Leipzig, Germany - April 24: Assan Ouedraogo of RB Leipzig looks on during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and 1. FC Union Berlin at Red Bull Arena on April 24, 2026 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images According to a report from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann will call RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouédraogo to take the place of injured Bayern Munich star Lennart Karl. It is not a like-for-like replacement in terms of position, but Nagelsmann did opt to give the spot to a promising youngster rather than a more established player: 🚨💥 EXCL | Assan Ouedraogo will be called up to Germany’s World Cup squad as the replacement for Lennart Karl.As revealed, the 20 y/o RB Leipzig top talent only narrowly missed out on the original squad. Now he will travel from his holiday in Spain to Chicago. Julian Nagelsmann has already informed him. Leipzig informed as well.A World Cup dream comes true for Ouedraogo. @berger_pj @kerry_hau @SkySportDE 🇩🇪Ouédraogo made his debut for the German national team back on November 17th, 2025 where he played 13 minutes against Slovakia and scored a late goal. If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor… Join the conversation!Sign up for a user account and get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreate community postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

The Seattle Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl LX champions. Although they are a younger roster, that doesn't mean they don't have some seasoned veterans - such as defensive tackle Jarran Reed. Originally a second round pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Reed has spent eight of his ten years in the league with the Seahawks.He is the only remaining player who shared the field with the original Legion of Boom, and is one of the few holdovers from the Pete Carroll era. Reed has seen the highs and lows this franchise has been through. He knows the standard and was a key cog in helping bring back the championship DNA to the Pacific Northwest. Reed didn't just become a Super Bowl champ back in February. He did so with the team that not only drafted him, but brought him back after they let him walk in free agency. He recently spoke with Stacy Rost from 710 ESPN Seattle about what winning Super Bowl LX for the Seahawks meant for him personally. His comments can be seen below:This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks DT Jarran Reed on what winning Super Bowl LX means to him

Walk-offs to win a championship are nothing unusual when it comes to baseball at any level. From the professional ranks all the way down to Little League, large numbers of games are decided by a play on the final pitch.However, on Friday afternoon, Pleasant Grove (TX) won the UIL Conference 4A D1 championship in the most unusual of ways.Down one entering the final frame against Calallen, the Hawks tied the game and then had runners on the corners with only one out.Senior Spencer Browning was up to bat and faced a 1-1 count. Calallen's pitcher delivered a pitch high in the zone and instead of hitting the catcher's mitt, it bounced off his right shoulder.The ball flew away, and senior Walker Wright bolted home to score the game-winning run. His teammates behind home plate quickly mobbed him as they celebrated.Pleasant Grove finished its season with a record of 39-4. The win marked their fifth baseball state championship in school history and first since 2020. The Hawks managed to get the win despite only getting two hits, with Calallen pitcher and Texas State commit Collier Carroll striking out 11.The win was also a bit of revenge for the Hawks, who lost to Calallen 5-3 in last year's championship game.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wild ending creates shocking upset in Texas state baseball title

The "after" is completely unrecognizable, in the best way possible. READ MORE...

Josh Smith joined Warrington from Brisbane Tigers [Getty Images]Betfred Super LeagueWarrington (0) 12Tries: Smith 2 Goals: Sneyd 2Hull FC (4) 4Try: BarronJosh Smith scored two second-half tries as Warrington struggled past Hull FC to move level on points with Leeds at the top of Super League.Wire were a long way from their best and trailed 4-0 at half-time after Harvey Barron's early try for the visitors.Warrington finally managed to get on the scoreboard as Smith went over seven minutes into the second half, with Marc Sneyd's excellent conversion from the right touchline giving them the lead.The game remained scrappy and error strewn before Smith's second try of the night in the final minute confirmed the home side's 10th victory in 12 league matches.For Hull FC, it was a fourth defeat in a row since their 50-10 win at Castleford at the end of April and they stay 11th.Cook try gives Leigh victory over CastlefordDean's dream debut helps Bradford see off YorkSecond-placed Warrington still have a game in hand on table-toppers Leeds Rhinos and will hope playing poorly and still winning stands them in good stead for a successful campaign.They found themselves quickly behind as Hull scored the opening try after just six minutes when they spread the play to the right wing and Barron dived into the corner.A series of poor passes, handling errors and a yellow card for Luke Thomas followed and it was a knock-on that ruled out a try for Toby King five minutes before the break.It was the first time Warrington had failed to score in the first half this season.It did not take long for them to get onto the scoreboard in the second half, as a try came with an assist from an unexpected source.On the last tackle close to the Hull line, Wire kept the ball alive well before prop Liam Byrne tried his luck with a chip towards the right corner. Hull could not deal with it and the ball fell kindly for Smith to dive for the line.Sneyd added the extra points to put the hosts in front but it was his dropped pass in midfield that led to a Hull break and a try for Barron in the right corner only for the score to be ruled out for obstruction in the build up.An edgy final quarter brought no concerted periods of pressure for either side before one last attack drew a yellow card for Hull's Amir Bourouh and a grubber kick that Smith dived on to seal victory.Hull FC head coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:"I think it's two points that we've let slip."Second half, Warrington made some errors and gifted us some field position but our lack of confidence and lack of fluidity in good attacking positions was evident again tonight."We're not threatening enough, not building enough pressure and then not coming up with good decisions when we've got the ball."Warrington: Webster, Ashton, King, Smith, Hopoate, Hayes, Sneyd, Thomas, Walker, Byrne, Philbin, Currie, CrowtherInterchanges: Powell, Sipley, Smith, TanginoaSin-bin: ThomasHull FC: Moy, Barron, Hardaker, Kemp, Briscoe, Arthur, Sezer, Mata'utia, Bourouh, Hill, Batchelor, O'Neill, CustInterchanges: Ese'ese, Laidlaw, Salabio, KirbySin-bin: BourouhReferee: Ryan Cox.

Orioles linked to Georgia Tech's slugging outfielder with pick No. 7 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Playing in a division like the American League East, the Baltimore Orioles know just how important it is to have a solid farm system. They have to draft sure-fire players in order for them to keep up. They have had good luck in the past with their first-round picks, like Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, and Adley Rustchman. And this year, they hold their best draft pick since taking Jackson Holliday No. 1 overall in 2022, as they were awarded the No. 7 pick in this year's draft. There will be some elite talent to choose from with this pick. The question is, do they go after a high school player or a college player, and what position?MORE: Orioles' Jackson Holliday problem includes multiple issuesOrioles linked to Georgia Tech's slugging outfielder with pick No. 7Some of the obvious names will be gone when the orioles hit the clock, like UCLA's Roch Cholowsky and Georgia Tech's Vahn Lackey, but he's not the only Yellow Jackets' player that is expected to be taken early. Drew Burress has been on a tear over the last three seasons in college. He has immense power, especially for his size, and is a player that Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter would love to see taken by Baltimore. "In 179 games over the last three seasons at Georgia Tech, Burress has hit .357/.484/.720 with 60 home runs, 189 RBI and more walks than strikeouts. He has significantly more power than his 5'9", 185-pound frame suggests, and should be a clean ft in center field at the next level. All of that has helped elevate him to the top of the college outfielder demographic."Unlike some center fielders in the class, Burress is expected to stick in center field after the draft. He has the speed and the arm strength to do so. Offensively, he has a quick and compact swing from the right side that plays to all sides of the field. He also shows a disciplined approach and could be a great addition for the Orioles. More MLB news:Royals linked to one of the fastest players in the class with their first-round pickLatest mock draft sends high-ceiling prep shortstop to the PiratesMLB analyst sets the stage for the Giants to draft UC Santa Barbara's acePhillies ride dominant pitching and red-hot bats to a massive May turnaround

The San Antonio Spurs will be looking to rebound in Game 2 of the NBA Finals with the help of Devin Vassell, a familiar face for many in metro Atlanta.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]The 25-year-old shooting guard graduated from Peachtree Ridge High School in Gwinnett County. As the Spurs continue their Finals run, some of Vassell’s biggest supporters are back where it all started.“This is the Devin Vassell jersey they keep nearby — and that’s the one they will never take down,” said Jordan Griffin, head boys basketball coach at Peachtree Ridge.The number 24 is everywhere at the school, and now Vassell wears it for the Spurs on basketball’s biggest stage.“We have one of our own that’s in the NBA Finals representing the state of Georgia,” Griffin said.The ball still bounces on the same court where Vassell once practiced. Today, a new group of Peachtree Ridge players runs the same drills beneath his retired No. 24 jersey hanging in the rafters.TRENDING STORIES:Georgia Piggly Wiggly fined nearly $200,000 after worker loses fingers in meat grinderGwinnett County police car suffers massive damage in crash; officer not seriously hurtArrests made for ID fraud after home searched for 4 days“He comes back every year, gives back; he gives our guys hope that they can be the next guy,” Griffin said.Vassell came up through the Suwanee basketball program, and now his community is watching the Spurs guard compete for an NBA championship.“I’m not surprised because of the type of person he is, but it’s just such a surreal moment,” said Kristian Collins, a childhood friend of Vassell’s who now coaches at the school.Collins remembers when Vassell was the kid fighting to make a team.“He got cut from his middle school team, barely made the team his freshman year, and then he just kept working,” Collins said.Last year, the school lifted Vassell’s jersey to the rafters, making it the only number ever retired by Peachtree Ridge High School.“I got to embrace him at half-court when he was here. That was big for everybody,” Collins said.Vassell continues to mentor players at the school and pour back into the program that helped shape his basketball journey.“He gives a lot of these young men a chance to see what it’s like to do it at Peachtree Ridge and potentially go on and play at the next level,” Griffin said.Vassell will be back this summer for his annual free basketball camp in Gwinnett County.[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

NBA Finals free live streams 2026: How to watch Spurs vs. Knicks series online without cable originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The teams are locked in, and now all there's left to do is play. The San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks will go head-to-head in the league's most important series — the NBA Finals.The Spurs are returning to the championship stage for the first time since 2014, when the franchise hung its last banner. With their backs against the wall, Victor Wembanyama led San Antonio to a Game 7 win over the defending champion Thunder, ending OKC's attempt at back-to-back titles.Meanwhile, the Knicks blew through the Eastern Conference finals, sweeping the Cavaliers. Jalen Brunson & Co. have won 11 consecutive games by an average of 23.8 points as they head into their first Finals in 27 years. Ironically enough, it was Tim Duncan and the Spurs who beat New York for the title back in 1999. Who will cement their names in history?Here's how to watch the 2026 NBA Finals for free, including streaming options and start time for each game in the championship series.LIVE:Follow Spurs vs. Knicks updates from 2026 NBA Finals Game 2NBA Finals free live streams 2026: How to watch Spurs vs. KnicksTV channel: ABCLive stream: DIRECTV, fuboEvery game of the Knicks vs. Spurs series will air live on ABC, with Mike Breen, Richard Jefferson and Tim Legler on the call. Each game will also be available to stream on DIRECTV and fubo, both of which offer a free trial.Try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live NBA, MLB and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.NBA Finals schedule 2026DateGameTime (ET)TV/Live streamJune 3Game 1: Knicks at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fuboJune 5Game 2: Knicks at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fuboJune 8Game 3: Spurs at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fuboJune 10Game 4: Spurs at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fuboJune 13Game 5*: Knicks at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fuboJune 16Game 6*: Spurs at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fuboJune 19Game 7*: Knicks at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, DIRECTV, fubo*If necessaryNBA Playoffs scores, results 2026Here are the paths the Knicks and Spurs took to reach the NBA Finals:Conference finalsKnicks 4, Cavs 0Game 1: Knicks 115, Cavs 104 (OT)Game 2: Knicks 109, Cavs 93Game 3: Knicks 121, Cavs 108Game 4: Knicks 130, Cavs 93Spurs 4, Thunder 3Game 1: Spurs 122, Thunder 115 (2OT)Game 2: Thunder 122, Spurs 113Game 3: Thunder 123, Spurs 108Game 4: Spurs 103, Thunder 82Game 5: Thunder 127, Spurs 114Game 6: Spurs 118, Thunder 91Game 7: Spurs 111, Thunder 103Conference semifinalsKnicks 4, 76ers 0Game 1: Knicks 137, 76ers 98Game 2: Knicks 108, 76ers 102Game 3: Knicks 108, 76ers 94Game 4: Knicks 144, 76ers 114Spurs 4, Timberwolves 2Game 1: Timberwolves 104, Spurs 102Game 2: Spurs 133, Timberwolves 95Game 3: Spurs 115, Timberwolves 108Game 4: Timberwolves 114, Spurs 109Game 5: Spurs 126, Timberwolves 97Game 6: Spurs 139, Timberwolves 109First roundKnicks 4, Hawks 2Game 1: Knicks 113, Hawks 102Game 2: Hawks 107, Knicks 106Game 3: Hawks 109, Knicks 108Game 4: Knicks 114, Hawks 98Game 5: Knicks 126, Hawks 97Game 6: Knicks 140, Hawks 89Spurs 4, Trail Blazers 1Game 1: Spurs 111, Trail Blazers 98Game 2: Trail Blazers 106, Spurs 103Game 3: Spurs 120, Trail Blazers 108Game 4: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 93Game 5: Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 95Related LinksLatest NBA news and rumorsFull 2025-26 NBA schedule and scoresHow to bet on the NBAThe GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

What channel is Spurs vs. Knicks on today? Time, schedule, live stream to watch Game 2 of 2026 NBA Finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.An even dozen! With a 10-point win in Game 1, the New York Knicks extended their win streak to 12 games. The Spurs blew a 14-point lead to let this happen. San Antonio jumped out to an early held and held a 7-point advantage at halftime. But after a second-half explosion and 30-point game from a bloodied Jalen Brunson, the Knicks ran away with the victory. Karl-Anthony Towns had an 18-point double-double in this contest, with Josh Hart tacking on 15 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. For the Spurs, Wembanyama went just 6-for-21 from the floor but still managed a 26-point double-double. Julian Champagnie also had a double-double of his own. Looking ahead to Game 2, the key for the Knicks is to continue shutting down the Spurs' biggest threats. Wembanyama held a field goal percentage of 51.2 during the regular season. In Game 1, that number was below 30. In order to bounce back, the Spurs will need to handle the ball more effectively. San Antonio had 13 turnovers in Game 1 while New York had just 8. As a result, the Knicks garnered five more points off turnovers than the Spurs, a key factor in their win. Here's what you need to know about Friday's matchup between the Spurs and Knicks, including broadcast information and start time.LIVE:Follow Spurs vs. Knicks updates from 2026 NBA Finals Game 2What channel is Spurs vs. Knicks on today?TV channel: ABCLive streams: ESPN app, DIRECTV, fuboSpurs vs. Knicks Game 2 will be broadcast by ABC and will stream live on the ESPN app or via DIRECTV or fubo, which offer a free trial to new users. Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.Spurs vs. Knicks start timeDate: Friday, June 5Time: 8:30 p.m. ETGame 2 of the NBA Playoffs series between Spurs and Knicks is set to tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.Spurs vs. Knicks series scheduleNew York leads series 1-0DateGameTime (ET)WatchJune 3Game 1: Knicks 105, Spurs 95——June 5Game 2 at San Antonio8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 8Game 3 at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 10Game 4 at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 13Game 5* at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 16Game 6* at Knicks8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTVJune 19Game 7* at Spurs8:30 p.m.ABC, ESPN app, fubo, DIRECTV* If necessaryNBA Playoffs bracket 2026Click here for the updated 2026 NBA Playoffs bracket from The Sporting News.NBA Playoffs schedule, key dates for 2026Here are the key dates to know for the NBA Playoffs and offseason. EventDatesNBA Finals beginJune 3NBA Finals Game 7 (if necessary)June 19NBA DraftJune 23-24NBA Summer League Las VegasJuly 9-19Related LinksLatest NBA news and rumorsFull 2025-26 NBA schedule and scoresHow to bet on the NBAThe GOAT Debate: Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James

A transgender bartender in Laramie, Wyoming, who pointed her gun at a man she says hurled gay slurs at her and threw her to the ground, is headed to trial on felony assault and gun charges. If convicted, she could face up to 15 years in prison. Ríhanna Kelver says she was acting in self-defense after the man, accompanied by two companions, taunted her and knocked her to the crosswalk where the confrontation took place on a downtown street in Laramie. Video evidence shows Kelver pulling a handgun from her satchel and pointing it at the man after the attack. Related Trans good Samaritan tried to help a drunk guy at a bar. Then his friend violently attacked her. While her assailant wasn’t charged, she’s facing felonies for aggravated assault and possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent. Kelver’s lawyer argued in a preliminary hearing last week that his client’s action pulling the gun is protected under Wyoming’s “Stand Your Ground” law, and that the case should be dismissed. The judge disagreed, and sent the case to trial in district court. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today The confrontation occurred on a Saturday night at about 10 p.m. last September, outside the Crowbar, where Kelver was about to start her late-night shift. Three men stood across the street. “They had kind of looked over at us and yelled, ‘F**k the Crowbar, that f** bar should close down,’” Kelver alleged in an interview with The Laramie Reporter. While the bar isn’t necessarily an LGBTQ+-specific bar, it has been targeted by anti-queer graffiti in the past for displaying Pride flags. “I had stood up and just yelled, ‘Hey, what the f**k?’ And they had all turned their attention even more so towards me,” Kelver said. “This was a while ago, so exactly what was yelled at me is kind of mixed up, but the first thing yelled, I remember specifically, was: ‘You heard me, you f**king f**got … And they continue yelling, you know: ‘What are you going to f**king do about it, f**got? Like, ‘I’ll f**k you up,’ and similar threats with … the slurs of ‘f**got’ and ‘tr**ny.’” In a court affidavit, the man, identified as “Durham” in court documents, maintained that the only thing he yelled was “F**k the Crowbar,” a competitor, he said, to another downtown bar he frequented. Kelver maintains that after being thrown to the ground, she was acting in self-defense, fearing that she could become the victim of a hate crime. “I’d hit the ground and I saw the three of them over me, and that is when I had reached into my side satchel,” she told the Laramie Reporter. “The safety was on, and my finger was never on the trigger. I had simply wanted them to hear the chambering to get them away from me, and I had pointed the firearm in their direction — specifically at the individual who assaulted me.” She had no intention of shooting, she said. Wyoming is an open-carry state. No permit is necessary to possess firearms. Wyoming’s aggravated assault and battery law punishes any person who “threatens to use a drawn deadly weapon on another unless reasonably necessary in defense of his person, property or abode or to prevent serious bodily injury to another.” Kelver’s lawyer argued in the preliminary hearing that the phrase “unless reasonably necessary” was key to the case. “There was no suggestion that Ms. Kelver got physical first or was the aggressor,” he said. “The only evidence suggests that Mr. Durham was the aggressor, shoving Ms. Kelver violently to the ground.” “A person was threatened, outnumbered, physically shoved to the ground in pain and on their back, looking up at two to three assailants,” he said, adding that Kelver was not “in the same position as someone who simply brandishes a firearm.” Despite that argument, the judge said that the prosecution had met the lower threshold showing probable cause at this stage of the case. Kelver’s self-defense claims would have to wait for trial. “Of course, that defense is perfectly available in district court,” the judge told prosecutors and Kelver’s lawyer. “And we’ll see where that goes with a different standard of proof.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

It was the department’s clearest statement to date that it was pulling back from a plan to use taxpayer money to make payments to people who claimed to have been politically persecuted.

An auction to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ended with just 10 percent of the available land claimed for oil development.

Wrigley Field had the feel of one big party on Thursday night after Pete Crow-Armstrong completed a mid-game redemption arc. Having partly made up for losing a fly ball in the lights with a solo shot earlier in the night, the standout center fielder fully flushed his defensive flub, which allowed an inside-the-park homer to the Athletics, with a walk-off single that capped an four-run, ninth-inning and a 7-6 comeback victory.Less than 24 hours later, a suddenly power-charged San Francisco Giants lineup zapped the energy of Cubs fans at the Friendly Confines.San Francisco bombarded Chicago with a whopping seven home runs during an 18-3 victory in the series opener on Friday afternoon. Big flies have given the Cubs (33-31) troubles all season. They’ve now allowed the most homers (95) of any MLB team during the 2025 campaign. The Giants (26-38) capitalized, continuing a recent offensive resurgence of sorts. They scored 12-plus runs for the second game in a row and the third time in their past six outings. Matt Chapman headlined the explosion with eight RBI. The 33-year-old mashed a grand slam and lashed a three-run homer in the sixth that staked the Giants to a 16-0 advantage. He sprinkled in a sac fly in the fifth. Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentThe Cubs avoided a shutout, thanks to a Carson Kelly RBI single in the sixth. Then in the eighth, Seiya Suzuki went deep, and Miguel Amaya drove home Pedro Ramírez with a double.This story is being updated.

San Francisco (26-38) opened a three-game series against the Cubs (33-31) on Friday. The Giants won the series opener, 18-3, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois.Former Vol Drew Gilbert started in center field for San Francisco. He went 1-for-2 and scored one run.The Giants totaled seven home runs and 19 hits in Game 1. Willy Adames (two), Matt Chapman (two), Jonah Cox and Casey Schmitt (two) hit home runs for San Francisco.Seiya Suzuki started in right field for the Cubs and hit a solo home run in the eighth inning. He rehabbed with Double-A affiliate Knoxville in April.Friday's series opener also marked the first game for Tony Vitello managing at Wrigley Field. He is in first season as the Giants' manager after serving as Tennessee's baseball head coach from 2018-25.Game 2 between the Cubs and Giants is slated for 2:20 p.m. EDT on Saturday. A series finale will be contested June 7 at 8:30 p.m. EDT.More: Former Vols, Maryville head coaches manage Giants-Brewers gameFollow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Drew Gilbert scores run in series opener against Cubs at Wrigley Field

Southern Miss basketball guard Isaac Taveras withdrew from the transfer portal and announced his return to the program on June 5. Taveras entered the transfer portal on April 2 and was one of the best remaining players available when he announced his withdrawal. The 6-foot-6 Taveras was the Golden Eagles' second-leading scorer and rebounder last season, averaging 15.3 points and 6.8 boards per game. Taveras also led the team in steals, averaging over 2.2 per contest.Taveras played in 22 games last season, missing a chunk of conference play with a wrist injury. Upon his return, Southern Miss finished the season winning seven of its final 10 games. In the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinal loss to Troy on March 8, Taveras scored a career-high 32 points on 75% shooting, grabbed nine rebounds and tallied four steals. He scored 20 or more points in five games in 2025.After a freshman season in which he played sparingly at Fresno State, Taveras played one season at South Plains College, a junior college in Texas, and averaged 16.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.Taveras will be one of six returning players for the Golden Eagles for the 2026-27 season.Davis Wilson covers Southern Miss athletics and Hattiesburg news for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at DWilson@hattiesb.gannett.com or find him on X at @Davis_Wilson.This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Southern Miss basketball guard Isaac Taveras withdraws from transfer portal

The Republic of Ireland sit second in Group A2 and are one point off France [Getty Images]Republic of Ireland striker Amber Barrett said the side "are going to give everything we have" in Tuesday's match against France when they have the chance to secure automatic qualification for the World Cup.Barrett came off the bench in the 76th minute and scored the winner against the Netherlands in the closing stages of the match in Cork in front of a crowd of more than 12,000.Now, Carla Ward's side have the opportunity to secure a spot in back-to-back World Cups when they travel to Grenoble to face France, who are top of the group.Even if they draw or lose, they will have the fallback of a seeded play-off spot, but Barrett insists they are going out to get the job done on Tuesday."We do not have anything to lose," Barrett told RTE after the game."When we started the group, what everyone was looking at was not finishing fourth. We avoided that tonight and we have nothing to lose on Tuesday, we are going to give everything we have."Whatever happens, we still have the play-offs in October and December."Laurent Bonadei's side were the 2-1 victors against the Republic of Ireland at Tallaght Stadium in March.Barrett added that despite the side coming into the "cup final" unbeaten in three matches, they will not underestimate the French."Before, if you were 2-2 against the Netherlands, you would probably be rubbing your hands together and saying' we will take this', but Carla [Ward] said from the start of the week, let everyone know we will be going to win the game."Tuesday is a cup final. Against the Netherlands, we were for it and we were trying to win that game, there was no doubt about it. "It is a massive game on Tuesday, we will enjoy tonight but we are not taking for granted the French, they are an unbelievable side. Recover, get ready and let's go again."

Are the Bears moving to Indiana? Explaining NFL team's 'done deal' to leave Illinois for new stadium originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.On Friday, the Chicago Bears made significant headway in their attempted move out of Soldier Field in the Windy City.The team's Board of Directors voted in favor of making progress in the team's new stadium set to be put up in Hammond, Ind., according to Adam Schefter. While it's not fully finalized yet, the team has made significant progress since the idea's inception.If the team does leave its long-time post in Chicago, it would become the fourth NFL team this century to relocate to different state.Here's the latest on the Bears' move out of Chicago and into the Hoosier state.MORE: What is Chicago's complete schedule for the 2026 NFL season?Are the Bears moving to Indiana?Chicago's Board of Directors held a vote on Thursday regarding whether or not to proceed with stadium progress in Hammond, Ind., for the first time, according to Adam Schefter. The vote ended with a successful advancement, and the team appears set to be on the move over state borders.The Bears’ Board of Directors voted Thursday to advance the stadium development in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact to be selected. This is this first time that the Bears’ board has voted on any stadium site.As one source said, “There is more work to do but barring anything… pic.twitter.com/4TQTbeJKrL— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 5, 2026According to a source from Schefter, "There is more work to do but barring anything very strange, it’s a done deal.”While I’m being told that the Bears announcement on Hammond is “real”,i.e. not a leverage play, a league source told me that the Bears leaving the state is not a done deal. Per source, Indiana is in the lead right now, but “Illinois can still get back in the race,” granted the…— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) June 5, 2026Here is NFL insider Tom Pelissero discussing the matter on The Rich Eisen Show​​​​​​, along with what it will mean for both the areas of Chicago and Indiana.💻 @TomPelisseroAre #DaBears really moving to Indiana? What's the latest coming from Chicago?#NFLpic.twitter.com/GHNV3EQxXs— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) June 5, 2026According to Indianapolis Colts insider Joel A. Erickson, the team released a statement regarding Chicago's potential move to their state. Here is what the team said, per Erickson.Colts statement: “We’re happy for the Bears and wish them the best in their stadium initiative. We also hope this will mean great things for community and economic development for our fellow Hoosiers in northwest Indiana."— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) June 5, 2026Illinois' governor, JB Pritzker, also shed some light on the potential Bears' move to Indiana, even going as far as stating that the team's shifting position regarding a future stadium location has "hindered their progress." Here is what else Pritzker said:pic.twitter.com/Tr9QCa1adq— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) June 5, 2026A large reason why the Bears may have to move out of Illinois is a "megaprojects" bill failing in the state's senate last week, according to ESPN. The bill would have allowed the Bears to negotiate payments instead of paying property taxes on the Arlington Heights, Ill., site they presently own, which used to be the Arlington International Racecourse. The Illinois town was also in consideration for the team's next move, prior to the bill's decision in the state senate.On Sunday night, Illinois state Senator Bill Cunningham (D-Chicago) introduced new legislation that would allow Cook County, the county that houses the greater Chicago area, cities with more than 70,000 residents (ie, Chicago and Arlington Heights) to craft their own sports stadium authority. In exchange for the site's land being publicly owned, the Bears would pay for the construction of the new stadium.The new bill passed the Illinois Senate 37-17 early on Monday morning. The Bears have continued in their stance that they cannot build a stadium without property tax certainty, which the state of Indiana passed legislation to guarantee in February.MORE: How hard is the Bears' schedule this season?Where will the Bears' new stadium be?If the team does move out of Soldier Field in Chicago, after Thursday's team vote, Hammond, Ind., looks like the place to be. Nothing is set in stone yet, as there is still a chance Illinois can salvage its state's lone football team, still playing in its borders.Chicago Bears' Chairman George H. McCaskey and President & CEO Kevin Warren released the following statement on early Friday afternoon:Statement from Chairman George H. McCaskey and President & CEO Kevin Warren: pic.twitter.com/HE002RffIX— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 5, 2026"We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region," Bears chairman George H. McCaskey and CEO Kevin Warren said, "connecting Northwest Indiana and the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across the neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city."According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Lost Marsh Golf Course in Hammond is a potential site for the stadium.MORE: Complete list of Super Bowl MVPs through the yearsHammond, IndianaIf the Bears were to move out of their current Soldier Field, Hammond, Ind., has garnered a lot of attention as a potential landing spot. The city is contained within the red dotted line below: Google Maps If the 2026 NFC Championship participant does make the move to Hammond, they would be moving into a city with 75,712 people, according to the 2025 Census. Purdue University has a campus in the southern part of the city called Purdue University Northwest - Hammond campus.The city is also located around 23 miles away from Soldier Field in Chicago.MORE:What grade did the Bears get for their 2026 draft class?When are the Bears moving?At the moment, it is not definite that the Bears are moving out of the city of Chicago. Conversations are currently underway, but nothing is set in stone yet.This will be updated if further advancements about a potential move are made.How old is Soldier Field?Soldier Field first opened on October 9, 1924, as Municipal Grant Park Stadium, according to the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. While the site has been renovated a number of times, the home field for the Chicago side is the oldest football stadium in the NFL.Oddly enough, the Bears did not move into Soldier Field until 1971. At the stadium's inception, it was used by the Chicago Cardinals, according to ESPN.What state is Soldier Field in?The current stadium for the Bears is in Illinois. The city of Chicago houses one of the first teams to join the National Football League.Chicago's squad is the only team to play football in the Prairie State. If the Bears do move out of the city of Chicago, there will still be one professional sports team that calls Soldier Field home: the Chicago Fire (MLS).If Illinois loses the Bears, it will mark the fourth time this century the state has lost an NFL team, as the Kansas City Chiefs announced their 2031 arrival in Kansas from the state of Missouri, the Oakland Raiders moved to Las Vegas in 2020, and the St. Louis Rams left for Los Angeles ahead of the 2016 season.

It was the department’s clearest statement to date that it was pulling back from a plan to use taxpayer money to make payments to people who claimed to have been politically persecuted.

Also, job growth is looking healthier. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.

Little Rock vs. Troy baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The best postseason in Little Rock baseball history could only get sweeter with a couple of wins. The battle of Trojans in Troy for the NCAA Super Regional will reward one of the programs with a trip to the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.Little Rock is riding an eight-game winning streak, while Troy rallied through the Gainesville Regional by winning four straight elimination games, including two victories over nationally-seeded Florida.First pitch for the third game of the Super Regional round will be at 5 p.m. ET. 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship 123456789RHELittle Rock (39-26)1010261Troy (36-30)0510671Little Rock vs. Troy baseball box score: Live stats from NCAA Championship Super RegionalLittle RockBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP1Jerdy LopezSS211000.286.37516Kade SmithCF212000.335.42412Nolan Freund3B200001.326.3735Blake SimpsonLF201200.357.42217Nico BaumbachDH200000.333.40026Angel Cano1B201000.295.36525Ty RhoadesRF200002.275.3289Trey HillC201001.245.3448Cooper Chaplain2B200000.222.322Total228336054936529842B: Lopez 1 (10)Smith 1 (18)Hill 1 (6)RBI: Simpson 2 (30)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA30Brannon WestmorelandP3.176512183.538Gage HaleyP0.0000000-Total3.17651218Westmoreland 60 (40 strikes)TroyBatterPOSABRHRBIBBSOAVGOBP2Aaron PiaseckiSS211201.350.45932Josh Pyne3B211101.291.37234Blake Cavill1B100010.282.4425Jimmy JanickiC200000.346.4191Steven MeierCF222000.316.45822Drew NelsonLF211200.302.38637Sean Darnell2B100100.254.3768Jabe BoroffDH200000.253.37723Houston MarkhamRF212000.321.359Total223740562143926622B: Markham 1 (8)3B: Nelson 1 (2)H: Piasecki 1 (10)Pyne 1 (10)RBI: Piasecki 2 (47)Pyne 1 (36)Nelson 2 (47)Darnell 1 (45)PitcherPOSIPHRERBBSOBFERA31Benjamin StubbsP4.062204185.0Total4.06220418Stubbs 76 (45 strikes)How to watch: Little Rock vs. Troy 2026 NCAA Baseball Championship GameDate: Friday, June 5Time: 5 p.m. ETTV: ESPNUMore NCAA NewsSaint Mary's vs. UCLA baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Milwaukee vs. Auburn baseball box score: Final stats from NCAA Baseball Championship Game 1Arkansas vs. Georgia box score: Final stats from 2026 SEC Baseball ChampionshipBill Belichick, Jordon Hudson at Kentucky Derby leaves everyone saying the same thingDemond Williams bombshell could have resulted in Lane Kiffin fired by LSU

Host Jack Nicklaus had a pretty succinct summarization of Scottie Scheffler’s first two rounds at the 2026 Memorial Tournament.“He’s not playing his best, that’s for sure,” Nicklaus told a national television audience.More on Jack Nicklaus: Memorial host Jack Nicklaus continues to deal with heart conditionHe’ll play on after making the cut, but the two-time reigning champion at “Jack’s Place” is going to have to turn things up during the weekend if he hopes to three-peat at Muirfield Village Golf Course. Scheffler finished the June 4 first round at 1 over, notching two bogies and a double bogey on 16, followed by a birdie on 17 and a par on 18 to close the day.On June 5, his score continued to head in the wrong direction. Scheffler shot three straight bogies on holes 8-10, moving him to 4 over with only eight holes to play and flirting with the cut line. He stayed there until 13, when he shot his first birdie of the day to move back to 3 over for the tournament.Birdies on 15 and 16 moved him back to par for the day, and that’s where he finished his round. Nicklaus said on the Golf Channel’s live broadcast that those final six holes could prove critical going forward.“When you’re not playing the best, and you finish the way [he] finished to move himself back into a position to be able to contend, that’s pretty good,” Nicklaus said. “That just tells you that his mental outlook on the game and how he thinks he could play it, how he thinks he could get back in, is pretty positive. I give him a lot of credit for that, because he could have just said, ‘Bye-bye.’“He’s got a lot of confidence in himself and what he can do. He’s not swinging or playing his best right now, but he made a couple birdies. It’s amazing how that’ll change your swing.”While on the broadcast, Nicklaus shared thoughts about how the wind and recent heavy rains in the area were affecting the day’s scores but also didn’t apologize for some of the numbers players were finishing with.It also left him impressed with the 7-under score J.T. Poston posted.“I love seeing a golf course playing tough,” he said. “Sixty-five is a sensational score. I can’t believe anybody shot that in these conditions.”On the 50th anniversary of the first Memorial, Nicklaus said he appreciates that he was able to help bring something to Central Ohio that he felt had been lacking.“When I was growing up, all we had were basically six Ohio State home football games a year,” he said.Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Scottie Scheffler's late birdies impress Jack Nicklaus at Memorial

Assistant general manager and director of hockey operations Brian Poile is leaving the Nashville Predators, the team announced on June 5.Poile is the son of former general manager David Poile. A team spokesperson told The Tennessean that David Poile, the team's first ever GM who retired in 2023, will remain a senior advisor with the team. The news comes two days after Chris MacFarland was introduced as the team's president of hockey operations and general manager."On behalf of the entire Predators organization, I want to thank Brian for his commitment and contributions to our franchise for almost 16 years, including the last eight as assistant general manager," MacFarland said in a team release.Brian Poile joined the Predators in 2010 as director of hockey operations, then was named assistant general manager in May 2018. According to the team, Poile was responsible for fiscal and strategic planning; player and staff personnel decisions; and player contract negotiation and salary arbitration. He also assisted in managing the roster, player payroll, team budgets, salary cap, analytics, and collective bargaining agreement compliance."While we are moving in a different direction, Brian’s character, work ethic, passion for the game of hockey, love for the Preds and respect for our fanbase was deeply appreciated," MacFarland said.This departure marks a significant change for the Predators. Since Nashville was awarded a franchise in 1997, the team has had a Poile – either David or Brian – working in the front office. "My family and I will carry many wonderful memories as we move forward," Brian Poile said in a statement. "We will always have the Predators in our hearts.”The announcement also comes on the same day the team announced Rob Blake as executive vice president of hockey operations. Blake will work alongside MacFarland in "all areas of the hockey operations department, including team and staff development, long- and short-term strategies, free agency, player recruitment, drafting and more."Notably, Blake's position is separate from the one vacated by Poile, and the team hopes to hire a replacement for Poile soon.After MacFarland and Blake, the Predators' front office includes assistant general manager and director of scouting Jeff Kealty as well as assistant general manager, and general manager of the Milwaukee Admirals, Scott Nichol. Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Assistant GM Brian Poile is leaving the Nashville Predators

FIFA World Cup 2026 co-host Canada will conclude its competition prep with a friendly against the Republic of Ireland on Friday.MORE: 2026 FIFA World Cup: USA national team games, locations revealedHow to Watch Canada vs Republic of IrelandDate: Friday, June 5, 2026Time: 7:30 PM EDTChannel: FOX Sports 2Stream: Fubo (try for free)Canada is undefeated in seven games and hopes to make that eight with a win over the Republic of Ireland on Friday as it prepares to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer. Jesse Marsch’s men are less than a week out from their Group B opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina and currently boast the kind of form to suggest a strong start is on the cards.– Live Stream Canada vs Ireland with Fubo –A 2-0 friendly win over Uzbekistan on Monday kept the current head of steam going for the Canucks, whose only previous clash against the Republic of Ireland finished in a 3-0 friendly loss back in 2003. The profiles of the two teams have changed a lot since then, however, and the hosts come to Saputo Stadium in Montreal as decent favorites.The Boys In Green fell agonizingly short in their bid to qualify for World Cup 2026 following a penalty shootout defeat to the Czech Republic in Prague. Their playoff run ended at the first hurdle as a result, while the Czechs went on to topple Denmark and book their place in the finals.It’s even more bizarre for Heimir Halgrimsson’s side, considering they too are technically undefeated in seven matches (excluding spot-kicks). Canada, meanwhile, will be desperate to secure one last positive friendly result before the action gets underway for real on home soil.Live stream Canada vs Republic of Ireland on FS2 with Fubo: Start your free trial now!With Fubo, you can watch live television without cable on your phone, TV, or tablet. Fubo carries a wide array of sports and entertainment channels, including local sports packages and top national channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, FS1, MTV, Comedy Central, and much more. The best part is you can try it out today for free.Regional restrictions may apply. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Joe Flacco returning to the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2026 season was not surprising to anyone, and starting quarterback Joe Burrow did not hide his feelings on the matter. Burrow has been the Bengals QB1 since the beginning of the 2020 season. Despite Flacco playing for the Baltimore Ravens from 2008-2018 and for the Cleveland Browns in 2023, he and Burrow have never played against one another. Even though Flacco spent the majority of his career playing for two of the Bengals AFC North rivals, Burrow seems genuinely happy that Flacco is now with Cincinnati.Flacco Returning to the Bengals or 2026: Burrow Gives His TakeIn a recent article with Sports Illustrated, Burrow had the following to say about Flacco returning to the Bengals.“I am excited about having Joe back, he’s a guy that I like, I think we’re pretty similar people and he’s a funny guy, fun guy to be around, and played well when he was in there” Burrow said. “I think we look at the world in a unique way and certainly have some unique takes on some things going on in the world, and it’s always interesting to have conversations with people who have a unique point of view on topics like that.”Burrow’s Appreciation for Flacco Returning Goes Beyond FootballThe tone of Burrow’s comments toward Flacco returning suggest that his appreciation for him is not only on the field. Burrow admitted that Flacco is capable of playing if his number is called, but much of the quote revolved around the personal connection between them and the conversations they have when not playing the game. It’s obvious that despite being in the twilight of his career, Burrow still sees considerable value in Flacco’s presence on the roster.Just as importantly, Burrow seems completely content having an accomplished veteran at the quarterback position. Instead of seeing Flacco as a direct competitor, Burrow sees a teammate in him and somebody whose advice will be valued. Flacco returning to Cincinnati will only provide depth and experience at the quarterback position, and given Burrow’s history with injuries it is something they cannot afford to have.Can Flacco Still Throw Better than Most?Burrow further complimented Flacco when spoke about how he still throws the ball better than most.“I think he throws it better than, No. 1, a lot of people give him credit for,” Burrow said. “And I think he’s one of the more natural throwers of the football that I’ve ever seen. He can spin it with the best of them. He’s got one of the strongest arms of all-time. So he’s going to be able to put the ball when and where he wants to put it.”The context behind Burrow’s comments also show us this is not just about adding a veteran to the QB room. In all of the praise Burrow had for him, he spent most of it mentioning the strength and pure mechanics of his arm. Burrow sees Flacco returning not just as an accomplished veteran but as a capable thrower of the ball in the NFL. It speaks a lot about the perception of Flacco that Burrow, one of the most dominant QBs in the game, is saying Flacco is one of the best natural throwers that he’s ever seen.Will Flacco Take the Field in 2026?Whether Flacco gets a ton of action in 2026 is yet to be seen, but Burrow has made it clear what he thinks of the veteran. The Bengals still want him around because of his experience, leadership, and arm strength that is still more than capable for backup quarterback duties. Having an established presence to support Burrow in a Super Bowl contending season helps keep the Bengals stable at the most critical position.Main Image: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nature, Published online: 05 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01827-8The lead scientist on the use of ‘base editing’ in very early embryos say that the technique is far from ready for the clinic, but critics worry that the work will spur a rush to commercialization.

Georgia football and coach Kirby Smart have landed a quarterback commitment for the 2027 class who has strong family ties to the SEC.Colton Nussmeier announced his decision on Friday evening June 5 on his X account.He is the younger brother of former LSU quarterback Garret Nussmeier and son of former Florida and Alabama offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier.The 6-foot-3 1/2 , 195-pound Nussmeier is a four-star quarterback out of Ryan High School in Denton, Texas.He gives the Bulldogs a quarterback in the class after they missed out earlier on four-star Peter Bourque from Massachusetts. He picked Virginia Tech.All Glory to God!!!! GO DAWGS!!!!🐶🐶🐶🐶 pic.twitter.com/89ML1cYYpB— Colton Nussmeier (@coltonnussmeier) June 5, 2026Nussmeier is ranked as the nation’s No. 14 overall quarterback by the 247Sports Composite and the No. 167 overall player.Nussmeier picked Georgia over UCLA and Arkansas, according to Rivals.comAndrew Ivins, director of scouting for 247Sports, called Nussmeier on the recruiting website a “towering southpaw with a big arm,” who “sees the field with advanced eyes and is quick to diagnose coverages,” He wrote that Nussmeier “owns one of the better interception rates in the class, but must get more consistent in the quick game and learn how to elevate his play in adverse situations.”Nussmeier played eight games for Flower Mound in Texas in a junior season cut short by a knee injury. He passed for for 1,390 yards, 12 touchdowns and an interception while completing 59.9% of his passes, according to 247Sports.Nussmeier’s father is now the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints after stops as quarterbacks coach for the Cowboys, Chargers and Eagles.He was Florida’s offensive coordinator from 2015-17 under Jim McElwain and offensive coordinator at Alabama in 2012-13 when Georgia coach Kirby Smart was defensive coordinator.Colton's brother, Garrett, was a seventh-round NFL draft pick by the Chiefs in the April draft. He threw for 7,699 yards with 52 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in his career and was a two-year starter.Georgia has quarterbacks behind starter Gunner Stockton who will be in the mix to start in 2027.Nussmeier would join a quarterback room that as of now includes redshirt sophomore Ryan Puglisi, redshirt freshman Ryan Montgomery, redshirt freshman Hezekiah Millender and true freshman Bryson Beaver.This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football lands commitment from four-star QB Colton Nussmeier

ATHENS, GA — Ryan McPherson had a sense something was wrong his arm even an inning before the Mississippi State baseball pitcher exited his start against Vanderbilt.He had pain in his elbow but got through the third inning at Dudy Noble Field on March 20. He pitched a fourth inning but then threw only one warmup pitch in the fifth inning before getting pulled. It wound up being a forearm strain for the Bulldogs' Game 1 weekend starter, one that sidelined him for six weeks. The Bulldogs got by without him, hosting an NCAA Tournament regional in Starkville for the first time since the 2021 national championship, but his absence was felt through most of the SEC schedule."It sucked," McPherson said. "I took two weeks with no throwing, then slowly back into it. It sucked having to watch your teammates compete and when you're out there not contributing. You feel like kind of helpless and just upset that you can't play."But McPherson is back now, starting three times in a gradual buildup in May. He presumably will be one of No. 14 Mississippi State's starting pitchers in the Athens Super Regional against No. 3 Georgia (49-12) and could be MSU's advantage.Tomas Valincius will start Game 1 for MSU (43-17) on June 6 (10 a.m. CT, ESPN). Coach Brian O'Connor didn't reveal the other starting pitchers for the best-of-three series."I feel great and I feel healthy," McPherson said. "I feel most confident in our team right now. Everything is possible because the team was able to get us in this spot. I'm excited to be a contributor in the super regional and hopefully Omaha." McPherson made his return May 9 against Auburn, throwing 1⅓ innings with two runs, one unearned, allowed on 34 pitches. Then on May 16 vs Texas A&M, McPherson pitched 2⅓ innings, surrendering one run on 44 pitches.MORE: How Mississippi State's Ryan McPherson plan worked perfectly in dominant regionalMississippi State loosened his restrictions for the Starkville Regional final when McPherson pitched five innings with two runs on 83 pitches in a 19-5 win against Louisiana on May 31."It felt great," he said. "I feel like the rust is off and I'm back to my pre-injury self."Mississippi State and Georgia have played each other four times. Georgia won all four of those games, including three at Dudy Noble Field.That means MSU is familiar with Georgia's starting pitching, such as Joey Volchko, Georgia's starter for Game 1 of the super regional. He's already pitched twice against MSU. Georgia knows Mississippi State's pitching staff, too.But McPherson hasn't faced Georgia at all because of his injury."I thought he was really good last weekend," O'Connor said. "Whenever he pitches this weekend, I expect him to go out there and compete and be hopefully even better than he was last weekend."Ryan McPherson statsMcPherson has a 2.81 ERA and 4-1 record. He's recorded 50 strikeouts and 10 walks in 41⅔ innings.Mississippi State vs Georgia super regional scheduleGame 1: Saturday, June 6 (10 a.m. CT, ESPN)Game 2: Sunday, June 7 (11 a.m. CT, ESPN)Game 3: Monday, June 8 (TBD)Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi State pitcher Ryan McPherson details injury recovery

The Chicago Bears' Board of Directors voted Thursday to advance the stadium development in Hammond, Indiana, the team said Friday.The exact site has yet to be selected.ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watchThis is this first time that the Bears' board has voted on any stadium site."There is more work to do but barring anything very strange, it's a done deal," an ESPN source said.Chicago Bears leaders said in a statement, "Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected. We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses."Hammond officials spoke out earlier this week, saying they were optimistic after Illinois legislators failed to pass a "mega-projects bill" that would allow the Bears not to pay property taxes on an Arlington Heights site."They're making a huge mistake if they don't choose Hammond, in my opinion," Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott said.Mayor McDermott talked about the Bears as the location of the team's new $3.2 billion stadium hangs in the balance."Let's just be honest: They can't get it done. They haven't gotten it done, are not going to get it done," McDermott said.On Friday, McDermott issued a statement, saying, "The Chicago Bears chose Hammond, Indiana because they see what I have said for years: Hammond is a successful city of opportunity and possibility, an excellent choice for such a significant investment. The city of Hammond and the entirety of Northwest Indiana will benefit from this transformative investment. I am proud to have partnered with our state leaders to secure this win; I'm grateful to Gov. Mike Braun, Speaker Todd Huston, Sen Ryan Mishler and our local legislators who pushed this deal over the goal line!"Indiana Gov. Mike Braun also issued a statement on Friday, saying, "Hoosiers, help me welcome the Chicago Bears to our great state! We look forward to building a partnership as strong as the '85 Bears defense, creating opportunities and economic growth that will benefit our state and the Bears organization for decades to come. An NFL franchise in Northwest Indiana will be an economic boost to the entire region like we haven't seen before. Thank you to Speaker Huston, the legislature, and Mayor McDermott for their partnership. I also want to thank the entire Chicago Bears organization for their partnership and commitment in making this move a reality. Welcome to Indiana!"Indiana lawmakers are now confident about the path forward in bringing over the bears."I think Bears fans are going to be a little bitter at first because of the nostalgic aspect of how long they've been in Chicago, but I really feel like once this is in place and they step foot into the new building they're gonna be excited just like we are in Indiana," said Phil Taillon, president of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority.The team says they have not chosen a specific site in Hammond, but Wolf Lake Park is believed to be the most viable location.There was excitement Friday in Hammond, Indiana as the Chicago Bears shifted the focus of their stadium plans there.Indiana residents are asking Chicagoans to give them a chance, with the belief that this will be a win for everyone."Give it a shot just wait and see it's going to be a completely different area around here when everything is all developed, and I'm hoping true Bears fans will follow," Northwest Indiana resident Barb Mack said.While many people across Northwest Indiana are thrilled about the possibility and future economic impacts, some former Chicagoans say it's still sad to see if the Bears are in fact moving across state lines."I love having that hometown feel so it almost feels like we're losing that it makes me sad," Bears fan Jackie Layton said.And until cement is being poured, fans in Chicago and Indiana say they are still hesitant to believe the move."I'd love to see shovels in the ground that will give... a sense of relief that it is gonna happen and just see the renderings of it what're they gonna do what's the vision of the whole stadium," Byway Brewing Co. general manager Phil Sajn said.RELATED: Illinois General Assembly ends session without passing Chicago Bears stadium billIllinois Gov. JB Pritzker's office issued a statement on Friday as well, saying, "The Bears have built a storied legacy in Illinois for over 100 years but have spent the last six years, and especially the last few months, shifting their position on a stadium location. That has hindered their progress. Today appears to be another instance of that after Illinois leaders have been working with the Bears in good faith. Governor Pritzker has always been clear that he wants the Bears to stay in Illinois and still remains open to a sensible solution that protects taxpayers."This comes after Illinois lawmakers ended the spring session this past weekend without passing legislation to keep the team in Illinois and build in Arlington Heights.The failed measure would've allowed for a mostly Bears-funded stadium that would be publicly owned, meaning the team would not have to pay property taxes.It passed the Senate but stalled in the House. Suburban leaders in Arlington Heights are hopeful the team could still build on the old Arlington Park site.There was a busy crowd at the Bird's Nest sports bar in downtown Arlington Heights Friday afternoon. If the Bears were in town, they believe that would have brought in many more customers.Suburban leaders in Arlington Heights are hopeful the Bears could still build on the old Arlington Park site depsite their Hammond announcement."Very surprised, shocked," said Nick Campise with Bird's Nest. "I think it's a tragedy for Chicago, Illinois, Arlington Heights, and all the surrounding businesses."Many customers have similar thoughts. After several years of talking about Arlington Heights as their new home, the Bears now say they are focused solely on Hammond Indiana. Many northwest suburban Bears fans are surprised and disappointed."I'm really disappointed," fan Dan Dahlin said. "I think they're risking the franchise value by moving to Hammond."The Bears have said for months that they needed the state legislature to pass a bill that would give them some measure of certainty in their property taxes. The spring session ended over the weekend without a bill, and many experts predicted this was their next step. Not because they necessarily prefer Indiana, but because it is their only viable option.That is much too the chagrin of many longtime season ticket holders. George Rosner has had tickets for more than 50 years, since the Bears moved to Soldier Field."I understand it's still Chicagoland, but as a season ticket holder, I don't think I would ever go there," Rosner said.The village of Arlington Heights has been lobbying hard to pass the necessary legislation in Springfield. Mayor Jim Tinaglia released a statement Friday, saying in part, "While we are certainly disappointed in this change of direction, I would like to be clear that our Village's focus will always remain on serving our residents and supporting our local businesses, while positioning Arlington Heights as a premier community."Ernie Rose with Touchdown Arlington has been working for year to try too bring the Bears to town."I don't think it's too late," Rose said. "They don't have shovels in the ground yet. They don't have a location yet.The South Shore Line said it is encouraged by the Bears' Friday announcement."This is exciting news for Northwest Indiana and the broader region," South Shore Line President Dave Dech said. "We look forward to evaluating service options to help fans conveniently travel to and from games if a final decision is made. Staying connected to major destinations and big moments remains at the heart of what we do."The Bears previously said they would make a decision about their stadium by late spring or early summer.ESPN contributed to this report.

Chris Billam-Smith with Boxxer promoter Ben Shalom after victory against Brandon Glanton [Getty Images]Zuffa Boxing's first show in the UK, featuring Chris Billam-Smith, appears set to go ahead on Saturday despite legal action from rival promoter Boxxer.Former WBO cruiserweight champion Billam-Smith is scheduled to fight Canadian Ryan Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Centre as the headline bout, with fellow Britons Jack Massey and Sam Hickey both on the undercard.The event is due to be shown on Sky Sports, but promoter Boxxer claims to have contractual rights involving fighters on the bill and says they are appearing without "consent or authorisation".BBC Sport understands that Zuffa does not accept the claims by Boxxer and plans to proceed with the event as planned."Boxxer can confirm it is seeking urgent injunctive relief against Zuffa Boxing and Sky Sports concerning the promotion and proposed participation of fighters who remain subject to binding contractual obligations to Boxxer," said a statement from Boxxer."Boxxer have ensured that all parties involved are fully aware of the contractual obligations owed to Boxxer by the fighters being promoted for Saturday's event. Despite this, those fighters continue to be advertised and promoted without Boxxer's consent."As a result of the conduct it has witnessed in recent months, Boxxer has been left with no option but to seek further relief from the English courts."Zuffa Boxing, which was founded by UFC president Dana White and backed by Saudi Arabian funding, is looking to rival the sport's established promoters.Billam-Smith signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing in April after previously being promoted by Ben Shalom's Boxxer.What is Zuffa Boxing and can it shake up the sport?Boxing schedule and results 2026Watch every Born to Brawl episode More boxing from the BBC Notifications, social media and more with BBC Sport

Two days after commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged that it's time for the NBA and investigators to "wrap this up," ESPN reported Friday that independent investigators have interviewed Clippers owner Steve Ballmer, team executives, star Kawhi Leonard and Leonard's business adviser "Uncle Dennis" Robertson in the league’s ongoing Aspiration probe. The Clippers are under investigation for allegations of salary-cap circumvention that were initially raised in September via reporting from the podcast, "Pablo Torre Finds Out."Per the report, Leonard was paid $28 million via an alleged no-show marketing deal by Aspiration, a third-party company that Ballmer had invested in. The allegations were levied in September, sparking an NBA investigation into the Clippers, which is being conducted by an independent firm and has yet to be resolved nine months later.Adam Silver: Time for NBA, investigators to ‘wrap it up’The lack of transparent progress on the investigation prompted questions for Silver Wednesday during his news conference prior to Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Silver acknowledged that it's time for league and investigators to "wrap this up," indicating that a conclusion to the investigation could be on the horizon."I don’t have a specific timeline on when they will be completed,” Silver said of the investigators conducting the probe. “I think it's clear they're far along. I think those reports are — reading all the time from people who are being interviewed by them — and I think they understand that you could keep going on and on."But I think we're close to the point now where I think we need to wrap this up because you also need finality. Their team has to understand what the situation is they're going to be operating under, and so do the other 29 teams."Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentOnce investigators have conducted their probe, they’ll present their findings to Silver, who will make a determination on what, if any, discpline the league will hand down.Steve Ballmer and the Clippers are under investigation for allegations that the team circumvented the NBA salary cap via third-party payments to Kawhi Leonard.Katelyn Mulcahy via Getty ImagesBallmer, Leonard have denied wrongdoingBallmer has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and said after PTFO’s initial report that he had been “conned” by Aspiration. Aspirations’s co-founder, Joseph Sanberg, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges in 2025 for his role in a scheme that prosecutors say defrauded investors of $248 million.In an April letter to a judge overseeing Sanberg’s sentencing, Ballmer wrote that he lost his entire $60 million investment in Aspiration.Ballmer acknowledged introducing Aspiration to Leonard in a September interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, but denied any knowledge of the $28 million endorsement deal.Leonard also denied any wrongdoing during Clippers media day in September."The NBA is going to do their job,” Leonard said of the league’s investigation. “None of us did no wrongdoing. That's it.“We invite the investigations. It's not gonna be a distraction for me or the rest of the team."PTFO has since been awarded a Pulitzer Prize for its reporting that launched the investigation.

MADISON – In the 10th playing of the American Family Championship and the second at TPC Wisconsin under a team format, the hometown favorites of Steve Stricker and Mario Tiziani and Jerry Kelly and Justin Leonard ended the first round as severe underdogs on June 5.Stricker and Tiziani, who tied for second last season, finished the first round 6-under par, six shots and 23 pairs behind the leading duo of Søren Kjeldsen and Freddie Jacobson (12-under 59). The leaders made 10 birdies and one eagle with no bogeys.AmFam leaderboard: First round“We sort of alternated nicely, like one guy made a putt and then the next guy, and Freddie was sort of on fire middle of the round, Kjeldsen said. “We built up that momentum that you really need in this format.”Two teams are tied for second at 11-under and two more teams are at 10-under.Kelly and Leonard, who joked on June 4 that they couldn’t do much worse than their tie for 34th last year in which they beat just two teams, replicated the feat with a 4-under to end the round in 34th place.Unfortunately, slow starts for Stricker and Tiziani and Kelly might have been expected.Stricker had not played a competitive round since late December following hip replacement surgery, which was followed up with a setback during his rehab. Kelly said he’s been playing through a just-discovered fracture in his T-8 vertebrae, as well as managing rheumatoid arthritis.Not competing, however, wasn’t going to be a question.Stricker just wasn’t sure what would happen once he did.“I don't know where it's going yet, but I'm giving it a rip,” he said before the tournament. “It's coming out of a couple different barrels.”More: Steve Stricker Q&A | Would he captain the Ryder Cup again?Despite that uncertainty, the 59-year-old Stricker was excited at the prospect of revving the gas on a PGA Tour Champions journey that had seen him win 17 times from 2018-23.“It's been too long,” he said. “Literally, I haven't played that much in the last couple years. I'm excited. It's about time, I feel like. My body's feeling better and just literally just have to keep getting those reps in.”And Tiziani, who had played seven stroke-play tournaments coming in, acknowledged his game was not the sharpest yet, either.“I do feel like it's trending,” he said before round one. “I felt like that all year. Certainly haven't had any results, but I've kind of put every tournament behind me and kind of started over, you know. It's a crazy game and it doesn't take much, a little bit of confidence goes a long way.”In the first round, which was played in the best ball format, Stricker and Tiziani had seven birdies against one bogey. The second round will be played as a scramble, which the duo went 15-under in last year.“We're going to have to have something like that again, something pretty low to get us probably maybe even three or four back, two, three or four back if we shoot 14-, 15-under,” Stricker said after round one, noting the importance of the upcoming second round. “We're going to have to have a special round tomorrow to have an opportunity on Sunday [June 7]. But, you know, Sundays anything can happen. We can play better.”As for Kelly and Leonard, they made just five birdies against one bogey.“I built up a little bit through The Woodlands and that gave me some positive moves going into this week where I could swing a whole lot freer than I have in a long time,” Kelly said of his physical condition coming into the tournament. “So I'm hoping I've turned the corner and I'm not waiting for the other shoe to drop because I'm feeling stronger and working out and keeping my body instead of winding it up too early, I think I'm hitting the right timing right now.”Defending champion Darren Clarke is with a new partner this year with Ben Crane, and they shot 9-under and are three shots back with a group of six other teams.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Steve Stricker, Jerry Kelly's teams off to slow starts at AmFam Championship

RANDOLPH — Cole Cantada really didn't want to be the setter for the Randolph boys volleyball team. Cantada had been a starting outside hitter, who sometimes played libero on his club team. Setter was uncharted territory, a new position to learn for his senior season. But the Rams needed a setter after Kevin Tinio graduated, and coach Erik Novack thought Cantada would blossom in a bigger role.He was right. With Cantada and Alex Henriques passing the ball, Randolph went right back to the Group 2 North title. The Rams defeated Ramapo, 25-22, 25-21, 25-14 to defend their championship on June 5. "It's awesome. I have no words, that's how awesome it is," said Cantada, who had 21 assists, seven digs, six kills, a block and an ace in the sectional final. "Switching into this role might have hurt the team in the beginning, but over time, it helped. I was on the court doing all that I could. I feel like I did a lot more than in the last sectional final, because I'm touching the ball every single play, no matter what."More: Delbarton, Mount Olive add to explosion of NJAC boys volleyballRandolph gets a rematch with St. Joseph of Metuchen in the Group 2 final on June 10 at South Brunswick. It's something the players had been looking toward all season, even in that first scrimmage at Scotch Plains on March 17, when Cantada admitted, "I was not a good setter." But he adjusted to the Rams hitters, and they adapted to him – and sometimes, Novack was able to switch things up and play a 6-2 with Henriques. Senior-laden Randolph earned praise from Tinio, who was back to watch after his freshman season playing libero at Widener University.The Rams (27-4) never trailed in the sectional final, responding four times when Ramapo tied the score early in the first set.Randolph has won eight straight games without dropping a set, dating back to May 12. Along the way, the Rams also brought home the third Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference title in the tournament's five-year history.Senior outside hitter Ben Barninger emerged from Randolph's postgame meeting wearing a white hard hat with the players' names stenciled on it in blue – the Player of the Game prize. He had a team-high 17 kills and a block, two aces, eight digs and an assist.More: 2026 Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference boys volleyball awardsJunior outside hitter Jan Rostek added nine kills, a block, four digs and an ace in the sectional final. Senior libero Aedan Perez had 10 digs and three assists."We tried to come into the season not thinking that we were going to win it again. We just made sure that we worked our hardest on and off the court," Barninger said. "We showed up and left it all on the court."This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Randolph defeats Ramapo in boys volleyball sectional final

Carter Lomax and Lyla Payne flew under the radar in the 102nd Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays Golf Tournament on Brandt Snedeker's Tour before taking off and sailing to wins respectively in the boys and girls championships on June 5.Lomax, from Gallatin, defeated Wil Huddleston from Maryville, 4 and 3 in the boys match play championship at McCabe Course, while Payne from Clarksville claimed a 2 and 1 win over Samantha Strothers of El Cajon, California, in the girls championship.Huddleston and Strothers were the stars of the tournament through the first two days. Huddleston was the co-medalist in the qualifying round on June 3 and then easily knocked out the Nos. 15, 11 and 7.Strothers stepped into the spotlight early with her long drives. She averaged 275 yards off the tee and had several drives of more than 300 yards.But it was Lomax and Payne who stepped up when it mattered most and won the longest continuously running golf tournament in the state."I don't think I got anyone's attention at the start because I only qualified ninth (at 5 over)," said Lomax, who attends Liberty Creek. "I tried to change my mentality in this tournament. I was more calm and laid back. Usually, I'm more determined and want to get things done. By changing my mentality, it paid off."Lomax did not breeze through his early match-play rounds, easing past Cannon Wise 2 and 1 in the first round, Colin Mitchell 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals, and Cillian Carmack 3 and 2 in the semifinals.But he started strong in the championship, taking a two-hole lead against Huddleston by winning Nos. 2 and 3. After Huddleston closed the gap to one by winning 9, Lomax won 11 and 12 to go 3-up.Huddleston hung tough by winning 13 before Lomax closed him out by winning 14 and 15. Lomax made a 5-foot put for par on 15, and Huddleston 3-putted."My putting got better after the qualifying round, and I would say that is what helped me win more than anything," Lomax said. "My putting was more consistent, and I got more confident in it."It was Lomax's fourth time playing in the Schooldays and his first time advancing to match play."I really wish I would have gotten some more birdies; I kind of fell short and couldn't get anything going on the back nine," Huddleston said. "But (Lomax) played amazing and hats off to him."In the girls championship, Payne found herself 40-50 yards behind Strothers off nearly every tee. But she did not allow that to affect her confidence. She continually made up for her lack of distance off the tee by outplaying Strothers with her short game.Payne built a three-hole lead heading to No. 12. Strothers got it back to two by winning 14, but they halved the next three holes, giving Payne the victory."My coach (Jeff Vaughn) gave me my confidence by telling me, 'No matter what happens, you're still a good player,' " Payne said. "He told me my drivers were good enough to win as long as I hit them straight. I won three straight holes (9, 10 and 11) by just telling myself that I had to show my coach and my family that I worked so hard for this and I was going to get it done.'"George Armstrong wins Schooldays 12-14, divisionGeorge Armstrong of Franklin recovered from an 11 over qualifying round, which made him the last seed at No. 8, to win the boys 12-14 division championship.Armstrong upset No. 1 seed Aubrey Travis of Nashville in the match play quarterfinals 4 and 3 and 5 seed Ethan Huang of Nolensville 3 and 2 in the semifinals.Armstrong faced 2-seed Jackson Scott of Franklin in the finals, and they went 20 holes before Armstrong made a birdie to win 1-up. For the complete results, visit snedstour.Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Lyla Payne, Carter Lomax win Schooldays Golf Tournament titles

Carter Lomax and Lyla Payne flew under the radar in the 102nd Tennessean/Metro Parks Schooldays Golf Tournament on Brandt Snedeker's Tour before taking off and sailing to wins respectively in the boys and girls championships on June 5.Lomax, from Gallatin, defeated Wil Huddleston from Maryville, 4 and 3 in the boys match play championship at McCabe Course, while Payne from Clarksville claimed a 2 and 1 win over Samantha Strothers of El Cajon, California, in the girls championship.Huddleston and Strothers were the stars of the tournament through the first two days. Huddleston was the co-medalist in the qualifying round on June 3 and then easily knocked out the Nos. 15, 11 and 7.Strothers stepped into the spotlight early with her long drives. She averaged 275 yards off the tee and had several drives of more than 300 yards.But it was Lomax and Payne who stepped up when it mattered most and won the longest continuously running golf tournament in the state."I don't think I got anyone's attention at the start because I only qualified ninth (at 5 over)," said Lomax, who attends Liberty Creek. "I tried to change my mentality in this tournament. I was more calm and laid back. Usually, I'm more determined and want to get things done. By changing my mentality, it paid off."Lomax did not breeze through his early match-play rounds, easing past Cannon Wise 2 and 1 in the first round, Colin Mitchell 2 and 1 in the quarterfinals, and Cillian Carmack 3 and 2 in the semifinals.But he started strong in the championship, taking a two-hole lead against Huddleston by winning Nos. 2 and 3. After Huddleston closed the gap to one by winning 9, Lomax won 11 and 12 to go 3-up.Huddleston hung tough by winning 13 before Lomax closed him out by winning 14 and 15. Lomax made a 5-foot put for par on 15, and Huddleston 3-putted."My putting got better after the qualifying round, and I would say that is what helped me win more than anything," Lomax said. "My putting was more consistent, and I got more confident in it."It was Lomax's fourth time playing in the Schooldays and his first time advancing to match play."I really wish I would have gotten some more birdies; I kind of fell short and couldn't get anything going on the back nine," Huddleston said. "But (Lomax) played amazing and hats off to him."In the girls championship, Payne found herself 40-50 yards behind Strothers off nearly every tee. But she did not allow that to affect her confidence. She continually made up for her lack of distance off the tee by outplaying Strothers with her short game.Payne built a three-hole lead heading to No. 12. Strothers got it back to two by winning 14, but they halved the next three holes, giving Payne the victory."My coach (Jeff Vaughn) gave me my confidence by telling me, 'No matter what happens, you're still a good player,' " Payne said. "He told me my drivers were good enough to win as long as I hit them straight. I won three straight holes (9, 10 and 11) by just telling myself that I had to show my coach and my family that I worked so hard for this and I was going to get it done.'"George Armstrong wins Schooldays 12-14, divisionGeorge Armstrong of Franklin recovered from an 11 over qualifying round, which made him the last seed at No. 8, to win the boys 12-14 division championship.Armstrong upset No. 1 seed Aubrey Travis of Nashville in the match play quarterfinals 4 and 3 and 5 seed Ethan Huang of Nolensville 3 and 2 in the semifinals.Armstrong faced 2-seed Jackson Scott of Franklin in the finals, and they went 20 holes before Armstrong made a birdie to win 1-up. For the complete results, visit snedstour.Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on X @MikeOrganWriter.This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Lyla Payne, Carter Lomax win Schooldays Golf Tournament titles

CHICAGO (AP) — Chris Richards joined the U.S. for training on Friday in Chicago in a positive sign for the top American defender as he tries to make it back in time for the World Cup.Richards tore two ligaments in his left ankle while playing for England's Crystal Palace on May 17. He has been ruled out for Saturday's friendly against Germany, but the U.S. is holding out hope that he might be able to play in its World Cup opener next week against Paraguay.“Chris Richards is on the right path to coming back and being completely with the squad,” midfielder Weston McKennie said. “I think everyone trusts his body and what he feels and the coaching staff as well. He’s an important piece of the group, (with) his energy, his leadership on and off the field. And so obviously we’re just all behind him and can’t wait to have him back and out with the group."During the 15-minute portion of practice that was open to the media, the 26-year-old Richards showed no signs of any issues as he warmed up with the rest of the team at Endeavor Health Performance Center, the practice home for Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire.Richards, who missed the 2022 World Cup because of a hamstring injury, is considered the best central defender for the United States.“His training and his evolution is well, but he still is not ready to compete and to play,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino said before practice.Pochettino and the U.S. are running out of time when it comes to making a decision on Richards. They can replaced injured players on their 26-man roster until Thursday.“Maybe this is the final of the World Cup, maybe he can play,” Pochettino said of Saturday's game at Soldier Field, “but the advice of the medical area is not to play.”The U.S. is coming off a 3-2 victory over Senegal on Sunday. Following its matchup with Paraguay, the U.S. also has Group D games against Australia on June 19 and Turkey on June 25.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

After months of doubts over their participation, Iran’s players have received visas for the United States just days before the World Cup begins.

The new policy, which the Pentagon framed as a largely administrative action, leaves just 31 religious categories to choose from, 22 of which are Christian.

The British actor was a mainstay of influential television shows who first found fame as a Nescafe pitchman.

Inside Ricky Brabec's Incredible Personal TurnaroundTo look at Ricky Brabec today - a lean, commanding athlete capable of enduring thousands of miles of brutal off-road racing - it is difficult to picture him any other way. But, as Brabec revealed in episode 26 of Motorcycle.com's Bore & Stoke podcast, the two-time Dakar Rally winner is remarkably candid about his past, openly discussing a time when his life was heading down a destructive path.The Critical Turning PointDirectly out of high school in the early 2010s, Brabec found himself caught in a cycle of partying, shifting focus away from his athletic potential."In 2010, 11, and 12... I was going to the bar every night," Brabec reveals. "I was spending all my paycheck on alcohol and drugs and just bad things. I was 292 pounds at one point."The realization that he could transform his regional racing success into a legitimate career served as a massive wake-up call. Brabec executed a radical, uncompromising "complete 180" on his lifestyle. He cut out fast food, soda, candy, alcohol, and partying cold turkey.Embracing the ScarsWhen asked if he would go back and alter those turbulent early years if given the opportunity, Brabec's answer is an immediate and firm no.Building Identity: He credits those early mistakes with forging the self-discipline and clarity he relies on today.The Contrast Effect: Experiencing the negative consequences of a chaotic lifestyle made him appreciate the structure required for professional athletics.The Daily Routine: Today, Brabec actively prefers a disciplined schedule - going to sleep at 9:00 PM and waking up at 6:00 AM - contrasting sharply with his late-teen habits.While Brabec jokingly notes that he still feels "chubby" compared to his ultra-lean, European competitors who stand 5'6" and weigh 120 pounds, his physical power has become his primary asset in managing massive factory rally bikes. His journey stands as a powerful reminder that professional success is often built directly on top of the lifestyle changes a person chooses to make.Check out the full Bore & Stoke episode with Ricky Brabec here to listen to the full interview.Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Mike Green's jersey number change wasn't simply about aesthetics. Appearing on The Lounge Podcast with Ryan Mink and Clifton Brown, the Ravens pass rusher explained why returning to No. 15 was an important personal decision entering his second NFL season. Green wore No. 15 while becoming one of college football's most productive pass rushers, and he views the number as part of his football identity."When you establish yourself as a player in a certain number, you want to keep it," Green said.The edge rusher said fans often underestimate the emotional connection players have to their jersey numbers."It's a lot more than what people see and what it might seem like," Green said.Green pointed to the success he enjoyed wearing No. 15 before entering the NFL."When I was in college and I got all these sacks in 15, it's like, all right, well I established myself as this pass rusher in this number 15," Green said.Rather than viewing the number as a fresh start, Green sees it as a continuation of the work he has already put in."I want to continue doing this while also building up on what I've already established," Green said.The number change also comes as Green enters what many believe could be a breakout season."It means a lot to me," Green said. "That's why, of course, I changed my number."And, like any player unveiling a new look, Green hopes it leads to good results."Of course, I hope it looks better on me than my old number," Green said.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens pass rusher Mike Green returns to familiar No. 15

The 2022 World Cup attracted more than a million fans to Qatar [Getty Images]Fifa says fans will be able to bring sealed disposable water bottles into World Cup stadiums following criticism over a decision to ban reusable bottles.The governing body initially made a late policy change banning bottles - along with cups, jars and cans - because of safety concerns.Fifa has now clarified the policy, saying it is only hard-sided reusable bottles that are banned."Each spectator can bring with them one 20 ounce (560ml) soft, plastic disposable factory-sealed water bottle into the stadium," said World Cup 2026 chief operating officer, Heimo Schirgi."What is not allowed are hard-sided resealable water containers, which could pose a safety and security risk."Heat experts warn Fifa of bottle ban health riskFifa risking player safety over heat at World Cup - scientistsThe official stadium code of conduct previously stated: "For the avoidance of doubt, empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 litre in) capacity, may be brought into the stadium."But seven days before the tournament kicked off on 11 June, Fifa reversed that policy, saying it will lower the risk of injury caused by fans throwing missiles.Fans will be able to buy water in the stadium and Fifa has promised not to charge above usual venue prices.However, heat experts criticised the ban, with one saying it would "clearly heighten the risk of heat-related health incidents".Fans were also prevented from taking bottles into stadiums at the last World Cup in Qatar.World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Jun. 5—Morgan County athletes brought home over 23 medals and six ribbons at the Alabama Special Olympics at Troy last week.The 19 athletes represented Morgan County in bowling, swimming and golf, said Bailey Starnes, therapeutics coordinator for Decatur Parks and Recreation.The athletes selected for the state games were chosen due to their performances in the local Special Olympics.Athletes recognized during the games included:Bowling: Luke Takacs, Jeffery Watson, Max Walden and Shannon Robinson, all silver, Sawyer McCormick, Alex Murphy, James Harper, Amanada Davis-Sagun and Erik Page, all bronze, Heath Carter, Shawn Thorn and Chris Akhondmirza, all fourth place ribbons.Swimming: Neil Christopher, two golds and one silver; Brianna Dempsey, one gold, one silver and one bronze; Lane Barnes, three golds; Charles Debacker, one gold, one silver and one fourth place ribbon; Jamie Sims, one fourth place ribbon and one fifth place ribbon; Shea Griffin, one gold and one bronze.Golf: Garrett Cobbs, gold.For more on Decatur Parks & Recreation's Therapeutics Program, visit decaturparks.com/therapeutics.— cgodbey@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2441.

The top two quarterbacks on the Arizona Cardinals' roster are Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew. Minshew took all the first-team snaps in the offseason program through OTAs while Brissett sat out in a contract dispute. Brissett had a career year last season, passing for 3,366 yards and 23 touchdowns, starting the final 12 games of the season. However, he went 1-11 in those games. Brissett is now 20-45 in his career as a starter and is 33 years old. What is interesting is that Brissett and Minshew are almost the same quarterback. Minshew is simply younger. Minshew has started 47 career games and is 17-30 in those games. If we take away the last three seasons for Brissett when he went 2-15 as a starter, he was 30 years old and 18-30 in his career as a starter. Minshew is 30 years old. Comparing Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew This will be fun. Minshew enters Year 8 in the NFL. Brissett enters Year 11. Let's look at where each of them were statistically at the same stage of their careers, entering Year 8. Jacoby Brissett through 7 seasons76 career games, 48 career starts, 18-30 record10,350 passing yards, 48 TD passes, 23 INTsGarnder Minshew through 7 seasons63 career games, 47 career starts, 17-30 record11,987 passing yards, 68 TD passes, 35 INTsThis is why it doesn't make sense for the Cardinals to take Brissett's contract dispute seriously. Yes, Brissett would be the lowest-paid starter in the league. However, the Cardinals could do with Minshew what they did with Brissett. Minshew is an equally accomplished and more productive quarterback now than Brissett was three years ago. Three years ago, Brissett signed with Washington hoping to be the starter only to lose the job to Sam Howell. If you think the Cardinals need Brissett to be competitive, remember that they were 1-11 when he started and 0-9 after he was given the starting job outright. They lost six times in the final nine by three or more scores. The offense averaged 18.7 points over their last nine games. He had volume passing numbers and helped Trey McBride and Michael Wilson put up career numbers, but here's the thing. They could do excactly the same thing in 2026 with Minshew. They could lose by lots each game and Minshew could load up his pass catchers with volume numbers in garbage time. He has more passing yards and more touchdown passes in one fewer career start than Brissett had at that point in his career. Why do the Cardinals need to pay anyone anymore than what they are scheduled to do?And here's the other thing: Minshew plays with flair and pizazz. Fanbases were captivated by his wild play early in his career. Brissett is the least interesting quarterback in the NFL. He is not a winner. He is not young. He isn't exciting to watch. That is why Brissett's situation isn't all that problematic. He is 100% replaceable. Minshew is a younger, more exciting version of Brissett. Neither really gives you a good chance to win. Both can chuck the ball around and put up numbers. That's about the best Cardinals fans can expect for 2026. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Jacoby Brissett or Gardner Minshew? It doesn't really matter for Cardinals

A 54-year-old man named Mark McMinn pleaded guilty to threatening and abusive behavior on Wednesday and was fined £200 ($267) for harassing a transgender woman at a May 6 karaoke event at the Cloch Caravan Park of Gourock, Scotland (a town 28 miles west of Glasgow). The woman he harassed was hanging out with friends and about to sing when McMinn began shouting. When the woman hesitated, McMinn reportedly began swearing and making transphobic comments, The Greenock Telegraph reported. Related 3 men assaulted a trans bartender. Now she’s facing felonies for defending herself. Someone tried to intervene and calm McMinn down, but McMinn then started acting aggressively toward the intercessor. Staff from the park’s entertainment complex told McMinn to leave, but he refused, finishing his drink before eventually leaving the area to return to his trailer. Complex staff members called police, who later confronted and arrested McMinn. He continued making transphobic comments during his arrest. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today During his Wednesday court hearing, the complex staff said that McMinn had lived in the park for years. McMinn’s defense solicitor said that, on the day of the incident, he had started drinking earlier in the day than he normally does. “He is embar­rassed being before the court for such derog­at­ory remarks,” McMinn’s solicitor told the court. Nevertheless, he was fined £200 ($267). The fine would have been £300 ($400), except the court reduced it because he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity. A study of 571 trans and non-binary Scots published in July 2024 found that 61% had avoided public services due to fear of harassment or outing. The study also found that 65% rated their neighborhood as a good place to live, and that 21% felt their identity had only negative impacts on their neighborhood experiences. As part of the United Kingdom, Scotland is subject to the April 2025 U.K. Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman under the country’s 2010 Equality Act is based on “biological sex.” While the court said that trans people still have legal protections against discrimination, they also have the legal right to use non-sex-segregated public venues as members of the general public. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

2026 Nordic Darts Masters: Draw, schedule, prize money and format explained originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The World Series of Darts circuit ramps back up this month, as we head to Denmark this weekend for the 2026 Nordic Darts Masters.The tournament will feature eight PDC representatives and eight Nordic & Baltic players.What to know about the Nordic Darts MastersLet's take a look at some of the specifics of the tournament.2026 Nordic Darts Masters draw/bracketHere is the bracket for the tournament.First round(1) Michael van Gerwen vs. Oskar LukasiakStephen Bunting vs. Viktor Tingstrom(4) Gerwyn Price vs. Darius LabanauskasJonny Clayton vs. Andreas Harrysson(2) Luke Littler vs. Cor DekkerJames Wade vs. Madars Razma(3) Gian van Veen vs. Daniel LarssonLuke Humphries vs. Jeffrey de GraafQuarterfinalsMichael van Gerwen vs. Viktor TingstromGerwyn Price vs. Jonny ClaytonLuke Littler vs. James WadeGian van Veen vs. Luke Humphries2026 Nordic Darts Masters scheduleHere is the schedule for the tournament.Day 1 - round of 16 (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)Jonny Clayton vs. Andreas HarryssonFri., June 57:15 p.m.Gerwyn Price vs. Darius LabanauskasFri., June 57:45 p.m.Stephen Bunting vs.Viktor TingstromFri., June 58:15 p.m.Michael van Gerwen vs. Oskar LukasiakFri., June 58:45 p.m.James Wade vs. Madars RazmaFri., June 59:15 p.m.Luke Littler vs. Cor DekkerFri., June 59:45 p.m.Luke Humphries vs. Jeffrey de GraafFri., June 510:15 p.m.Gian van Veen vs. Daniel LarssonFri., June 510:45 p.m.MORE: Explaining the significance of the World Series of DartsDay 2 - quarterfinals (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)Michael van Gerwen vs. Viktor TingstromSat., June 67:15 p.m.Gerwyn Price vs. Jonny ClaytonSat., June 67:45 p.m.Luke Littler vs. James WadeSat., June 68:15 p.m.Gian van Veen vs. Luke HumphriesSat., June 68:45 p.m.Day 2 - semifinals (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)van Gerwen/Tingstrom vs. Price/ClaytonSat., June 69:15 p.m.Littler/Wade vs. van Veen/HumphriesSat., June 69:45 p.m.Day 2 - final (evening session)MatchDateTime (local)TBDSat., June 610:25 p.m.Prize money*Via WikipediaPosition (no. of players)Prize money(Total: £100,000)Winner(1)£30,000Runner-up(1)£16,000Semi-finalists(2)£10,000Quarter-finalists(4)£5,000First round(8)£1,750FormatEach PDC representative was matched up with a Nordic & Baltic qualifier for the round of 16 on Friday.The eight winners will advance and play in the quarterfinals on Saturday night.The semifinals and final follow the quarterfinal round on Saturday night.The round of 16 and quarterfinal round matches will be best of 11 legs.The semifinal round games are best of 13 legs, and the final to crown the winner will be a best of 15 game.More Darts articles:2026 Premier League Darts schedule, scores, results and updated tableLuke Littler contract details: Teenage phenom signs richest endorsement deal in darts historyHow much prize money did Luke Littler earn in the 2026 Premier League of Darts season?Every Premier League Darts play-off night 9-darter: From Luke Littler to Phil TaylorLuke Littler vs. Luke Humphries: All of the stats from a historic Premier League Darts final

Credit: ESPNCharles Barkley can’t help but get emotional when he thinks about the future of the NBA being in the hands of Victor Wembanyama.While some have questioned whether the next face of the NBA has to be an American-born player, Barkley seems sold on the 7-foot-5 “Alien” from France.Barkley joined Mike Greenberg on ESPN’s Get Up Friday morning to preview Game 2 of the NBA Finals, and he admitted to recently getting emotional about Wembanyama and how he is already representing the league.“The emotion that kid showed after Game 7, it almost brought tears to my eyes,” Barkley said of Wembanyama beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. “I was like, the NBA is in a great place having that kid as the face of our league for the next 20 years. His emotion, it was incredible. And then I watched the press conference, and he talked about how much winning meant to him. It made me so proud that that guy is gonna be the face of our league for the next 20 years.”Steph Curry once ruined the NBA for Barkley, who often has more of a ‘my era was better than yours’ attitude. But he seems to feel different about the NBA with Wembanyama at the helm, because he cares.Wembanyama was in tears after advancing to the NBA Finals by winning a road Game 7 against the defending champion Thunder. Kevin Garnett criticized the 22-year-old from France for being too emotional while the NBA Finals were still looming. But Barkley viewed those emotions as a testament to how much he cares about winning. And in an era where the NBA is often criticized for tanking or load management, they might benefit from having a star who cares about winning as much as Wembanyama does. If the face of the league cares about the regular season, All-Star Game, or the NBA Cup just as much as he does a championship, that will resonate with the rest of the players.We’ve never seen a non-American become the face of the NBA. But just thinking about Wembanyama carrying that baton has Barkley feeling pretty great about the league’s future.The post Charles Barkley gets emotional about future of the NBA appeared first on Awful Announcing.

DUBLIN, Ohio — A little golf secret for you: Know how to tell when a PGA Tour player is really, really good? When he can laugh at his bad swings, poor putts and shanked bunker shots after a round from hell.Or in Scottie Scheffler’s case, purgatory. The top-ranked player in the world saved himself from the eternal fire of a missed cut by grinding out three birdies and three pars over his last six holes at the Memorial Tournament on Friday to extend his consecutive cuts made streak to 76, fifth-longest in tour history. Escaping the dreaded golf demon – a missed cut – wasn’t easy, but no burn, no foul. Still, Scheffler the Great was Scottie the Not-so-Great for the majority of his second round at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The 29-year-old had the audacity to show us he is human, after all.But since Scheffler is really, really good, he was able to laugh off – OK, it was more like self-mocking – what for him was a rare shaky performance. The end result, an even-par 72, was far from horrible, but how the round began and how it finished resembled Beauty and the Beast in reverse. Beast: After 10 holes, the two-time defending Memorial winner was 3 over on the day and 4 over for the tournament, with the cutline hovering at 3 over. It eventually landed at 5 over. Beauty: Over the last eight holes, he was 3 under, finishing at 1 over for the tournament.“I thought I was going to shoot about 90 today,” he said, managing a chuckle. “If you were out watching my group, I was going to be hard to find.”Missing half the fairways will do that, as the 4-inch rough is so thick, it threatens to gobble up anything – or anyone – whose drives and irons fly offline.“I was in the rough or off the green for basically every single hole until 13,” he said. Scottie Scheffler rallies on back nine to make cutAgain, very un-Scottie-like, but the way he grinded it out on the back nine was impressively Tiger-like. Woods, who owns the consecutive cuts made record (142), had many chances to mail it in during his career when playing into the weekend appeared out of reach, but more often than not, he dug deeper to make the cut. Respect.Similarly, Scheffler turned on the jets when it looked like he would miss his first cut since the 2020 FedEx St. Jude Invitational. “I think I grind like that every day, just part of the game, [but] that was some of the worst I’ve hit it in a couple years and still managed to shoot even par on a golf course that requires you to strike the ball really well,” he said. “I’m definitely very proud of stuff like that. This tournament is one that could have gotten away from me, but I’m only nine shots back [now 10 behind J.T. Poston] and a chance to go to the weekend.”The turnaround began with a birdie at the 13th hole, which righted a sinking ship. “Hit a nice wedge in there,” he said. “At 14, I hit another nice wedge in there, and was able to hit a few shots down the stretch to give myself a couple looks. Holed a long one on 16 that felt like stealing one, and pars on 17 and 18 today is a good score.”“Around this golf course, with heavy rough and deep bunkers, you have to hit the ball in the right spots, and for a long time today that definitely was not the case for me.”What changed for the better?“I’m about to go find out,” he said before heading to the practice range.Scheffler immediately went to range to fix a wonky swingAbout to go find out? Uh-oh. It may be nothing or may be everything. It sounds counterintuitive, but the worst place for a golfer to be with his game is not knowing why things went right, as they did for Scheffler on the back nine. In other words, it’s easier to fix obvious swing flaws than fix “lucky” positive results.But Scheffler is a qualified mechanic of his swing. Proof? Making 76 cuts in a row. If anyone can fix what’s wrong or discover why it’s right, it is the tall Texan with the sense of humor who knows in golf it’s better to laugh than cry. Sports columnist Rob Oller can be reached at roller@dispatch.com and on X.com at @rollerCD.This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Scottie Scheffler makes 76th straight cut at 2026 Memorial Tournament

The Oklahoma City Thunder have little time to dwell on their shortcomings. They fell in a Game 7 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. But the NBA's year-round business has every team focusing on one thing or the other. Right now, it's the upcoming draft cycle.For the Thunder, they continue to enjoy the best of both worlds — contending for a Larry O'Brien trophy and doing their homework for a lottery addition. They will enter the 2026 NBA draft with three draft picks — No. 12 via the LA Clippers; No. 17 via the Philadelphia 76ers; and No. 37 via the Dallas Mavericks.One prospect the Thunder have reportedly met with in a predraft workout is Louisville's J'Vonne Hadley, per Rookie Wire. He played in five collegiate seasons from 2020-26. His first year was at Northeastern. He then took a gap year before transferring to Colorado for two campaigns. Finally, his final two years were with the Cardinals. He averaged 11.5 points on 56.2% shooting, 5.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 34 games this past season. He shot 44% from 3 on 2.5 attempts.The 24-year-old is a 6-foot-7, 210-pound guard. Most NBA mock drafts have him going undrafted. Which means the Thunder can add him on some sorta Summer League deal and then go from there.The 2026 NBA draft will take place from June 23-24. The Thunder will look to add more young talent to their roster to keep their contending window open as long as possible around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.A full list of the Thunder's 2026 NBA draft workout tracker can be found here.This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: Report: Louisville's J'Vonne Hadley had predraft workout with OKC Thunder

The Milwaukee Brewers begin a high-altitude six-game road trip as they take on the Colorado Rockies on June 5 at Coors Field in Denver. Follow along for live updates as Brandon Sproat (1-4, 6.24) is opposed by Ryan Feltner (2-1, 4.85) in the starting pitching matchup.What time is the Brewers game tonight? Time: 7:40 p.m. CT.What channel is the Brewers game on?Brewers.TVWhat is the Brewers record? 37-23.Brewers lineupTBARockies lineupTBABrewers probable pitchers and scheduleBrewers vs Rockies, June 6, 8:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (6-2, 1.65) vs. Colorado RHP Tanner Gordon (0-1, 6.37). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.Brewers vs Rockies, June 7, 2:10 p.m.: Milwaukee LHP Shane Drohan (2-1, 2.87) vs. Colorado LHP Kyle Freeland (1-6, 8.06). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee Brewers vs Colorado Rockies score, lineups, live updates

The latest violence between the United States and Iran threatened a cease-fire and risked further stoking tensions in the region.