p.m.DIVISION 2 AT OWOSSOSaturday, May 30St. Johns vs. Saginaw Swan Valley, 10 a.m.Alma vs. Owosso, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 2 AT PARMA WESTERNTuesday, May 26Jackson Northwest at Parma Western, 4:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30Williamston vs. Jackson Northwest/Parma Western, 10 a.m.Michigan Center vs. Haslett, noonFinal, 2:30 p.m.DIVISION 2 AT CHELSEASaturday, May 30Pinckney vs. Chelsea, 10 a.m.AA Father Gabriel Richard vs. Fowlerville, 12:30 p.m.Final, 3 p.m.DIVISION 3 AT LANSING CATHOLICTuesday, May 26Olivet vs. Springport, 5 p.m.Saturday, May 30Lansing Catholic vs. Olivet/Springport, 10 a.m.Laingsburg vs. Bath, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 3 AT JACKSON LUMEN CHRISTITuesday, May 26Leslie vs. Brooklyn Columbia Central, 5 p.m.Saturday, May 30Grass Lake vs. Leslie/Brooklyn Columbia Central, 10 a.m.Jackson Lumen Christi vs. Napoleon, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 3 AT PLYMOUTH CHRISTIANTuesday, May 26Dearborn Heights Robichaud vs. Plymouth Christian, 4:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30Brighton Charyl Stockwell Prep vs. Dearborn Heights Robichaud/Plymouth Christian, 10 a.m.Ann Arbor Greenhills vs. Stockbridge, 12:30 p.m.Final, 3 p.m.DIVISION 3 AT SARANACTuesday, May 26Belding vs. Pewamo-Westphalia, 5:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30Saranac vs. Belding/Pewamo-Westphalia, 10 a.m.Central Montcalm vs. Ithaca, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 3 AT NEW LOTHROPTuesday, May 26Burton Bentley at New Lothrop, 5 p.m.Saturday, May 30Durand vs. Burton Bentley, 10 a.m.Perry vs. Flint Hamady, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 3 AT CARROLLTONTuesday, May 26Chesaning vs. Carrollton, 5 p.m.Saturday, May 30Ovid-Elsie vs. Chesaning/Carrollton, 10 a.m.Saginaw Valley Lutheran vs. Hemlock, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 4 AT FOWLERSaturday, May 30Morrice vs. Fowler, 10 a.m.Lansing Christian vs. Portland St. Patrick, noonFinal, 2 p.m.DIVISION 4 AT BLANCHARD MONTABELLATuesday, May 26Fulton vs. Carson City-Crystal, 5 p.m.Saturday, May 30Breckenridge vs. Fulton/Carson City-Crystal, 10 a.m.Vestaburg vs. Blanchard Montabella, 12:30 p.m.Final, 3 p.m.DIVISION 4 AT EAST JACKSONTuesday, May 26Vandercook Lake at East Jackson, 4:30 p.m.Saturday, May 30Webberville vs. East Jackson/Vandercook Lake, 9:30 a.m.Manchester vs. Dansville, noonFinal, 2:30 p.m.DIVISION 4 AT MAPLE VALLEYSaturday, May 30Martin vs. Bellevue, 9:30 a.m.Potterville vs. Maple Valley, 11:30 a.m.Final, 1:30 p.m.This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Greater Lansing MHSAA baseball district schedule, results

May 26—Suddenly, it was over.The Lewis-Clark State Warriors' return to the Avista NAIA World Series lasted all of three games and concluded with an anticlimactic three consecutive popouts in the bottom of the ninth in front of a Series-best Memorial Day Monday crowd of 3,738 at Harris Field in Lewiston.Once in a seven-run hole, the Warriors narrowed the gap, but couldn't catch up, dropping an 8-5 elimination game to the top-seeded Taylor Trojans of Upland, Ind.LC State dropped its first-round game Friday to eighth-seeded Tennessee Wesleyan 12-4 in a contest delayed by nearly two and a half hours and done well after midnight, then returned to the yard 17 hours later and mercy-ruled second-seeded Georgia Gwinnett 12-1 in seven innings.While the Warriors (45-9) almost certainly had more left in the tank, it wasn't enough to topple the top seed."Obviously, if you're not the last team standing, it's a disappointing end, but they have a lot to be proud of," said LC State coach Jeremiah Robbins, who returned to the school this past year after a seven-year hiatus. "I'm proud of them. Proud of the efforts they made throughout the tournament, and more so the body of work throughout the whole season."Taylor (54-6), the top-ranked team in the NAIA, posted six runs in the top of the third to take a commanding 8-1 lead and pitched a combined six scoreless innings to quell the home team.AdvertisementIt was an opportunity that Taylor coach Kyle Gould wanted for his guys — and he told Robbins how much it meant to him."We're honored to be here in Lewiston on Memorial Day, playing in the World Series and playing against LC State, who is the premier program in the NAIA, at this incredible facility," Gould said. "It's an incredible honor, but a great opportunity, and we have a good team, too. And I thought our guys came out and played well."Played well, the Trojans certainly did.One big inningThere's a pitching machine back in Upland, Ind., that simulates a sidearm delivery with a bit of ride, Taylor first baseman Sam Gladd said."It's a weird machine, we all hate it," Gladd said. "But coach says that it's good for us, (so) we gotta keep hitting off of it."Against LCSC reliever Zach Elsos, equipped with a delivery rather similar to that infamous machine, Gladd said all that work paid off.With two runners on, Gladd blasted a 1-1 pitch over the center-field wall for a home run to extend Taylor's lead to 5-1.As he rounded the bases, his teammates poured out of the dugout, anticipating his arrival. After an embrace with his teammates at the plate, Gladd galloped toward the elated mob and slammed his helmet on the ground in celebration."Gosh, euphoria. I don't even know how to describe it," Gladd said of the moments following his big blast. "Just kind of black out, and you see everyone, all your boys after at home plate — it's just pure joy."Boasting the nation's best offense by runs scored (667), Taylor has made big innings its bread and butter, Gould said.The Trojans got exactly what they were looking for in the top of the third, sending three more runs across home plate after Gladd's three-run blast, prompting LCSC to use three pitchers and throw a combined 50 pitches against the Trojans' finest artillery.LCSC starter Landon Webb conceded four singles to the first six Taylor batters in the first. Jordan Malott, the son of 10-time Professional Bowlers Association champion Wes Malott, smacked an RBI single and Brennan Frickel smacked a sac-fly to make it 2-0 Trojans.Elsos then covered 1 2/3 frames before getting pulled in the third for Kason O'Neil, who allowed three more runs without recording an out. Finally, Jace Taylor — after throwing a wild pitch that permitted one of O'Neil's runners to score — induced a long flyball to get out of the fateful inning.Robbins said that the Warriors pitched differently than he had expected against a talented Taylor ballclub."It's Day 3 of the World Series, and you've got to be good or you're going to get whacked around," Robbins said. "But it is what it is. I tip my hat to Taylor. They had some quality at-bats and laid off some breaking stuff, and we missed over the plate way too much, and that's conducive to a six-run inning."The Warriors had a shot at their own monster inning in the bottom of the first, loading the bases after scoring a run, but Jordan Justice — pinch-hitting for Ryan Prescott — struck out on six pitches to end the frame."Another guy that's been here a while, too, that just competes," Robbins said of Justice. "It was a great at-bat, guy was just better than his barrel, so it happens."Pitchers' paradiseThe Warriors' bats responded with a string of runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by Prescott's RBI double to deep left field. Bulla Ephan and Payton Smith made it 8-4 with two more swings of the bat.Taylor, Zak Sullivan and Jackson Cloud combined for 6 1/3 scoreless frames on the mound to keep the Trojans in check.The trio benefited from a number of standout defensive plays, including several pickoffs from catcher Bulla Ephan to catch runners stealing, and a standout play from third baseman Jackson Jaha, who caught a relay throw from left fielder Brandon Nguyen and threw a Trojans runner out at second after he attempted to stretch a bloop single into a double in the seventh.Nguyen and Jaha smacked consecutive singles in the bottom of the sixth and senior second baseman Izzy Madariaga slugged a sac-fly to cut Taylor's lead to 8-5.LC State did not record much more success as Taylor relief pitchers Nathan Frady, Jake Boyer and Gage Gongwer combined for 6 2/3 two-run innings, with the latter two shutting out the Warriors to quell any hope of a home team comeback."Jake (Boyer) has thrown in all three games now. Gage (Gongwer) threw in the first game, warmed up in the second one. Nathan (Frady) threw 60 pitches in the first one. Nick (Crabtree) threw in the first one, warmed up in the second one," Gould said. "But they're really tough guys, and they're battle tested and they care a lot."'Not a failure'While the Warriors' stay in the World Series was abbreviated — each of Robbins' six other LCSC squads finished in the top three and three won national championships — Robbins said that this season is something for the Warriors to be proud of."I don't consider this a failure," Robbins said. "What they did in 2026 is awesome. That will move them forward to some good things. The LC State program is in a very good spot right now, and it's ready to take another big step next year."Taylor 206 000 000—8 13 1Lewis-Clark State 103 001 000—5 10 0Crabtree, Frady (3), Boyer (5), Gongwer (7) and Schrock; Webb, Elsos (2), O'Neil (3), Taylor (3), Sullivan (6), Cloud (8) and Ephan.Taylor hits — Gladd 2 (HR), Kennedy 2 (2B), Malott 2, Simpson 2, Frickel, Manning, Sutter, Roemmich, Kunkel.Lewis-Clark State hits — Nguyen 2, Jaha 2, Reed 2, Ephan 2, Prescott (2B), Johnson.Stars of the gameTaylor senior first baseman SAM GLADD belted a three-run home run in the top of the third that sparked a six-run inning for the Taylor Trojans.Lewis-Clark State third baseman JACKSON JAHA created a run, stealing a base and scoring off a wild pitch in the bottom of the first. He also provided expert defense, throwing Taylor's Quinn Kunkel out at second in the top of the seventh after he hit a bloop single.Quote of note"What they did in 2026 is awesome. That will move them forward to some good things. The LC State program is in a very good spot right now, and it's ready to take another big step next year." — LC State coach Jeremiah Robbins reflecting on his team's season.Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2260, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.

Tennessee (38-20) will play East Carolina (36-22-1) Friday in the Chapel Hill Regional of the 2026 NCAA Tournament.North Carolina (45-11-1) will host the regional as a No. 5 national seed. The Tar Heels will play No. 4 regional seed VCU (37-23) at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.The Vols, a No. 2 regional seed, and No. 3 regional seed East Carolina will open regional play Friday at noon EDT. ESPNU will televise the contest. North Carolina and the Rams will play at 5 p.m. EDT and the game can be watched on ESPN+.Friday will mark the fifth meeting between Tennessee and East Carolina. The Vols are 3-1 in previous games in the all-time series, dating to 1996. Tennessee has a 2-1 record in games contested at neutral sites. The Vols have won both NCAA Tournament games between the two schools.Tennessee first played East Carolina on Feb. 25, 1996, with the Pirates earning a, 5-4, victory in Wilmington, North Carolina. The teams last played on March 5, 2016, with the Vols winning, 5-2, in Greenville, North Carolina.The Vols swept East Carolina in the Kinston, North Carolina Super Regional of the 2001 NCAA Tournament. Tennessee defeated the Pirates, 13-10, on June 2, 2001. Tennessee also won, 6-3, on June 3, 2001.More: NCAA Chapel Hill Regional TV, schedule, game timesFollow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Tennessee versus ECU baseball series all-time results

Dan Powers-USA TODAY Network via Imagn ImagesStartup dynasty fantasy football drafts are ongoing, and redraft leagues will get cracking in three months. During those events, it might be a decent idea to take a flyer on Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason.Mason’s RB2 case depends on volume, efficiency, and whether Aaron Jones finally gives up touches.The veteran tailback is on tap for RB1-RB2 duty in 2026, and he made a list of potential “sleepers” published by Fansided last week.Minnesota’s Backfield Could Create Real Fantasy ValueMason could be an undercover stud in 2026.Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) rushes the football against the Washington Commanders during the second half on Dec. 7, 2025 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Mason handled an important role in Minnesota’s ground attack as the Vikings leaned on their rushing offense during a late-season NFC matchup against Washington. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn ImagesFansided: Mason Is a Fantasy SleeperJustin Carter at Fansided tossed out eight sleepers for your upcoming drafts, and on Mason, he explained, “Mason’s first season with the Minnesota Vikings was solid. He rushed for a career-high six touchdowns and came close to his previous career high in rushing yards despite playing just 44 percent of Minnesota’s offensive snaps, with Aaron Jones serving as the team’s lead back for the 12 games Jones was healthy and active for.”“Now, Jones is a year older. He has over 1,500 career carries. He missed time last year with a variety of injuries. And he’s backed up by one of, IMO, one of the best backup running backs in the league. This is a situation where fantasy managers could get a massive reward if the Vikings end up using Mason as the starting running back at some point.”Mason was a breath of fresh air for the Vikings’ rushing offense last year, especially early in the season.Carter continued, “There’s one issue that caps his upside a bit, though: he’s a complete non-factor as a receiver. Mason had 159 carries last year, but just 16 targets. That’s, uhh, a pretty big disparity, and it wasn’t a result of game planning.”“Jones had 132 carries — fewer than Mason due to missing five games — but was still targeted 41 times. Still, in standard and even half-PPR, Mason is a great player to throw a dart at later in your fantasy draft.”His 2025 OutputHow productive was Mason in Year No. 1 with the Vikings? Quite is the answer. He logged 159 carries for 758 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, paydirts that were ultra-refreshing because the 2024 Vikings almost refused to score rushing touchdowns altogether. Mason also caught 14 passes for 51 yards, a modest mark.His problem? Attention. Touches. Emphasis. Like this year, Minnesota has Aaron Jones lined up to share the RB1-RB2 workload, a one-two punch of experience and dependability. Jones isn’t the type of guy teams put on the bench, so the pair basically coexist.Had Mason been granted the touch load of an RB1 — like Travis Etienne, for example, in Jacksonville — in the arena of 260 rushing attempts, here’s what Mason’s stat line would look like:— 260 Carries— 1,239 Rushing Yards— 4.8 Yards/Carry— 10 Touchdowns— 23 Receptions— 83 Receiving YardsHe Just Needs Carries and TouchesWhen the offseason began in January, a large faction of Vikings fans expected the club to release Jones, who battled injuries in 2025 — and battles some form of injury nearly every season. Jones will be 32 this winter, and age-32 running backs aren’t often hot commodities.Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) carries the football against the Chicago Bears during the second half on Sep. 8, 2025 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Mason fought through contact from Bears safety Kevin Byard III (31) while helping Minnesota establish offensive balance in an early NFC North showdown. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesBut Jones accepted a paycut to stay in Minnesota, keeping in the mix for 2026. That flattened Mason’s broad outlook this season. Had Jones departed, Mason would’ve been the next man up by default and possibly a bellcow RB1. Until it happens, Mason will encounter a familiar narrative: the guy just needs more rushing attempts. When he gets the ball, he chips off about 5 yards per carry. He can’t blossom as a true-blue RB1 unless he gets 200-300 carries.The Fansided theory evidently operates on the pretense that Mason will get closer to RB1 duty, rather than the shared setup on the docket right now.RotoBaller‘s Patrick McGrath on Mason: “With a healthier offensive line and improved quarterback play, his second season with the Vikings could be marginally more productive even if his role remains largely unchanged.”“At 27 years old, Mason is RotoBaller’s dynasty RB52, and while the breakout calls have quieted, he is still capable of playing out the final year of his contract as an occasional flex option with notable insurance upside.”Other Vikings Sleepers?For fantasy football sake, the Vikings don’t have too many sleepers — everyone already knows that Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and Kyler Murray are draftable. Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (27) carries the football against the Houston Texans during first-quarter preseason action on Aug. 9, 2025 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mason picked up early rushing yards as Minnesota worked to establish rhythm on the ground during the exhibition matchup against Houston. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn ImagesBut if push came to shove for a Vikings-themed fantasy sleeper list, it would probably look like this:Demond Claiborne (RB)T.J. Hockenson (TE)J.J. McCarthy (QB)Second-year pass-catcher Tai Felton could bloom, too, but the probability of that shrank when interim general manager Rob Brzezinski signed Jennings.Mason turned 27 on Sunday.

Dong Guangping, 68, fled China at least three other times but was always sent back. His friends hope things might be different this time.

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Harry Kane wins Golden ShoeCongratulations, Harry Kane! The FC Bayern forward has won the prestigious Golden Shoe, the award for the leading goalscorer in the European leagues. In his third season with the German record champions, the 32-year-old netted 36 goals in the Bundesliga (factor 2) to finish top of the ranking with 72 points, ahead of Erling Haaldand (54 points) of Manchester City and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé (50 points). “Personally it’s been the best season of my career,” said Kane after completing the double of the league and DFB Cup. The England captain netted a whopping 61 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions.Enjoy all 36 of Kane’s Bundesliga goals in 2025/26:Dieser Inhalt kann hier leider nicht dargestellt werden. Zum Anschauen kannst du die Website des FC Bayern München besuchen:Artikel auf fcbayern.comThe Golden Shoe has been presented by European Sports Media (ESM) since 1997. UEFA (from 1967/68) was previously responsible for the award. It’s the second time Kane has claimed the honour of Europe’s best goalscorer following his debut 2023/24 campaign. He joins an illustrious list of names like Gerd Müller (1970 and 1972) and Robert Lewandowski (2021 and 2022) who have won the trophy twice during their time in Munich. Former FCB players Roy Makaay and Luca Toni are also on the star-studded list of former winners, albeit as players of Deportivo La Coruña and ACF Fiorentina respectively.The top 10 in the Golden Shoe ranking1. Harry Kane (FC Bayern), 72 points, 36 goals (factor 2) 2. Erling Haaland (Manchester City), 54 points, 27 goals (factor 2) 3. Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), 50 points, 25 goals (factor 2) 4. Dion Beljo (Dinamo Zagreb), 46.5 points, 31 goals (factor 1.5) 5. Vedat Muriqi (RCD Mallorca), 46 points, 23 goals (factor 2) 6. Igor Thiago (Brentford FC) 44 points, 22 goals (factor 2) 7. Luis Suárez (Sporting Lisbon), 42 points, 28 goals (factor 1.5) 8. Estéban Lepaul (SCO Angers & Stade Rennais), 42 points, 21 goals (factor 2) 9. Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart), 38 points, 19 goals (factor 2) 10. Ryan Mmaee (Omonia Nicosia), 37.5 points, 25 goals (factor 1.5)Explanation: goals scored by players from the top five leagues according to UEFA’s five-year coefficient are multiplied by a factor of two, while those scored by players in the leagues from sixth to 22nd position are multiplied by 1.5. For players from any other league there’s no bonus. Goals in play-off matches do not count.With a hat-trick in the final, Harry Kane fired FC Bayern to DFB Cup glory on Saturday:Kane crowns remarkable season in style

Celik’s future to be resolved in coming daysRoma is called upon to re-establish contact with Zeki Çelik’s entourage, another matter that has been pending for the past few weeks. The Turkish full-back, who will be playing for his national team at the World Cup in a few weeks, is one of the areas the club will need to clarify ahead of next season.According to Il Tempo, initial discussions between the parties in recent months quickly stalled due to a significant gap between supply and demand, effectively freezing any possibility of a contract extension. This stalemate forced the Giallorossi management to stall, postponing any final decision until later in the season. Now, however, with the summer schedule approaching and technical evaluations underway at Trigoria, the situation is set to be reassessed. Roma will reconvene with the player’s agent to understand their respective intentions and determine whether they can rekindle the dialogue, or alternatively, explore different scenarios for the future. Çelik’s position therefore remains open and must be monitored closely. The Giallorossi will have to decide whether to continue working with the defender or explore alternative solutions to strengthen their defence. Further contact is expected in the coming days, which could prove crucial in reopening negotiations that have been stalled for months and clarifying his future in next season’s squad.

Barcelona identify €80m-rated Premier League winger as surprise attacking targetWhile much of the attention around Barcelona has focused on signing a traditional centre-forward to replace Robert Lewandowski, the Catalan club are now seriously exploring more dynamic attacking profiles capable of transforming the frontline in multiple ways.According to AS, one of the names climbing the shortlist once again after a brief hiatus is Anthony Gordon.The Newcastle United winger is admired both by Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco, with Barcelona seeing the England international as a player who could immediately add needed traits.A different type of attacking solutionBarcelona’s interest in Gordon says a lot about the direction the club may be preparing to take next season.Apart from searching purely for a penalty-box striker, the coaching staff is also looking at forwards capable of rotating positions, attacking space aggressively, and pressing with high energy.Anthony Gordon is back on Barcelona’s radar. (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Getty Images)In this regard, Gordon has been one of Newcastle’s most important players this season. His influence has grown enormously, especially since the departure of Alexander Isak, both because of his performances and because of the emotional connection he has built with supporters.That is one of the reasons negotiations would be extremely complicated.What about the financesGordon recently renewed his contract until 2030, placing Newcastle in a strong negotiating position. In fact, it is said that the Premier League side is expected to demand close to €80 million if serious talks begin.Newcastle United could be forced to sell Gordon. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)However, the situation may not be entirely straightforward because Barcelona know Newcastle could be forced into a significant sale this summer due to financial balancing requirements. That possibility has encouraged several major European clubs to monitor the situation closely, including Bayern Munich.Furthermore, the player himself is also believed to be open to leaving Newcastle if the right sporting opportunity arrives. For now, though, the Catalan club is still deciding whether to permanently sign Marcus Rashford or not. If that happens, the Blaugrana might not move for Gordon at all.

Since New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart was seen at President Donald Trump’s rally on Friday, everyone seems to have an opinion.From sports commentators to fans to teammates, everyone seems to have something to say.Now, Baltimore Ravens safety Marlon Humphrey has chimed in with his opinion of the situation, and it’s unpopular with a lot of fans.He thinks people are fake for hating Trump.“The fake Trump hate funny to me. Majority voted for him but everybody seem to hate him lol…Somebody lying”The fake Trump hate funny to me. Majority voted for him but everybody seem to hate him lol…Somebody lying 🤥— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) May 24, 2026Some fans on social media had a lot to say about Humphrey’s comments, and most weren’t supportive.“Majority did not. He didn’t hit 50%. Do you also not realize the amount that do not vote? We have 332 million. Only about 140mil ish voted. Also his approval is bad so its not fake.”Majority did not. He didn’t hit 50%. Do you also not realize the amount that do not vote? We have 332 million. Only about 140mil ish voted. Also his approval is bad so its not fake.— Erick M. (@erickmiles) May 24, 2026Every single time a football player tweets about politics you see why repeated hits to the head are not good for your critical thinking skills— Seur (@Seur101) May 24, 2026In the past, Humphrey has made other controversial comments that have not gone over well with fans, either. This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Ravens Marlon Humphrey defends Jaxson Dart on social media

Sep 27, 2025; Athens, Georgia, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (17) runs against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Demello Jones (15) in the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images ‘Those Days Are Gone’ — Kalen DeBoer Handed Blunt Reality Check As Alabama Expectations Dip – Yahoo Sports“They also understand that the way that college football and that DNA is now produced on a weekly basis in this conference, I predict you’re not gonna see what Nick Saban or Kirby Smart did in the early 2000s and 2021-2022. Those days are gone. We gotta get into a new mindset, the nine wins are gonna be what 11 wins used to be in this conference.”To further highlight Alabama’s fall from grace since Saban’s retirement, the Crimson Tide have tied for the fourth-best odds to win the SEC Championship next season. In addition, according to PFSN’s College Football Playoff Meter, the Crimson Tide have been tabbed to win 7.38 games next season.I feel like predicting Alabama to win less than 8 games next year is a bit ridiculous. The Tide was the second best team in the SEC a year ago, and won in the first round of the playoffs, making them a top-ten program overall. Are there questions and reasons to doubt Alabama could contend for a title? Of course. But under 8 wins? Ehhhh….Perhaps the most interesting part of Alabama’s recruiting strategy is the overall philosophy behind it.According to Wiltfong, Alabama feels extremely confident about the talent acquired in both the 2025 and 2026 recruiting classes. Because of that confidence, the Crimson Tide plans to be far more selective in the 2027 cycle.Rather than simply chasing numbers, Alabama appears focused on taking only high-priority prospects while supplementing the roster through the transfer portal with proven championship-level difference makers.That approach reflects the modern reality of college football roster building.Programs can no longer rely strictly on high school recruiting classes. Balancing elite prep talent with experienced portal additions has become essential, and Alabama appears determined to maximize both avenues under DeBoer and Morgan.There are some interesting things at work here. First, Alabama, and all of the programs, are having to prepare for the fact that players are getting more years of eligibility, whether through endless NCAA exemptions or through the potential upcoming 5 for 5 rule solidification. Either way, there’s going to be less room for freshmen. Next, I think it also underscores a shift that Alabama likely isn’t giving full roster payment to 85 players like during the scholarship era. There’s a lot of talk that more like 70-75 players on a given roster will be paid as such, and the rest will be more akin to what used to be walk-ons, but on some form of scholarship.There’s veteran options there. Rico Scott and Derek Meadows are among those who will likely factor in heavily as the season gets underway, but there’s at least one freshman who could potentially make a major contribution as well.Morgan had a stellar showing at A-Day, finishing with three catches for 74 yards and a touchdown according to AL.com’s unofficial stats. He also provides a nice counterpunch to the play styles of Coleman-Williams and Brooks, checking at 6-foot-4, 223 pounds.The past two seasons, Alabama has seen major contributions from a true freshman at wide receiver. Don’t be surprised if Morgan, a Benjamin Russell product, becomes the next one to make an impact.Speaking of high-potential freshmen, Cederian Morgan might very well have the highest potential of them all. While Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks are the easy top-two receivers on the squad, I think things are pretty wide open after that, and Morgan’s unique combination of size, athleticism, and polish could very well get him on the field early in 2026.McVay said Alabama’s offensive playbook and Simpson’s SEC competition made it possible to recognize the quarterback’s pro potential in 15 starts.“Is it a short sample size? Yeah, it is,” McVay said. “But it’s easier to evaluate that short sample size because you’re evaluating all parts of, all right, in the dropback-pass game you’re watching the three-step, the five-step, the seven-step. The way the field’s distributed, the types of coverage contours he’s seeing in the SEC are similar to what he would see. He’s reading with his feet with a timing and rhythm. He’s redirecting protections. He’s getting under center and throwing play-actions off seven-step, one-hitch or eight-step, one-hitch timing and anticipating second-level in-cuts with front-pad throws, making a little bit of plays off-schedule. And so you’re saying, ‘You know, I like this.’“I like that it wasn’t easy. I like that he had to wait his time at Alabama. And the easy thing, especially nowadays, would have been able to run away. I like that he didn’t. They lose to Florida State and the sky is falling, and they find a way to be able to kind of have some resolve and they get into the SEC championship and there’s a lot of good things in the midst of it. I like the way that he responded when guys would drop balls and he didn’t flinch, or when guys would give up an immediate free runner and didn’t say a word except for, ‘Man, where can I be better?’ Those were the things that the tape communicated to me.”The best offensive mind in all of football is absolutely enamored with Ty Simpson, and I think that’s as good of a sign as any that Ty has a real shot to have a long and prosperous NFL career. Finally, if you missed it yesterday, Alabama’s baseball squad got their seeding in the Tuscaloosa Regional. The Alabama Crimson Tide earned the #7 National seed on Monday morning. Joining the #1 Tide in the Tuscaloosa Regional will be 2nd seeded Oklahoma State, 3rd seeded South Carolina Upstate, and 4th seeded Alabama State. The Tuscaloosa Regional is lined up with the Tallahassee Regional and the 10th overall seed, the Florida State Seminoles. OSU and SCU will open play at 1 p.m. CT Friday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama and Alabama State will follow at 6 p.m; CT on Friday night. The Tide has now made the NCAA Tournament in four straight seasons, and will host for the second time in that time frame, joining the special 2023 team. If the Tide survives the Regional they would host a Super Regional for the first time since 2006.Congrats to the stick ball guys! Roger will keep you updated here at RBR as the tournament advances. That’s all for today. Roll Tide!

Napoli star McTominay to feature on limited edition Bank of Scotland bank noteScott McTominay is set to appear on a limited-edition £20 bank note after the Bank of Scotland unveiled a special design inspired by the Napoli midfielder’s famous overhead kick for Scotland against Denmark, the goal that helped seal the nation’s first World Cup qualification in 28 years.The note commemorates Scotland’s dramatic 4-2 victory at Hampden Park last November, which sent the country to the 2026 World Cup for the first time since France 1998. McTominay’s acrobatic finish that evening has already been cemented in Scottish football folklore, and the bank has now immortalised it in banknote form.PARMA, ITALY – APRIL 12: Scott McTominay of Napoli SSC reacts during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio 1913 and SSC Napoli at Stadio Ennio Tardini on April 12, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)McTominay pride as limited edition bank note raises money for homeless charityMcTominay was clearly moved by the recognition.“Moments like that belong to everyone who follows the team, so seeing my goal featured on a Scottish banknote feels incredibly special,” he said. “Being able to work with Bank of Scotland to turn it into something that also supports Crisis, and the work they do to tackle homelessness, makes me even more proud.”Bank of Scotland’s Scottish executive committee chair Emma Noble was equally effusive. “Scott’s overhead kick is already regarded as one of the nation’s greatest ever goals,” she said. “It has been a privilege to work with him to bring it to life in such a unique way.”Just 100 notes have been produced, with 50 available to the public through collector auctions and a prize draw, both running until June 26. Proceeds will support Crisis Scotland, a charity tackling homelessness.“It’s a bit surreal to be honest” Scott McTominay reacts to having his bicycle kick honoured by the Bank of Scotland on a £20 note 🤩 pic.twitter.com/GiX6hUWwJD

Italy’s June 2026 squad: 19 debutants, 11 without Serie A experienceSilvio Baldini’s Italy squad for June friendlies will be filled with debutants at a senior level, 19 out of 24, and almost half of the players have never played a Serie A game.Italy are sadly preparing for June friendly games against Luxembourg and Greece after missing out on World Cup qualification.Caretaker coach Silvio Baldini named his 24-man squad list on Monday, only including one established player, captain Gianluigi Donnarumma and a few emerging young talents who already have international experience, such as Marco Palestra and Francesco Pio Esposito.Donnarumma, Palestra and Esposito are also among the 13 players in the Italy squad to have played at least one game in Serie A.The others are Honest Ahanor, Davide Bartesaghi, Pietro Comuzzo, Luca Lipani, Cher Ndour, Niccolò Pisilli, Lorenzo Venturino, Francesco Camarda, Jeff Ekhator, and Seydou Fini.There are three players from Borussia Dortmund: Filippo Mane, Luca Reggiani and Samuele Inacio. They might not have Serie A experience, but they’ve all made their Bundesliga debut this season. Reggiani and Inacio have also scored their first goal in the Bundesliga this term.DORTMUND, GERMANY – MAY 08: Samuele Inacio of Borussia Dortmund celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt at Signal Iduna Park on May 08, 2026 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Leon Kügeler/Getty Images)Of the 24 players in the Azzurri squad, 19 have been called up for the first time at a senior level, and the team’s average age is 20 years and 6 months. Among them, only four have already made at least one appearance with La Nazionale at a senior level: Donnarumma, Palestra, Pisilli and Esposito.Italy will visit Luxembourg on Wednesday, June 3 and then travel to Greece for the final game of the season on Sunday, June 7.Italy squad for June 2026 friendliesLIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 08: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on February 08, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Goalkeepers: Giovanni Daffara (Avellino), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Lorenzo Palmisani (Frosinone);Defenders: Honest Ahanor (Atalanta), Davide Bartesaghi (Milan), Fabio Chiarodia (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Costantino Favasuli (Catanzaro), Filippo Mane (Borussia Dortmund), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Luca Reggiani (Borussia Dortmund);Midfielders: Matteo Dagasso (Venezia), Giacomo Faticanti (Juventus), Luca Lipani (Sassuolo), Cher Ndour (Fiorentina), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Lorenzo Venturino (Roma);Forwards: Francesco Camarda (Lecce), Luigi Cherubini (Sampdoria), Jeff Ekhator (Genoa), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Seydou Fini (Frosinone), Samuele Inacio (Borussia Dortmund), Luca Koleosho (Paris FC).

Brian Fluharty-Imagn ImagesThe round robin of the IIHF World Championships ends today, and seven Bruins are on the schedule. Five played yesterday, including James Hagens, who centered the second line for the United States. They beat Hungary 7-3, and they need a win today to guarantee their spot in the playoffs. Lukas Reichel and Germany ended their tournament yesterday; they wait for today’s results to determine their playoff spot. Matej Blümel and Czechia also played yesterday, but they fell to Norway 4-1. Today’s World Championship schedule and standings are down below. In other Bruins-related news, a P-Bruins’ KHL rights were moved yesterday.Elsewhere around the league, the Hurricanes beat the Canadiens last night and took a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Nathan MacKinnon’s status still remains unknown going into Game 4 out west, one that the Avalanche need to win to keep their season alive. The Penguins are in a hybrid rebuild. Do they move ahead and embrace the youth movement?Also, some center targets at the draft to take a look at. Happy Tuesday, catch up on Bruins and league news in today’s Daily Bean:Boston BruinsREPORT CARD: The Bruins needed a bounce-back year from Jeremy Swayman, and they got one. Not only that, but they got a Vezina Trophy-finalist year out of him. They were also lifted by backup goaltender Joonas Korpisalo, who picked up crucial points for the Bruins down the stretch. Check out their grades in BHN’s first Bruins report card of the summer. And there may be a decision to make behind Swayman this summer.More player report cards will be rolling out in the next few weeks. IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Check out who is playing, how to watch, and the eight Bruins’ schedules for the World Championships. The standings and today’s schedule are down below. James Hagens (USA): 2C; 1 assist, +1, 4 SOG, 9-of-15 faceoffs won, 15:22 TOIAlex Steeves (USA): 2LW; -1, 4 SOG, 17:03 TOIMason Lohrei (USA): 2LD; 5 SOG, 1 blocked shot, 17:38 TOIMatej Blümel (CZE): 4RW; -4, 16:05 TOILukas Reichel (GER): 1LW; 1 assist, +2, 2 SOG, 15:24 TOIHockey News Hub (via 𝕏): Over in Russia, Georgii Merkulov’s rights were traded from CSKA Moscow to Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod. Merkulov is the P-Bruins all-time leading scorer, and he is a group-six UFA this summer. TRADE #KHLTo CSKA: Rights to #CBJ Yegor ZamulaTo Torpedo: Rights to #NHLBruins Georgii Merkulov + monetary compensation.— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) May 25, 2026NHL News & National Hockey NowCarolina Hockey Now: The Hurricanes went into Montreal and took Game 3 in overtime last night. Shayne Gostisbehere opened the scoring, and former Bruin Taylor Hall scored the Canes’ second goal, but Montreal tied it after both goals and forced an extra period. It’s the first time the Carolina Hurricanes have had an Eastern Conference Finals lead in the last 20 years. NHL (video via YouTube): At the 14:06 mark of overtime, Andrei Svechnikov scored the game-winner to put Carolina up 2-1. Montreal Hockey Now: The Canadiens only got 12 shots on goal, and only one in the third period and overtime combined. That lack of shots cost them. They scored in the third period, taking a lead, but the goal was called back for offside. Marc Dumont has the highlights from last night’s game. PLAYOFFSM1 – Hurricanes (2) vs. A3 – Canadiens (1)C1 – Avalanche (0) vs. P1 – Golden Knights (3)Colorado Hockey Now: Nathan MacKinnon is still an unknown for Game 4. Jared Bednar said neither he nor the team knows what his status is as the Avalanche face elimination tonight. Aarif Deen has more from the Western Conference Final. Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins are in the middle of a Kyle Dubas hybrid rebuild, and they have a plethora of young talent within the organization. Dan Kingerski has more on whether or not it’s time for Dubas to fully embrace the youth movement. Philly Hockey Now: Centers. The Flyers need them, and Will James takes a look at the top prospects in the upcoming draft. He has the top three centers as well as the ones that will land in the Flyers’ range. The Flyers pick 21st. Boston selects 23rd. Sportsnet: The Maple Leafs’ front office had a “positive” meeting with Auston Matthews, according to Elliotte Friedman. He added that “things are in a good place,” but more decisions have to be made. His goal is to win in Toronto. Today’s NHL ScheduleAvalanche at Golden Knights, Game 4 – 9:00 PM (US: ESPN; CA: CBC, SN, TVA)*win and advanceToday’s IIHF World Championship ScheduleHungary 1 vs. Latvia 8 – 6:20 AM (CA: TSN2) (YouTube)Norway vs. Denmark – 6:20 AM (US: NHLN; CA: TSN4)United States (3) vs. Austria – 10:20 AM (US: NHLN; CA: TSN2) (YouTube)Sweden vs. Slovakia – 10:20 AM (CA: TSN4) (YouTube)Switzerland vs. Finland (2) – 2:20 PM (CA: TSN2) (YouTube)Czechia (1) vs. Canada (1) – 2:20 PM (US: NHLN; CA: TSN4)IIHF World Championship StandingsGroup A (Points; W-OTW-OTL-L)Switzerland (18; 6-0-0-0)Finland (18; 6-0-0-0)Latvia (12; 4-0-0-3)Germany (10; 3-0-1-3)Austria (9; 3-0-0-3)United States (8; 2-1-0-3)Hungary (5; 1-0-0-5)Great Britain (0; 0-0-0-7)Group BCanada (17; 5-1-0-0)Norway (13; 4-0-1-1)Czechia (13; 4-0-1-1)Slovakia (11; 3-1-0-2)Sweden (9; 3-0-0-3)Slovenia (6; 1-1-1-4)Denmark (5; 1-1-0-4)Italy (1; 0-0-1-6)The top four teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals. FOLLOW @JACKSTUDLEY13 ON 𝕏 | FOLLOW @BOSHockeyNow ON 𝕏The post Daily Bean: World Championships, Another Overtime Winner, MacKinnon TBD Tonight appeared first on Boston Hockey Now.

Pistons' Isaiah Stewart, Caris LeVert part of 2 offseason trade possibilities originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Detroit Pistons didn't live up to the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed, and that could mean shakeup is coming.They do have a variety of trade possibilities to pursue, and players like Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert could play prominent roles in deals.ESPN wrote a new article on Tuesday in which six trades were pitched for this offseason. Two involved the Pistons, and both of those featured Stewart and LeVert getting sent out of town.The first sends Stewart, LeVert, Ron Holland and the 21st pick this year to the Dallas Mavericks for Kyrie Irving."Irving might be just the secondary scorer and creator Detroit needs next to Cade Cunningham after its offense crumbled in the playoffs," ESPN's Zach Kram wrote in that article.MORE: Bronny James' golf swing makes his dad look badThe other suggested deal, which clearly couldn't happen in addition and would instead have to happen instead of the Irving trade, would send Stewart, LeVert and Duncan Robinson to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and a future first-round pick."Both Robinson and LeVert would give the Sixers rotation-level shooters on the wing who could either start or contribute off the bench for teams with playoffs aspirations," ESPN's Andre Snellings wrote in that article. "Stewart is a starting-caliber big man with a defensive edge who also is accustomed to coming off the bench during his time with the Pistons. This combination is ideal for the 76ers with Joel Embiid in the fold, as Stewart could start during Embiid's absences and provide strong bench support when Embiid is healthy."MORE: Mavs' Jalen Brunson mistake joins constant Luka Doncic narrativeBoth would be taking risks for the Pistons that a new, aging star (Irving or George) would fit with their core. But if the cost is mostly bench players from Detroit, it may be a route worth trying to see if it can push the Pistons to another level.More NBA news:James Harden might be delusionalBobby Marks sees 5 possible outcomes for LeBron JamesHeat, Norman Powell can impact the Giannis trade pictureCJ McCollum heads for interesting free agencyTimberwolves can't afford to lose this talented free agent

Harry Kane crowned 2025/26 European Golden Shoe winnerAfter scoring 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances in the 2025/26 season, Harry Kane has been awarded the European Golden Shoe.The England captain finished well ahead of Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé, who came second and third respectively.It's the second time Kane wins the award, having also claimed the Golden Shoe in the 2023/24 season. In doing so, he joins Bayern legends Gerd Müller and Robert Lewandowski as players to have won the prize twice.Across all competitions this season, Kane scored a remarkable 61 goals in 51 appearances.“It was the best season of my career personally,” Kane said after helping Bayern secure the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal.Top 10 in the 2025/26 European Golden Shoe rankingsGoals scored in UEFA’s top five leagues are multiplied by a factor of two. Goals scored in leagues ranked sixth to 22nd are multiplied by 1.5, while goals scored in all other leagues receive no bonus points. Goals scored in play-off matches don't count.

A BP fuel sign is seen, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, in Marietta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, file)2026-05-26T12:00:48Z BP has ousted its chairman over what it called serious concerns related to “important governance standards, oversight and conduct.” The departure was abrupt and unexpected, with Albert Manifold having been appointed to the position just last year.BP’s board named Ian Tyler as interim chair on Tuesday, effective immediately.The company said that it will begin the process of finding a permanent chair.BP, based in London, is a “supermajor,” one of the five largest oil production and exploration companies in the world by revenue and profit.The company maintains operations in about 60 countries.Last year there were media reports that British oil giant Shell was in talks to buy rival BP. Shell denied the reports at the time. Industry analysts have suggested that BP would be an attractive takeover target after a plan to shift its focus to renewable energy, which was abandoned earlier last year, left its shares undervalued in comparison to other oil companies.BP has also struggled to recover from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, which killed 17 workers and forced the company to pay billions of dollars for environmental damage in the Gulf of Mexico.Shares tumbled 6% before the opening bell on the NYSE.

Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner arrives at the French Open on a 29-match win streak, having recently swept six consecutive ATP 1000 titles and completed the Career Golden Masters. The Onion shares everything you need to know about the four-time Grand Slam champion. Height: 8-foot-6 (with tennis racket on head) Opacity: 37% Pre-Match Ritual: Watching instructional tennis videos on TikTok Favorite Surface: Margherita Catchphrase: “Yippee! I hit it!” Nickname: The Novak Djokovic of tennis Look: Bridgerton villain Greatest Fear: Ball boy uprising Sponsor: Vito’s Hot Little Shorts Super Bowl Wins: 0 The post Player Profile: Jannik Sinner appeared first on The Onion.

Faculty at Harvard University voted to set limits on the number of A’s awarded to students, citing the need to curb grade inflation. What do you think? “A’s should be reserved for the students with the most exceptionally rich parents.” Jessica Sadler, Grocery Pricer “I didn’t know grades even went above C.” George Rennert, Sediment Researcher “You don’t have this problem in a sticker-based grading system.” Wolfgang Frischenmeyer, Marathon Organizer The post Harvard Caps Number Of A Grades appeared first on The Onion.

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Jill Arden Lukeman, a Connecticut-based interior designer and owner of The Mariner and the Muse, transformed her 1920s cottage and turned the downstairs bathroom into a fun, “feminine” moment. READ MORE...

The Pioneer Baseball League has, in simple terms, three new faces in its 12-team lineup for 2026: The Modesto (Calif.) Roadsters, the Long Beach (Calif.) Coast and the RedPocket Mobiles.One of these is not like the other — the Mobiles don’t have a home ballpark and will be on the road for all of their 96 regular-season games — but those others continue a tradition nearly as old as the league itself, which dates to 1939.The original six-team lineup, including the Twin Falls Cowboys, lasted one season; the Idaho Falls Russets replaced the Lewiston Indians in 1940.Skipping the years where the league was dormant during World War II, the Great Falls Electrics and Billings Mustangs came aboard in 1948 and the Salt City Bees went away in 1959 (and came back in 1967, for three seasons).You see the pattern. Even when the PBL was affiliated with Major League Baseball, there was movement. Thirty cities have hosted a Pioneer League team, with a few repeating in different eras.Missoula had the Timberjacks from 1956-60, making Bob Uecker and Jim Kaat the Garden City’s most famous baseball alums before the Lethbridge Black Diamonds moved in as the Missoula Osprey in 1998. Now you might have to go with Paul Goldschmidt.Then came minor league contraction and now the PaddleHeads call Missoula home as the 16th incarnation of a PBL charter member (Pocatello Cardinals, 1939).Back to the present: The Mobiles replace the Northern Colorado Owlz, who moved from Orem, Utah, when the PBL became an MLB “Partner League,” in 2021. Early last season financial and league issues caused the franchise to fold. It became the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and shared the stadium of the Rocky Mountain Vibes, a little.The Vibes are gone, too. The former Helena Brewers moved to Colorado Springs in 2019 (the Mobiles/Owlz were also in Helena for a minute), also folded and have been replaced by Modesto.The Modesto Roadsters, by the way, are a rebranding of the original nickname of Glo Riders, though the club will still use that moniker from time to time.That leaves the Grand Junction Jackalopes. From 1978-2000 the club was called the Butte Copper Kings before a move to Casper, Wyo., as the Casper Rockies (and later, Ghosts) and another in 2012 to Grand Junction. There they became the Rockies again but then adopted the Jackalopes mascot in 2023.The Jackalopes’ departure for Long Beach leaves Colorado without a team and California with four, including the defending champion Oakland Ballers, who come to Kalispell next Tuesday.Montana also has four in our Glacier Range Riders along with Missoula, Billings and Great Falls, Idaho (Idaho Falls, Boise) has two and Utah (Ogden) has one.Pioneer League president Mike Shapiro remains positive about the league.“I think we’re looking at a very exciting season with new teams,” he said Monday. “Modesto has a newly renovated facility.“And Yuba-Sutter is going full ABS on balls and strikes, not just appeals.”This is where the term “Partner League,” which the PBL is at least through 2028, applies. Officials are mum how much (if any) financial support MLB still gives the PBL, but the lower league has brought in innovations that big leagues monitor closely.Examples: The ABS system came to the PBL first; so did the Knockout Round to replace extra innings, which has been implemented in the Major League All-Star game.“We look as what do as a league as a bellwether for the Major leagues,” Shapiro said. “And that’s exciting.”So yes, Yuba-Sutter relocated from Davis, Calif., to Marysville two years ago and rebranded from the “High Wheelers” to the “Freebirds.” Twelve teams is still three times as many as the PBL had in 1964, and while Shapiro would love to find a permanent home for the Mobiles, he’s excited.“It’s a lot of fun and it’s affordable,” he said of the circuit. “We do a great service for young players who are trying to climb the ladder and give them an opportunity to play pro ball. So there are a lot of good reasons for the Pioneer League.”

The Glacier Range Riders are heading into their home opener with the kind of momentum the franchise has rarely seen in its five-year span.After opening the season with a 5-1 road trip through Great Falls and Billings, the Range Riders return to Glacier Bank Park tied for the best six-game start in franchise history and looking like a team built to handle the heat this summer.Glacier’s offense has exploded out of the gate. Through six games, the Range Riders have scored 64 runs while hitting .313 as a team with a .458 on-base percentage, a .517 slugging percentage and 10 home runs.But inside the organization, the biggest difference has not simply been about power.“I think, for me, the biggest difference from last year, and even some priors, is the approach at the plate,” voice of the Range Riders Scot Gladstone said. “I think we have a really patient squad, a squad that’s really good at fouling off two-strike pitches.”That patience has quickly become part of Glacier’s identity.The Range Riders opened the season by setting franchise records for walks in consecutive games, consistently extending at-bats and forcing opposing pitchers into long innings.“A lot of really well-earned walks from eight-pitch at-bats, nine-pitch at-bats,” Gladstone said. “Just being able to work yourself aboard.”Assistant GM of baseball Kyle Spencer said improving the offense became a major focus during the offseason after the club struggled for consistency in 2025. Spencer said the organization specifically targeted hitters with proven offensive approaches in leagues like the MLB Draft League before bringing them to Glacier.“The offense just looks a lot different than it did last season to start the year,” Spencer said.The production has come from throughout the lineup.Jacob Steele leads the club with 13 RBIs while hitting .370 with two home runs and a .667 slugging percentage. Donovan Ratfield is batting .500 with eight RBIs, while Logan Beard and Joe McLauglin lead the team in hits with 11 each.Gladstone said Beard’s approach has helped set the tone offensively.“His approach is really solid. His baseball IQ is top notch,” Gladstone said.Glacier has also received key contributions from Tommy Rover, Jake Millan and Carson Garner during the opening week.Garner’s early success has been especially encouraging after a difficult 2025 season. Spencer said Garner arrived exhausted last year after helping Murray State make a run to the Men’s College World Series before continuing into summer league play.This offseason, Spencer said Garner committed himself to improving physically while continuing to develop offensively.“He’s going to be the person that we’re looking for to be able to carry this team,” Spencer said.The offense has grabbed much of the attention, but Glacier’s pitching staff has quietly helped stabilize the strong start.Jonah Giblin has opened the season 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA in two starts, while Jake Covey struck out seven over six innings in his professional debut against Great Falls. Relievers Jacob Hasty and Jack Maruskin have also provided stability late in games.The biggest test of the opening road trip may have come Saturday night.After opening the season with four straight wins, Glacier lost 22-7 by Billings in a game that unraveled late. Instead of allowing the loss to linger, the Range Riders responded Sunday with a composed 5-2 win to close the series.Spencer said the team’s mentality never changed after the loss.“Every loss counts, no matter how many runs you score or how many runs they score. The run differential doesn’t matter. It counts as one loss.”Gladstone believed the response may have revealed more about the team than the undefeated start itself.“The most important part about Saturday’s game was Sunday’s game.”A strong opening week has also come during a changing season across the Pioneer League. Even with three new league teams, the focus inside Glacier’s clubhouse has remained simple: Win games and develop players.Spencer said players now regularly point toward an alumni wall inside the clubhouse honoring former Range Riders who earned affiliated contracts or set franchise records. The organization has already seen multiple former players reach Major League Baseball, including former Range Rider Jonathan Pintaro making his debut with the New York Mets last season.“There’s a very clear path for all of them,” Gladstone said. “They can literally point at a TV broadcast and say, ‘That guy was here.’”Now the Range Riders return home hoping to carry that momentum into another summer at Glacier Bank Park, where the organization believes the connection between the players and the community continues to grow each season.“There’s something special in the air in year five,” Gladstone said.The Range Riders open a six-game homestand Tuesday night against the Great Falls Voyagers at Glacier Bank Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

NEW DELHI: After a gruelling 70-match league stage, the IPL 2026 season is finally set for its business end. Only four teams remain in contention from the original ten, all chasing a place in Sunday’s grand finale and a shot at lifting the coveted IPL trophy.The first playoff clash — Qualifier 1 — will see defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Gujarat Titans at the picturesque HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday. With a direct berth in the final at stake, the contest promises to be a high-intensity showdown between two of the most complete teams of the season.There is little to separate the sides on paper. Both teams finished the league stage with nine wins from 14 matches, with RCB claiming the top spot only because of a superior net run rate.RCB’s batting depth vs GT’s potent bowling attackLed by batting maestro Virat Kohli, RCB arguably possess the strongest batting unit in the tournament. Kohli has once again delivered a prolific season, scoring 577 runs, including a century and four fifties, while maintaining an impressive strike rate of 163.82.The return of opening partner Phil Salt ahead of the playoffs further strengthens the RCB top order. Salt had briefly left mid-season because of a finger injury after scoring 202 runs at a strike rate of 168.33, including two fifties.With Devdutt Padikkal (433 runs, SR 171.82) and Rajat Patidar (393 runs, SR 183.64) also in excellent form, RCB’s batting has looked relentless throughout the season. Add finishers like Tim David (SR 197.85) and Venkatesh Iyer (SR 177.52), and RCB appear equipped to challenge any bowling attack.RCB batters in IPL 2026 Powerplay RunsAverageStrike RateVirat Kohli27646.00167.3Devdutt Padikkal208104.00174.8Phil Salt11839.33157.3Standing against them is a formidable GT bowling lineup spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. Rabada has claimed 24 wickets this season, while Siraj has chipped in with 17. GT also boast reliable support from Prasidh Krishna (14 wickets) and Jason Holder (13 wickets), alongside spin spearhead Rashid Khan, who has taken 19 wickets.Their pace attack has consistently delivered breakthroughs in both the Powerplay and death overs, making this clash of RCB’s batting depth against GT’s bowling strength one of the defining themes of Qualifier 1.GT bowlers in IPL 2026 PowerplayBallsWicketsEcon.Ave.Kagiso Rabada222179.0819.76Mohammed Siraj234137.5422.62RCB vs GT: Powerplay could shape the outcomeThe contest, however, could very well be decided inside the first six overs of each innings.RCB’s explosive batting lineup will have to survive and counter GT’s new-ball threat to build a strong platform. Kohli’s duel against Rabada, especially on the bouncy Dharamsala surface, promises to be one of the biggest battles of the night. Salt’s aggressive approach against Siraj — who knows the RCB setup well from his previous stint with the franchise — could also set the tone early.At the other end, GT possess the most successful opening pair of the season. Sai Sudharsan (638 runs, SR 157.92) and Shubman Gill (616 runs, SR 161.67) currently occupy the top two spots in the Orange Cap standings heading into the playoffs.With Jos Buttler also contributing 469 runs at a strike rate of 155.29, GT’s top order has been among the most destructive this season.GT batters in IPL 2026 PowerplayRunsAverageStrike RateSai Sudharsan29148.50141.9Shubman Gill28972.25165.1Jos Buttler13366.50152.9But they now face RCB’s experienced new-ball pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Bhuvneshwar, the current Purple Cap holder with 24 wickets, and Hazlewood have made the Powerplay their hunting ground throughout the campaign.RCB also have wicket-taking options in Rasikh Dar (14 wickets), while spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have been effective in controlling the middle overs.GT’s bigger concern could be their heavy dependence on the top order. Apart from Sudharsan, Gill and Buttler, only Washington Sundar has made a notable batting contribution, scoring 303 runs at a strike rate of 153.80.RCB bowlers in IPL 2026 PowerplayBallsWicketsEcon.Ave.Bhuvneshwar Kumar168156.5712.27Josh Hazlewood126510.2943.20Jacob Duffy61511.7023.80That makes the Powerplay battle even more crucial. If RCB’s seamers can strike early, GT’s middle order could be exposed under pressure. Conversely, if GT’s quicks can neutralise Kohli and Salt up front, RCB’s batting momentum may take a hit. 131327076In many ways, Qualifier 1 could come down to a simple equation: the in-form top orders against the tournament’s most dangerous new-ball bowlers. Whichever side wins that battle may well take the first step towards the IPL 2026 title.

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 18: Bryce Young #95 of the University of Notre Dame celebrates the win after a game between University of Southern California and University of Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on October 18, 2025 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) | ISI Photos via Getty Images Everyone loves to do a player countdown for Notre Dame as we face toward the college football season, but in all fairness, the offseason is much shorter than you think. It’s really only two months in the grand scheme of things, and there will be much more to talk about in the middle of July with media days — so why not deal with the profiles before then?Welcome to the Triple Threat series. We will profile every player on Notre Dame’s roster, but I’m going to give you three at a time to save some time. Every Triple Threat post will include one offensive player, one defensive player, and one newcomer (freshman or transfer) until we have to do some different combos down the road.So let’s get started with today’s Triple Threat:OL Will Black #74DE Bryce Young #95CB Khary Adams #21WILL BLACK #74HEIGHT 6-7WEIGHT 316CLASS FRESHMANHOMETOWN LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADAHIGH SCHOOL CHOATE ROSEMARY HALL (CT)Will Black was a massive recruiting win for the Irish. Notre Dame usually does pretty well in New England, and has some good recent history with Canadian born players, but as Black rose to be a 5-Star player — he became the object of desire by every top program in the country. Black, however, wasn’t thrown to the wolves as a freshman and was able to use his freshman year to get bigger, stronger, and smarter on the football field. And now it’s Black’s turn. The gigantic redshirt freshman is the projected starter at left tackle, and the future of the Notre Dame offensive line (at least for the next two seasons). We’re going to have to see the difference in an actual game, but it’s fair to assume that Black will be a considerable upgrade at LT from Anthonie Knapp (no disrespect at all for that king) who will be playing next to him at left guard.BRYCE YOUNG #95HEIGHT 6-6WEIGHT 260CLASS JUNIORHOMETOWN CHARLOTTE, NCHIGH SCHOOL CHARLOTTE CHRISTIANBryce Young came to Notre Dame with incredible expectations. How could he not? Bryce is the son of Notre Dame legend and all-time San Francisco 49ers great, Bryant Young. More than just the name, his 5-Star ranking and his incredible size and frame all pointed toward early success in South Bend. In a lot of ways — Young lived up to those expectations as a freshman (especially on special teams).Young’s sophomore season showed that there is still some learning and development needed — although the Irish did have to move him around a bit along the defensive front. Notre Dame added a lot of depth and a new coach for the defensive line in 2026, and the hope is that Young will be able to rotationally settle into the Vyper role and be a real terror in the pass rush. KHARY ADAMS #21HEIGHT 6-1WEIGHT 187CLASS FRESHMANHOMETOWN BALTIMORE, MDHIGH SCHOOL LOYOLA BLAKEFIELDNotre Dame (especially under Mike Mickens) has become one of the premier destinations for blue-chip defensive backs. I’m not sure if a 5-Star player like Khary Adams comes to Notre Dame five years ago, but now it feels like it was a no-brainer. Adams, of course, could have gone anywhere and Notre Dame did a great job pulling him away from schools like Michigan and Penn State.Adams was sidelined this spring taking care of an injury, but despite that setback, there has been some chatter about him competing for rotational time this fall. We really won’t know anything of how that’s going until we get a couple of weeks into fall camp, but the talented Adams is a good enough player to make it happen as a freshman.

Jan 25, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; A Seattle Seahawks fan holds up a sign after the 2026 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images | Kevin Ng-Imagn Images In Today’s Links: a couple looks at the Seattle Seahawks’ roster, now and in the future; the possibility that our squad aquires Myles Garrett (do you even want to do this trade?); also, let’s keep Olu. The rumors are the story and training camp starts soon. Just a few more days and the ball will be rolling. Happy Tuesday. Thanks for being here with us at Field Gulls. Go, ‘Hawks!#np Mi Mujer by Nicolas JaarSeahawks News6 Seahawks questions fans don’t want to find out the answers to – Seaside JoeHow will Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks respond to some of these worst-case scenarios?An early Seahawks 53-man roster projection for 2026 – Seattle SportsWith OTAs beginning this week, here’s an early stab at what Seattle’s 53-man roster could look like this fall.Curtis Allen: Is a Seahawks Trade for Myles Garrett Possible? – Seahawks Draft BlogOne of the most intriguing storylines this offseason has been the relationship between Myles Garrett and the Browns. Far too many of the clues leading to the idea that a trade is a possibility are being brushed aside by the media in general.Why the Seattle Seahawks Shouldn’t Trade Olu Oluwatimi – si.comThe Seattle Seahawks have to decide if a late-round pick in the NFL Draft is worth trading a reliable backup.NFC West NewsThe road to paradise just got a little more bumpy – Revenge of the BirdsThis just might get uglyRams way-to-early hot takes for 2026 season – Turf Show TimesCould the Rams actually keep 6 tight end?!

When the Eagles parted ways with Kevin Patullo after a disastrous 2025 season, head coach Nick Sirianni embarked on an exhaustive search for his next play-caller. The team interviewed 17 candidates before landing on the 34-year-old Sean Mannion, a former backup quarterback who is quickly rising in coaching circles.During his short time in the role, Mannion has already begun outlining a philosophy that could fundamentally change how the Eagles look in 2026. Mannion comes from the LaFleur coaching tree, spending two seasons in Green Bay as the Packers' quarterbacks coach before being hired in Philadelphia. He carries strong ties to the Shanahan/McVay offensive system, a scheme renowned for its wide-zone run game, predefined passing progressions, and its ability to involve multiple skill players simultaneously.In his first media availability, Mannion was careful to describe his approach as a "blend" rather than a strict scheme. He talked about maximizing each player's strengths and putting the Eagles in a position to succeed. Those familiar with the Shanahan system understood immediately what that means for the receiver room. Distribution, motion, and scheme-created separation rather than isolation routes for your star players.The timing is no accident. The Eagles finished 19th in points and 24th in total offense in 2025, a steep regression from their Super Bowl-winning form in 2024. Mannion's arrival is a deliberate course correction, starting with presumed WR1 DeVonta Smith.For most of his Eagles career, Smith has been one of the best receivers in the NFL, who never quite got treated like it. Playing alongside A.J. Brown meant Smith was often the second option. With Brown's trade expected to be finalized after June 1, Smith becomes the unambiguous top target for the first time since his rookie season in 2021.In Mannion's offense, that distinction carries real weight. His system is expected to create abundant space for players who can win in tight spaces and on crossing routes. Smith, who is elite at the short and intermediate levels despite his lean 6-foot frame, is a near-ideal fit. Analysts have noted that Smith's ability to work the full route tree makes him especially dangerous in a scheme that relies on spacing and defined reads.Sean Mannion 🤝🏽 DeVonta Smith pic.twitter.com/GKbNnnjv7I— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) January 30, 2026No acquisition better illustrates Mannion's vision than rookie receiver Makai Lemon. GM Howie Roseman traded up from No. 23 to No. 20 overall to secure the USC product, who won the 2025 Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. At 5-foot-11, 192 pounds, Lemon possesses elite football intelligence, precise route running, and the versatility to manipulate zone coverage from the slot. The Eagles believe Lemon can contribute immediately.Additionally, the Eagles added depth this offseason by acquiring Dontayvion Wicks, who spent time with Mannion in Green Bay, and signing veterans Marquise "Hollywood" Brown and Elijah Moore.Wicks is the name to watch beyond Smith and Lemon. The 24-year-old excels after the catch and will have a head start on learning the system. Mannion's scheme rewards receivers who are flexible across multiple spots in the formation; Wicks checks that box. Hollywood Brown, meanwhile, gives the Eagles a proven deep threat. That field-stretching element should force safeties to respect the vertical game and open up the underneath zones where Smith and Lemon will operate.I’m intrigued. pic.twitter.com/1C7UJIs3X3— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) May 20, 2026The pure progression passing game Mannion intends to run also represents a meaningful shift for Jalen Hurts. In previous systems, Hurts was often asked to navigate complex pre-snap and post-snap reads; a setup that, when his primary targets were unavailable, led to the kind of forced decisions that hurt the offense. Mannion's approach offers adaptable reads that won't break down against disguised coverages. That means the wide receivers benefit directly.In a well-run system, no single receiver is ever left stranded on an island. Routes are coordinated, spacing is intentional, and the ball finds the open man, not necessarily the most talented man. This new philosophy can be distilled into a single idea: the Eagles' pass-catchers are more valuable as a collective than any one of them is individually.From my perspective, Mannion is constructing a receiver room that can stress any defense horizontally and vertically without needing A.J. Brown. Whether this translates from whiteboard to game day remains to be seen. OTAs and training camp will offer early clues, but the full picture won't emerge until the season opener on September 13.“I want to be someone who is versatile. Someone who is always looking to attack defenses in different ways. Always looking to evolve. Ultimately always looking to maximize the talent of our players.”Sean Mannion on what kind of play-caller he wants to be.— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) May 21, 2026This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: How the new Eagles OC Sean Mannion plans to unleash his receivers

Each MLB season takes on a life of its own, and 2026 is no different. While there are teams such as the Dodgers and Yankees that are meeting expectations, there are many other clubs that have either exceeded them, or disappointed their fan bases.Fantasy baseball managers who cling to the impressions they had of teams during draft season are still streaming against the likes of the Nats and the Rays, who have been two of the toughest matchups for opposing pitchers. Here is an updated perspective on the best lineups to stream starters against right now.New York MetsThe Mets have produced some of the most disappointing offensive statistics this season, as they rank last in OPS (.643) and wOBA (.289) and 29th in wRC+ (86). Juan Soto continues to thrive (.949 OPS), but he is the only Met with at least 100 at-bats and an OPS over .710. Francisco Lindor has been injured or ineffective all season, Bo Bichette (.597 OPS) has struggled, and Marcus Semien (.584 OPS) may be at the end of the line. New York has been similarly ineffective against right-handers and lefties.Upcoming streaming options: Andrew Abbott (May 27), Jansen Junk (May 31).San Francisco GiantsThe Giants are an easy team to target, as they rank 29th in the majors in runs scored and 28th OBP. And 27th in OPS. Casey Schmitt is their only player with at least 50 at-bats and an OPS over .800, and Luis Arráez is their only other player who meets the same criteria and has an OPS over .750. They are among the worst teams in OPS vs. righties and lefties. Finally, their poor record (22-32) means that opposing starters have a good chance to earn a win.Upcoming streaming options: Michael Soroka (May 25), Logan Henderson (June 2), Ben Brown (June 5)Boston Red SoxThere have been some bright spots in Boston, as Willson Contreras (.899 OPS) is having an excellent season, while Wilyer Abreu (.801 OPS) and Ceddanne Rafaela (.774 OPS) have done their part. But the lows for this offense have been especially low, as Jarren Duran, Carlos Narvaez, Marcelo Mayer, Trevor Story (currently on the IL) and Caleb Durbin have all posted a sub-.630 OPS while accumulating at least 100 at-bats. The club ranks 29th in homers and last in runs scored. They have been especially bad against righties (.664 OPS) but have logged a solid .741 OPS vs. southpaws.Upcoming streaming options: Most of their upcoming opponents are widely rostered, with Slade Cecconi (May 29) and Chris Bassitt (June 2) being the only options.San Diego PadresThe Padres have been deserted by their star hitters to a greater degree than any other team. Expected to have a top-heavy lineup, San Diego has so far watched Fernando Tatís Jr. (.635 OPS), Manny Machado (.595 OPS) and Jackson Merrill (.587 OPS) play like fringe major leaguers. Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar have been the team’s best hitters, which is a recipe for failure. The Padres have struggled in all matchups, while being especially inept (.602 OPS) against lefties. The one caveat of streaming against San Diego is that opposing starters have limited win potential, given the team’s 31-22 record.Upcoming streaming options: Foster Griffin (May 30), Christian Scott (June 5).Kansas City RoyalsFor the second straight season, Bobby Witt Jr. (.841 OPS) has been good rather than great, and the rest of the Royals can’t pick up the slack. No one else on the team has an OPS above .711 over at least 25 at-bats. Maikel Garcia (.701 OPS) has been unable to repeat his breakout 2025 season, Salvador Pérez (.638 OPS) is finally looking his age (36) and Vinnie Pasquantino (.622 OPS) is mired in an epic slump. The failure of former top prospect Jac Caglianone (.711 OPS) to be more than a mediocre player hasn’t helped. The offseason alterations to Kauffman Stadium may be helping the Royals, as the team has been respectable at home while ranking last in OPS on the road.Upcoming streaming matchups: Kumar Rocker (May 30), Jack Leiter (May 31), Andrew Abbott (June 2), Zebby Matthews (June 4)Situational TargetsLos Angeles AngelsFantasy managers who are looking for strikeouts should target starters who are facing an Angels team that leads the majors in whiffs. The club can do some damage offensively, as Mike Trout, Zach Neto, Jorge Soler and Jo Adell all have notable power. But the trade-off for the risk of giving up a few runs is that a starter can accumulate plenty of whiffs. Opposing starters also have strong win potential, given that the Angels have the worst record in the American League (20-34).Upcoming streaming options: Casey Mize (May 27), Nick Martinez (May 29)Colorado RockiesThe Rockies remain a terrific streaming target for games away from Coors Field. They have struck out in road games at a higher rate than any other team and rank 26th in runs per road game. Opposing starters need to merely be average in order to have significant win potential, given that the Rockies’ pitching staff has posted a 4.99 ERA.Upcoming streaming options: Grayson Rodriguez (June 2), Walbert Ureña (June 3)Seattle MarinersPredictably, the Mariners have been solid against right-handers but abysmal vs. lefties. After all, most of their players bat from the left side, while righty Julio Rodríguez and switch-hitter Cal Raleigh have been disappointments. The recent promotion of lefty swinging prospect Colt Emerson is unlikely to solve the problem. Until Raleigh returns from injury and rediscovers his 2025 form, this problem will persist.Upcoming streaming options: Jeffrey Springs (May 27), David Peterson (June 1)Texas RangersThe Rangers, who were no-hit by the Astros last night, have been abysmal (.604 OPS) at home. It’s not surprising that they have the worst home OPS in baseball, as Globe Life Field rivals T-Mobile Park in Seattle as the toughest venue for hitters. Texas also ranked last in home OPS last season, making this streaming option one of the most dependable in baseball.Upcoming streaming options: Mike Burrows (May 27), Spencer Arrighetti (May 28), Stephen Kolek (May 29)

The Texans are adding some depth at receiver. Houston is signing Jha’Quan Jackson, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC Houston.Jackson, 26, was a Titans sixth-round pick in 2024. He appeared in 12 games as a rookie, returning 28 punts, averaging 7.7 yards. He also returned 16 kicks, averaging 25.8 yards.Tennessee waived him last August as a part of their roster cuts to 53 players. Since then, he’s spent time with the Saints and the St. Louis Battlehawks of the UFL.

For years, the Kansas City Royals believed they had found the player who could change everything for the organization. Bobby Witt Jr. looked like the cornerstone every MLB franchise dreams of building around — a superstar talent with elite speed, power, defense, and the ability to become the face of baseball in Kansas City for the next decade. Just two years ago, it seemed like the plan was working.The Royals reached the postseason, won a playoff series, and looked like a young team beginning to turn the corner. There was optimism surrounding the organization and a legitimate belief that Witt would lead Kansas City into a new era of contention. But things change quickly in Major League Baseball.MORE: Possible MLB expansion has 2 cities as heavy favoritesApr 1, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) advances to third base on a wild pitch in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn ImagesThe Royals Seem To Be Moving BackwardInstead of continuing to build momentum, the Royals have watched things slowly head in the wrong direction. The team has progressively gotten worse since that playoff appearance, and more importantly, there doesn’t appear to be a clear path back to contention anytime soon. While Witt continues playing at an elite level, the supporting pieces around him have not developed into the type of core capable of competing with the top teams in baseball.That’s where an uncomfortable conversation begins. Trading Bobby Witt Jr. sounds almost impossible on the surface. Teams don’t willingly move players of his caliber. He’s young, he’s one of the best all-around players in the sport, and he’s exactly the type of player organizations spend decades trying to find. But sometimes the obvious move isn’t always the right one.Baseball History Has Shown Teams Need To Think DifferentlyThere are examples throughout baseball of teams holding onto stars for too long. Imagine where the Angels might be if they had traded Mike Trout or Shohei Ohtani years before their value peaked. Instead, they remained stuck in the middle — not rebuilding and not seriously contending.The Orioles also waited until the final stages of Manny Machado’s tenure before moving him, limiting what could have been an even larger return. The lesson is simple: sometimes organizations need to do the unexpected.Moving Bobby Witt Jr. would hurt in the short term, but the return for a player of his caliber could completely reshape the future of the franchise. We’re talking about multiple elite prospects, young major-league-ready players, and the chance to build an entirely new core.Sep 23, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (7) is greeted in the dugout after scoring during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesThe Athletics Might Be The Perfect FitIt sounds unconventional at first, but the Athletics may actually make more sense than anyone realizes. The organization has quietly built a young foundation that is beginning to take shape. They have emerging talent at the major league level and enough prospect depth to create a package that could legitimately interest Kansas City.Imagine Bobby Witt Jr. joining a core that includes Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, and Jacob Wilson. Wilson could slide over to second base while Witt remains at shortstop, creating one of baseball’s most exciting young infields.Suddenly, the Athletics would not simply be a team on the rise — they would become a legitimate threat with a franchise player capable of elevating everyone around him.The Obvious Teams Will Always Be MentionedWhenever a superstar becomes available — even hypothetically — certain teams immediately enter the discussion. The Yankees would naturally be linked because they’re connected to virtually every major star. The Dodgers have a strong system and the resources to make nearly any move. The Red Sox also possess premium young talent and could easily enter the conversation.None of those possibilities would surprise anyone. They’re the expected answers. But the most interesting answer may actually be one nobody is talking about.Feb 25, 2026; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. against the Seattle Mariners during a spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesBobby Witt Jr. Could Become The Face Of A New EraBeyond the baseball fit, there is another factor that makes this idea fascinating. The Athletics are moving toward a future in Las Vegas, and every new market needs a superstar face of the franchise.Bobby Witt Jr. checks every box. He’s marketable, electrifying to watch, and still entering the prime of his career. Building around him could give the Athletics a foundational superstar as they begin a new chapter.Trading Bobby Witt Jr. may sound unrealistic today, and perhaps Kansas City never seriously considers it. But baseball’s biggest moves are often the ones nobody sees coming. The Yankees and Dodgers would be predictable. Bobby Witt Jr. to the Athletics? That might be the move that changes everything.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

[BBC]On the surface, this was a battle to retain Premiership status. At a more fundamental level, Monday night's frenzy was for the writing of the history books.St Mirren have three Scottish Cups and two League Cups to show for their century and a half of attempts at national silverware.Each of these achievements were era defining for the men that earned them, and their names bestow street signs, the Mirren Mile, the walls of the SMISA stadium and the stairs that take you from pitchside to the back row.In short, win a cup for us and some form of provincial immortality awaits.Rightly or wrongly, this current squad, battered and broken as they are by a gruelling campaign of injuries, upheaval and misfortune, came within half an hour of their slice of immortality carrying the asterisk of relegation.Now, and forever more, this chapter of the club's history will tell only of three goals in December that saw silver carried back home to Paisley Town Hall.As contracts wind down, Monday night represented a goodbye for a number of senior players who have been at the heart of a special period in Saints folklore.These men were fighting for that goodbye to happen in a state of relief and reflection on what good had come before; to take a breath and accept the acclaim that three top-half seasons, a European adventure and Hampden glory had earned.St Mirren Football Club turns 150 years old in 2027, and plans for commemorations and celebrations have been long in the planning.The collective will of those on the pitch in the play-off final and the many more in the stands was to preserve the shimmer of that anniversary being marked by a top-flight Saints side.The football may not have been pretty, but there was poetry in moments. Marcus Fraser, 32 by the time pre-season arrives, fought through the pain barrier to get himself on the pitch in Saints colours for a 263rd time.When times are desperate, Fraser is the man most would want to know was suited up for battle. In December, he wore the armband and set the tone - crashing in his early opening goal and then emptying his tank to ensure it meant something.On Monday night night, Fraser started with the armband before handing it to long-time team-mate and club captain Mark O'Hara shortly after the hour. Within five minutes, O'Hara handed Fraser a gift of his own at the back post and the centre-half duly obliged with a close-range volley for the ages.Alex Gogic, so often the hero, was gladiatorial in black and white. At times, he was the back three.When Fraser crashes in his winner, it is Gogic that grabs his brother in arms and smothers him in front of the Family Stand. That image, more than any other since Hampden in December, will come to define the lesser heralded aspects of this challenging season.In Craig McLeish, the Buddies have had a tactically-astute interim manager willing to make changes to the engrained status quo in pursuit of better football and league safety.While the road to eventual security has had worrying moments, the manager deserves plaudits for stepping up at a time of need and in being his own man while doing so.Whether this translates into a more permanent appointment for the well-respected youth coach is another matter, and the balance of public opinion in PA3 is probably calling for a more experienced name to pick up the reins.Should this be it, for now at least, McLeish can hold his head high in keeping top-flight football in Paisley for a further year.Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters

President Donald Trump speaks during the 158th National Memorial Day Observance coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary, at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery, Monday, May 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)2026-05-26T13:10:01Z DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran on Tuesday denounced U.S. strikes a day earlier as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations continue toward a possible deal to end the war.The U.S. military has characterized Monday’s strikes in southern Iran as defensive, saying targets included missile launch sites and boats placing mines, and said the U.S. acted with “restraint” in light of the weekslong ceasefire.Iran’s foreign ministry called the strikes a ceasefire violation and warned that Washington would bear responsibility for “all consequences,” without details.“The Islamic Republic of Iran will leave no act of aggression unanswered,” it added in a statement.Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday said it had shot down and deterred drones and a fighter jet that entered its airspace, according to Iran’s official Mizan news agency, which did not specify when the incident occurred. It wasn’t immediately clear what the developments would mean for negotiations. The strikes came after Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf went to Qatar as part of the talks, which U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday were “proceeding nicely.” The strikes were the latest flare-up in the fragile ceasefire that began April 7 and has largely held.Negotiations center in part on the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway off southern Iran through which a fifth of the world’s crude oil and natural gas passed before the war began with U.S.-Israeli strikes in February. Tehran retaliated by effectively closing the strait, stranding hundreds of ships and shocking the global economy. Read More The strait has become a powerful lever for Tehran in talks, joining the long-running issue of Iran’s nuclear program and highly enriched uranium. Iran in turn wants the U.S. to lift its military blockade of Iranian ports that began on April 17.The strait also is cause for growing concern as supplies of fertilizer are also badly affected for vulnerable global farmers. “What we are witnessing today is not only a geopolitical crisis, it is a systemic shock to the global agrifood system,” the director-general of the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu, said Tuesday.Trump has introduced a new angle in negotiations for a deal on the war, saying any agreement to end the war should include a requirement for several additional countries, including Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to join the Abraham Accords, a series of U.S.-brokered diplomatic, economic and security agreements aimed at normalizing relations with Israel.Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates became the first countries to join in 2020; Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan have followed. Egypt and Jordan already formally recognize Israel and have long-standing peace treaties. Turkey first recognized Israel in 1949.Israel’s conduct against Palestinians, including in the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, has alienated Gulf Arab states and the wider Muslim world, but Trump has been keen to build on the Abraham Accords, forged during his first term. He even has suggested that Iran eventually could sign on.

Two American tennis players, Coco Gauff and Taylor Townsend, will face off in the first round of the French Open today. While Townsend, a powerful top-ranked doubles player, is ranked No. 75 in women’s singles, she has had her share of high-profile wins over the past year, though No. 4 seed Gauff, is the returning tournament champion and the likely favorite in today’s match.The 2026 French Open will air on TNT and truTV, with all the action at Roland-Garros streaming on HBO Max. The Gauff vs. Townsend match is expected to begin around 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT today. Here’s what to know about watching the 2026 French Open live, including the full schedule, where to stream for less in the U.S., and more. How to watch Gauff vs. Townsend at the 2026 French Open: Date: May 26Time: 9 a.m. ETLocation: Stade Roland-Garros, ParisTV channel: TNT, truTVStreaming: HBO MaxWhen is the Coco Gauff vs. Taylor Townsend match at the 2026 French Open? The Gauff vs. Townsend first round match at the French Open is on Tuesday, May 26 at 9 a.m. ET.What channel is the Coco Gauff vs. Taylor Townsend match at the 2026 French Open on? Matches at Roland-Garros will air on TNT and truTV. Every match of the tournament will also stream on HBO Max. Where to watch the French Open without cable: How to watch the 2026 French Open for less with a VPN: If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don't subscribe to HBO Max or a live TV streaming service, in Australia, a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in France, france.tv will have all-day sessions through quarter-finals (and co-broadcast for semis and finals)Don’t live in either of those places? Don't worry: You can still stream using a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN helps protect your data, masks your IP address, and is perhaps most popular for its usefulness in the age of streaming.Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.Who is playing in the 2026 French Open? With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz out of the tournament (and the upcoming Wimbledon) due to injury, the men’s field is ripe for Jannik Sinner to complete his career Grand Slam. On the women’s side, defending champ Coco Gauff is fresh off a stunning loss at the Rome Open. Aryna Sabalenka is back as the world No. 1 headed into this tournament. The usual suspects, Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic, and Iga Świątek will also be in the mix. 2026 French Open schedule: Sunday, May 24Women's and men's singles first round: 5 a.m. ETMonday, May 25Women's and men's singles first round: 5 a.m. ETTuesday, May 26Women's and men's singles first round + Women's and men's doubles first round: 5 a.m. ETWednesday, May 27Women's and men's singles second round + Women's, men's and mixed doubles first round: 5 a.m. ETThursday, May 28Women's and men's singles second round + Women's, men's and mixed doubles first round: 5 a.m. ETFriday, May 29Women's and men's singles third round + Mixed doubles first round + Women's and men's doubles second round: 5 a.m. ETSaturday, May 30Women's and men's singles third round + Women's, men's and mixed doubles second round: 5 a.m. ETSunday, May 31Women's and men's singles round of 16 + Women's and men's doubles third round + Mixed doubles second round + Junior singles first round: 5 a.m. ETMonday, June 1Women's and men's singles round of 16 + Women's and men's doubles third round + Mixed doubles quarter-finals + Junior singles first and second rounds + Junior doubles first round: 5 a.m. ETTuesday, June 2Women's and men's singles quarter-finals + Women's, men's and mixed doubles quarter-finals + Wheelchair tennis first round + Junior singles second round + Junior doubles first and second rounds + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETWednesday, June 3Women's and men's singles quarter-finals + Women's and men's doubles quarter-finals + Mixed doubles semi-finals + Wheelchair tennis first and second rounds + Junior singles third round + Junior doubles second round + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETThursday, June 4Women's singles semi-finals (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Mixed doubles final + Men's doubles semi-finals + Wheelchair tennis second round and semi-finals + Junior singles and doubles quarter-finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETFriday, June 5Men's singles semi-finals (not before 8:30 a.m. ET, then not before 1 p.m. ET) + Women's doubles semi-finals + Wheelchair tennis semi-finals + Junior singles and doubles semi-finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETSaturday, June 6Women's singles final (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Men's doubles final + Wheelchair tennis finals + Junior singles and doubles finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETSunday, June 7Men's singles final (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Women's doubles final + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ET

The Cincinnati Bengals went the predictable route with Myles Murphy this offseason. Those Bengals declined the fifth-year option on Murphy. An extremely rare move for the franchise in an offseason filled with them. Now, a decision that happened on April 30 is finally starting to get some big attention. Nick Shook of NFL.com just spotlighted 11 players entering “make-or-break” seasons and put Murphy on the list. “Murphy's Year 3 jump in production wasn't enough to convince the Bengals to pick up his fifth-year option, making for a natural prove-it season in a contract year,” Shook wrote. “As it stands now, his future probably isn't in Cincinnati, unless his rate of compensation fits nicely into the Bengals' bigger financial picture. But he will sign a second contract somewhere, and now is the time to earn that money.”Hard to blame the Bengals on this one. They ducked a fully guaranteed roughly $14.4 million in 2027 for Murphy, who finished with a 64.2 PFF grade (67th out of 115 edge defenders) last year. Make no mistake, the Bengals are still all-in on Murphy, but they wanted the flexibility in 2027 in the wake of moves like trading for Dexter Lawrence. They have much invested on the defensive line now, including the Boye Mafe free-agency contract, a first-round pick on Shemar Stewart and a second-round pick on Cashius Howell. Call it a good problem to have: If Murphy jumps like they think he might within the improved system in 2026, they will have the cap room to give him a new contract. They’ve structured other deals (like Mafe’s) with flexibility to get out and create space if needed. That still makes 2026 make or break for Murphy, but there’s little reason to write off his future with the Bengals just yet.This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Myles Murphy’s future with Bengals starts getting national attention

Red Sox Insider Urges Drastic Pivot For Boston Front Office originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox haven't been true sellers at the trade deadline since 2020, but that may be about to change this summer.Memorial Day is typically when front offices begin to take stock of their rosters and start to get a good sense of their teams. It's been two months since Opening Day and a third of the way through the regular season, so there's a fairly large sample size at this point.Unfortunately for the Red Sox, they are not in good shape. They enter play on Tuesday last in the AL East with a 22-30 record and a minus-16 run differential. Their pitching and defense have been great, but their offense has been one of the worst in baseball and they've been historically bad at Fenway Park.Craig Breslow, Sam Kennedy and others have talked about trying to add to Boston's roster at the trade deadline, as the team is still only a few games out of a playoff spot. The postseason odds are not in their favor, however, with FanGraphs putting the team's playoff chances at 26.9 percent as of Tuesday morning.Accordingly, Red Sox beat writer Peter Abraham thinks the team needs to pivot and sell at the deadline rather than buy."Saturday offered more evidence that the Sox are not legitimate contenders and that their focus should be on changing that for next season," Abraham wrote for The Boston Globe over the weekend. "The sooner they get started, the better."That may be premature, as Boston still has 110 games remaining and the trade deadline is still two months away. If the Red Sox don't show considerable signs of improvement by the All-Star Break, however, the front office may need to change course and start making moves for next season and beyond.More MLB: Red Sox Continue Historic Struggles At Fenway Park After Sweep By Twins

NFL owners can have varying levels of interest in their teams, and it's seen across the league. While some owners leave everything to their front office, coaching staff and players, others like to be the ones calling the shots day-to-day.For the San Francisco 49ers, Jed York is more of the former, especially recently, trusting John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan to run the show since 2017.However, in a recent conversation with ESPN's Jamison Hensley, York revealed the one time he pushed for a player in the NFL draft."The only guy that I ever wanted us to draft was [wide receiver] Arnaz Battle," York said. "I went to school with Arnaz [at Notre Dame], knew him as a guy. [Otherwise], I try to stay as far away from that as possible."Battle, a sixth-round pick in 2003, went on to play nine seasons in the NFL, including seven for the 49ers. He caught 178 passes for 2,150 yards and 11 touchdowns in his time with San Francisco while contributing on special teams as well.Considering the 49ers' recent draft history, Lynch may want to ask for York's input.More 49ers: High-ranking 49ers exec says he 'fell in love' with rookie pre-draftThis article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers owner takes credit for overachieving draft pick 20 years ago

FSU baseball officially knows the path in front of it entering the NCAA Tournament. The Seminoles earned the No. 10 overall national seed and will host the Tallahassee Regional at Dick Howser Stadium this weekend. They will be joined by the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, Northern Illinois Huskies, and St. John's Red Storm. The field brings a mix of proven postseason experience, conference champions, and potential upset threats. Florida State opens tournament play Friday afternoon against St. John's, while Coastal Carolina and Northern Illinois meet in the other first-round matchup later that day.While Florida State enters as the highest-seeded team in the regional, each opponent arrives with a different profile and presents unique challenges.For FSU, the challenge now becomes navigating a regional field without overlooking any opponent. History has shown that NCAA Tournament baseball often produces chaos, and under Link Jarrett, the Seminoles will attempt to avoid becoming part of it while pursuing another deep postseason run.St. John's (No. 4 seed | 33-24)Florida State's opening-round opponent enters the postseason after navigating a difficult Big East schedule and earning an at-large spot in the NCAA Tournament field. The Red Storm may be the No. 4 seed in the regional, but postseason baseball has repeatedly shown that seed lines often become less meaningful once tournament play begins.St. John's enters with experience and a team accustomed to playing close games late in the season. For Florida State, avoiding early mistakes and controlling the pace offensively will be important in opening weekend play. Northern Illinois (No. 3 seed | 35-17)Northern Illinois arrives in Tallahassee after putting together one of the strongest seasons among mid-major programs and earning its NCAA Tournament berth through the Mid-American Conference. The Huskies enter with 35 wins and have shown the ability to create offensive pressure throughout the season.Teams from outside power conferences frequently become difficult regional opponents because of their familiarity with winning close games and navigating conference tournament pressure. Northern Illinois could quickly become one of the more dangerous teams in the bracket if its pitching staff settles in early.Coastal Carolina (No. 2 seed | 37-21)On paper, Coastal Carolina may represent Florida State's most dangerous obstacle in the regional.The Chanticleers enter with 37 wins and a substantial postseason pedigree. Coastal remains one of the more recognizable postseason programs nationally after building a reputation for making deep tournament runs in recent years. Their balance and experience make them look more like a national seed-caliber opponent than a typical No. 2 regional team.Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Baseball: What to know about the Tallahassee Regional field

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group, has also kept up rocket and drone attacks on Israeli troops, as the escalations threaten to complicate diplomatic efforts.

Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty ImagesThe Chicago White Sox returned to winning ways on Monday with a 3-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Rate Field.Munetaka Murakami answered Brooks Lee’s opening homer with a solo shot in the first inning, before Drew Romo added a two-run blast in the second.Anthony Kay then worked six strong innings, while the bullpen protected the lead and Seranthony Domínguez closed the game for his 11th save.The game was far from just another day at the office for Murakami, as it moved him closer to a historic rookie achievement in MLB.Munetaka Murakami has six games left to chase MLB rookie historyPhoto by Geoff Stellfox/Getty ImagesThe Japanese star’s homer was his 18th of the season, moving him within one of the most home runs by a rookie before June in MLB history.According to ESPN, Pete Alonso hit 19 before June in 2019 and Mark McGwire also reached 19 in 1987. Murakami now sits third on 18.The 26-year-old Japanese first baseman still has six games before June begins, giving him time to tie or pass both marks.Chicago return this Tuesday against Minnesota, which means Murakami could have a historic evening if he goes deep again.The remaining May schedule also includes two more games against the Twins and three against the Detroit Tigers, all at Rate Field.That keeps the chase immediate. Murakami has already put himself beside two of MLB’s most notable rookie power seasons before the calendar reaches June.Now the question is whether his next swing can turn a strong start into a record-breaking one for the White Sox.Read more:Jacob Misiorowski reaches insane pitching feat before Shohei Ohtani and Paul Skenes this MLB seasonWhy the Chicago Cubs are not using Kevin Alcántara during their worst slump of the yearThe Houston Astros threw their first no-hitter in years, and the timing could not be better

Matt KrohnIn 2026, the Vikings will be moving into a new era. Or, at least, sort of a new era. The quarterback spot sees Kyler Murray going toe-to-toe (arm-to-arm?) with J.J. McCarthy. In all likelihood, there will be a different starter in Week 1 than most anticipated after the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft. That alone means Minnesota finds itself in an unforeseen spot.Likewise, the move toward a new GM — whoever that ends up being — points toward some level of strangeness. Whoever is hired needs to play nice with the in-house leadership while nevertheless implementing a unique vision. Hiring a GM in May or June is itself peculiar, but there’s another reality that makes things even more bizarre.Rallying around a new general manager means rallying around somebody who is going to lead the team through another competitive rebuild.The Vikings’ Pivot Toward a New GM Meets a Strange RealityThe final years with Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman weren’t terrible. They weren’t good, but they weren’t awful. Nobody looked at the Vikings as being akin to the Browns, Cardinals, or Jets. Instead, they were an underachieving football team that needed a reset. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was brought aboard. The numbers nerd has a background in academia and investing, meaning he boasted a unique epistemological framework to understand the problems that were ailing the Minnesota Vikings. Very (in)famously, Adofo-Mensah opted to work through a “competitive rebuild,” a way of stripping down the roster while still looking to win ball games. Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah surveys the scene during team activities at TCO Performance Center on July 27, 2022, in Eagan, Minnesota. As the architect of the current roster, Adofo-Mensah continues to shape the franchise’s future through strategic moves and draft capital. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.In a basic sense, the approach involved methodically turning over the roster, moving off of well-paid veterans who were getting toward the end of their NFL careers. Consider some of the Vikings’ mainstay players who were shown the door within the Adofo-Mensah days: LB Eric Kendricks, LB Anthony Barr, RB Dalvin Cook, WR Adam Thielen, RB Alexander Mattison, WR K.J. Osborn, C Garrett Bradbury, CB Patrick Peterson, EDGE Danielle Hunter, and S Camryn Bynum (among others). And, of course, QB Kirk Cousins, the well-paid passer who may finish his long career with only a single playoff victory. He, too, was shown the door. Not everybody met that fate. Guys like WR Justin Jefferson, RT Brian O’Neill, LT Christian Darrisaw, S Josh Metellus, and S Harrison Smith (still undecided for 2026) found a way to stick around. Still, though, the objective was clear: the Vikings wanted to refuel the plane while it was still in the air. Doing so meant dropping the guillotine on some bloated contracts. Adofo-Mensah had some failure and some success in that approach, but fumbling the quarterback position doomed him. A new top option for the front office is therefore needed. The Vikings have shrunk things down to five candidates. Rob Brzezinski has his supporters after shepherding the Vikings through these past few months. Otherwise, note that the Bills, Broncos, Rams, and Seahawks — impressive franchises — see combatants looking to become Minnesota’s next GM. Whoever ends up winning the sweepstakes will be tasked with successfully navigating a competitive rebuild (even if it gets called by a different name). In other words, turn the team from good to great. Get the finances in a better spot, onboard young talent, and solidify that quarterback spot. All of those items were on the to-do list in 2022; they remain on the to-do list in 2026. Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.After a 9-8 season that involved missing the playoffs, the Vikings are keen to rebound in 2026. Stacking wins in the regular season is the expectation. Not a foregone conclusion, of course, but the basic standard for how the team is attacking the upcoming challenge. There’s then the next dragon to slay: the playoffs. Kevin O’Connell is 0-2 as a head coach in the final tournament, something that will need to change soon lest he start mirroring Marvin Lewis over in Cincinnati. Hiring the new GM will function as the icing on the offseason cake. The leadership will be in place ahead of the most pivotal portion of the competition: training camp and the preseason. Quite possibly, there will be a bold move (or two) to shore up weak spots on the roster. Within these considerations, the incoming GM’s mandate is going to appear strikingly similar to the old GM’s mandate.

Former Red Sox Catcher Calls 2nd Career No-Hitter originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Christian Vazquez did it again. The former Boston Red Sox catcher called a no-hitter Monday in the Houston Astros' 9-0 win over the Texas Rangers. Vazquez also caught a no-no for the Astros in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series.On Monday, Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai walked four batters in six innings without giving up a hit. Left-hander Steven Okert threw a scoreless seventh inning, giving up one walk. Right-hander Alimber Santa made his major league debut and threw two perfect innings to close out the no-hitter."It wasn’t pretty but it was effective," Astros manager Joe Espada said after the game, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. "We have a really good defense. Christian Vázquez again, he continues to press the right buttons and lead our staff.”"It's great to see all my pitchers be a part of the no-hitter. It is amazing," Vazquez said after the game, per MLB.com.Monday's no-no holds a special spot in the record book. It was the first no-hitter in the majors since 2024 and it was the fifth combined no-hitter in Astros history. The Angels, Cubs and Orioles are tied for second all-time with two combined no-hitters each, according to ESPN.In closing out the win, Santa became the second player in MLB history to pitch in a no-hitter when making his big-league debut, joining Bumpus Jones of the Cincinnati Reds, who threw a complete-game no-hitter in 1892, according to MLB.com and Elias."Good slider. He was commanding everything," Vazquez said of Santa, who picked up one strikeout in his debut. "It was amazing to watch and happy for him."This is Vazquez's second stint with the Astros. The Red Sox sent the backstop to Houston before the 2022 MLB trade deadline in the deal which landed Boston outfielder Wilyer Abreu. Vazquez joined the Twins as a free agent after the 2022 season and played three seasons in Minnesota before returning to Houston in March.He's hitting .257 with four home runs in 34 games this year for the Astros. Vazquez's best year came in 2019 with the Red Sox, when he set career highs with 23 home runs, 72 RBIs and a .477 slugging percentage.

The New York Knicks are officially heading to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, and no one celebrated the 130-93 series-clinching win over the Cleveland Cavaliers quite like Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner. The actor, a staple courtside at Madison Square Garden, was spotted mid-court after making the trip to Cleveland for Game 4, and enjoyed a wild on-court postgame celebration with several players, including a memorable embrace with Jalen Brunson, a back-and-forth with Mikal Bridges, and much more.For Chalamet, who was just three years old during the Knicks' last Finals appearance in 1999, the moment served as a surreal culmination of a historic playoff run.Chalamet and Brunson's embrace among best moments from Knicks' Game 4 win over CavaliersAs the Knicks celebrated clinching their spot in the NBA Finals, Chalamet and Jenner were on the floor with the players, which led to several great scenes. In one clip, a visibly emotional Chalamet and Brunson weaved through on-court traffic to link up for a back-and-forth that included a quick personal conversation before Brunson waved to Jenner and continued the celebration.Kylie Jenner, Timothee Chalamet, Jalen Brunson and more all celebrating the #Knicks win pic.twitter.com/Ad69UT6Bwk— Alisson Toro-Lagos 🇨🇱 (@atlTVnews) May 26, 2026Chalamet was seen yelling "we back!" before calling "King Jalen," leading to the two chatting a bit after the Game 4 win.This was just one of the postgame moments involving Chalamet, as he also embraced Bridges, calling him the "GOAT" and telling the forward he had his jersey hanging up at home. Chalamet then posed with Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns shortly after.Pure elation for Timothée Chalamet after seeing his childhood team advance to the NBA Finals 🥺 pic.twitter.com/SQRQ1bsIxB— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 26, 2026While the victory for the Knicks snapped the team's NBA Finals drought, it was also a big night for the diehard Knicks fan and well-known celeb, who fans will almost certainly see front-and-center on the sidelines in the coming weeks.This article originally appeared on For The Win: Timothée Chalamet celebrates with Knicks on-court as team breaks NBA Finals drought

It’s time to vote for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune’s Athlete of the Week. DISTRICT BASEBALL PREVIEW: Previewing Cheboygan-area high school baseball district tournamentsDISTRICT SOFTBALL PREVIEW: Previewing Cheboygan-area high school softball district tournamentsEach week, Cheboygan-area high school athletes will be eligible for the athlete of the week honor. This poll goes live on Tuesday and voting closes at 10 p.m. on Thursday, May 28. Here’s this week’s candidates: Jaelyn Wheelock, Cheboygan Girls Soccer – Scored two goals in a district win over Grayling. Adi Fenstermaker, Inland Lakes Softball – Finished with a triple, two doubles and five RBIs in a victory over Oscoda. Christian Copeland, Inland Lakes Boys Track and Field – Won the Ski Valley title in the high jump. Poppy Wallace, Mackinaw City Softball – Had two triples and four RBIs in a win over Ellsworth. Brody George, Onaway Baseball – Went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs in a win over Forest Area. Clara Hutchinson, Pellston Girls Track and Field – Took second in the pole vault at the Ski Valley meet. Isabel Hoffmeyer, Burt Lake NMCA Softball – Recorded two triples, an RBI and three runs scored in a win over Posen. SPRING SPORTS ATHLETE OF THE WEEK WINNERS Week 1: Aubrey Havel (Onaway Softball) Week 2: Ella Kruczynski (Mackinaw City Softball) Week 3: Taya Long (Wolverine Softball) Week 4: Emilee Williams (Wolverine Softball) Week 5: Inland Lakes Girls Track and Field Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Vote for Cheboygan Tribune high school Athlete of Week, May 18-23

BusPatrol, a company that has installed AI-powered cameras in tens of thousands of school buses around the U.S., now plans to turn those cameras into automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), capturing the location of every vehicle the buses drive past, and give that data to law enforcement, 404 Media has learned. The plan will essentially transform school buses into roaming surveillance vehicles, taking a technology that was originally designed to issue tickets to people illegally passing stopped buses and using it for much wider and general law enforcement, likely without a warrant.BusPatrol has already taken steps to share the collected data with law enforcement contracting giant Axon, according to leaked BusPatrol documents and a source with knowledge of the plans. Internally, BusPatrol has acknowledged how controversial its plan to collect and share this data is, pointing specifically to concerns about ICE using license plate data, but emphasizes the likely success of selling the angle of protecting children.“Who would have thought that school buses would be turned into the mass surveillance state?,” Michael Soyfer, an attorney from the Institute for Justice, which has various ongoing ALPR-related lawsuits, told 404 Media in a phone call. BusPatrol says it has cameras in more than 40,000 buses across 24 states. Ordinarily, those cameras track whether a vehicle illegally passes the school bus while it has its stop signs, or stop arms, extended. BusPatrol then reviews the footage and passes it to the police, who decide if the driver violated the law. BusPatrol then sends the ticket to the driver. For cities and counties, the attraction of BusPatrol is as a revenue generator while also theoretically making cars drive more safely near children. (In April, Bloomberg Businessweek published an investigation showing in one case there was no evidence of a decline in collisions near stopped school buses, and the respective county paid BusPatrol tens of millions of dollars.)💡Do you know anything else about BusPatrol? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at joseph.404 or send me an email at joseph@404media.co.The planned changes would dramatically expand that system to scan the license plates of all vehicles the buses pass, regardless of whether they violated a law, and then give that data to law enforcement, either directly or through contractors the agencies already use. The system would work much like other ALPR systems: BusPatrol’s cameras would take a photo of each car a bus drives past, record the car’s license plate and GPS location, and then law enforcement can query that data, according to one of the documents describing the plans.Typically, law enforcement agencies query ALPR tools without a warrant. Officials can enter a license plate of a vehicle and see all of the locations that vehicle was spotted at and when, meaning they can map a car—and by extension a person’s—movements, depending on how many cameras are active in the particular area. The Institute for Justice has argued that warrantless use of ALPR systems is unconstitutional, describing similar systems as a “dragnet.”Often ALPR cameras are in a fixed position. Cameras from Flock, a widespread ALPR system, are typically attached to poles. A roaming ALPR camera inside a school bus, though, will likely cover a larger area, and capture more data, than a stationary camera as the school bus drives around.There are also concerns about who can access collected ALPR data and for what purpose. Often, ALPRs are pitched as a way for cities to find stolen cars or missing people. But last year, 404 Media revealed that local cops were performing lookups in the national system of Flock on behalf of ICE. That coverage and others, such as police using Flock cameras to track a woman who self-administered an abortion, have triggered a nationwide debate around ALPR cameras, with many communities deciding to rip out the cameras altogether. BusPatrol is aware of the controversy around ALPR cameras, and particularly of the concern that ICE may gain access to the data, according to the BusPatrol documents viewed by 404 Media. The company anticipates the plans will receive resistance from communities that already have school buses with BusPatrol cameras installed, they say. 404 Media contacted multiple school districts listed as BusPatrol users on the company’s website but did not receive a response. The company also sees potential legal issues if it provides incorrect data.“Protecting children is one of the highest priorities of any community. In theory, a technology could be narrowly tailored here and not engage in surveillance or collect information except when there appears to be a violation of stop arm laws. But by trying to plug a child-safety technology in to the unethical license plate mass-surveillance ecosystem that lacks societal acceptance and legitimacy, you guarantee that your technology will have problems with acceptance,” Jay Stanley, senior policy analyst at the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, told 404 Media in an email. “Leveraging something everybody supports—in this case protecting children—in order to expand mass surveillance is a typical way of trying to get people to accept surveillance, one we've seen since 9/11 and before.”Stanley said that BusPatrol is part of a larger trend: “using AI to scale surveillance for compliance purposes.” He said this will start with laws that he suspects everyone supports, like the stop arm statutes banning people from overtaking stopped school buses. But when AI monitoring tools are extended to other laws, rules, and norms “there's a real risk that AI will be used to create a hellscape of over-enforcement. We're already seeing AI used to ticket drivers who are holding cellphones and to monitor workers such as delivery drivers in oppressive minute ways.” The reason for turning buses into surveillance vehicles is to generate more revenue, according to the source with knowledge of the plans. After GI Partners, an investment firm, invested $300 million in BusPatrol, it has “been pushing the company to find alternate revenue streams,” the source said. 404 Media granted the person anonymity as they weren’t permitted to speak to the press.404 Media sent BusPatrol a detailed set of questions, including whether BusPatrol is exploring the possibility of sharing ALPR data with Axon or other companies. At first, Kate Spree, senior manager of brand communications at BusPatrol, said in an email “This inquiry is based on a false premise and inaccurate information. BusPatrol does not pool or sell data across communities; student safety program data is used only to support the BusPatrol program in the community where that data was created.”When 404 Media asked clarifying questions and said that the reporting is based on leaked BusPatrol material, Spree stopped replying to text messages and emails. GI Partners did not respond to a request for comment.BusPatrol is already figuring out how to integrate with Axon, the source explained. Axon sells its own ALPR cameras and in 2024 acquired Fusus. Fusus lets law enforcement bring in camera feeds and data from disparate sources into a single interface, and add AI features such as scanning for people wearing certain clothes to live footage. Axon’s website has a page that says “BusPatrol Works with Axon [Coming in 2025],” and Axon mentioned a partnership with BusPatrol in an April press release, but publicly neither company has said what that partnership means in practice. The source with knowledge of the plan said that originally the Axon partnership was for “full fleetwide realtime camera access,” but the cost was too high. Instead, BusPatrol plans to add an AI accelerator to its school bus devices to facilitate the ALPR feature. The rollout won’t be immediate, according to the source, with a trial run on one bus currently underway, before increasing to 100 by the end of next month.The company has also discussed the possibility of providing the collected license plate data to Flock, according to the BusPatrol documents. Flock told 404 Media in an email it does not work with BusPatrol.ALPR companies often explore ways to expand their fleet of cameras or obtain images from unlikely sources. In August 404 Media reported Flock was looking to integrate with Nexar, a company that makes AI-powered dashcams placed inside peoples’ personal cars. That move would increase the amount of data available to Flock, and by extension, law enforcement agencies that tap into it. Vigilant Solutions and Digital Recognition Network, two ALPR sister companies now owned by Motorola Solutions, have gathered ALPR data through cameras installed in police and repo men’s vehicles.This month 404 Media reported the FBI wants to buy nationwide access to license plate readers.

Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01415-wAn old theory gains fresh support from advanced DNA sequencing, which can detect rare mutations in B cells from people with autoimmune thyroid conditions.

Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01336-8A proposal to highlight the work of chemists, and reflections on 150 years of London Zoo in this week’s pick from the Nature archive.

BRONX, NY - MAY 24: Catcher Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees walks to home plate during a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on May 24, 2026 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images A couple of days ago, we asked for your input on which struggling Yankee you all were most concerned about. There were a variety of options, as the team has clearly seen problems arise in both their lineup and their bullpen that have defined their struggles up to this point. With plenty of input in outright votes as well as more in-depth responses via comments, let’s dig into the players that prompted the most worry.Leading off, the overwhelming majority of you weighed in to elect Austin Wells as our most concerning struggling Yankee, at a whopping 66 percent of the vote. A couple of you also added commentary to your decision, with toddmarlin122 saying “third base and catcher need to be replaced asap,” ConorGallogly adding “I almost put Austin Wells because the organization has so little catching depth,” MDG92 chiming in that they’re “most concerned about Wells, because I don’t see it getting any better, and he was supposed to be a bat-first catcher,” and David6776 putting in “position wise though, I’m more worried about catcher. With the challenge system, Wells’ pitch framing is less valuable, we can’t have so many dead bats.”That’s a lot of eyes on catcher specifically, and it makes sense that so much attention would be there. Wells indeed developed as a bat-first catcher that was looked at skeptically defensively, but the total inverse came true in the majors: he’s never found his stride consistently at the plate, but he’s handled the pitching staff beautifully and is one of the best framers in the league. The introduction of ABS does take away some of the effectiveness of Wells’ game, but only to a point as challenges can easily be wasted early in a game and batters can hesitate to pull the trigger on challenging borderline calls hoping to save their shot for a key at-bat later in the game. Still, it’s a slight damper on what is clearly Wells’ biggest strength individually that we can monitor, combined with the much easier to see struggles to get anything going offensively.Wells’ bat has been average throughout his first three seasons, but its taken a complete nosedive in 2026. Despite working a career-best 14.7 walk percentage to this point, Wells is well-under the Mendoza line and slugging less than he’s getting on base, completely negating his defensive value by being a black hole at the bottom of the lineup. The team’s lack of options within the organization have given him little challenge for starting time, as J.C. Escarra has managed to look even worse offensively and commanded no more than the typical backup catcher’s playing time and the team appears unwilling to burden Ben Rice with the tools of ignorance now that he’s emerging as an elite bat. It’s on Wells to pull things together for now, and at best perhaps the Yankees look for an upgrade from Escarra to prompt some competition for their incumbent catcher.The player that came in second at 13 percent of the vote was Jazz Chisholm Jr., and it’s easy to see why his name was on people’s minds as well. Chisholm was perhaps the team’s worst hitter through the first month and change of the year, completely missing his power swing as the cold of April sapped his ability to get a solid grip on the bat. Chisholm admitted to this being part of his problems, but he also had miscues in the field on top of the offensive struggles that elicited some heat from the fanbase. However, Chisholm has heated up with the weather, hitting for an .850 OPS in May to pull himself up to a slightly-above average 104 wRC+. He’s also gotten a couple of bombs on the board to pair with 13 stolen bases, continuing to apply pressure in that regard (though the team as a whole has struggled to swipe bags of late). Jazz will be one to monitor still, but he’s trending in the right direction and has the track record to inspire belief that he’s turned things around.Third place in our polling went to the Other option, meaning that they opted not to chose either of our two main candidates nor any of Camilo Doval, Trent Grisham, or Ryan McMahon. Reading through the comments though, it’s clear who that other choice is: none other than the Captain, Aaron Judge. Several commenters felt no clarification was necessary other than to type his name, but others added on with WhittakerWalt asking “did he get old overnight, or is this just his usual slump?” while David6776 led off his thoughts with “for player, I’m most worried about Judge. Wondering if he’s starting to need glasses, and he’s probably our most important players.”I can’t lie, I was surprised that so many of you were sounding off on Judge’s slump. We have the foresight of having seen his walk-off homer on Sunday and the double he laced in Monday’s game as indications that he’s breaking out of it, but even with those results its undeniable that he’s been on a cold streak: over his last 12 games, Judge owns a .593 OPS with that lone blast as his only long ball and the only two runs he’s batted in. However, given the body of work that he’s put up this season alone, I thought it would be clear that he’s going through just that — a slump. Judge has been one of the focal points of the offense, and when he’s firing on all cylinders he can hide the lineups’ flaws nearly single-handedly. His numbers may not be at the all-time pace he’s been on over the last two seasons, but he was putting those kinds of numbers up before this stretch and I have no doubt that he’ll get back to that territory before long. If there was one area I would critique Judge’s play thus far, it would be his reluctance to abuse ABS to his advantage — Judge has seldom pulled the trigger on challenging a pitch, despite being the poster child of who the system should benefit after all of the low strike calls he’s taken throughout his career. He did confidently tap the helmet on a 3-2 pitch that was initially called strike three, and started walking towards first base before the replay confirmed that he’d indeed taken ball four, which leads me to believe that his top-notch plate discipline isn’t too out of whack. Instead, his timing is the thing that’s off, leading to him swinging through pitches and getting under more of them. I get the worries to a degree, as everyone knows the offense without Judge performing like he has throughout his MVP campaigns is a flawed one, but we don’t need to rush straight to being convinced that the cliff is here and Judge is going to start his decline.Overall, I’d agree with the polling that Wells is the player I’m most concerned with, followed closely by McMahon who got a smattering of comments pointing out his performance as well. The two have ran into the occasional pitch that they can demolish, but haven’t done much else otherwise offensively, and having two regulars performing that poorly on top of having some starters still sitting with below-average numbers is a recipe for disaster. The Yankees have mostly avoided an outright tumble in the standings, facing one truly bad stretch of play that saw them lose three straight series to the Rays, Orioles, and Mets on the road. To avoid that in the future, it sure would help if one of those two could start to turn things around.