After spending last season on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad, former Florida quarterback Kyle Trask has earned a chance to continue his NFL career. The 2020 Heisman trophy finalist has received a tryout invitation from the New Orleans Saints during rookie minicamp.Trask was released by the team that selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, following three seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where the ex-Gator saw limited action. The 6-foot-5-inch, 236-pound Manvel, Texas, native is a former three-star prospect who found success with the Gators after stepping in for injured teammate Filipe Franks in 2019. He would go on to have one of the most prolific campaigns in Florida history, breaking program records en route to All-SEC recognition.At the professional level, Trask has struggled to find consistent opportunities, largely playing a backup role for the Buccaneers before falling off the free-agent radar last year. New Orleans could be a prime location for Trask to revive his career, as the QB room lacks veteran presence.Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football's Kyle Trask gets minicamp opportunity with Saints

The U.S.-brokered agreement requires Hezbollah, which Iran backs, to stop firing first. But the group, not party to the talks, rejected the conditions as a virtual surrender.

Artists including Young MC, Martina McBride and Bret Michaels had publicly dropped out of concerts scheduled for the National Mall.

Activists blocked the iconic span to protest the spending of American tax dollars on Israeli military efforts in Gaza. San Francisco’s prosecutor is now seeking a strict punishment.

The 2026 World Cup promises to be the planet’s most-watched sporting event. It’s also poised to generate its fair share of controversy. Taking into account the history of corruption in FIFA, the sport’s governing body, it would be hard to blame anyone who decided to ignore this year’s competition.However, some viewers of this summer’s tournament may face an additional dilemma. Political tensions are high in the U.S., where most of the tournament’s matches will be played. The Trump administration is historically unpopular, and its critics are already concerned about sportswashing: when governments use the spectacle of athletic competition to burnish their image and distract the public.As I point out in my 2022 book, “The Ethics of Sports Fandom,” fans who are critical of their country’s behavior sometimes feel ambivalent about rooting for their national sports teams – and may even feel compelled to root against them. After all, it’s one thing to pull for your national team when patriotism feels uncomplicated. It’s quite another when you aren’t feeling very proud to be an American. The Cold War made it easy for many Americans to rally behind the 1980 U.S men’s hockey team in its victory over the Soviet Union in the “Miracle on Ice.” But what do you do when you don’t see your country as the “good guys”?Patriotism doesn’t mean blind loyaltySome fans might double down on their patriotic commitments during the tournament. They’ll use the occasion to champion America in all things, whether it’s the country’s battles in the Middle East or its national team taking on Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Sports have a way of fueling nationalistic passions, and I fully expect plenty of people who don’t care much about soccer to channel their patriotic sentiments into the tournament.However, rooting for your country’s national soccer team doesn’t mean that you endorse everything your country does, any more than wanting a friend to get a promotion at work requires you to support all of their behavior. As the philosopher Eamonn Callan has argued, a proper love of country requires citizens to be clear-eyed about its faults. The true patriot highlights problems and works to correct them, independent of how much they want the national team to win their next match.By the same token, I think a deep love of country can coexist with ambivalent feelings about how the national team performs on the field. If patriots can disapprove of their country’s military adventurism – either because they see it as flatly unjust or because it casts their country in an unfavorable light on the international stage – there is nothing fundamentally unpatriotic about not wanting the U.S. to do well in the World Cup. Other fans might invoke the mantra that it’s important to simply keep politics out of sports – that the games should be a refuge from the controversies that plague so many other aspects of civic life.But as I argue in my book, fully separating politics and sports is almost impossible. It requires fans to view athletes as nothing more than bodies who exist to perform on the field. It means team executives and owners do little more than sign paychecks. And it ignores the reality that sports are woven into the social, economic and political life of communities.Outcomes don’t change a thingFor fans who choose to watch, then, my suggestion is to view the action on the field as you would any other sporting event. Root for whomever you want to win, for more or less any reason that moves you. Because for all the political significance attached to the World Cup, the winner or loser of any given contest has essentially no broader political significance. The problems that existed before the tournament will still demand attention when it is over, no matter who happens to win. Success or failure on the pitch isn’t likely to bring about meaningful political change. After all, whether a government has the right legislative agenda or approach to foreign policy is totally divorced from its national soccer team’s ability to score goals.Viewed in this way, rooting for your country’s national soccer team doesn’t imply blind loyalty to your country or ignorance of its flaws. It simply means that you want the athletes who represent your country to win the game they are playing on that particular day.Athletes have long been able to navigate this ambivalence. You’ll regularly hear them trying to separate a love of their country and its people from support of problematic regimes. When Iranian soccer player Mehdi Taremi refused to celebrate a goal in a January 2026 Greek Super League match, he embraced precisely such a position. Thousands of people had been killed during protests of the Iranian regime, and the moment called for a different reaction.“There are problems between the people and the government,” he said. “The people are always with us, and that’s why we are with them.” For Teremi, publicly celebrating as an Iranian citizen abroad felt too much like endorsing the current regime, something he had no desire to do. If the athletes who wear their national colors can maintain such nuanced views, surely fans can, too. Mehdi Taremi arrives at an Iran national soccer team practice in Antalya, Turkey, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Sinan Ozmus/Anadolu via Getty ImagesOf course, nuance can be difficult in today’s political climate, and the rhetoric around the World Cup likely won’t change that. When the U.S. men’s hockey team won gold at the Olympics back in February, Donald Trump attempted to turn it into a personal political victory by inviting the team to his State of the Union address. “Our country is winning again,” Trump said, devoting nearly six minutes of his speech to the team’s victory. The outlook for the U.S. men in this year’s World Cup is not quite as bright, but chances are good that someone will try to co-opt their success or failure for political purposes. Fans don’t have to fall into the trap.This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Adam Kadlac, Wake Forest UniversityRead more:5 reasons Stephen Colbert is one of the most important satirists in American historyWhy Mary, as the Immaculate Conception, became the patron saint of the US in the 1840sWhat is the difference between nationalism and patriotism?Adam Kadlac does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

The Green Bay Packers know better than most how tricky it can be when young players sign their first major contracts. It is not unusual for performance to dip once a big payday arrives, with effort and consistency sometimes becoming concerns. So when the Packers handed wide receiver Christian Watson a significant extension, that worry was certainly present among parts of the fan base.Watson addressed those concerns directly during an interview, making it clear he plans to stay competitive moving forward. The Packers wide receiver emphasized that that edge is a core part of why he loves the game, signaling to fans that his mindset and approach will not change after signing his new deal."I want to compete every single play."The Packers top trio of WR is now under team control through 2029. Christian Watson's 4-year, $110.5 million pay day is huge. They say pressures is a privilege. He definitely has that now after Doubs and Wicks left town and he gets paid. pic.twitter.com/X5gyWkSvKW— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) June 4, 2026“I mean, 100%, I’m looking forward to that … the thing I love most about football is the competitiveness, and I wanna compete every single play,” Watson remarked via Dave Schroeder on X (formerly Twitter).The Packers recently locked in a major commitment by signing Christian Watson to a four-year, $110.5 million extension. Watson, a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has been a steady presence in Green Bay’s offense over the past few seasons, though his production has been somewhat inconsistent.Christian Watson with the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) runs the ball in for a touchdown during a football game against the Chicago Bears on Dec. 7, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. The Packers defeated the Bears 28-21.“The more opportunities, the better for me. Obviously, I know it’s not reasonable, but if I could, I would wanna be out there every single play. So, however many opportunities that I get this year, I’m gonna try to make the most out of every single one.”The 27-year-old has yet to fully develop into a clear WR1 for the team, totaling 2,264 receiving yards over four years. Injuries have also limited his availability, as he has been restricted to 10 or fewer games in two of his four seasons with the franchise.Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (9) leaves the field in the fourth quarter after getting injured against the New Orleans Saints during their football game Monday, December 23, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.Year 5 gives Watson a clear opening to finally step into a leading role within Green Bay’s passing attack. With Romeo Doubs leaving in the offseason, the Packers’ wide receiver depth chart has shifted, placing Watson in a more central spotlight. He will now compete with Jayden Reed and sophomore Matthew Golden for the WR1 role heading into the season.He should also get a boost from the return of Tucker Kraft, who has emerged as one of the league’s more dynamic tight ends. Now, the question becomes whether Watson can take full control of the receiver room and establish himself as Green Bay’s clear WR1.

Jun 3, 2026; Paris, France; Flavio Cobolli of Italy reacts during his match against Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada on day 11 at Stade Roland Garros. © Susan Mullane-Imagn ImagesCompatriots Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Arnaldi will collide in the French Open semifinals on Friday. Cobolli has been firing on all cylinders in Paris and will be full of confidence after eliminating fourth seed Félix Auger-Aliassime in the last round. Arnaldi has surpassed all expectations with his run at Stade Roland-Garros and will look to cap off his dream run by securing a place in the final.Flavio Cobolli vs Matteo Arnaldi Match DetailsDate: June 5, 2026Tournament: French Open 2026Round: SemifinalsVenue: Roland Garros Stadium, Paris, FranceSurface: Outdoor ClayCategory: Grand SlamLive Telecast: HBO Max, TNT, TSNCobolli vs Arnaldi Head-to-Head RecordThe head-to-head record between these two players stands at 1-1, although Arnaldi has beaten Cobolli twice in 3 non-ATP Tour matches. Cobolli won in four sets when these two players met at Stade Roland-Garros last year.Cobolli goes into this clash with more experience and has had the better clay-court season so far. The world No. 14 arrived in Paris after making the final in Munich and the quarterfinals in Madrid. He has dropped only two sets so far at the French Open, showcasing incredible consistency and patience.Arnaldi has spent a record amount of time on the court over the last two weeks, but was given a lucky break in his quarterfinal as opponent Matteo Berrettini was forced to retire due to injury. However, he has fought his way through to the last four, showcasing incredible resilience to overcome seasoned competitors like Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas.Cobolli vs Arnaldi Prediction and PickThis stage is new for both players, so nerves could definitely play a part in this contest. This match could well come down to which player can handle that big-match pressure better.Cobolli will look to utilize his overall experience at the top level to his advantage in this semifinal. He has also looked the stronger of the two players in Paris, with his court-coverage and variety of shots allowing him to dominate proceedings on the red dirt.Arnaldi also plays a similar style of tennis and will look to use his counter-punching skills to put Cobolli on the back foot. He is a sharp returner and has created more than 10 break-point opportunities in all five of his matches at the French Open so far.MORE: ‘Crazier Than Usual’ – Flavio Cobolli Details Rafael Nadal’s Role in His ‘Superstitious’ Rituals at French OpenStill, we believe that Cobolli will finally bring an end to Arnaldi’s Cinderella run and advance to a first-ever Grand Slam final.Pick – Cobolli in four sets.

Florida football has risen to No. 4 on ESPN's latest 2027 recruiting rankings, reinforcing the momentum new head coach Jon Sumrall continues to build with the program. Sumrall's impact is yet to be seen on the field, but on the recruiting trail, he's driven results like few others this cycle.The foundation of Sumrall's inaugural class can be found in the trenches, where the former Tulane coach believes the program's reassurance is rooted. Florida's offensive line haul boasts five-star offensive tackle Maxwell Hiller and No. 1 -ranked center Peyton Miller. "(Sumrall's) first big win leading the Gators was landing five-star Maxwell Hiller, an OL who possesses a wealth of tools blending toughness and flexibility with sound technique, and he could not only be an elite presence for them in the trenches but is a contender to be able to quickly work his way into the mix upon arrival," College football writer Craig Haubert says.In total, the Gators have landed 11 ESPN 300 commitments in this class, including Ja'Bois Smith, who is touted as Florida's top defensive signee. Blue-chip acquisitions such as Smith and key developmental quarterback Davin Davidson highlight Florida's reemergence as a contender for top talent across the country. Under Sumrall, the Gators are routinely winning SEC recruiting battles and expanding their reach on the trail. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football ranked No. 4 in latest 2027 recruiting class rankings

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 4: Miguel Andujar #41 of the San Diego Padres reacts after a swing and miss in the top of the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on June 4, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Padres 6-4. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images Jackson Merrill ripped a two-run home run to right field that banged off the advertising on the face of the second deck and ricochetted back down onto the field as he rounded the bases en route to home plate where he completed his trip and pulled the San Diego Padres within two runs of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Padres trailed 6-4, but with no outs and Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado having already allowed two runs, there was a glimmer of hope that San Diego could pull off some late-inning magic and avoid the series sweep. Alvarado would not allow another run, in fact, he did not allow another baserunner, before closing out the game and securing the win for Philadelphia.The Padres continued to struggle at the plate and saw six of nine batters who were in the starting lineup finish their day without a hit. San Diego amassed just four hits in the game with two of those hits accounting for the four runs scored. Manny Machado hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, which made the score 3-2 before Adrian Morejon took the ball in the bottom of the inning and allowed three runs on three hits with one walk. He was replaced on the mound by Wandy Peralta after 1/3 of an inning and the Phillies enjoyed a 6-2 lead.Merrill drove in Ty France who walked to open the ninth inning, and the only other hits in the game for San Diego came from the No. 9 hitter, Bryce Johson. He singled in the sixth and singled in the eighth. Johnson moved to second in the eighth inning after a Gavin Sheets walk, but with two on and two out in the inning, Machado grounded to third to end the top half of the frame.The Padres return to Petco Park to host the New York Mets today at 6:40 p.m. still looking to find some kind of offensive identity. The problem for San Diego now is the bullpen faltered multiple times on the road trip and are showing signs of wearing down and being less affective.Padres News:The Padres catching tandem of Freddy Fermin and Rodolfo Duran have provided nothing at the plate recently, but minor league catcher Blake Hunt is hitting homers for El Paso.A.J. Preller is always one of the general managers the baseball world keeps an eye on at the trade deadline and this season could have an interesting deadline according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.Baseball News:The New York Yankees are without their biggest bat in Aaron Judge, but they were able to squeak out a 2-1 win against the Cleveland Guardians to avoid a sweep.Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello was beat by the Baltimore Orioles, 8-2 and was optioned to Triple-A after the game.The San Francisco Giants split their series with the Milwaukee Brewers with a 12-9 win Thursday.

Nature, Published online: 05 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01781-5Having fewer fossil-fuel powered cars on the road is reducing some pollutants, but not others.

And Benjamin Franklin makes an appearance (yes, really!). READ MORE...

India Test vice-captain KL Rahul went unsold in the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2026 auction on Friday despite being one of the biggest names available.Rahul, who scored 593 runs in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals during IPL 2026, was the second player to come up in the auction. However, none of the six franchises placed a bid for him in the opening round because his availability for the tournament remains uncertain.The 33-year-old entered the auction with a base price of Rs 2 lakh.Rahul is currently part of India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh, and has been named vice-captain. He is also expected to be involved in India’s upcoming international assignments, including the Afghanistan ODI series and the tour of England.— cricsam02 (@cricsam02) With a packed international schedule over the next three months, franchises were hesitant to invest in a player whose participation in the tournament could not be guaranteed.Rahul was among the most talked-about names ahead of the auction, but his unsold status was linked to his availability rather than his form. After completing a two-month IPL campaign with Delhi Capitals, he is focusing on national team duties and managing his workload across multiple international commitments.Several Karnataka players attracted attention in the auction, including Devdutt Padikkal, Mayank Agarwal, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Shreyas Gopal, Karun Nair and Manish Pandey. The squad limit is a minimum 16 players and maximum 18 acquired through auction, along with two players from the mandatory Catchment Area Players.The fifth edition of the Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 will be played from June 12 to July 12 across Mysuru, Hubballi and Bengaluru. 131529318

The recruiting battle is heating up for Tampa native, five-star edge rusher Antonio Thomas Jr., and Florida football is firmly in the mix for one of the nation's top defensive prospects.Thomas is quickly emerging as one of the most coveted prospects in the 2028 recruiting class. According to On3, the Gators have surfaced as a top contender in Thomas' recruitment. Jon Sumrall and the program have established an early presence with the in-state blue-chipper, joining Miami and Auburn as the trio of suitors that are projected to have the best chance at signing the No. 5 recruit in the state of Florida.As a sophomore, Thomas finished the season with 54 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 25 tackles for loss. He also forced two fumbles and broke up a pair of passes while also starring at running back. The 6-foot-3-inch, 235-pound Carrollwood Day product rushed for 927 yards on 100 attempts, resulting in 15 touchdowns.Antonio Thomas Jr.'s recruiting summaryThomas is slated at No. 15 overall and No. 4 at his position according to 247Sports composite, while On3 industry rankings have him at Nos. 17 and 4, respectively. Thomas has 45 total offers, including 12 SEC programs, among them Georgia, LSU, Alabama and Texas A&M.On3's recruiting prediction machine gives the Gators (21%) a slight edge over the Hurricanes (19%) for the coveted recruit. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football a prime contender for 5-star EDGE Antonio Thomas Jr.

Como put €80m price tag on Baturina to fend off Premier League and Bayern interestMartin Baturina has emerged as one of the most coveted young midfielders in Europe following an impressive season at Como, with two unnamed Premier League clubs preparing offers in the region of €50-55 million for the Croatian, while Bayern Munich had already made preliminary approaches months earlier.According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Como are well aware of the interest and have taken a firm stance, the club have no intention of selling and would only consider proposals in the region of €80 million, a figure they regard as the threshold for what would constitute an extraordinary offer for a player who turned 23 this year.NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 10: Martin Baturina of Como 1907 celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 10, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)Como demand €80m to part with Baturina as Champions League arrival strengthens handThe rigidity of Como’s position is rooted in Baturina’s importance to Cesc Fabregas’s system.The Croatian attacking midfielder has been one of the key architects of the club’s historic rise to the Champions League, and with European football now secured for next season, the club have even less incentive to weaken their squad by parting with one of their most creative and influential players.Bayern’s earlier monitoring of the situation suggests awareness of Baturina’s quality has been building across Europe for some time.The arrival of Premier League offers in the €50-55 million range confirms that interest has now moved beyond admiration into something more concrete, though at their current valuation, Como appear entirely prepared to wait

What does World Cup history suggest for hosts United States, Mexico, and Canada? Per a USA TODAY analysis, hosts have outperformed their usual World Cup pace in roughly two out of three cases.In 16 of the 22 World Cups from 1930 through 2022, the host entry finished with more points per match than its nation’s all-time World Cup average.That equates to roughly a 73% rate that the host performs better than usual. Of the six that did not outperform their average, two matched it — including Qatar, whose only World Cup appearance came as the 2022 host.The worst-performing host was Spain in 1982. Spain averaged 1 point per match en route to a second-round exit. The country normally averages 1.64 points per match.The next worst was Brazil in 2014, a tournament it infamously exited after losing 7-1 to Germany in the semifinals. Brazil averaged 1.57 points per match in 2014, 0.60 lower than the country’s overall average of 2.17 points per match.On the flip side, Uruguay’s perfect run to the title in 1930 is the best performance by a host, beating its average by 1.51 points per match.Mexico in 1986 was the next-best hosting performance. While El Tri exited in the quarterfinals, they averaged 2.20 points per match, double their overall average.For 2026, the United States would need to beat 0.95 points per match. Through the three-match group stage, that works out to 3 points — equivalent to one win or three draws.Mexico’s all-time average is a bit better at 1.10. So, through the group stage, Mexico would need a win plus at least a draw to surpass its overall average.Of course, it’s worth noting that for both the United States and Mexico, their tournament points average could shift depending on whether they make it out of the group stage and how far they get in the knockout rounds.Finally, Canada’s bar is the lowest: any point in 2026 would beat its historical World Cup average — Canada is 0-6 overall in two past appearances.Methodology note: All-time averages calculated from Transfermarkt’s all-time World Cup table. Individual host performances calculated via FBref’s individual tournament tables. For consistency, 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw were calculated across eras. Games that went into extra time were counted as a draw. For 2002, South Korea and Japan were combined as one host edition by averaging the two host nations’ points-per-match rates.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Do World Cup host nations perform better or worse?

Odell Beckham | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Malik Nabers and Odell Beckham Jr. are both wide receivers who attended LSU. They have a lot more in common, though, than just that.Both were selected in the top half of Round 1 in the NFL Draft by the New York Giants.Both became immediate stars.Both have received backlash from the New York media for words or deeds that were deemed inappropriate or distracting.Both have suffered major injuries.All of which adds another layer to Beckham’s return to the Giants. Can the now 33-year-old Beckham, with the benefit of time and the experience of having gone through everything Nabers is experiencing, be a positive influence on Nabers, who does not turn 23 until the end of July?“Trust me, I know all the things to do, and I know the things not to do,” Beckham said.“I think I can be a great asset for him. Even when I wasn’t here, I was hitting him up. I’m like, ‘Yo,’ – no offense – ‘I know how they are. I know how they are going to turn. Just telling you.’”Right now, Nabers is going through a difficult rehab from last season’s torn ACL and meniscus that has included two surgeries and brought questions about when he will play in 2026.“I think through this process, which has been a tough process, but I think he’s going to come out on the other end better. I can’t wait to see him back on the field,” Beckham said of Nabers.“Obviously, we know what kind of player he is. Just however I can help him.”

Jill Biden has released View From The East Wing, a memoir detailing her time as first lady of the United States. Here are the book’s biggest revelations: Knew from first time she met Joe that he had what it takes to become president, succumb to hubris, and be publicly humiliated Would feed pieces of Secret Service member flesh under table to Major Biden Raised agnostic, despite seeing her dad hit an angel with his truck Taught English to help pay the outrageous White House rent Regrets downplaying her husband’s health issues after seeing him sneeze out his whole skeleton Wouldn’t say no to joint Netflix deal like one Barack and Michelle got Couldn’t help feeling relieved that Hunter’s substance abuse distracted from her own harrowing meth addiction saga Voted for Bernie twice Expects to be single and primed for sexual journey within five years The post Biggest Revelations From Jill Biden’s New Memoir appeared first on The Onion.

A noted Major League Baseball sabermetrics publication once argued that clutch performances were a myth, before there were enough statistics to prove otherwise.We always thought they existed, since we'd seen time and time again athletes come through when it mattered most, often more so than they did in less opportune times. It was not random. Instead, they summoned something within them under pressure.But we know New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is clutch. Not just because we have seen it, game after game, year after year. Not just because he won the NBA's Clutch Player of the Year award in 2025. But because the numbers tell us he's clutch."With the ball in his hands," said teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, "I'm never surprised."Case in point: Brunson scored 13 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter, including five back-breaking points in the final two minutes, of a 105-95 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Wednesday's opener of the 2026 NBA Finals. The performance increased his clutch points total over the past four years to 144, more than anyone.For his playoff career (82 games since the 2020-21 season), Brunson has averaged 1.47 points per minute in the clutch on 63.4% true shooting. By comparison, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's 0.96 points per minute led this past year's regular season on 66.5% true shooting.Jalen Brunson somehow gets more efficient — and more prolific — as the game progresses.Ben RohrbachBrunson is averaging 9.5 points per fourth quarter during New York's dominant playoff run. Only five players in the play-by-play era (since 1996) have averaged more fourth-quarter points into the conference semifinals or beyond. One was Brunson in 2024, when he averaged 10.1 points per fourth quarter before a second-round defeat. The others: Dirk Nowitzki (9.9, 2011), LeBron James (9.8, 2006), Kobe Bryant (9.6, 2003) and Michael Jordan (9.6, 1997). Only Dirk and Jordan did it en route to an NBA Finals.Brunson is doing what only Nowitzki did on one of the most magical championship runs in NBA history and what MJ did on his way to the fifth of six titles. Mind-blowing.Oh, and he's scoring those 9.5 points per fourth quarter on 59/62/93 shooting splits."He's a gamer, man," said Knicks head coach Mike Brown. "In the biggest moments, he shows up, and that's what MVPs are supposed to do. We put the ball in his hands and said, 'We are going to live and die with him.' And he got it done for us, and that's happened time after time after time. He got to his spots, and he made plays."What makes Brunson even more impressive, other than the fact he's 6-foot-2: It's not like the Knicks have always needed him to be this good. Brunson has rested for the entirety of four fourth quarters, as the Knicks have logged a record four 30-point blowouts in these playoffs, and 10 of New York's 12 consecutive wins have come by double digits.Brunson's 8.3 minutes per fourth quarter are 42nd among players in these playoffs. He is scoring 0.587 points per fourth-quarter possession, most among NBA regulars. Gilgeous-Alexander, the league's back-to-back MVP and reigning Clutch Player of the Year, averaged 0.551 points a fourth-quarter possession in the regular season.Brunson's 0.587 points per fourth-quarter possession are a single-season record for the play-by-play era (minimum 10 games played). Only five players since the 1996-97 season have even averaged 0.5 points per fourth-quarter possession in the playoffs.Brunson has done it three times.Nobody has been more proficient in the fourth quarter of the playoffs than Jalen Brunson.Ben RohrbachWould it be crazy to call this Brunson run the most clutch in NBA history? If only his production in the fourth quarter met the NBA's definition of clutch (when games are within five points in the final five minutes). As it stands, Brunson has played only 21.1 minutes of official clutch time in five games, since the Knicks have been so dominant.In those minutes, Brunson has scored 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting, converting each of his three 3-point attempts and both free throws. He has been absolutely electric.In the opener of the 2026 NBA Finals, Brunson, of course, drilled two of the game's biggest shots, both ridiculous — a corner 3-pointer to put the Knicks on top, 97-94, with less than two minutes remaining, and a wild floater to put a bow on the victory."He's still underrated in the league," said Josh Hart, "and he keeps proving people wrong, game by game, series by series, playoff appearance by playoff appearance."Keep it up for a few more games in this series, and Brunson might finally be properly rated, as the author of the single-most clutch playoff performance in NBA history.

[SNS]Former Scotland midfielder Joelle Murray insists experienced players such as Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert will be crucial in keeping Scotland focused on the task against Israel on Friday night.The World Cup qualifier - and Tuesday's return meeting between the sides - is being played in Budapest because Uefa ruled no matches can be held in Israel for security reasons."It's not ideal, you lose that home advantage on one of the legs, but it's a situation outwith their control," said Murray on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast."They need to focus on what they can control, approach the game as they would normally do, albeit a different and difficult situation, being at a neutral venue but that's the same for both sets of players."It's not ideal but the preparation going into the camp will be as it always is and you've got players like Caroline and Erin, who will certainly be ensuring the players' full focus is on the performances opposed to all the political stuff outwith it."You've got late call-ups Laura Berry and Mia McAulay coming in, two young players, and Caroline and Erin are role models for young players."They've got the quality in abundance throughout the squad to get the job done and finish the group really strongly. They'll get the points they need and have to look and see what happens in those other games."

This year's French Open has been one of the books, with some of the wildest and most unexpected upsets the tournament has ever seen. As we head into the women's final this Saturday, two players who have never made it to a Grand Slam final before will vie for the 2026 title. No. 8 Mirra Andreeva of Russia and Maja Chwalińska of Poland, who entered the tournament as a qualifier, will play in the women's final on Saturday, June 6, at 9 am ET. The 2026 French Open women's final match between Andreeva and Chwalińska will air on TNT, with all the action also streaming on HBO Max. Here's what to know about watching the 2026 French Open live, including the full schedule, where to stream for less in the U.S., and more. How to watch Mirra Andreeva vs. Maja Chwalińska at the 2026 French Open: Date: Saturday, June 6Time: 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PTLocation: Stade Roland-Garros, ParisTV channel: TNTStreaming: HBO MaxWhen is the Mirra Andreeva vs. Maja Chwalińska match at the 2026 French Open? The women's final match between Mirra Andreeva and Maja Chwalinska is on Saturday, June 6 and is expected to start at 9 a.m. ET.What channel is the Mirra Andreeva vs. Maja Chwalińska match at the 2026 French Open on? Saturday's women's final will air on TNT.Where to watch the French Open without cable: How to watch the 2026 French Open for less with a VPN: If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don't subscribe to HBO Max or a live TV streaming service, in Australia, a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in France, france.tv will have all-day sessions through quarter-finals (and co-broadcast for semis and finals)Don't live in either of those places? Don't worry: You can still stream using a VPN (virtual private network). A VPN helps protect your data, masks your IP address, and is perhaps most popular for its usefulness in the age of streaming.Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.Who is playing in the 2026 French Open? The men's semifinalists at this year's French Open are Alexander Zverev, Jakub Mensik, Matteo Arnaldi and Flavio Cobolli.On the women's side, Mirra Andreeva will face Maja Chwalinska in the final.2026 French Open schedule: All times EasternFriday, June 5Men's singles semi-finals (not before 8:30 a.m. ET, then not before 1 p.m. ET) + Women's doubles semi-finals + Wheelchair tennis semi-finals + Junior singles and doubles semi-finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETSaturday, June 6Women's singles final (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Men's doubles final + Wheelchair tennis finals + Junior singles and doubles finals + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ETSunday, June 7Men's singles final (not before 9 a.m. ET) + Women's doubles final + Trophée des Légendes by Emirates: 5 a.m. ET

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen says coach Jacques Nienaber is "fully committed" to the province who are "lucky to have" him.The two-time World Cup winner with the Springboks had cast doubt on his Leinster future earlier in the week after claiming he does not feel valued by the media and fans in Ireland.However, Cullen is hopeful he will remain as part of the coaching staff and that Nienaber's comments may have been misunderstood."I think what he [Nienaber] was referring to is there are no guarantees in sport, is there?" Cullen said."So, I think what he is trying to get across, is that when there is a lot of flak on the team from media, sometimes a club will make changes, and I think that is what he was referring to."But I think in his own mind, yes, he is fully committed to Leinster so please don't get confused by that and I would be of the same opinion as well."Nienaber is under contract until 2027 and helped Leinster win the United Rugby Championship title last year. However, they suffered their fifth defeat in a Champions Cup final since 2018 in May when Bordeaux-Begles produced a ruthless display in Bilbao.Cullen added that he has enjoyed Neinaber's three years at the province and confirmed he is in his future plans."Jacques is brilliant, I have to say I have really enjoyed working with Jacques," Cullen continued. "I think we have a great group of coaches here. I think we have a great staff as well; there are so many great people in the building and it's a very enjoyable place to work."We are very lucky to have him [Neinaber]. He is a brilliant person, brilliant individual to work with and that is very much the plan for sure."

OHSAA track & field state championship live results, updates, schedule in all 5 divisions in Ohio originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Ohio state track & field championships are back at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus for an extended weekend.This year will be different, though, as the OHSAA expanded from three divisions to five divisions. That means a longer schedule, more events and more state titles.There will be regular powerhouses doing their thing, plenty of upsets and surprises, and overall just a lot of glory for the athletes that will forever be known as a state champion.As the event goes along, we'll be updating the results below, in all divisions.OHSAA track & field state championship live resultsRefresh for latest updates. Divisions will be added below as their finals begin. Division 3EventState championRunner-upGirls 4x800 relayOakwood (9:07)Hathaway Brown (9:12)Boys 4x800 relayJonathan Alder (7:48)CVCA (7:50)Division 4EventState championRunner-upGirls 4x800 relayHuron (9:13.92)Coldwater (9:15.18)Boys 4x800 relayFairless (7:51.08)West Liberty-Salem (7:54.36)Girls pole vaultAva Schmitmeyer, Coldwater (12-8)Anna Pittman, Waynedale (12-4)Girls discusElla Hochstetler, Wheelersburg (148-11)Payton Boyer, Patrick Henry (137-3)Girls long jumpLaMya Hicks, Willard (18-2.25)Gabby Lindsey, North Union (17-9)Boys shot putHunter Spangler, Liberty Center (64-9)Hayden Keith, Western Reserve (61-1.75)Boys high jumpJake Bouy, Margaretta (6-6)Brody Smith, Brookfield (6-5)Girls 3200Julia Wheeler, Southeast (10:46)Rylie Towns, Huron (10:48)Boys 3200Connor Bendo, Union Local (9:08)Nixon Snavely, Rock Hill (9:09)Division 5EventState championRunner-upGirls 4x800 relayMinster (9:13)Rittman (9:28)Boys 4x800 relayRidgedale (7:51)Cedarville (7:56)Boys long jumpTrevon Baxter, Columbus Grove (22-8.25)Carter Frater, McComb (22-8.25)Boys discusJackson Werling, Allen East (192-5)Aiden Ewald, Hopewell-Loudon (183-00)Girls shot putMeri Jackson, Lee. Fairfield (42-7.25)Nicole Nesby, Columbus Grove (42-2.25)Girls high jumpHazel Francis, Russia (5-6)Elisabeth Waltz, Troy Christian (5-5)Boys pole vaultLuke Schnieber, Cin. Country Day (17-5)Cade Shellhaas, Ansonia (16-0)Girls 3200Kaitlyn Carr, Smithville (10:52)Natalie Nixon, Ottawa Hills (10:59)Boys 3200Bennett Lehman, Ansonia (9:26)Beckett Legley, Mechanicsburg (9:29)OHSAA track & field state championship scheduleThe championships will now take place over four days due to the divisional expansion:Division 1: June 6 and 7Division 2: June 6 and 7Division 3: June 5 and 6Division 4: June 4 and 5Division 5: June 4 and 5The full event schedule can be found here.

LGBTQ Nation will be sharing your pictures of Pride throughout May and June. Submit your own if you want to be included! It’s been said by James Baldwin, Kurt Vonnegut, and the Whispers — in their chart-topping 1981 song — that “Love is where you find it.” For teenager Fiona Morris, it was in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Related Organizer of Omaha’s first Pride march in 1985 explains how much things have changed The military brat came out on her birthday at age 11 1/2 (“Yes, we celebrate the halves!” mom Lara tells LGBTQ Nation), while the family was stationed in a small, “oppressed” town in South Carolina. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “Not exactly the most welcoming place to live as your most authentic self, especially during those awkward adolescent years,” Fiona’s mom says. A while later, they were transferred to Texas, “quite possibly the worst U.S. state to live in as an LGBTQ+ person. To say those three years in Fort Worth were a challenge would be a huge understatement,” she shares. Then the family landed in Virginia. Lara picks up the story from there: “The summer before Fiona’s senior year, we were transferred to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. We had only been there a couple of weeks when we attended their Pride Fest at Town Point Park in Norfolk.” “This was one of the first times in her life that Fiona had been surrounded by this wonderful community founded in one simple belief: that love is love. Period.” “I still remember on the way to that Pride Fest, Elton John came on the radio, and I remarked on what an appropriate artist to be playing that day. She asked me why, and I said, ‘Well, he’s gay.'” “Fiona had no idea, and so I asked her if she knew what he looked like, and found a pic of him in one of the most flamboyant costumes ever. She simply shrugged and said, ‘I see the person and not their sexuality.'” “Mic drop.” “If we allow the younger generation to teach us how to be better humans,” Fiona’s mom says, “maybe the future isn’t as bleak as it seems.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

LOS ANGELES—Sending fans of Greek mythology into a frenzy on social media, The Odyssey director Christopher Nolan confirmed Friday that god of sky and thunder Zeus had landed a cameo role in the film as a Trojan soldier. “Yes, that was indeed the King of Gods that observant viewers spotted on the battlefield in the latest trailer,” said Nolan, adding that the supreme deity had instant chemistry with Matt Damon and Benny Safdie while filming his scene for the highly anticipated action epic. “Zeus and I have been friends since the early 2000s, when he reached out to tell me how much he enjoyed Memento. Then last year we were hanging out on set in Morocco, and he seemed interested in reliving the Trojan War, so I said, ‘What the heck, put a helmet on and get out there with your lightning bolt.’ The crew was a bit intimidated when he threatened to flood the world over a cue mishap, but he didn’t smite a single person.” At press time, sources confirmed Nolan had cut the cameo after deciding that renewed public scrutiny over Zeus’ extramarital affairs with nymphs, goddesses, and mortals would be a distraction from the film. The post Zeus Lands Cameo Role As Trojan Soldier In ‘The Odyssey’ appeared first on The Onion.

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DENVER, CO - JANUARY 25: Jonah Elliss #52 of the Denver Broncos looks on from the field during the AFC Championship NFL football game against the New England Patriots at Empower Field At Mile High on January 25, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images One of the big offseason talking points surrounding the Broncos was edge rusher Jonah Elliss potentially moving to inside linebacker. Head coach Sean Payton mentioned he would be “getting some snaps” at linebacker, but never really clarified what that meant. However, Sean Payton did meet with the media after the Broncos’ first OTA practice, which was open to them for the first time this offseason, and stated that Elliss would be staying at edge rusher after all. Jonah Elliss is staying at outside linebacker. May flex inside but Payton said “he’s doing too good outside.”— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) June 4, 2026Payton added that Jonah’s “home” will be on the outside, and that “he’s doing too good on the outside” to be moved. He did leave the door open for some inside work for Elliss, saying they could have some packages for him, but he’ll primarily be an edge rusher moving forward.So, with Elliss staying at edge rusher, this move impacts both the edge rusher and linebacker positions. At edge rusher, the group remains very deep with Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper as your starters and Elliss, second-year player Que Robinson, and Dondrea Tillman as your rotational/situational depth pieces. Elliss will likely remain the top reserve player, but I would keep an eye on Que Robinson, who flashed some real potential last season. Regardless, the Broncos have a deep and talented edge rushing group. As for the linebackers, we have a little more questions than answers. We do know that veterans Alex Singleton and Justin Strnad are your starters, but everything behind those two is up in the air. They did draft big hitting/force fumbling machine Red Murdock, but he was Mr. Irrelevant (the final pick in the draft), so he has to earn his spot on the roster. They also signed promising UDFA linebacker Taurean York, but he’s undersized and will need to prove he can survive in the NFL. Returning are second-year and former UDFA linebackers Jordan Turner and Karene Reid, as well as Levelle Bailey, who is entering his third training camp for the Broncos. So, they have some young developmental players at the position but lack true veteran depth, for now at least. I would anticipate the Broncos adding a veteran to this group before camp to provide some insurance at the position. Emptying out the notebook more from OTAs: thought Red Murdock looked great. Never saw him out of place and fit gaps really well, accidentally popped Michael Bandy on a slant. Taurean York drew some hurrahs in coverage on a rep too. #Broncos have some rookie ILB depth.— Luca Evans (@bylucaevans) June 4, 2026With that said, the rookie’s performance during these OTA and minicamp practices could impress the Broncos enough that they hold off on adding a veteran. It was just one non-padded OTA practice, but The Denver Post’s Luca Evans noted that rookie linebacker Red Murdock “looked great”. He added that he never saw him out of place, fit the gaps well, and may have accidentally popped wide receiver Michael Bandy a bit on a slant route. He also added that undrafted rookie Taurean York earned some “Hurrahs” in a coverage rep in practice as well. So, we will have to see how this position group plays out in the coming days, weeks, and months moving forward. At the end of the day, we know Jonah Elliss is staying primarily at edge rusher, and we are going to have a fun roster battle for the Broncos backup linebacker spots on their 53-man roster.

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell hit out at a “poor pitch” at Lord’s after Jacob Bethell was the victim of an unfortunate dismissal against New Zealand.England’s No 3 was bowled by a grubber from Matt Henry for 14, with Bethell blameless in falling to a ball that failed to get above even knee height.Low bounce had been a theme of a rain-interrupted first day, with the opening delivery of the Test not carrying through to Kiwi wicketkeeper Tom Blundell and several batters forced to lunge at balls that shot through.Three batters have now been bowled leaving on a pitch where judgement is tough as the first match of the series hastens towards a conclusion, with Bethell’s dismissal the most striking incident yet.“That's tough for Jacob Bethell, that's an absolute pea roller,” Tufnell said on BBC Test Match Special. “Good luck playing that, it rolled along. It's a poor pitch.”The outfield was relaid at Lord’s this winter, while attempts have been made to improve the condition of the square with a steaming technique previously used on the grass courts at Wimbledon.Tufnell’s colleague Michael Vaughan had been critical after 16 wickets fell in on a rain-abridged opening day.“It was a bit inconsistent in terms of bounce,” the former England captain said. “I have been royally entertained, with 16 wickets, but I don’t think it’s a good pitch. “The MCC would be the first to admit that something is not quite right with this square. It’s been an issue for a few years.”This is the first of three Tests at Lord’s this summer. England’s women play India at the ground in a one-off encounter in July, before the men host Pakistan from Thursday 27 August.

Start your countdown: The Green Bay Packers will open the 2026 regular season against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis in exactly 100 days. Today is Friday, June 5. Come Sunday, Sept. 13 at 3:25 p.m., the Packers will be back on the field playing a meaningful football game -- opening a highly anticipated 2026 season on the road against a rival in the NFC North.For reference: 100 days amounts to 8,640,000 seconds, or 144,000 minutes, or 2,400 hours.Fans need only wait. Players and coaches must utilize every available second to prep for another grueling regular season, especially coming off a season with such a disappointing finish and with expectations in Green Bay still as high as ever.There are still important dates to keep in mind over the next 100 days. The Packers have a mandatory minicamp in Green Bay between June 9-11, the start of training camp arrives in late July, Family Night is set for Saturday, Aug. 7 and the first preseason game is in Pittsburgh on Thursday, Aug. 13.Green Bay Packers 2026 regular season scheduleWeek 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings - Sunday, Sept. 13 (3:25 p.m.)Week 2: at New York Jets - Sunday, Sept. 20 (Noon)Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons - Thursday, Sept. 24 (7:15 p.m.)Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Sunday, Oct. 4 (Noon)Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears - Sunday, Oct. 11 (3:25 p.m.)Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys - Sunday, Oct. 18 (7:20 p.m.)Week 7: at Detroit Lions - Sunday, Oct. 25 (3:25 p.m.)Week 8: vs. Carolina Panthers - Thursday, Oct. 29 (7:15 p.m.)Week 9: at New England Patriots - Sunday, Nov. 8 (3:25 p.m.)Week 10: vs. Minnesota Vikings - Sunday, Nov. 15 (noon)Week 11: Bye weekWeek 12: at Los Angeles Rams - Wednesday, Nov. 25 (7:00 p.m.)Week 13: at New Orleans Saints - Sunday, Dec. 6 (noon)Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills - Sunday, Dec. 13 (7:20 p.m.)Week 15: vs. Miami Dolphins - Sunday, Dec. 20 (Noon)Week 16: at Chicago Bears - Friday, Dec. 25 (Noon)Week 17: vs. Houston Texans - Monday, Jan. 4 (7:25 p.m.)Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions, Jan. 9 or Jan. 10 (TBD)All times listed CentralThis article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Start the countdown: Packers open 2026 regular season in 100 days

Serena Williams stepped away from tennis in 2022 but she's stepping back in this week as a doubles competitor at the HSBC Championships. The tournament, held at the Queen's Club in London, runs from June 8-14, and Williams is entered in the doubles draw with Canadian Victoria Mboko at the WTA 500 grass-court event. On the singles side, expect to see Marta Kostyuk, Diana Shnaider and Iva Jovic, all fresh off their impressive runs at the French Open.You can catch every match of the HSBC Championships on the Tennis Channel. Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the 2026 HSBC Championships, including streaming information, live broadcast schedule, and more.How to watch the 2026 HSBC Championships tennis tournament:Dates: June 8-14, 2026Location: The Queen's Club, LondonChannel: Tennis ChannelStreaming:Fubo, DirecTV, and more When is the 2026 HSBC Championships? The HSBC Championships run from June 8-14, 2026. What channel is the 2026 HSBC Championships on?The 2026 HSBC Championships will be be broadcast on the Tennis Channel.Where to stream the 2026 HSBC Championships:The Tennis Channel is available to stream on platforms like Fubo and DirecTV.2026 HSBC Championships Broadcast ScheduleAll times Eastern. All listings below will be on the Tennis Channel and the Tennis Channel app unless otherwise noted.TBDMore ways to watch the 2026 HSBC Championships

Traverse City Central senior pitcher Piper Cavanaugh was named the 2025-26 Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year on Friday, June 5.Ranked No. 41 nationally by Softball America, Cavanaugh is a 5-foot-11 Oregon commit who has helped lead the Trojans to a 33-3 record and a chance to win a Division 1 regional title Saturday. Traverse City Central faces Saginaw Heritage in a regional semifinal at Mount Pleasant High School.The right-hander is 19-0 with a 0.41 ERA, 244 strikeouts and four walks in 102 innings. At the plate, she's batting .593 with 51 RBIs, 57 runs, nine home runs and a .633 on-base percentage.“Her presence changes matchups and strategy, and she’s the type of athlete opponents have to account for every inning,” Traverse City West coach Brandi Reynolds said in a statement. “She’s the kind of complete player you don’t see very often.”Cavanaugh carries a 3.99 weighted GPA and volunteers as a student athletic trainer at her school and pitching instructor for a 12U travel softball team.She becomes the 23rd player in the past 27 years to earn the award in Michigan. Gatorade honors one athlete from each state and Washington DC, in 12 sports, recognizing 610 athletes annually. The Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee chooses one national winner in each sport with input from coaches, scouts, media members and other experts.Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year winners since 19992026 - Piper Cavanaugh, pitcher, Traverse City Central2025 - Kaitlyn Pallozzi, pitcher/first baseman, Farmington Hills Mercy2024 - Aubrey Jones, shortstop/pitcher, Gaylord2023 - Reganne Bennett, pitcher/first baseman, Novi2022 - Ava Bradshaw, pitcher, South Lyon2021 - Kali Heivilin, shortstop, Three Rivers2020 - Gabi Salo, pitcher, Escanaba2019 - Lauren Esman, pitcher/outfielder/first baseman, Richland Gull Lake2018 - Jenny Bressler, pitcher/infielder, Plymouth2017 - Meghan Beaubien, pitcher, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central2016 - Meghan Beaubien, pitcher, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central2015 - Meghan Beaubien, pitcher, Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central2014 - Taylor Weaver, pitcher, Romeo2013 - Alyssa Huntley, pitcher, Sterling Heights Stevenson2012 - Briana Combs, pitcher, Livonia Ladywood2011 - Sara Driesenga, pitcher/first baseman, Hudsonville2010 - Sara Driesenga, pitcher/first baseman, Hudsonville2009 - Sara Driesenga, pitcher/first baseman, Hudsonville2008 - Jenna Ignowski, pitcher, Niles2007 - Amanda Chidester, catcher, Allen Park Cabrini2006 - Nicole Nemitz, pitcher/first baseman, Warren Regina2005 - Jessie Granger, pitcher, Troy2004 - Jessie Granger, pitcher, Troy2003 - Jill DeRoache, pitcher/first baseman, Brighton2002 - Ashley Smith, catcher, Portage Northern2001 - Jessica Merchant, shortstop, Wayland Union2000 - Jessica Beech, pitcher/shortstop, Okemos1999 - Robyn Golden, shortstop, BellevilleBrandon Folsom covers high school sports in metro Detroit for Hometown Life and the Detroit Free Press. Follow him on his new X.com account at @folsomwrites.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Piper Cavanaugh named Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year

In this photo released by the Roscongress Foundation, Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan arrive to attend a plenary session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Friday, June 5, 2026. (Vyacheslav Viktorov/Roscongress Foundation via AP)2026-06-05T14:15:51Z ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that developing countries have gained an increasingly important role in the global economy, while the share of output by Western countries has shrunk.In a speech to the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin accused the West of undermining the global economy and finances with unilateral sanctions.By freezing Russian assets abroad, Western nations eroded trust in their own currencies, he said.“The sanctions and blocking of Russia’s sovereign reserves have irreversibly impacted the standing of international currencies, the dollar and the euro,” he said. “Just like Russia, any other country could lose access to their legitimate assets in dollars or euros, as well as Western financial and payment systems.”He alleged that high state debt had helped undermine global trust in Western institutions. “The roots of the current global turbulence lie in the transition from a vertical, hierarchical model, which served the interests of a small number of states, to a more complex, distributed and multipolar one,” Putin said. “Russia views global changes not only as a threat but also as immense opportunities. And to capitalize on them, we aim to act swiftly and pragmatically.” The forum comes at a time when Russia’s economic outlook has clouded amid the conflict in Ukraine. The government raised taxes and increased domestic borrowing to keep its budget deficit under control. Read More On Thursday, Putin told heads of international media at a question-and-answer session that it was an exaggeration to say Russia’s economy was struggling. He noted that his government had taken deliberate steps to cool the economy to keep inflation under control.Putin has used the St. Petersburg forum, likened to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to showcase his country’s economic advances and encourage foreign investment. While Western officials and business leaders have stayed away after Putin sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, Russia has sought guests from elsewhere to underline its declared goal of promoting a “multipolar world.” Saudi Arabia sent a large delegation this year, and the presidents of Uzbekistan and Tanzania and vice president of China also are present. A U.S. official, Rodney Mims Cook Jr., head of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, is attending for the first time in years.Also on Thursday, he acknowledged damaging Ukrainian drone attacks inside Russia and pledged to bolster its defenses.“To our regret, some of them break through,” Putin told the media session in talking about the drone strikes. “Russia has an air defense system, we need to improve it, strengthen it, and we will do that.”Hours before the forum opened on Wednesday, a Ukrainian drone attack set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and also hit a nearby naval base.Putin said Russia is open for a compromise on Ukraine in line with understandings reached at his last year’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska, adding that Ukraine needs to accept them to make a deal to end the conflict, now in its fifth year. On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed face-to-face negotiations in a public letter addressed directly to Putin. Zelenskyy acknowledged shifting U.S. priorities, saying it would be wrong to wait for the U.S. to return its attention to Ukraine while it remains heavily focused on the Iran war.In Washington, Trump said it “would be great” if Putin and Zelenskyy meet.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin hadn’t seen the letter yet and repeated his statement that Zelenskyy could come to Moscow if he wants talks, an offer that Zelenskyy pointedly rejected. Putin said last month he doesn’t exclude a meeting in a third country, but only when there is a deal to sign.Speaking Thursday, Putin again rejected Zelenskyy’s push for an immediate ceasefire, arguing that Moscow wants a comprehensive settlement, not a temporary truce.“Naturally, the Ukrainian side would like us to suspend the advances made by Russian troops,” he said. “But it would be better to end the war by agreeing to the compromises that were discussed in Anchorage.”

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[BBC]The 2026 World Cup held across the United States, Canada and Mexico is already a record-breaking tournament.With 48 teams, it is comfortably the largest World Cup in history, introducing a 50% increase from the 32 teams that have participated since the 1998 World Cup in France.But there are plenty more records that could be broken this year, including the most minutes played, most individual goals and most team goals.Here is a look at some of the current World Cup record holders and how their place in the history books could be affected in the coming weeks.Which nation has won the most World Cups?Lionel Messi holds the record for the most World Cup minutes played - and could become the all-time World Cup top scorer this summer [Getty Images]In the 96-year history of the men's Fifa World Cup, just eight nations have won the tournament. Of those eight, six have done it multiple times.Brazil hold the record for most World Cup wins with five, emerging victorious in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.Germany and Italy are the next most successful nations with four trophies each. Three of Germany's wins were as West Germany, prior to the national teams of West and East Germany merging after the 1990 World Cup.Defending champions Argentina have three World Cups to their name, while France and Uruguay have two tournament wins each.England and Spain are the only winners that are one-time champions.The full list of World Cup winners by year is as follows:1930 - Uruguay1934 - Italy1938 - Italy1950 - Uruguay1954 - West Germany1958 - Brazil1962 - Brazil1966 - England1970 - Brazil1974 - West Germany1978 - Argentina1982 - Italy1986 - Argentina1990 - West Germany1994 - Brazil1998 - France2002 - Brazil2006 - Italy2010 - Spain2014 - Germany2018 - France2022 - ArgentinaWhich nations and players have the most World Cup goals?Former Germany striker Miroslav Klose holds the record for the most goals in World Cup history.Klose scored 16 times in his 24 World Cup matches, holding the record by a single goal.Former Brazil forward Ronaldo ranks in second place with 15 goals from 19 games. Gerd Muller, whose international career was spent representing West Germany, is third with 14 World Cup goals from just 13 appearances.Current Argentine forward Lionel Messi is joint fourth on 13 goals, alongside former France striker Just Fontaine.Real Madrid and France's Kylian Mbappe is joint sixth. Both he and Brazil's three-time World Cup winner Pele have 12 goals each.Messi and Mbappe are the only players who have a realistic chance of overtaking Klose this summer. The duo were the leading two scorers at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with seven and eight goals respectively.Eighth and ninth on the list are Sandor Kocsis (Hungary) and Jurgen Klinsmann (West Germany/Germany) with 11 goals each.In terms of goals scored by nations at the tournament, Brazil rank top, sitting five goals clear with 237.Germany are in second place with 232 World Cup goals, 80 ahead of third-placed Argentina who have netted 152 times in the competition.France (136), Italy (128), Spain (108) and England (104) are the only other nations with more than 100 goals.Netherlands (96), Uruguay (89) and Hungary (87) complete the top 10 highest goalscoring nations at the tournament.Who holds the record for most World Cup minutes played?He is still chasing the record for most World Cup goals, but Lionel Messi is already the current record holder for most World Cup minutes played.Across 26 World Cup matches, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has played 2,314 minutes. That is 98 minutes more than the next highest, former Italy defender Paolo Maldini, a runner-up in 1994.German midfield great Lothar Matthaus, a World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner in 1990, is the only other player to have played more than 2,000 career World Cup minutes (2,045).Uwe Seeler, a West Germany striker between 1954 and 1970, sits fourth on the list with 1,980 minutes played. Argentina's Javier Mascherano (1,950) and Diego Maradona (1,940) rank fifth and sixth respectively.Former Germany defender Philipp Lahm (1,920) ranks seventh, while Hugo Lloris (France) and Wladislaw Zmuda and Grzegorz Lato (both Poland) make up the remainder of the top 10.This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.More questions answered...How many World Cup shirts might not be worn in matches?Which clubs have the most players at the 2026 World Cup?What are the deadlines for World Cup squads?Who has qualified for next season's Champions League?

[BBC]The answer is not a straightforward yes or no.Known for its grandeur, Monaco has always been an iconic track since its first race in 1929, with rows of yachts along the harbour and a star-studded guest list in attendance.It is considered one of motorsport's triple crown events - an unofficial achievement - along with the Indianapolis 500 and Le Mans. Three different, but equally challenging races, and steeped in a rich history.In recent years, however, there have been discussions on whether the streets of Monte Carlo have made for a stagnant track, although a contest drivers still want to win."This is really boring... I should've brought my pillow," said four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen after finishing sixth in the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.The circuit is a unique challenge for drivers, with roads around the principality narrow with tight turns and a tunnel.With modern cars now much larger, this makes overtaking difficult.Saturday's qualifying is considered the most exciting part of the weekend as the race classification is deemed a foregone conclusion as the track averages just 10 overtakes per race, the lowest of any track in the last 10 years.The 83rd staging of the Monaco Grand Prix will take place from 5-7 June in 2026.It has been on the calendar since F1 began in 1950, becoming a permanent fixture from 1955, other than during the Covid-affected 2020 season.The Monaco Grand Prix has been on the Formula 1 calendar since 1950. [Getty Images]What happened to the mandatory two-stop?The mandatory two-stop rule for Monaco, introduced in 2025, has been scrapped.The Monte Carlo race will revert back to the regular rules of using a minimum of two different tyres - and at least one pit stop.A mandatory two-stop rule was included in 2025 in an effort to add excitement to the 78-lap event.However, it was straightforward for the top three as McLaren's Lando Norris controlled the race from start to finish to win ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and team-mate Oscar Piastri.The strategy change was introduced after the 2024 race had just four overtakes, in a race where Leclerc converted pole position to a race victory.The 2023's edition saw 22 overtakes because of rain, while in 2022 there were 13 on wet tarmac.'Be patient. Races can be thrilling, too'The Monaco Grand Prix is a lot of things - historic, spectacular, gaudy, even perhaps a little distasteful in its glamorisation of ostentatious wealth.But boring?Yes the race can be processional, because overtaking is so difficult. In recent years, it's become fashionable to blame the size and width of the cars. But it has always been thus, certainly in at least the last 40 or so years.Watching a driver thread the needle through the streets of Monaco, pushing the limits, shaving the barriers is an all-time great sporting experience.And the race? Well, they can be slow burn. But be patient. Sometimes they can be thrilling, too, in their own way.What have drivers said?Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso has described Monaco as "unique and the best moments of the season"."Maybe only Sunday is the bad day," he added. "There is not much you can do. It could be a little bit boring as well, you just need to bring the car home and things like that.Brit Lando Norris said: "It has never been the most exciting race, it's not a great Sunday so I wouldn't put it [as the] biggest race of the year".But he also admitted it is "one you want to win".Norris added: "It has been like this since Monaco started. It is just people in the world that are more stubborn nowadays and they get frustrated there is not an overtake. Monaco is still special, it still means just as much as it always has for every driver and every team member."Williams driver Alex Albon said: "It's more just about Saturday though. I think that's what makes it special. When you think about qualifying laps, it's not so much of a Sunday race for the drivers. It's more focusing on Saturday and when you deliver those laps in qualifying, with the adrenaline in your body, that's pretty cool."Risk of being dropped from the calendar?Known for its history in F1, the Monaco Grand Prix has extended its contract with Formula 1 until at least 2035.Officials did previously consider dropping the grand prix after the race's contract was due to end in 2025 - but agreed a six-year deal in 2024.This new contract is a four-year extension of the existing deal, which ran until 2031.The race faced criticism as it was not matching the speed and excitement of the other 23 circuits, so officials sought solutions.In February 2025, it was announced drivers must make at least two pit stops during the race "with the primary intent of improving the sporting spectacle".Another issue was Monaco was the only race where a local television company directed the pictures that were televised to the world.There were notable differences between how the race was covered, compared to how Formula One Management TV produced the other 23 races. This changed in 2023, the year prior to Monaco announcing its extension.The Monaco Grand Prix will move from its traditional date on the last weekend in May to the first full weekend in June from 2026."The streets of Monte Carlo are unique and a famous part of Formula 1, and the Monaco Grand Prix remains a race that all drivers dream of winning," said F1 president and chief executive Stefano Domenicali.This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team.More questions answered...How does F1 measure photo finishes?How does Formula 1 points scoring work?F1's 11th team - who are Cadillac?

Vanderbilt basketball is set to take on Notre Dame in both men's and women's basketball in the 2026 ACC/SEC Challenge in December, the league announced June 5.The women will host the Irish at Memorial Gymnasium on Dec. 3 in a rematch of the Sweet 16 game between the two in 2026, which Notre Dame won. Key players from both teams will return, including Mikayla Blakes, Aubrey Galvan and Hannah Hidalgo. Both players were conference players of the year in 2026, with Blakes being the SEC Player of the Year and Hidalgo capturing the ACC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. It was the first Sweet 16 appearance for Vanderbilt since 2009.The men will travel to South Bend for a matchup at Purcell Pavilion on Dec. 2. Notre Dame did not make the NCAA Tournament in 2026, finishing with a 13-18 season. Vanderbilt made it to the second round of the tournament, where it lost to Nebraska. The Commodores will return star guard Tyler Tanner with a slate of transfers headlined by Ace Glass from Washington State and Sebastian Williams-Adams from Auburn.Game times and TV info will be released at a later date.Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt basketball to face Notre Dame men, women in ACC/SEC Challenge

COLUMBIA — The ACC-SEC Challenge started just three years ago but for the second time, South Carolina women's basketball and Duke are paired up. South Carolina will travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium on Dec. 3 as part of the cross-conference challenge, the program announced June 5. Game times and TV channels will be announced at a later date. The challenge was introduced for the 2023-24 season. South Carolina played UNC on the road the first year, Duke at home the second, Louisville on the road last year and now will play Duke on the road. This also marks the fourth straight season South Carolina is playing Duke. Coach Dawn Staley is currently 8-1 against the Blue Devils, which includes the last six straight. Her lone loss to the program was in 2016. South Carolina women's basketball 2026-27 scheduleSchedule news is slowly rolling out for the 2026-27 season but it was announced last fall that the Gamecocks will open the season against Maryland on Nov. 2 in Paris. They will also play North Carolina in the Ally Tipoff in November in Charlotte but the exact date hasn't been announced. On the same note, they are also set to return to the Players Era Championships Tournament but the date is unknown as of June. Nov. 2: vs. Maryland in Paris, France (neutral site) Nov. 15: vs. Southern Cal in Greenville, South Carolina (neutral site) Nov. 24: vs. UConn at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut (neutral site) Dec. 3: at DukeSouth Carolina men's basketball ACC-SEC Challenge 2026The men will play NC State on Dec. 1 in the Lenovo Center for its ACC-SEC Challenge. Last season, coach Lamont Paris and the Gamecocks hosted Virginia Tech.Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at LKesin@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X@Lulukesin and Bluesky‪@bylulukesin.bsky.social‬This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina women's basketball at Duke in ACC-SEC Challenge in 2026-27

Lady Vols basketball will play against some familiar faces in the SEC/ACC Challenge during the 2026-27 season.Tennessee will travel to Virginia Tech on Dec. 3. Former Lady Vols Alyssa Latham and Lauren Hurst both transferred to the Hokies after Tennessee's 2025-26 season ended in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.The Lady Vols haven't played Virginia Tech since the 2022-23 season, when they faced them twice. Tennessee lost 59-56 in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 4, 2022 before losing 73-64 to the Hokies in the NCAA Sweet 16 on March 25, 2023. Tennessee is 8-4 all time against Virginia Tech, and the Hokies have won four of the last five matchups going back to the 2015-16 season.The Lady Vols are 2-1 all-time in the SEC/ACC Challenge, which began in 2023-24. Tennessee lost 74-69 to Notre Dame in 2023-24 before beating Florida State 79-77 in 2024-25 and winning 65-62 at Stanford last season.Tennessee will also play at Coppin State on Nov. 5 this season, according to the Lady Vols' online schedule. They also have matchups with Baylor on Dec. 18 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, at Belmont, against UConn on the road and home matchups against UCLA and MTSU.The Lady Vols lost every single returning player to the transfer portal this offseason, and coach Kim Caldwell had to rebuild her roster from scratch. Tennessee added 13 transfers to complete its roster with two incoming freshmen.Cora Hall is the University of Tennessee women’s athletics reporter for Knox News. Email: cora.hall@knoxnews.com; X: @corahalll; Bluesky: @corahall.bsky.social‬. Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks:knoxnews.com/subscribeThis article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee vs Virginia Tech with Alyssa Latham, Lauren Hurst in SEC/ACC Challenge

Scientists and U.S. military briefers have linked short, widespread interference incidents to Russia, revealing vulnerabilities in a technology essential to everyday society.

The president’s base is thought to be unmovable. But one-third of these voters say they are unhappy about certain issues and are not knee-jerk loyalists.

Serena Williams’ return to tennis won’t just be limited to the HSBC Championships. Williams has also committed to playing in the 2026 Berlin Open, which will take place shortly after the HSBC Championships end.It’s unclear whether Williams will participate in singles or doubles matches at the Berlin Open.Williams made waves Monday, when she announced she would return to tennis after years away from the sport. Williams, now 44, only confirmed she was taking part in the HBSC Championships in her announcement, leaving some uncertainty about the nature of her comeback. With Williams committing to the 2026 Berlin Open, it appears she intends to play in multiple events ahead of Wimbledon … where it’s possible she’ll make her Grand Slam return. This story will be updated.

St. Xavier baseball's all-time steals leader Dillon Brus put his elite baserunning skills on display Thursday night to propel the Bombers to a regional championship over Oak Hills.His hustle was responsible for two of the Bombers runs needed to top a tough Highlanders team 6-5. After an RBI triple, he hit a single, stole his 35th and 36th bases on the season and scored a run on a Brayden Bricking RBI.What may have been more unexpected was how the senior outfielder kept his composure during an interview with The Enquirer's Chase Souder.Every teammate, short one, put his medal around his neck while he talked. "I felt bad, I ended the interview one medal short of him having every single one," Souder said. Still, he had an impressive, clutch performance delivering his interview.To Brus, however, all his teammates played a key part of the day."Everybody played their part today," Brus told Souder. "These are all brothers, and there's nobody else I'd rather do it with."This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: St. X baseball team showers player with medals in hilarious video

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 18: Spencer Jones #78 of the New York Yankees looks on before the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on May 18, 2026 in New York, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images In light of Aaron Judge’s stress fracture in his right rib, the Yankees will be without their captain and three-time AL MVP for at least four-to-six weeks. It will probably be longer than that.So, with Giancarlo Stanton and Jasson Domínguez still not ready to return from their respective injuries, the organization decided to call up fellow outfielder Spencer Jones from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace Judge on the roster. Jack Curry of the YES Network was the first to report the news.Jones, who opened the year with the RailRiders, was promoted by the Yankees on May 8th to fill in for Domínguez, who was heading to the injured list following his collision with left-field wall at Yankee Stadium. By that point, Jones was slashing a cool .258/.366/.592 with 11 homers, 41 RBI, and seven stolen bases in his first 142 trips to the plate in Scranton this year.The 2022 first-rounder’s time in the majors wasn’t particularly productive, though, as he hit just .167/.259/.167 with no home runs and a 44.4-percent strikeout rate in 27 plate appearances. He was optioned back to Triple-A on May 21st when José Caballero returned from his own minor injury.Circumstances have forced the Yankees’ hand again, as they are now without Judge, Stanton, and Domínguez. Jones will get another chance to prove that he can conquer his demons and produce enough with the bat to mitigate the strikeouts — though with Domínguez about to go on a rehab assignment, the clock could already be ticking.Jones had posted a .919 OPS in 10 games in Triple-A since being optioned in late May. By now, it’s pretty clear that he can produce in the upper minors: for the year, he boasts a .269/.378/.571 line with 13 home runs, nine stolen bases, 48 RBI, and a 143 wRC+ in 43 games and 185 trips to the plate.The challenge, for Jones, will be replicating this production at the highest level, against better, more experienced pitchers ready to exploit the holes in his swing. The strikeout rate will never be pretty, but we have seen many players succeed with contact issues. It’s just about finding a better approach at the plate to cut down on them to at least palatable levels.Jones figures to play a lot against right-handers, with the Yankees being so short-handed at the moment. He can play center field, which could go a long way in improving the team’s outfield defense. Jones will have to hit enough to justify his playing time, though. If this whiffs are still too prominent, we may see more of Caballero and Max Schuemann flanking Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger in the outfield instead until Domínguez returns.

Pisilli: “I don’t see why I should leave Roma.”Niccolò Pisilli’s Italy team continues preparations at Coverciano ahead of Sunday’s friendly against Greece. The Roma midfielder, born in 2004, spoke at a press conference from the Azzurri’s training camp. The 2004-born player addressed several topics, starting with the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Cup. His words: “What happened is clear for all to see; it was a huge disappointment. We all wanted to play in the World Cup. On the pitch, we gave everything we had, but then a series of incidents and circumstances affected the match. The team, however, was 100% focused on the objective.” And regarding the future, he said: “The next step is Greece; I’m not thinking about the rest. Then I’ll rest and be 100% focused on restarting next season. As everyone knows, I have a special bond with Roma, with the team, and with the fans; everyone knows that. I don’t understand why I should leave Roma.”Pisilli also spoke about his growth thanks to Gian Piero Gasperini: “This year has been special for me. I didn’t have much playing time at the start, but I always tried to train well and follow Coach Gasperini’s instructions. Then, in December, I had a few opportunities and I was good at taking advantage of them. I found consistency, the team started getting results, and then the season ended on a high note.”

ATHENS – The Fairfield Union baseball team is headed to the state tournament for the first time in 40 years.The Falcons certainly earned it. Down 2-0 in the seventh inning against Richmond Edison, Fairfield Union scored two runs to force extra innings and then was able to plate three runs in the top of the 10th inning to pull out a thrilling 5-2 victory to win the Division IV regional championship on Thursday, June 4, at Ohio University’s Bob Wren Stadium.The Falcons (24-6) advance to the Final Four and will face Middletown Bishop Fenwick at 1 p.m. June 13 at 7 17 Credit Union Field in Akron.More: Behind Silcott’s gem, Fairfield Union headed to the regional title gameThe 10th inning started when Alex Burke led off with a double. After an out, Brady Andrews laid down a perfect bunt for a hit, bringing up Dylan Chilcote, who hit a shot in left center field that scored both runners to take a 4-2 lead, and later in the inning, the Falcons added another run on a sacrifice fly. Chilcote also had the walk-off hit during the Falcons’ 2-1, eight-inning district championship win.The seventh-inning rally began when Cody Andrew and Braxton Rowles led off with back-to-back singles, and Eli Hedge reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Ashton Waldrop walked to force in a run, and Rowles tied it by scoring on a wild pitch.Cody Andrews and Hedges led the Falcons with two hits each.Joe Blankenship pitched one inning and was relieved by Eli Wolfe, who pitched the final nine innings to pick up the win. He gave up two runs, 11 hits, and struck out four.Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X at twil2323.This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Fairfield Union baseball secures first state tournament bid since 1986

K-pop fans are well-known as a force to be reckoned with on the internet, with some fans holding fierce allegiances and passions when it comes to specific artists.. On social media, some obsessive fans are using generative AI to create what is essentially self-insert fan-fiction—creepy videos and images of themselves kissing, cuddling and getting various kinds of lovey-dovey with their favorite idols. The result is a contemporary, tech-powered mutation of idol culture that takes fan art to new extremes, and many people in K-pop fan communities are understandably pretty upset about it.Users on Reddit and various K-pop forums have expressed outrage at these deepfake fantasies, calling on other fans to report those who use AI tools to generate nonconsensual videos of their K-Pop heartthrobs. In one thread on the K-pop Uncensored subreddit, a user posted redacted screenshots from an AI-generated video by another fan showing themselves being hugged and kissed on the cheek by Keonho from the boy group CORTIS, who is a minor. “Some fans may think it's harmless but if you tolerate this, you're opening doors to much worse things in the future,” Reddit user wbu_lizzie wrote in the thread. “The idols didn't consent to this, they are real people living their lives, not a bunch of wattpad / ao3 characters.”“People have been cutting and pasting these kind[s] of things forever but the more realistic the images get the more dicey it gets psychologically,” wrote user Goldie_Prawn, in another thread on K-pop Uncensored calling out AI usage. “I think even with traditional photoshop the work and skill required gives some level of mental buffer to the creator that isn't there with AI.” Dr. Sarah Keith, a professor at MacQuarie University in Australia who has done extensive research on K-pop fandom, says that the AI deepfake videos come from a long legacy of fan-created content that goes far beyond the world of K-pop. Fan fiction and art have always been an essential component of fan culture, and while these creations often skirt the boundaries of copyright, they are generally not viewed as creepy or exploitative. But with the advent of generative AI tools that can quickly create realistic images and videos of real people, Silicon Valley has built a technical workaround for the law and the social norms of consent.“K-pop fans (like all pop culture fans) have long been active producers of fan materials about their preferred idols. However, these to date have not been 'convincing' as artefacts that might have involved the idol themselves,” Keith told 404 Media. “It's a parallel issue involving both fans and AI tools. Because of these two factors, there is now an increased facility for fans to create large volumes of content, which do not respect the idols' personal integrity, and which can be distributed online in ways that undermine the idols' reputation (e.g. sexualized deepfakes).”While many fans spoke out against these creepy behaviors, others pointed the blame at the K-pop industry’s business model that encourages parasocial fandom while exploiting many artists and fans alike.“This is a sad side effect of an industry that for years [has] pushed parasocial relationships on their fans,” wrote Serious-Wish4868, in a thread on r/kpopthoughts about the AI-powered sexualization of idols. “When idols and companies are constantly pushing you to live out your romantic and sexual fantasies with idols in everything they do from social media posts to live interactions, what do [you] expect to happen?”But some of the entertainment agencies that manage K-pop artists, called companies—and the artists themselves—have expressed they’re not happy about the situation either. Members of hugely popular K-pop groups like BTS and Tomorrow X Together have spoken out against the use of generative AI to create digital simulacra using artists’ likenesses. In March, OA Entertainment, a label founded by and representing Blackpink member Jennie, warned in a press statement that it would begin taking “strong legal action, including civil and criminal proceedings, against any acts that infringe upon the artist’s reputation, rights, portrait rights, and other intellectual property rights.” The statement came in response to harassment and stalking incidents involving the artists, and heavily implied the issue of AI-generated content without naming it explicitly.At the same time, many of these idol talent companies are embracing generative AI tools as a vehicle for cutting costs throughout the industry. SM Entertainment, one of the biggest labels in Korea which represents major acts like Girls Generation and Super Junior, has described generative AI integration as a core part of its business strategy, and last year it released a fully AI-generated music video for the girl group Aespa. And last December, the K-pop world saw the launch of a fully synthetic idol group called GLXE (pronounced “galaxy”), which combines AI-generated songs with uncanny AI avatars. “They'd automate the whole industry if they could make money,” Lindsey Knuth, a K-pop fan and associate editor at Tangle News, told 404 Media. “Pornographic deepfakes of minor idols is an issue, as is the industry's (lack of) response, to me.”The cultural tolerance for fan-generated AI slop varies depending on region and context. South Korea currently ranks number one in consumption of AI slop content, as the country’s tech industry pushes adoption and cultural acceptance of the technology. In the US, however, polling consistently shows that the majority of young people have extremely negative opinions of AI tools and AI-generated content—and are becoming more and more anti-AI as jobs, schools, and institutions pressure or force them to use it.Keith notes that while labels and talent companies have always been very active in protecting artists and their reputations, they only do so from the perspective of protecting an investment. Fans, on the other hand, generally tend to be more emotionally invested and likely to defend idols as human beings, both from creepy fans and from the companies themselves.And like with AI and tech more generally, the lack of technical or legal safeguards against the technology’s many well-documented harms has made social shaming one of the only effective deterrents against abusive behavior in the K-pop world.“It's reassuring that many fans are openly calling out non-consensual uses of AI and deepfakes, because in the absence of technical guardrails on this kind of content, social acceptability is really what's important,” said Keith. “So yes, it is reassuring that many active fans online are building a culture of respect where idols' likenesses are not used in non-consensual ways.”

Como After Sassuolo, Liverpool and Real Madrid StarsComo are looking for players grown in Italy to help with the UEFA Champions League list and, while the future of Nico Paz has yet to be decided, they are concocting more business with Real Madrid.According to Sky, the Lariani have shown interest in Tarik Muharemovic. Inter have cooled off on him. They saw mostly as an Alessandro Bastoni replacement. However, his price tag is prohibitive.Per TuttoSport (via Calciomercato Magazine), Como and Napoli have been offered Federico Chiesa, who seems ready to end his tough Liverpool sojourn. The Reds could let him go for €15M, but his salary is high for their standards.Instead, the Biancoblù will have an easier time signing Luca Pellegrini. He’s on his way out since Lazio will lean on Nuno Tavares and newcomer Alfonso Pedraza at the position. The Italian fullback is being followed by a few Serie A sides.The Lariani are waiting in the wings for Real Madrid’s election and José Mourinho’s decision on Paz. The player wouldn’t mind staying for one more season, La Gazzetta dello Sport relays. The dealings with Real Madrid could expand to Gonzalo Garcia, who bagged 8 goals in 39 games in a part-time role last season, Thiago Pitarch, and Cesar Palacios, who turned heads with the Castilla team.Our Take on ComoIf Muharemovic is too expensive even for them, which don’t really have a budget but just judge the players’ valuations and decide whether it’s worth it, then he can only go to a Premier League team or Juventus, as they have a 50 percent discount because of a resale clause. It’d be nice if they added Italian in prominent roles and not just to fill out the squad and comply with the regulations.

Inter at a crossroads, but Stankovic stay unlikely despite 23m dealInter have re-signed Aleksandar Stankovic from Club Brugge for €23m, but Gazzetta reports that the midfielder’s stay at San Siro remains unlikely as the Nerazzurri are prepared to receive €40m offers from the Bundesliga and the Premier League.Serbian midfielder Stankovic, son of ex-Inter star Dejan, has returned to Inter from Club Brugge as the fresh Serie A champions have activated their option to re-sign the 20-year-old for €23m.Will Stankovic stay at Inter in 2026-27?Stankovic spent the 2025-26 campaign on loan in Belgium, scoring nine goals and providing five assists in 55 appearances across all competitions, attracting interest from several clubs across Europe.As already reported in May, Stankovic’s agent has been informed about interest from Premier League clubs that are ready to bid €40m to sign the promising central midfielder.Aleksandar Stankovic returns to Inter from Club BruggeStankovic is a product of the Inter academy and has already worked under Cristian Chivu in the Nerazzurri’s Primavera team in 2022-23, alongside Francesco Pio Esposito.Gazzetta reports that Chivu would gladly test Stankovic during the pre-season, so the midfielder’s stay at Inter remains a possibility.OSAKA, JAPAN – JULY 27: Aleksandar Stankovic of FC Internazionale in action during the pre-season friendly match between FC Internazionale and Al-Nassr at Yanmar Stadium Nagai on July 27, 2023 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Kenta Harada/Getty Images)At the same time, however, the Nerazzurri are aware that they’ll likely receive big-money offers for the 20-year-old this summer, particularly from England and Germany’s Bundesliga.Gazzetta notes that Inter are open to selling Stankovic for €40m, so it’s currently unlikely that the Serbia international will remain at San Siro beyond the summer.MILAN, ITALY – MAY 17: Lautaro Martinez of FC Internazionale Milano lifts the Coppa Campioni d’Italia trophy following the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Hellas Verona FC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Last week, the Yahoo Fantasy Football gang went over their biggest risers of the NFL offseason going into the 2026 season. This Friday, Matt Harmon, Joel Smyth, Justin Boone and Scott Pianowski are looking at their biggest fallers so far this offseason, players who have seen their stock take a significant hit. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL seasonMalik Nabers, WR, GiantsI'll take the layup line here and say that based on everything we've learned about Nabers' recovery from a torn ACL and meniscus that required a second cleanup surgery earlier this year, he has to be tumbling down the receiver rankings. In an offseason full of nothing but negative headlines about his timeline, Nabers' new head coach, John Harbaugh, noted it was "not a simple knee [injury]" in a late-May update on what he called the "slog" and "the grind" of his rehab. The long story short here is that, as we sit here in early June, I'd be pleasantly surprised if we see Nabers on the field in the Giants' Week 1 game vs. the Cowboys on Sunday Night Football on Sept. 13. Frankly, and I hope I'm wrong to be this alarmed, I'm just not sure we can expect Nabers to be at the peak of his powers until 2027, or end of this regular season at the earliest. I get that his ceiling is quite high and he could be healthy for the critical fantasy stretch run. However, the receiver position is just so deep and an active, but not fully himself, version of Nabers won't be the same WR1 he was in 2024. Especially now that the Giants have changed offensive philosophies and added more competition. My guess is that someone else will always be more daring to bet on the dream outcome for what happens after waiting on Nabers to get back on the field than I will this year. I hope I'm wrong and they are right. — Matt HarmonRJ Harvey, RB, BroncosThe fantasy offseason technically began in Week 18 of the 2025 season. From Week 11 to Week 17, RJ Harvey was on top of the world without J.K. Dobbins, averaging 15.3 FPPG as a fantasy RB1. However, from Week 18 to the end of the Broncos' playoff run, Harvey fell to 6.9 FPPG with his under 50 rushing yards in each of his final five games. Since that point, Denver chose to re-sign Dobbins and draft the fourth RB prospect off the board in Washington's Jonah Coleman. In Harvey's stretch as a No. 1 RB, he averaged over 16 touches per game and yet only averaged 12.5 fantasy points. The rib injury Harvey played through after Week 15 could have affected him more than perceived, but his efficiency prior was less than ideal. With Denver likely becoming a full blown committee in 2026, Harvey will have an uphill battle to make a significant difference in fantasy lineups. — Joel SmythPlay 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentBucky Irving, RB, BuccaneersWe entered the offseason with hope that Irving might get a clearer path to significant volume if Rachaad White and Sean Tucker departed in free agency. While White signed with the Commanders, he was replaced by Kenneth Gainwell and the Bucs eventually brought back Tucker. That makes this backfield just as crowded as it was last year, with Gainwell potentially being an even bigger threat to Irving's touches - after proving to be a dynamic weapon for the Steelers in 2025. On top of that, we found out Irving is still recovering from his shoulder and foot injuries suffered last season and it's not guaranteed he'll be ready for the start of training camp. This is red flag after red flag for a former Day 3 back who hasn't been able to replicate the success he enjoyed during his rookie campaign. The dream of Irving becoming anything resembling a workhorse ball-carrier is off the table with Gainwell around and with the injury cloud still hovering over him, Irving has fallen into the fantasy RB3 range in my rankings. — Justin BooneRashee Rice, WR, ChiefsJust because it’s obvious doesn’t mean it can’t be correct. Rice had a cleanup surgery on his right knee in the middle of May, which was expected to keep him inactive for two months. He’s spending one of those months in jail, after a positive THC test put him in violation of his parole. Despite these recent developments, the Yahoo market has continued to draft Rice proactively – his ADP for the last week sits at 35.0 (WR14). That price slots Rice as a third- or fourth-round pick, too early for my taste. I like my early-round picks to be stress-free and tied to players with high floors. Rice is undeniably great when healthy, but he’s missed 22 games the past two years and isn’t 100% at the moment. His quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is coming back from a major knee injury, too. And Rice violating his parole also complicates the situation – although I doubt this specific incident would lead to an NFL suspension, he probably has zero wiggle room left if something else comes up. Rice’s history with off-field mistakes needs to be baked into his risk analysis and ultimately into his draft price. I’ve pushed Rice outside the top 20 on my receiver board, which means I’m unlikely to select him. — Scott Pianowski

Two more wins. That's all the UNC baseball team needs for its second College World Series trip in three seasons, with one red-hot opponent standing in its way.At 3 p.m. on Friday afternoon, North Carolina (48-11-1) will face the USC Trojans in Game 1 of the Chapel Hill Super Regional, with a packed Boshamer Stadium crowd expected.The Diamond Heels are a perfect 3-0 in NCAA Tournament play, sweeping their way through the Chapel Hill Regional. UNC started with an 8-0 shutout of VCU, its second time beating the Rams this season, followed by 7-5 and 9-3 wins in consecutive days.A storied program with 12 National Championships all-time, USC (47-16) is playing in its second-straight NCAA Tournament after a 9-year absence. The Trojans lost their College Station Regional opener to Texas State, then won four consecutive games, including a Texas State rematch and smacking host Texas A&M in back-to-back days, to advance to their first Super Regional Round in 21 seasons.When looking at both teams' path to Supers, North Carolina and USC have eerily similar roster builds.The Diamond Heels have two solid starting pitchers in Jason DeCaro and Ryan Lynch, plus two shutdown bullpen arms in Walker McDuffie and Caden Glauber. The Trojans may very well have a starting pitching edge in Mason Edwards and Grant Govel, while Sax Matson and Troy Adam give UNC's duo a run for its money.Jake Schaffner is the speedy leadoff threat every team covets, while Owen Hull is arguably the NCAA Tournament's best remaining hitter. USC has four guys hitting .300 minimum, while Augie Lopez is nearly at the 20-home run mark.If you're anywhere close to Chapel Hill, consider buying tickets or find spots in the outfield to watch this can't-miss Super Regional clash. If you're planning to watch Game 1 on TV, your favorite streaming device, listening on the radio or somewhere else, keep reading below for more broadcast information.What channel is Game 1 of the UNC-USC Chapel Hill Super Regional on Friday afternoon? Time, TV schedule, radioTV Channel: ESPN2Time: Friday, June 5 at 3 p.m. ETRadio: SiriusXM (Channel 371)Website: WatchESPNWhere to watch UNC-USC baseball on live streamStream UNC-USC baseballUNC-USC baseball prediction, picks, oddsNorth Carolina is scorching hot heading into its Super Regional, a round which ended in 2025 disappointment. USC is winners of four straight, hoping to reach its first College World Series since 2001.Tar Heel Nation will be in full effect. The outfield will be packed. There's no doubt the Diamond Heels have the pressure on them, but they also did in a "Region of Death" they thoroughly dominated.UNC comes out with a bang in Game 1, holding off the Trojans' late charge to move one win from Omaha.Score prediction: UNC 6, USC 5Spread: UNC -1.5Moneyline: USC +130, UNC -66Over/Under: 8.5 runsFull UNC baseball scheduleFebruary 13: vs. Indiana (W, 9-4)Feb. 14: Doubleheader vs. Indiana (W, 12-2 and 4-3)Feb. 17: vs. Richmond (W, 10-0)Feb. 18: vs. Longwood (W, 5-3)Feb. 20: @ East Carolina (W, 10-0)Feb. 21: vs. ECU in Durham Bulls Athletic Park (L, 10-3)Feb. 22: vs. ECU (T, 3-3)Feb. 24: vs. North Carolina A&T (W, 9-1)Feb. 25: vs. VCU (W, 13-3)Feb. 27: vs. Le Moyne (W, 16-3)Feb. 28: vs. Le Moyne (W, 12-2)March 1: vs. Le Moyne (W, 21-1)March 3: vs. Elon (W, 5-1)March 6: vs. Virginia (L, 13-3)March 7: vs. UVA (L, 9-2)March 8: vs. UVA (W, 8-7)March 10: vs. Bucknell (W, 13-3)March 13: at Cal (W, 8-1)March 14: at Cal (W, 6-2)March 15: at Cal (W, 10-2)March 20: vs. Louisville (W, 11-1)March 21: vs. Louisville (L, 2-0)March 22: vs. Louisville (W, 7-6)March 24: vs. South Carolina in Charlotte, N.C. (W, 9-1)March 28: Doubleheader at #23 Notre Dame (W, 6-5 and 13-7)March 29: at #23 Notre Dame (W, 15-10)March 31: vs. Campbell (W, 5-4)April 2: vs. #22 Boston College (L, 6-1)April 3: vs. #22 Boston College (W, 5-2)April 4: vs. #22 Boston College (W, 8-7)April 7: vs. Charlotte (W, 8-4)April 10: at Clemson (L, 9-5)April 11: at Clemson (W, 6-4)April 12: at Clemson (W, 12-5)April 14: vs. UNC-Wilmington (W, 14-5)April 17: vs. #2 Georgia Tech (W, 5-2)April 18: vs. #2 Georgia Tech (W, 14-4)April 19: vs. #2 Georgia Tech (L, 5-2)April 21: vs. High Point (W, 9-2)April 23: at Duke (W, 3-1)April 24: at Duke (L, 3-1)April 25: at Duke (W, 22-5)April 28: vs. Coastal Carolina (7 p.m.)May 3: vs. Duke (W, 13-0)May 8: vs. Pitt (W, 4-1)May 9: vs. Pitt (W, 12-2)May 10: vs. Pitt (W, 7-3)May 12: at UNC-Wilmington (W, 13-7)May 14: at NC State (W, 9-4)May 15: at NC State (W, 17-7)May 16: at NC State (L, 7-2)May 22: vs. Virginia Tech in ACC Tournament Quarterfinals at Truist Field (Charlotte, N.C.) (W, 10-4)May 23: vs. Pitt in ACC Tournament Semifinals at Truist Field (Charlotte, N .C.) (W, 13-5)May 24: vs. Georgia Tech in ACC Championship at Truist Field (Charlotte, N.C.) (L, 13-6)May 29: vs. VCU in Chapel Hill Regional (W, 8-0)May 30: vs. East Carolina in Chapel Hill Regional (W, 7-5)May 31: vs. VCU in Chapel Hill Regional (W, 9-3)June 5: vs. USC in Chapel Hill Super Regional (3 p.m.)June 6: vs. USC in Chapel Hill Super Regional (2 p.m.)This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Game 1 Chapel Hill Super Regional: Time, streaming, picks for UNC-USC

Earlier this offseason, the Alabama Crimson Tide made multiple additions via the NCAA transfer portal who are likely to make a significant impact during the upcoming 2026 campaign. Among those were a few former starters at power four programs, each of which saw a significant amount of action during the 2025 college football season. With those same names now in Tuscaloosa, the respective roles for each from a year ago could certainly be more of the same this upcoming fall with the Crimson Tide, as many come at a position of need for Alabama entering the 2026 season.Here are three Alabama transfer additions are underrated entering the 2026 season, each of which could play a key role this upcoming fall.Carmelo O'Neal, Defensive Back, JuniorO'Neal joins the Alabama secondary following two seasons at Mercer where he appeared in 23 games for the Bears, racking up a combined 54 total tackles with two TFL, one sack, and one forced fumble. The junior defensive back is one of the more versatile players in Alabama's secondary at 6-foot-4, and as a result, will likely feature this season for the Crimson Tide in a variety of roles defensively, as well as on special teams. Nick Brooks, Offensive Line, SophomoreTransferring to Alabama from Texas, Brooks started multiple games for the Longhorns during the 2025 season as a true freshman. Brooks is likely to compete for a starting spot during fall camp, and could very easily make a notable impact for the Crimson Tide this upcoming season at either guard or tackle, one who has starting experience in the SEC.Kedrick Bingley-Jones, Defensive Line, Graduate StudentBingley-Jones is an experienced defensive lineman who transferred earlier this offseason to Alabama following two seasons at Mississippi State. Coming off a breakout 2025 season, Bingley-Jones is likely to be an impact rotational piece along Alabama's defensive front this season at the least, and should add experience and size for a unit that is tasked with replacing Tim Keenan III.Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Carmelo O'Neal among Alabama football underrated transfer additions