Gay conservative influencer Dave Rubin failed to cite a single way in which President Donald Trump has improved the lives of average Americans since taking office during a recent debate with progressives. Rubin was the featured guest on the most recent episode of Jubilee Media’s Surrounded, in which he faced off against 14 people — out of the 20 assembled — whom the show described as “far-left Democrats” on topics like “wokeism,” the Republican party’s blind loyalty to Trump, and trans rights. Related Gay conservative Dave Rubin cited in DOJ indictment for pushing Russian propaganda for money Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today While debating his claim that “If you still vote for Democrats in 2026, you’re voting for broken cities, broken school, and broken borders,” influencer Parker Sedgwick asked Rubin to name “one main metric that Donald Trump has made better off since he got in office?” “An example would be GDP, unemployment, inflation, etc,” Sedgwick prompted. Rubin simply cited the president’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” which he claimed was “kicking in now.” When pressed to address any of the economic indicators Sedgwick had mentioned, Rubin stumbled over his words and eventually just asked whether Sedgwick was arguing that the economy was better under President Joe Biden. Sedgwick said he was, citing GDP and median wage growth and the rates of inflation and unemployment during the last year of the Biden administration, as well as lower stock market growth rates under Trump — stats backed up by Jubilee’s fact-checking. In fact, throughout the debate, Jubilee’s fact-checking consistently undercut and outright refuted many of Rubin’s claims, including those about billionaires fleeing New York City under Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D); Israel’s continued bombing and military operations in Gaza; Iran’s nuclear program before and after Trump exited the Joint Plan of Action and its current oil exports. Later in the show, Rubin pointed to the president’s immigration policies as a key success, telling another debater — podcaster Naima Troutt — that “if Donald Trump did nothing else other than close the borders he has already done more than enough for the country.” While discussing his claim that “Wokeism did more damage to America than Trump ever did,” debaters Kyla Turner and Mason of OneHandPolitics both brought up Rubin’s sexuality in relation to his conservative politics. Mason noted that “the coalition that [Rubin is] a part of… condemns people for having children when they’re in gay marriages or says things like people that are of particular sexual orientations don’t deserve the same equal rights.” Rubin explained that he’s fine with differing opinions on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ people raising children within the MAGA coalition, “as long as you’re not trying to litigate someone’s life.” Mason pointed to Rubin’s pal Michael Knowles’s participation in a video earlier this year announcing the launch of Greater Than, a campaign, backed by a coalition of 47 anti-LGBTQ+ organizations, to overturn the Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. Rubin claimed he was unfamiliar with the campaign, and noted that Knowles has had dinner at his house. He then conceded that if Knowles “was trying to lead some organization that was going to go against my civil rights, well that is where obviously we would have our difference of opinion.” “But I also respect people’s religious beliefs,” he continued. “They’re allowed to have their religious beliefs. Their religious beliefs are not allowed to legislate my life.” Rubin argued that it was “completely absurd” to claim that Knowles’s position is that of the MAGA coalition. When Turner later brought up hateful anti-LGBTQ+ comments posted when Rubin announced on social media that he and husband David Janet were expecting children via surrogacy, Rubin was forced to admit that most of those comments came from “people on the right.” For the show’s final segment, Rubin chose to debate California State Senate candidate Maebe Pudlo, who also performs drag under the name Maebe A. Girl. Rubin agreed with Pudlo’s overall assertion that “trans rights are human rights” and said he believes that “trans people should be treated equally under the law 100%.” However, he argued that “the issue for most people on the right is about the kids,” repeating false anti-trans claims that children as young as 5 years old are being “chemically castrated” and that young people are identifying as trans due to “social contagion.” Pudlo proceeded to decimate Rubin’s premise, explaining that prepubescent children may transition socially, but do not receive any transition-related medical care. She added that the whole point of prescribing puberty blockers to adolescents, under the care of parents and doctors, is to give them time to make decisions about other medical interventions. “Puberty blockers have been around for over 30 years. They’ve been prescribed to kids who are experiencing precocious puberty. And yet, this has never been an issue for the right,” she continued. “It is only an issue for the right when somebody decides, ‘Oh, I’m trans.’” “So you don’t think there’s any element of social contagion over the last 10 years?” Rubin asked. “I don’t. And even if there is, that’s okay, because there’s nothing wrong with being trans,” Pudlo argued. “And if somebody decides to detransition, that’s okay, but they can’t tell everybody else that they’re not allowed to transition.” As to Rubin’s ludicrous argument that no one is passing laws designed to limit the rights and freedoms of transgender adults, Pudlo pointed to the wave of anti-trans legislation that has swept through the U.S. in recent years. “The reality is, laws are not protecting trans people,” Pudlo said. “If they were, trans people would not be disproportionately unemployed, unhoused, and experience discrimination in healthcare settings.” Rubin’s performance in the Surrounded debate quickly drew ridicule, according to Raw Story. “Why did Dave Rubin even choose to do this?” Hasan Piker wrote on X. “He would’ve lost the debate to an empty chair. Truly the dumbest the right has to offer.” “I have watched a lot of Jubilees and I have never seen anyone get their a– handed to them this badly,” former MSNBC host Mehdi Hassan wrote on X. Podcaster Brian Shapiro echoed Hassan’s description of Rubin’s performance as “embarrassing,” adding that Rubin “is a complete imbecile.” why did dave rubin even choose to do this? he would’ve lost the debate to an empty chair. truly the dumbest the right has to offer pic.twitter.com/quuR0MRjcU— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) June 1, 2026 I have watched a lot of Jubilees (!) and I have never seen anyone get their ass handed to them this badly. Just embarrassing. https://t.co/RBuuov3Nim— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) June 1, 2026 This is just about every MAGA talking head in media. Dave is a complete imbecile. This was embarrassing. https://t.co/BdC74Args9— Pushing The Limits With Brian Shapiro (@TheBrianShapiro) June 1, 2026 Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 02 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01763-7Large-scale measurements of atmospheric hydrofluoroolefins show that their levels are rising, but the implications are unclear.

Painting the cabinets made them unrecognizable from their orange-ish wood stain before and had a big impact on the whole kitchen. READ MORE...

The Pittsburgh Steelers and edge rusher Nick Herbig have agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract extension that includes $42 million in guaranteed money, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Herbig, a fourth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, is approaching his fourth NFL season. He tallied a career-high 7.5 sacks last season as a part-time starter.

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Tuesday that star slugger Aaron Judge has been playing through shoulder soreness, per The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty.The level of discomfort has been described as “nagging,” but it advanced over the weekend. Judge has been diagnosed with a bone bruise discovered from imaging and is expected to meet with a doctor on Tuesday nightThis story will be updated.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – The Detroit Tigers made a controversial roster move.Second baseman Gleyber Torres returned Tuesday, June 2, after missing the past 27 games while recovering from a left oblique strain, forcing a 26-man roster move to activate him.The Tigers optioned infielder Hao-Yu Lee to Triple-A Toledo.In doing so, the Tigers kept shortstop Zack Short."He's going to be back," manager A.J. Hinch said of Lee before Tuesday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, facing left-hander Steven Matz. "I don't know when, but I expect him to learn from this and be more comfortable the next time he gets his next opportunity."TIGERS TAKEAWAYS: Tarik Skubal responds to trade rumors, sends message about lossesDuring his stint with the Tigers, Lee hit .205 with two home runs, four walks and 24 strikeouts across 32 games, posting a .579 OPS. The 23-year-old also registered minus-three defensive runs saved over 131⅔ innings at second base, while also spending 66⅓ innings at third base."He definitely needs to play both," Hinch said of Lee at second and third base. "I stuck with second base a little bit because of Kevin [McGonigle] at third and the way we're using shortstop with Shorty and Z-Mac [Zach McKinstry]. He can play both, which we're going to keep open to give him an opportunity when something opens up."There's no doubt Lee is a better hitter than Short.MORE: Detroit Tigers takeaways: Tarik Skubal responds to trade rumorsBut Short – a 31-year-old journeyman who would've needed to be designated for assignment because he doesn't have any minor-league options remaining – is an above-average defender at shortstop, giving the Tigers three shortstops on their roster with Short, McGonigle and McKinstry.Both Lee and Torres are right-handed-hitting second basemen.Torres hasn't played for the Tigers since May 2.This story will be updated.Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers option Hao-Yu Lee to Triple-A as Gleyber Torres returns

Red Sox's Garrett Crochet 'Not Particularly Close' To Returning Before Injury Setback originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet suffered an injury setback recently as he attempts to return to action more than one month after landing on the injured list due to left shoulder inflammation.Crochet said Sunday that he believed the setback (lat tightness) was "very minor" and discussed his situation further on Tuesday."Garrett Crochet said he underwent his MRI today but was awaiting results. He said he feels tightness, not pain, and is waiting to hear whether he can resume throwing. Asked how close he was to a return before the lat injury, he said: 'Not particularly close,' given that he had only faced hitters 1x," Alex Speier of the Boston Globe posted on Bluesky.The 2025 AL Cy Young runner-up had been scheduled to throw live batting practice on Tuesday prior to Sunday's news.Crochet was 3-3 with a 6.30 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in 30 innings (six starts) before landing on the IL.More MLB: Red Sox Slugger Reveals Hilarious Birthday Present From New Teammate

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ newly signed defender, former first-round safety Darnell Savage Jr., has received his new jersey number at mandatory minicamp.Courtesy of footage provided by PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh, Savage was spotted wearing No. 31, a likely indicator of what number he’ll wear for the upcoming 2026 season.Jalen Ramsey and Brandin Echols working alongside each other with Darnell Savage (No. 31) in the background watching pic.twitter.com/9fIwVNoUUA— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) June 2, 2026Savage, who was drafted by Green Bay with the 21st overall pick in 2019, played with the Packers for five seasons before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars.Playing for Jacksonville, the Washington Commanders, and the Buffalo Bills in 2025, Savage was expected to sign with the Steelers in March 2026, but the move was reportedly delayed due to an unresolved medical issue.Savage now joins the Steelers’ defense as a strong depth piece in a loaded safety room featuring Jaquan Brisker, DeShon Elliott, Sebastian Castro, Jack Henderson, and seventh-round rookie Robert Spears-Jennings.For up-to-date Steelers coverage, including any offseason moves, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers’ Darnell Savage gets new jersey number at mandatory minicamp

Some Republicans outside polling sites acknowledged how strange it felt to cast a ballot for Representative Thomas Kean Jr., who has not been seen in public for months.

The Bengals and Bears will hold a joint practice ahead of their Aug. 22 preseason game at Paycor Stadium.The teams will work together on Thursday, Aug. 20, marking the second time in three seasons the Bengals and Bears have practiced against each other.Bears coach Ben Johnson and Bengals coach Zac Taylor have a close friendship dating to the 2012 season when they worked together on the Dolphins staff.“It’s very easy,” Taylor said when asked if his friendship with Johnson affects the scheduling, via Jay Morrison of SI.com. “He's been great. So he and I will iron that out over the next couple of days, but they'll come here.”The teams last practiced together in 2024, when rain marred the day. Two Bengals players were lost for the season with knee injuries, as running back Chris Evans and offensive tackle D’Ante Smith tore a patellar tendon.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 4: Nick Herbig #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) | Getty Images They say good things come to those who wait, but for the Pittsburgh Steelers and ascending star pass rusher Nick Herbig, that wait didn’t last for very long. Shortly after Herbig skipped practices today for mandatory minicamp, the team signed Herbig to a four-year deal with $42 million guaranteed and worth up to $100 million. Edge Nick Herbig and the Pittsburgh Steelers reached agreement today on a four-year, $100 million dollar extension that includes $42 million guaranteed per @MikeGarafolo and me. The deal was negotiated by Joe DiBenedetto, Andy Simms and Ken Sarnoff of @1OF1FOOTBALL. pic.twitter.com/NHURhHBxbE— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 2, 2026Herbig had told reporters that he wanted to remain “a Steeler for life” in a media scrum following practice, and head coach Mike McCarthy spoke about Herbig doing the right things during this process. Now we see why there was seemingly so much confidence between the player and coach that a deal would get done. The deal should keep Herbig in Pittsburgh through the 2030 season. With Herbig’s deal done, attention now turns towards re-signing other key members of the 2023 draft class, such as Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, and Darnell Washington. It remains to be seen what the Steelers long-term plans for fellow pass rushers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith are. Both pass rushers remain productive, but are likely nearing the end of their primes. Watt is signed through 2028 and Highsmith through 2027. While I wouldn’t expect either to play anywhere other than Pittsburgh in 2026, their Steelers future beyond this season has to be in question, given their cap figures. But I’d wager the Steelers believe this is one of those good problems to have. What do you thinkof the Steelers extending Nick Herbig? Do you think it’s a good deal? Was this the right move? Let us know in the comments!

Kharim Hughley of Gainesville Georgia during Clemson Tiger Walk before kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, August 30, 2025. | Ken Ruinard / USA Today Network South Carolina / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Clemson is on a recruiting tear. It’s gotten so good that I’ve been swayed to enjoy diving into the film and evaluating the recruits! Here’s my full analysis on every offensive recruit committed as of noon on June 2nd. Check out my video breakdown below or the full article below that:QuarterbackKharim Hughley – 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.9312Hughley’s stock has only risen since his commitment to Clemson in July of 2025. He recently had a banner performance at the Elite 11 retreat which followed a strong junior season. I rewatched his film and was quickly reminded what excited me so much about him. He is only 5-foot-11, but his ability to evade pressure and throw off-platform allows him to get off accurate throws even under dire pressure. He isn’t afraid to step into throws when a hit is coming and can absorb the contact with his thick frame. He’s a gun slinger much like Clemson’s last Gainesville High School QB (Deshaun Watson) and will be fun to watch. He threw for 34 TDs and 10 INTs as a junior while completing 172 of 286 passes (60.1%) for 2,596 yards. He is only a year behind Tait Reynolds so those two will compete to replace Christopher Vizzina. The Tigers will have an exciting, athletic signal caller either way.Wide ReceiverJamarin “Waffle House” Simmons– 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.9504Nicknamed “Waffle House” because he is always open, Jamarin Simmons is a high-end four-star recruit from Tallahassee, FL. He chose Clemson over Florida and Florida State. At 5-11, 165 lbs he projects as a slot receiver, but he played both inside and outside in high school and should be thought of more as an Antonio Williams than a Hunter Renfrow style receiver. He tallied over 900 receiving yards both last season and as a sophomore the year prior. He has good speed as evidenced by an 11.36 100-meter dash which isn’t quite Gideon Davidson/Connor Salmin level speed, but still quite good, especially if his route running is advanced and he lines up in the slot. With Naeem Burroughs coming in for 2026 and then Simmons in 2027, the Tigers are a good place at the slot. Notably, Burroughs is 180 lbs and Simmons is only 165 lbs. It would be most ideal if could add some lean muscle in his senior year and the following offseason before taking the field at Clemson.Trey Wimbley – 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.9043App State was Wembley’s top offer before SMU and Ole Miss offered in the summer of 2025. Clemson followed and shortly thereafter got his commitment. This offer list may seem short for a 4-star, however he was originally a 2028 recruit who reclassified to the 2027 class so his recruiting process was sped up. Wimbley’s father (Prince Wimbley) played with Coach Swinney on the 1992 Alabama National Championship team and Trey went to DW Daniel High School so he was likely destined to be a Clemson Tiger anyway.He ran track and shows good speed running a 11.09 100-meter dash. This shows up in the freshman year film (the only film publicly available) where we looks like a legit deep threat on the outside. He also has a strong 4-star rating and in the most simplistic way looks the part with a muscular 6-foot-0 frame. Given he reclassified, I’d expect some additional development time at Clemson, but he posted 1,072 receiving yards as a sophomore so this certainly seems like a legit high-end take.Julian Cromartie – 247Sports Composite: 3-star / 0.8650Cromartie canceled official visits to Kentucky and Arkansas to chose Clemson during Clemson’s big recruiting weekend. He also held offers from Texas, Texas Tech, and Georgia among other elite programs. He had 824 receiving yards in the football rich state of Texas. His tape doesn’t show elite speed, but it does highlight his strength, toughness, good hands, and ability to high point the football. He’s not as thick as Joe Ngata, but his game reminds me a bit of his or EJ Williams. Not speedsters, but they’d go up and fight for the ball. If we want to be more optimistic, his upside could look like Mike Williams or Tee Higgins.Running BackGary Walker – 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.9394Clemson’s running back recruiting has been interesting. The class of 2026 had no running backs. 2025 brought highly touted 4-star Gideon Davidson, but the two classes before that had a group 3-stars prospects. All of this led to a converted WR starting at RB last year and Chris Johnson Jr. coming via the transfer portal this offseason. With Gary Walker in the 2027 class, Coach Spiller and the Tigers have hit big. Walker is a legitimate bell cow back. He ran for 1,669 yards (9.4 YPC) and 20 TDs as a junior.Watching his tape, I see a physical between the tackles runner — not a scat back or outside runner. At the same time, speed is always what stands out most in running back highlights and his breakaway speed appears better than Adam Randall, Phil Mafah, or Will Shipley. Of course, speed isn’t everything as David Eziomume showed blazing speed on tape but has seen only minimal opportunities as he has yet to master the more technical aspects of the position. Likewise, Gideon Davidson looked like the next coming of CJ Spiller on tape but was only adequate as a true freshman. Still, as hard as it can be to translate a running back’s high school tape to Power 4 football, Walker is an impressive prospect and a critical win on the recruiting trail at a position where they badly needed it.Tight EndCarter Blackwell– 247Sports Composite: 3-star / 0.8750At the risk of reacting more to a well-done highlight tape than the player, I love what I see with Carter Blackwell. Not since Ronan O’Connell has a 3-star recruit’s tape impressed me this much. The diversity of skill showcased stands out. The Lee County (South Georgia) prospect clocks in a 6-foot-4 220lbs and showcases his skills as a big pass catching target, especially in the intermediate game and short/goal line passes. He also lays some strong blocks and levels a few big hits on special teams. In addition, he is a quick and strong blocker, getting to where he needs to be to spring running backs for a big time. Nicholas Pollock– 247Sports Composite: 3-star / 0.8600At the time of his commitment, Pollock was the lowest rated recruit in the class, but that’s largely because he played outside linebacker and projects as a TE in college. That defensive experience lends credence to his toughness and at 6-foot-3 220lbs I’d expect his blocking to become a strength. He may take time to develop as a pass catcher, but with the new 105-man roster limit taking a few extra players with long-term upside is good practice.His father is Georgia legend David Pollock. Since becoming a father myself, I’ve enjoyed listening to his Family Values Podcast which you can find here. They’ve interviewed Dabo Swinney and David Pollock expressed his appreciation for the Christian values Coach Swinney refuses to sway from. That likely played a big role in his son Nicholas choosing Clemson over Wake Forest and other offers. I expect Pollock to be a hardworking, character guy with legitimate upside, but it may time some time to develop.Offensive LineLuke Starcevic – 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.9131Hailing from 30-minutes outside of Fargo, ND, Starcevic likely didn’t see the highest level of competition, but he can do it all. He plays defensive end, tight end, and offensive line. He is physical, fast, and big. We’ll see how well he adapts to adding weight to playing offensive line full time (he is listed at 250lbs right now), but if he can keep his athleticism with more weight, he could be a top-flight tackle. 247 lists him as an interior offensive lineman, but tackle seems more likely. There could be a longer developmental timeline and some built-in risk with the lower competition and weight gain needed, but I love the upside. Other top programs do too. Michigan, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Kansas were all in on this recruitment, but the Tigers won out.JJ Brown – 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.9021When you go into metro Atlanta and beat out Georgia for an offensive linemen, that is about as good as it gets in recruiting. Brown is a 6-foot-5 300lbs true left tackle for Parkview High School (where my sister attended!). His tape shows good initial quickness and impressive pass blocking. Elijah Morrison – 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.8933Hailing from the same metro-Atlanta county as JJ Brown (Gwinnett), Morrison is another Peach State prospect with an officially listed UGA. He plays right guard and is a mauler in run blocking. He moves well on pulls and gets out ahead of the runner better than you’d expect from someone just a hair under 300lbs. There’s minimal film of him pass blocking, but his offer list is strong enough to assuage any real worry. He is in some ways the opposite prospect as JJ Brown in that he is an interior lineman with run blocking prowess while JJ Brown is a tackle with most of his film showcasing his pass protection.Carter Jones – 247Sports Composite: 4-star / 0.8911After official visits to Penn State, Georgia, Tennessee, Carter Jones committed to the Tigers four days before his official visit to Clemson. His high school runs a Wing-T offense so he lacks traditional pass-pro reps. I’d imagine this extends his developmental timeline, but at 6-foot-5 291lbs with an excellent offer list the long-term upside is high. He projects as an interior O-lineman.Don’t forget to check out the video breakdown of this class and subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

Subscribe to Football 301 with Nate TiceApple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeNate Tice & Matt Harmon break down what to expect from every second-year quarterback (and, since we can’t help ourselves, Caleb Williams) heading into the 2026 NFL season. The duo start with the big trade news from around the NFL, including their thoughts on Myles Garrett heading to the Los Angeles Rams and A.J. Brown’s fit with the New England Patriots.Next, Nate & Matt break down expectations for every sophomore NFL quarterback: Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Shedeur Sanders and Riley Leonard.The duo wrap things up with Breakout Watch, as they shout out a player who could be primed for a big season in 2026.(3:10) - NFL news roundup: Myles Garrett to Rams, A.J. Brown to Patriots(37:10) - Second-year QB expectations: Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough(1:16:30) - Second-year QB expectations: Shedeur Sanders, Riley Leonard(1:25:30) - Breakout WatchLAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 28: Jaxson Dart #6 of the New York Giants leaves the field after warm ups before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTubeCheck out all episodes of Football 301 with Nate Tice and the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv

Red Sox Pitching Coach Explains Logic Behind Brayan Bello Opener Strategy originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox have a great starting rotation, but one issue they're still trying to solve is how to handle Brayan Bello's pitching days.Bello has scuffled as a starter this year, going 1-5 with a 9.68 ERA in seven starts. He's been phenomenal out of the bullpen, however, posting a 0.71 ERA in his four appearances following an opener.The problem is that the openers have struggled in front of him, which is a big reason why the Red Sox are 1-3 when Bello's had an opener.Ideally, Bello wouldn't need an opener, but pitching coach Andrew Bailey explained why it's helped him pitch better.#RedSox pitching coach Andrew Bailey on using openers for Brayan Bello: "You're wanting to set [pitchers] up for success... if we can minimize the amount of lefties that he faces, the Boston Red Sox and Brayan are in a better position to succeed." ⬇️Gameplan for Success… pic.twitter.com/Coy41Vhfug— NESN (@NESN) June 2, 2026"You're wanting to set them up for success. I think with Brayan, problem-solving for left-handed hitters is always gonna be the solve we're solving for," Bailey told NESN's Tom Caron. "It's not about us not wanting him to face the first three or four guys. It's about having other teams make decisions on the lineup construction. How can we maximize the right-handed hitters that he goes and faces...because he is so dominant against righties." To Bailey's point, Bello has been much better against right-handed hitters than left-handed hitters throughout his career. Righties have a .685 OPS against him compared to .798 for lefties.Accordingly, Boston's coaching staff is trying to put him in the best possible position to succeed, which is also what's best for the team."If we can minimize the amount of lefties that he faces, the Boston Red Sox and Brayan are in a better position to succeed," Bailey added.The main issue for Bello is that he hasn't gotten much run support, as the Red Sox have scored three runs or fewer in seven of his last eight appearances. Not surprisingly, Boston is 1-7 in those outings, but that's not Bello's fault.More MLB: NESN Analyst Staunchly Doubles Down On Bold Red Sox Playoff Prediction

Rep. Nancy “proud transphobe” Mace (R) is furious that Donald Trump endorsed her primary opponent in the South Carolina gubernatorial race. Last Friday on Truth Social, Trump endorsed South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R) to be the state’s next governor. His long, effusive paean to Evette covered a lot of ground, calling her a “successful Entrepreneur, Businesswoman, and Civic Leader,” saying she has “Courage and Wisdom,” and describing her as “Highly Respected and very popular.” Related Nancy Mace falsely accused this doctor of child abuse & she lost her job. She’s running for Senate. “Pam has my Complete and Total Endorsement,” Trump wrote, “SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” | Screenshot To most people, that sounds like an endorsement. But Mace, who gave up her chance to go back to Congress for another term to run for governor, is telling people that Trump didn’t really endorse Evette. “Pamela Evette is NOT ENDORSED by DONALD TRUMP,” Mace wrote. “Do not believe her LIES.” She added a short video of her standing next to Trump, which was generated by AI. X slapped a community note on her post that said “Trump endorsed Pamela Evette for South Carolina governor on Truth Social the same day this post was made” and explained that the video is AI. | Screenshot Mace then posted a quote from Trump that made it look like Trump endorsed her, which he did not. | Screenshot Early voting has already started in the primary, and election day is June 9, next Tuesday.

Secret Service agents respond near President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump during the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)2026-06-02T19:56:42Z NEW YORK (AP) — And now, Take Two: The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner has been rescheduled — with President Donald Trump apparently in attendance.The dinner, cut short in April by a gunman who prosecutors say was trying to assassinate Trump, will now take place on July 24. It will be a more intimate gathering with “significantly enhanced safety measures and new access procedures,” said Weijia Jiang, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association.Jiang did not say where the dinner would be held. But Trump, on his Truth Social platform, revealed it would be at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue — former site of the Trump International Hotel.The president said he’d been invited to return and speak, and had accepted the invitation. He called the rescheduling “a sign of Strength and Fortitude.” “This announcement is a very good thing in that we cannot allow Lunatics to change our way of life, or even its scheduling,” Trump wrote.He added he hadn’t decided on whether to give his originally intended speech, in which he was widely expected to attack the press. “I don’t know whether or not I will give the same rather nasty statements, at least as it concerns certain people, but we will soon find out,” he wrote. “In any event, it will be a ‘HOT’ ticket!” Rescheduling decision took timeJiang, in her announcement, noted that “rescheduling was not automatic,” and had involved much consideration and input from board members.She emphasized the dinner’s stated purpose: “a celebration of a free press and the vital role of journalism in our democracy for over a century.”“We will not allow an act of violence to have the last word, especially during a year when we are reflecting on the 250th anniversary of America and everything we stand for,” Jiang said. Read More It was not clear how large the rescheduled dinner would be, or whether it would be a full-scale dinner at all. Jiang made reference to a “more intimate gathering” than the original event, attended by close to 3,000 people at the Washington Hilton, but did not give details, saying they’d be shared directly with attendees.Her remarks were in line with recent speculation that a rescheduled event would have to be pared down, a nod to financial as well as security concerns. Concern expressed for wounded officerJiang also made note of the Secret Service officer who was shot in April and has been recovering. “Our thoughts remain with the officer who was injured and with everyone who experienced that evening,” she said. “We are indebted to the US Secret Service, law enforcement and the hotel staff whose swift response protected our guests and our staff.”Though Jiang always insisted the dinner should be rescheduled, not everyone felt the same way. Some critics said they felt it would be a good idea to scuttle the whole event permanently — not only for security reasons, but for what they saw as an unseemly enterprise of journalists hobnobbing in formal wear with the subjects of their reporting.“It undermines the public faith in how the press does its work, and it makes it look like we are pals with the people we cover,” Kelly McBride, an ethics expert at the Poynter Institute, a journalism think tank, said in May. JOCELYN NOVECK Noveck is an Associated Press national writer specializing in culture and gender, and a film critic. twitter mailto

Clemsonbaseball’s transfer portal week has already started with a lot of movement, and now another former high-profile Tiger is reportedly on the way out.Redshirt sophomore left-hander Talan Bell plans to enter the transfer portal, making him the latest Clemson player to explore a move after the Tigers’ 2026 season. Bell joins a group of outgoing names that already includes pitchers Noah Samol, Hayden Simmerson, and Peyton Miller, along with position players Nate Savoie, Jay Dillard and Bryce Clavon.Perfect Game ranked Bell as the No. 33 overall prospect nationally and the No. 5 left-handed pitcher, giving Clemson a blue-chip piece with real two-way intrigue.Bell was eased back into action during the 2025 season while returning from injury, making eight starts and finishing with a 5.56 ERA across 22.2 innings. He struck out 22 batters but walked 15, showing flashes of the arm talent while also struggling to consistently command the zone.The hope entering 2026 was that Bell could push for a larger role, potentially even becoming part of Clemson’s weekend rotation. Instead, after five starts, he moved into more of a bullpen role. He appeared in 13 games this season and finished with a 7.82 ERA over 25.1 innings, recording 23 strikeouts and 13 walks.Bell also got a small look in the outfield, going 2-for-10 at the plate with one home run and one RBI. Clemson baseball’s No. 1 reliever the latest to enter the transfer portal📸 Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co, Ken Ruinard / USA Today Co / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images https://t.co/wECOk1Bq9mpic.twitter.com/o19qHOC6TC— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) June 2, 2026He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, which should give him a real market once he officially enters the portal. For Clemson, though, this is another notable departure during a busy opening stretch of the summer window.Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson baseball loses former top prospect Talan Bell to portal

Here's everything Houston Texans All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. said following Tuesday's OTA practice, including his thoughts on the team's ability to win a Super Bowl and the recent trade of All-Pro and two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.Question: On his mentality at practiceWill Anderson Jr.: “I believe in the process and preparation. Anytime I step on the field, it's an opportunity to get better. As you said, it doesn't matter if it's OTAs, being training camp, walk-through, jog-through, I'm learning how to be a pro still. I can't do a jog-through because I'm going to be on the sideline or I'm going full speed, but that's me training my body to be in these positions that I'm going to be in in a game, training my hands, training my footwork, turning a corner, throwing by, setting edges, everything like that. For me, it's like I've only been wired one way and that's to go full speed.”Q: On if it is fair to say that Super Bowl expectations are something for this teamAnderson: “Most definitely. I think the additions they made in the offseason have been great. I think what we want as a team is right in front of us. I told the guys today when we broke it down, ‘It's a confidence thing.’ I said, ‘Everybody in this circle who believes that this is a Super Bowl team, raise your hand.’ Everybody raised their hand. I said, ‘Well, the front office, the coaches, they made the decision to bring you here because they thought you could help us win that Super Bowl, so you're a Super Bowl caliber player. I look at this team and we've got Super Bowl-caliber players all over the field. It's just about taking that next step. I've thought since the four years I've been here, this has been the best OTAs that we've had, offensively and defensively. Everybody is locked in I love the rookie class that we got. They're adapting really well, getting into the building early, taking care of their bodies, doing meetings, staying extra on the field. But that's the culture that's been built here. Everybody is buying in. This OTAs has been the best OTAs I've seen with everybody buying in offensively, defensively, offense doing their thing, pre-snap, whatever it may look like, defense getting lined up, coverage stuff, defensive line stuff. It's just been a great sight to see and I'm excited for the future of this team.”Q: On the Texans becoming one of the all-time defensesAnderson: “We want to be a staple defense. We want to be a household name defense. We want to be one of the greatest defenses out there. But I think it starts at this time. It starts during OTAs. It starts in meetings. It starts getting out on the field for pre-practice. That's how you become a great defense, taking the little details of your game and fine-tuning them. If you think you know the standard, if you think you're doing the standard, you're not, because the standard is so much higher. More is required for us. Everybody has been buying into that standard. But we talk about being the best defense in the league, it starts now at this time and I think everybody is buying into that and believing that in their heart.”Q: On the defensive line room as a wholeAnderson: “Super athletic, really long, man, can get off the ball really well, use their hands really well. They know the attack system. They bought in super early. Dylan [Horton] has been a guy that's been here with me the four years. To see his progression, to see how he's been doing, he's having a heck of an OTAs and I'm excited about him. Dominique [Robinson], he came, I think, from the Chicago Bears, a good guy, can pass rush. I'm excited about him, too. We have a rookie, [Sabastian] Harsh, who's been great. I told him, ‘You're way more advanced than me when I started as a rookie.’ I'm excited about that room. A young room, excited. They're hungry. We've just got to keep the ball rolling, keep buying into the system, keep buying into the culture and great things will happen.”Q: On DE Myles Garrett being traded to the Los Angeles RamsAnderson: “It was crazy because this has been an ongoing conversation when we work out or we just spent some time together, hang out. I think Myles [Garrett] is a great guy. He's put so much into this game, put so much into the Cleveland Browns. He gave it his all. I'm happy for the opportunity that he has, a new start somewhere. I know he's going to be the same Myles. Huge shout out to him, huge congrats to him. I can't wait to see… I told him I'm happy you're leaving the AFC, he can go somewhere else. But, I'm super excited for him.”Q: On what he does to elevate the other players on defenseAnderson: “That's a good question. For me, I think taking that next step of leadership and differentiating the difference between talking to Will and talking to somebody else has been, like, a really big challenge for me. But I've been taking this step of grace because I remember how it was when I was a rookie and how hard it was. It wasn't easy, especially coming into a system like this, coming to a place where the standard is super high. Just giving the rookies grace, like ‘You're okay. You're good. You're here for a reason. They chose you for a reason, because they thought you're good enough to help this team get somewhere we've never been before.’ But, like I said, their mindset has been really good. They have been great in the building, great on the field, great in the meeting room. There's not a lot that needs to be said to them because they're already on it so much. But, I tell them, ‘This is only your first, second week of OTAs, don't be too hard on yourself. Take some time to reflect on the good things that you've done. Don't always look at the negative. You did it good, how can I be consistent at doing this every single day.’”Q: On the balance of giving rookies grace but also upholding the standardAnderson: “I think there's a fine line just in how you connect with them and how you're saying it. There were a couple of times where it got a little… Will came out, but there was a couple of times you've got to dial it back because not everybody responds to how you may talk to them. Everybody is different. But I think the sense of urgency that I led with and what I'm talking with, it's become easy to understand. Like I said, I told the guys, ‘I've been here for four years and in the last three years, we haven't got past the second round. The sense of urgency in the building is high. What we're trying to achieve is high. So, either get with the program or figure it out.’ But I want everybody to figure it out because I want everybody to be here, and I know that they're here for a reason. So the talk of sense of urgency being on the field, being in practice, how much more do you have to give, how much more is your urgency going up and I think the guys have been responding really well to that.”Q: On what improvements he’s seen from the offense this yearAnderson: “I think you talk about C.J., he has really taken that step of watching the clock, getting the guys lined up, moving with urgency. But he's been the commander back there. He's taken that step as a leader back there to get everybody lined up, to take the initiative, like ‘Let's go’. Everybody is rallying behind him. You've got guys like [G] Wyatt Teller, who I love, he's been that energy booster on the offensive line, getting guys moving around, picking guys up. I'm excited about that group. I could just see the growth in them already. The offense is moving at a much faster pace. I think [Offensive Coordinator Nick] Caley has been doing a good job. They've got Foster [Moreau] with the tight ends, Dalton Schultz, as you know. Those guys are rolling. It's competitive. I laughed the other day. I said, ‘Man, it's going to be a fun training camp,’ because you can see the anticipation of everybody getting out therse. It's going to be one of those where it's going to be a battle every single day, like the physicality on the edges have upped big time with Foster coming in as a tight end. All of those things that they've been working on, they've been doing a really good job of that.”Q: On his relationship with QB C.J. Stroud and what that has meant to himAnderson: “It's meant everything to me. I said in my press conference that it was great to come in with somebody. We weren’t alone. We were No. 2 and No. 3, so we piggybacked and relied on each other a lot during this process because we were going through the same thing. To see each other's growth in this game and to see the leadership skills that we've built and to see the way that we've connected with the guys and to see where we helped take this program to, it's been nice. So just having him have my back and I'm having his back, it's been nice.”Q: On if him signing a contract extension adds more pressureAnderson: “No, honestly, it didn't add any pressure. I kind of changed my mind when I look at pressure. I always say, it's not pressure, it's an opportunity. It's an opportunity to go out and continue to be yourself. I think now the only thing that's risen is I want to hit that next stage of my game, not because of the contract, but because I owe it to myself because I know how much hard work I've put in. I know what I've put into this game, so that's what I want for myself. It's really nothing about the money, it's just about the work that you're putting in, the preparation and the process. That's why I'm always big on preparation and process is because I told them, you can't get to your destination without the preparation and the process. So for me, how much more can I up my preparation, how much more can I up my process to get to where I want to be as a player.”This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: Everything Texans All-Pro DE Will Anderson Jr. said after OTA practice

The National Hockey League announced on Tuesday that it has changed the format for next year’s All-Star Game at UBS Arena in New York.After not holding an All-Star Game in each of the past two seasons due to the Olympics and the 4 Nations Face-Off, the NHL will keep the international theme going for the event which will take place Feb. 5-6, 2027 at the home of the New York Islanders.Five teams — the United States, Canada, Finland, Sweden, and a World squad — will compete in a three-on-three round-robin tournament on Friday, Feb. 5. The teams will be made up of 11 players — nine skaters and two goaltenders — with the league and NHL Players’ Association choosing 30 players who will feature on a fan vote beginning in December. Fans will be able to vote for eight players from each team with the remaining three players jointly chosen by the NHL and NHLPA.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentEach of the five teams will play four 5-minute games with no overtime or shootout in the event of a tie. Teams will receive 2 points for a win, 1 point for a tie and 0 points for a loss. The top two teams will advance to a 10-minute final with the winning side claiming $2 million (USD).2027 NHL All-Star Game scheduleGame 1: USA vs. CanadaGame 2: Sweden vs. FinlandGame 3: World team vs. USAGame 4: Canada vs. SwedenGame 5: Finland vs. World teamGame 6: USA vs. SwedenGame 7: Canada vs. FinlandGame 8: Sweden vs. World teamGame 9: USA vs. FinlandGame 10: Canada vs. World teamThe night before the All-Star tournament will see the NHL Skills competition, which will also see change.Ten NHL players ages 25 and younger will compete in eight events with each player taking part in four of six main events: Fastest Skater, Hardest Shot, Passing Challenge, One Timers, Stick Handling and Accuracy Shooting.The top four point accumulators will advance to a shootout where they will face one of the four All-Star goaltenders. The top two players will then move on to the Obstacle Course Finale. The player with the highest total score will win $1 million (USD).The NHL has had international themes to its All-Star Games in the past. The 1998 event took place a month before the Nagano Olympics and saw a North America vs. World format that lasted through the 2001-02 season.

Missouri football has landed commitments on back-to-back days for its 2027 high school class.Ohio-based offensive lineman Jack Marquard, a three-star prospect, verbally committed to the Tigers on Tuesday, meaning the Tigers landed pledges on two straight days after North Kansas City High linebacker Kobe Rhymes, another three-star recruit, committed to MU on Monday.Mizzou now has 12 verbal commitments in its Class of 2027, which currently is rated as the nation’s No. 28 recruiting class by 247Sports’ composite rankings.Marquard, who hails from Lakewood, Ohio, is listed at 6 foot 5 and 275 pounds and appears to be an offensive tackle prospect. He is the third O-lineman to commit to Mizzou in this cycle, and he reportedly still has official visits planned for Indiana, Duke and Wake Forest this upcoming month.More: Who will pose the toughest test for Missouri football offense in 2026?More: Who has best offense Missouri football will face in 2026? Our rankingsThe offensive lineman, who is ranked as the nation’s No. 1,307 player by 247Sports, was among a group of official visitors to Columbia this past weekend, which also included Rhymes.Rhymes is ranked as the No. 478 prospect nationally and as a top-10 player in Missouri in 247Sports’ composite ratings. The Kansas City product previously visited Kansas and reportedly also will visit Kansas State and Nebraska this summer.Mizzou’s next recruiting class currently checks in at No. 9 in the SEC and includes one four-star prospect and 11 three-star commits.The early national signing period for the 2027 class begins Dec. 4.This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football lands two commitments to 2027 class in two days

SAN ANTONIO — When the New York Knicks got off the bus at Frost Bank Center on Tuesday for the NBA’s media day session ahead of Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals, all eyes were on the biggest Knick’s little finger. Reserve center Mitchell Robinson walked into the arena with the pinky finger on his right hand unencumbered and unadorned:That’s notable, because the 7-foot offensive rebounding machine just had surgery to repair a fractured fifth metacarpal on that right hand — reportedly last Tuesday, the day after the Knicks wrapped up a four-game sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.Robinson did not speak with reporters on the several days the Knicks practiced between finishing off the Cavs and traveling to Texas to face the San Antonio Spurs and was limited to individual work rather than full participation during those practices. He also wasn’t one of the nine Knicks players made available during New York’s media day session Tuesday.When Knicks head coach Mike Brown took the podium, the first question he fielded was about the status of his backup center.“I don't know what he'll be listed on the injury report,” Brown said. “He did individual stuff yesterday. I'm about to talk to our medical people to see what he can do today.”When the Knicks took the court for practice, Robinson was there, wearing a black wrap and brace on his right hand:In the portion of practice open to members of the media, Robinson used his right hand to shake hands with teammates and coaches, and looked comfortable using it to catch passes, dribble and take shots. During one drill, Robinson ran the floor full speed, catching and throwing outlet passes, seemingly without incident. When he filled the lane on the fast break, though, he didn’t appear to touch the rim on any of his finishes, choosing instead to just drop the ball through the hoop before making contact with the metal. (He also made a couple of corner 3-pointers in the drill, with one leading to a brief but boisterous celebration from Knicks shooting coach Peter Patton.)ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Robinson still plans to play in Game 1 on Wednesday, wearing a brace on the injured hand — “a pretty sizable one, I’m told.” Robinson hadn’t yet progressed to taking full contact, though, and will need to be officially cleared by the Knicks’ medical team before he can participate in Game 1. As of Tuesday afternoon, that hadn’t happened yet.Charania also reported that, while the details surrounding Robinson’s injury remain murky, the center sustained it “in his own home.” Brown had previously confirmed Robinson did not injure his pinky during the Knicks’ Game 4 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers or during a team practice session. When asked for more details on how the injury took place, Brown referred reporters to a Knicks public relations official who said the team was “not going to get into specifics on anything.”The 28-year-old Robinson is the longest-tenured Knick, selected by the team in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft. He’s become one of the best backup big men in the league, capable of making a significant impact in limited minutes off the bench with his relentless offensive rebounding, vertical spacing as a lob threat in the pick-and-roll and paint-patrolling defense. One of Robinson’s best games of the season came in the championship game of the 2025 Emirates NBA Cup against the Spurs, when he hauled in 15 rebounds, including 10 on the offensive end, in 18 minutes of work against Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio’s frontcourt.While Robinson has not spoken with the media since the end of the Eastern Conference finals, he did post a message to Instagram on Saturday, thanking his followers for their “love and support.”“I can’t thank you guys enough for the love and support most of you bring especially at a time like this in my life,” he wrote. “It makes everything I’m fighting for 100x easier to deal with. The ones that want to see me down and hurt all I gotta say for you is f*** you.”

OKLAHOMA CITY — In the span of about 12 hours, Mia Williams and Gerry Glasco each got choked up talking about one another.First it was Williams, whose walk-off home run in the first game of the Women's College World Series semifinals kept the Texas Tech softball team alive before finishing the job in the second game against Alabama. Williams, who has set just about every single-season hitting record for Texas Tech this season, was asked about her decision to transfer from Florida to Texas Tech, especially now with the national championship series in the Red Raiders' sights."I think it's one of the best decisions I ever made," Williams said. "This is probably the best coach I've ever played for. He just believes in me so much, and it makes me emotional talking about it because just having that feeling of something believing in you is just one of the best things ever, and I love him."The next day, as the Red Raiders got ready for the national championship series rematch with Texas, Glasco was asked first about how he integrates transfers into his team. The key, Glasco says, is every player is like a snowflake, no two ever alike. He can treat NiJaree Canady and Victoria Valdez a certain way, but players like Williams and Jasmyn Burns need something else.To Glasco's mind, Williams needed understanding, patience and a gentle reminder that he cares."It's been slow and slow to develop," Glasco said, "but we're really in a good place finally. Her enormous talent is what's allowed her to be successful, and then her mental game where she's finally really comfortable mentally, I think, is what's allowed her to be successful in big moments and be consistent."About two-thirds of the way through the season, Glasco recalled, he had a conversation with Williams' travel ball coach, who said, "Mia doesn't think you like her." Glasco was flabbergasted at the suggestion, especially since Williams was already on her way to setting Texas Tech records for home runs (26 entering the championship series), RBIs (85), runs scored (92), doubles (24) and total bases (193).The next game, Glasco showed her how much he likes her, putting her in the leadoff spot of the batting order for the first time in her life."I did that because I thought, if I put her in leadoff, she's going to know I really like her," Glasco said. "I didn't want to pull her in my office and say, he, I like you. I wanted to be real. And that worked."Williams has had great softball ability from a young age, considered one of the top prospects in the country well before she reached high school. She was named an NFCA second-team All-American as a sophomore at Florida and earned the distinction again this year with the Red Raiders.It wasn't the easiest process for the player and coach to come together, but the results speak for themselves."Mia Williams is a natural talent," Glasco said, "but then you have to be comfortable, and you have to feel good to play good. I think we finally got to a place where she trusts me and I trust her, and we're just in a really good place on the field."This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech softball's Mia Williams, Gerry Glasco blossom together

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Aaron Glenn's approach to his second offseason with the New York Jets has generated an unmistakable vibe among his players.The long, hot days of training camp are still several weeks away. The regular season doesn't kick off for another three months. But the Jets, coming off a 3-14 season, understand the magnitude of these moments.“Yeah, man, there’s a real sense of urgency, I think, from everybody in here, just to be at our best every day,” center Josh Myers said Tuesday after practice during voluntary organized team activities. “I just feel like I can feel it, starting from the top down.”That's not surprising considering the Jets have the NFL's longest active playoff drought at 15 years and Glenn is coming off a rough first season as a head coach. While general manager Darren Mougey, also in his second season with the team, was tasked with retooling the roster, Glenn has made it a priority to learn from his own mistakes and, in the process, remove any doubts that he's the right person to turn around the franchise's fortunes — this year and beyond.“I would definitely attest to that sense of urgency,” said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, one of the Jets' several veteran newcomers. "I think AG learned a lot from his first year — good, bad and ugly. And I think he wants to not just show the world, but show us that he’s a guy that wants to win. He knows how to win. "The first year is always tougher for any head coach. There’s a lot of adjustments. And I think he's excited to apply what he’s learned to Year 2."After last season, Glenn acknowledged “there’s always a sense of urgency” to win — and that remains the mission. The coach replaced half of his assistants, hired Frank Reich to run the offense and is assuming the duties of overseeing the defense while also adding Brian Duker as his coordinator.Meanwhile, the Jets added several veterans to their locker room, including Fitzpatrick, linebacker Demario Davis and quarterback Geno Smith — a clear push to improve the overall player leadership. “That was really my plan from the very beginning, well going into this offseason, to make sure I surround some of these young guys with guys like that,” Glenn said. "I think it’s important when you’re trying to build a team that you have a good mix of that so the young guys can learn, and as they learn, they continue to pick those things up. And as they grow older, they’re able to pass those things down to other young guys.“And to me, that’s exactly how you want your team to be built.”Defensive lineman Harrison Phillips was acquired from Minnesota last year before the start of the regular season, so this is his first full offseason in New York.“People approach the offseason differently, philosophically from different coaching trees and how you want to do it,” he said. "And this is a group that wants to work and wants to earn it.”Phillips quickly assumed a leadership role among the players last season on a team that lacked them, especially after the likes of Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were traded. During a radio row appearance at the Super Bowl in February, Phillips said he thought Glenn “inherited a very cancerous, truculent group — whole, top to bottom.” He can see a shift from that and appreciates that he can now also lean on Davis and Fitzpatrick as leaders on the defense.“When you don’t have as many leaders, sometimes it can feel like a dictatorship because, hey, this is the loud voice in the room and we hear all the time, it’s not his team, it’s not his defense, it’s ours," Phillips said. "And so when you have enough leaders, it is our team. And we have AG’s thumbprint on the whole thing, but it is a player-run team. “And we have enough guys now from enough different opinions that we can really shape this thing to come together and hopefully that closeness parallels with wins.” Fitzpatrick, a three-time All-Pro entering his ninth NFL season, echoed Phillips' sentiments and agreed that the Jets are building a successful foundation.“We have a lot of guys that came from across the league,” Fitzpatrick said. “Some guys have been on winning programs and some guys haven’t. And I think just with that blend, everybody’s bringing what they learned from those programs and ready to take the next step.” ___AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Victor Wembanyama, the transcendent superstar who routinely pauses before each question to genuinely reflect for an earnest response, didn’t need any extra seconds when asked about the Knicks. “It's a great team, you know,” Wembanyama told reporters on Tuesday on the eve of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. “It's a great team of experienced guys who are not here by chance, but by relentless effort over the years. Very different career paths for all of them. They're right where they're supposed to be, in my opinion. All of them are going to be super hungry in their own way.”In a number of ways, Wembanyama’s answer — in concordance with his fellow teammates’ various remarks concerning their Finals opponent — spoke to an elevated level of respect, an understanding of what to expect from a matchup standpoint and an appreciation of the individual journeys that led both teams to the mecca of basketball. San Antonio enters somewhat unfamiliar territory against New York, a stark contrast to Oklahoma City, a team it had faced 12 times by the time Game 7 of the conference finals rolled around. The Spurs faced the Knicks three times this season — twice in the regular season and once in the NBA Cup final, losing on two occasions — but the majority of meetings came with its own caveats. Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie, the unsung hero of Game 7, both came off the bench in mid-December. Devin Vassell and Josh Hart were unavailable for the infamous Christmas Day showdown. The lone, unadulterated fixture, a 114-89 March blowout win for New York, offered both a blueprint for not only how Wembanyama could be handled, but a reminder of the depth that sustains a Knicks team that is a +19 in postseason play. Karl-Anthony Towns spent the bulk of the time deployed on Wembanyama — limiting the Frenchman to 10 points on 3-for-7 shooting and two turnovers — but OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson also spent significant possessions defending Wemby as well. (Robinson, who did not speak to reporters, arrived in San Antonio without a splint on his right hand although his injury status for Game 1 remains unknown, per head coach Mike Brown.) New York’s ability to toggle multiple defenders onto Wembanyama, offering varying levels of physicality, length and smarts, is a luxury Oklahoma City didn’t have despite its depth. Wembanyama finished with 25 points on 17 shots with seven turnovers in that March contest against the Knicks.The Knicks have the size to impose their will, the chaos factor to cause havoc in the half-court (their playoff opponent turnover ratewould rank in the top five during the regular season) and a control of the glass on both ends in a way even the Thunder didn’t. All of that boils down to Wembanyama and the natural tradeoffs associated with his presence. “There's something you have to give up when you take something away,” Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson said concerning how teams have defended Wembanyama over the years. “That's just what happens when you play great players and really good teams. A lot of times those decisions aren't made in a vacuum in terms of not only the player, but then there's a ripple effect typically of what that may lead to for the team, what you're going to open yourself up to, what you're going to be committed to knowing that's OK because we're going to take this away.”Considering how often the Knicks have sought out downhill drives — the No. 1 playoff team in rim rate — and Wembanyama’s elite paint protection (opponents are converting just 45.2% of shots around the restricted area in his vicinity), the Finals have the potential to be quite the jarring collision course of identity. Because of how much time Wembanyama spent assigned to Josh Hart, a byproduct of trust in cross-matching and order of offensive operations, expect New York to get creative in terms of attack angles — which also could impact rebounding, shot profile, etc. “He's pretty unique,” Knicks forward OG Anunoby said on Tuesday when asked about Wembanyama. “I mean, there's little things like maybe guarding [Nikola] Jokić or [Kristaps] Porziņģis or Joel [Embiid]. He's different, like you said. He's taller. Just being aware of where he's at all over the floor. He can do everything. Super talented. Just being aware of him at all times, trying to make it as difficult as possible.”The postseason has been a social experiment on the individuality of Wembanyama, the collective growth of the Spurs’ young core and the juxtaposition of experienced opposition around them. The Finals, the most pressure-filled point of the season, calls for the 22-year-old to take an even greater leap than the ones that have accompanied his ascension. And regardless of the outcome, whether Wembanyama and San Antonio are able to emerge victorious or not, the lessons learned over the next two weeks will dictate the course of action for the next decade.

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) — Results from the NCAA Men's Golf Championship Tuesday at La Costa Resort (seeds in parentheses):QUARTERFINALSArizona (6) def. Vanderbilt (3), 3-2Taishi Moto, Arizona, def. Chase Nevins, Vanderbilt, 4 and 3.Tianyi Xiong, Arizona, def. Jon Ed Steed, Vanderbilt, 3 and 2.Will Hartman, Vanderbilt, def. Filip Jakubcik, Arizona, 6 and 5.Ryan Downes, Vanderbilt, def. William Wistrand, Arizona, 4 and 3.Zach Pollo, Arizona, def. Wells Williams, Vanderbilt, 20 holes.UCLA (7) def. Texas (2), 3-2Alex Papayoanou, UCLA, def. Daniel Bennett, Texas, 1 up.Tommy Morrison, Texas, def. Josh Kim, UCLA, 3 and 2.Baylor Larrabee, UCLA, def. Christiaan Maas, Texas, 1 up.Luke Potter, Texas, def. Tyler Loree, UCLA, 4 and 3.Kyle An, UCLA, def. Matt Comegys, Texas, 1 up.Oklahoma State (5) def. Florida (4), 3-2Eric Lee, Oklahoma State, def. Luke Poulter, Florida, 6 and 4.Zack Swanwick, Florida, def. Ethan Fang, Oklahoma State, 19 holes.Parker Sands, Florida, def. Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson, Oklahoma State, 3 and 2.Preston Stout, Oklahoma State, def. Matthew Kress, Florida, 1 up.Gaven Lane, Oklahoma State, def. Jack Turner, Florida, 2 and 1.Auburn (1) def. Stanford (8), 3½-1½Nathan Wang, Stanford, def. Jackson Koivun, Auburn, 2 up.Logan Reilly, Auburn, def. Dean Greyserman, Stanford, 2 and 1.Jake Albert, Auburn, def. Ethan Gao, Stanford, 6 and 5.Josiah Gilbert, Auburn, def. Jay Leng, Stanford, 3 and 2.Edan Cui, Stanford, all square through 15 holes with Cayden Pope, Auburn.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Spurs receive crucial De’Aaron Fox injury update ahead of Game 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson provided an encouraging injury update on star guard De’Aaron Fox ahead of Game 1 of the NBA Finals. In a press conference on Tuesday, Johnson said Fox is heading in the right direction as he continues to deal with a right high ankle sprain. " Not sure, to answer the question, 100 percent, but it feels like [Fox’s injury situation] is moving in a better direction, and with rest, I hope he’s better tomorrow than he is today, and so on and so forth since our last game," Johnson said. Mitch Johnson is asked to provide an update on De'Aaron Fox's health pic.twitter.com/2YzxHve8Zj— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) June 2, 2026Fox missed the first two games of the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder. De'Aaron Fox has been dealing with lingering ankle issueHe first suffered the injury during Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's now lingering into the NBA Finals. In five games against the Thunder, the two-time All-Star averaged 11.2 points per game, 5.2 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 22.7 percent from beyond the arc in 31.4 minutes of action. It is clear that the 28-year-old is not himself, and if that remains the case in these Finals, the Spurs could be in a heap of trouble. The former first-round pick in 2017 will soon appear in his first NBA Finals of his career. Fox was drafted by the Sacramento Kings and was traded to the Spurs last season. He's played a key role for the Spurs thus far, and if they want to win their sixth title in franchise history, they'll need Fox to revert to the lightning-quick guard he's established himself to be. Game 1 of the NBA Finals is set for Wednesday, June 3, at 8:30 p.m. ET in San Antonio. More NBA news: Knicks receives discouraging sign regarding Mitchell Robinson’s availability for Game 1Charles Barkley's NBA Finals prediction might surprise Spurs and Knicks fansThunder urged to trade Chet Holmgren for $186M Finals champion, former MVP, 10x All-StarMike Brown knows the New York Knicks will struggle with defending Victor Wembanyama

Jake Lang — a racist Republican candidate for Florida’s U.S. Senate seat who was jailed for allegedly assaulting Capitol Police officers during the January 6, 2021, riots — struggled to set two Pride flags on fire outside of the Delaney ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey, yesterday afternoon while yelling, “Happy Pride Month, fa**ots,” to his cameraman and one other supporter holding a gong on the sidewalk. Lang stood on top of a U-Haul and yelled, “We will not allow this degeneracy!” as he ignited an intersex-inclusive Pride flag. The wind quickly extinguished the flames before they could seriously harm the flag. Related Red states are declaring June something other than Pride Month in latest anti-LGBTQ+ trend Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today He then struggled to re-light the flag, dousing it in lighter fluid before yelling, “These people need to go. We will overcome the homosexual agenda to destroy our children.” Meanwhile, he continued struggling to re-ignite the flag as his lighter repeatedly failed to produce a flame. Upon finally reigniting the flag, he yelled, “Happy Pride Month, fa**ots,” as the wind quickly extinguished the flames once again. “Get out of our country!” he yelled, holding the unlit flag. “This is a Christian country!” He soon threw away the unlit flag and unwrapped a basic rainbow Pride flag and unfurled it in the wind. Someone then laughed at him. “Get these homos out!” he continued. “They’re the ones bringing in all the migrants!” He re-lit the flag before the wind quickly extinguished its flames once more. Throwing the flag towards the sidewalk, he yelled, “Here you go, fa**ots — happy Pride Month!” But the video showed only two people on the sidewalk: his cameraman and one other individual (holding a handheld gong) running alongside the truck. Lang then yelled, “Make America great again!” triumphantly raising his arms while standing on top of a U-Haul truck that costs about $30 a day to rent. Someone off-camera yelled, “F**k you,” in response. He unfurled a banner off the back of the truck that said, “Save America. Deport 100+ Million.” He then jumped off the front of the truck and yelled into the camera, “America, we are so f**king back!” while a long-haired white man in a black bowler hat repeatedly banged a small hand-held gong. Lang entered the cabin of the truck and used a megaphone to say, “Traitors of the Deep State will see the gallows. You will hang traitors. Our country is worth fighting for. We will stand united. This is a Christian country. They have stolen the rainbow from God, and we’re here to take it back. It’s white boy summer!” Lang is 30 years old. Despite Lang’s racist display of anti-LGBTQ+ hatred, a Black transgender woman helped rescue him from an angry mob of 100 anti-racist counterprotestors in Minneapolis this past January. In that incident, Lang had promised to lead a march through the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood (which has Minneapolis’ highest concentration of Somali-American residents) before burning a Quran on the steps of City Hall. But he reportedly didn’t get to do either because the counter-protestors — who outnumbered the 10 attendees at Lang’s event — cornered him outside City Hall before attacking him and chasing him away. The anti-racist counterprotestors threw objects and water balloons at Lang before a 30-year-old Black Minneapolis resident named Isaiah Blackwell helped Lang escape. While Blackwell and other men led Lang away, the crowd continued to lob abuse at Lang, with one person even kicking Lang in the head and numerous others opening the rear car door and kicking Lang some more as a Black trans woman eventually helped Lang escape. Lang suffered bruises, scrapes, and a cut on his head, though he didn’t report his injuries to local law enforcement, the Minneapolis police said. Last January, Lang threw a Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute during a racist and antisemitic rally that he held outside of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) headquarters in Washington, D.C. At the rally, Lang declared, “Congressmen and women that have been taking AIPAC money, we suggest you stop now before the crusaders really start…. Treasonous traitors will be hanging from the gallows, rightfully and justly prosecuted and hung for treason.” He also said, “White Christian men are not gonna sit around while [AIPAC and pro-Jewish activists] turn our children into a bunch of [n-word]-lovers.” Trump pardoned Lang after he had served four years in prison for attacking a U.S. Capitol police officer during the January 6, 2021, riots. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

When the 2026 World Cup begins this month, new rules will be implemented that will affect the game as we know it.The International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved changes to the law of the game that will begin with the World Cup and continue with the 2026-27 domestic seasons around the world.The changes were made in an effort to improve match pace and player and fan experience. “We are trying to clean the game as much as possible,” said FIFA’s head of refereeing Pierluigi Collina.Players covering their mouths during a confrontation will be sent offInspired by the controversy during the Champions League when Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him. Prestianni’s mouth was covered when he said something to the Brazil star, which Prestianni reportedly later alleged was not racist, but an anti-gay slur. Prestianni was later given a six-match ban with the suspension extended to cover the World Cup.Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentMouth covering will not be penalized in situations where players are speaking normally to one another.“If it is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem,” said Collina.MAINZ, GERMANY - MAY 31: Leroy Sane of Germany comes on as a substitute for teammate Lennart Karl during the international friendly match between Germany and Finland at MEWA Arena on May 31, 2026 in Mainz, Germany. (Photo by Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)Ralf Ibing - firo sportphoto via Getty ImagesClock will tick on throw-ins, goal-kicks, subsIn an effort to combat time wasting, referees will begin raising their hand with a five-second countdown for all throw-ins and goal-kicks. For throw-ins, if the ball is not in play after five seconds, the other team be awarded a throw-in. If a goal-kick is not taken after five seconds, the other team will get a corner kick.An eight-second time limit was approved before the start of the 2025-26 season for goalkeepers to release the ball during play.During substitutions, players will have 10 seconds to leave the field once the fourth official has raised the substitution board. As has been the case, players must exit the field via the closest area to the sideline. If this is not done within the time limit the substituting team will be forced to play a man down until the first stoppage after one minute has been played before the replacement player is allowed to enter the game.MLS introduced this rule during the 2024 season.The only exception is for player injuries or security concerns.Players needed on-field medical treatment will have to exit the game for one minute after the game restarts. The only exceptions are goalie injuries, collisions between a goalie and an outfield player or between teammates where medical attention is needed, severe injuries, or when the injured player was about to take a penalty kick.Teams will also not be allowed to leave the field for a strategy session if a goalkeeper is down and receiving treatment.ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 28: United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino speaks with the team during a hydration break during a game between Belgium and USA at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on March 28, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos via Getty ImagesHydration/strategy breaks at every matchEvery match at the 2026 World Cup, even those played indoors, will see a water break midway through each half around the 23-minute mark.Each break will last three minutes and if other managers saw how Mauricio Pochettino used that time during Sunday’s U.S. win over Senegal, it will also involve a bit of a strategy session, while television networks will likely use the time to sell more ads.More VARThe Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was originally intended to only review goals, potential red card situations, and penalties. Now its use is being expanded.IFAB approved three new situations where VAR can jump in: clearly incorrect second yellow cards for players; mistaken identity on yellow and red cards; and incorrectly awarded corner kicks, but not for reversing goal kicks that should have been ruled a corner kick.Corner kicks, Collina said, will only be reversed if the decision is quick and does not delay a restart.Leave the field in protest? Don't expect to come backAnother rule change inspired by recent events will see players sent off if they leave the field in protest of a call. Team staff could also be shown a red card if they inspire players to exit the pitch. Abandoning a match will lead to a forfeit for that team.This decision comes after Senegal left the field to protest a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco during January's Africa Cup of Nations final. Eventually, the Lions of Teranga of returned after 16 minutes and won the match 1-0 after extra time. The result, however, was overturned by the Central African Confederation (CAF) into a 3-0 forfeit victory for Morocco. Senegal has since appealed the decision.

The Mallard Creek High School boys’ track team and Jordan High School have been officially named co-state champions by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. This final decision comes weeks after an initial penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior had cost Mallard Creek the title.PREVIOUS COVERAGE: State athletic association stands by decision to disqualify runnerThe reversal follows an earlier ruling that disqualified Mallard Creek, resulting in Jordan High School, who had finished second, being named the sole winner. Mallard Creek subsequently appealed the initial penalty.BREAKING: The appeals panel concluded “Mallard Creek presented clear and convincing evidence that the student-athlete did NOT engage in unsporting or unacceptable conduct…” @wsoctv | 🎥: @HighSchoolOTpic.twitter.com/g1pqiDbIiR— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) June 2, 2026Senior Nyan Brown, a member of the Mallard Creek team, was initially disqualified for making a gesture as he crossed the finish line. This disqualification led to the championship being awarded solely to Jordan High School. An independent appeals board later reviewed the penalty for Brown’s gesture. The board determined that the gesture did not warrant the penalty, leading to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association naming both Mallard Creek and Jordan as co-champions.>>LINK: Mallard Creek High School fundraiser campaign for boys’ track and field championship ringsFull statement from the NCHSAA:Following a decision by the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors convened in a special meeting on Tuesday morning to consider the matter involving the conclusion of the 2026 8A Men’s Track and Field State Championship.The Appeals Board vacated the disqualification from the 4×400 relay. After review and discussion, the NCHSAA Board of Directors voted to declare Mallard Creek High School and C.E. Jordan High School as co-champions of the 2026 NCHSAA 8A Men’s Track and Field State Championship. The Board also voted to recognize Mallard Creek High School and Hough High School as co-champions in the men’s 4×400-meter relay.The NCHSAA appreciates the work of the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction throughout this process. The Association thanks the student-athletes, coaches, school administrators, officials, and member schools involved, including Mallard Creek High School, for using the appeals process provided under state law and NCHSAA policy. That process is designed to promote fairness by enabling informed review of officiating decisions that result in disqualification or suspension.“We recognize that this situation has been emotional for the student-athletes, coaches, schools, and communities involved,” said NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker. “At the center of this matter are young people who have invested countless hours into their sport and their team. We appreciate the work of the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board and respect the process that led to today’s outcome. We are pleased that this matter has reached a resolution and that the accomplishments of the student-athletes involved can be recognized.”The NCHSAA remains committed to fair competition, sportsmanship, and the educational mission of interscholastic athletics. The Association recognizes the efforts of all those who participated in the review process.Statement from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction:The Interscholastic Athletics Appeals Board has issued its decision in the appeal submitted by Mallard Creek High School regarding the disqualification of its team from the 4x400-meter relay during the 2026 North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) 8A Track and Field State Championship. After careful consideration of the evidence presented by the NCHSAA and Mallard Creek, the appeals panel concluded that Mallard Creek had presented clear and convincing evidence that the student-athlete did not engage in unsporting or unacceptable conduct as defined in the track and field competition rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations. As a result, the panel has vacated the penalty of unsportsmanlike conduct and remanded the matter back to the NCHSAA for further proceedings consistent with that decision. Any decisions regarding the reallocation of points from the 4x400-meter relay or its impact on the results of the 2026 8A Track and Field State Championship are beyond the scope of this appeal and are appropriately resolved by the NCHSAA in accordance with the Association’s rules and regulations. The Interscholastic Athletics Appeals Board wishes to express its respect and appreciation for all officials working in our state’s high school athletics programs and the enormous responsibility they carry to enforce gameplay rules in a fair and consistent manner. Nothing in the reviewing panel’s decision should be read as a criticism of the officials involved in this matter or the work of officials more broadly. Furthermore, the decision should not be interpreted as diminishing the authority of athletic officials to enforce sportsmanship standards during athletic competition. The panel’s decision was limited to the unique facts presented in this appeal and the specific evidentiary record before it. The Appeals Board encourages all student-athletes, coaches and parents to respect the decisions of game officials and to use appropriate channels when they wish to challenge them.

MADISON – One visit was enough for Royalton Allen.The defensive back from Oak Hills High School in California joined the Wisconsin Badgers’ 2027 recruiting class Tuesday, June 2. 247sports and Rivals broke the news. The commitment was UW’s third from its first big weekend of official visits.Coach Luke Fickell and his staff entered the weekend with their sights on six players. Receiver Jai Jones announced his commitment May 31 and linebacker Nathan Jones followed suit later that evening. Both players are from Arizona.Allen is the third player from California that UW received a commitment from in the last two cycles. He previously announced his intention to announce his college choice July 15, but apparently saw enough last weekend to accelerate the process.“Let’s rock out Badgers !!”, he wrote on X and Instagram.Embedded content: https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2026/06/01/3-star-linebacker-nathan-jones-commits-to-luke-fickell-wisconsin/90349432007/According to MaxPreps, he made 34 tackles, 17 solo, last season with two interceptions. He also got some snaps on offense, rushing 71 yards and catching 11 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.Allen was first committed to UCLA but decommitted in December after it made a coaching change.Allen is the 16th player in the Badgers' 2027 recruiting class and the third member of the secondary. UW picked up commitments from safety Dustin Roach and Daniel "DJ" Davis in January and April, respectivelyThe Badgers might not be done receiving commitments this week. Four-star cornerback Mekhi Williams, a former Florida State commit, plans to announce his college choice at 4 p.m. June 3. He also made an official visit to Wisconsin last weekend.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Three-star DB Royalton Allen commits to Luke Fickell, Wisconsin

'The Browns Finessed It' -- NFL Analyst Praises Andrew Berry for Spencer Fano Pick on Football Debate ClubThe question of whether the Cleveland Browns botched the Spencer Fano pick has a short answer. They didn’t. They traded down three spots, added two picks, and still landed the player they had ranked first on their board.Cleveland held No. 6, moved to No. 9 in a deal with Kansas City that also returned third- and fifth-round picks, and took Fano anyway. On Football Debate Club, the panel was asked whether the Browns reached or whether Fano can rise above the scheme concerns tied to the move. Omari Brown and Jacob Infante landed in the same place from different angles.Why Andrew Berry’s Trade-Down Was the Smart Play“I’m going to say the Browns finessed it. If they would have taken Fano at six, I would have had an issue with it,” Brown said.“But what Andrew [Berry] did, he was able to trade down and still get arguably offensive tackle number one for most people. He wasn’t on my board, he was offensive tackle number three, but I understand it. Todd [Monken] is bringing in a new system, and he understands his limitations. When [Fano] went against elite edge rushers, he needs help. But you were able to move back down and still get value. The trade down makes sense.”Brown’s read tracks. Berry turned the No. 6 pick into Fano plus picks 74 and 148, and he did it for a player the Browns had atop their board and most evaluators slotted as the first or second tackle in the class.Fano won the 2025 Outland Trophy and was a unanimous All-American and the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year, a three-year starter at Utah. For a team that ranked near the bottom of the NFL on offense in 2025, allowed 51 sacks, and just fired Kevin Stefanski, tackle was the need. First-year coach Todd Monken said Fano was the target the whole time and will play left tackle. Cleveland had already poured veteran money into the line with Tytus Howard, Elgton Jenkins, and Zion Johnson. Fano is the cornerstone.Spencer Fano’s Left Tackle History Answers the Scheme Worry“I think he’s somebody who can transcend those differences for sure,” Infante said.“A lot of people point to, oh, he was a right tackle at Utah, and he was for two seasons. But as a true freshman, he came in and started at left tackle in 2023. So I’m not as worried about the switch from right to left. You look at what the Browns had before with [Dawand] Jones. Availability was a concern, but when he’s been healthy, the size, the lack of athleticism, the lack of body control, those are big weaknesses in his game and strengths in Fano’s game. He’s going to provide a totally different profile at left tackle. He has a really high floor, and the athleticism and the instincts are going to make him shine in Cleveland.”Take a Quick Break. Run a Mock Draft! Before you keep reading, jump into the shoes of the GM of your favorite team.Powered by PFSN's NFL Mock Draft SimulatorThe scheme worry rests on Fano spending his last two Utah seasons at right tackle, with shorter-than-ideal arms that had some teams projecting him inside to guard. Infante’s rebuttal is the cleanest one available. Fano started at left tackle as a true freshman in 2023 before sliding to the right side, so the flip back is a return, not a reinvention.MORE FOOTBALL DEBATE CLUB: Which Miami Dolphins Player Has the Most Riding on 2026?The Dawand Jones comparison is the sharper point. Jones, a 2023 fourth-round pick, is a 6-8, 374-pound tackle whose size always intrigued but who finished season after season on injured reserve. The Browns’ left tackle plans leaned on him, and availability and movement were the problems. Fano’s athleticism is exactly what that spot lacked.The legitimate question left is whether the arm length holds up against NFL speed in Monken’s new system, and that is a real one. But “botched” implies the Browns overpaid or misread the player. They did neither. They moved down, banked two picks, and fixed their worst position with a tackle they valued above everyone else’s. If Fano is even average as a rookie, he is an upgrade. If the athleticism translates the way Infante expects, Berry’s trade-down becomes one of the best value plays of the first round.

The New England Patriots returned to their long-awaited winning ways last NFL season, with former Tar Heel quarterback Drake Maye leading their Super Bowl charge.Maye exceeded expectations in his second NFL season, leading all quarterbacks with a 77.1 QBR. Maye also threw for 31 touchdowns, third amongst all QBs, while his 4,394 passing yards put himself fourth.Maye played well in the postseason, totaling over 1,000 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns. Year Two for Maye ended with a disappointing, 29-13 Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks.Good news: Maye starts his third NFL season with a Super Bowl rematch on September 9. Recently, Maye told reporters what that rematch means to him."I think it's a chance for us to get some extra motivation during training camp," Maye said. "You know, starting off with the bang like that, a chance to get an opponent that left a bad taste in our mouth. So, I think it's something for us that's going to really make us work. We've got to bring it Week 1 on the road in a tough environment. They're going to be hanging their banner and that's the part of it. So, I think it's going to be interesting. It's going to be fun. It's going to be a tough task. So, it'll be something for us to get some extra motivation and make training camp better."Maye will have a brand-new teammate for this highly-anticipated Week 1 opener, as New England acquired Super Bowl Champion and 3-time All-Pro A.J. Brown via Monday trade. Seattle's defense is the league's best, but Maye and Brown will produce an electric combo.Can Maye start his third NFL season with a bang – and end it with his first Super Bowl title?Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football: Drake Maye wants to beat Seahawks in Super Bowl rematch

Vitality Blast, Utilita Bowl, SouthamptonHampshire 173-6 (20 overs): Dawson 52, Stubbs 36; Mills 2-26Sussex 144 (17.3 overs): Ward 40, Hughes 31; Dawson 3-20, Wood 2-20Hampshire beat Sussex by 29 runsMatch scorecardLiam Dawson struck a second successive half-century before a miserly bowling return sent Hampshire Hawks to a fourth straight victory in the T20 Blast men's competition.England white-ball all-rounder Dawson followed his 76 against Surrey with an innings-saving 52 to give Hampshire a defendable 173-6.The left-arm spinner then tied the Sussex Sharks middle-order in knots with 3-20, with Chris Wood and James Fuller each picking up two wickets.Teenager Manny Lumsden rounded things off to also take two as Hampshire moved four points clear at the summit of the South Group, whereas Sussex remain bottom with a solitary win and three losses in a row.Everything Sussex captain Tymal Mills touched in the early stages turned to gold, as the visitors started both innings on top.He won the toss, got every fielding adjustment perfect and got Hawks' dangerman James Vince out in the second over.Mills went for just 13 runs in his two powerplay overs, but that was eclipsed by James Coles' unmovable darts – which went for seven runs and yorked Toby Albert.Tom Price and Danny Briggs backed those overs up by dismissing Tom Prest and Joe Weatherley – the former to a stunning caught and bowled – as Sussex suppressed the hosts to 42-4 after seven overs.Dawson's elevation to number five against Surrey saw him strike his first T20 fifty for three years. Another promotion saw identical results.He swung his first ball for four into the legside and barely gave the bowlers a break from then on, as he and Tristan Stubbs recalibrated the innings.The pair put on 66 to boss the middle overs, with Dawson reaching back-to-back fifties.They had both gone by the end of the 17th over, Dawson to give Mills his second wicket, but Fuller and Hilton Cartwright lifted the Hawks to 173 with 37 runs in the final three overs.The momentum stayed with the batters when the Sharks started their innings as Dan Hughes pumped Fuller for 17 and then Harrison Ward took Scott Currie for the same two overs later.Sussex clearly won the powerplay again, thumping 67, but a wicket with the last ball of the restrictions – Ward leg before to Fuller – started to send the momentum back towards Hampshire.Where Fuller's first 11 balls had been dispatched for 37, his next seven returned 2-3 – as he picked up Tom Alsop on his middle-overs return.Hughes and Coles fell, caught off Lumsden and wonderfully caught and bowled by Dawson respectively, in successive balls to continue the Hawks taking control.That turned to a dictatorship of the middle when Jack Leaning was stumped off Dawson, and John Simpson was caught and bowled by Currie.Hampshire rounded things off in style as Wood had Price nicking off, Mills was bowled to give Dawson his third victim before Lumsden castled Henry Crocombe to complete the 29-run win.Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay.Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

When the Los Angeles Rams took a step back after their Super Bowl victory, many around the NFL believed they would struggle to return to contention. Some executives, including Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, even pointed to the Rams as a model they did not want to follow, hoping to avoid the type of “collapse” they experienced in 2022.Instead, that 2022 season has proven to be little more than a temporary setback. Since then, the Rams have remained highly competitive and positioned themselves as a legitimate candidate to become the NFL’s next dynasty. That’s the same conversation reserved for franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only can the Rams win now, but they have also built a foundation capable of sustaining success for years.MORE: Myles Garrett’s Los Angeles Rams jersey number announcedThe transformation began when Los Angeles acquired Matthew Stafford from the Detroit Lions. Stafford has more than justified the investment. Despite limited draft capital, the Rams continued to draft well, make smart trades, and rely on a head coach in Sean McVay who consistently adapts to the league’s evolving trends. After coming within striking distance of another Super Bowl appearance in 2025, the Rams doubled down on their championship aspirations.Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford celebrates with the Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesAt the same time, the organization remained focused on both the present and the future. The Rams strengthened their secondary by trading for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, a move that also provided additional draft flexibility. They then used the 13th overall pick—acquired through a 2025 draft-day trade with the Atlanta Falcons—to select Stafford’s eventual successor. The decision sparked debate at the time, but it now appears increasingly wise.With their quarterback of the future in place, the Rams seemed ready to turn their attention toward training camp. Yet they had one more blockbuster move left. While the defense improved significantly with the addition of McDuffie, McVay wanted even more firepower. Los Angeles answered by acquiring Myles Garrett.MORE: Rams’ history of trading first-round picks after Myles Garrett dealGarrett gives the Rams one of the NFL’s premier defensive players and pairs him with their top pass rusher, Byron Young. While Jared Verse developed into a quality player, Young has emerged as the more productive and impactful edge defender. Now, he gets to line up alongside a future Hall of Famer.Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is all smiles as he jogs back inside before a game, Dec. 21, 2025, in Cleveland.In the span of a single offseason, the Rams transformed from contenders into the clear Super Bowl favorites. At a minimum, they have assembled a roster capable of making a championship run over the next two seasons. Beyond that, they have a succession plan at quarterback and one of the league’s brightest offensive minds preparing the next era.The Rams operate with vision, conviction, and a willingness to make bold decisions that other franchises avoid. What many viewed as a collapse in 2022 has instead become the launching point for sustained contention.And this may not be the final move. A certain future Hall of Famer still remains a potential un-retirement candidate…

The 49ers signed safety Ashtyn Davis to a one-year deal, the team announced Tuesday.In a corresponding move, the 49ers waived running back Jermar Jefferson.Davis spent last season with the Dolphins, appearing in 15 games with 12 starts. He recorded 63 tackles, four passes defensed, one interception, one forced fumble and added two special teams tackles. He entered the NFL as a third-round pick of the Jets in 2020 and spent five seasons in New York.In his career, Davis has appeared in 84 games with 34 starts. He has totaled 217 tackles, 19 passes defensed, nine interceptions, five forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and half a sack to go with 23 special teams tackles. Jefferson signed with the 49ers on May 28.

Carolina Hurricanes center Seth Jarvis (24) and Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) go for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Oct. 28, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. | Chris Seward After 1,388 games between the regular season and the duration of the playoffs thus far, the Stanley Cup Final is about to begin.Here’s what you need to know ahead of Tuesday’s Game 1.Quick factsTeams: Vegas Golden Knights, Carolina HurricanesHome-ice advantage: Carolina HurricanesLeading scorers:Mitch Marner, VGK, 21 pointsJack Eichel, VGK, 18 pointsTaylor Hall, CAR, 16 pointsJackson Blake, CAR, 15 pointsPrevious championships:Golden Knights: 2023Hurricanes: 2006Storylines to followMitch MarnerThroughout Mitch Marner’s nine-year tenure as a star for his hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, he was criticized for not being able to step his game up in the playoffs. The Maple Leafs never made it past the second round during his time there.Now, in his first season with the Golden Knights, Marner has a chance to win not only the Stanley Cup, but also the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. He leads the postseason in points, while also playing significant defensive minutes, including 26:10 shorthanded.He also owns the best highlight-reel goal of these playoffs so far.wanna see some magic? 🫢 pic.twitter.com/uA5Lip0D3e— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 15, 2026Frederik AndersenThe Hurricanes’ biggest question mark heading into the postseason was goaltending, with none of their three goalies above the .900 threshold in save percentage. But Frederik Andersen washed those concerns away as soon as the postseason began.Andersen has a record of 13-1 in the playoffs thus far, and the only game in which he allowed more than two goals was the team’s lone loss.It’s long been said that goaltending is the most important position in hockey. If Andersen can maintain this standard for one more series, he and teammate Nikolaj Ehlers could join Lars Eller as the only Danes to win the Stanley Cup.Finally getting through the EastThe Hurricanes have made the playoffs every year since promoting Rod Brind’Amour to head coach in 2018, but they hadn’t made it to the Stanley Cup Final since Brind’Amour was their captain in 2006.This year was different.The Canes swept the first two rounds of the playoffs and got out of the Conference Final in just five games. It’s one of the most efficient paths to the Stanley Cup Final since the NHL switched to a four-round format.But they won’t be satisfied with a loss in the Final.This is what we play for. pic.twitter.com/Mxg9mufWuH— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) May 31, 2026A new style of managementEarly in their NHL tenure, the Golden Knights established a reputation as the league’s supervillain — and it has served them better than anyone could have imagined.It began when they moved beloved players like Marc-André Fleury, Max Pacioretty and Nate Schmidt for next to nothing to save cap space. They weren’t popular moves, but management believed they would make the team better.The cutthroat management style was on display with Mark Stone’s annual placement on long-term injured reserve to save cap space, only to have him return in the cap-less playoffs. It was so frowned upon that the NHL changed its rules this season to no longer allow teams to do it.A lot of people disagreed with the Golden Knights’ decision to sign Carter Hart, who was reinstated into the NHL in December after being acquitted of sexual assault charges. But the Golden Knights needed a goalie and they believed he was their best option, so they signed him.Although they’ve sustained incredible playoff success throughout their nine NHL seasons, the Golden Knights are already on their fourth coach — the most recent change happening eight games before the playoffs began. And currently, the team is in hot water for withholding permission for Bruce Cassidy, the coach they fired, to interview with other teams.But as the saying goes, they don’t ask how — they ask how many. In nine seasons, the Golden Knights have achieved:Eight playoff appearancesFive Conference Final appearancesThree Stanley Cup Final appearancesOne Stanley Cup championship, with the potential for another this seasonWhere to watch the 2026 Stanley Cup FinalAll Stanley Cup Final games will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN in the United States.The schedule is as follows. All games begin at 6 p.m. MDT:Game 1: Vegas @ Carolina, Tuesday, June 2Game 2: Vegas @ Carolina, Thursday, June 4Game 3: Carolina @ Vegas, Saturday, June 6Game 4: Carolina @ Vegas, Tuesday, June 9Game 5 (if necessary): Vegas @ Carolina, Thursday, June 11Game 6 (if necessary): Carolina @ Vegas, Sunday, June 14Game 7 (if necessary): Vegas @ Carolina, Wednesday, June 17 Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) reacts after a whistle during the second period of Game 4 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff series against the Utah Mammoth at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 27, 2026. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News

When Trajan Langdon was hired to lead the Detroit Pistons front office, he inherited one of the NBA’s most difficult rebuilding projects. The franchise was coming off a 14-win season that included a 28-game losing streak and a franchise-record 68 losses. Despite the disappointing results, the Pistons still possessed a talented young core featuring Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, and Ausar Thompson, giving Langdon a foundation to build upon.In his first offseason, Langdon immediately went to work. He hired J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach, selected Ron Holland in the NBA Draft, and added veteran leadership by signing Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley. He later acquired Dennis Schröder during the season, further strengthening the roster. Those moves, combined with the continued development of Detroit’s young players, helped fuel a remarkable turnaround from 14 wins to 44, giving the franchise its first playoff appearance since 2019.With expectations rising, Langdon entered his second season facing a new challenge: transforming the Pistons from a feel-good story into a legitimate contender. The front office made several moves that generated mixed reactions from fans and analysts alike. Some paid off immediately, while others remain open for debate. Now that the season has concluded, it’s time to evaluate those decisions and determine how the Pistons front office performed overall.Trajan Langdon’s Recipe: Grading the Pistons Front Office’s Winning SeasonA Shot Worth TakingWith shooting being one of Detroit’s biggest needs, Langdon selected Chaz Lanier with the 37th overall pick. While his opportunities with the Pistons were limited, he showed promise in the G League, averaging 16.9 points and shooting 37.2% from 3-point range on 8.2 attempts per game.At 24 years old, Lanier may not have the highest ceiling, but his shooting gives him a realistic path to becoming a rotational contributor. For a second-round pick, the selection looks like solid value.Grade: BThe Trajan Langdon Effect On The Pistons Front OfficeKnowing the Pistons needed additional depth and shooting, Langdon was aggressive in free agency. He signed Caris LeVert and re-signed Paul Reed on the opening day of free agency. While LeVert’s production has been inconsistent, Reed has proven to be one of the better value signings of the offseason.With Beasley’s federal investigation effectively ending any chance of a reunion, Langdon pivoted by acquiring Duncan Robinson in a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat. Despite initial skepticism surrounding the three-year, $48 million deal, the limited guaranteed money makes it a team-friendly contract and a strong piece of business.Perhaps Langdon’s most underrated move was signing Javonte Green. Green appeared in all 82 games and provided energy, toughness and defensive intensity every night. Between Robinson, Reed and Green, Langdon turned a difficult situation into a productive offseason for the Pistons.Grade: AThe Smartest Move Wasn’t the Biggest OneAsk 100 Pistons fans what Langdon should have done at the trade deadline, and you’ll likely get 100 different answers. Some wanted Detroit to make a splash for a star, while others believed the team’s strong play warranted a more patient approach.In the end, Langdon made just one move, trading Jaden Ivey in a three-team deal that brought back Kevin Huerter and a draft-pick swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves, moving Detroit from No. 28 to No. 21.At the time, the trade received mixed reactions. However, it has aged well. Huerter played out his expiring $17.9 million contract, the Pistons added valuable draft capital, and Ivey never returned to the form he showed before his injury. Looking back, Langdon improved the team’s long-term flexibility without sacrificing its immediate success.Grade: A-The Last WordWhen Trajan Langdon arrived in Detroit, his job was simple in theory but difficult in practice: transform a franchise coming off a 14-win season into a sustainable winner. Two years later, the Pistons have done far more than simply become respectable. They have become one of the Eastern Conference’s rising powers.Whether it was identifying value in free agency, exercising patience at the trade deadline, or continuing to build around Cade Cunningham and the team’s young core, Langdon consistently made decisions with both the present and future in mind. Not every move was perfect, but the overall vision has been clear, disciplined, and effective.The true measure of a front office is whether it leaves a franchise in a better position than it found it. By that standard, Langdon has exceeded expectations. The Pistons are deeper, more talented, and better positioned for long-term success than they were when he arrived.Final Grade: ALon Horwedel-Imagn Images

On the first day of Pride Month, Maine congressional candidate Jordan Wood (D) shared the story of a tense encounter he had at a March town hall meeting, which he says is a lesson that “democracy demands.” “I’m not intimidated and I’ll never back down from a fight. That is what democracy demands, and this Pride Month, it’s what I’m running for Congress to protect,” the candidate said in his Pride post to social meda. Related Gay candidate Jordan Wood is using his campaign’s $1 million war chest to keep a House seat blue Things got ugly for the gay candidate when a voter spouting conspiracy theories about voter fraud in the state attacked him personally with an unusual homophobic slur. I was threatened at my town hall in Houlton this March because I'm gay. A man called me a "Faggocrat," and warned: "I'm not finished with you, jackass," and stormed out. I’m sharing this on the 1st day of Pride because refusing to be intimidated is what this month’s about. pic.twitter.com/emDtrBceYe— Jordan Wood (@JordanWood) June 1, 2026 Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Wood accompanied the message with video from the confrontation, showing an older man purporting to be a Democrat confronting Wood over what he described as an epidemic of voter fraud perpetuated by non-citizens voting in elections. Wood replied thoughtfully that Trump’s claims of widespread voter fraud are a hoax perpetuated by right-wing MAGA stalwarts like former Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R). The man was not reassured and blew up at Wood. “I’m a real Democrat, not a f**gocrat like you! Okay? I’ve heard enough of this bulls**t.” “Get out!” said one town hall participant as the crowd turned on the man. “Y’all can go to hell and put your head back in the f**king sand! Have a nice day,” the man replied. To Wood, he added, “I’m not finished with you, jack**s!” As the man left the room, Jordan apologized for the ugly scene. “Again, open to the public and we don’t screen the questions,” he said. Rather than leave it at that, however, Wood’s team followed the man out of the building and into the parking lot, where they did their best to talk him down. “That’s when he told them he had guns in his car,” Wood said of the man. “But our team didn’t give up,” he continued. “They stood in the parking lot for 15 minutes and talked to this man about Social Security, his dogs, and listened as he brought up his family’s ties to the KKK. After a while, he apologized to them, and somewhat to me,” he said. “The same courage it takes to stand up to hatred and lies is the courage this movement was built on,” Wood said of his candidacy. “Showing up. Standing your ground when it would be easier to walk away. “I’ll keep showing up in every corner of Maine’s 2nd district. I’ll keep taking every question from every person who walks through the door,” he said. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Robinson celebrates following Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens in Raleigh, N.C., Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)2026-06-02T21:22:15Z RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Carolina Hurricanes rolled through the Eastern Conference playoffs, while the Vegas Golden Knights picked up speed with each round before pulling off a shocking sweep of the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche.That has brought them to the Stanley Cup Final for Tuesday night’s opener, with the Golden Knights chasing a second championship in four seasons while the Hurricanes are playing for the Cup for the first time since coach Rod Brind’Amour captained them to the 2006 title.The Hurricanes went 12-1 through three rounds to get here, sweeping through Ottawa and Philadelphia before taking the last four games of a five-game win against Montreal in the Eastern Conference Final. That made the Hurricanes the first team since 1983 to reach the Stanley Cup Final with one loss, and the first since the NHL went to best-of-seven series in all four rounds in 1987. The Golden Knights — who surged after a late-season coaching change by firing Bruce Cassidy to hire John Tortorella — pushed past Utah and Anaheim in a pair of six-game series, and have won six straight games entering Tuesday’s Game 1 against Carolina after beating the Avs. Defense has been the standout feature for both teams. Carolina has allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of 13 playoff games, including a shutout win in all three Eastern playoff rounds. Vegas allowed just seven goals in the sweep of the Avalanche, who led the league in regular-season scoring (3.63 goals per game) behind high-end skill like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Martin Necas. Read More Vegas took both regular-season meetings with Carolina, first with a 4-1 home win on Oct. 20. Eight days later, Jack Eichel scored twice in the last 4:59 for a 6-3 win that included Carolina having multiple injuries that had them down to four defensemen for a significant stretch of the night.___AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl AARON BEARD Beard covers sports in North Carolina for The Associated Press with an emphasis on college basketball. His coverage includes ACC sports and the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes. twitter mailto

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Exiting the floor as the San Antonio Spurs began their celebration, the Oklahoma City Thunder began the first seconds of a lengthy summer break. For the first time in a couple of years, their roster is about to go through some changes. Such is life in the NBA business.One of the handful of big-time decisions the Thunder will have to make centers around Isaiah Hartenstein. He has a $28.5 milliion team option for the 2026-27 season. Most forecasters predict OKC will go the decline-and-sign route to keep the 28-year-old around for the long haul.In his two years, Hartenstein has been a resounding success. He averaged 10.3 points and 10.1 rebounds as a full-time starter. He helped shore up OKC's rebound game, leveled up their size and helped run their secondary offense with his DHO actions. Obviously, their 2025 NBA championship is tangible proof that the seven-footer's arrival was a home-run addition.Now, the Thunder and Hartenstein both must decide if they want to keep things going — ala renewing your apartment's lease. He's part of a quartet of players who will get answers on their long-term future in OKC this offseason. The other three are Lu Dort, Cason Wallace and Kenrich Williams. All four are interconnected.Not even a full 24 hours since the Thunder experienced a gut-wrenching Game 7 loss to the Spurs, Hartenstein kept it business only when asked about their eventual negotiations."We just lost yesterday, so at the end of the day, that's something that will be discussed more at the end. I love being here. I love the organization, but it's a lot in their hands," Hartenstein said. "I think that them and my agent will talk. It's a business at the end of the day. But whatever happens, I'm truly grateful."Probably smart for Hartenstein to go this route. He can't really say anything definitive — either from OKC or another contender. If you're the 28-year-old, you prefer it to be on the Thunder. That's where he enjoyed both his best individual and collective success. But considering he was a career journeyman for the first seven years of his career, he knows just how results-oriented this business can be.We'll see what happens in the coming months. But reading the tea leaves, I think the Thunder will prioritize keeping Hartenstein around. His arrival has been synonymous with OKC's ascension to the top of the NBA ladder. And even though they got booted out in the Western Conference Finals, they'll be right back in that conversation next year and beyond."The community is big for me. I think since I got here, I really started connecting with the community and just how they approach just giving back, how they approach being selfless and so on," Hartenstein said. "It's always a big thing, I think me in general, the whole Oklahoma City have gotten pretty close pretty fast. There's always a personal side to it. But again, it's not really in my court."This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Isaiah Hartenstein hopes to stay on Thunder: 'I love being here'

DUBLIN, Ohio — The weight of accomplishment in winning his first major title hit Aaron Rai only minutes after he completed his three-stroke victory in the PGA Championship last month at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa.It occurred during the trophy presentation when Rai hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy. The prize, donated by department store heir Rodman Wanamaker for the inaugural championship in 1916, is among the largest in golf at more than 29 inches. It also might be the heaviest, weighing 27 pounds.Rai wasn’t quite ready for the immensity of the moment.“I had heard stories about it, but I still wasn't prepared for quite how heavy that it was,” Rai said with a laugh on Tuesday at Muirfield Village Golf Club, where he was preparing for the Memorial Tournament, his first start since his PGA triumph. “I was pretty comfortable for probably the first minute or so [holding it for photographs] and then after that I definitely started to feel it burning.”Fortunately, he won’t have quite as much trouble with the version of the Wanamaker the PGA is sending to his home in England. The replica is only 90 percent the size of the original. More From Golf Digest Golfpocalypse Scottie's playground, Jack's dungeon and remembering some Tiger: 10 things for the Memorial PGA Tour Jack Nicklaus, like most in golf, is anxious to see what the revamped PGA Tour will look like. Here’s his worry Anniversary A memorable win for a now iconic broadcaster is being memorialized with a … teddy bear?!? Rai, 31, who is making his fourth start in the Memorial, is still coming to grips, so to speak, with other aspects of becoming a major champion. The victory was his second on the PGA Tour and eighth of his career worldwide, but nothing before he closed with a final-round 65 at Aronimink can compare. He needed some time for the win to sink in.“I think it took a good few days, I think, for me to really get my head around it. I mean, I don't think I still have fully. But the following morning it was just more of an excitement really. I only slept for four hours on the Sunday night. I slept really late and then I just couldn't sleep in the morning either after I woke up. So I think just a lot of excitement. It was only really when my dad came to my house a few days later that we started to speak about it a little bit more that I started to kind of embrace it and let it sink in a little bit more. Yeah, it definitely took a few days to kind of get into that.”Rai said he doesn’t feel different as a golfer, but being stopped by fellow shoppers in the grocery store was one clue that things had changed. Then there was another more significant clue. “The royal family in England had posted on Twitter about the PGA Championship, which was a real surprise,” he said with wonder. “That definitely stood out.”Now, so does Rai.

LOS ANGELES — Makenna Wie West stepped up into the white interview tent situated next to the Riviera Country Club clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon, holding her mom’s hand. After a bit of hesitation on where to sit, which appeared to be a big decision for the almost 6-year-old, Makenna settled on a seat in the front row. From there, she was locked in on her mom sitting just a few feet away from her the entire time.Makenna is perhaps the biggest reason why Michelle Wie West is even teeing it up this week at the U.S. Women’s Open three years after retiring from the game in the first place. “It’s everything,” Wie West said.Michelle Wie West comes out of retirementWie West retired back in 2023 after the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. By golf standards, that’s just about the perfect place to call it a career. She sank a 30-foot putt on the final green to close it out, too. Wie West was dealing with chronic injuries, and Makenna was a few years old. She was ready to move into the next chapter of her life. That wrapped what was a very successful golf career. Wie West was an absolute child prodigy, and still holds the record as the youngest person to ever make the cut at an LPGA Tour event, something she did when she was 13 at the 2003 Kraft Nabisco Championship. She won five times in her LPGA Tour career and racked up roughly $6.8 million in career earnings.Wie won the U.S. Women’s Open back in 2014 at Pinehurst, too, for her lone major championship title. That win came with a 10-year exemption into the tournament, though Wie West received an additional two years due to a maternity exemption. That put this year’s event in Los Angeles, the first women's major to ever be hosted at Riviera, suddenly in play. Wie West started practicing for her return almost in secret last fall. It wasn’t until several months later that she even made her plans public. Getting to do that in silence, she said, was something that’s never happened before in her career.“I had a few months in there where I was practicing where no one was knowing why, and I was just kind of out there in silence,” she said. “It was really therapeutic. “It was really nice to be out there practicing, but I’m very excited also not to practice again. I like being retired.”Wie West allowed herself one practice tournament to prepare for this week. She competed in the Mizuho Americas Open in New Jersey last month, an event she hosts, but missed the cut after going 18-over in the first two days.Considering the gap she’s had in her playing career, it’s hard to know what to expect from a golf standpoint from her at the U.S. Women’s Open. Top-ranked Nelly Korda, with three wins under her belt already this season, is the overwhelming favorite to win the major championship this week. Wie West will tee off alongside Hinaki Shibuno and Yani Tseng in the first two rounds, starting just after 1:30 p.m. local time on Thursday.But Wie West isn’t too concerned about her game or her final score at the end of the week. There are plenty of family, friends and others in her giant circle who are coming out to watch her play. Her husband, Jonnie West, will be on the bag for her, too. Jonnie’s father, NBA Hall of Famer and executive Jerry West, was the executive director for the PGA Tour’s stop at Riviera for years, so the connections here run deep.Michelle Wie West is out of retirement this week for one last U.S. Women's Open. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesAnd, just like she tells her daughter, winning isn’t the most important part.“I always tell her before a game or a tournament, whatever, I say I don’t care about the results,” Wie West said before turning to look right at her daughter.“All I care about is a good attitude and that you try your hardest, right? That is my number one goal this week, is to go out there and try hard and have a good attitude.”While she’s still young, Wie West knows what kind of an impact this can have on her daughter.“Last time I retired at Pebble Beach and Mckenna was 2 and doesn’t really have any memories,” she said. “Hopefully being 6 now, she’ll have a lot more memories of being here this week.”Jonnie was waiting for Mckenna in the back of the tent, and met her with outstretched arms for a hug after Michelle wrapped up her interviews. Truly, regardless of how it goes for her out on the course, this week is about family for the Wie West crew. They’re embracing it fully.

There won't be late nights at Canvas Stadium in the 2026 football season.The Pac-12 and Colorado State released game times for the season on May 28 and there was one late home kick for the Rams.But an update on June 2 eliminates that. The Oct. 24 home game against San Diego State is now at 4:30 p.m. (it was originally slated for 7:30 p.m.). The small asterisk on the "no late games" is that a time has not been set for the regular season finale flex schedule game on Nov. 28. CSU will host a Pac-12 opponent to be determined on that date and the time will be set late in the season.CSU has seven home games in 2026 and of the six with game times, the kickoffs are all between 4-5:30 p.m.Full 2026 Colorado State football scheduleHere is the CSU schedule in its entirety. The kickoff time for the road game at UTSA time will be announced by Conference USA at a later date and the final week flex game will be announced later as well.All times listed in Mountain.Sept. 5: Wyoming at CSU (military appreciation), 4 p.m. on USA NetworkSept. 12: Southern Utah at CSU (Ag Day orange out), 5 p.m. on CBS Sports NetworkSept. 19: BYU at CSU, 5:30 p.m. on CBSSept. 26: CSU at UTSA (time is TBA and game will be on ESPN platform)Oct. 3: Oregon State at CSU (homecoming), 4 p.m. on USA NetworkOct. 10: Bye weekOct. 15 (Thursday): CSU at Texas State, 6 p.m. on CBS Sports NetworkOct. 24: San Diego State at CSU, 4:30 p.m. on the CWOct. 31: CSU at Utah State, 1:30 p.m. on USA NetworkNov. 7: Boise State at CSU, 4 p.m. on USA NetworkNov. 14: CSU at Washington State, 8:30 p.m. on CBS Sports NetworkNov. 21: CSU at Fresno State, 5:30 p.m. on the CWNov. 28: Flex weekend (home game for the Rams, initially slated for Texas State at CSU), time TBADec. 4: Pac-12 championship (hosted by first-place team), 6 p.m. on CBSSports reporter Kevin Lytle can be found on social media on X, Instagram and Threads @Kevin_Lytle and on Bluesky.This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Game time change for San Diego State at Colorado State football

Panthers urged to move on from underperforming former 1st-round pick in 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Carolina Panthers were one of the most surprising NFL teams in 2025. The young Panthers won the NFC South and got to host a playoff game. It was definitely more than even most Panthers fans were expecting, but now expectations are going to be higher for 2026. The team made some decent moves this offseason, adding Devin Lloyd and Jaelan Phillips to the defense in free agency. Then, the Panthers filled in more gaps during the draft. With the new incoming talent, there will undoubtedly be some familiar names who get bumped off the roster. One of those players who could be in danger is a recent first-round pick. Panthers urged to move on from Xavier Legette Moe Moton of Bleacher Report recently identified one player each NFL team should trade. For the Panthers, Moton identified Legette as the most logical trade candidate. Legette was drafted by the Panthers in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. However, it's fair to say Legette has been a massive disappointment so far considering where he was drafted. Regarding Legette and a trade, Moton offered the following: In 2024, the Panthers signed Jalen Coker as an undrafted free agent, the same year they drafted Legette in the first round. Yet he's progressed more than the former Day 1 pick despite injuries.This year, Carolina selected Chris Brazzell II in the third round of the draft, which should put Legette on notice.The Panthers may be able to find a trade partner for Legette because of the wideout's draft pedigree, though the compensation won't be much because the wideout has fallen short of expectations, hauling in 84 receptions for 860 yards and seven touchdowns.As Moton mentioned, Legette has been surpassed by Jalen Coker, who went undrafted the same year Legette was taken in the first round. The Panthers also added Chris Brazzell II in the draft, and Brazzell has looked awesome in OTAs so far. As a rookie, Legette caught 49 passes for 497 yards and four touchdowns. Then, last season, Legette caught 35 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns. It's disappointing that's the level he produced at in the first place, but even more disappointing that his numbers went down. Moton rightfully noted that the Panthers likely won't get much in a trade for Legette. The receiver hasn't shown anything close to first-round pick production, but several teams would probably be interested in buying low. Carolina just isn't the best spot for Legette to flourish it doesn't seem like. The receiver seemingly needs a fresh start to prove he can be a reliable receiver in this league. Plus, if the Panthers trade Legette, it will allow the rookie Brazzell to get more snaps immediately. A trio of Tetairoa McMillan, Coker, and Brazzell would give the Panthers one of the most interesting, young pass-catcher groups in the league. More NFL news:James Gladstone keeps getting roasted for 2026 draft49ers once again took a major risk during the draft Blockbuster trade proposal gives Lions elite defender Packers urged to trade for disgruntled star ahead of 2026 seasonFormer Tennessee star could be 49ers' best UDFABengals urged to sign future Hall of Famer for offense

Sir Kenny Dalglish revealed on social media that he is being treated for cancer -Credit:Tom Jenkins/ Getty ImagesSir Kenny Dalglish has disclosed that he is currently receiving treatment for cancer. The 75-year-old Liverpool icon confirmed the news via a social media post.He wrote: "As my inadvertent social media post has indicated, I am currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Unlike my mobile phone use, the treatment is going well."Ideally, this would have remained private because that's the way it should be, but my useless technology skills have forced my hand. I did not mean to make this matter public so I would appreciate it if the privacy of my family and myself are respected.Budget-friendly Costco faces backlash with $39,100 FIFA World Cup ticket packageFIFA boss Gianni Infantino stands by $2 million World Cup tickets with hot dog promiseDalglish played for Liverpool from 1977 to 1990 -Credit:David Cannon/Allsport/Getty Images"As ever, thank you to the wonderful medical staff who have shown incredible care and discretion, not just for me but for many, many others. They are a credit to themselves."It is understood Dalglish is referring to an Instagram story accidentally posted of a hospital appointment letter, as per The Mirror.His son Paul Dalglish responded, writing: "Love you Dad." England and Newcastle hero Alan Shearer replied: "Everyone is with you Kenny." Former England striker Toni Duggan added: "Sending lots of love."Paul further shared on his Instagram story: "My dad, my best mate, my hero. You are s*** on social media but you are the strongest man I know, you got this. I love you."Liverpool released a statement saying: "The support, best wishes and love of everyone at Liverpool FC are, and will be, with Sir Kenny and his family. The club would also like to underscore his request for privacy moving forward."To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HEREDalglish is an icon at Liverpool, where he registered 515 appearances and netted 172 goals between 1977 and 1990. Recruited to replace Kevin Keegan following his transfer to Hamburg, he helped the club secure six league titles, four League Cups, and one FA Cup.Following Joe Fagan's resignation, the Scot took on the player-manager role between 1985 and 1990 and achieved remarkable success, capturing three league titles and two FA Cups. He subsequently returned to manage Liverpool again in 2011/12 after Roy Hodgson's departure and claimed the League Cup.He has worked as a Liverpool ambassador at Anfield and continues to maintain an exceptionally close relationship with the club today.The Dalglish family has tragically experienced cancer previously, with Kenny's wife Marina receiving treatment for breast cancer in the early 2000s. The pair subsequently established The Marina Dalglish Appeal to generate funds for cancer treatment.The announcement comes after Keegan's revelation on Monday that he is currently battling stage-four cancer. Addressing fans on stage, Keegan said: "They said we have a top doctor with this new way of fighting what you have got. Which is stage four cancer. He was a Liverpool supporter so I went to meet him. I knew I wouldn't be walking alone, if you know what I mean."Kevin Keegan has revealed that he has been diagnosed with stage four cancer -Credit:ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty ImagesKeegan's family disclosed that he had cancer earlier this year. Speaking on Sunday, the Liverpool and Newcastle icon said: "I was in a car accident and, through that, I had to have an operation," he said on stage at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House."The doc said, 'Kevin, this new treatment, I've got a tremendous strike rate.' I said, 'What's your strike rate?' He said, '33%.' I thought it would be 80%, 90%. 33%!' I'm still here at the moment."

For the second time since April 2025, Mercedes-Benz has accused Shilo Sanders of not keeping up with payments on his $135,000 car and has asked a federal bankruptcy court to allow the company to repossess it.The financial services arm of Mercedes-Benz made the request June 2, claiming the son of Colorado football coach Deion Sanders is in default of his monthly payments by $9,170, which includes past due amounts from February through May of 2026.This is for the same car that led to a similar claim by Mercedes-Benz in April 2025, which was resolved through payment without the car being repossessed, according to court records obtained by USA TODAY Sports.The filing by Mercedes-Benz adds to Sanders’ legal troubles shortly after a separate lawsuit was dropped by a law firm that also accused him of unpaid bills.How does this relate to Shilo Sanders’ bankruptcy?Shilo Sanders, a former Colorado football player, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in October 2023 with more than $11 million in debt, most of it owed to John Darjean, a former security guard at his school in Dallas. Darjean sued Sanders in 2016, accusing him of assaulting him and severely injuring him when he tried confiscate his phone at school in 2015.The case didn’t go to trial until 2022, when Darjean won a default judgment against Sanders of $11.89 million after Shilo didn’t show up for it.Then when Darjean tried to collect on the judgment, Shilo Sanders filed for bankruptcy, which stopped debt collection efforts against him under an automatic stay issued by the court.This time Mercedes-Benz is once again asking the court for relief form the stay to pursue Shilo’s car.“The motor vehicle is depreciating in value, the contract is in default and the movant (Mercedes-Benz) is being prevented by the automatic stay from exercising its remedies to repossess and liquidate its collateral, the motor vehicle,” the company’s attorney stated in court filings June 2. “Specifically, the account is in default $9,169.56.”The company noted Sanders “lacks equity” in the 2023 car because the outstanding balance is $72,155 while the value of the car is estimated at $75,900.Shilo Sanders still hoping to discharge his large debtA message seeking comment from Sanders’ attorney wasn’t returned.By filing for bankruptcy, Shilo Sanders is hoping to discharge his debt to get a “fresh start,” according to his attorneys. But Darjean is fighting to collect all he’s owed, with a trial scheduled for Aug. 31. Shilo Sanders, 26, has disputed Darjean's version of events and said he acted in self-defense.Sanders finished his college football career as a graduate student in 2024 and was waived by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year after he went undrafted by NFL teams in April 2025.Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.comThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mercedes-Benz again asks to repossess car of Deion Sanders' son Shilo

Ederson: What fans can expect from Brazilian dynamo Manchester United have agreed their first signing of the summer.Both David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano have confirmed that the Red Devils have agreed an initial £35 million deal for the Brazilian.Atalanta will be due another £3.8 million in add-ons should the midfield maestro tick all the boxes during his four-year stay.The 20-time English league champions have the option of extending the Brazil international’s stay for another year, should he impress.Ederson expected to be United’s first summer signingA medical and an announcement is likely in early July. Now with all that out of the way, just what can fans expect from the 26-year-old?It is well known that the Old Trafford side are looking to bring in a successor for the departing Casemiro. Can his compatriot fill the void?For starters, he is much more mobile than the 34-year-old. Ederson’s engine and non-stop pressing were key factors which made Gian Piero Gasperini love him so much.During Atalanta’s Europa League-winning run, Ederson ranked in the 96th percentile for recoveries and in the 98th percentile for interceptions.Why Wilcox was a fanThis clearly shows how proactive the Brazilian is without the ball, while also showcasing his relentless energy and intelligence.. He is no slouch with the ball as well, as his new coach will attest to.Since Gasperini’s departure, the former Salernitana ace has had to adapt his game, but as seen from his 3,169 minutes played this season, both Ivan Juric and Raffaele Palladino were clearly fans.He ranked in the 92nd percentile for long balls, and is a high-volume passer, something that will help United keep possession (all stats via sofascore).His intelligence combined with his drive saw former England manager Fabio Capello call him “out of this world“. His availability is another green flag, with the midfield dynamo missing only 10 games in four seasons at the New Balance Arena.Ederson will fit in nicely alongside Mainoo and Bruno FernandesWhat he will not bring is creativity from deep and Casemiro’s aerial ability from set-pieces. I’m sure INEOS were already aware of this when choosing to bring him in.Ederson will complement a midfield combo of Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes with his engine, but he is unlikely to be the exact replacement for Casemiro.He can play the defensive midfield role, but he is best as a box-to-box presence who can crash into the box to score vital goals, as seen from his three strikes this season.Fans should be happy that INEOS have got business done nice and early, especially considering the interest the player was generating. Still, United will need two more signings to completely revamp the midfield.Feature image Marco Luzzani via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

May 20, 2026; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz (34) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Fresh off a 7-3 homestand, the O’s open their June schedule with three games in Boston against a reeling Red Sox team. The Orioles are just 9-17 on the road, while the Red Sox are 9-15 at home, so neither team is happy to be there. It’s a movable force against a stoppable object. But somebody has to win.So why not the Orioles? Their hitting and their pitching (minus some bullpen slip-ups) were both on point during their just-concluded homestand, and tonight’s starter, Shane Baz, is coming off two consecutive excellent outings against his former team, the Rays. This is his first time facing the Red Sox this year but historically he’s been excellent against them, with a 2.64 ERA in five career starts. He’s held Jarren Duran, Boston’s leadoff hitter tonight, to a 2-for-14.Scoring runs could be a problem for the Birds, considering they’re facing their Kryptonite, a left-handed starter. This is a pretty good one in rookie Connelly Early, who’s got a 2.95 ERA in 11 starts this year, though his 4.16 FIP indicates he’s been benefiting from some good luck. The Orioles will be unleashing their lefty-facing lineup that often fails to actually hit lefties, including Tyler O’Neill, who is 4-for-45 this year against southpaws. I’d sooner give Colton Cowser the start coming off his monster homestand instead of wasting more time with O’Neill, but what do I know? At least Samuel Basallo is in the lineup.The Orioles right now have the most momentum they’ve had all season. Will they keep it going on the road, or immediately squander it?Orioles lineup:LF Taylor WardSS Gunnar HendersonC Adley Rutschman1B Pete AlonsoDH Samuel Basallo3B Coby MayoRF Tyler O’NeillCF Leody Taveras2B Blaze AlexanderRHP Shane BazRed Sox lineup:LF Jarren DuranCF Ceddanne RafaelaRF Wilyer Abreu1B Willson ContrerasDH Masataka YoshidaC Mickey Gasper2B Isiah Kiner-FalefaSS Marcelo Mayer3B Caleb DurbinLHP Connelly Early

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 01: Nasim Nunez #26 of the Washington Nationals looks up as umpire Alan Porter #64 calls him out after trying to steal second base in the fifth inning against the Miami Marlins at Nationals Park on June 01, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) | Getty Images The feisty fish have given the Nats problems this year, and last night was no different. The Nationals bullpen was unable to hold on to their lead, and they lost 7-3. Tonight, they will try and even the series. They have been a series winning machine lately, so the Nats will not want to drop this one against the Marlins.There will be a couple changes to the lineup. Jorbit Vivas will replace Nasim Nunez as the second baseman. Dylan Crews will be back in the lineup, after missing the last couple games with a minor hand issue. The struggling Daylen Lile won’t get the night off, but he will be off his feet as the DH. Drew Millas will be doing the catching. Richard Lovelady will open and Miles Mikolas will follow him.something something nationals lineup→ https://t.co/iUBDqlACVspic.twitter.com/Fpt67py7Df— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 2, 2026With the lefty opener for the Nats, the Marlins put lefty masher Heriberto Hernandez at the top of the lineup. Liam Hicks will be at first base for Connor Norby. Other than that, it is the same personnel. Lake Bachar will be opening for the fish, and it will be all hands on deck in their bullpen.Run it back 💪📺: https://t.co/pMAEOPHNJ8👂: @MarlinsRadio, @radiomambi710, @1043wqam⏰: 6:45 PM ET#FightinFishpic.twitter.com/Pl6MIdQtPm— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) June 2, 2026Game Info:Stadium: Nationals ParkTime: 6:45 PM ESTTV: Nationals.TVRadio: 106.7 The FanThe Nats have had problems against the Marlins, so hopefully they can snap out of it tonight. Getting all those hard fought wins against teams over .500 just to give those curly W’s away against the Marlins would be frustrating. That makes tonight an important matchup. Follow along in the comments down below and let’s go Nats.