Nature, Published online: 26 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01625-2Researchers hope to build a facility with thousands of robots capable of performing experiments independently by 2040.

The director of Britain’s electronic surveillance agency warns that Russia is only getting more brazen as battlefield losses in Ukraine mount.

Chargers make Derwin James NFL’s highest-paid safety again With million extension originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Los Angeles Chargers have once again made Derwin James Jr. the highest-paid safety in the NFL, agreeing to a three-year, $75.6 million contract extension with the All-Pro defender, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. James’ agent, David Mulugheta, confirmed the agreement Tuesday. The deal includes $57.5 million guaranteed and gives James an average annual salary of $25.2 million, resetting the safety market for the second time in his career.James, 29, was entering the final season of the four-year extension he signed with the Chargers in 2022, a contract that also briefly made him the league’s highest-paid safety. That deal was worth $76.4 million over four years and cemented him as one of the franchise’s foundational players.Since being selected 17th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Florida State, James has developed into one of the league’s premier defensive playmakers. James recorded 94 total tackles, three interceptions and seven pass breakups during the 2025 season while earning his fifth Pro Bowl selection and fourth All-Pro honor.Chargers double down on defensive leaderOver his career, James has totaled 684 tackles, 19 sacks, 12 interceptions and 46 passes defended across 98 games, showcasing his versatility as both a coverage safety and pass rusher. His ability to impact multiple areas of the game has made him one of the cornerstones of the Chargers’ defense for nearly a decade.After a difficult 2023 campaign slowed by injuries and inconsistency, James rebounded under former Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, thriving in a hybrid nickel role that maximized his aggressiveness near the line of scrimmage. James produced 7.5 sacks over the past two seasons, the most productive pass-rushing stretch of his NFL career.The extension also signals the Chargers’ continued commitment to building around a defense expected to remain among the NFL’s best under coach Jim Harbaugh. As the organization begins organized team activities, James remains firmly positioned as the emotional leader and centerpiece of Los Angeles’ defense heading into the 2026 season.More: https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/atlanta-falcons/news/falcons-expect-jalon-walker-emerge-defensive-star-2026/f04187e8f5bc88e68d85a0c7

Live updates, score for California's CIF San Francisco AAA softball championship; Lowell vs. Washington originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.California's CIF San Francisco Section AAA softball championship is set.The Lowell [San Francisco] Cardinals will take on the Washington [San Franciso] Eagles for the city championship.Game time is set for 7 p.m. EST local.HOW TO WATCH: Lowell vs. Washington on the NFHS Network__________Refresh for updates__________THIRD INNING__________Nothing for Washington, and Lowell coming back up in the bottom of the third.__________SECOND INNING — Lowell 5, Washington 0__________They're headed to the third. We'll get you a score as soon as we can with these difficult technical circumstances.__________Nothing for Washington in the second inning, and it's Lowell back up to the plate.__________FIRST INNING — Lowell 3, Washington 0__________Extremely difficult video feed to follow, folks. Lots of wind on the camera mic, no score on the screen. We'll update you as we can.__________Washington is unable to generate any runs, and Lowell is up.__________They are under way!__________Coming soon!__________How can I watch Lowell vs. Washington?Date: 7 p.m. EST, Tuesday, May 26WATCH:Lowell vs. Washington on the NFHS NetworkMore high school softballCalvary Baptist Academy wins Louisiana's LHSAA Non-Select Division III softball state championshipNorth Carolina's NCHSAA postseason fast approaching with Weddington leading the wayAlabama's AHSAA softball playoffs set to get underwayFlorida's FHSAA softball district tournaments get the postseason started in the Sunshine StateTop-ranked Texas UIL softball squads all advance to the area playoffs

The winner of last week’s Boys Athlete of the Week poll was GNB Voc-Tech’s John Santana. He had more than 3,000 votes (60%) to receive the honor. In three games, Santana had a combined 40 saves. Previous winners were Fairhaven’s Gavin Herman, Old Colony’s Rowan Caulkins, New Bedford’s Jonah Wahnon, Old Rochester’s Malik Washburn and Chase DeMello and Wareham’s Tomas doCanto.Each week during the regular season, we will highlight the top performances. Here’s your chance to vote for the top high school boys athlete performance from the past week.Editor’s note: Voting will end at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. BOYS VOLLEYBALLChace Garcia, GNB Voc-TechAgainst Barnstable, Garcia had 27 assists and 10 digs. He also had 12 assists and 6 digs against BC High. Jael Maldonado, GNB Voc-TechMaldonado had a career-high 13 kills and 14 digs in a win over Barnstable. He also had 9 kills and 8 digs against BC High. Evan Monteiro, GNB Voc-TechMonteiro had 11 kills and 13 digs in a win against Barnstable.Gabe Vieria, GNB Voc-TechAgainst Barnstable, Vieria had a career-high 25 digs. He also had 15 digs against BC High. Gabdiel Arroyo, New BedfordArroyo had a team-high 12 kills in a win over Hingham. Jonah Wahnon, New BedfordIn three matches, Wahnon had a combined 45 assists. BOYS TRACKHenry Berry, Old RochesterIn addition to winning the long jump against Somerset Berkley, Berry took second in the long jump and fifth in the 200 at the South Coast Conference championship meet. Noah Thorell, Old RochesterNot only did Thorell win the 400 against Somerset Berkley, he placed second in the 400 and fourth in the high jump at the South Coast Conference championship meet. Malik Washburn, Old RochesterWashburn won the 110 hurdles and set a school and meet record with a time of 14.27 at the South Shore Twilight Invitational. He also won the 110 hurdles and triple jump at the South Coast Conference championship meet and took first in the 110 hurdles, triple jump and high jump in a win over Somerset Berkley. Ty-Rell Pires, WarehamPires won the shot put, took fourth in the discus and sixth in the javelin at the Mayflower Athletic Conference championship meet. Ryland Potter, WarehamAt the Mayflower Athletic Conference championship meet, Potter placed second in the 110 hurdles and third in the high jump. Playoff Preview: See which SouthCoast boys volleyball team qualified and who they faceVOTE: Girls Athlete of the Week for May 18-25BOYS LACROSSENick Barriga, ApponequetIn a win over Dighton-Rehoboth, Barriga had 4 goals and 1 assist.Colin McKay, ApponequetMcKay had 3 goals and 3 assists against Dighton-Rehoboth. Brady Ellsworth, Bishop StangIn a win over Old Rochester, Ellsworth had 4 goals and 1 assist. Jack Ellsworth, Bishop StangEllsworth had a combined 6 goals and 1 assist in two games. Andrew Lally, Bishop StangIn two games, Lally had a combined 6 goals and 9 assists.Will Sanders, Bishop StangSanders had a combined 27 saves and 1 assist in a pair of games. Conner Araujo, GNB Voc-TechIn two games, Araujo had a combined 2 assists and 10 goals to set the school’s single-season record for goals with 68. Carter Lister, GNB Voc-TechLister had a combined 6 goals and 2 assists in two games.Nate Tobin, Old ColonyWith 18 saves against Tri-County, Tobin surpassed 400 for his career. BOYS TENNISTyler DaSilva, DartmouthDaSilva won his first singles match against Durfee.Alex Hu, FairhavenHu won his first singles match against Somerset Berkley.Caden Gonsalves, Old RochesterGonsalves won his third singles match against Fairhaven. Subhav Parajuli, Old RochesterParajuli won his first singles match against Fairhaven.Tomas doCanto, WarehamdoCanto won his second singles match against Middleboro.SAILINGSam Sperry, DartmouthSperry won 8 out of 9 of his races in A Division as Dartmouth captured first in the Cape & Islands League Championship over 13 other schools. This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Vote SouthCoast Boys Athlete of Week May 18-25 2026

May 26—BROOKINGS — It was certainly the shortest hit of the season for Charlie Luvaas.The Clark Area pitcher's jammed grounder up the third-base line might have gone 60 feet at most but it scored the only run of the day in a 1-0 triumph over Platte-Geddes/White Lake in Tuesday's Class B semifinal of the South Dakota High School Baseball Association state tournament at Bob Shelden Field.The eighth-seeded Dinosaurs (12-6) clinched a spot in Tuesday's championship game against Madison/Chester/ORR with the sixth-inning RBI from Luvaas, who was just as good on the mound. He held No. 5-seeded PGWL to only two hits on 79 pitches with no walks and a mere two strikeouts.It was a perfect storm for a Clark Area win. Luvaas pounded the strike zone, the Honkers were trying to be aggressive at the plate and could not muster up the key inning to overtake the lead. Combine that with Clark Area's spotless defense in the field and it was a sweet victory for Clark coach Chris Bokinskie and his crew, which includes players from the schools at Clark, Willow Lake, Hamlin and Castlewood."We felt confident with what we had with Luvaas coming out on the mound. He's kind of been an unsung hero for us this year," Bokinskie said, noting Luvaas is usually his team's No. 2 starter after Watson Grantham. "We knew he was going to give us every chance to win that game. ... The defense was great again today, no errors again."In a game with a brisk breeze and a fast pace, both pitchers kept the opposing offenses in check until the sixth inning. At that stage, a passed ball on a third strike and a bunt single gave Clark two runners, and Luvaas helped his cause singling on an awkwardly bouncing ball up the third-base line to score Jax Tharaldsen and give the Dinosaurs a 1-0 lead."I was just thinking 'don't get out,'" Luvaas said. "I got jammed in there (on the swing) but it all worked out. ... It was definitely my shortest hit of the year."The Clark squad, which was seeded sixth in its own region tournament before reaching the state bracket, continued its hot run a day after defeating top-seeded West Central 4-2 with a late rally in the quarterfinals. There were only six hits total in the game, with Clark picking up four of them."It was a heck of a game, both teams," Honkers head coach Jeff Kuiper said. "Unfortunately, we didn't get the key hit when we needed it, and we did hit it hard. We hit it at them. They fielded it, and that's the name of the game, field it and make plays."Kenyon Kuiper, who threw 16 pitches for a save in Monday's win, started the game for the Honkers (13-3) and kept Clark under control for most of the day. He threw 6 2/3 innings before hitting the 105-pitch limit, striking out eight batters and giving up four hits and a lone unearned run with two walks. Isaac Leader earned the final defensive out on the mound for the Honkers, drawing a flyout after Clark got a runner on in the seventh.The Honkers, who scored four in the sixth inning on Monday to defeat Vermillion 4-3 in the quarterfinal round, never found the winning offensive formula in the semifinal round. Maddux Van Zee had a one-out double in the bottom half of the sixth inning to give the Honkers a chance to tie the game but Luvaas squeaked out of trouble with a popup and a groundout to end the threat. Isaac Leader had the other hit for PGWL, a single in the second inning.Honkers coach Jeff Kuiper said the team has never had much success with the patient approach in high school baseball, even if it's strategic to run up the pitch counts of opposing pitchers."Everybody says we're going to work the pitcher or the count, but jeez, we've been doing that, and it never always seems to work," Kuiper said. "This year, we tried to get a little more aggressive, especially with those guys in the plate and it's been good. Today, it just didn't get them in the hole."This was the fifth-straight season the Honkers have made the final eight teams and the Class B state tournament. With a quarterfinal win over Vermillion, PGWL feels they have something to build on with underclassmen making up a strong part of the lineup."It's a tough one to lose, but I'm pretty proud of them," Kuiper said. "We only had two seniors and three juniors, so we're starting freshmen and sophomores. I thought they played pretty well. ... We finally got that (quarterfinal) monkey off our back, so hopefully next year, we can build on this a little bit with our young guys."

Broncos' 166-catch rookie could be underrated piece of offense in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Denver Broncos took the league by storm in 2025. The team made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game, despite being picked to finish behind the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. However, as we know, the Chiefs ended up having a disappointing year, in no small part to Patrick Mahomes' late-season injury. The Broncos took advantage of the Chiefs' decline and ended up falling just shy of a Super Bowl return. The team didn't do much in free agency, instead relying on internal development. The team did make some interesting draft picks though, and one in particular may be going under the radar. Justin Joly could become key piece of Broncos' offenseJustin Joly is a name people should get used to hearing. The tight end was selected by the Broncos in the fifth round and his pass-catching skills could be crucial in Denver. NFL Draft On SI's Justin Melo recently ranked Joly as one of the best fifth-round picks in this draft. Regarding Joly, Melo offered the following: Justin Joly's pro comp is Chig Okonkwo, a former fifth-round tight end who has greatly outperformed his draft slot in the league. We see a similar path for Joly. The Brewster, New York native is an undersized, compact weapon who used to play wide receiver. That background shows up in his athleticism and route-running details.Joly registered a team-high 49 receptions for 489 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. The Denver Broncos didn't get enough out of Evan Engram and Adam Trautman last season, so it wouldn't be surprising if Joly earned reps as a rookie.As Melo mentioned, Joly has been compared to Chig Okonkwo, which is a promising comparison. Okonkwo contributed for the Titans for several seasons and earned a nice deal from the Washington Commanders this offseason. Also, Denver could be a great landing spot for Joly. Evan Engram perhaps underperformed a bit in his first season with the Broncos, and Adam Trautman has always been more of a blocker than pass-catcher. Joly has receiver speed but can also block and make plays over the middle. In 2025, Joly played in 12 games for NC State and caught 49 passes for 489 yards and seven touchdowns. In total, the tight end caught 166 passes for 1,978 yards and 15 touchdowns over his college career. Broncos need more out of offense in 2026 The Broncos had an elite defense and a reliable running game in 2025. However, the passing game wasn't as dynamic as the team wanted it to be, and it needs to be better if the team wants to contend again. The team made a big investment by trading for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, which will certainly help. However, as mentioned above, the Broncos need more out of the tight end spot, and Joly could be the one to do that. More NFL news:James Gladstone keeps getting roasted for 2026 draft49ers once again took a major risk during the draft Blockbuster trade proposal gives Lions elite defender Packers urged to trade for disgruntled star ahead of 2026 seasonFormer Tennessee star could be 49ers' best UDFABengals urged to sign future Hall of Famer for offense

Undersized DT Named As Patriots UDFA To Watch Ahead Of Camp originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New England Patriots reached the Super Bowl last season, which was a bit of a surprise, and the team will look to build off that this year.New England made some nice additions in free agency and the draft, but the Patriots could also rely on some undrafted free agents. Ahead of OTAs and training camp beginning, NFL analyst Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report named Miami Hurricanes defensive tackle David Blay Jr. as the UDFA to watch for the Patriots.“Blay started for a Miami team that played in a national championship game. In 2024 at Louisiana Tech, he recorded 6.5 sacks. Normally, that would be enough to get a player drafted. When you're a sub-300 pound one-technique tackle, though, it's another story,” Davenport wrote in an article published on Monday. …“The Patriots signed very few UDFAs—as of this writing, they can be counted on one hand. Of that small group, Blay is the best bet to make some noise this summer, especially if he can add 10-15 pounds to his frame.”Blay is undersized to be an NFL nose tackle or defensive tackle, however, the skill is there to make an impact. So, if he can bulk up and add some size, he could make an impact on the defense.At Miami last season, Blay recorded 28 tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss, as he failed to record a sack. The year prior at Louisiana Tech, he recorded 46 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, and 6.5 sacks.Yet, due to his size, Blay will have his hands full in trying to crack the Patriots' 53-man roster.More NFL: Report: Patriots-Eagles A.J. Brown Trade Is 'Almost A Done Deal'

As SEC presidents, athletics directors and coaches converged on Miramar Beach, Fla. this week, frustrations about the NIL enforcement were expected to be on the agenda. The NIL Go clearinghouse, overseen by the College Sports Commission, is to review third-party NIL deals worth more than $2,000.When asked about the process Tuesday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey defended the system. He also said there was “innovation” through the House settlement’s first year and, so far, NIL Go is doing what it was intended.SUBSCRIBE to the On3 NIL and Sports Business NewsletterWhen asked about “complaints” regarding the system, Sankey told reporters he doesn’t hear as much about the $20.5 million cap. That figure will grow to to $21.3 million next year. Instead, it’s about the third-party deals and rejected deals.“There’s like, ‘What are we doing?’ complaints,” Sankey said Tuesday. “We need the system to say no, which it has hundreds upon hundreds of times. We had an arbitration outcome, where the system was defended.“So, as I said yesterday, we’ve gone through a year of innovation. We’re learning from that year of innovation. There is a system in place.”‘The information has to flow’Since its launch, NIL Go has cleared more than $232 million in deals, as of the CSC’s most recent update. In that time, over 75% of submitted deals have come from the Big Ten and SEC, On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed.Of the total submitted to the clearinghouse, more than $100 million worth of agreements have been rejected or are under review. With regard to the time it takes for a response, Greg Sankey said both sides have to be part of the communication process. He has also spoken with CSC CEO Bryan Seeley about the topic.“Another part of the presentation is they don’t get answers quickly,” Sankey said. “I’ve had conversations with Bryan. Well, part of it is the information has to flow, as well. The responses have to be provided and people have to be a part of the system. We’ve had concern raised about the reporting of deals. Are deals being reported nationally? There’s a report about pretty significant variance where we’re reporting at a pretty high level, which I commend our schools for. And then, you have somebody that says we’re doing something wrong and we’re doing exactly what the system is intended to do.“But you want outcomes, you want answers, you want consistency. You do expect denials, then people have to figure out how to manage denials.”Greg Sankey: Nebraska ruling brought ‘clarity’Of course, arbitration is the other part of the NIL Go process. That occurred for the first time last month when a group of Nebraska football players went to arbitration over a combined $7.5 million worth of NIL deals. A neutral arbitrator upheld the CSC’s ruling and Nebraska is taking the necessary steps in the process, AD Troy Dannen said.Sankey said Tuesday he thought arbitration would happen earlier as the House settlement comes up on its one-year anniversary of approval. He also called it a testament to the system in place.“I expected arbitration probably to happen sooner than it did,” Sankey said. “But it does provide some clarity that the system can work – just not working maybe perfectly or quickly. Again, you’re in innovation.”Pete Nakos contributed.

Cowboys 26-year-old breakout candidate could push George Pickens out of Dallas in 2027 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.George Pickens is set to return for his second season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2026, but there are still many question marks surrounding his future.Pickens will play the upcoming season on the franchise tag, as the Cowboys have no plans to extend him before then, meaning the star receiver will hit the free agency market next spring unless a deal materializes mid-season.Though Pickens is coming off a breakout season in 2025 with 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns on 93 receptions, the Georgia product could be on his way out of Dallas after 2026, because the team may already have his replacement on the roster.Ryan Flournoy break out could lead to Pickens' exitRyan Flournoy was a sixth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft who has developed into a solid contributor for the Cowboys through two seasons.The Central Missouri State product tallied 102 yards in 11 games during his rookie campaign, but in 2025, Flournoy showed a ton of growth, posting 40 receptions for 475 yards and four touchdowns as Dallas's No. 3 receiver.Heading into 2026, Flournoy will return as the Cowboys' No. 3 wide receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and Pickens. However, the hype around the 26-year-old is incredibly high, which raises the question of whether Dallas would let Pickens walk in 2027 free agency if Flournoy impresses this year.Flournoy will also hit free agency next offseason, but he will be restricted, meaning the Cowboys can extend a one-year tender offer to the young receiver and match any deal that comes his way from another team.Nevertheless, even if he has a breakout season, Flournoy will be cheaper to bring back than Pickens, who figures to land a deal worth over $35 million per year if he turns in another successful year.So, there's a scenario next offseason in which the Cowboys re-sign Flournoy to be the No. 2 receiver on a team-friendly deal and let Pickens walk, saving a ton of money. With that extra cap space, Dallas could focus on bolstering other positions instead of paying another receiver top-of-the-market money, as Lamb is already the fourth-highest-paid receiver in the league.Obviously, this scenario heavily weighs on whether Flournoy can show that he can step into a WR2 role and replace Pickens. But with the Cowboys set to return as one of the top passing offenses in football, the sixth-round pick should have his opportunities.

Credit: NBC ConnecticutLongtime Connecticut sports anchor and reporter Gabrielle Lucivero doesn’t have to go very far for her next gig.After nearly nine years at NBC Connecticut, Lucivero announced that she was leaving the station, but would be heading to Bristol, where she’ll cover WNBA and other sports for ESPN.“11 years and 11 days since I walked into my first day as a local news reporter in Binghamton, NY, I signed off from my local sports job in Hartford, CT,” she wrote on a Monday Instagram post. “I came to NBC CT 8 years ago wanting to be a sports reporter…. Three Olympics, eight NCAA titles, seven Final Fours, one thousand high school championships… I got married, bought our first house, Connecticut is home. And it will stay home! I’ll be down the road at ESPN and on the sidelines for the WNBA.”ESPN confirmed to Awful Announcing that Lucivero will be doing WNBA-related work across the company’s programming, in addition to her role on the Connecticut Sun broadcast team. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gabby (@glucivero)Prior to joining NBC Connecticut, the Boston University grad had stints with TV stations in Rochester, Syracuse, and Binghamton, New York, and also worked for Fox Sports and SNY.The post Sports reporter Gabrielle Lucivero joining ESPN as part of WNBA coverage appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazulla called the NBA’s Coach of the Year Award “stupid” in March. On Tuesday night, he became only the 4th coach in Celtics history to win the honor. Mazzulla beat out Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson for the honor; which he says belongs to his assistant coaches. “Thank you to the Lord for the platform he has given me, and to my wife and family who support me on this journey,” Mazzulla said in a statement. “Thank you to our players who compete and give it everything they have each night. I am grateful for every member of the Celtics organization whose dedication impacts winning every day. This award belongs to our staff, who are there for the guys every day. Their relentless work ethic improves our team daily. This award should be named Staff of the Year.”The Celtics played most of this season without Jayson Tatum and were expected by some to be a fall-back-to-the-pack team this season because of Tatum’s injury and the departures of players like Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday.“This is well deserved recognition and a testament to both Joe and his staff,” said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. “With all of our unknowns entering the season, Joe did a fantastic job building and growing a team. He pours everything he has into competing at a high level, while helping players find the best versions of themselves within the framework of a team. On top of all of that, Joe leads with an authentic care for the Celtics and everyone he works with - players, coaches, and staff.”Mazzulla owns a 238-90 regular-season record and has gone 36-21 in the playoffs since taking over as head coach before the 2023 season.Mazzulla is the first Celtics coach to take home the honor since Bill Fitch in 1980. Hall of Famers Red Auerbach, for whom the award is named after, and Tommy Heinsohn also won the award during their time on the Celtics bench. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

He ran the newspaper division of Advance Publications, while his older brother, Si, ran the Condé Nast magazine operation.

President Trump is said to be considering the appearance after his hometown team, the Knicks, clinched a championship spot.

Mr. Paxton, a Texas Senate candidate, has led Senator John Cornyn in all but one independent poll in the Republican primary runoff.

Rico Verhoeven is just as surprised as the combat sports community with what transpired in his highly controversial fight against boxing great Oleksandr Usyk.Verhoeven, a former Glory Kickboxing champion, fought Usyk in yet another crossover superfight that pitted a world-class boxer against a fighter from another discipline. This type of fight, more famously coined by Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather, has been happening for some time, with the boxer unsurprisingly beating the outsider most of the time. However, although Usyk came out with his hand raised, there were plenty of eyebrows raised about how it all came about.For starters, the referee intervened to stop the fight after the closing bell of Round 11 had rung with Verhoeven, who, according to many, was up on the scorecards. Verhoeven, who was knocked down seconds prior to the stoppage, was standing with a high guard, defending himself from Usyk.Like many, Verhoeven was puzzled by the referee's decision to stop the fight. "For people who watch my fights, I've been dropped multiple times in different types of fights, in championship fights, and what do I do? I get back up, and no matter how much time is left on the clock, I get back up, and I end up winning," Verhoeven said on "The Ariel Helwani Show." "That was the mindset. ... I got back up, I put the mouthpiece back on, but I heard (the 10-second clapper), so I went, 'Oh, that's good. There are only 10 seconds left. Let me keep my hands up, and let me get to the 12th round.' I knew he was coming straight at me. I was (defending), I believe I gave him a right hook, but I was like, 'Hmm, that's not smart.' I kept my hands up and waited till the bell went. I'm thinking, 'When is the bell going to go? When is the referee going to stop this? Those 10 seconds are taking long right now.' Then he jumped in, and I was like, 'Ok, the round is over,' and he was like, 'It's over. It's over.' I was like, 'What do you mean it's over?' 'No, it's over.' (I go), 'But why?' I was like, 'What the heck is going on here?' For me, it was a surprise. Then afterward, we heard the bell already rang before he jumped in. So, yeah."By boxing standards, it was a premature stoppage from the referee. Verhoeven had only been dropped that one time in the fight, which came with 20 seconds remaining in Round 11. He was able to answer the 10 count without much issue, and was defending himself in the final seconds to see a Round 12.There was a second wave of controversy from the fight. The official scoring of the fight was revealed, and it had Verhoeven and Usyk tied up on two judges' scorecards and Verhoeven winning on the third. If Verhoeven had seen out Round 11, the round would've been scored a 10-8 in favor of the Ukrainian, putting Verhoeven down two points on two cards and one on another. Verhoeven would've needed a knockdown to draw the fight or a KO to win it. Many, including the DAZN commentators, thought Verhoeven was comfortably winning the fight until that point."There were open scorecards, and after four rounds, we're like, 'Hey, we're even.' I felt like I was at least 3-1, but OK, that's fine," Verhoeven said. "Then we get the scorecards again after another four rounds, so after Round 8, and still we were even. Hmm, I don't know. It's starting to feel fishy. I feel like I'm winning these rounds. I'm working more. I'm getting hit less, and I'm touching him more than he's hitting me, so maybe I have to push it a little bit more. It's getting looked at through a protective boxing lens. Maybe because I am an outsider, maybe I have to put in that extra work to be even more convincing. Like we saw in the commentary stats, at Round 10, I was like 8-2 instead of going up equal."Verhoeven revealed after the fight that he was going to appeal the loss to Usyk. He isn't necessarily looking to overturn the result, but he'd like some acknowledgment that he was wronged."What do you want with the appeal? Actually, to be honest, all I'm looking for is an apology," Verhoeven explained. "Like, 'Yo, Rico. We're sorry. This should've gone differently,' and that's it. What else can I ask for? Like I said, I'm super thankful that I got the opportunity, that the WBC sanctioned it, and I was there, and I showcased that these crossover fights are definitely something that needs to happen more in the future. It started, of course, with the Mayweather-McGregor fight. Then we had the Ngannou-Fury fight. We had the Jake-Tyson fight, and now we had the Rico-Usyk fight. I think if you look at it, it brings so many eyeballs to combat sports in general and all landscape changes, and there's so much interest from different types of companies and brands. I love it. I love it. I love seeing everything that's going on right now."Fans will have to wait until the appeal gets a verdict, but they rarely go through and end up changing the original results. Although Verhoeven might not seem set on getting a different result, he would like to run things back with Usyk."Let's go for the rematch," Verhoeven said. "I'm excited about that. It's going to get even more eyeballs than we did the first time."This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Rico Verhoeven aims for apology with Oleksandr Usyk appeal

Jordan Ott finished fifth for 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year after coaching the Phoenix Suns to 45 wins and a return to the playoffs. The Suns missed the postseason last season under Mike Budenholzer with a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla won this season’s award with 62 first-place votes and 392 total points. The Celtics earned the second seed in the Eastern Conference despite being without All-Star forward Jayson Tatum for most of the regular season. Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff placed second with 29 first-place votes and 312 points while San Antonio Spurs coach Mitch Johnson finished third with nine first-place votes and 133 total points. A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year. The coaches received five points for a first-place vote, three for second place and one for third place.A global media panel of 100 voters selected the 2025-26 NBA Coach of the Year.Complete voting results ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/es0GyIXSMe— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 26, 2026Charlotte Hornets coach Charles Lee finished fourth with 31 total points while Ott managed 11 points as he received one second-place vote and eight third-place votes.Ott finished one point better than Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault, who didn't receive a first-place vote despite coaching the Thunder to an NBA-best 64 wins and the top overall seed in the NBA playoffs.Ott was Phoenix's fourth head coach in four seasons. He was named Western Conference coach of the month of January. Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.Support local journalism. Start your online subscription.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Jordan Ott boasts top 5 finish for NBA Coach of the Year

While the Big Ten, ACC, Big 12 and Notre Dame are in support of a 24-team College Football Playoff, the SEC hasn’t budged. Instead, protective of the sanctity of the regular season and a conference championship estimated to be worth as much as $100 million, it’s been open to a 16-team field.And during SEC spring meetings on Tuesday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart endorsed a more radical idea, which was voiced by his university president, Jere Morehead, last week, according to The Athletic.Morehead, reportedly peeved by the shortcomings of the House settlement — namely the ineffectiveness of the College Sports Commission’s attempt to oversee compliance and NIL rules — previously told The Athletic that an SEC-only playoff “would be fantastic.”If it comes to that, and the SEC separating and governing itself, Smart would be on board. “… I’ve been a huge advocate that if we can’t find rules that everybody plays by, then we should play on our own,” Smart told reporters on Tuesday, the first day of SEC spring meetings, per On3. “I’m not afraid of that. I’m not afraid to break away and say that our conference is strong enough to go out and play.“If we could actually function financially, it would make our programs more stable. We could support things financially.”He added, according to On3: “I’m talking about all the sports and do our own rules — I’d be all for that.”Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentA breakaway probably isn’t the cards this season, or for a while really. The current CFP contract runs through the 2031-32 season.But, until then, the SEC does have leverage, especially regarding CFP expansion talks. In order for the CFP to increase in size, the SEC and Big Ten must find common ground. They were effectively given the keys to dictating the future of the playoff two years ago, when FBS commissioners and Notre Dame leadership signed a memorandum of understanding before agreeing to a new media rights deal with ESPN.College football’s conference commissioners failed to agree on an expanded format for the postseason ahead of this year’s Jan. 23 deadline that ESPN set, per Yahoo Sports’ Dellenger. As a result, the CFP’s remaining at 12 teams for the 2026 season.Still, the comments made by Smart, and Morehead before him, are head-turning, even if they’re not entirely novel. The concept of a influential conference like the SEC and Big Ten potentially seceding isn’t new, but Smart — a two-time national championship-winning head coach — reportedly putting it as plainly as has did is notable, particularly considering the power his voice commands in the conference.In an era when NCAA rules are being frequently challenged in court and recruiting depends heavily on revenue sharing and NIL war chests while faith in long-awaited federal legislation is waning, the thought is, as reported by The Athletic, a breakaway could help the SEC defend its rules against antitrust litigation.“I’ve been to this meeting now 10-11 times, and it’s frustrating at times to say, well, we can’t do this because of litigation, we can’t do this because we get sued, we can’t do that,” Smart said, per The Athletic. “And we’re just trying to do things for the betterment of the sports and of the student-athletes, and that’s not curtailing what money they make. I’m not advocating that they can’t just fund what student-athletes make, I’m just trying to make it where it’s equal and it’s comparable footing for everybody, and it’s not a race to the bottom, as they say.”Smart also shared, per ESPN, that he fears college football could ruin the rest of the college sports landscape. Several Division I schools have already "People say, well, that's just the way it is,” he said, according to ESPN. “I don't agree with that. “We fund Olympic sports at our program and we go to class with [other athletes]. You learn culture by being around those people. But that's why we're talking about student-athletes, which most of you all would argue that there is no student in the athlete. I still think the best thing is to get a degree while also training to be a professional athlete. We're going to lose that if we keep spending because not everybody can spend at the rate we're spending.”

It’s time to re-adjust where Virginia Tech sits in the college football recruiting hierarchy.Previously battling other ACC bottom-feeders to not finish with the worst class in the conference, the Hokies have some newfound swagger on the recruiting trail thanks to the arrival of head coach James Franklin.After essentially bringing the entire Penn State class to Blacksburg last cycle, VT is starting to pick up some steam in the 2027 cycle. As of May 26, the Hokies have the No. 18 class in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.There’s still a ways to go and plenty of commits to add to the fold, but Franklin and his staff have had Virginia Tech in the thick of some big-time recruitments thus far. Earlier this month, they picked up their biggest commitment thus far.Hingham (Mass.) Tabor Academy four-star quarterback Peter Bourque was a one-time Michigan commit who came back on the board earlier this year following the coaching changes in Ann Arbor. Franklin’s PSU staff was previously in the mix and he re-ignited the interest at VT. It eventually paid off as he chose the Hokies over Georgia on May 14. “I’m super close to that staff. I have a great relationship with Daniel O’Brien and Coach Franklin,” Bourque previously told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong.Bourque, the No. 7 QB in the nation, is now one of five four-stars in the VT class to date. May has also brought pledges from Swainsboro (Ga.) Emanuel County four-star cornerback Chase Johnson, Arlington (Texas) Martin four-star running back JP Jones-Priest and now Columbus (Ohio) St. Francis DeSales four-star tight end Jordan Karhoff.There’s currently 15 total commits in the class, nine of whom are set to play on the offensive side of the ball at the next level. The class also ranks No. 3 in the ACC, behind just Miami and Clemson. The class can be viewed below.Virginia Tech Commitments by PositionQuarterbackFour-star Peter Bourque, No. 82 NATL. (No. 7 QB)Running BackFour-star JP Jones-Priest, No. 380 NATL. (No. 29 RB)Three-star Kelvin Morrison, No. 521 NATL. (No. 41 RB)Three-star Stanley Smart, No. 661 NATL. (No. 59 RB)Wide ReceiverThree-star Demarcus Brown, No. 415 NATL. (No. 60 WR)Three-star Anthony Roberts, No. 429 NATL. (No. 61 WR)Tight EndFour-star Jordan Karhoff, No. 193 NATL. (No. 8 TE)Three-star Braxton Salster, No. 568 NATL. (No. 33 TE)Interior Offensive LinemanThree-star Kaden Buchanan, No. 423 NATL. (No. 32 IOL)Defensive LinemanFour-star Joseph Buchanan, No. 226 NATL. (No. 24 DL)Three-star Xavier Perkins, No. 481 NATL. (No. 48 DL)Three-star Brock Frisby, No. 634 NATL. (No. 59 DL)EDGEThree-star Alexander Taylor, No. 690 NATL. (No. 57 EDGE)CornerbackFour-star Chase Johnson, No. 354 NATL. (No. 38 CB)SafetyThree-star Elijah Butler, No. 460 NATL. (No. 42 S)

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stormed into their second straight IPL final with a crushing 92-run win over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala on Tuesday.RCB captain Rajat Patidar led the charge with an unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls as Bengaluru posted a huge 254 for five after being asked to bat first. Patidar smashed nine sixes and five fours and completely changed the game in the final overs after surviving two dropped catches earlier in his innings.RCB scored 114 runs in the last six overs, including 86 in the final five, leaving Gujarat Titans under massive pressure in the chase.The innings started aggressively with Venkatesh Iyer attacking Mohammed Siraj in the first over with three boundaries. He made 19 before being dismissed by Kagiso Rabada.Virat Kohli then built a partnership with Devdutt Padikkal to keep the scoring rate high. Kohli scored 43 while Padikkal added 30 as RCB reached 76 for one in the powerplay.GT managed to slow things down briefly in the middle overs. Jason Holder removed Kohli and Padikkal in an over, while Rashid Khan bowled tightly.— IPL (@IPL) But the match changed completely in the 14th over. Patidar, who was dropped twice by GT fielders off Prasidh Krishna, made full use of the lifelines. Left-arm pacer Kulwant Khejroliya gave away 28 runs in the over that included misfields, two no-balls and a wide.Patidar attacked both Khejroliya and Rashid Khan in the death overs, while Krunal Pandya provided support with 43 runs during a 95-run partnership. Patidar brought up his fifty with a six off Rabada and continued hitting till the final over.Chasing 255, Gujarat Titans needed a strong start but lost wickets early. Sai Sudharsan was dismissed in unusual fashion when his bat slipped from his hands while facing Jacob Duffy and crashed into the stumps. Sudharsan made 14.GT captain Shubman Gill fell soon after for just two, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The experienced pacer finished with two wickets and also moved to the top of the Purple Cap standings with 26 wickets.Josh Hazlewood then dismissed Jos Buttler for 29, while Rasikh Salam removed Nishant Sandhu and Holder in the same over as GT slipped to 51 for five inside the powerplay.Rahul Tewatia fought back with 68 runs but the target was too big. Gujarat Titans were eventually bowled out for 162.The win sent RCB into their fifth IPL final after 2009, 2011, 2016 and 2025. Gujarat Titans will now play Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad for the remaining place in the final.

The showdown, manufactured by a Republican gerrymander, created one of many generational clashes consuming Democrats this cycle.

The risk of an explosion or spill has fallen, the authorities said, but residents closest to the plant cannot yet return. Some have begun to ask who should be held accountable.

James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, has been raising money and looking to unite his party for the general election.

The Los Angeles Sparks will be without star Kelsey Plum for at least the next week.Plum went down with a sprained ankle in practice on Tuesday. While specifics of the incident or the severity of the injury are not yet known, Plum will be evaluated again in one week, according to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou. Plum, now in her second year with the Sparks, has averaged a league-high 26.8 points per game so far this season. She’s put up 6.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds per contest, too, while shooting a career-high 58.9% from the field. The Sparks currently sit at 3-3 on the season after Saturday’s 101-95 win over the Las Vegas Aces.While it’s unclear how long Plum will actually be sidelined, and the team likely isn’t in a spot where they’ll feel the need to rush her back, the injury comes at a slow time for the Sparks. The team is off until Friday’s matchup in Washington against the Mystics. They’ll take on the Connecticut Sun then on Saturday before returning home for a rematch with the Aces next Tuesday. If Plum is out for just the one week, she could return in time for that third contest and end up only missing two games. This post will be updated with more information shortly.

San Francisco 49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle is keeping his eyes on a Week 1 return, but the logistics of the team's regular-season opener aren't doing him any favors.Speaking with Baker Machado on Front Office Sports, Kittle acknowledged that the 49ers' season-opening trip to Melbourne, Australia, to face the Los Angeles Rams adds a layer of complexity to his rehabilitation from a torn Achilles."It's a 15-hour flight and a game like four days before a normal opening day, that might make it a little bit difficult. Yeah, sure, but who doesn't like a challenge?" Kittle said. "At least if we started the season off at home and I didn't have to hop on a plane for 15 hours, it might be different.""There's a 15 hour flight and a game like four days before normal opening day that might make it a little bit difficult... but who doesn't like a challenge?"49ers tight end George Kittle tells FOS that his goal is to be on the field for the 49ers' season opener in Australia. pic.twitter.com/giTiUp5ITg— Front Office Sports News (@FOS_News_) May 26, 2026The star tight end suffered the injury on January 11 during San Francisco’s Wildcard playoff victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. While an Achilles tear typically threatens a player's entire follow-up campaign, the tone surrounding Kittle has been surprisingly optimistic this offseason.In late March, general manager John Lynch noted the team was "hopeful" Kittle could beat the odds for the opener. By late April, Lynch doubled down on that progress during an appearance on NFL Network, stating that Kittle was doing well and is expected to "be ready at some point, if not for the first game."That positive trajectory aligns with Kittle's own assessment. Just a day after Lynch's draft-weekend update, Kittle shared that he was 13 weeks out of surgery and trending ahead of schedule. However, he remained grounded about rushing back onto the field for training camp, warning, "let's not get too far ahead of ourselves" and noting the team would "dip our toes back in a little bit slower than that."With training camp and the preseason firmly dedicated to his continuing recovery, the 15-hour flight to Australia on September 10 represents the ultimate medical checkpoint.If he is cleared by the training staff, Kittle insists he will be on the field in Melbourne. If it is close, he expects to be a true game-time decision. Despite outside skepticism that he could miss the first two months of the season, Kittle remains defiant."My goal is to be back there as early as possible," Kittle said.This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: George Kittle says Australia trip makes Week 1 availability difficult

The San Francisco 49ers liked Brock Purdy a lot heading into the 2022 NFL Draft, but not quite enough to use an early pick on him. Speaking on the Tom Tolbert Show, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that the front office initially gave the Iowa State quarterback a fourth-round grade. Despite that high internal grade, the team decided to wait because they understood how the rest of the league typically scouts and values quarterbacks of Purdy’s size and athletic profile. Knowing the media and other front offices hadn't caught up to their evaluation, they gambled that he would slip through the cracks."Based off our experience, I don't think he'll get drafted," Shanahan recalled. "And we said that, but maybe we will if we're in the seventh, if we have an extra one."Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch talk about when they knew Brock Purdy was going to be legit. Kyle also confirmed that they gave Brock a 4th round grade heading into the 2022 draftKyle after Brock’s first game against the Dolphins:“That night in bed, than might’ve been the first… pic.twitter.com/70e8MO0NjZ— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) May 25, 2026Once training camp rolled around that summer, Purdy immediately began flashing the traits that caught the staff's eye, even while veterans Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo took all the first-team reps and media headlines."I remember [49ers owner] Jed [York] coming in after a lot of training camp practices and always [asking], 'Who's looking better, Jimmy or Trey?'" Shanahan said. "And it was a couple days I was frustrated and I was just like, 'I'm just telling you, it's the third guy.' It's that guy... And he's like, 'What? Who?' I'm like, 'I'm just telling you it's him.'"While a brief, regular-season appearance in relief against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7 didn't look perfect, the definitive turning point came a few weeks later against the Miami Dolphins in Week 13 when Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a broken ankle, forcing the rookie into the fire. Trey Lance had won the starting job heading into the 2022 season, but had suffered a bad ankle injury himself in Week 2.Purdy completed 25-of-37 passes for 210 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in a huge 33-17 win. The gravity of the situation didn't fully process for Shanahan until he got home after the game and lay awake processing the state of the roster.“That night in bed, that might’ve been the first time where I was like 'We might have something special', because I was so sick because I thought we had such a good team and Trey Lance was already on IR and Jimmy Garoppolo just broke his ankle," Shanahan said. "I’m home that night not even thinking about the game, I was just like, how we’re down to our last quarterback. We had such a good team and once I stopped thinking about it in bed, I was like 'Holy shit. Brock played unbelievably tonight.'”From that night on, Purdy took total control of the offense, permanently changing the trajectory of the franchise and proving the team's initial fourth-round film grade completely right. He won his next five regular-season starts for the 49ers that year, then won two playoff games before getting injured himself in the 2022 NFC Championship game and losing to the Philadelphia Eagles.Purdy remained the 49ers' starting quarterback from then on, going 25-15 over the next three seasons as well as winning three of five playoff games. This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Kyle Shanahan’s striking 2022 admission to Jed York about Brock Purdy

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 7: Gage Jump #79 of the Athletics pitches during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Las Vegas Ballpark on March 7, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Getty Images After dropping the series opener to the visiting Seattle Mariners, the A’s hope to rebound in game two of the three-game set. The Athletics, at 27-27 remain in first place in the American League West a game and a half over the Mariners who are right behind them in second place.The A’s hope to get jump-start from tonight’s starter, 23-year-old lefty Gage Jump called up from Las Vegas for the game today. He ranks as the A’s No. 3 prospect and No. 41 overall prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. He was last week’s Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week following a stellar outing for AAA Las Vegas, tossing seven scoreless innings with no walks and nine strikeouts.Jump will go up against 26-year-old right hander Emerson Hancock. Hancock is 3-2 on the year with a 3.07 ERA over ten starts. He’ll face off against this lineup for Mark Kotsay’s Athletics:View LinkGage will go up against this Seattle Mariners lineup for his inaugural MLB start:View LinkFollow the Game:Watch:Athletics – NBCSCAListen:Athletics – Talk 650 KSTE, KVMX 92.1/105.5, A’s Cast

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 24: Gabriel Landeskog #92 of the Colorado Avalanche skates with the puck ahead of Pavel Dorofeyev #16 of the Vegas Golden Knights in the first period of Game Three of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on May 24, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Golden Knights defeated the Avalanche 5-3. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) | Getty Images If the Colorado Avalanche season were a boat at sea, the vessel would be taking on water with the feeling of impending doom as the choppy waters of a series sweep loom over the horizon. A journey that started in the waters of Los Angeles could come to a sinking halt in the desert of Las Vegas, as the Golden Knights have a 3-0 series lead with a chance to advance to the cup final tonight.Colorado seems battered and bruised from the quest, as Cale Makar is clearly not healthy, and Nathan MacKinnon and Valeri Nichushkin were hobbled in game three.The team from the Mile High City also appears morally drained after blowing their first third-period lead to lose game two and a 3-0 first-period lead in game three. In fact, in game three, Colorado failed to register a shot in the last 12+ minutes of the final frame despite getting a power play at one point.Vegas has been sippin’ pina coladas like a prize fighter as their (hard-earned) luxury yacht rolls into port for another night of dominance. The Avalanche have had zero answers to what Las Vegas has brought to the table, and so for the Golden Knights, the focus will be more of the same.Will the Avalanche end the suffering and go quietly, or will they put up a fight?Colorado Avalanche: 8-4The Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights (11-4)Time: 6:00 p.m. MTWatch: ESPN+, ESPNListen: Altitude Sports Radio, 92.5 FMColorado AvalancheWhat can I really say about where the Avalanche stand today ahead of game four? A lot.For starters, it feels like Nathan MacKinnon either got some incredible treatment over the last 36 hours or he will, at a minimum, be hobbled this evening after he took a puck to the outside of his right knee in game three. The impact was substantial enough to bench MacKinnon for most of the third period outside of one pointless power play appearance.I don’t say pointless because MacKinnon shouldn’t be out on the power play, but he was clearly unable to make any explosive movements and was basically ineffective.Nathan MacKinnon was in some serious pain after blocking a shot. pic.twitter.com/wZ7V1RvzRG— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 25, 2026This leads me to an adjustment I hope to see from Bednar. I don’t think riding your clearly wounded top guys into the ground is going to do anything but accelerate losing.The approach we saw in game three just came off desperate as the top group waved off a timeout just to inevitably be too gassed to stave off an open net attempt.Moreover, it explains why the end of game three was so lifeless.Only one team in NHL history has come back from down 3-0 beyond the quarterfinals, and that was the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.Saying things have changed since then is incredibly reductive, but back then, Leafs head coach Hap Day chose to bench the team’s leading scorer and a veteran defender to make his lineup younger, faster, and better equipped to play 60 minutes of playoff hockey.Here are three keys to victory for the Colorado Avalanche:Effort every second of every shift.A commitment to sacrifice and teamworkPatience and pride.It’s desperation time for the Avalanche (although I’d argue it has been for at least two games), and they will have to lean into that to avoid the sweep. That means controlling what they can control, and that starts with effort.Speaking of effort, you clearly aren’t going to skill it up to a victory against this Vegas team, so to win, Colorado will have to buy into sacrificing offense for defense, grinding in the corners and below the goal-line, and crashing the net.The approach that’s required right now isn’t a pretty one. It’s not gonna land anyone on ESPN’s top ten or make an end-of-year highlight reel. The Avalanche will have to trust themselves, prepare for battle, and play for the logo on the front of their jerseys.Projected Lineup:Artturi Lehkonen — Nathan MacKinnon — Gabriel LandeskogNazem Kadri — Brock Nelson — Martin NecasRoss Colton — Nicolas Roy — Valeri NichushkinParker Kelly — Jack Drury — Logan O’ConnorDevon Toews — Cale MakarBrett Kulak — Sam MalinskiJosh Manson — Brent BurnsMacKenzie BlackwoodScott WedgewoodShould the Avalanche pivot to Mackenzie Blackwood? pic.twitter.com/EO4Z3mT2ns— Daily Faceoff (@DailyFaceoff) May 26, 2026Note: I have italicized the individuals who are a bit questionable tonight. We haven’t gotten the real word on either Nichushkin or MacKinnon’s status, and Cale has dealt with stuff all postseason.Nothing has been reported, but it feels like the right time to give MacKenzie Blackwood a chance in game four. Vegas Golden KnightsWhen John Tortorella took the reins in Vegas, he talked a lot about just getting out of the way with this Vegas group, which has an established cup-winning core and a cupboard full of talent. It’s apparently exactly what was needed to right the ship in Vegas.Good goaltending has also helped, as Carter Hart is on a Jordan Binnington-like run here in the 2026 playoffs. His success has been largely instrumental in Vegas’ commitment to the counterstrike approach, as he’s backstopped the group well when Colorado has earned the seldom-seen high-danger look.Carter Hart with a HUGE SAVE at the end of the period to keep it scoreless ❌ pic.twitter.com/cYQCclhuhM— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 21, 2026Vegas is in comfortable territory right now, but won’t just take the foot off the gas this close to getting back to a cup final. Here are three keys to victory for the Golden Knights:Stick to the plan.Play to win.Ride momentum.Vegas’ approach is undefeated against the team that many (along with Carolina) viewed as a shoo-in for the Cup Final. As the saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.With this sort of series lead, it’s human nature to let up a little bit, seeing as only four teams have ever come back from being down 3-0 in the NHL’s 109 seasons. That gives the Avalanche ~ a 3.7% chance of realizing a reverse sweep.That’s the sort of unlikelyhood that can seep into the little habits, but as we know in Colorado, habits are fleeting and must be nurtured even when the going is good. Or else.The Golden Knights have done very well at getting and keeping momentum when it matters most. The first goal hasn’t mattered as much as the last goal in this series because Vegas doesn’t come out of their game when behind. Projected Lineup:Ivan Barbashev — Jack Eichel — Pavel DorofeyevBrett Howden — William Karlsson — Mitch MarnerBrandon Saad — Tomas Hertl — Colton SissonsCole Smith — Nic Dowd — Keegan KolesarBrayden McNabb — Shea TheodoreNoah Hanifin — Rasmus AnderssonBen Hutton — Dylan CoghlanCarter HartAdin HillLet us know what you think in the comments, Avs fans! Is this the end or the beginning? Are the Avalanche losing or winning tonight?

*SaveBadin and Centerville ended the regular season as the state’s top ranked teams in their respective divisions, as released by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association on Tuesday.Centerville (22-4) maintained the top spot in Division I despite a 1-2 overall week that included a loss to No. 5 Moeller, which dropped one spot despite defeating the state’s top ranked team.Badin (23-3) produced two shutouts including an 18-0 win against Mount Healthy to open district tournament play. Badin received 14 of the 17 first place votes.Also finishing the season ranked in the top-five included No. 3 Troy (21-3) in D-II, No. 4 Tippecanoe (21-5) and No. 5 Butler (22-5) in D-III, No. 2 Coldwater (20-4) in D-V, and No. 3 St. Henry (22-3) and No. 5 Mechanicsburg (19-3) in D-VI.D-III has the most area teams ranked with six of the top-20 being from the Miami Valley. Joining the other three are No. 6 Kenton Ridge (19-5), No. 7 Bellbrook (21-5), and No. 18 Monroe (18-6).No. 8 Beavercreek (20-5), No. 11 Springboro (19-7), and No. 17 Lakota East (17-7) and all ranked in D-I, while No. 7 Arcanum (21-4), No. 8 Anna (20-5) and No. 15 Versailles (18-9).Other teams finishing the season in the state rankings include D-II No. 13 Northmont (17-9) and D-IV No. 10 Urbana (22-6). In D-VII, Newton (19-4) is 6th, followed by Fort Loramie (15-9) in 11th and Russia (13-12) in 16th.District semifinals began Tuesday, May 26, and continue Wednesday, May 27. District finals are scheduled to be played on Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29.*Save

TUPELO – When you’ve won six state titles at one school like Cliff Little has at Biggersville, it takes a lot to leave. But coaching Tupelo’s boys basketball team is, in his words, a “once-in-a lifetime opportunity.”The Golden Wave introduced Little as their new boys head coach on Tuesday. Little replaces Robert Green. Tupelo is coming off an 18-8 season where it was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.“Biggersville is near and dear, and the relationships that we built will carry on forever. It was wonderful,” Little said. “But moving here, this is, in my opinion, the best school district in the state. This is a no-brainer. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I cannot wait to get started. We want to carry on the tradition but build a premier basketball program who’s competing year-in and year-out for state titles.”The big question for Little will be if his success at Biggersville, which plays in the state’s smallest classification, can carry over to Tupelo, which plays in the state’s biggest. But Little and the Golden Wave don’t seem fazed by it.“In basketball, you say defense travels. Well, I think culture’s going to travel,” Little said. “We’re going to do what we do. X’s and O’s are very, very important, but it’s not as important as relationships and building with these young men. It’s just a process and a culture. We’re going to come in here, we’re going to play hard, we’re going to be strong young men."The other big difference for Little is that he’s only focusing on one team now. At Biggersville, he was the head coach for both the boys and the girls teams. He won four state titles with the boys and two with the girls.“I’m excited about being able to totally focus on one team,” Little said. “I loved that at Biggersville, I wouldn’t take anything in the world for it. We had great success, and I loved the kids so much. But here, being able to focus on one team and giving all my time to the boys program is, I think, going to be an advantage that I haven’t been used to.”

Dana Rhea is entering a new chapter in life, but he’s not exactly sure what that will entail.The longtime softball coach, who led Tupelo to its first and thus far only fast-pitch state championship, is retiring. Besides hanging out with his new grandson, Rhea doesn’t really know what’s next for him.“I’m kind of lost right now, because all I’ve ever done is coach. … God got me this far, I guess He’ll get me the rest of the way,” he said.Rhea, 50, spent the last five seasons leading North Pontotoc, the fourth school at which he’s been a head coach. His career began at Nettleton, where he coached both slow-pitch (2001-15) and fast-pitch (2001-06, 2012-15). He then went to Tupelo and spent five years there, winning the Class 6A title in 2017.After one season at Kossuth, Rhea headed to North Pontotoc.“I’m just tired,” he said. “Twenty-six years, a lot of things that used to not bother me, bother me now. … I have three girls of my own, I’ve coached girls my entire career, and now I’ve got a grandson, and I want to enjoy him as much as possible.”Rhea wanted to be a baseball coach when he got started, but when Nettleton hired him for softball, he quickly took to it. He credited former Nettleton superintendent James Malone and former athletics director Jeff Finch with his growth as a coach.“I cut my teeth there,” Rhea said. “I was so green when I started, and they helped me grow. I owe a lot to the people at Nettleton – all the kids who played for me, the parents. It was the greatest time of my career for sure.”Rhea led the Tigers to two slow-pitch state titles, in 2009 and 2011. He won his lone fast-pitch championship at Tupelo.“Coming into Tupelo, I really didn’t know what to expect,” he said. “I’d spent 15 years at Nettleton. it was a new experience for me, and in our second year being able to win a state championship will go down easily as one of my favorite memories.”Rhea was 64-48-1 at North Pontotoc, including a 13-9 mark this past season. Assistant coach Kyle Robbins has been promoted to the head post.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Joao Palhinha of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Everton at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 24, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images) | Getty Images Never mind those rumored Sporting CP talks. Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha is happy on loan at Tottenham Hotspur — after helping rescue Spurs from relegation on the final Premier League matchday of the season, the Portuguese international has stated his desire to stay in England.“Since the first day I arrived I feel at home,” Palhinha said in comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “From the supporters, the crowd. Top club. Who doesn’t want to play for Tottenham and stay here? “I have everything here. What I can say to you is I would really like to be here and I enjoy it a lot this season with this club even being a tough season.”Palhinha’s goal on Sunday — supplied by Bayern alum Mathys Tel — lifted Spurs to a 1-0 win over Everton and a second straight 17th-place EPL finish. Not exactly a couple of banner seasons for the North London club, but the Bayern loan-to-stay pipeline may nevertheless continue.Of course, Bayern has already received a counter-offer: If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 10: Ansu Fati of AS Monaco in action during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Paris FC and AS Monaco FC at Stade Jean Bouin on April 10, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images) | Getty Images Ansu Fati’s father has revealed his disappointment at seeing his son miss out on a place in the Spain squad for World Cup 2026.The forward has spent the season on loan at Monaco and scored 12 goals in all competitions for the Ligue 1 side.Bori Fati feels Fati did have a chance of being called up and it’s a shame he missed out.“This season he finished the league well and was in very good shape. He finished the French league with Monaco at a higher level than any other Spanish striker. But if the national team didn’t realize that, then it’s over, there’s nothing that can be done about it,” he told EremNews.“Ansu finished the season very well. Coach Luis de la Fuente did not call him up, but he trusts other players and that’s it, there is nothing else to do. We had hoped that Ansu would go to the national team, but he didn’t call him up today and that’s where it ends.“Ansu has not been in the national team for a long time either. If Ansu had played regularly for a long time, he would have been called up to the national team, that’s obvious to him. But he wasn’t playing. And that’s it. It’s a shame, but more opportunities will come.”Fati’s future is now uncertain. There’s been talk that Monaco will trigger the buy option in his loan contract but also speculation Sevilla are keen and that the player himself is still dreaming of another chance at Barca.

The Texas senate race will come down to the Democratic candidate’s strengths — and the Republican’s weaknesses.

DENVER, CO - MAY 20: Starting pitcher Kyle Freeland #21 of the Colorado Rockies delivers a pitch in the fifth inning against the Texas Rangers at Coors Field on May 20, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images In Game 1, the Colorado Rockies, despite a solid outing until the seventh inning, dropped the series opener, 5-3, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.Tonight, they will look to even the series.Starting for the Rockies is Kyle Freeland. This will be his ninth start for the Rockies in 2026.The lefty has a 7.04 ERA in 38.1 IP. He’s struck out 35, walked 14, and given up nine home runs. Freeland has a1.70 WHIP. Taking the mound for the home team will be LHP Eric Lauer in what will be his first start for the Dodgers. He was traded to the Dodgers from the Toronto Blue Jays on May 17 for cash considerations. Lauer, 30, was 1-5 with a 6.69 ERA in eight games for Toronto this year and last season went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA, posting a career-best 2.2 fWAR. Currently, over 36.1 IP, he’s struck out 26 while giving up 16 walks and 11 home runs. He has a 1.34 WHIP.And now to the details.First Pitch: 8:10 pm MDTTV: Rockies TVRadio: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM; KNRV 1150 (Spanish)SB Nation site:True Blue LALineups:For the visiting Rockies:And the home Dodgers:Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Photo provided by Eddie ProvidentPITTSBURGH — Esmerlyn Valdez and Spencer Horwitz each homered for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who pounded the Chicago Cubs 12-1 at PNC Park on Tuesday night for a third straight win. Scoring PlaysBottom 1st, 5-0 PIT: Esmerlyn Valdez’s two-run home run to left-center capped off a five-run inning of Jordan Wicks (0-1) in his season debut. Earlier in the inning, Bryan Reynolds pated a pair with a double to left and Oneil Cruz had an RBI single to left.Top 2nd, 5-1 PIT: After Alex Bregman opened the inning with a double to left-center, Ian Happ followed with an RBI double to center off Braxton Ashcraft (4-2).Bottom 5th, 8-1 PIT: Nick Gonzales plated Brandon Lowe with a base hit to right field. Later in the inning, after Wicks was taken out of the game, Valdez drew a bases-loaded walk against Ryan Rolison to push across another run. The Pirates (29-26) tacked on another run on Spencer Horwitz’s sacrifice fly to deep center. All three runs in the inning were charged to Wicks.Bottom 6th, 9-1 PIT: Konnor Griffin, who snapped an 0-for-13 skid with a leadoff single, scored from second base on a throwing error from third baseman Bregman. Bottom 7th, 10-1 PIT: Horwitz put the Pirates in double digits with a solo home run to right field off Daniel Palencia. Horwitz’s sixth homer of the season traveled 359 feet. Bottom 8th, 12-1 PIT: Pinch-hitter Jake Mangum bounced out to third against Hoby Milner. Jared Triolo scored from third base. Marcell Ozuna followed with an RBI single to center field. Key MomentsEsmerlyn Valdez’s second home run in as many games blew the game open and the Pirates never seized control. The Cubs (29-26) loaded the bases against Braxton Ashcraft with one out in the sixth but came up empty after a pair of groundouts to end the inning. Opponents are hitting .087 (4 for 46) with runners in scoring position this season. Player of the GameBraxton Ashcraft completed at least 6.1 innings for the fifth straight start and the sixth time in his last seven outings. He held the Cubs to one run in 6.1 innings and struck out five. Stat to KnowEsmerlyn Valdez is the fourth Pirate since at least 1900 to have at least each of his first two MLB hits be home runs, along with Rodolfo Castro (five, 2021), Craig Wilson (two, 2001) and Dick Stuart (two, 1958), per the Elias Sports Bureau. .@Valdezesmerlyn7's first homer at PNC Park with his family watching. 🥹415 feet into the bullpen pic.twitter.com/ekv3NEpex2— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 26, 2026Notable PerformancesBraxton Ashcraft: 6.1 innings, seven hits, one run, one walk, five strikeouts, 95 pitches/71 strikesSpencer Horwitz: 2 for 3, one home run, two RBI, one runEsmerlyn Valdez: 1 for 4, one home run, three RBI, one walkBryan Reynolds: 2 for 4, two doubles, two RBI, two runsNick Gonzales: 2 for 5, one double, one RBI, two runsBrandon Lowe: 2 for 4, two runsNoteworthyEsmerlyn Valdez became the seventh Pirate in the Modern Era (since 1901) to homer twice in their first four Major League games, joining Walter Mueller (1922), Wally Westlake (1947), Dino Restelli (1949), RC Stevens (1958), Dick Stuart (1958) and Austin Meadows (2018).Valdez recorded his first outfield assist by throwing out Ian Happ at third base from right field on a flyout off the bat of Seiya Suzuki in the second inning. Bryan Reynolds played in his 500th game at PNC Park, the third-most in the stadium’s history behind only Andrew McCutchen (876) and Jack Wilson (583). The Cubs have now lost 10 games in a row. Up NextRHP Bubba Chandler (1-6, 4.60 ERA) gets the ball for Pittsburgh on Wednesday night after striking out a career-high 11 in his last start. Former Pirate RHP Jameson Taillon (2-4, 5.20 ERA) will be on the mound for Chicago. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.Around the NetworkPittsburgh Baseball Now:Henry Davis Trending Up? Pirates Catcher Hopeful Turnaround is NearPittsburgh Hockey Now:UPDATED: MALKIN RE-SIGNS. Contract Details, Bonuses, & ReactionSteelers Now:Bell: Ranking Steelers Top 10 Players Entering 2026Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt Offers Top In-State Recruit for Class of 2027The post Valdez, Horwitz Lead Surge as Pirates Pound Cubs for 3rd Straight Win appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

There have been several teams, along with the New England Patriots, mentioned as having potential interest in trading for Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown. The Patriots have been viewed as the leading candidates to land Brown, but Howie Roseman is one of the best general managers in the league. So it has been clear from the beginning that he will look for the offer that gets the best return for the Eagles.Could the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills or Los Angeles Rams drive up the trade price at the last minute? It's always a possibility with the trade expected to happen on or after June 1, when the Eagles would save north of $40 million in dead cap money."As for where he’s going, it always made sense for the Eagles to wait to 'agree to terms' until the last minute because things can change elsewhere (and already have with the Rice situation in Kansas City)," SI.com's Albert Breer wrote on Tuesday. "But the Chiefs, Chargers, Bills and Rams all had their shot at this already, and I think the final result will be what everyone’s treating as a fait accompli, and that’s Brown reuniting with Mike Vrabel in New England."The Brown discussion has been ongoing throughout the offseason. Through it all, the Patriots have remained in the driver's seat with hopes of trading for the three-time All-Pro wide receiver.Now, they could be only days away from getting their answer. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Latest update on A.J. Brown-Patriots trade talk ahead of June 1 date

The WNBA season is only six games deep for the Los Angeles Sparks, and they may have an unfortunate injury situation on their hands ahead of Friday’s game against the Washington Mystics.On Tuesday, during a team practice, All-Star Kelsey Plum reportedly suffered a lower right leg injury during a five-on-five scrimmage. She was helped off the court by teammates soon after suffering the injury.According to Los Angeles Clippers and Sparks journalist Justin Russo, head coach Lynne Roberts indicated that it appeared Plum had an ankle injury, but she was uncertain of its severity.Plum’s potential injury arrives as she is leading the team in scoring with 26.8 points per game and assists with 6.3 per game. The Sparks began their season at 1-3 before winning their last two games, including a 101-95 win over Las Vegas. Plum led the team in scoring in five of the six games this season, including a season high of 38 points against the Aces.More news:Reggie Miller Sounds Off on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Flopping CriticismPHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 21: Kelsey Plum #10 of the Los Angeles Sparks walks to the dugout during the WNBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on May 21, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. The Sparks defeated the Mercury 97-88. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)After multiple seasons with the Aces, Plum joined the Sparks’ roster last year, participating in 43 games, the most of her WNBA career. It also led to her most minutes per game and second-best scoring average of her career.Losing a player such as Plum could be detrimental to the Sparks for an extended period, although WNBA teams have shown the ability to weather injuries to star players. Last season’s Indiana Fever is a strong example of that, as they were without Caitlin Clark for a significant amount of games and nearly reached the WNBA Finals.She missed the entire 2020 WNBA season after suffering an injury to her Achilles tendon and undergoing surgery to repair it. The team still qualified for the postseason, but was swept by the Seattle Storm with Plum watching from the sidelines.If Plum misses games, they’ll look to their other stars to step up, including second-leading scorer Dearica Hamby and Nneka Ogwumike, as well as their 2024 No. 2 pick Cameron Brink. Hopefully, this is not a serious setback for the four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time champion.In positive news, Plum’s teammate, Nneka Ogwumike, was on the practice court on Tuesday after missing the Sparks’ last game against the Aces. According to Russo, she had a “slight wrap on her left thumb area.”Los Angeles has several days off to evaluate Plum’s injury, with their next game against the Mystics tipping off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday night.More news:Caitlin Clark Sends Strong Message About Fever Rookie Raven JohnsonFor more about the WNBA, head over to Newsweek Sports.Related ArticlesTTU's Brendan Sorsby Releases Statement on Gambling Addiction RecoveryThunder's Jaylin Williams 'Surprised' by San Antonio Spurs FansThere's One Problem With Cavaliers-LeBron James Reunion Narrative — MoneyStart your unlimited Newsweek trial

Jacksonville Jaguars' wide receiver Parker Washington ended the 2025 season red-hot, eclipsing the 100-yard mark in three of the team's final four games.As good as those performances were, however, offensive coordinator Grant Udinski wasn't surprised by what he saw."I think really, really highly of Parker," Udinski said after Tuesday's OTAs practice. "I hope that Parker thinks really, really highly of himself in that regard too, because we think that he's capable of what he did at the end of the season last year and more than that and I think we thought that even early in the year, where the numbers statistically may not have matched what he did at the end of the year."Washington's role within the Jaguars' offense continued to expand as the season went on, and as more opportunities came his way, Washington took advantage.Including the postseason, Washington caught 58 passes for 847 yards with five touchdowns, according to PFF. From Weeks 14 through 18, Washington ranked tied for 12th among all receivers in receptions, and he was eighth in yards."It's hard for me to truly gauge how much the expectations changed," Udinski added, "but I would say our expectation for him moving forward and currently is to continue to grow and even do more than what he did last year. And I think you know I feel pretty confident saying I know he feels the same way. Not to say that we underachieved or he underachieved, but to know that he is a highly, highly capable player who's capable of even more."Continuing to build chemistry and rapport with Trevor Lawrence this offseason in the Liam Coen offense will help Washington reach those new heights that Udinski believes he's capable of.This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars WR Parker Washington 'capable of even more' in 2026

The chief, Brian O’Hara, began leading the department in 2022 as it reeled in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd.

May 26, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Colt Keith (33) slides into safe at home in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Tigers were starting their week back home in Detroit against the Angels, hoping to carry the luck of their Sunday win along with them. To get them there, they had Keider Montero on the mound up against Jack Kochanowicz. Things started well, with Montero getting the Angels out in order. Kevin McGonigle got the home hald going with a leadoff single, but Dillon Dingler grounded into a double play to eliminate the baserunner. A Riley Greene strikeout then ended the inning. Jorge Soler started the second with a single, then Wade Meckler singled behind him, advancing Soler to third. Montero righted the ship and got himself out of the jam by getting the next three batters out in order. In the home half, Colt Keith hit the strangest comebacker I’ve ever seen, as the ball headed right back to the mound at Kochanowicz’s feet and the shot straight up about a sixty feet in the air, letting Keith get safely to first. Kochanowicz appeared to be okay. Spencer Torkelson was then hit by a pitch. A wild pitch from Kochanowicz advanced the runners and brought the trainers back out, because he was certainly out of sorts all of a sudden. A Zach McKinstry flyout brought Keith home and put the Tigers on the board first. They would only get the one run, but it was a good start. Logan O’Hoppe hit a leadoff single between diving fielders to start the third. Zach Neto then walked. A one out single by Vaughn Grissom right up the middle, once again slipping by diving fielders, scored two runs and put the Angels out ahead. With two outs, Wade Meckler singled back to the mound and the Tigers were able to get the final out of the inning tagging Grissom out at the plate. In the home half, McGonigle got back on base with a one-out single. Two outs followed, leaving McGonigle stranded. Jo Adell homered to start the fourth. With one out Donovan Walton doubled, and one out later Neto doubled to bring in another run. Montero did get the final out of the inning, but considering how well the Tigers have been doing at staging comebacks this season, I wouldn’t blame you if this was where you tapped out. Colt Keith wasn’t going to go down without a fight, though, and he hit a triple to center, sneaking it right by Mike Trout. With one out, McKinstry hit a sac fly to score Keith. The Angels went 1-2-3 for the fifth. In the bottom of the inning Matt Vierling got a leadoff single, followed by a walk to Wenceel Perez. And I’ll be eating my words, as McGonigle came through with a triple into right, scoring both baserunners and tying up the game. McTriple anyone? 🍔 pic.twitter.com/nvsZzVTdDn— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 26, 2026Dingler took a walk despite O’Hoppe challenging the fourth ball call. That was the end of the day for Kochanowicz, which should be good news for the Tigers, as the Angels’ bullpen is… not great. Mitch Farris came in and gave up a wild pitch to put Dingler on second. Riley Greene walked to load the bases. A pinch-hitting Jahmai Jones, brought in to face the lefty reliever, came through with a single, scoring McGonigle. Still no outs. Spencer Torkelson was very close to hitting a grand slam, coming nearly in line with the foul pole, but after review, the call was upheld. With two outs, Hao-Yu Lee came in to replace Workman, but a flyout ended the inning. With one out in the sixth, Oswald Peraza was hit by a pitch. With two outs, Montero’s day was done and he was replaced by Brenan Hanifee. Montero’s final line for the game was 5.2 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 HR on 89 pitches. Not a great outing, but not his worst. Hanifee got the final out of the inning. In the home half, Perez hit a one-out home run. outta here 🚀 pic.twitter.com/CQmupo0ab7— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 27, 2026McGonigle continued to be as consistent as they come, getting a walk. After the second out of the inning, a wild pitch advanced McGonigle to second, then Riley Greene walked. That was it for Farris who was replaced by José Fermin, who got the final out of the inning. Neto singled to start the seventh. Grissom singled with one out, bumping Neto over to third. That was it for Hanifee, who was replaced by Will Vest, who battled it out and won against Soler. The final out of the inning was a very nice catch at the wall by Greene. run it down Riley pic.twitter.com/9D2yGsolOq— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 27, 2026The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning. In the eighth, Peraza got a one-out single. A groundout advanced Peraza to second, and then an O’Hoppe double (missed spectacularly by Perez in center), brought Peraza home. Neto then singled back to Vest, who was fine. Mike Trout walked to load the bases. Grissom then hit a grand slam. Tyler Holton came in to get the final out of the inning. Chase Silseth was the new Angels pitcher for the inning. The Tigers went down in order again, which isn’t really the best way to make a comeback. Siri started the ninth with a solo home run because, sure, why not at this point? Three outs followed, and the Tigers were down to their final three outs to make something happen. Kirby Yates came in and gave up a leadoff walk to Dingler. That would be it for baserunners, though, as the Tigers then went down in order and the game was over.Final: Angels 10, Tigers 6

Luis Enrique warning comes as Arsenal prepare for PSGArsenal’s Golden Glove winner praised Mikel Arteta, reflected on Arsenal’s title celebrations and said the squad now have their eyes on the final.Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier LeagueDavid Raya says Luis Enrique will make life “very difficult” for Arsenal in the Champions League final, but the goalkeeper believes the newly crowned Premier League champions are ready to attack the final challenge of an historic season.Raya goes into Saturday’s final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest after the best campaign of his career. The 30-year-old has won the Golden Glove for the third successive season, helped Arsenal end their 22-year wait for a league title, and now has the chance to finish the club season by lifting the one trophy Arsenal have never won.The Spain international is not treating the Premier League title as an end point. Arsenal have already secured the domestic prize, but the Champions League final and the World Cup still offer him the chance to finish the season at an even higher level.Asked about his first feelings on being a Premier League champion, Raya told AS: “Super happy. With the whole journey we have been on, and being able to win the Premier League in the end, it makes me feel very proud of this team, this club, the staff, and above all the fans. It makes us very happy.”Raya did not join players at Emirates Stadium in the early hours after the title was confirmed, but he said the celebrations inside the group reflected the scale of the achievement.Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images“No, no. I didn’t turn up there, but the celebrations went very well,” he said. “It was very important after so many years without winning the Premier League, so to be able to celebrate it with all the staff and this fantastic group of players and people was great. It went very well.”His own season has been defined by a consistent level of excellence, but Raya framed his third successive Golden Glove as a collective achievement rather than an individual one.“I’m in a very good spell,” he said. “Not only personally, but the clean sheets we have kept, I think that is a collective thing. Super happy to be able to achieve this record of three consecutive Golden Gloves, which not many goalkeepers have done. So, I’m super happy and convinced by the work we have done collectively.”That form could also shape the Spain conversation before the World Cup, although Raya said his focus is simply on maintaining his level and making the decision as difficult as possible for Luis de la Fuente.“I try to play my football here and be able to make things difficult for the coach. That that’s what I’m trying to do. I try to do my best to make it difficult for the manager.”On Mikel Arteta, Raya was clear that the Arsenal manager has earned this moment after building a title-winning side.“I think the work that the manager has done is incredible,” Raya said. “He never gives up and that is a message he has always passed on to us.”Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier LeagueThe Champions League final is now the immediate focus. Arsenal had to complete their league campaign first, but Raya admitted the players already had one eye on Budapest once the Premier League had been won.“We had to think about Sunday, which was the next game, but it is clear that we have our eyes on the final, now that the Premier League objective is done,” he said. “We have to prepare for every game in the same way, with the same excitement.“At the end of the day, we play football for that, to enjoy these matches too. Now we go for the final.”Raya’s link to Enrique adds another layer to the final. The PSG manager handed him his Spain debut, and the Arsenal goalkeeper knows both his quality and his capacity to influence a game.“I know him well, he was the one who gave me my debut for the national team, and I have a lot of affection for him,” Raya said. “We know he is a great coach and a great person. He always adjusts things. He will make it very difficult for us.”Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesThat is the challenge facing Arsenal. They have already made history by reclaiming the Premier League, but Raya and Arteta’s squad now have the chance to do something even bigger.PSG will not make it easy, and Raya knows that better than most, but Arsenal have spent the season proving they can handle pressure, and one more win would complete the greatest campaign in the club’s modern history.If anyone can stop this PSG side, it’s Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Shane Baz struck out a season-high nine and Samuel Basallo hit a three-run homer as the Baltimore Orioles beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Tuesday night. Baz (2-5), who joined the Orioles in a trade from Tampa Bay in December, pitched seven innings of one-run ball. The 26-year-old right-hander allowed seven hits and walked two.Jackson Holliday reached on a single in the fifth and advanced to second after Gunnar Henderson beat out a throw to first base. Holliday was originally ruled out at second, but that call was overturned when the Orioles challenged. Basallo followed with his eighth homer of the season, a 405-foot shot to right-center field. Basallo scored in the second inning on a fielding error by Rays second baseman Richie Palacios. Holliday added an RBI single, and Taylor Ward knocked in another run with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. Chandler Simpson scored on Jonathan Aranda's RBI single in the first inning for Tampa Bay. Rays starting pitcher Griffin Jax (1-3) was hit by a 107-mph line drive in his back off the bat of Leody Tavares in the second inning. He completed the inning but didn't return for the third. He finished two innings, allowing three hits with three strikeouts. Reliever Garrett Cleavinger pitched the next two innings with three strikeouts. Trevor Martin pitched three innings, giving up three hits and three earned runs, two walks, and a strikeout. Craig Kimbrel made his Rays debut in the eighth inning after being signed earlier in the day. He struck out two and allowed a hit.Up nextRHP Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.51 ERA) will start for the Orioles in the series finale Wednesday against LHP Steven Matz (4-1, 3.70).___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

SAN FRANCISCO — First baseman Pavin Smith, after seeing his first game action in the Arizona Complex League on Monday, May 25, is expected to shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Reno this week and could return from the injured list as soon as next week.Smith went hitless in four at-bats in the complex league, his first game action since going down with an elbow injury early in the season. Smith eventually needed surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow.Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said next week’s series at Chase Field against the Los Angeles Dodgers is “something that I’ve circled on my calendar” as a possible return date for Smith.When healthy, Smith was a steady offensive presence for the Diamondbacks in 2024 and 2025, during which time he hit a combined .262/.357/.475 with 17 homers in 381 at-bats. The vast majority of those at-bats came against right-handed pitching.The Diamondbacks could use the help at first base. This month, during which time Ildemaro Vargas’ bat has gone cold, the club’s first basemen have hit a combined .244/.269/.311. Their .580 OPS is the third-worst mark in the majors in May.Smith, however, likely will return from the injured list strictly as a designated hitter with the intention of continuing to build up his throwing program. General manager Mike Hazen said this week that Smith’s throwing shouldn’t be too far behind his hitting.Diamondbacks at Giants, 6:45 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1, 2.24) vs. Giants TBA.At Oracle Park: Rodriguez is coming off a strong start against the Rockies, whom he held scoreless over seven innings on four hits and one walk. … It was the fifth time in 10 starts he has worked at least six innings. … Rodriguez used his four-seam fastball more in the past two starts than he had in any of his previous outings. He threw it 58.6% of the time last time out. … In four starts against the Giants since coming to Arizona, Rodriguez has allowed 14 runs in 20 innings. … The Giants had not named a starter for this game, though this is RHP Tyler Mahle’s usual spot in the rotation. Mahle has a 6.10 ERA through 10 starts, serving up 10 homers in 51 2/3 innings. … It is unclear if the Giants are making a change in their rotation or opting to go with an opener ahead of Mahle.Coming upWednesday, May 27: At San Francisco, 12:45 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.27) vs. Giants RHP Logan Webb (2-4, 5.06).Thursday, May 28: Off.Friday, May 29: At Seattle, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (3-4, 4.80) vs. Mariners RHP George Kirby (5-4, 3.54).Saturday, May 30: At Seattle, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (2-3, 4.65) vs. Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (4-3, 3.82).(This story will be updated. Check back soon.)This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks-Giants live updates. Pavin Smith nears return from IL

Sunrisers Hyderabad will enter their sixth-ever Eliminator match amid their eighth appearance in the IPL playoffs as they head to Mullanpur to take on Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday.SRH ended their league stage in commanding fashion, routing defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs after posting a total of 255/4.Add The Sporting News as a preferred news sourceRR, who lost both their meetings with SRH in the regular season, secured a spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs after defeating Mumbai Indians by 30 runs in their final league-stage match.Both franchises will be vying for their second IPL championships - SRH after a decade, and RR for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2008 - but only one team will progress to Qualifier 2.In this article, The Sporting News takes you through all the details related to how and where to watch the IPL 2026 Eliminator match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR BET WITH DAFABETWhere to watch SRH vs RR: Live stream, TV channelHere's how to watch the Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 Eliminator game in India:TV channel: Star Sports Network channelsLive stream: JioHotstar app and websiteLive screening: PVR INOX LimitedIPL 2026 matches are available for live TV broadcast across Star Sports Network channels in India. Fans can also watch the live stream on the JioHotstar app and website.PVR INOX Limited will also screen the IPL playoffs and finals live in cinemas across India through its association with the BCCI.Screening will take place across 55 screens in multiple cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Goa, Jaipur and Patna, giving fans a stadium-like viewing experience.MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinionWhat time does SRH vs RR match kick off?The IPL 2026 Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals will be played at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium or New Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur), Punjab.The match will start at 7:30 p.m. IST on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.MORE: Why is Travis Head facing online abuse?SRH vs RR lineups, team newsAfter Ishan Kishan led the charge earlier on, Pat Cummins returned mid-season to guide SRH to majority of the wins to make the IPL 2026 playoffs.The aggressive top order of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Kishan, along with Heinrich Klaasen's explosive finishing power, is backed by the bowling prowess of Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain among others.Sunrisers Hyderabad predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain.RR will also be hold to their core under the captaincy of Riyan Parag, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel being their top batters.The bowling lineup consisting of Jofra Archer, Sandeep Sharma and Nandre Burger holds the key to keeping SRH’s powerful top order quiet.Rajasthan Royals predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Dasun Shanaka, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Shubham Dubey, Sandeep Sharma, Nandre Burger.SRH vs RR: Betting oddsSunrisers Hyderabad are the favourites to win this IPL 2026 Eliminator match at 1.79 on Dafa, while the odds for Rajasthan Royals to win are 2.04.* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.DafabetBEST ODDS AND OFFERSCLICK TO BETRelated links:Live cricket matches todayAll the latest cricket newsAll the IPL-related news

Conference room doors are tightly closed at the SEC spring meetings in Miramar Beach, Florida, but Tennessee athletics director Danny White revealed one detail to reporters waiting outside.“I’ve used the three letters C-B-A in every meeting I’ve been in over the last three years,” White said on May 26.CBA stands for collective bargaining agreement, a potential solution to unbalanced NIL spending and constant free agency of the transfer portal. White has been selling the approach to his fellow athletics directors for a few years.However, it hasn’t gained enough traction to be a serious agenda item at conference meetings like this one. And it's remained in the background of hotter topics like playoff expansion.The SEC and Big Ten are sparring over College Football Playoff formats. The SEC leadership wants to go from 12 teams to 16 teams. The Big Ten wants a 24-team bracket.But On3.com reported that half the SEC athletics directors want a 24-team playoff, including White.However, he’s more passionate about college football players and perhaps basketball players adopting a collective bargaining agreement to standardize student-athlete pay and limit player movement.“(CBA) is way more important to me than the playoff or really anything in college sports,” White said. “I worry about the health of our industry. I worry about Olympic sports. I worry about the student-athlete experience right now with the frequency of transferring. It doesn’t feel like we’re in a very healthy spot.“I’ve thought for a few years that a CBA is a really good option, and it seems to be working pretty well for every professional league in our country.”The “professional” part of that conversation is what scares away many college sports power brokers.Yes, a CBA would clearly define player pay, multi-year contracts and a hard salary cap. And as a legally binding agreement, it would end the lawsuits complicating college sports.But a CBA also could require that student-athletes become employees as part of a players union. And that could have far-reaching consequences, not to mention the end of amateurism, even if that status exists in name only in this era.Why Danny White wants BCS formula in CFP selectionWhite is a numbers guy. He likes data points, line graphs and standardized formulas to measure success.It’s no wonder that Tennessee has enjoyed enormous growth under White, including record revenues of $304 million in the 2024-25 fiscal year.But the current structure of college sports is much messier, which has frustrated White. There are countless loopholes in player pay. NIL contracts and salary caps aren’t enforceable. And free agency seems never-ending.A preference for hard numbers also informs White’s preference of a 24-team playoff.College Football Playoff participants are chosen by a 13-member committee of athletic directors, former coaches, former players and journalists. White believes potential human errors in choosing those teams could be tested on the field with an expanded playoff.After all, less than 10% of college football teams make the 12-team playoff. Almost 20% of Division I basketball and baseball teams make their respective NCAA tournaments.White believes all these problems are related. He wants more objective data, more standardization and more access to the postseason.“Do we need a CBA? Do we need multi-year contracts? I think it’s all a little bit related,” White said. “… (Judging playoff participants) is harder because of the (lack of) data points. I kind of like the (formulaic approach of the Bowl Championship Series) era where there was something to understand.“I think a hybrid of a human element with some data – where it’s clear to everyone what the inputs are – could inspire how we build our schedules. Having a little bit more of a data approach could be helpful. But I think a bigger field could be helpful too.”Notably, White does not want the SEC or any conference to break away with its own CBA or postseason structure. He simply wants to solve the problems across the board with a new approach.“We have such a strong product,” White said. “We just need to clean up our structure in relation to our athletes and get the postseason right.”Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe. Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee AD Danny White calls for CBA, 24-team playoff at SEC spring meetings

Detroit Tigers starter Keider Montero didn’t have his best outing, but his offense did just enough to put him in line for the win.And then the bullpen let the Los Angeles Angels blow it open in the eighth inning, leading to another Tigers loss.On the strength of a five-run eighth inning, the Angels beat the Tigers, 10-6, on Tuesday, May 26, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Tigers reliever Will Vest gave up the big blow – a two-out, go-ahead grand slam to Angels first baseman Vaughn Grissom that turned a 6-5 Tigers lead to a 9-6 Angels lead.The Tigers entered the eighth inning up 6-4, but Vest allowed a two-out RBI double to catcher Logan O'Hoppe to bring the Angels within a run. And then following a single from shortstop Zach Neto and a walk from center fielder Mike Trout, Grissom provided the knockout punch on an opposite-field shot.🚨 A GRISSOM GRAND SLAM GIVES US THE LEAD 🚨 pic.twitter.com/lNLXK5SFbD— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 27, 2026Grissom finished 3-for-5 with six RBIs, adding a two-RBI single in the third inning. His day overshadowed that of Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle, who had three hits, including a two-RBI triple that tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning.Montero gave up four runs in nearly six innings of work, but left in line for the win before Vest allowed the Angels to take the lead in the eighth. And after putting up five runs in the middle innings, Detroit's offense limped to the finish line, unable to mount a comeback once the Angels went ahead for the final time.It was Detroit's ninth loss in its last 10 games as the Tigers stand 5-18 in the month of May. The Tigers and Angels are now tied for the worst record in the American League at 21-34 following Tuesday's game. They'll break the tie, one way or the other, with the second game of the series, set for Wednesday (6:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet), with Tigers righty Casey Mize facing Angels righty José Soriano.MORE: Tigers SS Javier Báez to see a specialist for his right ankle injuryBats break out in middle inningsWith the Tigers down 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning, center fielder Matt Vierling led off with a single, and right fielder Wenceel Pérez followed with a walk. McGonigle, already 2-for-2 (with two singles), then drove them both home with a triple to tie the game at 4-4.It was McGonigle’s third triple of the season, which leads all MLB rookies and all Tigers.McTriple anyone? 🍔 pic.twitter.com/nvsZzVTdDn— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 26, 2026Catcher Dillon Dingler and left fielder Riley Greene each walked to load the bases following McGonigle's triple for pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones, who lined a single into right field to drive in McGonigle from third for the go-ahead run. But the Tigers wasted an opportunity for even more runs with the bases loaded and no outs, with first baseman Spencer Torkelson and shortstop Zach McKinstry both striking out and pinch-hitter Hao-Yu Lee flying out to right field to end the inning.Pérez extended the lead to 6-4 in the sixth inning with a one-out, solo home run off Angels lefty Mitch Farris – the homer was his third of the season and second from the right side of the plate.Keider Montero pitches into sixth inningMontero set his season high with eight hits allowed on Tuesday. He also tied his season high with seven strikeouts and was one out away from completing six innings.In other words, he gave the Tigers length, but not necessarily quality against the Angels.Montero pitched a 1-2-3 first inning but ran into trouble in the second inning, allowing consecutive singles from designated hitter Jorge Soler and left fielder Wade Meckler to start the frame. But Montero shut down the bottom of the Angels order, striking out right fielder Jo Adell and second baseman Oswald Peraza swinging before getting Donovan Walton to strike out looking on an outside fastball. Keider Montero's 3Ks in the 2nd pic.twitter.com/0hZfC7Dz4C— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 26, 2026He wasn’t as effective in the third inning, however. After catcher Logan O’Hoppe’s leadoff single and Neto’s walk, Montero struck out center fielder Mike Trout to get his first out of the inning. A grounder up the middle from Grissom got through the infield, however, scoring O’Hoppe from second base and eventually Neto from first when McKinstry was slow to throw to home plate on the relay. The Angels scored two more in the fourth inning, the first coming off a Jo Adell solo home run to lead off the frame and the second after two doubles from Walton and Neto plated another run.Montero’s final line: 5⅔ innings pitched, eight hits, four runs allowed (all earned), one walk and seven strikeouts. He exited the game in the sixth inning in line for the win, but finished with no decision after the bullpen meltdown in the eighth.Tigers take early leadThe Tigers got traffic in the bottom of the second after a Colt Keith line drive hit off the foot of Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz and popped up high into the air, allowing Keith to reach first on the bounce. Torkelson was then hit on the shoulder on the very next pitch, with both Keith and Torkelson advancing to scoring position on a Kochanowicz wild pitch to McKinstry.McKinstry then hit a sacrifice fly to score Keith from third, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead, though second baseman Gage Workman and center fielder Matt Vierling both grounded out to strand Torkelson at third base. The RBI was McKinstry’s eighth of the year as the 2025 All-Star utility player has struggled through his first two months of the season.Down 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Keith hit a leadoff triple that bounced off the glove of a diving Mike Trout in center field, eventually scoring on McKinstry’s second sacrifice fly of the game to bring the score to 4-2. The Tigers took the lead in the next inning and extended it in the sixth on Pérez’s home run, but couldn't come through in the late innings after the Angels retook the lead.Need to catch up on the news during your lunch break? Sign up for our Sports Briefing newsletter to get daily summaries of Detroit sports! You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers bullpen breaks again in loss to LA Angels

People wait for their ride and cars stop to pick up travellers at the arrival area of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) (Apu GOMES)An exhausted TJ James has just stepped off an 18-hour flight at Los Angeles international airport where he is getting a taste of the chaos that awaits tens of thousands of people expected for the World Cup, which starts on June 11.With his wife, their two children, and four suitcases in tow, he steps out into a river of frustrated drivers. Amid a cacophony of honking horns, the family struggles to identify the shuttle bus that will take them to their rental car."There's no signs really saying where I gotta go," says the mining industry employee, who traveled from Perth, Australia. "I did my research, and I'm still struggling." James, 47, has passed through this airport several times before, and feels sorry for foreign visitors."I'm still lost, and I'm an American," he tells AFP. "This is really annoying."The infuriating design of LAX -- the main airport in America's second biggest city -- is almost legendary.About 95,000 vehicles pass through the airport daily, most of which funnel into a bottleneck: a horseshoe-shaped roadway looping past all the terminals, where every passenger tries to get dropped off or picked up as close to the entrance as possible. In an effort to alleviate congestion, taxis and ride-share services are prohibited from picking up passengers along this main thoroughfare.- Unfinished train -To make their way out of the airport, arriving passengers who don't have friends or family coming must take shuttle buses, which all look alike, yet travel to different destinations depending on the color of their designated stop: green for the taxi lot, purple for car rentals, red for certain hotels, pink for other terminals."LAX airport is definitely an airport that people in Los Angeles love to hate," says Joshua Schank, a public policy specialist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).Next month's World Cup, where Los Angeles is hosting eight matches, was supposed to allow the Californian metropolis to burnish its image, just two years before the city hosts the Olympic Games. To help ease blockages at the airport, an "automated people mover" train connecting it to the city's sparse subway system was scheduled to go into service in 2023.But the $3.5 billion project has become bogged down in delays and contractural disputes, and remains in the testing phase.People arriving at the airport now can watch as the empty trains shuttle impotently back and forth.They will not be ready in time for World Cup fans, and authorities are no longer providing a start date. LAX managers declined AFP requests for an interview.This train "has not received the kind of attention that it really deserves in terms of urgency from elected leaders," sighs Schank. - 'Hell' -It's not just at the airport that the transport network is creaky.As a place that came of age with the automobile, Los Angeles is a sprawl of freeways with a public transport system that would embarrass any medium-sized European city.Buses are infrequent and haphazard, while the subway has only six trundling lines radiating out from the centre, making connections impossible without going all the way in and then all the way out again.The roads are often pockmarked with potholes, further slowing down the millions of tightly-packed cars, with 5-mile (8-kilometer) commute easily taking 45 minutes.City managers, eager to ease the headaches for fans flocking to the stadium in Inglewood, have said they will deploy 300 buses running to the games from a dozen different locations, including the airport. The fare will remain the LA-standard $1.75 -- a small victory for fans smarting at the $98 price tag for a round-trip train ticket between New York and MetLife Stadium. Fixing the city's transport mess is a long-term project, says Schank, but making it easier to get to and from the airport is a must.The people mover, once operational, is only one part of the equation."You have to have good mass transit connections to that people mover if you want people to use mass transit," he said, noting the metro station where it terminates doesn't even take you to downtown LA."What's needed are policy changes, adding new mass transit options," he says. "Elected leaders need to step up... if we're going to have a successful Olympics."Until then, Nigerian Henrietta Henry, who describes her first ever visit to LAX as "hell," has one piece of advice for fans this summer: "Do your homework."rfo/hg/bgs

As part of a limited edition, FOCO's exclusive Pride of the Lions Sports Illustrated Kids Cover bobblehead featuring Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders has already sold out.The 8-inch-tall figurine features the Lions' Pro Football Hall of Famer sprinting down the field beside a roaring lion at the base, with the franchise's logo (representative of the era when Sanders played) and a Sports Illustrated Kids cover in the background.FIRST LOOK: Barry Sanders is getting a new bobblehead. The Lions legend’s Sports Illustrated Kids cover is featured in a limited edition @FOCOusa figure — complete with a lion on the base. More info: https://t.co/nEg9D3SWalpic.twitter.com/H44uM7n7eB— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) May 25, 2026According to FOCO's website, only 200 were made and put up for sale at $100 each, so Sanders' popularity among both collectors and Lions fans led to a sellout almost instantly.Fans who were unable to secure the one-of-a-kind item will need to search the resale market to purchase the bobblehead. For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNewsThis article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Limited edition Lions Barry Sanders bobblehead sells out rapidly

San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama is 1 of 1 — a 7-foot-4 Frenchman who, at 22, already has the NBA‘s first-ever unanimous Defensive Player of the Year award to his name.So, it’s not the least bit surprising that a Wembanyama 1 of 1 card just sold for a record price.“Victor Wembanyama’s 1-of-1 numbered 2023-24 Panini Prizm Black parallel has sold for $5.11 million in a private sale via Fanatics Collect, Fanatics confirmed to ESPN,” Dan Hajducky reported Tuesday. “It’s by far the most ever spent on a Wembanyama card, and the fourth and 11th most spent on a basketball and a sports card, respectively.”Hajducky added, “It’s also the most expensive known sale of a non-autographed NBA card and the third sports card sold for $5 million in 2026. The previous most ever spent on a Wembanyama card was $860,100 in a February 2025 Goldin auction, on a different 1-of-1 numbered parallel from the same Prizm set.”SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – MAY 22: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs reacts after his made three basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter in Game Three of the NBA Western Conference Finals at Frost Bank Center on May 22, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)Wembanyama’s memorabilia multiplying by roughly sixfold in 15 months matches his on-court trajectory this season. Along with his first Defensive Player of the Year award, Wembanyama earned his first unanimous All-Defensive First Team selection and first career All-NBA First Team selection. The 2023 No. 1 overall pick led the Spurs to a 62-20 regular-season record, second only to the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder (64-18), and to their first playoff berth since the 2018-19 season. Now, the Spurs are locked at 2-2 with the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. Wembanyama is averaging 30.3 points (on 52.6% shooting from the field), 13.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 3.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals through the first four games of the series.Related ArticlesTyrese Haliburton Gives Fans Encouraging Recovery Update With Latest VideoLeBron James Return to Cleveland Could Set Up a Win-Win Blockbuster TradeMikal Bridges Opens Up About Special Chemistry With Jalen BrunsonStart your unlimited Newsweek trial