ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Kyle Bradish pitched eight shutout innings, Taylor Ward hit a leadoff home run against his former team and the Baltimore Orioles extended their winning streak to three games Monday night with a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels.
Coby Mayo hit a three-run homer and Bradish (5-7) struck out nine as the Orioles improved to 4-3 on a nine-game trip.
Bradish allowed six hits and one walk. He has 21 strikeouts over his last two starts.
Baltimore was already without second baseman Jackson Holliday (groin) when third baseman Blaze Alexander (knee) exited in the third — leaving outfielder Leody Taveras to play third for the first time in seven seasons. Taveras finished with two hits.
Jorge Soler homered late for the Angels in his return from the injured list, but Sam Aldegheri (2-3) gave up five runs and five hits over 4 2/3 innings. Los Angeles had scored 27 runs over its previous three games.
Ward, playing his first game at Angel Stadium as a visitor following an offseason trade, hit the fourth pitch from Aldegheri 419 feet over the wall in center field. It was his 56th career home run at Angel Stadium.
The Angels then saluted Ward, a member of the major league team for eight seasons, with a tribute video in the middle of the first inning.
Baltimore made it 4-0 in the fourth on Mayo’s three-run homer and scored again in the fifth on Pete Alonso's sacrifice fly. Gunnar Henderson added an RBI triple in the seventh that made it 6-0.
Rico Garcia gave up Soler’s homer in the ninth.
Baltimore is 21-6 against the Angels since 2022.
Up next
Orioles RHP Shane Baz (4-7, 4.04 ERA) faces RHP Ryan Johnson (0-2, 12.83) in the middle game of the series Tuesday.
Philadelphia, United States — The first time Ali Alkabasi saw Iraq play at a World Cup was on television when he was 13 years old. Forty years later, he was inside the Philadelphia Stadium as his nation returned to the big stage and faced former champions France.
Despite a crushing 3-0 loss in his team’s second Group I match, Alkabasi says he is grateful to witness Iraq live at the tournament.
“Seeing Iraq play in the World Cup is enough,” he told Al Jazeera.
“The performance wasn’t too bad. The result was expected. France are on another level. At least the Iraqi players were not just playing long balls. They tried to build up an attack.”
Iraqi fans stood up and saluted their team at the final whistle, and even at three goals down in the final minutes of the game, they cheered for every attack as if they could will it into becoming an equaliser.
Halah Maykhan, second from the right, travelled from Wisconsin to watch Iraq play at Philadelphia Stadium [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
‘Matter of pride’
For a country that has faced immense adversity over the past decades, Iraq’s participation in a World Cup brought unadulterated joy to fans, who travelled from across the US and the world to see their team in action.
Halah Maykhan, an Iraqi American who lives in Wisconsin, said Iraq’s return to the World Cup after four decades is a dream come true.
“We are living the dream. My homeland, Iraq, makes it to the World Cup finals in America, where I live. The dream for me is double,” Maykhan told Al Jazeera.
“I am so happy and so excited. This is a matter of pride for the Iraqi people.”
She expressed gratitude to the players for gathering Iraqis from all corners of the planet in one place to rally around the squad.
“We are with this team no matter the results,” Maykhan told Al Jazeera.
“Although they lack experience, we are hoping they do well, and we’re hoping all Arab teams do well.”
Two-time world champions France started the match with intensity, and superstar Kylian Mbappe quieted the raucous Iraqi crowd in the 14th minute with a screamer from the edge of the box – but not for long.
After the shell-shock, Iraqi fans returned to drumming up support for their team as chants of “Iraq, Iraq” rang throughout the stadium.
The process would repeat twice, with France’s goals only temporarily lulling the roars of the supporters of the Lions of Mesopotamia.
Despite the enormous gulf in quality between the two sides, Iraq did not just park the bus and clear the ball as far away as possible from their own goal.
They tried to keep possession and play through France’s high press.
Mohammed Abduljabbar, who lives in Texas, said while the result was disappointing, the team did what it had to do against a better opponent.
“Their performance was good. Yes, there were mistakes, but there were also some beautiful plays. We are proud of them, and we thank them for bringing us to the World Cup,” Abduljabbar told Al Jazeera.
He added that the feeling of watching Iraq at the stadium was “indescribable”.
A nation brought together by football
Beyond football, Iraq’s World Cup journey put on display a fortified national identity across sectarian and religious lines.
At the stadium on Monday, there were Kurdish and Assyrian flags waving alongside the national banner, but all the fans stood united behind the players.
Husam Nafea, an Iraq fan who drove for four hours from Virginia to see the match, said the country has been rising above divisions, and it is now even more unified around the team.
“Wherever we go, we as Iraqis are joyous and united, and hopefully, we remain this way,” Nafea, who was draped in an Iraqi flag, told Al Jazeera outside the stadium.
Over the past decades, Iraq has endured coups, wars, sieges, civil strife, a US-led invasion and the rise of ISIL (ISIS).
Now the country is experiencing a period of relative calm, but it remains near the centre of many geopolitical faultlines in the region.
Nawres Almamoori travelled all the way from South Australia to Philadelphia to watch Iraq in action.
He said the excitement around participation in the tournament is bringing much-needed relief to Iraqis.
“Iraqis have gone through and are still going through a lot,” Almamoori told Al Jazeera. “They deserve this joy.”
An actual storm caught up with Iraq and France on Monday, with heavy rain and thunder halting the match for nearly two hours at half-time.
As fans lined up to enter the stadium under the water dumping from the sky, Iraq fan Hassan Raad said he is unconcerned with the weather or the result.
“Rain, sun, freeze, desert – we are here for our guys,” Raad told Al Jazeera. “The result doesn’t matter. As fans, our job is to support the team.”
Ateka Saleh, an Iraqi American from Wisconsin, echoed the sentiment.
“No matter what happens today, they already brought us here, together, to be happy with them,” Saleh said of the players before the match.
“So, ‘thank you’ to them. We are very proud of this team.”
Iraq fans outside Philadelphia Stadium [Ali Harb/Al Jazeera]
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that NBC 6 South Florida lead sportscaster Sara Cardona has left the local news station to take a job with Hard Rock Bet.
“NBC 6 lead sportscaster Sara Cardona has left the station to take a job at Hard Rock Bet. [Cardona gave] several sensible reasons why she made the move when I asked her this evening, which I’ll elaborate on in a media column later this week,” Jackson posted when breaking the news Monday night on X.
NBC 6 lead sportscaster Sara Cardona has left the station to take a job at Hard Rock Bet. Gave several sensible reasons why she made the move when I asked her this evening, which I’ll elaborate on in a media column later this week (for the finite % of readers who have interest in…
Cardona joined NBC 6 in June 2023 and has served as a news anchor and reporter for the station. She was previously at ABC 36 in Lexington, KY, and she also had stops at CBS4 Gainesville, FL, Nashville’s Fox 17 and ABC 2, and ESPN Plus as a sideline reporter for Conference USA college basketball and college football games.
The Minnesota Timberwolves are trading Julius Randle and a first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team deal that also includes the Chicago Bulls, a person with knowledge of the terms said Monday night.
The Timberwolves are sending the 28th pick in Tuesday's draft to the Nets and will be receiving the No. 33 pick that will be made in the second round on Wednesday night, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not received the required approvals from the league office.
ESPN, which first reported the deal, also said the Bulls would be receiving Nic Claxton from Brooklyn in the trade.
For Minnesota, the trade opens up a slew of financial possibilities. It creates a $33 million trade exception, plus gives the Timberwolves room they can use to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu and target more players in free agency.
Randle, a three-time All-Star, will be moving to his fifth team after stints with New York, the Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans and the Timberwolves. He averaged 21.1 points this past season, though shot just 39% from the field and 24% from 3-point range in Minnesota's 12 playoff contests.
Claxton just finished his seventh NBA season, all with Brooklyn. He averaged 11.7 points this past season.
The streets of Brockton were jumping Sunday night after Cape Verde’s Cinderella story in their first ever World Cup continued.
The island nation off West Africa drew their second match against Uruguay Sunday night. They are now sitting in the middle of their group with 2 draws thus far.
Videos and pictures show hundreds in Brockton with Cape Verdean heritage flooding the city streets following the historic result Sunday.
“Everybody believe in Cape Verde right now,” said one fan Monday.
Another added, “Just happiness, everybody is just so happy.”
Cape Verde’s Kevin Pina scored the nation’s first ever World Cup goal Sunday against Uruguay. Pina lived in Brockton but was recruited back to play for his home nation as a teenager.
A Brockton resident explained, “We’re all like a community. So, we’re all friends, but he did really good.”
At the Cape Verdean Association of Brockton, executive director Tatiana Moniz called this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for her community.
“They do call us the eleventh island in Brockton, so that’s what we are,” she said. “If you go back home that’s what it is as well -- partying, having fun, being together, family, about your neighbors, your friends, etc. It takes a village.”
Ludymila Lobo Vieira, a Cape Verdean employee at the association, added, “It makes me emotional! It gives me bumps.”
Cape Verde will face Saudi Arabia in their final group stage match for a chance to guarantee a spot in the knockout rounds.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
The Los Angeles Dodgers took a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Monday, but suffered two heavy losses in the game.
Both Kyle Tucker and Dalton Rushing left the game with injury, Tucker suffering from low back spasms and Rushing leaving after a foul tip rattled off of his helmet in the first inning.
Will Klein served as an opener for the Dodgers in the game, and allowed the only run of the game on the Dodgers’ side. Eric Lauer came in to replace him after the first inning, and threw six innings of no-hit baseball. He ended the game with three walks and two strikeouts.
The Dodgers scored in the top of the first inning, as Shohei Ohtani led the game off with a no-doubter home run to right field. Since returning from Paternity leave on Saturday, two of Ohtani’s three hits have been home runs.
Buxton leveled the game with his own blast in the bottom of the first inning, though, and the game would remain square until the middle innings.
Jun 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) celebrates with center fielder Andy Pages (44) after hitting a solo home run against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
The Dodger scattered hits around throughout the game, gathering a total of nine on the evening, but their only means of scoring in the series opener came through the long ball. Freddie Freeman launched a solo shot high over the center field fence in the top of the sixth inning to give the Dodgers the lead.
Kyle Hurt came in for the eighth inning to reliever Eric Lauer and gave the Twins their first hit since the first inning, but still got out of the inning without any consequence.
Tanner Scott came in to close the game in the ninth, and had a clean frame to secure his 10th win of the campaign.
The win is a step in the right direction for the Dodgers, but their lack of scoring over the past few days should be a cause for some concern. They’ll look to build some confidence from their 50th win on the season, and will aim to win the series tomorrow when Justin Wrobleski takes on Joe Ryan at 4:40 p.m. PT on Tuesday.
The bagpipes and kilts may be gone, but the trumpets and drums are out in full force as England fans make their way into Boston for the World Cup match in Foxboro.
Monday night, England fans rented out all four floors of The Greatest Bar in the West End to get the party going ahead of Tuesday.
“Pandemonium, insane, and awesome all at the same time,” Daniel Crowley, general manager of The Greatest Bar, said.
Crowley said he anticipated about 400 people filling the bar Monday night. He said the chaos has been constant since the start of the World Cup, bringing an influx of business he’s never seen before.
“Never in my life, never, not even Stanley Cup runs, not even when the Celtics are in the finals, this is the craziest we’ve ever had,” Crolwey said.
England fans said they’re enjoying the experience, too.
“Really cool vibe, can’t help with the weather but it’s just like being at home really,” Matt Hart, a fan from England, said.
“Everyone’s been great so far, we had a lobster roll earlier, Luke’s Lobsters, was it? Yeah, pretty good,” Vincent Nash, another fan from England, said.
But the fans have been surprised by at least one aspect of the trip to the United States so far. “The beer prices... it’s fairly expensive but we know what we’re gonna let ourselves in for for the World Cup, we just like to party,” Shaun Bayliss, an England fan, said.
But can they live up to the reputation Scotland fans leave behind?
“Everybody saw what Scotland did, so that’ll be pretty tough to top,” Crowley said.
“Scotland drinks more... England drinks, but not as much as Scotland does,” Marilyn Israel, a manager at the Greatest Bar, said.
“Scotland thinks they started the party, we’ll finish the party,” Bayliss said
But the English said their rivalry is all in good fun.
It’s all like a sibling rivalry with the Scots and the English, it’s all good-natured banter," Hart said.
“At the end of the day, they’re going home next week, aren’t they,” Paul Bayliss a fan from England, said.
Many of them said they’re already counting on a win on Tuesday and making it all the way to the finals.
“One World Cup, one England, and we’re taking it home, it’s coming home!” Shaun Bayliss said.
England’s match against Ghana on Tuesday starts at 4 p.m. At Boston Stadium.
Los Angeles Dodgers backup catcher Dalton Rushing left Monday’s game against the Minnesota Twins, making room for backup Chuckie Robinson.
The Dodgers revealed Rushing is in concussion protocol after a foul tip caught the crown of his helmet in the first inning. Rushing is the second Dodger to leave the game early, as LA removed Kyle Tucker in the second inning due to low back spasms.
Rushing’s potential injury is an issue for the Dodgers, as they have just one catcher on the active roster—Robinson—without him. Will Smith has taken on the lion’s share of catching duties this season, but has been on the injured list since June 11 with neck inflammation.
Rushing has been stellar in the backup role for the Dodgers this season, especially towards the beginning of the year. His OPS sat well above 1.000 for the entirety of April, and while he’s cooled off a little bit since, he has still been solid on offense. The former No. 1 prospect in the organization has eight homers on the year, tallying 22 RBIs in the process. He has a .821 OPS.
Jun 15, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) reacts after striking out in the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images
Who Would Take Dalton Rushing’s Spot on the Roster?
If Rushing went down with injury, the Dodgers will more than likely bring up Triple-A catcher Eliezer Alfonzo.
Alfonzo, 26, signed with the Dodgers on a minor league deal after the end of the 2025 season, and has been solid for the Comets during his stay in Triple-A. Through 42 games this season, Alfonzo has one homer and 15 RBIs, posting a .306/.395/.410 slash line for an .805 OPS.
The catcher spent all of his professional career prior to now in the Detroit Tigers’ organization, but never made an appearance in MLB.
Griffin Lockwood-Powell is the backup catcher in Triple-A, but has only played three games at the level and is unlikely to be brought up over Alfonzo.
The Dodgers could also scour the waiver wire for a catcher, but the last catcher to be designated for assignment—the Atlanta Braves’ Sandy Leon—has already re-signed with the club on a minor league deal.
LA will hope it doesn’t come to that, though, as they need as many of their key pieces as possible to put together a championship season.
Kylian Mbappe scored his second brace of the tournament, and France eased to a 3-0 victory over Iraq in the first match of this World Cup beset by a lengthy weather stoppage.
Mbappe’s goals came nearly three hours apart after thunderstorms in the region on Monday delayed the second-half kickoff by a shade under two hours.
They take him to 16 all-time World Cup tallies, pulling him level with former record-holder Miroslav Klose. Earlier on Monday, Lionel Messi set a new benchmark of 18 career World Cup goals with his brace in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria.
Mbappe’s four goals also place him one behind Messi in the 2026 Golden Boot race.
Reigning Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele also scored after half-time for two-time champions France (2-0-0, 6 points), who are all but assured of progressing.
Their last-32 place will become official if Norway win or draw against Senegal in the other Group I fixture. That match, staged about two hours away by car in northern New Jersey, kicked off near-simultaneously with the start of the long-awaited second half at Philadelphia Stadium.
Iraq (0-2-0, 0 points) remain alive for one of the eight knockout spots allotted for third-place teams.
They will probably need a win in their group finale against Senegal and help elsewhere. And they could be without Aymen Hussein, who scored their only goal this tournament in their opener, but exited on Monday in the 26th minute with an apparent injury.
France dominated the early stages, and Mbappe capitalised in the 14th minute.
On an innocent-looking sequence on the right, Mbappe received Michael Olise’s pass, took one touch to his left and, with Iraqi defenders affording him space, unfurled a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area that sailed beyond Ahmed Basil’s dive.
The delay could have served as a recovery period for Iraq, who spent most of the match chasing the ball. Instead, they gifted France and Mbappe a second on a dreadful mistake from a goal kick.
Dembele was the provider for Mbappe’s tap-in. He scored 12 minutes later, after controlling Olise’s incisive pass into the 18-yard box and finishing low past Basil.
With the outcome never in doubt, the weather provided the drama.
After referee Drew Fischer blew his half-time whistle as storms were already beginning, the skies opened further, and spectators were told to seek shelter in the stadium concourses.
Players finally re-emerged for warm-ups about 1 hour and 40 minutes later, and even then, the restart was delayed further as stadium personnel used squeegees to shuttle standing water off the east side of the pitch.
Jun 21, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) tosses his bat after hitting a go ahead two-run home run during the ninth inning against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.
After suffering a devastating loss against the Athletics on Friday, momentum seemed to have hit rock bottom for the Los Angeles Angels. But instead, they flipped that script and have played winning baseball heading into a new series Monday.
Now winners of their last two games, the Angels will take on the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game set at home, looking for more of the same success.
Below, you can find the team previews, including where to watch, game details, injury reports, and odds.
TEAM PREVIEWS:
Angels (32-47, 5th in AL West): Friday’s loss was undoubtedly a big blow. The Angels had led by seven runs and their offense was scorching the ball before the blown lead, having hit five home runs as a team. But even with all momentum loss, they salvaged a four-game series from that point on.
The Angels’ offense never let down. On Saturday, they dominated their way to a shutout victory and followed that on Sunday with a come from behind win, which included some late game heroics from Zach Neto.
One surprise standout in the series was third baseman Denzer Guzman, who hit three homers and knocked in six RBI over the weekend. Donovan Walton has also been a bat they can rely on, homering on Sunday and recording a three-hit game on Saturday.
In the series opener on Monday, the Angels will start Sam Aldegheri in hopes he can redeem a poor outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks last week. Outside of that outing, the left-hander has been efficient in the Angels’ rotation.
The team has yet to announce a starter for Tuesday and Wednesday. Those starters would be lined up to be Ryan Johnson and José Soriano, who will likely take the mound on those respective days.
Orioles (37-42, 4th in AL East): The Orioles are fresh off a series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers that saw a near similar finish to the Angels series.
Like the Angels, Baltimore blew a late lead in the ninth inning in what turned out to be a devastating series-opening loss. But over the next two games, the team flipped the switch and won back-to-back games in encouraging fashion.
Saturday’s comeback win built momentum for a resounding 12-1 win in the rubber match on Sunday. The offense looked alive and pitching looked the way they have been hoping to see it for some time.
Almost each of their current consistent bats homered in Sunday’s trot. Pete Alonso continued his hot stretch with his second long ball of the series. Colton Cowser went deep once again, while former Angel Taylor Ward also added one of his own and Blaze Alexander stayed hot with one.
Baltimore’s starting pitching has finally begun to find a rhythm, which reflected in the series win. The Orioles are throwing three right-handers against the Angels’ offense, including their best arm that is fresh off his best start of the season.
Kyle Bradish is set to start the series opener on Monday, aiming to build off a gem of a start. In his last start against the Seattle Mariners, Bradish tossed 12 strikeouts over 7 ⅓ innings of work, allowing just one run and bouncing back from two poor starts. Right-handed starters Shane Baz and Trey Gibson are set to follow on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively.
Venue:
Angel Stadium
Game 1 Date:
Monday, June 22, 2026
Time:
6:38 PM PDT
Probable Pitchers:
BAL: Kyle Bradish (4-7, 4.00 ERA, 81 IP, 85 SO)
LAA: Sam Aldegheri (2-2, 4.50 ERA, 20 IP, 13 SO)
Where to watch:
BAL: MASN
LAA: ABTV, presented by Pechanga Resort Casino
Where to listen:
BAL: 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM
LAA: KLAA 830, KWKW 1330
Game 2 Date:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Time:
6:38 PM PDT
Probable Pitchers:
BAL: Shane Baz (4-7, 4.04 ERA, 89 IP, 76 SO)
LAA: TBD
Where to watch:
BAL: MASN
LAA: ABTV, presented by Pechanga Resort Casino
Where to listen:
BAL: 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM
LAA: KLAA 830, KWKW 1330
Game 3 Date:
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Time:
1:07 PM PDT
Probable Pitchers:
BAL: Trey Gibson (1-2, 5.81 ERA, 26.1 IP, 20 SO)
LAA: TBD
Where to watch:
BAL: MASN
LAA: ABTV, presented by Pechanga Resort Casino
Where to listen:
BAL: 98 Rock 97.9 FM, WBAL 1090 AM
LAA: KLAA 830
INJURY REPORT
BAL: INF Jackson Holliday (Day-to-day), C Adley Rutschman (7-day IL), SP Dean Kremer (60-day IL), SP Cade Povich (15-day IL), OF Dylan Beavers (10-day IL), SP Chris Bassitt (15-day IL), RP Yaramil Hiraldo (60-day IL), 1B Ryan Mountcastle (60-day IL), RP Colin Selby (60-day IL), INF Jordan Westburg (60-day IL), SP Zach Eflin (60-day IL), RP Félix Bautista (60-day IL)
LAA: CF Mike Trout (10-day IL), SP Grayson Rodriguez (15-day IL), INF Adam Frazier (10-day IL), SP Jack Kochanowicz (15-day IL), OF/DH Jorge Soler (10-day IL), OF Gustavo Campero (10-day IL), Yoán Moncada (10-day IL), SP Yusei Kikuchi (15-day IL), RP Ben Joyce (60-day IL), C Travis d’Arnaud (10-day IL), RP Robert Stephenson (60-day IL), 3B Anthony Rendon (60-day IL)
A bizarre scene unfolded over the weekend at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, as the U.S. Open crowd became openly antagonistic to eventual winner Wyndham Clark.
Clark’s history of letting his temper get the best of him during competition, coupled with Scottie Scheffler’s pursuit of a career Grand Slam, seemingly led New York fans to turn on him. After Clark noted the crowd’s weak energy on Friday and Saturday, the response he got on Sunday was surely not the supportive one he expected.
In a segment reacting to the situation on his radio show Monday morning, Dan Patrick joined many in the media to call the crowd’s behavior “kind of embarrassing,” particularly given that it occurred toward an American golfer during the U.S. Open.
“This is an American,” Patrick said. “I know he’s had some ugly behavior before, but still. You’re watching him perform at an unbelievably high level. He was playing, it felt like, at a different level, on a different course, than everybody else. And he went wire-to-wire.”
Patrick speculated that the majority of fans were simply frustrated that Scheffler was “ruining” Scheffler’s pursuit of the career slam, on his birthday no less, but argued that rooting against a fair winner in a tournament designed to represent the United States was a bad look.
“You could tell early that that crowd came out rooting for Scottie to complete the (career) Grand Slam, and probably didn’t view Wyndham Clark as user-friendly or somebody they wanted to root for,” he said. “Which is fine, you don’t have to root for him. But rooting against, in a U.S. Open, I thought it was kind of embarrassing.”
Despite the seemingly rough attendance and the fact that Scheffler will have to wait at least another year for his shining moment, the pushback against Clark made this year’s U.S. Open in northern New York a national sports story and potentially created a new, recognizable villain for the sport.
We’ve seen a series of cost-cutting maneuvers in recent months that have led various local media companies to part ways with reporters and other media members.
94.1 WIP Philadelphia Eagles sideline reporter Devan Kaney was among those out of a job. In her case, it was part of Audacy’s layoffs.
However, the Philly sports mainstay didn’t have to wait too long for a new gig, though it’s one that will take her away from the City of Brotherly Love.
Kaney, who was still working as a weekend anchor for Fox 29, announced on Sunday that she was done at the TV station and preparing for something new.
Last week was my final sportscast at @FOX29philly.
I’m so excited to share what’s next for me but first I have to shoutout my incredible friends, family and colleagues who have been so supportive over the last few months as I navigated my next career move. change is never easy,… pic.twitter.com/eJYtdZAvyo
“Last week was my final sportscast at [Fox 29 Philadelphia],” Kaney wrote on X. “I’m so excited to share what’s next for me, but first I have to shoutout my incredible friends, family, and colleagues who have been so supportive over the last few months as I navigated my next career move. Change is never easy, but I’m grateful for the people in my life who make sure I know that I am never alone.”
While Kaney was light on details about the what and where, she did say she was “leaving for a bigger market” and “you can prob still catch me on Fox airwaves,” in a follow-up comment. Based on media market data, she’s likely heading to New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Dallas-Ft. Worth.
Kaney had been WIP’s Eagles sideline reporter in 2024 after Howard Eskin’s abrupt exitamid several controversies. She had been with the station since 2022 and would routinely co-host the station’s morning show alongside Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie.
WIP has yet to announce its Eagles sideline reporter for the 2026 NFL season.
The NBA Draft is just days away, and after months of evaluating prospects, studying team needs, and following league intel, here is my final mock draft and best prediction of what happens on draft night.
This isn't necessarily how I would draft every player—it's my best projection of what I believe NBA teams will do when they're on the clock.
1. WSH: AJ Dybantsa | 6-8 F | BYU
AJ Dybantsa is the best prospect in the draft and arguably the safest player available when balancing upside and floor. He is a supersized wing with elite scoring instincts who projects as a dominant three-level scorer at the NBA level.
What separates Dybantsa is his ability to get downhill. Few players in recent memory have attacked the rim with the same combination of power, athleticism, and body control. Once he gets a step on a defender, he's nearly impossible to stop, reminiscent of a young LeBron James.
Washington gets its franchise cornerstone and a player capable of becoming one of the faces of the league.
NBA Comp: Tracy McGrady
2. UTA: Cameron Boozer | 6-9 F | Duke
Cameron Boozer is arguably the safest player in the draft. He dominated as an 18-year-old during his lone season at Duke and possesses the best instincts and feel for the game of any prospect in this class.
His father, Carlos Boozer, works in the Jazz front office, and it is no secret that Darryn Peterson reportedly has little interest in landing in Utah. While Boozer isn't the most explosive athlete and lacks ideal length for a modern power forward, his basketball IQ and overall skill set give him an extremely high floor.
If his three-point shot translates consistently, he could become an All-Star early in his career. While his ceiling may not match Dybantsa, Peterson, or Caleb Wilson, his likelihood of becoming a productive NBA player is as high as anyone's.
NBA Comp: Minnesota-era Kevin Love
3. MEM: Caleb Wilson | 6-9 F | North Carolina
The first major surprise of the draft comes at No. 3, as Memphis passes on Darryn Peterson and selects North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson.
Wilson possesses Kevin Garnett-level upside thanks to his elite athleticism, shot-blocking ability, defensive versatility, and physical tools. He can impact the game on both ends of the floor and has the potential to become one of the NBA's premier defenders.
His offensive feel and shot creation still need development, but few prospects in this class can match his long-term upside.
It's also worth mentioning that moving off Ja Morant's contract could prove difficult for Memphis, making another ball-dominant guard less appealing. Given Peterson's reported off-court concerns, Wilson may simply be the cleaner fit.
NBA Comp: Kevin Garnett
4. CHI: Darryn Peterson | 6-6 G | Kansas
Darryn Peterson falls right into Chicago's lap, creating a dream scenario for a franchise desperately searching for its next superstar.
Matas Buzelis has shown tremendous promise, but Peterson immediately becomes the Bulls' go-to player. His elite shot-making ability, defensive upside, athleticism, and competitive mentality have led some evaluators to draw lofty comparisons to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant—though those comparisons are obviously unfair to place on any young player.
Still, the upside is undeniable. Chicago lands a potential franchise-changing talent without having to trade up.
NBA Comp: Devin Booker with more defensive upside
5. SAC (via LAC): Darius Acuff Jr. | 6-2 G | Arkansas
Trade: Sacramento acquires Pick No. 5 from the Clippers in exchange for Pick No. 7 and a Top-3 protected 2031 first-round pick.
Darius Acuff Jr. has superstar potential written all over him, and Sacramento lands the type of player the organization has desperately needed for years.
A potential future scoring champion, Acuff shot 44% from three-point range in college and combines elite scoring instincts with high-level playmaking. His ability to create at all three levels is among the most advanced of any guard prospect in recent memory.
The Kings move aggressively to secure their future franchise player.
NBA Comp: Allen Iverson
6. BKN: Keaton Wagler | 6-6 G | Illinois
Brooklyn already has several point guards on the roster, including Egor Demin and Nolan Traore, making a wing selection here the most logical move.
Wagler showcased outstanding shot-making ability during his lone season at Illinois and nearly helped lead the program to a national championship. His ability to score from deep and create difficult shots makes him one of the better offensive prospects in the class.
However, concerns remain. He lacks elite athleticism, doesn't possess great quickness, and has a somewhat limited offensive arsenal outside of his shooting.
I don't personally view him as a Top-10 talent, but Brooklyn reportedly values him highly and addresses a positional need.
NBA Comp: CJ McCollum Lite
7. LAC (via SAC): Mikel Brown Jr. | 6-4 G
The Clippers' admiration for Mikel Brown Jr. has been one of the worst-kept secrets of the draft process.
Brown has the potential to become one of the NBA's next elite combo guards thanks to his ability to score at all three levels while also facilitating for teammates. His offensive skill set gives him significant long-term upside.
Brayden Burries would also make sense here given Ty Lue's preference for tough, physical guards, but Brown's ceiling is simply higher.
The Clippers swing for upside.
NBA Comp: Ohio State D'Angelo Russell
8. ATL: Aday Mara | 7-4 C | Michigan
I believe Atlanta is choosing between three players here: Aday Mara, LaBaron Philon, and Kingston Flemings.
With Trae Young gone and no true point guard currently leading the roster, both Philon and Flemings would make plenty of sense. However, Atlanta's need for size and rim protection ultimately wins out.
Mara stands 7-foot-4 and has the tools to become one of the league's premier interior defenders almost immediately. His size alone changes the geometry of the court, and his defensive upside is simply too intriguing to pass on.
NBA Comp: Zach Edey
9. DAL: Kingston Flemings | 6-4 G | Houston
Dallas will strongly consider both LaBaron Philon and Kingston Flemings, but ultimately opts for the player with greater defensive upside.
The Mavericks need a point guard to pair with Cooper Flagg for the future. While they'd likely love to see Mikel Brown or Darius Acuff fall to this spot, neither makes it this far.
Flemings projects as a high-level two-way guard who can impact winning on both ends. His defensive versatility stands out, and he possesses a more advanced offensive feel than many realize.
NBA Comp: Cason Wallace with more offensive upside
10. MIL: LaBaron Philon | 6-4 G | Alabama
LaBaron Philon is one of my favorite players in the entire draft class.
I have him ranked ahead of Flemings, Wagler, and Mara, and I believe he has legitimate franchise-player potential if Milwaukee ultimately decides to move on from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Philon is a smooth three-level scorer who plays with tremendous pace and confidence. He consistently creates for himself and others while showing impressive instincts as a primary ball-handler.
The comparison to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn't perfect, but stylistically there are plenty of similarities. If Philon reaches his ceiling, Milwaukee may look back at this selection as one of the steals of the draft.
NBA Comp: Early Thunder/Clippers Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
11. GSW: Brayden Burries | 6-4 G | Arizona
Brayden Burries is one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft. He plays with the kind of toughness, competitiveness, and versatility that winning organizations covet.
Burries reminds me a lot of Josh Hart because of his willingness to do the dirty work, defend multiple positions, rebound, and knock down shots. However, Burries may have more offensive upside thanks to his ability to create off the dribble and score at all three levels.
Golden State would be thrilled to land a player who can contribute immediately while still possessing long-term All-Star potential.
NBA Comp: Josh Hart
12. OKC: Morez Johnson Jr. | 6-9 F | Michigan
Morez Johnson Jr. is going to be a defensive menace at the next level.
His offensive game improved significantly throughout his lone season at Michigan, and his motor, physicality, and defensive versatility make him a perfect fit for Oklahoma City's culture. While Yaxel Lendeborg may be the more popular selection here, there's been increasing buzz around Johnson potentially sneaking into the Top 10.
For the Thunder, this is the ideal blend of immediate impact and long-term upside.
NBA Comp: Isaiah Stewart
13. MIL (via MIA): Yaxel Lendeborg | 6-9 F | Michigan
Trade: Miami acquires Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis. Milwaukee receives Kel'el Ware, Jaime Jaquez Jr., and four first-round picks, including No. 13 overall.
Milwaukee enters full rebuild mode, but that doesn't mean every selection needs to be a developmental project.
Lendeborg is already 24 years old, which will scare some teams away, but NBA rebuilds require good players—not just young players. At minimum, Lendeborg projects as a high-level rotation player capable of impacting winning immediately.
At his ceiling, he becomes a versatile two-way forward capable of averaging 20 points per game while defending multiple positions. That's the type of player every rebuilding franchise needs.
NBA Comp: Aaron Gordon
14. CHA: Cameron Carr | 6-6 G | Baylor
Cameron Carr has been connected to Charlotte throughout much of the pre-draft process.
His combination of athleticism, length, and defensive upside is extremely intriguing, especially for a Hornets team that already has offensive creators in place with LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Kon Knueppel.
Carr remains somewhat raw as a scorer, but his smooth shooting stroke and explosive athleticism make him an ideal complementary piece with room to grow into much more.
NBA Comp: Peyton Watson
15. CHI: Dailyn Swain | 6-8 F | Texas
Dailyn Swain is one of the most underrated players in this draft class.
At 6-foot-8, he can handle the ball, initiate offense, defend multiple positions, and impact the game in a variety of ways. He may be the most versatile perimeter defender in the draft and fits perfectly alongside Darryn Peterson, Matas Buzelis, and Josh Giddey.
Chicago would leave draft night with arguably the best young core in the Eastern Conference.
NBA Comp: Supersized Marcus Smart
16. MEM: Christian Anderson | 6-3 G | Texas Tech
It's difficult to envision Memphis leaving the first round without addressing both the frontcourt and backcourt.
After selecting Caleb Wilson at No. 3, the Grizzlies grab a potential future replacement for Ja Morant in Christian Anderson.
Anderson averaged 18.5 points and 7.4 assists per game as a sophomore in the Big 12 and thrives with the ball in his hands. His ability to create offense for himself and others should immediately earn him a role leading Memphis' second unit.
If things break right, he could eventually become Memphis' starting point guard.
Trade: Philadelphia acquires Pick No. 17 from Oklahoma City in exchange for Pick No. 22 and a 2030 second-round pick.
Nate Ament is one of the most polarizing prospects in this draft.
The 6-foot-10 freshman flashed elite scoring upside at Tennessee, but concerns remain regarding his shooting consistency and lack of elite first-step explosiveness. When everything is clicking, Ament looks like a future star. When it isn't, he can disappear for stretches.
Philadelphia is in an ideal position to gamble on upside, with Joel Embiid and two elite guards already carrying much of the team's offensive burden.
NBA Comp: Brandon Ingram without the polished scoring package
18. CHA: Chris Cenac Jr. | 6-10 F | Houston
Chris Cenac Jr. may possess some of the highest upside in the entire draft.
The athletic, versatile big man rebounds at a high level and flashes intriguing two-way potential. However, he's still incredibly raw and likely needs time before he's ready for a significant NBA role.
Fortunately for Charlotte, that's a luxury they can afford. The Hornets can slowly develop Cenac while allowing him to grow behind an established young core.
NBA Comp: Kel'el Ware
19. TOR: Bennett Stirtz | 6-5 G | Iowa
Bennett Stirtz is going to surprise a lot of people at the next level.
He is one of the best shooters in this draft class, and his playmaking ability continues to improve every season. Toronto needs more perimeter shot creation and floor spacing, and Stirtz provides both.
While he may not have the highest ceiling among players available, he projects as a player who can contribute to winning basketball for a long time.
NBA Comp: Reed Sheppard Lite
20. SAS: Jayden Quaintance | 6-10 F | Kentucky
Jayden Quaintance is the best defensive player in this draft, and I believe his offensive upside is being underrated.
An injury cost him all of last season, which is the primary reason he's fallen this far, but his physical tools remain extraordinary. At 6-foot-10 with elite athleticism, length, and strength, Quaintance has the potential to become one of the NBA's most impactful defenders.
On offense, he can use his size and explosiveness to punish defenders around the basket and contribute as a versatile frontcourt weapon.
San Antonio is one of the best possible landing spots for his development.
NBA Comp: Robert Williams III
21. DET: Hannes Steinbach | 6-11 C | Washington
Hannes Steinbach feels like one of the safest bets in this draft.
He's an elite rebounder, a polished offensive player for his size, and someone who consistently produced whenever he stepped on the floor. Despite that, NBA teams appear unconvinced that he possesses star-level upside, which is why he slips into the 20s.
Detroit doesn't need another high-risk project. Steinbach gives them a dependable frontcourt piece who can contribute immediately and potentially develop into a long-term starter.
After trading back and adding future draft capital, the Thunder take a swing on one of the highest-upside wings in the class. Lopez is a versatile scorer who flashes three-level shot-making ability and the tools to become a quality two-way player.
He may not be ready to contribute right away, but Oklahoma City's developmental infrastructure is arguably the best in basketball. If Lopez reaches his potential, this could become one of the steals of the draft.
NBA Comp: Deni Avdija
23. ATL: Ebuka Okorie | 6-3 G | Stanford
It's almost poetic that the player most commonly compared to Trae Young could end up replacing him in Atlanta.
Okorie has been underrated throughout the pre-draft process because of concerns about his size and defensive limitations. However, what he brings offensively is difficult to find.
He's a dynamic playmaker, an excellent shooter, and one of the best creators in the class. His ability to generate offense for both himself and his teammates will make him extremely valuable at the next level.
The similarities to Young may scare some organizations away, but Atlanta embraces them.
NBA Comp: Trae Young Lite
24. NYK: Allen Graves | 6-8 F | Santa Clara
Allen Graves received enough positive feedback from NBA teams to remain in the draft, and that decision could pay off handsomely.
Graves projects as one of the more NBA-ready role players in this class thanks to his versatility, basketball IQ, and ability to impact winning without needing the ball in his hands. With Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shamet potentially leaving in free agency, New York could use another reliable wing who can defend multiple positions and stretch the floor.
His shot creation ability is also better than many people realize.
NBA Comp: Boris Diaw
25. LAL: Henri Veesaar | 6-11 C | North Carolina
Henri Veesaar has been connected to the Lakers throughout the draft process, and the fit makes a lot of sense.
He can thrive as a pick-and-roll partner with Luka Dončić while also stepping out and knocking down perimeter shots. Veesaar rebounds well, plays with toughness, and possesses enough mobility to defend modern NBA offenses.
His ceiling may not be particularly high, but Los Angeles doesn't need a project. They need a reliable center capable of contributing immediately, and Veesaar checks every box.
NBA Comp: Kelly Olynyk with more rebounding and less offensive skill
26. DEN: Isaiah Evans | 6-6 G | Duke
This feels like a perfect marriage between player and team.
Denver needs more athletic wings who can defend and knock down open shots alongside Nikola Jokić. Evans projects as one of the best true 3-and-D prospects in the class thanks to his defensive versatility and smooth shooting stroke.
There are questions about his ability to consistently create offense for himself, but he won't be asked to do much of that playing alongside one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history.
NBA Comp: Isaiah Joe
27. BOS: Meleek Thomas | 6-3 G | Arkansas
Boston takes one of the biggest upside swings in the draft.
Thomas is an explosive athlete with the tools to become a legitimate three-level scorer at the next level. The flashes are exciting, but he remains one of the rawest prospects projected to go in the first round.
Many believed another year at Arkansas would have benefited his development, but if there's an organization capable of maximizing his talent, it's Boston. Brad Stevens and Joe Mazzulla can afford to be patient while developing one of the highest ceilings in the class.
If the Timberwolves create an opening in the frontcourt, Koa Pete makes a lot of sense. He projects as a versatile defender with excellent athleticism and the ability to guard multiple positions.
His offensive game remains a work in progress, particularly his three-point shot and overall feel on that end of the floor. Still, the physical tools and defensive upside are worth betting on late in the first round.
NBA Comp: Aaron Gordon Lite
29. CLE: Richie Saunders | 6-5 SG | BYU
Richie Saunders is one of the most underrated players in this draft.
Although an injury slowed him down late in the season, he had already established himself as one of college basketball's most productive guards, averaging 18.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
His calling card is his shooting ability, and he has the potential to become one of the better floor spacers in the NBA. However, his playmaking is also more advanced than many evaluators give him credit for.
Cleveland lands a polished offensive player who fits perfectly alongside their current core.
NBA Comp: Landry Shamet with playmaking ability
30. DAL: Joshua Jefferson | 6-8 F | Iowa State
After addressing point guard earlier in the draft with Kingston Flemings, Dallas closes the first round by selecting one ofc the most NBA-ready forwards available.
Jefferson impacts the game in countless ways. He rebounds at a high level, thrives in transition, scores efficiently around the basket, and consistently makes winning plays.
While he may never become a star, he projects as the type of player every contender wants in its rotation. For a Dallas team trying to build around Cooper Flagg, that's tremendous value with the final pick of the first round.
NBA Comp: Kyle Anderson with more athleticism
FINAL THOUGHTS
This draft class is loaded with franchise-changing talent at the top and tremendous depth throughout the first round. AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson headline the class, but players such as Darius Acuff Jr., LaBaron Philon, Brayden Burries, Jayden Quaintance, and Karim Lopez could ultimately outperform their draft slots.
The biggest surprise in this mock is Memphis passing on Darryn Peterson at No. 3 for Caleb Wilson, while the biggest draft-night swing comes from Sacramento trading up for Darius Acuff Jr.
As always, draft night is unpredictable. There will be trades, shocking selections, and prospects who rise and fall unexpectedly. But based on everything I've heard, studied, and projected throughout the process, this is my final prediction for the 2026 NBA Draft.
Let me know your biggest disagreement, and make sure to follow @BSDtakes on X and @Brandonsdeutsch on IG and TikTok for more NBA Draft content!
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup starts on June 11, 2026, traditional news and social media channels will be full of pictures of the players. Many of them will be showing their tattoos.
Body art has become increasingly part of international soccer, although its prevalence can vary across geographical regions. A study of athletes participating in the 2018 World Cup found that Latin American players were the most heavily tattooed, followed by those from Oceania and Europe. African and Asian players are the least tattooed.
I have been studying tattoos and their spiritual and religious roles since 2018. Tattoos are an investment of time and money; they tend to symbolize something important in the person’s life. For professional athletes, however, they take on another level of meaning.
World Cup players’ tattoos offer a glimpse into what they value in their lives. Sociologist Gustavo Morello counted 226 tattoos across Argentina’s 2022 World Cup squad, including those of World Cup record-holder Lionel Messi.
These athletes operate in controlled environments in which what they do and say with their bodies is highly regulated. A player cannot freely ski, ride, work out or take vacations without considering contractual obligations to companies and other investors. Most of the professionals playing in the World Cup have also signed sponsorship agreements that regulate what they can display on their social media.
Against this backdrop, tattoos remain one of the few spaces of personal freedom. As my colleagues and I found in our research, those who get them are choosing to reveal what is important and sacred to them.
Breaking the code
Sociologists Sam Belkin and Dale Sheptak argue that tattoos are often a way for athletes to express their humanity in environments where they may be subjects of unreal expectations or treated as an asset. Belkin and Sheptak write that visible tattoos are a type of “nonverbal communication” that enables players to be honest about their personal feelings and what matters to them.
My colleagues and I analyzed the tattoos of the Argentine men’s national team that won the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022. We looked at about 200 pictures and found that 20 of the 26 players on the roster had a total of 226 tattoos.
Argentina’s Rodrigo De Paul, left, and Lionel Messi at Lusail Stadium in Lusail City, Qatar, on Dec. 9, 2022, with their tattoos visible.
Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty Images
We analyzed the team’s demographics and the tattoo designs and placement on the players’ bodies. We also analyzed interviews where some of them had talked about their lives and, in some cases, the stories behind their tattoos. By placing these tattoos in the broader context of their professional paths and religious and popular culture, we were able to better understand what the body art meant to them.
A majority of players expressed their religious beliefs through their tattoos: 75% of them – 15 out of 20 – featured body art of religious figures connected to Catholicism, like the Virgin Mary, Jesus and saints; some also had tattoos of doves associated with the holy spirit, and churches.
We also saw religious diversity. There were tattoos of the Buddha, folk saints and spiritual objects. One player had a tattoo of a dream catcher – a handcrafted willow hoop with a woven net that resembles a spider’s web, typically hung above a bed to offer protection; another had the word “energía” – energy – inked on his body.
Seventy-five percent of the players had tattoos depicting what they achieved in their careers. Some of the symbols they used were trophies, jerseys and numbers. Usually the numbers they got corresponded to the jersey numbers they wear.
Eighty percent – 16 players – had tattoos that portrayed what they loved. These tattoos include designs of numbers – usually dates of their children’s births – names of beloved ones or their partner’s eyes or lips.
Some tattoos expressed their extended family, including parents, grandparents, people who helped raise them, and even pets.
Placement was also important. About 60% of the tattoos were on the arms and head, locations that were easily visible when they are performing on the field.
But the design of the tattoo also decided its placement: Religious symbols were usually placed on the entire shoulder or biceps, or on the upper or lower leg. Tattoos related to professional careers were usually located on the player’s dominant leg. Animal tattoos were usually placed on backs, and not visible during games.
Not all tattoos are the same
Many scholars who study soccer have examined its relationships with politics and explored how the sport has been a venue for politics. Diego Maradona, for example, got the Argentine Marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader Che Guevara tattoo on his right arm and Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro on his calf, expressing his revolutionary political view. Our research team did not find political tattoos among current players.
Gender is also important when looking at tattoos. Female players are often subjected to greater scrutiny than their male counterparts. When Argentina’s national women’s team captain Yamila Rodriguez revealed tattoos of Cristiano Ronaldo, she faced intense criticism from fans and media for having the Portuguese superstar and not Argentinean Lionel Messi depicted in tattoo. Rodriguez’s experience highlights that women’s bodies are subjected to personal judgment in a way that men’s are not.
A tattoo of Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo on the leg of Argentina women’s team captain Yamila Rodriguez ahead of a match against Uruguay in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Oct. 28, 2025.
Eitan Abramovich/ AFP via Getty Images
This World Cup, with its unprecedented global outreach, offers a unique opportunity to observe the values, beliefs and relationships that players choose to display on their bodies. In some ways, tattoos can be seen as a small window into the players’ souls.
This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Gustavo Morello, Boston College
Gustavo Morello does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
On Monday, he posted a statement on Instagram saying that he was “working on myself.”
Videos circulating on social media, including one posted by fellow former UFC fighter Ben Askren, appear to show Poirier roughhousing in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is chasing the last major award that’s eluded him so far in his career, though he recently said this could be be running out of time to do so.
Ohtani, 31, has had plenty of success as a hitter, but he’s never been honored with a Cy Young Award for his pitching.
Jun 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) in the dugout during the second inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Coming off of three straight MVP awards and in pursuit of a three-peat, it would make sense if Ohtani wanted to stick with what’s been working.
Instead, though, he’s chasing pitching’s highest honor, something he told a Japanese magazine is only an option for a limited time.
“Inside, I’m assuming this is my last chance as a pitcher,” Ohtani told the Japanese sports magazine Number, as detailed by Dylan Hernandez of the California Post.
Ohtani turns 32 on July 5, and the new father of two said he’s trying to avoid his pitching career being “thin and long,” something Hernandez explained as meaning “he didn’t want to limit his effort for the sake of longevity.”
“I’m not saying it’s OK for it to be short,” Ohtani said, “but what’s most important to me is for it to be as thick as possible.”
Hernandez added that Ohtani “intends to go all-out.”
“He wants to be as good as he can be, and that can only happen if he doesn’t hold back,” he wrote. “If he gets hurt, he gets hurt.”
“Ohtani wants to make good on his promise to the Dodgers, and that’s not just about winning titles to him,” Sanchez said. “He wants to be the unicorn for LA, the best possible pitcher and the best possible hitter at the exact same time, and he’s putting his body on the line more than ever for it.”
Vegas Golden Knights pose with the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl after game four of the NHL Western Conference Finals between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche, Tuesday May 26, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Although the next three months are sure to bring plenty of changes to the Vegas Golden Knights, fans now know the first opportunity they will get to see these changes on the ice firsthand.
On Monday, the Golden Knights revealed the dates of their four preseason games before the start of the 2026-27 season.
This will be the first year that the NHL only provides four games on the preseason schedule as opposed to seven, compensating with an expanded regular season schedule of 84 games starting this season.
The first preseason game for the Golden Knights will take place against the Los Angeles Kings on Sept. 19 in Ontario, Calif. They will then stay on the road to take on the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Sept. 22.
The Golden Knights will finish the preseason slate with two straight games at T-Mobile Arena, first against the Utah Mammoth on Sept. 24 before closing out against the Sharks on Sept. 26.
Broadcast information, as well as dates and rosters for rookie and training camps, will be revealed on a later date.
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame announced it will induct six new members in its 2026 class. They will officially enter the hall at an induction ceremony on September 10 in Pickerington, Ohio.
The Hall of Fame class of 2026 includes off-road racer Russell Bobbitt, motocross and supercross racer Damon Bradshaw, Eraldo Ferracci of Fast by Ferracci, dirt track racer Jake Johnson, ABATE founding member Gary Sellers, and drag racer and race engineer Dale Walker.
Begin Press Release:
AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2026
Six acclaimed motorcyclists earn motorcycling's highest honor as AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame announced the six distinguished motorcyclists that will be inducted into its hallowed halls during the 2026 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sept. 10 in Pickerington, Ohio.
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2026 includes Russell Bobbitt, Damon Bradshaw, Eraldo Ferracci, Jake Johnson, Gary Sellers and Dale Walker.
"Induction into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame is among the highest honors our sport can bestow - a recognition reserved for those who have truly shaped the course of motorcycling," AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman said. "Russell, Damon, Eraldo, Jake, Gary, and Dale have each done exactly that. Through their achievements, their passion and their lasting contributions to our community, they have moved motorcycling forward for every rider who follows. We look forward to welcoming them into the Hall of Fame and celebrating their legacies at the Induction Ceremony this September."
The AMA Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was decided by a weekslong voting process, in which thousands of ballots were submitted. The inductees were selected from nine areas of influence within the motorcycle industry: Ambassadors, Industry, Design & Engineering, Dirt Track, Leadership & Motorcycle Rights, Motocross & Supercross, Off-Road, Road Racing and Specialty Competition.
The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be honored at the AMA Induction Ceremony on Sept. 10 at The Event Center at Violet Woods in Pickerington, Ohio, followed by a cocktail ceremony at the AMA Hall of Fame Museum. Tickets for the Induction Ceremony are available for purchase at MotorcycleMuseum.org/events-experiences/induction-ceremony/.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact AMA Business Development Manager Michael Kula at (949) 466-7833 or mkula@ama-cycle.org.
RUSSELL BOBBITT - OFF-ROAD
Georgia native Russell Bobbitt is an icon of modern AMA off-road racing, renowned for his technical precision in the woods. Representing the factory KTM team, Bobbitt became a dominant force in the AMA National Enduro Series, securing five championships (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2016). His 2016 title was particularly impressive, marking a triumphant comeback following significant injuries.
A master of the traditional enduro timekeeping format, Bobbitt was named AMA Athlete of the Year in 2011 and represented the U.S. with distinction at the International Six Days Enduro. Even after retiring from full-time racing, he proved his enduring talent by winning the 2019 National Enduro season opener. Today, he shares his passion through Gnarly Routes, leading adventure tours across the American West.
DAMON BRADSHAW - MOTOCROSS & SUPERCROSS
Few riders left a mark on American motocross like Damon Bradshaw. Known for his aggressive style and raw speed, the Mooresville, N.C., native - dubbed "The Beast from the East" - signed with Factory Yamaha at just 15. He quickly became the youngest rider to win an AMA Supercross race in 1989.
Competing against legends throughout the 1990s, Bradshaw tallied 19 premier-class Supercross wins and six National Motocross victories. His 1992 season remains legendary yet heartbreaking, as he dominated nine rounds but lost the title by only three points. After a shocking early retirement at 21 and a brief 1996 comeback, he transitioned to Monster Jam, winning the 2009 World Finals Freestyle Championship. Today, he remains an influential mentor and industry ambassador.
ERALDO FERRACCI - ROAD RACING
Born in 1938 in Italy, Eraldo Ferracci established himself first as a National Championship-winning road racer and, after moving to the U.S., a record-setting drag racer and producer of go-fast parts through his Fast by Ferracci business, which launched in 1980. Racers of all stripes clamored for his expertise, and the late 1980s Ducati asked him to form the first American-based factory road racing team. The team roared to two FIM World Superbike Championships in '91 and '92 with Doug Polen aboard, and two more AMA Superbike championships, in '93 with Polen and '94 with Troy Corser.
Ferracci is a member of the FIM World Superbike Hall of Fame, as well as a founding member of the Ducati North America Hall of Fame. But, perhaps more importantly, Ferracci helped make Ducati a world road racing powerhouse, and one of the world's most successful producers of performance motorcycles.
JAKE JOHNSON - DIRT TRACK
Jake Johnson stands out as one of the most accomplished riders of the modern AMA Pro Flat Track era, and is known for his technical precision and versatility. Born in Camden, N.J., he started out on a Honda Z50, rose through the grassroots dirt track ranks, and turned professional in the early 2000s. He earned AMA Flat Track Rookie of the Year honors in 2002, then captured AMA Grand National Singles Championships in 2006 and 2008. Johnson reached his peak with back-to-back Grand National Championships in 2010 and 2011, including an "Overall" title in 2010.
Over his career, he tallied 20 Grand National wins, excelling - and winning - across all track types: TT, Short Track, Half-Mile and Mile. Renowned for adaptability, he won titles on multiple brands and remained competitive well beyond his championship years, later transitioning into a respected mentor and development rider.
GARY SELLERS - LEADERSHIP & RIGHTS
Since the 1970s, Gary Sellers has given his life to motorcycle education and advocacy in his home state of Ohio and throughout the country. Sellers was one of the founding members of ABATE of Ohio and served as legislative agent for the organization for a decade. He was awarded the honorary Life Membership Award by ABATE of Ohio in 1997.
Alongside John "Farmer" Eggers, Sellers built a successful motorcycle safety training program in Ohio; it's estimated the program has saved thousands of lives over the years. Sellers is also a member of the Motorcycle Riders Foundation and Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Freedom Fighters halls of fame.
DALE WALKER - DESIGN & ENGINEERING
A lifelong devotion to drag racing led Dale "Holeshot" Walker to become one of the most noteworthy engineers in all of motorcycle racing. Walker not only produced top-tier products for racers, including a clutch-less air shifter and an engine-management system, but also transformed how people tuned their machines. Walker created detailed guides - including illustrations and videos - so those with a basic understanding of mechanics could install and utilize his groundbreaking equipment.
Walker was also a successful national-level drag racer with a noteworthy résumé, which included 50 national event wins and four National Drag Racing Championships. He continues to design and build high-level racing equipment with his brand, Dale Walker's Holeshot Performance.
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The Sun Belt is better now than it was when Hugh Freeze, Gus Malzahn, Bryan Harsin, and Blake Anderson were winning conference titles, but Butch Jones has his Red Wolves in the mix every year.
It took a few years, but Jones has a consistent winner now with three straight bowl appearances, 21 wins over the span, and with a team returning that should be good enough to challenge for a championship.
Can the Red Wolves Do Enough to Be Sun Belt Title Good?
Sep 6, 2025; Little Rock, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas State Red Wolves running back Devin Spencer (40) rushes during the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at War Memorial Stadium.
Biggest Question: Can the defense do more despite the loss of all the top pass rushers?
Arkansas State Key 2025 Stats
2nd Quarter Points: 101, 3rd Quarter Points: 44
Penalties: Opponents 116 for 999 yards, Arkansas State 82 for 752 yards
Tackles For Loss: Arkansas State 81 for 345 yards, Opponents 81 for 309 yards
Offense
The offense kicked it in late in the season, but it needs to be more consistent and explosive.
It's a loaded team full of good veterans, but the missing pieces are big.
Overall, there needs to be more efficiency, better play from the line, and consistency, but the players are in place to be terrific for new offensive coordinator, Garrett Altman.
What’s Working
The offensive line returns just about everyone. It needs to be far better - the pass protection needs to show up - and the ground attack has to be much stronger, but four starters are back, there's decent depth, and there are plenty of strong reinforcements coming in from the transfer portal.
Top target and star Corey Rucker is gone, but just about every other important receiver returns, starting with 73-grab veteran Chauncy Cobb and No. 3 man Hunter Summers. Landing Boski Barrett from Vanderbilt helps an already strong situation.
There needs to be a lot more happening from the ground game, and it starts with giving the 1-2 punch of Kenyon Clay (the thump) and Devin Spencer (the quickness) even more work.
There's even more help coming from Corey Reddick Jr., a quick back from Valdosta State who ran for 651 yards and seven scores last year.
What Needs Work
The quarterback situation. Jaylen Raynor threw and completed more passes for more yards than anyone in the Sun Belt last year, and now he's at Iowa State. Now it's a fight for the gig - the Red Wolves don't have it figured out yet.
Ethan Crawford is back after seeing minimal action last year. Drew Dickey (Vanderbilt) is a smallish baller, and 6-5 Trey Owens (Texas) and 6-4 Jeremy St-Hilaire (Vanderbilt) are bigger options.
Consistent scoring. The Red Wolves failed to score 17 points four times, and went 1-5 when they failed to push past 21.
As a program, it didn't get more than 21 in 18 games over the last three years, and it wasn't just against the top teams on the slate.
The ground game has to be stronger. The line has to generate a push - the Red Wolves only averaged more than five yards per carry once, and that game against Georgia Southern was the only time it got more than 160 yards.
Player to Watch
Devin Spencer, RB Jr. Can the 5-10, 175-pound speedster get the ball more? He's not a workhorse, and he'll split time again, but he averaged over five yards per carry and needs to have the ball in his hands at least ten times a game.
The offense gets a lot of parts back, but the defensive side doesn't. There's a redo happening, with the portal playing a huge role for a defense that allowed well over 400 yards per game.
It wasn't great against the run, and it had a few meltdowns against the better passing teams. As long as it can keep teams to around 24 points, it should be okay.
What’s Working
The safeties are among the best in the Sun Belt. The main men are back, starting with the combination of AG McGhee and Brandon Barnes, who combined for 151 tackles and seven broken up passes last year. Brandon Greil is also back after making 54 stops. If that wasn't enough ...
The coaching staff brought in lots and lots of defensive backs. The safety situation is great, and it's even better with Makai Shahid (Youngstown State) and Jaylen Heyward (UCF) adding depth.
The corners are the stronger of the defensive back transfers, with Noah Flores (Utah State) Bryson Ross (Portland State), and Five Hamilton (Kennesaw State) ready to go right away.
Good things happen when the run defense holds up. It'll take a village of transfers to transform the line - eight linemen are entering the fun - and if they can be nasty against the run, everything changes on the defense.
The Red Wolves were 5-0 when allowing 160 yards or fewer, and 6-1 when giving up fewer than 185 yards. Basically, just don't get gouged.
What Needs Work
Where are the pass rushers? This was one of the best pass rushing teams in America, but the 16.5 sacks from Demarcus Hendricks and Eathan Hassler are done. Cody Sigler left for Auburn, and Drew Collins is off to South Carolina.
The portal needs to bring the production, but the new guys don't have any appreciable proven track record.
The linebacking corps needs the transfers, too. Top tackler Aaron Alexander left for North Texas, and after being banged up last year, Javante Mackey is gone to Texas State.
Joshua Ofor (NC State) and Tre Stevens (Lafayette) join veteran Nigel Nelson - 54 tackles last year - to try piecing things together.
The pass defense got torched. There's a reason why so many new players are coming in through the portal.
Even with a fantastic pass rush, the Red Wolves got hit for 245 yards per game. Opposing quarterbacks combined to complete 68% of their throws.
Player to Watch
AG McGhee, S Sr. He's only around 190 pounds, but he works in a hybrid position in the ASU defense - part safety, part linebacker.
No matter where he plays, he makes things happen, with 100 tackles in his last two seasons at Marshall before coming up with 83 stops with a pick and five broken up passes last year.
Keys to the Season
Find the pass rushers who can step up right away.
Settle the quarterback situation as quickly as possible.
Get more pop to the offense with both the downfield passing game and rushing attack.
Player Who Needs To Shine
Donquarius Parker, EDGE, Sr. The transfers for the pass rush are mostly FBS players who haven't done much yet.
The 6-1, 240-pound Parker is one of the few players with plenty of experience, making 39 tackles with 5.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last year for North Carolina Central. He'll get every shot to be the main man on the outside.
Biggest Concern
The defensive line The offensive side issues - quarterback, consistency, pass protection - should be helped by experience. The defensive line has to be even stronger against the run and find the same pressure, but with wholesale changes needed up front.
Biggest Game
Troy, November 28 This is hardly a perfect Arkansas State team coming into the season, but it has the talent and upside to win the Sun Belt West - by far the easier of the two divisions.
One way or another, a spot in the Sun Belt Championship should come down to the regular season finale when the Trojans come to Jonesboro.
Transfer Portal
The Red Wolves needed a lot of players, and they got a lot of players.
They totally rebuilt the defensive line and loaded up in the secondary, but the only thing that matters is the quarterback situation.
One of the several players coming in has to be an instant star for the veteran offense.
Best Signing
Makai Shahid, S (Youngstown State) This could be whichever quarterback rises up from the pack - Trey Owens from Texas might be the best signing - but Shahid is right up there with the team's best new guys.
The Red Wolves are already good at safety, and they added more to the mix with the 6-0, 190-pound Shahid, who made 125 tackles with six broken up passes over the last two years at Youngstown State.
Biggest Loss
Cody Sigler, DT (Auburn) In his one year at Arkansas State, Sigler turned into a whale of an interior pass rusher with five sacks and 35 tackles for loss. And now he'll be a part of the rotation at Auburn.
Other Names to Know
Joshua Ofor, LB (NC State)
Manasse Itete, OG (Florida State)
Noah Flores, CB (Utah State)
CFN Season Prediction
To try threading this prediction needle, Arkansas State should be an okay team with an okay record and with strong overall results.
The glitches might not easily be fixed. The offense will be fine, but all the veteran offensive linemen have to form a better overall unit. The transfer portal will help the defense, but it has to be better, too.
But with the Sun Belt divisional format, it's possible to lose games and still be deep in the mix for the conference title. That's Arkansas State.
CFN Prediction: 7-5
Can the Red Wolves win the road games? Last year they lost to Kennesaw State away from home and dropped the date to a bad ULM team, but they also won their last three road games against South Alabama, Troy, and App State in close games.
This year, they should lose at Memphis and TCU early, and dates at Louisiana and Southern Miss lean loss.
It'll all come down to back-to-back road games against Coastal Carolina and Louisiana Tech late, and then the home game against Troy.
It'll be a fourth straight bowl season without too much of a concern, but it'll take a few breaks to play for the Sun Belt title.
Bergeron, who was selected 45th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, debuted with the Bruins on Oct. 8, 2003, and went on to spend his entire 19-season career in Boston before retiring in July 2023.
Bergeron won the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2011 and appeared in two additional Stanley Cup Finals in 2013 and 2019. The L’Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, native ranks third in franchise history in games played, goals, and points, and fourth in assists. He also ranks third in game-winning goals, fifth in power play goals and multi-assist games, and third in overtime points.
Bergeron, who leads Boston skaters with 15,182 faceoff wins, notably won the Selke Trophy a record six times, an award given annually to the forward who demonstrates the most skill in the defensive component of the game.
Bergeron appeared in 1,294 career games, recording 427 goals and 613 assists for 1,040 points, becoming the fourth player to record 1,000 points for Boston.
He will be the 14th Bruin to have his number hang in the rafters.
Bergeron will be joined in the 2026 Hall of Fame class by Melrose native Keith Tkachuk, Carey Price, Pekka Rinne, Cindy Curley, and Brian Burke.
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Senegal put up a good fight in their opener against powerhouse France, a favorite to win the tournament. Can Senegal rebound from that 3-1 loss?
We’ll find out Monday night, June 22, as Norway takes on Senegal in a Group I match, 8 p.m. at MetLife Stadium (New York New Jersey Stadium) in East Rutherford.
Rain could play a part in this match as it is forecast from mid-afternoon through overnight.
But when did New Jersey ever let a little rain get in the way?
Check back here throughout the day on Monday as we bring you live coverage from this historic event.
Can't make it to MetLife Stadium, aka New York New Jersey Stadium, on Monday, June 22, to see the Senegal match against Norway? Here's a list of exceptional bars and restaurants where you can catch tonight's match and others during the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
Biggie's in Carlstadt, Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell, Krogh's in Sparta, Sabor Unido in Newark and The Shannon Rose with Ramsey and Clifton locations. See more on these establishments here.
Interested in acquiring last-minute tickets to see Manchester City star Erling Haaland and Norway in person to see if he can continue his domination against Senegal in his second-ever World Cup game? Here are places to look for tickets.
A handful of kids involved in youth soccer in New Jersey ended up with free World Cup tickets for the group-stage round. How? About 1,000 free tickets to World Cup matches were distributed to New Jersey residents via a partnership between Gov. Mikie Sherrill's office, the New York/New Jersey Host Committee, and Choose New Jersey. They were funded by Uber and Airbnb.
Read on here to see what the kids had to say about the experience.
Rain is expected to start in East Rutherford at New York New Jersey Stadium around 3 p.m. and continue throughout the rest of the night, per weather.com.
3 p.m.: 91% chance of rain
5 p.m.: 88% chance of thunderstorms
8 p.m. kickoff: The chances of thunderstorms decrease to 65%, though they remain in the forecast until 2 a.m.
Lionel Messi, Argentina's captain and one of the greatest soccer players of all-time, scored a historic goal Monday against Austria in a Group J match in the 2026 World Cup contest in Dallas.
In the 38th minute, Messi scored his 17th career World Cup goal, passing Germany's Miroslav Klose for the most goals (16) in Men's FIFA World Cup history.
Severe weather in New Jersey could impact Monday's FIFA World Cup game between Norway and Senegal at MetLife Stadium -Credit:Nicolò Campo, LightRocket via Getty Images
Monday's Group I matchup between Norway and Senegal at 8 pm ET at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, faces a significant threat of postponement due to thunderstorm and flash flood alerts blanketing the tri-state region.
Precipitation is forecast to exceed one inch per hour beginning in the mid-afternoon, triggering flood alerts that could impact official World Cup fan zones established throughout Manhattan for Monday's match. Mayor Zohran Mamdani released a statement urging "New Yorkers [to] take this weather seriously and make plans [early] to stay safe."
Wind gusts could climb as high as 60 miles per hour. The National Weather Service has declared an official flash flood warning, as per The Mirror US.
Senegal is hoping to bounce back from a hard-fought 3-1 defeat to France last Tuesday, while Norway seeks to capitalize on its momentum from a 4-1 victory over Iraq.
New York/New Jersey Stadium, operating as MetLife Stadium year-round as home to the NFL's New York Jets and New York Giants, features robust drainage infrastructure and should be capable of rapidly clearing any standing water.
Lightning strikes, however, present a separate challenge. FIFA regulations require that action must halt following a lightning strike and cannot continue until 30 minutes have passed without another occurrence.
The 8 pm kickoff may be pushed well into the night, as FIFA imposes no restrictions on delay duration before resuming play. Speaking exclusively with The Mirror, Philadelphia Soccer World Cup 2026 chief operating officer Lauren Lambrugo detailed the protocol following a lightning strike.
"They'll start evacuating the stadium to the main concourse and seeking emergency shelter. And then it has to wait 30 minutes prior to them bringing everybody back on the field," she explained.
To listen to the latest episode of 'All Out Soccer' - CLICK HERE
Zohran Mamdani's full weather statement
Mamdani published an extensive post on X detailing how New Yorkers should prepare for the incoming storm. "Rain will likely begin late in the morning, intensify throughout the afternoon, and continue overnight," he wrote on X.
"We may experience severe thunderstorms with wind gusts reaching up to 50 mph. Plan now to stay safe during dangerous conditions.
"Exercise caution while traveling. Take public transit whenever possible. Never walk, bike, or drive through floodwaters. If rain and storms are severe, seek shelter indoors and wait for conditions to improve before traveling. No destination is worth risking your safety. Stay out of flooded basements.
"The City has been coordinating since Thursday to prepare for the storms. "Agencies have cleared catch basins across the city and performed targeted inspections of flood-prone neighborhoods. The Downed Tree Task Force is on alert to respond to fallen trees or branches. The Tow Truck Task Force is prepared to assist stranded vehicles."
Former Providence College basketball player Duncan Powell has been cleared of allegations that he assaulted an ex-girlfriend.
Powell, 23, a Dallas native who played for the Friars for the 2025-26 season, was found not guilty of misdemeanor charges of domestic simple assault and disorderly conduct June 17 after a bench trial before District Court Judge Anthony Capraro.
“We are grateful that Mr. Powell was given the opportunity to clear his name through the trial process. While the allegations understandably drew significant attention, the final decision reflects the judge’s careful consideration of the evidence. Duncan is looking forward to returning his focus where it belongs, which is on the bright future that lies ahead,” Powell’s lawyer, Elizabeth Payette, said in an email. Payette represented Duncan with William J. Lynch.
What were the allegations?
Powell, 23, who was living in Providence, was arrested following a disturbance at 1440 Plainfield Pike in Cranston at 2:44 a.m. on March 28. Powell allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend and her friends, and Cranston police were called, according to a WJAR report.
WJAR reported Powell's ex-girlfriend told police he had hit her earlier in the day, causing a bruise on her leg.
Powell’s time at PC
Powell played in 22 games with the Friars last season, with five starts, averaging 4.6 points and 3.0 rebounds, according to Journal reports. He arrived at Providence through the transfer portal for his graduate year in 2025-26 after stints at North Carolina A&T, Sacramento State and Georgia Tech.
Powell was brought in by former Friars coach Kim English in an effort to reverse the program's fortunes.
Powell missed five games early in the season after suffering what English described as a mouth injury. He returned wearing a protective mask for a victory over rival Rhode Island and played double-digit minutes in 15 of Providence's next 17 games. He enjoyed his best outing in a Jan. 16 win at home over Creighton, collecting 10 points and seven rebounds.
Powell was suspended for three games after his hard foul incited a melee in a 79-69 home loss to St. John's on Feb. 14. Powell made contact across the head of former Friars forward Bryce Hopkins early in the second half that was assessed as a Flagrant 2 foul. He was punished by both the NCAA and the Big East for what were described as "combative actions" during the fight.
Powell returned to fanfare for Providence's home finale, a 78-56 blowout against Marquette on March 4. He played a combined 13 minutes in that home loss and in a following defeat against Georgetown.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — World Cup tickets are expensive. Flights to North America are expensive. Hotel rooms in many places are expensive.
Then there's the price of beer.
There are some fun — and yes, sometimes pricey — food and drink offerings at the venues playing host to the World Cup. A $75 caviar-topped tray of tater tots and a $40 empanada weighing in at 5 pounds (2.2 kilograms) for the daring or for sharing in Miami. Rib-eye tacos for $8 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Something called a Twinkie cheeseburger that has nothing to do with dessert for $22 in Los Angeles.
Prices, in many cases, aren't all that different from what U.S. fans would experience on NFL Sundays or college football Saturdays. But some international fans aren't used to such pricing and are calling foul, especially over beer prices that can top $20.
“It's unfair. It's not right. It's wrong,” said Thomas Schüller, an engineer from Germany in Toronto to watch his national team play over the weekend, as he held a beer that cost him 24.25 Canadian dollars (about $17 or 15 euros). “It's three times the cost of what I pay in my country.”
But is that stopping him?
“Well, no,” Schüller acknowledged.
World Cup beer prices become a mild pint of discord
There is clearly some sticker shock among international visitors to this World Cup, especially when it comes to the concession prices. In Europe, it's not uncommon for beers to be perhaps around 4 or 5 euros (about $5-6 USD).
There's also no shortage of intrigue on the menu at the concession stands at stadiums across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
“Never seen anything like it,” said Janine Arbetter, a fan from Austria, as she waited for a hot dog, chips and soda combo in Miami last week. The pre-tip price: $19.35 (about 17 euros), which included a discount for using Visa. “It's a lot of food for a little snack.”
Some Argentina fans happily showed off their $34 lobster rolls from a match in Kansas City on social media, but in Toronto, the brisket sandwich with chips and a bottle of soda for nearly 40 Canadian dollars ($28) had some online commenters lamenting it as “robbery.”
“It's OK, more or less, for the World Cup,” German fan Daniel Feldmann said of the food prices while watching a match in Vancouver last week.
Concession offerings vary from stadium to stadium
FIFA, the sport's governing body and the tournament organizer, has very specific rules on just about everything related to the World Cup — and there are guidelines that concessionaires have to follow as well. But prices can vary by market, as do the food and drink offerings. And that means the experience in one city might look, or taste, nothing like what's offered in another.
The “Fancy AF Tots” for $75 at Miami Stadium aren't really tots at all — it's three deep-fried hash brown patties, with caviar, creme fraiche and chives. (For those who just want the caviar, it'll be $70.) Southern California's Twinkie cheeseburger is in fact a burger topped with a Texas Twinkie — a bacon-wrapped jalapeño stuffed with brisket and cream cheese.
But there's also a slew of choices specific to a local market; for example, Vancouver offers short rib poutine (an iconic Canadian dish of fries loaded with beef gravy, pulled short rib and cheese curds) along with a maple bacon smokie (smoked sausage topped with bacon onion jam that features Canadian maple syrup).
And in Miami, the signature offerings include pan con lechon (a Cuban-style sandwich with pork, infused with citrus mojo sauce and served on a toasted full Cuban loaf) and Empanada Mundial (the five-pound, handmade, chicken-and-cheese-stuffed dish named after the World Cup).
Both Vancouver and Miami have Sodexo Live as a food and beverage provider, and the typical game-day menus in both stadiums were revised a bit to accommodate a soccer crowd.
“We want it to feel like Miami when you’re here,” said Zach Williams, the stadium's vice president of operations. “Everything we do around the Miami Stadium, we want to make sure everybody understands that when they come here, they’re getting a Miami experience.”
Atlanta Stadium keeps prices low
In Mexico City, a beer could cost a day's pay — literally. The daily minimum wage in Mexico City is just 315.04 pesos (roughly $18). Some beers at Mexico City Stadium were selling for between 299 and 310 pesos — about twice as much as fans would ordinarily pay in the same stadium when the World Cup isn't in town.
But in Atlanta, where Falcons owner and stadium operator Arthur Blank promised the low concession prices he's championed for many years would hold for the World Cup, pizza slices were $3, 32-ounce sodas were $4, a cheeseburger was $5, chicken tenders with fries were $6 and beers could be had for as little as $8.
Jonathan Arango, a 33-year-old from Greenville, South Carolina, was at a match in Atlanta with his wife, daughter and father.
“In total for what we got — three orders of tacos, a slice of pizza, two waters and a Coke — we spent like $50,” Arango said. “Compared to what we’ve paid at other events ... it's nice after you paid a lot for a ticket.”
And Schüller pointed out that even though the tournament does come around every four years, it still feels like a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“The entire football world is having fun,” Schüller said, “so cheers to that.”
___
Associated Press journalists Tales Azzoni, Maura Carey, Andrew Dalton, Carlos Rodriguez, Alanis Thames, Stephen Whyno and Ben Kule contributed to this story from various World Cup venues. Kule is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.
Considered one of the most agressive strikers in
UFC heavyweight history, Rizzo spoke with Sherdog.com about the
co-main event of
UFC White House, when Pereira was knocked out by Ciryl Gane
in the second round.
Rizzo revealed that he tabbed “Poatan” as favorite before the
fight. In his opinion, the weight gain weight was not the problem
for Brazilian.
“The primary issue, in my opinion, was the loss of reach
advantage,” Rizzo said. “Alex is too tall for middleweights and
light heavyweights, and he lost that advantage at heavyweight.”
The finishing sequence made Rizzo recall another famous heavyweight
fight.
“Whenever I see a southpaw knocking down a right hander with a
counter jab, it reminds me of Fedor [Emelianenko’s] fight with
Matt
Mitrione, which, by the way, was a very similar move to this
one with ‘Poatan’ and in exactly the same circumstances: The right
hander not stepping outside and the southpaw's lead hand landing
first. Against a southpaw, the right hander always has to step
outside and get their head out of the line of the strike, otherwise
you're faced with a counter jab. I posted a video on my Instagram
comparing both finishes, and you can see that both Fedor and
‘Poatan’ did exactly the same.”
Dean Controversy
Regarding Pereira's complaints about illegal strikes, Rizzo
acknowledged that referee Herb Dean made
a mistake. However, he also recognized the complexity of the
situation, especially considering the speed of the action and the
fact that Gane’s initial strikes were legal.
“Undoubtedly there were some illegal strikes in the whole sequence,
but it's difficult to say that it influenced the final result of
the fight,” Rizzo said. “In a barrage of punches, if one lands on
the back of the neck it's difficult to stop, but if there were
more, Herb
Dean should have followed the rules and stopped, called
attention to the situation and restarted.”
Rebounding from Defeat
With the experience of having fought for the UFC heavyweight belt
on three occasions (once against Kevin
Randleman and twice against Randy
Couture) and having faced all the greatest heavyweight
grapplers of his generation, Rizzo believes “Poatan” has an
excellent opportunity to rebound.
“He arrived at an excellent time for his style, where most fighters
are strikers. In my time, I didn't have that freedom to impose my
stand-up game, since I faced the greatest generation of heavy
wrestlers and grapplers in UFC history,” Rizzo said. “I fought
Severn, Randleman, Coleman, Barnett, Couture twice. I still believe
that ‘Poatan’ is the greatest striker in MMA today. I would like to
see an immediate rematch. I still think that on a normal day he
will knock out Gane.”
FNB Stadium turned into a mini World Cup village Friday as fans filled the home of the Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, for a free watch party on the South Shore. Supporters in national team jerseys and Riverhounds gear packed into the stands to watch the match on the stadium videoboard, bringing global soccer culture to the banks of the Monongahela.
The event is part of a series of USA World Cup watch parties hosted by the Riverhounds and partners, designed to give Pittsburghers a stadium‑style experience even when the action is hundreds of miles away. Families, longtime soccer fans and casual viewers mixed on the concourse, creating a festival atmosphere with chants, flags and interactive soccer activities on the field.
Local tourism officials say nights like this are about more than fandom — they’re part of a broader push to cement Pittsburgh’s status as a sports destination that can turn big games into real visitor spending. Sports events supported by VisitPITTSBURGH have generated tons of business from the NFL Draft to this week’s World Cup parties. Watch parties help drive business to bars, restaurants and hotels clustered around Station Square and Downtown.
With Pittsburgh also hosting larger World Cup fan zones at Acrisure Stadium, the Riverhounds’ series of South Shore watch parties show how the city is using global soccer to boost its economy — and bring thousands of fans together under one skyline.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
Soccer fans have another reason to pull for Team USA to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy; it could win someone a brand‑new Jeep.
You only need to be named after one of America's Founding Fathers for a chance to win this promotion.
Team USA will next face Türkiye in the knockout stage. The USA–Türkiye match is scheduled for 10 p.m. on Thursday, June 25.
Here’s what you need to know and do for a chance to win a Jeep if Team USA wins the World Cup.
Named George Washington? How this World Cup promo works
Beyond the U.S. actually winning the World Cup, there are several other caveats.
To have a chance at the Jeep, according to Road & Track, you need to be a U.S. resident over 18 and legally named George Washington
It appears that having a middle name — something like George Hamilton Washington — wouldn’t disqualify you from entry
The Detroit Free Press noted that this promo is likely to be a safe bet for Jeep parent company Stellantis, given that Team USA has never won the World Cup.
According to the Jeep Wrangler for Washingtons Giveaway terms and conditions, only the first 100 George Washingtons to register with Jeep will qualify for the prize.
Named George Washington? How to Register for Jeep’s World Cup Promo
To even get in line, you have to be a U.S. resident legally named George Washington and sign up at www.WranglerForWashingtons.com during the tournament window.
Jeep says it will verify entries against government ID, and only the first 100 eligible George Washingtons who register are actually in the running for a free Wrangler if the U.S. wins. Registration stays open through the World Cup final, but once that 100‑person cap is hit, latecomers are out of luck.
Named George Washington? Here’s the Jeep you’d actually receive
Jeep isn’t promising a tricked‑out rock crawler here, but you will get a model with its trademark off‑road capability and build quality.
The prize is a 2026 Jeep Wrangler two‑door in an entry‑level Sport trim, with standard features and no fancy upgrades baked in.
Winners who want extras like premium audio or more off‑road hardware would have to pay to add them.
As is, the Jeep included in this sweepstakes — a 2026 Wrangler Sport/Sport S — costs roughly $35,000 to $40,000, depending on trim and equipment.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending, breaking and service-related topics across the Mid-Atlantic region for the USA Today Network.
LONDON (AP) — Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was suspended for four years on Monday for refusing an anti-doping test — even though the Czech player cited “mental stress” and fear when the testing agent “rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency made the announcement, saying that Vondrousova refused a test in December, and that the decision was reached by an independent tribunal.
Vondrousova, who won Wimbledon in 2023, reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 that year.
The 26-year-old Vondrousova detailed her reaction to the missed test in an Instagram post in April.
“It is very tough for me to talk about this, but I want to be transparent with you about my mental health,” Vondrousova said. “The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.”
Vondrousova becomes the latest high-profile tennis player involved in a doping case after Jannik Sinner, Iga Swiatek and Simona Halep.
Vondrousova’s ban expires June 21, 2030. She can appeal the decision to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The defending World Cup champions are back in action on Monday, looking to secure a spot in the 2026 tournament’s knockout rounds during another packed day of matches being broadcast on Boston 25 News.
Argentina and Lionel Messi take the spotlight as they face Austria at 1 p.m., with a chance to lock up a place in the Round of 32.
Germany have lost a key ball-playing defender just as their World Cup path begins to open up.
Nico Schlotterbeck’s tournament is over after only two group games.
Julian Nagelsmann knows the impact goes beyond replacing a name on the team sheet.
Germany lose Nico Schlotterbeck after World Cup breakout
The DFB confirmed that Schlotterbeck will miss the rest of the competition after suffering medial ligament damage to his left ankle during Germany’s 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast in Toronto.
Coach Nagelsmann addressed the loss of a key contributor in the middle of their World Cup campaign.
“We will miss Schlotti a lot on the pitch as an outstanding defender, especially his excellent playmaking. This could have been his World Cup… We all tried to cheer him up yesterday, luckily, he’s a very positive guy who’s already looking ahead. It’s a good sign that he’s staying with the team for now, because he also has an influence off the pitch. Despite his absence, we are still very well equipped at centre-back for the World Cup with Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rüdiger, Waldemar Anton and Malick Thiaw.”
That line about this being his World Cup did not feel exaggerated. Schlotterbeck started both of Germany’s first two Group E games, played the full 90 minutes in the 7-1 win over Curacao, and scored the goal that put Germany back ahead after Curacao had briefly stunned them.
His impact was not limited to the header. Match data credited him with 74 completed passes from 82 attempts against Curacao, then another 36 passes in only 45 minutes against the Ivory Coast before Antonio Rudiger replaced him at half-time.
Photo by Indrawan Kumala/NurPhoto via Getty Images
That is the playmaking Nagelsmann will miss. Schlotterbeck gave Germany a left-footed release valve, a vertical passer, and a defender comfortable stepping through pressure.
Nico Schlotterbeck replacements give Germany a depth test
Germany still have senior options, starting with Rudiger, who came on against the Ivory Coast.
His pace, physicality, and big-game edge make him the safest choice to partner with Jonathan Tah when the knockout games start.
Tah should remain the anchor. Waldemar Anton offers reliability, aerial strength, and familiarity with Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund, while Malick Thiaw gives Germany another athletic center-back profile from the bench.
The harder part is balance. None of those options gives Germany the same left-footed progression, which may force more build-up responsibility onto Joshua Kimmich, Nathaniel Brown, Florian Wirtz, and the midfield pivot.
Germany has already won Group E and reached the Round of 32, with Ecuador still to come before a knockout match against a third-place team in Boston.
Schlotterbeck’s absence might impact them, especially in the knockout stages against high-level opponents who can press Germany’s build-up and make them miss the defender who had looked ready for a defining summer.
Mar 24, 2025; Storrs, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma watches from the sideline as they take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
ESPN is bringing out the big guns for a marquee WNBA broadcast in July, as legendary UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma partners with broadcasting icon Robin Roberts for the call.
The two will be in New York as the Dallas Wings travel to take on the Liberty on Tuesday, July 7 at 8 p.m. ET, a game that will feature several former Huskies coached by Auriemma.
Tuesday, July 7, @RobinRoberts & Geno Auriemma will reunite 30 seasons after calling ESPN’s 1st-ever #WNBA game
The legendary duo join @bethmowins for a special one-night-only broadcast celebrating the @WNBA’s landmark 30th season
Both Auriemma and Roberts had a hand in the early days of WNBA television coverage, though Roberts has since moved on to a hosting role on ABC’s Good Morning America and focuses less on sports. With the proximity of UConn’s campus to ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol, Auriemma has long held a relationship with the Worldwide Leader.
The throwback broadcast will come on a game starring three former No. 1 draft picks from UConn: Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd from the Wings, and Breanna Stewart of the Liberty.
The game will also be Auriemma’s first time back in the media spotlight since an altercation with rival coach Dawn Staley during the NCAA women’s Final Four in Phoenix this past spring. Auriemma confronted Staley near the end of a loss to her South Carolina Gamecocks over a seeming disagreement over pregame handshake protocol, then doubled down in blaming Staley, before ultimately apologizing and acknowledging he had created a distraction for the sport.
A recurring return to ESPN may be unlikely for Auriemma, but his wisdom and perspective will be fascinating to hear next to Roberts for this mid-season game.
Wyndham Clark joins elite company with his second U.S. Open title, becoming the 24th player in tournament history to lift the trophy at least two times. Even more impressive, he became just the eighth U.S. Open winner to go wire-to-wire with the outright lead after every round at Shinnecock—joining Martin Kaymer (2014), Rory McIlroy (2011), Tiger Woods (2000, 2001), Tony Jacklin (1970), Ben Hogan (1953), Jim Barnes (1921) and Walter Hagen (1914).
The 32-year-old is a complicated figure, but you might not know everything about him. Below are a few important details about the 2026 U.S. Open champion.
He was just 3 when his mother took him to the driving range for the first time.
Wyndham was smitten immediately—asking his mom to buy him a second bucket.
As a 9-year-old, his parents joined nearby Cherry Hills Country Club, site of many great major events, such as the 1938, 1960, 1978 U.S. Open and 1941 and 1985 PGA Championships.
Said Clark in a 2019 piece in Golf Digest: “That’s when I really fell in love with golf. I’d be there from sunup to sundown.”
Clark played high school basketball, making the varsity team as a freshman. Among his teammates was star NFL running back Christian McCaffrey.
More than half of Clark’s teammates at Valor Christian in Highlands Ranch, Colo., went on to play Division I sports.
Clark’s father, Randall, was a professional tennis player.
Clark's father in a competition in 1971. (Credit: Getty Images)
Denver Post
His career was cut short due to injuries. “My dad never talked much about his tennis career,” Clark said. “I know there were injuries and disappointment—but he said I had a gift that would be wasted if I didn’t put in the work.
His mother, Lise, was crowned as Miss New Mexico in 1981 in the Miss America pageant.
According to a 2014 profile in Golfweek, Wyndham recalled how sometimes she would “innocently namedrop while telling a story about, say, playing backgammon with Bill Cosby.”
Following a 14-year battle with cancer, Lise died in 2013 after a stage-3 breast cancer diagnosis before Wyndham’s sophomore year in college.
He was contending at the Western Amateur when his aunt called him to deliver the news that his mother’s health had turned for the worse. He withdrew to be with his mother, who died 20 hours later.
Clark was a standout at Oklahoma State, earning Big 12 Player of the Year honors as a freshman but struggled to keep focus in the following two seasons.
“When I returned to Oklahoma State University that fall, I continued to play solid golf, tried to stay strong, but that spring the grief boiled over,” he said. “It hit me that I couldn’t call my mom anymore. Life off the course became hard, and I figured, Why have an outlet that adds to my emotional frustration?”
Needing a change of scenery, Clark transferred to the University of Oregon for his final season in 2017.
Kevin C. Cox
"I didn't coach him," Oregon men’s golf coach Casey Martin says. "Wyndham knew more about golf than me. His talent was off the charts, and the only issue was getting him to recognize that.”
Clark says he was drawn to Martin in which he thought would translate to his emotional state: “[He] had gone through so much adversity with his leg in his playing career, I thought he’d be a good mentor in resilience.”
One of the assistant coaches at the University of Oregon, John Ellis, left the program to caddie for Wyndham, though they parted ways earlier in 2026.
David Cannon
"Immediately it was clear John had a way with Wyndham, always teasing without being heavy,” Martin told Golf Digest's Max Adler. “John would say stuff like, 'I need a psychology degree if I'm going to deal with Wyndham,' and the whole team would laugh together."
Ellis turned down offers from top-20 players to stay with Clark even through some rough patches. But the duo split earlier in 2026. Clark's new caddie, David Pelekoudas, has caddied for Taylor Moore, Sam Ryder, Brian Campbell and Beau Hossler, among other players.
It was a slow start to Clark's professional career. He earned his PGA Tour card for 2019 after one year on the Korn Ferry Tour and made just $2.5 million in his first six years on tour.
Of course, he went on a big-time run in 2023, winning a signature event at Quail Hollow then following it up with his first U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club. After his 2026 U.S. Open win, he's now made over $38 million in on-course earnings.
A lot of the negative reaction from the crowds at Shinnecock Hills stems from his incident at the 2025 U.S. Open, when photos surfaced of him smashing a locker in the historic Oakmont Country Club locker room.
Golfweek's Adam Schupak spoke with long-time Oakmont club pro Bob Ford, who serves as the first-tee announcer at the U.S. Open. Ford told Schupak: “You may have heard a lot of stories. I will give you the facts. Wyndham has done everything that was asked of him by both the USGA and Oakmont together. The lockers are fixed and he did pay for them.”
Clark has addressed the situation a few times since Oakmont and discussed the situation during the week at Shinnecock.
"I've gotten a lot of grief since last year, rightfully so. The thing that's unfortunate is that's not who I am, what happened last year. I'm hoping I can win back the fans that I had or some new fans because it was a terrible incident."
Clark also made an interesting comment while mic'd up during the Par-3 Contest at this year's Masters, making a joke that watching all the parents chase around their kids was 'great birth control.'
Clark has given a lot of credit to his work with sport psychologist Julie Elion, who Clark started working with at the end of 2022.
Julie Elion (right) has worked with a number of major champions, including Phil Mickelson back in 2012.
Scott Halleran
Jimmy Walker, 2016 PGA champion, also credited Elion for his breakthrough major victory, and Elion has worked with Phil Mickelson, among other major winners.
“He’s got so many tools in his toolbox,” Rob Mougey, Clark’s agent, told Golfweek. “He’s embraced the mental side of the game. He’s all in with her and it’s a significant reason for the success he’s had this year.”
More From Golf Digest Instruction Wyndham Clark's common sense golf swing approach can teach us a lot Similar to his form before the 2023 U.S. Open, Clark had gone on a tear over his past three events—winning the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, finishing third at the Memorial and an 11th at the Canadian Open, gaining over 40 strokes on the field in those three events alone.
A lot of credit goes to his putter, which he used to gain over 12 strokes/putting in his win at TPC Craig Ranch. He switched to the putter, a Ping Scottsdale Tec Ally Blue Onset mallet, at the Masters this year.
The Atlanta Hawks have made a trade ahead of this week’s NBA Draft and re-signed a key player from their 2025-26 season.
ESPN reports the Hawks signed CJ McCollum to a 1-year, $21 million deal to keep him out of free agency. ESPN also reports Atlanta has acquired Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins in exchange for two future second-round picks in 2030 and 2032.
The Hawks traded for McCollum as part of their deal that sent former star Trae Young to Washington. McCollum made an immediate impact for the Hawks, averaging 18.7 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Wiggins, a guard drafted out of Maryland in 2021, has played his whole career with Oklahoma City.
He has averaged 8.7 points and 3.2 rebounds per game in five seasons and won the 2025 NBA Finals with the Thunder.
The Hawks have not officially announced either move. General Manager Onsi Salah will hold a pre-NBA Draft media availability on Monday.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Mohamed Salah dragged Egypt to history on Sunday — and he was in no mood to let the moment pass quietly.
His side came from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 at BC Place in Vancouver, claiming their first-ever win at a World Cup. Egypt had reached the tournament in 1934, 1990 and 2018 without ever taking three points. Salah ended that wait, scoring one goal and setting up another to turn the game around.
When the final whistle blew, the celebrations poured out of the stadium and onto the streets of Vancouver, with Salah right in the thick of it.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Mohamed Salah delivers on the biggest stage for Egypt
The game itself did not start well. Finn Surman headed New Zealand in front in the 15th minute, and Egypt went in behind at the break for the first time in their World Cup history.
Mostafa Zico levelled with a header just before the hour. Then came Salah. The 34-year-old swept home a low finish in the 67th minute to put Egypt ahead for the first time.
His corner from the left then found substitute Trezeguet, who forced in the third with eight minutes left. One goal, one assist, a fitting way for the captain to lead Egypt to a result they had chased for 92 years.
And the party did not stop at full time. Footage posted to X by The Anfield Wrap showed Salah in the thick of it, lifted onto the shoulders of Egypt supporters, dancing as the celebrations spilled out of BC Place and into the city streets.
The win does not seal qualification just yet. But four points from two games leaves the Pharaohs top of Group G, with a final match against Iran to come on Friday.
For Salah and Egypt, the goal will be to keep the celebrations going for a few more weeks.
Stebelton, who owns Stebelton Music & Vending, received the organization’s Meritorious Service Award during the 46th Annual VNEA World Pool Championships held May 21–30 at the Westgate Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to a community announcement.
The recognition is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the international pool league organization.
Stebelton’s connection to the industry began when he was a teenager in Lancaster, where an interest in electronics and a broken jukebox led to early experience repairing coin-operated equipment. As a high school senior in 1980, he repaired and placed his first pinball machine on location.
He expanded into pool tables a few years later, purchasing his first table in 1984 and transporting it himself with a borrowed dolly because he did not yet own one, according to the announcement.
Long history in Ohio leagues and trade group
That same year, Stebelton joined the Ohio Music and Amusement Association — now known as the Ohio Coin Machine Association — after being encouraged by an experienced operator he met while working with machines in Columbus. He was later elected to the group’s board.
In 1990, he launched his first VNEA pool league with six teams, marking the start of decades of involvement with league play.
Stebelton went on to serve two terms as president of the Ohio Coin Machine Association, first from 1996 to 1998 and again in a term concluding this summer. He also managed the organization’s state pool and dart tournaments.
He previously received the association’s Meritorious Service Award in 2022.
Acceptance remarks highlight mentors and family
During the ceremony in Las Vegas, Stebelton reflected on his early career and the people who influenced his path into the industry.
“In 1984, I bought my first pool table. At the time I had only an S10 pickup truck and didn’t even own a pool table dolly. I borrowed a dolly from an old-time operator I had met when tinkering with games and jukeboxes in Columbus, Ohio. He convinced me to join the Ohio Music and Amusement Association," Stebelton said. "After meeting other operators on the board … and hearing about the VNEA league program, I decided to join VNEA. I started in my first league in 1990 with six teams."
He ended his remarks by thanking colleagues, fellow operators and members of the VNEA board, along with his wife of 41 years, Pam, who he said has stood by him through the whole process.
About the organization and business
The Valley National 8-Ball Association was founded in 1979 to promote pool played on coin-operated equipment. The nonprofit has grown from about 2,500 members in its first season to nearly 100,000 sanctioned players competing across more than 30 states, six Canadian provinces and seven other countries, according to the announcement.
Stebelton Music & Vending is a family-owned business based in Lancaster that operates coin-operated amusement machines, vending equipment, and pool and dart leagues. The company is run by Stebelton alongside his sons, Alex and Sam.
This story was created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
The Disney-owned sports network has launched ESPN Fan House, a “fan-centric engagement hub” that will “connect fans more deeply with ESPN’s coverage of college sports, brands and moments” ahead of the 2026 season.
The hub, powered by Flowcode, is being framed as an interactive space existing across live and digital environments. Features such as live polls, trivia, sweepstakes, merchandise and brand integrations will be offered to fans at home, at on-site events and via social media.
Disney is pushing ESPN Fan House as a boon of advertisers, with Publicis Sports the first agency signed up to pilot the initiative with Disney Advertising. The hub will provide access to “a new class of participation-based sponsorship,” deliver “exclusive offers and rewards” through a digital wallet, offer sponsorship integrations and extend branded sponsorship from the platform into the ESPN app.
“As fans increasingly expect connected experiences, we’re creating new ways to bring them closer to the moments they care about most,” said Rita Ferro, President, Global Advertising at Disney. “The scale and frequency of college football creates an unmatched platform for sustained fan connections — each game week is a new opportunity to deepen that relationship. ESPN Fan House gives fans more ways to engage with ESPN while giving brands a direct connection to those moments.”
“Live sports are among the very few things that remain AI-proof, and fans are craving deeper connections to the moments that matter,” added Suzy Deering, CEO, Publicis Sports. “Having a solution like ESPN Fan House helps brands reach fans in those moments and provides an opportunity for deeper engagement, impact and measurement. When combined with our extensive portfolio of solutions and insights from our unique fan graph, it enables us to better help our clients grow fan engagement and maximize their sports investments.”
ESPN Fan House is expected to launch in August with college football.
Monday's slate brings more World Cup action following Spain's dominant 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia, a tremendous bounce back from last week's 0-0 draw over Cape Verde.
18-year-old forward Lamine Yamal banked in a goal just 10 minutes into last night's matchup, giving Spain an early 1-0 lead that grew from there as Mikel Oyarzabal scored a team-best two goals in the 21st and 24th minute.
Even as Saudi Arabia made five saves to Spain's one, an own goal by center-back Hassan Al-Tambakti laid the final nail in the coffin during stoppage time at the end of the first half.
On the other hand, Uruguay settled with their second-consecutive draw of the tournament--this time against Cape Verde, 2-2. Cape Verdean midfielder Kevin Pina set the tempo in the 21st minute, scoring the first goal of the game.
Maxi Araújo and Agustín Canobbio stormed back with goals of their own to give Uruguay the lead, however, Cape Verde's Hélio Varela refused to give in as he banked in the equalizer during the 61st minute.
Rundown: Star forward Kylian Mbappé will look to build off a solid two-goal performance last week against Senegal going into today's matchup against Iraq.
Mbappé has been on a tear all year, having scored 25 goals while logging five assists for Real Madrid. Additionally, France has other reliable weapons at their arsenal like 23-year-old Bradley Barcola, who scored the team's third goal of last week's matchup. Moreover, Michael Olise and Adrien Rabiot's one assist each have been crucial to the flow of the team's high-octane offense.
Meanwhile, Iraq surrendered four goals in their loss to Norway last Tuesday, demonstrating massive vulnerability on defense. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland set the tempo with back-to-back second-half goals while Leo Østigard followed in the 76th minute. Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein prevented the shutout with a goal in the 39th minute, but also added to an already troubling night for his team as he scored an own goal during the final stoppage time.
Given Mbappé's ability to consistently deliver in the bright lights, bettors can expect another electric showing from France.
Second Pick: Argentina ML (-200) Over Austria
Rundown: Lionel Messi showed that that even at age 38, he is not done just yet after he recorded his first-ever hat World Cup hat trick last Monday against Algeria.
In addition to shining in international play, Messi demonstrated he can still hang during the MLS season with 84 shots, including 34 on-target for Inter Miami. Moreover, Argentina has complimented defensively with a shutout performance that limited Algeria to just seven shots and one on-goal.
Austria has momentum on their side as well following a commanding 3-1 win over Jordan, which was their first World Cup victory in 36 years. Romano Schmid made a statement in the 21st minute with a goal to open scoring. An own goal by Jordan's Yazan Al-Arab added to the lead and paved the way for Marko Arnautović to score his team's third goal of the game at the end of the final stoppage time.
With Messi having his sights set on back-to-back World Cup championships, anticipate him and Argentina to handle business once again.
Tyler Kolek‘schampionship parade took a turn when police stopped him on the route. The Knicks guard had to explain he was part of the team. The New York Knicks’ championship parade delivered plenty of memorable scenes, but one of the most talked-about moments involved a case of mistaken identity.
NYPD accidentally stops Knicks’ Tyler Kolek after mistaking him for a fan at parade
A video shared on social media showed Kolek jogging along the parade route and greeting supporters. He stopped to high-five fans and soak in the atmosphere before a pair of NYPD officers stepped in and appeared to direct him away. The officers seemed to think he was an unauthorized fan who had entered the route.
The situation quickly became awkward. Footage showed Kolek explaining that he was actually a member of the Knicks roster. ESPN reporter Kimberley A. Martin posted the clip online and wrote, “Cops mistook Tyler Kolek for a fan.”
Fortunately, Kolek appeared to find the whole thing funny. After the clip went viral, he posted, “I swear I’m on the team bro,” followed by laughing emojis. Rather than showing frustration, the 25-year-old guard leaned into the joke and made the moment more popular and hilarious among fans online.
The parade itself was packed with headline-making moments. Singer Alicia Keys battled technical issues before performing in front of City Hall, while celebrity Knicks supporters, including Ben Stiller, Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, Taylor Swift, and Adam Sandler, joined in celebrating the historic championship run (via EW).
Kolek arrived in New York in 2024 after turning heads with an impressive run at Marquette. During the Knicks’ title-winning season, he mainly provided depth at point guard. He also saw action in eight games. Kolek may not have been the biggest name on the roster, but thanks to that hilarious parade mix-up, he unexpectedly became one of the stars of the celebration.
Wyndham Clark celebrates a birdie on the 16th hole during the final round of the U.S. Open.Getty Images
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Wyndham Clark joined the two-timers club on Sunday night. Among active players, there are now three with two U.S. Open wins: Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and the new guy, crowned here at Shinnecock Hills on a gorgeous night when the light was blah-blah-blah. Nobody cares.
Yes, all three are very similar golfers, immensely strong players through the chest, able to make huge upper-body turns against tree-trunk-stable lower bodies. All three are able to kill par-5s and long par-4s with fade drives followed by fade irons to middle and right pins. Aaron Rai these guys are not. Not in any way.
Few would describe these three players as lovable. (Except, of course, by those who love them — they would.) And none of them is afraid to play the villain role. Not at all. Clark won his first Open over Rickie Fowler. (How dare you!) Koepka won his second U.S. Open over Tommy Fleetwood. (How could you?) DeChambeau won his second over Rory McIlroy. (Why, the nerve!) All three are bro golfers in an age of bro everything in golf: bro fans, bro caddies, bro creators, bro players. Please don’t read that as playahs. So not cool.
Li’l Corey Pavin won his lone U.S. Open here in 1995, hitting a 4-wood into 18 on Sunday. It was not possible for him to win another one. He didn’t know it. Nobody could. But his win marked the end of an era.
Tiger Woods turned pro in 1996, Bill Coore and Tom Doak and Gil Hanse became famous for a less-is-more approach to their design-and-reno work right about then, the USGA fell in love with wide open spaces — and nothing has been the same.
The stage was set for Woods, who won his Opens at Pebble Beach in 2000, at Bethpage Black in 2002 and at Torrey Pines in 2008. In the middle of the Woods era, Retief Goosen — a monstah, in his own unassuming way — won his two U.S. Opens, at Southern Hills in 2001 and at Shinnecock Hills in 2004. He cleared the stage for Koepka, who won at Erin Hills in 2017 and Shinnecock Hills one year later. For DeChambeau, who won at Winged Foot in 2020 and Pinehurst in 2024. And for Clark, who won at the Los Angeles Country Club in 2023 and here on Sunday night, amid the familiar and ancient sound of a diesel commuter train whistling in the—
Dude — nobody cares!
So far, there have been more courses cited in this report than there are trees on any of the courses mentioned here.
Part of what made the 126th U.S. Open, and the sixth at Shinnecock Hills, sort of anti-climactic is that Clark’s scores got progressively worse: 64 and 69 (catching the better sides of the weather on Thursday morning and Friday afternoon), followed by an even-par 70 on Saturday and a Sunday 73. That’s kind of weird, right? You’re wondering: Has that ever even happened before?
Yep.
In 2023, when Wyndham Clark won the U.S. Open with scores of 64, 67, 69 and 70.
Maybe you were rooting for Rickie Fowler that weekend. Or Rory McIlroy. Well, Wyndham Clark did not care. (And why should he?)
Bryson and Brooks went to LIV. Maybe you were appalled, these two Herculean golfers turning their backs on the institutions (the USGA, the PGA Tour) that made their lives possible, splitting the scene in the name of… Saudi oil money! These bash brothers did not care.
Let’s not even get into Wyndham Clark’s initial response to the Oakmont thing because nobody (understandably) wants to get into that whole thing again, but it is fair to say that it took Clark a while to realize it was kind of a thing, and it did have legs.
On Sunday afternoon at Shinnecock Hills, here on the South Fork of the Eastern End of Long Island, thousands of well-mannered and appropriate fans, to say nothing of the men at work between the rope lines, were subjected to the most boorish fan behavior on display since … last year’s Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in Bethpage, another stop on the Long Island Rail Road. That event was almost ruined by a small number of overserved fanboys and Sunday’s U.S. Open finale could have suffered a similar fate.
Clark became Public Enemy No. 1, among a modest number of way-too-loud and singularly obnoxious fans at this famously genteel club. They were all lathered up for one reason above all others. Clark was playing in the day’s last twosome with Scottie Scheffler on a day when Scheffler, in victory, could have become the seventh player to win the career Grand Slam. It was also Father’s Day, and Scheffler is the father of two, and his 30th birthday. So a lot going on.
Clark had to play through a chorus of repulsive so-not-golf commentary that included “It’s yours to lose” (Clark had a six-shot lead through three rounds) and “Get in the pond!” at a course that has no water at all except in chic Dasani cans. You could make the case that all of this comes out of the decision to play U.S. Opens with no trees, the 460cc driver and the aspirational themes underlying “Entourage” and “Billions” and “Neighbors and Friends,” all of which loved to use ye olde game.
When Clark played the 18th hole with Sunday night closing in, the leader in the house was Scheffler’s close friend Sam Burns. Burns was at three under and Clark at four. When Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader at last year’s U.S. Open at Oakmont, blew up in the last round (78), Scheffler was in pain for him. They’ve logged hundreds of rounds together over the past 15 years. Scheffler of course knew that Clark was one bogey away from a playoff with his close friend. And Scheffler revealed… absolutely nothing about his rooting interests. He’s a golfer. He knows how golfers are supposed to behave. He congratulated Clark and Clark’s caddie, David Pelekoudas. He made the media rounds. He told reporters this:
“Being in the arena is not for everybody, and I think it shows a lot about Wyndham, how he handled not only this golf course but the crowd today as well. He is a deserving champion.”
That is a perfect statement. That is the underlying spirit of golf. But statements don’t win U.S. Opens. Wyndham Clark won this 126th U.S. Open with a 345-yard tee shot on the par-4 10th, the most beautifully flighted 60-yard wedge a golfer can play into a wildly sloped green, and a nothing-but-net slicing 4-footer. His ship had been listing. He righted it. That’s not bro golf or modern golf or get-lucky golf. It’s getting-it-done golf. He’s done it twice now. He earned his place in the club.
Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com
After several weeks of captivating events, ONE Championship is finishing the month with two of its biggest spectacles.
The world’s largest martial arts organization will broadcast The Inner Circle 20 and ONE Friday Fights 160 live in Asia primetime to over 195 countries around the globe on Friday, June 26.
First, viewers can watch The Inner Circle 20 exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. ICT.
Then, viewers can watch ONE Friday Fights 160 live via ONE Championship’s global broadcast partners at 8:30 p.m. ICT. The show can also be viewed on ONE Championship’s YouTube channel, ONE Championship’s Facebook page, and watch.onefc.com.*
To view your local listings and start times by region, check below.
Watch The Inner Circle 20 exclusively on live.onefc.com beginning at 6:30 p.m. ICT.
Watch ONE Friday Fights 160 – called ONE Lumpinee 160 in Thailand – live on Channel 7 HD or online via Channel 7, TERO Entertainment, and ONE Championship’s social networks at 8:30 p.m. ICT.
Jun 16, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Tony Vitello (23) in the dugout during a delay in the game against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Truist Park. Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Giants lost to the Marlins on Sunday, but it was the reaction by one of his players that made headlines.
Things have not gone well in San Francisco in year one for Tony Vitello. The former Tennessee Vols head coach has not been immune from some growing pains as the Giants have slumped to fourth in the NL West at 31-46.
Naturally, as Vitello was already an eyebrow-raising hire for some, barbs are quick to fly when an outside-of-the-box hire doesn’t deliver quickly, and the ex-Vols coach is no exception. The grumblings from fans has risen to the surface on social media, and the criticism won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
But in a viral moment that took place Sunday afternoon in Miami, Vitello was nowhere in the wrong.
In the top of the ninth, with the Giants down 2-1, Rafael Devers earned a leadoff walk. Vitello called for pinch runner Jonah Cox to replace Devers. The latter waved off Cox and initially refused to leave. Afterwards, he was visibly frustrated. Miami went on to win 2-1.
Rafael Devers didn't want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M
“He signaled over to us that he’s good to run,” Vitello said. “We DH’d him the first game after the day off just because from running, from baserunning, a little bit of soreness in his leg, but he’s good to go. So, a part of that, and a part of it, too, you know how competitive he is. He wants to stay in the game.
“Yeah, I didn’t see where he went afterwards, but once we announce the move, the move is made, so just going with what our best effort is to win the game. Obviously, you’d like to get Jonah to go get a bag. He’s relatively quick to the plate. But on a double, going with our best chance to be able to score.
“No, we’re good. We talk every day. I’d rather have guys like Webbie (Logan Webb), you’ve got to rip them off the field as opposed to vice versa.”
The decision was clearly the right one, and despite the Giants’ issues, Vitello doesn’t deserve any blame here
I can’t believe this needs to be said, but Vitello was 100% in the right here with the decision. Let’s make that clear. Getting a faster running on base who can swipe a bag as the tying run was the obvious play there in the ninth.
And not much should be read into the reaction of Devers towards Vitello. It’s no different that what we see from a number of star players across the league who are unhappy with their managers/coaches in a given situation. It’s not uncommon, and players move on to the next game.
Vitello has done plenty wrong in his rookie season in the bigs. But to be clear, he did nothing wrong here. And that benefit of the doubt should be afforded to him in this spot.
Jeremy Doku’s plan to leave Belgium’s World Cup camp for the birth of his first child has turned into one of the tournament’s sharpest family-versus-football debates.
The Manchester City winger is preparing for fatherhood while Belgium are still trying to steady themselves in the group stage.
Then a French reporter’s criticism pushed the argument far beyond tactics.
Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Jeremy Doku World Cup baby plan sparks France Pierron backlash
A Football Tweet post shared France Pierron’s reaction to Doku potentially leaving camp if his wife, Shireen, gives birth during the tournament.
Pierron asked: “Are you seriously telling me these players have sacrificed everything to come to the World Cup, and you’re leaving just to cut an umbilical cord?”
She continued: “You’re lucky enough to play in a World Cup. It’s an incredible privilege, and hundreds of footballers would do anything to be in your position. That opportunity might never come around again in your life.”
Pierron added: “And you’re going to throw it all away just to attend your child’s birth?”
The backlash was swift, with fans labeling her a “Karen” and accusing her of reducing a once-in-a-lifetime family moment to a sporting inconvenience. Pierron later apologized, saying she did not intend to minimize the role of fathers.
Doku receives support as Belgium World Cup pressure grows
Many fans sided firmly with Doku. One wrote: “I’m on the side of being there for your child’s birth. The World Cup is huge. The birth of your child is bigger.”
Another questioned the outrage: “I don’t get why these reporters think they have a say on a footballers personal life.”
A harsher reaction said: “Who the hell is this Karen? The birth of his child only comes once in a life time. Prioritising a World Cup over your child’s birth? That’s not dedication, that’s just being a deadbeat with better PR. Doku’s right. Real men show up.”
One fan added: “This coming from a woman baffles me even more. Indeed a woman’s greatest enemy is her fellow woman 🙌”
Another summed up the emotional argument: “Someone needs to sit her down and explain to her like a 5 year old what MOMENTS mean in a person’s life.“
Doku’s child is due in the second week of July. He played 86 minutes in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt, then missed the Iran match through illness.
Former Olympic boxing champion Brahim Asloum also backed the family-first view, making clear this debate is no longer only about football.
Tour Confidential: Unpacking Wyndham Clark's wire-to-wire U.S. Open win at ShinnecockGOLF Editors
Check in every week for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport, and join the conversation by tweeting us at @golf_com. This week, we discuss Wyndham Clark’s U.S. Open win, the week at Shinnecock and more.
Wyndham Clark won the 126th U.S. Open, taking a commanding six-stroke lead into the final round and ultimately besting Sam Burns by one stroke at Shinnecock Hills. How did Wyndham run away from the field so easily the first three days and then hang on, even when it looked grim, on Sunday?
Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Clark’s putting was deadly all week. But in those opening rounds, he himself said that the driver was key, that when the big stick is going well, he’s tough to beat. It probably helped that Shinnecock, like Los Angeles CC before it, was set up with wide fairways. Clark found a lot of short grass in those opening rounds. And then, when his tee-to-green game got sloppy in the closing rounds, his putter remained en fuego.
Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): He had a red-hot putter, got some fortunate breaks when he hit it astray, and hit some seriously impressive shots when things got tight. Winning wire-to-wire is always impressive, but to do it in U.S. Open conditions at Shinnecock is on another level.
Josh Schrock, associate news editor (@schrock_and_awe): He took advantage of the good end of the wind draw on Thursday, and did the same late Saturday when it died down. He built his lead that way and then leaned on a ridiculously clutch putter to bail him out when needed. To win a U.S. Open, especially wire-to-wire at Shinnecock, you’re going to need everything working in your favor; that includes making a number of par and bogey saves. Wyndham did just enough to keep the train on the tracks on Sunday and get it in the house.
Due to some past unsavory headlines — a rules controversy, club-throwing incident and damaging an Oakmont locker — Clark has had to work to reshape his image. Although some argue lots of golfers have tempers. Do you think the criticism of Clark is fair? And will this help turn it around?
Sens: It’s one thing to have a temper. It’s another to trash someone else’s property. Clark earned his reputation. He acted like a toddler on more than one occasion. But this week, he said and did all the right things, and he was gritty as all get out when it mattered. Sports fans like that, and I’m sure Clark earned some admirers along the way. Whether he’s actually changed, who knows? But since when has the American public ever demanded that its celebrities/athletes actually be the people they present themselves to be?
Melton: The criticisms after locker-gate are definitely fair, especially considering his lack of accountability and passive apologies. But in the world of sports, winning cures everything, and adding another trophy to his resume won’t hurt.
Schrock: How do we define fair? Sports and sports fans, by and large, are not rational or fair. Golf has lacked villains since most of them left for LIV, and if Clark can somewhat fill that void, then that’s good for the sport. It wasn’t just about him smashing a locker or almost hitting a volunteer with a driver at the PGA or mashing the grass down behind the ball at the API. It’s all of it. The fans went a little overboard cheering against him Sunday. But fans don’t like runaway winners, for the most part. They either want drama or a massive win from a superstar. Add in Clark’s transgressions, and you get a guy who isn’t exactly a fan favorite and a New York crowd that will try and will a train wreck into existence. Will a wire-to-wire win at Shinnecock help change that? Does it really matter? Probably not.
Scottie Scheffler, who turned 30 on Sunday, came up short in his first attempt at the career Grand Slam. What gives you optimism he won’t have to wait long to complete the slam, and what gives you pause?
Sens: The only thing that gives me pause is that it’s very hard to win majors. Beyond that, nothing. He’s the best player in the world. He’s healthy. And unlike some other generational talents, he does not seem prone to sabotaging himself on or off the course. If it’s not next year, it will be soon enough.
Melton: He’s got the highest floor of any player in the game, and even when he’s got his C+ game (like he did this week), he keeps himself in contention. It’s only a matter of time before he knocks one off.
Schrock: He’s just always around the top of the leaderboard. He hasn’t had his A game all year and is always in the mix on Sunday. As long as he continues to have the highest floor in golf, he’ll have more chances to get this done. But while we can all sit here and say that Scheffler should have many more chances to win the career Grand Slam, sometimes things aren’t that neat. We don’t know what the future holds, where his game will be at each time this tournament comes around, whether or not he’ll get the bad side of a draw here or an unlucky bounce there. These opportunities actually don’t happen all the time. It felt like Sunday was a big missed opportunity.
Joaquin Niemann received a two-shot penalty for throwing a golf club during his first round at Shinnecock Hills. No video has surfaced, although The Athletic reported Niemann was angry he didn’t get free relief from fire ants after hitting two balls out of bounds, kicked a flag used to mark his ball and some nearby sand before throwing his club approximately 50 yards. The penalty falls under a new code of conduct policy to police such things. But without any video, do you think the penalty was too severe? Why not just a warning?
Sens: Let’s not fall into the Instagram-era trap of thinking that if it wasn’t captured on video, it didn’t happen. Clearly, there were witnesses, and Niemann didn’t deny what he did. If anything, he should be happy the rules didn’t call for him to be booted from the tournament.
Melton: The act must have been particularly egregious to warrant a penalty without prior warnings. Unfortunately, without any video evidence, we’ll never know exactly what happened.
Schrock: I don’t have a problem with the penalty as much as I do with the arbitrary nature in which it’s given out. Niemann didn’t deny any of the reported parts of the incident. On Sunday, he joked it was a pretty good throw while also saying he felt the USGA was being intentionally harsh on him. Frustration happens, but there has to be a line. The problem is that we don’t have a clear idea of where that line is and what constitutes crossing it. Jon Rahm drop-kicked his driver down the fairway without penalty. Niemann threw his club away from people and got dinged two strokes. I think the way punishments are given out and the lack of transparency about why they are or aren’t given is a bigger issue than Niemann’s individual incident.
What was your most memorable takeaway from the 126th U.S. Open?
Sens: That as tough as Shinnecock is to play, it might be even tougher to set up. A lot of agony and effort went into getting this one right, both in maintenance practices and in public communications about the conditions. No one wanted the course to become the story. But to some extent, it became anyway. To the point where I heard a superintendent say that if it takes so much sweat and stress to get the course right, it might not be a suitable modern U.S. Open venue.
Melton: That even when Shinnecock is “easy,” it’s still damn hard. With all the complaining we saw on social media, you’d think the winning score was 30 under! Despite being gettable, only three players finished the week in the red. What a test that place presents.
Schrock: Going to go off the wall here. With Wyndham putting the tournament in a chokehold from basically Thursday evening on, my biggest takeaway is what a bad time it was for LIV to have a dud of a week. As the league pitches outside investors to get money to exist in 2027, its two biggest stars completely no-showed from the good side of the draw. The 78 Jon Rahm shot on Friday was shocking and Bryson DeChambeau quickly exited the proceedings on Friday morning. Bad time to have a bad week.
Who won the week without winning the week?
Sens: Tom Kim. He qualified his way in, then guaranteed himself a spot in next year’s U.S. Open. Not bad for a guy who’d all but vanished from the radar.
Melton: Keith Mitchell. He opened the tournament with a 41 on his opening nine, bounced back with a 29 coming home, and then turned in three more rounds of level-par play. Pretty solid week, I’d say.
Schrock: Jackson Koivun and Miles Russell. The future of U.S. golf both made the cut and played the weekend together for both rounds. Koivun, who will now turn pro, tied for low amateur, and Russell, who is 17 (!), acquitted himself much better than a number of golf’s big names. The future is bright. Put them out first at Adare Manor, Furyk.
TOPEKA (KSNT) — Skateboarders of all ages gathered in Oakland on Sunday, June 21, to celebrate National Go Skateboarding Day, a worldwide event that brings riders together and introduces new people to the sport.
Mousetrap Skatepark was filled with action as skaters, from beginners to experienced riders, took to the ramps and rails throughout the day. The event included competitions for multiple age groups, a best-trick contest, and prizes from local and national sponsors.
National Go Skateboarding Day has been celebrated around the world since 2004, highlighting the culture and community surrounding skateboarding.
“I think the days of skateboarding being a niche for outcasts are gone,” said Christine Stoner, a Topeka native. “It’s more mainstream, but it’s just as athletic as any of the ball sports, and it’s really great to have this in our community.”
Organizers said the event is about more than landing tricks or winning prizes. It also serves as a way to welcome new riders, support local skate shops and strengthen the connections that make the skateboarding community unique.
For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.
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Los Angeles Sparks Forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) challengers her defender and scores over her during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES -- It was a game to remember.
This video equals a thousand words. And three decades in the making.
The Sparks were down 17 in the third quarter. Los Angeles chipped it little by little and even took the lead at one point. After Breanna Stewart split two free throws to give the Liberty a 97-95 lead with under 10 seconds left. With no timeouts, Erica Wheeler took it the length of the court and found an open Nneka Ogwumike for the game-winning three. The Sparks won a thriller, 98-97.
Were there any options for the final play?
"Well, because when we didn't have it, when we were in the timeout when they were reviewing it, we weren't sure if we were going to be down... we were only up one or they were up one. We knew we were going to be down two or three, so we drew it up for a three. But the players knew that we only needed two but they all collapsed on the drive and found Nneka."
It was fitting for an anniversary game for the 30th season when both Sparks and Liberty legends like Lisa Leslie, DeLisha Milton-Jones, and Teresa Weatherspoon were in attendance. And, yes, it was fitting for a Sparks icon like Nneka Ogwumike to make that three-pointer.
"Remarkable, and I said that in the locker room," Roberts reacted. "I think everyone in our locker room wouldn't have picked another person to hit that shot. What she's done for this league... she's one of one. So on a night like tonight where we're honoring the legacy, not only of the Sparks, but of the league and what Nneka has done for this league, especially recently with getting that new CBA done, it's powerful when you think about it. It's really cool and that's what sports can do is bring out those moments but just you couldn't have scripted any better."
The crowd was as loud as it's ever been in Crypto.Com Arena. The 18,000+ in attendance was especially loud as the Sparks rallied back in the second half and it was like an explosion when Ogwumike made the game-winner.
"The crowd was unbelievable tonight," Sparks guard Rae Burrell said. "That was our sixth man right there. Just being able to have that energy when we play, it just makes it so much fun. I think they fueled us when we needed it, honestly."
Has Rae done anything different as of late? She’s scored double figures in four straight. Also, how was the crowd? pic.twitter.com/YGtpQwbqV8
As mentioned, the Sparks came back from 17 down in the third quarter.
"Yeah, I'm proud of them. That's what I said," Coach Roberts said. "That's toughness. And we've been searching for consistency in that regard. The second half, defensively, we showed some toughness on the rebounding front as well. That's what it takes. And you have to just stay steady and not get too high or too low. When we were down 17 there in the third, we..."
"She yelled at us," guard Erica Wheeler humorously interjected.
"I might have," Roberts mused. "But they responded. And that's toughness. You have two choices. You can kind of just fold or you can get up and fight. They did that. And it's awesome to be rewarded with the win."
The Liberty were dissecting the Sparks with three-pointers for the first two-and-a-half quarters. Then the Sparks bogged down defensively as the Liberty ended up having 16 turnovers (the Sparks had nine). Los Angeles was able to score 10 straight as the game got into the fourth. Nneka Ogwumike would take over in the last few minutes and scored 12 of the last 14 Sparks points, including the now-iconic game-winner.
Both teams actually had six players each that scored in double-figures. Ogwumike led the Sparks with 24 points while Burrell, who was also celebrating her birthday, scored 19. For New York, Jonquel Jones and Breanna Stewart each scored 18 while rookie Pauline Astier had 17 off the bench.
The Sparks are back to .500. They will take a few days off before they go international for the first time in the regular season. They will take on the Tempo in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
While yesterday’s championship parade in New York was all about the Knicks’ historic NBA title after a 53-year drought, Rama Duwaji still managed to earn the spotlight with her alluring outfit. The First Lady of New York City arrived at the celebrations alongside her husband and NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani, wearing an off-shoulder top that stunned everyone present in the audience.
Rama Duwaji turns heads during Knicks championship parade
Take a look at Rama Duwaji’s outfit at the Knicks parade here:
Duwaji, who specializes in animation, illustration, and ceramics, turned up at the Knicks’ championship parade repping the latest NBA champions with her one-of-a-kind top. Her sleeveless one-shoulder tank featured a graphic that commemorated the Knickerbockers’ recent run to the NBA finals. Duwaji’s outfit also included an orange Knicks sweatshirt, tied around her waist, along with a voluminous black skirt.
During the parade, the First Lady of New York City stood beside her husband, Zohran Mamdani, who also donned a Knicks jersey inside his blazer to show support for his city’s team.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on Mandatory.
DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — St. Teresa boys basketball’s new head coach is a familiar name to the program.
Rodney Walker starred for the Bulldogs in the 90s, and now he is set to take over as head coach.
Following a playing career at New Mexico State and extensive overseas experience, Walker served as head coach at Eisenhower from 2014 to 2025.
With former Bulldog head coach Mike Noonan taking the head coaching job at Millikin, Walker said the chance to lead the basketball program of his alma mater was unexpected, but ultimately a dream come true.
“It brings back a lot of memories being in his gym,” said Walker. “I just can’t wait to actually get with the guys and implement the system that we’re trying to do and meet with the younger groups with the other schools, and I can’t wait to get the ball rolling.”
Walker scored a career-high 52 points in a single game as a senior.
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ONE Championship returns to Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, June 26, with another exclusive card for members of The Inner Circle, streaming live at live.onefc.com.
The Inner Circle 20 features two undefeated fighters who meet for the first time to crown a new ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Champion in the main event, while a legendary Thai rivalry reignites in a third and deciding chapter in the co-main event.
In the headliner, Asadula Imangazaliev and Aslamjon Ortikov meet for the vacant ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Title in a bout that marks the first time in ONE Championship history that two undefeated ONE Friday Fights contract winners will compete for 26 pounds of gold. Both men earned their contracts with knockout performances at Lumpinee Stadium, and neither has ever tasted defeat.
Imangazaliev is 12-0 with nine stoppages and has been one of the most destructive forces on the weekly series since his arrival. The 22-year-old Dagestani, training out of Team Mehdi Zatout and Team Chingiz Allazov, has knocked out both Nong-O Hama and Kongthoranee Sor Sommai — the two men fighting directly below him on this very card — and carries the kind of raw finishing ability that makes every exchange feel dangerous.
Ortikov is 24-0 with 13 finishes and has drawn comparisons to the Lomachenko of Muay Thai for his fluid, switching, unpredictable style that makes opponents look foolish just when they think they have him figured out.
The Uzbek grew up in Samarkand, which he describes as “little Thailand” for its fighting culture. He came to Bangkok alone to chase his dream, and became an eight-time Uzbekistan National Champion and two-time Asian Champion before his ONE career began.
His most recent outing was a second-round TKO of Jordan Estupinan at ONE Fight Night 43. He is ranked as one of the most technically gifted fighters on the roster and arrives here with the kind of hunger that only comes from a fighter who has spent years building something from nothing, far from home.
In the co-main event, Nong-O and Kongthoranee settle their rivalry in a third and perhaps final flyweight Muay Thai bout. Their series has been a study in contrasts and adjustments.
In the first fight at ONE Fight Night 28, Kongthoranee used his youth, speed, and relentless work rate to edge a split decision over the legendary veteran. The result suggested the old guard might be slipping. Nong-O answered emphatically in the rematch at ONE Fight Night 31, coming forward more, dictating the pace, and earning a unanimous decision and a performance bonus that proved he still had every answer. The third fight is the one that settles it.
Nong-O is one of the greatest technical fighters Muay Thai has ever produced. He’s a former eight-time ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Champion and four-division Lumpinee Stadium World Champion who came out of retirement after three years to dominate the sport all over again.
Kongthoranee, meanwhile, is a three-time Rajadamnern Stadium World Champion and a fighter who has built his life around the sport after losing his father young and growing up with his grandparents.
The supporting card adds three more compelling bouts. In one, Thailand’s Stamp Fairtex — the promotion’s first and only three-sport World Champion — returns to atomweight Muay Thai action against Mexico’s Cynthia Flores, who is looking to finally kick off her ONE campaign against one of the sport’s biggest stars.
The Inner Circle 20 June 26 Full Card
Asadula Imangazaliev vs. Aslamjon Ortikov (ONE Flyweight Muay Thai World Championship)
Nong-O vs. Kongthoranee Sor Sommai (Muay Thai – flyweight)
PTT vs. Julio Lobo (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
Stamp Fairtex vs. Cynthia Flores (Muay Thai – atomweight)
Muangthai PK Saenchai vs. Panrit Lukjaomaesaiwaree (Muay Thai – bantamweight)
METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) – Saints right tackle Taliese Fuaga had to overcome a lot in 2025. He missed four games and played through injuries – including two high ankle sprains.
“It was a good learning experience because at first it wasn’t the best feeling, and I was down,” Fuaga said. “Guys like Erik McCoy (center), you know, he’s been through injuries. The way he comes in every day, even if he’s injured or not, he comes in the same way to meetings. He has a good attitude, and it’s a good learning experience for me to learn from that.”
The way Fuaga responded during those tough times impressed head coach Kellen Moore. And the Saints’ second-year coach said it’ll help him grow.
“I think anytime you have to go through those, you gain resiliency,” Moore said. “What he had to navigate with injuries, which were kind of some goofy ones throughout the season, getting rolled up in a couple of unique ways. He fought back and found a way to keep playing whenever he could. I think when you go through that and find success on the other end of it, it makes you gain confidence.”
The hope for Fuaga is that confidence helps him take a step forward in year three. He’s doing whatever it takes, and for the first time, he spent the entire offseason in New Orleans.
“Trying to sacrifice a lot to be here to really hone in on my technique, lifting, and all of that,” Fuaga said.
Fuaga is putting in the work. And based on what he has seen from the rest of the offensive line, he’s optimistic about that unit as a whole this year.
“Ces (Cesar Ruiz) and Erik (McCoy), they are already vet guys and know what they’re doing next to each other. Me and Ces are still building that chemistry next to each other. Kelvin (Banks), man, he’s a very polished dude already enough and I like it because we’re able to talk about technique and stuff like that. David (Edwards) is a really good vet out there. He is smart and has been in different systems, so to have him out there and be able to ask him a bunch of questions is cool,” Fuaga said.
The offensive line will continue to work on its chemistry when the Saints report to training camp on July 28.
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NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) – What was supposed to be another day at the ballpark turned into a memorable Father’s Day surprise for longtime coach Gib Mueller.
While coaching a Discovery League game Sunday evening at Mueller Field in Neenah, Mueller was greeted by dozens of family members, friends, former players, coaches and community members celebrating his 50 years of volunteer service to local baseball.
The surprise celebration honored Mueller’s decades of dedication to Neenah Little League and the Discovery League, a baseball program that provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
“We’re celebrating my husband’s 50 years of coaching, Neenah Little League and Discovery League,” said his wife, Linda Mueller. “It has been passionate, caring and loving for his players. And he loves the sport of baseball. And he’s dedicated his life to baseball.”
Mueller’s coaching career began when his oldest son, Andy, started playing Little League at age nine. When his two stepsons later reached the same age, he continued coaching and never stepped away from the game.
Over the years, Mueller served as a coach, board member, equipment manager and Little League director. He also helped establish and grow the Discovery League program in Neenah.
“I started out in Little League with my son when he was nine,” Mueller said. “I was director of Little League for 20 years. Then in between, we started Discovery League. I’ve been doing that ever since we started.”
Linda Mueller says her husband’s impact reaches far beyond the baseball diamond. “It’s his passion,” she said. “He loves working with adults and children and giving them guidance. He’s a mentor for them.”
“Oh, this is just unbelievable,” he said. “I look over and all these people are coming. It’s a total surprise.” Even after five decades of coaching, Mueller says the players continue to motivate him.
“For me they’re like family,” he said. “I’ve been coaching a lot of them for a long time. It’s always nice to get new people in.”
At 79 years old, his family says retirement is nowhere in sight.
“He will never, never hang it up,” Linda Mueller said. “He just turned 79, and I don’t foresee him quitting at all. I love him for what he’s done for the community, for the Little Leaguers, for the Discovery League and for Neenah baseball.”
After 50 years in the dugout, the community made sure one of its most dedicated volunteers knew just how much his efforts have meant.
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The 2015 Panthers got major props from out notable outlet, and it should serve as the standard for the newest Carolina linebacker and his positional mates to strive for.
They say when you’re a kid that you should shoot for the stars. It’s a corny saying, but it’s still something that serves to motivate.
That’s what Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd and his position mates should be looking to do in Charlotte this year, and they have one of the greatest groups in NFL history from their own building to shoot for in that regard.
Pro Football Focus recently put out their list of top graded positional groups in PFF history. Unsurprisingly, the Panthers’ 2015 linebacking group came in tops overall for their position.
Panthers’ 2015 linebacking group named best ever by Pro Football Focus
“The 2015 Panthers were loaded almost everywhere, but linebacker was their particular forte,” wrote Bradley Locker of PFF. “Luke Kuechly's 93.6 overall PFF grade was the best among his peers by over three grading points, resembling the prime of his Canton-clad career. Next to him, Thomas Davis Sr. secured an 80.0 mark with an 89.3 PFF coverage grade, which placed fourth at the position.”
The Panthers might not always get their due, being a small market team - and that just seems to be the way things in the NFL and in other pro sports leagues. However, that 2015 defense was special and its engine got the flowers it clearly deserved.
Luke Kuechly was as good during the early-to-mid 2010s as any inside linebacker this century, and he earned his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year, regardless of what some naysayers might argue about an eight-year career. Seven Pro Bowls and five AP first-team All-Pro nods spoke for themselves. Thomas Davis, Sr. was a tremendous partner with him in the middle as an instinctive and athletic player who made lift very difficult for opposing quarterbacks down the field.
And again, while that group was the stars, so to speak, it’s something that Lloyd and the rest of the linebacker room can shoot for. It’s hard to imagine anyone ever getting there. But there’s no doubt that Kuechly and Davis set the standard, and now it’s time for what Panthers fans hope is the next great generation to live up to it as best they can.
Oscar Collazo knocks down Neider Valdez during an Professional Boxing match. Saturday June 20, 2026 in Oceanside, California.
OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Oscar Collazo did not need much time to make his flyweight experiment look easy.
Fighting for the first time above his native 105-pound minimumweight division, Collazo dropped Neider Valdez three times in the second round before the fight was waved off, putting an emphatic stamp on what was supposed to be a measuring-stick night and turning it into a statement instead.
The two-division aspirations started with a wrinkle, then a second one. Collazo was originally booked to defend his unified WBA and WBO minimumweight titles against Joey Canoy, but visa issues forced Canoy out on short notice. A first replacement, Luis Castillo, ran into the same immigration problems and also fell through. Golden Boy Promotions finally turned to Valdez, a Mexican veteran with a 15-3-3 record who had fought just three weeks earlier and had his paperwork in order. The WBO approved him under exceptional circumstances days before fight night and attached its International flyweight title to the bout to give the scrambled main event some sanctioning weight, though that belt carries far less prestige than the world titles Collazo already holds at 105 pounds. The WBA did not bother sanctioning the fight at all.
None of that mattered once the bell rang.
The first round passed largely without incident, a feeling-out stretch that gave little hint of what was coming. Collazo used it to find his timing against the bigger man, and in the second round, he found his opening. He landed a counter left hand that caught Valdez clean on the chin, sending him to the canvas for the first of three knockdowns in the round.
Oscar Collazo and Neider Valdez exchange punches during an Professional Boxing match. Saturday June 20, 2026 in Oceanside, California.
Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting Tribune
Oscar Collazo and Neider Valdez exchange punches during an Professional Boxing match. Saturday June 20, 2026 in Oceanside, California.
Valdez beat the count each time, but the damage piled up quickly. By the third knockdown, his corner had seen enough. They called for the stoppage themselves, even as Valdez insisted to referee Thomas Taylor that he wanted to keep fighting. The towel decision spared him further punishment against a fighter many consider among the sport’s best, pound for pound.
Valdez had stepped in on short notice after a string of mixed results, including a draw three weeks earlier, and the gap in class showed from the moment Collazo found his range. Still, his willingness to take the fight gave Collazo the chance to test himself at a new weight, and the answer came quickly and violently.
The result pushes Collazo to 15-0 with 12 knockouts, and he made clear afterward that he is not interested in treating flyweight as a one-night detour. “I feel great. I feel great. I love this division,” Collazo told DAZN in the ring. “Matter of fact, I want to stay in the division a long time. Let’s see.”
He did not have to wait long to hear a target floated. Asked about a potential matchup with WBA and WBO flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval, Collazo’s promoter wasted no time campaigning for it. “I want Oscar Collazo to go up two weight divisions, and let’s do that fight,” De La Hoya said. “It’s the biggest, best fight out there for both guys. Stylistically, it will be a war. It will be a tremendous, tremendous fight.”
Whether that fight materializes remains to be seen, but Saturday's performance did nothing to discourage the idea.
Oscar Collazo and Oscar DeLa Hoya react to a knockout victory following a Professional Boxing match. Saturday June 20, 2026 in Oceanside, California.
Ardie Crenshaw - The Sporting Tribune
Oscar Collazo and Oscar DeLa Hoya react to a knockout victory following a Professional Boxing match. Saturday June 20, 2026 in Oceanside, California.
The Carolina Hurricanes' Stanley Cup victory celebration continued Sunday as hundreds of fans lined up outside Dick's Sporting Goods in Cary for a chance to meet Hurricanes forward Seth Jarvis, turning Father's Day into another memorable chapter of the team's championship run.
Families dressed in Hurricanes gear waited patiently for autographs and photos with one of the team's fan favorites, just a day after an estimated 150,000 people packed downtown Raleigh for the Stanley Cup champions.
For many attendees, the event was about more than hockey. It was an opportunity for families to spend time together and celebrate Father's Day while sharing a passion for the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes' Seth Jarvis signs autographs at Dick's Sporting Goods in Cary.
Among them were Peter Stumbar and his daughter, Caitlyn, who reflected on the importance of family traditions. "They're doing a dinner for me tonight where I don't have to cook, which is kind of nice," Stumbar said. "Although my daughter cooks a lot for us, so that's very nice. So it's just the time to spend with family and be with family and enjoy each other."
The family has deep ties to the sport. They said they followed hockey long before the Hurricanes arrived in North Carolina, watching the former Hartford Whalers before the franchise relocated south. They also experienced the excitement of witnessing the Hurricanes capture the 2026 Stanley Cup. That sentiment was shared by other families waiting in line to see Jarvis. Nick Rucker and his son, Nicholas, were among the hundreds of fans gathered for the appearance.
Rucker said hockey has been a family tradition spanning generations. "Well, it certainly is a once-in-a-lifetime chance as far as winning the Cup in your city," Rucker said. "At least for us. The parade yesterday was great, but to be able to come out here with my son on Father's Day is certainly a privilege. It's something I certainly wanted to do today." He added that his love of hockey began in childhood and has become a legacy he now shares with his own children.
"I grew up with hockey as a family, watching it, celebrating it, enjoying the sport, and have carried that on with my family now," he said. "With us moving to Raleigh about 30 years ago, the Hurricanes came here right about that time. We've been celebrating the Hurricanes ever since."
The long lines outside the Cary store highlighted the excitement still surrounding the franchise's championship victory. Fans of all ages waited for a chance to meet Jarvis, one of the key contributors to the Hurricanes' title run, as the team continues a celebration that has captivated communities across the Triangle.
For many families, the event offered the perfect Father's Day activity, combining quality time with the opportunity to celebrate a historic moment with a player fresh off his Stanley Cup championship.
Watch: Seth Jarvis speechless after Stanley Cup win
ABC11's Kate Rogerson talked with Jarvis after Canes' Stanley Cup win.
The Hurricanes' Stanley Cup victory has sparked days of festivities across the region, bringing together longtime hockey fans and a new generation of Caniacs eager to be part of the team's history.
Wyndham Clark heard it all day from the Shinnecock Hills crowd. Fans shouted for his golf ball to go in the bunker and the rough. One was ejected after yelling: “Don’t choke, Wyndham!”
He quieted them with a 52-foot putt to tap-in range for his second U.S. Open title in four years, avoiding the worst collapse in tournament history after his six-stroke lead dwindled to one.
Oh, how this anybody-but-Wyndham crowd would've relished that.
New York loves a winner, but the one these fans really wanted to see on Sunday was Scottie Scheffler, who was chasing the career Grand Slam, or Sam Burns, who lost by a stroke. Not Clark.
Call it backlash for him damaging a locker in a fit of rage at Oakmont Country Club while missing the cut last year in the U.S. Open. Or for saying on TV that being surrounded by kids playing in the Masters Par 3 Contest was “great birth control." Or even for winning his first U.S. Open title in 2023 over fan favorites Rory McIlroy and Rickie Fowler.
Or maybe the folks spending their Father's Day at Shinnecock just wanted to see a little drama after Clark built leads of two, four and six strokes after each of the first three days.
“Man, they definitely didn’t want me to win,” Clark said.
It's rare for a golfer in the lead at a major championship — or any golfer for that matter — to be the subject of such derision. It happened to McIlroy at the Ryder Cup last September at Bethpage Black, also on Long Island, but that was a team competition. McIlroy was the star of the winning European side and U.S. fans went overboard in letting him have it.
Clark, 32, said he tried to see himself in an “underdog” role on Sunday, as he did in 2023.
“Anytime someone said something negative to me, I replaced it with something positive,” Clark said. “Some of it’s self-deserved. I kind of brought it on myself, but I also get it, too. Scottie was going for the career Grand Slam, and it hasn’t happened very often.”
Even so, the animosity appeared to rattle Clark early in his round. He bogeyed the second, sixth and seventh holes as fans threw their support behind Scheffler. They cheered Clark's mistakes while showering Scheffler with affection — even serenading the four-time major champion, who turned 30 on Sunday, with “Happy Birthday."
It was “Get in the bunker!” for Clark and “We love you Scottie!” for Scheffler, who tied for fourth at even par.
“You like seeing the fans cheer for you. I think sometimes it can get a little too much when, you know, balls are kind of going off greens and you start hearing cheers,” Scheffler said. “That felt a bit much to me.”
Anti-Clark fans cheered when he flared a shot under a pair of trash containers on the fourth hole and again when his shot on the seventh hole landed in a bunker.
“Wyndham gonna loose 'em,” a man said as Clark walked to his ball on 10.
“Get in the fescue!” a fan yelled after he teed off on 13. When his second shot landed on a precarious part of the green, the crowd chanted “Go! Go! Go!” and gleefully roared as the golf ball rolled off the back.
Clark won over the crowd, at least for a moment, on the 16th hole — punching out from the tall grass and pumped his fist after nailing a 24-foot birdie putt to go to 5-under par. For the moment, he held a two-stroke lead and the crowd's hopes of a different winner were fading.
But the taunts returned on the next hole as Clark backed off of his 8-foot par putt and then missed it. As Clark walked to the 18th tee, scratching his head with his hat in hand, a fan in the grandstand sang “Under Pressure."
“Yeah, it was tough, but I’m proud of myself that I battled through,” Clark said. “I mean, things really could have gotten away from me. I stood tough. Yeah, I would have liked to have won by more, but as long as you win, it doesn’t matter.”
___
Associated Press writers Doug Ferguson and Eddie Pells contributed to this report.
Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) scrambles against Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Kansas City Chiefs should have their quarterback available a lot sooner than anyone initially thought.
The Kansas City Chiefs are kind of under the microscope as training camp approaches. That's what happens when your star quarterback, and the face of the league, is injured and could be ready way earlier than expected.
Of course, the reports and rumors are that he will be ready by Week 1. But now, new information from NFL and Chiefs insiders suggests he could be ready before then. In fact, Mahomes wants to play in a preseason game and do even more.
— KC Sports Network (@KCSportsNetwork) June 20, 2026
ESPN's Nate Taylor drops an interesting note regarding Patrick Mahomes and training camp
"QB outlook: At this point, the Chiefs expect Patrick Mahomes to be in uniform when the season begins Sept. 14 against the Broncos. Mahomes, who is recovering from a left knee injury suffered in December, was able to participate in each of the Chiefs’ offseason practices, which was a great indication of his rehab work.
"In training camp, Mahomes hopes to be included in 11-on-11 team periods and eventually be cleared for full contact ahead of the preseason. Throughout his nine-year career, Mahomes has played at least one game in the preseason to prepare for the regular season. He’ll hope to continue that streak in August." – Nate Taylor, ESPN
Patrick Mahomes is the best quarterback in the NFL and one of the greatest to ever play the position. Last season, when he went out with an injury, we saw how bad the team was. They need Mahomes to be fully healthy to have the season they believe they can have. So, if that means Mahomes isn't ready for 11-on-11 in training camp, that's fine. You don't want to push something as delicate as this.
However, if he's ready, he's ready. If they have Mahomes for a preseason game and a portion of training camp, that's so much better than just having him for Week 1. This gives him time to get ready for game-speed situations, and for all the new things Andy Reid plans to install in the offense. If this happens, it is huge for the Chiefs. This team should be better than they were last year. On paper, they are. So, let’s see if this dynasty is really over, like everyone claims.
Los Angeles Sparks Celebrate 30 years of WNBA and Sparks basketball during halftime during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Sparks defeated the New York Liberty, 98-97, at Crypto.com Arena on June 21, 2026 and The Sporting Tribune's Robert Talamantes was there to capture the following TST Images.
Los Angeles Sparks legend Lisa Lesly did the jump ball before the game to celebrate 30 years of WNBA during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks legend Lisa Lesly did the jump ball before the game to celebrate 30 years of WNBA during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Ariel Atkins (7) shot a contested three during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Ariel Atkins (7) shot a contested three during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Kelsey Plum (10) during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Kelsey Plum (10) during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Forward Dearica Hamby (5) scored on a fast break lay up during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Forward Dearica Hamby (5) scored on a fast break lay up during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Forward Laura Ziegler (4) celebrates after getting found and scoring during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Forward Laura Ziegler (4) celebrates after getting found and scoring during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Kelsey Plum (10) blows past her defender and scores a contested lay up during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Kelsey Plum (10) blows past her defender and scores a contested lay up during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Rae Burrell (12) floats past her defender on her way to score two points during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Rae Burrell (12) floats past her defender on her way to score two points during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Kelsey Plum (10) tries to split by two defenders during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Guard Kelsey Plum (10) tries to split by two defenders during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Celebrate 30 years of WNBA and Sparks basketball during halftime during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Celebrate 30 years of WNBA and Sparks basketball during halftime during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Los Angeles Sparks Forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) challengers her defender and scores over her during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Sparks Forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) challengers her defender and scores over her during a WNBA game against the New York Liberty, Sunday June 21st, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Most NASCAR drivers would gladly take a second-place finish on a new street course.
Bubba Wallace wasn’t one of them.
Wallace crossed the finish line second behind teammate Corey Heim in Sunday’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race on the San Diego Street Course, giving 23XI Racing a historic 1-2 finish. It was one of the organization’s strongest overall performances of the season.
But when Wallace climbed from the No. 23 Toyota after the race, his focus wasn’t on what his team accomplished.
It was on what got away.
Bubba Wallace Couldn’t Stop Thinking About the ‘What-Ifs’
Wallace admitted frustration was the overwhelming emotion after the checkered flag.
“I was super frustrated,” Wallace told reporters.
While a runner-up finish would typically be viewed as a successful day, Wallace said San Diego felt like another race where victory was within reach but ultimately slipped away.
“So many races this year had results with asterisk marks besides them,” Wallace said. “Like the what-ifs.”
That thought has followed Wallace throughout much of the 2026 season. The speed has often been there, but the results have not always matched the performance.
Sunday’s race only added to that feeling.
One Mistake Still Stuck With Him
Wallace pointed to a costly mistake during the race that he believed changed the outcome.
“After every race we do a debrief,” Wallace said. “I hate it, I hate it for my crew. This one little mistake cost us the next couple of weeks.”
The comment reflected how closely teams examine every detail after a race, especially when they believe a win was realistic.
Despite the disappointment, Wallace acknowledged there were positives to take away from the afternoon.
“I really had fun today in the car,” he said. “I don’t know, it worked out.”
Still, the frustration remained difficult to hide.
“I’m frustrated with second,” Wallace added. “There’s so much potential left on the table.”
Wallace Was Happy to See Corey Heim Get His Moment
Even though he wanted the victory himself, Wallace made it clear he was genuinely happy for Heim.
The 23-year-old delivered the first Cup Series victory of his career in just his fifth start while helping 23XI Racing secure the first 1-2 finish in team history.
“Super happy for him,” Wallace said. “He’s put in so much work when he’s off behind the scenes.”
Wallace also spoke about the relationship the two drivers have developed through Toyota’s driver pipeline and within the 23XI organization.
“Him and I have a really good relationship,” Wallace said. “He beat me today. So he’ll have that bragging right.”
In the end, Wallace recognized the bigger picture.
“Great day for 23XI.”
But his final thought summed up the mindset of a driver who believes bigger opportunities are still ahead.
Corey Heim may have stolen the spotlight with a surprise victory in Sunday’s inaugural Anduril 250, but the biggest story leaving San Diego could be the tightening battle at the top of the NASCAR Cup Series standings.
While Tyler Reddick held onto the points lead despite a difficult afternoon, Denny Hamlin continued closing the gap. Elsewhere, several playoff contenders made significant gains while others lost valuable ground with just nine regular-season races remaining.
Here are the biggest winners and losers in the standings after San Diego.
Biggest Winner: Denny Hamlin Closes In on Tyler Reddick
Reddick remains the NASCAR Cup Series points leader with 716 points, but his advantage has shrunk considerably.
Hamlin entered the weekend trailing by 20 points. After San Diego, he sits just eight points behind Reddick, cutting 12 points from the deficit in a single race.
Despite finishing 14th, Hamlin gained valuable ground after Reddick struggled to a 25th-place finish. The veteran now has four victories, nine top-five finishes, 11 top-10s, and a series-leading 824 laps led through 17 races.
Reddick still controls the standings, but the margin separating the top two drivers is now the smallest it has been in weeks.
Biggest Winner: Kyle Larson Climbs Back Into the Top Four
Larson’s third-place finish delivered one of the biggest gains among the championship contenders.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver climbed two positions in the standings, moving from sixth to fourth overall. Larson now trails Reddick by 180 points and continues to lead all full-time drivers with 150 stage points.
After entering the weekend outside the top five, Larson leaves San Diego back among the sport’s elite and carrying momentum into the next stretch of the season.
Biggest Winner: Erik Jones Makes the Biggest Jump
No driver inside the top 20 gained more positions than Erik Jones.
Jones climbed four spots, moving from 18th to 14th in the standings after another solid performance. While he remains outside the championship picture, the Legacy Motor Club driver continues building momentum after a challenging start to the season.
Every position matters as teams battle for playoff positioning and momentum entering the second half of the year.
Biggest Loser: Christopher Bell’s Difficult Stretch Continues
Bell arrived in San Diego already dealing with a fractured wrist.
His weekend only became more challenging.
After starting the race, Bell handed the No. 20 Toyota over to relief driver Brent Crews. A mechanical issue later ended the team’s afternoon, leaving Bell with a 39th-place finish.
The result dropped Bell from 10th to 12th in the standings. He now sits 294 points behind Reddick after losing additional ground in the title race.
For a driver who spent much of the season among the frontrunners, San Diego represented another frustrating setback.
Biggest Loser: Carson Hocevar Gives Away Ground
Hocevar entered Sunday’s race with a front-row starting position and an opportunity to strengthen his standing inside the top 10.
Instead, he left San Diego moving in the opposite direction.
A 19th-place finish dropped Hocevar two positions in the standings, from seventh to ninth. Both Daniel Suárez and Chris Buescher moved ahead of him following the race.
The Spire Motorsports driver remains firmly in playoff contention, but San Diego was a missed opportunity.
Biggest Loser: Brad Keselowski Slides Four Spots
Few drivers experienced a tougher day in the standings than Brad Keselowski.
The RFK Racing veteran dropped from 15th to 19th after San Diego, falling four positions and recording one of the largest declines among full-time drivers.
Keselowski now trails the points leader by 362 points and faces an increasingly difficult climb as the regular season continues.
The Points Battle Is Tightening
The standings leader did not change Sunday, but the fight behind him became much more interesting.
Reddick continues to lead the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 716 points. Hamlin sits second, just eight points back, while Ryan Blaney remains third.
Larson’s climb into fourth place keeps another championship contender firmly in the mix, while several drivers further down the standings continue battling for playoff position.
With only nine regular-season races remaining, every point gained — or lost — is becoming increasingly important.
It was never going to be easy. A sizable 54-hole lead may seem inevitable, but this is the U.S. Open and this is Shinnecock. When Wyndham Clark teed off at 2:30 p.m. local time he was six shots ahead of the field. By 4:45, he was walking to the back nine just one shot ahead.
The following two hours had plenty of drama yet two shots saved Wyndham Clark and ensured he would leave, once again, with the U.S. Open trophy.
As Clark walked over the bridge from the ninth green to the 10th tee at Shinnecock, he would have been hard-pressed not to notice the giant leaderboard on his left. His name was still on top, at four under par, but Sam Burns was three under for his day and the tournament. The lead was just a single shot.
As I wrote last night, the 10th hole would play a pivotal role in deciding the champion. Thankfully for me, Clark proved that.
With the pin position in the front of the green, just eight paces on, the challenge of the hole became very different from what they had faced in the opening three rounds. The firm, perched putting surface has a severe run-off both short and long of the green. When the pin is toward the back, players are generally happy to push their drives farther down the hole and attempt to skip a wedge shot back toward it.
However, for most of the field, Sunday’s pin position required a different approach. While roughly 75 percent of players pushed their tee shot down the fairway during the preceding rounds, only 18-of-72 players on Sunday chose that route. Clark was one.
“I think in years past people have laid up farther back," he said. “We talked about it. I said, 'as long as we can hold the green, I would rather be 60 yards than 160 yards to try to hit it to 30 feet.'”
The headcover came off, a sawed-off “bunt” swing followed and Clark’s ball landed 267 yards in the middle of the fairway and ran out another 80 yards. Having missed six of nine greens on the front nine, his second shot felt pivotal. After watching Scottie Scheffler hit his approach from 106 yards to 16 feet, the cameras switched to Clark.
From a tight lie, 61 yards from the hole, the 32-year-old landed his lob wedge 62 yards, skipping forward and then spinning back, coming to rest just four feet from the hole. The second closest approach of anyone in the final round.
“I clipped it perfect,” he told media after the round. “By no means did I think I could hit it as close as I did. That was definitely one of the better shots of the day.”
And he wasn’t lying. His approach gained +0.6 on the field, making it statistically the best approach shot he hit on Sunday.
He holed the putt, high-fived his caddie and regained a two-shot lead. His first birdie of the round.
Yet, the job wasn’t done yet.
Clark would drop a shot on the 13th hole and by the time he arrived on the tee at the par-5 16th, he would have been aware that Burns’ birdie putt had missed on the 18th but his compatriot was again within one shot of his lead.
A double-crossed tee shot left Clark in, what Jim “Bones” Mackay would describe on the broadcast, a “horrendous” lie. With 319 yards left to the hole, Clark hacked out, barely covering the bunker on the left side of the fairway, and hit a pitching wedge to the back edge of the green, 24 feet from the hole.
The PGA Tour average on putts from 20 to 25 feet is around 12 percent. On the 16th green on Sunday, that number dropped to below 10 percent. But this was Wyndham Clark, second in the field in strokes gained/putting.
He read it breaking downhill, right-to-left and watched as the ball slowed but continued on line, finally dropping in the left edge of the hole. A birdie. A two-shot lead. And a giant fist-pump.
The putt on 16 was the best shot Clark hit on Sunday. It gained +0.93 shots on the field and helped gain him another U.S. Open title. For the week, he faced six putts from 20 to 25 feet, and made half of them. Again, the average on the PGA Tour is 12 percent.
All the shots Clark hit at Shinnecock added up to a one-shot victory. However, it was two specific shots on Sunday that truly earned him status as a two-time major champion.
The NASCAR Cup Series made history Sunday with its first-ever points race on the San Diego Street Course, and when the checkered flag flew, it was Corey Heim standing in Victory Lane.
Heim delivered the biggest victory of his young Cup Series career in the inaugural Anduril 250, surviving an eventful afternoon filled with cautions, strategy battles, a high-profile driver change involving Christopher Bell, and several frontrunners seeing their races unravel before the halfway point.
The win immediately secured Heim a place in the NASCAR record books as the first Cup Series driver to win on the San Diego Street Course at Naval Base Coronado. After starting 13th, Heim steadily worked his way through the field, led three laps, and held off teammate Bubba Wallace over the closing stages to claim the historic victory.
Wallace finished second for 23XI Racing, while Kyle Larson completed the podium in third.
Corey Heim Wins NASCAR’s Historic San Diego Debut
NASCAR’s long-awaited debut on the San Diego Street Course delivered plenty of drama from the opening laps.
Several of the race’s biggest contenders saw their afternoons end early. Pole winner Shane van Gisbergen finished 38th after an early exit, while Connor Zilisch, who led eight laps, finished 37th. Austin Hill, who also spent time at the front of the field, was credited with a 36th-place finish after leading one lap.
Championship leader Tyler Reddick entered the race facing adversity before the green flag even waved. After NASCAR sent the No. 45 team to the rear of the field because of unapproved adjustments following splitter repairs, Reddick spent much of the afternoon fighting traffic before finishing 25th.
Christopher Bell’s challenging weekend also came to an early end. Bell started the race despite a fractured wrist suffered earlier this month but turned the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota over to 18-year-old Brent Crews during the event. A mechanical issue later brought out a caution and left the team with a 39th-place finish.
Elsewhere, Denny Hamlin crossed the line 14th, Chase Elliott rallied from a 30th-place starting position to finish 12th, and Ryan Blaney recorded a ninth-place finish after leading a race-high 12 laps.
With the victory, Heim becomes the first winner in NASCAR Cup Series history on the San Diego Street Course and adds one of the most significant wins of the 2026 season to his growing résumé.
Keith Mitchell didn’t win the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, but he’s walking away with one of the more memorable even-par weeks in history.
The man affectionately known as “Casmere Keith” for his smooth fashion sense, Mitchell shot a 41 in his first nine holes of the tournament, but came back with the seventh 29 in U.S. Open history shoot a remarkable even-par 70. That turned out to be Mitchell’s number for the week, as he went on to score three more 70s to become the first player ever in U.S. Open to record even par in each of the four rounds.
That is an incredible achievement, both because of the brutish nature of Shinnecock and the fact that thousands of rounds have been posted in the 126 years of the national championship.
Going into the week, Mitchell, 34, had never finished better than 20th in a major, and he’d only made the cut in half of his starts (7 of 14) in the big four. He had to reach only his third U.S. Open this year through 36-hole Final Qualifying.
On Sunday, he ended up being in contention going into the back nine but made bogeys at 10 and 17 to shoot his fourth 70 and ultimately finish T-4 at 280, four strokes back of winner Wyndham Clark. The finish automatically qualifies Mitchell for next year’s U.S. Open at Pebble. Beach.
“I might have not won, but I felt like I achieved a lot more than potentially I thought I was going to after about two hours into the [first]] round,” Mitchell said on Sunday. “… I think I won the week after that start.”
For the tournament, Mitchell’s rounds got more consistent with each day. In round 1, he had four birdies and bogeys each to go with one eagle and one double bogey. In round 2, it was four birdies and four bogeys; round 3, three and three; and round 4, two and two.
As much as Clark was lauded for his putting, Mitchell led the field for the week on the greens, gaining 1.77 strokes.
On Saturday, he said, “This week I'm making some putts for par. I've tended to play better on harder golf courses for some reason … you have to be very disciplined, and I feel like I've done that this week, and my putter has been performing better than usual.”
With his only tour win coming in the 2019 Honda Classic, Mitchell has consistently made cuts in 16 starts this year and posted two top-six finishes. His world ranking at No. 100 figures to rise nicely after this week.
“I would say the confidence in my physical ability had always been there, but the last three days the confidence in my ability to perform has gone up a little bit,” Mitchell said. “My best finish in a major by far, might be the best finish of the year, actually, and it's at this kind of place.
“I've never necessarily believed that I was … I don't know, if it's good enough, but was able to accomplish something this big, and for me right now, a T-4 is a win in my book.”
There will be one more memory of Mitchell this week. It was the video of him finishing his round on Thursday, a bewildered look on his face and his hair flying in the wind.
“It's the most accurate meme of all time,” he said. “I felt exactly how I looked.”
17-year-old Miles Russell delivered an incredible Father’s Day moment for his dad, Joe Russell, during the final round of his first-ever U.S. Open on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, NY.
Russell, the youngest player in the field and the top-ranked junior in the world, surprised his father with an incredible Father’s Day gift on the 18th hole.
Miles made Joe his caddie for the final walk up to the green at the 18th hole. Caddie Ramon Bescansa took off his bib and handed it and the bag over to Joe for surprise caddie duties to finish the tournament with Miles.
Mike Tirico delivered commentary in detail about the beautiful Father’s Day moment on the NBC broadcast.
Miles Russell’s dad, Joe, caddies for him on the final hole of the U.S. Open in a great Father’s Day moment.
“He was cleared by the rules officials… Dad did not know that this was going to happen.”
“To the driving range at age two, with his dad, Joe,” Tirico said. “Playing against his dad over the years, and he finally beat his dad from the back tees at age 11. And Dad said, ‘No more. You’re on your own. We’re not going to play each other.’ And Miles, this morning, reached out to the USGA rules officials to see if he could do this. And he was cleared by the rules officials to see if the situation presented itself, if he could hand the bag over to his dad to play the role of caddie. Daddy as caddie, up the 18th for this terrific Father’s Day story for this 17-year-old.”
“Dad did not know that this was going to happen,” Tirico explained. “Joe not aware of the plan. And will get the caddie bib from Ramon Bescansa. He might need a tissue too at the end. These emotions of starting the golf career with Dad in the driving range and with his grandfather, as well, at age two. And now they will get to share the walk of walks, as a 17-year-old in the U.S. Open gets to walk with Dad up the 72nd hole at Father’s Day at the U.S. Open.”
“And for every dad who’s started their son in sports, or gotten their son involved in their walk of life, to see them succeed, and to do it so young, too, that’s such a pride,” Tirico continued. “We only see the finished product. We didn’t see the hours at the range, and the drop-offs.
“And a 17-year-old, the maturity of his game has been pointed out by everyone who’s been with Miles this week… But also the maturity to be a part of this and have this happen with his dad as well, it’s special stuff.”
It was the ultimate Father’s Day gift from Miles to Joe, and Tirico did a great job breaking it down for viewers.
Wyndham Clark overcame nerves, negative vibes from an inhospitable New York crowd, and the unrelenting demands of Shinnecock Hills to complete a wire-to-wire victory and claim his second U.S. Open title Sunday in Southampton, N.Y.
Despite some of the lightest breezes of the week, Clark struggled all day to hold his game together amid the gallery raining Bronx cheers upon him for every poor shot he struck while pulling for Clark's playing partner, Scottie Scheffler, celebrating his 30th birthday and vying to complete the career Grand Slam. A final-round three-over 73 enabled Clark to finish one stroke ahead of a charging Sam Burns. Clark, 32, finished at four-under 276 to become the ninth player to win the national title in wire-to-wire fashion and the first since Martin Kaymer in 2014.
"It's surreal," Clark said in adding to his 2023 victory at Los Angeles Country Club. "I played some ugly golf the last two days but my putter and short game kept me in it. Honestly, it comes down to believing good things are going to happen."
In his sixth U.S. Open start, Clark became the 24th player to win multiple U.S. Open titles. He captured his fifth career PGA Tour title and second this year. He received $4.5 million, more than twice the $2.16-million reward Brooks Koepka took home in 2018 at Shinnecock. Clark was projected to rise from 34th to eighth in the world rankings.
Burns, who held the 54-hole lead a year ago at Oakmont before struggling to a closing 78 in abysmal conditions after a downpour, was attempting to join Arnold Palmer for the largest final-round comeback in the championship. Palmer trailed by seven strokes in the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver.
Twice the Louisiana native climbed within a stroke of Clark, the second time after drilling an 18-foot birdie putt at the par-5 16th hole. He had terrific chances to tie on the final two holes, but he weakly pushed a 10-footer for birdie on the par-3 17th and then burned the edge from 17 feet on 18. Burns flipped his putter when the ball stayed out and was seen still agonizing over the putt as he entered the scoring trailer. He groaned as he tilted his head back in his hands and closed his eyes.
Burns carded a 67 to offer the only threat to Clark, who looked nothing like the player who could do no wrong after opening with a 64 and increasing his lead each day to forge a six-shot advantage through three rounds. Clark entered Sunday tied for the fourth-largest lead in U.S. Open history and was the 22nd player to lead a major by six or more shots through 54 holes. He avoided joining Greg Norman, who lost a six-shot lead in the 1996 Masters to Nick Faldo, in failing to protect a lead that sizable.
Warren Little
After recording 10 birdies and two eagles in the first three rounds, Clark converted just two on a sunny afternoon on Long Island. But the second one was massive, a 25-footer from the back of the green at the par-5 16th after he had pulled a tee shot into the high fescue left of the fairway. He muscled out his second shot, then wedged somewhat indifferently. But the putter that had saved him throughout the week bailed him out again. When the ball trickled in the cup, Clark pumped a fist and actually received his first encouraging and enthusiastic cheers of the day.
He later acknowledged his black-hat status with the crowd. "New York didn't really like me. I love you guys, but I get it," Clark said, drawing more fan reaction. "Some of it is self-deserved. I did some unfortunate things last year that I really regret. Hopefully, I can win you guys over next week. But I get it; they were rooting for Scottie. The [career] Grand Slam has only happened a few times. He's going to get it. He's the best player in the world. But today is my day."
A Denver native who recently, by coincidence, joined Cherry Hills and whose game has been given a boost by the club’s director of instruction, Pat Coyner, still made it interesting. A three-putt bogey at the par-3 17th—his fifth bogey of the round after only seven the previous three days—again left him one stroke ahead of Burns.
Par at the last enabled him to tie Retief Goosen’s four-under score for the lowest winning aggregate total at Shinnecock. But even that was a struggle after he missed the fairway and could only gouge an approach well below the hole. But he cozied a 52-footer within inches left of the cup and let out a yell and a fist pump after tapping in.
He shared hugs and kisses with his girlfriend Emily Tanner and a host of friends who rushed out on the 18th green. When he turned around, Clark spotted his father Randall, who had arrived from Denver on a red-eye flight to surprise his son. “Oh, my God,” Wyndham exclaimed before a long embrace with his dad, who was sobbing.
“I’m so proud of you,” the elder Clark said to his son through tears.
After his unfortunate behavior last year at Oakmont, the low point to a difficult year, and then the battle with himself and the crowd on a pressure-packed afternoon, those five words from his dad on Father’s Day might have been the best reward of all.
Romelu Lukaku #9 of Belgium and Saeid Ezatolahi #6 of Iran head the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match, Sunday June 21, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. – G stands for “grind” as Group G saw its third draw in three games at this World Cup on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
Despite its dominance on the ball, Belgium was unable to find much danger in the final third, and after a free-kick goal was deemed offside on video review in the first half, Iran put up a gritty and structured defensive performance in a 0-0 draw.
“We had the opportunity to win, but I think this is a great achievement,” Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said. “Future generations will talk about this. What a great achievement.”
The favored Belgians have now scored just one goal–an Egyptian own goal in last week’s opener–in two group stage games, while Iran happily took its second point of the tournament. Now, either New Zealand and Egypt have a chance to take control of the group tonight in Vancouver.
“When you’re not efficient, you can’t score,” Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said, “and if you don’t score, you can’t win a match.”
If either New Zealand or Egypt win tonight, Belgium–the 10th-ranked team in the world–will be on the third-place bubble entering the final round of group play.
Iran has an edge on total goals scored (two) and currently sits in second place, which puts Iran in line to advance out of the World Cup group stage for the first time in its history.
“The group is not weak. When there are so few matches, you can’t miss an opportunity, and we did,” Garcia said. “We have to keep our head down.”
With a multitude of scenarios for group placings and knockout round destinations still in the air, there will be simultaneous Pacific Northwest kickoffs to finish off the group stage on Friday.
Belgium (0-1-0, 2 points) will play New Zealand (0-1-0, 1 point) in Vancouver, and Iran (0-2-0, 2 point) will face Egypt (0-1-0, 1 point) in Seattle with a multitude of scenarios for group placings and knockout round destinations.
The Group G winner will face a third-place team from one of Groups A/E/H/I/J with the possibility of playing the United States in the Round of 16, should the USMNT win its Round of 32 match.
The second-place team from Group G will play the second-place team from Group D–either Australia or Paraguay, depending on their result Thursday in Santa Clara–with the winner likely facing Argentina in the Round of 16.
The top eight third-place teams of the 12 groups move on, and with both Belgium and Iran sitting on two points, the likelihood of advancing takes a hit. There are myriad permutations still to play out for the third-place scenarios, and a goal differential of zero helps.
However you look at it, the only way for any of Group G to secure a spot forward is to win next week.
“We need to beat New Zealand to move to the round of 32,” Garcia said. “I’m trusting in our players that they will be confident and win.”
Nearly every single statistic favored Belgium except for the scoreline on Sunday in what continues to be a frustrating World Cup for the Red Devils.
Belgium was without Manchester City striker Jeremy Doku, who was held out due to illness, but the Belgians were still dominant on the ball with around 70% possession for most of the match.
Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy took a straight red card in the 66th minute–Ngoy mishandled the ball and pulled down the Iranian forward as the last defender–and despite playing down a man for 24 minutes, the Belgians still held a 23-7 advantage in shot attempts, 7-3 mark in shots on target and 19-4 lead in attempts inside the box.
“In the first half, we got ahead of ourselves. We were wasteful,” Garcia said. “We lacked efficiency. We talked about verticality. We didn’t have much room. We could have done much better spacing ourselves out on the crosses.”“We expected to dominate, and we did. We played as we wanted to play.”
Ultimately, Belgium still couldn’t break through thanks in part due to the stellar goalkeeping from Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand, who put up seven saves in a Man of the Match performance.
“One of our greatest goalkeepers in the history of Iranian football,” Ghalenoei said. “He’s extremely intelligent, very experienced. He had one of his best days today. He had the right concentration and given us one very valuable point.”
Iran played with an excellent defensive structure and looked to push back on the counterattack. The one area Belgium did not earn the edge in was forced turnovers, where Iran held a 31-23 advantage.
Team Melli was also the only side to find the back of the net on Sunday, as Medhi Taremi scored off a crafty free kick in the 25th minute. However, it was just a step too crafty, as the video assistant referee determined Taremi was offside on the free kick.
“We were very unlucky it was slightly offside,” Ghalenoei said. “We could have got three points. They could have got three points. We both had equal opportunities."
Now, both Belgium and Iran have equal opportunity to put themselves through to the knockout rounds for next week. For Iran, it’s a chance they relish, and for Belgium, it shouldn’t have come down to this.
“We need to focus on the next match and stay calm,” Garcia said.
Thankfully, Xander Schauffele picked off his first two majors in 2024, shedding the "always the bridesmaid..." label. Otherwise, this preposterous streak he kept alive at the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock would be a punchline as opposed to what it actually is - a wildly impressive statistic.
Schauffele looked poised to win major No. 3 on Friday, when he shot 66 to thrust himself into contention. He went backwards on Saturday, though, and put himself in danger of ending his streak of top-15 finishes in the U.S. Open.
That streak—nine straight—was in imminent danger late on Sunday, too. Schauffele was three over after 14 holes, three over for the championship. Had he parred out, he would have tied for 17th, but a clutch birdie at the 15th, and three pars to follow, gave him a final-round 72 to finish at two over, tied for 11th.
Schauffele does not play for T-11s, or top 15s, but his T-11 result gave him 10 consecutive finishes inside the top 15 in this championship. For those keeping score, Schauffele has only played in this championship 10 times. In other words, he's never not finished in the top 15 in what's considered the most difficult championship on the schedule. Not when he was a PGA Tour rookie at Erin Hills in 2017, and not nearly 10 years later as a 32-year-old veteran.
As the U.S. Open's official Twitter account pointed out afterward, this puts him in some seriously elite company:
You ever hear of any of those guys?
Kidding aside, that is an incredible list to be on, and given how Schauffele never seems to have a bad season, no one would be surprised to see him make a run at Nicklaus and Hogan's streak of 12. Next stop: Pebble Beach, where Schauffele tied for third the last time the U.S. Open was held there. Shocker.
Saleh Hardani #2 of Iran and Leandro Trossard #10 of Belgium chase the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match, Sunday June 21, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It was a result that neither side found acceptable. But given the circumstances, both Iran and Belgium should feel fortunate to have earned a point in their Group G match Sunday at SoFi Stadium and keep alive their World Cup dream of advancing to the knockout stage.
The Belgians were forced to play one man shy after Nathan Ngoy was shown a direct red card in the 66th minute after he deliberately held Mehdi Taremi, Iran’s star striker, from getting into the clear. Yet, the Red Devils had the better of play for most of the match and had a couple of great opportunities late.
For the Iranians, who fought bravely over the course of the match, their frustration over failing to capitalize on Belgium’s misfortune will no doubt haunt them as they attempt to extend their stay here.
Ultimately, it was both goalkeepers who were the heroes on the SoFi pitch. Alireza Beiranvand took an early knock that had him reeling for a few minutes before he regained his bearings and turned in a superb performance. He made seven saves, perhaps the best coming in the 59th minute when he denied Maxim De Cuyper from in close while already prone on the turf.
At the other end, Thibaut Courtois wasn’t quite as busy. But he also come through with a couple of clutch stops. His best of the three saves he was credited for came in the 52nd minute when Taremi was loose in the box and hammered a full volley with his right foot from 12 yards away. Courtois was in position and was able to make the save.
“I think in general we played a good game,” Courtois said in the post-match mixed zone. “We had enough chances to score but we didn’t score. Their goalkeeper played a very good game. They had a few chances.
“If you don’t score, it’s always like this. So there’s a lot of pressure and we have to win (vs. New Zealand).”
Iran’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh said of the tie: “I think it’s a bittersweet feeling. Before the game, we knew what to expect. We have a lot of respect for Belgium and all the good players they have.
“The feeling inside the dressing room is that we could have even got more than we get today. That aside, we are very, very happy with the performance of the team. We showed great team spirit even though we’ve probably said enough about the situation we are in. I think we showed how united we are.”
By now, you are well aware of the travails that Team Melli have dealt with during their World Cup stay. They were booted from their Tucson, Ariz., training camp and forced to relocate to Tijuana. Then, they were unable to settle in for their matches in Los Angeles and had to come in, play their match then head right back to Mexico.
They were granted a reprieve of sorts for their upcoming match with Egypt in Seattle next week. The team will be allowed to arrive two days ahead. Still, it is uneven footing and this is where sport and politics intersect. The Iranians have been treated differently from the other 47 competing countries and when the players tell you they’re here for football, not politics, you probably can take them at their word, though who knows what their minders are telling them.
Oh, and if you’re wondering why don’t these guys just defect to the U.S.? The State Department isn’t about to grant asylum to anyone within the Iran traveling party. Technically, we’re still at war with Iran even if the White House says we aren’t. Every day there’s some sort of flare-up in the region that brings with it pause for concern that the recently announced ceasefire is worth as much as the Munich agreement signed in 1938.
Sunday, they played a spirited match against a Belgium side that dominated and controlled play for most of the time. A goal in the 25th minute from Taremi was taken off the board after VAR determined the Iranians were offsides. But it must’ve felt on the Iran bench that the entire world was conspiring against it.
So was much of the crowd of 70,313 that had come to support Iran inside SoFi. There’s no doubt that many inside the stadium supporting Team Melli did so with conflict in their souls. They despise the current government but are supportive of the players representing their homeland. It can’t be easy for those fans. But credit to them for showing up and bringing their joy and energy to be part of this World Cup. I’m sure the Iranian players appreciate the support since their fans from back home were denied visas to attend in person, leaving it to the diaspora to carry the day, albeit under the old flag, which was banned from being displayed inside SoFi but somehow many of the old flag was on display..
For the Belgians and their supporters, no such issues existed. They carried on merrily from before they opened the gates, marching to the stadium together, singing, chanting, banging drums and raising a good-natured ruckus. No doubt they were hoping that their appearance would help change the fortunes of midfielder Kevin Du Bruyne, who had a snakebit day of it in Seattle vs. Egypt Monday and whose run of bad luck continued when he had a great look early on only to be denied by Iran’s five-man back line.
“You have to put it behind you and think about the present,” Courtois said of moving on and getting ready for the Kiwis on Friday in Vancouver. “You have to learn from what we didn’t do well (Sunday).”
For Iran, there are a lot of positive vibes moving forward as it heads to Seattle and a do-or-die showdown with the Egyptians.
“We’ve played two games and we’ve had two draws,” said Beiranvand. “It shows a lot of character to our side. We haven’t lost yet and we have everything to play for in the last game and if we play like we did (Sunday), we have a good chance to go through.”
Jun 21, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) walks off the field after he strikes out against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field.
ARLINGTON -- After rallying for an extra-inning victory behind a five-RBI performance from Manny Machado on Saturday, the San Diego Padres reverted to an all-too-familiar script Sunday afternoon, dropping the series finale 4-3 to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
San Diego (39-37) entered Father's Day looking to avoid a sixth series loss in its last eight opportunities. Instead, a lineup that ranks at the bottom of Major League Baseball in most offensive categories failed to rally against a strong Texas bullpen that entered the day sixth in the majors in ERA.
When a team struggles to score runs, the margins are razor thin.
San Diego appeared poised to replicate Saturday's late-inning heroics in the ninth against reliever Jakob Junis. Fernando Tatis Jr. opened the frame with a pinch-hit single before Xander Bogaerts followed with a sharp base hit to center, putting the tying run in scoring position with no outs.
Despite the promising start and a chance to hand Junis his second blown save of the season, the next three Padres hitters were retired in order, sealing San Diego's 10th one-run loss of the year.
After scoring 13 runs in the first two games of the series, San Diego came into Sunday looking to keep the bats hot against a veteran right-hander in Nathan Eovaldi.
The 36-year-old right-hander tossed six innings, allowing three runs and striking out nine. After center fielder Wyatt Langford's three-run homer gave Texas a 3-0 lead, the Padres responded with three runs of their own behind hits from Gavin Sheets, Xander Bogaerts and Sung-Mun Song.
Third baseman Josh Jung, who entered the game with the second-highest home batting average in Major League Baseball, put Texas back in front with an RBI single.
That proved to be all the support Eovaldi and the Rangers bullpen would need. The Padres were held scoreless over the final five frames, failing to deliver a timely hit late in the game.
We just couldn't quite get it going when we had him (Eovaldi) on the ropes," Padres manager Craig Stammen said postgame.
For the second straight outing, the Padres deployed an opener ahead of Lucas Giolito, with left-hander Wandy Peralta handling the first inning before Giolito took over in the second. The right-hander toss four innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits and punching out two.
Stammen suggested Giolito's struggles could be attributed to a lack of spring training after signing with San Diego in late April.
"It's hard to get into the mode of the season," Stammen said.
San Diego's grueling nine-day road trip is finally over, but its biggest challenge may still lie ahead. The Padres return to Petco Park for a six-game homestand against two of baseball's top teams: the Atlanta Braves and division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It's a fun challenge," Stammen said. "We get to see if we're good enough to hang with them."
Next Sunday, NBC will have a special guest in the Sunday Night Baseball booth to call a game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
Roger Clemens will reportedly join NBC as a booth analyst for the June 28 rivalry game, joining Will Middlebrooks, who will represent the Red Sox in the booth, per a report by Austin Karp in Sports Business Journal. NBC has rotated new analysts into the Sunday Night Baseball booth alongside play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti each week, typically tapping one person with ties to each of the teams playing that evening. Bob Costas and Anthony Rizzo will hold down studio coverage for the game.
It’s not the first time Clemens has taken a spin behind the mic; the former Yankees pitcher joined the “KayRod” altcast on ESPN2 alongside Barry Bonds in 2022. He also served as a guest analyst on ESPN’s Opening Day coverage in 2023. This will mark Clemens’ first appearance on the main Sunday Night Baseball telecast.
NBC’s experiment with rotating booth analysts for Sunday Night Baseball has been met with mixed reviews so far. Securing a name like Clemens, who has made headlines recently as President Donald Trump lobbies for his inclusion in the Baseball Hall of Fame, certainly adds intrigue to what would otherwise be a run-of-the-mill regular-season game (albeit one between the two biggest rivals in the sport). On the other hand, the lack of consistency can lend itself to a disjointed feel in the booth that isn’t necessarily conducive to a polished broadcast.
It’s hard to fault NBC for securing Clemens, however, considering his stature in the sport.
Team Germany has secured their top spot in group E and a trip to Foxborough after they beat Ivory Coast 2-1 yesterday, and Ecuador ended the match with a tie against Curaçao 0-0.
The Round of 32 match will take place happen on Monday, June 29 at 4:30 p.m.
Germany will play a third-place team from Group A, B, C, D or F.
A draw or close loss against Brazil could bring Scotland back to Boston Stadium.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is set to start his rehab assignment Tuesday, per Katie Woo of The Athletic.
Hernandez’s rehab assignment will last 4-5 games according to Woo, and he could return before the Dodgers’ final series of June against the Athletics if it goes smoothly.
Teoscar Hernández will start a rehab assignment with Triple A OKC (in Reno) starting Tuesday. Plan is for him to play 4-5 games. If all goes well, he could be activated before the series against the A’s at the end of the month. #Dodgers
The outfielder has been on the injured list since May 29, as he suffered a Grade 1 strain in his left hamstring. Hernandez pulled up after trying to beat out a throw to first base at the end of May against the Colorado Rockies, and promptly left the game.
Hernandez had just begin to find his stride prior to his injury, and had a fantastic month of May following a slow start. His OPS sat just over .700 at the end of April, and he managed to raise that number to .784 by the time he landed on the injured list. He batted .325 in May, crushing three homers and driving in 14 runs.
Over the course of the month, Hernandez had a .882 OPS.
May 23, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
Who Replaced Teoscar Hernandez?
Ryan Ward has stepped in for Hernandez since his injury, and has been a serviceable bat for the Dodgers in the outfield. He hit his first MLB home run in the first game he played after coming back to the majors, and has since gotten a hit in all but five of his 14 games since coming up.
On the year, he has a .239/.314/.522 slash line, good for a .836 OPS. He has three homers and 11 RBIs.
While Ward has been impressive for the Dodgers since coming back to MLB, he could be on the chopping block when Hernandez returns from his injury.
The Dodgers have five outfielders on their roster at the moment if you include the recently-returned Tommy Edman, and they’ll likely move one of them to make room for Hernandez. Ward and Alex Call are the most likely candidates, but Call is yet to go down to the minors since his arrival in LA, while Ward has jumped between the levels all season.
If he can continue to produce on offense, though, the Dodgers may have to make a difficult choice.
Who would you send down when Teoscar Hernandez returns?
As if playing in the U.S. Open for the first time—and making it to the weekend—wasn't enough, 17-year-old Miles Russell somehow made his dad Joe's Father's Day Sunday even better as he made his way up the 72nd fairway at Shinnecock.
No, he didn't make a crazy final-round charge or hole out from 191 yards. He did something way, way cooler.
Russell, who began going to the driving range with his pops at age two (it's paying off), struck his final approach shot into the 18th for the week and gave his dad the surprise gift of a lifetime. Prior to the round, Russell reached out to USGA rules officials to ask if his old man could carry his bag to the 18th green and swap out with his caddie and swing coach, Ramon Bescansa. His request was granted.
The good stuff:
We have no idea how Joe kept it together here.
Incredibly, the young lefty shot an even-par 70 on Sunday, his lowest round of the week. In his first major championship at 17(!), he made the cut, finished seven over, and will likely secure a result inside the top 50. Russell beat the likes of Jordan Spieth, Russell Henley and Hideki Matsuyama, and that's just the guys who made the cut. What a special ending to a special week.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Christian Pulisic missed the USMNT’s 2-0 win over Australia because of a calf injury.
With qualification already secured, his role against Turkey is now uncertain even if he recovers.
That situation generated an obvious debate, and former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha has taken a clear position.
Nedum Onuoha would play Christian Pulisic if he is fully fit
Photo by Jared C. Tilton – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Onuoha believes Mauricio Pochettino should not automatically protect Pulisic from the final Group C match.
He told ESPN’s SportsCenter that he would play the AC Milan winger if he was properly recovered.
“I think for Christian Pulisic, if he’s fit and he’s available, I play him because I think he would want to play as well to get into a rhythm, because he’s not played that much football now through the tournament,” Onuoha began by saying.
The ex-defender also pointed to another issue for Pochettino, with some key players carrying yellow cards before the last group match.
“And for those players who are already on the yellow cards, you don’t want to risk some of those guys being suspended when it comes down to the knockouts, because they’re crucial for what has been an excellent start for the USMNT.
“So I think Pochettino has got some big decisions to make because those players that we see there, they have been key for the US so far. But this is why we have a 26-man roster. There are players who can come in, and given the fact that they’re top of the group already, maybe these changes won’t matter too much,” he concluded.
Mauricio Pochettino did not guarantee Christian Pulisic return
Pochettino made it clear after Australia that leaving Pulisic out had been difficult.
The winger had come off against Paraguay and was unable to fully train before the second group match.
Pochettino said it was “impossible” for him to play against Australia, while adding that he hoped Pulisic would be available next time.
That is not the same as a guarantee. The Argentine head coach knows the USMNT need Pulisic later in the tournament more than they need him against Turkey.
Onuoha wants rhythm. Pochettino may prefer caution.
“I’m feeling great,” Faus told Channel 2’s Bryan Mims outside the stadium. “It’s the first time watching Spain live for the first time ever. It’s also the first time watching a World Cup game, so it’s an unbelievable feeling.”
It’s Spain’s second appearance in Atlanta since the World Cup began. On Monday, Cabo Verde – a World Cup debutante – held the powerhouse at bay with a scoreless draw.
Omar Khan is a fan of Saudi Arabia and traveled from New York City to attend the match, his first World Cup experience.
“To say I’m excited would be an understatement, it’s been a lifelong dream of mind,” he said. “To go watch the boys go out there and perform in a statement game, it’s like no feeling I could ever explain.”
The streets around the stadium are a great crosscurrent of cultures, with fans showing off bright national colors and drinking in the camaraderie that soccer fosters.
“Everybody forgets about everything,” said Nick Jaramillo, a fan of Spain who lives in Orlando. “The atmosphere everybody has, the enjoyment everybody has, just how this game brings everybody together is phenomenal, and I think that’s just a great thing.”
The World Cup match is about more than goal kicks and blocks and tackles. Memories are being made, bucket lists are getting checked, and dreams are coming true. Seventeen-year-old Sophia Gonzales came with her dad, Martin Gonzales, for Father’s Day to attend their first World Cup game ever.
“It’s very special because I know he’s always wanted to come to a match, so to be able to celebrate this day and to take part in this day with him and to surprise him with so many surprises I have in store for him after the game, it’s just very special,” she said.
Fahd Alabban, a 14-year-old Saudi fan from Washington, D.C., summed up the mood.
“It’s wonderful, it is,” he said. “Look at the atmosphere, it’s, like, great.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost the second game of their three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, 3-2.
The Orioles controlled the game for eight innings, but the Dodgers gathered some momentum in the ninth inning. They scored two runs in the frame, but couldn’t get the third across for the win.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto started for the Dodgers on Saturday, pitching six innings while allowing three earned runs. He also allowed six hits and had six strikeouts in the game.
The Dodgers didn’t manage their first hit until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Tommy Edman dropped a single into shallow center field. By that time, though, the Orioles had already put all three of their runs on the board.
They first scored in the top of the second, as Leody Taveras found himself on third following back-to-back singles. He crossed the plate on a ground ball to first base.
Former Arizona Diamondback Blaze Alexander plated the next two runs for the visitors, as he shot a two-run double down the line to give the visitors a three-run lead.
Jun 20, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) reacts after the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images
The Dodgers had just one more hit until the ninth inning—also coming from Edman—though nothing came from it.
LA finally got going in the bottom of the ninth, as Shohei Ohtani kicked the inning off with a home run, announcing his return from paternity leave. Two of the following four batters reached base, and an error from Taveras in the outfield gave the Dodgers their second run of the game while putting Mookie Betts on third.
Kyle Tucker stepped up to the plate for the Dodgers with the opportunity to play the hero, but struck out on four pitches, none of which touched the zone.
The Dodgers’ record fell to 49-28 after their loss, though they still lead the division by nine games. Their next game will close the series against the Orioles, and begins Sunday at 1:10 p.m. PT. Emmet Sheehan will get the start for the Dodgers in the rubber match, and will look to get them their 50th win on the season.
Nurmagomedov (20-1) is considered one of the best lightweights in
the world, regardless of promotion. Nurmagomedov’s current PFL
contract will expire after he puts his lightweight title on the
line against Archie
Colgan at
PFL New York on July 31 at the UBS Arena in Long Island, New
York.
There has been speculation about Nurmagomedov potentially signing
with the UFC after his current PFL contract expires. Makhachev
(28-1) believes Nurmagomedov needs to move to the UFC to fully
realize his potential against a higher caliber of opponents.
However, Makhachev claims that Nurmagomedov is getting a hefty
payday in the PFL, which the UFC is unlikely to pay. According to
Makhachev, Nurmagomedov still has ample time to sign another PFL
contract and move to the UFC later in his career to build his
legacy. The UFC welterweight champion believes Nurmagomedov should
sign with the UFC only if the offer is lucrative enough.
Room to Grow
“Looking at the opponents, I’d say Usman should make the move,”
Makhachev
Magomedov (11-0) made his promotional debut against Melsik
Baghdasaryan (8-4) at UFC Fight Night 279 on Saturday at the
Apex in Las Vegas. While Baghdasaryan landed some powerful strikes
early, Magomedov took him down quickly and started looking for a
rear-naked choke. As Baghdasaryan tried to turn into Magomedov, the
Kyrgyz prospect locked in a modified twister to secure a submission
win at 1:17 of the opening round. Magomedov scored the fourth
twister submission in UFC history in his debut in the
promotion.
Magomedov subsequently said that he had been specifically training
the twister in the gym for a long time. The undefeated
featherweight prospect further revealed that he learned the move
from former UFC flyweight, Askar
Askarov.
“I work this technique long time,” Magomedov said. “My brother,
Askar
Askarov teach me this technique.”
Making Featherweight Great
While Magomedov claims he’s not one to talk a lot, “The Highlight”
believes the UFC featherweight division needs revival.
“I want activity… I honestly don’t talk too much,” Magomedov said.
“But the featherweight division is almost dying. Let’s bring it
back to life and make it great again.”
Askarov (15-1) look immensely promising in his short-lived UFC
career. “Bullet” fought Brandon
Moreno to a draw and defeated Tim Elliott,
Alexandre
Pantoja and Joseph
Benavidez before suffering his lone professional loss against
Kai
Kara-France in 2022. While, Askarov was scheduled to fight
Brandon
Royval later that year, he pulled out due to weight management
issues. Askarov subsequently asked for and was granted his release
from the UFC. Askarov has since competed only once more in 2023,
picking up a win on the regional circuit.
HALLE, Germany (AP) — Frances Tiafoe beat fifth-seeded Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in an all-American final in Halle on Sunday.
Tiafoe served eight aces and did not face a break point on the way to his first title of the year, his first ever on grass, and his fourth overall. It was only his second win in nine matches against Fritz, who beat him in the U.S. Open semifinals two years ago.
French Open champion Alexander Zverev lost to Fritz in Saturday’s semifinals. The ATP 500 grass-court event in eastern Germany serves as a tune-up for Wimbledon, which starts on June 29.
Fritz reached the semifinals last year, losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
The final day of the Judo Grand Slam in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, delivered yet more top quality judo inside the Steppe Arena.
A strong Mongolian crowd was present to witness the last of the action from this year's event.
Many of the biggest names in world judo showed up, hoping for a share of the first qualification points towards Los Angeles.
At -90kg, MURAO Sanshiro, the current world champion flew through to the final, where he met KIM Jonghoon. Displaying his dominance in the category, MURAO comfortably threw and pinned his opponent to take a ninth grand slam title.
I'm happy I won, but there are still things I want to do, so I want to train hard again for the World Championships in October
Murao Sanchiro
Mr Nicolas MESSNER, Media and Judo for Peace Director of the International Judo Federation was on hand to award the medals.
It was age against youth in the -78 kg final, 36 year old Audrey TCHEUMEO versus 22 year old Yelyzaveta LYTVYNENKO.
With two victories each in the their head-to-head. LYTVYNENKO outlasted her more experienced opponent.
My friend is from Mongolia. She says that she will show me Mongolia. So after this, tomorrow I get to go and look around Mongolia
Yelyzaveta LYTVYNENKO
“My friend is from Mongolia. She says that she will show me Mongolia. So after this, tomorrow I get to go and look around Mongolia”
General Treasurer of the International Judo Federation, Mr Naser AL TAMIMI awarded the gold.
Gennaro PIRELLI and Idar BIFOV contested the final at -100kg.
After a cagey affair, it was PIRELLI who was judged to have been the more active of the two. He was awarded his gold medal by Mr Sergey SOLOVEYCHIK, President of the Russian Judo Federation.
The final of the +78kg category was hotly anticipated. ARAI Mao vs Romane DICKO.
ARAI came out victorious, tying her opponent up to force a submission. The medals were awarded by President of MAX group, Partner of the Mongolian Judo Assocation, Mr Ganbaatar DAGVADORJ.
At +100 kg KIM Minjong took on Irakli DEMETRASHVILI, and it was the former world champion Kim who completed a dominant day by earning the heavyweight title! The final gold medal was awarded by Mr Vladimir BARTA, Head Sport Director of the International Judo Federation.
Thank you Mongolia. We are back next week with a Grand Prix in Qingdao, China.
The Netherlands secured a strong 5-1 win against Sweden, bouncing back to lead Group F after a disappointing World Cup opener against Japan that ended in a draw.
Brian Brobbey led the team to an early two-point lead with back-to-back goals in the first half, and Cody Gakpo extended the lead to 3-0 just after halftime, scoring in the 47th minute off a cross from Denzel Dumfries. He matched Brobbey when he scored on a right-footed shot from the left box in the 54th minute.
The Dutch gameplan to play out wide to open up Sweden and cross to Brobbey worked perfectly early. He put the Netherlands on top in the fifth minute when Gakpo crossed into the middle of the box and Brobbey one-timed it with his right foot before tumbling forward to the grass.
Netherlands' Brian Brobbey vies for the ball with Sweden's Victor Lindelof during the World Cup match between the Netherlands and Sweden in Houston, Saturday, June 20, 2026.
-
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
His second goal came when he took a cross from Dumfries while sliding and just got his right foot on the ball, scoring inside the far post in the 17th minute.
Swedish player Anthony Elanga’s left-footed goal cut the lead to 4-1 in the 59th minute and allowed Sweden to avoid the shutout.
Crysencio Summerville, who assisted on Gakpo's second goal, tacked on a goal for Netherlands in the 89th minute.
Netherlands' Crysencio Summerville celebrates after scoring his side's fifth goal during the World Cup match between against Sweden in Houston, Saturday, June 20, 2026.
-
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Sweden had plenty of chances to score before that, but Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was brilliant in the first half with four saves.
Sweden couldn’t build on its strong performance in a 5-1 walloping of Tunisia in its first match. The loss to the Dutch was its biggest World Cup defeat since losing 7-1 to Brazil in 1950.
King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Ariane of the Netherlands during the World Cup match between the Netherlands and Sweden in Houston, Saturday, June 20, 2026.
-
AP Photo/Ashley Landis
The crowd of 68,777 was largely made up of fans of the Netherlands, many of whom made their Oranje Fanwalk 2 1/2 miles from Rice University to Houston Stadium on Saturday morning.
The team also had some special guests cheering them on, with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima watching from a luxury suite.
Sweden finishes group play Thursday night against Japan at Dallas Stadium, and Netherlands meets Tunisia that night in Kansas City.
Switzerland to follow up and demand the implementation of the other side's commitments.
-
The Canadian Press
Germany avoided a scare as they came from behind to beat the Ivory Coast 2-1 in Toronto on Saturday.
The Ivory Coast took the lead after captain Franck Kessié reacted quickly to turn home a blocked shot in the 30th minute, but the Germans drew level through a Deniz Undav equaliser on 68 minutes. Undav found the end of a fine cross from Nadiem Amiri, volleying home past Yahia Fofana in net.
The Stuttgart forward then broke Ivory Coast hearts in the 94th minute, turning smartly in the box and firing a left-footed shot past the keeper.
The result means Julian Nagelsmann's side, who beat Curaçao 7-1 in their opening match, remain top of Group E and will go through to the knockout stages of the tournament.
Elsewhere, Japan sealed a convincing 4-0 win over Tunisia in Monterrey, knocking the North African side out of the competition.
Goals from Daichi Kamada, Ayase Ueda, Junya Ito and Ayase Ueda put Japan into second in Group F, on equal points with the Netherlands but behind on goal difference. Japan and the Netherlands drew 2-2 in their opening game.
Curaçao also earned a 0-0 draw with Ecuador in Kansas City on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Eloy Room made a string of excellent saves to keep his side in the game, with Curaçao taking home their first ever World Cup point.
Aug 12, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; New York Liberty center Jonquel Jones (35) posts up against Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena.
LOS ANGELES – This upcoming Sparks game on Sunday will be special.
On June 21, 1997, the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) played its very first game. The New York Liberty visited the Los Angeles Sparks in the then-Great Western Forum. The Liberty defeated the Sparks, 67-57, and a revolution was on.
The revolution had its twists and turns, ups and downs, and lefts and rights. But now in its 30th season, the WNBA is here to stay. And the Sparks and Liberty will commemorate that game by playing on the anniversary of the inaugural WNBA contest. Three decades later, two of the original teams will clash at Crypto.Com Arena.
It is not lost upon today’s Sparks.
"This year for the WNBA has just been insane," Sparks guard Ariel Atkins said. "I hope everything that we're doing is giving people not only hope for the future for their sports but also understanding that we aren't going anywhere. We're here to stay and we're only going to get better."
Past Sparks players such as Delisha Milton-Jones, Essence Carson, and Tamecka Dixon stopped by practice on Saturday and gave speeches to the current players.
"I think it's awesome," Sparks coach Lynne Roberts said when asked about the Sparks legends stopping by. "And I think it's great for all of us to be reminded of how far this league has come. And when you hear the stories of these women what they went through and how excited they are for this next generation, it's motivating. And that's why we wanted to have them talk to the team and talk to the players. It's really cool. This franchise has a tremendous storied history and that's why a lot of us are here to get back to where it belongs. And so it's super motivating to hear from these guys."
Atkins is looking forward to the Anniversary Game.
"30 years for the W is absolutely insane. Being a little girl, being able to watch it, and being excited about it. And now not only be playing in it but to be playing in the anniversary of the 30th game. I just think that's insane. I don't even know if I have words for it. But we're here. This is only the beginning. Only 30 years in, which is crazy, because we have forever to go," Atkins added.
Atkins smiled while talking about it. She was not only happy to hear from these legends but proud to see how far the WNBA has come.
"I think the dope part about it is all those players are still around us," Atkins beamed. "Obviously, the ones who are still living, God bless. But they're around. And it's really nice. We had our alumni here today. Just having them here and just seeing the smiles on their face. And seeing how happy they are for us. And how happy they are about where the league is. It just makes you think, like, 30 years down the line; I'm really excited and hope I have the opportunity to come back.
"Just be able to see the league for what it will be," Atkins continued. "Just watching them and their energy. And just the way that they even communicate with their teammates still to this day. Because it's one of your favorite parts about being on the team, right? Like your teammates. And being able to be around them. And just watching them kind of interact and everything. It's always fun. I really enjoy when alumni get to come back. And also just their passion for the organization. It's super contagious. It's nice to always have them around."
Coach Roberts knew what this moment meant.
"It's incredible and it's humbling to be a part of it," Roberts said. "30 years ago, I was playing in college and the game has come a long ways. So, again, it's just really cool playing the Liberty. The names on both teams, the stars that are playing for both teams. It's Nneka (Ogwumike), Kelsey (Plum), and Dearica (Hamby) and Stewie (Breanna Stewart), JJ (Jonquel Jones), and Sabrina (Ionescu). There's some big names. But we've got a lot going on in the game. At the end of the day, it's a 40-minute game that we've got to be ready to play in. But really cool experience and I'm honored to be a part of it."
Yes. The game itself. The Sparks (7-8) have lost their last two and the Liberty (11-5) are mad after their eight-game win streak was snapped in an upset from the visiting Mystics on Friday.
"Everybody's angry coming in here," Atkins joked. "They've been playing together for a while. They have their core players who know each other kind of like the back of their hand. They know what they're trying to get and they run it down to the nose."
"They're a really big team," Sparks newcomer guard Kiana Williams said, who has played the Liberty twice while suiting up for the Mercury. "We've just got to be physical from the jump. When you're laidback and you're waiting for things to happen, it's like, no, you've got to go out there and make things happen. For me, coming in, my mindset is defense. How can I bring the Sparks defensively and on the offensive end, just letting things come because you don't really learn the playbook in one day. So I'm going to go back and watch some film, watch some old games that the Sparks have played, and just try to see where I see myself in spots and just go from there. But I'm really excited."
The Sparks continue to have home court woes; they are 2-6 in Los Angeles.
"We have to start showing up at Crypto with a mentality of aggression," Coach Roberts said, "And tomorrow's a great opportunity against a really good Liberty team."
It was brought up that the Mystics on Friday used a lot of physicality to defeat the Liberty.
"Yes, I think that's going to be something we're going to try to do, too," Roberts said. "And I think they had 48 points in the paint, Washington did. As big as New York is, we've got to have the mindset of being the aggressor."
Jones (6'6"), Stewart (6'4"), and Leonie Fiebich (6'4") certainly provide that size. And they have Satou Sabally (6'4") and Han Xu (6'11"!) coming off the bench. It's a lot to overcome.
And the Liberty just got back all-star guard Sabrina Ionescu to pair with the electrifying three-point shooter Marine Johannes. Rookie Pauline Astier provided firepower when Ionescu was out. And Rebekah Gardner always provides the energy.
As for the Sparks, Kelsey Plum is off the injury report and the team is only short of Cameron Brink. The season is about a third done and the Sparks hope to get something going.
"I think a lot of the times when things don't necessarily go our way, we find a way to adjust," Atkins offered.
"It's what Delisha (Milton-Jones) was just saying to the team," Coach Roberts said. "People are hurt. Next man up. You've got to be ready. And there's a mentality there of no excuses. Next man up. They're all here. Everyone's here for a reason. They're skilled. They've got to be ready to roll."
Just like the league will continue to roll. But there is still a game to be played. And the Sparks need this win to not get too far behind in the standings.
Thomas Tuchel’s hoodie at England training only looked out of place if it was treated like ordinary winter gear.
In the American summer, England is trying to fight the heat before matches even begin.
Tuchel’s training gear is part of that wider plan.
Thomas Tuchel’s hoodie represents cutting-edge heat technology
The sight of Tuchel covered up while England players trained in vests drew attention, but the explanation is practical rather than fashionable.
“He was seen wearing a hoodie while the players were wearing vests. Turns out that sun-protection hoodies are the latest bit of technology that England are using to stay cool in the hot temperatures. The technology is meant to work with the tops filtering harsh UV rays to protect the skin from the sun while the top also uses technology to keep your skin cool and dry. The England players are also using palm-cooling devices and cooling jackets.”
England have been preparing for this for weeks. They flew to Miami on June 1 for their pre-tournament camp, then moved into their Kansas City base around June 13, meaning they had about 20 days in the United States by June 21 and roughly eight days at their tournament base.
Their base has been humid and changeable. Kansas City is forecast to move from the mid-70s into the high 80s this week, with England training under direct Missouri sun.
Their opener against Croatia came in Arlington, where the outside high was around 92 degrees, though Dallas Stadium’s air conditioning softened that problem. Ghana in Foxborough is forecast around 74 degrees near kickoff, while Panama in East Rutherford could be closer to 85 at the start.
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
England’s cooling measures could still change performance
Palm-cooling devices target blood vessels in the hands to help players cool between bursts. Cooling jackets and misting stations aim to lower skin and core temperature during recovery windows. UV hoodies reduce direct sun exposure for staff spending long periods outside.
Studies on soccer-specific cooling vests suggest they may lower physiological and perceived strain, even if they do not automatically improve repeated sprint output. In tournament football, that still matters.
A player who feels fresher at halftime, recovers quicker after training, or manages heat stress better in the final 20 minutes has a small edge.
Tuchel has already admitted England are not naturally used to this heat and humidity, but he has also insisted it cannot become an excuse. The hoodie is not a gimmick. It is a visible sign that England are chasing every marginal gain before the weather can take one away.
For Sam Washington Jr., having a father who often was away from the home he grew up in on the west side of Detroit was a good thing.
In fact, it proved to be a good thing for many youths growing up in Detroit during the late 1950s through most of the 1980s.
Because when the late, local legend, Sam Washington Sr., wasn't at his own home, it meant he was somewhere enriching the lives of other young people.
One of Washington Sr.’s away-from-home spaces for doing good in his community was a cozy outdoor space behind Detroit’s 10th Police Precinct, 12000 Livernois, known as Hebert Field. There, he and a few other like-minded dads focused on finding ways for more kids — particularly Detroit kids — to be able to participate in positive, life-changing experiences.
"Around 1967, the West Side Cubs were the only game in town for Black kids that wanted to play organized football or baseball or cheer, and my dad hated seeing so many kids getting cut because the Cubs (founded in 1957) couldn’t accommodate everyone that wanted to play,” the 69-year-old Washington Jr., who was fortunate enough to play for the Cubs, recalled.
“That was a time when Detroit had a population of well over a million people (approximately 1.6 million). So, my dad (the athletic director at St. Cecilia Catholic Church) and other coaches and fathers from the Cubs (Allen “Jocko” Hughes, Leland Stein Jr. and Ron Thompson) started the St. Cecilia Beacons.
“We didn’t just play (in the Catholic Youth Organization League) we had cheerleaders, food and tailgaters — the whole nine yards. And when we played in the fall, as it started to get dark, some of the dads would shine their car headlights on the field so we could keep on playing."
Washington Jr. said another part of the Beacons' ritual entailed team members walking across Livernois, in unison, en route to Hebert Field after changing into their uniforms in the locker room within the venerable St. Cecilia Gymnasium at Livernois and Stearns.
It is the same gymnasium — known simply as reverently as "The Saint" — where Washington Jr.'s father created a legendary basketball program in 1968, which is still talked about today by hoopers and fans alike across the country.
And because Sam Washington Sr., a football, basketball and baseball standout at Detroit's Western High School, made the very most of his 54 years on Earth by using sports as a vehicle to advance thousands of young people in the game of life, his son can never go long without being reminded of his father's contributions to his beloved Detroit.
This is true any time, but especially around Father's Day, because Washington Sr. was a father to so many.
"I can be anywhere and people come up to let me know how my father helped them," said the junior Washington, who 38 years after his dad's death following a stroke in his office at St. Cecilia, still has a hard time comprehending how his father was routinely able to work from 7 a.m. to midnight to keep the basketball program at "The Saint" running strong.
"It was incredible how much time he spent at the gym. But growing up, I knew if I wanted to see him that's where he was going to be. I thought my dad was old when he was 40, but he never stopped wanting to help people. And being Sam Washington Jr., everyone knows that name and that keeps me on my toes."
Part of being "Sam Washington Jr." also involves proudly serving as a caretaker of Detroit's basketball history. While speaking on consecutive days beginning June 15, Washington shared a boatload of stories about action that took place at "The Saint" across multiple decades, involving a Who's Who of sports royalty from Detroit, Michigan and even outstate.
A short list of the leading figures in these stories includes NBA legends and Hall of Famers like Derrick Coleman, Terry Duerod, George "The Ice Man" Gervin, Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Greg Kelser, Bernard King, Dan Roundfield, Campy Russell, Steve Smith, Isiah Thomas, Chris Webber, and Jalen Rose, who, as an elementary school student at St. Cecilia's school, was invited downstairs by Sam Washington Sr. to view footage of Rose's father, Jimmie Walker, who was selected first overall in the 1967 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons.
There also were stories about Detroit Pistons great Dave Bing, who paved the way for other NBA players to bring their talents to the "Mecca of Detroit Basketball."
However, while stories about legendary players that played at "Ceciliaville" are virtually endless, Detroiters that have studied its history as closely as Washington, like Randy Henry, say there is much more to the story. And that is why the legacy of Sam Washington Sr. should be revisited today.
In 1968, a 13-year-old Henry thought the opportunity to see Dave Bing play at The Saint for a quarter was a chance of a lifetime. But his visits to Livernois and Stearns afterward benefited him even more.
"At that time in Detroit, there were a lot of places where good basketball was being played, like the 4H Club, Peterson Park, Franklin Wright Settlements, Brewster Recreation Center, and Lasky Recreation Center," said Henry, a former longtime producer/director at WDIV-TV Local 4, who also produced "The Saint: Where Stars Are Made Not Born," a documentary film that was released in 2019.
"But if you wanted to find out if you could really play and compete, you came to St. Cecilia. And then, afterwards, we all walked down the street together to the Burger King and there was no retaliation," only respect.
Henry continued: "Every high school coach in Detroit would be at The Saint evaluating the talent, and college coaches would come in from across the country. But the thing most people miss about The Saint, was that it wasn't just about great players. It was much more than that, because Sam started the basketball program and opened it up to the city to get kids off the street during the riots, and it continued to be our safe haven through the years.
"Our roundtable discussions about the future, we had them at The Saint. And because you had to have discipline and follow Sam's rules, you had confidence when he helped to place you at a college and then we all couldn't wait to come back during the holiday breaks to brag about what we were doing.
"Sam and all of the adults put their arms around us and made us believe that we could go anywhere in the country and be successful. We were a family and we need more of what we had at The Saint today."
Henry spoke from the heart on the afternoon of June 16. Later that day, Keith Bennett, Henry's dear friend and schoolmate at Mackenzie High School, explained that The Saint symbolized "family" to him as well, starting first and foremost with Sam Washington Sr.
"I didn't meet my father until I was 35 years old, but Sam did things for me that my father could not have done," Bennett, who was coaching high school athletes before he graduated from Mackenzie in 1974, said.
With Washington's guidance and care, Bennett also was able to tackle other high-level responsibilities at a young age, including being assistant director of St. Cecilia's gym and assistant men's basketball coach at the University of Detroit.
Bennett continued: "Sam became almost like my God figure because he always stood up for me and I became an extension of the Washington family."
And because Bennett, like many other Detroiters, made a family connection with Sam Washington Sr.'s life's work, he will be happy to know that the son of the great man also is looking forward to continuing a proud legacy.
"I will definitely reflect on my dad's legacy on Father's Day because that's something I always do," Sam Washington Jr., who provides tutoring, SAT preparation, life-skill programs and basketball clinics through the nonprofit Sam Washington Foundation, said.
Washington also said he hopes to have an opportunity in the future to provide programming for youths at the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia, which currently is being built on the campus of St. Cecilia's Church, which includes the fabled gymnasium.
"My father was a visionary who was ahead of his time. He was doing free clinics and went to Lansing to allow our kids playing in high school to travel to different states, not just for the basketball, but for the life experiences. His door was always wide open, and he didn't care what color you were," he said.
"And everything he did came from his heart — he was a good man, a good father. When I was younger, I really didn't understand how impactful he was. But we can all still learn from him today."
Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city’s neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber.
The Iran team were forced to leave straight after their opening match -Credit:FREDERIC J. BROWN, AFP via Getty Images
Iran will head back to the United States to face Belgium in the World Cup just days after being ordered to leave the country. Amir Ghalenoei's side have been busy preparing for the Red Devils at their training base in Mexico following a hard-fought 2-2 draw with New Zealand.
However, the national team were thrown into chaos when they were forced to depart the United States immediately after their opening group-stage match.
Ghalenoei revealed that the Iran squad were given minimal time to recover from the grueling draw before being directed to return to their training base in Mexico.
The team's participation in the World Cup has been plagued by logistical and political complications, including their relocation from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, shortly before the tournament got underway. Addressing the difficulties the team has faced, the manager said: "They didn't even give us time to recover.
The Iran team are staying and training in Tijuana, Mexico -Credit:Francisco Vega, Getty Images
"After the game today, they said to us, 'You have to leave immediately.' It's very important for us to have time for recovery, but we are asked to get on a plane and return to our camp in Tijuana, and we are really troubled by that.
"They delayed our arrivals, and they are forcing us to go back early without time for recovery. They are making the situation more and more difficult, facing us with more hurdles, but we're not going to let that stop us from doing our best.", reports the Mirror.
Several squad members were also reportedly denied entry into the USA, but have since completed the 136-mile journey from Tijuana to Los Angeles ahead of their clash with Belgium.
It remains unclear whether the national team will once again be required to return to Mexico before their final group game against Egypt at Seattle Stadium next weekend.
A number of players have voiced their frustration over the poor treatment they have experienced, with Iran striker Mehdi Taremi describing the situation as a "disaster."
The Iranian national team have had to stick together during the controversies of the tournament -Credit:Harry How/Getty Images
He said: "FIFA told us you have to go because it's our preparation. It's supposed to be tomorrow morning recovery, then we fly to Tijuana, then return to Los Angeles again.
"But now, right now, we have to go back. We don't have our media, we don't have our president of the federation, we don't have the vice-president and some staff also, which is so important for us. Everything is a disaster, actually, for us.
"It's not the right thing for us, but we don't follow the excuse. We're just looking forward, we're having hope for the next two games, and we will do our best for our people."
Mohammad Mohebi, who netted the equalizer for Iran against New Zealand, also weighed in, stating: "We need fair competition. I think we were meant to come here two days before the game.
"Yesterday we came, and we arrived in the afternoon. We went training and we get tired. I think we were supposed to be here two days before the game, and these kind of things are not fair."
Watching the USMNT in a World Cup knockout game is becoming a serious money decision, not just a soccer one.
The possible July 1 Round of 32 match at Levi’s Stadium has become one of the tournament’s hottest resale tickets, with prices moving fast as the United States build momentum at home.
For fans, the window to buy cheap has already closed.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
USMNT World Cup knockout tickets surge on StubHub and TicketData
StubHub inventory and TicketData tracking show how expensive the potential USMNT Round of 32 game in Santa Clara has become.
The match is scheduled for July 1 at Levi’s Stadium, with the United States potentially facing a third-place qualifier from Groups B, E, F, I or J.
TicketData tracks resale listings across marketplaces, and its World Cup page showed tickets for upcoming tournament matches starting at $431 overall. But the USMNT knockout market is far above that baseline.
Reports around the Santa Clara match have put the cheapest resale seats near $1,900 after earlier prices were closer to $1,200, a jump of roughly 58%. Some broader resale reports have shown even sharper spikes when the U.S. path became clearer.
That is the power of a home World Cup. Neutral matches can cool off, but the USMNT brings local demand, national emotion and limited knockout inventory together at once.
World Cup ticket prices expose huge USMNT demand
This is not the same for every team. Big-name countries, host nations and knockout games drive the biggest jumps, while less glamorous group-stage matches can move more slowly.
The wider tournament has already shown volatile pricing. TicketData listed group-stage get-in prices up 16% over seven days and 71% over 14 days, proving demand can swing quickly once results shape the bracket.
FIFA’s official ticket portal and resale marketplace remain the safest buying route, while StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats and other resale sites are used by fans comparing availability. Outside platforms can carry risk if tickets violate FIFA terms.
The 2026 World Cup runs through July 19, when the final will be played at New York New Jersey Stadium.
For now, the USMNT’s Santa Clara price surge tells its own story. A home knockout game is no longer just a match. It is one of the most expensive seats in American soccer.
Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Heinz found a very World Cup way to turn FIFA’s strict sponsor rules into free attention.
The joke started with one of the strangest sights of the 2026 tournament: condiment bottles inside stadium areas having their labels covered with tape.
For FIFA, it was brand protection. For Heinz, it became a marketing opening.
Photo by Hakan Akgun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Heinz mocks FIFA clean stadium policy with World Cup ketchup move
A Front Office Sports post said FIFA taped over condiment bottles at the World Cup to cover non-sponsor logos, so Heinz made its own version of ketchup that fits the rules.
The policy is known as a clean-stadium or clean-site rule. It requires World Cup venues to remove, cover or rename non-FIFA sponsor branding so official partners get exclusive visibility inside the stadium footprint.
That is why corporate stadium names disappear during the tournament, with venues rebranded under generic city names. It is also why permanent signs, card machines, concession items and even sauce bottles can get covered.
Heinz leaned into the absurdity by releasing a FIFA-friendly ketchup look after labels were reportedly hidden with black tape. The brand did not fight the rule. It mocked the rule by designing around it.
The result was a small product gag that understood the internet perfectly: make the restriction the campaign.
FIFA sponsor rules turn stadium cover-ups into World Cup comedy
Heinz is not the only brand to find attention in being hidden.
Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara had its branding covered for the tournament, but Levi’s embraced the joke on social media by using covered-logo imagery. Other venues, including MetLife, SoFi, NRG, Lincoln Financial Field and Gillette Stadium, have also been renamed or stripped of regular sponsor visibility.
The policy existed at previous World Cups too, including 2018 and 2022. FIFA uses it because official sponsors pay huge fees for category exclusivity, and the tournament broadcast reaches a global audience.
That does not make the taped ketchup any less funny. It just explains why FIFA cares about a sauce bottle in the first place.
The 2026 World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, with the final scheduled for New York New Jersey Stadium. By then, clean-stadium rules will have hidden hundreds of logos.
Heinz simply found a way to make everyone notice the one FIFA tried to cover.
Jun 3, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) warms up during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Las Vegas Raiders love the mentality of their new franchise quarterback, Fernando Mendoza.
In a recently posted video by the Raiders, Mendoza acknowledged that some people think he sounds like ChatGPT when he speaks to the media. He doesn’t agree, and he doesn’t really care either.
#Raiders GM John Spytek asked Fernando Mendoza during his combine visit what perception about him isn't true.
Mendoza said people often portray him as someone who doesn't curse and as ChatGPT - and that his teammates would tell you that's not true.
"The media painted a picture about me that was a little, maybe a little different than my true personality, especially for the Ohio State game,” Mendoza said. “After I said, you know, flipping, rather than f****** and, at that point, it was like, okay, he doesn't curse, he's a goodie two-shoes, and I don’t know, like, my whole thing is, like, yeah, I communicate with your teammates, communicate with coaches.
"So, let me get really good at speaking. I’ve always taken speech classes, I’ve always looked on YouTube videos, how to communicate, you know, how to be a better leader, a huge reader as well. So, with that, it’s developed senses where people like all this guy’s Chad GPT, but I’ve been able to connect my teammates really well and not in a Chat GPT scenario.”
Mendoza talks the way he talks because he is deliberate with his words. He wants to make sure every sentence comes out exactly as he intends. We all know how media works these days. People can twist your words however they want and get away with it.
So Mendoza takes the cautious route, which almost always means hyping up his teammates and glorifying God, as he should. That combination of precision and positivity apparently gives off an AI feel to some, but it’s just how he’s wired.
The Raiders love what Mendoza brings to the table
In the video from Mendoza’s pre-draft interview, it was clear he already knew how people felt about him. He addressed it, moved on, and made it obvious he’s going to keep being himself. Las Vegas doesn’t care how polished he sounds on a microphone. The Raiders care that he knows how to win, that he’s extremely smart, and that he outworks everybody around him.
That work ethic draws a natural comparison to Tom Brady, the Raiders’ minority owner and the greatest quarterback of all time. The comparison isn’t about playing style, though there are similarities. It’s not about one having a killer mentality and the other lacking one. Both of them will outwork you, plain and simple. They don’t sound anything alike. They don’t even talk in a remotely similar way. But both of them love football, and both will make sure they are as prepared as anyone else on the field when it’s time to play.
Mendoza may not sound like AI, but he could have all the answers
The whole ChatGPT conversation is funny, but it speaks to something real about Mendoza’s personality. He is calculated, thoughtful, and careful with every word. Some people read that as robotic. The Raiders read it as maturity. For a rookie quarterback stepping into a franchise that has been searching for its guy at the position for years, those traits are exactly what you want.
Mendoza may not sound like ChatGPT, but there’s a real chance he has all the answers every time he steps onto the field. And for Las Vegas, that’s the only thing that matters.
Eloy Room turned Curacao’s first World Cup point into a goalkeeping record that had stood untouched across nearly six decades of tracked tournament data.
The 37-year-old did not just keep Ecuador out. He dragged Curaçao through wave after wave of pressure and made the draw feel like a victory.
For a nation still new to this stage, it was a survival act with historic weight.
Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images
Eloy Room World Cup saves record stuns Ecuador in Curaçao draw
An OptaJoe post confirmed Room made 15 saves against Ecuador, the most on record since 1966 by any goalkeeper in a World Cup match that did not feature extra time.
The match finished Ecuador 0-0 Curacao in Kansas City, giving Curaçao their first-ever World Cup point. Ecuador dominated possession, territory and chances, but Room kept finding a way across his line.
His saves came against repeated pressure from Ecuador’s attackers, including efforts involving Enner Valencia, Gonzalo Plata and John Yeboah. Curacao defended deep, absorbed long spells without the ball and relied heavily on Room’s positioning and reactions.
The record-setting night was not just about volume. Ecuador put 15 shots on target and Room stopped all 15, turning a statistical mismatch into a clean sheet.
Eloy Room passes 90-minute mark but Tim Howard remains above overall
The important distinction is extra time. Tim Howard’s iconic 16-save performance for the United States against Belgium in 2014 remains the widely cited overall single-game World Cup benchmark, but that match lasted 120 minutes.
Howard set that mark in a 2-1 round-of-16 defeat, holding Belgium scoreless through 90 minutes before Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku struck in extra time.
Room now sits above every goalkeeper for a non-extra-time World Cup match. Howard is still just above him on the broader list with 16, while Guillermo Ochoa’s 2014 display for Mexico against Brazil remains another modern high-save reference point below that elite tier.
The draw also changed Curaçao’s tournament mood after their heavy opening defeat to Germany. Instead of another painful night, Room gave them belief and a place in World Cup record books.
Some clean sheets are routine. This one was a goalkeeper building a wall for 90 minutes.
The SoFi stadium will be host to eight World Cup matches -Credit:Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
ESPN is utilizing the NFL Network studios for their World Cup coverage this summer, capitalizing on their recent acquisition of the network. On April 1, ESPN officially completed the takeover of NFL Network in a deal valued at approximately $3 billion, bringing some of the biggest analysts, including Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter, from rival organizations into the same fold.
The acquisition encompasses not just NFL Network itself, but all of its programming, including NFL Fantasy, along with the rights to distribute NFL RedZone across ESPN's platforms.
Throughout the summer, ESPN has moved in to leverage the NFL Network's studios, located across from SoFi Stadium — one of 16 venues being utilized for the World Cup.
The move follows ESPN having scaled back their Los Angeles operations and transitioning to smaller studios prior to the NFL Network acquisition, while shifting their city presence toward their Connecticut headquarters on the East Coast.
Ian Rapoport was included in the ESPN acquisition -Credit:2025 Kevin Sabitus
The NFL Network purchase has since rekindled the need for a Los Angeles studio base, with ESPN now operating out of the NFL Network building in the city for their ongoing World Cup broadcasts, reports the Mirror US.
Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium is set to host eight matches at this year's World Cup, and is also scheduled to stage this year's Super Bowl.
The 2026 season will mark the first full campaign since ESPN and NFL Network's merger, with fans eagerly anticipating what changes will unfold throughout the year.
The NFL Network broadcasts numerous popular programs, including during the offseason when activity in the sport is minimal - particularly throughout the summer months.
ESPN's takeover of the NFL Network, and utilization of their facilities, may have rescued it though - as its future had reportedly been uncertain.
The bulk of ESPN's operations are based on the East Coast, but the World Cup and Super Bowl could ensure the facilities stay operational for at least another year.
ESPN is anticipated to implement numerous modifications in the 2026 season, partly because its new slate of games, along with 'Monday Night Football', is expected to include international contests, scheduled to kick off on Sunday morning.
The NFL will be staging up to nine international games in 2026, with matchups in London, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Rio, Mexico City and Melbourne.
Scottie Scheffler has his first chance to win the career Grand Slam. These opportunities are more rare than we think.Getty Images
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Golf is a funny game. We all know it. You don’t need a reminder from this writer. But how about when he says it?
“Golf is such a funny game. A good example this week, if I finish second this week, it’s almost like, Hey, you failed in your first chance to win the career Grand Slam. It’s kind of, like, is finishing second a failure?”
That was Scottie Scheffler, of course. He said it four days ago, seated inside a white tent at Shinnecock Hills, squarely in front of a camera, beaming out a specific Scottie brand of perspective to the world. But does he feel the same way right now?
Probably not. We’re in the throes of battle now, made clear by that scream and fist-pump he unleashed on the 14th hole. He thought the tournament was slipping away, but chipped in for a miraculous birdie. You can bet he’s stewing about the 4-footer he missed on 18 — that would make him human — which would have brought him one stroke closer to the top of the leaderboard. Instead, he’s six shots back. A few guys have a puncher’s chance, but he has the longest arms.
The point of this exercise is that moods change as context changes. It was 336 days ago when he was asked for the first time about the career Grand Slam, just hours after winning the Open Championship. He laughed it off and reminded us — the people who really, really care about these things — that he is one of the few who doesn’t.
On Tuesday, it felt like much the same as he delivered that line about second place and failure — quintessential Scheffler, reminding us to embrace the journey, to stop and smell the roses. But he followed it in a curious way, saying second is not always that bad… “But man, does it frickin’ hurt at the same time.”
The point where it can frickin’ hurt is officially here, rising from a low heat to an eery boil. From 49th on Thursday night to 11th on Friday night to 2nd on Saturday. He may seem destined for the grand slam, but a number of people have gotten this close and it seems to be a coin-flip if destiny becomes reality. Technically, Scheffler’s new to it. This is his first try at the final leg. He knows he will have more. But he also knows how many second-place finishes Phil Mickelson has at the U.S. Open. He may not know that 13 players have three legs of the four, but he does know that one of them is his Dallas buddy Jordan Spieth, who has been chasing it for nearly a decade. Every year the quest takes on different meaning. Scheffler had the honor to putting the green jacket on Rory McIlroy at the 2025 Masters, the tears of relief following McIlroy’s own decade-long pursuit still drying on his freckly cheeks.
“I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake,” Scheffler said, admitting in the most coy way that he’s finally thought about what could be an impossibly epic Scottie Day. The best golfer in the world will rise Sunday morning to the new reality that his 20s are officially behind him. Sunday is his 30th birthday. He’ll spend a few hours with his young children, for it is also Father’s Day and there are many hours before the final pairing.
Once the emotions of all that settles into something less fluid, he’ll receive a moment. It might come on the front nine, the 7th hole, the par-3 11th or the closing stretch. It might last 30 seconds, 30 minutes or maybe even longer. He’ll have a reason to think the thing that everyone else is thinking right now: the slam is possible.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Yennier Cano (78) reacts for the save and final out against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers were given one last gift Saturday night at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium.
After being dominated for seven innings by Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers, they suddenly found themselves with the tying run on third base, the winning run on first, and their highest-paid player stepping to the plate.
Four pitches later, it was over.
Kyle Tucker swung through three consecutive splitters low in the strike zone and struck out to end the game, capping a frustrating night for both Tucker and a Dodgers offense that once again failed to provide Yoshinobu Yamamoto with enough support in a 3-2 loss to Baltimore.
Kyle Tucker had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth, and instead had one of the most noncompetitive at bats of the year in MLB. Tonight Tucker was moved down to the seventh spot in the Dodgers lineup.
The Orioles entered the ninth inning in complete control before a defensive mistake opened the door. Shohei Ohtani, back from paternity leave, launched a solo home run to right field to put the Dodgers on the board. Freddie Freeman followed with a walk, Mookie Betts reached on an infield hit, and Tommy Edman brought home another run when Leody Taveras dropped a fly ball in right field.
Suddenly, the Dodgers had life.
Then came Tucker's at-bat.
With the tying run 90 feet away, Tucker chased splitter after splitter below the zone, never forcing Orioles’ Yennier Cano into the strike zone. It was the kind of at-bat that leaves a stadium stunned because the opportunity was there. It was Cano’s first save of the season.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Yennier Cano (78) throws in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
William Navarro-Imagn Images
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Yennier Cano (78) throws in the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers didn't need a home run. They didn't even need an extra-base hit.
They just needed a quality plate appearance.
Instead, Tucker expanded the zone three straight times and watched the comeback end before it truly had a chance to begin.
For a player in the first season of a four-year, $240 million contract, those moments inevitably draw attention.
The Dodgers did not sign Tucker simply for regular-season production. They signed him because they believed he could deliver in October. But through 73 games, the offensive consistency has been difficult to find.
Tucker is hitting .238 with six home runs, 40 RBIs and a .715 OPS. While there is still plenty of time before the postseason, the production has fallen well short of expectations for a player earning $60 million this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) bats as Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (29) watches at Dodger Stadium.
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23) bats as Baltimore Orioles catcher Samuel Basallo (29) watches at Dodger Stadium.
His offensive numbers have steadily declined from the peak years that made him one of baseball's top hitters. In his final season with Houston in 2024, Tucker hit .289 with 23 home runs. Last season with the Cubs, he batted .266 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs.
The Dodgers were willing to overlook the downward trend because they believed his bat would remain a difference-maker in a championship lineup.
So far, that gamble remains a work in progress.
Dave Roberts has maintained confidence in Tucker, noting in recent weeks that he believes the veteran outfielder has started to settle in and turn a corner with his new club.
The Dodgers certainly hope that's true.
Saturday's loss, however, belonged more to Baltimore's pitching than Tucker's struggles.
Rogers entered the game carrying a 5.86 ERA and proceeded to silence one of baseball's most expensive lineups. The left-hander threw seven scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six and walking two.
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman (25) reaches first base in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.
William Navarro-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman (25) reaches first base in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.
Tommy Edman's bloop single in the fifth inning broke up Rogers' no-hit bid and represented the Dodgers' only hit against him all night.
"We got bullied tonight with the fastball," Roberts said afterward.
The statement accurately summarized the evening.
Meanwhile, Yamamoto once again found himself pitching with little margin for error.
The right-hander allowed three runs over six innings while striking out six and throwing 102 pitches. The outing raised his ERA to 2.65 and dropped his record to 7-5.
"I was looking for the right feel," Yamamoto said. "That was the biggest struggle for me."
Baltimore scratched across a run in the second inning when Colby Mayo produced an RBI fielder's choice. The decisive blow came in the fourth.
Leody Taveras singled to put runners on first and second before Blaze Alexander ripped a two-run double past a diving Edman at third base, extending the Orioles' lead to 3-0.
That proved to be enough.
Yamamoto has spent much of the season delivering quality starts while waiting for offensive support that often arrives too late. Saturday was another example.
The Dodgers finally showed signs of life when Ohtani returned from paternity leave and immediately reminded everyone why he's one of baseball's most dangerous hitters.
After the game, Roberts said he had briefly congratulated Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko.
"I talked to him briefly, congratulated him and Mamiko," Roberts said. "He says his body feels great, so the day off was good for him."
Ohtani's ninth-inning home run nearly sparked a dramatic comeback.
Instead, the night ended with Tucker chasing one splitter after another.
The Dodgers can live with a loss. They can live with being shut down by a pitcher who had his best outing of the season.
What they need moving forward is for Tucker to become the player they invested $240 million in. Because when October arrives, those are the moments he'll be paid to deliver.
Miguel Rojas spoke after the game and credited Orioles’ Rogers for keeping them off balance, sharing what he takes away from this game.
“The willingness to continue to fight throughout the whole game. We had an opportunity to tie the game right there in the ninth with really good swings,” Rojas said. “We got a couple other good swings in the seventh and the eighth, but the ball couldn't find the grass, and we couldn't score any runs. But yeah, credit to Rogers today, he pitched a pretty good game.”
"It wasn't our night. We gotta bounce back and come back tomorrow and get the series." Rojas said.
The Dodgers will try to secure the series on Father's Day Sunday when Emmet Sheehan (5-2, 4.76 ERA) takes the mound against Orioles right-hander Brandon Young (5-2, 3.18 ERA).
German boss Julian Nagelsmann admitted that the much-criticized hydration break helped his side against Curacao -Credit:Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images
World Cup matches are set to be contested in sweltering conditions as summer temperatures continue to climb, with players already voicing their frustration ahead of further potential interruptions.
The 2026 World Cup kicked off on June 11 in Mexico City, with five weeks of action through to the final on July 19. Fixtures are being staged across Mexico, Canada and the United States, with temperatures expected to soar over the coming weeks as fans brace themselves for extreme conditions.
Despite some displeasure surrounding the two hydration breaks per game — widely criticized as little more than glorified commercial breaks — they could prove crucial in the weeks ahead.
Miami is bracing for intense heat, with Saudi Arabia's recent clash against Uruguay played in the city, where temperatures peaked at 88°F at one point.
The hydration breaks have been slammed by so many around the world -Credit:Getty Images
The global players' union, FIFPRO, has made its stance clear that any match played at or above 82°F should be either delayed or postponed, reports the Mirror US.
This World Cup is widely considered the hottest on record. The 2022 Qatar World Cup was relocated to the winter months specifically due to the heat — a measure not adopted for this year's tournament.
FIFA had previously been cautioned that it risked staging games in "potentially dangerous levels of heat."
Dr. Donal Mullan, a climate scientist at Queen's University, published extensive research indicating that nearly 90 percent of stadiums could be exposed to potentially dangerous heat levels — a situation only likely to deteriorate as the tournament progresses into its final stages.
Players are facing extreme temperatures in the World Cup this year -Credit:Photo by Ercin Erturk/Anadolu via Getty Images
"There is a very real risk that both players and fans will be exposed to extreme heat during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Moving games to evenings isn't going to be enough to tackle the problem," Dr. Mullan said.
"I would urge football fans to prepare in advance for perilous conditions to protect their safety. Staying well hydrated is vital.
"Since March, we have seen record-breaking temperatures across parts of the US. Global warming is a real challenge.
"As a society, we now feel the impact of this in so many areas of our lives. For sport, it's fast becoming a public health issue."
He added: Climate change is having a big impact on the world around us, including elite sport. The first priority has to be the health and welfare of athletes and spectators.
Wyndham Clark at the U.S. Open on Saturday.getty images
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Six golfers have won the career Grand Slam and on Father’s Day 2026, on the day he turns 30, Scottie Scheffler has the chance to become the seventh. Through three rounds of this 126th U.S. Open, here at Shinnecock Hills, Scheffler is one under par and in a four-way tie for second, six shots behind the 54-hole leader, Wyndham Clark.
Should Wyndham Clark win this tourney? Of course he should. But there’s something not-quite-right about the word should, and there’s something not-quite-right about big leads on Sundays at majors. They can get in the leader’s head. They’re unreliable.
Clark, winner of the 2023 U.S. Open, has led after the first, second and third rounds here. Leads get heavier and heavier. Big leads get heavier yet. Three days of windblown golf can make your head rattle. The leader’s long wait for a mid-afternoon tee time can lead to wayward thinking.
This is all a ’round-about way of saying that Scottie Scheffler’s chances of winning his first U.S. Open on Sunday, and completing the career Grand Slam, are not totally remote. Would a win from him be a longshot? Of course. But not an impossible-shot. A Sunday 66 could be enough. Golf is a numbers game, and, of course, a head game. You can’t separate the two.
“I think it’s appropriate to understand what’s at stake,” Scheffler said early Saturday night, with Clark still on the course. The sentence is such an insight into how his mind works, about his ability and desire to take things straight on. “I’ve worked really hard for a long time to have a chance to win golf tournaments and to win major championships. I think understanding the moment, and giving it your best shot, is all part of the process.”
The man was faking nothing. The man fakes nothing.
Ernie Els was watching from home, in South Florida. In his World Golf Hall of Fame career, Els won two U.S. Opens and two British Opens. He loves Shinnecock Hills, with all its rattles and rolls, with all its nods to “Golf in the Kingdom.” He likes Shinnecock’s deep beach-sand bunkers and its grasses that present in every shade of brown and green. Shinnecock brings two Open rota courses, or two in particular, to mind for Els: Royal Portrush, where Scheffler won the Open last July, and Muirfield, where Els won the 2002 Open.
Els knows something that Scheffler may find out on Sunday: the mindset, and the skillset, that paves the way to a British Open win can pave the way for a U.S. Open win. Not any U.S. Open win. A U.S. Open win at linksy Shinnecock Hills.
“I think the Sunday setup will favor Scheffler, I think it’s better for his higher ball flight,” Els said. The Sunday pin positions are likely to be far more demanding than they have been so far, and the course is likely to be, by far, its firmest. The harder the course, the better for Scheffler, and any chaser. The prospect of completing the career Grand Slam, Els said, will be a positive for Scheffler.
Tiger Woods needed three years to win the career Grand Slam. Jack Nicklaus needed four. Gary Player needed seven. Ben Hogan needed eight. Gene Sarazen needed 13 years. Rory McIlroy needed 14. If Scheffler wins on Sunday, he will have completed the career Grand Slam in four years — four years and two months, to be precise — and he will have done it on his first chance. He won the Masters in 2022 and ’24, and he won the PGA Championship and British Open last year.
“It may look like a links golf course because there are no trees and you have that kind of grass, but I don’t think it necessarily plays like [a links course],” Scheffler said. “You can hit a few linksy-type shots, but overall, the ball is still played in the air on this golf course. The ball needs to be hit up in the air, especially to hold these greens.”
So, in conclusion, combining Els’s commentary and Scheffler’s: On Sunday at Shinnecock, we’re going to get some of both, British golf and American golf.
Scheffler and Clark are in the day’s last twosome on Sunday, off at 2:30 p.m. Clark will be playing, on some level, to make us all forget about how he bashed in that locker at Oakmont last year.
Scheffler is playing for something far more glorious.
Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com.
Wyndham Clark faced many opportunities to lose the U.S. Open on Saturday. He emerged instead with a six-shot lead.Getty Images
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Here it is: The Moment.
The sun is setting on U.S. Open Saturday, the people are growing just a little restless, and Wyndham Clark’s ball is in hell. A U.S. Open is in our midst. It’s touching our fingertips. We can FEEL it.
Clark has a 15-footer for par here on the 13th. He hit his approach high and soft and straight into a bunker. And then hit his bunker shot to 15 feet. And now he’s a low-percentage miss away from a bogey that would open the door just far enough for the size 13 shoes of one Scottie Scheffler. All Clark has to do is miss.
And then, bam, Clark’s right arm is extended in front of him in a moment of quiet exhalation. He’s walking to the next tee box and writing a number 4 with his small pencil. He’s drained what feels like his 12th (but is really like his fourth) back-saving par of the afternoon … and sucked all of the air out of Shinnecock in the process.
It was an unusually quiet walk down the back nine for Wyndham Clark on U.S. Open Saturday, the same day he emerged with a six-shot 54-hole lead and a vice grip on his second major championship. Only a few dozen fans were walking along the ropes as Clark finished his journey up the 18th — a scene so unusual in the history of this famously egalitarian tournament that not even the leader could believe it.
“It was unfortunate it got a little flat,” said Clark, who leads a group of four players by six (one being Scheffler). “Sometimes it made it tough to stay really focused because it seemed like everyone was leaving, and it was like the tournament was over, and I had to keep myself really focused and in the present.”
Of course, to the throngs of fans headed toward the exits after that putt fell on the 13th — and frankly much before it too — the tournament already was over. Ever since Clark started this U.S. Open with a 64 in mostly listless golden hour conditions, he has held the tournament by the throat. On Saturday, you didn’t need to stay to the bitter end to see that reality had not changed.
“Oh my gosh,” one fan said, exasperated, when the eagle putt fell into the hole on 16 to briefly bring the lead to seven. “It’s over!”
Technically, not yet. We have seen too many of these major championships to know that a 54-hole lead means about as much as the leaderboard it’s stapled to. The tournaments are 72 holes. The U.S. Open is 72 holes on the high wire over a snake pit.
And yet, not even Clark could deny that. If you watched all 50-plus feet of par putts fall on Saturday evening, you did not leave Shinnecock with the feeling that you were witnessing the loser.
“Yeah. Scottie is the best player in the world, and he’s going to play probably really good,” Clark said. “But it’s nice to have a six-shot lead on him.”
Should Clark close things out in casual fashion on Sunday, it will be tempting to frame the win as a career-altering moment for an unusually gifted player, particularly after Clark’s high-profile locker room debacle at Oakmont a year ago. But it feels more accurate, even to the man himself, to call it for what it is: the latest extreme high of a very volatile career.
“Today was very volatile. Hopefully tomorrow it can be definitely a little more low-key, and hopefully I can play some boring golf,” Clark said. “But I don’t disagree with [the suggestion I’m a volatile player.]”
For the few dozen fans who caught all of his back nine on Saturday evening, there was something oddly charming about this side of that volatility. Clark would not be denied. He would not be stopped. He would not yield an inch of ground even as nearly everyone and everything around him seemed to be rooting for the slightest retreat.
He was, in a word, irrepressible — and that is a very difficult thing to be at a U.S. Open.
So now, here we are, on Saturday evening, preparing for — and some of us hoping for — a Moment.
The U.S. Open has not truly broken out yet, and Wyndham Clark is the reason why. That’s mighty impressive.
After a stunning loss in Friday's game, the Los Angeles Angels managed to recover with some impressive poise and performance. The Halos led wire-to-wire, collecting a 7-0 victory over the Athletics at Sutter Health Park on Saturday night.
Walbert Urena, coming off his lengthiest start of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, was dialed in on the mound once again. The right-hander tossed five innings of shutout baseball, allowing four hits and striking out six while walking none. He improved to 5-5, now boasting a 2.41 ERA on the season.
It's been quite the stretch for the 22-year-old, who has now worked ten consecutive starts of at least five innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs. Urena is continuing to solidify himself as a reliable arm in a pitching staff that has struggled, currently posting the fourth-highest team ERA in the American League.
After Urena finished taking care of business on the mound, Zach Neto and Nolan Schanuel used their bats in the top of the sixth to ensure he'd walk away with a victory. Each smacked two-run doubles in the frame against Athletics' right-hander Scott Barlow, adding four big insurance runs.
The infielders each found space to sneak ground balls through opposite sides of the diamond, with Neto's grounder getting by the third base side while Schanuel's scorched past first. After going deep in Friday's loss, Schanuel now has extra-base hits on back-to-back days.
Donovan Walton and Jose Siri had initially opened up the lead in the second inning for LA, combining to plate a pair of early runs. Walton managed to rip a single into right field off Athletics' starter J.T. Ginn, bringing home Jo Adell to start the scoring.
Siri stepped up one batter later, hitting a fly ball out to left that was deep enough to score Wade Meckler via sacrifice fly. Siri, who finished 1-4 at the plate, now has four RBI through the first three games of the series.
Denzer Guzman stayed hot at the dish in the seventh to provide one final insurance run, making it 7-0 with a solo shot to left off Athletics' right-hander Geoff Hartlieb.
Guzman entered the series yet to hit a home run this season, but has now gone deep on consecutive days. In his 11 big-league games this year, he's now hitting .244 with eight RBI.
LA managed to stay in control throughout the late innings thanks to an inspiring bullpen performance from Samy Natera Jr., Ryan Zeferjahn and Kirby Yates. Natera Jr., making his fifth appearance of the season, worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings behind Urena.
Zeferjahn followed up with 1 2/3 hitless innings of his own before Yates shut the door and struck out two in the ninth. Both Yates and Natera Jr. rebounded nicely after combining to record just one out in the 10th inning of Friday's game before the Athletics managed to win in walk-off fashion.
The Angels can force a split of the four-game set in Sunday afternoon's finale, and will send left-hander Reid Detmers (3-5, 3.68 ERA) to the mound looking to do so. He will oppose Athletics' right-hander Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.15 ERA).
Ino Cat, a South Korean influencer, thanked FIFA after the organization invited her to attend the Mexico vs Korea World Cup match on June 18, following a racist gesture during another match a few days ago.
“Thank you for the VVIP invitation to the Mexico match. I don’t believe this invitation belongs only to me. It belongs to everyone who supported me, encouraged me, and stood by my side during this journey,” wrote Ino Cat, whose real name is Yoon Su-jin, in an Instagram post accepting the invitation. “Thank you, FIFA. Thank you, Matthew Mullen. And thank you to everyone who believed in me. I will never forget this experience, and I hope to pass that kindness on to others one day.”
The invitation was sent after the incident at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, during the Group A match between South Korea and the Czech Republic on June 12.
In the video, Ino Cat claimed that a Mexican man sitting behind her touched the corners of his eyes towards the camera to mock East Asians. As a result, she started crying on camera, and the video was spread on social media, drawing numerous condemnations.
FIFA sent the invitation in connection with the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
“We are thrilled that Team Ino Cat has accepted FIFA’s invitation to attend Mexico v Korea on Thursday, June 18, in Guadalajara,” the organization stated. “The date coincides with the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, and FIFA will be sending a message of respect and inclusion together with Team Ino Cat.”
The statement also mentioned that the person involved was identified, his ticket account was blocked, and FIFA received his apology.
“FIFA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms. These actions have no place in football, at the FIFA World Cup, or anywhere in society. The FIFA World Cup is a celebration of unity, diversity, and respect. It brings people, cultures, and communities together — and anyone who goes against these values is not welcome in our game,” the statement added. “We stand with Team Ino Cat and with every victim of discrimination.”
The man from the video was identified as Ulysses Fernando Bernal Miramontes, the head of the Jalisco State Surveying and Geomatics Engineers Association (CITGEJ).
According to Mexican media outlet Mediotiempo, Bernal Miramontes mocked one of the fans from South Korea using the racist gesture.
Ulysses Fernando Bernal Miramontes issued his apology on his personal social media on June 14.
“I sincerely apologize to the Korean fan and everyone who felt uncomfortable due to my actions. I had no intention to insult or punish anyone,” he said. He added that he would step down as president of the association to take responsibility.
The Pirates’ offense finally showed some life in the ninth, but a potential game-tying infield hit was changed to game-ending runner’s interference, giving the Rockies a 2-1 win at Coors Field on Saturday night.
Scoring Plays
Top 1st, 1-0 PIT: Spencer Horwitz took advantage of an extended at-bat by hitting a 434-foot leadoff home run off Tomoyuki Sugano (8-4). The blast to right field was Horwitz’s 10th of the season.
Bottom 1st, 1-1: The Rockies (30-47) immediately tied the game on a Jake McCarthy inside-the-park home run to center against Paul Skenes (6-7). Center fielder Jake Mangum couldn’t make a diving catch and right fielder Tyler Callihan had trouble retrieving the ball.
Bottom 3rd, 2-1 COL:TJ Rumfield delivered a two-out RBI single to left two batters after McCarthy legged out a hustle-double to give the Rockies the lead.
Angel Hidalgo at the U.S. Open this week.getty images
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — To say the things that Ángel Hidalgo does with a golf club are akin to what Picasso did with a paintbrush would be an insult to Hidalgo. Such is the depth of the 28-year-old Spaniard’s golfing creativity.
High cuts and low draws? Hidalgo could hit them blindfolded. Drivers off the deck, hooking spinners to tucked pins and sawed-off, flighted wedges that check harder than Magnus Carlsen? Yep, Hidalgo, whose father and grandfather were both golf pros, also has all those bits of wizardry in his arsenal.
Close followers of the DP World Tour, where Hidalgo has won once (2024 Open de España), will be familiar with Hidalgo’s shot-shaping prowess, as will regulars on golf Twitter, where clips of Hidalgo’s inventive shot-making often make the rounds. After Hidalgo carded an eye-popping 63 at the Irish Open last year, he said, “I feel for a few moments like I was playing in a PlayStation.”
This week here at Shinnecock, Hidalgo is playing in his first U.S. Open and just his third major overall. On Thursday, he made five birdies and shot 69. On Friday, he made three more and signed for a 74 to make the cut by two and make some personal history.
“I’m so happy to be in a weekend finally in a major,” he said.
In brutal winds Saturday, Hidalgo opened with back-to-back bogeys before getting a stroke back at the par-4 4th, where he spun back his approach to a foot. Hidalgo hadn’t yet delivered one of his signature how’d-he-do-that shots, but it was coming. After finding the right side of the fairway at the par-5th, Hidalgo had 268 yards left to the hole. Time to go full Ángel.
Fairway wood in hand, Hidalgo wound up and hammered down on his ball, his follow-through stopping at shoulder height with his clubface pointed skyward.
“Trying to play a runner,” a voice said from the booth. “This is an interesting shot.”
Ingenious was another word. Hidalgo’s ball rocketed off the face, stayed low and out of the wind, before touching down and catching the left side of the left-to-right slope in front of the green. The ball rode the wave like a surfer in a pipeline, coming to rest 30 feet right of the hole, from where Hidalgo two-putted for birdie.
After Hidalgo’s round, GOLF.com showed him a video of the shot and asked him to explain how he did it.
He smiled.
“I try to imagine I’m playing a links course into the wind and just try to hit as low as I can, pretty straight and be really focused, because that shot was wind from the left,” he said. “So it’s easy for me to, to over-cut it. I just try to feel a little bit maybe on the toe and punch it, and maintain very low [flight]. The the bounce was pretty good. It was a great shot.”
Hidalgo said he talked through the shot with his caddie, Álvaro Alonso, and they agreed he needed to land his ball on the left side of the fairway so it would roll onto the green.
“It’s a little bit imagination,” he said.
I asked Hidalgo how often he employs that sawed-off move.
“If you see a video of me, on YouTube or whatever, with my driver and woods, I’m…”
He paused and laughed.
“If you think Scottie Scheffler moves a lot, you didn’t see my swing yet.”
Hidalgo, who shot 74 in the third round and is seven over for the week, will need a lot more magic if he’s going to put a scare into the leaders on Sunday. As of this writing, he was 13 back of Wyndham Clark and eight back of Clark’s closest chasers, who are at one under.
A pair of former champions headline UFC Fight Nigh 281 in Oklahoma City on July 18. Former middleweight titleholder Dricus Du Plessis (23-3) faces former welterweight kingpin Kamaru Usman (21-4) at Paycom Center in a middleweight match. The fight promotion announced the news on Saturday.
For Du Plessis, it will be his first fight since losing the belt to Khamzat Chimaev last August. "Stillknocks" will be looking to rebound and remain in the top tier of the division.
Usman has been out of action for a year. He last fought in June 2025, defeating Joaquin Buckley via unanimous decision. "The Nigerian Nightmare" didn't compete at all in 2024. At 39, Usman wants to make one last run at a UFC championship. A win over the former champion could land him the opportunity.
The event will mark the promotion's third visit to Oklahoma City and their first trip to Oklahoma's capital since 2017.
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — On Tuesday, Adam Scott visited the interview room at the U.S. Open as he prepared to play in his 100th consecutive major start. After a few questions on the milestone accomplishment, I asked him if there is a shot at Shinnecock Hills that is unique to championship golf.
“There are quite a lot of shots here,” he said. “I don't know if it's the most iconic shot, but the second shot into 10 I think is fascinating.”
With 18 holes remaining to crown a champion, I’m beginning to see why he chose that shot.
Named Eastward Ho, the 10th is 415 yards and arguably the most iconic hole that William Flynn designed here. A blind tee shot masks a split-tiered fairway with a high, short left side and a long, low right side. They both lead to the base of a 40-foot hill, atop of which sits the green.
The tee shot is relatively straight forward; layers aim over the left side of the right fairway bunker and anything on that line that carries more than 215 yards will make its way down the hill, leaving an approach of 50 to 100 yards.
That is where the fun really starts. And also where the U.S. Open could be won or lost.
The perched green runs off both long and short. The elevation of the approach means shots skip farther and spin less than typical wedge shots. That's a fact Rory McIlroy found out on both Friday and Saturday, thinning his second shot in Round 2 over the green and failing to get enough spin on his approach during Round 3. Both shots finished in the swale beyond the green. Both shots resulted in bogey.
Warren Little
“It's mostly a wedge,” Scott said on Tuesday. “It's not often that we get scared with a wedge.”
And scared is the right word.
Playing behind McIlroy on Saturday, Keith Mitchell hit a driver, landing 353 yards down the fairway, briefly rolling toward the green, before settling 53 yards from the hole. I overheard him telling the other caddie in his group that he wasn’t trying to hit the green, only get on the upslope to help him stop the second shot.
It didn’t work.
Like McIlroy’s, Mitchell’s approach skipped past the hole, tried to grab but released over the green coming to rest 35 yards beyond the flag. And like McIlroy, he wasn’t able to save par.
Overall for the week, the 10th hole ranks as the third hardest hole. The field has played it in 125 over par, with 37 percent of players making bogey or worse. This despite the fact it’s the fourth shortest par-4 at Shinnecock and has played downwind every day.
One man who managed to survive it on Saturday was tournament leader Wyndham Clark. His long iron off the tee landed at 249 yards but ran more than 100 yards down the fairway. He, too, was also unable to stop his wedge approach shot on the green and faced a similar third shot to Mitchell and McIlroy, albeit from a few yards closer.
Then came some magic.
As John Boderhamer, the USGA chief championships officer, said earlier in the week “they have choices.” He was referring to the run off areas at Shinnecock and the short grass around the greens. “Sometimes players don't like choices, but we're giving them a multiple choice examination this week,” Bodenhamer said.
Clark aced the exam. Unlike the high route that Mitchell and McIlroy chose, Clark bumped his wedge shot into the upslope on the green, popping it on top and rolling out to five feet. He, of course, rolled in the putt.
If Clark lands the chip one yard shorter, it could come back to his feet. One yard farther and it risks revisiting the shallow he hit his second shot from. A brave shot, executed to perfection.
On Sunday, the greens will be faster and the putting surface will be firmer. The challenge will remain the same. Whoever wins will have to survive the “scary” examination the 10th hole at Shinnecock presents.
Dricus Du Plessis will return at UFC Oklahoma City. |
Getty/UFC
Oklahoma City is getting a marquee middleweight matchup.
Dricus Du
Plessis will square off against Kamaru
Usman in a matchup of former 185-pound title holders in the
UFC
Oklahoma City headliner, the Las Vegas-based promotion
announced on Saturday. The event, also known as UFC Fight Night
281, takes place at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma,
and airs in its entirety on Paramount+.
High Stakes Affair
Du Plessis hasn’t competed since last August, when he relinquished
the middleweight crown in a lopsided unanimous decision loss to
Khamzat
Chimaev at UFC 319. Prior to that, the South African standout
was 9-0 in the Octagon, earning notable victories against the likes
of Sean
Strickland (twice), Israel
Adesanya, Robert
Whittaker, Derek
Brunson and Darren
Till.
Usman is back in action for the first time since he outpointed
Joaquin
Buckley in the UFC on ESPN 69 headliner last June. While there
were rumors that “The Nigerian Nightmare” would be next in line for
a title shot against Islam
Makhachev, that ultimately did not come to fruition. Usman’s
championship reign began with a five-round verdict over Tyron
Woodley at UFC 235, and he authored five successful defenses
before relinquishing the strap to Leon
Edwards in August 2022.
Jun 20, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) hits a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the tenth inning at Globe Life Field.
ARLINGTON, Texas - Is this the reason why the Padres haven't given up on Manny Machado?
Besides his heavy contract and his larger than life personality, his experience for being known as "the guy" and to come up in the big moments is something that's hard to replace or ignore. And his five RBI performance against the Rangers on Saturday proved to be true.
Unloading on a dead center sinker, Machado sent out a go-ahead three run homer in the tenth inning to give the lead, which assisted lifted San Diego to a 6-4 win at Globe Life Field.
His 13th home run of the season against right-hander Joe Ross capped off a 2-for-5 outing where he hit an RBI double to score Fernando Tatis Jr. in the third inning and a sac-fly in the eighth to make it a one-run game while trailing 3-1. Later in the inning, Jackson Merrill evened the game on the first pitch from right-hander Tyler Alexander, who replaced right-hander Cole Winn after forcing a ground out to Xander Bogaerts that advanced Samad Taylor to third base.
Despite the eight runs scored through the last three frames, both teams struggled to get anything on either starting pitcher.
Right-hander Walker Buehler threw a respectable 87 pitches (60 counted for as strikes) through 5 1/3 innings. The only run he surrendered came in the sixth inning on back-to-back doubles by Josh Jung and Wyatt Langford, and he was quickly pulled for reliever Kyle Hart, who left the inherited runner stranded in scoring position following a strikeout and ground out. Buehler finished his outing tying his season-high in strikeouts (7), giving up five hits and at point sat down nine batters in-a-row.
Texas jumped ahead 3-1 during the seventh inning against reliever Jason Adam. First baseman Jake Burger, who had two RBI the night prior, sent out a four-seam fastball 408 ft to right center for his 13th. Adam did recover from his mistake by forcing a ground out and striking out a pair.
Lefty Adrian Morejon pitched near flawless eighth and ninth inning, punching out five batters and one hit allowed. While earning his 20th save on the season, Mason
The finale of the series and the road stand will be tomorrow with a 11:35 p.m. first pitch. Both team's starting pitcher haven't yet been announced.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were just given great news as reliever Brock Stewart is set to be activated as soon as Monday, with the righty on the closing stretch of his rehabilitation stint.
Stewart started 2026 on the injured list, recovering from right shoulder surgery that delayed his return to MLB until May 6th.
He only returned for a handful of games before heading to the injured list again, this time with a left foot bone spur on his plant leg.
More than a month after first picking up the bone spur, he looks to finally be ready to make a significant contribution for the Dodgers.
May 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart (41) pitches during the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Stewart has made six appearances for the Dodgers’ Single-A affiliate in Ontario, racking up 5.2 innings and putting up a 1.59 ERA.
In fact, he just completed a back-to-back set of appearances on Thursday and Friday, which gives the team confidence that he is ready to join the major league bullpen.
Stewart is not the only reliever on a rehab assignment — fellow veteran Evan Phillips is with Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he is hoping to work his way back.
“They’re both doing well and going through their buildups as far as on the rehab side of things,” Roberts said.
“Brock is getting really close. He’s just a tick ahead of Evan. Don’t know when that’s going to be, but Brock’s doing everything we’ve asked, checking all the boxes.”
Stewart seemingly made a ton of progress in the last few weeks. It was only three weeks ago that Dave Roberts revealed that Stewart is dealing with a setback and is not responding to treatment.
“The foot is just not totally responding and kind of back, so that’s kind of the thing that’s holding us back a little bit.”
May 6, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Brock Stewart (41) is congratulated by catcher Dalton Rushing (68) after the final out against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images
Stewart is not a high-caliber arm who will handle much in high-leverage moments, but he is a capable and reliable reliever who will do a good amount of middle relief.
The Dodgers traded for him at the deadline, sending out struggling outfielder James Outman. He only played in four games before needing shoulder surgery.
However, before then, he put up a 2.38 ERA with the Twins in 2025 through 39 appearances. Stewart was having one of the best stretches of his career, allowing just 11 walks and getting 44 strikeouts for the Twins in this stretch.
Los Angeles, needing bullpen arms, made the move for the right-hander whom they drafted back in 2014, though he has not played much. Hopefully, he manages to stay on the field.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (0) talks with Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll during OTAs at Vanderbilt Health Football Center in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, June 8, 2026. Syndication: The Tennessean
The Tennessee Titans veteran receiver took a pay cut and is sandwiched on the roster, but Calvin Ridley is getting some flowers from this NFL analyst.
The Tennessee Titans have what feels like an endless amount of new faces in the building for the 2026 NFL season. There’s one face many thought wouldn’t return, but did, in veteran wide receiver Calvin Ridley.
Ridley, who signed a four year, $92 million deal as the prized free agent in the spring of 2024, is back on a significant pay cut with the new look Titans. The 31 year old dropped his 2026 salary by $8.75 million to stay with Tennessee to make $13 million this season, most of which is fully guaranteed. It was considered a good move by both sides, because Ridley would have made less on the open market, the Titans saved over $11 million in cap space and get to keep the high end, yet volatile pass catcher around as a veteran presence.
National NFL Analyst Marcus Whitman agrees that it was a good move to keep Ridley around for young QB Cam Ward, and new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.
NFL Analyst sees Calvin Ridley in better role for Titans in 2026
Whitman recently published his “Tennessee Titans Deep Dive” on his popular YouTube channel That Franchise Guy, where he had some solid and interesting opinions on Ridley’s situation.
“(Ridley) was a cut candidate heading into the offseason. They decided to stand by him, and I’m honestly, I’m really glad they did,” Whitman said.
Whitman likes the way his role will adjust in Daboll’s offense with Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate added to the receiver room, compared to being the focal point of the passing game.
In his two Titans seasons Ridley has been up and down, to say the least. 2024 saw the Alabama product cross the 1,000 yard receiving season mark for a third NFL franchise in his career (Atlanta, Jacksonville). 2025 saw Ridley only play in five full games due to a hamstring injury and then a broken leg. In those five full games he had 15 catches for 272 yards, and 18.1 yards per catch. If we’re being transparent, that’s a 51 catch, 925 yard season in a full 17 games.
However, that’s not how Ridley’s tenure has played out.
Ridley has too many games where he doesn’t exist. In his 22 full games with the Titans he’s had eight with over 75 yards receiving, which isn’t exactly a high bar. He’s had nine games with 45 yards or less. It’s feast or famine, and not reliable production for his previous role.
“Ridley is the starting Z wide receiver here,” Whitman said. “That’s his natural role, not having to be the X, and the Z, and the focal point of your offense, and the sole player you’re depending on for a young quarterback to work out.”
“Ridley has a good release package. Hopefully, he still has some of that speed in there to stack corners on the outside. He’s a good route runner, he’s the ideal Z wide receiver, so if he can get back at least somewhat to his old self, he fills in really nicely.”
“Now, he’s a tough player to rank because he’s so inconsistent… he has really dealt with drops and is an abysmal contested catch player, but again, now when you’re in a pinch and Cam Ward’s under pressure and things aren’t going great, those contested catch, have to have it moments are going to Carnell Tate, not Calvin Ridley. I think that pressure taken off of him is going to be good.”
2026 prediction and Ridley’s future beyond this season
I very much agree with Whitman’s point about Ridley’s role with the Titans, but it is a tough projection to make with all of the mouths to feed. Robinson and Tate are high-level investments. Second year pros Elic Ayomanor and Chim Dike are really exciting young developmental players who need reps to grow. How does Ridley fit between those two duos?
“So I’m actually cautiously optimistic that Calvin Ridley is going to have a nice year, and what that means for me is… 60 catches, 750 yards, and most importantly, just kind of a quiet year.”
Where Whitman lost me is what he said about the future for Calvin in Nashville after this season. I really do like Calvin Ridley, personally. He works, trains as hard as anyone. He genuinely cares, and wants to be a great teammate and asset for the team. I’m not buying Whitman’s idea here.
“I actually think settling into a role that is much more catered to his skill set could lead to a nice kind of phasing out of the end of his career, and maybe another good year or two here in Tennessee in this role.”
Ridley’s contract has zero guaranteed money in 2027 which means the Titans can save $22.25 million on next year’s salary cap by cutting him after 2026, per Over the Cap.
You should check out Whitman’s full Titans Deep Dive, with a special guest interview with A to Z Sports’ own Easton Freeze. It’s very good.
Deniz Undav scored two goals off the bench as Germany pulled off a thrilling comeback to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 in their World Cup Group E match, securing their place in the knockout stage for the first time since they won the title in 2014.
After having two goals disallowed in the first half on Saturday, Germany did not lose focus and used intricate passing to find their way, while the West Africans produced their dynamic brand of attacking football in a wild Group E clash.
Undav levelled the score with a controlled, volleyed finish in the 68th minute and struck again when he received a pass on the turn, before swivelling and firing home a ball that Yahia Fofana had no chance at stopping.
The versatile striker now has nine goals in his last eight matches.
Simon Adingra had a late chance for Ivory Coast, but he failed to get a shot off in the area before Germany charged back down the field and Fofana blocked a low shot from Nathaniel Brown.
Ivory Coast had opened the scoring in the first half when Franck Kessie slotted home a rebound off a shot by Amad Diallo on a play created when Yan Diomande charged down the left side and sent in a cross.
With more than 100,000 people of German ancestry living in Toronto, Julian Nagelsmann’s men enjoyed plenty of support but were a frustrated group at the interval with nothing to show for their eight attempts on goal.
Germany looked to have opened the scoring when midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic rose to meet a short corner in the 25th minute but was deemed to have fouled Fofana in the process.
The ruling left Pavlovic with his hands atop his head in disbelief while Fofana received some attention after the collision, and the partisan German crowd made their disdain for the referee’s decision known.
Shortly after, it was Ivory Coast who finally broke through with Kessie’s goal. The West Africans have scored in their last seven matches at the tournament – the longest such sequence on the global stage in their history.
Germany once again put the ball in the back of the net, but their celebrations were cut short as the referee determined that Jamal Musiala had fouled Odilon Kossounou in the buildup.
Germany top Group E with six points and are through to the last 32, while Ivory Coast remain on three after two matches. Ecuador and Curacao meet in Kansas City later on Saturday.
Germany will close out the group stage against Ecuador on Thursday in New Jersey, while Ivory Coast face Curacao in Philadelphia.
Scottish soccer fans flooding Boston for the 2026 World Cup are drinking Boston dry, and beverage brands are capitalizing on the issue with marketing pushes that help fans get the alcohol they need. Heineken and White Claw have both in to help keep the celebrations going as local bars continue to face surging demand.
The influx of Scottish supporters — known as the “Tartan Army” — has transformed parts of the city into unofficial fan zones, with packed bars, street celebrations and beer sales running well above typical weekend levels following Scotland’s opening matches.
In response, Heineken launched a “Fan Rescue” effort across Boston, sending branded mobile deliveries directly to Scottish fan gatherings at local bars ahead of a 6 p.m. kickoff against Morocco. The initiative was designed to ensure supporters could continue celebrating without interruption as demand for beer remained elevated across the city.
Heineken said the activation is part of its global “Fans Have More Friends” campaign, which emphasizes shared fandom and spontaneous connections among sports supporters.
“No fans deserve to cheer thirsty,” the company said, framing the effort as a way to support an unexpectedly high-energy fan presence in the city.
White Claw also joined the response, positioning itself as an alternative for fans as some venues reported running low on beer during peak hours. The brand promoted a limited offer giving fans access to complimentary drinks in select areas of the city, supported by digital billboard promotions and social media outreach.
(Image: White Claw)
The coordinated brand activity follows a weekend of heavy demand across Boston’s hospitality sector. Local bars and restaurants reported sales far above normal levels as thousands of Scottish fans arrived for the team’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years, contributing to packed venues and extended operating capacity across multiple neighborhoods.
Boston Beer Company said its flagship Samuel Adams Boston Taproom saw consumption spike to roughly four times a typical four-day holiday weekend, prompting emergency beer restocks. Other establishments reported similar surges as visiting fans turned matchdays into citywide celebrations.
One downtown Boston bar said sales had reached levels typically only seen during major holiday periods, with some venues temporarily selling out of certain beer brands before restocking.
The surge has extended beyond individual locations. Bars across the city received significant additional inventory ahead of Scotland’s matches, though even those increased shipments have struggled to fully match demand at peak times.
Scottish supporters have developed a long-standing reputation for traveling in large numbers and turning international tournaments into extended celebrations, a trend that has been on full display throughout the opening stages of the World Cup in Boston.
With additional group-stage matches still scheduled in the city — including high-profile contests involving England, France and Norway — hospitality operators and beverage brands alike are doubtlessly preparing for continued elevated demand in the days ahead.
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In the lead-up Game 3 of the NBA Finals, a viral chat kept fans going: “My mayor’s Muslim, my bagel’s Jewish, my Christian Dior, Knicks in four.” Unfortunately, the Knicks lost the game, which forced 23-year-old Knicks fan MD Ahnaf Hossain, per the Guardian, to update the wildly viral chant: “My mayor’s still Muslim, my bagel’s still Jewish, even the Pope’s on our side, Knicks in five.”
Now that the Knicks are NBA Finals champions, Mamdani offered his response to the viral video in an interview with Jacob Soboroff for MS Now.
“He was right,” Mamdani laughed. “I haven’t met him, but he’s a New Yorker whose words have really stayed with all of us. Thanks to him, there are a lot of people who have just been running up to me over the last few weeks just shouting at me, ‘My mayor’s Muslim!’ … It speaks to what the city is, and even this team. It’s not just a cookie cut out of the same thing again and again; it’s every single player having a role, bringing together all of the five boroughs for this moment. It’s truly a joy.”
Mamdani on the viral "my mayor's Muslim" Knicks fan: "Thanks to him, there are a lot of people who have just been running up to me over the last few weeks just shouting, 'My Mayor's Muslim!' I said, 'It's true. I am.'" pic.twitter.com/odEAhmopaI
The original clip comes from a video produced by the controversial prediction market, as reported by Front Office Sports. The video garnered millions of views, but was essentially an advertisement for Kalshi that took on a life of its own.
Sunday at Shinnecock Hills promises to be a day to remember as a winner will be decided at the 2026 U.S. Open. Just who it will be, of course, remained up in the air until the last few holes late Saturday to close the third round.
Can Wyndham Clark put the finishing touches on his second Open? It certainly looks that way right now as the 2023 champ holds a six-shot lead over a host of players. Scottie Scheffler, Sahith Theegala, Sam Stevens and Tom Kim are all in the group tied for second place, but again, they're six shots back. Scheffler, of course, would capture the career Grand Slam if he could win and Clark happens to fold.
Still, you just never know what can happen with all the pressure on the line late Sunday.
A reminder that Raymond Floyd beat Chip Beck and Lanny Wadkins by two in 1986, Corey Pavin topped Greg Norman by two in 1995, Retief Goosen beat Phil Mickelson by two in 2004 and Brooks Koepka clipped Tommy Fleetwood by one just eight years ago. Point is, there are big names all over the place by the time the final putt drops at a U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Will this Sunday stay true to fom?
Sunday’s final-round starting times have not yet been announced but it is expected that the final twosome will go off around 2:30 p.m. with NBC signing off its TV coverage at 7 p.m. That time is much earlier than Saturday's final round to leave room for a playoff if necessary.
Here is a list of the pairings for Sunday. Check back here soon and we will update with tee times once they've been released.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith’s injury was downplayed when it originally happened, with manager Dave Roberts believing Smith would only miss a game or two.
However, those comments came back around June 8, and Smith was placed on the 10-day IL on June 11.
Then, manager Dave Roberts expected just the minimum from Smith on the injured, though as his activation date approached, there was less and less optimism.
Now, as Smith has not healed well, he had another scan, which revealed some issues, leading to the catcher getting a cortisol shot to manage the pain.
June 16; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith during batting practice before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
According to Roberts, Smith may not travel to Minneapolis for the road trip, though it all depends on how the shot helps him.
“It’s going to take more time,” Roberts said. “Had a scan recently and, you know, the results were sort of fine. Nothing really bad, but I think he’s going to give some type of shot to kind of minimize the sensation or whatever.
“But he feels OK, not great. And I think for us, we’re just trying to make sure that we don’t have a setback when he comes back. So I think that’s kind of the pause. So he won’t be active this weekend.”
Smith staying out longer will cost the team their outstanding catcher depth. Dalton Rushing gets elevated to a more regular role, but the Dodgers now have Chuckie Robinson, who really struggles with his bat, getting meaningful repetitions.
Smith and Rushing was one of the best catching duos in baseball, and without the veteran, the Dodgers’ start studded depth chart is knocked down a peg.
May 26, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith (16) runs after hitting a two run home run against the Colorado Rockies during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Hitting-wise, Smith has not been at his usual best. He only has a 102 OPS+ while hitting .249.
He likely will not be an All-Star, ruining his consecutive appearance streak. For the Dodgers, his absence will not mean much if he is healthy for October.
In pressure moments, there are few better hitters than Smith and the Dodgers will need his experience.
Dec 14, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) greets teammates prior to a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Kansas City Chiefs have the best quarterback in the league in Patrick Mahomes.
Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian took a playful jab at Texas Tech and Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire, joking that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes might suit up for Texas Tech again before McGuire is finished in Lubbock.
The comment came as Texas Tech navigates a turbulent offseason after parting ways with Brendan Sorsby amid a gambling scandal, and Sarkisian clearly couldn’t resist twisting the knife a bit.
“Pat Mahomes might be playing for Texas Tech again before Joey’s done,” Sarkisian said.
"Pat Mahomes might be playing for Texas Tech again before Joey's (McGuire) done"
Obviously, Mahomes is not going back to college. The Kansas City Chiefs locked him up with a $500 million, fully guaranteed contract, and he’s worth every penny. With the way NIL and eligibility rules have shifted, there’s a fun hypothetical world where someone could make the case Mahomes has eligibility left somewhere, but that’s about as far as it goes. This was Sarkisian having a little fun at McGuire’s expense during what has been a rough stretch for the Red Raiders program.
Mahomes has bigger things on his mind
Here’s the thing about Mahomes: he just had the worst season of his career. Anyone who has watched him knows exactly what that means for 2026. He’s going to come back with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove, which is a terrifying thought for the rest of the league.
Kansas City has done its part to ensure Mahomes has the right people around him. The Chiefs made a ton of moves this offseason, adding pass rushers and secondary players on defense while also bringing in a few offensive pieces. This roster should be ready to compete at the highest level once training camp wraps up.
Mahomes will be wearing an Arrowhead on his helmet, not Texas Tech red and black. That much has never been in question. But Sarkisian’s comment is a reminder of just how much Mahomes’ name still carries weight in the college football world, even years removed from his time in Lubbock. When you’re the most talented quarterback of your era, maybe of all time, everybody wants to claim a piece of you.
The Red Raiders can keep the memories. Kansas City has the player, and after an offseason of retooling, the Chiefs look ready to back that up.
The hydration break. The scourge of the soccer fan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (well, the other one, aside from Alexi Lalas).
Aside from who you think is going to win it all, it’s been the most hotly debated aspect of this year’s tournament.
Not because they’re entirely new, per se. There were three-minute breaks around the 22nd minute at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. However, the extreme temperatures in that climate gave them credence and a valid reason for their existence.
In 2026, however, when many of the matches are played in climate-controlled domes and at temperatures well within the normal range, their continued existence was presumed to be more about the possibility of incorporating advertising into the middle of a match than about player welfare.
Sure enough, some World Cup broadcasters took FIFA up on the offer. The governing body left it up to each broadcaster to decide whether to show ads or remain with the game. The BBC, ITV, and Telemundo are among those who declined to show commercials, but many others have. American English-language rights holder Fox Sports and Canadian host broadcaster TSN are among those showing ads, as are the broadcasters in Spain, Italy, France, Mexico, Ireland, and Germany (per The Athletic).
And if one thing has become abundantly clear to all of them, it’s that these hydration break ads, which add up to around 10 hours of extra ad time over the course of the whole tournament, are incredibly lucrative.
“This is a tremendously valuable move from the standpoint of sports media, and Fox has indicated as much by taking advantage of the ad breaks to run at least four commercials within each half,” Ed Desser, the president of consultancy Desser Sports Media Inc., told CBC.
“Many may not like it as it’s a change in tradition,” said John Kosner, the president of Kosner Media. “But in time, it will become the bathroom/kitchen break for hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide.”
Deitsch also spoke with former MLS star and Apple TV analyst Taylor Twellman, who said that there are valid situations where a hydration break is helpful, but it can “really kill rhythm and momentum” of a match. Still, he thinks the most obvious reason, money, is what will ensure they’ll be back for the 2030 World Cup and beyond. He also thinks you might start to see them appear elsewhere.
“I think the amount of money made here will catch FIFA’s attention,” Twellman told CBS. “COVID brought five subs to our game, and we never thought we’d see five subs. Now no one even thinks twice about that. I think it’s a conversation that’s going to be had post-World Cup, and if FIFA keeps this, UEFA is going to be like, “Whoa, look at how much money we can make for Champions League?” You are looking at a conversation that is going to go on for quite some time.”
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In a title bout for the championship, Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo takes on Filipino boxer Joey Canoy in a 12-round match. What’s on the line? Collazo’s WBA and WBO strawweight title belts. At the end of the contest, one of these fighters will have the title — or it will end with a draw.
On Saturday, June 20, Collazo (14-0-0) vs. Canoy (25-5-2) takes place at Frontwave Arena, in Oceanside, California with a start time of 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Ringwalk for the main event is expected around 10:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. PT.
For the Golden Boy Promotions bout, Oscar Collazo is looking to retain his WBA and WBO titles, while in pursuit of the IBF belt, so he could become the undisputed strawweight champion in boxing. This bout against Joey Canoy is one step closer to that goal in facing off against Pedro Taduran who, currently, holds the IBF title. For Canoy, he hasn’t lost a fight since 2019, despite the 25-5-2 record. He has a high knockout rate too, so it should be a good watch to see how Collazo handles the pressure.
Meanwhile, a few celebrities and star athletes may be in attendance during the main event. Most notably Bad Bunny, who is a good friend and fan of Oscar Collazo. The boxer has been known to share the stage with Bad Bunny in the past, especially during the Puerto Rican rapper’s residency in San Juan last year.
Collazo vs. Canoy is available as a premium live boxing event, so it’s free to watch for DAZN subscribers.
Not a DAZN subscriber? Right now, you can purchase access to the event starting at $20.99/month. In addition, DAZN’s “Ultimate Tier” plan goes for just $49.99/month to get access to 12 PPV events throughout the year at no extra cost. It’s just a flat monthly subscription price. The plan also have access to more than 100 live fights all year long, as well as fight replays, highlights and documentaries.
Some NHL teams are desperate to make the Stanley Cup playoffs, and those teams will make moves via trades and free agency to improve their rosters.
But others have the confidence of knowing they’ll be a playoff team next year – and those teams will try to take that next competitive step toward winning a championship by making trades and signing free agents.
In that latter group, the Minnesota Wild really stand out as a team that could make major moves this summer. The Wild have never been in a better position to go on a deep post-season run than they are right now. In fact, the 2026-27 campaign will be the most important season in Minnesota’s franchise history.
GM Bill Guerin has shown he’s willing to take big swings at the plate with his roster moves – with the best example, of course, being the trade that brought superstar defenseman Quinn Hughes from the Vancouver Canucks to Minnesota. Guerin has positioned his team to do big things, as even after the Hughes trade, the Wild have $9.4-million in salary cap space with which to improve the team this off-season.
Minnesota has 19 players under contract for next season, according to puckpedia.com. That will give Guerin the financial flexibility to go out and acquire a veteran or two with the cap space he does still have.
In any case, the Wild are going to be a highly attractive option for free agents and players in general.
Ultimately, Minnesota has never been better in the history of the franchise than they’re going to be heading into next season. Guerin led Team USA to a gold medal performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics and is now determined to steer the Wild into a place where they can not only get out of the highly competitive Central Division but also make a deep run in the post-season. The Wild haven't seen the conference final since 2002-03 and never a Cup final since their inaugural season in 2000-01.
It would be tough to bet against Guerin's Wild. They took an important step this post-season, raising their collective game while beating a very good Dallas Stars team in the opening round. But when they went up against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round, Minnesota’s lack of depth was exposed. And that’s what Guerin has to address this summer.
Could Guerin take a chance on New York Islanders captain and Minnesota native Anders Lee? Stranger things have happened. Or could Guerin take a flier on Montreal Canadiens sniper Patrik Laine? That would cost him less than many, if not most other veteran scorers, but Laine still has value at the right price.
You can see, then, why the Wild are at a critical point in their history. With the right additions, Minnesota can develop into one of the NHL’s very best teams. But the wrong call on team chemistry or balance could lead the Wild to more frustrating times.
Guerin has done a very good job of building his Minnesota team into a true Cup contender. But there’s still room for the Wild to grow – and if they grow in the right way, a championship season could be on their horizon.
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Shohei Ohtani announces the birth of his child in grand style.
The Japanese professional baseball player, who rarely misses games, popped up online with an explanation as to why he was missing in action at the Dodgers game versus the Baltimore Orioles, and this adorable tiny human should take the blame.
Shohei Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka, who is a former professional basketball player, tied the knot in 2024 in a private, family-only wedding.
Shohei Ohtani And Mamiko Tanaka Are Now Parents Of Two Kids
Congratulations to Shohei Ohtani and his wife Mamiko on the birth of their second child! ❤️
The baseball player shared the news on Saturday, June 20, that he and Tanaka have welcomed their second baby together. Ohtani disclosed the good news in an Instagram post of a baby swaddled in a blue blanket, although they kept the name and gender a top secret.
He described his excitement at the new development in his family, while thanking everyone who has been a part of their parenthood journey. Fans had rightfully noticed his absence in the squad for the Los Angeles Dodgers game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday, June 19.
However, the team officially announced that he was away from the team on paternity leave but is expected to be back with the squad during the weekend.
The Baseball Star’s Celebratory Post Earned Thousands Of Congratulatory Responses
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The 31-year-old’s heartwarming post received equally heartwarming reactions in the comments from their friends and loved ones. “Both babies born on the 19th? Baby girl on April 19, 2025, and baby boy on June 19, 2026. Soooo cute,” one person wrote.
Another set of commenters wished the couple a lifetime of happiness as they continue their voyage together with their new bundle of joy. It was all love in the comment section with over 15,000 fans and followers expressing their sincere good wishes for the latest parents.
Ohtani and Tanaka met for the first time at a training facility in Japan between 2020 and 2021. The duo got engaged in 2023 and tied the knot in 2024. Throughout the duration of their relationship, Ohtani and Tanaka kept things under wraps, with the baseball star hiding the former basketballer’s identity for a while.
Shohei Ohtani’s History Of Injuries And Career Pauses
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Aside from the birth of his child causing him to miss the game, Ohtani was also absent in a few appearances due to personal matters and precautionary rest. Earlier in the month, the player’s inflamed knee caused him to be dropped from the lineup against the Chicago White Sox.
He also missed games against the San Francisco Giants during a slump in the middle of May. Ohtani also suffered an injury in 2019, prompting left knee surgery to correct a congenital bipartite patella condition.
In 2020, the athlete was forced to shut down his pitching duties after just 2 starts in 2020, although that season was shortened due to the pandemic. Ohtani ended his pitching season in August 2023 after suffering from a second UCL tear and an oblique strain.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Star Made A Big Property Purchase In 2024
Tim Regas / MEGA
More than two years ago, the MLB star moved into a high-class Los Angeles area where he purchased a modern mansion in La Cañada Flintridge for nearly $8 million. As stated by The Blast, Ohtani’s big buy comes after he signed a major ten-year $700 million contract with the L.A. Dodgers five months ago.
It can be argued that the baseball player purchased the home for comfort’s sake, as it is located about 13 miles from Dodger Stadium, giving him about 20 minutes to get to the location.
The seller, comedian Adam Carolla, initially listed the property last summer for $8.99 million, but an October price reduction lowered it to $8.35 million.
The comedian reportedly bought the property for $7.327 million in 2018, and he opted to dispose of the home after his divorce from Lynette Paradise. The three-story home, built in 2023, boasts five bedrooms and nearly 7 bathrooms with a primary suite completed with a balcony and spa tub.
Shohei Ohtani Pulled A Triple On His Baseball MVP Honors
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
The father-of-two proved in 2024 that his designated position as hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers is no fluke when he became the first full-time designated hitter to be unanimously voted as the National League’s Most Valuable Player.
As reported by The Blast, he received the coveted award in November 2024, adding to the previous two he won while playing for the Los Angeles Angels as a pitcher and a hitter.
The baseball player joined Hall of Famer Frank Robinson as the only player to earn MVP in both the AL and NL. Ohtani also becomes the first player to win the award unanimously three times.
During the athlete’s first season with the Dodgers, he became the first big leaguer to clinch 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.
Congratulations to Shohei Ohtani on the birth of his second child!
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — One is barely old enough to drive a car. The other is just old enough to drink alcohol. Neither were born when Retief Goosen won here in 2004. But on Saturday at the 2026 U.S. Open, amateurs Miles Russell and Jackson Koivun shared a tee time during the third round at Shinnecock Hills.
They were standing on side of the tee box on the opening hole (Russell is a left-hander so positions on the left), as I watched them getting ready to take on the wind of Saturday morning and couldn’t believe just how young the pair were. Russell, the No. 1 ranked junior golfer in the world, is 17, Koivun, the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world, his elder at 21. Combined, they are the same age as Jason Day (38).
But this is the U.S. Open and both made the cut for the weekend at three over par. If there were nerves, they don’t show. Koivun dropped his ball down on the first tee, no tee, and hit a crisp 3-wood down the middle of the fairway.
With pro bags, college scorecard holders and high school faces, the pair strolled together on the front nine at Shinnecock, not talking a lot and already conducting themselves like professionals. Koivun is set to make his pro debut later this month, and has a PGA Tour card locked up through 2027.
His super power? Ask anyone that watched him play at Auburn the last three years and they’ll tell you it’s his putter. He showed it off early, holing a 20-footer for birdie on the fourth. However, 210-yard bunker shots are tricky, even for All-Americans. The 21-year-old topped his second shot on the sixth hole, barely trickling into a hazard and finishing the hole with a double bogey.
As both players stood on the tee at the infamous seventh hole, a lady in the crowd commented on Russell (only a junior in high school), gushing as she said, “he’s so cute.” The redan par 3 probably didn’t look as attractive to Russell, his shot landing in the middle of the green but released out some 50 feet from the hole.
The confidence of youth was on show on the ninth hole. Russell’s approach from the rough was barely a scorecard-width from the edge of the green, 60 feet from the pin. The members watching from the clubhouse no doubt expected the 17-year-old to do what they would, pull putter and pray your ball comes to rest near the hole. But this is a golfer many tab as a future superstar. Out came the sand wedge, a crisp strike followed but checked up, and Russell wasn’t able to save par. Maybe when the U.S. Open returns here in 2036, Russell, then 27, will opt for a different approach.
I left the pair to battle the elements on the back nine but did so knowing I’d no doubt see them again soon. Perhaps paired together at a Ryder Cup.
The light heavyweights will square off in a rematch at UFC
Belgrade on Aug. 1, the promotion recently announced.
Blachowicz and Guskov initially battled to a majority draw at UFC
325 this past December. A rematch was slated for UFC 328 on May 9,
but Blachowicz was forced to withdraw from the bout due to
injury.
UFC Belgrade — also known as UFC Fight Night 283 — takes place at
Belgrade Arena in Belgrade, Serbia, and is headlined by a
welterweight showdown pitting Uros Medic
against Daniel
Rodriguez. The card will air in its entirety on Paramount+.
A Difficult Road
A former light heavyweight champion, Blachowicz is just 1-3-2 in
his last six Octagon appearances dating back to October 2021.
However, the 43-year-old Pole has squared off against only the
division’s best during that stretch, dropping fights to the likes
of Carlos
Ulberg, Alex
Pereira and Glover
Teixeira while earning draws against Magomed
Ankalaev and Guskov.
Prior to facing Blachowicz, Guskov had compiled a four-fight
finishing streak in
UFC competition, besting Zac Pauga,
Ryan
Spann, Billy
Elekana and Nikita
Krylov in succession. The 33-year-old Uzebkistan native has
finished all 18 of his professional triumphs inside the distance.
Merab Dvalishvili believes all fighters deserve respect. |
Getty/UFC
Merab
Dvalishvili believes fighters shouldn’t be disrespected
regardless of wins and losses.
Dvalishvili (21-5) recently lashed out on social media against “s—t
talk” toward fighters. While Dvalishvili didn’t clarify the target
of his rant, he issued an open challenge to talk trash to his
face.
“You disrespect the dedication and hard work to the sport that
every fighter puts in when you talk s--t,” Dvalishvili wrote on X.
“Win or lose we are all warriors and deserve respect. F--k anyone
talking what they don’t know - come say it to my face.”
You disrespect the dedication and
hardwork to the sport that every fighter puts in when you talk
sh!t. Win or lose we are all warriors and deserve respect. F*^k
anyone talking what they don’t know - come say it to my face.—
Merab “The Machine” Dvalishvili (@MerabDvalishvil)
June 19, 2026
Standing Up for Friend?
Dvalishvili’s comments come in the aftermath of his close friend
and fellow Georgian Ilia
Topuria’s (17-1) lightweight title loss against Justin
Gaethje at
UFC White House earlier this month. Topuria appeared supremely
confident leading up to his title defense against Gaethje at the
White House. “El Matador” had repeatedly predicted a first-round
knockout win, even celebrating with a party a day before the fight.
However, Gaethje bloodied up Topuria, forcing his corner to throw
in the towel at the end of the fourth round.
The
UFC hosted a one-of-a-kind event at the White House earlier
this month. Billed as UFC Freedom 250, the card featured two of the
promotion’s biggest stars in Ilia
Topuria and Alex
Pereira, alongside other big names like Justin
Gaethje, Sean O’Malley and Ciryl Gane.
The event had 7 million average viewership in the United
States.
Despite the magnitude of the card, it failed to beat the viewership
numbers for
Most Valuable Promotions "Rousey vs. Carano" last month, which
reportedly did 9.3 million in the U.S. MVP co-founder, Jake Paul,
has now declared himself the biggest MMA promoter.
“As a boxing promoter it feels good waking up today being the
biggest MMA promoter,” Paul wrote on X.
As a boxing promoter it feels
good waking up today being the biggest MMA promoter— Jake Paul
(@jakepaul)
June 19, 2026
Rousey Targets UFC Exec
The MVP MMA card featured former UFC champions Ronda
Rousey (13-2) and Francis
Ngannou (19-3). Rousey defeated Gina Carano
in just 17 seconds, via an armbar submission. Rousey was vocally
critical of the UFC in the lead-up to her return on the MVP MMA
card. “Rowdy” yet again slammed UFC executive Hunter Campbell, who
has been her primary target.
“Lmao! Kiss my ass Hunter Campbell,” Rousey wrote.
The United States of America are hosting the majority of games at the 2026 World Cup.
The USMNT have enjoyed a prolific start to the tournament as one of the hosts, securing two wins from their first two games to guarantee themselves a place in the Round of 32.
While America are flying on the pitch, English pundit Alan Shearer has questioned the lack of atmosphere as well as not many USA fans being around for their country’s games.
Photo by Kyle Rivas/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
Alan Shearer questions why there were ‘hardly any USA fans around’ for their game
When speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, which is streaming on Netflix throughout the tournament, Shearer said he thought it was ‘strange’ there was not really much of an atmosphere, and he saw more fans from other nations during a day when the US were playing.
He stated: “Yeah, it’s really strange here in Houston.
“During the game here today with USA, I was expecting a great atmosphere but it was really flat, all I can see is Dutch shirts and Sweden shirts, there were hardly any USA fans around.”
Football, or soccer as it is mainly known in America, is not one of the leading sports in the country, with focus instead put on the NFL, NBA and more.
That may go some way to explaining why the people from the USA are not creating atmospheres like other countries’ fans.
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith received a frosty welcome from New York Knicks fans Friday night as he joined star players Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart for a live taping of their Roomates Show podcast at Madison Square Garden.
Introduced as a surprise guest, the 58-year-old sports pundit was met with a chorus of boos from the crowd, likely because of previous comments he made about the championship-winning players.
Smith criticized Villanova’s 2016 NCAA championship-winning team, saying, “Villanova doesn’t have a real NBA prospect on the squad.” At the time, the roster featured future NBA players Brunson, Hart and Mikal Bridges — all of whom were on the Knicks’ winning squad this season.
Then in 2022, when the Knicks signed Brunson, now 29, the commentator slammed the move. “I’m tired y’all… JALEN BRUNSON ISN’T THE ANSWER,” he argued. “You creating this cap space to get Jalen Brunson? Is he KD? Is he Kawhi Leonard?… You’re selling New York on Jalen Brunson?”
Trying to diffuse the rowdy MSG audience, Smith quipped: “They don’t know that boos are cheers.”
Stephen A. Smith previously remarked that Jalen Brunson is not the answer to the New York Knicks after he was signed to the team (Getty)
Once the room had settled, Hart confronted Smith over his resurfaced remarks. “We are now sitting here with this golden trophy there to your right,” the shooting guard, 31, said of the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. “Can you sit here and admit you were wrong?”
“I’m a grown-ass man. I was beyond wrong,” the ESPN host admitted. “I’m apologizing to this brother on national television; I’m apologizing to you; I’m apologizing to the entire Knicks organization. Let me be very, very clear: I have never been more happy to be wrong in my life.”
The Bronx native later claimed that he “came out of the womb a Knicks fan,” which was met with more disapproval from the crowd.
“So, I apologize for being wrong,” Smith continued. “But let me be very clear: if it means another championship, I would do it again.”
Magomedsharipov (18-1) is set to face Raul Rosas
Jr. in a no-gi grappling match at ACBJJ 21 on July 5 in Moscow,
Russia. The matchup will be in the 70 kg (154 pounds) weight
category.
UFC Past and Present Collide
Magomedsharipov is considered to be one of the biggest “what ifs”
in MMA history. The exceptionally well-rounded featherweight
prospect won four bonuses in his six UFC wins. Magomedsharipov last
competed in 2019, when he beat Calvin
Kattar via a unanimous decision in a “Fight of the Night”
clash. Magomedsharipov then surprisingly retired in 2022 to pursue
a career in medicine.
Meanwhile, Rosas Jr. is currently riding a five-fight winning
streak in the UFC. The 21-year-old is coming off his biggest career
win against Rob
Font.
The USMNT have turned a strong Group D start into a knockout path that suddenly makes a World Cup semifinal feel realistic.
Nothing is locked in beyond first place in the group.
Still, the first look at the bracket is exactly why beating Australia mattered so much.
USMNT’s potential World Cup path opens after Group D win
The current snapshot has the USA lined up with a route that would avoid many of the tournament’s biggest names until the final four.
As things stand, the USA’s path to the semifinal is Bosnia in the Round of 32, then New Zealand or Czechia in the Round of 16, before a quarterfinal against Congo DR, Ghana, Austria or Uruguay.
That is the reward for beating Australia 2-0 in Seattle and watching Paraguay’s win over Turkey confirm the Americans as Group D winners with a game to spare.
It also places them, for now, away from Germany, Brazil, the Netherlands, Norway, Morocco, and several other heavy hitters sitting elsewhere in the bracket picture.
The caution is obvious. Groups E through L still have to play their second games, and every team in the tournament still has one final group match left after that.
Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
That means the standings can move quickly. A goal difference swing, a surprise third-place qualifier, or a favorite slipping to second could change the route before the Round of 32 field locks.
USMNT’s potential World Cup path makes a medal game believable
The door is open enough to take seriously.
The USA has not reached a World Cup semifinal since 1930, so any talk of a medal game should come with perspective. This still requires three knockout wins, pressure handling, and probably one opponent with more tournament pedigree.
But the setup is far friendlier than a path through Brazil, Germany, or the Netherlands before the semifinals. Bosnia would be a manageable opening assignment, and New Zealand or Czechia would give the USA a real chance to dictate the tempo in the next round.
The quarterfinal is where the run would become real. Uruguay would be the most dangerous name from that projected pool, while Ghana, Austria, or Congo DR would still bring enough pace and physicality to punish any sloppy night.
Home soil matters here. The USA has already beaten Paraguay and Australia, controlled long spells without Christian Pulisic against the Socceroos, and generated the kind of stadium energy that can tilt knockout moments. They’re also guaranteed to play all knockout games until the semis in the West Coast (San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles), which is perfect given where their training base is.
The bracket can still move before it hardens. For the first time in this tournament, though, a USMNT semifinal run sounds like more than patriotic hope.
Davis is gone too, heading to college football full-time after being named Gary Danielson’s successor as CBS’s lead Big Ten analyst alongside Brad Nessler and Jenny Dell.
That leaves Catalon and Ross as the only returning pieces of a booth that has now cycled through three different analyst combinations in as many years.
There was perhaps a world where Long could have slotted into the fourth booth as part of a three-man team before his NFL Today promotion took him off the table. So the most logical internal candidate to step in would seem to be Logan Ryan, who spent last season working CBS games across both the NFL and college football.
Ryan shadowed Jim Nantz and Tony Romo for an entire week ahead of the Patriots-Buccaneers game in November, sitting in on production meetings and learning how CBS’s top team prepares, before Nantz brought him into the broadcast midway through the fourth quarter. It might not be the last we see of him in an NFL booth.
The Iranian football team began their World Cup campaign under the shadow of a war with the United States. They soon became collateral damage in the conflict with strict conditions on their visas to the US and other difficulties. Now, as a peace deal emerges between the US and Iran, experts have asked what this could mean for Team Melli – as the Iranian squad is known – in the tournament.
Although World Cup hosts have been at war with other nations at the time of tournaments, and Argentina was also in the midst of the Dirty War during the 1978 tournament, there has not been a single case of an organiser being embroiled in a conflict with another participant, as is the case with the US and Iran.
The US and Israel launched a war on Iran in February 28. Although a temporary ceasefire suspended much of the most intense fighting on April 8 and a peace agreement was signed this week, tensions between the two countries remain high and have spilled over into the supposedly apolitical World Cup.
This bubble burst in March when US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that the Iran squad was welcome to the US but he “[did not] believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety”.
Iran’s football team has been held hostage to the US’s immigration whims right up till the start of the tournament. Players were granted visas for the US — where they play all their group stage matches — just 10 days before their opening match against New Zealand in Los Angeles – and have had to leave the country for their base camp in Mexico after finishing their games. Iranian-American political analyst and journalist Negar Mortazavi has described this as “extra animosity” towards Team Melli.
Whether the team would even be allowed into the country remained unknown as FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared unable to secure any guarantees from Trump about the Iranian team’s visa situation.
Out of a rightful abundance of caution, manager Amir Ghalenoei’s side switched the team’s base camp from Arizona, US, to Tijuana, Mexico, at the last minute. The US doubled down on Tuesday and said the team had to depart within hours of the full-time whistle being blown. They had arrived just one day prior to kickoff.
As a hurried memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran began to materialise on Wednesday night, questions arose on its ramifications for Team Melli.
The Iran team bus arrives at the hotel with a police escort on June 14, 2026 [Mike Blake/Reuters]
Can the peace deal really impact Iran’s football team in the US?
While neither side has released a physical copy of the memorandum of understanding, nor are World Cup-specific arrangements expected to be written in, experts hope that the agreement translates to more amicable treatment for the Iranian football team in the US.
“With a peace deal, things can change,” Mortazavi said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
“We can see President Trump’s rhetoric on Iran has dramatically changed over the past few days, and he’s suddenly talking about better relationships with Iran from a political and economic standpoint, and that can certainly extend to sports,” she continued.
The shift from threats to diplomacy sprouted last week when Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that “our relationship with Iran is a much different and better one than previous Administrations have had”. “Hopefully, this process will all work out quickly, easily, and smoothly.”
Mortazavi said that despite the World Cup’s stance on steering clear from politics, the US’s treatment of Iran’s team was a testament to how politics can impact the sport.
“I expect a US peace deal to open the door for better relations and hopefully have a positive impact on the situation of the team and remove some of the hurdles if the US can extend some goodwill gestures to the team,” she said.
A slight thawing of relations ahead of the peace deal announcement came as the US on Tuesday quickly reissued a multiple-entry visa for Iran winger Mehdi Torabi after his visa expired following the game with New Zealand.
However, political scholar Niki Akhavan cautioned that Trump might renege on the deal due to the immense pressure he faces from Republican anti-Iran hardliners, pro-Israel groups and Democrats for giving Iran “too much” in the peace deal.
“But, in the best-case scenario, issuing a multiple-entry visa for Torabi may be a good indication of some kind of flexibility on the US’s part to actually adhere to its responsibilities as a host nation,” Akhavan told Al Jazeera.
“The comments Trump has made today on Iran are friendly comments, we might see better treatment of the Iran team, which has been unfairly treated the most. It’s a sign of them softening their unreasonable stance towards Iran.”
Akhavan’s caution stood true as tensions at the World Cup reignited after the solitary goodwill gesture of Torabi’s visa renewal.
Iran’s Seyed Hossein Hosseini, Ehsan Hajsafi and teammates outside the US embassy for visa procedures ahead of the World Cup, in Ankara, Turkiye, on May 21, 2026. [Dilara Senkaya/Reuters]
Iran announced on Thursday that it would lodge a complaint with FIFA after its football federation claimed its request to enter the US two days before their match against Belgium on Sunday was declined.
“Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organisers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff’s plans,” a spokesperson for the federation said.
Part of the host nation’s responsibilities include each team’s safety, and, Akhavan argues that the US’s decisions regarding Iran’s logistics at the World Cup have been discriminatory and have deliberately attempted to hurt the team.
The logistical barriers were compounded when Iran’s World Cup ticket allotment for fans was withdrawn just before the tournament began. Additionally, several members of the squad’s technical staff were denied entry to the US, even though all football players were allowed.
“You’re actively disadvantaging a team; the whole idea is that everybody is level on the playing field, and the US’s actions thus far have been counter to that,” Akhavan said.
“I can only hope that one impact of this agreement is that they [the US] will adhere to their responsibilities [as host nation] and we’ll see some changes.
“Because this is unfair to these young men; this is their dream and they’re representing their people.”
Akhavan also emphasised that FIFA could have pushed the US to fulfil its responsibilities as a host nation and transcend the war and politics.
“Hopefully, now that there is an agreement, [Infantino] can use that as motivation to make peace part of the agenda of the World Cup. There’s a lot of empty gestures towards peace by Infantino and FIFA with the armbands and the FIFA peace prize,” Akhavan said, referring to Trump being the recipient of FIFA’s inaugural accolade in December.
“Let’s see if they can actually put some of that into material reality in terms of the Iranian team.”
Jacques Villeneuve has responded to Lewis Hamilton’s comments from the Montreal weekend, after the seven-time world champion claimed that his father Gilles was 'far better' than his son as a driver.
Last month, the Briton admitted he was not particularly familiar with Gilles Villeneuve’s career, but described the Canadian as one of the sport’s great drivers, praising his ability to control a car on the limit. Hamilton also stated that, in his view, Gilles was a significantly better driver than his son Jacques.
"I personally didn’t really know a lot about him, to be honest. Obviously knew about Niki, more so because I got to spend a lot of time with him, and obviously I had to learn and watch him when I was growing up. Whilst reading up on some of the great drivers that have been here, all I really knew is that he was a great driver. He seemed to be, from some of the videos, a driver that really was at the edge of his seat, really being able to balance the car as it’s moving, which was pretty cool to see. And obviously far better than his son."
It was that final remark, albeit delivered with a smile, that prompted a response from the 1997 world champion. Speaking on Sky F1 alongside Nico Rosberg, Villeneuve labelled Hamilton’s comment as stupid and admitted he was surprised by it, insisting he could not recall ever criticising the Briton and suggesting the remark may have stemmed from the pair’s time together at Mercedes.
Photo: Race Pictures
Photo: Race Pictures
“He did make a stupid comment in Montreal, where he said at least my dad is better than me. I was like: ‘Why would he say that?’ I don’t remember criticising him, so I don’t think that was about me, no. It must have been about you from the time you were together. Come on.”
Villeneuve fires back at Hamilton doubters
Despite their brief verbal disagreement, Villeneuve offered a strong defence of Hamilton, rejecting the idea that the seven-time world champion should have considered retirement during his difficult start to life at Ferrari. The Canadian argued that many fans and commentators focus too heavily on preserving a driver's legacy, wanting to remember champions only at their peak rather than accepting the natural ups and downs that come with a long career.
Villeneuve pointed out that Hamilton was never struggling at the very back of the grid and remained fully committed to the challenge of helping rebuild one of Formula 1's biggest teams. He also highlighted the sacrifices required to remain competitive at the highest level, praising Hamilton for refusing to give up despite the setbacks and for taking decisive action when things were not working as intended.
Photo: Race Pictures
Photo: Race Pictures
According to the 1997 world champion, Hamilton's decision to make changes around him and continue pushing for solutions ultimately paid off, proving that talent does not simply disappear overnight. Villeneuve concluded that success at the top level is determined by a driver's willingness to keep learning, adapting and questioning themselves, qualities he believes Hamilton has continued to demonstrate throughout his Ferrari journey.
The Toronto Marlies are Calder Cup champions for the second time in eight years.
It should be noted that once the Calder Cup got in to Easton Cowan's hands Friday night after their 4-3 win and 4-1 series victory over the Chicago Wolves, the first player he handed it to was Toronto Marlies teammate and rookie defenseman Ben Danford.
The symbolism in that should not be overlooked.
Ken Campbell discusses the Toronto Marlies' Calder Cup win in his latest video column.
That's because Cowan and Danford are the Toronto Maple Leafs' top prospects, but you'd have to think that goalie Artur Akhtyamov is probably rising the charts after taking the Jack Butterfield Trophy as MVP of the playoffs.
Does this mean the big team will follow it up with a championship of their own? Not necessarily, but having guys who have won at this level is always a good thing.
Doing so as the seventh-placed team in the Eastern Conference says even more about their playoff success as well.
Watch the video blog above for the full story from Coca-Cola Coliseum.
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Freddy, the German fan who has become a viral World Cup sensation, received a last-minute lifeline after a canceled flight threatened to make him miss Germany’s clash in Canada.
Freddy has quickly become one of the most followed fan stories of the tournament, turning his trip into a travel diary across North America.
But when his connecting flight in Dallas was canceled, that feel-good journey suddenly became a race against the clock.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images
Freddy Germany fan gets Airshare rescue before Canada trip
In an Airshare post, the private aviation company replied to Freddy’s travel crisis before Germany’s World Cup match in Canada.
Airshare wrote: “Missing the Germany match is not an option. We’ll get you to Canada! Check your DMs.”
That came after Freddy posted the problem that had put his trip in danger. He said: “Our connecting flight from Dallas to Canada has been canceled due to weather. They rebooked us on a flight tomorrow evening. We‘re gonna miss the Germany match💔”
Freddy, who posts as @FreddyLA7, has gone viral during the World Cup by sharing his journey across the United States and Canada while following Germany.
His posts about American food stops, road-trip culture and wide-eyed travel reactions have made him a fan favorite far beyond German soccer circles.
Germany vs Ivory Coast gives Freddy trip real World Cup stakes
The match he was trying to reach was Germany vs Ivory Coast at BMO Field in Toronto.
Germany went into that game top of Group E after a 7-1 opening win over Curaçao. Ivory Coast had also won their first match, making the Toronto clash a genuine fight for control of the group.
That is why missing the game would have hurt. Freddy was not just trying to catch any match, he was chasing a fixture that could push Germany closer to the knockout stage.
The offer alone became part of his World Cup story. What could have been a trip-ending setback turned into another viral moment.
Thousands of England fans travelled across the pond to Texas this week to watch their team in action against Croatia.
The Three Lions’ World Cup group-stage campaign began with a meeting against the Kockasti at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
England won the tie 4-2 after a shaky first half, and spirits are high among the fanbase, who have been speaking about their time in the USA so far, with one supporter revealing he has been left surprised by how much you sweat in Texas.
Photo by Alex Pantling – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
England fan surprised by how much he’s sweated in Texas
TheBlaze recently conducted a number of interviews on the street with European fans to get their verdict on the US.
The majority of the fans interviewed were from England, with one sharing: “We’ve given everything to be here. House mortgage, car payments, and we’re here.”
Another was asked: “Is there anything about Texas in particular that’s surprised you?”
To which he simply replied: “How much you sweat.”
A third England fan who made the trip to North America said: “The US is fantastic,” while the women in the US also earned a compliment from one travelling fan.
Meanwhile, the food in America has been praised by another supporter already this week, who was quick to mention just how good the beef he had tried in the BBQ was.
But England’s time in Texas is coming to an end, and they will now make the journey over to Boston to watch Thomas Tuchel’s team in action against Ghana on Tuesday.
Following that tie, they will go head-to-head with Panama at the New York New Jersey Stadium on June 27.
England are expected to advance past the group stage and qualify for the Round of 32, so they will be playing at the Atlanta Stadium in the knockout phase as long as they are able to top Group L.
It begins with the round of 32, which runs from June 28 to July 3.
What is the format and criteria for qualification, and which teams have progressed or been eliminated?
What is the format of the World Cup knockouts?
The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to knockouts.
The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced for the first time at a World Cup after the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams.
Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19.
The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s schedule is:
Group stage: June 11 to June 27
Round of 32: June 28 to July 3
Round of 16: July 4-7
Quarterfinals: July 9-11
Semifinals: July 14-15
Bronze medal match: July 18
Final: July 19
What are the rules change for the tie-breaker criteria at the 2026 World Cup?
FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points for the first time at a World Cup.
Haiti, Turkiye and Tunisia have been eliminated because they are unable to catch the third-placed teams in their respective groups, as they lost to those teams.
Tie-breaker criteria for World Cup groups
According to FIFA’s rules for the tournament, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the group stage ends, the following criteria, in the order below, will be applied to determine the ranking:
Step one
Greatest number of points gained in the group matches.
Superior goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).
Greatest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head).
If the teams are still tied, the criteria below applies:
Step two
Superior goal difference across all group matches.
Greatest number of goals scored across all group matches.
Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained.
If the teams somehow still cannot be separated, then the following criteria below applies:
Step three
The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings.
The criteria for the eight best‑ranked teams
The eight best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows:
Greatest number of points gained in all group matches.
Goal difference resulting from all group matches.
Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained in all group matches.
The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings.
The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during a stop of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on June 2, 2026 [Timothy A Clary/AFP]
Which teams have reached the World Cup round of 32?
(As of June 23, 02:30 GMT)
⚽️ Mexico (Group A)
The cohosts were the first to qualify for the knockouts, after taking top spot in Group A with a 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, June 18. The Mexicans started their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa in a chaotic tournament opener.
⚽️ USA (Group D)
The United States were the second team to punch their ticket to the knockouts, thanks to their 2-0 win over Australia that sent them on top of Group D on Friday, June 19. The USA thumped Paraguay 4-1 to kick off their campaign.
⚽️ Germany (Group E)
Germany became the third team to enter the last 32 with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 20. The Germans – who failed to get out of the group stage both at Russia 2018 and four years ago in Qatar – started their tournament with a 7-1 thrashing of Curacao.
⚽️ Argentina (Group J)
Argentina sealed their ticket to the knockouts with a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday, June 22, as Lionel Messi scored twice, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals. The Argentina captain also bagged his maiden tournament hat-trick in their 3-0 opening game win over Algeria. Reigning champions Argentina are guaranteed the top spot in Group J.
⚽️ France (Group I)
Pre-tournament favourites France secured a place in the round of 32 with a 3-0 win over Iraq later on Monday, as Kylian Mbappe scored a brace. The 2018 world champions beat Senegal 3-1 to kick off their tournament, with Mbappe scoring twice in that game, too.
⚽️ Norway (Group I)
Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in their second game of the tournament, sealing their place in the knockouts. The Norwegians, who are back at the World Cup after 28 years, started their campaign with a 4-1 thrashing of Iraq.
Norway team do the traditional rowing celebration with their fans after the match [Jeenah Moon/Reuters]
Which teams have been knocked out of the World Cup 2026?
⚽️ Haiti (Group C)
Haiti became the first team to be sent home packing from the World Cup after suffering a 3-0 loss to Brazil on Friday, June 19. Playing in their first tournament since 1974, they also lost 1-0 to Scotland in their first game.
⚽️ Turkiye (Group D)
Turkiye soon followed suit, bowing out of the tournament after a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Paraguay later on Friday. They also suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Australia in the first group match – their first appearance at the tournament after 24 years.
⚽️ Tunisia (Group F)
Tunisia became the third team to be eliminated after they lost 4-0 to Japan on Saturday, June 20. The defeat came shortly after they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in the opener. Tunisia were the first African team to win a World Cup match when they beat Mexico in 1978, but they have never progressed beyond the group stages.
Cape Verde’s forward #26 Helio Varela celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal against Uruguay in a 2-2 draw on Sunday to stay in contention for a place in the Round of 32 [Chandan Khanna/AFP]
NEW YORK, June 20 (Reuters) - Ahead of the World Cup, many international fans were sceptical of the idea of the U.S. as co-hosts for soccer's biggest tournament. There were worries over visa access, high costs, gun violence, a lack of local interest in the sport and more.
While those worries have not been entirely dispelled, as the tournament has got under way social media has been flooded with posts from fans visiting the country for the first time and discovering something more positive - a distinctive culture of 24-hour retail, free soda refills, chicken wings dipped in ranch dressing and a warm welcome from Americans.
"I met these two gorgeous girls from Boston. It was her birthday, she was having cocktails. I bought her another one and they kept saying 'welcome to Boston, Massachusetts!'," said "Tartan Army" Scottish fan Gail Nicholl, in a Boston pub ahead of her team's first game against Haiti. "They loved us, we loved them ... Everyone is so friendly, so nice."
"Something new for me is how friendly and outgoing everyone is," said a Swiss fan from Zurich on a Reddit forum replete with praise from visiting tourists.
Whether such positive press can restore a reputation battered by an often confrontational government that has proudly proclaimed 'America First' and angered allies including Canada, Britain, Germany and more remains to be seen.
But, say sports analytics experts, it can make a real difference.
"The front porch of your house is the first thing a visitor experiences before they ever step inside," said Darin White, founder of Samford University's Sports Industry Program in Alabama and a former soccer coach.
"Sports serves that same function for cities, states, and countries. It is often the first meaningful, emotionally charged encounter someone has with a place they might otherwise never have thought much about."
Research has consistently indicated that hosting a major sports event can genuinely shift long-held stereotypes, he added.
OFF THE BEATEN PATH
What is particularly interesting about the 2026 World Cup is that it is exposing international visitors to places outside those normally frequented by tourists - not just New York, Los Angeles and Orlando, but Kansas City, Atlanta and Houston.
In Kansas City, Argentines - for whom eating "asado" barbecue is almost as central to the culture as soccer - gathered to try the local "dry rub" version of grilled meat.
"The Argentinean barbecue is my favourite. But this one is really good," said visiting Argentina supporter Cristian Gastes.
In Dallas, Germany fan Maximilian Kirch from Duesseldorf also tried barbecue - and showed off his new Texan cowboy hat. "Of course I'm wanting to experience more of it," he said.
"There is something distinct about the warmth you encounter when you get off the beaten path," said White.
"The fan from Morocco who got help finding their gate in Dallas, or the family from Germany who got directions from a stranger in Seattle, those moments do not make headlines. But they are doing real work on Brand USA."
Some of the concerns raised ahead of the tournament still linger. The heat, particularly in places like Miami, is tough on players and fans, and the final is still a month further into summer away.
Although soccer's world governing body FIFA says attendance at matches has been strong, high ticket and travel prices have already dissuaded many from making the trip.
And visa restrictions or denials have left some fans watching on TV at home.
Citizens of four participating countries - Iran, Haiti, Ivory Coast and Senegal - have faced partial or total bans on entry to the United States.
Iran and Haiti both have significant American diasporas to cheer them on - although some feel conflicted by that prospect. But Ivory Coast and Senegal have only small U.S. communities.
Enter the Americans.
"I'm in the bloodiest of the nosebleeds but I hope they can hear me down there on the pitch," said Brooklyn resident Jessica Ambres, wearing a Senegal shirt at the France v Senegal match this week in New Jersey. She felt a connection to the African diaspora as a Black American, she added.
In stadiums across the country, Americans streamed in, not just to support the U.S. or their countries of ancestry, but to cheer on the underdogs and those without significant fan bases.
U.S. politicians and business owners hope the warmth will be remembered once the final whistle is blown.
"I hope that the Tartan Army will keep coming back to Boston," said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. "Of course, have a wonderful time during the games now, but we'd love to see you any season, any year. This is your home."
(Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien in New York; additional reporting by Eric Cox in Boston, Sebastian Rocandio and Iain Axon in Kansas City, Malgorzata Wojtunik and Manuel Ausloos in Dallas and Amy Tennery in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Editing by Ken Ferris)
Jun 19, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels shortstop Zach Neto (9) celebrates with first baseman Nolan Schanuel (18) after hitting a home run against the Athletics during the fourth inning at Sutter Health Park.
The Los Angeles Angels seemed to be on their way to a much-needed, loud victory against the Athletics on Friday night. An offensive barrage after back-to-back low-scoring losses is exactly what they needed — until it didn’t matter when the lead was lost.
With 12 outs to go, the Angels held what looked like a comfortable seven-run lead. Their bats were scorching, having hit five home runs as a team. Five decent innings from José Soriano against a red-hot Athletics offense even felt like a positive.
But in the end, in all-too-familiar fashion, the Angels found a way to lose the game.
The Athletics stormed back to score eight unanswered runs, scoring in each of the final five frames to secure the comeback and win, 12-11. Even on their last breath, the Angels’ bullpen could not prevent a dramatic blown save.
With the Athletics down 11-9 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Jonah Heim stepped to the plate looking to extend the game against Angels’ reliever Sam Bachman. In heroic fashion, he did exactly that, launching a game-tying, two-run homer to knot the game at 11 apiece.
After clawing their way back with a hit parade of their own, all momentum owned by the Angels had been halted and lost completely. A shaky relief appearance from Kirby Yates in the 10th led to a walk-off walk by Nick Kurtz, sealing the comeback.
It was a deafening way to lose. It was also the first such loss of its kind.
The Angels are the first team to lose a game in which they hit five home runs, have a seven-run inning and own a seven-run lead.
Ultimately, 11 unanswered runs and numerous bright spots from their offense without Mike Trout was not enough. It spoiled what would have been a big bounce-back win for the Angels, but instead set them back further towards the bottom of the division.
After the Athletics jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, Los Angeles got to starter Jeffrey Springs loudly, as he allowed six earned runs in the fourth inning and was unable to get out of the frame. The Angels hit three home runs in the inning off the bats of Denzer Guzman, Jose Siri and Zach Neto.
Logan O’Hoppe continued his tear with a three-run shot in the next frame, which was followed by a Nolan Schanuel long ball in the sixth inning for the Angels’ fifth homer of the day.
In total, five Angels relievers combined to allow seven earned runs over 4 ⅓ innings in the implosion. What initially seemed like a game full of bright spots instead became an exposure of the Angels’ flaws, many of which they hope to address as they try to salvage the four-game set in Sacramento.
Messi's father was wrongfully claimed to be dead -Credit:Omar Vega, Getty Images
Argentine TV host Florencia Pena has resigned mid-World Cup after falsely claiming that Lionel Messi's father, Jorge, had passed away after the soccer icon appeared emotional following the first of his three goals against Algeria.
Pena made the assertion before the Messi family issued a statement confirming that Jorge is experiencing a "health situation," alleging the Inter Miami star was "going to have to leave" Argentina's World Cup defense. "I don't want to break bad news, but Messi's father just died," Pena stated on Luzu TV's El Show del Verano. "Right in the middle of the World Cup, he's going to have to leave," she added.
Later on Thursday, Pena issued a statement apologizing for the error, saying she was "deeply ashamed" of what had transpired. Meanwhile, Australians have already made their sentiments clear on Donald Trump ahead of the USA match.
Pena also announced her exit from Luzu TV. "I apologize to the Messi family for the awful moment I imagine they are going through," she said. "I am deeply ashamed to have been the vehicle for this pain."
"I must clarify that this false information was provided to me during the live broadcast, as verified by the production team of the show, and I trusted it.
"Even so, I take responsibility for being part of the mistake, and that's why I decided to step aside and end my participation in Luzu. I apologize again from the heart; I was wrong."
Florencia Pena resigned from her job after falsely claiming Lionel Messi's dad had died
Luzu TV also issued a statement apologizing to its viewers for their former presenter's on-air error.
The network expressed remorse over broadcasting unverified reports. "We deeply regret the incident that occurred on air during the program. For our channel, broadcasting sensitive information without proper prior verification is unacceptable," they said.
"Consequently, Luzu TV management has decided to part ways with all those responsible, and Florencia Pena has decided to step aside. We reaffirm our commitment to responsible, respectful, and rigorous communication."
Messi's father, Jorge, is facing a health "situation" -Credit:X
The Messi family released a statement on Thursday, confirming that Messi's father, Jorge, is dealing with a "health situation," following the legendary No. 10's visible distress during the Algeria game.
"Jorge is going through a health situation," the Messi family said in a statement. "He is currently under medical observation, recovering and progressing favorably within his current condition," the statement continued.
"At times like these, we ask for responsibility, prudence and humanity," the family concluded. "A person's health and the peace of mind of their loved ones should not be the subject of speculation or irresponsible media interest."
The Messi family were forced to release a statement -Credit:Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Argentina's next World Cup fixture is set for June 22 against Austria at the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium.
The defending champions currently lead Group J, level on points but one goal ahead of Austria. Victory would guarantee Argentina's progression to the knockout rounds of the competition.
That said, a draw could also be sufficient, as the top eight third-place finishers will advance.
Elsewhere, a World Cup coach was caught on the sideline making a startling remark following Ismael Kone's injury.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing (68) celebrates with third baseman Max Muncy (13), second baseman Alex Freeland (76) and left fielder Alex Call (12) after hitting a walk-off single against ...
LOS ANGELES — Dalton Rushing spent most of Friday night searching for answers.
By the time the ninth inning arrived, Rushing had already struck out three times. His latest at-bat included an ugly 0-2 swing decision that only added to what was shaping up to be a frustrating evening.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, runners on first and second, and the Dodgers trailing the Orioles by one run, Rushing lined a single into right field. Alex Call raced home to tie the game, sending Dodger Stadium into a frenzy. Moments later, the throw from Orioles right fielder Leody Taveras skipped away from catcher Samuel Basallo, allowing Ryan Ward to score the winning run as the Dodgers completed a stunning 6-5 comeback victory.
For Rushing, it was the first walk-off moment of his young major league career.
"First one as a Dodger, it was pretty special," Rushing said. "It was good to give Freddie a night from being the guy in the middle for a change."
The Dodgers clubhouse celebrated another comeback victory, but few appreciated the moment more than Dave Roberts, who watched his catcher completely flip the narrative of his night.
"The game's on the line and it's your spot," Roberts said. "For him to flush it all and flip his entire game and help us win a game, was huge."
The walk-off capped a remarkable turnaround for both Rushing and the Dodgers.
Just an inning earlier, it appeared the Orioles had control.
After leading 3-0 through five innings, the Dodgers watched Baltimore erase the deficit in the sixth inning on back-to-back home runs. Gunnar Henderson launched a two-run shot to right before Pete Alonso followed with a game-tying blast moments later.
An inning later, Baltimore struck again.
Will Klein inherited traffic on the bases and couldn't escape trouble. After a walk loaded the bases, Jeremiah Jackson punched a two-run single through the right side against the shift, giving the Orioles a 5-3 lead and silencing much of the crowd.
For a team that had squandered a golden opportunity earlier in the game, loading the bases with nobody out in the third inning and failing to score, the comeback seemed unlikely.
On his bobblehead night at Dodger Stadium, Betts delivered the spark the Dodgers desperately needed. With one out in the ninth inning, he crushed a solo home run to left-center field, cutting the deficit to 5-4.
The homer was the 299th of Betts' career and continued what has been an encouraging stretch for the former MVP. Over his last seven games, Betts is hitting .357/.379/.643, and on Friday he finished 3-for-5.
The blast changed the atmosphere instantly. Suddenly, the Dodgers believed.
Call kept the inning alive. Ward followed. And eventually the game landed in Rushing's hands.
A few pitches after falling behind 0-2, Rushing battled back and shot a line drive into right field. The Dodgers had their 49th win of the season.
"We're just stacking wins," Roberts said.
Lost amid the late-game drama was another encouraging start from Roki Sasaki.
Sasaki looked dominant for much of the night, carrying a shutout into the sixth inning before Henderson and Alonso connected on consecutive home runs. Sasaki finished with 5 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, one walk and striking out six on 90 pitches.
"I was making my pitches really well," Sasaki said. "I was executing my pitches really good, so I was able to do what I wanted to do."
Despite the pair of home runs, Roberts was impressed.
"He was fantastic," Roberts said.
The Dodgers had built their early lead behind timely offense. Kyle Tucker, leading off in place of Shohei Ohtani, who is on paternity leave, started the first inning with a walk. Betts followed with a bloop double before Max Muncy delivered a two-run single to right field.
An inning later, Alex Freeland scored on one of the stranger plays of the season. Andy Pages doubled into left field and Freeland found himself caught between stopping at third and continuing home. After a brief moment of confusion, third base coach Dino Ebel waved him in, and Freeland slid across the plate safely following an unsuccessful Orioles challenge.
Those runs appeared enough for most of the night.
Until they weren't. Until Betts launched No. 299. Until Rushing got one more chance.
Baseball has a way of testing young players. Sometimes it gives them failure after failure before offering an opportunity to respond.
Friday night, Rushing got that opportunity. One swing erased three strikeouts. One swing erased a frustrating night.
One swing delivered his first walk-off as a Dodger and another comeback victory for a team that continues to find ways to win.
Merih Demiral (3) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Santa Clara, Calif. -- Paraguay defeats the Turkiye, 1-0, at the Levi’s Stadium onJune 19th, 2026 and The Sporting Tribune's John Panganiban was there to capture the following TST Images:
Official World Cup soccer balls at a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Turkiye, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Official World Cup soccer balls at a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Turkiye, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Turkiye fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Turkiye fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Turkiye fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Turkiye fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Paraguay fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Turkiye, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Paraguay fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Turkiye, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Paraguay fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Turkiye, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Paraguay fans during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Turkiye, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Gustavo Gomez (15) of Paraguay kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Gustavo Gomez (15) of Paraguay kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Matias Galarza (23) of Paraguay celebrates after a goal during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Matias Galarza (23) of Paraguay celebrates after a goal during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Miguel Almiron (19) of Paraguay during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Miguel Almiron (19) of Paraguay during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Julio Enciso (19) of Paraguay gets past their opponent during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Julio Enciso (19) of Paraguay gets past their opponent during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Gustavo Gomez (15) of Paraguay upset with the referee during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Gustavo Gomez (15) of Paraguay upset with the referee during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Matias Galarza (23) of Paraguay during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Matias Galarza (23) of Paraguay during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Miguel Almiron (19) of Paraguay fights for the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Miguel Almiron (19) of Paraguay fights for the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Merih Demiral (3) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Merih Demiral (3) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Abdulkerim Bardakci (14) of Turkiye during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Abdulkerim Bardakci (14) of Turkiye during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Mert Muldur (18) of Turkiye during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Mert Muldur (18) of Turkiye during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Arda Guler (8) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Arda Guler (8) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Baris Alper Yilmaz (21) of Turkiye fights for the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Baris Alper Yilmaz (21) of Turkiye fights for the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Arda Guler (8) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Arda Guler (8) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Merih Demiral (3) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Merih Demiral (3) of Turkiye kicks the ball during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Baris Alper Yilmaz (21) of Turkiye hypes up the crowd during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
John Panganiban-The Sporting Tribune
Baris Alper Yilmaz (21) of Turkiye hypes up the crowd during a 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Paraguay, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Santa Clara, Calif.
Ismael Saibari put Morocco ahead against Scotland inside 71 seconds and matched a World Cup record held by Mohamed Salah.
The early goal set the tone for a game that quickly became difficult for Scotland, giving Morocco control of the Group C contest.
It also put Saibari into rare company among African players at the World Cup, despite it being only his second appearance on the biggest stage.
Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ismael Saibari equals Mohamed Salah World Cup record for Morocco
According to OptaJoe, Saibari became only the second African player to score in each of his first two World Cup appearances, after Mohamed Salah.
Salah scored against Russia and Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup. Saibari has now joined him after scoring against Brazil and Scotland.
The lack of other names on that list makes the achievement sharper. Opta placed Saibari directly beside Salah, with no other African player above or between them.
His goal in Foxborough was a clean, ruthless finish. Brahim Diaz lifted a pass over the Scottish back line, Saibari timed his run and fired past Angus Gunn.
It was also the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup at that stage. More importantly for Morocco, it changed the game before Scotland had settled.
Scotland vs Morocco result puts Group C pressure on Steve Clarke
Morocco won 1-0 at Foxborough, with Saibari’s early strike proving enough to separate the sides.
The midfielder played 84 minutes and contributed more than the goal. Operating in an advanced role, he pressed high, linked play well and helped protect Morocco’s lead before being substituted late.
Scotland saw more of the ball after halftime and had penalty appeals, but they struggled to create clear chances. Morocco were stronger in duels and managed the game well.
The result moved Morocco to four points from two games, following their opening draw with Brazil. Scotland stayed on three points after their win over Haiti.
That sets up a tense final round of group fixtures. Morocco face Haiti with a place in the knockouts within reach, while Scotland must take something from Brazil to stay in control.
Saibari’s record will draw the headlines, but the impact of his early goal could matter even more in shaping Group C.
Miami 305 coach Michael Cooper was getting interviewed after his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
LOS ANGELES, - The Big3 had an open practice for all teams on June 19, 2026 at St. Bernard High School in Los Angeles and The Sporting Tribune's Robert Talamantes was there to capture the following TST Images.
Detroit Amplifiers Guard Nasir Core was warming up before the start of his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Detroit Amplifiers Guard Nasir Core was warming up before the start of his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Riot Center threw down a vicious dunk during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Riot Center threw down a vicious dunk during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Riot coach Nick Young was running the teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Riot coach Nick Young was running the teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Riot Center Dwight Howard was going against his teammate in the post during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Riot Center Dwight Howard was going against his teammate in the post during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Riot coach Nick Young was getting interviewed after his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Riot coach Nick Young was getting interviewed after his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Miami 305 guard Mario Chalmers was getting shots up during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Miami 305 guard Mario Chalmers was getting shots up during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Houston Rig Hands center Isaiah Austin was shooting elbow jumpers during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert T Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Houston Rig Hands center Isaiah Austin was shooting elbow jumpers during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Miami 305 coach Michael Cooper was getting interviewed after his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Miami 305 coach Michael Cooper was getting interviewed after his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles Riot Center Dwight Howard went up and finished with a dunk during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Riot Center Dwight Howard went up and finished with a dunk during his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Miami 305 Forward Michael Beasley wasting his shoes before the start of his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Robert Talamantes - The Sporting Tribune
Miami 305 Forward Michael Beasley wasting his shoes before the start of his teams practice on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California
Wyndham Clark leads at seven under through 36 holes at Shinnecock.Getty Images
Check in to GOLF’s Tour Confidential every Sunday night for the unfiltered opinions of our writers and editors as they break down the hottest topics in the sport. This week, with the U.S. Open at Shinnecock, we’ll hit one key topic each night.
After Day 2 of the U.S. Open, Wyndham Clark remains atop the leaderboard, racing out to a four-stroke lead through 36 holes, while major winners like Matt Fitzpatrick, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa and Justin Thomas are firmly in the hunt. At the opposite end of the leaderboard, stars such as Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka all failed to survive the four-over cut. As we head into the weekend, what has surprised you most at Shinnecock thus far?
Jessica Marksbury, senior editor (@jess_marksbury): I’ll take the low-hanging fruit here. I did not expect Wyndham Clark to hold a four-shot lead at the 36-hole mark. But maybe I should have given him more credit! He is, after all, a recent champion, after winning the 2023 edition in Los Angeles. And he’s been trending of late, with a win, a solo third and a T11 in his last three starts. So given those stats, his lead really shouldn’t be all that surprising — but Wyndham doesn’t strike me as a player who will consistently contend on the biggest stages. If he notches another U.S. Open win this weekend though, that will make a huge statement.
Nick Piastowski, senior editor (@nickpia): Harry Higgs, but not so much for his play, though it is surprising considering his recent form (six PGA Tour starts this season and six missed cuts, and four missed cuts in nine starts on the Korn Ferry Tour). I’m not sure I’ve heard a more honest and open press conference afterward. He talked about being confident. He talked about quitting. He talked about forgetting his pants. Do yourself a favor and listen to it.
Josh Sens, senior writer (@joshsens): Watching someone take it that deep into red at Shinnecock – where only three players have ever finished under par in a U.S. Open — was unexpected for sure. But maybe more surprising was watching Jon Rahm implode on Friday. I did not have him ballooning to a 78 on my bingo card, especially after he played his opening round a full 10 shots better.
Josh Berhow, managing editor (@Josh_Berhow): This may sound silly to say about someone who is leading a tournament by four at the halfway point, but I think Wyndham’s score is slightly better than his actual play has been. He got a couple of good breaks with some wayward drives (it seems the bigger misses are less penalized than the thick rough right off the fairway) and he drained some long putts. That said, you gotta put the ball in the hole. And he’s done it the best so far. Another surprise? Besides Tom Kim having his best week of his season out of nowhere (he’s T2) it has to be Jon Rahm missing the cut. I heard lots of buzz surrounding him this week and now he’s leaving early after shooting 10 shots higher on Friday.
Zephyr Melton, associate game-improvement editor (@zephyrmelton): How about the fact that 10(!) players are under par through two rounds? In the four previous U.S. Opens at Shinnecock, only three players total broke par. I expect the course to firm up and play tougher over the weekend, but I don’t know that anyone thought we’d see this much red on the board at the halfway point.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates a run in the dugout during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts' (50) son warming up for first pitch before an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts' (50) son warming up for first pitch before an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (13) warming up before an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (13) warming up before an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrating an out at second base during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrating an out at second base during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) pitching during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) pitching during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) waiting for a pitch during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) waiting for a pitch during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Trey Gibson (43) pitching during an MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Baltimore Orioles pitcher Trey Gibson (43) pitching during an MLB baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrating hitting a double during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrating hitting a double during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (13) celebrating a hit during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy (13) celebrating a hit during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages (44) upset about striking out during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages (44) upset about striking out during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) running bases during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) running bases during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) slides into home safely during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) slides into home safely during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates a hit during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates a hit during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) upset after striking out during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) upset after striking out during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) smiles after a batter is tagged out at second during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) smiles after a batter is tagged out at second during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) is tagged out at second during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Kyle Tucker (23) is tagged out at second during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) hits a foul ball during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) hits a foul ball during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) hits a foul ball during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) hits a foul ball during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) celebrating in the dugout with Andy Pages during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Freddie Freeman (5) celebrating in the dugout with Andy Pages during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates a run in the dugout during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Mookie Betts (50) celebrates a run in the dugout during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) reacts to a review calling him safe at home plate during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Alex Freeland (76) reacts to a review calling him safe at home plate during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) returns to the dugout sullenly after being relieved during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Jessica Cryderman - The Sporting Tribune
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) returns to the dugout sullenly after being relieved during an MLB baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on June 19th, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Suarez (3-3) struck out five and walked three in 6 2/3 innings. His no-hit bid ended with Josh Naylor's one-out double in the seventh.
The 30-year-old lefty earned his first win since April 27 against Toronto.
Caleb Durbin put the Red Sox ahead with a second-inning solo homer, his fifth of the year. Durbin had his second three-hit game this season, with his first coming against Tampa Bay on June 10.
Ceddanne Rafaela scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, and Marcelo Mayer drove in two more runs with a bases-loaded single.
Carlos Narváez added a sacrifice fly before Seattle finally escaped the inning on a diving catch by Dominic Canzone in right field.
Suarez issued a two-out walk that loaded the bases in the seventh on his final pitch of the night, but Justin Slaten ended the threat by striking out pinch-hitter J.P. Crawford to preserve a 5-0 lead.
Mayer added one more insurance run with a ninth-inning RBI double. The Mariners got on the board thanks to Julio Rodríguez's two-run homer in the ninth.
Seattle starter Bryce Miller (3-1) struck out seven in five innings. He allowed three hits and one run.
Luis Castillo, who has started in all but three of his 258 career appearances, gave up five runs in four innings of relief as the Mariners revived their “piggyback” rotation.
Up next
Red Sox LHP Connelly Early (5-5, 3.81 ERA) starts opposite Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock (5-3, 3.28) on Saturday night.
(Photo by Kevin Dietsch / POOL / AFP via Getty Images
UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland was kicked out of UFC 250 when he was caught sneaking into the event.
The fighter was caught after jumping into a ring at the event. He was quickly removed by security and then escorted out.
Though he wasn’t arrested, Strickland claims that he could be facing a disorderly conduct charge. “I may have been charged with disorderly conduct. I don’t know what that is but it sounds cool,” Strickland said on Instagram. “Anyways, I just want to thank you fans. I can’t thank you guys enough. After being banned, you guys riding, supporting me, it means a lot to me.”
In another post, Strickland showed a photo of when he was being removed from President Trump’s highly hyped event. “Sorry you guys,” Strickland wrote. “We almost made it! Promise one day, we will set up a circle and box. Thanks for your support.”
President Trump’s Ultimate Fighting Championship event is the culmination of nearly a year of planning that began last July. At an Iowa rally last July, the president told the attendees, "Every one of our national park battlefields and historic sites is going to have special events in honor of America 250. "We’re going to have a UFC fight — think of this — on the grounds of the White House."
It made sense because President Trump frequently attends UFC events and is close with UFC CEO Dana White.
Since its unveiling, the event garnered an intense amount of controversy as well as a legal challenge — but still continued to be built anyway.
Last month, at an event in the White House, Trump spoke about the uniqueness of the event while hyping it up. "It's never gonna happen again. Never happened before," he said. "And it's all of the best fighters."
Initial estimates for attendees were set at 125,000 guests attending, per ABC News, and an additional 75,000 people reportedly requested tickets. The scheduled events will reportedly cost more than $60 million — costs that will be covered by the UFC.
Though the fights are happening as planned, there were questions of whether the event would even happen due to predicted thunderstorms in the Washington D.C. area.
Native American youth baseball players from across the Southwest and beyond are gathering at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick this weekend for the Na7ive Na7ions 16U National Baseball Tournament, an event that blends elite athletic competition with Indigenous culture, community, and youth development.
The four-day tournament features 11 teams representing Tribal and Indigenous communities competing for a national championship and a berth in the prestigious Babe Ruth World Series.
Hosted at the same complex used by Major League Baseball teams during Spring Training, the tournament aims to elevate the visibility of Indigenous athletes while bringing together families, Tribal leaders, Native-owned businesses, artists, and community organizations.
“Na7ive Na7ions was created to ensure Native youth have access to the same opportunities as any other athlete while celebrating who they are and where they come from,” said DJ Carrasco, founder and executive director of Na7ive Na7ions. “This event is about much more than baseball. It is about representation, visibility, culture, and creating opportunities that many Native youth have not had access to before.”
Carrasco, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, founded the organization after spending more than 15 years in professional baseball. Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 26th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft, he played professionally from 1997 through 2012, including stints with the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Mets.
Today, he has redirected that experience toward creating opportunities for Indigenous youth through sports.
“Growing up, I rarely saw Native players represented in professional baseball,” Carrasco said. “Native Nations is about changing that narrative. We want Native youth to know they belong in this game, can compete at the highest levels, and never have to leave their culture behind to pursue their dreams.”
The tournament extends beyond the baseball diamond by intentionally incorporating Native culture and community into the event. Throughout the weekend, attendees can support Native-owned vendors, artists, food businesses, jewelers, and entrepreneurs, creating an atmosphere that reflects the diverse communities represented by participating teams.
Na7ive Na7ions also emphasizes youth wellness through its HomePlate initiative, which integrates healthy snacks, hydration stations, wellness education, leadership development, and lifestyle resources into tournament programming.
“We’re not just developing athletes; we’re helping to develop healthy, confident young people,” Carrasco said. “HomePlate reflects our belief that athletic success, wellness, culture, and community are interconnected.”
Families who attended last year’s inaugural tournament described it as more than a sporting event, emphasizing its sense of community and accessibility.
“It was the first time his grandpa was able to see his grandson play because Na7ive Na7ions made it affordable,” one family shared.
Another attendee reflected on the atmosphere, saying, “We felt like we were on the rez, a big community with our own food, jewelry, and energy.”
Those experiences align with the organization’s broader mission of ensuring Indigenous athletes have access to the same opportunities, exposure, and resources as their peers while remaining connected to their cultures, families, and communities.
Na7ive Na7ions also works to remove barriers for athletes from Tribal and rural communities by creating opportunities for free-agent players and coaches who may not have access to a complete team roster, helping ensure talented Indigenous youth have a pathway to compete at the national level.
Former England star Danny Murphy has highlighted the differences between the USMNT fans in Seattle and Los Angeles.
The USA played their opening World Cup match against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles last week.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team then faced Australia in their second group-stage game, winning 2-0 at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
Murphy has explained why the supporters in Seattle were much more impressive than those in Los Angeles.
Danny Murphy spots key difference between USMNT fans in Seattle and Los Angeles
Everyone knows that football is not as popular in the United States as several other sports, such as basketball.
As a result, many fans were concerned that the atmosphere at the USMNT may not give them a significant home advantage.
Photo by MB Media/Getty Images
This was not an issue in Los Angeles, as the USA beat Paraguay 4-1, but Murphy was not overly impressed by the crowd.
However, the noise inside Lumen Field for the Australia game on Friday was deafening from start to finish.
Murphy claimed there was more “excitement” in the stadium because the USA fans now have more “belief.”
“This is a step up from the opening game that we did in LA,” Murphy said on the BBC. “There’s more excitement. There’s more energy. There’s a belief that they can go far. They’re just so excited.
“It’s a far cry from what I anticipated. And the team deserve credit because they’re the ones who have created it in many ways with their performance on the pitch.
“Yes, you can question the opposition, but they’ve been brave. They’ve been on the front foot. They’ve been creative. They’ve made things happen. They’ve scored goals. Now they’ve set themselves a high bar.”
Who could blame the USA for dreaming about going all the way after two superb performances so far?
Their final group match against Turkey should be a good barometer of where they are at ahead of the knockout rounds.
But whatever happens in that game, Pochettino’s side will be optimistic that a quarter-final push is on the cards.
Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber made one thing clear Friday: MLS wants the Vancouver Whitecaps to remain in Vancouver.
SEATTLE — Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber made one thing clear Friday: MLS wants the Vancouver Whitecaps to remain in Vancouver.
Whether that happens may ultimately determine how quickly Las Vegas enters the league.
Speaking before the United States' 2-0 victory over Australia in the FIFA World Cup at Lumen Field, Garber repeatedly stressed that MLS is committed to finding a long-term solution in Vancouver while acknowledging that Las Vegas remains an attractive market as questions continue to swirl about the Whitecaps' future.
The comments come amid reports that Las Vegas businessman Grant Gustavson is leading an investor group that has submitted a formal offer to purchase the Whitecaps and relocate the club to Southern Nevada. According to ESPN, the proposal includes plans for a soccer-specific stadium and a temporary venue until a permanent home is completed.
Garber did not directly address the reported bid but acknowledged that Las Vegas remains firmly on MLS' radar.
"I think we've got a great, passionate, well-heeled owner that has an option on an unbelievably attractive piece of land," Garber said. "He represents a young, new era of MLS team ownership. I'd like to see us be able to make a deal, get a deal done there."
Garber did not identify the ownership group. However, his comments arrive as Las Vegas continues its rapid transformation into a major-league sports destination after landing franchises in the NFL, NHL, WNBA and Major League Baseball with the Athletics moving into their new stadium in 2028. The NBA is in the midst of talking tp prospective ownership groups for an expansion franchise that could land there by 2028 as well.
For now, however, the commissioner's focus remains on Vancouver.
"We're committed to keeping the team there if we have a viable stadium project, which we don't have now," Garber said. "I'd love to find a solution."
Garber spent time in Vancouver on Thursday during Canada's World Cup match and met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Columbia Premier David Eby and local stakeholders involved in efforts to secure the club's future.
He said he left more encouraged than he was several months ago.
"I'm a little more hopeful," Garber said. "The corporate community that's not been very supportive of the club is now recognizing what soccer and what the Whitecaps actually mean to the city."
The commissioner said the Whitecaps' biggest challenge remains their stadium situation at BC Place, where the club lacks the level of control MLS teams typically enjoy.
"We are a very relevant club that doesn't have a good business model," Garber said. "You can't be sustainable with an old stadium that doesn't have a good connection with the team."
He later described the current arrangement as untenable.
"We've got to get a lease where we're not working the entire MLS schedule around the dates that we get from BC Place," Garber said. "Imagine the NFL having one stadium telling them, 'Here are your 18 days.' It's unsustainable."
Garber pointed to the successful effort to keep the Columbus Crew in Ohio as proof that a solution can be found if political leaders, business executives and ownership groups align behind a common goal.
"We want to keep the team there," Garber said. "But we can't do that unless political influencers and their entities put together something that will allow Vancouver to not be at the bottom of the list."
He also acknowledged that time is becoming a factor.
"Time is an enemy to any deal," Garber said. "The longer it waits, the more people get distracted, they lose interest and move on."
While the Vancouver-Las Vegas dynamic generated some of the most notable news from Garber's media session, the commissioner spent much of his time reflecting on what he believes is a watershed moment for soccer in North America.
Nearly three decades after taking over MLS, Garber said the 2026 World Cup is validating the league's long-term vision.
"When I took this job almost 28 years ago, I had this thought that if we could turn this country into a soccer nation that really believes and cares and is emotionally connected to the sport, then decades later we would have achieved something special," Garber said.
Garber has traveled extensively during the opening week of the tournament and said the scenes he has witnessed across North America have exceeded even his expectations.
"I've been telling everybody since we got this bid in 2018 that this country is going to show the rest of the world how we believe in the sport," Garber said. "To see crowds and crowds and crowds of people, whether it's a U.S. game or it's a Brazil game or it's a Canada match, is emotionally pleasing."
He credited MLS clubs with helping build the soccer culture now on display throughout the World Cup, singling out the Seattle Sounders for their role in transforming perceptions of professional soccer in the United States.
"MLS isn't what it is without the Sounders," Garber said. "Seattle was the boost that showed the world that MLS can be a popular, viable and meaningful soccer team in the United States."
Garber also expressed optimism about the United States men's national team's performance under Mauricio Pochettino. Entering Friday's match against Australia, the Americans had already generated significant excitement following their convincing World Cup-opening victory over Paraguay.
"I hope our team continues to lift up our country," Garber said.
One moment that particularly resonated with him came when he encountered members of the Boston Red Sox wearing U.S. Soccer apparel while arriving at his hotel.
"Think about that," Garber said. "Why would a baseball team support a soccer team? That's what we have going on here now. That's what the World Cup did."
For MLS, Garber said the challenge after the tournament will not be attracting people to soccer but converting World Cup fans into supporters of local clubs.
"We don't have to build a market," Garber said. "The market's there. It's up to us to convert it."
Whether that future ultimately includes a revitalized Whitecaps franchise in Vancouver, a new club in Las Vegas or some combination of both could become one of MLS' biggest post-World Cup storylines. For now, Garber insists Vancouver remains the priority. But his comments made clear that Las Vegas is waiting in the wings if a solution north of the border cannot be found.
Just one day after an estimated two million people flooded the streets of Lower Manhattan to catch a glimpse of the team’s ticker-tape parade celebrating the Knicks’ first NBA title in 53 years, stars (and long-time pals) Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, along with co-host Matt Hillman, recorded a special live edition of their popular podcast “The Roommates Show” at the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden.
All proceeds to the sell-out show, which was simulcast on ESPN, benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the MSG non-profit supporting children in need. And the Friday night crowd was a rowdy one, to say the least.
Brunson and Hart kicked things off by bringing the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy onstage to raucous applause and chants of “M-V-P!” for Brunson. The night also saw a number of special guests join the podcasting trio, including Knicks teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Miles “Deuce” McBride; Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony; and the co-hosts’ wives — Ali Brunson, Shannon Hart and Samara Hillman. They were all met with loud cheers on this Juneteenth evening.
Stephen A. Smith, on the other hand, was not.
The boisterous ESPN personality was greeted by a loud chorus of boos and heckling throughout his “secret guest” spot.
“Are they saying ‘Deuce?’” joked Hart as Smith came out to the boo-birds.
“They don’t know that boos are cheers,” added Smith, trying to save face. “Boos are cheers.”
The crowd had good reason to boo Smith, who infamously said that “Villanova doesn’t have a real NBA prospect on this squad” after the team won the 2016 NCAA Men’s National Championship (the team had future NBA difference-makers Brunson, Hart, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo, to name a few).
2016 Stephen A Smith: "Villanova doesn't have a real NBA prospect on this squad"
And later, when the Knicks signed Brunson in 2022, Smith bashed the decision, exclaiming, “I’m tired y’all… JALEN BRUNSON ISN’T THE ANSWER. You creating this cap space to get Jalen Brunson? Is he KD? Is he Kawhi Leonard?… You’re selling New York on Jalen Brunson?”
And so, on Friday night, Brunson and Hart confronted Smith about his 2016 comments.
“We are now sitting here with this golden trophy there to your right,” Hart said to Smith. “Can you sit here and admit you were wrong?”
After pretending he couldn’t hear the question, Smith replied, “I’m a grown-ass man. I was beyond wrong. I’m apologizing to this brother on national television; I’m apologizing to you; I’m apologizing to the entire Knicks organization. Let me be very, very clear: I have never been more happy to be wrong in my life.”
Smith, 58, claimed that he “came out of the womb a Knicks fan” to more jeers from the crowd before rattling off a series of infamous moves by the Knicks’ organization in the 2000s and 2010s while owner James Dolan was calling the shots, and before he handed the reins to Leon Rose (and got distracted by erecting his Sphere in Las Vegas).
“So, I apologize for being wrong,” Smith continued. “But let me be very clear: if it means another championship, I would do it again.”
Wyndham Clark keeps leaving his mark on Shinnecock Hills. He finished off the lowest opening round in a U.S. Open on this fearsome course Friday morning, and then he delivered two big birdie putts and set the 36-hole standard and build a four-shot lead going into the weekend.
With so much chaos and cringing around him, Clark played a steady hand — a far cry from where he was at the U.S. Open last year when he missed the cut and smashed up a locker at storied Oakmont.
His last act was a 35-foot birdie putt down the slope on the 18th green that dropped for a 1-under 69. That put him at 7-under 133, one shot better than Phil Mickelson and Shigeki Maruyama at the halfway point in 2004 at Shinnecock Hills.
And he thinks he could be better.
“I really felt like I could be in double digits (under par),” Clark said. “But you know, the great thing about that is I didn’t feel like I had my best, and I still am leading as of right now. Hopefully, I can bring my A-game on the weekend.”
Xander Schauffele, with the best U.S. Open record of anyone without a U.S. Open title over the last 10 years, had a 66 to finish at 137 along with Matt Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. Open champion who birdied two of his last three holes to salvage a 70.
They were joined at 137 in the afternoon, when the course began to dry, by Sam Stevens (69) and Tom Kim (67).
Scottie Scheffler still has the career Grand Slam in his sights. He missed only two fairways and hit his last 10 greens for a 68 that left him the group at 140, along with Rory McIlroy (71) who was closing in on Clark until starting the back nine with three straight bogeys.
Both feel they are right in the thick of it, though so much depends on Clark and what the USGA has in mind for a Shinnecock course that only figures to get drier, faster and scarier over the next two days.
“If there’s a course where you feel like you still have a chance if you’re seven back going into the weekend like I am, it’s definitely this one,” McIlroy said.
It’s a better chance than Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm, the two biggest stars from LIV Golf who missed the cut. DeChambeau left early from his third straight major.
The shocker was Rahm, a runner-up at the PGA Championship last month. He didn’t make a bogey until his 21st hole. But he shot 41 on the back nine for a 78 to match his highest score in a U.S. Open, also at Shinnecock Hills in 2018.
The cut came at 4-over 144.
The 10 players who remained under par was one short of the record for Shinnecock in 2004. That was the year the field averaged 78.7 in the final round.
The most remarkable day belonged to Joaquin Niemann. He made a 9 on No. 6 — his 15th and final hole of the fog-delayed first round that was halted by darkness — only for it to become an 11 when the USGA penalized two shots for bad behavior.
Niemann hit two drives off the property, chopped his way up the fairway and finally lost it by heaving his club. The majors are cracking down on behavior this year — the Masters was the first to use the policy this year — and the USGA deemed it serious enough to skip the warning and go straight to the harsh two-shot penalty.
Niemann headed out for his second round, made five birdies in six holes and shot 65 to make it to the weekend at 3-over 143. It was the first time in 97 years at the U.S. Open someone made 10 or worse in a U.S. Open and still make the cut.
“All the frustration that came inside me and had my club in my hand, and I couldn’t resist to throw it away,” Niemann said. “There was no people, obviously. No one there. I’m not proud of it, but yeah, sometimes all the expectation of trying to play well and things doesn’t go your way, you get frustrated. And that was me there.”
Collin Morikawa also shot 65 to match Niemann for the low score Friday, only his performance put him in sixth place, five shots behind. Justin Thomas and Sam Burns, who played in the final group at the U.S. Open last year, were in the group of players at 139.
The wind wasn’t as strong as Thursday, and while the course was still relatively soft by U.S. Open standards — greens were being sprayed in the early morning — the sun was out and test was getting a little bit tougher.
It was a long day for Clark and the other finishers because they had to return at 6:35 a.m. to resume the first round — 10 hours after they walked off the course.
Clark finished with two pars for a 64, the lowest start ever for a U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, and had a two-shot lead. He doubled that, and no one could catch him.
He was on a heater coming into Shinnecock Hills, winning The CJ Cup Byron Nelson with a 60 in the final round, contending in the Memorial and the Canadian Open the last two weeks. Frustration peaked a year ago at Oakmont and in the months that followed. Now, he appears to be more comfortable with each day.
“Momentum is a huge thing in golf, and I feel like I have it right now,” Clark said.
Schauffele has seven top 10s in his nine U.S. Open appearances, a Californian who keeps his cool even amid a tough test.
“It’s a brutal week,” Schauffele said. “Everyone watching at home wants to see guys shooting in the 80s and doing crazy things. I get it. You know, it’s once a year you get to see some carnage, and it’s at a U.S. Open. Try to embrace it as much as you can.”
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Alan Cawley criticized Canada head coach Jesse Marsch for his post-match reaction following their 6-0 World Cup win over Qatar in Vancouver.
Cawley’s issue was not with the celebration itself, but the tone, given Qatar finished the match with just nine men.
While he acknowledged the result was historic for Canada, Cawley felt more restraint would have been appropriate.
Photo by Ercin Erturk/Anadolu via Getty Images
Alan Cawley unimpressed by Jesse Marsch reaction after Canada win
Speaking in a TSN clip, former Irish soccer player Alan Cawley questioned the way Marsch handled Canada’s win over Qatar.
Canada had just claimed their first men’s World Cup victory, with Jonathan David scoring a hat trick in a dominant performance. Cawley, though, felt the reaction was over the top.
“Have a bit of class and decorum of what you’ve just beaten. And in terms of, it’s only the second group game of the tournament. So just put a lid on it. Cool the jets a little bit.”
Cawley also drew a comparison to Marsch’s time at Leeds United, suggesting this was not a new pattern of behavior.
“He’s doing a rallying call every press conference. He does. It was the same at Leeds. It was the same everywhere. That’s the way he carries on, but it’s nonsense. It’s absolute nonsense.”
To some, Marsch’s public calls for belief and unity can help shape identity. In this case, Cawley saw it as excessive given the circumstances.
He did give credit to Marsch for the result, but did not hold back on his wider point. “Even if you listen to some of the stuff that’s coming out of his mouth, it’s ridiculous. So in fairness, as I said, I’m praising him on one hand, but just have a bit of class.”
Jesse Marsch Canada closing in on World Cup knockout stage
Despite the criticism, there is no denying the progress Canada have made under Marsch.
The win put them top of Group B on goal difference, with four points from two matches and seven goals scored. Only Switzerland remain in the group stage.
Marsch has brought energy and aggression to Canada’s approach, and that identity was clear in the way they dismantled Qatar, even if the opposition was weakened.
Cawley’s comments reflect a divide in how Marsch is viewed. For some, his passion drives the team forward. For others, it can feel performative.
The next match could shift the conversation. Another win would back Marsch’s methods. A slip-up might give critics like Cawley more to talk about.
Oscar Collazo and Neider Valdez Aguilar face off at Friday's weigh-in ahead of Saturday's flyweight catchweight bout in Oceanside.
Oscar Collazo isn't defending his titles Saturday night. He's not even fighting in his own division.
After visa problems took out both Joey Canoy and a proposed Mexican replacement, Luis Castillo, this week, late addition Neider Valdez Aguilar wasn't ranked highly enough for either the WBA or WBO to sanction a true 105-pound title fight. Rather than pull the plug on the entire card, promoters restructured the bout at flyweight, 112 pounds, two divisions above where Collazo has spent his entire reign as champion.
It's the first time since his third pro fight in 2021 that Collazo has stepped outside minimumweight. The WBO slapped its International flyweight title on the bout to give it some sanctioning weight, though that's a secondary belt, not a genuine world championship. The WBA didn't bother.
Both fighters weighed in comfortably under the 112-pound limit Friday, Collazo at 110.5, Valdez at 111.25.
The real motivation here isn't championship stakes. It's making sure a seven-fight card and its undercard fighters still get paid after a week of visa chaos nearly blew the whole thing up.
For Collazo, that means risking an unbeaten record against a bigger man in a weight class he's barely touched in his career, for a fight that, on paper, means nothing for his championship reign. Valdez, for his part, gets the look of a live underdog with a size advantage and nothing to lose.
The late scratch of Ohtani from the lineup could be the cause of the delay regarding tonight’s lineup, which was not released this afternoon as it normally is.
Jul 6, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) scores ahead of the throw to Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim (28) during the sixth inning at Petco Park.
The San Diego Padres (38-35, 2nd in NL West)wrap up the last leg of a three-city, nine-game road trip with a series in Arlington against the Texas Rangers (35-39, 3rd in AL West).
After it appeared San Diego would cruise to a playoff appearance after a hot start, San Diego has fell flat and enters the series tied for the third and final wildcard spot in the National League with the Washington Nationals and Chicago Cubs. A month ago today, San Diego led the NL West. Today, they come into Friday's contest 9.0 games behind the back-to-back World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite securing a 6-1 win with the help of Griffin Canning's first win of the season in Wednesday's series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego failed to win a series for the fifth time in their last seven opportunities. An offense that ranks last in most major categories (AVG, OBP, SLG, wRC+) has resulted in the Friars dropping 15 of their last 22 games after starting the season 31-20.
It's not just the traditional numbers that are concerning. The Padres rank in the bottom 10 in both strikeout and walk rate, a combination that highlights the lineup's lack of discipline and persistent swing-and-miss tendencies. That lineup will be forced to find offense against a Texas pitching staff that ranks 10th in MLB in ERA (3.92).
The positive for San Diego? Its bullpen continues to be among the best in bullpen, featuring superstar closer Mason Miller who returns from the bereavement list after missing the previous three games. In 30.0 innings this season, the 27-year-old flamethrower has posted a stellar ERA (0.90) and strikes out over 50% of the batters he faces. Southpaw Wandy Peralta and RHP Bradgley Rodriguez have each provided stability for manager Craig Stammen, allowing just four homers in 69.1 combined innings pitched.
The Rangers comes into the three-game set losing five of their last six games, including being swept by the Minnesota Twins in a series in which they were outscored 25-7. Similar to San Diego's issues, the recent slide can be attributed to an offense struggling to consistently score runs in bunches. In each of their last five losses, Texas has failed to score more than three runs a game. After 74 games, only one Ranger has more than 10 home runs (Jake Burger, 12).
Additionally, the San Diego pitching staff will face a Texas lineup without shortstop Corey Seager, who was placed on the 7-day injured list with a concussion on Monday. Third baseman Josh Jung has been one of the few bright spots in the Texas order, batting .301 with 30 RBI this season.
Although Texas features a future Hall of Fame starter named Jacob, the team's strength come from its two in the bullpen. Veteran relievers Jacob Latz and Jakob Junis have dominated with both owning an ERA under 2.00. Latz, 30, is in the midst of a career season, pairing a nearly eight-point increase in strikeout rate with a walk rate that has been cut nearly in half from last year, helping him record 12 saves. In his first year with Texas, Junis has allowed just six earned runs across 29.1 innings.
Pitching Matchups
Friday, June 19: RHP Randy Vasquez (6-4, 3.63 ERA) vs. RHP Jacob DeGrom (5-4, 3.17 ERA)
June has not been so kind to Vasquez, who owns an ERA north of five in three starts this month. The starter from the Dominican Republic has allowed a home run in each of his last five starts, including three in his last start in May against the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite his recent struggles with the long ball, Vasquez could be in line for a bounce-back outing against a Texas lineup that lacks power and owns a sub-.700 OPS against right-handed pitching. On the other side, DeGrom has been terrific in June, posting a 1.06 ERA and K/9 of 10.06 in 17 innings. He will look to continue this hot stretch against a Padres lineup that is hitting just .217 against right-handed pitching. Manny Machado, who is tied with Dansby Swanson for the lowest average among qualified players at .177, is 6-20 with a walk in his career against DeGrom.
Saturday, June 20: RHP Walker Buehler (4-3, 4.14 ERA) vs. RHP athan Eovaldi (6-7, 4.23 ERA)
Similar to Monday's game against St. Louis, Saturday's pitching matchup features two former Red Sox as Buehler looks to build off three consecutive starts in which he has allowed one run or less. The two-time World Series champion has struggled on the road, carrying an ERA of 5.40 and opponent batting average of .292 away from Petco Park. Eovaldi, also a two-time champion, looks to even his record in his 15th start this season.
Sunday, June 21: RHP Lucas Giolito (2-2, 4.56 ERA) vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-6, 4.27 ERA)
For the first time in his career, Giolito had the opener role utilized prior to a start in Monday's 3-0 loss to St. Louis. After entering in the second, the veteran fired five innings, allowing all three runs and striking out two. Control has been a major concern for Giolito, who owns more walks than strikeouts. Similar to Buehler, Gore has struggled in June, allowing four runs or more in two of his three starts.
Injury Report
San Diego: SP Matt Waldron 15-day IL (forearm), C Freddy Fermin 7-day IL (concussion), Nick Pivetta 60-day IL (forearm), C Luis Campusano 10-day IL (toe), DH Miguel Andujar 10-day IL (hamstring), 2B Jake Cronenworth 7-day IL (concussion)
Texas: SS Corey Seager 7-day IL (concussion), CF Evan Carter 10-day IL (oblique), RP Jalen Beeks 15-day IL (back), C Danny Jansen 10-day IL (forearm/elbow), RP Chris Martin 15-day IL (shoulder)
NFL great Marshawn Lynch added another surprising entry to his growing photography portfolio on Friday, serving as a credentialed photographer at the USMNT’s World Cup group stage match against Australia at Lumen Field.
Back in familiar territory, the former Seattle Seahawks star was spotted before kick-off wearing a green photographer’s bib and holding a camera on the sidelines, a far cry from his usual role as the centre of attention on the pitch.
Lynch photographed the United States claimed a 2-0 win over Australia in Group D, a result that secured their spot in the Round of 32 on home soil. Australia’s Cameron Burgess gifted the host nation the opening goal when he poked the ball into his own net in the 11th minute.
The US doubled their lead through Alex Freeman just before half-time.
The US secured back-to-back wins at a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1930, and will be confirmed as group winners if Turkey fail to beat Paraguay.
This is not the first time Lynch has been behind the camera for a big sporting occasion. He’s already worked as a credentialed photographer at a Seahawks game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle’s Super Bowl 60 win, the Canelo-Crawford fight, and the Daytona 500.
He’s not the only big name in sport to step behind the lens recently. Simone Biles was seen photographing a Chicago Bears game in December, while Caitlin Clark held credentials for an Indiana Pacers game against the Los Angeles Lakers in March.
Even after winning the national championship, Curt Cignetti isn’t changing his philosophy in recruiting. But he also knows how important NIL is in the process, which is why the Indiana coach said schools have to “be smart.”
Cignetti told Rich Eisen that the Hoosiers have developed a bigger profile on the recruiting trail and can bring more prospects to Bloomington as a result. The program still looks for traits such as toughness, character and toughness, though, even with more access to higher-rated prospects.
However, Cignetti said it’s important to keep pace with the times as the NIL and rev-share eras evolve. it comes down to finding the balance between making a splash on the trail and retaining key pieces already on the roster.
“Yeah, there are more guys we can get in on and get on campus. But you’ve got to be smart, too, because the market’s always changing and this high school market is out there,” Cignetti said on The Rich Eisen Show. “So you really can’t go all the way with everybody you’d like to because you’ve got to be able to keep the good players and add a few guys in the portal where you’ve got critical needs.”
Curt Cignetti: ‘I don’t deal with agents anymore’
When asked if anyone has ever come into his office asking for more money, Curt Cignetti said it has “never” happened on his watch. After all, many of the athletes have agents, and he made it clear he’s not part of those conversations. He leaves those to his recruiting staffers and noted talks about NIL dollars don’t happen during the season.
“The time for negotiation is when the season’s over,” Cignetti said. “The high school deal, when you’re recruiting, you’ve got agents calling your guy.
“I don’t deal with agents anymore. I let our people deal with them and they come to me. It’s like anything else. How bad do you want it?”
After winning the national championship, Cignetti and Indiana once again reloaded in the transfer portal. The Hoosiers brought in the No. 1-ranked transfer class, according to the On3 Team Transfer Portal Rankings, headlined by former TCU quarterback Josh Hoover.
Additionally, IU’s 2026 recruiting class comes in as the nation’s No. 30 overall group, according to the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Ranking. That includes seven four-stars on the way to Bloomington.
American sports attention has been split recently. The NBA Finals and UFC Freedom 250 both competed with the World Cup for a short spell, making soccer only one part of a crowded national conversation.
That situation is changing. The USMNT have played well, already secured a knockout-stage place and given casual soccer fans a clear reason to stay involved as the tournament grows.
That momentum now aligns with a new move in New York City, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a Telemundo partnership designed to bring World Cup matches directly to public sidewalks.
Zohran Mamdani announces free World Cup screenings on LinkNYC kiosks
Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen
Mamdani announced that five World Cup matches will be shown on 200 LinkNYC kiosks across New York City, with Spanish-language coverage from Telemundo.
The plan includes four Friday matches and the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium. The first listed game was this Friday’s United States vs Australia.
Mamdani framed the idea as a way to make the tournament feel accessible beyond stadiums.
He claimed New York is a city of sidewalks as much as stadiums, and that fans should not need a ticket to MetLife to feel connected to the world’s game.
Mamdani’s World Cup project continues his close sports bond
The announcement also fits Mamdani’s increasingly visible connection to sport.
This week, he was deeply involved in the New York Knicks’ NBA championship parade, underlining how closely he has tied himself to the city’s sporting moments.
He was also spotted several times at Madison Square Garden during the Knicks’ title campaign.
Now the World Cup gives him another platform. With the USMNT winning and New York hosting the final, the LinkNYC project seems to arrive at the right moment.
Recently departed Seattle Kraken president of hockey operations Ron Francis is coming back to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.
Last season, Francis, 63, was moved up to president of hockey operations after spending six years as the Seattle Kraken’s first franchise general manager. However, rumors of diverging opinions on key matters between him and general manager Jason Botterill persisted, and in April, Francis announced he would step down as president.
Friday, the Penguins announced Francis would rejoin the organization as Special Advisor, Hockey Operations to president of hockey operations/GM Kyle Dubas. With the Penguins, Francis won two Stanley Cups (1991, 1992) as a player and served as captain following Mario Lemieux’s retirement for the 1997-98 season.
Francis played for the Penguins from 1991 through the ’98 season.
According to the Penguins’ press release, Francis will be involved in improving the organization’s front office operations.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Friday his office is launching an investigation into Major League Baseball, alleging religious discrimination against players who protested LGBTQ Pride night by writing Bible verses over rainbow logos on their cap.
“The Attorney General’s Office will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect the religious liberty of players and employees working in Florida,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
The catalyst for the investigation occurred at San Francisco Giants Pride Night on June 12 when three Giants pitchers wrote Bible verses on their special-edition rainbow logo Pride caps. On Thursday, in separate incident, minor league baseball team York Revolution in Pennsylvania refused to play its Pride Night game after players refused to wear uniforms that featured a rainbow design.
MLB officials had not commented on Uthmeier’s move late Friday.
The league said earlier that the Giants players violated apparel regulations that explicitly prohibit outside writing or personal messaging on game-day gear “regardless of the message.”
“Major League Baseball claims it does not tolerate discrimination based on religion, yet its actions tell a different story,” Uthmeier said in his statement. “If MLB applauds ideological messages it prefers while reprimanding expressions of Christian faith, that is not a neutral rule enforcement — it is religious discrimination that cannot stand in Florida.”
Subpoena demands extensive record-keeping on past uniform enforcement
Uthmeier said MLB has allowed players to express other views on their uniforms, such as wearing Black Lives Matter sleeve patches.
The Florida Attorney General’s Office has issued a subpoena, under the state’s Civil Rights Act and the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, demanding MLB produce by July 23 all uniform and equipment rules, a history of enforcing its policy on markings, policies on Pride Nights and player records from the Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Marlins and 15 Grapefruit League clubs across Florida.
Rand Hoch, a contract lawyer and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, said employers, like Major League Baseball, have a right to set dress or uniform codes.
“I don’t know who he thinks he is pandering to,” Hoch said of Uthmeier. “To spend taxpayer dollars just to get his name in right-wing media is totally insane.”
Howard Marks, an attorney with Burr & Forman in Orlando, said Uthmeier doesn’t have much of a case.
“It’s a political position that he wants to get out,” Marks told WKMG-TV. “But I’m not sure there’s much of a legal First Amendment case that could be brought by him.”
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Friday his office is launching an investigation into Major League Baseball, alleging religious discrimination against players who protested LGBTQ Pride night by writing Bible verses over rainbow logos on their cap.
“The Attorney General’s Office will not hesitate to take all necessary action to protect the religious liberty of players and employees working in Florida,” Uthmeier said in a statement.
The catalyst for the investigation occurred at San Francisco Giants Pride Night on June 12 when three Giants pitchers wrote Bible verses on their special-edition rainbow logo Pride caps. On Thursday, in separate incident, minor league baseball team York Revolution in Pennsylvania refused to play its Pride Night game after players refused to wear uniforms that featured a rainbow design.
MLB officials had not commented on Uthmeier’s move late Friday.
The league said earlier that the Giants players violated apparel regulations that explicitly prohibit outside writing or personal messaging on game-day gear “regardless of the message.”
“Major League Baseball claims it does not tolerate discrimination based on religion, yet its actions tell a different story,” Uthmeier said in his statement. “If MLB applauds ideological messages it prefers while reprimanding expressions of Christian faith, that is not a neutral rule enforcement — it is religious discrimination that cannot stand in Florida.”
Subpoena demands extensive record-keeping on past uniform enforcement
Uthmeier said MLB has allowed players to express other views on their uniforms, such as wearing Black Lives Matter sleeve patches.
The Florida Attorney General’s Office has issued a subpoena, under the state’s Civil Rights Act and the Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, demanding MLB produce by July 23 all uniform and equipment rules, a history of enforcing its policy on markings, policies on Pride Nights and player records from the Tampa Bay Rays, Florida Marlins and 15 Grapefruit League clubs across Florida.
Rand Hoch, a contract lawyer and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, said employers, like Major League Baseball, have a right to set dress or uniform codes.
“I don’t know who he thinks he is pandering to,” Hoch said of Uthmeier. “To spend taxpayer dollars just to get his name in right-wing media is totally insane.”
Howard Marks, an attorney with Burr & Forman in Orlando, said Uthmeier doesn’t have much of a case.
“It’s a political position that he wants to get out,” Marks told WKMG-TV. “But I’m not sure there’s much of a legal First Amendment case that could be brought by him.”
The United States team celebrates their first goal during a FIFA World Cup match against Australia, Friday June 19th, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.
SEATTLE – No Christian Pulisic? No problem.
The United States men’s national team’s dream start to this home FIFA World Cup threatened to be a nightmare, as the star forward was out with a calf injury and Ricardo Pepi in his place. However, relentless possession and pressure earned another own goal in favor of the U.S. and a video-assisted insurance marker for Alex Freeman in a 2-0 win over Australia on Friday afternoon at Lumen Field.
The United States (2-0-0, 6 points) clinched a spot in the knockout rounds and leads Group D, with a chance to win the group with a Paraguay win over Turkiye or draw in Santa Clara tonight.
“If someone said before the tournament, two games and you'd be through to the knockouts, I think we all would’ve took it,” Folarin Balogun said. “So, we're delighted.”
The Americans close group play against Türkiye (0-0-1, 0 points) on Thursday back in Los Angeles, and at the same time, Australia (1-0-1, 3 points) will kick off against Paraguay (0-0-1, 0 points) in Santa Clara.
Without Pulisic, Pepi and Balogun pushed forward as a pair of strikers. While Pepi came off in the 74th minute, he and Balogun pressed the stout Australian backline all match long, and Balogun put in his second Man of the Match performance in his first two World Cup games.
“The coach (Mauricio Pochettino), he's always given us different ideas to attack. So to play with Pepi today wasn't a shock,” Balogun said. “It wasn't a plan B because CP was out. It didn't feel like that to me. It just felt like another solution to win the game, and also Australia play a back five. So two strikers to occupy the center backs is also a good idea. I think that's credit to the boss, and you can see today it worked.”
The United States dominated possession throughout the first half (57% to 35%), but unlike the opener Paraguay, where the USMNT let the horses ride, Australia’s defensive posture forced the U.S. to break the game through quick passing and even quicker give-and-go bursts.
However, just like Paraguay, the Stars and Stripes got a little help to break through.
Antonee “Jedi” Robinson sprung Balogun down the left wing, and Balogun turned the corner on the Aussie defense into the box. Balogun looked to feed crashing Pepi, but the hard-tracking defense of Cameron Burgess got their first, with the ball deflecting off the stuttering toe of Burgess’ boot for the opening own goal, 1-0, in the 11th minute.
The U.S. is the first team in World Cup history to receive own goals in consecutive matches. It was the fifth World Cup own goal all-time in favor of the U.S., which is second to France’s six in tournament history.
“The ball just got played into the channel from Jedi, and I want to be dangerous,” Balogun said. “I want to create opportunities and there might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, then for me it's like a goal as well. It was a special start to the game to give us the momentum and then I think we carried that out.”
With the Americans continuing to look forward with attempts to dice through the Australian blockade, the Socceroos continued to meet the U.S. at every pass, getting into the Americans trying to force turnovers and counter the other direction.
The physical flashpoints as the two tried to push play in opposite directions eventually came back to bite the physical Aussies with a yellow card to Jordan Bos in the 16th minute and another to Alessandro Circati in the 32nd minute.
Australia had a moment of offensive form just before the hydration break, Alex Freeman tracked back for a sliding break-up of an Aussie cross. Weston McKennie broke up the ensuing corner kick, and Chris Richards took care of a second immediately after.
Despite the USMNT’s hold of the ball, Australia’s structure kept hold of the game’s pace and tension. The Americans routinely would work their way into the box, but without anything to show for it, there was the danger of one wrong ball springing this for the Socceroos.
The U.S. desperately needed insurance, and finally got it just before stoppage time.
Malik Tillman battled along the end line and was pulled down for a well-earned free kick just outside the right side of the box–a miniature corner kick. Robinson played it to Sergino Dest at the top of the box, who drilled the ball off an Aussie defender high into the air.
Freeman followed the ball to the goal and headed it in for the double-up strike, but the linesman had his flag raised. Freeman was deemed offside when Dest struck the ball… or was he?
The video assistant referee called down to the head referee, and upon review, Freeman was onside for a good goal and a 2-0 lead into halftime.
Freeman took after his former NFL playing father, Antonio Freeman, by taking a physical hit minutes before and coming back to strike.
“Obviously, I got hit in the head pretty hard (in the 38th minute), but I was able to get up and to continue playing,” Freeman said. “Sergino took a shot, and for me, it was to be able to kind of get the rebound in any way I can. I was able to put it in the back of the net… VAR took a really long time. I was very anxious to see whether it was a goal or not, and then when it was a goal, I looked back and I saw my teammates running at me, I was like, ‘oh, Lord,’ and I had to run (away to celebrate).”
Antonio Freeman had scored against the Seahawks in this stadium during his playing days, which made for a special moment when Alex Freeman got on the board playing his football for the United States.
“I think for me that is a full circle family moment,” Alex said. “I think for me it just shows how great the family tree is, and I think that just shows how he can be great, but I can be great in my own way as well. I think that just shows how amazing it is to have a dad who's successful and that can mentor me to be able to be ready for moments like these.”
The United States wasn’t nearly as dangerous in the second half, with just a few scattered corner kicks to their name and a long run by Balogun, and as the game wore on, Australia became bolder and bolder earning their own fair share of the possession.
Richards was brilliant in turning away several Australian forays into the box in the 73rd-75th minutes.
Australia was at its most dangerous into the 85th minute, with feeds into the box, deflected shots and a loose ball into a humongous sliding block by Tyler Adams.
The Americans defensive back line had not been tested much at all through the first 160 minutes of this tournament, but Richards, Ream and company earned their stars on Friday.
Yellow cards flew in the 89th minute, as the feistiness, frustration–and a bit of U.S. time wasting– began to boil over. Balogun earned his first of the tournament and the USMNT’s second of the game following a booking for Robinson in the 56th minute. Australian captain Harry Souttar and Jacob Italiano both were booked.
Richards took the Americans’ third yellow with a run-in in stoppage time, as the referee attempted to keep a lid on things through the final whistle.
All in all, six total yellow cards were handed out against teams that carried just one–Adams picked up one against Paraguay–into the match.
“It was an extremely tough game. Very physical. A lot of challenges,” Balogun said. “I think the ref done his best to try and contain it, but as you can see, this is a World Cup. It's expected for the passion to sometimes spill over, but I think we kept our cool and a really professional performance from us.”
Now, the rest of the day’s fate falls into the hands of Turkiye and Paraguay. If Turkiye loses or draws, it would be unable to match the United States and earn the group tiebreaker with a second group win next week against the Americans.
If the U.S. clinches the group tonight, it would open the door to rest a handful of players that picked up yellow cards–which are expunged after the group stage and every round of three games in the tournament–or those with nagging injuries like Pulisic.
However, that’s not up to the USMNT today, and the players still have they’re still dreaming of the ultimate prize.
“For me growing up, history is always–the winners are remembered, you know?” Balogun said. “I'm aware the country's supporting us, and the country’s proud of us in each game. We are doing things, but for me, I'm just focused on the prize.”
Thankfully for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, Balogun created a goal with his best impression of the AC Milan winger.
What Christian Pulisic said about Folarin Balogun
Balogun made an excellent run into the box from the left wing in the 11th minute—Pulisic’s trademark move.
He attempted to pass the ball to Ricardo Pepi, but Australia defender Cameron Burgess kicked the ball into his own net.
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
It may not have been as satisfying as a goal, but Balogun can be proud of another great performance for the USA.
The former Arsenal striker is even rivalling Pulisic as the USMNT’s best player under Pochettino.
However, there is no rivalry between the two USA stars; instead, Pulisic has been complimentary about Balogun.
“The kid’s insane,” Pulisic said, via USA Today. “Yeah, he’s lethal right now in front of goal. We’re really lucky to have him and [hope he] keeps going like this.”
USA supporters will be incredibly optimistic about the Turkey game, as they should have both Balogun and Pulisic up front.
They can even start dreaming of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002.
Meadowlark Media’s Mike Fuentes announced his departure from the company on Friday.
In a post on X, Fuentes wrote that he was “no longer working with the Dan Le Batard Show and Meadowlark Media in any capacity,” adding, “Will share more when I’m ready.”
The video producer and occasional on-air talent joined Meadowlark in May 2022, according to his LinkedIn page. Fuentes worked on the flagship Dan Le Batard Show and Mystery Crate, which featured the show’s producers giving behind-the-scenes insights. Most recently, Fuentes was the lead producer for Dave Dameshek’s Football America.
Fuentes’ brother, Gino, also works as a producer for Meadowlark.
After Le Batard Show fans circulated an off-color video thumbnail that had been replaced on the company’s YouTube channel early Friday as a potential cause of Fuentes’ departure, Fuentes clarified that he played no role in the graphic.
“I have not been the lead producer of Mystery Crate for some time,” he wrote on X. “I was only asked to stay on as a talent and for assistance wherever the new producers needed it. Anything else beyond that, I was not aware of and did not come across my desk.”
I have not been the lead producer of Mystery Crate for some time. I was only asked to stay on as a talent and for assistance wherever the new producers needed it. Anything else beyond that, I was not aware of and did not come across my desk.
FIFA is set to receive an official complaint from the Football Federation of Iran -Credit:Eva Marie Uzcategui - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images
Iran will submit a formal complaint to FIFA regarding the "inconsistent" treatment it claims to have endured in comparison with other nations at the World Cup, with the national squad receiving only restricted access in the United States.
Multiple controversies have emerged in the buildup to the World Cup, but Iran's involvement and their treatment have been central to the turmoil. Several members of the Iranian staff were refused visas to enter the U.S., and the squad was compelled to move its base to Mexico from Arizona.
A FIFA council member has already criticized the handling of Iran, intensifying pressure on President Gianni Infantino. Now, Iran has confirmed it will submit a formal complaint, as per The Mirror US.
-Credit:Shaun Clark/ISI Photos, ISI Photos via Getty Images
The complicated situation involving Iran originates from the continuing tensions with the U.S. and Israel, but it has resulted in warnings ahead of the World Cup. U.S. President Donald Trump even cautioned against the Iranian national squad from competing.
Following visa difficulties and relocating their base camp south of the border, the Iranian national squad must now travel one day prior to World Cup fixtures in the U.S., and leave on the same day. Due to this, Iran has claimed unjust treatment.
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei stated they are the "most oppressed" squad at the tournament following a 2-2 tie against New Zealand in the opening fixture. The Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) has now opted to file a formal complaint.
The FFIRI released a statement declaring that the restrictions they face are "inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams' preparation processes."
The statement continued, "Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with FIFA through the appropriate channels."
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, however, has stood behind the current restrictions, claiming that Iran had agreed to the conditions set out ahead of the World Cup. "The Iranian national football team agreed to these terms," a DHS spokesperson told the BBC.
"The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match. They'll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they'll be able to do that again in Los Angeles, and they'll be able to do it again in Seattle, and then if they qualify for the next round, for the Round of 32, they'll be able to do that again."
Iran is scheduled to take on Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 before rounding out the group stage against Egypt in Seattle on June 27. The Iranian federation is pushing for additional preparation time to give the squad a competitive edge, rather than contending with a grueling travel schedule.
Iran stated that the team "needed to arrive in each host city two days before every match and return to its base camp the day after the game in order to achieve optimal technical and physical preparation." That request was rejected ahead of their game against New Zealand, and the situation remains unchanged.
-Credit:Matt McNulty - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images
The FFIRI stated: "The same situation has now been repeated ahead of Iran's second match against Belgium. Given that the game will be played at 12:00 p.m. local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match.
"The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations. Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied."
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Joaquin Niemann is grateful that he’ll be playing on the weekend at the 2026 U.S. Open, an outcome that seemed highly unlikely given what transpired during his first round at Shinnecock Hills.
When the 27-year-old Argentine signed for an eight-over 78 Friday morning, his opening 18 holes having spill over a day after play was called for darkness Thursday, it included a two-shot penalty that the USGA assessed him for throwing a club during the round, an act that was deemed to be “serious misconduct” of the Rules of Golf.
Niemann was quickly back on the course for his second round, in which he proceeded to make seven birdies and post a five-under 65 to get him to a three-over total that put him one shot inside the cutline.
“I’m not proud of it,” Niemann said on Friday afternoon of the incident that got him penalized, “but yeah, I mean, sometimes, you know, all the expectation of trying to play well and things doesn’t go your way, you get frustrated, and that was me there.”
According to the USGA, Niemann was penalized for throwing a club on the sixth hole (his 15th hole of the first round). It was shortly before play was called for darkness on Thursday, and Niemann had hit two drives out of bounds on the hole. His fifth shot off the tee then found the fescue.
Niemann then asked a rules official about getting relief from what he believed were fire ants near his ball. A rules official denied his request. Niemann then hit his sixth shot with a sand wedge into the fairway.
According to a report by The Athletic, a U.S. Open volunteer on the scene said that Niemann was upset and “kicked the flag that had been marking the ball, kicked the grass, and chucked his club at least 50 yards.” Tour cast shows then that Niemann played a sixth shot into the fairway and then lists penalty for his seventh and eighth shots.
“I saw a lot of ants there, and I was just asking the referee if they were fire ants, and like, he say, no. To be honest, I was pretty … I wasn't angry asking him. I was pretty normal, pretty chill, because I knew I needed to keep going and try to shoot the less possible.
“After that shot, I hit it, I lay up, and the whole frustration went inside me. I think they blew the horn already. I'm not sure if they did or not, but after I hit that shot, yeah, I was … like all the frustration that came inside me and had my club in my hand, and I couldn't resist to throw it away.”
Niemann said he looked around and that no people were around where he threw the club.
Niemann didn’t finish the hole until Friday morning, which is when he learned about the two-stroke penalty. In the brief time between when he finished the first round and started his second, Niemann reportedly was in tears over the penalty.
After the second round, Niemann and several members of his team met with USGA officials to see if there was any way of overturning the penalty. According to the USGA, there is no formal appeal for this ruling and while sometimes second opinions are allowed, in this instance the ruling was made by all the key decision makers.
“That was a misbehave from my part,” Niemann said. “I felt like a little bit extra penalized with two-shot penalty, but I think it is what it is. I think I'm going to learn from it. It definitely kind of helped me a little bit to have a better round today.”
The USMNT has made a bright start to their World Cup campaign under Mauricio Pochettino. A 4-1 win over Paraguay changed the mood around the team, and the early signs against Australia only added to that optimism.
Previous doubts about Pochettino’s work have faded quickly. The United States look sharper, braver and more coherent than many expected before the tournament began.
There is no denying, though, that their opponents have given them some help, and that became part of history just 11 minutes into the Australia match.
USMNT becomes first World Cup team to benefit from back-to-back own goals
Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images
The United States became the first team ever to benefit from an own goal in two consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, according to Opta.
Both own goals also opened the scoring. Against Paraguay, Damián Bobadilla turned the ball into his own net in the seventh minute, setting the tone for a 4-1 USMNT win.
Against Australia, Cameron Burgess did the same after 11 minutes, giving Pochettino’s side another early lead.
There was even a similarity in how the goals arrived. Both plays were generated from the left side of the American attack, where the USMNT has looked dangerous across the opening stretch of the tournament.
Still, the record should not be used to dismiss the performances. Own goals can be fortunate, but they usually come from pressure, movement and defenders being forced into difficult situations.
That is what the United States have done well. They have played with tempo, attacked with conviction and made opponents uncomfortable.
The own goals have eased pressure, but they have not created a false picture. Pochettino’s team have started this World Cup campaign with genuine authority. That is a fact.
Morocco has been an ascending soccer power, particularly after a run to the semifinals in the 2022 World Cup. The team has improved so much that its 1-1 draw against powerhouse Brazil in its 2026 World Cup opener was a slight disappointment.
“We didn’t come to the U.S. to just play against Brazil,” Morocco midfielder Azzedine Ounahi said. “We came in to go even farther than we did in Qatar in 2022.”
“Against difficult opponents, we have to be very good,” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said. “We’re a little more comfortable as underdogs. ... Sometimes Scotland prefers it that way.”
Scotland vs. Morocco marks the third game to be played at Boston Stadium in Foxborough since Saturday. The game airs on Boston 25 News/Fox at 6 p.m. Before that, fans can watch Team USA take on Australia at 3 p.m.
Follow below for live updates leading up to, during, and after the match:
2:50 p.m.
Team USA will be without star Christian Pulisic, as it battles Australia with a trip to the knockout round on the line. Watch the game live on Boston 25 at 3 p.m., followed by Scotland vs. Morocco at Boston Stadium at 6 p.m.
2 p.m.
Boston 25 Sports director Butch Stearns and Boston 25 Soccer Analyst Julian Cardillo react to Team USA’s Christian Pulisic news and look ahead to Scotland vs. Morocco at Boston Stadium tonight.
12:50 p.m.
The first match-day Commuter Rail train carrying thousands of fans has arrived at Boston Stadium.
— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) June 19, 2026
11:30 a.m.
Massachusetts State Police share some match-day reminders for fans.
⚽ Match Day reminder: Celebrate proudly, but leave fireworks, flares, smoke devices, and pyrotechnics at home. 🚫 Fireworks are illegal in Massachusetts and are not allowed at World Cup matches, fan events, celebrations, transportation areas, or public spaces.#MatchReadyMApic.twitter.com/zVV3HFp0Hd
— Massachusetts State Police (@MassStatePolice) June 19, 2026
11:15 a.m.
Scotland and Morocco fans are lined up outside South Station, waiting for MBTA Commuter Rail trains to start rolling to Foxborough Station.
— MBTA Transit Police (@MBTATransitPD) June 19, 2026
11 a.m.
MassDOT announces that the HOV lane on the Southeast Expressway will open at 1 p.m. to accommodate World Cup traffic.
Travel Advisory: Today, Friday, June 19, the I-93 southbound (Southeast Expressway) HOV lane will open early at 1:00 p.m., for #WorldCup2026 Travel. pic.twitter.com/30QkHkcvKq
For the first time in its inaugural season as the exclusive U.S. home of Formula 1, Apple TV is making a complete race weekend available to anyone who wants to watch.
The streamer announced its making the entire Austrian Grand Prix weekend free to U.S. viewers starting Friday, June 26, through Sunday’s race on June 28. That means all five sessions — two practice rounds Friday, a third Saturday morning, qualifying Saturday afternoon, and the Grand Prix on Sunday — are available in the Apple TV app without a subscription.
Apple signed a five-year, $750 million deal to take F1’s U.S. rights from ESPN, which had held them since 2018. ESPN had the ability to match Apple’s offer but declined. It was a consequential decision to walk away from, given that ESPN had just set a record 1.3 million viewers per race in its final F1 season, with 16 of 24 races setting individual viewership highs. F1 had grown 135% during its time on ESPN, from 554,000 viewers per race at the start of the partnership.
Apple TV accounts for less than half a percent of all television viewing in the United States, and its estimated domestic subscriber base of 18.7 million is a considerably smaller pool than the 60 million cable and satellite households ESPN could reach. After the Australian Grand Prix opener, Apple told The Hollywood Reporter that viewership had topped ESPN’s numbers from a year prior, but declined to release any data to support the assertion.
While Apple hasn’t offered much transparency into how many people are watching, F1 executives have been more vocal about what they believe the move to streaming solves. Chief media rights officer Ian Holmes has argued that housing every session on one platform improves discoverability for fans.
“If it’s on ESPNEWS and then the next session is on ESPN College and then ESPN3, it doesn’t help discoverability,” Holmes told Sports Business Journal earlier this year. “Whereas having it all housed effectively on a single page definitely increases the knowledge of exactly what content is available.”
That page, next weekend, is free. And with it comes access to the full suite of features Apple has touted since acquiring the rights. Apple’s broadcast runs in 4K Dolby Vision with 5.1 audio, multiview support for up to four simultaneous feeds, onboard cameras, live telemetry, and a choice between F1 TV and Sky Sports presentations.
In a major reveal on Thursday afternoon, an off day for the Dodgers, insider Jon Heyman reported that the Tigers are looking for controllable pitching and position players close to the big leagues.
While not exactly some kind of breaking news, considering most teams who reasonably ask for this when targeting an ace pitcher, this is the first clear notion of what the franchise is looking for if they deal Skubal.
Rather than targeting the highest-upside players, the Tigers seemingly want players who will not take too long to be ready to contribute.
Apr 29, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the seventh inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Dodgers have one of the best farm systems in baseball, with top-end talent capable of offering a prospect package, and they are also uniquely equipped with budding major-league talent and minor-league players close to the show.
Who can the Dodgers offer?
Cost-controlled pitchers: Emmet Sheehan, Justin Wrobleski, River Ryan, and Jackson Ferris
Nearly ready position players: James Tibbs III, Zach Ehrhard, Ryan Ward, Mike Sirota, and Josue De Paula
Out of these two groups, the Dodgers can put together a great package for Skubal that includes both of what the Tigers want.
In fact, the Dodgers can lay out these options for the Tigers and give them the pick of the litter. The least likely to be moved in a Skubal deal is clearly De Paula, who is the real gem of the Dodgers system and has broken into the top tier of prospect evaluation.
Mar 4, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Detailed view of the jersey of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Josue De Paula (95) against Team Mexico during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
A combination of Wrobleski and Tibbs would generate some serious consideration from Detroit, who would get a quality starter that can get outs, along with Tibbs, one of the hottest minor league players in baseball.
Then, it might take one more player to get it done if a true bidding war does ensue, but even just a Wrobleski/Sheehan + Tibbs should get the Dodgers close.
Why the Dodgers can get the trade done
The Brewers are the only team that can legitimately compete for Skubal if the Dodgers push hard for him, but trading for an expensive rental who would demand top dollar goes against their DNA — see no further than the Freddy Peralta deal.
For this reason, along with the Dodgers’ resources, LA is the team lined up for Skubal.
Flags have become another unlikely controversy at a World Cup already marked by criticism over ticket prices, food costs and hydration breaks. FIFA’s rules around supporter displays are now drawing extra attention.
There had already been debate around the pre-revolutionary Iran flag, with FIFA’s ban upheld after a late hearing in Los Angeles. Now the talking point has shifted to a customised England flag linked to Barrow AFC.
England beat Croatia 4-2 last Wednesday, but one group of supporters could not show their flag during the game. The reason, according to a BBC report, was the submarine included in the design.
England supporters told Barrow AFC flag could not be displayed
Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Barrow fans had added the club badge and a submarine silhouette to a St George’s flag.
The image was chosen for a reason. Barrow-in-Furness has a long history of shipbuilding and submarines, and the vessel is closely tied to the town’s identity.
But FIFA rejected the application related to the flag because images of military or weaponry are not allowed under its policy.
The entity later told the group the flag could be approved if the submarine imagery was covered and the application resubmitted.
The episode became the subject of jokes on Barrow’s official X account, as the club posted their badge with the submarine symbol censored and stated: “In order to make sure our supporter John Little can represent the Bluebirds over in Boston properly, we’d like to unveil our new *temporary club badge for the duration of the World Cup…”
“FIFA, let us know if the Arrow has to go too,” the England team message concluded.
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — For the last three years, and even after the chaos and volatility we saw at Shinnecock on Friday, it's tempting to view Dustin Johnson as a figure of the past. Figures of the past live on in stories, and everyone who has spent time around Dustin Johnson, even if it's only peripherally or for a short time, has a favorite DJ story. Here's mine:
It was 2014, I wanted to profile him for a book I was working on, and his agent David Winkle arranged for me to walk with him for an hour on Wednesday at the Colonial pro-am. He surprised me the entire time—he was engaging and thoughtful, occasionally crass but never dismissive the way I thought he might be. At one point, he barked at his brother and caddie AJ, who was still relatively new on his bag and resting under the shade of a pecan tree, to get him the yardage. The moment I'll never forget, though, came when one of the pro-am players came by with a yellow flag.
"Is this kosher?" he asked, holding the flag out for Johnson to sign. Johnson signed it without much acknowledgement, but it apparently wasn't good enough for the man.
"Will you sign it, 'To Steve'?" he asked.
Johnson took the flag back, looked at it—everything he does happens at his own slow rhythm—and wrote the words "All the best" above his signature.
I found this very funny, though I suppressed it, but you could see the man's heart sink. The dilemma passed over his face, and he mustered up the courage to ask again.
"But can you sign it 'To Steve'?"
DJ, now slightly annoyed, took the flag back again. He took a long look and then made up his mind.
"Well, they already got their name here," he said, laying a large finger on the flag.
I peeked over—he was pointing at the signature of another player, who had written "To Steve."
The man looked at him, wondering if this was some kind of joke, but DJ just stared back with those dead eyes. The man, of course, cracked first.
"Yeah," he said. "That's awesome."
And he walked away with a story that I'm sure he never told.
*****
Warren Little
On Friday at Shinnecock, Johnson's name appeared on the leaderboard in second place. He's 41 years old for the next three days, and this was a return to form that was hard to see coming unless you paid close attention to his last two outings on LIV—fourth in Korea, T-5 in Andalucia. He did the bulk of his damage late on Thursday, with four straight birdies to start his back nine (Shinnecock's front), then came back Friday morning to make two more birdies to finish his first round. There wasn't much break before he teed off for Round 2, and he stayed even through 10 holes. At four under, he was the nearest chaser to his white-hot playing partner Wyndham Clark.
We barely had time to process this renaissance, though, before the ship took water. A double at 11, two more bogeys at 12 and 13, and then the true disaster: A quad at 15 that included one bunker-to-bunker gaffe, a chunked follow-up that stayed in the sand, and a skulled bunker shot that ran off the green. Shinnecock is the kind of course where you can hit three shots from two different bunkers on the same hole, and though he recovered to make birdie on 16 and make the cut, he had dropped from solo second to T-53, from a single shot off the lead to ten, and it felt like his moment had passed.
Even so ...
... in some ways he was the most interesting man on the course. Even now, past his prime and perhaps pat his interest in playing elite golf, there's an aura around DJ that very few other plays can match. It's his size and power, his obvious athleticism, that grim Clint Eastwood demeanor, and the slow, almost predatory way he moves. There's a sense that he's pure id, which is a polite way of acknowledging the perception that he's not very smart. I don't agree with that, although his interviews can be painfully dull and he doesn't seem to take great pleasure in ruminating, or sometimes even talking. But those qualities almost make his brand stronger, and when you combine that with a celebrity wife, a couple majors, and the pure alpha energy, he's a perpetually fascinating figure for galleries. I dare you to look away.
He's one of those apostates whose reputation has been hurt the least by going to LIV, probably because unlike a Graeme McDowell or Jon Rahm, you never expected him to care about (or even consider) any of the ethical problems with the Saudi regime, and so you could never accuse him of playing the hypocrite. But the move still took a toll; he put together a decent year of major performances after the defection, including two top-10s, but in his last 11 tries, he's missed six cuts and never finished inside the top 20. He hasn't even won on LIV in two years, and it all prompted a chicken-or-egg style question:
Did he sign with LIV because he stopped caring about golf, or did he stop caring about golf because he signed with LIV?
That may be too glib, too nonspecific, but either way, you can't call it—whatever it is—any kind of tragedy. He's in the late stages of his career, he won two majors, he has a lot of money, and if anyone seems capable of contentment after the hurricane of a dynamic career, it's him.
But this all sounds very conclusive, very fatalistic, and after his round, Johnson didn't sound like someone who thought of himself in the past tense. Around 20 reporters gathered around him by the flash area—a testament to his ongoing appeal—and he seemed mostly at ease despite his 77.
Christian Petersen
" I felt like I played really solid today," he said. "Hit a lot of good putts that didn't go in."
Recapping his own around, it was mostly a story of a punishing wind and a few unfortunate rocks.
"The first one on 15," he remembered, "the rock got in between the face and kicked it. I mean, it went five yards further left than it should have ... it came out and hooked. And then the next one, it hit a rock and it popped it straight up, and so it came out shorter. And then on the third one, I hit a rock and it went into the ball."
"Sounds like a lot of rocks," one reporter observed.
"Yeah," he said, "it's tough. It' the ones that you can't see. Obviously the big ones that are sitting on top of you, you can move them, but I had where I could see them but they were in the sand."
On his recent form, he spoke about returning to the original lofts on his clubs just before Korea, where he just had an instinct to bend them back. But while he spoke about the present, the most interesting elements of his biography came to mind; the pedigree that included a grandfather drafted by the Lakers and a father who starred in high school football; the teenage hustler who won money against grown men at his club in Columbia, S.C., after he finished his shift on the maintenance crew; the dark turn when he became involved on the fringes of a theft and murder investigation; the rebirth under a "hardass" coach at Coastal Carolina; the quick rise on the PGA Tour; the heartbreaks at majors until the breakthrough at Oakmont, followed five years later by the COVID Masters; the wild rumors, the wild suspension, the wild marriage, and the disappearing act that took the wild away.
There's more salt with the pepper in his beard these days, but nothing else about him feels particularly old or lost, and his natural talent is still obvious at a glance. Nevertheless, the events of the last few years have made DJ seem like golf's forgotten man. He made us remember him again on Friday, even if it didn't last very long, and all things considered, it was a good memory, and maybe even a poignant one—a reminder of the small pleasures we've lost in the torrents of history that still sweep a divided sport through its most turbulent decade.
As the World Cup returns to the United States, youth soccer programs across the Triangle say excitement around the sport is reaching new heights and inspiring the next generation of players.
At Soccer Genome in North Raleigh, young athletes of all ages are working to improve their skills, from children as young as 5 to college players seeking additional training.
Derick Appah, a coach at the soccer training facility, said the World Cup provides a major opportunity to grow interest in the sport.
"The World Cup is just like a huge vessel for interest in the sport. I mean, it's the most beautiful part of the game. I think it's the Mecca of what soccer is all about," Appah said.
Appah said youth soccer in the Triangle has already been growing in recent years, with more clubs and opportunities available for young players.
"We have a lot of big clubs, a lot of talent comes from North Carolina. And even with clubs opening like Charlotte FC, it's just given a lot more opportunity for youth to really take an interest in soccer," Appah said.
At NCFC Youth, the program connected to North Carolina FC and the North Carolina Courage, recreation director Andrew Tait said increased visibility of professional soccer has helped inspire young athletes.
"Seeing kids in the jerseys and getting really excited about it. Sticker boxes, TST last week. It's just it's really exciting to see, for me, the game over the last 25 years was like this little thing that was kind of 'oh, that's kind of cool', some people play in college -- to now where it is today," Tait said.
NCFC Youth works with thousands of aspiring players, and Tait said watching top-level athletes compete in person can help young players envision their own futures in the sport.
"I think for these kids to see it -- and now and they can see it, that hopefully they can believe it and dream at the same time," Tait said.
Youth soccer leaders say the continued growth of the sport is creating new opportunities for players across the Triangle.
France's Adrien Rabiot has called out the state of the turf at MetLife Stadium following their win against Senegal -Credit:Nicolò Campo, LightRocket via Getty Images
Adrien Rabiot has slammed the playing surface at MetLife Stadium, with the French midfielder questioning whether he could even describe it as 'a pitch.'
The 2026 World Cup is now fully underway, with Thursday's action witnessing Jesse Marsch's Canada demolish Qatar 6-0 in commanding style. Yet the match, which was attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, was overshadowed by a devastating injury to Canada's Ismael Kone, who was stretchered off following a challenge by Assim Madibo.
Meanwhile, during France's tournament opener, they overcame a lackluster first-half showing to beat Senegal 3-1 at MetLife Stadium, with Kylian Mbappe netting twice to give Didier Deschamps' team a perfect beginning. Nevertheless, Rabiot, who featured for the full 90 minutes against Senegal, expressed frustration with the playing conditions France encountered in New Jersey.
-Credit:Rob Newell - CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images
"The pitch, I don't even know if you can call it that," said Rabiot of the MetLife Stadium pitch, via The Mirror US. "It felt more like an artificial surface-quite hard and quite rigid."
Because of FIFA regulations, the venue, which hosts the New York Giants and New York Jets, was required to lay a temporary grass field, something NFL players have long advocated for. "Annoying," said Giants lineman Jermaine Eluemunor when asked about the soccer stars getting to play on grass instead of turf. "It's nice playing on grass," he added.
Rabiot is not the only player to have taken aim at the pitch at MetLife Stadium. "In the second half, with the heat, the pitch dries out very quickly," said Vinicius Junior following Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco. "The game becomes very sluggish, and we can't get into our rhythm."
France head coach Didier Deschamps has also weighed in with his own sharp criticism of the MetLife surface.
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"It's different," Deschamps said of the pitch when asked about it following France's opening game win. "You have to get used to it. The fact there's a concrete slab underneath means the grass fibers are very short. The bounce is different and the turf changes depending on how much it's watered."
He continued: "Some players had already played the Club World Cup here. If there isn't a good thickness of soil, it's different. The players weren't going to put in screw-in studs because there isn't much depth. Since we don't train on it, it's complicated. I warned them, but it's different from what they're used to."
In response to the mounting backlash directed at MetLife Stadium and FIFA, the governing body issued a statement asserting it had devoted "more than five years" of research to guaranteeing the tournament's playing surfaces meet the highest possible standards.
"The pitches at all 16 FIFA World Cup 2026 stadiums remain in excellent condition from both a playability and player safety perspective," a statement read.
"While there have been comments regarding the visual appearance of certain areas of the playing surface at NYNJ Stadium, FIFA's Turf Management Team's assessment is that every pitch is healthy and performing as intended for elite competition.
-Credit:Nicolò Campo, LightRocket via Getty Images
"Variations in the appearance of some surfaces, whether on television or in person, do not necessarily reflect the quality, health or playability of the pitch.
"FIFA's pitch management teams undertake extensive testing and monitoring before every match, including assessments of moisture levels, firmness and overall playing conditions."
Welcome back to the IJF World Tour, and to one of it’s most revered stops, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The Steppe Arena was the host of the first tournament offering LA Olympic qualification points, so many of the world's biggest judo stars were in action.
At -48 kg,KOGA Wakana took on ZHUANG Wenna in the final. An ouchi-gari for yuko proved the slightest of differences in a close battle and saw KOGA take the win.
International Judo Federation Education and Coaching Director, Mr Mohammed MERIDJA was on hand to award the medals.
A yuko score from the Azeri was enough to earn him the gold!
The organisation is at a high level, the atmosphere in the arena is at a high level, so what can I say… only thank you to all of them.
Balabay AGHAYEV (AZE)
He was awarded his medal by Vice President of the Mongolian Judo Association, Mr Turbold BOLDBAATAR.
At -52kg, Olympic and five time World champion, ABE Uta looked to be right at her very best, dispatching every fighter in her path to the final.
With her opponent there unable to compete. ABE claimed a record breaking 12th Grand slam gold medal… the most by any woman.
Wow, with so many people cheering for us, I think it's such a wonderful country.
ABE Uta (JPN)
She was awarded her medal by Referee Director of the International Judo Federation, Ms Tina TRSTENJAK.
Current -66kg world champion TAKEOKA Takeshi looked supreme all day. A strong Waza-ari score in the final saw him best Ramazan ABDULAEV.
The medals were awarded by Chair of the Mongolian State Committee of Physical Culture and Sports, Mr Bilegt ERDENESAIKHAN.
In the -57kg final, OMORI Akari caught Sarah Leonie CYSIQUE with an opportune sacrifice technique to score and take a fourth title on the day for Japan.
She was awarded the gold by Referee Supervisor of the International Judo Federation, Mr Mathieu BATAILLE.
Sukhbat BYAMBASUREN gave the home crowd reason to celebrate, taking a hard earned bronze medal for the hosts.
Join us tomorrow for the middle-weights and more big judo stars!
Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) slows down the offense during a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks, Wednesday June 17th, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Olivia Miles has looked comfortable in the WNBA almost from the moment she stepped on the floor. Against the Los Angeles Sparks on June 17, the Minnesota Lynx rookie showed exactly why.
Miles scored a career-high 31 points in Minnesota's 99-83 victory, putting together another standout performance in what has quickly become an impressive rookie campaign. Twenty-four of her points came in the first half, including 17 in the second quarter, when she took control of the game and helped the Lynx build a lead the Sparks could never fully erase.
The game was still within reach midway through the second quarter when Miles began putting on a show. She attacked the paint with confidence, using her crafty ballhandling and creativity to maneuver around defenders and create scoring opportunities seemingly at will. Whether she was finishing around the basket or setting up teammates, Miles looked like anything but a rookie.
Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts could only tip her cap afterward.
"She's good," Roberts said matter-of-factly. "She's talented and, what I said pregame, she's super skilled. So we were trying to mix things up. We didn't execute it exactly how we'd hoped to all the time. But you have to just tip your hat to her. She's a great player with a lot of skill. Her ball-handling and vision is what separates her."
Although Miles' rise has been one of the early stories of the WNBA season, she admitted even she has been surprised by how quickly everything has come together.
"I'm more so surprised with just the ability to be me so early on, which is a credit to my environment," Miles said. "Cheryl has been amazing, my teammates have been amazing. They wanted me to be really comfortable. I always knew what I could do as a player and had that confidence. I thought I'd make an impact, just not this quick, for sure."
Miles credits much of her success to the relationships she has built with Minnesota's veteran core.
"I think I'm getting their trust and respect because I've taken the time to build relationships with them and allowed them to know me as a person," she said. "It's allowed them to trust me easier."
Her confidence stems from something that has followed her throughout her basketball career: an innate feel for the game.
"My IQ and the way that I play translate either way," Miles said. "When you have a feel for the game, I've been able to play at any level. I understand the game, and I think that's translating."
That confidence has also been nurtured by Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, who Miles said has allowed her to grow into herself rather than force her into a mold.
"She kind of lets me be me," Miles said. "That's kind of the best thing I've learned from her. Obviously, be smart and stay within the structure, but be me."
On a night when the Lynx offense was firing on all cylinders, it was the rookie guard who stole the spotlight. And if Miles' career-high performance against the Sparks was any indication, she is only beginning to scratch the surface of what she can become.
Dustin Johnson looked like he could win the U.S. Open, but things started to move very quickly at Shinnecock.
When Dustin Johnson finished his first round on Friday morning, he was 4 under. Ten holes through his second round, he was still 4 under. But then Shinnecock got some payback.
Johnson found two bunkers at the tricky par-3 11th and made double. Then he made back-to-back bogeys at 12 and 13. After a par at 14, Johnson made an absolute mess of the 15th, eventually making a quadruple-bogey eight. All of a sudden, just an hour after being tied for second, he was on cut watch.
While it was a bit of a surprise to see DJ around the lead through 28 holes, he did come into the week of back-to-back top-five finishes on LIV—not like that means much. Data Golf projects the U.S. Open cut will come in at 4 under, and after a birdie at the par-5 16th, Johnson just needs to get it in the house to make it to the weekend. He hasn’t made the cut in this event since Los Angeles Country Club in 2023.
The 2026 World Cup has turned out to be an awesome experience because of all of the different countries and cultures coming to North America and having a wonderful time. But in the case of the BBC, they may have taken some creative liberties when it comes to celebrating the city of Houston.
Houston has a lot going for it. The city is the fifth most-populous metropolitan area in the country. Its port on the Gulf of Mexico drives international and global trade. It’s the center of American space travel. It’s one of the most diverse cities in America. And for the 2026 World Cup, it’s serving as one of the host cities for the tournament.
One thing Houston does not have is mountains.
Houston sits on the Gulf Coastal Plain and rests at just 105 feet above sea level. Nobody is going to confuse it with Denver anytime soon.
However, when the BBC was at halftime of the Portugal vs Democratic Republic of the Congo game that was taking place in the city, they showcased a green screen backdrop of the Houston skyline. Except for some unknown reason, they added mountains in the background to try to dress it up a little bit in what may have been some kind of stroke of AI or CGI genius.
.@BBC adding mountains to the green screen background of Houston is one of the most dubious things I’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/3AltHaHwLR
The pro sports teams in Houston had some fun with the BBC’s geographical error with both the Dynamo and the Rockets making light of their newfound mountain scenery.
We’ve seen some creative liberties or oversights in B-roll footage around sports telecasts happen before, but never quite to this level. But if the BBC is going to give Houston a nice desert mountain range they should just go all the way with it. Let’s see some beautiful waterfalls in New York, a Kansas City tropical paradise, and a view of Los Angeles that has no traffic to speak of.
The UFC octagon is back in Las Vegas for Saturday's UFC Fight Night 279 event at the Meta Apex. A flyweight rematch between former RIZIN Bantamweight Champion Manel Kape and former UFC flyweight championship challenger Kyoji Horiguchi headlines the fight card. The winner will likely put himself in position for the next shot at champion Joshua Van.
The first fighter is expected on the scales last noon ET.
Canada's Ismael Kone suffered a broken leg in their win against Qatar -Credit:Jared C. Tilton - FIFA, FIFA via Getty Images
Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone is set to undergo surgery following a severe injury suffered during Thursday's game against Qatar. Medical assessments confirm he has fractured both his fibula and tibia.
Kone was stretchered off the field after a challenge by Assim Madibo, who was shown a red card for the incident. The Canadian player was visibly distressed in the immediate aftermath of the collision, while Madibo looked distraught by what had transpired in the World Cup group game.
Tensions flared between both squads and their technical areas as medical personnel treated Kone. Despite concern spreading throughout the stadium, the 24-year-old was able to gesture to fans as he departed the playing surface, via The Mirror US.
Following the match, Jesse Marsch confirmed that Kone was at the hospital with his mother, Suzanne, preparing for surgery. The former Leeds United boss also revealed that Madibo came to the locker room to apologize for his challenge.
"I saw his leg. I saw that something wasn't right," said Canada captain Stephen Eustaquio, who was among the first teammates to reach him. "We're going to miss (Kone). He has that X factor that our team really needs."
Hat-trick scorer Jonathan David questioned the justification for the tackle that injured Kone. "If there's a play where you cannot win the ball, there's no point," he said. "It's just to hurt people."
Marsch heaped praise on Kone following Canada's win and voiced his belief in the player's future prospects. He said: "Ismael is such a great kid.
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"He's so imperfect but that's why you love him. He can do great things and the next moment he loses concentration. He embodies a lot of what the team is. It's a huge loss for us.
"He'll be fine, we'll get him good doctors. He's got a big future and he's a big part of everything we'll do."
Despite the unfortunate injury, Canada dominated in their 6-0 win over Qatar. Following their fourth goal, scored by Kone's replacement Nathan Saliba, the team paid tribute to their stricken teammate.
Saliba retrieved a jersey bearing his teammate's name and number after a breathtaking free kick, raising it aloft to a thunderous reception from the sold-out home crowd.
Who: Germany vs Ivory Coast What: FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E match Where: Toronto Stadium, Toronto, Canada When: Saturday, 4pm (20:00 GMT) How to follow: Keep up with all updates on Al Jazeera Sport
One of the most mouthwatering matches in the second round of games in the World Cup 2026 group stage sees four-time champions Germany facing a talented Ivory Coast outfit in Toronto on Saturday evening.
Kai Havertz has scored in four straight major tournaments for Germany, despite not being a recognised No 9 [Annegret Hilse/Reuters]
Germany under the radar?
After disappointing group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022, Germany came into this tournament somewhat under the radar, with the perennial powerhouse ranked only seventh-favourites to lift their fifth World Cup.
While they turned on the style thanks to young stars like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz to pile on the goals against Curacao – the smallest nation by size and population ever to have taken part in a World Cup – and the goals have flowed in 10 straight wins, this will be a far stiffer test.
Curacao caused the German defence a few problems, especially in the opening half-hour, and it’s their pivotal central-defensive pairing of Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck, playing in front of 40-year-old keeper Manuel Neuer, that will ultimately decide how deep the Germans can go in this tournament.
Dynamic Arsenal attacking midfielder Kai Havertz continued his recent goalscoring run for club and country with a double for Germany in the opening game, but he will likely find the Ivory Coast defence a harder challenge than that posed by Curacao’s backline.
By winning their group opener, Germany did what they couldn’t in 2018 and 2022 and appear certain to progress to a first knockout match since the 2014 World Cup Final. Whether they advance as group winners, or limp through in the minor places, might well come down to the result in Toronto.
A win against Ivory Coast would secure direct top-two qualification to the Round of 32 and would likely be enough to top Group E should Ecuador fail to beat Curacao four hours later in Kansas City.
In an alternate scenario, even with a German victory against Ivory Coast, Ecuador – if they can beat both Curacao and then the Germans in Thursday’s group finale – would make things very interesting, with the potential for three teams – Germany, Ivory Coast and Ecuador – to be locked on six points and tiebreakers needed to separate them.
It matters because the team finishing first will play a third-placed qualifier, while the runner-up will face the team finishing second in the group featuring France, Norway, Senegal and Iraq, and the team qualifying third would face a group winner, potentially England or Mexico.
The Elephants might have ridden their luck, but ending Ecuador’s 19-match unbeaten streak across nearly two years in their opening game caught the eye of their fan base and will have raised expectations.
Amad Diallo’s last-minute winner ensured Ivory Coast have now won a game at all four World Cups for which they have qualified, and they can reach the knockout stages for the first time, if they defeat Germany.
In fact, they can seal top spot in Group E should they beat Die Mannschaft and Ecuador fail to beat Curacao in the other group game later on Saturday evening.
A draw against Germany would make for an intriguing group finale on Thursday night, as it would likely leave all three teams in with a chance of finishing first going into the final game, with Ivory Coast potentially needing to beat Curacao by more than six goals to ensure supremacy on goal difference.
How does the group stage work?
Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Curacao are in Group E.
They will play each other once in the initial stage of the tournament. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups – along with the eight best third-placed teams – will proceed to the next phase, the round of 32, which has been introduced at the World Cup for the first time.
Head-to-head
This will be just the second meeting between Germany and Ivory Coast.
The previous game was a friendly in November 2009, which saw Lukas Podolski score twice, including a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
Form guide:
(Last five games, latest match first)
Germany: W-W-W-W-W
Ivory Coast: W-W-W-W-L
Germany’s thumping win over Curacao last Sunday means they have won 10 straight games going back to September 2025 and have scored two or more goals in nine of those matches.
They have, however, struggled at the opposite end of the pitch, conceding goals in seven straight World Cup matches, their longest run since 1970, and their last clean sheet came in the 2014 final against Argentina in Brazil.
Ivory Coast go in search of a fifth straight victory, and confidence is high after both the Ecuador triumph last Sunday, which followed their 2-1 win against world number-three France in their final warm-up game in Paris on June 4.
Their last defeat came in the AFCON quarterfinal against Egypt in January.
5 - Last night for @equipenatciv vs Ecuador, Yan Diomande became the first player Opta has on record since 1966 to create 5+ chances (5), make 5+ tackles (5), win 10+ duels (11) and have 10+ touches in the opposition’s box (12) in a FIFA World Cup match.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann might well keep faith with the same XI that eventually put Curacao to the sword, but if he does, it might be tough on Deniz Undav.
The Stuttgart forward came off the bench to replace Jamal Musiala with 26 minutes to go and scored and provided two assists as Germany picked up their biggest win since the 2014 semifinal against Brazil. The versatile Undav has scored seven times and added four assists in just 10 appearances for Die Mannschaft.
Team news: Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast coach Emerse Fae likely has more decisions to make.
Elye Wahi started the win over Ecuador up front before being replaced just before the hour by Ange-Yoan Bonny.
He was initially denied entry into Canada for this match due to visa complications. He was linked to a sports betting scandal while playing for Nice in Ligue 1 last month, but has since been authorised to travel and could yet be involved.
Bonny and unused subs from the first game, Oumar Diakite and Evann Guessand, are alternative options in attack.
Diallo came off the bench to win it, and the Manchester United attacking midfielder will be pushing to start, which might mean a switch of flanks for teenage starlet Yan Diomande, who stole the show on the right against Ecuador and will be eager to put on a show against the nation in which he plays for RB Leipzig.
Y. Fofana (goalkeeper); Doue, Singo, Agbadou, Konan; Diallo, Kessie, S. Fofana, Diomande; Bonny, Toure.
You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 page with all the latest news, match build-up and live text commentary and keep up to date with group standings, real-time match results and schedules.
Joe Rogan overshot his estimates for the viewership numbers for the UFC Freedom 250 event that took place on the White House lawn over the weekend — by more than 100 million.
During the Thursday, June 17 episode of his popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, the host and UFC commentator offered an estimate on the total viewership of the event, which required a subscription to Paramount+ to watch live, that put it well over even the Super Bowl.
ANNABELLE GORDON/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency
“It is one of the most-watched sporting events in the history of the world,” Rogan alleged. “I don’t know what the total overall views are as of now, but I know that it was like well over, I think, it was 150 million by just by Monday.”
Rogan went on to state that they can expect another “50 or 60 million” as people stream the broadcast later.
However, the numbers were significantly less than what Rogan boasted. On average, there were 8.2 million viewers across the U.S. and Latin America, according to Variety. At its peak, the event reached 17 million total viewers, referring to people who tuned in for at least a minute at any point in the broadcast.
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
While those numbers are a far cry from Rogan’s estimated 150 million, the event was indeed a definitive success, with Paramount+ noting it marks the biggest live exclusive event for the platform ever.
Still, Rogan’s claims that it was “one of the most-watched sporting events in history” at more than 150 million viewers is false. To put it in perspective, the 2025 Super Bowl LIX made TV viewership history, and it only had an estimated 127.7 million viewers, per Nielsen. In addition, getting 150 million Paramount+ subscribers watching would have been difficult, as The Wrap reported in February 2026 that it only had 79 million total subscribers.
One week of the World Cup is officially in the books. And for all the complaints over hydration breaks, Fox’s coverage of the event, or whether other networks are giving the tournament requisite attention, one thing remains abundantly clear. The World Cup is a viewership event like no other.
Through the first weekend, Fox’s viewership is up 152% versus its Group Stage average for 2022 in Qatar. Telemundo, the Spanish-language broadcaster, is up an even more eye-watering 234%. Unsurprisingly, both are on record pace.
The data would seem to indicate that viewers are still quite happy finding the World Cup on good, old-fashioned linear television. Sure, these numbers include streaming viewership on Fox One and Peacock, respectively, but by-and large, World Cup viewers are watching on linear television.
Next year, no such option will be available. The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will stream exclusively on Netflix in the United States. It’ll be the first major global sporting event to air exclusively on streaming in this country, and could very well be a sign of things to come as we look towards who will broadcast the 2030 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
It’s worth examining the differing economic models at play here between streamers and traditional broadcasters, because that could very well determine where that 2030 tournament goes.
The World Cup is a unique property in the context of other live sporting events, most of which occur on an annual, or at least biannual in the case of the Olympics, basis. That’s an important distinction. Traditional broadcasters like Fox, NBC, or ESPN are still largely in the business of distribution fees. Since the advent of cable and satellite bundles, the overarching economics of these networks can be boiled down to one question: How much is your content worth to viewers? That question determines the per-subscriber fee distributors like DirecTV, Comcast, or Fubo are willing to pay networks. It’s why NFL programming, far and away the most popular content left on television, is borderline existential for legacy broadcasters.
However, the quadrennial nature of the World Cup makes it a difficult bargaining chip for networks during distribution negotiations. Most major distribution deals are done on a three-year cycle. So for Fox, it’s possible that there have been distribution agreements in the past where the network wasn’t able to leverage its World Cup rights at all, or at least had to extend the deal’s term to ensure the value of the event was included, perhaps at a discount. But it’s not simply the cycle disparity that creates issues, it’s the difficulty of valuating an event that only happens once every four years, in different parts of the globe, broadcast to an audience that is historically soccer-agnostic.
The value of a World Cup varies greatly based on where it’s played, and the time zones the American audience will be dealing with. Obviously, one held in North America, with the United States having a guaranteed spot in the tournament as a host country, is going to be a much easier sell to distributors than, say, the 2018 tournament in Russia, where the United States failed to qualify. Location, of course, can be accounted for during distribution negotiations. Those are known far in advance. Whether the United States will be participating? At least back when the field was 32 teams, rather than 48, that was far from a guarantee. That downside risk, at least previously, made the World Cup far more challenging for networks to leverage during distribution negotiations than a surefire annual property like the NFL or college football.
There’s no such calculus for a streamer, whose business fortunes are determined by selling subscriptions directly to the consumer, rather than through a middleman distributor. In that way, purchasing a sports property like the World Cup is similar to producing a handful of big-budget feature films. You hope that the subscriptions generated from the event make the rights fee worthwhile. What you don’t have to do is convince DirecTV that it should pay you more for a five-week-long sporting event that’s 28 months away.
Fox is paying a reported $485 million for this year’s World Cup, a price that some experts say is two- or three-times under market value, thanks to the no-bid contract FIFA awarded the network on account of moving the 2022 Qatar World Cup to autumn. It’s safe to assume, then, that when FIFA goes to market with the 2030 World Cup, it’s expecting upwards of $1 billion for the rights.
The question becomes, does the quadrennial event drive more than $1 billion in incremental distribution revenue for legacy broadcast networks? Maybe, but it’s a tough sell, particularly when the majority of that event will be played in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Of course, this is a bit of an oversimplification. The World Cup also drives plenty of ad revenue and streaming subscriptions for legacy broadcasters. But at a time when these same broadcasters are tightening content spends in preparation for an expected increase in price of NFL rights, the World Cup might fall firmly in the “nice to have” rather than “must have” category. Between the volatility in value and the fact that it’s simply hard to capitalize on an event that happens in only one of every 48 months, the World Cup just seems to make more sense for a streamer.
If so, the World Cup Final one month from today could mark the end of an era.
This originally appeared in the Friday edition of The A Block, Awful Announcing’s daily newsletter with the latest sports media news, commentary, and analysis. Sign up here and be the first to know everything you need to know about the sports media world.
Michael Kay wants to make it very clear that he and former YES Network announcing partner John Flaherty remain on very good terms.
“I had never had friction with John Flaherty in my life, ever,” the Yankees play-by -play announcer said on Wednesday’s edition of The Michael Kay Show. “That was not anything that I wanted nor anything that I was comfortable with.”
Extremely uncomfortable moment during the Yankees and Cubs broadcast on YES network as @RealMichaelKay and John Flaherty come off like bitter passive aggressive ex lovers…
“You weren’t very talkative on the bus this morning to the field, but as I was driving here, I was thinking it would be great to get a place that’s close so you could walk back and forth,” Flaherty said to Kay during the 2024 broadcast. “I know you mentioned Don Zimmer living in the apartments out in center field. But I just had a lot of time to think on the team bus today, because it was very quiet.”
“So you’d rather me be chatty? I wasn’t feeling great,” replied Kay.
“I haven’t seen you in a long time, right? You don’t work road trips anymore when I’m on the road,” Flaherty chirped back. “So I thought we would catch up, and it quickly was evident that you weren’t in the mood, so I gathered my thoughts about how it would be nice to live close to Wrigley and walk back and forth to the park.”
“Interesting narrative that you’re putting together, because I’ve been told by executives that you prefer to work with [Ryan] Ruocco,” replied Kay. “That’s why you two guys are matched up all the time. That’s just what I heard, I don’t know if there’s any truth to it.”
“I just put together that the road trips you don’t want to go on are the ones where I end up working with Ryan Ruocco, because you don’t want to work the games on the road,” Flaherty responded.
Chip Honcho, seen working out before the Preakness Stakes, returns to action in Saturday's Ohio Derby at Thistledown. Photo courtesy of Maryland Jockey Club
June 19 (UPI) -- While Royal Ascot was hosting some of the season's most epic battles this week, American racing prepared for a weekend that features the Grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown and the Grade II Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Here's the scoop ...
Royal Ascot
Trainer Aidan O'Brien notched his 100th Royal Ascot victory in Thursday's Group 1 Gold Cup as 4-year-old Scandinavia caught 8-year-old pacesetting favorite and defending champion Trawlerman in the final strides to win by a head. Even the losing camp admitted the race was a classic thriller.
Scandinavia (front) edges Trawlerman in Thursday's Group 1 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, giving trainer Aidan O'Brien his 100th win at the Royal meetings. Photo by Megan Rose Photography, courtesy of Ascot Racecourse
O'Brien typically downplayed his achievement. MV Magnier, one of the Coolmore partners who own the winner, had it in less humble perspective: "It is incredible -- for Aidan to get 100 winners here and win the Gold Cup. The king and queen are here. It is a very big deal."
It also was a very big deal for Scandinavia's sire, Justify. He also sired the first- and second-place finishers in Thursday's Chesham Stakes for 2-year-olds. As Justify stands at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Kentucky for $200,000, it was a remarkable day for the organization all around.
While the 2 1/2-mile Gold Cup thrilled with a tight finish, Wednesday's featured Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes got the job done with an electric performance by Godolphin's superb Ombudsman.
The race billed itself as a showdown involving that one, the 1-2 finishers in last October's Arc d'Triomphe, Daryz and Minnie Hauk, and possibly Irish Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Almaqam.
Almaqam didn't fire, but with a furlong to go, it looked like a free-for-all involving the others -- until, that is, jockey William Buick gave Ombudsman his cue and he quickly drew off to win by 4 lengths. Minnie Hauk was second, Daryz third.
"The filly ran great. The Arc winner ran great. And probably the horse who won in Ireland [Almaqam] might not have run his race today," winning trainer John Gosden said. "But, overall, I thought it was one of the great performances of Ombudsman's career."
Buick added, "Today, he pleasantly surprised me a little with how well he did it and the feel he gave me. He was exceptional. It's very rare for a horse to do what he did."
The race was a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf, but Gosden dashed any hopes Ombudsman might turn up on Halloween at Keeneland. "He's too good for a mile and a-half," he said.
The opening day feature, the Group 1 St James's Palace for 3-year-olds, ended in another nail-biter, with Guineas winner Bow Echo remaining undefeated by edging Guineas runner-up Gstaad by a short head.
"I think that was the first time Bow Echo got into a proper battle," winning trainer George Boughey said. "And, I think we'll see a better horse now that he's been in a scrap like that. He has done everything we've hoped. It's fine margins in this game. Luckily, he was on the right side of it.
Friday's Group 1 affairs are the Commonwealth Cup for 3-year-olds going 6 furlongs with a filly, Venetian Sun, taking on colts as the favorite in a field of 22 and the Coronation Cup for 3-year-old fillies with Coolmore stars Precise and True Love facing off.
Saturday could be International Day with Japanese star Satono Reve challenging Australians Joliestar and Overpass in the sole Group 1, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at 6 furlongs.
Overpass finished third as the favorite in the Group 1 King Charles II Stakes on Day 1. Joliestar, the better fancied of the two, has waited in the wings to put her three-race win streak on the line.
Gather at the bandstand for a sing-along and see ya next year.
Back in North America
The 3-year-olds
The long string of post-Derby derbies moves to Thistledown, near Cleveland, for Saturday's $500,000 Grade III Ohio Derby, which drew a pretty nice field.
Among the hopefuls are Kentucky Derby third and Preakness fourth Ocelli, who remains a maiden after eight starts, and Chip Honcho, who was third in the Preakness. The favorite is Desert Gate, an Omaha Beach colt who won the Texas Derby by 6 1/4 lengths on Memorial Day. Nice race.
Churchill Downs
Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs drew a field of eight fillies and mares to go 7 furlongs out of the backstretch chute.
The morning-line favorite is the Brad Cox-trained Eclatant, a 4-year-old Into Mischief filly looking to extend a two-race win streak that includes the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland on April 4.
The main competition looks like the Bob Baffert-trained Usha. The 4-year-old daughter of Tiz the Law finished third in the Grade I Derby City Distaff on Derby Day and returned to win the Grade III Winning Colors on Memorial Day, three weeks later. Foie Gras and Lotsandlotsofcandy are tasty options.
Thistledown
The Ohio track supports the derby with Saturday's $250,000 Lady Jacqueline for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles. A field of nine is in from as far afield as California, Maryland and Kentucky.
Elsewhere
Monmouth Park, Laurel Park and Gulfstream Park have $100,000 stakes events Saturday. Aqueduct's feature is the Spectacular Bid Division of the New York Stallion Stakes.
The Texas Tech-Brendan Sorsby gambling scandal came to an unceremonious conclusion with Sorsby opting to leave college football entirely. After fighting tooth and nail for months to overturn his gambling probe-related ban from the NCAA, Sorsby ultimately applied to the NFL’s supplemental draft, ending a lengthy legal and PR battle.
As the quarterback turns his attention to the NFL, his agent, Ron Slavin, is making his feelings clear about the media’s overarching reaction to the saga.
“Everybody loves to have an opinion. I’m so tired of watching people get on TV and blab their mouth when they have no idea what they’re talking about,” Slavin said on Shan & RJ. “Unfortunately, it’s not just in Brendan’s situation; it’s in most situations.
“Unless you’re Brendan or Brendan’s family or myself and my team, nobody really knows what happened. The opinions out there were, you would have thought this kid committed major crimes and did the horrible things. The reality is, as an 18 year old, he made some bad decisions from his dorm room when he wasn’t traveling with the team in Indiana.”
Slavin pointed toward the widespread prevalence of gambling advertisements as leaving young people susceptible to the pitfalls of betting.
“The predatory world of gambling, where you turn 18 and deposit $5 you get a free $100. Every single show on TV, every single radio show, everything is sponsored by a gambling site. So, it’s a scary world we’re living in. These kids have all been raised now with phones in their hands. So, it’s real easy to get on an app and place a bet.”
Slavin isn’t alone in this feeling. Colin Cowherd echoed his sentiment, saying on his podcast that “Sorsby’s a college kid who grew up in the first gambling generation. Of course, this was going to happen.” Pardon the Interruption’s Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon also called out the hypocrisy. Still, regardless of whether the media’s or the NCAA’s ties to gambling are a part of the cause, athletes betting on their teams and compromising the integrity of games is a symptom that has to be treated.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico will see a historic milestone in FIFA’s history reached.
The tournament is now in full swing, and the group-stage matches are coming thick and fast.
On June 20, Japan and Tunisia are set to face off in a Group F clash, and that game will be the 1,000th World Cup tie in FIFA’s history.
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Referee gifted a special shirt to mark 1,000th FIFA game
FIFA have appointed Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs to take charge of the 1,000th match.
Ahead of the tie, the organisation have presented the official with a special Adidas match shirt that features gold sleeve stripes and a ‘Match 1000’ patch to mark the historic moment.
FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer and Chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina has also commented on the milestone.
In a statement on the organisation’s website, he said: “We selected the referee that we think is the best referee for this match. And of course, by coincidence, he is also appointed for the 1,000th match.
“So, for him, it is something extra, something special on top. Refereeing a FIFA World Cup match is always a huge privilege, it’s a great honour.
“Certainly, becoming part of the history of football – part of the history of the FIFA World Cup, being appointed to and being on the field of play to officiate the match number 1,000 is definitely something extra.
“We decided to create a special match kit to celebrate this match and it’s a nice one with some golden details; stripes and a patch with the trophy and the number 1,000 on it.”
FIFA’s first World Cup took place all the way back in 1930 and saw Uruguay emerge as the winners.
During that tournament, the first two matches were played at the same time. One saw France beat Mexico 4-1 and the other saw the USA beat Belgium 3-0.
LONDON (AP) — Nos. 9 and 11 batters Matthew Fisher and Sonny Baker frustrated New Zealand and reduced England's deficit on the third morning of The Oval test on Friday.
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry claimed a five-wicket haul thanks to three sharp catches in the first 35 minutes. England was 238-9 then and New Zealand would have expected to be batting long before lunch.
But Fisher, in his second test, and Baker, on debut, with no test runs between them, stubbornly refused to follow the script. Their every run was cheered on by a packed, sun-baked crowd.
Fisher led with 48 of their 53 runs together but Baker resisted 35 deliveries for his 4. On the 36th, Baker edged Kyle Jamieson to second slip five minutes before lunch and England's first innings was finally over at 291, trailing New Zealand by, still, a healthy 100 runs.
When the last pair of Fisher and Baker started together, England was 153 behind. To that point, New Zealand had exceeded expectations.
Jordan Cox added five runs to his overnight 22 then was out trying to casually flick Henry past Tom Latham at midwicket. As England's last senior batter, Cox's soft dismissal seemed to be a serious blow to getting close to New Zealand's total.
Only the England tail was left.
Jofra Archer was out to an incredible catch by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell up at the stumps, and Josh Tongue was caught on a second attempt, one-handed, by Nathan Smith falling backwards.
Henry, New Zealand's senior seamer, was reduced by back spasms to a spectator in the first test at Lord's but roared back here with his seventh test 5-for, and sixth 5-for in his last 12 tests.
Fisher almost ran himself and Baker out early in their stand but settled. His sixth boundary brought up his fifty off 77 balls and drew the crowd to their feet 10 minutes before lunch. He was stranded there when Baker gave Jamieson his first wicket of the innings.
Morocco is set to take the field in Foxborough for the first time, and excitement is already building across Massachusetts — especially in the North Shore city of Revere, where a large Moroccan community is preparing to cheer on its team together.
A watch party is planned on Shirley Avenue starting at 3 p.m. for fans who don’t have tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Scotland but still want to be part of the atmosphere.
In the lead-up to the game, crowds have already gathered around Boston, including a group that met outside City Hall Plaza earlier this week to celebrate and show support for Morocco.
Many told Boston 25 they planned to either head to the official Boston Fan Fest or join community watch parties, such as the one in Revere.
At a local Moroccan bakery, one Revere man who moved to Massachusetts in 2019 said the World Cup has sparked pride and brought people together.
“Morocco is doing well this World Cup. The first game was great for us, even if it was like a tie,” Khlid said. “There is a lot of community, like the Moroccan community, in Revere. And a lot of Moroccans are coming from Morocco too.”
Watch party details
Location: Shirley Avenue, Revere
Start time: 3 p.m.
End time: 9 p.m.
With kickoff in Foxborough set for later in the evening, organizers say the watch party will give fans a chance to celebrate their team — and their culture — in a community setting.
Iran is set to lodge an official complaint with FIFA over travel restrictions that the country’s soccer team is facing at the 2026 World Cup.
Amir Ghalenoei, the head coach of Iran’s team, has said his players are “the most oppressed” at the tournament.
The Iran team is allowed to fly into the U.S. one day before their matches, and must leave the country on the same day under the conditions of their visas.
On Friday, the Football Federation of Iran (FFIRI) said: “The football federation of Iran believes that such restrictions are inconsistent with the principle of providing equal conditions for all participating teams and may negatively affect teams’ preparation processes.
“Consequently, the federation will formally express its dissatisfaction and lodge an official complaint with FIFA through the appropriate channels.”
Iran’s involvement in the World Cup was plagued with uncertainty this year amid the conflict with the U.S. But President Donald Trump and President Masoud Pezeshkian signed an initial peace deal aimed at ending the war this week.
Newsweek contacted FIFA for comment outside of normal business hours.
Iranian football players before their World Cup match against New Zealand in Los Angeles on Monday.
With the 2026 World Cup taking place in North America, the debate around whether the sport should be called football or soccer is raging once more.
The modern version of football was popularised in Europe, and on that continent, it is called by its original name.
Only some nations refer to the sport as soccer, one of which is the United States. Now, former USMNT player Alexi Lalas has explained he will never change his mind and call it football.
Photo by Frank Micelotta/Fox Sports via Getty Images
Alexi Lalas will not call football soccer
The ex-player, who made 96 appearances for the USA in the 90s, responded to a tweet from a fan talking about why he still calls it soccer.
The fan stated: “Alexi we need to talk about you continuing to call the sport ‘soccer’ cmon man.. you could bridge the gap. Even the US players call it ‘football’ in overseas interviews out of respect.”
However, Lalas was unmoved by the comment and said it is ‘cringe’ to start saying football if you previously grew up referring to the sport as soccer.
He stated: “Yeah… that’s not gonna happen. I call it soccer. I own it proudly. I never apologize for it.
“If you grew up calling it soccer and changed out of insecurity or some misguided belief it makes you more authentic/credible… it doesn’t. It’s cringe. It makes you look like a weak poser.”
In the US, football is, of course, used to refer to American football and the NFL, which is a different sport altogether.
There would perhaps be some confusion if everyone in the country started to call both sports football. But that does seem unlikely to happen anytime soon.
Knicks ownerJames Dolan reportedly had a verbal clash with NYC MayorZohran Mamdani last week. The tense interaction occurred when the duo met at City Hall to conclude the Knicks’ championship parade. They spoke at the ticker-tape parade and rally at City Hall on Thursday.
James Dolan seemingly takes swipe at Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani seemingly clashed with the Knicks’ owner, James Dolan, after the latter said in an interview that the New York City mayor is not a real fan of the team. During his speech at City Hall, Mamdani praised the Knicks’ history with a shout-out to the team’s former player, Charles Oakley, who has been publicly in a legal battle with Dolan.
Following Mamdani’s speech, Dolan seemingly took a jab at the NYC mayor. “I don’t need your vote,” the Knicks owner told the crowd. “I don’t need to quote to you what happened. If you’re real Knicks fans, you know it already,” he added.
Mamdani then went on to issue keys to the city to several staff members and players, including Dolan. However, the MSG Network CEO appeared to avoid a photo op with Mamdani. The pair did shake hands at the time.
The report comes just days after Dolan confirmed that the New York Knicks have accepted an invitation to the White House following their recent NBA Championship victory. Speaking with WFAN New York on Wednesday, the Knicks owner said, “We just did receive an invitation from [the] White House, which we accepted. We still have to figure out the details.”
Dolan also spoke about his friendship with Donald Trump during the interview. “I invited the President to come down for the game,” he said, adding, “He is a friend. I’ve known him for 30 years, and I’m very proud to bring the team to the White House.”
The President attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, where he was booed by the crowd.
Tens of thousands of soccer fans poured into downtown Atlanta for the city’s second FIFA World Cup match between South Africa and Czechia. The match ended with a 1-1 tie.
The weather put an early end to celebrations outside the stadium and at nearby Centennial Olympic Park where FIFA Fan Fest closed early.
But as Channel 2’s Bryan Mims reports, the weather didn’t stop fans from taking in what Atlanta has to offer.
It’s been years since both South Africa and Czechia competed in the FIFA World Cup. That’s what makes the trip to Atlanta so special, so memorable for fans.
“It feels wonderful being here, in a different continent, different environment. Just being here with the boys away from home and understanding that they’ve got the support and we are with them,” Xolani Radebe told Mims.
Radebe flew here from Pretoria, South Africa, to shout for his team making their first World Cup appearance in 16 years.
Fiona Nomthandazo, a native of South Africa now living in Cincinnati, drove eight hours to be here for the match.
“It’s a beautiful city. But too much traffic!” she told Mims.
Czechia fans traveled, too, for their country’s first World Cup appearance in 20 years.
Marcela Houbova grew up in the Czech Republic but now lives in Las Vegas. She’s here with her Czech friends who flew in from all across the country.
“We’re already here and the effort we made to come over here, it’s gonna be, it’s good,” Houbova said.
Even before noon, bartenders were scooping ice, filling shakers and pouring pints. Well before noon.
After all, it was 5 p.m. in Johannesburg. And in Prague. South Africa and Czechia happen to be in the same time zone.
At The Irish Exit bar, which opened mere days ago, the crowd would just as soon raise a toast to the weather. Owner Pierce White expected a full house before and after the match, especially with Fan Fast closing early.
His wife Claire says add rain to the crush of soccer fans, and the bar is standing room only.
“As long as we can take care of people, I think that’s the underlying principle of any Irish pub and Irish hospitality,” Claire White said.
Just up the street at The Center bar at the old CNN Center, the bartenders had a lull as the match began. But they, too, braced for a flood of fans.
“Rain is always good. Because right when it started raining, it makes everybody run inside,” bartender Destiny Lester said.
The next match Atlanta will host is between Spain and Saudi Arabia on Sunday. There is a chance for rain again.
The second week and second matchday of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by North America has kicked off after weeks one offered fans around the world a glimpse into the participating teams’ forms and fuelling early predictions over who has what it takes to bring the coveted title home.
The first seven days have seen all 48 nations who qualified for this expanded edition of the global tournament take to the pitch, producing a mix of expected, exciting, lacklustre and disappointing results – depending on which nation you support.
The eight teams making up Groups A and B took to the pitch late on Thursday and early into Friday morning as the fight to clinch vital points has begun.
In FIFA’s newly expanded format including 48 instead of the usual 32 teams, the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will earn a ticket to the knockout rounds, in addition to eight of the best third place finishers – reviewed by points – from all the groups.
Here is an overview of all the action Day 8 of the tournament had to offer:
Czechia v South Africa
Both teams were seeking their first points in the World Cup after suffering losses in their opening fixtures last week and ranking third and fourth in Group A.
Czechia looked determined to fight its way into the knockout stages, after midfielder Michal Sadilek opened the scoring really early into the match, converting a chance from inside the box with a beautifully placed bottom right corner finish to beat South African keeper Ronwen Williams.
South Africa celebrates a goal during the World Cup Group A match against Czechia in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Stew Milne/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
The Czech team then shifted tactically into a low block for the majority of the match in an effort to protect their marginal lead over South Africa, playing only in their first World Cup since hosting the tournament back in 2010, while also looking to capitalise on any openings with counter-attacking play.
The match seemed to be heading their way and going according to plan, but an attempt by South Africa’s Thapelo Maseko to curl a top corner shot into the far left from outside the box, was blocked by Czechia’s Pavel Sulc, who to his team’s disappointment, gave away a penalty in the dying minutes of the game after the referee pointed to the spot and called a handball.
Czechia's Lukas Cerv during the World Cup Group A match against South Africa in Atlanta, Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Stew Milne/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
Tebeho Mokoena, cool, calm and collected as ever ran up to the ball and placed it into the bottom left corner, beating keeper Matej Kovar who jumped in the opposite direction, equalising for his team in the 83rd minute and earning his side their first point.
Switzerland v Bosnia
Bosnia, who earned their qualification ticket by upsetting European heavyweights Italy opened Group B’s second matchday fixtures, where they took on Switzerland. Both teams had been winless at that stage and looking to secure their first three points at the tournament, after drawing their opening matches.
Switzerland had chances early on to take the lead but failed to capitalise. Swiss forward Dan Ndoye executed a spectacular overhead kick early in the first half which almost found its way to the back of the net and would’ve been a sure contender for goal of the tournament.
Switzerland's Johan Manzambi beats Bosnia keeper Nikola Vasilj with a shot to score the opening goal during the World Cup Group B match in Inglewood, Thursday, June 18, 2026.
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Mark J. Terrill/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
The match however remained goalless for well over an hour and seemed to be headed towards a draw. Many fans were pictured in the stadiums leaving their seats early, expecting the final 20 minutes of regular time to be much like the previous 70, but in a dramatic and unanticipated way, it was anything but.
Switzerland was able to open the scoring in the 74th minute. A cross into the box was not cleared well by Bosnia, with the ball falling just outside the 6-yard box, gifted on a platter to striker Johan Manzambi who took it on the volley and placed it in the top right corner.
Switzerland's Johan Manzambi and other teammates wave to fans after the end of the World Cup Group B match against Bosnia in Inglewood, California, Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Gregory Bull/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
It was 10 minutes later, roughly five minutes after Bosnia suffered a red card and went a man down, that play really opened for Switzerland who were able to pounce on the newly open spaces, and a quick attack left Ruben Vargas unmarked in the box, who was fed the ball for an easy tap-in.
Six minutes later, Swiss fans were treated to another almost identical goal, where the flanks were utilised to create gaps in the centre. A quick ball fed to Manzambi in the 90th resulted in a third goal for the red shirts, who found themselves 3-0 in a matter of 16 minutes.
Switzerland's Granit Xhaka claps hands after the end of the World Cup Group B match against Bosnia in Inglewood, California, near Los Angeles, Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Gregory Bull/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
Bosnia showed heart however and were able to pull a goal back, after Ermin Mahmic scored a screamer off a cleared corner kick. A poor corner was headed out of harm’s way by Swiss defences, landing to unmarked Mahmic on the edge of the box who fired an unstoppable volley into the top right corner to make it 3-1.
It was veteran Swiss player, who formerly starred for top club sides Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen, who scored a penalty in the 7th minute of added time to push his nation towards their first win of the tournament, sitting on par with Canada at four points a peace.
Canada v Qatar
Canada produced the tournament’s second goal-studded display, after Germany pummelled first-timers Curacao 7-1 last week, securing their first win of the World Cup they co-host with the United States and Mexico.
Scoring opened early for Canada who managed to gain the lead in the 16th minute after Qatari keeper Mahmud Abunada failed to hold on to the ball after an initial shot on goal, giving the ball back to Cyle Larin who tapped it in.
Canada's Jacob Shaffelburg shoots during the World Cup Group B match against Qatar in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Abbie Parr/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
Just over 10 minutes later, Canada’s forward Jonathan David grabbed his first goal of the fixture, who scored a stunning bottom right corner volley in the 29th minute just inside the box.
A Qatari team in shambles was set to further spiral after defender Homam Ahmed was given a red card in the 33rd minute, leaving his team two goals trailing and a man down. Canada was ruthless with their opportunities and David managed to bag one more goal in the 3rd minute of the first half’s stoppage time, to enter the halftime break with a healthy 3-0 advantage and an almost guaranteed three points.
The reigning Asian champions, playing in only their second World Cup since hosting the last edition in 2022, were in for more sorrow after midfielder Assim Madibo was also shown a red card in the 53rd minute, leaving the team at a serious disadvantage and a mountain to climb.
Canada's manager Jesse Marsch shakes hands with Qatar's manager Julen Argote after the World Cup Group B match between in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Timothy Matwey/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
Canada was once more quick to utilise the open spaces and opened the second half scoring with a stunning free kick goal in the 64th curled around the defensive wall and into the bottom right corner, just minutes after being substituted into the game, and drawing an applause from Prime Minister Mark Carney who was watching the game from the stands.
Just 10 minutes later the crimson shirts conceded once more after Qatar’s Mohammed Manai in an attempt to clear the ball off the goal line, shanked it into his own net, giving Canada a ruthless 5-0 lead.
Fans leave BC Place as Qatar fans join Canadian fans following their match during the World Cup Group B match in Vancouver, British Columbia, Thursday, June 18, 2026.
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Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press
The maple leaves were not finished yet as New York-born striker Jonathan David sought to complete his first World Cup hat trick, and was able to successfully execute, with clever movement inside the box making space for himself to receive and beating the keeper with ease in the 92nd minute.
The win propelled Canada to the top of Group B, ahead of Switzerland, leading their European competition on goal difference, who they face next week in matchday three for a top of the table clash.
Mexico v South Korea
Co-hosts Mexico became the first nation to book their ticket to the World Cup knockout stage after defeating South Korea 1-0 in their second match and leading Group A with six points.
Mexico's Luis Romo scores the opening goal during the World Cup Group A match against South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026
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Silvia Izquierdo/Copyright 2026 The AP. All rights reserved.
The team that opened the tournament last week with a 2-0 over South Africa was able to marginally edge its way past South Korea led by Tottenham Hotspurs legend Son Heung-min, after Luis Romo scored the fixture’s only goal in the 50th minute on home soil at Estadio Guadalajara.
They now prepare to face Czechia next week for their group stage match and have the advantage of being able to rest key players ahead of the knockout stages, while the rest of the group competes fiercely for points to book their qualifying tickets.
TheKnicks parade brought out Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, Mariska Hargitay, Zohran Mamdani, and more stars. New York City turned out in full force this week as the celebration rolled through Manhattan. From actors to lawmakers, the turnout showed how closely basketball is tied to the city’s identity.
Knicks parade attended by celebs like Timothée Chalamet, Ben Stiller, and more
From actors to public figures, the New York Knicks parade drew a star-studded crowd who joined the festivities on the streets of Manhattan to celebrate the NBA team’s first championship title in 53 years.
Celebrities like Timothée Chalamet, Martha Stewart, Edie Falco, and more supported the New York Knicks throughout the entire postseason. On Thursday, June 18, they walked through lower Manhattan for the NBA champions’ ticker-tape celebration (via PEOPLE).
The New York Knicks parade kicked off in Battery Park City. Knicks stars Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns boarded buses to head up Broadway while fans cheered from the streets. It wrapped at City Hall, where Brunson, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and other speakers were set to address the crowd. The 34-year-old mayor joined fans at bars across the city to cheer for the Knicks during their championship push.
Meanwhile, lifestyle writer Martha Stewart made it to lower Manhattan. Other VIPs included Mariska Hargitay, who attended with her 18-year-old son. New York Knicks superfans Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet attended every Finals game, so they weren’t going to miss the parade.
Rapper Fat Joe appeared on his own parade vehicle, jamming to “Lean Back.” Mary J. Blige joined him on the float, along with Wu-Tang Clan and Jadakiss. Spike Lee, a Knicks season ticket holder since the ’80s, also showed up for the team’s first championship parade. Courtside mainstay Tracy Morgan was seen celebrating in a Knicks chain. The event closed with a live performance of “Empire State of Mind” by Alicia Keys, as fans and Karl-Anthony Towns sang along from the stage.
Supporters poured out of Guadalajara's Estadio Akron waving flags and singing after the final whistle, while thousands gathered at fan zones in Monterrey and Mexico City. The win guarantees Mexico a place in the last 32 and confirms the hosts as Group A leaders with six points from two matches, an important milestone for a team playing in front of home crowds.
The decisive moment came in the 50th minute when midfielder Luis Romo capitalised on a defensive mistake involving South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and defender Lee Gi-hyuk. Romo calmly converted into an empty net to score the only goal of the match. South Korea nearly levelled in the 87th minute, but goalkeeper Raúl Rangel produced a crucial save to preserve the lead.
The qualification marks a significant turnaround for Mexico after its group-stage exit in 2022. With one match remaining against the Czech Republic in Mexico City, supporters are increasingly hopeful the national team can enjoy its strongest World Cup campaign in decades.
Iran’s 2026 World Cup team will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesperson said on Thursday.
“Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organisers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff’s plans,” the spokesperson said, according to AFP news agency.
Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before their next group match against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday. But the Iranian federation claims its request was turned down.
Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand in their opening World Cup match on Monday in Los Angeles [Patrick T Fallon/AFP]
“Given that the game will be played at 12pm local time in Los Angeles, the football federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,” the spokesman said.
“The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalise preparations.
“Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied.”
After Iran’s first World Cup game on Monday – in which they drew 2-2 with New Zealand in a politically charged encounter – US officials said that the team will have to leave the country within hours of the full-time whistle at their World Cup group games in Los Angeles and Seattle.
The Iranian delegation left the US hours after the match in LA ended at about 8pm local time (03:00 GMT) and returned to their base camp in Mexico, prompting criticism of the US handling of their visas, as the team did not get a day to recover at their hotel.
Mehdi Taremi #9 and other Iran players walk out of the tunnel for the warm-up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group G match against New Zealand at Los Angeles Stadium on Monday [Richard Heathcote/Getty Images/AFP]
‘Match day minus one,’ says US government
The US administration has pushed back against the Iranian claims.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the US only on the day before the game.
“The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,” Giuliani told CBS News.
“They’ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they’ll be able to do that again in Los Angeles.”
He added that the procedure would be the same for Iran’s final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
Iran, who are in Group G, kicked off their campaign this week in North America after months of uncertainty over the team’s participation in the World Cup amid the US-Israel war on Iran.
Brooks Koepka in the first round of the U.S. Open.getty images
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — As TV cannot do justice to the peaks and valleys of Augusta National, neither can it capture Shinnecock Hills — not as it played on Thursday, with a heavy wind coming off the Atlantic, over beachfront mansions and across Sunrise Highway, before sweeping across the old William Flynn course here. The Thursday round of this 126th U.S. Open was all set up for another USGA Shinny set-up screwball comedy, except it never happened. The opposite. The players . . . liked it.
They liked the speed of the greens, the hint of moisture they retained all day and into the night. (Play ended at 8:25 p.m. with 50 players still on the course.) They liked the width of the fairways (often 50 yards wide!), the first-round pin positions (no holes on weird knobs!), the tee positions (no surprises!). They liked player parking (almost on the 10th tee), the food in player hospitality (beef tenderloin and fresh pizza to go), the purse ($22 million!). There was a lot to like and nothing to dis.
“The USGA did a great job,” Keegan Bradley, last year’s U.S. Ryder Cup captain down the road at Bethpage Black. Bradley shot 70, even par.
A great job!
When was the last time anybody swaddled in Tourwear said those words?
Certainly not in 2004 and 2018, the last two times the U.S. Open was played here. At those Opens, nothing like that was said, not even by Retief Goosen, the ’04 winner, not even by Brooks Koepka, the winner in ’18.
“The conditions were tough,” Koepka said Thursday afternoon after shooting 73 in the first round of his 13th U.S. Open. He’s won the event twice. “It’s weird how soft the greens are. It’s odd. It’s not what I remember. I understand why they’re soft. I get that. [I’m] not complaining.”
Not complaining!
Rory McIlroy started on the 10th hole, his tee time delayed by two hours, on account of fog brought on by a shifting wind, Wednesday night into Thursday morning, and with it a dramatic increase in humidity. (In a day, this sand-splashed South Fork of Long Island went from late spring to mid-summer.) McIlroy was two under through three holes and but finished with two bogeys, on 8 and 9, for a 69. And even after that rough finish McIlroy was not moaning.
“It’s a challenging course already and then you put 30 mile-per-hour winds on it,” McIlroy said. “I think they were prudent with the course setup.”
McIlroy’s day was certainly made more pleasant by having two Ryder Cup teammates, and lovely gents, as playing partners, Tommy Fleetwood, who shot 70, and Ludvig Åberg, who shot 69. Play was brutally, absurdly slow. It took the threesome, all fast players, nearly five hours and 40 minutes to play.) At least, starting as they did at 9:52 a.m., they knew they would complete their first round.
McIlroy & Mates were announced at the 10th tee by David Jacobsen, a veteran USGA volunteer and the winner last year of the organization’s prestigious Joe Dey Award. Jacobsen is the kid brother of Peter Jacobsen, the veteran Tour player and broadcaster, and the players, one after another, got a warm greeting from the starter. It may sound like nothing. It’s not. The players are playing in the U.S. Open. They’re tense. They don’t want to see a starter who is nervously looking at his watch every half-minute. A little chill goes a long way.
Jacobsen was at his post, ready for the day’s first group, well before 6:30 a.m., a cold fog all around him. Ten hours later, his workday was over. But in the final hour of his workday, he called the names of a bunch of former U.S. Open winners, including Dustin Johnson, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Gary Woodland, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. Those guys caught the day in a gorgeous, golden late-day light, but the wind was not abating. There was sand in air and sometimes in their eyes. Flagsticks were shaking. Over the course of the day, and now and again, a hat went flying. The standard bearers were angling their scoreboards on considered angles, to slice through the wind. There were few spectators left on the course, at this witching hour. They were spent. The players were spent. The caddies were spent. A LIRR diesel train whistled on by.
It takes hundreds of crew members and USGA officials employees working long days to get these events — and this event — to a Sunday-night trophy presentation without getting called out for this or that or some other thing. On Thursday, Mother Nature had her mercurial say, and the USGA knew how to handle her.
Three more days.
Michael Bamberger welcomes your comments at Michael.Bamberger@Golf.com
Cristiano Ronaldo’s role in Portugal’s World Cup squad is facing renewed scrutiny following another debate over whether he is being carried through matches.
The latest criticism came after Portugal’s 1-1 draw with DR Congo in their 2026 World Cup opener, a match where Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes but struggled to make any real impact in attack.
Now 41, Ronaldo remains one of the game’s biggest names. But questions are growing over whether his presence is helping Portugal, or forcing one of the tournament’s most talented squads to adapt around him.
Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo’s role questioned after World Cup draw
Speaking on goodbadfootball’s podcast, former Manchester United player Paul Scholes said: “Yeah, for a 40, 41 year old to be playing centre forward, I just don’t get it.”
The criticism continued: “I think you might get away with it at the centre half, you might do in a team that keeps the ball, but as a centre forward of the 40, I think it’s a little bit selfish that he’s actually.”
Nicky Butt summed up why the conversation around Ronaldo is so complicated: “You know what he’s like.”
The point was not that Ronaldo lacks greatness. It was that his competitive drive, which made him a legend, can also make it harder for Portugal to move on tactically.
Portugal performance makes Ronaldo question harder to avoid
Against DR Congo in Houston, Ronaldo played the full 90 minutes, failed to score and did not register a shot on target. Portugal led early through Joao Neves, but Yoane Wissa equalized before halftime and the game ended 1-1.
Roberto Martinez defended keeping Ronaldo on, saying there was no sense in taking out the best goal scorer in world football when Portugal needed a goal.
That is exactly why this is such a big story. Ronaldo now plays club soccer for Al-Nassr and can still finish chances, but Portugal also have Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leao and Goncalo Ramos in a squad built for speed and movement.
The ex-United debate therefore cuts beyond one poor match. It asks whether Ronaldo’s final World Cup chapter is still about Portugal’s best XI, or about making room for a legend who refuses to step back.
ATLANTA (AP) — Bina Ramroop broke down in tears when she realized she wasn't going to get the World Cup tickets she had bought for her grandson's 13th birthday.
As thousands poured into Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday to see Spain face Cape Verde in what turned out to be a remarkable scoreless draw, Ramroop stood outside, increasingly stressed as she went back and forth for hours between StubHub representatives on the phone and FIFA representatives in the ticket booth. Each blamed the other.
No one could figure out why the tickets Ramroop bought months ago on StubHub for $485 apiece couldn't be transferred from the original seller to the FIFA ticketing app. StubHub offered her a refund and, as Ramroop heard the crowd roar for the start of the match, she knew she had no choice but to give up and take the offer.
“I didn’t want a refund, I didn’t want my money back,” Ramroop said. “I wanted to go to the game.”
The World Cup has delivered thrills on the pitch, but fans have flooded social media with complaints about tickets that never arrived, orders that were canceled at the last minute and hours they spent trying to sort out problems between FIFA’s ticketing system and outside resale platforms. The vast majority seem to be about industry titan StubHub, but people who bought through competitors such as SeatGeek and Vivid Seats have also reported issues. Interviews with fans and industry experts show that some cases stem from technical glitches in the transfer process, while others could involve sellers who never had tickets to deliver in the first place, though StubHub denies such sales happen on its platform.
A grandmother's disappointment
FIFA has urged fans to buy resale tickets through its own marketplace, where it slaps a 30% surcharge on every resold ticket — 15% each from the buyer and seller. But many fans bought through other resale sites, either out of habit or because those sites have lower prices or are easier to navigate.
Ramroop didn't realize she was taking a risk when she bought through StubHub, which she had used in the past without issues.
As she and her grandson Elijah Gomes took the long, lonely train ride back to the Atlanta suburbs, Elijah followed the score on his phone. The match had ended scoreless, and he tried to cheer up his devastated grandmother by telling her they hadn't missed much after all (Cape Verdeans would beg to differ ).
“He’s telling me, ‘Grandma, it’s OK, Grandma.’ And he’s trying to console me,” Ramroop said the next day.
She was hardly alone. An Associated Press journalist witnessed more than a dozen frustrated fans at the match who said they were stuck in similar situations.
StubHub blamed FIFA for the transfer problems that buyers like Ramroop have experienced. In a statement, it said FIFA has “poor technology infrastructure,” enacted last-minute transfer restrictions and didn't launch its new ticketing app until a few weeks before the tournament. The company also called out organizers that “take anti-competitive actions” that limit where fans can buy and sell tickets.
Asked about the technical issues, FIFA on Wednesday reiterated that sales through its official site are guaranteed to go through.
An industry's longstanding problem
Industry observers say the problems appear to stem from more than one cause. For some, it may indeed be technical glitches — an issue that StubHub says is “very, very rare” and one that it is hard at work to solve. For others, they say it's likely a more longstanding scourge: speculative sellers.
Scott Friedman, an industry veteran and co-founder of a consultancy called the Ticket Talk Network, said some sellers list tickets before they actually have them, betting that prices will fall closer to the event so they can buy the tickets at a better price later. But because World Cup ticket prices have surged since the tournament began, those sellers have been forced to either buy expensive tickets to fulfill their orders or cancel and accept penalties from resale platforms. StubHub's penalties are typically 200% of the ticket price, Friedman said.
“This is not new at all,” said Friedman, pointing to other high-profile events where frustrated fans were left empty-handed, including Taylor Swift's Eras tour. “This has been going on, but it’s making global news because it’s the World Cup.”
StubHub says it requires sellers to prove they have tickets before they list them.
But regardless of the reason for the canceled sales, Friedman said “StubHub should fill every single order to make sure fans get in the biggest global sporting event that happens every four years.”
That’s what many fans say they expected when they purchased through StubHub.
StubHub’s FanProtect Guarantee promises replacement tickets or a refund if tickets fail to arrive. But the policy repeatedly says those remedies are provided at StubHub’s “sole discretion,” meaning the company can choose a refund instead of securing replacement seats.
“That is pretty explicit language,” said Michael McCann, a sports law expert at the University of New Hampshire. McCann noted that a buyer could try to challenge the language under state consumer protection laws, but it would be an uphill battle.
A father's regrets
Pape Ndaw is crestfallen that the high school graduation gift he got for his son — tickets for them to see the Netherlands and Japan near their home city of Dallas — never arrived.
He bought the tickets for about $550 apiece in December. Then, two days before the June 14 match, he received an email from StubHub telling him, “The seller can’t deliver your original tickets.”
Ndaw accepted store credit rather than a refund, thinking he would use the funds to quickly get replacements, only to then realize that the cheapest last-minute tickets were going for more than $1,500 each. Not only were they not going to get to go to the game, but Ndaw said StubHub rejected his belated request for a refund instead of store credit.
Breaking the news to his soccer-obsessed son was brutal, Ndaw said.
“It was a disastrous thing,” he said. “He had told all his friends that he was going to that game. He literally cried. I mean, he is a 17-year-old kid, but he cried.”
A family's attempt to make the best of it
Others fared somewhat better.
Patrick O’Neil of Pittsboro, North Carolina, traveled to Atlanta with his wife, son and relatives after purchasing five tickets through StubHub for the Spain-Cape Verde match. Two tickets transferred successfully, but three never arrived.
O’Neil’s 15-year-old son and his uncle ended up using the two tickets, while O’Neil, his wife and another relative watched from a nearby bar.
After local media caught wind of their ordeal, O’Neil said StubHub contacted the family and offered tickets to another game. Since the family had already bought tickets to one, though, he and his wife asked the company to instead give the seats to local nonprofit Soccer in the Streets so they could go to people who otherwise might not be able to attend a match.
“StubHub is not evil, but they’re part of the whole system that makes it really hard for just normal kids and people who might want to see a match get to go,” O'Neil said.
On Thursday, a StubHub representative confirmed to the AP that the company would honor the O’Neils’ request and send tickets to the nonprofit.
Bruno Fernandes’ latest Instagram post has become a pressure point for Cristiano Ronaldo fans after Portugal’s frustrating start to the World Cup.
Portugal opened with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, and Ronaldo’s quiet night quickly shifted attention toward the service around him.
Fernandes, one of Portugal’s main creators, then found his comments filled with supporters urging him to do more for the 41-year-old forward. One long message, in particular, started spreading quickly.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Cristiano Ronaldo fan sends emotional message to Bruno Fernandes
The viral reaction was highlighted by The Touchline on X, which noted that Bruno’s post had received more than 20,000 comments from Portugal fans.
The comment asked Fernandes and Portugal’s players to remember Ronaldo’s history with the national team, beginning with his tears as a 19-year-old after the Euro 2004 final defeat and later after Portugal’s 2006 World Cup semifinal loss to France.
The fan wrote, “Before you step onto that pitch remember who opened the door for all of you,” before calling Ronaldo the player who “made an entire generation dream.”
The message then turned into a direct plea to the current Portugal squad, telling them to “fight for him,” “create chances for him” and “pass him the ball.” It ended by arguing that Ronaldo had carried Portugal for more than 20 years, and that this time his teammates must carry the fight for him.
Bruno Fernandes’ pressure rises after Portugal draw
The timing of the comment explains why it travelled so quickly, because Portugal’s opening draw left fans frustrated with how little Ronaldo received in the areas where he can still decide matches.
Portugal led early through Joao Neves against DR Congo, but Roberto Martinez’s side could not turn possession into control. Yoane Wissa equalized, and Ronaldo finished the match without a goal on a night that brought fresh scrutiny of Portugal’s attack.
Fernandes is central to that discussion because he is expected to link Portugal’s midfield with Ronaldo. When the service looks slow, forced or disconnected, the criticism naturally falls on the player most associated with final passes and chance creation.
The emotional tone of the viral comment also reflects Ronaldo’s larger World Cup situation. At 41, he is likely playing on the tournament’s biggest stage for the final time, and the one major trophy missing from his international career remains the World Cup.
That does not mean Portugal’s attack should become one-dimensional. But the reaction under Fernandes’ post shows how many Ronaldo fans believe the team owes him one final push, and they are making that demand directly to the player they see as best placed to provide it.
Argentina’s World Cup defense has already produced a Lionel Messi hat-trick, but the champions’ early control has shown up in the data as well as the scoreline.
Lionel Scaloni’s side opened with a 3-0 win over Algeria, giving Argentina the kind of calm start every title holder wants.
Messi took the headlines with all three goals, yet Argentina’s passing under pressure may say just as much about why they remain so difficult to unsettle. The first round of fixtures left Argentina top of one telling World Cup category.
Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images
Argentina lead World Cup in passing under pressure
OptaJoe highlighted the stat on X, showing how cleanly Argentina have moved the ball even when opponents have tried to close them down.
“Argentina have completed 89 percent of their passes under high-intensity pressure at this FIFA World Cup, the highest accuracy of any team,” OptaJoe revealed on X.
The number points to the same composure that has defined Argentina under Scaloni. They are not just keeping possession when the game slows down; they are still finding teammates when the pressure comes quickly.
That matters for a team built around Messi’s moments but protected by structure behind him. Argentina can absorb pressure, play through crowded spaces and still move the ball into areas where Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and the rest of the attack can take over.
Lionel Messi’s hat-trick showed Argentina’s World Cup threat
Argentina’s opening win over Algeria gave the defending champions three points, a clean sheet and another reminder that Messi is still shaping World Cup games at 39.
Messi scored in the 17th, 60th and 76th minutes of the 3-0 win, taking his career World Cup total to 16 goals. The hat-trick placed him level with Miroslav Klose at the top of the men’s all-time World Cup scoring list.
The performance also underlined how Argentina can win in more than one way. Messi’s finishing gave them the margin, but the team’s control under pressure helped keep Algeria from turning the game into something chaotic.
That blend is why Argentina still look like a serious threat in 2026. They have the star power to decide games and the passing security to stop opponents from dragging them away from their rhythm.
One match does not define a title defense, but Argentina’s first showing was exactly the kind of start that makes the rest of the field take notice. The champions looked calm, clinical, and difficult to disrupt.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – On Sunday. Porter-Guard boys basketball coach John Pearson will celebrate fathers day with daughter Elise/ This fall, father and daughter will share the same Cyclone varsity sideline.
JP looked on inside the Wendell Center as Elise conducted practice Thursday afternoon. The former Cyclone standout herself, Elise was recently named the new head varsity coach of the girls program.
After graduating from the College of Charleston like her dad, Elise has been helping JP behind the scenes while coaching the jv girls.
She wants to play more fast paced than her dad but will still employ some of the same schemes. John thinks they both have a similar demeaner on the sidelines where everything is under control.
Now there’s a same surname on the Cyclone varsity sideline.
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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