The Xiaomi YU7 GT achieved a Nürburgring SUV record while dealership deliveries begin before the official launch event.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Billie Jean King raised her right arm in triumph. Not for another victory on the tennis court. This time, she was celebrating earning a college degree 65 years after she first took classes.

The 82-year-old sports and equality icon received her bachelor's of art in history from Cal State Los Angeles on Monday, walking across the stage in hot pink glasses and royal blue sneakers at the Shrine Auditorium with about 6,000 others in the Class of 2026.

“It's never too late, whatever age you are, whatever your abilities are, go for it if you want it,” she said afterward.

King’s black gown was accented with a gold graduation stole personalized by a friend. One side included her initials and the letters G.0.A.T., referring to greatest of all time. A multi-colored tennis racket was embroidered on the other side.

“It means a lot more to me than I thought,” she said afterward. “I am so glad I did it. My hope is that one other person will go back to school.”

King announced two years ago that she would work on completing her degree at the school where her bronze statue stands outside the physical education building. She's the first member of her immediate family to graduate from college, similar to the majority of her fellow graduates. The school has a predominantly Hispanic and Latino student body.

“Being a student-athlete didn't mean I had a scholarship,” she told the crowd. “Financial support wasn't available to women in 1961, even though my friends Arthur Ashe and Stan Smith were both scholarship students on the men's teams at UCLA and USC.”

King committed to working toward equality and inclusion for all.

“We can never understand inclusion unless we've been excluded,” she said.

At one point, a screaming baby in the balcony interrupted King.

“Is it that bad?” she asked, as the crowd laughed.

She punctuated her speech with a cry of “Si se puede!” The audience erupted in cheers and applause to the phrase meaning “Yes you can!”

Joined by student athletes and the school mascot, King hit autographed tennis balls into the crowd.

She initially enrolled at the campus five miles east of downtown in 1961, the same year she won the first of her record-tying 20 Wimbledon titles, this one in women's doubles.

“Things were different then,” she told the students. “Winning a Wimbledon doubles title today is worth close to half a million dollars. In 1961, I think we won a $45 gift voucher to a local store.”

She soon left school to pursue becoming No. 1 in the world, winning 39 major championships, and earning an historic victory over Bobby Riggs in the 1973 “Battle of the Sexes." King helped establish the current women's pro tour while pushing for expanded prize money and opportunities for women.

The biggest difference between learning in the ‘60s and today? “It’s so much more virtual,” she said. “Gosh, we had to be in class. I didn't go all the time, but I loved talking to the professors and I loved learning.”

Despite her many successes on and off the court, King carried a nagging feeling about not earning her degree. She always corrected anyone assembling her biography that stated she had graduated.

“I said, ‘Don’t ever say graduated, I haven't earned it yet,'” she said. “I was thinking today coming over here for the first time actually they can say I graduated now.”

Would King go for a master's degree?

“I just turned on the news and there's Shaq walking across at LSU getting his master's,” she said. “I just think it's wonderful to keep learning.”

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Azzi Fudd just showed why the Wings are so excited about her future originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It only took four regular-season games for Azzi Fudd to deliver the kind of performance that reminds everyone why the Dallas Wings believed so strongly in her upside entering the 2026 season. Monday night felt like a glimpse into what Dallas hopes becomes a regular occurrence.

Fudd scored a career-high 12 points in the Wings’ convincing 92-69 win over the Washington Mystics while looking increasingly comfortable within Dallas’ offense. She shot 6-for-9 from the field, added two rebounds and three assists, and finished with a +20 plus-minus in 24 minutes off the bench.

The stat line itself stood out. The way she got there may have been even more impressive. Fudd never looked rushed. She played within the flow of the offense, made quick decisions and took advantage of openings without forcing the action. For a rookie still adjusting to the pace and physicality of the WNBA, that level of composure jumps off the screen.

And it is exactly why Dallas fans have every reason to be excited.

Azzi Fudd starting to understand it now 😯

Her first WNBA game with double-digit points 🔥 pic.twitter.com/19TX2eJb1S

— espnW (@espnW) May 19, 2026

Azzi Fudd’s offensive game is translating quickly

One of the biggest questions surrounding Fudd entering the WNBA was how quickly her scoring instincts would carry over against professional defenders. So far, the early signs look promising.

MORE: Sophie Cunningham’s six words say everything Fever fans wanted to hear

Even in limited opportunities through her first three games, Fudd has already shown the shot-making ability and offensive feel that made her such a highly regarded prospect coming out of UConn

Monday’s performance was the clearest example yet. She attacked gaps confidently, moved well without the ball and consistently found herself in the right spots offensively. There was a calmness to her game that fit perfectly alongside Dallas’ more established stars.

While Paige Bueckers led the Wings with 18 points and seven assists, and Arike Ogunbowale added 16 points, Fudd quietly became one of the most efficient players on the floor. That kind of depth changes the ceiling for Dallas.

The Wings suddenly have another dangerous scoring option

The most encouraging part for Dallas may be how naturally Fudd fits into the team’s offensive structure already. The Wings finished with 30 assists and knocked down 11 three-pointers while controlling the game almost from start to finish. Fudd’s ability to seamlessly slide into that ball movement-heavy approach gives Dallas another perimeter weapon defenses have to respect.

That matters over the course of a long season. Young teams often struggle with consistency offensively, especially when relying heavily on rookies. But if Fudd continues developing this quickly, the Wings may have found another reliable scorer much earlier than expected. And considering this was only the fourth regular-season game of her career, that should probably be viewed as a very good sign for Dallas moving forward.

More WNBA news:

• Does Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever play tonight? Details on Friday’s game vs Mystics
• Kelsey Plum makes major off-court move during breakout WNBA moment
• Lisa Leslie still believes Team USA missed a huge opportunity with Caitlin Clark
• Lisa Leslie’s latest announcement shows why her influence still stretches far beyond basketball
• Cameron Brink had one message for Caitlin Clark after viral block

New Mexico men’s golf team is second-to-last on the leaderboard after finishing 13 over par in the first round of the NCAA Bryan Regional Monday at Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas.

Only Arkansas-Pine Bluff (+30) carded a higher team score than the fourth-seeded Lobos. Tournament host Texas A&M leads the 14-team field at 12 under par while North Carolina (-10) and TCU (-8) are in second and third place.

Top-seeded Texas – led by former Lobo coach John Fields – is in fourth place at 7 under at the par-72, 7,146-yard Traditions Club. UNM’s conference rival, UNLV, is in eighth place at 1 over.

Monday, Johnnie Clark led the Lobos with a 1-over-par 73, good for a tie with eight other players for 36th on the individual leaderboard. Mountain West Freshman of the Year Thayer Plewe carded a 3-over 75, Wyatt Provence finished with a 4-over 76 and Emil Albers turned in a 5-over 77.

Mesa Falleur, UNM’s highest-ranked golfer, finished Monday with a 7-over 79, his first over-par round since March. The senior from Muskogee, Oklahoma missed the Mountain West Championship earlier this month with back soreness.

The 54-hole Bryan Regional continues Tuesday and Wednesday. The top five teams from the regional will advance to the NCAA Division I Golf Championship (May 29-June 3) at Omni La Costa Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.

Bryan Regional leaderboard

1. Texas A&M (-12)

2. North Carolina (-10)

3. TCU (-8)

4. Texas (-7)

5. Tennessee (-6)

6. Tennessee-Chattanooga (-2)

7. Colorado (-1)

8. UNLV (+1)

9. North Carolina-Wilmington (+5)

T-10. Cincinnati (+7)

T-10. Texas-Rio Grande Valley (+7)

12. Miami (Ohio) (+10)

13. New Mexico (+13)

14. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (+30)

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at @lenaweereider.

Vimael Machín has played for 20 teams since the summer of 2014.

From summer college wood-bat leagues back east to plenty of Minor League teams, a couple of stretches in the Majors and numerous international games for his native Puerto Rico, the 32-year-old infielder has an awful lot of experiences and interactions to draw from.

So when asked what it is about this season with the Albuquerque Isotopes that has him feeling so upbeat and positive — both with great performance on the field and good vibes off it — his answer carries some weight.

"All those teams, this is the most fun I've had in my whole career," Machín told the Journal last week during his team's six-game homestand against the Oklahoma City Comets. "I'm 32 years old, about to be 33, and I've been playing pro since 2015, so me saying this, I mean it. I wake up every day here and I just want to get to the field. It's always fun."

Winning (the Isotopes are 25-20 and one game out of first in the Pacific Coast League standings) and hitting (he's hitting .347 with five home runs, 26 RBIs and has a .573 slugging percent in 33 games) are a big part of those good feelings, of course. But so, too, is the "winning" clubhouse atmosphere that Isotopes manager Pedro Lopez and Colorado Rockies front office personnel have told the Journal was very much an offseason goal with the types of players brought in to fill the roster around the core of young, top prospects.

And Machín, along with veteran players like Blake Crimm, Dre Avans, Chad Stevens and a few others, are a big part of that calculated roster construction that has paid off so far this season.

"We have great chemistry here, especially with all the young guys we have here," Machín said. "... Just to come here every day and just be there for them — they come to me and ask me a lot of questions. It's fun. I'm having a blast this year."

With just 30 games and five series remaining before the first-half race comes to a close (the PCL crowns a first-half and a second-half winner), that the Isotopes are still in the race is as much about how guys like Machín are hitting as it is about how they are teaching.

"It's leadership. He leads by example," Lopez said of Machín. "If you want to talk about offensively, he's got a really good approach. He's got a really good feel for hitting. He's got a really good feel for analyzing the game and making in-game adjustments. We come out here every day and there's a plan in place, but that plan is subject to change, depending on the pitcher. He's a guy that has been able to do that throughout the years, and I think that's what he brings to the table here and he's able to communicate with the younger players."

Thanks for coming

Clearly part of the equation was having three-time World Series champion and Los Angeles Dodgers fan favorite Kiké Hernandez in town for six games last week playing for the Oklahoma City Comets while rehabbing an injury. But whatever the reason, what a homestand it was at the turnstiles at Rio Grande Credit Union Field.

The Isotopes announced 51,815 fans over the six-game set, the fifth-highest homestand attendance in franchise history.

Huge shoutout to all the Isotopes fans for making this week one for the record books!

We also currently lead ALL of @MiLB in total attendance! pic.twitter.com/fizb7Zki6A

— Albuquerque Isotopes (@ABQTopes) May 17, 2026

"What we saw this week is Albuquerque at its absolute best," said Isotopes General Manager Chrissy Baines. "Fifty‑thousand plus fans packing the ballpark isn't just a number as it's a statement about the passion, pride, and heart of this community. Our fans and partners play a huge role in making these nights unforgettable. This city shows up, and we're honored to be the place where those memories are made."

Also, the Isotopes' 161,581 fans so far this season leads all of Minor League Baseball.

Trivia time!

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Question: Last week was the fifth-highest-attended homestand in franchise history.

Three of the four better-attended series included holiday fireworks games, and one of the top four featured an injury rehab appearance by a Dodgers star, who in this case played for, not against, the Isotopes.

Who was that injured Dodger, and when was that series that drew more fans than last week despite being just a four-game series?

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Answer: See below...

Know the foe

The Isotopes hit the road home for a six-game Pacific Coast League series at Las Vegas Ballpark in Las Vegas, Nevada, Tuesday through Sunday.

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Isotopes, Triple-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, 25-20 overall, 2nd place PCL

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Las Vegas Aviators, Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, 23-20 overall, 4th place PCL

Three up, three down

Some things that have been looking good lately for the 'Topes, some not so good.

Looking good:

1.

IF Chad Stevens singled in the first inning of Sunday's loss to Oklahoma City, extending his in-season on-base streak to 38 games. That ties the franchise record held by Joe Dillon (June 26-Aug. 8, 2005).

Overall, Stevens has a 48-game on-base stretch that began Sept. 11, 2025, against Salt Lake.

2.

Albuquerque's 14 road wins are the most in the PCL this season. They are 14-7 on the road (just 11-13 at home).

3.

IF Nic Kent hit his first Triple-A home run in Sunday's loss to Oklahoma City. Seven of Kent's eight hits this season have gone for extra bases.

Look away:

1.

The Isotopes allowed 59 runs and 69 hits over the final four games — all losses — of the OKC series. That's an average of 14.8 runs and 17.3 hits per game.

2.

Albuquerque's four-game losing streak to OKC Thursday through Sunday ties a season-long skid.

3.

Pitcher Erasmo Ramirez allowed 10 hits on Sunday, the most for a Topes pitcher this season. The nine runs he allowed was tied for the most this season from all of two days prior when Stu Flesland III allowed nine vs. OKC on Friday.

Fast food

There's something about that jar. With three racers, it's all natural. And then there's Salsa, who has this jar exterior that seems to be giving it an advantage this season.

Is the jar juiced?

2026 Season Standings (23 races):

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11 wins — Salsa Jar

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5 wins — Red Chile

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4 wins — Green Chile

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3 wins — Taco

What are they doing?

Here's a check in on some (not all) of the fun promos the "other guys" are doing this season when the Isotopes are in town. In Las Vegas this week...

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Wednesday: Bark on the Berm with dogs allowed in the ballpark

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Thursday: $2 beer!

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Friday: Kids paw patrol hat giveaway

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Saturday: Star Wars Night (May the 23rd be with you?)

Trivia answer

In four games from June 23-26, 2009 against Nashville, the Isotopes welcomed in 53,070 fans thanks to a brief appearance on an injury rehab assignment from fan-favorite Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez.

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.

Part of it was the chair — and its location.

Draped in white cloth and placed almost in the middle of the dimly lit room featuring murals and other works of art, shelves of paint and drying racks, it sat under a spotlight. Work tables had been pushed aside to create the necessary space because the large desk behind the chair certainly wasn’t moving.

To the left and the right and in front? Those were the places the easels had been set up for the 16 students at Rio Grande High, complete with paper, pencils and erasers.

All of it made Chris Gloster — the occupant of that chair — a little nervous.

“It’s so different,” the New Mexico United defender said Wednesday. “When we’re playing in the (Isotopes’) stadium, thousands of people are watching us. But here, in a little room with 16 people, I started sweating a bit.”

A small room full of people looking down to sketch, peeking back up and then doodling away again with the occasional reassessment and scrubbing and redo. All with some calming music playing in the background.

Gloster? He isn’t moving, except for his eyes glancing around or his mouth twitching into a smirk every now and then. No scrolling on his phone. No shifting in his seat. But the model subject isn’t supposed to, either. Stillness is the name of this game.

He’s the latest United player to volunteer his time for United in Art, a partnership between the soccer club and Albuquerque Public Schools that has players become art projects. Forward Cristian Nava was the United model at Albuquerque High — Nava’s alma mater — on April 8. Midfielder Valentin Noël was at Del Norte High on April 22.

“In a way, it helps bring the community together,” said René Palomares, a secondary/bilingual resource teacher in APS’ visual and performing arts department. “United gets something out of it and the kids, it’s exposing them to that representation piece of, ‘If they can see it, they can be it.’ One day, I can do this or be this.”

Palomares was the one who came up with the idea.

A United season-ticket holder and supporter, Palomares is an artist himself, known for drawing and bringing custom Pokemon-like cards of players to matches. (Hey, some things never go out of style.) He made his United in Art pitch to Jules Myers, United’s senior manager for production and impact, during a bus ride to the club’s Western Conference final at FC Tulsa last season.

“It’s like a Field of Dreams mentality, right?” Palomares said. “Build it and they’ll come, and that’s what kids need. They need more opportunities where we build stuff for them. And stuff that they relate to or has some kind popularity or is pop culture, and is inclusive. I think United brings that. There’s a hype with the team. There’s a lot of interest. You’ve seen the games, how crazy they can get, but it’s good, clean fun.

“So, why not include that in our schools? I just think we need to keep building things for students, not with the intention of we want them to become artists, but with the other lessons they can learn.”

Wednesday marked the third and final United in Art of the spring semester. It also happened to have the largest student turnout of the sessions. There are plans — and certainly a want — to continue it in the fall and to expand it further within the city.

After all, those involved see it as a win-win.

“It’s one of those things where you look back and you can convince yourself not to do things because it seems like it’s going to be hard, and then you get in it and you’re in it and you end up saying, ‘Why haven’t I done this more?’” said Orlando Ramirez, an art teacher at Rio Grande who also helps coach United’s developmental academy.

“When you look at all the kids, they're laughing and enjoying themselves and collaborating with each other.”

It’s about the experience.

For many of the artists, with varying levels of ability, it was the first time they had worked with a live model.

“I’ve always seen stuff like this happen (at other places), but it’s never actually happened at our school,” senior Valentina Chavez said. “It seemed like something worth participating in.”

It’s an opportunity to try something new — or at least different.

Why not?

“Starting something and not being perfect at it can just be the beginning of being good at it,” senior Izabell Baughn said. “You’re not going to wake up and be freaking Vincent Van Gogh. You’re just starting somewhere. A little, tiny drawing, no matter how bad you think you are, just making those little improvements yourself, not fitting to anyone else’s standards, I think it can really help you be yourself artistically. It’s all subjective.”

United in Art doesn’t allow a lot of time for the student artists to dwell. There’s a warmup session and then two 15-minute periods — to outline and then to focus on the details — with a break in between to allow Gloster to stretch and for the artists to walk around and observe their contemporaries’ work. The only rule? See how others are approaching the product, but don’t judge your work against theirs.

Some went for a full-body sketch. Others opted for the torso up. A few had a side profile and a bit more a front view. From there, it devolved further with each focusing on different aspects of Gloster — his facial features, his attire, his hair and beard, how his legs and arms were positioned. Things had to be adjusted once the break between periods was done. A live model rarely sits in the exact same position twice.

“I wanted to start with the basic shapes and then get everything sorted,” sophomore Rosanne Avila said. “I wanted to get his build and then his innocent eyes, his hair, his big shoes. Stuff that actually pops out. When I had more time, I started going more into detail about little things like the puma on his soccer ball and then on his shirt and the cross he was wearing.”

Gloster came away rather impressed. Both at the halfway point and at the end. And he offers an honest assessment. He doesn’t rate his artistic skill on the same level.

But the project wasn’t necessarily supposed to be easy. Just different. And that can be can be good thing.

“There were some things that were difficult,” sophomore Silas Maestas said. “Usually I draw (from) pictures of basketball players or athletes, but something like this, you can see your progress (as an artist). And that’s what this is about.”

Soon it was time to wrap up. For pencils to be put down. Erasers, too. For Gloster to get up from that chair for the last time.

But before he called it a day, Gloster made sure to pose for a group photo, each of the students holding up their rendition of the United defender. He signed each one.

Those sketches? They went home with their artist. All except one. That was gifted to Gloster. He left with it in hand. The chair stayed behind.

“I’m probably going to hang this on my fridge,” Gloster said. “It needs to go somewhere.”

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.

More New Mexico United reading

*

For NM United, State Fairgrounds 'our first choice right now' for stadium

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*

NM United has ugly showing in 2nd USL Cup outing

Jonas Fjeldberg leads Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in rout

*

Match day: New Mexico United at Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC

NMU resumes USL Cup play against old nemesis

*

NM United sees ‘great learning opportunity’ with international friendly

Club will host Liga MX’s Atlante FC in July

*

'An important piece,' Keller makes return for NM United

After missing five matches, defender plays 1st half in rout of Las Vegas Lights FC

*

Match day: Las Vegas Lights FC at New Mexico United

NMU and Dennis Sanchez get another shot at manager’s former club

*

NM United draws with El Paso after allowing late equalizer

Hurst's first goals of season weren't enough to help NMU snap winless streak against El Paso

*

Match day: El Paso Locomotive FC at New Mexico United

NMU looks to turn tide against longtime rival El Paso

*

NM United's David Estrada still gets to showcase his skills

A look inside at when the assistant and former pro hops into training sessions against first team

*

Rennicks helps NM United celebrate USL Cup opener

Forward credits teammate for helping pick best way to enjoy go-ahead goal

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X @DavidGlovach.

Alex Newhook is the Canadiens' hero no one ever expected originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Before this month, Alex Newhook was far from a household name, even in Montreal, where the Canadiens are king.

He's been a solid depth center in a six-year NHL career, the kind of player who makes a solid living and can be happy with what he's done, but not the kind who lives on as a legend.

Then May of 2026 arrived, and Newhook became a legend. His name will never be forgotten in the province of Quebec.

The magic started in Game 7 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, when Newhook scored his first goal of the playoffs with nine minutes left in regulation, and it held up as the winner.

And after a brilliant series against the Buffalo Sabres, Newhook did it in Game 7 again, this time midway through overtime, beating Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and setting off celebrations throughout French Canada.

BACK TO BACK GAME GAME 7 WINNERS FOR ALEX NEWHOOK!! pic.twitter.com/0HchNXH0Gh

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) May 19, 2026

Newhook becomes just the second player ever to have multiple Game 7 game-winning goals in one postseason, joining the Bruins' Nathan Horton in 2011, when they won the Stanley Cup, according to the ESPN broadcast.

Improbably, Newhook scored six goals in the seven-game series against Buffalo.

And no, even Alex Newhook's family wouldn't have predicted that.

His career-high in goals for an entire season is 15, which he scored in 55 games with Montreal in 2023-24, then again in 82 games with the Habs in 2024-25.

This season, he had 13 goals in 42 games.

In the last eight games Newhook has played, he has scored seven goals.

Maybe the hope once was that Newhook could grow into this player. The Avalanche made him a first-round pick, 16th overall, out of Boston College in 2019.

The native of Newfoundland, though, reached a more middling NHL outcome -- the guy who can stick around for a long time and have some nice moments, but not a star.

The Canadiens have plenty of stars. Lane Hutson is a rising standout in defense. Jakub Dobes has been great in goal in both Game 7s. The top line of Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slavkofsky and Cole Caufield struggled in this series, but they're all household names.

Newhook stole the show from all of them.

The Canadiens advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, and they'll have to play a well-rested Carolina Hurricanes team.

There's no telling whether Newhook has any magic left.

But no matter what happens next, Newhook has already written the kind of storybook stuff that a kid can only dream of.

He probably thought it'd be tough to top a Game 7 winner from the first round, but then the scenario presented itself Monday night.

The Habs took a quick 2-0 lead, but the Sabres rallied to tie it 2-2. They'd need sudden death overtime to decide it.

A Game 7, sudden death scenario is hard to top. One player automatically will write their name in franchise lore forever.

Both teams had chances, maybe better ones, before the one Newhook got.

Montreal entered the zone, and Newhook decided to fling a shot toward the far side of the net. There's no bad shot in overtime.

This shot was the final action of the game. UPL didn't stop it. It found the net, and the party started for the Canadiens on road ice.

It's moments like these that are why people love sports so much. You can't script it.

How in the world is a guy with the career of Alex Newhook all of a sudden the most brilliant goal scorer the Canadiens have? There may never be a fully logical explanation.

But sports defy logic. Sometimes, they're about magic.

Newhook, on this run, has been Montreal's magician.

It doesn't have to make sense. All that matters is that he found the goal that continued the Canadiens' season.

Newhook, Mr. Game 7, will always hold this legacy in Montreal.

MORE: Connor Bedard is looking at a massive contract

WASHINGTON — If there was any momentum from the Mets‘ Subway Series win over the weekend, it probably went out the window somewhere on the Beltway. Facing an NL East team for only the second time this season, the first game of a four-game series against the Washington Nationals lacked excitement and had all the energy of a legislative procedural meeting.

When the crowds are sparse on a Monday night for a rebuilding team, a lack of atmosphere is to be expected. There were no signs of a hangover from the weekend theatrics from the Mets, but there were signs of a taxed bullpen when the Nationals were able to tie the game twice, pushing it into 12 innings.

But tied 6-6 in the top of the 12th, the Mets exploded for 10 runs to win 16-7 at Nationals Park. They chased right-hander Paxton Schultz (0-1) from the game, and the Nats (23-25) waived the white flag by putting a position player on the mound. One day after walking the Yankees off for a series win, the Mets came through in the clutch once again, winning their seventh game in eight tries.

Brett Baty came through with the key hit, a two-run single off Schultz, before Marcus Semien and A.J. Ewing both hit RBI singles to keep the inning going. The Mets (21-26) batted around then some, sending four more hitters to the plate before the third out was finally recorded.

There was more than enough breathing room for right-hander Craig Kimbrel in the bottom of the frame.

Left-hander Brooks Raley gave up a run in the bottom of the seventh and faced heavy traffic on the basepaths. Right-hander Tobias Myers helped Raley get out of the seventh, but then gave up the tying run in the eighth. The Mets pushed the automatic runner across the plate to take a lead in the top of the 10th, but Washington came right back to tie again against right-hander Huascar Brazobán (3-1) in his second inning of work.

This came after a shaky start by right-hander Christian Scott, who was charged with three earned runs over four innings. Three walks and a hit batter hurt him early.

The Mets went up 1-0 in the top of the second, fell behind 2-1 in the bottom of the inning, then 3-1. Baty (2-for-6, three RBI) led off the fourth with a long shot to center field off left-hander Jake Irvin, bringing the Mets back to within one. They took advantage of errors and deep fly balls in the fifth, putting two on with one out for Juan Soto, who drove in two on a single off left-hander PJ Poulin.

Bo Bichette homered off left-hander Mitchell Parker in the seventh, his first extra-base hit since April 28. It gave the Mets a 5-3 lead, but the Nats weren’t done.

They put heavy traffic on the basepaths in the seventh and eighth, cashing in twice to even the score at 5-5. They had two on against right-hander Luke Weaver in the ninth, and the bases were loaded on Brazobán in the ninth before a big out at the plate helped the right-hander get out of the inning unscathed.

Tied at 6-6 with runners on second and third in the 11th, Brazobán got out of the inning with the game tied.

Two road series against the Nats and the Marlins might not be the most exciting part of the schedule, but that might be exactly what the Mets need right now. The spotlight is off of them in their own city, with the Knicks set to begin play Tuesday in the Eastern Conference Finals.

For some reason, the Mets tend to play their best baseball when no one expects. They can fly under the radar and pick up some much-needed wins against two bad divisional teams this week.

Everyone’s a Lobo, but now three members of the University of New Mexico dance team are a Colt, Seahawk and Ram, too.

Malia Dumlao, Isabelle Vigil and Paloma Lopez have been named to the Indianapolis Colts Cheerleaders, Seattle Seahawks Dancers and Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders.

Each dancer is a graduating senior at UNM and will be joining the squads for the 2026 season.

Lopez looked to her hometown team for an NFL opportunity and auditioned with the Rams Cheerleaders during their open-call tryouts. She made it past the semifinals and was excited for the finals interview process, which gave her a chance to show the team who she was.

“I feel like the hard part was trying to represent yourself in the preliminary and semifinal rounds, because they don’t know who you are,” Lopez said. “They don’t know anything about you. They don’t know where you’re from. And once I made (it) into finals, I was really relieved, because I knew the coaches would get to see how I was as a teammate and how I interacted with the other dancers.”

In her interview, she talked about how she was always taught to project to the higher levels of the stadium. She said she has been that fan in the upper decks watching the cheer squads from above. Now she’ll be the one on the field.

“It’s really exciting to think that now I’ll get to be one of the dancers performing,” she said, “and I’ve always looked up to them when I’ve gone to the games.”

As part of the Lobo Dance team, she said she has been able to give back to the community in ways that go beyond dancing, such as toy drives for children’s hospitals and speaking at schools. She said she is looking forward to applying that philanthropy at a higher level.

“I’m really excited to be able to go back to Los Angeles, where I’m from, and have that role in the community,” Lopez said.

Lopez said it has been great to represent New Mexico and UNM. During tryout finals, she said other participants were coming up to her to ask about Lobo basketball and the Pit.

“It's really exciting to be able to teach people about New Mexico,” Lopez said.

Vigil has been on the Lobo Dance team since her freshman year, and was born and raised in Albuquerque.

“I’m obviously super proud and excited to be a New Mexican dancing at the next level,” Vigil said, “and I’m very proud to represent UNM.”

Her desire to join an NFL team stemmed from participating in an event called Pro Action, where college and professional teams come together to perform. She said she is drawn to the Seahawks’ fan culture.

“I feel like it’s so similar to the fan culture at UNM where everyone is like a Seahawks fan for life, ride or die,” Vigil said.

After making it through finals and being announced on the roster, she said she stood there in disbelief, clutching the poms given to her by a junior Seahawks dancer. Soon after, she was fitted for a Seahawks uniform, and she said she couldn’t believe she was wearing it herself.

“I’ve been seeing myself in cherry and silver for the past four years, and so to see myself in like, a dark blue and green uniform was so weird, but it was so fun,” she said.

She said, through rehearsals and finals, the team’s energy remains high and positive as the Seahawks step off one of their best seasons ever as Super Bowl LX champions. She said it’s a cool space to be stepping into as a rookie.

“I remember watching the Super Bowl with my friends and thinking, like, how badly I wanted to be on the field with them,” Vigil said.

Dumalo said she first was drawn to the Colts cheer team and their mascot, Blue, due to their social media presence. This led her to take a deeper look into not only the cheer team, but the coaching organization of the Colts itself. She felt like the team was a good fit for her.

“They’re owned by women, which is really awesome to see, especially in the NFL,” she said.

Dumlao never dreamed of being an NFL cheerleader but was motivated to try out to see what she was capable of.

The application process began in December and continued through February, with video submissions to become a finalist. After that, Dumlao flew to Indianapolis and went through two weeks of in-person workshops, including interviews, technique, choreography and more.

She said the final round had around 47 girls. At the end, she was one of 26 chosen for the 2026 roster. She said it was an amazing feeling to hear her name called out as a Colts cheerleader.

“It’s still surreal, like I’m still in disbelief,” she said. “It was a very long two weeks out there, and it really pushes you physically, mentally and emotionally.”

Dumlao said the final selection process had all the girls in one room as they called out the audition numbers, and all she was waiting for was to hear the number 23.

“As soon as I heard my number, I just melted, and I just started crying, because I was just repeating the number in my head,” Dumlao said.

“That instant feeling of relief, once I heard my number called, it was just amazing.”

When it came down to who she wanted to tell first, it was one of her biggest supporters, her mom. Who, luckily, was in the stands waiting for the final roster announcement.

“How it’s announced is you go one by one, they say your name, you do a little two-eight count solo, and then you do a little group dance,” Dumlao said. “And so my first time coming on stage in the Colts gear is how my mom found out. And so she has a video of that, it’s just her screaming. It just made me want to cry to see her in the audience.”

She said the support she has had from her mother and loved ones her whole life has made everything worth it. While competing for the highest level of cheer and dance was scary and nerve-racking, support pushed her through and showed her she could do it.

The first moment of putting on the uniform and knowing she would get to wear it for the next year, representing the organization, felt surreal, she said.

After wearing red since high school, she said, it was different to see herself in the Colts’ blue.

“It just felt amazing, just to even have the horseshoe on my chest,” Dumlao said.

For Dumlao, it is not just about representing the Colts but also New Mexico and her hometown, Roswell. She said she finds New Mexico sometimes gets left out a bit and so do small towns, so she is excited to be able to represent the whole state.

“I just hope that it shows not only like people, but even younger girls that might look up to me that nothing is too far out of reach, and that as long as you try, that anything is possible,” she said.

Elizabeth Secor is an arts fellow from the New Mexico Local News Fellowship program. You can reach her at esecor@abqjournal.com.

Browns linked to intra-division trade for $7.1 million Steelers QB misfit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ notable quarterback move on Saturday night (agreeing to a one-year deal with Aaron Rodgers) has opened the door for another noteworthy offseason move. 

Essentially, the Steelers officially have four signal-callers on their roster, making it likely the franchise will trim their QB room before the start of the 2026-27 season. 

ClutchPoints’ Garrett Kerman believes Pittsburgh should retain Rodgers, Will Howard, and Drew Allar while trading their 22-year-old QB misfit to the Cleveland Browns.

“No team in the NFL has more quarterback chaos heading into 2026 than the Cleveland Browns,” Kerman wrote Monday. “The quarterback room features Deshaun Watson, who has not played a significant NFL snap since October 2024, and second-year players Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel, both of whom did not have standout rookie campaigns.”

“Both signal-callers averaged fewer than 200 passing yards per game in their respective starts, and neither has locked down the starting job. New head coach Todd Monken has openly stated that reps won't be split evenly and suggested he is keeping an open mind about the competition, which signals the job is very much up for grabs.”

“At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds with a 66.5% completion rate and a passer rating of 153.5 in his best college season at Penn State in 2024, Allar fits the profile of what Monken wants to build around. A late-round pick swap would likely be enough to pry him loose from Pittsburgh, and for Cleveland, that is an extraordinarily low-risk move with franchise-altering upside. “

Allar’s astonishing arm talent, advantageous size, processing chops, and anticipatory skills helped him land with the Steelers in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft (No. 76 overall). Allar finished his collegiate career with 633 completions for 7,402 yards, 61 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions (he endured a season-ending ankle injury five games into his senior season).

Although Allar's skill set has clearly enticed Pittsburgh, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor recently reported that the Steelers are attempting to ‘uninstall everything he learned with the Big Ten program and essentially return to square one. 

Combine that with the fact that Allar is already buried behind three other QBs on the Steelers depth chart (presumably), and it’s easy to envision a scenario where Pittsburgh moves on from the rookie signal-caller before he even appears in a game with the franchise.

The Browns would be a fascinating landing spot for Allar, to say the least, as, unlike the Steelers, there’s no telling who will start the 2026-27 season as QB No. 1.

Keep an eye out for a potential offseason trade involving Allar.

More NFL: 

• Steelers blockbuster trade rumor could lead to massive deal with Eagles

• Bears named landing spot for $123 million 115-sack Steelers star LB

• Eagles named top landing spot for former Cowboys $21 million starter

We’re excited to continue to partner with SpaceVault for all your local storage needs in Lafayette, Indiana.

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Raleigh Burgess made a difficult, somewhat unorthodox decision to redshirt last season after not redshirting his freshman year at Purdue.

Part of this move was in reaction to Purdue’s national title aspirations. Because of Purdue’s window with its seniors closing, Matt Painter and staff went into the portal to shore up the big man position. Purdue brought in Australian big man, Oscar Cluff, while returning injured freshman Daniel Jacobsen. That made Purdue’s front court crowded, and playing time for a third big seemed improbable.

It probably didn’t hur that Burgess had chosen to not redshirt the season previously when minutes also weren’t guaranteed. He carved out a role as a backup big early in the season, aided by Jacobsen’s early season ending injury, but fell out of the rotation in January after suffering a lower leg injury that he’d attempt to play through. It severely limited his mobility and was similar to the injury he had in high school. It would require off season surgery, so taking the redshirt also allowed Burgess a full year to work on his body and recovering.

Burgess did just that. Burgess looks noticably slimmer, which should be a particularly good sign for his mobility and positional flexibility which we’ll get back to in a minute. Burgess also worked on his jump shot, changing his form to get rid of a hitch like motion and pulling it behind his head on his set shots.


Burgess came out of the state of Ohio as a bit of a tweener big. He had the ability to stretch the floor in high school and bang inside. His size leaves him right in the middle in high level college. He’s not a particularly big center and isn’t the most athletic four. Still, his skill and ball IQ, and ability to play with other bigs, could make him part of Purdue’s pursuit to follow the landscape of college basketball.

While shooting and skill overtook the 10’s on basketball courts world wide, college basketball is shifting as Purdue saw against Arizona and in the teams that made the Elite Eight last season. Teams, particularly teams that can afford to bring in any size it wants, are starting to load their front courts with bigs and play them together. While skill and shooting remain important for spacing, with the new transfer rules and NIL, grabbing experienced, brute forces to overwhelm teams physically have given programs one of the clearest paths to regular season and post season success.

Burgess’ skillset could unlock a front court next season for Purdue that might have and institute multiple centers on the court frequently as it did in the Elite Eight against Arizona.

Burgess isn’t just a shooting big man, but he moves and reads the game well. He can operate inside and out, and he’s flashed the potential to survice on other fours and fives on the defensive end. He’ll have work to do to get more physical inside. He’ll have work to do to translate his jump shot into live action. Burgess will have work to do to stay healthy for a full season.

But if you’ve been around Burgess during Purdue practices or games, you’ll know that Burgess’ energy is infectious. As a freshman, he was one of the louder forces in terms of cheering for his teammates and pushing energy in practice. It was the same last season even as he sat out. Purdue getting that kind of joy and energy back on the floor will do a team good that is trying to establish a new identity.

Burgess will help with that on and off the court. Purdue is already known as big man U. Now, it might double down on that identity, allowing Burgess to share the floor with fellow centers Daniel Jacobsen and incoming freshman, Sinan Huan.

Hansi Flick has warned his players that the whole club will have to “work harder” next season after signing a new contract with Barcelona.

The German coach has penned a contract extension until 2028, with the option for another year.

Flick has already won five titles since taking charge of the club but says there will be no let up next season.

“[The new contract] a big commitment for us to work harder, harder than this season, to try and reach the best level with the team and to win titles,” he said.

“This is normal for Barcelona and I know everyone has this amazing dream to win the Champions League. We tried. We try it again.”

Flick also reiterated just how much he loves being part of the Barcelona family and his desire to bring more titles back to the Camp Nou.

“From 2028 onwards… this club is amazing, I feel it’s special. The staff, the players… it’s incredible,” he added.

“We’ve shared many fantastic moments and I’m excited to share more. We want to win more titles. In recent weeks, we’ve played very well, we’ve been consistent.”

Barcelona wrap up their season at the weekend at Mestalla. Flick will then enjoy some well-deserved time off before returning for pre-season in the middle of July.

The Montreal Canadiens have advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, beating the Buffalo Sabres 4-3 in their second-round series.

The Sabres earned a win in Game 1 and Game 4, but the Canadiens were the better team, as evidenced by their dominant outings in Game 2 and Game 3. That being said, Buffalo deserves credit for their impressive comeback in Game 6.

All things considered, advancing to the Conference Final is quite the achievement for the youngest team in the league, but the hard work is far from over.

Next Playoff Opponent

The Canadiens will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, a powerhouse team that is yet to taste anything but success in the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

The Hurricanes easily dispatched the Ottawa Senators 4-0 in their first-round series, outscoring them 11-5 in the process. They kept their momentum heading into the second round, where they once again put together perfect performance, beating the Philadelphia Flyers in four straight games, and outscoring them 13-5.

Simply put, they’ve been the best team in the playoffs, and by a wide margin.

They’re also set to be very well rested versus the Canadiens, though that may not be an advantage given the situation. While the Habs are lacking rest, they’ve maintained their edge by playing every two days, and by facing evenly-matched opponents.

Whereas the Hurricanes have not played since May 9, meaning they’ll be ice-cold heading into the Eastern Conference Final.

Seeing as Game 1 of the series is scheduled for May 21, the Hurricanes will not have played an NHL game in a dozen days, which would lead to a significant amount of rust for these highly-tuned athletes.

Of course, the lack of game-time action in recent days will be mitigated by the fact that the Hurricanes are one of the most talented teams in the league.

Montreal Canadiens Vs. Carolina Hurricanes Conference Final Schedule

• Game 1 – Thursday, May 21. Time TBD – @Carolina Hurricanes
• Game 2 – Saturday, May 23. Time TBD – @Carolina Hurricanes
• Game3 – Monday, May 25. Time TBD – @Montreal Canadiens
• Game 4 – Wednesday, May 27. Time TBD – @Montreal Canadiens
• *Game 5 –Friday, May 29. Time TBD – @Carolina Hurricanes
• *Game 6 – Sunday, May 31. Time TBD – @Montreal Canadiens
• *Game 7 – Tuesday, June 2. Time TBD – @Carolina Hurricanes

*If necessary.

Related Headlines

• Canadiens Highlights: Newhook Clinches The Series
• Canadiens Game 7 Preview: Once More Unto The Breach
• Habs Daily: Adversity On The Menu, Victoire Near Glory, Gallagher

NHL games on TV today: Full schedule, times, TV channels, live streams to watch 2026 hockey playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The two-month journey to a Stanley Cup has begun, with the NHL's best teams trying to work their way through the brackets to the best trophy in sports. 

Only one thing is certain about what's to come in the postseason: The league will have a new champion in 2026.  The Florida Panthers missed the playoffs after lifting the Cup the last two years and making the Final the year before that, guaranteeing a changing of the guard this June. 

The Colorado Avalanche were the class of the league during the regular season, taking the Presidents' Trophy by eight points over the Carolina Hurricanes, and have to be considered the favorites. Contenders abound, though, from the 'Canes to the Buffalo Sabres, back in the playoffs after a 14-year absence. 

However it shakes out, there will be playoff hockey to watch daily for weeks to come, and it doesn't get much better than that.

Here's everything you need to know about when and where to watch today's games in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

NHL games on TV today

Monday, May 18

See the upcoming daily schedule below. 

Where to watch NHL Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2026

• TV channels: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, truTV
• Live streams: DIRECTV,fubo, ESPN app

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will be broadcast across ESPN and TNT Sports platforms, with six different channels being destinations for games. The Stanley Cup Final will be exclusively on ABC.

Fans can live stream every game from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on DIRECTV. Games appearing on ESPN networks, including ABC, can also be streamed live on fubo and the ESPN app.

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

NHL Playoffs daily schedule 2026

Wednesday, May 20

Thursday, May 21

Friday, May 22

Saturday, May 23

Sunday, May 24

Monday, May 25

Tuesday, May 26

Wednesday, May 27

Thursday, May 28

* If necessary

Friday, May 29

* If necessary

Saturday, May 30

* If necessary

Sunday, May 31

* If necessary

Monday, June 1

* If necessary

Tuesday, June 2

* If necessary

NHL playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, updated live as series are completed.

SN

Related Links

• Latest NHL news and rumors
• Full NHL schedule, scores for 2025-26
• How to bet on the NHL

The Yankees desperately needed something positive Monday night and, the offense delivered. After a brutal 2-7 road trip that ended with another frustrating series loss in Queens, the Yankees returned to the Bronx looking for any sign of life.

Behind a huge night from Paul Goldschmidt, timely power from Cody Bellinger and Jazz Chisholm Jr., and a stressful but successful finish from David Bednar, the Yankees managed to hold off Toronto 7-6 to open an important four-game series against the Blue Jays.

Paul Goldschmidt wasted no time giving the Yankees life Monday night, launching a leadoff home run into right-center field to open the game. Goldschmidt’s fifth homer of the season immediately gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead and some early juice.

Ryan Weathers cruised through the early innings before the game suddenly flipped in the fourth. After Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Kazuma Okamoto reached on singles, Ernie Clement got just enough of a two-out, three-run homer into left-center field that gave Toronto a 3-1 lead.

The Yankees answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, showing some fight. Anthony Volpe reached on a double after an out call was overturned and later scored using a nifty slide on a sacrifice fly from J.C. Escarra. That trimmed the deficit to one before Goldschmidt delivered again with two outs. The veteran first baseman lined a game-tying double into center field that scored Max Schuemann and tied the game at 3-3.

Unfortunately for the Yankees, the tie did not survive long. George Springer jumped on a Weathers offering in the fifth inning and launched a solo homer into left-center field to put Toronto back ahead 4-3.

Toronto added another run in the sixth inning after Lenyn Sosa and Daulton Varsho singled to chase Weathers from the game. Paul Blackburn relieved the left-hander and allowed Sosa to score on a Clement fielder’s choice.

Weathers’ final line was 5.1 innings of 5-run ball with 7 strikeouts and no walks. Outside of the two big mistakes, Weathers’ stuff otherwise looked impressive throughout the night.

The score held at 5-3 until the seventh inning. In the bottom of the frame, the Yankees offense decided it was not going quietly into the night. Yariel Rodríguez replaced Adam Macko, who looked sharp in his Major League debut.

The Yankees quickly lit Rodríguez up like a Coney Island booth. Aaron Judge singled before Cody Bellinger launched a ball 402 feet into the Yankees bullpen, tying the game at 5-5. However, the Yankees were not done there.

Trent Grisham worked a walk while pinch hitting for Amed Rosario before Jazz Chisholm Jr. lofted a ball down the left field line that provided a little music off the foul pole. Chisholm’s fifth home run of the season gave the Yankees a 7-5 lead and had the dugout, crowd, and several living rooms around the country rocking.

The bullpen must prefer the water in the Bronx. In relief of Weathers, Paul Blackburn worked 1.2 scoreless innings before Fernando Cruz struck out the side in the eighth inning. Aaron Boone then handed the ball to closer David Bednar for a chance at redemption, hoping the veteran right-hander would have a short memory.

Bednar walked the leadoff hitter and a collective tightening could immediately be felt throughout Yankee Stadium. Pinch hitter Jesús Sánchez then doubled into right field, scoring Ernie Clement all the way from first base and trimming the lead to 7-6. Groans could be heard, but overall the boos held.

With no outs, the Blue Jays attempted to advance the runner, but after a few failed tries Bednar finally got Brandon Valenzuela swinging on a nasty splitter. A long battle with Yohendrick Piñango then resulted in a walk and a mound visit from pitching coach Matt Blake before George Springer stepped to the plate.

Needing a strikeout or ground ball, Bednar quickly found himself in a 3-0 count with his pitch count already climbing. After getting Springer to swing through two splitters, Bednar went back to the pitch one more time and got the veteran outfielder swinging again for a massive second out.

With two outs, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stepped to the plate representing the tying run. Bednar again fell behind 2-0 before battling back to even the count at 2-2. After the at-bat eventually ran full, Guerrero rolled a ground ball to Jazz Chisholm Jr. that resulted in a routine 4-3 putout and finally slammed the door shut.

It was a gutsy and badly needed win for the Yankees and, for one night at least, all was right in Yankee land. Blackburn picked up the win and Bednar gets his 11^th save as the Yankees improved to 1-0 against Toronto in the series.

The Yankees will send Will Warren to the mound tomorrow night as he faces Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease. First pitch is once again scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Eastern in the Bronx.

Box Score

The Montreal Canadiens faced the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of their second-round series, hoping to earn yet another exciting, underdog win.

Prior to puck drop, the Habs announced they would make one lineup modification, replacing fourth-line forward Joe Veleno with rookie Oliver Kapanen, who made his series debut.

It was yet another exciting matchup, and the Habs managed to emerge with a 3-2 win, qualifying for the Eastern Conference final in the process.

Let’s dive into the highlights!

Veteran Impact

The Canadiens got off to a great start, culminating in Phillip Danault’s first goal of the playoffs. The veteran capitalized on a great forecheck by Josh Anderson, not to mention a very smart pass by defenceman Kaiden Guhle.

At that point in the game, the high-danger scoring chances were already 3-0 in favour of the Habs, and it must be noted that the team was 12-2 when they score first in a Game 7.

Phillip Danault scores early to give the #GoHabsGo a 1-0 lead.

Great work by Josh Anderson on the forecheck. pic.twitter.com/J7YNSsGK5k

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 18, 2026

Crucial Goals

Depth players continued to play a crucial role in the game, as evidenced by Zachary Bolduc’s third goal of the playoffs. Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki provided an excellent assist on the play.

Considering he had an up and down regular-season, Bolduc’s uptick in effort and results throughout the playoffs is more than commendable.

He’s still a very young player with a long career ahead of him. Enjoying a relatively successful playoffs run will go a long way in instilling a certain amount of confidence.

Zachary Bolduc gives the #GoHabsGo a 2-0 lead!!!!! pic.twitter.com/5RZRLvucwi

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 19, 2026

Classic Adversity

One thing that’s quite apparent when analyzing the Canadiens is that they have the ability to be a world-class team.

They can also put together some of the worst hockey you’ll ever see, as was the case through a fairly long stretch in the second period.

The Sabres capitalized when Jordan Greenway found a way to beat Dobes with the help of many of his friends, who were creating havoc in front of the Sabres crease.

Same play, different view! 👀 #Game7#StanleyCuphttps://t.co/8DFxUckEk9pic.twitter.com/NtsKIDdBRH

— NHL (@NHL) May 19, 2026

The Best Referees On Earth

The Sabres decided to run Dobes, again, and much like the officiating in most of these playoff games, the referees failed to do their job.

It was genuinely an awful job by veteran officials that know better.

And it’s clearly a recurring issue that’s plaguing the league.

Dobes gets run over (again, it's happening a lot in these playoffs).

No penalty. Of course.#GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/rnSi615H0q

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 19, 2026

Seeing as the referees decided to perform game management, which is exactly what no one wants to see, the Sabres gained the advantage by not having to kill a penalty.

Rasmus Dahlin tied the game shortly thereafter.

A MOMENT FOR THE DEFENSEMEN ‼️#LetsGoBuffalopic.twitter.com/Jl8payY2Bp

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) May 19, 2026

Need A Hero

The final 10 minutes of the third period would go a long way in determining whether the Canadiens could truly rise to the occasion, as they did so many times in the regular season, or if they’d let their lack of experience show by blowing yet another lead in an elimination game.

The Habs played scared for the majority of the second and third period, which led to a significant amount of defensive zone time.

You could argue they lacked any semblance of killer instinct.

The good news is that they had an opportunity to win the game with just one more shot, as the teams entered overtime tied at 2-2.

One of the most important players for the Canadiens in the playoffs, Alex Newhook, played the hero role, scoring with just a few minutes left in overtime.

ALEX NEWHOOK!!!!

The Montreal Canadiens are going to the Conference Final!!!! #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/USlIPc5p3Z

— Montreal Hockey Now (@MTLhockeynow) May 19, 2026

All Montreal Canadiens statistics are 5v5 unless otherwise noted, via Natural Stat Trick.

Related Headlines

• Canadiens Advance To Conference Final, Series Schedule
• Canadiens Game 7 Preview: Once More Unto The Breach
• Habs Daily: Adversity On The Menu, Victoire Near Glory, Gallagher

There seems to be a feeling among some that LeBron James would like to remain with the Los Angeles Lakers for next season and that he will if he receives an offer in free agency that he deems appropriate. But one can never quite be sure what he will do.

He may be 41 years of age, but he is still a desired commodity across the NBA. ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania made an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday and said that many teams have already called James' agent, Rich Paul.

“Honestly, I think LeBron, more than past years, probably needs even more time with his family, with his inner circle,” Charania said. “I do know a lot of teams are calling him and his camp. I spoke to Rich Paul the other day at the Chicago Draft Combine last week, and he told me every contender in the NBA, essentially, since the season ended has placed a call.”

Charania also added that James is expected to play another season in the league rather than retire.

It is thought that if James leaves the Lakers, he's most likely to join the Cleveland Cavaliers, his original team, or the Golden State Warriors. The Los Angeles Clippers have also been mentioned as a team that may have an outside chance of landing the four-time MVP.

But the Lakers could have an advantage over every other team that wants him since they will, in all likelihood, be able to offer him more money than everyone else. In addition, James and his family already live in the Southland, and, of course, his son Bronny plays for the Lakers.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Charania: 'A lot of teams are calling' LeBron James and his camp

Complete look at the Round 3 lineup of the Stanley Cup playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

After a neck-and-neck battle between the Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens during the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the conference final lineup is officially set.

With the Sabres and the Canadiens entering the match tied 3-3 out of six games played, the two teams found themselves tied 2-2 for the entirety of the third period, prompting them to advance into overtime play.

Whichever team scored just one more point would go on to the Eastern Conference final against the Carolina Hurricanes and be another step closer to a potential Stanley Cup victory.

It all came down to center Alex Newhook, who was assisted by defenseman Alexandre Carrier, to score the winning point for Montreal, securing both the Canadiens' spot in the lineup for Round 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 3-2 overtime victory against Buffalo . 

The Western Conference, however, has had its match locked in since last Thursday, when the Vegas Golden Knights smashed the Anaheim Ducks out of the competition in a 5-1 game. 

Their victory was the fourth out of the seven set games, awarding Vegas its spot in Round 3 of the competition. The Knights snagged that spot just behind the Colorado Avalanche, which wiped out the Minnesota Wild last Wednesday.

Everything was looking up for Colorado after the first two games against Minnesota in the second round. Yet, there was likely some disappointment from Avalanche fans as their team fell short of matching their postseason winning streak record in Game 3.

MORE: Why Hurricanes had to wait NHL-record 12 days between playoff series

While the Avalanche fumbled during a 5-1 loss in Game 3, it came back stronger in Game 4, where it secured its third win over Minnesota in a redeeming 5-2 victory.

All eyes were on Minnesota as it needed to beat Colorado in three back-to-back games if it wanted to advance to the conference final, and that was looking like a possibility as the two teams went into overtime after tying 3-3 during Game 5.

Unfortunately for the Wild, that possibly was shot into space at the hands of Colorado’s defenseman Brett Kulak, who secured the winning point for his team. This not only ended the Wild’s series but punched the Avalanche’s ticket to Round 3 of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

On the western side of the ice, hockey fans can choose to root for either Colorado or Las Vegas, and on the eastern side, they can choose between Carolina or Montreal.

The victor of each conference will, of course, advance to the Stanley Cup final and fight for the trophy.

More NHL News:

• Avalanche vs. Golden Knights schedule: Dates, times, TV channels, scores for NHL Western Conference Finals series

• Avalanche's Martin Necas reveals heroic intuition on Brett Kulak's series-winning goal  

The Mets and Nationals played an absolute slog of a game that lasted a little over four hours, but the Mets won 16-7 in the end. And hey, that beats the alternative.

The Mets got on the board first when Luis Torrens doubled on a ball that just passed over third base as it made its way down the left field line, driving in Tyrone Taylor in the process. But the Nationals answered with a pair of runs off Mets starter Christian Scott in the bottom of the inning. Jose Tena drove in a run with a double to tie the game, and later in the inning, he scored on a Drew Millas single to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead.

Washington added a run in the bottom of the third and really should’ve scored another. Joey Wiemer, who entered the game in place of Jacob Young after the latter took a fastball from Scott to the ribs, doubled in a run to extend the lead. Daylen Lile looked like he would’ve scored a fourth run for the Nationals, but he stumbled as he rounded third base and had to retreat. Scott escaped the inning without further damage.

Brett Baty hit an absolute shot of a solo home run in the top of the fourth to cut the Nationals’ lead in half, and a two-run single from Juan Soto put the Mets back in front in the top of the fifth.

While Scott only went four innings, Austin Warren threw a pair of scoreless innings, and Bo Bichette finally notched his first extra-base hit in forever with a solo home run to left-center in the top of the seventh. The Mets had a 5-3 lead.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough. Brooks Raley had his worst appearance of the season—and one of his worst as a Met—in the bottom of the inning. He served up a leadoff double to James Wood, issued back-to-back walks to load the bases, and gave up a sacrifice fly that got the Nationals within one.

Tobias Myers took over for Raley and go out of the inning with the lead intact, but Myers gave up a run of his own in the bottom of the eighth when Curtis Mead doubled to tie the game.

Luke Weaver got into trouble in the bottom of the ninth, too, but he managed to get through the inning and send the game to extra innings. And after the Mets failed to score with the free runner in the top of the tenth, thanks largely to Mark Vientos grounding into an inning-ending double play, Huascar Brazobán kept with the late-inning bullpen theme. He loaded the bases with one out, but he induced a weak ground ball for a force out at home plate for the second out before getting a strikeout to end the inning and send the game to the eleventh.

Marcus Semien gave the Mets the lead with a one-out sacrifice fly just a few feet shy of the left field fence in fair territory, as pinch runner Vidal Bruján, who entered the game as the free runner for a massive baserunning upgrade from Vientos, had advanced to third when Brett Baty lined out to center to begin the inning.

Once again, that was unfortunately not enough. Brazobán came back out for the bottom of the eleventh, and the cheapness of the Manfred runner was really apparent. The Nationals’ free runner advanced to third base on a soft tapper, and another weak ground ball allowed him to score the tying run.

Brazobán got the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice grounder to first that Baty, who moved over to first after Vientos was lifted in the top of the inning, turned into an out at second base. Jorbit Vivas doubled, though, to put runners on second and third with two outs. Brazobán managed to keep the game alive again, though, when he induced a 6-3 ground ball to get the game to the twelfth.

And then the Mets scored ten runs in the top of the twelfth, as they scored five against Nationals reliever Paxton Schultz before Washington decided to give up on the game and put a position player on the mound. There was confusion among the umpires about whether or not that was allowed, which delayed the inning for a few minutes. But the Mets scored five more as they teed up on position player-turned pitcher Vivas.

That was—thank goodness—finally enough. Craig Kimbrel pitched the bottom of the twelfth and gave up a run, but he managed to finish the game without allowing more.

SB Nation GameThreads

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MLB.com
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Win Probability Added

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NHL playoffs schedule 2026: Full bracket, dates, times, TV channels, live streams for road to Stanley Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Hockey fans, the Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially here. The 2026 version might be as good as ever, with a bracket that feels as wide open as any in recent memory.

Sixteen teams have the same quest: to take home Lord Stanley's Cup. Only one will emerge victorious and etch its name into NHL history. The landscape has shifted dramatically this year, as for the first time in a decade, the defending champions will not be in the dance, as the Florida Panthers failed to qualify following their 2025 title run. That leaves the door wide open for the Colorado Avalanche, who enter the postseason as Presidents' Trophy winners, and the Vegas Golden Knights, who look to recapture their 2023 magic under the late-season guidance of John Tortorella.

Then, of course, there's the Buffalo Sabres, who finally shattered the longest playoff drought in NHL history by storming into the postseason as Atlantic Division champions. After 14 years on the outside looking in, Lindy Ruff’s squad has transformed from a December basement-dweller into a legitimate threat to go the distance.

From the breakout Sabres winning the Atlantic to the Utah Mammoth making their postseason debut, the stage is set for a wild ride. Here is the full schedule for every series of the 2026 NHL Playoffs.

NHL playoffs schedule, scores 2026

Conference Finals

Hurricanes vs. Canadiens

Avalanche vs. Golden Knights

* If necessary

Second Round

Hurricanes vs. Flyers - Carolina wins 4-0

Sabres vs. Canadiens - Montreal wins 4-3

Avalanche vs. Wild - Colorado wins 4-1

Golden Knights vs. Ducks - Vegas wins 4-2

First Round

Sabres vs. Bruins - Buffalo wins 4-2

Lightning vs. Canadiens - Montreal 4-3

Hurricanes vs. Senators - Carolina wins 4-0

Penguins vs. Flyers - Philadelphia wins 4-2

Avalanche vs. Kings - Colorado wins 4-0

Stars vs. Wild - Minnesota wins 4-2

Golden Knights vs. Mammoth - Vegas wins 4-2

Oilers vs. Ducks - Anaheim wins 4-2

Where to watch NHL playoffs 2026

• TV channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, TNT, TBS, truTV
• Live streams: DIRECTV,fubo, ESPN app

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will be broadcast across ESPN and TNT Sports platforms, with six different channels being destinations for games. The Stanley Cup Final will be exclusively on ABC.

Fans can live stream every game from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on DIRECTV. Games appearing on ESPN networks, including ABC, can also be streamed live on fubo and the ESPN app.

Catch every game – try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live MLB, March Madness, soccer and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1, and NFL Network—all included with DIRECTV.

Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.

NHL playoffs bracket 2026

Click here for the 2026 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs bracket, updated live as series are completed.

SN

How will the 2026 NHL playoffs work?

The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs follow a divisional bracket system where 16 teams — eight from each conference —compete in four rounds of best-of-seven series. The top three teams in each of the league's four divisions qualify automatically, while the final four spots are awarded to the two wild card teams in each conference with the highest remaining point totals.

In the opening round, the division winner with the best record in their conference faces the wild card with the fewest points, while the other division winner plays the wild card with the higher point total. The remaining first-round series feature the second- and third-place teams from each division facing off against one another.

Every series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 format, meaning the higher-seeded team hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. Home-ice advantage is determined by division seeding in the first two rounds and moves to the team with the better regular-season record for the Conference Finals and the Stanley Cup Final.

Postseason hockey also introduces continuous 20-minute, five-on-five overtime periods where the first goal scored ends the game, as there are no shootouts in the playoffs.

How many teams make the NHL playoffs?

Sixteen teams make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, eight from both the Eastern and Western Conference. This includes the top three teams in all four divisions — Atlantic, Metropolitan, Pacific, Central — and four wild card teams, two from each conference.

How many rounds are in the NHL playoffs?

There are four rounds in the NHL playoffs, each consisting of a best-of-seven series. To win the Stanley Cup, a team must advance through the First Round, the Second Round (Division Finals), and the Conference Finals, before finally winning the Stanley Cup Final.

Because every round requires four victories to advance, a champion must win a total of 16 games over the course of the postseason.

How many games are in a series?

All series in the Stanley Cup playoffs follow a seven-game format.

The matchups are played in a 2–2–1–1–1 format, where the team with home-ice advantage hosts Games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the lower seed hosts Games 3, 4, and 6. This structure remains consistent from the opening series through the Final, ensuring that the team with the better regular-season standing always has the opportunity to host a potential Game 7 in front of their home crowd.

Related Links

• Latest NHL news and rumors
• Full NHL schedule, scores for 2025-26
• How to bet on the NHL

Summer is here, sort of, and it is everyone’s favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay. 

Are we going to write about quarterbacks? Offensive tackles? Edge rushers? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans. 

So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall.

Film

• Michigan
• Maryland
• MTSU

Background Info

• Listed at 6-4/247 lbs.
• 3-Star recruit according to 247 Sports
• Initially committed to Navy for lacrosse, but flipped to Wisconsin for football
• All-American lacrosse player
• Transferred from Wisconsin to Ohio State
• First-Team All-State and First-Team All-County in high school

Notable career stats heading into 2026

• 124 tackles
• 22 combined tackles for a loss and sacks
• Generated 0 turnovers

Notable numbers from PFF heading into 2026

• 57.5 Career PFF Run Defense Grade
• 52.7 Career PFF Coverage Grade
• 9 Hurries
• Missed tackle rate of 12.5%
• 52 Stops

Strengths

• Closing speed that makes him reliable in the run game and pass rushing
• Physical player, can run through blockers
• Does a good job of shedding blocks or finding holes in the scheme
• A presence in the middle of coverage
• Sideline to sideline range and speed

Player Summary

Christian Alliegro is a physical linebacker prospect who has some limitations in his game. He is really physical in the middle of the field for the defense, he closes quickly on ball carriers, but his best tool is his range. He does a good job of shedding blocks as well, and finding running lanes in general, so it allows for him to make a difference there. However, he needs to work on his pass coverage and overall awareness in 2026. 

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: 2027 Summer Scouting Report on Ohio State LB Christian Alliegro

Sophie Cunningham’s six words say everything Fever fans wanted to hear originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There are moments early in a season when a short message can reveal far more than a box score ever could. That is exactly what happened when Sophie Cunningham shared six simple words after another strong outing with the Indiana Fever:

“happy to be back in action.”

For most players, it may have sounded routine. For Cunningham and the Fever, it carried much more weight. After an injury-riddled 2025 season ended with a torn MCL, there were real questions surrounding how quickly Cunningham could return to form physically and mentally. Instead, four games into the 2026 season, she already looks like one of Indiana’s most important tone-setters.

And the timing could not be better for a Fever team still trying to establish its identity around Caitlin Clark and a roster filled with expectations. Cunningham is averaging 9.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists through Indiana’s first four games, but her impact has gone beyond production. She has brought energy, toughness and visible confidence back into the Fever rotation.

Sunday’s 89-78 victory over the Seattle Storm showcased that perfectly. Even after moving to the bench following three straight starts, Cunningham responded with 17 points, three rebounds, a steal and a block while helping completely change the pace and intensity of the game.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sophie Cunningham (@sophie_cham)

Sophie Cunningham looks fully comfortable again

The most encouraging part for Indiana may not even be the scoring. It is how natural Cunningham looks again. She is moving confidently, playing physically and embracing the emotional edge that has always made her valuable. Players coming off major injuries often spend months searching for rhythm or trust in their bodies again.

Cunningham does not appear stuck in that stage anymore. That is why her six-word message resonated so strongly with Fever fans online. The reaction quickly turned emotional, with supporters celebrating not only her performance but the fact she genuinely seems to be enjoying basketball again.

More: Sophie Cunningham’s latest recognition shows Indiana Fever are becoming bigger than basketball

Indiana may need this version of Cunningham

The Fever entered the season knowing their offense would generate attention because of Clark, but Indiana also needed players capable of bringing balance and edge to the roster. Cunningham fills that role naturally.

She can start. She can lead the second unit. She can defend multiple positions and provide spacing offensively. But beyond all of that, she brings personality and emotional stability to a team still learning how to handle rising expectations. That is why those six words mattered.

They sounded like a player finally feeling healthy, confident and fully part of the moment again. And for Indiana, that could become one of the biggest developments of the entire early season.

More WNBA news:

• Does Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever play tonight? Details on Friday’s game vs Mystics
• Kelsey Plum makes major off-court move during breakout WNBA moment
• Lisa Leslie still believes Team USA missed a huge opportunity with Caitlin Clark
• Lisa Leslie’s latest announcement shows why her influence still stretches far beyond basketball
• Cameron Brink had one message for Caitlin Clark after viral block

Championship season has officially arrived for spring sports.

Monday and Tuesday concludes golf season for Seaside as both the boys and girls traveled to their respective state championship locations. The boys made a return trip to Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, while the girls traveled to Eagle Crest Resort in Redmond. On the track, Knappa, Astoria, Warrenton and Seaside teams are set for their district meets later this week.

Seaside senior eyeing state title

The Seaside boys enter the state golf tournament as the defending champions.

Despite returning top golfer Xanh Quang and experienced golfer Landon Nofield, the Seagulls have three new members making the trip this year. Freshman Will Haag, and juniors Gunner Norman and Dexter Jenks are looking to provide the Seagulls with two more good rounds.

The Seaside boys entered the state tournament ranked fifth in the official Oregon School Activities Association computer rankings. The Seagulls rank behind favorites Pendelton/Griswold and Marist Catholic, as well as Cascade and Marshfield. Though Pendleton and Marist are the two favorites, Seaside head coach Jim Poetsch says the tournament is wide open for anyone to take due to how difficult the course is to manage.

On the individual side, Quang is looking to cement his legacy as one of the best golfers in Seaside history. Quang will be chasing the state individual title to cap off his legacy. After setting milestones like a tournament record at the Seaside Invitational and winning the district title last week, he’s hoping for one more moment on Tuesday.

Seaside girls golf team hopes for splashy finish

The girls entered Monday’s 21-team field as the No. 5 seed.

A strong season from Seaside has the girls ranked behind Salem Academy, Henley, Catlin Gabel and St. Marys. Cowapa league rival Scappoose is ranked sixth, but is trending up over the last couple of weeks.

The girls’ field is shaping up to be a coronation for Salem Academy. The Crusaders have dominated the 4A/3A/2A/1A division all season and look poised to hold the trophy Tuesday afternoon. Salem is coming off shooting a total team score of 644 in last week’s district championships. This was more than 160 points lower than second-place Santiam Christian. Not only that, but Salem had four of the first five spots in the individual category.

Second place behind Salem will be up for grabs, so the experienced Seagulls squad can easily claim a top five finish if all four girls shoot well at the same time.

Knappa distance runners look sharp in last tuneup

In the final tuneup meet before the 2A District Championships on Friday, the Knappa boys distance runners had solid results.

Senior Wyatt Jacobson won the 800 meters in a personal best time of 1:57.95. Jacobson now owns the top times in the state for three events. His 1:57.95 leads in the 800, his time of 4:07.57 is top in the 1500 and 8:55.54 in the 3000 meters is also first. The senior has a chance to add more state titles to his belt before he leaves the Loggers.

In the 1500 meters, Rowdy Justus and Kyler Rodriguez both ran personal best times at the Jeannie James Invitational. Justus crossed the line first with a 4:17.37, then Rodriguez came home third with a 4:24.13. Logan Affolter was fourth in a time of 4:33.66. Finally, Gavin Jasper ran a personal best of 9:27.01 in the 3000 meters to finish second. Jasper and teammate Oskar Peitsch finished with near identical times as Peitsch crossed the line in 9:27.50.

Entering districts, the Loggers have three of the top 10 times in the 3000 meters, two of the top 10 in the 1500, the top 800 meter time and Paul Thompson is ranked fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 51.47.

On the girls side, Emma Jackson continued her lowering of times with a personal best in the 1500. The junior blew away the competition while running a 5:09.42, to win the race by over 45 seconds.

Jackson now ranks in the top 10 in all three distance events. She is eighth in the 800 meters with a time of 2:29.80, ninth in the 1500 after her 5:09.42 and is eighth in the 3000 meters with a time of 11:26.44

Astoria, Seaside track teams set to begin Cowapa League showdowns

The Cowapa League Championships is set to begin Wednesday. The two-day event is expected to see some exciting matchups.

The most anticipated track matchup will featuring Seaside’s super freshman Will Flores and Scappoose senior Cameron Dierdoff. Flores has taken the track world by storm as one of the fastest freshman in all of Oregon regardless of division. Flores has run under 50 seconds in the 400, 1:55 in the 800 and under 4:25 in the 1500 meters. These are times that would get most seniors into college and Flores is running them as a freshman.

His counterpart Dierdoff, is right with him.

The Indians senior has run 49.99 in the 400, to Flores’ 49.86 and is the No. 1 seed in the boys 800 meters with a 1:54.99. Assuming these two run the same races, that will be one of the most watched track events of the two day meet.

The other will be William Laman vs Diego Velazquez in the distance events. These two have been rivals for the last two seasons and Laman is looking to get revenge on Velazquez after losing to him during cross country season. Velazquez has the lower time at the 1500 distance, while Laman has him beat in the 3000 meters.

Of course, there are other athletes to watch in the field events, but these are two events that will garner the most attention on track.

Warrenton is set for district meet

Warrenton’s track and field team members are set to join the rest of their Clatsop County counterparts at their own district meet. The Warriors will travel to Griswold Stadium at Lewis and Clark College for the 3A Coastal Range League Championship. This will be the final meet for athletes to qualify, so Warrenton seniors will look to finish off their track and field seasons with a qualifying berth in Eugene.

It’s another week here at BCB After Dark: the coolest spot for night owls, early risers, new parents and Cubs fans abroad. We’re so glad you decided to stop by. There’s no cover charge. We still have a few tables available. The hostess will seat you now. Bring your own beverage.

BCB After Dark is the place for you to talk baseball, music, movies, or anything else you need to get off your chest, as long as it is within the rules of the site. The late-nighters are encouraged to get the party started, but everyone else is invited to join in as you wake up the next morning and into the afternoon.

Last week I asked you what you thought of the Cubs signing former top reliever Liam Hendriks to a minor league deal. Unsurprisingly for a minor league deal, 59 percent of you thought it was a big “meh.” But 29 percent of you liked the deal.

Here’s the part with the jazz and the movies. You’re free to skip that if you’d like.

So we are a little over a week away from the 100th anniversary of the birth of Miles Davis. So through next week, I’m going to feature music that honors jazz’s “Prince of Darkness” who revolutionized jazz several times over.

Tonight we have a performance that is just over a week old from the SFJazz concert honoring Miles. Perhaps no one knew Miles better in his final years than bassist Marcus Miller, who collaborated with him several times over his final decade. This is a tune written by Miller and included on Davis’ 1989 album Amandla called “Hannibal.” Miller joined the SFJazz Collective earlier this month for this performance. Terence Blanchard and Keyon Harrold are on trumpet, Tia Fuller on alto sax, Isaiah Sharkey on guitar, Warren Wolf on vibraphone, Edward Simon plays keyboards, and Kendrick Scott is the drummer.

Director Sidney Lumet had a fifty-year career in Hollywood. He was nominated for an Oscar for the first film he directed back in 1957, Twelve Angry Men. He would be nominated for Best Director three more times for three flat-out classics: Dog Day Afternoon, Network and The Verdict. He was also nominated for Best Screenplay for Prince of the City. He never won a competitive Academy Award, although he was awarded an honorary Oscar in 2004.

His final film, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead came out in 2007 and while he wasn’t nominated for a directing Oscar for it, he probably should have been. (Although that might have been cruel as he would certainly have lost again as he would have been up against both the winning Coen Brothers for No Country for Old Men and Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood.) But Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is an intricate and engrossing crime story with an all-star cast that manages to tell a story in a nonlinear fashion without letting the audience get lost.

I missed Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead when it first came out (cut me some slack, my wife was about to give birth at any moment in late 2007) and I never got around to catching it until now. If you’re in the same boat as me, it’s definitely worth watching. Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead stars Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke as two brothers. At first glance, Hoffman’s Andy seems like the respectable one. He has a good corporate job and is married to Marisa Tomei (“Gina” in the film). They have a good life. They have sex while vacationing in Brazil. Meanwhile, Hawke’s Hank is divorced from Amy Ryan, can’t keep a job and is several months behind in child support payments.

However, looks are deceiving. OK, Hank is a screwup, but Andy is actually a drug addict and has been embezzling money from his company, presumably to pay for his habit. Some if it likely went to fund his and Gina’s wealthy lifestyle as well. Hank also has a lot of family issues. As the oldest child, he feels neglected from their parents (played by Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris) and feels like the youngest Hank got all of their love. Gina’s also cheating on him as he’s emotionally distant.

To raise the money that he needs to cover the money he’s been embezzling, Andy decides to knock off a jewelry store. Not any jewelry store, but the one owned by their parents. The brothers know the layout of the store and how much merchandise is there. They know the whole place is insured. They also know their parents’ schedule and they’ll rob the place when their elderly employee (who can’t recognize them) is the only one in the store. Andy insists that it’s an easy, victimless crime.

Needless to say, things go wrong, as they always do in a film like this. Covering up the first crime leads to more crime and a family being torn apart. I don’t want to spoil it beyond that, but the story unfolds non-linearly. The same events are told again and again from different points of view, starting at different times. Despite this, Lumet and screenwriter Kelly Masterson keep everything moving along smoothly and understandably. What unfurls is a delightful dance of crime and betrayal.

Hoffman is the main character here and the whole plot revolves around his personal and financial issues. I don’t know when Hoffman turned in a bad performance (I haven’t seen everything he was in so it’s possible he did) but he’s definitely at the top of his game here as Andy. I don’t think Hawke has quite the range as Hoffman had, but he’s very, very good at playing characters in his range and the screwup little brother Hank is definitely in his wheelhouse. Finney’s performance as the patriarch Charles is a controlled force of nature. He becomes obsessed with unravelling the mystery of the robbery which, considering that Andy and Hank are behind it, is going to become an issue.

This was Lumet’s final film and he went out on a high note. The combination of crime and family dysfunction hits all the right notes. Having a cast this good helps a lot too. Beyond the names mentioned, Michael Shannon has a small part as a tough guy who attempts to blackmail Andy.

Here’s the trailer for Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead.

Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead is on Prime and Criterion with a subscription, Kanopy and Hoopla with a library card (if your library subscribes), Tubi, Pluto and the Roku Channel with ads. It’s also on several other streaming services, so you should be able to see it.

Welcome back to everyone who skips the jazz and movies.

I don’t need to tell you about the injury issues with the Cubs’ starting rotation. Cade Horton is out for the season, Justin Steele is out until who knows when and Matthew Boyd is likely out for another 5 or 6 weeks. Shōta Imanaga has been great (I write this before his start tonight), but while Edward Cabrera hasn’t been terrible, he also hasn’t lived up to what we hoped he would be. The less said about Jameson Taillon the better.

Recently, manager Craig Counsell has turned to Ben Brown to fill a hole in the rotation. Brown had been a starter for the Cubs last year and frankly, he was bad with a 6.30 ERA as a starter. He particularly struggled with left-handed hitters, who had a .540 slugging percentage against him.

Last year, Brown relied mostly on his fastball, supplementing it with a knuckle curve and a change. But this year, Brown has developed a sinker and a new changeup. You can read more about Brown’s new pitches in this article from last week from Sara Sanchez, but the skinny is that he is throwing his 96-97 mile per hour fastball a lot less (from 56 percent down to 36) and his new sinker about 21 percent of the time. This third pitch to right-handers has been a game-changer. Not only is it an effective weapon, but it keeps hitters from sitting on the fastball or the knuckle curve. The sinker has made all of his pitches more effective and that shows up in Brown’s stat line. This season, his strikeout percentage is actually down a bit and his walk rate remains about the same. But the ground ball rate is up dramatically and the home run numbers have dropped precipitously as well. That has led to Brown’s ERA dropping from 5.92 to 1.60.

That 1.60 ERA is probably unnaturally low, but there’s no doubt that Brown is much better than last year. And since Counsell moved him to the starting rotation, Brown has been terrific. He’s made two starts and went four scoreless innings both times. He allowed one hit in one start and no hits in the other one. He walked one batter in each start. Brown struck out three in the first start against Texas and seven in his second start in Atlanta.

So the good news is that Brown has been dominating in two starts. The bad news is that he’s only thrown four innings in each start. He threw 46 pitches in the first start and 65 in the second. It’s hard to stay in the starting rotation when you’re asking the bullpen to cover five innings or more every time you start.

So tonight I’m asking you if you think that Ben Brown has the stuff to stay in the rotation all year. It would certainly be a huge boon to the team if Brown could slot into the rotation behind Imanaga and Cabrera. The Cubs are going to need to add at least one more starting pitcher at the trade deadline—having Brown in the rotation would mean that they might not need to add two.

So do you think that Ben Brown can stay in the starting rotation all year? Or at least enough of the year where the large majority of his innings will be as a starter the rest of the season?

Thanks for stopping by tonight. We’ve enjoyed hosting you. Please get home safely. Call a ride if you need to. Recycle any cans and bottles. Don’t forget any personal items. Tip your waitstaff. And join us again tomorrow evening for more BCB After Dark.

PHOENIX — Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren’s name is circulating in the basketball world as NBA teams continue searching for front-office talent.

According to NBA correspondent Marc Stein, U’Ren has emerged as a name to watch as the Philadelphia 76ers look to reshape their front office. With experience in both the WNBA and NBA — most notably with the Golden State Warriors — the general manager is now being considered for a new position on the East Coast.

Phoenix Mercury general manager Nick U’Ren speaks during media day at Footprint Center in Phoenix on May 9, 2024.

Since arriving in Phoenix in 2023, U’Ren has overseen a dramatic reshaping of the Mercury. Hired directly from the Golden State organization, he inherited a franchise in transition and quickly modernized the front office approach.

The Mercury aggressively rebuilt the roster, made blockbuster trades and returned to contender status, culminating in a run to the WNBA Finals that elevated U’Ren’s profile across professional basketball.

Before landing in the Valley, U’Ren spent nearly a decade with the Warriors, where he worked closely with former general manager Bob Myers and coach Steve Kerr during Golden State’s championship era. He also previously worked for the Suns and Mercury as a video coordinator early in his career.

U’Ren’s connection to Myers, who now helps oversee the 76ers’ search process, naturally links him to the opening. Combined with his success in Phoenix, it makes the general manager a logical candidate for a franchise looking for a fresh front office voice.

The interest also carries significance for Phoenix. It signals that the Mercury are recognized as one of the WNBA’s most progressive operations, while highlighting that one of the architects behind the franchise’s turnaround could soon become a target for NBA teams seeking new leadership.

For now, though, U’Ren remains one of the key figures behind the Mercury’s resurgence as the organization continues building toward another championship run.

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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde

Lindenwood picked up three commitments last week. 

Andy Earl is a 6-foot, 190-pound forward from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. He was previously committed to SUNY-Geneseo. Earl spent his early career playing Minnesota high school hockey with Eden Prairie High and Chanhassen High. While he didn’t initially appear to be a high-point producer in his first season with Eden Prairie, Earl scored 25 more points in his second year than he did in his first to average more than a point per game. Earl repeated the feat the next year at Chanhassen, where he scored 40 points in 31 games. 

Earl’s next move was to the vastly different climate of New Mexico, where he joined the NAHL’S New Mexico Ice Wolves. His 2024-25 season saw him continue to score, with 41 points in 54 games. (Earl also earned 89 penalty minutes.) 

🚨GOAL🚨 Andy Earl scores, breaking the franchise record for most goals scored! pic.twitter.com/KI8VcKlMru

— New Mexico Ice Wolves (@NMIceWolves) April 5, 2026

Earl’s season this year was one for the record books. He accumulated 67 points in 58 games, setting a new single-season points record. He was also named the Team MVP and became the all-time leading scorer of the Ice Wolves. 

The second prospect also comes from the NAHL. Goaltender Cody Butikis of the Austin Bruins is already 21 years old, and will likely be among the oldest freshman goaltenders in the NCAA next year. Butikis is a big goaltender at 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, which gives him a distinct advantage in the net, but he’s an athletic goaltender and has sound fundamentals. 

Highlights!

5 different goal scorers and a 26 save shutout from Cody Butikis lead to a 5-0 win on home ice! pic.twitter.com/IzLiB1dQ2l

— Cowichan Capitals (@cowichancaps) December 16, 2023

Butikis’s journey has taken him all over North America. He spent his youth in his native New Jersey and moved to Providence in 2022-23 to play at Mt. St. Charles Academy. Shortly after, he moved to the opposite end of the continent to play for the BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals. He struggled somewhat, posting an .883 save percentage with a 4.07 goals against average over 31 games. 

Write in Cody Butikis on your ballots this election szn #Butikis4Prez#AJHLpic.twitter.com/RE35hp0Ufx

— Bonnyville Pontiacs (@BPontiacs) October 17, 2024

Butikis dropped back to the AJHL the next season and found much more success with a .903 SV% in 43 games despite the Bonnyville Pontiacs going 15-23-3 with him in net. His next step was to the NAHL’s Austin Bruins, where he was the second-string goaltender behind Jack Solomon, but still posted a .914 SV% in 29 games with 2.39 GAA. In the playoffs, he earned a .917 SV% in 4 games. He should be a strong goaltending option for Lindenwood. 

The final addition is forward Ty Nash. Nash is a sophomore transfer from Arizona State who will be 23 on Friday. He’s an undersized left shot forward at 5-foot-11 and 179 pounds. Nash has produced well in a variety of leagues, including the WHL with the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the Winnipeg Ice and the Edmonton Oil Kings. 

Ty Nash and the @EdmOilKings secured their first 'W' of the New Year with 6.6 seconds left on the clock!🔥 pic.twitter.com/H1CtYnB4rx

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 1, 2024

He’s also spent time in USports with the University of Alberta and joined Arizona State last year, where he posted ten points in 32 games. He should be a solid forward piece in the middle six. 

Building a 53-man roster is no small task in the NFL. It’s not always about keeping the best 53 players, but rather the right 53 players. Going long at one position group means going short at another, and the Dallas Cowboys’ running back group looks like one that can definitely go short.

Made up of Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue, Malik Davis, Hunter Luepke, Phil Mafah, Israel Abanikanda, and Dominic Richardson, the Cowboys’ running back room is a virtual who’s who of “who?” Aside from Williams, most of the NFL would be hard-pressed to name a guy on this unproven depth chart. It puts a lot of pressure on Williams to stay healthy but also gives the Cowboys a chance to stash most of their running backs on the practice squad.

Luepke, Dallas’ do-it-all fullback/halfback/H-back, offers running back depth as well as tight end depth. Under contract through 2027 and serving as a core special teams player, he’s a pretty safe bet to make the roster again in 2026.  

FULLBACK TOUCHDOWN 🚨

Dak Prescott finds Hunter Luepke for 6 🙌pic.twitter.com/kUVgqlAZS0

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 12, 2025

Blue, a former fifth-round pick out of Texas, has enough big-play potential and college film to make him a desirable commodity on the open market. As such, it’s unlikely the Cowboys would try to stash him on the practice squad, rather preferring to secure him and his 129 career rushing yards on the final 53.

JAYDON BLUE 27 YARD RUN 💨 pic.twitter.com/OGhgh8Q5rS

— SleeperCowboys (@SleeperCowboys) January 4, 2026

Fellow second-year man Phil Mafah doesn’t offer those same qualities. Mafah had an injury-stunted rookie year in 2025 and could likely survive a trip to the practice squad. The 234-pound running back from Clemson is a good candidate to be a gameday elevation week to week. Dallas could move him back and forth early as they sort out a possible permanent place on the 53.

Rookie Phil Mafah introducing himself to the defense 😳

Watch on @NFLNetwork
Stream on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/8tZaDT9OVj

— NFL (@NFL) August 23, 2025

Davis, the Cowboys’ incumbent RB2, looked good in spot duty last season. He’s put his pass protection issues behind him and could be the “use in case of emergency” option in 2026. It’s unlikely he’d be in much demand if released, so like Mafah, he could be a gameday elevation candidate week to week in September.

Malik Davis with the long rip for the Cowboys touchdown, Cowboys lead.

Cowboys finally got it going 🔥 pic.twitter.com/j9GlVRXslX

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) November 27, 2025

Abanikanda, a reserve/future player, and Richardson, an undrafted free agent rookie, both look like camp bodies who are longshots to make the roster. But then again, if there’s one position to come out of nowhere and surprise, it’s probably running back, so they’ll get a full shake if they can stay healthy and contribute on special teams.

Unless the Cowboys add a veteran in the upcoming June 1 cuts or they find a last-minute castoff to steal from someone else’s practice squad, they’re situated to only carry three running backs on the final 53-man roster this September.

You can follow Reid on X @ReidDHanson and be sure to follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: No-name depth? Cowboys could be safe going super thin at RB in 2026

DENVER (AP) — Texas Rangers left-handed starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore left Monday night's game at Colorado after one inning because of muscle tightness in his back.

Gore’s ailment occurred on the same day that the Rangers placed shortstop Corey Seager on the 10-day injury list because of lower back inflammation.

Gore got up gingerly after diving to field a slow roller to the third base side, although it was not immediately clear if that play contributed to his injury. He remained in the game and got the next two outs, but did not return for the bottom of the second inning.

Acquired from the Washington Nationals in an offseason trade, the 27-year-old Gore was 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA in nine previous starts this season for the Rangers.

Seager, 32, did not play in last weekend’s three-game series against Houston and his placement on the IL is retroactive to Friday. The two-time World Series MVP was mired in an 0-for-27 slump that included 11 strikeouts before the injury.

Seager — in the fifth season of a $325 million, 10-year deal — is batting .179 with seven homers, 20 RBIs and a team-high 22 runs over 42 games this season.

The Rangers promoted utility player Michael Helman from Triple-A to take Seager’s place on the roster. Helman, 29, is playing in the big leagues for the first time this season after hitting .232 with five homers and 20 RBIs for the Rangers last season.

Seager is eligible to return to the active roster next Monday when the Rangers begin a seven-game homestand.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are ready to prove the doubters wrong, and maybe even right the wrongs done by their own hands. On Tuesday, Notre Dame will take on Clemson in the first round of the ACC Baseball Tournament.

In some ways it feels like a reset of sorts. When Notre Dame played Clemson earlier this season, the Tigers came in ranked — and then the Irish swept the three game series. Notre Dame then found itself ranked in the top 25 — but then lost their next 5 ACC series with 3 of those series being sweeps. So, now it’s time to get back some of the magic they had earlier in the season, and work it one game at a time.

Notre Dame is currently ranked #71 in the NCAA Baseball RPI. It’s safe to say that two wins on the ACC Tournament probably won’t help them get into the NCAA Tournament. Three wins — and it’s quite possible. First the Irish need to take care of business against Clemson, and then they will have to take down the #7 seed Virginia Tech Hokies (a team the Irish didn’t face during the regular season). The third game, however, will be a well-rested double bye North Carolina Tar Heels team that is currently ranked #4 in the RPI.

WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO WATCH

When: Tuesday, May 19 @ 5:00 PM EST
Where: Truist Field, Charlotte, North Carolina
How to Watch: ACC Network

Dodgers revealed Eric Lauer’s role with pitching staff originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have revealed the role newly acquired pitcher Eric Lauer will have with the team moving forward. 

According to Jack Harris of the California Post, Lauer will start games for the Dodgers. Harris shared the news via X. 

"Also, Brandon Gomes said Eric Lauer is actually going to start games for the Dodgers," Harris wrote. "Still TBD when he’ll slot in, but that will allow them to keep a six-man rotation for the time being." 

Also, Brandon Gomes said Eric Lauer is actually going to start games for the Dodgers

Still TBD when he’ll slot in, but that will allow them to keep a six-man rotation for the time being

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) May 19, 2026

Adding Lauer to the rotation means the Dodgers will keep a six-man rotation for the time being. 

Dodgers take chance on Eric Lauer after Blue Jays exit

The Dodgers acquired Lauer in a trade on Monday. He was traded to the Dodgers after the Toronto Blue Jays DFA'd him after a horrid start to the season. 

In eight appearances this season, Lauer has recorded a 1-5 record with a 6.69 ERA and a -0.5 bWAR. Not only was his performance reason to cut ties with him, but so was his attitude. Lauer butted heads with manager John Schneider multiple times throughout the season, which made it easier for the team to move on from him.   

The Dodgers' pitching staff has dealt with major injuries to their top players. Blake Snell is out with an elbow injury, and Tyler Glasnow is on the injured list with a back injury. 

With Lauer in the mix, the Dodgers are more than happy to go back to a six-man rotation. On top of that, Lauer could also factor into the team's bullpen plans, which is another area Los Angeles has struggled with on the injury front. 

Lauer is likely to start after the Dodgers come back from their six-game road trip. 

More MLB news: 

• Blue Jays-Mariners trade pitch sends $108M Cy Young arm to Toronto, revives World Series hopes

• Fernando Tatis Jr.'s home run stat is sign Phillies should trade for Padres star

• Braves writer reveals safety reason Ronald Acuna Jr. will not return during Marlins series

The Boston Red Sox improved to 20-27 on the year with a 3-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on Monday night. Closer Aroldis Chapman locked down his 11th save of the season and moved one step closer to Mariano Rivera on the all-time saves list. 

Chapman came in for his 17th appearance in the ninth inning with the Red Sox leading 3-1 and made quick work of the heart of the Kansas City lineup, striking out pinch hitter Starling Marte, then getting right fielder Jac Caglianone and left fielder Michael Massey to ground out, ending the game and securing the 378th save of his major league career. With the save, the 38-year-old lefty passed former Twins closer Joe Nathan to move into 10th place on the all-time saves leaderboard. Chapman will now turn his attention to former Red Sox pitcher and Hall of Fame closer Dennis Eckersley, who is 12 saves ahead of him for the ninth most saves in major league history. 

What a play to win it!

The @RedSox hang on 😮 pic.twitter.com/TGJDaBFxfU

— MLB (@MLB) May 17, 2026

Chapman has been nothing short of a revelation for the Red Sox. After signing a one-year deal with Boston ahead of the 2025 season. Chapman posted a career low 1.17 ERA across 67 appearances in 2025, walking the fewest batters per nine innings of his 16-year major league career, en route to the second Reliever of the Year award of his career. His career year was rewarded with a one-year, $13 million extension with a mutual option for the 2027 season. 

It has been more of the same for Chapman in 2026; he has allowed just one run on 7 hits in 15.2 innings, while striking out 21 and walking seven across 15.2 innings, further cementing his Hall of Fame candidacy. 

In other Red Sox news

Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony will be shut down from baseball activities until at least Friday after experiencing soreness while trying to resume swinging. The 22-year-old Anthony has been out since spraining his wrist in Detroit on May 4. 

Enddy Azocar with a double & a homer for Salem on Thursday! pic.twitter.com/VXnBNFpQfP

— Red Sox Player Development (@RedSoxPlayerDev) May 16, 2026

Two Red Sox farmhands received an award from Minor League Baseball on Monday morning. No. 12 prospect Enddy Azocar was awarded the Carolina League Hitter of the Week after hitting .429/.478/.714 in five games for the Single-A Salem Ridge Yaks. 18-year-old shortstop Louis Andujar won the Florida Coast League hitter of the week after hitting .538/.667/1.077 for the FCL Red Sox.

The Red Sox will look to secure the series win in Kansas City on Tuesday night. Ranger Suarez will get the start for Boston, while Kansas City has yet to name a starter, after placing Tuesday's projected starter, Kris Bubic, on the injured list ahead of Monday's Red Sox win. First pitch from Kauffman Stadium set for 7:40 p.m. ET. 

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

Remember to join our RED SOX on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Red Sox fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!

May 18—BEMIDJI — The Minnesota Vikings are making a stop in Bemidji in their tour of summer youth camps around the state.

On June 11 at Bemidji State, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Chet Anderson Stadium, Minnesota's NFL organization will bring the free-entry Vikings Youth Football Camps to the shore of Lake Bemidji.

The camp is a one-day, non-contact event with the Vikings' youth football development coaching staff. The camp is for kids from ages 6 to 14 and there is no fee to enter. Registration can be found at

vikings.com/community/youth-football.

Check-in opens at 9 a.m. on the day of the camp.

For questions or more information, email youthfb@vikings.nfl.net and include "Bemidji" in the subject line.

Aaron Rai withdrew from this week's PGA Tour event, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Dallas, on Monday after winning the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club a day earlier.

Rai, 31, will be replaced in the field by South Korea's Seung-Yul Noh. He wasn't the only one to withdraw from the field on Monday. Aldrich Potgeiter, who contended early at the U.S. Open, and Andrew Putnam also withdrew. A day earlier, Michael Kim, Webb Simpson and Trey Mullinax pulled out and on Saturday Nicolai Hojgaard and Marco Penge did, too. The field also expanded to 147 due to Brooks Koepka competing this week, paving the way for Scott Piercey, Ryan Palmer and U.S. Amateur champion Mason Howell (sponsor's exemption) to get into the field.

The CJ Cup field is headlined by world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and fellow hometown hero Jordan Spieth.

Rai broke out of the pack and sucked all the drama out of the closing holes on Sunday with six birdies over the final 10 holes to shoot 5-under 65 for a three-shot victory, He became the first English-born player since 1919 to capture the PGA Championship. It was Rai's second Tour title. It's unclear when Rai will play next but with his victory on Sunday he became eligible for the remaining signature events, including The Memorial, a limited-field event with a $20 million purse, which will be held in two weeks.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: PGA champion Aaron Rai withdraws from CJ Cup

Through five games of the new season, a couple of things are clear about the 2026 Las Vegas Aces: They are deeper and more resilient than this time last year. 

There have been a few examples of that already as the defending champions sit atop the WNBA standings at 4-1. Bench scoring is up, dynamic scorer Chennedy Carter is looking right at home, and the team is tapping into whatever it is that they need to do to stack wins. Nobody is above their role; everybody is locked into the same goal. 

Five games isn’t the biggest sample size. However, if your resolve has been tested in all but one or two of those, the outcomes can certainly speak to something. 

The Aces’ hunger and togetherness were put to arguably the biggest challenge yet on Sunday in their 85-84 road win against the Atlanta Dream — the only remaining undefeated club in the W prior to tip-off. 

Through three quarters, everything was going according to plan. The Aces were cruising towards their fourth straight win, comfortably ahead 75-63. The visitors led by as many as 19 points earlier in the frame, but as expected, the Dream wasn’t going to go down without swinging. 

Still, the Aces had the game right where they wanted it, ready to wrap up the four-game road trip and head home for Banner Night this Saturday. Until they didn’t. 

The Dream roared back in the last 10 minutes, rattling off a 21-10 fourth-quarter run which almost saw them claw victory from the jaws of defeat. Almost. 

What teams have learned the hard way over the last half-decade is that the Aces are never out of it until there are zeros on the clock. With 8.5 seconds remaining, down one, the Aces were still heavy favorites to win — and here’s why. 

As Jackie Young prepared to battle Allisha Gray for a jump ball after a tie-up, you’re really in a pick-your-poison situation if the Aces end up with the ball. 

If you’re the Aces, as the time is running out, who do you call? The optimal answer is your four-time MVP A’ja Wilson. However, with Wilson sealed under the basket by Angel Reese, somebody else had to answer Becky Hammon’s Bat-Signal.

Fortunately for the champs, there are always options aplenty with Young, Jewell Loyd, and Chelsea Gray on the floor. The ball ended up in the hands of Gray. The ‘Point Gawd’. The player who — alongside Wilson — general managers across the league said they would trust the most to take a game-winning shot.

The GMs weren’t wrong — and that was unfortunate for Atlanta — but as soon as Young tipped the ball into the hands of Stephanie Talbot, and the Aces’ newcomer handed it off to Gray at the top of the key, there was only ever going to be one result.

Picked up by Jordin Canada, who was giving the Aces grief all afternoon, Gray bumped her way inside, got to her spot, elevated above the Dream defender, and swished a fading mid-range jumper. The go-ahead bucket. 85-84 Aces with 3.6 left to play. A dream turned nightmare for Atlanta.

It’s early in the campaign, but you could hear the anguish inside the arena as Gray backtracked down the court, emphatically embraced by her teammates. Atlanta immediately called a timeout. 

For the home fans, this game ending in anything but a win after the dramatic comeback was shocking. For the Aces, their championship DNA, their greatness all over the floor, coming out with a hard-fought victory was just another day ending in a ‘Y’. 

“That’s who she is,” Hammon said of Gray’s winning basket, followed by a game-sealing steal moments later. “The bigger the moment, the bigger she gets. I have the ultimate trust in the group down the stretch.” 

In many ways, this game was Gray announcing her arrival this season. Her first 20-point outing of the year (21), to go along with five rebounds, six assists, one steal, and one block. She shot 61.5 percent from the field (8-13), including 5-8 from beyond the arc. 

In totality, that was just a typical Gray performance. That just is who she is. But the Aces haven’t had to tap into the scoring side of her game until now, game five. 

And the worst news for the entire league is that Young and Loyd are very much due for their breakouts, with the former currently shining as a facilitator (7 assists per game over the last four) and the latter contributing significantly on the defense. 

The Aces were 3-2 this time last year. On paper, that’s fine. The season is just getting started. But in reality, the feel-good factor around the team is incomparable. For a team with championship aspirations every breath they take, this is right where the Aces want to be at this stage of a campaign. 

“We can win when it’s ugly, that’s the lesson here,” Hammon said. “Win when it’s hard, win through that adversity. It was a game filled with adversity, especially in the fourth quarter. We hit that adversity button pretty good there, and we were able to play through it. 

“A big stop at the end, and (Gray) just having multiple options at the end of games to go to, but as soon as she started to kind of back in (to the paint), I just let her go. I wasn’t about to call a timeout.” 

The woman of the moment sounded off on the big — momentum maintaining — win, too. Gray said: “It felt like a playoff environment. When you get those types of road wins early in the season, it speaks to the togetherness, and it speaks to our chemistry and grit down the stretch.

“Even though they made a run, we got to work on not giving up leads like that. It speaks to our grit down the stretch to get it done.”

May 18—BEMIDJI — By the sixth inning of the Bemidji High School baseball team's game against Duluth Marshall, Lawson Berg was pitching lights-out.

To that point, he had given up three hits and hadn't let a Hilltopper past second base.

But Duluth Marshall's arms were keeping BHS batters at bay. After giving up two runs in the first inning, Mason Park and Evan Lammi held Bemidji without a run to keep the game within reach.

With the Jacks ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Berg needed a better cushion for his final inning on the mound. Who better to do that than himself?

After Gunner Ganske hit a leadoff triple, Berg hit a line drive that hugged the first base line to score Ganske, an RBI double to extend the BHS lead to 3-0.

The Jacks weren't done, either. Heaton Brodina hit a towering two-run home run to right field to truly give Bemidji the cushion it needed, leading 5-0 by inning's end.

Berg was sent back to the mound in the seventh inning to finish off the Hilltoppers. After giving up a leadoff single, he produced a double play and a fly out to close the Lumberjacks' 5-0 victory Monday evening at the BSU ballfield.

Berg gave up only four hits, one walk and struck out four in seven innings pitched.

Oh, and he was 3-for-3 with an RBI at the plate.

"Just a fabulous job by Lawson Berg," head coach Jim Grimm said. "He was bordering on a Maddux game. He barely threw 12 pitches an inning, that's really good."

A Maddux — a statistic named after Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux — is when a player pitches a complete game shutout in fewer than 100 pitches. Berg threw just 83 pitches against Duluth Marshall.

His shutout was most in jeopardy in the fifth inning. The Hilltoppers had two men on with nobody out, the most action they had on the basepaths on Monday. Knowing the tying run was on first, Berg struck out Junior Lucero and turned a double play after Mason Park tried to bunt to get out of the inning unscathed.

Park's bunt was popped to Berg on the mound, but communication with his teammates helped him turn two.

"Gunner (Ganske) was yelling 'Two,' so I just ripped it over to second base, got the out and got out of the inning," Berg explained. "And that was kind of a momentum changer because we scored three in the bottom of the sixth, too."

It was one of two double plays the Bemidji defense turned on Duluth Marshall. It's satisfying for Grimm to see improvement on defense, especially seeing the skill and chemistry come together this late in the season.

"It's been a long time coming," he said. "Every practice, I can't even tell you how many double plays we do. One after another. Because you can include so many things in that. You know, you're getting ground balls, you're throwing, you're doing all that. We're getting more settled on who's defending up the middle."

Bemidji took advantage of Hilltoppers' mistakes in the first inning. With Reece Dokken attempting to steal second and Miles Gish watching closely at third base, catcher Lucero threw over the head of second baseman Easton Grumdahl for Gish to score. James Garrison drove home Dokken on a groundout to make it 2-0 Jacks.

They held onto that lead until the three-run sixth inning, highlighted by Brodina's two-run blast.

"That's his first (home run), first of many to come, hopefully," Berg said. "We all know he can do it; it was just a matter of time before he got one."

"Heaton's hit some balls really hard," Grimm added. "Hasn't had some luck once in a while, but he got a hold of that one."

The Lumberjacks (8-7) head into Tuesday with their biggest doubleheader of the season: a Section 8-4A matchup against Brainerd that could have playoff implications if one team sweeps the other. Bemidji is 4-4 against section foes this season, and is

sixth out of eight teams in the section

as of May 18. Brainerd is in last place with a 0-6 section record.

In a Section 8-4A doubleheader last Friday, BHS lost to Elk River, 4-2, but defeated first-place St. Michael-Albertville 8-6, the Knights' only section loss this season.

Little separates the teams in Section 8-4A, so a high seed and a home game are more than available for BHS.

"I think the section's up for grabs," Grimm said. "I don't see anybody taking control of it. No one's running away with it, and nobody's out of it either. I think it's going to be a battle royale when the section comes around."

Bemidji 5, Duluth Marshall 0

DM 000 000 0 — 0-4-2

BHS 200 003 X — 5-9-2

WP: Berg (7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)

LP: Park (4 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K)

Barstool Big Cat acquires historic Florida State memorabilia originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

We all remember just how dominant that 2019-2020 Florida State Seminoles men’s basketball team was before COVID-19 struck down the season ahead of conference tournaments. One key figure who still holds that team close to his heart is Barstool Big Cat who recently got his hands on a piece of Florida State history.

The historic “NCAA Canceled #4 Final Ranking” banner that the Seminoles hoisted to the rafters following the season's end.

Big Cat, also known as Dan Katz, has had his eye on the banner for some time now and finally made the news public on his podcast, “Pardon My Take.” His guest at the time was two-time U.S. Open and two-time PGA Championship winner, Brooks Koepka, who played collegiate golf in Tallahassee for the Noles.

Big Cat is trying to purchase the Florida State basketball 2020 NCAA Canceled #4 Final Ranking banner pic.twitter.com/SxCeoFdWDr

— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) May 14, 2026

A clip of his podcast talking about the banner was posted to his X account. Not even an hour after it was posted, current Seminoles head coach, Luke Loucks, commented: “We will make this happen.”

It was inevitable that after coach Loucks commented that Big Cat would act on this and made his way to Tallahassee, where he finally secured the banner to bring back to the Barstool offices in Chicago.

Another piece of memorabilia secured.

Banner raising in Chicago in a couple weeks with @lukeloucks. Thank you for the incredible hospitality @FSUHoopspic.twitter.com/U1dGYXRr2q

— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) May 18, 2026

How good was the 2019-2020 Florida State team?

Former head coach Leonard Hamilton led a team made up of Devin Vassell, Patrick Williams, and other NBA prospects to a 26-5 record and the top seed in the ACC tournament before it was called off. Prior to the conference tournament being canceled, the Noles were the top overall seed ahead of Duke, North Carolina, and other ACC powerhouses at the time.

More: Is AJ Dybantsa about to 'pull an Eli' in 2026 NBA Draft?

They even earned praises from the legendary Dick Vitale, who stated that he would’ve picked the Seminoles to win the National Championship had March Madness not been canceled. He even co-authored a book called “The Lost Season,” where he projected a fantasy bracket and had FSU cutting down the nets.

If the NCAA tourney @marchmadness was to be played I would have picked @FSUHoops to be National Champs . @FSUCoachHam is my National Coach of the Year

— Dick Vitale (@DickieV) March 13, 2020

FSU went from being unranked in the preseason to the no. 4 ranked team to finish the year and created one of the most prized pieces of sports memorabilia in modern history.

More college basketball news:

• Keaton Wagler NBA Draft Combine stats
• Darius Acuff Jr. NBA Draft Combine highlights
• NCAA makes decision on March Madness expansion
• Why Cameron Boozer and Fernando Mendoza could soon make sports history
• Dave Portnoy should stick to his day job after this March Madness shot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Willson Contreras hit his team-leading 10th homer and Sonny Gray outdueled Seth Lugo as the Boston Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 3-1 on Monday night.

The first pitch was moved up 30 minutes because heavy thunderstorms were forecast for later Monday.

Gray (5-1) allowed one run on five hits in six-plus innings. He struck out nine and walked one. He has given up two runs over 16 innings (1.13 ERA) since returning from the injured list on May 6. Three relievers followed Gray, with Aroldis Chapman working the ninth for his 11th save in as many opportunities.

Lugo (1-4) allowed two runs on five hits in six innings for Kansas City, which has lost seven of eight.

PHILLIES 5, REDS 4

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryson Stott hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and Jhoan Duran worked a 1-2-3 ninth as Philadelphia extended their winning streak to five games with a win over Cincinnati.

The Phillies (25-23) won for the eighth time in nine games and moved two games over .500 for the first time this season. They are 16-4 under interim manager Don Mattingly, who took over last month after Rob Thomson was fired.

Philadelphia scratched MLB home run leader Kyle Schwarber due to illness, and Stott was moved up to the No. 6 spot in a shuffled lineup and hit his fifth homer of the season.

Spencer Steer’s RBI double with two-out in the eighth off reliever Jose Alvarado had given the Reds a short-lived 4-3 lead.

Orion Kerkering (2-0) finished the eighth for Alvarado and was credited with the win. Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft (1-1) took the loss.

MARLINS 12, BRAVES 0

MIAMI (AP) — Javier Sanoja hit his first career grand slam, Joe Mack drove in four runs and Miami shut out MLB-leading Atlanta.

Max Meyer (4-0) continued his strong start to the season, limiting the Braves to just three hits over six innings while striking out six and lowering his team-leading ERA to 2.85.

John King, Calvin Faucher and Lake Bachar combined for a one-hitter the final three innings as the Marlins (22-26) took the first of four games between NL East rivals. It was the largest home shutout win in Marlins history.

The Braves (32-16) were shut out for only the third time this season. Their 12 runs allowed were a season high, and 11 of those came during a disastrous two-inning stretch.

Sanoja’s 375-foot drive against reliever Aaron Bummer highlighted a six-run fifth. It was his first homer of the season, and he became the first Marlins player since Justin Bour (June 10, 2016, at Arizona) to hit a grand slam batting ninth in the lineup.

Xavier Edwards hit a 397-foot shot in the next at-bat against Bummer, who allowed six runs on three hits and walked five.

Mack hit a run-scoring groundout against starter JR Ritchie (1-1) in the second. The rookie catcher followed with a two-run single during a five-run fourth that included Edwards’ run-scoring single and Liam Hicks’ two-run double. Mack also drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.

Ritchie allowed six hits and struck out four in four innings. Short stop Jorge Mateo pitched the eighth.

RAYS 16, ORIOLES 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Yandy Díaz had four hits and four RBIs, Junior Caminero homered and drove in four runs, and Tampa Bay battered Baltimore pitching in a victory.

Ryan Vilade and Jonny DeLuca each added three RBIs for the Rays, who had 18 hits and scored their most runs since May 31 last year in a 16-3 win at Houston. Tampa Bay is 13-3 this month and owns the best record in the majors at 31-15.

Díaz got the offense started with a leadoff double and then delivered a two-out, two-run single in the second. The first five hitters in Tampa Bay’s lineup combined to go 13 for 24 with 15 RBIs.

With a thunderstorm pelting Tropicana Field’s new roof, the Rays scored six early runs against Baltimore starter Trevor Rogers (2-5), sending 10 batters to the plate during a five-run second. Tampa Bay also batted around in a four-run sixth, highlighted by Caminero’s three-run homer.

Rays starter Shane McClanahan, a Baltimore native, stretched his scoreless streak to 23 2/3 innings before Adley Rutschman’s two-out RBI single in the third. McClanahan (5-2) then fanned Tampa native Pete Alonso for the left-hander’s 500th major league strikeout.

GUARDIANS 8, TIGERS 2

DETROIT (AP) - José Ramírez homered and hit a two-run double on a 3-for-4 night, and Cleveland beat reeling Detroit.

Slade Cecconi (3-4) held the Tigers to two runs in 7 1/3 innings, his longest outing of the season.

Chase DeLauter and Rhys Hoskins drove in two runs apiece for Cleveland. Angel Martínez extended his hitting streak to seven games with two singles while scoring a run and driving one in. Brayan Rocchio scored three times for the Guardians, who’ve won six of seven.

Matt Vierling homered for the Tigers, who have lost 11 of 13. Riley Greene, whose 11-game hitting streak was snapped on Sunday, had an RBI double among two hits.

Detroit starter Framber Valdez (2-3) battled control issues while giving up four runs in five innings. Valdez, who had won all five of his previous appearances against the Guardians, walked four and threw 89 pitches.

BREWERS 9, CUBS 3

CHICAGO (AP) — Jake Bauers homered and drove in four runs, and Milwaukee beat Chicago in the first meeting this season between the longtime NL Central rivals.

Christian Yelich went deep for the second straight day as Milwaukee used a 13-hit attack to improve to 9-2 in its last 11 games. Andrew Vaughn had two hits and scored twice.

Milwaukee pulled within a half-game of Chicago for the division lead. The Brewers won the Central in 2025 for the third consecutive year and then eliminated the Cubs in a five-game NL Division Series.

Chicago lost for the seventh time in nine games. The Cubs had won 15 in a row at home for their longest win streak at Wrigley Field since an 18-game run in September 1935.

Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga (4-4) was tagged for eight runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings in his worst start of the season. He allowed a total of eight earned runs over his previous five starts combined.

All Times EDT

Tuesday, May 19

MLB

Atlanta at Miami, 4:10 p.m.

Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 6:40 p.m.

Cleveland at Detroit, 6:40 p.m.

Baltimore at Tampa Bay, 6:40 p.m.

N.Y. Mets at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Toronto at N.Y. Yankees, 7:05 p.m.

Houston at Minnesota, 7:40 p.m.

Milwaukee at Chicago Cubs, 7:40 p.m.

Boston at Kansas City, 7:40 p.m.

Pittsburgh at St. Louis, 7:45 p.m.

Texas at Colorado, 8:40 p.m.

Athletics at L.A. Angels, 9:38 p.m.

San Francisco at Arizona, 9:40 p.m.

L.A. Dodgers at San Diego, 9:40 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Seattle, 9:40 p.m.

NBA - Playoffs

Eastern Conference Finals - Game 1

Cleveland at New York, 8 p.m.

WNBA

Toronto at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

_____

The Baltimore Ravens enter organized team activities with one of the NFL's most talented defensive rosters on paper, but OTAs will still answer several critical questions before training camp arrives in July. Baltimore added impact talent, retained important veterans, and reshaped portions of the secondary and pass rush this offseason. Now comes the process of determining how all the pieces fit together.

Here's the biggest question at every defensive position as the Ravens begin OTAs.

Defensive line: What version of Nnamdi Madubuike will Baltimore get?

Everything starts with Nnamdi Madubuike.

Baltimore's defensive front looks dramatically different depending on his health status. Madubuike missed most of last season with a neck injury serious enough to spark retirement speculation at one point, though recent workout footage has created optimism entering the offseason. The Ravens still possess quality depth with Travis Jones, veteran John Jenkins, Broderick Washington, and second-year player Aeneas Peebles, but Madubuike remains the disruptive centerpiece when healthy.

OTAs may not provide full answers, but any clarity surrounding his condition immediately changes Baltimore's defensive ceiling.

Edge rusher: Can Baltimore finally build a dominant pass-rush rotation?

The Ravens landed the proven closer they desperately wanted by adding Trey Hendrickson, but the bigger OTA question centers around the players surrounding him. Mike Green flashed as a rookie. Tavius Robinson showed promise despite injuries. Zion Young arrives with an intriguing upside, while Adisa Isaac and Kaimon Rucker continue battling for rotational snaps. Baltimore suddenly has numbers and athleticism off the edge. OTAs should begin revealing whether the Ravens finally possess enough depth to consistently pressure quarterbacks late in games.

Inside linebacker: Who becomes Roquan Smith's long-term running mate?

Roquan Smith remains the unquestioned leader of Baltimore's defense, but the long-term picture beside him still feels unsettled. Trenton Simpson enters a pivotal season while seeking future roster security. Teddye Buchanan is recovering from a torn ACL. Rookie Jay Higgins arrives looking to climb the depth chart quickly.

The Ravens need a reliable second linebacker who can thrive in one of football's most demanding defensive systems. OTAs should offer the first clues about who currently holds the inside track.

Cornerback: Is Baltimore deep enough behind Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins?

The Ravens still boast high-end talent with Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, while veteran Chidobe Awuzie provides stability.

The real question lies behind them.

T.J. Tampa still has not emerged in Year 3. Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam are returning from injuries. Chandler Rivers joins the room as a rookie, while Keyon Martin surprisingly handled meaningful snaps as an undrafted free agent last season. Baltimore's secondary dealt with injuries repeatedly last year, so developing trustworthy cornerback depth becomes essential entering 2026.

Safety: Does Baltimore have the best safety trio in the NFL?

Baltimore still possesses one of football's elite safety duos in Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks.

The concern begins behind them.

After losing Ar'Darius Washington and Alohi Gilman, the Ravens added veteran Jaylinn Hawkins to stabilize the room. Hawkins is dependable, but does Baltimore still need additional contributors to emerge? Second-year player Keondre Jackson remains an intriguing special teams standout, while younger players Jahquez Robinson and Silas Walters will attempt to force their way into the conversation.

OTAs should help clarify whether Baltimore's safety depth is strong enough as it enters training camp.

Specialists: Can Tyler Loop bounce back mentally?

Special teams may quietly feature one of Baltimore's most important offseason storylines.

Tyler Loop finished his rookie season with impressive overall numbers, connecting on 30 of 34 field-goal attempts. Still, his missed game-winning kick against Pittsburgh in Week 18 ended Baltimore's playoff hopes and became the defining image of his season. The talent clearly exists. The bigger question becomes mental recovery and consistency entering Year 2. Meanwhile, rookie punter Ryan Eckley arrives with elite college production and the potential to immediately solidify Baltimore's field-position battle. The Ravens once again enter the season with championship expectations, but OTAs represent the first meaningful step toward determining whether this defense has enough depth, health, and cohesion to carry Baltimore deep into January.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens defensive questions take center stage at OTAs

Why Sabres-Canadiens OT rules are different than NHL regular season, and how long it will last originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Overtime. Game 7. It doesn't get better than this.

The Buffalo Sabres and Montreal Canadiens are tied 2-2 trying to reach the Eastern Conference Final.

The Carolina Hurricanes await, but it wasn't decided in regulation.

The Habs led 2-0. The Sabres got both goals back.

Buckle up.

Why isn't it 3-on-3?

The NHL playoffs don't operate the way the regular season does.

The league doesn't want games to last forever in the regular season, so they got 3-on-3 for a quicker ending.

They don't want to change the regulation format in the postseason, though, so it stays 5-on-5.

How long is NHL playoff overtime?

NHL playoff games play 5-on-5 hockey until the game is over.

Each overtime period lasts 20 minutes, like a regulation period.

But at the end of 20 minutes, it's like the end of a period. Teams get a break, the ice gets spruced up, and then they come out with switched benches.

What is longest NHL playoff overtime game?

The longest game was in in 1936 when the Red Wings beat the Montreal Maroons in six overtime periods which featured 116 minutes and 30 seconds of extra game time.

The most recent marathon game was in 2023 when the Florida Panthers beat the Hurricanes in four overtimes.

MORE: Zach Benson contract projection shows he's going to get paid

It has been a crazy year for Porter Martone. After a stellar season with Michigan State, the forward joined the Philadelphia Flyers, making a playoff push in his first stint in the NHL. Now, after the Flyers fell in the second round of the playoffs, he has made his way overseas to represent Canada in the men's world championships.

In the Canadians game against Denmark, scoreless early in the third period, it was the former Spartan that opened the scoring. It was Martone getting assisted by NHL legend Sidney Crosby and superstar Macklin Celebrini. Watch the goal via X:

Celebrini ➡️ Crosby ➡️ Martone 🚨#MensWorlds | #MondialMasculinpic.twitter.com/VquPOBPd5V

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) May 18, 2026

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy

This article originally appeared on Spartans Wire: Watch Porter Martone score massive goal for team Canada

Intel CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, says that its Foundry Business is a National Treasure, and continues to see more customers line up for its advanced packaging and process technologies. Intel Foundry Sees Massive Interest From Several External Customers, Many Already Prepaying For Substrates During today's Mad Money Show with Jim Cramer of CNBC, Intel's CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, talked about the company's Foundry business and how the AI buzz is pushing more customers towards it. Right off the bat, Lip-Bu said that the "Foundry is very important", calling it a national treasure. He says that currently, 90% of the most advanced processors […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/intel-ceo-lip-bu-tan-calls-foundry-a-national-treasure-as-external-customers-knock-on-his-door-after-18a-yield-turnaround/

Buildnix is a marketplace to discover and hire top freelancers and vendors across design, development, writing, marketing, and more. You can search by skill, browse services and digital products, or explore jobs to find the right fit quickly. Post a single brief to get fast quotes from verified sellers, then hire with confidence. Creators can list services or products, respond to buyer requests, and grow their business in a community focused on quality talent.

View startup

Levee is manager mode for Jira and Slack. Engineering managers, tech leads, and senior PMs spend 17 hours a week switching between tabs just to figure out what to act on next. Levee fixes that.

Connect your Atlassian and Slack accounts. Levee reads every channel, ticket, mention, and DM you'd normally check and gives you a ranked digest twice a day of the things that actually need your reply. Each item comes with an AI-drafted response in your voice. You edit, send, and move on. The whole queue takes ten minutes, not ten tabs.

View startup

On May 6, 2026, Samsung announced the rollout of the One UI 8.5 stable update for Galaxy devices. The software remained in Beta testing phase for over five months. Well, the second wave of rollout was crazy enough, spreading blazingly fast.

The day Samsung began One UI 8.5 stable rollout, plenty of Galaxy devices received the update. The availability in Wave 1 was limited to South Korea. However, the Wave 2 rollout covered millions of Galaxy devices on May 11, 2026.

As part of One UI 8.5, Samsung is bringing select AI features from the Galaxy S26 series across the Galaxy ecosystem. The update focuses on enhancing communication and creative experiences on Galaxy mobile phones and tablets.

These devices have received the Stable update first – Wave 1

• Galaxy S25, S25 Plus and S25 Ultra
• Galaxy S25 Edge
• Galaxy S25 FE
• Galaxy Z TriFold
• Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7
• Galaxy Z Flip7 FE

Major expansion on May 11

Samsung devices that have received the update on May 6 in South Korea have received the OTA in the Global markets. The second phase of rollout has also begun in South Korea, before hitting the worldwide market.

The first wave targets flagship models released in 2025, including the Galaxy S25 series, Z7 series foldables, and the TriFold phone. The second wave aimed at the Galaxy S24 series and the Z6 series foldables in South Korea.

In its Global press release, Samsung confirmed that the update is gradually starting to arrive on the Galaxy S25 series, S25 FE, S24 series, S24 FE, Z Fold7 and Z Flip7, Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, Galaxy Tab S11 series, and Tab S10 series.

These devices have received the Stable update – Wave 2

• Galaxy S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra
• Galaxy S24 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6
• Galaxy Z Fold SE

Wave 3 of One UI 8.5 update expansion

• Galaxy S23, S23+ and S23 Ultra
• Galaxy S23 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5
• Galaxy A56 and A36

The post These Samsung Galaxy devices received Stable One UI 8.5 appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung has been quietly running something genuinely smart in South Korea, and most Galaxy users around the world have no idea Baro Service exists.

Called Baro Service, it plants certified repair engineers directly inside Samsung Store retail locations. Neither a separate service center trip, nor scheduling a visit to some strip-mall repair outpost.

You walk in to look at a new tablet, notice your phone screen has a weird flicker, and a trained Samsung technician can inspect it right there – that’s it.

The program launched as a pilot in October 2024 across four Seoul-area stores. It worked: daily usage climbed more than 30% between January and April this year compared to that initial pilot window.

Samsung has now expanded to seven locations, pushing into Gyeongju, Busan, and Suncheon.

The service covers inspections, repairs, consultations, and same-day screen protector installation with a warranty attached. Seven days for standard installs and three months if you’ve got a foldable and need the main display protector handled.

Samsung also runs a pickup service for devices that need deeper work, collecting your phone and returning it after repairs are done at a nearby center.

And the wait times? Shorter than dedicated service centers, which in practice means the difference between a 20-minute fix and losing half your afternoon.

Galaxy devices sell in over 100 countries. Samsung Stores and branded retail presences exist across Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and North America.

Samsung keeps telling the world it’s serious about after-sales support. Baro Service is proof that it knows how to do it right. Keeping it locked to seven locations in one country isn’t humility. It’s a missed opportunity sitting in plain sight.

The post Samsung’s Baro Service deserves a global rollout for Galaxy users appeared first on Sammy Fans.

Samsung launches its cheapest 5G phone, the Galaxy A07 5G, in Brazil. Despite its entry-level price tag, the smartphone brings a smooth 120Hz display, a decent 50MP camera, a large 6000mAh battery, and long (6-year) software support.

Available in a single Black colorway and 128 GB internal storage, Samsung’s new Galaxy A07 5G costs R$ 1,399 in Brazil. Deliveries begin this week exclusively through the Claro, Vivo, and TIM carriers in the country.

The smartphone has a 6.7-inch PLS LCD display with HD+ resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. It measures 167.4mm in height, 77.4mm in width, and 8.2mm in thickness, whereas the weight is 199 grams.

It features a dual rear camera setup, consisting of a 50 MP (f1.8) primary lens and a 2 MP (f2.4) depth sensor. On the front, the device gets an 8 MP selfie camera with an f2.0 aperture inside an Infinity-U cutout.

Image – Samsung Galaxy A07 5G in Black

The Galaxy A07 5G is equipped with MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chipset, fabricated using 6nm process technology. It’s paired with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, with Samsung marketing 4GB virtual RAM extension.

The device is packed with a large 6000mAh battery inside its 8.2mm body. Samsung has done it while keeping the weight under 200 grams. Buyers will be able to charge the phone using a 25W fast charging adapter (purchased separately).

It ships with Android 16-based One UI 8 software, and One UI 8.5 should be released soon. Samsung has guaranteed six years of major OS and security updates. It is a support level equivalent to Samsung’s flagship line (7-year).

The post Samsung Galaxy A07 5G launches in Brazil with 120Hz display, 6000mAh battery and six years of OS updates appeared first on Sammy Fans.

RedMagic launched the Astra gaming tablet internationally last June, and now it's almost ready to unveil its successor. We assume this will be called Astra 2 globally, but inside China it will be known as the RedMagic Tablet 5 Pro (the original Astra was the Tablet 3 Pro and they're skipping the number 4 due to tetraphobia). Today during its launch of the 11S Pro series, RedMagic has also started teasing the upcoming tablet, with the image you can see below. The brand has revealed that the tablet will become official in June, so almost exactly one year after its predecessor. The new...

Joao Pedro, a regular fixture in Carlo Ancelotti‘s recent Brazil call-ups, was one of the most notable omissions from the final 2026 World Cup roster. Following the Italian head coach’s decision to leave him out, the striker broke his silence with a public statement.

Ancelotti made the official announcement on Monday at the Museu do Amanhã in Rio de Janeiro in a candid press conference. While Neymar’s inclusion in the squad dominated the headlines, the exclusion of Joao Pedro quickly emerged as one of the most discussed decisions of the afternoon.

Hours later, the Chelsea striker took to Instagram with a measured response. “I tried to give my best at all times. Unfortunately, it wasn’t possible to fulfill this dream of representing my country in a World Cup, but I remain calm and focused, as I always try to be. Joys and frustrations are part of football. From now on, I wish good luck to everyone who is there and I will be just another fan cheering for them to bring the sixth title home,” he wrote.

Joao Pedro had made a compelling case for inclusion. He was instrumental in Chelsea’s run to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup title, scoring twice in the semifinal and once in the final, and posted 20 goals and nine assists across 49 appearances in his debut season at Stamford Bridge. He also featured in three of Ancelotti’s five Brazil squads this past year, but none of it proved enough to earn a spot on the plane to North America.

Did Neymar take Joao Pedro’s place?

From the 55-man preliminary list, Neymar’s inclusion had already generated significant debate, particularly after Estevao and Rodrygo were ruled out through injury. Cuts were always going to fall across every line of the squad, and while Thiago Silva and Andrey Santos were the names dropped from the defensive and midfield pools, it was Joao Pedro who was sacrificed from the forward positions.

Ancelotti was asked directly about the decision to leave him out and stood firmly behind his choice. “I understand that they say that European football is different, more intense, but you have to consider a lot of things. To play here (in Brazil) is very difficult; you have a tight schedule, trips, the heat… Obviously, I am sad for Joao Pedro, who for the season he made in Europe probably deserved to be in this list, but sadly, with all the consciousness, respect, and competence, we chose other players,” the Italian coach said.

The final forward group named by Ancelotti consists of Endrick, Vinícius Júnior, Matheus Cunha, Neymar Junior, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Rayan, Igor Thiago and Luiz Henrique. Of those, the players most suited to a central striking role comparable to Joao Pedro’s profile are Igor Thiago, the second-highest scorer in the Premier League this season, Matheus Cunha, Endrick and Neymar, a group Ancelotti was willing to back over the Chelsea forward.

The irony is not lost given that Joao Pedro himself had publicly stated to TNT Sports Brasil that Neymar deserved to be at the World Cup and that the Santos star “represents what Messi is to Argentina” for Brazil. In the end, however, Neymar’s inclusion may well have come at the direct expense of his most vocal supporter.

Radar Auto becomes a wholly owned Geely subsidiary following an agreement to acquire it for 32M USD, announced this week.

The post Geely fully takes over Radar as global NEV pickup expansion accelerates in 32M USD deal appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

GWM's Wey launches V9X premium SUV in China, starting at 51,400 USD.

The post GWM’s Wey launches V9X premium SUV with 1,700 km combined range appeared first on CarNewsChina.com.

The post Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin Explains How AI Could Make Smart Contracts Truly Secure appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has published a detailed argument that AI-assisted formal verification could fundamentally change how secure software is built, pushing back against growing pessimism in the cybersecurity community about whether trustless systems can survive increasingly powerful AI-driven attacks.

“Many people have claimed that with AI-assisted bug finding, secure code will be impossible,” Buterin wrote. “I have a much more optimistic take, and AI-assisted formal verification is a major part of the reason why.”

What Formal Verification Actually Is

Formal verification is the practice of writing mathematical proofs about code that can be checked automatically by a computer. Rather than testing software and hoping bugs do not appear, developers write proofs that mathematically guarantee a piece of code behaves exactly as intended under all conditions.

The technology has existed for decades but remained niche because writing these proofs by hand is extremely difficult and time-consuming. Buterin’s argument is that AI changes this equation dramatically. AI can write both the code and the proofs, while humans simply verify that the statements being proved match what they actually want the software to do.

He described this combination as what researcher Yoichi Hirai calls “the final form of software development.”

Why It Matters for Ethereum

Buterin pointed to several areas where formal verification is already being applied within Ethereum’s development ecosystem. These include quantum-resistant signatures, STARK proof systems, consensus algorithms, and ZK-EVMs, all areas where the security properties are simple to define even though the underlying code is extraordinarily complex.

Projects like Arklib are working toward a fully formally verified STARK implementation. The evm-asm project is building an entire EVM written directly in RISC-V assembly, verified mathematically against a human-readable reference implementation. Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus protocols are also being formally specified and verified in Lean.

The main insight is that for these systems the gap between what the code does and what it is supposed to do can be closed with mathematical certainty rather than probabilistic testing.

The Limits He Acknowledges

Buterin was careful not to overstate the case. Formal verification has real failure modes. Proofs can be written about only part of a system while critical bugs hide in unverified sections. Developers can forget to specify properties that matter. The formal specification itself can be wrong. Hardware vulnerabilities like side-channel attacks can bypass even mathematically correct software.

“Provable correctness does not prove that software is correct in the way most human beings understand correctness,” he wrote. What formal verification actually does is allow developers to express their intentions in multiple different redundant ways and automatically check that all those expressions are compatible with each other.

The Broader Vision

Buterin described an optimistic future where software splits into two layers. An insecure edge layer handles lower-stakes functions, runs in sandboxes, and operates with minimal permissions. A secure core handles everything critical, including Ethereum itself, operating system kernels, and sensitive IoT infrastructure.

The secure core is kept deliberately small and subjected to aggressive formal verification. AI brings the computational power to make verification practical at scale. The result is not software with zero bugs but software where the most critical components can be trusted with mathematical confidence rather than hope.

“Defenders finally have a chance to win, decisively,” he concluded, citing Mozilla’s own experience hardening its codebase against AI-assisted attack tools.

Celtics Predicted To Add 14.7-Point Center Who Could Steal Minutes From Neemias Queta originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Celtics are focusing on their 2026 NBA Draft selections. With the combine now complete, it should be easier to narrow down their candidate list.

Boston currently has the No. 27 pick in the upcoming draft, suggesting it may not select a player who can contribute immediately. In his latest mock draft on Monday, Yahoo Sports' Kevin O'Connor projected that the Celtics will choose UConn's center, Tarris Reed Jr.

"As good as Neemias Queta was all year, the Celtics clearly need to upgrade at center," O'Connor wrote. "Maybe Reed could be that choice. Reed is a throwback center who played at his best on the biggest stage on UConn’s way to the national title game. He does all the dirty work inside the paint as a finisher, rebounder and shot-blocker.

"But beyond his ability to screen and pass, he wasn’t all too comfortable on the perimeter as a shooter or defender. That story might have changed at the Draft Combine, though, since on multiple occasions Reed looked more nimble moving his feet outside, which could be the key to unlocking his potential."

Reed played four seasons of college basketball, spending his first two seasons at Michigan before transferring to UConn for the final two. Last season, Reed participated in 35 games for the Huskies, averaging 14.7 points and nine rebounds per game.

The Celtics could consider drafting Reed and allowing him to develop for a season or two, potentially making him one of the biggest steals of the draft.

More NBA: NBA Insider Urges Celtics To Avoid Giannis Antetokounmpo-Jaylen Brown Swap For This Reason

Spurs vs. Thunder Game 1 Western Conference Finals live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NBA playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The 2026 NBA Western C. onference finals kicks off Monday night with the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs battling the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.

San Antonio is coming off a 139-109 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday to win their semifinal series, while Oklahoma City swept the Los Angeles Lakers 115-110 on May 11.

Tipoff from Paycom Center in Oklahoma City is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.

Spurs vs. Thunder live updates, highlights from NBA playoffs Game 1

4th Quarter- 33.2 seconds: SGA fouled and goes to the line. Hits both free throws to tie the game at 99

4th Quarter- 37.1 seconds: Harper goes to the line and hits both free throws. Spurs up 99-97 

4th Quarter- 1:12: Game tied at 97. 

4th Quarter- 1:50: OKC takes 95-94 lead

4th Quarter- 2:35: Vassell 3-pointer puts Spurs up by 4, 94-90

4th Quarter- 3:20: OKC cuts San Antonio's lead to one point 91-90 

4th Quarter- 3:52: TV Timeout. Spurs go a bit cold up 91-88. 

4th Quarter- 4:48: Spurs up 91-86 under five minutes to play. 

4th Quarter- 5:37: Both teams fighting for buckets. SGA layup with a foul by Wemby 89-84. 

4th Quarter- 7:06: Easy dunk for Luguentz Dort cuts into Spurs lead 89-82

4th Quarter- 7:30: TV timeout. Spurs up 89-80 with tough defense. 

4th Quarter- 8:47: Teams go into the first few minutes of the quarter trading buckets. Spurs hold lead 87-80

Wemby: 25 points, 15 rebounds and a block 

End of 3rd Quarter: Spurs 80, Thunder 73

3rd Quarter- 8.5 seconds: Spurs up 80-73. 

3rd Quarter- 1:07: SGA nails a 3-pointer. Spurs up 75-70

3rd Quarter- 2:20: Wemby goes back to the free throw line after splitting a pair, makes both for 73-67 lead. 

3rd Quarter- 3:24: Teams trading buckets with Spurs up 70-65

3rd Quarter- 4:44: TV Timeout. Spurs up 66-63

3rd Quarter- 5:34: Jared McClain hits a 3-pointer to take Spurs lead down to one point, 64-63

3rd Quarter- 6:05: With Wemby on the bench, OKC is trying to get points in the paint. 64-60 Spurs lead. 

3rd Quarter- 6:27: Wemby out. Stephon Castle makes both free throws. 64-58 Spurs up. 

3rd Quarter- 7:01: Julian Champagnie hit triple to put Spurs up 62-58

3rd Quarter- 7:33: Wemby hits two free throws for the Spurs to retake lead 59-58

3rd Quarter-7:33: Frustration is setting in with the Spurs, who give up the lead for the first time in the second half.

3rd Quarter- 7:46: TV Timeout. Luguentz Dort nails 3-pointer to take 58-57 lead. 

3rd Quarter- 9:57: SGA hits a 3-pointer with San Antonio's lead now 57-55

3rd Quarter- 9:11: Thunder keep hanging around with Spurs lead now three, 55-52

3rd Quarter- 10:50: Teams open the quarter by trading buckets. Spurs up 53-47

Start of 3rd Quarter- 12:00 

Halftime: Spurs 51, Thunder 44

Team Stats

2nd Quarter- 51.1 seconds: Spurs up 51-41 with Devin Vassell 3-pointer

2nd Quarter- 3:30: TV timeout. Thunder cut Spurs lead to 44-41

2nd Quarter- 4:26: Thunder trying to cut into the Spurs 42-35 lead with Chet Holmgren at the free throw line

2nd Quarter- 5:55: Teams trading buckets with Spurs up 42-35

2nd Quarter- 7:19: Victor Wembanyama dunk puts Spurs up 40-32. 

2nd Quarter- 8:03: Another missed 3-pointer for OKC. They've gone ice cold in the quarter with four missed from beyond the arc. 

2nd Quarter- 9:11: Dylan Harper hits a 3-pointer and goes on 9-2 run and go up 36-29

End of 1st Quarter: Thunder 27, Spurs 27

Ajay Mitchell dishes to Jalen Williams on the break for the DUNK and the OKC crowd gets LOUD.

📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/w3hWbCeBdV

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 19, 2026

1st Quarter- 3:03: Teams trading buckets with OKC taking 18-17 lead

1st Quarter- 6:06: Thunder go on 9-3 run to cut Spurs lead to three, 15-12 

Alex Caruso went right at Wemby on offense AND defense. 👏 pic.twitter.com/u9UkLTZx0H

— NBA on NBC and Peacock (@NBAonNBC) May 19, 2026

1st Quarter- 7:28: Spurs jump out to a 12-3 lead early 

1st Quarter- 12:00: Tip-off from Oklahoma City

How to Watch Game 1 Western Conference Finals: San Antonio Spurs vs. Oklahoma City Thunder 

Monday, May 18

Tip-off: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: NBC/ Peacock

More NBA Playoff news:

• San Antonio has best NBA Playoff win since 1983
• Nuggets legend slams 'frugal billionaire' owner Stan Kroenke, doesn't expect offseason moves
• Everyone is saying the same thing about how the refs treated Lakers in Game 2
• Tyran Stokes is all over social media after tough adjustment before future NBA journey

Rajasthan Royals will take on Lucknow Super Giants in Match 64 of the IPL 2026 season at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

It's a must-win game for Rajasthan Royals as they are fighting hard to secure their place among the top four teams and progress to the playoffs. 

Meanwhile, LSG are already out of the playoff race this season and will be playing for pride in their remaining games. 

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Where to watch RR vs LSG: Live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch the Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants IPL 2026 game in India:

• TV channel: Star Sports Network channels
• Live stream: JioHotstar app and website

IPL 2026 matches are available for live TV broadcast across Star Sports Network channels in India. Fans can also watch the live stream on the JioHotstar app and website.

MORE: Visit Cricket News for all the latest cricket coverage and opinion

What time does RR vs LSG match kick off?

The IPL 2026 match between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants will be played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

The match will start at 7:30 p.m. IST on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

MORE: Who is the top run-scorer in IPL 2026?

RR vs LSG: Lineups, team news

There are no new injury concerns in the RR squad and they will be desperate to get back to winning ways to keep their playoff hopes alive.

RR predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma.

Impact Player: Tushar Deshpande, Dasun Shanaka.

The LSG squad is also injury free as Mayank yadav has recovered from his back injury and has rejoined training.

LSG predicted XI: Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c), (wk), Aiden Markram, Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav.

Impact Player: Akash Singh, Digvesh Rathi.

RR vs LSG: Betting odds

Rajasthan Royals are the favourites to win this IPL 2026 match at 1.68 on Dafa, while the odds for Lucknow Super Giants to win are 2.20.

* Odds are correct at time of publish but subject to change.

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Barcelona forward Ferran Torres is one of the question marks over their squad next season, with the Catalan side seemingly yet to take a definitive decision on his future. The exit of Robert Lewandowski would appear to bring him closer to staying at Camp Nou next year, but it seems he may look to take the decision out of their hands.

Torres is out of contract in just over a year, meaning he can commit to a contract with another team next January. It also depresses his market value should Barcelona look to sell him this summer. The third option is that they offer the Spain international a new deal, tying him to the club long-term.

Ferran Torres gives Barcelona ultimatum

Now according to Sport, Torres has given Barcelona an ultimatum on his future. Amid reports that the Blaugrana have offered Torres to other clubs, either as a straight transfer or as a makeweight, he has made it clear that he will not be part of a transfer operation this summer. Either he will leave next summer on a free transfer, or he will sign a new contract and commit his future to Barcelona.

Should Barcelona keep Ferran Torres?

After initially paying €55m for Torres to Manchester City, losing him on a free in the theoretical prime of his career would be less than ideal. His form as a number nine has been hotly debated this season at Camp Nou, with some believing him good enough to lead the line, and others feeling that he limits Barcelona. In total this season, Torres has 21 goals and two assists in his 48 appearances, of which 30 have been starts. He has only missed six games throughout the campaign. The decision could well come down to what Torres is asking from the Blaugrana in order to stay.

In the opinion of the Utah Mammoth front office — and most people in the hockey world, for that matter — players who have championship experience before they get to the NHL are in a better position to succeed.

This week, two Mammoth prospects have the opportunity to win on arguably the biggest pre-NHL stage there is: the Memorial Cup.

The Memorial Cup is an annual tournament between the champions of the three leagues under the Canadian Hockey League umbrella, with the host team taking the fourth spot. Because it takes so many games to capture it, many argue it’s the hardest trophy in hockey to win — the Stanley Cup included.

Here’s a rundown of Utah’s players who have a crack at it this year.

Tij Iginla, Kelowna Rockets

• Drafted: 1st round, 6th overall, 2024
• Position: center/left wing
• Age: 19
• Height: 6 ft.
• Wfootght: 182 pounds
• 2025-26 production: 48 games played, 41 goals, 90 points

As the first player ever drafted by Utah, expectations of Iginla have been high from the beginning. His first post-draft season was cut short due to a necessary surgical procedureon both hips, but he didn’t skip a beat upon returning this year.

The 19-year-old scored the second-most points per game of any CHL player this year. His shot is comparable to that of Dylan Guenther — that is to say it’s among the best in the world — and he has terrorized goaltenders with it all year long.

Mammoth GM Bill Armstrong famously told Iginla after the draft that the team had enough 20-goal scorers, and he needed Iginla to score 50. Guenther will probably beat him to the punch, but it’s not unlikely that Iginla accomplishes it, too.

Iginla’s Kelowna Rockets are the host team. They got knocked out of the Western Hockey League playoffs in the second round at the hands of the eventual-champion Everett Silvertips. They’ll now have the opportunity for revenge.

Being from the Kelowna area, Iginla has the opportunity to lead his hometown team to a championship on home soil. The Rockets have won the Memorial Cup once before, in 2004, and it was also on home ice.

That roster was likewise headlined by local kids: Josh Gorges and Shea Weber. Both went on to have long NHL careers, and Weber ended up as a first-ballot Hockey Hall of Famer.

Tomas Lavoie, Chicoutimi Saguenéens

• Drafted: 3rd round, 89th overall, 2024
• Position: defense
• Age: 20
• Height: 6-foot-4
• Weight: 215 pounds
• 2025-26 production: 48 games played, 41 goals, 90 points

Ironically, Mammoth Nation was largely cheering for Lavoie’s Chicoutimi Saguenéens to lose in the Québec-Maritimes Junior Hockey League. Nothing against Lavoie, but the opposing Moncton Wildcats team featured Utah prospects Caleb Desnoyers and Gabe Smith.

Lavoie’s name might not carry the notoriety of a top-five pick, but he’s an exciting prospect in his own rite.

The Saguenéens topped the Wildcats in six games to capture the Gilles-Courteau Trophy Sunday.

After four years of hard work to win the Gilles-Courteau Trophy, celebrating with his family feels even more special for Tomas Lavoie! 🎉 @SagueneensLHJMQ#QPlayoffs | #Proxi | #TusksUppic.twitter.com/0OF9oxGFbl

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) May 18, 2026

We use the official NHL website for players’ bio information, which lists Lavoie at a whopping 215 pounds, but the Saguenéens’ site has him listed at 230. By both accounts, he’s 6-foot-4.

Big players have advantages in puck battles, they cover more space when defending rushes and they’re capable of hitting harder than smaller guys. As one of the bigger players in the league, Lavoie has all of those advantages.

Lavoie was the fourth-highest-scoring defenseman on his team in the QMJHL playoffs, but he was still better than half a point per game from the blue line.

Why Joe Brady will love Bills' win total projection originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Buffalo Bills are firmly entrenched in the Super Bowl contenders tier as long as Josh Allen is healthy, and in 2026, it's Super Bowl or bust for Buffalo.

With Joe Brady taking over from Sean McDermott, plus the offseason additions of Bradley Chubb and DJ Moore, the Bills, on paper, look ready to finally vanquish their playoff demons.

Of course, to be able to do that, you have to punch your ticket to the postseason, which most think the Bills will do at a canter as they always do.

And it appears that oddsmakers think so as well, as DraftKings has the Bills' over/under win total set at 10.5, leading Fox Sports to think Buffalo could hit the over.

"The Bills have gone over their win total of 10.5 in each of the last six seasons," Fox Sports wrote. "After firing Sean McDermott this offseason, Buffalo promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach while also trading for DJ Moore and signing Bradley Chubb."

MORE:Chargers not seen among AFC elite entering 2026

Bills poised to continue overs streak?

Considering they've had over 10.5 wins in each of the last six seasons, I'd say there's a fair chance for that streak to extend to seven seasons.

But the Bills open up with the Houston Texans, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers, and the New England Patriots in the opening month. Plus, from Week 12 to Week 15, Buffalo faces the Kansas City Chiefs, the Patriots again, the Green Bay Packers, and the Chicago Bears.

So, two brutal stretches in their season that will play a huge role in determining the year in some ways for the Bills.

Yes, the Bills have the talent, but can they survive two tough stretches this season and maintain their regular-season dominance? 

Your guess is as good as mine.

More NFL news:

• Insider offers sound advice to Deion Sanders over Shedeur's Browns career
• Chiefs over/under win projection great for Patrick Mahomes
• Analyst has odd choice for Bills' best-kept roster secret
• Rams urged to go all-out in 2026 and sign All-Pro WR
• Ravens' win total projection great news for Lamar Jackson

NEW YORK (AP) — Cam Skattebo declared he will be healthy enough to play for the New York Giants in their season opener on Sept. 13 against Dallas after breaking his right fibula and dislocating his right ankle last fall.

Speaking at a team town hall event at the Beacon Theatre Monday night on the eve of the start of organized team activities, the 24-year-old running back said he's still working his way back from the injury that required surgery.

“Obviously there’s ups and downs in the injury process and coming back and rehabbing, but the mental battle has been the hardest part: making sure that I trust it fully,” Skattebo said. “I’m a little ways out. Not too far, but I’ll be ready to go. Week 1, I'll be ready to go.”

General manager Joe Schoen and coach John Harbaugh have said they are hoping Skattebo is back at some point during training camp. Receiver Malik Nabers, recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, appears further behind to return.

Skattebo, a 2025 fourth-round pick out of Arizona State, rushed for 410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries before having his rookie year cut short.

“I do not consider that successful for me,” Skattebo said. “I had 400 yards on 100 carries. When I play 17-plus games this year, it's going to be 300 carries for over 2,000 yards.”

That drew a round of applause from Giants fans in attendance for the fan event featuring Skattebo and quarterback Jaxson Dart among the veteran players, as well as the team's rookie class, Harbaugh, Schoen and 1986 Super Bowl champions Phil Simms and Carl Banks.

The 40th anniversary of New York's first Super Bowl title will be celebrated Oct. 4 against the Arizona Cardinals.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Spurs vs Thunder Live box score: Full stats from NBA Playoffs Western Conference Final Game 1 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Spurs and Thunder will face off in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. An intriguing matchup that presents mismatches everywhere. 

Oklahoma City is the relative favorite and has been to come out of the West for some time now. However, the Spurs have the ultimate cheat code. Very few teams have found an answer for Victor Wembanyama. So much so that after Minnesota won Game 5 after Wemby's ejection, the would go onto lose Game 6 by -30 with him in the lineup. 

Oklahoma City has not lost a game in these playoffs. With the exception of Game 4 vs the Lakers, they have won every game by at least 9 points, with some coming as wide as a 20+ point victory. 

San Antonio will need to find a way to slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. Combined they are averaging over 65 points combined. 

Spurs vs. Thunder box score: Full stats from the Western Conference Final Game 1

San Antonio Spurs

Oklahoma City Thunder

1st Half Team Stats

More NBA Playoff news:

• San Antonio has best NBA Playoff win since 1983
• Nuggets legend slams 'frugal billionaire' owner Stan Kroenke, doesn't expect offseason moves
• Everyone is saying the same thing about how the refs treated Lakers in Game 2
• Tyran Stokes is all over social media after tough adjustment before future NBA journey

As a reminder, there is no offseason when it comes to college football news, and that's the case now more than ever. Case in point: the Big Ten is having its spring meetings this week in southern California, and there's plenty to talk about.

One of those things is the future of the College Football Playoff. If you are a college football fan, you know the CFP started as a four-team field in 2014, then expanded to 12 teams for the 2024 season (ahem, Ohio State won both of those first iterations). As with anything that has the potential for more inclusive -- and more importantly -- more money, there is now a push to expand further. Some prefer a few teams, while others want to double the field.

That's the company line all the Big Ten coaches are saying in unisom coming out of the meetings, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel. From Rutgers to Ohio State, all eighteen teams are supporting a 24-team playoff, something Big Ten commissioner Tony Pettiti has been lobbying for.

The Big Ten invited prominent media members to be a part of the meeting this year, something that seems to be designed to get some messaging out, especially with the SEC beating its own drum on a smaller, 16-team model. However, after winning three straight playoffs, the conference would seem to have a bigger voice now more than ever.

And the Big Ten isn't missing its chance to get the message out, ahead of the SEC meetings that are set to take place after Memorial Day. All, thanks in large part to Washington head coach Jedd Fisch.

"I just felt like if messages were getting out of one part of the country and not the other part of the country, some of the things that we wanted to share that we really believe in was getting missed," said Fisch.

Story from the opening of Big Ten meetings, where the league is amplifying its off-season voice and is unified on pushing for a 24-team College Football Playoff. https://t.co/SjFWZMqf5x

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) May 18, 2026

Minnesota head coach P.J. Fleck pointed to the full support of the League as a reason why others (ahem, the SEC), might listen. To date, the ACC and Big 12 have also been on board with.

"It's got tremendous steam and power behind it (the 24-team field)," Fleck said. "Especially from the 18 head coaches in the Big Ten. When you do a lot of things that everybody's 18-for-18 for what we should do, I think it speaks volumes."

It remains to be seen whether or not the big, bad, declawed SEC will get behind such a large field, but with zero SEC teams playing in a national championship game the last three years, now might be the time the conference relents.

There are clearly some things with the calendar that would have to be worked out. Right now, a 24-team field would make an already longer season much longer and perhaps stretch into February. The idea of conference championship games will also have to be revisited, and perhaps scrapped. Those games are pretty lucrative when it comes to gate revenue, so that would have to all be worked out. Long story short, the calendar would need to be condensed

"The season needs to be pushed up," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "We need to finish the season much sooner. Let's have this all done by the first week in January so we have a season that makes sense." to make it all come together.

One way or another, expansion and changes are coming to a College Football Playoff near you, and the Big Ten is trying to throw its weight around at a time when stepping on the scales looks like the conference is an 800-pound gorilla. It just might work.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten coaches unanimous on 24-team playoff at spring meetings

For those who have not recently checked on Tom Kim’s career trajectory, doing so would be a bit of a shock. At 23, he seems like he’s been around forever. He has three PGA Tour wins, 12 victories total on various tours around the world, and has twice been an International team agitator against the U.S. in the Presidents Cup.

Kim also has fallen off the competitive map for the better part of the last three years—which is why he found himself in his current hometown of Dallas on Monday trying to qualify for his fifth U.S. Open. Since the start of the 2024 season, the South Korean has notched only four top-10 finishes in his past 61 starts and his last wins came in back-to-back victories in Las Vegas in 2022-23. Kim’s best chance at a more recent victory came when he lost a playoff to Scottie Scheffler in the ’24 Travelers Championship.

It’s been a bad run that has dropped Kim to 141st in the Official World Golf Ranking, a plunge from being as high as 11th. That kind of position doesn’t get one qualified into any majors, and Kim felt that sting by already missing this year’s Masters and PGA Championship, snapping a string of 15 consecutive majors played.

Duly motivated and coming off his best finish of the season—a T-6 in the opposite-field Myrtle Beach Classic—Kim played well in a strong field of professionals on Monday at Dallas Athletic Club. He opened with a 66 and backed that with an afternoon 68 to finish eight-under 134, one shot behind medalist Peter Uihlein (67-66).

The top nine players scorers advanced out of Dallas to play next month at Shinnecock Hills, and another who earned his spot was the winner of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. Like Kim, he's been mostly off the radar because he’s been playing on LIV Golf. With his exemption from that victory expired and McDowell not having a U.S. Open start since 2020, the 46-year-old Northern Irishman reached the championship again by shooting four-under 138 in Dallas to tie for fifth.

Baylor alum Dossey Cooper finished alone in third, followed by UCLA product Manav Shah. Three players were tied with McDowell—Jimmy Stanger, TK Kim and Adrien Dumont de Chassart.

A six-way tie for the ninth and final position required a playoff, and it was Tennessee product and LIV golfer Caleb Surratt who prevailed. Among those eliminated was longtime PGA Tour player Kevin Streelman.

Among other notable players who did not advance out of Dallas: Sergio Garcia, Eric Cole, Joel Dahmen, Nick Dunlap, Charley Hoffman and Harold Varner III.

The Dallas final qualifier, as well as one at Walton Heath in England, kicked off the schedule of 13 events that will fill out the U.S. Open field. Japan hosts a qualifier on May 25 and then comes “Golf’s Longest Day,” on June 8, when 11 qualifiers are played around the U.S. and Canada.

In England, home countryman and DP World Tour player Nathan Kimsey—ranked 241st the world—medaled by topping his opening 68 with a 62. The top seven players qualified, and Frenchman Ugo Coussaud earned the final spot in a four-man playoff that included LIV Golf’s Thomas Detry. No one who advanced out of the English event is ranked in the top 200 in the world.

Alexander Rossisuffered minor injuries in a Monday practice crash and while he is determined to compete, his status remains uncertain for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. 

ECR confirmed the news on Monday night via social media, with a statement noting the 2016 Indy 500 champion “underwent successful outpatient procedures this evening to repair minor injuries to a finger on his left hand and his right ankle.”

Rossi suffered the injuries during the early part of the first post-qualifying practice on Monday, which was shortened due to severe weather.

The 34-year-old California native, who narrowly missed the pole and qualified second last Sunday, was pounding laps around Indianapolis Motor Speedway under cloudy skies when he spun off Turn 2 roughly 25 minutes into the practice session. The rear of his #20 ECR Chevrolet slammed into the wall first, with the impact putting the car on its side briefly before sitting back down, which is when the #5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet of Pato O’Ward also spun and slammed into Rossi’s ride. The carnage saw the left sidepod of Rossi’s car practically ripped away by the contact, along with visible marks by the aeroscreen. Dale Coyne Racing’s Romain Grosjean was also involved, but, like O’Ward, was seen and released from the Infield Care Center. 

Another look at the incident that involved Alexander Rossi, Pato O'Ward and Romain Grosjean. pic.twitter.com/Qnfik2GewK

— INDYCAR on FOX (@IndyCarOnFOX) May 18, 2026

Rossi was transported to a nearby hospital roughly 90 minutes after his crash. 

The message by ECR via social continued by stating the following:

“Rossi is in good spirits and has no additional injuries.

“Rossi’s recovery will be under the care of INDYCAR Medical Director Dr. Julia Vaizer and the INDYCAR medical team. His progress will continue to be evaluated with the full intent of participating in final practice on Friday, May 22 and the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, May 24.

“The No. 20 Java House Chevrolet crew will prepare a backup car and return to the track for final practice on Friday, May 22.

“Additional updates will be provided when available.”

Alexander Rossi, Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Whew, baby! Exhale everyone, and take the remainder of this pregame to rest on the laurels of an electric Crosstown conclusion that was almost certainly the best such series from a South Side perspective since 2021’s roller coaster three-gamer at then-Guaranteed Rate Field. That one, you might remember, was also characterized by a lopsided win for each side and a dramatic, unlikely White Sox comeback to split the difference. There were also shades of 2019, when Eloy Jiménez’s ninth inning, game-winning bomb produced one of the iconic calls of Jason Benetti’s White Sox tenure and, just as importantly at the time, announced to baseball fans in Chicago that the Sox were once again worth paying attention to.

It remains to be seen what kind of trajectory the 2026 team will follow for the remainder of this summer, but while Benetti’s call might have been absent from Edgar Quero’s heroics yesterday, the image of pandemonium as he rounded the bases may similarly remain as a point of reference in the memory of this squad’s emergence from the abyss.

I’ve been calling it “Ricky’s Boys Don’t Quit: 2026 Version,” and it seems to keep holding true. That 2019 team was hovering around .500 as late as the All-Star Break before fading down the stretch to the tune of 89 losses. That 2019 team was also characterized by simultaneous, exciting and unlikely breakouts from Lucas Giolito, Yoán Moncada, and Tim Anderson, supplemented by Jiménez largely meeting expectations as a rookie, perhaps not dissimilar from what we’re witnessing out of Davis Martin, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, and Munetaka Murakami now.

What smells more promising this time around is that the major league roster in 2019 didn’t have a stream of incoming reinforcements anything near to what we’re expecting in 2026. Luis Robert Jr. and Nick Madrigal weren’t realistically expected to arrive until the following year, and Andrew Vaughn wasn’t even in the system until midway through the season. Dylan Cease and Zack Collins were the only prospects of note to graduate to the big leagues in 2019, and even if their meager contributions can’t be beat by whatever combination of Braden Montgomery, Jacob Gonzalez, Hagen Smith, Tanner McDougal, and perhaps even Rikuu Nishida makes it to Chicago this summer, there’s still the return of Kyle Teel to look forward to. I suspect the final fortunes of the 2019 team would have been better if they had been able to call upon Sam Antonacci early in the season instead of dedicated 400+ outfield plate appearances to Ryan Cordell and Charlie Tilson.

Tragically, that 2019 time never quite even made it above .500, peaking at 34-34 on June 18. Tonight, facing the Mariners for the second time in as many weeks, the Sox have a chance to make it three games above water, a feat they haven’t managed since Sept. 20, 2022. Here’s the lineup they’ll run out to try to get it done:

It’s probably fortunate that Noah Schultz missed Seattle when they came to town, because after averaging four walks per game over his last four starts, tonight might be the night that I start to worry about him just a little bit if he can’t show some progress at limiting the free passes.

If you’re noticing that Will Venable seems to have emptied the bench of lefties tonight, it’s because Seattle is set counter with Bryan Woo and his 100-point OPS platoon split.

Woo has been largely excellent this season, with only a two-start, 13-run aberration spiking his ERA to 3.91 on the aggregate. First pitch is a late one, of course, scheduled for 8:40 p.m. CT from T-Mobile Park. If you want to join us, broadcasts are available on CHSN (TV) and WMVP AM 1000 (radio) like always!

Finally, the Dodgers and Padres meet for the first time in 2026.

Monday’s game info

• Teams: Dodgers at Padres
• Ballpark: Petco Park, San Diego
• Start time: 6:40 p.m. PT
• TV: SportsNet LA
• Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)

Tech baseball are ACC champs again! We go through the insanely good run of games up in Boston College and Tech’s ACC + NCAA Tournament outlook as of now. Then, our thoughts on what’s inside the new Fanning Center, Tech Softball’s results in the NCAA Tournament, and the latest on golf + track & field.

Hosts: Akshay Easwaran, Jack Purdy, Jake Grant

Production: Jack Purdy

Music: Georgia Tech Marching Band, Georgia Tech Glee Club

Commanders named best fit for $97 million ex-Cowboys 11-INT star, two-time Pro Bowler originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Adding another defensive playmaker to their roster should be a priority for the Washington Commanders at this stage of the offseason. 

The Commanders ranked 32nd in total yards allowed, 28th in passing defenses, and 30th in rushing defense a season ago, resulting in a lackluster 5-12 campaign. While one marquee signing won’t fix all of their issues on that side of the ball, it could help prevent them from finishing near the bottom of the league in every major defensive statistical category. 

Specifically, ESPN’s Matt Bowen suggested that a former Dallas Cowboys 11-interception star and two-time Pro Bowler should receive a look from the Commanders.

“Washington could view (Trevon) Diggs as a reclamation project, helping him get back to being a true playmaker in the secondary,” Bowen wrote Monday. “He has had 20 interceptions in six NFL seasons, including a league high of 11 in 2021.”

“Under new coordinator Daronte Jones, Diggs can use his man coverage traits and backfield vision to get a jump on the ball in the Commanders' pressure-heavy scheme. However, he has plenty of availability concerns after spending at least a portion of the past three seasons on injured reserve.”

There’s a concrete reason why many believe Diggs’ breakout season with the Commanders in 2021-22 was a fluke. The Alabama product has recorded only six interceptions since then and is now viewed as an undisciplined cornerback who relies heavily on his instincts rather than a sound, technical approach (which puts him in a blender more often than not). 

It also doesn’t help that Diggs has only appeared in 22 contests from 2022-25 due to injuries. Still, who’s to say the former second-round pick couldn’t resurrect his career with the Commanders and prove he can be a dependable ballhawk moving forward? 

Diggs would be an intriguing addition to a Washington squad in need of all the defensive help they could get.

More NFL: 

• Steelers blockbuster trade rumor could lead to massive deal with Eagles

• Bears named landing spot for $123 million 115-sack Steelers star LB

• Eagles named top landing spot for former Cowboys $21 million starter

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Blake Snell is indeed getting a brand-new surgical procedure that could save him up to a month in recovery time, becoming possibly the second MLB player to ever do it.

General manager Brandon Gomes said Snell is indeed getting the NanoNeedle procedure on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

That procedure, the same one undergone by Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, is expected to a shed a month off of Snell’s recovery time.

When will Snell return from his injury?

It’s hard to say for sure, but taking that one-month estimate from Ardaya and putting it toward the two-to-three-month timeline for the previous procedure, that’s a month or two for Snell, so in May or June.

But Skubal was throwing bullpen sessions within two weeks of the procedure.

As The Athletic details, Skubal had a classic quip for reporters when he greeted them in a Monday press conference.

“Bet you guys didn’t expect to see me here,” he said.

There’s a chance Snellzilla could be saying the same thing, and the Dodgers might need it.

Fellow starter Tyler Glasnow has been “shut down from throwing per now,” Ardaya said, another loss for an already depleted pitching corps.

How has Tarik Skubal recovered so quickly?

As mentioned, Skubal was the first known MLB player to undergo this procedure, and he used the same surgeon as Snell, Dr. Neal ElAttrache.

“I think the first thing they said was, ‘The recovery will be faster,’” Skubal told Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic about his decision. “I think I stopped listening after that. It’s like, ‘All right, I’m good with it if you’re good with it.’ You trust the doctors. ElAttrache is the best surgeon in the world. … If he’s comfortable with it, I don’t see why I wouldn’t be comfortable with it.”

Skubal’s agent, Scott Boras, has used the alternative term “Skubal Scope” for the NanoNeedle 2.0.

Skubal has jokingly put some distance between himself and the phrase.

“(ElAttrache) is the one who said it, and Boras ran with it,” Skubal told Stavenhagen. “Let’s clear the room there. I saw a lot of stuff about that. That was not our camp.”

Dustin Poirier is torn about the idea of fighting Nate Diaz after his performance against Mike Perry at Rousey vs Carano on Netflix.

Diaz (21-14) was battered for almost the entirety of 10 minutes by Perry (15-8) on Saturday before the corner stopped it after Round 2. Afterward, Diaz rejected any calls for retirement and said he won't walk away "crying" in a shot at Poirier, who hung up his gloves last July.

Poirier and Diaz have been talking about fighting each other for years. They were officially scheduled in November 2018, but it didn't happen. Since then, the pair have offered conflicting takes about why it didn't come to fruition.

"The Diamond" has said the only matchup that would bring him out of retirement is a grudge match with Diaz, and even though he still stands by it, he admits the showing against Perry diminished the appeal.

"We could've fought. He knows that. I wish he would be honest with the fans and say that he pulled out or didn't come to terms with the UFC or whatever it was for the couple times we were supposed to fight that it never happened," Poirier said on Paramount's "Deep Waters" podcast. "But, dude, after the way he looked on Saturday night, he can't talk right now man. You need to take a break. He needs to go get some sleep and some rest, not me. He looked like dog sh*t. He looked horrible. He looked like he didn't want to be in there, looked like a punching bag. He looked off balance. His timing was horrible. When somebody loses, I don't like to sh*t on them too hard, but he knows.

"It's crazy that he's bringing me up in a post-fight. Apparently he still wants the fight or is thinking about it. It's just like, after a performance like that, it's like I'm picking on somebody now if I'm chasing Nate Diaz, the way he looked. It's like I'm picking on an easy fight, easy win. But, Nate Diaz, I will knock you clean out if we fight."

More: Rousey vs. Carano fight night weights: Gina much heavier than Ronda

Diaz is once again a free agent following his bout with Perry on Netflix, which was promoted by MVP MMA. He said afterward that he wants to rematch Perry "ASAP," but if Diaz instead pursues a deal with the UFC, Poirier said he will take the necessary steps to be eligible for competition.

"My invitation is still out there," Poirier said. "At 170, I'll go back in the drug test protocol or whatever. I will knock Nate Diaz completely out."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dustin Poirier rips Nate Diaz's 'dog sh*t' performance vs. Mike Perry

The Brooklyn Nets came away from the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery with a disappointing result as they ended up with the No. 6 overall pick despite having a 14.0% chance of getting the No. 1 pick. Brooklyn now moves forward with the knowledge that they can use their first-round pick to draft their next franchise guy, but they could have other moves to make this summer.

"The Nets have nothing but time now. Waiting out Embiid’s contract is no problem for them, their whole team is cheap and they’re not contending next year anyway short of some Hail Mary we don’t currently see," CBS Sports' Sam Quinn wrote in a post on X when reacting to Brooklyn unfortunate turn of events in the Lottery. One of Quinn's suggestions is trading for Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid in the effort to get more draft capital.

"If he happens to give you some fun stretches? Cool. Bonus," Quinn continued in his post. "Really, he’s the matching salary in my star trade(s) in two years once he’s expiring, and a path to extracting picks out of Philly now. I’m just trying to accumulate such a cartoonish amount of future draft capital that I can get outbid for whoever the guy is in 2028 or 2029 by absolutely nobody."

As of this writing, the Nets have at least 11 first-round picks in the next six years, but there are some in the NBA community who believe that teams like Brooklyn should be trying to get as many draft picks as possible until they're no longer needed. Based on what most pundits are saying about the 2026 draft class, the Nets aren't expected to select a star-level player given that they pick didn't land in the top-4.

For a team like the 76ers, Embiid's contract may prove to be something that the team needs to get off if they're going to move in a different direction, which could happen after President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey was let go following their loss to the New York Knicks in the second round of the playoffs. Given Embiid's injury woes, Philadelphia may have to attach draft capital to Embiid to move him and Brooklyn could potentially benefit from that transaction.

I have a controversial pivot for the Nets in the wake of these two back to back disappointing lotteries. My whole plan for now is maximizing future draft capital by any means necessary. To that end I’d do two things:

1. Trade Michael Porter Jr.
2. Take on Joel Embiid’s contract.…

— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) May 12, 2026

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Should the Nets trade for 76ers' Joel Embiid after Lottery result?

USA Today offers a clever defense of Brendan Sorsby’s bets on Indiana football originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback transfer Brendan Sorsby was discovered to have gambled on games during his freshman season with the Indiana Hoosiers. Of course, betting on your own team is frowned upon, even if it’s not as much frowned upon as betting against your own team.

USA Today’s Kevin Skiver made a great point about Sorsby’s explanation for why he wagered on the Hoosiers, which centered around feeling “connected” to the team: that’s exactly how sportsbooks market their product to the public.

“While at first blush it's obviously inconceivable for a member of Indiana football to need to feel more connected to the program, and it ultimately is a ridiculous premise, it is in-line with modern gambling ads are selling. During broadcasts, including college football broadcasts, the promise is for fans to feel like they're a part of every snap, every home run, and every basket. Even so, Sorsby's bets ranged far beyond Indiana athletics, and college athletes are expressly prohibited from betting on games,” Skiver wrote.

Sorsby sued the NCAA for an injunction that’d allow him to play this fall after being ruled ineligible. His defense figures to be close to what Skiver suggested. It probably bodes well that the case is in Lubbock.

It definitely bodes well for Sorsby that this exact line of thinking is being published in USA Today. Skiver's article is a nice reference point for whichever judge is assigned this highly publicized case.

Brendan Sorsby could benefit from Johnson v. NCAA not being ruled until 2024

Perhaps there’s a case that since the Johnson v. NCAA case wasn’t ruled on until July 2024, Sorsby wasn’t technically an employee of Indiana University at the time he placed his wagers. Since he hasn’t been found to have bet on the Cincinnati Bearcats, which was when the ruling was in effect, and when he had an impact on the results of games, perhaps he can sneak by the NCAA on this one.

Sorsby’s still being talked about for the NFL supplemental draft, so nothing is set in stone. Still, it’s clear that there’s a defense in place, which, beyond the sportsbook’s targeted marketing points, also includes appealing to the local economy’s health, and it should play well to a Lubbock County judge.

Former Real Madrid player, coach, and sporting director Jorge Valdano shared his thoughts on the possibility of Jose Mourinho returning to the Santiago Bernabéu, raising questions about whether the Portuguese manager’s second spell would remain calm once results inevitably become complicated.

Speaking on La Casa del Futbol, Valdano suggested Mourinho would likely arrive with a more measured approach initially, but warned that the true test would come later in the season.

“We’ll see what happens as time goes on and when defeats come,” Valdano said. “Will peace be possible, or will we continue with this somewhat turbulent situation?”

Mourinho has frequently been linked with a return to Real Madrid in recent years, more than a decade after leaving the club in 2013. His first tenure remains one of the most polarizing periods in modern Madrid history — remembered both for ending Barcelona’s domestic dominance and for the tension and division that eventually emerged around the club.

Valdano, who famously clashed with Mourinho during their time together at Madrid, appeared to suggest that the Portuguese coach may attempt to return with a different tone this time around.

“I think Mourinho will arrive with his most seductive side,” Valdano explained. “At the beginning, everything will be very calm.”

The Argentine also pointed to scheduling circumstances that could help Mourinho settle in more smoothly if he were to return now compared to previous chaotic managerial transitions.

“I think the players will respond well because there’s no Club World Cup in between,” Valdano said. “I suppose the preseason will be a bit more demanding, and that will help the squad perform better.”

Despite discussing Mourinho’s potential impact, Valdano stressed that Real Madrid’s problems cannot be solved by a coach alone and emphasized the need for reinforcements across the squad.

“Anyway, Mourinho can’t fix this alone,” he said.

Valdano specifically highlighted the club’s defensive deficiencies, claiming Madrid still need major additions at the back as well as a midfielder capable of balancing the team structurally.

“At least four defenders are missing, and they need a midfielder to give balance to the squad,” Valdano stated.

Valdano also suggested Florentino Pérez would be reluctant to part ways with key figures inside the dressing room despite the need for changes.

“Florentino is not going to sell heroes,” he said.

Mourinho’s original spell at Real Madrid lasted from 2010 to 2013 and included one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup. While his Madrid side became known for its intensity, physicality, and record-breaking domestic performances, the era was also marked by high-profile internal conflicts and growing tension behind the scenes.

Valdano himself departed the club during Mourinho’s first season after a well-documented power struggle with the Portuguese coach.

Reaching a significant milestone in the history of a program is the matter of executing on the little things.

Those little things can be physical — such as fielding routine groundballs or grinding out productive at-bats.

They can be mental as well — in terms of showing persistence, sacrificing for a common goal and coming to the field with a positive attitude.

The 2026 Clay Panthers' baseball program has either performed in all of those areas throughout the year or gotten progressively better in them daily.

It's resulted in what is one of Clay's best seasons to date, which has included a 20-6 overall record, a No. 5 state ranking and wins in 15 out of its last 18 games.

The latest win, an 8-5 triumph for Clay over the Racine Southern Tornadoes' baseball program on Friday evening, was extra special.

Overcoming a 4-2 deficit after three innings of play, the Panthers hung a six-spot in the fourth frame of work and never trailed from that point onward en route to obtaining program victory No. 1,000 Friday evening in Rosemount.

The victory marked another goal checked off the list for Kylon Crabtree's group, who entered the spring with the goal of checking off 1,000 wins on its mind after receiving helpful information from Clay baseball assistant coach and Clay Junior-Senior High history teacher Zack Fryman.

"It's a wonderful feeling," Crabtree said. "You can't really describe how good it feels because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I truly had no idea about it until early in the season. My assistant coach, Zack Fryman, got into the history books and started going back, and once we added everything up, we realized how close we were to that milestone. That made the boys really push for that. They used that as some motivation, and set it as a goal, saying, 'Hey, let's go get 20 wins, and get 1,000 (program wins) this year."

Now, Clay's not only got 20 wins for the season and 1,000 wins in the history of the program, but has an opportunity to accomplish much more than that.

With its 20-win season in the bag, the 2026 Clay squad is just the fourth team in the history of the program, dating back to the start of baseball at Clay in 1940, that has won 20 games in a season, and the first since the 2019 Clay squad to accomplish the feat.

By winning its 20th game on Friday, Clay matched that 2019 team as well as the 1954 group for the second-most victories in a single-season in program history. Winning just one more game in 2026 would allow Clay to match the 1949 squad, a group coached by longtime head baseball coach Kinney Long, a 2004 Clay Hall of Fame inductee who won 408 games, 16 conference titles, and three district championships in his 30 seasons from 1940 to 1970.

Since Long's retirement from the position following the 1970 season, Clay has remained competitive in the sport, and won district championships in 1987 under Dick McCleese and 2003 under Mark Robinson.

This season's group could be on track to win a district title for the first time in 23 years.

During its 15 wins over an 18-game stretch, Clay has taken down state ranked foes in No. 2 OHSBCA Division VII Green (4-0) and No. 12 OHSBCA Division V Valley (7-6) on the road. The Panthers also defeated archrival Notre Dame by a 4-3 count in nine innings on April 24 at home.

"You don't know what to expect early on in the year, but these guys have not disappointed and not let up since the beginning," Crabtree said. "When you do have a young team, you have to let them go prove what they can do. We knew they had the capability, but they've proved it from Game 1. They have come out on a mission. They come out and play, they come out and compete, and it's just a great group of boys to be around."

As Clay has gone on its tear toward becoming one of the state's most highly-respected units, the Panthers have garnered more respect in the process. The Panthers have won seven games by mercy rule since April 14, but have also gone 4-2 in games decided by three runs or less in the same span of time.

Clay's only losses since April 14 are setbacks to OHSAA Division V foes Portsmouth (4-2) and Northwest (6-3) as well as a loss at OHSBCA No. 8 South Webster (11-2).

"You can't really explain how that chemistry just grows among the team — it's just something that you have to witness," Crabtree said. "Witnessing it in person and seeing a group of kids that have different backgrounds and hobbies come together as one when they all step into not only our dugout, but the visiting dugouts, and put everything else aside and have one goal in mind — to play and compete together — is terrific. The happiest I've been is seeing them believe in each other. It's not just been one or two guys — it's been a collective group of an entire team that has sacrificed and put their own feelings aside and has done what's best for our team."

Because of their own mindsets, Clay now sits within two games from establishing the new all-time mark for wins in a season, as only the 1949 squad, which took the field 76 years ago, has won over 20 games in a single campaign.

Breaking the aforementioned district title drought also sits within reach, and even the 82-year drought of advancing to a state semifinal — a feat that only Long's 1944 group has ever done from a baseball standpoint at Clay — isn't unfathomable, either.

All of those achievement would certainly thrill the folks in Rosemount and Clay Township as the cathartic atmosphere behind what can be done within the program seems to grow with each passing game and pitch.

"Our community has done nothing but show up, time and time again," Crabtree said. "A huge thanks goes out to each and every person. You work hard to get your team to buy in, but when you can also get the community to buy into a group of guys, and they are collectively coming up to support a group that's working hard, it's just unlike anything else. The community, the parents, the families, the grandparents, the aunts and uncles, and everybody that comes to support these kids — it's been nothing short of spectacular."

But while special goals to shoot for and look forward toward striving for, the mentality of the Clay baseball program remains one pitch, one play and one game at a time.

"It's one game at a time," Crabtree said. "The boys have set goals, and they're achieving those goals one game at a time. That's the word that you have to keep saying — one game at a time. They have a goal of eclipsing the school record for the number of wins at Clay, which is 21 wins in a season, so if we're fortunate enough to notch two more wins somewhere between now or tournament play, we're going to achieve that, and hopefully, even a few more."

Chargers not seen among AFC elite entering 2026 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Chargers in 2026 will be one team to keep a close eye on for a number of reasons, with the biggest one being how Mike McDaniel can get the most out of Justin Herbert.

With the Chargers winning 11 games in back-to-back seasons but going one-and-done in the playoffs, McDaniel is seen as the person who can unlock Herbert's talent.

That comes with its own set of pressures, as time is running out for the Chargers to shift the narrative around their quarterback.

Can they do it in 2026? Some think so, but the bookmakers aren't as bullish, as DraftKings has the Chargers' over/under win total set at just 9.5, which surprises Fox Sports.

"The Chargers won 11 games in 2025 despite losing both All-Pro tackles, Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater, for most of the season," Fox Sports wrote. "Both are expected to return in 2026, and Los Angeles also added Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator. Even with those major boosts, the Chargers’ win total is somehow lower entering the season."

MORE:Chiefs over/under win projection great for Patrick Mahomes

Chargers must hit the over

Not winning 10 games for the Chargers is nightmare fuel for Harbaugh and Herbert. One, because it would signal that the 2026 season didn't go the way many envisioned, and it would likely mean no playoffs.

Given the expectations, that can't happen.

The time has come for Herbert, who now has a coordinator who I think can get the best out of him, to really take the league by storm, and not just have a good regular season, but go deep into the postseason.

The roster is good enough, but is Herbert? We're about to find out.

More NFL news:

• Insider offers sound advice to Deion Sanders over Shedeur's Browns career
• Commanders oddly linked with faded CB in free agency move
• Patriots set for early-season Super Bowl credentials test
• Rams urged to go all-out in 2026 and sign All-Pro WR
• NFL hands ideal Ravens path to begin 2026

New AFC contender emerges as potential suitor for A.J. Brown in trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New England Patriots could have some competition when it comes to their well-publicized plan to try to trade for Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown this offseason. 

Everyone and their mother knows that the Patriots are interested in trading for Brown, but another AFC contender has emerged as a potential suitor for the star pass-catcher. 

Jacksonville Jaguars could have interest in A.J. Brown 

According to longtime NFL insider Jason La Canfora, the Jacksonville Jaguars are viewed as a possible landing spot for Brown and could potentially flip Pro Bowl receiver Brian Thomas Jr. back to Philadelphia in a deal. 

From La Canfora: 

"Another personnel exec mentioned Jacksonville as a potential fit for Brown. Jags receiver Brian Thomas, Jr. has regressed and been subject of trade rumors and 2025 top pick Travis Hunter is going to be playing way more cornerback than receiver moving forward and a vet like Brown could help fill a void there."

It remains to be seen if the Eagles would actually want Thomas Jr. back in a trade for Brown. After all of the additions they already made at receiver over the offseason, they might feel comfortable with the group they already have without Brown. 

The reporting of Jacksonville's *potential* interest in Brown is interesting nonetheless. Up to this point, the vast majority of reporting about a potential Brown trade has involved the Patriots.

Perhaps more teams will register their interest with Philadelphia as we move closer to June. While this would be bad news for New England, it would be great news for the Eagles, who will be seeking the best possible return in any trade. 

More NFL news: 

• Miami Dolphins' young core named worst in entire NFL
• Drake Maye doesn't think Mike Vrabel situation will be distraction for Patriots
• New York Giants' asking price in Kayvon Thibodeaux trade revealed
• New report casts serious doubt on Joe Burrow's future with Cincinnati Bengals

The San Francisco Giants begin a three-game road series against the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight.

Taking the mound for the Giants will be left-hander Robbie Ray, who enters tonight’s game with a 3.04 ERA, 4.92 FIP, with 49 strikeouts to 20 walks in 50.1 innings pitched. His last start was in the Giants’ 4-0 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers last Wednesday, in which he allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts and two walks in four and two thirds innings.

He’ll be facing off against Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, who enters tonight’s game with a 5.02 ERA, 4.58 FIP, with 29 strikeouts to 14 walks in 43 innings pitched. His last start was in the Diamondbacks’ 7-4 loss to the Texas Rangers last Tuesday, in which he allowed seven runs (four earned) on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks in four and two thirds innings.

Game #48

Who: San Francisco Giants (20-27) – Arizona Diamondbacks (22-23)

Where: Chase Field, Phoenix, Arizona

When: 6:40 p.m. PT

Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area

National broadcast: n/a

Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM

Will Wade adds his next basketball player as UTSA Roadrunners transfer guard Austin Nunez has signed with the LSU Tigers, per Pete Nakos of On3Sports. Nunez is a potential starting guard for them, though he has a ton of experience as a backup.

The journeyman has made two separate stints with the Arizona State Sun Devils, a year with the Ole Miss Rebels and then last season with the Roadrunners. He has started 23 of his 84 career games, with 21 of those starts coming last season.

Nunez averaged 9.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.1 steals on 30.4/25.3/88.5 shooting splits. Obviously, that efficiency is not exactly something they strive for, but the free-throw percentage suggests that things can improve.

The big thing to take away from his production last year is those 1.1 steals. A large through-line of this interesting Tigers roster is defensive intensity. Will Wade and his staff is going to be expecting their players to play hard and force turnovers. A lot of these players are good at doing just that.

LSU now has six players publicly added to its roster. Nunez would either be the starting point guard or the sixth man off the bench.

Here is a fully updated look at their known players, still not much depth but an interesting start to team:

Former Michigan State Spartans G Divine Ugochukwu

Former UTSA Roadrunners G Austin Nunez

Former Kansas State Wilcats G/F Abdi Bashir Jr.

Former Kentucky Wildcats F Mo Dioubate

Ex-Israeli Profesional F/C Marcio Santos

Freshman F Ahmad Hudson

SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed veteran reliever Jonathan Hernández and optioned reliever Chayce McDermott back to the minors after one appearance.

The injury-plagued World Series champions made their latest pitching shuffle Monday before they faced the NL West rival San Diego Padres for the first time this season.

Hernández opted out of his minor league contract with Philadelphia on Monday after making 13 appearances for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, going 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 15 innings.

Hernández appeared in parts of five seasons for the Texas Rangers before bouncing through the minors with Seattle, Tampa Bay and the Phillies over the past two years. He hasn't pitched in the majors since making three appearances for the Mariners in August 2024.

McDermott made his Dodgers debut with one scoreless inning in their 10-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep. The Dodgers acquired the right-hander in a trade with Baltimore last month.

The Dodgers are going through another year of significant injury problems for their pitching staff, forcing them to shuffle their rotation and bullpen on a weekly basis yet again. Los Angeles still has the majors' second-lowest ERA at 3.21 entering its trip to Petco Park.

High-priced starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are out with significant injuries. Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Glasnow's injured back recently “flared up,” preventing him from throwing off a mound yet. Snell has made one start for the Dodgers this season, while Glasnow left his seventh start of the year with his injury nearly two weeks ago.

Edwin Diaz, the majors' highest-paid reliever, is likely out for at least three months after undergoing surgery to remove loose bodies in his elbow after just seven appearances with his new team. The Dodgers then lost left-hander Jack Dreyer, their most-used reliever this season, to shoulder discomfort last weekend.

Roberts also said long-injured reliever Brusdar Graterol has had another setback in his recovery from a back injury. The hard-throwing Graterol, who hasn't pitched in the majors since the 2024 World Series, had been pitching for Triple-A Oklahoma City.

“He'll be shut down for a while,” Roberts said.

The Dodgers' other injured pitchers with significant major league experience include right-handers Brock Stewart, Evan Phillips, Ben Casparius, Landon Knack, Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller and Jake Cousins.

Utilitymen Kiké Hernández and Tommy Edman have also missed the entire season to date with injuries, but both are tentatively expected back within the next month.

The Dodgers transferred Casparius to the 60-day injured list to make room for Hernández on the 40-man roster.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Rebecca Leslie scored the winning goal with 56 seconds left on Monday night to give the Ottawa Charge a 2-1 win over the Montreal Victoire to force a Game 4 in the best-of-five Walter Cup Final.

The Victoire, with two overtime wins on home ice, lead the best-of-five series 2-1. Game 4 is Wednesday in Ottawa.

Leslie found Sarah Wozniewicz's rebound and fired it through traffic to beat Ann-Renee Desbiens, who made 26 saves.

Montreal challenged the goal for a missed stoppage in play but after a lengthy review the goal stood, sending the playoff record crowd of 16,894 into a frenzy.

Trailing 1-0 Ottawa tied the game when Peyton Hemp picked up a loose puck and beat a sprawled out Desbiens for her first of the postseason with 5:30 remaining in the third period.

Montreal opened the scoring at 7:32 of the third when Maureen Murphy rifled a shot off the back boards and Hayley Scamurra picked up the rebound and beat Gwyneth Philips, who stopped 27 shots.

Ottawa started the third on the power play but generated just one shot.

The teams exchanged chances minutes later with Hemp trying to beat Desbiens at the side of the net and then Montreal’s Kaitlin Willoughby trying to beat Philips from in close.

The game remained scoreless after 40 minutes.

___

AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey

Patience is a virtue. That’s the takeaway early this week regarding the Minnesota Vikings’ search for a new general manager. SI.com‘s Albert Breer updated the search, claiming an announcement may take a bit longer than expected.

Minnesota’s ownership group appears willing to let the process breathe before making its next front-office call.

The Vikings’ ownership group has a vast pool of applicants and might not be in a huge rush.

Minnesota Appears Comfortable Taking Its Time

Perhaps a couple more weeks are needed to identify the next GM?

Breer on the Vikings’ GM Process

Breer offered a rather insightful level-set of Minnesota’s current GM situation, with all eyes on the next guy.

He wrote, “The Vikings’ GM search could take a bit. Minnesota has now worked through a list of eight candidates, interviewing assistant GMs from the 49ers (RJ Gillen), Bills (Terrance Gray), Broncos (Reed Burckhardt), Dolphins (Kyle Smith), Lions (Ray Agnew), Rams (John McKay), Seahawks (Nolan Teasley) and Titans (Dave Ziegler) over Zoom last week, as well as interim GM Rob Brzezinski.”

“The interviews lasted about an hour, with owner Mark Wilf and coach Kevin O’Connell running the show and COO Andrew Miller and others from the Wilf management group taking part as well. They covered some big-picture topics and drilled down on how candidates saw their team. The plan is for the Vikings to regroup today to map out the coming weeks. The trouble is this is a bit of a busy week for the franchise.”

The Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the former general manager from 2022 to 2025, in late January due to a poor draft record and questionable quarterback roster decisions.

Breer continued, “The expectation is that the Twin Cities will be awarded the 2028 draft at the meetings, so a big contingent, including ownership, will be in Orlando for that. And with a holiday weekend coming up, there’s a good chance in-person interviews with finalists for the job won’t happen until next week.”

“Without competition for candidates out there—the Vikings are the only team looking for a GM — Minnesota can afford to be patient. That said, there’s also an acknowledgment there that it’d be good to get the new GM in soon so he can get started with O’Connell before the summer break commences in mid-June.”

Surprise 2028 Draft Nugget

Tucked in the Breer piece was the predictive draft nugget. A few hours before the rest of the world had the intel, Breer spilled the beans on Minneapolis as the host city of the 2028 NFL Draft. That’s happening now, and NFL owners will vote to finalize the measure this week.

Reuters noted after the Breer prognostication: “NFL owners are expected to vote Tuesday to confirm Minneapolis as the host of the 2028 NFL ​Draft, ESPN reported Monday. The 2026 draft took ‌place in Pittsburgh last month, with the 2027 event scheduled for the National Mall in Washington, D.C.”

“NBC Sports reported ​that the 2028 draft itself would be conducted ​in and around U.S. Bank Stadium, home of ⁠the Minnesota Vikings since 2016, and also would ​have a presence all around the Twin Cities.”

Minneapolis will become the NFL’s epicenter for one weekend in April 2028.

The Interim Option

While the process of finding a new boss may not be in any particular hurry, one can’t help but wonder about Brzezinski, the incumbent. He’s been a part of the franchise since 1999 — so 27 years — and now would be a very strange time for him to leave. Hell, he’s acted as the main general manager for 3.5 months, and most approve of his job performance.

Therefore, keeping in mind Brzezinski as a front-and-center figure in this search, his fate could bend a few ways:

1. Brzezinski will shed the “interim title” and become the full-time general manager.
2. He’ll simply return to his old job, affectionately known to Vikings fans as the “cap wizard” or “money guy.”
3. The Vikings will carve out a custom setup for Brzezinski to have more power while giving the new general manager more responsibility over the draft, for example, while likely keeping O’Connell as the franchise’s main face.

It’s a long way of saying that Brzezinski is important to the Vikings.

June as the New Timeline?

Interviews began last week, and conventional logic suggested Minnesota could have a candidate in place by May 24th or so. Per the Breer reporting, that could be pushed back by a week or two if the Wilfs are not in a hurry.

June feels like a new date for the announcement. The NFL calendar — compared to other months — slows to a crawl in June and during the first three weeks of July. Hiring a new general manager sometime in June would be an appropriate time.

That’s probably the new expected date. Vikings organized team activities (OTAs) kick off on May 26th.

The Mariners played some dreadful baseball this weekend, getting swept by the Padres, and now have to face a Chicago White Sox team they just dropped a series to. My vibes, please, they are very sick.

Lineups:

Get called up, get to be in the lineup graphic.

News:

You’ve probably already seen the news about the Mariners calling up their top prospect Colt Emerson, but the team also made a slew of roster moves today, most notably optioning Leo Rivas to Tacoma and swapping him with infielder Patrick Wisdom. They also swapped a righty reliever in Domingo Gonzalez for a lefty, Robinson Ortiz. Finally, the Mariners added Brennan Davis to the 40-man roster. Davis had a clause in his contract where he was able to opt out if the Mariners didn’t put him on their 40-man by this weekend and sign with a different organization that would, but the Mariners wanted to keep the right-handed hitting outfielder in the organization.

Read more here.

As another note, today Dan Wilson confirmed that the Mariners will indeed be using a “piggyback start” with Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo. Miller will start, and Castillo will come in from the bullpen.

Today’s game information:

Game time: 6:40 PT

TV: Mariners.TV, with Aaron Goldsmith and Angie Mentink, with Ryan Rowland-Smith as field analyst (and Brad Adam is at least in the building. Vibes restored.)

Radio: 710 AM Seattle Sports, with Rick Rizzs and Gary Hill Jr.

One of the Columbus Blue Jackets' top objectives this off-season should be to boost their forward group. Because of this, they have now been urged to sign this year's top pending unrestricted free agent (UFA) if he hits the market.

In a recent article for The Athletic, Aaron Portzline argued that the Blue Jackets should try to bring in Alex Tuch if he hits the free-agent market this summer and if they end up losing Mason Marchment or Boone Jenner. 

"Tuch, who has scored 30-plus goals in three of the last four seasons, would give the Blue Jackets a 'finishing' boost to help Kirill Marchenko and Adam Fantilli carry the offensive load. He could also help create something in Columbus that’s long been missing: a legitimate power play," Portzline wrote.

The idea of the Blue Jackets signing Tuch is certainly a fascinating one. The 30-year-old winger is an impactful top-six power forward who would undoubtedly strengthen their forward group if signed. 

However, with Tuch being the best free-agent forward who can hit the market on July 1, he is due for a significant raise from his current $4.75 million AAV. That remains the case whether he ends up re-signing with Buffalo or signs elsewhere. As a result of this, he would be an expensive pickup for the Blue Jackets. 

Yet, with the Blue Jackets looking to take that next step and be a playoff team, it could make sense for them to make a bold move and sign Tuch. The 2014 first-round pick would be a strong addition to their top six, and his 33 goals and 66 points in 79 games this season shows that. 

The Chicago Bears are rolling with the same group of edge rushers they finished with last season. 

The team didn't add anybody in free agency or the 2026 NFL Draft -- a bold move for a unit that struggled to get after opposing quarterbacks last season. 

ESPN's Matt Bowen provided a potential solution to help Chicago's pass rush. In the article "2026 NFL offseason: Best NFL team fits for 14 free agents," Bowen identifies landing spots for 14 free agents. He came to each conclusion by assessing the scheme fit, cap space and did so with the premise that the players selected would likely serve as rotational pieces. 

With the criteria established, Bowen selected Von Miller as a team fit for the Bears. 

"The Bears are awaiting the return of edge rushers Dayo Odeyingbo (Achilles) and Shemar Turner (torn ACL), and the team didn't take an edge rusher in the draft. That could open the door for Miller as a sub-package defender for Chicago.

At this stage of his career, Miller is best used as a true designated pass rusher. He had a team-high nine sacks for the Commanders last season."

Miller, 37, has had a highly-productive 14-year career in the NFL and will likely end up in Canton, Ohio one day, but the fit wouldn't be right in Chicago. The Bears would have to make sure they have the cap space first, as the team has roughly $6.5 million currently. 

But even if that was enough to sign Miller to a one-year deal, would the Bears want to want to bring in someone who has primarily played as a 3-4 outside linebacker throughout his career? At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Miller has the strength and size to set the edge, but there are just more suitable options if the Bears wanted to go the veteran route. 

Cam Jordan is the obvious answer. 

Jordan and Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen were together for 10 years in New Orleans. During rookie minicamp, Allen was asked about his former player.

“My experience with him was outstanding," Allen said. "I mean, Cam's going to be a fricking Hall of Fame player – is a Hall of Fame player. I don't know that there's been a ton of discussion about that. I think we feel pretty good about where we're at and what we have. Yet, you never know what opportunities might present themselves at some point down the road."

[READ: Chicago Bears Rookie Minicamp: Dennis Allen Discusses Dayo Odeyingbo's Fit]

The door wasn't completely closed about adding Jordan, 36, but it doesn't seem likely. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis spoke to local reporters on Monday ahead of the annual Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament, and shared that a contract has been presented to Jordan's camp and conversations "have been productive." But it's still unclear what role Jordan would have on the team if he does return. 

There's another important detail when it comes to potentially adding players on the defensive line. The Bears like in their current players. What the team believes will help the pass rush is improved coaching, and that's where the team will shift its focus this season. 

"And one of the things that we identified was we focused so much on installing all the scheme last year, because it was brand new," Allen said. "We do have a high volume of things that we carry in the defense, and we focused so much on that, that we lost sight of some of the fundamentals and techniques that it takes to function to do those things. I don't think we were as fundamentally-sound defensively as we need to be. So how do we have to coach it better? Well, let's minimize how much we're focused on the scheme and let's focus on not what we're going to do, but how we're going to do it. I think that's how we're going to improve."

Patriots Have Hardest Opening Month Schedule Of Any Team Since 1986 originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

If the NFL was trying to make up for the New England Patriots' "easy" schedule last season, they have done so effectively. CBS Sports research team revealed that the Patriots' opening four opponents have the largest SOS of any team's opening opponents since the 1986 Philadelphia Eagles. 

"Their first four opponents have a combined strength of schedule of .721, which is the highest any team has faced in the first four weeks in 40 years," John Breech wrote. "To make things worse, the Patriots will have to play three of their first four games on the road."

Their opening four opponents' win percentages go as such: Seattle Seahawks .667, Pittsburgh Steelers .667,  Jacksonville Jaguars .833, Buffalo Bills .667.  New England will be travelling to Seattle, Jacksonville, and Buffalo. 

"The Patriots' first three games are against teams that won their division last year, making New England the first team in six years (2019 Dolphins) to open a season with games against three straight division winners from the prior season," Breech wrote. 

On the bright side, the next two games are against the Las Vegas Raiders and the New York Jets. So should New England fall behind, there's plenty of October runway to make up some ground in the standings. 

One thing's for certain: when head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye win their second consecutive AFC Conference Championship, nobody will be calling them "the schedule."

More NFL: Tom Brady Hilariously Roasts Bill Belichick During Commencement Speech

Chiefs over/under win projection great for Patrick Mahomes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Kansas City Chiefs will be aiming to return to the postseason in 2026 after missing out for the first time in the Patrick Mahomes era last season.

No. 15 is dealing with an ACL injury and has set Week 1 as his return date, plus the Chiefs have had a soft roster turnover this offseason. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson are out, so too Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco, with Kenneth Walker and draftee Mansoor Delane coming in.

But what can we expect from the Chiefs in 2026? 

After an offseason that has many people bullish on Kansas City returning to dominance, DraftKings has the Chiefs' over/under win total set at 10.5 for the 2026 season, and Fox Sports revealed why.

"The Chiefs recorded their lowest win total since 2012 with just six wins, largely due to a brutal 1-9 record in one-score games," Fox Sports wrote. "While Kansas City remained in playoff contention for most of the season, Patrick Mahomes’ ACL injury caused him to miss the final three games and effectively ended the team’s playoff hopes.

"With Mahomes expected to return by Week 1, Vegas expects the Chiefs to bounce back to championship-level contention in 2026."

MORE:Ravens' win total projection great news for Lamar Jackson

Can Chiefs hit the overs?

Last year aside, Mahomes had won at least 10 regular-season games for seven years, so winning 11 is easily doable.

But there is one big question for me.

When will Mahomes return? If it is Week 1, you can't assume he'll be 100 percent, which could impact how the Chiefs begin the season. Plus, what if Patrick doesn't return until Week 4 or Week 5? 

That means a month of Justin Fields, and suddenly winning 10+ games will look like a tall order.

But if, and that's a big if, Mahomes is fully healthy starting in Week 1, I can see the Chiefs winning 10 or so games in 2026, and likely returning to the playoffs.

More NFL news:

• Insider offers sound advice to Deion Sanders over Shedeur's Browns career
• Commanders oddly linked with faded CB in free agency move
• Patriots set for early-season Super Bowl credentials test
• Rams urged to go all-out in 2026 and sign All-Pro WR
• NFL hands ideal Ravens path to begin 2026

Green Bay added cornerback Marlon Jones, an undrafted rookie out of Vanderbilt who won a battle with stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2024.

Football is not close to the biggest challenge Marlon Jones had to face. After playing five college seasons at Eastern Washington, the defensive back agreed to transfer to Vanderbilt. However, stage 3 Hodgkin's lymphoma was in his way. He recovered from it, played last season at Vanderbilt, and is now going to the NFL.

Two years after his diagnosis, he’s now a member of the Green Bay Packers. On Monday, the Packers signed the cornerback to a standard three-year, undrafted contract.