The president is acting as if the midterms no longer matter.

Blue states like Massachusetts need to be part of the solution.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced one of the finest knocks of IPL 2026 in Qualifier 2, but it was not enough to take Rajasthan Royals to the final as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Gujarat Titans. Former India spinner and ex-Rajasthan Royals player Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his disappointment, saying the rest of the batting unit let down the 15-year-old prodigy despite his heroic effort.While the batting order of Rajasthan Royals collapsed, it was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi standing alone to give his team a big total to defend but it was not enough for the team. Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin admitted he was saddened to see such a remarkable innings end in defeat."Main mayoos hoon (I am sad)," Ashwin said. "He has played so well throughout IPL 2026, scoring almost 800 runs. But for me, the high point was the innings he played today. Of course, he had some luck, but the wicket was offering assistance to the bowlers. He was up against some of the best bowlers in international cricket, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder,'' Ashwin said.— TheFakeFakeer (@TheFakeFakeer) "He got lucky at times, a catch was dropped as well, but the way he adjusted his shots and adapted to the conditions was exceptional. He deserved better. Rajasthan Royals were underwhelming. I know Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan batted brilliantly, but Rajasthan Royals let down that young boy's incredible innings. In fact, incredible isn't even enough to describe what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced today," he added. Rajasthan Royals endured a nightmare start after being reduced to 9/2 in the powerplay, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (1) and Dhruv Jurel (7) falling early to Kagiso Rabada. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi then rebuilt the innings alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who played a crucial hand of 45 off 35 balls before being forced to retire hurt due to an elbow injury. Jadeja's departure triggered a middle-order collapse, with Riyan Parag managing just 11 as RR lost wickets in quick succession.Amid the chaos, Sooryavanshi stood tall with a breathtaking 96 off 47 balls, smashing eight fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of more than 204. Donovan Ferreira later provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 38 off just 11 deliveries, helping RR post a competitive 214/6. However, Gujarat Titans chased down the target comfortably to book their place in the IPL 2026 final.

Stuttgart confirm new first-choice goalkeeperAfter helping SC Paderborn secure promotion on loan, Dennis Seimen will return to VfB Stuttgart as the club’s new first-choice goalkeeper.The 20-year-old is set to step into goal, with Alexander Nübel returning to Bayern Munich after three seasons on loan at Stuttgart.“Dennis had a fantastic season in Paderborn. He is not an experiment; we fully believe he is ready for the role as our number one. There are no differing opinions within the club – we all share that view,” Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth confirmed in an interview with DPA.“Dennis is a young goalkeeper who loves competition and challenges,” he added.“Even though he does not yet have the experience of a 35-year-old, he has consistently adapted extremely quickly to new levels of performance and quickly become an influential figure at each stage of his development – whether with Germany’s youth national teams, in the third division, or most recently in the second division with Paderborn.”Stuttgart have also strengthened their goalkeeping department with the addition of Marius Funk, who joins from Energie Cottbus.Veteran Fabian Bredlow will remain part of the squad, while promising 18-year-old Fabian Hellstern recently extended his contract.

Day seven of French OpenLIVE: Naomi Osaka playing highly-rated American teenager Iva Jovic in third roundWorld number one Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays Australia's Daria Kasatkina laterFour-time major champion Sabalenka bidding to win first title at Roland Garros after losing final last yearKasatkina reached semi-final in Paris in 2022Reigning champion Coco Gauff faces Anastasia Potapova later French Open: Osaka in third-round action, Sabalenka and Gauff play later

World Cup preview? PSG v Arsenal Champions final has 29 call-upsThe big Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal takes place this Saturday (30), at 1 p.m.!But this clash could very well serve as a "preview" of the World Cup kickoff!The two teams will field 29 players called up for the 2026 World Cup, turning the European final into a luxury "warm-up" for the FIFA tournament that begins in two weeks.The national teams of France, Portugal, and Spain will be the most represented on the Hungarian pitch:France (6 called up)They top the list with Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Lucas Hernández for PSG, while center-back William Saliba will be the only Frenchman in Arsenal’s squad.Portugal (4 called up)The Parisian club is providing almost an entire unit for Portugal, with Vitinha, João Neves, Nuno Mendes, and striker Gonçalo Ramos.Spain (4 called up)It will be split. Goalkeeper David Raya, defensive midfielder Martín Zubimendi, and midfielder Mikel Merino play for the Gunners, while Fabián Ruiz wears the PSG shirt.Brazil will also play a prominent role, with three players in the final. Brazil captain and the only PSG player called up by Dorival Júnior, center-back Beraldo was left out, while Marquinhos is looking to lift the continental trophy before heading to his third World Cup. On the English side, he will face his Brazil backline teammate Gabriel Magalhães and forward Gabriel Martinelli.The list of internationals also includes a true trip around the globe. PSG have Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, South Korea’s Lee Kang-in, and Senegal’s Ibrahim Mbaye. Arsenal, meanwhile, counter with Dutchman Jurriën Timber, German Kai Havertz, Belgian Leandro Trossard, Norwegian Martin Ødegaard, and Swede Viktor Gyökeres, as well as four England call-ups: Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke.Living up to the name and historical taboosThis final marks the first time in six years that the Champions League has brought together two genuine national champions from the same season, staying true to the format adopted in 1992/1993. The last time this happened was in 2020, when Bayern Munich beat PSG itself in Lisbon.Arsenal arrive on a high after ending a 22-year wait to win the Premier League, their last title having come in the historic unbeaten 2003/2004 campaign. Paris Saint-Germain also wrapped up the French league title early, claiming their fifth straight Ligue 1 trophy and the 14th in their history.In addition, Budapest will witness a rare historical element: a final between clubs from two different capitals after 55 years. The last time was in 1971, when Ajax (Amsterdam) defeated Panathinaikos (Athens).The weight of the trophyFor Arsenal, the match is a chance to embroider the first European champion’s star onto their shirt and give English football its 16th title in the tournament (with seven different clubs). On top of that, the Gunners could seal a perfect season for England, which has already won the other two continental titles this season: Crystal Palace lifted the Conference League and Aston Villa raised the Europa League.On the French side, PSG are chasing a second title and face the tough task of defending the crown they won last season. Since the tournament’s revamp, only Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid have managed the feat of stacking consecutive trophies (2016, 2017, and 2018), which puts the Paris club in front of a gigantic challenge.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

New York Giants quarterback Jameis Winston praised the relationship between Jaxson Dart and Abdul Carter as a powerful example of unity amid political differences.The situation arose after Dart introduced President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Suffern, New York, on May 22, prompting Carter — who has publicly stated his opposition to Trump — to question the decision on social media.Despite the initial discomfort, Winston highlighted how the two draft classmates, who sit next to each other in meetings, navigated the controversy with maturity.“We don’t have to agree. We don’t have to respect or even understand people’s perspective,” Winston told reporters on Friday, “but we should support their perspective because that’s what they believe in.”Drawing from his Birmingham, Alabama roots and civil rights history — including the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing — Winston urged the team to turn uncomfortable situations into growth. He rejected cancel culture, emphasized grace and love over hate, and celebrated the symbolism between Dart and Carter."We've got a blond-haired, blue-eyed white kid and a Black Muslim religion, Black kid, who are coming together and showing y'all, showing the world that we can come together," Winston said. "We don't have to see everything -- everything doesn't have to be viewed in this perfect little snow globe and everything doesn't have to be perfect."But we have to support each other. We have to promote love because love is a stronger feeling than hate, and eliminate these unwanted opinions. Everybody has something to say. But how many people are willing to act on change?"Winston stressed that while the players hold differing political views, their mutual support and focus on football exemplify what sports can teach society. He believes this experience strengthens the young Giants roster and serves as a broader message for America.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Jameis Winston: Giants teammates' bond a model for national unity

⚠️Fabrizio reports it first: Slot and Liverpool part waysPending official confirmation, everything indicates that the Dutch coach will no longer be Liverpool manager.One of the season’s big sagas in England seems to be nearing its end, as Fabrizio Romano has just exclusively revealed that Arne Slot and Liverpool would be parting ways with immediate effect.After reviewing a season in which the team failed to meet its objectives, the decision appears to have been made to bring this relationship to an end.Official confirmation of the announcement is still pending, but speculation has already begun over who could take his place, with Andoni Iraola looking like the leading candidate.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Canada coach Jesse Marsch appears hopeful that captain Alphonso Davies can play a role after all in their World Cup opener on June 12 in a comeback from injury.Bayern Munich left back Davies has been sidelined with a hamstring problem since the beginning of the month.He was still nominated on Friday into the 26-player squad for the June 11-July 19 tournament Canada co-hosts with the United States and Mexico.Marsch suggested earlier in the week that the first match on June 12 against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto may be too early.He said on Friday: "He is already on the pitch running, and so we’ve got to just kind of see where he’s at in his overall progression, and then we’ve got to try to find ways to accelerate him, but he’s super excited to get here.”Davies is still in Germany, and Marsch added: "I’m really hopeful that he has a few days to get away, and that he can come here and be fresh.”Canada's other group stage opponents are Switzerland and Qatar. They play final warm-up matches on Monday against Uzbekistan and on June 5 against Ireland.Davies, 25, is the most prominent player in Marsch's squad but has also been plagued by injuries.He missed many months last year with a cruciate knee ligament tear and played only 841 minutes spread over 23 matches for Bundesliga and German Cup champions Bayern in the 2025-26 season where he had other injury setbacks as well.

Everton 2025-26 Player Grades: The Attack(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)After grading the defence, we move on to assessing Everton’s attackers and wingers across the 2025-26 season.The grades are as follows:Here goes...DWIGHT MCNEIL — DWhat more else is there to say about McNeil? His Everton career should have been over in January; it should really have been over last summer, had the Toffees been more decisive. A move to Crystal Palace broke down at the last minute in the winter, and in all fairness, he then played a role in Everton’s good run in February and March, but he has generally offered so little, and finished the season with just 1 assist, and 0 goals, from 25 appearances. It’s time for everybody to move on.TYLER DIBLING — DA bit like Adam Aznou in our defence gradings, it’s a bit tough to fully judge Dibling, but unlike Aznou, Dibling did feature across the first half of the season. He has played 17 times in total, making six starts. The 20-year-old was signed for big money and the sensibility of doing that last summer, when Everton needed guaranteed output, must be questioned. However, what can also be scrutinised is David Moyes’s use of the winger, especially when he has applied double standards to the likes of McNeil and not afforded Dibling the same amount of slack. But even taking that into account, bar a few flashes in games against Burnley and Nottingham Forest over Christmas, Dibling did very little with the cameos he did have, so little choice but to award him the lowest grade.ILIMAN NDIAYE — BI have been far from impressed with Ndiaye’s performance levels over the run-in. Everton needed him to step up, and he simply didn’t deliver. But, across the first half of the season and even in the immediacy after the Africa Cup of Nations, Ndiaye was generally very good. He proved he can play right as well as left, and scored Everton’s goal of the season back in November. Ndiaye has clearly been fatigued, and the Afcon wouldn’t have helped with that, just like Moyes’ insistence on the 26-year-old playing every minute won’t have helped either, but ultimately he didn’t come up with the goods when the Toffees needed him to.JACK GREALISH — AGrealish’s Everton career started in style, as he recorded two assists in back-to-back appearances. He immediately elevated the team, providing a creative force and a player to retain possession and carry the side up the field. He came up with the first late winner at Hill Dickinson Stadium and scored the decisive goal in a great victory at Bournemouth. His final two assists came against Brentford, in a 4-2 defeat, but Grealish’s influence on the team came down to more than just his assists and chance creation, and he has been badly missed since he was injured in January. But, there is also a school of thought to suggest as good as he was, Everton should be targeting a different kind of winger. One who brings more of a goal threat and isn’t the other side of 30. If Grealish does sign, it’s not a bad thing, but the deal must be right for the club.TYRIQUE GEORGE — BWhen he did get on the pitch, George impressed, and it feels like he is the kind of wide player Everton should have been targeting last summer, to complement Grealish and Ndiaye, rather than Dibling. The 20-year-old provides pace, dynamism and he loves to shoot. He did not manage to register a goal involvement, but did craft several brilliant chances that should have resulted in goals, most notably against West Ham and Sunderland, with Thierno Barry and Jake O’Brien missing sitters. Another one who should have received more minutes — there was no reason for him not to start at least three of the last five games of the season — and Everton now must decide whether to activate a reported £25M option based off just 210 minutes of gametime.THIERNO BARRY — CBarry came in for £27M from Villarreal, but ultimately he was still a signing that wasn’t definitely going to be ready to hit the ground running at 22. Whether Everton should have signed that kind of player for such a key position is of course up for debate. Barry has done some things well; when he is on it, his hold-up play is impressive, he can tower over defenders in the air and he has finished with a respectable eight goals.Yet there is just a feeling he doesn’t quite get it. He doesn’t seem to have the aggression required to disrupt defenders, and when he’s at his worst, the Frenchman looks lackadaisical and clumsy. File under: Room for improvement.BETO — BBeto finished the season as Everton’s leading scorer in all competitions, with 10 goals in 40 games, albeit only 18 of those were from the start. The 28-year-old was poor across the first half of the campaign, yet between the end of January until the end of the season, Beto was superb, scoring eight league goals and just proving a nuisance to defenders — something which Barry has just not mastered with any consistency.Everton have a decision to make on Beto. He has just a year left to run on his deal and so he either needs to be sold while his stock is relatively high, or they need to offer him a short extension. Either way, you can never doubt Beto’s commitment to the cause, even if the quality isn’t always there.Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()There are no responses so far to this article. 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Everton 2025-26 Player Grades: The Midfield(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)After grading the defence, we move on to assessing Everton’s midfielders across the 2025-26 season.The grades are as follows:Here goes.IDRISSA GUEYE — BGueye is out of contract and, as it stands, is set to become a free agent. The veteran campaigner was not always at his best, and his all-round numbers did dip, but there shouldn't be any doubt over how vital he is to Everton’s midfield, which perhaps says more about the majority of the other options in there than Gueye himself. He was badly missed in the final four games of the season, and he comes in with a steady B.TIM IROEGBUNAM — BIroegbunam is a frustrating player. A fantastic ball winner, but ultimately every other of his touches seems to force him into a tackle. He is an excellent dribbler in tight spaces, too, capable of creating a yard of space and surging through midfield, yet his decision-making is sorely lacking. The 22-year-old has certainly made progress, but in this writer’s opinion, it would be wise to assess the market for him this summer and potentially cash in while his value is high.JAMES GARNER — A*Everton’s Player of the Season, and rightly so. Garner scored two league goals and provided seven assists; he led the squad for chances created (56) and expected assists (6.0), while topping the Premier League for tackles (120) and interceptions (59). Desperately unlucky to miss out on England’s World Cup squad. He is the only player to hit the top grade here.HARRISON ARMSTRONG — BArmstrong won the club award for Everton’s Young Player of the Season, which just goes to show how poor David Moyes’s use of the youngsters was, given how many Everton brought in last summer. The teenager returned in January having been in fine form while on loan at Preston North End, with Everton desperately short of midfield options. He came straight into the team and was impressive. He was retained after the window, rather than being sent back out on loan, and in all honesty that decision should have been taken out of the manager’s hands, especially as Moyes then shunted him out wide. Armstrong still played plenty, finishing with 15 appearances in all competitions and 738 minutes, with most of those in the Premier League. A beneficial season, and they must now make a call on whether he goes on loan again or is part of the squad for next term.MERLIN RÖHL — BIt was a funny season for Röhl. Brought in on deadline day last summer, he reportedly immediately impressed Moyes and his coaching staff in training, but he struggled to maintain his fitness and ultimately went off (without the club’s express permission, it should be noted) to undergo surgery on a hernia. He returned in time for the hectic festive schedule and played well enough against Nottingham Forest in late December, before turning in an excellent display away at Aston Villa a few weeks later. However, he was then hardly seen until early May, when he came into the team on the right wing, and suddenly, he became a first-choice starter in that position. He showed promise, but once again, serious questions have to be asked why it took so long to get him in the team once he had regained fitness, or at least why he wasn’t given more minutes from the bench.KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL — AAfter Garner, Dewsbury-Hall was no doubt next on the list for Everton’s Player of the Season. He was certainly the best signing, albeit that’s not that hard. The 27-year-old brought quality and output, which is what Everton should have been targeting as a priority last summer. Dewsbury-Hall’s 12 goal involvements led the way for Everton (8 goals, 4 assists), and even as he tired late in the season, you can never accuse him of not trying to make things happen; he never hid, which, in fairness, is the least that should be expected. Dewsbury-Hall has set the bar for Everton’s transfer activity this coming window.CARLOS ALCARAZ — CI was hugely positive when Everton signed Charly Alcaraz permanently last year, albeit the strange cutting down of his contract was perhaps a sign that Moyes was not convinced on the Argentine, despite his impressive displays while on loan last season. Alcaraz was another victim of Moyes’s poor squad rotation. There are some caveats — he missed two chunks of the season through injury and he is incredibly erratic (as evidenced by his errors against Manchester City, which in part cost Everton a potentially vital, unexpected victory). But he does always look to make things happen, he does bring energy and endeavour, and should have been utilised more.There are no responses so far to this article. Be the first to offer a comment using the form below.

Everton 2025-26 Player Grades: The Defence(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)With the season over, we’ll soon be looking full steam ahead to the summer. But, we felt it was worth having a go at rating Everton’s squad from the 2025-26 campaign.We’ll start with the defence, which includes the goalkeepers.JORDAN PICKFORD — AOverall, it was probably not Pickford’s best season, but I do think it had his best highlight reel. Stunning saves against Manchester United, Newcastle United and Chelsea, to name a few, helped Everton pick up vital points. He was not perfect, and certainly made some mistakes, while his vulnerability from set-pieces was exposed, but he finished the season having prevented 3.6 goals, according to Opta Analyst — only three other shot-stoppers in the Premier League (Senne Lammens — 6.5, Gianluigi Donnarumma — 5.7 and Bart Verbruggen — 5.5) recorded a better figure.MARK TRAVERS — CSigned for £4million as a back-up last summer, Travers filled that role. He did not make a league appearance and played only twice, with both of those appearances coming in the EFL Cup. He wasn’t particularly great in the loss to Wolves in September, but it’s would be a bit much to give him a D.TOM KING — CHe hasn’t played at all, but that’s clearly not the point for an experienced pro as a third-choice goalkeeper. By all accounts, a positive personality in the dressing room and highly regarded by his fellow shot-stoppers.NATHAN PATTERSON — CPatterson only made eight appearances, and only four of them were starts, but he did nothing wrong and should have been given more time towards the end of the season. He wanted to go in January, and why was David Moyes allowed to keep him, just to then not to play him at all, when Everton desperately needed a change at the back. He was never the right signing for what was required back in 2022, and injuries and poor runs of form have not helped him, but Patterson deserved to be given a go. He has to be moved on this summer, for everyone’s sake.SEAMUS COLEMAN — CThe iconic defender’s Everton playing career is over, but he will always have a place in our hearts. However, he made just four league appearances, with three coming as a substitute and the other seeing him start at Old Trafford but swiftly go off injured. A club great, whose impact was no doubt felt more at Finch Farm than on the pitch.JAKE O’BRIEN — CIt’s tough to fully judge O’Brien, given he has consistently been shunted out to right-back. When he did play centrally, in his actual position, he played well, and helped Everton to victories over Crystal Palace (moving there midway through the second half), Bournemouth and Aston Villa. He should have been played back in the middle instead of Michael Keane in the run-in. However, all that being said, he still turned in some stinkers, and playing out of position isn’t enough to excuse some of those displays. Next season, he must be given a chance as a centre-back, and he has some clear improvements to make.JAMES TARKOWSKI — CMany fans might say Tarkowski was the worst of Everton’s centre-backs in 2025-26, and there’s no doubt that the 33-year-old’s levels dipped. But, I think it’s worth pointing out that when he didn’t play next to Keane, he was much more like his old self. Now, Tarkowski is in no way blameless. Everton need to be moving on from him next term, and even if he is likely to now be the club captain, he should spend the majority of 2026-27 as a back-up.MICHAEL KEANE — CIndividually, Keane did okay. He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t as bad as he has been in the past, either. But when he is in the defence, by and large the team leak chances. That is especially the case when he and Tarkowski play together, with the two of them simply not suited at all to playing alongside the other. Keane, of course, is always a threat in the opposition box, and he scored some important goals. However, the fact is he featured 35 times this season and was a key part of a defence that gave up the sixth-most xGA in the league.JARRAD BRANTHWAITE — CWhen Branthwaite played, he was, in the main, good, and in the away win over Newcastle United at the end of February, he was excellent. Yet his season was a write-off, as he featured just 10 times. The injury he sustained in the Merseyside derby was probably one of the crucial blows suffered in the run-in, and Everton, and Branthwaite, must put all their focus into ensuring he can stay fit for the vast majority of next term. A proper, full pre-season is vital, too, because there is no doubting how much better a team the Toffees are when he plays.VITALIY MYKOLENKO — CThere’s a trend here, isn't there. Everton’s defence was simply very average across the season, and Mykolenko doesn’t buck the trend, either. In truth, he probably fell below his levels in some ways, and was caught out plenty of times from crosses to the back post that he should have done better from. He’s still a good one-v-one defender and you can never doubt his effort, but Everton need better.ADAM AZNOU — DNot one single minute of Premier League action, with his sole appearance coming as a cameo in the FA Cup, in which he was actually excellent. So, this rating cannot be held against Aznou, but there’s not really any way I can justify to give him higher, as he has not been given a chance.Moyes’s handling of this has been woeful. Aznou should have spent the first 6 months of the season at Everton, been given minutes in the U21s, and then immediately loaned out in January to play at a senior level. Why did the club not have that move lined-up? He is only young and physically not ready to be a left-back in a Moyes team, especially in this era of the Premier League, but he could have been given a go. There were chances to play him when chasing games, whether at left-back or on the wing, which is where he played so well against Sunderland. Everton should take Aznou out of Moyes’s hands next season, and get him a proper loan to further his development.

Foxborough, MA - May 9: New England Patriots tackle Caleb Lomu at Patriots rookie minicamp on May 9, 2026. (Photo by Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) | Boston Globe via Getty Images In the 2026 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots continued their investment in the offensive line, trading up to pick No. 28 to select Caleb Lomu. After selecting Will Campbell fourth overall in 2025, the decision marked the first time since 1991 and 1992 that New England drafted an O-lineman in the first round in consecutive years. However, the immediate expectations of both picks are much different. Campbell quickly slotted in as the starting left tackle and held that role through his rookie season. Meanwhile, Lomu is expected to start in a developmental role, with Campbell entrenched on the left side and veteran Morgan Moses currently solidified at right tackle.The rookie will likely have to wait an entire season for a full-time starting opportunity, but Lomu’s still projected to fill an important role along New England’s offensive line in 2026 as the team’s swing tackle. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel recently voiced confidence in the rookie’s versatile skill set to handle multiple spots up front.Swing tackle“Where [Lomu] plays, we want to end up with the five best linemen,” Vrabel said before Wednesday’s OTA practice. “I think he’s going to have the ability to play both sides … We’re going to have to have five good ones that can protect Drake [Maye], as well as a swing tackle.”Lomu, who started 24 games in college on the left side, repped at right tackle, rotating behind Moses with the top offensive line unit during Wednesday’s practice. The rookie played all of his snaps at that spot.In the NFL, playoff teams have an increasingly important need for a reliable swing tackle, especially during multi-week stretches where a starter is unavailable.New England is no stranger to that need, having to shuffle between 21 different starting offensive line combinations between the 2024 and 2023 seasons; the Patriots totaled just eight wins during that time, although a variety of factors played a role in those teams’ shortcomings. Even last season, former offensive tackle Vederian Lowe had to start four games in place of an injured Will Campbell during the latter half of 2025. In addition to practicing at right tackle this past week, Lomu primarily worked on the left side during rookie minicamp. As of now, it’s unclear which side he will focus on practicing at during the summer.“Some of the techniques are different, and I think he’s really embraced those,” Vrabel said. “He’s been an unbelievably coachable player. He’s young, he’s big, he’s athletic, and he’s willing to learn … I’m excited about where he’s at. Where he’s eventually going to be, I don’t think I can answer that right now.”It’s also not often that teams have both of their Week One starting offensive tackles play every game of a season. The New York Jets were the only franchise in the league last year to have both of their top tackles start all 17 games. If Lomu earns a role as the team’s swing tackle next season, two primary factors may allow the rookie the opportunity to make a winning impact.Morgan Moses’ ageNext season, Morgan Moses will be 35 years old and playing his 13th season in the NFL. Even though he received veteran’s rest throughout last season and during training camp last summer, the veteran started every game for New England. Moses is an ironman in the league and has only missed seven games since 2015. But with that being said, six of those absences came during the 2024 and 2023 seasons with the New York Jets and the Baltimore Ravens.There’s no guarantee that Moses starts in 2026 simply because of his age; an issue some aging veterans face is realizing that they’ve lost a step physically when the pads come on in August.Looking back at Patriots history, Rob Ninkovich, who was 33 at the time, retired just days into training camp in 2017. Furthermore, James White, who was 30, retired on August 11 in 2022, after being unable to return from a hip injury the season prior.There’s no current indication Moses is going to run into that problem, but the veteran may need to miss some time for rest at some point during the regular season. Vrabel and Co. need to be prepared for that possibility, and luckily for New England brass, Lomu (hypothetically) would be available.Will Campbell’s healthAs previously mentioned, Campbell missed four games late in the 2025 season after suffering an MCL tear during Week 12. When the rookie returned, his play regressed in the playoffs, and he didn’t appear to be fully recovered.Before the injury, Campbell posted a 76.1 pass-blocking grade in those 12 games, but that number dropped to a whopping 39.2 grade after the injury. He also allowed a 17.2% pressure rate in the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers and a 26.4% pressure rate in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks.Campbell’s injury is a reminder of how quickly in a season teams can be forced to test their depth. For a Patriots team with playoff aspirations, the insurance of an effective swing tackle could be invaluable, especially late in the season.Unlike many backup tackles, Lomu is entering the league with the draft pedigree of a potential long-term starter, possibly giving New England a higher ceiling at the swing tackle spot than in recent years.If injuries strike or age begins to catch up with Moses, Lomu could play meaningful snaps sooner than expected.

CANTON, OHIO - AUGUST 03: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns warms up prior to the 2023 Pro Hall of Fame Game against the New York Jets at Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium on August 3, 2023 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images DE Myles Garrett had a historic season for the Cleveland Browns in 2026. While the star defender requested a trade in the previous offseason, a big contract extension led to the single-season sack record and another Defensive Player of the Year award.Garrett’s route to the Hall of Fame, even if he didn’t like the “Cleveland to Canton” line, has been well paved by his impressive nine-year career, so far, where he’s accumulated 125.5 sacks, 149 tackles for loss, 239 QB hits, 23 forced fumbles, 18 pass deflections, and six fumble recoveries. Garrett’s 23rd sack jersey already arrived at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and now the full display is in place, honoring his amazing 2025 season:Myles Garrett was a threat the entire 2025 season. He led the league with 33 tackles for loss, which is the second-most by a player in a season since 2000. ⚡️ He also made history when he broke the NFL’s single-season sack record with 23. 🐐 @Browns@Flash_Garrettpic.twitter.com/Au9UvXjPfW— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) May 29, 2026According to Pro Football Reference’s Approximate Value, Garrett is tied for the 212th-best career, has the 22nd-best career of all active players, and has had two of the top 150 seasons of all time. The all-time leader in AV belongs to QB Tom Brady, a number Garrett will likely never touch, but the star defender could find himself inside of the Top 25 with a few more quality seasons.All of that is true, and Garrett will not turn 31 years old until near the end of the 2026 season.

The Carolina Panthers used first-round picks on wide receivers in two of the last three drafts. It seems they swung and missed badly on Xavier Legette—but so far, Tetairoa McMillan has been a home-run selection.In his first NFL season, McMillan carried a heavy load—serving as Carolina's top receiving option and the go-to guy for starting quarterback Bryce Young. He answered the call by registering a rookie franchise record of 1,014 receiving yards and seven touchdowns en route to the organization's first AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award since 2011.Not too shabby, huh? And while that's a great way to start a career, some analysts believe that McMillan is just scratching the surface of his full potential.According to Garrett Podell at CBS Sports, McMillan is one of five Year 2 players around the league who are poised for a breakout campaign. Podell writes:Tetairoa McMillan exceeded all expectations as a rookie in 2025. The draft's eighth overall pick led all rookies in receiving yards (1,014) and receiving touchdowns (7) last season, and he was also responsible for 30.7% of his team's receiving yards, the sixth-highest rate for any player in the NFL.Impressive as McMillan's rookie season was, there's still a lot of room for improvement—and on film, he left plenty of yards and points on the field. The biggest issue McMillan had was completing grabs through contact—contributing to a relatively low 57.4-percent catch rate to go along with eight dropped passes.The good news is that McMillan has bulked up this offseason, telling reporters that he has added 10 pounds of muscle since we last saw him in a live game. That should help McMillan secure more of those tightly-contested catches going forward.So, the sky may be the limit for Carolina's talented 6-foot-4 star.Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers contentThis article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan tabbed as 2nd-year breakout candidate

Head coach Arne Slot has been sacked by Liverpool after two seasons in charge.More to follow.Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

The Oklahoma City Thunder received some devastating news ahead of the biggest game of their season. Star shooting guard Jalen Williams has officially been ruled out for Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs due to a left hamstring sprain. With a trip to the NBA Finals on the line, the loss of Williams could prove to be one of the biggest factors in determining which team advances to face the New York Knicks.MORE: NBA expansion bids will be astronomical from these cities in 2026Jan 13, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams (8) drives down the court beside San Antonio Spurs guard De’aaron Fox (4) during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn ImagesWilliams Has Been Battling the Injury Since Round OneThe hamstring issue has lingered throughout the playoffs and this series, clearly impacting Williams’ availability. In the series opener, Williams looked like himself, scoring 26 points and grabbing seven rebounds while playing 37 minutes. At that point, it appeared Oklahoma City would have its full complement of stars available for the remainder of the matchup.That quickly changed. Williams re-aggravated the injury in Game 2 and was forced to leave after playing just seven minutes. From that moment forward, the Thunder have been trying to manage the injury while hoping their standout guard could contribute when it mattered most.Game 6 Showed the Reality of the SituationWilliams attempted to return in Game 6, but it was evident he was far from 100 percent. He logged just 10 minutes and attempted only one shot during Oklahoma City’s lopsided loss to the Spurs.The Thunder offense struggled throughout the game, and the absence of one of their primary scorers and playmakers was impossible to ignore. Now, Oklahoma City will have to find a way to survive without him entirely for Game 7. Jun 22, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) reacts after a play against the Indiana Pacers during the second half of game seven of the 2025 NBA Finals at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesA Potential Series-Deciding AbsenceLosing a player of Williams’ caliber before a winner-take-all Game 7 is about as significant as it gets. His scoring, perimeter defense, and secondary playmaking have been crucial to the Thunder’s success throughout the season and playoffs.Now, the pressure shifts even more heavily onto Oklahoma City’s remaining stars to carry the load. Game 7 was already expected to be a battle. Without Williams, the challenge facing the Thunder just became much more difficult as they try to keep their championship hopes alive.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool fired manager Arne Slot on Saturday at the end of his second season in charge, and a year after leading the team to the Premier League title.Fenway Sports Group, the club’s American ownership, said it made a “difficult” decision after Liverpool finished fifth in a disappointing title defense.“We have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward,” the ownership said in a statement. “Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.”

MACAU, CHINA - MAY 30: Alex Perez is unable to continue after suffering a low blow from Sumudaerji of China in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Galaxy Arena on May 30, 2026 in Macau, China. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Alex Perez’s strange UFC journey continues.Fans have learned to expect the unexpected with Perez, who has had a brutal stretch of cancelled fights and weight misses in recent years, and his flyweight matchup with Sumudaerji at UFC Macau on Saturday added another chapter to his bizarre legacy.Nearly two minutes into the second round of their fight, Sumudaerji caught Perez below the belt with a front kick, leaving Perez on his knees retching and hovering over a puke bucket.Watch the footage below.Alex Perez vs Sumudaerji has been CALLED OFF AFTER Perez threw up in a bucket from a groin strike 😬 #ufcmacaupic.twitter.com/zGSJ7lsPVs— DrunkenFist ™ (@drunkenfistmma) May 30, 2026It’s unclear if Perez actually vomited and referee Mark Craig could be heard telling cageside official Marc Goddard, “It’s just saliva.” Regardless, after a lengthy break in the action and Goddard being brought into the octagon to consult on the decision, the bout was eventually ruled a no-contest due to the accidental foul.Due to an accidental foul, this bout has been ruled a no contest.[ #UFCMacau | LIVE NOW on @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/xnNy7LUIli— UFC (@ufc) May 30, 2026It was a bad—and self-inflicted—break for Sumudaerji, who was beating Perez consistently on the feet before landing the fateful foul. Sumudaerji had Perez hurt badly with a punch early in Round 2, but Perez was able to recover as they grappled on the ground. Moments later, with the fighters back standing, Sumudaerji kicked Perez in the groin and that would be the last meaningful action of the contest.The bout was officially stopped 1:45 into Round 2.Sumudaerji (19-7, 1 NC) was aiming to break into the top 15 by beating the ranked Perez (26-10, 1 NC), but both fighters now go back to the drawing board after Saturday’s inconclusive result.

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on Saturday shared an emotional Instagram Story originally posted by Rajasthan Royals after the franchise's IPL 2026 campaign came to a heartbreaking end. A valiant effort from the 15-year-old, who scored a magnificent 96 off 47 balls in Qualifier 2, ultimately went in vain as Rajasthan Royals suffered a seven-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans and crashed out of the tournament.Sooryavanshi, who was seen wiping away tears in the dugout after the defeat, reposted Rajasthan Royals' heartfelt message after the franchise fell short of a place in the final."Still can't believe how quickly emotions can change in 20 overs. Tonight hurts. It hurts deeply. There's sadness, frustration, disappointment and a lot we'll have to sit with. Credit where it's due, Shubman Gill and Gujarat Titans were outstanding tonight," the post read."To everyone who believed in this young team, stood by us, defended us, and cheered for us through all 16 games this season, thank you. We are grateful beyond words. But we are also sorry. Sorry we couldn't give you the night you deserved. Sorry we let you down when it mattered most," it read."This one will stay with us. And we'll carry it until we're back and better, next season," it further said.Sooryavanshi missed out on a century for the second successive match but once again showcased his class with a 47-ball 96, an innings featuring eight fours and seven sixes in New Chandigarh.His knock propelled Rajasthan Royals, who last won the IPL title in 2008, to a formidable 214/6 in 20 overs. In reply, Gujarat Titans chased down the target in 18.4 overs, powered by a century from captain Shubman Gill, to secure a place in the final.Sooryavanshi enjoyed a phenomenal first full IPL season, amassing 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.31.Having taken apart the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins during the two-month competition, Sooryavanshi has only strengthened the belief that he is a rare talent capable of serving Indian cricket for years to come.After receiving endorsements from several former cricketers, including the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara also indicated that the young left-hander is ready for the highest level.Sooryavanshi's performances against world-class bowlers in the IPL are proof that he is more than ready to represent India, Sangakkara said after Rajasthan Royals' exit.“You never know if anyone's ready until they play. And with everything Vaibhav's shown against some of the best bowlers in the world, I think he's more than ready to take on any challenge that you throw at him. And I'm sure that he'll get that call-up very, very soon," said the Sri Lankan.“He's batted with a lot of maturity, he has shouldered the responsibility of that opening partnership so well for us this season,” he added.

Motorsport photoWorld Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans leads Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier by 17.8s into the final day of Rally Japan after Oliver Solberg crashed out of victory contention.Evans headed into the longest leg of the rally with a 15.6s advantage over Solberg, but soon came under severe pressure from the Swede, who reduced the margin to 10.6s by midday.Solberg however was unable to add to his pair of stage wins in the morning loop and make any further inroads. In stage 10 (Mt. Kasagi) he slid wide at a left-hander and clouted a tree which caused terminal damage to his GR Yaris’ right-rear suspension. Evans admitted he lost time passing Solberg’s stricken car, but the Welshman remained composed across a punishing afternoon as rising temperatures and tyre wear became increasingly difficult to manage.Evans responded on the second pass of Ena, going 3.1sec faster than Ogier, before adding another stage win on Obara to rebuild his lead to 20.0s. Evans dropped time in the Fujioka super special and came close to potentially throwing away his advantage in the second pass of the test, but avoided an Armco barrier by the smallest of margins.“There was not a lot of room to spare there,” said Evans. “Obviously we need to carry on the same way, that’s all. Big day tomorrow.Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1"It's been a tough event. A lot of different type of stages and all. Of course, you always want to be fastest on all of them. It's been pretty good overall. There is still a long way to go tomorrow. And it's all pretty close, so nothing is done yet.”Solberg’s premature demise elevated Ogier to second position but the nine-time world champion surprisingly was unable to heap pressure on Evans.Last year’s Rally Japan winner struggled to find the sweet spot in his GR Yaris, singling out problems in managing the tyres in the hot temperatures.“It’s not what we were hoping [for],” said Ogier. “We came here to fight for the win and we’re not fighting. We had a similar rally to Elfyn, except for that one stage [Isegami’s Tunnel 1 on Friday]. It was tough and after that I never had the pace to fight back.“We will still try something tonight [with the car] and I still have some ideas for tomorrow. I will never give up.”Sebastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1Sebastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1Sami Pajari was among those to benefit from Solberg’s exit as the Finn slotted into third. Consistent outright speed had eluded Pajari until Saturday afternoon. The 24-year-old reeled off a trio of stage wins, claiming both passes of the Fujioka super special, and was fastest on Ena 2, ending the day 44.4s from Evans and 26.9s clear of Katsuta.“I’m very pleased with the afternoon loop in general,” Pajari said. “I was hoping to find more pace and that’s exactly what we did. Taking a couple of stage wins, from that side it’s really okay.”After what he described as his worst day of the season so far on Friday, Takamoto Katsuta produced a much better showing to end Saturday in fourth, 1m11.3s adrift of the lead. The Japanese driver moved ahead of Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville in the morning and continued to edge closer to Pajari during the afternoon, although he admitted a podium push would require extra risk.“I’m the same person, the same car,” Katsuta said. “Just a reset – that’s all.” Read Also: Takamoto Katsuta explains factors behind his “worst day" of the 2026 WRC season Adrien Fourmaux ended the day fifth as the leading Hyundai, albeit 2m05.2s from the lead. Team-mate Neuville dropped to sixth after struggling with car balance and an intermittent handbrake problem.“Despite it being a difficult day we had some fun, pushing hard,” Neuville said. “We never found anything to make it work. Struggling with the feeling, feedback and balance.”Hayden Paddon completed the day seventh in the third Hyundai, ahead of M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong, who reported improved confidence as the day progressed. Nikolay Gryazin holds ninth overall and leads WRC2 by 5.7s from Alejandro Cachon after another close, day-long battle between the pair.To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Feb 26, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (59) walks to the dugout after a pitching change in the first inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images The Atlanta Braves continued the Carlos Carrasco saga ahead of Friday’s series opener. The club recalled right-hander Anthony Molina to Atlanta before designating Carrasco for assignment. The #Braves today recalled RHP Anthony Molina to Atlanta and designated RHP Carlos Carrasco for assignment.— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 29, 2026The move marks the third time this season that Carrasco has been DFA’d. Assuming the same trend continues, he will rejoin the organization via a minor league deal. As for Molina, he has thrown just two innings for the Braves this season, and in that period, he has yet to give up a hit. He’s done much more work in the minors, where he’s thrown 30 innings in Triple-A and put together a 4.50 ERA.Nonetheless, Molina brings a fresh arm to the bullpen, should the Braves need it. More Braves News:The bats stayed hot as the road trip moved to Cincinnati, and the Braves defeated the Reds 8-3.Isaiah Drake logged his eighth homer of the season for the Rome Emperors on Thursday. More in the minor league recap.Watching the NCAA tournament this weekend? Here are potential draft picks to look out for. MLB News:The Detroit Tigers have placed starter Casey Mize on the 15-day injured list with right adductor inflammation. The move is retroactive to May 28.The San Francisco Giants placed Tyler Mahle on the 15-day injured list due to a left hamstring strain. Backdated to May 27, there is not yet a timetable for his return. Miami Marlins right-hander Eury Perez has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a right gracilis strain. He is expected to miss eight weeks. The Cincinnati Reds placed right-hander Graham Ashcraft on the 60-day injured list with a UCL sprain. He made an appearance on Monday, seemingly normal.From the Feed:Cast your vote for Braves Player of the Game here!ESPN’s Kiley McDaniels revealed a new mock draft, with an exciting pick for Atlanta.

Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaks to the media upon his arrival at N'djili International Airport in Kinshasa, Congo, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi)2026-05-30T10:32:08Z BUNIA, Congo (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization Saturday arrived in eastern Congo’s Bunia, a city at the heart of an outbreak of a rare type of Ebola, where the virus still spreads faster than the response, despite better-organized health facilities and new aid arrivals.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is expected to visit a treatment center and meet local authorities, health workers and affected families in Bunia.“The best way to address this is to provide all the necessary support to fight the disease at its epicenter and to continue offering every assistance needed,” Tedros told reporters late Friday.The WHO said Friday authorities have reported 906 suspected cases and 223 suspected deaths. Neighboring Uganda has confirmed nine cases and one death, the Ugandan ministry of health said Friday.The Bundibugyo virus, the current kind of Ebola, has no approved treatment or vaccine. “This is a difficult situation, and we recognize that. But the Democratic Republic of Congo has faced the Ebola virus many times before. We are confident that it can once again bring this outbreak under control,” Tedros told reporters Friday after meeting with Congo’s Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka. Medical aid donated by the European Union arrived in Ituri, the heart of Congo’s Ebola outbreak, on Thursday, with more shipments expected over the next eight days. The U.S. announced $80 million in additional aid on the same day, bringing its total commitment to more than $112 million. Read More Response efforts at Bunia’s Rwampara and General hospitals appear more organized, with additional staff, protective gear and medical supplies, though patients continue arriving around the clock, an AP reporter observed on Friday.The response has not kept pace with one of the fastest-spreading outbreaks on record, Doctors Without Borders, or MSF, warned on Saturday. “Never before has an Ebola outbreak recorded so many cases so soon after its declaration,” Dr. Alan Gonzalez, MSF’s deputy director of operations, said in a statement.“Nobody knows the true scale and severity of this outbreak,” Gonzalez said, calling for immediate expansion of testing, faster deployment of aid workers and sustained access for medical supplies.Dangers faced by health workers have been heightened by anger among residents over the stringent medical protocols for handling the victims’ bodies, which clash with local burial rites. Residents have launched at least three attacks against health centers.Attacks in Ituri by the Allied Democratic Force, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias have also hindered the response.The illness also has been reported in the Congolese provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, south of Ituri, where the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group controls many key cities, including Goma and Bukavu. The rebels have reported two cases.Uganda and Rwanda have closed their borders, while the Trump administration last week banned entry of non-U.S. passport holders who had recently visited Congo, Uganda or South Sudan. Tedros on Friday called border closures and travel bans “not effective at all” in preventing the spread of the outbreak“Closing borders, as some countries have done, only discourages transparency. The Democratic Republic of Congo is reporting the situation openly and transparently,” he said, urging countries to reconsider these measures.——Banchereau reported from Dakar, Senegal. Associated Press reporter Saleh Mwanamilongo in Bonn, Germany, contributed to this report. MARK BANCHEREAU Banchereau covers 22 countries across West and Central Africa for The Associated Press. He is based in Dakar, Senegal. twitter mailto

There has been so much drama at the 2026 French Open that Polish tennis player and qualifier Maja Chwalinska‘s run into the second week has nearly gone unnoticed.Chwalinska is ranked outside the WTA 100 and dropped her first set in six matches (three qualifiers and three main draw) on Saturday against Maria Sakkari. The 24 year old has three ITF titles on her resume, and prior to this year’s Roland Garros, her best Grand Slam performance was advancing to the second round at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships.There is a lot of tennis yet to be played, but as Chwalinska continues to plow through the draw, fans will start talking more and more about her Emma Raducanu-like run in a Grand Slam. Raducanu remains the only qualifier to ever win a Grand Slam, a feat that many believe will never be replicated. MORE: Moise Kouame is France’s last hope at the 2026 French OpenChwalinska took down big opponentsChwalinska has already defeated Paris Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and Belgian Elise Mertens, the 23rd seed. She defeated both players by the identical score of 6-4, 6-0. Her next challenge will be massive. She plays the winner of the Diane Parry and Amanda Anisimova match. If Parry wins, she will deal with the French crowd, something she managed in qualifiers when she defeated Suzan Lamens in a tight one 7-6, 7-5. Should the fourth seed Anisimova win, that will be the highest ranked opponent Chwalinska has faced so far.Chwalinska has also competed with and against her compatriot Iga Swiatek since they were kids.May 29, 2026; Paris, France; General view of Court Simonne-Mathieu during the Rafael Jodar of Spain and Alex Michelsen of the United States match on day six at Stade Roland Garros. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn ImagesIn her postmatch interview, she mentioned needing to book a hotel for a third week, a realistic financial concern for players outside the Top 100. since her earnings this year are at about $100,000, and not getting a paycheck from her French Open success until later.MORE: Rafael Jodar receiving backlash for allegedly pushing ballgirl at French OpenThough defending champion Coco Gauff and WTA World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka are still in the women’s singles draw, it feels like anyone could win the title. Watch the French Open, now through June 7, on TNT Sports and Tennis Channnel.

Andoni Iraola poised to take over at Liverpool following Arne Slot exitFormer Rayo Vallecano and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola is poised to take over at Liverpool this summer, following the exit of Arne Slot. The Basque manager announced his departure from Bournemouth earlier this month, and has been in conversations with a number of clubs recently.Iraola’s work at Rayo Vallecano and subsequently Bournemouth, promoting the former and securing a first European qualification for the latter, has impressed the football world, and as such has left him with his pick of jobs this summer. In March, after Ernesto Valverde announced that he would be leaving San Mames, he was linked with a return to the club he spent most of his playing career at. Yet they already had Edin Terzic lined up as a replacement.Iraola in pole position to replace Arne Slot at LiverpoolAfter Arne Slot’s exit from Liverpool was announced on Saturday afternoon, following two years at Anfield, multiple reports claim that Iraola will now be offered the job. Should Iraola find their terms to his liking, then the job will be his. Ben Jacobs says that Iraola is the leading contender, while Matteo Moretto says the Reds are now in pursuit of him. In addition, Santi Aouna claims that Iraola is top of their shortlist.Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Chelsea talksChelsea were initially interested in Iraola after dismissing Liam Rosenior, but talks did not progress, and Xabi Alonso subsequently was appointed. The side most closely linked have been Crystal Palace, who are looking to replace Oliver Glasner, and fit several of Iraola’s requirements. AC Milan had also opened talks with Iraola after Max Allegri was dismissed, but those talks reportedly stalls. It seems likely that Liverpool will be Iraola’s first choice too, although he has always been particular about the projects he takes on.

Through the 2024-25 season, the Los Angeles Lakers have had a total of 506 players suit up for them, going back to their days in Minneapolis. Some were forgettable, some were serviceable, some were good and a select few were flat-out legendary.During the Lakers' 80th season of existence (they were founded back in 1946 as the Detroit Gems in the National Basketball League), LeBron Wire is taking a look at each player who has worn their jersey, whether it has been a purple and gold one or the ones they donned back in the Midwest during their early years.When the Lakers brought in Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant during the summer of 1996, many fans expected the team to instantly start winning championships. In reality, it took the Lakers a while to build a championship-caliber cast, and in the meantime, they had to endure some ugly playoff losses.During the 1999 season, they knew they needed more 3-point shooting threats to open up the court for O'Neal and Bryant. So they shipped off Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell to the Charlotte Hornets for Glen Rice, B. J. Armstrong and J.R. Reid.Rice wasn't just a 3-point specialist — he was a bona fide star who had made the All-Star team in each of the previous three seasons and had a career average of 20.8 points a game to that point. He had once scored 56 points in a game, and it was thought he would form a "big three" with O'Neal and Bryant.While Rice played well at times with the Lakers, he was coming off elbow surgery, and it eventually became clear that he was on the downside of his career. In two seasons with them, he averaged 16.3 points a game and shot 43% overall and 37.6% from 3-point range, while he had shot 46.3% overall and 40.9% from downtown for his career prior to coming to L.A.Rice did contribute to L.A. winning the 2000 NBA championship as a starter. Following that season, he was sent to the New York Knicks in a four-team trade, and he retired in 2004 with a career average of 18.3 points per game.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Lakers jersey history No. 41 — Glen Rice

Liverpool are searching for a new manager after sacking Arne Slot following a disastrous Premier League title defence.With Slot ruthlessly dismissed, one parting gift was that the new coach will have Champions League football, with the Dutch coach able to navigate a testing finale to the campaign despite a challenge to hold onto a top-five finish, though they fell by 24 points from the peak of the title-winning season.Ultimately, the Reds decided the team needed to evolve and made what is understood to be an extremely difficult decision for the club, with a debt of gratitude for delivering a Premier League title just 12 months ago.Now attention turns to a market with options, but one clear candidate might have been Xabi Alonso, though the former Liverpool midfielder, sacked by Real Madrid in January, ultimately opted to join Chelsea with the decision over Slot yet to be finalised earlier this month.“That this was a difficult decision for us to make as a club goes without saying. The contribution Arne has made to Liverpool FC in the time that he has been with us has been significant, meaningful and – most importantly of all to supporters and ourselves – successful,” read a club statement. “As such, our appreciation for everything he has achieved could not be greater, particularly as it was underpinned by a work ethic, a diligence and a level of expertise which further underlined our view that he is a leader in his field.”Here are the contenders to become Liverpool’s new manager after a seismic decision from the Reds on the day of the Champions League final: (Reuters)Andoni IraolaA wonderful job at Bournemouth, clinching Europa League football with a sixth-place finish off the back of a remarkable 18-game unbeaten streak to conclude the season. Iraola also adapted to key exits last summer, with the Spanish boss now eager to try a new challenge. And Liverpool could offer a step up for Iraola, who could bring a new look to Anfield, with his tactical versatility.Sebastian Hoeness The Stuttgart boss has quickly become one of the most highly-rated coaches in Europe. Fourth place in the Bundesliga confirmed Champions League qualification and the next step could be Anfield. The credentials are there from a football philosophy point of view, with possession highly coveted, though some may draw comparisons with his emphasis on pressing, too, or ‘heavy metal’ style that Mohamed Salah pushed for in his fiery statement earlier this month, likely to be appreciated at Anfield.Julian NagelsmannOccupied with Germany at the World Cup, but a manager, despite his age, at just 38 years old, who has immense experience and a clear identity. That could be tweaked and honed at Anfield. Long since linked with Premier League jobs, could Liverpool be the right fit now after Germany’s involvement in USA, Canada and Mexico? Jurgen KloppStill a premature time to make his triumphant return, just two years after his emotional departure, but Klopp would create immense excitement and allow fans to dream of an immediate return to contention for the top prizes in the game. Perhaps too soon for him to dive back in, having become Red Bull’s Head of Global Football in 2024.Steven GerrardCould the Reds opt for their legendary ex-captain to rally the club? Gerrard has been without a club since leaving Al-Ettifaq last year and is short of credentials as a manager, though his aura around Anfield could inspire the change required after the malaise set in under Slot.Next Liverpool manager odds Andoni Iraola - 6/4 Sebastian Hoeness - 4/1Julian Nagelsmann - 13/2Luis Enrique - 8/1Oliver Glasner - 9/1Jurgen Klopp - 9/1Unai Emery - 11/1Steven Gerrard - 12/1

The Oregon Ducks certainly made a statement on Friday night in their first postseason game of the year. A 14-2 blowout of the Yale Bulldogs was enough to make Oregon the easy team to beat in the Eugene Regional, and they're now set up for an exciting second-round game against the Washington State Cougars on Saturday night, with a trip to the final on the line. If you are wondering how to watch the action live, you have come to the right place.The Ducks entered Friday night's game as favorites in the regional, but after hanging 14 runs with 15 hits on the Bulldogs, it's clear that they are the dominant team in the northwest regional. This was made even clearer after the Oregon State Beavers — the No. 2 seed in the regional — were upset by Washington State earlier in the day, throwing their tournament future into question. The Ducks will now play the Cougars on Saturday night, with a spot in Sunday's final on the line. The winner will move straight to the final, while the loser will face the winner of the elimination game between Oregon State and Yale.Where to watch Oregon baseball vs. Washington State game today?TV Channel: Not TelevisedStreaming: ESPN+The game between Oregon and Washington State will not be televised on normal cable, but can be streamed on ESPN+.What time does Oregon baseball play today?Time: 6:00 p.m. PTLocation: Eugene, OregonThe game between Oregon and Washington State is set to start at 6:00 p.m. PT at PK Park in Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks are 24-5 on the road this season.Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks vs. Washington State in regional clash; Time, channel

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Head Coach Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth in his last game in charge after his sides 1-1 draw during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth at City Ground on May 24, 2026 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Robin Jones - AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images) | AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images Liverpool and Arne Slot have today officially parted ways, with the club conducting a season-end review and deciding that between the poor performances and results of the 2025-26 season and the increasingly unhappy mood of the supporters at Anfield the Dutch trainer’s position was untenable.Now, questions will turn to what comes next, and whatever does come next is likely to happen quickly. It also seems nearly certain what comes next will be Andoni Iraola. The 43-year-old Basque head coach this week confirmed he was moving on from Bournemouth this summer after three years in charge.When he did, speculation immediately turned to Liverpool given not just his success with the Premier League club but the attractive, high-tempo style of play he deploys that embraces both the press and rapid attacking—the lack of which made the 2025-26 season hard to watch under Slot at Liverpool.Iraola spent much of his playing career at right back for Atheltic Bilbao, where he made more than 400 appearances, before moving into coaching with Cypriot club AEK Larnaca in 2018. That was followed by a move to Mirandes in the Spanish second tier, then Rayo Vallecano, and then Bournemouth.Shortly after the club announced they were parting ways with Slot, a slew of club-connected journalists including The Times’ Paul Joyce and The Atheltic’s James Pearceand David Ornstein all came out with statements signalling that Iraola was Liverpool’s top choice to become the club’s new manager.

Angel Reese's latest technical foul comes with a price Atlanta Dream can't afford originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Atlanta Dream got exactly what they wanted from Angel Reese on Friday night. They got the rebounding. They got the energy. They got the playmaking. Most importantly, they got another win.What they also got was a reminder that one of the WNBA's most impactful players is walking a fine line early in the season. Reese helped lead Atlanta to an 86-66 victory over the Portland Fire, stuffing the stat sheet with 18 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and a block. It was the type of performance Dream fans have quickly become accustomed to from the former LSU star, who has helped push Atlanta near the top of the league standings.But buried inside another dominant outing was a moment that could become a bigger storyline if it continues.Reese's technical foul adds upThe technical came midway through the first quarter after Reese was called for a loose-ball foul involving Portland center Megan Gustafson.Frustrated with the whistle, Reese turned toward the official and appeared to wave off the call. The gesture immediately resulted in a technical foul. On most nights, one technical foul is forgotten by the final buzzer. This one carries a bit more significance because it was Reese's third technical foul of the season.Under WNBA rules, a player's first three technical fouls each result in a $500 fine. Technical fouls four through seven bring a $1,000 fine, while any additional technicals beyond that come with a $1,500 fine. Players who accumulate eight technical fouls are also subject to a one-game suspension.That means Reese's latest emotional reaction could cost her $500 if the league lets the technical stand.The Dream need Angel Reese on the floorThe bigger concern for Atlanta isn't the fine. It's the pace.The Dream are only seven games into the season and Reese is already halfway to the technical-foul suspension threshold. If she continues picking them up at the current rate, it could eventually become an issue for a team with championship aspirations.That's especially true because Reese has become one of Atlanta's most important players. Since arriving with the Dream, she has brought toughness, rebounding and defensive versatility. Those traits were on full display against Portland as Atlanta controlled the game from start to finish.The Dream improved to 5-2 with the victory and continue to look like one of the early surprises in the WNBA. Reese's impact is a major reason why.Passion is part of what makes Reese specialAt the same time, asking Reese to completely remove emotion from her game would be unrealistic. Her competitiveness is one of the reasons she became a national star at LSU and one of the league's most talked-about players. Reese plays with an edge that energizes teammates and frustrates opponents.That fire often works in Atlanta's favor. The challenge is making sure it doesn't become costly over the course of a long season.Friday's technical didn't stop Reese from dominating the game. In fact, she responded by putting together one of her best all-around performances of the year. Still, as the technical foul count continues to rise, every conversation with an official becomes a little more important. The Dream can live with Reese's intensity.What they can't afford is losing one of their stars because too many emotional moments eventually add up.

EVANSVILLE – Memorial has had many moments of individual brilliance this season. Bri Canaan’s pitching being one, Madison Thomas’ hitting being another.But in the IHSAA softball sectional championship, the Tigers’ team spirit was on full display from inning one through six. Contributions were seen throughout in the 11-1 win over North Posey on May 29.After learning of their opponent for the championship, Memorial coach Rick Lutz had his team work on their hitting in practice to prepare for the game. It is an area he said has been “spotty” this season.More: Scores, schedule for IHSAA softball sectionals across Evansville areaWell, the opposite was true at Cooper Stadium. The Tigers scored seven runs combined in the first two innings and North Posey made multiple pitching changes as a result. The Vikings' lone run came on a bases-loaded walk. This was not the biggest Canaan game statistically, but that was not necessary. Still, the junior was effective – six strikeouts while allowing just three hits.Coming together at the right timeThe vision Memorial coach Rick Lutz has had for his group has always been team-oriented – and that played out in the championship game. No better time than the postseason to come together.“This is how we expected our offense to be all year,” Lutz said.As she did on May 26 in the semifinal, Thomas made a loud impact with her hitting against North Posey. A three-run home run into right field pushed the lead to six in the second inning. More importantly, it brought a second-consecutive sectional title that much closer. The Tigers’ leading hitter has meant a great deal to the program.“That ball was way over the fence,” Lutz said. “Any time she’s at the plate, she can put the ball down for a slap, a base hit, drive in a run or hit it over the fence. She means everything to us.”Memorial now looks forward to regionals on June 2 where they will host Gibson Southern. The Titans won their sectional championship against Jasper 6-1 on May 29.Memorial’s meeting with Gibson Southern came early this season, its sixth game on April 7.It was a shutout win for the Tigers, 8-0, with Canaan, Thomas and catcher Cypress Aliotta leading the charge. Canaan had 11 strikeouts in the game, and with the talent the Titans’ possess offensively, a similar performance may be needed.Lutz said the plan is to continue working in all areas as they have been as they prepare for the Titans.“They’ve been a good team for 20-plus years,” Lutz said. “It’ll be a challenge for us.”Memorial will be heading into regionals on a six-game winning streak. But so will Gibson Southern. The opportunity to clinch a semi-state appearance in Jasper on June 6 awaits.Listed below are the results, details from the other sectional championship games played on Friday night.IHSAA sectional championship results from May 29Sectional 31: Gibson Southern 6, Jasper 1Gibson Southern did all its scoring in the first inning against Jasper at Southridge. Paxton Cummings’ lone hit was a grand slam. Laney Scherer went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run, Miley Sperling had seven strikeouts. The Titans went through the sectional allowing just two runs in three games this week.Gibson Southern will play Memorial in the regional championship on June 2.Sectional 48: Tecumseh 11, Forest Park 0 (five innings)After a tough 2-1 semifinal win over Mater Dei, sophomore pitcher Audrey Seiler delivered more of the same in the sectional championship. Seiler had 13 strikeouts and allowed just one hit in the shutout win over Forest Park. Avery Long, a junior, went 3-for-5 with two runs in the game.Tecumseh will play Sullivan in the regional championship on June 2.Markos Tsegaye is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. He can be reached at mtsegaye@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @10_Markos_This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Memorial win IHSAA softball sectional 32 at Cooper Stadium

Malick Diouf: Man United learn of biggest rival in chase for PL stand-out Manchester United will look to sign a top left-back this summer.Patrick Dorgu is expected to play a left-wing role next season after proving to be a massive hit in that position. His positional change, combined with the reality that Luke Shaw cannot play every game as he did last season, leaves United with no choice but to sign another left-back.Among the left-backs the 20-time English champions have been linked with is West Ham United’s El Hadji Malick Diouf.El Hadji Malick Diouf is too good to go down with West HamDiouf has been a marvel to watch. Despite West Ham United’s struggles, which have even led to relegation, he has stood out brightly throughout.He properly introduced himself to the English football scene, emerging as an elite playmaker with five assists in 32 games. From there, his rise as an attacking threat came through a superb ability to overlap, carry the ball forward, and whip dangerous crosses into the box; few in the league can match his delivery. Beyond club football, he went on to step up to the highest levels, helping Senegal capture the AFCON crown in the winter.For sure, there are many ways you could imagine him transforming this Manchester United side.With West Ham United relegated, it was Diouf and Mateus Fernandes whom the Red Devils were keen to offer a Premier League lifeline.Now, with pressure on INEOS to initiate talks with the East London side for the duo, a concerning report has emerged.Everton pushing hard to land DioufFootball Insider reports that “Everton already at work on deal to sign West Ham star El Hadji Malick Diouf.”They explain, “David Moyes and Co. are working on a move that could see them meet the “big asking price” set out by West Ham, with sources indicating that the selling club are hoping to secure a “big profit” on the £19million that they paid to sign him last summer.”Interestingly, the report goes on to suggest that Everton’s conviction, unlike United, who have other options on their radar, gives the Merseyside club the edge in this transfer.That said, news of Everton’s determination should spook INEOS into showing their true intentions on Diouf, as they ultimately drop a massive hint on whether the Senegalese star or Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall is their ultimate Shaw alternative.Featured image Warren Little via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Kiran Carlson hit 13 fours and six sixes in his whirlwind innings against Somerset [Huw Evans Picture Agency]Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson says "it doesn't get much better" after his spectacular century spearheaded an emphatic win over defending T20 Blast champions Somerset.It was Carlson's second hundred in the format - two seasons after his county record score of 135 against the same opponents, also at Sophia Gardens."It felt like deja vu - it was really cool against one of our closest rivals, Friday night, big crowd. It was really special," Carlson told BBC Sport Wales after the seven-wicket victory.His innings of 109 off 45 balls helped Glamorgan pass their target of 172 with a remarkable 37 balls to spare, earning a much-needed win after two last-ball defeats on the opening weekend of the competition. Carlson's high-octane approach saw him enjoy some good fortune early on in a stand of 146 with Will Smale (40) before taking the Somerset bowling apart. "I nicked my first 30 runs over third man, but from there managed to find the middle a bit, rode my luck and it was good fun," said Carlson."It's really good fun batting together with Smaley [Will Smale] once we get going - we were having a good time." He is only the second player to score more than one T20 century for Glamorgan, with the currently injured Colin Ingram having three to his name.It was the second-fastest hundred for a Glamorgan player, beaten only by Chris Cooke's 38-ball effort.Aussie debutant Nathan McAndrew was the key man with the ball, taking four for 15 to peg Somerset back after they had raced to 100 off 10 overs."It's always nice to have a good performance early in the tournament coming into a new team, it just lets you take a breath and settle, but it's just about trying to play my role for the team," said McAndrew.Glamorgan now face a demanding spell of three away games in four days, starting with the return at Somerset on Thursday, 4 June before visits to Worcestershire the following day and Lancashire at Blackpool on Sunday, 7 June."To be able to put in a performance like that after losing off the last ball twice, shows where we're at as a squad, so I'm really proud of the lads."It's a long competition, loads of games [nine] to go, and hopefully we'll be in the mix come the back end," Carlson said."It's going to be a very tough game down at Somerset because they're a quality team, they don't lose many games down there and they'll be really keen to beat us."Tough games coming up, but that's the nature of the competition." Experienced New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham could be a key player in the coming weeks after making a low-key debut less than 24 hours after stepping off the plane from Auckland.His signing followed the withdrawal of Afghanistan pace bowler Faz Farooqi when his national board demanded he return to Kabul for fitness tests, even though he took six wickets in the first two games for Glamorgan."It hasn't been an easy week with a lot of moving parts, changes left right and centre, but the boys still managed to put in a really good performance with loads going on behind the scenes," said Carlson.

This image provided by Chris Carberg shows Jenna Carberg holding Elsie on April 30, 2017, in Winter Park, Fla. (Chris Carberg via AP)2026-05-30T12:17:50Z Moments after Jenna Carberg gave birth to her daughter, doctors put the baby on her chest.“I felt a disconnect right away,” she recalled.At home, the Orlando, Florida, mom was exhausted and anxious and cried every day. She was eventually diagnosed with postpartum depression — a potentially dangerous condition that can fill a typically joyous time with deep despair.The mood disorder has been on the rise. A 2024 study in the journal JAMA Network Open found that U.S. rates more than doubled in just over a decade, climbing from 9.4% in 2010 to 19% in 2021, partly due to improved screening and diagnosis. It can be hard to differentiate the disorder from the much milder and more common “baby blues” brought on by plummeting hormone levels. But recognizing and treating postpartum depression is crucial, said OB-GYN Dr. Tiffany Moore Simas at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Moms who go untreated may have problems bonding with and caring for their babies. And they’re at increased risk of suicide.“A healthy you will ultimately be important for a healthy baby,” Moore Simas said. ___EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.___ This article is part of AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health. Read more Be Well. How to tell if postpartum sadness is more than baby bluesBaby blues affects about 8 in 10 new moms, striking shortly after delivery.“Moms will feel kind of more emotional than normal,” said Dr. Jennifer Payne, an expert in reproductive psychiatry at the University of Virginia.But the crying jags and feelings of sadness aren’t severe enough to interfere with normal life. Moms should still be able to care for themselves and their babies. Read More Screening tools can help discern if the problem is more serious. A commonly used 10-item questionnaire, often given at a postpartum checkup, asks how often a mom has experienced feelings such as sadness, panic or worry. A high score points toward the need for further evaluation. Experts say there’s no single cause of postpartum depression. Genetics, physical changes and emotional issues may contribute to it.“We’re pretty sure that having a case of the baby blues doesn’t increase your risk of postpartum depression,” Payne said. “But it does seem that both conditions can develop in the same person.”Signs of postpartum depression to watch out for If sadness lingers for more than two weeks, that’s one sign.Others include intense feelings of despair, anxiety, loss of interest, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, low energy and decreased concentration and appetite. Moms may worry constantly about their babies, be unable to sleep, or stop showering for days.They “feel negatively and badly about themselves. They’ll feel that they’re a bad mother. They might not feel attached to the baby very much,” Payne said.They may even have thoughts of harming themselves.Carberg, who gave birth to her daughter in 2016, had such thoughts a couple of times — once while driving with her daughter. She went to a psychiatric facility for a few days and did better for a while. But she later had a severe breakdown. She sent text messages to her husband, Chris, saying she was sorry, then turned her phone off. Chris desperately tried to reach her, worried she’d hurt herself. “She luckily went to the hospital ER,” he said.Postpartum depression can be treated effectivelyUltimately, finding the right medication was the key to Jenna Carberg’s recovery.“I felt like myself again,” she said after taking the stimulant Vyvanse. Other medications include antidepressants such as Zoloft or Prozac, or Zurzuvae, the first pill approved for postpartum depression. Talk therapy is another common treatment, and experts also stress the importance of getting enough sleep and support from family and friends.To help others, the Carbergs started an online information resource — postpartumdepression.org — to provide support and connect patients with professional help. Doctors advise anyone who thinks they or a loved one may have postpartum depression to reach out to their OB-GYN, primary care doctor or mental health provider. If necessary, be persistent, said Dr. Kerry Hudson, an OB-GYN at Newport Women’s Health Services in Rhode Island. When she suffered postpartum depression two decades ago, she said, her doctor told her she was just an overstressed medical resident. She finally got help after breaking down in front of colleagues during a presentation. After therapy and medications, Hudson went on to have a second child. So did the Carbergs. All are doing well.“When we get people help, I think they can have a good future ahead of them,” Hudson said. “You don’t have to suffer in silence.”___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. LAURA UNGAR Ungar covers medicine and science on the AP’s Global Health and Science team. She has been a health journalist for more than two decades. twitter mailto

The president has wavered on whether to move ahead with an agreement with Iran to end the war. On Friday, he vowed to make a “final determination” soon.

The events were canceled “to ensure public order and safety,” the authorities said. Jewish leaders had objected to the concert by Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who has a history of antisemitic remarks.

Baldini blames dodgy directors for Italy’s footballing downfall: ‘A problem’Italy’s interim head coach Silvio Baldini says the reason for the nation’s footballing downfall on the global stage is due to directors ‘who think about their own interests and not about the growth of the game’ in a scathing review of the current state of affairs in Serie A.What Baldini said about the downfall of Calcio and the Italy national teamBaldini has been tasked with leading Italy into a series of international friendlies against Luxembourg on June 3 and against Greece on June 7. He is serving as CT on an interim basis following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso in the wake of Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.A permanent head coach is not expected to be appointed before the FIGC Presidential elections have taken place on June 22.Baldini gave his first press conference as interim Italy head coach on Friday, explaining why he decided to name a squad that includes 20 uncapped players, insisting that he has no intention of taking the job on full-time and discussing why Italian football finds itself at such a low point in 2026.In his analysis, Baldini laid the blame at the feet of dodgy directors, whom he claims ‘think about their own interests and not about the growth of the game“Italian football is in the hands of directors who think about their own interests and not about the growth of the game,” Baldini insisted.Italy Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini (@azzurri)“The aim is to do well on the transfer market with older players, not with younger players. I won’t hide away from it, these are things I’ve always said. Some people call them ‘cheats’, and they often have the reins of the game in their hands. Without serious directors, it will continue to be a problem.”Baldini agrees with the common opinion that there are not enough opportunities handed out to young Italy hopefuls at the highest levels on home soil.“You get experience by playing. If the experience is limited to just a few games, your value remains low. At youth level, the national teams have always done well, but the problem is always the jump to the senior team. We need to let them play, but it’s not a problem for the federation, it’s a problem for the clubs.ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Tarik Muharemovic of Bosnia & Herzegovina competes for the ball with Marco Palestra of Italy during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)“Where is the advantage in signing a 39-year-old player instead of finding one in the academy? As long as there are no serious people at the top of Italian clubs, it will still be a problem.“We play slower on the pitch for the same reason. Youngsters bring enthusiasm, rhythm, speed. The older players tend to manage their efforts and attack less. Think about PSG or Aston Villa.”Click here to read Baldini’s press conference in full.

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their opener of the Chapel Hill Regional on Friday, shutting out VCU for the 8-0 win. They did so on the arm of starter Ryan Lynch and the bat of Erik Paulsen.Lynch threw seven shutout innings and really was never threatened in the game. He gave up just two hits and was a big factor all game long. Meanwhile, Paulsen drove in three runs on the day and was a big bat in UNC's lineup.After the game, the two met the media to break down the win:Ryan LynchOn his performance from the mound…“I was more efficient today. I made better pitches overall and I felt better not giving away free 90s and was able to get ahead a little better than I usually have. On the starting rotation’s push to improve…“Jason (DeCaro) had a great year, but last couple weeks we haven’t done our job, we haven’t gone really long enough, had a lot of inefficient outings, not putting our team in the best spot to win. So I just try to do whatever I could this week to make sure that wasn’t the case anymore. I worked on delivery a little bit more, just seeing what I can do to feel better and get my team better shot.”In what he’s been trying to improve…“My pitches definitely haven’t been where I’ve wanted them to be, but I’m just doing my best to mix a little bit more. I was throwing a lot of fastballs, so I was trying to do whatever I could to keep them off balance, and just execute different pitches and different counts. I think I did a better job today, but there’s definitely more work to be done.”Erik PaulsenOn Ryan Lynch…“Ryan is really, really awesome to play behind. He’s a really hard worker, and what he does behind the scenes, he just works his tail off every day. So seeing him go out there and dominate like that, it’s all because of the work he puts in. You know how good of a teammate he is, and all I was saying to him was, “Empty the tank”. He was at 100 pitches, and I wanted him to get after it and get the last guy, so I told him to empty the tank and attack him.”On having to play ECU…“That tie (against ECU) kind of stunk so it’s a really good opportunity to show them that we are the better team and go out there and have a great game.”On his late father…“I know (Erik’s father) be very proud of me. I was very fortunate that he was able to see that I committed here, and he came down on my official visit, and met Coach Forbes, and all the coaches. So really grateful for that. He knew I was in good hands, but yeah, I just think he’d be very proud of me, and even through the ups and downs, he’d be on my butt to keep working hard.”Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Baseball: Players recap victory over VCU in regional opener

ABILENE – The No. 4 Paradise baseball team downed No. 3 Wall 11-8 in Game 3 of the Class 3A Division II state semifinal on Friday, thwarting a state title repeat chance for the Hawks.The Panthers (37-5) forced Wall (34-8) into two must-win games at Hardin-Simmons University’s John J. Hunter Field on Friday after taking Game 1 5-0 at Clyde on Thursday. The Hawks won Game 2 with a convincing 9-4 decision, but ultimately ran out of gas late in Game 3 after taking a 7-4 lead earlier.More: Wall baseball's Kellan Oliver is a 'warrior' on the mound“It was a great series,” Wall baseball coach Jeremy Gordon said. “I saw a lot of resiliency out of us. It’s who we’ve been all year. The dude’s just competed. I told them before that third game that, ‘Win, lose, whatever – Good, bad, ugly, let’s make sure we walk off this field holding our heads up high, knowing that we competed our freaking butts off,’ and they did. I’m proud of them.”Wall fell behind early in Game 2 but rallied to tie it up 3-3 in the fourth inning thanks to a triple from senior Hagyn Barbee. The Hawks added one run in the fifth, three in the sixth, and two in the seventh to close out the game.More: Former Bobcat Davis Martin continues dominant run for White SoxOdessa College signee and senior pitcher Reid Ballard received the win, tossing six innings and only giving up five hits and one earned run. The Hawks finished with 11 hits and seven RBIs.Game 3 was the highest-scoring affair of the series, with both teams getting double-digit hits. The teams traded blows through the first three innings until Odessa College signee and senior Kellan Oliver hit a two-run homer to give the Hawks a 7-4 lead.However, like the Panthers had done all series, they chipped away at the Hawks until it was a one-score game going into the bottom of the sixth.Paradise had its best offensive inning of the series in the bottom of the sixth, bringing in four runs, which was ultimately too much for the Hawks to overcome, leading to an 11-8 win for the Panthers and a trip to the state championship game.Despite the loss, Gordon said he was proud of how his team responded. Particularly with the offensive performance from Community Christian College signee and senior Stephen Laney, who was inserted into the lineup after the Game 1 loss."Huge shout out to Stephen Laney," Gordon said. "The kid wanted to find his way into the lineup, and made it impossible for us to leave him out of it...his heart is the size of Texas. He's a true competitor, and I'm so proud of him."Friday’s contests were Gordon and assistant coach Anthone Luna's last games coaching at Wall, with Gordon heading to Austin Westlake and Luna becoming the coach at Burkburnett.“I grew up with (Gordon),” Oliver said. “When he became the coach my sophomore year, we became close, close friends. It felt like I was talking to another friend, but he was also my coach. We were that tight. Coach Luna has been there with me every step of the way as a pitching coach, hitting coach and first base coach – He’s always been there for me, always telling me what to do and when to do it.”Despite falling short of their goal, Gordan said this group of Wall seniors will always remain special."They mean everything to me," Gordon said. "I came in when they were sophomores, and they had already played a lot of baseball. They were given a head coach with zero experience, and despite that, they just bought in. They trusted me, we built relationships, and they've done everything I've asked them to do, even if they aren't happy with it. I will forever love those guys, and they will forever have a spot in my heart."Paul Witwer covers high school sports and Angelo State University sports for The San Angelo Standard-Times. Reach him at sports@gosanangelo.com. Follow him on X @Paul_Witwer, Instagram and TikTok at pwitwer_sast.This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Paradise baseball advances to state championship

Collage featuring NCAA Football: Texas at Kentucky, NCAA Football: Cotton Bowl-Miami at Ohio State, and Syndication: South Bend Tribune.The 2027 NFL Draft is still nearly one year away, so some may argue it’s way too early to start doing 2027 mock drafts. However, we believe that it’s never too early to start looking ahead at next year’s class and trying to project where players will land.Using PFSN’s NFL Mock Draft Simulator, let’s try to predict what the first round will look like in next year’s draft.1) Arizona CardinalsJordan Seaton, OT, LSUAfter landing Jeremiyah Love in the opening round of the 2026 NFL Draft, Arizona’s work on the offensive side of the ball appears far from finished. The Cardinals still have questions to answer along the offensive line, particularly at right tackle, where long-term stability remains uncertain. Elijah Wilkinson returned on a two-year contract this offseason, but the veteran feels more like a short-term bridge than a permanent answer.Offensive tackle Jordan Seaton enters the season carrying plenty of intrigue at 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, as the former five-star recruit continues to generate buzz as one of college football’s top prospects. Seaton now steps into a massive opportunity in Lane Kiffin’s offense, where his combination of size, athleticism, and raw power could elevate his draft stock even further.2) Miami DolphinsJeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio StateWhile the Miami Dolphins added five new receivers this offseason through free agency and the draft, none offer the game-changing upside Jeremiah Smith brings to the table. Since arriving at Ohio State, the blue-chip prospect has looked like a future top-five pick, posting back-to-back seasons with over 1,200 yards and 12-plus touchdowns.Smith, a Miami Gardens native, would immediately become a fan favorite and inject much-needed excitement into a franchise searching for a new identity. As the Dolphins move forward with quarterback Malik Willis and head coach Jeff Hafley leading a new era, adding a true elite playmaker on the outside could be exactly what the offense needs for the future.3) New York JetsArch Manning, QB, TexasFew teams may enter next offseason more desperate for a franchise quarterback than the New York Jets. After missing out on the Dante Moore sweepstakes when the Oregon star opted to return to school rather than stay in the 2026 NFL Draft, New York could quickly shift its focus toward another highly rated signal-caller in the 2027 NFL Draft class: Texas quarterback Arch Manning.It’s still far too early to crown Manning as the QB1 of the 2027 class, but the Texas standout checks plenty of boxes that scouts look for in a franchise quarterback. At 6-foot-4 with impressive dual-threat ability, he has another season to prove he can fully live up to the expectations. Still, with momentum already building, it would hardly be surprising to see Manning emerge as the top quarterback prospect by 2027.Take a Quick Break. Run a Mock Draft! Before you keep reading, jump into the shoes of the GM of your favorite team.Powered by PFSN's NFL Mock Draft Simulator4) Cleveland BrownsLeonard Moore, CB, Notre DameOutside of Denzel Ward, Cleveland’s cornerback room still feels uncertain moving forward, especially with injuries continuing to cloud Ward’s long-term outlook. That could push the Browns to select Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore, who posted a 93.8 grade in PFSN’s CB Impact Score in 2025, the third-highest mark in the country behind 2026 first-rounders Mansoor Delane and Chris Johnson.Moore will still need to improve his 15.4% missed tackle rate, but his disciplined technique and ability to mirror receivers consistently make him one of the top cornerback prospects in the class. Even without elite top-end speed, Moore has the instincts and coverage ability to develop into a future CB1.5) Las Vegas RaidersDylan Stewart, EDGE, South CarolinaAs the Las Vegas Raiders enter a new era of football, it’s hard to imagine they’ll be drafting this low again anytime soon. But with the way the draft order unfolded in the simulator, allowing a talent like Dylan Stewart to fall outside the top five would be difficult for any team. Measuring at 6-foot-5 with 34-inch arms, Stewart is another elite blue-chip prospect who could form a terrifying pass-rushing duo alongside Maxx Crosby for years to come.Coming off a dominant season in which he recorded 56 tackles, 11 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles, it’s difficult to envision Stewart taking any sort of step backward in 2026. After getting a fully healthy offseason to recover from a lingering back injury, the South Carolina standout could be even more dangerous moving forward. With another season to refine his already explosive skill set, Stewart has all the makings of a future top-five pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.6) Atlanta FalconsTrevor Goosby, OT, TexasEven with Atlanta’s quarterback situation still somewhat unclear, one thing remains clear: keeping Bijan Robinson protected and happy should be a major priority for the Falcons moving forward. After adding Jawaan Taylor on a one-year deal and with veteran Jake Matthews entering his mid-30s, Atlanta could soon find itself searching for a cornerstone tackle to anchor the offensive line and support its franchise star.Surrendering just three sacks last season, Texas tackle Trevor Goosby has quickly emerged as one of the premier offensive line prospects in this class, currently sitting as the No. 2 tackle on PFSN’s 2027 NFL Draft Big Board. That level of production and upside could make him a serious option for Atlanta if the Falcons look to solidify the future of their offensive line. If Goosby can cut down on the holding penalties, he possesses all the traits teams look for in an elite blindside protector at the next level.7) Tennessee TitansDavid Stone, DT, OklahomaRobert Saleh has built a reputation around dominant defensive fronts. Now, as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans, it would not be surprising to see him prioritize building the trenches to compete in an improving AFC South. With several recent additions coming on short-term deals, Tennessee could look toward the 2027 NFL Draft for a long-term cornerstone on the defensive line to pair alongside veteran star Jeffery Simmons.Enter Oklahoma’s David Stone, a versatile defensive tackle capable of lining up anywhere from 0-tech to 4-tech along the defensive front. With his combination of size, power, and explosiveness off the snap, Stone already flashes the traits of a future premier interior defender.8) Carolina PanthersColin Simmons, EDGE, TexasFollowing a 12-sack campaign that earned him an 86.9 grade in PFSN’s EDGE Impact Score, Texas pass rusher Colin Simmons has quickly placed himself firmly in the conversation as a potential top-10 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. The explosive Longhorn already looks like one of the premier EDGE talents, and with another dominant season, Simmons could further cement his status as one of the top overall prospects in the class.At 6-foot-3, Simmons falls a bit below the traditional NFL size for an EDGE rusher, but his arm length, explosiveness, and relentless motor more than compensate for it. If the Texas standout can continue adding strength and power to his game, he has all the tools to emerge as a true blue-chip prospect in the 2027 class.9) New Orleans SaintsAustin Siereveld, OG, Ohio StateViewed as the top-ranked guard on PFSN 2027 NFL Draft Big Board entering the season, Ohio State’s Austin Siereveld has showcased rare versatility throughout his time in Columbus. After seeing time at both left and right guard early on, Siereveld shifted to left tackle in 2025 and responded by not allowing a single sack all season.With both tackle spots seemingly locked down by former first-round picks Taliese Fuaga and Kelvin Banks Jr., it would not be surprising to see New Orleans continue investing heavily in the offensive line. That could place Siereveld firmly on their radar, as the versatile Buckeye blocker looks poised to become one of the top interior offensive line prospects to watch this season.10) New York GiantsKJ Bolden, S, GeorgiaGeorgia safety KJ Bolden checks almost every box that teams look for in a top safety prospect. From his physical style of play and impressive 6.8% missed tackle rate to his instincts and processing ability in center field, Bolden has all the tools to become a long-term impact starter at the next level.Bolden will still need to add more size to his frame if he wants to firmly establish himself as the top safety prospect in the 2027 class. While his 91.6 grade in PFSN’s Safety Impact Score showed just how impactful he can be on the field, he weighs around 195 pounds at 6 feet tall, which is not ideal for the NFL’s physical demands.11) Washington CommandersCam Coleman, WR, TexasOne of the biggest transfer moves of the offseason came when star wide receiver Cam Coleman left Auburn for Texas, giving Arch Manning another major weapon in the Longhorns’ offense. With Coleman’s size, athleticism, and playmaking ability paired alongside one of college football’s top arms in Manning, Texas could field multiple first-rounders on offense this season.With what could be a massive season looming in Texas’ offense, Coleman has a real opportunity to position himself as the second wide receiver selected in the 2027 NFL Draft. His big-play ability would make him an especially intriguing fit for a team like the Washington Commanders, who still lack a true dynamic weapon opposite a veteran Terry McLaurin.12) New York JetsAshton Hampton, CB, ClemsonAshton Hampton enters the season looking to build off a career-best campaign in 2025, with the Clemson corner emerging as one of the more intriguing defensive back prospects in the class. A starter since arriving on campus, Hampton has already proven himself against high-level competition, showcasing the experience and consistency scouts covet.For a team like the New York Jets, which currently features several short-term answers at cornerback, using their multiple first-round picks wisely next offseason will be crucial. That could make Hampton an appealing option, as the lengthy defensive back has the tools to develop into a true CB1 on the outside for New York’s secondary.13) Minnesota VikingsDante Moore, QB, OregonThe Minnesota Vikings added Kyler Murray on a one-year deal to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting quarterback role this season, but if neither quarterback proves to be the long-term answer, Minnesota could find itself exploring a new direction in the 2027 NFL Draft. In a class loaded with quarterback talent, Oregon standout Dante Moore could emerge as an option for a franchise still searching for stability under center.As mentioned earlier, Moore elected to return to Oregon for another season, a decision that could either elevate or hurt his draft stock depending on how the 2026 season unfolds. Moore impressed in 2025 with an 85.9 grade in PFSN’s QB Impact Score, which ranked 22nd among all QBs. But matching or surpassing that production will be key if he wants to solidify himself as a legitimate first-round quarterback prospect once again.14) Pittsburgh SteelersDarian Mensah, QB, Miami (FL)Aaron Rodgers has already made it clear that this upcoming season will be his final year in the NFL as he gears up for one last run with Mike McCarthy. That reality could force the Pittsburgh Steelers to seriously evaluate the loaded 2027 quarterback class, especially with Miami transfer Darian Mensah emerging as a potential riser heading into the 2026 season.Throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and leading Duke to an ACC Championship, Mensah has already shown he can elevate a program. Now, beginning a new chapter at Miami, the talented gunslinger could have the perfect opportunity to take his game to another level. With his arm talent and continuing buzz, Mensah could quickly become one of the more intriguing quarterbacks for teams searching for a long-term solution under center.15) New York JetsMatayo Uiagalelei, EDGE, OregonContinuing what could be a massive haul, the Jets may also find themselves in the market for another premier pass rusher with one of their three first-round selections. Oregon standout Matayo Uiagalelei could be an ideal target. At 6-foot-5 with outstanding explosiveness and power off the edge, Uiagalelei has the traits to become a disruptive force for New York’s defensive front.After selecting David Bailey in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Jets could soon find themselves searching for a long-term running mate off the edge, especially with few of their current pass rushers projected to remain part of the team’s future plans. With continued development and refinement to his game, Uiagalelei has the upside to climb draft boards and establish himself as a prospect worthy of an early first-round selection.16) Chicago BearsQuincy Rhodes Jr., EDGE, ArkansasBreaking out in 2025, Arkansas pass rusher Quincy Rhodes Jr. has become an intriguing defensive prospect to watch this year. In his first season as a full-time starter, Rhodes racked up 15.5 tackles for loss and 8 sacks while showcasing impressive versatility along the defensive front.At 6-foot-6, Rhodes has the size and length teams covet, and his ability to line up everywhere from 7-tech to 3-tech makes him a valuable piece across the line of scrimmage. Both Montez Sweat and Austin Booker are currently set to hit free agency after the 2027 campaign, creating some uncertainty about the long-term outlook of the Chicago Bears’ defensive front.17) Cincinnati BengalsJamari Johnson, TE, OregonIt wouldn’t be a way-too-early mock draft without at least one tight end cracking the first round, and the Cincinnati Bengals could be a team worth watching in that market. Cincinnati’s tight end room could use an injection of youth and athleticism, making Oregon’s Jamari Johnson a potential fit.Spending 2025 as the Ducks’ TE2, Johnson enters the season poised for a breakout campaign. Compared to his predecessor, Kenyon Sadiq, Johnson possesses more of the traditional size and frame that NFL scouts look for in a prototypical tight end. His large catch radius and willingness to block will immediately entice scouts. If he takes advantage of an expanded role, the junior tight end could quickly establish himself as one of the top players at his position in the 2027 class.18) Jacksonville JaguarsOmarion Miller, WR, Arizona StateThere is plenty of uncertainty surrounding Jacksonville’s wide receiver room heading into the future. With Travis Hunter expected to transition into a full-time cornerback and Brian Thomas Jr.’s long-term future with the franchise far from guaranteed, the Jaguars could find themselves searching for another weapon on the outside to support Trevor Lawrence.If his development continues on its current path, Arizona State transfer Omarion Miller could emerge as a legitimate first-round prospect in the draft. The 6-foot-2 receiver brings an exciting blend of speed and big-play ability that makes him a threat every time he touches the ball. With an opportunity to take on a larger role this season, Miller has the tools to establish himself as one of the nation’s top receivers.19) Tampa Bay BuccaneersZabien Brown, CB, AlabamaA former five-star recruit, Zabien Brown has been a key piece of Alabama’s secondary since arriving in Tuscaloosa in 2024. His smooth coverage ability, instincts, and exceptional route recognition have already helped him emerge as one of the top defensive back prospects for 2027.While his 6-foot frame may not offer the elite size some teams prefer at the position, Brown checks nearly every other box scouts look for in a potential CB1. Brown’s physicality shows up consistently in the run game, where he posted an impressive 6.9% missed tackle rate. That reliability, combined with his instincts and coverage skills, could make him one of the more pro-ready defensive backs in the class and a favorite among NFL scouts.20) Denver BroncosSammy Brown, LB, ClemsonThe Denver Broncos are one of the more difficult teams to project this far out, as much of the Broncos’ roster appears set for the foreseeable future. Even so, one area that could benefit from an infusion of youth is the linebacker position. That makes Clemson standout Sammy Brown a possible option, especially considering he enters the season as the No. 1-ranked linebacker on PFSN’s NFL Draft Big Board.A former ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year, Brown already possesses many of the traits teams look for in an NFL-ready linebacker. He thrives in physical situations, brings plenty of pop as a tackler, and has the closing speed to disrupt both ball-carriers and quarterbacks. Combined with his sideline-to-sideline range and relentless motor, Brown has the tools to be a difference-maker at every level of a defense.21) Houston TexansAhmad Moten Sr., DT, Miami (FL)The Houston Texans have built one of the NFL’s premier defenses, and the best way to stay among the league’s elite is to continue investing in the front seven. With that in mind, Miami defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. could be a solid addition for Houston in 2027. A physical presence in the trenches, Moten has the size and disruptive ability to fit the identity the Texans have established on defense.Playing on a Miami roster that was loaded with NFL-caliber talent in 2025, Moten still managed to carve out a significant role and establish himself as one of the Hurricanes’ most disruptive defenders. If Moten can build on that momentum and continue developing as a bull-rusher against elite offensive linemen this season, he has a legitimate chance to rise into the first-round conversation.22) Philadelphia EaglesTae Johnson, S, Notre DameRegarded by many evaluators as the top safety prospect in the 2027 NFL Draft class entering the season, Notre Dame’s Tae Johnson looks every bit the part of a future first-round pick. At 6-foot-2, he possesses the size and length that NFL teams increasingly value at the position, giving him the physical tools to impact the game in a variety of ways.A true center-field safety, Johnson is a threat to make a play whenever the ball is in the air. That impact was reflected in his outstanding 95.8 grade in PFSN’s Safety Impact Score in 2025, a mark that led the nation and even surpassed 2026 first-round safety Caleb Downs. Whether playing deep, rotating into the box, or matching up in coverage, he offers defensive coordinators the flexibility to deploy him in multiple roles and disguise coverages.23) Detroit LionsCayden Green, OG, MissouriDon’t be surprised if two guards hear their names called in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft. For the Detroit Lions, continuing to protect Jahmyr Gibbs could make investing in the interior offensive line a priority. With both tackle spots seemingly locked down for the foreseeable future, the Lions may turn their attention inside, where Missouri standout Cayden Green could emerge as a target.Green has experience starting at both tackle and guard during his career at Missouri. While his long-term NFL projection appears to be on the interior, that positional flexibility only adds to his appeal for scouts. Entering the season as the No. 2-ranked guard on PFSN’s NFL Draft Big Board, Green has the talent and versatility to firmly establish himself as one of the top interior offensive line prospects.24) Los Angeles ChargersNick Marsh, WR, IndianaThe Los Angeles Chargers’ search for a true No. 1 receiver on the outside continues. While Los Angeles spent the offseason adding talent at tight end, its only wide receiver addition came in the fourth round with Brenen Thompson. Unless a major trade materializes, the Chargers could once again find themselves searching for a game-changing target to pair with Justin Herbert.As Herbert enters the prime of his career, finding a dynamic playmaker capable of stretching the field could be one of the franchise’s top priorities in 2027. Indiana transfer Nick Marsh enters the season with a prime opportunity to elevate his draft stock and showcase his full potential in the Hoosiers’ offense. Over two seasons at Michigan State, Marsh flashed the traits of a high-end receiver. Now, in a new environment with a larger spotlight, Marsh has the chance to turn those flashes into consistent production.25) New England PatriotsKenyatta Jackson Jr., EDGE, Ohio StateOn paper, the New England Patriots’ pass rush still lacks a long-term building block outside of Christian Barmore. That could make EDGE a major priority moving forward, especially if the Patriots find themselves in a position to add a high-upside defender next year. If that scenario unfolds, Ohio State’s Kenyatta Jackson Jr. could be an ideal fit.At 6-foot-6, Jackson possesses the elite size and length that NFL teams covet in an EDGE rusher. After posting an impressive 15.3% pressure rate in 2025, the Ohio State standout enters the season with an opportunity to elevate his draft stock further. With his combination of size and power off the edge, Jackson has the traits to become the type of disruptive pass rusher New England has been searching for.26) San Francisco 49ersCarter Smith, OT, IndianaThe San Francisco 49ers know they cannot rely on Trent Williams at left tackle forever, even if each new extension seems to push that reality a little further down the road. At some point, the 49ers will need to identify their next franchise cornerstone on the offensive line.If the board falls favorably, Indiana’s Carter Smith could be an option for San Francisco. At 6-foot-5 with outstanding length and strong technical ability, he possesses the physical traits and consistency needed to anchor an offensive line for years to come. After not allowing a single sack in pass protection during the 2025 season, Smith has emerged as one of the premier offensive line prospects in this class.27) Dallas CowboysEllis Robinson IV, CB, GeorgiaIt’s unlikely Caleb Downs remains a full-time nickel defender for Dallas over the long haul, which could leave the Cowboys searching for another piece to complete their evolving secondary. Dallas appears committed to reshaping its defensive backfield, and adding another young talent could be the next step in that process.A transition to a full-time nickel role at the NFL level could ultimately unlock Ellis Robinson IV’s highest ceiling. With his quickness, football IQ, and ability to match routes underneath, Robinson has the traits to develop into a high-level playmaker and potentially an All-Pro-caliber defensive back.28) Kansas City ChiefsRyan Coleman-Williams, WR, AlabamaThis may be a bit of a surprise pick, but given the constant injuries and uncertainty that have surrounded Kansas City’s wide receiver room in recent years, adding another weapon for Patrick Mahomes could make plenty of sense. Ryan Coleman-Williams is an interesting name to watch, as he was once considered in the same tier as Jeremiah Smith among elite receiver prospects.If Coleman-Williams can recapture the explosiveness and playmaking ability that made him one of the most exciting young receivers in college football, there is a very real chance he works his way back into the first-round conversation. The Alabama standout still possesses the talent that once had him viewed among the nation’s elite prospects, and a strong bounce-back season could remind scouts exactly why he generated so much hype in the first place.29) Baltimore RavensA’Mauri Washington, DT, OregonHad Oregon’s A’Mauri Washington entered the 2026 NFL Draft, he very well could’ve heard his name called in the first round. Instead, he chose to return to Eugene for another season in hopes of elevating his stock even further. It’s a decision that carries both opportunity and risk, much like the one made by his QB, Dante Moore.If Washington can build on his previous success and continue refining his game, the gamble could pay off in a major way. Baltimore has long thrived by developing talent along the defensive line, making a prospect like Washington an intriguing fit. Not only would Washington bring long-term upside to the unit, but he would also benefit from learning alongside experienced veterans.30) Seattle SeahawksPrincewill Umanmielen, EDGE, LSUThe defending Super Bowl champions saw several key contributors depart following their championship run, leaving many to wonder whether Seattle has enough firepower to make another title push. While the Seahawks are expected to remain one of the top teams in the NFL, repeating is never easy in today’s game.For the purposes of this mock draft, Seattle falls short of a second straight championship, shifting its focus toward reloading a pass rush that features several veteran contributors. Princewill Umanmielen has all the traits that NFL teams look for in a first-round EDGE prospect. If he takes another step forward this season, he could firmly establish himself among the top defensive prospects in the 2027 class.31) Buffalo BillsMateen Ibirogba, DT, Texas TechThe fact that the Buffalo Bills are picking this low in the draft likely means the hypothetical D.J. Moore experiment paid off for the Bills. If that’s the case, Buffalo may once again be in a position to focus on strengthening a defense that has become a major emphasis in recent draft cycles. The Bills have consistently invested in their front seven, and adding another disruptive presence like Texas Tech transfer Mateen Ibirogba could further solidify that unit.Projecting primarily as a 3-technique at the next level, Ibirogba has the traits to develop into a quality NFL starter. If he can showcase the same explosiveness that made him a standout at Wake Forest and continue refining his game at Texas Tech, Ibirogba has a legitimate chance to elevate himself into the first-round conversation.32) Los Angeles RamsKade Pieper, OC, IowaCapping off this way-too-early 2027 NFL mock draft are the Los Angeles Rams, a team that may still be focused on maximizing the final years of Matthew Stafford’s career. That brings Iowa center Kade Pieper into the conversation. Entering the 2026 season as PFSN’s top-ranked center prospect, Pieper has already established himself as one of the premier interior offensive linemen in the country.Pieper’s game is built on a combination of discipline, athleticism, and power, traits that earned him a spot on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List. At 6-foot-4, he possesses the size that teams want in the middle of an offensive line, but it’s his functional strength and consistency that truly stand out. His ability to absorb contact, anchor against powerful defensive linemen, and maintain leverage in the trenches gives him the profile of a long-term NFL starter.

A youth baseball coach from Oklahoma who's been banned for life by a national organization is speaking out.Michael Ryals, the 38-year-old coach, has been accused of instructing his 12-year-old son to hurl a ball at the opposing team’s dugout."Man, I don't want to be seen as the bad guy," Ryals said during a phone interview with USA TODAY Sports. "…I don't want to be hated. I don't want my kid to be hated."The incident, which went viral after a video of it circulated on social media, took place when a team from Oklahoma coached by Ryals was playing a team from Nebraska during a tournament Memorial Day weekend in Kansas City. According to Ryals, the opposing team’s players were verbally abusive when his son was pitching."Just kids being ruthless kids," Ryals said. "I don't think any kid should be in trouble for what they said, but he (Ryals' son) reached his breaking point."He told me he was going to throw the ball in between innings and I said, 'There's consequences for it. You should really think that through, but there is consequences for it."United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), which sanctioned the tournament, not only has banned Ryals for life but also has suspended Ryals’ son for five years, according to USSSA CEO John Latella.USA TODAY Sports is not publishing the name of Ryals' son because he’s a minor.MORE: Youth baseball coach gets lifetime ban for viral incidentWho's responsible for what happened?Ryals, when told it sounded like he was saying he was not responsible for what his son did, replied, "If they want to put the blame on me, I've let it ride on my shoulders. I'm his dad. I'm a grown man. I'm not going to answer that question because I don't want people thinking he's any worse than he is."Two people associated with the team coached by Ryals said the parents of players think Ryals told his son to throw the ball into the dugout. Those people spoke on the condition they not be identified because of the sensitivity of the situation.Brandon Magni, the coach of the opposing team, wrote on Facebook he thought Ryals was responsible for what happened.Ryals' son, 12, has thrived on the 11-and-under team. Even though he's 12, he qualified for the 11-and-under division because he's in the fifth grade, which triggered a "grade exemption."Magni, in a post on Facebook, said Ryals' son threw a 70 mph fastball into Nebraska's dugout and one of his players got hit, according to OutKick. The Facebook post has been deleted."Nobody was even possibly remotely hurt," Ryals said, citing a chain link fence in the back of the dugout for absorbing the velocity of the thrown ball.Ryals said he also knows his son never would have thrown the ball if he had told him not to."I mean, I have all my heart of regret," he said.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Banned youth baseball coach breaks silence after viral dugout throw

Use the 'watch & listen' tab to watch Sportscene or listen to SportsoundSheffield Utd's Chong gives Curacao shock leadTeenager Curtis scores first Scotland goal in second capLocadia sent off after VAR review for elbow on HickeyGilmour off injured in first half; Curtis replaces himScotland play last match at Hampden before World CupAdvocaat's Curacao ranked 82nd in world and also playing in finals Teenager Curtis scores first Scotland goal to level against 10-man Curacao

Naomi Osaka arrives in style to face Iva Jovic (Anne-Christine POUJOULAT)Naomi Osaka continued to shine in the City of Light as she beat American teenager Iva Jovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, in the French Open third round on Saturday.On Court Suzanne Lenglen, the Japanese star once again made an eye-catching entry, wearing a gold jacket and a voluminous gold train, an outfit, bracketed by pink tennis sneakers and a black sponsor's visor.She shed the outer layers to play in another variation of her gold tennis dress, which shone in the blazing sun of the fading Paris heatwave.After the match, Osaka refused to reveal if she had more outfits lined up in her hotel room."I think it's a surprise every time," she said.The No. 16 seed continued what is already her longest Roland Garros run."I was a lot calmer than in my first matches," said Osaka, who has won the Australian and US Opens twice each. "In a slam the further I get the calmer I am. It such an honour to be here. It's the furthest I have ever been here."She will next face either women's No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or unseeded Australian Daria Kasatkina.In a match dominated by the serve, Osaka gained the decisive break in the 10th game of the third set. Jovic, seeded 17, opened the game with a 162kph ace, but after that, faltered when Osaka returned, finding the net twice and then hitting long on the first match point.The players exchanged breaks early in the first set and midway through the second before both went to tiebreaks.Osaka edged the first. Jovic, 18, raced away to win in the second. The 28-year-old Osaka said her serve had been crucial against her young opponent."I am really glad it was working," said Osaka. "Against some players you need to put your serve in and she was very aggressive on my second serve," pb/ea

For one morning at the NAIA World Series, the Taylor University baseball team traded its usual game-day look for something rarely seen on a baseball diamond.Purple-and-black graduation gowns replaced uniforms. Mortar boards sat where ball caps normally would. And instead of walkout songs echoing from the dugout, 10 Taylor seniors stepped onto the field to the sound of "Pomp and Circumstance."Back in Indiana, commencement had already ended. So Taylor brought commencement to Lewiston, Idaho."We wanted to go the extra mile," Taylor President Michael Lindsay said. "And in this particular case, it was going the extra 2,000 miles."Hours after Saturday morning's graduation ceremony concluded in Upland, Lindsay and provost Jewerl Maxwell hurried through airports and connecting flights trying to reach Lewiston in time to give the baseball seniors a ceremony of their own."It was just a really awesome experience," senior pitcher Jake Boyer said. "One that all of us graduates and all of our families are going to remember forever. We were super grateful for the president, the provost and everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to make that happen for us."Such a special moment for our baseball seniors! Our university leaders brought graduation to Lewiston, Idaho so our 10 seniors could celebrate while competing in the NAIA World Series surrounded by teammates, coaches, and families. 🎓⚾️Go Trojans!#tayloruniversity#tayloru… pic.twitter.com/QumWy78bQm— Taylor University (@tayloru) May 28, 2026For senior infielder Ben Kennedy, the ceremony's unusual setting made the moment even more memorable."You expect to take the field in a uniform," Kennedy said. "So when you're wearing something different, it's kind of surreal."The seniors honored during the ceremony included Wes Hunt of Germantown Hills, Illinois; Fletcher Roemmich of Elmhurst, Illinois; Brody Fine of Lafayette, Indiana; Brayden Manning of Lakeville, Minnesota; Nick Crabtree of Muncie, Indiana; Sam Gladd of Columbia City, Indiana; Gage Gongwer of Wakarusa, Indiana; Jake Boyer of Fort Wayne, Indiana; Brennan Frickel of Driftwood, Texas; and Ben Kennedy of Evansville, Indiana.The possibility of missing graduation first surfaced months earlier.Around the same time seniors began receiving emails about ordering caps and gowns, the Trojans realized another date on the calendar carried just as much significance: the NAIA World Series."With us being ranked No. 1, we knew it was a real possibility," Boyer said. "But coaches told us, 'We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.'"Graduation represented four years of work in the classroom. But the postseason run represented four years spent building one of the best teams in the country together."It was mixed feelings," Boyer said. "You've worked four years to get this degree, and graduation is kind of a celebration of that. But at the same time, all my best friends are on the baseball team."Crabtree, a senior pitcher, said some players joked about not minding the idea of missing a traditional commencement ceremony."Some of the other guys were a little upset, and our parents were obviously a little upset as well," Crabtree said. "But it's kind of hard to beat what we were able to do out here. The experience is kind of second to none."Coach Kyle Gould first floated the idea a year earlier when the Trojans narrowly missed reaching the World Series. At the time, he imagined little more than bringing caps and gowns for photos.From last year: From homeschool to NAIA to MLB Draft? Taylor pitcher develops with pro-level technologyThis year, it became something much bigger.Lewis-Clark State, the tournament host, helped transform the stadium into a commencement venue during one of the busiest weekends of the season. Taylor logos flashed across the videoboard while "Pomp and Circumstance" played through the speakers as families, teammates and university officials gathered behind home plate."What they did to set this up is incredible," Gould said. "It was really fun and really meaningful."For Gould, the ceremony represented more than recognizing a graduating class.The Trojans are dedicated not only to baseball, but also to their studies. The team carries a 3.46 GPA, with players preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, physical therapy and business."These guys are very serious students," Gould said. "Baseball's not their whole life, nor should it be."That balance between athletics and academics was exactly why Lindsay felt it was important to make the trip west."I just think it's really important to remember they're first and foremost college students," Lindsay said. "They're there to get an education to prepare for the full life they'll have after their athletic careers, so it seems entirely appropriate that we would bring graduation to the students if they couldn't be there."For Kennedy, the gesture reinforced that message."I felt more seen as a student than I probably ever have during my time at Taylor," Kennedy said. "That was really special."Taylor defeated William Carey 7-4 in Thursday's semifinal to advance to Saturday's NAIA championship game, moving within one win of the first national title in program history.But for the seniors, one of the week's most memorable moments came before the championship game.For four years, they shared bus rides, practices, workouts, victories and disappointments. They arrived on campus as freshmen and grew into teammates, classmates and close friends."With this senior class, we've been here for four years and kind of gone through everything, the ups and downs," Crabtree said. "It's just been really, really cool to be able to go through that experience with them. I'm really thankful that we were at a university that saw this was important and was able to make it happen."Standing in graduation gowns on a baseball field 2,000 miles from campus, the seniors celebrated a life milestone together — not just as teammates, but as the people who understood the journey better than anyone else.Jessica Garcete is an IndyStar sports reporter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Taylor baseball gets graduation at NAIA World Series before championship

Guardiola ‘among Italy options, not an impossible dream’ says Minister for SportMinister for Sport Andrea Abodi insists getting former Manchester City hero Pep Guardiola to be the Italy coach is ‘one of the possible options, certainly not an impossible dream.’Roberto Baggio and Pep GuardiolaThe Spaniard is currently out of contract after walking away from the Etihad, having won everything possible during his decade-long tenure.His previous management experience was at Bayern Munich and Barcelona, but Guardiola did play in Serie A with Roma and Brescia, regularly returning to Italy and having many friends there.This is what makes the idea of him taking over the Nazionale entirely plausible.Guardiola has deep bond with ItalyMANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 18: Antonio Conte, Head Coach of Napoli, and Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, embrace prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between Manchester City and SSC Napoli at City of Manchester Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)“We’d have to understand if Guardiola wants to allow himself this, considering how much of Italy is in his life journey and I believe in his sentiments too,” Minister for Sport Abodi told Sky TG.“He is one of the possible options, certainly not an impossible dream. He is a very important coach, but the job of a national team coach is different, and we’d have to see if an extraordinary club tactician wants to also become an extraordinary national team coach.“I think this is a challenge that sooner or later Guardiola will want to do. It’s not about money, but ambition and dreams.”LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 27: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, acknowledges the fans after the team’s victory during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 27, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)This decision won’t be made on Guardiola until there is a new Federation President in charge, with the election set for next month between Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete.“It takes more than a coach to make a Nazionale, he must be accompanied by a high level project,” warned the Minister for Sport.“It needs to be a stimulus to take back the path of excellence that we sacrificed with the incompetence of the directors, at club, League and FIGC levels.“We must work in an integrated fashion to achieve objectives and collaborate. It’s not enough to just open the gates to fill the stadiums.”Abodi seems fairly unimpressed with the candidates who are up for the role of FIGC President, noting that the clubs and leagues generally shrug off the experience of former players.“They believe players are not able to manage situations, so there are limitations both in the way projects are proposed, but also the way they are received.“I was in the Federation when Roberto Baggio presented his dossier, and the thing that surprised me was that the debate wasn’t up to the standards of the proposal. There was no real attention paid, it was probably too revolutionary, whereas football in our country is very traditionalist, not in a good way.“If that model remains in place, the Nazionale can do little.”The profound reflection was caused by Italy failing to qualify for a third consecutive edition of the World Cup.“It feels like a Century ago, yet we won the World Cup in 2006,” added Abodi.“I hope this can be a shock to the system, because it is not acceptable that for the third time we ended up in the Russian Roulette of the play-offs, against opponents who are hungrier.“I don’t think it’s a lack of talent, so much that we’ve fallen asleep and are overlooking what is there, to the point of ignoring it entirely.”

Barcelona prepared to pay only £13m for Marcus RashfordBarcelona are continuing to test Manchester United’s resolve, with reports emerging that the La Liga giants are only prepared to pay £13m to sign Marcus Rashford permanently. The England forward spent the season on loan at Camp Nou under Hansi Flick, enjoying a resurgence with 25 goal contributions. Despite an option-to-buy clause in the initial loan agreement, Barcelona are reportedly determined to aggressively undercut that figure.While sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick are convinced by Rashford’s quality, Barcelona remain unwilling to meet United’s valuation. By testing the waters with a £13m offer, Barcelona are gambling on United’s desire to remove Rashford’s substantial wages from their books.For Manchester United, however, a £13m valuation is seen as a major insult. The Old Trafford hierarchy have held firm, insisting they will not lower their asking price. From a financial perspective, letting a 28-year-old forward with elite European pedigree leave for such a nominal sum—especially when Barcelona recently paid £70m for Anthony Gordon—would be a disastrous piece of business for INEOS.The wildcard in this transfer standoff is Rashford’s own stance. The England international has made it clear he is desperate to stay in Spain and is reportedly willing to take a significant pay cut to secure a permanent move.Ultimately, this sets up a fascinating high-stakes standoff between two European giants. If Barcelona refuse to raise their offer, they risk losing a player who has excelled in their colours, while United must weigh cutting their losses against standing firm on value.

Welcome back to the Abstract! Here are the stories this week that spread life across space, went stir crazy for science, held the colony together, and peacefully sat it out.First, what if we went all the way to Europa only to find that some earthly bacteria already set up shop there? Then: red rum on the Red Planet, the palace intrigue of tropical wasps, and an afterlife in full lotus.As always, for more of my work, check out my book First Contact: The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens, or subscribe to my personal newsletter the BeX Files. That’s one small step for a dust-borne bacterium…Osmanov, Zaza. “Earth as a potential source of life for Europa’s subsurface ocean.” International Journal of Astrobiology.Europa, the ice moon of Jupiter, is considered one of the most promising candidates in the search for extraterrestrial life due to its vast subsurface ocean. But imagine what a trip it would be to not just find aliens on this world, but to learn that they originally hailed from Earth.That’s the premise of a new study that investigates “the possibility of dust particles containing living bacteria ejected from Earth reaching Europa and landing on its surface,” according to author Zaza Osmanov of the Free University of Tbilisi. “Life on Earth originated at least 3.55 billion years ago, which implies that for approximately that long, Earth has been shedding life-bearing particles into surrounding space,” Osmanov said in the study. “Hence, if favorable conditions exist elsewhere in the Solar System and can be accessed by dust particles, the transport of life from Earth appears plausible and may have been occurring over the course of several billion years.”This idea that life might travel between planets, or even star systems, is called panspermia. In addition to Earth life potentially expanding beyond our planet, scientists have previously speculated that life on Earth was itself seeded by microbes from another world, such as Mars. To game out a scenario in which earthly bacteria might reach Europa, Osmanov estimated the rate at which dust-borne bacteria is dislodged from Earth by impacts and how it might then endure a long journey through space and survive a crash into the icescape of Europa. He concluded that many trillions of life-bearing dust grains from Earth could have reached the moon’s surface over tens of millions of years. From there, surviving microbes may have spent generations shimmying down through cracks in its ice shell, which is dozens of miles thick, into the dark waters of the ocean below. A close-up of the fractures in Europa’s ice shell. Image: NASA/JPL/University of ArizonaThough the deck would be stacked against these microbes, the high number of dust particles that Earth sloughs off into space “renders the existence of life on Europa highly plausible,” according to the study.It’s worth noting that panspermia remains a topic of heated academic debate, in part because there are so many uncertainties about the process. For example, H. Jay Melosh, the late geophysicist and panspermia expert, also assessed the odds that Earth life could relocate to Europa and came to the opposite conclusion as Osmanov.“If life should be found in the oceans of Europa or Enceladus, it is very likely that it’s indigenous rather than seeded from Earth, Mars or (especially) another solar system," Melosh said while presenting findings at the 2019 meeting of the American Geophysical Union, according to Space.com.Ultimately, we won’t know until we go! NASA’s Europa Clipper is currently on its way to Jupiter to take a closer look at its namesake moon from orbit, and to scout out potential sites for surface exploration in the future. Perhaps decades from now we’ll finally be able to answer the tantalizing question of whether the seas of Europa are inhabited—and if so, if the aliens are homegrown or descended from spacefaring Earthlings. In other news…The Overlook Hotel, but it’s in spaceCantisani, Andrea, Schmutz, Jan B., et al. “Social interactions in isolated, confined, and extreme environments: A study of Antarctic winter teams using wearable sensors.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.It’s one thing for a bacterium to make an interplanetary voyage; sending humans across deep space is orders of magnitude harder—and not just because we are flimsy mortal fleshbags. There is also the psychological toll of spending months or years in a confined space on a long-duration mission, such a trip to Mars. To anticipate these challenges, scientists enlisted 12 crew members on a 10-month overwintering mission at Antarctica’s Concordia Station to self-report feelings of loneliness and paranoia, while wearing proximity sensors that allowed the team to monitor their movements. The Concordia Station, a French–Italian research facility on the Antarctic plateau. Image: Jessica Struder/ University of ZurichThe results revealed “a progressive deterioration in both individual psychological outcome and team dynamics” in which “loneliness and paranoid thoughts increased over time,” according to researchers co-led by Andrea Cantisani of the University of Bern and Jan Schmutz of the University of Zurich.The team even singled out one participant who “reported unusually high scores…corresponding to severe levels of paranoid ideation.” Reading the study, it’s hard not to be reminded of John Carpenter's The Thing, or the descent into space madness depicted in movies like Event Horizon or Sunshine.Indeed, the authors shouted out Stephen King’s The Shining as a fictional precursor to the study’s finding that “prolonged isolation [and] constant proximity does not necessarily strengthen relationships but can instead amplify tension, mistrust, and psychological strain.”In other words, if astronauts start seeing ghostly masked revelers, murdered children, and mercurial bartenders popping up in their Mars base, it’s time to pack it in and head back to Earth. Stirring up a wasp’s nest—for scienceCorbett, Owen R. et al. “Compensation of labour by noncompetitive individuals mitigates costs of aggressive succession contest in a social wasp.” Animal Behaviour.Speaking of hostile social dynamics, it’s time to return to the “dynastic violence" beat. Long-time readers of this newsletter will know that I am a sucker for succession battles in eusocial animals such as naked mole rats or matricidal ants—which are ruled over by one breeding female queen. This week, scientists updated the genre by watching what happens when you remove queens of the tropical wasp species Polistes canadensis, a shift that increased colony-level aggression “approximately tenfold,” according to a new study. In the ensuing power vacuum, rival females vied for the crown through aggressive behaviors including bites, tackles, stings, and air fights. But even as some females took up arms (and stingers), the team was surprised to observe other wasps stepping into foraging or worker roles they had never occupied before to prevent the colony from collapsing in the chaotic interregnum. Screenshot from the study. Image: Corbett, Owen R. et al.“Contrary to our predictions, these findings support the theory that some form of compensatory mechanism exists in this species, buffering the conflict of queen succession,” said researchers led by Owen R. Corbett of University College London. “This system, in which some individuals compete while others compensate, could be what allows species like P. canadensis to maintain colony function despite aggressive contest-based succession.”To channel Cersei Lannister: When you play the game of thrones, you win or you…compensate. While that doesn’t have quite the same ring as the original quote, the wasp colonies definitely weathered their dynastic struggles better than Westeros in the end.Live by the lotus, die by the lotusSun, Chenshuang et al. Multidisciplinary analysis reveals the genetic and dietary structure of the seated burials from Tang Dynasty Chang’an.” Journal of Archaeological Sciences: Reports.Last, it’s time to take a seat—for eternity. That’s the idea behind a rare funerary custom called “seated burial,” in which bodies are arranged in an upright sitting posture, in contrast to the far more common practice of being “laid to rest” in a supine pose. In a new study, archaeologists examined four individuals who lived between the 7th and 9th centuries in what was then called the Chang’an region of northwest China and were buried in seated poses. The study offers “the first direct genetic evidence” to counter predictions that these burials imply a monastic lifestyle or a particular ethnic lineage, according to researchers led by Chenshuang Sun of Fudan University in Shanghai. “Our genomic data contradicts the hypothesis that seated burials have a unique origin from ancestors in northern or northeastern Asia” as “we find no evidence of significant differences between seated burial individuals and their contemporaries,” the team concluded. “Although Buddhist symbolic artifacts, such as pagoda-shaped jars, were found in one tomb, isotopic evidence contradicts strict adherence to vegetarian Buddhist precepts.”In addition to refuting the special status of the skeletal sitters, the study also includes interesting asides, such as records of Buddhist monks who ended up in “seated death” after “passing away in the full-lotus position.” Seated burials have been unearthed across the globe, serving as a reminder to us all that we don’t have to take death lying down. Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Former first lady Jill Biden claimed that she thought her husband, former President Joe Biden, was having a stroke while watching his disastrous 2024 debate performance against President Trump that prompted him to drop out of the presidential race, insisting she had “never ever seen Joe like that before or since.” “Everyone knows the camera adds 10 years of cognitive decline.” Victor Marr, Retired Driver “Okay, so Jill Biden and I do share some beliefs after all.” Jack Schoppert, Stew Stirrer “I still think he has better strokes than Trump.” Delaney Gostola, Oboe Tuner The post Jill Biden Believed Husband Was Having Stroke During Presidential Debate appeared first on The Onion.

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Wigan Warriors won their second consecutive Challenge Cup final with a comprehensive victory over St Helens at Wembley Stadium [SWPix]Betfred Women's Challenge Cup finalWigan (28) 54Tries: Wilson, Hunter 4, Salihi, Davies 2, Banks, Wilton Goals: Rowe 7St Helens (6) 6Tries: McColm Goals: GaskinWigan Warriors retained the Women's Challenge Cup as they scored ten tries to thrash rivals St Helens in a clinical performance at Wembley.Denis Betts' side reigned supreme in a 42-6 victory one year ago, but this was an even better performance as they took control through Georgia Wilson's early try and never looked back.Eva Hunter scored two tries to further extend their lead with Beri Salihi and Anna Davies also touching down before Luci McColm spared St Helens' blushes just before the half-time hooter.Davies dotted down inside the first minute of the second half, while Grace Banks and Remi Wilton got on the scoreboard and Hunter added another brace of tries to bring her tally up to four on an afternoon to forget for St Helens.Wigan's win comes shortly before their counterparts take on Hull KR in the men's final later on Saturday.Since both the men's and women's finals have taken place on the same day at Wembley from 2023 onwards, no side has ever won the women's and men's finals together.Inside the opening six minutes, Wigan were ahead courtesy of a neat and tidy set as they worked the ball wide to Wilson, who duly crossed over.Such was their clinical start that Wigan's second try came from their second attack and was even better, as Jenna Foubister teed up Hunter, who evaded Paige Travis to run in with ease.Hunter's stunning start continued with a second try just minutes after her first. She raced in again down the left wing to put Wigan in control, this time outpacing the St Helens defenders after exploiting a gap in the line.A long afternoon continued for St Helens as Foubister's high lateral pass to Ellise Derbyshire was played quickly to Salihi, who did well to keep control of the ball before dotting down.Wigan rounded off the half with an impressive score, as Davies dived down at the right-hand corner and successfully managed to do so without going into touch by a matter of millimetres.St Helens finally hit back as McColm showed great strength to touch down just before half-time.It was a similarly chastening first half for Saints as it was in 2025's cup final defeat by Wigan, with Izzy Rowe's final conversion attempt of the opening 40, which dipped down and off the crossbar, the only blot on her copybook in an otherwise excellent first period with the boot.Wigan virtually put themselves out of sight just 44 seconds into the second half as Davies ran in past a depleted St Helens defence before Grace Banks outpaced the St Helens defence again as the Warriors threatened the 40-point mark with half an hour remaining.Hunter battered her way through to ground the ball for a sensational hat-trick with 20 minutes still to play and showed great skill to run in for her second of the half and fourth of the afternoon.But Wigan did not let off despite their bumper score, as Wilton added their 10th try of the afternoon soon after to put the gloss on a stunning performance.Wigan performance shows they have changed the gameThe recent late-May heatwave continued into Saturday but the conditions did not slow down Wigan, who turned up the heat from minute one and never looked in doubt of retaining their crown.Betts' side were once again sublime with the ball and dominated the match, leaving St Helens with very little to do but watch them race in time and again.Yet it was not just Wigan's brilliance that was the story of the game, but that of a St Helens side who were simply outmatched.Saints had won this competition four times in a row leading up to Wigan's first-ever win in a final last year, yet that era has ended with a resounding thud.Wigan dominated possession but when Saints did have a rare spell with the ball, they were slow to pass and move and struggled for shape to give them options.Whereas Wigan seemed unfazed by the heat on the field, Saints were uncharacteristically placid and struggled for much in the way of attack.McColm's try on the verge of half-time was the outlier for St Helens, yet it was their defence that was their undoing.Wigan carved them open with ease, as Hunter and Davies played havoc with their defence either side of the break.If 2025's thrashing of Saints and subsequent treble was Wigan announcing themselves in the women's game, this clinical performance was a marker that the game has changed.Wigan: Banks; Davies, Wilson, Salihi, Derbyshire; Foubister, Rowe; Coleman, Wilton, Dainton, Hunter, Jones, Williams.Interchanges: Marsh, Atherton, Gentles, Sams.St Helens: Rotheram; Burke, Hardcastle, Woosey, McGifford; Harris, Gaskin; Hoyle, Casey, McDonald, Travis, Rudge, Cunningham.Interchanges: Mottershead, Whitfield, Bridge, McColm.Referee: Aaron Moore.