The 2026 World Cup is finally upon us, meaning I can stop making futures bets and focus on the first set of group games. For more big-picture storylines and pre-tournament plays, check out everything else I’ve written so far at Yahoo Sports.As the tournament begins, keep the format and scenarios in mind. Both will factor in more later in the group stage, but with only three group games apiece, the possibilities are important from the first kick. Play 2026 Soccer Pick 'Em with FOX One and make your picks for the world's biggest soccer tournamentThe top two teams advance from each group, as do the top eight (of 12) third-place teams. Historically, three points and a goal difference of minus-1 or minus-2 are probably enough to get a team into the knockout stage. How this new format affects group games is difficult to say definitively, but I suspect two things are likely to happen:1) Top teams may open up early, going for three points that might enable them to rest players or ease up in the group finale — and/or2) The bottom third of teams will try to keep games tight to minimize goal difference and steal points. With that in mind, here are a few bets that I like in the first week of the tournament:Friday, June 12Bosnia & Herzegovina double chance (-105) vs. Canada Even as a host nation, Canada has a lot of question marks on the field. Moïse Bombito, one of the best center backs in the region, is unlikely to play in this match as he continues to recover from a broken leg. Cyle Larin hasn’t scored in 14 straight caps for Canada, and Jonathan David had only eight goals in 46 games for Juventus this season. Canada’s results haven’t been great this year, with draws against Iceland, Tunisia and Ireland, plus underwhelming wins over Guatemala and Uzbekistan. Bosnia & Herzegovina scraped through a playoff to qualify, with a similar style to Canada’s, built on playing directly and swiftly in transition. This one will probably be tight and not pretty, so I like the Bosnia & Herzegovina side of this near coin flip.For those unfamiliar with double chance betting in soccer, this means that you’ll win your wager if the match is tied after 90 minutes or if Bosnia & Herzegovina wins.Saturday, June 13Morocco win (+425) vs. Brazil Morocco was the surprise semifinalist at the 2022 World Cup, and the Atlas Lions return nearly half their team from that run. They (officially) won Cup of Nations earlier this year, and they can win by defending and countering, or by controlling a game with the ball. Brazil has its usual attacking talent and solid defenders, but the midfield is a big question mark, with 34-year-old Casemiro likely holding things down. Morocco can overrun Brazil there and will not be intimidated by the five stars on the crest. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti is a master tinkerer, but he and his squad may not be ready for Morocco’s ferocity in the opener.Haiti double chance (+155) vs. Scotland I’m rooting for a hot night in Foxboro to help Haiti wear down a Scotland side that will not have Napoli midfielder Billy Gilmour because of a knee injury suffered last month. Haiti isn’t especially deep either, but that matters less in the opener. The team’s defend-and-counter strategy has frustrated CONCACAF giants and is well-suited to the underdog role here against a Scotland side that can struggle to break down opponents when a goal is needed.Sunday, June 14Germany -3.5 (-110) vs. Curacao I’m not convinced this Germany team has the top gear to win this World Cup, but it has enough firepower to overwhelm debutant Curacao. Knowing that goal difference could easily decide this group, Germany will likely be unrelenting, and the lack of a classic striker won’t matter as much.Curacao’s possession-based game shined in qualifying, but may not work as well against top opposition that controls the ball. The Blue Stars are one of the great Cinderella stories at any World Cup, and they’ll try to keep this one close — but I don’t expect their valiant efforts to work.Netherlands-Japan over 2.5 goals (-105) Japan is one of my favorite sleepers, with a roster loaded with Europe-based stars despite losing a couple starters to injury. Rather than sit back defensively against a favorite, Japan should press and attack quickly, and Samurai Blue may be the more athletic team in this matchup. There should be plenty of scoring opportunities for at least one of the teams. Netherlands seems to have a solid defense, but that’s mostly against inferior opposition. The Dutch gave up five goals in two matches against Spain in last year’s Nations League and three more in two games versus Germany before that. Japan may not quite be that that level, but isn’t terribly far off either. This should be a fun one with scoring chances galore.

Talented high school baseball squads are ready to lace up their cleats, grab their gloves, and swing their bats as the postseason and state championships are taking place around the nation with the season nearing its end.The latest set of rankings sees another change at the top of this week’s Top 25 national high school baseball ranks as the No. 1 team in the nation now hails from Lone Star State in St. John Bosco. The Tomball Cougars of Texas have now taken over the top spot after winning the UIL Class 6A, Division II state championship last week. Jumping up to the second spot are the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles after they beat the Venice Indians for the Florida High School Athletic Association’s (FHSAA) Class 7A state championship.Did any new teams made their way this week into the latest set of Rivals High School baseball Top 25 rankings?[ $19.99 gets you a FULL year of On3 | Rivals national coverage ]We dive into the best high school baseball programs around the nation and give you our take on which teams stay in the conversation as of June 9.1. Tomball Cougars (TX) (44-1)Making their way to the ranks is one of the top Texas high school baseball teams in the Tomball Cougars (44-1). 13 of the team’s victories this season have come via shutout and with one of the better pitching staffs in the state, the Cougars will be a tough out in the UIL Class 6A, Division II postseason. Last week Tomball defeated Memorial soundly, 9-1, for the state championship. With he Cougars winning the state title, they will end the season as the nation’s No. 1 high school baseball team. 2. Marjory Stoneman Douglas Eagles (FL) (28-6)You’re probably wondering why days later why Marjory Stoneman Douglas finally made the jump over the Venice Indians for the second spot in the land? Well, figuring in that Venice’s other loss to Orange Lutheran (Calif.), which has dropped substantially in the rankings, also lost to St. John Bosco, which now falls to No. 5 in our latest set of rankings, impacts overall where the Indians are at. The Eagles proved down the stretch, regardless of their six losses, they have one of the best teams in the country behind the left arm of MLD Draft first round hopeful Gio Rojas. 3. Venice Indians (FL) (32-2)The Venice Indians (32-2) fell short of their goal to win a state championship, stopped by an all-time performance from Marjory Stoneman Douglas (Fla.) pitcher Gio Rojas one-hit performance in a 2-1 loss. The Indians only other loss was by one run to Orange Lutheran (Calif.) at the National High School Invitational. What really separated Venice apart from everyone else in the country was the play of their pitching staff as they only allowed 48 runs through 34 games and scoring 242. The Indians’ season comes to a close having lost two games by a total of two runs.4. Jesuit Tigers (FL) (28-6)Debuting within the Top 5 nationally after soundly defeating Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore, 9-0, for the FHSAA Class 4A state championship are the Jesuit Tigers. The boys from Tampa ended up shutting out opponents four times along the way to winning it all. Senior Wilson Andersen was superb at the plate and on the mound for Jesuit, with the pitcher finishing the season with a 11-2 record, 1.62 earned run average and 111 strikeouts. At the plate, Andersen batted .426 with four home runs and drove in 36 runs.5. St. John Bosco Braves (CA) (27-6)St. John Bosco (CA) fell in the CIF postseason, dropping them down to the fifth spot and could be lower in the coming weeks as high school baseball finishes up around the country. The Braves (27-6) at one point had a 16-game winning streak and ended up falling to Cathedral Catholic last week, 4-2. Despite dropping the five other games this season, the Braves were loaded with returning talent from the 30-4 team from last season, including on the pitcher’s mound. The bulk of the experience was within the pitching staff as senior Julian Garcia, who went 9-1 with 107 strikeouts in 2025, leading the way. Rivals High School Baseball Rankings Nos. 11-256. South Walton Seahawks (FL) (30-4)7. IMG Academy Ascenders (FL) (21-3)8. Trinity Shamrocks (KY) (39-3)9. The Stony Brook School Bears (NY) (22-2) 10. Calallen Wildcats (TX) (38-3)11. Grapevine Mustangs (TX) (26-5) 12. Harvard-Westlake Wolverines (CA) (26-6)13. Norco Cougars (CA) (28-5)14. Keller Indians (TX) (43-4)15. Catholic Bears (LA) (37-5) 16. Orange Lutheran Lancers (CA) (25-6)17. North Broward Prep Eagles (FL) (25-8)18. Buford Wolves (GA) (29-5) 19. De La Salle Spartans (CA) (23-5)20. Trinity Christian Academy Conquerors (FL) (27-8)21. AledoBearcats (TX) (43-5)22. Calvary Christian Warriors (FL) (29-3)23. North Paulding Wolfpack (GA) (32-7)24. Bishop Moore Catholic Hornets (FL) (30-3)25. Bishop Gorman Gaels (NV) (33-6)

It happens all the time: the referee awards a free kick in a team’s attacking third, and the player on the ball attempts to find a more favorable position before delivering.Who could begrudge U.S. women’s national team midfielder Rose Lavelle for seeking a marginal advantage in the 95th minute on Saturday when the U.S. played Brazil in Sao Paulo? The U.S. were trailing by a goal and Jaedyn Shaw, Lavelle’s club teammate at Gotham, had drawn a foul on the left, about 10 yards from the penalty box.About three minutes remained. As Lavelle prepared to take her free kick, she rolled the ball three paces away from the site of the foul toward the center of the pitch — that is, until Spanish referee Maria Eugenia Gil Soriano instructed her to return the ball to its original spot.Lavelle reluctantly complied. But as Soriano backed away, the U.S. midfielder nudged the ball back to where she wanted it. That’s when 31,336 onlookers raised the volume inside the Neo Química Arena, almost as if to say, “Hey, put that back.”What was conveyed, however, was even more incisive: “You can’t get away with that here. This is our house.”That much was clear as the hosts saw the game out to win 2-1, and will likely remain the case in tonight’s second meeting in Fortaleza at the Arena Castelão in the northeastern region of the country. And this, more than any cutting-edge technology or set-piece choreography, is the best training the USWNT will receive on its trip to where the World Cup will be held next year.Come to BrazilBefore Saturday, the USWNT had not played against Brazil in Brazil since 2014. All of their matches have been staged in the U.S. or a neutral site, like the Parc des Princes in Paris for the 2024 Olympics gold medal match. The U.S. won 1-0 before a 2-0 success in their next meeting at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on April 5 last year. Three days later at San Jose’s PayPal Park, Brazil struck back, overpowering the U.S. in stoppage time for a 2-1 win.Saturday’s defeat was the first time the U.S. fell to the same opponent on consecutive occasions since 2011. They have won the vast majority of their duels with Brazil (34-4-5 heading into these fixtures), but there has been much more parity on Brazilian soil. Before this trip, it was 2-2-2.U.S. manager Emma Hayes said after Saturday’s game that some players had never competed in an atmosphere where their team was the unanimous enemy. Except for Liga MX Femenil in Mexico, top-flight women’s professional football leagues in the northern hemisphere are hardly hotbeds of bitter rivalries and impassioned fans. Booing in the National Women’s Soccer League and the Women’s Super League in the UK, for example, is more likely to be aimed at a referee’s wayward decision than an opponent.The USWNT’s road trips have been few and far between, too. The last time the U.S. played outside the country was for a set of European friendlies against England and the Netherlands in the final months of 2024.“That’s why I keep leaning into the fact that sometimes we create too many perfect conditions,” Hayes said. “We’ve created a culture in our football world in the United States that’s, ‘Well, do we need to do as much of that? Do we do less of this?’“We have got to be tougher in lots of things, and we have got to be more durable, and we’ve got to expose ourselves to the elements of the game.”How, then, to adequately prepare Ally Sentnor, a darling of American soccer with her University of North Carolina and NWSL No. 1 draft pick pedigrees? These experiences should happen much earlier in a player’s career than a year out from the World Cup.It’s a question that’s prompted discussion between U.S. Soccer and the NWSL about how to create more of these opportunities, Hayes said.U.S. players compete in fewer matches across a four-year cycle than most other top-ranked nations. Even within Concacaf, the NWSL plays fewer midweek matches (four) than Liga MX Femenil (11). Bringing the U.S. under-23 national team to Brazil chips away at that early exposure, as have previous camps for that age group in Spain and France, but some things can’t be replicated.“I’ve coached in (and) at PSG, which was an experience,” Hayes said, referring to her tenure as Chelsea manager before taking this job. “I coached at Barcelona, the Nou Camp. That was an experience.“This,” she emphasized about Brazil, “is unlike anything else. They live and they breathe it in a certain way. This is the most extreme but beautiful end of it, like, the crowd are fantastic. But you have to perform with all of that.”When second-division teams play in stadiums that hold more than 57,000 people, it’s usually an indicator of a serious footballing nation. That is what the U.S. will face in its second “mock exam,” as Hayes called it.Brazil is laying the groundwork for an historic World Cup, the first hosted by a South American country on the women’s side. The numbers in São Paulo proved the devotion to the beautiful game is free-flowing and vast, and it will only grow — from Brazil, to Argentina, to Colombia and Paraguay and Venezuela.The U.S. luxury of being the forever home team was always meant to be short-lived, but harnessing the power from facing adversity could make them unstoppable. This may be their last chance to learn that before the World Cup.This article originally appeared in The Athletic.US Women's national team, NWSL, Women's Soccer, FIFA Women's World Cup2026 The Athletic Media Company

First stop: Las Vegas. Next stop: Detroit.Hilary Knight signed a one-year foundational contract offer with the PWHL’s expansion team in Las Vegas on Tuesday in the first step that will eventually land the five-time U.S. Olympian in the Motor City.Las Vegas announced the signing, without revealing the team reaching a sign-and-trade agreement to send the 36-year-old Knight to fellow expansion team Detroit.A person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press of the trade agreement on Monday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal the trade.The person said Las Vegas will acquire Detroit’s first-round draft pick in a deal that won’t be official until the PWHL’s trade freeze lifts on June 16, a day before the draft. Knight's signing closes Phase 2 of the league's expansion signing process in which all four new teams added their first five players.For Knight, the foundational contract guarantees her making at least $100,000 next season. She made $106,090 last year.Knight is on the move for a second straight PWHL offseason. After spending her first two PWHL seasons in Boston, she left the Fleet to sign with t he expansion Seattle Torrent to be closer to her offseason home in Idaho.The move to Detroit brings her closer to her hometown of Chicago.Knight is coming off captaining the United States to a gold-medal victory at the Milan Cortina Games in February, in which Knight deflected in the championship game-tying goal late in the third period of a 2-1 overtime win against Canada.Though Knight said the Olympics in Milan would be her last, she planned on continuing her pro career.Knight finished last season with five goals and 14 points in 22 games with Seattle, while missing the final two months with a lower-body injury. A year earlier, she finished tied for the league lead with 29 points (15 goals, 14 assists). Overall, she ranks 12th in the PWHL with 54 career points (26 goals, 28 assists) in 76 games.___AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Cubs promising 24-year-old tabbed as trade chip thanks to infield problem originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Chicago Cubs have a few clear issues to resolve on their roster, with the starting rotation being the most obvious problem right now.Multiple injuries to the rotation, and even the healthy starters aren't playing well, have the Cubs in dire need of pitching help this summer. To improve that rotation, the Cubs might have to part with some very valuable players, and one 24-year-old fits the bill.As Mark Feinsand of MLB.com highlighted, 24-year-old infielder Matt Shaw is a trade candidate this season thanks to the major need in the rotation, and the infield problem blocking the youngster from earning a roster spot anytime soon.Cubs' Matt Shaw named trade chip amid infield and rotation problems"With both second and third base locked up for the foreseeable future, Shaw appears to be a player without a home on the diamond," Feinsand writes.Since Shaw doesn't have a roster spot in the infield, his only long-term option would be in the outfield. It could work, but ideally, the Cubs play Shaw at his natural infield position.But, with Alex Bregman entrenched at third base and Nico Hoerner at second, Shaw might be best used as a trade chip."The Cubs figure to be in the market for a starting pitcher this summer, and given that their farm system has fallen from MLB Pipeline's No. 2 ranking two years ago to No. 23 prior to this season, Chicago may have to deal from its big league roster," Feinsand writes.With a clear need for rotation help and the lack of a long-term infield plan for Shaw, he's a very sensible trade candidate this season to upgrade the rotation.MORE: Cubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GMPlus, using Shaw would be a huge help in adding a pitcher from a club that might view themselves as closer to contending than a team like the Colorado Rockies.Shaw can play in the big leagues right away for a new club, which is a lot more appealing than a prospect with a lot of unknowns if they're even going to make the Major Leagues.The 24-year-old Cubs' former top prospect has shown enough in his big league experience so far, with a .690 OPS and 98 OPS+ to go with solid base-running ability and good defense.There's room for improvement, and a change of scenery, landing with a club that could use him at his ideal positions of second or third base, would be a welcome change for Shaw.He's a very sensible trade candidate for the Cubs this season, and is someone who could help the Cubs land the kind of pitcher they so desperately need right now.More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsEx-MLB GM projects White Sox to sell at trade deadline despite 2026 successTarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyYankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

Nature, Published online: 09 June 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10748-5A unicellular relative links aggregative multicellularity to animal origins

Nature, Published online: 09 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01840-xFossilized poo harbours remains from mammoths, bison and big cats, including some of the oldest DNA ever reconstructed.

The “fake news” revolution is in full swing.

We can officially commence the countdown to the start of the Arizona Cardinals' regular season. Today, Tuesday, June 9, is 96 days away from the Arizona Cardinals' regular-season opener on Sept. 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.With 96 days until Week 1, let's look back at the 1996 season for the Cardinals.A look back at the 1996 season for the CardinalsThe 1996 season was the first for Vince Tobin as head coach, after Buddy Ryan was fired. Statistically, they weren't very good. They were 22nd in the league in scoring, averaging only 18.8 points per game, and the defense was 26th, allowing 24.8 points per game. However, they went 7-9 and won four games in the division (then the NFC East). The season at quarterback was split between Boomer Esiason and Kent Graham. Both started eight games apiece. Esiason was benched before he could have earned $350,000 in incentives.Esiason, in an overtime win over the then-Washington Redskins, set the single-game passing yards record for the Cardinals with 522. 1996 offensive leadersEsiason was 3-5 as a starter, completing 56% of his passes for 2,293 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Graham went 4-4 and completed 53.3% of his passes for 1,624 yards, 12 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. LeShon Johnson was the team's leading rusher with 634 yards, but 214 of those yards came in one game, which set the team's single-game rushing record (later broken by Beanie Wells). Larry Centers was next with 425 yards. Centers led the team with 99 receptions for 766 yards and seven touchdowns. Rob Moore had the most receiving yards with 1,013 on 58 receptions and four scores, while Frank Sanders caught 69 passes for 813 yards and four touchdowns.Centers was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler at fullback. 1996 defensive leadersSimeon Rice, their first-round pick, was the Defensive Rookie of the Year with 12.5 sacks to lead the team. Defensive tackle Eric Swann was a Pro Bowler with five sacks and 81 tackles. Seth Joyner also had five sacks, but nobody else had more than one sack. Aeneas Williams made the Pro Bowl at cornerback. He had 77 tackles and six interceptions. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 96 days till Arizona Cardinals' opener: Remembering the 1996 season

To say that basketball runs in the Harper family is something of an understatement. Ron Harper Sr. was of course a five-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers, and Ron Harper Jr. and his brother Dylan are now suiting up for the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs, respectively. The mother of the family, Maria, played NCAA basketball for the University of New Orleans as well.And Maria recently opened up about how her two sons differ in their NBA fits in an interview with the Boston Globe's Tara Sullivan. "He is my Crock-Pot," said Maria of her older son Ron."Anyone who sees all the good ingredients Ronald has and takes the time to look at that pot, watches it simmer, they come out with the best-tasting dish they ever had," she added. "That’s what the Celtics have done," suggested Maria. "They recognize who this kid is today and what he can be tomorrow. They invested in him, and he felt that.""Boston is where he wanted to be, where he chose to be after getting waived by the (Detroit) Pistons. He’s starting to blossom. The difference with Dylan, he’s a little bit of a microwave, so to speak."Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKpiTunes: https://tiny.ee/RK47YouTube: https://tiny.ee/cOW3This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: How Ron Harper Jr., Dylan Harper fit into NBA, according to mom Maria

Alan Shipnuck, with his book ‘Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf's Most Human Superstar’ (Photo of Alan Shipnuck is by Marlena Marika)Alan Shipnuck has spent three decades covering golf for various media outlets, most notably at Sports Illustrated, and, most recently, at Skratch. He’s also the author of ten books. His latest is a biography of Rory McIlroy titled Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar.It’s already been a memorable year for McIlroy, who won the Masters for the second straight year. After finishing tied for seventh at the PGA Championship, he now turns his attention to next week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.We recently caught up with Shipnuck to discuss the U.S. Open and McIlroy.Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar is now available for purchase.Note: This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. What is the big story heading into the U.S. Open?Alan Shipnuck: “Scottie Scheffler has to be the focus. It’s been a down year for Scottie, even though he’s playing at a high level, but the victories haven’t been there. If he wins the U.S. Open and completes the career Grand Slam, it automatically becomes a blockbuster season, no matter what else happens. So, he’ll be the betting favorite. Obviously, Rory’s going to be a factor. He has closed the gap on Scheffler substantially, and he loves the great old classic courses, and he really wants to win a U.S. Open on one of the citadels of the sport, so I expect he’ll give a very spirited challenge.”What else stands out to you?“The secondary kind of storyline is there’s a bunch of players who haven’t won this year; elite players, whether it’s Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Patrick Cantlay. You can go down the list. There are a lot of guys who are playing well, but they haven’t gotten it done. It just feels like the most wide-open U.S. Open in a while because Scheffler has not been dominant. Rory hasn’t won a U.S. Open in 15 years. So, it’s going to be a tournament with an action-packed leaderboard.”I’ve been rapping out with J. Rome going back to the ‘90s. Always a pleasure! https://t.co/sqzK9c3kIs — Alan Shipnuck (@AlanShipnuck) April 8, 2026Could a dark horse win?“We’ve seen it at Shinnecock. Corey Pavin and Retief Goosen were really good players, but nobody’s favorite heading into those U.S. Opens. It’s funny because it’s like the USGA always forgets that Shinnecock is right on the ocean and that it can be windy. Course conditions and how the weather affects the playing field have been a massive story. In that scenario, it’s a little bit more like a British Open. Where you are in the draw and the tee times can have a big effect on the outcome. There’s definitely more of a chance for a fluke result at Shinnecock than probably any other U.S. Open venue.”Why did you write a book about Rory McIlroy?“He’s the most compelling golfer of the post-Tiger generation. He’s a big personality. He’s a great talker. He is the most emotionally available superstar golf has probably ever seen. He lets you into his heart. That’s why people have responded so strongly to his Masters win. And of course, he’s thrilling to watch on the golf course. The way he plays the game, the highs and the lows. His victories have been spectacular. His defeats have been heart-wrenching. In what can be a very boring sport, he’s a star.”Could you tell us more about your run-in with Rory last year?“He was warming up for the second round of the U.S. Open. I went out to chat with his manager, Sean O’Flaherty. Rory, I mean, everyone saw it after the Masters last year. He was in this weird headspace, having climbed the mountaintop and trying to figure out what’s next. The U.S. Open is a frustrating tournament. Oakmont’s probably the hardest course in the world. So, he was not in a great place. He saw me chatting with Sean and just turned around. He was like, ‘Fu*k off.’ I was so surprised. I froze, and he said it again. It didn’t seem like we were going to have a productive conversation in that moment, so I did, in fact, ‘fu*k off.'”After a weekend of abuse from the crowd…Alan Shipnuck witnessed a private Rory McIlroy moment that never left him.“I love you so much.”Full episode of the William Hill Sports Book Club out now.@AlanShipnuck I @TheAdrianDurham I @nfoggin I @talkSPORT2 I… pic.twitter.com/qiMHQUed6N — William Hill Sports Book Of The Year (@BookiePrize) May 17, 2026What happened next?“Two days later, I waited for him in the parking lot, and we had a philosophical conversation about the whole thing. He said, ‘It pisses me off that you’re making money off my name.’ I said, ‘Rory, book money is a tiny fraction of Grand Slam money. You’re not missing out on much.’ But again, it’s not about the money. It’s about control, and I think that was really the issue for him.“I told him he had nothing to worry about. The Phil Mickelson biography I wrote was big and controversial. It sent Phil into exile for a while. That was because Phil had so many skeletons in his closet and so many secrets. Rory’s a different personality. All of his controversies throughout his life and career are in the book, but I think he’s carried himself with a lot of class, and that comes through in the book. So, when he finally saw the finished product, I think he saw that I dealt with him fairly. His stance has softened. We had a nice chat at Pebble Beach.”Any thoughts on what appears to be the end of LIV Golf as we know it?“We might be seeing LIV 2.0. The decadence is over, along with the noise and muckraking. It will become part of the pro golf landscape as a good-but-not-great tour with good-but-not-great players. And that’s okay. There’s room for that. But it’s not going to be the monumental, game-changing, disruptive force it aspired to be. The legacy of LIV? It confirmed what people have always suspected: there’s a big appetite for big-time golf around the world. It had the most success in Australia, South Africa, Korea, Japan, and Mexico City. It could never make a dent domestically in the U.S.”Are you still coaching girls’ basketball at Carmel High School?“I demoted myself from head coach to assistant because I have a lot of work projects and my daughter’s going to have a baby. There’s a lot going on, and it’s a big commitment. I coached for two years as head coach (2024-25 and 2025-26). I loved it, and I’ll always be involved in the program because I enjoy being in the gym. I enjoy working with young people and helping teenage girls become strong, confident leaders.”“This league was a monument to decadence… but LIV, as we know it, looks like it’s dead.”—@AlanShipnuck on lessons learned from the “gold rush” that kickstarted Saudi Arabia’s sportswashing experiment pic.twitter.com/Bi4orDubwM — Pablo Torre Finds Out (@pablofindsout) May 12, 2026Why and how did you first get involved in coaching?“I have three daughters. My middle daughter, Abigail, was an all-county point guard, and on the girls’ side, a lot of coaches tend to be parents. I coached her at different levels, and it was an amazing journey. She graduated. I took a year off from coaching, but I missed it, so I got back into it.”Finally, what are the top five golf courses you’ve played?“No. 1 is Cruden Bay in Scotland. No. 2 is Pebble Beach because I worked there as a cart boy. That’s how I put myself through college, so I have a sentimental attachment. No. 3 is Cape Wickham in Australia. It’s absolutely incredible. No. 4 is North Berwick in Scotland. No. 5 is Cypress Pointe. I’ve been lucky to play a lot of great golf courses.”The post Golf writer Alan Shipnuck on next week’s U.S. Open and his book about Rory McIlroy appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Clint Dempsey has never been one for ceilings. Tell Dempsey he can't do something, and he'll break through – going from East Texas to the Premier League and ending his career as the joint top scorer for the U.S. men's national team along the way.But he knows about floors. So, perhaps it was no surprise that Dempsey was clear on what failure would be for the U.S. at the 2026 World Cup but refused to put a limit on the team's potential success."Failure is not getting out of the group, especially in the way that the format is now," Dempsey told USA TODAY Sports. "If you're not getting out of the group stage now, that’s definitely a failure, right? You've had teams that have gotten to the Round 16 before. Two of the three World Cups cycles I was a part of, that's what we got to. "I’d like to see them get further, obviously, get into a quarters or a semis. That would just be amazing, but I'm not going to put a ceiling on what they can do. But I will say that if you don't get out of the group, that's definitely going to be a failure."Dempsey isn't expecting the U.S. to fall on the floor. He's rooting for the opposite. But after the U.S. failed to win its Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Panama and when the Americans fell in the Gold Cup final to Mexico, Dempsey offered open critique.His position as arguably the greatest American player to play the sport puts extra weight behind what he says, especially when it filters down to the current generation of players, many of whom grew up idolizing Dempsey. Whether he has a microphone in his hand or he's catching up with a former teammate, he is characteristically candid, but that's the same way the press talked about him as a player when he was in London – and even with the Seattle Sounders."Wherever you are, where the game is cared about, you're going to be under a microscope and people are going to talk about it, right? If you're on the better teams, it's even talked about more," he said. "When I was in England and playing with Fulham and Tottenham, you better believe I was being criticized and critiqued and judged. That's what comes with the job. That's what comes with the money that you're being paid to do. "I try to shoot people straight. I remember what it was like to be in the locker room, but at the same time, I still have what it's like to be a fan and want these guys to accomplish as much as they possibly can. It’s not one of those things where my agenda is to go out there and get click bait. I want to see them win, and I want to talk about good things that are going on. But when things are not going well, I got to shoot you straight too, right?"This generation of players mostly became professional players in a totally different way than Dempsey did, famously being driven hours from his hometown of Nacogdoches to Dallas to participate in the Texans youth system. After going to college at Furman and starting his pro career with the New England Revolution, Dempsey didn't move to Europe until he was in his mid-20s.While most of the current USMNT went pro at a much younger age than Dempsey and many of his counterparts, the 43-year-old still would like to see his generation of recent ex-pros be more involved in the U.S. Soccer and MLS setups than they are, feeling there is wisdom to be offered that isn't currently being passed down."Do I feel like a lot of former players are welcome back to be around the national team or with an MLS or professional team? I don’t know about all that," Dempsey said. "I don’t feel like there’s a lot of former players I played with that have gotten a lot of opportunities, if I’m being honest. That’s just how I feel."I know you could point to different players here and there that, you know, played MLS and are coaches now. But I still feel like there's a lot of other players that could have helped out that haven't been called upon."Dempsey likely isn't talking about himself. Reserved off the field during his playing days – though prone to putting out rap songs – he was coaxed into giving TV a try.The comfort with his broadcast colleagues, including Pete Radovich, CBS' Vice President of Production and Senior Creative Director who launched the network's soccer coverage, opened the door for something even more personal. Dempsey is the subject of a four-part documentary series called, "You Don't Know Where I'm From, Dawg," which is out on Paramount+."Being able to be myself, feeling like I'm in a locker room again, you kind of gain trust and confidence and take a little bit more risk than you normally would take," he said. "Doing the documentary was one of those things that, yeah, you got to share a lot and you got to be raw and kind of show your life to people and they're going to take it how they're going to take it. But, for me it was just trusting Pete, Alex (Loschiavo, producer), everybody with CBS through this process that they would do right by me. But at the same time, tell the true story."The true story is now on display. If it weren't, Dempsey would tell you – just like he'll say if the U.S. doesn't live up to its potential this summer or he'll praise the players who were able to raise their ceiling higher than ever.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Clint Dempsey shares expectations for USMNT at 2026 World Cup

Micah Richards raises concern over Saka’s style at the World Cup for EnglandBukayo Saka remains a key figure for England and is among several Arsenal players expected to feature prominently for the national team, with expectations high that he will deliver strong performances at the upcoming World Cup. His consistency at club level has strengthened belief that he can play a decisive role on the international stage when required.Saka’s importance to the squad is clear, and Thomas Tuchel is understood to place significant trust in the Arsenal attacker, with a strong possibility that he will retain his starting position throughout the tournament. His ability to influence matches has made him a reliable option in key moments for his country. He continues to be central to England’s attacking plans.England tactical considerations for SakaSaka is recognised for his technical ability on the ball and his preference for retaining possession, taking on defenders and creating openings, rather than immediately releasing passes or crosses into advanced areas. This style has been effective at club level and remains a key part of his identity as a winger. He continues to develop within a demanding international setup.As reported by The Rest Is Football, Micah Richards said:“I think at the World Cup, Harry Kane is key, isn’t he? He’s England’s main man, essentially. So you’ve got to work around his strengths or weaknesses.“He knows he wants to get on the ball. You know he gets frustrated. You know he goes really deep. Just play two wingers. I’m looking at Rashford. He loved to get in behind for Barcelona. Unbelievable running behind.“Saka can do it, but he likes to get on the ball too much. You can’t have two of them coming towards the ball unless you play someone who is willing to run in behind from a midfield area.”Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice (Getty Images)Micah Richards assessmentRichards highlighted tactical concerns about balance and movement within the England attack setup.His comments underline ongoing debate about Saka’s role in international football system suitability._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest NewsMicah Richards raises concern over Saka’s style at the World Cup for England 9 June 2026, 17:00Iraola urges Arsenal target not to change clubs 9 June 2026, 16:00Arsenal tipped to land Bournemouth midfielder this summer 9 June 2026, 15:00

By his own account, Eric Chung was living the American Dream. A son of immigrants from Communist Vietnam, Chung is a constitutional lawyer who was working at the Commerce Department on the CHIPS and Science Act to boost the economy and bring jobs and manufacturing to places like Southeast Michigan, where Chung grew up. Enter Trump 2.0. And with that, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Related “I didn’t lose consciousness”: Gay lawmaker on his resilience as he runs for Congress “This administration came in, and they fired 40 of my colleagues after asking people for their SAT scores,” Chung told LGBTQ Nation, “which was just very unserious.” Chung said he wasn’t fired. But he recognized what was happening. “There were people there who apparently swore loyalty to people like Elon Musk and to the president, and my loyalty is always to the Constitution,” Chung said. He submitted his letter of resignation. Your LGBTQ+ guide to Election 2024 Stay ahead of the 2024 Election with our newsletter that covers candidates, issues, and perspectives that matter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today “I am someone who, over time, got more engaged in politics because it felt more and more existential.” Up until that point, Chung hadn’t thought of throwing his hat in the ring for Michigan’s Tenth Congressional District, an open seat. That district, which encompasses south Macomb County and part of north Oakland County, is currently the territory of Republican Congressman John James, who vacated the seat to run for governor. The district is rated either a toss-up or lean Republican. At 32, Chung believes his broad range of experience, which includes stints within the Obama and Biden administrations, makes him best equipped for the job. He will face two primary opponents in August. Early voting starts in June. Eric Chung | Eric Chung for Michigan “I am proud to have served in all three branches of the federal government,” Chung said. “I’ve clerked in the federal courts. I worked in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and I’ve also worked at the Commerce Department.” His tenure with the Senate Judiciary Committee occurred at the time of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearings. “I like to say I am the freshest candidate with the most experience to meet this moment,” Chung said. “I am the one who has had opportunities to see the highs and lows in our community, lived it personally, and then also got to work on it professionally to bring back the kind of jobs and manufacturing that we need in our community to move forward.” “There were many times when I saw there were people who would say education is the civil rights issue of our generation, but not really put their money where their mouth is.” When Chung’s parents came to Michigan, Chung said the neighborhood was welcoming and the state provided for them. His parents, who lost everything to war and one-person, one-party rule, instilled in Chung the value of a good education. “Education is the only thing no one can take away from you,” Chung was told. “You have to get the best education you can.” Chung’s father, an autoworker, was laid off during the recession in ‘08, and their household experienced significant uncertainty. Although he noticed educational disparities from a young age, Chung had only positive things to say about his public school education in Madison Heights. There, he excelled academically, enjoyed playing baseball, soccer, and tennis, competed in Academic Games, and was part of a LEGO Robotics team. Early in his career, Chung earned a degree from Harvard and taught civics. “I am someone who, over time, got more engaged in politics because it felt more and more existential,” Chung said. In his own classroom, he saw how difficult it was for kids whose parents worked multiple jobs and had siblings to care for. During the Obama administration, Chung had the opportunity to work on education policy in several government settings. “I got a lot of exposure to how government works, how policy works, and then also how politics works. There were many times when I saw there were people who would say education is the civil rights issue of our generation, but not really put their money where their mouth is,” Chung said. Recognizing a need, Chung would come home during college breaks to offer financial aid workshops to other students like him who could benefit. “I would not have been able to afford college and I would not be in the place where I am today to even consider some of these public service and political opportunities that I have pursued.” Chung earned his law degree from Yale. Proud of his identity, Chung feels that “a lot of being a member of the LGBTQ+ community is understanding the experiences of others and that we are ultimately so much more similar than we are different. And when you grow up as an LGBTQ+ individual, you appreciate that.” If elected, Chung will be Michigan’s first openly queer member of Congress. Vying for this distinction is also Jeremy Moss, who is running for Michigan’s Eleventh Congressional District. Macomb County has elected very few out LGBTQ+ candidates historically, in contrast to neighboring Oakland and Wayne counties. “It’s important for there to be representation at all levels of all of our backgrounds,” Chung said. We live in a society where there are so many different groups of people who provide such important insights about our country and…all of it makes us stronger.” Eric Chung | Eric Chung for Michigan Chung sees the current administration making life difficult for Michiganders and wants to stand up for the constituents in his district who have been hit hard by national economic decisions that have resulted in higher costs from groceries to health care premiums. Chung is proud to have earned the endorsements of such organizations as the Human Rights Campaign, the Victory Fund, and the Equality PAC. He’s outpacing his competitors on both sides of the aisle in terms of fundraising (over $1.5 million, a record for this district before a primary). “I would be proud to be the first gay member of Congress from Michigan,” Chung said. “And I think that for all of our communities, for our children, for our workers and families to see more people who represent the full breadth of our society helps and moves the ball forward so that everyone, when they look at the halls of government, they think, ‘Oh wow, that could be me, too.’” “And you know, that’s certainly my journey. I was not someone who had, for most of my life, thought that running for Congress was even a possibility. I didn’t know a single lawyer or politician growing up, and to be in a position where we can be leading the field and be in a position to win this race and be elected to Congress is very humbling and empowering to hopefully set an example for more people in the future running as well.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, has retained Jake Greenberg, the former top investigative counsel to the House Oversight Committee.

Swimming 900 miles won’t be “the worst way to spend four months,” Catherine Breed says — as long as the great whites, jellyfish and elephant seals leave her alone.

Officials in North Texas will watch for potential threats from a new $40 million emergency operations center, one of many new security precautions in place across North America.

This artist transformed a bland, brown, run-down camper with pink fur, fringe, velvet, vintage treasures, and clever DIY upgrades, making every inch feel like a Hollywood movie set. READ MORE...

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How to watch Serena Williams at Queen's Club: TV channel, live stream, schedule for tennis star's return originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The GOAT is officially back. Tennis legend Serena Williams is set to make a much-awaited return to court at the Queen's Club Championship starting Monday.The 39-time major champion will be stepping back onto the grass for the first time since 2022, this time in London. The Queen's Club Championship is a WTA 500-level event which often serves as a warm-up for Wimbledon, which will take place at the end of June.Queen's Club will mark the first of two events confirmed on Williams' "comeback tour", with the second at the Berlin Tennis Open next week. The American tennis star will be participating in doubles at both tournaments, teaming up with Canadian Victoria Mboko in London.You won't want to miss this.Here's everything you need to know to watch Serena Williams at the Queen's Club Championship, including TV channel and streaming options for the tennis legend's return.LIVE:Follow Serena Williams' comeback match at Queen's ClubHow to watch Serena Williams at Queen's Club: TV channel, live streamTV channel: Tennis ChannelLive stream:fuboThe Queen's Club Championship is available for live TV broadcast on the Tennis Channel in the U.S.For fans who prefer to stream on the go, the tournament will also be available to watch on fubo, which offers a FREE trial to all new subscribers. Queen's Club Championship 2026 schedule, Serena Williams next matchThe main draw for singles and doubles will get started on June 8, with both finals ultimately taking place on June 14. Williams and Mboko are due to face Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez on Tuesday, June 9. They are set to be the last match on Andy Murray Arena and will not start before 12:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. local time). DateEventWatchJune 6-7Singles Qualifying—June 8-13Singles/Doubles Main DrawTennis Channel, fuboJune 14FinalsTennis Channel, fuboQueen's Club tennis prize money 2026Singles:Champion: $294,445Finalist: $181,745Semifinals: $104,770Quarterfinals: $53,135Second round: $28,245First round: $20,160Doubles:Winner: $97,680 / 500 rankings points

Mohammed Siraj has been ruled out of India's upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England after being advised rest as part of his workload management programme, the BCCI announced on Tuesday.The board said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure to help the fast bowler recover ahead of a busy international season. Prasidh Krishna has been named as Siraj's replacement for both tours.Siraj was originally picked in India's squads for the Ireland and England T20I series but was not selected for the Asian Games in Japan.“Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been withdrawn from India's squads for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England,” the BCCI said in a statement.“Following discussions between the BCCI Medical Team and the Team Management, Siraj has been advised a period of rest as part of his workload management programme."“The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure adequate recovery ahead of a long international season. The Men's Selection Committee has named Prasidh Krishna as Siraj's replacement for both T20I series,” the BCCI added.Siraj was a late addition to India's squad for the T20 World Cup and also featured in all 17 matches for Gujarat Titans during IPL 2026, taking 19 wickets.The right-arm pacer was also part of India's one-off Test against Afghanistan, which ended inside three days on Monday.India, the reigning ICC Men's T20 World Cup champions, will begin their white-ball tour with two T20Is against Ireland on June 26 and June 28.The team will then travel to England for a five-match T20I series from July 1 to July 11, followed by a three-match ODI series from July 14 to July 19.ODI squad is yet to be announced.

OU is doubling down on NIL.The Sooners’ athletics department announced Tuesday it has extended its partnership with Learfield, a deal highlighted by plans to build the Sooner Evolution Center, a new on-campus facility dedicated to helping student-athletes capitalize on NIL opportunities.The center will serve as a hub for NIL strategy, content creation, brand development and athlete education. According to OU, the facility will include office and meeting space, educational resources, podcast studios and video production facilities operated by Sooners Sports Productions.“This investment strengthens our ability to help student-athletes develop their personal brands, connect with meaningful opportunities and maximize their potential,” athletic director Roger Denny said in a statement.Learfield deployed a similar program with Alabama’s Advantage Center, which it rolled out as part of its 2023 extension with the Crimson Tide.Sooners officials said they plan to add personnel focused on NIL dealmaking and athlete storytelling, including expanding their content creation staff and support for 1Oklahoma, the department’s fan engagement and membership platform.Building toward the future 🤝OU is proud to announce an extended partnership with @Learfield featuring “The Sooner Evolution Center” that will provide student-athletes with the resources and support to compete and thrive in their sport and elevate their experience on campus.… pic.twitter.com/nghMGClKfQ— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) June 9, 2026Deputy athletic director Marcus Bowman said the goal is to centralize NIL resources under one roof and position OU among the national leaders in the space.The Sooners have already secured NIL-related partnerships with brands including Beats by Dre, Sonic, Fowler Automotive and State Farm. The athletic department said the additional staffing and infrastructure will create one of the largest NIL-focused content teams in college athletics.The agreement also ties Learfield to several of OU’s major facility projects, including the Palace Project renovation at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and the upcoming Rock Creek Entertainment District, which will feature a new 8,000-seat arena to replace Lloyd Noble Center as the home of Sooners basketball and women’s gymnastics.Financial terms were not disclosed. Learfield has renewed or extended partnerships with 15 Power Four clients over the last couple of years.Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing adigital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma athletics, Learfield extend contract, announce new NIL center

🤬 Yuste hits out at Florentino: "I don't know who he thinks he is”FC Barcelona’s acting president, Rafa Yuste, has accused Florentino Pérez of exerting pressure against Barça in connection with the Negreira Case and announced legal action against him.The Blaugrana executive claimed that Pérez had threatened to send documentation to UEFA to harm the club, and warned that the conflict would be settled in court. “We will take legal action against Florentino for resorting to slander to destabilize us,” he said before the Blaugrana Senate, the body made up of the club’s 1,000 longest-serving members, during an event reviewing the season.Yuste did not specify the timeline or the venues in which this legal action would be filed, but he stepped up his criticism of Florentino Pérez. “The Madrid president has not digested Barça’s successes. It’s one thing to be jealous and another to be enraged. Do you really think this man can accuse us of stealing league titles and winning thanks to referees?” he protested.“It’s one thing to defend yourself proudly and another to go behind people’s backs doing certain things. Do you really think they can threaten us by saying they will send 500 documents to UEFA? I don’t know what this man thinks he’s doing,” he told the senators.Barça heads into the start of next season from a strong sporting position, but with the institutional noise of the Negreira Case as a constant backdrop. Yuste’s remarks raise the temperature of a conflict that, as he announced, will continue in the courts.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Ben Stokes is reportedly preparing to make a decision regarding his future as England captain, following the ongoing repercussions of a nightclub altercation involving team-mate Gus Atkinson and a Saracens rugby player. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday morning at a Chelsea nightspot, took place after celebrations for England’s recent Test victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the independent Cricket Regulator, and the Gallagher Premiership club are all conducting investigations into the events. There is a distinct possibility that a breach of team protocols could lead to Stokes being stripped of the captaincy, a role he has held since the summer of 2022. However, it is understood that the ultimate decision currently rests with him.Sources suggest that Stokes is contemplating stepping down as skipper, and it is not inconceivable that he might even consider retiring from international cricket altogether. Senior figures within the ECB are said to be furious about the potential reputational damage, particularly as it follows a "chaotic winter" marked by criticism of the team’s professionalism and drinking habits.There is a possibility that the breach of team protocols could see Ben Stokes stripped of the captaincy, a role he has held since the summer of 2022 (PA Wire)While the ECB has granted Stokes time to consider his position, that window is rapidly closing. Training for next week’s second Test at the Kia Oval is scheduled to commence on Sunday, with the squad due to gather before then.PA understands that Totoa Auvaa, a 6ft 5in and 19stones 8lbs former Samoa A and Samoa Under-20 captain, is the Saracens player implicated.Auvaa, 21, is a back-five forward who joined Saracens’ senior academy ahead of the current season and is viewed as a promising prospect.A security guard who was with the England pair, but who is understood not to be a member of ECB staff, was reportedly injured in the incident.The damaging episode began with a contingent of England cricketers meeting Saracens squad members at the White Horse pub in Fulham on Sunday evening, with the latter group marking the end of their season.According to a bartender, who asked not to be named, a group of around 20 players, including Stokes and England rugby internationals Maro Itoje and Ben Earl, were served in the establishment between 9pm and 11pm.Outside the Rex Rooms nightclub where the incident took place (Getty)The Rugby Football Union and Saracens have declined to comment, and there is no suggestion that either Itoje or Earl were involved in what took place later on.The employee said Stokes ordered a couple of rum and Cokes and the group was engaging in “huge rounds”. He described the atmosphere between the group as “super nice”, adding: “I assumed they all knew each other in the way that they were talking.”He said the group left when the White Horse closed at 11pm and some looked like they were going to “kick on”.PA understands earlier in the evening a lot of the Saracens rugby players were seen drinking at the Crabtree pub in Fulham. They were not seen with any of the England cricketers at that stage, a local witness has said.Senior figures at the ECB will be furious there are once again question marks over the conduct and culture of the men’s team.There were multiple reports of late-night drinking sessions on their doomed Ashes campaign over the winter, including a boozy trip to the beach resort of Noosa between the second and third Tests.The subsequent revelation that white-ball captain Harry Brook had been involved in a scuffle with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the preceding tour of New Zealand was another damaging affair that saw him fined and issued with a final warning.Gus Atkinson celebrates with Stokes after taking a wicket on Sunday (Ben Whitley/PA)Remarkably, as Stokes’ vice-captain, Brook could now be asked to lead the side in his absence. Joe Root, who did the job for five years before Stokes took over and is the squad’s senior figure, could be another option.In 2017, Stokes was involved in an incident outside a Bristol nightclub that resulted in him being charged with affray. He subsequently missed the Ashes tour of 2017-18 before he was cleared of the charge the following summer.Former England captain David Gower earlier told BBC Radio 5 Live he feared Stokes’ reign was already all but done.“He’s in severe doubt. One of the responsibilities as a captain is to set the right tone – if you’re leading, you have to set the right example,” Gower said.“He has become – or, I probably have to use the past tense now, had become – a very important figure as a leader of that team. I don’t know what he’s thinking at the moment… regret could be the least of it. He will be mortified, I’m sure, to have put himself in that position in the early hours.”Stokes spoke of giving up alcohol during recovery from injury last year and even invested in a zero per cent brand of spirits.But, in the immediate aftermath of the 115-run over New Zealand at the home of cricket, he told a press conference: “I won’t be really happy until I get to share a beer with the boys.”

The bombardment followed Israeli evacuation warning for the entire city, a day after Iran threatened to attack Israel again if it kept up its offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Carlos Baleba: How Brighton star has responded to United’s interestManchester United have well and truly turned the head of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba.United first made contact with Baleba last summer, but Brighton’s £100 million price tag proved to be prohibitive.However, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that United secured an agreement “on personal terms” with Baleba, and the agreement remains valid for this summer.Carlos Baleba speaking to Manchester United starsCameroonian midfielder Carlos Baleba remains as keen as ever to join Manchester United.According to The Sun, Baleba has discussed the possibility of joining United with some of the club’s players.The 22-year-old star “spoke to Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha after their 3-0 victory at the Amex on the final day of the season.”“Cunha has been supportive of Baleba in the past, having played against him twice for Wolves,” the report adds.Baleba is also thought to be close with fellow Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo, while compatriot Andre Onana “encouraged Baleba to pursue a move to United last year before his loan switch to Trabzonspor.”Brighton remain firmThe former Lille prodigy, who is known for his athleticism, impressed against United in May. However, he endured a difficult last campaign after his failed move to Old Trafford.Brighton coach Fabian Hürzeler admitted, “there might be some noises in his head,” a reference to United’s contact. The youngster was handed only 23 starts in the Premier League last term.Carlos Baleba Premier League stats: 2025/26 SeasonSource: SofascoreRegardless, the Seagulls intend not to budge too much from their valuation, making it very difficult for United to make a serious move for him this summer.It is understood despite the Red Devils’ interest, Brighton believe Baleba will remain at the south coast club.Featured image Mike Hewitt via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ disastrous 2025-26 NHL season continues to fuel debate about the franchise’s long-term roster construction. This time, ESPN analyst Ray Ferraro mentioned that the organization’s biggest problem is a lack of depth.Speaking on The JD Bunkis Podcast, Ferraro reflected on former Leafs star Mitch Marner finding success with the Vegas Golden Knights and what Toronto should learn from the experience.“Yeah, build a better team. Like, build a deeper team,” Ferraro said.His comments come after Toronto finished 32-36-14, missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and endured a franchise-record 30-point drop in the standings. The collapse followed Marner’s departure and exposed weaknesses that had been masked during the team’s years as a perennial playoff team.MORE: Maple Leafs’ future No. 1 Pick Gavin McKenna gets bold prediction ahead of 2026 NHL DraftFerraro argued that the NHL has evolved to a point where relying heavily on elite stars is no longer enough.“Top-heavy teams are really going to find difficulty winning because the floor of the NHL on each roster has gotten closer to the top,” Ferraro said. “Even with these amazing players we have, the floor of the team now is a problem. You need depth. You need some heaviness to your game. You need a consistency through the lineup.”Why did the Maple Leafs’ top-heavy roster formula fail?Former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner (16) and current captain Auston Matthews (34) at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn ImagesFor years, the Maple Leafs built around Auston Matthews, Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares. While that core delivered regular-season success, the supporting cast often lacked the depth needed for long playoff runs.Ferraro believes that imbalance became impossible to ignore.“I think if there’s a lesson, as the word you use, that would be it for Toronto,” Ferraro said. “Is that there’s got to be a way to build a deeper, at least nine-forward, line-over-line team. You’ve got to be able to do that, or it’s just too fast and too demanding.”The 2025-26 season provided evidence. Toronto ranked near the bottom of the league defensively, allowing 3.60 goals per game. Injuries hurt the blue line, goaltending struggled, and replacement depth players failed to offset Marner’s departure. Matthews’ injury just made things worse.So, Ferraro’s assessment is difficult to dispute. Championship teams roll four lines, withstand injuries, and maintain structure throughout the lineup. Vegas has consistently done that. Toronto rarely did.MORE: Mitch Marner sets Stanley Cup Final record with fastest hat trick in NHL historyMarner’s success elsewhere is not the lesson. The lesson is that the Leafs never built enough around stars who were already good enough to contend.

The San Antonio Spurs spoiled the New York Knicks’ homecoming in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, seizing a 115-111 victory in front of a star-studded crowd at Madison Square Garden. Among the high-profile attendees was President Donald Trump, whose presence sparked a mix of reactions in the arena. Ahead of tip-off, the Jumbotron displayed President Trump during the national anthem. The crowd reacted with boos as Trump offered a military salute.Trump watched the action from Knicks owner James Dolan’s private suite, accompanied by his granddaughter Kai, personal advisor Boris Epshteyn, and Cabinet secretaries Lee Zeldin, Sean Duffy and Doug Burgum. Trump's attendance made history as the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game.After the game, before boarding Air Force One to return to the White House, President Trump was asked about the crowd’s response."It was, I think, mostly cheers," Trump said, offering his own interpretation of the mixed reception.Security measures for Game 3 were at an all-time high due to the president’s attendance. According to the NYC Commissioner, a planned Game 3 watch party outside Madison Square Garden was canceled out of an abundance of caution. Fans entering the arena faced multiple checkpoints and were required to present tickets or passes and undergo airport-style screening with Transportation Security Administration magnetometers. Inside, Secret Service agents and NYPD officers were stationed throughout the venue.The NBA Finals series, with the Knicks currently leading 2-1, continues at MSG for Game 4 on Wednesday, and eyes now turn to Game 4 at the Garden before the series shifts back to San Antonio, the lingering question is whether Trump will make a return appearance.More: Spurs trump Knicks at MSG to get first win of NBA Finals: Game 3 takeawaysWill President Trump be at NBA Finals Game 4?There has been no official word on Trump's status for Game 4 at this point, but signs are pointing toward no.ESPN's senior NBA insider Shams Charania reported that Trump is not expected to attend due to scheduling conflicts.The president did suggest last week that he could do both Game 3 and Game 4, but he also made reference to being busy with other things, "like a war." Additionally, the fact that the New York Police Department said it expects city watch parties to return for Game 4 would indicate Trump would might not attend.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Trump be at Game 4 of NBA Finals? Latest on president’s plans

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott's problem is obvious, but the solution eludes Dallas originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Dak Prescott doesn't have any problems putting up numbers.Now with George Pickens having joined CeeDee Lamb, the Dallas Cowboys' passing attack is as potent as ever. Prescott has a problem, though, and it has nothing to do with stats.It has to do with his postseason record.For all the winning and passing Prescott has done in his NFL career, he has just two playoff wins to show for it.Until that changes, he'll always have a bit of an empty legacy for Dallas."This will be Prescott's 11th season as the Cowboys' starter," ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote as part of a new article on Tuesday. "In that time, he has a record of 83-55-1 in the regular season but is just 2-5 in the playoffs. Last season marked the eighth time Prescott played at least 12 games but the first of those eight in which Dallas had a losing record. It's easy for fans to wonder whether he'll ever attain the postseason success they expect, especially if the Cowboys again struggle to even contend for the postseason."MORE: Will they still be called the Chicago Bears if they play in Indiana?Dallas did approach this offseason in the right way. They improved their defense, and that was the side of the ball where they were clearly lacking."If we assume the defense is improved and that Prescott stays healthy, the Cowboys should be in good position to return to the playoffs," Graziano writes.The reality for a guy like Prescott, kind of similar to Lamar Jackson, is that regular season success doesn't tell us anything new about him.His story can only be added to in the playoffs."It might not be totally fair to posit a question that can't be answered until January at the earliest, but Prescott is one of the most established, entrenched starters in the league," Graziano writes. "There aren't many more questions for him to answer. Except the big one."To answer the postseason question, the Cowboys first have to get there. Prescott will do his part, and he'll need his full team to follow.More NFL news:The Aaron Rodgers problem no one is talking about for the SteelersJosh Allen called out by a coach with a major losing recordLamar Jackson has an obvious reason not to sign right nowMyles Garrett's Browns career comes to the most Cleveland of endingsThere's a risk the OBJ signing is a mistake

Wolves have agreed a two-year deal to re-sign striker Raul Jimenez on a free transfer from Fulham.The 35-year-old has already completed his medical and has an option for a further season at Molineux ahead of the club's Championship campaign next season.He joins former England full-back Kieran Trippier, also 35, as the second free signing of the summer after he penned a two-year deal in the West Midlands upon leaving Newcastle.Jimenez was listed by Fulham on Monday among a group of players set to leave the Premier League club when his contract expires at the end of the month.His return means he can add to his previous 57 goals and 166 games at the club between 2018 and 2023 after his move from Benfica. Jimenez's 40 Premier League goals make him Wolves' top scorer in the English top flight.He is currently on international duty with World Cup co-hosts Mexico, who begin the tournament against South Africa on Thursday.Wolves are looking to rebuild after finishing bottom of the Premier League last season and returning to the second tier for the first time since 2017-18.All done deals in June 2026Wolves on BBC SoundsLatest Wolves news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Wolves - what do you want to know?

A family-owned bakery in Minnesota is celebrating June as Nuclear Family Month to counter Pride Month celebrations. Joshua Streblow, a farmer and father of nine, is the owner of Carl’s Bakery in Granite Falls. He told the News Tribune he believes the nuclear family (as in a mother, father, and their children) is “the building block for a society.” Related Christian man sues employer for forcing him to see a Pride flag on his way into work “While I absolutely love any and all of God’s creatures, I do join with God in how I think about what is good and what is not,” he said. “I look at issues like homosexuality [and] I look at issues like the very concept of pride, which the Bible speaks to, and I say that God does not declare that to be good.” Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today On June 2, the bakery’s official social media account posted photos of a storefront display declaring Carl’s to be celebrating nuclear families, which includes providing specials all month long, such as free coffee for married couples (“must come in together, preferably holding hands”). The post also decried the “troubles that plague us,” including “a major breakdown in generational continuity within families that’d have children.” “So out of love for our neighbors and our nation, and in solidarity with our brethren from the great state of Tennessee, for the month of June we wish to celebrate The Nuclear Family!” the post declared, referring to Tennessee’s resolution declaring June as Nuclear Family Month. “More pointedly,” the post continued, “we wish to do so in honor of the only design we believe brings about the multi-generational good we seek, the one instituted by our Creator: one man and one woman in a covenantal (married) relationship, eagerly receiving the fruit of their union (children) as God allows.” On June 3, Carl’s also announced it is selling nuclear family hats and stickers both online and in the store. In the same post, it claimed that celebrating the nuclear family is not homophobic. “We have no phobias regarding those struggling with same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria, but rather love them as Christ loves them,” the account stated. “In fact, as Christians, we do not operate under any fear of man.” Despite his assertions, Streblow nevertheless claimed that everyone is welcome at his bakery: “Anybody that comes into this bakery is greeted by our children. They are greeted with a smile, and they are greeted with openness,” he told the News Tribune. “We don’t need agreement to have friendship or to have community with people.” Carl’s Bakery’s decision to counter Pride Month is bolstered by this year’s GOP trend of red states designating June as something other than Pride Month to signal their states’ lack of support for LGBTQ+ people. Conservatives generally oppose celebrations of LGBTQ+ Pride and have gone so far as to argue before the Supreme Court that they have a constitutional right to ignore the existence of LGBTQ+ people. The idea of having “pride” in being LGBTQ+ is a rejoinder to conservatives’ insistence that LGBTQ+ people should feel shame. The declarations about June do nothing to diminish Pride Month, though. They don’t have any legal consequences and can’t forbid anyone from celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride. Moreover, a month can have multiple designations, like how May is simultaneously Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Jewish American Heritage Month, National Military Appreciation Month, and an awareness month for about a dozen health conditions, including skin cancer and asthma. The point is to show Republicans’ opposition to LGBTQ+ equality, a message that many on the right are hearing loud and clear. Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

Darren Till looked better than ever in his BKFC debut. Literally.To the surprise of many, the one-time UFC welterweight title challenger showed up for his first appearance in the sport of bare-knuckle boxing absolutely jacked out of his mind. Till's match against Aaron Chalmers at BKFC 90 in May resulted in a stellar second-round knockout and came after a three-fight win streak in boxing.The 33-year-old veteran's physique was too impressive to ignore, causing speculation that “The Gorilla" had gotten his hands on performance-enhancing drugs. Till insisted on Monday's edition of "The Ariel Helwani Show", that was far from the case. "We obviously had two camps back to back, so I’ve sort of been in camp since February, so I think that played a big factor,” Till told Uncrowned. “But I’ve just never been really — I don't like to say this because I have been very hardworking all my life and disciplined, but I was just super disciplined in [this] camp, just really tight on my food, and just I implemented a lot more strength training this time around. So my physique, it just had a massive change. And I’ve heard a few shouts of people saying steroids and stuff like that, and I was pleasantly unhappy about that, because it's just pure hard work."I've never dabbled in [PEDs}. It's never been a thing, I'd never know how to go about it. I think these people who use it — which, by the way, is 90% of the UFC roster and everything else — I think there's a thing behind it with doctors and stuff like that, mate. I just don't know. I think there's too much work to go into stuff like that. You've got to worry about the USADA stuff and that. I just wouldn't know how to go about it, to be honest. Me and me coach wouldn't know where to start with it. It was just pure hard work and discipline, to be honest."Before setting foot in the world of bare-knuckle, Till was openly skeptical and showed little interest in the sport. Once BKFC offered a deal he couldn't ignore, he buckled down and did all the proper preparation. Now Till believes he's turned over a new leaf in the art of gloveless fisticuffs."I just wanted to feel out when I first got in there, and obviously, Aaron caught me for a second slipping," Till said. "In the second round, I was like, 'Alright, time to get into it.' Stopped him quite easy. Didn't feel like it was much effort. Obviously, I've got light hands. Fast as well, and a lot of power, so I do think I'm really going to bode well in this BKFC. I think I'm going to be taking over."I loved it. When I clipped him with that left hand, it was exhilarating. I was like, 'Wow.' As I said, it just didn't take much. He stepped in and I just clipped him fairly easy. And I'm just like, if I can get all these guys like this on the back of me left, I'm excited. I'm fully involved. Fully invested."Life after the UFC has been good to Till, who now extends his overall combat sports win streak to a four straight since leaving the MMA giant in 2023. Regardless of his success, Till noted that he could still see a world where he returns to the sport he started with — depending on whether or not he gets knee surgery at the end of the year.But his immediate goals are clear. Till wants to bring BKFC to his home city of Liverpool, England. He even has a shortlist of names in mind, including the one that’s followed Till for years no matter where he fights: Mike Perry."I think there are big fights to be made. Yoel Romero, Mike Perry, Lorenzo Hunt. They're like my three main targets right now," Till said."It doesn't make sense [that Perry's gone]. From what I've heard, it doesn't sound like he's coming back anytime soon. So yeah, it's quite confusing. I'm around now in this bare-knuckle, so we can all sit down and make it happen because it's a fight that definitely needs to happen."Since leaving the UFC in 2021, Perry has arguably been the biggest star in BKFC. In Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions' MMA debut on Netflix, Perry made his return to MMA, defeating Nate Diaz by second-round TKO due to a doctor's stoppage.

Brazil have enjoyed settling into their new surroundings [Getty Images]It's been more than 30 years since the United States hosted a World Cup. This summer, it will do so as part of a joint effort with Canada and Mexico.In the lead-up to the tournament, there have been several issues to contend with including geopolitical tensions,anger over visa restrictions, and expensive tickets.But there is also the matter of whether the US is prepared and able to handle the pressure of co-hosting what many see as the biggest global sporting event.Brazil's national team have set up camp at the Red Bull training facility in Morristown, New Jersey.As they run through drills, excited fans catch a rare glimpse of their favourite players in the flesh, and some are rewarded with autographs and photos.Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha tells the BBC the fans have been amazing and, so far, it's off to a good start. He compliments the facility, the pitch and everything else, including the weather, which reminds him of Brazil."The only thing... it's called football, not soccer," he jokingly tells the BBC.But for local fans, the excitement is tempered by fears that traffic - already congested in this region - will wreak havoc.Brazilian-American Vivi de Castro says ticket holders could arrive late or miss matches if they don't plan correctly, as she found out during a March friendly between Brazil and France in Boston."We had pitchside access and we missed it, which sucks, because of how much traffic there was," she told the BBC. "People walking were getting there quicker than our bus that we had."Across New York and New Jersey's motorways and tunnels, signs warn that traffic will be more congested than usual, and to check for advisories. At transit hubs, posters warn that streets and trains will be much busier this summer and to "know before you go".The city is designating each matchday a 'gridlock alert day' to discourage unnecessary driving and will have dedicated travel corridors. New York is also deploying more than 100 staff throughout midtown to manage traffic operations, and public transport has also been modified to handle extra commuters.At Brooklyn's Prospect Park, several young players from the SC Gjøa Soccer club told the BBC they were lucky enough to secure tickets to the tournament.Goalkeeper Baxter Rowland is attending two matches - one with his family and the other with a group of friends who have chartered a bus. But it turns out getting tickets was only the first battle. His mother, Alice Baxter, has decided to drive to the first game. She says she's been researching and is worried about the traffic getting to the stadium, parking and then leaving."I think it's going to be a little bit stressful, and I think it might be difficult for the first few games, at least," she says. "Hopefully it'll get better and they'll work out the kinks, especially with the final here in New Jersey and New York.Similarly, Dennis Wyrwoll is excited he is able to take his 10-year-old son Nicholas to four matches, but has already accepted that getting there is going to be more painful than it was the last time the US hosted."I was here in 1994, when we had the last World Cup, and at that point, nobody knew anything about football," he told the BBC. "It was easy to get tickets. I think this time around, there's lot of excitement in New York but I'm curious to see how it builds outside of the big cities where there aren't as many soccer fans."The beautiful game may have a smaller footprint in the United States, but the public interest has been growing over the years.Coach Kaha Tavadze says that in the past year, the club has had triple the amount of players joining and trying out, and believes that's directly due to the World Cup being hosted here. He says children now follow the sport more closely, know every player and wear their favourite team's jersey.This World Cup could even inspire some to dream of going professional, he suggested. "Watching live games, especially at that level, will change their mindset," he said.Other families are hoping they'll be able to find last-minute tickets. Shantay Armstrong's seven-year-old son has been playing football with the club for five years and really wants to go. She recently tried the raffle for affordable tickets offered by New York, but says within minutes the website said the raffle was closed for any more submissions."It's almost heartbreaking that there's like a lack of accessibility for people who can't afford to go," she told the BBC. "I wanted to give him that opportunity, but that lack of opportunity makes me feel locked out, and almost like... we're here but we're not here."Officials are hosting free fan zones where those without tickets can join in on the experience.But there's also a push to get residents and visitors into local businesses in the hope they too will benefit from Fifa's financial windfall.Enda Keenan owns Legend's Bar - across from the Empire State Building and the home bar to many overseas clubs. He believes New York businesses will see a massive boost and has had to turn down business, including from Fifa."My son Evan had a meeting with one of the officials from New York, New Jersey Fifa," he said. "A lady came in to see in what way we could help. I said we can't help ourselves it's going to be so crazy. We'd love to help, but there's nothing we can do."For the Champions League final, Legends had 1,300 people inside the bar and another 700 outside, where they had set up an 85in television and sold beers right on the sidewalk. They sent the overflow of customers to five other nearby bars.With approximately 1.2 million visitors expected to travel to the New York, New Jersey region during the World Cup, Keenan anticipates it being even busier, saying it's a "different level altogether".Whether the US is ready, or not, will be quickly apparent.Play BBC Sport's new World Cup predictor gameWorld Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

Lions need Jared Goff to travel back in time originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Detroit Lions don't need Jared Goff to be a player he has never been before.They simply need him to return to a past version of himself.Call it time travel, needing Goff to play like the 2024 edition and not the 2025 one.That's the question asked by ESPN's Dan Graziano in a new article on Tuesday: "Will new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing get Jared Goff back to his 2024 level?"In 2024, with Goff at the top of his game, the Lions went 15-2 in the regular season. Then in 2025, with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson gone, it was a regression to a 9-8 season that didn't even squeak into the playoffs."Goff wasn't terrible, but he did post his lowest QBR since his first season in Detroit (before Johnson took over as coordinator), and the Lions finished 9-8 to miss the playoffs," Graziano writes. "There are more changes this season, as Petzing comes from Arizona to replace John Morton."MORE: Will they still be called the Chicago Bears if they play in Indiana?Graziano adds that Penei Sewell is likely moving from right tackle to left tackle."Goff is signed with the Lions through 2028, so his title window remains wide open," Graziano writes. "The Lions' schedule also projects as the sixth easiest in the league, based on the 2025 record of their opponents. If Goff takes to Petzing's offense and coach Dan Campbell doesn't have to take over offensive playcalling again, the Lions could find themselves back at their 2024 heights."Goff still has ample weapons around him, led by the likes of Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta.He's a player who thrives in a good system with good players around him. That's what the Lions are hoping to have again this season, and if they can execute, it could be a great year of throwing it back in time in Detroit.More NFL news:The Aaron Rodgers problem no one is talking about for the SteelersJosh Allen called out by a coach with a major losing recordLamar Jackson has an obvious reason not to sign right nowMyles Garrett's Browns career comes to the most Cleveland of endingsThere's a risk the OBJ signing is a mistake

It's been some month of June already for Bennett Blazo.First, he welcomed son Jack into his family on June 1.Five days later, he guided his Penn High School unified track team, his second family, to the program's first state championship in Indianapolis on June 6.Blazo saw his team win the 12-team IHSAA state finals at North Central High School. The Kingsmen scored a meet record 129 points to top runner-up and two-time defending state champion Elkhart by eight points.More: Voting open now for June 3-8 South Bend Tribune Athlete of the Week poll"To finally achieve it, it was like oh my gosh," said Blazo in a phone interview June 8. "We had worked and gotten closer and closer to it. We were like, 'when will it be our time?' To see the excitement on Saturday on all the kids faces made me so happy. We were just overwhelmed with energy when they announced that Elkhart had finished second and we knew that we had won it."Penn has come a long way since Blazo helped start the program eight years ago. He took over after working with Special Olympics, talking with Penn AD Jeff Hart and assistant AD Marie Doan about getting a team started at Penn. The Kingsmen had 22 athletes that first year. This year, they had 92."It's grown pretty much due to word of mouth around the school," Blazo explained of the dramatic increase in numbers. "We're a family. It's about the kids sharing the experience and being part of a team and a program. There's no pressure."Blazo's team was state runner-up in 2025 as Elkhart won the crown with 123 points to 119 for Penn. The Kingsmen were runner-up to Elkhart in the NorthWood Sectional as the Lions totaled 154 points to Penn's 113. They then won the NorthWood Regional title with 133 points to Elkhart's 131."Looking at the heat sheets prior to state, we knew where we were sitting and that was in third place," Blazo said. "We knew that to win it, we needed multiple kids to finish higher than they were seeded to get us more points. That's exactly what happened for us too. Like in the 400 dash, we had two kids finish first and second to get us six additional points than from the seedings."A total of 40 Penn athletes competed in the state finals, where the 129 points topped the previous state finals record of 126 scored by Valparaiso in 2021.The Kingsmen got heat wins at the State Finals from Elia DeSelm in the 400, Ethan Holmes and Hope Roberson in the long jump and Cohen Schiff and Anden Carmichael in the shot put. They also got heat wins from the boys 4x100 relay team of Cash Caloni, Chase Weaver, Carmichael and Aidan Gigante and the 4x100 girls relay team of Logan Edwards, Payton Blatz, Alina Blackwell and Caitlyn Ganor.Blazo says that unified track, which continues to grow statewide, is so beneficial to so many."This helps these kids so much," Blazo said. "Now they are part of the school culture. They are found, seen and celebrated. They get to build friendships and relationships that are amazing with one another."Blazo also credited his assistant coach, Jose Gutierrez."He's been with me for the last five years and I'm so thankful for him," Blazo stated. "He's done a lot for this program and our kids."Blazo and his wife Kelsey now have a newborn to go with two-year old daughter Harper.Blazo says that he gets plenty from being the coach of another state championship program at Penn."The way it brings everyone together is amazing," said Blazo. "To see the kids recognized and to see the memories that they are able to create just brings so much happiness to my life."This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Penn unified track and field reigns as 2026 IHSAA state champions

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 11: (L-F) Vice President of FC Barcelona Rafa Yuste and Joan Laporta, president of FC Barcelona look on prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Granada CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on February 11, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images) | Getty Images Acting Barcelona president Rafa Yuste has fired back at Florentino Perez and Real Madrid and says the club are prepared to take legal action.Barcelona have already threatened court action after Perez went on a rant about referees and the Negreira case back in May.Yuste has now spoken about the situation again and had some strong words for Los Blancos, per Mundo Deportivo.“No one can tarnish the Barça badge. We’ll see each other in court. We’ll go after them because we have the upper hand,” he said.“It’s one thing to defend yourself with pride, and another to go behind your back doing certain things. Do you think you can threaten us by saying you’ll send five hundred documents to UEFA? I don’t know what this gentleman thinks.”Madrid have reportedly also compiled a dossier and sent it to UEFA, calling for Barca to be stripped of their titles and banned from European competition. The dossier has been described as “politically delusional” and the required punishments “legally impossible” by CENAFE president Miguel Galan.

Nature, Published online: 09 June 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01737-9A systematic assessment of health-related queries to a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence highlights shortfalls in health-care provision and the responsibilities of AI companies.

TIME released its list of the 100 most influential sports figures, with luminaries such as LeBron James, Shohei Ohtani and Lionel Messi headlining the club. With that said, college sports was also represented by some high-performing individuals.Indiana Hoosiers football coach Curt Cignetti made the cut, with TIME highlighting his journey from being hired at Indiana to his leadership during the program's national championship victory a few months ago.Not to be forgotten was former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who led the nation in touchdown passes this past season. TIME noted that Mendoza led the Hoosiers to the first 16-win season in college football since 1894, while also mentioning his charitable efforts off the field.View this post on InstagramAnother college athlete who made the list was Texas Tech softball superstar NiJaree Canady. TIME mentioned the lucrative NIL package she received from the Red Raiders, and discussed the accomplishments that have made her well worth the investment. Canady pitched a perfect game on senior day, perhaps putting the perfect regular season cap to an all-time collegiate softball career.Contact/Follow @College_Wire on X and @College_Wires on Threads. Like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of college sports news, notes, and opinions.This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: College sports trio included in TIME's 100 most influential figures

L’Equipe report two teams interested in PSG’s failed transfer from last summerLucas Chevalier is going to be a target for a few teams this summer, which could help out PSG if they look to sell him right away.If you enjoy PSG Talk coverage and want to see more of it, add us as a preferred source on Google to make us a favourite and see more of our content.Lucas Chevalier has had quite the year. He signed for PSG last summer as one of the most in demand young goalkeepers in Europe. But a poor start to the season saw him eventually lose his place, and now the Parisians are apparently keen to sell him.Chevalier ready to move on, multiple teams interestedWe’ve hard a few rumours as the months have gone by – now they’re getting serious. Tanzi Loic of L’Equipe has today put a few names out there.He says that Besiktas have made strong enquiries, and also notes that Tottenham have been linked too.It’s an interesting position for PSG to be in. It’s hard to see them getting their money back, and a loan that allows Chevalier to find some form and improve his standing could be the smart one, long term.There are certainly no cash flow issues at the Parc des Princes, so the club are in a good position to gamble rather than cut their losses right away.In other news…Mateus Fernandes is attracting a lot of attention from top clubs this summer, and PSG have started to be put in that same bracket. We’re not yet sure how serious the interest is.PSG are looking to sell playing including Randal Kolo Muani this summer, but are in no hurry to get rid of the striker.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL PSG TALK APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON THE APP STORE

Atletico Madrid ‘laughing’ at Real Madrid links to star playerThe speculation over who Real Madrid President Florentino Perez will make a blockbuster move for continues, with no clear indication over whether it has indeed been sent, or who for. Last Thursday, Perez said he would be sending a €150m bid for a player on Tuesday.Perez would not reveal who that player was, but promised an attempt to break the Real Madrid transfer record. Last week it was reported that Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise was the priority, but Paris Saint-Germain duo Vitinha and Joao Neves were alternatives. Yet it has been noted publicly in Bayern’s case, and privately in PSG’s, that none of the three stars are for sale, for €150m or more. In recent days, it has also been suggested that Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez could be the subject of their pursuit.Atletico Madrid laugh off Real Madrid linksImage via ReutersGiven Alvarez is Barcelona’s preferred target for the number nine spot, it would certainly be something of a coup if Perez was able to pull the deal off. There may also have been a degree of people putting two and two together, as a number of reports have suggested that Los Colchoneros would consider selling Alvarez for €150m. Cadena SER say that so far they have heard nothing from Real Madrid, but that they have been laughing at the idea of Alvarez signing for Los Blancos, and that even if they did arrive with a bit, it would not be listened to.Alvarez clause may not be €500m for everyoneImage via Getty Images.One of the main reasons Atletico have felt as if they are in a position of strength is that the Argentina international has a €500m release clause. With little chance of that being activated, and Alvarez under contract until 2029, there is little danger of them being strongarmed into an agreement. Yet Ben Jacobs has suggested to GMS that certain Champions League clubs are able to sign Alvarez for a number less than the €150m negotiation point that has been suggested.

Rookie running back Emmett Johnson is expected to develop into a top contributor for the Kansas City Chiefs. Johnson excelled with the Nebraska Cornhuskers last year before declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft. During his standout junior campaign in Lincoln, Johnson led the Big Ten in rushing yards with 1,451 and scored 12 rushing touchdowns.The 22-year-old became accustomed to receiving a heavy workload in his final season with the Cornhuskers, receiving a conference-leading 251 carries in 2025.Being able to hone his craft under Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will serve Johnson well — potentially enabling him to become faster, stronger, and more skilled at maneuvering his way through Kansas City's new-look offensive line.Johnson's raw talent should help him earn a valuable role behind Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and might also aid his effort to supplant veteran Kareem Hunt as the Chiefs' No. 2 option in the ground game. This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs rumors: Here's how Emmett Johnson might fit in Chiefs' offense

Ahead of the 2026 men's World Cup kicking off, who are the favorites to win it all? Which heavyweights are looking good? Are some of the top dogs struggling?MORE — Daily World Cup schedule: Watch live, times, full detailsBelow we take a look at where the favorites are at and who is likely to go all the way and lift that glorious trophy at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, July 19.Who are the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup this summer?According to odds from DraftKings, our official betting partner, Spain are the favorites to win the World Cup. The reigning European champions are priced at +450 to win it all. But stacked France are right behind them at +475 with England +750 seeing out the top three as all three European teams have deep squads. Spain may not have an out-and-out striker but they showed at the European Championships two years ago that they can dominate the tempo of games and have so many special midfielders, attacking midfielders and wingers, so they can hurt you from all angles. If Rodri stays fit in midfield it will be a huge bonus and he, Pedri and Fabian Ruiz will control games and allow star teenager Lamine Yamal to flourish in attack. France have superstar Kylian Mbappe leading the line and red-hot Michael Olise, Bradely Barcola, Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram and Rayan Cherki to choose from underneath him, and that really is an embarrassment of riches in attack. But there is a top-heavy feel to Les Bleus and in his final tournament in charge Didier Deschamps will want to make his side less vulnerable on the counter. He's still relying on veteran N'Golo Kante to lock down central midfield defensively but France's best hope of winning it all this summer is by going all-out attack.England's only hope is that Harry Kane stays fit and in this kind of sensational form. Thomas Tuchel has been brought in to provide the expert in-game management needed to win a first trophy in 60 years, as England lost in each of the last two European Championship finals. The Three Lions are stacked in attack but like France there are question marks defensively. And if Kane goes down, they are struggling massively. As for the other main contenders, Lionel Messi and Argentina are aiming to go back-to-back and they have a very settled, confident squad and they are surprisingly priced at +900 to win it. That means they are alongside arch rivals Brazil in the betting odds, as the Selecao look a much more serious proposition under Carlo Ancelotti. He has made them more organized defensively and the array of attackers Brazil have means they can win any game if they limit mistakes at the other end. Portugal have the experience needed to win it all with Bruno Fernandes in incredible form and Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, ready to keep on going up top to deliver special moments when called upon. While Germany are in transition but usually step it up for a big tournament and alongside Belgium, Morocco and the Netherlands they could go on a deep run if everything clicks. Which contender is in the best form?Argentina, Portugal and Spain haven't lost many games in recent years and their form has been incredibly consistent for a long time now. Messi, Ronaldo and Yamal are their respective stars but all three have missed international games in recent months as they aim to be in the best possible shape, and form, for this summer. France have had the odd shock result but that has been more about Deschamps trying out squad options, which he has so many of. England have had the same mixed bag of results since Tuchel came in as he gave everyone a chance to impress in recent friendlies, but the Three Lions did qualify for this World Cup with a perfect eight wins out of eight and didn't concede a goal.Brazil have been so much better over the last 12 months since Ancelotti arrived, winning seven and losing just three of this 12 games in charge with a +15 goal difference. They went from potentially not making the World Cup to easing to qualification and the balance of the entire team looks so much better. Overall, who are the favorites to win the World Cup?Of course, the big European trio of Spain, France and England look the best equipped to go far in this mammoth tournament due to their squad options and having elite world-class players sprinkled throughout their teams. But it feels like the South American duo of Argentina and Brazil are being underestimated. Argentina because historically it has been so tough for teams to defend their World Cup title (Brazil did it in 1962, but it hasn't been repeated since), and the fact that Messi turns 39 during the tournament. And Brazil because they've been a mess for a while and defensively there are still a few concerns. Portugal should probably be higher up in people's estimations too with PSG duo Joao Neves and Vitinha two of the best central midfielders in the world and they will feed Bruno Fernandes who is in the form of his life. Overall, it feels like France are the favorites and have so much star quality in attack to unlock any defense. This will be a tournament filled with teams in low defensive blocks aiming to hit opponents on the counter and hope for the best in keeping stars quiet. That is why France have the slight edge over their near rivals, because they have too many top players to rotate in and the quality won't drop. France are the pick, but don't you dare sleep on Argentina and Brazil.

Laverne Cox is opening up about her former relationship with a Trump-supporting New York City police officer. The actress and trans rights advocate joined the hosts of The View on Monday to discuss her new memoir Transcendent. During their conversation, co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin asked her about the backlash she received from fans last summer when she posted a video on Instagram about an ex-boyfriend whom she described as a “blonde-haired, blue-eyed, MAGA Republican voter” who was “a New York City Police officer.” Related Laverne Cox leads first-ever all-trans ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ team Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today As Them noted last year, Cox first spoke publicly about the relationship in a 2024 appearance on The Viall Files podcast and addresses it further in her memoir. Asked by Griffin what lessons she took from the relationship, Cox responded that “People show you who they are eventually.” She went on to explain that at the start of the relationship, which she has said began during the COVID-19 pandemic, she simply saw “a beautiful, amazing guy who treated me better than anyone I’d ever met.” However, she told The View hosts that the man, referred to as “Guiseppe” in her book, initially lied to her about his job, and only told her he was an NYPD cop four months after they met, when she says they were already falling in love. His “political affiliation became obvious,” she said, but she already had feelings for him and “wanted to see him as a human being beyond that.” “His politics and his unexamined life became clear after the three-and-a-half years,” she explained. “And I was like, ‘I love him, but I love myself more. And staying in this relationship — I’ll betray myself.’” She added that it wasn’t simply her politics she felt she was betraying. “In theory, I’d like to believe we can have relationships across political differences,” she said. “But there was a value difference. Our values were really, really different. And the personal is political.” Cox’s comments on The View echoed those she made via Instagram live after commenters reacted to her initial July 2025 post, accusing her of “fascist apologia” and “collaborating” with MAGA, according to Them. “I wanted to see if it was possible to have a relationship with someone with different political beliefs, in theory,” Cox said at the time. “I fell in love with a human being who had different politics, and the good things about that relationship were so good that I was willing to work with the politics I didn’t agree with.” “We have to fight the fascists, and we have to fight the fascist regime. But as we do that, I hope that we’re not dehumanizing people with different beliefs the way they’re dehumanizing us,” she said, adding that that was precisely what she saw in many of the comments on her video. “I would invite us to critically interrogate that,” Cox said. “People are still human beings.” As Them notes, Cox previously addressed that backlash to her revelation earlier this year on Hasan Piker’s Fear& podcast. “When I talked about it, I thought in my mind I was like, people obviously know I’m very politically progressive. And I thought the conversation would be about how two people who have totally different politics find a way to make it work or not. “A lot of people will never forgive me,” she said. “Because they were like, ‘You should have taken that to your grave,’ ’you slept with the enemy,’ ‘You slept with someone who voted against your interest.’” “‘The enemy,’ I think, is a little extreme,” Cox said. “I think people are complicated.” But, she added, “I don’t think I changed any of his politics, and he certainly didn’t change any of mine.” Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.

The trust fund for the program, which supports roughly 68 million Americans, is on schedule to be depleted in the next six years. Benefits could be cut on average by 22 percent.

DraftExpress director of scouting Jon Chepkevich shared his thoughts about the Phoenix Suns going into the 2026 NBA Draft in a recent Q&A with The Arizona Republic. Question: Looking back at Suns draft last year, who else was interested in Rasheer Fleming, and who is he comparable to now in terms of projection in getting more minutes? Answer: Fleming's pre-draft workout schedule was kept relatively under wraps, with only his Portland workout being publicly reported. It was also reported that he interviewed with Charlotte at the NBA combine, which makes sense given that they were selecting at 29, 33, and 34. It's safe to say that he had a wide breadth of interest in the late first to early second round. I think a Trey Lyles-eque trajectory Fleming could view a realistic path to carving out a sustainable NBA career. What grade would you give Suns'2025 draft class a year later? Answer: Perhaps a C+/B- for now, but I'm generally not one to definitively grade a draft just one year in, as there's still plenty to play out over the next 2-3 years to have a better grasp of who these players will be over the long haul. What kind of player should Suns be looking at if they only end up using that second-round pick (47th overall)? Answer: The Suns have a clear identity now, steering into players with toughness, defensive pride and a competitive edge. Who are options/targets at that spot? Answer: At pick 47, potentially available prospects that fit this mold include Jaden Bradley (Arizona), Maliq Brown (Duke), Tamin Lipsey (Iowa State), Dillon Mitchell (St. John’s), Izaiyah Nelson (South Florida) and Kylan Boswell (Illinois). Are you expecting the Suns to be as active in the draft as they were a year ago in this year's draft or no? Answer: I'm sure they'll do their due diligence evaluating the market if any interesting opportunities happen to arise, but I don't expect them to be nearly as active this time around. If the Suns are somehow able to land a first-round pick in the draft, who are the players they may have a shot to land. Answer: That obviously depends on where it might fall, but I'd similarly expect them to look at prospects that fit their aforementioned identity, some of whom could include (Michigan big) Morez Johnson (mid-1st) or (St. John’s forward) Zuby Ejiofor (late 1st). Were you expecting more from Khaman Maluach this rookie year? Answer: I probably expected a little bit more, but wouldn't be sounding any alarm bells. The team was much better than anticipated, and the competence of the Mark Williams / Oso Ighodaro platoon (who are 4-5 years older) pushed a very young Maluach into a more developmental rookie season. He remains a good bet to emerge into a very promising piece given his physical profile, defense and intangibles. What do you think of the 1-2-3 Lottery and can this be a long-term answer to tanking? Answer: I'm interested to see how it plays out. It seems it'll at least be a viable short-term patch to curb the ugliest tanking at the bottom of the standings, but I'm not particularly optimistic that this is the long-term answer.Have opinions about the current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @DuaneRankin.Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Expert offers list of potential Phoenix Suns draft prospects

WEST LAFAYETTE — It's been a busy, but beneficial week for the Purdue football staff.Over the last week, the Boilermakers have added seven players to their 2027 recruiting class, including four-star receiver Trenton Yancey and three-star offensive lineman Patrick O'Brien on Tuesday, June 9.Yancey, a from Duncanville, Texas, is the second receiver commit in 24 hours after Eron Mallard from Georgia announced his commitment Monday.According to MaxPreps, Yancey had 54 receptions for 780 yards and 9 touchdowns for Duncanville High last season and averaged 12.5 yards per on 31 carries, scoring another 10 TDs on the ground. Yancey had at least 40 scholarship offers, mostly from Power Four programs.O'Brien plays at powerhouse Moeller High in Cincinnati. The 6-foot-6 offensive tackle had 14 Power 4 offers, according to 247Sports.In addition to O'Brien and Yancey, along with Mallard committing, Purdue lured defensive back Roman Combs (West Chester, Ohio), defensive lineman Wesley Grover (Alabaster, Alabama), Owen Roberts (Elmhurst, Illinois) and Izayveon Moore (Indianapolis) this week to bring Purdue's 2027 class to 11 commitments.Purdue had prior commitments from quarterback Jackie Ryder (Winnetka, Illinois), running back Amos Bradford (Hollywood, Florida), linebacker Ethan Reyna (Merrillville) and cornerback Gianni Porfilio (Huntington Beach, California).Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue football recruiting adds four-star receiver Trenton Yancey

WEST LAFAYETTE — It's been a busy, but beneficial week for the Purdue football staff.Over the last week, the Boilermakers have added seven players to their 2027 recruiting class, including four-star receiver Trenton Yancey and three-star offensive lineman Patrick O'Brien on Tuesday, June 9.Yancey, a from Duncanville, Texas, is the second receiver commit in 24 hours after Eron Mallard from Georgia announced his commitment Monday.According to MaxPreps, Yancey had 54 receptions for 780 yards and 9 touchdowns for Duncanville High last season and averaged 12.5 yards per on 31 carries, scoring another 10 TDs on the ground. Yancey had at least 40 scholarship offers, mostly from Power Four programs.O'Brien plays at powerhouse Moeller High in Cincinnati. The 6-foot-6 offensive tackle had 14 Power 4 offers, according to 247Sports.In addition to O'Brien and Yancey, along with Mallard committing, Purdue lured defensive back Roman Combs (West Chester, Ohio), defensive lineman Wesley Grover (Alabaster, Alabama), Owen Roberts (Elmhurst, Illinois) and Izayveon Moore (Indianapolis) this week to bring Purdue's 2027 class to 11 commitments.Purdue had prior commitments from quarterback Jackie Ryder (Winnetka, Illinois), running back Amos Bradford (Hollywood, Florida), linebacker Ethan Reyna (Merrillville) and cornerback Gianni Porfilio (Huntington Beach, California).Nathan Baird and Sam King have the best Purdue sports coverage, and sign up for IndyStar's Boilermakers newsletter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Purdue football recruiting adds four-star receiver Trenton Yancey

Jose Mourinho wants Real Madrid to prioritise move for €80m midfielderIncoming Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho was keen to have a significant say in their transfer activity this summer ahead of his return to the club. He has communicated that young West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes is one of his priority targets.A midfielder has been cited as a priority for the club for some time, following their struggles to control games over the past two seasons, coinciding notably with the retirement of Toni Kroos. A number of midfielders have been linked to Los Blancos in the meantime, not least Vitinha and Joao Neves at Paris Saint-Germain. In addition, they are said to be in negotiations with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.Mourinho keen for Real Madrid to sign Mateus Fernandes(Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)One of the names that has emerged over the past week is West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes. The 21-year-old has impressed in London, despite the Hammers’ relegation this season, but Real Madrid could face competition from Manchester United and Chelsea, who have both shown interest in him too. West Ham are reportedly looking for around €90m for Fernandes, but that price is expected to come down, say Diario AS.Mourinho has told Real Madrid that he is a priority, due to the commitment he shows, and the quality he has.Agent Jorge Mendes working on Real Madrid moveImage via Diario ASOn top of that, Fernandes’ agent, whom he shares with Mourinho, is Jorge Mendes. The Portuguese representative had for some time had little involvement with Los Blancos, but with the return of Mourinho, that will no longer be the case, and Mendes is already working on brokering a deal for Fernandes with West Ham. One of the alternatives that Mourinho has suggested is Sporting CP midfielder Morten Hjulmand. Cadena SER confirm Real Madrid’s interest in Fernandes, and add that Mourinho’s arrival also puts the signing of Bernardo Silva on the table.

The Baltimore Ravens opened mandatory minicamp without several notable players on the field, including Zay Flowers, Ronnie Stanley, and Rashod Bateman.The absences created an immediate storyline for a team trying to build momentum around Lamar Jackson, new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, and a reshaped wide receiver room. Mandatory minicamp does not determine the final roster or depth chart, but attendance carries more weight than voluntary offseason work, especially for veterans expected to play major roles in 2026.Not done counting yet but appears to be at least a few notable absences from first day of Ravens mandatory minicamp including Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Ronnie Stanley.— Brian Wacker (@brianwacker1) June 9, 2026Bateman's absence was the most notable because of his standing in Baltimore's wide receiver hierarchy. The former first-round pick was present at the start of the offseason program last month, but he has recently been away from the team to tend to a personal matter.“He’s dealing with some personal things and so he hasn’t been here for a little bit,” Doyle said Tuesday. “I’m excited for him to get back in here in and keep rolling.”Bateman is entering a critical season after a down 2025 campaign, but he is still expected to get the first crack at WR2 duties under Doyle. Baltimore's receiver room has changed significantly after the additions of Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, while Zay Flowers remains the clear top option. Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester, and others are also competing for roles, making every missed rep important as the Ravens install and refine Doyle's offense.Bateman’s situation is different from a pure competition storyline because the absence is tied to a personal matter. Still, his return will be important for an offense that needs to build timing and trust with Jackson. Bateman has the size, route-running ability, and experience to remain a prominent piece of the passing game, but the Ravens have created more competition around him than at any previous point in his career. Flowers' absence also stood out because he is Baltimore’s most dynamic wide receiver and one of Jackson’s most important weapons. The Ravens picked up Flowers' fifth-year option after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, and his role in the offense is not in question. His absence from Day 1 does not create the same depth-chart uncertainty, but it does remove a key piece from an important installation period under Doyle.Stanley’s absence was notable for a different reason. The veteran left tackle remains one of the most important players on the roster because of his role protecting Jackson’s blind side. Baltimore’s starting tackle tandem of Stanley and Roger Rosengarten gives the offense stability when healthy, but the depth behind them is thin. Any missed work by Stanley naturally draws attention, given his injury history and positional value.The Ravens still had plenty to evaluate, particularly among younger players who received expanded opportunities due to the absences. Walker has been one of the early beneficiaries of extra receiver reps after flashing during OTAs. He caught the first deep ball of the spring and has shown the ability to stretch the field vertically and horizontally, but he enters Year 3 needing to prove he can be more than a situational deep threat.The rookie receivers also remain central to the minicamp storyline. Lane and Sarratt give the Ravens more size and catch-radius options than they have had in recent years, and both have a chance to earn early snaps if they can handle the details of the offense. Their development will matter even more until Bateman returns and Flowers is back on the field.Baltimore’s offense is still built around Jackson, Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, and Flowers, but Doyle’s first offseason as coordinator is about creating more balance and depth in the passing game. The Ravens do not need all of their receiver questions answered in June, but they do need progress before training camp.That makes attendance and availability important. Bateman’s absence is understandable because of a personal matter, and Doyle’s comments made clear the Ravens are looking forward to getting him back. Flowers and Stanley remain established starters, but their return will help Baltimore get a fuller picture of the offense before the summer break.For now, Day 1 of mandatory minicamp offered both opportunity and uncertainty. The Ravens had several key players missing, but they also had a chance to give extra work to young receivers, reserve linemen, and players fighting for larger roles. Once Flowers, Stanley, and Bateman return, Baltimore’s offensive picture should become clearer.This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Rashod Bateman absent as Ravens open mandatory minicamp

Crystal Palace close to appointing Lens boss SageJames Bools, Football reporterCrystal Palace have reportedly agreed a deal in principle that would see Lens head coach Pierre Sage appointed as their new manager for the 2025/26 Premier League season.The Eagles bid farewell to Oliver Glasner in the perfect fashion, winning the Europa Conference League – their maiden piece of continental silverware – after a largely disappointing league campaign finishing in the bottom half.Sage has been steadily rebuilding his reputation in the game after being sacked by Lyon in January 2025 following a run of poor results with a glittering 12 months with Ligue 1 runners up Lens, winning their first ever Coup de France.His current side finished second and just six points behind PSG after providing serious competition for top spot, in turn qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 season when they ranked in the same place.Glasner replaced the sacked Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park in 2024, and led the club to FA Cup and Europa Conference League glory – the first major trophies in their history – as well as winning the Community Shield.But with the former Frankfurt boss deciding he needs a new challenge, Sage has been lined up as his replacement after their previous top target Andoni Iraola replaced Arne Slot at Liverpool.Why appoint Pierre Sage?For Palace, the appeal of Sage is obvious. Like Glasner, who won the Europa League with Germain side Frankfurt in 2021-22, the Lons-le-Saunier native has demonstrated quite the knack for succeeding with smaller budgets.Lens spent a total £48.8m on their transfers over the course of the season, a far cry from the £416m spent by Liverpool only to scrape fifth place and a spot in the Champions League – ultimately where Iraola saw his future.One of Lens’ signings, former Palace striker Odsonne Édouard, arrived for just £3.2m and ended the season as their joint-top scorer with 12 goals alongside 31-year-old and fellow Frenchman Wesley Saïd.This will be key as the Eagles look to stay within PSR limits ahead of a second successive continental campaign, with the South London side set to compete in the Europa League following their Conference League triumph.Given the similarities between the two men, Palace chairman Steve Parish and the Selhurst Park faithful will be hoping the ex-Chambery boss can build on the foundations laid by Glasner and push on to further success in the coming years.