Yankees 'ideal world' at trade deadline revealed by MLB insider originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New York Yankees are very likely to be trade deadline buyers once again this season. They made a lot of moves last year, and those moves revolved around infield and bullpen upgrades.For the 2026 trade deadline, the Yankees have a few positions of need. A new closer is a priority, and as every team should do, seeing what it would take to acquire Tarik Skubal would be a worthwhile endeavor.However, ESPN's Jeff Passan revealed what the Yankees' actual "ideal world" would be at the trade deadline. And for the second straight season, the Yankees are targeting infield upgrades at shortstop and third base.Yankees 'ideal world' at trade deadline revealed"In an ideal world, New York is training its focus on a third baseman (Paredes is by far the best option) or shortstop (depending on how the Anthony Volpe/Jose Cabellero time-share works)," Passan writes.This is an interesting angle for the Yankees, as instead of a closer, which is a big need, the Yankees once again have third base and shortstop at the top of their mind.But, with Ryan McMahon's struggles and the uncertainty of Cabellero and Volpe at shortstop, these two spots being the Yankees' top needs is not a surprise.MORE: Yankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution Isaac Paredes would make a lot of sense, as he's a right-handed slugger who has some pop and is a two-time All-Star who could play third base.Jeremy Pena, also a Houston Astros player like Paredes, would be a good shortstop trade target if the Yankees are hoping to find someone for more than just the 2026 season.It's a fascinating report from Passan that for the second straight season, shortstop and third base are seemingly high-priority trade targets.More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsEx-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 successTarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyCubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GMPhillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

An immigrant rights and advocacy group has filed a lawsuit against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking records related to the agency’s use of Palantir tools. 404 Media first revealed a tool called ELITE and its links to Palantir in January, based in part on a leaked user guide for ELITE. ICE uses ELITE to find which neighborhoods to raid, according to testimony from an ICE official.“The requested records include information of great national significance, and will detail the ways Defendants have made use of Palantir’s technology products to centralize, analyze, and visualize data around individuals residing in the United States and their social relationships to identify target individuals and communities in highly publicized immigration raids,” Just Futures Law wrote in its complaint filed on Thursday. 💡Do you know work at Palantir or ICE? I would love to hear from you. Using a non-work device, you can message me securely on Signal at joseph.404 or send me an email at joseph@404media.co.The lawsuit follows a Just Futures Law Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking related documents. The lawsuit also targets the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).Just Futures Law is seeking, among other things, unredacted copies of communications between ICE and Palantir discussing various tools and systems, including ImmigrationOS; communications between ICE and members of DOGE discussing the systems (DOGE was working on a “master database” to track immigrants, WIRED reported); memorandums of agreement and similar between ICE, DOGE, and other agencies; copies of the specific Palantir contracts; training material about ImmigrationOS; and presentations created by ICE discussing the systems.As 404 Media reported, ELITE, or Enhanced Leads Identification & Targeting for Enforcement, populates a map with potential deportation targets, and provides ICE users with a dossier on each person. It also provides a “confidence score” on that person’s current address. Other criteria available on the map include “Bios & IDs,” “Location,” “Operations,” and “Criminality.” 404 Media purchased a transcript from a case in Oregon in which a deportation officer with ICE’s Fugitive Operations Unit, identified in the court records as JB, said ELITE is “basically a map of the United States. It’s kind of like Google Maps.”JB said ELITE is what ICE uses to track the apparent density of people in a particular location. “You’re going to go to a more dense population rather than [...] like, if there’s one pin at a house and the likelihood of them actually living there is like 10 percent [...] you’re not going to go there,” he added.Organizations and journalists sometimes file FOIA lawsuits as a way to force an agency to comply with their legal obligations to provide the requested records in a timely manner. 404 Media recently published records from our ongoing lawsuit against ICE regarding its $2 million spyware contract.

More than 80 people have been arrested during turbulent protests outside the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in New Jersey over the past two weeks.

Former India cricketer and commentator Murali Kartik has backed Ajinkya Rahane as the best captain of IPL 2026, praising the Kolkata Knight Riders skipper for guiding a depleted squad through a difficult campaign and keeping them in playoff contention until the final day of the league stage.KKR eventually finished seventh on the points table and missed out on a playoff spot after Rajasthan Royals' victory over Mumbai Indians ended their hopes. However, Kartik believes Rahane's leadership deserves recognition given the challenges he faced throughout the season.Speaking on Cricbuzz, Kartik pointed to the circumstances surrounding KKR's campaign, including injuries, player unavailability and the criticism directed at Rahane during the early part of the tournament."One of the reasons is that half of his troop was gone before he flicked the first coin," Kartik said."The second thing is the kind of darts being thrown at him from the beginning of the season, which was not his fault. There were many players who were not performing.""To lift them up from there and nearly take them to qualification with that kind of a run, with that kind of a side, I'll give it to him.""Others have settled people around them. They know what they are doing. But for an individual, everybody was throwing darts at him.""To come back from that and lift the side up, that's why I'll go with Rahane."Rahane's second season as KKR captain began under difficult circumstances. The franchise was hit by multiple setbacks even before finding momentum in the tournament. Fast bowler Harshit Rana missed the entire season following knee surgery, while Akash Deep was ruled out of the tournament with a lumbar stress injury. Matheesha Pathirana also suffered a hamstring injury and was unavailable for the majority of the season. He returned to play one match but was injured again after bowling just one over. KKR were further affected when Mustafizur Rahman became unavailable before the tournament after the BCCI instructed the franchise to release him.The results reflected those struggles early on. KKR failed to win any of their first six matches, collecting just a single point from a rain-affected game against Punjab Kings. At that stage, their playoff hopes appeared all but over.However, the team produced one of the strongest recoveries of the season. KKR won six of their final eight league matches to force their way back into contention and remained alive in the playoff race until the final day of the league stage.Rahane himself was under intense scrutiny during that period. While he began the season strongly with a brisk 67 off 40 balls, his batting returns slowed considerably as the tournament progressed. He eventually finished IPL 2026 with 335 runs from 14 matches at an average of 25.76 and a strike rate of 135.08.Despite those modest numbers with the bat, Kartik believes Rahane's biggest contribution came as a leader. Managing an injury-hit squad, handling external criticism and overseeing a remarkable turnaround after a disastrous start were among the factors that convinced the former India spinner to name the KKR skipper as his captain of the season.

National team boss admits he wanted Real Madrid signing to join BarcelonaDutch national team head coach Ronald Koeman has admitted that he would rather have seen Denzel Dumfries link up with Barcelona, than Real Madrid.Defender Dumfries is of course expected to be unveiled as Real Madrid’s latest signing any day now.After the Blancos brass thrashed out a contract agreement with the 30-year-old’s representatives, they will imminently activate Dumfries’ cut-price Inter Milan release clause.The right-back is expected to act as competition to Trent Alexander-Arnold at the Santiago Bernabéu next season.As alluded to above, though, had his international manager had his way, then Dumfries would instead have been taking his talents to Catalunya this summer.Drawn on the rampaging full-back’s Real Madrid move during a press conference on Thursday, former Barcelona headmaster Ronald Koeman revealed his take that:“I am very happy for him, but I would have preferred him at Barça.”Dumfries was of course heavily linked with a Camp Nou switch last summer, only for the Blaugrana to bring in João Cancelo in January.Conor Laird – GSFN

Michigan football has made it abundantly clear that it covets 2027 Oceanside (Calif.) four-star interior offensive lineman Lincoln Mageo, but he won't be making his college choice for another month yet.Set to make his announcement on July 11, the Wolverines have been working diligently to try to get him into the class. And that diligence looks like it's close to paying off.Mageo visited for a full weekend in April, the week before the spring game, and is set to make his official visit to Ann Arbor this weekend. In advance of that, The Wolverine's Ethan McDowell feels confident in the maize and blue's chances, having put in a prediction on Rivals that he will choose to wear a winged helmet once he makes his choice.Mageo already took an official visit to Arizona and Utah and is expected to also see Washington and Texas. But if the Wolverines knock it out of the park for the 6-foot-4, 285-pound four-star? It's certainly possible that he accelerates his recruitment.He's rated highest by Rivals, which has him as the No. 242 player in the country, though both 247Sports and ESPN have him rated as a three-star. This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Michigan football receives prediction to land 4-star OL Lincoln Mageo

West Clermont High School announced on June 2 that head baseball coach Dave Collins stepped down from his post after five years in the program."After five years at the helm of the baseball program, Coach Dave Collins has stepped down," the school said on its athletics page on X. "Thank you for all you have given our community and our kids. You will always be a Wolf."After five years at the helm of the baseball program, Coach Dave Collins has stepped down. Thank you for all you have given our community and our kids. You will always be a Wolf. pic.twitter.com/XEyUbYgQHk— West Clermont Athletics (@wcwolvessports) June 2, 2026The Wolves finished 13-15 in 2026 and were sixth in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference.The team's best season under Collins came in 2023 when the Wolves shared the ECC title with Lebanon, going 14-4 in conference play. West Clermont that season finished 22-9, falling to eventual state champion Moeller in the regional semifinals.Collins played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball for eight teams from 1975 to 1990. He played in 697 games for the Cincinnati Reds from 1978 to 1981 and again from 1987 to 1989.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Dave Collins leaves as West Clermont baseball coach after five years

Liverpool have appointed Andoni Iraola as their head coach following the sacking of Arne Slot.The Reds announced Slot's exit on Saturday, a year after the Dutchman guided them to the Premier League title.Former Bournemouth manager Iraola, 43, joins after delivering the Cherries' finest season to date, finishing in sixth place.That was only one position and three points behind Liverpool and gave Bournemouth a place in next season's Europa League.The Spaniard announced in April that he would leave Bournemouth this summer and he had been linked with Crystal Palace and AC Milan.Now he moves to Merseyside, with Liverpool having qualified for next season's Champions League despite finishing the Premier League season with 60 points - their lowest tally since the 2015-16 campaign.They finished 25 points behind champions Arsenal.Iraola is understood to be keen to bring Tommy Elphick and Shaun Cooper, his assistants at Bournemouth, to Anfield as part of his coaching staff.More to follow.Iraola will make Liverpool fans excited again - Murphy Why do managers struggle after stepping up to 'big-six' clubs?Slot sacking completes a remarkable fall from graceLatest Liverpool news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

Iran's Saeid Ezatolahi listens to national anthems prior to a friendly soccer match between Iran and Gambia, in Antalya, southern Turkey, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)2026-06-04T09:08:56Z ANTALYA, Turkey (AP) — Iran is heading to the World Cup while the country is at war with the primary host nation, a situation that is unique in the tournament’s history.In exclusive interviews with The Associated Press during a team camp in Turkey, two members of Iran’s squad described how the conflict is affecting its World Cup preparations.“Well, to be honest, it’s not easy,” said Saeid Ezatolahi, a 29-year-old midfielder who also played for Iran in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.“That’s going to be my third World Cup. So for me and some of the other players, it might be easier to manage these kind of things,” he said in English on the sidelines of a training session on Wednesday. “But at the end ... it is going to be difficult for us because at the same time, we are following the news in our country and the political things, of course, can affect the mind of the players and the people.” The Iran team has spent more than two weeks in Turkey, mostly practicing at the coastal resort Antalya, and some went to the capital Ankara to submit visa applications at the U.S. embassy. Media access to their World Cup preparations has been limited, and the players rarely speak to international journalists. Iran will be based in Mexico during the World CupThe team is set to travel to Mexico this weekend after receiving visas from the Mexican embassy in Ankara. The team said Thursday that the process of obtaining entry permits had been finalized for all members of the squad. Problems with visa processing meant Iran’s World Cup training base was moved from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, on Mexico’s border with California.Iran will play its first two games near Los Angeles, which has a large Iranian community, many of whom oppose the current government.“So for sure, we are expecting to have a lot fans during our games at the stadium,” Ezatolahi said. “And this is going to be a lot pressure for us because the expectation is going be high. I just wish we can make them proud and show them that Iranians, they are prepared for every hard job in the world,” he said. Read More Mohammad Ghorbani, 24, is going to his first World Cup for Iran. “It’s true that we are facing special circumstances right now but we are football players and we have to play, practice, and prepare ourselves for the competitions we have ahead,” the Abu Dhabi-based player told the AP in Farsi. “On the other hand, we know that our people have been going through a lot of difficulties throughout the war, and we are going there for them, to get the best results for their joy and the joy of the people of our country.”The U.S. and Israel launched its war against Iran on Feb. 28, killing its supreme leader and other top officials. Iran responded with strikes targeting Israel, U.S. forces and the Gulf Arab states. It also has maintained a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, imperiling global energy supplies.Despite a nominal ceasefire being in place, Iran and the U.S. have yet to negotiate a permanent end to the war and attacks continue in the region. Iran is in Group G with New Zealand, Belgium and EgyptIran’s team is not required to enter the United States until June 14, one day before its first match against New Zealand at the Los Angeles Rams’ stadium in Inglewood.Iran returns to Inglewood to face Belgium on June 21 and completes Group G in Seattle, against Egypt on June 26.“I’m really proud to be part of my national team,” said Ezatolahi, whose career has taken him to play for clubs in Spain, Russia, England, Belgium, Denmark, Qatar and now Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.“We need to clear up our minds and be fresh because our target and our duty is to fight for our people, to represent our country and to show how good we are,” he said.Ghorbani agreed, saying the team wants to bring joy to Iranians.“The best message I can give right now is that the Iranian team is showing what it means to be a team,” he said. “We are showing that we are one team under one flag that can bring joy to our whole country, and to show the power of Iranian players and Iranian people to the world.”___AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup 获取更多RSS：https://feedx.net https://feedx.site

WASHINGTON—Instituting a massive overhaul to the federal government’s scientific grant system in order to find the mythical cartoon characters, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he would be diverting all science funding into locating The Smurfs. “These are very bad tiny blue people, and we gotta kill these Smurfs immediately—I don’t care how many vaccine trials I have to cancel,” said Trump, signaling an end to all ongoing cancer research in order to “harness the magic” that the Smurfs control. “We are working closely with Gargamel, who will be given full access to any weaponry or troops he may need in his quest, and I promise you we won’t need any studies into reversing Alzheimer’s once we have the very beautiful lady Smurf in our grasp, which will be very soon. We have all the reports showing that Brainy Smurf is just weeks away from enriching uranium, and that is a threat to our freedom we simply will not tolerate.” At press time, the president blamed “bad intelligence” after a missile strike targeting Papa Smurf’s mushroom home accidentally destroyed a nearby school full of Borrowers. The post Trump Diverts All Science Funding Into Locating The Smurfs appeared first on The Onion.

I don’t know if I’ve ever left T.J. Maxx with just one thing — I might go looking for something specific, but invariably I’ll discover something else along the way that I didn’t even know I needed. However, there’s one item I’ll never buy anywhere else: cute cat bowls.My senior cat, Phoebe, needs to eat her dry food from elevated bowls that tilt towards her for her digestion. READ MORE...

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 17: Tonka Hemingway #97 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates recovering a fumble against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium on November 17, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images I broke down the Las Vegas Raiders offensive starters in my projections, and there was a few surprises but not many. Defensively, there’s a lot more room for surprises, especially in the secondary & defensive line. There’s still roughly 3.5 months till the Raiders week 1 game vs the Miami Dolphins, but things have already started to come to light on who will be placed where positionally, and battles arise quickly throughout camp. The Raiders return few defensive starters from 2025, letting starting defensive backs Lonnie Johnson and Kyu Blu Kelly walk, their entire linebacker core of Jamal Adams, Elandon Roberts, and Devin White still sit as free agents, and the team moved on from EDGE rushers Tyree Wilson & Charles Snowden who saw playtime in 2025. Additionally, DC Patrick Graham parted ways to head to the Steelers, and was replaced by his disciple in Rob Leonard who projects to run a heavy amount of concepts from the Mike MacDonald & Patrick Graham tree. Leonard, who’s preached aggression, physicality, and versatility has made that clear with the teams defensive additions this off-season, and I’d expect the Raiders to be a blitz first team and rank inside the top 5 for blitz rate this season. EDGE: Maxx Crosby & Kwity PayeThis is a tough one, well, not the Maxx Crosby part, that one is pretty simple. Crosby will see a reduced workload for the Raiders in 2026, and it’s not for a bad reason. Crosby has suffered a string of knee, ankle, and basically entire lower body injuries during his career especially in recent seasons. Las Vegas needs to prioritize Crosby’s health, and while he clearly wants to play 100% of the snaps, it’s not in his or the Raiders best interest for him to do so. The Raiders are the deepest off the EDGE they have been in a long time, and they need to utilize that fully. Crosby & Paye will be the best run defending EDGE duo in the NFL, and I’d be shocked if Las Vegas doesn’t have a top 5 run defense again under Rob Leonard after ranking 5th in 2025. Kwity Paye has had an extremely up and down career, he’s been an average pass rusher though he’s also popped 32 sacks in his career including two seasons of 8+ sacks and two seasons of 4 or 4.5 sacks. The 6’3/265 pound EDGE rusher works exceptionally well as a base 5T, with some work at 7 and while he’s an average to above average athlete, Paye is strong, and wins with his speed to power consistently to pair with good hand combat skills. He’s just 27 years old, and there’s a world where Paye can succeed in Las Vegas in a rotational setting, and playing opposite Maxx Crosby should elevate his game as is. Paye will have some competition with Malcolm Koonce, who came on strong in 2025 after missing 2024 with a torn ACL. The usual recovery period to full return to play off an ACL is about 14-16 months which line Koonce up for a strong 2026 season, and he should be in line to see a majority of the Raiders pure pass rush situations. Koonce finished with a 16% pass rush win rate, and in 2023 was a standout who looked like he finally broke through with a 21% win rate, 8.5 sacks, and 51 pressures. Koonce has the makings of a strong third pass rusher, but also can be a consistent 2nd option and he improved his run defense noticeably in 2025, which should extend into 2026.It's still a work in progress but Kwity Paye has flashed a solid long-arm move as a pass-rusher #Raiderspic.twitter.com/c63Rh8eB10— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) March 13, 2026DT: Tonka Hemingway & Adam ButlerI went “bold” on this one, the Raiders saw Adam Butler take a step back in 2025, though I expect the 32 year old to rebound in 2026. Just a year removed from back to back 6.5 sack seasons, and in 2024 Butler posted 31 pressures, a 8% win rate, and 32 run stops he only posted 19 pressures, a sack, and a 5.4% win rate in 2025. The Raiders defensive line adapted from an attack front to a react front, which caused issues in the ability for the Raiders defensive line to utilize athleticism and violence, which as a response reduces their impact as pass rushers being more reactive than proactive thus reducing their overall pressure rates, win rates, and sacks due to a .5 to 1 second slower time off the ball comparative to previous seasons. Thomas Booker started 13 games for Las Vegas last season & played 603 snaps. The former Texans 5th rounder should see a large workload again, he’s a quality rotational pass rusher, and does perform well in the run game as well. Additionally, Booker did rank 1st on the Raiders and 11th in the NFL for created sacks (sacks where a teammate is credited with the sack as a result of another players efforts). Additionally, Jonah Laulu started 15 games for the Raiders last season, and played 764 snaps. The former 7th rounder of the Colts in 2024 has developed into a quality depth defensive tackle for Las Vegas, and he should see a strong rotation in 2026. As for the other starter, I went with the Raiders 4th rounder just a year ago. Hemingway didn’t see consistent snaps till week 11 where he played majority of his 195 snaps from that point on. In his brief time, Hemingway posted 9 tackles, 5 for loss, 6 QB hits, 4 sacks, a PBU, FR, and 11 pressures with a 11.5% pass rush win rate. The 6’3, 290 pounder is a bit of a tweener, he works well working across the DL from 3, 4, 5, and even some 6 technique which Rob Leonard will be looking for on his defensive line. Hemingway is athletic, he needs to add more power, but the 24 year old can certainly win with his speed to power, hand combat, and initial quickness. Hemingway was easily moved off the ball as a run defender, which could cause issues, but there’s a willingness to defend the run, and he has the athletic traits to be a capable run defender despite lacking power. Nose Tackle: Brandon ClevelandI predicted Cleveland to not make the 53 man roster a week ago, with Benito Jones making it over him, I now go back to having Cleveland on the roster and Jones off the roster. Cleveland will have a tough battle with Benito Jones, JJ Pegues (if he’s playing NT), and Gary Smith. Cleveland isn’t an elite pass rusher, but he does flash the traits to be at least adequate and serviceable to get 1-3 sacks a season at NT. He’s a run first defensive tackle, has an excellent anchor, strong core, and understands natural leverage. I really like the concepts of Cleveland, and he’s a moldable defender. Additionally, Cleveland does do a good job working combo blocks, he’s coming from an attack front at NC State, and he’s shown good instincts and improved technique year after year in college. The battle at NT will be interesting, and it’s possible they go with someone who isn’t on the roster as is. For now, I think Cleveland beats on Jones & Smith, while joining Pegues on the roster. Great job recognizing and blowing up the down block by Brandon Cleveland#Raiderspic.twitter.com/HmO4HLZ2sG— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) May 14, 2026Linebacker: Nakobe Dean (MIKE), Quay Walker (SAM), Tommy Eichenberg (WILL)To the shock of everyone, Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker are starting for Las Vegas, the battle will come on who plays the third linebacker role, when the Raiders decide to trot out three linebackers (which won’t be often). Nakobe Dean has primarily played MIKE throughout his career stemming back to Georgia, and he should do so again in Las Vegas, which will put Quay Walker back on the SAM/WILL role that he excelled at during his time at Georgia as well. Dean is refined, he’s a high end blitzing linebacker, defends the run well, and can cover but there are some clear cut injury issues with Dean having played just 17 games in one season (2022) with 25 games the last two seasons. Dean has an elite trigger, he flys downhill, tackles well, is aggressive, and in a full season can easily be a top 10-15 linebacker in the NFL as he was in 2024 with 128 tackles, 9 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 PBU, INT, 2 FR, and 2 FF through 15 games. As for Walker, he’s been transitioned to a traditional MIKE role for the Packers, which caused him struggles as he’s best when able to work in space and get downhill quickly. Walker has been banged up through his career missing 3 games in 2023, 4 in 2024, and 3 in 2025 but he’s coming off four straight seasons with 100+ tackles and 8+ TFL including three seasons with 120+ tackles. Walker is fluid in coverage, he matches up well vs TE, can work the flats, and is an instinctual run defender, additionally him and Dean should be one of, if not the best, blitzing LB duo in the NFL. As for the Raiders third linebacker spot, it’s really a free for all between 2024 5th rounder Tommy Eichenberg, 2025 7th rounder Cody Lindenberg, free agent signing Segun Olubi, and UDFA signing Xavian Sorey. Ironically, if Sorey did play with the Bulldogs back in 2021 crossing paths with both Dean & Walker. As for the others, Segun Olubi has made his mark as a career special teams player with just 142 defensive snaps, though Olubi has the made the most of those opportunities with 21 tackles, 8 stops, 2 TFL, a PBU, and an interception. Lindenberg was a capable WILL in college, he’s a strong coverage linebacker, does a decent job vs the run, but he’s never logged an NFL snap though I think he has a bigger chance than not. Eichenberg is the clear cut option on the roster to start when in three linebacker sets. He’s played just 167 snaps in his career, but did see strides in 2025 improving as a tackler, his coverage was alright, and overall Eichenberg has seemed to adapt to the NFL speed, especially on special teams. Las Vegas likely isn’t in a true three linebacker set all that often, but when they are it could be situationally dependent for who’s lining up with Dean & Walker. Nickel Cornerback: Taron JohnsonI am fully aware that Taron Johnson isn’t at OTA’s, he’s looking for more guaranteed money on his contract and for a veteran with just 1.7 million of 17 million guaranteed it makes sense. Johnson is coming off a down year in 2025, but the soon to be 30 year old has been one of the best NCB in the NFL since 2021. Johnson allowed a 67% reception rate, 332 yards, 2 TD, and a 97.8 QBR in 2025 along with missing 13% of his tackles the highest mark since 2019 (19.7%). Johnson still has good playmaking skills, he’s instinctual, and has shown the history of being a capable nickel defender as a run defender. Johnson isn’t likely to be the same player he was, but he can hold down the nickel, which is going to be a key role for the Raiders secondary under Rob Leonard after adopting the Patrick Graham & Mike MacDonald mold on defense. Las Vegas will likely pay Johnson a bit more GTD money in some form or fashion, however if his “holdout” extends longer then it could cause a chance for someone like Dalton Johnson to push for the starting slot role. Boundary Cornerback: Eric Stokes & Jermod McCoyEric Stokes has one spot of the starting CB’s locked up after a breakout year in 2025 where he logged a career high 1037 snaps, and allowed just 261 yards, a touchdown, and 77.2 QBR off 28 receptions (50 targets). Stokes is just 27, and won’t turn 28 till after this season, he’s struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, but when healthy he’s shown the ability to play like a first round cornerback. Stokes has good ball skills, prevents separation, and he tackled well in 2025. The Raiders rewarded him with a 3 year, 30 million contract after a prove it season, and Stokes will anchor the Raiders secondary. Ideally, Stokes can stay healthy but history says he’ll likely miss at least 1-2 games which will allow the path to more playtime for Hezekiah Mases, Darien Porter, Jermod McCoy, or others. Starting opposite of Stokes, I currently have in Jermod McCoy, but that’s going to be with a big asterisk. McCoy is coming off a torn ACL and hasn’t played snap of football in game since December 21, 2024. McCoy has elite traits, was a likely top 15 pick, and fell due to the injury concern in his knee. Despite that, there’s a very good chance that McCoy won’t need surgery and/or is healthy for the 2026 season at least. Should McCoy be healthy, it’s hard to see a world where he isn’t the starter opposite Stokes and he should have a highly productive season. However, the Raiders are going to likely rotate their cornerbacks heavily, especially with injury concerns on McCoy & Stokes. 2025 3rd rounder Darien Porter had a good rookie season with 5 PBU and allowing just 256 yards, a 61% reception rate, and an 87.6 QBR. Porter will need to get better at tackling, and the 25 year old is still new to the position but he has an excellent frame, good ball skills, and natural instincts as well. Additionally, Hezekiah Masses will push to earn snaps with his ball skills, tackling, and instincts. Las Vegas has a rather young, but deep secondary and they’ll consistently find ways to rotate the DB’s to match opposing defenses and keep players well rested. Free Safety: Treydan StukesThe Raiders 2nd round pick should have a clear cut path to the starting FS role, Las Vegas is looking to replace Tre’Von Moehrig who left for the Panthers in 2025 & Stukes should slot in well. He’s a versatile, extremely athletic, and highly instinctual coverage defender who will show those same traits at the NFL level. Stukes can play a true FS role, but also works as a rover/robber overhang defender, can play a nickel backer role (star) and even slot into the nickel as well. The Raiders really have no competition for Stukes at free safety, with Isaiah Pola-Mao rotating back to a rover role in the overhang behind Jeremy Chinn who will play a traditional nickel star role, similar to that of Nick Emmanwori in Seattle. Stukes has the opportunity to utilize his traits and add more youth, ball skills, and instincts in the secondary for Las Vegas especially in the backend that has struggled to find a consistent rotation of safeties. Treydan Stukes recognizes the pick route, uses a leverage step to avoid it and makes a good open-field tackle to get the coverage stop #Raiderspic.twitter.com/z4vSb8Kt7f— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) April 28, 2026Strong Safety: Jeremy ChinnChinn will play more of a star role, as mentioned above, but still will work in packages as the free safety. Should Las Vegas look to run a safety behind Chinn & opposite of Stukes that will come down to Dalton Johnson or Isaiah Pola-Mao for who’s best suited in the role. In his first season with the Raiders, Chinn saw his versatility tick up, but he was consistently put into positions that wasn’t similar to his previous success playing extremely close to the LOS almost as a nickel cornerback. The 6’3, 220 safety is exceptionally athletic and can work across the formation in a variety of roles, though he’s best when able to work near the LOS, utilize his first step, and play physical in a variety of concepts. Chinn had 114 tackles, 3 TFL, a sack, 2 PBU, and 2 FF to go along with 31 run stops, and just a 10% missed tackle rate. Given his playstyle he’s not an elite coverage defender, and Chinn was asked to play deep more often than not which led him to allow 7 touchdowns, and a 135 QBR but just 339 yards and a 77% reception rate. Chinn should play a nickel rover role, allowing him to be aggressive vs the run, use his size and matchup skills against the pass, and also consistently find ways to impact the game in blitz packages or rotation with Treydan Stukes/Dalton Johnson/Isaiah Pola-Mao. Headed into a contract year, I’d expect a strong season out of Chinn and likely more production on the ball in the air.

Fran Brown and Syracuse went into South Carolina looking for a difference-maker at wide receiver.They found one in Chanin Harris.The playmaker from Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes has committed to Syracuse after taking his official visit to campus this past weekend, choosing the Orange over Virginia Tech, Wisconsin and several other programs involved in his recruitment.More importantly for Syracuse, Harris plans to shut down his recruitment and lock in with the Orange.Syracuse didn’t enter the picture until late April, but the Orange wasted no time making up ground.“They offered me at the end of April, and ever since then, they’ve been trying their hardest to build a relationship with me,” Harris told Rivals. “I’ve built that relationship with Coach Fran and Coach Gaddis.”That relationship quickly became the foundation of Syracuse’s rise.Harris connected immediately with Brown because of their shared faith and conversations that extended well beyond football.“Not everything is about football with him,” Harris said. “He’s real heavy in his faith, and I am as well. That’s how we got connected from the first time we talked.”Offensive coordinator Josh Gattis made an equally strong impression.“When I first met him, it was just like wow,” Harris said. “His development with receivers and the position that I play is great. He’s a great person overall as well.”The visit sealed the deal for Harris and the OrangeBefore Syracuse offered, Harris admittedly knew very little about the program. The Orange changed that quickly. The official visit ultimately sealed the deal.“The visit had a great impact,” Harris said. “They made sure to take the time to help me understand what Syracuse was and what they were about.“I went to the official visit thinking that it was going to be the place. I prayed on my decision and wanted to make sure I was making the right choice. When I got there, it was everything I was expecting.”One moment stood above the rest.“It hit me 100% when I was with Coach Gaddis watching film. Just seeing how he took the time to analyze everything and show me what I needed to work on meant a lot.”That attention to detail, combined with the relationship they built throughout the visit, helped remove any remaining doubts.Brown’s personality and authenticity also played a major role.When it came time to make a final decision, three things separated Syracuse from the competition.“First was the faith-based culture inside the program,” he said. “Second was their focus on preparing players for life after football. Third was the atmosphere created by the coaching staff and players.”

The acquisition of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was the biggest move of the offseason for the Denver Broncos. And, aside from Waddle's personal workout videos of himself in Broncos gear, Thursday was the first time fans saw him in orange and blue. Waddle appeared at the team's OTAs on Thursday, a practice which was open to the media. Following practice, videos circulated of Waddle stretching with teammates, and even a video of him running a route and catching passes.Waddle was seen dancing as participants stretched, showing he is clearly having fun with one of the top teams in the AFC going into 2026. Here's how Twitter/X reacted to seeing Waddle for the first time in his new No. 17 jersey. .@D1__JW in the orange and blue 👀 pic.twitter.com/LjGz7i0ZvB— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) June 4, 2026🐧 pic.twitter.com/g6GwJny0P0— RG 📷 (@RyanGreeneDNVR) June 4, 2026First look at Broncos WR Jaylen Waddle pic.twitter.com/FVKamZRWWc— Rachel Vigil (@heyrachelvigil) June 4, 2026#Broncos new addition Jaylen Waddle pic.twitter.com/XPHxQWZ2KL— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) June 4, 2026Other takeaways: —Jaylen Waddle is FAST. Working both from slot/outside in team and did work vs Riley Moss —Team split up CBs into outside/nickel in individuals. Jahdae Barron was with *outside* group—Jonah Elliss worked with OLBs in individual and lined up at edge in team— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) June 4, 2026Fans will continue to see how Waddle integrates with the team prior to the start of training camp, which will likely begin in late July. For now, though, the speedy wide receiver looks right at home.Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Denver Broncos: First look at Jaylen Waddle during OTAs

Arsenal gets a boost as Spanish club finds a replacement for their targetAtletico Madrid do not want to sell Julian Alvarez during this transfer window. However, that stance does not necessarily rule out a departure if the right offer and conditions are presented. The forward remains firmly on Arsenal’s radar, with several reports suggesting that the Gunners are prepared to break their transfer record again to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.Alvarez has impressed since moving to Atletico, quickly establishing himself as one of the most important figures in their squad. His form and consistency have made him a key player for the Spanish side, which is why they are understandably reluctant to consider letting him leave. However, interest from England continues to grow, with Arsenal monitoring his situation closely as they assess potential attacking reinforcements.Atletico Madrid Stance on AlvarezAtletico’s position is clear in that they would prefer to keep Alvarez as part of their long-term project. The club value his contribution highly and see him as central to their plans moving forward, particularly given his influence in the attacking third.Despite this, there is recognition within the club that exceptional circumstances can influence football transfers. If a proposal were to arrive that significantly exceeded expectations, Atletico may be forced to reconsider their stance even if they are not actively looking to sell.In addition, the Spanish club are aware that retaining a player who is not fully committed could be challenging, which adds another layer of complexity to their decision-making process.Arsenal Pursuit and Market CompetitionArsenal continue to view Alvarez as one of their primary targets as they aim to further strengthen their squad. The Gunners believe he would add a different dimension to their attack and are prepared to invest heavily if the opportunity arises to secure his signature.According to Fichajes, Atletico have identified Mason Greenwood as a potential replacement should Alvarez leave this summer. The report suggests that the English forward could be considered as part of their contingency planning if the Argentine departs, particularly if he expresses a desire for a new challenge.Arsenal now face the task of presenting an offer that could persuade Atletico to negotiate, knowing that a high valuation will likely be required to test their resolve. Even so, competition from other clubs is expected, meaning the race for Alvarez remains highly competitive and far from straightforward despite growing speculation around his future._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest NewsArsenal gets a boost as Spanish club finds a replacement for their target 4 June 2026, 20:00Bukayo Saka teams up with Thierry Henry for new document on his life 4 June 2026, 19:00How many Arsenal players will be at the 2026 World Cup? 4 June 2026, 18:00

Liverpool send enquiry for gifted Chelsea defenderLiverpool are eyeing up recruitment in the defensive department. Ibrahima Konate has walked out the door for free - leaving Andoni Iraola and Richard Hughes a centre-back down. And with Conor Bradley expected to miss a large chunk of the 2026/27 season there is a shortage of quality at right-back too.Ideally the outgoing Premier League champions would add an option in both positions. There also remains the possibility of adding cover with a player who can play both right-back and centre-back.A report in TEAMtalk is now claiming that the Reds are among the teams to send an enquiry Chelsea’s way for emerging star Josh Acheampong.Liverpool send enquiry for Josh AcheampongThe England underage international is tied to a long-term contract at Stamford Bridge - with club insiders believing he is set for a big future.Despite a relative lack of action over the course of the 2025/26 season - only eight Premier League starts - Acheampong is now seen as an important part of the jigsaw under incoming head coach Xabi Alonso.Therefore Liverpool - and other suitors for that matter - right now have to forget about his signing.“Josh Acheampong’s future remains firmly at Chelsea,” the report reads.“The Blues have rejected interest from a host of Europe’s biggest clubs over the past six months.“Liverpool, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Juventus are among the clubs to have made enquiries about the highly-rated 20-year-old.”Josh Acheampong: Situation summaryJosh Acheampong is a versatile, right‑sided defender viewed internally as a long‑term cornerstone of Chelsea’s back line, but his medium‑term pathway hinges on securing consistent senior minutes amid heavy competition at Stamford Bridge.A Cobham product since under‑8 level, Acheampong has climbed each age group to reach first‑team involvement, accumulating senior appearances under Enzo Maresca and breaking into England’s U21s.Naturally a right‑footer, he has been used across the back line but profiles most cleanly as a right centre‑back who can also operate at right‑back in both back four and back three structures.At 6’3”, he blends recovery pace and duel dominance with high technical security, comfortable stepping in as an inverted full‑back or even as a defensive midfielder in build‑up.His standout traits are aggressive ball carries that break pressure and tidy short passing, though he can still default to safe circulation rather than consistently forcing line‑breaking actions.Chelsea tied him to a long‑term deal to 2029 in December 2024 and internally class him as “untouchable”, grouping him with other core assets in their long‑range planning.That security gives the club leverage, but it also underpins his camp’s expectation of a defined pathway, with limited Premier League starts to date leaving a decision looming over whether he settles as a squad option or pushes for guaranteed status.Chelsea have rebuffed interest from multiple Premier League and European clubs, including Arsenal, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, while he has also been monitored by giants such as Bayern, Real Madrid and PSG.In the short term, a domestic loan – particularly to a possession‑leaning side willing to use him as a hybrid right‑back/right centre‑back – feels the most logical next step, with a permanent move only likely if he remains blocked in the pecking order despite his “not for sale” label.

This week, I have been buried under a series of story tips and reporting leads that I’m excited about, that I think are important, and that I am anxious to get into the world. But I woke up today and realized that I could simply no longer ignore a simmering drama that has been on my radar for weeks that is now breaking containment and demands attention: The YouTube LEGO drama, aka Bricks & Minifigs scandal.It is, unfortunately, impossible to succinctly or fully explain the YouTube LEGO drama, for I believe it is impossible for one to fully understand or suss out every angle of what is going on. The drama is buried in dozens of YouTube videos—many of which are hours long—police reports, local news reports, police body camera footage (!), cease and desist letters, hostage-style vertical video statements, and more. But it is important that you are at the very least aware of it, and that you know it is occurring, because it is fucking crazy. One of the things we aspire to do at 404 Media is to amplify the most important stories in individual communities to a wider audience, and this is one such case, which touches on so many things we are at least kind of interested in, is tearing apart the LEGO community, is one of the most popular things happening on YouTube right now, and appears to have become the most important local news story in a small town in Utah called American Fork. I am not the only one who feels this way. TechDirt’s Mike Masnick, in a post titled “Everyone in This LEGO Dispute Should Have Spoken to a Lawyer Earlier Than They Did,” describes it thusly: “If you haven’t been following the Bricks & Minifigs saga, congratulations on your peaceful existence. It’s a genuinely difficult story to track, partly because you have to watch a bunch of long YouTube videos to piece it together, and partly because almost everyone covering it is pushing a specific angle.” Is this goodI could not agree with Masnick more, and if you do not like my writing and want a more detailed legal analysis, then his 6,000-word blog is a good place to go. The drama has spawned its own Wikipedia page called “Bricks & Minifigs—Reckless Ben Controversy,” various Reddit Out of the Loop posts and a “megathread” about the saga on the LEGO subreddit, and local coverage including “Utah agencies inundated with calls as American Fork Police faces controversy over LEGO YouTuber arrest,” which are also good places to track what’s going on.Despite this insane intro in which I have yet to explain anything about the scandal, I will try to be brief so that you can at least tell your friends “hey did you hear about this insane LEGO shit” and you can then laugh and/or cry. WHAT IS GOING ON (I THINK)(ALSO MASSIVELY ABBREVIATED): Bricks & Minifigs is a chain of independent LEGO stores that has a series of franchises around the country. A thing that at least some Bricks & Minifigs stores do is consignment. In 2023, a man named Ed Mansell and his son Bryan asked a Bricks & Minifigs store in Salem-Keizer, Oregon, to sell their collection of LEGO bricks, which, according to the store itself, was worth “over $200,000.” The store began to sell this collection, but then the owner of the franchise changed hands and was taken over by Bricks & Minifigs corporate. At this point, Bryan attempted to either get the unsold portion of his collection back or money for the collection. Bryan, apparently, was told to pound sand.Bryan then contacted a YouTuber with a million followers named Ben Schneider, who goes by “Reckless Ben” on YouTube. Reckless Ben made a series of YouTube videos, starting with the hour-and-a-half-long “I tracked down the thief who stole $200,000 of LEGO,” which currently has 4 million views. Schneider basically did a series of wacky but also funny things to draw attention to the matter, which included putting a giant sign on the shuttered Bricks & Minifigs store in question that read “Permanently closed. We stole a family’s life savings. They sued. We lost. By closing the store, we got out of having to pay the family what we owe them.” (Bricks & Minifigs claims that the store was instead “closed temporarily because our staff—including local teenagers—faced severe real-world safety hazards, targeted in-person stalking, and explicit bomb threats driven by viral videos.”)There are various other things Schneider did in the video, which included starting a company called “We Steal From Old People,” which are possibly funny but also not necessarily relevant. Schneider also set up a GoFundMe page for Bryan, which has currently raised $382,000.As part of all of this, Schneider went to Bricks & Minifigs headquarters in Utah in March as well as the home of one of its executives; Schneider was arrested by American Fork, Utah police and charged with stalking and targeted residential picketing. Local news reported he was also separately arrested in American Fork on charges of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. After Schneider’s video came out, Bricks & Minifigs got pissed at him and has posted two different, very long blogs about the incidents that the company says has required them to “process a massive wave of online chaos.” The company basically says that this is a big misunderstanding, that Schneider’s videos are unfair, that its employees are now getting harassed, and that the LEGO bricks at issue weren’t actually worth $200,000, anyway. Understandably, Schneider has turned this response into additional content, which has also gone viral. Then, this week, body camera footage of Schneider being arrested by American Fork police was released and is being poured over by the community. The American Fork police department also quite possibly created a brand new YouTube channel to release an extremely bizarre, 30-minute YouTube video filmed in a facsimile of The Matrix’s The Construct void room about the arrests that simply must be seen to be believed. The police do not come off looking good in any of this, and it is clear from the body camera footage and the entire thing that the police have handled all of this terribly. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Patreon (@patreon) THEN, Bricks & Minifigs sent a cease-and-desist letter to Patreon, asking them to take down Reckless Ben’s Patreon, where he has been posting further updates and early access to future videos about the saga behind a paywall. Patreon’s CEO Jack Conte filmed a hostage-style video about this takedown request and said that “after an extensive review … we have determined that Bricks & Minifigs can stuff it. We’re keeping Ben’s page up. And if Bricks & Minifigs doesn’t like that, they can sue us. Patreon out.”That’s more or less where we’re at today, factswise.THE FALLOUT / WHO CARESAgain, I am glossing over much of what has happened here because to try to parse all of it would take many, many hours of my and your time and would result in even more excruciating detail than I have already provided. This has become a major, major deal in the LEGO community, on YouTube, and in the Utah and Oregon communities where this all happened. It is extremely feeding the content industry—here’s just a tiny sample of some videos from the YouTube commentariat about the saga:Bricks & Minifigs CEO Responded…And Made Everything Worse (478,000 views, LEGO Empire)I Help YouTuber Arresteds Over Lego Videos (Part 1) (2.8 million views, The Civil Rights Lawyer)LEGO Scandal Explodes as YouTuber ‘Reckless Ben’ is Arrested Twice (104,000 views, Law&Crime Network)‘We Never Thought It Would Get This Crazy.’ Reckless Ben on what’s next in viral Lego Case (450,000 views, Fox 5 Washington DC)The Lego Bodycam Footage Has Been Released (140,000 views, xQc)Bricks & Minifigs IS DEAD ($200K STOLEN LEGO) (83,000 views, TNT_Bricks)LEGO Scandal Company Response Is Horrible (2.4 million views, penguinz0)RICO Suits and Restraining Orders: The Bricks & Minifigs Chaos Just Got WORSE (388,000 views, Lawful Masses With Leonard French)As Masnick explains in his article, this should have been sorted out by lawyers probably years ago, but it was not. What is happening now is classic YouTuber drama that has spilled out into the normie “real world,” which I say not derisively but because objectively we have a bunch of police officers and local news outlets and local governments wondering what the fuck is going on. This happens a couple times a year, such as in 2020 when the YouTuber Boogie2988 went to another YouTuber’s house and shot a gun into the air. It happens when YouTubers get swatted, arrested, or otherwise intersect with broader society. Here are local news stories about the scandal:Nationwide LEGO resale store caught up in alleged theft scandal, YouTuber lawsuit (Fox 54)Conflict Over Purportedly Stolen Legos Leads to Accusations of Misconduct Against American Fork Police Department (ABC4)The latest on Keizer Bricks & Minifigs and Prized Star Wars Lego Set (Statesman Journal)Sign on Shuttered Keizer Store Accuses Bricks & Minifigs of Lego Theft (Statesman Journal)Utah Agencies Inundated by Calls as American Fork Police Faces Controversy Over LEGO YouTuber Arrest (ABC 4)‘I Just Thought It Was Such a Crazy Level of Injustice’: YouTuber at Center of Lego Dispute Speaks, Explains Why He Got Involved in the First Place (ABC4)A dispute over a prized Star Wars Lego collection led to a YouTube crusade. Then came the stalking charges in Utah. (Salt Lake Tribune)This is all to say that this is YouTube drama executed perfectly by all involved, and perhaps the most disastrous brand response one could imagine. Bricks & Minifigs could have sorted this out ages ago but did not; it has since become a massive clusterfuck and content bomb for all involved. The cops have made it astronomically worse. The perfect internet story.

Why Today's Rally Elite Are Sprinting for 15 Days StraightThe old-school philosophy of the Dakar Rally was simple: survive, pace yourself, navigate accurately, and let the race come to you. But as stated by two-time champion Ricky Brabec in episode 26 of the Bore & Stoke podcast, that era is officially dead. Modern rally racing has evolved into a hyper-competitive, 15-day maximum-effort sprint where strategy has taken a backseat to raw velocity.The Death of "Rally Games"In past decades, riders could utilize tactical positioning - sometimes intentionally slowing down to avoid leading the navigation on subsequent days, or playing psychological games in the dunes. Today, the depth of talent at the front of the field makes those tactics obsolete."Within the last five years, it's been a sprint every single day," says Brabec. "The only game that you can play now is just not making a mistake. Because dude, you make one mistake and you can lose three minutes. That's the game now. There are no games where you're trying to lead people in the wrong direction or hide behind a bush."Because the top ten riders start at three-minute intervals, catching a competitor ahead requires making up substantial time on someone who is already riding on the absolute limit. It is common for top riders to spend 8 to 10 hours completely alone in the wilderness, only to find out at the finish line that the top eight competitors are separated by less than two minutes.The Cognitive OverloadWhile the physical demands of hanging onto a 450cc rally bike through shifting sand dunes are immense, Brabec emphasizes that the cognitive exhaustion is what truly breaks competitors.Constant Focal Shifting: Riders must constantly look down at a roadbook to process navigation notes, look back up to read unpredictable terrain at speeds exceeding 90 mph, and simultaneously monitor digital compass headings (caps) and speed zones.Zero-Relaxation Liaisons: Even after the timed special stage concludes, the mental tax continues. Riders must navigate public highways for hours on end to return to the bivouac, battling high winds, traffic, and fatigue.The Closest Finish in HistoryThis relentless pace culminated in the most tightly contested Dakar finish in history, where two seconds dictated the victory after thousands of miles. While Brabec acknowledges the immense stress of the hyper-sprint format, he admits the intensity is exactly what keeps him returning to the start line: "The level is insane, and I don't see it slowing down."Check out the Bore & Stoke episode with Ricky Brabec here to listen to the full interview.Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Jun 2, 2026; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) celebrates scoring during the third period against the Carolina Hurricanes in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo CenterWith Game One officially under their belts, the Vegas Golden Knights are currently eking out the narrowest of leads over the Carolina Hurricanes in the race for the Stanley Cup.On Thursday, the Golden Knights hope to widen the gap between themselves and their foes when the two teams meet in Raleigh for Game Two.Venue: Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NCDate: Thursday, June 4Time: 5:00 pm PSTHow To Watch: ABCRadio: 1340 AM, 94.7 FMGame One felt completely out of control, with what many assumed would turn into a defensive slugfest giving way to arguably the most exciting game of these playoffs to date. Ultimately, the back-and-forth battle would end with the Golden Knights getting the deciding key plays with Tomas Hertl’s go-ahead goal with three and a half minutes remaining and Mitch Marner’s block and on a potential equalizer in the final seconds. With both teams off to flying starts offensively, Game Two could end up being decided by who is able to button down first defensively.Here is how the Golden Knights can get out to a 2-0 series lead for the second straight time, giving them an opportunity to lift the Stanley Cup in Las Vegas.How-to guideIf the Vegas defenders need an example of what they must do to put the breakdowns of Game One behind them, they need only emulate Shea Theodore and Brayden McNabb.In the first 25 seconds of the game, Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers took advantage of an ill-advised pinch from Theodore to open up an odd-man rush and put Carolina on the board with the first shot. The duo of the original Golden Knights, however, would quickly put it behind them as Theodore put up Vegas’ first goal of the game to kick off a six-point night between the two. A continued effort from the Golden Knights’ top defensive pair, as well as similar contributions from the likes of Noah Hanifin and Rasmus Andersson, would make all the difference.Keep them quietWhile the Golden Knights did not get goals from typical sources in Game One, they also did a good job to reduce the impact of most of Carolina’s top players.None of Carolina’s four goals came from their top six forwards, including the lethal line of Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake. The Golden Knights’ depth came through in Game One, but now the trick lies in getting their stars off to a similar start in Game Two. If the offensive attack becomes more balanced, that will make any comeback bid for the Hurricanes more difficult to overcome.Press the issueAs the Colorado Avalanche found out, the Golden Knights can put the pressure on with a 2-0 series lead heading back to Vegas.Between the resilience that has been a main feature throughout the season for the Golden Knights and the current streak they are on, the confidence in the Vegas locker room continues to soar. Game One was another example, with Carolina jumping out to an early 2-0 lead before the Golden Knights responded with their counter punch. If Vegas can put the pressure on the Hurricanes to respond to a series deficit, it will test whether their opponent can adapt to their first real stretch of adversity.

Actual dates for the Cowboys' annual training camp trip to Oxnard, Calif. have yet to be determined, but the team's summer stay on the West Coast is already filling up with commitments.The Cowboys will participate in a joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced in a press conference Thursday. That practice, with a date still to be revealed, will take place at the Rams' facility in Woodland Hills, about 45 minutes away from the Cowboys' camp location.The two clubs held a joint session last summer, too, just days before they squared off in a preseason game. But this year's practice should provide Dallas their first glimpse at edge rusher Myles Garrett wearing royal and sol since being traded to the Rams.And that makes it a critical sneak peak ahead of the regular season, when the Cowboys and Rams are set to meet again at SoFi Stadium in Week 15.Brian Schottenheimer said the Cowboys will have joint practices against the Rams and Saints while in California for training camp. The practice vs. the Rams is scheduled to be at their facility, not Oxnard.— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) June 4, 2026The Cowboys are also planning to work out alongside the New Orleans Saints in advance of their preseason finale at AT&T Stadium on Aug. 28. That joint practice session will reportedly be hosted by the Cowboys and mark Saints head coach Kellen Moore's first return to Oxnard since leaving the Cowboys staff at the end of the 2022 season.Todd is on X at @ToddBrock24f7. Also, follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys to visit Rams for joint practice during training camp

Barcelona respond to fresh links with Juventus starLa Liga champions Barcelona have moved to distance themselves from speculation linking the club with a summer move for Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso.This comes fresh off a new round of rumours, labelling the Blaugrana as a potential landing spot for the Italian over the weeks ahead.Amid an ongoing search for reinforcements at left-back at the Camp Nou, Cambiaso has long been tipped as a potential arrival. The former Genoa talent is valued for his technical abilities and versatility, capable of lining out on either the right or left flank.Word stemming from Italy this week therefore pointed towards a potential incoming bid for Cambiaso on the part of Barcelona.As alluded to above, however, any such offer has since been labelled as highly unlikely.As per a report from Mundo Deportivo:‘Cambiaso is not currently being considered as a potential reinforcement for Barcelona’s defence, with a contract until 2029 and a release clause of around €50 million.’The intention of Deco and co, it is added, is to make the signing of João Cancelo permanent.Conor Laird – GSFN

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett is already ingratiating himself with the city he now represents. It was announced that on Friday, June 6, Garrett will throw out the honorary first pitch for the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.The Dodgers are set to take on the Los Angeles Angels in the contest.#RamsHouse, @Flash_Garrett will be throwing out the honorary first pitch on 6/6! Get your tickets to see him at https://t.co/DZQkfNeXIj. pic.twitter.com/BkqRPGb7om— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) June 4, 2026Garrett has spoken about the prospect of living in Los Angeles full-time, mentioning his father and girlfriend while discussing the team and the city."I definitely recall watching film of the Fearsome Foursome, Deacon Jones," Garrett said this week. "Actually grew up watching that in high school. Once I started really watching and playing the game, and so definitely very aware. As far as my ties to the city. My dad's from LA, so that's an obvious tie, Chloe, her being from here, and us being the same city, is obviously something that I love and appreciate, and everything else, it's really just looking forward to the future, looking to plant my own roots and see what comes of this."Garrett's girlfriend is U.S. Olympian Chloe Kim. Kim is a gold medalist snowboarder and a native of Southern California.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams star Myles Garrett to throw out first pitch at Dodgers game

California’s primary on Tuesday was a “clean sweep” for LGBTQ+ candidates for Congress, as two Democratic incumbents dominated their races and two new contenders advanced to the general election in November. In San Francisco, out California state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) captured more than 42% of the vote in his race to replace outgoing Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Related Out 55-year-old lawmaker Scott Wiener is running to replace 85-year-old Democrat icon Nancy Pelosi “Thank you, San Francisco! Tonight, the voters sent a clear message: They’re ready for a new vision on housing affordability, ICE accountability, smart guardrails on AI, single-payer healthcare, and affordable clean energy,” Wiener posted to X on Wednesday. Thank you, San Francisco! Tonight, the voters sent a clear message: they’re ready for a new vision on housing affordability, ICE accountability, smart guardrails on AI, single payer healthcare, and affordable clean energy. Even more than that, San Franciscans are ready for… pic.twitter.com/WiD1S0eP1P— Senator Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) June 3, 2026 Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “San Franciscans understands that in the face of rising authoritarianism, we can’t return to the pre-Trump status quo. In Congress, I’ll do what I’ve done throughout my time in public leadership: stick my neck out for bold ideas that make people’s lives better and more affordable. I’ll go to the mat to defend immigrants and trans people, to deliver real results on housing affordability, and to restore government’s ability to deliver on its promises,” he said. Wiener, 55, will face the second-place finisher from Tuesday’s primary, San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan (D), who was endorsed by Pelosi. Chan earned about 28% of the vote. While Pelosi’s soon-to-be former Congressional seat is a lock for Democrats, a newly redrawn district in San Diego is not. In California’s 48th Congressional District, bisexual San Diego city councilmember Marni von Wilpert advanced to the general with 19.5% of the vote in the race to replace longtime Republican incumbent Rep. Darrell Issa. She’ll face off against Republican Jim Desmond, a San Diego County Supervisor endorsed by President Donald Trump. California’s 48th District is one of five districts recently redrawn to favor Democrats in the gerrymandering battle for control of Congress. Desmond took 41.4% of the vote, and a second Republican took 7.3%, for just under 49% of the total. Nine Democrats earned 50.4% of the vote in the closely watched race. “Incredible results tonight,” von Wilpert, 42, posted to socials early Wednesday morning. #CA48 is ready for leadership that takes on Trump’s reckless agenda and puts working families first. Onwards to November!” Equality California applauded Wilpert’s work battling censorship in San Diego libraries, supporting pro-LGBTQ+ policy on the City Council, and her career as a civil rights attorney representing people living with HIV and AIDS. Wilpert knows “what’s at stake for LGBTQ+ people, reproductive freedom, and our democracy,” the group said in a statement. Gay incumbents Reps. Mark Takano (D-CA), chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, and Robert Garcia (D-CA), the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, advanced easily to the November election. “Yesterday’s results represent a clean sweep for Equality PAC and a powerful victory for LGBTQ representation in California and across our country,” Takano and Equality PAC co-chair Ritchie Torres (D-NY) said in a statement. “We were especially proud to support Marni von Wilpert and Scott Wiener in two closely watched races.” In the crowded contest for California governor, two Democrats are vying to face off against one of two Republicans in the race as votes continue to be counted. As of Thursday morning in California, Steve Hilton (R), the British Fox News commentator and political operative, led the field with 27.6%, followed by former California congressman, attorney general, and Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) at 25.6%. Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer (D) has been gaining votes and stands at 19.8%.Both Democrats are staunch LGBT+ allies, with Steyer in particular an outspoken advocate for trans rights. With about 56% of the vote counted and an estimated 4,078,000 ballots remaining, Steyer still has a path to second place and a spot in the November election. Either way, the race is nearly a lock for a Democrat versus Hilton, who’s been endorsed by Trump. The two Republicans in the race have earned about 39% of the vote, while the wide-open field of Democrats and other parties have taken in the rest. 61 candidates for governor were listed on the ballot. In the Los Angeles mayor’s race, incumbent Democrat Karen Bass has advanced to the general and will likely face off against Republican and former reality-star villain Spencer Pratt, who has hammered Bass over her response to the L.A. wildfires in January 2025. Pratt’s home in Pacific Palisades burned in the fires that consumed whole neighborhoods along the coast and near Pasadena. While Pratt maintains he’s not a MAGA Republican, Trump has described The Hills star as “a big MAGA person.” Pratt recently came under criticism for staying at the luxury Bel Air Hotel with his wife, Heidi Montag, and their children, while claiming they were living out of a trailer. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Nature, Published online: 04 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01765-5Interventions that included home visits and cash transfers led to more strapping infants in an Indian state.

Ibrahima Konate says no to jaw-dropping contract offer ahead of Real Madrid dealIbrahima Konate is going to join Real Madrid. It looks certain that the France defender will move to the Bernabeu as soon as Florentino Perez is confirmed as president.Elections take place on June 7 with it seen as a formality that the long-serving exec will retain his position against the challenge of Enrique Riquelme.Konate, 27, is expected to be the cornerstone of the new project with incoming coach Jose Mourinho okaying the centre-back’s arrival.Liverpool were hopeful of an agreement with Konate ahead of his contract expiring on June 30, 2026. Club officials - including sporting director Richard Hughes - are reported to have been in dialogue for around two years over a new deal.But no agreement could be struck for the defender - who first joined Liverpool back in 2021 on a £35m deal from RB Leipzig.Konate rejects Saudi offerKonate’s priority for a lucrative Bosman deal has always been Madrid according to previous reports - although a deal looked in jeopardy when the 15-time European champions distanced themselves from a move back in November.It all now looks to have been resolved with a report in TEAMtalk now claiming that the Les Bleus international knocked back a jaw-dropping contract offer from Saudi Arabia in favour of the Bernabeu.“Konate rejected what have been described as “massive” offers from the Saudi Pro League in order to complete a move to the Bernabeu,” the report reads.“The Frenchman is understood to have prioritised remaining at the highest level of European football and was attracted by the opportunity to join one of the continent’s most successful clubs.”

DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 17: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos celebrates during the fourth quarter of the NFL football divisional playoff game against the Buffalo Bills at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Denver Broncos began their first set of OTA practices this week, and today was their first practice session open to the media. As expected, starting quarterback Bo Nix did not participate after undergoing surgery on his broken ankle that he suffered during the Broncos’ Divisional Round victory over the Buffalo Bills. He would later undergo a second follow-up procedure but was expected to be ready for the start of training camp. However, we learned today from Head Coach Sean Payton that Bo Nix is expected to be back and participate in two weeks during the Broncos’ minicamp practices. Bo Nix is doing well and Sean Payton expects him to be out at practice and participating in two weeks pic.twitter.com/WJx2yuTKYD— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) June 4, 2026Reports indicated that Bo Nix would be ready “well ahead” of the start of training camp, and this news seems to confirm that. Nix has been throwing, per Payton, and media members noted that Nix was walking around without a brace or limp and looked fine, and was actively talking to the offensive players as well. After some offseason concern over Nix, it appears that he is nearing 100% and will be back on the practice field here in two short weeks. This is great news as it gets Nix some reps before the start of training camp, and he can work on his chemistry with the Broncos’ big offseason addition, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. All eyes will be on his ankle and how he is looking out there, but all signs seem to point to his recovery going well, and we shouldn’t have to worry about his ankle moving forward. This is great news because the Broncos are Super Bowl or bust this season. They made it to the AFC Championship Game last season, and likely would have advanced to the Super Bowl if Nix were healthy. They need Nix healthy and performing at a high level if they want to reach their ultimate goal, and he will be tested early on due to a tough schedule. So, the earlier they can get Nix back and healthy, the better it will be for them moving forward.Until then, backups Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger will be the Broncos quarterbacks, and the two players could be competing for the Broncos backup quarterback position behind Nix. Stidham has been the Broncos backup the past few seasons, but they have also been impressed with Ehlinger, and he reportedly looked good today. So, this could be something to watch as we progress through the OTAs and minicamp and into training camp and the preseason.

The dust has barely settled from the most recent round of power conference realignment, but already, there are heavy discussions about what the next iteration will look like.It has been widely speculated for years that the top programs in the SEC and Big Ten could look to combine to form a "super league" which could operate independent of the current NCAA structure. With disagreements over College Football Playoff expansion and both leagues publicly opposing the proposed "Protect College Sports Act," such discussions have received even more play in recent months.However, Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti says it's not happening.“At no point in time have we discussed such a concept with the SEC or anyone else," he said, per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger. "Any suggestion otherwise comes from people outside our respective conferences.”In a brief interview with @YahooSports, Tony Petitti says he’s “setting the record straight” on super league talk: “At no point in time have we discussed such a concept with the SEC or anyone else. Any suggestion otherwise comes from people outside our respective conferences.”👇 https://t.co/tSW5Ykm2NG— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) June 4, 2026SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has also brushed off the idea in the past, calling his own league a "super league."While we can't exactly rely upon Petitti's word, given his position as a commissioner of one of the two leagues that could potentially benefit from consolidation, it seems the Big Ten has no imminent plans to push for a super league.Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Big Ten commissioner says conference won't pursue a super league

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MAY 26: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium on May 26, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yuichi Masuda/Getty Images) | Getty Images Adjectives that come to mind about Dave Roberts in the media are measured, reasoned, and thoughtful. Maybe a bit verbose or circular, especially when it comes to injury updates. The point is that it’s rare when Roberts calls out a player, and it’s usually a doozy when it happens. The anger of the quiet person often booms the loudest. When Bob Nightengale of USA Today dropped “’Couldn’t be more lazy.’ Dodgers fire back at MLB payroll crybabies,” one could be forgiven for wondering if the headline was merely clickbait for diplomatic double-talk that did not say anything.Those fears were dispelled instantly, immediately, and thoroughly. On Wednesday, Dave Roberts was there to take names and chew bubblegum; unfortunately for the targets of his vitriol, he was out of bubblegum:“My honest opinion is the majority of takes about the Dodgers couldn’t be more lazy…that it’s just about the payroll. It’s about the draft. It’s about layering on where we pick in the draft annually. The player development. How we acquire international talent. How we perform consistently at the major-league level.“I actually think it’s a competitive advantage in the sense that people feel that way, and not look at themselves in the mirror and see how they can operate things better. So that’s beneficial for us.”As if to dispel the notion that Roberts had made an accidental remark, he kept talking:“Having the payroll and the depth that gives you [is] certainly is a benefit. No one’s debating that. But I do think that the players we acquire, how we play the game every night, getting younger players to assimilate in a star-studded clubhouse, that’s important. That’s hard to quantify, but that’s of value.“If you look at the World Series the last couple of years, there’s a lot of home-grown guys making league minimum that have been on postseason rosters.”Then, for good measure, Roberts floated the idea of the Dodgers acquiring Detroit Tigers’ ace Tarik Skubal at the deadline.“They would go ballistic,” Roberts said laughing. “But we would have the prospect capital to do [acquire Skubal]. We are one of the teams that could do that with the Tigers.”One wonders who “they” are. Whether it’s the rest of the league or the critics of the Dodgers, Dave Roberts was not having it on June 3.The players aren’t having it eitherAnd lest anyone think it was just Roberts blowing off steam, Miguel Rojas added some justified rhetorical heat, stating it’s not just spending fueling the Dodgers’ success, and the organization’s roster construction is often overlooked:“At the end of the day,” 2025 World Series hero Miguel Rojas said, “it’s not about wasting money or spending money to buy the best players because that’s not going to guarantee you anything. You can see it. There are another five or six clubs close to us in payroll, and they haven’t accomplished it. That’s why people aren’t talking about them, because they haven’t won. People just talk about us……The way they constructed the roster in this organization deserves a lot of credit,” Rojas said. “It’s not just buying the players and spending money on players, it’s having Plan B’s and C’s behind them, and that’s where I feel the organization is not getting enough credit for building a full team that is capable of sustaining so many injuries throughout the season and having guys ready when they get called up.”Emmet Sheehan also went on the record, praising the Dodgers’ development system:“Our development system is what gets overlooked,” Sheehan says, “how much time and money they put into finding the right people in the minor leagues to make people better. When I got drafted, I didn’t realize how lucky I was coming to an organization like this. Obviously, they put a lot of money into the team here, which is awesome, but there are a lot of guys that contribute way more than people realize, guys stepping up when we’ve had injuries.”Even Jack Dreyer chimed in, praising how the Dodgers helped him develop as a bullpen stalwart:“One of the things that the Dodgers do better than anybody else,” Dreyer said, “is that as soon as you get into that organization, they’re doing everything they can to develop you to maximize your potential. When I first got to the Dodgers organization, I had a long way to go before I had a chance at anything. I think they saw something that even I didn’t see in myself, but they kept fine-tuning, and tweaking, and revamping different things until I got to this point. Every single guy who’s in the Dodger organization is very lucky with all of the resources the Dodgers provide, so I’m very thankful I signed here.”For regulars at True Blue LA, Roberts and the other quoted players are merely parroting arguments that have been expertly and diligently proffered in these parts for years.Is it nice to have the indirect inference that various Dodgers players and staff read True Blue LA? Sure. Are we going to belabor what we have previously argued in a bit of self-congratulatory puffery? A little. Pride counts for something around these parts.After all, the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants are seemingly hellbent on disproving the notion that spending necessarily equates to winning. The Mets look like an unexpected rebuild that has gone horribly wrong, whereas the Giants have somehow doubled down on a posture of masterly inactivity, resulting in one of the worst records in the league with a gaggle of immovable contracts. The incompetence is almost impressive in its depth and scope. The Commissioner’s Changing TuneContrast the fire coming out of the Dodgers with Commissioner Rob Manfred’s first public remarks since labor talks started, and one has quite the contrast. Watching the Commissioner act as a sock puppet for the owners is not particularly new or generally interesting. But occasionally the act has unintended consequences for those who have been paying attention.On June 3, the Commissioner held his first press conference since MLBPA and MLB began their labor negotiations. ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported that once again, the Commissioner repeated the talking point that the Dodgers were to blame for the perceived inequity in the sport: “I think that the Dodgers understand there is a need to update the overall economic model in the industry and that the upside associated with that, in terms of growing the industry, growing the popularity of the sport, is big for large markets, small markets, owners and players in every way,” Manfred said. “That upside is bigger than any issue that separates us in the bargaining table.”The Commissioner had previously praised the league’s parity, even as recently as October 2024, during the Dodgers/Yankees World Series:Naturally, some fans in smaller markets will in turn complain that those teams, and their large payrolls, are the last two standing. But Manfred defended the state of competition and parity across the sport.“Our record on competitive balance is darn good,” Manfred said. “I just don’t think you can scream about the Yankees and the Dodgers given the matchups that we’ve had in recent years.”On Wednesday, he flip-flopped faster on that position than a fry cook at the International House of Pancakes during the Sunday brunch rush:“We have tried mightily over several rounds of bargaining to use a competitive balance tax to address competitive concerns, and sometimes, you got to admit you failed……We want to make an agreement. We made a proposal on one set of topics at the outset of negotiations.I went and said myself: Look, we’re open to whatever ideas people have. But we need a realistic framework that addresses the fans’ concerns about competitive balance, and you just can’t ignore that financial penalties have not gotten it done for us.”Mockery aside, even if entirely well-deserved for trying to use the Dodgers to distract and enrage the fans of baseball, the Commissioner did say something accidentally revealing, as if accidentally almost having an epiphany before fleeing from it as fast as humanly possible:“In the context, particularly of the postseason, where you’re trying to generate interest and maximize viewership, I think it’s important to emphasize competitiveness,” Manfred said. “And there are aspects of competitiveness: we haven’t had repeat winners (recently) until the Dodgers.“When we think about it from a labor perspective, we’re focused on an entirely different part of the calendar. And that’s the offseason, when you’re trying to sell season tickets, and the perception among our fans that’s really strong that we have a lack of competitiveness.”Fan perceptions do not always motivate major change — not unless they’re having major impacts. Considering MLB’s ratings and ticket sales figures have generally improved in recent years, has MLB identified quantifiable ways that this perception is harming them?“We actually have spent a lot of time on this topic, and teams that go through periods, particularly longer periods, of non-competitiveness, not only have lower revenues, but they are slower to recover once they become competitive,” Manfred said Wednesday.He didn’t offer specific figures.(Emphasis added.)Teams that are bad tend to make less money and are slower to recover once they actually do something productive? You don’t say. Whether the Commissioner meant to say the quiet, obvious part out loud is an open question; however, a broken clock is right twice a day.The unspoken conclusion that the Commissioner failed to reach, even though it was right there, is that maybe teams should try more. You know, like San Diego, which just sold for a record amount. However, that admission would be telling, and a puppet can’t leave its strings, not with the collective puppeteer holding on for dear life.

The Las Vegas Raiders entered the 2026 NFL offseason with glaring weaknesses. The Raiders’ front office made a concerted effort to address those in the open market and the draft, and the result of their moves already has the team in a better position to flip the script in 2026.According to the NFL’s Matt Okada, the Raiders addressed their glaring needs in their front seven with several noteworthy additions this offseason.”John Spytek and Co. dished out $124.5 million in contracts for linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean and defensive end Kwity Paye. Last year, Walker's 95.5% tackle efficiency ranked fourth among defenders with 100+ attempts and Dean's 40.7% pressure rate led all linebackers with 20+ pass rushes…Additionally, Vegas picked up Auburn defensive end Keyron Crawford in the third round.”Walker and Dean are expected to be an upgrade from Devin White and Elandon Roberts in the Raiders’ second line of defense next season. Jamal Adams, who departed from Las Vegas along with White and Roberts this offseason, was not the same player of old in his lone season with the Raiders, and first at the linebacker position in 2025.Meanwhile, Paye is coming off of a 2025 season that saw him record four sacks and six tackles for loss as a member of the Indianapolis Colts. He recorded at least eight sacks in each of the two seasons prior to last. Paye, as well as Crawford, the latter of whom recorded five sacks in 2025 at Auburn, figure to strengthen the Raiders’ front four opposite Maxx Crosby in 2026.This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders aggressively addressed glaring weaknesses in 2026 offseason

WASHINGTON—Adopting a tougher stance against the increasingly widespread form of workplace corruption, U.S. Department of Labor officials announced plans Thursday to crack down on people getting paid for their work. “For far too long, the practice of receiving money for services has gone unchecked, and today we’re turning over evidence to the attorney general so that individuals complicit in such activities can be prosecuted,” said acting Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling, noting that Americans found guilty of accepting paychecks, healthcare benefits, retirement fund contributions, or other financial compensation from their employers could face up to 40 years in federal prison. “These are hardened criminals, and we do not treat their malfeasance lightly. Some of those under investigation have been conducting ‘work-for-pay’ schemes for decades. Rest assured, if you have accepted so much as a nickel for a spreadsheet filled or a yard mowed, we will find you, and we will bring you to justice.” At press time, Department of Labor investigators had reportedly uncovered a massive “minimum wage” racket believed to stretch across the entire country. The post Department Of Labor Cracks Down On People Getting Paid For Work appeared first on The Onion.

Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on a career that saw him play seven Test matches for the country. The 32-year-old shared an emotional message on social media, reflecting on the sacrifices, support and determination that helped him achieve his dream of representing India.Although Bharat earned a reputation as a safe pair of hands behind the stumps and was part of India's squad for the 2023 World Test Championship final, he struggled to secure a long-term place in the Test side. His final appearance came against England in Visakhapatnam in February 2024. Across seven Tests, he scored 221 runs and finished with 18 catches and one stumping.Announcing his decision, Bharat penned, “With a proud heart and sense of gratitude, I announce my retirement from international Cricket. To play for my country has been the greatest honour of my life. This journey of mine has demanded great resilience and strength but the Honour to represent India in Tests worth every moment."View this post on InstagramA post shared by K S Bharat (@konasbharat)In his farewell note, Bharat paid tribute to his family, crediting them for supporting his cricketing ambitions from childhood.“In a family of four, we all lived the same dream over two decades, a big heart to my sister, mom and dad for creating an environment and support system they have been. I am a product of their love, discipline and hard work,” he wrote.Bharat also thanked the BCCI, Andhra Cricket Association, Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association, teammates and groundsmen for helping shape his career.He added, “Thank you, BCCI and all the coaches and managers who I came across in my career and who supported me unconditionally by creating a great environment to play and excel at the highest level.”The wicketkeeper reserved special praise for Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid, all of whom played key roles in his journey.He concluded, “A big thank you to my IPL debut captain Virat Kohli for giving me an opportunity to show my skill and come into recognition. A big thank you to my Indian captain Rohit Sharma under whom I made my Test debut which is priceless and beyond words. To my Indian coach Rahul Dravid sir, his guidance from India A to Indian team is unforgettable.”

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball's trip to Buc-ee's on June 4 on the way to the Athens Super Regional appears to have gone well.A video posted by the team on social media recapped the Bulldogs' 30-minute visit where they grabbed all sorts of snacks. Coach Brian O'Connor said June 3 that the team would be going because the Bulldogs earned it, unlike earlier in the season when they didn't stop at Buc-ee's while bussing from Arlington, Texas, to Hattiesburg.Pitcher Tyler Pitzer filmed the video, showing various players walking around the store grabbing food two days before No. 14 MSU (47-13) begins its super regional at No. 3 Georgia (49-12).Some of the highlights included Chris Billingsley Jr. loading up on gummy candy, Tomas Valincius filling his basket half full of caffeinated drinks and Bryce Chance, whose nickname is "Beans," posing with a can of beans.O'Connor made a brief appearance, too, walking around the store with a basket in his hand.Bulldogs at Buc-cee’s pic.twitter.com/WJ5UtCsB1D— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) June 4, 2026O'Connor said the purpose of visiting Buc-ee's was to have some fun and make sure Mississippi State will play loose against Georgia. The winner of the super regional will advance to the College World Series, something Mississippi State hasn't done since the 2021 national championship season."I think teams that want to get to Omaha so bad, they tense up and you can't play this game that way," O'Connor said. "You can't execute the pitches that you need to or execute offensively."MORE: How Brian O’Connor already has Mississippi State 2 wins from CWS in first seasonMississippi State vs Georgia super regional scheduleGame 1: Saturday, June 6 (10 a.m. CT, ESPN)Game 2: Sunday, June 7 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN)Game 3: Monday, June 8 (TBD), if necessarySam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State baseball team stops at Buc-ee's on way to Georgia

MLB insider reveals Diamondbacks trade plan involving specific type of hitter originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Arizona Diamondbacks are 32-29, sitting 7.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West. While they're not in a bad spot overall, they do need some help.After the Corbin Burnes news came out, that a setback is going to keep him out until potentially September, the need for starting pitching became clear. But that's not all this team needs.According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Diamondbacks are planning to target one specific type of hitter at the deadline.Diamondbacks' trade plan involves one kind of hitter"The Diamondbacks expect to pursue a left-handed first baseman/DH type at the deadline, people briefed on their plans say," Rosenthal writes.While Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo hit lefty, the Diamondbacks don't have much depth in the form of left-handed hitters.Pavin Smith and Adrian Del Castillo are two options, but neither is a very promising hitter worth being excited about. Instead, the Diamondbacks should be going after a lefty slugger this season.MORE: Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GMThey don't need to go after someone as great as Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros, as they could instead target someone who is a bit more underrated.Rosenthal linked the Diamondbacks to five potential options, with Luis Arraez, TJ Rumfield, Troy Johnston, Lars Nootbaar, and Zack McKinstry all fitting the profile of the kind of hitter the Diamondbacks are looking for.Arizona doesn't need to splurge on a left-handed hitter, but they do plan to address the need this summer. While nothing is set-in-stone, D-Backs fans should keep their eyes on left-handed hitters in the trade market this season.More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsEx-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 successTarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyYankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

Far-fetched Pirates-Astros trade pitch would provide Paul Skenes with more run support originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Pittsburgh Pirates are on a mission to end their postseason drought that extends back to 2015. With Paul Skenes on the mound, the Pirates are capable of defeating any team in the Majors. And though they made several offseason moves to improve their offense, they still could use at least one more bat. At this moment, signing Marcell Ozuna to a one-year, $12 million contract appears regrettable. Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly wrote Thursday that the Pirates could swing a blockbuster trade with the Houston Astros, but how realistic is Kelly's idea? "It's interesting to think about the Pirates being super aggressive and trying to pry someone like [Yordan] Alvarez away from the Astros," Kelly wrote. "It would cost a pretty penny to get Alvarez, but he's signed for two more seasons, allowing them to potentially make the most of their remaining time with Skenes." Aside from the high cost, it would take serious convincing for the Astros to depart with potentially the best hitter in baseball when healthy. It may not even be possible, according to ESPN's Buster Olney. On Wednesday, Olney said on the "Just Baseball Show" that he's been informed the Astros have no plans of trading Alvarez. MORE: Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GM“I was told flat out by another GM, ‘He is not being traded," Olney said.Alvarez leads the AL with 21 home runs, hitting .314 with six homers in his last 10 games.Adding that kind of production and power to Pittsburgh's lineup could make them a serious threat in the NL, but the odds of that happening seem very low. More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsEx-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 successTarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyYankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solutionPhillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

Allen Park — Jahmyr Gibbs, the floor is yours.One season after the Detroit Lions increased his role in the offense, the team doubled down on making him a focal point by trading David Montgomery to the Houston Texans this offseason.The addition of Isiah Pacheco, who had some good seasons earlier in his career, left many wondering how the split would be compared to what it was with Gibbs and Montgomery. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Thursday that Gibbs will be expected to do it all."He's going to be our bell cow now," Campbell said before an OTA practice. "He really became more of that last year, but we're going to hang our hat on him quite a bit."Gibbs' larger workload — and Montgomery's decreased workload — was one of the biggest storylines last season. Montgomery led the duo in carries, 219-182, during the first season together in 2023. Gibbs took the lead in 2024 by a margin of 250-185 when Montgomery missed the final four games with an MCL injury.But with both healthy last season, Gibbs took a much larger slice, racking up 243 carries compared to 158 for Montgomery as both players appeared in all 17 games. Sensing that Montgomery wasn't happy with the circumstances, Detroit moved him in a trade with the Texans this offseason.Gibbs said being the guy is "nothing I'm not used to.""Growing up, I've always been the person that (wants) everyone's carries," Gibbs said. "I'm not looking at it any different than any other year."Part of the motivation for letting Gibbs have the backfield to himself is his ability to do everything at a high level."I've mentioned this before, he can run everything that we've got. He can run every scheme that anybody's ever run," Campbell said. "He's not just an outside runner. He is not just a space runner. He can create his own space in the middle, and some of his biggest runs have been gap scheme, right down the pipe, where he's had patience and found it and guys blocked it up well."Despite being one of the most impactful offensive players in all of football last season, Gibbs is looking to have somewhat of a bounce-back year. Though he had his fair share of explosive runs, the Lions' offensive line struggles led to an inefficient rushing attack overall. Gibbs had a career low in rushing success rate (46.5%) and his season-long numbers dropped across the board compared to 2024. He had 18 touchdowns from scrimmage compared to 20 the previous year, his yards per carry dropped from 5.6 to five, and his rushing yards per game went to 71.9 from 83.1.Asked where Gibbs can grow the most from last season to this one, new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said, "it can change as we go.""I think a lot of it is going to be dictated by what we're good at as a unit," Petzing said. "Where are we the best, where are we the most effective? Who are we playing and how do we utilize his skill set to build on that? I mean, he does so many things at a high level that I don't think there's necessarily a ceiling or a cap on what that could look like."The belief that Gibbs is destined for a monster year extends beyond the team's headquarters in Allen Park. Gibbs is the odds-on favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (+750) on Draft Kings. "We expect him to have a big year for us," Campbell said. "We're going to put a lot on his plate in the run and pass game."nbianchi@detroitnews.com@nolanbianchiThis article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Jahmyr Gibbs expected to be Detroit Lions' 'bell cow' in 2026

Donald Trump lashed out at a reporter in the Oval Office yesterday who asked him a question about his $1.8 billion fund that he had the Department of Justice approve to disburse money to people he believes were unfairly targeted by the criminal justice system under President Joe Biden, including the Capitol rioters of January 6, 2021. CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Trump whether the fund was “dead or is it on hold,” and Trump said he would check with his lawyers, then started rambling about how the fund is “a beautiful thing.” Related Trump snaps “Quiet, piggy!” at female reporter who asked him about the Epstein files Collins tried to press him on her original question when he snapped, “Wait a minute. Be quiet!” He told her she should be “ashamed” of herself. He then turned to the room to talk about her as if she wasn’t there and said, “She used to be a conservative from Alabama, can you believe it?” 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 “I’m still from Alabama,” she replied. Collins: Just to clarify. is the $1.8 billion DOJ fund dead or is it on hold?Trump: I'd have to ask the lawyers. I don't know. People like you have abused our people. Collins: But Republicans—Trump: Be quiet. You should be ashamed of yourself. You used to be conservative… pic.twitter.com/L0m1PrvUVB— Acyn (@Acyn) June 3, 2026 The Irish Star notes that while she used to work for right-wing media, she has never disclosed her personal partisan beliefs. That’s when Trump started to ramble about her and her employer, calling CNN “a very corrupt organization” and her “a corrupt reporter.” “Never smiles. She’s a young, beautiful woman, never smiles!” he said about Collins, not explaining why she should smile as he berated her for trying to get answers about the legal status of his slush fund. “I never see a smile on her face. I see her standing there with hatred in her eyes. She has hatred because we have borders, because we have a strong military, because we cut our taxes, because we do things everybody wanted, and then we win our election in a massive landslide,” he continued. Trump attacking Kaitlan Collins: CNN's a very corrupt organization, with a corrupt reporter standing right there, never smiles. Young, beautiful woman, never smiles. I never see a smile on her face. I see her standing with such hatred in her eyes. pic.twitter.com/mF2dKWKC48— Acyn (@Acyn) June 3, 2026 Trump did not even win a majority of the popular vote in 2024, much less a landslide. Gay journalist Anderson Cooper defended Collins, saying on CNN, “That’s the president of the United States, a nearly 80-year-old man who has no problem commenting on her physical appearance and telling her she needs to smile… That doesn’t happen to men. No one’s ever said that to me in an office setting.” “She was there like every other journalist doing her job, standing around with a bunch of nonsmiling men, by the way, all behind her,” Cooper added. “She gets singled out.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

President Trump is expected to sit in a luxury box for Game 3 of the N.B.A. finals at Madison Square Garden. Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he will be in a “very different section.”

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Golf fans can expect sunshine, dry weather and warm temperatures for the second round of the Memorial Tournament June 5. The weekend, however, might bring rainy weather for the third and fourth rounds.Tee time: Memorial Tournament to return. What to know about parking, bags, moreThe weather throughout the first round of the tournament June 4 was sunny with a high temperature of 83 degrees.Central Ohio weather forecast from June 5-7June 5: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Light south wind becoming southwest 9 to 14 mph in the morning.June 6: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Southwest wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.June 7: Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Partly cloudy at night, with a low around 66. Chance of showers 30%.This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Memorial Tournament weather forecast for Friday's round

Manchester United Are Set To Finalise The Signing Of This Serie A Midfielder: Good Option For Carrick?In a recent report, Fichajes mentioned that Manchester United are set to finalise the signing of Atalanta midfielder Ederson. It has been claimed that the Red Devils have beaten Atletico Madrid in the race to land the Brazilian talent in this summer transfer period.Ederson’s Impressive Campaign In Serie AEderson enjoyed a solid campaign at the Italian club as he managed to put in a run of impressive displays for them in Serie A. The 26-year-old registered three goals and grabbed a couple of assists in 41 matches for Atalanta last season on all fronts.The Brazilian talent is currently one of the best central midfielders in Serie A. Therefore, it is no wonder that the Red Devils want to get him on board this off-season.His current contract at the Italian club will run out in the summer of 2027, which could open the door for Man United to sign him on a cut-price deal later this year.MUNICH, GERMANY – MARCH 18: Ederson of Atalanta shoots during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between FC Bayern München and Atalanta BC at Football Arena Munich on March 18, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)Will Ederson Be A Good Option For Manchester United?Ederson loves a tackle and can sense the danger well to make some important interceptions for his team at the centre of the park. He usually puts his foot through the ball when required and can create some inviting chances for his teammates from midfield.The Brazilian sensation can strike the ball well from long range and is full of energy and running at the centre of the park. Ederson is primarily a box-to-box midfielder but can also operate in the number ten position or as a defensive midfielder if required. However, it remains to be seen whether he can make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League.We can expect Ederson to bring more quality and depth to Man United head coach Michael Carrick’s midfield department. He is good enough to earn a regular starting place at Old Trafford in the coming seasons.At 26, Ederson has his peak years ahead of him, which makes him a decent option for the Red Devils to consider in this summer transfer window. However, Carrick has to give him some time to adjust to life in England before he can get the best out of the player.

The 25th Green Bay Packers' Family Night is scheduled for the first Friday in August, with training camp beginning the week before. Family Night, a full training camp practice in the Lambeau Field bowl, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 7. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.The Packers have not announced which day training camp will start, but it will be the same week as the annual shareholders meetings, which is 1 p.m. July 27. A full training camp schedule will be released later.The Packers play their first preseason game at 6 p.m. Aug. 13, when they travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers. The rest of the preseason schedule includes 8 p.m. Aug. 21 in Denver against the Broncos and 7 p.m. Aug. 28 against the Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field.The Packers' first regular-season game is 3:25 p.m. Sept. 13 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. What is Family Night?Family Night features a game-like atmosphere and will include a thundersticks giveaway, use of video boards, gameday music, and fireworks at the end of the night. Select concession stands will include kid-favorite foods. Details will be announced closer to the event. UW Health Kids is the sponsor.When do Family Night tickets go on sale?Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. June 15. They are $12.42 each, which includes taxes and fees. There is a limit of 10 tickets per purchase during the first day. Everyone must have a ticket. Tickets are digital only and can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.More: Packers nominate three new directors, set annual meeting date in JulyMore: Packers reportedly reach agreement on extension with Christian WatsonA group-ticket program, with a minimum of 50 tickets, is available. The application form is available online, in person at the Packers ticket office, or can be requested to be sent by calling (920) 569-7501.Parking for Family Night at Lambeau FieldFans who want to park in Lambeau Field lots must purchase a mobile parking pass in advance. They are available at checkout when purchasing tickets for Family Night. Passes are limited to one per transaction. Parking passes are $5.16, including fees. The money will benefit Meijer's Simply Give program, which helps to feed hungry families through Paul's Pantry, the Salvation Army of Green Bay and The Giving Tree. Parking also is available on some streets, in neighbors' yards and in some nearby businesses' parking lots.What happens if weather is bad?In case of inclement weather, no refunds will be issued unless all stadium activities — from 5:30 p.m. until the end of the fireworks show — are canceled.How you can watch Packers Family Night 2026A telecast will be available on various local and Packers TV Network stations. Stations broadcasting the event include WGBA-TV in Green Bay and WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee, as well as WAOW-TV in Wausau, WKOW-TV in Madison, WXOW-TV in La Crosse, WQOW-TV in Eau Claire, KQDS-TV in Duluth-Superior and WLUC-TV in Escanaba-Marquette. The event will also be televised on KWWL-TV and WHBF-TV in Iowa; KATN-TV, KYUR-TV and KJUD-TV in Alaska.Contact Richard Ryman at rryman@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X at @RichRymanPG and on Instagram at @rrymanPG.This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Packers Family Night will be Aug. 7 at Lambeau Field

Maja Chwalinska is making her first appearance in the French Open main draw, having lost in qualifying in 2021, 2023 and 2025 [Getty Images]After coming through her darkest hours, surprise French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska visited a tattoo parlour.A tiny word - 'free' - was etched onto the 24-year-old qualifier's left hand.Poland's Chwalinska, who is one win from joining Britain's Emma Raducanu as the only qualifier to lift a Grand Slam title, would not be drawn on why she chose it."I will keep it to myself. You can make your own stories," Chwalinska said.After a Roland Garros run that was unthinkable a few weeks ago, it feels like there is big meaning in such a small word.Five years ago, Chwalinska took an indefinite break from tennis after losing in the first round of qualifying at Wimbledon.Chwalinska was suffering from a depression that left her feeling lifeless and unable to get out of bed. She had no idea when - or even if - she would return to the sport.The Pole went back to her family home and sought help from mental health specialists.When she was well enough, Chwalinska took up running and boxing as part of the recovery process and, after a four-month break, decided to go back to tennis. Now, she stands one win away from one of the sport's biggest prizes after a stunning semi-final victory over Diana Shnaider in Paris on Thursday.Qualifier Chwalinska sets up final against AndreevaThe past five years has seen Chwalinska work hard on the lower levels of the WTA Tour, diligently trying to improve her game.Working on being able to mentally compartmentalise her career - which she associated with "pressure, stress and crying" - from the rest of her life has proved crucial.A year ago, Chwalinska was playing tiny tournaments in Italian cities Brescia and Bari after going out of the French Open in the second round of qualifying.Now she has won nine matches in a row at Roland Garros. One more will see her become the first qualifier in the Open era to lift the trophy here.Maybe the tattoo represents how she has played over the past three weeks - with a freedom and joy that has captivated the Parisian crowds.Chwalinska has earned notable wins over former French Open semi-finalist Maria Sakkari and Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, as well as beating three seeded players in Shnaider, Anna Kalinskaya and Elise Mertens.Playing with variety and spin, Chwalinska can lob, drop shot and moonball her opponents to distraction, but she can also hit with pace to finish off points quickly."I feel like I'm in the bubble. I don't know what's going on. I'm just very happy to be here," said Chwalinska, who has almost tripled her career prize money with the guarantee of winning at least £1.2m by reaching the final."After the tournament there will be time to process it and breathe in, breathe out."Chwalinska says she has a couple of "tiny" tattoos which are "not very visible" [Reuters]Sometimes when tennis players fall to the court after a big moment it feels a little contrived.But the emotional toll of what Chwalinska had achieved was clear to see as she dropped to clay immediately after nailing a forehand winner down the line on her first match point."I don't know what was going on in my head. Joy, surprise - so many emotions. I felt so overwhelmed," Chwalinska said.Chwalinska was helped over the line against Shnaider by thousands of Polish fans supporting her on Court Philippe Chatrier. It is a fair assumption they had bought their tickets long in advance - largely because they assumed four-time champion Iga Swiatek, and not Chwalinska, would be competing.Swiatek is absent from the semi-finals for the first time since 2019, but Chwalinska has managed to fill a void for her nation.The pair are good friends, having reached the 2017 Australian Open girls' doubles final together, and were also Junior Billie Jean King Cup team-mates.They even made their professional debuts at the same tournament - an ITF event in the small Polish town of Zawada in 2015.If Chwalinska manages to beat Russian eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in Saturday's final, she will follow in Swiatek's footsteps.And the French Open will be renamed, once again, to Poland Garros.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Think of it as being like a dinner party where the hosts are in the midst of a tense argument when you arrive.Football fans travelling to North America for the continent's first co-hosted World Cup will find three host countries who have endured a tense time.The tournament, which will take place across a sprawling 16 host cities and three countries, comes after a period of fractious relations between its hosts: the US, Canada and Mexico.The underlying issues seemed distant when the countries' leaders met for the draw in Washington DC in December and posed for a selfie with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino. But teaming up for a full 39-day tournament is likely to be a different ball game.US President Donald Trump has been unashamedly open about the fact that the US is the dominant power on the continent. That means the very real tensions between the three nations on issues such as trade, immigration and drug-trafficking - which have all simmered since Trump returned to office - could spill back into view.On the other hand, get it right and the World Cup could forge closer ties between the trio.Tensions over trade, tourism - and TrumpMexico and Canada, the top trading partners for the US, will not have forgotten that they were among the first countries to be targeted by Trump with tariffs.Canada - which was also angered by Trump's repeated comments about making the country a "51st state" of the US - hit back with its own counter-measures. Provinces pulled US alcohol from shelves and Canadians significantly curbed travel south, which irritated the US in return.The issues Canada and Mexico both have with the US have also impacted relationship between them, suggests Carlo Dade, director of international policy at the University of Calgary.Canada had been accused of throwing Mexico under the bus ahead of Trump's second term, as Canadian and US officials argued that Mexico was serving as a back door in North America for Chinese investment."It was downright disrespectful," Dade comments.That means Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has also found himself trying to patch things up with Mexico as he tries to diversify trade away from the US.Three's a crowdA World Cup has never before been hosted across three countries. And given that the 2026 tournament is spanning an entire continent, there is a wide array of different authorities involved.With fans travelling between the three nations to watch matches, stepped-up US immigration enforcement efforts could create logistical headaches and inflame already frayed nerves.And American security concerns – heightened because of the ongoing Iran war – could add new layers of frustration and the potential for seemingly innocuous incidents to escalate unexpectedly.US rights groups urge caution for World Cup visitors"Co-hosting these global sporting events is not necessarily a recipe for a lovey-dovey relationship between the co-hosts," says Lindsay Sarah Krasnoff, an author and clinical assistant professor of global sport at New York University.Krasnoff says that while the women's 2023 World Cup hosted by New Zealand and Australia was a net positive, the joint Japan-South Korea men's tournament in 2002 was a "mixed bag" for two nations with a long and uneven history. "It didn't negatively impact the bilateral relationship, but it's kind of viewed historically as kind of a draw," she adds.Fifa itself has voiced great hopes for the model, saying: "It's a moment when three countries and an entire continent collectively say: 'We are united as one to welcome the world and deliver the biggest, best and most inclusive FIFA World Cup ever.'"Papering over the cracks?The leader of each nation may want to use the tournament not only to show they can get along with their neighbours, but to prove a point to those who criticise them on domestic issues.That is certainly true of Mexico, where there has been a degree of doom and gloom around co-hosting. There have been persistent questions over the readiness of the capital's main airport, its saturated public transport system and the revamped Azteca stadium. Not to mention the appearance of cartel members on the streets a few months ago in a short-lived but widespread display of violence.And now, the main teachers' union is holding a nationwide strike over pensions and conditions - and massive protests which threaten to close the main thoroughfares to the matches. Their slogan is "without a solution (to their demands), there will be no kick off".Watch: Robodogs and Black Hawks - How one Mexican city is preparing for the World CupBut throughout all the challenges, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has remained resolutely upbeat."It's time to witness the best football in the world and to share with everyone who we are - not only a country of immense cultural heritage, but of an empowered people," she said last year.It would be wrong to paper over the cracks or whitewash the issues Mexico has faced in the run-up to kick, argues Mexican football journalist, Rafael Puente."I really hope the fans show patience and good behaviour in the face of some of these problems which we can't hide," Puente adds. "The only thing we can hope for is the excitement, illusion and expectation which the Mexican people have shown in the past, particularly around the participation of the national team."Trio eye goals beyond the tournamentAnalysts have suggested that the three neighbours could manage some other breakthroughs if they can get the sport right over the next month or so.The trio are in the middle of a challenging review of a landmark North American free trade agreement, known as the USMCA. The review has left uncertainty hanging over a trading partnership that has been in place in some form since 1994.Mexico has launched formal talks with the US, something Canada has yet to do.Canada, which is seeking closer trade ties with China, and Mexico, which has increased tariffs on the Asian country, are also moving in different direction with respect to the Trump administration's "elevation of the importance of China as a primary consideration", says Dade, of the University of Calgary.The three posed for a selfie with Fifa boss Gianni Infantino during the tournament draw in December [Getty Images]But the the World Cup offers an opportunity for diplomacy - as we saw when the Trump, Carney and Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum were all smiles together at the tournament draw in December."Anytime you get leaders together, it's generally a good thing," Dade comments.For his part, Trump, who regularly boasts of his nation being the "hottest" in the world, clearly views the World Cup as a chance for the US to bask in the global limelight.His desire to dominate the proceedings, whether by attending events or firing off Truth Social posts, might foster resentment among America's two neighbours and, ultimately, cause damage to North American relations in the longer term.On the other hand, he is heavily invested in the tournament's success – and may take special efforts to avoid the kind of diplomatic incidents that could mar proceedings.Football is a funny old game, as the cliche goes. Just as the sport itself is unpredictable, there is no telling which way this new experiment in three-way hosting will go."It was always going to be very complicated and very complex from the get go," Krasnoff observes, "even when the bid was first awarded."Canada formally requests 16-year renewal of North American free trade pact

The president announced a total of $700 million in federal money to reinvigorate the domestic coal industry, which has been in decline for decades.

The Democratic candidate for Senate in Maine could be charming, women said in interviews, but some found his actions intimidating and disturbing.

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Los Angeles is going through a real golden age of sports talent at the moment, and the trade of Myles Garrett to the Rams has only further cemented that as a fact. With the reigning MVP and the all-time single-season sacks leader on the Super Bowl favorites, alongside a star receiver in Puka Nacua, the Rams are must-see TV for football fans all around Southern California. Additionally, Luka Doncic is ushering in another great NBA legacy to the Lakers, on pace for a potential jersey in the rafters, with current teammate LeBron James also cementing a spot in the team’s lore. All of this does not even include the Dodgers, who are the kings of baseball and are going after a three-peat with the best player on the planet. May 11, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half in game four of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn ImagesThere are other teams with prominent stars as well, with Justin Herbert emerging on the scene for the Los Angeles Chargers, along with Kawhi Leonard still starring for the Clippers when healthy.However, while the list could truly be a top 20, we decided to refine a ranking of the best 10 players, using as inspiration a list that recently went viral.The list takes into account a player’s standing in their sport, their championships and accolades, and how much time they spent in LA. This is not an exact science, but the goal is to celebrate athletes who have brought special moments to the city, along with extrapolating what should come with the new additions. Without further ado, here is LA Sports Report’s definitive list:The Top 10 Athletes in Los Angeles 1. Shohei OhtaniOhtani is the best player in baseball, doing things the modern game has never seen before. He pitches and hits regularly, doing both at an elite level, and has already brought two titles, powering the team into favorite status for a possible three straight rings. May 4, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on from the dugout during the second inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images2. LeBron JamesIt is easy to forget James’ impact on the Lakers and how he has changed the franchise’s trajectory. He brought the team its first championship in 10 years and led the organization through the death of Kobe Bryant, all while still playing at an elite level. Also, he played a small role in landing Anthony Davis and bringing in other Klutch Sports talents like KCP, who were key members of the 2020 title team. 3. Matthew StaffordStafford is the NFL MVP and has already brought the Rams their first title since the franchise moved back to Los Angeles. He has powered multiple high-octane offenses and played a big role in growing the sport of football in SoCal.4. Yoshinobu YamamotoWith two titles to his name, a World Series MVP, and a 2025 postseason run for the ages, Yamamoto has achieved the most that an athlete can over one year of professional ball. He has not entered his prime and is already a top-five pitcher and a perennial Cy Young candidate. 5. Luka DoncicDoncic will quickly rise up the rankings once he has the postseason success that others have been able to bring, but injuries stopped him from showing his best in 2026. He has only been with the Lakers for a year and a half, but he has already been an MVP candidate, made the All-NBA First Team, and relit the dwindling flame of basketball in the city of LA.6. Freddie FreemanFreeman has brought some of the clutch moments in LA sports history over his five years with the Dodgers, along with one of the most productive bats in baseball. However, he has not been a true top-flight player throughout his time; rather, it has been more about consistency than his peaks. Still, there are few players who have resonated this much over a short period of time.7. Myles GarrettAn All-Pro, widely considered the best non-QB player in the league, and breaking the all-time sacks record — Garrett has an elite resume. He has not played a snap in LA yet, but he will be a showstopper who fans cannot get enough of as he wrecks opposing quarterbacks’ days. If he powers the Rams to a Super Bowl, he will rise on this list fast.Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (95) poses with jersey at press conference at Rams Practice Facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images8. Mookie BettsBetts is one of the more underrated players in LA’s sports scene. He has raised the Dodgers from contenders to champions upon his arrival, and has been a top player for multiple seasons. His past year and change as a hitter have been rough, bumping him down this list due to his current standing, but make no mistake about it — Betts is an LA legend.9. Mike TroutTrout has not brought a title to Los Angeles, but he has done everything else. He is a first-ballot Hall of Famer who was a WAR machine in his prime. The outfielder has been thrown in all-time conversations during his peak years; however, he has never had a team good enough to win. With a title, there is only so high he can rank with the tough competition and the winning that has gone on in LA.10. Puca NakuaNakua is a total gamer who has been one of the best receivers in football and embodies everything about the city, both good and bad. He is a true star, one of the best at his position, and a key cog in a Super Bowl contender. He is a hard-nose receiver who runs great routes and plays super physical. A title could go a long way toward helping him move on from a rough offseason in which he experienced the dark side of the LA lifestyle. The post Ranking the Top 10 Athletes in LA Right Now appeared first on LA Sports Report.

Make that five neutral-site games for Missouri basketball this upcoming season, as the Tigers have added another game — and renewed an old rivalry — to their 2026-27 schedule in Kansas City.Mizzou will take on Nebraska on Dec. 12 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, according to a social media post from the Missouri basketball X account on Thursday. That is six days after the Tigers will take on Kansas in the same arena for the Border War matchup.In addition to the two neutral-site games in KC, Mizzou will face Illinois in the Braggin’ Rights game on a still-to-be-announced date in December and reportedly will play Saint Louis on Nov. 6, with both games expected to be played at Enterprise Center.Missouri currently has two other known games on its slate for next season, including another neutral-site matchup against Marquette on Nov. 15 at United Center in Chicago. Missouri also is expected to play Howard at Mizzou Arena sometime this offseason.This is shaping up to be head coach Dennis Gates’ toughest nonconference schedule since he took over the program ahead of the 2022-23 season.Gates indicated at an athletic department caravan stop in April that he was planning a stronger nonconference strength of schedule this upcoming season, citing the expansion of the NCAA Tournament field from 68 to 76 teams as a reason to add stronger opponents to the Tigers' November and December calendar. With the addition of the Cornhuskers to the schedule, Missouri is scheduled to face four NCAA Tournament teams from last season in KU, Illinois, Nebraska and, if it is officially scheduled, Saint Louis. You can add another high-major program to that list in Marquette.Nebraska, coached by Fred Hoiberg, is coming off the first Sweet 16 berth (and first NCAA Tournament wins) in program history. The Cornhuskers went 28-7 last season and finished the season ranked No. 14 in the final AP poll.The historic rivals and former Big 12 programs have faced off on the hardwood 219 times since their first meeting in 1908, but they have not met since 2011. Missouri holds the all-time series lead at 126-93.Missouri has only played three teams — Kansas, Kansas State and Iowa State — more times in its history.The tipoff time and TV designation for Mizzou’s game against the Cornhuskers will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the game also will go on sale at a later date, per a Missouri news release.This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball schedules neutral-site game vs former Big 12 rival

The last few years have tested the Cleveland Browns’ patience. A roster once built around a dominant defense never found consistent traction, and now another major transition is underway. Myles Garrett remained the face of that identity through it all.That is why the reaction to his departure has been so revealing. The trade itself grabbed headlines, but one team insider believes the bigger issue sits much closer to home for the Browns.Team Insider’s Myles Garrett Take Highlights Browns’ Bigger Problem

Mumbai: Former India and Mumbai captain Dilip Vengsarkar is widely respected for being a great cricketer during his playing days in the 1970s and 1980s, and also for being one of the best chief selectors India ever had. Both as India's captain and later as chief selector, Vengsarkar would not hesitate to back players he believed in, even at the cost of being unpopular among his colleagues.At an event in the city on Wednesday evening, former India batter-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar recalled how Vengsarkar always supported and mentored him and how he "put his foot down" for a young Manjrekar's selection for India's 1989 tour of the West Indies. After much argument, a young Manjrekar, who had made his Test debut against the West Indies in Delhi in November 1987, was finally drafted in as the 17th member of the squad. The tour turned out to be disastrous as India were blanked 5-0 in the ODIs and lost the Test series 3-0, but a silver lining was the emergence of the 24-year-old Manjrekar as a technically sound batter capable of countering quality pace.Picked at the expense of veteran batter Mohinder Amarnath, Manjrekar finished the series as India's highest run-scorer, scoring 200 runs in four Tests at an average of 33.33, including a gallant 108 at Bridgetown, Barbados, in the second Test, even as the rest of India's batters floundered against the West Indies' lethal pace attack of Curtly Ambrose, Ian Bishop, Courtney Walsh and Malcolm Marshall.Recalling how Vengsarkar pushed for his selection while overcoming stiff resistance from the selection committee chaired by Raj Singh Dungarpur, which met after the third Test against New Zealand in Hyderabad in December 1988, Manjrekar said:"One thing that I owe to Dilip is that he backed me, no matter what. Dilip has been in my corner and, with the kind of nature and approach I have in my life, there aren't too many people in my corner. I'll give you an example of my selection for India when he was the Indian captain."So this was the tour of the West Indies in 1989 and he was the captain. We were in Hyderabad and there was this selection meeting, and it went on for two hours. We were all waiting in our rooms, waiting for the good news. We were all on the fringe of playing for India, wondering whether we had made it."I still remember Dilip came, wearing this white sadra, proper night attire, and he had oil on his head. He had taken a nice head massage."He came in and said, 'So much tension and stress in the selection meeting.' And the greatest stress for him was to get me into the team. I was the 17th member picked on that tour of the West Indies. They had about 16 players in the squad and I was the 17th. He got a lot of resistance from other selectors, who were saying that he's not ready and he doesn't deserve to be here."But Dilip was the guy who put his foot down. They all ganged up, but he kept fighting and I got onto that tour and whatever career I have today."Apart from Manjrekar, many of Vengsarkar's former India and Mumbai teammates — Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Karsan Ghavri, Raju Kulkarni and Chandrakant Pandit — along with Mumbai Cricket Association president Ajinkya Naik, were present at the launch of a book on the 116-Test veteran, aptly titled A Legend with a Difference, penned by his King George School cricket teammate Sanjay Satam.Remembering how Vengsarkar boosted his confidence on that West Indies tour, Manjrekar said, "I was the highest scorer in a very low-scoring series. He (Dilip) was ready to play me straight away and gave me a lot of confidence when I was playing local cricket."So, deliberately in front of me, he would quietly praise me so that I could hear him saying something nice about me. That was a huge dose of confidence.""So in the West Indies, I was having dinner and he said, 'Manjhi, are you coming to play tomorrow?' I said, 'Yes, of course.' He wanted to find out if I was ready."'Dilip was scared to sleep alone at night'Manjrekar revealed that during his playing days, Vengsarkar was scared to sleep alone in his room at night."Dilip has one major weakness that everyone knows and now I think he's overcome it. He gets scared to spend the night alone in his room and that was one of the reasons I don't think he wanted to captain India for too long because then you get a single room and he loves sharing a room!" Manjrekar said.Manjrekar added, "Vengsarkar is indeed a Legend with a Difference. He was actually a legend but, for us, he was a buddy and that is where his greatness lies. That's the rare quality that he has."He's a very humble man with people who are in his corner and I'm very proud to say I'm very privileged to be in his corner."Crediting Vengsarkar for mentoring him in his early days in Team India, Manjrekar said, "He was a mentor to begin with. On the tour of England in 1990, I learnt that with steak and kidney pie, you've got to have a little dash of English mustard, and with crispy aromatic duck in a Chinese restaurant."Every time I sit down to have that, I remember Dilip!"Manjrekar recalled that despite being a senior player who had played more than 100 Tests, Vengsarkar was like a "buddy" to youngsters like him in the India dressing room."Dilip, despite being a senior player, was a little different in the sense that, despite the age gap and the stature gap as well, we were buddies. Can you imagine?"Dilip was the captain on one particular tour, but he used to find time to hang out with us. It was amazing that a guy who had already played more than 100 Tests still found the time and had the humility to be with people like us."Praising Vengsarkar's dry sense of humour, Manjrekar said, "I always see the funny side of Dilip. I mean, he is incredible. Sometimes I think he intentionally keeps a serious face and says something funny."