Consider me mostly underwhelmed by Tottenham’s kit offerings for 2026-27. The home kit is, well, a white shirt with some minor design elements, same as it always is. The away kits are this weird dark irregular neon slashy stripes thing that frankly remind me of the Galaxy kits from a couple years ago, except if designed by a 10-year-old. Ew. No thanks.But kit design leaker website Footy Headlines has now dropped a bomb with a leak of what they purport to be Tottenham’s third kits for next season and holy crap take my money right now thank you!HOLY CRAP. Now, it must be said that these, as are most Footy-Headlines leaks, are not the ACTUAL actual kits but “early predictions.” So there’s a strong possibility that the final kits wont’ look exactly like this.But GODDAMN. I’m a sucker for a Spurple away kit — I own three of them. Even if the designs are moderately different to the ones shown above, I’m all in for the Spurples. As depicted, this might actually end up being my favorite Nike kit ever made. But they actually have to make them first.In the age of generative AI slop, I find myself no longer trusting kit release websites fully, especially when they essentially guess on the actual design based on whispers and color swatches. But if these are actually the 2026-27 away Tottenham kits, well, I’ll be first in line to schedule a pre-order.

Two things that left Spurs frozen in final 30 seconds vs Knicks could cost them entire series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The San Antonio Spurs made a disappointing exit from the 2026 NBA Finals Game 2. After erasing a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit to tie the score at 104 with under a minute left, they had every chance to steal Game 2 at home. But they didn't. The Knicks escaped with a nail-biting 105-104 victory, extending New York's incredible playoff win streak to 13 with the second-longest in NBA history and taking a 2-0 series lead.What killed San Antonio wasn't the deficit. It was the final 30 seconds after they'd already done the hard part.Following a timeout with 39.3 seconds remaining, Victor Wembanyama missed a 17-foot jumper, turned the ball over off Stephon Castle’s back, fouled Jalen Brunson and missed the game-winning shot at the buzzer. He admitted in his postgame press conference that things felt blurry in that moment, leaving him with little clarity about what went wrongJeremy Lin, the 2019 NBA champion with the Toronto Raptors and the first Asian-American to win a title, broke it all down on NBA Base, identifying inexperience and fatigue as what doomed the Spurs in their home."The Spurs have so much heart. 14-0 run to come back into the game," Lin said, "but the last 30 seconds, just so much inexperience, whether you want to call it youth, whether you want to call it fatigue, it just wasn't it."Jeremy Lin says "inexperience" and "fatigue" completely ruined the Spurs in the final 30 seconds of Game 2:"The Spurs have so much heart. 14-0 run to come back into the game, but the last 30 seconds, just so much inexperience — whether you want to call it youth, whether you… pic.twitter.com/Stokac1S7c— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 6, 2026Lin highlighted two main mistakes. First was the poor shot selection, an isolated jumper by Wembanyama over Mitchell Robinson that missed. Second was the lack of leadership on the next possession."Wemby was dribbling up, Castle wasn't looking for the ball, and nobody knew who was in charge or if they should call a timeout," Lin said. "It just seemed, as Wemby said, very blurry."Wemby himself admitted after the loss that he needs to have more poise and more control over the game. The contrast Lin drew is what should concern the Spurs most heading into Game 3. "If the roles were reversed and the Knicks got the ball, they would immediately find Brunson, and he would immediately find the mismatch that he wants," Lin said.No team in NBA Finals history has ever come back from a 0-2 deficit after dropping both games on their home floor. The series now shifts to Madison Square Garden, which is arguably the most hostile environment in the NBA. Since this young Spurs core has already struggled at home, things won't be easier for them in the Knicks' home.More NBA news:Jalen Brunson fact-checks fellow Knicks' Karl-Anthony Towns in NBA Finals presserJimmy Butler once questioned his toughness — now Karl-Anthony Towns is bullying the NBA’s DPOY'Victor Wembanyama in shock' - Spurs star compared to Nick Anderson's 1995 NBA Finals nightmare10 of 13 analysts agree on one thing about the NBA Finals — and Knicks fans won't like itVictor Wembanyama at center of chaos as one professional wrestler fires back over MVP disrespect claim

David Sullivan has been a West Ham fan since his family moved to Essex when he was a child [Getty Images]West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has stepped down from his position as joint chairman of the club with immediate effect.The Hammers said they had "been made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations" concerning Sullivan.In a statement of his own, the 77-year-old said a "small number of improper conduct claims" have been made against him adding: "I categorically deny these claims."He said the "decades-old allegations concerning my personal life" are "factually incorrect and entirely false".Sullivan, who had held the role for 16 years, said he stepped down "to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations".The Hammers were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season after finishing 18th."At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability," added Sullivan, who has also resigned as a director."Therefore, after very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign."In a club statement, West Ham said Sullivan has denied any "illegal conduct" and is leaving "in order to avoid disruption to the club while he addresses the matter privately".Sullivan has been the club's largest single shareholder since the death of his business partner David Gold in January 2023, which left him with a 38.8% stake.Sullivan and Gold became joint chairmen of West Ham when they completed their takeover of the club in January 2010."It is understood none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations," said West Ham."Interim chief executive officer Karim Virani, reporting into the current board of directors, will continue to be responsible for leading the club's day-to-day operations. "The club will provide an update on the future structure of the board of directors in due course, but will make no further comment at this time."Sullivan and Gold had previously been co-owners of Birmingham City from 1993 to 2009.They oversaw West Ham's move from Upton Park to London Stadium in 2016 and their Conference League win in 2023 - the Hammers' first major trophy since the 1980 FA Cup. The club's best Premier League finish during their tenure was sixth in 2021, but the Hammers have finished in the bottom half in three of the past four seasons and their 14-year spell in the top flight came to an end last month.West Ham fans have held protests on numerous occasions during the 2025-26 season, calling for Sullivan and Baroness Brady to step down.Brady left her role as vice-chair on 15 April.Fans' fury as West Ham on brink of drop - how have they got here?Latest West Ham news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about West Ham - what do you want to know?

The Buffalo Bills are one of 12 teams in the NFL with a new duo at quarterback and head coach entering the 2026 season.But it's not all that new.Joe Brady replaced Sean McDermott at head coach but Brady and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen are well aquatinted. That, plus Allen's MVP talents help.CBS Sports ranked the NFL's best new quarterback-coach duos coming in 2026. Allen and Brady were ranked No. 1 in the league. They edged out the Baltimore Ravens' pair of Lamar Jackson and Jesse Minter for the top position. CBS Sports' breakdown on Allen and Brady can be found below:These two were initially flipped, but the continuity that Allen has with Brady combined with his durability compared to Jackson forced a change. A bit more confidence exists in what Minter brings to the table on his side of the ball than in what Brady does on his. Still, you can't really go wrong by putting either of these two at the top of the list, and they are pretty clearly the two top new duos. It just depends on what you value.This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Where do the Bills rank among new QB-head coach duos in 2026?

The New York Jets initially planned to acquire another veteran quarterback this summer to back up Geno Smith. They showed some interest in Russell Wilson, who recently opted for retirement instead. Fourth round rookie Cade Klubnik is currently in the backup role.Klubnik has been an up-and-down performer at OTAs. Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe are also on the roster at quarterback. The Jets don't have a settled situation behind Smith, and may still look to acquire a veteran at training camp.Sports Illustrated recently ranked all 32 backup quarterbacks in the league. Unsurprisingly, Klubnik and the Jets ranked dead-last at No. 32. Former Jets QB Joe Flacco was named the best backup in the NFL."It’s not a given that Klubnik will open the season as Geno Smith’s backup after coach Aaron Glenn recently said that veteran Bailey Zappe is No. 2 on the depth chart, but he added that there’s an “open competition” for the role," Gilberto Manzano wrote. "I predict that Klubnik will win the QB2 job this summer, and it bodes well that he’s already received praise from Smith for the way he prepares throughout the week. Most teams would rather not have a rookie fourth-rounder as the backup QB, but the Jets likely wouldn’t mind seeing what they have in Klubnik before next year’s loaded QB draft class."The Jets should have interest in learning more about Klubnik prior to the 2027 NFL draft. It's understandable that most teams wouldn't want a fourth-round rookie backing up their temporary starter. For the rebuilding Jets, it makes perfect sense.This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Sports Illustrated ranks Jets' backup QB spot (and it's not pretty)

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivers his address during the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)2026-06-06T12:18:58Z WASHINGTON (AP) — After Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cut nine Navy officers, including all the women, from a promotion list, several female officers say they see the unusual intervention as a sign that their careers now have a ceiling and worry for the future generation of female military leaders.The Navy had selected 31 sailors to promote from the rank of captain to one-star admiral, but Hegseth recently intervened to strike nine people from the list, including three women and two Black men, according to a defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss information not permitted to be released publicly.As a result, the Navy is not promoting a single woman to the one-star admiral rank this year even though women make up about one-quarter of all Navy officers and nearly one-third of the sea service’s midgrade ranks, according to military data from 2024. The Associated Press spoke with eight female Navy officers of varying ranks and time in service after Hegseth’s cuts, which were reported earlier by The New York Times, became public. They spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution from their superiors. The more junior officers said they saw the development as a sign that their careers would become politicized if they rose too far in the ranks, and some said they felt they now had a limit on how far they could be promoted. Some said it made them feel less valued within the military and wondered whether that wasn’t part of the intent.The Pentagon has not offered any rationale on why the women, or any of the other six people, were removed from the promotion list. Read More The Pentagon says promotions are based on meritSean Parnell, the Pentagon’s top spokesman, said on social media this week that “military promotions are given to those who have earned them” and that the Pentagon “will never consider the color of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions.” The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request seeking further comment.The Navy’s process for choosing which officers to promote to the one-star rank has been relatively constant and transparent over the years. The service convenes a group of officers, called a promotion board, that examines the records of eligible officers and chooses the most qualified.The board that selected the initial slate of 31 officers for promotion was directed by then-Navy Secretary John Phelan, an appointee of President Donald Trump, to “recommend for promotion the best qualified officers within their respective competitive category.” The order from Phelan, who later abruptly departed his post in April, said the board should consider an officer’s performance, competence and character, among other traits, as part of those qualifications.It also said that given China’s prominence in the Trump administration’s National Defense Strategy, “special consideration shall be given to officers who have excelled in their knowledge of the political military affairs and U.S. strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and operational contingency planning for Indo-Pacific war plans.” Hegseth has long argued, without offering evidence, that women in the military benefit from preferential treatment and are not suited for combat roles.“For too long, we’ve promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons based on their race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts,” Hegseth told hundreds of military leaders in September.The approach, he asserted, made the Pentagon “less capable and less lethal.” Navy leaders and other top officials had approved promotion listPhelan’s order said the Navy cannot discriminate based on criteria such as race and sex, and it specifically noted that “this guidance shall not be interpreted as requiring or permitting preferential treatment of any officer or group of officers on the grounds of race, religion, color, sex.”The full list of 31 people to be promoted was approved by Phelan, other Navy leaders and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, before it reached Hegseth, who chose to make the changes, the defense official said.While Hegseth is within his rights to intervene in the list, “it’s just not the norm,” said Katherine Kuzminski, a researcher specializing in military recruiting and retention at the Center for New American Security think tank.Kuzminski noted that “this is a decision that’s not being made by the U.S. Navy — it’s being made by the secretary of defense” and said Hegseth’s growing interference in operational aspects of the military services such as promotions is creating “tension” about what “normal” will look like going forward.Some of the more senior Navy officers who spoke with the AP expressed concerns about the message it sends to the next generation of young sailors.In addition to pulling the recent promotions of three women to admiral, Hegseth shortly after he took office fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the service’s top officer and the first woman to hold the job. He never explained his rationale. Since then, he also has fired two other female three-star admirals without explanation.Some of the officers who spoke to the AP said that while they were encouraging female sailors to stick with the Navy, they acknowledged that message is coming at a difficult time.Kuzminski said the rhetoric and actions surrounding women in the military “affects individual service member decision-making and it also affects family unit decision-making,” including whether people make a career of the military.Kuzminski said that following the monthslong hold on military promotions by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., during the Biden administration, surveys showed that partisan politics spilling into the day-to-day lives of troops affected their decision-making.One officer said this impact was not confined to women. In conversations with other sailors in her unit, she said that male sailors were hesitant to deal with what appears to be a growing politicization of simply following the orders of previous administrations.

At least three incidents of mysterious men climbing up from manholes in Brooklyn and Queens have been reported in the past month, prompting warnings from NYC officials about the dangers of exploring the sewer system. What do you think? “Tell me a better way to seek an audience with the King Of The Cockroaches. I’ll wait.” Nabeel Jawhar, Systems Analyst “I hope one day mysterious women emerge from the sewers, too.” Anita Boucher, Footage Reviewer “I warned everyone that Mamdani would summon sewer dwellers.” Sam Radford, Cow Brander The post Mystery Men Emerge From NYC Manholes appeared first on The Onion.

FIFA announced on Friday that it will now allow fans to bring their own water bottles to some stadiums during the World Cup, adjusting a policy that had barred spectators from bringing refillable water bottles into the tournament’s 16 stadiums across North America, including some with limited or no shade from the sun.FIFA in a social media post said fans will be permitted to bring one, soft, plastic, 20-ounce (590 milliliter), factory-sealed, disposable water bottle into any match taking place in the United States or Canada.[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]In a video released by FIFA, Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi said fans will still not be permitted to bring in hard sided, reusable water bottles “due to safety and security reasons.”FIFA stated, “for the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”FIFA’s stadium rules had stated that fans could bring in a transparent, reusable bottle up to one liter, or 33.8 ounces capacity. On Thursday, the “Stadium Code of Conduct” update was criticized by an English fan group, which argued FIFA had given assurances on carrying empty plastic bottles to fill with freely available water at a tournament where heat and extreme weather are expected to be a factor.

Carolina Panthers running back Trevor Etienne may sound like a whole new man this upcoming season.During his introductory press conference for the New Orleans Saints nearly three months ago, Travis Etienne—Trevor's older brother—cleared up the pronunciation of his family name. Turns out—it's not "ee-tee-EN," it's actually "ay-chan."Update on how to pronounce Travis Etienne Jr.’s name moving forward: pic.twitter.com/FrZu5gCqAz— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2026Trevor provided some confirmation in a recent chat with The Charlotte Observer.“I mean, that’s actually how you pronounce our last name,” Etienne told beat reporter Mike Kaye. “It’s (pronounced) Achane, but that’s like some people at home — not a lot of people know that.”Well, they'll probably have to know from now on—especially after Travis' standout campaign in 2025. The former first-round pick amassed 1,107 rushing yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns, and parlayed that success into a four-year, $52 million pact with the Saints.Trevor, who will welcome his brother into the NFC South, is set to enter his second pro campaign. His first saw him serve as the Panthers' primary punt and kick returner while compiling 94 yards on 20 carries out of the backfield.Follow @ThePanthersWire on Twitter/X for more Panthers content.This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers RB Trevor Etienne confirms correct pronunciation of surname

The Denver Broncos welcomed media members to their third and final practice of the first week of organized team activities (OTAs) on Thursday, giving reporters their first look at new wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.Denver traded multiple draft picks to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for Waddle earlier this year, and the 27-year-old receiver's quickness was on full display during Thursday's session. Fellow receiver Courtland Sutton noted Waddle's “tremendous speed," and coach Sean Payton said the veteran has also picked up the offense quickly.“He’s had a good week," Payton said. "He’s someone who picks things up real quick. He had a real good day yesterday. You can just feel his instincts, his quickness and his ability to really to not only run fast but stop fast. So he’s doing well.”Waddle will add an instant spark to Denver's offense, teaming up with Sutton to give quarterback Bo Nix another dynamic weapon. "[H]e’s a special dude," Sutton said of Waddle. "There are a lot of things that he has — the qualities that he does that are very unique to himself. I say that in a very specific way because he has some qualities that only he can do. It’s fun to be able to see it up close and personal. I think Coach [Davis] Webb and Coach Payton have done a really good job already of trying to figure out the things that he can do well to help us in our room and help our offense.”🗣️Courtland Sutton had some jokes for Broncos media when asked what qualities make Jaylen Waddle a great player:"You know this answer bruh..."#BroncosCountrypic.twitter.com/kCmmBnkXTs— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports) June 4, 2026After hauling in 64 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns in Miami last season, Waddle will look to take the next step in Denver, and he's off to a good start. Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Jaylen Waddle looks sharp at first week of Denver Broncos OTAs

RALEIGH, NC - MARCH 02: Maliq Brown #6 of the Duke Blue Devils slams the ball during the college basketball game between the NC State Wolfpack and the Duke Blue Devils on March 2, 2026 at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Some potentially great news for former Duke ace Maliq Brown, as he appears to have made a solid impression in the run-up to the draft, and now, he may have moved up near the top of the second round. Yahoo’s Kevin O’Connor has a mock draft up, and he has Brown going to the Los Angeles Clippers with the #36 pick. Duke fans know the impact that Brown can have on nearly every play. O’Connor says that his big flaw is that he can’t shoot, but his defense is too good to overlook. He might have mentioned his passing, too. One of the magical things about this past year’s Duke team is that Brown, Cameron Boozer, and Patrick Ngongba were all superb passing big men. It was a tough thing for any team to deal with. That’s the good news about O’Connor’s mock draft. The bad?He has Isaiah Evans dropping to the second round. Go to the DBR Boards to find Blue Healer Auctions || Drop us a line

Ty Yukumoto hit a two-run single to cap off a five-run eighth inning and help Missoula to a 9-5 victory over Glacier Friday at Glacier Bank Park.Zach Longshore started strong on the bump for the Range Riders (12-4), going six innings and allowing just one run on seven hits. He fanned four.Paired with Longshore’s quality start, the bats helped Glacier to a 4-1 lead after two innings.Tommy Rover knocked in a pair in the second to make it 2-1, followed by a two-run error from Missoula (9-7) as Logan Beard reached third with Rover and Kyle Ashworth scoring.Carson Hornung added a fifth run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh to make it 5-1, but then Missoula found its groove.Tyler Stone singled after an RBI groundout got a run in for the Paddleheads. Followed shortly by a bases-loaded walk to make it a 5-4 deficit. Then Yukumoto gave Missoula its first lead since the second inning.Xavier Casserilla singled in the ninth to score another Paddleheads run. Stone then hit a sacrifice fly before Jeremy Piatkiewicz doubled to score Casserilla and give Missoula a 9-5 advantage.Brendan Beard started and went 5 1-3 innings for Missoula, allowing four runs and striking out 10. Mark Timmins picked up the win after 1 2-3 innings in relief. Matthew Taubensee closed out the game with two scoreless innings, fanning five.Jack Maruskin is credited with the loss for Glacier.The series resumes Saturday at 7:05 p.m. for the second of a three-game set.Missoula 100 000 053 - 9 14 1Glacier 040 000 100 - 5 8 2Brendan Beard, Mark Timmins (6), Matthew Taubensee (8) and Joskar Feliciano. Zach Longshore, Ryan Humphries (7), Jack Maruskin (8), Will Maynard (8), Chris Canada (9) and Donovan Ratfield.MISSOULA — William Bermudez 1-4, Nich Klemp 3-4, Enzo Apodaca 1-4, Xavier Casserilla 2-5, Tyler Stone 2-4, Joskar Feliciano 1-4, Michael Koszewski 1-2, Jeremy Piatkiewicz 1-4, Leyton Barry 0-0, Ty Yukumoto 2-5.GLACIER — Joe McLaughlin 0-5, Logan Beard 0-5, Carson Garner 1-5, Jake Millan 3-5, Carson Hornung 1-3, Donovan Ratfield 1-4, Andrew Collins 0-0, Jacob Steele 0-3, Tommy Rover 1-2, Kyle Ashworth 1-3.2B — Klemp 2, Piatkiewicz. Millan. 3B — Millan. RBIs — Apodaca 2, Stone 2, Yukumoto 2, Casserilla, Piatkiewicz, Barry. Beard 2, Rover 2, Hornung.

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Florentino Perez takes aim at Real Madrid presidential rival over Erling Haaland claims – “Embarrassment of a hoax”In less than 24 hours’ time, the polls will open for the first Real Madrid presidential election in 20 years. Florentino Perez and Enrique Riquelme will go head-to-head for the top job at the Bernabeu, and ahead of the voting opening, the former spoke on Saturday at his closing campaign ceremony.Perez has been very vocal in the media this week in his criticism of Riquelme, and he did not stop on Saturday. As per Marca, he accused of rival of misleading Real Madrid members regarding promises made over the last few days.“Real Madrid members will not allow lies, not everything goes. There are those who have no scruples and use the Real Madrid shirt to embarrass the members. We have had to endure the embarrassment of a hoax being launched on a television show to deceive the member, and that minutes later the player’s father, the player’s representative and the player himself, who was from Manchester City, flatly deny it and threaten to file legal action. This is something that surely does not cause any blush, but all the members of Real Madrid and me in particular are very embarrassed. And that ridicule seems to have no end.”Perez slams Riquelme over managerial pursuitMADRID, 26/10/2025.- El presidente del Real Madrid Florentino Pérez, y la presidenta de la Comunidad de Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso, durante el partido de la décima jornada de LaLiga EA Sports, que Real Madrid y FC Barcelona disputan este domingo en el estadio Santiago Bernabéu. EEFE/ Sergio PerezPerez also slammed Riquelme over his plans to go for Jurgen Klopp as the manager he would target if elected as president. He also accused his rival of changing targets during the election process as a deliberate ploy to mislead those that will vote on Sunday.“Last night they advanced the name of a coach to go talk to him, and this coach responded to them a few minutes later saying that he doesn’t even bother. But didn’t they have a coach in mind who was active at the beginning of the campaign? Anything goes to these gentlemen.”

COLUMBUS — Starting a meet vaulting near your all-time best was a challenge for Carrick Dobran Friday.The Conneaut senior competed in the Division III pole vault during the Ohio High School Athletic Association state championships at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus.“Normally when I get to that height, I have already had 10 live jumps with a real bar,” Dobran said after failing to clear the opening height of 13’0.Bloom-Carroll’s Dominic Knapp ended up winning the D-III pole vault at 15’10”, followed by Perry’s Traxton Richards at 15’6”.Dobran said that experience was much different than a normal meet.Conneaut boys track coach Tyler Pew said Dobran is everything you want in athlete, especially with work ethic and attitude.“He’s upset with himself, but he is not going to let it define him,” Pew said. “We are just extremely proud of him for getting down here.”He is part of a resurgence of the Conneaut High School track program which was a fixture at the state meet in the late 1980s and ‘90s.Pew has coached Dobran since his freshman year.He has only been a Conneaut coach for three years, but assisted him in pole vault while a coach at Edgewood.The two days in Columbus were still an enjoyable experience for Dobran.The senior arrived on Thursday to check out the surroundings and watch his long-time summer camp friend from Cincinnati Country Day junior Luke Schnieber, who set the Ohio pole-vault record with a vault of 17’5”.Schnieber and Dobran met years ago at a camp called Summer’s Best Two Weeks in Western Pennsylvania.Team Dobran was out in force Friday as 20 friends and family members made the trip to Columbus. Several of them also wore special Carrick Dobran pole vault shirts.Dobran is planning to attend Muskingum University in the fall and study exercise science. He also plans to continue his track career as a pole vaulter and possibly as a decathlete, competing for points in 10 different events.They have a training program that isn’t event specific, but designed to make the athletes faster and stronger, Dobran said.Dobran said he plans to continue working on the pole vault this summer.He improved drastically throughout his senior season.Dobran earned Ashtabula County championship honors with an effort of 12’0” at the end of April, and a trip to state from the Division III regional meet last week in Austintown Fitch.

COLUMBUS — Edgewood’s Paul Siler II made his fans and coaches a bid nervous Friday afternoon during the Division III state track and field championships.For the second straight week, the junior waited until the last throw of his flight to make a throw good enough to continue on in the competition.Siler threw 159’1” to make the finals, which held up for a sixth-place finish in the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Track and Field Championships at Jesse Owens Stadium.Without the third throw, he would not have made the finals or the podium.Siler said he just kept telling himself he only needed one good throw to qualify and then make the podium.“I fouled two of my throws at regional, then threw the 163’,” he said. “This really helped me keep my composure, but overall, I was really excited.”Brett Beury, of Firelands, who won the Austintown Fitch Regional, just ahead of Siler last weekend, threw a 188’08 to capture the state title.Both Siler and Warriors throws coach Beth Simpson said he was nervous, but rose above those nerves in his first trip to state meet.“Obviously I was pretty excited,” Simpson said. “I do wish he had hit a PR (personal record).”Edgewood boys head coach Anthony Cardaman said he loves having Simpson on board because she handles the field events and he can concentrate on the head coaching position“She makes it happen,” he said.Simpson said it takes a real competitor to rise above the nerves to hit a big throw at the state meet.“I was definitely nervous, my first year at state,” Siler said. “My hands were sweaty and it was hard to hold the disc.”Siler said he played baseball during his early years, but went out for track in seventh grade and fell in love with it.Siler said his goal for next season is to make it back to state.In the meantime, he said his main focus this summer will be preparing for the fall football season.The throwing excellence at Edgewood continues with Simpson, who said Siler is the fifth or sixth competitor to place at state.The discus is a very unique event to coach and involves a lot of adjustment by the coach and the thrower, Simpson said.She said Siler made a lot of progress during the season, but has a lot more inside.“Discus is so much form,” Simpson said of the repetitive work, which allows the full performance to occur at the right time.Consistency is also important. Once he made the finals, two of his three throws were 157’05” and 159’0”.Simpson credits her coaches, clinics and the athletes themselves for making adjustments that lead to success.Throwing camps have also been helpful in developing a style, but each athlete is different and needs to be coached subtly differently.Simpson said a variety of factors go into creating a throwing style.She said size, speed, style, arm length and overall strength all are a part of the equation.All of those factors must be kept in mind.Simpson said using video to make adjustments and includes athletes watching themselves. ““You can analyze frame by frame at practice and meets,” she said.

Last fall, Delaney Tirotta finished the girls tennis season at 7-0.The Saint John junior recorded a big win against a senior.“No matter the circumstances you can still be good if you believe in yourself,” she said.Tirotta, like many of her high school teammates and opponents, are using the Ashtabula County Tennis Ladder as a springboard into the fall season.The ladder, started by Heralds tennis coach Todd Nassief, first began in 2012.It has evolved into a fun and competitive atmosphere for those involved.“This could be one or our best years,” Nassief said. “We have more sponsors, more prizes and more unique ideas.”Nassief said one of those new events is the Battle of Bula.“Thirty two players will play in a one-point tournament, it’s patterned after what the Australian Open did this year,” he said. “Every year, we try to make improvements, and try to make it fun for them.”Nassief said another planned event is a seven-point tiebreaker tournament, and a couple of mixed-doubles nights.The ladder is played at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday nights for doubles, and 8:45 a.m. Saturday morning singles until July 29.After a week, more than 130 matches have already been played.Jimmy LaPlaca is a novice to tennis.“This is my first year,” the soon-to-be 13 year old at Saint John said. “I want to get better and stay in shape over the summer. It’s pretty fun.”Nassief said the age range for participants is from 6 to 70.“The most rewarding thing is seeing young kids playing and making friends,” he said. “For the high schools who play against each during the season, it’s a chance to renew friendships.”Although the bulk of players are from the area, Nassief has noticed participants from Medina, Canton and Pennsylvania.The college influence has been noted with players from Mount Union, Grove City, Ohio Northern and Baldwin Wallace.Geneva graduates LJ Stark, Myles Colgan and Isaac Riddell are scheduled to join Saint John alum Jacob Timonere at Mount Union, which is coached by Lakeside grad Ryan McClure.Timonere just finished his junior season with the Purple Raiders.“Playing in the tennis ladder has helped my game a lot,” he said. “Competing against different players and playing at the college level has made me a stronger player.”Timonere said he’s been playing in the ladder for nine years.“One of the best parts has been meeting so many great people in the tennis community,” he said.Meanwhile, Riddell previously studied at Ohio Northern.“I’m excited to transfer to Mount Union to pursue civil engineering and play tennis with some of my former Geneva teammates who will also be going there,” Riddell said. “Head coach Ryan McClure has offered me a great opportunity, and I’m looking forward to taking advantage of it.”Riddell said he’s using the ladder to play tennis with his friends in a fun, relaxed atmosphere while working on his game.Saint John grad Colleen Anderson, a BW student-athlete, is anticipated to play matches.Nassief said even past players who don’t play collegiately, such as Mickey Zheng and Noah Vencill, get in some matches.Zheng, who played at both Saint John and Geneva, is a medical student at Ohio University, while Vencill, an Edgewood graduate, attends Wittenberg for school and to play volleyball.For Tirotta, who is striving for a bigger role with the Heralds this season, the goal is to keep progressing.“You play a lot of matches against people better than you,” she said. “I want to do at least something each day to improve.”

DeVonta Smith dynasty owners got a welcome surprise when the Philadelphia Eagles finally traded disgruntled wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots. It wasn’t so much a surprise as a sense of relief, and the realization that Smith’s true upside may finally be unlocked.​Smith has flashed high-end fantasy football ability in the past, and with Brown in a new city, he could be looking at a massive piece of the pie when it comes to Philly’s target share. What does that mean for his immediate 2026 dynasty outlook and beyond?​DeVonta Smith’s Dynasty Fantasy Outlook in 2026​Impact of A.J. Brown TradeThe A.J. Brown trade was perhaps the worst-kept secret in the NFL, but it was still massive news, as the stud receiver was officially moved in a deal with the Patriots.🚨🚨🚨ESPN sources: The Eagles are trading Pro-Bowl WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick that is the better of New England’s two fifths. The deal that has been speculated on for weeks now finally is happening. Brown and Patriots… pic.twitter.com/9Z8ocpyeJf— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 1, 2026​Brown’s own dynasty outlook improves with this move, but his departure opens the door to a huge bump in volume for Smith. This transition involves 121 vacated targets with Brown exiting Philadelphia, to be exact.​While there is some concern over Smith’s size and the overall negative impact losing a player of Brown’s caliber can bring, the sky appears to be the limit for the former Alabama product.DeVonta Smith Dynasty Price​Smith’s price tag has been trending up for months, as the A.J. Brown trade rumors had been heating up since the middle of last year. Even before this deal went official, dynasty owners had to pay a first-round pick to land Smith, with KeepTradeCut starting the bidding at an early first in 2026 rookie drafts, and a mid-to-late first in 2027 drafts.​Depending on the league, it’s possible the price becomes even steeper than that. Smith’s stature raises question marks – as does Philly’s traditionally run-heavy offense – but the upside is obvious when you note how he’s performed without Brown on the field in the past.Devonta Smith splits with and without AJ Brown since 2022: With: 14.06 PPGWithout: 14.53 PPG (4 game sample)But he did average more targets/catches/yards140-98-1237 paceJust ran more hot on TDs with Brown— Chris O'Brien (@17gamepace) June 5, 2026​Smith is still in his prime at age 27 and can win at every level, while we’ve seen him produce at an elite level before. He has cracked the top-30 in every single season he’s been in the league, and his WR9 overall finish in 2022 is a firm reminder of the ceiling he could possess now that he’s the alpha in Philly’s passing attack.​The cost is high to acquire Smith, but based on past production, physical ability, and expected role, he’s worth it.​DeVonta Smith Dynasty Outlook​Even a conservative DeVonta Smith dynasty outlook should position him as a big-time buy, seeing as we know he’s capable of a top-10 finish. The volume is going to increase going forward, so there’s very little preventing him from living up to or even exceeding expectations.​Smith was the WR20 overall in full PPR leagues last year, and he ranked as WR30 in points per game. No matter how you view his fantasy outlook based on those ranks, he’s now slated for much better production.DeVonta Smith could easily finish as a WR #1 if AJ Brown is traded to the Patriots.With rumors around AJ Brown’s future, DeVonta Smith is set to be a candidate to produce a big season.The Eagles reportedly view Smith as having the potential to breakout in the same way that… pic.twitter.com/Xg0iIZWr5f— Start Sit 'Em (@StartSitEmFF) May 15, 2026​The issue is cost. Smith was already costing a first-round pick, but now that Brown is officially gone, his owners can afford to be demanding. Due to the 2027 class being so stacked, the preference has to be to move him for a 2026 first, or try to shoot for 2028 or 2029 picks.If dynasty owners are looking to sell Smith, now is the time to milk him for all that he’s worth. A first-round pick is the starting point, and ideally, owners aren’t budging for anything outside of the 2027 class.Smith isn’t a guy that has to be moved, of course. He’s now the top option on Philly’s offense, and he could be looking at 2-3 years of elite production. Long-term, it’s something to consider capitalizing on – and the asking price will never go higher than it is now – but contending teams have every reason to hold.

Fahd Abu Haikal, 41 displays a mobile photo of his seven month old Palestinian baby boy Sam, who was killed on Friday when Israeli soldiers fired at the vehicle carrying him and his parents, in Tel Rumeida, at a hospital in the West Bank city of Hebron Saturday, June 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)2026-06-06T06:16:17Z HEBRON, West Bank (AP) — Israeli troops killed a 7-month-old Palestinian baby boy after firing at his parents’ vehicle in the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian health ministry said.Sam Fahd Abu Haikal was killed Friday evening, and his parents were wounded while driving in the Tel Rumeida area south of Hebron City, according to the ministry.The official Palestinian news agency WAFA said the baby was critically wounded after being struck in the face by the same bullet that injured his mother. He later died of his injuries. His father, Fahd Abu Haikal, a lecturer at Bethlehem University, was shot in the hand. They were traveling from Bethlehem to visit family in Hebron when soldiers opened fire, the agency reported.Israel’s military has scaled up military operations in the West Bank since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed some 1,200 people and took 251 people hostage, which triggered the war in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has so far killed more than 72,900 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The United Nations said last month that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since the war began, at least 240 of them children. The Israeli military said Friday soldiers shot at a vehicle that was perceived to be accelerating toward them in the Hebron area. It said the soldiers responded with single shots, wounding three Palestinians who were evacuated for medical treatment. An initial inquiry found that the wounded were uninvolved civilians and the situation is under review. Read More At Al-Ahly Hospital in Hebron, the baby’s father told Associated Press reporters that a bullet struck the car’s windshield before piercing his right hand, then his son and wife who were in the back seat. Another bullet struck the vehicle’s hood, according to AP reporters who saw the car. His wife is in critical condition because there’s shrapnel close to her heart, he said. The family told her that her son, who turned seven months old on Friday, was killed, just before heading to funeral prayers. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. The baby’s grandmother, Feryal Abu Heikal, was also in the car during the shooting and said they were driving near a checkpoint and stopped when they saw Israeli military vehicles and soldiers in the distance. As the forces fired at them, she initially thought it was warning shots before they were struck, she said.“The scene was horrific to see a 7-month-old baby with a smashed face,” she said. “What kind of army in the world does this? ... What happened to my grandson can’t be easily forgotten.”The funeral service was held at noon at a nearby mosque. The tiny body was wrapped in the Palestinian flag as people lined up for prayers before taking him in an ambulance for burial. At the ambulance, Abu Haikal was seen crying and hugging the infant’s half-brother.The British Consulate in Jerusalem said it was “shocked and saddened” by the Israeli killing of the baby, calling on X for an “immediate and transparent investigation and accountability.” Also on Saturday, the Palestinian Red Crescent said eight people were wounded in settler attacks on the town of Huwara, near Nablus, including from tear gas inhalation and rubber-coated metal bullets. In March, Israeli soldiers fired on a car carrying a family in the northern West Bank, killing four people, including two children, the Palestinian Authority’s Health Ministry said at the time.Israeli soldiers accused of harming Palestinians are rarely penalized and were indicted in fewer than 1% of cases based on 2,427 complaints alleging wrongdoing between 2016 and 2024, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din.More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state. The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in these areas to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.——Magdy reported from Cairo, Egypt, and Mednick reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. SAMY MAGDY Magdy is a Middle East reporter for The Associated Press, based in Cairo. He focuses on conflict, migration and human rights abuses. twitter facebook mailto SAM MEDNICK Mednick is an AP correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She focuses on conflict, humanitarian crises and human rights abuses. Mednick formerly covered West & Central Africa and South Sudan. twitter

FILE — Former U.S. Rep. Stephen Buyer, left, trails his lawyer as he leaves Manhattan federal court after pleading not guilty to charges that he participated in an insider trading scheme while working as a consultant, July 27, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Larry Neumeister, File)2026-06-06T12:05:16Z WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has issued a pardon to Stephen Buyer, a former Republican congressman from Indiana who served nearly two years in prison for making illegal stock trades based on inside information after he left office.Buyer was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2023 for trades made while working as a consultant and lobbyist. He was ordered to forfeit more than $350,000, representing the amount of the illegal gains, and pay a $10,000 fine. He was released in 2025.In granting “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon,” Trump cited Buyer’s career as a judge advocate general in the Army and in the House that was “distinguished and highly productive.” The pardon was dated Thursday and released by the White House late Friday.Buyer said the pardon “corrects a politically motivated prosecution” and that it was “horrific to be imprisoned for a crime that I did not commit.” He maintains that he is innocent. Trump used his Truth Social media platform on May 31 to share a pair of letters requesting a presidential pardon for Buyer, a lawyer and Gulf War veteran who left office in 2011. He was a House prosecutor at Democratic President Bill Clinton’s 1998 impeachment trial and in 2016 he served on Trump’s transition team focusing on veterans’ issues. A letter signed by more than 40 former Republicans in Congress said Buyer was “targeted by the deep state” because of his involvement in Clinton’s trial. Read More “Like you, Mr. President, Steve has been the victim of lawfare conducted by the Biden Administration,” they wrote in the April 2025 letter.A second letter, from five current House Republicans, said pardoning Buyer would bring justice to his case. The June 2025 letter was signed by Tom Cole of Oklahoma, Ken Calvert of California, Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, Jack Bergman of Michigan and Pete Sessions of Texas.Buyer, 67, was convicted in connection with insider trading involving the $26.5 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint, announced in April 2018, and illegal trades in the management consulting company Navigant when his client Guidehouse was set to acquire it in a deal publicly disclosed weeks later.The Constitution gives a president broad power to grant pardons for federal crimes. The pardons do not erase a recipient’s criminal record but can be seen as act of mercy or justice.

Jalen Brunson's Mom Can't Stop Laughing as Knicks Fan Thanks Her For Giving Birth to Star Guard © Imagn ImagesThe New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 Friday night at Frost Bank Center, thanks to the late-game heroics of Jalen Brunson, who scored the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds left in the game.Brunson has a knack for finding big-time buckets. It’s what he’s done throughout the playoffs, and he has particularly taken it up a notch in the NBA Finals against a tough opponent in San Antonio. Though he struggled to find his shot, going 7-for-25 in Game 2 after going 12-for-31 in Game 1, he came up clutch when the game was on the line, giving the Knicks a 2-0 lead in the seven-game series and momentum in the Finals.In Game 1, not only Brunson’s wife was present, but his mother was able to make the trip from San Antonio and see it live. While hundreds of Knicks fans were also in the crowd, one fan couldn’t leave without sending a special message for Brunson’s mother, Sandra Brunson.“Hey Mrs. Brunson, thank you so much for having that boy. Thank you! He is the franchise changer! We love him!”The video has gone viral after Game 2. Brunson’s mom was seen taking the compliment well as she was all smiles. However, there is no proof that Sandra attended Game 2, but his wife was there to support him.Ali Brunson, who is a physical therapist, posted a video on her Instagram Stories showing fans chanting;“Let’s go Knicks.”The win was especially special for the players, many of whom brought their families along for the trip to the NBA Finals. Brunson finished with 20 points, six assists, five rebounds, and five steals, while Karl-Anthony Towns led the team with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds.As for San Antonio, Victor Wembanyama led with 29 points and nine rebounds but missed a game-winning shot that could have tied the series at 1-1.Jalen Brunson and Knicks on Verge of NBA HistoryThe Knicks are two wins away from NBA championship history as they take a 2-0 series lead on the road. The only other teams to win the NBA Finals after winning the first two games on the road were Michael Jordan’s 1993 Chicago Bulls and Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1995 Houston Rockets. All that said, this series is far from over, especially if the Spurs get one back.The Knicks’ starting five of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges have continued their season-long dominant play into the NBA Finals, where they’ve been consistently effective in every way needed to win the championship.Brunson has been lights out for the Knicks this postseason, averaging 27.1 points, and he’ll have to continue to stand tall as the Knicks will certainly be fired up at home. Game 3 between the Knicks and Spurs goes on Tuesday night.Read More:“Don’t Do That”: Jalen Brunson’s Dad Gets Involved in Heated Moment With De’Aaron FoxVictor Wembanyama Takes Blame as Late Horror Show Puts Spurs in 0-2 Hole Against KnicksCollege Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in the NBA, WNBA, college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!

A’Mauri Washington (defensive tackle, Oregon) generated buzz last year. He ultimately elected to return to Oregon in 2026. How does he project for the 2027 NFL Draft?A’Mauri Washington Early Scouting ReportMeasureablesHeight: 6’3”Weight: 338 lbsStatistics2025: 33 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.2024: 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.2023: two tackles.The TapeGames Watched: at Penn State, at Iowa, and Indiana (playoffs).StrengthsThe planet theory applies to Washington. At 6’3” 338 lbs, he has been recorded as running at 20.89 mph in GPS tracking. He also has a 36” vertical leap on record. Gracen Halton had the highest vertical leap at the position at the 2026 NFL Combine, but he was only 293 lbs. There are only so many people on the planet who are big and athletic. Washington is one such person.Washington’s athletic ability shows up on his tape. He’s explosive out of his stance and can get penetration as a result. His ability to get across a blocker’s face demands a double team.His raw strength is also on show as he can shed blockers as if he’s swatting a fly. As his initial get-off is so explosive, that first contact with blockers can knock them off balance.A'Mauri Washington (DT, Oregon) is able to win with raw power. Here he sheds the right guard and blows up this wildcat play. #NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/UuFp85CcJQ— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) June 5, 2026Washington can also move laterally quickly. It allows Oregon to disguise which gap it’s attacking. He can line up shading the center, making it look like he’ll be attacking the “A” gap. Washington will then move laterally, and he’s suddenly attacking the “B” gap. This is a rare ability.The outstanding athletic ability allows Oregon to use him in a variety of roles. He’ll line up anywhere from zero to seven techniques and everywhere in between. That versatility is a major plus for creative NFL Defensive Coordinators. He will particularly appeal to teams that like to use multiple alignments alongside twists and stunts.Washington shows a good feel for the game on screens and misdirection plays. His eyes are beyond his blocker into the backfield, which helps him diagnose effectively.While he does rotate out of the game, Washington plays a high number of snaps. His motor is permanently set to high, and he does make plays because of this.Areas to ImproveWashington’s lack of sack production is of concern. The tape shows a player who is still developing this area of his game. He has a limited arsenal of pass rush moves and struggles to counter when his initial move doesn’t work.Washington can also play too high against both run and pass, and he gives up his chest too often. When offensive lineman get into his chest, he struggles to get their hands off him, and he is then neutralized.Right now, Washington wins with raw speed and power. He needs to become more nuanced with his hand use. While his athletic profile would have seen him taken in the first round in the 2026 NFL Draft, returning to Oregon in 2026 is the correct football decision.While Washington feels screens and misdirection well, he needs to feel double teams much better. Once engaged with one man, if a down blocker also engages him, he’s routinely moved off the ball. Against zone schemes, he flows with the blocks and must learn when to drop his anchor.A'Mauri Washington here over RT Gennings Dunker. He doesn't feel the RG and gets moved, leaving a big hole.#NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/7i2Q6kSVQh— Paul Emery (@UKDraftFan) June 4, 2026A’Mauri Washington’s Key Tests in 2026The schedule looks manageable for Washington and the Ducks, with the standout test early in the season coming in week four at Southern California.Later in the season, they have interesting back-to-back tests with a road game at Ohio State in week 10, before hosting Michigan.NFL talent evaluators will hope for a playoff qualification to give Washington and the Ducks further tests.The full schedule can be found here.A’Mauri Washington SummaryWashington profiles as a high first-round pick simply because he’s a rare athlete. Right now, that allows him to make flash plays against the run. However, he’s still putting the pieces together as a pass rusher.No question returning to Oregon in 2026 will help Washington become more nuanced with his hand use and feel for double teams.He clearly has the potential to have a monster year and become an elite prospect. Right now, he’s an elite athlete who is still developing as a defensive tackle.

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - MAY 28: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers works out during a team OTA practice at SAP Performance Facility on May 28, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images I know the consensus of the San Francisco 49ers lately has been about some draft whiffs and misses. But man, when they get a hit, they usually get. a. HIT. Last week, Pro Football Focus made a top-20 list of the most valuable non-1st round draft picks since 2016. Since all but one year in that period falls under Kyle Shanahan’s tenure, it’s interesting that three 49ers made the list: Quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and linebacker Fred Warner. It should surprise no one that those three are on the list. Many may also not be surprised to see Brock Purdy No. 1 on that list. It’s interesting to see the other two in the top-10. Purdy’s status at the top of this list can’t be put better: The odds of finding a franchise quarterback outside of the first round are already very slim. But landing one with the last pick in the draft is an extreme statistical anomaly — yet that’s what the 49ers pulled off when they took Purdy four years ago.While I’ll defend the 49ers’ drafting—to an extent—I will agree that had Purdy not arrived, Shanahan may not have a job after that Trey Lance fiasco. Putting the Lance history aside, who would have thought the last pick in the draft would have us stop holding our breath when the 49ers threw the ball? “Kittle has been an insanely consistent player,” PFF wrote on the tight end, “Notching at least an 84.7-plus overall PFF grade in eight straight seasons.” The injuries to Kittle are disappointing. In fact, we might be looking to Jake Tonges to start the 2026 season, but the fact that he can block and catch can’t be understated. Plus, once you learn more facts about him, you’ll know how good he is. And then there’s Fred Warner: In addition to Purdy and Kittle, Warner is another feather in the cap of John Lynch’s numerous mid-to-late-round steals.Despite being a third-round choice in 2018, Warner has become widely regarded as the best linebacker in the league. I like that word “numerous,” like the 49ers haven’t done this a few more times over the years. Is it perfect? No, but we might come to think they never do it. If the 49ers were as bad at drafting as we’d make them out to be, they wouldn’t have been in two Super Bowls and fighting for playoff spots every year. We’ve seen bad drafting (Trent Baalke says “hi”). On the NFC West as a whole. The Los Angeles Rams had one player (Puka Nacua) on the list, while the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks had no one. I don’t necessarily take this as a slight. The Seahawks have a young team that won them a Super Bowl last year, and the Rams have also done well, or they wouldn’t have had a young pass rusher to send to Cleveland in that Myles Garrett fiasco. The difference is that when the 49ers get value, it’s usually S-tier, but it’s oftentimes buried in a sea of picks that didn’t quite pan out. On the flipside, the Seahawks can get some solid value for a lot of what they can get. Do the 49ers have draft issues? Sure. Outside of Brock Purdy, those other two value picks came in 2017 and 2018—nearly a decade ago. Meanwhile, someone like Nacua came in 2023. It does help with the “paying older stars” narrative I see some running with. Add Dre Greenlaw, who was drafted in 2019, Trent Williams, etc., and you at least see where some are coming from. That said, it’s not all-encompassing. While these picks are nearing the 10-year mark, it’s still a good pointer to counter those “The 49ers draft terribly and they have older veterans” takes with “Yeah, because those older veterans are some of the best in the league and were drafted by the 49ers in the first place”. I don’t know if that’s the best counter to make, but it makes some sense. Are there any other players you think should have made this list?

Cameron Brink may have fallen to another loss with the Los Angeles Sparks, but she’s certainly not backing down from any challenges that come her way, particularly one coming from Las Vegas Aces’ NaLyssa Smith in their heated game that ended 79-69 in favor of the defending champions. After the Aces dealt the Sparks their fifth loss this season, Brink and Smith got into an altercation as they were already walking towards the tunnel as a result of what had boiled over from their on-court clashes. For most of the game, Brink and Smith have been going at each other’s throats, positioning themselves under the basket and fighting for any loose balls, rebounds, and second-chance opportunities. The level of intensity among the two competitors has reached its boiling point with just a minute and 40 seconds remaining in the game, resulting in both of them receiving technical fouls after their verbal exchange. Jun 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) is defended by Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesTalking to the press after the game, Brink was asked about her back-and-forth with Smith on the court. “I mean, what do you want me to say? It’s a physical game. I’m not afraid of anybody. That’s all I’m gonna say. I’m not afraid of anybody,” Cameron Brink said, as per Justin Russo.It wasn’t the first time that Brink and Smith got into a heated contest this season, as the LA Sparks forward suffered a nose injury in their game back in May 23 after Smith caught her face with a stray arm while jostling for position under the rim. Jun 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) is defended by Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (32) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesIn the end, Brink’s intensity was simply not enough to overcome the defending champions in their rematch this season. “Get the f**k off me!”: Hot mic reveals what Cameron Brink said during altercation with NaLyssa SmithFollowing the altercation between Cameron Brink and NaLyssa Smith in their second encounter this season, a lot of people have been wondering what has been said between the two the moment they were going at it under the basket. Luckily for the fans, the microphones on the court captured a bit of Brink’s outrage.In a video shared by @zavanchy on X, Brink was caught saying, “Get off me! Get the f**k off me!,” which led to Brink and Smith getting t’d up. Jun 2, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Cameron Brink (22) is defended by Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) as she drives to the basket during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn ImagesWith Brink and Smith getting slapped by a technical foul in this game, they are set to pay the WNBA a $500 fine according to the rules, where a player pays a $500 fine for each of their first three technical fouls before it gets raised to $1,000 from fourth to sevent technical fouls.

On a night where the main storyline was Brittney Griner’s first game against her former side, the Atlanta Dream, Angel Reese decided it was her time to shine and prove to everybody that she’s the worthy replacement for the 10-time WNBA All-Star.As the Connecticut Sun led the game by four points with just a minute left in the third quarter, Atlanta needed someone to step up to prevent them from crumbling down. Looking to prove that she’s been brought in by the Dream for this particular moment, Reese steadied herself from the three-point line and decided it’s time for her to shine. She received a pass from Jordin Canada and decided to take the three-pointer. To the surprise of everybody inside The Gateway Center Arena, Reese sank the shot, sending everybody into a frenzy.Jun 2, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) reacts after a call against the Connecticut Sun in the third quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images. WNBA FansFollowing her three-pointer, the Dream went on a 7-0 run and finished the third quarter with a three-point advantage. They used that momentum to extend the run to 10-0 to start the fourth quarter and never looked back as they cruised to a 91-75 win. After the game, Dream head coach Karl Smesko peppered Reese with praise.“I did think it was a momentum changer,” said Smesko via Wilton C. Jackson on X. “I thought the crowd loved it, team loved it, I loved it. So I do think it was a big shot. I’ll have to watch it and break it down on film, but it looked like a really good release, like the release we’ve been working on.”What made the three-pointer even more special was the fact that it was her 1,000th point in her WNBA career, as well as her first made three-pointer since moving to Atlanta. She also became the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 1,000 points and 900 rebounds after finishing with a double-double, 12 points and 13 rebounds. “She’s been really open to changing her shot”: Atlanta HC reveals Angel Reese has been practicing her long-range shotsWhile the three-pointer isn’t usually part of Angel Reese’s shooting repertoire, the Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko believes it may soon change, given how she’s been working on varying her shots in training. Jun 2, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) in action against the Connecticut Sun in the first quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesFollowing their win against the Connecticut Sun, Smesko revealed that Reese has already been working on her shots, particularly her long-range game. “She’s been really open to kind of changing her shot, and it’s shown up in practice. She’s gotten hot, make three or four in a row in practice,” said Smesko. “But in the game, we haven’t had those same releases that we’ve had in practice. But today, that one looked like a good one, right out of her hands. It looked like it was in, and it was in. Hopefully, going forward, as she gets more comfortable with the new shot, it’ll show up in games more.”Jun 2, 2026; College Park, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) drives on Connecticut Sun center Brittney Griner (42) in the second quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images. WNBA FansReese’s lone three-pointer of the night adds to her tally of eight three-pointers made from 48 attempts. With how Smesko sees her in practice, the league may just need to ready themselves as the Bayou Barbie looks to evolve her game even more.

Welcome back to the Abstract! Here are the studies this week that balanced it out, performed evasive maneuvers, decorated a love shack, and bred inside bones.First, scientists discover a new “triple symmetry” on Earth that nobody can explain. Then: female dolphins keep tabs on coercive males, bowerbirds turn urban trash into urbane treasure, and the housing opportunities provided by dead dinos.As always, for more of my work, check out my book First Contact: The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens, or subscribe to my personal newsletter the BeX Files. Triple symmetry all across the skyZhang, Jianhao et al. “Earth’s east–west albedo symmetry.” Nature.Scientists have discovered an unexplained “triple symmetry” in Earth’s albedo, meaning its ability to reflect sunlight. The finding deepens the mystery of Earth’s oddly-balanced brightness contrasts, which has been well documented in the near-perfectly matched albedos of the northern and southern hemispheres, despite the very different geographies of these two halves of the planet.Researchers led by Jianhao Zhang of the University of Colorado Boulder now report the existence of “a unique and persistent east-west (E-W) albedo symmetry: the 27° E meridian divides the planet into an Eastern Hemisphere and a Western Hemisphere that reflect nearly identical amounts of sunlight,” according to the team’s study. The hemispheres bisected by the 27° E meridian line have nearly-identical amounts of ice-free ocean, cloud cover, as well as planetary albedo, distinguishing this phenomenon as a “triple symmetry” that is distinct from the equatorially divided north-south symmetry, which only has matching albedos.Zhang and his colleagues discovered the triple symmetry by examining 25 years of data (2001–2025) captured by NASA's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) program. The satellite-mounted instruments measure the amount of solar energy Earth reflects back into space. The east-west symmetry persisted over this dataset, with its greatest variations linked to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). For this reason, the team emphasized that the symmetry is essential to accurate projections on a rapidly warming world. Currently, “all models fail to capture…the triple-symmetry feature,” a problem that may be ”contributing to the persistent uncertainty in climate projections,” according to the study.As for what causes this symmetry, nobody knows. It could be just a strange coincidence, or even weirder, an unknown process of planetary equilibrium. As we reported last year, the north-south albedo symmetry may be fading as both hemispheres get darker, with more pronounced effects in the North, so scientists are leaning toward the weird coincidence hypothesis. “We cannot yet rule out the possibility that these hemispheric symmetries are simply coincidental features of the present climate state,” the team said in the study. “The importance of the E–W symmetry discovery, however, is beyond the identification of another ‘sweet spot’ of the Earth system.”“It offers a powerful…constraint on state-of-the-art [Earth system models] and, more broadly, on our fundamental understanding of the Earth climate system,” the researchers concluded. In other news…Bottlenose bullies get bad reputations Bouchard, Alice et al. “Female dolphins use individual vocal labels to track coercive males.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Female dolphins avoid sexually coercive males by keeping track of their signature whistles, according to scientists who observed how wild female Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins reacted to recorded playbacks of male vocalizations in the waters of Shark Bay, Australia. To secure mating opportunities, coercive males “will bite, hit, or charge the female, chase her…and produce threat vocalizations termed pops—all to intimidate the female and control her movements,” said researchers led by Alice Bouchard of the University of Bristol. “Indeed, pops are only produced by males” and act “as an agonistic ‘come-hither’ signal, inducing the female to stay close to the popping male.” Who could have guessed the term “popping male” could be so ominous? No wonder female dolphins keep them at fin’s length. Along those lines, the team found that females showed aversive responses to the recorded whistles of males known to have been coercive in the past.Females appear to use “individual vocal labels to guide reproductive decision-making based on their experience of individual male behavior,” according to the study. Call it a whistle campaign.Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat? This is how I reproductively competeEvans, Caitlin F. and Kelley, Laura A. “Urbanization alters courtship signals in male great bowerbirds.” Royal Society Open Science.For every popping dolphin in the seas, there is a lover bird in the trees. For the male great bowerbird (Chlamydera nuchalis), the key to attracting females isn’t biting or coercion, but the construction of elaborate shelters called bowers decorated with carefully selected trinkets for the enjoyment of potential mates. Scientists have now discovered that urban bowerbirds may have an edge in their game compared to their rural counterparts, thanks to the dazzling decor options that can be upcycled from their city environments. Male bowerbird poses in front of his love-nest of urban trinkets. Image: Caitlin EvansThe team catalogued nearly 4,000 decorations collected by Australian bowerbirds at Dreghorn Cattle Station, the rural site, and their urban counterparts in, literally, Townsville (the children’s book writes itself). The results suggest that "urban males may represent an adaptive change to a more attractive display, and that rural males are restricted in their displays by the materials available in their environment.”“The two most common decorations in rural areas were green glass and green leaves/seeds, and in urban areas the two most common decorations were green glass and red wire,” said authors Caitlin F. Evans and Laura A. Kelley of the University of Exeter, “Decorations on urban bowers were over 10 times more likely to be anthropogenic…than decorations on rural bowers.” While the city birds may have an easier time finding flashy ornaments, the use of plastics and other human-generated trash have posed dangers, such as entanglement or ingestion, for other species, though it has not been confirmed in bowerbirds. Glass shards and scarlet wires may make for beautiful displays, but never discount the risk of fatal attraction. I’m so hungry, I could eat a titanosaurBelaústegui, Zain et al. “The fossil record of insect bone bioerosion: Insights from titanosaur remains at Lo Hueco (Late Cretaceous, Spain) and implications for continental ichnofacies.” Earth-Science Reviews.We’ll end, as all things should, with a 30,000-pound feast. Titanosaurs, the largest family of animals ever to walk on land, were so enormous as adults that predators basically left them alone (though they made for easy pickings as youngsters). But once these dinosaurs shuffled off their metric-ton mortal coils, their corpses were devoured by scavengers—including small insects that bore into their bones, leaving permanent structures in their fossilized remains, known as “ichnofacies.” Beetle chambers carved into titanosaur armor. Image: Belaústegui, Zain et al.In a new study, paleontologists mapped out the pits, holes, burrows, and trails etched into Cretaceous titanosaur bones deposited in the exquisitely well-preserved Lo Hueco site in Cuenca, Spain. In particular, the results revealed idiosyncratic pupation chambers likely dug out by flesh-eating Cubiculum beetles to deposit larvae. The structures suggest that the dead dinos were exposed to open air for weeks on ancient floodplains as beetles were born and bred in their bones.“Given the size of the titanosaurs…it is likely that at least part of their carcasses remained dry for long periods of time (several days and even months), and hence, to constitute a perfect scenario for insect colonization,” said researchers led by Zain Belaústegui of the University of Barcelona. “The large size of the carcasses involved (i.e., tons of decaying organic matter) may support specific and stable ecosystems during long periods of time.”In other words, titanosaur skeletons served as luxury mansions long after their death, with beetle colonies etching in the equivalent of “we were here” notes that have lasted for 70 million years.Thanks for reading! See you next week.

Israel invaded Lebanon and occupied parts of the country to fight Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, but its military offensive has drawn in others.

Now he can proudly display his collectibles. READ MORE...

Lazio Turn to Senegalese Free Agent as Gattuso Rules Out Noslin for Striker RoleLazio are considering a move for Lorient centre-forward Bamba Dieng, who will become a free agent at the end of the month.Gennaro Gattuso’s Lazio RequestsAlthough the official confirmation has yet to arrive, Gennaro Gattuso has been appointed as the club’s new head coach. The 48-year-old is expecting at least four new additions to his squad, with the striker considered at the top of his priority list.Tijjani Noslin Won’t Be Lazio’s StrikerAccording to Il Messaggero, the versatile Tijjani Noslin was proposed as an internal solution for the centre-forward role, but Gattuso doesn’t see the Dutchman as the right profile to lead the line. Instead, he believes the former Hellas Verona man can play in any of the three supporting roles behind the striker in the 4-2-3-1 formation.Lazio End of the Season Awards: The Tops & Flops of a Chaotic 25/26 CampaignThe newspaper believes Noslin is also an option on the right wing, where Gustav Isaksen is expected to lock himself a starting role. This would free up Matteo Cancellieri, who is reportedly waiting for Fiorentina’s offer.With Noslin ruled out of the running, and Boulaye Dia and Petar Ratkov considered unconvincing options, Lazio must buy a new marksman this summer. While Cagliari’s Sebastiano Esposito was mentioned in recent weeks, the source believes this remains an unlikely track, as the 23-year-old doesn’t represent the consistent goalscorer the Aquile are seeking.Lazio Consider Signing Bamba Dieng on a Free TransferThe source identifies Lorient’s Dieng as a plausible solution, especially with his contract expiring at the end of the season. The 26-year-old is a Senegalese international who earned his World Cup ticket on the back of an impressive campaign that saw him score 16 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions. He was favored over Lazio’s Dia, who was omitted from the squad.Dieng’s Career PathDieng began his career in Senegal with Diambers before being poached by Olympique Marseille in 2020. Lorient signed him in January 2023, but he spent the previous campaign on loan at Angers, before making his return to ‘Les Merlus’ last summer, and producing the best campaign of his career thus far.

Florentino Perez heaps praise on La Fabrica ahead of Real Madrid electionFlorentino Perez and Enrique Riquelme are the biggest stories at Real Madrid this weekend as they take each other on in the presidential election on Sunday. A lot of back-and-forth statements have been made by both candidates, mostly attacking each other’s campaigns and policies.However, on the eve of the election, Perez, aside from slandering Riquelme’s wayward promises, has also talked about the success of Real Madrid’s academy, La Fabrica.What Perez said about La FabricaPerez is the favourite to win the election. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Speaking at a packed campaign event, Perez used his final address before the election to celebrate the achievements of the club’s youth system in front of a large gathering of members and supporters.“We have the best facilities, with a sports complex admired by all. With a youth academy that is the best in the world, and European champions again,” he said (h/t Diario AS).Our Under-19 A team has won the Treble: Youth League, League, and Champions Cup,” Perez added.He also took the opportunity to push back against what he characterised as his rival’s repeated attacks on the club’s infrastructure and reputation.Perez takes advantage of Riquelme’s outburstCan Riquelme spring a surprise? (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)“Real Madrid members won’t be fooled. This club has the best professionals, the best executives, the most loyal and well-prepared employees. We have the best stadium in the world, the one the candidate constantly disparages,” he added.He concluded his speech with a rallying call to the membership. “Go and vote for those who made us Madridistas. And because we still have a lot of history to make.”With election day arriving on Sunday, Perez is being marked as the clear favourite and barring any surprises, the Spaniard will retain power heading into the new season.

Celebrity row will be packed for Game 3 at Madison Square Garden on June 8 as the Knicks host their first NBA Finals game in 27 years. Even President Donald Trump announced he will be attending. Will you be there?It won't be cheap as ticket prices for the MSG games have been skyrocketing to historic levels, especially after New York took the first two games from the Spurs in San Antonio.Before the NBA Finals began, the cheapest ticket to Monday's Game 3 in New York was $3,789, but as of Saturday morning, the lowest-priced single ticket, up in Section 225, was over $11,500 on Stubhub. If you want to get down near the court and all the celebrities, you can pick up a single ticket in Section 6D for just over $100,000. That's not a typo.The Knicks have not won the NBA title since 1973 with the likes of Walt Frazier, Willis Reed and Bill Bradley. If you want to be there for a chance to see history and a Knicks potential sweep in Game 4, you will pay a whole lot more.The cheapest single ticket for Game 4 on Wednesday is nearly $14,500 (Section 215), while the most expensive ticket is just over $138,000 (Section 11D), according to Stubhub on Saturday morning.For comparison, Game 5 ticket prices in San Antonio, if the series lasts that long, are far cheaper. The lowest priced single ticket for the Saturday, June 13 game on Stubhub range from just over $2,400 (Section 227) to around $72,000 for the most expensive floor level seat.This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Knicks ticket prices skyrocket for Madison Square Garden games 3 and 4

Gianpiero Lambiase is the only race engineer Max Verstappen has had since joining Red Bull in 2016. That changes in 2028, when Lambiase departs for McLaren as Chief Racing Officer.The question now isn’t whether Verstappen will need someone new – it’s when Red Bull starts getting that person ready, and who it’s going to be.Speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen offered more detail than you might expect. “That will happen step by step. I do have ideas about who I want. That person is also walking around in the team, so it will just happen gradually. But not yet at the moment. I think it’s still a bit too early for that. It is of course logical that at some point, somewhere towards the end of the year, things will slowly start to change.”So the heir apparent is already on the payroll.With Lambiase contracted through the end of 2027, Verstappen isn’t in any particular rush to accelerate the transition.But the clock is running, and both men know it. Verstappen acknowledged as much: “At a certain point, of course, less information will be shared. I think he (Lambiase) understands that himself as well.”ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – DECEMBER 07: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Gianpiero Lambiase, Head of Racing of Oracle Red Bull Racing on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi at Yas Marina Circuit on December 07, 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202512070136 // Usage for editorial use only //What a Handover at This Level Actually Looks LikeBecause Lambiase will complete the full 2027 season at Red Bull before joining McLaren at the start of 2028, there is no gardening leave involved, though Red Bull will naturally be cautious about how much intelligence flows toward a direct rival through a man already committed to them.That’s precisely what Verstappen is describing: a gradual fade of operational detail rather than a hard cutoff.Simon Rennie, currently head of Red Bull’s simulation engineering, has already stepped in for Lambiase on race weekends when the latter was unavailable for personal reasons. Whether Rennie is the candidate Verstappen has in mind is unclear, but his name is the most visible one to have already occupied the seat.Most of the key architects behind Red Bull’s run of championships have already left: Christian Horner was sacked last July, Adrian Newey departed for Aston Martin, Jonathan Wheatley moved to Audi, and Helmut Marko stepped down at the end of 2025.Lambiase joining McLaren is another domino, and it comes as Red Bull’s 2026 campaign is well off the pace of Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren.A decade-plus working relationship with an engineer who knows how you think doesn’t rebuild overnight. Verstappen is handling this sensibly. But sensible doesn’t mean painless.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) throws Monday, June 1, 2026, during practice at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. | Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Anything is possible. Let’s get that out of the way. Daniel Jones isn’t the second coming of Peyton Manning. Let’s get that out of the way too. With that said, a recent take on Bleacher Report has Jones listed as one of eight quarterbacks most likely to be benched in 2026. This isn’t to say Jones will for sure ride the pine for the Indianapolis Colts at some point this season, but he is saying there is a chance. Is he right?Anything is possible. Did I already say that? Jones has had his share of ups and downs. The New York Giants grew tired of his inconsistent play, the turnovers, and the injuries. He didn’t have enough appeal for the Vikings to truly get into the bidding war for his services last year either. One playoff appearance and quite a few losing seasons mar his name. Jones is far from perfect, but the Colts rewarded him handsomely for his efforts with a contract that could be up to $100 million over the next two years. There is an out, but would they eat the money and sit him midseason if things go sideways?Shane Steichen isn’t afraid to send a message. Anthony Richardson and Adonai Mitchell were both benched and never got back into good favor. They are both younger than Jones, who appears to have a more refined professionalism about him, but that doesn’t mean he is safe. If his play is truly deplorable, his saving grace is that there is no one behind him to take his spot.Past confidence from Steichen in both Richardson and Riley Leonard is tepid at best. That could change with a good offseason, but that is Jones’ best route at keeping his job, regardless of performance. Once again, he is expensive. Teams hate to put the most expensive person on the roster on the sidelines, but check with Kirk Cousins to see if a team would do that. The NFL is a cutthroat business. Jobs are on the line. If Jones starts the year out losing five or six of the first seven games and looks totally lost, the heat from up top might be enough for Steichen to pull the trigger if he lasts that long himself.Anything is possible. Daniel Jones’ career indicates he isn’t a lock even if the Colts are paying him like one. The depth behind him is shallow, and he may be too expensive to fail. Many hopes and dreams are riding on his repaired Achilles. Just because he holds the keys, that doesn’t mean he gets to drive this bus into a wall without Shane Steichen grabbing the wheel. Anything is possible though, especially with the Colts.

Kay Worsham cleans her boat Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Dexter Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)2026-06-06T04:01:06Z DEXTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — On the kind of warm, bright afternoon that Michigan boaters wait all year for, Malik Amine and his brother readied their family’s pontoon boat for the summer.The cover was off and Portage Lake sparkled in the sun. But before the brothers could leave a narrow wooden dock, they had a decision to make: how much gasoline to put in the pontoon’s 52-gallon engine.Recreational boaters, like motorists, are feeling a pinch from the Iran war. U.S. gas prices have come down in recent weeks, but a gallon of regular gas still cost an average of 34% more Friday than it did a year earlier, according to motor club AAA. The price of diesel fuel, which is also used by some boaters, is up 53% from last year.Ethanol-free gas, which many boaters, classic car owners and lawn mower users prefer, is anywhere from 20 cents to $1 per gallon more than regular fuel, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores, which also represents fuel retailers. One gas station near Portage Lake, which is 60 miles west of Detroit, is selling ethanol-free fuel for $7 per gallon. Amine said he didn’t plan to fill the boat’s tank ahead of Memorial Day weekend. “The cost is going to be a lot more than it was last year,” Amine said. “I think it’s probably a little bit smarter to do what you need and fill it as much as you need, because who knows when this conflict’s going to end.” Read More The National Marine Manufacturers Association estimates that 100 million Americans go boating each year, contributing to an industry worth $230 billion annually. The trade group, which represents companies that make boats, marine engines, boating equipment and accessories, said its conversations with boaters indicate that most still plan to head out on the water this year, but in some cases, gas prices are curtailing their plans.“There were a number of people within that who said, ‘I am going to have to change my behavior’,” said Ellen Bradley, the association’s chief brand officer. “I may not go as far. I may not as fast. I may spend more time anchored and swimming. I may spend more time at the dock.” Neil and Kathleen Donohoe sold their home in Colorado and now live aboard a 50-foot, diesel-powered boat dubbed the Granuaile, which is the Gaelic name of Grace O’Malley, a 16th century sea captain known as Ireland’s pirate queen. They’ve spent the last seven years cruising up and down the East Coast and to the Bahamas. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Maintenance on the boat – not fuel – is typically their greatest expense, Neil Donohoe said. But lately, the cost to fill up the boat — which can hold 1,500 gallons — is eye-popping. They talk to other boaters and use various marine apps to find the cheapest gas.“It’s not driving us not to cruise, but it’s making a difference,” he said.This summer, the couple plan to stick around the Chesapeake Bay area instead of heading further north. They’ve already been to Maine and to Canada, they reasoned, and they don’t feel the urge to go again while gas prices are so high. “It seems a little gross to spend that kind of money when so many people are struggling,” Kathleen Donohoe said.Gas prices are also impacting boating-related businesses. The Seattle Sailing Club, which offers lessons, chartered cruises and rentals, said its fuel bill has gone up 10.7% since the beginning of the war. Lindsey Brown, the club’s office manager, said its fleet of 30 boats usually rely on wind power, but they all have gas or diesel backup engines. In April, the marina where the boats are docked charged $6.50 per gallon for diesel, she said. By late May, that had risen to $7.99 per gallon.“We are just heading into our busy season, so we may see a more dramatic effect on our business if the price of fuel doesn’t change or continues to increase,” Brown said. Brown, who lives on a sailboat at the marina, said the service she uses to pump out wastewater just added a fuel surcharge to her bill.It’s also the busy season for Melissa Kunnert, who owns NautiMi On the River, an ice cream and gift shop near Portage Lake. She rents out a tiki-themed pontoon boat for parties and hosts three-hour evening cruises for $50 a person starting after Memorial Day. Kunnert decided not to raise her prices this summer even though it costs more to fill up the pontoon. She wonders if the higher gas prices affecting all forms of travel might benefit her business by keeping more potential customers closer to home. “I’m interested to see if we’ll have the same amount as previous years (or) if we will have more because people don’t want to use their gas, they want ours,” Kunnert said.In Traverse City, Michigan, a few hours north of Portage Lake, Robert Hinds decided to add a $50 fuel surcharge to the fishing trips he offers as the owner and operator of Central Coast Angling. He tows his 22-foot boat from port to port on Lake Michigan depending on where the fishing is best, so he has to fill up his truck in addition to his boat. Hinds said he’s had multiple cancellations as customers do their own math on gas prices. One regular customer from Nebraska didn’t make the trip this spring.“It’s really tough. People do want to get out and I still believe people will,” he said. “But everybody comes from different walks of life.”Hinds recently ruled out his own fishing trip to Wisconsin after figuring out it would cost him $400 in diesel fuel for the truck that tows his boat.“I can just stay home and fish here,” he said.___AP Video Journalist Mike Householder contributed to this report. DEE-ANN DURBIN Durbin is an Associated Press business writer focusing on the food and beverage industry. She has also covered the auto industry and state and national politics in her nearly 30-year career with the AP. twitter mailto

FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel, Mission Services Division, walks through a portion of the agency's Joint Operations Center in New York, Thursday, June 4, 2026, ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)2026-06-06T13:16:41Z NEW YORK (AP) — The World Cup, a 48-team, 104-match behemoth kicking off next week across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada, presents an unprecedented security challenge, with more countries, games and a larger footprint than ever before.It also comes against the backdrop of the U.S. and Israel’s war with Iran, mounting political violence in President Donald Trump’s orbit and growing fears of artificial intelligence-fueled disruptions, creating a complex threat environment for authorities.Overseeing the sprawling security apparatus is a legion of federal agencies, state and local police departments and private entities. Their responsibilities range from securing stadiums and fan zones to escorting teams and protecting dignitaries.Their tools include hunter drones that can shoot nets over objects in restricted airspace, bag-inspecting robot dogs, giant X-ray trucks and thousands of AI-powered cameras trained on public spaces soon to be thronged by fans. In the U.S., it’s “78 Super Bowls over 39 days,” said Andrew Giuliani, executive director of Trump’s World Cup task force, which is overseeing the multiagency effort. “There’s never been a summer like this in American history from a security angle,” said Giuliani, son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.“We’re as prepared as we can be.” Read More An unprecedented security collaborationThe tournament has the same high-level federal security designation as the Super Bowl, just below a presidential inauguration or a national political convention, ensuring federal, state and local coordination. It coincides with other major events linked to the 250th anniversary of America’s founding. So far, Giuliani said, there are no credible threats. The Department of Homeland Security, focused on Trump’s immigration enforcement crackdown and hit by a funding lapse only recently resolved, estimates up 7 million people will visit the U.S. for the World Cup.The U.S. Secret Service, under scrutiny after security breaches and attempts on Trump’s life, is in charge of protecting world leaders who show up to cheer on their countries. Trump has expressed interest in attending a match. “I feel very comfortable where we’re at, and we feel like we have a zero-fail mission,” Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Congress this week, noting that the Secret Service was understaffed by about 860 agents. “But it’s going to be complicated.”Officials have indicated they are confident they can keep Trump safe because they will be integrating his usual security into the robust World Cup plan on days he may watch a match.The FBI has spent two years developing its security plan, incorporating lessons from other major events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and New Year’s Eve ball drop in New York and testing them at smaller ones, including last week’s Israel Day parade in the city.“We prepare for the worst day,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Amit Kachhia-Patel in New York told The Associated Press. “And that’s how we go into any single event.”To help cover security costs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has distributed $625 million to the 11 U.S. host cities. An additional $250 million is being directed toward tracking and neutralizing suspect drones. The disbursement of those funds was held up by the department’s funding delay, which the Republican administration has argued hindered security planning.Others involved in the planning effort said the federal government could have played a more hands-on role even before the shutdown.John Cohen, a former senior DHS official who has been briefing state leaders before the matches, said the government was largely absent from planning meetings last year and did not begin sharing threat intelligence with host regions until recently.“With an event of this magnitude, one would expect the federal government would’ve played a more active role,” Cohen said. “It felt like a missed opportunity to showcase that collaboration.” Evolving threats from drones and AIIn January, thousands of officials involved in World Cup security gathered for exercises simulating crowd surges, vehicle attacks and mass shootings.A month later, the U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran.“The security picture fundamentally changed,” said Stefano Ritondale, chief intelligence officer at Artorias, a defense intelligence company not involved in the security preparations. “There’s a major difference in preparing for a lone wolf radical who rams his car into a public place and a terrorist who is bankrolled by a foreign country we’re at war with.”Among the greatest concerns are drones.Since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022, drones have become a prominent weapon in conflicts including Russia’s war in Ukraine and Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.“If there is one threat that keeps me up at night, it is from drones,” said New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, whose department is partnering with the FBI on drone mitigation. Drones are prohibited over stadiums and fan zones, and Kachhia-Patel said the FBI has a “full suite of options” to thwart incursions. They include agents monitoring the sky and a “variety of means” to safely down the devices, he said without elaborating.Before this year’s World Cup, the growing sophistication of AI videos was a particular concern, with officials warning that state actors can harness the technology to sow misinformation and panic.On match days, the FBI will activate joint operations centers in each host city, bringing together local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to monitor and investigate threats.“If there’s a video that shows an explosion going off at a site, and it’s AI generated, we have people on the ground who can validate whether or not that’s true,” said Kachhia-Patel.A scoring opportunity for private techSome AI companies have pitched themselves to police departments in host cities, promising to comb through data and surveillance on game days to prevent threats, including unruly fan behavior. “We know sports fanaticism around here in terms of the NFL and baseball to some extent, but nothing like international soccer,” said Jake Becchina, a police spokesperson in Kansas City, Missouri, which is hosting six matches. The department has contracted with Peregrine Technologies, which promises to sift through police data and publicly available information such as team practice locations and the country affiliation of popular bars, to get ahead of possible conflict.In Dallas, a recent $120 million tech upgrade will give local police body cameras capable of real-time translations, helping law enforcement communicate with international visitors soon to descend on the region.Several drone detection and mitigation companies are joining efforts to help federal agencies secure the skies.One of those companies, Fortem, has claimed to have signed a multimillion-dollar contract with DHS before the World Cup for an unusual drone mitigation strategy: quadcopters that can shoot nets at encroaching drones to trap them in midair. A spokesperson for DHS declined to discuss the contract.Just as the teams will aim to perform their best on the pitch, Giuliani said the security planning was a unique chance to “show off American exceptionalism.”“If we do our job right,” Giuliani added, “nobody will be talking about security at the World Cup.”____Santana reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer in Washington contributed to this report. JAKE OFFENHARTZ Offenhartz is a general assignment reporter in the New York City bureau of The Associated Press. twitter mailto MICHAEL R. SISAK Sisak is an Associated Press reporter covering law enforcement, courts and prisons. He is based in New York. twitter mailto REBECCA SANTANA Santana covers the Department of Homeland Security for The Associated Press. She has extensive experience reporting in such places as Russia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. twitter mailto

🚨 Shock twist: this France international wants Real Madrid 🔥His decision is made: his summer will be eventful.Selected with the France national team for the 2026 World Cup, Michael Olise is set for plenty of twists and turns this summer.Between international matches and the transfer window, the Frenchman is being watched by all of Europe.While Bayern Munich announced that the player was not for sale, the trend is starting to change. Indeed, Real Madrid would like to make a move.According to information from The Madrid Zone, Michael Olise has expressed his desire to join Los Blancos. He is said to be "ready" to sign for Real.Real Madrid is reportedly ready to make an offer next week.Current estimates put the price at around €150M.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

The Dallas Cowboys worked to reshape their defensive line this offseason to better fit the scheme of new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. Parker is bringing a 3-4 front back to Texas with a twist, and centering his attack around two premiere tackles in Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark. From there, they've taken great lengths to augment the personnel in the front seven.One of those acquisitions was free agent Jonathan Bullard, the newest No. 98, most recently of the Minnesota Vikings. Bullard signed on for a year as the veteran replacement for Osa Odighizuwa as a potential starter on the defensive line next to Williams and Clark. He's a rotational run stopper who has played for six different franchises across his 10-year career.RundownPosition: Defensive TackleAge: 32Height: 6-foot-3Weight: 290 poundsHometown: Shelby, NCHigh School: CrestCollege: Florida (Film Study Video)Draft: 2016 3rd-round pick (No. 72)Acquired: 2026 Free AgencyContract: One-year contract (2026), $2 million2025 Base Salary: $1.5 million, guaranteedCareer Earnings: $1.2million (per Over The Cap)ProfileBullard is a run stopper through and through, and is not bringing much to the table in terms of pass rush. He has just 6.5 sacks across his 10-year career. After dealing with a rash of injuries throughout the middle of his career — he played in just 36 games from 2019 through 2022 — he's only missed two contests over the last three seasons combined.Bullard is a rotational player, averaging around 21 snaps a contest last year with the Vikings, and Dallas will likely use him on run downs in 2026. His primary competition is fourth-round pick LT Overton. The club will also likely bring Rashan Gary down to the line when they go with a four-man front. Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys player profile: No. 98 DT Jonathan Bullard

The Los Angeles Lakers are about to begin what could turn out to be a very consequential offseason. They're projected to have tens of millions of dollars of salary cap space, as well as two future first-round draft picks to offer in a trade, and those resources could allow them to start to truly build a championship-caliber team around Luka Doncic.Los Angeles will also have the No. 25 pick in this year's draft. They have been working out prospects in this year's draft class, including Skyy Clark, a point guard from the University of California, Los Angeles.Clark is 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, and he averaged 11.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, two assists and 1.2 steals this past season. He spent two seasons with the Bruins after he was with the University of Illinois as a freshman and the University of Louisville the following year.While he may not have the ability to become a major scoring threat at the next level, he displayed the ability to score efficiently from all three levels while at Westwood. He shot 46.9% overall and 42.7% from 3-point range during the 2025-26 campaign, and he has solid athleticism and a nice, strong frame that he uses to his advantage, especially when attacking the basket.Clark, who is 22 years of age, grew up in the Southland but attended Montverde Academy in Florida. He has been described as more of a scoring point guard than a facilitating point guard, and he could end up being taken in the second round of the NBA draft.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: 2026 Lakers draft prospects: Skyy Clark

The New York Giants have every reason to explore a trade for Atlanta Falcons star tight end Kyle Pitts in 2026.ESPN’s Dan Graziano lists Pitts as an early candidate to be dealt before the NFL trade deadline in November, making him a player deserving of the Giants’ attention.Atlanta is in extension mode at the moment. Top wide receiver Drake London signed a four-year, $141 million deal. Sources say the team is also engaged with the agents for star running back Bijan Robinson about a massive extension. Pitts could be part of that plan, too, but he's scheduled to play on a $15.045 million franchise tag if an extension isn't done before July 15. He's coming off an 88-catch, 928-yard and five-touchdown season, but the previous four campaigns were spotted with inconsistent health and production.The Falcons, particularly with a new coaching staff and front office, might want to see how he fits in their new offense before committing long term. If they don't get him extended by July 15, and that rankles him and/or they struggle early in the season, teams will come asking about the availability of the uber-talented former top-10 pick, who doesn't turn 26 until October. Baltimore lost a pair of tight ends -- Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar -- in free agency and could be looking for the kind of offense Pitts can generate.Pitts is the ideal type of tight end for the modern NFL. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound athlete recorded 928 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2025. He is a former 1,000-yard receiver, having posted 1,026 yards as a rookie in 2021. Pitts excels at running precise routes and possesses the ability to make catches and gain yards after contact like a wide receiver.The Giants added Isaiah Likely to their tight end room this offseason and have a revamped receiving corps intact for next season. Still, Pitts possesses the talent to form a prolific tandem in New York alongside Likely and star wide receiver Malik Nabers in 2026.Between now and the NFL trade deadline in November, the Giants could have several players who prove valuable on the trade market as they pursue a deal for Pitts. The Falcons are in need of a secondary wide receiver, which could make Giants players such as Darius Slayton and Jalin Hyatt attractive pieces in a potential package.This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Could Kyle Pitts become a mid-season trade target for New York Giants?

On Thursday, May 28, the hockey world was stunned by the sudden death of four-time Stanley Cup champion Claude Lemieux. Michael Martin / Getty ImagesThe 60-year-old NHL alumnus was a formidable enforcer on the ice, bringing undeniable energy and physicality to six teams—including the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche—throughout his memorable, decades-long career. He quickly built a reputation as one of the league’s greatest antagonizers and playoff scorers, beloved by fans and teammates alike. B Bennett / Getty ImagesHe died by suicide, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, which responded to the scene at a furniture store and warehouse owned by his family. One of his sons, 30-year-old hockey player Brendan, discovered him shortly after 3:30 a.m.Related: Gynecologists Are Revealing Their Most Mind-Boggling Patient Stories, And That's It, I'm Never Looking At My Body The Same Way AgainJust days earlier, Lemieux appeared on behalf of his former team as the Montreal Canadiens’ torchbearer before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was met with a standing ovation and an arena full of cheering fans—fans who were shocked, confused, and heartbroken to hear the news of his death just three days later. sportsnet / Via Instagram: @https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYyAhP7MWRs/Lemieux's death has become more than a story about the loss of a hockey icon. For many fans, mental health advocates, and other athletes, it has ignited an uncomfortable but necessary conversation about men's mental health and the pressures that often keep men, especially those in the spotlight, from seeking help.After being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 1983, Lemieux played brief stints with the team before becoming a league regular in the 1986 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which the Canadiens ultimately won. He became just the sixth player in the franchise's history to start his career with three consecutive seasons of 20 or more goals. B Bennett / Getty ImagesHowever, he also began his career with seven straight seasons of over 100 penalty minutes. Even though he is even better known for his role as an agitator and an enforcer than as a playoff and overtime hero, he and his team failed to make the playoffs only once in his final 19 NHL seasons.After retiring from playing hockey, Lemieux represented many talented NHL players as their agent. He also co-founded the furniture company Andros Home with his wife, Deborah, in Lake Park, Florida.Related: Doctors Are Sharing The 1 Symptom That Is A Massive Red Flag For Colon CancerFans, teammates, and rivals may have felt they knew the resilient hockey player on the ice, but his tragic death proves no one truly knew the weight of what he was carrying every day. Although Lemieux’s friends and family were aware of his depression, they did not know the severity of his suffering. “They didn’t expect that at all, they never saw it coming,” close family friend Colombe Lacroix revealed to The Post. “He’s been going through a difficult time, he was depressed." Mitchell Leff / Getty ImagesAccording to those closest to him, Lemieux faced two major heartbreaks in his life. Rejean Tremblay, a hockey columnist and longtime friend, knew just how deeply rejection affected Lemieux. He told The Post that in 1985, after his first NHL season, Lemieux was sent down to the minor leagues. In his frustration, he smashed his car's windshield, drove the car from Montreal to Sherbrooke, and refused to stay in the team-provided apartment.After retiring in 2009, Lemieux reportedly struggled to cope with not being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, widely regarded as the ultimate honor for NHL retirees. “He always lived this as an injustice, a heavy burden to bear,” Tremblay shared. “The sense of rejection ran deeper than one might have imagined. He took it very hard.” J Giamundo / Getty ImagesLemieux also spent about a decade out of contact with his children, The Post revealed —a fact that reportedly haunted him in his retirement. Still, not even those closest to him were aware of his plans to end his own life, which is an all too common experience for families of men who commit suicide.Related: I Couldn’t Explain Why I Was Exhausted All The Time. Then I Googled 3 Words And My Stomach Dropped.Across the globe, one man dies by suicide every 60 seconds. According to the men’s health experts at Movember, which also teams up with the NHL for its Hockey Fights Cancer initiative every November, men account for 4 out of every 5 suicides. Even though women are twice as likely to experience major depression, they are significantly less likely to end their own lives—why? Maskot / Getty ImagesSocietal pressures on men—especially those in the spotlight—often prevent them from seeking mental health care. This issue can start in childhood, when many boys are not taught to recognize or communicate their emotions. The outdated belief that a man's role is primarily to provide and solve problems has resulted in generations of men who perceive mental health struggles and the act of asking for help as indicators of weakness, and perhaps even as a threat to their masculinity.Even when men do seek help, that care often falls short. 60% of men who commit suicide have received mental health care in the year leading up to their death, proving that the available resources aren’t always enough. Men who seek help often feel that providers dismiss symptoms, underestimate the need for treatment, and even fail to show an interest in their care. Ruizluquepaz / Getty ImagesIt’s important to recognize that mood disorders can manifest differently in men and women. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Men are more likely to display behaviors such as anger, substance abuse, and excessive risk-taking rather than just sadness. Additionally, some mental health professionals acknowledge that diagnostic tools may not adequately reflect evolving gender roles or societal pressures on men. This can result in misdiagnoses stemming from both conscious and unconscious gender biases and stereotypes.Those pressures can be particularly intense in professional sports, where toughness is often celebrated, and vulnerability can be viewed as a weakness. Athletes are frequently encouraged to push through pain, suppress emotions, and prioritize performance above all else. For players in enforcer roles, like Lemieux, those expectations can become deeply ingrained, making it harder to openly discuss mental health challenges or ask for help when they are struggling. Fatcamera / Getty ImagesRelated: 18 Totally Incorrect Health Myths That People Still, For Some Reason, Believe To Be TrueSadly, Lemieux’s story follows the pattern of numerous other hockey players, mostly men, who have also died by suicide. While some, like Vancouver Canucks forward Rick Rypien, openly discussed their mental health struggles, the NHL did not start investigating the potential impact of repetitive head trauma on mental health until the deaths of Rypien, 27, and two other enforcers—Derek Boogaard, 28, and Wade Belak, 35—occurred in close succession in 2011.Lemieux is not the first hockey enforcer to take his own life, but his loved ones hope his death will help raise awareness about the complex relationship between mental health, brain injuries, and men’s wellness. Lemieux’s daughter, Claudia Lemieux Bishop, released a statement on behalf of the family, announcing that his brain would be donated to the Boston University CTE Center for study. His family has also permitted his name to be publicized alongside any findings related to the donation. Elsa / Getty ImagesFor generations of hockey fans, Claude Lemieux was the embodiment of toughness. But in the wake of his death, many are reflecting on a different lesson: that pain is not always visible, and that too many men still feel they must carry it alone. As conversations about men's mental health continue, his story serves as a powerful reminder that vulnerability and strength are not opposites—and that asking for help can be the strongest thing any person can do.Help is available, and you are not alone. To talk to someone right away, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) at (800) 950-6264, or text ‘HOME’ or ‘HOLA’ to 741741 to speak with a volunteer crisis counselor.If you are worried for someone’s safety, please call 911 or local emergency services.Your daily brain workout: Most People Can't Finish This Weekend Mega Word Chain — Can You?Also in Health: Psychologists Are Warning People About "Menorexia," And It's Way More Serious Than You'd ExpectAlso in Health: Here's What Nobody Admits About "High-Functioning" Eating Disorders, As A 20-Something Who's Sick And Tired Of Having OneRead it on BuzzFeed.com

Trust, well-being and mental health are all down in America. But some states are better to live in than others, according to a new study.

Hewett won the singles title at Roland Garros in 2017, 2020 and 2021 [Reuters]Britain's Alfie Hewett was beaten in the French Open wheelchair singles final by Japan's Tokito Oda for the second year in a row.A day after winning the doubles trophy with fellow Briton Gordon Reid, Hewett lost 6-3 6-3 defeat to top seed Oda.It is a fourth successive title at Roland Garros for the 20-year-old Oda.Hewett has now lost five of the seven major finals he has played against Oda, who has dominated Grand Slam singles events in recent years."First of all congratulations Tokito and your team, I'm not sure how many years you have won this in a row but it seems to feel like forever," Hewett said."It's obviously nice to be back in the final here but I am gutted with the performance, it's definitely not one I am proud of. "It's still been a good week."GB's Patten beaten in French Open doubles finalAfter losing the first set, Hewett found his rhythm at the start of the second to open up a 3-0 lead.But Oda raised his intensity and reeled off the next six games to secure victory after 80 minutes.A 10-time Grand Slam singles champion, Hewett was searching for his first major singles title since the 2025 Australian Open.Oda, meanwhile, has won eight of the last 11 Grand Slam singles events."Thank you Alfie and your team. I always feel like both of us are getting better on the court and every time it's different, every time the tennis level is higher," he said.Live scores, results and order of playGet tennis news sent straight to your phone

Poor weather conditions brought an early end to the Isle of Man TT, with Saturday's rescheduled Senior race abandoned following heavy rain. Having been moved to Friday, the four-lap race was halted following Erno Kostamo's crash at 11th Milestone on the second lap. However, Saturday's weather conditions led organisers to call off the remaining action, with the second Sportbike race cancelled. The Senior race was declared a result based on positions at the end of the first lap, with Dean Harrison confirmed as the winner ahead of Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes.Last year's Senior race was also scrapped because of weather concerns. This year's race schedule has been severely disrupted by rain, with the opening day of racing on 30 May postponed.Several other planned sessions have also been called off or shortened owing to the inclement conditions.On Saturday, organisers said "it has been determined that the forecast weather conditions around the Course are not looking to sufficiently improve within the required time, and the remaining available operational windows do not provide a suitable opportunity for any further racing to be completed safely"."This has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging TTs in recent years from a weather perspective," said clerk of the course Gary Thompson. "Over the course of the event, we set out with nine days on which racing could potentially have taken place, and rain will have affected seven of them. That is an exceptional set of circumstances and it has had a major impact on what we have been able to deliver."Throughout the event, the weather simply hasn't worked in our favour. We have faced low cloud, rain, standing water and changing conditions across different parts of the Mountain Course, which have significantly limited the windows available to us."Thompson added: "The challenges we have faced this year are part of the nature of an event that takes place on 37.73 miles of public roads. "That is what makes the TT unique, but it also means that weather and course conditions will always play a significant role in determining what is possible."I would like to sincerely thank our competitors, teams, marshals, volunteers, officials, medical teams, residents, partners and fans for their patience, understanding and continued support throughout what has been a difficult week. Their cooperation has been greatly appreciated."On Kostamo's condition, organisers said: "Erno's condition is reported as conscious, stable and talking. He continues to receive treatment for leg and hip injuries."Jamie Cringle is being treated for leg, chest and back injuries sustained in a crash in Friday's Supersport race and is said to be "conscious, stable and talking".Michael Evans is "conscious and stable, with no serious injuries" after coming off his bike at Braddan Oak during the Sportbike race.

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - APRIL 19: Jake Gelof #6 of the Tulsa Drillers celebrates with Zyhir Hope #13 after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning during a game against the Arkansas Travelers at ONEOK Field on April 19, 2026 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Getty Images) | Getty Images Catching up on Friday highlights in the Dodgers minor leagues, and a pair of major leaguers tackling third base this week in Triple-A.Player of the dayTulsa third baseman Jake Gelof homered twice and doubled on Friday night, part of his three-hit, three-run, three-RBI night.Jake Gelof goes deep for the 2nd time tonight! pic.twitter.com/rjdU5cCAyE— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) June 6, 2026Gelof has driven in runs in seven straight games.Triple-A Oklahoma CityThe Comets rallied late after falling behind 5-0 early, but it wasn’t enough in a loss to the Round Rock Express (Rangers).James Tibbs III walked twice and hit a two-run home run, his league-leading 18th of the season, and played his third straight game at first base after four weeks of being limited to designated hitter duties. Tibbs has seven home runs in his last 10 games.Tommy Edman played his first game at third base on this rehab assignment, during which he’s also played three games at second base, plus once each in left field, center field, and at DH.Hyeseong Kim had two hits playing second base on Friday after playing third base twice this week, his first time at the hot corner since 2020 with Kiwoom in the Korean Baseball Organization. he made this incredible diving stop and strong through from well behind third base on Thursday.Double-A TulsaTwo big innings sank the Drillers in a high-scoring loss to the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Diamondbacks), who scored five runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh.Josue De Paula doubled, singled, walked, and drove in a run. Mike Sirota homered and walked in the loss.High-A Great LakesTwo two-run home runs were more than enough for the Loons in a shutout win over the Lansing Lugnuts (A’s). Nico Perez hit the first home run in the first inning, and Jose Meza joined him in the fifth.Great Lakes pitched a shutout, but it was a wild ride for piggyback pals Brooks Auger and Jacob Frost. Both pitchers walked five batters to bookend the game, with Auger striking out four in his four-inning starts, and his single allowed was the only hit of the game for Lansing. AAfter five up and five down by Matt Lanzendorfer in between, Frost walked five and struck out three in his 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first professional save.Class-A OntarioThe Tower Buzzers scored in five consecutive middle innings to beat the Stockton Ports (A’s).Mairo Martinus, playing third base on Friday, doubled twice and singled. Easton Shelton homered, walked twice, scored two runs, and drove in a pair.TransactionTriple-A: Veteran catcher Seby Zavala was released. The 32-year-old non-roster invitee in spring training hit .196/.323/.353 with two home runs in 62 plate appearances for Oklahoma City, with 12 starts at catcher and four more at first base.Friday scoresRound Rock 6, Oklahoma City 4Amarillo 10, Tulsa 7Great Lakes 4, Lansing 0Ontario 10, Stockton 7Saturday schedule4:05 p.m. PT: Oklahoma City (Charlie Barnes) vs. Round Rock (Jose Corniell)4:05 p.m.: Great Lakes (Sterling Patick) vs. Lansing (Tzu-Chen Sha)5:05 p.m.: Tulsa (Patrick Copen) at Amarillo (TBA)6:05 p.m.: Ontario (TBA) vs. Stockton (Donny Troconis)

Jun 5, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers fans celebrate between innings during the game against the Cleveland Guardians at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images | Andrew Dieb-Imagn Images Good morning, LSB.The Rangers beat the Guardians yesterday, 3-2. Kennedi Landry writes about Corey Seager’s go-ahead home run in his first game back off the IL.As Skip Schumaker said postgame, it’s good to have your horses back.Evan Grant writes about another multi-inning save for Jacob Latz, a neat trick that Grant says must be used sparingly.Some guy named RJ Coyle writes about what was actually a fairly impressive “tarps off” section in right field last night, one that the Rangers took note of.Elsewhere Jordan Montgomery made it through a live BP sesh.Josh Smith is expected to start a rehab stint this weekend.Grant breaks down the Rangers decision to hang with Evan Carter over Alejandro Osuna.And finally Rangers great Buddy Bell is the latest guest on Grant’s podcast.That’s all for this morning. The Rangers continue their series with Cleveland tonight at 6:35 with Jack Leiter on the mound for Texas.Have a great weekend!

Columbus Clippers (33-27) – AAAOMA 11 – COL 2Box ScoreThe Columbus Clippers were defeated by the Omaha Storm Chasers Friday night. The loss falls to starting pitcher Ryan Webb who fell to 1-5 on the season. Webb threw 4.1 innings with 4H/4R/6BB/4Ks. Tanner Burns and Pedro Avila both gave up three runs each. Burns in 0.2 innings of work on 3H/1BB and Avila on 3.0 innings of work on 3H/0BB. Franco Aleman closed out the game, also allowing one run on two hits. The Clippers offense only recorded three hits and five walks on the night with Petey Halpin and Kody Huff account for the two runs. In the bottom of the fourth, Kahlil Watson drew a one-out walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Petey Halpin hit a two-out single to center to score Kahlil. In the bottom of the eighth, Kody Huff hit a lead off, first pitch home run to center field. The ball travelled 437 feet at 109.5 mph. #8 for Huff #ClipShowpic.twitter.com/MDwzJixz4V— Columbus Clippers (@CLBClippers) June 6, 2026Akron RubberDucks (30-25) – AAAKR 19 – CHE 3Box ScoreThe RubberDucks, in a word, slaughtered the Chesapeake Baysox last night. Dylan DeLucia earned his first AA win of the season, improving to 1-3 in his 5.2 innings of work. All three of the Baysox runs came off of DeLucia on five hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Jack Carey and Adam Tulloch kept the remainder of the game scoreless for Akron. The RubberDucks scored nineteen runs on nineteen hits and seven walks, no errors. Alex Mooney was the only RubberDuck to not reach base, but did record a RBI with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third. Let’s get into the scoring. In the top of the first, Wuilfredo Antunez drew a bases loaded walk to score Luke Hill who reached on a lead off double. Alfonsin Rosario scored in the same inning on a balk with Joe Lampe batting. Luke Hill continued his hot streak since his recent promotion to AA with an RBI in the top of the second. It was a GIDP, but Hill has been hitting well since his call up from Lake County. Alfonsin Rosario, with Jaison Chourio on base, hit a two-out home run to put Akron up 5-1. FONSI 💣 AGAIN!!For the second straight day, Alfonsin Rosario has launched a two-run home run!#QuAkron@GuardsInsiderpic.twitter.com/FUJAJfDQrO— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) June 5, 2026Jose Devers and Wuilfredo Antunez hit back-to-back singles to lead off the top of the third. Joe Lampe hit a RBI double to score Devers from second. Cameron Barstad drew a walk to load the bases which was followed by Luke Hill drawing a seven pitch walk to bring home Antunez. A pitching change did not help the Baysox. With only one out in the inning and the Ducks up six runs, Jaison Chourio hit a two-RBI single. Alfonsin drew a walk to load them up again in which Hill scored on Alex Mooney’s sacrifice fly. The Baysox made it through the fourth inning without giving up another run to Akron, but that wouldn’t stay true for the fifth. Two quick strikeouts on the first two hitters didn’t cause Jaison Chourio to falter. Chourio hit a single to right and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Alfonsin Rosario, who had a killer game, hit a ground-rule double to score Chourio.Fonsi is on 🔥🔥Alfonsin Rosario drives in his third run of the game with his second extra-base hit of the night!#QuAkronpic.twitter.com/neOWO3hz07— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) June 6, 2026Chesapeake’s bullpen stopped the bleeding with Akron up 11-3 going into the ninth inning. Akron had other plans, however, and tacked on eight more runs in the final frame of the game. Joe Lampe, Juan Benjamin, and Cameron Barstad hit three singles to start the inning. Barstad’s single to right scored Lampe and put runners on the corners. Hill reached on a fielding error, scoring Benjamin. Jaison Chourio walked to load the bases, again. Alfonsin Rosario capped off his incredible night in the best way possible, a grand slam. GRAND SLAM ALFONSIN ROSARIO!!!!His second home run of the night and third long ball in the last two games!!!#QuAkron@GuardsInsiderpic.twitter.com/Y2PKzpO0bR— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) June 6, 2026With one-out, Jose Devers reached on a single to short. Antunez slapped a two-run home run of his own for Akron’s final runs of the game. Tune time!!!Wuilfredo Antunez with a two-run 💣 for our third homer of the night! #QuAkronpic.twitter.com/EJOQpVSG8b— Akron RubberDucks (@AkronRubberDuck) June 6, 2026Lake County Captains (30-24) – High ALC 11 – FW 8Box ScoreLake County joined in on the double digit run scoring with their 3-run victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Rafe Schlesinger got the start last night, with a no decision result. Schlesinger went 4.0IP/6H/6R/2BB/6Ks. Izaak Martinez improved to 2-2 on the season with the Captains. Martinez went 3.o innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out five batters. Kendeglys Virguez got his first save of the season in his two innings of work. He allowed one run on two hits, striking out three. The scoring for Lake County kicked off in the top of the second with Aaron Walton hitting a lead off home run to left center. Walton watches it fly! 💥Aaron Walton puts the Captains on the board with a solo shot, hits 10th home run of the year! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/NZRXwKxDHV— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) June 5, 2026In the top of the fourth Jeffrey Mercedes hit a solo home run to start tackling the four-run deficit. Jace LaViolette hit a solo shot of his own in the top of the fifth the cut the TinCaps’ lead in half. The top of the seventh saw the Caps mount their comeback. Esteban González reached on a throwing error and scored on a Tommy Hawke tripe to left field. Welbyn Francisca singled on a liner to right to score Hawke, bringing the Caps within two runs. A one-out hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases. Maick Collado walked in a run to bring them within one run before the side was retired. Lake County finally took the lead in the top of the eighth. Tommy Hawke drew a one-out walk and Jace LaViolette hit a two-out single to put runners on the corners. Aaron Walton hit his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to center to give LC the lead. Nolan Schubart tacked on a insurance run with a solo homer in the next at bat.RAKE. COUNTY. AGAIN. ⚓️Aaron Walton and Nolan Schubart hit back-to-back home runs to give the Captains the lead! 💥💥 pic.twitter.com/N7XSNV4m92— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) June 6, 2026In the ninth, Maick Collado (1B), Jeffrey Mercedes (BB), and Tommy Hawke (BB) loaded the bases for Welbyn Francisca to hit a RBI single for the eleventh Captains’ run. So nice, he’s done it twice! 🔥Welbyn Francisca hits his 2nd RBI single of the night to extend Lake County’s lead! 💪 pic.twitter.com/3ST3Il30TX— Lake County Captains (@LCCaptains) June 6, 2026Hill City Howlers (27-28) – Single AHC 6 – FBG 5 Box ScoreThe Hill City Howlers snatched a victory with a three run ninth inning in Friday night’s game against the Fredericksburg Nationals. Jacob Zibin allowed all five Nationals run in his four innings of work. He gave up seven hits and one walk, striking out six batters. Luke Fernandez threw three innings of scoreless relief and Aaron Savary earned his first win of the season with Hill City, pitching the eighth and ninth innings. Savary did not allow a single baserunner. Juneiker Caceres lead off the game with a solo home run to right field on a 1-1 count. Fredericksburg quickly took the lead and held on to it until the ninth inning. In the top of the sixth, the Howlers started to close the gap with a RBI single that scored Cannon Peebles who reached on a lead off double. Johan Rodriguez added another run with a RBI single before the side was retired. The rally started in the top of the ninth with a lead off single from Johan Rodriguez. A passed ball and wild pitch advanced Rodriguez to third base, putting him in perfect position to score on Victor Izturis’ ground out to second. Yaikel Mijares drew a one-out walk and was brought home when Juneiker Caceres hit a two-run home run to right center, giving the Howlers the lead.

The USMNT is not easing into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as its final tune-up in the run-in to the June 12 World Cup opener against Paraguay, as the Americans take on Germany in its official send-off game.The US comes in off an impressive win against Senegal, while Germany is unbeaten (3-0-1) in its last four friendlies. Germany is a solid favorite on American soil as both teams look to build momentum for the matches that matter starting next week.More: Who is going to be the best dressed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?What time is the USMNT vs. Germany FIFA World Cup tune-up friendly?Stadium: Soldier Field, ChicagoDate: Saturday, June 6Kickoff time: 12:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. CTTV, streaming: TBS (English), HBO Max (English), Telemundo (Spanish), Universo (Spanish)More: Argentina, Lionel Messi, FIFA World Cup friendly in Texas. How to buyWhere to watch the United States Men's National Team vs. Senegal friendly: Channel, streamThe USMNT vs. Senegal World Cup tune-up match will air in the United States in English on TBS and HBO Max and stream on Peacock from Soldier Field in Chicago at 12:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. CT. It will air in Spanish on Telemundo and Universo.United States vs. Germany oddsFrom BetMGM.comUSMNT +310. Tie +320. Germany -145. Goals: 2.5USMNT vs. Germany predictionsGoal.com: Germany 2, US 1The site writes: "The United States’ opening clash with Paraguay is just over a week away, and they’ll want to start the tournament strongly. Defeating Germany will not define their tournament chances, but it does present an excellent opportunity to test themselves. A strong performance in Illinois could be massive for Pochettino and his players. “Regardless of the exact lineups, we expect the German team to prove too strong for their opponents in Chicago. An away victory seems highly probable."Sports Mole: Germany 2, US 1The site writes: “An end-to-end, high-intensity contest could be in store between these two in-form nations, though Germany enter the weekend as distinct favourites. USA have the tools to breach Germany’s backline, but Nagelsmann’s men possess greater overall strength and we are backing them to prevail in this World Cup dress rehearsal.”NBC Sports: Germany 2, US 1The site writes: "This feels like Germany will have a little too much in attack for the USMNT and will get the job done off the bench."Sportskeeda: Germany 2, US 1The site writes: “Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann uses a high press and has managed to get the most out of his creative players, including Musiala and Wirtz, by relying on quick transitions to create goalscoring opportunities.”The USA are likely to adopt a compact defensive block while using their pace on the wings through stars like Pulisic to trouble the Germany defense on the counterattack. This should be a high-intensity game, but we expect Germany to edge the win.”This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: USMNT has final 2026 FIFA World Cup tuneup against Germany. TV, picks

TOKYO, JAPAN - MARCH 08: Tsung-Che Cheng #1 of Team Chinese Taipei bunts in the eighth inning during the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C game between Chinese Taipei and South Korea at Tokyo Dome on March 8, 2026 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) | Getty Images Worcester: W, 6-3 (BOX SCORE)The WooSox did not have an ordinary assignment today. The opposing pitcher on the mound was a guy you may have heard of named Max Scherzer, a bonafide hall-of-famer in the twilight of his career on a rehab assignment for Buffalo (Blue Jays AAA) from forearm tendonitis and ankle inflammation. The 41-year-old was not expected to be 100% yet, but this is Mad Max we’re talking about. He’s still got the stuff, striking out five with that tricky slider. But Scherzer only made it into the fourth. When he did get hit, the hits came in waves, and he allowed three extra-base hits in that time including a Matt Lloyd home run to make it a 3-1 lead for the WooSox and it only got better from there. The WooSox had a rehab appearance of their own mound; Patrick Sandoval started the game allowing Raymond Burgos to be the bulk guy. Winning on a night a top contemporary pitcher starts the game is a great accomplishment.And hopefully it doesn’t come to this, but next man up, should it come to that for any reason, is looking like it could be Tsung-Che Cheng. The 24-year-old has defensive versatility, is a speed demon on the basepaths, can be slotted into second, third, or short, and makes contact. This was all evident in limited action during the WBC this spring. And on Friday, he had a statement two-RBI single against Scherzer and another RBI knock when the lead needed protecting in the eighth. So many of these hits have came from the bat of Cheng on the year. It’s easy to see there’s so many infielders with similar versatility ahead of Cheng, but he’s using an option year anyway and so if the Red Sox need to burn another infielder due to (insert any circumstance here) then there’s worse calls to make.Portland: L, 7-8 (BOX SCORE)Coming out of relief, Dalton Rogers pitched a hitless four innings against the Yard Goats (Rockies AA) and now stands at just three earned runs in 23 innings of work since being promoted to the double-A squad after his first appearance in Greenville back in April. The rest of the pitching staff got touched up, though, getting saddled with a six-run ninth inning to steal defeat from the depths of victory. The offense had an explosive inning of their own, though, or else Hartford would have run away with it. That seven-run sixth was the only inning in which Portland scored. It included a grand slam by Abhram Liendo. In the following inning, Caden Rose started the inning off wih a triple, and Portland’s winning percentage expected was north of 98 percent. Sadly, finishing the game out on top wasn’t to be.Greenville: L, 0-1 (BOX SCORE)In this 0-0 game where Rome (Braves High-A) walked off Greenville with the first run of the game, you really have to tip your hat to both pitching staffs. Jojo Ingrassia was no slouch and Joe Vogatsky recovered nicely from his mess of a relief appearance earlier in the week. But, you can’t compete with 1 run allowed unless you also score a run, and Greenville stranded ten, struck out sixteen times and went hitless in seven attempts to bring in runners in scoring position. Salem: L, 7-11 (F/11) (BOX SCORE)Going 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position in a close game, is, of course, not a way to win the game, but the RidgeYaks got to the Warbirds (Brewers A) for a lot of runs despite the team getting four hits on the night. In the end, though, it was, in part, Salem’s propensity for giving up walks (eleven) caught up with them, as they started the inning with one and ended up getting walked off with a grand slam.Have a steaming hot Saturday. And, as always, expletive the Yankees.

The 2026 World Cup will be the biggest edition of the tournament yet, as 48 countries will compete to win the quadrennial global soccer competition.Fans have had plenty of time to sort through the new tournament format, which will feature 12 groups of four teams and a round of 32 instead of the previously customary eight groups of four teams and a 16-team knockout bracket.But how will artificial intelligence assess the expanded World Cup field? USA TODAY Sports decided to explore that question and used AI chatbot Microsoft Copilot to simulate the entire tournament.Copilot was fed the following prompts to generate its projected tournament results:Can you predict the results of the group stage of the 2026 World Cup?Please build a full Round of 32 bracket and predict every knockout stage result based on the teams you have advancing.Copilot initially had trouble interpreting the first prompt, as it started by using the 2022 World Cup field instead of the 48 teams involved in the 2026 tournament. This wasn't a major surprise, as some Large Language Models (LLMs) struggle to keep up with the latest sports news and updates.When Copilot produced an error, it was simply prompted to correct its mistake. The chatbot had no issues projecting the results of the tournament once it was able to correctly identify the actual 48-team field.Who does Copilot AI think will win the 2026 World Cup? Below is a look at the chatbot's simulation, including projections for all 12 groups and score predictions for each knockout round game.AI predicts entire 2026 World Cup* Denotes advancing team.Group AMexico*South Korea*Czechia*South AfricaAnalysis: Copilot thinks Mexico will "benefit massively" from playing at home and at a higher altitude. It also likes South Korea's "pace" and noted they should edge Czechia, which "lacks firepower," to earn the group's No. 2 spot.Group BSwitzerland*Canada*Bosnia and Herzegovina*QatarAnalysis: Switzerland has "tournament consistency," which Copilot likes. The AI chatbot also likes Canada's "athleticism and home support" and believes Bosnia and Herzegovina "has enough talent" to compete for a best-third spot.Group CBrazil*Morocco*Scotland*HaitiAnalysis: Copilot expects Brazil's attacking depth to "overwhelm" the rest of Group C. It also said that Morocco has "strong knockout DNA" because of its elite defense while opining that Scotland should be "competitive" despite lacking top-end attacking talent.Group DUSA*Turkey*Australia*ParaguayAnalysis: USMNT fans, rejoice! Copilot called the USA "the strongest squad in the group" and believes the team will benefit from playing at home. It also has Turkey and Australia advancing based on their "technical quality" and "discipline," respectively.Group EGermany*Ecuador*Ivory Coast*CuracaoAnalysis: Copilot expects Germany to "control games comfortably." It also likes Ecuador's "youth and pace" while noting that Ivory Coast has high upside but is "inconsistent."Group FNetherlands*Japan*Sweden*TunisiaAnalysis: Copilot actually believes this will be the "tightest group." The chatbot has the Netherlands winning the group with Japan and Sweden engaging in a close battle for second place. Ultimately, it has Sweden "narrowly missing automatic qualification" but still making it through to the round of 32.Group GBelgium*Egypt*Iran*New ZealandAnalysis: Copilot is confident in Belgium's attacking talent and also believes that Mohamed Salah will help Egypt to earn automatic qualification in this group. The chatbot also has Iran advancing behind its "disciplined and tough defense."Group HSpain*Uruguay*Saudi ArabiaCape VerdeAnalysis: Copilot expects Spain to be tough to beat with its "possession-heavy" style and it also likes Uruguay's physicality. While the chatbot expects Saudi Arabia to be "competitive," it has them missing out on the round of 32.Group IFrance*Norway*Senegal*IraqAnalysis: France "is among the best teams globally," in the opinion of Copilot. That's why the chatbot has France winning the difficult-looking Group I. It also believes Erling Haaland will help clinch Norway a spot in the knockout round while Senegal is "strong" but will teeter on the edge because of the strength of Group I.Group JArgentina*Austria*AlgeriaJordanAnalysis: Copilot is trusting Argentina's experience but also noted Austria is "underrated tactically." The chatbot has Algeria's "inconsistency" keeping the country out of the round of 32 while it acknowledged Jordan "faces a steep climb" in its World Cup debut.Group KPortugal*Colombia*DR CongoUzbekistanAnalysis: Portugal is one of the World Cup's "best-balanced squads," in Copilot's estimation. It also lauded Colombia's technical strength as giving the edge over the Congo and tournament newcomer Uzbekistan.Group LEngland*Croatia*GhanaPanamaAnalysis: Copilot likes England's depth and referred to it as "overwhelming." It also believes Croatia remains "tactically elite," which should help it emerge from the difficult Group L. Perhaps the most surprising of the chatbot's predictions is that Ghana won't make it through to the round of 32.Knockout StageBelow is a look at Copilot's projected knockout stage bracket, and how it believes each single-elimination round will play out.Round of 32Mexico vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina – Mexico wins 2-1Brazil vs. Turkey – Brazil wins 3-1Germany vs. Australia – Germany wins 2-0Belgium vs. Japan – Japan wins 2-1Switzerland vs. Czechia – Switzerland wins 1-0USA vs. Scotland – USA wins 2-0Netherlands vs. Egypt – Netherlands wins 2-1Spain vs. Ivory Coast – Spain wins 2-0France vs. Iran – France wins 3-0Argentina vs. Sweden – Argentina wins 2-1Portugal vs. Senegal – Portugal wins 2-1England vs. DR Congo – England wins 3-0South Korea vs. Canada – Canada wins 2-1Morocco vs. Ecuador – Morocco wins 1-0Norway vs. Colombia – Norway wins 2-1Uruguay vs. Croatia – Uruguay wins 1-0Round of 16Mexico vs. Brazil – Brazil wins 2-1Germany vs. Japan – Germany wins 2-1Switzerland vs. USA – USA wins 2-1Netherlands vs. Spain – Spain wins 2-1France vs. Argentina – France wins 3-2Portugal vs. England – England wins 2-1Canada vs. Morocco – Morocco wins 1-0Norway vs. Uruguay – Uruguay wins 2-1QuarterfinalsBrazil vs. Germany – Brazil wins 2-1USA vs. Spain – Spain wins 2-0France vs. England – France wins 2-1Morocco vs. Uruguay – Morocco wins 1-0SemifinalsBrazil vs. Spain – Brazil wins 3-2France vs. Morocco – France wins 2-0Third-place matchSpain 2, Morocco 1Copilot believes Spain's "attacking quality shows" against Morocco and that Spain will be able to control the clock with its possession-heavy play.World Cup FinalFrance 3, Brazil 2Copilot has France beating Brazil in a thrilling World Cup final thanks to the team's "elite depth, tournament experience and tactical flexibility." The chatbot also opined that the World Cup win – which would be France's second in the last three tournaments – would establish Les Bleus as the "defining team of the era."This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will win 2026 World Cup? AI picks results of entire tournament

EPSOM, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Bay City Roller ridden by Oisin Murphy (red & white silks) wins the Coolmore Coronation Cup during The Betfred Derby Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 06, 2026 in Epsom, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images) | Getty Images Hickory starter Aidan Deakins struck out seven in five innings, giving up a solo homer. Louis Marinaro struck out two in two scoreless innings.Hector Osorio was 3 for 4 with a homer. Yolfran Castillo had a hit and a stolen base. Braylin Morel doubled. Marcos Torres doubled. Dewar Tovar and Josh Springer each had a hit.Hickory box scoreCaden Scarborough started for Hub City, allowing one run in three innings, striking out three and walking three. Case Matter allowed a run in an inning, walking two and striking out two. Joey Danielson struck out one in a scoreless inning.Malcolm Moore was 2 for 5 with a homer. Paxton Kling was 2 for 6 with a pair of doubles. Chandler Pollard and Gleider Figuereo each had a double. Hub City box scoreFrisco starter Dalton Pence struck out seven in five innings, allowing two runs and walking two.Ian Moller homered. Rafe Perich doubled and walked. Dylan Dreiling had a hit and a walk.Frisco box scoreFor Round Rock, Gavin Collyer faced three batters, striking out two of them and walking one. Rehabbing Cole Winn faced three batters, retiring two of them, one by strike out, and walking one. Josh Sborz, re-signed by the Rangers after exercising his opt out earlier this week, faced four batters, walking one of them striking out one, and allowing two hits, one of which was a homer. Emiliano Teodo faced three batters, walking one of them and retiring two of them, one via strikeout. Cam Cauley had a double and a walk. Jarred Kelenic had a hit, a walk and a stolen base. Blaine Crim had a hit and a walk.Round Rock box scoreACL Rangers box scoreDSL Rangers Red box scoreDSL Rangers Blue box score