RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Nineteen players have registered a point for the Carolina Hurricanes during their nearly perfect playoff run. The Vegas Golden Knights have gotten at least one from 22 players on their way to the Stanley Cup Final.Carolina has 12 different goal-scorers. Vegas has 15. “They’re deep, we’re deep, so it’ll be a good matchup,” Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb said.A matchup so close on paper that the Hurricanes are a very slight favorite. They've won 12 of 13 games through three rounds and have home-ice advantage.But after NHL-best Colorado got swept by Vegas, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said he and his team “ran into a buzzsaw.” The Western Conference Final was one-sided with the Golden Knights dominating.“They dismantled Colorado,” player-turned-ESPN analyst Ray Ferraro said. “I don’t know if there’s ever such a thing as perfect, but whatever next door to perfect was, that’s how they played in that series. It’s what they are. This is their team, and they’re healthy.”So are the Hurricanes, which could lead to an epic series.When is the Stanley Cup Final?Games 1 and 2 are Tuesday and Thursday night in Raleigh, where the fanbase full of Caniacs has been waiting years for the team's first trip to the final since 2006. Carolina won it all that year, with now-coach Rod Brind'Amour as captain.Games 3 and 4 are Saturday night and June 9 at the arena on the Las Vegas Strip that has become known as the Fortress. The Golden Knights hoisted the Cup on home ice there three years ago.If necessary, Game 5 is June 11 at Carolina and Game 6 is June 14 at Vegas. If a Game 7 is required, at Carolina, it would be June 17.Every game will air in the U.S. on ABC and in Canada in English on CBC and Sportsnet and in French on TVA Sports.Who are the stars to watch?With Vegas, Mitch Marner has gone further in the playoffs than ever before in his NHL career, which included only first- and second-round exits during nine years in Toronto. Marner leads all scorers with 21 points.Not far behind is Jack Eichel with 18, three years removed from playing a big role in the Golden Knights win the Cup. And he's just as good at keeping the puck out of his team's net.“Jack Eichel might be the best 200-foot center in the game right now,” 2003 Cup champion Mike Rupp said.Vegas has gotten timely saves from Carter Hart, especially in the West final when he stopped 118 of the 125 shots he faced. Carolina has ridden goaltender Frederik Andersen to this point, counting on him to come up big on quality chances while outshooting opponents.“He’s so strong mentally,” said retired goalie Cory Schneider, who like Rupp now is with NHL Network. “He’s able to play games where he only sees eight or nine shots and make the save he has to make. Some goalies really struggle with your team possessing the puck all game and now you get that breakaway and you’ve got to find a way to make a save.”Who are the X-factors in the Cup final?The Hurricanes’ best players during the regular season were Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis and Andrei Svechnikov. Their second line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake has led them here as their leading scorers.“Lots of times, coaches throw three names together and it looks like it’s going to work and it doesn’t,” Ferraro said. “Stankoven and Blake and Hall, they fit.”For Vegas, the standout scoring stars of the playoffs have been Brett Howden and Pavel Dorofeyev, with 10 goals apiece. The Golden Knights also have three players — Marner, captain Mark Stone and defenseman Shea Theodore — who lost in the Olympic final with Canada. Jarvis was also on that team.Eichel, teammate Noah Hanifin and Carolina's Jaccob Slavin have the chance to pull off the gold medal-Stanley Cup double after winning in Milan with the U.S.___AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Mark Anderson in Vegas contributed to this report.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Why Jeremy Sochan is an NBA champion whether the Knicks or Spurs win the title originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Jeremy Sochan plays for the New York Knicks, and so he'd like the Knicks to win the NBA Finals and claim a championship.Sochan, though, is in a fascinating position. If the San Antonio Spurs lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy instead, Sochan will still get a ring.Either way, Sochan is a winner -- sort of.MORE: There's a 7th-grade hooper named Kobe BryantHow does this work?Sochan played for the Spurs first this season before joining the Knicks.He played 28 games with San Antonio, his last of parts of four seasons with the team that drafted him.The Spurs waived him on Feb. 11, though, and the Knicks then signed him on Feb. 13.Sochan appeared in 16 regular season games with the Knicks, and he has now added five playoff appearances for New York prior to the beginning of the NBA Finals.Jeremy Sochan is officially an NBA ChampionHe will receive a ring whether the Knicks or Spurs win pic.twitter.com/aORwrOpkEK— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 31, 2026There is no hard and fast rule on which players get rings versus which don't. A team could choose to withhold one from a guy who started the season with them and didn't finish it.Tradition generally has guys who played as much as Sochan did for each team lined up for a ring either way.It sure would be a more fun beginning to June if the team he's currently on won the whole thing, but if the Spurs beat the Knicks instead, Sochan still played for a championship team for part of this season, too.More NBA news:James Harden might be delusionalBobby Marks sees 5 possible outcomes for LeBron JamesHeat, Norman Powell can impact the Giannis trade pictureCJ McCollum heads for interesting free agencyTimberwolves can't afford to lose this talented free agent

NEW DELHI: Batting great Sachin Tendulkar has called for significant changes to the IPL's playing regulations, including the removal of the Impact Player rule, which he believes has tilted the game too heavily in favour of batters.The Impact Player rule, introduced ahead of the 2023 season, allows teams to replace a player from the starting XI with one of five substitutes at any stage during the match. While the innovation was designed to add tactical flexibility, it has remained a subject of debate among players and experts.Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo Awards, Tendulkar made it clear that he is not a fan of the regulation."I feel there are a few things which, on a personal note that I can say, I think the impact player needs to go away," Tendulkar said at the ESPNcricinfo awards."I feel when in a T20 format you just have to play 20 overs, and then you are adding one more batter to that line-up. Where bowlers are already being challenged, I find that imbalance."With teams regularly posting massive totals on batting-friendly pitches, Tendulkar feels the rule has further widened the gap between batters and bowlers.The rule has also faced criticism from several leading cricketers, including India captain Shubman Gill and former skipper Rohit Sharma, both of whom have questioned its impact on the role of all-rounders and the overall balance of the game.To address the issue, Tendulkar proposed tweaking the powerplay system by introducing a bowling powerplay that would give captains greater control over field placements."(In) the powerplay of six overs with field restrictions, only two fielders are allowed outside the ring. Let the first four overs be batters' powerplay with the same field restrictions."Post that, the remaining two powerplay overs should be determined by the fielding captain as and when he wants to take. Those two consecutive overs will also get one fielder extra outside the ring at any stage of the game," Tendulkar said."So you (the fielding side) are able to control the game better."The former India captain also suggested increasing the maximum number of overs a bowler can deliver in a T20 innings from four to five, allowing teams to rely more on their premier bowlers."One bowler should be allowed to bowl five overs. Because invariably the best bowler of the side is going to bowl that fifth over."Wouldn't you want to see that best bowler bowl more? The top batters are batting sometimes even 20 overs. Why shouldn't the best bowler be bowling five overs?" he asked. 131421773

Poland and Ukraine will meet in a friendly on Sunday as both teams seek to salvage the blow of missing out on qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026.How to Watch Poland vs UkraineDate: Sunday, May 31, 2026Time: 11:30 AM EDTChannel: Fubo SportsStream: Fubo (try for free)European contenders Poland and Ukraine will face off in Wroclaw on Sunday in a showdown between two teams pained to be missing out on the FIFA World Cup 2026. Both sides made it to the playoff section of UEFA qualifying but fell short in agonizing fashion.Poland went particularly close and was on the verge of forcing at least extra-time against Sweden, only to suffer a 3-2 defeat in the closing minutes of regulation. These nations could have met in that same playoff decider had Ukraine not fallen 3-1 at home to the Swedes in the previous round of qualifiers.Robert Lewandowski will captain the Eagles as he looks to earn his 166th cap in Wroclaw. On top of owning the current cap record for his country, the now-former Barcelona striker will also aim to build on his record tally of 89 international goals, though he’s never managed to score against Ukraine in five previous outings.The Blue and Yellow has lost in each of the last three meetings between these teams, the most recent of which was a 3-1 friendly defeat in 2024. Their most recent win in this head-to-head was a 1-0 triumph in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup when current captain Andriy Yarmolenko provided the only goal.Live stream Poland vs Ukraine on Fubo Sports with Fubo: Start your free trial now!With Fubo, you can watch live television without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. Fubo carries a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, MTV, Comedy Central, and much more. The best part is you can try it out today for free.Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Kamden Lopati is already doing more than holding Michigan’s quarterback spot in the 2027 class. The Wolverines’ pledge, who committed on April 14, 2026, and is ranked No. 46 overall, has publicly identified wide receiver Dakota Guerrant and cornerback Joshua Dobson as the two top prospects he is pushing to bring to Ann Arbor, a development that matters because it points to how Michigan football recruiting could build balance around its future quarterback.Lopati named Guerrant and Dobson as the main recruits he is targeting while speaking during the Elite 11 circuit, and both are viewed as five-star-level prospects with Michigan firmly in the mix here. For Michigan football recruiting, that is an early sign the 2027 class may take shape around premium positions instead of waiting for the board to sort itself out.Why Lopati’s role matters for class constructionQuarterback commits often set the tone of a class, but the bigger value is structure. Michigan now has a national quarterback prospect in place, and Lopati is already recruiting an outside receiver and a cover corner, two spots that can define a roster’s ceiling.That matters for roster planning. If Michigan lands a quarterback, receiver, and cornerback early in the same cycle, the staff gets a much cleaner pitch to the rest of the class, especially pass catchers, defensive backs, and skill players looking for a stable core. In that sense, Michigan football recruiting is already getting an early blueprint from its quarterback commit.Dakota Guerrant fits a clear offensive needGuerrant stands out because he is an in-state receiver from Harper Woods, and Michigan has a June 19 official visit lined up for him in Ann Arbor. Getting that visit to hit would give Lopati a real chance to sell a long-term quarterback-receiver connection face to face.From a football angle, the fit makes sense. Michigan’s offense still needs perimeter targets who can stress defenses outside, and pairing Lopati with a top receiver this early would help the staff show how it wants the 2027 group to support the passing game.There is also local value here. Keeping an elite Michigan pass catcher home always carries weight, and it becomes more important when the class already has its quarterback trying to build chemistry before either player takes a college snap.Joshua Dobson lines up with Michigan’s defensive identityDobson gives this class a different kind of signal. Michigan is not treating the 2027 cycle like a quarterback-led offense-only build, and a push for a top corner shows the staff wants difference-makers on both sides of the ball.Cornerback remains one of the toughest positions to stock at a high level. In Michigan’s defense, outside corners need to handle difficult assignments so the front can stay aggressive, and Dobson’s position value makes him a logical early priority.Dobson is also expected in Ann Arbor on June 12 after canceling an LSU visit as part of his visit schedule. If Michigan football recruiting turns that trip into traction, the Wolverines would have an early recruiting win at a premium defensive spot before the 2027 board gets more crowded.June could give Michigan real momentumLopati first joined Michigan’s class after reopening his recruitment and then pledging to the Wolverines in April following his previous Illinois commitment. Now the next test is whether his peer recruiting can help turn visits into movement.Michigan has two clear checkpoints ahead. Dobson’s June 12 visit and Guerrant’s June 19 trip could give the Wolverines early momentum, either by strengthening their position with both targets or by helping Lopati lock in one blue-chip running mate to anchor the next wave of the 2027 class. That makes June an important stretch for Michigan football recruiting as Lopati tries to help shape the class around him.

A 2023 measure targeting trans school children came into full effect in Idaho last week, following the suicide of one of the plaintiffs in a pair of lawsuits challenging the law. Both the state and Boise High School’s Sexuality and Gender Alliance agreed to close the lawsuits challenging Senate Bill 1100 on the same day a student who was central to one case graduated, and several months after a transgender classmate who was also part of the lawsuit took her own life, Idaho Education News reports. Related Trans man schools lawmakers on why “bathroom bills” are ridiculous & dangerous The student group went to court in July 2023, arguing that the law violated the plaintiffs’ 14th Amendment equal protection rights by prohibiting them from using restrooms and locker facilities that aligned with their gender identity. Attorneys argued as well that the law violated Title IX by discriminating against the students based on sex. A provision of the law, now in full effect in every K-12 school in the state, requires school districts to make “reasonable accommodations” for students who decline to use a bathroom not aligned with their gender identity. The two Boise High students requested access to single-user bathrooms at their school, but objected to being forced to do so. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “It is scary having to look around before to see if anyone will see me going into the single-user restroom, as I worry about people gossiping and speculating about me being transgender,” one of the students, identified in court documents as Jane Doe, said. “I don’t want people to know I am transgender without my consent — even students who might be friendly. For me, it is not a part of myself I talk about or that I feel is the most important part of my identity.” Jane Doe committed suicide in January. Another provision of SB 1100 bars trans students from “overnight facilities” that don’t align with their sex at birth and requires schools to provide single-occupancy rooms for those who request them. The overnight “accommodation,” like the single-user bathroom provision, is another “separate but equal” scheme likely to alienate trans students from their classmates. “From the district court to the Ninth Circuit, we defended Idaho’s right to protect students’ privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms,” Attorney General Raúl Labrador (R) said in a statement about the dismissals on Thursday. “Idaho families can be confident that this law is fully in effect and will remain so.” Labrador did not acknowledge the death of plaintiff Jane Doe in his victory lap. One of the judges in the two dismissed cases did. “The court expresses its sincere sympathies to Jane Doe’s family,” U.S. District Court Judge David Nye wrote in a filing on the case last week. Senate Bill 1100 is the second “bathroom bill” to go into full effect in Idaho this year. Gov. Brad Little (R) signed HB 752 in April, which prohibits trans people from using both public and private business restrooms that are consistent with their gender identity. Six trans Idahoans are suing the state over the unprecedented ban. Editor’s note: This article mentions suicide. If you need to talk to someone now, call the Trans Lifeline at 1-877-565-8860. It’s staffed by trans people, for trans people. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for LGBTQ youth at 1-866-488-7386. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The seizure of Beaufort in southern Lebanon called up bitter memories in both countries amid a widening Israeli conflict with Hezbollah that seems far from over.

On Monday, lawyers representing the NCAA and Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will convene in a Texas courtroom to argue the question of whether Sorsby's eligibility to play college football should be temporarily reinstated.For now, the NCAA has articulated its position in a document filed on Friday with the judge who will decide the question.As noted by Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the NCAA's legal brief explains that permitting Sorsby to compete would make it "the first and only major sports league in America to allow an athlete to compete after betting on his own games."That allegation traces to the fact that Sorsby made at least 40 bets on the Indiana football team and/or specific Indiana players when he played for Indiana. The only caveat offered by Sorsby's side is that he didn't actually play in any of the games on which he wagered.The NCAA is not disputing the fact that Sorsby developed a gambling addiction. Like any other addiction that potentially rises to the level of a disability, however, the person who has developed the problem is protected from the existence of the condition but not from the specific behaviors associated with it.Addiction or not, Sorsby violated the NCAA's rules, repeatedly. Using others to place wagers on his behalf shows that he knew what he was doing ran afoul of relevant NCAA gambling restrictions.Sorsby deserves sympathy. His addiction quite possibly traces to the fact that he came of age at a time when sports betting has become normalized. Still, the rules are the rules. Even if there's a hint (or something stronger) of hypocrisy inherent to the fact that the sports leagues profit directly and/or indirectly from the explosion in legalized betting, Sorsby knew the rules.The other entity that isn't directly involved in this case but that looms over it is the NFL. Given what the league did to Terrelle Pryor in 2011, when it fashioned a five-game suspension out of thin air in the apparent hopes of placating the NCAA, Sorsby and his lawyers should be concerned that the NFL could attempt to delay his eligibility to play pro football based on his violation of NCAA rules.If/when Sorsby is unable to regain his college eligibility and applies for the supplemental draft, the NFL won't be able to say that he has violated a single league rule. He would present himself to the league as a player who is recovering from a gambling addiction, with no behaviors that should disqualify him from gainful employment by an NFL team — as long as he complies with the NFL's gambling rules.Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte managed to overcome a gambling addiction and perform in the NFL without violating the league's gambling rules. In Boutte's case, however, the situation didn't become public until he was charged after his rookie season with underage gambling. The charges were dropped, and the NFL took no action against Boutte for past NCAA rules violation that didn't come to light until after he had left LSU. (Boutte allegedly placed bets on at least two LSU games in which he played.)Sorsby should get the same treatment by the league. There should be no barrier to his participation in the supplemental draft, and there should be no punishment unless and until he violates the NFL's gambling rules.Even if Sorsby loses his case as to the NCAA, the fact that he aggressively pursued his rights kept the NCAA from dragging its feet long enough to cause him to miss the window for entering the supplemental draft. With Sorsby and his lawyers surely prepared to aggressively challenge any effort by the NFL to delay the commencement of his professional career, perhaps Sorsby won't emerge from the situation with a Terrelle Pryor-style suspension.

Perhaps he's speaking truth, or he could be a jilted lover. Either way, former NFL star safety Eric Weddle is throwing shade at Michigan football quarterback Bryce Underwood.The Wolverines are recruiting Gaige Weddle, Weddle's son, who happens to be a 2028 four-star running back ranked No. 13 overall by Rivals. And apparently, Weddle visited Ann Arbor at some point over the past two months and took in a practice. And with that, he came away with some strong opinions of the second-year starting quarterback.Via the New York Post:“Mark my words, I was out there for spring ball,” Weddle said. “Don’t be surprised if the backup [is] playing early because that Underwood kid, you know, I don’t think he could throw or play quarterback, so we’ll see.”It should be immediately noted that Weddle played college ball at Utah under both Kyle Whittingham and Urban Meyer -- so could he just be still coming to terms that his former head coach left Salt Lake City for Ann Arbor? It's certainly within the realm of possibility.But can Underwood not throw or play quarterback? Sure, he's had his struggles, but Weddle would be joining a minority having that opinion (comprised mostly of Michigan's rivals). Because if there's one thing that Underwood absolutely can do, it's throw. The bigger question is can he pass rather than throw. We've seen evidence that he can, but he needs to be more consistent in doing so.Regardless, Kyle Whittingham, Jason Beck, and the staff have all made it clear that Underwood is QB1 and that's not changing anytime soon. Certainly, they're not throwing their chips in the middle of the table just to support a name brand when there's someone else who would better help them win.So take Weddle's comments with all of the grains of salt. Because the chances that he's just sounding alarm bells out of the kindness of his heart are slim, if not none.This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Former Utah safety Eric Weddle slams Michigan football QB Bryce Underwood

CHICAGO – Kerry Carpenter is back.The Detroit Tigers activated Carpenter on Sunday, May 31, from the 10-day injured list before the finale of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field, making his return a left shoulder sprain.The 28-year-old – a left-handed hitting outfielder who often serves as the designated hitter – is available against White Sox right-hander Sean Burke for Sunday's game.TIGERS TAKEAWAYS: A.J. Hinch won't use injuries as excuse for Tigers, but health mattersTo open a spot for Carpenter's return, the Tigers optioned third baseman Gage Workman to Triple-A Toledo. The 26-year-old hit .158 with two home runs, zero walks and 16 strikeouts across 16 games with the Tigers, logging a .553 OPS.Workman posted a brutal 43.2% strikeout rate.Meanwhile, Carpenter has a track record of success against the White Sox, especially in road games.It's a .323 batting average and a .973 OPS in 19 career games against the White Sox at Rate Field, including three home runs in one game in June 2025.LAST GAME: Tigers fall apart in clutch moments in loss to White SoxNot sure why after just two at bats, Kerry Carpenter after drawing a walk, has a pinch runner in. Nothing seem out of the ordinary. pic.twitter.com/rdqtX56pR2— Rogelio Castillo (@rogcastbaseball) May 31, 2026

Dean Harrison claimed a dominant victory in the opening Superbike race at the Isle of Man TT.Honda rider Harrison won by 15.580 seconds, finishing ahead of Peter Hickman and Michael Dunlop who had an entertaining battle for second place.Hickman pulled clear in the closing stages to take second by 12.416 seconds from Dunlop, who has a record 33 wins at the TT.Behind the podium trio, Josh Brookes and John McGuinness - running a special livery on his Honda to mark the 30th anniversary of his debut - were in the top five.It is a sixth victory at the event for Harrison, who backed up his pace throughout practice week around the 37.73-mile course, which is comprised of closed public roads."I'm over the moon. I went hard at the start to try and make a buffer. I've felt strong all week," Harrison said on TT Plus."It's hard to keep your concentration over six laps, it's so physical. We'll try again later in the week and hopefully there's a few more to come."Harrison fastest in final Isle of Man TT qualifyingWeather postpones opening Isle of Man TT raceStarting third on the road, Harrison, 37, came flying out of the blocks as he led by 4.8 seconds from Dunlop by the time the riders reached the first timing line at Glen Helen.Harrison kept growing his lead throughout his opening lap and toured the circuit with an average speed of 134.892mph from a standing start to lead by 12 seconds over Dunlop and Hickman, who were separated by less than one second.The lead at the top grew to 20 seconds by the time the Yorkshire rider reached Ramsey on the second lap, as Hickman and Dunlop battled their way through traffic.After the pit stops at the end of the second lap, Harrison checked out and built his advantage to 28 seconds as Hickman and Dunlop continued to battle behind.They swapped second position several times on the fourth lap, but Hickman's second pit stop, which was four seconds faster than that of Dunlop, gave him a buffer he would not relinquish.Harrison took the chequered flag and the race win as he cruised over the line with a 15-second margin, and he will be the favourite for the Senior TT, which is scheduled for Saturday.He will also be favourite for the two Superstock races, the first of which has yet to be rescheduled after being postponed from Saturday, following his lap of 135mph in practice.'We know what the problem is'Hickman, who was injured in a crash at last year's Isle of Man TT, said that Harrison was "riding the crest of a wave"."It's fantastic to be back on the podium. Well done to Dean, he has done a fantastic job all week," Hickman said."I'm just happy to be here. It has been a long way to get here. I'm not quite feeling me yet, but I'm starting to get there."I'm so thankful to everyone for their support, they have been fantastic."After he opted to ride his Honda Superbike in a last-minute change after issues with the Ducati he had planned to run, Dunlop said he was struggling and did not expect to be on "podium pace"."It's been really tough with the big bikes this week. We know what the problem is, but there's not much we can do to solve it," he said."We knew it was going to be hard work. You need to bring your 'A game' to beat Dean on the big bike at the minute and he has played it smart."We left it too late to be here and it's my own fault."The next races are set to take place on Tuesday when the Supersport and Sportbike TTs are scheduled - both of which Dunlop will be favourite for - but showers forecast over the next seven days could have an impact on race week.The two sidecar races have been cancelled on safety grounds after a review of a crash during qualifying that left reigning sidecar champions Ryan and Callum Crowe in hospital on Wednesday.In a qualifying week that had been overshadowed by accidents, Maria Costello and passenger Shaun Parker were also injured in a sidecar crash on Tuesday.On Monday, eight spectators and a rider were injured when a solo bike crashed into the crowd in untimed practice, and English rider Daniel Ingham died in a crash in qualifying on Wednesday at Doran's Bend.Superbike TT race results1. Dean Harrison (Honda) 1:43:08.867/131.681mph2. Peter Hickman (BMW) +15.580 seconds3. Michael Dunlop (Honda) +12.416 seconds behind Hickman4. Josh Brookes (Honda) +56.781secs behind Dunlop5. John McGuinness (Honda) +19.5686. Ian Hutchinson (BMW) +48.0597. Jamie Coward (Honda) +1.2738. Nathan Harrison (Honda) +45.6249. Mike Browne (Honda) +27.11010. Paul Jordan (Honda) +20.572

RCB vs GT live score, toss winner, winning probability, result and highlights from IPL 2026 Final match originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY MATCH DETAILS:Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, AhmedabadCaptains: Rajat Patidar (RCB), Shubman Gill (GT)Toss result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru opt to bowlLive Telecast: JioHotstar (India), No Broadcast (Pakistan), CricLife Max, StarzPlay (UAE), Willow TV, Fubo, Willow TV app, Sling TV (USA & Canada)Umpires & Match officials: KN Ananthapadmanabhan, Nitin Menon (on-field umpires), Jayaraman Madanagopal (Third Umpire), Virender Sharma (Fourth Umpire), Javagal Srinath (Match referee)Match result: TBDPlayer of the Match: TBDIPL 2026 HUB:Latest IPL News | IPL Points Table | Team Stats | IPL 2026 SquadsRoyal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans live match ScorecardFollow along with the latest live scorecard here as the match unfolds, or click here for key text commentary updates from the action.RCB vs GT: Predicted playing XIGTpredicted playing XI: Shubman Gill (capt), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jason Holder, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed SirajImpact Players - Prasidh Krishna, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Sai KishoreRCB playing XI: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam DarImpact Players - Venkatesh Iyer, Kanishk Chohan, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan CoxMORE: What happens if an IPL match is cancelled due to rain? Rules and refund detailsRCB vs GT IPL 2026 UpdatesHello everyone, and welcome to the live blog for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans Final clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.Colossal moment in the game! Shubamn Gill is dismissed for 10 by Hazlewood. He gets a top edge, and Rajat Patidar takes a good catch. A brilliant bit of bowling from Bhuvi brings an end to Sai Sudharsan’s innings. Digging it in short and wide of off-stump at 138.6 kph, the batsman tries to pull, but a top edge forces him to depart. Sindhu’s charge down the wicket backfires, and he has to make the long walk back. He lost his footing and his shape completely, resulting in a mistimed shot that picked out Padikkal perfectly on the boundary.Washington survives a scare! A sharp, short delivery aimed at middle and leg forces a hurried pull shot, resulting in a towering top-edge. Jordan Cox charges in from deep fine leg and dives forward, seemingly pouching the catch, but his fingers split apart, allowing the ball to kiss the grass.Buttler has to go! Krunal anticipates Buttler’s charge and darts a wide, 114 kph yorker. The ball beats the bat, pinning Buttler in line with his back knee. GT are in deep trouble. Wickets keep tumbling as Arshad Khan now bites the dust. Hazlewood is brought back for a second spell, and the Aussie does the damage. Toss result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru have won the toss and have opted to fieldRCB vs GT: Win ProbabilityTeamWin percentageRCB54%GT46%Key highlights and reactions: RCB vs GT IPL 2026 FinalRCB vs GT Dream11: Lineups, pitch report and score predictions for IPL 2026 Final matchGT IPL finals record: Appearances, results, highest score & win percentageRCB vs GT IPL 2026 final: Should teams win the toss and bat first or bowl?Astrology Prediction: Who will win RCB vs GT IPL 2026 final match in Ahmedabad?IPL 2026 final umpires: Full list of match officials for RCB vs GT grand finale at AhmedabadAhmedabad weather update: Chances of rain interrupting playLet's take a look at the hourly temperatures and the probability of rainfall in Ahmedabad on Friday.6:00 PM: 40°C (40% chance of rain)7:00 PM: 39°C (40% chance of rain)8:00 PM: 37°C (40% chance of rain)9:00 PM: 35°C (40% chance of rain)10:00 PM: 34°C (40% chance of rain)11:00 PM: 32°C (40% chance of rain)MORE:IPL 2026 schedule: Fixtures and full list of matches for Indian Premier League 2026 seasonComplete history of every Final match in IPLYearMatchVenueWinner2008RR vs CSKNavi MumbaiRR2009Deccan Chargers vs RCBJohannesburgDeccan Chargers2010CSK vs MINavi MumbaiCSK2011CSK vs RCBChennaiCSK2012CSK v KKRChennaiKKR2013MI vs CSKKolkataMI2014KXIP v KKRKolkataKKR2015MI v CSKBengaluruMI2016SRH vs RCBBengaluruSRH2017MI vs RPSHyderabadMI2018CSK vs SRHMumbaiCSK2019MI vs CSKHyderabadMI2020DC v MIDubaiMI2021CSK v KKRDubaiCSK2022GT v RRAhmedabadGT2023GT v CSKAhmedabadCSK2024SRH v KKRChennaiKKR2025RCB v PBKSAhmedabadRCB2026GT vs RCBAhmedabadTBDTo keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

49ers get troubling reality check from NFL execs on Brandon Aiyuk trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The San Francisco 49ers are in a similar boat as the Philadelphia Eagles, as both teams are waiting until June 1 to decide on a top wide receiver who wants out.However, while the Eagles are sure to get a strong return for A.J. Brown, a potential return for Brandon Aiyuk is still very much up in the air.And according to a new update from ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, things are looking a bit troubling for the 49ers in their pursuit of an Aiyuk trade.49ers get troubling Brandon Aiyuk trade update from NFL execs"I talked to two rival executives that he's simply untradeable," Fowler said. "That's because of the knee issue, didn't play at all last year, he's kind of ghosted the 49ers at times, they haven't really had a lot of communication with him, then you have the contract..."Teams are 30 hours away from being able to utilize post-June-1 cap benefits via trades and cuts. A.J. Brown, Alvin Kamara and Brandon Aiyuk among players to watch@SportsCenter updates with @garystriewskipic.twitter.com/tYlRZotJKy— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 31, 2026This update from Fowler reveals that multiple NFL executives believe Aiyuk is "untradeable," even after June 1, when the price tag the 49ers are asking for would likely be a lot lower.It appears that his no-contact with the 49ers organization, and how the fallout occurred this past season, that teams are hesitant to trade anything to the 49ers for Aiyuk.Instead, it would make more sense for these interested teams, if there are any, to wait for Aiyuk to be released and then bring him in on a veteran minimum contract to see if he can actually perform in 2026.MORE: 49ers voice frustrations over grueling 2026 travel scheduleAiyuk was once one of the better receivers in the NFL, catching 75 passes for 1,342 yards and seven touchdowns during the 2023 NFL season.But the year after signing his massive contract extension, he had a season-ending ACL injury, and then didn't return to play like the 49ers were hoping for. They waived his guarantees, he didn't play at all in 2025, and now he's likely on his way out.While the 49ers would love to trade Aiyuk for anything of note in return, it's not looking good. These NFL executives believe Aiyuk's "untradeable," which is a troubling reality check for the 49ers in their pursuit of a trade for their once-star WR.More NFL news:Stefon Diggs linked to Rams, Chiefs, Commanders after Patriots release49ers and Chiefs rumored as Eagles trade partner for AJ BrownHarold Fannin Jr. will need to prove his worth in Todd Monken’s Browns offenseBengals fans should worry about second-year linebackers in 2026Seahawks’ Nick Emmanwori can be an All-Pro if he plays better in pass coverage

Following the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 7 defeat to the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals, what appeared to be the NBA’s next dynasty was at least temporarily derailed.The concern for the Thunder and their supporters might be that the 2025-26 NBA champions have already been overtaken in the West by an upstart Spurs team and arguably the league’s brightest star in Victor Wembanyama. So the immediate question after Oklahoma City’s 111-103 loss and a failure to defend its NBA title is what moves the team needs to make to either keep up with the Spurs or regain their status as the league’s top team. Two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was asked about the Thunder’s offseason plans after Saturday’s defeat and immediately dismissed the notion that he would offer any suggestions to general manager Sam Presti on any possible changes to the roster. “I will give zero input,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “I will let Sam Presti, the greatest GM ever, do his job.” Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentSuccinct and with a smile. If the Thunder star has any opinions on which players to retain and which to pursue, he’s certainly not saying so publicly. However, he may just want to restrict his efforts to the court and locker room, and let those who are tasked with constructing the roster and keeping Oklahoma City in championship contention do their work. Yet asking Gilgeous-Alexander if he might offer some feedback to the front office isn’t an unusual question when superstars including LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Stephen Curry have used their status to exert some influence on their respective teams’ directions. Luguentz Dort and Isaiah Hartenstein will be among the Oklahoma City Thunder's biggest offseason decisions. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)Harry How via Getty ImagesAs was pointed out when asking about the offseason, the Thunder have some important decisions to make. The team can’t pay everyone. No professional sports franchise operating under a salary cap can. And Oklahoma city currently projected to be $102 million over the cap next season, according to Spotrac.Isaiah Hartenstein has a $28.5 million club option for next season, and a $17.7 million club option awaits for Lu Dort. Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe are eligible for contract extensions. Additionally. Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren have max extensions beginning next season. Gilgeous-Alexander’s max extension will kick in the following year. Holmgren, in particular, put a large target on his back with his below-subpar Game 7 performance of four points on 1-for-2 shooting with the Thunder’s season at stake. His ability to be one of the only players capable of challenging Wembanyama on the court is in significant doubt. His future with the Thunder suddenly appears uncertain.Yet Gilgeous-Alexander may also be looking at a team that was without two of its best players for most of the series with the Spurs. Williams (strained hamstring) and Ajay Mitchell (calf strain) missed several games due to injury. Had they been healthy enough to contribute, would the Thunder have won? Oklahoma City played San Antonio to seven games and lost Game 7 by eight points with their second- and third-leading scorers, averaging more than 30 points per game between them, out of the lineup. Does a team that won 64 games during the regular season, has 132 combined victories over the past two seasons, and earned an NBA championship deserve the opportunity to run it back for at least one more shot at a title? Gilgeous-Alexander may think so. Perhaps he already knows that Presti feels the same way too.

IPL 2026 ends after two months of play as Royal Challengers Bengaluru clash against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad for the coveted trophy on Sunday.The final features a clash between the top-two performing teams through the league stage. While defending champions RCB are seeking another crown this year, GT, who made it to their third final in five years, are eyeing their second win in the competition.Add The Sporting News as a preferred news sourceRCB finished at the summit of the league-phase points table and qualified for the final with an emphatic 92-run victory over GT in Qualifier 1. Meanwhile, GT made a comeback in Qualifier, defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets.With seven of the 18 IPL finals so far been won by the team batting second, The Sporting News takes a look at the highest successful run chases in IPL final history.CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR BET WITH DAFABETWhat is the highest successful chase in an IPL final?The highest total chase achieved in an IPL final history belongs to Kolkata Knight Riders when they chased 200 against Kings XI Punjab in the 2014 final.Punjab started with a massive total of 199/4 after batting first in Bengaluru, with Wriddhiman Saha's unbeaten 115 runs marking the first century ever in an IPL final. Two hundred looked like a match-winning target, but KKR went on to register one of the biggest chases of all time.MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinionHaving lost Robin Uthappa at the start, Manish Pandey came out to play aggressively, scoring an amazing 94 off 50 balls. KKR managed to cross the target of 200 with seven wickets in hand and had three balls remaining to seal their second title.Despite several high-scoring finals, the record is in place for well over a decade and the closest attempt yet was by the Chennai Super Kings, who scored 171 against Gujarat Titans when chasing in a rain-interrupted match.KKR, on the other hand, hold the two best successful chases of all time including the 192 runs chased against CSK in the 2012 final.CHECK: RCB vs GT IPL 2026 Final LIVE scorecardHighest successful chases in IPL finalsYearTeamOppositionTargetScore2014Kolkata Knight RidersKings XI Punjab200200/72012Kolkata Knight RidersChennai Super Kings191192/52018Chennai Super KingsSunrisers Hyderabad179181/22023Chennai Super KingsGujarat Titans171171/52008Rajasthan RoyalsChennai Super Kings164164/72020Mumbai IndiansDelhi Capitals157157/52022Gujarat TitansRajasthan Royals131133/3DafabetBEST ODDS AND OFFERSCLICK TO BETRelated links:Live cricket matches todayAll the latest cricket newsAll the IPL-related news

In Year 2 as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, head coach Liam Coen wants to see Trevor Lawrence continue to push the ball more downfield."Our average depth of target went up towards the second half of the season, but we've got to keep pushing that envelope a little bit – especially with him and BT, that connection," Coen said last week, via Jaguars.com.From Weeks 10 through 18 of last season, Lawrence ranked third among all quarterbacks in average depth of target. Lawrence was also third during that same stretch in percent of pass attempts that traveled at least 20 air yards, per PFF.That willingness to push the ball downfield was likely a product of Lawrence's comfort within the offense growing as the year went on. Coen now wants to see that trend continue into 2026 and for the full season.Having another full offseason operating in Coen's scheme should help faciliate more of those downfield opportunities, specifically by Lawrence continuing to build chemistry with his wide receivers, especially Brian Thomas Jr.In today's NFL, an offense consistently plotting its way down the field with 10-plus play drives is a difficult way to regularly put up a lot of points. Explosive plays are needed."Just getting to that page where he, BT, Parker, Jakobi, specifically, they all really know what each other are doing and what on each concept, the spacing and areas of what those guys can do at a high level," Coen said. "What are some of the weaknesses to be able to throw to each player a little bit differently. Not every guy is going to run the route teh exact same way, and mastering that. Like mastering how each guy runs a route and being able to adjust to some of those things I think is criticial for us moving forward."This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Coen wants Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence to continue pushing ball downfield

Host Switzerland (9-0) looks to complete its quest for its first IIHF World Championship gold medal on Sunday when it takes on Finland (8-1) for the championship at Swiss Life Arena in Zurich, Switzerland.How to Watch Switzerland vs FinlandWhen: Sunday, May 31, 2026Time: 2:00 PM ETTV Channel: NHL NetworkLive Stream: Fubo (try for free)Leonardo Genoni (EV Zug, Switzerland) stopped all 20 shots he faced on Saturday as Switzerland advanced to its third straight gold medal game with a 6-0 semifinal victory over Norway. Six different Swiss players scored, with Christoph Bertschy (HC Fribourg-Gottéron, Switzerland) getting the go-ahead goal at 17:36 of the first period before the hosts broke the game open in the second period with tallies by Denis Malgin (ZSC Lions, Switzerland), Ken Jäger (Lausanne HC, Switzerland) and Damien Riat (Lausanne HC). Nico Hischier (New Jersey Devils) and Théo Rochette (Lausanne) added markers in the third period as well.Finland erased a 2-1 deficit after one period with three goals in the second period to secure its first spot in the gold medal game since 2022 with a 4-2 win over previously unbeaten Canada. Captain Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers) tied the game at 2-2 just 49 seconds into the second period before Konsta Helenius (Buffalo Sabres) put the Finns in the lead at the 11:28 mark. Patrik Puistola (Örebro HK, Sweden) staked Finland to a 1-0 lead 3:30 into the game and Aatu Räty (Vancouver Canucks) added an insurance marker at 12:50 of the second. Sven Andrighetto (ZSC Lions) leads the tournament with 15 points while Hischier’s six goals are tied for second in the event. Riat, Malgin and captain Roman Josi (Nashville Predators) each have five goals. Genoni picked up his third shutout of the tournament on Saturday and enters with a .973 save percentage and 0.50 goals against average. Four players have four goals apiece for Finland, including Puistola, Raty, Jesse Puljujärvi (Genève-Servette, Switzerland) and Anton Lundell (Panthers), with Barkov leading the team with 11 points. Justus Annunen (Predators) comes in with a .925 save percentage and 1.72 GAA.Switzerland clinched first place in Group A on the final day of group play on Tuesday with a 4-2 win over Finland.This is a great hockey matchup that you will not want to miss; make sure to tune in and catch all the action.Live stream Switzerland vs Finland on Fubo: Start your free trial now!With Fubo, you can watch live television without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. Fubo carries a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, Comedy Central, and much more. The best part is you can try it out today for free.Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.

Kai Havertz makes history despite Arsenal defeatKai Havertz etched his name into Champions League history after opening the scoring for Arsenal against PSG in Saturday's final.The German international became just the third player to score in Champions League finals for two different clubs.Havertz netted the winner for Chelsea in the 2021 final against Manchester City, and he was on target again on the biggest stage five years later.However, his early strike ultimately proved in vain as PSG came out on top in a penalty shoot-out after the sides could not be separated over 120 minutes.Only two other players have managed the feat of scoring in Champions League finals for different clubs. Cristiano Ronaldo found the net in finals for both Manchester United and Real Madrid, while Mario Mandzukic scored for Bayern Munich and Juventus.In the modern Champions League era, which began in 1992/93, only nine players have scored in multiple finals. Alongside Havertz, Ronaldo and Mandzukic, the list includes Lionel Messi, Gareth Bale, Raúl González, Samuel Eto'o, Sergio Ramos and Vinícius Júnior.

'Something went terribly wrong' with Max Domi's surgery after Maple Leafs season ended originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Max Domi played through a back injury during the 2025-26 season.He appeared in 80 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and then he had surgery when the season ended.There's where something went wrong, according to Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun.Simmons reports that Domi chose to have the surgery done by his own surgeon rather than the one the Maple Leafs would've picked.But then this:"Something went terribly wrong with the surgery. For public consumption, no one is saying what. Almost every operation on a professional athlete is followed by a press release that indicates that successful surgery has taken place. Whatever happened here wasn’t deemed successful. Apparently, Domi could not walk in the days following surgery, which created significant alarm. His status remains in doubt for the coming season."MORE: Mitch Marner is making the Maple Leafs miserableThat's a really scary situation.It was clear something wasn't quite right when the Maple Leafs put out this press release after the surgery:"Forward Max Domi underwent offseason surgery to address an issue he played through during the 2025-26 season. Due to complications arising from the procedure, Domi will be out indefinitely. Domi will continue working with the club's medical staff and will be re-evaluated at the start of training camp."That wasn't the standard, all-is-good kind of news. It suggested concern.The reporting from Simmons affirms that something isn't right here.Now, the 31-year old forward's health becomes of the utmost concern for Maple Leafs fans.It's less about whether he can play hockey again. It's about whether he's healing and getting better and just able to live comfortably.Domi is still under contract with the Maple Leafs for two more seasons at $3.75 million per season. Right now, there's much more to worry about.More NHL news:A special, emotional moment for K'Andre MillerHenrik Sedin's son is excelling in a different sportElias Petersson trade plans may be missing a key pointWould the Maple Leafs trade Easton Cowan?Alex Ovechkin's mom is playing a role in his retirement decision

DeMeco Ryans might need to hold Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. out of practice in the coming weeks.Not because he's hurt or dealing with a lingering issue. It's far from that. For the safety of the rest of the players and the ability to run drills properly, benching the recently-paid defender might be the only way that goal can be accomplished. It might be a slight issue for Ryans during drills, but it's a great problem for the Texans to have as they look to get over the hump and play for their first conference title appearance next January.“Will continues to wreck practice,” Texans Ryans said Thursday while laughing. “I’m probably going to have to sit him out here soon because we have to be able to actually practice. He just keeps wrecking practice. Let’s just keep doing that, keep causing havoc.“That’s what he does. I was showing guys, that’s what he does on Sundays as well. So, it’s no surprise that Will is the guy for everyone to watch the intensity at which we operate. That’s how Will Anderson plays. That’s how I want everybody to be.”#Texans HC DeMeco Ryans says he might have to sit Will Anderson Jr. during some upcoming practices because he keeps wrecking everything:“We have to be able to actually practice.”😂 https://t.co/R728KVDIcUpic.twitter.com/FFlmXq3yv1— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 28, 2026Anderson, the former No. 3 overall pick in 2023, continues to improve entering his fourth season. How much better can he get? That's the terrfying thought since he peaked last season as Houston's top defender, finishing top 10 nationally in sacks, pressures, QB hits and tackles for loss amid a 12-win campaign. By the end of last season, Anderson was unstoppable. The Texans knew that type of production was irreplaceable, which is why they coughed up a new three-year, $150 million extension, making him the highest-paid non-QB in the NFL while locking him up with the franchise through 2030.In three seasons, Anderson has blossomed into perhaps the league's second-best pass-rusher, trailing only All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett. In the regular season, he's a constant 10-plus sack artist, but has thrived in the postseason, totaling eight sacks, eight tackles for losses and 11 quarterback hits in six playoff games.“There’s definitely more for Will,” said Ryans. “On the field, he’s always fine-tuning his craft. He’s working extra. He’s working on the small intricacies of hand placement and those things as a pass rusher."Every rep or drill at practice, someone in the stands comes away with a "wow" moment from the Terminator. On the sidelines, no one is surprised what he's able to accomplish.Kamari Lassiter on Will Anderson Jr.:“Nothing Will does surprises me, like nothing. During football, outside of football, he’s one of a kind. Whenever I see Will wreck a play up in practice, or in a game, I’m just like ‘good job, do it again.’ I know he’s gunna do it again &… pic.twitter.com/9PPRxEcAVx— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) May 30, 2026“Nothing that Will does surprises me,” Texans Pro Bowl corner Kamari Lassiter said. “During football, outside of football, nothing that he does surprises me. He’s one of a kind."I feel like he hasn’t even tapped into the level that he really wants to tap into and that’s the scary part.”This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: 'Will continues to wreck practice': Texans have a good problem with star DE

Chad Tracy Praises Caleb Durbin After Multi-Hit Game originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox pulled off a big trade for Caleb Durbin this offseason, but so far, the young infielder has struggled at the plate.Durbin hasn’t produced offensively as many expected, but on Saturday, in Boston’s 9-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians, the third baseman came through. Durbin went 2-for-4 with a single in the sixth inning and an RBI double in the eighth, while he finished the game with two RBIs.After the game, Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy shared plenty of praise for Durbin and how he played in Boston’s win.“He’s getting the ball up off the ground, and he’s got some big hits in big spots,” Tracy said of Durbin postgame on Saturday. “He’s swinging the bat better.”If Durbin can start hitting the ball as he did on Saturday, it will be a big boost to the Red Sox offense, which needs all the help it can get.Durbin is now hitting .182 with one home run and 20 RBIs this season with the Red Sox, as it’s been a disappointing season for the 26-year-old.Boston acquired Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, and a compensation-round draft pick in the 2026 MLB Draft from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Kyle Harrison, David Hamilton, and Shane Drohan.More MLB: Sonny Gray Details Adjustments He Made In Red Sox Win Over Guardians

Cornucopian moved a step closer to the Breeders'Cup with a win in the Aristides stakes at Churchill DownsCoady Photography Renee TorbittThe final leg of the Triple Crown races for three-year-olds is coming, but the race for the Breeders’ Cup is just beginning. The Bob Baffert-trained Cornucopian took a huge step forward towards those year-end World Championship races with an impressive win in the Aristides Stakes at Churchill Downs. Aristides Win Shows Development For Cornucopian A son of Into Mischief, Cornucopian has always been highly regarded. Since winning the initial start of his career by 5 ¾ lengths at Oaklawn Park, big things were expected from this Kentucky-bred. After being thrown into the deep waters of the 2025 Arkansas Derby in just the second start of his career, where he finished a respectable fourth after setting a sizzling pace, this grandson of Distorted Humor ran just once more as a three-year old (second place finish at Aqueduct). As is the case with many young athletes, time and training have allowed him to figure some things out. Coming into the Aristides (a race named for the first Kentucky Derby winner) off two wins in three starts this year, Baffert’s blossoming four-year-old would certainly be put to the test against a solid field. Breaking alertly under jockey Flavien Prat, Cornucopian was right there contesting a hot opening half mile (22.20 opening quarter, 44.93 half mile) in this six-furlong (3/4 of a mile) sprint. Muscling to the lead and flexing towards the finish, those fast early fractions were no factor as he repelled the vastly more experienced Roll On Big Joe (25 lifetime starts, 19 top three finishes) and finished a strong length and a quarter to the good. “Those early fractions were slow by California time”, smiles Bob Baffert. “He’s very talented but has been a little green. We might have rushed him a little bit last year but he was very professional in this race. He switched leads like he was supposed to and finished like a good horse does. We have always expected big things because he broke his maiden at Oaklawn with real brilliance.”Cornucopian provided his owners and trainer Bob Baffert with a nice Stakes win at Churchill DownsDanny Brewer Breeders’ Cup Sprint Might Be In The Cornucopian Future The natural thing that happens in the 21st century sports world is to think about what’s next. A powerful score in a well-ran race against good company brings thoughts of bigger prizes such as the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland on October 31. Yes, this $1.1 million purchase from the Keeneland yearling sale in September of 2023 looked better than a fresh bottle of moonshine in the Aristides, but his hall of fame conditioner will leave the Breeders’ Cup speculation to others for now. “The Breeders’ Cup is a long ways off and we are just thinking about the here and now”, says Baffert. “Charlie Whittingham once told me Thoroughbreds are like strawberries, they can go bad overnight so we are not planning too far ahead. The way he responded when they came at him on the lead was the sign of a good horse. It is always great to win Stakes races at Churchill Downs because they are never easy and I am happy for the owners.” Cornucopian has now won four races in seven lifetime starts with one second place finish. His career earnings are at $462,155 and the win in the Aristides provides a stipend toward Breeders’ Cup entry as it is one of the Dirt Dozen races that helps qualify horses for the year-end World Championships.This article was originally published on Forbes.com

When Liverpool announced on Saturday that the club was moving on from head coach Arne Slot, attention almost immediately turned to Andoni Iraola as the most likely replacement, with the 43-year-old Basque trainer on the market after announcing six weeks ago that he would depart Bournemouth at the end of the season.It took less than 24 hours for that speculation to turn into something far more certain as widespread reports today have emerged setting out Iraola not just as the most likely next head coach of the club but with formal talks set to begin with the goal of appointing the protege of legendary Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa this week.From The Times’ Paul Joyce to The Telegraph’s Dominic King to TalkSport’s Ben Jacobs, the briefing has gone out from the club and the briefing is that Iraola is their man and that they’re ready to talk contract with their next head coach—because, let’s be clear, the club wouldn’t have put this briefing out if they weren’t confident.In fact, it would hardly be surprising if talks are already well underway with Iraola, who it should be noted has a slighter resume than Slot—or previous Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers—with little experience in Europe or playing more than a game a week. Tactically and personality-wise, though, he does seem a perfect fit.Iraola spent most of his career with Atheltic Bilbao, and he has credit the years he played there as captain under Bielsa for forming his tactical foundations and convincing him to continue in football as a manager. He favours a heavy pressing system and demands a work rate from his players that can at times border on extreme.His preferred system is a 4-3-3 with a heavy workload placed on the fullbacks to dominate their entire flanks and uses a defensive midfielder dropping between the centre halves both for buildup and as part of a defensive trio in a high line tasked with doing the bulk of the work when an opponent does manage to get past the press.Quick transitions and a fondness for going over the top or quickly switching play to stretch defences are another hallmark, and if this all sounds a little like heavy metal football, well, it bascially is. He is, after all, a protege of Marcelo Bielsa, and it was Bielsa’s ideals that were embraced in Germany and became gegenpressing.A social consciousness is also a hallmark of Bielsa, and Iraola looks to have a little of that as well, managing Rayo Vallecano—La Liga’s most overtly left wing club—for three years before joining Bournemouth. All of which is to say that while his resume may be thin, what’s there seems a perfect fit for Liverpool and the club’s fans.

Florida State has lost its top commitment in the 2027 recruiting cycle. Four-star safety Mekhi Williams, who pledged in March of 2025, announced on social media Sunday that he is decommitting from the program. The move comes after he officially visited the Wisconsin Badgers."After careful consideration, and a long talk with my family, I have decided to decommit and will not be attending Florida State. I truly appreciate all the time, effort, and support you have shown me through the process. I wish the program success. Thanks again to the coaches for everything!" Williams said.He is the nation's No. 197 recruit and the No. 17 safety per 247Sports composite rankings. He's also the No. 21 prospect in the state of Florida.FSU still has some nice talent with four-star recruit linebacker Gregory Batson and edge Anthony Cavallaro, plus they landed three-star defensive lineman Eric Vaulx Jr. on Sunday morning. However, losing Williams is a major blow and another indication of how the Seminoles are struggling in the recruiting department.As things currently sit, Florida State has the No. 39 recruiting class nationally and the No. 9 class in the ACC for the 2027 cycle, according to Rivals.Thank you for the opportunity again. pic.twitter.com/aQEM5BXhC5— Mekhi Williams 4⭐️ Defensive back (@Mekhiwilliams__) May 31, 2026Contact/Follow us @FSUWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes and opinions. You can also follow Matthew on X @StarConscienceThis article originally appeared on FSU Wire: FSU Football: Mekhi Williams decommits from Florida State

AHMEDABAD, India (AP) — Gujarat Titans was restricted to 155-8 by defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League final on Sunday.Washington Sundar finished on 50 not out, hitting five fours in his 37-ball innings. No other Gujarat batter topped 20.Pacer Rasikh Salam took 3-27 in his four overs.Bengaluru won the toss and chose to field at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.The final is a rematch of the first playoff on Tuesday when Bengaluru beat Gujarat by 92 runs in Dharamsala.___AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - MAY 30: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on May 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images Texas Rangers lineup for May 31, 2026 against the Kansas City Royals: starting pitchers are Jack Leiter for the Rangers and Michael Wacha for the Royals.The Rangers look to try to sweep the Royals this afternoon. Evan Carter, who got hit in the foot with a pitch on Friday, is sitting for the second day in a row. Alejandro Osuna, who was hit in the finger while bunting yesterday and left the game, is starting.The lineup:Pederson — DHJung — 1BNimmo — RFBurger — 1BDuran — SSOsuna — LFHigashioka — CLopez — 2BHelman — CF1:35 p.m. Central start time. The game is a pick ‘em.

Club to let €22m Arsenal loan option expire to negotiate lower feeHSV have opened talks over a permanent transfer, but reports suggest they want to pay less than €10m for the 26-year-old.Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesHamburger SV are trying to negotiate a lower fee for Fabio Vieira, with the German club set to let their €22m option to buy from Arsenal expire despite wanting to keep the midfielder.Vieira spent the season on loan at HSV, and Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports News in Germanyreported earlier this week that the Bundesliga side had opened talks with Arsenal over a permanent deal.HSV have also made clear to the player that they want to keep him and build their team around him, with Vieira open to staying.The problem is the fee.When HSV signed Vieira on loan, the agreement included a €22m option to buy.If they wanted to avoid negotiations, they could simply activate it.Instead, Hamburger Abendblatt now report that the club will allow that option to lapse while continuing talks with Arsenal and Vieira’s representatives.That was always the likely outcome. A €22m deal would be a record fee for Hamburg, and it was difficult to see them paying that level of money after only just returning to the Bundesliga.Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesThe club is wary of returning too quickly to the kind of spending that helped send them into the second tier in 2018.The gap between the clubs may still be hard to bridge, however.Ryan Taylor of the Mirror recently reported that HSV were hoping to do a deal for less than €10m. That is well below Vieira’s option price and, given his output, also well below what Arsenal are likely to consider fair value.Currently, he is valued at around €18m.Vieira finished the 2025/26 season with 13 goal contributions for a bottom-half Bundesliga side, despite a disrupted start to his campaign.His influence has been clear enough that HSV to want to keep him, but that does not mean Arsenal should accept a cut-price deal.After years of shifting on players cheaply to clear the decks, the wider message from Arsenal’s approach to sales this summer is that interested clubs must pay fair fees.Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty ImagesDavid Ornstein has reported in The Athletic that Arsenal are demanding £18m to £20m for Gabriel Jesus, for instance, and are prepared to keep him until the end of his contract in 2027 if the right offer does not arrive.If the same principle is applied to Vieira, Hamburg’s hopes of landing him for less than €10m look ambitious, to say the least.For now, talks are continuing, but the agreed €22m clause will not be triggered.Hamburg want Vieira, Vieira is open to staying, and Arsenal are willing to talk.The issue is whether HSV can get anywhere near a fee Arsenal would actually accept.Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images

The prospect of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe raises unsettling theological implications.

We seem to have forgotten more or less everything.

The reading crisis is real, but the solution does not require new inventions.

Lexington SC completed its season in a scene that would have been difficult to imagine a year ago: players sprinting onto the field, a home crowd celebrating a championship, and a team that had gone from the bottom of the table to the top of the league lifting the trophy.THE YEAR OF THE HORSE 🐴🏆 pic.twitter.com/k22fQSkF1h— Lexington Sporting Club Women (@LEXSCwomen) May 31, 2026After conceding first and chasing the match for much of the night, Lexington rallied past Carolina Ascent FC for a 3-1 extra-time win in the 2026 USL Super League Final. Mia Corbin opened the scoring for Carolina with a left-footed strike from outside the box just before halftime, but McKenzie Weinert equalized in the 72nd minute before Lexington took control in extra time through goals from Regan Steigleder and Addie McCain.The victory completed a remarkable turnaround for Lexington, which claimed both the Players’ Shield and the Super League Final after a 35-point improvement from the previous season. The win also carried extra weight because Lexington had rarely come from behind during the season, entering the final with only one win all year after conceding the first goal.The matchup had already shown how little separated the two sides. Lexington and Carolina drew 1-1 in Lexington on October 25, before Lexington won 2-1 in Charlotte on February 7. Carolina answered with a 1-0 win in Charlotte on April 11, a result that evened the season series heading into the final.Lexington entered the night with one of the league’s most dangerous attacking groups. Cat Barry led the team and the league with 15 goals, while Weinert and McCain each added eight. Sarah Griffith contributed four goals and four assists.Carolina’s attack came in with a more balanced profile. Rylee Baisden led the Ascent with five goals, followed by Maddie Mercado with four, before returning to the Seattle Reign, and a group that included Sydney Studer, Corbin, and Jill Aguilera on three each. Audrey Coleman led the team with five assists, while Corbin and Aguilera each added three.The opening half reflected the pressure of the occasion. Lexington pushed the game with intensity, pressing high and creating most of the sustained attacking moments. Carolina goalkeeper Martinez had a few nervous moments early, but each time she recovered well enough to keep Lexington from turning pressure into the opening goal.Carolina’s best route forward came through line-breaking passes. The Ascent were not able to control the half for long stretches, but when they found moments to bypass Lexington’s pressure, they looked dangerous.That approach paid off just before halftime. In the lone minute of first-half stoppage time, Carolina broke through. After a strong run and pass from Lily Nabet released George out wide, the ball eventually fell to Corbin outside the box. Corbin struck a left-footed effort to give Carolina a 1-0 lead at the break against the run of play.The second half opened at a frantic pace much like the first half, with both teams trading attacks in a much more open stretch. Weinert quickly became one of Lexington’s most important outlets, repeatedly threatening to get in behind Carolina’s back line. Carolina’s defense recovered well, with Addisyn Merrick in particular doing important work to keep Weinert from turning those runs into clean chances.Martinez also became a steady presence for Carolina, looking comfortable claiming balls into the box from corners and free kicks. That was especially important as Lexington began to pile up set-piece opportunities.As the half progressed, Lexington continued to push more numbers forward. Carolina dropped deeper into its defensive third and did well to block shots and close down chances before they became clear looks at goal. The game stretched in both directions, with Carolina still carrying the confidence of a 12-match unbeaten streak and Lexington throwing more and more pressure at the Ascent back line.In the 61st minute, Weinert broke through again and drew a foul from Jenna Butler just outside the box. Butler was shown a yellow card, and Griffith put the ensuing free kick on goal, forcing Martinez into a save that went out for a corner. The stretch from the 60th to 70th minute brought a series of Lexington set pieces, but Carolina continued to survive.In the 71st minute, Lexington nearly found its breakthrough. Weinert got a terrific chance, only for Meaghan Nally, playing in place of the injured Sydney Studer, to come up with a crucial block.One minute later, Lexington finally broke through.The equalizer came from a move involving Griffith, Barry, and Weinert, with Weinert finishing to make it 1-1 in the 72nd minute. It was a deserved goal for Lexington’s pressure and for Weinert’s constant work as the outlet running behind Carolina’s defense.The goal also came with a worrying moment for Carolina, as Tyler Lussi was injured on the play and eventually stretchered off with an injury to her knee. Play did not resume until the 77th minute, and Carolina made a triple change, bringing on Taylor Porter, Audrey Coleman and Emily Morris for Lussi, Corbin, and Nabet.Despite the pace and pressure, Lexington still had not made a substitution by the 86th minute. There was also a potential penalty shout involving Allison Pantuso in the 87th minute, but the game continued. Seven minutes were added to the second half, and Lexington finally turned to the bench in stoppage time, bringing on Hannah White and Amber Nguyen for Weinert and Barry in the 91st minute.The final minutes of regulation were chaotic. Emily Morris received a yellow card in the 94th minute for a hard tackle on Nguyen, and Carolina had to survive a scramble in front of its own goal. The Ascent cleared the initial danger, and Martinez saved the follow-up attempt to send the final to extra time.Lexington made another attacking change to begin extra time, bringing on Tati Fung for Darya Rajaee. The move helped keep the pressure on Carolina, and Lexington’s set-piece strength again became decisive.In the 96th minute, Bourgeois delivered a corner into the box, and Regan Steigleder headed Lexington in front. It was Lexington’s 18th set-piece goal of the season.Carolina’s frustration showed shortly after, with Porter receiving a yellow card in the 98th minute for a foul on Fung. The Ascent then made changes in the 101st minute, bringing on Ava Cook and Emily Moxley for Merrick and Shae Groom. Lexington also adjusted, with Griffith coming off for Nicole Vernis.In the 104th minute, Lexington found the goal that sealed the final. White played the ball across the box to McCain, who was left open in front of goal. Martinez got hands to the effort, but the ball deflected off McCain and into the net to give Lexington a 3-1 lead near the end of the first half of extra time.Carolina brought on Brianna Martinez for Aguilera at halftime of extra time and continued to press, but the Ascent struggled to create the kind of clear chances needed to mount a comeback. Lexington, on the verge of a 10th home win of the season, managed the final stretch well.Carolina’s final look came deep into stoppage time, when Butler had a chance in the 121st minute. Lexington held on, and when the final whistle came in the 123rd minute, the field filled with celebration.For Carolina, the defeat ended a 12-match unbeaten run and a second half of the season built on consistency, defensive resilience, and the league’s best road form. The Ascent entered the final with 10 road wins, the most in the league, and again showed the ability to absorb pressure and punish teams in transition.But the night belonged to Lexington as it completed one of the league’s defining season-long stories. From worst to first, becoming the Players’ Shield winners and the playoff champions, Lexington SC ended the year with the double and the first Super League Final trophy in club history.afterparty.mp4 pic.twitter.com/lJBECJyhuY— Lexington Sporting Club Women (@LEXSCwomen) May 31, 2026

ST. GALLEN, Switzerland (AP) — A World Cup warmup game between Switzerland and Jordan ended in chaos amid extreme weather on Sunday ahead of a tournament where severe thunderstorms are forecastThe match referee blew the final whistle in the 88th minute after several minutes of heavy rain pounded the field with the Swiss leading 4-1 in their last game before flying to the United States.The Swiss squad did a lap of honor and some players completed post-game interviews before the broadcast noted the teams had been summoned by Norwegian referee Rohit Saggi and told to prepare to go back on the field and complete the 90 minutes.The Swiss soccer federation then sent a message to international media on WhatsApp: “We will play the last minutes. Match is not over.”Play resumed after a 15-minute delay with water slowing the ball and splashing up from puddles with every tackle. A second final whistle was blown within about three minutes.Heavy rain and electric storms are likely at some World Cup games in the U.S. A year ago, six games at the FIFA Club World Cup were put into weather delays totaling 8½ hours.The tight match scheduling for national broadcast networks worldwide is much more complex at a World Cup. Switzerland dominated Sunday’s game against World Cup debutant Jordan, getting first-half goals from the penalty spot by Breel Embolo and Granit Xhaka, either side of a shot by Dan Ndoye.Jordan cut the lead on Odeh Al Fakhouri’s strike from the outside the penalty area in the 52nd, and Swiss substitute Christian Fassnacht made it 4-1 in the 79th, just before the rain started.On Tuesday, Switzerland heads to a training camp in San Diego to prepare for World Cup games against Qatar, Bosnia-Herzegovina and co-host Canada.Jordan is the underdog in a World Cup group with defending champion Argentina, Austria and Algeria.___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Real Madrid's French forward #10 Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior hug each other at the end of the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Real Oviedo at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on May 14, 2026. (Photo by Oscar DEL POZO / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Real Madrid forwards Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr have finished the Champions League seasons as top scorer and joint-top assist-getters respectively.Kylian Mbappe finished the season with 15 goals in 11 Champions League games. The player just behind him was Harry Kane with 14, and the closest player to the Frenchman that played in the final was Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who had 10 goals in the competition in third place.Obviously, he would have had to score six goals in the final to win the golden boot, which would have been an impossible task.Vinicius Jr, on the other hand, had eight assists across 14 matches in the competition. Bayern’s Michael Olise also had eight assists.Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were joint-third in the standings with six assists each.Mbappe and Vinicius Jr would have wanted a lot more than these awards this season, and they would be interested in winning the competition next time around, even if that means not being chart-toppers.

There is a version of this recruitment where Tennessee wins. Where the volume of the orange machine, the proximity of Knoxville, and the gravitational pull of the Volunteers' resurgence swallow Miles Brown whole before the Kentucky Wildcats ever gets a real answer.That version never happened. If you want to understand why — if you want to understand how Kentucky continues to defy the geography of SEC recruiting, pulling four-star talent out of Tennessee soil with the Vols lurking — you have to understand what cornerbacks coach Allen Brown and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman were actually doing every time they drove to Westview. They weren't selling. They were showing up. The 2027 cycle has produced no shortage of high-drama recruiting battles. NIL packages swung decisions in the portal. Social media commitments flipped before the confetti cleared. In an era where programs throw numbers at teenagers and hope something sticks, Kentucky's pursuit of Brown was almost defiantly old school.Kentucky visited Westview more than once. They sat across the table from Brown and told him the truth about what the program is building, what his role in it would look like, and what development at the cornerback position under their staff actually means. No smoke. No mirrors. Just an honest football conversation between staff that believed in their player and a player who noticed the difference. Now, Brown goes inside his commitment with our Lee Ann Herring Olvedo.I knew I was a Wildcat a couple days after their second visit to my school when they sat down with me and just kept it real.Read that again. He knew after the second visit. Not the scholarship offer. Not the official visit weekend. Not the social post or the hype video or the NIL conversation. The second time Allen Brown walked into Westview and kept it real across a table—that was the moment. Everything after was a formality.That is what program-building actually looks like. It is exactly what Ole Miss, Louisville, and Tennessee failed to replicate in their final pushes. Brown talks on what ultimately made him choose to head to the Bluegrass.The relationships I built with the staff and just watching and seeing what they're building.At the end of the day authenticity won out for him when he evaluated Ole Miss, Louisville, and Tennessee and still chose Lexington. It tells you to "go with your gut"—he is not reading from a script. He's issuing a verdict.The football piece matters too, and it should not be overlooked. Jay Bateman runs a defense that develops defensive backs for the next level. The scheme fits Brown's skill set as an instinctive, physical corner who thrives in press coverage. Kentucky has produced NFL-caliber secondary players under Stoops' watch, and Brown clearly studied that track record. He is not coming to Lexington to fill a roster spot. He is coming to be developed. "Building the culture the right way and progressing on and off the field" — that is the third thing Brown said. On and off the field. He is talking about a total investment in who he becomes, not just in what he does on Saturdays. That the Wildcats won a four-star corner from the state of Tennessee on those terms speaks loudly about where this program stands in 2026."Value relationships and make sure the ones you build are real — and go with your gut." — Miles Brown, advice to future recruitsThat is the advice Miles Brown offers to every recruit still working through their list. He has been through the noise, the visits, the pitches, and the competing visions for his future, and what he came out believing is something elegant in its simplicity: real relationships are distinguishable from manufactured ones. And they're worth choosing every time.The Kentucky Wildcats are 3–0 in the battles that matter most. They beat Tennessee on Tennessee's turf, in Tennessee's living room, for a Tennessee kid. They beat Ole Miss when momentum was building in Oxford. They beat Louisville despite the Cardinals' proximity and pull.They won every single one of them by doing the same thing: showing up consistently, speaking honestly, and trusting that the program could sell itself if given the chance.Miles Brown gave them that chance, and now he's a Wildcat. Welcome to Lexington, Miles. Kentucky earned this one.This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Why CB Miles Brown picked Kentucky football over Tennessee

Liverpool confirm defender will leave the club this summerLiverpool Confirm Ibrahima Konate Exit as Defensive Era EndsLiverpool have confirmed that Ibrahima Konate will leave the club when his contract expires this summer, bringing an end to a five year spell at Anfield that delivered trophies, progress, and plenty of debate about what might have been.The France international is set to depart at the end of June, closing the book on a Liverpool career that began in 2021 when he arrived from RB Leipzig with a reputation as one of Europe’s most powerful young centre backs.For Liverpool, this is another significant squad marker at a time when uncertainty already surrounds the club. With no permanent manager currently in place, Konate’s exit adds another major defensive decision to an already complicated summer.Five Years, Five Trophies, One Big QuestionKonate leaves having made 183 appearances for Liverpool, scoring seven goals. Those numbers tell part of the story, but not all of it. At his best, he gave Liverpool pace, aggression, recovery speed, and the kind of physical dominance that elite sides need when defending large spaces.His medal collection is impressive. Konate was part of the squad that won the Premier League in 2024/25, a campaign that restored Liverpool to the summit of English football. He also leaves with an FA Cup, two Carabao Cups, and the FA Community Shield on his record.That is a fine return by almost any measure. Still, the lingering question will be whether Liverpool ever truly saw the full version of Konate consistently enough. Fitness issues and selection rhythms sometimes prevented him from building the long, uninterrupted run that defines the very best defenders.Liverpool Face Defensive RebuildKonate’s departure now forces Liverpool to act with clarity. Replacing a centre back of his profile is not straightforward. Power, pace, Champions League experience, Premier League pedigree, and international status rarely come in one tidy, affordable package.The club’s statement was respectful and brief, noting that Konate departs with “our gratitude and appreciation” and that “everyone at the club wishes him the best for the future.”For Ibrahima Konate, the next step could still be a major one. For Liverpool, his exit is both a farewell and a warning. The defensive rebuild cannot wait.

Alexander Zverev has won nine titles on clay and reached the French Open final in 2024 [Getty Images]Alexander Zverev underlined his status as favourite for the French Open men's singles title with a clinical straight-set win over Jesper de Jong, which sent him through to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the sixth consecutive year.The second seed, 29, has long been earmarked as a future Grand Slam champion but despite reaching finals at three of the four majors, he is still searching for a maiden title.However, with world number one Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both eliminated in the first week, plus defending champion Carlos Alcaraz absent because of injury, the German's route to the title has opened up.Showing few nerves on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Zverev came through his fourth-round match 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-1."It was a bit difficult in the beginning," Zverev said on court. "I didn't start strong and he started really fast. But once I found my rhythm, I was comfortable."My game is there. It's about showing it on the match courts."The loss ends De Jong's career-best run at a Grand Slam after entering the main draw as a lucky loser, but the Dutchman - who was defeated on his 26th birthday - will climb back into the world's top 100.Zverev will face 27th seed Rafael Jodar, who he described as "incredibly talented", in the last eight.The Spanish teenager, playing in his second Grand Slam, dropped just five games across the final three sets as he fought back from two sets down to beat compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta.Sabalenka v Osaka in French Open night sessionKostyuk beats four-time French Open winner SwiatekThere was little to separate Zverev and De Jong in the opening set, with De Jong going toe-to-toe with the heavy-hitting German in the baseline exchanges while also showing attacking intent on the approach.He raced into a 3-0 lead, breaking Zverev in his opening service game and giving away just two points on his own serve, and later led 3-0 in the tie-break before Zverev reeled off seven consecutive points to take the first set.Zverev had to be patient in the second, waiting until the 10th game to convert one of only two break-point opportunities offered to him, but was far too strong for his opponent in a 24-minute third set.Relentless on serve in the final two sets, he conceded just six points across nine service games while also showing his formidable touch at the net, winning 29 of 38 points.A former world number two, Zverev has won 24 ATP titles in his career, including seven Masters crowns, is a two-time Tour Finals champion and won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.A Grand Slam title has so far eluded him but he has come agonisingly close, including at Roland Garros in 2024 when he led Alcaraz by two sets to one, and he is unlikely to get a better opportunity to end his wait for a first major.He is one of only three top-10 seeds left in the draw, one of three players with experience of playing in a major final and is competing on a surface on which he has won nine of his 24 titles.Perhaps most crucially, while many of his rivals have battled through multiple five-set matches, Zverev has won three of his four matches in straight sets and spent a little over nine hours on court.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Why is Ben Cutting trending in India during IPL 2026 final? Revisiting the SRH hero who denied RCB the IPL title in 2016 originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:RCB bowlers dominated against GT in the final of the IPL 2026 season. SRH cult hero Ben Cutting denied RCB from winning the IPL title in 2016.Ben Cutting started to trend in India during the IPL 2026 final. Why is Ben Cutting trending in India during the IPL 2026 final between RCB and GT?Ben Cutting established himself as a cult hero at Sunrisers Hyderabad with his match-winning performance in the final of the IPL 2016 season. Cutting's all-round performance against RCB in Bengaluru helped SRH win their maiden IPL title as he broke thousands of RCB hearts.After David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan gave SRH an excellent start, the middle-order crumbled a bit as RCB bowlers were looking dangerous at one point. However, it was Yuvraj Singh and Ben Cutting's knocks of 38 and 39, respectively, that helped SRH post a total of 208.Then, while defending the total, Cutting took two wickets for 35 runs in his four overs as SRH restricted RCB to 200 runs in 20 overs and lifted the trophy.As RCB returned to Ahmedabad to defend their title in 2026, some fans on social media spoke about Cutting's epic performance that denied RCB the title in 2016.The biggest disrespect to Ben Cutting's career is they compared him with Jason Holder to save humanity vs RCB. pic.twitter.com/E4IugVuM4F— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) May 31, 2026Who will be Ben Cutting tonight?#RCBvsGT— Jahnavi Kapoor (@JahnviKapoor_FC) May 31, 2026Today is the IPL final, and only two questions matter:Who will save humanity?Who will become Ben Cutting tonight? 😏🏏#RCBvsGT#IPL2026— Vipul Dabgotra (@VipulAura) May 31, 2026MORE: Most IPL titles won by a player: Full list of players with the most IPL trophiesCan Washington Sundar become GT's Ben Cutting in the IPL 2026 final?GT batters, who consistently performed throughout the season, crumbled under pressure in the IPL 2026 final as RCB bowlers thoroughly dominated the first innings.Washington Sundar, though, proved to be the only headache for RCB as he scored an unbeaten half-century and helped GT post 155 runs on the board.After Sundar's brilliant knock with the bat under pressure, the GT fans would hope that the off-spinner weaves his magic with the ball too and miraculously win GT the title with an all-round performance like Ben Cutting from 2016.Gill and sai gone but still Ben Washington cutting scares me a lot 🤧— RDK 🐿️🇪🇸 (@Champ_VK18) May 31, 2026washington sundar is our ben cutting man 💔— Pallavi Anand (@PallaviSAnand) May 31, 2026washington GT's ben cutting kya 💔— nou (@mandhanahive) May 31, 2026MORE: Fans rage after Cox catch ruled not out in IPL 2026 finalThe Cricket News Opinion: Ben Cutting IPL's 'streets won't forget' player'Streets won't forget' is a popular term used by football fans to describe a player who achieves cult status in a team with a memorable performance in a particular tournament or a season.However, in most cases, those performances are one-off flash-in-the-pan moments as they fail to maintain consistency. Ben Cutting did not really produce any more memorable moments after that IPL final performance, however, SRH and IPL fans will forever remember Cutting. To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 30: First baseman Ty France #25 of the San Diego Padres tries to pick off center fielder Dylan Crews #3 of the Washington Nationals at first base in the eighth inning at Nationals Park on May 30, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Nationals held off the Padres for a 9-4 victory after scoring 6 runs in the seventh inning. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) | Getty Images San Diego Padres (32-25) at Washington Nationals (30-29), May 31, 2026, 10:35 p.m. PSTWatch: Padres.TVLocation: Nationals Park – Washington, DCListen: 97.3 The FanBuenos días. pic.twitter.com/ryJfz8L1LU— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 31, 2026this is a lineup graphic post→ https://t.co/iUBDqlACVspic.twitter.com/4H48j8Bskt— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) May 31, 2026Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying itRemember Gaslamp Ball is basically a non-profanity siteOut of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threadsJoin the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community postsNew, improved notifications system!

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 26: Braxton Ashcraft #35 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park on May 26, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) | Getty Images Minnesota Twins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, May 31, 2026, 1:35 p.m. ETLocation: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PABroadcast: KDKA AM/FM, SportsnetPitching Matchup: Zebby Matthews (1-2, 2.37 ERA) vs. Braxton Ashcraft (4-2, 2.75 ERA)The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home today against the Minnesota Twins looking to grab a win.Please remember our Game Day thread guidelines.Don’t troll in your comments; create conversation rather than destroying itRemember Bucs Dugout is basically a non-profanity siteOut of respect to broadcast partners who have paid to carry the game, no mentions of “alternative” (read: illegal) viewing methods are allowed in our threadsThe commenting system was updated during the summer. They’re still working on optimizing it for Game Day Threads like ours. If you don’t like clicking “Load More Comments”, remember that the “Z” key can be your friend. It loads up the latest comments automatically.BD community, this is your thread for today’s game. Enjoy!

Real Madrid could sign two central defenders in the summer transfer window, depending on which players end up leaving the club, according to a report from AS.Real Madrid will start preparing for life under new manager Jose Mourinho after the elections, with the defense being the most important position for reinforcement.The report stated that Raul Asencio’s future is not certain, and Mourinho will directly decide whether he stays or leaves. If he does leave, then Real Madrid could potentially sign two central defenders in the summer.It is also mentioned that former Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate — who has just announced that he would be leaving the club on a free transfer this summer — could be in the mix once again.Real Madrid had shown interest in him before, and may have reignited it in the last week or so, and it remains to be seen which players the club ends up signing.The World Cup would also be a good indicator of which players Real Madrid could go for, and it will be interesting to watch how it all unfolds.

Glasner ready with Milan presentation for big job interviewAlthough Arne Slot is in the running, Oliver Glasner remains the Milan favourite and it’s reported he is doing homework to prepare a presentation in Tuesday’s meeting.LEIPZIG, GERMANY – MAY 27: Oliver Glasner, Manager of Crystal Palace, acknowledges the fans while wearing his winners medal following the UEFA Conference League Final 2026 match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid at Football Arena Leipzig on May 27, 2026 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)The Rossoneri are currently without a coach, director of sport, CEO or technical director after Max Allegri, Igli Tare, Giorgio Furlani and Geoffrey Moncada were all sacked in one fell swoop.As part of a total rebuild, they are seeking a new coach, and the shortlist currently seems to be down to two names.Milan race down to Glasner and SlotMILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Liverpool FC at Stadio San Siro on December 09, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Slot is available after he was sacked by Liverpool, just a year on from winning the Premier League, but Glasner remains the hottest target following his Conference League success at Crystal Palace.According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, a meeting is planned on Tuesday in Austria for both Glasner and potential new technical director Ralf Rangnick.The tactician is doing his homework and seemingly preparing a presentation based on the current strengths and weaknesses of the Milan squad.He wants to be ready for any difficult questions, and with a list of the players he feels should stay or go.That includes the long selection who will return to base at the end of failed loan experiences at other clubs.The Corriere della Sera warns that even Rangnick isn’t entirely certain as technical director, because RedBird Special Advisor Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes there shouldn’t be too much power given to one figure.

What salary cap concerns do the Boston Celtics have as they rebuild this offseason? The Celtics fell short of the expectations they themselves raised with a wildly overachieving 2025-26 NBA Regular season, falling in the first round of the 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that spent most of the season far below them in the East standings.As a result, Boston's President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and the rest of the front office have their work cut out for them when it comes to retooling a clearly non-playoff ready squad. What constraints does the team have when it comes to spending? What exceptions, draft picks, and other tools do they have at their disposal to add talent to the team? And what else do we need to know about the cap heading into next season?The folks behind the "98.5 The Sports Hub" YouTube channel put together a clip from a recent broadcast featuring Spotrac salary cap guru Keith Smith on to break all of the above down. Check it out below!Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKpiTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: What salary cap concerns do the Celtics have as they rebuild this offseason?

📸 PSG’s stunning party at the foot of the Eiffel TowerWhenever PSG wins, Paris is always a party.After the Champions League victory, the Parisian players paraded this Sunday through the Champ-de-Mars, all the way to the Eiffel Tower.Unlike last year, the parade was held on foot, which allowed the fans and the club to be much closer to one another.A look back in pictures at those moments in the middle of the supporters.By the way, before it began, Ousmane Dembélé promised to come back next year with the third title. And if...Now, on to the Parc des Princes, where the Parisians are expected at 9 p.m.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Katie McCabe and Niamh Charles involved in blockbuster WSL transfersThe rumour mill is churning with major moves reportedly on the horizon in the Women's Super League.According to two separate reports from The Athletic and the BBC, both Katie McCabe and Niamh Charles are on the move with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City all involved.First, Manchester City are "set to sign" Charles from rivals Chelsea. The English left-back has a single year left on her contract, and her medical is "still to be completed."Meanwhile, with one blockbuster exit incoming, Chelsea are setting up their own headline conquest in signing Katie McCabe from Arsenal on a free transfer.Manchester City were initially interested in the Ireland international, but Chelsea had pursued McCabe's signature "for some time." It might require a few takes next season when we see Charles and McCabe wearing new colours!

VALLADOLID, Spain (AP) — Australia swept the Valladolid Sevens finals after comeback wins over the No. 1-ranked teams in the rugby sevens world series on Sunday.The men won their first trophy since November 2022 in Hong Kong when they overcame South Africa 26-19 in a sweltering Estadio Jose Zorrilla. The Blitzboks had a last-gasp try ruled out by a forward pass.The women comfortably handled the United States 27-14 in their final after finally stopping New Zealand in the semifinals. New Zealand had won the last five tournaments since February, beating Australia in the final every time.Australia won without two of its best players with Maddison Levi and Tia Hinds missing through injury, and take a two-point lead over New Zealand into the world championship decider next weekend in Bordeaux, France.The Australian teams celebrated their first title double since 2018 in Sydney.The men were the bigger surprise. Even though they beat South Africa 24-14 in pool play on Saturday, the Australians were still underdogs in the final.South Africa made an ominous 14-0 start through converted tries by Shilton van Wyk and Sebastiaan Jobb. But by halftime the score was level after Australia scored on both wings through James Turner and Ethan McFarland, who broke through two defenders each.To start the second half, Australia captain Henry Hutchison made a try-saving tackle on Tristan Leyds, who was then sin-binned for a cynical foul.In his two-minute absence, Australia romped ahead 26-14 after tries by Ben Dowling and Hutchison, the latter after a spectacular restart catch by a leaping Aden Ekanayake above his head.But then Turner was red-carded for a high tackle with about 90 seconds left. South Africa rallied with a try by Gino Cupido, who then offloaded to van Wyk for what appeared to be the try forcing extra time. But the try was scrubbed after video replay showed Cupido's pass was forward.South Africa is still favored to remain world champion next weekend as it has a four-point lead over Argentina.The New Zealand women will also be favored in Bordeaux. They blew a 26-14 lead over Australia with three minutes to go in the semifinals.Australia was pushed into New Zealand's half of the draw after losing to the U.S. 14-10 in pool play for the first time in eight matches.But the final was less dramatic. Huge miss-out passes by Australia exposed the U.S. on the wings and Heidi Dennis scored two routine tries in their 22-7 halftime lead. Dennis was named the player of the final, though, thanks to two outstanding try-saving tackles from behind on Alex Sedrick and Sereana Vulaono.___AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

2026-05-31T14:14:57Z BANGKOK (AP) — A blast on Sunday at a building in northeastern Myanmar said to have been storing explosives for mining has killed more than 45 people, according to rescue workers and independent media reports.About 70 other people were injured in the explosion that took place around noon in the village of Kaungtup, in Namhkam township.The area, located about 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of the Chinese border, is under the control of the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an ethnic armed group which has engaged in sporadic fighting against Myanmar’s central government.A rescue worker who rushed to the site of the blast told The Associated Press that 46 bodies, including six children, had been recovered by Sunday evening and taken for cremation.The rescuer, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said 74 injured people had been transported to the township hospital and rescue operations were continuing. Another rescuer in Namhkam, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said about 40 people were killed and more than 100 houses near the blast site were damaged.Myanmar media outlets, including Shan State’s online Shwe Phee Myay news agency, reported death tolls ranging from 50 to 55. They published photos and videos showing smoke from the explosion and damaged buildings and debris in its aftermath. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported the explosion caused multiple deaths and injuries, with many residential houses being severely damaged, but did not give figures. Read More It said that according to preliminary investigations, the blast occurred at a site where large quantities of explosives used for mining operations were stored.Local authorities are currently providing relief, medical care and resettlement assistance to affected residents, said the report.The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, said in a statement released on its Telegram channel that gelignite had been stored by the group’s economic department for use in mining and stone quarrying sites, and that an investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway. Gelignite is widely used in mining and rock blasting, but can become highly unstable over time and if poorly stored.The Ta’ang National Liberation Army, or TNLA, is a member of the rebel Three Brotherhood Alliance, and has controlled the Namhkam area since the alliance and its allies launched a major offensive against the military in northeastern Myanmar in late 2023. The alliance members and other ethnic armed groups have long fought for increased autonomy.The TNLA signed a ceasefire with Myanmar’s military following China-mediated talks in October last year, but relations remain tense.Myanmar has been in turmoil since the army seized power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, triggering widespread popular opposition. After peaceful demonstrations were put down with lethal force, many opponents of military rule took up arms, and large parts of the country are now embroiled in conflict. 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

DALLAS (AP) — Paige Bueckers is setting records off the court with a jersey from her debut game last season selling for $64,720, according to MeiGray.MeiGray, an authentication company and photo-matching store that partners with the Dallas Wings, reported Friday the jersey that Bueckers wore in her WNBA debut on May 16, 2025, sold for twice the previous mark for a game-worn WNBA jersey. A'ja Wilson held the previous record with a uniform she wore in the WNBA Finals last season selling for $32,150, according to MeiGray. “That's insane to me just thinking about it. I'm feeling very blessed that people are investing in women's sports," Bueckers said at practice over the weekend. “You can see the rise in popularity and the growth."Bueckers then joked that she “wouldn't pay $10 for my own jersey,” before saying that it was humbling.MeiGray has partnerships to photo-match, authenticate and auction off memorabilia with the Wings, Golden State Valkyries and Las Vegas Aces.Bueckers was the WNBA Rookie of the Year last season and had 10 points in her debut game against Minnesota. Her No. 5 jersey was the second-best selling one in the WNBA last season behind Caitlin Clark. None of the Indiana Fever star's game-worn jerseys have gone on sale.The Wings have the fourth best record in the league right now and are led by Bueckers, who is averaging 19.4 points and 5.1 assists.___AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Jake Cooper has scored six goals in his Altrincham career [Shutterstock]Long-serving Altrincham centre-back Jake Cooper has signed a new deal to keep him at the National League club for the 2026-27 season.The 25-year-old will commence his sixth season with the club, having first moved to Moss Lane on loan from Rotherham United in 2022.He has gone on to play 128 times for the club and scored twice in 31 games this past season."Jake's a player who's done really well for us from the minute we walked through the door at Alty and I'm delighted he'll be part of the squad again for the new season," Altrincham manager Neil Gibson told the club website. "He's someone who is growing as a leader within the group and I'm really looking forward to continuing to work with him."

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has turned Detroit’s middle-six wing picture into a real camp issue for the Red Wings. After putting up 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points in 60 AHL games and adding offense in the playoffs and at the World Championship, the Red Wings now have a right-shot winger with a stronger case for NHL minutes than he had a year ago.Detroit already gave Brandsegg-Nygard a 14-game NHL look in 2025-26, where he had one assist with the Red Wings. His next step is no longer abstract development talk. It is whether his scoring, forecheck pressure, and physical game can push him into a middle-six competition on the wing when Red Wings camp opens.A stronger scoring profile changed the roster conversationBrandsegg-Nygard finished his first full North American season near the top of the AHL rookie leaderboard, ranking fifth in goals and tied for seventh in points in the league at the time of the May update from Detroit’s team site. Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson pointed to his skating, forechecking, shot, and physical play as the traits driving that progress.That matters for a winger trying to move from call-up depth into a usable NHL role with the Red Wings. A right wing who can pressure pucks, finish chances, and handle pro pace has a clearer path to a bottom-six job with room to climb if Detroit needs offense on a third line.His late-season push gave Detroit more to think aboutBrandsegg-Nygard did not fade once the regular season ended. He scored the overtime goal that kept Grand Rapids alive and had seven points, including four goals, in seven playoff games at that point.His spring kept rolling with Norway. He helped Norway reach the World Championship semifinals and played a leading offensive role during that run.Detroit had already seen signs earlier in the year that Brandsegg-Nygard looked more NHL-ready during the season. The difference now is the production matched the eye test in higher-pressure games.The Hall of Fame link is historical, not a player compThe Hall of Fame name tied to this conversation is Mats Sundin, who was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and remains one of the biggest figures in Maple Leafs history. The available reporting does not draw a direct style comparison between Sundin and Brandsegg-Nygard.The factual connection is Norwegian hockey history. Detroit picked Brandsegg-Nygard at No. 15 overall in 2024, and he became the first Norwegian selected in the first round of the NHL draft.Camp should center on a wing job, not just a prospect labelBrandsegg-Nygard now enters Red Wings camp as more than a long-range project. His profile fits a roster fight on the wing, especially if Detroit wants a right-shot option who can forecheck, finish, and hold up in a checking role.The clearest question is whether that game earns Brandsegg-Nygard a roster spot out of camp or puts him first in line for an early recall. If Detroit leaves one middle-six wing opening unsettled, Brandsegg-Nygard has given the organization a concrete decision instead of an easy stash in Grand Rapids.

Andoni Iraola announced he would leave Bournemouth in April [Getty Images]Liverpool will open formal talks with Andoni Iraola this week over becoming their new head coach.The Reds sacked Arne Slot on Saturday, just a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title. The club hopes to have a successor in place as soon as possible with departing Bournemouth manager Iraola the leading contender.The 43-year-old delivered the Cherries' finest season to date with a sixth-placed finish - only one spot and three points behind Liverpool in the table - to qualify for next season's Europa League.Spaniard Iraola announced in April that he would leave the club this summer and has also been linked with Crystal Palace and AC Milan.The decision to sack Slot was made by Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group chief executive, and Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, who believe the club needs a more front-foot, aggressive and urgent style of football.Iraola was appointed at Bournemouth when Hughes was technical director at the Cherries, a role he left in 2024 to join the Reds.Liverpool have qualified for next season's Champions League despite finishing the Premier League season with 60 points - their lowest tally since the 2015-16 campaign and 25 points behind champions Arsenal.The Anfield club spent £415m last summer on six players - the highest outlay in a window by a British club - in a bid to retain their title.They broke the British transfer record to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle for a fee of £125m having previously bought Bayer Leverkusen and Germany playmaker Florian Wirtz for a then-club record £116m.Iraola, a former Spain right-back who spent the majority of his playing career at Athletic Bilbao, started out in management in Cyprus with AEK Larnaca.Spells with Mirandes and Rayo Vallecano in his homeland followed before joining Bournemouth in 2023.'A risk worth taking' or 'a backwards step'? Fans on Iraola approachCarl: If he doesn't have us playing like crabs going side to side again for another season and understands that central midfielders don't play right-back then he'll be an improvement that's for sure. It would be a gamble but his style of football at Bournemouth is much closer to what we loved under Jurgen Klopp than anything Slot could bring. A risk worth taking.Mike: Very happy with the Iraola approach. His attitude and work-rate, and that of his teams, is a better fit for Liverpool and what we need to right the wrongs of this season.Mez: No-brainer. He's been the manager of the season.Mark: I have always enjoyed how Bournemouth played under Iraola and feel a similar excitement to when we announced Klopp. Thanks, Arne, we will never forget the 20th title, but a change is needed.Alex: Iraola would be a gamble. Do Liverpool have the squad for heavy metal football now? We're in a bit of a mess with last year's signings still to settle in and older players leaving. Luis Enrique would be my choice. He might be tempted to take on a new challenge after Paris St-Germain's Champions League victory.Ken: I want Liverpool to take a bit of time to get this appointment right. Sporting director Richard Hughes needs to redeem himself by doing everything he can to persuade Luis Enrique to swap Paris for Liverpool. If that fails, then Iraola would be an acceptable alternative given his body of work in the Premier League.David: I've got nothing against Iraola but this seems like a backwards step for Liverpool. I'd want a manager who has a proven track record of winning trophies, not one who delivers mid-table positions at the end of the season.Paul: Iraola would be a risk. Bournemouth, and Brighton and Brentford, just seem to be a brilliantly run clubs and that no matter who comes in they punch well above their weight. When supposedly top managers leave these clubs they don't do as well as is expected of them and this could also be the case for Iraola. I think we need to try and get a more experienced coach who will immediately command the respect of the dressing room.Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Liverpool - what do you want to know?