Building a gaming PC in 2026 has become considerably more expensive than it was only a year or so ago, and graphics cards are not solely responsible this time. The ongoing memory shortage has driven up the cost of all DRAM and NAND flash-based products, such as memory kits, SSDs, and graphics cards. For that reason, we consider approximately $1,000 to be the realistic starting point for a decent new gaming PC in July 2026. Even then, some compromises are unavoidable. Moving up to higher pricing tiers allows progressively stronger CPUs and GPUs, not to mention higher system memory and […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/best-pc-parts-deals-and-gaming-builds-of-july-2026/

Apple has tossed its heretofore predictable M-series chip launch cadence in the air, adding a hefty dose of unpredictability into the proverbial mix. Now, however, the legendary tipster Mark Gurman is out with yet another scoop, disclosing an early 2027 launch window for the M6 iPad Pro and a re-designed Apple Pencil. Apple's early 2027 launch window is already becoming crowded with a growing array of products We reported recently that Apple has significantly revamped its silicon-related plans, settling on the launch of the M5 Ultra and the base M6 later this year, and then jumping straight to the base M7, […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apples-m6-ipad-pro-to-get-an-early-2027-launch-alongside-a-revamped-apple-pencil-which-gets-a-readily-replaceable-battery-amid-pressure-from-the-eu/

Apple is planning to skip the M6 Ultra launch, instead choosing to launch the M5 Ultra later this year, followed by the M7 Ultra after it unveils the M7 Pro and M7 Max sometime in 2027. Fortunately, the new workstation-class silicon will be worth the wait, especially for those who aspire to run multi-billion-parameter AI models on their systems but are limited by memory constraints. This is because a new report states that the M7 Ultra will feature double the unified memory of the M5 Ultra, and you’ll want to know how much RAM you can pack for the top-end […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/m7-ultra-to-offer-double-unified-memory-as-m5-ultra/

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra are launching this month; these two will bring a side-folding design, but their form factor has 5 major differences.

This comparison becomes necessary in the face of launching a new wide-folding device- the Fold 8. This smartphone will come with a fresh form factor, offering a unique user experience. Here’s what you should know.

Dimensions

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will be taller and adopt a full rectangular appearance, but the Fold 8 will carry a new shape that offers a wide resolution. The Fold 8 will feel more like a tablet, both in open and closed positions.

Screen

Matching their dimensions, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a wider aspect ratio for internal and external displays compared to the Fold 8 Ultra. However, the Z Fold Ultra will continue the traditional mobile experience, taller screen, and compact grip.

Weight

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 could be slightly lighter than the Fold 8 Ultra. That’s due to the reduced screen size and camera specs. However, the difference may not be huge.

Camera

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 will feature two rear cameras – a main and an ultra-wide angle. On the other hand, the Fold 8 Ultra will equip a triple camera system – 200MP main, an MP ultra-wide angle, and a telephoto.

Battery

Samsung is reportedly upgrading the battery in the Fold 8 Ultra to 5000mAh, which is a 600mAh increase over the Fold 7. The Fold 8 will also serve around a 4800mAh battery, which is decent for its debut device.

Conclusion

The company will feature the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset in these foldables, while the Flip 8 is likely to use Exynos. Another thing to mention is that all three of these will run One UI 9.0 (Android 17) out of the box.

Samsung will launch the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra and Flip 8 at the Unpacked event on July 22 in London.

The post Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra: Five major differences revealed in leaks appeared first on Sammy Fans.

is deemed by many to be one of boxing’s top pound-for-pound fighters, but one Hall of Fame inductee believes that Stevenson, who is usually keen for opportunities to enhance his legacy, is in the wrong for purposefully swerving a showdown with . Stevenson became a four-division world champion back in January, dominating Teofimo Lopez to […]

The post Hall of Famer accuses Shakur Stevenson of ‘purposefully going missing’ after Devin Haney agreed to catchweight appeared first on Boxing News.

İtaliyalı mərkəz hücumçusu Mario Balotelli hesab edir ki, hazırda İtaliya A Seriyasında onun səviyyəsindən yüksək mərkəz hücumçusu yoxdur.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, 36 yaşını avqust ayında qeyd edəcək təcrübəli futbolçu bu barədə İtaliya mətbuatına açıqlamasında danışıb:

“Söhbət sırf fərdi keyfiyyətdən gedirsə, hazırda İtaliyada məndən daha yüksək səviyyəli hücumçu görmürəm. Güclü futbolçular çoxdur, amma onların oyun üslubu fərqlidir”, – deyə Balotelli bildirib.

Qeyd edək ki, Balotelli hazırda Birləşmiş Ərəb Əmirlikləri çempionatında çıxış edir. Təcrübəli forvard 2026-cı ilin yanvarında BƏƏ klubu “Əl-İttifaq”la 2,5 illik müqaviləyə imza atıb.

İtaliyalı futbolçu karyerası ərzində “İnter”, “Mançester Siti”, “Milan”, “Nitsa”, “Liverpul”, “Breşiya”, “Olimpik” (Marsel), “Montsa”, “Adana Dəmirspor”, “Lumessane”, “Syon”, “Cenoa” kimi klubların da formasını geyinib.

Mario Balotelli 2010-cu ilin avqustunda debüt etdiyi İtaliya yığmasının heyətində 36 oyun keçirib. O, bu oyunlarda 14 qol və 5 məhsuldar ötürmə ilə yadda qalıb.

“Venetsiya” baş məşqçisi Covanni Stroppa ilə müqaviləni uzadıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb. 57 yaşlı mütəxəssislə anlaşmanın müddəti 2029-cu ilin yayına kimi artırılıb.

Stroppa 2025-ci ilin yayından “Venetsiya”yanı çalışdırır. Komanda onun başçılığı altında ötən mövsüm B Seriyasının qalibi olub və elitaya yüksəlib.

Source

Source

Source

Alessandro Costacurta claims the choice of Paolo Maldini as Italy technical director is ‘more important than the new coach’ of the Nazionale, while giving insight into the rapport with Leonardo.

After weeks of speculation and talks, the new role of technical director of the Italy squad has finally been filled with the announcement that Maldini will take over running the Azzurri.

Maldini ready to reshape Italy

“This is great news for Italian football, because we have brought in one of the most illuminated and sincere people in the sport,” his former Milan and Italy teammate Costacurta told Sky Sport Italia.

FIGC President Giovanni Malagò confirmed that Maldini was always his first choice for the position, and that now the technical director will be tasked with picking the new coach.

“Malagò made the best possible choice. In fact, picking Maldini is perhaps more important than choosing the new coach,” added Costacurta.

A surprising twist was the introduction of Brazilian Leonardo as a consultant, reuniting the pair who had worked together at Milan.

“They have different characteristics. Leo is more of a dreamer, a visionary, whereas Paolo is more practical, looks to his knowledge and instinct,” noted Costacurta.

“The best thing about them is that they listen to each other, despite starting from different ideas, and always manage to find a common solution.”

Leonardo spent much of his career in Italy, as at Milan he was a player, a talent scout, a coach and a technical director, while he also had one season as coach of rivals Inter.

His most recent job was that of assistant technical director at Paris Saint-Germain.

Having long been a target for Roma, it is reported that Mason Greenwood is heading to Istanbul for a Fenerbahce medical, with precise details of the fee to Olympique Marseille, Manchester United and Getafe.

The Giallorossi made no secret that Greenwood was their first choice for the wide left role in attack, and had been preparing a package close to the €50m asking price.

Roma lose Greenwood to Fenerbahce

However, Fenerbahce took a different route and started talks with the player early, agreeing personal terms on a vastly superior salary worth up to a reported €9m per season.

Now several sources in Turkiye maintain the deal is done, despite late interest from Atletico Madrid and of course Roma.

Because of the deal struck with Manchester United, the Premier League side is owed 40 per cent of the profit.

However, Sport Mediaset argue that Manchester United are instead getting 30 per cent, with an additional 10 per cent going to another of his former clubs, Getafe.

While the Italian sources have the total fee at €45m plus bonus, Fanatik in Turkiye set it at €39.5m plus add-ons, including a significant additional payment in case they win the Super Lig title.

Turkish transfer pundit Yagiz Sabuncuoglu also states that Fenerbahce have agreed all the details with Marseille and the player.

Venezia are on the verge of securing Sevilla striker Akor Adams in a deal worth €16m plus add-ons, as director Filippo Antonelli confirms ‘talks are at a very advanced stage.’

The Nigeria international is 26 years old and  made the move from Montpellier to Sevilla for €5.5m in January 2025.

In the last season, he scored 10 goals with three assists in 32 LaLiga appearances for Sevilla.

Adams close to Venezia move

According to multiple sources including Sky Sport Italia, Sportitalia and Tuttomercatoweb, the agreement is very close to completion.

The fixed fee will be worth around €16m plus performance-related bonuses that are linked to both the personal achievements and those of the team.

“I promise that I will tell you everything once it is all closed,” director of sport Antonelli told reporters during today’s press conference.

“The talks are at a very advanced stage, but there are still some final details to work out.”

Venezia won the Serie B title last season and earned automatic promotion into the top flight.

They have already bolstered the squad with the arrival of Albion Rrahmani from Sparta Prague, Armel Bella-Kotchap from Verona, Ale Gomes from Real Zaragoza, plus free agents Toma Basic and Thierry Correia.

Hamed Junior Traore is expected in Italy for his Genoa medical on Monday, ready to complete a loan with option to buy move from Olympique Marseille for up to €10m.

The initial report of the deal had come from France with Footmercato, suggesting the cost of the operation would be around €8m.

Genoa can pay up to €10m for Traore

Now the Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttomercatoweb point to a figure closer to €10m including add-ons and the cost of the loan fee.

It’s believed that Traore will arrive on Italian soil for his medical tests and to sign the contract on Monday.

He can then travel to join the rest of Daniele de Rossi’s Genoa squad in their pre-season training camp at Moena.

This represents a return to Serie A for the Ivory Coast international, who started out in the Empoli academy before moving on to Sassuolo, Napoli and Auxerre.

The 26-year-old had been sold to Bournemouth in 2023 for €25.6m, but his career stalled due to repeated injury problems, and he moved to Marseille for €7.7m.

Julian Quinones is wanted by Aston Villa in the Premier League, according to rumours circulating today.

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The World Cup always throws up a few new stars who get big moves after the tournament, and without doubt of this summer’s breakout names is Julian Quinones of Mexico.

The naturalised Colombian took the tournament by storm right from the first game, bagging four goals and an assist in the five games he played, and is now being linked with Premier League teams.

Able to play up front or on the wing, he’s got pace and power and an eye for goal.

Quinones wanted by Aston Villa to strengthen attack

TeamTalk claim that Quinones is wanted by Aston Villa, who have made it back to the Champions League and want to add depth and quality in attack.

Two slight issues are his age – he’s 29, and the fact that he already earns big money in the Saudi Arabian league. Both of those things make it a potentially tricky deal for Villa to pull off in PSR terms, as they aim to stay within UEFA’s limits.

He’s currently valued at just €14m on Transfermarket – we’d expect any real fee to be significantly above €20m, however, given the events of the last few weeks.

In other news…

Borussia Dortmund have made a slow start to this window, but it looks like they’ve lined up their first big deal of the summer.

Julian Alvarez is going to go for a lot more €35m this summer, if Atletico Madrid get what they want…

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The post Aston Villa linked with one of World Cup’s biggest breakout stars, valued at €14m appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not hold back in his assessment of Arsenal’s Noni Madueke for his performance vs Norway.

Despite England clawing their way into the World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2-1 extra-time win, the winger found himself in the crosshairs of the legendary Swedish striker.

Madueke was handed a starting spot in the quarter-final clash due to Bukayo Saka managing an injury, but he failed to seize the opportunity and was hauled off by Thomas Tuchel at half-time.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic brutally slams Noni Madueke performance

Speaking as a pundit on Fox Sports, Ibrahimovic, known for his savagery, delivered a brutal verdict on Madueke’s work rate and decision-making during his 45-minute outing.

Ibrahimovic noted that the intense heat in Miami forced a hydration break, which altered the flow of the match just as Jude Bellingham was driving England forward.

“But I think they’re playing with one player less so far Madueke has been on the pitch,” Ibrahimovic said. “I have to say every time he gets the ball he makes the wrong decision, and he’s walking on the pitch.”

The Swede even brought up a controversial incident where the ball struck a spidercam cable to twist the knife further.

“Even the hydration break didn’t help him. He’s played but he’s not started every game, they started with one guy less. But if the ball touched the cable, then the cable had a better performance than Madueke, for sure.”

Zlatan went in on Madueke here. ? pic.twitter.com/CCU80rg1S7

— No Context World Cup (@NoContextEPL) July 11, 2026

Noni Madueke struggled to make an impact against Norway

The statistics from the match back up Ibrahimovic’s harsh words. Tasked with unlocking Norway’s defense from the right flank, Madueke struggled to create anything of note.

The Arsenal star finished his brief appearance with zero goals, zero assists, and failed to record a single shot or successful dribble.

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His failure to track back and support the defence left England exposed on the right side, which ultimately prompted Tuchel to make the switch at the break.

With England now preparing for a huge World Cup semi-final, Madueke’s disappointing display may have significantly damaged his hopes of reclaiming a place in the starting lineup later in the tournament.

The post ‘He makes the wrong decision every time’ – Zlatan Ibrahimovic rips Into Arsenal star for poor World Cup performance appeared first on CaughtOffside.

A look-alike contest celebrating Norway striker Erling Haaland drew crowds in downtown Miami ahead of the World Cup quarter-final against England.

The event was organised by content creator Emma Kate Willman after she went viral on social media over her resemblance to the football star.

Around two dozen contestants took part, showing off long blonde hair, football skills and even Haaland-inspired props.

The winner, a Norwegian holidaymaker, received two tickets to the quarter-final, while fans gathered to sing, cheer and celebrate the striker's growing popularity.

Lionel Gannon saw the ups and downs from inside the building.

Moanalua’s 2026 campaign was lively, and even with solid success in preseason tournaments, there was no obvious reason to believe Na Menehune would shock the world.

The team grew stronger, turned errors into lessons and ended the OIA’s state-championship drought. Gannon was more than the best player on the best team. He was unflappable, doing all the little things with excellence as Moanalua became the first non-ILH program to win a state title since 1979.

The 6-foot-3 outside hitter’s state-tournament numbers were efficient and crucial.

>> 19 kills (.424), 1.5 blocks, one ace and four digs in a three-set quarterfinal win over Hawaii Baptist

>> 26 kills (.404), two blocks, two aces, one assist, eight digs in a four-set, semifinal win over Mid-Pacific

>> 18 kills (.250), 1.5 blocks, one assist, seven digs in the four-set win over Punahou for the crown

The senior’s reaction to top honors as the Player of the Year in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Boys Volleyball coaches and media selections was, as usual, emotionally understated and on point.

“It’s surreal, obviously. It’s everything I’ve worked for and dreamed of. Honestly, I’m just super glad we won. That’s the main thing that matters,” Gannon said. “If it wasn’t for everyone that supported me, my family, my coaches, my teammates, I would never have been able to do it.”

Alan Cabanting was voted Coach of the Year after steering Moanalua to its first state title. Le Jardin coach Makana Wade was second in the voting, followed by Punahou’s Rick Tune. Gabriel Maunupau of Mililani and Maria Taiafi-Husseini also received votes.

All season long, Cabanting put trust into his team and highly composed leaders like Gannon.

“That silent confidence is what we’re going to miss. He doesn’t talk a lot. He just shows it, models it and the boys playing around him somehow feed off that confidence,” Cabanting said, “knowing that if I mess up, Lionel’s going to be there to help us out.”

A hitter with every kind of touch on his swing plus high IQ was immeasurably valuable.

“He was so savvy with his attacks. Punahou took his cross and he hit line. There were several times where defenses took the line and the tip, and he goes deep corner into a 1-6 area. Being able to see that and knowing he doesn’t have to swing hard to get his kills,” Cabanting said

It was a season to remember.

“It all starts with the mentality that we had going into the season,” Gannon said. “All of our teammates were super bought-in into our system. We knew we had to do everything right to eventually take down Punahou. It’s cool to see a month after, I’ve known so many people for so long, it’s great. Everyone has a different personality and it’s great we were able to mesh together and form a great team chemistry.”

For one night, in the midst of chaotic Kona low weather, in a match that was postponed and moved from Laie to Pearl City, a packed house of loud spectators got to see history. In a rarity, the match was not televised due to the postponement. It felt surreal, but for Moanalua, it was about fundamentals and a defense sparked by the consistency and occasional spectacular play of libero Darric Abe.

“Punahou is one of the best serving teams. That was one of our main focuses throughout the entire season, making sure that our serve pass was really good,” Gannon said. “That allowed us to be competitive in the match. When we were down, I knew that we would never be out because we could bring it back with our serve receive.”

Star-Advertiser’s Fab 15: Boys Volleyball

Rk

Name (School)

Pos.

Notes / Stats

1

Lionel Gannon (Moanalua)

OH

63 kills at state tourney, 18 in final win vs. Punahou

2

Cameron Porter (Punahou)

OH

Closed out a brilliant career, 25 kills vs. Moanalua

3

Sava Miocinovic (Mid-Pacific)

OH

27 vs. eventual champion Moanalua in states

4

Jarryn McCutcheon (Moanalua)

OH/Opp.

Stepped up with 17 kills in the state final

5

Kanalu Akana (Punahou)

S

125 assists, 12 kills, three aces in HHSAA tourney

6

Tanoa Scanlan (Punahou)

OH

Steady player with 11, 15, 15 kills in states

7

Nikola Miocinovic (Mid-Pacific)

S

122 assists at states, including 44 vs. Moanalua

8

La‘akea Kamahele (Le Jardin)

OH

59 kills in three tourney matches for first D-II state title

9

Darric Abe (Moanalua)

L

12 digs in comeback win vs. MPI, 14 digs vs. Punahou

10

Jason Rivers (Hawaii Baptist)

OH

28 kills vs. KS-Hawaii, 17 kills in loss to Moanalua

11

Julian Romine (Mid-Pacific)

Opp/MB

19 kills, 3.5 blocks in semifinal loss to Moanalua

12

Kaito Duranceau (Mililani)

OH

43 kills, 7 aces, 24 digs at the state tourney

13

Brennan Nakayama (Le Jardin)

L

103 assists in state matches, 39 in D-II state final

14

Elau Hoopai-Waikoloa (Hana)

OH

50 kills vs. Seabury Hall, 39 kills, 4 aces vs. Pahoa

15

William Niethammer (Punahou)

L

Tallied 3 aces, 28 digs at the state tournament

Awards

* Player of the Year: Lionel Gannon (Moanalua)

* Coach of the Year: Alan Cabanting (Moanalua)

Honorable Mention

Taylor Chung (Moanalua), Nathaniel Kawai Koahou (Kamehameha), Luke Pragnell (Maui), Seth Kimura (Mililani), Nahua Lloyd (Punahou), Samuel Mokan (Hawaii Baptist), Josiah Talamoa (Pearl City), Micah Kalima-Keohohina (Radford), Cooper Long (Kamehameha), Brennan Flores (Mid-Pacific), Piikoa Kamoku (KS-Maui), Tui Ika (Radford)

Hawaii Prep World

For high school sports record books, visit .

This offseason, University of Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado is routinely clocked at 4:45.

With a lights-outs bedtime of 8:30 p.m., Alejado awakens at 4 in the morning, showers, and then arrives at UH at 4:45. Maybe earlier, never later.

“I try to be the first one there,” Alehado, 21, said of the 6 a.m. start to conditioning drills. “Start warming up my body and get ready for the workout. I’m getting older. The body takes a little bit longer to get warmed up now.”

Entering his third year — and second as QB1 — with the Rainbow Warriors, Alejado has embraced his leadership role.

“I want to set the example,” said Alejado, whose summer schedule is built around the Warriors’ training.

He attended Saturday’s UFC 329 fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where his parents own a home. He is scheduled to travel to Honolulu today, participate in Monday’s morning workout at UH, and then return to Las Vegas that afternoon ahead of this week’s Mountain West Media Days. Alejado, running back Cam Barfield, linebacker Jamih Otis, and nickelback Elijah Palmer will represent the Warriors during Wednesday’s session. All are alumni of Bishop Gorman High School, a national football powerhouse in Las Vegas.

While many high school graduates don’t see each other until their class’ 10th reunion, UH appears to have established a Bishop Gorman alumni association. There are 16 former Gaels on the Warriors’ 2026 active roster. Associate head coach Chris Brown and quarterbacks coach Chad Kapanui also coached at Bishop Gorman.

“Gorman played a huge part in all our lives,” Alejado said. “It’s a scared place. It definitely set us on the right path of life. Looking back on it — our lifestyles, our practice schedules, everything that happened with school and football and off the field — it was preparation for life after high school and going to college. It made the transition so much easier.”

Alejado, in actuality, has been training since his hanabata days in Ewa Beach. His father was a quarterback at Pearl City High. Paul Alejado made his left-handed son also practice throwing with his right hand, just in case. Micah Alejado can accurately throw right-handed passes up to 30 yards.

Galu Tagovailoa, father of Atlanta Falcons’ QB Tua Tagovailoa, was Alejado’s youth-league head coach.

Alejado moved to Las Vegas ahead of his freshman year at Saint Louis School. Jon Amano, a former Hawaii resident who coaches in Las Vegas, taught Alejado the intricacies of the run-and-shoot offense that UH uses. Bishop Gorman’s West Coast offense has run-and-shoot elements.

“At Gorman, we were training already in January and getting ready for the season in August,” Alejado recalled. “Early-morning workouts in the summer. … One-hundred degrees is 100 degrees. It’s not comfortable at all. But it makes you in shape and mentally tough.”

Alejado also has learned to adapt as he ascended the football ladder. At 5 feet 10, Alejado relies on a quick release to escape a defense of 11 angry men. His ability to throw to receivers as they break on their routes comes from post-practice sessions and tireless video studies.

“If you really want to be a mastermind and understand the game to the fullest, you have to take the proper steps to prepare and take a deep dive into the book of football,” Alejado said. “That’s the way I’ve been since I was young. I was in love with the game and the P’s and Q’s and insides and outsides of it.”

Alejado often will watch a play from an NFL telecast, then fire off a text to head coach Timmy Chang, who calls the offensive plays.

“Can we get a variation of what they’re doing into our offense?” Alejado would text.

Last season, Alejado showed grit after being injured in the season-opening victory over Stanford. He was believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain. He declined to undergo advanced testing.

“I didn’t want to know what was wrong,” he said. “I wasn’t going to look at anything until the end of the season or if I couldn’t walk anymore.”

He played the following week, aggravating the injury in the second half. He missed the next two games and, after a bye week, returned against Fresno State and started the remainder of the season.

He did not participate in movement drills ahead of the Hawaii Bowl.

“I was just trying to get the ankle ready for one last game,” he said. “It was pretty surreal how I made it through the season.”

After the victory over California in the Hawaii Bowl, during which he completed 69.6% of his throws for 274 yards and three touchdowns, it was revealed he had endured fractures to his tibia and fibula in his right ankle. The injury did not require surgery.

“I don’t think if it were my left (ankle), I would have played, definitely not,”said Alejado, referencing his push-off foot.

Alejado did not participate in contact drills the past spring training. He was cleared for sprinting in June.

“I think those five, six months helped me a lot,” Alejado said. “It’s been a long road to recovery, one that really tested me. Looking at it now, I’m 100%.”

In this era of easy transfers and lucrative name-image-likeness deals, Alejado opted to stay put.

“Coach Chang has been my No. 1 supporter ever since he gave me a scholarship,” Alejado said. “That means a lot to have a coach who believes in you and trusts you. You’ll find a lot of guys today in college football struggling to find that. People underestimate how grateful I am for having this head coach and culture around me, having my brothers around me. We care about football. I love the culture here. I love the people. I want to win some football games here.”

Alejado regularly treats the offense to lunch. Ahead of training camp, he plans to pick up the tab for a team dinner. This coming Sunday, he is the name sponsor to a youth camp (ages 6-16) at Saint Louis School.

He said he grew up attending football camps and clinics. It was where he met and played catch with Tua Tagovailoa and Marcus Mariota.

“It was fun to meet them and talk football,” Alejado said. “It was big to see how they were as people. I want to do the same.”

—

“Freestyle Biomechanics: The Science Behind The Strokes,” a book by former University of Hawaii swimming coach Jan Prins, is now available via Amazon.

The book focuses on freestyle, but also touches on “the three other competitive strokes,” said Prins, who earned a doctorate in kinesiology at Indiana in 1978 and still teaches at UH. “(It) covers … every freestyle movement from stroke pattern, body position, flutter kick, hand entry to recovery and much more.”

It is the culmination of nearly 50 years of coaching, presentations, research and video workshops Prins has conducted for competitive swimmers and coaches.

“It will become a continuous shelf reference for all swimmers, especially triathletes and adults,” said Garry Rodrigues, swim consultant to USA Triathlon for the 2028 Olympics.

The 11 first-team players expected to report for the opening day of pre-season training at La Liga giants Real Madrid have on Sunday been revealed.

A new era is of course set to be kickstarted in Spain’s capital this coming week.

Following the return of José Mourinho to the Real Madrid bench this summer, the Portuguese will oversee his first training session on Monday morning.

A whole host of Los Blancos’ star performers will not be required to attend, owing to their respective campaigns at the World Cup in North America.

For those not called up by their nations, though, tomorrow will mark their first opportunity to impress their headmaster for the season ahead.

And as alluded to above, on the eve of the session, those called up by the Real Madrid coaching staff have been revealed.

As per a report from Blancos journalist Arancha Rodriguez, alongside a number of youth talents, the following first-team players will be in attendance at Valdebebas:

Andriy Lunin, Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raúl Asencio, Álvaro Carreras, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Eduardo Camavinga, Rodrygo, Gonzalo García and Franco Mastantuono.

Conor Laird – GSFN

Official pictures and a release date for Arsenal’s 2026/27 away kit have leaked online, with the shirt set to be made available to supporters this month.

Photos via FootyHeadlines.com

Footy Headlines report that Arsenal’s 2026/27 away kit is set to be released on July 23rd, with the new shirt going on sale in advance of the Gunners’ pre-season schedule.

Official pictures of the replica kit have also leaked online, both the short-sleeved version shown above and the long-sleeved version shown below.

Photos via FootyHeadlines.com

As per the photos, the kit is a dark blue with yellow highlights, and red on the sleeves and the collar.

The shirt uses Adidas’ Trefoil logo, rather than the three stripes, and the cannon logo rather than the Arsenal badge. The base pattern design carries on around the back and over the sleeves.

Photos via FootyHeadlines.com

The home kit has already been released, and the third kit is expected to be a paler yellow colour with navy blue accents and a thin line of red on the collar and sleeves once again.

The third-kit shirt design uses a lightning pattern, with navy shorts and socks completing the look. Few photos of the shirt have leaked so far, but the image shown below is believed to be an official promotional photo.

Photos via FootyHeadlines.com

Fútbol became real life for Cristo Fernández on Saturday night.

The “Ted Lasso” actor went from the fictional pitch for AFC Richmond to taking the field for El Paso Locomotive FC of the United Soccer League. Facing New Mexico United, Fernández entered the game as a substitute for Rubio Rubínin the 79th minute of the Locomotive’s 2-0 defeat in a USL Cup match.

El Paso and New Mexico were in a scoreless tie until the 85th minute when Joseph Quiah scored in the left corner for United. Zico Bailey found the net four minutes later on a cross from Jake LaCava for a 2-0 lead. Attendance for the match was announced at 5,011.

Locomotive FC announced on Wednesday that Fernández was added to the club’s 18-man matchday roster for a home game at Southwest University Park versus New Mexico.

“Yes, it’s really him,” Locomotive FC included in Fernández’s bio on the club’s website.

Saturday’s match was actually the second time Fernández saw game action versus New Mexico. He played 30 minutes in a preseason friendly between the two clubs on Feb. 28.

Fernández, 35, signed with the Locomotive in May after training with the team for a two-month trial and playing in the aforementioned preseason friendly. Demonstrating that this wasn’t just a lark for the actor, Fernández also trained on trial with the second team of the MLS’ Chicago Fire FC in March and scored twice in a scrimmage.

“Fútbol has always been a huge part of my life and identity, and no matter where life has taken me, the dream of competing professionally never truly left my heart,” Fernández said in a statement with Locomotive FC’s announcement.

Prior to becoming an actor and gaining fame as Dani Rojas for Richmond’s Greyhounds, Fernández had aspirations of becoming a professional footballer. He played for Mexico’s Tecos Fútbol Club as a 15-year-old before a knee injury derailed those ambitions.

With a record of 5-5-4, Locomotive FC currently holds seventh place in the USL’s Western Conference standings. They visit Tulsa FC at ONEOK Field next Saturday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Michael Scotto: The Minnesota Timberwolves signed Isaiah Evans to a four-year, $9.3 million deal, which includes three fully guaranteed years and a fourth-year team option, league sources told @hoopshype. Evans was the 33rd pick of the 2026 NBA Draft and was an All-ACC Team selection at Duke.

x.com

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Timberwolves sign Isaiah Evans to a four-year, $9.3 million deal

Oh No He Didn't: Chris Haynes on the Kawhi trade:: “The Raptors, they were very comfortable in making this deal but they did not know that the league was going to put a halt on the trade. Both sides still feel like this thing will be resolved, a trade will occur. Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, they're all on the Clippers bench as if they're official Clipper members"

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Chris Haynes on the Kawhi trade:: “The Raptors, they …

Thousands of people across the West came together to watch England beat Norway on Saturday, celebrating jubilantly.

England won 2-1 thanks to two goals from Jude Bellingham, in response to conceding a goal by Andreas Schjelderup earlier in the game.

The win secured England's place in the semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday from 20:00 BST.

Here is how you all reacted to England taking a step closer to ending the 60-year wait for World Cup glory.

Bristol

Newlyweds Ryan and Freya Sedgman decided to show the match at their reception on their wedding day, at The Mount Without.

"If you can't beat them, join them," Freya said.

"There's going to be guys sat in the corner watching on their phones, so why not show it on a bigger screen?"

Ryan said their big day was more than two years in the making, and never would have predicted England to play that night.

He said: "Initially, we didn't want it to take over the day.

"I'm a big football fan, and a lot of Freya's family are big football fans."

He added he was "a little bit surprised but very happy" when Freya approved showing the game.

Meanwhile, many thousands of fans attended The Prospect Building to watch the drama on a huge screen.

Here are some photos showing some of the best of the action.

Gloucestershire

Now, take a look at this.

That was thousands of fans reacting to the win at Tetfest, a family festival in Tetbury.

Mark Wood, who founded Tetfest, said: "Where do I start? We had everything, the music, the people, and then we had the extra time. We got there in the end.

"Everybody behaved themselves. They've left the mess like they always do, but there we go."

He added he hopes to launch an outdoor event for the next game on Wednesday.

Speaking after the game, one fan said: "[It was] absolutely electric. I always knew they were going to win it."

Another said: "Unbelievable. They were always going to do it, they've got the mentality. It's coming home."

Somerset

At the Cheese and Grain in Frome, so many people attended they hit capacity, according to the venue.

Rob Dahl, venue manager, said: "It's been crazy the support this World Cup has brought out.

"We've hit capacity for today's game which is wonderful.

"All of the games, including the Mexico game, had hundreds of fans screaming and shouting. It's been really nice to see.

"It's helped the bar, and we do get a higher than average bar spend per head when football is on.

"Because it's such a good atmosphere, it's positive people having a wonderful time."

Reece, from Frome and attended the watch-along at the venue, said: "[It was a] nice comfortable game.

"After the goal for Norway, a little bit of jitters, but Jude Bellingham carried us all the way.

"There's a better structure to this team than previous years, and Tuchel seems like a much more proactive manager than Southgate was."

Wiltshire

It was good vibes at The Old Lane in Chippenham where many hugged each other and sang songs.

Helen, who watched the game at the pub, said: "It was fantastic, I'm so glad we won. I wasn't sure we were going to. Football's coming home."

Charlie, who also attended, said: "Incredible scenes. Cagey in parts but we'll take it next. Roll on Argentina, let's go."

Additional reporting by Michael Cowan, Martin Evans and Jack Killah.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

More on this story

• 'Not happy with the performance' - so why do England keep winning?
• Tuchel angry at 'lucky' England - but Bellingham defends players
• Big stars and old rivals - what to expect in semi-finals

In between the end of the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open on Sunday and the start of the 2026 Open Championship on Thursday is the first-ever Last-Chance Qualifier.

The R&A has spiced things up a tad this year with this one-of-a-kind, 12-man qualifier for the 156th and final spot in the Open.

On Saturday, the draw was announced, with the R&A announcing that Marcus Helligkilde withdrew, opening a spot for Frazer Jones, who becomes the third amateur in this qualifier.

The Last-Chance Qualifier will be 18 holes at Royal Birkdale, hosting the Open for an 11th time.

2026 Last-Chance Qualifier tee times

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. local time in England, which is 2:30 a.m. ET. Live scores will be updated at TheOpen.com.

Todd Kelly is an assistant managing editor at Golfweek.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 2026 Last-Chance Qualifier tee times for golfers aiming for final spot in Open Championship

The Athletic's Matt Barrows singled out Jacob Cowing's third-year emergence as the most intriguing subplot of the San Francisco 49ers' 2026 offseason, with the speedy wideout drawing praise this spring after two injury-shortened seasons.

Barrows noted Cowing, who likely enters deep down the depth chart, has been one of the standouts of the spring. The receiver says he now understands how to manage the ailments that limited him early in his career.

If that’s true, he should add a speed element that was noticeably absent last year. Cowing might be the team’s fastest player, is good with the ball in his hands and is the lead candidate to return punts in 2026.

San Francisco took Cowing in the fourth round (No. 135 overall) out of Arizona in 2024, betting on a player who finished his college career with 268 catches for 4,477 yards and 27 touchdowns across stints at UTEP and Arizona. His NFL production has yet to reflect that pedigree, though. As a rookie, Cowing caught just four passes for 80 yards across 15 games while also handling 28 punt returns for 245 yards. A far more promising Year 2 never got off the ground after a hamstring injury during training camp landed him on injured reserve, wiping out his entire 2025 season.

Now healthy, Cowing enters a crowded but retooled receiver room behind free-agent addition Mike Evans, veteran Christian Kirk and 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall, with second-round rookie De'Zhaun Stribling also in the mix. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made clear this spring he's encouraged by what he's seen from his returning young wideouts, especially Cowing and 2025 fourth-rounder Jordan Watkins.

"They all came back healthy," Shanahan said. "I was really excited how Jordan and Jake came back, though. You could tell they came back — it wasn't just healthy. You could tell they've been putting work in ... They've come here, to me, to play and work."

With Evans, Kirk and Pearsall projected as the top three targets, Cowing's clearest early path to snaps may come through special teams and a complementary role. But if his health holds, the tools are there for him to push for more.

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers insider spotlights team's biggest offseason wild card

There is some increasing speculation that LeBron James is definitely heading back to the Cleveland Cavaliers and that it is only a matter of time before he makes an official decision. Some NBA fans even seem to think that he may wait until after the final game of the World Cup, which will take place on July 19, to make an announcement so that he can ensure he gets the most attention possible.

But there is also considerable doubt that James could win the NBA championship with the Cavaliers. A number of people around the league recently expressed their cynicism that the 41-year-old is the right man to put the Cavaliers over the top, with one scout even saying, "They don’t want another old guy."

Sports commentator Colin Cowherd said that if Cleveland adds James, it will become slow and defensively challenged.

"LeBron (James) will make you the worst defensive team," Cowherd said. "Slowest player in the NBA last year was James Harden. He's a Cav. You know the second-slowest player? LeBron James, if he goes to Cleveland. They'll be the worse team in terms defensively, and they weren't very good last year, even with rim protection.

"... Slow is not what you need in the NBA. Youth, speed, and athleticism is."

Harden and Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers' starting guards, are weak defenders, and they were exposed and hunted by the New York Knicks when the Knicks swept Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals several weeks ago. James has notoriously not put much effort into that end of the floor for the last several years.

While James led the NBA in fast-break points per game this past season, he picks and chooses his spots as far as when to attack and create pace. All too often, especially in the second halves of games, he walks the ball upcourt and milks the shot clock, which is asking for trouble in the NBA.

The Cavaliers were 19th in fast-break points and 13th in pace, as well as 15th in defensive rating, this past season. If coach Kenny Atkinson wants to make them into more of a fast-breaking team that defends at a high level, James may not be the man to make that happen.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Colin Cowherd: 'LeBron will make you the worst defensive team'

Wini Silva (Braga) has proven to be a rising prospect in South America for Brazil's men's basketball squad during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers.

Recently, the 6-foot-9 forward received the inaugural Rising Star award from FIBA after he averaged 8.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.0 block per game over three contests in the group stage.

Silva, who has spent the past two years with Minas in the National Basketball Brazil professional league, logged 41 combined minutes against Chile, Colombia, and Venezuela with a pair of double-digit scoring outings.

The 21-year-old put up 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 blocks in an international career-best against Venezuela back in February, which caught the attention of several college basketball programs, including Washington Huskies coach Danny Sprinkle and associate head coach Andy Hill.

View this post on Instagram

In early May, the talented Brazilian big man committed to UW, the first of three new international players set to join Sprinkle's team for the upcoming 2026-27 season, but Silva and Croatian forward Boris Tisma have yet to arrive in Seattle, while Australian guard Tristan Devers began practicing with the program last month.

Around the time of Silva's verbal pledge to the Big Ten program, the NCAA adopted drastically different rules with respect to international players who have been playing professionally at any level.

Silva received compensation above the minimum salary playing for Minas over multiple seasons, different from Devers, who signed a developmental contract with the Brisbane Bullets, which could be one reason why the process is slower for the Brazilian.

Minas has another young promising player, Uruguayan guard Lucas Rodríguez, in a similar circumstance, and the Brazilian club has not been vocal about either situation. It's expected Silva's situation could take at least one more turn before mid-August, if not sooner.

This article originally appeared on Huskies Wire: Washington F to Suit Up For Americas Qualifiers with Future Uncertain

1) France (no change from previous rankings)

Didier Deschamps has seen it all before and certainly does not fear even the lowest of blocks. It is clear everyone is afraid of Les Bleus, which is understandable, and they are using it to their advantage. It is admirable how teams keep France quiet for lengthy periods but the game is too long to completely silence Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Against Morocco an hour of patience was required but these forwards are used to it and Mbappé produced the magic that has powered this run, following it up with an assist. In a tournament defined by individuals, France has the best of a talented bunch.

Related: Jude Bellingham excels in parallel World Cup but cannot win trophy alone | Barney Ronay

2) Spain (no change)

Football is a simple game – you play for almost 90 minutes and then Mikel Merino pops up with a late winner. The Arsenal midfielder had only been on the pitch for 115 seconds against Belgium when he put himself in the right position at the right time. While the substitutes did their bit once again, Lamine Yamal is moving through the gears, priming himself for a matchup with Mbappé. It was hard work, harder than it had been before for La Roja but they are getting used to the quality improving each round, allowing their confidence to grow as they progress. “If anyone should be afraid it should be [France] – we knocked them out of the Euros,” Lamine Yamal said. “We have no fear.”

3) England (+1)

The unforgiving heat of Miami subdued England for much of their contest with Norway, leaving Thomas Tuchel irritated by his side’s performance. It was left to Jude Bellingham to do the business, shifting the dynamic at times when his teammates were often second best. He has forced himself into the role of England’s main man, dragging his country into the semi-finals. Tuchel’s substitutions intrigued as roles rotated, especially when they moved Bellingham out of his best position. It is clear that the No 10 needs to be as close to Harry Kane as possible if England are to stand a chance of reaching the final.

4) Argentina (-1)

The usual pattern played out as Lionel Messi used his full array of tools to chisel a way through a stubborn defence, but it was others who eventually made the difference. A first goal of the tournament for Julián Alvarez will bring confidence to the striker, especially considering the stunning nature of the strike. Every knockout game has been a battle for Lionel Scaloni’s side, the world champions unable to find consistent rhythm over 90 minutes. They tried to ease their way through against Switzerland after an early goal but that was a dangerous game they cannot afford to repeat in the semi-finals. As midfielder Leandro Paredes put it: “It seems like if there’s no suffering, it doesn’t count.”

5) Belgium (+2)

Left to rue an injury to Thibaut Courtois against Spain as Senne Lammens made the mistake that resulted in defeat. Lammens was rusty, without a minute of competitive football since the end of the Premier League season in May. Maybe that is why he fumbled a shot from distance before watching the rebound fired home by Merino. It was a misfortune as Belgium had matched Spain for long periods, with Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne thriving. But the elite will punish opponents for even the smallest errors.

6) Switzerland (+2)

The turning point against Argentina was Breel Embolo’s sending-off after a second yellow for diving via a video assistant referee (VAR) review. The score was level at the time and suddenly the Swiss were on the retreat. In extra-time, they were unable to hold on with 10 men. Prior to that, Murat Yakin’s side were precise with their tactics and pressing and will depart the US ruing what could have been.

7) Norway (-1)

Unable to find Erling Haaland for almost the entirety of the match against England limited their threat, with a fluke goal by Andreas Schjelderup required to get them into the game. Things were so bad for Haaland that he was taken off by Ståle Solbakkenfor the second half of extra-time. The lack of a plan B was evident and it is hard to be one of the best four teams in the world without some variety.

8) Morocco (-3)

Seemingly accepted defeat before kick-off against France. They played in a pragmatic, yet tedious, fashion and lacked interest in venturing into the opposition half. One shot on target told the tale of Morocco’s ambition, and it was inevitable the defence would be more important than attack for the African champions. The tactics were drilled into the side but it was only ever likely to delay Mbappé settling the match, and so it proved.

• Rankings were assembled by a panel of Guardian World Cup writers and editors. They were asked to rank the teams in the quarter-finals in order, from first to worst. Final rankings were based on an average of the votes cast.

The Chicago White Sox selected UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Cholowsky has been an enormously praised prospect for a few years and was viewed as the clear favorite to be the top pick of the 2026 MLB Draft before the season even began.

So, much of the baseball world has been well aware of Cholowsky for a long while, and one would think that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred would be too. Or that he would at least practice how to pronounce the name before announcing it to the world during the draft.

But Manfred mispronounced Cholowsky’s name when announcing the first pick of the draft, which was shown nationally on NBC for the first time (for the first 10 picks).

THE PICK IS IN… pic.twitter.com/A28njITE9V

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 11, 2026

It’s pronounced chil-OW’-skee.

Manfred’s flub didn’t slip by MLB Draft viewers.

The good stuff. Congrats to the Cholowsky family.

(Rob mispronouncing Roch’s name when he’s been the presumptive top pick for a year+ is a 10/10 on the Can’t Happen Scale ) https://t.co/fYEFuyleoh

— Stephen Nelson (@StephenNelson) July 11, 2026

I am known to mispronounce names, but Rob Manfred just mispronounced Roch Cholowsky’s name when announcing him as the No. 1 pick.

— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) July 11, 2026

Either every single human being has been pronouncing Roch Cholowsky’s name wrong or Rob Manfred just absolutely butchered the 1st overall pick’s name.

— Greg Huss (@OutOfTheVines) July 11, 2026

Huge blunder by the #MLB Commissoner. Can’t happen. Not a surprise Roch was the #1 pick. Manfred has to know how to say his name. https://t.co/ulzTVyKXq9

— Tim Cates (@timcates) July 11, 2026

Cholowsky was even asked by the media about Manfred’s blunder and said (via the Associated Press/KTLA), “I didn’t hear it get butchered. I heard Roch and kind of lost it.”

Still, that’s pretty embarrassing stuff from the league’s commissioner on the big stage.

The post Rob Manfred butchers name of top pick in MLB Draft appeared first on Awful Announcing.

Lakers get major Jonathan Kuminga multi-team sign-and trade news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Things may have just gotten a bit more complicated for the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. 

According to The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer, the franchise’s potential Jarred Vanderbilt-focused sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks for former Golden State Warriors lottery pick Jonathan Kuminga may not be limited to just two teams after all.

“It's believed that the Lakers hope to package their lone tradeable first-round pick swap left over in 2032 along with Jarred Vanderbilt in a sign-and-trade proposal for Kuminga,” Stein wrote Friday. “Sources say Atlanta, however, has not considered taking back Vanderbilt in a deal that sends out Kuminga.”

“There are said to be multi-team scenarios that the Lakers could pursue that offload Vanderbilt to a different team than Atlanta. That would help the Lakers provide Kuminga with an offer richer than the two-year, $20 million deal that sources say they originally presented him.”

The Hawks' reported stance on acquiring Vanderbilt isn’t all that surprising. The Kentucky product’s do-it-all defense has been his calling card thus far, but he’s failed to develop other aspects of his game in Los Angeles. 

Vanderbilt has been a sub 33% three-point shooter since joining the Lakers in 2023, and isn’t as comfortable putting the ball on the floor as Los Angeles likely anticipated he’d be at this stage of his career.

If the Lakers have to find a third team to help them facilitate a sign-and-trade for a promising young NBA champion in Kuminga (who will likely be inserted into the franchise’s starting lineup), they shouldn’t make a big deal out of it.

More NBA news:

• Ex-Warriors NBA champion Jonathan Kuminga gets $21.5 million Lakers sign-and-trade update

• Celtics officially sign $295 million ex-Jazz All-Star guard to help Jayson Tatum

• Lakers' Dalton Knecht makes surprising Summer League decision amid trade rumors

Diario AS report that Vinicius Junior will meet with Real Madrid’s board in late July to continue negotiations over a contract extension, with sources inside the club described as optimistic heading into those discussions.

Where Things Stand

The stakes are straightforward: Vinicius’ current deal runs to June 30, 2027, meaning he would be free to open talks with foreign clubs on January 1 if nothing is agreed. That six-month window before free agency is the deadline both parties are working against, and it gives the late-July meeting genuine urgency.

According to the AS report, relayed by Managing Madrid, Vinicius has already rejected at least one offer from the club and is pushing for a significant salary increase. Despite that, the signal from within Bernabéu corridors is one of cautious confidence – leadership is said to have taken encouragement from recent communications with the player’s camp, and a sale was never under consideration.

A Familiar Cycle

There is a pattern here worth acknowledging. The same broadly optimistic framing accompanied earlier rounds of talks, which ultimately stalled without an agreement. Managing Madrid’s own write-up flags that tension directly: the odds of a deal being struck appear high, though that was also said before previous negotiations collapsed.

Real Madrid have been active on the contract front more broadly. Aurélien Tchouaméni, the France midfielder, recently signed an extension through 2031, and the club secured renewals with other key squad members earlier in the year. Whether they can apply the same resolution to their highest-profile outstanding case is the question hanging over the summer.

What Comes Next

The late-July meeting will reveal whether Madrid are prepared to move meaningfully on their existing offer, and whether Vinicius’ camp views that movement as sufficient. If talks progress, an agreement before the new season would remove considerable uncertainty from the squad’s planning. If they stall again, the January 1 free-agency date begins to cast a longer shadow over the club’s position.

For now, both sides appear to want the same outcome. Getting there is the harder part.

Juventus have identified Fikayo Tomori as a potential replacement for Federico Gatti, with the Milan centre-back now open to making the move to the Bianconeri, according to Get Italian Football News, citing La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Tomori’s position at Milan has become uncertain following the club’s signing of Mario Gila from Lazio, which has effectively reshuffled the defensive hierarchy at San Siro. Coventry City had been tracking the England international, but that option – a return to the Championship with a newly promoted club offering no European football – has not appealed to him.

The Massara Connection

A key factor in Juventus’s thinking is sporting director Ricky Massara, who was the architect of Tomori’s original move from Chelsea to Milan and is now operating from the Continassa. That existing relationship gives Juve a meaningful advantage in any approach. Tomori had rejected a transfer in January 2025 and turned down Tottenham around the same period, but the source reports his stance has shifted.

Gatti, meanwhile, is set to leave in search of regular starts, with Napoli the reported destination. The Partenopei need to offload a player before they can formalise that deal, which is currently stalling the entire chain – but Tomori represents a ready-made safety net for Thiago Motta’s successor Luciano Spalletti as Juve reshape their backline. The club has been active in that area already, pursuing centre-back reinforcements through multiple avenues this window.

Contract and Playing Time

Tomori’s current deal at Milan runs until 2027, meaning the Rossoneri hold real leverage and any departure would require a negotiated fee rather than a discounted exit. With defensive turnover already a theme at Juventus this summer, and Lloyd Kelly also a candidate to leave, Tomori could expect a significant role rather than squad cover. At 28, with four-plus years of Serie A experience, he fits the profile Juve are targeting – a proven defender comfortable at the top end of the table and in European competition.

76ers rookie Labaron Philon making early statement in Summer League originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Philadelphia 76ers rookie guard Labaron Philon continued his impressive start to NBA Summer League, delivering another standout performance Saturday night to lead the Sixers to a 100-93 overtime victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Philon took control when the game mattered most, scoring timely baskets in overtime and making several clutch plays down the stretch. The former Alabama star finished with a game-high 24 points, six assists, three rebounds and one steal, further strengthening his case as one of the breakout performers of Summer League.

The 6-foot-3 point guard showcased an advanced offensive arsenal throughout the contest. His mid-range pull-up jumper repeatedly proved nearly impossible to defend, while his explosive first step and polished footwork consistently allowed him to create space against Indiana’s defenders.

Philon powers 76ers past Pacers with overtime heroics

Philon displayed the poise of a seasoned floor general, controlling the tempo while making smart decisions with the basketball. His ability to score from multiple levels and create opportunities for teammates has quickly become one of Philadelphia’s biggest storylines in Las Vegas.

This marks the second consecutive game in which Philon has played a pivotal role for the Sixers. In his Summer League debut against the Detroit Pistons, he recorded 18 points and seven assists, flashing the playmaking ability and confidence that made him a first-round selection out of Alabama.

Against Indiana, however, Philon looked even more comfortable operating at the NBA pace. Rather than forcing shots, he let the game come to him, taking advantage of defensive mismatches and knocking down difficult jumpers when the Sixers needed offense most.

His performance also complemented another strong outing from big man Johni Broome, who contributed 23 points and 11 rebounds as Philadelphia improved to 2-0 in Summer League play.

While Summer League results should always be viewed with perspective, Philon has already demonstrated why the 76ers were so intrigued by his combination of scoring, court vision and competitiveness. If his first two games are any indication, Philadelphia may have found another young guard capable of contributing sooner rather than later.

For a rookie still adjusting to the professional game, Philon has looked remarkably composed, and his stock continues to rise with each performance in Las Vegas.

 Sixers news: 

• Sixers' Tyrese Maxey puts league on notice with recent post
• Sixers' Tyrese Maxey named to All-NBA third team
• Did the Sixers just find their Jared McCain replacement?
• 76ers decline team option on veteran forward following rough season
• 76ers opt to bring back standout forward after impressive season
• 76ers' Free Agency Primer: What do they need?

The Prince and Princess of Wales have arrived for the final day of Wimbledon, bringing with them their eldest two children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The family were in great spirits as they stepped out in the sunshine on Sunday to watch the Men's Final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

Princess Kate pulled out all the stops wearing a gorgeous green dress with fluted sleeves and one-shoulder draped scarf detail, with her mermaid waves looking as glorious as ever. She teamed her dress with unique bronze accessories and a purple bow brooch. 

Meanwhile, Prince William looked dapper in his signature navy suit, with Prince George looking effortlessly smart matching his dad. 

You may also like

• Wimbledon 2026 Day 14: Nicole Kidman, Tom Hiddleston and Jaafar Jackson lead stylish arrivals for men's final

• Meet Wimbledon ace Jannik Sinner’s glamorous girlfriend - the Danish model with a famous F1 ex

• Prince Harry's funniest moments from UK trip that prove he's just a kid at heart

Princess Charlotte was her mummy's mini-me sporting a bright blue dress with tie waist and ruffle sleeves. A colour Kate wore just days ago at Wimbledon! 

Prince Louis was not in attendance on this occasion, however, we have seen him on official state engagements like Trooping the Colour. Tennis matches can be notoriously long so perhaps the family questioned how the eight-year-old's attention span would cope on a long, hot day like Sunday.

See the best family photos

© WireImage

Princess Kate glows in green

The royal wave

Princess Kate flashes a huge smile and waves to crowds as she steps out at Wimbledon alongside her family.

© Getty Images

Kate and her children

Walking with confidence

Kate lead her family into Wimbledon confidently and her two eldest children looked incredibly smart for the special occasion. 

© Getty Images

Charlotte sports her longest hair yet

Princess Charlotte's mermaid hair

Princess Charlotte's beautiful mermaid hair looked just like her mother's as they walked along together. 

© AFP via Getty Images

Father and daughter moment

Prince William was a doting dad as he shared a sweet moment with his daughter, Princess Charlotte, upon arrival at Wimbledon. 

© AFP via Getty Images

All smiles

The Princess of Wales had the brightest smile on her face as she looked over at her daughter, Princess Charlotte, who sat next to her in the royal box.

© AFP via Getty Images

Courtside chat

Princess Kate was pictured chatting with her daughter in the royal box. Like her brother George, Charlotte is no stranger to Wimbledon, having attended previous years. 

Princess Kate's other Wimbledon appearances 

This was not Princess Kate's first appearance at Wimbledon this year, in fact, it is her third. 

The mother-of-three made a surprise appearance in SW19 on day five of the championships just days after her impressive Three Peaks Challenge. She strutted around the club in a blue Gabriela Hearst suit, surprising sporting fans as she went. 

On Saturday, Kate made her second appearance, this time she selected a stylish red dress to wear for the Ladies' Singles Final to see Linda Noskova crowned Wimbledon Ladies Champion. As well as her peplum belted dress which hugged her figure, Kate mermaid waves in a half-up half-down style stole the show. 

Kate passes down tennis love

The Princess has made no secret of her love for the racket sport. Speaking of her love of the tournament, the royal told Sue Barker on a 2017 BBC documentary: "I have watched Wimbledon, that was very much part of my growing up. It's such a quintessential part of the English summer, and I think it really inspires youngsters, myself, it inspired me when I was younger to get involved in the game. It hasn't changed either, I think that's what's so wonderful."

She is said to have passed on her passion to her children, particularly her daughter, Princess Charlotte, who has been pictured at the event three times before now. "As a family, we play a lot," Princess Kate confessed in 2024. 

Cobbled classics specialist Mathieu van der Poel claimed his third Tour de France win on Sunday with victory in the ninth stage, which was shortened due to intense heat.

The 31-year-old Dutchman, a former world champion, won a sprint amongst his three breakaway companions with Tobias Johannessen taking second and Tom Pidcock third.

"It was a super hard day. The start of the Tour was not great for our team, but I think, like always, we stayed calm," he said.

"We have a really nice group here and we kept believing that it will turn around... but it's really nice to go to the first rest day with a win."

Having worked as a sprint lead-out man for his Alpecin Premier Tech team-mate Jasper Philipsen -- who had finished fourth and fifth in the sprint stages -- in the previous two days, Van der Poel finally had a chance to go for a stage win for himself.

Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar came home in the chasing peloton six seconds behind the winner to maintain his lead in the overall standings ahead of Monday's first rest day.

The four-time champion leads two-time winner Jonas Vingegaard by 2min 42sec with Mexican Isaac del Toro a further 45sec back. 

Van der Poel, a three-time winner of both the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix -- the two most important one-day cobbled classics -- had previously won Tour stages in 2021 and 2025.

- 'Horrible' roads -

This stage was shortened by around 30km due to a "red alert" weather warning in the central Correze region.

Temperatures once again reached close to 40C, although in parts on the stage it was nearer 30C. 

There was a furious battle from the beginning of the 154.6km run from Malemort to Ussel to make it into the day's breakaway.

It was not until about halfway through the stage that an eight-man breakaway finally went clear on the steep 3.8km-long Suc au May climb.

The group never eked out a lead of more than a minute and a half but they worked well together.

Van der Poel then attacked out of that group with 25km left on the final categorised climb of the day, the 900m-long, and equally steep, Mont Bessou.

Only Norwegian Johannessen, Frenchman Alex Baudin and Briton Pidcock were able to follow and then it was a full-throttle charge to the finish line with a 50-second lead over the significantly-reduced peloton.

The breakaway riders had plenty in the bag and even slowed down in the final kilometre in a cat-and-mouse game before the final sprint.

But when Van der Poel launched that, it was clear that he would be too strong for the others.

"I was not so sure. I spent a lot of energy trying to keep the break alive," he admitted.

"There was a lot of pressure from the bunch. The roads were horrible for a breakaway with a headwind the whole day.

"We fought for it and I'm happy to finish it off."

bc/ea

Imperfect but promising arms continue as the theme for the White Sox in the 2026 draft, as Cal Scolari is the next White Sox pick, as the 137th selection.

Due to significant injury history — TJS in high school, missing his senior year and freshman year in college, and has pitched in just one college season — Scolari was a prospect destined for the latter portion of the first 10 rounds, ranked No. 192 by MLB. The White Sox were enamored enough with Scolari’s starter potential that they ignored several first-day talents still left on the board (including José Contreras’ son, Joseph) to get him.

On the draft broadcast, the MLB draft experts characterized this aggressive choice as a “redshirt sophomore” while praising his velocity and mechanics. Scolari’s sound foundation makes it possible for him to remain a starter in the pros, which is where the White Sox likely give him some initial run.

Scolari’s top pitch, grading at 50, is his fastball, which averages 93-94 mph but has touched 98. He’s continued to have arm troubles even after a bounce-back season at Oregon in 2026, but pitched in 14 games (12 starts) and 57 innings total, including a standout start of five innings and 10 Ks vs. Washington in the Big 10 conference tournament.

Given the injury history and overall lack of workload, Scolari would seem a player destined for some kid-gloves treatment by the White Sox after the draft. Expect his true pro debut to be delayed to 2027.

The 2026 White Sox draft storystream contains all of our draft content.

Red Sox cut ties with ex-Dodgers veteran reliever amid Brayan Bello news originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox are surging on the field, but the front office continues to make moves they believe are best for the club. 

Boston has made a change to its pitching staff before today's game. 

According to a report from Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com, the Red Sox designated left-hander Danny Coulombe for assignment.

The 36-year-old posted a 4.50 ERA in 22 innings with the AL East club. 

"He doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, but he’s delivered a sub-3.00 ERA in each of the past four years. He heads to DFA limbo with a solid chance to find another home," Charlie Wright of MLB Trade Rumors wrote.

"Boston has five days to work out a trade or place him on waivers," Wright added about Coulombe's DFA. "If he goes unclaimed, he has enough service time to forego a minor league assignment and enter free agency." 

The Red Sox were Coulombe's sixth team in his 12 MLB seasons. 

MORE: What did Blue Jays get for Tommy Nance? Twins send .855 OPS catcher prospect in trade

On Sunday, Cotillo added that the Red Sox have recalled right-hander Bryan Bello from Triple-A to take Coulombe's place on the roster. 

Bello will be in Boston's bullpen for his return to the Majors, according to Cotillo. 

In four starts at Triple-A Worcester, Bello posted a 4.34 ERA with 22 strikeouts and just four walks in 18.2 innings. 

More MLB news:

• Cubs ‘realistic’ trade idea sends Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo
• Phillies trade idea lands Jung Hoo Lee and Robbie Ray from Giants for 2 prospects
• Yankees trade idea sends Carlos Lagrange to Athletics for utilityman Zack Gelof
• What happened to Shohei Ohtani? Why Dodgers star won't pitch tonight, or play in All-Star Game
• Cardinals sign JJ Wetherholt to eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension

Indiana Fever and WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark made her return to action for the Wednesday night contest against the Los Angeles Sparks after a two-game absence.

However, Clark (back) did not play the following night against the Phoenix Mercury, as the Fever wisely sat her out on the second leg of the back-to-back with the intention of slowly working her back into regular playing time.

With the Fever taking the floor against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday night, here’s what we know about Clark’s status for the contest.

MORE: Caitlin Clark shows off new colorway for signature shoes

Is Caitlin Clark playing tonight?

Caitlin Clark is officially listed as probable for Sunday’s contest, but head coach Steph White revealed on Saturday that she would indeed be available against the Aces.

That said, just like she was in her return on Wednesday, Clark will be limited. The expectation is Clark will play 20 to 25 minutes, which would amount to an uptick from the previous game when she played 16 minutes.

MORE: Candace Parker says what WNBA royalty should be saying about Caitlin Clark

“Caitlin Clark will be available against Las Vegas (on Sunday), Steph White says, on a 20-25 minutes restriction,” the Indy Star’s Chloe Peterson relayed.

Shaking off the rust

Clark clearly wasn’t herself in her first game back, which was to be expected because she hadn’t played in a game in a few weeks.

But it also didn’t help that Clark played in three-minute bursts throughout the contest, something the WNBA All-Star admitted after the game.

MORE: Sophie Cunningham recreates viral pointing meme after UFC 329

“It’s really, really hard to get into a flow,” Clark said after the game. “For the most part, I got good looks, some of them went, some of them didn’t. I probably didn’t get to have a feel for the game as I usually do, like it’s just really, really hard for me to play in that scenario, but overall, my body feels great, so that’s the positive I can take from today.”

White revealed the goal with the three-minute spurts was to help Clark build up her stamina. The Fever won’t be deploying her like that again on Sunday, though, White said.

How to watch Fever vs. Aces

When: Sunday, July 12, 9 p.m. ET

Where: Michelob Ultra Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada

Watch: NBC, Peacock

Lydia Ko gave her caddie an A+ this week. That's notable given that she had her husband, Jun Chung, on the bag for the first time at the Amundi Evian Championship.

"Would it be an A+ for other players? I'm not really sure," she said. "But obviously he can say some things that only a husband can say, and maybe not Paul for me on a week to week."

Ko set a goal of 6 under for the final round and did one better, matching the day's best of 64 on Sunday to finish in a share of seventh at 13 under, six shots back of winner Haeran Ryu. It marked her best finish on tour since March and followed a T-15 at the KPMG Women's PGA.

Lydia Ko's husband is on the bag this week and it's going about exactly as you'd expect 🤣

(he's a DIVA 💅) pic.twitter.com/FLeyLa8VS2

— LPGA (@LPGA) July 8, 2026

Watching Chung caddie, she said, made her appreciate more what her regular looper, Paul Cormack, does on a weekly basis.

When asked about Chung's best advice this week, Ko said it was more like an ultimatum.

"He was like, 'Oh, I'm not going to caddie for a wuss,' so I think that made me be a little bit more kind of aggressive," she said.

"And then he really didn't have any bad advice. I told him to like keep up and shut up. That was kind of like my advice at the start of the week. I actually relied on him in like green reading as well, which has kind of been the thing that I struggled with on these greens the past few years."

Keep up and shut up, of course, being the golden rule for call caddies.

At the start of the week, the subject of money came up and Chung reminded his wife that he was taking vacation days to work for her. She made $242,409 in the fourth major of the season.

"You should be honored to caddie for a Hall of Famer," Ko deadpanned.

Needless to say, they had a good time in France.

Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women's golf.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lydia Ko on husband's Evian ultimatum: 'I'm not going to caddie for a wuss'

Liverpool Hold Edge Over Arsenal in Lutsharel Geertruida Transfer Battle

Liverpool’s summer planning still appears active, with right-back depth and defensive versatility among the areas under consideration as Andoni Iraola shapes his first squad at Anfield. According to Caught Offside, Lutsharel Geertruida is again emerging as a serious market opportunity, with Arsenal also in the frame.

The 25-year-old’s situation carries a familiar feel. Liverpool explored a move in January and, while personal terms were understood to be in place, the deal never reached completion. That previous work can often matter in a market where timing and clarity are decisive, and it leaves Liverpool well positioned if they choose to accelerate now.

Geertruida transfer latest

Geertruida is back at RB Leipzig after a season on loan at Sunderland, where he re-established himself through regular Premier League football. His profile remains attractive to top-level recruitment teams, particularly those seeking a defender capable of covering multiple roles without weakening the structure of the side.

He can operate at right-back, centre-back and deeper in front of the defence, which is valuable for a head coach who wants flexibility between systems. That adaptability, combined with recovery pace, comfort in possession and experience in English football, helps explain why more than one club are monitoring developments.

Photo: IMAGO

The key line from the report is clear: “Liverpool could offer him a clearer route to regular football.” In practical terms, that may prove significant. Arsenal can offer elite competition and Champions League football, but Liverpool may be able to present a more immediate pathway to meaningful minutes, especially if Iraola wants a modern full-back who can invert, defend space and support build-up.

Why Liverpool may feel confident

There is also a financial element that makes this one worth watching. Leipzig are understood to be under pressure to generate sales, and that can create value late in a window. A fee around £20m would place Geertruida firmly in the sensible business category for a player entering prime years and carrying top-level versatility.

Liverpool have already added Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz, but those moves do not close the door on another defensive signing. If anything, they reinforce the sense that the club are still prepared to move opportunistically when the profile and price align.

From Liverpool’s perspective, Geertruida looks like the sort of deal that covers several needs at once. He would strengthen right-back depth, offer genuine centre-back cover and give Iraola tactical freedom across a long season. Arsenal’s interest is real, but Liverpool’s groundwork and potential route to first-team football may yet prove decisive.

Our View

From a Liverpool perspective, this report makes sense on paper, but there is every right to be cautious. Geertruida is clearly a useful footballer, and £20m for a player with Premier League exposure and positional flexibility sounds reasonable in this market. Still, there is a difference between being useful and being the right answer for a squad trying to recover momentum after a difficult 2025-26 campaign.

The concern is whether Liverpool are targeting a specialist or simply chasing versatility because it looks efficient. Supporters have seen enough windows where a multi-functional signing is presented as smart depth, only for the squad to remain short of top-end quality in key roles. If the club genuinely believe right-back needs attention, then the question should be whether Geertruida raises the level, not just whether he can cover two or three positions.

There is also the usual issue with transfer stories that hinge on a “clearer route” to minutes. That can be true, but it can also mean the player is not viewed as an automatic starter by the very biggest sides. Liverpool need players who push the first XI hard, not simply options who make the bench look healthier.

So yes, this could be a clever piece of business if the recruitment team are convinced by the fit. But supporters would be entitled to want more certainty, more ceiling and more proof that this is about upgrading the squad rather than patching holes.

Evian Championship - round four

-19 H Ryu (Kor)*, B Henderson (Can)

* Ryu wins after after first hole of sudden-death play-off

Selected others; -18 A Iwai (Jpn); -15 J-H Im (Kor), M Yamashita (Jpn), M Saigo (Jpn); -13 L Ko (NZ), A Nordqvist (Swe); -11 M Stark (Swe), J Thitikul (Tha); -8 C Hull (Eng), L Woad (Eng)

Full leaderboard

South Korea's Haeran Ryu says it felt like she was in an "unreal dream" as she claimed her second major title in the space of two weeks by defeating Brooke Henderson in a play-off at the Evian Championship.

Having made history with an 11-under 60 on Saturday to lead by three shots overnight at 18 under, Ryu signed for a 71 on Sunday, with her solitary birdie arriving on the 18th in the east of France.

Ryu was forced to watch as Canada's Henderson, who began the day seven strokes adrift, charged back into contention and forced a play-off with her third eagle of the day on the final hole to sign for a seven-under 64.

However, when the 2022 winner Henderson drifted left off the tee on the extra hole and was forced to lay up, Ryu took full advantage and eventually made a birdie, with her opponent only managing a par.

"This is just a dream right now, because before three weeks [ago] I don't have a major championship, but now two in a row," said Ryu, who also triumphed at the Women's PGA Championship at Hazeltine in June.

"It's an unreal dream right now. A lot of great names [are] on the trophy, and I so happy that my name is on here."

Ryu's victory means she collects the top prize of $1.4m (£1m) and becomes one of just two players to have hoovered up all four of the women's majors so far this term.

World number one Nelly Korda, who missed the cut at Evian-les-Bains, won both the Chevron Championship and the US Women's Open earlier in the season.

Ryu's recent success is all the more remarkable given she missed the cut in this event 12 months ago, and was a lowly 61st at PGA Frisco in 2025.

At one stage on Sunday it appeared as though Aki Iwai was capable of becoming a first-time major winner.

The Japanese player had a share of the lead alongside Ryu heading down the 18th, but a missed birdie putt meant she ended the tournament in third at 18 under overall.

Compatriots Miyu Yamashita and Mao Saigo finished three shots further adrift at 15 under alongside South Korea's Jin-Hee Im.

Anna Nordqvist was the leading European player at 13 under, while English duo Charley Hull and second-round leader Lottie Woad were back at eight under.

UFC 329 was full of surprises on Saturday night, from the disastrous Conor McGregor comeback to Paddy Pimblett blowing through Benoit Saint Denis in less than one minute.

But before Pimblett stole the show in the co-main event, it was WNBA fan favorite Sophie Cunningham who generating buzz and trending on social media.

Cunningham, who became a star thanks to her role as Caitlin Clark’s enforcer on the Indiana Fever, made an unexpected cameo as a UFC ring girl before the start of the co-main event. Cunningham walked around the Octagon to signal Round 1, and then dropped her viral finger point taunt.

MORE: Max Holloway, Sophie Cunningham recreate viral pointing memes after UFC 329

At the post-fight press conference, UFC boss Dana White explained how the Cunningham cameo came to fruition, saying it was a last-minute decision that was made on a whim “about eight minutes before she did it.”

Dana White says he hired Sophie Cunningham as the ring girl “about 8 mins before she did it” pic.twitter.com/CF4aRQ49LC

— Rosalina Lee (@YoitsRosie) July 12, 2026

“I love Sophie Cunningham,” White told the media.

“We’ve created a relationship, and she was here tonight. “When she walked in, she goes, “Oh, I want to walk around that.’ I said, ‘Then you’re gonna walk around it.'”

MORE: UFC 329 results – Conor McGregor return ends in seconds due to injury

It was as simple as that.

Cunningham was in Las Vegas ahead of the Fever’s Sunday night showdown with the A’ja Wilson and the Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena in primetime. Let’s hope that things go better for Cunningham and the Fever than they did for the UFC in the main event on Saturday night.

Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories on The Big Lead —

Today could be the start of a beginning for the Atlanta Braves, as this game will close out the first half of the season before going into the All-Star break. JR Ritchie was originally set to take the mound today, but Danny Young (2.70 ERA) was just recently added in to replace him at the last minute. And we have a few roster adjustments made to close out the series against the St. Luis Cardinals.

Drake Baldwin will be leading off, moving Michael Harris II down to the fourth batting spot. Brewer Hicklen (.398 OPS) will be taking over right field and batting ninth. Jim Jarvis is back to occupy shortstop, while Dominic Smith will be batting sixth as the designated hitter for the day.

Jarvis, Austin Riley and Smith all average above a 2.000 OPS and .500-plus batting average against Cardinals’ Dustin May, and with his recent on-and-off-again struggles to retire his opponents early while landing his pitches in the zone, this could work in the Braves’ favor if their bats decide to wake up today.

This was already expected to be an unexpected matchup with Ritchie on the mound, but with a late scratch and adding Young, who has only pitched four games this season, with one loss attributed to him, it’s even more of a toss-up.

The Braves are looking to avoid a sweep and end on a high note despite the series’ loss, and the Cardinals are looking for their first sweep since the beginning of June.

First pitch is set for 2:15 p.m. EDT.

Another Oregon Duck is headed to the Windy City.

Oregon right-handed pitcher Cal Scolari was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of the 2026 MLB Draft with the No. 137 pick.

Scolari was a big transfer and development win for the Ducks under pitching coach Matt Florer, who brought Scolari with him to Eugene from San Diego. After being named the West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2025, Scolari suited up for the Ducks and continued to dominate.

Windy City Bound@whitesox don't waste any time on day 2 of the @MLBDraft picking @calscolari with the second pick of the day. Congrats Cal! #GoDuckspic.twitter.com/SJyk7Viag5

— Oregon Duck Baseball (@OregonBaseball) July 12, 2026

A regular in the weekend rotation, Scolari finished the season with a 3.32 ERA and 85 strikeouts. His mid-90s fastball paired with a wipeout slider elevated him as a prospect down the stretch. He also throws a changeup and a slow curveball.

Scolari's ability to max and match a couple of different pitches could give him upside as a starter, but he did struggle to throw strikes consistently in the postseason, which could cause the White Sox to examine his worth as a bullpen piece in the future.

The Nevada native is expected to sign with the White Sox, but he does have two more seasons of eligibility if he decides to return to Oregon. The deadline to return is July 27. If he were to return to school, Scolari would certainly take a rotation spot again and help the Ducks fill a big need next season.

Scolari is the second Duck to be drafted, following Ryan Cooney, who was picked in the third round by the Toronto Blue Jays. Oregon commit Andruw Giles was also picked in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Ducks are still waiting to hear more names called, including shortstop Maddox Molony.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon's Cal Scolari lands with Chicago White Sox in MLB draft

The Seattle Seahawks have several players that are due to take the next step in 2026, but AJ Barner is a particular name to watch in the upcoming season.

According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, Barner is the player for the Seahawks primed to have a breakout season in 2026.

“We somehow made it through the entire Seahawks Super Bowl run without calling Barner what he is: a rising top-10 TE,” Solak said. “There are precious few "complete" tight ends right now -- players who legitimately move the needle both as blockers and as receivers. And Barner can be both.”

Barner received the third-most targets in Seattle’s receiving corp last season with 68 and may be due for a rise in looks in 2026. Rashid Shaheed is positioned to have a larger workload next season, but his increased target share likely won’t limit Barner’s opportunities a great deal.

The 24-year-old Barner was a strong scoring threat for Seattle in 2025, having recorded seven total touchdowns from scrimmage on the year, and figures to be a favored target for Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in scoring situations again in 2026.

This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Seahawks TE named by ESPN as breakout candidate for 2026

FSU pitcher Trey Beard has been drafted by the Miami Marlins with the No. 147 overall pick in the 2026 MLB draft. He is FSU's first draft pick of Sunday and the fourth overall.

Beard, an FAU transfer, served as FSU's No. 2 starter in his only season with the Seminoles. The lefty went 6-1 with a 3.59 ERA in 77 2/3 innings. He held opponents to a .218 batting average, allowing 38 runs on 62 hits and 26 walks, striking out 123 batters.

He was named the ACC Pitcher of the Week on March 16 after he threw 6 1/3 shutout innings against Wake Forest. He allowed just one hit and one walk, striking out a career-high 14 batters.

Beard had arguably his best performance of the season in his final outing of the season. After a rain delay knocked Wes Mendes out of FSU's do-or-die game against Coastal Carolina, Beard did not allow a run over the final four innings, with FSU winning 2-1. He struckout nine batters and allowed just one hit.

The Dunedin, Florida native spent the first two years of his career with the FAU Owls and was one of the top pitchers in the transfer portal when he signed with FSU. He made the All-ACC First Team as a sophomore after going 7-1 with a 3.14 ERA in 86 innings, striking out 118 batters and walking 32.

Beard is the second FSU pitcher taken already, joining Wes Mendes.

Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Trey Beard selected by Miami Marlins in the 2026 MLB draft

Shortly after the Pittsburgh Steelers get together for training camp, the team will release its first official depth chart. The Steelers have multiple spot on the new-look offense up for grabs thanks to the moves new head coach Mike McCarthy has made. Here is our initial prediction for the Steelers first offensive depth chart.

Quarterback

We give Mason Rudolph the veteran nod here at the team's No. 2.

Aaron Rodgers - Mason Rudolph - Will Howard - Drew Allar

Running back

Lots of position battles here as this group shuffles through training camp and the preseason.

Jaylen Warren - Rico Dowdle - Kaleb Johnson - Eli Heidenreich - Travis Homer - Lew Nichols

Left wide receiver

We put Roman Wilson here but he could also be the No. 2 at slot receiver.

DK Metcalf - Roman Wilson - A.T. Perry - Levi Wentz

Right wide receiver

Lots of pressure on Pittman Jr. to perform with this depth.

Michael Pittman Jr. - Ben Skowronek - Joaquin Davis - Brandon Smith

Slot wide receiver

The rookie Bernard has been great in offseason work.

Germie Bernard - Kaden Wetjen - Max Hurleman

Tight end

Despite his new contract, we put Darnell Washington behind Freiermuth here.

Pat Freiermuth - Darnell Washington - Robert Tonyan - Jaheim Bell - JJ Galbreath - Lake McRee

Left tackle

It's been really quiet on the Broderick Jones news but we leave him as No. 2 for now.

Troy Fautanu - Broderick Jones - Lorenzo Thompson

Right tackle

We fully expect the rookie Iheanachor to eventually take over the starting job here.

Dylan Cook - Max Iheanachor - Jack Driscoll

Left guard

McCormick makes the move to the left with Troy Fautanu after starting at right guard last season.

Mason McCormick - Brock Hoffman - Steven Jones

Right guard

Like Cook, we feel like Spencer's hold on the starting spot is just temporary.

Spencer Anderson - Gennings Dunker - Doug Nester

Center

This is probably the least contested depth chart on offense.

Zach Frazier - Ryan McCollum - Greg Crippen

This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers training camp: Projecting the Steelers first offensive depth chart

Rays have 'shown interest' in D-Backs All-Star $105 million second baseman originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly going to be aggressive at the MLB trade deadline this summer. That shouldn't be a huge surprise considering how good the team's looked this year, and the wide-open nature of the American League.

But who could the Rays wind up targeting this summer? Well, Tarik Skubal is one name to keep in mind, but Tampa Bay is also likely to target help at second base.

Amid such a potential interest, USA Today's Bob Nightengale is reporting that the Rays have "shown interest" in trading for Arizona Diamondbacks $115 million All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte this summer.

Rays are interested in a trade for D-Backs' Ketel Marte

"They not only have their eyes on Skubal, but they have shown interest in seeing whether the Diamondbacks would move second baseman Ketel Marte and Giants All-Star second baseman Luis Arraez as a backup plan," Nightengale writes.

Marte is a 32-year-old second baseman who has been in trade rumors in recent years, as there's been buzz about the relantionship Diamondbacks and Marte not being the best.

But, for the Rays' purposes, Marte would be a huge upgrade at second base. Tampa Bay needs to upgrade its offense, and second base is the most obvious place to upgrade the roster.

MORE: Cardinals sign JJ Wetherholt to eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension

This season, Marte, the three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, and 2023 NLCS MVP, has a .259 batting average with a .780 OPS and 112 OPS+ with 17 homers, 54 RBIs, and 19 doubles with 29 walks to 56 strikeouts and 1.9 bWAR.

He'd be a huge upgrade for the Rays offensively and would slot perfectly onto the roster as their new second baseman. He's also under club control through the 2030 season with a 2031 player option on his six-year, $105 million deal.

If the Rays could somehow add Marte this summer in a deal with the Diamondbacks, it would be an incredible way to upgrade the team with one move.

While Skubal might be the bigger name, Marte could be the missing piece for this offense to truly have what it takes to go up against the best offenses in baseball.

More MLB news:

• Cubs ‘realistic’ trade idea sends Seiya Suzuki to the Mariners for Luis Castillo
• Phillies trade idea lands Jung Hoo Lee and Robbie Ray from Giants for 2 prospects
• Yankees trade idea sends Carlos Lagrange to Athletics for utilityman Zack Gelof
• What happened to Shohei Ohtani? Why Dodgers star won't pitch tonight, or play in All-Star Game
• What did Blue Jays get for Tommy Nance? Twins send .855 OPS catcher prospect in trade

Lefty Nick Lodolo pitched well on Saturday night against the Chicago Cubs right up until the point where he didn’t, a point that just so happened to coincide with a meatball to catcher Carson Kelly that was turned around for a 410 foot homer over the CF wall.

As it turns out, that meatball came as Lodolo developed yet another blister on his left index finger, and it was the final pitch he threw on the night. He exited in a huff – hard to blame him since he continues to be plagued by the most basic of injuries – and on Sunday the Reds placed him on the 15-day IL again to deal with the issue.

Chase Petty was recalled.

It is a bummer giganto because Lodolo had finally begun to look himself of late. Across 20.0 IP over his most recent 4 GS, he’d allowed just 14 hits while posting 18 K and a 1.35 ERA. Blisters don’t just hurt, of course, but they also impact which pitches pitchers can comfortably throw, something that can totally alter the way they approach each and every hitter – if you can’t throw your slider with confidence or without a twinge of pain, you can’t try to park it on a hitter’s back foot the way you otherwise would.

We saw how long it took Brady Singer to get back in the groove after his own bout. Now, we get to see if Lodolo can jump back into the flow after the All Star break or if it takes him longer to get his pitch-mix back to normal as he fights through this.

Rhett Lowder will presumably slide back into the rotation in Lodolo’s stead, which is a good backup plan to have. Chase Petty, who was recalled to take Lodolo’s spot on the roster, will presumably take over a late-inning relief role for the time being the way he did before being optioned.

We continue the countdown to the start of the Arizona Cardinals' regular season. Today, Saturday, July 12, is 64 days away from the Arizona Cardinals' regular-season opener on Sept. 13 on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers.

With 63 days until Week 1, let's look back at the 1963 season for the Cardinals.

A look back at the 1963 season for the Cardinals

The 1963 season was the first of two consecutive nine-win seasons. They went 9-5 in Wally Lemm's second year as head coach. It wasn't enough, though, to make the playoffs.

They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring, averaging 24.4 points per game and allowed 20.1 points per game, sixth in the 14-team league.

1963 individual honors, leaders

The Cardinals had five Pro Bowl players in 1963:

• QB Charley Johnson
• RG Ken Gray
• C Bob DeMarco
• LB Dale Meinert
• S Larry Wilson

Gray and DeMarco were also both second-team All-Pros. Receiver Bobby Joe Conrad as a first-team All-Pro.

Johnson led the NFL with 423 passing attempts. He passed for 3,280 yards, 28 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.

Joe Childress led the team with 701 rushing yards, and Bill Triplett had 652. Both had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage, as Childress also caught 25 passes for 354 yards and Triplett had 31 receptions for 396 yards.

Conrad led the team and the league with 73 receptions. He had 967 yards and 10 touchdowns. Sonny Randle had 51 catches for 1,014 yards and 12 touchdowns.

On defense, cornerback Pat Fischer led with eight interceptions, while Wilson added four.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: 63 days till Arizona Cardinals' opener: Remembering the 1963 season

Newcastle United Move for Ederson Could Be Smart Midfield Rebuild

Newcastle United are exploring a move for Atalanta midfielder Ederson after Manchester United dramatically stepped away from a proposed deal, according to Sports View. The development has quickly placed the 27-year-old back into focus as Newcastle reshape the heart of their squad.

Manchester United had reportedly “reached an agreement in principle to sign Ederson in June” before the situation changed following his Brazil commitments. After he received a late call-up and completed international duties, United “initiated a second round of medical checks” on the midfielder. What followed was unexpected, with the club then said to have “abruptly withdrew from the deal, informing Atalanta of their decision.”

That sequence has opened the door for Newcastle, who are in the market for high-level midfield additions after the £100 million departure of Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur. With Bruno Guimaraes also facing an uncertain future as Arsenal continue to be linked, the need for reinforcements feels obvious. Ederson fits that profile, particularly given Newcastle’s apparent confidence in the player’s condition.

Photo IMAGO

Ederson Transfer Latest

The key point in this story is that “Newcastle’s recruitment team do not share Man United’s reservations about signing Ederson.” A “minor knee concern prompted a rethink from United”, yet Atalanta’s stance remains firm. The Italian club “insist the player is fully fit” and are ready to offer him fresh terms with only 12 months left on his current deal.

There is no sign of panic in Bergamo either. Maurizio Sarri is reportedly content to keep the midfielder involved if no agreement is reached, while Atalanta remain willing to sell at their existing valuation. For Newcastle, that creates a clear decision, move decisively now, or risk seeing the situation shift again.

Newcastle Midfield Rebuild Taking Shape

Newcastle have already brought in Sean Steur from Ajax, although he is viewed as one for the future. The expectation that Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi could also arrive underlines how active the club are in this area. Still, Ederson would represent a different level entirely, an experienced, powerful option capable of changing the feel of the midfield immediately.

For a club trying to respond quickly to major change, this is one to watch closely.

Our View

From a Newcastle supporter’s perspective, this report feels encouraging. Ederson sounds exactly the type of midfielder the club should be targeting if the aim is to stay competitive and refresh the squad with proven quality. The most reassuring line is that “Newcastle’s recruitment team do not share Man United’s reservations about signing Ederson.” If the club’s medical and recruitment staff are comfortable, that should give supporters confidence.

There is always some nervousness when a player has been dropped by another major club late in the process, especially when a “minor knee concern prompted a rethink from United”. But context matters. Atalanta “insist the player is fully fit”, and if Newcastle have done their homework properly, there is every reason to trust the process.

Losing a midfielder of Tonali’s calibre for £100 million leaves a huge gap. If Bruno Guimaraes also moves on, the rebuild becomes even more urgent. That is why this cannot be a passive window. Newcastle need players who can arrive and contribute straight away, and Ederson appears to offer that blend of physicality, maturity and top-level experience.

Supporters will also like the fact the club are looking at multiple midfielders rather than chasing one name endlessly. Sean Steur and Johan Manzambi may help the future, but Ederson looks like someone for the present. If this opportunity is real, Newcastle should move hard and try to get it done.

Source: Sports View

After two underwhelming seasons with Real Madrid, Jude Bellingham is once again showing his very best level as he continues to star for England in the World Cup 2026. The midfielder, whose call-up to the English squad for this tournament was once in doubt, is proving to be the most decisive player for his side.

His importance was once again evident last night, as he scored a brace to help England come back from a one-goal deficit and win the quarter-final tie against Norway in extra time. With this brace, he ensured that Real Madrid is the new record holder as the club whose players have scored the most goals in a single World Cup campaign, i.e., 19.

Furthermore, these two goals, which took his tally in this competition to 6, also meant that, along with Gary Lineker and Harry Kane, he became only one of three English players to score more than 5 goals in a World Cup.

As ESPN has reported, one of these two players whose esteemed company he joined with his latest goals, Gary Lineker, had some very special words of praise for the Real Madrid midfielder as he spoke to The Rest is Football podcast.

The former English forward had no qualms in calling Bellingham a potential candidate to become the greatest player in English football history:

“I would go as far as to say I think there’s a chance that I think he could well be, or end up being, England’s greatest ever footballer. And that is a big shout.”

“We’ve had some really great players. Some of them have not necessarily done it for their country, others have… Go back to people like Bobby Charlton obviously, I would say would have to be up there.”

“You would put Harry Kane in that bracket and there are other players as well, but I think at this age, to be doing what he’s doing and grabbing England by the scruff and getting them over the line, that is superstar.”

There is no doubt that Jude Bellingham has been one of the very top performers in this World Cup. Hopefully, these performances will help him regain confidence, if he had lost any during the last few seasons. The new Merengue coach Jose Mourinho would be delighted with his performances, but would have to work out a system in which he can get the best out of the Englishman for Real Madrid, while also catering to the needs of other superstars in the team.

A second Los Angeles Dodgers player has revealed he will not visit the White House with the team on July 23. Four-time World Series champion and shortstop Mookie Betts said he will skip the team’s visit but explained his decision was not related to politics.

Instead, Betts wants to utilize that off day to spend time with his family. Betts and his wife, Brianna, welcomed their second daughter and third child, Khari, to the family in April. Betts said his family will be joining him on the roadtrip, so he wants to take advantage of the off day.

“I’m not trying to make this a whole big deal,” Betts said, per the California Post. “We just had a baby. You don’t get many days off. They’re coming [on the road trip]. And just want to hang out with the fam. That’s really kind of it. But people are gonna make it a whole bunch of other stuff.”

Which Other Player is Missing the Visit?

Utility man Kiké Hernández also announced he will not visit the White House with the team later this month. He said he will be on a rehab assignment during that time as he looks to return from the injured list soon.

However, Hernández said he still probably would not attend the White House even if he was healthy.

Both Betts and Hernández have explained how visiting the White House is often a lose-lose situation for the players. Betts has visited the White House twice but skipped the visit after his first World Series victory with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.

Betts later decided to visit the White House in 2020 and 2024 with the Dodgers because he felt skipping the visit was a distraction to the team. Hernández also visited the White House in 2024.

“If I do [go], people are gonna hate me. If I don’t, people are gonna hate me,” Betts said, per the California Post. “So instead of trying to make everyone else happy, I’m gonna think about myself and my family.”

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

The post Mookie Betts Explains Why He Won’t Visit the White House With the Dodgers appeared first on LA Sports Report.

We’re back for a packed Day Two because again, MLB does not know how to market their own product. The second and final day of the draft is underway today and we’ll be threading all of the Mariners picks here for rounds five through twenty.

Today is also the Futures Game, headlined by a pair of Mariners pitching prospects in Kade Anderson and Ryan Sloan, and we’ll have a separate thread and recap for that, as well as the usual thread and recap for today’s actual Mariners game, although that feels like a distant third against the promise of the future that will be on display today.

After one year with the Texas Longhorns, Aiden Robbins is heading to the Big Apple. The New York Mets selected the Longhorns outfielder in the third round of the MLB Draft on Saturday night. He was one of the best players in the nation during the 2026 campaign and will soon become one of the Mets' top prospects. 

During his junior campaign, Robbins posted a .333 batting average in 60 games. He set career highs in home runs with 24, RBI with 64, and runs with 68. After spending the first two years of his college career with Seton Hall, Robbins made a name for himself in the SEC.

Really surprised to see him fall this far.

The Mets just got a steal in Texas OF Aiden Robbins

24 HRs, 1.122 OPS as the SEC Newcomer of the Year in 2026
pic.twitter.com/Eo0mln0JHi

— Evan Vieth (@EvanVieth) July 11, 2026

In Robbins, the Mets are getting a player who finished his college career with a .355 batting average in 156 games with Seton Hall and Texas. His excellence did not stop there, as Robbins also hit .328 in the Cape Cod League. Regardless of the level, Robbins has been a hit machine and shown no signs of slowing down. 

While Saturday was a day Robbins will never forget, some of his teammates also heard their names called. Carson Tinney was drafted in the second round by the Minnesota Twins, and Ruger Riojas was taken by the Phillies eight picks after Robbins. That trio has a bright future ahead if they can build on their success in Austin. 

With our third round selection, we have drafted Aiden Robbins, an Outfielder from the University of Texas. pic.twitter.com/DNTEqHgvkQ

— New York Mets (@Mets) July 11, 2026

Heading into the draft, Robbins was projected to be picked No.28 overall by Baseball America. The reason he went later than scouts expected was due to concerns about how his swing would fare against higher velocity and spin rates. If Robbins can avoid striking out in bunches, then he will quickly rise through the Mets system. 

Now, for Robbins, the focus will be on improving his game as much as possible so he reaches the majors and becomes a key piece of the Mets lineup. 

This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Mets select Longhorns star OF Aiden Robbins in the third round

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A Mediterranean cruise chartered by Atlantis Events was denied port entry twice in the same week, first in Turkey and then in Egypt, forcing organizers to rework the itinerary on a single 10-night sailing aboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady.

Turkey cancels two port calls

The Athens to Venice cruise, chartered by US-based Atlantis Events, departed July 5 with stops originally planned in Kusadası and Istanbul. Turkish authorities canceled both calls, saying the charter did not meet the country’s moral standards, according to CNN.

Aydın province, home to the Kusadası port, said there was “absolutely no possibility of the group in question visiting our province for an event of this nature,” adding that the charter was “known for behaviors incompatible with the fabric of our society and our moral values.”

Rich Campbell, president and CEO of Atlantis Events, called the decision “pretty stunning” and said the company had made repeated attempts to get Turkish authorities to reverse course. “It’s very concerning to me when a country decides they can pick and choose which tourists are allowed in and which are not,” he told CNN.

Campbell told USA Today the ship posed no different a presence in port than any other vessel. “It’s not like we’re not a gay pride rally, we’re not a march, we’re not an organization, we’re not a political statement in any way,” he said, adding that the cruise had been advertised a year in advance.

Atlantis has chartered cruises to Istanbul and Kusadası 13 times over the past 25 years without incident, according to Campbell.

Roughly 1,100 of the ship’s approximately 1,900 passengers are from the United States, with the rest coming from the UK, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, per CNN.

In place of the Turkey stops, Atlantis added calls in Alexandria, Egypt, and Crete, Greece.

Egypt pulls the plug hours before arrival

Days later, Egyptian authorities denied the ship entry to Alexandria, just hours before it was due to dock, according to USA Today.

“We were given full approval to arrive in Egypt and just four hours before we picked up the pilot and customs officers, we were told that the ship would not be allowed to enter the harbor,” Campbell said. “No explanation was given for this decision and we are very disappointed.”

Campbell said Atlantis has brought chartered cruises to Egypt at least five times without incident. “Last year we brought 2,500 guests to Alexandria and the year before 1,200, both without incident,” he said. Egyptian port authorities have not publicly stated a reason for the denial.

What’s next

With Alexandria off the itinerary, the ship is now scheduled to call at Kotor, Montenegro.

Virgin Voyages said it was “incredibly disappointed” by both denials and is working to ensure guests still have a strong trip. Atlantis Events said it hopes the situation is isolated and that both countries will welcome all guests without conditions in the future.

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A Cruise Passenger’s Review of LuckyLand Slots

Most people pack for Alberta thinking about mountains, the Calgary Stampede, and the long drive between Banff and Jasper. Almost nobody packs with a thought about whether they can legally put twenty dollars on a hockey game from their hotel room. Yet that question comes up more than you might expect, especially among travelers who are used to betting freely back home and assume the rules travel with them.

They do not.

Gambling law in Canada is set province by province, the way drink prices change the moment your ship clears one country’s waters and enters another’s.

What was perfectly normal on the last leg of your trip can be a gray area the moment you cross a line on the map.

If you have spent time on cruise ships, you already understand this instinct better than you think. The casino on deck eleven stays roped off until the ship is far enough offshore, and the staff will tell you plainly that port rules and sea rules are two different things.

Alberta works on the same logic, just with provincial borders instead of a coastline. Before you assume your usual betting app will behave the way it does at home, it helps to read the local rulebook the same way you would read a port guide.

This guide is built for the visitor, not the resident. It walks through who can bet, what identification you need, where the line between legal and illegal actually sits, and the small practicalities that trip up out-of-towners.

None of it is complicated once you see the pattern, but the pattern is not the one most travelers expect, and the cost of guessing wrong ranges from a frozen account to a deposit you cannot easily get back.

The clearest plain-language reference I leaned on while sorting this out was Legal Sports Report’s breakdown of provincial betting laws, which lays out how Alberta’s framework differs from the rest of Canada without burying you in legal jargon. Keep something like that bookmarked, because the one constant in Canadian betting law is that it keeps changing.

The One Rule That Surprises Visitors Most

Here is the thing that catches travelers off guard: in Alberta, you do not have to be a resident to bet legally. What matters is where your feet are. If you are physically inside Alberta’s borders and you meet the age requirement, you can open an account and place a wager, even if your driver’s license was issued two thousand miles away.

That sounds generous, and in a sense it is. But it cuts both ways. The moment you leave the province, the permission leaves with you.

Drive into British Columbia or Saskatchewan and the same account may behave very differently, because each of those provinces runs its own system. The bet you placed from a Calgary coffee shop is not something you can casually continue from a rest stop across the border.

This is the cruise-ship logic almost exactly. Your sea pass works beautifully while you are aboard and in the right waters.

Step off in a foreign port and the casino card in your pocket means nothing on dry land. Location, not identity, decides what you are allowed to do. Once a visitor internalizes that single idea, most of Alberta’s other rules start to make sense.

How Old You Have to Be

Alberta sets the minimum gambling age at 18. That applies to sports betting, casino games, lottery products, and the provincially run online platform. It is worth saying plainly because the number is not the same everywhere in Canada.

Several provinces use 19 as the cutoff, so a 18-year-old who could legally bet in Alberta might be turned away the moment they cross into a neighboring province.

For families traveling together, this matters more than it first appears. A college-age traveler old enough to bet in Alberta is not automatically old enough elsewhere, and the reverse is true too.

Treat 18 as an Alberta-specific fact, not a Canadian one, and you will avoid an awkward situation at the worst possible moment.

The age check is not a polite suggestion either. Licensed platforms verify your date of birth before they let you do anything, and there is no informal workaround for a traveler who left identification in the hotel safe.

Plan to prove your age, every time, the same way you would expect to show a passport at a gangway.

What Identification You Actually Need

Age verification in Alberta is mandatory at sign-up, and it is more thorough than the casual swipe of a card you might remember from older systems. When you register on a licensed platform, you provide personal details and supporting identification so the operator can confirm two separate things: that you are old enough, and that you are who you say you are.

For a visitor, this means bringing the kind of identification you would carry for any cross-border trip anyway. A passport, a government-issued driver’s license, and the address details tied to your accounts all help the verification go smoothly.

Out-of-province and out-of-country travelers sometimes hit a snag here, not because they are barred, but because the verification system is calibrated for documents it recognizes quickly. Give it a clean, current ID and the process is usually painless.

There is a second layer that travelers rarely anticipate: geolocation. Licensed platforms confirm your physical location with each wager, using location technology on your device rather than relying on the address you typed during sign-up.

So even after your account is verified, the system still checks, quietly, that you are actually in Alberta when you tap to place the bet. A traveler whose phone is set to the wrong region, or who is sitting just over a provincial line, can find a perfectly valid account suddenly refusing to cooperate.

Where Betting Is Legal, and Where It Quietly Is Not

The legal channels in Alberta are narrower than the flood of advertising might suggest. As of 2025, the province’s own platform, Play Alberta, is the established legal route for online sports betting and casino play. It is run under provincial authority, which is part of why it has been the safe default answer for anyone asking where a visitor can bet without worrying about the rules.

That picture is changing, and travelers in 2026 should know the timeline. Alberta passed the iGaming Alberta Act in 2025, creating a new corporation to oversee an open, competitive online market, the way Ontario did before it.

The regulated open market is scheduled to launch on July 13, 2026, after which privately operated, provincially licensed sportsbooks will join the field. If you are visiting around that date, expect a noisier advertising environment as new operators compete for attention, and remember that more choice does not mean fewer rules. The age requirement, the identity check, and the location check apply to every licensed operator equally, established or brand new.

For a visitor, the practical takeaway is simple: stick to platforms that are clearly licensed in Alberta, and be skeptical of any app that promises to work everywhere with no questions asked. An offshore site that ignores your location is not a convenience, it is a sign you have wandered outside the legal lane.

The licensed platforms may feel slightly more bureaucratic at sign-up, with their verification steps and location prompts, but that friction is the whole point. It is the difference between a system that has to answer to a regulator and one that answers to no one if your money or your bet ever goes missing.

Physical, in-person betting follows the same principle. Licensed casinos and venues operate under provincial oversight, and the protections that come with that, fair-play standards, dispute channels, self-exclusion options, only exist inside the regulated system. The unregulated alternatives may look identical on the surface, but they sit outside every safeguard a traveler might one day be glad to have.

A Traveler’s Checklist for Betting in Alberta

The fastest way to sort out whether you are on solid ground is to match your situation against the rule and the action. Use this before you place anything, not after.

Keep this mental list the way you would keep a packing list. It is short, and every line on it has tripped up a confident traveler at some point.

The Cruise Analogy, Spelled Out

It is worth lingering on the comparison because it is genuinely useful, not just a cute framing. On a ship, three things govern whether you can gamble: your age, proof of who you are, and the vessel’s position in international waters. Miss any one of them and the casino doors stay shut. Alberta runs on the same three hinges, with the province standing in for the ship.

Anyone who has sorted out the logistics of a port-heavy itinerary already has the right reflexes for this.

The same care you put into checking documents and arrival logistics, the kind of planning behind a good guide on how to get from the airport to the cruise terminal, is exactly the mindset that keeps a betting question from turning into a problem. You read the local rules, you carry the right paperwork, and you do not assume the last stop’s rules apply to this one.

The biggest mental adjustment for travelers is accepting that the permission is tied to the place, not to you. Your home account, your home habits, and your home assumptions do not board the plane with you in any legally meaningful way. Alberta decides what happens in Alberta. Cross out, and you are under someone else’s rules again.

Money, Currency, and Practical Friction

Travelers tend to forget that betting is also a money-movement activity, and money movement across borders carries its own small frictions.

Wagers and any winnings on an Alberta platform are handled in Canadian dollars, so a visitor funding an account from a foreign card should expect currency conversion and possibly a foreign-transaction fee from their own bank. None of this is unique to gambling, but it is easy to overlook when you are focused on the bet itself.

Withdrawals deserve a moment of thought too. If you open an account, fund it, and bet during a short visit, you want to be sure you can actually retrieve any balance after you leave.

Verified accounts generally allow this, but the process is smoother when your identification and payment details were clean from the start. The traveler most likely to hit trouble is the one who set everything up in a hurry on day one and then tried to cash out from an airport on day five.

A sensible habit is to treat any betting account the way you treat a travel-money card: fund it modestly, keep your documentation consistent, and do not leave a balance stranded behind a verification step you never finished. The goal of a vacation wager is a bit of fun, not a logistical knot to untangle from home a month later.

It also helps to think about timing. A short trip leaves little room to resolve a verification hiccup, so if you intend to bet at all, set up and confirm the account early in the visit rather than on the last evening. That way, if the system asks for an extra document or a clearer photo of your identification, you have days to respond instead of minutes.

The travelers who run into real frustration are almost always the ones who treated a regulated financial account like a casual app download, expecting instant access and instant cash-out with no checks in between. Alberta’s system is not built for that, and neither, frankly, is any responsible one.

Staying on the Right Side of the Line

The single most reliable way to stay legal as a visitor is to use only platforms that are clearly licensed in Alberta and to keep your location honest.

Everything else, the age rule, the identification, the geolocation, follows naturally once you commit to that one discipline. The regulated system exists precisely so that a traveler does not have to become a legal expert; the safeguards are built in, but only inside the lines.

For the authoritative version of how this framework is governed, the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulator publishes the province’s gaming legislation and policies, including the statutory framework, compliance standards, and the self-exclusion program that sits behind every licensed platform.

It is dry reading, but it is the source of truth, and it makes clear what the marketing around any individual app cannot.

If you remember nothing else, remember the cruise rule. Age, identity, location. Get all three right and you are fine. Miss one and the doors stay closed, no matter how loud the app on your phone insists otherwise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I bet on sports in Alberta if I am only visiting?

Yes. Residency is not the deciding factor; your physical location is. As long as you are inside Alberta’s borders and meet the minimum age, you can register on a licensed platform and place a wager. The permission ends the moment you leave the province, so do not plan to continue from across a border.

What is the legal gambling age for travelers in Alberta?

The minimum age in Alberta is 18, and it applies to sports betting, casino games, and the provincial online platform. Be careful not to assume that number works elsewhere in Canada, since several provinces use 19. Treat 18 as an Alberta-specific rule rather than a national one.

What identification should I bring if I want to bet during my trip?

Carry the same government-issued photo identification you would already bring for travel, such as a passport or driver’s license, plus the details tied to your payment method. Licensed platforms verify your age and identity at sign-up, and a clean, current ID makes the process fast. Without it, you will not be able to complete registration.

Why does my betting app stop working when I leave my hotel?

Licensed Alberta platforms use geolocation to confirm you are physically in the province on every wager, not just at sign-up. If your device location is disabled, set to the wrong region, or routed through a VPN, the system can block the bet even on a verified account. Enable location services and switch off any VPN before you play.

Is it safe to use an app that says it works anywhere in Canada?

Be very skeptical of any platform that claims to work everywhere with no location checks. Legal play in Alberta runs through provincially licensed platforms, and an app that ignores your location is likely operating outside the regulated system. Sticking to clearly licensed options is what keeps the built-in player protections available to you.

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Argentina have managed to become one of the best teams at the 2026 World Cup. Even though they had to go to extra time, they managed to defeat Switzerland, reaching the semifinals in convincing fashion. There, they will face England in a match that brings back memories of the historic 1986 encounter. With that in mind, Lionel Messi decided to reflect on the upcoming clash, making his position clear.

“Obviously, I remember everything (about the 1986 match between Argentina and England) through videos and photos. As Argentines, we constantly watch it. But I think this group is used to playing these kinds of matches. To playing games no matter who the opponent is. Playing against England is special because they are a powerhouse. Personally, it will be the first time I’m going to play against them,” Lionel Messi said in the mixed zone after the match.

Lionel Messi has played 205 matches for Argentina but has never faced England. Despite the tensions that exist between the two national teams, the 39-year-old star has chosen to stay away from any historical narrative, a perspective that differs from that of many fans and Argentina legends. Instead, he has emphasized that Thomas Tuchel’s team are a powerhouse and that Argentina’s focus is simply on defeating them.

Unlike previous editions, the rivalry between Argentina and England is purely soccer-related on the pitch. With both teams having struggled to reach the semifinals, the match appears to be more evenly balanced than expected. As a result, Lionel Messi’s team could once again depend on individual talent to make the difference. In addition, head coach Lionel Scaloni acknowledged that the team still needs to improve.

Argentina vs England: Revisiting their latest World Cup encounters

Argentina and England have faced each other five times in World Cup history. There is a 40-year gap between their first and most recent meeting. Although political tensions fueled the rivalry, the two sides have not faced each other in 24 years, making this encounter particularly significant. In their first meeting in 1962, England claimed a 3-1 victory, a result they repeated in 1966, proving to be the clear favorites.

After several years without a victory, Argentina defeated England at the 1986 World Cup in the so-called “Match of the Century,” where Diego Maradona delivered a legendary performance. They then defeated England again at the 1998 World Cup, winning on penalties in the Round of 16. However, Argentina lost their most recent meeting, which came at the 2002 World Cup, meaning the overall record does not favor Lionel Messi’s team.

Real Madrid'le mukavelesinin son senesine giren Brahim Diaz, Galatasaray'ın radarında bulunuyor. Faslı kanat oyuncusu, Madrid'de kalmak istediğini söylemişti. Ancak fikri değişebilir!

Galatasaray'ın şu anda kanatlarında alternatif eksikliği bulunuyor. Transferde ağırlık orta saha ve forvet bölgelerine verilse de kanatlar konusunda da çalışmalar yapılıyor. Sarı-Kırmızılılar'ın alternatiflerinden biri Brahim Diaz'dı... Ancak Faslı futbolcu kısa süre önce Real Madrid'de kalmak istediğini açıkladı.

KARARINI DEĞİŞTİREBİLİR

26 yaşındaki sağ kanat oyuncusunun sözleşmesi 30 Haziran 2027'de bitiyor. Yani kontratının son senesine girdi. Diaz, Jose Mourinho ile birlikte şansını yeniden denemek istiyor. Ancak ikili arasında yapılacak görüşmenin ardından Diaz ayrılmaya karar verebilir...

RESMİ TEKLİF SUNULACAK

Galatasaray, ikili arasındaki görüşmeyi bekliyor. Mourinho, Diaz'la devam etmek istemediğini söylerse Sarı-Kırmızılılar resmi teklifini sunacak. Öte yandan Faslı yıldızın adı Fenerbahçe'yle de anılıyordu. Ayrıca Roma ve Juventus kulüpleri de oyuncunun durumunu yakından takip ediyor.

Milli okçu Mete Gazoz, Hyundai Okçuluk Dünya Kupası klasik yay erkekler finalinde İtalya'dan Mauro Nespoli'yi mağlup ederek altın madalyanın sahibi oldu.

Milli okçumuz Mete Gazoz, Hyundai Okçuluk Dünya Kupası'nda bir kez daha zirveye çıkarak Türkiye'ye altın madalya kazandırdı.

Klasik yay erkekler finalinde İtalyan rakibi Mauro Nespoli ile karşı karşıya gelen başarılı sporcu, üstün performansıyla organizasyonu şampiyon tamamladı.

Bu sonuçla Mete Gazoz, uluslararası arenadaki başarılarına bir yenisini daha ekledi. Milli okçu, Hyundai Okçuluk Dünya Kupası'nı altın madalyayla tamamlayarak Türk okçuluğu adına önemli bir başarıya daha imza attı.

Galatasaray'ın somut ilgisine ve genç yıldızın yeşil ışık yakmasına rağmen, Eintracht Frankfurt Sportif Direktörü Markus Krösche'nin 60 milyon Euro'luk devasa bonservis inadı transferi çıkmaza soktu; kulüpler arası resmi temas kurulamadan süreç askıya alındı.

Galatasaray’ın genç yıldız Can Uzun için başlattığı transfer operasyonu, Eintracht Frankfurt’un astronomik bonservis duvarına çarptı. Sarı-kırmızılılar oyuncu cephesiyle somut temas kursa da Alman kulübünün 60 milyon Euro’luk inadı transferi çıkmaza soktu.

Galatasaray, genç yetenek Can Uzun’un temsilcileriyle doğrudan görüşmelere başladı. Sarı-kırmızılı yönetimin oyuncuya olan ilgisi somut seviyede ilerliyor.

Sky DE'nin paylaştığı bilgilere göre Can Uzun, kariyerine Galatasaray’da veya Premier Lig’de devam etmeye oldukça sıcak bakıyor. Oyuncu tarafıyla görüşmeler sürse de, şu aşamada Galatasaray ile Eintracht Frankfurt kulüpleri arasında resmi bir bonservis pazarlığı henüz gerçekleşmedi.

Transferin önündeki en büyük engel ise Alman ekibinin katı tutumu. Sky DE muhabiri Florian Plettenberg’in aktardığı bilgiye göre; Frankfurt Sportif Direktörü Markus Krösche, oyuncu için tam 60 milyon Euro bonservis bedeli talep ediyor ve bu rakamdan geri adım atmıyor.

Galatasaray’ın somut ilgisine ve oyuncunun gelme arzusuna rağmen, Frankfurt'un talep ettiği devasa bonservis bedeli bu transfer hamlesini şimdilik buzdolabına kaldırmış durumda.

In 2026, we live in the worst kind of memory crisis that the consumer market has ever faced. Some people call it the RAMmageddon, and others call it the RAMpocalypse. Whichever way you want to call it, one thing is set: shortages created by massive demand in the AI and data center segment have led to a severe hike in prices across all memory segments. This came at a time when memory speeds were seeing rapid updates. We saw speeds surge past 9000 MT/s, and some kits were hitting close to 10,000 MT/s. We saw the launch of CUDIMMs and […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/review/biwin-opal-dw100-rgb-ddr5-48-gb-2-x-24-gb-6000-mt-s-cl28-expo-ull-memory-kit-review-solid-expo-kit-but-way-overpriced-right-now/

In the AI race, Apple isn’t the first name that you’d expect to be ahead of its rivals, but when it comes to chipsets that are tailor-made to tackle the aforementioned workloads, we doubt other names come to mind. While we have reported that the M7 is being designed to bring even better on-device AI performance to the table, the M8 is expected to surpass its predecessor in this aspect, while also being one of the company’s first silicon range to leverage a new manufacturing process. M8 could be Apple’s first 1.4nm SoC designed for powerful computing, bringing superior efficiency […]

Read full article at https://wccftech.com/apple-working-on-m8-with-superior-ai-and-efficiency-features/

Derek Chisora’s defeat to Deontay Wilder was expected to confirm his retirement, but ‘Del Boy’ is still yet to formally confirm that his career has come to an end. Now, the 42-year-old could be on the verge of a world title shot – an opportunity which would undoubtedly convince him to remain in the sport.  […]

The post Heavyweight champion willing to give Derek Chisora another world title shot at 42 years old appeared first on Boxing News.

Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 17e are on sale this week. Meanwhile, Nothing's newly unveiled Phone (4b) is now up for pre-order. Rounding out this week's deals are a couple of Google's Pixel phones, Xiaomi's 17 series, and the Samsung Galaxy A57. The Nothing Phone (4b) marks the UK brand's first "b" series phone. While there are no launch discounts on offer, the handset is now available for pre-order, with deliveries scheduled to begin on July 16. Nothing Phone (4b) pre-order coming July 16 ...

Canni Infantino dünya çempionatının iştirakçılarının sayının gələcəkdə 64 komandaya çatdırılması ehtimalını istisna etmədiyini açıqlayıb.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, FİFA prezidenti bu barədə jurnalistlərə açıqlamasında bildirib .

Onun sözlərinə görə, bu məsələ DÇ-2026 başa çatdıqdan sonra müzakirəyə çıxarıla bilər:

“Bu məsələni hazırkı dünya çempionatı başa çatdıqdan sonra mütləq nəzərdən keçirmək lazımdır. Dünya çempionatında iştirak etmək arzusu təkcə Avropa və Cənubi Amerika komandaları üçün deyil, bütün dünya üçün əlçatan olmalıdır”, – deyə İnfantino bildirib.

O, həmçinin 2026-cı il dünya çempionatında iştirakçı komandaların sayının 48-ə çatdırılmasını böyük uğur kimi qiymətləndirib.

Qeyd edək ki, ABŞ, Kanada və Meksikanın birgə ev sahibliyi etdiyi DÇ-2026 tarixdə ilk dəfə 48 milli komandanın iştirakı ilə keçirilir. Turnir iyulun 19-da başa çatacaq.

“Turan Tovuz”un futbolçusu Fərid Yusifli karyerasını “Şəfa”da davam etdirəcək.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Tovuz təmsilçisinin mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Klublar oyunçunun keçidi ilə bağlı razılığa gəlib.

Fərid ötən mövsüm 18 oyunda 1 məhsuldar ötürmə edib.

Qadın futbolçulardan ibarət Azərbaycan milli komandasının üzvü Milana Rəhimova özünə yeni komanda tapıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, yarımmüdafiəçi Latviya təmsilçisi “Riqa”ya keçib. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Milana ilə anlaşmanın detalları açıqlanmayıb.

Lazio are in talks with defender Danilho Doekhi, claims transfer pundit Fabrizio Romano, as he would be a free agent after leaving Union Berlin.

The Aquile need to completely revamp their defence this summer with the arrival of coach Gennaro Gattuso, and above all the exits of Alessio Romagnoli and Mario Gila.

They already picked up one free agent in the form of left-back Alfonso Pedraza, as the 30-year-old was out of contract with Villarreal.

Lazio looking at Doekhi

According to Romano, their next target is 28-year-old Doekhi, who is available after his deal with Union Berlin ran down on June 30.

The Dutch centre-back has no shortage of other interested parties, including Aston Villa, Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Besiktas, Fenerbahce, Borussia Dortmund and PSV Eindhoven.

However, most of those approaches were earlier in the summer and the focus on him appears to have cooled, allowing Lazio to push their way into the queue.

A product of the Excelsior and Ajax youth academies, he moved to Union Berlin from Vitesse as a free agent in 2022.

Newly-promoted Frosinone have announced that Gabriele Calvani, Seydou Fini and Giorgio Cittadini have renewed their loans from Genoa and Atalanta.

The Canarini finished second in the Serie B table last season, securing automatic promotion back to the top flight.

They did it largely thanks to a squad packed with young talent on loan from Serie A sides.

Now those are allowed to continue the project at the Stadio Benito Stirpe, as they renewed their loan agreements for one more season.

Fini, Calvani and Cittadini stay

Genoa have formally loaned defender Calvani and striker Fini for the 2026-27 campaign.

Atalanta also sealed the loan of defender Cittadini for another season.

All of those are temporary moves without options to make them permanent.

An Italy Under-21 international who just turned 20 last month, Fini scored one goal with two assists in eight appearances during his six-month loan at Frosinone.

Calvani is a 22-year-old centre-back who made 37 appearances with the Canarini last term.

Cittadini is a 24-year-old central defender who first came to Frosinone on loan in 2024, meaning this will be his third consecutive season with the club.

Roma could end up doing a double deal with Chelsea, because negotiations can intensify for both Alejandro Garnacho and Diego Moreira, who is at RC Strasbourg.

The Giallorossi have abandoned hope of securing Mason Greenwood from Olympique Marseille, as he has agreed a move to Fenerbahce instead.

Moreira and Garnacho on Roma radar

The next name on the list is Moreira, who turns 22 next month and who Chelsea sold to RC Strasbourg for €8.5m in the summer of 2024.

Both clubs are under the same banner of consortium BlueCo and owner Todd Boehly.

As part of that agreement, Chelsea have first refusal on the player, one that they do not seem interested in activating.

However, Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedullà insists that the fact the clubs are owned by the same people could see them potentially work out more favourable terms if combined with a swoop for Chelsea’s Garnacho.

La Gazzetta dello Sport claim that Roma are offering €35m plus bonuses, including a 10 per cent sell-on fee, to buy Moreira, while they would prefer to get Garnacho on loan with an option to buy.

Considering Garnacho’s career has stalled due to a lack of playing time, first at Manchester United and then Chelsea, he would relish the opportunity to play regularly under Gian Piero Gasperini.

Their qualification for the Champions League has also helped the situation, along with the presence of Garnacho’s good friend Paulo Dybala.

Sassuolo defender Tarik Muharemovic remains a Premier League target, with Newcastle United, Sunderland, Leeds United and Bournemouth focus on the €40m player, as Juventus still wait.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international impressed at the 2026 World Cup and in Serie A for the Neroverdi, so is widely expected to move on this summer.

Muharemovic hot property for Sassuolo

The asking price has been set at €40m, though Juventus would be able to get him for half that figure.

This is because he was in their youth academy and was sold to Sassuolo for €2m, retaining a 50 per cent cut of the future sale fee.

Nonetheless, Juve are still not sure whether to go ahead with the move, so this is giving time for the Premier League clubs to make a genuine offer.

According to the Corriere dello Sport and also Sportitalia transfer pundit Alfredo Pedullà, there are several English sides ready to swoop for Muharemovic at €40m.

They are Newcastle United, Sunderland, Leeds United and Bournemouth, who have all shown a strong interest in the 23-year-old.

Lautaro Martinez struck in the 121st minute to help Argentina on their way to the 2026 World Cup semi-final in the early hours of Sunday morning, but some feel that the Inter skipper was fortunate to avoid a second yellow and a suspension for the upcoming last-four tie with England. Here’s why El Toro escaped punishment. 

How Lautaro Martinez escaped second yellow card in Argentina 3-1 Switzerland

Lautaro was initially named on the substitutes’ bench for Argentina’s eventual 3-1 quarter-final win against Switzerland in Kansas City, but emerged off the bench in the 84th minute and contributed his nation’s third goal of the night in the 121st minute of the tie to put the game beyond any doubt.

Lautaro was on a booking at the time of his goal, and some eagle-eyed fans believe that he should have been shown a second yellow and sent off for his celebrations. Had that been the case, the Inter striker would have been suspended for the World Cup semi-final against England coming up on Wednesday night. 

That is because Lautaro jumped over the advertising hoardings and went right up to the Argentina supporters behind the goal while celebrating his 121st-minute settler. 

Under the IFAB laws of the game, a player should be shown a yellow card if he approaches supporters in a way that creates any potential crowd safety issues. 

However, as Lautaro’s celebrations in front of the stands only lasted for a brief moment, and given that he didn’t even attempt to touch or engage with the fans in front of him, the officials felt that this specific incident did not require further punishment. 

Lautaro Martinez with the icing on the cake for Argentina pic.twitter.com/7iHow8lZeK

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 12, 2026

A top German transfer insider is reporting that Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal for Konstantinos Karetsas.

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German transfer insider Florian Plettenberg has just dropped the breaking news that Borussia Dortmund have agreed a deal with one of their top attacking targets for the summer.

The German side have been chasing Konstantinos Karetsas for months, and now finally appear to have agreed terms with his current team, Belgian side KRC Genk.

Confusingly, Plettenberg says that the two clubs have “reached an agreement in principle,” but also claims that “negotiations… are ongoing.”

Karetsas set for move after long negotiation battle

Genk have been holding out for €35m for the Greek teenager, and we would imagine that Dortmund have had to pay most (if not all) of that. Their offers have apparently already reached €30m, so really this is coming down to some pretty small differences now.

The German side are looking ot replace Julian Brandt, who has left on a free transfer. The 18 year old Karetsas looks the perfect candidate, an elegant playmaker between the lines who can travel with the ball.

Dortmund have a great history of signing young players, and they could be onto another winner here if they get this one over the line.

In other news…

Julian Alvarez is going to go for a lot more €35m this summer, if Atletico Madrid get what they want…

Lesley Ugochukwu is going to leave Burnley for Galatasaray, and that’s good news for another Premier League team who will get a percentage of his £30m fee.

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The post Latest: Dortmund finally agree €30m+ fee for talented playmaker appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Jude Bellingham was not having any of the criticism from England manager Thomas Tuchel and fired back during his post-match interview.

Despite Bellingham scoring twice to rescue a 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals, Tuchel publicly slammed his team’s performance, labeling it “sloppy” and “lucky.”

Learning of these remarks, England’s star midfielder visibly rolled his eyes, muttered “whatever,” and launched into a blunt defense of his teammates.

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Jude Bellingham says Thomas Tuchel doesn’t understand the conditions England faced

Bellingham did not hold back when asked about his manager’s harsh assessment, suggesting that the German coach was detached from the harsh physical realities on the pitch.

The match was played in grueling Miami heat and humidity, with kickoff temperatures hitting 33°C (92°F).

“Maybe he doesn’t really know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard,” Bellingham responded (via BBC MOTD) . “That’s not an easy team to play against.”

The Real Madrid superstar insisted that the squad had worked hard to build a positive tournament environment and urged the camp to sustain it.

“You’re not going to win every game making a thousand passes,” Bellingham added. “Sometimes you have to win dirty. We did that tonight.”

"Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those conditions."?

Jude Bellingham spoke openly about Thomas Tuchel being critical of England's performance against Norway. pic.twitter.com/aJgDGEVNfX

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 12, 2026

Jude Bellingham wasnt happy about what Tuchel said after the game lmao pic.twitter.com/dMbuawIDan

— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) July 12, 2026

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Latest: Dortmund finally agree €30m+ fee for talented playmaker

Jul 12 2026, 14:59

Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham’s relationship has often been under the spotlight

The explosive post-match exchange might be a glimpse of the reported friction between England’s primary talisman and their high-profile manager.

Since Tuchel took charge, several incidents have placed the pair’s dynamic under scrutiny.

The German coach previously revealed that his mother found Bellingham’s fiery on-pitch demeanour “a bit repulsive,” a remark he later clarified was an unfortunate consequence of speaking in his second language.

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Tensions resurfaced when Bellingham was left out of a squad entirely, and again during qualifying when Tuchel told him to “accept” being substituted after a frustrated reaction against Albania.

Things boiled over again at the World Cup. Bellingham’s starting spot was reportedly in doubt before the tournament, with Tuchel seemingly leaning towards Morgan Rogers, only for Bellingham to silence the debate with standout performances, having scored six goals so far and being a contender for player of the tournament.

Some could argue that Tuchel’s demanding approach has helped bring the best out of Bellingham, who continues to deliver on football’s biggest stage.

The post “He doesn’t really know” – Jude Bellingam brutally fires back at Thomas Tuchel’s England criticism appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Yesterday, the quarter-finals came to an end with Argentina’s win over Switzerland, and now the World Cup gets even more exciting with the two blockbuster semi-final clashes: France-Spain and Argentina-England. 

💡 Want to stay up to date on everything happening in the USA, Mexico, and Canada? Don’t forget to bookmark the World Cup! To follow the competition, search for “World Cup” on OneFootball and click the star next to it so you don’t miss a single piece of news!

Meanwhile, the transfer market continues to heat up. Here are the most important stories of the day.

Juve, Carnevali makes a move for Pellegrino

Juventus have made their first move to sign Mateo Pellegrino, submitting an initial official offer to Parma for the Argentine striker. According to Tuttosport, the Bianconeri are looking for a new centre-forward, and the Argentine’s profile has become the top priority for the management led by Carnevali.

Juventus’ offer is a loan with an obligation to buy set at €30 million, which would be triggered if the club finishes in 10th place in Serie A. A condition considered easy to meet, but one that does not convince Parma. The Emilian club would prefer to receive the €30 million immediately, without waiting for the permanent transfer clause to kick in. The negotiations therefore remain open, with Juventus now having to assess their next move.

Milan, Cardinale digs in over Rabiot

The future of Adrien Rabiot continues to be a talking point. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, despite recent rumours linking him with Napoli, Rabiot has no intention of forcing a move away. The midfielder signed a contract last summer until 2028, and his departure could only materialise in the face of a particularly significant offer.

Gerry Cardinale has reportedly already expressed his desire to keep the Frenchman, ruling out the possibility of a sale that could strengthen Napoli. In addition, coach Amorim considers Rabiot a key part of his project, envisioning him in the holding midfield role in his 3-4-2-1 system.

Inter, Doué is the alternative to Khalaili

Inter continue to wait for updates on Khalaili’s condition, with the player set to undergo further medical tests tomorrow. According to Sky Sport, the Nerazzurri remain confident and hope the checks will yield a positive result, allowing the deal to be completed.

At the moment, it is still too early to assess alternative scenarios. However, if the deal for Khalaili does not go through, Inter have already opened initial exploratory talks for Doué, a profile they could return to in the coming hours.

Napoli, Zeballos is getting closer

Napoli are close to completing the signing of Exequiel Zeballos. According to Tuttosport, talks with Boca Juniors are now in the final details, and the Azzurri are ready to secure one of the most promising talents in Argentine football. Boca Juniors are expected to receive around €10 million. As for the player, a long-term contract until 2031 is ready, with an initial salary of around €1.4 million per season.

The deal, again according to the newspaper, has entered its final stage, and Napoli are aiming to sort out the last details to complete the arrival of the Argentine winger.

Roma, D’Amico studies the formula for Garnacho

Roma continue to track Alejandro Garnacho as a reinforcement for the transfer market. According to Il Messaggero, the Giallorossi have identified the Argentine and Diego Moreira as their main targets to strengthen the squad. As for Garnacho, news emerged in recent hours of his exclusion from Chelsea’s training camp. The Blues are aiming for a permanent sale, but Roma consider the valuation of around €45-50 million too high.

For this reason, sporting director D’Amico would like to structure the deal along the lines of the Malen transfer, including conditions that would trigger an obligation to buy, such as a certain number of goals or Roma qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Lazio, Doekhi emerges as a defensive option

Lazio continue to work in the market in search of defensive reinforcements following the major departures of Romagnoli, who moved to Saudi Arabia, and Gila, fresh from signing with Milan. With the market virtually at a standstill and the need to sell before thinking about any incomings, the Biancocelesti are looking into a free transfer signing. According to Fabrizio Romano, Lazio have set their sights on Danilho Doekhi. 

The defender, formerly of Union Berlin, represents a free-agent opportunity and is on Lazio’s shortlist, with initial contacts already having been made. 

Fiorentina, gap with Trabzonspor over Oulai

Among the profiles Fiorentina are following for midfield is Christ Inao Oulai, currently at Trabzonspor. According to La Nazione, the Viola have repeatedly stated that the player is not a concrete transfer target, but reports from Turkey continue to link him with Paratici’s side.

Trabzonspor value Oulai at around €40 million, a price considered very high. Fiorentina, on the other hand, could go a little above €20 million, leaving a significant gap between the parties.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

A top LSU baseball signee is removing his name from the MLB Draft and officially making plans to attend LSU. Right-handed pitcher Coleton Brady announced his intentions to play college baseball, passing up a chance to be picked in this weekend's MLB Draft.

The Athletic ranked Brady as the No. 71 prospect in the draft. This is a massive get for Jay Johnson and the Tigers. MLB.com wasn't quite as high on Brady as The Athletic, but he was still a top-200 prospect.

"The big right-hander uses a cross-fire delivery that creates some deception and adds some quality to his breaking ball. He moves easily down the mound and fills up the strike zone, with upside to all of his offerings and a good chance to be a starter long-term," wrote the MLB.com scouting report.

Brady is only 17-years old. He stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs over 200 pounds. He has all the tools to be a quality pitcher in the SEC.

#LSU signee RHP Coleton Brady is taking his name out of the draft and coming to school.

Brady is the No. 71 player in the draft, per The Athletic’s draft rankings. He’s young. Doesn’t turn 18 until October. pic.twitter.com/at373auI9P

— Koki Riley (@KokiRiley) July 12, 2026

All things considered, the first day went well for LSU baseball's recruiting class. Only three of LSU's high school signees were picked, meaning there's a good chance a handful of talented prospects make it to campus.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Elite LSU baseball signee removes name from MLB Draft, will attend LSU

The negotiations involving Atlético-MG and midfielder Fred have entered a new chapter, but there is still no imminent outcome for the Atlético fans.

The CEO of the Minas Gerais club, Pedro Daniel, spoke openly about the talks, making it clear that completing the deal is seen as very difficult at the moment.

The main obstacle is Fred’s contract with the Turkish club, which runs until June 2027.

Since Galo’s board has already decided it will not make major investments in the transfer window that opens on July 20, the deal would only be viable if the player terminates his contract with Fenerbahce.

The player returned to the Turkish club at the end of June, but Atlético continues to monitor the situation closely. Pedro Daniel explained the scenario:

"It’s public that we’ve had some talks with him, but it depends much more on a decision by the club [Fenerbahce] than by us. We saw that the number of foreign players allowed in the Turkish market has changed, so there may be some movement there, but we have to wait."

Alternatives for the future

Despite the financial and contractual difficulties right now, the mutual interest keeps the negotiations alive in the long term. Fred has never hidden his desire to return to Brazilian football to play for Atlético, the club he supports.

If the termination does not happen in this transfer window, the midfielder will be able to sign a pre-contract starting at the end of the year. Last season, Fred was an important player for Fenerbahce: he played 45 matches, scored four goals, and provided five assists in the campaign that earned the team the national runners-up spot.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

The Blaze and Lancashire ended their group stage campaigns with victories in the T20 Blast.

Charli Knott hit a vital 84 not out as The Blaze warmed up for Friday's finals day by edging to a three-wicket win over Yorkshire at Headingley.

Meanwhile, Lancashire needed an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 60 between Skye Thomas and Kate Cross to beat Durham at Emirates Old Trafford.

In Sunday's other games, Surrey are playing top-of-the-table Hampshire, while Somerset are hosting Essex.

Knott stars in Blaze win

A notable all-round display from Australian all-rounder Knott helped The Blaze to a helter-skelter victory over Yorkshire.

Last year's semi-finalists had already qualified for The Kia Oval showpiece but clinched their eighth win in 12 games thanks to bowling the hosts out for 122 and recovering from 41-5 in the eighth over of their chase.

Left-arm swing bowler Grace Ballinger returned 3-31, while Charley Phillips and Kirstie Gordon struck twice apiece added to two run outs.

But Knott's miserly 1-19 from four overs of off-spin was followed up by a brilliant and composed career best 84 not out off 57 balls.

Yorkshire had three batters make 23 and captain Lauren Winfield-Hill top-scoring with 29 as they missed the chance to claim a fourth straight win.

Academy leg-spinner Holly Garton impressed with 2-17 as The Blaze won with five balls remaining.

Thomas and Cross lead Lancs to win

Wicketkeeper-batter Thomas made an outstanding 55 not out off 38 balls on her senior Lancashire debut to secure a four-wicket victory for her side against Durham.

Having posted just 132-6 in their 20 overs, with skipper Hollie Armitage making 30 and Venus Weerappuli taking 2-20, Durham rose to the task of defending that low score in impressive fashion.

Heather Graham took two wickets as Lancashire slumped to 75-6 in the 13th over but Thomas and the experienced Cross put on an unbroken 60 in seven overs to put a dent in the record of a side who will appear in the Blast finals day on Friday.

Match details supplied by the ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay.

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The Phoenix Mercury began a two-game road trip against the two best teams in the WNBA by nearly making history — but not the kind of history that anyone associated with the team might choose to remember.

The Las Vegas Aces defeated the Mercury 106-58 on Saturday, a 48-point loss that was the third-worst in WNBA history. A'ja Wilson led all scorers with 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. And in her WNBA debut, Justine Pissott added 19 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-6 on 3-pointers.

Believe it or not, this was a rematch of the WNBA Finals, which the Aces won in a four-game sweep for their third championship in four seasons. The Mercury also defeated the Aces 99-66 in their 2026 season opener.

The Aces took a 29-9 lead after the first quarter and had a 57-22 edge at halftime. With nearly seven minutes remaining in the game, Las Vegas led by 54 points, 92-38.

The largest blowout in WNBA history is a 59-point win by the Minnesota Lynx over the Indiana Fever, 111-52, in 2017. The Lynx put together a 37-0 run in that game.

Monique Akoa Makani scored 13 points to lead the Mercury and Lexi Held added 11 points. They were the only Mercury players to score in double figures, as the team shot 35% from the floor. Phoenix lost its third consecutive game to drop to 8-16, the fourth-worst record in the WNBA.

"The reality is, we can't have any more of these," Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts said afterward. "It's time for us to make a move if we're going to make a move. You don't want to come out and play like that."

"Extremely disappointed for everyone involved — the players, the staff, the organization, the fans, everybody," he added. "That was completely unacceptable."

Pissott scored her 19 points in just 10 minutes. Her five 3-pointers were the most ever for a player making her WNBA debut.

A second-round pick in this year's draft (No. 25 overall) by the Indiana Fever out of Vanderbilt, the 22-year-old played through training camp on a player development contract. After being waived this week, she quickly signed with the Aces.

Up next for the Aces is a prime-time matchup with the Fever scheduled for 9 p.m. ET. Caitlin Clark is expected to play for Indiana, but will be on a restriction of 20-25 minutes as she continues to recover from a back injury, according to head coach Stephanie White.

The Mercury play the Lynx — tied for the WNBA's top record with the Aces at 17-6 — on Monday in Minnesota.

Newly-promoted Frosinone have announced that Gabriele Calvani, Seydou Fini and Giorgio Cittadini have renewed their loans from Genoa and Atalanta.

The Canarini finished second in the Serie B table last season, securing automatic promotion back to the top flight.

They did it largely thanks to a squad packed with young talent on loan from Serie A sides.

Now those are allowed to continue the project at the Stadio Benito Stirpe, as they renewed their loan agreements for one more season.

Fini, Calvani and Cittadini stay

GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 9: Seydou Fini of Genoa looks on during the Coppa Italia match between Genoa CFC and Reggiana at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 9, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Genoa have formally loaned defender Calvani and striker Fini for the 2026-27 campaign.

Atalanta also sealed the loan of defender Cittadini for another season.

All of those are temporary moves without options to make them permanent.

An Italy Under-21 international who just turned 20 last month, Fini scored one goal with two assists in eight appearances during his six-month loan at Frosinone.

Calvani is a 22-year-old centre-back who made 37 appearances with the Canarini last term.

Cittadini is a 24-year-old central defender who first came to Frosinone on loan in 2024, meaning this will be his third consecutive season with the club.

Cooper Kupp is heading into his second season with the Seattle Seahawks after being cut by the Los Angeles Rams last year, but he still hasn’t completely left Southern California or his former Rams teammates.

A new video from The Village, where several current and former Rams players work out, shows Kupp training with his good friend Puka Nacua. Both players are getting ready for their respective training camps, which begin later this month.

Kupp was a mentor to Nacua during their two seasons together with the Rams in 2023 and 2024, and it seems he’s still maintaining that “big brother” role to the young receiver in L.A.

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Red Sox 2nd Draft Pick is 6-foot-4 NCAA Star originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox scouting department clearly didn't mind going to Chapel Hill.

Their first two picks in the 2026 MLB Draft were from the University of North Carolina.

That includes Jake Schaffner, who could be the shortstop of the future.

It also includes Owen Hull, who went off the board at No. 67 overall and we'll focus on here.

He was technically part of the Competitive Balance Round B, but he's more or less a second-round pick.

Hull is one of those guys who looks the part from the moment he gets off the bus, standing 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds.

He had an oddly slow start to his college career at George Mason, but he eventually became one of the best players in college baseball for the Tar Heels.

"After going just 4-for-22 as a George Mason freshman in 2024, Hull slashed .367/.474/.557 and ranked fourth in NCAA Division I in runs (83) and 10th in steals (42) last spring," MLB.com wrote in its draft blurb about Hull. "He boosted his line to .393/.500/.615 after transferring to North Carolina, finishing second in D-I in hits (103) and RBI (87) and third in doubles (27) while leading the Tar Heels to a runner-up finish at the College World Series. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he offers one of the best combinations of physicality and athleticism in the college ranks."

MORE: Who is the best Red Sox draft pick ever?

The only question mark is the nature of Hull's swing.

"The complicating factor with Hull is that scouts don't love his unorthodox left-handed swing, which can get rigid and features so-so bat speed," MLB.com writes. "He controls the strike zone well and makes hard contact with ease, but he also hits a lot of balls on the ground. He did start to hit for more power later in the season and has enough raw pop to produce 15-20 homers annually as a pro if he can make adjustments."

The Red Sox will be hoping that the results of the swing continue to be good, regardless of the swing itself.

Hull has enough speed to potentially play centerfield, or he could end up in right.

Either way, it's a Tar Heel blue tint to this year's Red Sox draft class.

More Red Sox

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Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé trained with the rest of the group after experiencing some physical problems during France’s win against Morocco in the FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals. Mbappé completed the training session and will be ready to face Spain in the Semifinals next Tuesday.

The French striker has been leading France during the tournament, so having him healthy and ready to go will be crucial for coach Didier Deschamps.

Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba couldn’t train with their teammates, so it will be interesting to see if they are able to recover in time for Tuesday’s match. Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni remains ‘doubtful’ for Tuesday’s game and he’s missed France’s last two matches with a thigh injury that has been problematic for him and the French national team.

Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz officially started a minor league rehab assignment on Saturday night, tossing a scoreless inning for Class-A Ontario with two strikeouts and a single allowed.

Díaz needed only 11 pitches, eight of them for strikes in his first game action in 83 days. Making his way back from arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies in his right elbow, Díaz is expected back at some point shortly after the All-Star break. After his outing, Díaz told reporters in Ontario he might need three more rehab games before being ready for return.

Player of the day

Tyler Gough walked four but also struck out five in his three scoreless innings for Great Lakes.

The 22-year-old right-hander, who was acquired from the Mariners for left-hander Robinson Ortiz on November 16, has pitched 13 scoreless innings since joining Great Lakes. After missing nearly two months on the injured list, Gough between Ontario and Great Lakes has a 0.81 ERA in eight starts and 33 1/3 innings, with 39 strikeouts and 13 walks.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Rain washed away Oklahoma City’s Saturday game against the El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), which served as a blessing for the Comets.

Oklahoma City’s scheduled starter was Landon Knack, but he was called up to eat innings Saturday after the Dodgers used a bullpen game on Friday. The move to necessitate space on the 40-man roster with Knack coming off the 60-day injured list was Charlie Barnes, the scheduled Sunday starter for the Comets, was designated for assignment.

Oklahoma City and El Paso will make up Saturday’s rainout on August 26, which means they only have to cover nine innings on the mound this weekend instead of 18.

Double-A Tulsa

Peter Heubeck gave up seven runs and couldn’t finish the first inning in the Drillers’ blowout loss to the Springfield Cardinals, which was shortened by rain to only six innings.

Taylor Young hit a two-run double in defeat.

Josue De Paula and Mike Sirota left the Drillers to head to Philadelphia for the Futures Game on Sunday. Kole Myers had two singles and two RBI while playing left field on Saturday, with Kendall George in center field and Zyhir Hope in right field.

High-A Great Lakes

Charles Davalan hit a game-winning home run in the eighth inning in the Loons’ victory over the Dayton Dragons (Reds). His two-run shot turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead and culminated a Great Lakes comeback from once down 2-0.

Class-A Ontario

Tower Buzzers outfielder Landyn Vidourek walked with the bases loaded, bringing home the winning run in the eighth inning to beat the Inland Empire 66ers (Mariners). Ontario walked four times in the inning, two against Caleb Franzen and two by Jean Muñoz.

Corner man Easton Shelton, playing first base, homered again on Saturday. His 25 home runs are a whopping 10 more than the second-place home run hitter in the California League (his teammate, outfielder Ching-Hsien Ko).

Transactions

Triple-A: Reliever Kyle Hurt, who had steadily climbed Dave Roberts’ bullpen trust tree with a strong first half in Los Angeles, fell off his lofty perch of late and was optioned to Oklahoma City on Saturday when Landon Knack was activated off the 60-day injured list and Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment. In his first 18 appearances for the Dodgers this year, through the end of May, Hurt had a 1.00 ERA, 2.23 xERA, 21 strikeouts and four walks. But since the start of June, Hurt in 14 games had a 10.13 ERA, 5.28 xERA, 17 strikeouts, and 12 walks, and allowed six total runs over his last two games.

Double-A: 19-year-old infielder Reyli Mariano was promoted to Tulsa from the Arizona Complex League for roster coverage, and played all five defensive innings at second base in his Double-A debut, going 0-for-1 with a walk.

Saturday scores

• Oklahoma City vs. El Paso, postponed (rain)
• Springfield 10, Tulsa 4 (6 innings)
• Great Lakes 3, Dayton 2
• Ontario 3, Inland Empire 2

Sunday schedule

• 10:05 a.m. PT: Tulsa (Christian Zazueta) vs. Springfield (Braden Davis)
• 10:05 a.m.: Great Lakes (Isaac Ayon) vs. Dayton (Ovis Portes)
• 11:05 a.m.: Oklahoma City (Jose Rodriguez) vs. El Paso (Sean Boyle)
• 4:05 pm.: Ontario (TBA) vs. Inland Empire (Jack Bowery)

It has been the biggest domino for NBA free agency this year. After eight seasons, LeBron James announced his decision to move on from the Los Angeles Lakers. It marked the end of his longest continuous stint with a single franchise.

Immediately, it slotted him at the top of the unrestricted free agents list, even at 41. So far, no official decision has been made, as a number of teams keep vying for his services. Now, we are trying to piece together when that decision will come through.

The LeBron James Timeline

The rumors of teams trying to add him to the mix stretched back to before the postseason ended. At the time, the two teams in the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, were in the thick of the conversation.

But over time, the list has only continued to grow. A reunion with his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers was always going to be the storybook ending. But a return to the Miami Heat, especially after they added Giannis Antetokounmpo to the mix, was also a potential pathway.

Other contenders, like the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Philadelphia 76ers, have also become legitimate possibilities as the offseason has dragged on. Through all of it, the Golden State Warriors, with the pipedream of pairing James with Stephen Curry, have been lurking in the background.

Still, no decision has come to pass yet. And fans are starting to wonder. The communication from his camp, though, has been relatively straightforward. During the latest episode of the “Game Over” podcast, his agent, Rich Paul, made it clear.

With regards to a timeline, he claimed, “There is none. I wish I knew. He’s taking his time. He’s really evaluating things. I’ve really left him alone. Play golf, do the things you need to do. He understands where things are. When he’s ready, he’ll let me know.”

Paul has put forward a similar message during all his recent media appearances. And the reasoning might go back to a hint James gave much earlier in the year about his future with free agency.

During an episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast, the four-time MVP made it clear that he was going to take his sweet time before arriving at a decision. Moreover, he even gave an approximate idea of when fans can expect a definitive answer.

“I haven’t even really thought about it too much. Obviously, I understand that I’m a free agent and I can control my own destiny,” he explained near the end of May, before chalking down a timetable.

“I haven’t even taken my family vacation yet, which is going to happen after the Memorial Day. That’s kind of the thing at the forefront of my mind. But I think at some point up in June, late June, as July rolls around free agency starts to get going and as July’s rolling maybe into August we start to kind of like get a feel of what my future may look like.”

MORE: ‘Something Special To Watch’ – Analyst Details How Bulls Rookie Caleb Wilson Sets Himself Apart From ‘Most Young Players’

As an unrestricted free agent for the first time in nearly a decade, James holds all the cards on the table. As a result, it isn’t incomprehensible that he wants to take his sweet time before finalizing a deal.

And, as the evidence suggests, it might be a while before the basketball world knows where his potential swansong is going to be.

The Vinicius Jr.-Real Madrid renewal saga is back in the limelight after the player’s campaign at the FIFA World Cup came to an end.

The global event did, however, have a direct effect on the player’s future as it showed the whole world the class that the Brazilian star represents.

Not only did his performances re-establish him as one of the best in the business but also reignited the flame in Real Madrid’s administration to push for a renewal, even if it meant offering better terms.

Phone calls that changed it all

As reported by Miguel Serrano (h/t The Madrid Zone) in a recent update, two recent phone calls between the club and the player changed everything in the situation.

Mourinho’s phone call made a big impact. (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)

Both parties were at odds over the economic demands placed by the player. Real Madrid refused to place him on the same pedestal as Kylian Mbappe, but the player saw it as a dealbreaker from his point.

In recent days, however, direct communication between the club and Vinicius restarted in the form of two phone calls.

One of the calls was made directly by Jose Mourinho and involved the manager emphasising what an important pillar the Brazilian will be in his project. He stressed the importance of the renewal, and his involvement made a massive difference.

While there continue to be varied reports, the general consensus is that Real Madrid are closer than ever to securing the player’s continuity now. Only time will tell if that is indeed the case.

A queer development

Just when matters seemed to be going positively between the club and the player, a rather queer development has popped up which is being interpreted as a cause of internal concern.

Vinicius’ Instagram profile is generating concern. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

Earlier today, Vinicius changed his Instagram profile image to black and removed all mentions of Real Madrid in the description of his account.

Further, the player has also taken down all club-related posts pinned on his profile in what can only be interpreted as a concerning development.

This is, however, not the first time the player has made such a move, and Los Blancos will hope this is just one more of his many sudden impulsive decisions. After all, renewing him is key at this point, albeit not at any cost.

Artem Dovbyk’s career at Roma is drawing to a close, with the Ukrainian striker set to leave the Stadio Olimpico after two years. According to Calciomercato, Ajax have joined the race to sign the 29-year-old.

Roma dashed out €30.5 million plus €5.5 million in bonuses to secure Dovbyk’s services in 2024. He was on fire at Girona, winning La Liga’s Golden Boot award in the 2023/24 season, which made the Serie A giants believe he could be an answer to their scoring problems.

However, Dovbyk has never settled into life in Serie A. Last season was disappointing for the robust center-forward, as he made just 14 league appearances and scored three goals. Needless to say, he has fallen out of favor with manager Gian Piero Gasperini.

After being deemed surplus to requirements, he’s now preparing to leave Roma. Despite his underwhelming year, the Giallorossi have slapped a €23 million price tag on his shoulders and seem unwilling to budge on their valuation.

Our take on Roma & Dovbyk

With Donyell Malen joining the club on a permanent basis, Roma are keen to offload Dovbyk, especially now that they’re pursuing several high-profile targets. In addition to Strasbourg starlet Diego Moreira, they’ve also set their sights on Chelsea outcast Alejandro Garnacho.

Therefore, they must raise funds through player sales, with Dovbyk expected to be one of the first players shown the exit door. Ajax would be able to offer him regular first-team action, but whether they’d be willing to meet Roma’s asking price remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Daniele De Rossi is reportedly eager to bring the Roma flop to Genoa, though it would likely require the Giallorossi to lower their demands.

Jul. 12—Thirty-two years ago, coach Larry Ham let senior Chris Wallace, the star quarterback for the South High School football team, call the plays on defense for the basketball team.

"I'm offense on the football field," Wallace said, "but when it comes to basketball, I think it starts and stops with who's playing defense and who's getting after 50-50 balls and who's winning the rebound war."

That was Wallace's thinking in the 1993-94 season, and it remains his philosophy as he prepares for his first season as the head coach of the Springfield boys basketball team.

"(Defense) dictates a lot of what we do offensively," Wallace said, "and that's getting out and trying to score off the break. If we can't, we'll get into what we do, but that's the precedent we're trying to set right now with our student-athletes."

Springfield announced the hiring of Wallace on June 1. Wallace replaces Matt Yinger, who stepped down in April. Yinger was 28-48 over three seasons.

Wallace will remain the offensive coordinator of Springfield's football team. He said the basketball team will practice in the evening after the football team when the seasons overlap.

The basketball team, which includes many football players, will play its first game in mid-December. That has often been the schedule for Springfield, whose football team has made a habit of deep playoff runs.

"If I have to do double duty, that means we're doing what we're supposed to do on the football field," Wallace said.

Springfield has suffered seven straight losing seasons in basketball. Springfield football was in a similar place when Maurice Douglass took over the program in 2014, having won a combined total of four games in the three previous seasons. Douglass turned the program into a winner in his third season and a state power in his sixth. Springfield then reached the state championship game three seasons in a row.

Wallace has similar goals.

"Those are the same set of kids that did what they did on the football field," Wallace said, "so the expectation doesn't change. Once you set a standard, that's what the goal is, and I think our kids will say that without a doubt. That's where we see ourselves."

For Wallace, the path to that level of success begins with building a culture with the basketball program.

"The one thing that I talked to my assistant coaches about is we all agree right now there's no culture for basketball, and that's where it has to start," he said. "We created a culture with football. We created a sense of belonging. That's something that people value. We hold each other accountable, from the trainers all the way to the kids. That's what we're going to try to do with basketball as well. I think it can happen, but it takes the kids saying, 'Hey, this is what we're going to do. This is how we're going to do things. This is what our standard is going to be as players. As student-athletes, we're going to hold each other to this standard.' If you get that player-led atmosphere, we can start to build. Right now, our talk is we want to play late into March."

Wallace has plenty of experience with the program. He has worked as a varsity assistant basketball coach, a freshman head coach and a junior varsity coach.

Wallace takes over the program as his son, Christopher, enters his senior year. Christopher played quarterback for the football team but was limited to three games in basketball as a junior because of an injury.

Wallace has known many of the basketball players since they were in elementary school. He got to know them through his work as a community mentor supervisor for the school district.

"It's been exciting to see them grow in multiple sports," he said.

Wallace has already started working with them on the court. The Wildcats played at the Midwest Live event in Sandusky, Ohio, in June. They're also holding open gyms at the high school. He has seen good numbers and is excited about the young players.

"We've got a good young class of incoming freshmen and sophomores that are committed to the game," Wallace said, "and are showing up and working hard. We're young on the varsity level as well. We've got three or four sophomores that are going to be contributing, and we've got a couple juniors, and then we've got some seniors at the guard spots as well."

If Wallace achieves his goals, he'll add another chapter to Springfield's rich basketball history. Springfield won state championships in 1925 and 1950. North reached the state semifinals in 1995 and 1997. Ham guided South to seven conference championships and five district titles in 14 seasons.

Wallace knows about the past success of Springfield and North and South high schools, before they combined, as well as anyone.

Wallace is the rare athlete who not only played for South's Larry Ham but also for North's Eddie Ford. Wallace started his high school career at North and finished at South. His Springfield basketball experience goes back even further than that.

"I used to lay the jerseys out when I was a kid for Doug Ratstatter and Don Henderson and company," Wallace said. "I used to be in those locker rooms because my brother went to North. My older cousin, Steve Victoria, went to North. I went to North my first couple years, but even when I was a kid, my sisters cheered for South. I knew the Pepper Begos, the Scott Thomases, the Karlton Claybornes, the Jason Gees."

Some of those former Springfield basketball standouts called to congratulate Wallace on getting the job. They told him, "I know you're going to bring back that attitude and that toughness that we brought on the court in both gyms out on the north side and the south side."

"There's a buzz in the community," Wallace said, "and I'm excited about that."

Mikel Arteta’s son spent time training with the Arsenal u21s this week, after signing scholarship terms with the club.

Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images For Premier League

Gabriel Arteta Bernal was pictured in training with the Arsenal u21s this week, with the u21 team returning to pre-season training after their summer break.

The Premier League confirmed in June that Mikel Arteta’s son Gabriel had signed scholarship terms with the Gunners, including him on their ‘retained list’ for players under contract with Arsenal beyond June 30th.

The 17-year-old is technically old enough for a professional contract, but for now he’s just on a scholarship deal in north London.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arteta Jr. made a couple of appearances for the Arsenal u17s last season, playing in a 1-1 friendly draw with Shrewsbury Town and a 3-3 Premier League Cup draw with Watford last October.

The teenage winger then stepped up to the u18s in April and May, making four u18 Premier League appearances for the side.

The youngster has also linked up with Arsenal pre-season training camps in the past, though his involvement in pre-season training in 2023 was actually helping out the coaching staff, rather than joining in with the drills as a player.

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Arsenal generally use rotated teams in the Premier League Cup and friendly matches, so it’s not a surprise that Gabriel got his first opportunities to play for the Gunners in those circumstances.

But stepping up to the u18s in competitive matches, signing a scholarship deal, and training with the u21s is more concrete progress, and it suggests the 17-year-old could be set for further opportunities with the u18s this season.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

The Eagles are the favorites to win the NFC East for a third consecutive year, something that had not been done since the Eagles won four-straight NFC East titles from 2001-2004.

The Eagles should have no problems threepeating—but, they could receive a challenge from a team that has gotten gradually better over the last few years, and that’s the New York Giants, who split with the Eagles last season. It may seem strange here, considering the Giants finished 4-13 last season—the second-worst record in the NFC behind the 3-14 Arizona Cardinals.

Here, however, are a few things to consider: New York lost two games in overtime last year, one in which the Dallas Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey had to boot a 64-yard game-tying field goal in the final seconds of regulation, and another in Denver when the Giants blew a 19-0 four-quarter lead. The Giants lost four games by four points or less, two of those four came against the NFC North champion Chicago Bears and AFC West champion Denver Broncos.

It’s a fan-friendly team that has become highly competitive.

Now consider the addition of Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh, who in his previous 18 years as a head coach in Baltimore has amassed a 180-113 record, with just three losing seasons, and is 13-11 in the postseason. The Giants have had one winning season (9-7-1 in 2022) in the last nine years, and haven’t won the NFC East since 2011, when they won the Super Bowl.

Harbaugh brings a Super Bowl pedigree and will make a culture change to a franchise longing for a difference-maker.

Defensively, the Giants’ core of young talent with Abdul Carter, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux will cause the Eagles problems for years to come. Offensively, much will depend on the health of quarterback Jaxson Dart, who is exciting to watch, unpredictable and prone to injury due to a penchant for playing reckless.

Another gaping question the Giants face is the health of wide receiver Malik Nabers, who was lost in the fourth game last season when he tore the ACL in his right leg against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished with 18 receptions on 35 targets for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Nabors could be back for Week 1, and if not, definitely by the first month of the season.

Something that cannot be ignored is the Giants thrashed the Eagles last season in Week 6, 34-17, on national TV. Head-to-head, the game did not show much of a difference between the Eagles and the Giants.

The Giants pose possibly the biggest threat to the Eagles threepeat.

Will it happen?

Probably not.

But the Grand Canyon gap that once separated these two franchises is considerably closer than it was a year ago. Harbaugh can still coach. If Dart played for the Eagles, Philly would love him, and human bulldozer and Cam Skattebo.

Who knows what the Eagles will look like under Sean Mannion. There is a chance that they will be formidable once again on offense, but that area is still a major unknown, along with an aging, worn offensive line that is collectively piecing itself together from an injury-plagued 2025 season. The Eagles should threepeat as NFC East champions. They should get as far as the NFC championship, and possibly beyond. The window on this group is closing over the next few years. It seems to be just opening 85 miles north.

It was a masterpiece, a passage of rugby perfection towards the end of a monstrous Test match against the world champions in the altitude of Pretoria.

The epic sweep of Ben White's try brought Scotland to within seven points of South Africa. Before dealing with the defeat - as sore as any in their long list of near-misses - it's no harm to dwell on that score because it was one of the great ones from a Scottish team, a move that lasted one minute and fifty seconds and involved 10 different players, all making inroads with their power, their timing, their footwork, their skill-set, all making good decisions in an absolute maelstrom.

White's last act was his 12th involvement in that move. Gregor Hiddleston, the brilliant replacement hooker, got his hands on the ball five times. Max Williamson, another mighty bench man, had three significant carries.

Finn Russell, the totem in attack, didn't touch it once. It was a try that illustrated the talent that exists across the span of this Scotland squad, not just where the acknowledged superstars reside. When it comes out of them, it's irresistible and almost impossible to stop.

With 10 minutes to go, the momentum was theirs, somehow. They'd been 14-0 down and 35-14 down, but now they were full of menace.

Four tries scored - they hadn't scored a single one in their previous two meetings with South Africa - and 28 points on the board - more points than they'd scored in 29 of their previous 30 games against the Boks - they came again with a vengeance.

With eight minutes left, Tom Jordan put boot to ball in an attempt to find Kyle Steyn on the right wing. The logic was understandable given that Steyn is one of the finest players in the world when the ball is in the air around him. And Steyn only had one Bok - Grant Williams - anywhere near him.

How Jordan would like to take that moment back, though. He had a six-on-two overlap at his mercy, but he went for the kick-pass, which was spilled by Steyn. Chance gone and game gone. So thrillingly close and yet so heartbreakingly far away.

• Scotland fall short in 10-try thriller with South Africa

Scotland's capacity to get you out of your seat one minute and then have you cowering behind the couch the next is long-established. As a team they have sore heads from all the dunts they're taking from that glass ceiling.

Pretoria was the latest chapter in the story of a team with exhilarating ability but also a destructive chink their armor.

After Ben-Jason Dixon's yellow card at the start of the second half - a head-on-head which could and probably should have been a red - Scotland left the Boks off the hook.

Their later heroics later could not overcome their own sloppiness.

In quick succession, and after wondrous attacking, Ewan Ashman was held up over the line, Jack Dempsey spilled a pass inside the Bok 22 and then Ashman knocked on at the back of a maul.

That error led to Elrigh Louw making it 21-14. A flurry of penalties gave Damian Willemse the field position to make it 28-14. Another flurry of Scottish penalties and it was 35-14.

Twenty-one South African points conceded in eight minutes followed by 14 Scottish points scored in two minutes. That's the light and shade of this Scotland team. They're like a fighter in the ring, taking punishment but standing toe-to-toe and getting shots away regardless.

They had 11 visits to the South Africa 22 and averaged 2.5 points per visit. South Africa had eight entries and averaged 5.2 points. That speaks to the chances created and the chances not taken.

It also reflects that despite Scotland's fantastic ability to score epic tries they concede too many times - six tries lost to the Boks, five to the Pumas, six to the Irish, six to the French.

They won two of those games, but 50% is not where they want to be, it's not the return of a champion team. The are the great entertainers when they need to be the great executioners.

'No such thing as a poor Springbok team'

Against the Boks, Scotland had more territory, more carries, more metres gained. They had 17 clean breaks to South Africa's four, beat 47 defenders where South Africa beat only 19. The Boks missed 47 tackles and still won off 38% territory.

We don't get to see inside the soul of rugby players on days like that, which is probably just as well. The pain of contributing so much and yet feeling so lousy at the end of it must be acute.

Scotland have never beaten South Africa in South Africa. Before Saturday, it was a dozen years since they last had a chance.

The new Nations Championship means that they won't have to wait nearly as long for another opportunity, but for some in the Scotland team it might still be too long. For those guys, this was the moment, and it passed.

The Boks, it has to be said, were in full experimental mode. This was their second string, which made Scotland's loss all the more angsty. When will they have a weakened South Africa on the ropes again?

There was no Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx or Thomas du Toit in the front-row, no Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager or Franco Mostert in the second-row, no Siya Kolisi or Jasper Wiese in the back-row. Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse were not involved. Neither were Canan Moodie, Damian de Allende, Mannie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Andre Esterhuizen and Cobus Reinach. That's over 950 Test caps missing.

There is, of course, no such thing as a poor Springbok team. They could field three or four world class outfits, all with the power to beat most other nations.

Rassie Erasmus is building depth for the next World Cup and this was another milestone in that process. Scotland threw everything at his understudies and they battled on to win. On current form, France are their only real danger in Australia next year.

It's not cool to lavish praise on a losing team, but it's hard to avoid it in this case. Praise and a bit of pity and some frustration, too.

As good as they are individually and collectively - Sione Tuipulotu is one of the best players and leaders in the global game - they still don't have that precious commodity of finding a way to win consistently.

That mission continues, by parts engrossing and maddening. They've got Fiji on next at Murrayfield and even when Gregor Townsend makes the changes he has signalled they should win it comfortably.

Two victories and a four-try bonus point defeat would represent a strong first instalment of the Nations Championship. It would leave everybody wanting more, hoping against hope, as ever, that the great Scotland breakthrough is still possible.

Related internet links

• Scottish Rugby Union

Brendon McCullum has been sacked as Test coach in another staggering twist in the unravelling of the England team.

Two weeks after Ben Stokes made the stunning announcement to step down as captain and retire from international cricket, McCullum's exit brings a definitive end to the Bazball era.

The New Zealander will continue as England's white-ball coach, but leaves the Test team following a string of poor results and several off-field incidents.

Director of cricket Rob Key will remain in his position, with the decision to remove McCullum coming after the hierarchy of the England and Wales Cricket Board spent time reflecting on the situation surrounding the men's team.

"I've absolutely loved coaching the Test side and I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved together," said McCullum. "There've been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that's all part of taking on a challenge like this.

"Of course I'm gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision. My focus now is on giving everything I've got to the white-ball teams and helping England keep moving forward."

England have lost seven of their past nine Tests, including the 4-1 Ashes hammering in Australia.

McCullum, Stokes and Key were backed to remain in charge following that defeat, only for England to be beaten 2-1 by New Zealand.

The defeat by the Black Caps – England's first in a home series of at least three Tests for 14 years – was overshadowed by a nightclub incident involving Stokes and Gus Atkinson, then Stokes' abrupt retirement.

Now, the England Test team has no head coach and no captain, with the next series against Pakistan beginning on 19 August.

Harry Brook appears favourite to be named as Test captain, though that appointment could now hinge on the identity of the next head coach.

Since 1999, England have had only two English head coaches of the Test team. Peter Moores did the job twice, while Chris Silverwood was McCullum's predecessor.

Zimbabwean Andy Flower, who was in charge when England won the Ashes in Australia in 2010-11, would be the standout candidate to replace McCullum, though it is not known if he could be lured from the franchise world.

Homegrown candidates might include Glamorgan head coach Richard Dawson, or his fellow former England spinner Gareth Batty, now in charge at Surrey. Legendary former all-rounder Andrew Flintoff is head coach of England Lions, though has previously said he does not want the job with the senior team.

Australian Ryan Campbell has impressed at Durham, while ex-Australia coach Darren Lehmann is now head coach at Northants.

In remaining as white-ball coach, McCullum can continue to build on the improvements made by England's limited-overs team. The victory over India on Saturday gave England a 4-0 T20 series win over the world champions and put them at number one in the world rankings.

McCullum combined the Test and white-ball roles in 2024, two years after he first took charge of the Test team. When he arrived as Test coach in 2022, he initially embarked on a spell of superb results earned with some breathtaking cricket.

The partnership with Stokes – the Bazball style – revitalised an England team that had won only one of its previous 17 Tests.

With some swashbuckling batting, England earned famous wins over New Zealand at Trent Bridge, India at Edgbaston and Pakistan in Rawalpindi, the latter the beginning of a 3-0 series win. Overall, England won 10 of their first 11 Tests under McCullum and Stokes.

However, since that initial period of success, England have lost 19 and won 17 of 38 Tests, beginning with a heart-stopping one-run defeat by New Zealand in Wellington, sustained after England enforced the follow-on.

England fell 2-0 down in the home Ashes of 2023, yet turned it around to draw 2-2 and perhaps would have won the urn had rain not washed out almost the entire last two days of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

The tour of India in 2024 began with another famous win in Hyderabad, only to decline into a 4-1 series defeat.

On returning home from India, Stokes, McCullum and Key set their sights on the Ashes tour of 2025-26, including ending the career of England's all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson.

England formed a plan to hit Australia with pace and assembled arguably their most hostile attack in more than 50 years for the trip down under.

But the tour fell apart in a blur of inadequate planning, poor performances and allegations of a drinking culture.

After playing only one warm-up match against the Lions, England were in a strong position in the first Test in Perth – 105 runs ahead with nine wickets in hand shortly after lunch on the second day. In an astonishing implosion, England were beaten before the day was out and never recovered.

Although England won the fourth Test in Melbourne, their first win in Australia for 14 years, their performances elsewhere were abject – a threadbare squad left ill-prepared for the demands of a tour down under.

Off the field, England's reputation by their public drinking in Noosa, when opener Ben Duckett was filmed, apparently drunk.

Worse was to come at the end of the Ashes tour, when it emerged Brook had been struck by a nightclub bouncer in Wellington on the eve of a one-day international on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the trip to Australia.

After they were backed to remain in their jobs, McCullum and Stokes attempted to distance themselves from rumours of a rift that had supposedly developed in Australia.

England added to their backroom staff to aid preparation and implemented a midnight curfew in an attempt to avoid further controversy.

There was optimism when they won the first Test of the home summer against New Zealand at Lord's, however the nightclub incident that unfolded when Stokes was celebrating that win sparked the chain of events that has left England in turmoil.

McCullum's contract with the white-ball team runs to the end of the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next autumn.

Now, England must find a head coach of the Test team who can work alongside McCullum's big character and relaxed approach.

'It began with a bang, it ended with a bang'

Analysis by chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew

It began with a bang, it ended with a bang. You read the ECB stuff and you wonder why they've sacked him. It's extraordinary things they've said here – he leaves the Test team well set and poised to achieve great things, so why have they sacked him?

They sacked him because of a lot of ill-discipline, the Ashes – an awful lot was said about that both on and off the field. Off the field is just as important here. The lack of discipline there has been. That, I suspect, has been Richard Gould's primary concern here.

He looks at the cricketing landscape, particularly in the men's team, and it's like it's been napalmed. The image of the men's game is very, very poor. They have to be seen to be gaining discipline and taking more control of the English game.

Who will come in? No idea at all. I don't think it will be someone as loose – and that was very positive at the start. It's important to remember that when McCullum and Stokes did take over, English cricket was in a real mess and they did revolutionise it and they won 10 of the first 11 Test matches they played together and in wonderful, unforgettable ways.

I'll be very interested to see who they appoint as coach. At the moment all the really top ones seem to be very comfortably positioned with the nice pickings of franchise cricket that pays them well and means they're not away from home for months and I don't think there's the scrutiny that the England coach has. He really is under the spotlight, like the England captain.

• The highs and lows of Bazball
• McCullum & Key should go in 'complete clearout' - Vaughan

With her Sports Illustrated appearance and viral pointing meme, Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham has been everywhere lately.

She was seen Saturday night again, at the UFC 329 event.

The WNBA World Reacts as Sophie Cunningham Attends Conor McGregor’s UCF Return

Cunningham was the ring girl for the bout between Paddy Pimblett and Benoit Saint-Denis, where the Englishman walked away with a win by submission. Pimblett only took 52 seconds to prove his worth on the night.

Cunningham also posed for a picture with Max Holloway, where the pair hit their famous celebrations. Holloway was also declared the winner after Conor McGregor walked away with an injury.

McGregor immediately injured his knee going for a kick and was defeated by Holloway just over a minute into the fight.

Being that McGregor is one of the sport’s all-time most popular fighters, and it was his first fight in over five years, it was a star-studded event. Cunningham was in attendance, even serving as a ring girl at one point.

Between the nonstop talk around Fever star Caitlin Clark and some early up-and-down play in Indiana, Cunningham was probably just happy to be away from the basketball world for a night.

The WNBA world had plenty to say about Cunningham’s appearance. Some came after McGregor, joking that Cunningham was in the ring longer than the former champ.

“Sophie Cunningham lasted longer in the ring than McGregor man,” HoosierSpeaker posted on X.

Veteran football writer Scott Kacsmar had the same thought. “She lasted in the ring longer than McGregor,” Kacsmar said.

Barstool Sports had a video of Cunningham’s appearance as a ring girl. It was as if everyone was equally surprised to see Cunningham complete a random side quest.

UCF President and CEO Dana White was asked when he hired Cunningham as a ring girl.

“About eight minutes before she did it,” White said, via Rosalina Lee. “I love Sophie Cunningham. We’ve created a relationship and she was here tonight. When she walked in, she goes I wanna walk around and I said then you’re going to walk around it. She’s fun.”

Some fans believe this official cements Cunningham as a mainstream celebrity.

“Yea man, Sophie Cunningham has officially arrived into the mainstream,” Ben Daniel of the Ben Daniel Podcast said.

It’s hard to argue with that right now. It isn’t just happening off the court for Cunningham. She is averaging 9.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 22.7 minutes per game with impressive shooting numbers. She’s shooting 47.2% from the field and 40.0% from three.

The Fever will return to action Sunday night when they take on the Las Vegas Ace. The game tips at 9:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on NBC and Peacock.

What happened to Conor McGregor? UFC 329 ends abruptly as 37-year-old appears to blow out knee vs. Max Holloway originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While MMA fans finally received their long-awaited wish to see Conor McGregor back in the cage, the joy was short-lived after the fighter went down with an injury in the opening round.

Shortly after the opening bell, McGregor ran right at Max Holloway in the center of the Octagon. The Irishman threw an erratic, off-balance kick toward the Hawaii native, in which his right leg landed awkwardly and pushed forward, causing what many are calling an internal right knee injury. Dana White has stated his belief that McGregor injured his ACL in the mishap.

McGregor initially continued to power through the pain despite Holloway pleading with the referee to give his opponent time because he was visibly injured. However, "The Notorious" was unable to put any weight on that right knee and was forced to call it quits on his return.

Here's the latest after The Notorious' return ended early due to injury.

MORE: Full card highlights from McGregor vs. Holloway 2

What happened to Conor McGregor?

Holloway defeated McGregor with 3:54 remaining in the first round after the referee was forced to stop the bout. "The Notorious" could not continue due to an apparent knee injury, which the broadcast later shared was "a right internal knee injury." After unleashing just one kick in the opening sequence, McGregor's right leg awkwardly landed on the canvas. After that, the fighter was unable to put any sort of weight on his right leg, and eventually was forced to bow out of his return.

Here is a look at McGregor's kick that caused his lingering injury.

RIGHT ON THE FIRST KICK 😳

Max Holloway gets his hand raised tonight!

[ #UFC329 | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/8Y5MR1wJ4s

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) July 12, 2026

In the ensuing seconds, McGregor hobbled around the cage, with Holloway even asking the referee to stop the fight because the Irishman was obviously injured. Here's when McGregor shook his head at the referee, and forfeited his long-awaited return into the octagon:

THIS FIGHT IS OVER IN ROUND 1 😳

Max Holloway defeats Conor McGregor!

[ #UFC329 | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/fxSnBev6CM

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) July 12, 2026

A lone positive for McGregor was that tonight's injury occurred on his right leg. In his most recent fight prior to tonight's bout, McGregor broke a part of his left leg, so the damage may have been far more severe had it happened to his opposite leg. Here's a look at McGregor walking out after his defeat:

Conor McGregor is walking with a limp after his apparent leg injury. pic.twitter.com/vdEAQ4GFLu

— ESPN (@espn) July 12, 2026

According to UFC CEO Dana White, McGregor's outlook is far from promising. "We're assuming blown ACL," White said during the postfight press conference. "The doctors think the same thing too."

🚨 Dana White's immediate reaction to Conor McGregor's injury:

"I was expecting AT LEAST a one round war... We're assuming blown ACL. The doctor's think the same thing too." #UFC329pic.twitter.com/yQ5AXEumhD

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) July 12, 2026

At the moment, there is no official diagnosis for McGregor's exact injury. That said, the Nortorious One did weigh in hours after the conclusion of the fight via Twitter.

My head gasket is gone. Destroyed. I had no injury / injuries going into the fight. I was throwing kicks, planted and jumping, all throughout camp as well as backstage before the fight. This came out of nowhere. I am beyond dark here. I can only describe it as hell.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 12, 2026

MORE: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 full card recap: Who won every fight?

Conor McGregor injury history

This is not the first time The Notorious has been injured inside the Octagon. Here is McGregor's injury history:

Will Conor McGregor ever fight again?

At the moment, it does not look likely that McGregor will ever step foot into the Octagon again. The former all-time great appears to have another road to recovery ahead after injuring himself for the second-straight fight.

At this stage of his career, tonight's fight was most likely McGregor's final time strapping into the gloves in the UFC.

MORE: Why is Conor McGregor called "The Notorious?"

Jul. 12—A bit of arm twisting paid big dividends for several local senior bowlers.

Mandy Wilson recruited friends Ann Coleman and Dana Bone to compete in the recent Ohio Senior Olympics. The trio of Dayton area bowlers did more than compete, they struck their way to gold medal finishes and qualified for the 2027 National Senior Games in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

"I knew some people who had competed in this in the past, but I never had," Wilson, 67, said. "I saw flyers at some local bowling centers and basically talked the two of them into it."

The Ohio Senior Olympics include a variety of events including archery, basketball, cycling, swimming, volleyball and bowling. The event is designed to foster camaraderie, sportsmanship and healthy competition among athletes 50 and older.

Wilson opened the competition at H.P. Lanes, in Columbus, with singles play — winning the women's 65-69 age division. The singles competition, both the men's and women's, includes eight divisions from 50-54 to 90-94.

"There was a married couple in their 90s competing," Wilson said. "I hope I can keep bowling till I'm 90."

Coleman, 56, earned a singles silver medal in the 55-59 division, also qualifying for the national games.

"It really helps to come out of Dayton because of the caliber of bowlers we are used to seeing," Coleman said. "You know you have to bowl your best."

Day 2 meant doubles play and Wilson and Coleman took the gold in the women's 55-59 division.

"Our goal is always to win, but we didn't know anything about this tournament, so we wanted to at least medal," Coleman said.

Two gold medals in hand, Wilson picked up her third in the mixed doubles event with Bone in the 60-64 division.

"I am incredibly fortunate to not only be awarded the gold medal for my age group ... but also win the gold medal for the mixed doubles with my great friend Mandy," Bone said. "We have bowled many events and bowled well, but to win a gold medal with her made the results even more special."

Special, but a bit surprising.

"I did not expect to win all three events," Wilson said. "I think it will be a lot tougher in Tulsa."

Coleman also picked up a third medal at the Ohio Senior Olympics, a silver in mixed doubles with partner Norm Dendler. All the medalists qualified for the National Senior Games.

"It sounds like a true Olympic event, thousands of athletes competing in many different sports at a very high level," Coleman said. "It is kind of cool to be going."

Wilson is excited to meet some new people and, of course, try to bring home some more hardware.

"If I'm going to win something, I want it to be against tough competition," she said.

England are on the hunt for a new Test head coach after Brendon McCullum was stood down from the role.

McCullum, who will remain in charge of England’s white-ball teams, has paid the price for the wretched Ashes in Australia in the winter and a chaotic 2-1 series defeat to New Zealand to start the Test summer.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will have to move quickly to appoint a replacement, with Pakistan due to visit for three Tests from 19 August.

With a home Ashes less than a year away, the new hire will have task of forging a quick and fruitful relationship with the individual that succeeds Ben Stokes as Test captain – with Harry Brook seemingly the leading option.

But who will the new skipper be working under? Here are five possible contenders to replace McCullum.

Andy Flower

Having already led England to No 1 in the world, could the Zimbabwean be persuaded back for a second stint in charge of the team? Flower was the hard taskmaster that arguably took England to their highest heights in Test cricket, overseeing series wins in Australia and India and combining well with Andrew Strauss. His tenure ended with relations fraying within the side, but Flower seems to have softened since, and has become one of the most highly-regarded T20 coaches on the franchise circuit, winning back-to-back IPL titles with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Andrew Flintoff

Flintoff has sort of fallen into elite coaching, picking up part-time roles with England while recovering from a horror car crash in 2022. He has proved to be well-liked by those working under him and above him, though, during his time with the England Lions, bringing through a number of now Test regulars. Close to Rob Key, who remains as ECB managing director of men’s cricket, a promotion might be seen as hasty and perhaps not a total regime change – and Flintoff has just taken a role with the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, too.

Jonathan Trott

There is a lot to like about way the former England batter has forged his coaching career, taking on a demanding role with Afghanistan and thriving despite not being able to visit the nation during his time in charge. It was in white-ball cricket that a team on the rise excelled under Trott, reaching the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, but it was against the red ball that Trott was at his best as a player, and the role could well suit him. The 45-year-old has previously expressed a desire to coach England one day.

Gareth Batty

The leading candidate from the County Championship, Batty’s Surrey may have relinquished their grip on the domestic game but the ex-England spinner is a shrewd operator. Would he leave the Oval? Perhaps not, with the Surrey set-up under Alec Stewart seeming to suit him well. Other contenders in the county game may include Richard Dawson, impressing with Glamorgan after a spell as an assistant with the national team, but the time for Peter Moores or Mickey Arthur has probably gone.

Justin Langer

Speculative, surely? Langer was not necessarily friendly with the entirety of the Australian dressing room during his time in charge, yet success was achieved under the sometimes-combative Western Australian. A smart cricketer and coach, Langer would be an intriguing introduction to an environment perhaps in need of a firmer hand at the tiller. His former teammate Jason Gillespie has long been linked with the role and has strong knowledge of the English game from spells at Sussex and Yorkshire.

Lakers' Jon Elmore fills stat sheet in Summer League breakthrough originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jon Elmore didn't get a chance to show what he could do in the Los Angeles Lakers' first NBA Summer League game in Las Vegas.

On Saturday, though, Elmore got to play, and in 19 minutes, he proved he can contend with the rest of the players in these games.

Elmore is 30 years old, balding, and not your typical-looking NBA player.

But his skills? He's a bucket.

He was a legend at Marshall University and his filled it up in various places around the world since college.

Elmore has never played an NBA game, although he was very good in the G League last season for the Stockton Kings.

On Saturday night, he took three shots, all from beyond the arc, and hit two of them.

Sergio De Larrea with a gorgeous high lob to Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu for the alley-oop dunk (with replays).
Jon Elmore with the corner 3 at the other end. pic.twitter.com/2ACk1LvDXt

— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) July 12, 2026

MORE: This NBA rookie is jumping on his foul shots

He filled the stat sheet beyond his six points. Elmore had five assists, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

He turned it over just once, and he was a plus-16 in his 19 minutes.

A guy like Elmore playing at Summer League isn't just trying to impress the Lakers. He's hoping to catch the eye of someone from any of the NBA's teams.

If he keeps playing like that, he'll have a chance.

More NBA news:

Derek Curiel is a top-five draft pick. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected the former LSU Baseball star at No. 5 overall in the 2026 MLB Draft on Saturday. He is the fourth former Tiger taken in the top five since 2023, joining Paul Skenes, Dylan Crews and Kade Anderson.

Several mock drafts leading up to the draft had Curiel going in the teens and high twenties. He was the No. 12 prospect on the MLB's prospect rankings for the 2026 draft class, but his top five selection marks a major vote of confidence by the Pirates' front office.

Two years at LSU developed Curiel into one of the most versatile prospects in the draft class. He started in left and right field and center field, flashing the leather and showing his ability to cover ground quickly. He also maintained a spot in the top half of the batting order, holding the leadoff spot for much of his freshman year.

As a true freshman, Curiel helped the Tigers win their second national title in three years. He earned several All-American accolades and enjoyed increased success at the plate in 2026. He finished his career at LSU batting .349 with a .975 OPS, 171 hits, 131 runs, and 101 RBI over two seasons.

How did social media react to Curiel's selection?

The first surprise of the 2026 draft with Derek Curiel going No. 5 overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Curiel's showed out on the highest stage of college baseball for LSU, and is a safe floor bat for the Pirates here.

(per @JoeDoyleMiLB) pic.twitter.com/NEy5LkQKQO

— Tobey Schulman (@tschulmanreport) July 11, 2026